The situation spiraling endlessly into the worst possible direction—maybe it was inevitable.
Within DEAR DOLL, there was no trainee with a more "delicious" storyline than me. My background, my easily sensationalized past—no one could deny how enticing that material was.
So it wasn't surprising that my past kept being revealed in quick succession.
"Lee Hyun is doing an interview today. Your name will come up. It's going to be reported."
It was also unsurprising that KRM wouldn't let this opportunity slip.
"…Sorry?"
"Yuha, take a look at this."
Chief Kwon slid a tablet in front of me. It displayed a compilation of how the public was currently reacting.
But I didn't even need to look. I understood the direction of public sentiment better than anyone.
Instead, I spoke quietly.
"…I'm pretty sure we agreed that if I joined DEAR DOLL, my past wouldn't be revealed."
"We kept that condition. We didn't say a single word about it. It wasn't us who exposed your past—it was the public."
"And mentioning that SeniorBaek I-Hyeon and I came from the same orphanage… that doesn't count as revealing my past?"
My words made Chief Kwon briefly frown, as if annoyed—but he soon sighed softly and tapped the tablet again.
"Yuha, come on. You're not stupid. Why are you acting like this? You know things have already gone too far to reverse."
"..."
"Reporters are already knocking down our door for your story. We have to put out an official statement. And we can't claim the truth is false. So wouldn't it be best—for you, for us, for Ihyun—to handle this well?"
I didn't argue with that. It was, undeniably, the logical stance. And it wasn't like I didn't understand it.
It's the fastest, and the path that benefits 'everyone.'
Baek Ihyun gains the moral motivation to transfer to KRM. I recover votes through sympathy and attention, then make a safe debut. KRM profits without lifting a finger.
As Chief Kwon said, the situation was irreversible. Everything was already out in the open. Even if I shook my head now and insisted it wasn't true, no one would believe me.
So what he was offering was the fastest and most flawless solution—the one method that had occurred to me since the moment this began.
But—
– Won Yuha is so pitiful. All because of his parents…
– If only his parents hadn't died… Poor kid. He thought life finally turned around after being adopted, and then his new family went bankrupt, and then they died… and ruined his debut. They're the worst.
The moment I acknowledged everything and became "that pitiful guy," my parents would become the ones who "made me pitiful."
That was also undeniable.
No matter what I truly thought of my parents, no matter what kind of people they really were—the public would not care.
To them, my parents would simply be the obvious culprits.
"…Ha."
I couldn't help a soft laugh escaping me. Chief Kwon looked at me with a puzzled expression.
Facing him, I remembered something he had said when he first suggested I appear on DEAR DOLL.
—Yuha, let's have you go on this. There's no one better than you.
Back then, I thought it meant he felt it was a waste for someone like me—once nearly in LON's debut lineup—to miss out, so he was offering me another chance.
But now, thinking back, that wasn't the simple reasoning behind it.
"…You knew, didn't you?"
So I asked.
"Knew what?"
"That things would turn out like this."
Most likely, from the moment KRM heard DEAR DOLL would be produced and Chief Kwon first discussed it with ANet staff, the only contestant he imagined was me.
I was the easiest to sell—the most provocative character he could present.
Chief Kwon didn't answer immediately. Silence lingered.
"Yuha, if you work long in this field, you start to see how this industry moves. And what grabs the public's attention."
Then he said something completely unexpected—catching me off guard.
I frowned, not understanding where he was going with this, but he continued slowly.
"You're someone the public naturally finds interesting. You know that. Everyone at our company has said that to you: you were born to be an entertainer. That you'd definitely debut."
"What does that have to do—"
"And do you know what it means to be born an entertainer, Yuha? It means people pay attention to you."
His words shut my mouth for a moment. Still, he continued without pausing.
"With your face, your skills, your past—there's so much for people to latch onto. How could that ever stay hidden? And once the public's eyes are on you, there's no such thing as privacy. Your flimsy little secret was never the type that could be concealed."
"..."
"So there's only one thing we can do, isn't there? Decide how to handle it."
How to polish it. How to turn it into a product. How to sell it in the most profitable way.
"We're the ones who think about those things. And I'm only trying to give you the best support I can."
"Even if it's something I don't want?"
"It might be uncomfortable at first. No one likes their personal life being exposed. But this will benefit you. And you already know that, Yuha."
"..."
"You're a KRM trainee. So of course you have to come out on top."
As though it were the most natural conclusion in the world, Chief Kwon tapped the tablet again—the one showing the public's reactions.
"Let's seize this opportunity. You didn't go on that show planning to lose to other trainees. You can take first place. I—and the public—will make that happen for you."
And the moment I heard those words, I finally understood that my opinion meant nothing to the company.
Everything was already moving without my consent. I was nothing more than a product—something with value, but with no power to act.
***
After the company released its official statement, a news outlet that had interviewedBaek I-Hyeon published an exclusive article later that evening.
"[Exclusive]Baek I-Hyeon and 'DEAR DOLL' contestant Won Yuha share unexpected bond… overcoming tragic childhood together, from brothers to senior and junior."
The exclusive instantly exploded in popularity. The nation's hottest star at the moment and the center of the latest trending scandal turned out to share an unexpected connection.
The article itself was brief. It stated thatBaek I-Hyeon and I had grown up in the same orphanage and had been so close we used to call each other older brother and younger brother.
I quietly scrolled down to find the follow-up piece containing more details from the interview.
"You recently appeared as a special MC on DEAR DOLL."
"Yes. I was interested, and I wanted to support the show. Actually… a younger brother of mine was competing there. (Pause) And honestly, I've been hurting a lot because of him lately. He's been going through so much because of malicious rumors."
"Is that younger brother the KRM trainee, Won Yuha?"
"That's right. After I saw him on the show, I contacted KRM first. He's just as kind and bright as when we were kids.
As you know… I'm from an orphanage. We survived that lonely childhood together. Honestly, I only managed to get through it because he was there. After I was adopted first, we lost touch, and I couldn't find any news about him. But fate is strange—meeting him again like this."
"How did you feel when you met again?"
"It was emotional. Back then, we really considered each other real brothers. We had no choice—we were all each other had.
As kids, we used to watch seniors singing and dancing on TV and talk about how someday we'd stand on that stage too, loved by many people. That we'd make our dreams come true.
So after I achieved my dream first, I kept hoping I'd see him again someday. And now… he didn't give up and came this far. He's working to achieve his dream, and I've been given a second chance to fulfill mine as well. Of course I was moved."
"Meeting as senior and junior after being brothers as children—did you give him any advice?"
"I told him to be desperate. To debut no matter what. And that we should become family again. After both of us achieve our dreams, let's support each other just like we used to. I truly believe it'll happen."
The impact of his glossy, emotional words was enormous.Baek I-Hyeon—who debuted in first place through a survival program and became a top-tier idol and actor—had publicly expressed deep affection for me, calling me family.
And the timing was exquisite. I was a sasaeng victim, yet still being blamed by the public.
On top of that, my recently revealed past had already drawn intense attention. And now, another unexpected twist had been added to the fire.
– Wow… every time something like this happens, I remember how small this world is. These two wouldn't have met otherwise, yet they reunited on stage chasing their childhood dream. They were meant to be idols.
– I'm going to die from this brother storyline… just debut Yuha already so they can be family again.
– Both of them overcame tragic childhoods and found new dreams through the survival show… Just like Ihyun debuted first, I hope Yuha debuts first too. After suffering so much, he deserves everything good.
– Am I the only one shocked by Ihyun's interview? I didn't care about DEAR DOLL before, but I've never seen him talk about someone with that much emotion…
└ Sameㅠㅠ Not in a bad way—he's always been super professional and kept work and personal life separate.
└ Exactly, I've never seen Ihyun talk personally about another artist in an interview. That's when I realized he really treasures Yuha.
└ It's the first time I've seen him speak with sentiment like that, so now I'm insanely curious about Yuha. Voting already closedㅠㅠ I hope he survives.
└ He seems to be struggling so much right now… I hope he endures and makes it to the end of the showㅠㅠ Let both of them get the love they longed for in the pastㅠㅠ
My existing fans,Baek I-Hyeon's fans, and even people who previously didn't care but were now drawn in by the compelling narrative—
My name andBaek I-Hyeon's became intertwined, and once again the online communities lit up.
And watching the entire process unfold, only one thought crossed my mind.
Should I quit?
What would happen to me if I withdrew from DEAR DOLL.
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