The Accidental Spotlight
"What? Who looks like the easiest pushover?"
I had to doubt my ears for a second. Who asks something like that right from the start? Is this some ploy to send me packing? Devilish editing tricks or something.
I was in a studio in Gyeonggi Province for the pre-interview. The woman in front of me, PD Lee Ji-hyun, had greeted me with a bright smile at first, but now she was thrusting sharp questions right at my throat.
Once the question was out, I had to answer...
"Not exactly 'easy,' but... is there anyone you think, 'I could beat that guy'?"
"Isn't that the same thing..."
"Want to watch the footage again?"
"Sure. I blanked out for a second there from the shock."
PD Lee Ji-hyun let out a small chuckle and replayed the video on the monitor beside her. I figured it was stuff the applicants had submitted with their applications. There were videos like mine doing the three-rep max, MMA fight scenes, gymnastic moves, powerlifting lifts—super varied.
She paused it and asked,
"So, shall we pick from the toughest-looking ones first?"
"Easy. The MMA guy looks the strongest. Jang Seok-gi, right? Sharp eyes, solid build."
"Jang Seok-gi? Yeah, he's impressive. Confident if you end up against him?"
What to say? Jung Soo-jin told me not to stir up drama, but this should be fine. Backing down too much after coming this far wouldn't look good.
"Saying I'm confident might sound arrogant. Whoever it is, I'll give it my all."
A safe, solid answer. PD Lee Ji-hyun seemed satisfied and moved on.
"You don't seem to do SNS, Mr. Lee Min-ho. Any reason?"
I had this prepped.
"I've been focused purely on training, so no SNS. But now with the show, I'm thinking of making one."
"Better make it quick. Early setup maximizes promo."
"Got it."
I nodded agreeably.
"You mentioned working out—what kind? Gym?"
"Gym, and a bit of martial arts."
I'd never set foot in a dojo, but anyone could tell I'd lifted some iron, and with superpowers, dodging punches and kicks was no issue. Strictly speaking, it was all within my abilities, so not really a lie?
I fielded all sorts: resolve to win, plans for prize money, girlfriend status.
"Hobbies... I don't go out much, so lots of gaming."
"Gaming?"
PD Lee Ji-hyun's face twisted oddly. Fair—guys built like hardcore gym rats like me aren't usually homebodies glued to games.
"Yeah, pretty confident in my skills."
"Hmm..."
She pondered, then decided it was usable gold.
"Mind sending gameplay footage? Perfect for editing into the interview."
"I'll send it today."
And that wrapped my pre-interview. Some answers were polished half-truths, but I'd cut ties years ago—no one around to spill, "That guy's actually..."
First broadcast debut on YouTube, can't just say, "I was a nobody till recently." Perks of being a loner—you craft your image.
"Okay! Thanks for your time. Lots of questions, huh?"
"I just sat here."
Interview over, we stood.
"Whoa...!"
PD Lee Ji-hyun wobbled, grabbing her cup and script after sitting so long. Before I knew it, she was toppling.
Bzzz—
A activation hum only I could hear, and hyper-speed cognition kicked in. One hand caught her back mid-fall; the other snatched the scattering papers and cup. Not a drop of coffee spilled.
Stats up, and I could move freer in hyper-speed now. If mileage demands didn't climb so fast, I'd just pump stats forever. Regrettable.
Daydreaming aside, I secured everything and released hyper-speed.
"Ack... Huh?"
Her eyes wide in shock, I helped her up. Face screaming she had no clue what happened.
"Thanks..."
"Here. Careful."
She took the script and coffee, dazed. I gave a casual goodbye and headed home.
Sooner I send the footage, happier they'll be. Gotta pick my best plays.
.
.
.
.
.
.
"Take care."
Click.
'What just happened...?'
PD Lee Ji-hyun thought of contestant Lee Min-ho, who'd just left the studio.
He moved well, sure—evident from his application video, a big reason they picked him. Gymnast-level agility on a jacked frame.
But that reaction speed? Catching her fall while snagging falling papers and cup with one hand? All so sudden.
Felt like a circus act at work.
Click.
"Hello!"
"Oh, hi."
She focused on the next contestant. Hours passed.
Tap tap.
All interviews done, she reviewed raw footage with the editing chief.
"Stop! This scene!"
"Whoa..."
She pointed at the monitor. There I was, catching her fall—like scripted—snatching script and cup mid-air.
Slow-mo made it wilder. Caught her and precisely grabbed each falling item. Even coffee sloshing out arced back in.
No panic on his face. People fumble phone drops with both hands—how?
"Insane, right? We have to use this!"
Shed just recalled his rubber-band-taut forearm she'd grabbed instinctively, but now her head buzzed with hype potential.
"Impressive. How'd he even...?"
"Slap it at the pre-interview end—viewers will explode. Heh..."
PD Lee Ji-hyun grinned, thrilled with early gold.
The editing chief pondered.
"How about this?"
"What?"
He played other contestants' interviews.
"Lots of contestants see Lee Min-ho as a top rival from his video."
"Makes sense."
"We planned to spotlight Jang Seok-gi early, but this? New face strategy works."
"Focus hype on Lee Min-ho?"
PD Lee Ji-hyun perked up; the chief nodded.
"We picked him for buzz potential anyway. Double down. If he's pulling scenes like this from the jump, worth betting big."
'Luck? Maybe...'
They'd half-decided a winner: MMA fighter Jang Seok-gi. He didn't know.
Only editing chief, PD Lee Ji-hyun, and producer Crocodile did.
Production had to succeed—no praying randos deliver. They nudged matchups for their storyline.
'Shift early plans...'
Jang Seok-gi dominating early risked one-man show. No better material before, but now? New face hype shifting naturally to him—smart.
"Good call."
"I'll pitch it to the coach."
Ding!
PD Lee Ji-hyun's phone buzzed. Email from Lee Min-ho.
'Footage?'
She checked—gameplay attached. Brain sparked.
"Chief."
"Yeah?"
"Add this too."
Nerd dude. Gamer homebody with that build? Viewers' question marks incoming—she could see it.