“PD Heeyoung! Please come this way for a moment.” Kim Heeyoung PD had just returned to work after finishing her vacation. After Shining Star Season 2, she had been assigned to several different programs, but it only felt like running a seasonal stall with kids more than ten years younger than herself, which made her feel miserable. ‘Ugh, I don’t want to work.’ Back then, lethargy had taken over her whole body, and she thought that if she didn’t rest even for a little while, she wouldn’t be able to work at all. So, without much expectation, she had submitted a vacation request, and surprisingly, she was given two whole weeks off, allowing her to travel abroad. Of course, because of her occupational habits, she still kept checking the entertainment industry trends here and there during her trip. “PD-nim. The Dawn is scheduled last.” Today, she was only temporarily filling in on a music broadcast before taking on a new program after her vacation. As always, the staff were moving busily. “Let’s check the camera work once more.” “I think it’d be better to raise the mic sound levels a bit.” But strangely, right before The Dawn’s stage, the atmosphere felt tense and sharp-edged. “Whoa, why is it so grim?” “PD-nim, you didn’t see the rehearsal earlier, did you? The Dawn’s stage was absolutely legendary. Tons of fans showed up today... if the camera accidentally misses an angle, we’ll get torn apart.” The tension filling the set was similar to when Black Call was preparing for their comeback stage. For Kim Heeyoung, who had once worked with The Dawn when they were nobodies, it was a little emotional. ‘What the... they really did grow.’ She had already been surprised by the sales of the single album with the double title track from last winter, but this time their full album was selling at a truly staggering level. “Well, this song is shockingly good. Even inside our side, people keep talking about it!” The assistant director beside her chattered on as they looked at the Noeul fans attending with such fiery intensity, even though The Dawn had once been nothing. “Looks like they’re really going to hit it big.” “Of course. They’re also getting tons of love calls from variety shows. PD Shin mentioned it in passing last time. Especially /N_o_v_e_l_i_g_h_t/ about Seo Hoyun!” Even if he didn’t show his personality and just stayed still, people would naturally be drawn to him because of his looks and charm. And if he put his mind to it, he could easily captivate anyone with his eloquence and presence. “...He understands programs so well that he matches the flow and mood while never crossing the line. And he always makes sure to create buzz. Of course PDs would love him.” She swallowed what she had been thinking and responded in a safe, neutral way. In truth, just looking at the shows Seo Hoyun had appeared on last year was proof enough. Especially Perfect Singer—since its broadcast, there hadn’t been anyone who stirred as much attention as Seo Hoyun. But then the assistant director looked around quickly and lowered his voice. “But... apparently, Seo Hoyun isn’t as endlessly agreeable and nice as he looks. There’s a rumor going around.” “Recently, The Dawn filmed a famous talk show for their comeback promotion. You know, Yang Cheolui’s show.” Kim Heeyoung’s brows furrowed deeply. Yang Cheolui was infamous in the industry for running his mouth recklessly. He was especially known for throwing inappropriate questions at idols, and he already had a bad reputation, giving him an unpleasant public image. ‘He’s already caused plenty of scandals, yet he still gets work. Well, of course—he’s chummy with our director. Damn it. That’s how he survives.’ This wasn’t the first time she’d seen such things in this industry, but she still let out a bitter laugh. “Apparently, during filming, he suddenly brought up Seo Hoyun’s younger brother—something that hadn’t been discussed in advance. Said stuff like, why did he hide such a handsome brother, why hadn’t he ever revealed that he even had a brother, did he have some kind of secret?” “That crazy bastard, seriously!” “Exactly. At first, it looked like Seo Hoyun was brushing it off with his usual humor, but then Yang Cheolui asked if there was some unspeakable reason behind it, and....” The assistant director glanced around once more before leaning in closer to whisper. Get full chapters from 𝔫𝔬𝔳𝔢𝔩·𝔣𝔦𝔯𝔢·𝔫𝔢𝔱 “...The moment he heard that question, Seo Hoyun’s smile completely vanished. From the guy who’d been grinning the whole time.” “And then when he smiled again, he suddenly started indirectly dropping all sorts of dirt about Yang Cheolui! He didn’t outright say it, but he twisted his words around and mocked him so skillfully that everyone got it. People were saying his delivery was no joke. How the hell does Seo Hoyun even know such things?” Hearing that Yang Cheolui got roasted was refreshing, but the story didn’t sound like the Seo Hoyun she knew. He was the type to brush off nonsense without making a fuss. If he ever pulled something, it was behind the scenes, like back in Shining Star Season 1.... “...Was he pissed off?” Without meaning to, she muttered it out loud, and the assistant director answered. “More like he drew a very clear line. Like, ‘don’t spout such crap.’ Yang Cheolui was furious, but because Seo Hoyun phrased it so jokingly, he couldn’t call him out. In the end, he just let it slide. Anyway, now Seo Hoyun’s family is practically an untouchable subject.” “Hm... well, I bet the staff were thrilled.” The assistant director shrugged, looking pleased, and Kim Heeyoung chuckled lightly. “And Seo Hoyun won’t suffer from it either. This industry is all about who’s popular, right? I even heard Daepaseong might be bought out by ‘that place’ soon....” Just then, The Dawn walked onto the stage. The Noeuls’ screams filled the venue. When the members waved their hands, another wave of cheers erupted. With light makeup emphasizing his natural features and his hair styled damp, Seo Hoyun oddly gave off a decadent vibe. Though the outfit was simple—a silk white shirt with a long scarf draped around his neck—the way his movements revealed the lines of his body only made him stand out more. But the reason Kim Heeyoung tilted her head was different. ‘He looks a little off today. Can he really pull off the stage?’ Something about Seo Hoyun seemed strange. Even though he smiled at the fans and exchanged glances with the members, she felt like his condition wasn’t good. But only for a moment. Doo-doong. Doo-doong. Doo-doong. As soon as the music began, the atmosphere flipped 180 degrees. At the center of the stage, Seo Hoyun stood as Kang Ichae and Jung Dajun stretched their hands forward to cover his eyes. The camera zoomed in rhythmically, closing in on him. As the first line began, Kang Ichae’s index and middle finger parted, revealing one of Seo Hoyun’s eyes. A piercing gaze struck straight into the camera, and as he slowly twisted his head, the formation shifted swiftly. Striding forward through the opened path, Seo Hoyun pulled his lips into a dangerously attractive curve. Kim Heeyoung immediately had to retract her earlier doubts. The emptiness that had seemed to surround him was gone. He blazed, drawing every eye and sparkling brilliantly. 【Whisper your faith to me Like you promised me before As if he was burning himself to shine. Then, Kim Sunghyun stepped forward from behind, catching Seo Hoyun’s arm, and they spun together. Standing center, Sunghyun snapped his hips to the beat and briefly lifted his shirt. Though fleeting, the sight of his defined abs made the Noeuls scream so loud the set shook. 【Our youth that will never come again Whatever I don’t care Come before I bite you】 Next, Jung Dajun launched into three sharp consecutive turns. 【You promised me on the day the shooting star falls】 Then he swept his right hand down in an arc from top left to bottom right, like a falling star. Though the beat wasn’t pure at all, it somehow felt pure. Beside him, Sung Jiwon rotated his hands like a clock, then suddenly froze, as if broken. 【Our dawn that will never come again I don’t care even if the sky falls Come before you change your mind】 Then, turning his body in a circle, he lifted both hands as if in prayer, raising his head. 【You promised me on the day the Milky Way pours down】 Collapsing to the ground as if falling, he was leapt over by Kang Ichae, who entered next. 【Spinning around you like I’m broken How can I live without you? With his hand circling by his head, Kang Ichae half-drawled his rap, reflecting his precarious emotions. 【Anyways, always love you As the climax approached, black-clad backup dancers marched onto the stage in formation. Amidst the constantly shifting paths, their blank faces and mechanical movements made The Dawn members look like desperate people lost in a crowd. With the close-up of Seo Hoyun’s lips forming the line, the dance break exploded. Stage effects detonated, leading into the chorus. Seo Hoyun’s voice layered with Sung Jiwon’s harmony one octave higher. Whisper your faith to me】 As the end drew near, Jung Dajun mimed winding a music box backward, and the members stomped in sync. 【Like you promised me before】 They slowly returned to the opening formation. Once again, the members tangled their hands to cover one another’s eyes. The image looked like a scene from a masterpiece painting. The stage had barely ended when an explosive scream erupted from the audience. Kim Heeyoung had already watched the music video for this song. But she hadn’t felt this kind of shiver then. A concept swinging between decadence and purity, choreography arranged like a musical. Elements that could easily have clashed instead blended perfectly, enhancing one another. At her absentminded murmur, the assistant director rubbed his arms furiously, gushing with praise for The Dawn. “Aren’t they amazing? I almost became a fan just now!” “They say even the choreography has deep meaning. That’s why the camera director put so much effort into legendary shots this time!” The Dawn that Kim Heeyoung remembered was completely different from the one in front of her now. She had thought they were talented from the start, but never imagined they would change this much. It was unbelievable that this was only a year’s transformation. Quickly, Kim Heeyoung tore off her headset and grabbed her phone. The assistant director looked startled. “Uh? PD-nim, where are you going?!” “After the 1st place announcement, buy me some time to talk with Seo Hoyun!” Even she, who had been drowning in lethargy lately, felt her heart pounding because of them. This album of The Dawn’s—there was no way it wouldn’t explode. “I’ll cling to his leg if I have to!” Whether for themselves or the idol industry as a whole— They would surely write a new history. Kim Heeyoung thought so. As the 1st place announcement neared, I smirked slightly. All eyes were tangled up on The Dawn, and I could feel it. “Congratulations! The Dawn!” Our album this time is killer. So let me brag once again. ‘Joo Woosung, you bastard, look closely.’ Aren’t my kids just natural-born geniuses?