Graduation Ceremony, Unforgettable Memories (2)
“Still, to prevent any chaos, I have a few things to ask of you.”
The president listed several requests regarding the “small graduation festival.”
After listening to the end, Jeong Seo-hoon asked,
“This is completely different from a typical university festival, isn't it? And it's paid entry? Won't the school catch some flak for that?”
“My granddaughter insisted on doing it this way. Otherwise, too many people would show up, and we couldn't control the crowd.”
“Is your granddaughter by any chance...”
“A fan, apparently. You'll have to sign something for her before you go.”
“Got it, sir.”
He was used to fans popping up out of nowhere by now, but the president's granddaughter too?
“All proceeds will go straight to the Electrical and Electronics Engineering department budget. In other words, this is a 'university donation event' open to the general public.”
If they ran it like a standard free university festival, Jeong Seo-hoon's true fans might not even get in.
And the scramble for spots up front would be brutal, with massive chaos on the day.
Selling seats for a price would limit the numbers and allow proper crowd control.
“I think 9,900 won is a nice symbolic amount. Institutionally, it's a fundraiser for a specific department from the public. What do you think? Good idea, right?”
“I agree—it's necessary to avoid unnecessary chaos. The price seems fair too.”
“For your information, my granddaughter came up with it.”
“You'll have to stop by the president's office briefly on graduation day anyway. Bring her then.”
“Our Jeong Seo-hoon is one smart kid.”
He was about to breathe a sigh of relief that there was no talk of introductions when...
“My granddaughter's taking the CSAT this year. Think you two might hit it off...”
“Where should I sign?”
[It's Jeong Seo-hoon. Here's the graduation schedule.]
—Board manager here. Verified 100% match with the IP from the department head's previous post.
The Birae fans despaired over the “too low ticket price” but were somewhat relieved to hear there'd be 10,000 seats.
Whether their tearful prayers worked or not, Oh So-hee and Kim Da-hye managed to snag tickets.
The tickets were printed with the title “Small Graduation Festival” and seat numbers.
“It's an outdoor event this time, so people are flocking like crazy.”
“Looks like everyone who just wants a glimpse from afar showed up too.”
“But where's the main athletic field?”
“Over there maybe? Everyone with the placards is heading that way.”
“Schools right by the subway are the best. Damn, this is far.”
The two girls arrived at the field, panting hard.
Neat rows of 10,000 chairs filled the green artificial turf field.
Four massive screens flanked the four sides of the surrounding light-pink running track, with dozens of staff guiding people around.
A wide control line ringed the outermost track, and beyond it clustered fans who hadn't scored tickets, waiting patiently.
“Bet the bathrooms in these buildings are a nightmare today.”
“They've got plenty of port-a-potties though.”
“Market day vibes? Weather's perfect today.”
“Yeah, this is how summer should be.”
They'd braced for sweltering heat.
But clouds provided just enough cover to block direct sun from the field.
Humidity was low, and a cool breeze kept everything fresh and non-sticky.
“Honestly came ready to sweat buckets, but this weather?”
“Hand fans obsolete already?”
“Heavens themselves are celebrating our department head's early graduation.”
The empty space between chairs and track brimmed with ice makers and cold drink machines.
Verified ticket holders even got plastic tumblers emblazoned with Jeong Seo-hoon's face and signature—fill 'em up and sip away.
“Whoa, this tumbler's worth more than the ticket already?”
“Handing these out like candy—when's he ever gonna recoup for his personal merch company?”
“Too precious to fill. Can't drink from it.”
The ice makers, drink machines, and tumblers already had fans deeply moved.
Everyone settled in, and the graduation ceremony finally began.
10,000 seated fans, and far more watching from beyond the control line.
Some early grads skipped out feeling burdened, but five showed up eagerly for the fun memories.
The announcer's clear voice rang out, as tens of thousands of fans murmured excitedly.
“It's Commander Se-jong.”
“The Grand Commander.”
“No tension needed? No Imperial March this time.”
“You know that movie series from before my parents were born? I binged it all because of Commander Se-jong.”
“Ahh. Crazy. It's playing in my head right now.”
“La la la, pa do la, pa do la, mi mi mi... Aaaah! The hallucination from that day!”
“Commander Se-jong, what do you even have to thank us for...”
“Please don't. Spare our poor rebel forces.”
It was a blatant victory declaration.
No matter how you rebels resisted, Jeong Seo-hoon had become a grad student.
Fans clutched their heads and wailed.
“Aaaargh! This is humiliation!”
“He knows our exact Birae membership numbers!”
“What if we've been played by Commander Se-jong all along? He could've swept us rebels aside anytime and taken the department head but held back—and now he's rubbing it in?”
Amid the fans' uproar and chaos, the ceremony proceeded by the book.
With few grads, each took the mic for reflections and future aspirations.
A female student grabbed it.
“Fun fact: I'm a Birae fan too.”
Thunderous cheers erupted from the tens of thousands.
She shyly glanced at Jeong Seo-hoon and said,
“I regretted picking Chemical Engineering for a whole year starting last fall semester so bad.”
“Your advisor's gonna be heartbroken.”
“Graduated now—what's it matter? I'm going to grad school in Electrical Engineering anyway. Made up my mind.”
The announcer stifled a laugh and quipped,
“See the Chem Eng prof's eyes bugging out? Camera, zoom in.”
The flustered professor's face filled the big screens, sending fans into hysterics.
Envy-mixed cheers rang out: “Lucky!”, “Jealous!”, “I wanna join the department head's lab too!”
“Time for our grad Jeong Seo-hoon to say a word? Mic please.”
Jeong Seo-hoon took the mic, stood, and approached the girl.
“You serious about grad school here?”
“Yes! Papers already submitted!”
“Switching majors will be tough—are you prepared?”
“Meeting you showed me I'd wasted my time till now. From here on, I'll study what I love! Grand Commander, I surrender—please accept me into the Grad School Empire!”
Lee Se-jong nodded approvingly from the faculty seats.
“Surrender accepted.”
“Kyaaaaah!”
The girl beamed like she'd leap for joy.
She posed beside Jeong Seo-hoon for cap-and-gown pics.
“Thought I'd be snapping lonely grad photos all alone—this'll be unforgettable.”
A light hug from Jeong Seo-hoon had her tearing up.
Finally, Jeong Seo-hoon gave his graduation remarks.
“Father, Mother, Professor Lee Se-jong, all the many professors who've taught me, President, and all you fans who came to make this day shine—my deepest thanks.”
Addressing such a huge crowd...
Even off the concert stage, the waves of his ability revealed the audience's emotional currents.
He couldn't pinpoint individuals, but it didn't bother him.
“I'm heading to grad school to chase my academic dreams. But I'll never abandon my actor's dreams either. Study and acting—I'll pursue both relentlessly.”
No special nudge, yet fans were already misty-eyed.
“As a scientist, I have dreams. Someday, I'll leave a great mark on science and share that glory and joy with everyone here today.”
Whoa! What's this? His dream as a scientist is winning a Nobel?Nooo don't go that far!Acting time would drop!
“As an actor, I have dreams too. Star in as many works as possible, deliver great performances, make them smash hits, and etch the name Jeong Seo-hoon large in the media world.”
Already S-tier undisputed in Korea.He's aiming for the top spot. Wait, isn't he already?Hollywood! Go conquer Hollywood! Crush Cannes too!
“Studies, acting—I'll tackle both with full seriousness. Thanks to everyone who came celebrate my graduation. I love you all!”
His final shout of love carried a subtle prod to the myriad emotional waves.
They roiled wildly in chaotic frenzy—then he set down the mic, and calm returned.
Tens of thousands of fans wept openly.
The grad girl who'd outed herself as a fan rode the emotional wave, sobbing too.
A few procedures remained, like the president's remarks, but no one remembered them.
Yet delivering his address before the teary-eyed masses left the president thrilled.
After all formalities, Jeong Seo-hoon returned to the high stage and sang “That Place” plus key Illegal OSTs one by one.
Fans expected “That Place,” but not the four OSTs from Illegal and Haegeuk.
The surprise gift brought massive joy; the stage turned instant concert hall, fans basking in rare bliss.
Ticketless fans beyond the line, barely seeing from distant hills, savored the impromptu show in huge satisfaction too.