Suddenly, I Became Crazy Handsome, and the World Became Easy
Chapter 51.1: Surprise (3)

Just before Kang Rojun and Team 1 took the stage for their surprise performance at the volleyball court, the 13 members of Team 1 gathered at the entrance were beyond nervous, practically fidgeting uncontrollably. Some took endless deep breaths, some jumped slightly while doing mind control, some slapped both cheeks hard, and some simply zoned out as if in a daze.

No. 94 was trembling with both hands and feet.

No. 15, with yellow hair who was relatively composed, slapped his thighs several times as if to loosen his stiff legs.

And Kang Rojun?

“......”

His face alone remained expressionless, but his heart was pounding relentlessly.

‘Damn- shit, wait. I’m seriously freaking out.’

He hadn’t learned composure or poise. Maybe it was possible through ‘AI automation', but Kang Rojun deliberately avoided trying. He wanted to adapt to the heartbeat, trembling, nervousness, fear, and the sensation of his brain turning blank that he was feeling right now.

‘Even if it’s short, it’s my first performance in a way, so I need to absorb the experience fully.'

Still, since Rojun was the type to remain composed normally, his reaction was milder than the others. At that moment, noise from thousands of people in the stadium could be heard beyond the entrance.

Murmur, murmur.

It was so loud it felt like drums were pounding.

For the first time since ‘Produce That 100!' began, this would be their first encounter with the public.

It was worlds apart from standing in front of judges or a hundred staff members. Alongside fear, Kang Rojun felt a thrill. The tips of his fingers were tingling.

Except for Rojun, the rest of Team 1 were overwhelmed with countless thoughts.

What kind of reaction will the audience have when they see us? Will they be happy? What if they don’t react? What if we mess up the moves? What if someone falls or there’s an accident?

Just then.

“Everyone, get ready.”

PD Woo Han-suk, with deep dark circles, gave the go signal, and Lee Han-na, standing behind Team 1, clapped both hands.

“Okay, okay! Don’t be too nervous!! Just do it like we practiced and it’ll be fine! Just go out there and rock it up with confidence!!”

Soon, a stadium staff member at the entrance flung the door open.

The volleyball court, dimly lit with the lights off, was revealed. Although they had rehearsed dozens of times since morning, seeing the volleyball court filled with thousands of people reset everything for Team 1.

Still, they ran forward.

Step by step, as their bodies remembered, the members of Team 1 stood one by one in the volleyball court.

-Swish.

They assumed their ready positions. Thirteen men wearing blazers with numbers on their chests lowered their heads with hands gathered together. Not long after, the spotlight, which had been blacked out around Team 1, turned on brightly.

In the vast stadium.

-♬♪

'Produce' resounded loudly. At the same time, the screams and shrieks of thousands of spectators erupted upon recognizing Team 1 from ‘Produce That 100!’. The screams were so loud they almost drowned out the music.

“Kyah!! Kyaaaaaah!!”

The frenzied audience shrieked and pulled out their phones, and the reporters, caught off guard by Team 1’s appearance, frantically pressed their shutters.

As for the 'Produce That 100!' filming crew.

-Swish.

They blended in among the event’s filming team to capture Team 1's performance. Including Lee Han-na, five judges were seated in the closest seats to Team 1. The third evaluation and the surprise performance officially began.

Team 1 members.

-♬♪

Started their switching formations according to the music.

A Team, which included Kang Rojun, moved first, while B Team quietly waited for their timing. Soon, A Team stopped and B Team began moving.

A sharply synchronized and powerful group dance.

Of course, it was far from professional idols in quality.

Even so, Team 1 was doing their best without a single mistake. Because for any of them, this could be their last stage.

In this moment, they were both competitors and comrades.

Once the switching formation ended, the now-mixed Team 1 launched into the next choreography. The judges observing the performance.

“......”

“......”

Remained silent, their serious expressions evaluating and assessing everything. Although they couldn't give verbal commentary due to the situation, they were clearly scoring.

Soon.

“Kyaaaah!!!”

The screams of the thousands of spectators grew even more intense.

Team 1, who had been dancing in unison like one body, changed to a different formation. The four members at the back moved to the front, and the rest took one step back. With a smooth transition in formation, Team 1 once again began to move their arms and legs brilliantly.

The audience frantically took videos or photos.

“Wow- amazing! I really didn’t expect them to show up!!”

“I’ve been watching ‘Produce That 100!’ since episode 1!! Ha- I can’t believe I’m seeing this surprise performance in person…”

“This is the third evaluation, right?? They’re all doing great! But seriously, what’s with No. 1 visuals?? That's just insane."

“I zoned out for a few seconds as soon as I saw No. 1. Isn’t he just god-tier? How can someone look like that??”

Many were zooming in tightly to capture Kang Rojun’s face.

“No. 1 is super handsome, this is ridiculous.”

“Even saying he’s good-looking doesn’t cut it?! He’s seriously on another level!!”

Reporters weren’t any different.

“Huh- yeah, the others look better in person too, but No. 1 is just in a different league.”

“The camera doesn’t do justice to his visuals, this is unreal??”

Even the women’s volleyball players, with long limbs and tall frames, who were watching the surprise performance before their match, couldn’t stop whispering.

“It’s a feast for the eyes before the match, right?”

“Absolutely. Would it be too much if I asked No. 1 for an autograph after the performance?”

"That's too much. But No. 1 isn't just handsome - isn't he beautiful? How can he look prettier than even an actress......"

The atmosphere was heating up. Before anyone realized it, Team 1 had moved into the second verse of 'Produce', and Kang Rojun, who had taken the lead in the group was.

‘What- this is insanely fun now that I’m actually doing it.’

In a state of euphoria.

The moves were intense, but his mind was fluid. His body moved in rhythm with the choreography’s starts and stops naturally. Smooth and powerful. Kang Rojun felt it, an indescribable heat filling his entire body.

PD Woo Han-suk, watching Kang Rojun and Team 1 with his arms crossed.

“Haha.”

Though he chuckled softly, he was moved.

He was the one to pronounce participants’ death sentences, but in this moment, he felt like a father.

'I'm overwhelmed with emotion.'

The ones who had driven those thousands of spectators half-mad, cheering passionately, were none other than Team 1. If any of them debut, this moment will become a great source of strength.

Soon the melody passed the climax of the second verse and moved toward the ending.

Sweat streaming down, Rojun and Team 1 moved their bodies with all their might, showing off to the audience without anyone falling short.

And then.

-Swish.

With a slow sitting motion, Team 1’s 'Produce' surprise performance came to an end. Immediately, applause erupted.

-Clap clap clap clap clap!

-Clap clap clap clap clap clap!

The sound of camera shutters filled the volleyball court.

-Papapapapapak!!

Screams and shouts from thousands of spectators.

A deafening noise. It was loud enough to make one wonder if the stadium roof might collapse. It continued for more than 10 seconds. Then, Team 1 stood up from their seated positions, closed the gaps between them, and gathered together.

Then, in unison, they shouted toward the thousands of spectators and bowed at a 90-degree angle.

“Thank you!! We were Team 1 from ‘Produce That 100!’”