Chapter 339
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 339
After The Dawn’s self-produced Hawaii content—which began as a comedy—concluded with the members’ heartwarming letters, the atmosphere among Noeul was incredibly warm.
[Ho-yun stumbling a bit is so freaking cute ㅋㅋㅋㅋ He looks wasted]
[I will never mess with Ji-won again...
Kang Yi-chae got KO’d after a glass and a half next to him]
[Look at Seo Ho-yun’s skill at dumping his drink
Jeong Da-jun tried to copy him next to him, but Kim Seong-hyeon scolded him, saying not to learn things like that and just to refuse ㅋㅋㅋㅋ
└ Once a maknae, always a maknae...
└└ Seriously, every time Seong-hyeon acts like this, he feels like the reliable eldest brother... Ha...]
Above all, the fact that The Dawn’s unique color hadn't faded even after Daepasung was acquired by a giant like WH Entertainment—with lives and videos still being uploaded as consistently as before—soothed the fans’ anxious and uneasy hearts.
[Ah, I was nervous about WH, but it’s no big deal lol]
[The food in the company cafeteria looks fire, so that’s a win~]
[The taste of capital is so sweet~ I used to be an idol dancing in a practice room with cracked walls, and now I’m under a major label that sends me to Hawaii for my 3rd anniversary?!
└ Our babies worked so hard ㅠㅠㅠ]
However, the better The Dawn was treated, the more the High Five fandom’s blood boiled.
They had felt uneasy ever since the company suddenly brought in Daepasung under the guise of strengthening actor management. The company had played the media, claiming it was a mere procedural formality on paper and that they wouldn't interfere with Daepasung’s management at all. Yet, before they knew it, everyone was using the same building, and even The Dawn was receiving thorough investment and management.
To High-Ri, it felt like things that should have been focused solely on High Five were being diverted, which was nothing short of dizzying.
[I don’t particularly want to hold a grudge against the new kids... but is this how a major label handles things? I’m so pissed]
[For real, this management is so amateur... What’s the point of Black Call working their asses off to bring in capital if the executives just talk sh*t and use their personal connections?]
[I don’t even understand why they brought Daepasung in the first place. Is the actor management even going well?? Are they just keeping Min Ji-heon because they’re fans?]
As this subtle tension mounted, a new video was uploaded to WH Entertainment’s official Nutube channel.
【WH Workshop Part 3 Revealed! - WH Workshop Vlog】
It was a vlog of the workshop held not too long ago.
[This is insane]
[AH!!!!!! Thank you, WH!!!!!]
[Ugh, it’s been so long since I’ve seen Sae-young ㅠㅠㅠㅠㅠㅠ Han-ju is so cute too]
[I’m so glad Jeong-woo looks healthy. Even though our Beom-hyun wasn't there... Black Call, I love you so much mwah mwah]
However, the peaceful time for the fans of The Dawn, High Five, Black Call, and Min Ji-heon—all of whom had attended the WH Entertainment workshop—lasted only a fleeting moment.
[I’m watching the workshop video, but wasn't this during High Five’s promotion period?]
Before long, posts like this began appearing on anonymous boards.
[Lol true, the kids’ hairstyles are exactly the same]
[Wasn't there already talk about the workshop overlapping with their promotions? Some High-Ris were really annoyed because of that]
[Looking at the date on the desk clock on the table, it’s obvious. This was when High Five was promoting like crazy on music shows with less than 3 hours of sleep.
└ Let’s get the facts straight. High Five didn't promote 'like crazy.' Kids these days only do 2 weeks of music shows... hehe
└└ You know their schedule was packed to the brim, yet you’re still running your mouth?
└└ High Five_Promotion_Period_Schedule.jpg f*ck]
[Title: Have the WH executives lost their minds?
I had my doubts when the workshop rumors were going around.
Why would you hold a workshop during a promotion period? Seriously ㅋㅋㅋㅋ Ah ㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋ
I’m so mad my head is throbbing.
WH must really think High Five are total pushovers.
└ The other boy groups going there and enjoying themselves have zero tact, seriously.
└└ High Five performed too, though.
└└ They said the workshop was mandatory.
└└ Even if the workshop was mandatory, the talent show wasn't ㅋㅋㅋㅋ The kids had a good time, why the sudden freak out...
└└ In the first place, why did that JWS SHY Hawaii vlog even come out? There’s no demand for it and it’s boring as hell ㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋ
└└ You’re the only one who doesn't want it. Don’t you see the views and comments are exploding right now... you idiot.]
After that, a full-blown fire ignited between High-Ri and Noeul.
[Title: Just because we do what the company says
Do you think we’re just happy about it?
It’s just as shitty for us.
We were just staying quiet when the higher-ups suddenly decided to do an acquisition. Is that The Dawn’s fault?
└ I thought you said The Dawn hit the jackpot by going to a major label ㅋㅋㅋㅋ You said it was great going from a place with cracked walls to a trip to Hawaii, but this sudden change of attitude is disgusting.
└└ No, I think the atmosphere is getting too heated.
└└ Even if the comment two levels up crossed the line, honestly, looking at this comeback alone, the timing was too close and WH’s handling was a mess. It’s understandable for High-Ri to feel hurt.]
The ball set in motion by the WH Entertainment workshop showed no signs of slowing down. It grew larger and larger, eventually dragging the controversy into the next comeback.
[They say the next comebacks for H-F and T-D overlap again~~ Wow, WH is brainless~ The boy groups are just happily socializing without any tact~]
[I heard The Dawn is popular overseas, so why not just send them abroad.. ㅜ hehe. They need to find a way to refill the money WH sucked out of us.]
[H-F sucked Black Call dry, so shouldn't they be fine? ㅜㅜ Wasn't it a one-hit wonder this time anyway..? Even with all that investment from a major label, they still lost to a group from some nugu agency.]
Naturally, the majority of both fandoms tried their best not to engage in this worthless controversy.
[Let’s stay calm... This is a low-level fight...]
Of course, effort didn't always lead to results.
[Your idol is ugly as hell, bye.]
[F*ck off, seriously.]
.
.
.
“I heard our comeback might be delayed.”
Kim Seong-hyeon, who had just opened the door and walked in, dropped the bombshell in a calm voice.
“What do you mean, all of a sudden...?”
I was in the middle of a conversation with the planning team, having given them Honolulu cookies and Kona coffee as gifts to celebrate our return from Hawaii.
Lee Ji-hyeon, whose under-eye circles had turned pitch black again from preparing for the September comeback, dropped the cookie she was biting into upon hearing that.
“What kind of nonsense is that?”
“I just stopped by the management team and heard it by chance. It’s not confirmed, but they said it’s a possibility for now.”
A possibility?
I frowned slightly, dumbfounded, while Lee Ji-hyeon rushed toward Kim Seong-hyeon, trembling.
“Really? Truly? I’ve never heard anything like that?!”
“It seemed like the order came down from above today. Team Leader Jeong Seon-ui seemed a bit frustrated too...”
Kim Seong-hyeon also seemed a bit upset, as sighs were mixed between his words.
“Then for how long?”
“...I don’t know that much.”
“Is it indefinite?!”
Kim Seong-hyeon only shrugged his shoulders at the horrified Lee Ji-hyeon.
Delay the promotions?
According to whose wishes?
The culmination of the grand masterpiece I had been painting since the beginning of the year—'The Dawn Wins the Grand Prize This Year'—was supposed to be completed with the next album.
Furthermore, my very survival depended on it.
Clicking my tongue softly, I pulled my upper body away from the chair I was leaning against and asked.
“Why on earth? It’s not like this place is short on money.”
“Could it be because of the fandom atmosphere?!”
Lee Ji-hyeon, who seemed lost in thought for a moment, cautiously chimed in after me.
Kim Seong-hyeon nodded in agreement.
“Yes. Team Leader Jeong Seon-ui said the atmosphere lately is so vicious that they might need some time.”
Even while answering, Kim Seong-hyeon only slightly furrowed his brows and brushed back his bangs, trying not to show too much displeasure.
However, Lee Ji-hyeon found it strange.
“The higher-ups are worried about the fans? That’s weird too.”
“What is?”
“Um... back when I liked K-pop... let’s say it was around the Paleolithic... no, the Iron Age. Anyway, they’ve been famous since then. WH is known for being reckless—a company that doesn't care at all even if fans cause a massive public outcry. In that sense, we used to say that even spineless small agencies were better...”
“Like Daepasung?”
“Phew, if we hadn't been acquired, we could have at least stayed like that.”
Listening to Lee Ji-hyeon, the situation smelled even fishier.
There’s definitely something going on.
I pushed down the rising irritation for a moment, stood up, and signaled to Kim Seong-hyeon with my eyes.
“Anyway, Ms. Ji-hyeon, let’s finish this talk later.”
“Ah, yes.”
For now, there was too little information regarding the reason why WH was suddenly pretending to be cautious or the exact reason for delaying The Dawn’s comeback.
As I walked out of the planning office, organizing my thoughts, Kim Seong-hyeon spoke first.
“...Well, it’s not confirmed yet.”
“Hmm.”
“I’m going to the practice room to tell the other members. Didn't you say you had an individual schedule in a bit?”
“Yeah. Good luck.”
“Right...”
Even though he didn't show it outwardly because he was the leader, the lack of strength in his voice suggested he was quite disappointed. The other members would surely feel the same if they heard the news.
I gave Kim Seong-hyeon’s back a few firm pats.
“Chin up, man.”
“......”
“Don’t worry too much.”
Only then did Kim Seong-hyeon let out a small chuckle and wave his hand as he walked toward the end of the hallway. I turned around and headed toward the management team. I intended to have a direct conversation, even if only for a moment.
As I turned the corner, I saw a familiar back of a head, but with an unfamiliar hair color. Feeling strangely annoyed, I was about to pass by and ignore him, but I took a deep breath and called his name.
“Senior Kang Yeon-hu!”
When our eyes met, he reacted a beat late and subtly avoided my gaze.
“...Ah, hello.”
Looking at him, it seems he’s already heard the news.
I grabbed Kang Yeon-hu, who was scratching his cheek awkwardly and trying to slip away, and moved to an empty meeting room.
“I heard our promotions are being delayed today. Do you know anything about it, Senior?”
“No, well...”
Kang Yeon-hu, who seemed a bit flustered as if he hadn't expected me to be so blunt, stroked his chin.
“Was that... for real?”
“I’m curious too.”
“That’s strange...”
He groaned, his eyes searching mine before he let out a small sigh.
“You might already know this, but our company is top-tier when it comes to being uncommunicative with fans.”
First Lee Ji-hyeon, and now Kang Yeon-hu.
They consistently evaluated WH Entertainment as a company that wouldn't delay a comeback just because of a fandom power struggle.
“...Unless something happened at the top.”
At the top?
When I stared at Kang Yeon-hu, he gave an awkward smile and avoided further mention.
“Hmm.”
The person in front of me was the trainee who had survived the longest at WH and was like a beloved first grandson to the company.
Moreover, he was quick-witted, handled internal politics well, and was favored by the higher-ups.
In the current situation, he might be a better card than Jeong Seon-ui.
“To think even Senior Kang Yeon-hu doesn't know...”
Having quickly finished my calculations, I let the corners of my eyebrows droop pitifully and took a step closer.
“Then we might not be able to promote at all in the second half of this year...”
“No, that’s not yet...”
“Our members were practicing until dawn yesterday, full of anticipation. All that sweat and effort will just vanish into thin air...”
“Like I said, it’s not confirmed...”
“Well, it’s okay. At least the High Five seniors are going ahead with their schedule as planned, unlike us. That’s a relief—”
“Ahhh! Wait! Just a second!”
Hooked by my bait, Kang Yeon-hu made a face of pure distress and covered my mouth with his large hand.
“Actually, we don’t know when our comeback will be either...”
“Mmph, mmph...”
“No, why am I even making excuses right now...”
He took his hand off my face and shook it out.
“Fine. Just get to the point, Seo Ho-yun.”
He’s a softie, after all.
Internally, I was repeatedly tearing up and reassembling the WH Entertainment organizational chart, but outwardly, I just gave a bright smile.
Our leader had no reason to worry.
“Please help your cute junior out, Senior.”
I’ve spent years buttering up Bureau Chiefs; this was nothing.