AFTER the dance performance ended, the live audience members who were active on social media quickly started sharing their thoughts online. Song Jia was one of them. Her post received more likes and comments than most other posts.

@jiasong: Everyone did so well today, but my one pick Haneul was a whole different level. I can’t wait for everyone to watch the broadcast and see a side of him we’ve never seen before. And Lee Haru? That kid is seriously talented. He owned that stage.

- You were there? Aww... I’m so jealous! Do you have photos? Can we see them?

└ @jiasong: Sorry, I can’t post anything. (╥﹏╥)

- Weren’t you also a live audience during the vocal performance? How come you’re a live audience for this dance performance as well?

└ What? Is that true? Are you doing some kind of ritual to be chosen?

└└ @jiasong: No ritual. Just really lucky.

- Another side of Haneul? Waa... I can’t wait to watch it!

- Is this another side, the sexy side?

└ I bet. Have you seen Haneul during the last episode? Damn, his moves were really seductive.

└└ This! I couldn’t imagine how good it would be once he danced with full on makeup and costume.

└└└ @jiasong: I tell you, you won’t be disappointed.

- How was Taeyang? He’s my pick and I’m so nervous! I hope he did well.

└ I heard he did really well. You shouldn’t worry since Taeyang never disappoints.

└└ I can’t wait to watch his performance!

└└└ @jiasong: Don’t worry, he stood out. In a very good way. You’ll be proud.

- What about the other groups? Were they all good?

└ @jiangsong: Some were better than others, but overall it was a solid show.

└└ Which team was the best?

└└└ From what people are saying, Taeyang’s team and Haneul’s team were both amazing.

└└└└ @jiasong: I won’t say anything, but... you might be onto something.

- Lee Haru had been my fave for a while now. How did he do?

└ @jiasong: He was fantastic. Seriously. He’s going to be a big deal.

- I hope the broadcast doesn’t edit out too much. I want to see everything!

└ @jiasong: Same here. There were so many good moments.

Other posts from the live audience were mostly positive. People talked about how impressed they were with the performances, especially a few that really stood out. Many said their expectations had been exceeded and that viewers at home were in for a treat. A few mentioned specific contestants who surprised them, while others just shared how much fun they had watching the show live. Overall, the tone was excited and anticipatory of the broadcast.

The number of likes, shares, and comments on these posts made it clear just how big the show had become. Even though no new episode had aired, people were still talking about it nonstop across different platforms, all because of a few posts from audience members who attended the live performance. The engagement was high, and the conversations kept growing. It wasn’t just a small group of dedicated fans anymore. The show had reached a much wider audience, and the excitement around it showed no signs of slowing down.

***

Back on The Argo, after the live audience voting results were announced, some contestants stayed behind in the performance hall to talk or cool down after the show, but most headed back to their cabins to change out of their costumes. Haneul was among them. He went a step further and took a quick shower. The heat had been intense, and the makeup on his face was starting to feel uncomfortable.

After changing into a loose white shirt and sweat shorts, he stepped out of his cabin just as Robin was walking past. They both jumped a little at the sudden timing, then laughed it off.

Robin slung an arm around Haneul’s shoulders as they fell into step together. "Where are you headed?" he asked.

"I don’t actually have a destination," Haneul admitted with a small laugh. "I was just going to walk around the ship for a bit."

"Then let’s just walk around together," Robin said.

As they walked, Robin nudged Haneul with his elbow.

"You were way too sexy out there when your team was dancing, you know that?" he said, grinning. "I mean, the way you moved was insane. It’s like you’re seducing everyone."

Haneul’s face turned a little red, but he laughed it off. "I was just doing what we practiced," he mumbled.

Robin shook his head, still smiling. "I’m sure Taeyang feel the same way."

Thinking about what Taeyang might have thought of his performance made Haneul’s face heat up even more. He couldn’t help but wonder if, just like Robin said, Taeyang had felt a little seduced. He quickly shook the thought away. What the hell, Haneul? Why were you even thinking something like that?

"No comment," was all he said.

"By the way," Robin said, shifting the conversation and speaking in a hushed tone, "Did that Jeon Hyunsik guy do anything else since we talked yesterday?"

Haneul hesitated, unsure if he should tell Robin about the uneasy feeling Jeon Hyunsik had left him with after that last comment. The one where Jeon Hyunsik had whispered in his ear, telling him he knew how to use his Omega charm. But he figured it was better to let someone know, just in case something actually happened down the line. So he took a breath and told Robin everything in the same hushed tone.

Robin’s expression turned serious. "Do you think he’ll try to do something to you?"

Haneul shrugged. "If he’s smart, he won’t do anything. We’re still filming this show, and there are cameras almost everywhere. It would be hard for him to pull something in this kind of setup. But if he has no working brain at all, then I’ll just make sure we’re never alone in a spot without cameras."

"No matter how careful you are, something unexpected could still happen," Robin pointed out. "Why don’t you tell Taeyang about this?"

"Tell me what?"

The familiar voice came from right behind them, and both of them jerked around in surprise.