Chapter 179
Chapter 179
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Translator: Vine
Chapter: 180
Chapter Title: IGNIT's Blazing Success
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IGNIT's debut showcase wrapped up in grand style.
A swarm of reporters had shown up, and the YouTube live stream peaked at a whopping 140,000 viewers.
Considering Yeonwoo's international influence and buzz, one might think that was a small crowd for the showcase. But breaking 100,000 on YouTube live isn't easy.
The real key was the press coverage.
After all, the showcase was basically a stage thrown open for reporters to promote them.
[JOP's Ambitious Project: IGNIT's Dazzling Stage]
[Genius Musician Yuin's Track 'Flare Up' Lives Up to the Legend]
[IGNIT's Debut Showcase Conquers Music, Dance, and Visuals]
[Yoon Habin's Overwhelming Visuals [Photo]]
Their choreography and vocals generated buzz too, but Yoon Habin stole the spotlight.
-Wow, how is he even real?
-He's insanely handsome.
-Is he human?
-Wow...
-All I can do is gasp.
-I want him to take meㅠ
-Any more photos? Videos? Please share moreㅠ
-Otaku fans must be thrilled.
-I'm seriously gonna stan him...
-No but seriously, why is he so hot? ㅠ
-Habin, your big sis will love you fiercely.
His overwhelming visuals drew all the eyes.
IGNIT, sparking topics left and right, charted fast and climbed at a ferocious pace. In just one week, they claimed real-time #1 and daily #1 on Mango.
[JOP's Ultra-Luxury Training Project a Massive Hit.]
[IGNIT Sets Record for Rookie Fastest #1.]
Among idols, IGNIT achieved the all-time fastest #1.
And it didn't stop there.
Yuin's name had gone global as a once-in-a-century genius after topping Melboard charts.
Just the fact that Yuin had given them the track and produced it drew interest from most Asian countries right from debut.
Japan, in particular, with its huge Yuin fandom, reacted explosively.
With Yuin's track, the members' visuals, and a Japanese member to boot, they snagged #1 on Melboard Japan right after debut.
And Japan wasn't the only one.
They topped charts in Taiwan, Vietnam, the Philippines, Thailand, Singapore, Malaysia, and Mongolia too—truly conquering Asia.
Some called it a given, considering JOP's investment and lineup. Others praised how memorable the track, choreography, and music video were.
But not all the feedback was glowing.
In this age of mass disgust, weren't even the tiniest things annoying? People got jealous and bitter over others' success.
As fame and popularity piled up fast, so did the antis.
-Honestly, aren't they just Yuin-dols? lol
-Yuin-dols ㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋ
-Riding Yuin's coattails to be idols lol
-Vocals are trash
-Except that Habin guy with the face, the rest are meh fr
-Wow, some people can't make it no matter how good they are, but these guys luck into a great agency and boom, success
-Now they'll rake in cash without earning it
-Bought #1 lololol
-Name-value #1
-But the members themselves suck at singing and dancing fr
People irked by their rise started posting malicious comments or borderline shade.
But the antis weren't going full rabid yet.
They couldn't.
It had only been days since debut, and the only controversy was Saito Riku, who'd already been booted and faced legal consequences. Not much to sink teeth into.
And annoyingly, IGNIT kept surging ahead.
With Asia lighting up, it naturally spread to the U.S. mainland, landing them on Melboard.
A solid 68 on the Melboard Hot 100.
Pathetic next to Yuin, sure—but among current idols, only Hadass had cracked Melboard, thanks to Yuin's track too.
Doing it right out of the gate? Impressive.
At this point, the members could get cocky...
"Habin hyung, you've been missing beats lately. Sure, focusing on the camera is important, but keep slipping like that and it'll become a habit."
"Jimin hyung, you're the main vocal—why the poor throat care?"
"Anurak hyung, you wanna go back to Thailand so bad you're slacking on Korean? Your pronunciation's regressing. Delivery's suffering."
"[Sho hyung gonna skip pronunciation practice? Wanna do dinosaur sounds all day?]"
"Namgoong Jin hyung, you're a great dancer, yeah. But stamina dropping? You're supposed to outlast everyone—how can you be gasping mid-performance?"
But they couldn't.
Yeonwoo was constantly on their case.
Now a pro at handling people, he didn't hold back the tough love. The IGNIT members hung on his every word, barely breathing.
Aren't we killing it? Isn't he too harsh?
Fair thoughts.
"You satisfied with just Melboard 68? I see you guys as the top idols post-NGS at least. Am I wrong? Should I give up?"
When the one who'd climbed higher promised to lead them even higher, how could they not get greedy?
Right—they weren't idols just to bask in this success.
They'd dreamed big watching NGS as kids, and Yuin herself had raised them.
And the boy who'd molded them said:
I'll lead you—so work for it.
Sure, laced with barbs, but the promise was clear: he'd keep guiding them.
Like their group name, they had no choice but to ignite.
On off days, they hounded Yeonwoo for practice. In downtime, they stuck to strict self-care, no funny business.
IGNIT's future?
Blindingly bright.
* * *
As IGNIT settled in, Yeonwoo drew inspiration from their grind.
Then it hit him.
"Time to make album two."
Olivia Snow was floored.
"Already?"
"Gonna do it, but no clue how long it'll take."
"Why?"
"This time, prioritizing artistry over commercial stuff."
"Can't artistry and popularity coexist?"
"Not saying they can't."
"Then?"
"Kinda an experiment. Can peak artistry be inherently popular?"
"Tricky."
"Yeah, tough. But actually, maybe not an experiment."
"Not?"
Yeonwoo nodded.
"More like... returning to basics?"
The days when he couldn't see the yellow or green fairies—only the blue one focused purely on music.
Back then, more blue fairies meant better.
So this album two concept was a throwback to that.
But Yeonwoo figured pure artistry focus right now would be tough.
"I still got way too much to learn."
Music kept unfolding new layers the deeper you dug. Case in point: Hume.
"If you got gaps, doesn't that make every other musician an idiot?"
"Yeah."
Idiots.
All those legends who'd lived grand lives, seen it all—failing to unlock it fully? Yeah, idiots.
Still boyishly cocky, Yeonwoo said,
"Gotta talk to Grandma and head to the States."
"The States?"
"Yeah, wanna meet more musicians there."
"Why?"
"YouTube's not enough—I wanna see real people, feel it with my own eyes."
"Really?"
"There's this Eastern saying: 'Bai mun i bul yeo il gyeon.'"
"What's that?"
"Better to see once than hear a hundred times."
Yeonwoo felt YouTube and the net had limits for music discovery and learning.
'Cause he was the one searching—so anything he didn't know? Impossible to find, no matter how hard he hunted.
"Isn't that what I am?"
He looked at Olivia Snow.
She blinked, pulling a cute face.
Weak to kid-like charms, Yeonwoo scowled.
"Noona's figured out. Could make your style blindfolded."
"Ouch, ego hit—but can't argue."
Fresh off showing him her latest track and getting shredded, Olivia Snow shuddered.
"Same for you, noona. To grow, meet more people and music."
"Hmm."
Olivia Snow never collabed before.
But learning from Yeonwoo lately had her rethinking.
New inspirations hit different.
"States it is? Where to?"
As Olivia Snow perked up,
Woof!
Sleeping Woong appeared.
Having ballooned in weeks, the massive Woong charged and hugged Yeonwoo.
"Ah, Woongie."
"Why?"
"Can't leave Woong behind."
Yeonwoo petted his head roughly.
True to Mongolian spirit, Woong leaned in, licking Yeonwoo's face—no complaints.
"Hmm... Can't we bring Woong?"
"Woong's still a baby."
"Baby?"
At nearly four months, Woong stood over 40cm at the shoulder, tipping 20kg.
He had ages to grow, but already dwarfed most dogs.
How's that a baby?
Yeonwoo cradling him like one looked more babyish.
"Snack time, Woongie?"
Woof!
"Yeah, yeah."
A baby caring for a baby.
Olivia Snow snapped a pic of the adorable scene.
'Gotta post this on SNS later.'
Lately, her not-hobby hobby was Yeonwoo pics on her private SNS.
Dunno why.
Sharing cuteness, maybe.
After the snack, Yeonwoo stared at Woong.
"You know..."
"Yeah?"
"Do I really need to go to the States?"
"What?"
"Still getting collab offers left and right."
"Oh."
Olivia Snow recalled scanning offers, including Mark Miller.
"No need for me to go."
Yeonwoo pulled out his smartphone.
"Perfect timing—someone big in a genre I'm eyeing just proposed a collab."
He replied to the email sender.
Olivia Snow peeked curiously.
[Sure, let's work together. But come to Korea. Can't go to the US.]
So direct.
Classic Yeonwoo.
But the recipient...
"Elkind... Logan? Wait, Elkind Logan...?!"
Elkind Logan.
Active hip-hop GOAT.
Midwest pride.
THE MONSTER.
Even Olivia Snow couldn't mess with him.
"Dude, what are you doing...!"
"Why? He gonna shoot me or something?"
"Shoot? Where'd you hear that?"
"Hip-hop's full of gangsters, right?"
"He's not like that. Super straight-edge for a rapper. Master, even with your Melboard #1, he's too huge... No way he'd come to Korea..."
Olivia Snow started to dismiss it.
But seeing Yeonwoo's inbox, she shut up.
[Cool, I'm coming.]
"He's coming?"
No way?
Why?
Even for Yeonwoo, shocking.