Chapter 102: Where Are You?

f hard work and perseverance to achieve what I had always dreamed of. This experience, compared to the previous one, has an extra layer of depth and richness."The first one"Hearing this achievement, w..."Are you planning to head back to the peninsula earlier tonight"

After Pei Zhuxuan sent the message, she was stunned for a moment. She leaned against the wall, sitting cross-legged with her phone in her hand, her breathing a little quick.

EXO is currently at the MAMA ceremony in Hong Kong. Even if they have to wait until the ceremony ends, according to their usual routine, they would likely go for a celebratory meal after that and spend the night there before flying back the next day. If they have other schedules, they will stay longer.

However, Pei Zhuhyun remembered that when she messaged Park Kyung-won the other day, he casually mentioned that he might have to return earlier after MAMA. He said he would be back on the set the next morning to resume filming.

At the time, she was just casually listening and left a little impression, but now she reflexively remembered this news.

She also knew EXO was performing on stage right now and would be participating in the award ceremony soon, so it was impossible to reply. But Bae Joo-hyun still held her phone, unwilling to let go. Her heart felt a little restless, and she kept glancing at it from time to time. For some reason, whenever she looked away, she always felt like her phone was ringing after a while.

When a whirlwind of thoughts was raging in her mind, EXO had already entered the next stage of "Overdose." Although she kept her head down and didn't look at the phone screen, familiar yet slightly terrifying lyrics kept echoing in her ears through the headphones:

"The ToR grabbed me and told me this."

"Love is nothing but a disease, a poison, an addiction."

"As time goes by, it becomes increasingly difficult to control."

Gradually sinking into the depths.

"Hey you, this is poison, it is..."

…………

When Kai was performing his solo, the other members went back to the backstage and put on their prepared silver-white long gowns. They posed in a lift before it slowly rose until reaching the stage for the last song "Addiction", which marked the beginning of that performance.

Still the nine-person dance arrangement after revision.

The stage for "Addiction" was more conventional, lacking the impressive lighting and set design of "Go With The Flow." Besides Kai dancing barefoot, there weren't many gimmicks. It wasn't like the reunion feeling of "Dope," either. As their title track, they've performed "Addiction" so many times already.

Although the cheers were incredibly enthusiastic and the fans were very excited, it seemed that many people were still immersed in the amazing stage of "Let It Be" just now, unable to walk out from the final shocking a cappella harmony. There was a feeling that the support from below was missing something.

Because of Tao's departure, the slapping dance in the middle was left with only Ji Jingyuan, and no one did the final somersault. This made some Alice fans who were used to the XO stage performances in the past feel a little complicated.

In the midst of thunderous applause, the performance of "Addict" came to an end. As the giant maze logo reappeared on the backdrop behind the stage, the lights gradually dimmed, marking the conclusion of EXO's stage presence.

"Well done! Well done!"

Backstage, the assistants rushed over to greet him, offering prepared water and drinks. The manager also chuckled and called out a greeting.

Chi Jingyuan let a dy sister wipe his sweat for him. He unscrewed the bottle cap and drank several gulps. Three stages in a row were really tiring, even though "Let It Be" in the middle didn't require dancing, as the lead singer, he wasn't actually that easy either.

Lee Seung-hwan patted several people's shoulders one by one, and loudly instructed: "Take a break, we'll go to the artist seats after 2 PM to collect the award, and prepare for the final grand prize."

"Inside."

With a loose and relaxed "okay," EXO's members collapsed onto the sofas in the waiting room. They took a short break, not for long—just a few minutes—before 2PM finished receiving their award. At the staff's notification, they returned to their artist seats.

They sat down at the artist's seats when the stage already began to perform. It was Taeyang's solo stage of "Eye Nose Mouth," and there will be a duo performance with GD later.

G-Dragon and Taeyang's subunit GD, formed this past November, released their single 《》 on the 21st of last month. The return date coincided with the growing popularity of Apk.

This song's chart performance is average, with only one number-one to date. However, the song's popularity and reviews are very high. YouTube data, especially MV views, is particularly impressive, and digital sales are also good. It has caused quite a stir.

The stage for "" wasn't anything special, but the following collaboration stage by GD and Sun made many of the artist seats gasp in surprise.

Quan Zhi Long was wearing a fluffy down jacket, and before the performance of < > began, his rap segment didn't include the original lyrics. Instead, he performed a modified version. A representative from the organizer said:

"Long time no see, MAMA. You've really set up a grand scene, haven't you"

To prevent the children from fighting, please divide your pork nicely.

“......”

For more than a minute of rap prelude, he not only dissed the organizers in person, but also responded to those who had been urging him to participate in the rap program "ey". The audience at the scene didn't understand the lyrics and didn't think much about it, but people watching the live broadcast from the peninsula were taken aback, especially since many idols sitting in the artist seats now looked shocked, some of them not quite understanding what was going on.

Even though several members of EXO really wanted to discuss something, they couldn't communicate freely with the cameras filming them. They could only give standard smiles.

Several people were super hyped after hearing it and immediately stood up, dancing and cheering for their company seniors on stage. They seemed very excited and cool about this diss section appearing on stage.

Setting aside that diss, the stage presence of Quan Zhi Long and Sun was also very infectious. "< >" and "< Pokemon>" were both great songs for getting the crowd pumped up, really heating things up and bringing the audience's energy to a fever pitch.

At this year's MAMA, EXO was the second-to-last act to take the stage before GD and Sun. They really saved the best for last, considering their seniority and fame.

After the two performers finished their act, under the anticipation of all the fans and audience members, the award presenter took the stage.

Logically, after the last stage ended, it should be time to award the remaining two major awards. However, for some unknown reason, the organizers suddenly added another segment at the last minute, adding an award called 'alist'. When Ji Jingyuan heard this, he thought about it for a long time but still couldn't figure out what this award was. He had never heard of this award in previous years either.

"The translation should be 'Most Popular Lead Singer', but weren't Best Solo and Best Group already awarded Where did this 'Lead Singer' come from"

This award, just from the name alone, sounds like it's not very prestigious. It sounds like something that was made up on the spot.

In the host's enthusiastic announcement, IU was awarded.

IU seemed a little surprised, her expression changed visibly, but she quickly adjusted and smiled as she walked up. The audience was also a bit confused as to what was going on, so when she went onstage they were all silent, not sure what kind of reaction was appropriate for the winner.

Watching IU deliver her acceptance speech on stage, sounding very formal and polite, Ji-seong always felt that her smile seemed a little strained. It gave the impression of a forced smile.

Even expressing these feelings is stumbling and halting. I organized it several times, and IU probably didn't expect this either.

Ji Jingyuan could have predicted that this scene would likely become a hot topic after today's MAMA, and it is estimated that many people are already discussing it.

The annual song award went to Sun's "Eyes Nose Mouth," which wasn't really a surprise. Even though the digital release of "so" overshadowed it, Sun's solo effort this time was truly successful.

Last year, Kwon Ji-yong (Solo) won the grand prize, and this year, Sun-mi's solo also won the grand prize. Speaking of which, they truly deserve to be called the top male group of the 2nd generation. The members' solo achievements are getting better and better, one by one surpassing the group itself. It's almost as if they can single-handedly outshine the entire group.

Last year, Lee Seung Gi's solo release unfortunately coincided with EXO's "Growl," resulting in lackluster performance throughout. It significantly dragged down the average scores of the members' solo endeavors.

It's clear that Tai Yang is very excited to have won the grand prize. He said a lot of thank yous. Although he was dressed in a hip-hop style with a street vibe, his tone was very sincere and genuine, making you feel his gratitude and sincerity.

After the sun took home the trophy for best song, the last big award of the night, album of the year, was announced. Hong Kong native and king of pop, Andy Lau, clad in a dashing suit, walked onto the stage, prompting screams of excitement from the audience.

Although the three major awards at MAMA are said to be of equal weight, many people understand that the later ones awarded are actually more important. Besides having ample time for acceptance speeches at the end, you can tell from the level of the presenters that the later awards carry more significance.

>

Because the sales really hit a wall.

Up to November, the annual sales rankings on the G-Chart were topped by both the Korean and Chinese versions of EXO's second mini album.

The third to fifth are all senior groups from ** Entertainment, Super Junior's 7th full-length album, TVXQ's 7th full-length album, and Girls' Generation's 4th mini-album.

And even if you add up the sales of the third, fourth, and fifth albums, they still don't exceed EXO's sales.

This album sales, which broke the ceiling of the peninsula ballad world and were completely detached from second place, is the most important reason why EXO was unmatched in its momentum before and stood out among the three generations of boy groups.

Of course, most of these sales were made during EXO's peak period in the first half of the year. Now, with a series of events happening one after another, including members dating and consecutive departures, many die-hard fans have left. It remains to be seen whether the album sales can maintain this dominant position in the future, whether it will rise or fall, and by how much. Everything depends on next year's regular second album.

In 2014, the MAMA Award for Album of the Year went to...

When Liu Tianwang was creating suspense and building hype, the crowd had already erupted in cheers of "____". It started with sporadic shouts, then gradually merged into a unified and powerful chorus that grew louder and louder.

"XO!"

With a shout, the crowd erupted.

Liu Tianwang really knows his stuff, he clearly did his homework beforehand and knew that 'E' is not pronounced.

Although it's a small thing, it makes you feel respected.

All the idols in the artist seating area stood up and applauded, including senior artists GD and Taeyang. All nine members of EXO also stood up and bowed to others repeatedly to express their gratitude.

Nine people walked out and huddled together at the front, forming a circle. They squeezed their arms tightly to show their excitement. This action has become a signature move for EXO after winning a major award. Since last year, it has produced several iconic photos and shots that have been talked about by fans and passersby alike.

"The RDS UnionPay Best Album Award winner is EXO."

"The album 《》 sold 780,000 copies before its release, setting a record for album sales this year."

"Loved by fans all over the world, not just on the peninsula, EXO is undoubtedly the winner of the Best Album of the Year. Congratulations!"

"tor…"

As the narration began alongside the BGM of "Addicted" and the cheers from the fans filled the venue, EXO's nine members strode towards the side stage. They lined up to bow in gratitude, holding their award trophy, before standing in a row in front of the microphone.

"-L truly thanks everyone, I love you all, I love you all, thank you." Wu Shixun rushed to grab the microphone and said that, then continued in Chinese. Heaven knows how long he had been practicing the pronunciation of these two sentences, this kind of urgent first speech besides being very excited inside, Ji Jingyuan felt he might be afraid of forgetting how to pronounce them later.”

"Thank you so much, MAMA, for giving us so many surprises today. Thank you to the ** family, to the members who are with us now, and to all the EXO-Ls. Thank you all from the bottom of our hearts."

"First of all, thank you everyone. There have been so many things happening recently. Loving someone deeply but not being able to love openly, living each day in anxiety is truly a very difficult thing."

"No matter what happens in the future, no matter when it is, EXO will always be EXO."

This incredibly glorious moment, when considering EXO's current situation and the uncertain future ahead, all the members felt a mix of excitement and sentimentality at once.

From Jin Jung-yeon to Park Chan-lyeok, and Beon Bo-hyun, each person took turns speaking. Before this, they had all prepared many things they wanted to say, but at this moment, standing here, the countless thoughts in their hearts converged into the one sentence they most wanted to express.

At last, it was池景源's turn. He was pushed to the microphone by the members, and looking at the countless eyes staring at him below, he pursed his lips and took a deep breath: “I'm really grateful to everyone, thank you EXO-L for your support. In 2014, whether it was XO or the Aelis, it was indeed very hard…”

Speaking of this, he hesitated for a moment, looking at the dense crowd of spectators ahead and the waving cheering sticks. He opened his mouth but couldn't seem to speak.

"Not tiring!"

"Fighting EXO!"

When hearing Chi Jingyuan's words, many fans also got very excited and excitedly shouted out their hearts' desires, hoping he could hear them.

He did hear it.

"Phew…" Qi Jingyuan tidied up his somewhat complicated emotions, let out another sigh of relief, and then smiled. He looked at the microphone, bowed slightly towards it, and in a calm voice, said something with a hint of determination:

"I'm really happy today... I hope... that this time next year, we can still be here and meet everyone again..."

"EXO..." Ji-seong looked around, then suddenly grinned. "Starting anew from here."

"Ahhh..." A deafening scream erupted from the crowd below upon hearing his words. Many immediately understood what he meant.

Many Aelis watching the livestream on TV suddenly felt a surge of intense passion and longing, wishing they could jump into the MAMA venue and shout to Ji-seong and the other members, "Next year XO will definitely still be here, we will always support you..."

At this moment, they felt they truly understood Chi Jingyuan, comprehending the ups and downs and steadfastness in his idol's heart. And Chi Jingyuan truly understood them as well, grasping their recent thoughts, aspirations, and long-held desires.

This feeling of telepathy truly captivated all the fans.

Then, Chi Jingyuan expressed his gratitude to fans in mainland China and at the scene in both Mandarin and Cantonese. Under the reluctant gaze of many, the nine members took a bow and exited the stage.

As host Song Seung-heon made the final summary, countless streamers descended from the ceiling. All the artists took to the stage, bathing in the showering confetti and interacting with the audience. The 2014 MAMA officially came to an end.

"Ahhhh......"

Back in the dressing room, several members of Park Chan-wook's team excitedly shouted and jumped up and down as soon as they entered. If Ji-seong hadn't dodged quickly enough, he would have been hit.

"Ooooooh...." Jinwoo led the way, holding up a trophy and jumping around. Sehun and a few others pretended to snatch it, laughing happily as they jostled each other. The entire resting room was filled with joy for a moment.

After a while, a few people calmed down. Upon the manager's call, they took some ID photos and then, as they were packing up, one suddenly curiously asked:

"By the way, about GD's rap part just now, was the lyrics pre-recorded or did he change it on his own"

"I don't know, we didn't see him rehearse either."

"It must have been pre-recorded, right I heard him performing on stage and there was still backing music."

"I think it was probably changed temporarily. Would the organizers allow such a word to diss themselves"

"Well, Mama, for heat and hype, anything is possible. Look at IU's award…" Ji-sung let out a dismissive scoff, as he walked over to where his bag was placed, pulling his phone out from inside. It had been buzzing non-stop since the beginning, with numerous friends texting him congratulations on winning the grand prize.

"Two major awards are pretty impressive, the organizer is really biased... Don't be too proud, wait until you come back to sing, and see us blow you (muscle) away!" This is from Jung Eun-ji, a wave of sarcasm hits you right away.

Even though Apk is very popular this year, it's still a long way from winning the grand prize.

"Congratulations on winning the grand prize! Wow, “Natural Flow” is really a good song. How did you sing that 'u'" That was from Tzuyu, I don’t know how she has so much time.

"... "

"

Ji Jingyuan casually replied to a few messages from people he knew well. As he scrolled, he suddenly saw a message from Pei Zhuxuan: "Are you going back to the peninsula earlier tonight"

He was taken aback by the words on the screen, then noticed the sending time, which was roughly around the time of their EXO "Let It Be" stage performance.

Chi Jingyuan blinked, and soon understood.

Quickly replied, "Yes, the tickets are already booked. I'll be leaving shortly."

Tomorrow is the official release day for EXO's winter single "Let It Flow," including both audio and MV. EXO was originally scheduled to rush back late tonight to participate in tomorrow's music show recording, but tomorrow's episode of *M! Countdown* has been postponed for several weeks due to the MAMA event. EXO's first performance stage will now be on the day after tomorrow's *Music Bank*.

This way, the other members can rest in Hong Kong for a night and leave tomorrow. However, Chi Jingyuan has to stay tonight because he talked to the crew and his tasks are heavier. He will return to the set early tomorrow morning to resume filming.

Far away in the practice room of the ** building, Bae Joo-hyun was absentmindedly sitting there daydreaming. Beside her, Kang Seulgi, Son Seungwan, and Park Sooyoung were buzzing around her, but she couldn't hear a word they were saying.

At that moment, the phone she had been clutching in her hand and glancing at periodically suddenly vibrated. She hastily picked it up and looked, her eyes lighting up instantly. Without a second thought, she quickly typed on the screen: "What time can you get back to Seoul"

It takes about three hours to fly from Hong Kong to Incheon Airport, and it also takes over half an hour to drive back to Seoul city. Calculating now that we're leaving, the fastest arrival at our destination would already be between 1 and 2 am.

Chi Jingyuan didn't ask what the other person was doing, he just replied: "It will probably be past two in the morning."

Even though it was late, when Pei Zhuhyun saw this time, she didn't hesitate: "Would you like to go for a walk when you get back"

After taking the initiative to send out the invitation, Bae Joo-hyun's heart started racing with a hint of nervousness. She was afraid that the next second she would receive replies like "next time", "Is something the matter", or "It's too late"

The turbulent emotions in her heart couldn't be suppressed by such superficial replies. Her mind was filled with the lyrics she had just seen and memories from their time by the river. Driven by a surge of feelings, she really wanted to meet Ji Jingyuan.

I don't know what to ask or say, I just simply want to see him.

Soon, her phone buzzed. She glanced down and replied, immediately curving her lips into a smile: "Okay, I'll call you when I get there."

Chi Jingyuan didn't even ask her what was the matter so late, what she wanted to do. He just agreed directly, as if he didn't need to say much, and the other party seemed to understand her mood perfectly.

A sense of understanding and unspoken agreement welled up in Pei Zhuxuan's heart, making her feel a little happy. It was sweet, and she felt like smiling uncontrollably, but suddenly, there was also a feeling that her thoughts were being seen through, and that her actions were being manipulated.

A smile came to mind.

Damn it...

"Jingyuan, how about we have a meal together to celebrate before leaving It's not like we're in a hurry," Jin Jiamien tried to persuade him with a hint of regret. The other members also chimed in in agreement.

"There's no way, the tickets are already booked... Let's just make up for it when we get back, big brother, you treat me." Chi Jingyuan said with a smile.

"Well, you're richer than me... Alright, let's celebrate again when we get back." Kim Jun-myeon punched him on the shoulder and glared at him for a moment before smiling and nodding.

"Then we'll go first." Chi Jingyuan said goodbye to the members, and left the venue directly with his assistant. They got in the car and headed for the airport.

The bride's belongings were brought over by the assistant before going to the hotel for the ceremony, so there was no need to make a second trip back.

On the way, he glanced at the Peninsula forum on his phone. He found that the recently concluded event had taken up all the top trending topics. At a glance, the top of the hot list was entirely filled with related keywords.

1. GD stage A organizer

2. MAMA is suspected of dividing pork meat

3. EXO's new song "Follow the Flow"

4. EXO won double awards at MAMA, Sun's "Eyes Nose Lips" was awarded Best Song of the Year

5. Yuan's harmony is so perfect

The most beautiful stage

7. IU Present Awards in Person

8....

All entries were followed by the "flame" mark, with various comments and messages flooding the screen nonstop. The heat was astonishing, overshadowing all other news.

However, it's true that MAMA today has several eye-catching points. It's not surprising that it can generate such a high level of discussion right after its end. Based on experience, this is only the beginning. The hottest discussions will officially begin tomorrow.

Time was tight, and Chi Jingyuan and his assistant boarded the plane back to the Peninsula shortly after arriving at the airport.

"Oni, aren't you going back"

It was getting late, after packing up, she was about to return to the dormitory when Jiang Shiqi noticed that Pei Zhuxuan had been motionless all along, staring blankly at her phone screen, not showing any intention of going back. She couldn't help but ask out loud.

"Ah..." startled awake, Bae Joohyun gave a little shiver. But after noticing everyone's actions, she quickly reacted, squeezing out a smile: "You guys go ahead first, I'll be back later."

It was no surprise to anyone. During the time when she was being scolded every day and it was the worst, if the pressure was too great or she had something bottled up inside her, Park Soo-hyeon, who didn't like to express her emotions too much in front of them, would often stay at the company practicing alone after they returned to their dormitory until she was completely exhausted.

This is also a way for Bae Joo-hyun to vent her stress, and several members understand that.

"Be careful, Eun-bi. Even though Hye-young unnie is away these days, don't stay out too late." Go Si-kyung cautioned with concern as they left the house.

"Okay." P.O laughed and waved her hand, nodding to reassure her.

With a bang, the practice room door was shut. The room, which had just been buzzing with activity, was now silent save for her.

It seemed she had already gotten used to this kind of silence. Pei Zhuxuan didn't feel much, leaning against the wall and taking out her phone to watch the replay of tonight's MAMA. She moved the progress bar directly back to EXO's "Natural" stage, put on her headphones and quietly watched the performance on her phone. But the focus in her eyes seemed a little scattered, not quite concentrated.

I don't know how long it had been, or how many times the song had repeated, when finally a ringtone cut through it all. Bae Joohyun jolted awake, shaking her head and quickly grabbing her phone to get a closer look. Her slightly sluggish mind suddenly quickened with anticipation.

Where are you

First Release on the Traditional Chinese Novel Networkite strong. After acknowledging reality and seeing the path ahead, she also tries her best to cheer up.After a while, with a new goal in sight, Ping's melancholy eased somewhat, and she felt lighter....