As I stood there hesitating, the MC came over and showered me with praise.
“That was incredible! It’s an old song—young singers these days usually struggle with it. But you pulled it off flawlessly, not a single mistake. I’d believe it if someone told me you were a seasoned solo artist.”
Seol Yurang’s main gig is being a ballad singer. He’s not the type to give empty compliments when it comes to music.
Still dazed, I bowed deeply.
“Th-thank you.”
“Your role in the group is sub-vocalist, right?”
“Ah, yes.”
Seol Yurang stared at me with a hint of curiosity in his eyes.
“With that level of skill, you should’ve stood out ages ago… hmm.”
He didn’t say it aloud, but I knew what he meant: Why has no one ever talked about your singing before?
Not sure how to respond, I just gave an awkward smile.
“W-well, I think I’ve improved a lot since debut thanks to hard practice.”
“Very humble of you.”
A warm smile crept across Seol Yurang’s face. It reminded me of how I used to look at hard-working rookie Guides back in my past life.
He held out his hand. It was for a handshake.
I carefully took Seol Yurang’s hand, and he smiled softly.
“That cover performance—you’re going to get a great response from the public. I’m really looking forward to what Secreti does next.”
“Thank you so much for the kind words.”
I bowed again and again like a well-grown ear of rice.
Just then, Ra Ho-yeon came up beside me.
“…Let’s go.”
“Oh, right.”
As I followed Ra Ho-yeon outside, I felt a tingling on the back of my neck.
Potato mumbled.
[Hey, those guys are staring daggers at you.]
Huh?
I turned around, only to catch Seo Yoon-chae, Shin Tae-boem, and Cha Si-yoon all quickly looking away like nothing had happened.
…What the hell?
If they have something to say, why not just say it to my face?
I turned back, only to see Ra Ho-yeon suddenly snap his head forward, eyes locked straight ahead.
……What is this?
Weird. Their necks were all slightly red too.
Don’t tell me… Do they need guiding because of that last Gate incident?
Curious, I asked them once we got in the car.
“Hey, what’s with you guys today?”
“…What?”
“You keep sneaking glances at me like you’re up to something, then act all innocent when I look.”
Ra Ho-yeon sipped his iced Americano and replied flatly.
“You’re imagining things.”
Potato objected.
[I saw it with my own two eyes! They were all looking at you like puppies needing to poop!]
Hmm. Potato was now excitedly typing memes.
“……”
Cha Si-yoon and Shin Tae-boem said nothing. They’d both put on headsets the moment they got in the car and were absorbed in something else.
Seo Yoon-chae, the only one who seemed genuinely flustered, raised his voice at me.
“W-what?! When did I do that? Do you have proof? Huh? Got any evidence?”
Well, technically, I did have a witness—Potato—but since Seo Yoon-chae couldn’t even perceive him, it was as good as having nothing.
“…Forget it.”
“What’s with that pitiful look?!”
Ignoring Seo Yoon-chae’s squawking, I turned to look out the window at the rainy scenery.
…Je-ha probably didn’t see that performance.
I let go of the foolish hope that he might have.
***
Hyun Je-ha was walking down the street in disguise.
He’d lost at rock-paper-scissors and ended up having to run out and buy household goods.
Better hurry and get back before anyone notices.
He walked into the store, swiftly grabbed everything on the list his teammates had given him, and returned to the car.
As he loaded the bags into the trunk of the unregistered vehicle and turned the engine on…
Ugh, bored. Anything worth watching?
He casually opened the OTT app on his tablet and heard a familiar song playing.
“…That’s the one I used to ask Ga-hyun to sing.”
He’d begged and pestered Ga-hyun, who always complained about it, to sing this one over and over again. Now it was playing… and a strangely familiar voice was singing it.
“Wait a second… Is that Yeon Yu-jin?”
Je-ha was the kind of person who stayed emotionally detached from most people. After losing his precious partner Ga-hyun, his world had been drained of all color.
He saw no reason to memorize names or faces unless they were trusted allies. He couldn’t afford to.
Je-ha and his comrades were classified as dead by the government.
The Espers and Guides who had been pushed to the front lines were publicly declared to have died honorable deaths in service to the nation.
Their names were wiped from the system—erased from the resident registry. But in truth, they’d learned of secret government experiments that extracted abilities from the corpses of ability users.
Once they discovered that truth, they’d deserted.
If that fact ever came to light, it would be a catastrophic blow to the government.
So for over 20 years, Je-ha and his comrades had been locked in a brutal game of cat and mouse.
They kept themselves hidden, avoided unnecessary contact with civilians, because even showing the slightest interest in someone could get that person targeted and dragged into a nightmare.
He’d lived by ignoring everyone else like they were just stones on the roadside.
And yet…
It’s him. It’s definitely Yeon Yu-jin.
How could he be so sure?
That cheeky, cocky young Guide—he knew that voice the moment he heard it.
He was about to close the app, but then he heard the song. The one he’d begged Ahn Ga-hyun to sing.
He couldn’t turn it off.
…One song won’t hurt.
It was an impulsive decision.
Rain drizzled softly outside the car as Je-ha, hardly even breathing, listened to Yu-jin sing.
A voice full of sorrow and emotion. A song that wasn’t easy, with tough high notes, delivered perfectly.
He sang not like someone covering a famous song, but like the song had been his from the very beginning.
Je-ha shut his eyes, letting the screen fade as he listened. And behind his closed eyelids, memories of the partner he had lost—Ahn Ga-hyun—flooded back.
The voice is completely different…
They’d only sung the same song by chance. But still, Yu-jin made him think of Ga-hyun over and over again.
“…Damn it.”
Je-ha grimaced just as the song came to an end.
The MC’s energetic closing line rang out, followed by the show’s theme music.
—A song you wanted to keep to yourself, a performance you couldn’t see anywhere else. A world-class K-pop showcase brought to you by KTBC, the pinnacle of premium music entertainment—K-101. See you again next time!
“Next time,” huh?
That throwaway closing line stuck in his throat like a thorn.
“…Well, he’s still suspicious. No harm in keeping an eye on him a little longer.”
This was just an extension of his mission. That’s all.
No one had said anything, but guilt churned inside Je-ha’s chest.
…Just a little longer.
He needed to figure out why Yeon Yu-jin kept overlapping with Ahn Ga-hyun in his mind.
Until he could answer that—he wouldn’t be able to stop circling Yu-jin.
This was how terrifying unresolved grief could be…to lose someone you loved and be left with only aching emptiness.
***
[Entertainment Board]
K-101 early release clip—who is that? That member with the white and black hair, looked like Snow White??
Anonymous | 132
WHAT IS THIS???? I’m totally losing it rn
His voice was so freaking good XD
It’s the exact tone I’ve been searching for in a male idol. Tone check. Vibes check. Looks check.
He sang some old-ass song, but I got all emotional anyway ㅠㅠ
I was sneaking peeks while my sibling was watching, so I don’t even know who he is;;;
Someone PLEASE tell me who this is…… plz
[Replies]
Isn’t that Secreti?
⤷ Who’s that?
⤷ Skeleton?
⤷ Script?
⤷ Screen-tone?
⤷ LMAO I asked for help, not a game of hangman
⤷ Dead lmao
⤷ And no one got the right answer lol
That’s Secreti. I know ‘cause my friend’s a huge fan of Seol Yurang.
⤷ Secreti?
⤷ I swear “Skeleton” sounds more familiar lol
⤷ Go touch grass LOL your mom’s gonna smack you if you don’t
⤷ So it is Secreti?
⤷ Yeah confirmed. Checked K-101’s official site—this week’s guest is Secreti.
Did the whole group perform?
⤷ Yep, poster said all members performed. The one they’re looking for is probably Yeon Yu-jin.
⤷ But isn’t Seo Yoon-chae the main vocal? Maybe it was him?
⤷ Looked up Seo Yoon-chae fancams—the voice doesn’t match. Plus this guy had a total Sleeping Beauty aesthetic.
⤷ So it is Yeon Yu-jin?
⤷ Wasn’t he basically a background prop though…? The Espers blew up after that Gate incident, and he kept disappearing. Thought maybe he was still recovering… or had issues with the group.
⤷ Okay, now I need to go find this “Snow White” guy with my own two eyes.
⤷ Someone call HR, we’ve got another wolf at the door 💀
***
[Entertainment Board]
Found him. The idol who sang To You on an Autumn Night.
Anonymous | 564
Yeon Yu-jin from Secreti!!!
I’m posting anonymously but—YOU’RE DRIVING ME INSANE RIGHT NOW!!!
Please, I beg you, just do one more live performance!
And Secreti, HURRY UP AND COMEBACK!!! Ride the wave while it’s here!!!
[Replies]
WTF I’M DEAD LOLOL
⤷ 22
⤷ 333
⤷ 4444
⤷ Why did this anon turn into a total fangirl lmao 😂
You got converted, huh, sensei?
⤷ Probably tuned into the full episode after seeing the teaser vid
⤷ And immediately fell for Snow White, as the legends foretold
⤷ Yeah I knew it was Yeon Yu-jin too
⤷ Bet that person already joined the fan club lol
Wait, that was Yeon Yu-jin singing live?? He’s actually that good???
⤷ Just listen to it. You’ll get it.
⤷ Yup. 100% agree.
⤷ I stanned Secreti at debut, then dropped them… But now I’m BACK after that YYJ live.
⤷ Legit felt like he came back from the dead. Totally different class now. At first I thought they kicked him and added someone new.
⤷ Like some webnovel where a ghost with real talent takes over the loser’s body—that’d be wild lol
⤷ Okay chill with the delusions. We see you, otaku.
⤷ Did he make a deal with the devil or something?? His skills leveled up insanely. He used to be a total deadweight. Something’s up.
Everyone’s talking about YYJ, but the whole group seems more solid now… With that one weak link finally pulling his weight, it feels like they’re enjoying performing again.
Also, the song is just… really beautiful.
Had me crying before I even realized.
⤷ No joke, he sang it like it was his own.
⤷ I get why OP is losing it. This is all that comes up when you search.
⤷ HB Entertainment, give us more crumbs please… Or better yet, GIVE US THE COMEBACK
⤷ Also, Yeon Yu-jin, if that was really you singing live—please do it again. No, a hundred times again. If you don’t, I’ll camp out in front of HB’s building and shit on the doorstep.
⤷ Show us proof pls
He heard it!! I wish I could also hear it ❤️
Thank you!