Chapter 260
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 260
A day in February, where the biting cold wind still blew.
The Dawn’s preparations for their full-length album were proceeding smoothly.
“Ugh... just kill me now...”
“...So tired...”
Since it was obvious that the more they suffered and poured their hearts into it, the better the public response would be, the members of The Dawn were immersed in practice every day, even as they groaned in pain.
Coincidentally, all the variety shows they appeared on yielded great results, and the collaboration with IRIX had wrapped up successfully.
Taking full advantage of this momentum, The Dawn decided to stake everything on this year’s full-length album.
I think we’ve gathered enough energy for a first-week sales Spirit Bomb by now.
Everything from the title track to the B-sides had turned out brilliantly.
From here on, all they needed was endless practice and a little bit of luck.
Just when everything seemed to be going perfectly...
《Surprise Announcement! Ju Woo-seong’s Comeback Showcase...》
《Writing a New History for Male Soloists... Ju Woo-seong: "I still have a long way to go"》
《Doing Great on His Own: "A New Leap Forward"》
Ju Woo-seong made his comeback.
And as a soloist, no less.
“Wow, this is insane...”
“He’s so amazing it’s like he’s an AI now.”
“He’s not even on a human level anymore.”
I had heard whispers that he was preparing for a solo, but I didn’t expect it to be at this time.
After checking the showcase date, I took a break from practicing with the members to eat cup ramen and look up his performance videos.
As the intro flowed and before the first line of the lyrics even began, Seo Ho-yun felt a twinge of envy in his gut.
“I’m so glad we didn’t overlap our comeback with Ju Woo-seong.”
“Hey! Where’s the ‘Senior’ title?”
I lightly ignored Kim Seong-hyeon’s remark.
I had briefly wondered if we could hold our own since he was solo, but that thought vanished the moment I saw the first-day sales figures.
【The distance between you and me is but a single breath
Can I stare into your eyes】
On the showcase stage, Ju Woo-seong had already transcended humanity.
Perhaps the concept for this album was famous paintings based on mythology; amidst back dancers in flamboyant costumes, Ju Woo-seong shone brilliantly on his own, wearing a simple white turtleneck that emphasized his physique and tight white slacks.
【I want to act simply before you
Can I hold you tight】
The song wasn’t particularly mainstream, yet it was a track that clearly proved his popularity and skill, as if announcing to the world that he was indeed the Ju Woo-seong of Black Call.
Seong Ji-won, who was watching with me, marveled in pure admiration.
“Senior Ju is really good at singing.”
“Right, right?! Honestly, when Woo-seong hyung is next to Ho-yun hyung, he just feels like a friendly neighborhood older brother... but seeing this, he looks like a Hollywood star.”
“He even participated in writing the lyrics!”
Kim Seong-hyeon added to Jeong Da-jun’s comment with sparkling, excited eyes.
With his charm pushed to the maximum and his vocal skills—which had been overshadowed by Chae Jeong-woo during group activities—finally on full display, people were going wild for Ju Woo-seong.
“He’s reaaaally cool...”
And The Dawn was no exception.
Jeong Da-jun, who had grown increasingly quiet as he fell under the spell of Ju Woo-seong’s performance, looked like he had even forgotten to breathe.
As the four-minute video ended and I scrolled through the reactions, Seo Ho-yun felt even more twisted.
— [Insane. I just watched with my mouth hanging open.]
— [They say when Black Call rehearses, all the idols waiting in the wings run out to watch... and half of them are there to see Ju Woo-seong lol. I guess it’s true.]
— [A genius who keeps improving further and further. So cool. And to think he’s such a softie off-stage ㅠ]
To be honest, it was a well-made production.
Since it was a solo, the sales were naturally weaker than Black Call’s usual numbers, but even so, it was clear that The Dawn would lose if we went up against him.
“Ah, damn.”
Now that I think about it, I’m getting pissed.
Even if he was the most popular male idol currently active, it was annoying that we couldn’t beat him even when he was alone.
Just like the news headlines said, he was truly writing a new history for male idol soloists.
“Guys!”
As Seo Ho-yun wiped his face with his hands to hide his irritation, a highly motivated Seong Ji-won asked the members.
“Should we practice more?!”
“No, I’m going back to the dorm.”
“Oh...”
When Seo Ho-yun, who had recently become a practice machine and always stayed late in the studio, gave a flat refusal, Seong Ji-won’s face fell slightly.
However, Seo Ho-yun had a specific reason for needing to go back to the dorm.
“Good work~!”
“Good work, everyone~.”
“Man, I should really lock the company doors or something. I’m worried you guys are going to ruin your health by practicing so hard.”
Regardless, they decided to call it a day and quickly tidied up the practice room.
In the van heading back to the dorm, the road manager who had been recently assigned to them looked at them with pity, wondering why The Dawn practiced like a debut team every single time.
After Seo Ho-yun dragged his tired body through a shower and came out, Seong Ji-won, already sprawled on the bed with a weary expression, asked as he slowly set his alarm.
“What time do we have to wake up tomorrow?”
“You can sleep in a bit tomorrow. Set it for around ten.”
“But aren’t you lying down?”
“I’m going to sleep too.”
Seo Ho-yun also set his wake-up time on his phone and lay down.
Soon, only the sound of Seong Ji-won’s rhythmic breathing filled the room.
Ju Woo-seong said he was going to appear on Racing Me.
Racing Me.
It was a variety program that enjoyed peak popularity not just in Korea but across the Greater China region, famous for never giving viewers a dull moment with its diverse missions.
In particular, a mission where guests had to recruit their close friends appeared irregularly. Since there hadn’t been one since last summer, now was the perfect time for it to resurface.
Above all, there was no way a PD would pass up the golden opportunity of having ‘Ju Woo-seong’ on the show, and Ju Woo-seong would have no one to call but either Chae Jeong-woo or me.
Just as his body felt heavy and fatigue began to envelop him...
Vrrr— Vrrr—
His phone vibrated.
Checking the time, it was 5:00 AM.
Stepping out of the room quietly so as not to wake Seong Ji-won, Seo Ho-yun went to the kitchen and turned on the electric kettle.
The call should be coming soon.
Based on that calculation, he sipped his coffee to wake himself up while waiting for the contact.
—Right about now.
Right on cue, the phone screen lit up with the caller’s name.
Seeing it, the corners of Seo Ho-yun’s mouth curled up.
He downed the Americano, which his body didn’t even handle well, and put on his professional business voice.
“Yes, hyung.”
[...]
“...”
[...Ah. Sorry. I think I dialed the wrong number.]
Click.
He hung up just like that.
Is this punk serious?
He felt a surge of irritation for a moment but quickly calmed himself.
The moment the bell rang, his appearance on the show was already a done deal.
Just as he was pulling on Kang Yi-chae’s hoodie, which had been tossed on the living room sofa, and putting on his shoes, the phone rang again.
“I thought you said you dialed the wrong number?”
[...It is Seo Ho-yun.]
“Get to the point.”
Ju Woo-seong’s voice, slightly heavier than usual as if he were nervous, was mixed with the sound of a bustling crowd.
[I’m filming a variety show right now, and I don’t have much time, so I’ll explain quickly. The reason I called is—]
“Okay.”
[—Huh? ...Okay?]
It was obviously an impromptu recruitment mission; there was no need to hear the rest.
“I’m on my way.”
One had to grab a good opportunity when it appeared, after all.
*
Once he explained the situation, the manager who took the call came to pick him up even at this ungodly hour.
He said that when it came to appearing on a major network variety show with a top-tier idol, the time didn't matter at all.
Arriving at the filming location in a disheveled state without even stopping by the salon, he was greeted by Ju Woo-seong, who was radiating an aura of perfection for his comeback promotions.
“You creepy bastard...”
“Hahaha.”
In the case of Racing Me’s irregular friend recruitment missions, new tasks were usually given from the moment the guest met the recruited person.
As a result, before the sun had even fully risen, I was dragged to the sea to roll around in the mudflats, play word games with the staff, pull up octopuses, and do group jump rope.
“Is Seo Ho-yun a variety show genius?”
Obviously.
“Whoa!! Seo Ho-yun, that’s amazing, seriously! How did you pull that octopus out?”
“Wait! How are you so good at word games?”
“No, Seo Ho-yun. Why are you even physically fit??”
Ju Woo-seong didn’t have to lift a finger; I handled everything on my end.
While Ju Woo-seong, who had caught a ride on the ‘Seo Ho-yun Bus,’ did nothing but cheer enthusiastically from the sidelines, the morning shoot came to an end.
“Okay, all morning missions are finished! Thanks to Seo Ho-yun and Ju Woo-seong, we got plenty of footage quickly! We’ll continue filming after lunch.”
I had expected a grueling march, but since progress was much faster than anticipated, the staff members, sensing an early finish, passed by me with beaming faces and friendly greetings.
“Seriously, wow... You’re something else...”
Ju Woo-seong muttered with a slightly exhausted face.
“You usually ignore my messages, but you never miss out on stuff like this.”
“When did I ever ignore your messages?”
“The PD said that in the history of Racing Me, this is the first time someone was recruited before they even finished the sentence.”
“Oh, come on, hyung.”
I spoke to Ju Woo-seong with a refreshing smile.
“It was a call from Woo-seong hyung. I’d run anywhere for you.”
“Hyung? Hyuuung?? Excuse me, Mr. Seo Ho-yun. I’m sorry, but I only have a younger sister.”
I only have a younger brother too, you punk.
Glancing away, I saw the manager looking busy talking to the PD. I lowered my voice slightly and asked something I was curious about.
“Why did you call me?”
I had been waiting for the call, but the odds were actually fifty-fifty.
He could have chosen Chae Jeong-woo.
“The PD said beforehand that since I’m out as a solo, it wouldn’t feel fresh if I was with a Black Call member. And Jeong-woo is so busy lately that our schedules didn’t align. I might get some flak from the fans, but anyway, you’re a hit on variety shows.”
“Are you rapping?”
“Don’t be sarcastic.”
Ju Woo-seong, who had been rattling off excuses as if he had prepared them in advance, rubbed the back of his neck with his palm as if slightly embarrassed, then added a few more words.
“Just... I feel a bit awkward seeing the members’ faces lately. I’ve had a lot on my mind. I regret the time I spent acting out of line.”
So you finally realized?
The staff members who had finished packing up began to move one by one. I heard they had reserved a famous local restaurant nearby, and everyone seemed to be heading there.
I was about to suggest we leave as well, but Ju Woo-seong pouted his lips slightly.
“Ugh, I should have been better to them.”
“Pardon?”
“To the members, and the fans.”
The shadows of his long eyelashes over his eyes trembled slightly.
Suddenly, for some reason, I saw a reflection of myself in him. I also had moments where I felt sorry toward the fans.
And I remembered the look on his face when he watched the fans when Black Call made their comeback as Kings.
“You’re doing fine.”
The words jumped out of my mouth first.
“Huh?”
“I’m saying you’re doing well without getting distracted.”
Seeing such a talented guy made me feel needlessly angry and bitter, but even so, Ju Woo-seong’s performances had never been anything less than spectacular.
Feeling a bit awkward, I looked away.
“I thought you were a madman when I saw your solo performance.”
This was my way of saying that Ju Woo-seong also put in the effort.
Hearing my words, he blinked a few times before letting out a hollow laugh.
Then, he immediately straightened his face and spoke.
“Hey. Stop talking to me informally.”
“Yes, hyung.”
Chuckling, I naturally shifted the topic.
“So, what are we filming this afternoon? You said there were two big missions. One was the impromptu recruitment, and the other?”
Whatever it was, it would be in the palm of my hand.
I had asked nonchalantly, but the answer that came back was unexpected.
“Oh. A Variety PD Experience.”
...Sometimes, I feel like the world is playing a prank on me.