From Thug to Idol: Transmigrating to a Survival Show

Chapter 1001: Sponsors of the Night



The artists were now in their respective seats. DAWN arrived pretty late, so almost all of the seats were already taken when they arrived. The intern led them to their seats, and there, the attention immediately shifted to their group.

The other artists immediately talked about their outfits, praising them for their creativity.

- When is it going to start?

- I heard the artists are already assembling!

- I saw DAWN's outfit previews. I really need to see them perform now.

- Please, please, please—can time move faster?

Haruki shook his head as he looked at the members of DAWN.

"These guys are so freaking extra," he muttered.

LUNAIRE, who sat a few feet away, had been chatting among themselves, feeling excited about their very first award show, before pausing to look at DAWN.

"June must have thought of this," Mei muttered.

"I think he did!" Jeemin said. "He's really smart, huh?"

"Nah, he's a show-off!" Mei said.

However, it seemed like the other girl groups begged to differ. They exchanged whispers, eyes wide with curiosity and awe. For many of the rookies, it was their first time seeing DAWN up close, and it showed in their hushed voices that they were very curious about them.

"That's DAWN? They look unreal," one of the rookies whispered, eyes trailing over the group of eight boys.n/ô/vel/b//in dot c//om

"I know, right? I didn't realize they were this tall. I thought June was a small guy," another added, her gaze darting to June, who was smaller than his peers but was taller than average. Mei shook her head as her members also looked at DAWN. "Don't do that," she said.

Her members turned to her. "What do you mean?" Yeri asked.

"Do you want to be in a compilation of 'Idols Being Amazed By June's Visuals?' I was placed there once. I don't want to be in it again."

Before the crowd could fully process DAWN's looks, the atmosphere changed with the arrival of the night's hosts. Along with that, the live stream finally started, presenting the opening of the show.

The fans roared as Taehyun and Hana stepped onto the stage, feeling their chemistry even through the screen.

The duo, who had captured hearts with their recent blockbuster film Untouched Souls, waved warmly at the audience, their smiles dazzling under the bright lights.

Hana's dress was a flowing masterpiece, a deep navy blue with cascading silver threads that gave the illusion of a night sky come to life. Taehyun, dressed in a tailored black suit with a midnight blue tie, appeared to be her very handsome butler.

"Good evening, everyone!" Taehyun called out, lifting a hand in greeting. His voice, smooth as silk, was met with screams and shouts from adoring fans.

Hana laughed, the sound bright and ringing. "Wow, the energy here tonight is incredible!" She glanced over at Taehyun with a playful grin. "You think they're excited for the awards or just to see us?"

Taehyun feigned a thoughtful expression, eyes twinkling as he scanned the crowd.

"I'd say it's a solid fifty-fifty split," he joked, prompting a ripple of laughter.

"We're gathered here today to give out the prestigious awards for the best artists of our generation," Hana started off.

"This will be a night filled with performances, thrills, and, of course, victories!" Taehyun continued.

Hana then glanced at the artists' section and smiled. "I'm spotting familiar faces," she said, nudging Taehyun.

"Ah, there he is!" Taehyun exclaimed. "Our one and only friend, June!" he called out, his voice teasing.

The cameras immediately swung to catch June's reaction. He was sitting just behind some of his DAWN members, who all wore matching expressions of amusement. A flush of color swept across June's face, and he offered a shy wave.

- Aww, so cute! He was startled.

- June is so cool while performing, but he's really just a regular guy.

- I like him so much. He shines on the screen.

"June!" Taehyun hollered, pointing at him with a grin. "You better not be hiding back there. We saw your last scene, man. Still recovering from that."

The crowd erupted in cheers, and June's face turned an even deeper shade of red. He mumbled something to Ren, who patted him on the back with a laugh.

"All right, it's time for the main event!" Taehyun announced, pulling attention back to the stage area. "But before that, let's acknowledge the true stars of the night-our sponsors!"

The playful sarcasm in his voice wasn't lost on the audience, and a chuckle rolled through the crowd.

Hana took over, flashing a bright smile. "We're grateful for our sponsors, without whom this night wouldn't be possible. First up, we have Cofeeko, the candy that's always seen in the girl protagonist's pocket during high school dramas. You know, the one-the candy that's inexplicably important for two whole episodes."

The crowd roared with laughter as the advertisement flashed on the screen, showing a teen actress dramatically pulling a Cofeeko out of her pocket with a look of exaggerated relief. The members of DAWN couldn't help but laugh, Akira mimicking the actress's expression as Sehun nudged him with a grin.

Taehyun raised a brow. "And who could forget Samsing? The latest model that's somehow always used by the poor protagonist who can barely afford dinner but magically owns a phone that costs more than rent."

Gasps of laughter and knowing nods rippled through the crowd. The members of LUNAIRE were caught on camera giggling, their hands covering their mouths as they tried not to break out into full-blown laughter.

"And, of course," Hana said with a playful roll of her eyes, "the most important one of all. BenBen Gummies! The chewy snack that guarantees screen time in your favorite show because, let's face it, no one can eat one without smiling for the camera."

June groaned audibly, drawing the attention of the cameras as the spotlight once again landed on DAWN.

The entire group tried to hide their embarrassment, and fans screamed with glee.

Their commercial played on the screens, showing exaggerated close-ups of DAWN members biting into brightly colored gummies and smiling wide with dramatic enthusiasm.

Indeed, they looked crazy over the Benben gummies.

"Oh, come on," June muttered under his breath.

This wasn't helping with their image!