Chapter Seventeen: White Moonlight

the staff, then took a full-body "first place" certification photo under the guidance of their manager.In the photo, Kim Jun-myeon is squatting in the center holding a trophy. The other members are s...This comeback period for EXO isn't bad, there aren't any overly strong competitors at the same time. However, a few popular groups are releasing music around the same time, creating some competition.

Among the most popular are those on February 26th, when the senior boy group Shinhwa, who brought back their regular 12th album, made a comeback. This high-ranking boy group returned after a year and nine months, released their music source this week, and received a strong response from fans, showing great momentum.

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Next up is the return on February 24th, with the boy group VIXX also releasing a single album. VIXX has been incredibly popular in the past year or two, with their recent comebacks seeing sales hovering around 100,000 units. This achievement truly positions them as a top-tier boy group. This time, their title track "Farewell Formula" has also received a lot of love.

And lastly, there's 4ute, the girl group that Hyuna is in. They released a song last month on the 9th and have been promoting for almost a month now.

After last year's unsuccessful comeback, 4ute made a return this time with the main song "crazy" in a strong girl crush style. Although the sound source results were somewhat average, YouTube exploded, and the stage effects were also very excellent, attracting a large wave of fans. The group, which debuted six years ago, is considered to be on an upward trend and has ushered in its own peak period.

Chi Jingyuan had seen their videos and stage performances recently, and he thought they were really good. The songs and choreography were very strong in style, looking cool while the chorus was also quite catchy. It's no wonder their performance has been so successful.

Aside from that, the solo members of f(x), Amber, Luna, Victoria, and Krystal, are also planning to make a comeback soon.

Although it might sound harsh, to be honest, some of the artists coming up later on don't really pose a significant threat to EXO. After all, their popularity and fan base are undeniable.

And it's estimated that they are probably racking their brains about how to handle EXO's comeback right now, privately wondering how to express their feelings.

"1, 2, 3, we are one! Annyeonghaseyo, we are EXO."

At this time, in the waiting room, exo stands in two rows in front of the camera for this special comeback interview. After making their signature thumbs-up, the nine members deeply bow to the camera.

A wave of synchronized screams filled the air, buzzing with excitement. All seated in the audience were EXO fans. Aside from the fan club spots allocated by the program crew, everyone else had secured their seats weeks in advance through an official application process specifically for watching their pre-recorded performance.

"As EXO makes their return to the stage with a pre-release single album, fans have undoubtedly waited a long time! It's truly wonderful to see you all again."

This week's "Inkigayo" MCs are Hwang Kwang Hee, Kim Yu Jung, and Hong Jong Hyun. The latter two aren't very familiar to me, but Hwang Kwang Hee is an old friend. He's really enthusiastic right now, grinning ear to ear as he holds the microphone and starts asking: “I believe our XO fans are all very curious and looking forward to it, so can you introduce XO's comeback concept and the title track this time"

"Inside, we are adopting a monthly single album release pattern this time…"

"...The lead single, "callbaby," boasts a highly infectious hook and melody, combined with cleverly penned lyrics. It's a distinctive track that incorporates powerful drumming rhythms and instrumentation like brass and strings. We hope fans will love it..."

“The included track “butterfly” is a gentle and melancholic ballad. The song compares the girl you like to a butterfly, expressing the feeling of hoping that the loved one will stay by your side.”

Kim Jun-myeon and Park Chan-yeol, the two spokespersons, each gave a brief introduction, with their words overflowing after every sentence.

After asking two more questions and performing a simple dance to "Callbaby," this comeback interview could be considered wrapped up.

Actually, "Inkigayo" hasn't been doing great in this aspect. It just gives an interview and a trailer or something like that when big groups make a comeback.

But with 《!》, it's completely different. If a group like EXO, with their scale and hype, returns and chooses to perform their debut stage there, I estimate that the entire live broadcast will be filmed from start to finish. C would constantly mention them throughout. Besides special interviews, continuous previews will also be conducted along with a small fan meet-and-greet event. The pomp and circumstance would be directly top-notch.

It's also because, comparatively speaking, 《!》 is more valued, so many popular artists like to choose 《!》 for their comeback stage. EXO has done this several times before, but unfortunately, this week's 《!c》has already passed.

After the interview finished, we waited for a while. The stage background was then set up. Upon the staff's notice, EXO began pre-recording.

Today's two songs are all pre-recorded for stage effects, and they will also change into two completely different outfits. "

《butterfly》 is a more ordinary set design recording, just using lights and background to render the stage effect. "

While "callbaby" is quite distinctive, the opening verse was recorded outdoors and still used a pseudo one-take approach. To recreate v's perspective, they even borrowed a sports car to use as a backdrop.

However, this recording was quite demanding. If anything went wrong, they basically had to start over. EXO ran back and forth between the main stage and outdoors, continuously filming for five takes before finally getting it right. By the end, everyone was panting heavily and could barely stand up.

After the fans, who were there to cheer and support them, greeted them with courtesy, they went back to the waiting room and began to wait for the official broadcast in the evening.

…………

"It's happening, it's happening…"

"What's the point of having the Oppa's not come out yet, wait until it's their stage time to shout our name."

"Didn't you watch the follow-up interview"

"...Here they come!"

After a burst of commotion, several high school girls in their uniforms rushed from another room into the living room, crowding around the television. If Exo hadn't already started an interview on screen, they probably would have argued for a while longer about who got to sit where.

Kim Ji-hee was also caught up in it. After arguing with black fans and watching EXO's comeback V, she made peace with her past self and, following her heart, returned to the ranks of Alice.

But this time, the member she loved had changed.

After school, several close friends in their class, including Ai Li, gathered at one of their homes to watch EXO's debut stage on "Inkigayo" that evening.

After deciding to get back into it, she only felt that all the past emotions and passion had returned to her. That period of being obsessed with EXO was right before her eyes. She still remembered from the "Growl" era onwards, every time EXO made a comeback, they would gather at someone's house like today to watch the premiere together.

It's great that we can do this activity again.

Kim Ji-hee watched the nine members on the TV, listening to the cheers and shouts of her friends around her, she couldn't help but sigh inwardly.

"Wow, Chanyeol is so handsome, ahhh..."

"Yuan is really amazing. Although she changed her clothes, her hair color remained the same, still so stunning."

"This comeback everyone is doing great..."

Looking at EXO being interviewed on the screen, his voice drowned out everything else.

Kim Ji-hee subtly took the remote and turned the volume up a bit, then stared intently at Park Gyeong-won standing silently in the back row, maintaining a smile throughout the screen.

After EXO left, a few people felt bored and started debating whether their comeback would be successful and who had the coolest style. After arguing for a while, it was finally time for EXO's performance.

This time, with the return of the senior legend Myth, it was only right for him to be the last performer. EXO then performed as the second-to-last act after 4U TE.

"Here we go, here we go!"

A cheer erupted, and the screen began to play EXO's comeback VCR. A hazy, transparent logo occupied the entire screen, accompanied by BG music. Under a cool-toned base, nine members' upper body artistic photos appeared one after another. Each photo was labeled with their own name. After nine consecutive changes, the entire screen suddenly turned black. The previous huge logo became more concrete and slowly shrank to the middle of the screen, while below it, in an oracle bone script-like font, several letters were clearly written:

"EXO"

"Back"

Before these female students could even gasp in surprise, the camera quickly cut to the stage. The very second the scene changed, singing voices rang out:

"Don't think about anything."

Don’t say anything.

Just smile at me.

Chi Jingyuan slowly walked out from the right side of the stage, holding a microphone and singing as he walked. This opening introduction was very effective under his gentle and clear voice. The girls in front of the television immediately immersed themselves in the atmosphere of this song.

Under the specially constructed backdrop, the stage seemed a bit empty. The dim blue lighting of the ceiling cast a melancholy tone over the entire performance area.

Chi Jingyuan was wearing a pure white shirt, the buttons at his collar were unbuttoned revealing a hint of his clavicle. Paired with black casual pants, he displayed a minimalist style. Underneath the dim light of cyan hues, he looked rather melancholic.

To convey the mood and tone of this song, there was a hint of melancholy in the expression of dejection on their faces, giving off a sense of shattered sadness that sent shivers down the spines of several students. Their eyes widened in astonishment.

Following Chi Jingyuan's opening performance, the other members also walked out one by one under the dim lights. Everyone wore the same style of clothing: a pure white top paired with black trousers. This minimalist and ascetic outfit now looks incredibly captivating. Coupled with the melody of "butterfly," the entire stage fell into a hazy atmosphere of melancholy.

"Is it true Is it true"

"Is it true Is it true"

"You, you, too beautiful to be feared."

Facing the camera, in the center of the stage Ji Jingyuan's gaze became somewhat focused. He stepped to the rhythm change and kept moving continuously while still singing with emotion. Under this somewhat melancholic melody, he danced continuously. Until the last beat, he turned his body to reveal his profile, suddenly closed his eyes lightly, pursed his lips, then smiled faintly.

The fragmented smile appeared instantly, triggering gasps from the audience. The attendees, with their eyes glued to the stage, struggled to articulate the overwhelming emotions surging within them.

Perhaps because they had been recording consecutively for several times, including Ji Jingyuan, each member's face and forehead had obvious sweat stains. Under the embellishment of the slowly dripping sweat, the entire stage was rendered more hazy and mysterious.

Nine members on stage move rhythmically and change positions constantly, performing the not-too-complex choreography of this lyrical song. However, just the right amount of dancing allows the emotions contained within "butterfly" to be expressed perfectly.

The girl I once loved most has now become a butterfly, flapping its wings wanting to fly away from me, like clouds in the sky, or a gentle breeze. No matter how I wave and try to hold on, I still can't reach her wings.

I dare not exert force, for fear that once I touch her, she will fly away with even greater resolve. I also fear that under my sudden approach, her wings will be overwhelmed and broken.

The parched heart and the desolate trees beside me tell me that my mind and body are crumbling, but whether this is a dream or reality, I don't care. All I do is watch the butterfly about to fly away, reach out my hand, and make a desperate plea:

"Please stay by my side, okay"

"Will you agree to this"

"If you touch it with your hand, will it fly away Will it break"

“Fear, fear, fear.”

In the increasingly intense accompaniment, Chi Jingyuan at this moment seemed to have completely immersed himself in the story. His movements became more vigorous, his expression carrying a clear sadness and anticipation. His shining eyes seemed to contain all emotions. The sweat constantly dripping down his forehead had soaked his cheeks, a strong sense of fragmentation directly filling the entire frame.

Kim Ji-hee and several others stared blankly at the screen, their eyes fixed on Park Geon-won. They were completely stunned by his appearance and charisma at this moment, but at the same time, a sudden wave of sadness washed over them.

Even with the song and stage's somber tone, there was still a fiery warmth burning within her. As she watched Ji-won plunge into the performance, Kim Ji-hee's mind couldn't stop echoing one captivating word:

White moonlight.

This song, "butterfly," because of its lyrical ballad nature, has high demands on both vocal ability and singing skills. The entire part distribution is primarily based on four main vocalists. Meanwhile, Park Ji-sung and Beomgyu, who excel in stage performance, are assigned the most parts. They take charge of the killing parts in the chorus. The entire performance feels like a showcase for the four main vocalists. The remaining five members have very few lines and mainly dance in the background. Notably, Wooyoung only sings one rap throughout the entire song.

That also proves the saying "those who are capable do more work".

Can time stop

"If in this fleeting moment."

"Will it become something that never happened Will I forget you"

"I am afraid, afraid, afraid."

"butterfly~~like a butterfly"

Just like a butterfly, just like a butterfly.

> In the final chorus, the drumbeats accelerated, and with the powerful combination of strings and piano, the song's emotional intensity reached its peak. Chi Jingyuan sang the lyrics with a stoic expression, seemingly accepting reality. However, in the camera frame, he raised his head to gaze at the distant sky. His reflective pupils overflowed with a heartbreaking yearning.

As the last notes of the song ended with a hopeful melody, all EXO members turned their backs, placing their hands above their heads and overlapping them to resemble a butterfly from a shadow play. This stunning end pose brought the stage performance to a powerful close.

“…………”

"This stage is really beautiful…"

"A white shirt really speaks to me."

There was no usual eruption of excited screams as the song ended. A few girls remained silent for a few seconds before coming to their senses. After immersing themselves in the song's melancholic past, they remembered the just-concluded stunning performance and began to get excited again, their eyes sparkling as they praised the stage with awe.

"Wow, did you guys see yuan's smile just now I felt totally numb all over at that moment, and I'm still a little weak in the knees."

“I think the chorus in the back is the coolest, it’s really super broken. I was almost crying watching it, how can this song sound so sad… but it's pretty good.”

"This style also digests so well, I feel this stage is no worse than 《callbaby》!"

"Kim Ji-hee also enthusiastically expressed her positive view of her ideal type, and suddenly remembered something, her eyes lit up with interest: "This stage should have close-up shots, right Just now, yuan was my ideal type, I really want to see his close-up shots."

A few people looked at each other, their interest clearly piqued. After a moment of thought, someone said, "This must be pre-recorded, right I wonder if anyone will film this."

"Definitely, yuan is the pioneer of live-streaming era. From then on, s company would send someone to film whenever there was a stage performance, and it'll be uploaded soon I guess."

That's great, this stage is so atmospheric. The sweaty white shirt, the feeling of sadness all over him... ah, just thinking about it makes me feel so excited!

"Said, white moonlight!"

Peninsula asteroid

First release on the Traditional Chinese Novel Network.As Park Jae-hyun mentioned before, the behind-the-scenes footage specifically for the K team members was also uploaded to YouTube. After uploading, each member also took the time to watch it individu...