Chapter 143: End-of-Year Stage (13)
The moment Suh Hyun-Woo's solemn face that was bathed in crimson lights graced the giant screen, the whole venue fell into a profound silence, almost as if the world itself paused in reverence. The Rings, his most ardent supporters, were visibly gripped by the spectacle, their breaths held in rapt attention. It was as if they were witnessing a moment of pure magic—Suh Hyun-Woo's solo performance, a serendipitous offering crafted solely for this unforgettable night.
Suh Hyun-Woo possessed an indescribable aura, a magnetic allure born of innate talent, polished skill, and an irresistible charisma. When he started dancing, his moves directly captivated the audience, sweeping them away in his rhythm. His performance was a breathtaking symphony of strength and elegance, effortlessly transitioning between dynamic vigor and fluid grace, each movement more mesmerizing than the last.
“He is insane...”
With no one else on stage, Suh Hyun-Woo expressed his own brand of madness, furrowing his brows and recklessly tousling his well-groomed hair.
As he immersed himself in his performance, both the Chronos fans and the rest of the audience fell into a hushed awe. His presence was so compelling that it captured the attention of everyone.
Suddenly, the spellbinding silence was broken by soft gasps and murmurs of amazement as Suh Hyun-Woo's dance reached its climax. The once-red lights transitioned to a softer hue, expanding to reveal the dancers who joined Suh Hyun-Woo in a stunningly synchronized routine. In a bold, unscripted moment, Suh Hyun-Woo tore off his constricting brooch and tossed it aside with an effortless flair that only added to the intensity of the performance.
As the dance progressed, even casual idol fans found themselves completely entranced by it. The performance captivated the entire arena, as everyone was immersed in its every move and beat. Everyone felt that the choreography was a masterpiece, using every part of Suh Hyun-Woo's body to convey emotions and narratives, right down to the way his hair moved along with his gestures.
As Suh Hyun-Woo finally knelt to conclude his solo, he exuded a rugged yet elegant aura, with his once-neat platinum hair now tousled and his shirt partially untucked.
As the spotlight faded to black, transitioning to Yoo Jeon-Hwa's stage, the delayed eruption of applause and cheers for Suh Hyun-Woo reverberated through the venue, a testament to the unforgettable impact of his performance.
***
“Ah...ugh." As the stage darkened and the focus shifted away from me, I collapsed, pressing my forehead against the cool stage floor.
“Suh Hyun-Woo, are you okay?"
“...I can't catch my breath."
A dancer's concerned hands gently stroked my back. My back strain had been a frustrating issue during intense practices, and it had acted up again under the spotlight. Thankfully, the blackout had shifted most of the audience's attention away, but I knew my fans were likely still watching me.
With the help of a dancer, I slowly made my way offstage. I should have not pushed myself too far, but it was hard to control myself under the rush of the performance.
“Hyun-Woo, are you alright? Can you handle the next stage?"
“Yes, I can absolutely do it." With only fifteen seconds to change, I had to rush. Being on stage a bit longer to endure the pain meant I only had ten seconds left. The pain was manageable, but the thought of not being able to perform was unbearable.
I grabbed the stylist's arm as she helped me change, and I apologized, “I'm sorry about the brooch earlier. I couldn't breathe because my back was acting up."
“Don't worry about it. We will find it later. Just make sure to head to the hospital right after the stage, okay?"
“...Okay.”
“Hyun-Woo, are you ready? We need to move now!"
The stylist hurried up at the stage staff’s words. While we talked about the brooch, she quickly changed my costume into a black sheer-back shirt, partially obscuring my face and leaving only my eyes exposed. It was a striking, assassin-like appearance that, I must admit, exuded an air of coolness.
“Please head to the lift quickly."
“On it!" I dashed beneath the stage, carefully guided by the staff in the dim light to avoid further injury. When I stopped due to extreme pain, the staff almost dragged me into the lift.
“This is tough..." I reached the lift quickly, and the crew promptly attended to my back with a cooling spray and a gentle massage.
“Ha...” I realized then that I had become one of those artists who sustained injuries during end-of-year performances—something I never thought would happen to me. The next moment, a wave of depression washed over me, but I shook it off, focusing on the sound of the final stage above and the cheers of the audience.
“Is your back okay, Hyun-Woo?"
“Yes, it's fine. Really, I'm good."
“Go easy on the next dance. Take it slow."
The senior idols also expressed their concern as they took their places on their lifts.
Fortunately, the coolness of the spray, my adrenaline, and the staff's massage numbed the pain temporarily.
“Lift is going up now!”
I had to calm my mind and start the final group choreography. As the lights came back on after a brief blackout, the sound of a gayageum[1] filled the stage. The spotlight then shifted to the gayageum player who plucked the strings deliberately, creating a captivating silence between the notes. Soon, the music built up with various instruments joining in harmony with the gayageum.
As the lights returned to us, I, standing in the center, started to move slowly in sync with the gayageum. The choreography resembled a Korean traditional dance, a stark contrast to the intense solo performance that had just taken place. Along with the tranquil music, I started to express every detail with my fingertips, gracefully embodying the elegance of the dance amidst the stationary members.
The moment my gaze shifted to the front, I could see our fans' glowsticks wildly waving in the distance. Despite not having official light sticks, our fans had crafted their own to vigorously cheer us on. This sight lifted the corners of my mouth, but my smile was hidden beneath the fabric.
As my part ended, Dong-Woo's hand landed on my shoulder and pulled me back slightly. During Dong-Woo's part, the rest of us formed a circle around him, jumping and spinning before lowering our stance with bent knees.
A sharp pain shot through my back again, but I clenched my teeth and forced my body to move according to the increasingly fast rhythm of the song. The focus of the stage shifted from me to senior Dong-Woo and then senior Jeon-Hwa. The once-fluid dance gained intensity as it progressed.
When all five members had each taken their turn in the center, I exhaled deeply. 'This is the final stretch.'
With a run-up, I stepped on Dong-Woo's hand and executed a high backflip. As I landed safely, I matched the camera's close-up with the look I practiced during rehearsals. After that, I stepped back and gracefully knelt on one knee, lowering my head, with my hands behind my back.
Once again, the spotlight illuminated the gayageum player as she played a brief interlude before the stage went completely dark. Overwhelmed by the throbbing pain on my back, I felt relieved that the performance had come to an end.
***
“Tell them not to release the focus cam footage for now. Just keep it first.”
“Not releasing it?"
Director Choi nodded at Producer Suh’s inquiry.
“We will edit it nicely before we release it. This footage is going to bring in a lot of views. Ah, this is fantastic!” exclaimed Director Choi as he anticipated the positive reception from the broadcasting station's higher-ups. Indeed, bigger stages and generous budgets not only maximized the artists' talents but also produced memorable and show-stopping performances.
Although it was still early, this show had showcased some of its best stages.
“Upload the clip from Next’s stage, and quickly upload the clip from this stage, excluding the focus-cam ones."
“Okay.”
“The rookies from Pick We Up are intimidating," Director Choi muttered to himself, and Producer Suh nodded in agreement.
“It's been like that since the show. They have built up their fandom even before debuting, which gives them an edge over other newcomers."
“That's true, and all the winners of the survival shows have great skills. Look at that."
Director Choi pointed to Suh Hyun-Woo, who was dancing with half of his face covered on the small monitor screen.
“This rookie even stands out among the seniors."
“Director, that's Chronos's Suh Hyun-Woo. He is famous for being exceptional on stage."
“I didn't know his name."
In any idol group, certain members inevitably rise to prominence due to their exceptional skills and charisma. They were always noticeable, and their fans took great pride in their achievements.
To Director Choi, Suh Hyun-Woo embodied such a member. He was the pride of Chronos, the bragging rights of their fans. Whether rookies or veterans, such a member would showcase an impressive stage, and they would naturally uplift everyone’s mood.
Director Choi couldn't take his eyes off Suh Hyun-Woo as he said, “Does Chronos have a lot of popularity overseas? They must, right?"
Producer Suh shrugged. “Well, I don't know. But they've recently made a splash among international K-POP fans with a dance challenge, so they must be somewhat popular." After that, he chuckled, “Of course, compared to major agency groups, it's a pitiful splash."
However, Director Choi clapped his hands in response. “Ah, that's great!"
“...What is?"
Why would Chronos's small international popularity be a good thing? Producer Suh frowned, but Director Choi just laughed.
“I've been looking for talents with low international recognition lately."
“...Director, you are not thinking of casting them for that show just based on this performance, are you?"
Director Choi remained silent and just grinned. An idol with modest international fame yet possessed admirable talent and look... exactly the type of talent that a friend of Director Choi, a producer, was looking for in his new variety show.
Again After Rainfall was a program where popular entertainers with extensive experience became producers and managers, taking Korean artists abroad for performances. Last season's artists included solo singers like Reina.
They either rented stages for quality performances or did guerrilla performances on the streets, filling every Koreans with national pride due to the overwhelmingly positive response. Therefore, for season two, there was a suggestion to focus on idol groups.
However, the main producer had been unable to find suitable participants, often complaining about this during the drink sessions among the showbiz directors.
“There's one more stage left for Chronos, right? I will have to take a look at that guy."
Director Choi thought that Chronos would gain popularity abroad over time, so getting them involved early on wasn't a bad idea. Furthermore, he enjoyed advocating for hardworking and talented newcomers to secure breakthrough opportunities. Watching Suh Hyun-Woo, exhausted as he exited the stage, Director Choi believed it was an excellent idea to consider involving him in such endeavors.
1. A traditional Korean string instrument ☜
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