Chapter 33: Source Leak

.Yesterday's M! Countdown didn't have a performance, and yesterday's Music Center they didn't even make it as a standby. Today they were originally scheduled to perform against the mythical "God" song..., the Peninsula Asteroid

"Ma'am."

Chi Jingyuan looked at the famous well-known eyes of Nan, blinked a smile, then gently knocked on the window, and finally met her gaze for a second, ignoring the lost and stunned look in her eyes. He walked directly to the car, told the driver "send them back", then turned and walked towards the car parked behind.

He felt the stares of those in front following him until he opened the car door for Suzy Bae to get in first, and only then did they disappear because of the obstruction after he got in himself.

"With a slam, the car door shut. Ji Jingyuan sat in the back seat, leaning against the backrest, exhaling with slightly closed eyes, feeling a bit tired. A refreshing and unique scent of perfume wafted over. Pei Suzy moved closer, leaning against him, looking at the car that hadn't started yet, and said with a mischievous smile: "What Did that little girl take a liking to you"

“…………”

Chi Jingyuan opened his eyes and turned his head to look at the face so close to him, a smile curving his lips: "I'm not very clear about her... What about you"

"What a coincidence"

Their heads were very close together, Park Soo-jin looked at him with a curved smile: "I'm not quite sure either."

“…………“

"Go to Lung Shan District…"

Chi Jingyuan looked at her and smiled, took a breath and smelled the somewhat alluring scent, then turned to the driver and gave him an address. The driver quickly responded and started the engine. The car soon started and drove away from here.

After seeing Chi Jingyuan's car drive away, the sedan carrying Minami and the others also started up quickly and sped towards the JYP trainee dormitory address Sana had given them.

After the car started, the comfortable environment put their minds at ease. Komatsu Sashu and Hina Momoko quietly discussed what had just happened.

Before this, I was always so scared to speak up. Now that things have calmed down a bit, I can finally relax and talk freely. In just such a short amount of time, we've experienced so much, and now we feel like there are so many things we want to say.

And Namiko leaned against the right side of the car door, her arm stretched across the windowsill propping up her chin, her head resting on her arm as she watched the endless stream of lights and street scenery passing by outside. Her pupils had lost their usual focus, and she sat there silently, not uttering a word.

She didn't close the window as Chi Jingyuan had instructed, instead she opened it wider as if to spite him.

The night wind, constantly surging under the movement of the car, blew her hair apart and kept slapping against her face. As night fell, the temperature also dropped, and Nan's slightly thin clothes seemed unable to provide enough protection.

She seemed to feel nothing. Her head rested on her arm, silently staring out at the world. Between strands of her disheveled hair, one could faintly see her tightly pursed lips.

"Oh, wow."

After chatting with each other for a while, the two friends beside her sensed Namimori's dejection. They also had an inkling of the reason, exchanged glances, and then proactively voiced their comfort: "Yuan senpai..."

Minazuki Sazanami was just about to discuss and give her opinion on Kei-gen, who she had met for the first time tonight. But then they remembered that there was a driver sitting in front of them, still driving. They realized their comments from behind could easily reach Kei-gen's ears, so she immediately shut up and switched to a different topic.

“Oh, we snagged concert tickets to EXO sunbaenim's show a few days ago, right Let’s go together then.”

Even in private, the cautious Mizusaki Sashas still used honorifics. At the same time, she smiled and touched Nanami's back with her hand, sliding it from her back all the way to the exposed part of her waist before starting to rub.

And EXO is so popular, they're coming back soon, and you see them on TV every day. If I had the chance to debut in the future...

"Hmm..."

Naomi looked back at the two of them and suddenly burst into a smile, revealing her neat teeth and a hint of gum.

She drew her arm back from the window sill, spreading her five fingers like a comb to brush from her forehead to the back of her head, gathering all the somewhat disheveled hair in front into place. Then she lightly shook her head and flicked her hair, pursed her lips and said seriously: "I just suddenly...really want to debut."

She looked at the top of the train car, her eyes a mixture of complexity and longing.

"Me too, I want to debut." Momoko Hirai didn't delve into Nanami Minami's thoughts, but instead followed suit with a word of agreement.

They came all this way from so far away to be trainees on the peninsula alone, of course, they are all aiming for their goal to debut as idols.

"We've already been placed in the Neon Team as trainees, so we should have a chance to debut soon." Minato Aqua also smoothed her hair, equally looking forward to it.

"Oh, right, what about Jun-ho senior..." She suddenly remembered the name and said it hesitantly.

"Hmm."

When she heard the name, Nanami's smile faltered. She rolled her eyes and leaned back without saying a word.

I had a pretty good impression of her at first. She's been around for a long time, a senior idol, and she's always been very enthusiastic and cheerful. She also looks okay.

Now... I don't want to hear that name.

Komatsuna Sashina saw Minami's reaction and pouted, not continuing to speak.

………………

Mai, Nan was half-sitting on her bed in her dorm room, burying her whole head under the blanket.

Since she and the other two weren't in the same dorm, after being dropped off at the door by the driver, they said goodbye to each other in the hallway and went their separate ways. After tiptoeing back to wash up, they crawled into bed and covered themselves with blankets.

Tomorrow, she's definitely going to be scolded by the trainee dormitory manager, but she's too lazy to think about it now. Although she hasn't been here for long, Minami has already witnessed the strict management of trainees at this place.

Snuggled under the blanket, she closed her eyes. The events from just moments ago replayed in her mind like a movie, flashing before her eyes, then looping back and restarting. Finally, they settled on a few particularly vivid scenes, which repeated endlessly.

a mess.

Alas, she hugged the blanket over her head and sighed deeply.

I saw her long-time favorite idol up close tonight. He looked totally different from how he does on camera, and I think he might be dating Suzy Bae.

Especially what happened later, when she herself felt desperate and stood up, being pushed back down onto the sofa by the other party, that feeling Namiki Minami felt like it might be something she couldn't forget.

...in comparison with Li Shengli and Li Junhao, it feels strangely complex.

After tonight, she had some other feelings for this idol she had been chasing all along. She couldn't say she liked him, but deep down, she really wanted to get to know him, get closer, find out how to contact him, and chat with him.

It's really upsetting to be rejected when you're the one who reaches out. The way they smiled and refused, then walked away without looking back, keeps replaying in my mind. I'm still feeling hurt and disappointed inside.

I really want to debut right now…

She has only been practicing for a few months and doesn't know when she will go.

………………

On the other side, on a high floor of a luxurious apartment building on Itaewon Road in Yongsan District, Ji-seong Park embraced Suzy Bae who had clung to him, responding to her affection while opening the door to the apartment. The two embraced each other and walked inside swaying slightly, with one leg casually kicking the door shut.

After entering, he didn't walk inside. He pressed himself directly against the light yellow wall and huddled together. In the pitch-black room, sounds of ripping clothes and suppressed gasps echoed incessantly.

Today's loose batwing shirt on Bae Suzy is really convenient, and even Ki-won felt it during the cb. It's even more like a fish in water now.

The only outer garment he had on offered him no protection, and even acted against him. The white skin faintly visible through the seams was all the more alluring.

Just the super tight jeans are a bit of a hassle, my frame is a little big and my curves are pretty steep, it gets stuck there completely.

Chi Jingyuan guided her towards the bedroom inside, relying on his memory. Along the way, she stumbled and bumped into things countless times, but no one cared about that at this moment. The heated atmosphere had already filled the entire room.

Walking into the bedroom, he threw himself onto the soft mattress. With a click, Chi Jingyuan switched on the light, and immediately a low, dissatisfied sigh filled the air.

"Turn off the lights!"

"It's none of my business."

"Close!"

"It's none of my business."

"Well, then... just keep it running..."

………………

In the early morning, as the sky was just beginning to lighten, the bedroom, with its curtains blocking the sunlight, remained shrouded in darkness. Chi Jingyuan reached out and silenced his phone, which had been buzzing incessantly on the bedside table. He rubbed his face vigorously with his hands, then sat up and walked towards the bathroom.

Because he left, a lot of blankets were lifted, revealing a smooth and fair shoulder. The slick curve of his back extended unobstructed all the way down to the depths of the bed, finally disappearing into darkness.

After a few minutes, Ji-yeong came back to his bedroom after washing up. He first took out his phone and sent a message to Park Jae-hyun, then glanced at Suzy Bae, reached over and pulled the blanket up a little, and started getting dressed efficiently.

"

How is it so early

"

When Ji-sung was dressed and ready to leave, Suzy sat up, covering herself with the blanket. Her eyes were half-closed, and she frowned as she watched him.

“I still have a lot of things to do today, and I have a birthday party tonight, so I need to go early this afternoon.”

Chi Jingyuan did not turn around, tidying his clothes in front of the mirror at the same time and replied.

Your family is clearly...

Pei Xiuzhi rubbed her eyes, squeezed them shut hard then opened them again. Looking at Ji Jingyuan who was about to leave, she asked in bewilderment: "Why are you so tired Why not let yourself relax a little, take a day off later it wouldn't matter right"

"Hmm..."

池景源 stopped in his tracks, looked up at the ceiling of the apartment, thought for a moment, then turned to look at Suzy, with a smile on his face but a serious tone: "I think that when you do what you like and are willing to do, it's better to put your heart into it."

"What's more, so many people support me, don't they"

Smiling at Suzy, Ji-sung raised an eyebrow and opened the apartment door. Turning back, he waved softly to her, “The key is on the bedside table… I’m going first, call me.”

With a sharp click, the door shut. Bae Suzy stared blankly at the direction of the closed door, the words she had just heard still echoing in her ears, leaving her momentarily stunned.

………………

"Jingyuan, happy birthday."

After going downstairs, Pu saw that Xian had already been prepared for a long time. Seeing Pool Jingyuan coming over, he patted him on the shoulder and smiled to give his blessing.

"Haha, bro, thanks."

With an open smile, Ji Jingyuan nodded in thanks and got into the car. Pu Zai Xian also got into the driver's seat, and the car immediately started moving.

Just after receiving birthday wishes, Ji Jingyuan's car ride was soon cut short by some bad news.

"Really"

"Look on your phone, check the internet right now. Naver's trending topics are all about this."

Ji Jingyuan was stunned. He took out his phone and logged in, quickly finding the bad news Park Jae-hyun had just mentioned.

"Popular male idol group EXO's comeback title song leak, special stage video link xxxx"

"EXO's comeback title song "Overdose" audio and dance video have been leaked, which could seriously affect their comeback."

"EXO-K's stages for the songs 'E.X.O.' and 'Overdose' have been leaked, possibly by an insider."

“…………”

Seeing these hot search terms, Chi Jingyuan couldn't help but frown.

Prior to its scheduled release on the 15th, two songs from the mini album "overdose," including the title track, have been leaked.

I clicked on a link to a stage video, and quickly the familiar music of "eedu" followed.

"When did this happen" When the volume was lowered a little, Chi Jingyuan's face didn't look good.

Yesterday at 3 AM, someone simultaneously posted on major music forums.

Having understood the situation, Park Jae-hyeon replied directly.

"At the same time, that's planned, isn't it"

"It should be so, after all, you guys are the hottest boy group right now, blocking a lot of people's way. There are more than a few people who aren't looking favorably upon you."

Park Jae-hyun nodded, feeling that this matter was actually quite obvious.

"The source was leaked in advance... Coming back soon and having this kind of thing happen again, it's really annoying."

Chi Jingyuan looked down at the phone screen with a slant of his eyes, and curled his lips: "Let's see how the company handles this."

Leaks of audio sources are something that happens from time to time in the K-pop world. It could be due to the company's own negligence, an internal staff member accidentally leaking it, or perhaps even a competitor deliberately taking advantage of the situation.

Of course, some people simply share it because their brains are not wired right. They might show off or brag and upload the audio online for everyone to hear before it's supposed to be released.

But no matter what, this kind of thing is troublesome. The most important thing is that the audio source leaked in advance, which will have a great impact on the idol who is about to make a comeback.

Because charting on the peninsula requires paying, idols also need support from fans and passersby. If you listen to the song in advance, it will significantly reduce the enthusiasm and, to some extent, affect the album sales.

Moreover, leaking audio source information itself is illegal. This kind of thing might even be suspected by conspiracy theorists as self-promotion by the company, which could damage its reputation.

Different agencies have varying levels of emphasis on this issue, but their handling methods are largely similar. They generally resort to measures such as delaying album releases, modifying or removing leaked tracks.

But now EXO's comeback time has been pushed indefinitely. A series of planned promotional activities were already set, showcase tickets were sold out, and it's hard to change anything further.

And if we push any further, we'll end up pushing back the concert date.

Changing the song and making a sudden change isn't very reliable, because today is the 13th, and we're returning on the 15th. In just two days, nothing significant can be accomplished. Moreover, the album has already been recorded at the factory and is ready for shipment. How could we change the song at this point...

...we still need to see how s is handled.

"Jingyuan, you're here."

Park Jae-hyun drove very fast, and soon Ji Jingyuan arrived at the company. He walked into the practice room, where the K team members were gathered, talking excitedly. When they saw him enter, they all nodded to him.

Everyone else thought Ji Jingyuan had gone out to celebrate someone's birthday yesterday and it wasn't unusual for him to be gone all night. They didn't even bother to ask about it.

After greeting the members, Ji Jingyuan also found a place to sit and listened. As expected, they were discussing the leak of the audio source in advance.

"This so-called special stage video, isn't it just the choreography rehearsal video we gave to the TV station a few days ago It must have been leaked from the TV station side."

Park Chan-wook's voice was filled with displeasure, and he spoke quite loudly, his words echoing around the practice room a few times. It was clear that he was in a very bad mood.

It's normal to feel down sometimes, even people like Ji Jingyuan and the others, six of them in total, don't seem to be in a good mood.

Park Chan-wook is right, the leaked special stage with extremely high clicks and trending online is actually a dance video that several members of K-Team prepared for the program crew to arrange camera angles and positions before their comeback stage on the 15th.

In a 7-minute online video, the six of them practiced dancing to the songs "eedu" and "overdose" in a practice room with name tags displaying their names.

Generally, for popular group comebacks, in addition to their title song on music shows, there's usually an extra stage performance of another song from the album during the first week. This is considered a perk for popular idol groups, allowing them more screen time and promoting other tracks from the album.

And this time, EXO's first-week comeback stage not only performed "Overdose" but also had a special performance of "Eedoo."

... but I didn't expect that the video used by the TV program crew to recognize people and familiarize themselves with the shooting process would appear online.

If it's not an issue within the s company itself, then it's probably the television station staff who received the video that caused this.

"This kind of thing is hard to investigate, and even if we found out who did it, what could we do It's already been leaked." Kim Jun-myeon sighed, sitting there. He was supposed to be returning tomorrow, but his luck seemed terrible.

"Where's Cheng Huan"

After listening for a while, Chi Jingyuan spoke.

"The company started a meeting early this morning to discuss how to handle this matter. Brother Cheng Huan went as our representative."

Do Kyung-soo looked at him and explained, then added: "He's been gone for a while, he should be back soon."

"Well."

Ji Jingyuan nodded, listening to the members' debate while pulling out his phone and opening the leaked video. He didn't watch the previously seen practice room version but instead flipped through

"Which bastard leaked the audio, affecting xo's comeback, we won't let you off the hook."

"Hajima, oppas are about to come back. With this kind of thing happening, the comeback won't be delayed again, right..."

“kkkkkkkk Awesome, the source leak this mini album will definitely be affected. I declare this is the turning point where EXO starts going downhill, lol. EXO, hurry up and die! kkkkkk"

What song in the video is the main theme Is it "Overdose" later on But I feel like the first one is better, it's really touching and the dance is great too.

The title song name has been announced, and the following tracks include "overdose". The first track, "eedu", isn't necessarily better, but it's really good. It feels like it sounds better than other boy groups' title songs, and as a b-side track, it's truly excellent.

However, speaking of yuan, although he had big brand names on him in the video, I still recognized that there was a large Doraemon logo on his gray hoodie... I feel like all the material released before and now shows that his usual private clothes are this style. Is this stuff really this good-looking Does yuan like it this much

“…………”

The situation wasn't too bad. There were some expressions of dissatisfaction and condemnation, but there were also a lot of gloating comments. Ji Jingyuan just skimmed over them all.

As the EXO fan base grows, so too does the number of haters and people who dislike them. This is inevitable.

Besides people paying attention to Chi Jingyuan's private clothes, many viewers after watching the video expressed their great liking for the included song "eedu", even surpassing the main song "overdose", hoping to see an official stage performance as soon as possible.

This is because the video isn't very clear, it's only barely visible.

After all, it was recorded for a television station, and the members didn't take it too seriously. Besides their precise movements, everything else felt a bit perfunctory. Some moves were just going through the motions, similar to rehearsals for regular music show performances.

The news of the EXO music leak is really hot, it came out late last night and this morning it was already at the top of the trending searches on various websites, with click-through rates constantly rising.

This kind of unexpected trick definitely catches people's attention, it feels like the heat is even higher than exo's official release.

It's ironic.

Ji Jingyuan hadn't been commenting for long when the practice room door was pushed open. Lee Seonghwan, holding a file folder and accompanied by Lin Xuanyu and several other managers, rushed in. Seeing that Ji Jingyuan was already there, he nodded lightly at him before walking to the middle and clapping his hands. He gestured to all the members and began to brief them:

"Regarding this leak of our EXO's sound source, the company has just requested the relevant sound source providers to discontinue service as the copyright owner. They haven't responded yet, but it should be no problem."

>The most important thing is that because the leak happened so close to our comeback, we only have two days left until our return. We still have a showcase tomorrow and there simply isn't enough time to change the album tracks. Delaying it is also not possible...

"Saying that, Lee Seong-hwan looked at everyone: "So the company decided this time XO's album won't be changed because of the pre-released audio. It will follow the original album tracks... But taking advantage of this heat, the company will use this opportunity to promote accordingly in the last two days."

"Jingyuan, your birthday party tonight, did you and Sehun prepare a special stage"

"Inside." Ji Jingyuan glanced at Wu Shixun and nodded.

"Finally, there will be a stage performance by all members of Team K with their song "eedu". They will perform it in advance for all the fans who celebrate the birthday party. The company's VJ will film the whole thing and upload it online after it ends."

“According to the publicity department's investigation, this song has attracted a lot of attention and love from passersby fans. Since the sound source has been leaked, we might as well directly announce the official stage performance. The company will take this opportunity to conduct a large-scale promotion, warming up for tomorrow's showcase and the release of the sound source and return stage the day after tomorrow.”

Although they were already very familiar with it, he reminded them to practice again later so they wouldn't make mistakes at night. Lee Seung-hwan looked at the six members, his expression somewhat serious.

"Understood, big brother." Everyone nodded in response.

"By the way, the company will issue an announcement in a while. All external responses should follow the announcement. If anyone asks, just refer them to the company. Please don't express any other opinions..."

"Brother, do we know who leaked the audio" Park Chan-hyeok chimed in at that moment.

"The company has already begun an investigation, it should be a problem on the TV station's side, but even if they find out..."

"Alright, you guys practice first. I'll be back later." Li Chenghuan didn't continue talking, but instead gave these two final instructions before quickly leaving with his people. He really did look busy.

Looking at the backs of the departing group, a few members sighed and exchanged glances. Kim Jun-myeon ran over and plugged his phone into the speakers, playing the instrumental version of "eedu":

"Practice."

…………

When Chi Jingyuan had his lunch break and rested, he received a call and disguised himself to arrive at the agreed place. It was still the same alleyway with the signpost as their last meeting.

Looking at Zhou Tzuyu standing before him with a smiling face, Ji Jingyuan blinked and took the wrapped gift she handed him. Then he watched her grinning widely with wide eyes as she looked at him.

Happy birthday.

First published on the Chinese Novel Network, but her expression was beaming with delight. It was clear that she was very pleased to be praised and seemed like a rather vain person.Actually, whether at work or in life, she's often complimented...