When Ren walked out of the room, his heart was still racing.
He didn't know whether the judges liked his performance.
He couldn't tell from their expressions.
Was it good enough?
He looked around.
Then I saw Alex.
Alex was waiting outside.
The moment their eyes met, Alex smiled.
A warm, reassuring smile.
Ren felt the tension inside him loosen.
He walked toward him and sat down.
"You look worried."
Ren laughed softly.
"Is it that obvious?"
"A little."
Alex chuckled.
Ren looked at him.
How can someone who has failed so many times still be this calm?
He glanced toward the audition room.
Maybe Alex was right.
Panicking wouldn't change anything.
Ren took a deep breath.
"I should probably learn to stay calm like you."
Alex's smile remained.
But he looked away.
Because the truth was…
He wasn't calm at all.
His hands were hidden behind his back.
His fingers were digging into his own skin.
Hard.
Hard enough to hurt.
He needed the pain to keep himself from trembling.
Please.
Just this once.
Alex had spent years chasing this dream.
Years of auditions.
Years of rejection.
Years of watching other people succeed while he remained behind.
He was tired.
So incredibly tired.
Yet he still smiled.
That was the only thing he had left.
A staff member finally appeared.
"Alex."
Alex's smile froze.
Ren looked at him.
"Good luck."
Alex nodded.
"Thanks."
He stood.
His legs felt heavier than they should have.
But he walked forward.
Leo had been watching from a distance.
His gaze moved from Ren to Alex.
He had noticed the way Ren smiled at him.
The way Alex smiled back.
Something inside his chest tightened.
Why is he smiling at that Beta?
Leo frowned.
He didn't understand why the sight bothered him.
They had only met a short while ago.
He barely knew Ren.
Yet somehow…
He couldn't stop thinking about him.
Did they feel some kind of connection already?
Leo immediately shook his head.
"What am I even thinking?"
He leaned back in his seat.
Why am I thinking about him again?
His eyes betrayed him.
They returned to Ren.
The wait seemed endless.
Eventually, the Beta auditions ended.
Everyone returned to the main hall.
The contestants sat together, waiting.
No one spoke much.
They had all given everything they had.
Now there was nothing left to do except wait.
A selection team member finally walked onto the stage.
The room fell silent.
"We will now announce the Top 100 participants who have qualified for the next round."
A giant screen behind him lit up.
Ten names appeared at a time.
The hall erupted.
People leaned forward.
Some clasped their hands.
Others whispered prayers.
Every few seconds, another group of names disappeared from the screen.
Ren stared.
His heart was pounding so hard that he could hear it.
Please.
Just let me make it.
The names continued.
Ten.
Twenty.
Thirty.
Forty.
Ren's palms became sweaty.
Fifty.
Sixty.
Seventy.
He swallowed.
Eighty.
His heart sank.
Maybe I'm not—
Then he heard it.
"Ren."
His name appeared on the screen.
For a second, he couldn't move.
Then his eyes widened.
His lips slowly curved upward.
He had made it.
Ren released a breath he hadn't realized he'd been holding.
A bright smile spread across his face.
"I made it…"
He whispered.
He had actually made it.
Across the hall, Leo saw him.
And without realizing it, Leo smiled too.
Seeing Ren genuinely happy did something strange to him.
He looks beautiful when he smiles.
Leo quickly looked away.
But his smile remained.
Ren's happiness lasted only a few seconds.
He suddenly remembered someone.
Alex.
He turned.
The names continued appearing.
One after another.
But Alex's name hadn't appeared.
Ren's smile slowly faded.
He looked toward him.
For the first time since they'd met, Alex wasn't smiling.
His face was tense.
His hands were clenched.
His eyes remained fixed on the screen.
Ren watched him carefully.
He's scared.
The realization surprised him.
Alex had spent the entire day encouraging him.
Now that it was his turn…
He looked terrified.
The names continued.
Ninety.
Ninety-one.
Ninety-two.
Ren's heart tightened.
Come on.
Please.
Then Alex suddenly froze.
His eyes widened.
Ren followed his gaze toward the screen.
There it was.
ALEX
Ren's eyes widened.
He had made it.
"Alex!"
Alex didn't respond.
He simply stared.
His lips parted.
His expression looked almost disbelieving.
"I…"
His voice trembled.
"I made it."
Ren smiled.
"You did."
Alex slowly looked at him.
"I made it…"
This time his voice broke.
His eyes became wet.
"I actually made it."
A tear escaped.
Then another.
Alex quickly wiped them away.
But Ren could already see his trembling smile.
This wasn't simply happiness.
It was a relief.
Years of rejection.
Years of disappointment.
Years of being told that he wasn't good enough.
All of it had led to this moment.
One name on a screen.
One opportunity.
One step closer.
"I finally made it."
Alex laughed through his tears.
Then, before Ren could react, Alex pulled him into a hug.
Ren froze.
Alex held him tightly.
"I finally made it!"
His voice trembled beside Ren's ear.
Ren slowly smiled.
"Yeah."
Alex pulled away and looked directly into his eyes.
"I finally made it."
This time Ren laughed.
"You already said that."
"I don't care."
Alex wiped his tears and laughed again.
"I've wanted to say those words for years."
Ren smiled.
"Then say them as many times as you want."
Alex's eyes softened.
"Thank you."
"For what?"
"For being here."
Ren didn't know what to say.
So he simply smiled.
Neither of them noticed the eyes watching them.
Leo's expression had completely changed.
His gaze remained fixed on Alex's arms around Ren.
His jaw tightened.
Why is he hugging him?
His eyes narrowed.
Couldn't he celebrate with just a handshake?
He didn't like the feeling.
Not at all.
He looked away.
But a few seconds later, his eyes returned to them.
Someone else had noticed.
Rei.
His gaze remained on Alex.
Unlike Leo, there was no jealousy in his expression.
Instead…
Curiosity.
Alex was still smiling.
His eyes were red from crying, but somehow that made his smile look even more genuine.
Rei's lips slowly curved upward.
Rei found himself watching Alex for another moment.
There was something strangely sincere about his smile.
He didn't know why, but it stayed in his mind.
For the first time that day, the heir of Light Entertainment looked genuinely interested in one of the contestants.
And neither Alex nor Ren noticed.