The first performance began with four trainees stepping forward confidently onto the stage. The moment the music hit, an explosive, high-energy track shook the entire hall. The choreography was powerful and sharp, filled with complex footwork and acrobat-like transitions that screamed intensity.
But as the performance progressed, the pressure showed. The difficult dance moves took a toll on their vocal stability — their breathing became uneven, and their harmonies began to fall apart. Their synchronization wavered, and some transitions looked slightly off-beat.
Still, the energy was undeniable.
Ji Hyo watched closely, eyes darting between each member. Even if he wasn't performing yet, he knew he had to observe. He needed to learn what the judges were looking for — what mistakes to avoid.
But in between analyzing the performance, his mind drifted back to his own situation.
His eyes landed on Kyunsoo, standing like a statue just a few meters away. Calm, cold, unreadable.
Ji Hyo almost laughed bitterly in his head.
"Seriously… TT? A cute girl group song? On this monster of a trainee?"
He glanced again. No matter how he imagined it — Kyunsoo acting cute or doing finger hearts — it was physically impossible to visualize. His aura screamed charisma, not aegyo.
"How the hell is he going to pull off this concept?"
Meanwhile, Ji Hyo clutched his lyric sheet tighter. He only had four lines in total — not much, but unfortunately, one of them was the pre-chorus, a part that required emotion, build-up, and strong delivery.
He wasn't sure if he should be grateful or terrified.
The first group's performance ended with the trainees collapsing into their final pose, visibly out of breath and dripping with sweat.
The room remained quiet for a few seconds before the coaches started giving their comments.
Some were critical — pointing out the vocal instability, the lack of unity in movement, and weak transitions.
But not everything was negative.
"That rap verse, though…" Vocal Coach Gunmi nodded in appreciation.
"That was strong. You controlled your breathing really well during your lines. Nice presence."
Even Ji Hyo couldn't help but nod silently. That moment stood out. The rap line cut cleanly through the chaos, leaving a strong impression — even amid the flaws.
"Hmm… that's the kind of energy we need," the Rap Coach, Yoona Chae, added. "Even if the performance overall had cracks, moments like that make us remember you."
Ji Hyo swallowed hard.
This wasn't just about looking good. It was about standing out — creating moments that stuck in the minds of the judges and the main producer.
The next few performances passed in a blur.
Some teams nailed their choreography but lacked stage presence. Others had strong vocals but stumbled in synchronization. Ji Hyo tried to watch attentively, but his focus kept drifting — not to the performances, but to the ticking time bomb that was their group's turn.
And finally, it came.
Team 6.
Their group.
They were the only team with eight members, which was already unusual. It made them stand out automatically — and not always in a good way. More people meant more chances for mistakes.
Ji Hyo's heart pounded in his chest as he walked toward the side to wait for his turn to enter and do his part. His palms were clammy. His knees were barely cooperating. But despite the chaos in his head, he had done everything he could to prepare.
He had gone over his lines again and again.
He had even secretly watched the dance practice video multiple times to understand exactly how he was supposed to move and execute his part during the pre-chorus — posture, facial expression, timing, everything.
He wasn't aiming to be perfect… he just didn't want to be a disaster.
As they took their positions and waited for the signal, a heavy silence fell over him.
His fingers clenched slightly.
His throat tightened.
And then, that cursed notification sound echoed in his mind.
[A New Side Task Has Been Initiated]
[Task Objective: Captivate the audience with your aegyo and deliver a cute, charming performance.]
[Reward: Unlock Natural Charisma]
[Penalty for failure: Hair Loss (Partial Balding)]
Ji Hyo's soul practically jumped out of his body.
"WHAT?!" he screamed internally.
"WHY?! Why now?! WHY DO YOU HATE ME?!"
His whole body went cold. Not just nerves anymore — full-on existential dread. He could feel his scalp itch at just the thought of the penalty.
"Why would you even add this side quest now?! Isn't the pressure bad enough already?!"
System Message: "You never asked if side quests were possible during evaluations."
"ARGHHHHHH—"
He wanted to cry.
Cute performance? Aegyo?
His face was already stiff from stress — now he had to worry about being adorable or risk going bald?
"I swear, this system is out to ruin me."
But he had no choice now. He had to make this performance count — cute or not, he needed to survive this stage.
As the music started and the intro filled the hall, Ji Hyo took a deep breath, trying to center himself.
It was time.
However, the moment the music started, Ji Hyo's eyes widened in shock.
Wait—what?!
It was still "TT" — the melody and structure were there — but something was… different. Drastically different.
The tempo was slightly altered, the instrumentals deeper, heavier, more rhythmic. The usual bubbly, sugar-coated sound had been swapped with a slick, bass-heavy arrangement that oozed charisma.
It was like "TT" had been remixed into a boy crush anthem.
Ji Hyo's brain short-circuited.
"WHAT THE HELL?! This isn't the version I practiced to!"
He was still frozen in place, mentally trying to remap everything in real time, when the system chimed in again like a damn gremlin.
[Surprise twist! But don't worry~ Good luck, cutie~!]
Ji Hyo nearly exploded.
"Shut up, you cursed piece of code!!" he screamed internally, his jaw clenched.
This has to be Kyunsoo's doing.
That cold bastard. He didn't tell him anything. Didn't even mention there was a different version. He probably expected Ji Hyo to flop completely. He cursed Kyunsoo in his head with every word he could think of.
But then, Kyunsoo stepped forward for the first line — and everything went silent again in Ji Hyo's mind.
Unlike the original version that usually began with a light, cutesy tone, Kyunsoo's voice came in deep, smooth, and commanding — majestic, even.
It didn't sound cute at all.
It sounded powerful. Alluring. Dangerous.
And he looked ridiculously good. His expression, his energy — it was like he owned the stage. Ji Hyo actually felt his heart skip a beat, and not in a romantic way — in an "oh god, I'm going to die next to this guy" kind of way.
"Holy shit… Is this still 'TT'?"
The other members followed seamlessly, adjusting their vocals to match the new mature tone, while still keeping the catchy rhythm of the original. Their choreography was synchronized, sharp, and modified just slightly enough to bring subtle masculinity to the normally adorable moves.
The teamwork was perfect. Everyone moved like a unit, yet still kept their individual charms.
Ji Hyo's nerves skyrocketed.
He had practiced aegyo. He prepared for cuteness.
Now, he was stepping into a stage filled with intensity and sleek charisma, and his lines were right around the corner — in this remix he hadn't even heard before.
And the system?
[ Ahh~ Ji Hyo-ssi, your turn is coming~! Be charming or go bald!]
He was going to die. Or go bald. Or both.
Ji Hyo snapped back to reality when he heard the line right before his part echoed through the hall. His heart dropped.
It was about to be his turn.
Even though the arrangement had changed, the lyrics remained the same, so there was no escaping it — his pre-chorus line was next.
"Shit… what do I do now?!"
His eyes darted nervously across the stage as he tried to calculate his next move. Should he stick to the original aegyo-style performance he prepared? Or should he try to match the new vibe — that boy crush, charismatic tone everyone was now doing so flawlessly?
His body tensed.
This wasn't just a performance dilemma anymore — it was a full-on identity crisis in the middle of a live evaluation.
And then, out of the corner of his eye, he noticed it.
Kyunsoo.
Still performing. Still killing every beat like it was second nature.
But now… he was looking directly at Ji Hyo.
And on his face was a smirk.
A low, confident, almost devilish smirk.
It wasn't just a casual glance — it was intentional.
Almost like he was saying, "Let's see what you'll do now, newbie."
Ji Hyo's jaw clenched.
His thoughts exploded.
"That bastard… He did do this on purpose!"
The realization hit him like a truck. Kyunsoo must've known all along that the arrangement was changed — and he purposely left Ji Hyo out of the loop.
"He wanted me to crash and burn on this stage."
And now, under the blinding stage lights, everyone's eyes would be on him for his part — including the coaches, the producer, and that cursed system threatening to take his hair.
He had just a few seconds left before his cue.
No more time to think.
No more time to panic.
Only one question remained now — was he going to risk going cute and out of sync with the vibe… or adapt fast and try to ride this wave with all the charm he could summon?
The pre-chorus was coming.