Suddenly, I Became Crazy Handsome, and the World Became Easy
Chapter 42.1: Villain (4)

A massive hall resonated with the vibrant rhythm of 'Produce', a mix of intense drums and cheerful beats. Two dancers on stage were in the middle of flashy dance, and Kang Rojun, standing at the center, was as well.

-♬♪

He was proudly showing off the dance of 'Produce'. Gestures with his hands and feet, shoulders shaking powerfully in time with the beat. Overall, 'Produce' gave off the feeling of a cheerleading routine.

A brief pause followed by arms spread and shaken, or a big kick with both feet.

But perhaps because trendy moves were added to the cheerleading style, the dance featured lots of fresh and dynamic movements, even outside the wave segments, blending flashy body movements with novelty.

Simple yet complex.

However, Kang Rojun performed as if 'Produce' were his own song. There were no mistakes, no offbeat moves, no missteps, no stumbles. He was no different from the two dancers. No, rather, he was radiating more presence, fully embodying the role of center.

The lights flashed dazzlingly.

Lee Han-na, staring blankly at “No. 1 Villain” on the shining stage.

She was momentarily confused. Since the stage formation was in a ㅅ-shape with No. 1 in the center, he looked like an idol.

‘...Are the ones on the sides just backup dancers?’

That’s how professional Kang Rojun looked right now. Around this time, the rhythm that had been hitting her ears strongly started to soften, and the movements of Rojun and the two dancers on stage also shrank. They were adjusting the intensity. In the meantime, the dancers standing on either side of Rojun were flustered.

With question marks in their eyes, they seemed to be saying,

Why is this guy so good?

Regardless, Kang Rojun remained focused on the dance. The build-up was over; now it was time to explode with movement.

-♬♪

The rhythm quickened, the lights turned even more chaotic with multicolored flashes, and the sound thumped deeply. The hall entered a trance. At some point, dozens of 'Produce That 100!' staff members were watching the stage like an audience, and PD Woo Han-suk, in a daze, slowly removed his glasses.

“...How could that kind of energy come out from just a few days of practice?”

A genuine exclamation filled with sincerity. From PD Woo Han-suk’s perspective, Rojun’s dance was incredibly skilled and dazzling.

‘He’s not just winging it... each move is precise, and the details are alive.’

What kind of trick did that villain pull?

Just as PD Woo Han-suk’s head grew more tangled, the song 'Produce' moved into the instrumental break after finishing the first verse. It was the first time the dance went all the way through to the end of the first verse. But Lee Han-na, watching the stage as if broken, had no intention of stopping. Naturally, the performance transitioned into the second verse.

The two dancers decided to show their true abilities.

Up to now, they had been going easy to match the participants’ level. But once they unleashed their real skills, the quality of their moves drastically improved. So was Kang Rojun now being overshadowed?

No, not at all.

As the second verse began, Kang Rojun unleashed a force that was twice as captivating. More powerful, more fluid, more dazzling. The song 'Produce' was reaching its climax.

As he entered the chorus of the second verse, Kang Rojun felt something internally.

‘As expected, this is fun. It’s hard to describe this feeling, but it’s just enjoyable. Like my emotions are bursting out.’

He felt free.

His body, his heart, his mind.

Nothing could stop Rojun now. So he looked only forward and charged ahead. The chorus of the second verse, many times more explosive than the first, unfolded. Kang Rojun and the two dancers extended their right and left legs alternately, then performed a move that looked like flying into the air.

Kang Rojun’s black hair swayed attractively.

The current performance captured on camera was vividly transmitted to Team 1 of twelve people in the waiting room.

All the participants slightly opened their mouths.

“......”

“......”

They only stared at No. 1 on the large monitor. No, it was more like witnessing a revelation. No one said a word. Not only because they were shocked into mental paralysis, but because the image of No. 1 on screen was no different from the idol they had always dreamed of becoming.

The song 'Produce' was nearing its end.

Still awkwardly standing, Lee Han-na kept her widened eyes fixed on Kang Rojun. She didn’t want to miss even a second.

And then.

-Swish.

With both arms spread toward the ceiling, Rojun slowly lowered himself into a seated position, marking the end of the dance. It was his first time performing the full routine, and as the music cut off, a profound silence descended over the vast hall. Lee Han-na, PD Woo Han-suk, and the dozens of staff didn’t so much as flinch.

The first to move were.

-Clap clap clap clap.

The two dancers who had performed with Rojun. They smiled and applauded him.

“Wow, that was surprising.”

“You’re incredibly good, you know??”

Thanks to that, the ice broke. Many others who had been frozen snapped out of it and joined in the applause.

-Clap clap clap clap clap clap!

Of course, PD Woo Han-suk too. His expression was full of a smile brimming with interest. In contrast, Lee Han-na wore a serious face. Meanwhile, Rojun, slicking back his black hair dampened with sweat, gave a deep bow to everyone.

“Thank you.”

Most of the staff gasped. His appearance at that moment was like something out of a pictorial. Cameras focused on Kang Rojun on stage, capturing full shots, bust shots, and close-ups. Amid this, still in shock, Lee Han-na, with her hands covering her face, let out a hollow laugh.

“Ha... haha, wow- what a whirlwind. What did I just witness?”

Even she, a veteran choreographer with over ten years of experience, had never seen anything like this. Kang Rojun looked at her as she processed what had happened. A few seconds later, Lee Han-na exhaled lightly and asked No. 1 toward the stage.

“No. 1-nim, what exactly did you do?”

“I just performed the dance.”

“No, I mean- how could you do it that perfectly? Not just perfect, but taking care of details, dynamics, and everything."

Rojun’s reply was calm and brief.

“I practiced.”

“......That’s it?”

“Yes.”

“You learned everything with just two days of practice? At a pro level?”

“Yes.”

It was Lee Han-na who became flustered. Even active idols rarely pick things up that fast. And an amateur, practically a regular person, pulled it off? It was hard to believe.

Regardless, Kang Rojun was unfazed.

‘Well, I did actually practice.’

In fact, over the past two days, he had been getting the feel for the 'Produce' dance, and last night, out of curiosity, he ran 'AI Automation'. The instructions were the same as with ‘brake’. So, the result?

-[To derive your desired outcome, 25 coins are required.]

Compared to ‘brake’, the price was quite cheap. For Rojun, who could earn that in three days, or even in one day if a Hidden Mission popped up, 25 coins was nothing.

‘Might as well learn it while I can.’

He tapped to approve. The 'Produce' routine was already underway, and just like with ‘brake’, there was a chance of unexpected developments. That’s how Rojun learned the entire 'Produce' dance perfectly in mere seconds.

The charm of microtransactions that erase hard work.

Lee Han-na, unaware of this, walked over to Rojun and the two dancers and asked,

“...Can I see it one more time? My brain’s short-circuited, I couldn’t properly evaluate it.”

Rojun gave a simple nod.

“Yes, that’s fine.”

The song began again.

As expected, Rojun’s performance was just as impressive this time too.

A few minutes later, sitting down again, Lee Han-na unconsciously muttered to herself.

“Unreal visuals, dance comprehension, copying ability, stage presence. He’s already idol-level.”

Offering high praise, Lee Han-na then looked at Rojun on stage and asked,

"What exactly is your identity?"

Rojun shrugged his shoulders.

“I’m ‘No. 1.’”

That villainous or eccentric charm, no one else on 'Produce That 100!' could replicate it. Lee Han-na lowered her gaze to the tablet and wrote an A next to Rojun’s profile.

“No, that’s not right.”

She erased it and changed it to an S. Then added a few more. Eventually, it became SSS.

At that moment.

“No. 1.”

From behind the cameras, PD Woo Han-suk spoke up.

"So, are you going to pass on the training for this 'Produce' case too?"

As if it were obvious, No. 1 replied.

“Yes, I’ll pass.”

At that same time, his wrist vibrated.