"We're trending again," Jisung said as June went out of his room.
A week had passed since his birthday, and it was now a brand new month. EVE had gone through a lot for the past month, and their career was currently at its peak.
June turned to television, where the news was currently playing.
"Rookie group EVE takes the world by storm with their song--Luster. It has reached number one in all of the domestic charts, and it shows no signs of stopping. Earlier this morning, they've also broken into the international market, with their song ranking 197th on the top 200 worldwide songs."
Akira emerged from his room with wide eyes, immediately going next to Jisung to watch the news with him.
"We've made it to the Bilbong charts?" Akira muttered in disbelief at what he just heard.
June scratched the back of his head. "Is it that big of a deal?"
Jisung and Akira quickly turned around. "Is it that big of a deal?" Akira repeated in disbelief.
"Of course it is," Akira said. "There are groups who are more popular internationally, and they don't even chart in the top 200 worldwide songs! Do you know what this means?"
June pursed his lips. "No?"
"It means that we're claiming the title of the biggest boy group in Korea!"
Like perfect timing, the news anchor said those exact same words.
window.pubfuturetag = window.pubfuturetag || [];window.pubfuturetag.push({unit: "64ce79d606107d003c23ea27", id: "pf-5140-1"})"They are the very first boy group to have a perfect all-kill on all of the domestic charts while charting internationally. Despite the group not having their first-year anniversary yet, they might just snatch the title of the biggest boy group in Korea!"
Jisung gulped as the news segment ended.
"Well...that's a lot of pressure," Jisung chuckled. "I wonder how the company will react to this."
Meanwhile, in Azure's headquarters, Mr. Ong was bathing in the small jacuzzi in his office.
EVE's song was playing in the background while he played a gambling game on his large laptop. He was completely naked, and the floors had gotten wet from his excitement whenever he won, but he didn't care at all.
"This is the life," he said, sipping on some champagne that he bought with the company's card.
It had only been a month since EVE's song popped off, yet it was already the greatest money maker of Azure Entertainment. It has been used in commercials, TV shows, and even in the background of some movies.
Azure had never been this prosperous with the other groups they'd pushed before...and to think it was because of a song that the members themselves had written.
Just then, the words 'LOSE' appeared on his screen, and before he knew it, his balance was drained of thousands of dollars.
However, even then, he still appeared happier than ever.
Mr. Ong sighed and leaned against his jacuzzi with a satisfied sigh.
"That's alright," he said. "It's just money. It will come back."
window.pubfuturetag = window.pubfuturetag || [];window.pubfuturetag.push({unit: "64cc9e79c7059f003e4ad4b0", id: "pf-5109-1"})"As long as my boys are working, I'll be able to live like this," he confidently said, betting another couple thousand dollars on the gambling game.
Back to EVE's dorm…
"Today is the first day of the filming, right?" Akira asked once he saw that June was fully dressed.
June nodded as he placed his script inside his backpack. Honestly, he probably didn't need it today because they were going to film the opening scenes of the movie—one where he didn't have many lines.
Nonetheless, all of the characters' introductions will be filmed today, so June had prepared really well last night despite his lack of lines.
"Jay's waiting for me downstairs," June said. "I'll go right ahead."
***
It didn't take long before Jay and June arrived at the filming site. It was the same one when June acted as a bandit in Hana's past historical drama. However, the set was designed to fit the intricacies of the film this time, so it definitely didn't look like it was the same location.
As he arrived, he was greeted by Hana and Taehyun, the main characters of the show.
"Are you ready?" Hana asked. She was already dressed in traditional wear, with her hair unstyled. Since she had done a lot of historical dramas in the past year, it wasn't much of a surprise to June anymore. She actually looked very natural in this type of costume.
In his peripheral vision, he saw Lin Zhi getting his hair done. He was clad in a black hanbok, and he was given a white wig that almost looked like gray hair.
June shook his head. Gray was definitely not his color.
window.pubfuturetag = window.pubfuturetag || [];window.pubfuturetag.push({unit: "663633fa8ebf7442f0652b33", id: "pf-8817-1"})Before he could even answer Hana's question, someone from the costume team dragged him inside the changing room.
"You're late," the woman with glasses said, making him purse his lips.
"I was informed to be here by this time," June said.
She shook her head. "You should have come earlier. Since this is a historical drama, it is only basic etiquette that the actors come early so you can get dressed and have your hair and make-up done. This whole process will take about an hour, so the other cast members will already proceed with filming."
June nodded in understanding. "I apologize," he sincerely said.
She nodded and got to work, placing June in a costume that was similar to Lin Zhi's.
As he emerged from the dressing room, the woman froze and looked at him with raised eyebrows. It suited him very well—
almost like the hanbok was tailored fit for him. Even though he hadn't gotten his make-up and hair done yet, he already looked quite dashing.
Then, June was coaxed over by the hair and make-up artists, and they quickly got to work.
Thankfully, they didn't give him a gray wig like Lin Zhi, and they settled for long black hair pulled into a messy half-up, half-down instead. He could hear Director Jam already shouting from the filming site, so June inferred that the shoot must have started.
It was a good thing he wasn't part of the first few scenes, so he wouldn't be delaying the filming of any sort.
In the middle of it all, June felt sleepy as the make-up artist lightly brushed her tools on his face.
Then, the make-up artist stopped and stepped back as she looked at her final creation, only to be bombarded with a visual attack.
She placed her hand over her heart as she felt a strange ache go through her body.
"How could a villain look this handsome?"
