get-shopping Chapter 136: Launch (3)
Chapter 136: Launch (3)
-[“Congratulations! The Male Actor ‘Scene Stealer Award’ goes to... Rojun!!!”]At the sound of Kang Rojun’s name from the TV, cheers erupted from everywhere people were watching the acting awards. PD Woo Han-suk and the writers went wild.
“Whoa!!! Rojun won it!”
“What!! Awesome!”
“R-Really? Rojun-nim really got it?!”
“PD-nim!! Rojun-nim! Rojun-nim!!”
"I know, I know you bastard. Don't cling to me."
PD Woo Han-suk clapped at Kang Rojun on the screen with a pleased smile.
‘That guy really got the award. He properly made his mark, though of course there will be more in the future.'
GN Entertainment, who had been quietly watching the situation, was having a similar moment. No, they were several times more excited than the ‘Produce That 100!’ team.
“@$(&*#%&Crazy!(#*%!!”
“Woah!!! %(%)(#*)(%()%*!!”
“##()%No way, really#%()#%*(#)!!!”
They screamed to the point it was hard to tell what they were saying, and the staff hugged each other and jumped around as if it were their own success.
CEO Ha Seo-hwan, sitting in the CEO’s Office, let out a small breath.
"Phew- Good."
He gave a faint smile. But clearly, joy was welling up inside him. ‘Culture Drawer’ also radiated energy that was no less than that of ‘GN Entertainment’.
Just like this, from Kang Rojun’s agencies to the related individuals, no one held back their praise, and of course, the fans watching live.
-Aaah!!! Rojun congratulationsㅠㅜㅠㅜㅠㅜㅠHuhuhuhung
-I knew Rojun was gonna get it!!
-Getting an acting award before debuting as an idol, that’s hilariousㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋ
-Never seen this beforeㅋㅋㅋㅋAn idol getting an award before debutㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋ
Various media outlets could not hide their astonishment at this unexpected turn of events.
“Wow- he really won the award.”
“He’s the first, right? To win an award like that?”
“Of course. Who else wins an award less than a year after debuting? He even attended as a writer and got an actor’s award.”
“He’s originally an idol, but he’s raising a trophy through his side job first.”
“SBC’s changed a lot, huh? Honestly, even if he was hot, I didn’t think they’d actually give him an award.”
A seismic shift.
It was a phenomenon that had never occurred before, nor had there been any signs it would.
“Is Rojun changing the flow of the entertainment industry?”
From his first appearance until now, nothing about Kang Rojun had been ordinary. He was the very embodiment of a disruptor, and he stirred a typhoon of change even in the traditionally rigid SBC Acting Awards on public broadcasting.
This suggested a lot of things.
Most significantly, it showed that the rigid entertainment industry had started to become more flexible thanks to the overwhelming presence of a single individual.
At any rate.
《[Photo] Rojun, winner of the ‘Scene Stealer Award’ at the ‘2020 SBC Acting Awards’》
《‘Rojun', who received an award first as an actor, becomes the winner of the ‘Scene Stealer Award’!》
《‘Rojun', won an award at the 2020 SBC Acting Awards / Photo》
While news articles about Kang Rojun’s award were slowly being published, inside the large hall where the ‘SBC Acting Awards’ was still ongoing.
-Clap clap clap clap clap clap clap!
-Clap clap clap clap clap clap clap clap!
The hall was filled with the sound of applause. Who else could that applause be for?
“Congratulations, Rojun-nim!”
“Congratulations, Writer Rojun!!”
“Amaaaazing!! Truly, congratulations!!”
Rojun was receiving endless thumbs up from the ‘Rental Lover’ team. Before anyone realized it, Kang Rojun’s face filled the giant screen behind the stage.
And Rojun.
“......”
Almost blurted out “Nice!!!” on the outside. He had hoped and wished to win an award, but to actually hear his name called. Rojun’s lips naturally curled into a bow shape, soon forming a smiling expression with his eyes.
It wasn’t intentional, but
“Kyaaaaaaaa!!”
Rojun bewitched the audience in that fleeting moment.
PD Jung Soo-ryeong tapped him on the shoulder and pointed her index finger toward the stage.
“Go on.”
Caught off guard, Kang Rojun stood up and began greeting PD Jung Soo-ryeong, the ‘Rental Lover’ team, and the surrounding actors who were congratulating him nonstop.
-Swish.
He slowly turned his head toward the stage. Ah, better fix the tuxedo first. He adjusted his hastily worn tuxedo and took his first step. The camera followed him. The applause still hadn’t stopped. Kang Rojun’s heart throbbed. A vibration full of thrill.
‘This feels freaking amazing.’
To other actors, the ‘Scene Stealer Award’ might not seem like a big deal, but to Rojun, it didn’t matter. What mattered was that he had received an award in a space filled with the top actors in the country.
Back in the waiting room, Si-hoo, Kang-min, and Do-kyung were practically glowing with excitement.
“Aaaah!! Hyung! Rojun-hyung!!”
“This is insane… Hyung actually won an award.”
“Rojun! Congratulations!!”
Kang Rojun’s long legs reached the stage. With bold strides, he arrived on the brightly lit stage, showing no hesitation in his walk. For a moment, Kang Rojun turned his gaze toward the audience watching him.
‘…There’s a lot of people.’
All the celebrities he used to see only on TV were now looking at him? And even giving him enthusiastic congratulations? With a tingling in his fingertips and toes, Kang Rojun took a deep breath.
Was it because he was nervous?
That was part of it, but mostly, it was to neutralize the overflowing energy inside him. The way he felt now, he could break into a butt dance or shoulder dance right there on stage. Soon, a bouquet of flowers and.
-Swish.
A golden trophy in the shape of a person with outstretched arms were handed to him. Rojun, who also received congratulations from the two actors who presented the award and bouquet, thought to himself.
‘So this is my trophy? It’s dazzling, really dazzling.’
After staring down at the trophy for a few seconds, he lifted his face. It was now time for his acceptance speech. On the large stage, only Kang Rojun remained. Standing before the standing microphone.
What should he say?
Back then, PD Jung Soo-ryeong had told him to prepare a speech just in case, so he had come up with a few ideas.
But now, all of that had vanished.
Or rather, he had forgotten. Mostly, he was just drunk on the moment.
If he tried to recall it by force, he’d probably stutter. So, Rojun decided.
‘I don’t know, I’ll just be myself. Just say how I really feel right now.’
He thought he’d speak just as he usually does, whatever came to mind. Then Kang Rojun, with a calm and composed tone, a faint smile on his lips, slightly lifted the trophy.
“This feels amazing. I haven’t received many awards in my life, so maybe that’s why. I think I’ll remember today for the rest of my life. My experience in the entertainment industry is short, so every day feels new, and I’m enjoying that.”
Once he opened his mouth, the words flowed easily. Rojun lifted his gaze toward the audience on the second floor.
“There are many people I’m grateful to. First- to the fans who support me. I’ll return soon with the best performances.”
A scream or roar loud enough to tear through the hall followed. Rojun then lowered his eyes to the first floor.
“PD Jung Soo-ryeong-nim and the ‘Rental Lover’ team, Choi Rina sunbae-nim who taught me so much, and the other sunbaes, thank you.”
He expressed gratitude to those around him as they came to mind. The ‘Vanguard’ members were included too.
“To my fellow members, Si-hoo-hyung, Kang-min, and Do-kyung. Thank you.”
Lastly, Rojun suddenly raised his gaze toward the ceiling, which was filled with countless lights. No, he was looking past the ceiling, at the sky above.
“Dad, Mom. I won an award.”
After that.
Even as Kang Rojun stepped down from the stage and made his way back to the ‘Rental Lover’ team’s seating area.
-Clap clap clap clap clap clap clap!
The applause continued. Of course, the camera captured Rojun’s side and back profile. The image of him holding the trophy in his hand was likely being broadcast live across Korea. At this moment, having won the ‘Scene Stealer Award', Kang Rojun was neither idol nor writer, but actor.
Soon, Rojun arrived at the seat he had left, and PD Jung Soo-ryeong and Choi Rina once again offered their congratulations. Letting out a small breath, Kang Rojun placed the trophy on the round table.
‘It’s so shiny.’
As he looked at the golden trophy, an unnamed emotion surged inside him. PD Jung Soo-ryeong lightly patted his shoulder.
“Not bad for a taster award, right?”
“Taster?”
“You’re an actor and a writer as a side job. From now on, Writer Rojun-nim will probably receive even greater awards as an idol. But what about me?”
She had a point. For Kang Rojun, today was just rehearsal. Today, he was surrounded by actors, but one day, he would be in a place filled with top-tier idols from all over the country.
‘I hope I win an award then too. No, I will.’
Just as Rojun was making that strong determination, the SBC Acting Awards continued. Up next were the Best New Actor and Actress awards. The format was the same as with Kang Rojun. The male and female actors who had won the rookie awards last year came on stage, and after introducing the nominees, the winners were announced with great fanfare.
Two male rookie actors, and two female rookie actors.
There were some actors Rojun recognized, and some he saw for the first time. As he clapped at their acceptance speeches, top actress Choi Rina quietly leaned in toward him. They were at close range. Rojun caught a very pleasant scent, and Choi Rina whispered softly.
“That rookie award, it's not clearly stated, but I think there’s a condition that you must have been active for over a year after debut. If not for that, Rojun-nim would’ve definitely gotten it.”
So there were conditions like that. But Kang Rojun didn’t care much. Whether it was the rookie award or something else, what mattered was that he won an award.
“It’s okay. From what I saw, the trophy looks the same anyway.”
“Pfft. What’s that supposed to mean. Well, I guess that’s true.”
After the rookie awards ended, awards recognizing the efforts of the staff continued, and the first part of the ‘SBC Acting Awards’ was heading toward its conclusion.
Accordingly.
‘When should I sneak out?’
Kang Rojun began calculating when to leave his seat. After the first part ended, he had to perform the first congratulatory stage.
‘They’ll probably give a cue after part one ends, right??’
But Kang Rojun wasn’t able to head straight to the waiting room where the members were.
The reason was simple.
“We will now check the nominees for the Writer’s Award in the Short Drama category!!”
Because the ‘Scene Stealer Award’ wasn’t the end.
“Writer’s Award in the Short Drama category!! Congratulations!! Writer Rojun-nim!”
This time, it was the Writer’s Award.
Several minutes later.
After delivering his second acceptance speech, now as a writer following his award as an actor, the first part of the ceremony came to a close. The TV was probably showing commercials, and inside the large hall, the actors were busy chatting as they waited for the congratulatory performance.
“Tomorrow’s headlines are going to explode? Rojun won two awards.”
“Both an acting award and a writing award. I’ve been an actor for years, and even I’ve never seen something like this.”
“Honestly, the media and public will eat this up. His character is so distinct.”
“Just his character? I saw him for the first time today and visually... I finally get why people say he looks CG.”
The main topic was, unsurprisingly, Kang Rojun.
“Every article about the SBC Acting Awards this year will be about that guy Rojun.”
“He won as an actor, then as a writer, and now he’s headed backstage to prepare for a congratulatory performance as an idol. What kind of guy is this?”
“Ah right! The final winners of ‘Produce That 100!’ are doing the performance, right??”
“Now I’m curious about his main job.”
“He’s good. I watched ‘Produce That 100!’ all the way through. He stands out as an actor and writer, but since his main job is being an idol, on stage, he just dominates.”
Just then.
“It’s time for the first congratulatory performance of the SBC Acting Awards!”
Apparently the commercials had ended, and the MC took the stage to introduce the first performers.
“Recently, no matter what anyone says, in Korea, and even in Japan, these guys were the hottest, right?? Everyone knows ‘Produce That 100!’, don’t they?”
On the giant screen behind the stage, the faces of Kang Rojun, Si-hoo, Kang-min, and Do-kyung appeared one after another. While the MC gave their intro, the number of viewers watching the awards show live skyrocketed.
-Here they come!! Our boys are coming out!!!
-ㅠㅜㅠㅠㅠㅜㅠCongrats to Rojun on being a double winner today!!!
-I figured he’d get something like a writer’s award, but I didn’t expect an acting award tooㅠㅠㅠ I’m so happy for him
-Rojun’s really busy todayㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋWon the award, gave a speech, and now it’s straight to the performanceㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋ
-But what are they supposed to introduce them as?? Final winners of ‘Produce That 100’? Can SBC mention another network?
-They’ll figure it outㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋThey might just say the names
-Either way, even if it’s not an official debut!! Congrats on your first performance on public broadcast!!!
-Ha… GN, hurry up and give them a group name already…
-Calling them ‘final winners of Produce That 100!’ at the SBC Awards is kinda hilariousㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋ
Finally.
“Then! Let’s welcome those hot stars!!”
The MC, lowering his cue card, called out to Rojun, Si-hoo, Kang-min, and Do-kyung, who were waiting just behind the stage.
“It’s Vanguard’s performance!!!”
In that moment, viewers flooded the chat with question marks.
*****
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