Reunited with My Ex-Boyfriend on an Idol Survival Show - Chapter 3

Reunited with My Ex-Boyfriend on an Idol Survival Show

Chapter 3

SYNOPSIS AND CHARACTER INFO

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"Why that song specifically?"

To others, it might have sounded like a generic question meant to fill airtime.

But to Seha, that question felt like a sharp jab to the heart. It was as if Ryu Dohyuk's true feelings toward him were laid bare in that single inquiry. Seha tensed his shoulders, afraid he would otherwise collapse under the weight of the moment.

"A simple 'just because' won't do."

This wasn't a private conversation between Seha and Ryu Dohyuk; it was a broadcast-ready exchange captured by cameras. Any cliché response risked having the entire scene cut.

After a moment's hesitation, Seha raised the microphone.

"It's the song I'm most confident in, and I believe it best showcases my vocal abilities."

It was true.

Flood's "Night Day" might seem like just another decent song at first glance, but capturing its nuances required considerable effort. Anyone present who had any experience singing would have noticed Seha's subtle pitch control and breathing techniques.

Seha glanced at the vocal judges. Their expressions showed he had made a strong impression. Relieved, he suddenly smiled brightly and added, "Actually, this song was highly praised even when I was with my previous company. They said I could win every competition with it."

"Is that so?"

"Yes. So, Assistant..."

"...?"

"Have you fallen for it?"

Dohyuk let out a hollow, bitter laugh, as if he had bitten into something unpleasant. This made Seha feel utterly miserable.

As if I'm flirting with you because I want to... Being an idol is a job that requires charm. Hyung was delivering that line to the camera, not to you. Seha wept inwardly, his eyelashes trembling slightly as he forced a warm smile.

Fortunately, the surrounding staff let out appreciative "Ooh!"s, likely sensing his effort. With a bitter heart, Seha slowly withdrew his smile, and only then did Dohyuk reply.

"Well, if you sing 'Night Day' with Seha's voice, no one can resist."

"......"

"But what should I do?"

The moment Dohyuk's tone shifted, Seha saw the devil in him.

"I'm not the kind of assistant who falls for things so easily."

You fell for it completely before... He desperately suppressed the urge to mutter those words aloud. Ryu Dohyuk wore an expression that made it clear he was determined to tease Seha. Don't get drawn in, don't get drawn in, Seha repeated to himself inwardly.

"Then I'll show you my dance too!"

To prevent further objections, Seha set down the microphone. Since the vocal assessment was already complete, it was time to demonstrate his dance skills.

With Dohyuk looking visibly reluctant, the beat of Seha's chosen song began to thump through the room.

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After his dance performance, Seha received an A grade.

While his dance skills were decent, it was his vocal performance that truly impressed the judges. When the vocal coach showered him with praise, Seha instinctively knew he wouldn't be completely edited out, at the very least.

Hyun Sion, whom Seha had nominated, was demoted to a B grade. The system involved mutual nominations and demotions. Since the B grade was already full, Sion had to nominate someone else for demotion. He played it safe by nominating Park Yoosin, a junior from his agency.

After all 44 auditions were completed, the initial grades were finalized. Dohyuk then outlined the schedule for the Reloading Project, from profile shoots to the production announcement and the true start of the project. Listening to the explanation, Seha felt the road ahead seemed dauntingly long.

'Finally, it's time to go home.'

Only after the cameras were off and he saw the others leaving for the day did Seha finally relax. He stretched, his body cracking audibly.

Seha glanced around, nodding to the trainees who were still there before searching for Hyun Sion. But the ON Entertainment trainees seemed to have already returned to the company.

'I wanted to apologize for calling him out so suddenly earlier.'

Reluctantly, Seha left the studio alone. He had walked for about five minutes when someone suddenly grabbed his arm from behind. Before he could turn around, the person spoke.

"Did you choose that song on purpose?"

It was Dohyuk. As soon as filming ended, he politely bowed and left work in a flash. Seha couldn't figure out why he was still lingering nearby.

When Seha didn't answer, Dohyuk squeezed his hand again, as if urging him to speak. Though the grip felt tight, strangely, the area being held didn't ache.

"Did I choose that song on purpose?" Seha retorted. Is this even a question?

"If I had known, I would have picked a different song."

What kind of song was it? "Night Day" held profound significance for Seha. It was the song that had propelled him to first place in ON Entertainment's monthly evaluations, surpassing countless other trainees. His affection for the song and his confidence in it were boundless.

That's why he had shared it with Dohyuk in the past, as if sharing something precious.

Of course, Seha knew the song held great meaning for Dohyuk too. If he had known Dohyuk would be hosting the show, he would have prepared a different song.

"Did you know I was going to be on the show too?"

"If I knew, I wouldn't have been the host. What good would it do me to see On Seha's face?"

When Seha asked back, Dohyuk snickered, a clear mockery.

He used to call me "hyung" every time. Now he's casually dropping my name like we're old friends.

Seha had no intention of correcting him. They weren't close enough for that, he thought. Yet seeing Dohyuk's changed demeanor left him feeling strangely drained.

"Alright... then let go of me now. I can't afford to get caught on camera."

Seha gestured with his chin toward the arm Dohyuk was holding. Dohyuk released him readily, then subtly grabbed him again, adding, "Just one more question."

"Go ahead."

"Why are you living like this?"

"...What?"

The question left Seha speechless. He whipped his head around, doubting his ears, but Dohyuk remained unfazed.

"What do you mean by that...?"

"You threw away our entire relationship just to debut, so why are you still stuck at rock bottom?"

Seha bit his lip at the cruel question, feeling utterly pathetic.

He had so much he wanted to say: Do you think I wanted this? Do you think I want to be stuck at rock bottom? Hyung didn't want to abandon you either. But I was so desperate for the debut right in front of me that I was willing to sacrifice our relationship...

But he couldn't utter a single word.

Does Ryu Dohyuk even understand how I feel? I've lost both my lover and my dream. While I'm struggling alone at rock bottom, does he even know what that's like when he's at the very top...?

No, he hoped Dohyuk would never know. It was a feeling far more miserable than he could ever imagine.

"We're not together anymore. Do I really have to answer that question?"

"......"

"Please move."

His voice, meant to draw a line, quivered awkwardly. His eyes stung, and when he blinked, the tears that had welled up spilled over, wetting his lashes.

"On Seha, wait a minute."

Ignoring Dohyuk's attempt to stop him, Seha hailed a passing taxi.

As he watched the trees blur past the car window, Seha replayed his conversation with Dohyuk in his mind. The more he thought about it, the clearer one truth became:

Ryu Dohyuk, you really hate me enough to wish I was dead.

It was understandable. After all, he was the one who had hurt Dohyuk and ended their relationship.

But still...

Being hated by someone he had loved felt truly awful.

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[MCH Reloading Project Male Version Coming Soon] 20XX.05.01

[Exclusive] 'Reloading Project' Season 2 Set for Grand Return... Official Statement from Knet

The wildly popular 'Reloading Project,' which concluded with fervent public interest, is returning with a second season featuring male trainees.

A Knet representative stated, "We'll maintain the same 44-member structure as Season 1, but we plan to add more pace and dynamism to the editing, which was previously criticized for being too slow."

(Excerpt)

Meanwhile, the host for 'Reloading Project' Season 2 remains unannounced. Some speculate that the casting will aim to generate as much buzz as Season 1. A Knet representative responded, "We'll reveal a surprise announcement soon. Whoever you're expecting, it will exceed your expectations."

Is this for real??????????????

Am I going to get my wallet stolen by Kent again?

[Comment 159]

Wait, is this not an April Fool's joke?!

Come to me, dopamine...

Please let only handsome guys appear.

└ Seriously, these days so many idols are debuting with just average street-level looks. I wish they'd stick to the classics...

I don't care about anything else, I'm just curious who the Assistant will be.

└ It'll probably be a guy, right? Last season it was a female idol, so maybe this time it'll be a male idol.

But are there any male idols who could host? Aren't all the top groups on overseas tours these days?

└ Yeah, and they have to do dorm stays too. The schedule is insane.

└ Kent saying "whoever you're expecting, it'll be beyond your expectations" makes it sound like a legendary top-tier member.

└ What if it's just some unknown rookie...?

I heard it's not a male idol... ㅋㅋㅋ

└ Who is it? Spill the beans! If it's my bias group, I need to mentally prepare myself.

└ What kind of mental preparation?

└ Preparing to ditch the trainee and switch sides ᄒ

└ This is how it is.

└ No, seriously, who is it then? A female idol?

The commenter above just showed off about knowing a few days earlier and then bailed ᄏᄏᄏ

└ If you know, spill the beans before leaving. Don't just smirk to yourself, you jerk.

Breaking News!!!!!! Ryu Dohyuk, Host of Re-Project!!!!!! 20xx.05.11

(Photo)

Knet tagged Ryu Dohyuk's Longstar ID in a Reloading Project post.

Unless Ryu Dohyuk went completely insane and left to debut himself, he's definitely the host.

[221 Comments]

Holy shit, Ryu Dohyuk?????????

I didn't want to watch this, but... ugh.

(Photo) It looks like ON Entertainment's trainees will be appearing too. The official account just posted.

└ With the male idol survival show scene getting stale, ON Entertainment's entry is... "huge expectations."

└ Should we go watch the press conference?

Did Ryu Dohyuk's salary bankrupt Knet? (I know he's rich, so no snarky comments.)

└ Just let it go. I heard they made a killing with the Reloading Project ads and voting scams.

Speaking of ON Entertainment, I went to the same school as Ryu. It was a regular high school with tons of trainees. Remember that trainee oppa who used to follow Ryu around every day? He never debuted... 😭 I wonder if he'll show up here? (Deleting soon)

└ Huh?

└ Ryu Dohyuk had someone following him around?

└ Prove it first before you talk. And your character analysis is wrong. Our Dohyuk is famous for having no friends, lol.
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(Deleted comment)

└ They deleted it, huh?

└ Reloading Project is gonna be huge. The drama's already getting wild.

└ The funniest part is the fans who refuse to believe he has no friends, lmao.