Chapter 77

Jung Heeju carefully laid out every suspicious detail point by point.

***

Title: Am I the only one who thought Jaekyung Park’s breakdown was weird? (wild speculation warning)

Would Jaekyung really completely lose it over not getting a favorability card? To the point of saying he “wouldn’t let it go”? Doesn’t that feel strange?

Woo Stone being trash is definitely trueㅠ

I still don’t get how he kissed Jaekyung in the Time Booth and then immediately chased after Gyeol during the walk. And him suddenly claiming he had feelings for Gyeol completely killed the vibe too.

But even considering all that, I still don’t really understand Jaekyung’s emotional progression...

Like there’s some kind of missing piece.

I get him getting angry at Woo Stone, but screaming while dragging Gyeol into it too when he knows the cameras are rolling? Hmm... Jaekyung might mostly play supporting roles, but he’s still been in the industry for years.

And thinking back to the earlier Omega trio gossip...

Doesn’t it feel like the three of them probably talked more after Jaekyung cried?

They were already bold enough to talk shit before, and with emotions running that high, I seriously doubt they calmed down that fast. I’m convinced more happened afterward.

My bet is Producer Yoo edited it out.

***

Not long after the post went up, replies poured in.

Most people agreed with Jung Heeju and supported the theory that “something had been edited out.”

A few mocking comments popped up too—“wow detective over here”—but they did absolutely nothing to her. She was already used to that kind of thing.

R-Connect generated massive buzz, and where there was buzz, there were always antis and trolls flooding in too.

“So it wasn’t just me thinking that.”

Jung Heeju frowned slightly.

if even Producer Yoo couldn’t smooth it over with her editing skills then this was probably the best she could do. that woman’s literally possessed by editing demons

↳ fr tho the whole industry’s probably like that but... it’s famous how the staff basically live on unpaid overtimeㅠㅠ(not saying it’s okay tho)

↳ fuck after reading this whole thread and the comments I actually think there’s REALLY something there now;

The viewers’ suspicions—including Jung Heeju’s—were reasonable.

Because Producer Yoo had edited out several scenes that were far too provocative.

In other words, viewers never saw two particular moments.

The first:

Woo Seok Jung grabbing Gyeol’s wrist and threatening him under the guise of “interest,” only for the situation to later be reframed as him merely catching Gyeol when he almost fell.

And Hanseul had backed up the lie.

The second:

The full emotional confession Jaekyung made after not receiving a card from Woo Seok—

including what had happened between them in the forest.

Officially, the edits were made as part of “protecting the contestants” under pressure from their agencies.

At least publicly, that was the reason.

In Jaekyung’s case, he’d spoken so quietly and cautiously that less than half the conversation had even been picked up properly.

But even the remaining fragments were shocking enough that airing them in full could have caused the entire program to be torn apart by public backlash.

ㅠㅠ ahhhh doesn’t anyone from the staff lurk hereㅠ someone spill something already~

waiting desperately and patheticallyㅠㅠ

come onnn it’s about time SOMEONE leaked something right? huh? reveal your head so we may roast it

↳ holy shit what even is that quoteㅋㅋㅋ first time I’ve seen it since graduating school

↳ Gujiga reference I’m fucking cryingㅋㅋㅋㅋ

“I kinda wanna infiltrate the R-Connect production team at this point...”

Jung Heeju briefly fantasized about making the world’s most absurd career change before shaking her head.

Right then, the commercials ended and the broadcast resumed.

***

—Go Gyeol, winner of the Omega individual match, will now receive the Golden Date Card.

—During their stay on Pheromone Island, the holder of the Golden Date Card may freely use it at any time.

—The holder of the Golden Date Card may leave the island with a chosen partner and enjoy a city date together.

The Golden Date Card was the season’s ultimate “escape from the deserted island” prize.

Only one Alpha and one Omega received one per season.

That was why contestants fought so desperately to win it.

The Omegas who had lost the game each pretended to be disappointed in their own ways, while the Alphas preparing for the next match visibly steeled themselves.

—However, the card may only be used once, so please choose carefully. Additional details may be found on the back of the card.

“Thank you.”

Receiving the gold envelope from the narrator, Gyeol bowed politely.

The stiff, smooth surface felt expensive in his hands.

He already knew what the card looked like from studying previous seasons beforehand, but conscious of the cameras, he deliberately pulled it out himself for the shot.

The single gold card had the R-Connect logo engraved across it.

Gyeol casually skimmed the text written on the back.

Then suddenly, the final line caught his attention.

A condition that hadn’t existed in previous seasons.

Huh?

Planning to read it properly later, Gyeol slipped the card back into the envelope.

Then he turned to one of the staff members nearby.

“Could I ask you to hold onto this until filming wraps up for today?”

“Of course. I’ll take it.”

The youngest writer brightened immediately at Gyeol’s polite attitude and accepted the card.

Gyeol bowed once more in thanks before returning to his spot.

“Hm, but doesn’t senior Gyeol not even need the Golden Date Card?”

At the sudden question, Gyeol turned his head.

It was Hanseul.

The comment had technically been directed at Jaekyung rather than Gyeol, but not quietly enough to really hide that fact.

“Huh? Why?”

Jaekyung asked.

Tilting his head slightly, Hanseul grinned.

“Because someone’s obviously going to pick him and take him out anyway. He’s popular.”

As he said it, he glanced sideways at Gyeol.

The tone wasn’t openly hostile.

It could easily pass as a joke.

But Gyeol wasn’t stupid enough to miss the subtle mockery underneath.

If anything, it felt like another puzzle piece finally clicking into place.

So he’s not even trying to hide it anymore.

Honestly, that made things easier.

Gyeol looked directly at him and smiled lightly.

“You never know. Maybe the person you’re hoping for will choose you instead, Hanseul.”

“......”

The smile faded slightly from Hanseul’s face.

Apparently he hadn’t expected Gyeol to respond directly. ℯ

“Ah, sorry. Wasn’t that meant for me? I happened to overhear.”

He wasn’t sorry at all, but Gyeol lowered his brows and pretended to apologize anyway.

Hanseul stared at him for a moment before abruptly looking away.

“I said it loud enough for you to hear.”

“That’s a relief then. Thanks for thinking so highly of me, Hanseul.”

“......”

Hanseul’s lips twitched slightly.

It looked like he wanted to say something, but in the end he stayed silent.

Faced with Gyeol’s endlessly mild demeanor, he seemed unsure how to respond.

At that point, Gyeol became certain.

The previous evening, when Hanseul claimed he’d seen Woo Seok “catch Gyeol before he fell”—

that testimony had been a deliberate lie too.

Either he didn’t actually see anything.

Or he saw it and lied anyway.

Gyeol swallowed the sigh threatening to escape.

A strange sense of emotional exhaustion washed over him.

So the reason he’s acting like this toward me... is because of that person.

Gyeol glanced sideways.

Standing there was Yo Han Sung, shirtless yet somehow still carrying an aloof, elegant aura.

—The Alpha individual match will now begin.

—Like the Omega match, the Alpha competition will also use a tournament format on the buoy. However, this round will take place in the sea rather than the pool.

A much larger buoy floated in the sea connected to the beach.

The water was shallow enough to stand in, but every crashing wave made the buoy sway violently.

“The difficulty level just skyrocketed...”

“And they have to do the team match immediately after this too? Seriously, how are they supposed to survive that?”

—This game will be fought using strength alone, with no additional tools.

—However, contestants who fall into the sea may return to the buoy within five seconds and continue the match without being eliminated.

“Wouldn’t that actually be harder?”

“Please just make losing the sea battle an instant elimination!”

Tommy cried dramatically.

The contestants and staff burst into laughter.

Without even twitching an eyebrow, the narrator continued:

—We will now begin drawing match order.

“That’s so cruel...”

“Come on. Let’s go draw.”

Jun Shin slung an arm around Tommy’s shoulders and dragged him forward while Tommy muttered dejectedly to himself.

And naturally, the two of them immediately ended up matched against each other in the very first round.

“Ahhh, Jun! You did that on purpose!”

“What a hurtful thing to say.”

The next match would be Woo Seok Jung versus Sun Choi.

“Looking forward to it, Woo Seok.”

“Maybe save the greetings for... right before the game starts?”

Yo Han Sung, who drew the final position, would face the winner of Woo Seok versus Sun.

—The first round will now begin.

“It’s already shaking! It’s shaking!”

“Tommy, you’re gonna exhaust yourself before the game even starts.”

Standing on the buoy, Tommy crouched low and frantically patted around the surface, apparently searching for something to hold onto.

As if the buoy would actually have handholds.

Beep, beep, beep—!

The signal sounded.

The game began.

“Get up already.”

“I-I can’t! Seriously!”

Jun Shin beckoned lazily from the opposite side, but Tommy only looked horrified.

“If you don’t stand up, I’m coming over there.”

“N-no! Don’t come over here!”

Tommy shrieked at Jun’s warning.

Jun looked at him with faint exasperation before planting his feet and lowering into a ready stance.

“Ah, seriously, Jun! You’re really doing this?”

“So what, are you planning to float in the sea forever?”

The moment he finished speaking, Jun charged straight at Tommy.

“AAAAAH!”

In the same instant, Tommy sprang upright like a startled bear and lunged at him with both arms outstretched.

“Jun! I’m sorry!”