The MC shouted “Vanguard.” In other words, “Vanguard” had been introduced to the world for the first time. Next.
—Shhh.
The entire hall darkened, and the lights focused on the stage. Rojun, Sihu, Kangmin, and Dokyeong stood there calmly in tuxedos. At that moment, countless question marks poured out from viewers watching the “SBC Acting Awards.”
—Whoa?? Whoa??!! What is this!! Vanguard??!
—???????
—Their group name is Vanguard??!!
—Daebak!! I guess they’d already decided!!!
Curiosity quickly turned into certainty. “Vanguard” had been called, and Rojun, Sihu, Kangmin, and Dokyeong had appeared. “Vanguard” was their group name.
The viewers immediately went into fits.
“Huh—They revealed their group name at the ‘SBC Acting Awards,’ a festival packed with top stars and meant to wrap up the year?”
The dozens of reporters inside the hall where the “SBC Acting Awards” were being held were also shocked, each wearing a different expression.
“‘Vanguard’? Does it mean they’ll stand at the forefront, or lead the way in everything?? Not bad.”
“Wow—they really opened their group name at this congratulatory stage.”
It was understandable. No one had expected them to reveal the group name so suddenly.
“Haha, ‘Vanguard’?? The wording has a rough edge to it, and it rolls right off the tongue. Somehow it suits their image, too.”
“GN Entertainment used their heads. They pulled in a ton of attention with Rojun so countless people would watch the Acting Awards, then revealed the group name right there. Almost all the fans who watched ‘Geubaekpeu’ must be watching the ‘SBC Acting Awards,’ right?”
“Not just ‘Geubaekpeu.’ There’ll be fans of ‘Rental Lover’ too, and plenty of ordinary viewers drawn in by curiosity.”
“And on top of that, there are tons of audience members and reporters like us here, plus famous actors and broadcasting insiders everywhere.”
Soon, the shock of most reporters turned into admiration.
“‘Vanguard’ is going to be branded into everyone’s minds.”
“Of course. Even we’re already going Vanguard, Vanguard right now.”
“······They’re seriously going to have a legendary debut, aren’t they??”
Among those looking up at the “Vanguard” members on stage, the “Rental Lover” team had the biggest reaction. Producer Jeong Suryeong’s grin stretched from ear to ear.
“Looks like their group name has been finalized as ‘Vanguard.’ Finally, I guess—why do I feel so happy??”
Choi Rina, her eyes wide, kept her gaze fixed on the stage as she repeated the group name in her head.
“‘Vanguard’··· ‘Vanguard.’”
The many other actors besides her were also busy whispering among themselves.
“Why is everyone so surprised?”
“You didn’t know? This is the first time they’ve revealed their group name.”
“What? Really??”
“That’s pretty fresh. Usually, idols first appear with their group name on music shows or places like that, don’t they?”
“They were unusual from the start. They even stood on the congratulatory stage at the Acting Awards before their group name had been finalized. I guess since things turned out this way, they decided to reveal it here.”
It was then.
—Shhh.
The four in tuxedos on stage—no, the “Vanguard” members—began to move. From the device installed at the front of the stage, something resembling fog slowly began to spill out.
—♬♪
A melody that mixed grandeur and eeriness in just the right measure spread throughout the hall. Then a keyboard was added, lifting the atmosphere. It was the intro to the song “Bold.” Fog lay over the darkly lit stage. Amid the overwhelmingly dark atmosphere, the first one to raise a hand mic was—
—Swoosh.
Kang Rojun, who had won two awards today at the “SBC Acting Awards.” Dressed in a tuxedo, his expression solemn and firm, he opened his mouth toward the thousands of seats filled with actors.
[I’ll be rich, I’ll be famous]
[I’ll be a star, I must win]
Over the ominous melody, he murmured the lyrics at a speed somewhere between narration and rap.
Soon, the actors were surprised again.
“It’s live??”
“I thought for sure they’d lip-sync.”
A live congratulatory stage at a live-broadcast Acting Awards ceremony. However, unlike the actors, who found it unexpected, the “Vanguard” members, including Kang Rojun, remained composed. They had practiced countless times, and this was not their first live stage for “Bold.”
Rojun, who had been spitting the lyrics in a low voice while looking straight ahead, naturally shifted his gaze toward the right side of the audience.
[I’ll be rich, I’ll be famous]
[I’ll be a star, I must win]
Kang Rojun repeated the same lyrics several times while sweeping his gaze over the many spectators, actors included. Meanwhile, the melody grew gradually louder. Then the song cut off abruptly. For a few seconds, the entire hall was engulfed in silence.
At that moment, the sound of an organ rang out.
Rojun, who had been at the front, blended in with the members standing behind him, and following the rising organ, the keyboard exploded with the drums.
The fog on the stage cleared, and lights of every color poured down.
The choreography began. Around the time Rojun, Sihu, and Kangmin launched into synchronized dancing, Dokyeong pressed his hand mic to his mouth and started rapping. Afterward, Sihu and Kangmin took turns stepping to the front.
Lead vocalist Sihu laid the groundwork, and main vocalist Kang Rojun took the chorus.
Before they knew it, the actors watching the stage were—
“······”
“······”
—simply blinking with their mouths shut. They were no different from an audience enjoying “Vanguard’s” performance. “Vanguard” was leading the tension and exhilaration of the entire hall. Several broadcasting insiders exclaimed in admiration.
“Even if they’ve been doing this since ‘Geubaekpeu’—they’re good even on an unfamiliar stage, aren’t they?”
“That’s way beyond just good. They’re controlling everything, from pacing to atmosphere.”
“······Now that I’ve seen the stage, the group name ‘Vanguard’ fits even better.”
Producer Jeong Suryeong, who had been watching Kang Rojun intently, was certain.
“Writer and actor. He’s cool when he’s doing his other side jobs, but still—as expected, he’s most explosive when he’s working as an idol, his main job.”
That was something everyone who knew Rojun acknowledged. Before long, the first verse ended and Kang Rojun and the members entered the second verse. Despite the unfamiliar outfits of tuxedos, the boys carried the stage without difficulty.
At last—
—♬♪
The melody slowly quieted, and the movements of the boys on stage weakened as well. Like that, the second verse ended, and they finished in a pose similar to the opening. The lights shining on the stage went out. The entire hall gradually brightened.
Soon, Kang Rojun let out a small breath and gave the members around him a look. One step toward the front of the stage. Holding the hand mic, Rojun opened his mouth.
“Two, three!”
All the members of “Vanguard” bowed at ninety degrees.
“Hello! We are ‘Vanguard’!!”
At the same time, thunderous applause spread throughout the hall.
—Clap clap clap clap clap clap clap clap!!
The cameras were capturing “Vanguard” in a full shot.
Afterward.
Once “Vanguard’s” congratulatory stage ended, the live-broadcast Acting Awards went back to a commercial break. Sihu, Kangmin, and Dokyeong returned to the waiting room, and Kang Rojun also went back to his original seat with the “Rental Lover” team.
Jeong Suryeong, Choi Rina, and the others applauded again.
“That stage was killer!!”
“The group name ‘Vanguard’ is so, so, so good??”
“Choi Star seems a little excited, huh?”
“N-no! The stage was good, that’s all.”
Within seconds, actors from other tables also swarmed around Kang Rojun. Countless praises and questions. Rojun bowed and answered again and again while smiling inwardly.
“The reaction’s good, and it feels like the stage ended well, just like practice?? Phew—actors making such a fuss feels pretty nice too.”
He couldn’t know for sure, but he had probably gained more actor fans with today’s stage. In any case, the Acting Awards ended the commercial break and began Part Two. In Part Two, “Rental Lover” was called two more times.
“Drama of the Year!! Congratulations! ‘Rental Lover’!!”
One was Drama of the Year, and the one who lifted the trophy was Producer Jeong Suryeong. Naturally, she mentioned Kang Rojun first in her speech.
“When I first saw Writer Rojun, I cursed. Because he was too handsome. You remember, don’t you, Writer?”
The second award was an acting award.
“Best Actress in a Leading Role! Choi Rina!! Congratulations!!”
Choi Rina received Best Actress in a Leading Role. With this, Kang Rojun personally had two wins, but “Rental Lover” as a whole had won four awards. The actors clicked their tongues in amazement even as they applauded.
“‘Rental Lover’ won four awards?? A one-act really caused a proper incident.”
“It hit 24% in ratings, so it would’ve been stranger not to give it awards. Still, four wins is amazing.”
“Will another one-act ever come out with this much influence??”
“Hard to say. Unless there’s another kid like Rojun.”
“So you’re saying it’s impossible??”
Just as they said, this year’s “SBC Acting Awards” was “Rental Lover’s” one-man show. Many actors won awards, but the team that received the most attention was undoubtedly “Rental Lover.” Then the Acting Awards announced its end with the MC’s closing remarks. On the live broadcast, the camera closed in on the hottest person of the day.
Who else could it be?
—The Acting Awards closing is Rojun lololololol insane
—He was the most ridiculously handsome one there, of course they had to end with Rojun!!
—Honestly Rojun stomped on all the actors today, agree?
It was Kang Rojun.
The Acting Awards broadcast ended there. Advertisements began playing on TV, but the scene itself was completely different. The actors who had been sitting at round tables here and there swarmed toward Rojun again. The stage was amazing, do you use SNS?, I’ll support “Vanguard,” let’s grab a meal sometime, and so on.
The things they threw at him were varied.
Thanks to that, Kang Rojun once again had to bow frantically.
“Ugh—if I went by my personality, I’d just ignore them and run, but that’d be too much, right??”
The one who saved Kang Rojun was—
“I’m sorry! I’m sorry!! Our Rojun has to move on to his next schedule right away! I’m sorry—”
It was Chief Kim Gibaek, shouting at the top of his lungs despite his frail tone. He apologized to the actors on Rojun’s behalf and pulled Kang Rojun out from the crowd.
“Rojun.”
He whispered softly.
“If you stay here, you’ll be here until morning. Let’s run.”
Looking closer, the other three members were already standing behind Chief Kim Gibaek. Sihu, Kangmin, and Dokyeong were glancing around at the surrounding actors with deep fascination. Kang Rojun smiled faintly and nodded.
“Yes, yes. Let’s run quickly.”
In truth, after a big event like the Acting Awards ended, there was an after-party. The “Rental Lover” team was no exception. However, this place was too chaotic, so the plan was for “Vanguard” to step out briefly and join them later at the after-party location. Not just Kang Rojun, but Sihu, Kangmin, and Dokyeong too.
Then the “Vanguard” members and Chief Kim Gibaek quickly left the large hall.
Dozens of reporters were already stationed in the lobby outside the hall.
“Ah!! ‘Vanguard’!!”
“‘Vanguard’!!! Please pose once!”
“Please say hello to the viewers, ‘Vanguard’!!”
They screamed “Vanguard” like mad. Since one of today’s main objectives was to let the world know the group name “Vanguard,” Chief Kim Gibaek—
“Just stand in a line and wave briefly.”
—did not ignore even the reporters. Flashes burst endlessly toward Rojun, Sihu, Kangmin, and Dokyeong. Kang Rojun had already experienced this on the red carpet, but it was the first time for the remaining three members, so they froze stiff. They were only waving their hands, but it felt as if one could hear them creaking.
Had about five minutes passed?
“Thank you!!”
“Vanguard” bowed deeply to the dozens of reporters, and the guards stopped the reporters rushing in. Chief Kim Gibaek, who was ahead, moved quickly toward the parked van. Somehow, the “Vanguard” members got into the car and immediately released the tension they had been holding back.
“Wow—no, what was that just now?? I don’t even remember where I was.”
“I don’t know about anything else, but Senior Choi Rina was seriously pretty.”
“No wonder, Kangmin hyung, you kept looking at Senior Choi Rina. Huh? Sihu hyung? Sihu hyung stopped moving.”
“······Guys, we really just performed on the congratulatory stage at the Acting Awards, right?”
“That’s right, hyung.”
“Insane.”
The van instantly grew noisy. Chief Kim Gibaek watched them with satisfaction, and after telling the kids they had worked hard, he gave Kang Rojun a thumbs-up.
“Congratulations on winning two awards. Ah, was ‘Rental Lover’ itself four awards? Anyway, lift those trophies up nice and cool for us.”
“Ah.”
Rojun grinned crookedly and raised the golden trophies in both hands at once, and the members went ooh and aah.
“Hyung, can I touch one too?”
“Rojun, me too.”
“That’s insanely cool.”
At that moment, schedule manager Lee Yulbin handed the tablet he was holding to Chief Kim Gibaek. After looking down at the tablet screen for a few seconds, Chief Kim Gibaek gave a weak smile.
Soon, he showed the tablet screen to Kang Rojun and the members.
“Take a look at this.”
All four shifted their gazes to the tablet screen. The articles that had just gone up were being displayed.
《[Photo] ‘Vanguard’ Appears at the ‘SBC Acting Awards’ / Photo》
《Not the ‘Final Winner of Geubaekpeu,’ but Rojun·Sihu·Kangmin·Dokyeong Appearing as ‘Vanguard’》
《Group Name Revealed on Live Broadcast ‘SBC Acting Awards’! ‘Vanguard’ Members Tear Up the Congratulatory Stage》
《[Issue Talk] ‘Vanguard’ Confidently Declares Their Ambitions Before Countless Top Actors》
The whole world was filled with “Vanguard.”