NOVPUBThere was something wrong about a mansion being this quiet.
- Gosh darn. If I lived in a mansion like this, I will never shut up.
- I wouldn't even find the need to go out.
- Season one was such a success that they upped the budget for season two.
- For real! This live production is really exciting, too. It feels even more unpredictable.
The group of actors was already in Daeshim's theater, popcorns of artisanal flavors in their hands as they watched through the big screen.
"This is actually not bad at all," Risa muttered to herself, not regretting coming here.
"You know—I was offered to become part of the cast of Lucy's Game," Daniel boasted.
Yuan and Suho sighed.
"What are YOU doing here again?" Yuan asked.
"What?" Daniel muttered. "Daeshim PD said everyone was welcome. Anyway, as I was saying, I could have been there, but you see, I'm going to shoot a new movie in three days' time. I'm just that busy."
"Shh!" the others exclaimed in unison as soon as the setting changed. Or quite frankly, they just didn't like hearing Daniel talk.
The camera showed high ceilings. The chandeliers sparkled, and the marble floors were buffed to the point they appeared reflective.
It was a place designed to be beautiful—and just uncomfortable enough to remind you that you didn't belong there.
The doors opened for the first time.
- The first contestant is here!
- Crap, I'm so excited. I might just shit my pants.
- Coming here after watching The Forsaken Prince feels like taking party drugs. It's euphoric.
Risa gasped as soon as she saw who it was. Daniel, too, sat straighter in his seat.
Ari Bae walked in, silence following her.
Ari wore a navy coat, plain and pressed. She glanced once at the foyer, once at the cameras tucked along the corners of the ceiling. Then she moved forward.
She didn't hesitate and merely took her seat on the velvet sofa like she had seen this scene before in a dream.
Ari sighed. She loved this show but didn't think she would be invited. In the end, she couldn't deny the invitation.
Being here was much better than listening to Mr. Kim's nagging all day! However, the fact that she'd miss the final episode of The Forsaken Prince—because their phones had been confiscated since morning—made her double-think her decision.
Just then, the TV lit up before her, a robotic voice speaking.
"Ari Bae, age 28. Literary prodigy. A master of subtext and second meanings. Her stories have been published across five continents. She speaks three languages and reads in six. There was a rumor that one of her short stories made a professor cry and then retire," it said.
Ari pursed her lips. She forgot that they filmed something like this. Fortunately, she was the only person in the room, so no one had watched it with her yet.
"I didn't know Ari was this smart," Shin said. "I met her once because I acted in one of her screenplays."
"No wonder she's so successful at a young age," Risa muttered.
"You're around the same age," Yuan deadpanned, but Risa merely shoved the popcorn into his mouth because the next contestant had just arrived.
- Rooting for my bae.
- First contestant in, and wow, already a great contender.
- Genius lady!
The next contestant arrived with the energy of someone who had triple-checked every train timetable and still showed up five minutes early.
Minjae walked in gripping a thick notebook, several pens sticking out of his hoodie pocket. His glasses fogged a little from the change in temperature, and he had to stop and adjust them twice before realizing the cameras were watching.
He bowed—not once, but twice—then mumbled, "Hi. Sorry. I thought this was going to be more of a—uh, round-table?"
Ari merely looked at him.
"Minjae Choi, 22. Biochemistry student. Global Math competition finalist. First place in a national logic games tournament. He is one of those who came to the Lucy's Game auditions under a pseudonym. It's said that he built an entire predictive algorithm based on last season's footage."
- Oh dang, I would hate an opponent like him.
- I competed with him during a math competition once. Good lord, nobody stood a chance.
- He seems uptight.
- You mean, weird?
Minjae took a seat far from Ari, opened his notebook, and began scribbling immediately.
"Entry log… 11:42 AM. Second person to go in. Room temperature approximately 22 degrees Celsius. I—"
The third contestant came in, appearing to be in the middle of a conversation with himself. His hair was pushed back carelessly, his jacket half-zipped, hands in his pockets.
Doyeon didn't pause at the door nor scan the room. He looked at Minjae, grinned, and said, "Nice graphs," before plopping onto the couch across from Ari.
"Lee Doyeon, 24. A software engineer, unofficially a gamer, a hacker, a genius in anything that involved patterns. Some called him a savant. Others called him a walking red flag. He'd once cracked a chess AI using only post-it notes."
When asked to introduce himself, he simply smiled.
"He seems way too full of himself," Risa muttered. "I don't like him already."
"I like him," Daniel chimed in.
The others were silent for a moment before they collectively said, "Figures." 𝒏𝙤𝒗𝙥𝒖𝒃.𝙘𝙤𝒎
The next person came in, already commanding attention. The sound of her heels clacking came before she did.
Sharp, steady steps echoed through the hall, followed by a figure dressed in charcoal gray.
Mandy Kang was composed. Sleek black bob, crisp white blouse, blazer fitted to perfection.
Her eyes moved slowly across the room. She didn't react to the cameras. She walked over to the table, picked up a coaster, placed it under an untouched teacup, and sat down.
"Mandy Kang, 26. Legal prodigy. Known for taking down corrupt corporations before graduating law school. She was famously unsentimental and terrifying in cross-examinations."
Ari looked around at the three people. She seemed to be the only celebrity at this point, so someone famous must be coming in next.
She didn't have to wait long before that was proved true.
Compared to the rest, the next person was radiant, dashing even.
Blonde highlights, sunglasses on her head, silk blouse tucked into designer jeans. She walked like she'd walked red carpets—because she had.
"Jenny Seo-Rose, 32. Idol-turned-influencer-turned-CEO. Daughter of a political powerhouse and a retired supermodel. She built a wellness brand with over a million subscribers. Her skincare line sold out in under an hour."
- Miss Jenny is here?
- It's going to be more interesting! I heard she's a bitch.
- She's a smart bitch, though. She graduated from Seoul University with a degree in Chemistry.
- Yet, she married rich.
- They were already rich to begin with!
- Yeah, just doubling those assets.
She waved at the camera and sat down with perfect posture. Then, she crossed one leg before showing a dazzling smile.
Ari thought she would have someone to talk to by now. Of course, Jenny was familiar, but they weren't acquainted. Jenny's circle was rather… obnoxious.
Daniel smirked as he watched. "Miss Jenny gave me a PR package once."
"Shut up," Suho said, having had enough of him. Daniel turned to him with wide eyes, about to tell him off.
"Wait!" Risa exclaimed, halting his outburst.
"The next person…," she muttered.
"Isn't that Annie?"
