Chapter Eighty-Six: A Grand Scene

ttack, such as their height...After several performances, the popular MCs Liu Jae-seok and Lee Kwang-soo appeared to present the rookie award, causing another wave of cheers due to their high populari...A person was engrossed in playing a video game, their hands rapidly clicking the controller buttons, producing a crisp tapping sound. Every few minutes, they would shift their posture due to neck stiffness from sitting for too long. Occasionally, they would furrow their brows and smack their lips in frustration when they made a mistake.

The other was silently holding her phone, her slender fingers gently sliding across the screen every few seconds. She would occasionally purse her lips and study her pretty nails, showing off a little bit of vanity.

Then, every so often, she would tuck up the strands of hair that had playfully fallen down because she was looking down. At the same time, she would casually glance to the side, her eyes brimming with amusement and contentment, but not disturbing him, and two seconds later, she would turn back to do her own thing.

In the midst of a bustling and noisy environment, this small space occupied by two people seemed out of place yet remarkably peaceful and serene. It was a delightful experience to savor this moment of warmth.

It's a pity that this somewhat reluctant tacit understanding didn't last long. When the other EXO members who went out socializing came back, they immediately saw this scene. A few people didn't feel the preciousness of the atmosphere here, but instead, they came back with gossipy expressions on their faces, pointing at Ji-young and Seulgi sitting together, looking like they were watching a spectacle, and making disgusting cheers.

They were like monkeys in a zoo, caged and mocking the visitors outside.

Alas.

The harmonious atmosphere was broken. Chi Jingyuan helplessly glanced at the few scumbags beside him, and sighed inwardly.

After a while, shee who had just arrived and gone out for rehearsal came back. The two male groups who were very familiar with each other naturally couldn't be quiet sitting together, and not far away, several girls from Red Velvet saw this situation.

They were actually right next to their own seats this whole time and had already seen both Ji Changwook and Jennie, but under Kang Se-ri's lead, they had been very discreet and hadn't come over. Now that things were getting heated, the few of them sauntered over to join in, sitting on the side listening and occasionally chiming in.

Feeling the shift in the atmosphere and the surge in people, Ji-seong and Joo-hyuk exchanged glances, chuckled softly at each other, then turned to join the crowd. The three groups under s Entertainment began chattering excitedly, making this area quite lively for a moment, drawing the unintentional gazes of other artists in the resting room.

As the time neared four or five in the afternoon, the audience started to arrive. Sounds from outside grew louder and louder until it was six o'clock in the evening, the scheduled starting time for the performance.

There are displays in the lounge where you can see the stage performance and situation from backstage. However, the screen size is not large, just like a big TV. Sharing one screen with so many people is quite crowded, and it's a bit blurry if you're too far away.

However, the Dream Concert was live-streamed online in real time, so many people didn't bother watching the display screens and just watched the livestream on their phones instead.

As soon as the show started, LITE, who was hosting today's event, led dozens of dancers in a group performance to get the crowd warmed up. Meanwhile, the announcer over the sound system used electronic sounds to play out the names of all the performers one by one. When popular groups were called, their fans cheered excitedly, while less well-known groups fell silent instantly. The contrast in treatment was quite obvious.

Amidst waves of cheers, this year's Dream Concert officially kicked off.

The first group to perform was Red Velvet, who had been warming up backstage. They performed "Ice Cream Cake," a song that has now completely replaced their two digital singles from last year and become their signature track.

Being the first to appear out of nearly thirty performers over a four-hour show, this arrangement felt a little underwhelming. After all, in these kind of concerts, popularity usually dictates later appearances. It's unclear how the organizers came to this decision.

Qi Jingyuan thinks that according to Lai Debebe's current popularity, even if it's because of seniority, she should perform in the middle or front section. After all, there are several performance guests today who debuted this year.

But he wasn't bothered by those details anymore. After his first performance, things felt much easier. He could relax and enjoy the remaining four hours of the event. It wasn't bad at all.

Following the performance by Debebe, the next act to take the stage was the girl group nees. The moment they stepped onto the platform, they presented a striking contrast to Red Velvet, who had just finished their set.

"Wow! There are so many audience members today!"

"I was sweating buckets, so nervous."

After the performance, she returned to the backstage dressing room. As soon as she came back, Jiang Seqi and Sun Shengwan were both fanning themselves with their hands while blushing excitedly, discussing the feeling of the just-concluded performance.

This is still their first time participating in the Dream Concert since their debut. The overwhelming feeling of performing for 60,000 people is truly exhilarating and moving.

He just stared at the Red Velvet members, all wearing cake-themed dresses and of similar height, then glanced back at his phone where they were performing. With long legs swinging back and forth, Jiyeong’s mouth twitched slightly, but he remained silent.

>

After watching a while of the live stream, he felt slightly bored. After all, he had been in the industry for several years and was familiar with everyone. He wasn't as enthusiastic about idol stage performances as fans were, especially when some mediocre boy groups appeared. He lost interest as soon as he heard the song intro.

If it's a pretty female idol, that's fine. Even if they aren't very popular, at least you can appreciate them with admiration and see if there are any members who make a deep impression on you.

And the styling of the male groups performing at the opening was immediately familiar to him. The suit and school uniform style was a complete recreation of their EXO's 2013 "Growl" era. Ever since then, the suit and school uniform style has been incredibly popular, with many newly debuted boy groups trying out this style in both their songs and appearance.

It's been two years, and no other boy group has managed to capture that same level of cool and stunning impact that EXO had in their "Growl" era with their suits and school uniforms.

Just as he was lost in thought, a few people beside him suddenly burst into laughter. Wu Shixun elbowed him: "This song's lyrics have you in them..."

What's wrong

Chi Jingyuan came back to his senses and heard their laughter, feeling a little puzzled.

"Look at the stage."

Under their guidance, Chi Jingyuan's attention returned to the live stream on the screen. He discovered that at this time, the group performing was bou, a girl group that debuted in the same year as Red Velvet.

I've seen them twice at singing competition shows and greeted them, but I wasn't familiar with them. Besides knowing solb, Ji-seong even couldn't recall each member's name.

The combination's popularity is average, not very hot, and there are no major members. He doesn't quite understand what the focus of Wu Shixun and others is on.

You're not Jiang Dongyuan, Kim Soo-hyun, or Park Seo-joon, but I can't help but like you.

But after a while, when he read this line in the lyrics, he understood, and let out a light chuckle.

This song's lyrics mention his name, placing him alongside two very famous actors. He has become a representative of male gods and ideal boyfriends.

It's interesting that his name appears in the girl group's song, and he finds it amusing that it exists in this form. He watched their performance with a chuckle, then asked, "When was this song released Is it new"

"I don't know, I haven't heard this one before. This is the first time I've heard it. Let me check... This song came out in March. Is the creator a fan of yours They even compared you to Jiang Dongyuan"

"Of course, I can't compare to the seniors... as long as I'm more handsome than you, that's fine... What about this song Why hasn't it caused any discussion" Ji Jingyuan blinked in confusion. He was also listening to the whole song seriously for the first time.

"... Wu Shih-hsien first curled his lip, then spread his hands and remained silent, but his meaning was very clear."

Of course, it's because of Lake Biwa...

Chi Jingyuan also nodded in understanding. He still smiled and appreciated the girl group's performance, but some ideas were sparked in his mind.

It's really interesting to hear lyrics with real people's names in them.

…………

Four hours of performance time is indeed quite long, with dozens of artists taking turns to perform on stage.

After a quick glance, Chi Jingyuan found that many of the groups with low popularity and little-known names actually had quite good skills. Although their singing couldn't be heard clearly due to half-open or closed microphones, and the songs weren't very catchy, their stage performance was impressive. Some male groups even danced more synchronously than EXO, clearly having put in a lot of effort in practice.

It's a shame that their popularity is average and they don't have many fans. Some group names, even Chi Jingyuan, I haven't heard of.

Of course, these several groups are mostly a little lacking in appearance. Even with delicate makeup, their looks can only be said to be average at best. There's also no particularly striking charm about the members that would make them memorable at first glance.

That's just very ordinary.

Even being an idol isn't that simple. Personality, looks, and skills at least need one to be exceptionally outstanding. Being ordinary is a fatal flaw.

Of course, the relationship with the company's operations is also very important. It can only be said that the competition in the world of island songs is still too fierce.

As time passed, the sky had darkened, most of the performers had finished their acts, leaving only a few of the most popular groups to perform as the finale.

Chi Jingyuan raised his hand and let out a breath, stretching lazily with a small movement. He glanced around left and right.

The lounge was packed with people. Assistants and idols who had just finished performing bustled about, a cacophony of sounds filling the air.

Various fragrances converge, what should have been a pleasurable scent is now slightly overwhelming and even pungent. Yet, many people don't find it unpleasant, instead harboring a sense of fondness for this contradictory feeling.

At a glance, all kinds of long legs walk around everywhere. A slight pause in your gaze can appreciate the pleasing whiteness and slenderness. The generous shorts paired with delicate makeup make everyone who gets close feel full of charm. The noisy air outside and the non-stop cheers also drive the indoor atmosphere to be hot. People in it can't help but raise their body temperature, adding some thoughts.

It's no wonder idols interact so much, in this kind of atmosphere and situation, it's really quite easy to see eye-to-eye.

Chi Jingyuan felt several pairs of eyes watching him, now and then. He sighed inwardly.

Especially after he finished styling his hair in the afternoon, and dyed it a temporary silver color again like in that video, this feeling became even stronger.

"Ok, ready!"

Just at that moment, a staff member rushed in and announced something. The nine members of EXO, who were already stiff from sitting for so long, stood up and followed him out.

……

In the nearby lounge, several familiar girl group members were huddled together gossiping. After several hours of watching, they were all a little tired and no longer paying attention to the stage in front of them.

"Ahhh..."

Just as he was speaking, a sudden, violent scream pierced the air. The sound traveled through several walls and remained startlingly clear, cutting off several people mid-sentence.

Although the fans were very enthusiastic this evening and their support never stopped, the momentum this time was clearly much larger than before. Even in the resting room, we could hear it clearly.

"What's going on Suddenly the sound is so loud"

"Whose turn is it to perform"

"It's probably those boy bands going on stage now, this cheering... I guess it's xo." As she said this, they generally turned their attention to the display screen in the middle of the room. When they saw those familiar faces on the screen, they immediately understood.

And listening to that overwhelming chorus of cheers, my heart couldn't help but surge with a strong feeling of envy and longing.

Today EXO did not perform this month's new song. The company chose "callbaby" as the first stage performance. This popular song, which swept the charts for a month, immediately ignited the atmosphere on stage as soon as the intro sounded, and the long-awaited fans screamed frantically.

Chi Jingyuan's head was buzzing from the sound wave. The cheers were deafening, seeming to be able to pierce the heavens and shatter rocks. Even with his earplugs in, he could hear them clearly, and his eardrums vibrated faintly.

He stood on stage, looking out at the nearly full crowd of close to 70,000. Only a few sections were left empty. Glow sticks and signs illuminated the entire night sky like daylight.

Especially the third-floor stand, which is dedicated by the organizers to fans of the artists attending today. The railings also have nameplates indicating each group.

Logically speaking, the cheering area on the third floor should be a dazzling array of colors, with various combinations of cheering lights vying to shine. However, at this moment, at a glance, the entire third-floor stands are filled with EXO's official color, 'Cosmic Latte', silver-white lights. This place that belongs to all groups has clearly been completely occupied by AeRi.

Roughly estimating, seven out of ten layers are EXO's official color, with two layers being SHEE's lake blue light, and the remaining portion is divided among fans of other groups.

And in other parts of the stadium, silver-white cheering lights are also ubiquitous. Looking at it this way, with about half of the 60,000 people in the entire stadium coming for EXO, it's no wonder that the entire stadium immediately erupted when they appeared.

What's so good about those girl groups These Alices have really been waiting for a long time.

The deafening roar of the crowd barely ceased. Although it was a crucial match, under the starlight sea formed by countless silver lights, it felt just like an EXO solo concert. One glance revealed nothing but his name and support. This overwhelming cheer made members like Ji-Seong feel deeply moved. Their dancing movements became even more intense.

There was also a sense of surprise. After "callbaby" ended, everyone spontaneously bowed to express their thanks.

"The next song, 'Roar'."

As Jin Jun-Mian's excited shout echoed through the venue, the atmosphere reached a whole new level of intensity.

……

Li Zaixiong was driving his taxi on Jinshan Road. After a while, he hadn't picked up any passengers, which made him idle and somewhat anxious.

Just as he was stopped at a red light, feeling a little bored, suddenly a wave of sound came crashing from afar.

The sound was deafening, shaking the very clouds in the sky. Just one listen told him it must have been formed by countless people shouting in unison to create such a colossal noise. The immense waves of sound pierced through the air and walls, and even through the car door, directly into his ears, making his head spin for a moment.

The sound waves that echoed through the night sky seemed to create an echo even on the wide open streets. The volume was so great that it felt as if the ground itself was faintly trembling. Li Zaiyong's hand gripping the steering wheel trembled in surprise and slipped, his whole body shaking with fright.

"What's going on"

"What's happening Is there a war Are they coming from the north"

He trembled all over, gripping the steering wheel tightly again. Then, muttering to himself with a look of panic on his face, he stared out the window towards where the sound was coming from.

Some vehicles nearby also seemed startled, their horns blaring in succession as if reflecting their unease.

And a few seconds later, another surge of thunderous cheers erupted, accompanied by some familiar tunes:

"I eu-reu-reeu-reu-reong you."

"I love you."

This rendition of "Roar" by tens of thousands of voices stood out in the night sky, simultaneously revealing the source of that just-heard colossal sound.

But Li Zaiyong, after hearing this, was stunned. After a long while, he suddenly slapped the steering wheel hard. A harsh horn blared, piercingly loud. He turned his head towards the direction of the World Cup Stadium and cursed viciously:

"Oh, **..."

……

The much-anticipated annual Dream Concert concluded under the final all-star chorus, bidding farewell to the audience. The stage performances of the night sparked numerous discussions, as nearly thirty artist groups participated in the concert. With countless fans buzzing about their favorite idols' stages and makeup looks, the event generated a palpable wave of excitement.

But the top trending topic on the entertainment section of Weibo the next morning was #EXOsupport.

Seeing this hot search, many people couldn't help but click on it out of curiosity.

Yesterday's performance had a very enthusiastic audience from start to finish, with screams that never stopped. After EXO took the stage, all the fans erupted with the power and passion they had been building up for a long time. The cheers were so loud it was unimaginable.

For about ten minutes, people who were near the stadium also left comments online, claiming they had been there. Many said they were startled by the massive sound waves at that moment and almost sat down on their butts directly before they could hear clearly that it was a concert cheering session for "Rage."

"The sound was truly deafening. I've been to many concerts before, but this one was the most impactful. I live two streets away from the World Cup Stadium and when I heard it, the ground felt like it was shaking."

“Totally shocked! I never knew cheering sounds could be this intimidating... At first, I was quite scared, but after hearing it was "Roar," I understood and even sang along a few lines.”

These fans are crazy, haven't they ever heard music or seen a person before They were screaming so loudly, I was driving and my hands shook on the steering wheel, almost causing an accident.

Amidst the heated discussions, a video uploaded to YouTube last night was also discovered. It was recorded by a resident living in an apartment complex near the World Cup stadium.

The video is very simple, it was filmed at his home facing the stadium. The key point is that his place is two streets away from the stadium, but in the video, even from such a distance, the huge cheers are still clearly audible. You can really see his house's windows trembling slightly, it sounds incredibly powerful.

From his video shooting angle, one could also see the topmost tier of spectators in the stadium. The sight of countless people waving their silver-white glow sticks in unison left a deep impression as well.

Because this trending topic caught the interest of both passersby and viewers, the video garnered a lot of clicks and views after being unearthed. This mutual reinforcement further fueled the popularity of the term. After watching it, a profound sense of awe emerged that was hard to describe.

"Ai jia, is this cheering scene really real It's so exaggerated, isn't it"

“I watched the entire livestream yesterday. During the “Roar” stage, the members became EXO-L’s backup dancers the whole time. The director kept focusing on the audience, which was hilarious... And even after the sound was muted, you could still feel how loud the cheers were. I didn't expect the real situation to be so shocking.”

"Only EXO can do this. The goddesses are too amazing!"

"To be able to turn a massive concert like 'Dream Concert,' which features dozens of artists, into your own private concert, that's EXO, right"

}

"I can only say that we Big Bang should be able to, too."

"Indeed, BigBang's concert needs police cars parked nearby, just in case those guys get too high and need immediate assistance."

Girls' Generation should also work, their stage for "IGOTABOY" has a very famous fancam.

"Last year's slump, Girls' Generation is already outdated. Please don't come out and compete with juniors for popularity, the octogenarian aunties in their 30s!"

Amidst much discussion, this dream concert's cheering scene has become another memorable spectacle for EXO. Some fans and well-wishers directly crowned this event as a model of fan support from the peninsula, setting a benchmark for how fans cheer on idol groups.

Without mentioning the various displays of vanity and bragging by Ailee online, other artists and fans who see them can't help but feel envy, jealousy, and dissatisfaction. Exo participated in the Lotte family concert stage the next day, performing two consecutive large-scale concerts back to back which is indeed tiring for both body and mind.

The scene of the Lotte Family Concert was not as large as yesterday's Family Concert. Although the Olympic Stadium has a larger capacity, it usually holds around 70,000 people and can reach 100,000 at full capacity, but because this Lotte Family Concert mainly receives overseas audiences and is held consecutively for three days, the attendance rate is far lower than yesterday's performance.

After finishing the performance, he started preparing for this comeback and album. At noon on the 25th, s officially released the first promotional poster for EXO's fourth single album "l", and also revealed the name of the title track:

boywithv

Firstly published on the Chinese Novel Networkthe Osaka Castle Theater. XO's nine members were scattered across the venue, singing their parts along with the accompaniment while smiling and waving to enthusiastic fans, clapping, and interacting u...