CHAPTER 269: FAN MEET (1)

However, when Rayen asked Iris about it, she just denied it. Her eyes were fixed on Rayen with a strange gaze.

’Don’t look at me like that! I’m just getting desperate, okay?!’

Still, no matter how desperate Rayen was, no one admitted that they hated and bore him a grudge. The person in question was still a mystery.

So, who’s lying?

Rayen sighed.

’It’s not good lying to your members. Where’s the harmony in our team?’

Despite Rayen’s doubts, the members acted as usual the next day. There was no proof of anyone ever lying.

Rayen was just about to give up when Plotter brought them the news of today’s group activity.

"Online fan meeting?" the group simultaneously muttered.

Plotter nodded. "Yes. We’ve selected a few of your fans who’ve voted for you significantly during the show, as well as purchased your debut albums. But since some of your fans are located abroad, we have no choice but to hold it as an online fan meeting."

...

Later that day, the online fan meeting finally proceeded.

Each member would have to meet three of their VIP fans on IdolVerse. The platform has a private room feature where the idol could converse with their fan one-on-one. The selected fans would only have to queue in the waiting room address that Flower Garden management provided them and wait for their turn.

"Whew..." Rayen exhaled in a deep breath.

He constantly glanced at the clock to see if it was time already. When the clock struck at the right time, he immediately entered the private room designated for him.

Before he accepted the first fan, he made sure that he looked presentable first. A few seconds later, Rayen finally let the first fan in.

[ISupportHarYen]

The corners of Rayen’s mouth twitched as he read the fan’s username.

The loading spinner appeared as IdolVerse established the connection for the two people. It took a long time before the call connected.

As soon as the spinner disappeared, Rayen became too stunned to speak.

’Why... why is she here?!’

Ayumi’s large eyes stared at Rayen.

"Am... Am I mistaken?" Rayen asked himself.

Ayumi tilted her head. "Mistaken about what?"

"Why are you the one who entered?" Rayen blurted.

"Because I queued up first?" Ayumi blinked.

Yeah, that made sense, but...

"That’s not what I meant!" Rayen exclaimed.

"Then what?"

Rayen struggled to answer. In fact, he was even struggling to form the right words in his mind.

’Her username, though...’

With how long Rayen was unresponsive, Ayumi’s impatience finally showed.

"Aren’t you going to do some fan service?"

Rayen blinked. "Why?"

Ayumi also blinked. "Isn’t it natural? I purchased lots of your albums and also voted for you during the show."

This time, Rayen was able to process her words clearly.

"You mean... This call isn’t a mistake?"

Ayumi shook her head. "No. Why do you think so? I’m sure I queued up the right way. There’s no way I would be mistaken. It’s you that I chose to meet instead of Yeo Haru."

Hearing her words, Rayen’s face flushed.

’What the hell is happening?’

He was sure that wasn’t what he was asking, but with her words, it’s too embarrassing to even correct her, so Rayen just let it be.

Besides, wasn’t there another problem? Didn’t she and her sponsor just try to antagonize them during the meeting to snatch the title track producer position?

But now... How could she suddenly become a fan of the person she once went against?

Right... When the World Immortal decided on their title track, didn’t she easily give up back then? Was that actually intentional on her part?

Rayen looked at Ayumi’s large eyes. They seemed weirdly innocent and gullible.

In the end, Rayen only sighed. He gave up.

"Alright. What’s your request?"

Finally, Ayumi let out a smile.

"Can you do aegyo for me?" Ayumi asked, her eyes wider and brighter than usual.

Unexpectedly, her request was normal. In fact, it was too normal for Rayen’s liking.

’She’s a HarYen shipper!’

It could be said that after Rayen encountered AeMist, his impression with these BL shippers had become a bit crooked.

Well, at least her request didn’t border on the kind of requests that AeMist did back then.

Dazed, Rayen executed a practiced gesture. After Plotter announced that they would hold an online fan meet, Rayen had prepared a few sets of Aegyo moves to be able to satisfy the fans who supported him so much.

It was the least thing he could do for the fans.

But doing it with Ayumi... Rayen’s face gradually turned hot.

Just then, he heard a shutter.

When he came to, he stared at Ayumi.

Noticing his strange gaze, Ayumi said, "Oh, I took a screenshot. If you don’t mind."

"... I don’t."

"You’re actually cute, Rayen," Ayumi said, smiling as she inspected the screenshots she just took.

Hearing someone he personally knew blurt that out right in his face was so embarrassing! And it even came from a very cute girl!

After getting satisfied, Ayumi turned her full attention back to Rayen.

"So, Ayumi..." Rayen said.

"Ah, Ayu is fine."

"A-Ayu... what else do you want me to do?"

"Nothing. I just want to stare at your face."

Rayen pursed his lips, his face still red.

Ayumi took another screenshot. "But I do have a question."

"What is it?"

"Who’s the member you love the most in the team?"

Rayen was stumped.

’Do I really have to answer that?’

Having no choice, Rayen finally opened his mouth. "W-Well, if I really have to choose, it’ll be Xu Jiji. He’s the sweetest member out of everyone."

"Not Haru?" Ayumi tilted her head.

"Definitely not Haru."

"Alright." Ayumi pouted for a moment, her voice a little bit gloomy. However, a second later, her voice turned bright again. "Jiji is also cute, but I don’t approve your relationship! He’s just a baby!"

’Who said I’m in a relationship with him?! And besides, isn’t Yeo Haru younger than Jiji?’

"It’s a bit unfortunate, but I won’t finish the ten minutes allocated for me. I just snuck out of my manager’s watch."

"....." Rayen was once again rendered speechless.

Ayumi didn’t wait for him to respond and left immediately as soon as she finished speaking. Her image disappeared from the private room.

Exhausted, Rayen leaned back on his chair, his mind swirling in countless thoughts.

Since his meeting with Ayumi didn’t consume the entire allocated time, Rayen just used it to calm himself.

A few minutes later, he let out a deep breath and got ready to accept the next VIP fan.

[Prickles_Headmaster]

’I guess it’s a normal fan...’

Just like the last time, the video of the fan loaded for a few seconds before appearing.

As soon as it finished loading, Rayen was greeted by a pair of ocean blue eyes. The camera was zoomed in, so he could only see these eyes as they stared at him, bright and full of innocence.

Just then, the second fan finally pulled the phone away from their face, letting Rayen see their entire face.

Upon seeing it, however, Rayen’s eyes widened.

’Why... Why does this person look like a certain someone?’

"I-I-I-I c-can’t really believe this..." the person stuttered.

"Plotter?" Rayen blurted out the name that he thought looked similar to this person.

Wasn’t Plotter his super fan? Is this really him?

But as the writer of the show, Plotter couldn’t vote for the participants himself. So, does that mean he purchased their album in bulk just to have a slot in the online fan meet?

’Is he crazy?’

"H-Huh?" ’Plotter’ responded.

Hearing it the second time, Rayen finally realized. The voice of the person doing the video call with him was completely different. Unlike the usual distorted voice, this person actually had a lovely maiden’s voice.

Once again, Rayen was stunned. He blinked in confusion.

’What did I just hear? Are my headphones malfunctioning?’

Rayen even made sure to tap his headphones a few more times to check if it was an equipment malfunction, but the voice of the person talking didn’t change.

"Uh, are your headphones broken? Can’t you hear me?" the person asked.

"You... You’re not Plotter?"

The fan tilted their head. "Uh... I’m pretty sure I’m not called Plotter?"

"Then what are you called?"

"I’m Hiraya."

They were indeed not Plotter... But why do they look like Plotter?

’Damn. Is this a dream?’

Suddenly, the fan once again opened their mouth.

"Is Plotter the name my original incarnation told you?"

"....."