Chapter 35

The atmosphere turned ice-cold in an instant.

On the surface, there was nothing wrong with the question itself. It was the kind of thing people naturally asked someone after a date.

The problem lay in the process leading up to it, and the implication hidden underneath.

The contestants who had worked so hard to lighten the mood after it sank under the tension between the two Alphas felt deflated. Woo Seok Jung and Hanseul Ga had rendered all their efforts meaningless.

Hee Jun Kang and Jaekyung Park exchanged looks again.

‘What do we do now?’

‘No idea.’

Every member of Season 10 was either a celebrity or a public figure. Celebrities became celebrities for a reason, and famous people became famous for a reason.

Especially in the realm known as social skills.

Broadcasting was, fundamentally, work built on relationships between people. In this industry, a single connection could completely change the landscape of television appearances and popularity.

Because their careers required them to constantly mingle and clash with others, the contestants of Season 10 were all highly perceptive and extremely good at reading the room. They understood the weight and ripple effect of a single sentence better than anyone.

R-Connect might carry the concept of a “dating” show, but at its core, it was still variety entertainment.

Every contestant had chosen to appear while accepting the countless risks and stigma attached to the program. Of course their personal romance lines mattered, but more than anything, they all desperately wanted Season 10 to succeed.

A beautiful rice cake tasted better too.

Everyone wanted to show a harmonious relationship between the cast and build positive public opinion if possible. In that case, the possibilities after the show became endless—photoshoots, variety appearances, follow-up content, and more.

That was why Hanseul’s behavior shocked everyone.

Accepting Gyeol Go’s greeting while remaining seated had already been absurd enough, considering Gyeol was both older and his senior in the entertainment industry.

But openly throwing out a challenge the very first time they met?

It was like a newly arrived stone trying to bully the ones already settled in place.

“Ah.”

Caught off guard, Gyeol reacted a beat late as well.

But Gyeol picked up on emotions even the veteran entertainers around him failed to notice.

Hostility.

There was something beyond simple rivalry in Hanseul’s words.

Gyeol was used to hostility and malice from others.

That was thanks to his long trainee years as an idol.

After joining LM Entertainment—the company every idol trainee dreamed of—as its youngest trainee, Gyeol had experienced humiliation from an early age.

He consistently ranked within the top three during monthly evaluations, often fighting for first place. He was always included in potential debut lineups. Even the CEO, who had watched him grow up, openly favored him.

Which meant he possessed every possible trait that could attract the jealousy and resentment of other trainees.

‘His face looks country as hell and his styling sucks. So what if he sings a little well? I dance way better than him.’

Gyeol regularly overheard insults that were practically spoken right to his face.

The malice of children whose minds had not fully matured was often more blatant than that of adults.

‘Hey, did you know? Gyeol Go’s an orphan.’

‘What? Fuck, figures. Something about him always looked cheap.’

‘So that’s why the CEO babies him.’

The trainees, consumed by inferiority complexes, desperately searched for flaws to grab onto.

As if dragging Gyeol down through insults and personal attacks would somehow raise them higher.

‘The kid obviously looks depressed. My mom says you can’t hide poverty. It shows in your behavior or personality eventually.’

‘Hey. Fuck, being poor would be the least of it.’

‘What? There’s something else?’

‘About Gyeol Go’s older brother....’

As though exposing proof that Gyeol Go had lived a life completely unworthy of his name.

‘He’s a whore, apparently.’

The moment they brought up his older brother, Go Joon, Gyeol finally lost control and started toward them.

‘What? Fucking hell. A prostitute? That’s disgusting.’

‘Then everything Gyeol eats and wears, and even this trainee life, all comes from prostitute money, huh?’

‘Then doesn’t that make Gyeol one too if he’s spending prostitute money? Fuck, I can’t use the same practice room as him anymore.’

But before Gyeol could smash his fist into their faces—

‘Agh! What the hell?! Jun Shin!’

‘You fucking bastard!’

Jun Shin moved first, flinging an entire cup of soda from a fast-food restaurant at them. The large cup full of soda and ice splashed refreshingly across them.

‘Oops. Sorry. Guess I’ve been practicing too much lately. My hands start shaking whenever I hear bullshit.’

Standing protectively in front of Gyeol, Jun Shin {N•o•v•e•l•i•g•h•t} grinned lazily.

The faces of the trainees who constantly bragged about their rich parents flushed red and purple.

‘You asshole, you’re only doing this because you baby Gyeol. We all saw you do it on pur—’

‘So?’

‘.......’

‘Sounds like you’re the ones talking nonsense. Am I wrong?’

Jun Shin smiled brightly and stepped forward.

They instinctively stepped back.

Jun Shin was a dominant Alpha, while the group consisted only of Betas and one recessive Alpha. Their physical difference alone was overwhelming. Even the recessive Alpha who had been acting tough faltered under the pressure.

‘Woof woof woof!’

‘W-What the....’

Then, suddenly, Jun Shin started barking like a dog.

Their faces went pale.

It was the expression of people staring at a lunatic.

‘WOOF WOOF WOOF! ARF ARF!’

Jun Shin barked with perfectly projected diction and suddenly charged at them.

The group screamed and scattered in all directions.

The vicious Jun Shin kept that insanity up the entire day whenever he ran into them again.

Later, one of the Betas even burst into tears.

In the end, Jun Shin got called into the CEO’s office. The CEO issued him an official warning.

‘I got a warning. Two more and I’ll get kicked out.’

LM Entertainment’s contract stated that three warnings meant expulsion.

Watching Jun Shin proudly brag about his first warning like it was some great achievement, Gyeol laughed helplessly in disbelief.

‘Jun Shin... aren’t you seriously insane?’

‘Woof.’

After barking quietly, Jun Shin rested his head on top of Gyeol’s and rubbed against him.

Gyeol reached up and ruffled Jun Shin’s hair.

Thanks to Jun Shin, the filthy feeling had already long been washed away.

‘Crazy dogs are the best cure for sons of bitches.’

‘So you are aware you act like a rabid dog....’

‘Obviously. If I want to keep Gyeol Go for myself, I have to do at least this much.’

‘God. If only you talked less.’

Would it have been hard if he had been alone?

Back then, Gyeol had never even considered that possibility.

Because Jun Shin had always been beside him.

Always on Gyeol’s side.

“Actually, I wasn’t trying to ask Gyeol Go anything.”

Just like now.

Jun Shin answered before Gyeol could.

“I think everyone already noticed, but I was just throwing a little challenge at Yo Han Sung for going on a date with Gyeol. That’s all.”

Speaking lightly, Jun Shin shrugged.

Only then did Hee Jun Kang, who was friendly with him as a fellow idol, awkwardly laugh and jump in.

“I like how straightforward Jun is. Seriously, that kind of thing can happen! This is a dating show.”

“Right, right. Exactly.”

Tommy eagerly chimed in too.

Woo Seok Jung wore a mocking expression for a moment before seemingly becoming conscious of the cameras and quickly adjusting his face.

Looking directly at Woo Seok, Jun Shin continued lightly.

“I’m not that interested in hearing from Gyeol about what his date with another Alpha was like. I don’t need to hear it.”

Jun Shin’s words stung sharply in Gyeol’s chest.

Right.

Of course he wouldn’t care about some date with another Alpha.

The way Jun Shin had acted like he still had lingering feelings at the beginning, the sudden hugs—all of it was probably just his damned whims.

And honestly, those whims weren’t strange.

They had spent years together.

Dated for years.

Jun Shin had spent years protecting him.

The one who pushed Jun Shin away had been Gyeol Go.

While Gyeol spent his days distracted by conversations and dates with other Alphas, Jun Shin must have been building connections with the Omegas too.

So there was no reason to fall into strange sentimental thoughts.

He didn’t want to.

Then why did it feel like his mood was sinking into a swamp?

“Just talking about the two of us already isn’t enough time.”

Gyeol, whose gaze had gradually lowered as pain spread through his chest, slowly looked back up.

What did I just hear?

At that exact moment, Jun Shin looked at Gyeol too.

The contestants instantly exploded into cheers, unwilling to miss the opportunity.

“What? That’s basically a confession, Jun!”

“That’s definitely a confession.”

Hanseul’s face remained expressionless the entire time.

With catlike eyes wide open, he silently watched Jun Shin and Gyeol before tilting his head and crossing his arms.

It was the reaction of someone whose interest had already faded.

“Anyway, Gyeol Go, come talk with me now.”

“Huh?”

“Let’s go walk along the beach together while there’s time. I waited for you all night.”

“Ah.......”

Since Hanseul had made the suggestion in front of everyone, rejecting him would look even stranger.

Rubbing the back of his neck, Gyeol nodded.

“I want to talk with Gyeol separately too......!”

Tommy raised his hand miserably.

Grinning, Jun Shin held up two fingers.

“Then Tommy can talk to him after me. Second.”

“Okay. Is that alright, Gyeol?”

“Ah, yeah. Of course.”

“Let’s go, Gyeol.”

“Let’s go, Gyeol.”

Hee Jun Kang immediately copied Jun Shin’s tone and teased him with it.

Gyeol was confused.

His emotions were thoroughly tangled into a chaotic mess.

Jun Shin left the lounge first, and Gyeol was about to follow when his eyes suddenly caught Hanseul and Yo Han Sung together in the same frame.

As though he had already finished all his business with Jun Shin and Gyeol, Woo Seok Jung was busy talking endlessly to Hanseul.

Meanwhile, Hanseul’s gaze remained slanted toward Yo Han Sung.

“Wait a second.”

Gesturing for Jun Shin to stop, Gyeol walked toward Hanseul.