Chapter 143
Chapter 143
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Translator: Vine
Chapter: 144
Chapter Title: Conquering Melboard
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Yeonwoo’s track took over domestic streaming charts, starting with Mango, just hours after release.
It was a natural progression in a way—maybe even something that could’ve happened with a mediocre song.
But with Yuin behind it, and Olivia Snow no less.
She was an invasive species, a top predator disrupting the entire ecosystem by devouring everything in her path.
That’s why no one else showed up.
Even the apex predators who’d been lording over their tiny ponds, farting around without a care, shrank back in fear of public humiliation or being quietly buried.
Thanks to that, Yeonwoo’s album didn’t just claim the top spot as expected—it rocketed there even faster.
The other tracks made it into the real-time top 10 as well.
1. From Cracker
Yuin / Vocal by. Olivia Snow
3. Keep Going
Yuin / Vocal by. HaDAS
4. Rising Star
Yuin / Vocal by. Lee Sieun
8. STAR
Yuin
Especially shocking was ‘STAR’—a pure piano instrumental with no vocals—hitting number 8 on the real-time chart.
No instrumental track had ever cracked the top 10 before.
Yeonwoo’s first mini-album, which even snuck an instrumental onto the charts, exploded in popularity with fans.
The star-studded guest vocalist lineup was one thing, but the songs themselves were just that good.
Every single one was a gem, addictive enough that once you listened, you had to hit play again.
Domestic critics were falling over themselves to praise Yeonwoo’s work.
[Shock itself. Is this really the work of an 8-year-old?]
[Yuin’s album tells the stories of three kinds of stars. Not just ones that shine, but the process—the hardships, setbacks, and sad pasts—with a humorous touch…]
[Korea’s pop music scene welcomes a great genius to lead it for the next 50 years.]
[The most perfect album.]
[Listening to the melody and lyrics of From Cracker together makes it clear Olivia Snow wasn’t scouted for her fame.]
Amid the hype for Yeonwoo, one critic left a sharp note.
[Yuin and his album? Korea’s too small for them. The real judgment will come from the world.]
Exactly.
With an ecosystem disruptor like Olivia Snow on board, the Korean music market was way too narrow.
Olivia Snow alone was a lock for the Melboard charts.
Yeonwoo’s album deserved evaluation on the global stage, not just domestically.
And sure enough, it was a hot topic worldwide.
-Snow singing someone else’s song?
-And it’s not even on her own album?
-No way that queen with the massive ego would…
-It’s all because of Yuin. Remember that Korean singer who hit number 3 twice in a row on Melboard recently? From BSK? Yuin composed for BSK. And he’s 8.
-What? 8?
-I know BSK well. Going Home and Rhythmic are still on my playlist. No idea an 8-year-old made them.
-Anyway, Olivia Snow’s a guest vocalist on that kid’s album? Whoa…
-Still can’t believe it.
-My fave begged for a collab and she trashed him, mocked him on SNS…
-This is ridiculous. Was she desperate to bait an 8-year-old for clout?
-Olivia Snow… get a grip.
-Have you even listened before talking?
-Yeah, everyone’s just yapping without hearing it.
-Listen first, then talk.
-I just did. Insane. That’s all I got.
-Me too.
-Is this really by an 8-year-old?
-I found out about him through BSK early on and always check his YouTube vids. Total genius. This album’s the same. Age doesn’t matter.
It started lukewarm but exploded as time passed.
Proof? The four music videos on Yeonwoo-related YouTube channels, led by the official SSHIN channel, racked up over ten million views in just a week. Subscribers pumped up again too.
Olivia Snow fans subbing to Yeonwoo’s channel turned the SSHIN official YouTube—his biggest one—into a mega-channel nearing 25 million subs.
Yeonwoo hit number 6 on Korea’s YouTube subscriber rankings.
A week later.
Melboard chart announcement time.
Everyone—from Yeonwoo on down—was glued to the results of his debut album and its tracks.
* * *
“The moment we’ve all been waiting for has arrived.”
A week later, on Melboard chart day, Yeonwoo’s family, Olivia Snow, Wakana, and Chae Hayoung gathered at the SSHIN studio.
Chae Hayoung had stopped by after visiting her friend Jo Soyeon.
Wakana hooked her tablet to the studio’s smart TV, playing emcee.
“Before the main event, shall we check Japan’s reaction? It’s the next biggest market after the world—well, the US.”
Wakana swiped the screen.
“And the results? As you can see—number 1 on Melboard Hot 100!!”
“Woo!”
Japan, where interest in Yeonwoo outstripped even Korea, made it predictable—but a number 1 was still a number 1.
Everyone cheered and clapped for Yeonwoo.
Beyond Melboard Japan’s flagship Hot 100, he topped nearly every chart, like HOT BUZZ SONG and STREAMING SONG (which tallies cumulative streams from Japan’s major platforms).
The top track was the de facto title, ‘From Cracker’ by Olivia Snow. Unlike Korea, Yeonwoo’s piano ‘STAR’ followed at number 2.
Then HaDAS’s track at 5, Lee Sieun’s at 6.
“Didn’t expect Summer to hit 2nd.”
Yeonwoo himself was surprised. It was an instrumental intro piece—he hadn’t thought it’d outrank the vocal tracks. But Japan gave it a stunning 2nd.
“That’s how serious Japan is about Yuin the music genius.”
The country that loves prodigies, plus Yeonwoo’s looks and JOP HQ’s systematic push, made his popularity there bigger than Korea’s.
Korea’s fandom was already idol-sized and shocking everyone—but Japan’s was four times larger.
“Now Melboard! How’d we do there?”
At Jiyeong’s words, Wakana nodded solemnly.
“Then… let’s reveal it!”
Everyone except Chae Hayoung and Wakana had avoided checking Melboard beforehand.
For this exact moment.
To share the sorrow if it flopped, the joy if it soared.
The revealed Melboard charts.
Melboard Hot 100
3. From Cracker
14. Keep Going
21. Rising Star
Melboard 200
17. Star – Yuin
Melboard Global 200
3. From Cracker
5. Keep Going
9. Rising Star
21. Star
“Wow!!”
Olivia Snow gasped at the rankings.
“[Climbed to 3rd in the first week. At this rate, number 1 next week?]”
Even Olivia hadn’t expected such a strong reaction—she was thrilled.
Yeonwoo smiled, satisfied with the Hot 100, and especially the Global 200 results.
‘STAR’ even charted there, thanks to the buzz in Korea and Japan.
“Hey, Yeonwoo, this calls for a treat from you, right?”
Jiyeong teased. Yeonwoo shook his head.
“Nope. Not yet.”
“Huh? Then when?”
“After number 1—big time!!”
Everyone laughed.
“My god… to live to see my son’s album hit number 1?”
Jihoon stared at the screen in disbelief.
From the first Melboard entrants—singers, idols—to NGS, history’s greatest idol group.
Korea was a pop powerhouse with multiple acts on Melboard.
Jihoon usually just watched from afar on the news—national pride, K-pop power—and thought, “Wow, our music’s something else.”
It felt like another world, which made it even more impressive.
But now his son had thrown down the gauntlet and succeeded.
Yeonwoo didn’t seem fully satisfied yet, but at this pace, youngest-ever Melboard number 1 seemed possible.
Funny part? Jihoon knew it was huge but couldn’t fully grasp how huge—because predecessors like NGS made number 1 feel almost casual(?).
But if Yeonwoo hit it, he’d shatter a monumental record in Melboard’s 100-year history.
Youngest number 1 ever.
Melboard officially recognized Stevie Wonder (13). Guinness had Michael Jackson (12, with Jackson 5—not solo, so not official Melboard).
He didn’t sing it himself, so maybe no Melboard record—but he’d top Guinness over Michael Jackson.
The King of Pop, the meme-worthy Heavenly Demon.
After Yeonwoo declared he’d treat post-number 1, another week passed.
Week 2 of Yeonwoo’s mini-album ‘STAR’.
Melboard Hot 100
1. From Cracker
Melboard 200
1. STAR
Yeonwoo topped both track and album charts.
Fastest to number 1—and youngest ever.
The feat of the 8-year-old genius producer and composer spread worldwide.
The boy genius, once a regional sensation in East and Southeast Asia and the US, etched himself into the memory of every music lover globally.
And so began the true march of the great prodigy.