Chapter 103
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Translator: 8uhl
Chapter: 103
Chapter Title: A Starry Night and a New Year
-----------------------------------------------------------------
December 31st, 9:00 PM. The KBC Drama Awards began with a flourish. Other broadcast stations had already given up on the time slot.
“We can't win. Lee Seojun is appearing, and they say he's even doing a special performance.”
“Someone needs to lock down Lee Seojun’s next project. But how did KBC find out so quickly?”
“It’s just a rumor I heard through the grapevine, but…”
“But?”
“They were apparently keeping a close eye on the project with Lee Jiseok, Producer Choi Minseong, and writer So Eunjin. The moment a Cocoa Entertainment representative was spotted there!”
The employee who was answering made a sharp snatching motion in the air.
“They snatched it right up.”
“…Let’s do that too.”
“Perhaps because he’s still young, he seems to appear in projects by actors, producers, or writers he knows… Who were the actors he worked with?”
“Kim Jongho, Lee Jiseok, Park Dohun, Lee Jihye. There are many others besides them.”
“For now, everyone keep a close watch on the cast of *Naeuiwon*… By the way, is KBC still on a commercial break?”
-Wow. Look at all these commercials. It's on the same level as *Naeuiwon*.
-lol Lee Seojun is on. I heard he's doing a special performance too.
-Is he congratulating himself on his own award? lol
-What will he do for the performance? Usually, it's something related to the drama.
-A king! Become a king! Wear the royal dragon robe!
=Oh! I like that!
After the commercials, the long red carpet laid out in front of the KBC Hall came into view. The live broadcast cameras were rolling as actors began to arrive one by one.
Amidst tremendous cheers, the actors waved, posed for photos in the photo zone, and gave interviews.
After many actors had passed, a large car pulled up. The reporters were the first to recognize the gleaming black vehicle.
“It’s Lee Seojun’s car!”
“Lee Seojun is here!”
Flashes went off in a dazzling burst. A car door opened, and a tall man stepped out. Was it his manager? The flashes paused for a moment, but then—
“Lee Jiseok!?”
“It’s Lee Jiseok!”
It was Lee Jiseok. Following him, Kim Jongho and Park Dohun got out. Finally, when Lee Seojun stepped onto the ground, everyone scrambled to take a group photo.
Flashes fired continuously at the cast of *Naeuiwon*, who had delivered the most brilliant performance of the year.
After posing for a flood of pictures and giving an interview in the photo zone, Seojun sat down in the chair marked with his name. Lee Jiseok and Park Dohun sat on either side of him, with Kim Jongho next to Park Dohun.
“Why am I not next to Seojun again?”
“Maybe the staff was being considerate of the age gap, Jongho hyung?”
“But Seojun and I are really close?”
“Should I switch with you?”
Kim Jongho shook his head at Park Dohun’s offer.
“If I were to steal a seat, it would be Jiseok’s, not yours.”
“Then let’s do this.”
Park Dohun switched seats with Seojun. They now sat in the order of Lee Jiseok, Park Dohun, Seojun, and Kim Jongho.
“…So your true personality is coming out now, huh?”
“Ahahaha.”
Everyone burst into laughter at Lee Jiseok’s comment. Laughter also erupted from the seats in front of the four of them. As Seojun leaned forward, the people in front turned around.
“Producer! Writer!”
Producer Choi Minseong and writer So Eunjin, who disliked appearing on television, were sitting in the front row. It seemed they were attending the awards ceremony as nominees for the Best Writer award.
“Congratulations! I heard you were nominated for Best Writer!”
“Yes! I’m so happy.”
“Honestly, everyone who watched *Naeuiwon* must have cried!”
“That’s because you acted so well, Seojun! Congratulations on your Rookie Award nomination too!”
“Thank you!”
They eagerly praised each other, basking in the joy of their nominations. Frankly, all the nominees from the *Naeuiwon* team were beaming.
“Congratulations.”
“I’d love to be in your next project, Writer-nim, Producer-nim!”
Other actors on their way to their seats also offered congratulations to Producer Choi Minseong and writer So Eunjin. Everyone looked on with envy at the team from *Naeuiwon*, the most talked-about drama of the year.
“Gasp. It’s Lee Seojun!”
“Lee Seojun!”
Even among actors, Lee Seojun was a special presence. At such a young age, he had starred in a Hollywood movie, a feat difficult even for adults. And a Marine Company series film at that. He wasn't the protagonist, but his role was as memorable as one.
Everyone gazed at Seojun with fascination.
An Daho, who had stepped away for a moment, approached Seojun.
“Seojun. Let’s go get ready for your performance.”
“Okay! I’ll be back!”
“See you soon!”
Seojun waved and walked away from the *Naeuiwon* team.
-Red carpet is over!
-The *Naeuiwon* cast's group entrance today was hilarious lol
-Never thought they’d all arrive at once lol
-But what’s the opening act?
-According to the leaks,
=??
=???
=? Finish your sentence!
-Long commercial break huh
After the long commercial break, the title ‘KBC Drama Awards’ filled the screen. The two MCs introduced themselves.
[Shall we start with our first special performance?]
[Honestly, I was shocked when I read the script. I thought we’d see it toward the end.]
At the MCs’ words, people wondered, *no way, could it be?*
[It’s a special performance by actor Lee Seojun!]
[Transformation of the Werewolf!]
-It’s only been 5 minutes since it started?! Right at the beginning!?
-Are KBC's ad sales okay? Are the ratings okay?
Hearing from Cocoa Entertainment that Seojun would only be attending the first part, KBC decided to get it over with quickly. It was fine, as they planned to create and upload a separate edited version of the performance anyway. The camera operators, who had to be mindful of their movements, tensed up as they focused on the stage.
Thump!
Thump!
The sound of drums booming from the speakers made both the studio audience and viewers at home instinctively think of *Naeuiwon*. The drumming layered over the gentle *Naeuiwon* OST.
Fog billowed across the stage.
Thump! Thump!
The speakers boomed loudly. The familiar drumbeat made avid fans of *Naeuiwon* groan with anticipation.
[(Good) Cloud Whale's Fog has been activated.]
A fog thicker than what the broadcast station could produce billowed up.
[(Good) Shadow Werewolf's Wolf Form has been activated.]
Seojun bent his knees, lowered his waist, and placed a wolf's paw, complete with jelly bean pads, on the stage. The shadow wolf overlaid Seojun's body.
Thump! Thump! Thump!
A bright yellow full moon rose on the screen behind the stage. Awoooo, the sound of a wolf’s howl echoed. A camera focused on where Seojun was supposed to be. Only a black shape was visible through the fog. The lights flashed brightly.
Seojun ran. The camera moved, following Seojun. The cameras tracked him, never losing sight of him in the best viewing angles.
The shadow wolf, moving in a zigzag pattern, slowly raised its upper body.
Thump! Thump! Thump!
The fog slowly thinned, revealing Seojun standing upright.
Kyaaaaaaah!!
Along with the screams from the audience, the internet exploded. Actors and viewers alike stared in disbelief at Seojun's unexpected appearance before finally bursting into laughter.
-Oh my god, what is this! Grand Prince Seongnyeong Becomes a Werewolf, is it!?
-Have you ever seen such an adorable hybrid? lol
Sauntering forward, Seojun was dressed in the purple official's robe embroidered with a girin, but with cute wolf ears on his head. A fluffy wolf tail was attached to the back of the robe. It was Kim Heesang's handiwork.
It was different from his Halloween festival costume, which had been identical to the werewolf, but Seojun thought there was no outfit more fitting for this occasion. Even those who had been anticipating the werewolf transformation burst out laughing.
-I was trying to see how he moved, but the official robe lol the official robe lol
-Ah. The wolf ears are so cute lol
Unlike the Halloween festival, where he had just entered, Seojun waved to the audience before turning around. People who spotted the gloves on Seojun's hands screamed once more.
-Did you see? The gloves! The jelly pads! Pink jelly pads!!
-The tail! The tail! He's so cute from the back too!
Reacting to the crowd's response, Seojun turned back, bowed deeply, and then ran off as planned. The fog thickened, and the human figure transformed back into a wolf and disappeared.
Applause erupted from all around.
-Ah lol I tried to watch it seriously, but I just burst out laughing lol
-Whose idea was this lol I'll give my compliments to the Wolf Grand Prince lol
-It does suit the awards ceremony lol The problem is it's hilarious lol
-This is probably all I'll remember after it's over
“Daho hyung, did I do well?”
“The reaction was amazing. You did great!”
Seojun smiled brightly and took off the headband with the wolf ears. He took off the official robe and changed his clothes. He caught his breath while drinking the water An Daho handed him.
A short while later, Seojun returned to his seat with the *Naeuiwon* team. Everyone welcomed him back. Lee Jiseok asked.
“Whose idea was that? Grand Prince Seongnyeong as a werewolf. I almost died laughing.”
“It was mine.”
“Yours, Seojun?”
“Yes. Since it’s an awards ceremony, I wanted to do something related to the drama.”
“You did a great job. There are a ton of posts about it online.”
Seojun giggled at Park Dohun's words. While Seojun was away, the awards ceremony continued. Usually, the Rookie Award is announced early, but KBC skipped it and presented other awards first. This was because Seojun, the likely winner of the Rookie Award, was away for his special performance.
“The Rookie Award isn’t bad either. It’s an award you only get once in a lifetime.”
Seojun nodded in agreement with Kim Jongho’s words. KBC’s choice was the same. Among the many awards in actor Lee Seojun’s bright future, the Rookie Award would only ever come from KBC. It would remain that way in Seojun’s memory, and in the memories of the people.
[Next up is the KBC Drama Awards, Rookie of the Year.]
Towards the end of Part 1, the MC began to speak. All eyes turned to the screen. Among the clips from various dramas, the one that stood out the most was of a brightly smiling Grand Prince Seongnyeong.
[Lee Seojun / Grand Prince Seongnyeong (*Naeuiwon*)]
Seo Eunhye, Lee Minjun, Seo Eunchan, and An Daho, watching from the audience, couldn't shake their nervousness even though they expected it.
[Rookie of the Year!]
[From the drama *Naeuiwon*, for the role of Grand Prince Seongnyeong, actor Lee Seojun!]
Seojun’s face filled the screen. Everyone watching the live broadcast and everyone in the audience sent a round of congratulatory applause.
Seojun stood up, beaming. Lee Jiseok moved aside and handed him a bouquet he had hidden while Seojun was preparing for his performance. Kim Jongho and Park Dohun also gave him bouquets.
Seojun walked onto the stage with his arms full of flowers. The microphone was too high, but a staff member quickly ran over and handed him another one.
The MC presented him with the trophy and another bouquet. The screen behind the stage showed a close-up of Seojun holding the bouquets.
The synergy between the beautiful flowers and Seojun’s handsome face made him look even more stunning.
-This is totally meme-worthy! Actors are on another level!
-Grand Prince Seongnyeong. Congratulations!
-? Isn't that a dragon pattern?
-Dragon?
“Hello. I am actor Lee Seojun.”
Seojun’s voice carried over the broadcast to the viewers. Seojun continued, smiling as brightly as possible.
“I am truly happy to receive the Rookie of the Year award, which they say you can only receive once in your life. There are so many people I want to share this joy with. All the actors and production staff who filmed with me for months. The viewers who loved *Naeuiwon* and shed tears with us until the very last episode. My family and the staff at Cocoa Entertainment. I want to express my gratitude to every single one of you. I hope to become an actor whose performances remain in people's hearts. Thank you.”
Seojun bowed deeply. A wave of applause broke out. It was a short acceptance speech, but his sincerity came through.
[Actor Lee Seojun Wins KBC Rookie of the Year!]
-Rookie of the Year? Shouldn't he get the Top Excellence Award?
-Rookie of the Year is good too. If he didn't get it for *Naeuiwon*, he probably wouldn't get it at all. He's already filmed *Shadowman*, so he can't get a rookie award for a movie.
-Seojun has many more awards to win in the future!
With Seojun's win, Part 1 of the Drama Awards concluded. Seojun got up from his seat.
“Well, I’ll be leaving now!”
“Alright. Go home and get some rest.”
“I’m going to watch Jiseok hyung win his award at home!”
Everyone laughed at Seojun’s words and said their goodbyes. Seojun left the hall with An Daho and met his mom and dad, who were waiting outside.
“Seojun, congratulations on the Rookie Award!”
“Ehehehe.”
“Let’s hurry home, wash up, and watch Mr. Jiseok win his award.”
“Okay!”
After parting ways with An Daho and Seo Eunchan, Seojun headed home with his mom and dad. There wasn't much traffic, so they arrived home quickly.
He turned on the TV to KBC and saw that it would still be a while before Jiseok hyung’s award was announced.
After quickly washing up and changing into his pajamas, Seojun and his parents sat on the sofa. Before long, the MC announced the nominees for the Grand Prize.
Among the various clips, Lee Jiseok's back was shown as he prostrated before a grave. That clip alone was enough to make viewers who had watched *Naeuiwon* tear up.
-Wow. The class of an actor who can act with his back!
-Who else could win it but Lee Jiseok!
[The Grand Prize!]
[From the drama *Naeuiwon*, for the role of Heo Yuseon, actor Lee Jiseok!]
Lee Jiseok's face appeared on the screen. Seeing Lee Jiseok's face, smiling more brightly than ever, made Seojun feel proud. Though he couldn't be heard, Seojun clapped enthusiastically. Kim Jongho and Park Dohun could be seen handing bouquets to Lee Jiseok.
With his arms full of flowers, Lee Jiseok walked onto the stage. He received the trophy and looked at the camera as he began to speak.
“Hello, I am Lee Jiseok. There is so much I want to say, but I would like to begin by expressing my gratitude. To all the fans who always support me. To the actors and production staff who worked on *Naeuiwon* together….”
While listening to Lee Jiseok's speech, Seojun sent him a message. He'll be happy when he sees it later!
After finishing his speech, Lee Jiseok bowed deeply and walked off the stage. The screen, which had briefly shown the MC's face, changed. It was now showing Bosingak Pavilion, where a crowd had gathered.
“Is it midnight already?”
“It’s past Seojun’s bedtime.”
“I just want to watch the New Year’s bell ringing, then I’ll go to sleep!”
“Okay, alright.”
[This year is already coming to an end. As we send off the old year and welcome the new, we wish all our viewers a year filled with happiness and joy.]
The MC’s voice could be heard.
A large number appeared in the center of the screen. 10!
[Now, let the countdown begin!]
The people on screen were shouting the numbers and making prayers.
“Should we make a wish too?”
“Please let next year be filled with only happy things.”
“Please keep our whole family healthy.”
Praying for a happy new year, Seojun and his parents counted down together.
3!
2!
1!
Dong-!
[To all our viewers, Happy New Year!]
Dong-!
Dong-!
The bell rang 33 times.
The new year had arrived.
#