Three days after Chan Hee and Darren sent evidence to an independent journalist, a major scandal shook the Korean entertainment industry. It wasn't from a small media outlet—but from a media giant clearly linked to DC Entertainment.
Tonight, at half past eight, Darren—alone in his apartment—watched the news explode on his phone screen. As if the storm hadn't already ravaged him enough, it kept tearing through, giving him no space to see even a flicker of justice.
[BREAKING NEWS: "The Real Reason Behind Dream Night's Disbandment – Darren Hwang to Debut Solo in America"]
The article spread like a virus. Other headlines followed closely behind. Darren read the fabricated lines in silence.
["Darren Hwang, Too Ambitious?"]
["Internal Source: Darren Has Wanted to Leave the Group Since Last Year."]
["DC Entertainment Admits Contract Terminated Due to Darren's Lack of Cooperation"]
In an official interview, a DC representative spoke with a sweet but venomous tone:
["We love all the members of Dream Night. But in the end, we had to choose the best path for their future. Darren chose his own path… and we respect that."]
They said in front of reporters.
"We didn't disband the group. We're simply adjusting the lineup."
He couldn't swallow his coffee. It was hot earlier, now cold and bitter. Worthless.
Even the scent nauseated him.
How could their hearts be so rotten? Darren had never even considered the things the media was reporting.
He sank into his long sofa, eyes shut. Vision blurred. Heart nearly buried in storm clouds. Somewhere outside that storm, a glimmer of light waited. And Darren had to fight to reach it.
His body went numb again.
He remembered the cruel comments on social media. Each word shot like a bullet.
They weren't just angry—they were judgments.
His hands trembled. Breathing grew heavy. He clutched his chest, trying to hold back the sudden tightness. The world seemed to shrink, closing off every exit.
Questions clashed in his mind.
"Is all this really my fault? Should I have clarified things with Kyun Bin hyung before speaking out? But… I didn't even have a voice to be heard. Why does he trust the media over me?"
He wanted to disappear. Not from the stage—but from everything that tied him to his dream. Music, fans, performances, cameras… all felt so far away. Even his own voice sounded foreign. Six years as a trainee. Five years as a singer. All he ever wanted was to feel worthy of being heard.
Darren opened an old training video—a clip of the four of them choreographing their debut song. He hit play.
Laughter. Shoulder bumps. Jae Min teasing Chan Hee, Kyun Bin telling everyone to focus, Darren singing half-heartedly while dancing.
It felt so alive. Like nothing could ever ruin it.
And now?
The laughter was gone. The bond had vanished. Only fragments of names scattered across gossip sites remained.
The fans' words that once gave him strength now suffocated him. Because today, he felt like no one.
He walked to the bathroom. Looked into the mirror. Puffy eyes. Messy hair. Faint stubble growing under his nose. But that wasn't what bothered him.
The face in the mirror—held no hope.
Water trickled down, either from the faucet or his eyes—he couldn't tell. He just stood there, body trembling. For the first time since Dream Night disbanded… he allowed himself to be vulnerable. Not as an idol. Not as a vocalist. Just as Darren Hwang—a young man who no longer knew who to trust.
"If this is a dream, wake me up," He whispered to his reflection.
"If this is reality… then please give me a reason to keep going."
In the midst of his sadness, his phone rang—an old, familiar ringtone he hadn't changed in years. Almost forgotten. He wiped his tears quickly and rushed back to the living room.
It was Chan Hee. He spoke over the phone after Darren found out.
Chan Hee was coming over that night with ramyeon, planning to share a quiet evening with Darren in his Gangnam apartment after they had sent the evidence to the independent journalist three days ago.
They had been communicating via KakaoTalk, sharing information they uncovered.
Chan Hee knew—being alone wasn't the answer. Not now. They had to support each other—even if just to breathe.
***
It didn't take long to reach Gangnam. Chan Hee arrived at Darren's apartment at eleven that night. His eyes more exhausted than ever—but his resolve unshaken since realizing something. Something precious enough to become a weapon of resistance.
Darren let his hyung in.
Once inside, Chan Hee quickly set down two hot ramyeon cups. The aroma filled the room. He gestured for Darren to eat before it cooled. Darren only gave a faint nod, walking to the kitchen to grab a bottle of soju from the fridge. He joined Chan Hee, both sitting cross-legged on the floor.
Facing the silent TV screen, which faintly reflected their figures.
"Just ignore all that crap from DC," the blond man said, slurping some hot noodles. But Darren didn't respond—he had no appetite.
"They're just scared we're fighting back. But we will get real justice." His voice was firm, eyes still focused on the ramyeon.
"And the others?" Darren asked flatly, still haunted by the harsh words of their two hyungs.
Chan Hee paused. A long one. He sipped some broth, letting the warmth settle in his chest.
He exhaled deeply as Darren waited for an answer.
"They don't care," Chan Hee finally said. "Now I understand what it feels like to be pushed aside by pride. But I won't accept that, not from the people we once trusted to never do this." He added.
Then Chan Hee patted Darren's shoulder.
"I'm not giving up. I'll show the world a different Jung Chan Hee. Maybe the media painted me as someone else—but I'll be someone brave." He smiled.
"I'm not strong enough for that, hyung…" Darren admitted, full of regret.
"I know," Chan Hee nodded calmly.
"Because you're Darren Hwang. The same guy who pushed through all the hard trainee days just to stand as Dream Night's main vocalist."
Darren's emotions crumbled again.
Not from pain—but from the strength Chan Hee gave him. He couldn't hold it back anymore.
This was the same Chan Hee—not the distant one from the disbandment days.
"I used to regret everything. I even hated myself, drank till I blacked out. But now I know none of it helped. Scandals, fake news, slander wrapped in gold—it's all just noise…" His voice grew soft, almost a whisper.
"…All of it… was because of my own mistakes." He added. Darren shook his head, but Chan Hee gave a bitter smile.
"I couldn't protect Dream Night's name. Not even when it was falling apart." His eyes welled up, and he didn't stop the tears. He let them fall.
Darren looked down at the floor, then leaned against the back of the sofa, hugging his knees.
"Even if we have nothing left—we have to rise. We know staying silent only gives DC more power." Darren's resolve slowly solidified. Chan Hee wiped his tears. Then smiled—and nodded with quiet conviction.
"That's exactly what we need to do."
***