They’re definitely going to play sad music now.
Zeno had predicted it, and he was sure it would inevitably happen on the airing date. The melancholic piano melody that had accompanied every tear-streaked elimination in reality show history was the cherry on top.
To milk the emotionality of the scene, the staff even asked for the eliminated contestants’ insights on their elimination. Jiwoon couldn’t hold back his tears because of his loss.
Youngmi, on the other hand, smiled politely as she adjusted her mic.
“This experience,” Youngmi began, “was really valuable for me. I mean, I’m not a trained actress. I love singing more than anything, and acting just became something I picked up along the way. I’m still starting out, so standing with everyone, that already felt really good.”
She turned to the camera a bit more. “It means someone out there thinks I have potential. And I think that’s enough for now. That’s something I can take with me.”
Gene PD, arms folded, gave a small nod. It was a good, clean soundbite. The editors were going to love it.
“Last question,” he said. “For fun. If you could root for someone now, who would it be?”
Youngmi didn’t hesitate as she grinned. “Oh, that’s easy. I’m a really big fan of The Forsaken Prince franchise. Like, a huge fan. And seeing it get played by Zeno was amazing. He brought something new to it. I’m excited for the movie because I know Bacon PD wouldn’t settle for anything less than perfect.”
She turned to the Zeno, cupped her hands, and yelled, “Go Zeno!”
Zen bowed a perfect ninety degrees as she passed him. He didn’t expect a shoutout, but it felt strangely fine.
Then, the eliminated pair was led backstage while the rest were ushered back into the observation room.
Daniel looked like someone who had survived a mild natural disaster.
Shelly, on the other hand, was positively glowing. She held her script close to her chest like it was a trophy.
The others in the viewing room couldn’t wait for their arrival because they wanted to ask Zeno how he had done it.
“Does he take any supplements for his memory?” Suho asked out loud. “I should ask him.”
“Seriously, how did he do that?” Hero asked in disbelief, still amazed.
As the buzz continued, Phoenix stood with a soft sigh.
“What he showed is the minimum of what it takes to be an actor,” he answered.
The room fell silent.
“The minimum?”
Ian pursed his lips before shaking his head, arms crossed. “Sure, but that doesn’t mean everyone can do it. In fact, can you do it too?” he asked.
Ian was usually a ray of sunshine, but he didn’t play when it came to Zeno.
Phoenix didn’t hesitate. “Yes.”
Before Ian could retort, the door behind them creaked open.
The survivors were here.
Daniel trudged in, still absentminded, while Shelly skipped next to him, her nerves from earlier completely gone. The others gathered tried to gather Zeno, the words ready on their tongues—
“How did you—”
“What was your—”
“Zeno, seriously—”
“Wait.”
“Where’s Zeno?”
Shelly turned around. “He was right behind us.”
Ian scanned the room again. “Did he leave?”
Daniel’s brows furrowed. “Wait—he didn’t even walk in with us. Did he?”
***
Zeno didn’t know if he was allowed to leave the room, or the floor, or the actual show premises in general—but that was more of a problem for future Zeno. Present Zeno had a mission.
He slipped out the side, passing through staff and stagehands like he was one of them.
Someone even handed him a headset, which he politely declined with a mumble and a vague salute. As he rounded the corner, he spotted a hoodie crumpled on the floor near the snack station.
Without hesitation, he snatched it up and pulled it over his head.
From behind, a muffled voice called out, “Wait, where’s my hoodie?”
But Zeno was already gone.
The hallways of the studio complex stretched on like a maze. The bright lights above buzzed overhead while various crews bustled about, holding clipboards, costume racks, and enough iced Americanos to fuel a small village.
Zeno moved through them all like a trained spy. The only suspicious thing about him was how suspicious he was trying not to look.
He turned the final corner and found himself in the judges’ wing.
The hallway was quieter here and definitely more expensive. There were plush carpets, potted plants, and the faint scent of lavender fabric spray. A place built for important people.
Zeno knew this was where he had to be.
There were too many questions in his mind, one that had been bugging him for the past month.
Inside one of the rooms, laughter floated through the door.
“Amazing, wasn’t he?”
Ari’s voice was bright and airy, contrary to the usual.
Her manager mumbled something back, but Ari kept going.
“I mean, seriously, what happened to him?” she asked, grabbing a piece of fruit from a bowl. “He used to be all awkward and quiet and… okay, a little charming, but now it’s like—bam!” She mimed an explosion with her hands. “Suddenly, he’s tall, dark, and handsome. What the heck, right? Is he always like that? No, right? That can’t be right.”
She paused, staring into the distance as she remembered her first interaction with Zeno. It was on the set of ’Broken Chains of Justice,’ and back then, Daniel’s aura overpowered him. Now, Daniel couldn’t even hold a candle to him!
Then she frowned. “Why aren’t you saying anything?”
She turned around, expecting to see her manager scrolling through his phone again.
But instead, she froze.
Standing just inside the door was a hooded man. Goodness, was she going to get robbed?
However, she recognized the hooded man’s lips a second later.
Her mouth opened slightly. “Zeno?”
The man pulled down the hood slowly.
He looked at her, and Ari’s heart skipped a beat.
“Ari,” he started off. “I’ve been meaning to talk to you.”
He took a step forward.
“Or,” he said, gaze locking with hers, “should I call you… Rennis #28?”