Chapter 4

Dong Hyunin sat at his dining table, looking at the three pieces of cake he had just arranged on a plate. Earlier, he had received a call from his secretary team informing him that there were urgent documents that needed his signature at the office. He had put the sweets away in his room before heading to the office.

Clearing the work took almost four hours, and by the time he returned to his room, it was already 9 PM. He had forgotten about dinner, vaguely remembering his head secretary asking if he wanted any food before the end of the workday. At that time, he was too busy to care and declined.

Now, feeling hungry, he recalled the three pieces of cake in the fridge. As he stared at them, his thoughts drifted to the person who had given him the sweets.

"Weird guy."

He knew that the applicant must have recognized him. Even though he wore dark sunglasses, they didn't conceal his face. If the applicant had done his homework, he would have known that Dong Hyunin was the president of SKM Ent., the very company he had auditioned for in the Star Fight program. He probably received the acceptance letter today.

If it had been someone else meeting him, they probably would have flattered him and introduced themselves more formally. Or maybe... could these three pieces of cake be a bribe for the company president?

Ding-dong.

The sound of the doorbell snapped him out of his reverie. He glanced at the door, deliberating for a moment before deciding to put the plate of sweets back in the fridge.

He didn’t know who was at the door, but he wasn’t going to share those three pieces of cake. When he checked the intercom, he sighed and rubbed his temples before walking to let the troublesome visitor in.

Click.

"What is it?" he asked coldly, addressing the late-night visitor.

"Brother, oh brother..." Im Kureum threw himself into his cousin's arms as soon as the door opened. With a height difference of almost ten centimeters, Kureum's face fit perfectly into Hyunin’s shoulder.

"Heartbroken again?" Hyunin raised an eyebrow, trying to push his younger cousin away, but the latter clung to him like an octopus. No matter how much he tried to pry him off, it was futile, so he stepped back and closed the door.

"Don't say that, brother," Kureum sobbed, though it was obvious he was faking.

"Who's the latest heartbreak? Does Uncle know?" By "Uncle," he meant Im Heewoo, the main producer of the Star Fight program.

"Ah, my heartbreak is minor. But do you know the real reason I got dumped? It’s because Dad told my girlfriend that I’m about to get engaged!" At this point, Kureum, who had been faking tears, started to feel like crying for real.

"Well, that's good. You'll have a stable family and stop drifting around. Besides, wasn't that girlfriend of yours just for show anyway?" They were both benefiting from the relationship, without genuine feelings from the start.

"Brother," Im Kureum's voice wavered as he pouted. "You know I like men. How can I get engaged to a woman?" It would be a disaster! What if he got struck by lightning for breaking tradition?

"I’ve already told you to tell your dad directly," Hyunin replied. His uncle didn’t know, which was why he kept trying to arrange a fiancée for Kureum. He just thought his son was a playboy constantly changing partners, not realizing it was all a facade. All the women seen or mentioned in the news were hired.

"Tell Dad and get smacked on the head? I’m his only son, and I’m only 20 years old," Kureum protested. He hadn’t even started to pursue his dreams.

"I’m an only son too," Dong Hyunin retorted with a deadpan expression.

"But you're not gay."

"And who said I wasn’t?" He had never said that.

"Huh? Wait a minute..." His younger cousin, about to continue his rant, froze, looking up at the taller man with wide eyes. "Are you serious?" He hoped Hyunin wasn’t just trying to make him feel better.

"Do you think I'd joke about this?" Hyunin pushed his younger cousin away forcefully and led him to the living room.

"Wow, you really shocked me," Im Kureum chose a single sofa not far from Hyunin. He looked his cousin up and down multiple times, still seeing the same cool Dong Hyunin, but now with an added aura of familiarity.

Who would have guessed...

"So... did Aunt and Uncle know?" Though they were no longer around, Kureum was curious about their reaction to having a gay son. Would it be like the dramas he feared?

"They knew," Hyunin nodded.

"Did they say anything to you?"

"Not really. Since I grew up abroad, they weren't too surprised when I told them." Actually….his mother had fainted from the shock, but no one scolded him. They just advised him to choose his partners wisely and not settle down with someone frivolous.

"That’s great... Maybe I should tell Dad too," Contemplating the risk of getting a few bruises in exchange for avoiding an arranged marriage.

Uh... he might end up in an even worse situation.

"Uncle's busy with the Star Fight show right now. If you want to tell him, do it before the filming starts. Don’t tell him during the shoot. If problems arise, it could affect everything." This show involved a significant financial investment, and he didn’t want any risky factors delaying the production.

"When does filming start, bro?" Kureum asked, suddenly showing a suspiciously keen interest in the upcoming production.

"In two weeks," Hyunin replied, observing his cousin’s subtle change in demeanor. Seeing nothing more, he continued discussing the filming schedule.

It wouldn’t be until the show had already filmed its third episode that President Dong would understand the reason behind his cousin’s behavior that day.

"That's so soon... I don't have time to prepare myself!" Kureum exclaimed, jumping up in alarm. It was too close for comfort!

"What do you need to prepare for? Half a month is more than enough time." There was plenty of time, even.

"It's not something you can just blurt out, you know," Kureum argued. Coming out to family wasn’t easy! If he did it at the wrong time, there could be serious fallout. Besides, he had other important matters to attend to.

"Then wait until after the show wraps up in about three months."

"Brother, please, can you talk to him for me?" Kureum pleaded, blinking his eyes in a show of helplessness.

"That’s... your issue to handle," He had no more advice to offer.

"Brotherrrrr..."

...

Jacan agreed to rent Choi Taeyong's apartment for a month since the show had contacted him, stating that he would need to join the first episode filming in two weeks. He had to prepare his own wardrobe, makeup, and hair as the show wouldn’t provide a stylist.

Additionally, he needed to prepare a performance for the evaluation round in the show, with a two-minute limit per person, and there would be no group performances.

The show also included rules for living in the apartment during filming, such as no weapons or sharp objects, no fighting, no drugs or cigarettes, and no bringing high-value items.

[How’s the new place? Is it livable?] Han Shinsu worried about his younger brother so she called to check on him after he moved out to the condo, not even a full day yet.

“I’m fine, sis. I decided to rent it because I knew I could live here. Don’t worry.”

[So, did you run into President Dong again?] When she heard that it was the president of SKM Ent. who showed him the room instead of Choi Taeyong, she was deeply shocked.

The same President Dong, whom all their business partners feared, was showing her brother around the apartment like a real estate agent—it was hard for her to believe.

"How could there be such a coincidence?" Jacan shook his head, grabbing his wallet and key card, ready to explore the area around the condo to see what might be interesting.

[You never know, I've heard people gossiping that President Dong is gay. Maybe he has a crush on you,] Han Shinsu teased.

"That's just nonsense. Where did you hear that?" Jacan frowned, pressing the elevator button for the ground floor.

[On set. They said he doesn't hide it,] she replied.

"Really?" Jacan thought back to the president he had met the other day. Even though he was gay, he seemed oblivious to who else might be in the same community.

"By the way... is it more open here nowadays?" If it were in the past, there would have been a ban already.

[It's improved a bit, but some groups still hold onto their prejudices.]

"That's a lot better than before," Jacan sighed. Seeing the elevator numbers approaching the ground floor, he added, "I'll hang up now, sis. I'm going out to get some dinner."

[Okay. If anything comes up, call me. If you can't reach me, call my manager,] she advised.

"Roger that, sis." Jacan hung up the phone and looked around, unsure of where to start exploring the area around his new place.

"If I go by the superstition about twitching eyes, it should be... 'right bad, left good,'" he thought, turning to walk left.

Plak!

But after only a few steps, he collided with a wall of muscle.

"Ouch, sorry!" Luckily, Jacan was someone who worked out; if he had been frail, he would have ended up on the ground for sure.

"Oh, Mr. Dong?" What was he doing here?

...[So, did you run into President Dong again?]

..."How could there be such a coincidence?"

There really was a coincidence! He had just talked to his sister, and now he ran into the president himself.

...

"Are you okay? Did you get hurt?" President Dong had noticed Jacan standing in front of the condo and had been contemplating whether to greet him or not.

He thought about walking past, considering his position meant he shouldn't be seen mingling with contestants to avoid future accusations if Jacan made it to the final rounds. But who could have predicted that Jacan would turn so suddenly?

"No, I'm fine. Sorry again for being so clumsy," Jacan apologized, thinking, of all people to bump into, why did it have to be his potential future boss?

"Alright. Excuse me," Dong Hyunin decided not to prolong the conversation, despite his heart fluttering each time they met.

The president walked into the condo without looking back. Another secret about the stoic President Dong was that even though he was gay, his upbringing outside his homeland meant his type didn't typically include Asian men.

He liked small, cute Western guys, which were rare in his social circles; they were either buff with muscles like boulders or extremely tall.

When he saw Jacan's introduction video, it felt like Cupid's arrow had struck. Jacan was exactly his type.

But pursuing him now was impossible because Jacan was a contestant in a competition where his company was the main sponsor. If word got out that he had a special liking for Jacan, people would definitely question the fairness of the results.

Moreover, given Jacan's genuine talent, he was likely to make it to the later rounds, which would only amplify any potential backlash.

Many artists had seen their careers ruined by rumors spread by people who had never even met them. He didn't want Jacan to be treated unfairly when he had done nothing wrong.

Since the person he liked wanted to be an artist, he decided to wait patiently. When Jacan was ready for a relationship, he would make his move. His gaydar had never failed him—Jacan had to be gay.

Jacan saw out of the corner of his eye that Dong Hyunin walked into the same condominium he had just left, meaning the man lived there too.

Today, Dong Hyunin wasn't wearing sunglasses like the first time they met, and his handsome features struck Jacan even more.

His sister had said Dong Hyunin was gay, but it was hard to tell just by looking at him.

...

Jacan spent the two weeks before the first recording preparing his performance for the evaluation round. The first episode was crucial, often creating a love-at-first-sight moment between the artists and the fans.

The most attention-grabbing debuts were those where the performer maximized their physical appearance. This kind of show never lacked handsome participants, but those with a special aura were extremely rare. Therefore, Jacan needed to find a way to bring out that special aura in his performance.

And he couldn't practice too intensely without taking breaks. He needed time to rest and take care of himself. If he showed up to the first taping with a worn-out face, no matter how good his performance was, dark circles that required heavy concealer, a face covered in makeup, or even a pimple or two that sapped his confidence could lead to a low evaluation.

Thud, thud, thud.

"How was it, Sister Shinsu?" Jacan, looking up at his impromptu evaluator for feedback.

"Do you want me to be honest or just comfort you?" Han Shinsu's face remained expressionless as she scrutinized her former duet partner's performance.

"If it's really bad, just be honest," Jacan said, pursing his lips but maintaining eye contact with his beautiful older sister, ready to accept any criticism. Although he hadn't completely abandoned music over the past two years, he hadn't practiced as rigorously as he had when he was a full-time singer.

It wouldn't be surprising if his skills had declined somewhat.

"I won't comment on your singing technique or anything like that. I just want to ask one question... Are you putting too much pressure on yourself, Jay?"

"I'm not... Actually, I might be too stressed," Jacan started to deny it, then stopped, clenching his fists and looking down at his slightly trembling hands. When had it started to be like this?

"At least you realize it," Han Shinsu said, folding her arms and exhaling loudly through her nose. "Are you... afraid of the stage?"

"I'm not afraid of the stage, just... afraid that no one will accept me," Jacan admitted, voicing his fears of not being accepted for his abilities, his appearance, or anything that defined him.

"Oh, my dear," she stood up and pulled her younger brother, who was nearly her height, into a comforting hug. She regretted not opposing the decision to have him wear a mask on stage back then. She had been too focused on ensuring his debut, not realizing it would leave a wound that was hard to heal even now.

"I need a bit more time. And you shouldn't blame yourself. I didn't oppose the decision back then because I also wanted to debut as soon as possible," Jacan reassured her. Neither of them was at fault, nor was the company president back then for being cautious about potential negative reactions.

"Your singing skills are good, but your eyes still show worry, preventing you from fully revealing your true self. Actually, at this level, you should be in a high class already, but today’s kids are impressive. Don't underestimate them just because they haven't debuted yet," Han Shinsu warned. Some trainees had skills rivaling those of senior artists who had been in the industry for a long time.

You can't just think you're more experienced than anyone else.

"When do you have to be on set for your drama?" Jacan asked.

"In two hours. Why?"

"Then... could you watch me perform one more time?"

...

..

.

Two weeks later

STAR FIGHT EP.01 Filming Location

"Jacan Miller, reporting," announced the young man with light-colored hair and striking blue eyes, catching the attention of the staff as soon as he walked in. Jacan was dressed in a white crew neck shirt layered with a brown knit cardigan, paired with faded skinny jeans and ankle boots. His overall look exuded a soft yet strong presence.

"Your documents are all in order. Please leave your belongings in the room inside. Our staff will label them and deliver them to your accommodation after the first shoot. Here is your name sticker and class designation, which will be assigned after the evaluation. Please place it on your chest or another easily visible spot for the judges," instructed a staff member.

"During this time, please make any necessary calls to your family or relatives. The show will collect all contestants' phones and return them only during designated times or in case of emergencies. This is to ensure everyone can fully concentrate on the filming," the staff member added, ensuring that no details of the filming would be leaked to the outside world.

"Thank you," Jacan replied, taking the documents but not immediately sticking the label on. He chose to follow the staff member to store his belongings first. He sent a quick message to his sister, Shinsu, to inform her that he had arrived at the studio. Then he turned off his phone and placed it in the designated locker. Only after that did he peel the sticker and affix it prominently on his shirt.

‘JACAN M.’

The young man couldn't help but smile a little. Finally, he could use his real name.

The waiting room he was led to was a spacious, square room about two meters wide. In front of him, a television displayed the rules and guidelines that had been sent in an email, reiterating them one more time. Above the television, a camera was recording, likely capturing scenes to be edited into the first episode.

What should I do...

"In the box to your left, you will find stickers indicating the class level that you believe matches your abilities."

Jacan pretended to read the instructions out loud as if to verify his understanding. He then selected a sticker indicating class A-E. Naturally, if he wanted to stand out, he had to choose class A.

But simply choosing it wouldn't be enough.

“Please let me really get this class,” Jacan murmured, holding the Class A sticker. He then clasped his hands together above his head in a traditional prayer gesture, speaking a prayer in country T language. If the show decided to use this scene, they would have to find out the meaning and add subtitles for sure.

The young man lowered the Class A sticker to eye level, rubbing it with his thumb for a moment. He fumbled to peel it off and stick it in the class designation slot next to his name tag when he heard a prompt from the staff outside. Now it read: JACAN M. / Class A.

When he left the room, the staff led him to the large studio designated for filming the first episode. The area was sectioned off with opaque plastic partitions, but he could still make out that there were at least 20 other contestants in the room.

In a typical show, the contestants would be brought together and later made to act as if they were meeting for the first time during filming. He didn't expect this show to go as far as to keep the contestants from seeing each other even backstage.

"An attendant will lead you into the studio for filming shortly. Please be prepared," a staff member announced. Then, they started calling out the numbers in order of arrival. He was in the middle of the pack, leaning towards the end, so by the time it was his turn, the front and middle row seats would likely be taken.

Cut to the first episode of Star Fight being filmed.

Wang Qi was excited about participating in a major show, believing fervently that he had narrowly passed the audition. As an independent artist and a foreigner not holding citizenship of country K, by the moment he received an email confirming his advancement, he was almost ready to pack up and return to his home country.

"Madly invested," the young man with a youthful face, who clearly had not reached legal adulthood, walked out of the door that the staff had left him at.

The use of the word 'left' is appropriate because he was merely looking left and right, filled with curiosity. The staff, initially leading, had to switch to pulling and dragging him along until they got here. After explaining what needed to be done, they walked back to find the next participant, but none of those explanations were heard by the excited young man, not even a single sentence.

At this moment, Wang Qi could only gaze at the studio set for filming, his eyes sparkling with a mixture of excitement and confusion about what he should do next.

In front of the young man was a raised floor resembling a stage, and above his head hung a large TV screen displaying the word "UNKNOWN" across it, likely indicating that those entering at this time were unaffiliated trainees.

Beyond the stage, there was a table for the judges, and behind it, a four-tiered triangular auditorium with chairs numbered from 1 to 99. The first five numbers were positioned in the center and had a more prominent aura than the others.

Especially the top chair with the number one boldly displayed, it was almost like a luxurious custom-made sofa from abroad, representing a significant investment.

"Right, I need to choose a chair I want to sit in, yes, choose a chair," he mumbled to himself for nearly a minute until the once excited Wang Qi finally remembered the next steps he needed to take.

"Where should I sit?" the young man scanned the seats from the last number to the first, looking back and forth twice before finally deciding on number 29.

"This one then. Lucky Number, the best personal choice," Not too high, not too low, though far from the debut number, he was undeterred and ready to climb from this seat!

And the moment his bottom touched the chair...

Boom, boom, boom!

"Ai ya! I’m dead, I’m dead, I’m dead!!!"

A thunderous drum sound erupted accompanied by ceaselessly flickering spotlights. The startling effects made the young man's heart drop, his hands instinctively rising to protect his head from anything that might fall. His handsome, playful face showed genuine panic, not feigned at all.

Undoubtedly, Wang Qi's exclamation and shocked expression would become a meme he'd detest for a long time.

Swish

Suddenly, the screen changed from "UNKNOWN" to display the name of a mid-sized company, and a handsome young man walked out from the same door.

He seemed well-prepared, nodding slightly in greeting upon seeing someone already seated, his eyes quickly scanning for cameras placed around. He then introduced himself and his agency before beginning to look for a suitable chair, choosing one not far down the line.

"Wow, sitting at number 5 already," which was designated for those ready to debut.

From the large studio room, where initially only two trainees were seated, others gradually began to enter, filling it up slowly. This process repeated until it was the turn of a young man with a quarter heritage who stood out from everyone else in the studio.

Jacan, with his sea-colored eyes, surveyed his peers, whom he would be sharing his fate with for the next three months. Each had a distinct personality that differed from the others. His slim legs beneath jeans confidently stepped onto the stage, and his face always adorned with a friendly smile made him stand out from other trainees who seemed nervous when facing the crowd.

"Hello, I'm Jacan, an independent trainee."

"Hello," other trainees were all exchanging their greetings, and some of them began to evaluate their competitors based on their looks. Since the filming began, everyone in this studio had been confident in their appearance. When good-looking people gathered, the best-looking among them stood out, and in their eyes, Jacan was one of them.

The whispering of other contestants from above made the young man slightly anxious, as it had been a long time since he was the focus of such a large group's attention.

Exciting, indeed…

The young man scanned the empty chair numbers, stopping at number 25, which was still available. However, he hesitated because it was flanked by two handsome men of distinct styles, fearing that their strong presence might overshadow him.

But when he considered other options, he found them unsatisfactory.

‘I'll just sit there.’

"Is that spot a gathering of good-looking people or what?" one young man, sitting along the edge at the bottom row, turned to a new friend immediately after seeing the blue-eyed young man join the two very attractive men, so intimidating that no one dared to approach. And once he sat down, he seemed just as striking as they were.

"It's like they're already debuted idols," another added, before they turned to face each other, pouted, and mockingly wiped away fake tears from each other’s eyes.

"Just having those guys there makes it feel like the chance of us debuting decreases every minute."

"Don’t say that, we can make it."

"Can we make it, or do we get to make it?"

"We get to make it, haha!"

Of course, the installed cameras captured these humorous and candid moments. These images would be included in the first tape, eliciting laughter and sympathetic chuckles from the audience.

It took nearly twenty minutes for all 99 contestants to take their seats. As soon as the last person sat down, music played again, startling the tender-hearted young men who comforted each other with pats on the back.

"..." Jacan, who was used to the variety show effects and sat undisturbed, watched the two handsome guys beside him nearly jump out of their chairs.

Was it genuine fright or just an act?

Suddenly!

The screen, which had been calm after introducing the last trainee, displayed a talented female singer known as the queen of golden voice, then quickly shifted to show four other individuals, stirring excitement within the studio.

"Waaaaah! Kim Sujin!"

"Nuna really came to judge, Aaaaahhh!"

"Wow, Kim Bomi is here too, the Kim ladies are truly awesome."

"But half our country uses the surname Kim,” Weren’t they all considered one big family or what?

"Sheesh, wasn’t Jung Wangseong supposed to have declined the invitation to join? How is he on the screen then?"

"Yikes! Lee Danbi, the rap industry's big name is also here!"

“#$%^&* (%@$U** (..."

The young man of mixed heritage alternated between watching the screen and observing the excitement of the other young contestants buzzing about the list of judges who were also trainers.

Ah... They all looked so familiar.

I missed this.