Chapter 251
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 251
“The final U-U Bank of the year! We are down to the announcement for first place!”
It was the end of the year, a season overflowing with music festivals and award ceremonies.
Once the beginning of December slipped by, most music programs began wrapping up their year. And, as happened during certain periods, special MCs were occasionally invited.
This year was no exception, as Ju Woo-seong and Han Chae-ri—both currently at the peak of their popularity—were the invited guests.
Who the hell came up with this pairing?
Watching the two exes stare into the camera with professional, beaming smiles from right beside them was, frankly, mind-boggling to me.
“Ah~, Chae-ri. I’m so, so excited to see who will take first place!”
“I know, right? My heart is pounding too! So, who will the winner be? Let’s see the results!”
The scores for physical sales, broadcast appearances, pre-voting, real-time voting, and digital charts appeared one after another.
“Yes! Combining all the points on the U-U Bank chart, this week’s winner is—?!”
Even without doing the math, it was obvious who the winner was. The gap in points was overwhelming.
“The Dawn!! Congratulations!”
“Congratulations!”
Pop!
As Han Chae-ri and Ju Woo-seong offered their congratulations, confetti cannons exploded.
“The Dawn, congratulations!”
“Thank you.”
Ju Woo-seong handed over the trophy and patted my shoulder. When I responded with a light smile for the sake of the cameras, he immediately caught on and let out a smirk.
“Noeuls, thank you so, so much!”
“Noeul, Merry Christmas!”
The MCs stepped down, and the members remaining on stage for the encore were in high spirits.
【Christmas Again
The sound of carols in the air
Christmas Again
White snow touching the back of my hand】
Even as they jumped around, their live vocals remained rock-solid.
Winning first place on a music show was an expected result, but seeing how happy the hardworking Noeuls were…
【Christmas Again?】
Honestly, I felt pretty good too.
“Get home safely.”
When I finished the song and pointedly waved the hand wearing our group ring, the cheering grew louder. As if showing off, I lightly pressed my lips to the ring before pulling away, concluding the encore.
“Go straight home and make sure you eat.”
If I’d known they’d love us getting matching rings this much, I would have done it sooner.
“See you all again!”
“Merry Christmas~.”
After urging the fans to get home safely one last time, I headed back to the waiting room. Every singer I passed offered their congratulations.
“Senior, congratulations!”
“Congratulations, Da-jun!”
“Ah, yes, yes! Thank you!!”
“Kang Yi-chae, can we talk for a second?”
Watching the bustling scene felt strange.
Just a year ago, I received more wary glares than friendly looks. Now, there wasn't a single person trying to stir up trouble.
Once The Dawn’s recognition rose above a certain level, everyone watched their words and refrained from acting rashly.
It’s… almost a bit boring?
No backstabbing. No sarcasm. No one laughing at us.
I muttered to myself as I pushed through the crowd. The members who were caught by people would eventually be rescued by the manager or road manager if they held out long enough.
Just as I turned the corner at the end of the hallway toward the waiting room—
“Oh, Senior!!”
“Ah.”
I locked eyes with a guy who had been hovering nearby, stealing glances at me. I wondered where I’d seen him before, then remembered he was a trainee from Rising Rookies, the show where Kang Yi-chae appeared as a mentor.
Come to think of it, I’d heard the show ended recently and the debut lineup had been decided.
“Congratulations on your debut.”
I offered a friendly greeting.
“Gasp! You—you know who I am! Thank you. I’m Jeong Hae-yun!”
Now that I heard him, his voice was very familiar. He seemed to be one of the kids who had been aggressively complaining about how scary Kang Yi-chae was in the station stairwell.
“I’ve officially debuted! I look forward to working with you!”
It seemed he was appearing on the music show to get his face out there by performing the routine from Rising Rookies before their official promotions began.
Given the nature of survival programs, he seemed to have built up a decent fanbase, but…
He doesn’t seem like anything to worry about.
“Actually… there was something I wanted to say, but you looked so busy….”
“Ahaha, to me?”
“Um….”
As I stared at him with a deliberately kind smile, Jeong Hae-yun hesitated, glanced around, and then bowed his head.
“I am truly sorry.”
“Pardon?”
“Back then, in the stairwell… you might not have seen me, but I should never have spoken carelessly about my seniors behind their backs. I wanted to apologize, so I took the liberty of stopping you despite how busy you are. I’m truly sorry!”
“Ah~.”
My heart, which had started racing at the thought of some fresh drama, settled back down. I scanned the junior who was sweating profusely while rambling through his excuses, but…
“Hey, now.”
My "bad vibe" radar, built on thirty-four years of experience, didn't react at all.
“It’s fine. Those things happen.”
“...!”
When I gave him a hollow, polite response, he covered his mouth with both hands, looking deeply moved.
“You’re surprisingly kind, Senior…. No, I mean. Senior Kang Yi-chae was really so damn… I mean, he was incredibly scary, but he was still a good person.”
“Did our Yi-chae treat you well?”
“Yes! I respect the Mentor immensely!!”
Now that the conversation was getting interesting, I leaned in.
“Even though I’d been a trainee for a while, I had these habits when I sang that I couldn't fix. But after listening to Mentor Kang Yi-chae’s advice and practicing repeatedly, they actually changed!”
“My, my. Praising my member like that won't get you anything, you know….”
“I mean it!”
Perhaps as a lingering effect of treating Kang Yi-chae like a terrifying entity on Rising Rookies, Jeong Hae-yun was standing stiffly at attention like a fresh military recruit.
I still couldn't understand it, though.
Isn't Kang Yi-chae actually on the gentle and kind side?
“Haha, thanks. Work hard, Hae-yun.”
“...!!”
There was no more information to gain, and he didn't seem like a useful card to hold. Just as I was about to send the junior on his way, a familiar voice pierced my ears from behind.
“Wow, look at our Klutz. You’re practically dripping with ‘senior’ vibes now.”
The celebrity of celebrities had arrived.
As Ju Woo-seong walked over, every eye in the vicinity turned toward him. Even Jeong Hae-yun, standing in front of me, stared at Ju Woo-seong with a half-dazed, starstruck expression.
Seeing him receive such respect felt awkward all over again.
“Senior, hello!!”
“Yeah, yeah, hey.”
The guy who usually acted shy around strangers actually bothered to answer a junior’s greeting for once.
Did he eat something wrong?
I watched him closely, wondering if he was the same guy I knew. Ju Woo-seong grinned, leaned his arm on my shoulder, and spoke softly to the junior.
“Don’t be too friendly with this guy. He’s a bit of a bad kid.”
“...”
“It’s better to stay on the good side of a nice person like me.”
So he only cut in because he didn't want to miss a chance to badmouth me to my face.
As I watched this ridiculous display, what was even funnier was that Jeong Hae-yun actually nodded slightly as if he found it plausible.
“Right?”
“Yes! No, no!”
He glanced at me and quickly denied it, but his face practically screamed, 'If he's in the same group as Mentor Kang Yi-chae, then...!' This kid was hopeless at reading people too.
“I enjoyed your stage today~. Keep it up~.”
“Thank you!!”
...What was that?
Jeong Hae-yun, moved to tears by the encouragement from his idol, bowed repeatedly before scurrying off to where his group members were. I caught a faint mumble of, “Ju Woo-seong is freaking insane...” as he passed.
“What was that? Do you know him?”
“Who is he?”
...Didn't you just say you enjoyed his rehearsal?
Ju Woo-seong added that he wasn't good at remembering the names of kids with no distinct features, then pointed at me and started spouting nonsense about how my "klutzy dancing" was so shocking he could never forget it even if he tried.
I considered reminding him of our true first meeting involving certain photos, but being the bigger person, I decided to let it slide.
“Congrats on first place, brat.”
“Thanks.”
I followed Ju Woo-seong as he walked, and gradually the number of people thinned out until we reached a quiet, secluded corner of the station.
“Ah~, anyway, seeing you makes me feel like I can breathe again.”
“...What are you talking about?”
“I wish everyone would just ignore me as moderately as you do.”
Is this guy into some weird stuff?
While I was baffled by this "first-tier idol" complaining about his success, Ju Woo-seong pouted.
“Hey, everyone either avoids me like the plague and whispers behind my back, or they act fake-friendly hoping for some crumbs to fall their way. Don't you think that's exhausting? I even have to act like I get along with my members….”
“I thought you said you and your members got closer.”
“...It’s just a figure of speech. Of course we’re great.”
Even though he was a guy who had indulged heavily in dating—a taboo for idols—he had fundamentally been a diligent worker who never skipped broadcasts or caused major scandals. If he hadn't been, WH Entertainment, which is obsessed with profit, wouldn't have covered for him and kept him around, no matter how much star power he had.
It really is fascinating.
I knew he had changed since the beginning, but…
“I told you I’m trying….”
He didn't look as overflowing with passion as a rookie, but he looked like a mid-level manager who was squeezing out every bit of his soul to do his best.
Just as I was thinking how unfamiliar this side of Ju Woo-seong felt, he finally took his hand off my shoulder and froze when he spotted my ring.
“...You brat, are you dating?!”
Do I look like you?
What is wrong with him today?
“Wow, man, what are you going to do if a fan catches you? Don't you know how big of a deal that is?”
“It’s a group ring.”
“...Oh?”
Ju Woo-seong’s momentum vanished.
“...Ah~, so it’s, uh, a group ring for the members? You should have just said so.”
Though he grumbled in a disinterested tone, his eyes kept drifting back to the ring.
“Wow… you guys are even getting matching stuff like this now?”
He looked as if he’d never owned a ring in his life, despite currently having them draped all over his fingers.
“Why? Have you never had something like this, Senior?”
“I have! Uh… I do. It’s probably somewhere. Most likely.”
He awkwardly avoided my gaze and scratched the back of his reddening neck before immediately changing the subject.
“Anyway, I heard the collab proposal finally went through? The one with High Five.”
I smirked.
“It did.”
WH Entertainment had proposed a collaboration between The Dawn and High Five. Normally, they were an agency famous for being stuck-up about such things, but it seemed the broadcasting station had pushed them hard.
I’d already been tipped off by a station staff member I’d befriended, and I’d confirmed it through Ju Woo-seong. That was how I’d been able to tell Lee Ji-hyeon in advance.
We had built up significant public appeal through various variety shows, and High Five, led by Kang Yeon-hu, was still riding a wave of popularity. Since a rivalry had been established through Shining Star Season 2 and our levels of recognition were similar, it was the perfect setup to generate buzz.
You have to grab opportunities the moment they appear.
“Chae Jeong-woo was asking how you knew. Are you secretly under WH? No, you’ve planted a spy, haven't you?”
“Yes, his name is Ju Woo-seong.”
“...You really know how to shut a guy up.”
Ju Woo-seong let out a low groan before asking, “But… are you guys really okay doing a year-end stage with Kang Yeon-hu? Things are going to get seriously heated.”
“Why? Are you worried?”
“Worried… Ugh, why does it sound so cringey when you put it like that?”
Ju Woo-seong crossed his arms and vigorously rubbed his forearms.
“Don’t worry. We’ve done it with Lia Purple before; this is nothing.”
Besides, do you think I’d move without a plan?
“Seo Ho-yun. I can practically see the gears turning in your head.”
“You know that, and yet you’re so calm?”
I’m already thinking about how to overtake you.
The guy, who was only ever quick-witted at times like this, showed a hint of disgust before pulling up the corners of his mouth.
“Hey, man. Why don't you collab with me instead?”
“Are you crazy?”
If we did that, the fire would be so uncontrollable we’d both be burned to ashes.
“Puhaha, you’re cute. Brat.”
Deeply satisfied by my deadpan reaction, Ju Woo-seong waved and disappeared, saying he was leaving first.
That jerk, is he still holding a grudge about the military comment and trying to provoke me on purpose?
If I were a PD right now instead of an idol…
I would have made him roll back and forth in a mudflat until he couldn't stand.
Clicking my tongue inwardly, I pulled out my phone. A text had arrived from a name I hadn't seen in a while.
[Kang Yeon-hu: What are you thinking?]
Now this one is the truly cute one.
It seems his years as a trainee weren't for nothing, seeing how sharp his intuition is.
[Me: Haha?]
I typed out a reply to Kang Yeon-hu’s text, which was dripping with sharp wariness.
If life is too bland because there’s no drama…
[Me: Why are you being so cold? ㅜㅜ]
I can just create the drama myself, can't I?