A woman resembling an excited hamster- no, thanks to writer Kim Se-hee, team mbers gathered around her. Their curiosity had been piqued. Kim Se-hee had always been a Face Lover, but now she was outright shouting about casting soone in a show that was still in preparation.
“How insanely handso does he have to be for you to be this hyped? Let see too.”
“Let’s check together, together.”
“Aren’t you overreacting again? Among idol trainees, he might just be average.”
The team mbers checked Kang Rojun, who appeared on Kim Se-hee's phone screen. Their eyes quickly widened.
“Oh- his visuals are no joke.”
“Zoom in a bit.”
“Why didn’t you take a closer shot?”
“If he looks this good from a distance, seeing him in person must be shocking.”
“Well- Face Lover Kim Se-hee does have high standards. She wouldn’t overreact like this for just a decent-looking guy.”
As Kim Se-hee observed the team mbers giving positive evaluations, she slowly recalled the Kang Rojun she had t yesterday, savoring the mory. She opened her closed eyes and murmured sincerely.
“No... He wasn’t even wearing makeup. He just had on a plain T-shirt and so common jeans, yet he looked like he walked straight out of a pictorial. You have to see him in person. I’ll bet my neck that everyone’s jaw will drop.”
With a deep sigh, the bespectacled man, whom everyone called PD, lightly flicked Kim Se-hee on the forehead.
“Don’t make bets like that. Do your job.”
"Ow, how cruel."
Kim Se-hee imdiately clung to the PD, putting force into her voice.
"PD-nim, this guy, let's cast him."
“No way.”
The PD, who had stood up, rubbed his dark-circled eyes and yawned. This wasn’t exactly an urgent matter.
“Our show launches in a month, and there’s still a lot to do. And you want to cast soone without any screening? Why do you, a broadcast writer, keep getting ahead of yourself?”
“T-Then! At least just take a look! I’m telling you, I have a strong feeling about him! If we cast him, his looks alone will spread word-of-mouth like wildfire! The initial hook will be insane! The impact will be massive!”
“Hah... Yeah, he looks decent. But do you know how many good-looking people are in this industry? What’s his na?”
“I-I didn’t ask his na. But still! He’s on a whole different level! The others in this industry are human-tier! He’s god-tier!!”
The PD, looking exhausted, ran his hands over his face.
“If he’s that good-looking, entertainnt agencies wouldn’t have left him alone. He’s probably already signed or at least a trainee. That kind of guy isn’t our target. Did you forget our concept is to work with completely raw talents?”
“I know! But he said he’s unemployed.”
“Unemployed?”
Kim Se-hee, suddenly calming down, replied with a serious tone.
“PD-nim. I’m not overreacting. You’ll change your mind once you see him. I’ll handle the build-up, so just take a quick look.”
“......”
“If he’s really unemployed and a hidden gem in this industry, we have to use him. If he ends up appearing on another show later, I’ll be so jealous I might die of regret."
The PD, taking off his glasses, narrowed his brows slightly as he looked at Kim Se-hee.
‘She’s usually a bit too enthusiastic, but… this is genuine.’
While she might be overly face-obsessed, it was true that Kim Se-hee had high standards. The PD, who had developed a slight interest, thought.
‘Besides, this is a hassle.’
Letting out a small sigh, he nodded.
“Fine, fine. There’s no harm in taking a quick look. Try contacting him.”
Kim Se-hee clenched her fists tightly.
“Wow!! PD-nim, you’re the best!”
“Weren’t you just calling cruel earlier? And before that, ruthless?”
“You’re cruel and ruthless but still the best!”
“...Get out.”
Kim Se-hee, practically running out of the eting room, was grinning ear to ear. This made her look even more like a hamster. Without hesitation, she got to work and sent a ssage to Kang Rojun, whose number she had saved.
“Heh heh, everyone’s reactions when they see him will be priceless.”
But even after an hour passed, then two, Rojun still hadn’t replied. Kim Se-hee was growing increasingly anxious, sending multiple ssages. However, even after half a day had passed, there was still no response.
At this point, the PD passing by asked her,
"Hey, Kim Se-hee. Still no word from that guy?"
"Well... he hasn't replied."
"Got ghosted?? I told you, I told you. Give up. Didn't I say he's 100% with an agency? He probably just hid it from you."
With the situation as it was, Kim Se-hee started to accept the reality to so extent.
"...Well, yeah. There’s no way soone with that face is unemployed."
anwhile, at a large gym near Giheung Station.
The place was packed with n and won working out. Among them, two n, drenched in sweat and heavily muscled, were grumbling as they looked toward the rows of treadmills. More specifically, their target was one man continuously running on a treadmill.
"Damn, isn’t it unfair for soone with that kind of visual to be into fitness too?"
"Exactly. Look at that. Every treadmill around him is taken by won."
"Seriously, good-looking guys are the worst."
"...But he’s not just good-looking. He’s on another level."
"Agreed. The mont he walked in, I gasped. His aura is insane."
The person they were targeting was none other than Kang Rojun, who was running at full speed.
"Huff-Huff-"
He was in a state of total focus. In the past, his ugly face had made public gyms unthinkable for him, but now, it was no longer an issue. Plus, exercising helped him complete missions, making it a win-win situation. Rojun ignored the gazes of the n and won around him and simply enjoyed his workout.
At that mont.
-Buzz.
-Buzz.
His phone, placed on the treadmill, vibrated briefly. In fact, it had been ringing non-stop for a while now, ssages and texts from people who had managed to get his number.
'This mission has an annoying side effect. Too many ssages. Should I get a separate phone just for missions? No, I should just stop letting people take my number from now on.'
Having made up his mind, Kang Rojun switched his phone to silent mode and resud running. Among the many ssages piling up, there were, of course, ones from Kim Se-hee as well.
-Swish.
After finishing his workout, Kang Rojun caught his breath and sat down on a nearby chair.
"Phew-"
At the sa ti, a woman approached him. She was wearing pink leggings, a white windbreaker, and had her long hair tied back in a single ponytail.
"Excuse ."
She was a woman whose beauty and figure had been drawing the attention of both n and won in the gym. However, ever since Kang Rojun showed up, she had been pushed to the background. Still, she spoke with great confidence.
"Can I have your number?"
Her tone suggested that she had never once been rejected before. Kang Rojun was briefly surprised when he looked at her.
'Wow- she’s really pretty. But I already decided not to give out my number anymore.'
Since he had just made that decision, he refused imdiately, maintaining politeness but with a firm tone.
"Sorry, but I can't give you my number."
"A-Ah, I guess asking for a number is a bit too much? Then, how about your Instagram?"
"I don’t use social dia."
And that was the truth, Kang Rojun didn’t have any social dia accounts.
"......"
The woman’s face quickly turned red, and she left in a hurry. Rojun felt a bit sorry, but there was nothing he could do. Soon, he recalled sothing his late mother often told him.
'Rojun-ah, relationships with people are important, but when you need to reject soone, do it clearly! Don’t leave any room for misunderstandings.'
This was a clear rejection, no room for misunderstandings. Ignoring the murmurs around him, Kang Rojun picked up his phone and opened the AI Simulation app. Since he had already completed all five of today’s missions, he was just checking in.
At that mont.
"Oh."
Kang Rojun’s eyes widened slightly. As soon as he accessed AI Simulation, a notification popped up.
[Hidden Mission ‘Complete Missions for 3 Consecutive Days’ has been achieved! You have been rewarded with 10 Coins.]
An unexpected reward. But more importantly, a Hidden Mission? That ant there were still things about this system even Kang Rojun didn’t know.
‘A hidden mission, huh? I guess more of these will pop up as I go along.’
Feeling pleased, Rojun checked his coin balance.
[User: Kang Rojun / Age: 24 / Height: 182.8cm / Desired Occupation: Idol / Coins: 44]
The number was steadily increasing.
Soon, Kang Rojun crossed his legs and rested his chin on his hand.
‘Once I save up enough coins, whether it’s Enhancent or AI Automation, I’ll end up becoming an overpowered idol. That ans I should start preparing sothing-'
Knowledge is power, so Rojun had, of course, spent the past few days studying everything about idols. It was a world he knew nothing about, making it difficult to grasp, but he had managed to learn so key points.
‘Idol debuts usually happen in one of two ways, either as an entertainnt agency trainee or by getting picked up through a variety show.’
Of course, both routes required auditions.
‘Hmm, an agency trainee? No matter how I think about it, that’s not for .’
Being a trainee at a company was tough, but more than that, it severely restricted one’s freedom. Above all.
‘I read that trainees aren’t allowed to use their phones.’
Most agencies confiscated trainees’ phones. While so were loosening up on this rule, the possibility alone made Kang Rojun reluctant. His biggest weapons were his face and the AI Simulation app.
If possible, he wanted to dominate both in terms of visuals and skills.
Eliminating the trainee route was the right choice.
Having made his decision, he accessed the internet and searched for "audition variety shows". Plenty of articles popped up, but they were all old. Feeling a bit disappointed, Rojun's eyes landed on a headline.
《The Master of Audition Variety Shows, PD Woo Han-suk, Preparing a New Large-Scale Audition Program for Early July》
It was exactly the kind of information he wanted. Early July? That ant one month left. A mix of anticipation and nervousness swelled inside Kang Rojun.
‘How do you even get on this? Do they hold screenings, and if you pass, you start filming?’
It was an entirely unfamiliar world, making it feel overwhelming and confusing. On top of that, there wasn’t even a show title yet. But there was a PD’s na, so his only choice was to keep searching.
At that mont, a short vibration was felt again, another ssage. Scratching his chin, Rojun stood up and opened the chat app.
What was interesting was.
“Hmm?”
Kang Rojun suddenly froze. In the ssage preview, he spotted the word "variety show".
Variety show?
Tilting his head in curiosity, Rojun couldn’t resist and tapped on the recently arrived ssage. Several ssages were already stacked up.
-[Hello! I’m the person who asked for your number yesterday at Seongsu Station! You rember , right???]
-[Actually, I’m a broadcast writer, and we’re preparing a huge variety show right now! I really, really want to et you!!]
-[Hey?? Knock knock????]
-[This isn’t a scam, I swear!! I’ll send you my business card!]
-[I won’t take up much of your ti! Just a quick eting with our PD-nim, that’s all…]
-[ㅠㅠㅠ Are you uncomfortable with the word ‘variety show’?? ㅜㅠㅠ]
Rojun quickly rembered who the sender was, the bubbly, cute-looking woman from Seongsu Station.
‘So she was a broadcast writer?’
Just then, another ssage arrived.
-[Oh??!! The "1" tick disappeared! You read it! You’re looking at this right now, aren’t you? Can I call you??!!]
As soon as Kang Rojun replied that it was okay, his phone started ringing instantly. She was fast.
Clearing his throat, Rojun picked up. He couldn’t let himself sound nervous.
“Yes, hello.”
An energetic woman's voice ca through the phone.
“Wow! Oh my gosh!!! Finally!! I was so sad, thinking you ghosted !”
“Sorry. I was working out.”
“Working out?? Oh wow. That face and you work out too??”
“More importantly- this variety show, what’s it about?”
“It’s a bit long to explain over the phone, could we maybe et up right now?”
“No. But tomorrow morning works. Ah, right, it’s the weekend.”
“Oooh! Thank you! No worries, weekends are fine too!! In the variety departnt, there’s no such thing as weekends!”
Opening his locker, Kang Rojun asked,
“Where should I go?”
The next day, in front of the JTVM broadcasting station.
At the front of the broadcasting station, Kim Se-hee, who resembled a hamster, stood alongside a few others, waiting for soone. All five or six of them had faces full of anticipation.
“Se-hee, you really called him? What if he’s just average-looking? PD-nim will go nuts again.”
"Ah- don’t worry. Just get ready to have your jaw drop.”
“How insanely good-looking can he be- well, fine, let’s see.”
At that mont, Kim Se-hee suddenly raised her hand and waved excitedly toward the front.
"Ah!! Over here, over here!!!"
It seed she had spotted soone. And who else could it be? Kang Rojun.
Approaching quickly, Rojun gave a polite bow.
“Hello.”
The mont they saw him, the team mbers’ mouths fell open. anwhile, Kim Se-hee murmured smugly, as if she had been expecting this reaction all along.
“See? Told you your jaws would drop.”
A little later, inside the Variety Departnt of the broadcasting station.
At a desk near the window, a bespectacled PD was sprawled over his workspace, mid-yawn.
“PD-nim!!!”
At the near-screeching voice, the PD flinched in shock. He looked up to see Kim Se-hee charging toward him with high energy.
“Geez! You scared !”
“PD-nim! He’s here, he’s here!”
“Who’s here?”
“The guy! The one I told you about yesterday.”
“Oh-”
“I’ve already brought him to the eting room!”
Yawning again without much interest, the PD slowly got up.
“If he’s just average, you’re doing a week of overti.”
"I'm already doing overti."
“At least you get to go ho. This place is my ho.”
Having barely slept last night, the PD groggily followed Kim Se-hee. Before he knew it, they had arrived at the eting room. To his surprise, the entire team was crowded outside the door, packed in tight.
The PD scoffed.
“What the hell are you all doing?”
The team mbers looked visibly flustered.
“......PD-nim. It’s just that-”
Kim Se-hee slipped between them and pointed inside the eting room.
“Just take a look, PD-nim.”
“Hah-you're all overreacting.”
Letting out a deep sigh, the PD casually swung open the eting room door.
Inside, a young man sat alone. He wore a simple plain white T-shirt and jeans. As he turned his head toward the PD, their eyes t.
For a few seconds, the PD just stood there, staring blankly at the man- no, at Kang Rojun, before suddenly shutting the door.
He blinked. Once. Twice. His expression seed to ask if what he just saw was real.
“......”
Then, he swung the door open again. This ti, Kang Rojun was standing.
“Hello.”
“......”
The PD stared at Rojun, utterly speechless. Then, without hesitation, he strode forward, grabbed both of Rojun’s hands, and spoke.
No, he pleaded, with all the sincerity he could muster.
“Please appear on our show. I’m begging you.”
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