Chapter 362
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 362
It was a time when the autumn rains had ceased, and the sweltering heat had finally given way to a string of cool, refreshing days.
Kang Yeon-hu, having just finished an individual schedule, was sitting in a van headed to his next location. He stared at his phone, rubbing his forehead with his palm.
[Title: PD Kim’s new variety show is pure gold.
Let’s Go on a School Trip.
↑ I was cracking up the whole time.
Since the first lineup was LV Ent, I figured they put some serious effort into getting a crazy cast...
And I already felt White Cherry were a bit unusual back when I watched Victory is Mine, lol. But seriously, their variety sense exceeded all expectations.
PD Kim: What do you usually do in your free time?
Liz: I focus entirely on our promotions!
Chae-ri: (Mumbles) IRIX...
PD Kim: What’s your biggest interest lately?
Liz: Um, lately I’ve been having fun rewatching our old performances. I’m trying to rediscover that fresh, rookie mindset with the members!
Woo-bin: (Mumbles) Promotion match...
Liz: (I’m gonna kill you.)
Liz, who was ruthlessly cold to her members... seeing her get all shy in front of Yoo Ji-ah is so cute.
Liz: Ji-ah unnie... I really enjoyed the drama you were in last time.
Yoo-ja: Wow, really? I listen to your songs a lot while I’m driving.
Liz: (Face turns red) I listen to your songs a lot too...
Chae-ri: Oh my days!
Han Chae-ri is so pretty, and I’ve thought she had a bit of a crazy streak since debut, but now that she’s a veteran, she’s totally flying.
└ Liz is so calm until she gets in front of Yoo-ja, then she suddenly turns into a shy fan.
└└ It’s famous that Liz stans Yoo-ja lol.
└ The White Cherry girls look so innocent, why are they so boisterous? The way Woo-bin snaps at Chae-ri but gets awkward around the staff is so cute.
└ I heard the White Cherry members are obsessed with gaming, rain or shine... These girls treat anyone below Platinum as a non-person.
└└ ...Just how much more perfect is Han Chae-ri going to get?]
[Title: I think I’ve fallen in love with PD Kim Hee-yeong.
Since she mostly handled survival programs, I thought her personality would be super prickly, but she’s surprisingly soft. The broadcast itself was so warm and fuzzy, it was great.
There’s no competitive framing, and everyone looks so excited, it’s adorable TTT.
└ Look at her happily shouting "Ddaeng!" (Wrong!) in the front.
└ I was shocked when she took off her mask. Such a round, beautiful face...
└└ Apparently, despite her looks, she’s a heavy smoker lol.
└└ F*ck, don’t make me love her more.
└ Unnie, I’m sorry for cursing you out so much during Shining Star... I was just totally blinded by that guy who was on drugs back then...]
The newly started program was receiving nothing but rave reviews.
Yeon-hu took his hand off his forehead and refreshed the page after scrolling all the way down.
[Title: They say WH is appearing on Let’s Go on a School Trip too.
Are they insane?]
Look at the reaction.
The warm atmosphere from moments ago had vanished, replaced by a complete reversal in tone.
Yeon-hu let out a small sigh at the backlash he had already anticipated.
WH Entertainment’s current trajectory was markedly different from its past. Originally a fairly closed-off company, it had shifted to an aggressive stance after acquiring Daepasung.
The decision to send every single celebrity under WH Entertainment to a large-scale variety show—something they would never have done before—was part of that shift.
[Title: The Dawn, Black Call, High Five, Min Ji-heon.
LOL.
Just listing the names is insane.
└ A massive influx of bitter fangirls is expected ^^
└ Now? Really? With the awards ceremonies only a few months away?????
└└ I love it though T_T... The kids playing together is so cute... But since I don’t want to see people overanalyzing every look and gesture, I’m just going to quit social media and watch the original videos on loop T_T]
[Title: Black Call is the winner.
Their status is so different that they don’t even get targeted.
└ What kind of nonsense is that? Other K-pop fans bash Black Call every single day.
└ Black Call hasn’t had a comeback in a year and a half.
└└ F*ck, but Black Call is still... insanely successful.
└└ Yeah lol. Maybe it’s because the members are all veterans now, but they look so relaxed in everything they do.
└└ Every time Ju Woo-seong acts like a senior, it’s so f*cking sexy T_T]
[Title: But seeing how much people are burning up over one variety appearance...
The lineup for the Daesang (Grand Prize) is definitely set now lol.
The Dawn vs. High Five.
└ I’m putting my vote on The Dawn winning...
└ Personally, I say Ha-Pa (High Five) lol. People always bash them for being the "legitimate successors," but there are few groups that treat their fans as well as they do T_T. Thinking about our Yeon-hu who suffered so much makes me want to cry.
└└ Are you really a Ha-Pa fan?
└└ (This comment has been deleted)
└└ (This comment has been deleted)
└└ (This comment has been deleted)
└└ When people talk like this, my contrarian nature makes me want to root for The Dawn.
└└ Then my even stronger contrarian nature makes me root for Ha-Pa. You were rooting for The Dawn from the start, why use being a contrarian as an excuse?
└└ (This comment has been deleted)
└└ Seriously, it’s rare to see a group rise this much from such a tiny f*cking agency.
└└ (This comment has been deleted)
└└ (This comment has been deleted)
└ I’m asking because I’m genuinely curious, why do people even post things like this? To start a fandom war?]
Yeon-hu turned off his phone after reading that far.
My head hurts.
Yeon-hu was suffering in his own way.
If they failed to win the Daesang like this, they would be mocked for being unable to beat even a group from a small agency despite sucking up all the company's resources. If they did win, it was obvious they would be put on trial and judged on whether they truly deserved it.
...Still, I want to win. No, I have to win.
No matter how much he was loved, in the end, he was just a product and a consumable to the company.
In Yeon-hu’s opinion, the time given to High Five was not that long. If they missed this opportunity, the company might not back them anymore.
He didn't want to be forgotten by the public and fade into the background.
The reason Yeon-hu had been able to endure the long, uncertain years as a trainee wasn't just because of his stubborn patience, but because he had a clear goal and high ambitions.
Feeling a heavy weight in his chest as if something were stuck, he buried his face in his hands and rubbed his dry skin. Then, he heard the road manager’s voice.
"Yeon-hu, we’ve arrived at the filming site."
"...Ah, yes. Thank you."
He took a moment to compose his expression, and by the time he stepped out of the van, he had returned to the usual Kang Yeon-hu.
He greeted everyone—some familiar faces, some new—with a gentle smile.
"Oh, Yeon-hu. Hello."
"It’s been a while, Audio Director."
Yeon-hu looked around as he entered the auditorium located on the outskirts of the amusement park. The staff were busy preparing for the shoot.
They had originally planned to rent out the entire amusement park after evening, but after an urgent negotiation, they were able to use the auditorium during the day as well.
"Oh."
Just then, his eyes met Kim Hee-yeong, the main PD of the program, who was directing the scene.
"You’re quite early, Yeon-hu."
"I’m not too early, am I?"
"It’s much better than being late."
She blew her long bangs out of her face and added in a tone that suggested she wasn't particularly curious.
"You must be exhausted lately since you're so busy."
It was a comment clearly made for the sake of public relations.
However, despite her attitude, Yeon-hu didn't feel any ill will toward Kim Hee-yeong.
She seems to be enjoying herself lately.
She still looked tired, but she looked much better compared to the end of Shining Star Season 2. Back then, her brow was always furrowed and she seemed so irritable that all the contestants tended to avoid her.
But Yeon-hu hadn't forgotten what she said when she reached out for a handshake after all the filming was over.
"Kang Yeon-hu, thank you for making our program shine."
She had said that while making eye contact with every single idol, not just him.
Yeon-hu, who still remembered that moment, replied with sincerity.
"Being busy is a good thing. You must be tired too, PD-nim, since so many people are looking for you these days."
"Wow, your tongue’s gotten quite slick since I last saw you."
After a few more words of light conversation, Yeon-hu moved to the cast waiting area Kim Hee-yeong had pointed out.
In that space, where chairs were simply lined up, someone had already taken a seat.
"Hello."
The man wore an ivory turtleneck, black slacks that reached his ankles, and neat Oxford shoes. His hair shimmered a pale ash brown in the autumn sunlight streaming through the window.
"...Hello."
"......"
When no response came back, Yeon-hu greeted him again. Only then did the figure look up and scan Yeon-hu from head to toe.
"Hello, Yeon-hu."
Min Ji-heon. The man who was still the root and pillar of Daepasung.
A true actor who wasn't afraid of the image he might project and challenged himself with various works.
That was the evaluation given by the public and experts alike, but in reality, he had been treated as the "boy breadwinner" of Daepasung until The Dawn hit it big.
Contrary to his kind-looking impression, he gave off a somewhat chilly aura, but when he curled his lips into a smile, it felt as if an illusion of fluttering flowers appeared around him.
Min Ji-heon really showed up.
Gulping, Yeon-hu bowed his head again and sat on a chair a short distance away.
...But did he really not hear my greeting earlier?
Feeling a lingering sense of unease, Yeon-hu brushed his hair back while glancing at Min Ji-heon, who was responding to the staff's questions half a beat late.
...I must have imagined him ignoring me.
He told himself not to be too sensitive.
Just as he was hoping the High Five members would arrive soon to fill this awkward space, the auditorium doors opened.
"Hello."
"Oh."
First to enter was the leader, Kim Seong-hyeon, followed by the youngest, Jeong Da-jun, who tripped over his own feet. Then came Kang Yi-chae, who grabbed Da-jun’s arm to steady him before cackling, and Seong Ji-won, who was lightly scolding him.
"Oh, it’s The Dawn."
And finally, the one who entered leisurely with a refreshing smile was Seo Ho-yun.
"...Wow, your face has really blossomed."
Min Ji-heon’s mumble reached Yeon-hu’s ears.
Indeed, for some reason, Seo Ho-yun’s skin seemed to glow even more than the last time they met.
"Hello. I’m Seo Ho-yun."
Even though it would be harder to find someone here who didn't know him, Seo Ho-yun showed his manners by introducing himself formally. After finishing his greetings even to PD Kim Hee-yeong, Ho-yun went to sit next to his members.
Then, Min Ji-heon swung his upper body around and spoke to Ho-yun.
"Seo Ho-yun-ssiiii~."
Min Ji-heon, who had been expressionless just a moment ago, now had a mischievous look on his face.
"Meeting like this at a filming site after a while feels different, doesn't it?"
"Yes, sunbae-nim. It’s been a while, so I’m feeling quite sentimental as well."
"......"
"Have you been doing well in the meantime?"
"...What’s with that speech? I just got goosebumps on my arms. Just call me Pig-heon like usual."
What on earth...?
Startled by the potentially controversial remark, Yeon-hu reflexively looked around. Fortunately, they weren't wearing microphones yet and the camera lights were off. The staff also seemed too preoccupied to have heard.
Only a short conversation had passed between Min Ji-heon and Seo Ho-yun, but Yeon-hu felt as if he had just experienced a preview of the "disaster version" of this variety show.
...I need to stay sharp. I really have to be careful.
He had a feeling that the moment he let his guard down, he’d be on an express train to rock bottom.
"When did I ever do that, sunbae-nim?"
If the recently discussed "close friendship" between High Five and The Dawn was broadcast, it would definitely not be viewed favorably. Ho-yun surely knew this as well.
Just as Yeon-hu was thinking they should keep their distance as groups, Ho-yun shifted his gaze from Min Ji-heon to him. Meeting those low-saturation pupils head-on, Yeon-hu felt a sudden surge of tension.
"Seo Ho-yun-ssi, hello."
Yeon-hu hid his discomfort and smiled genially.
"Have you been doing well?"
"...Yes, well."
Huh?
Puzzled by Ho-yun’s behavior, which seemed to be keeping a bit of distance unlike usual, Yeon-hu continued calmly.
"That’s a relief. You’ve seemed so busy lately, hoobae-nim, that I wondered if your health was okay..."
"Hoobae-nim?"
"Pardon?"
"What’s with the tone?"
The moment a familiar sense of déjà vu struck the back of his head, Ho-yun’s eyes curved innocently.
"You should call me Ho-yun."
Yeon-hu suddenly wanted to forget about the filming and just go home.