Chapter 54: Video Letter

Like all survival programs, by the time the final ranking ceremony arrived, the outline of the debut team had begun to take shape.

Idol survival, nth iteration.

Han Yooyoung, who had tirelessly devoured every crumb of boy group survival content, knew all too well that this moment just before the finale was the most brutal.

It was an invisible war.

A time when posts promoting their favorites flooded in endlessly, along with various forms of interference to ensure their pick’s debut or to launch a final counterattack.

“Is there another post up…”

Han Yooyoung, who had watched Stardust Project from Episode 1, had become more devoted than anyone.

She habitually logged into the community site she frequented.

As expected.

This was always the time when that type of post appeared.

Everyone was busy shouting out their ideal debut lineup.

[The debut team I want at this point]

Do Seohan

Ha Junseo

Seo Haim

Jin Sehyun

Seo Ian

Choi Han

Lee Dokyung

These seven—no rebuttals accepted.

-Is it confirmed that Stardust Project will debut seven members?

└Yes, they made that clear from the beginning.

└Wtf, only seven… That’s crazy. TBN, we’ll pretend not to notice, so change it to nine, pleaseㅠㅠ

└Me at the beginning of Stardust Project: How can I even choose seven from this group lol

Me now: Please, just let one more in…

└That’s me.

└22222222

-First time seeing someone with the exact same picks as me. Let’s debut like this, guys.

└Crazy, me tooㅠㅠ Then can we finally see Byo-Seohan and Choi Han’s maknae-line chemistry?

└Chemistry? They didn’t even seem close lol

└I said no rebuttals in the main post, remember? ^^

└Lol, read the room.

-I’d drop Choi Han and Lee Dokyung and take Kang Siwoo.

└Kang Siwoo 222222

└Please let our Siwoo debut.

└This place is full of delusional fans, it’s driving me nuts.

└Realistically, Kang Siwoo debuting is a bit… tough, no?

└Choi Han, Lee Dokyung, and Kang Siwoo are all hovering in the danger zone ranking-wise.

└But Siwoo’s core fandom is strong.

└Only the core fans are strong, thoughㅎㅎ

└The PD jerk didn’t give our boy any screen timeㅠㅠ He totally crushed the Geundeure stage in the cutest way.

-But TBN survival shows always do this. Great progress, then a total shakeup in the rankings.

└You hear that, Byo-Seohan fans? Never let your guard down. The finale is all about your bias, let’s go.

└Don’t be complacent just because your bias is ranked highㅠㅠ Pick your secondary too recklessly and your main won’t debut.

└This is for real.

└More than once I’ve clutched my mouth shut watching the finale live. Who knew Choi Woojin would get eliminated…

Below that, predictions for the debut team continued to pour in, creating a hotbed of debate.

So far, it was all the usual chatter for this stage.

But there was always one of those odd posts.

[My grandma’s a shaman so I’ve got a bit of the sixth sense]

The debut team is Ha Junseo, Do Seohan, Jin Sehyun, Seo Haim, Seo Ian, Cha Seongbin, and Kang Siwoo.

Everyone, pay your respects early.

-Here on my sacred pilgrimage.

└LOL stop pre-worshipping

└Here on my sacred pilgrimage. Please let our Siwoo debut.

└Please debut the Soft Tofu.

└A hamster is appearing on the debut lineup.

└Congratulations on debuting, Junseo.

-Now even psychic villains…

-If you get this right, lay out your fortune mat.

└I bet people will start queuing for readings lol

Tsk.

Han Yooyoung clicked her tongue and shook her head.

“Listing off their own picks again…”

These delusional posts were nothing new.

Having seen enough, Han Yooyoung quickly scrolled and then closed her browser.

Just then—

Ding—

A notification popped up from the TBN official channel she had subscribed to.

Han Yooyoung’s eyes turned to the monitor.

“What’s this?”

A preview video with a clickbaity title had been uploaded.

[Stardust Project Finale Preview] What made the trainees cry right before the stage?

It was obviously another emotionally manipulative video meant to tug at fans’ heartstrings right before the finale.

“Family video letters?”

Even TBN’s recycled survival show formulas were now too familiar to her. She frowned involuntarily.

“Ugh, has TBN lost their touch?”

That kind of emotional pandering was ancient history.

They’d milked that trope so dry, it didn’t work anymore.

Han Yooyoung muttered to herself and sighed.

She clicked on the video with zero expectations…

“…!”

Her eyes widened.

After the last ranking announcement, only twelve trainees remained.

The studio, which had always felt rather empty, looked especially vacant today.

We entered the space, filling it with chatter.

“Wow, we’re back here again.”

“Why are we gathered here today?”

“These seats are perfect for watching a movie.”

The studio, which we had visited once during the concept evaluation.

The trainees couldn’t help admiring the plush, theater-style seats.

Seo Haim asked me in a bright, high-energy voice.

“Are they going to play the final song for us?”

“Maybe.”

Since we had previewed the concept evaluation song here last time, it was a reasonable guess.

However, this was the second episode of Stardust Project, and I knew exactly what content was coming.

A time-tested survival program staple for over ten years.

It was…

Family video letters.

“What the.”

Flash.

A giant screen lit up.

The trainees had expected MC Han Dawon to enter from the back door, so we all looked surprised.

But it wasn’t MC Han Dawon, nor the composer of the final song.

Instead, a woman’s face—somehow familiar—filled the screen.

Her voice echoed through the studio.

[Seo Haim.]

“What the, that’s my sister!”

Seo Haim jumped in place, startled.

I too turned to look at the screen in shock.

She had a soft, round face like Seo Haim, but her gaze held a firm, no-nonsense intensity.

She looked like she had already graduated college and entered the workforce—there was quite an age gap, it seemed.

So then.

That must be… Seo Choco?

“Wow, that’s your sister?”

“No way… You really look alike.”

“Don’t say that!”

Among us, just her name alone made her a celebrity.

Ha Junseo addressed her name with utmost formality.

“Seo Choco-nim…?”

You shouldn’t make fun of people’s names.

But honestly, Ms. Choco was really… quite something.

Contrary to her unique name,

Seo Choco began speaking in a voice completely devoid of sweetness.

[Haim, it’s finally the finale.]

[I know how hard you’ve worked to achieve this dream.]

[It must’ve been tough, right?]

Ms. Seo Choco, are you perhaps reading a script?

The producers must’ve tried their best to cue up emotional background music and get a shot of the contestant crying…

But those unfocused eyes.

And a tone so flat it carried not even 1% of genuine feeling.

To top it off, every line was a gem of awkwardness.

[I’m always cheering for you.]

[Fighting!]

The lines sounded so forced, her face looked like it was rotting behind the monitor.

Seo Choco was enduring a battle with herself.

“Pfft.”

“Sorry, it’s just too funny.”

“Oh, I can’t handle this.”

Ha Junseo bent over laughing uncontrollably.

Seo Haim bowed her head, her face bright red.

“At this point… wasn’t she blackmailed into doing this?”

“She said it’s a heartfelt video letter prepared with sincerity.”

“There’s no soul in it though? Her eyes… they’re dead.”

Her eyes are dead, huh.

“Ahem.”

This time, I couldn’t hold back my laughter either.

Fortunately, the video letters that followed were normal.

After Seo Choco’s flashy opening, Ha Junseo’s parents appeared on the screen.

They looked just like him, with warm and kind expressions.

When you’re far from home, physically and mentally exhausted, the ones you miss most are always your family.

From that point on, other trainees started wiping away tears too.

[Junseo, you’ve worked hard, haven’t you?]

It was right after the third ranking announcement, the time when emotional fatigue had hit hardest, so hearing just their name could bring tears.

Even Ha Junseo, who usually didn’t cry much, soon had teary eyes.

“Sniff… Ha… I’m feeling emotional all of a sudden…”

[You’re doing great, so don’t rush yourself. We’re always cheering for you, son.]

Ha Junseo gave a big smile and a thumbs-up.

“Yes, I’ll do my best!”

After that, video letters for the other trainees played.

Some held back their tears like Ha Junseo, but Seo Ian’s eyes turned completely red and tears flowed down.

“Oh no, hyung, are you okay?”

Probably at this moment.

From the hate comments after the second ranking, to the fear of elimination at the last announcement.

All the hardships must have flashed through his mind like a slideshow.

Because that’s what family is.

The only ones you can truly lean on when you’re tired and struggling.

I gently patted Seo Ian’s back as his shoulders shook from crying.

Just then.

[Seohan.]

My name was suddenly called.

If I remembered correctly, the ones who sent me a video letter were my parents.

Back then, I had just barely survived the third ranking announcement with a borderline score, and I was feeling quite fragile—though not as much as Seo Ian, I honestly cried a little too.

I was younger and struggling a lot more at the time.

But now.

Instead of my parents’ video, which had warmed my heart—

[Seohan, it’s your hyung.]

Why that guy?

The smile hanging on my lips disappeared instantly.

Jin Sehyun looked at me with surprised eyes.

“Seohan, that’s your older brother?”

“There seems to be a big age gap…?”

“Yes, I have an older brother.”

“Oh, right. I think I heard about that…”

We’re ten years apart.

If you ask whether we’re close, not really.

There’s quite an age gap, and from a young age, he always felt like someone hard to approach.

It’s not like I’m lacking in intelligence either, but my brother was on a different level.

He was born a genius.

Graduated top of his class in journalism and communication from Korea University, and got hired as a PD without even needing an interview.

He had just started working as a producer at SBC’s variety department.

Much later, journalist Lee Doyeon would say that even as a rookie, he was already known for his talent.

From the front, Lee Dokyung grinned and chimed in naturally.

“Your brother has a really nice impression.”

Haha.

He’s your sister’s future ex-boyfriend.

I swallowed those words and smiled gently.

“He’s kind.”

He had everything—looks, education, work skills—but the one thing he lacked…

Was character.

Which is why this situation felt so unfamiliar to me.

Normally, he’d dismiss a request for a video letter without a second thought, claiming to be too busy.

So why?

Why would he appear in a video letter that doesn’t suit him at all?

Whether or not my pupils were shaking, his calm voice began to speak.

A totally out-of-the-blue line.

[I saw your concept evaluation stage.]

It’s late to say now, but I’d never been acknowledged by him.

It wasn’t that he deliberately refused to; I just didn’t measure up as an entertainer in his eyes.

I think he had judged that I had no talent for this path.

So when I gave up on the idol dream and started preparing for college entrance exams,

‘That’s a better choice. Smart move.’

That’s what he said—coldly and flatly.

But.

That same person.

In his usual dry tone, continued.

[I saw you dance, and sing. For the first time….]

[You were good.]

My brother gave a faint chuckle and added,

[You could be an idol, Seohan.]

Why did that simple line hit me so hard?

For the first time, truly for the first time—

I was acknowledged by him.

“……”

One unexpected sentence, and tears fell.

Ha Junseo looked startled and asked urgently,

“Seohan, are you crying?”

“No… I didn’t cry…”

I shook my head and took a deep breath.

“I’m not crying. Maybe some dust got in my eye?”

“But tears are literally falling…”

“Seohan, it’s okay to cry~.”

I thought I didn’t want it.

But I guess I did want to be acknowledged.

Thanks to the members’ video letters, the mood remained warm for a while,

but like all survival shows, things were never that smooth.

-It’s about time they revealed it….

-This is the last reveal before the finale, right?

-I wonder if my baby’s rank went upㅠㅠ I’m already so nervous I could die

-I don’t think I can handle watching the finale like this…

To answer the fans’ anxious anticipation,

the next day, the production team revealed the real-time voting rankings.

And then.

A new post appeared on the community.

[WTF, do these rankings even make sense?]

It was a massive shake-up in the rankings.

Source: Webnovel.com, updated by NovelKeep