From Thug to Idol: Transmigrating to a Survival Show

"See! I told you he's not a bad guy," Jay said, nudging June's shoulder as they went inside the van. "Hmm, sure," June said, looking out of the window. Truly, Lei was looking kinder and kinder in June's eyes. Aside from him convincing Mr. Ong to allow EVE to perform in the charity concert, there wasn't any news about his dating rumors, either—which meant that Lei actually kept it to himself. "There's still a downside to this, though," Jay added. "He did agree to us joining the concert, but he also isn't going to support us financially or with manpower." June shrugged. "That's alright," he said. "I told you that I'd handle it, right?" Jay chuckled in amusement. "O-ho," he exclaimed. "I see that you're a big shot now. How much money have you been making?" June shook his head. "You're aware of it," he deadpanned. "I am," Jay said. "You're probably the highest-paid idol of your generation. However, since Azure has a bigger cut, if you were any less popular, then you would only have an adequate amount." June nodded. He was, indeed, making decent money from being an idol. However, 10,000 USD was still a pretty big amount for him. "Are you sure you want to push through with this?" Jay asked. June nodded. "I don't need that much money. I already bought some real estate with the money I made with Luster, so let's just say that I'll be more stable than you think." Jay clapped when they arrived at the red light. "That's right," he muttered. "I shouldn't have questioned your intelligence." "Anyway," Jay continued. "Since we're pushing through with this, do you want to ask for help from Lei? When you went to the restroom, he told me that he was open to sponsoring half of the production costs." June frowned. "And why does he want to do that?" Jay's eyes brightened as he responded to the question. "He said that it had been his dream to help people in need since he was young! He never had an avenue to do so back then, so he wanted to start now." June sighed. "How can he even shoulder half of the expenses? Is he that well-off?" "I think he had a pretty prominent position before, so he might be rich. However, he couldn't handle the workload and didn't enjoy the job, so he left." "I see," June said. "Anyway, he doesn't have to dish out anything. I'll pay for it on my own." Jay shrugged. "Alright," he said. "But he will come, okay? He's pretty excited about it." June pursed his lips but nonetheless agreed. "But do you need any help getting the news out? Azure also doesn't want to make an official statement in your guys' account." June shook his head. "I got that covered, too." ***

They arrived at the dorms, and June left Jay to break the news to his members. They sounded quite excited based on their gasps, so June smiled as he closed the door. Then, he dialed Minjun's number, waiting for him to respond. It took a couple of rings before he answered the phone. "Bro," Minjun said in hushed tones, making June frown in confusion. "Minjun," he trailed off. "What's up?" "Everything's good," he responded, still in that hushed tone. "Why are you whispering?" June asked. "Oh," Minjun softly chuckled. "It's because my mom's home." "Lena's there?" June asked, surprised. "Well, that's new." "Yeah," Minjun muttered. "She's been home more frequently after Grandma died. You know—she bought a house in the rich parts of Seoul, and she doesn't want to leave me alone often now that Grandma's gone." "That's good then," June commented. "But that still doesn't answer why you're speaking in hushed tones." Minjun sighed, and at that moment, June felt that something was wrong. "She doesn't want me speaking with you anymore," he said. June frowned. "What...do you mean?" "Honestly, I also don't know the reason behind it," he said. "She said something about getting into trouble and being unsafe when you're around." June felt his breath get caught in the back of his throat. Perhaps, did Lina find out the reason behind Grandma's death? "She even blocked your number on my phone," he said. "How are you speaking to me right now then?" June asked. "That's because she raised a smart kid," he chuckled. "That's honestly her fault." "Anyway, I don't plan on stopping my contact with you. It'll probably be less often since I can't do it when my mom's around, but just shoot me a text, and I'll set up a schedule with you beforehand."

June shook his head in amusement, finding the little boy endearing. "Sure, sure," June said. "Anyway, what do you need?" Minjun asked. "I need you to help me put out an article," June responded. "Say less," Minjun said. "Send me the details, and I'll have it done by tonight." June smirked. "You're the best." "Minjun! It's time for lunch!" June heard Lena's voice from a distance, followed by Minjun's cursing. "Crap," he said. "I need to go now. I'll really post it by tonight!" "Yeah, take your time," June said. "Talk to you—" Minjun ended the call before June could finish his statement. "Thanks a lot, kiddo." ***

'EVE to Hold Benefit Concert for Little Sunflowers'

Following June's heartfelt donation to Little Sunflowers, the renowned idol group EVE is set to host a special benefit concert at the sanctuary for homeless children. This intimate concert, scheduled for next week, aims to raise funds for the treatment of a young resident battling cancer.

The concert will feature just 100 seats, sold at $50 each. This limited seating arrangement is designed to create a unique, up-close experience for the attendees while maximizing the funds raised for the cause. All proceeds from ticket sales will go directly towards the medical expenses of the child, ensuring they receive the best possible care and support during their treatment.

However, this event is not open to everyone. Prospective audience members will be required to answer questions on a form before being granted a ticket. This vetting process is designed to ensure that those attending are genuinely supportive of the cause and will contribute to the concert's goal of maximizing benefits for the children of Little Sunflowers.

Truly, EVE is setting the standard for all artists. Do you know any other idols who have done the same before?