Chapter 270
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 270
“Congratulations!”
“Senior, congratulations!”
Amidst the flood of well-wishes, I simply moved along with a bright smile. Beside me, the members were chattering excitedly while clutching our trophy.
“Are we getting meat today?!”
“Hanwoo, definitely!!”
The members had been fairly confident while preparing for this comeback, but that didn't mean they hadn't been nervous. Now that they had finished the stage safely and achieved a great result, they seemed to be on cloud nine.
As was my habit, I had been scanning the other idols' stats while making the rounds to greet them and hand out our albums. B, C, and the occasional A.
No other group had stats as stable and generally high as The Dawn.
Even Jeong Da-jun, who was often mentioned as the least skilled among us, ranked higher than most others. In particular, the maknae was unrivaled in Variety, boasting an A+.
“Hyungs~, how about we do a ladder game today and the loser pays for dinner?”
“What?! Me too?”
“Da-jun, you’re twenty-one now. You need to experience how harsh the world is.”
“Oh! So Da-jun is paying today?”
“No way, even Seong-hyeon hyung?!”
They did look a bit dim-witted at times like this, though.
I subtly looked away, feigning ignorance.
I had ground my teeth preparing for this album. I had practically lived in Kang Yi-chae’s studio and worn out the threshold of the planning team’s office. The choreography was killer, and the concept had been chosen after a thorough analysis of both major and minor trends to find the perfect middle ground.
I didn't expect this one song to turn us into national idols like Black Call, but I believed it could serve as a solid stepping stone. Thanks to that, there was already buzz about us entering the 'First-tier' in our third year.
‘That kind of controversy is actually a good sign.’
If we were truly nothing, there wouldn't be any pushback.
“Ho-yun!”
Seong Ji-won tapped my shoulder with an excited face.
“Should we skip practice for today?”
“What’s gotten into you?”
“Just because! It’s nice to have days like this.”
“Seo Ho-yun, Seong Ji-won. Then should we go to that place we went to last time?”
If our team’s resident practice machine wanted to take a day off, I saw no reason to refuse. Leaving Kim Seong-hyeon behind as he seriously searched for a good Hanwoo restaurant, I draped my arm over the maknae’s shoulder.
He yelped, complaining that I was heavy and that he was the shortest in the team because I kept pressing down on his shoulders, but I ignored him and leaned in further.
Perhaps because I’d been performing with such intense focus lately, my stamina drained rapidly after every stage. Jeong Da-jun knew this, so despite his grumbling, he didn't pull away.
‘Too bad Ju Woo-seong isn't here.’
Feeling a slight pang of regret that I had no one to brag to, I was stretching my stiff neck when—
“Seo Ho-yun!”
Ah, here comes a piece of my dark past.
“Ah, PD-nim.”
Kim Hee-yeong strode across the hallway with an aura that made you forget her small stature. As a well-known PD, she skillfully accepted the greetings from other idols, but her gaze remained fixed on me the entire time.
Seeing Kim Hee-yeong approach, the members bowed to her and then made their exit, telling me to take my time talking.
Kim Hee-yeong smiled at me and immediately threw out a question.
“What have you been doing lately?”
“Pardon?”
“What on earth did you do to improve this much?”
She tried to hide it, but I could see she was a bit excited. She scanned me quickly from head to toe.
“Your face is as polished as ever. And huh? Even this hair color suits you perfectly?”
“Ahaha. Even if you say that, there’s nothing special. But is that all you wanted to say?”
“Still as sharp as ever, I see.”
Looking a bit bashful, Kim Hee-yeong brushed back her bangs, which had grown longer than before, and suggested we move to a quieter spot to finish our conversation.
I followed her to the outskirts of the broadcasting station. Before long, the crowds thinned out, and a secluded spot appeared.
“…There’s been a lot of talk lately, you know? And though it’s just a rumor I heard, I heard Daepasung might be acquired soon?”
“The rumors have already spread that far?”
“Of course. I might even be faster with the news than you….”
Kim Hee-yeong smirked.
“I heard LV is interested.”
LV Entertainment.
It was the home of Yoo Ji-ah, who had risen from the 'Nation’s Little Sister' to the 'Queen of Rom-Coms,' as well as White Cherry. It was a company renowned as a powerhouse for girl groups. Their reputation was consistently good, and they had grown rapidly recently after White Cherry gained significant recognition in the US.
Furthermore, LV Entertainment was famous for having more capital than anyone else.
“You know how it is. They’re probably worried because every boy group they debut gets a lukewarm response.”
“I know.”
Of course, this was likely just one of many options. I had also heard about several other corporations rumored to be interested in acquiring Daepasung. LV Entertainment was a first, though.
After filing that information away in my head, I asked Kim Hee-yeong.
“So, is that it?”
“What?”
“I mean, don't you have more info?”
“I just got back from vacation. This is all I’ve heard….”
Kim Hee-yeong trailed off awkwardly, looking a bit flustered.
“Your news is a bit weak for a PD of your caliber.”
When I threw out the half-joke mischievously, Kim Hee-yeong let out a small laugh. It was more out of disbelief than anything, but she looked so much like her old self that I chuckled as well.
“…By the way, are you doing okay lately?”
I couldn't immediately answer the concern offered after a brief silence. I couldn't pinpoint exactly what she was asking if I was 'okay' about. Too many things had happened—more than I could count on ten fingers.
Since there was more than a head's height difference between us, I couldn't see her expression clearly when she lowered her head slightly.
“Sigh. You know how it is when your recognition goes up; things happen.”
She didn't specify, but I knew what she was referring to. Lately, The Dawn had been getting bashed quite harshly online.
How long are they going to milk this self-produced concept?
Don't pretend it's live when you're using AR.
Are 'talented idols' all dead? What talent?
And so on—.
‘She’s really unnecessarily kind.’
Instead of a serious answer, I simply gave a brief shrug.
That seemed to be enough to convey my meaning. Kim Hee-yeong let out a small sigh and brushed back the hair covering her eyes again.
“Well, if you need more info, just come on my program once. I’ll look into whatever you want then.”
“Even if it’s not for info, I’ll go anywhere if PD Kim Hee-yeong asks.”
“You really are a smooth talker.”
Still, she didn't seem to hate it. She told me she was counting on me and walked away first. I also began walking slowly toward the parking lot where the van would be.
‘Hee-yeong, what could be more useful than a controversy?’
Especially for the current Dawn, I was actually grateful for it. I had already prepared measures for any potential problems.
As I was organizing my thoughts and pressing the elevator button for the underground parking lot—
Ding!
A familiar notification sound rang out.
[Quest Arrived!
Elicit a favorable response from the public with The Dawn’s documentary currently in production!
Success Reward: 10,000 Points
Failure Penalty: Massive drop in Awareness]
[I did well, right?]
And just like that, a quest arrived.
* * *
The community was buzzing because of The Dawn, who had snatched #1 on three different music shows starting from their first week of comeback.
[Title: Does everyone get #1 on music shows these days?
I’m sorry...
I just posted that to get attention.
Holy shit... This is The Dawn.... I’m so proud I could die..
Seriously, until recently, almost no normies knew about The Dawn...
I was desperately trying to promote them on my own, saying they’re handsome, hardworking, and funny, but no one bit...
And Daepasung is so damn incompetent...
In the midst of all that, the kids clawed their way up here on their own.
Of course, thank you to God Ji-hyeon,,
└God Ji-hyeon,, she is indeed a goddess,,
└└LOL, the fact that she’s been with them since Second Chance is so touching T_T Looking at Daepasung’s interview, she was a real idol fan T_T
└It feels like she’s venting all her idol fan frustrations through The Dawn LMAO
└└Ah, I agree with this ㅋㅋㅋㅋ]
It had reached the point where people were exposing who was in charge of what at Daepasung and whether they were good at their jobs. Talk about Lee Ji-hyeon was also surfacing.
[Seriously, if they hadn't worked this hard, they never would have made it T_T The kids really dragged Daepasung up by the collar.]
[FR, their stats are way too OP ㅋㅋㅋㅋ Seriously, they surpassed the average a long time ago, and this stage felt like watching a work of art...
└I heard the kids thought of every single detail T_T
The hair, the choreo, the concept, just everything..
└└Wait, really??]
The Dawn had been preparing their full-length album for quite a while, and Nutube had been supporting the production by filming it as a documentary. It was a marketing tactic aimed at attracting new members and targeting the younger demographic—a method frequently used by OTT platforms these days.
A staff member who had worked on the shoot was so moved by The Dawn’s passion that as soon as the documentary trailer dropped on Nutube, they leaked a brief review on social media.
From start to finish. The fact that The Dawn provided input and verified everything related to the album and songs made the Noeuls incredibly proud.
However, there was also a backlash.
[Ugh, I like them, but the 'mid-tier self-produced' appeal is too much T_T ㅋㅋㅋ It’s making me cringe..]
[That’s what I’m saying ㅋㅋㅋㅋ Honestly, how much could they have actually participated? The company just picks out products to sell, and they just pretend to give opinions on what’s already chosen and then snatch the credit.
Well, I guess they deserve praise for not acting out and listening to the company, but it’s embarrassing because Noeuls make such a fuss every time T_T]
[It’s not self-produced, it’s self-manipulated lol. Kang Yi-chae’s 'genius' appeal is also too much.... I also find it a bit... 'eh' that he only ever does lives in his studio lol]
The Noeuls were appalled to see people who had never properly looked at The Dawn—and had no intention to—making such cynical and pessimistic remarks based on superficial information.
[Saying that about Kang Yi-chae..? That’s even more 'eh'...
Our lovely boy... just doesn't have many friends, so that’s why he’s always in his studio......
Wait, this is true, but why do I feel like an anti-fan while saying it? I’ll stop.
└ㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋ It’s just a statement of fact...
└└Our fox is really kind and doesn't bite...]
The Dawn’s fans typed countless 'lol's and smiled widely, but they never forgot to report the malicious comments.
[Title: Something hilarious about The Dawn
Seriously, they only hang out with each other.
It’s like they live in their own world.
It’s not that they have bad relationships with other groups, they just don't seem interested.
└The only one who’s somewhat close to a member of another group is... Seo Ho-yun - Ju Woo-seong........ And very occasionally Kang Yeon-hu... but that one is a bit vague to call 'close'... more like business partners.
└ㅋㅋㅋㅋ That’s what I’m saying. Kim Seong-hyeon and Seong Ji-won are staying indoors more and more. Even that bright, puppy-like Jeong Da-jun..
└└Da-jun is a surprise. Wasn't he close with someone from Shas or Nightmare?
└└He says it’s so fun being with his group that he doesn't have time for anything else.
└└ㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋ Ah, our baby puppy T_T]
While the Noeuls were chatting away and waiting for the documentary, a notification finally popped up from The Dawn’s official Nutube channel.
They rushed to click it, and a video titled ‘ep1. From Dawn to Dawn: Dyeing the World with Dawn’ had been uploaded.
Fans began watching with pounding hearts.
【Our rising dawn. Yesterday, which we must let go of without regrets. Today, which must always shine anew.】
Kim Seong-hyeon’s calm voice flowed out as narration.
【And tomorrow, which we will always spend with the members.】
The end of The Dawn’s first concert.
The scene showed Noeuls chanting “The Dawn” and the members bowing deeply, their bodies drenched in sweat. Everyone looked bright and happy.
【There are many hard days, but how could we ever give up this joy?】
The lines, though calm and ordinary, poked at people’s emotions, and Noeuls were already tearing up.
【This is my youth.】
[This is amazing...]
[They look so beautiful T_T sob sob T_T... It’s making me emotional..]
The scene transitioned, and short individual interviews of each member were inserted against the backdrop of the Daepasung practice room.
【I always had to work hard. Because opportunities aren't always given.】
【I thought everything had to be perfect.】
【Because I want to give back to the fans even more than what we’ve received.】
Just as the Noeuls were clutching their chests in agony, the screen suddenly turned black—
Whoosh!
The sound of excited screaming and something friction-like passing by quickly could be heard.
[What is it??]
When the screen returned, Jeong Da-jun and Kang Yi-chae were riding a crude, makeshift sled made from a brown cardboard box down a low, snow-covered hill.
“Wooooo~~~!!!”
Jeong Da-jun, who was holding the front of the box, took one hand off to make a V-sign toward the camera before wobbling. Eventually, they hit a protruding rock and lost their balance. As the box flipped over, Kang Yi-chae, who had been holding onto Da-jun’s shoulders, tumbled onto the snow with him.
Snow that had piled up on bare branches fell in clumps onto the heads of the two, who had stopped after bumping into a nearby tree.
“Aaaah!”
“Collision!!!”
[What are they doing?]
[Sledding out of nowhere? Where did my emotions go?]
[Da-jun really looks like a puppy in that beanie.]
“That’s youth for you.”
As a low-pitched voice spoke, the camera angle shifted. The older members, who had been watching the younger ones, came into view.
Seo Ho-yun made a sarcastic remark while sipping cocoa.
[Is The Dawn filming a sitcom again?]
The Noeuls' tears vanished instantly.