Chapter 228
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 228
“Ho-yun! They said this is our seat!”
“Yeah, okay.”
I gave a half-hearted nod, my hand constantly brushing against my ear.
My nerves felt like they were balanced on the edge of a blade.
‘That sound earlier… fuck, it must have been my imagination, right?’
I desperately wanted to believe that.
“When did they say it starts?”
“Probably after these kids finish their rehearsal and get ready.”
On stage, kids who clearly still had peach fuzz on their faces were rehearsing, wearing heavy makeup that didn't suit their age.
“Ah, sunbae-nim. Hello!”
“Hello!”
“Good work. I’m looking forward to the stage.”
“Fighting!!”
Despite the nerves they must have felt with the broadcast looming, the Daepasung trainees I’d run into a few times at the company made sure to give us polite 90-degree bows as they passed.
Setting aside our company’s trainees, I kept an eye on the others to see how they were doing, but I was left speechless.
‘It’s going to be a struggle to make them stars.’
As a former main PD of a survival program, it was glaringly obvious to me.
Their skills were significantly lacking, yet they were half-assing the rehearsal. Their eyes were unfocused, their expressions hollow.
Just as I had initially misjudged The Dawn, whether someone succeeds depends on their own effort—but there’s no answer when the person in question has zero motivation.
Comparing them to the mentors, the mentors were far too good for them.
‘So that’s why the internet reaction was like that.’
Thump, thump. Every time the music vibrated, my head throbbed. I pressed my fingers against my temples before finally standing up.
Seong Ji-won looked up at me, his eyes wide.
“Ho-yun, what’s wrong?”
“I’ll be back when the broadcast starts. It’s just a bit noisy…”
“Oh… okay.”
Behind the nodding Seong Ji-won, the worried gazes of Kim Seong-hyeon and Jeong Da-jun followed me. However, instead of prying, they all turned their heads away.
I walked slowly through the station corridors—now familiar thanks to filming Shining Star—and opened the door leading to the emergency staircase.
It was the quietest place within my current reachable radius.
“A mentor stage?”
Just then, a voice echoing through the stairs reached my ears.
“Was there any mention of that beforehand?”
“Ugh, seriously. Our screen time is already measured in minutes as it is…”
“Fuck, do you think our awareness will even go up after this show ends?”
Right. Because it’s quiet and people don't usually frequent them, these stairs were famous as a spot for backstabbing and gossip.
However, if you blabber in a place like this, the "day-birds" are the broadcast staff, and the "night-birds" are also the broadcast staff.
I gripped the handrail and carefully checked above and below. Shadows flickered from beneath.
It was just a continuous stream of complaints that bordered on lamentation, but you’d think the company would at least teach trainees to watch their mouths. Their lips were lighter than feathers.
I was debating whether to go down and give them some advice on the dangers of running their mouths in places like this when a familiar name popped up.
“But isn't Kang Yi-chae seriously scary?”
“…Yeah, totally.”
“He’s terrifying. He’s the only mentor who doesn't scream at us, but I’m still completely intimidated.”
“Is it his face?”
“I thought he was a funny, pleasant guy from watching variety shows, but no. I don’t know if that was a concept or what, but he’s got a seriously chilling vibe. I cracked a joke once and the way he looked at me… I almost pissed myself.”
Wow, they’ve got a pretty accurate read on Kang Yi-chae.
My head was spinning, and I didn't feel the need to listen to any more of these kids grumbling out of anxiety. I was about to head back to the members, but before I could even open the door, it swung open first and someone popped out.
“Hi~.”
It was Kang Yi-chae.
Immediately, things got busy below. I heard the frantic footsteps of the trainees running away after recognizing Yi-chae’s voice.
Yi-chae flicked his eyes toward the stairs below before looking back at me.
He was wearing tight black slacks and a cropped short-sleeved round-neck shirt that connected to the pants. A black choker was wrapped around his neck. It was a bit simple for a stage outfit.
“Come to see the funny and pleasant rapper?”
The guy had sharp ears.
Chewing gum like a total delinquent, Kang Yi-chae propped his right foot on a step and adjusted the laces of his combat boots.
“Hyung, Yi-chae has a pretty good intuition.”
“…Huh?”
I bit the inside of my cheek and asked back nonchalantly.
Sweat trickled down my back, but my complexion was covered by makeup.
“And he’s feeling very uneasy right now.”
I thought I could somehow brush it off, but Kang Yi-chae, after tapping the toe of his boot against the floor, looked at me with a loose curl of his lips.
“Go home.”
“……”
First Min Ji-heon, and now him. Why are there so many people telling me to go home?
“Don't push yourself just to show your face for a minute of broadcast. If you’re worried about a controversy, then… what was it? Like when someone misses a school trip and they photoshop their ID photo next to the group picture, I’ll ask the production team to composite you in.”
“Have you even been on a school trip?”
“Ouch, that hits where it hurts. Or we could just say Min Ji-heon’s variety filming ran long.”
In this information age, there was no way we could get away with a lie that could be debunked with a quick check.
I tried to laugh it off, but the look in Kang Yi-chae’s eyes was more serious than I expected.
They were piercing…
‘If I don't go, he looks like he’s ready to tear even his own group member apart.’
I quickly opened my mouth.
“I’ll talk to the manager.”
“Ooh, very good.”
Only then did the brat show a bright smile.
“It’s a bit of a shame since I prepared so hard. But you can always see my stages in the future, right?”
With that, he said he had to get back to the waiting room and left first, adding one last "I trust you."
Watching his retreating back, I leaned my spine against the wall.
‘Go home? Like hell I will, you brat.’
Now that my personal healer had given me emergency treatment, did he really think I’d just leave after coming all this way?
I intended to at least see the live reaction.
After taking a few breaths to compose myself, I left the emergency stairs and headed back to the competition hall.
“Seo Ho-yun!”
“Yeah.”
“…Are you okay?”
I nodded and took my seat.
A special section had been prepared on the right side near the stage.
Before long, the trainees' competition began.
【 I want you, want you, I want to have you
I wanna catch you 】
“……”
And their stage was at the level of a school talent show.
【 Your body is so beautiful
Ooh Beautiful Girl 】
“Wow…”
“……Hmm.”
The members, who had been cheering enthusiastically at first, gradually went quiet.
‘At this point, shouldn't the audience be getting paid to watch this?’
I finally understood why they had organized a mentor performance.
It was likely a way to shock the trainees while simultaneously capturing the viewers' attention and establishing the program’s prestige.
【 Your face is so pretty
Ooh Beautiful Girl 】
Kim Seong-hyeon muttered, watching with an uncharacteristically cold gaze.
“No wonder they were made to cry…”
“……”
Beside him, Jeong Da-jun rubbed his arms.
‘Kim Hee-yeong, you were right to wash your hands of this.’
I don't know if she knew it would be like this.
I clapped endlessly to hide my trembling fingertips. It was still bearable for now.
[A special stage prepared by the mentors for the trainees—shall we see it now?]
Once the trainees' performances were over, the MC introduced the mentors' performance.
“Whoa!! I think Yi-chae hyung is coming out!”
The Dawn members cheered with anticipation.
‘Kang Yi-chae, I’m sorry.’
When have I ever listened to what I was told?
Deep blue and red lights moved erratically across a stage decorated like an abandoned construction site.
Along with the faint sound of whistling, the title ‘DICE’ appeared on the screen.
“……Oh!”
Right in the center, someone with a cap pulled low was perched on the remains of broken concrete.
Beneath a rider jacket and a short-cropped t-shirt, his abs subtly made their presence known.
At the front of the stage, six backup dancers lined up on the left and right, vigorously waving flags emblazoned with THE DAWN logo.
The one opening the mentor performance was none other than Kang Yi-chae.
“Kang Yi-chae…! Hey, what a guy…!!”
“Hey, watch your tone… and where did the ‘Hyung’ go?”
Kim Seong-hyeon hurriedly covered Jeong Da-jun’s mouth, yet he couldn't take his eyes off the stage.
The backup dancers' outfits were unified in pure white uniforms, making Kang Yi-chae—who was all in black except for his hair—stand out even more in the stark contrast.
【 Screeeech! 】
Bathed in a spotlight, he took off his hat, tossed it aside, and curled one corner of his mouth.
【 Did you throw the dice? 】
I had heard that he took charge of the lyrics, composition, and even the production for this performance.
Drums kicked in beneath the heavy sound of an electric guitar.
【 Wandering like a madman, I finally found it
Second Chance won't come to anyone
Can't deny it, my heart is racing 】
The melody stuck to the ears like glue, despite being heavily infused with Kang Yi-chae’s personal taste.
“Whoa…”
Even though I’d only heard a few seconds, it was shocking enough to make me forget my pain for a moment.
【 Told you, we can never leave this scheme
This is a board prepared just for you 】
Even though it was a joint stage for the mentors, Kang Yi-chae’s own parts were riddled with lyrics and motifs from the songs The Dawn had released so far.
【 Perhaps I was too kind
But by now, you should understand
You soar high, then crash down in an instant 】
Was he showing affection for the other person, or was he declaring he would devour anyone who dared to challenge him? The lyrics could be interpreted both ways.
‘This is so comfortable, seriously.’
Perhaps it felt even more so because I had just watched those trainees' performances.
Kang Yi-chae, acting a bit crude as he spat out rough rap verses, naturally stepped back when it was another mentor’s turn.
【 No matter how much I look, I don't know
Do you want me to hug you now?
Regain your composure, take a breath
Do you want me to repeat? 】
After that, it was the other mentors' time.
Nevertheless, no one on stage shone as brightly as Kang Yi-chae.
【 Perhaps I was too kind 】
You could tell just by how he was absolutely dominating right now.
【 A sense of déjà vu
This isn't a coincidence, it's a trap 】
When his part returned, Kang Yi-chae propped one heavy combat boot onto a speaker.
【 I want to dye you with my colors 】
Then, with one side of his leather jacket pulled down, he rolled his hips in a wave.
【 Can I bite you a little? 】
The audience erupted in screams of excitement.
“Aaaaaaaah!!”
They waved their hands and screamed. Some people were even frantically pressing their voting devices, shouting that they were "picking Kang Yi-chae" even though it was just a mentor performance.
‘Insane.’
Kang Yi-chae ran wild like a madman off his leash.
The trainees in the designated seats on one side of the stage all had their mouths hanging open. They looked shell-shocked.
Overwhelming skill and an aura that captured people's hearts in an instant.
‘Actually, maybe I didn't need to see this.’
He’s a guy who does well on his own; did I stubbornly stay for nothing?
I forced back a rising cough and curled the corners of my twitching mouth. Because I had clenched my fists so hard to wake up my fading consciousness, my fingernails dug deep into my palms.
【 This isn't a joke, it's a warning 】
In that split second, my eyes locked with Kang Yi-chae’s.
“Kyaaaak!!”
For a moment, his eyebrows twitched.
And I realized.
That guy…
“……Whoo.”
He was absolutely pissed.
He kept the performance going, but he shot me a look that clearly said, ‘Are you seriously a crazy bastard?’
That health-obsessed nutjob had accurately seen through my worsening condition in that brief moment.
【 I want to dye you with my colors 】
Of course, he quickly fixed his expression and brought the headset mic closer to his lips with a smile, but his eyes remained cold.
【 I have no time to cherish you 】
The fiercely soaring melody dropped sharply with the end of the lyrics, and the song concluded.
The members seemed completely hyped up, still caught in the afterglow of the performance.
“Whoa, hyung’s facial expressions are no joke~!?!”
“It was totally chilling for a second~!!”
“……”
They were full of praise, saying the stage’s power and Kang Yi-chae’s expressions were a perfect match.
‘This is dangerous.’
Thinking that I wouldn't get away with it easily this time, I resolved to leave this place quickly before I ran into Kang Yi-chae.
I decided it would be better to deal with things back at the dorm.
“I’m going to see the manager for a second.”
“Ah, okay!”
Since we’d already filmed all the reactions for the broadcast, I told Seong Ji-won and stood up, slowly heading out to the corridor.
“…Huh?”
Just then, through my painfully sharpened sense of smell, a thick scent of metal spread.
Reflexively, I raised my hand to cover my nose, but blood splattered through the gaps in my fingers.
“What…”
It was an amount I had never seen before.
Zzzzzzt—!
Then, a bone-chilling tinnitus rang out.
I brushed my ear with my elbow, and as expected, it came away covered in blood.
Cursing under my breath, I hurriedly pulled out a handkerchief to cover my face and hid in the emergency staircase.
Ding!
Ding!
Ding!
Ding!
Ding!
Ding!
Ding!
Ding!
Di…
D…—
* * *
—…….
Numerous warning windows popped up, then vanished all at once.
“Ugh…!”
At the same time, I suppressed a surge of nausea.
Screeeeeeech—!
The sound of skidding tires pierced my eardrums.
With a horribly familiar sensation, that day—the one that had endlessly repeated in the nightmares that once consumed my nights—unfolded before my eyes again.
The car accident I wanted to forget.
Ding!
[E R R O R]
CRASH!!
“……!!”
—Blood gushed onto my chest.