Chapter 30: A Masked Singer

Seo-woo quickly said goodbye to his triplets, promising to reach their kindergarten before 6 p.m., and turned back to Hye-sung, rubbing his temples. "What now, Hye-sung? What's the problem?" he asked, his voice tinged with frustration.

Hye-sung hesitated, his fingers nervously fiddling with each other. He seemed reluctant to speak at first, but then he locked eyes with Seo-woo, his expression grave.

"There's a situation inside the broadcast site," Hye-sung began. "The PD asked for someone to perform an intermission number, but, well... he's the type who loves surprises and twists during live broadcasts. He wants to keep the audience engaged, so now he's asking for someone to wear a mask, completely covering their face, like 'The Masked Singer' style. He wants a former K-pop idol who can sing and perform while the other groups are backstage changing outfits for their second round."

Seo-woo furrowed his brows, feeling a headache coming on. "So, what's the issue?"

"The problem is... the performer I found for this is missing," Hye-sung admitted, his voice laced with frustration. "I can't find him anywhere, and now the PD is getting anxious. I need someone to step in, and fast."

Seo-woo groaned inwardly. He wanted to reject, to simply walk away, but before he could speak, a window prompt suddenly appeared in front of him. The message was from the system:

[New Special Quest]:

Perform one of the original Ryu Seo-woo's original songs live on stage.

Deadline: 30 minutes

Reward: Additional Talent Skill (you may choose one skill)

Seo-woo stared at the message, realizing the pressure that was now on him. This was a no-brainer, but it didn't mean he was any less annoyed.

He sighed, plastering a forced smile on his face, and looked at Hye-sung. "Alright, fine. My talent fee is one million won, though," Seo-woo joked, trying to lighten the mood.

To his surprise, Hye-sung's eyes widened in seriousness. "Done," he said, nodding before Seo-woo could even react.

Taken aback, Seo-woo smirked. "Alright then, I'll be a millionaire by the end of this." He quickly messaged Auntie Song, asking her to notify him when the program was about to start. Auntie Song quickly replied, confirming she'd keep him updated.

Meanwhile, in Yu-jin's resting room, Moon Woo-seok eyed him with suspicion. He had seen Yu-jin earlier and noticed that he seemed fine, but now... the younger man appeared pale, his energy completely drained.

"You're sure you're alright?" Woo-seok asked, his tone laced with doubt. "You collapsed earlier. What happened?"

Yu-jin, still catching his breath, nodded and waved him off. "I'm fine now. Just... a little stressed. Nerves, you know? It's a lot of pressure to emcee in front of so many people." He gave a weak smile, but it didn't quite reach his eyes.

Woo-seok studied him carefully but said nothing. He turned his attention to the TV, where Chae-in, the other emcee, was introducing the next surprise guest. She smiled brightly as she announced, "And now, let's welcome a very special guest performer who will be joining us for today's broadcast!"

A figure entered the stage, his body concealed under a full head mask—gleaming like a disco ball. The mask was the size of a basketball, covered in countless mirrored squares that caught the stage lights, reflecting them in all directions. The performer wore an all-black outfit, the tight-fitting material of his ensemble contrasting sharply with the shining mask. His black leather jacket, decorated with silver studs, added an edge to his look, while his pants were sleek and modern, the fabric shimmering under the spotlight. His boots were tall and polished, designed for both style and performance. The masked figure exuded an air of mystery, and the crowd went wild as he stood at the center of the stage.

Woo-seok's heart skipped a beat when he saw the masked figure begin to move with the rhythm of the intro. His movements were smooth and confident, and soon, his raspy, hoarse voice filled the air as he effortlessly sang the opening lines of "I Want You Here," one of Seo-woo's original songs.

Yu-jin, watching intently, stiffened. His eyes widened as he recognized the song—the very same one that had mysteriously played at the bar earlier, bringing a flood of memories to the surface.

"This... this is Ryu Seo-woo's song," Yu-jin murmured under his breath, his stomach twisting. His unease grew, and for the first time in a long while, he felt a sense of dread. Why was this happening now?

The man on stage continued to sing, his presence captivating the audience, but for Yu-jin, it felt like an omen, something he couldn't yet understand but knew would soon unravel.

Woo-seok murmured under his breath, barely audible—"Bi-yong."

Yu-jin flinched slightly, turning to see Woo-seok lost in thought, his gaze fixed on the TV screen. The masked singer continued his performance, and as Seo-woo sang the chorus, a heavy silence hung over the broadcast.

I want you here, don't go away,

I need your love more every day.

Through every storm and every fight,

I'll hold you close, and make it right.

No fear, no doubt, just you and me,

Together we're finally free.

I want you here, right by my side,

No more hiding, no more lies.

I want you here, don't turn away,

Together we'll make our own way.

As the final note lingered, Seo-woo looked out at the audience, expecting cheers, applause—any reaction. Instead, there was nothing but silence. His stomach twisted. Did I mess up?

His eyes darted toward Chae-in, the emcee, and to his shock, she was crying. Why is she crying? Before he could process it, he noticed something even stranger—the audience, some wiping their tears, others covering their mouths in raw emotion. The PD stood frozen, and even Hye-sung was misty-eyed.

And then—

The audience erupted into cheers, screams of admiration, and even sobs of overwhelming emotion. The entire broadcast site turned into a wave of sound and emotion.

Seo-woo, stunned, hurriedly bowed in gratitude, his instincts kicking in, before quickly exiting backstage. As soon as he removed his mask, he was met by a teary-eyed Hye-sung, who wasted no time in wrapping him in a tight hug.

"Seo-woo, you're the best! You just saved the show!" Hye-sung praised, sniffling as he clung to him.

Seo-woo just chuckled and patted his back. "Alright, alright, enough tears. I need to go."

A window prompt suddenly appeared:

[New Special Quest Completed]:

Perform one of the original Ryu Seo-woo's original songs live on stage.

Reward: Additional Talent Skill (you may choose one skill)

He just smiled.

He made his way to Lighthouse's resting room, where Eun-jae and Yu-ki were waiting. As soon as he stepped inside, the duo launched themselves at him, eyes red from crying.

"You're the best mentor in the world!" Yu-ki exclaimed, while Eun-jae wiped his tears and nodded in agreement.

Seo-woo laughed. "Did the performance really move you guys that much?"

"Yes!" They both cried in unison.

Shaking his head in amusement, he checked his phone. 5:20 p.m. His heart dropped—he had to pick up his triplets before 6!

"I need to go," Seo-woo said quickly, already making his way out. Hye-sung followed him, helping him prepare to leave. But just as they reached the parking area, Hye-sung's assistant approached with an anxious expression.

"Sir, the service car's tire is flat," he reported. "It'll take some time to fix."

Seo-woo's patience was wearing thin. He had no time to wait. "Forget it. I'll take a taxi."

Hye-sung nodded in understanding. "Be careful."

Seo-woo rushed to the street, anxiously scanning for an available taxi. Come on, come on... But after thirteen minutes, still no luck. Frustration boiled inside him.

Then, out of the corner of his eye, he spotted two familiar figures walking toward their sleek black car—Choi Min-ho and Moon Woo-seok.

An insane idea popped into his head. He had no choice.

Without hesitation, he ran and jumped into Min-ho's car.

Min-ho, halfway through opening the driver's door, blinked in shock. "What the—Bi-yong?!"

"Min-ho, give me a ride. I'll owe you one," Seo-woo pleaded, urgency dripping from his voice.

Min-ho stared for a second before smirking. "Well, well. This is new."

Meanwhile, Woo-seok, who had been watching from a distance, felt something uncomfortable stir in his chest. His lips pressed into a tight line. Why did he ask Min-ho instead of me?

But then reality hit him—Bi-yong doesn't even know me. We've never spoken.

A cold determination settled in him. He wanted to know Bi-yong.

Turning to his assistant, Woo-seok said, "Go check on Yu-jin's vitals at the hospital. I'll go with Min-ho."

Yu-jin, who had been sitting silently in Woo-seok's car, widened his eyes. "W-Wait, what?!"

But before Yu-jin could protest, Woo-seok opened Min-ho's car door and got inside.

Silence.

Min-ho and Seo-woo stared at him, completely dumbfounded.

"Woo-seok..." Min-ho began, still processing. "Why the hell are you in my car?"

Woo-seok shot him a sharp look. "Drive."

Seo-woo shifted uncomfortably, realizing Woo-seok was now sitting beside him in the backseat.

Min-ho groaned. "This is going to be one hell of a ride..."

---o---

"Little Theatre"

Original Masked Singer: "Please help me. ToT. My stomach feels weird."