Suddenly, I Became Crazy Handsome, and the World Became Easy
Chapter 48.2: Evolution (5)

On the morning of Monday the 24th, a day later, Teams 2 and 3 gathered in the hall with a stage. The hall was already fully prepared for a large-scale shoot, and Teams 2 and 3 looked completely dazed. Then Lee Han-na appeared and announced:

“Starting now, Teams 2 and 3 will undergo the first ‘Produce’ evaluation.”

It was the same setup as with Team 1. Naturally, the eyes of Teams 2 and 3 widened just like Team 1’s had. In any case, Teams 2 and 3 began performing the 'Produce' dance they had individually practiced on stage.

The more she watched, the deeper Lee Han-na’s sigh grew.

'Just when I thought Team 1 had slightly improved, but now there are more failures.'

In conclusion, it was another parade of C and D grades. However, one person from Team 3 caught Han-na’s eye.

'That kid is good. To copy dance to that extent from solo practice? That’s the first since No. 1.'

The second contestant after Kang Rojun to impress her up to the second verse. After a brief deliberation.

'Hmm- slightly lacking compared to No. 1, but higher than A.'

Once the evaluation was over, Han-na briefed Teams 2 and 3 on their scores and what they meant. It indicated that from now on, Teams 2 and 3 would be subjected to the same death-level training as Team 1.

After that, Teams 2 and 3 left the stage.

Their place was taken by Team 1, including Kang Rojun. What stood out was the uniform worn by the 13 members of Team 1. Black blazers with numbers on the chest, white T-shirts, black slacks, and sneakers.

It was the stage outfit for the surprise performance.

Watching Team 1 on the grand stage, PD Woo Han-suk let out a small laugh.

“Dressing them like that really gives off a totally different vibe.”

Lee Han-na, arms crossed, agreed.

“Right? For idol kids, stage outfits are like their wings. Whether they soar or crash depends on how hard they hustle. We’re going with the exact setup from the surprise performance location, right?”

“Yes. Lighting, direction, staging, all flows like the surprise performance. Rehearsals will go on all day.”

Nodding, Han-na walked over to the stage and briefed Team 1, while PD Woo Han-suk, moving toward the camera side, scanned the stage setup with Team 1. The first to speak were the writers around him.

"Though it's ordinary, making them uniform really makes them look like real idols, doesn't it?"

“Exactly. But while the others aren’t bad, why does No. 1's face shine even though he just put on a blazer??"

Thirty minutes later, 'Produce' echoed powerfully across the entire hall.

-♬♪

Watching Kang Rojun amid the flashing lights, PD Woo Han-suk thought:

'He stands out. Excessively.'

He strongly agreed with what the writers had said.

'...With that level of facial impact, he’d command attention even in the giant stadium.'

The next morning, Tuesday, early dawn.

Around that time, Kang Rojun, his face hidden under a cap and mask, for some reason left the ‘Produce That 100!’ campus alone. At the entrance of the campus, a familiar car was waiting for him.

It was PD Jung Soo-ryeong’s car.

“Writer-nim, you’re here? How’s your condition?”

Rojun greeted her.

'Condition? Probably the best I’ve felt recently.'

He answered casually.

"Not bad."

“Really?”

PD Jung Soo-ryeong grinned crookedly. In about an hour, the final step before the first shoot of 'Rental Lover' would begin.

“Then you’ll breeze through today’s script reading too, right?”

A script reading was scheduled.

Meanwhile.

Back in Room 105, where Rojun was absent, Baby Perm No. 58 was sitting across from PD Woo Han-suk. The rest of the members were apparently off washing up, as they were nowhere to be seen. Soon, PD Woo Han-suk, with deep dark circles under his eyes, heard something from No. 58 and was slightly taken aback.

“...You’re teaching No. 1 how to compose music?”

“Yes. After we talked in Japanese. No. 1-nim said it was his first time dealing with composition, so I started from the basics.”

PD Woo Han-suk stroked his chin.

'Right, No. 58 did say music composition was a hobby. But didn’t he also say he hadn’t done it seriously? Is he really capable of teaching composition to Rojun ssi? And Rojun ssi is learning composition- it’s not just anyone, but Rojun ssi, which makes this even more unusual.'

While he was deep in thought, No. 58 chimed in.

“And No. 1-nim wrote lyrics for one of my songs.”

“Huh?”

PD Woo Han-suk furrowed his brow and asked again.

“No. 1 wrote lyrics? What are you talking about? You just said No. 1 is a complete beginner when it comes to composing and that you started from the basics. So how come he’s writing lyrics?”

“No. 1-nim is just like a genius, like he's seeing a realm I don't know- wait a moment."

Looking completely serious, No. 58 pulled a notebook from his bag and opened it. He handed it to PD Woo Han-suk.

“It’s a rap. He wrote the lyrics for this one.”

PD Woo Han-suk blinked and looked down at the open notebook. The title was 'Witch', and next to it was the text:

-Composed by: No. 58 / Lyrics by: No. 1

On the music sheet, lyrics were written with a sense of revision, as if the original had been built upon. No. 58 had added to the lyrics given by Kang Rojun. As PD Woo Han-suk read through the lyrics for a moment, his expression showed.

'Is this... even possible? Rojun ssi does physical training, he’s juggling the intense filming schedule of ‘Produce That 100!’, practicing, attending meetings for 'Rental Lover', and even handling writing and acting. And now, lyrics writing too?'

He was visibly shocked.

“These lyrics... No. 1 wrote them? Did he ever do lyric writing before?”

“No. Just like composition, he said it was his first time writing lyrics too.”

“And yet, he wrote something this high-quality on his first try?”

No. 58 shook his head.

“Yes, in just two days.”

Soon, PD Woo Han-suk's shock seemed to turn into fear.

“...T-Two days??”