Chapter 243
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 243
The Complete Singer aired during the Sunday 6:30 PM golden time slot.
Even though Season 2 hadn't been a massive hit, the fact that the format rights had been sold to the US and its high recognition across Asia played a significant role in securing the slot.
[Oh, Kang Seong-cheon is on.]
Among the guests for the premiere, Kang Seong-cheon drew the most attention.
While there were occasional rumors about his poor personality, his talent was undeniable, so people naturally assumed he would take first place.
When the production team asked if he was confident about winning, he laughed cheerfully.
"Yeah, well. I’m always confident."
However, he hadn't expected the program's format to change so drastically. Planning to show off his skills and get a reaction from the crowd, he chose a powerful, fast-paced song with many high notes. But as soon as he faced the mission's obstacles, he let out a legendary voice crack.
【I can't help but love—!】
The editing cut back and forth between his boastful interview and the voice crack, and just like that, one contestant met a glorious end.
The singer’s pride was likely shredded to bits, but the viewers loved it.
[He was so damn confident, what is he gonna do now? T_T lolololololol
└ Honestly, Kang Seong-cheon has been acting like such a diva lately, so this is kind of cathartic lol]
[No, but seriously, did the editing have to be this cruel? Lmao]
The other participants had to hold back their laughter while watching videos of funny animals on the screen, or sing while solving Rubik's cubes or puzzles.
As the show passed the midpoint and headed toward the end, the Noeuls were getting anxious because Seo Ho-yun was nowhere to be seen. They were starting to worry he’d been edited out completely.
"Hello, I'm Ho-yun from The Dawn."
Appearing with a refreshing smile, Seo Ho-yun began to soar the moment the song started.
【No fear
Even if it’s far, even if it’s blurry, even if it’s scary
Once it passes, it’s just the end】
He completed the missions one by one without missing a single note or beat.
The moment a ghost model dropped from the ceiling at the end, all the panelists shrieked in terror, but Seo Ho-yun calmly caught it in his arms.
【To those clouds far away
I want to run in a single bound】
Then, he picked up a marker and signed his name in large letters on the paper attached to the ghost's back.
【I want to run in a single bound】
Brilliant lights poured from the screen behind the stage, enveloping Seo Ho-yun.
As the final note faded, cheers erupted from the panelists and the audience. The MC’s score announcement followed immediately, and the first-place trophy went to Seo Ho-yun.
Showered in fluttering confetti, Seo Ho-yun gave a radiant smile.
[Our bunny must have been in a good mood T_T Look at him beaming, so cute T_T
That’s the kind of angelic smile Jeong Da-jun or Seong Ji-won would give...]
[Agoo... my baby... did so well... T_T
Wait, don't look at me like that.
It’s the fault of 24-year-old male Seo Ho-yun for making me treat him like a baby.]
[He got 1st place, so does that mean we can see our baby again next week? T_T]
The Noeuls also wailed while capturing screenshots of Seo Ho-yun’s signature that had been shown in a close-up.
[Mom... I want that ghost doll.
└ Are you insane???]
[If my family comes home and asks what this is...
I want to say, "The person I love gave it to me..." lolol
└ Lmfaoooo holy shit lol]
[Operation: Brainwash the Rabbit is a success! ^^v]
Japanese fans of The Dawn, who were quick to catch the news, refused to give up on the "Cat Ho-yun" agenda.
[Look, everyone.
Ho-yun didn't draw a rabbit.
If you look closely, the ears are pointy.
In other words, it’s a cat.]
Korean fans were stirred by that claim.
[The Japanese fans are incredible...]
[Anyone can see that signature is a rabbit...
But for a second, I was actually convinced by that sheer audacity.]
After the broadcast ended, a short interview with Im Hyeon-su appeared like a post-credit scene.
"Well, isn't the result obvious?"
Im Hyeon-su leaned forward slightly and narrowed her eyes.
"Seo Ho-yun was born with perfect pitch and rhythm. Even among all the people I've seen so far, he’s one of the top few."
[Since Cheong-beom hyung-nim said it...
I... might be touched...]
[Seriously, Cheong-beom has so much pride that she’d never say something she doesn't mean T_T Seeing her say that makes me so proud because it feels like Seo Ho-yun’s talent is finally being recognized.]
He left a deep impression on those who didn't know him well, and even those who did found a reason to re-evaluate him.
Deciding they couldn't miss this perfect opportunity to promote him, the Noeuls quickly edited the broadcast and spread it across Nutube.
[Whoa, the Seo Ho-yun video is going viral on SNS. "Crazy New Variety Show and a Crazy Idol" lolol with a title like that.]
Clips of The Complete Singer circulated everywhere—on various SNS platforms, communities, and video sites.
On Nutube specifically, the views hit millions.
[All the other singers are cracking and giggling, but look at Seo Ho-yun’s pitch and rhythm being so damn accurate in the middle of all that.]
[Wow, he’s seriously the only one who’s completely composed.]
Naturally, with so much attention, there were also negative reactions.
[Is the overhyping starting again? lol Seo Ho-yun’s skills are just average.]
[Is there anyone who doesn't know this is scripted... It’s so obviously staged that I’m embarrassed for them T_T]
[Sigh, no matter how objectively you put it, they won't listen T_T Fans are just busy sucking up to him because they’re excited.]
However, because of the image Seo Ho-yun had built through several variety shows, most people brushed it off.
[Huh?? I never once thought it was staged... Though, it is understandable to be suspicious since Seo Ho-yun was the only one acting calm while everyone else was falling over in shock lol]
[They bitch if he gets 1st, they bitch if he doesn't lol]
[Title: I brought proof that it’s not staged.
Daepasung doesn't have the money to pay for a script. Case closed.
└ Holy shit, this is the truth.
└ Lol T_T An unexpected verification lolololol]
[The Noeuls are the funniest in all this.
They don't care what kind of slander they hear. They’re just jumping for joy right now.]
In fact, the Noeuls were so happy they couldn't stop smiling.
[Ah... it’s coming again... the jealousy...]
[It won't be long before "First-tier..." is possible...
└ Is your brain okay? lolololol]
Just as Seo Ho-yun found it amusing when someone tried to pick a fight, the Noeuls smiled brightly at the jealousy of others.
While diligently collecting PDFs for legal action, of course.
[Ah... I can see it. I can see it.
My Olympic Main Stadium.
My Tokyo Dome.
My SoFi Stadium.
This is... my next Black Call.
└ Lolololol seriously, I’m dying laughing right now T_T lololol holy shit lol]
While The Dawn's fans were soaking in happiness, another piece of good news arrived.
News broke that Kim Seong-hyeon’s appearance on Clumsy Family Diary was confirmed.
[Whoa, Kim Seong-hyeon on a childcare show is legendary.]
It was a major network program that had dominated weekend evenings for years. Rumor had it that the casting process was extremely strict because the guests had to spend time directly with children.
Even though the Noeuls knew Kim Seong-hyeon was the eldest son of a large family, they were still worried.
However, not long after the broadcast began, they realized those concerns were entirely unnecessary.
"Wait, Seong-hyeon, why are you so good with kids?!"
"Huh? Isn't this normal?"
"No?!"
From childcare to housework.
There was nothing Kim Seong-hyeon couldn't do.
Even his skill at perfectly cleaning clothes stained by children spilling food was flawless.
Seong-hyeon, who was already incredibly talented at his main job, even sang "Baby Shark" and did the choreography for the kids who woke up from their naps crying for their moms.
[His dance lines are excessively pretty.]
[Lolololol holy shit lol Legendary waste of talent lololol]
Perhaps because they felt his sincerity, the children truly adored Kim Seong-hyeon.
A voice filled with a sense of defeat played over the narration. It was the guests who had appeared in previous episodes.
"Why does it feel like they like him more than me?"
"Even little kids care about looks."
[Title: The reason Kim Seong-hyeon beat the crazy competition to get on Clumsy Family Diary.
Because he’s the eldest of four.
└ Lolololol holy shit lol]
Usually, when a guest celebrity appeared on Clumsy Family Diary instead of a fixed cast member, the appearance was split into two parts and aired over two weeks.
However, because Kim Seong-hyeon wasn't very famous, he only received about 30 minutes of screen time in the first half of the program.
Despite that, the viewer message board exploded.
Q. Is there a housekeeping tip that Kim Seong-hyeon recommends?
Kim Seong-hyeon’s interviews, which were inserted throughout the episode, focused mainly on questions about housework, as if the production team had anticipated the audience's reaction.
Kim Seong-hyeon sat awkwardly with his back straight and diligently shared all the knowledge he had.
Q. What made you so good at housework?
Then, the production team threw a mischievous question.
Kim Seong-hyeon hesitated slightly before answering.
It was because he didn't think he was actually that good at housework compared to everyone else in the world.
After carefully choosing his words for a moment, he slowly spoke.
"Since I'm the eldest of four siblings..."
No further explanation was needed.
The age gap between Kim Seong-hyeon and the youngest of the four was a staggering ten years.
As Kim Seong-hyeon muttered with a dazed expression, the word "Breadwinner" flashed behind him on the screen.
[I think I’ve fallen in love.]
[My heart is pounding.
While Noeuls were all posting Mafia-style photos of Kim Seong-hyeon and headcanoning that he’s never done a single dish in his life, here he is on TV wearing pink rubber gloves and scrubbing away mold.
└ Lololol legendary likability lololol]
As soon as the broadcast ended, videos titled "Kim Seong-hyeon Legendary PR Video ~Housekeeping Edition~" were uploaded in bulk to Nutube.
Naturally, the Noeuls thought it would only be a hot topic within the fandom and then die down quickly. However, the view counts continued to rise.
In particular, Kim Seong-hyeon’s 30-minute performance received a massive response from housewives.
[Title: An idol appeared on Clumsy Family Diary... ^^~
This young man named Seong-hyeon is so capable...
Turns out he’s the eldest of four ^^ You’d expect him to get annoyed when the kids are running around or not listening~
But seeing him say that’s just how kids grow up made my heart flutter~
└ I saw it too. He corrects the children immediately when they cross the line. That’s not easy.
└└ He looks like he has more housekeeping experience than me ^^]
[Title: I like people who are organized.
That Seong-hyeon kid on the diary show.
Unlike kids these days,
He’s so good at organizing the sink with onion nets.
Even my mother was impressed when she saw him putting kelp in when steaming chestnuts to make them softer.
└ Wow~~ lol I should try that too.
Seong-hyeon is sharp and handsome. And he has so many great tips.]
The Dawn's fans, who never expected the broadcast to have such a huge impact, were astonished.
[Wait.
Kim Seong-hyeon suddenly became everyone's son-in-law.
The competition just spiked.]
[My mom is watching and keeps chanting like a prayer for me to meet a man like that.
Excuse me, I’d meet him if I could.]
[This is hilarious. While all the parents are marvelling at Kim Seong-hyeon’s housekeeping skills, the Noeuls are just making gifs of his muscles and shouting their thanks.
Sorry for the legendary lack of filial piety.
└ Lolololol holy shit lol]
Various clips of Kim Seong-hyeon were retweeted, and his name was on the lips of many people besides Noeuls, eventually leading to his name trending in real-time on Twitter.
[My mom.
Suddenly called me and asked seriously, "Is that Kim Seong-hyeon... not that famous?"
Excuse me, I like High Five.
I got flustered and just shouted, "I don't know, he’s an idol I’m not allowed to like!"
Like he’s He-Who-Must-Not-Be-Named.
└ Lolololol you’re doing a great job being a loyal fan lolol
└└ You kept your loyalty... Yeon-hu, I love you.
Let’s succeed, High Five.]
[Since Kim Seong-hyeon has this image of being a "housekeeping idol," I showed my mom his stage videos...
This guy... is a god at his main job...
But my mom likes it even more.
She says if you’re good at housework and sexy, you have it all.
└ She’s right though...]
By appearing on Clumsy Family Diary, which was often called a national program, Kim Seong-hyeon’s public recognition gradually began to rise.
.
.
.
'Wow, Kim Seong-hyeon.'
Whether it was because the ratings were better than expected, Kim Seong-hyeon was invited back to Clumsy Family Diary.
And today, I came to the filming location as a guest to help him.
The children Kim Seong-hyeon was in charge of were three siblings: the eldest was 10, the second was 8, and the youngest was 20 months old.
Before filming began, the main writer approached us to explain the program's flow.
"Seo Ho-yun, since Kim Seong-hyeon is the main person taking care of the kids, please give us some good reactions. By the way, are you familiar with young children?"
"I specialize in ages 10 and up."
"Pardon?"
I was being completely serious, but she must have taken it as a joke because the main writer burst into laughter, patted my shoulder, and hurried away.
Of course, I was confident.
'I have years of experience with Seo Ho-jin.'
As I thought that, Kim Seong-hyeon was making a strange face next to me.
"What?"
"No, just..."
Kim Seong-hyeon scratched the back of his neck.
"It made me think of my siblings back home. I’m worried about what they’re up to. They’re all still babies."
"How can a baby look after babies?"
"I’m scared that I’m starting to get used to your nonsense..."
Kim Seong-hyeon immediately turned serious and gave me a playful shove.
I chuckled and picked up my phone.
I thought Ju Woo-seong would have contacted me after seeing The Complete Singer, but he had been very quiet.
I attached a link to a Nutube video that included the scene where I was writing down Black Call’s lyrics and sent it to Ju Woo-seong with a message asking if he was moved.
A reply came back instantly.
[Ju Woo-seong: Huh? I already saw this.]
[Ju Woo-seong: But isn't this a script?]
[Me: lol no]
[Ju Woo-seong: WHAT?????]
It was satisfying to see him making a fuss, telling me not to lie and asking if that was even possible.
I ignored the follow-up texts from Ju Woo-seong and checked The Dawn’s group chat.
I saw a message from Kang Yi-chae telling us to have a good trip.
"Kang Yi-chae says to have a good trip."
"Really?"
"It would have been nice if he came with us."
If Kang Yi-chae, who was the next most well-known member after me, had joined us, it would have been perfect for boosting recognition.
When I had asked him earlier, he flatly refused, saying that mentoring was enough of a burden and that he had to prepare for the year-end stages.
It seemed he was still busy making trainees cry.
"Eh, it would be hard for Kang Yi-chae to come on this show."
"Why?"
"He freezes up when he sees kids."
Kim Seong-hyeon said, stretching his stiff body.
"They cry just from him looking at them."
"..."
...Well, to be fair, even adults cry when he stops smiling and keeps his mouth shut.