* * *
“How has everyone been?”
Two days later, Producer Choi awkwardly greeted the cast gathered again at Chunmong Pavilion. His already hollow-looking face appeared even more haggard, as if he had been through significant hardship.
“Well… I’ve informed your managers, but due to a series of lawsuits… we’ve had to reorganize. The previously promised schedule is disrupted, so we’ll film on the island for a week, then take another week off for you to manage your own schedules, and repeat this.”
Unlike before, PD Choi looked extremely exhausted, and as he explained the new rules, he suddenly began to sob.
“Damn it, Charles! What did I do so wrong?”
“What’s going on?”
Daesoo, standing behind Dansol with his arms crossed, frowned deeply.
“He’s been sipping something since earlier… must have been alcohol…”
PD Choi, who was pounding the ground in frustration about his eight-month pay cut, was dragged away, and the inexperienced assistant director, sweating profusely, took his place.
“Well… please head to your lodgings… we’ll explain the next schedule… sorry…”
***
“This whole ordeal messed up our schedule, and we had to postpone our next album,” Taeoh said, almost collapsing onto the living room sofa of Chunmong Pavilion. Others nodded, indicating their schedules were similarly disrupted.
“Dansol, is your album schedule okay?”
Dansol was at a loss for words, knowing there wasn’t much to say. Before his regression, DinoSoul’s album activities ended with their current song.
“We… don’t have any plans yet.”
—Hello, everyone. It’s been a while.
Just as Taeoh was about to ask more questions, the broadcast began. Hearing it after such a long time, Dansol felt a flutter of excitement.
Unlike before the regression, Dansol had a glimmer of hope in his heart after the incident at the chicken restaurant.
Maybe this time, he could live a different life. Maybe not as popular as Daesoo or Jisoo, but enough not to be criticized by others. Maybe he could continue his music career.
—Before we announce today’s schedule, we’d like to introduce a new family member who has come to Chunmong Pavilion.
The cast, having already heard about the new face from the argument between Jisoo and PD Choi before leaving the island, had mixed expressions.
—To heighten the tension of the survival, a new member will join next week after an elimination.
—Here are the rules for the new member’s entry. If an Alpha is eliminated, an Omega member will join, and if an Omega is eliminated, an Alpha member will join. With Omega Yoon Yeomin’s recent elimination, an Alpha member will join this week.
“What?”
“What does that mean?”
“Huh.”
While the format of introducing new members after an existing member’s elimination was common in such dating survival shows, the idea of replacing Omegas with Alphas was unusual.
The room quickly filled with tension. Despite the cast’s deteriorating expressions, the speaker continued with the introduction of the new member.
—Introducing the new member.
Instead of the new member’s name, a song suddenly played from the speaker.
“Cough.”
Jisoo, who had been sneaking glances at the soft, fluffy side of Dansol’s face, choked as if caught off guard.
“No, it can’t be…”
—Shh! Secret! The more you try to hide our secret, the more my touch digs in~
While Jisoo mumbled in denial, Dansol and Taeoh’s eyes sparkled at the familiar lyrics.
“Bloom?! Who is Bloom?”
Bloom was the legendary idol group that had inspired Dansol’s dream of becoming a singer.
When he was 13 years old, Dansol auditioned as a trainee with a song by Bloom. The anticipation of possibly seeing his idol brought tears to his eyes.
“Who? Could it really be him?”
Taeoh shared the same excitement. Both Dansol and Taeoh found themselves drawn to the entrance. It was natural—everyone their age loved Bloom back then.
At that moment, the door opened, and someone walked down the hall. In the tense, slow-motion-like moment, Dansol swallowed nervously.
All the members of Bloom were charming, but if you had to pick one… a person with a universally likable personality, looks straight out of a comic book, and talent in dancing, singing, and acting.
This person was still considered the ideal well-rounded idol by junior idols.
“Hello, I’m Ha Minseong.”
“Gasp… It’s really Minseong hyung…!”
“What do we do…! What do we do!”
While Dansol and Taeoh were too overwhelmed to approach, Minseong pulled his suitcase inside and quietly greeted Jisoo.
“Long time no see, Jisoo.”
***
[Alpha × Omega Inner Thoughts Interview]
Q: Mr. Jaegal Minhyuk, how do you feel about the new member?
Jaegal Minhyuk: Honestly, I’m sorry, but… I didn’t really know him. I was focused on sports back then… I thought he was just an actor, but turns out he was originally an idol.
Q: You didn’t know Bloom?
Jaegal Minhyuk: No…
Q: Jung Daesoo, how do you feel about the new member?
Jung Daesoo: Our country’s broadcasting industry has really… advanced a lot.
Q: Why do you say that?
Jung Daesoo: PD, why are you pretending not to know?
Q: What… what do you mean?
Jung Daesoo: Come on, who in Korea doesn’t know about Jisoo and Minseong dating.
Q: Lee Yiyeon, how do you feel about the new member?
Lee Yiyeon: Wow… but really, is this okay? I knew PD Choi was tough, but… I didn’t think he’d go this far…
Q: Yoo Dohyun, how do you feel about the new member?
Yoo Dohyun: Wow, as a bystander, it’s going to be very entertaining… but I don’t think I’ll get much screen time. We might as well have a special episode focused on Jisoo.
Q: Ma Taeoh, how do you feel about the new member?
Ma Taeoh: First of all, Minseong hyung is truly my idol. Ha… but I can’t believe he’s staying at Chunmong Pavilion with me. When I helped him with his luggage earlier, he said, ‘You’re Ma Taeoh from Zeus, right? I’ve been watching you.’ Wow, my idol knows my name? My heart started beating like crazy… It’s no joke. I almost ran out to call my members.
Q: Joo Dansol, how do you feel about the new member?
Joo Dansol: When I first auditioned… I sang a Bloom Senior song. I did Minseong hyung’s part. Want to see?
Q: No.
Joo Dansol: Shh! Secret! The deeper we hide our secret, the more my touch digs into you~ As you try to escape, no way to refuse! Don’t say no~ yeah!
Q: …Thank you.
Q: Han Jisoo, how do you feel about the new member?
Han Jisoo: Hahaha, well… it’s interesting. I was a bit flustered, but this kind of twist? It’s a project that people running a show would be eager for.
Q: So you don’t have any feelings now?
Han Jisoo: Hahaha, of course not. Honestly, I had forgotten. It was so long ago… I was young back then. Right now, we are just friends. But where is PD Choi?
Q: Ha Minseong, how do you feel about moving into Chunmong Pavilion?
Ha Minseong: Well, first of all, it’s nice that many people are welcoming me. There are some familiar faces.
Q: Are you referring to Han Jisoo?
Ha Minseong: Ah, it’s been a while since I’ve seen Jisoo too. But I’m more excited about meeting someone I’ve personally been curious about and a fan of. I’m a bit nervous.
Q: Do you already have an Omega you like?
Ha Minseong: Oh, is that how it is? Let’s just say there’s someone I’m curious about. For now.
***
Since the new member was revealed, Jisoo’s nerves had been on edge.
Moreover, with all the Alpha members’ rooms filled, Minseong began to unpack in Yoon Yeomin’s former room, separated from his ex by only one wall.
Even so, Jisoo took Dansol’s suitcase handle.
“Hyung…! I can carry it!”
“Your ankle isn’t fully healed yet.”
Dansol wiggled his ankle, embarrassed by the brace on it. Although they had reconciled before, returning to Chunmong Pavilion made Dansol shrink back, recalling the previous incident.
Unlike Dansol, who was nervous, Jisoo naturally tried to take Dansol’s suitcase into his room, but a staff stopped him.
“Excuse me…! Senior Han Jisoo! You two need to use separate rooms now!”
* * *
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Thanks for the chapter
oh boy, a new opponent