Chapter 213
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 213
Kang Yeon-hu, who seemed a bit tipsy, suddenly thrust the bottle he was drinking from toward me. When I waved it away, he pouted.
“Anyway, well. Seo Ho-yun, you’re a good singer, and your dancing isn’t bad…”
“…”
“…Is it bad?”
“You’re really setting me up for a roast, aren’t you?”
Kang Yeon-hu’s shoulders shook as he laughed.
“I’m joking. I really think you’re amazing. I think you’ll climb even higher.”
“Of course. If not me, then who?”
“Your confidence is no joke, either.”
It wasn't confidence; I was simply stating what had to be done, the future that had to be.
Climbing from the second tier to the first tier wasn't as easy as growing from an unknown to the second tier. No matter how big the agency was or how much of a push they gave you, it meant nothing if you couldn't leave a lasting impression on the public.
That was why, even if they were criticized for it, agencies would churn out junior groups like a factory the moment an idol’s image started to feel stale. They kept making endless attempts because no one knew what would be a hit in a month, a year, or ten years.
It’s not luck.
I judged it to be "star quality." The kind of thing a guy like Ju Woo-seong had—the one who told me I was "getting by on my face and guts."
Kang Yeon-hu seemed lost in thought for a moment before speaking again.
“The Dawn’s overseas fan influx has grown a lot in the past year, so I don’t think it’d be bad to try breaking into the US if the opportunity arises. We failed after just pushing blindly, though.”
“Yes, thank you for sharing your firsthand experience.”
Kang Yeon-hu glared at me with narrowed eyes.
What?
WH Entertainment was unnecessarily sentimental. To think they’d treat us this well even though we were called rivals.
“Well, I’m sure you’ll handle it just fine, Seo Ho-yun. I saw how smoothly you dodged those documentary interviews.”
“I also enjoyed the comment from one of your team members after the performance. The one where he got all excited and said he felt like he was the center of the world right now.”
“What?! Who said that?!”
Kang Yeon-hu spat out the beer he was drinking, seemingly genuinely unaware.
“Why—why didn’t you stop him?!”
“Do you know High Five?”
“Wow, this guy really has no professional courtesy!”
When I searched for Kang Yeon-hu, many fans described him as calm and cool, but I had no idea where that calmness or coolness was supposed to be in this version of him.
“You’re really annoying. You know that?”
“Of course. But that’s my favorite thing to hear. Didn’t you know?”
“…”
He sighed, muttering that he’d never give me advice again. I chuckled as I watched him stumble away, clutching his empty beer cans.
He’s smart, though.
Based on the experience he’d built up surviving in this industry, he’d roughly figured out what kind of activities we’d be pursuing next.
That bastard Kang Yeon-hu would probably get even bigger, too. He wasn't someone to be underestimated.
But sorry, we’re going to blow up before you guys do.
The corners of my mouth curled up as I pulled my phone from my pocket.
Alright, time for Phase Two.
Coming all this way just to perform for twenty minutes and go home didn't make sense in terms of the time, effort, and cost invested.
[Me: Ms. Lee Ji-hyeon]
[Lee Ji-hyeon: Yes!! You mean the teaser, right??]
I stared at the text that arrived instantly. Does Lee Ji-hyeon have a built-in Bluetooth function or something?
[Me: That]
[Lee Ji-hyeon: Yes!! I’ll post it once the talk about national pride dies down a bit!!]
Seriously, what is she?
[Me: Yes, but]
[Lee Ji-hyeon: You mean you want to capture that European vlog aesthetic too, right?? Send it over and I’ll check it immediately!]
“What is with her?”
I was amazed by Lee Ji-hyeon, who understood everything before I even said it.
[Me: Um… Ms. Lee Ji-hyeon, by any chance]
[Lee Ji-hyeon: I have no plans to set up a fortune-telling stall in Gangnam yet!]
[Me: Wow~ haha]
I was extremely satisfied. She wasn't the number one employee for incentives every month for nothing.
I chuckled and sent one more text.
[Me: Then I’ll send over the fan song data we recorded today.]
Phase Two.
Think of the fans anytime, anywhere.
* * *
[I wonder if our boys are eating kimchi...]
The Dawn’s Korean fans were spending their days rewatching every clip and meme that poured out from the K-pop concert, which had been broadcast live worldwide.
[Why is Seo Ho-yun so good on stage lately..]
[The more I watch, the more I realize I’m just crazy for men... ha]
Seo Ho-yun, who believed in finishing what he started, spared no effort in filling his shortcomings by staying faithful to his main job as an idol. As a result, his performance improvements were visible to the naked eye with each passing day.
[Wow, this is the 'Our Song' combo lol]
[But the 'Our Song' variety combo kids..
They really... aren't close.
Look at them greeting each other from a distance and then walking away.
└ Is this that 'success-obsessed' generation's Bluetooth greeting?
└└ Aren't greetings supposed to be done via Bluetooth anyway?
└└ LMAO true.]
While the fans were buzzing over the stage and behind-the-scenes videos, they beamed at the sightings posted the next day.
[There are SO many people staring at Seong-hyeon lol
He must be insanely popular in Europe.
I mean, with his physique and face, he’s exactly the type that works abroad.
└ Seong-hyeon.. can you just not go to Europe?
There are other women there too.]
[Why has Jeong Da-jun been so busy filming stuff on his phone since earlier?
└ This kid’s philosophy is to try everything that’s trending.. I think he wants to vlog.
└└ Our god-baby..ㅠ But Kang Yi-chae is better at filming.
└└ LMAO]
[Ah, a sighting of Seo Ho-yun at a Korean restaurant in Germany.
He looks like the type who’d go to the Louvre, recite art history, and have an elegant meal with steak and wine, but he’s just eating sundubu-jjigae.
He even ate two bowls of rice.]
[The funniest part is when someone asked Seo Ho-yun on Pop-Pop and he got caught trying to hide it.
??: Why did you hide it?
Ho-u: Because I was afraid the Noeuls would be disappointed.
└ LMAO Seo Ho-yun’s acting is top-tier lolololol]
Naturally, videos with titles like "A bowl of national pride, shaken, not stirred" also appeared on Nutube.
[‘What happened at the German airport as soon as the Korean idols arrived?!’ < Are these nationalistic Nutubers always like this?]
[This needs to be changed to Seo Ho-yun’s style.
‘The identity of the nationalistic Korean idol who looked for sundubu-jjigae even in Germany?!’
└ LMAO]
However, at some point, the sightings abruptly stopped. According to their schedule, it was still a long time before they were due back in Korea, so the Noeuls grew anxious when the sightings in Germany ceased.
[Sigh... I know I’m being greedy,
But it’s a shame there’s been no news for a day or two besides Pop-Pop or selfies..]
The Noeuls, who had been provided with an abundance of high-quality content until now, felt a sense of emptiness and shared their feelings, even while knowing they were being a bit much.
[ㅠㅠ There’s no self-produced content either, I guess I’ll just have to rewatch what’s been released so far while I wait.]
[Sigh.. why is it so sorrowful when things go quiet once they go abroad?]
[Huh? Did they come back to Korea? What’s going on? Sightings of other idols are still being posted.]
However, those reactions vanished in an instant due to a single photo posted on The Dawn’s official SNS.
In a street with an exotic landscape under a purple sunset, Seo Ho-yun was looking back with a bright smile. It was a composition that looked like someone else had taken it, and it wasn't high-definition, perhaps intentionally.
[??? What is this photo?]
Under the photo, the letter ‘O’ was written along with a date. After that day, other members' photos were posted sequentially, with one letter added each time.
[Orbit??? What is it?]
[A teaser for self-produced content? It’s too early for a comeback.]
And not long after, a notification popped up from The Dawn’s official Nutube channel.
[?????]
[What is this????]
While the planning team had ambitious plans to milk the European trip for all the self-produced content they could get, since even random shots looked atmospheric there...
【Orbit】
Seo Ho-yun’s appeal—that it had been over a year since their last fan song and he wanted to release another one this year—played a huge part.
[You crazy bastards~~~~!!!!!]
They were already starving for The Dawn content, and news had been even scarcer than when the group was in Korea. Just as the fans' guessing games with the letters were reaching their limit, everyone was so excited they felt like bowing even to the Daepasung they hated so much.
Click, whirrr.
[THE DAWN] appeared on a black screen, and the sound of wheels rolling on asphalt could be heard.
As the screen brightened, Kim Seong-hyeon was seen riding a skateboard through a residential area with an unfamiliar landscape, as if connecting from their previous fan song, ‘Will You Go To Prom With Me?’.
Pastel-colored roofs flashed by, and a cheerful guitar melody rang out. Behind it, the drum beat followed steadily like a heartbeat, and a dreamy yet bright synthesizer spread through the air.
【“Hey, is this recording?”】
The video, filmed while traveling between Germany and Italy, had a slightly clumsy feel because the members had filmed it themselves. As Kang Yi-chae’s monologue ended, the main melody began to flow.
【The Earth folds, and I dreamed of
Holding your hand on the other side】
It was a fan song for Noeul, recorded before they left for Berlin.
【I told you, and you laughed. It’s so annoying.】
Next, Seong Ji-won was seen taking a big bite of a sandwich on a cafe terrace in Rome. Beside him, Seo Ho-yun, who was eating tiramisu, coughed because of the cocoa powder.
【One day you told me,
Do you wanna be together?】
The scenes continued with them pointing phones or small digital cameras at each other. It felt like catching a glimpse of a happy moment shared among The Dawn members.
【I wonder if you’re just teasing me
Because there’s no way you’d say that】
Jeong Da-jun was shown attempting to throw a coin into a fountain where wishes come true. After a careful attempt with one eye closed, he succeeded on his first try, ran toward the camera, and blew a kiss.
Kim Seong-hyeon, who had been watching him with a proud expression and folded arms, turned his head and gave a thumbs-up as the camera zoomed in.
【Nah, you are going far away,
The silence is too long after I answer
I can’t control my expression, Umm Hmm
But it’s okay】
Following that, Kang Yi-chae’s face filled the screen in a self-cam. As he waved, Seong Ji-won suddenly popped in with a grin.
【Because I’ll catch you anyway】
The evening sun set behind the fresh foreign scenery. The synthesizer notes gradually intensified, like youth that is anxious, suffocating, and ready to burst at a touch.
【Yeah, yeah, I tried to give up too
But what can I do?】
The members of The Dawn ran laughing through the sunset, which was blue yet red, and dark all at once. A pitch-black river slowly overlapped with the scene.
【When you call, I spring out like a coil】
On a bridge, Seong Ji-won gazed at the moon floating in the deep, dark river.
【The Earth folds, and I imagined hugging you】
Seo Ho-yun was on a white sandy beach where waves were crashing,
【I guess my world goes around you
Like the moon orbits the Earth】
Jeong Da-jun was by the window of a bright white house where sunlight was pouring in,
【Actually, I’ve never thought of it as a bad thing】
Kim Seong-hyeon was inside a cathedral where fragments of colorful light were cascading down,
【I will waste my youth on you
Always feeling like I’m being pulled along
Actually, I’ve never thought I really hated it either】
Then, the screen flickered off! It turned back on shortly after, showing someone’s back. Kang Yi-chae’s voice could be heard from behind the camera calling out, “Hyung!”
【I guess my world goes around you】
Seo Ho-yun turned his head and smiled slightly.
【Like the moon orbits the Earth】
The screen faded to black again, and the words [THE DAWN – Orbit] appeared.
[I.....]
The Noeuls, who had been dazed for a long time, pressed their hands to their foreheads.
[I was in Italy that day...]
They were beyond satisfied.
[The era of the metaverse has arrived...]
[I’m feeling so overwhelmed right now
Don’t touch this otaku
How about an idol who regularly releases a fan song once a year?]
[Wow, the members filmed it themselves and Daepasung just did a quick edit... this.. is seriously the best...]
[Plus, the members are wearing almost exclusively clothes given to them by fans ㅠㅠ Sob ㅠㅠ]
Fans quickly replayed the fan song. The sight of The Dawn walking, laughing, and joking around all over Europe was enough to set the Noeuls' hearts on fire.
[My heart is racing.....]
[Mom, I want to marry Seo Ho-yun]
[Heterosexuality recharged: COMPLETE.
└ Oppa, anyway, don’t smile. Other women are watching too.
└└ Everyone be quiet lol Ho-yun is sleeping next to me right now... ㅠㅠ Don’t wake him up;;
└└ Crazy gatekeeping LMAO lolololol]
While the Noeuls were gushing and clutching their racing hearts, a live notification suddenly rang out.
Since they went to Berlin, they usually turned it on when they found a good restaurant or to communicate with fans from their hotel, so everyone expected the same this time.
However, against the backdrop of an unfamiliar landscape under a clear sky, the members of The Dawn appeared holding microphones or guitars, or sitting in front of a piano.
[????]
[What are you guys doing????]
Kang Yi-chae was even tuning his guitar himself.
[Are you guys busking?!?!?!]
“Hi, Noeul.”
After a casual greeting, Seo Ho-yun seemed to choose his words for a moment.
“Right now, we….”
[Yes yes ㅠㅠ what are you doing? This is amazing, you guys look so cool]
“We have no money.”
[Huh?]
The chat window even stopped for a moment as if it had lagged. However, Seo Ho-yun simply maintained a calm expression without further explanation.
“So, we will now begin busking for our dinner.”
Phase Three.
It was ‘Creating Legendary Self-Produced Content.’