Debut or Die-Chapter 229
TeSTAR’s second debut anniversary was going to be celebrated with a fan meeting. It’s a classic approach, but one that’s guaranteed to be fun.
And, fitting a fan meeting, the venue was smaller than for a full concert, giving it a cozy feel—plus they’d offer a paid live stream online.
‘It’s obvious that illegal streams will pop up all over WeTube.’
It wasn’t anything new. They’d work hard to report them on the paid platform.
‘Better that than letting scalpers get fat off resale tickets.’
And by tracking how many people paid to watch, they could see how much this promotion had translated into real fandom engagement.
Ignoring my conscience for a moment, it meant counting how many people were willing to pay even though they could watch it free illegally.
So, comparing VODs and live-stream prices per minute....
‘...Yeah, concert prices are justified.’
Forget pointless thoughts about WeTube and focus on my job.
Fortunately, the fan meeting got off to a smooth start that day.
Opening stage awash in bright balloons ascending into the sky.
Against a blue backdrop, they began lightly and cheerfully with “Picnic.” The subtitle for this fan meeting was Daydream.
It was like flipping the song’s English subtitle, Nightmare, on its head.
‘A thematic connection like this gives the stage a clear concept.’ 𝙛𝒓𝒆𝙚𝒘𝒆𝓫𝙣𝓸𝙫𝓮𝒍.𝒄𝒐𝓶
And that made it more fun to watch.
They’d carry on in an airy, warm atmosphere.
After a year packed with incidents, a fan meeting this gentle felt perfectly fine.
Overall, we’d gone for a fairy-tale vibe.
So I’d tried to make the talk segments and variety bits as cute as possible—but who knew? The direction might shift halfway through.
At least the start was uneventful.
“Hello, everyone!”
“Today is the anniversary of TeSTAR and LOVERS, right? Tesversary! Thank you so much for coming.”
“Let’s have fun!”
Casual updates and Post-it questions are basically fan-meeting rules of thumb, and the prepared answers flowed smoothly.
Of course, the most confident guy threw in some ad-libs first.
I’m looking at you, Big Sejin.
“Oh? ‘Who’s the most aegyo-filled?’ You’ll have to see for yourselves! Come on, everyone prepare one aegyo each~”
He was freely throwing around unscripted rules. Be grateful it’s live.
When the cameras cut to me, I shamelessly executed whatever aegyo was trending lately.
Gasps and screams echoed from every corner. ...Screams?
“When did you even practice that, Mundae-ssi?”
“I’m an idol, so I don’t sleep—whatever time’s left, I use for practice.”
“Ah, ahh~”
Laughter burst from the audience.
By the third year, embarrassing antics hardly fazed me anymore. I was smoothly becoming a drama queen.
But just as I delivered that nonsense bit, Big Sejin smirked and slapped my back.
And reality snapped back into focus.
“Still, you have to sleep, Mundae-ssi! Hey everyone! He really isn’t sleeping at all lately!!”
“......!”
“Dude works at all hours! Way too much!”
“From what I’ve seen, he sleeps maybe once every two days.”
How does someone so clueless zero in so precisely on that?
‘It’s true I’ve been sleeping about that little lately.’
Thanks to Bacchus1000.
Between that and quickly finishing the interview question list, getting the dedicated team formed just right, and recruiting new management staff, I was very satisfied.
‘I guess anyone who can’t see my status screen thinks it’s excessive.’
The one thing to remember was there was no need to take it seriously.
‘If it becomes fodder like “Park Mundae doesn’t sleep, why are you sleeping?” that’d be a headache.’
Better to brush it off as a joke. I shrugged.
“Well... idols are known for not sleeping, after all.”
“Ooo~ idols are human too~”
“Aren’t we still idols?? Uh?”
Amid playful jeers, Bae Sejin murmured with a dark expression.
“That’s basically a violation of labor laws though....”
“.......”
I smiled half-worriedly at the strange cheers from the audience and averted the camera’s gaze.
‘I can’t show them Bacchus1000.’
Meanwhile Big Sejin giggled and pointed the mic at Seon Ah-hyun.
“Okay, Mundaemundae’s roommate Ah-hyun, a word from you?”
“...That’s right! Mundae really doesn’t sleep...!”
“...!!”
Ah-hyun spoke earnestly with a straight face.
“For his health, please tell him to sleep more....”
These guys....
C’mon, Mundae! Sleep!!
‘...It backfired.’
Judging by the audience’s comments, I fell silent for a moment, then shifted tone.
“......Of course. I was joking. I should sleep more.”
“Promise! Promise!”
“I’ll make sure to rest enough so it doesn’t harm my health.”
“Waaaah!”
Not a lie, not a lie.
“Then, everyone! Since we’re talking pajamas anyway—aren’t you curious what pajamas we’re wearing??”
I’m curious!!
Totally curious!!
“Let’s show you on stage!”
The topic shifted smoothly, and the prepared animal-onesie performance from Haengcha kicked off to great cheers.
-Haengchya!
The crowd loved it, and the rest of the show and events flowed without injury or mistake.
...Just as I’d envisioned, the thrill of delivering a great stage kept me from thinking about anything else.
And before the encore, the final stage.
Only after performing a classical arrangement of the sub-song “Calling” did I have a moment to think.
Encore! Encore!
Friendly shouts echoed from above.
“In three minutes we’ll roll the VCR!”
I caught my breath and checked my freshly changed outfit, then remembered the earlier talk and quelled a groan.
‘From now on, every time I turn on the app at night, comments will spam “Mundae’s booger grows.”’
Might not be able to go full Bacchus1000 for a while....
Then I realized.
“...!”
Wait.
This basically... made the fans police my every move.
And thinking who brought it up, it was obvious.
‘He engineered this.’
After changing, I looked at Big Sejin adjusting his makeup.
He winked at me.
“You look so handsome today, hyung—everyone knows it.”
“.......”
See you after the fan meeting.
With a lively band arrangement of the fan song “Magic Is You,” the fan meeting drew to a close.
“Get in the car. I’ll get some feedback and be right back!”
“Yep.”
I wiped the sweat off my face, got in the car guided by the new manager, and quickly checked the online reactions.
-Long-awaited bonus book stage outfit... huge thanks to the stylist (screenshot)
-Mundangdang idol joke? How does he say it so naturally, soft-apple-mochi-puppy noseㅠㅠㅠ sleep ten hours!
-Two-year anniversary cake cutting LOL caught stealing a bite (GIF)
-TeSTAR fan meeting talk + other idol song medley (1)
‘No issues.’
Everything went off cleanly. I decided to skip the behind-the-scenes buzz.
I turned off my phone and spoke.
“Lee Sejin.”
“Hm?”
“You said the sleep bit on purpose.”
Big Sejin, chatting happily with Cha Yoo-jin in the front seat, turned at once and grinned.
“What’s obvious?”
“......!”
“You know Mundae’s no terminator—can’t sleep and just works all the time. Next he’ll drop dead in his thirties!”
‘No, screw you.’
Because of my debuff, I might drop dead next year instead.
But Big Sejin swept his hand around the car and asked:
“Who here thinks Mundae sleeps enough~?”
“.......”
“And who thinks he needs to sleep more?”
Hands shot up. From nervous to casually certain, they all seemed to agree I’d overdone it.
“That’s it~ We live together—protect Mundae!”
I stifled a sigh. Well... at least they care.
“Alright.”
“Good!”
Since the dedicated team formation was done, I could seal it off for a while.
‘Used it well these past few days.’
I shrugged and leaned back.
Ryu Cheong-woo gently set the tone.
“Yeah, Mundae and everyone... great job getting to our two-year mark.”
“I-I agree...!”
“Absolutely right~”
Yeah, two years. When had it flown by?
“I love this team. Our teamwork is the best!”
“...Thanks for everything so far. Let’s keep at it.”
“Indeed. I won’t slack off—I’ll give my all for the remaining three years!”
I heard each member’s thoughts and didn’t mind them at all.
‘...Right, three years left on the contract.’
Longer than everything up to now. If I could keep going at this pace, that’d be fine....
“.......”
Just as I tried to plan the best possible route for everything,
“Mundemundae.”
“Why.”
“Anything you want to say?”
“...? Not really.”
“Hmm, I see~”
Big Sejin said casually,
“Well, if you think of something, just say it.”
“.......”
That wasn’t something he’d say unless he was sure I had something to say.
‘This bastard wouldn’t say this for no reason.’
I sat up straight.
“You—what are you....”
That’s when—
Clunk!
The car door in front swung open.
A staffer wearing a cap climbed in. I barely recognized him, but only one person fit.
‘The manager.’
Wait.
Earlier the manager wore black staff clothes.
Ryu Cheong-woo in the seat next to me called out.
“Um?”
But the staffer didn’t answer, and the engine revved immediately.
“......?”
What the hell.
I looked forward again.
‘...No member in the passenger seat.’
Everyone else was in the back, luggage piled there.
But without a word, he’d started the car....
“......!!”
This can’t be happening.
I whispered urgently to the back and side seats.
“Everyone out.”
“What?”
“Open your doors now...!”
That’s when—
“Hyung? Isn’t that Manager Kim Joon?”
“......!”
Big Sejin in the front seat spoke calmly and gave the info.
Which meant—the guy in front was the former manager.
Fired a few days ago, thanks to the recorded call.
‘Fuck.’
Nothing good could come of this.
Vrooooom!!
And the problem was that this asshole had started driving.
At an insane speed.
“Huff.”
“Hyung, hyung? Calm down, please.”
“What calm down, fucker!!”
The former manager suddenly let go of the wheel and whipped his head around.
Screeee!
The car, racing out of the parking lot, screeched and stopped.
In the middle of the road at this hour.
‘This crazy bastard.’
Beep!
A car behind blared its horn and sped past.
“.......”
Cold sweat ran down my back.
The engine was still running. If I jumped out and he drove off, I could end up hospitalized.
I checked quickly for anything in the back I could throw forward.
I had to pull that bastard out now.
“You guys. Huh? Enjoying blackmailing people with a recording? Huh?”
The ex-manager spat.
“Tell me straight. Is this my fault? Huh? Firing me for one wrong word....”
“I was wrong.”
“......!”
I needed to calm him down. I interrupted in a quiet, agreeable tone.
“There was a hacking attempt on the cloud account, so we reported it to the company, and when they checked, they must have played back that recording.”
“.......”
“That wasn’t what we intended—when you formed the dedicated team, the company told you on their own.”
“.......”
He was unsettled. Lucky he’s dumb.
Big Sejin cut in right beside me.
“Hyung, I’m sorry we couldn’t back you up harder. We thought you left because you were scouted. We’ll talk to the company as soon as we get back, okay?”
Ryu Cheong-woo in the other front seat stayed silent—he knew he was the one who’d provoked the manager.
He held a book in his hand, ready to throw it if needed.
‘If this doesn’t work, I’ll throw it for real.’
I watched the madman at the wheel.
He panted, then took the bait.
“So, you want reinstatement?”
“Of course!”
“We’ll press the company strongly.”
“Yes, yes.”
The mood eased slightly as the members chimed in.
And in the corner of the front seat, Bae Sejin was silently texting 112.
“.......”
The ex-manager’s hand hovered over the wheel again.
‘Got it.’
If I could just pull over and call the company....
That’s when—
“...Huh?”
Crash!
...A colossal noise came from behind.
With vibration.
No, can you even call this vibration?
It was an impact.
A tremendous shock launched my body forward.
‘Fuck!’
A collision.
In that instant, I saw it.
Shattered body panels and seats. Through ❀ Nоvеlігht ❀ (Don’t copy, read here) the deploying airbags, a broken part was about to fall and impale someone’s head.
Sharp, massive.
‘......!’
Instinctively, I lunged to bat the part away.
I thought I could.
But of course, it was insane.
Thud.
Instead of grabbing the part, it drove into my chest where the seatbelt strapped me.
The impact pierced my chest.
“Ugh.”
And everything went black.
When I regained consciousness.
Blackness, roaring in my head, a small light flashed.
Ting-.
Something round and golden shot through the darkness and bounced up.
Then it slowly fell into view.
A golden coin.
‘...Coin.’
[Insert Coin]
The status screen that appeared looked like a slot machine swallowing the coin.
And then.
“Uuurgh!!”
I... opened my eyes to the moldy ceiling of a motel.
Just like two and a half years ago.
“.......”
A familiar... unforgettable ceiling.
‘No.’
This couldn’t be real.
I sat up and looked around. A mildew-stained blanket had fallen at my feet.
The scene was the same I’d seen once... no, no.
‘Hallucination, maybe.’
There had to be another explanation.
“All right.”
I staggered up from the bed and moved to the vanity.
And looked.
“......!!”
The reflection in the mirror wasn’t Park Mundae.
It was me. Ryu Geonwoo.
...My appearance two and a half years ago.
I laughed hollowly.
‘No way.’
Even if I’d come back, it should still be Park Mundae.
How could I wake up in this motel room as myself? It made no sense...
‘Seeing the status screen and entering someone else’s body would at least fit logically, right?’
“Shut up.”
I buried my head on the vanity.
And muttered.
“Status screen.”
But nothing happened.
I tried again.
“Status... screen. Status screen, status screen....”
Anything... please....
Ding.
“......!”
A window appeared before me.
But it wasn’t the status screen I knew.
[Name: Ryu Geonwoo (Park Mundae)]
-Enjoy your daydream : ) -
That was it.
“.......”
I leaned back against the bed.
And, as rationally as possible—avoiding any forced explanations...I reviewed the situation a few more times.
Then I reached a conclusion.
‘This is... a dream.’
Like I’d slipped into a coma.
