Debut or Die-Chapter 403
The recording set of the nationwide variety show “Only Winners Get Chicken.”
‘Ah, another idol group.’
The regular cast barely reacted to the guest lineup they’d received in advance.
This show invites guests to play physical games and do some talk segments—your typical family-oriented weekend variety, so there’s no pressure to perform.
Besides, because it sells well overseas, appearances for promotional purposes are rampant.
‘Still, this week they’ve got some name recognition.’
They were from one of the big agencies that just released the hottest song. At that level, it wasn’t a favor—they were worth booking.
What surprised everyone was the suddenly announced special guest.
‘Wow, unbelievable.’
The ballerino Seon Ah-hyun!
He’d just flown in—maybe for an off-season commercial shoot—and the producers somehow snagged him for this episode.
Normally he could carry a solo special without awkwardness, but with tight timing they slotted him in as a surprise guest.
Might as well make the most of it.
After the WishUs members, as rookies, came to greet him in the waiting room, the special guest quietly rose.
“Hyungnim?”
“Hey, follow me.”
Since Ah-hyun wouldn’t come introduce himself, he decided to go break the ice personally.
‘If I’m lucky, I’ll get something to talk about...’
But when they reached Ah-hyun’s waiting room, it was empty.
“...??”
A staff member whispered.
“He... he went to see those kids.”
“Who?”
“WishUs. WishUs.”
He wasn’t an MC, and yet he’d gone into the rookies’ waiting room? No matter how ✧ NоvеIight ✧ (Original source) hot they were, they’d just debuted...
“Apparently he was a mentor on some survival show with them.”
“Oh.”
That made sense.
‘So they’d met before.’
Of course he didn’t expect smooth filming because of it.
Two young performers with similar selling points?
‘It’ll be a battle of wills.’
The cast nodded, bracing for polite smiles when the cameras rolled and cold shoulders once they cut.
Sure enough, as soon as the special guest appeared after some filming, everyone was busy doling out compliments.
Using the regular guests to hype up the special guest!
“You’re unbelievably handsome, really~”
“Ah-hyun-ssi is totally an idol, isn’t he?”
“Looking at you... wow, you could be in the same group!”
They were the usual sycophantic lines—but true ones. Three textbook beauties on stage together even had the writers cheering.
‘The audience will go wild over this.’
The regular cast watched the predictable flattery with bland expressions, hustling through reactions for the cameras.
It was obvious the special guest was benefiting off the others. Yet the regular guests surprisingly accepted it smoothly and cheerfully—no forced awkwardness.
They even stepped aside to let Ah-hyun take center stage.
“If you stand here... ta-da, center.”
“Ha ha ha!”
‘Oh?’
Not bad for rookies. And as filming progressed they realized something.
These guys had endless anecdotes for talk segments.
“Didn’t you escape from a burning building with just a newspaper? I heard that trick from your members—it’s so unique.”
“Jae-hyun, you’re good on the rope, too—are you planning to enlist next after Yoo-jin Cha?”
“Hey! Rae-bin, can you do any impressions?”
Every round of games they brought up different members, and the MC knew all their names and bantered right back.
Plus each of them had their own character and story, so the conversation flowed around them.
The regulars finally sensed it.
‘These guys... their setup is absurdly tight.’
A group with individual recognition—first since T-Holic. And now they’d scored a huge hit.
They smelled massive success.
‘Mmph.’
That made even these current guests look better.
They didn’t bow out, they gave it their all, showed guts and smarts.
‘They’re close, too.’
At every break, the juniors chatted with the seniors, and the seniors always reciprocated—no sign of showing off.
‘They haven’t got big heads.’
Nodding to himself, he considered how to build a connection—and sensed a similar gaze somewhere.
When he looked over... Ah-hyun was quietly watching the rookies.
“...?”
Huh?
Like him, Ah-hyun seemed to watch that side during every break.
The look vanished quickly, but he got a feeling.
‘What the...’
Could it be he wants to get closer?
But despite such a famous person, the two rookies were too wary to speak first.
The regular cast understood why.
They’d heard the rumors about Ah-hyun.
‘Still, they’ve no sense.’
He'd owe me one after this.
Smirking, he seized a moment during a prop change to speak to one rookie—specifically the older one when he was alone.
“How’s it going? Comfortable with filming?”
“Thanks for your consideration—I’m doing my best. Really, thank you.”
While making small talk, he steered the topic to Ah-hyun...
“And that guy’s pretty cold, right?”
“...?”
Ryu Geon-woo’s eyes widened briefly, then returned to normal.
The cast internally chuckled at how adorably inexperienced he was.
“Artists can be like that. Since he’s so handsome, he’s even more aloof. It’s a different vibe from us entertainers.”
Indeed.
Ah-hyun was known in the industry for keeping people at arm’s length.
He was polite, but that was it—like he lived in a different world.
‘Some people sneer that he’s thrown his life away on noble ballet.’
Younger kids might feel stung or put off by that attitude. The cast understood that.
As for Geon-woo, he thought:
‘What nonsense is this guy spouting?’
He managed to reply.
“...He was kind to me.”
“Right. But you got the feeling he didn’t want to become friends... yes?”
“......”
“Yet honestly, I think he wants to get closer to you guys. He kept watching WishUs over there.”
“Oh....”
Geon-woo paused. The cast member planned to continue his advice, but then...
“Hello.”
“Oh.”
The younger rookie, Shin Jae-hyun, came over.
“I wanted to ask if you’re comfortable with filming.”
“Of course. I heard you always take care of rookies at every year-end award show.”
“Oh—how did you know that?”
“It’s common knowledge.”
As Jae-hyun smoothly diverted the cast member, Geon-woo thought:
‘Ah-hyun’s dividing people by rank...?’
What on earth was happening?
He almost turned to look at Ah-hyun, but held back.
No need to force it.
“Want any of these?”
As Jae-hyun sent the cast member off, Geon-woo exhaled.
“No.”
No time for feelings; his real target was still in view.
‘Eyes forward.’
Filming continued—now blatant promotional segments for the special guest.
A corner teaching basic ballet moves.
Of course they gave the regular guests a break at the end.
“Now that you’ve tried ballet, shall we challenge idol dance?”
“Ooh~”
As scripted, Jae-hyun and Geon-woo stepped forward.
“Move like this—lift your shoulders while you dance.”
“Ohho!”
Jae-hyun demonstrated intentionally cheesy hand moves, and the cast added goofy body gags.
Then someone tentatively asked:
“How about you, Ah-hyun-ssi?”
They expected him to hesitate—but to their surprise, he strode out immediately.
As if waiting.
“Like this....”
“Yes.”
He picked it up instinctively.
‘Whoa!’
It wasn’t just mimicry—it had the polish of a trained dancer.
Jae-hyun narrowed his eyes.
‘Is there still something left in him?’
The moment passed, and the cast applauded.
“You’re great—you could have been an idol!”
“Right? What do you think, guys?”
‘Who’d say he wasn’t good?’
Geon-woo nodded along.
“I agree.”
“See! Ah-hyun-ssi, ever thought of formally trying idol dance?”
Ah-hyun hesitated, then smiled and shook his head.
“Thank you for the compliment, but I’m a ballerino.”
“Oh—so decisive.”
“That’s craftsmanship.”
He simply smiled and nodded. Geon-woo couldn’t help but ask.
“You must love ballet so much. Is that all you ever wanted to do?”
“.......”
Ah-hyun glanced down and calmly replied.
“It’s everything to me. I’ve never thought of anything else.”
“.......”
Park Moon-dae understood.
‘Maybe that’s why those weird rumors started.’
The cast member felt his advice had landed and shrugged.
‘That’s how you build connections. Hah.’
And filming moved on to the final main corner.
I stifled a sigh.
‘Almost done.’
Shows like this were so easy he could half-sleep through them. The final game was even simpler.
—Quick~ Treasure Hunt~!
You know, hide mines and treasures in an old building, find treasures but avoid mines...
They seemed to do it every season.
‘I could do it with my brain off.’
Not that he’d actually try that.
He shook the three or four gift boxes in his hand in front of the camera.
“Do you think these are all real treasures? Statistically, they could all be mines...”
“We have no idea~~”
“...Right.”
He actually knew they were treasures—he’d calculated their movements and even asked the cameraman to cover his back. He feigned anxiety and prepared his next move.
If he swapped and ‘died’ but later all boxes turned out to be treasures, it’d be hilarious.
‘Should I find the MC?’
He scanned for someone who’d film the swap well as he headed down the stairs.
“...Geon-woo-ssi?”
“...!”
He spotted someone climbing up the stairs.
It was Seon Ah-hyun, sprinting.
Holding one dark‐brown box.
‘...Hmm.’
...It wouldn’t be bad to let him win. He was the special guest, older, representing the country.
He ran over and offered the boxes.
“Perfect timing. Hyung, want to swap? I have a feeling your pick is lucky.”
“Huh?”
[ Ding-dong! ]
[ Ten minutes remaining~ ]
Good atmosphere.
He shook the boxes dramatically.
“How about a two-for-one swap? I’ll give you two.”
“.......”
“And you just give me one in return.”
Suddenly Ah-hyun fell silent.
‘What’s up?’
Still aware of filming, he looked at him curiously—and Ah-hyun spoke.
“You... gave me this.”
“...?”
He gripped his box so tightly his knuckles whitened, then murmured.
“A golden ball.”
“...!”
“I received it... just before the bell rang.”
What?
Like he’d gone into a trance, he said nothing more. Then he snapped back.
“Oh—sorry! I just remembered something and blurted it out.”
“.......”
“If you want to swap, I appreciate your offer, but... let’s do one-for-one.”
[ Hyung. Right now...? ]
No call needed—they all sensed it.
The golden ball Ah-hyun mentioned—
‘I... gave him that at AJUSA.’
The random-contents ball in the personal broadcast segment.
He’d swapped it for the bronze ball that held frozen food.
And of course Ah-hyun, the ballerino, couldn’t have that memory.
[ But you just said it! ]
Huh.
So what the hell is going on?
