Chapter 169
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 169
Episode 5 of Shining Star has aired.
[Wow, Shining Star must be insanely popular. All my real-life friends are voting right now lol]
[Me too... my friend posted on Starstagram asking people to vote lol. Is this... what they call an 'influx' of new fans? I’m drooling.
└ Look at this old-timer getting all excited lol]
With a high-profile cast, clean editing, an interesting narrative, and high-quality performances, Shining Star Season 2 was even more of a sensation than Season 1.
Since only the final stage remained, the atmosphere among the fandoms was colder and more cutthroat than ever.
[I love Seo Ho-yun so much ㅠㅠㅠ]
[I don't know why I didn't notice him until now ㅠㅠ I should've watched when everyone else was watching Kabu ㅠㅠㅠㅠㅠㅠ Fuck ㅠㅠㅠ]
Of course, this didn't apply to casual viewers who were just enjoying the show.
[Episode 5 is starting!!]
The main content of the episode featured each group preparing for their final competition. All five groups were shown joking around, fiercely debating opinions, and practicing with total sincerity.
Interviews were interspersed throughout, and Seo Ho-yun was among them.
[Heck, it's a Seo Ho-yun interview.]
However, it passed by in a flash.
Compared to others who filled their minutes with pleasant jokes or long stories about how badly they wanted a good result, Seo Ho-yun’s segment lacked impact.
[This is seriously the first time I've seen Seo Ho-gyong speak like that;;]
[Is he crazy......]
However, the Noeuls—who had followed Seo Ho-yun through their self-produced content and various events—were shocked. They knew him as someone who always hid his hardships and brushed things off with a calm demeanor.
[Hey, if that Seo Ho-yun is speaking with that much desperation, let's please give him 1st place.]
[Please vote ㅠㅠ Ah, please ㅠㅠㅠㅠㅠㅠ]
[I’m starting to hate the other groups... Ah.... ㅠㅠㅠㅠㅠㅠㅠㅠ I’m sorry, guys.... ㅠㅠ!!!]
While the Noeuls were buzzing over Seo Ho-yun’s interview, the moment a fan habitually refreshed their SNS—
[;;;;;;;]
[Ah]
[Fuck, ah]
[Heck]
The phone lagged as it displayed 'Hundreds of new posts.'
Meanwhile.
【Traffic Accident】
【Dashcam】
【Ho-yun Accident】
【The Dawn Seo Ho-yun】
【Shining Star】
At first, the words "Traffic Accident" rose to the real-time trends, and a moment later, the feed began to be plastered with Seo Ho-yun’s name.
[What is this??;;]
It all started with a single video uploaded to Nutube.
It appeared to be dashcam footage: a truck slamming into a car traveling down a road, causing it to overturn. Upon impact, one side of the car was severely crushed.
It was a horrific and tragic traffic accident, but not an uncommon one.
The real kicker, however, was the title of that video.
<Seo Ho-yun Traffic Accident Dashcam>
No one who saw the video believed it at first.
That was because no person was directly visible, and there was no supporting evidence other than the title.
[Ah, fuck, don't believe the clickbait. Now that the final episode is coming up, the psychos are out in full force.]
[I'm reporting it all right now... It's so shitty that this is rising on Nutube's trending list.. Please report it whenever you see a post.]
[Do you really want to do this??? Ah, seriously, you bastards, doing anything for clout.]
Right on cue, an article from four years ago was dragged up.
《[Breaking News] Rear-end collision in XX… 3 dead / 1 injured
On December 18th, around 4:21 PM, a truck struck a passenger car at an intersection in OO-gu, XX-si, causing a collision.
The truck driver and a couple in their 40s in the passenger car were killed, while their child in their 20s was injured.
According to a police official, 'It appears to be drowsy driving, and the circumstances of the accident are being investigated'….》
Perhaps because it was breaking news, the information was sparse to the point of being dry, but people began to cross-reference the dashcam footage with the perfectly timed article.
[Wait, what is this article??]
[So it really was Seo Ho-yun's accident?]
As suspicion began to take root in the public's mind that the owner of that video might truly be Seo Ho-yun, The Dawn’s fandom fell into chaos.
[He doesn't usually wear short sleeves. Even when he wears short sleeves or sleeveless tops on stage, he plasters them with concealer.]
[Is this why? Because of scars from the accident?]
[There were eyewitness accounts of him receiving scar treatment.]
Even the fans who had tried to ignore it as mere clickbait were shaken.
The climax of this controversy, which was burning like dry firewood, came when a certain photo was posted.
Traffic Accident Fact Confirmation Certificate
A low-quality photo that clearly looked like it had been taken secretly was posted briefly in the early hours of the morning and deleted in less than ten minutes.
However, that was more than enough time for people to take screenshots.
The photo spread instantly.
The date, location, and time written on the document all matched the article perfectly.
Seo Ho-yun
Above all, Seo Ho-yun’s name was written clearly in the victim column.
By then, it was already too late.
Too late for the company to respond, and too late for the fandom to keep it quiet.
Entertainment news articles exploded.
《[Comprehensive] The Dawn's Ho-yun, Dashcam Video of Traffic Accident from 4 Years Ago Leaked》
《Seo Ho-yun’s Traffic Accident: Was His Past 1-Year Hiatus Due to the Trauma of Losing His Parents?》
A member of a currently hot idol group was actually a survivor who lost his parents in a traffic accident and was the sole survivor at the scene.
Public interest couldn't help but gravitate toward such a dramatic story.
Everyone tried to speculate about Seo Ho-yun’s one-year hiatus after The Dawn’s debut. Some sent sympathy, while others rushed in to tear him apart over the slightest detail.
[Such a young person suffered such a great misfortune at a young age.. May they rest in peace.]
[This is seriously a huge shock;; He probably has mental issues after that.]
[Please, just stop.. Seriously, stop pretending to know and stop contacting him. What do you even know? Please just leave Ho-yun alone.]
[Wow lol the agency is doing a great job lol. Bursting this right before the final episode lol.]
[Looks like he wants to sell out his parents to get 1st place, it's nauseating.]
[ㅠㅠ I'm rooting for you. Looking at the broadcast, he seemed like a guy who didn't show a single sign of it ㅠㅠ Is that why he rested for a year after debut.. There are people who take medicine even for minor fender benders, so it must be a mental illness ㅠㅠ]
All sorts of posts clung to him like predators eyeing prey.
Articles, videos, anonymous messages.
A few hours later, it was perhaps a natural progression that the clip of Seo Ho-yun’s interview from the latest episode of Shining Star hit #1 on Nutube’s trending videos.
[Seo Ho-yun Shining Star Ep 5 Interview Clip]
The part that had been glossed over during the original broadcast was now being re-examined.
Q. Why are you working this hard?
At the staff's question, Seo Ho-yun, framed in the camera, gave a faint smile.
"I have to work hard."
And then he answered calmly.
"This is all I have left."
That was it.
The duration of Seo Ho-yun’s interview, which shook a Republic of Korea thirsty for gossip, was a mere 15 seconds.
* * *
The final competition venue.
Outside, the audience was already waiting, filled with anticipation, while rehearsals were in full swing inside.
'I'm a bit tired.'
I couldn't remember sleeping at all for the past few days. That was how much I had immersed myself in practice.
In my highly sensitive state, I ignored Jeong Da-jun, who was walking on eggshells around me, and brushed off the concerns of Seong Ji-won and Kim Seong-hyeon as if they were nothing.
I think Kang Yi-chae grabbed me and said something… but I erased it from my memory immediately.
'Hmm.'
Night came, the dawn glow faded, and just when I thought it was morning, the sun set again. I think I ate something, too….
"Hyung, I'm sorry."
I had fallen asleep at the dorm for a moment after practicing like that, but I actually became calmer at the sight of Jeong Da-jun shaking me awake while sobbing.
"I'm really sorry…."
Beside him, Kim Seong-hyeon, who had calmed Da-jun down, spoke with a heavy face.
"I'm talking to the company to block the leak as much as possible."
"……Mhm."
"Seo Ho-yun, are you really going on stage in this state?"
I nodded.
Actually, after organizing how to handle the situation and contacting Kim Jae-yeon, I had turned off my phone entirely. Too many useless calls were coming in.
However, I didn't forget to leave a message for Seo Ho-jin in advance, worried he might be anxious.
[Me: Seo Ho-jin]
[Me: You okay?]
I only realized later, after turning on my phone and seeing the missed calls, that Seo Ho-jin had called me immediately. There were also several texts saying he was fine.
Perhaps because what I was doing weighed even a tiny bit on my conscience, I often put the phone down after debating several times, telling myself I'd contact Ho-jin later.
The most fortunate thing in this matter was that Seo Ho-jin wasn't in the car at the time of the accident, so his identity wasn't exposed.
From the start, Ho-jin and I didn't look that much alike. If we were together, people realized we were brothers because our vibes were similar, but when apart, people didn't really notice the resemblance.
My profile didn't specifically mention my siblings, and since no one except the members knew he was my brother, there shouldn't be any major issues as long as we were careful.
And so, I arrived at the final competition venue.
'Time really flies.'
After finishing the final rehearsal lightly, I found a spot with few people to drink some water, avoiding the worried, anxious, or sharp gazes of the members. As if she knew, Kim Hee-yeong walked up to me.
"Seo Ho-yun-ssi."
"Ah, PD-nim."
I smiled reflexively, but Kim Hee-yeong stared at me intensely with an expressionless face.
Just as I was wondering if she had timed this for when the members or staff weren't around, Kim Hee-yeong scanned the surroundings once and spoke.
"It's not, right?"
"Pardon?"
"This situation. You didn't do this, did you, Seo Ho-yun-ssi?"
She had come to get an answer from me, even though she was visibly tense.
"Why did you ask to change the interview?"
When I called her, Kim Hee-yeong happened to be editing the content for Episode 5.
As soon as I met her, I made a proposal, citing viewership ratings.
I suggested that rather than me, who had no issues, it would be better to increase Jeong Da-jun’s interview screen time to connect with his performance in Episode 4.
"…Why?"
Kim Hee-yeong twitched an eyebrow as if trying to read my hidden intentions.
"Because of Jeong Da-jun."
I said in as plain a tone as possible that if it seemed like only Jeong Da-jun was standing out too much, she could distribute some of my cut interview time to other members of lower-ranked groups.
I nonchalantly added that this was just a suggestion and that all decisions were up to PD Kim Hee-yeong.
"Mmm."
When persuading someone, it's necessary to step back slightly after delivering your opinion. You have to speak naturally, as if the other person has the upper hand and the decision-making power.
If it's even slightly awkward, it'll backfire.
"…Well, I'll think about it."
Kim Hee-yeong pondered for a long time, then nodded as if she judged it to be somewhat reasonable. Though her complexion was a bit complicated.
As a result, my screen time was heavily edited, resulting in an interview that felt more desperate than I had expected.
I was quite satisfied.
"……Whew."
However, Kim Hee-yeong, unaware of these facts, was confused even as she suspected me.
At the same time, she seemed to have asked the question thinking it was an impossible thing to do unless one was insane.
"Are you going to be like that too, PD-nim?"
I deliberately lowered my eyes and spoke in a heavily dejected voice. Kim Hee-yeong’s shoulders trembled slightly, and she sighed, wiping her face with her hands.
"Right, I must be crazy."
"……."
"I'm sorry. You must be going through a hard time right now, Seo Ho-yun-ssi."
She brushed her hair back, looking very tired.
"…I'm also really sorry about your family."
All I could do right then was smile.
Kim Hee-yeong, offering another apology, hurried away at a staff member's call.
I also returned to the waiting room.
Soon, the final live broadcast began. Following the stages of Verci and Try, TEW’s performance appeared on the monitoring TV.
【Burn up this moment
Spark in your eyes】
The song and dance themselves weren't bad.
The captions were inflated to call them a strong candidate for 1st place, but TEW was almost solidified in 3rd.
While all the members kept their eyes fixed on the screen in silence, a staff member knocked and announced it was time to head out.
"The Dawn, let's get ready to stand by!!"
The staff member's gaze briefly brushed past me.
I stood up and silently followed behind the members as they led the way.
As we reached the backstage area outside the waiting room, the sweltering heat of the venue hit my skin.
"Seo Ho-yun-ssi, let's adjust your in-ears."
"Yes."
While standing there, leaving my body to the staff for final checks, I locked eyes with Kim Hee-yeong in the distance.
She pursed her lips a few times as if she had something to say, then looked away first.
With a calm face, I simply repeated the lyrics in my head.
"Ho-yun-ah."
Just then, Seong Ji-won called me.
"Can you go up?"
When I turned my head, Seong Ji-won’s warm gaze was fixed on me.
I looked around. The various gazes pinned on me quickly darted away. Most were eyes mixed with anxiety and wariness, fearing I might cause a broadcast accident.
"……Seong Ji-won."
Can I go up on stage?
What a silly question.
I was tired from the consecutive all-nighters, but my mind was clearer than ever.
That was why I was certain.
"What are you talking about?"
That I could finish this stage perfectly.
"We have to take 1st place."
When I gave a smirk, Seong Ji-won’s eyes widened slightly, and then a curve formed at the corners of his mouth.
"—Right."
It was obvious he was forcing a smile, though.
"The Dawn, entering now!"
Following the staff's guidance, I stepped onto the blue tape.
Kim Seong-hyeon tapped my shoulder before heading to his position.
"Let's go up."
I gave a small nod and stepped onto the lift.
Thud.
Whirrrrr—.
The sound of cheering grew closer.
However, my mind slowly cooled down.
'Kim Hee-yeong, she suspects me after all.'
Well, even with a little thought, there were suspicious corners.
It was difficult for others to obtain things like traffic accident dashcam footage or a Traffic Accident Fact Confirmation Certificate.
Furthermore, considering the timing and the sudden proposal for editing, it was only natural to have such suspicions.
Fair and just Kim Hee-yeong. Conscientious Kim Hee-yeong. She looks tough but is secretly soft and gentle.
That was the biggest reason I liked her, but on the other hand, it was also her blind spot.
The reason she accepted my proposal is obvious without even looking.
Since I was relatively popular, she probably wanted to give at least one more scene to a lower-ranked group to help them gain even a little more recognition later.
I thought of Kim Hee-yeong, who, despite experiencing me like that in Season 1, didn't know what to do with herself out of apology the moment I spoke even a little weakly.
I clenched my fists.
'I told you, there's no need to feel sorry.'
Whirrrrr….
'Noona.'
Where would a guy who almost got slapped go?
—Waaaaaaa!!
As the lift rose, white and blue lights shone on me as if piercing through me.
I put strength into my lips and deliberately wore a faint smile.
'I'm the one who did it.'
It was time to wrap this up.