Perfect Singer aired at 6:30 p.m. on Sunday evenings, right in the golden time slot. Even though Season 2 hadn’t been a huge hit, the fact that the broadcasting rights had been sold to the U.S. and that it still had high recognition across Asia played a big role. [Oh, Kang Seongcheon is on] Among the guests for the first broadcast, the most attention was on Kang Seongcheon. There had often been talk about his bad personality, but his skills were good, so people naturally assumed he would take 1st place. When the production team asked if he was confident about winning, he laughed cheerfully and replied: “Yeah, well. I’m always confident.” However, without realizing that the show’s format had changed drastically, he chose a powerful, fast-paced, high-note-heavy song to impress with both his skills and the audience’s response—only to hit a glaring off-key note the moment a problem came up. 【Can’t help but lo~ve—!】 The broadcast cut between his confident interview and the screeching note, erasing him from the stage in dramatic fashion. The singer’s pride might have been scraped raw, but the viewers loved it. [He was so damn confident, now what ㅠ LOOOOOOLLLLLLLL] └[Ah, but he’s been acting like he’s got celebrity disease lately, so this is kinda satisfying LOLOLOLOLOL] [Did they really have to edit it this savagely? LMAOOOOOOOOOOOO] Other contestants had to either watch funny animal clips on the screen and try not to laugh or solve cubes and puzzles while singing. By the time the broadcast was halfway over and heading toward the finale, Seo Hoyun still hadn’t appeared, making the Noeul fans nervous. They worried he might have been completely edited out. “Hello, I’m Hoyun from The Dawn.” Appearing with a fresh smile, Seo Hoyun took flight the moment the music began. Even if it’s far, even if it’s blurry, even if I’m afraid Once it passes, that’s all it is】 Pitch, rhythm—he nailed every mission without a single slip. At the moment when the ghost prop dropped, all the panelists screamed in surprise, but Hoyun alone calmly caught it in his arms. 【I want to run to those distant clouds in one leap】 Then, grabbing a marker, he signed his name in big letters on the paper attached to the back of the prop. 【I want to run in one leap】 Brilliant light poured from the back screen, enveloping him. As the last note ended, the panel and audience erupted in cheers. Soon, the MC announced the scores, and the 1st-place trophy went to Seo Hoyun. With paper confetti fluttering around him, Hoyun smiled radiantly. [Our bunny looked so happy ㅠ smiling so sweetlyㅠ Like something Jung Dajun or Sung Jiwon would do, that angelic smile...] [Oh my god.. baby..... I like it..ㅜ Wait, don’t glare at me like that. It’s your fault, Seo Hoyun, a 24-year-old man making us treat you like a baby.] [Since he won 1st, does that mean we can see our baby again next week?ㅠㅠㅠㅠ] Some Noeul fans even screencapped the close-up of his signature and wailed. [Mom... I want that ghost doll] └[Are you out of your mind???] [If my family comes home and asks what this is... “I got it from the person I love..” I want to say that nonsense.] └[LMAOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO] [We’ve successfully brainwashed him into being a bunny hehe v] Fans in Japan who quickly caught the news absolutely refused to give up on seeing Hoyun as a cat. [Everyone, look closely. Hoyun didn’t draw a bunny. If you look carefully, the ears are pointy. That means it’s a cat.] Korean fans buzzed at the claim. [Japanese fans are something else...] [Anyone can see it’s a bunny signature... but I was almost convinced by that confidence.] After the broadcast ended, a short interview with Lim Hyunsu was shown like an extra scene. “Well, it’s the obvious result, isn’t it?” Hyunsu leaned forward slightly, narrowing her eyes. “Seo Hoyun is born with perfect pitch and rhythm. Out of all the people I’ve seen, he’s in the top handful.” [Hearing Cheongbeom say that... I might actually be touched...] [Cheongbeom’s pride is so damn strong she couldn’t say something nice even if she were dying, so hearing her say this makes me proud—it means Hoyun’s really been recognized.] For people who didn’t know Seo Hoyun, it left a strong impression, and for those who did, it became a reason to reevaluate him. The Noeul fans, deciding they couldn’t miss such a good chance to promote him, quickly edited the broadcast and spread it on YouTube. [Whoa, looks like Seo Hoyun’s video is going around on SNS—titles like “Insane new variety show and insane idol” HAHAHAHA] Clips from Perfect Singer spread across SNS, communities, and video platforms, racking up millions of views on YouTube in particular. [While other singers were all messing up and laughing, Hoyun’s pitch and rhythm were insanely precise.] [Wow, he’s just... calm as hell, all on his own.] With so much attention came, naturally, some negative reactions too. [Here we go with the overhyping again haha. His skills are just so-so] [Are there still people who don’t know this stuff is scripted? It reeks of being staged, I’m embarrassed for themㅠㅠ] [No matter how objectively you explain it, fans are too busy sucking him up.] But since Hoyun had already shown himself in many variety shows before, most just brushed it off. [Huh?? I never thought it was staged... though yeah, with everyone else freaking out and only Hoyun staying composed, I guess it’s suspicious hahaha] [If he wins, it’s a problem; if he doesn’t, it’s still a problem haha] [Title: Proof it’s not staged Daepaseong doesn’t have the money for that, bye] └[LOOOOL unexpected confirmation ㅠ LOOOOOOOOOOOOOLLLLLLLLLL] [Meanwhile, Noeul fans are the funniest. They don’t care what anyone says, they’re just ecstatic and bouncing around.] In truth, the Noeul fans were too happy to let their smiles drop even for a second. [Ah... it’s coming again... the rivalry...] [Before long, “1st-tier...” will be possible...] └[What kind of thought process is that LMAOOOOOOOOOOOO] Just like Hoyun seemed amused when someone tried to pick a fight with him, Noeul fans grinned brightly at others’ attempts to keep them in check. Of course, they were also steadily updating their PDF files. [I can see it... I see it clearly. My Olympic Main Stadium. This is... my next Black Call.] └[LMAOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO] While The Dawn’s fans were basking in happiness, another piece of good news came in. It was announced in the news that Kim Sunghyun would appear on Chaotic Family Diary. [Wow, Kim Sunghyun on this parenting show is going to be legendary.] It was a long-running weekend evening program on public TV, known for its strict guest selection because the celebrities had to spend real time with kids. Although Noeul fans knew Sunghyun was the eldest son in a large family, they were still worried. But once the broadcast began, it was clear their concerns had been needless. “Wow, Sunghyun, why are you so good with kids?!” “Huh? Isn’t this normal?” From childcare to housework, Kim Sunghyun could do it all. He even had a flawless skill for cleaning food-stained clothes when the kids spilled during meals. The ever-capable Sunghyun even woke from a nap to find kids crying for their mom, and soothed them by singing and dancing to “Baby Shark.” [His dance lines are way too pretty.] [LOOOOOOOOOLLLLLLLLLLLLL ah fuck LOOOOOOOOOLLLLL legendary waste of talent LMAOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO] Maybe because they could feel he was being genuine, the kids truly adored him. Over the scene, the narration was tinged with defeat—it was from guests who’d appeared in previous episodes. “Why do they like him more than me?” “Even little kids look at faces.” [Title: Reason Kim Sunghyun beat the insane competition to appear on Chaotic Family Diary Because he’s the eldest son of four siblings] └[LMAOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO] Normally, when a guest star appeared instead of a regular, Chaotic Family Diary would split it into two episodes across two weeks. But because Sunghyun wasn’t that famous, he was only given about 30 minutes in the first half of the show. Even so, the viewers’ message boards exploded. Q. Sunghyun, do you have any housekeeping tips you recommend? Throughout the episode, the inserted interviews with Kim Sunghyun seemed almost as if the questions about housekeeping had been chosen in anticipation of the public’s reaction. Sitting up straight and a little awkward, Sunghyun earnestly shared every bit of knowledge he knew. Q. How did you get so good at household chores? The production team then threw in a mischievous follow-up question. Sunghyun hesitated slightly before answering. Compared to everyone else in the world, he didn’t think he was all that skilled at housework. After carefully choosing his words for a moment, he spoke slowly. “I’m the eldest son of four siblings...” No further explanation was needed. The age gap between Sunghyun and the youngest of the four was a full ten years. Behind him, muttering absentmindedly, the word “breadwinner” seemed to flash by. [I think I’ve fallen in love] When Noeul fans were joking around posting “mafia-style” pictures of Sunghyun saying he’s never washed a dish in his life, Sunghyun was actually on TV in pink rubber gloves scrubbing away mold └LOOOOOOLLLLLLLLLLL legendary charm LMAOOOOOOOOOOOOOO] The moment the broadcast ended, YouTube was flooded with videos titled things like Kim Sunghyun Legendary PR Clip Housekeeping Edition. Naturally, Noeul fans thought this buzz would stay within the fandom and fade quickly. But the view count kept climbing. In particular, Sunghyun’s thirty-minute segment drew huge approval from homemakers. [Title: An idol on Chaotic Family Diary hehe ^^~ This friend named Sunghyun is so capable... Turns out he’s from a family of four kids^^ Even when the kids are running around and not listening, instead of getting annoyed, he just says that’s how kids grow up~ Made my heart skip a beat~ └I saw it too. When the kids crossed the line, he corrected them right away. That’s not easy to do. └└Honestly looks more experienced than me at being a parent^^] [Title: I like people who keep things tidy It’s about Sunghyun on Chaotic Family Diary Unlike most young people these days, he organizes the sink neatly with an onion net. When he steamed sweet potatoes, he even added kelp to make them softer—my mom was impressed. └Wow~~ hehe I’ll have to try that myself. Sunghyun’s handsome and has so many good points.] The Dawn’s fans, who never expected the show’s impact to be this big, were amazed. Sunghyun just became everyone’s ideal son-in-law. The competition suddenly got tougher.] [My mom’s watching, chanting for me to marry someone like him. Ma’am, I would if I could.] [It’s hilarious—while all the parents are impressed by Sunghyun’s housekeeping skills, the Noeul fans are just posting pictures of his muscles saying “thank you.” Legendary unfilial piety, sorry.] └[LMAOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO] Clips and images of Sunghyun were retweeted endlessly, and soon his name was trending on Twitter—not just among Noeul fans but the general public. [My mom suddenly called me over and asked seriously, “Is Kim Sunghyun... not that famous?” Ma’am, I like Hi-Five. Flustered, I blurted out, “No, he’s the kind of idol I’m not allowed to like,” like he’s some forbidden name.] └[LMAOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO] └└[You kept your loyalty... Yeonhoo, I love you. Let’s make Hi-Five successful.] [I showed my mom his stage video because she’d labeled him “the idol who’s good at housekeeping.” This guy... he’s actually amazing at his main job too... But my mom liked him even more. She says if he’s good at housework and sexy, that’s everything.] └[Honestly, it is everything...] By appearing on the show often called a “national program,” Sunghyun’s public recognition began to grow little by little. Apparently, he’d pulled in better-than-expected ratings, because Sunghyun had been invited back to Chaotic Family Diary. And today, I was here as a guest to help him out on set. The kids assigned to Sunghyun were three siblings—ten, eight, and the youngest just twenty months old. Before filming began, the head writer came over to explain how things would go. “Seo Hoyun, Sunghyun’s the main caregiver for the kids, so please make sure to give good reactions. By the way, are you comfortable with little kids?” “I specialize in ages ten and up.” I was dead serious, but the head writer must have taken it as a joke, because she «N.o.v.e.l.i.g.h.t» burst out laughing, patted my shoulder, and hurried off. Of course I was confident. I’ve got the Seo Hojin experience. As I thought that, Sunghyun, next to me, had a strange expression on his face. He scratched the back of his neck. “Thinking about my siblings back home. Wondering what they’re up to. They’re all still little.” “How can a kid take care of other kids?” “...It’s scary how I’m getting used to this kind of nonsense from you.” Sunghyun immediately straightened his face and shoved me playfully. I chuckled and pulled out my phone. After Perfect Singer, I thought Joo Woosung would message me, but he’d been completely silent. So I sent him a YouTube clip of the scene where I’d been writing down Black Call lyrics, along with a note asking if he was moved. He replied almost instantly. [Joo Woosung: Huh? I already saw this.] [Joo Woosung: But isn’t this scripted?] [Joo Woosung: Yup?????] Seeing him freak out, asking if that was even possible and telling me not to lie, was satisfying. I ignored his follow-up messages and checked The Dawn’s group chat. I saw a “Have a good shoot” from Kang Ichae. “Kang Ichae says to have a good shoot.” “Would’ve been nice if he could’ve come too.” If the next most publicly recognized member after me had joined, it would’ve been perfect for boosting awareness. Discover more novels at novel•fire.net But when I asked, he flatly refused, saying mentoring trainees was already a lot and he also had to prepare for the year-end stage. Sounded like he was still making the trainees cry regularly. “Nah, Kang Ichae would have a hard time on this show.” “When he sees kids, he freezes up.” Sunghyun rolled his shoulders as if shaking off stiffness. “They cry just from him looking at them.” ...True. If he doesn’t smile and keeps his mouth shut, even adults cry.