Chapter 445
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 445
The WH Entertainment headquarters.
Since I was coming back after a rare visit home, I took a taxi and got off right in front of the first-floor lobby.
A scene from the "Flight" music video was playing on a show-window-style digital billboard installed for passersby to see.
I watched it for a moment, then entered the building, returning the greetings of those who recognized me.
As I swiped my security card and stepped into the lobby, another large digital billboard—likely a recent renovation—welcomed me.
This time, the screen was filled with Kang Yi-chae’s face, beaming brightly as he held up the Song Camp trophy alongside Kim Seong-hyeon. It was a clip that had been milked to death over the past week on QBS, various social media platforms, and Nutube.
I took in the sight of Kang Yi-chae, who looked happier than ever, before nodding to the passing employees and heading for the elevator. I pressed the button for the 19th floor to visit Yi-chae’s new studio, and background music began to play, just like in a hotel elevator. It was our second competition song, "Three Os."
At this point, it was so absurd I couldn't help but let out a short laugh.
"Unbelievable..."
Just a few months ago, this place barely had a trace of the letter 'D' from The Dawn.
I wondered why they were suddenly acting like this—if it was the power of Billboard or the influence of Song Camp, which had become a national sensation.
When the chime announced my arrival, I stepped out of the elevator to a sight that felt foreign. Kang Yi-chae had requested a new studio from the company because his old one had become so cramped with an ever-growing collection of instruments that there was hardly any room to step.
I walked down the hallway at a leisurely pace and stopped in front of a door with a plaque that read 'KANG ICHAE.' Stacks of boxes were piled up outside. With a satisfied smile, I entered the code for the door lock.
It really took a long time to reach this position.
With that thought, I entered the date of Kang Yi-chae’s birthday—which was also The Dawn’s debut date—and turned the knob.
"Hey, your hyung is—"
Beep-beep-beep-beep.
"Ah, do you not know?"
I found Kang Yi-chae perched amidst a mess of scattered luggage, his red sneakers dangling.
"This... is what they call the 'C-chord.'"
"Waaaaaaaah!!"
While Kim Seong-hyeon was busy trying to organize the studio, Yi-chae was having the time of his life playing an electric guitar plugged into an amp.
"Kyahhhh! Is that the famous C-chord...?!"
"No, this is... the G-chord!"
To make matters worse, not only Jeong Da-jun but even Seong Ji-won had joined in on the madness.
As they spewed nonsense like, "What is this heavenly melody?! This isn't the G-chord I used to know!!" and "Is this the true power of Billboard composer Kang Yi-chae?!", I strode over and yanked the cable out of the amp. Then, I grabbed Kang Yi-chae by the scruff of his neck and tossed him toward the sofa.
"Kyah!"
"Hey, clean up. Can't you see Kim Seong-hyeon is struggling?"
"Ho-ho-yun...!"
Kim Seong-hyeon, who was wiping off dust with a rag, looked at me with slightly moved eyes. I nagged Yi-chae into rounding up the instruments and then sprawled out on the sofa myself. As I fumbled around the table for a bag of snacks, Seong-hyeon gave me a look that said, 'Of course,' let out a deep sigh, and went back to cleaning the studio.
While checking my phone and snacking, Jeong Da-jun, who had been hovering around pretending to tidy up, crouched down in front of me and started babbling.
"Hyung, hyung, hyung! Did you see the music video playing in the lobby?"
"Yeah."
"It's crazy, right? We're like, total super-hot rock stars."
"Uh-huh."
"...Why are your answers so half-hearted? Wait—!!"
Da-jun, who had been pouting and inching closer, suddenly gasped in shock after seeing my phone screen.
"Ho-yun hyung, are you in touch with Baek Ji-jun sunbae-nim?!"
In an instant, the members' eyes were all on me.
I calmly crunched on a snack.
"Heol, he's asking hyung to sing a song for him?!!"
"—Whaaaat?!!!!"
At the maknae's shout, Kang Yi-chae abandoned his precious red guitar and came charging over.
"Absolutely!! Not!! Even if the world folds in half, tell him no!!!!!"
Where did the mature version of him from a few weeks ago go?
"Over my dead body—!!!"
"Kim Seong-hyeon, go dig up some dirt from the flowerpot."
"Yeah, I'm already on it."
Perhaps the Kang Yi-chae perceived in interviews was just an illusion.
Kim Seong-hyeon, who was fed up with cleaning alone, responded instantly to my request and frowned as he prepared to pick up the entire flowerpot. Seeing this, Yi-chae hurriedly waved his hands.
"Aaaah!! Seriously!! Just the thought of Ho-yun hyung singing a Baek Ji-jun song makes me hate it. Don't you feel bad for me? I'm so shy that I can't even work with anyone but my members!"
"Hey, Kang Yi-chae."
"I mean it! Not just Ho-yun hyung, but everyone! Not our main vocal, not our leader, not our maknae! Block everyone else!!"
"Hey."
"Whew, I might be so traumatized that I'll never be able to write a song again~."
I pressed my index finger against the forehead of the whining Yi-chae and pushed him back.
"I already told him no."
"...Really?"
"Yes, you brat."
Personally, I didn't care much either way, but considering The Dawn, it wouldn't have been a bad collaboration.
However, Yi-chae's reaction when he caught me talking to Baek Ji-jun was unsettling. An alarm had been blaring in the back of my mind.
I figured it was better not to start something that would lead to a headache later, so even though it was a bit of a shame, I had given up on the collaboration with Baek Ji-jun.
I unlocked my phone and tossed it to the suspicious-looking brat. Yi-chae caught it with a sour expression, but immediately opened the chat app and began scrutinizing the messages.
"Wait? What does he mean, 'wait'? Is he a cup of ramen?"
He went on and on, grumbling about how Baek Ji-jun thought he could appeal just by making good music, comparing him to an introvert who dresses up to seduce someone they like.
I seriously considered hitting him, but I managed to hold back and slowly stood up.
"Hyung, where are you going?"
I had thought about discussing the comeback, but seeing as they were in the middle of moving, it seemed like a lost cause.
"Personal schedule."
"Let's go together!!"
"Me too. I have a variety show filming soon."
"Then I should go check on the juniors."
"Wait, everyone's leaving?! What about me?! What about cute and pitiful Yi-chae?!"
"You stay and finish cleaning..."
Kim Seong-hyeon retorted through gritted teeth, but Yi-chae suddenly claimed he was exhausted and collapsed, shedding tears he hadn't even shown when winning Song Camp.
Seong-hyeon took a step back with a cold face, letting Yi-chae crash onto a pile of boxes.
Leaving behind the wailing brat who begged not to be left alone, the members stepped out of the studio.
As we headed to the elevator together, Seong Ji-won noticed the vending machines and chairs set up as a rest area in the middle of the hallway and suggested we take a break.
We each grabbed a can and stared silently at the Han River visible from the 19th floor. Suddenly, Jeong Da-jun spoke up.
"You know, Yi-chae hyung seems to have completely found his energy again, right?"
"The problem is he found too much of it."
Yi-chae had returned to his usual self... no, he was even more clingy than before.
Even though the side effects were gone, the System had warned me to keep a close eye on him since it was impossible to know what might happen under the current status. Fortunately, he seemed fine.
At my answer, Da-jun chuckled, his pale cheeks bunching up. Kim Seong-hyeon and Seong Ji-won also let out small laughs.
Well, all's well that ends well.
Digital charts, achievements, popularity, the future, the Grand Prize...
All of those were important, of course, but they couldn't compare to the value of the members existing vividly before my eyes.
"Hyung, hyung, hyung. Look at the Han River over there."
"Why."
"Isn't it so wide? Do you know what all that is?!"
See? He acts cute like this sometimes.
Just as the corners of my mouth were about to curl up—
"What, your love for me?"
"No."
Jeong Da-jun said, spreading his arms wide.
"Surprisingly, it's all of hyung's notoriety~~!"
"Pwahaha!"
"Ahaha, Da-jun-ah... that's a bit much."
"That's hip-hop!!"
I silently smiled and looked at Jeong Da-jun.
...Our maknae.
I suppose I have been too soft on him lately.
It was because I thought he was a kid I wouldn't be seeing for much longer.
But if we're going to be together from now on—...
"Ah, wa-wait, Jeong Da-jun."
"...Uh, Da-jun-ah."
Kim Seong-hyeon, who had been doubling over with laughter, caught my eye as he straightened up. He froze and called out to Da-jun. Seong Ji-won, who had just been enjoying the situation, also called the maknae's name with a troubled expression.
"Ahem. Then, Ho-yun hyung. Do you happen to know how far this river goes?! It's 1km wide, but it's a whopping 500km long, connecting all the way to the Yellow Sea..."
However, it seemed the intuition Da-jun had gained didn't apply to his fellow members. He continued to chatter away, oblivious to the atmosphere.
"—Jeong Da-jun!! This is really delicious!!"
In the end, Kim Seong-hyeon stepped in and shoved his own can into Da-jun's face, forcibly silencing him. At the same time, my phone vibrated. It was a message from the manager.
I smacked my lips, having missed the timing to deal with Jeong Da-jun.
"...I'm heading out."
"Yeah, yeah! Have a good trip, Ho-yun!!"
"Good luck!! Work hard!!"
As I walked away amidst their enthusiastic send-off, I heard the members whispering behind me.
"Why, what's wrong?!"
"Da-jun-ah, Seong-hyeon just saved your life."
"Did you see Seo Ho-yun's eyes earlier? It snapped me right back to reality..."
"......Was I about to be buried in the Han River...?"
With a smirk, I headed to the underground parking lot where the manager was waiting.
For some reason, I'd been in a pretty good mood lately.
We had entered the Billboard charts, received an invitation to the prestigious Music TV Awards Live in the US, and a path of flowers was surely waiting for us when we made our comeback.
I hadn't solved Kang Yi-chae's scenario quest yet, but I wasn't too worried. I just had to wait a little longer.
"Things are finally running smoothly."
With a satisfied expression, I stepped into the elevator and pressed the button.
—...Hey!
...My head throbbed.
It felt like a sound had brushed past my ear. I looked around, but only the BGM of "Three Os" was playing.
Ding!
[What's wrong?]
"...Nothing..."
...Was it tinnitus?
I tilted my head slightly, then straightened my posture.
* * *
"Seo Ho-yun-ssi, let's take a short break from filming!"
Facing My Bias was a Nutube variety show that had been popular for about three years, featuring short meetings between celebrities and their fans.
After spending some time having lunch with a 'Noeul' who claimed to have been a fan since the Second Chance days, the slight discomfort I'd felt earlier had mostly vanished.
"Wow, Seo Ho-yun-ssi must really love his fans. Your face has brightened up."
"Ahaha, I get energy from seeing them."
As I smoothly brushed it off with a bright face, the staff member praised me, saying, "No wonder you're so popular," and then introduced the next fan I was to meet.
"This next fan is a truly incredible person."
"Pardon? Why?"
"They work in this industry, and they said they've been a fan of Seo Ho-yun-ssi for a very long time."
"Ah, then I should treat them even better."
Every Noeul is precious.
I readjusted my microphone and stood at the spot designated by the staff. The sound I'd heard in the elevator seemed to linger in my mind, and I fiddled with my earlobe. The staff members standing opposite me were buzzing with excitement. Suddenly, they went quiet, and the assistant director gave me a small signal.
"Ho-yun-ssi! They're coming, they're coming!"
Why was everyone so excited?
I thought they were a staff member since they worked in the industry, but a chilling premonition washed over me.
Just as I was about to dig for more information from the staff, something white and small suddenly jumped at me from the side.
"Ugh!"
Instinctively, I bent down and caught it. I pulled away the puppy that was enthusiastically licking my cheeks and nose and held it up in the air.
A black nose, long fur, and large, perky ears...
I held the small puppy, whose tail was spinning like a propeller, close and took a sniff.
......What?
Beyond the typical savory scent of a puppy, there was a very faint, familiar, sweet yet refreshing citrus scent.
"Hey, are you perhaps... Mallang..."
I was looking into the puppy's round, black eyes and asking when—
"Ho-yun-ssiiiiii~~~~!!!"
Behind the fluffy fur, a man who looked perfectly fine on the outside came running toward me, dragging a leash on the ground. He yanked off his black baseball cap and greeted me.
"Ahhh, it's been too long~~!"
A Hallyu star, a ten-million-viewer actor, an acting genius.
Instead of a precious Noeul, a shabby Min Ji-heon appeared, dressed simply in a beige shirt and reddish-brown linen slacks.
The guy, who was waving his hand frantically, took a moment to catch his breath, then twisted his body as if he were shy, his cheeks flushing.
"Did... did you wait long...?"
"......"
Ah, this bastard, seriously...