Chapter 211
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 211
[Ji-won, happy birthday!]
His eyelids seemed unusually swollen and his eyes a bit red today, but since he looked happier than usual, the Noeuls just assumed it was a lighting issue.
Though nasty rumors occasionally cropped up, the fans didn't pay them much mind, knowing well that Seong Ji-won wasn't the type to be swayed by such things.
[Oh my, our Ji-won ㅠㅠ Happy birthday!]
[Ji-won, thank you for singing!]
“…Ahaha, thank you so much, truly.”
And so, it seemed Seong Ji-won’s birthday would end on a happy note, but—
[What is this photo, seriously?]
Late that night, after the live stream ended, a single photo was uploaded to a community site, leaving The Dawn’s fandom in a state of utter bewilderment.
[Seriously, what the hell is this????????]
In the heavily zoomed-in photo, Seong Ji-won stood in front of the dorm with his head hung low, while Seo Ho-yun stood there watching him quietly.
The problem was the atmosphere.
It looked as though Seong Ji-won was crying.
[I want to bash whoever took this photo without permission when it wasn't even an official schedule, but.....
.....
....
The photo is just too shocking.]
[No, seriously, why take the photo? ffs]
[The photo is a bit much, but I’m genuinely curious why they’re acting like that.]
[What’s going on? Why is Seo Ho-yun comforting him?]
[Oh no ㅠㅠ Did Ji-won see something on the internet? I’m losing my mind right now.]
Since no one knew what had actually happened, a massive uproar broke out on community sites and various social media platforms. Questions flooded The Dawn’s official Starstagram, Twitter, and Pop-Pop.
However, the fans received no answers.
Seo Ho-yun, who checked into Pop-Pop almost every day, was a master at playing dumb. Even when he held a solo live stream with his usual expression, he ignored every single comment related to the photo.
[Fine... let’s stop asking ㅠ]
[Stop overstepping by asking him directly... Ho-u probably doesn't want to talk about member business either.]
[Sigh... half of me wants to be a fan who respects the artist’s life... and the other half wants to go to Daepasung and head-swing to the beat of a traditional drum because I’m so damn curious.]
└The Dawn-mori beat.
└Dung-gi-dun-kung-deo-deo-deo-dun-kung-gi-dun-kung-deo-deo-deo-deo-dun.
└└That is actually so annoying.
└└You don't have to broadcast that you're a Kang Yi-chae fan.]
Just as everyone was trying to restrain themselves from over-analyzing because Seo Ho-yun clearly didn't want to mention it—
“Ho-yun!”
Seong Ji-won walked through the door with a smile as bright as a flower in full bloom.
“Seong Ji-won is here.”
[For a second, I thought I’d turned my screen brightness to the max.]
[Wow, look at how calm Seo Ho-yun is.
└His immunity to Seong Ji-won is god-tier;]
[Seong Ji-won’s floral scent is overwhelming,,,,,,,,
└LOL ffs Ji-won, you are my freesia, my lavender, my lilac...]
As Seong Ji-won sat down and exchanged a few words with Seo Ho-yun, the live stream began to pick up steam. Eventually, Ji-won spotted a comment about the photo and looked flustered.
[Ji-won, were you crying? ㅠㅠ]
“Huh? Me?”
Seo Ho-yun subtly turned his face away, picking up a lemonade from the table and taking a long drag through the straw.
Seong Ji-won, seemingly unaware of the controversy until now, tilted his head and scrolled through the comments. Once he grasped the situation, he let out a small exclamation.
“Ah.”
Then, his lips curled into a mischievous smirk.
“Ho-yun made me cry.”
“Pfft!”
Seo Ho-yun sprayed his drink everywhere.
Even as Ho-yun choked and coughed on the sour liquid, Seong Ji-won giggled.
It had been a joke born from a slight lingering pout toward Seo Ho-yun, but after rumors of a discord within the group started circulating, the two of them had to sit in front of the camera for another live stream.
“Hurry up and apologize.”
“I’m sorry, it was a joke.”
The talk about the photo only died down after they posted a clarification video explaining that Ji-won had simply cried out of happiness after receiving a touching birthday message and a promise from Seo Ho-yun for a great gift next year.
After that, Seong Ji-won seemed to find joy in teasing Seo Ho-yun, and he was frequently spotted playing pranks on him.
By this point, the hearts of the Noeuls, which had been like active volcanoes ready to erupt, had all turned into warm, fluffy steamed buns.
[Is there actually a person in this world who cries just because a teammate gave them a birthday greeting?.....
We’ll never know what was said, but why does this make my heart so warm...]
[And I love how Ho-u didn't say a word because it was Ji-won’s business................ This is what a real man looks like...]
[But the kids really do lean on each other a lot.. ㅠㅠ It feels especially true this year.
Well, if my agency was Daepasung, I’d have no one to lean on but my members too.
└LOL]
Fans even made GIFs of the scene where a startled Seo Ho-yun coughed and shared them around, basking in the glow of their heartwarming friendship.
[Title: The Dawn is seriously ridiculous ㅡㅡ
Sigh... I really wasn't going to say this, but.
└Why, what is it? Tell us honestly.
└└I just want Ho-u and Ji-won to be happy.
└└Sob ㅠㅠ Making a girl cry since dawn.
└└What are you guys even doing....]
Furthermore, despite their visibly packed schedule, The Dawn continued to pour out self-produced content without pause.
[Title: I think new fans are really important for The Dawn right now.
Once people join the fandom, these guys hold onto them so tight that escape is impossible anyway.
That jerk Seo Ho-yun still has perfect attendance on Pop-Pop while taking care of the fans.
There was that one week he didn't show up........ but I’ll pass on that because I still get heated thinking about it......
└Wait, when was that?
└└Around the final episode of Shas 2 ㅠㅠ
└└Ah.... that time. Die, Daepasung.]
[But they really do release self-produced content consistently.....
Behind-the-scenes, MV reactions, challenges.
They do everything that’s trendy these days..
Honestly, I think Daepasung is doing a good job.
└What are you talking about ㅡㅡ
└└I’m a Lia Purple fan....
└└Ah...... My apologies.
└└LOL ffs ㅠㅠ Don't be so understanding ㅠㅠ]
Their content quality was recognized even by fans of other groups.
Moreover, as Shining Star Seasons 1 and 2 were serviced overseas via OTT platforms, The Dawn’s international following was skyrocketing.
[A rabbit? w That’s impossible.
This guy is definitely a cat.]
They were still bickering with Japan over Seo Ho-yun’s representative animal.
[This is the land of the rabbit.
If you don't like it, leave.
└I’m already an overseas fan, so I’m not in Korea anyway.
└└Oh, right.]
[Daepasung must be loving life lately. Did you see their Q2 revenue? Q3 is probably going to be insane too.
└Whoa. Min Ji-heon used to be the sole breadwinner, but it looks like he’s a two-top with The Dawn now.
└└True, and that disaster movie Min Ji-heon filmed did incredibly well too. How did he get those kinds of audience numbers in this day and age? lol]
In any case, since the Japanese debut was a success, all eyes were on when and how much Daepasung would push The Dawn overseas.
Because some agencies, excited by a surge in international fans, would rotate their groups abroad like a revolving door, many Noeuls were anxious.
Fortunately, there had been no announcement of an overseas tour yet.
Instead—
《The Dawn Confirmed to Join Berlin K-Pop Concert》
The Dawn was included in the lineup for a K-pop concert in Europe that had been finalized recently.
[?????????]
[Europe out of nowhere?]
[Don't they usually go to the US first? Why Europe?]
Since the articles were already out, there was nothing to be done, but fans who harbored ill will toward Daepasung weren't particularly pleased.
Still, on the official accounts:
[THE DAWN, such sweethearts always thinking of Noeuls <3 So cool! Stay safe in Europe, we’ll be waiting!]
[So, so proud of our Deonging-is!]
They only wrote pretty words like these, but—
[Those motherf*ckers,, an overseas concert...
Whose idea was this?
Fine, f*ck, the kids need to make money..]
[If it’s K-pop, can’t they just do it in Korea?
The K stands for Korea. Since when did Europe become K-Europe?]
[I think these Daepasung bastards are doing this to test the waters and see how popular they are abroad.
└Testing the waters is one thing, but why Europe? ㅠㅠ]
Behind the scenes, this was the sentiment.
[They’re even filming a documentary.]
[Ugh, lol.]
The Noeuls acted as if they were allergic to the word "overseas," but they tried to calm themselves down by noting that at least it wasn't a "tour."
[Oh, f*ck.]
However, once the lineup and performance order for the Berlin K-Pop Concert were revealed, those efforts became futile.
The order was The Dawn, then High Five, then Lia Purple.
[WH, you son of a bitch~~~!!!!]
Even if it was only by a hair, the performance order was a yardstick for popularity, making it a very sensitive issue.
Consequently, The Dawn’s fandom remained in a heated state for quite some time.
*
I had made up my mind from the moment we headed to Incheon Airport.
I should avoid crossing paths with High Five as much as possible.
But as if to betray my wish, Kang Yeon-hu approached us at the airport entrance with a beaming smile.
“Ah! Seo Ho-yun!”
“Senior Yeon-hu.”
It was one thing when the cameras were rolling, but even after passing through immigration at the gate, the guy kept pestering me.
What is wrong with this bastard?
I turned to look directly at Kang Yeon-hu.
“What is it?”
“What’s what?”
“You’re a man who knows how things work, so why are you doing this? The last broadcast couldn't be helped, but don't you know there’s nothing to gain from us being seen together right now?”
If the gap in idol recognition was as clear as it was with someone like Ju Woo-seong, fans wouldn't be so cutthroat even if we were close.
But since Kang Yeon-hu was from the same survival program and was frequently compared to me like a rival, there was more to lose than to gain.
“Ahaha, just because.”
Hearing my words, Kang Yeon-hu smiled, his gentle eyes crinkling.
“I wanted to see you get flustered, Seo Ho-yun.”
“…….”
I guess he’d built up a lot of resentment from what happened last time.
“Hmm.”
But so what? What did he want me to do about it?
Maintaining a forced smile, I snatched the neck pillow from Kang Yeon-hu’s hand, kindly placed it around his neck, and whispered quietly.
“Go away quietly before I take things a step further.”
“…….”
Watching Kang Yeon-hu freeze up instantly, I gave him a wink.
“……I’m going.”
“Yep, have a safe trip~.”
Kim Seong-hyeon, who was now accustomed to this kind of behavior from me, tucked his passport into his bag and asked, “Why is it that people from WH Entertainment... out of all the people in the world, always act like this toward you?”
“Are you jealous?”
“Seriously, stop saying such horrifying things!”
Leaving the disgusted Kim Seong-hyeon behind, I walked leisurely while organizing my thoughts.
Kang Yeon-hu is dealt with.
The Dawn’s strategy for this European venture could be divided into three phases.
The first phase had essentially already begun the moment we entered the airport.
Of course, a clueless Jeong Da-jun was busy chatting away in excitement.
“Hyung, hyung! When we get to Europe~! Won't the foreign fans be like, whoaaa~! Filling the place from here to there and cheering for us??”
“…….”
“Am I going to become the Prince of Asia?”
“Puppy.”
I pressed my thumb and index finger against Jeong Da-jun’s lips to shut them.
“Try keeping your mouth closed.”
“I’m aready eeping it osed. (I’m already keeping it closed.)”
“Shh.”
Then I looked toward the documentary film crew walking a short distance away.
“First, let’s properly gauge the local reaction….”
“Yes, yes. I think it’s better to start filming from the airport. We can capture the fans encountering Korean idols for the first time.”
“Let’s get interviews from the participating idols too. Mix in some talk about how incredible the Hallyu wave is. They say nationalistic pride is the trend these days, right?”
“Hahaha!”
As expected.
I clicked my tongue and removed my fingers from Jeong Da-jun’s lips.
Phase One.
‘Absolute avoidance of a lethal dose of Nationalistic Pride.’