Chapter 275: Chapter 275

The day of The Dawn’s concert at the Gymnastics Arena—

streamed live simultaneously across the entire world.

“Holy shit, is that Joo Woosung?!”

“No way, it really is?? Damn, he’s ridiculously handsome!”

Right on time, Joo Woosung entered the VIP section and immediately felt awkward.

‘Shit, maybe I shouldn’t have come.’

He had gotten the ticket from Seo Hoyun and casually asked his group members if they wanted to go. Their eyes had gone wide, then they all started choking like they’d inhaled their drinks wrong.

After that came the comments—asking if he’d eaten something weird, if he’d hit his head, if he needed to see a doctor. When it felt like they were just mocking him, he turned to leave the practice room.

The members scrambled to follow.

“Ahhh! Woosung! Obviously we’re just joking!”

“Let’s go, let’s go together!”

After teasing him mercilessly, they clung to his pants begging to tag along, but Joo Woosung shook them off and came alone.

Truthfully, he hadn’t been planning on coming at all. But it bothered him a little that Seo Hoyun hadn’t asked for his help in practice lately.

‘...Though there’s another reason too...’

Still, as time passed, he regretted not dragging Chae Jungwoo along.

Just then, camera flashes popped from the lower section. Even with his cap pulled low, people seemed to recognize him.

Woosung pressed the brim of his cap down harder, almost [N O V E L I G H T] covering his face, and darted his eyes around.

This was supposed to be a VIP section, yet no other celebrities were anywhere in sight.

Only family members who looked like they belonged to The Dawn’s members.

So they really had no friends, just like the rumors said...

“...You guys are seriously friendless, huh...”

It was the kind of remark that would humiliate Seo Hoyun if he heard it. But as soon as the words left his mouth, Woosung felt the sting of self-loathing.

Because it felt like he was looking in a mirror—seeing himself through The Dawn.

“...Should I just leave?”

The thought of headlines like “What does a top idol do in his downtime? Attend The Dawn’s concert alone” spreading online made his stomach twist.

Just as he stood to leave, a familiar voice called from behind. The rıghtful source is 𝓷𝓸𝓿𝓮𝓵•𝓯𝓲𝓻𝓮•𝓷𝓮𝓽

He turned to see Lim Hyunsu and Yoo Jia, both looking slightly surprised.

“Damn, long time no see.”

“Wow, unni! Seriously, seriously, seriously—thank you for coming.”

“Hello, Woosung-ssi.”

He bowed his head in reply to Yoo Jia’s polite greeting, silently relieved.

‘At least I won’t be the only one getting all the attention!’

With Yoo Jia here alongside Lim Hyunsu, the spotlight wouldn’t fall solely on him.

He forced a smile, only for Yoo Jia to tilt her lips in amusement.

“Woosung-ssi, you’re still as shy as ever.”

“...Please let it slide.”

True to her years in the industry, Yoo Jia caught his feelings instantly.

“I’m glad you’re still close with The Dawn.”

“You sound like some brooding younger cousin. Since you’re here, you might as well enjoy yourself.”

Clucking her tongue, Lim Hyunsu patted his back before leaning on the railing.

They exchanged brief small talk before the lights dimmed and a heavy beat thundered through the venue.

The concert intro had begun.

The beat built steadily, and Hyunsu whistled in excitement.

The VCR screen glowed blue.

Kang Ichae’s face appeared, lips curled in a confident smirk, then the screen abruptly went dark.

A faintly lit intersection appeared, where The Dawn members walked leisurely.

Neon lights splashed across Jung Dajun’s cheeks. Blinding flashes illuminated Sung Jiwon without pause.

On a gray street, Seo Hoyun strolled.

He brushed a hand across his lips—smoke slipped out, glowing blue.

Kim Sunghyun’s hand broke through the spreading smoke, reaching toward the camera as though to touch it—

The wall showing the VCR split open, and The Dawn appeared onstage.

The roar of the crowd swallowed everything. Seo Hoyun, standing front and center, drew more attention than expected.

Whisper me your faith】

If even Woosung thought this, how much more striking did he look to the audience?

‘Hmm. His dancing’s still rough, but... as an idol, he definitely has the natural pull that draws eyes.’

In the end, everything in the industry came down to money—and here, money translated into people’s attention.

Skills like singing or dancing mattered, but without star power, no one shone.

In that sense, Seo Hoyun was undeniably talented.

【Our youth that will never return again

Whatever I don’t care

Come before I bite down】

“Wow, intense from the very start. And the live’s rock-solid, no shaking.”

Yoo Jia let out a quiet exclamation.

She murmured that it reminded her of her trainee days, how much she’d loved them. Woosung quipped dryly:

“...Yoo Jia-ssi, that’s latte talk.”

“Pfft, but lattes are tasty.”

She brushed it off with a grin, eyes glued to The Dawn—especially Sung Jiwon.

“Mmm, I’m jealous. Especially Sung Jiwon—he seems born for this. And he’s hardworking, too.”

“Please, are you one to talk? You’re a natural talent yourself.”

“Ahaha, Hyunsu-unni... If it weren’t for my injury, I’d be shameless enough to agree with you.”

Her reason for switching to acting was layered. The timing of her contract renewal, the industry’s common transition path... and then came her knee injury.

The doctor had warned that if she kept straining it, she might never walk properly again. After months of agonizing, she gave up the stage she loved.

Of course, all of this was top secret, known only to her and her agency.

【Like I’m broken, I circle by your side

How can I live without you?

Then Kang Ichae stepped forward, husky voice pouring breath into his rap.

“Yeeaaah~~! That’s my student, my student!!”

Lim Hyunsu flailed her arms wildly, hyped beyond reason. Woosung discreetly edged a step away from her.

When The Dawn finished Our Shining Dawn, they dove straight into Connected, their IRIX collab track.

【Finally, the boring time passes

I love watching you shine

Step into the ring, just as I planned】

“YEEAAAAH!!! Our Ichae’s a genius, holy shit!!!”

“Noona, please calm down....”

Deciding she was too far gone, Woosung shifted another step away.

Not that her excitement was incomprehensible—The Dawn’s synergy was undeniable.

A 3-year-old group pulling off live performances of this caliber?

They had the image of steadily climbing step by step, but really, they’d rocketed forward on an express train.

‘...Yeah, no wonder companies are salivating.’

Ever since talk of Daepaseong’s acquisition began, agencies had been swarming like sharks.

As Woosung was wondering how this would all play out—

【Don’t hesitate, just move forward

I will never leave your side】

The moment Seo Hoyun’s part began, Woosung instinctively realized something was off.

The expression was the same as always, the dancing wasn’t bad, the balance seemed fine—

【Ready to be connected?】

—and yet something felt off.

As Woosung kept watching Seo Hoyun, he noticed the subtle ways Hoyun seemed to unconsciously avoid using his right foot. His movements were smaller on that side, sometimes gliding past props or formations to disguise it.

Woosung’s brow furrowed.

But beside him, Lim Hyunsu and Yoo Jia showed no sign of noticing.

“Oh, he’s doing well. Our clumsy kid.”

“Seo Hoyun-ssi’s improved a lot. Hard to believe this is the same person who once flailed to a Black Call song on my show.”

“...Don’t you two think something’s off about him?”

Cautiously, Woosung asked. Hyunsu tilted her head.

“He looks like he’s hurt, doesn’t he?”

If he was really hurt, he shouldn’t be able to move this well. Even Yoo Jia, normally hypersensitive to injuries, only looked puzzled without commenting further.

“Hmm? I don’t see it...”

“Doesn’t it seem like he hurt his leg?”

“Woosung, aren’t you being overprotective?”

“What the hell are you talking about?”

Grimacing at Hyunsu’s remark, Woosung shut his mouth. He still felt uneasy, but with everyone else acting normal, he didn’t want to harp on it.

Even during the next stage, Fall, his eyes stayed locked on Seo Hoyun.

And even during the opening ment afterward, Hoyun simply waved at the fans with a calm smile.

‘Maybe I’m being paranoid?’

Woosung thought Hoyun could be frustratingly reckless. Acting detached from the world, yet then charging forward like a man possessed for The Dawn’s sake.

Like the time Hoyun had demanded he help practice overnight before a music video shoot—only to collapse the next day and be hauled off to the hospital.

Hoyun now wasn’t so different.

“Noeul, hello. This is Hoyun.”

As his voice carried across the arena, the fans screamed.

When his bright smile appeared on the jumbo screen, the shrieks intensified.

“Looking out at all the Noeul’s lights is so beautiful. I can see your smiling faces even better tonight. Thank you so much for coming.”

Both Woosung and Hyunsu grimaced.

“Woosung, why the hell does he talk like that?!”

“Exactly! What’s wrong with him?! Good thing I skipped dinner!”

“...Why are you two freaking out?”

Not knowing about the thick history between them, Yoo Jia looked bewildered by their reactions.

Enduring their outbursts, she eventually slipped away with the excuse of finding a better view.

“Look at that dance break.”

“Yeah... that guy doesn’t do anything halfway.”

The concert rolled on—legendary stages like their cover of Ria Purple’s Easy Tempo, or the fan song Orbit.

Even as the “clumsy one,” Hoyun now stood center during dance breaks.

“...Woosung, I probably shouldn’t say this.”

“Don’t start with disclaimers, just say it.”

“You’re prickly as ever.”

Though she said it lightly, Hyunsu’s face was serious.

“Why do you care so much about Seo Hoyun?”

“Noona, that’s too much. Why the hell would I care about him?!”

“Why are you getting so worked up then?”

Woosung ran a rough hand through his hair.

“...It’s just... he catches my attention, that’s all.”

Hyunsu asked if it was because of some incredible talent for dance. He didn’t answer right away. Watching Hoyun laugh and embrace the members, he finally muttered:

“...He’s just like you, noona.”

That confidence in success. That serenity before any challenge. That unshakable calm, even facing a dark, uncertain reality.

All the things Woosung had always wanted for himself.

“...Yeah, you’re hopeless too.”

“......Trust me, I know.”

Woosung shut his mouth, unwilling to drag the conversation further.

Just then, the screen zoomed in on a fan banner.

“Haha, Noeul’s banners are cute.”

But in an instant, the banner flipped—

These fans are terrifying...

They fell silent, watching the show.

As the concert neared its end and The Dawn sang Stardust, Woosung finally knew his hunch had been right.

【My heart’s ablaze with fire

I staked everything from the start】

The kicking choreography had been swapped for sitting motions, and whenever Hoyun used his right leg, his foot barely touched the floor.

At the start, he’d hidden it well, but after hours on stage, the strain showed. His face darkened when moving to the back.

From the VIP seats, Woosung could see it clearly. Some fans probably noticed too—though Hoyun’s flawless expressions whenever he stepped forward left them uncertain.

‘Still... if he can keep performing, maybe it’s not that severe?’

Even with Daepaseong’s lousy management, surely they wouldn’t throw him on stage with a worsening injury.

We’re moving forward】

Yet his clenched jaw gave him away.

Even as he bounded back to center, that trademark confident smile curved on his lips.

It was the same smile he’d worn back when his parents’ accident had gone public, and yet he’d stood on the Shining Star finale stage, fooling everyone.

Woosung felt chills crawling across his skin.

【All the way to the end】

“...That bastard’s insane.”

He was sure of it now.

Hoyun wasn’t standing up there in his right mind.