Chapter 43

And in the fan café of Yoon Hyun, which had already stopped accepting new members, the fans who had weathered the storm of Yoon Hyun's departure and remained steadfast were now proud wherever they went.

As time progressed, it was once again the season for award ceremonies.

The first to take the stage was the Grand Bell Awards for film.

"Chaser" finally received the recognition it deserved at the Grand Bell Awards. Amidst various controversies and praises, the film, which had attracted nearly 6 million viewers, swept away the embarrassment of being a runner-up at the Baeksang Arts Awards. Kim Yun-seok won Best Actor, the film won Best Picture, and Roh Hong-jin won Best Director.

However, the most talked-about person that night was Yoon Hyun, who was nominated for Best New Actor but did not appear at the ceremony.

"Finally, I want to say, Yoon Hyun-ssi, come back. I'm looking forward to the next opportunity to act with you!" This was the last sentence of Kim Yun-seok's acceptance speech.

"First, I must thank Yoon Hyun, who played Young-min. Without his profound portrayal, I wouldn't even have had the chance to bring this film from paper to the screen. His performance convinced the producers, giving me the opportunity to direct this film. I look forward to the next chance to work with you, Yoon Hyun-ssi, come back!" This was the opening of Director Roh Hong-jin's acceptance speech.

With the support of the Best Actor and Best Director awards, although Yoon Hyun missed out on the Best New Actor award again, he did not lose his last stronghold in the film industry.

Then, something shocking happened in the Korean music industry.

Yoon Hyun, who had been criticized by the entire Korean entertainment industry after announcing a semi-retirement, received a nomination and performance invitation from the American Music Awards (AMA) across the ocean.

Thus, the two songs from last year were once again remembered by the Koreans.

What was even more embarrassing for the Korean entertainment industry was that the nomination Yoon Hyun received was very significant. The world-renowned "Gangnam Style" helped Yoon Hyun receive nominations for Best Pop/Rock Male Artist and International Artist of the Year.

It's worth noting that the people nominated alongside Yoon Hyun included Michael Jackson... and the International Artist of the Year award was a significant recognition of Yoon Hyun's outstanding performance over the past year.

Moreover, as a rare East Asian face to shine at the Grammy Awards, Yoon Hyun was given the opportunity to perform three songs, a feat that only a few people in the history of the AMA have achieved.

When LOEN Entertainment announced on their official website that Yoon Hyun had decided to attend the AMA awards ceremony, the entire Korean entertainment industry fell into a state of silence.

The more Yoon Hyun's American itinerary was publicized, the more painful it was for the faces of those in the Korean entertainment industry.

Finally, at the AMA awards ceremony, Yoon Hyun successfully won the International Artist of the Year award. Although he missed out on the Pop Artist award, when he led the entire American audience, including established singers and stars, to sing "baby, baby, baby, oh~" and perform the horse-riding dance, the faces of those who had criticized Yoon Hyun for lacking self-awareness, having a fragile heart, and not respecting the entire entertainment industry burned with embarrassment.

Moreover, losing to the eternal pop king MJ in the Pop Artist category was nothing to be ashamed of!

The first song Yoon Hyun performed at the AMA was "Baby," a debut song whose influence was no less than "Gangnam Style." The second song was naturally "Gangnam Style," and the third song he performed directly pointed to his next step: if the Korean entertainment industry looked down on him, he wouldn't play with them anymore!

The third song was Yoon Hyun's "new work," a deep and powerful melody.

"Rolling in the Deep."

The next day, this song entered the top three on the Billboard charts and began a two-month monopoly on the Billboard number one spot.

When Yoon Hyun returned to Korea from the international arrival gate with a copy of Time Magazine featuring his photo on the cover, he was welcomed by fans as if he were a hero.

At the airport that day, more than half of the over 10,000 remaining fans from Yoon Hyun's café gathered at Incheon Airport. The exit was covered in a sea of light green, looking like a field of grass sprouting in early spring from a distance.

Full of vitality, stretching endlessly.

Then, time came to today.

The last film award of the year in Korea, the Blue Dragon Awards, would be presented today.

Yoon Hyun, as expected, was nominated again for Best New Actor and Best Actor.

Like at the Grand Bell Awards, Yoon Hyun did not attend the ceremony.

But he was watching it at home.

"OPPA, why are you still watching this?" IU, who was clearing the table after dinner, said unhappily.

"Why not? What's it to you?" Yoon Hyun said irritably.

"After you watched the Grand Bell Awards, you were in a bad mood for two days, and I didn't dare to come home for two days. You still have the nerve to say that?" IU revealed harshly.

"Okay, okay... I promise I won't complain after watching today." Yoon Hyun was a bit embarrassed. Since IU's debut, her attitude towards him had been subtly changing. Yoon Hyun vaguely sensed something but wasn't sure, so he was a bit afraid of IU.

"OPPA, you... forget it, do as you please." IU gave up on trying to control Yoon Hyun.

Soon, the ceremony reached the Best New Actor award.

"IU, why am I so nervous even though I know I won't win?" Yoon Hyun was trying to find a way to save face, saying to IU, who was sitting on the sofa watching TV with him.

"Because OPPA worked hard on your acting and you want to be recognized," IU said thoughtfully.

Seeing IU's slightly gloomy expression, Yoon Hyun knew she was thinking about her own debut. He reached out and patted her head, saying, "Don't worry, I'm here! I'll write you a good song, and people will remember you."

"OPPA, you're just saying that. You've been saying it for so long. Where's the song?" IU felt very wronged. She was at the front of the line for songs from Yoon Hyun, but why did he give a song to senior Kim Jong-kook so easily and not to her?

"Um..." Yoon Hyun was a bit embarrassed. He really wanted to write a good song for IU, but no matter how he wrote it, he wasn't satisfied. Since IU's debut, Yoon Hyun had written nearly 100 songs, at least one every day. Through this constant practice, Yoon Hyun had developed the basic qualities of a musician...

But he still hadn't written a song he felt was worthy of IU.

This was very frustrating for him.

Actually, IU knew that the pile of sketch paper in Yoon Hyun's bedroom was full of songs he had written for her. She was very moved, but... being moved couldn't put food on the table... what she needed now was a song!

"OPPA, if you really can't write it, can you at least help me with a song I wrote?" IU suddenly said.

"You wrote it? You can write songs?" Yoon Hyun was a bit surprised.

"Just the lyrics, some thoughts I had, and I wrote them down." IU suddenly blushed, "Actually, I got the idea while reading a book."

"Can I see it?" Yoon Hyun suddenly became very interested.

"Okay." IU lowered her head and went to her room, returning a moment later with a piece of paper torn from a notebook.

The paper was scribbled with corrections, clearly having been revised many times.

"Go to my room and get my sketchbook and pen." Yoon Hyun frowned, as the messy writing was hard to read.

IU obediently went to Yoon Hyun's room and brought back his sketchbook and pen.

Yoon Hyun began to transcribe the lyrics IU had written.

"Looking at the clock, watching the secrets whispered

The stories in my heart that I most desire

It doesn't matter if my appearance changes

It doesn't matter if someone urges me

In the future I see

You and I together

You who like to play with me

But do you know

What my name is

In the blink of an eye, I've grown up

Will you remember me

A magical child

I love seeing you through my fingers

But I'm afraid the secrets in my heart will be exposed through the gaps

My chest feels heavy

Wait for me

You and I can't be together yet

Even though I want the clock to move faster

In the future world where you live

My name will surely be there

Move the hour hand with your fingertips, run

Move a little faster

Close your eyes and cast a spell

You and I are just a little bit away from meeting

Though I don't know when or where

In the future where you exist

If you see me wandering

To let me recognize you

Call my name"