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Chapter 1489 Q&A
Chapter 1489 Q&A
"Ah ah ah ah ah!"
EXO! EXO!
As the stage for "DNA" came to a close and the last note faded into the air, the cheers in the studio did not diminish at all; instead, they surged in like a tidal wave.
Chi Jingyuan straightened up, slightly out of breath. He looked up at the familiar sea of silver below the stage, watching the fans' faces flushed with excitement and their light sticks waving incessantly. A long-lost sense of accomplishment and excitement slowly brewed in his heart like a warm current.
It's been too long since I've returned, too long since I've stood on such a stage, too long since I've felt such fervent unity. This feeling is both strange and familiar.
It felt so unfamiliar that it made his nose tingle, yet so familiar that it made his whole body feel hot.
As the curtain fell on the performance, following the usual practice of music shows, all the artists who had performed walked onto the stage, lined up neatly, and prepared for the announcement of the winner.
All the idols who stepped onto the stage bowed to EXO, and the EXO members also tacitly stepped aside and stood at the back of the line, showing no intention of stealing the spotlight.
Park Chanyeol and Kim Jong-in, who were guest MCs, walked to the very center, while Ji Kyung-won stood in the back row with the other members, his eyes slightly lowered as he adjusted his breathing.
Suddenly, he felt many eyes turn to them from all around.
EXO, who debuted six years ago, are truly a legend in K-pop. Especially since they haven't had a comeback for over a year, many newcomers who debuted in the last year or two are encountering them for the first time.
For some people, this is truly a legendary senior figure, which naturally arouses great curiosity.
You can't feel it just by listening to people talk about it; you can only understand what the so-called "top-tier boy band" means by experiencing it firsthand.
Moreover, this is popularity after a period of decline.
"So, who is the winner of this year's Inkigayo...?"
Kim Jongin, holding the microphone, deliberately paused for a few seconds to build suspense. The cheers from the audience rang out again until he smiled and announced the name: "Momoland, 'BBoom BBoom'!"
As soon as the words were spoken, the members of Momoland were stunned. The next second, surprise and excitement flooded their faces. Some couldn't help but cover their mouths, their eyes instantly turning red. Others hugged each other excitedly and jumped around, their faces full of disbelief.
This song, released at the beginning of the year, became a viral sensation online and was widely sung, but it hadn't actually won many number one awards, as it had been consistently overtaken by senior artists like Twice, Red Velvet, and Sunmi.
To secure this hard-won number one spot during EXO's comeback is undoubtedly a tremendous affirmation for them.
…………
"I initially thought the style of 'DNA' was right up my alley—fresh, youthful, and cool—I couldn't stop watching it on repeat. But after watching 'The Eve,' I suddenly realized that sexiness is more appealing to me!"
"No other style compares to sexiness!"
"Yuan, what kind of god are you! Your look in 'The Eve' was so incredibly sexy, and in 'DNA' you instantly transformed into a refreshing young man. Both looks are so perfect, how am I supposed to choose?"
"You actually went ahead and voted?"
"The choreography of the nine members is amazing. The double helix shape of 'DNA' and the wave of 'THE EVE' are all incredibly precise. This is the best boy group ever."
"I thought their popularity would decline after their comeback, but I didn't expect their popularity to be even higher than before. EXO-Ls' fighting spirit is still online, and the Silver Ocean will never be absent!"
"There's not a single bad track on the entire album! 'THE EVE,' a BBS track, actually resonates with me more than the title track. EXO, are you really going to go this far?!"
EXO's first stage performance concluded successfully, and the buzz surrounding their comeback swept across the entire internet, with major social media platforms and related communities discussing their performance.
After their first stage performance, EXO officially announced their return to the Korean music scene, with a series of activities and schedules coming one after another, keeping them so busy that it was hard to breathe. Ji Kyung-won was especially busy.
Besides his group activities, he also had to juggle filming "The Spy"... He once again encountered a situation where his comeback activities and filming schedules overlapped.
But there was no other way; they just happened to be filming at the same time, and neither side could afford to relax. Fortunately, the crew kindly accommodated his schedule and adjusted the filming schedule, so it was just a little hard work.
EXO's comeback was like a boulder thrown into the calm music scene, creating huge waves.
At the same time, a powerful siphon effect is naturally formed...
They are extremely popular, accounting for almost 70% of the topics in the entire music industry. Whether it's music show performances, variety show interviews, or discussions on social media, they are everywhere.
This greatly increased the exposure of all the programs they participated in. Almost every program featuring EXO saw a significant increase in viewership. Even a brief guest appearance could boost the program's popularity.
The TV stations were naturally overjoyed, but the idols who made their comebacks at the same time were left speechless with bitterness. The popularity that should have belonged to them was firmly occupied by EXO, and their topics, chart rankings, and exposure were all suppressed and unable to rise.
It feels like I've gone back to the days when EXO dominated me.
Many people are privately complaining... They said EXO's popularity had declined and they were past their prime, so why is their comeback still like a dark cloud hanging over their heads?
Three days after EXO's comeback, on March 12, GOT7 officially made their comeback with the release of their eighth mini-album, "Eyes On You," which includes seven songs, including the title track "Look."
JYP Entertainment has gone to great lengths for this comeback, releasing individual promotional photos in advance, launching pre-launch live streams, creating buzz across the internet, and employing a variety of promotional methods to secure a place in the competitive boy group scene.
However, reality was not so kind. After the album's release, although press releases were everywhere, boasting that the album had topped the iTunes album charts in 20 regions,... it didn't really attract much attention on the Korean Peninsula.
Despite the fans' best efforts to boost the charts, they secretly pushed the album's songs to the top of various music charts in the early hours of the 12th.
But as soon as it was light, EXO-Ls discovered this and immediately launched a full-scale counterattack. In just a few hours, they pushed all of GOT7's songs off the charts and took back the top spots, completely suppressing GOT7's popularity and relegating them to the background in the EXO comeback craze.
Amidst all the hard work, Wednesday, March 14th arrived in the blink of an eye. At 11:10 PM, countless fans were glued to their television sets.
Today's guests on "Golden Fishery Radio Star" are EXO, marking their first appearance on a talk show since their comeback.
For EXO-Ls, their idol has been away from Peninsula variety shows for far too long.
The studio was dimly lit, and the four MCs, Kim Gu-ra, Kim Gook-jin, Yoon Jong-shin, and Cho Kyu-hyun, were already seated. The camera then panned to the nine members of EXO making their entrance.
The group, dressed in simple and casual clothes, sat down in a row, their faces showing relaxed smiles.
Although it had been a long time since he had appeared on a talk show, he didn't seem out of practice.
After exchanging greetings, the show began quickly. Kim Gu-ra spoke first, his tone casual and slightly sarcastic: "To be honest, I didn't really want to invite these guests today."
Jin Guozhen immediately chimed in, looking puzzled, "Eh? Why?"
"Because if EXO were invited, the recording session would turn into a fan meeting."
Kim Gu-ra rolled her eyes: "When the PD told me, my first reaction was that our show isn't 'Inkigayo,' are you guys here to perform 'DNA'? I'm going to take a nap first."
Yoon Jong-shin immediately added, "The key point is that I heard their comeback immediately ignited K-pop, taking the number one spot on all the charts. They can win without even performing on stage. As a musician, it hurts me to see people like that on a show."
Cho Kyuhyun gently smoothed things over from the side: "Alright, alright, they're here to promote their product. Give me some face, I should at least say something..."
"you are?"
Kim Gu and the others looked at him sideways.
"He is our very close older brother."
The EXO members standing nearby were trying to suppress their laughter, while Byun Baekhyun tried to smooth things over.
"That's right, XO and I are very close."
Cho Kyuhyun proudly puffed out his chest, pretending not to see the disdain of the people around him, and turned to EXO: "XO's albums are selling really well, aren't they?"
As the leader, Kim Junmyeon had just opened his mouth to respond with official rhetoric when Kim Gura interrupted him: "Stop! Don't use official answers. I know you guys too well. You always start with 'thank you for your support' and 'we will continue to work hard.' We've heard enough of those kinds of things. Give us something fresh, just tell the truth."
"Hmm...very good."
Kim Junmyeon paused for a moment, hesitated for a few seconds, and then smiled honestly.
"Haha, it's impossible to hide it now."
"How many were sold?"
"It's already close to three million copies."
Kim Junmyeon nodded slightly, with a hint of reserve and humility: "As of today, it has reached nearly three million copies."
"MO?"
Three million copies?
The studio erupted in chaos, with the four MCs looking utterly astonished.
"..."
Yoon Jong-shin was silent for a moment, tapping his fingers as if counting something. Cho Kyuhyun, who was next to him, noticed and asked curiously, "Hyung, what are you doing?"
"..."
After a moment of silence, Yoon Jong-shin quietly counted on his fingers: "In all my decades of singing and album sales, is there any more than just one EXO album?"
"Hahaha."
"How about including the toes?"
Cho Kyuhyun and the others burst into laughter, with Kim Gura mocking him mercilessly, causing Yoon Jong-shin's face to darken. He looked at Cho Kyuhyun with displeasure and asked, "Hey, do all of Super Junior's albums combined have as many as EXO's single album?"
Cho Kyuhyun's smile froze. He hesitated for a few seconds, then scratched his head uncertainly: "I... I think there should still be some, right?"
As soon as he finished speaking, thunderous laughter erupted in the studio. The MCs laughed so hard they were doubled over, and the EXO members couldn't help but laugh too. They quickly bowed to Yoon Jong-shin and Cho Kyuhyun to apologize, making the scene lively and hilarious.
Although they haven't been on variety shows for a long time, the EXO members still acted maturely and generously. The MCs also took good care of them. Their seemingly sharp jokes were actually full of goodwill, and the whole show was very smooth, with a joke every few sentences.
Ji Kyung-won's performance on variety shows is not particularly outstanding, but guests often give him topics to discuss, which he can handle, so he gets quite a bit of screen time.
One of the characteristics of this show is that it tackles very sharp topics. Recently, former member Tao lost his lawsuit against SM Entertainment, which became a hot topic in the Peninsula entertainment industry and sparked widespread discussion. The show's producers did not shy away from this sensitive topic.
Kim Gu-ra glanced at the number of people and deliberately asked slowly, "I remember you guys used to have... more than just this many people, right?"
The atmosphere in the studio froze for a moment. Byun Baekhyun glanced at Kim Gura but didn't say anything.
Kim Junmyeon, as the leader, nodded slightly and said in a steady voice, "Yes, we have experienced member changes, but now we are moving forward with a more united attitude."
Kim Gu-ra pressed on relentlessly, "To be honest, did anyone inside ever secretly envy you... thinking, 'Ah, if I left too, maybe I could earn more'? Did anyone have that kind of thought?"
There was some silence around them; this wasn't a good topic to discuss.
Just then, Chi Jingyuan paused, blinked, and looked very innocent: "Actually, I feel... I've already earned quite a lot."
"ah!"
"Hahaha~"
As soon as he finished speaking, the studio erupted in laughter. Kim Gu-ra laughed so hard he slapped the table, Yoon Jong-shin clutched his stomach, and even Cho Kyu-hyun couldn't help but laugh out loud.
Seeing everyone burst into laughter, Chi Jingyuan also showed a faint smile, his eyes were clean and open, and he looked very innocent.
"This is the first time I've heard someone think they earn a lot. How much has Yuan earned?"
Kim Gu-ra laughed for a while before finally calming down. His tone was somewhat indignant as he stood up from his chair and shouted, "Do you think you have more than us?"
"Sit down right away."
Yoon Jong-shin quickly reached out and grabbed Kim Gu-ra, his face full of disgust: "If you want to lose face, you can lose face by yourself, don't drag us into it."
“Yuan has been among the top three earners on the Peninsula Artists Chart every year since 2013, and he has been there every year since.”
Cho Kyuhyun calmly explained, like a news anchor: "It's not an idol ranking, it's a ranking that includes all artists... and XO has been the highest-earning boy group since 15."
"Cough, cough, cough..."
Kim Gu-ra froze on the spot, her smile vanishing instantly. She quickly sat down, picked up the water glass on the table, took a sip, and coughed several times as if she had choked. Pretending nothing had happened, she abruptly changed the subject: "Then, the next question..."
"Hahahahahaha!"
Laughter erupted again in the studio, even louder than before, and the members couldn't help but laugh as well. The awkward atmosphere from before was instantly dissolved by this unexpected comedic scene.
Yoon Jong-shin suddenly spoke up, his tone casual as if he were chatting: "Isn't it a tradition in boy groups to be asked about their ideal type every time they make a comeback? Well then, let's ask that this time." He then turned to look at Kim Gu-ra, as if to say, 'You go first.'
Kim Gu-ra directly asked, "Kai, what is your ideal type?"
Kim Jongin was clearly not expected to be singled out; his lips twitched, and he mumbled, "Um... good personality..."
"I knew it!"
Kim Gu-ra immediately interrupted him, her tone revealing a hint of understanding: "Every time an idol is on a show, when asked about their ideal type, it's always 'a person with a good personality' or 'a kind person.' There's nothing new about it. What exactly constitutes a good personality and what constitutes a bad personality?"
Let me rephrase the question... Who do you think has the worst personality in EXO?
Kim Jongin was instantly stumped by the question. His eyes widened as he glanced around at the other members, but everyone deliberately avoided his gaze, either looking down at the table or turning their heads away. No one was willing to meet his eyes.
"That's a difficult question to answer."
"That's too offensive!"
Kim Gu pulled the snake to finish the job, and the MCs chimed in, "Exactly! It's definitely because their personalities are so different, they don't know which one to choose!"
“Perhaps that’s not the reason…” Chi Jingyuan suddenly asked tentatively.
What is the reason for that?
"Um……"
Chi Jingyuan suppressed a laugh, looked around, and slowly said, "Is it possible that... that person is himself?"
"Hahahahahaha!"
The studio erupted in laughter once again. Kim Gu-ra was laughing so hard he was slapping the table, Yoon Jong-shin was clutching his stomach and almost crying from laughing, and the EXO members were also laughing so hard they were doubled over. Oh Se-hun even patted Kim Jongin on the shoulder, laughing uncontrollably.
Kim Jong-in also cooperated, covering his face with his hands and looking like he was about to die, making the scene very funny.
After laughing for a while, Kim Gura calmed down and continued to ask, "Then let's change the question. In your opinion, who in EXO has the best personality?"
The EXO members exchanged glances, and Kim Junmyeon was the first to raise his hand: "It should be the maknae (youngest member)."
"why?"
"He likes to share. He loves snacks, but he will always share anything delicious or tasty with the other members."
"Very generous, likes to treat others to meals."
"He's rather lazy, so he rarely burdens others."
"Very reliable"
The members chimed in, praising Ji Kyung-won's strengths with obvious approval. Ji Kyung-won, feeling a little embarrassed, suddenly covered his face with his hands, mimicking Jongin's earlier gesture of looking dead, which immediately drew another burst of laughter.
"Hahaha~"
After discussing lighthearted topics, Yoon Jong-shin suggested a "quick Q&A" segment. The rule was that each question could not be considered for more than three seconds and had to be answered immediately, testing the members' reaction speed and honesty.
After discussing for a while, the MCs finally chose Ji Kyung-won to participate in this segment... They know who can really boost ratings and generate buzz.
"Are you ready?"
Yoon Jong-shin looked at the question sheet in his hand, his tone serious.
"Nei~"
Chi Jingyuan nodded quickly, looking very confident.
"First question, how tall are you?"
185cm.
Chi Jingyuan immediately responded.
"Sehun's official height is 184cm, so why do you look shorter than him in photos?"
The second question revealed Yoon Jong-shin's malice; he and several others around him were grinning maliciously.
"He stood on tiptoe."
Without even thinking, Ji Jingyuan answered directly, then paused for a second and added emphatically, "Sehun is like this."
"Hahahahahaha!"
The MCs burst into laughter instantly, and the EXO members also laughed and clapped non-stop. Park Chanyeol and the others even echoed Ji Kyungwon with expressions of 'indeed'.
Wu Sehun instantly bristled, staring at Ji Jingyuan in disbelief. He got up to hit him, but was stopped by Park Chanyeol and Byun Baekhyun who burst into laughter and held him down. The atmosphere in the studio reached another climax.
"The third question."
Yoon Jong-shin's smile faded as he continued, "In EXO, who is the most prone to being late?"
“Kai.”
Without hesitation, Ji Kyung-won blurted out the answer, his tone crisp and decisive. Kim Jongin, standing beside him, widened his eyes instantly, looking utterly aggrieved.
"When was the last time you cried?" Yoon Jong-shin continued to press.
"See a movie."
What movie?
"Coco"
Upon hearing this, Cho Kyuhyun's eyes lit up instantly, and he leaned forward slightly, looking as if to say, "I like this movie too," as if he wanted to interject.
But Kim Gu-ra and Yoon Jong-shin, who were standing next to him, ignored him and continued to ask questions. Cho Kyuhyun could only sit back down with a wronged look on his face, which looked quite ridiculous.
"Who did you watch it with?"
"Friends".
"Male and female?"
"Both men and women are included."
Ji Jingyuan lies so easily... He remembered watching it with Zhou Ziyu and a few others.
What's your favorite song lately?
“Starry Night” by mamamoo”
Who is your ideal type?
"She'll play games with me."
Without thinking, Chi Jingyuan blurted it out.
He has answered this question countless times since his debut, and the content is basically the same every time... and it is indeed his true feeling.
"to be frank!"
Kim Gu-ra immediately stood up and looked at him with a serious expression.
"Hmm... then..."
Chi Jingyuan paused for a moment, thought for a moment, and tentatively said, "She's beautiful, and she'll play games with me."
"Hahaha..." Another burst of laughter erupted around them.
Which embarrassing photo from your past would you most like to delete?
"No." Chi Jingyuan said confidently.
"One last question..."
Yoon Jong-shin adjusted his glasses, his tone becoming serious: "Do you think EXO will still be together in ten years?"
meeting."
Without any hesitation, Chi Jingyuan readily agreed.
He paused, then added:
Even if we don't participate in any activities, we'll still have meals together.