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Chapter 344: Concert (8)

“Mr. Eden! Look over here!" they shouted.

I was well aware of the public\'s keen interest in Eden’s true identity from the buzzing on social media and whispered rumors, but the intensity of the attention caught me off guard. It was not common for non-musical broadcasts to attract such fervent media attention.

“Look toward the right!"

“Please make a heart with your fingers! Yes, like that!"

This demanding and somewhat harsh treatment was unlike anything I experienced while with Chronos. The enormous suit made me clumsy, and despite the mask, or perhaps because of it, I hesitated to strike a pose. This gave me the appearance of a non-celebrity since this was, supposedly, Eden’s first time in front of cameras.

A journalist positioned slightly apart from the others shouted toward me, almost scolding. “Mr. Eden! A word, please! Aren’t you aware it’s customary to say, \'thank you\' or \'happy to see you here?’ Is this because you are new to this industry?"

I knew the protocol that greetings were expected, but was it necessary to be so rigid while posing? There were journalists who relished in tormenting newcomers.

Complying with their commands, I awkwardly shifted left and right. I finally managed a mumbled \'thank you\' before hurrying inside.

The moment I entered the studio and finished a quick rehearsal, I retreated to the dressing room where Reina was waiting. Only then did I get a brief respite to remove the mask and catch my breath.

“Phew.”

Holding the mask in my hands and steadying my breathing, Reina came over and sat beside me. “Hyun-Woo, that must have been tough, right?"

“It’s okay. I’m managing it alright." Although I said I was fine, the solitude of performing incognito weighed on me.

Shedding the label of Chronos and operating as an unknown artist was disconcerting. It was like performing without a safety net.

“Hyun-Woo, we will soon go around and greet everyone. You know how to handle that, but still, be cautious," Reina advised.

“Yes, I will be very careful.”

Together, we made our rounds. I was still veiled in a secrecy so profound that not even the production crew or the other celebrities could guess my true identity. We mingled and greeted everyone as if I were just another participant, ensuring no hints of my identity leaked.

“Since Eden is officially listed under our agency, all appearance fees are initially directed to us," Reina whispered during our rounds. “That way, the production team won’t figure out who you are."

As we navigated through the bustling studio, some people tried to probe into Eden’s identity. However, Reina’s presence dissuaded any deep inquiries. After all, her stature in the entertainment industry commanded immense respect. Even the production team respected her because she was considered a senior figure even among established singers and actors.

After we finished with the greetings, we returned to the dressing room to await our call to set. Reina turned to me with a serious expression. “Hyun-Woo, never underestimate the fans. They are observant and astute."

“Yes, I know.” I was aware that my name was already circulating as a likely candidate behind the mask. Discussions and speculations about my identity were rampant online with theories and confirmations swirling in the fan communities.

This was happening not only in various online communities, but also on UTube. There were videos titled “Why Eden is Definitely Suh Hyun-Woo from Chronos." Of course, since I was not the only one suspected, hiding like this thankfully wasn\'t entirely meaningless. The speculation that I might be Eden was spreading among those interested in idols, especially the Rings.

Particularly, since Eden debuted during a break for concert preparations and vacations, people seemed to think it was more likely to be me. It made sense, really.

Anyway, Reina\'s advice was to always be cautious since there were people watching the show who already presumed that I was Eden.

Knock, knock.

At that moment, a knock on the door interrupted us. I quickly flipped my mask back on.

“Yes!" Reina called out.

The door opened, and a staff member peered in. “Oh, Reina. I was looking for you. You are needed on set. We’re ready to start filming."

Reina stood up after patting my shoulder and offering words of encouragement. “You got this, Eden.”

“Thank you.” My voice was muffled behind the mask. As Reina waved goodbye and exited the dressing room, the manager who stayed behind started referring to me as Eden too.

“Eden, you can remove your mask while you wait here. Just be careful when you go out."

“Understood!"

“Due to the nature of the broadcast, there will be long waiting periods. Aren\'t you thirsty?"

“No, I\'m fine."

I showed my water bottle and plugged earbuds into my ears. The show was called Introduce My Singer. Each panelist brings a newcomer or unknown artist to introduce to the audience. These performers sing songs chosen through audience requests and votes, competing without any particular theme or commonality. The performers ranked from first to third by the audience votes, along with the panelists who introduced them, receive a prize of ten million won and the opportunity to appear in the next episode.

I was a new singer appearing in episode forty-three of Introduce My Singer, recommended by none other than Reina. While I might have made it onto this top-rated SES entertainment program as a member of Chronos, appearing alone would have been impossible without Reina\'s support. Therefore, I needed to perform flawlessly.

The song assigned to me was "In a Bronze-Colored Teahouse" by Park Sang. It was a song from around the 1970s that should be sung softly, like a young man reading a letter to his first love on a summer night. Originally, the song didn’t require high notes, but the arrangement had been modified to allow for a climax in the latter part.

Emotions had to be conveyed, and the high notes needed to be executed well due to the arrangement. I was concerned, but Reina had assured me this was the perfect song for me. And true to her words, as soon as I started practicing, I thought, \'This is easier than I expected.\'

The tone and emotion of the song fit my voice and style so well that singing it felt effortless to me despite its complexity.

I had been holed up in the dressing room for a while. Finally, a staff member knocked on the door and informed me it was my turn.

“Let\'s go."

Walking down the corridor to the studio with Eden\'s staff, I could feel everyone\'s eyes on me. Being the only masked performer among the contestants made me a natural focal point.

“Is that Eden?"

“Wow, Eden\'s wearing a mask?"

“I wondered what he would look like, and there he is."

Naturally, the mask and my actual appearance became the topic of murmurs and curious glances. I heard both mocking and amazed comments, but I pretended not to notice. They weren’t meant for my ears anyway.

“Eden, please come in!"

“Hello, this is Eden."

I greeted everyone as I entered the backstage area and noticed all eyes were now on me, including those who already ended their performance.

"Hello, Eden. Nice to meet you for the first time." One of the performers, Oh Yoo-Wol, looked curiously at my masked face and the exaggerated shoulders of my suit. Oh Yoo-Wol was a vocalist for a band who debuted just over a year and a half ago.

We were about the same age and had debuted around the same time, but he was with a smaller agency and hadn\'t seen much limelight. However, as soon as he secured a second-place finish for three consecutive appearances starting from episode forty, the public’s recognition skyrocketed. It seemed he had also secured an appearance on the yet-to-air episode forty-two.

Since I was officially Eden and not Suh Hyun-Woo from Chronos, it was only proper that I greeted him respectfully as a junior artist.

“Hello, Senior. This is Eden."

Oh Yoo-Wol brightened up and said, “Wow, this is the first time a junior has greeted me like this. It feels really new and nice." He gently patted my exaggeratedly padded shoulder as he passed by. “Good luck, Eden. I will be watching from behind."

“Thank you."

Oh Yoo-Wol walked away without any visible nerves or concern about the rankings. Was this the carefree attitude of someone who had secured appearing on the show three times before?

I straightened up and focused on the stage.

“Now, let\'s introduce our next \'My Pick Singer!’ She is a top trendsetter in Korea, wow, who in Korea hasn\'t heard her songs? Everybody, let’s welcome Reina!"

Her voice followed smoothly after the host\'s introduction. “Good evening, I\'m Reina. Tonight, my \'My Pick Singer\' is..." Reina paused to create a dramatic moment perfect for a sound effect on TV to heighten the suspense. “I\'ve personally chosen and produced this singer, Eden."

Excited murmurs burst from the panel and audience.

“Oh, I\'ve heard a lot about Eden," the host Seo Han chimed in.

“Umm, isn\'t he the one whose face hasn\'t been revealed yet? I heard he is a faceless singer."

“Yes, that\'s correct. His face hasn\'t been revealed yet, but today! Especially for this program!" Reina paused again to stir the audience into a buzz, as fellow panelists reacted with anticipatory noises.

“...We won’t unveil his true identity. Hehe..."

“Ah, Reina! Don’t do that!” Seo Han shook the cue card he was holding. “There was no mention of this in the script, but you had me thinking you were actually going to tell us who he is!”

“Haha, I’m sorry! We won’t reveal him, but I have brought him here. He is a very talented guy, and I wanted to show you his live performance.”

“Alright, sounds great! Now, could you please introduce him properly, Reina?”

“Yes, for sure! I will introduce ‘My Pick Singer.’ This is... Eden!”

As Reina introduced me, the stage lights went out.

“Eden, please come onto the stage!”

“Yes!”

The previously buzzing audience quieted down. I followed the staff’s lead onto the stage, and soon, a video introducing Eden played on the large screens to both sides.