Chapter 387
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 387
Early Christmas carols echoed through the streets, and the entire nation was busy wrapping up the year.
The Dawn was also incredibly busy, juggling self-produced content and various promotional activities.
[The phrase "rowing when the tide is in" was practically invented for The Dawn.]
[I heard the latest School Bell Rings was filmed at my friend's school ㅠㅠㅠㅠㅠ I'm so jealous, for real ㅜ]
[Why do only students get these kinds of perks?
Office workers have hearts too.
Office workers are Noeuls too.
Office workers want autographs too.
Please come to our company.
Share if you agree.
Boom up!
└ What does "Boom up" mean??
└└ (OP) Are you for real?
└ Calm down, Auntie...
└└ (OP) Auntie? That’s harsh (*´□`)ﾟ
How old are you!!!! Put your photocards on the line and meet me at the PC cafe for a real-life duel.
└└ I'm 12...
└└ (OP) Oh... I'm sorry... Auntie was being immature...
└└ LOL, you think they're actually 12? ㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋ
└└ LMAO, don't back down so fast! ㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋ]
[Title: Since the news about School Bell Rings already leaked,
People kept asking for reviews on the live stream, but they kept dodging it, saying it was a spoiler.
In the end, they pivoted to a "counseling session" instead, lol.
Noeul 1: I want to become a very big problem for you, Oppa.
Noeul 2: Have you ever thought a fan could become your biggest worry?? It could happen, so be prepared.
When the chat started going like that, Kim Seong-hyeon pretended to drink his soda with a troubled face (feat. Kang Yi-chae almost falling over backward from laughing next to him).
Yi-chae: Don't worry, be happy~ You should only look at good things in life, haha.
Ji-won: True, true! ^^
Da-jun: Ooh~ How profound.
Yi-chae: (Looking proud)
└ Why has our Da-junie grown up so much? He used to be so bad at hiding spoilers... ㅠㅠ Now he’s so good at diverting the conversation even without them... ㅠㅠ He’s reached max level at dodging.
└└ The Dawn’s footwork these days is insane.
└└ LMAO.
└ The part after this is even more legendary.
Seo Ho-yun, who had been quiet the whole time while drinking his chocolate frappuccino... When Yi-chae said, "A fan says they want to be your biggest worry?" he just casually dropped, "Want to give it a try?"
└└ Screaming
└└ Screaming x2
└└ This guy still doesn't know how scary women can be.
└└ Seriously, get ready, Seo Ho-yun.]
From videos popping up on the Nutube algorithm to various broadcast programs and even advertisements for a wide range of products—Lanta (the soda they’d modeled for since their early days), a luxury brand’s men’s beauty line, bank commercials, and more.
The Dawn was appearing everywhere.
[Title: Lately, there’s nothing but The Dawn on TV.
I’m a fossil fan from their Glow days...
Sometimes I feel like the world is playing a prank on me.
└ You look happy...
└└ Yeah...
└└ Good for you (smiles)]
[Title: I’m proud of The Dawn’s bank ad, but it’s hilarious.
The ad is basically about how you can handle everything from stocks to payments with just one app, lol.
The killing point is Kim Seong-hyeon suddenly popping up and saying:
"Are you still using that?"
I knew the intent was to tell people to switch to their new app, so at first, I just thought, "Okay," but after seeing the members tease him, I’m struggling not to laugh, too. ㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋ
Every time Kim Seong-hyeon does something, they jump in with, "Are you still using that?"
Eventually, he gave up and just openly promoted it on the live stream.
Seong-hyeon: Please use MJ Bank a lot, everyone...
Deonging-i-deul: ㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋ
└ Kim Seong-hyeon, seriously ㅋㅋㅋㅋ. He looks like the type who wouldn't know how to use anything on an app except a savings account, so seeing him recite the features so perfectly is such a mismatch and so cute.
└ If Seo Ho-yun had done this, everyone would have just accepted it without a word...
└└ If it were Jeong Da-jun, he probably would’ve used the line everywhere without even knowing what it meant.
└ Did everyone notice this? In the group shot of the ad where they all shout "Hooray," if you look closely at Jeong Da-jun’s mouth, he’s actually saying "Ho-u~~~" ㅋㅋㅋㅋ. Then Seong Ji-won and Kang Yi-chae follow suit, raising both hands and going "Ho-u~~~" ㅋㅋㅋㅋ.
└└ Oh ㅋㅋㅋㅋ I didn't know.
└└ They still play together so well ㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋ]
The Dawn was particularly famous for being thorough and enthusiastic when they landed an endorsement.
Someone who happened to come across these reactions let out a soft exclamation. It was Yoo Ji-ah, who was idly scrolling through her phone in the waiting room of the GMA (Green Music Awards).
‘I guess The Dawn really is the trend these days.’
The GMA was an awards ceremony where both actors and idols attended.
Having made her mark as both a singer and an actress, Yoo Ji-ah had held the MC position for several years.
‘Maybe it’s because I’ve been resting for so long, but I feel a bit out of the loop.’
She turned off her phone and flipped through the script she had already read countless times.
She had participated in the filming of Let's Go on a School Trip due to her connection with PD Kim Hee-yeong, but other than her personal Nutube channel, she hadn't done any activities.
She had simply spent her time leisurely at a friend’s empty house in Jeju Island.
There was a time when she thought that wearing heavy makeup and flashy outfits while being surrounded by crowds proved her existence. Now, however, reflecting on herself in a quiet place and slowly fading from the public eye felt quite alright in its own way.
Perhaps she felt that way because she was confident she still had a place to return to.
"Senior Yoo Ji-ah! You look beautiful today as well!!"
"Hahaha, I feel like I’ve just been eating and gaining weight."
Before the rehearsal, most of the junior idol groups and actors stopped by her waiting room to greet her.
Yoo Ji-ah tried her best to be kind to them while offering necessary advice.
"Hello, Senior."
Just when she thought no one else was coming, she saw some familiar faces.
It was The Dawn, who would be performing the finale of this awards ceremony.
Seeing them for the first time in a while, Yoo Ji-ah stood up from her chair in delight.
"Wow, it’s been so long. How have you all been?"
Among them, Yoo Ji-ah particularly liked types like Seong Ji-won, who was standing on the far right.
He had a gentle impression but was actually quite sharp. He was fundamentally kind and upright, yet he wasn't the type to just snap like a brittle bamboo stick.
"Have you been well?"
"Of course."
Of course, Seong Ji-won wasn't the only one she was curious about. There was one more person, for a different reason.
Seo Ho-yun.
With his hair slicked back in a pompadour except for a few strands of bangs, he was wearing a gray suit with a striped pattern on only the left arm.
It reminded her of when they were filming Please Take Care of the Camera.
"Seo Ho-yun, I enjoyed watching Before the Moon Wanes."
"I'm honored. Was it alright?"
"Oh, it was incredible."
Even though he didn't seem to be focusing on acting, his skills had matured significantly.
Even while she was resting far away from the industry, rumors that Director Kang Jeong-gun had his eye on Seo Ho-yun had reached her ears. Though the man himself seemed completely uninterested.
"Min Ji-heon goes without saying, but your emotional range in those brief moments was impressive."
"Haha, it’s all thanks to the consideration of the director and Senior Min Ji-heon."
His expression remained unchanged, but Yoo Ji-ah’s mind was racing.
‘What is this?’
He had always worn a sly, artificial smile, but the feeling was different now.
The Seo Ho-yun she remembered was someone who wore a social mask but was prickly and sensitive on the inside.
A prime example was during Shining Star Season 1, when he had smiled and said incredibly blunt things to Today without batting an eye.
‘He’s seemed a bit softer in recent broadcasts, though.’
She wasn't naive enough to believe everything she saw in the media. The entertainment industry was a place overflowing with people who were different on the inside than they were on the outside. Besides, her knowledge of Seo Ho-yun was frozen in time from two years ago.
"Hmm."
Having finished her assessment of Seo Ho-yun, Yoo Ji-ah intentionally teased him.
"PD-nim, you worked me so hard back then. I guess your life has improved quite a bit since then?"
"Pardon?"
"I mean, you’re even closing out the awards ceremony now."
At that, Seo Ho-yun’s eyes crinkled into a wide smile.
"Yoo Jeong-hwa, please don't tease me. If a great senior like you does this, I’ll get fired."
"..."
"It’s not like you’re going to take responsibility for me, right?"
Yoo Ji-ah looked at Seo Ho-yun with a slightly surprised expression. Just as Seo Ho-yun was starting to find the silence strange, a dazed voice escaped her lips.
"...You’ve become so much milder...?"
"Eh?"
A strange sound popped out of Jeong Da-jun, who had been quietly listening to their conversation.
"If you feel that way, I suppose I’ve gained some experience. Well, I’m sure you’re busy, Senior, so we’ll head out first."
Seo Ho-yun simply brushed it off naturally, gave a polite bow, and led The Dawn out.
Left alone in the waiting room again, Yoo Ji-ah leaned back against the sofa and rested her chin on her hand.
That gentle smile, the relaxed atmosphere, and yet somehow feeling more approachable...
"...Has he changed?"
For some reason, he seemed to shine even brighter than before.
* * *
‘Was she just testing me?’
I didn't know her intention, but it didn't seem like something to worry about.
I was about to let it go when I heard Seong Ji-won’s voice, which was higher than usual as if he were excited.
"Senior Yoo Ji-ah is still so cool, even after all this time. Right?"
Seong Ji-won, who had respected Yoo Ji-ah for a long time—and still did—chattered excitedly before suddenly looking at me and waving his hands frantically.
"Oh! O-Of course, I respect you too, Ho-yun!!"
"Ah, sure."
‘Well, whatever.’
I brushed it off and asked the question I needed to ask.
"So, Seong Ji-won, how many Daesangs are there today?"
"Um, they said there are eight in total, combining singers and actors."
"Wow."
The GMA (Green Music Awards) wasn't included in the ceremonies specified in the Main Scenario. However, its importance had suddenly skyrocketed because a new mission had just appeared.
[Quest Arrived!
Year-end stages are a festival for fans and a turning point to look back on the year!
Through the two upcoming year-end stages, generate the highest buzz volume among all existing idol groups!
※ The measurement period is three days after each year-end stage broadcast ends.
※ Measured by the total buzz volume from SNS, news, and comments. Keywords include 'The Dawn' or 'Seo Ho-yun'.
Success: 10,000 IRIX Points
Failure: Unable to appear on any future year-end stages for the rest of your idol career.]
‘Well... the quest isn't as hard as I thought.’
If things went well, I might be able to recover Seo Ho-jin’s memories within December.
As soon as we returned to our assigned waiting room, Jeong Da-jun slid onto the sofa, his cheeks flushed red.
"Hyungs, do I... do I look really scary?"
"What kind of nonsense is that?"
"No, it’s just... when I was walking down the hallway, some people who looked like rookies got startled and avoided me... I was flustered too..."
The Dawn was in charge of the finale for this GMA, a spot they shared alternately with High Five.
Since it was rare for a group from a small agency to rise so rapidly in their fourth year, many people approached The Dawn. However, some junior idols with fewer years of experience tended to hesitate and keep their distance.
Kim Seong-hyeon, who had secretly felt hurt by that himself, gave the youngest some solemn advice.
"Jeong Da-jun, you need to get used to being a senior now. You have to be mature."
"Ugh... but I don't like people avoiding me."
Jeong Da-jun puffed out his cheeks, made a face, and pointed a finger at Kang Yi-chae.
"And even if I’m at this level, people who run into Yi-chae hyung run away like they’ve encountered a natural disaster."
"That’s because rumors have been going around that he’s scary ever since Rising Rookies... It can't be helped..."
"Ahaha, it’s just because they don't know me~. I’m such a sweetheart."
"Blegh..."
"Barf."
Kang Yi-chae, who claimed to be a sweetheart, turned his head toward me and gave a bright smile.
"We should fill the end of the year with love too, right?"
I chuckled and shrugged my shoulders as my answer.
The curtain was about to rise on the year-end stages.