Suddenly, I Became Crazy Handsome, and the World Became Easy
Chapter 43.1: Villain (5)

Kang Rojun’s writing scene appeared for the first time in Episode 5 of 'Produce That 100!' The camera showed No. 1 sitting alone in the empty break room from multiple angles. Since he had passed the training, No. 1’s screen time had recently decreased a lot, and suddenly, the scene that showed up was him writing.

-What’s he writing so seriously ㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋ

It wasn’t strange for viewers to be curious. Soon, viewers began offering their own speculations.

-He’s probably composing a song or doing something similar

-Doesn’t look like it. Would you really need to pound on the laptop like that just to write a song…?

-He’s writing a diary ㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋ

-I bet he's commenting on his own news articles!

-Someone earlier said he’s a writer, and the vibe definitely feels like that

-Come on, calling someone preparing to be an idol a writer ㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋ

-Writer’s a bit of a stretch. It’s probably just like a journal or something ㅇㅇ maybe organizing his schedule

-What is it!! Tell us, Produce That 100!!!

But 'Produce That 100!' didn’t explain why No. 1 was suddenly writing something. The scene soon shifted to other contestants practicing their angles.

The people in Room 105 watching the broadcast also grew curious.

It started with No. 19, the scrawny one.

“But No. 1-nim, what were you really writing back then?? I heard from some of the other contestants that you often write in the break room and have been spotted a few times.”

The only one at the campus who knew Kang Rojun was a writer was PD Woo Han-suk. So the question was natural, and that curiosity spread to No. 37 and No. 58. In a situation where everyone was looking at No. 1, Kang Rojun scratched his chin and answered vaguely.

“Ah- just. I just wrote whatever came to mind.”

“…Whatever?”

“Yes.”

Better to say it was random words than to call it junk text or typographic trash. At Kang Rojun’s odd reply, the trainees in Room 105 looked at each other.

-Swoosh.

Then they turned their attention back to the tablet and 'Produce That 100!' again. No. 1 had such a villain or eccentric reputation that they seemed to give up trying to understand. On screen, various contestants’ daily lives were shown again, those who had chosen vocal, dance, or rap training, scenes of them in their rooms after their routines, conversations over meals, and so on.

Scenes of No. 58 composing and studying Japanese also aired.

“Oh, No. 58-nim, you’re getting a decent amount of screen time?”

No. 58 smiled sheepishly.

After about 30 minutes of focusing on the contestants’ characters, the camera returned to the break room. Around twenty contestants had gathered. No. 58 was seen sitting alone, studying Japanese.

No. 66 glanced at him.

For reference, No. 66, with his sharp features, was quite popular as a Japanese contestant.

-[“No. 58, studying Japanese again?”]

No. 66 snatched away No. 58’s notebook. The screen showed No. 58’s startled face.

-??? What’s No. 66 doing?

-He’s nuts

-Don’t bully our No. 58!

-No. 66 probably got petty after losing to No. 58 in the second round ㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋ

No. 66 snickered at the densely written Japanese in the notebook. He then said something, mocking a little, offering to help. Viewers got even more riled up.

-Ugh No. 66 is so damn annoying

Here, No. 66 spoke in his native Japanese. Of course, subtitles were added.

-[“You’ll improve faster if you speak directly. Try answering me. I’ll assess your level.”]

No. 58 was silently flustered, and viewers got angry on his behalf.

-Assessing his level ㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋ is he nuts

-I wanna smack him on the back of the head

-No. 58 ㅠㅠㅜㅠㅜㅠ

-No. 66... you got wrecked by No. 58 and now this...

Even the people in Room 105 had heard stories but were seeing the full situation for the first time.

“Whoa- that was pretty harsh.”

“You just let that go? If it were me, I’d have snapped right there.”

Soon, on screen, No. 66 asked No. 58,

-[“But No. 58, have you always been this gloomy? Watching you gives off a bit of a shut-in vibe.”]

Viewers were several times more furious. Regardless, No. 66 continued rampaging.

-[“You have to answer. If you’re that lacking in confidence, your language skills won’t improve.”]

At that moment, a low-toned Japanese voice was heard. It wasn’t No. 66.

-[“Whether he’s gloomy or shut-in. That’s none of your business, is it?”]

Startled were both No. 66 and No. 58. Of course, the viewers, who were already enraged, were no different. The angle now revealed No. 1, or Kang Rojun, standing near the entrance.

-What?? Was that just No. 1 speaking Japanese???

-It might be ㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋ That voice does sound like No. 1

-?_?

No. 1 moved indifferently and stood before No. 66, then spoke in flawlessly fluent Japanese.

-[“You should win with skill, not by mocking people behind their backs.”]

-[“Ah, no. I was just-”]

As No. 66 was flustered, Rojun bombed him with Japanese, and the real-time open chat was filled with several times more messages than before.

-Wowwwwwww No. 1 is so refreshing!!!

-But why is No. 1 so good at Japanese????

-Seriously....he’s so fucking cool.....

-It just clears up the blocked feeling caused by the frustration ㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋ

-With that crazy visual... speaking Japanese... I’m humbled

But Kang Rojun’s destruction of No. 66 wasn’t over yet.

-[“If your skills aren't good enough, at least work on your looks so you can dominate with your face. What is this sneaky behavior from behind? It’s pathetic.”]

No. 1 boldly threw a line that only he could say at No. 66.

-[“You have to answer. If you’re that lacking in confidence, your looks won’t improve either.”]

The viewers went wild, flipping out in the chat.

-Crazy... That was truly a line only No. 1 could pull off...

-Face won’t improve ㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋ hilarious

-Even if No. 66 practices until death, he could never come close to No. 1’s face ㅋㅋㅋㅋ totally agree

-That line is so new but somehow makes perfect sense coming from No. 1

They showered praise on No. 1.

After that.

Episode 5 of 'Produce That 100!' was heating up thanks to Kang Rojun’s refreshing scene, and then the next footage broadcast was the vote result cuts for the ‘Vocal Team’ and ‘Rap Team’. The method was the same as the ‘Dance Team’. Dozens of contestants gathered in a large hall, PD Woo Han-suk with a serious face.

Soon, PD Woo Han-suk calmly announced who would survive and who would be eliminated.

-Yes!! No. 58 survives!! Goodbye No. 66!!!

-No. 66’s expression is hilarious ㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋbye

Since it involved two teams this time, many eliminations occurred.

-Whoa No. 88 got eliminated too

-No. 88 is the first member of Room 105’s fam to get cut... what a shame

-But No. 88 was a bit vague, both in character and skill

Anyway, the eliminated contestants had to pack their bags immediately, and PD Woo Han-suk announced Team 1, 2, and 3, saying the remaining number was now 38. Quickly, starting with No. 1 Kang Rojun, the photos of the 38 survivors assigned to Teams 1, 2, and 3 were displayed.

Then a scene change.

Team 1 gathered in the studio. Naturally, Kang Rojun was among them. Then writer Kim Se-hee’s voice was heard.

-[“Now I'll play the completed theme song for 'Produce That 100!'”]

The theme song 'Produce' played.

-♬♪

When the song ended.

-[“Team 1, you will be practicing the dance for this theme song!”]

Writer Kim Se-hee called out again to Team 1.

-[“After practice, the 13 members of Team 1 will take part in a surprise domestic performance, and that performance will be the third evaluation!”]

At that moment, a black screen appeared with a title in the center.

-'Produce That 100!'

Signaling the end of Episode 5.

As soon as 'Produce That 100!' ended, the real-time open chat, where over 300,000 people had gathered, went into chaos. Keywords like ‘third evaluation’, ‘theme song’, and ‘surprise performance’ sparked it all. The people gathered in open chat scattered to various places, their fingers busily moving.

SNS, communities, and more.

Thanks to that, 'Produce That 100!' was blazing hot from night through dawn. By Saturday morning, everything was covered with 'Produce That 100!'

《The third evaluation method shown in Episode 5 of ‘Produce That 100!’... a surprise performance out of nowhere?》

《[Issue Talk] “Is there anything No. 1 can’t do?” No. 1 of ‘Produce That 100!’, even fluent in Japanese》

《From 100 to now just 38 left in ‘Produce That 100!’》

In addition, because it appeared on many celebrities’ Instagram accounts, 'Produce That 100!' burned even hotter. Among the public, there were plenty of conversations about the contestants, but naturally, it was Kang Rojun, who showed a short and intense presence in Episode 5, who dominated the talk.

Soon after, the viewership ratings were announced.

《[Official] Unstoppable popularity, Episode 5 of ‘Produce That 100!’ breaks record again with 22.4%!》

'Produce That 100!' had surpassed 22%.