In the face of her mom’s unenthusiastic reaction, Jeong-eun turned her gaze back to the screen. The face that appeared before her was one of the other contestants, who now seemed rather plain in comparison—a relative "squid" next to the previously shown contestants. These people weren’t exactly unattractive, but after just seeing someone so stunningly handsome, it simply wasn’t enough for her. Frustrated by the abrupt switch, Jeong-eun complained loudly.
“No, not this one. The one before! I’m telling you, the really good-looking guys were just on!”
Caught off guard by the sudden change in timing, Jeong-eun felt as if her taste in men was being called into question, prompting her to raise her voice in protest. Honestly, it would’ve been entertaining enough if they just did 24 hours of close-up shots of handsome faces. Why couldn’t they just show that group properly? Who cared about these other contestants’ interviews right now? Jeong-eun was an unapologetic believer in the power of good looks. This unyielding aesthetic sensibility likely came, without question, from her mom, who was now back on the sofa gazing at her book of poetry.
The screen transitioned to show other contestants who had previously appeared, sitting in the waiting area. It seemed like an interview being conducted after their first round of filming, as the setting had changed. Individual interviews of the contestants began airing one by one.
[Wait, YC is going to be in this?]
[I was so surprised. Honestly, if it’s YC…]
[They’re all so tall. As expected from YC. They say it’s a YC trademark.]
[I’ve seen them on YouTube before.]
The interviews continued, showing small groups of contestants chatting together in a dimly lit room. Among them was a participant who, with a rather lukewarm expression, brought up “YC Entertainment” and tilted his head skeptically. The gesture seemed far removed from the curiosity and admiration shown by the earlier contestants. It carried an air of hostility, as if to say, “Why are you even here?” Watching this, Jeong-eun frowned.
This was precisely why she disliked survival or audition programs. While malicious editing was a factor, even if someone genuinely showed such a reaction, there was no need to air it on television. Broadcasting such moments only hurt both the person showing the reaction and the target of it.
Yet, at the same time, showing these reactions stirred up something deep within the audience, provoking emotions. Whether those emotions were positive or negative, provoking any strong reaction for the sake of generating buzz was the hallmark of malicious editing. It didn’t matter who got hurt as long as it created a spectacle, grabbed public attention, and boosted ratings.
Misunderstandings born from such editing eventually became permanently attached to a person’s image—like the immediate impression you get when someone mentions their name. Jeong-eun used to watch TV without much thought, but as she experienced more hardships in life, seeing such things on screen began to exhaust her more and more.
Whether Jeong-eun frowned or not, the screen transitioned to a scene showing footage related to the YouTube channel mentioned in the interview. As if supporting the opinions of other participants, the screen displayed comments filled with positive reviews, describing the members—who hadn't even performed on any notable stage yet—as "popular" and "buzzworthy." At this point, Jeong-eun only felt a lighthearted curiosity, wanting to take a closer look at them again.
The screen shifted again to show a stage. After a brief interview and the footage, the image of Team 7 instantly turned into something akin to middle-class kids awkwardly standing out among a group of struggling, impoverished children. The camera, mounted on a jib, zoomed in on each member of Team 7 in order, starting from the first in line.
Although the first person to appear wasn't the one who had initially caught Jeong-eun's eye, this participant also boasted stunning looks. The first was a strikingly handsome young man with long hair brushing his shoulders, styled as if fresh out of the shower, and straight eyebrows. To be precise, he was somewhere between "handsome" and "beautiful."
Next to him was another young man, not Jeong-eun’s type, but with soft-looking brown hair and a lively, fox-like face, smiling at the camera. His expression gave off a playful and mischievous vibe, as if he’d casually tease someone with kindness. The way the corners of his smiling lips curled slightly added to this impression.
As the camera panned slowly, it finally landed on the person who had instantly captured Jeong-eun's attention. He had jet-black hair styled with a half-up look, revealing a masculine forehead with bold eyebrows underneath. His deep eye sockets and high nose bridge were the epitome of classic handsomeness. The kind of face that made the word "gorgeous" undeniable. Wearing a neatly arranged school uniform, he exuded a mature aura, but with a touch of youthful charm. Jeong-eun thought that if he had been wearing a suit instead of a school uniform, she might have gasped and covered her mouth.
"Handsome guy, another handsome guy, and then an even more handsome guy."
"True, they are all quite good-looking," her mother chimed in, having quietly put down her book at some point. Women her mother’s age tended to describe anyone with fair skin, youthful features, and a vibrant appearance as "pretty," regardless of the actual details of their looks.
"What are their names? Is it just 'Team 7' and nothing else?"
The screen offered no subtitles or name tags for individual members. All that was displayed in a corner of the screen were the words "Team 7, YC Entertainment." Come to think of it, the host had mentioned at the start that the individual members’ names would not be revealed until the live broadcast team selection was completed. But who would obediently wait for that?
This was South Korea, an IT powerhouse, and the 21st century. Everything could be resolved with a quick online search. Jeong-eun roughly tapped at her phone screen—at least she tried to. At that moment, the TV screen flipped, revealing another face, and Jeong-eun momentarily set her phone aside. She had always thought her taste leaned toward ruggedly masculine, chiseled, handsome men. But now, the screen showed someone who could crush that preference with sheer ethereal beauty.
"Wow, seriously. Is this Arendelle?"
Jeong-eun, true to her long-standing passion for animation, casually mentioned the name of a frozen kingdom from a popular animation. The image of an icy fairy queen naturally came to mind as a figure with stunning features appeared before her eyes. Hair of radiant silver, neither excessively long nor short, framed a face of porcelain skin that combined with the bleached locks to create a vision of pure white perfection. While overly pale skin can sometimes give an eerie effect, like a doughy bun or a ghostly egg spirit on camera, the participant filling the screen avoided such pitfalls entirely.
His face was so small that it stood out starkly compared to the other participants who occasionally appeared alongside him. That small face was packed with striking features, leaving no room for a bland or doughy impression. With his snow-white appearance, sharp gaze, and tightly closed lips exuding an icy coolness, he embodied the essence of a cold beauty.
“First a handsome guy, now a gorgeous boy….”
And he wasn’t just “a bit pretty.” His beauty was so dazzling it made the previously shown handsome participants fade from memory. Jeong-eun stared at the screen in a daze, murmuring “Team 7….” How could someone with that kind of face not have debuted yet?
Even in the ultra-high-definition close-up shots that revealed every pore, his radiant face filled the screen without a hint of flaw. The tightly pressed lips, which added to his frosty appearance, parted slightly, and his eyes crinkled in discomfort. In an instant, his icy visage transformed into one of delicate vulnerability.
Following him was a man with short hair dyed a reddish tint. His strikingly sharp features gave him a fierce look, and his athletic physique was noticeable even beneath his school uniform. Although his magnetic charm was undeniable, Jeong-eun’s mind remained fixated on the silver-haired guy.
It was what people often call being "smitten" or experiencing “love at first sight” as a fan.
Although the phrase might suggest a dramatic moment of impact, the truth is it always begins simply: Who is this? What’s their name? Should I look them up? Before long, you find your phone gallery filled with their photos.
Jeong-eun quietly raised her phone, opened her SNS app, and typed into the search bar: “My Idol Stars silver hair name.” But the search results were all the same.
***
Seafood soybean paste stew @So_Delicious
-- Who’s this silver-haired pretty boy? Someone please tell me their name.
(Photo taken hastily off the TV screen, blurry and out of focus.png)
*
Soy milk (á“€ ֊ á“‚ ) @maeilDoU
-- Who’s the silver-haired guy on Idol Stars just now????
*
Deadly schemes @sayag2034
-- Who’s the long-haired guy in Team 7… He’s insanely handsome… Who’s the black-haired guy with his hair styled up… He’s insanely handsome… And who’s the silver-haired cold beauty… That’s crazy…"
*
Eungyeom Chunggong @0knMwIRvnsJsUaL
-- yc, you liked this kind of vibe? I like it too.
(A photo of Sol sparkling under the stage lights appears on the monitor.)
*
Rh/Freeze @RH_IOU
-- Isn’t YC too big to be associated with a small company like that?
*
Jejjeubb @goddnsQJRJ
-- No, judging by the way they work, it’s definitely a small company.
*
Mani @many22
-- Those are the YC Entertainment trainees featured on YouTube, from TEAM ONE, or something like that.
***
Every social media post consistently asked the same desperate question about the identity of Team 7’s participants, but no answer was forthcoming. Left with no choice, Jeong-eun searched for the YouTube channel she had seen in the archive footage. As Jeong-eun flipped through her phone screen while the TV was still on, her mother picked up the remote and asked,
"If you’re not watching, I’ll change the channel."
"Nooo!! Leave it alone. Mom, I have to see this."
At her mother’s inquiry, Jeong-eun snatched the remote back and alternated between checking her phone and the TV. Every fan’s obsession begins with the moment they start looking things up out of curiosity. Now, in this very moment, Jeong-eun was utterly hooked on Sung Sol from Team 7 of YC Entertainment. It had been a while since she felt ready to burn her stamina and bank account for someone.
It didn’t take her long to find the videos of YC Entertainment’s TEAM ONE. After a few minutes, SNS platforms were also flooded with YouTube links and videos revealing the details of Team 7 members one by one. Among them was a post from D-Block’s leader, Tae Eun-gyeom.
[To my beloved junior, fighting! This is a friend I really cherish. Please give lots of support to My Idol Stars!]
The heartwarming caption was accompanied by a photo taken in the practice room with Sol standing beside him. It wasn’t a polished, styled version of him but rather a casual shot where he wore a hoodie and had simple black hair—and yet his beauty still stood out. Quietly, Jeong-eun created a fan account.
Meanwhile, the final group, Team 7, took to the stage on the TV screen.
