Someone let out a short, startled squeal.
The others joked that it sounded like a pterodactyl flying by, laughing it off, and Gyeol was able to blend in with them and move past the moment.
The topic of conversation quickly shifted to life on Pheromone Island.
“How should we handle meals?”
“Since there are a lot of us, it’s probably best to cook together at first. Once we get used to things, we can rotate shifts.”
“Wow, this already sounds fun. Let’s get along well.”
Everyone chimed in, deciding on cooking duties and building rapport.
“Is anyone good at cooking?”
“I’m confident when it comes to eating.”
“Tommy, you’re a mukbang YouTuber, right? Don’t you eat like five servings by yourself?”
“Huh—how did you know?”
“I’ve been subscribed to your channel for a while. I’m one of your ‘Roasted Potatoes.’”
“Wait, your fandom name is Roasted Potatoes? That’s adorable.”
The conversation flowed warmly, filled with jokes and laughter. With so many entertainers in the cast, the atmosphere was noticeably lively.
Among them, Jun Shin stood out as a natural mood-maker. Whenever the conversation threatened to stall, he smoothly introduced a new topic, keeping things going effortlessly. Even the staff seemed pleased.
Watching him, Gyeol clenched his teeth.
He maintained a smile, but his heart churned uneasily.
I’ve missed you.
‘What are you trying to pull, Jun Shin?’
You don’t get to say that to me.
Anyone else, maybe—but not him.
Suppressing the restless pounding in his chest, Gyeol forced down the memories rising to the surface. This was the moment to stay composed. To keep his poker face.
For his goal.
***
After introductions, the cast moved to their accommodations.
They were bungalow-style rooms shared by two people. Gyeol carefully considered which Omega would make the most advantageous roommate.
From a publicity standpoint, Hee Jun Kang—the idol—was the obvious choice. Being paired with him would guarantee frequent screen time. But there was also the risk of being overshadowed.
In that case—
“Gyeol, let’s share a room.”
The actor Isu Yoon suddenly spoke up.
He was the one who had earlier asked if Gyeol and Jun Shin knew each other.
“I was actually a fan of SAVE ME before. I’d really like to room with you, if that’s okay.”
“Oh—yes, of course.”
Unexpected, but Gyeol nodded easily.
“I even went to your fan meetings. And your signing events.”
“Really?”
Saying he was a fan wasn’t unusual—anyone could say that.
But attending fan meetings was different. SAVE ME had been such a failed group that they couldn’t even fill minimum attendance.
And like most failed groups, the same few fans showed up every time.
Gyeol remembered every single one of their faces.
But he didn’t remember this one.
“We’ll probably show it on screen. Like this.”
Smiling, Isu Yoon traced a rectangle in the air with his finger, as if imagining the signed album appearing in edited footage.
“You really were a fan.”
“I was. I was so disappointed when you disbanded. So meeting you here feels like a dream.”
With a face like his, it should have been impossible to forget...
After thinking for a moment, Gyeol let it go. If he simply didn’t remember, it would only be rude to point it out.
Instead, he smiled and casually shifted the topic.
“I’ve seen one of your dramas.”
“Wow, really?”
“Yes—the recent Mflix thriller. What was it called... Death of Solitude?”
“That’s right! Wow, that’s embarrassing. A favorite artist of mine watched my work...”
Isu Yoon’s face flushed slightly as he fanned himself with his hand.
A favorite artist.
It sounded unfamiliar—but not unpleasant.
“Gyeol, you go in first.”
“Ah, thank you.”
This person... might actually make a good roommate for the next two weeks.
With that pleasant thought, Gyeol stepped inside.
After letting him enter, Isu Yoon hesitated.
Then he glanced into the distance.
Far away, Jun Shin was walking alongside the other Alphas, talking as they headed toward their accommodations.
Isu Yoon watched him briefly—until Jun Shin entered the farthest bungalow with Sun Choi.
“Isu, aren’t you coming in?”
Gyeol’s voice called from inside.
“I’m coming.”
After noting Jun Shin’s room like placing a dot on a map, Isu Yoon answered softly and stepped inside.
***
“All participants, please change into your swimsuits and gather at the beach.”
The cast lined up—four Omegas and four Alphas.
The Omegas mostly wore loose swim shorts with rash guards or light jackets, while the Alphas stood bare-chested.
“I don’t know where to look.”
Isu Yoon whispered to Gyeol.
He wasn’t wrong.
Under the blazing sun, the Alphas’ well-built bodies gleamed impressively.
But Gyeol wasn’t interested in muscles or bare skin.
Based on previous seasons, gathering them in swimsuits meant one thing—
A physical game.
R-Connect favored winners. The system gave advantages to those who came out on top.
Which made Gyeol’s goal simple.
First place.
From the very first round, he needed to take control of the flow.
“Welcome, Alphas and Omegas, to Pheromone Island.”
“We will now begin the first program of Day 1.”
Gyeol swallowed, clenching his fist to steady the tension building inside him.
“But before that—”
“Oh...”
A collective sigh escaped the cast.
Gyeol felt the same.
“We would like to introduce the most important figure of R-Connect Season 10.”
“The most important figure?”
“That’s new, right?”
Murmurs spread. This hadn’t existed in previous seasons.
Before the confusion could grow—
“Actor Yo Han Sung.”
Someone gasped.
“Seriously?”
“This isn’t a prank, right?”
Excited voices filled the air as he appeared.
He looked even more striking than on screen.
Every detail of his features was flawless.
Yo Han Sung—a dominant Alpha, known for his towering height of 190 cm.
But in person, his proportions made him seem even taller. Broad shoulders, long limbs—almost unreal.
“Hello. I’m actor Yo Han Sung.”
He smiled.
Perfectly sculpted features. A sharp, defined T-zone. Deep-set eyes that looked almost translucent under sunlight.
“I’ll be participating as a co-producer and panelist for R-Connect Season 10.”
As the cast erupted in excitement—
Only Gyeol froze.
Hearing that low, resonant voice, his hands trembled faintly.
For a fleeting moment, their eyes seemed to meet.
And with it—
Fragments of the past surged back.
An idol, you said? No... a failed idol, was it?
I can see why you failed.
Why—
Why is he here?
“Please take care of me.”
Yo Han Sung was a name known by everyone.
From his debut, he had been cast as a lead, drawing over ten million viewers and becoming a legend in the film industry. His first film earned him an invitation to a French film festival, where he won Best New Actor—catapulting him to global fame.
His visuals were exceptional, but what truly captivated people was his almost supernatural acting ability.
His achievements spoke for themselves:
Five films surpassing ten million viewers.
The most invited Asian actor at French and American film festivals.
Endless offers from Hollywood.
All accomplished in just seven years.
Recently, he had even been cast as the lead in a Hollywood blockbuster, with reports of skyrocketing fees.
And now—
He was here.
As a co-producer of a dating show.
“Does that mean we’ll be seeing you often?”
“Of course. I’ll be with you throughout filming.”
“Please give me your autograph later!”
“I’ll see you during breaks.”
He answered each person politely, perfectly composed—just like the stories about him.
“So even I’m seeing him for the first time... he really does seem as kind as people say.”
“...Yeah.”
Gyeol agreed outwardly.
But inside—
He wanted to run.
His mouth went dry.
He forced ✧ NоvеIight ✧ (Original source) himself to maintain his expression, aware of the cameras.
This wasn’t a film set.
Yo Han Sung wouldn’t be evaluating his acting here.
As Gyeol clapped, forcing himself to look straight at him—
Their eyes met.
A shock like the ground flipping over surged through him.
“The game will now begin.”
“The first round is the Alpha team match.”