Following behind Oh Hae-Nim onto the stage, Bok Ah-Yung appeared wearing a pink blouse and holding an acoustic guitar.

After it was revealed that Bok Ah-Yung was the daughter of singer Bok Seon-Ill, she had drawn enormous attention. If she decorated the stage as a guitar sessionist, interest in Oh Hae-Nim's performance would inevitably rise alongside it. And that interest would naturally lead to viewer votes.

That was why I had asked Bok Ah-Yung to join as today's secret weapon.

As expected, the contestants and their parents began reacting.

"Oh my! Isn't that her?"

"It's Bok Ah-Yung!"

"She's Bok Seon-Ill's daughter, right? The one who sang on Hana Tube."

"My goodness. What's her relationship with Oh Hae-Nim? Are they friends?"

As the whispers grew louder, Oh Hae-Nim and Bok Ah-Yung took their positions. Oh Hae-Nim sat on the chair placed at the center of the stage. Bok Ah-Yung sat about a step behind her, slinging the guitar over her shoulder.

However, Oh Hae-Nim seemed so nervous that she hadn't noticed Yoo Dong-Yeon had arrived. I immediately opened the electronic sign app on my tablet, typed a message, and lifted it above my head.

[Oh Hae-Nim! Dong-Yeon is here!]

As fluorescent letters scrolled across the black screen, Oh Hae-Nim spotted us, broke into a bright smile, and waved. At that moment, Yoo Dong-Yeon and I playfully formed hearts above our heads. Seeing us, Oh Hae-Nim let out a small laugh and visibly relaxed.

Then an AD below the stage shouted, "Filming starts in five seconds. Miss Yoo-Jin, 5, 4, 3, 2, 1. Cue!"

Yoo-Jin, serving as MC, grabbed the microphone and began lifting the mood.

"Today, our contestant Oh Hae-Nim has prepared a stage with a very special session."

After a brief pause to draw the audience's focus, Yoo-Jin continued.

"However, the star of this stage is, above all, contestant Oh Hae-Nim, so please keep your attention on her. The song she has chosen, after surviving elimination time and again, is 'The Hundredth Ballad.' Please give her a big round of applause."

The audience responded with enthusiastic applause.

Then special MC Lee Tae-Poong took the microphone and asked Oh Hae-Nim,

"In this one-on-one battle, you'll be competing against Korea's 3rd-ranked contestant Choi Yeon-Mi. How do you feel?"

"Today, I plan to win no matter what—for my oppa."

"Oh, is your older brother here?"

"No. I lost both my parents when I was young, so I don't have a family. But my designated sponsor, someone who's like an older brother to me, came to cheer me on today. He made time out of his busy schedule to be here, so I want to win for him."

At that moment, I heard some of the contestants' parents grumbling.

"Isn't that trying to get sympathy votes? Why bring up her personal story all of a sudden?"

"I didn't think she was like that. She's more calculating than she looks."

"Kids who look innocent are the worst."

As someone who had always faced either pity or the exact opposite reaction simply for revealing I was an orphan, I tried to brush it off. But when the target became Oh Hae-Nim, it left a bitter taste in my mouth.

I was just about to step in and give a subtle warning when, unexpectedly, Assemblyman Go Joon-Taek raised his voice first and quieted those around him.

"She didn't ask to be judged kindly just because she grew up in an orphanage, so why are you twisting her words like that? And isn't it admirable that she wants to sing for her older brother?"

Han So-Ye also agreed with her husband.

"That's right. How thoughtful of her. Instead of tearing down another contestant, you should worry about your own children. Oh, and isn't Mr. Jung Yoon-Ho, who oversees this whole program, also from an orphanage? I'm sure he'd just love hearing what you just said. Why don't you try saying it in front of him?"

When Han So-Ye mentioned my name, the mouths of the parents who had been nitpicking snapped shut. Some of them hadn't known I was from an orphanage, and others simply hadn't been thinking.

Still, I hadn't expected those two—who usually cared only about their own daughter—to step up and protect Oh Hae-Nim. Go Eun-Seo had changed, and now even her parents were gradually changing with her.

At that moment, encouraged by the two of them, a few of the previously silent parents began stepping forward to defend Oh Hae-Nim as well. 𝐟𝕣𝗲𝕖𝕨𝗲𝐛𝗻𝗼𝐯𝗲𝚕.𝗰𝚘𝐦

"She doesn't even have family, and she prepared all this on her own. That's admirable."

"Right? I only see her in a good light."

"My daughter just nags me for allowance money, but seeing her prepare for an audition alone, she must have strong character."

At that, the parents who had criticized Oh Hae-Nim earlier awkwardly shifted their tone.

"No, that's not what I meant. I just said it might be like that..."

Then Go Joon-Taek added firmly, "We're adults, aren't we? Let's be rational and support the kids so they can compete in good faith together. Yes?"

After Go Joon-Taek's principled remark, no one dared argue further. I quietly turned and dipped my head in thanks to Go Joon-Taek and Han So-Ye. The two of them grinned and bowed back. It was another moment that showed me just how much people could change.

Then Lee Tae-Poong and Yoo-Jin grabbed their microphones together and called out.

"Now, Part 2 of Project I.O.A. The one-on-one battle begins!"

"The first stage is Oh Hae-Nim versus Choi Yeon-Mi. It starts now!"

At their shout, the house lights went out, and a spotlight poured down over Oh Hae-Nim's head. Only a faint light shone on Bok Ah-Yung, just enough for her to play the guitar. As a result, all focus began concentrating on Oh Hae-Nim.

At that moment, with the guitar accompaniment, Oh Hae-Nim began to sing.

『Passing time...』

Her voice, filled with affection directed toward Yoo Dong-Yeon, carried a deep, heartfelt appeal. Because of that, the parents seated in the audience gradually closed their eyes, losing themselves in her song. I, too, closed my eyes and sank into Oh Hae-Nim's singing, which felt like a confession.

Thump, thump.

'The Hundredth Ballad' Oh Hae-Nim sang felt like the flutter of first love.

***

As Oh Hae-Nim sang the final line of 'The Hundredth Ballad,' she let out a breath. The guitar accompaniment faded, and the lights came back on.

In that instant, moved by the unexpected emotion of her performance, all the audition contestants' families and acquaintances burst into cheers.

"Wow, she's good!"

"Her older brother must be so proud."

"Oh Hae-Nim, you go girl!"

Amid the enthusiastic response, Oh Hae-Nim bowed repeatedly with a bright smile. "Thank you. Thank you."

Then she waved toward Yoo Dong-Yeon. Yoo Dong-Yeon shyly gave a small wave back.

Afterward, as I watched Oh Hae-Nim step down from the stage, I spoke to Yoo Dong-Yeon beside me. "Dong-Yeon. For now, Hae-Nim has to focus on becoming an idol, so dating isn't an option."

"What? Hyung, what are you—"

"Why? You and she both like each other."

"N-no. Hae-Nim is just a younger sister to me."

I let out a small laugh. "Every child grows up. When you left the orphanage, you were a tiny kid. Now you're an adult sponsoring someone else. Aren't you?"

"But..."

"I'm not telling you to do anything right now. But when the time comes, even if you're scared, you have to be brave. And when that time comes, don't hesitate. Got it?"

In the past, I hadn't realized that Lee Yeon-Sil liked me. And because of that, I caused her a lot of pain. At the very least, I didn't want my younger siblings to go through that kind of hurt.

Yoo Dong-Yeon couldn't answer and fell into deep thought. I placed a hand on his shoulder and gave it a light pat.

"Anyway, if she becomes an idol, she won't be allowed to date until she's twenty-five, so don't worry ahead of time. Just keep standing by her side quietly like you are now. From what I see, that's more than enough for Hae-Nim."

Yoo Dong-Yeon glanced at me, then slowly nodded. "Got it... hyung..."

"Yeah. And if you're unsure about anything, ask me."

Just then, as if something had occurred to him, Yoo Dong-Yeon asked, "But hyung, are you dating anyone?"

'Wait, is that a counterattack?'

I shrugged and said, "I'm too busy. I don't have time to date."

Yoo Dong-Yeon tilted his head. "Come on, hyung. Even when I worked overtime at the factory every day, I never skipped volunteering at the orphanage. It's all about making time. So why don't you make some time and try dating? Sister Mikaela was worried about you..."

That hit a nerve.

'Had he secretly learned how to land a direct blow to the solar plexus?'

I immediately put Yoo Dong-Yeon in a headlock. "You worry about yourself, punk."

"Ah! Hyung, hyung—it hurts. I surrender! I surrender!"

Yoo Dong-Yeon playfully tapped my arm with his left hand. That was when I felt a leather glove against my wrist.

"Huh? What's with this glove?" I asked.

Yoo Dong-Yeon quickly hid his hand. "Oh, this? It's nothing."

"It's not nothing. Take it off. Did you hurt yourself?"

Yoo Dong-Yeon sighed and removed it. Bandages were wrapped all around his fingertips.

"Dong-Yeon, you..."

"Yeah. When you work with jewelry crafting, you get hurt often. Don't worry. It's nothing serious."

For no reason at all, my chest ached.

"Dong-Yeon. Why don't you quit that job and work with me or Eun-Gi instead? I'll pay you double what you're making now."

Yoo Dong-Yeon slipped the glove back on and replied, "No, hyung. I want to succeed as a jewelry designer. When I see people happy wearing something I made, it makes me incredibly happy."

"Sigh... fine. But at least use the allowance I send you to eat properly and go to the hospital. Got it?"

"Okay."

That answer didn't sound convincing. In times like this, there was only one method.

"And if you don't bring me a medical certificate, I'll tell Hae-Nim. Just so you know."

"Ugh, hyung."

"Quiet."

Only then did Yoo Dong-Yeon nod obediently.

"Oh, I think the next stage is starting."

I released the headlock and turned my gaze back to the stage. Choi Yeon-Mi, dressed in a dazzling red gown, was stepping onto the stage.

***

Yoo-Jin held up the microphone and began interviewing Choi Yeon-Mi.

"Wow! That outfit is quite glamorous."

"I wanted something pleasing to both the ears and the eyes. That's today's concept. I really struggled to find an outfit that matched 'Soulfire'."

"Are you confident today? Miss Oh Hae-Nim's stage was quite impressive."

At that, Choi Yeon-Mi folded her hands demurely and answered politely. After all, Choi Yeon-Mi was the very embodiment of pretense.

"I'm not confident, but I'll do my best. Please watch kindly."

Yoo-Jin and Lee Tae-Poong responded.

"Such a humble answer for Korea's 3rd-ranked contestant. I guess there's a reason fans call you an angel."

"That's right. Now then, let's hear it. Choi Yeon-Mi's 'Soulfire!'"

Yoo-Jin and Lee Tae-Poong stepped aside, and Choi Yeon-Mi raised the microphone. Just then, as she scanned the audience, her eyes met mine. The look she gave me was brimming with confidence. She probably had no idea that Reporter Gong Soo-Ji had been arrested and was expecting an article to drop any minute.

'Well, I guess it's safe to let her know now.'

For Choi Yeon-Mi's sake, I started typing on my tablet's electronic sign app. Fluorescent letters appeared and began scrolling across the black screen. Smiling, I lifted the tablet high.

[Reporter Gong Soo-Ji. Emergency arrest by police. No article coming out.]

In that instant, Choi Yeon-Mi's eyes widened in shock. It seemed she realized that everything she had done was now exposed, and panic flooded her face.

And then, unfortunately for her, the accompaniment. Because of that, Choi Yeon-Mi missed her cue to start singing.

"Oh? Oh?"

Choi Yeon-Mi's parents and several others blinked in surprise. However, if she stopped the competition track and restarted, she would receive a massive point deduction. So in the end, Choi Yeon-Mi resumed singing with a tearful expression. From the very first note, she began falling into the abyss she had dug for herself.

'Goodbye, Choi Yeon-Mi.'

***

On the large screen behind the stage, the combined judges' scores and viewer votes for the one-on-one battle were revealed.

[Judges + Viewer Vote Score]

Oh Hae-Nim 94/100

Vs

Choi Yeon-Mi 69/100

WIN: Oh Hae-Nim (Winner Bonus +10, Total: 104)

Oh Hae-Nim sang flawlessly without a single mistake, delivering her most perfect performance yet. She received 46 points from the judges and 48 from viewers, totaling 94. With the 10-point winner's bonus, her score became 104. Since she had earned 62 in the team competition, her total now stood at 166.

Meanwhile, Choi Yeon-Mi, after missing her intro, going off-pitch three times, and singing with an unstable tone throughout, received a score close to the lowest possible.

Seeing the final results, Oh Hae-Nim bowed her head, tears of joy streaming down her face.

"Thank you."

Below the stage, Yoo Dong-Yeon grabbed me in an emotional hug. "Hyung. Hae-Nim won!"

He was so happy that he reacted far more openly than usual. On the other hand, Choi Yeon-Mi's parents broke down in sorrow, blaming themselves for not supporting her more aggressively.

Then onstage, Yoo-Jin announced.

"Congratulations, contestant Oh Hae-Nim. You have won the one-on-one battle. And contestant Choi Yeon-Mi, today's defeat does not mean defeat in life. Opportunities can come anytime. You got this!"

After receiving praise and encouragement, Oh Hae-Nim and Choi Yeon-Mi stepped off to the side of the stage.

"Dong-Yeon. Just a moment."

"Okay."

I immediately headed backstage to meet Choi Yeon-Mi, the one who had caused today's incident.

There was a lesson I needed to teach her.

***

In the waiting room corridor, Choi Yeon-Mi was sitting on the floor, crying.

"Sob, sob..."

And Oh Hae-Nim was trying to comfort her. If it had been me, I wouldn't have even looked her way. However, Oh Hae-Nim couldn't ignore even the tears of someone who had tried to frame her as a thief. It was kindness to the point of foolishness.

Nevertheless, I didn't dislike that about Oh Hae-Nim. Scolding Choi Yeon-Mi was something I, as the talent agent, could handle.

"Hae-Nim. Give us a moment."

"Ah, Mr. Jung. Yes."

Oh Hae-Nim hesitated, then stepped back.

I looked at the crying Choi Yeon-Mi and spoke firmly. "Choi Yeon-Mi. Let's talk for a moment."

Choi Yeon-Mi flinched, then slowly pushed herself to her feet.

As she stood there with her head still lowered, I said evenly, "Everything you said in the restroom was recorded."

At that instant, Choi Yeon-Mi clasped her hands together and began begging desperately. "M-Mr. Jung. P-please, just this once. I was wrong. I won't ever do it again."

"Do you think I'd believe that?"

"That's..."

"If you had simply apologized properly from the start, it wouldn't have come this far. But instead of reflecting, you tried to ruin Eun-Seo and push Hae-Nim into the abyss."

Choi Yeon-Mi's head dropped.

"And there's a limit to how reckless you can be. You dragged a National Assembly member into this? What do you think would've happened if you were actually detained? And what about your parents outside who are more heartbroken than you are right now?"

Choi Yeon-Mi's face began turning pale. Only then did she seem to realize just how serious the crime she had committed truly was.

She lifted her head again and begged, "Mr. Jung. Please believe me. I—I won't say anything about what happened today."

"No. I have no intention of trusting you in the future either. I'll be keeping the recording of your voice, and Assemblyman Go Joon-Taek won't forget you either."

"Th-then... why are you here...?"

"I came to tell you the one and only way you can be forgiven for today."

Choi Yeon-Mi's eyes widened. "If you'll just tell me, I'll do anything. I really will."

"Really?"

"Yes."

"Fine. Then volunteer at Hae-Nim's orphanage for one year. One hundred hours. If you do that, I'll forget what happened today."

Since Choi Yeon-Mi was a minor, even if I pressed charges, she wouldn't receive meaningful punishment. If she claimed she spoke out of emotional distress, it might not even lead to probation—possibly even a non-indictment.

In that case, it was better to give her a realistic punishment, let her atone, and give her a chance to change. I had seen through Go Eun-Seo that people could change. And more than anything, if Choi Yeon-Mi didn't change now, she would create far more victims in her life ahead.

After hesitating for a moment, Choi Yeon-Mi finally spoke. "I... I'll do it."

"Good. Then go. You have the group performance later."

"Yes, sir."

Choi Yeon-Mi bowed deeply and turned away. Oh Hae-Nim also bowed to me and followed after her.

Just then, Oh Hae-Nim hurried forward and grabbed Choi Yeon-Mi's hand. Startled as if shocked by electricity, Choi Yeon-Mi froze mid-step.

At that moment, Oh Hae-Nim said, "When you come to volunteer at our orphanage, I'll help you. The kids are kind, so you don't have to worry."

The very person who had been falsely accused of theft was the first to extend her hand.

Choi Yeon-Mi began to cry again. "I-I'm sorry... I just... I don't know what... happened to me..."

Oh Hae-Nim's eyes brimmed with tears as she gently led her forward. "Yeah..."

A person didn't change overnight. However, seeing her offer a sincere apology, even if late, I could sense at least a small possibility of redemption.

***

"Thank you to everyone who stayed with us until this late hour."

With Yoo-Jin's closing greeting, the fifth week broadcast of Project I.O.A came to an end. And on the large screen behind them, today's results were displayed.

[PROJECT : I.O.A]

[Week 5 Results Announcement]

[Team 1]

Sung Na-Ra (175 points, Korea 1st),

Song Mi-Hee (173 points, Korea 2nd),

Wang Lina (170 points, China 1st),

Minamoto Aoi (172 points, Japan 1st).

[Team 2]

Go Eun-Seo (172 points, Korea 3rd),

Han So-Won (171 points, Korea 4th),

Yang Bing Bing (170 points, China 2nd),

Kudo Minatsu (171 points, Japan 2nd).

...

[Team 4]

Oh Hae-Nim (166 points, Korea 7th),

Park Yung-Hee (164 points, Korea 8th),

Liu Lan (160 points, China 4th),

Nagai Haruko (163 points, Japan 4th).

...

[Team 16]

Choi Yeon-Mi (127 points, Korea 32nd).

Go Eun-Seo narrowly secured 3rd place thanks to the bonus points, and Oh Hae-Nim soared from Team 9 to Team 4 with today's fantastic performance. Choi Yeon-Mi finished at the very bottom in Korea.

On stage, the contestants who had grown attached to one another began tearfully saying their goodbyes. However, I couldn't bring myself to comfort them. After all, the viewership ratings for today's broadcast hadn't come out yet.

'They have to be good...'

Last week, Project I.O.A recorded 9.3 percent.

And just before I left the monitoring room after Part 1 ended, I had heard that it was at 8.9 percent. But in two weeks, we would begin competing against PD Choi Go-Bong's Once Again, Idol!, so we needed to surpass at least 10 percent today to solidify our position.

Just then, my phone vibrated.

Buzz.

[Caller ID: PD Ji Yung-Sik]

I quickly answered. At that moment, Ji Yung-Sik's excited voice burst through the line.

-Mr. Jung! Today's viewership ratings are a jackpot!

'Huh? How big of a jackpot was it to make him shout like that?'