Including Gang Rojun, ten contestants had gathered in the hall. Before them, PD U Hanseok briefed them on the fifth evaluation—no, on matters related to the final evaluation. Six out of the ten would be eliminated, and only four would survive.
Many emotions were etched on the contestants’ faces.
Worry, fear, turmoil, and more.
Most of them already knew that there would be four final winners. Gang Rojun had also heard a rough outline before joining “Geubaekpeu,” so he was aware of it. Even so, now that they had actually reached the final stage, a dull tension began to rise within him.
Then U Hanseok announced the task for the final evaluation.
“The fifth—no, the final evaluation task is ‘freedom.’”
Freedom? At the unexpected word, not only Rojun but the other nine contestants began to murmur. Freedom? What did that mean? The contestants’ expressions shifted into looks of confusion. Several cameras filmed them one by one. After briefly looking around at the contestants, PD U Hanseok spoke again.
“The evaluation task is freedom. Just as it sounds, for the final evaluation, you may do whatever you want. Freely.”
PD U Hanseok lowered the tablet he had been looking at.
“What evaluation song should you perform? Anything is possible. It can be a song you’ve always liked, and an original song is also okay. You may even further develop something you performed in a previous evaluation and do it again. Vocals, choreography, rap—what you choose to showcase as your core is up to you, and if you want, you may mix all three. Solo, duet, or a group of three or more—it doesn’t matter.”
Simply put, it meant, “Do whatever you want.” Until now, the production team had decided and carried out every task, but for this final evaluation, they were saying they would leave everything up to the contestants.
“Of course, you are free to decide everything from outfits to the concept of the stage. Whatever decision you make, our production team intends to quietly watch over you.”
Why freedom all of a sudden? Had the “Geubaekpeu” production team become too lazy to work at the last minute? Not at all. At present, “Geubaekpeu” had surpassed 30% in viewership ratings and was writing a legend. On top of that, it was leading trends and fads. This was the final evaluation of that very “Geubaekpeu.” Unless they had gone insane, the production team should have been pouring even more effort into the final evaluation.
And yet PD U Hanseok granted freedom to the ten contestants.
‘To put it metaphorically—until now, they were trainees, and this final evaluation is like their debut.’
This had been decided from the initial planning stages of “Geubaekpeu.” Moreover.
‘Once these kids graduate from “Geubaekpeu,” they’ll be thrown into the filthy, ugly, ruthless, and cold reality. Compared to the entertainment industry, this place is a flower garden. So it’s only right to leave at least the final decision to them.’
It was also a final evaluation meant more for the contestants than for the viewers. In hopes that they would become even a little stronger, that they would possess even the slightest more independent resolve.
“Geubaekpeu” was only a signboard.
‘It wasn’t because that signboard was bright that you stood out. It was because you shone that “Geubaekpeu” could be bright.’
PD U Hanseok and the “Geubaekpeu” production team wanted the contestants to believe in themselves. Thus, the best outcome would be for them to leave “Geubaekpeu” with powerful flaps of their wings.
Then, after meeting the eyes of each of the ten contestants one by one, U Hanseok wrapped things up.
“The final evaluation filming will be on Monday, November 2.”
Today was October 20. It was tight. In any case, after finishing the briefing and other miscellaneous matters, PD U Hanseok stepped away. However, the cameras continued rolling. The contestants also remained where they were.
No voices could be heard.
“......”
“......”
The vast hall was quiet.
A little while later.
The contestants either stared into empty space or watched the reactions of the peers around them. What about you? What are you thinking? Their faces held confusion and helplessness. At the same time, their thoughts and worries deepened.
They were only twenty years old at most.
How many times could they have made such important decisions until now? However, the world, society, did not wait for them. Situations that forced choices upon them were also common. It was not strange for the contestants to be frightened before the invisible future called “survival.”
‘Uh, what do I do???’
‘Now that they suddenly say freedom, my brain’s stopped working.’
‘Uh—should I just do what I did in a previous evaluation again?? No... then it might feel stale.’
‘Ha, two weeks feels way too short. What if I screw it up?’
Dozens of staff members silently watched them. Among them, the writers whispered to PD U Hanseok with worry in their voices.
“Will this be okay? The kids haven’t moved at all for several minutes already.”
“Just looking at them, it seems like their brains have frozen.”
U Hanseok, arms crossed, showed no change on his stern face.
“From now on, whether those ten survive or get eliminated, they’ll be walking forward as idols. With this much attention, this much popularity—even if they’re eliminated, there’s no way the agencies will leave them alone. They know that too. They’re only flustered because the situation is unfamiliar. We just have to watch.”
“......Still.”
“It’s at times like this that the real thing shows. Someone might be trapped in helplessness and keep agonizing, while someone else might break this gloomy fear and change the flow.”
Around this time, Gang Rojun was, like the other kids, quite conflicted.
‘They kept deciding the tasks for us, then suddenly gave us freedom at the end, so my brain really isn’t working.’
Well, the production team was probably aiming for this kind of atmosphere. Then Gang Rojun, who had been roughly scratching his head, pushed aside most of the swirling worries and concerns.
‘At times like this, it’s better to keep it simple.’
Gang Rojun had experienced true “survival.” He had lived as a hideous monster. He had thought deeply not about passing or being eliminated, but about life and death, and had somehow survived. The beginning had been, “Let’s get outside first.”
‘And that’s why I’m here now.’
Rojun looked up at the ceiling where the lights hung. Soon, he let out a small sigh.
—Swoosh.
He sat down on the edge of the stage at the back. When there was movement, the other contestants turned to look. Gang Rojun smiled faintly.
“Let’s sit for now. Don’t just stand there.”
The first to sit beside Rojun was No. 58 Sihu. After that, the remaining contestants followed and sat down in a row. Gang Rojun opened his mouth again.
“Hoo—the smell of spicy pork is drifting over. I’m hungry.”
Only then did the other contestants, wearing faint smiles, speak up.
“Isn’t it bulgogi?”
“Yeah, this isn’t spicy pork. It’s bulgogi.”
“I checked the menu before coming. It’s bulgogi. Beef radish soup, bulgogi, cucumber salad.”
“Ugh, I’m not a fan of cucumber salad.”
“The cucumber said it doesn’t like you either.”
The seriousness had eased. With both hands planted behind his back, Rojun looked toward the nine peers sitting beside him.
“This is what I think. The final evaluation is our last stage to appeal to the viewers and the entertainment companies, right? And ‘Geubaekpeu’ isn’t a program that selects solo singers. In the end, it’s a program that creates idols.”
Most of the contestants nodded. Rojun’s eyes once again turned toward the lights on the ceiling.
“Except for a few of the early evaluations, we’ve been matching our breathing together since ‘Produce.’ Now that we’ve come all the way to ‘Survival 100,’ we’re probably fairly in sync. Of course, competition and survival are at the core of ‘Geubaekpeu,’ but aren’t we, who’ve made it to the final evaluation, worth quite a lot?”
The oldest hyung, No. 58 Sihu, agreed.
“That’s true. When I heard from the kids who left during the fourth evaluation last time, there were even a few who had agencies. Whether we survive here or get eliminated, there’s a high chance we’ll eventually meet again as idols.”
No. 26 Dogyeong added an explanation expressionlessly.
“If you look at other audition programs, there are examples of people who were eliminated early but are now doing perfectly well as popular idols.”
As if to say that was exactly what he meant, Rojun took over the baton.
“So from here on, let’s think of all of us as survivors and enjoy it properly.”
Looking at everyone, he gave his conclusion.
“Like idols, how about the ten of us decorate the final stage as a group?”
The contestants’ reactions varied. The one thing they had in common was that their eyes widened. Regardless, Gang Rojun continued reciting what he had organized in his mind.
“I just thought that would plant a more definite idol-like image in the minds of entertainment companies and viewers. Even if we all started solo, if we put our ending into one picture as a group, wouldn’t people keep talking about it even after time passes? Of course, that’ll only be possible if the final stage is killer.”
For a moment, the nine contestants imagined themselves being mentioned for years to come. In the future, audition variety shows similar to “Geubaekpeu” would probably continue to appear. But it would be hard to surpass “Geubaekpeu.”
After all, in terms of influence, it had surpassed a whopping 30% in viewership ratings.
That “Geubaekpeu” would continue to be spoken of as a legend by viewers, entertainment companies, idol trainees, and furthermore, the entire entertainment industry. The final evaluation would also continue to be talked about. If so, which would draw more focus: each of them performing solo, or being captured in one picture as a group?
Naturally, it was the group.
The videos that would remain were the same. Rather than being dispersed across ten videos, having all ten of them captured in a single video would be able to concentrate the attention.
At this point, Gang Rojun spoke again.
“Of course, this is just a suggestion, and everyone has to choose for themselves. If you don’t want to, you can do what you want.”
The exotically handsome No. 46 Gangmin asked in return.
“If we go as a ten-member group, hyung, how have you pictured it?”
“Fortunately, each of us has decent abilities, don’t we?”
“Like ‘Survival 100,’ but this time, we complete the stage with our own strength from beginning to end?”
“Right. Vocals, choreography, even producing—all of it. Then I think the broadcast picture will be richer too.”
“......”
Silence flowed for several dozen seconds. The first to break that silence was No. 58 Sihu with his baby perm.
“I-I think it sounds good. I’ll do it. I’ll take charge of the composition side. Since we don’t have much time, rather than making a new song, I think we can choose from something I’ve already made.”
Next was No. 26 Dogyeong, in his dry tone.
“Then I’ll talk with Sihu hyung and take charge of the rap parts.”
No. 46 Gangmin too.
“Then I’ll have to choreograph it.”
The yellow-haired No. 15 Taemin as well.
“I’ll help choreograph.”
“Call.”
No. 71 Jeongwoo also joined in.
“Me too! I’ll do producing! I’ve always liked it.”
As a result, all nine contestants agreed.
At that moment, a vibration rang from Rojun’s wrist.
—Bzzzz.
“AI Simulation” had sent a notification.
—[You have achieved the hidden mission “Show Leadership to the Members!” 15 coins have been awarded as a gift.]
Gang Rojun glanced at it and smiled faintly with his eyes.
“Then I’ll write the lyrics.”
After No. 58 Sihu cut in.
“No, Rojun. You have to do one more thing.”
All nine contestants spoke as if they had planned it.
“You’re the leader.”
“Hyung is the leader.”
Meanwhile, the “Geubaekpeu” writers were smiling faintly.
“This is flowing in a strange direction.”
“Right, I didn’t expect this.”
“I feel like the finale is really going to explode properly?”
PD U Hanseok was looking at Gang Rojun.
‘He said he hated being a leader, but he’s doing just fine.’
Late the next morning, Wednesday.
A music show waiting room at a broadcasting station. While countless idols crowded the hallway, familiar faces could be seen inside a waiting room shared by several girl groups. It was the rookie girl group “Limesome,” which had a connection to Gang Rojun.
From the fox-like Hayeong to all the members, they were wearing white stage outfits that exposed their shoulders.
For some reason, those girls had gathered around Hayeong. To be exact, they were all looking at Hayeong’s phone. On her phone screen, a fresh teaser video that had been released this morning was playing.
—Official Teaser Trailer “We Lend You a Lover!”｜Rental Lover
It was the official teaser for “Rental Lover.”
It was not common for a one-act drama to release a teaser. Most tended to skip it. However, the teaser for “Rental Lover” felt like they had put quite a bit of effort into it. The runtime of the “Rental Lover” teaser that the “Limesome” members were watching was roughly fifteen seconds.
It began with Choe Rina as a shut-in in her room. No, with the female lead, “I Daeun,” lying in a dark room and using her phone. A light and cheerful BGM played underneath.
—♬♪
From there, the screen began to cut quickly. Starting with the female lead’s eyes widening tremendously as she looked at someone, the faces of several handsome men appeared in a row. The last one to appear was.
“Oh! Rojun-nim!!”
It was Gang Rojun, or “Lover No. 4.” With his pomade hairstyle and suit, he wore a faint smile. His appearance was short, roughly two seconds, but.
“Wow...... his visuals are seriously insane.”
“He’s different in real life and in the drama??!”
“He’s really not human.”
“With hair, makeup, styling, and editing added on, honestly, I can’t even see the sunbaes who came before him.”
His presence was enormous.
At that moment, the teaser cut to a black screen, and words slowly appeared along with the title.
—Rental Lover
—First Broadcast on November 6
What was amazing was that less than an hour had passed since the teaser was released, yet it had already surpassed 300,000 views. It seemed like it would easily reach one million views, and the “Rental Lover” side accelerated their hooking strategy as soon as they released the teaser. Through their official SNS, they threw out new bait.
—[......The writer of “Rental Lover” + the actor playing “Lover No. 4,” Rojun-nim, has taken charge of the OST! On top of that, he even wrote the lyrics himself!!]
It was a chain of bombs detonated on purpose.