PBMFF 09

Chapter 9

The Favorite’s Favorite Possession

“Should I hire comment bots and at least run some viral marketing?”

Had she finally gone crazy?

Ji-hyun thought that to herself, yet she still forced herself to write the three letters “viral” into the empty space on the paper.

Of course, she had no intention of actually doing it. A failed group like Mate, a group that was barely even popular, would only make it obvious if they tried to artificially create buzz. It would just cause more backlash from the fans.

In the end, there was only one thing that was realistically possible for her as “Ahn Ji-hyun.”

She had to reverse her original decision of not participating and appear as a judge on the audition program, helping Ah-young as a mentor and senior.

‘It’s for Ah-young.’

She had even risked her life and thrown herself in front of a truck for her. Compared to that, appearing as a judge on some audition program was something she could easily do.

She could do it, but…

“It only helps if things actually go well.”

Ji-hyun once again wrote aimlessly with her pen, her mood sinking.

After thinking about it all night, she realized that plan had problems too.

First of all, the biggest question was whether Ah-young would even participate in the survival program.

There wasn’t exactly a rule saying current idols couldn’t participate. But even if Ah-young was from an unpopular group, it would still be difficult for someone actively promoting as an idol to suddenly appear on an audition program and challenge for a re-debut.

Ah-young wasn’t someone who had no affection for her group either. More importantly, entertainers lived and died by their image.

If she participated, people would say things like, “She’s trying to destroy her own group because they aren’t popular,” or they would dig into every little thing and say things like, “I always had a bad feeling about her.”

Thinking about all the malicious comments and speculation she would receive, there was a high chance that Ah-young herself and her agency would decide against participating.

‘Of course, it’s not like there’s no way.’

She had a scenario in mind.

If the Ah-young she knew hadn’t changed, she was confident she could convince her.

The problem was how she could deliver that message.

‘If only I could get her phone number.’

If she had some way to contact her separately, she could somehow help her.

Even if she could just meet her directly once, if she had the chance to talk with Ah-young, she could solve at least part of this problem.

But with Ji-hyun’s current body, it was impossible.

There wasn’t any event where she could meet Ah-young directly without going through someone else.

‘There probably won’t be a fan signing event either.’

Calculating the time since the accident, it had already been over three months since Mate’s comeback.

There was no way they would still be holding fan signing events.

‘Wait. No, hold on.’

Mate was a group with only five members. No matter how unpopular Ah-young was, the absence of one member would have a pretty big impact on their image.

If Ah-young had also been shocked because of the accident that day, or—though it sounded a little strange—if she had gotten even slightly injured…

‘Maybe they let Ah-young rest during the promotions and planned for her to join later, while delaying the fan signing events?’

It wasn’t an impossible assumption.

With trembling hands, Ji-hyun entered the official fan cafe and searched through the schedule.

And then she found it.

“There’s a last fan sign…!”

There was one.

The final fan signing event application.

God.

The fact that a ridiculous situation like this had actually happened—holding fan signing events for more than three months after a comeback.

Even better, there was no announcement saying that Ah-young would be absent.

This was it.

She could meet Ah-young directly and talk to her.

‘But… can I really go?’

No. Don’t worry too much.

It’ll be fine.

They would check identification, but the staff there had probably seen celebrities more than once or twice. They also wouldn’t want the fan signing venue to become chaotic.

Even if they realized she was Ahn Ji-hyun, they would probably handle it carefully.

She wasn’t thinking that she would never get caught.

She simply thought that even if she was discovered, it would be something she could handle.

‘It’s worth taking the risk. This much.’

The number of winners was 50.

Even including security guards, fan managers, and other staff, there probably wouldn’t be more than 60 people there.

Considering that many fan signing events didn’t even fill the entire winner quota, and some winners didn’t show up, the actual number would probably be even smaller.

Even if that place really did turn into Ji-hyun’s own fan signing event…

Wouldn’t she be able to calm down that level of small confusion somehow?

It would be a nuisance to Mate’s members, but there was no other choice.

‘Anyway, how many should I enter with?’

This album was the same.

The system was that when buying albums, entering your name automatically registered you for the raffle.

It probably didn’t mean much, but it would also help their sales.

‘Let’s just buy twenty.’

A fan signing event where buying four or five albums was usually enough…

Even considering that this was the final fan signing event, buying around ten albums would have been enough.

She had bought far too many.

If Se-hee’s fellow fans heard about this, they would probably call her crazy.

Ji-hyun also felt uncomfortable spending this much of her own money.

But she had no choice.

Her goal was to win without leaving anything to chance.

The day of the fan signing event.

‘Why am I nervous for no reason?’

Ji-hyun stood in front of the fan signing venue with an anxious expression, staring at the clock for no reason.

Come to think of it, this watch also seemed extremely expensive.

She had roughly worn one of Ji-hyun’s belongings because she thought she should at least dress up a little before coming out, but looking at it now, it really looked impressive.

Would Ah-young like it if she bought something like this for her?

‘Ah, seriously. Again!’

No matter how much she tried to think about something else, Ah-young kept appearing in her mind.

Ji-hyun lightly tapped her head and tried to calm herself down.

Maybe it was because it had been a long time.

Even though this wasn’t her first fan signing event, she felt strangely nervous and excited.

Even though they had met several times before and were close enough that she had even given her a nickname.

Of course, that was when Ah-young and Se-hee were together.

For Ji-hyun now, this was their first meeting.

That was a little disappointing, but there was nothing she could do.

‘Absolutely don’t get nervous.’

Inhale. Exhale.

Ji-hyun took deep breaths and controlled her breathing.

The allotted time was only about one minute and thirty seconds.

If she made even one mistake or froze up, she might not be able to properly tell Ah-young what she needed to say.

And there wouldn’t be another chance.

This was the final fan signing event of this promotion period.

Waiting until the next promotion’s fan signing event was impossible because the survival program would already have started by then.

‘Two minutes left.’

It was about time to go in.

The fans should have already installed their cameras and taken their seats, and Mate would probably enter soon as well.

The first step.

Ji-hyun went up to the third floor where the fan signing venue was located and stood in front of the staff member.

Fortunately, there were no fans wandering outside except for the staff.

“Could you show me your ID, please?”

Instead of answering, Ji-hyun took out her identification card and placed it on the table.

At the same time, she pulled her hat down a little further.

And then she saw it.

The remarkable change that appeared on the staff member’s face as she looked at the ID with an expression that seemed to say:

‘I really want to go home.’

The staff member swallowed nervously before carefully speaking.

“Um… could you take off your hat and sunglasses for a moment? Just for verification…”

‘Ah, damn it.’

Just as expected.

Ji-hyun clicked her tongue, but at the same time, she was thankful that there was only one staff member there.

Really, sincerely, thank you, Mate’s agency.

Thank you for only hiring one staff member to save money.

Making sure she wasn’t visible through the half-closed door, Ji-hyun slightly turned her body and quickly removed her hat and sunglasses.

It was the moment when the staff member’s surprised expression instantly changed into one of admiration.

“My goodness… Unnie, you’re really so beautiful.”

“Th-thank you. Haha…”

For some reason, she felt embarrassed.

Ji-hyun slightly pointed her chin toward her identification card.

“Can I go in now?”

“Oh my goodness, look at me spacing out. Of course you can! I’m sorry.”

“Shh, shh…”

Please keep your voice down!

Ji-hyun gave the staff member a warning look and added one more thing.

“Please keep the fact that I came here a secret.”

“Huh? Ah… yes. Of course!”

Of course?

No way.

From her expression alone, it looked like she was overflowing with the determination to tell everyone in the neighborhood.

But Ji-hyun knew how to deal with situations like this.

She had experienced it herself.

When someone hears something like this, they absolutely cannot go around telling people.

“Let’s make this a secret between just the two of us.”

“Y-yes…?”

“Then who knows? If you keep the secret well, maybe I’ll ask for your help again someday.”

A secret shared only between a superstar and you.

Can you really keep this to yourself?

Yes.

Only then did the staff member’s eyes finally look a little more trustworthy.

“Even if a knife were held to my throat, I won’t say anything.”

“Thank you.”

“Um, excuse me!”