The WH Entertainment concert, thankfully, was completed in a single day without any schedule delays.
The special collaboration performance had to be repeated seven times before Joo Woosung, finally satisfied with the staff’s reluctant praise, let out a faint laugh and stopped the retakes.
Seo Hoyun, looking noticeably paler, ground his teeth in frustration, while Joo Woosung’s face remained annoyingly flawless.
But despite all that effort, the day’s highlight belonged neither to The Dawn nor to Hi-Five, who were currently riding the peak of their popularity.
“Alright, Black Call ‘Kings’ prerecording now.”
It was obvious who sat on the throne—Black Call.
The moment the intro hit, every single artist under WH, along with staff, rushed out to watch.
【Ooh- Ooh- Ooh-】
The stage Black Call prepared was “Kings.”
【No matter how much you say you’re different
In the end you can’t take your eyes off me
Ah, what can I say?】
From Lee Beomhyeon, who opened with the first line, there was no trace of the junior who used to blush whenever praised by his juniors.
Then, as the line of backup dancers saluted and split like a wave, Chae Jungwoo appeared.
【In twisted afterimages I remain
The small doubt hidden in your heart】
The precise rhythm, the full-bodied resonance filling the set, and the subtle yet deeply carved emotion—
【You can’t deny】
It was impossible to believe this was the same man who had recently suffered from vocal cord nodules.
【A crack spreads through a tiny gap
I change everything about you】
Everyone watching was left with their jaws hanging open. Seo Hoyun was no exception.
Even before their break, they had been amazing. But now, “divine” was the only word left to describe them.
【Don’t run away, I’m right by your side
If you reel, you know why...】
Especially Joo Woosung.
【It’s Black Call】
During the special collaboration he had been holding back out of courtesy for his juniors. But on Black Call’s stage, he went wild like a beast unleashed from its chains.
In the end, Black Call’s prerecording wrapped in just two takes.
They delivered a performance that left goosebumps crawling over everyone’s skin, then walked off stage laughing and chatting as if nothing had happened.
“Insane, absolutely insane...”
“Are they even human?”
To dance like that and still explode with energy again immediately—
For Kim Sunghyun, that became a whole new source of stimulation. From that moment, he locked himself back into the practice room.
As for Seo Hoyun, he still couldn’t believe Sunghyun had managed to take away something meaningful from Joo Woosung’s ridiculous advice.
***
[Guys... is there no ninja who snuck into WH...]
Meanwhile, fans blocked by WH’s ironclad security were stomping their feet, desperate for even a drop of information.
[This time the security’s legendary, no matter how much I dig there’s nothing]
[Aaaaah what the hell happened at WH Con, I’m dying of curiosity. I’d eat anything WH throws me, I’m just an otaku for them]
[Give me Yeonhoo news... what about our Chaejun...]
[What did The Dawngs do, was it a collab? Don’t tell me it was with Hi-Five... no way WH wouldn’t be that brainless hahaha...]
[Ugh, the Noeul are collapsing... crying because not a single crumb has dropped...]
[Doesn’t Joo Woosung look super happy these days on Stargram Live? He looked totally thrilled before and after the WH Con prerecord... oh my god, don’t tell me Black Call comeback...! Fuck, fine, it’s my delusion.
└No, it’s possible lol. The Black Call guys have been going to the company like crazy lately.]
As the thirst for WH Entertainment concert news grew unbearable, Lee Jihyun decided ✧ NоvеIight ✧ (Original source) to toss out a little bait.
【THE DAWN ― ‘Skate Kiss’, ‘Good Driver’ SPECIAL STAGE Behind】
She uploaded behind-the-scenes footage of their Mango Music Awards unit performance.
[Holy shit]
[Thank you, Daepaseong-nim, bow bow bow]
The roughly 15-minute video opened with Kang Ichae in a hoodie, looking raw and natural.
【Ta-da!】
He waved and briefly explained the situation.
【...—It’s the day we’re doing a simple recording for the Mango Music Awards special stage. We don’t have much time, so we’ll be going through it speedily~.】
【Hahaha, since Ichae prepared so well I don’t think there’ll be any issues. The remix is amazing, too.】
Then the assistant engineer’s voice chimed in.
[Wait, Kang Ichae did the remix and recording too?]
[Isn’t that the kind of thing big companies usually handle themselves? Does the composing member have to?]
[He said it’s just habit lol. Since Daepaseong doesn’t have an in-house recording director, all the special stages like this are done by Kang Ichae working with Cheongbeom...
└The more I say it the sadder it sounds...
└└Lmao fuckkkkk TT_TT But hey, WH’s still better, right... yeah...]
Soon, Jung Dajun and Sung Jiwon appeared.
Kang Ichae played them the track and explained what parts he wanted emphasized.
The first to step into the booth was Sung Jiwon.
【With my love for you
I want to fill this sky】
Just seconds earlier, Ichae had certified it was early morning, yet Jiwon sang clean, soaring high notes without even warming up.
But Ichae tilted his head, not quite satisfied, and pressed the button to speak.
【It’s good, but let’s raise the pitch just a bit more? I want it to sound dramatic~.】
【Okay.】
Just as easily as he replied, Jiwon delivered it.
But then—
【Fall to the place you want, broke up with my lover!
Still, don’t be sad!】
What followed... who knew if it was rap or staccato.
Ichae bit his lip hard, shoulders shaking, barely holding back laughter.
【Ichae, how was that?!】
【Khff... pffhh... it was killer...】
[Ichae is dying here]
[lmaoooo at least he’s polite enough to try not to laugh...]
When Jiwon eagerly asked for feedback, Ichae finally collapsed, shaking so hard he looked like he couldn’t breathe.
[Don’t take off the headphones looking proud, Jiwon lmaooooo]
[I’ve always wanted to see Kang Ichae react to Jiwon’s rap, and here it is lol]
[Kang Ichae teaches him rap so hard but Jiwon never gets any of it.
└Jiwon’s shocking comment: “That wasn’t bad, right?”
└Legendary. If it were me I’d have been crushed.]
After scribbling notes and repeating the part a couple more times, Jiwon left the booth looking very satisfied.
Next came Jung Dajun.
【Ay, Ay, Ay... mm.】
Bright and refreshing, his citrus-like energy filled the booth. It looked like he’d nail it in one go.
【Director-nim, can I try again?!】
【Oh? Sure~.】
But then, looking unsettled, Dajun raised his hand.
[Where’s our maknae who used to whine not to practice anymore...?]
[Ahhh hearing he cried when he failed in Shas2 made me cry too... seeing him improve like this makes me so proud...]
【Just once more... let me try once more...!】
【Elephant, out.】
His clear voice kept getting raspier as he stubbornly insisted on retrying. In the end, Kim Sunghyun and Seo Hoyun dragged him out so they could record “Good Driver.” Dajun trudged away looking defeated.
【Alright, going into ‘Good Driver’ now~.】
After finishing his part quickly, Kang Ichae turned serious as he directed the other two.
[Wow, Kang Ichae is tough as a director]
[Seriously intense]
He told Kim Sunghyun to deepen his low notes, and Seo Hoyun to roll his syllables and lean into sexiness.
[Lol Seo Hoyun joked he’d get broadcast-banned if he got any sexier here. Classic Hoyun.]
[Ichae really understands the members well. He knows exactly which qualities of Sunghyun’s voice catch people’s ears and how to highlight them.]
[Yeah, because if you just look at Sunghyun’s face and voice, you’d never imagine he’s “Water Mandu” lol]
Fans, though pained to see Ichae micromanaging every detail like he was still chained to Daepaseong, couldn’t help but admire The Dawn’s fierce determination to leave an impression—even for a simple award show stage.
.
.
.
“Hoyun-hyung~, breakfast time!!”
After the WH Entertainment concert wrapped, The Dawn got half a day’s rest. They could have gone out, but everyone decided to stay in the dorm and recharge.
Waking up early was a habit, so by 6 a.m. they were all up. They gathered food in the living room until the table was full, turning on the Mango Music Awards SPECIAL STAGE behind-the-scenes video as background.
Ichae was still shaking and wiping tears from his eyes at Jiwon’s recording scene.
“Ha, I’ll take this video to the grave...”
“Hey Ichae, don’t you think I got better?”
“Yup, totally!!”
“Don’t lie. Kang Ichae. Believe in me for real.”
When I cut Ichae’s teasing short, Jiwon gave me a slightly hurt look.
But no matter how much I cared about Sung Jiwon, I couldn’t honestly say his rap had improved. That was the level of his skill.
“Hyungs! I’m on cooking duty today, you’ll all eat dinner right?!”
“Haha, sorry Dajun. I’ve got class, can’t make it!”
“What? Jiwon-hyung, you too?!”
“Yeah, I’ve got a schedule.”
At first, Dajun’s eyes went wide at Jiwon’s escape, but then his head snapped toward me.
“Why?! Hoyun-hyung, you’ve got something too?! Our perfume CF shoot is still days away and the year-end stage isn’t right now!!!”
“Mm, I’ve got a personal schedule today.”
“Whaaat?!”
Already losing my appetite at the thought of the maknae’s cooking, I only drank water.
“David and Goliath.”
“Isn’t that an educational program?”
David and Goliath.
It was a quiz show where one competed against many.
When I saw a vague empty spot in this month’s schedule, I’d asked the manager if there was anything we could slot in. Better to be moving than idling, and maybe the system would throw me a quest.
One of the programs he offered was David and Goliath.
“These quiz shows can sometimes hurt your image though, so you need to be careful...”
“It’s fine. I’ll do it.”
I even bullied the unresponsive system window until it finally coughed up a quest titled “Now you’re even extorting me T_T.”
[Sudden Quest!
Appear on ‘David and Goliath’ and within three days achieve 10,000 retweets on SNS clips, or 500,000 YouTube views.
Success: 4,000 points
Failure: Permanent ban from educational program appearances]
The reward was stingier than seawater, but I wasn’t in a position to complain.
As Ichae slurped Sunghyun’s fishcake soup, he suddenly asked,
“...So, hyung, you’re going to conquer a quiz show?”
“Wait, isn’t that tough? Oh! Hoyun-hyung-hyung, use your phone-a-friend chance on me! I’ll help!!”
Dajun, cheeks stuffed like a squirrel, bounced excitedly.
I sipped more water and grinned.
“Dajun.”
“Yes!”
“The odds of me using a phone-a-friend on you are extremely low, but if I win the prize money, I’ll buy you a good meal.”
“Khff—cough, cough—”
Choking, Dajun wheezed and turned to the leader.
“What’s wrong with him again?”
“How should I know...”
“Hey, watch your tone.”
I pinched the maknae’s lips shut between my fingers.
Lately, I’d been trying to curse less and act nicer. The end of this road was near, and I wanted to treat both fans and members well.
“I don’t feel like eating anymore. My stomach hurts...”
You brat, you’re eating anyway.
I shoved a spoonful into his mouth.
“But Hoyun, don’t you need to study if you’re going on a quiz show?”
Sung Jiwon tilted his head. I just shrugged.
“Why bother?”
“....”
“Ugh...”
The maknae groaned at my cockiness, but I cleaned out my ear with my pinky and ignored them.
I had good reason to be confident.
Because I’d been on this program before.
