Round 2 (1): The Invitation Demo and Team Death Match

A few days later, the bass from the speakers in my home studio thrummed through the room. It was the arrangement demo of Invitation that Kim Taesung had sent over.

"...Ha, this guy."

I couldn't help but let out a hollow laugh. As much as I hated to admit it, the head of Luminus wasn't just anyone. He'd preserved the original song's hazy, languid vibe perfectly, while ruthlessly cutting out the dated '90s synth sounds that ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠could come off as cheesy. In their place, he'd filled the space with sleek minimal beats and a sensual bass line. Especially the rap part I'd been worried about—the section that felt a bit out of left field in the original. Kim Taesung had twisted it into something trendy with a lo-fi vibe. It wasn't really rap; it was more like a low murmur of narration shining over the beat.

"I thought he was just a merchant, but his instincts are still sharp."

I picked up my smartphone from where it lay facedown on the desk. The moment I turned on the screen, there they were: the notification numbers still glowing red. Ever since Ria shared my photo on her story that day, my phone had been on the verge of exploding.

"...This is ridiculous."

From English comments by international fans to DMs from hyenas trying to dig up my identity. Right there on the ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠spot, I'd switched my account to private and blocked all notifications. If I'd been even a little slower, the phone might've overheated and blown up.

I'd put all the ad offers pouring in since The Spotlight on hold too. Cosmetics, clothing, even luxury brand sponsorships—but they weren't temptations I welcomed right now.

Sorry, but right now, the stage comes before money.

My gaze returned to the arrangement file on the monitor.

This is the one we'll go with.

Truth be told, it bruised my pride a bit. I had to admit that Kim Taesung's beat was far more polished than the arrangement I'd slaved over. A fleeting thought crossed my mind—maybe later someone would nitpick, "The judge made the contestant's song for them"—but I shook my head.

Whether it was a trap he'd set or a belated apology gift, stubbornly sticking to lower quality when a great result was right there would be shirking my duty as a musician.

"Credit where it's due. This part's definitely better than what I could do."

With that decision made, a week flew by. We synced up based on choreography practice and the arrangement. Han Doyun, who only knew country, recited the narration-like rap lines thousands of times to nail it. Naeun, true to her idol trainee roots, sharpened every movement and gaze direction with precision.

And finally, the call came from MNA Broadcasting Station.

The practice footage shoot, known as the flower of reality TV. How it's edited would decide public favor.

No need to stress.

Just show them who we are.

The designated shoot location was a massive rental studio near Sangam-dong. The moment we arrived, dozens of cameras and bustling staff greeted us. This was the raw scene of survival reality.

I'd never dealt with such blatant observation cams in my previous life, so it felt strangely off.

"Alright, you three! Let's start with a natural meal scene. Sit here."

Following the broadcaster's instructions, we sat at the table set up in one corner of the studio. The menu was impressive Korean haute cuisine.

"Whoa, this looks amazing! Unnie, check this out—braised short ribs!"

Naeun was as high-energy as ever, even in front of the cameras. Han Doyun, meanwhile, gripped his chopsticks with trembling hands, sneaking glances at the VJ's lens.

Why's this guy so scared?

I nonchalantly scooped a big bite of rice. Hungry or not, cameras or no, I needed fuel for practice.

"Jiyeong-ssi, looks like you don't follow a special diet usually?"

The interview writer tossed a question from beside me. I chewed and swallowed the meat in my mouth before answering.

"I run 3-4 times a week. Diet's just normal food."

After lunch footage, we moved straight to practice room shooting. The mirror-walled room. Lights on, slate clapped—the ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠vibe shifted 180 degrees.

"Doyun-ssi, enter the rap half a beat late. Coming in dead on kills the tension."

"Ah, yep."

"Naeun-ah, fan-open sound has to sync perfectly with the beat. Again."

Naeun didn't back down either.

"Unnie, that gaze was too cold just now! Invitation is a seductive song, remember? Pretend the camera lens is a guy crushing on you and look again!"

Our bickering as we synced was captured perfectly on lens. Han Doyun, awkward at first, started spitting the rap under my directing, and the room's air heated up.

Finally, individual interviews. In a standalone room, white backdrop, camera dead ahead.

"Jiyeong-ssi, you're actually #1 singer right now. Why personally lead this tough team mission?"

I stared straight through the lens and spoke.

"I see the #1 title as luck from the public, not my skill. But this stage is different."

I paused briefly.

"Here, where I walked in on my own two feet, the stage we make with my teammates has to be judged purely on merit. Rather than explain why I picked these members or this arrangement... I'd rather show you on stage."

"So, did Jiyeong-ssi handle the Invitation arrangement herself?"

The interviewer's question stabbed sharp. The camera's red light chased my eyes like a lie detector.

I hesitated for a split second. My mouth went a bit dry.

Telling the truth, the song's backbone and sleek beat came from Kim Taesung.

...Is this what that bastard was aiming for?

Help or poisoned chalice, the die was cast. I'd pulled all-nighters dividing parts for the team, tweaking instrumentation, adjusting pitch to my voice using his source.

Above all, as leader, all responsibility fell on me, Han Jiyeong.

"Yes. I did it myself."

Not a lie, I reassured myself. You don't call a dish the chef's just because he sourced good ingredients.

"I worked hard to keep the original's classic vibe while breaking the beat so it's not alien to modern ears. Biggest challenge was placing sounds to fit each member's tone without killing their individuality."

No tremor in my voice. My previous life's thousands of songs had plated my face with steel.

The PD nodded satisfied at my confidence, jotting notes.

"Wow, impressive. #1 singer and producer side too... Really looking forward to this round."

The heavy interview room door swung open, and Naeun, waiting outside, pounced on my arm like she'd been holding her breath.

"Sunbae-nim! Interview tough? Mine had lights so bright I thought I'd go blind. Questions came flying sharp!"

I shrugged at her fussing.

"Nah, I was fine. Questions stayed in expected range."

But not everyone was as cool. My eyes went to Han Doyun in the corridor corner, barely perched on an old chair, fidgeting.

"......"

Still not used to a dozen cameras on him, frozen stiff.

"Doyun-ssi."

My voice jolted him; he shot up.

"Uh, uh! Jiyeong-ssi! Interview done?"

"Yeah. Nothing big. Just answer casually like our practice chats."

I lightly patted his tensed shoulder.

"You're doing great, so don't psych yourself out. Your rap tone in practice? Killer. Just show that heavy vibe."

His frozen face softened a touch at my pep talk. He scratched his head sheepishly, bowing.

"Thanks, Jiyeong-ssi. Cameras feel so foreign... Just don't wanna be a burden."

"Burden? You're team. Go kill it."

Then the interview room door opened; a staffer called for Doyun-ssi. As he left, Naeun whispered beside me.

"Sunbae-nim, Oppa was super nervous. Palms soaked."

"Yeah. Hope he chills on main stage."

Making shoots and practice flew by like a storm, and suddenly it was Round 2 recording day.

The waiting room corridor buzzed with staff from early morning and tense contestants—no room to step.

In the black cheongsam Naeun picked and Ria raved over, deep red lips, sharp eyeliner—my mirror reflection looked way more unfamiliar than usual.

"...Haa, nerves are real."

Naeun muttered, fists clenched, fiddling with my hair beside me. Han Doyun had eyes shut, lips moving, reviewing lyrics.

Soon, the deputy PD's voice boomed over speakers.

We dragged heavy steps to the main stage.

"Alright, the fateful Round 2 finals begins now!"

The MC's booming voice filled the studio.

"As you know, Round 2 theme is era reinterpretation—but the matchup format is revealed here!"

Huge letters slammed onto the screen.

"Round 2 is 1-on-1 team vs. team. Winning team advances entirely—but the losing team..."

The MC paused dramatically.

"Eliminated on the spot, all members."

Short screams and groans erupted around the studio.