Chapter Fifty-Eight: Astonishment

ho was waving at him, and glanced at her and Bae Joo-hyeon, who was looking at him from beside her. He asked, "Why are you already in the practice room Wasn't it planned to debut at the end of the yea...The news instantly attracted strong attention from media outlets in Xia Guo and the peninsula, topping the real-time trending charts.

Exo is not a second or third-tier boy group like BTS. They are now one of the most popular and hottest groups in Southeast Asia, especially in Xia Guo and the Peninsula, their two most frequent activity bases. In the former, they even top the charts without any suffix.

Hna is still one of the most popular members, being Exo's leader and main promoted member. She holds a significant position within the team, especially during their activities in China. She's just slightly less popular than Ji Chang-wook.

He left a huge void in the team, their popularity plummeting by more than a third. The negative impact on the peninsula itself and the ripple effects of his departure from the group are impossible to predict.

Let alone it wasn't an ordinary departure, but like Wu, he left in a decisive manner through a lawsuit.

Since its rise, EXO has become ** Entertainment's latest pillar and cash cow. Its revenue in recent quarters accounted for the majority of the entire company's revenue. Now that a key member has left, the stock market has experienced intense fluctuations.

After the news of Han's filing a lawsuit claiming the contract was invalid broke, S's stock price plummeted sharply. Within just fifteen minutes, S's stock price dropped to 37,050 won, a decline of nearly nine percent overall. As a result, S's total market capitalization also fell significantly by nearly 700 billion won.

I received the news yesterday, and s company, which had already made preparations, also hastily stood up to express:

“Today, the agency received a lawsuit from Han. He had previously stated that due to health reasons and his desire to focus on activities in China rather than EXO's activities, he was currently in the process of discussing future plans. However, he was very confused to suddenly receive a termination lawsuit.”

“We believe that filing a lawsuit without reason, gaining popularity through the group, and then using legal entities to terminate the contract in violation of the agreement is an act that disregards the interests of the group activities, as well as the company and other relevant parties involved in the contract. It is a practice that prioritizes personal interests.”

At the same time, in order to stabilize stock prices and reassure fans, he finally added: "Exo's future activities will also proceed as usual."

But this official response did little to quell the already raging fire of public opinion online, instead adding fuel to the flames.

First, there was the rapid decline of Girls' Generation's popularity after a string of dating scandals. Then, what on earth happened this year

"s must be thinking about singing 'tor!' now kkkk"

To be honest, as one of the most popular members in the group, Han's departure could potentially lead to its disbandment... unless S allows Yuan to fill his position and manage activities for both teams.

"This kind of thing is most afraid of someone taking the lead. When Wu terminated his contract last time, I thought EXO definitely couldn't hold on for too long, sure enough, my prediction now is that after Han, it will be the other two Chinese members... At that time, twelve people will directly leave one-fourth, EXO will be over."

"Hahaha, last time when Wu terminated the contract, Planet Fan was still gloating and being sarcastic. This time it's their own idol's turn, right Hahaha, what about "promises" I died laughing kkkk."

The sudden disbandment sent EXO's fans into a frenzy of shock and confusion. They were completely caught off guard and had no idea what was going on. Meanwhile, previously silent hate comments began to resurface, joining in the online discussion with casual onlookers who were enjoying the spectacle.

Even if you're not a hater, given EXO's popularity, this kind of commotion is something ordinary passersby would enjoy seeing. It feels more exciting than an idol revealing a relationship.

As the news spread like wildfire online, after a two-hour flight, EXO's plane also landed at Incheon International Airport in Seoul. After a series of procedures, under the escort of their agency and assistants, ten people lined up and slowly walked out towards the outside.

EXO's itinerary is not a secret; anyone can find out that they had a concert in Xia Country the past two days and their flight back today. Therefore, the outside of the airport is already crowded with reporters who have been waiting for them.

And the fans who had originally come to pick him up were also gathering in a state of panic not far from the airport. But at this moment, even if they knew their idol had already disembarked and was about to walk out, they couldn't bring themselves to make the kind of ecstatic cheers and screams they used to.

They saw the crowded journalists and the EXO members slowly walking out from inside, their faces all a bit dazed, not knowing what to do next.

As enthusiastic screams as before

But no matter how hard I tried, I couldn't bring myself to speak.

There are also several fans of Han here. They came here early to wait for their idol's arrival, but they didn't get to see him. Instead, they received the news that their idol had left the group.

It came as a bolt from the blue.

At this moment, they were each holding han's banners and pictures in their hands. However, they didn't raise them high nor throw them on the ground. Instead, they held them tightly but didn't know where to put them.

Several girls even cried out loud, their tears streaming down their faces and onto the photo magazines they were reluctant to throw away. They gently fell onto the folded face of Han.

Once, no matter where they appeared, the planetary warriors displayed extraordinary combat prowess and boundless enthusiasm. But now, they looked as disheartened as wilted eggplants, their dejected appearance evoking pity.

Can you tell me anything about the inside story of han leaving the group

Is it true that Han withdrew from the group because his body couldn't handle the busy schedule

Each member was surrounded by a large number of reporters. The most people were gathered around Ji-won at the end of the line, with flashes constantly lighting up their faces. Assistants stood beside them, trying to create a barrier with their hands to protect the members' safety. However, it was difficult to move forward even one step in this crowded situation.

Ci Jingyuan was wearing a simple gray pair of shorts and a short sleeve, paired with canvas shoes. He had a black baseball cap on his head, wasn't wearing a mask, and his bare face was still striking, but at this moment, he looked quite tired.

"Could you say something about this What's your take on it Will Han's departure have a big impact on EXO" A reporter kept pushing past his assistant, loudly questioning him.

Ji Jingyuan stretched out his hand to gently block the microphone that was about to reach his mouth. He shook his head without speaking, lowered his head and followed Wu Shixun in front of him closely, keeping his mouth shut without a sound.

With Han's departure from the group and EXO's already massive popularity, the impact was significant. I estimate that almost all entertainment media outlets in Seoul sent reporters to stake out the situation.

After much effort, he finally managed to step out of the airport one step at a time. Ji Jingyuan glanced at the fans who came to pick him up beside him, but their silence and solemnity made people feel sad. Looking at their confused expressions, red-rimmed eyes, and helpless looks, he sighed and didn't stay, following the nanny car directly.

He can't do anything now.

The nanny car drove straight back to the S company building, and they soon found themselves back in that small meeting room. They vaguely remembered that not long ago, when Bian Bo-xian was in love, they also had meetings here.

Besides the head of the agent department, several company managers and board members are also present.

Li Xiuman didn't come. He has recently been focusing most of his energy on taking care of his family because his wife has been sick. As a result, he's been less involved in managing the company. Although he still occasionally contacts Park Jin-young by phone to express concern, he hasn't been to the company for some time.

He asked those same repetitive questions again. Many of them Li Chenghuan had already asked yesterday.

Most members were actually completely unaware of this. Even if you asked them, they wouldn't know anything. Even Chi Jingyuan only found out last night when he had dinner with Han. The only two Xia Guo Le members who knew beforehand that he was leaving were...

And now that everyone has already left, talking about these things doesn't really matter anymore. The most important thing now is how to deal with the current situation.

"Please refrain from publicly expressing your opinion on this matter. The company is still discussing how to handle it."

After a tense round of questioning, several high-level officials whispered amongst themselves for a few moments. Then, they dismissed the others and asked them to leave first.

Shall we still try to contact han

"Since they have already filed a lawsuit, it means they are determined. What's the use of contacting them now"

"Now the main thing is to control public opinion first and stabilize the stock price so that it doesn't fall any further…"

As I walked out of the office, I could still faintly hear some murmurs of management discussion coming from behind.

It's a pity that the company said it a bit late, y seems to have already posted on Xiaohongshu about saying goodbye and supporting han before. tao doesn't know if he posted it or not.

As for the control of public opinion... it has already fermented to this extent, I estimate that it is dangerous.

Is today's news about EXO members leaving the group the biggest hot topic online The Park Chanyeol drug scandal, which has been under constant attention recently, suddenly caused a stir among fans. Shortly after being hurt by the news of Baekhyun's dating, Planet fans are facing another blow.

Moreover, this time it's not as simple as a love affair. The departure of one of the core members is a huge loss for any group, and an unimaginable blow to loyal fans.

The entire b is filled with wailing.

"Hajima... Why are you doing this..."

"We've all been working hard together for so long, can we not have a proper discussion Why, why, why"

"Remind s to communicate with han again, it's okay to start over after returning, is exo still exo even without one person"

Many fans were left disoriented by the sudden news, and many still harbor this misunderstanding. Everyone can come down and talk it out, with a naive hope that han will rejoin the group.

This is also the idea of most fans; no one wants to see their favorite group split up.

"I'm so upset, why are you guys protecting Lu Han Can you guys wake up This is betrayal, he's being ruthless towards his fans and members!"

Some of the more extreme fans, hardcore fans of individual members, immediately drew a line between themselves and Han. After the news about Han's departure came out, in their minds EXO only had ten members left.

We're all still here, Exo cheer up and keep going! I saw Yuan's expression in the news and it was so sad, I almost cried.

Indeed, I've never seen Ouba so lifeless. He must be really heartbroken over his brother leaving.

The last of the true love fans, while saddened, showed great concern for the well-being of the other EXO members.

After EXO returned from China to the peninsula, not long after leaving the airport, many media outlets followed up on current events and published articles such as "Member Han has left the group, EXO's appearance at the airport is worrying, Yuan remains silent with a haggard expression".

All the pictures on top were taken at the airport and show each member of EXO. Everyone looks unhappy in their photos. The clearest and most memorable one is a picture of Kyung-soo being surrounded by reporters and asked questions. He has his mouth pursed and his head down, refusing to speak.

Even with a long brim, it couldn't hide the weariness and resignation on his face. It was a stark contrast to the sunny, smiling image that Chi Jingyuan usually showed to fans. Many fans immediately felt heartbroken when they saw this.

Just looking at the photos can make them feel empathy.

Many yuan fans of such and such are emotionally resentful and blaming towards him for his actions, and many have directly turned hostile towards him, with their words full of blame and insults.

They don't care about anything.

This photo was also widely reposted to many media headlines and forums, becoming the best proof of EXO suffering from bad luck, a poor atmosphere within the group, and members in low spirits.

Even Lian Chi Jingyuan couldn't laugh, could this not prove something

……

"Is everything alright on your end"

"Member departures are unavoidable, we faced it ourselves before, don't worry about it, the heat will die down in a few days. Just work harder for the next comeback (laughing)(Cheer up) ."

Chi Jingyuan looked at the message on his phone, a smile playing on his lips.

This was sent by Jung Eun-ji. The first one was sent when the morning news just came out, at that time Park Kyung was still on the plane, and he saw it but didn't reply.

Next, she sent another message to comfort Chi Jingyuan. She used herself as an example and spoke from personal experience, which was indeed very convincing.

Today this news is too explosive. Basically, anyone in the K-Pop world would have known it immediately. So after the news of Han's departure from the group broke, many of Ji Chang-wook's friends sent messages to check on him and offer condolences, both familiar and unfamiliar ones.

But because I was in a bad mood, and at the time I didn't know what to say, Ji Jingyuan never replied. Some messages weren't even opened.

However, most of them are just polite greetings. For some closer relationships, like Jung Eun-ji, if they don't receive a reply, they will try sending two more after a while.

"So carefree But I remember you specifically asked me out for a drink when Hong YuJing left the group. If I recall correctly, you seemed really miserable that night, like APK was about to disband."

Ji Jingyuan sat cross-legged on the floor, smiling as he quickly typed a message back to her on his phone. At this moment, Park Chan-wook walked over and handed him a glass of iced drink.

"Thanks." He looked up and accepted it with a nod, then twisted the top off and took two big gulps.

They were in EXO's practice room at this moment, squeezing in time to rehearse many songs and dances. Han's departure from EXO brought more than just an impact on their reputation, image, and fanbase. There were also many more direct consequences.

For example, basically most of the dance choreography needs to be rehearsed again, and some songs even need to be re-choreographed. His previous parts also need to be assigned to other people.

Several popular songs, such as "Roar," "Addiction," and "Wolf and Beauty," had to be rehearsed extensively in many places.

For example, the Tree of Life design in "Wolf and Beauty" had Chi Jingyuan previously paired with Han. The two stood at second and third place in the line, respectively, holding hands and leaning on each other to form branches.

Now that Han is gone, no one can pull him along. He can't even get the Tree of Life out. He'll have to wait for the dance teacher to rearrange people to cooperate with him again.

Especially the team's stage, Han because he is the main push member, his part and center position are the most. With six people becoming five, the dance moves are completely different. Suddenly having a spot empty and practicing it again will be a huge workload.

But with a large workload, they also have to rehearse again. Although EXO's group activities are temporarily on hold, their next concert is on the 27th, which leaves them only one week to rehearse.

After the previous meeting ended, about an hour and a half later they came back. They returned to the practice room and greeted the others, but nothing else was said.

Soon, Lee Cheng-hwan and the company's management also went to the practice room to announce the temporary handling results. EXO's group activities are currently temporarily suspended, but individual schedules are unaffected.

These days, it's like this first. We'll adjust according to the feedback we receive later.

After this incident, the atmosphere within EXO noticeably changed. The two Xia Guo members seemed preoccupied, keeping to themselves and rarely communicating with each other.

Others also didn't seem to be in a good mood, whether it was out of anger or frustration.

Before long, the dance teachers who were responsible for helping them arrived. Everyone started to rehearse intensely, focusing on reorganizing the entire performance. The most important thing now was to go through all the songs of the concert again.

After practicing continuously for several hours, it was time for a break. The members all slumped against the wall and floor, feeling down. With everyone in low spirits, there wasn't much interest in conversation. A few people chatted softly amongst themselves, while others busied themselves with their own things.

After handing the beverage to him, Park Chan-ryeol nodded without saying anything and went back to retrieve a few more bottles, distributing them to the others one by one. Then he returned to his seat and started fiddling with his phone without uttering a word.

The entire practice room was filled with an unsettling heaviness.

Ji Jingyuan shook his head, flicking sweat from his forehead. He picked up his drink and took two sips before Zheng En-di's reply came through.

"You're such a jerk! I tried to comfort you and you bring up my old wounds (Roaring) When one of your guys quits next time, don't expect me to care. (Scoffs)."

After watching, Ji Jingyuan couldn't help but laugh. He put his drink aside, then quickly returned to the conversation: "Next time someone quits the group...are they cursing us Then I also congratulate you on your new drama's viewership rating breaking through 6%! I forgot to congratulate you before, it's simply an honor like a milestone, it's about to surpass 'Reply 1997' from that year. It's truly worthy of the young actress Jung Eunji!"

"Oh! Chi Jingyuan, are you trying to fight Next time..."

This reply came back incredibly fast. Even across the phone, Jiyeong could imagine Jung Eun-ji letting out a ferocious growl and pressing her phone screen with all her might.

After a quick glance, he didn't have time to reply. Rest time was over, the dance teacher clapped her hands and signaled them to continue contacting each other. The members all stood up and walked to the middle, starting a new round of practice.

After the members had a quick meal and scattered in the evening, they went back to the practice room and practiced until past one o'clock in the morning before disbanding and returning to their dormitory.

For a concert rehearsal, a week is just barely enough time. If it were only one or two days, we might have to pull all-nighters these few days just to catch up.

After returning to the dorm, the atmosphere was noticeably heavy. Everyone seemed uninspired to talk. We'd already said what we needed to say last night and this afternoon; there wasn't much point in saying more.

This time it's completely different from the previous love affair.

Since the Han incident, EXO's loyal fanbase has been shaken. The once bright future of the group has become blurry. Each member is thinking differently and carrying a lot on their minds.

And even without explicitly saying it, everyone could feel that many people in the audience had some resentment towards the two members of Xia Guo Le who already knew about this beforehand.

Although not completely isolated, a clear sense of distance had already formed.

Before Wu Saike ran, they could happily watch the excitement. Now they are Han, and after they ran, they all did well. Their common point is that they are all members of the Xia Guo.

Who's next

After all these months of upheaval, anyone can't help but ask themselves this question.

After washing up in line, everyone went back to their rooms. Today, Do Kyung-Soo didn't go to the set because of this incident.

His drama "It's Okay to Not Be Okay" is about to premiere, and he has finished filming most of his parts. The filming schedule for the next few days should be lighter.

They, a trio sharing the same bedroom, each played with their phones, scrolling through various comments about the Han incident online, occasionally exchanging words with one another.

"Didn't you call your girlfriend today" Ji-seong was sitting cross-legged on the bed leaning against the wall, fiddling with his phone and glancing up at Se-hoon.

"What time is it, and what mood could I possibly have" Wu Shixun rubbed his temples helplessly, as if he had heard a joke, and shook his head. "I sent her a message at dinner last night, saying that I wouldn't be available to talk for the next two days."

"Two days I wish this could be over in two days."

Upstairs, Do Kyung-soo put down his phone and sighed, "I'm just afraid this is just the beginning..."

He didn't finish his sentence, but both of them understood what he meant.

After a brief silence, they both spontaneously started talking about some lighter topics.

After a few words, Chi Jingyuan's phone suddenly vibrated. He picked it up and saw that it was from Pei Zhuhyun.

“You said yesterday there was something, is that about this today”

Ji Jingyuan found that since Pei Zhuxuan was selected for the new girl group project, his contact with her had become more frequent, especially recently. After being confirmed as a four-member debut group, she liked to send him two messages from time to time.

I don't know if it's to share their own feelings or for some other reason.

Chi Jingyuan didn't care, he quickly replied: "I was having dinner with Han Ge when I was talking to you."

"Jiyong, why are you so quiet" Do Kyung-Soo's gaze across the table was blocked and he couldn't see what Ji Won was doing. As they were chatting, he suddenly didn't hear his voice anymore and couldn't help but ask in confusion.

He's texting a girl there.

Before the main subject could speak, Wu Shih-hsien glanced at him and blurted it out.

"Then go ahead, more important things to deal with." Doh Kyung-soo chuckled softly and remained silent.

"How did you know she was a girl" Chi Jingyuan looked at him.

"Who are you looking down on Don't tell me it's a man"

Wu Shixun gave him a withering glance and shook his head, ignoring him as he stared at his phone with a confident expression. "Although I haven't received your calls, you text me non-stop every day. No ordinary friend would have that many things to say... Besides, you're not the only one you're chatting with, are you"

"Hee hee..." Chi Jingyuan smiled at him, raising an eyebrow. He lowered his head to look at his phone and replied to the message he received.

"We've all seen the news, and the photos from the airport... Well... how are you guys doing now"

He's received countless similar messages of concern today, though he's grateful, he's getting a little tired. He twitched the corner of his mouth and casually replied: "I don't know how to say..."

After sending it, Chi Jingyuan tossed his phone aside and didn't even bother sitting down. He just lay down and stared at the wooden planks above him.

He hadn't even had time to think about everything that had happened in the past two days when his phone next to him started vibrating again. Chi Jingyuan reached out and fumbled for it, picking up the phone and opening the message. The screen suddenly lit up.

Jennie Kim sent a selfie directly.

In the photo, Pei Zhuhyun is still in the brightly lit practice room. Her fringe is slightly messy, probably from just finishing practice. There's obvious sweat on her face and forehead, and her cheeks are flushed red, looking like she's quite warm.

One head and face take up more than two-thirds of the entire photo. She seems to want to make an expression of scrutiny and judgment, but her slightly upturned corners and a hint of sweetness break the serious atmosphere she was trying to create.

At this moment, she was crouched on the floor, her big eyes wide as she peered into the camera with her head cocked. A faint reflection of her phone and hand could still be seen in her pupils.

The selfie immediately attracted intense attention from media outlets in both Xia Guo and the Peninsula, instantly topping the trending topics list.

Exo is not a second- or third-tier boy group like BTS. They are one of the most popular and hottest groups in Southeast Asia right now, especially in Xia Guo and the Peninsula, their two most frequent activity bases. In the former, they don't even have a suffix.

Hna is still one of the most popular members, she is the leader and main pusher of exo-, and holds a very important position in the team's activities in China. She's just a little bit behind Park Ji-won.

He left, and the team's popularity plummeted by more than a third. The negative impacts on the peninsula itself, as well as the ripple effects of his departure, are difficult to gauge.

Not to mention, it wasn't just an ordinary exit. It was like Wu, leaving with such a decisive move, taking legal action.

Since its rise, EXO has become the newest pillar and cash cow for ** Entertainment. Its revenue in recent quarters accounted for a large portion of the company's total revenue. Now that important members are leaving, the stock market is experiencing significant fluctuations.

After news broke that han had filed an invalid contract lawsuit, s's stock price plummeted sharply. In just fifteen minutes, s's stock price fell to 37,050 Korean won, a decline of nearly nine percent overall. As a result, s's total market capitalization also dropped by nearly 700 billion Korean won.

I received the news yesterday, and the prepared s company saw such a terrifying drop and immediately stood up to say:

“Today, through legal counsel, we received a lawsuit from Han. He had previously stated that due to health reasons and his desire to focus on activities in China rather than EXO's activities, he was currently in the process of discussing future activity plans. However, he was very confused to suddenly receive a termination lawsuit.”

"We believe that filing a lawsuit without reason, capitalizing on the popularity of the group, and then using legal entities to terminate contracts in violation of agreements is an act that disregards the interests of the group activities and related contractual parties such as the company. It is a practice that prioritizes personal gain over the collective."

To stabilize the stock price and reassure fans, he finally added: "EXO's future activities will also proceed as usual."

But this official response did not really have much effect at this time, and instead added fuel to the already raging fire on the internet.

First, it was Girls' Generation with a string of love affairs causing a rapid decline. Then, what happened this year

"He should probably want to sing 'Tor!' now, kkkk"

To be honest, Han being one of the most popular members in the group, if he left, the group could disband... unless S allows Yuan to fill his position and manage activities for both groups.

"This kind of thing is most afraid of someone taking the lead. When Wu broke the contract before, I thought EXO definitely wouldn't last long, and sure enough, after Han, I predict it will be the other two Chinese members... At that time, twelve people directly withdrew one-fourth, EXO is over."

"Hahahahaha, last time when Wu terminated the contract, Planet fans were still gloating and being snarky there, this time it's their own idol's turn Hahaha, what about "what you said" I almost died laughing kkkk."

The sudden disbandment left EXO's fans in shock and disbelief. It came so abruptly that no one knew what was going on. Meanwhile, previously silent black fans emerged alongside curious onlookers, enthusiastically discussing the situation online.

Even if you're not a hater, given EXO's popularity, this kind of frenzy is something ordinary people would enjoy watching. It feels even more exciting than an idol dating scandal.

As the news spread like wildfire online, after a two-hour flight, EXO's plane landed at Incheon International Airport in Seoul. After a series of procedures, under the escort of their manager and assistants, ten members walked slowly towards the outside, forming a line.

EXO's schedule isn't a secret; anyone can find out they had a concert in Xia Guo the past two days and their flight back today. That's why reporters, who have been waiting for quite some time, are now surrounding the airport.

And the fans who had originally come to pick up the idol were also gathered in a state of panic outside the airport, but at this time, even if they knew their idol had already disembarked and was about to walk out, they could hardly let out the kind of ecstatic cheers and screams they used to.

They saw the throng of reporters, and the EXO members slowly walking out from inside, all with bewildered expressions, unsure of what to do.

Are there the same enthusiastic screams as before

But no matter how hard I tried, I couldn't utter a sound.

There are also several fans of Han here. They came to this place very early to wait for their idol's arrival, but instead of seeing him, they got the news that their idol had quit the group.

Like a bolt from the blue.

At this moment, they each held han's banner and magazine in their hands, but instead of raising them high or throwing them to the ground, they clutched them tightly, unsure where to put them.

Several girls cried directly, tears streaming down their faces and onto the magazines they were reluctant to discard. They gently dripped onto Han's face, which was folded.

Once, Planetman displayed immense fighting power and fervent passion wherever he appeared. However, at this moment, he looked as withered and dejected as a frostbitten eggplant, pitiful to behold.

Can you tell me anything about the inside scoop on han leaving the group

Is it true that Han withdrew from the group because his physical condition couldn't handle the busy schedule

Every member was surrounded by a large number of reporters. The most people were around Ji-seong at the end of the line, and flashbulbs kept going off in their faces. Assistants beside them tried their best to shield the members with outstretched hands, protecting their safety. However, it was quite difficult to move forward even just one step amidst such a crowd.

Chi Jingyuan was dressed in simple gray shorts and a short sleeve shirt, paired with canvas shoes. He wore a black baseball cap on his head but no mask. His makeup-free face was still bright, but at this moment it looked rather tired.

"Can you tell me about that What's your take on this Will Han's departure have a big impact on EXO" A reporter kept pushing past his assistant, loudly questioning him.

Chi Jingyuan reached out and gently blocked the microphone that was about to reach his mouth. He shook his head, remained silent, and lowered his head, following closely behind Wu Shixun in front of him, biting his lip without making a sound.

With Han's departure from the group and EXO's existing popularity, the impact was significant. It's estimated that almost every entertainment media outlet in Seoul sent reporters to cover the story.

After much effort, he finally managed to step out of the airport. Chi Jingyuan turned his head to glance at the fans waiting for him. They looked lost and sad, their eyes were red, and they seemed unsure what to do. He sighed, didn't linger, and got into the nanny car.

He can't do anything now.

The nanny van drove straight back to the s company building, and they soon found themselves back in that small meeting room. They could still vaguely remember how Pei Xian had also held meetings here when he was dating not long ago.

In addition to the head of the talent agency, several company managers and directors are also present.

Lee Xiuman didn't come either. It seems like he's been focusing a lot of his energy on taking care of his family lately because his wife has been sick. He's been less involved in managing the company. Although he still occasionally calls Park Jyeongwon on the phone to show his concern, he hasn't appeared at the company for quite some time.

Again, he asked those same repeated questions. Many of them Li Chenghuan had already asked yesterday.

Most members were actually completely unaware of this. Asking them wouldn't reveal anything either. Even Ji Jingyuan only found out last night when he had dinner with Han. The only two Xia Guo Le members who knew beforehand were

.

Besides, now that everyone has already left, talking about these things doesn't really matter anymore. The most important thing now is how to deal with the current situation.

"Refrain from publicly sharing your opinion on this matter as the company is still deliberating on how to proceed."

After a round of tense questioning, several executives whispered amongst themselves for a few moments before asking the rest to leave and continuing their discussion alone.

"Shall we try contacting han"

"Since they've already filed a lawsuit, it means they're determined. What's the point of contacting them now"

"Now the main thing is to control public opinion first, and stabilize the stock price so that it doesn't fall any further..."

As I stepped out of the office, I could still faintly hear some murmurings from the managers behind me.

It's a pity the company was a bit late to say anything, y seems to have already posted a farewell and support blog post for han on Xiaohongshu before. tao doesn't know if it was posted or not.

As for the control of public opinion... it's already fermented to this extent, I estimate it is dangerous.

Is today's EXO member departure the hottest topic on the internet The Park Chanyeol drug scandal, which has been attracting attention recently, suddenly caused a stir among fans. Fans who were already hurt by the news of Baekhyun's dating are now facing another blow.

And this time it's not just a simple matter of love. The withdrawal of one of the core members is a huge loss for any group, and for loyal fans it's simply indescribable heartbreak.

The entire b is filled with lament.

"Haji-ma... why are you doing this..."

"You guys have all been working hard together for so long, can't you just talk it out Why, why, why"

"Please communicate with Han again as soon as possible. You can also start over after you return. Is EXO still EXO without one person"

Many fans were left disoriented by the sudden news, and many still harbor a misconception that they can come down and talk it over again, hoping for Han's return to the group.

This is also the idea of most fans, no one wants to see their favorite group split up.

"I'm so worried, why are you guys defending Luhan Can you guys wake up This is betrayal, he's being heartless to his fans and fellow members!"

Some of the most extreme fans, some hardcore stans of individual members, immediately cut ties with Han. After news broke about Han's issues, in their minds EXO only consisted of ten people.

"We're all still here, EXO, cheer up and keep going! I saw Yuan's expression in the news, it was so sad, I almost cried."

Indeed, I've never seen Ouba so lifeless. He must be really hurting from his older brother's departure.

The last true love fan, while saddened, also cared deeply about the well-being of the other EXO members.

After EXO returned to the peninsula from China, shortly after leaving the airport, many media outlets quickly followed up on current events and published articles like "Member Han has left the group, EXO's appearance at the airport is worrying, Yuan remains silent with a haggard expression."

All the pictures on top were taken at the airport and show each member of EXO. Everyone's expression is quite unpleasant. The most clear and memorable picture among them is of Park Chanyeol being surrounded by reporters asking him questions. He has his mouth pursed, head bowed, and remains silent in the photo.

Even with a long brim, it couldn't hide the helplessness and fatigue on his face. It was a stark contrast to the sunny image that Chi Jingyuan usually showed fans with his smile. Many fans who saw it immediately felt very sorry for him.

Just looking at the photos can make them empathize.

Many of Yuan's die-hard fans have reacted to Han's behavior with resentment and blame, and many have even turned hostile towards him, using language full of accusations and insults.

They don't care about anything.

This photo was also widely shared on many media headlines and forums, becoming the best proof of EXO experiencing a negative energy flow, with an unpleasant atmosphere within the group and members in low spirits.

Even Lian Chi Jingyuan couldn't laugh, can't this prove anything

……

How are you doing

"It's hard to avoid members leaving the group, we went through it ourselves in the beginning, don't worry about it, his popularity will die down after a few days. Let's just work harder for our next comeback (laughs) (fighting)."

Chi Jingyuan looked at the message on his phone and smiled slightly.

This was sent by Jung Eun-ji. The first one was sent when the morning news just came out, at that time Park Kyung-won was on a plane and later saw it but didn't reply.

Next, she posted another message to comfort Chi Jingyuan. She spoke from personal experience, giving him a very persuasive argument.

Today this news is too explosive. Basically, everyone in the K-Pop industry knew about it immediately. So after the news of Han's departure from the group was exposed, many of Ji Changwook's friends all messaged to express their concern and comfort, both familiar and unfamiliar ones.

"It's just that my mood is a bit off, and I don't know what to say at this moment. Chi Jingyuan has never replied, and some messages haven't even been opened." Let me know if you have any other text you'd like me to translate!

However, most of them are just polite greetings. For those who are closer, like Jung Eon-ji, if they don't receive a reply, they will try again after a while and send two more messages.

"So carefree But I remember you specifically came to have a drink with me when Hong Yu-gyeong left the group. If my memory serves right, you looked very distressed back then, like APK was about to disband."

Ji Jingyuan sat cross-legged on the floor, smiling as he quickly typed a message back on his phone. At that moment, Park Chan-wook walked over and handed him a glass of iced drink.

"Thanks," he said, raising his head to accept it. He unscrewed the cap and gulped down two large mouthfuls.

Right now they are in EXO's practice room, making the most of their time to rehearse many song and dance routines. Han's departure from EXO brought more than just impacts on reputation, image, and fans; there were also many more direct consequences.

For example, basically most of the dance choreography needs to be rehearsed again, and some songs even need to be re-choreographed. His previous parts also need to be allocated to other people.

Several popular songs, such as "Roaring," "Addiction," and "Wolf and Beauty," require significant rehearsals to be perfected.

For example, the Tree of Life in "The Wolf and Beauty" is modeled after how Ji Jingyuan previously collaborated with Han. The two stood at second and third place respectively, holding hands and leaning against each other to create branches.

Now that Han is gone, no one can pull him along. He can't even perform the Tree of Life dance without someone to cooperate with him. He'll have to wait for the dance instructor to rearrange the dancers and pair him up again.

Especially the team's stage, Han because he is the main pushed member, his part and center position are the most. The dance movements of six people becoming five people are completely different, and it takes a lot of work to re-practice after suddenly leaving a gap.

But the workload is large and they must rehearse again. Although EXO's group activities are temporarily stopped, their next concert is on the 27th, leaving them only a week to rehearse.

After the previous meeting, about an hour later, he came back alone. He returned to the practice room and greeted the others, but nothing else was said.

Soon, Lee Seong-hwan and the company's management also arrived at the practice room to announce the temporary handling results. EXO's group activities are currently temporarily suspended, but individual schedules are unaffected.

These days, it's like this first. Subsequently, adjustments will be made based on the feedback from the outside world.

After this incident, the atmosphere within EXO noticeably changed. The two Chinese members seemed preoccupied, keeping to themselves and remaining silent wherever they were. They didn't interact much.

Others were also in a bad mood, whether it was because of anger or irritability.

Without waiting long, the dance teacher responsible for helping them arrived soon. Everyone began to work hard on the rearrangement, the most important thing now was to go through all the songs of the concert again.

After practicing continuously for several hours, it was time for a break. The members all sat down against the wall on the floor. No one felt like talking much due to their tired moods. A few people were chatting quietly while others busied themselves with their own things.

After handing the drink to him, Park Chan-lye nodded without saying anything and went back to get a few more bottles, handing them out to others one by one. Then he sat back in his place, fiddling with his phone without making a sound.

The entire practice room was filled with a heavy, uncomfortable feeling.

Ji Jingyuan shook his head, shaking the sweat from his forehead, then picked up his drink and took two sips. Zheng Endi's reply came right back.

"You're such a jerk! I was trying to comfort you and you brought up my old wounds (Screaming) Next time someone quits, don't expect me to care about any of you again. (Scoffs)."

After watching, Ji Jingyuan couldn't help but chuckle. He put his drink aside and quickly returned to the conversation: "Next time someone quits the group... are they cursing us Then I also congratulate you on your new drama's ratings breaking through 6%! I always forgot to congratulate you before. It's almost like a milestone, an honor. It's about to surpass "Answer Me 1997" from that year. You really deserve it, young actress Jung Eun-ji!"

"Oh! Chi Jingyuan, are you looking for a fight Next time..."

This response is incredibly fast, even across the phone screen Qi Jingyuan could imagine Jung Eun-ji grinning and angrily pressing the screen with a big mouthful.

After a quick glance, he didn't have time to reply. Break time was over, the dance teacher clapped her hands and signaled them to continue their contact. The members stood up one after another and walked to the center, starting a new round of practice.

After members scattered and ate a quick meal, they returned to the practice room and continued practicing until past 1 am before finally disbanding and returning to their dormitory.

For a concert rehearsal, a week is barely enough time. If there were only one or two days, we might have to pull all-nighters these few days to make it in time.

After going back to the dorm, the atmosphere was noticeably dull. Everyone seemed to have lost their enthusiasm for talking. We had said all that needed to be said last night and this afternoon; there wasn't much point in saying anything more.

This time is completely different from the love affair that happened before.

The Han incident has truly shaken EXO's fanbase. The group's once bright future has become considerably murky, and each member seems to have different thoughts and feelings swirling within them.

And even without directly saying it, it was very clear that many people had developed a certain amount of resentment towards the two Xia Guo members who everyone already knew about this matter.

Although not completely isolated, a clear sense of separation had already begun to form.

Before, when Wu Saike ran, they could still watch the commotion happily. Now that he's gone, they've all thrived. Their common point is that they are all members of the Summer Nation.

And who's next

After all the turbulence these past few months, anyone would be tempted to ask themselves this question.

After queuing up for a wash, everyone returned to their rooms. Today, Doyoung didn't go to the set because of this matter.

He will be starring in "It's Okay to Not Be Okay," which is about to premiere soon. He has finished filming most of his scenes, so the workload for the next few days should be lighter.

They, a trio sharing a room, were each absorbed in their phones, scrolling through the various comments about the Han incident online. They chatted occasionally, but their conversation lacked focus.

"Didn't you call your girlfriend today" Ji-seong, cross-legged on the bed leaning against the wall, fiddled with his phone and glanced at Woo-seok.

"What time is it What mood am I in" Wu Shixun rubbed his temples wordlessly, as if he had heard a joke, and shook his head. "I sent her a message at dinner last night, saying that I wouldn't be able to talk for the next two days."

"Two days I wish this could be over in two days."

Upper bunk’s Dohyun put down his phone and sighed, “I’m afraid it’s just the beginning…”

He didn't finish his sentence, but both of them understood what he meant.

After a brief silence, they both started talking about some lighter topics.

After saying a few words, Ji Jingyuan's phone suddenly vibrated. He picked it up and saw that it was from Pei Zhuxuan.

"You said yesterday there was something, is this it"

Ji Changwon found that since Pei Zhuxuan was selected for the new girl group project, his contact with her had gradually become more frequent. Especially recently, after being confirmed as the final four-member debut lineup, she often sent him two messages.

I don't know if it's to share their feelings or something else.

Chi Jingyuan didn't care, he quickly replied in a low voice: "Yeah, I was having dinner with Han Ge when I talked to you."

"Jingyuan, why are you so quiet" Do Kyung-Soo's gaze across the table was blocked and he couldn't see what Ji Jingyuan was doing. As they were chatting, he suddenly stopped hearing his voice and couldn't help but ask in confusion.

He's texting a girl over there.

Before the main person could speak, Wu Shixun glanced at him and blurted it out.

"Then go ahead and do it, the important things come first," Doh Kyungsoo chuckled softly, then remained silent.

"How did you know she's a woman" Chi Jingyuan stared at him.

Who do you look down on Couldn't it be a man

Wu Shih-Hsun glared at him discontentedly, shook his head and stopped looking at him. He stared at his phone with a determined expression before speaking: "Although I didn't see you call, you send text messages every day without end. Normal friends wouldn't have that much to say... And you're not the only one you're talking to, are you"

"Hee hee..." Chi Jingyuan smiled mischievously at him, raised an eyebrow, and lowered his head to reply to the message on his phone.

"We've all seen the news, and the photos from the airport... Um... You guys, are you okay now"

He's received countless similar messages of concern today, though grateful he is starting to feel a bit overwhelmed. His lips twitched as he casually replied, "I don't really know how to say..."

After sending it, Chi Jingyuan tossed his phone aside and didn't even bother sitting down. He lay down directly, staring blankly at the wooden planks above him.

He hadn't even had time to think about everything that had happened over the past two days when his phone beside him started vibrating again. Chi Jingyuan reached out and fumbled for it, picking it up and tapping open the message. The screen suddenly lit up.

Rose sent a selfie directly.

In the photo, Bae Suzy is still in the brightly lit practice room. Her bangs are slightly messy, probably from just finishing practice. There's obvious sweat on her face and forehead, and her cheeks are flushed, suggesting she's pretty warm from working out.

A head and face take up more than two-thirds of the entire photo. She seems to be trying to make a scrutinizing and calculating expression, but the slight curl at the corner of her mouth with a hint of sweetness breaks the serious atmosphere she was trying to create.

At this moment, she was half-squatting on the floor, her big eyes wide as she peered into the camera with her head cocked. You could still faintly see the reflection of her phone and hand in her pupils.

Selfie

This novel is first published on the Traditional Chinese Novel Network.t it could scare anyone half to death. It wasn't funny at all."Recording Ahahaha..."Jin Jingyuan blinked innocently, indicating that he was completely responsible.Faced with director Sun Seung-wan, Pa...