Chapter 300
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 300
[Wait, where is this confidence even coming from? LOL]
[LMAO, an actor just randomly shouting out idol choreography.]
Seo Ho-yun sat with his left leg crossed, leaning forward slightly with a gentle curve to his eyes. He looked brimming with confidence.
“I mean, Mr. Seo Ho-yun. Why are you so full of yourself?”
“Because I worked hard.”
On the contrary, the reporter looking at him seemed more flustered.
Ho-yun calmly stood up from his seat.
If you’re an idol—no, if you’re a celebrity—you never back down.
If they tell you to jump, you ask how high.
That was Ho-yun’s newly added creed.
“Wait, why are you standing up?!”
Even though no one had asked him to dance, Ho-yun took the initiative to prepare. The camera zoomed in on the reporter’s bursting laughter as the staff’s chuckles filled the background.
[LOLOLOLOL, Seo Ho-yun, seriously? Is this okay? Hahaha]
[I can’t read this actor at all. This is killing me.]
Ho-yun made a hand gesture, much like a certain red-haired rapper he knew well, and spoke in a low voice.
“Drop the beat. Let’s get it.”
[LOLOLOLOL, is he insane?]
[Ready to record: ON]
[Mr. Seo Ho-yun, I’m going to preserve this dark history forever. Thank you in advance.]
From the production team’s perspective, there was no reason to refuse an actor who was volunteering to create content. They quickly connected a portable speaker to a phone and held a microphone up to it as the music started.
【I want to play with you so much
I want to love this feeling!】
The first song was one Ho-yun had performed during a girl group relay dance on a The Dawn live stream.
The corners of Ho-yun’s mouth twitched upward.
In fact, right up until he crossed over into Unknown Actor Tycoon, Jeong Da-jun had been shaking his hips to this dance every chance he got, whether in the dorm or the waiting room. For Ho-yun, who never forgot a move after seeing it once or twice, this choreography was easier than breathing.
Of course, it was obvious what people expected from him…
[...??]
【I can't take my eyes off you
I want to give you all my love, La La!】
Ho-yun jumped in exactly on the beat of the chorus.
From his fingertips to his gaze and every minor detail.
[???? What the..?]
Everyone was stunned to witness Ho-yun dancing perfectly, as if he were possessed by the original idol.
【Why… is he so good?】
Captions appeared beneath Ho-yun, who looked so natural he could pass for a real idol.
[He dances better than my former bias.]
[No, he’s better than most active idols right now. Wait, LOL, seriously? Hahaha]
“Hm? Is that all?”
Provoked by Ho-yun’s challenge, the production team pulled out their hidden card.
【Repeat after me, You can’t get over me
You never said you hated it, I know what you want】
It was Black Call’s Get Over.
A song famous for its extreme difficulty, one that most idols were too terrified to even attempt, usually failing miserably when they did.
[Whoa, this is a bit much, LOL]
[Even Ju Woo-seong grumbles about how hard their debut song is, haha.]
However, this was also a song Ho-yun could never forget even if he wanted to, having practiced it relentlessly as a unit with Kim Seong-hyeon for The Dawn’s self-produced content, Heart-Pounding Matching Survival!.
【You already know, I can't get over you
Be honest with me, You know what I want】
[???????? Excuse me?]
[No, wait, what???]
Following the rapidly rising beat, Ho-yun showcased a god-like control of power and rhythm.
As he flawlessly executed Get Over, a song notorious for ruining anyone who tried to cover it, the screen captured the reporter with her hands over her mouth and wide eyes, alongside Min Ji-heon, who was staring with an expression of pure disbelief.
[Ji-heon, your face! LOL, look at his face! You can tell exactly what he’s thinking.]
[My fellow actor was actually a born-to-be idol...?]
Ho-yun even perfectly mimicked Ju Woo-seong’s final ending pose.
[Holy sh*t, even the ending pose! LOLOLOLOL]
[It’s so funny that Kim Woo-ho’s true self is an ending fairy. I’m crying, T_T]
The reporter, genuinely amazed rather than just exaggerating for the camera, asked Ho-yun as he returned to his seat.
“Seo Ho-yun, who are you, really?!”
“Ahaha.”
“Were you an idol trainee before becoming an actor?!”
“Seriously, what is wrong with him? Why is he so good?”
Min Ji-heon’s voice, thick with absurdity, drifted in from the side.
“Ah, this is…”
Then, as if he had been waiting for this exact reaction, Ho-yun gave a slight shrug and pulled at the corners of his mouth.
“Shall we call it natural talent?”
[LOLOLOLOLOLOLOL]
[Look at his shoulders puffing up immediately!
└ LOL, exactly!!!]
It was the most irritating line Ju Woo-seong often used to brag, and one Ho-yun had always wanted to try himself.
If he had said this as a member of The Dawn, he would have been teased for the "evolution of a klutz," but here, no one remembered the Seo Ho-yun who couldn't dance.
[But seriously, he’s damn good;;;;]
[Idols who dance worse than an actor need to reflect, damn;;]
[So he’s really not a former trainee???]
After a shower of praise, the reporter brought up the chemistry between Min Han-jun and Kim Woo-ho in Dead after Hope.
“The trust blooming between Min Han-jun and Kim Woo-ho really seems to come through the screen! In that spirit, we’ve prepared a speed quiz to see how well Min Ji-heon and Seo Ho-yun actually know each other! …Wait, Mr. Seo Ho-yun, why are you standing up again?”
“Shall we give it a try?”
“No, why are you just going along with everything?!”
[Seo Ho-yun’s personality seems great, LOL]
[Right? I thought he’d be a bit prickly, but he’s great at setting the mood and has such good sense.]
[Min Ji-heon looks out for him occasionally, too. T_T What is with this man? Where has he been hiding?]
Ho-yun simply gave a humble laugh at the reporter’s banter.
He had already researched Min Ji-heon through Kim Jae-yeon in the past, and whenever Min Ji-heon did anything, Jeong Da-jun would spend the whole day shouting about it, so it was impossible not to know.
“The title of Min Ji-heon’s first movie?”
“To My Beloved.”
“Three CFs Min Ji-heon has filmed!”
“H Motors, K Coffee, S Finance.”
Sure enough, the answers popped out of Ho-yun’s mouth without a moment’s hesitation.
Min Ji-heon’s eyes, which had been narrowed suspiciously, gradually filled with shock and admiration as they passed the ninth question. Then—
“Min Ji-heon’s favorite food?!”
“…….”
A quiet silence settled over the set.
“……Ah.”
This was the first time Ho-yun hadn’t answered immediately.
With everyone’s attention focused on him, Ho-yun suddenly realized that something identical had happened before.
The final quiz during the phone mission on Let’s Play, Eat, and Be Unemployed.
What is Ju Woo-seong’s favorite food?
“Mr. Seo Ho-yun, the answer?”
It’s kimchi fried rice, but…
“Every…”
“Pardon?”
“Min Ji-heon… eats everything.”
[LOLOLOLOLOLOLOL]
The look on Ho-yun’s face seemed to say, ‘Min Ji-heon would probably drink lye if you gave it to him, so is there really a need to distinguish what he likes?’
“The correct answer was gamjatang! Ah~~, what a shame, Ho-yun!”
Ho-yun tilted his head slightly and looked at Min Ji-heon.
“Gamjatang? You like that?”
“……Yes, Ji-heon’s favorite is gamjatang.”
“Huh….”
[OMG, he called him ‘You’.]
[Wait, Ho-yun, you’re younger than Ji-heon, LOL. And why is Ji-heon talking about himself in the third person with honorifics? What is this? Hahaha]
[These guys are just Kim Woo-ho and Min Han-jun in real life, LOL]
“…Ah, on set, Mr. Min Ji-heon eats so well without being picky, so…”
“Wow, really? That’s a new side of Min Ji-heon!”
Since he felt he’d secured enough screen time, Ho-yun wasn’t particularly disappointed.
‘Besides, I don’t see why I need to know that… He’d probably chew through anything except a brick anyway…’
Especially since the subject was Min Ji-heon, who was usually a thorn in his side.
[LOLOLOLOL, wait, excuse me? Hahaha]
[There were rumors behind the scenes that Min Ji-heon eats a lot, but LOLOLOL. This duo is hilarious.]
“True, even I can’t eat bricks.”
[Ji-heon, what are you doing? Why are you nodding slightly beside him like you agree? LOL]
Whenever Min Ji-heon had done interviews for promotion in the past, his co-stars would usually praise him with flowery language. Min Ji-heon, forced to maintain a mysterious concept by his agency’s pressure, would usually just give a small smile as his maximum reaction.
“Min Ji-heon is the actor with the most appearances in movies with over ten million viewers!”
“Oh~……. I see.”
“Wow, you really don’t care.”
“Of course! They say Min Ji-heon is the actors’ actor, the role model for all actors!”
“Ooh~……. Congratulations?”
“Ye-es, thank you~.”
But today was different.
[It looks like the ‘professional socialite’ soul Seo Ho-yun was holding onto just slipped out for a second.]
[LOL, so insincere.]
[The highlight is that Min Ji-heon doesn’t even expect much from Ho-yun’s reaction, damn, LOLOLOL.]
Ho-yun was certainly working hard and drawing good reactions from Min Ji-heon, but he didn’t worship him. In fact, he looked strangely indifferent whenever he answered things related to Min Ji-heon.
[Seo Ho-yun was so gentle on his live stream that I thought his real personality was sweet, but he’s just Kim Woo-ho. The fact that he was totally faking it is driving me crazy.]
[I wondered why his acting suddenly got so good, but it turns out it was just his daily life… But then, his acting when he was looking for his brother makes no sense.]
“Ah! I saw that, Ho-yun. Your fans put up an ad for you at Gangnam Station!”
“Ah, I’ve already been there. I took photos, and it was beautiful. I’m truly grateful to the fans. But… to be honest, I’m actually a little worried.”
“Oh, why?”
“Putting those up in subway stations must be expensive. I’m worried if they’re okay, or if they’re skipping meals because of it……”
As soon as the topic of fans came up, Ho-yun’s attitude immediately turned soft.
Back when he was in The Dawn, he couldn’t properly express his inner thoughts for fear of causing controversy over fan support, but now, there was no need to hold back.
“My, Seo Ho-yun is a funny person.”
The reporter laughed as if she’d heard something amusing, then caught sight of a sketchbook held by a staff member that said, ‘Time’s up.’ She moved into the closing remarks.
“Then, Min Ji-heon, Seo Ho-yun. Finally, please give a message to the viewers!!”
“Pardon? A message?”
“Of course! To the new fans who are loving Dead after Hope lately.”
Ho-yun blinked for a moment.
He looked like someone who had realized something both familiar and strange.
“…New fans.”
He muttered the words as if reciting them, then glanced at Min Ji-heon.
Min Ji-heon was just staring blankly, waiting for his answer.
“…Please continue to show a lot of interest in Dead after Hope… uh, no, don’t give it too much interest……”
“Pardon?”
“That is…”
Uncharacteristically, he stammered, his eyes darting around as if searching for an answer only now.
“…You shouldn’t like me too much.”
He realized it was a mess the moment the words left his mouth, but it was too late to fix it.
“……Thank you for your great support. Please tune in.”
Only then did Min Ji-heon deliver his usual closing phrase for interviews, and the entertainment news program moved on to the next segment.
[Wait, ‘don’t like me too much.’
Is this a spoiler for Dead after Hope?]
[Emergency! Seo Ho-yun just dropped a spoiler!
└ Does Kim Woo-ho die???
└ Oh sh*t, Kim Woo-ho can’t die!]
[There are characters who become perfect through death, though.
But in a drama, they have to survive by a miracle!
└ Typical otaku: rambling when no one asked...]
In reality, it wasn’t a spoiler for Dead after Hope, but a hint about the actor ‘Seo Ho-yun’ himself.
* * *
On a rare day off, I rolled around on the sofa, checking the reactions to the interview.
“…Good grief.”
I used to think the dorm was always distracting because there was never a quiet moment, but now that the noisy members were gone, it was incredibly boring.
Since being still let stray thoughts wander through my head, I decided to organize the situation. I grabbed a blank piece of paper and a pen and started writing down things that were bothering me.
Viewership Ratings
Points
After completing the quest to finish the first filming successfully, a new mission had immediately appeared: to break the viewership record for every episode I appeared in.
The higher the ratings, the more points were settled, which was quite lucrative.
Since all the quest points so far had been set high, it honestly felt like investing in a booming stock with triple leverage. I wanted to stay here and hold out as long as possible.
However, there were more than a few suspicious things…
Ding!
[Why do you have such a serious expression?]
As I tapped the paper with the tip of my pen, the system window appeared with a flash of blue light.
“None of your business.”
I waved my hand, telling it to get lost because I didn’t feel like dealing with it. Then, the system window shrank in size to avoid my hand and popped up right in front of my eyes.
[The errors are almost all fixed. There’s still a bit to go, but you’ll be able to return to Unknown Idol Tycoon soon.]
“…You’re quite capable.”
And that was the strange part.
The system, which used to spit out errors like a greeting and could only give pathetic rewards, had fixed the glitches this quickly?
I lifted my upper body to move away from the system window.
“Suddenly so competent.”
[……Please don’t be like that. It’s scary.]
I twirled the pen once and added words under the heading ‘Points.’
The Dawn, Ju Woo-seong, Min Ji-heon, Jeong Cheong-yeon.
I had looked to see if anyone remembered me like Seo Ho-jin did in Unknown Idol Tycoon, but The Dawn was nowhere to be found, and Ju Woo-seong and Min Ji-heon seemed to have no clue.
Furthermore, Jeong Cheong-yeon, who had suddenly appeared before me…
“Is there no one named Jeong Cheong-yeon among the WH Entertainment trainees?”
“No, there isn’t. It’s my first time hearing that name… Is it someone you know, Mr. Seo Ho-yun?”
Whenever my schedule was free, I had visited the WH Entertainment practice rooms several times.
But I couldn’t find Jeong Cheong-yeon. Even the manager didn’t seem to know her.
I thought back to the phrases the system window had poured out the moment I first dropped here.
[It’s the beginning of the quest, so it’s not even that hard!]
[…The points you collect here can be used even after you return.]
[Please cooperate a little. If you think about it, it’s not a bad deal.]
Quests given as if they were being served on a silver platter, points that could be used even after returning.
The more I compared it to my time as an idol, where nothing was easily earned, the more suspicious it became.
Hypothesis, Proof.
A way to confirm my suspicions using Min Ji-heon and the system.
Feeling like the flow was somewhat organized, I tossed the pen aside and flopped back onto the sofa.
[……What on earth were you doing?]
“None of your concern.”
I was rubbing my tired eyes, trying to get some sleep, when my phone vibrated.
“Yes, this is Seo Ho-yun.”
[Ho-yun!]
The manager’s voice, trembling with excitement, came through the phone.
[D-don’t think anything weird and just listen. Don’t look at the internet for a while. There’s talk that you fought with Lee Kang-seok—…! Rumors are…— on the internet——.]
Seo Ho-yun and Lee Kang-seok, a power struggle, a junior’s verbal abuse, rudeness, rumors spreading online, and so on.
Details that no one could know unless they were the parties involved or had heard the conversation directly.
[—The company will handle it quietly, so don’t worry about it and don’t get stressed.]
Since the manager was being so serious, a smirk escaped me.
“Sure, whatever.”
It wasn’t a big deal to me anyway.
“Thanks for worrying.”
[Huh? Oh, okay.]
I think I knew who started the rumors.
I ignored the manager as he tried to add something else and hung up. Then, I nonchalantly pulled up the blanket and closed my eyes.
Ding!
[……Who on earth would dare do such a thing to Mr. Seo Ho-yun?]
“I know, right?”
I chuckled.
“Our Kang-seok is quite brave.”
To pick a fight without even being able to wait.
Without even knowing that all his cards have already been revealed.