The studio lights grew brighter.
A quiet tension lingered in the air after Merlin and Jisoo's brief exchange.
Neither of them said anything, but something about that moment felt strangely significant.
Before either of them could speak, the studio doors opened again.
Another contestant entered.
A tall man dressed in a white suit walked confidently into the room.
His dark hair was perfectly styled, and his expression carried a calm, almost cold elegance.
This was Leon Vega.
Known throughout the industry as the "Ice Prince," Leon rarely showed emotions, both on stage and off it.
His sharp gaze scanned the room once.
First Jisoo.
Then Merlin.
For a moment, his eyes paused.
Not long enough for anyone to notice.
But long enough for him to remember.
Merlin didn't realize it yet.
But someone had already taken interest in her.
Soon after, more contestants began arriving one by one.
The quiet room slowly filled with new energy.
A cheerful voice broke the silence.
"Wow… this place is huge."
A girl with long brown hair walked in excitedly, looking around the stage with sparkling curiosity.
Luna Park.
Unlike the others, Luna radiated bright energy. She waved happily at everyone as she entered.
"Hello! I guess we're all contestants, right?"
Merlin gave her a small smile.
"Yes… it looks like it."
Behind Luna, another girl entered more quietly.
Her soft expression and elegant posture immediately caught attention.
Tara Novak.
She nodded politely toward the others before sitting down.
Soon after, another striking presence appeared.
A woman with confident steps and sharp eyes walked onto the stage.
Kiara Rossi.
Even under the bright lights, her presence felt powerful.
She glanced around calmly before choosing her seat.
The room was slowly beginning to fill.
The door opened once more.
Two more men entered together.
One of them had a gentle expression and soft features.
Kaito Nakamura.
He greeted everyone politely.
The other man beside him had a more intense aura.
Yuri Volkov.
He quietly observed the room before taking a seat.
Then came another contestant with an easy smile and confident walk.
Minho Park.
"Looks like the competition is serious already," he joked, glancing around the room.
Luna laughed immediately.
"Competition? I thought this was about love!"
Minho raised an eyebrow.
"In this industry? Love is competition."
Finally, the last contestant entered.
The man wore a calm expression as he walked onto the stage.
Leon glanced toward him briefly.
Their eyes met for a moment.
But neither reacted.
The room was now complete.
Ten contestants.
Ten idols.
Ten hearts that had no idea what awaited them.
Suddenly, the giant screen behind them flickered to life.
The host appeared on the screen with a welcoming smile.
"Welcome to The Idol Love Experiment."
Everyone looked toward the screen.
"You have all been invited here for one reason."
The host paused.
"To find love."
Some contestants looked amused.
Others looked curious.
But the host's next words made the room grow quiet.
"For the next thirty days, you will live together in one mansion."
"No managers."
"No companies."
"No rules about relationships."
A faint murmur spread through the room.
"This experiment will test your hearts… and your honesty."
The screen behind them changed, revealing a breathtaking view of a luxurious mansion surrounded by gardens and lights.
"This will be your home."
Merlin stared at the image.
Thirty days.
Living with strangers.
Searching for love under millions of watching eyes.
She wasn't sure what would happen.
But something inside her told her this experience would change her life.
Across the room, Leon's gaze quietly drifted toward Merlin again.
And this time…
He didn't look away.
Meanwhile, Jisoo noticed.
And for the first time that evening…
A small shadow of tension appeared in his expression.
Because this experiment had only just begun.
And already…
The first sparks were forming.