15
Chapter 15: A Great Challenge
Even after finishing the call with the writer from Quiz 5000, Director Lee Seung-Hoon of Happy Orphanage couldn’t make
up his mind.
“Do you really want to go that badly?”
“Yes.”
“Why?”
“Because I want to.”
“No, I mean why?”
He wanted to stop Min-Oh, honestly.
“I think I can win.”
“…Hmm. The writer said you wanted to show the other kids that even orphans can succeed.”
It was just that the reason was so admirable that he couldn’t easily refuse.
“I should be honest, right? Before the other kids, I come first. I want to prove that I’m this capable, this impressive.
I want to show it off. But if I say it like that, they might not pick me. The portrait on the box, the sculpture
inside—it was basically a bribe.”
Min-Oh suddenly spoke with complete honesty.
“You’re honest. But can you really win? Even amazing adults have failed.”
“It’s fine if I lose. Like you said, even great adults fail. Someone like me has even lower chances. But how many people
go on quiz shows expecting to lose?”
“…Most go for the prize money.”
“Right. But most people try until question fifteen. Maybe it’s greed, or maybe it’s the atmosphere of being on TV. But
no matter the reason, I think the act of challenging itself is amazing.”
Challenge.
Something his first life never allowed.
“I can’t say others can do what I do. They won’t believe it anyway. They’ll just say it’s because I’m Min-Oh. That
belief—that I’m special—is actually the biggest obstacle.”
‘What is he trying to say?’
The director straightened unconsciously.
“I’ve only gotten first place so far. But will I always?”
“That must be a burden.”
“Not a burden. An expectation. Like Songyi—she won first place before, but now she won’t even participate because she
might lose.”
“…I see.”
“It feels like only people with something can afford to challenge—or to give up.”
Min-Oh spoke quietly.
“Some people can keep trying until they succeed. But someone like me… if I fail once, it’s over.”
That was the fear he carried in his first life.
One failure could take everything.
“I saw people give up at question five, or eight. It’s actually wise. In a show with no winners, chasing the grand prize
is reckless. Taking a smaller prize is safer.”
That was how he had lived.
Safe. Controlled. Careful.
“But most people keep going.”
He looked up.
“Because it’s money they didn’t have anyway. So they take the chance.”
In his first life, he never took chances.
He only chased stability.
“My dream wasn’t to be elite. It was to live an ordinary life. But because I didn’t start ordinary, I had to become
elite. And even then, I couldn’t be happy.”
He paused.
“At least while I’m here… I want to try. Even if it looks reckless. Even if I lose more than I gain. I just want to try
once.”
“…Alright.”
The director sighed softly.
“If you want to go that badly, go.”
“…Thank you.”
“And win.”
That was all he could say.
But the truth was—
Min-Oh could have gone on a quiz show even in his first life.
He had perfect grades, top rankings, endless offers.
But he never did.
Because he was afraid.
Afraid of losing.
Afraid of being seen as less than perfect.
‘Even if I fail… this time, I’ll try.’
This second life gave him something different.
Courage.
‘I’d rather live one day without regret.’
That was his answer.
“I’ll try everything while I can.”
The director looked at him quietly.
‘What an incredible child.’
‘Why would anyone abandon someone like him?’
His thoughts turned to anger.
‘They didn’t deserve him.’
Min-Oh was no longer a pitiful child.
He was something greater.
“Tell me if you need anything. I’ll support you.”
Meanwhile—
“What’s that?”
At home, Quiz 5000 MC Joo Youngmin’s wife noticed the sculpture and portrait he brought.
“My fan sent it!”
“A fan?”
“Yes! From the show!”
She examined the artwork closely.
“…This is really good.”
Especially the portrait.
“This isn’t just good—it’s incredible.”
“It was drawn by an eight-year-old.”
“…What?”
She frowned.
“Don’t joke.”
“It’s true.”
“No. Even Pablo Picasso didn’t draw like this at eight.”
She pulled out an art book.
“This is Picasso at eight. And at fifteen. He was already amazing.”
“…But this is better?”
“…Yes.”
She shook her head.
“This level of detail… it’s beyond normal. Even if hyperrealism is technical, this is still extraordinary.”
“So I have a fan better than Picasso?”
“Don’t be ridiculous.”
But she couldn’t hide her amazement.
“This artist… feels familiar somehow.”
“Familiar?”
“I’ve seen this style before…”
“Then we’ll find out.”
“When?”
“He’s coming on the show.”
“…What?”
“Even if he fails, someone this talented deserves to be seen.”
Joo Youngmin smiled.
“Let’s see what kind of person he is.”
And just like that—
The stage was set for Min-Oh’s greatest challenge yet.