IMHTR 05

Chapter: 05

“Time’s up! Fold the newspaper one more time!”

At the staff member’s announcement, the trainees who had been clinging to each other scattered in a hurry as if they were one body suddenly breaking apart.

Yechan and Woo Hwigyeom, who had been tightly holding onto each other just moments ago, also separated instantly as if nothing had happened.

With unfocused eyes, Yechan looked down at Woo Hwigyeom’s crown as he squatted on his long legs and neatly folded the newspaper.

Why did this end up like this?

Two hours earlier.

When it was time for assembly, the production team handed out one door lock card per room.

In Yechan’s room, the card was received by the oldest member, Shim Sangrok.

“Let’s mostly move together, but just in case, should we exchange numbers?”

As Shim Sangrok pulled out his smartphone from his pocket, Bum Sehyuk also took out his.

Bum Sehyuk’s agency, Rubell Entertainment, was known for strictly managing their idols, but it seemed they didn’t confiscate phones from trainees who hadn’t even debuted yet.

Since Yechan and Woo Hwigyeom, who had no agency, also naturally had phones, exchanging numbers went smoothly.

After that, the four of them moved to the room, roughly chose beds, and changed into practice clothes from the wardrobe.

“We still have time—want to take a commemorative photo?”

Shim Sangrok, now wearing a red T-shirt with their grade, name, and agency written on it, shook his phone again.

“Sure,” Bum Sehyuk replied happily.

Yechan briefly considered whether it was okay to take a friendly photo like a time bomb, but refusing would look even stranger.

It’s not just the two of us—it’s a group photo with roommates. Unless I upload it myself, I’m safe.

And Yechan would absolutely never upload it himself.

While organizing his thoughts, Yechan naturally stepped into the selfie frame and made a V sign above his head.

Click.

“Looks good. I’ll send it to the group chat.”

The diligent Shim Sangrok immediately created a group chat and sent the photo.

As Nam Jiyu had said, these guys were entertaining just by their faces, so even a quick shot turned out well.

Yechan glanced at the group chat name—“Choose My Prince 99 First Roommates”—then turned off his screen.

Later, they moved to the auditorium next to the dormitory at the scheduled time.

Colorful trainees wearing different colored shirts by grade were gathered.

At the far end, Nam Jiyu in green waved both arms excitedly upon spotting Yechan.

Yechan casually waved back.

Jiyu seemed to have already made friends in his group, as trainees in the same color swarmed around him.

He’s friendly, but overly extroverted people can be annoying.

For a moment, Jiyu’s bright face overlapped with a former member who had once driven Yechan crazy with obsessive networking.

That damn party-loving bastard wasn’t always like that either.

Yechan lowered his hand and naturally stood next to Bum Sehyuk.

If he wanted screen time, sticking next to a PD pick trainee like Bum Sehyuk—the one the future proved would get attention—was best.

“Thank you all for coming here, trainees.”

Once everyone gathered, the main PD took the microphone.

“From today, the first group camp of Choose My Prince 99 begins. I hope this week becomes a meaningful time for you to discover your potential.”

To the trainees who didn’t know he would later become infamous for “evil editing,” the PD looked almost saintly. They watched him with shining eyes.

“First, let’s get to know the person next to you for the next three months. We’ll start filming with a light recreation activity!”

The trainees murmured in surprise.

Yechan, who had already seen the theme song and choreography from the future, remained uninterested.

So they filmed the recreation part here.

He vaguely remembered only short behind-the-scenes clips being released later, not the full segment.

Back then, he had just thought, Oh, they did this too, but fans had gone absolutely wild.

“It’s a game segment, so of course there are prizes! There are five games in total! The winning team gets a free canteen pass for the entire camp!”

A prize? A canteen pass?

Yechan, who only drank water after 6 PM unless it was work, couldn’t understand.

However, most trainees cheered loudly.

Since there were 99 trainees, the PD called for a volunteer MC.

Before he even finished speaking, a D-rank trainee in purple raised his hand.

“Me!”

“Good. Ki Taerang trainee, take the mic and cue cards.”

“Got it!”

He ran forward energetically and greeted everyone.

“Hello everyone, I’m your MC for today, Ki Taerang! Let’s hear some noise!”

That wasn’t in the cue cards.

“The first game is… Love Newspaper Game!”

The cheesy name drew boos from the trainees.

“Love isn’t just romance! It’s loving your family, your neighbors, your fans, and even the trainee next to you!”

Ki Taerang spoke like water flowing freely.

Yechan glanced at the production team—they looked very pleased.

So this is where they filmed this.

“The game is 2 people per team. Teams will be decided by grade. Line up now!”

Since S-grade had 9 people, Yechan assumed he wouldn’t be paired with Woo Hwigyeom.

“Match the same picture to form pairs!”

“….”

“….”

Well, even if he had worried, it wouldn’t have changed anything.

Yechan’s expression went blank as he stood next to Woo Hwigyeom, both holding papers with a bear drawing.

Hwigyeom is getting edited out anyway. Let’s just do this lightly and drop out.

“Aah, why am I with hyung!”

“It’s because you picked the same card.”

“No, hyung picked the same as me!”

Next to them, Rubell Entertainment’s Jeong Uidak was complaining to Bum Sehyuk.

But Bum Sehyuk didn’t seem bothered at all.

Because S-rank had an odd number, one trainee had to pair with another grade—and unfortunately, those two from the same agency ended up together.

“First round! Step on the newspaper!”

Yechan and Woo Hwigyeom stood on the paper.

It was wide enough, so no one fell yet.

“Everyone passes! Now fold the newspaper once!”

“Ah!”

They instinctively bent down—and their heads collided.

Yechan groaned.

This idiot rock-head.

“Are you okay?”

“We agreed to informal speech, right?” Yechan said.

“Yeah, I’m fine. You okay?”

“I’m a rock head.”

“Yeah, seems like it.”

He laughed without meaning to.

They kept shrinking the newspaper, balancing together.

Eventually, Yechan stood on Hwigyeom’s feet.

Is this really okay?

They looked way too close.

“Time’s up! Fold it again!”

Soon everyone else dropped out.

Only Yechan and Woo Hwigyeom remained.

Hwigyeom placed Yechan safely down and folded the paper neatly.

He was surprisingly competitive.

“Get on!”

At that moment—

<Linked Quest Activated!>
Carry Woo Hwigyeom on your shoulders and win 1st place in the Love Newspaper Game!

Yeah, I knew you were quiet today.

Yechan blocked Hwigyeom with his hand and knelt down.

“…Get on.”

“Huh?”

“Get on.”

After a brief hesitation, Hwigyeom climbed onto his shoulders.

“Final round!”

Yechan balanced on one leg, holding a 188cm man on his shoulders like a statue.

And he won.

Without question.

<Quest Complete!>
<+1 point awarded>
<Level Up!>
<+1 point awarded>

Yechan’s murderous thoughts quietly sharpened as he trembled like a newborn deer.

I’ll kill it someday. Somehow. Definitely.