Little Pink Starfish

Han Siwon’s reply arrived immediately.

[I’d like to ask for your help in getting a casting.]

In truth, Kang Seokwoo already knew what Han Siwon was going to say.

Because he had read the beginning of the file attached to the email that came along with the text.

No—more precisely, he only read the beginning.

As he read it, he realized the content was too sensitive and thought it might be better not to know more.

Sometimes curiosity can be poisonous in the entertainment industry.

But even just reading the start was enough. Han Siwon wanted On Saemiro to be cast in MBN’s <The Masked Singer>.

So Han Siwon would make an appropriate offer to the MBN producer.

Whether it was realistic or not, if it worked, it would be quite plausible.

This much was fully predictable.

Han Siwon had figured out Kang Seokwoo, but Kang Seokwoo had also figured out Han Siwon.

Han Siwon was very precise in give-and-take.

The unpredictable part was what came next.

So then, what benefit would Han Siwon offer him?

There was a time when Kang Seokwoo was called the ratings maker of MBN, but now he was a PD under M-Show.

Even if an MBN program did well, all he would get is lip service thanks.

Besides, <The Masked Singer> was already doing fine.

Although ratings had slightly dropped recently, it was by no means in crisis.

So there was no savior role for him to play.

No matter how he thought about it, there was nothing Han Siwon could offer him.

Money?

Impossible.

He wasn’t an amateur who would take that from an entertainer.

Then program appearance?

That was weird too.

If Sedalbaekil became true stars, maybe. But for now, Sedalbaekil needed the appearance more.

They were not in a position to negotiate.

Kang Seokwoo had always wanted to beat Han Siwon in a battle of wits at least once, but he couldn’t figure it out.

So he asked.

[So what do I get?]

[Would a new debt not be enough?]

[Not even close.]

Inside M-Show, Han Siwon’s image hadn’t been great lately.

Though it was brushed under the rug, the Coming Up Next manipulation scandal had left a bad taste.

Of course, main PD Kang Seokwoo had easily escaped responsibility.

Just as Han Siwon had predicted.

“When the rigging data was released, you gained evidence of innocence, PD-nim.”

“What could the director do when judges decided as they pleased?”

“I was someone who gave more spotlight to Sedalbaekil because I thought they were better. Right?”

Because the main characters of episodes 8 and 9 of Coming Up Next were undeniably Sedalbaekil.

Kang Seokwoo even suspected that Han Siwon might have orchestrated the controversy.

Realistically, that didn’t make sense.

How could Han Siwon obtain internal data from Lion Entertainment?

But the circumstances were suspicious.

However, regardless of this surprise, M-Show was not going to cast Sedalbaekil anytime soon.

The emotional debt would take too long to kick in.

But Han Siwon was persistent.

[Isn’t it up to you how to use that emotional debt, PD-nim?]

[Hmm. Not very appealing.]

Even after Han Siwon repeated similar lines, Kang Seokwoo was slightly disappointed.

But he quickly realized this was natural.

Han Siwon wouldn’t always have clever solutions.

In the entertainment world, leaning on personal connections isn’t a bad solution.

It’s actually the standard approach.

Then a text arrived.

[PD Kang. Did you not read the email?]

[I only read the beginning. Seemed like sensitive stuff.]

[Could you read it to the end?]

Tilting his head, Kang Seokwoo read the email.

And realized what he had missed.

The file Han Siwon attached wasn’t just to persuade The Masked Singer’s PD.

It was meant to persuade both him and the PD.

“I had something like that too. I knew it was wrong, but I still chose it.”

“What?”

“Moving to M-Show.”

Remembering his own words from back then.

Han Siwon was telling him to return to MBN in glory through Sedalbaekil.

More precisely, to work as a freelance PD.

Using his personal ability to work for both M-Show and MBN.

Or even other networks.

‘Crazy.’

It was too grandiose.

But…

If Han Siwon’s plan succeeded, it wasn’t impossible.

‘How did he think of this?’

Of course, this would require one condition.

Sedalbaekil’s soon-to-be-released EP had to be good.

Very good.

In the end, Kang Seokwoo nodded.

[That debt, make it a big one. Big enough to bite several times.]

[Of course.]

This was their conversation from yesterday.

And today, Kang Seokwoo received a call from his junior, The Masked Singer’s PD.

-Senior, do you believe this?

“Yeah, I believe it.”

-I mean, I know they’re good. We even considered casting them several times. But isn’t this too far-fetched?

Kang Seokwoo thought for a moment and decided to explain everything he and Han Siwon had discussed.

Han Siwon probably expected him to go this far when he made the request.

If not, he would’ve found the PD’s email and sent the file directly.

“Listen carefully to what I’m about to say.”

After Kang Seokwoo finished explaining, there was a long silence on the other end.

-You expect me to believe that?

“If you don’t want to believe it, experience it.”

-That’s basically the same thing!

But Kang Seokwoo knew his junior PD would accept the offer.

People think directors like puppets who move as ordered.

But that’s a misconception.

What directors truly love is talent that delivers scenes beyond expectations.

Directors are drawn to that vividness and life.

‘That’s why I liked Han Siwon.’

While unexpectedly reflecting on himself, he heard a deep sigh from the other end.

-Okay. But get me one more promise.

“What is it?”

-Tell Han Siwon to appear himself once at our chosen timing. I barely know On Saemiro!

“Alright.”

-And if On Saemiro doesn’t win, tell them we’ll sue for damages!

“Damages, come on.”

-I’m serious!

Laughing at the ridiculous demand, he still agreed.

After hanging up, Kang Seokwoo realized his heart was pounding.

The reason was obvious.

He was a director.

It wouldn’t be shown on TV, but what was about to unfold would still be a production.

No—it was bigger than any TV show.

Because it was happening in real life.

‘Feels like I’m the producer of The Truman Show.’

Thinking that, PD Kang Seokwoo sent Han Siwon a message.

[Casting confirmed.]

---

Except for Han Siwon, who still had business in America, the Sedalbaekil members returned to Korea.

The LA trip had been enjoyable.

They rested at the hotel the first day to adjust their condition, but after the Color Show shoot, they spent two days sightseeing.

What was surprising was how detailed Han Siwon’s knowledge of LA was.

He claimed he had come with his parents occasionally for vacations, but it didn’t feel like a tourist’s vibe.

It was believable that he had lived there for years.

Strange.

Han Siwon didn’t seem like someone who would extensively research or read travel reviews.

Anyway, what mattered was that their LA trip was successful and enjoyable.

In this situation, it would’ve been natural for the Sedalbaekil members to chat and share their travel stories.

But they remained silent.

Not because they were tired, but because they were preoccupied with the missions Han Siwon had given them.

The first to speak was On Saemiro.

“Do you think I can do well?”

The Masked Singer had great variance in contestant quality each episode.

Sometimes, a contender who could’ve won it all might get eliminated in round one depending on the week.

So worrying in advance was meaningless—but still hard not to worry.

“I think…”

Gu Taehwan was the first to speak.

He usually spoke little because his intuition was so quick.

But he realized a common misconception the Sedalbaekil members shared.

He himself had held that misconception until recently.

While preparing for the Color Show, he finally shook it off.

Now was the time to share it.

“I think we’ll do very well.”

“Huh?”

“What do you mean, Taehwan?”

At Lee Ion’s question, Gu Taehwan nodded.

Seeing Lee Ion’s face gave him the perfect analogy.

“How does Blue sunbae look?”

“Suddenly?”

“Yes.”

“He’s handsome. I think he looks even better now than when he was an active idol.”

“But Ion hyung, you made that viral ‘Blue squid meme’ during Coming Up Next, didn’t you?”

Everyone knew the story.

During Coming Up Next, there was a scene where Lee Ion and Blue were caught together.

It was during rehearsal when Lee Ion pointed out a safety hazard to Blue.

That moment was captured on camera, and the visual gap between them was so huge that it became a meme: ‘Blue squid shot.’

From Blue’s perspective, it was a bit unfair.

He had been scratching his philtrum with a serious expression.

So in that frame, with Lee Ion looking as handsome as ever, Blue looked far worse than usual.

At Gu Taehwan’s words, Lee Ion shrugged.

“Blue sunbae made a weird face that time.”

“But still, it was because he stood next to you.”

“True.”

“That’s us. We look like squids only because we stand next to Siwon.”

This was the misconception Gu Taehwan had realized.

One day, he got a call from his mother and stepped out of the practice room.

After finishing the call and returning, he overheard the members singing from outside.

It was absurdly beautiful.

Even though Han Siwon wasn’t even in the vocal line, only doing harmonies.

Standing there blankly, listening to Sedalbaekil’s singing, he finally realized the truth.

Because of Han Siwon, their standards for comparison had been broken, leaving them frustrated without understanding how good they were.

“We’re very good. So Saemiro will win on The Masked Singer.”

Then Gu Taehwan looked at Choi Jaesung.

“And Jaesung will win too, skill-wise. Though like Siwon said, there’s a high chance you’ll only make it into the Top 10.”

“Really?”

“I think so.”

At Gu Taehwan’s words, Choi Jaesung looked at his phone screen.

Displayed there were the details for a national audition’s contestant recruitment.

Indeed.

The program Han Siwon told Choi Jaesung to audition for was…

<Stage Number 0>.

The national audition show where Han Siwon himself had appeared in its second season and finished runner-up.