#22. Mask Singer 5 Crown King? (3)
The stage fell silent after the song ended. A hush hung over the audience for about a minute or two.
Then, as if snapping out of a trance, applause erupted from the crowd.
Woo! Woooaahhh~!!!!
"In-insane."
"Haa~ I wanna hear it again!"
"Encore! Encore! Encore!"
Clap clap clap clap clap clap!
Cheers poured out like at a full-blown concert.
An encore during a live broadcast filming? The PD, whose face had been sour from a pre-show request from Jin Haesol's manager that had rubbed him the wrong way, now grinned ear to ear.
If they delivered a stage like this, he could grant any convenience.
Standing ovation too!
No need for a vote at this rate. Ratings would skyrocket, and Jin Haesol's stock would soar even higher.
Plus, with the favor he'd done today, the PD now had leverage to throw his weight around with Haesol.
At this pace, 5 crowns is possible. About time for a new one.
Controlling so 5 crowns didn't come too easily was work, but crafting a contestant for it at the right moment was necessary too. Standout participants boosted ratings.
And Haesol had timed it perfectly—just when a new 5-crown king was needed.
"Votes aren't coming in well, PD. Should we have the MC urge them?"
"Yeah. They're all too busy clapping."
The MC, signaled by staff, pleaded with the audience still lost in the afterglow.
Ding-ding-ding~ Ding-ding-ding-ding~!
Votes that had lagged suddenly surged.
Historic speed. No Hee-kyung had set a massive lead before, but today might break it. Thankfully—or not—it didn't quite.
16 VS 84
"Announce it."
"Yes."
Results flew to the MC and were revealed at breakneck speed—unprecedented.
Everyone accepted it, even challenger Sunflower Fairy King.
As results dropped, Haesol bolted offstage.
"Guess his acquaintance got seriously hurt."
The PD, briefed vaguely on Haesol's situation, understood the rush.
Don't let anyone spot him maskless!
Manager would handle it, right? The PD's heart raced thinking how to edit this 3-crown stage.
"Tell the audience again to keep security tight. Might not help, but better than nothing."
"Yes, PD. Shame he didn't do a personal stage too."
"Nah. That would've diluted it. Ruined the impact. Better to end on a lingering high. Look at the exiting crowd—all still immersed."
Even after Sunflower Fairy King's reveal as famous singer Hwang Jae-kyung, the audience barely reacted.
Threshold maxed by Haesol, lesser stimuli fell flat.
They'd begged for encore, but the crown king had vanished to the hospital long ago.
In the end, fans left without even hearing the 3-crown king's thoughts.
I have no idea how I even made it to the hospital. Meeting Jua noona and Jeonghwa made me snap back to reality.
Did I nail the stage? 3 crowns? It's all fuzzy.
Even so, I knew I couldn't drag Manager noona to the hospital, so I shoved her my mask and outfit, changed clothes, and taxied off like a fugitive.
"Did it hurt a lot?"
"Yeah. Hurt like hell."
Blessing, as if waiting for me, unleashed full contractions the moment I arrived.
Noona moved to the delivery room before full dilation; Jeonghwa and I suited up in the family room.
Jeonghwa gripped my hand tight, wouldn't let go.
"Aigoo, I've been through it, but why am I so nervous and shaky?"
"Noona will be fine."
"She better be. She's healthy, so she'll pull through. Aigoo, our girl must be in so much pain."
Saying it'd be okay, but I was trembling too—worse than Jeonghwa.
Still, we leaned on each other till Jua delivered Blessing.
"Aaaahhh!!"
"Dad, go hold mom's hand? Almost out."
"Y-yes."
The nurse's calm call eased my fidgeting. Mouth dry. Time crawling. Why won't Blessing come?!
Powerless gripping Jua's pained hand—too much for our young noona.
Time felt eternal. Then—
Waaah~ Waaah~
"!!!"
Blessing was born. Real dad now.
"Baby has five fingers, five toes—all perfect."
Never knew healthy birth joy like this.
Nurse wiped blood, placed Blessing on Jua's chest.
I alternated stares, tears streaming.
Real family.
Hard feeling belonging in this alien world, stranger's body.
No more. This is my world now—our child's too.
Gotta live right.
Cheat powers made meetings easy, work casual.
Be a dad Blessing's proud of.
Sniff sniff!!
"Family, please wait outside."
Regretful, but time to leave Blessing—delivery ain't over.
"Mother-in-law."
"Mm, yeah. Gotta go."
Jeonghwa tore eyes from Jua, followed me out.
"You did great, Jeonghwa."
"Great? Aigoo, Jua looks half-dead. Needs good food..."
"I'll find postpartum stuff."
"I looked, but didn't expect early—no prep."
Seeing her worry, I hugged her shoulders.
"Eek! P-people might see."
"Let 'em. I'll take a week off. Won't leave you alone. Got it?"
"A week? That okay?"
"Of course."
Company'd give a week for nursing a hurt friend.
Wait, filming? Seeing Blessing and Jua safe restored reason.
Phone check: floods from Manager noona, members.
Say emergency surgery?
Led Jeonghwa to empty room, waved phone.
"Be right back—calls."
"Work?"
"Yeah."
"Go on."
Knowing I nearly bailed mid-shoot, she worried but sent me.
Manager noona picked up instantly—11 PM now.
"Hey!! Jin Haesol!!!"
"Worried you? Sorry, noona."
"At least pick up!! Hospital?"
"Yeah. Hospital."
"What happened? Explain! Dying here. Members up worrying."
"Friend badly hurt—surgery. Needs me. No family."
"Ah...! Surgery? Big one?"
"Yeah. Survived—no big worry. Wanna stay week? Close friend. Nearly died."
Manager struggled but promised to ask company.
"Thanks, noona."
"Call members yourself. They'll sleep then."
"Will. How'd filming go? Memory fuzzy..."
"Fuzzy?"
"I out?"
Gave all, but didn't expect great.
"Out?! You got 3 crowns! Audience stood ovation. PD beaming, praising nonstop. Says 5 crowns possible!"
"Huh? For real?"
Standing ovation? Lost it that bad?
Stunned.
"Gotta go back then."
"Lucky! Loss meant reveal filming—huge delay."
"Ah... true."
3 crowns saved us.
"Hospital where? I'll grab dorm stuff."
"Nah. Caused enough trouble. Just push company for generous leave. Won't forget the favor, noona."
She's group manager, not cleanup crew. If she came and wanted to see the "surgery patient," trouble. Better handle myself.
"Overseas push busy—no week+, punk!!"
"Aww~ please! Love ya!"
Forced it on protesting noona, hung up, messaged members: hospital stay awhile for hurt friend surgery.
No tactless kids asking Mask Singer details. Week off approved easy.
Back in room: Jeonghwa and Jua gazing at Blessing.
"Heuk! Blessing!"
"Can't hold long—come see."
"How's he so handsome? Hohoho!"
Their faces beamed happiness—infectious.
Exhausted Jua perked seeing Blessing; eyes sparkled. Not full energy, but.
Stuck to her, held hand, studied Blessing.
"Like who more?"
"Haesol spitting image, right mom?"
"Me? Really?"
"Yeah. Total clone. Right, mother-in-law?"
"Yep! Jua's double?"
"Aigoo! No. Haesol prettier. Must take after Haesol."
"Features so defined?"
"Nurses shocked. 'Newborn this handsome?'"
Wrinkle-faced newborn, yet blended parents' beauty perfectly.