[Fame Meter: 77%]
[New Item: Heartstring Lens]
[Description: To understand a soul is to walk barefoot through its storm. This passive booster allows you to feel the emotions of those around you as if they were your own, from joy to heartbreak. It grants deep empathy, revealing hidden feelings and unspoken pain but risks blurring the line between their heart and yours. Activates at the host’s command.]
Well, at least it could be triggered on command. Otherwise, it would be exhausting to grasp the complexities of every single person’s situation encountered along the way.
“Zeno!” Bobby and Moby exclaimed from outside the mansion.
It was finally time to go home.
With that, Zeno turned toward my competitors and gave them a respectful nod.
Bacon PD seemed eager to share something, but Zeno hastened his steps, his introverted nature compelling him to retreat to the comforts of home.
At that moment, Gene PD exited the mansion, observing Zeno’s hurried departure with interest.
Billy, looking utterly defeated, had moist eyes that could be mistaken for real tears. In reality, he was just disappointed. He had thought his pity party would work wonders this season, just as it had in the last, but it hadn’t.
Minjae, however, appeared lost in thought. “All my grades…” he muttered.
“My prestigious degree…”
“The sleepless nights I’ve endured…”
“The international competitions I’ve participated in…”
He felt as though all of his hard work was in vain. He had been bested by a high school graduate!
Ari, meanwhile, kept her gaze fixed on Zeno’s retreating figure. While the hearts of the others seemed to have momentarily stilled, hers raced in a different tempo. She reflected on her dating history. The men she had dated all shared one similarity.
Some were questionable-looking creatures, shaped like chewed gum.
So, no, her standard was not about handsome men.
Others had known about her wealth and, realizing it, had flipped the script, choosing to leech off her instead of pursuing their own paths.
She was not the type to appreciate those who simply provided for her; that wasn’t her style at all.
However, all of those men had been undeniably smart.
“Fuck this,” she muttered, slamming her hand against her heart in frustration.
Meanwhile, Zeno had closed the door to Moby’s truck and shut his eyes, fatigue weighing heavily on him after his recent victory. He was handed his phone, but not even the amount of his notifications had the energy to coax him into checking what was going on.
When the truck wouldn’t start after a while, Zeno opened his eyes again, only to find Bobby and Moby staring at him with wide, eager eyes.
Zeno pursed his lips. “What?” he asked.
“There’s this fragrance radiating from you,” Bobby declared. “The fragrance of a superstar.”
“No, I think he just smells really good,” Moby mumbled, sniffing the air.
Zeno tilted his head. “Did something happen while I was away?”
“Did something happen? Did SOMETHING happen?” Bobby exclaimed excitedly. He hadn’t felt this way since the birth of his children!
“Everything happened!” he nearly screamed. “Do you know how many followers you have right now?”
“Six million,” Zeno muttered, and for a brief moment, they both paused.
“Wait, how did you know that?” Bobby asked, surprises.
Zeno shrugged nonchalantly. It had been displayed in his system, so it was hardly a mystery.
“Well, you’re now the fastest Korean actor to ever cross that milestone! The entire country is glued to your series, and everyone is singing praises for your intellect in the show.”
“Even I couldn’t help but scream every time you appeared on the screen. You had all of us completely fooled at first!”
Moby nodded in agreement, his eyes wide with disbelief. “You’re breaking records left and right. It’s almost unbelievable that we only met this year.”
“Have you received the prize money yet?” Bobby inquired, raising an eyebrow in anticipation.
Zeno shook his head, closing his eyes as exhaustion washed over him. “They’re going to transfer it within the week.”
“How do you plan to spend it? Are you finally going to buy your own car? Or treat yourself to a high-priced apartment? It’s about time you moved out of that cramped place.”
Despite their teasing, Zeno merely shrugged again, eliciting amused smiles from the two older men.
“Zeno must be tired,” Moby whispered, casting a concerned glance in the rearview mirror.
Bobby nodded in agreement, the lines of worry creasing his forehead. “Let’s take him home. Maxie must be missing him.”
Moby nodded, starting the truck while keeping an eye on Zeno through the mirror.
As they navigated the bustling streets, Moby couldn’t shake the disappointment that Zeno couldn’t see all the billboards adorned with his own face.
“Is this the right time to tell him about it?” Moby suddenly whispered, careful not to wake Zeno from his slumber.
Bobby pursed his lips, glancing back at Zeno, who seemed to drift in and out of consciousness. “We probably should, right? He’s going to need to know in just a couple of days.”
“But he doesn’t even know about his nominations yet! It was all announced while he was inside the house,” Moby argued softly.
“He looks too tired, though,” Bobby replied quietly. “Maybe we should wait until tomorrow.”
“But tomorrow, he needs to get his suit fitted,” Moby insisted, urgency creeping into his tone.
“What?” Zeno asked suddenly, jolting awake.
“You’re awake?” Bobby exclaimed.
“Your voices were too loud,” Zeno muttered, rubbing his eyes. “And I heard you talking about another project. I can’t handle another variety show.”
“It’s not a variety show, per se,” Moby interjected quickly. “However, we really highly suggest you attend because this is a historic first for any of our artists!”
“What is it? Get to the point,” Zeno said.
Bobby and Moby exchanged glances.
“You’ve been invited to the Asian Artistry Awards!” they finally revealed, their voices rising with excitement.
“Not only that, but you have seven nominations—the most out of everyone in the show!”
Zeno’s sleepiness evaporated in an instant. His brows furrowed, and he scratched the back of his neck. He had expected to be invited to award shows, especially since it was the middle of the year; however, seven nominations? That was just absurd.
He hadn’t even starred in five works this year!
Moby, noticing Zeno’s confusion, began to list off the nominations with enthusiasm. With each category he announced, Zeno’s bewilderment only deepened.
“Best Influencer”
“Popularity Award”
“Best YouWatch Mini Series”
“New Variety Show Star”
“Best Supporting Actor”
“Best New Actor”
“And, of course, last but certainly not least—Best Actor!”