After finishing all their schedules in Jeju, The Dawn returned to Seoul and immediately dove into preparations for WH Entertainment’s concert set to air on January 1st. Their usual packed schedules continued, and time flew by in a blur.
Before they knew it, mid-December had arrived—the pre-recording day for # Nоvеlight # WH Entertainment’s no-audience concert.
“Ooh, so we can retake as many times as needed?”
“Yeah, since there’s no audience, as long as we don’t fall too far behind the plan, it’s allowed.”
The Dawn’s waiting room was as noisy as ever.
As the group with the lowest seniority among WH Entertainment’s artists, The Dawn had already finished their own stage and returned, chatting noisily. Only Seo Hoyun and Kim Sunghyun were still moving around, changing outfits for the special collaboration stage.
Hoyun wore tight slacks split at the knee, a cropped black jacket directly over bare skin, tied at the waist with long trailing ends wrapped around like a sash. Jung Dajun panicked at how cold he looked and piled hot packs on him.
“Hoyun-hyung, you can’t die yet!!”
“Don’t talk to me, I need to save my energy...”
“Wow, a collaboration already. Don’t worry, you’ll do fine! Guys, fighting~!”
After Sung Jiwon’s warm encouragement, Dajun and Kang Ichae added their own cheers.
But Kim Sunghyun, already dressed and sitting on the sofa, couldn’t take comfort from any of it.
In a sheer black shirt glittering with crystal details and slacks strung with jewel chains, his legs trembled so much the rattling echoed nervously.
The members understood his feelings and didn’t press, only watching him carefully.
But the truth was, Sunghyun wasn’t trembling because he had to perform with his revered senior.
What exactly did Senior Joo Woosung mean that day...
Ever since Woosung’s “advice,” Sunghyun had been agonizing over its meaning. He couldn’t just let it go.
“Seo Hoyun, Kim Sunghyun, please get ready.”
A staffer’s knock and call brought them out.
Taking in his members’ encouragement one more time, Sunghyun walked down the hallway with Hoyun and stepped onto the stage. Under the dazzling lights stood Joo Woosung.
“Hello, sunbaenim.”
He wore a silver-threaded white organza blouse adorned with elegant ruffles at the neck and cuffs, and white slacks marked by a gray stripe along the side. His styling harmonized perfectly with Hoyun’s, like they’d been matched on purpose.
“Oh, you’re here?”
Even if Woosung was saying something useful, Sunghyun couldn’t focus. Hanging back, he watched the two talk as Woosung slung an arm over Hoyun’s shoulder.
“Our Seo Hoyun, good work. Let’s enjoy this today, have fun~.”
“...What the hell?”
Hoyun shuddered, shaking him off, but Woosung just smiled and playfully bumped Sunghyun with his shoulder.
“Sunghyun, you too. Don’t worry, just do whatever you want.”
I hope you go through a long, terrifying, dark slump. Just like I did.
The words Woosung had given him before flickered through Sunghyun’s mind.
“Getting ready to record. Please take positions.”
The staff’s instructions came through their in-ears, and the cameras’ red lights lit up.
【Flash, Flash, Flash....】
The title of the special collaboration song: Wit.
A hidden treasure, an unreleased track WH Entertainment had tightly locked away.
【Flash, Flash, Flash....】
Three white flashes pulsed like heartbeats against the dark, while shadows of their profiles appeared and vanished with each flicker.
【Flash.】
Bright light flared, and Woosung’s face was revealed.
He opened his eyes languidly, chin tilted high, as the grand, intricate beat filled the hall.
【“I don’t know the meaning of ‘just enough’
Flash of Wit, this sense you’ll never understand.”】
From then, it was Woosung’s stage alone.
Every minor movement turned into art. Sunghyun struggled just to hold his ground against the tide of Woosung’s presence.
【“I feel ecstasy when I press down.”】
And right then, he truly was being pressed down by Woosung.
【“It took forever to climb this high,
Don’t even think of challenging recklessly.
You can’t follow my path.”】
Hoyun sometimes dismissed Woosung as nothing special. And Sunghyun too, despite his admiration, had grown numb to the name “Joo Woosung.”
But standing beside him made it clear.
...Insane.
On stage, he was omnipotent.
“You need to understand—there’s instinct. Not just extending your arm, but what to do with your fingertips...”
【“But if you still dare follow,
Play with me to the very end.”】
“...Not just lifting your head, but where to rest your gaze. Not just a simple motion, but flowing movement, not just breathing out, but carrying breath forward.”
Woosung’s voice echoed again in his head.
...Could I ever reach that?
Could he, someday, do the same?
Sunghyun knew these things instinctively. But controlling every muscle, every cell, as easily as Woosung described—it was far beyond him.
Just then, Hoyun stepped to center stage with a relaxed smile and lifted his mic.
【“No need to tell me I’m crazy,
I’ve always been like this (Are you sure?)”】
The live vocals spread raw across the pre-recording site.
【“Hold your ground, no matter what anyone says,
I always go straight.”】
...Hoyun’s good.
After endless practice nights, Hoyun nailed his moves with precision, timing every cut perfectly for the camera.
I can’t do that.
Sunghyun knew his own strengths and weaknesses.
He often lost himself to rhythm and instinct. If he copied Hoyun’s calculated approach, he’d trip over his own steps.
【“If you want to draw me in,
you need to make a big move.”】
...Then what about me?
I don’t calculate, I don’t just enjoy...
Tall, long-limbed, Sunghyun had to constantly study to avoid looking awkward.
He’d imitated, borrowed, fought to break free—finally finding his own style, thinking he’d caught up. Yet he was still falling behind. Still standing still.
If his path was still endless—
“Gain depth.”
...Wasn’t that frustrating?
【“Get up this way!”】
Sunghyun surged forward, stomping the floor, spinning into center stage.
He might never become a Woosung, or a Hoyun.
【“I feel ecstasy when I press down.”】
So he had to find his own.
His own way to stand equal.
So he’d never regret later.
Out of persistence, responsibility, expressiveness?
No.
Something more fundamental, what he was born with—
【“You can—.”】
—Strength.
He swung his fist-like arm with power.
【“—be my witness!”】
The strength to carry the stage to the very end.
【“I don’t know complicated words,
Flash of Wit, the action only I can take.”】
He danced each move with weight, matching the heavy rhythm.
【“Get up this way,
It’s my flash of wit.”】
Just as Woosung stepped forward again, their eyes locked. Woosung’s smile widened, delighted.
【“I told you, in front of you I just want to be simple.”】
Then he stepped back, standing shoulder to shoulder with Hoyun—though he was meant to be in front.
【“If you’re drawn in, just say you like it.
Don’t sneer.”】
“...!”
For an instant, Hoyun’s expression cracked.
But Woosung ignored it, grinning as he pulled Hoyun’s arm.
【“Do you understand now?”】
And their choreography shifted—solo moves turning into a dazzling partner dance.
【“Hold your ground, no matter what anyone says,
I always go straight,
Yes, Yes, Yes.”】
The music slowed, the three stood in a line.
【“It’s my flash of wit.”】
Blowing a kiss toward the camera, Woosung closed the performance.
Sunghyun gazed up at the spotlight burning brighter than ever.
.
.
.
Son of a bitch.
“Thank you~.”
“Let’s monitor before we go.”
That bastard Woosung had suddenly changed the choreography.
Sure, since it was recording, they could retake—but if he pulled that trick again, who knew how many times it’d repeat.
Worst case, Hoyun would end up with the label: Seo Hoyun flailing next to Joo Woosung lol.
“Woosung-ssi, the ending choreography seemed a little different. The camera had to zoom out.”
“Oh, was it bad?”
“No, no, it was great. Actually looked better on camera.”
It felt like revenge for the workshop. My teeth ground together.
“Wow, you flailed on stage, but you look fine on screen. Good job, Seo Hoyun.”
“What? Didn’t Hoyun dance really well?”
Woosung sneered as he watched the playback. A staffer, puzzled, asked:
“...Are you serious?”
“Of course...? Hoyun’s lines are clean and stylish. For a vocalist to dance like this is rare....”
My dance stat is A, you bastard!
I wanted to shout agreement but bit it back, glaring at Woosung’s insincere face.
Then quiet exclamations rose nearby.
“Wow, the power....”
“Sunghyun, you look different today.”
The monitor showed Sunghyun leading his section—every move sharp, forceful, perfectly suiting the song’s intensity.
I turned to see him.
“...Yes, I think it went well too.”
He looked oddly torn between emptiness and joy.
Watching him, Woosung’s lips curled.
“Sunghyun.”
“...Y-yes?”
“That stage was fun, right?”
After a blank pause, Sunghyun smiled, dimples deep.
“...It was.”
Ding!
[Kim Sunghyun seems to have realized something!]
What?
[Song: B+
Dance: ???
Variety: B+
Acting: D0
Charm: A+
???: ???
※Dance form is currently changing, exact stat cannot be measured.]
“...What the hell....”
“Hm?”
“N-no, nothing.”
It was the first system message like this I’d ever seen.
Did he really gain something from Woosung’s shitty advice?
Rereading the flickering blue window, I swept back my damp hair.
Well, whatever. Good’s good.
I didn’t get it, but at least for Sunghyun, that nonsense had been a trigger.
“Looks like we could wrap it here. What do you think? We’ve got time, but...”
After performing The Dawn’s set and the special collab, the tension ebbed, fatigue crashing in like a tide.
“Yes, then—”
“Clumsy~!!”
Woosung’s voice cut me off.
Back on stage again, he waved brightly.
“Hurry up~!!”
“......”
The staff smiled warmly at the two of us.
Bad feeling.
“Should we do another take?”
“...Ha, haha. Woosung-hyung really wants more stage time.”
“Professional, professional.”
With a deathly look, I dragged myself forward. Woosung leaned in to whisper.
“Hey, you thought we’d stop after one take?”
“......”
“Just wait for what’s next.”
Damn it. From Jeju, he’d been in high spirits.
Son of a bitch!
Meanwhile, Sunghyun bounced with excitement, just happy to dance again.
Only I braced myself for another round of Woosung’s whims, lashes trembling with rage as I took my starting position.
“Hey. Do you always mess with everyone this petty and annoying?”
“As if. Of course not.”
