As the panelists settled down, Dahee gave a signal to those backstage to prepare their special artist of the night.
Minji was on the edge of her seat. She didn’t watch the show religiously, but she loved watching the clips on YouWatch during her free time. Being in the studio brought her great excitement, even when her seatmates weren’t the greatest comrades.
The lights dimmed, and the crowd buzzed for a moment before the studio was engulfed in silence.
The moment the music kicked in, the stage was also bathed in gold and blue.
“Now,” Dahee said through her intercom.
Hyunwoo, deemed as the leader of today’s panel, grinned as he held onto the microphone.
“Welcome back to Sing or Sync! We’re here for another season of jaw-dropping performances, shocking reveals, and, of course, plenty of laughs.”
The audience cheered as confetti was released into the air. The other panelists nodded along, and after a while, Hyunwoo raised his hand, signaling for a special moment.
“This season, we wanted to start things off fresh—so what better way than to bring back someone this show helped make famous?”
Minji tilted her head to the side. Is it the person she was thinking about? The most famous contestant to ever come out of the show?
“Everyone, welcome back, Philip Hwang!”
Minji cheered out loud as the semi-attractive man in his mid-30s walked out to the open area.
“I love his songs,” Minji muttered to herself. She wanted to discuss with the girls next to her, but they were already doom scrolling through their phones.
Philip Hwang, once a security guard for an entertainment label, had spent years watching artists from the sidelines, dreaming of a career he thought would never come.
That was until season four of Sing or Sync—where his singing talent had blown everyone away.
Now, in season seven, he was back, not as a hopeful contestant but as a star.
He waved at the crowd, already feeling emotional to see the studio that made him into who he was today. His dark brown hair styled up neatly, and although he wasn’t the most handsome, his talent made up for it.
Hyunwoo gestured toward him, grinning. “Philip, how does it feel to be back?”
Philip chuckled. “It’s surreal. I used to be the nervous guy standing up there, trying not to mess up the lip-syncing stages. Now I get to sit here and judge others for it.”
The panel laughed, and the season was officially off to an exciting start.
“Now,” Hyunwoo continued. “It’s time to introduce the contestants for today. This season is different. The contestants are going to appear one by one, each with a code name that represents them.”
“For the first round, Philip will judge them based on looks alone. With that, he will eliminate one contestant out of the six.”
“Let’s bring the hopefuls out!” he exclaimed, and the crowd clapped once again.
The contestants were all under the stage, all waiting for their platforms to get raised.
Amidst the dark, however, there was one person who stood out among the rest.
From the dark, someone whispered, “How is he glowing? Is he glow-in-the-dark?”
Doha, who was right beside that particular contestant, merely chuckled. Zeno has had a massive glow-up these days, he realized. It must be because they saw each other every day, so it wasn’t too obvious.
However, as soon as he got his makeup done, Doha saw Zeno in a different—much brighter—light.
Zeno, standing at the farthest end, muttered under his breath, cursing his penalty items. His so-called pretty potion was still too potent because it hadn’t even been a week!
Before he could dwell on his misfortunes, however, the first contestant had already been lifted up the stage.
The first contestant was lifted up, and the spotlight revealed a foreign girl with glasses and neat bangs—dressed in a sharp, professional blazer… over a sparkly, sequined dress.
Philip raised a brow. “She looks like she’s about to teach an English lesson and hit the club right after,” she commented.
The panelists chuckled. Ian and Risa, who were merely there for subtle promotion, found themselves more immersed than ever. They were excited to watch the performances.
Just then, an announcer’s voice-over blared through the speakers. “By day, she’s an English teacher—but by night? Let’s just say she knows how to party. Give it up for Double Life!”
She waved, adjusting her glasses like a proper teacher, then spun, revealing a dangerously high slit in her dress.
Next, the second contestant was lifted up with an expensive bag hanging from one arm and a reusable tote bag filled with what looked like discarded designer items in the other.
Risa squinted. “Wait, wait, hold on. Are those luxury shoes or…?”
Philip leans forward. “Isn’t that the latest edition from that brand?”
The voiceover was back. “Why choose? The best finds are in unexpected places. Our luxury expert with a love for dumpster diving—meet Bougie Diver!”
Then, the third contestant was lifted up the stage before a spotlight shined on him. The camera zoomed in, and the crowd collectively gasped before screaming in horror.
Even the staff members covered their eyes. “Oh my goodness—WHY?”
Philip bursts out laughing. “Speedos over leggings, huh?”
Doha proudly flexed his outfit, spinning to show off the questionable fashion choice.
“Ladies and gentlemen, your Zumba instructor and aspiring gym owner—please welcome Speedo Sensei!”
The crowd, finally recovering, erupted into applause.
Minji was undoubtedly the loudest among them, even giving him a standing ovation. That earned her weird looks from the other audience members. However, she only screamed louder.
“Wooh, go Speedo Sensei!”
The fourth contestant appeared confidently. He was tall, elegant, and dressed in a silky shirt that was suspiciously unbuttoned just one button too low.
“He makes people feel beautiful. He doesn’t discriminate. He is the CEO of a local lingerie brand. Everyone put your hands together for Lace King!”
The next contestant was a woman who appeared with a neon pink suit and futuristic glasses, scrolling through a holographic screen from a smart ring.
“An AI builder who longs for human interactions. Let’s give it up for Robo-Guru!”
Finally, the last contestant was slowly lifted up. The girls beside Minji suddenly came alive, clutching their banners close to their chests and preparing themselves to scream at the top of their lungs.
“This must be Rex,” one muttered.
“He has to be Rex.”
“If this isn’t Rex, I am going to protest.”
The last contestant was finally lifted up, but the spotlight didn’t shine as quickly as that of the other contestants, making the audience anticipate his identity even more.
Philip, the panelists, and each audience member squinted their eyes to get a better look. Even Dahee, who had been busy all morning and wasn’t able to see Zeno Han in the flesh, was excited to see him.
Finally, the lights finally hit his face, and the audience was rendered speechless.
Ian’s and Risa’s eyes widened.
Minji gasped in surprise.
The staff and audience members began to squeal.
“… Zeno?”