A few days passed by like a blink of an eye. Ji Hyo spent all his time practicing in his unit, and Felix was always there with him. He had asked Felix multiple times about his own training at Glint, but Felix never really answered, so Ji Hyo let it be.
Now, it was Monday.
He sat in a waiting room, his hands resting on his lap as he waited for his name to be called. A black facemask covered half of his face, but even with it on, his sharp features still stood out. The boy sitting beside him kept sneaking glances at him, making Ji Hyo feel a little shy.
Finally, the boy decided to speak first. "Are you here for the pre-release interview too?"
Ji Hyo simply nodded.
He wasn't the only one waiting. The room was packed.
If anyone wondered how he ended up here, well… it all started last week.
Ji Hyo had received an invitation. Unlike the others, he didn't even need to apply—his spot was already secured.
At first, he wasn't sure if he should go. He didn't tell anyone. Not even Felix.
But after thinking about it over and over again, he decided to take the chance.
Maybe, just maybe, this survival show could be the turning point he needed.
This was the third season of the survival show—the second one for male contestants.
The previous season had female contestants, and just like before, trainees from various entertainment companies had gathered here, all hoping for one thing: a spot in the final debut lineup.
This wasn't just any survival show.
It was the most popular survival show in the country, broadcasted by the biggest TV network and fully managed by AZ Entertainment.
Ji Hyo had spent the past few days researching everything about AZ Entertainment to fully understand what he was getting himself into.
If the Big 3 entertainment companies were rulers of the idol industry, then AZ Entertainment was the emperor sitting at the top.
AZ had produced the most influential and legendary groups in K-pop history.
BANGBUNG, known as the Kings of K-pop, had reigned for over a decade with record-breaking album sales, sold-out stadium tours, and an unshakable global presence. No boy group had yet to surpass their legacy.
BLACKPUNK, the biggest girl group in the world, had achieved what no other girl group had before—dominating both Western and Asian markets effortlessly. Their impact was so massive that even non-fans recognized their names.
4in1, the second-generation top girl group, had set the foundation for modern K-pop. Even though they had already disbanded, their influence was still undeniable.
AZ Entertainment didn't just produce idols.
They produced superstars.
And now, Ji Hyo was about to step into their battlefield.
The survival show is called "PICK ME"
Ji Hyo had spent the whole weekend watching the previous seasons of PICK ME.
The show wasn't just brutal—it was terrifying.
It had destroyed some trainees' careers but had also launched others into the highest levels of success.
The first season's winners, WANNABEE, were proof of how powerful the show was.
Even though they had debuted five years ago, their influence was stronger than ever. Their original two-year contract was extended for another five years, proving just how unstoppable they were.
Their leader, Daniel Choi, was even considered the next king of K-pop and was rumored to be the strongest soloist of the next decade.
Meanwhile, the second season winners, the girl group WAVING WAVES, were making waves (pun intended) in the industry.
In just one year, they had broken multiple records, and some of their members had already been cast in dramas, variety shows, and even Hollywood projects.
This show didn't just create idols.
It created legends.
Ji Hyo sat in the waiting room, his mask covering half his face.
Even so, the boy next to him kept stealing glances his way.
He felt a little awkward.
Did the guy recognize him from his viral street performance? Or was it just because his features stood out?
Finally, the guy spoke.
"Are you here for the pre-release interview too?"
Ji Hyo nodded.
It wasn't just them. The waiting room was packed with trainees—some from big companies, others from small agencies, and even a few independents like himself.
Looking around, Ji Hyo knew one thing for sure—
Everyone here was desperate to debut.
And he wasn't any different.
Unlike most contestants, Ji Hyo hadn't even applied for the show.
He had received a direct invitation from the producers.
At first, he was hesitant.
It wasn't that he doubted his skills.
It was that he still had too many questions.
His family background was still a mystery.
No matter how much he searched online, there were no records of his parents' businesses.
His brother's words at the gathering still haunted him.
If he was truly from a powerful family, wouldn't joining the most high-profile survival show put him in danger?
But in the end, he made his decision.
He couldn't keep running.
This was the biggest and best opportunity he could ever get.
If he wanted to be the top idol, he needed to grab this chance and never let go.
So, here he was.
Ready to fight.
Ready to win.
Ji Hyo's heart pounded slightly.
He wasn't nervous about the competition itself.
He had trained hard.
He had talent.
What worried him the most was the exposure.
The moment he stepped on that stage, the entire world would be watching.
His background wouldn't be a secret forever.
Sooner or later, people would start digging into his past.
Would his family interfere?
Would his father try to stop him again?
There were too many uncertainties.
But Ji Hyo had already made his choice.
If WANNABEE and WAVING WAVES could do it, then so could he.
No matter what happened—
He was going to win this.
It was then he noticed that there were only a few of them left in the waiting room. The atmosphere had thinned, the once-buzzing space now filled with a quiet kind of tension. Trainees sat in scattered corners, some hunched over their phones, others murmuring to themselves, rehearsing lines or calming their nerves.
Beside him, the boy still kept talking—something about his company, his past auditions, and how he'd been practicing for this moment for years. Ji Hyo, however, wasn't really paying attention. His eyes were trained on the floor, his mind completely elsewhere.
It wasn't until the boy suddenly turned to him and asked, "Seriously?"—his tone tinged with playful annoyance—that Ji Hyo blinked and came back to the present.
"Huh?" Ji Hyo tilted his head, scratching the back of his neck with a sheepish smile. "Sorry… I was just… lost in thought. Thinking about the show."
The boy narrowed his eyes, half-offended, half-amused. "Were you even listening to anything I just said?"
Ji Hyo gave a short laugh, trying to play it off. "I caught a few things… Company, auditions… uh, something about vocal lessons?"
"Wow," the boy said with a dramatic gasp. "Unbelievable. You're lucky you're good-looking."
Ji Hyo just chuckled again, his eyes crinkling. "I'll make it up to you later. Promise."
It was then that a staff member poked their head in and called out, "Yun Taehwan-ssi?"
The boy beside him—Taehwan, apparently—stood up quickly and adjusted his hoodie. "That's me."
He turned to Ji Hyo with a grin. "Good luck thinking about the show. Maybe try listening next time."
"I will," Ji Hyo said, raising his hand in a light wave. "Break a leg."
Taehwan gave him a quick thumbs up before disappearing down the hall with the staff.
And just like that, Ji Hyo was alone again.