Chapter 43

3 p.m.

The moment Kisoo Yang, Gyeol Go’s manager, stepped into the office after a late lunch, several messages arrived at once.

“What now?”

Just as he was about to shock his overstuffed stomach with an iced Americano, Kisoo raised a brow.

The wording varied slightly, but every message carried the same content.

“G-Gyeol hit number one on the trending shorts list?”

The Americano went down the wrong pipe.

Coughing violently, Kisoo hurriedly shut the office door and threw himself onto the sofa.

With grim determination, he tapped the attached link.

A real-time ranking list of trending short-form videos appeared.

1st: Failed idols reunite on a dating show after 8 years — Dating rumors?

2nd: A talking cockroach

3rd: R-Connect 10 Alpha shirtless compilation.zip

...

8th: This face belonged to a failed idol? (R-Connect 10: Gyeol Go)

9th: [Jun Shin♡Gyeol Go vs Jun Shin♡Michael] What’s the truth?

10th: (Omega generated) Gyeol Go’s secret to making every Alpha obsessed

...

15th: Painfully outdated! Gyeol Go’s failed-idol era

16th: Yo Han Sung X Gyeol Go explicit 19+ scene ㄷㄷ

17th: (NO EXERCISE!!!) Lose 10kg in 30 days

18th: This woman reveals shocking truths about her dog

19th: A “late-entry twist” on a dating show?! Yo Han Sung

20th: Sun Choi tears through water

...

“I-it’s real.”

Gyeol had regularly appeared in the rankings ever since R-Connect Season 10 began airing, but this was the first time he had reached number one.

Kisoo calmly took screenshots.

Then, acting on pure manager instinct—and a recently acquired habit—he rapidly scanned down to twentieth place before returning to number one again.

His heart hammered wildly with the thrill of knowing they had finally struck gold.

Staring at Gyeol’s face plastered across the thumbnail, Kisoo even started feeling the nickname he had recently given him—pretty bastard—was no longer enough.

While pondering a new nickname worthy of Gyeol’s beauty, Kisoo muttered absently,

“Come on. They could’ve at least used a prettier screenshot.”

Whenever Gyeol was on the verge of smiling, he had a habit of curling his lips inward ever so slightly.

Of course that exact moment had been chosen for the thumbnail.

Clicking his tongue, Kisoo opened the video.

His eyes—which had recently started suffering from age and were already skilled at seeing exactly what they wanted to see—finally registered the completely insane headline.

Failed idols reunite on a dating show after 8 years — Dating rumors?

“Oh.”

The moment a stunned noise escaped him, the video cut directly from footage of Gyeol smiling to Jun Shin.

Soaking wet, Jun looked endlessly miserable.

The shot lingered on him staring only at Gyeol from a considerable distance in a long take.

It was the exact scene that had exploded in popularity after the latest episode aired a few days earlier.

A fast AI-generated narration began playing.

Matching subtitles appeared on screen.

Failed idols reunited on a dating show after eight years. That’s the phrase currently being used for R-Connect 10 contestants Jun Shin and Gyeol Go.

The two previously debuted and promoted together in the idol group SAVE ME.

Since episode one of R-Connect 10, several scenes have aired showing Jun Shin expressing interest in Gyeol Go.

In episode seven, the two fell into the ocean while talking alone together, rolling around intensely and sparking questions about possible “dating rumors.”

“No! When the hell were they rolling around intensely?!”

Kisoo shot to his feet.

The fact that their conversation couldn’t be heard due to the distance and loud waves only fueled viewers’ imaginations even further.

After falling into the water, Jun Shin was seen holding Gyeol Go while the two talked for a long time, creating several suggestive moments.

Anonymous community posts and comments claiming things like “they used to date,” “they’re still dating,” and “they became the final couple” have further intensified the rumors.

Jun Shin and Gyeol Go dating rumors. What do you think?

The short video ended with crudely edited clips and photos of the two before immediately looping back to the beginning.

Failed idols reunited on a dating show after eight years. Currently generating massive buzz...

While growing increasingly fed up with the repeating narration, Kisoo carefully calmed himself and reviewed the video again to check whether there was anything genuinely dangerous in it.

“...Jesus, that scared me. It’s just one of those bait videos.”

Only after watching it three or four times did the tension finally leave his body.

It was nothing more than a typical short-form clip cobbled together from provocative titles, flashy subtitles, and internet reactions.

It merely skimmed over existing rumors to provoke engagement.

There was nothing remotely close to the truth.

“Dating rumors... For a second I thought something had actually happened. Why do people who make these videos always choose words like this?”

Letting out a long sigh, Kisoo reached for his Americano to soothe his burning stomach.

At some point, the drink had completely disappeared, leaving only rattling ice cubes behind.

“You can’t survive in this world without caffeine anymore....”

Deciding he needed another coffee, Kisoo meticulously checked every comment too.

<1.2K comments>

People still don’t know Jun-Gyeol became the final couple after R-Connect ended?

↳ What do you mean? Only up to episode 7 aired

↳ Manifestation tactics

↳ LMAOO manifestation tacticsㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋ

The shipping fantasies are getting insane. Suddenly it’s dating rumors now?

↳ Seriously I went searching because I thought something real dropped and there’s literally nothing ㅅ/ㅂ why’s this video edited like absolute garbage?

Stop calling Jun Shin a failed idolㅠㅠ How is Juno a failed idol you psycho bastards, Moving fans are losing their minds

↳ Seriously I already hate seeing videos like this because he joined a dating show and now everyone keeps calling him a failed idol ** Juno is NOT a failed idol ♪♪♪

↳ Your fave WAS a failed idolㅋㅋ coping hard huh???? He literally debuted in a failed group

↳ How can the leader of Moving be a failed idol ♪♪♪ idiot

How did this beat the talking cockroach video

↳ FOR REALㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋ

But honestly... even I doubted my eyes... it seriously looked like they were actively dating... I couldn’t tell whether I was watching a dating show or a drama;;

↳ 2222 same I was shocked;

↳ 33333 are we SURE the audio really wasn’t recorded?? I vote they deliberately cut it because the two are already dating

Honestly not filming them up close was a genius move ㅇㅇ... Producer Yoo is a lunatic woman...

↳ Seriously the distant shot plus no audio is driving me insane, it feels like their own secret narrative, like we’re spying on a real relationship...

↳ Am I the only one dying to know what they saidㅠ

↳ Everybody’s losing it, that’s why videos full of wild rumors like this are popping upㅋㅋㅋ

Can’t believe this many people get obsessed over dating shows... you idiots actually believe this?ㅋㅋㅋ It’s been like this since We Got Married

↳ What’s We Got Married???

↳ Legendary fake marriage variety showㅋ

↳ There are people old enough not to know We Got Married now,,,,,,,, the generation gap is insane,,

↳ Okay grandpa dinosaur

Recommend me dinner

↳ Spicy pork rice bowl

↳ Pork cutlet

↳ Aristocrat Half & Half Chicken

Did Jun-Gyeol really become the final couple???

↳ Someone claiming to be staff posted about it on Women’s Glory then deleted it

↳ Holy shit ㄷㄷㄷ maybe it’s real?? Jun Shin beat Yo Han Sung and Sun Choi too???

↳ Why are you excluding Tommy!!!!!! Protect baby Potato!!!

↳ You actually believe anonymous forums?; Never trust anything posted there

↳ If it’s fake then why hasn’t R-Connect released a denial article?

↳ Why would they?; At this rate they’ll easily hit 20 episodes so they’re obviously dragging out the bait until then

But they hugged. Why WERE they hugging? Why were they filming a youth-romance scene in the ocean and hugging??

↳ He just caught him because he fell

↳ Jun fans coping hardㅋㅋㅋ

↳ “Caught him because he fell” my assㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋ anyone can see Jun Shin’s obsessed with him

↳ Gyeol’s drawing boundaries while Jun keeps charging in so Moving fans are losing their minds, let’s be understanding

↳ ♪♪♪ HE ISN’T

This is too sad... baby Potato confessed to his older Omega in episode 7 and got buried by Jun-Gyeol..

↳ YOU’RE THE WORSTㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋ

↳ Public execution for realㅋㅋㅋ

↳ Please just pretend you didn’t see itㅠ

So is Jun Shin dating Gyeol Go or Michael?

↳ Final answer! Former = dating-show obsession / latter = slash shipping -> conclusion: neither

↳ Are you a T?

↳ The accepted theory is that he joined R-Connect to cover up dating Michael

↳ Nope nope nope he dated Gyeol back during SAVE ME

↳ WHAT IS GOING ON THEN? Is this current boyfriend vs ex-boyfriend??

↳ This is insaneㅋㅋㅋ slash shippers vs slash shippersㅠㅠ the reality of Korea

↳ ♪♪♪ It’s not funny at all

↳ You’re definitely a Moving fan

↳ ♪♪♪ bustedㅠ

Final couple spoiler: Woo Seok Jung X Gyeol Go, Yo Han Sung X Hanseul Ga

↳ Woo Seok is that you? Welcome back

...

After reading comments for a long while, Kisoo scrubbed both hands down his face and pressed at his temples.

A headache throbbed viciously.

When he had first suggested R-Connect to Gyeol, the possibility of Jun Shin appearing on the show had never even crossed his mind.

Only after the cast announcement articles dropped did Kisoo discover Jun among the Alpha lineup.

It had felt like a bolt from the blue.

Back then, Kisoo had immediately contacted LM Entertainment’s CEO.

CEO Jo, yes, it’s Kisoo. I was wondering if you saw the lineup for this season of R-Connect... Yeah. Jun’s included.

I didn’t know either. If I had, do you think I would’ve recommended Gyeol for it?

Holding the position of a major entertainment-company CEO was no joke, and Kisoo did not see CEO Jo as some endlessly kind man.

But he genuinely cared for Gyeol, whom he had watched grow up since childhood.

Gyeol was practically the ache in CEO Jo’s heart.

Kisoo firmly believed that a man like that would never intentionally place Gyeol in an uncomfortable situation.

Of course, CEO Jo did not know about Gyeol and Jun’s past relationship.

Still, considering Jun had practically fled the group, he undoubtedly understood how awkward their televised reunion would be.

Regardless of romance, he knew better than anyone how close the two had once been.

I looked into it. Seems like Jun got added later. The media coverage’s already out, and I doubt Ronas is going to remove him now....

CEO Jo trailed off heavily before carefully adding,

I know it’s difficult, but this is still a huge opportunity. Tell Gyeol to hold on just a little longer.

When Kisoo finally brought it up, Gyeol’s reaction had been unexpectedly calm.

Apparently he had already seen the article himself.

...Are you really okay with this?

Why wouldn’t I be? I already agreed to do the show.

Still... it’s not just anybody....

You do something wrong, Kisoo? Why are you the one watching my mood? Don’t worry about it.

The fact that Gyeol had even smiled afterward only made Kisoo’s chest ache more painfully.

Was he really okay?

Or not?

Gyeol rarely exposed the true texture of his emotions, which made him difficult to read.

“Pretty... pitiful bastard.”

Worried for Gyeol like a younger brother, Kisoo adjusted his posture and diligently upvoted a few positive comments.

At least Producer Yoo had handled the editing well so far.

Compared to the agencies backing the other contestants, Kisoo’s company was so tiny it was embarrassing to even call it a company, which had secretly worried him from the beginning.

He had visited Producer Yoo’s office several times carrying snacks, desperately asking her to please take care of Gyeol.

Still, there was no guarantee snacks alone would accomplish anything.

“I’m glad she seems to like Gyeol.”

Murmuring quietly to himself, Kisoo considered calling Producer Yoo just to check in before deciding against it.

He did not want to accidentally stir up trouble.

Stretching, Kisoo got to his feet, intending to go buy another coffee.

***

A few days later, however, all of Kisoo’s relief shattered to pieces the moment the preview for episode 8 was released.

“Honestly....”

The screen was dark.

But the voice beginning the preview unmistakably belonged to Gyeol.

“It made me uncomfortable.”

Kisoo’s mind went completely blank.