Chapter 278: Chapter 278

I turned my gaze away from Jung Seonui, who had thrown in a supporting remark as if she understood roughly what I meant, and gave a signal to Lee Jihyun. Lee Jihyun quickly handed over the prepared document.

“This is The Dawn’s activity plan for this year.”

It was a plan we had already completed back in November of last year.

Of course, I did not think everything would be accepted as is, but it was a declaration of war in a sense.

That this is how we will be promoting.

Team Leader Jung Seonui skimmed quickly through the plan, then snapped it shut and placed it on the table.

“What about the comeback?”

“We are thinking of about two more times going forward.”

Hearing Lee Jihyun’s reply, Jung Seonui tapped the paper lightly with her finger, as if weighing various things.

“I would like to push the overseas tour back to next year.”

As Daepaseong’s side added a word here and there, the faces of the WH Entertainment representatives stiffened slightly.

Seeing this, Jung Seonui’s smile only deepened.

“We will need to coordinate after hearing more from WH’s planning team and each management team, so this is not really something to be casually decided in a place .”

After gathering the plan, she stood as though to signal that the meeting was over.

“And as much as possible, do not turn on live streams. WH does not decide content impulsively. Besides, during a time , seeing strange comments and getting shaken mentally would be no good.”

It was obviously a subtle show of force.

Even in her polite words, the implication was clear—say only as much as you can handle.

In some sense, even this alone showed the difference from Daepaseong.

“Sincerely, welcome to WH Entertainment. Then, I will look forward to The Dawn’s activities.”

As WH representatives and Daepaseong staff exchanged handshakes one by one, Jung Seonui suddenly spoke as if she had just remembered.

“Oh, is The Dawn still living in a dormitory? If it is alright, how about moving into the new dormitory we provide? We are a little sensitive about security.”

Her words carried the tone of a suggestion, but the meaning was essentially—better move.

But there was no reason to oppose it anyway.

Before the manager could even open his mouth, I jumped in first with a smile.

As it was, more and more people were camping in front of the dorm, while Daepaseong’s security measures were laughably lacking.

The first meeting ended more ordinarily than I had thought, and as I was about to leave the meeting room, Jung Seonui called me.

“Seo Hoyun-ssi, can we talk for a moment?”

Following her, I came to a lounge with comfortable sofas and vending machines set up where drinks could be taken for free.

After inviting me to sit, Jung Seonui sat down on the sofa opposite me and spoke.

“It’s nothing much. It just seemed as though you always speak through someone else’s mouth.”

“Haha, what do you mean?”

As the team leader of a major agency’s management team, her experience was indeed on another level.

“Even in the meeting just now, the Daepaseong staff looked only at you whenever I spoke. I also saw the documentary about The Dawn that you sponsored and produced on YouTube the other day. It seems you participate a lot in the management, Seo Hoyun-ssi.”

“Oh, it’s an honor that you watched it.”

“...Hm. And you are very good at slipping away too.”

Wiping away her smile, Jung Seonui met my eyes with a serious expression.

“WH and Daepaseong are very different. We will try to provide as much convenience as possible, but I cannot say there will never be times when The Dawn has to match our side unilaterally. Still, this is no empty word—I really do have high expectations.”

“You may feel it is difficult to express opinions directly, but as an artist your perspective is always welcome. I will also read carefully through the plan you gave me.”

She added that and glanced briefly at The Dawn’s activity plan resting on her lap.

“But... there is one thing I do not understand. Why did you schedule such a tight promotion?”

In fact, once idols gained some recognition and experience, it was common to lower the frequency of activities to prevent image burnout, instead increasing the quality of each album.

“To win the Daesang.”

When I repeated clearly, Jung Seonui’s eyes widened slightly, and then she lifted her head toward the ceiling.

“...Well. I understand your intention at least, Seo Hoyun-ssi.”

She must think it impossible.

But instead of explaining further, I only tugged lightly at the corner of my lips.

Whatever calculations went through her head, she smiled as well and changed the subject abruptly.

“By the way, Seo Hoyun-ssi, do you have any intention to act? In ‘Bring Me the Camera’ you left such a strong impress—.”

“...But your acting was so—.”

Sure, whether drama or film, if I added solo activities, The Dawn’s name would be exposed more times, but it was far better to spend that time going on group variety shows, shooting our own content, or preparing another album.

“You are quite the iron wall.”

Even as I rejected her with a flawless business smile, Jung Seonui smacked her lips in regret. But her eyes still showed no sign of giving up.

Sensing that staying longer would only become troublesome, I rose from my seat.

“Then, I will see you next time.”

“Yes, take care on your way. Mind your health as well.”

As I left the lounge and turned the corner at the end of the hallway, the system window appeared.

[Still, it looks like things will go better than expected at WH Entertainment, so that is a relief!]

Aside from the dormitory and basic provisions WH Entertainment would provide, we had received no firm promises.

“Team Leader Jung Seonui is a total fox.”

Her smiling face had never changed, but her skill at deflecting and postponing was no joke. Saying she would read the plan carefully was simply to determine if it was worth investing in.

Even under a multi-label system, WH Entertainment’s influence could not help but extend to Daepaseong.

If The Dawn failed to prove their value, we would be discarded coldly. After all, there was no shortage of idols worth fostering.

That was why even the members and the fans could not simply rejoice.

‘Well, I know that type well enough.’

But dealing with such people was one of my specialties.

I knew exactly the method that worked on them.

As I walked down the glass corridor with the Han River clearly visible, turning toward the elevators—

“...Hm? Seo Hoyun-ssi?”

Tears welled up in his eyes, falling drop by drop.

The absurd sight made me blurt out before I realized:

At my chin jerk, Kang Yeonhoo flustered, hurriedly wiping under his eyes with the back of his hand, then lifted the bottle of artificial tears in his hand.

“I had LASIK, LASIK. Why would I cry? More importantly, why are you speaking informally to me?”

True enough, despite his long years as a trainee, he had managed to debut under WH Entertainment and hold out until now—he was not the type to cry .

Feigning ignorance and playing dumb, I let out a sigh, while Kang Yeonhoo shoved the artificial tears into his pants pocket. He glanced at my leg in a cast, then gestured with his hand toward the ledge by the window next to the elevator, telling me to sit.

I accepted his offer without protest and added jokingly,

“For a second, I thought you were crying because you were touched to be part of one family with us.”

“You really speak in strange ways. Are you actually glad?”

“Of course. It’s WH Entertainment.”

When I replied calmly, Kang Yeonhoo’s brows furrowed slightly, then quickly returned to normal.

“Even with that uproar among the fans?”

I shrugged my shoulders. Kang Yeonhoo let out another long sigh.

That sigh carried a tangle of emotions.

“There are so many rumors going around...”

He did not specify further, but I could guess well enough.

Things like—was Hi-Five abandoned, will they stop investing, have they given up?

For now, since money was already invested, support would continue, but they would constantly be compared to The Dawn, and if they fell behind, WH Entertainment might discard them. Of course, the same risk applied to The Dawn as well.

“I don’t know how it came to this... but really, what can we do about the company’s decisions?”

Since I had never seen Kang Yeonhoo look so pressed.

Normally he was a master at pretending.

“This time, we’re really going to grit our teeth and [N O V E L I G H T] prepare.”

But still, his eyes were shining.

Like someone who had not lost his goal.

At his fiery words, I laughed.

“Of course. Yeonhoo-ssi, you love the stage.”

Kang Yeonhoo froze like a robot with the wrong command input, then, after a brief silence, muttered quietly,

“...Now I see why Jung Wonha fell for you so easily.”

“You know exactly who I mean. That poor guy who got tricked by a two-faced snake in Shining Star Season 2.”

He was being sincere this time.

“...Thinking about it makes me kind of pissed. I’m leaving. Let’s just keep our encounters minimal.”

“Why? If you cry, I’ll lend you a shoulder.”

“If I cry, I’ll cry with my members!”

Looking disgusted, Kang Yeonhoo turned his back and strode off quickly.

‘Still, he’s spirited. That’s good to see.’

I chuckled and pressed the elevator button, replaying the conversation with Kang Yeonhoo in my mind.

He had said he didn’t know how it had come to this, but there was no way he truly didn’t know.

Broader IP expansion? Pursuing diverse value streams?

Of course, those were added benefits WH Entertainment expected to gain from this merger.

‘It’s money, you bastard.’

For corporations, the first, second, and hundredth priority was profit.

Or rather, the objects that could generate that profit.

As I stepped into the elevator that had arrived on my floor, my thoughts continued.

‘If The Dawn doesn’t want to be left out in the cold...’

It was still too early to make a definitive judgment, but from the rumors floating in the industry and from today’s meeting, at least WH Entertainment seemed willing to invest properly if there was money to be made.

Other groups of similar tenure, multi-label or not—it didn’t matter.

As long as the return on investment was high.

And soon Daepaseong’s first-quarter revenue would be announced.

And once we moved to a global fandom platform, the influx of overseas fans would grow even larger than now, which would also translate into sales.

When I reached the underground parking lot and walked toward our van, Sung Jiwon spotted me, waved brightly, and smiled.

At the same time, all the members’ gazes turned toward me.

I reflexively smiled back at them.

“Hoyun, listen! We were supposed to head back right away, but WH’s planning team asked the Daepaseong staff to stay for a bit. So we thought we’d look around the company while we wait. Do you want to come with us?”

As Kim Sunghyun came closer, trying to support me, I brushed his hand away. Meanwhile, Jung Dajun and Kang Ichae were already buzzing with excitement.

“Hyung! Hyung hyung! It’s crazy! They said every single meal here is a buffet!! Can we stay for dinner?!”

“I, I, I want to see the composing studio!!”

“Then can I check out the practice room where Joo Woosung sunbae practices?!”

I hadn’t noticed from his face alone, but even Kim Sunghyun’s ears were red—he was clearly worked up too.

I gave them a gentle smile.

“Hoyunie’s leg hurts.”

The members instantly shut their mouths.

“...What the heck? Is Hoyun hyung throwing a tantrum?”

“I don’t even know anymore...”

Deflated, they grumbled as they climbed into the van.

Just wait, you brats.

Your sly snake hyung has a plan for everything.

Daepaseong was absorbed into WH Entertainment at lightning speed, like beans roasted on a flash fire.

[WH must have been sharpening their knives for this]

[I’ve never seen a merger go this fast in all my K-POP life hahahahahaha They must’ve had everything set already... and apparently even the company building is being moved in stages]

[Right? And WH’s new headquarters is freaking huge]

Even though The Dawn was now under WH Entertainment, they would still promote under Daepaseong’s name as a multi-label. This drew attention not only from Noeul but also from many immersed in K-POP.

Except for Black Call’s fandom, Bloy.

[I wonder what Woosung is up to these days]

[Will I ever get to see Woosung do a 1:1 live with another member before I die... god the awkwardness between them would be so cute...

└How can you call that cute

└└What do you even know about Woosung]

Black Call fans, contrary to expectations, barely reacted.

WH had already been a big company, but it skyrocketed after listing on the stock market and debuting Black Call. People even joked that half of WH’s new HQ was built by Black Call alone.

And The Dawn was far too small to even be compared to Black Call, so naturally the only names on people’s lips were The Dawn and Hi-Five.

[Honestly, both groups’ members are pretty sharp

They haven’t said anything... sure the company must’ve warned them, but they’re being extremely cautious

└But it kinda feels like the kids are too tense T_T I’m a bit worried T_T

└└Well, nothing they can do T_T]

[Even if Hi-Five’s recognition is lower in Korea, they’re big in Southeast Asia, The Dawn is higher in Korea, the US, and Japan...]

[I want both groups to succeed but honestly it’s worrisome... Of course people will talkㅠ]

[Guys... I cracked open a bottle of alcohol tonight...

Even my job transfer wasn’t this stressful...]

Naturally, Noeul were on edge in this situation.

In particular, seeing how WH had handled their own idols in the past, it was easy to imagine The Dawn’s promotions being restricted and interfered with, which filled them with worry.

[To be honest, I’m really worriedㅠ WH is famous for not allowing spontaneous lives... staff are always monitoring or should I say “watching” hehe ^^ (not funny)]

[Exactly. The Dawn are kings of fan communicationㅠ If that gets limited, it’ll be unbearable...]

But since the decision was already made, Noeul tried to stay upbeat even in such a tense time. Tʜe source of this ᴄontent ɪs 𝘯𝘰𝘷𝘦𝘭•𝘧𝘪𝘳𝘦•𝘯𝘦𝘵

Especially since new fans were pouring in like a tide, they wanted to lighten the mood somehow.

[You know, I was thinking...

This feels familiar...

It’s like they’re two idol groups avoiding each other like they’re opposite-sex groups haha

└└Oh my god you’re right LOOOOOLLLLLLLLLL This is insane LMAOOOOOO]

[Sometimes trolls show up saying The Dawn is lucky to have escaped Daepaseong’s cobweb-ridden building

Honestly I agree with that one]

└LOOOOOOOLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLL Totally true but hilarious

While fans were exchanging jokes like that, suddenly a live notification appeared from WH’s entertainment platform.

Even the title was unusual.

When Noeul connected, the first thing they saw was a practice room lit by bright LED lights with state-of-the-art audio equipment. It was nothing like the shabby, dim training room of Daepaseong they were used to.

Then, right up against the camera, Seo Hoyun’s face popped into view.

At first, fans couldn’t even process what their eyes were seeing, stammering in disbelief, until eventually they clutched their necks like they were about to faint.

He was back to black hair. And on top of that, he was neatly dressed in a school uniform.

The other members poked their faces in one by one.

It was The Dawn’s first full group surprise live since the Daepaseong acquisition, held in WH Entertainment’s brand-new HQ practice room without a single prior notice.

Seo Hoyun’s lips curved slyly.

“—we’ll be showing you a girl group dance relay.”

Seo Hoyun was stirring up trouble again.

Our crazy bastard wasn’t about to get intimidated just because he was in a bigger pond now.