Chapter Twenty-Five: Fulfilling the Contract

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Entertainment at Your Side, No Pop-Ups

Story set in: January 2005
Recommended song: Jessemnetey – "The Best Day of My Life"
Disclaimer: This story is entirely fictional; any resemblance to actual persons or events is purely coincidental!

Having gone through the X-Files in January, on top of the tense debut, there were also intermittent final exams, which made Jiang Yihan carve out time for revision amid her usual schedule and practice. The exams were not particularly difficult for Jiang Yihan.

Director Han, who had been “tailing” Jiang Yihan for over a month, finally began airing the documentary "MPick," with the first episode broadcast in the week of her debut—one episode per week, each averaging around 25 minutes. Jiang Yihan did not watch it herself, finding it odd and uncomfortable to see her own image on television. However, according to Director Han, who was still filming her, the ratings were pretty good—not exceptionally high, but steadily climbing. It seemed the number of people paying attention to Jiang Yihan was only going to increase.

Speaking of attention, the internet could not be overlooked. Her performance on "Inkigayo" on January 16th had ranked number one in online searches for two days straight, and the video clip had already surpassed a million views. The comments were a mixed bag, but Jiang Yihan didn’t pay much heed; it was Jiang Ziyi who kept busy with those. On her official fan café, membership numbers shot past two thousand within a few days. Registration for the official café required a fee—20,000 won per month—which included gifts of Jiang Yihan-related merchandise; there were also monthly raffles for tickets to her performances or show recordings; members also enjoyed priority access to events like autograph sessions. All the related activities were arranged by Li Tong and Li Ran, and Jiang Yihan did not worry herself with them. Then there was CY—now managed by Li Ran and Jiang Ziyi—where Li Ran uploaded countless daily photos: backstage, in practice, eating, recording, and more, all shared via CY. The platform’s popularity soared, with hits exceeding ten thousand. Jiang Ziyi continued to write diary entries, sharing trivialities from daily life, and strangers began to comment more frequently.

The earlier article by Zhang Nian immediately attracted widespread attention, with its hyperbolic language gaining gradual acceptance. Well-known music critic Liu Yijia, following Liu Taifeng, also wrote a review. Liu Yijia, a top-tier Korean music critic known for his discerning eye, lavished praise on Jiang Yihan. “In today’s Korean music scene, it’s rare to find such a clean, captivating voice, with a timbre so enviable. The debut song ‘Castle’ delivers nothing short of shock and awe—Jiang Yihan’s masterful vocal skills are on full display. However, the song’s difficulty is so high that, comparatively, I prefer ‘Bittersweet Goodbye’—catchy and memorable, yet still an excellent track. The entire album is thematically clear, boasts high-quality songs, strong storytelling, and Jiang Yihan’s stunning performance. There’s no doubt this album is this year’s highlight.”

Since Jiang Yihan was a new debut, her activities were intentionally limited by the company—restricted mainly to a few music shows: Mnet’s “M!NetNetK” on Thursdays, MBC’s “Show! Music Core” on Saturdays, and SBS’s “Inkigayo” on Sundays, focusing solely on music programs. This arrangement was precisely because Jiang Yihan had said she wanted to take a holiday and go home!

“Uncle Li, didn’t we agree I’d have leave for the New Year? I want to go home,” Jiang Yihan said, sitting in the office with Li Ran, playfully cajoling Li Tong.

“Don’t worry,” Li Tong replied with a smile. “I knew you’d ask for time off for the New Year, which is why I haven’t lined up any variety shows lately.”

Li Tong looked proudly at this young talent he’d personally fostered, now a rising star in the entertainment industry; all that was left was for the seed to grow.

“Really? That’s great! So, Uncle Li, when can I go home?” Jiang Yihan grinned widely.

“Of course it’s true; it’s even written in your contract. I won’t go back on my word.” Li Tong smiled, flipping through a few schedule invitations. “You and your sister are going home together, right? Check the dates for yourselves, but remember, two weeks is the limit. Now, let’s talk about your future schedule. Li Ran, which programs do you think Yihan should appear on?”

Satisfied with the answer, Jiang Yihan began leafing through her schedule. Li Ran thought for a moment, then said, “President Li, we have several quality programs: ‘Campus Raid,’ ‘Love Letter,’ ‘X-Man,’ ‘Heroines 6’—all great options. But everyone will be watching Yihan’s first variety show appearance, so the debut must be impressive. After considering, I think she should go on ‘X-Man.’”

“Oh? Why? Tell me your reasoning,” Li Tong asked, intrigued. Jiang Yihan also turned her attention to Li Ran.

“My thinking is this,” Li Ran began, organizing her thoughts. “‘Campus Raid’ is too soon for Yihan; her popularity hasn’t built up enough for it to have much effect. ‘Heroines 6’ and ‘Love Letter’ are both matchmaking shows with games; as a newcomer to variety, Yihan may not adapt well. ‘X-Man,’ on the other hand, is a competitive show where the humor depends largely on the hosts—Yihan will find it easier to adjust. Most importantly, the hosts—Yoo Jae-suk, Kang Ho-dong, and Park Kyung-lim—are all well-connected in the industry. Making a good impression on them, or even gaining their support, would make future variety appearances much smoother. What do you think, President Li?”

“Bravo!” Li Tong clapped, laughing. “Li Ran, you’re truly talented. Honestly, I was already planning to have Yihan go on ‘X-Man,’ for many of the same reasons. Looks like you’ve recommended another gem to me! So, once Yihan gets back from vacation, we’ll get the ball rolling on variety shows. Agreed?”

The discussion was basically settled.

Jiang Yihan and Jiang Ziyi decided to return home on January 29th or 30th, and come back around February 12th. Li Tong, after some consideration, had no objections, and the matter was settled.

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On January 28th, Jiang Yihan arrived at KBS to record “MusicNetK.” Upon arrival, she headed straight to the dressing room—where an unexpected acquaintance awaited.

“Hyung, you’re on ‘Music Bank’ today too?” Kim Jaejoong, freshly made-up, greeted her as she walked in. After the previous incident, TVXQ had become even more united, and their popularity soared, thanks to the fans who had rallied behind them. Kim Jaejoong’s mood had lightened considerably.

“Oh, Jaejoong, yes, I’m recording my last ‘Music Bank’ before the holiday. You all have this schedule too? I had no idea.” Jiang Yihan greeted him, taking off her winter coat.

“Why is it your last? Aren’t you just starting to promote your new album?” Jaejoong followed her to her makeup station.

“Haha, I’m getting some time off—jealous? It was written in my contract,” Jiang Yihan said as her makeup artist quickly applied some foundation and lip gloss, then gave way to the stylist.

“Really?” Jaejoong sat on the counter, chatting. “No wonder your agency said at the press conference that they paid a hefty price. Time off—I’m so envious! We haven’t had a break in ages.”

“You’ve been out for a year without a single vacation? That’s rough!” Jiang Yihan’s hairstyle required little effort—just a few quick touches. “I’m going home for a few days. Want me to bring you anything back? I’ll bring you a gift, haha!”

“Hmph, you’re just trying to make me jealous.” Jaejoong pouted playfully. “But you said it yourself—you’ll bring me something! I’m not familiar with Chinese stuff, so just pick whatever, but make sure it’s a lot. Promise!”

Just then, a tall, sunny boy in a matching outfit walked over. Jiang Yihan guessed he must be one of Jaejoong’s groupmates.

“Yunho, this is the hyung I told you about, the one who’s been so kind to me—Jiang Yihan. We watched his debut stage at the dorm the other day, remember?” Jaejoong said.

“Oh, I know! The handsome, talented hyung you keep talking about,” Yunho replied, his bright smile infectious. “Hello, Jiang Yihan-hyung, I’m Jung Yunho—the leader of TVXQ. You can call me Yunho.”

“Hello, Yunho.” Jiang Yihan stood and shook his hand. “I hardly deserve to be called hyung—I’m the newcomer here. You all debuted way before me.”

Yunho bowed politely, a shy smile on his lips. “We’re about the same age. I just debuted a bit earlier, so I’ll call you hyung.”

Jiang Yihan was always a bit perplexed by Korean honorifics, but since Yunho insisted, she let it go.

“Hyung, your stage was amazing. Last time, when Jaejoong was watching your video at the dorm, we all crowded around—it was really impressive,” Yunho said, his confidence shining whenever he talked about performing.

“Yeah, hyung, your stage was awesome. I hear you’re really popular now,” Jaejoong chimed in, draping himself over Jiang Yihan’s shoulder.

“Alright, enough, you two—if you keep this up, my head will swell!” Jiang Yihan pinched Jaejoong’s cheek, embarrassed. “I’ve only just started—what’s this about popularity? I haven’t even seen a single fan yet, haha!”

Soon, the other three members of TVXQ—Kim Junsu, Park Yoochun, and Shim Changmin—joined in. They greeted each other and started chatting; since they were all close in age, the conversation was lively and comfortable. During this time, Koyote, who were also promoting, stopped by to say hello, and to Jiang Yihan’s surprise, Lee Hyori appeared in the backstage corridor and called him out.

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“Yihan, was it Jang Dong-gun who drove you home after that meeting?” Lee Hyori asked as they stood by the dressing room door.

“Yes, Dong-gun-hyung said it wasn’t convenient for me to ride with you, so he brought me home instead,” Jiang Yihan replied, a bit bashfully.

“Looks like Dong-gun was impressed with you—that’s a good sign,” Lee Hyori smiled, her eyes curving enchantingly. With her own schedule coming up, she didn’t linger. “That’s all—work hard! I’ll be off.”

“So soon? Oh, Hyori-noona, I’ll be going home in a few days—see you when I get back!” Jiang Yihan waved and called after her. He wasn’t sure if she heard, but she seemed to call back, “Got it!”

Back in the dressing room, the TVXQ boys were all looking at him with envy. Jaejoong was the first to speak: “Hyung, you know Lee Hyori-sunbae?”

“Yeah, remember when I went to record that show with you? We had dinner afterward, and that’s how we met,” Jiang Yihan replied casually, sipping water.

“Wow... so jealous,” the others echoed.

“Haha, don’t get any strange ideas. Hyori-noona’s like an elder sister to me. She even helped me shoot the MV for my title track,” Jiang Yihan added, dropping another bombshell that left them all stunned.

“Jiang Yihan, to the stage!” the show’s director called. It was his turn to perform.

Jiang Yihan couldn’t help but laugh at the TVXQ boys’ shocked expressions. He waved to them before heading onstage. Today, he was singing his title track, “Castle”—only the first stage had two songs; the rest were just one. Dressed in an all-white “prince charming” ensemble—white suit, white sneakers—Jiang Yihan felt awkward and resisted the outfit, but the stylists unanimously agreed it was irresistibly handsome and perfect for the stage. Resigned, he accepted their judgment.

He walked to the piano, where the hosts were mimicking his dance moves. Aside from his stunning vocals, everyone was captivated by his signature ending pose in “Puppet”—fingers to lips, a mischievous, seductive smile—which had become widely adored.

As he stepped onstage, a wave of enthusiastic cheers erupted. Curious, Jiang Yihan glanced into the crowd and saw a large group waving light boards with his name and banners—though the words were blurry, he could make out “Jiang Yihan” and “the best.” Around forty or fifty fans were there, shouting his name excitedly. He paused, then realized they were his fans, and gave them a big smile, prompting even louder screams.

The music began—the familiar piano intro he had practiced countless times. As Jiang Yihan sang, the audience was transported into the world of “Castle,” sharing the protagonist’s heartbreak and sorrow. His seamless transitions between chest voice and falsetto continued to amaze. Midway through, he rose from the piano and moved to center stage, the very image of a fairy-tale prince, his soft voice enchanting the audience. The stylists had been right—the effect was nothing short of stunning. Bathed in gentle stage lights, surrounded by swirling dry ice, the stage became a vision of beauty. As the song ended, the crowd’s applause, cheers, and shouts filled the air, leaving everyone wanting more. Jiang Yihan bowed and left the stage.

Backstage, the five members of TVXQ hurried over to congratulate him. The next day, January 29th, Jiang Yihan would be heading home. Less than half a month after his debut, he was already on vacation!

A Word from Broken Cat

First, about the tarot suggestion—haha. As for the Jang Dong-gun CP, there’s no plan for that at the moment, hehe. Regarding fan conversations outside the venue, I wanted to write more, but after a few attempts, I found I just couldn’t get it right, so I’ll save it for another time. I’ve always wanted to write more about fans because they’re such an integral part of an artist’s life, but I haven’t found the right feeling yet, so I’ll take it slowly!

Second, I owe everyone an apology—a sincere one. I’m really sorry. Yesterday, I said I’d try to update twice a day, but starting tomorrow, there will only be one update daily. Please let me explain. Yesterday, I accidentally discovered that my first book had made it onto the newcomer’s leaderboard—though not a high ranking, I was still thrilled. However, after reading the rules, I learned that to stay on the board, a novel must have between 5,000 and 20,000 words. Since each chapter I write is about 4,000–5,000 words, if I continued with two updates a day, I’d exceed 20,000 words in about ten days, and then I’d no longer qualify as a newcomer. As this is my first time writing a book and I lack confidence, being on the newcomer’s board has been encouraging. So I hope to stay there a bit longer, hence the switch to one update per day—but don’t worry, each update will still be over 4,000 words! I sincerely apologize to all my supporters and hope you’ll continue to cheer me on. If you have any feedback about this decision, please let me know—I genuinely hope for your suggestions! Thank you all!