Chapter 245
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 245
While Jeong Da-jun was busy making serious deductions about the correlation between Seo Ho-yun’s meaningful kindness and "seasickness," the Noeuls were enjoying every day thanks to Kang Yi-chae, Kim Seong-hyeon, and Seo Ho-yun, who were all thriving on variety shows.
In particular, the reaction to Seo Ho-yun, who surprised people every week with his sheer talent on The Complete Singer, was explosive.
[This episode of The Complete Singer is another legend...]
[Seriously, how does he keep doing this? lol]
The program had faced criticism for being "staged" because people doubted whether singers could actually finish a song while performing such difficult missions. However, those complaints gradually vanished as famous singers appeared one after another, only to fail and be eliminated.
Naturally, the public's attention shifted toward Seo Ho-yun.
【The next song I will be performing is ‘Act Natural’ by Lage-sunbae-nim.】
After taking first place for two consecutive weeks, Seo Ho-yun chose an unexpected song.
It was "Act Natural."
A masterpiece released five years ago by Lage, a famous contemporary R&B singer, it had swept every music chart upon release. Back then, the song could be heard echoing from every single cafe in South Korea.
However, just because it was popular didn't mean it was easy.
While it had an addictive beat, the melody followed an off-beat rhythm that made it incredibly difficult to sing. On top of that, Lage’s vocal ability was practically a cheat code.
To match the diverse layers of the sound, one had to incorporate vocal flourishes without getting buried by the melody or being overshadowed by the original artist's presence. Naturally, most singers avoided covering this particular track.
Considering Seo Ho-yun had mostly showcased calm, lyrical ballads with straightforward rhythms since the first competition, his selection was surprising.
【Seo Ho-yun is doing ‘Act Natural’?】
【Wow, that’s a bit much.】
The panel consisted of people with significant clout in their respective fields—composers, lyricists, producers, and singers. Knowing the difficulty of the song, they wore skeptical sneers at Ho-yun’s choice.
【I think he’s overreaching this time.】
【His mid-to-low range voice itself might suit ‘Act Natural,’ but this program is The Complete Singer. R&B is a genre that only tastes right with flashy techniques. I wonder if Seo Ho-yun failed to understand the nature of this show.】
【Well... the results will speak for themselves.】
As if they had coordinated beforehand, they all offered negative opinions with one mind.
Then, an interview with Im Hyeon-su was inserted, clearly edited to highlight the contrast.
【Everyone is criticizing Seo Ho-yun’s song choice. What do you think, Composer Im Hyeon-su?】
【Hmm.】
Scrunching her nose slightly, she spoke calmly.
【Even after experiencing Seo Ho-yun for two weeks, everyone is still the same.】
【Pardon?】
【Well, like someone said, the results will speak for themselves.】
Staring directly into the camera, Im Hyeon-su smirked and leaned forward, whispering.
【Want to bet on who takes first place?】
A playful caption appeared at the bottom: Whenever she says things like this, the production team loses 100 out of 100 times...
And so, Seo Ho-yun’s third competition stage began.
A faint mist settled over the stage, and dark green lights bled onto Ho-yun’s pale cheeks. Unlike the beginning of the show, the audience’s eyes were now filled with anticipation.
Seo Ho-yun closed and opened his eyes once before grabbing the stand mic.
【Tell me honestly
Have you been waiting for me?】
As Seo Ho-yun’s voice perfectly hit the off-beat intro—the most difficult part of the song—gasps erupted from the crowd.
【Take off the watch on your wrist
No need to check the time
In this space where it’s just the two of us】
Following the lyrics, he raised his arm and lightly brushed his exposed wrist. Behind him, sparks burst on the screen.
【Put your hand on my shoulder
Come a little closer to me
The moment our breaths touch
You laugh playfully】
From the start, there was no such thing as a "wrong song choice" for Seo Ho-yun.
He was an idol who calculated even his dance moves on the x, y, and z axes.
【Don't turn off the light
I want to see all of you】
This stage was a form of proof offered by Seo Ho-yun.
A declaration that no matter what song he sang, first place would be his.
Even as he wrote down the answers to the given problems on his pad, his expression remained as steady as his pitch.
Eventually, the production team pulled out their trump card.
It was a compilation of Seo Ho-yun’s aegyo.
Faced with his own cute acts displayed in every direction, Seo Ho-yun merely curled the corner of his mouth slightly, remaining unfazed.
Instead, it was Im Hyeon-su, forced to watch, who took the critical hit, covering her eyes in agony.
【Don’t be hasty to say you love me
I want you to say it when I’m truly desperate】
In the end, Seo Ho-yun completed every mission perfectly that day as well. The panelists stared at him with exhausted expressions.
【Interlace your fingers with mine
Come a little closer to me
The moment our breaths touch
You laugh playfully】
Seo Ho-yun stroked the stand mic with his hand and slowly lowered his eyelids.
He didn't even need to look at the electronic board where the melody guide was displayed as a line.
【Act natural, my babe】
Even so, his pitch was perfectly on point.
Until the very end, a thick sense of emotion bled through his voice.
Before the lingering resonance of the song could even fade, the score appeared on the screen. It was an all-time high, breaking the record for The Complete Singer.
[Is he insane??? ㅋㅋㅋㅋ Wow, that was legendary ㅋㅋㅋㅋ]
[So damn cool ㅋㅋㅋ]
[How did he do that? ㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋ He’s seriously built different ㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋ]
The Noeuls were incredibly proud and satisfied that such a talented individual was the lead vocal of the group they stanned.
[He’s so sexy..........................]
[The lyrics are so spicy, ugh....]
[It’s so good I’m clenching my fists... I’m so happy I want to get mad at someone.... How did such a genius idol even appear out of nowhere....
└ ㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋ Why are you getting mad ㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋ]
[In his Tang-tang Diary, Seo Ho-yun firmly stated he wouldn't date ㅠㅠㅠㅠ Ugh ㅠㅠ You crazy man ㅠㅠ But as time passes, he’ll date eventually.... With me.
└ You are truly consistent..]
Once again, the trophy went to Seo Ho-yun.
With near-perfect rhythm and pitch, a pleasant mid-to-low voice, and tasteful gestures that matched the lyrics, he had it all.
The "Act Natural Complete Singer Challenge" began to trend among the public, and the song title started appearing at the top of karaoke rankings.
[Does this guy have gills? How do you even sing this?]
[Ugh, I went to the karaoke bar and tried to sing this, and I was so embarrassed ㅋㅋㅋ f*ck ㅋㅋ]
While Kim Seong-hyeon, Seo Ho-yun, and Kang Yi-chae were all thriving on variety shows and their public recognition was soaring daily—
[Seo Ho-yun is doing so many variety shows lately ㅠㅠ It’s like he has three bodies..]
[But why are these guys doing so many variety shows without even releasing a new song? lol]
[They’re being selective.. It’s true their public awareness has gone up ㅋㅋ Fans keep saying Daepasung has no money, but if they didn't, would they have gotten onto these shows? They’re only picking the variety shows that work. It’s probably not even that hard on them physically.]
As Rising Rookies and The Complete Singer: Reboot—which were expected to fail before airing—unexpectedly drew massive attention, the criticism shifted in a new direction.
[They’ll probably just land another easy, boring variety show. Isn't that the typical route for idols?]
They claimed the group was only appearing on "easy" variety shows.
Then, a few days later:
《The current affairs/culture program ‘Life Experience Site’ returns at the end of November! Special 5-part series scheduled to air.》
An article was published.
It announced that Life Experience Site, a current affairs and culture program that had aired for 20 years starting in the 1990s, was returning for a special five-episode run.
Life Experience Site was a program where celebrities experienced various jobs for a day and donated their daily wages to those in need.
After similar content became popular on web variety shows recently, the broadcasting station had revived it as a special project.
[Oh~ Life Experience Site, it’s been a while ㅎㅎ]
[I used to watch this when I was in elementary school ㅋㅋㅋ]
Netizens buzzed at the news of the comeback of a program that triggered childhood nostalgia.
However, few Noeuls paid much attention to it.
Until this news broke:
《The Dawn confirmed for group appearance on ‘Life Experience Site’... Continuing their hard work on variety shows.》
[?????????????]
Fans rubbed their eyes repeatedly to see if they had read the title correctly before clicking the link with trembling hands.
A moment later, their jaws dropped.
[ㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋ No... what did you say? ㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋ]
[This is seriously so absurd. Is The Dawn actually crazy? ㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋ
What we expected: Running Man
What The Dawn gave us: Life Experience Site]
[Wow, I’m actually living to see a currently active idol appear on Life Experience Site ㅋㅋㅋ What generation of idols used to do this.....]
It wasn't that fans hadn't been puzzled by The Dawn’s choices before, but they had never been this conflicted about whether to be happy or sad.
[Why so sudden when they’re doing so well...? Looking at the Sunday night slot, the programming time isn't the worst... ㅋㅋㅋ but it is ridiculous.]
[No, I just don't want them to suffer ㅠㅠㅠㅠ]
[But the production team here is the same director who made that K-pop nationalistic documentary last time.]
[Oh... ㅋㅋㅋㅋ But PD Choi’s documentary got a pretty good response. Even though a few members of H.Y.P.E. got bashed for saying some tone-deaf things ㅠ
└ My Yeon-hu’s stomach is starting to hurt..]
[Title: I looked up PD Choi’s interviews
He talked about Ho-yun a long time ago ㅠㅠㅠ
Q: Is there anything you remember while filming the Europe concert documentary?
Choi Ji-hun: I remember having a very deep conversation about documentaries with one idol when we went to film in Europe. The one who’s famous for the "XXX-disease" these days.
Q: Are you talking about Seo Ho-yun? (Laughs)
Choi Ji-hun: That’s right. (Laughs) He was a very considerate and kind friend. I heard later that he’s famous for being good to the staff. If I get the chance, I’d love to work with him again.
Our bunny, our kind bunny ♡]
Gathering all information about a show their bias was appearing on was a basic duty for a fan.
Seeing the PD in charge praising Seo Ho-yun allowed the Noeuls to breathe a sigh of relief, but half of them were still worried.
[What is Life Experience Site?? Never heard of it..]
[Heol, there are people who don't know this show? ㄷㄷ Your aunt must have been stealing your photocards....
└ I want to tell you to stop exaggerating, but you really are from the auntie generation, aren't you?
└└ That hurts, please stop.]
While time passed without any additional information, a rumor began to circulate under the surface.
[Apparently, Jeong Da-jun was supposed to go on the cooking show Let's Cook, but he got canceled on a whim because another "more popular" idol ^^ was coming on. Heard it from a friend who works at the station ㅋㅋ]
It was just a "they say" rumor without clear evidence, but fans sensitive to broadcasting station power trips gathered on their private accounts.
[What?!?!?!!?]
[ㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋ Ah.... I’m laughing but I’m not over it.... This is just f*cking great.......]
[Is this for real? If it is, it’s war, sh*t.]
[But there’s no evidence, can we believe this??]
[Our puppy said on his last live that he was practicing cooking ㅠㅠㅠ Was he doing that to go on Let's Cook? ㅠㅠㅠ]
Meanwhile, public interest in Life Experience Site continued to build.
[This looks like it’ll be fun. I used to watch this with my family all the time ㅋㅋ It’s kind of nostalgic.]
[Didn't they say Seong-hyeon is coming on?? ^^ I wonder what side of him he’ll show this time.. Definitely watching~]
[Every time I watched this show back in the day, I’d tell myself to live diligently. I’ll definitely be tuning in this time too.]
Finally, the last week of November arrived—the day of the first episode.
The nostalgic BGM played, and the Life Experience Site title appeared.
Then, the sound of crashing waves filled the audio.
[???]
Seagulls cried as they soared through the sky, and white clouds floated in the clear blue firmament.
With a bustling noise, Seo Ho-yun appeared on screen, pulling up a fishing net. Beside him, Jeong Da-jun was crouched down, diligently sorting fish.
After working in silence for a long time, Jeong Da-jun held something up with both hands and shouted excitedly.
“Whoa! There’s an octopus here too!!”
“Oh.”
[????????]
The Noeuls could only stare blankly at their TVs.
【Life Experience Site - The Dawn: East Sea Edition】