From Thug to Idol: Transmigrating to a Survival Show

DAWN was finally inside the venue, the shimmering lights of the NTV MVAs casting a spotlight on every attendee.

They walked through a sea of celebrities, their polished shoes clicking against the glossy floor.

"Look, some of them are staring at us," Jisung muttered, glancing around.

Sure enough, a few people were stealing glances their way. Some looked at them with curiosity, while others seemed to be sizing them up.

A group of young women near the entrance were whispering to each other, occasionally pointing at DAWN.

"They're handsome," one of them said, her voice carrying over the noise. "For Asian people, I mean."

Ren's eyebrows shot up. He exchanged a quick glance with June, who looked equally bewildered.

"Did she just say-" Ren began, but Casper interrupted him with a wave of his hand, forcing a grin.

"Let it go," Casper muttered, though his jaw was clenched. "It's not worth it."

But before they could dwell on it, a voice called out to them. "DAWN?"

It was Sabrina Thatcher, one of the biggest pop sensations of the moment. She was the kind of artist who could pull off a headlining tour with just one viral hit. Tall, blonde, and glamorous, she approached them with a bright smile.

"Oh my goodness, you guys are great!" Sabrina said, giving them an enthusiastic thumbs-up. All the boys blinked at her, clearly caught off guard. "Uh, thank you!" Ren managed to say, the others quickly nodding in agreement.

Casper flashed his most charming smile. "Thank you so much. We're honored to be here." Sabrina gave a little wave before she was swept away by her entourage, leaving the group standing there, still processing what had just happened.

"Did that just—" Sehun began, but he couldn't finish the sentence.

"Did we just get complimented by Sabrina Thatcher?" Akira asked, looking like he'd seen a ghost.

"Yup," Jisung confirmed, shaking his head in amazement. "She actually knows who we are." June, who was awfully quiet, was nudged by Sehun. "You don't know her, huh?"

June pursed his lips and shook his head.

The other boys chuckled in amusement.

"The girl who sang Cappuccino," Jisung explained.

"Ah," June said. Of course, he knew her!

They continued walking until they were approached by a bubbly reporter holding a mic with the NTV logo.

"Are the interviews not yet done?" Zeth muttered.

"I think they're from different channels," Jaeyong whispered back.

As to not seem rude, they smiled at her and welcomed her warmly.

She was young, maybe in her twenties, with a kind smile that put them at ease.

"Hello, DAWN! It's great to see you here at the NTV MVAS!" she greeted them. "Can I ask you a few questions?"

"Of course," Casper said smoothly, stepping forward. The other members took a step back, letting him take the lead.

"Wait, have we established why Casper knows English so well?" Ren whispered to Akira. Akira shrugged. "At this point, I'm convinced this is his fifth life."

"So, this is your first time performing in the west. How does it feel?" she asked.

"It feels incredible," Casper replied, his American accent flawless. "We've been looking forward to this moment for a long time."

The reporter's eyebrows shot up in surprise. "Your English is really good!" she exclaimed.

Casper chuckled, glancing back at the others, who were also amazed at him. "I studied here for a while," he explained casually.

"You what?" June blurted out, eyes wide. "Since when?"

Casper merely shrugged.

"Well, I have to say," the reporter continued with a grin, "your face cards never declines."

June, standing beside Casper, furrowed his brow. The loud music, chattering crowd, and fast- paced English were making it hard for him to keep up.

But he did catch one word-'card.'

Without a second thought, he reached into his jacket pocket and pulled out his credit card, holding it out toward the reporter.

The entire group froze. The reporter's eyes widened, then softened as she burst into laughter. "Oh my gosh, no, no!" she giggled. "I meant-you look good! It's a compliment."

June's face turned bright red as he quickly shoved the card back into his pocket. The rest of the boys were trying to hold back their laughter, though it was a losing battle.

Casper slung an arm around June's shoulder, grinning at the reporter. "He's cute, isn't he?" "He's adorable," the reporter agreed, still laughing. "Thanks for your time, guys. Enjoy the night!"

As they walked away, Ren slapped June on the back, still chuckling. "Dude, you literally just tried to pay the reporter."

June groaned. "I'm not good in English. Besides, it was too late."

"That's okay," Jaeyong said, trying not to laugh too hard. "At least you made an impression."

Their laughter died down quickly as they approached the next interviewer. This one didn't have the same friendly demeanor as the previous girl.

He was older, with a sharp look in his eyes and a scowl that made them all tense up.

"Hey there," the interviewer greeted them dryly, not bothering to smile. He glanced over the group, barely concealing his disinterest. "So, you guys don't speak English very well, do

you?"

Casper blinked, taken aback. "Excuse me?"

The interviewer. "I mean, it's obvious. You're struggling a bit here."

The other boys frowned. Meanwhile, Casper tried to keep the situation at bay.

"Well, actually, I studied here for a while," he said, his voice tight. "I'm pretty confident in

my English."

"Uh-huh," the man said dismissively. "Can you tell us your names, then? Not that it matters -people probably won't remember anyway. You all look the same."

A silence fell over the group. Akira's smile had turned strained, and even the usually calm

Sehun looked like he wanted to say something bad.

But instead, they forced themselves to laugh it off, albeit bitterly.

"Well, that was pleasant," Jaeyong muttered as they walked away, shaking his head.

Just as they turned the corner, they collided with someone. A man dressed in a flashy red leather jacket nearly stumbled, glaring at them as he regained his balance.

"Watch where you're going!" he snapped.

Casper looked at the man, recognizing him immediately-Tyler King, an up-and-coming

popstar known for his rap skills and cocky personality.

He was the kind of artist who got just as much attention for his social media drama as his

music.

June stepped forward, eyes narrowed. "You bumped into us," he slowly said.

Tyler sneered, his voice dripping with sarcasm. "Oh, I see. My bad. Didn't realize I was talking

to the Asian invasion."

Then, in a mocking, exaggerated accent, he repeated, "Watch where you are going!"

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