Chapter 326
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 326
Because a group is formed by multiple members coming together, rumors of discord or bullying often flare up out of nowhere, either fizzling out or leaving deep scars behind.
The Dawn was no exception.
[Title: Seo Ho-yun seriously doesn't read the room at all.
Is he not reading it, or can he just not see it? lol
It looks like Kang Yi-chae wants to call him out but holds back every time... and this agency doesn't even explain anything properly...
└ They used to do lives together all the time, but they seem to be avoiding being left alone together during this promotion.
└└ I think something is definitely up.
└ No, f*ck, they'll handle it themselves. Why does the agency need to explain personal stuff between the kids? ;;
└└ Look at this edgelord lol]
While the rumors of discord between Seo Ho-yun and Kang Yi-chae were swelling uncontrollably, Lee Ji-hyeon was busy preparing for the shoot of The Dawn’s new self-produced content.
She had promised to capture the most beautiful footage possible today to settle the controversy, so surely it would work out somehow.
‘I’m counting on you, please… my 5-star Rose Knight, my bonus….’
She suppressed her anxiety and hurried the staff along.
The first scene began at the fan-shaped pavilion that had appeared in the "Yeondeunghoe" music video.
“Deon-gi-deok!”
There, Jeong Da-jun, with his eyes closed, swung a mallet and beat a janggu drum.
“Deon! Gi-deok-kung-deo-deo-deo-deon-kung! Gi-deok-kung-deo-deo-deo-deon…. E-hey~!! Enter the players!”
To the rhythm, the members entered with light, swaying steps.
Seong Ji-won led the way, dressed neatly in a coral-pink durumagi. He was followed by Kim Seong-hyeon in bluish-gray silk, Kang Yi-chae in a chestnut-colored juyi woven with gold thread, and finally, Seo Ho-yun, wrapped in silk the color of the dark night sky.
“Deon-gi-deok-kung… Seo Ho-yun, enter—!”
“Jeong Da-jun. Quiet.”
“Yes, sir. Cleaning up right now.”
As the saying goes, even a school dog can recite poetry after three years. The Dawn’s youngest, who had become keenly aware of when he could and couldn't mess around, quickly cleared the drum away.
Seo Ho-yun took the mallet from Jeong Da-jun and tapped his own shoulder with it.
Meanwhile, Kim Seong-hyeon stepped forward and bowed deeply.
“We, The Dawn, have returned with our new album, Wish. Please give us a reaction, even if it’s just out of politeness. Yes, thank you for those half-hearted responses, everyone. I, Leader Seong-hyeon, will briefly introduce the game we’ll be playing for today’s content!”
As he spoke, the game rules scrolled across the screen, which had turned black.
Listening to the explanation, Kang Yi-chae whined for no reason.
“Eh~, I’m not good at that historical drama talk.”
“Hmm, in that case, if you use English or loanwords, I will give you a warning first. If you use them again despite the warning, then….”
“A famous line from a historical drama!!”
Jeong Da-jun shouted, raising his right hand with sparkling eyes.
“If you recite a famous line from a historical drama, I’ll look the other way just once.”
And so, a fourth rule was suddenly added.
Even though the addition was made because of him, Kang Yi-chae seemed indifferent. However, Jeong Da-jun, standing next to him, was delighted. He even borrowed a sketchbook from the staff and began scribbling down lines from his favorite historical dramas.
“Then let’s begin.”
With the rules settled, the game started.
Seo Ho-yun, still tapping his body with the mallet, approached the members with slow movements.
“Aaaagh!!”
And a short while later, he completely dominated the Yutnori board.
“Heh! W-what!”
“Uh, Ho-yun, weren’t you just over here?”
“You brat, what kind of trick did you pull?!”
“Haha.”
‘Wow, Seo Ho-yun. He’s seriously insane.’
Since Seo Ho-yun always excelled in games involving brainpower, Lee Ji-hyeon had expected this to some extent. However, Yutnori also required luck, and having experienced his legendary "cursed hands" several times, she had secretly hoped he might struggle a bit.
But his mental processing speed was overwhelming, and his strategy was flawless.
“Seo Ho-yun is crazy.”
While the staff marveled at how he flipped the board, the victory naturally went to Seo Ho-yun.
“Is this not the natural order of things?”
With a smirk, he blew a hand kiss to the camera while holding the Yut sticks.
Only King Seo Ho-yun’s table was set atop the fan-shaped pavilion; the others were placed on the stairs or the ground in order of rank.
Jeong Da-jun, who came in fifth, sniffled as he looked down at his table, which had nothing but a mountain of plain rice. He shoved a huge spoonful into his mouth until his cheeks puffed out. Seo Ho-yun, who was elegantly using his chopsticks, called out to the youngest.
“Child at the very end, come hither.”
“Your Ma-jes-ty!!!”
When Seo Ho-yun pushed over some braised short ribs that crumbled tenderly at the mere touch of a chopstick, Jeong Da-jun expressed endless gratitude and wolfed them down. Kim Seong-hyeon, who hated the sight of it, chewed on his own side dish of spinach and muttered.
“Anyone want to behead the King right now?”
Seo Ho-yun replied with a bored expression, picking his ear.
“Indeed, I suppose I must look after my lowly subjects who cannot even eat. Go ahead, keep prattling on.”
Everyone looked indignant.
Even Jeong Da-jun, who had just been graced with the short ribs.
“Let’s start a rebellion!”
“Let’s go!”
The heated Kim Seong-hyeon and Kang Yi-chae tried to jump up, but Seong Ji-won was faster.
“Your Majesty! I shall rebel!”
“Hmm?”
Seong Ji-won quickly walked into the pavilion and sat down.
“Now, as mentioned before, the method of ‘Rebellion’ is simple. You must provoke your opponent in any way possible. The side that gives up first or becomes too agitated to continue the conversation loses.”
“Yes! Challenge!!”
Once the introduction to the ‘Rebellion’ was finished, Seong Ji-won turned his gaze toward Seo Ho-yun.
“Your Majesty, this humble servant truly thinks Your Majesty is a good person… ah, I mean, I think so. You are handsome, you take delicate care of the members, and you are always kind and sweet….”
“Ji-won hyung, he’s just spouting empty flattery. Isn’t he a total sycophant?”
“He’ll only snap out of it once he’s cast out. That’s not even a provocation.”
The dancers whispered among themselves, but they were loud enough to be heard. Ignoring them, Seong Ji-won spent several minutes performing a verbal version of ‘You’re lovely from head to toe,’ his cheeks flushing slightly red.
“Haha, that is all.”
How thick are those rose-colored glasses?
Lee Ji-hyeon and the entire staff looked at Seong Ji-won with genuine concern.
Seo Ho-yun, who had been listening quietly, leaned forward slightly and asked.
“I thank thee. Is it my turn now?”
“Yes. It is so.”
“Hmm, I hope thou dost not remove the mole on the bridge of thy nose. It suits thee very well.”
‘He’s vicious, seriously!’
She was used to it and knew it was for the broadcast, but Seo Ho-yun’s behavior was something she could never quite get adjusted to.
“Uh?? Ah…. Is, is that so?”
Unlike her, Seong Ji-won was shy but clearly delighted.
“Why does he live like that, seriously?”
“My thoughts exactly.”
Even as the other members grimaced, rubbing their stomachs or expressing nausea, Seo Ho-yun didn't care.
“Truly, Your Majesty is a wise and benevolent ruler. This subject shall now withdraw.”
Just as the leader, Kim Seong-hyeon, was about to ask the staff for help, Seong Ji-won voluntarily gave up and stepped down from the pavilion. He hadn't gained any side dishes or the throne, but he looked satisfied.
Seo Ho-yun’s eyes moved from Seong Ji-won, past Kim Seong-hyeon, and landed on Kang Yi-chae.
Then,
“Your Majesty.”
Kang Yi-chae stood up, dusting off his robes.
Jeong Da-jun dropped the spoon he was holding in his mouth. Kim Seong-hyeon’s Adam’s apple bobbed heavily.
“Shall we have a spirited round together?”
“…Very well.”
The moment had come.
Lee Ji-hyeon swallowed hard.
They needed to create a smooth atmosphere here.
With that desperate wish, she fired intense glares at Seo Ho-yun.
“Thou art skilled at composition. Thou earnest much wealth, and thy charm in drawing eyes is also outstanding. Inwardly, I have held thee in high regard.”
Fortunately, the start was very smooth.
“I would be most grateful if thou wouldst remain by my side as a reliable younger brother, just as thou art now.”
Seo Ho-yun smiled brightly, listing Kang Yi-chae’s strengths.
However,
“Your Ma-jes-ty—.”
The moment Lee Ji-hyeon saw the corner of Kang Yi-chae’s mouth twitch, she had a premonition that things would not go smoothly.
“—How is it that thou art so overflowing with spite? Thou hast gone from a klutz to a full-fledged dancer. Truly, thou art marvelous.”
“…That does not sound like praise.”
“Furthermore, thy low and husky tone is quite unique, yet why is it that every time thou openest thy mouth, only words that provoke anger come out? Truly, thou art marvelous.”
“This is an insult to the King! Off with his head!”
Having eaten a few pieces of meat, Jeong Da-jun had already become a loyal subject and lunged at Kang Yi-chae. Seo Ho-yun’s brow also twitched, clearly displeased with Kang Yi-chae’s attitude.
“…Moreover, thy wit is exceptional, and thou art adept at showing it through thy actions without being told.”
“Is it not also true that Your Majesty is very quick-witted, yet thy skill at feigning ignorance is enough to put a real ‘actor’ to shame?”
“What, an actor….”
Still, he seemed to suppress it for now, quickly fixing his expression.
“Phew, you….”
Exhaling a sigh that seemed to come from the depths of his soul, Seo Ho-yun looked at Kang Yi-chae, who was leaning his chin on his hand crookedly, and forced his lips into a smile.
“Thy jokes are quite humorous.”
“Your Majesty, the fact that thou hearest that as a joke shows thou art truly carefree. Thou art truly like Ho-u Ho-u.”
In an instant, the air turned sour.
Lee Ji-hyeon didn't know exactly why, but from then on, it was a battlefield without bullets.
“So you want to take this to the end?!”
“Of course! Your Majesty is pissing me off, so how did you expect me to respond?! Why were you pretending to accept everything anyway?! With a tolerance no bigger than a soy sauce dish!”
“What did you say about my heart, which is as vast as the sea?! Do you know the proverb that a person only sees what they are?”
Lee Ji-hyeon was horrified.
She was seriously considering whether she should cut the cameras and stop the shoot.
“A person like Your Majesty is truly frustrating to talk to, so why don't you drink some refreshing Pine Bud Drink and clear your head!”
“Then you should go soak your rice in 2% Peach Water every time! Because your manners are 2% lacking!”
“I may be 2% lacking, but Your Majesty is 98% lacking!!”
While the two were bickering intensely, the other members were rolling their eyes and eating their food diligently.
“How is this going? Isn't 'percentage' English?”
“That’s one warning for both of you~. Next time, it’s definitely a famous line.”
“It seems they haven't given up at all yet. They're even keeping up the speech style.”
When Jeong Da-jun asked while stealthily reaching his chopsticks toward a side dish Seo Ho-yun hadn't offered, Kim Seong-hyeon and Seong Ji-won also chimed in.
At that moment,
“Seriously, this…! Ha.”
Kang Yi-chae, who had raised both hands in frustration, clenched and unclenched his fists before letting out an exclamation.
“Your Majesty, I already know very well that I am handsome and good at composing without you having to say a word.”
“…….”
“That is not the kind of talk I wish to hear.”
His voice was calm, but the sound of teeth grinding occasionally caught on the audio.
“Excuse me….”
Kang Yi-chae looked directly at Lee Ji-hyeon. It was a signal to stop here.
“Hey, stop.”
Just as Lee Ji-hyeon was about to raise her hand, a chilling voice suddenly rang out.
Seo Ho-yun’s cold gaze was fixed on Kang Yi-chae.
Then,
“Uh, Your Majesty, you just used English.”
Jeong Da-jun, who had been creeping toward Seo Ho-yun on his knees while glancing at the situation, poked his elbow.
“So what.”
“Y-you have to recite a famous line for me to let it slide!”
Even though he was stumbling over his words due to Seo Ho-yun’s cold demeanor, Jeong Da-jun clung on and pointed out the part he had actually been looking forward to the most.
Seo Ho-yun looked incredulous and ran a hand through his neatly styled hair, messing it up.
“Kang Yi-chae!”
“The, the famous line…!”
“Ugh.”
Lee Ji-hyeon could read Seo Ho-yun’s thoughts—he was acting this way thinking it could just be fixed in editing.
He tried to stand up, ignoring Jeong Da-jun’s nonsense. But despite his whining, Jeong Da-jun didn't back down and shoved the sketchbook forward.
“…Ha, seriously….”
Various lines blurred past as the pages were flipped rapidly.
Seo Ho-yun swept back his fallen bangs again and let out a sharp breath. Deciding it was better to just play along with the youngest quickly, he snatched the sketchbook from Jeong Da-jun’s hand.
And he immediately read the first phrase he saw.
“I never ordered you to stay away!!1)”
—Stay away!!
—…away…
……away…
……away…
……away….
The echo swirled around the pavilion and vanished.
Only Seo Ho-yun, who failed to notice the atmosphere turning silent at a rapid pace, stood up abruptly.
“Kang Yi-chae, then how am I supposed to…!”
Seo Ho-yun, who had been growling with the veins in his neck bulging, suddenly stopped talking. He slowly moved his neck to look around.
“Pfft….”
All the staff members were clenching their teeth or shaking their shoulders to hold back their laughter.
“…Did I just.”
You just archived a dark history.
“F-f….”
The first syllable of a curse word almost slipped out, but Seo Ho-yun managed to regain his senses and just gaped his mouth without saying more.
“W-wait a minute, please edit this out. Just a moment.”
With every inch of his visible skin turning red, he rubbed his face and pleaded, but there was no way she could throw away such good material.
Kim Seong-hyeon, who was laughing loudly in delight, put his arm around Seo Ho-yun’s shoulder and said.
“Your Ma-jes-ty, the editing points have already been secured.”
“Hey! No, seriously! I hate it!”
“Please have mercy!!”
Jeong Da-jun, who was already stuck to Kang Yi-chae’s side eating honey cookies, muttered.
“I am sorry… I tried to forget you, but I could not…….2)”
“…….”
Despite his disbelief, Kang Yi-chae eventually burst into a chuckle as well.
‘Damn it….’
Before long, the members had returned to their usual selves, creating a heartwarming scene.
Lee Ji-hyeon, who was checking the rough editing structure and subtitles, closed her eyes with a faint, frustrated smile.
‘I definitely can’t upload it like this….’
Uploading those guys being so blatantly sharp with each other would only be like pouring gasoline on the discord rumors.
“Lee Ji-hyeon, please, just take out that famous line….”
Seo Ho-yun’s shrill voice reached her.
Lee Ji-hyeon shook her head.
Even if she deleted and cut everything else, she was definitely going to upload that famous line of Seo Ho-yun’s.
*
1) A line from Episode 12 of the MBC drama The Moon Embracing the Sun (2012.01.04.~2012.03.15.).
2) A line from Episode 3 of the MBC drama The Moon Embracing the Sun (2012.01.04.~2012.03.15.).