Chapter 250
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 250
Not long after the music video for "Christmas Again?", the second title track of this album, was uploaded, countless theories began flooding the community forums.
[Title: (Discussion) Analysis of 23:59 + Christmas Again?
I was just delusional-posting to myself and decided to organize a few thoughts lol.
People who read the most popular post had a moment of realization and smacked their foreheads.
[As expected, if you just wait, the smart people will post the analysis for you. munch munch Thank you.]
[Ah, lol. Right... f*ck. There’s no way The Dawn would give us a normal Christmas song....]
[Yeah, those guys who were doing apocalypse, military, and revolution concepts aren't going anywhere~~ lol. I love how they’re sticking to their roots, it’s hilarious.
└ I should’ve known from the moment that ominous album poster dropped.... The Dawn just straight-up blindsiding the Noeuls.]
[So did they escape or not?? My heart is literally aching right now, I’m suffering T_T]
Even though the two title tracks had completely opposite vibes, the fact that they were linked in a shared universe made the Noeuls scream with delight.
[Title: Evidence they escaped Christmas Eve
In "Christmas Again," they aren't wearing any rings.
But in "23:59," Seong-hyeon gave them The Dawn rings.
(Yi-chae’s flustered reaction to getting the ring)
(Seo Ho-yun smiling slightly next to him)
Based on this, here’s my thought:
They never received the rings once during all those loops.
The timeline is Christmas Again → 23:59.
Therefore, The Dawn escaped this crazy Christmas.
Everyone can rest easy and go to sleep now.
└ Thank you. I’ve been so anxious since yesterday that I was drinking straight soju, but thanks to you, I think I can sleep peacefully.
└ Those crazy Daepasung bastards...
Setting an otaku’s heart on fire like this.]
[Title: Sorry, but they didn't escape "Christmas Again"
The timeline is 23:59 → Christmas Again.
In "Christmas Again," there’s a ring mark left on Kang Yi-chae’s index finger.
They got The Dawn rings but still couldn't get out.
└ .........I’m actually going crazy.
└ This is a total open ending, ugh T_T
└ Wow, but Daepasung is seriously perverted lol. They definitely left that mark on purpose. Kang Yi-chae usually wears rings all over, so there should be marks everywhere, but his other fingers are clean and there’s only a red mark on his index finger...
└└ Forget just using a ring as a prop, you crazy bastards actually left a ring mark on the kid......]
Fans racked their brains over the looping interpretations.
[My nice Muggle friend... knew I liked The Dawn... and sent me a text.
Friend: I listened to The Dawn’s new song!! lol. It’s so warm and cozy, I love it.
Me: Oh lol, you heard it?? Right, right? haha.
oO (Warm....? Cozy......?)
Must be nice... to be a Muggle...
They’ll never know this heart-wrenching pain.]
Through SNS and video platforms, reactions and theories from foreign fans, as well as domestic ones, poured in more than usual.
Furthermore, the "Best Comments" on the music video were almost entirely in English, to the point where you couldn't find any Korean. Even looking at the "Newest" sort, comments in various languages were being updated by the second.
[Ho-yunnnnnn Da-junnn I love you♡♡♡]
[I love everything about THE DAWN. So cute. Love you Kang Yi-chae and Kim Seong-hyeon.]
[Seong Ji-won is beautiful.... I doubt if he is even human w]
Even looking strictly at the numbers, the comment count had already surpassed ten times that of the "Falling Down" music video released right after Shining Star.
[What the... the international influx this time is insane.]
[You can tell they put a lot of effort into it, but are the results really this good??;;]
By the time the first week of the album release rolled around:
[;;;; Holy crap, the first-week sales count isn't even over yet, look at the numbers.]
The sales recorded on the fifth day of the first week were astronomical.
[F*CK!!!!!!! AHHH!!!!! AHHH!!!!! This is insane, ah!!!!!!!]
[Come see my singer who hit the jackpot with a season song.
Come see face genius Seo Ho-yun.
Come see the soft, soft, soft bunny who is terrifyingly good to his fans.]
While the Noeuls were soaking in happiness, Lee Ji-hyeon of the Daepasung planning team was browsing various communities to check the reactions.
Even though it wasn't her first or second time participating in an album release since taking charge of The Dawn, her heart was always anxious with a mix of expectation and worry.
"...This is crazy."
But this time was a little different.
She was taken aback by how quickly the rankings on various music charts rose from the start, and above all, she was shocked by the massive sales volume achieved in less than a week.
Just in case, she refreshed the page countless times, but the results didn't change.
"Wow... is this a dream or reality?"
"I think it'll feel real once we get our bonuses."
"With this, we're definitely getting them."
"Of course!!"
Listening to the conversation between the planning team leader and some staff members also in charge of The Dawn, Lee Ji-hyeon pinched her cheek hard. Fortunately, it hurt as much as the pressure she applied, confirming it was reality.
I knew idol albums were selling well lately, but for a season song album to get this kind of reaction? And there aren't even that many versions of the album.
It was truly difficult to elicit such a response with a season song. It seemed that the attention gathered through variety shows and the subsequent influx of fans played a huge role.
"The international influx is huge. The Complete Singer already had high international recognition, but Tang-tang Diary is no joke these days."
"Life Experience Site was huge domestically. And honestly, even if you just listen to '23:59' normally, it's good enough to be a winter season song~."
"It was a great idea to release it as a double title. Ji-hyeon, that was a really good idea."
The words of the sly planning team leader, who was usually busy grinding her down but would subtly try to pass off praise only when results were good, didn't even register in Lee Ji-hyeon's ears.
After a moment of blankly organizing her thoughts, Lee Ji-hyeon awkwardly rubbed the back of her neck and said, "It was Seo Ho-yun's idea."
"What?"
"The double title—it was Seo Ho-yun's idea."
After frantically gathering information on every idol out there, the first project he brought to her saying he wanted to try it was this album.
Amidst the season songs pouring down like winter rain, "23:59" was firmly holding its ground, and while "Christmas Again?" was weaker in the rankings, its hidden "Easter eggs" were receiving rave reviews.
"Ah, now's not the time for this..."
Having just witnessed the wailing of over-immersed fans on the community forums, Lee Ji-hyeon thought she should contact Seo Ho-yun. To ask him to upload a photo to help break the fans' "over-immersion."
But even in this, Seo Ho-yun had already beaten her to the punch.
[Seo Ho-yun uploaded an immersion-breaking pic on SNS.
The caption is 'Is it tasty?' < lolololol
Kim Seong-hyeon inhaling gomtang while wearing The Dawn ring.
Jeong Da-jun ordering his third bowl next to him.
└ lolololololololololol Ah, seriously so f*cking cute T_T lolololol
└└ Ah, the way Seo Ho-yun talks to the members is killing me lololol]
That wasn't all.
Seo Ho-yun, dressed in a white hoodie, and Kim Seong-hyeon, in a simple printed T-shirt, uploaded a "Ttick-Tock" challenge to the song "23:59."
【I hope you're always by my side
Because I'm too shy to say I love you】
[His straight hair is driving me crazy... crazy... crazy.......]
[Wow, Seo Ho-yun's dance lines have become so clean;;; Kim Seong-hyeon is still not on a human level, but even next to him, Ho-yun looks harmonious....
└ Ha, I'm telling you, there are surprisingly many pair dances between the two of them T_T Seo Ho-yun suits this kind of relaxed choreography so well..
└└ He’s mastered the art of looking cool without putting in too much effort..]
[Look at Kim Seong-hyeon's groove...
The fact that you dance that well with that face, that height, and those big hands.. seriously.. it's ridiculous, so Noona is having gomtang for lunch today..
└ lolololol Ah lololol Suddenly gomtang lololol
└└ Copying the lunch menu..]
Even in the characteristic low-quality look of a TikTok video due to heavy filters, Seo Ho-yun shone brightly, leaving Lee Ji-hyeon speechless for a moment.
"……Right, there's no need to mention it separately."
What was with his timing?
In fact, if you listed the things The Dawn had done to reach this single album, it didn't seem that difficult on paper.
Every variety show the members went on became a hit, increasing the influx of domestic and international Noeuls; creating songs that provided "bait" for the fandom to chew on while still being easy for the general public to listen to; planning the concept...
Easier said than done.
If everyone could do that, every idol would be a star.
Of course, Seo Ho-yun had pulled it off.
Two days ago, she had briefly spoken with Seo Ho-yun in a meeting room to relay the internal and external reviews of the album.
"It's a total hit. Congratulations."
"This isn't enough."
"Pardon?"
Seo Ho-yun had added several pumps of gum syrup into his hot Americano and was nonchalantly stirring it with a straw.
"Ji-hyeon, I'm planning on winning the Daesang next year."
"Ahaha! Really? I want to be the CEO next year too."
"……."
"Hahaha."
"……."
"……You're serious...?"
Taking a sip of the Americano that looked like it would fill his veins with sugar, Seo Ho-yun smiled calmly.
"Ji-hyeon."
The subtle, rough, and raw atmosphere she had felt when she first met Seo Ho-yun was nowhere to be found.
The man before her was someone who knew exactly how he appeared to others, and thus knew how to hide his true intentions with a refined smile and lead the situation to his advantage.
"You'll be hearing from WH Entertainment soon. Make sure to accept that proposal."
Shaking her head as if to brush off those words delivered like a prophecy, Lee Ji-hyeon habitually opened her company email.
<Inquiry regarding a collaboration for The Dawn's year-end stage.>
And she was met with a message from the WH Entertainment planning team.
Faced with a situation that matched his words with eerie precision, she tapped the desk with her pen.
"Is he on his second life, or is he a shaman?"
"Huh?"
"No, nothing."
Ignoring the planning team leader's follow-up question, Lee Ji-hyeon ruffled her hair.
She didn't know if he could really win the Daesang next year as he hoped, but regardless, she became truly curious. If a season song was doing this well, what kind of reaction would there be when The Dawn released a full-length album?
"Now, we need to prepare for the year-end stage collab."
Lee Ji-hyeon realized once again that helping Seo Ho-yun was the shortcut to achieving her own ambitions.
Because he was a person who turned even things considered dreams into reality.
* * *
[Lee Ji-hyeon: Seo Ho-yun, why don't you go set up a fortune-telling stall?]
I guess the email from WH Entertainment arrived.
Since I was waiting for a music show broadcast, I jokingly replied asking if there was a place to set up a stall in Sangam-dong.
Just then, Jeong Da-jun, who had been clinging to Kim Seong-hyeon until a moment ago, now dangled from me.
"Hyung, try this!! You know I packed a three-tier lunchbox for you guys, right? Seriously, I'm basically the king of housekeeping at this point!"
"Put it back."
"Aing~."
Aing?
Has he been influenced too much by Kang Yi-chae?
"What did you just say?"
"A-I-U-E-O."
The youngest, who had clearly learned his brazenness from someone, smiled brightly despite my incredulous look and opened the lunchbox. Suddenly, Kang Yi-chae let out a scream.
"Gah!!"
The guy, who had been lying face-down on the sofa with his face buried in a cushion playing a rhythm game on his phone, sat up in annoyance.
"It cut out in the middle again. Ugh, I'm getting so many calls."
Though we tried to keep it quiet, Kang Yi-chae's number had been leaking out, and lately, he had been bombarded with love calls incessantly.
At first, he acted all high and mighty about it, but as the calls kept coming even after he changed his number, his mood had become very foul.
"Ah~, Seong-hyeon hyung. Please scold the people who are bullying me."
"You're the one bullying me."
"Aing~."
He clung to Kim Seong-hyeon for a moment, whining, then snatched the phone from Seong-hyeon, who had been sending Pop-Pops to the Noeuls, and came over to me.
From behind, I heard the calm voice of our "Water Dumpling Leader" asking for his phone back, but Kang Yi-chae smoothly ignored him.
"Why? What are you doing?"
"Look."
[Seong-hyeon, what's the ring you're wearing in the 23:59 challenge with Ho-yun???]
[That's the one from the MV, right??? T_T T_T T_T]
[Is it a group ring??? T_T T_T T_T]
Most of the messages were asking about the group rings.
In reality, the rings weren't prepared during the planning stage; Kim Seong-hyeon had bought them himself and given them to the members as gifts.
Lee Ji-hyeon had noticed and suggested using them as props.
Kang Yi-chae chuckled and moved his fingers.
[Seong-hyeon: I got a couple ring with Ho-yun lol]
"How's that?"
"Wow.... I'm impressed by your trolling."
"Hey! What are you guys doing?!"
Kim Seong-hyeon reached out in horror to take his phone back, but Kang Yi-chae turned his back, defending it this way and that while stubbornly typing away.
[Seong-hyeon: Actually, it's a couple ring with each of my younger brothers~ I have ten fingers, so wearing them on four is nothing lol~~]
[Seong-hyeon: But the beautiful Yi-chae, who is the apple of my eye, was a bit jealous T_T Cute brat lol]
The replies coming back were almost entirely filled with "lol" and question marks. Among them, one particularly firm message caught my eye.
[Yi-chae, go wash your feet and go to sleep.]
Kang Yi-chae laughed like a madman.
Taking advantage of the gap, Kim Seong-hyeon reclaimed his phone and began making excuses to the Noeuls. Meanwhile, Jeong Da-jun, who was munching on the three-tier lunchbox he made, poked a round, bluish thing with his chopsticks and held it out to Seong Ji-won.
"But Yi-chae hyung is really good at trolling. I should've known since he made those group T-shirts during the rural variety show...."
"Are you treasuring my gift, Da-jun?"
"I wear your 'World's Most Handsome' T-shirt all the time, hyung."
"Oh, really?"
"Then should I wear the puppy T-shirt?" "Yi-chae hyung is definitely from the canine family!" The youngest members agreed with each other and giggled.
Seong Ji-won, who had subtly avoided the beef of unknown blueness and approached me, held out his phone.
"Ho-yun, let's take a selfie together."
"Sure."
"Wait, what about me?"
Kang Yi-chae, who ended up putting Jeong Da-jun's beef in his mouth instead, frowned deeply, but he didn't spit it out and chewed diligently.
I posed according to the angle of the arm Seong Ji-won stretched out.
"Hmm…… this is good."
After taking several photos, Seong Ji-won suddenly looked at the ring on his ring finger and smiled softly.
"Looking at this makes me feel good."
I heard Ji-won's murmur from beside me.
I let out a chuckle and nudged his shoulder with mine.
"Yeah, I like it too."
Seong Ji-won's eyes widened as if surprised by my answer, and he soon smiled beautifully and threw out a joke.
"Next time, let's definitely get group tattoos."
"……."
I feel like I've heard similar things from Seong Ji-won quite a few times. At this point, I was getting a bit worried.
If I get one and then go back, will it disappear?
