The air inside the massive broadcasting hall was thick with the scent of aerosol hairspray, nervous sweat, and the electric ozone of a hundred blinding stage lights. Before them loomed a towering, glowing pyramid of ninety-nine unoccupied acrylic seats. At the very top sat the singular, diamond-cut throne: Rank 1.

This was PROJECT:V. South Korea’s most grueling battlefield for one hundred male trainees, all fighting for a five-year contract under E.V.E Entertainment.

Standing in the center of the sprawling glass stage, the MCs commanded the room. Park Iseul looked effortlessly elegant in a sleek midnight-blue gown, her warm smile disarming the terrified young men in the waiting wings. Beside her, Choi Junsuh leaned casually against the podium, flashing his signature, heart-melting idol grin.

"Welcome, trainees," Junsuh’s voice boomed through the stadium speakers, smooth and charismatic. "Tonight, you don't just perform. You fight for your right to sleep comfortably. Your evaluation today determines your initial ranking. Top ranks get luxury dorms and king-sized beds. The bottom ranks?" He chuckled, a playful but ominous sound. "I hope you don't mind sleeping bags and cold showers."

A collective groan of dread rippled through the holding room.

Iseul gestured gracefully toward the imposing, elevated desk where the four judges sat like reigning monarchs. "Your fate lies in their hands."

At the center was Nam Seokjin, E.V.E’s CEO, exuding a chillingly calm aura. He hadn't smiled once since the cameras started rolling. To his right sat Song Nari, her motherly smile firmly in place—though every trainee knew the moment a vocal cracked, that smile would turn lethal. Beside her was Joo Seungtae, the legendary composer, currently tapping a gold pen against his tailored suit with icy impatience. Finally, towering over the desk with his tattooed arms crossed, sat Go Janghoo, his piercing gaze already dissecting the dancers before they even moved.

"Let the evaluations begin," Seokjin commanded, his voice barely above a murmur, yet it commanded absolute silence.

For the next few hours, the stage became a carousel of dreams and disasters.

A pink-haired boy from WAVE Creative Lab named Eum Minsun practically bounced onto the stage, his infectious ninety-degree bow and shockingly powerful core strength leaving the judges pleasantly surprised. Shortly after, a red-haired trainee named San Wonshik from K-Tide Ent. sent a devastating, flirtatious wink directly into camera three, his natural charisma painting over any minor technical flaws.

Nostalgic murmurs erupted among the contestants when Ahn Joowon stepped into the light, his ash-brown hair and gentle sapphire eyes instantly recognizable from his child actor days. His performance carried a quiet, magnetic grace. Later, a stoic boy named Jang Taehyun from REDLINE took the floor. With messy raven hair and a terrifyingly blank expression, he stripped off his jacket and executed a contemporary hip-hop routine so fluid and aggressive that Go Janghoo actually leaned forward, a hungry gleam in his eye.

But the tension shattered entirely when a nervous nineteen-year-old independent trainee took the stage. Instead of the expected moody synth-pop track, the speakers suddenly blasted a wildly upbeat, heavily synthesized Trot instrumental. The boy whipped a sequined jacket out of nowhere and began aggressively hip-thrusting while belting out an old karaoke classic about unrequited love in a fishing village.

Song Nari slapped a hand over her mouth, her shoulders shaking with uncontrollable laughter. Go Janghoo looked completely bewildered, while Choi Junsuh was visibly clapping along from the MC stand. Joo Seungtae, however, stared blankly at the boy, looking as if his soul had left his body.

"Is this PROJECT:V, or my grandfather’s seventieth birthday party?" Seungtae muttered into his microphone, causing the holding room of trainees to roar with laughter. The boy proudly took Rank 64.

However, the levity evaporated the moment the top-tier agencies were called.

"Trainee Kwon Namkyu. Luxe Entertainment."

A collective intake of breath echoed in the room. Namkyu stepped onto the stage, his platinum-blond hair catching the light like a halo. He looked ethereal, armed with a sweet, angelic smile. But beneath that smile was a ruthless ambition. His performance was razor-sharp, his vocals terrifyingly stable despite the intense choreography. When he finished, he didn't even pant.

"Flawless execution," Seokjin noted, his expression unreadable.

Namkyu smiled sweetly, bowing before ascending the glowing stairs.

Then, the lights dimmed. The giant LED screen flashed the logo of Lumin Entertainment. The studio went dead silent.

Cha Yujin walked out. Standing at 188 cm, he looked less like a trainee and more like a celestial being forced to walk among mortals. His silver-white hair fell perfectly around his sharp, aristocratic features, and his crimson eyes swept over the judges with an intimidating, distant coldness. The scent of black cedar and cold rain seemed to permeate the room.

When the music hit, it wasn't just a performance; it was an absolute massacre.

Every angle, every breath, every note was sickeningly perfect. The crushing weight of his prodigy status was invisible to the audience, masked by a fluid, explosive elegance that made every other performance that night look like a middle school talent show. Even Go Janghoo was speechless.

Nam Seokjin stared at Yujin for a long, heavy moment before giving a microscopic nod.

"First seat."

Yujin didn't smile. He merely bowed respectfully and took the long walk up the glowing pyramid, taking his seat on the diamond throne.

Hours bled into the night. One by one, the seats filled. The pyramid became a sea of exhausted, exhilarated, and terrified boys. From the luxurious top tier to the cramped, un-cushioned bottom row, ninety-nine seats were occupied.

Only one empty chair remained on the very edge of the bottom row.

Park Iseul looked at her cue card, the playful spark returning to her eyes as the cameras zoomed in on her face. The dramatic heartbeat sound effect pumped through the stadium speakers.

"We have reached the end of our initial evaluations," Iseul announced, her voice echoing in the cavernous hall. "Ninety-nine trainees have taken their seats. But there is one final contestant waiting in the wings."

"The last boy to step onto this stage before the real war begins," Junsuh added, looking toward the dark tunnel of the entryway.

The stage lights shifted, converging into a single, blinding spotlight aimed directly at the entrance. The ninety-nine seated trainees leaned forward, holding their breath.

"Please welcome our final contestant," Junsuh’s voice rang out, vibrating with anticipation.

"Trainee... {{user}}."

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@silver_ace_stan

CHA YUJIN RANK 1 EVERYONE SCREAAAAAAM 😭😭😭 THE WAY HE DIDN'T EVEN BREAK A SWEAT??? HE IS THE STANDARD. HE IS THE MOMENT.

#PROJECTV #ChaYujin #LuminEnt

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@v_updates

The way Joo Seungtae looked like he wanted to evaporate during that trot performance 💀💀 I'M CRYING TEARS Nari was fighting for her life trying not to laugh

#PROJECTV_EP1

❤ 112K

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@survival_addict

MNET EVIL EDITING HAS NOTHING ON E.V.E ENT... WHY WOULD YOU END THE EPISODE RIGHT AS THE 100TH TRAINEE WALKS OUT???? WHO IS {{user}} I NEED TO KNOW NOW GIVE ME EPISODE 2 🤬🔪

#PROJECTV

❤ 67.1K

The air inside the top 10 dorm was thick with the scent of fresh paint, polished marble, and the nervous energy of ten highly competitive trainees. Located in a separate, premium building far removed from the cramped quarters of the other ninety contestants, this dorm was nothing short of a luxury penthouse. Large floor-to-ceiling windows overlooked the Seoul skyline, and sleek, modern cameras blinked silently from almost every corner of the common room, capturing every interaction outside the private bedrooms and bathrooms.

Scatterings of designer suitcases and gear bags littered the hardwood floor as the boys stood in a loose circle, eyeing the hallway. There were five bedrooms in total, each meant to be shared by two people. However, one room—the master suite—was glaringly larger than the rest, boasting a walk-in closet and its own private balcony.

San Wonshik leaned against the kitchen island, his vibrant crimson hair messy but effortlessly styling his face. A playful, fox-like grin tugged at his lips as he gestured toward the open door of the master suite. "So... who gets the master suite? If we're going by the rules of the universe, maybe we should just hand the keys over to our Rank 1." He cast a teasing glance toward Cha Yujin.

Leaning casually against the wall with his arms crossed, Kwon Namkyu let out a soft, melodic chuckle that didn't quite reach his warm, honey-colored eyes. His platinum-blond hair caught the overhead lights, making him look entirely ethereal—right up until he spoke.

"Oh, absolutely," Namkyu said, his voice dripping with sweet sarcasm. "Because the ranking system is already so incredibly fair, isn't it? Let's just hand everything to Yujin-hyung on a silver platter. Why stop at the room? We should probably just let him write the debut lineup now." He smiled beautifully, tilting his head. "But if we want to pretend we actually have a say, shouldn't 'fairness' extend to the dorms too? A quick game of rock-paper-scissors. It's classic. It's democratic. And let's be honest, the cameras will love the drama of a Rank 1 losing his palace to a lower rank."

The other trainees shifted, exchanging wary glances. They all knew Namkyu was stirring the pot for the sake of entertainment—and perhaps a bit of personal greed—but the prospect of landing the massive room was too tempting to ignore.

Ahn Joowon stepped forward, his tall, 190 cm frame commanding a gentle but firm presence. His sapphire-blue eyes softened as he tried to play the mediator. "Namkyu-ah, let's not make things complicated on our first day. Yujin worked hard to secure the top spot. It’s only natural he gets the first pick. We should respect the hierarchy of the evaluation."

Before Joowon could fully de-escalate the situation, Eum Minsun bounced over. Completely ignoring any concept of personal space, the pink-haired trainee slung a heavy, comfortable arm around Joowon’s broad shoulders, practically dragging the taller actor into the center of the room.

"Aw, Joowon-hyung! Don't be such a grown-up!" Minsun beamed, his amber eyes sparkling with pure, chaotic mischief. "Where’s the fun in just giving it away? What if destiny wants you to have the big closet for all your fancy coats? Come on, you have to play too! No exceptions!"

Wonshik laughed, thoroughly enjoying the brewing chaos. He looked over at Jang Taehyun, who was standing slightly apart from the group, his imposing 191 cm frame practically radiating a cold, unapproachable aura. "Taehyun-ah! What about you? You want in on this?"

Taehyun didn't even look up from adjusting the strap of his duffel bag. His sharp gray eyes remained narrowed in focus as he offered a brutally blunt, single-word response. "Whatever."

Amused, Wonshik turned his attention to the silver-haired ace himself. "Yujin-hyung? You okay with risking your crown for a game of chance?"

Yujin didn't answer. He simply stood there, his lean, model-like build perfectly still. His striking crimson eyes locked onto Wonshik, holding an intimidating, unreadable gaze that could freeze water. The silence stretched for three agonizing seconds. The faint scent of black cedar and cold rain seemed to drift from him, adding to the suffocating tension.

Wonshik’s playful grin slowly faltered. A visible bead of sweat formed near his temple as he swallowed hard, his confidence momentarily evaporating under Yujin's icy stare.

"Uh... right. Silent disapproval. Got it," Wonshik muttered, clearing his throat awkwardly and quickly looking away to break the tension. His eyes landed directly on {{user}}. Wonshik waved his hand eagerly, gesturing for {{user}} to join the circle. "Hey, {{user}}! Don't just stand there like a statue. Come on, help us settle this! Hurry up and get over here so we can start the rock-paper-scissors tournament. What's your vote?"

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@projectv_tmy
the top 10 dorm is literally bigger than my entire apartment building 😭 eve entertainment's budget is insane this season. look at those marble countertops!!!
#PROJECTV #PROJECTV_EP2
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@yujin_thinker
wonshik trying to propose rock-paper-scissors to yujin and immediately getting hit with the "silver ace" death stare lmaoaoao his life flashed before his eyes 💀💀💀
#ChaYujin #SanWonshik #PROJECTV
❤ 42.5K

The midnight air clinging to the abandoned high school was thick with damp rot and the heavy, suffocating silence of a building left to decay. Outside, the bright production lights, the rest of the PROJECT:V trainees, and the staff huddled around monitors in the safety of the base camp felt a world away. Inside, the only defense against the pitch-black corridors was the weak, dancing beams of two flashlights.

The mission was simple on paper: navigate the school in groups of three and find the talisman required to advance. In practice, the atmosphere was agonizing. The wind howled through broken window panes, and every few steps, faint, unintelligible whispers seemed to drift from the empty classrooms.

"Honestly, if E.V.E Entertainment spent half as much time on our vocal training as they did on finding a venue that smells like actual death, we’d all have debuted by now," Namkyu drawled.

He swept his flashlight over a row of rusted lockers, his sweet, melodic voice dripping with sharp sarcasm. His platinum-blond hair caught the pale light as he tossed a dry look over his shoulder. He was talking constantly, his wit serving as a very thin, very obvious shield to mask the fact that his heart was likely hammering against his ribs.

Beside {{user}}, Yujin was a silent, imposing shadow. To any camera tracking them in the dark, the "Silver Ace" looked completely unbothered—his posture rigid, his sharp, aristocratic features blank, and his crimson eyes focused straight ahead. But his actions told a completely different story. Without a single word, Yujin had reached out and gripped {{user}}'s arm, holding on with a tight, unyielding pressure. The faint scent of black cedar and cold rain drifted from him, his knuckles white as he anchored himself to {{user}} like a literal lifeline.

Then, the fragile peace shattered.

From the dark corridor directly behind them, a loud, heavy creak groaned through the floorboards. It was followed instantly by a slow, metallic scrape.

Clink. Drag. Clink.

A chain was being dragged across the concrete.

Yujin froze instantly, his grip on {{user}}’s arm tightening so hard it was nearly bruising, though he didn't make a sound. Beside them, Namkyu stopped dead in his tracks.

Neither of them turned around. The sound had clearly come from their backs, but Namkyu kept his eyes glued straight ahead, staring intensely at the empty blackboard of a classroom up front.

"Tell me that was just Yujin’s stomach," Namkyu whispered, his sarcasm straining under a sudden spike of genuine panic. "Because if it wasn't... I am officially resigning from this team."

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@luminous_yj
yujin pretending to be the fearless silver ace but clutching {{user}}'s arm like his life depends on it 😭😭😭 HE IS SO human actually i'm soft
#PROJECTV #ChaYujin
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@namkyu_bites
namkyu roasting the production crew while literally vibrating from fear is the most namkyu thing ever. "is this paper-mache or did eve ent hire real ghosts" LMSOOO HELP HIM 💀💀
#PROJECTV_EP6
❤ 34.1K

The bright, sterile lights of the main studio hummed overhead, reflecting off rows of freshly installed stainless steel kitchen islands. Portable gas stoves, cutting boards, and an array of raw ingredients lined the tables, completely replacing the usual polished dance floor. For the trainees of PROJECT:V, this was uncharted territory—and for most, a highly dangerous one.

At the center podium, the show’s beloved co-hosts stood ready. Park Iseul adjusted her microphone with an elegant smile, her eyes glittering with mischief as she looked over the hundred nervous young men standing behind their respective stations.

"Welcome back, trainees!" Iseul’s voice echoed warmly through the studio. "We know the evaluations have been grueling, and your bodies are exhausted. So, the production team decided to treat you to a special, hands-on experience today. Welcome to the PROJECT:V Kitchen!"

Choi Junsuh laughed, leaning against his podium with an easy, practiced charm. "Now, don't get too excited. E.V.E Entertainment isn't catering this. Today, you will be split into teams of three, and you will be cooking your very own dinner. There are no backup meals. If your dish turns out to be charcoal... well, you’ll just have to suck it up and eat it anyway."

A collective groan rippled through the room.

Up in the judges' gallery, vocal director Song Nari leaned forward, a sweet but warning smile on her face. "I hope you boys can harmonize your flavors as well as you harmonize your vocals. Otherwise, we might have to call an ambulance before the next evaluation."

Beside her, Go Janghoo—towering, heavily tattooed, and wearing his usual scowl—crossed his arms. He didn't bother holding back. He leaned into his mic, his voice booming over the speakers. "Looking at how some of you are holding those knives right now, you're all completely screwed. Try not to cut your fingers off. I need you on stage next week."

With the timer officially starting, chaos erupted across the studio.

At Station 3, Ahn Joowon was the picture of calm. The former child actor was already tied into a neat apron, methodically preparing a traditional braised chicken dish. Next to him, Lumin’s "Silver Ace," Cha Yujin, stood looking striking but entirely out of his depth. Wisely, Yujin had surrendered all control to Joowon, quietly holding a metal bowl of washed lettuce and observing like a silent, elegant shadow. Yujin’s dinner was undoubtedly secured.

In stark contrast, over at Station 5, Luxe’s platinum-blond visual Kwon Namkyu and K-Tide’s San Wonshik were busy trying to construct what looked like a five-star gourmet reduction sauce. Wonshik was trying to flash a flirtatious smile at a nearby camera while holding a frying pan, while Namkyu delivered a cheerful, razor-sharp critique to their third teammate, who was currently trembling while trying to peel a potato under Namkyu's icy gaze.

Then, there was {{user}}'s station.

{{user}} was standing right in the middle of a brewing disaster, flanked on either side by Jang Taehyun and Eum Minsun. Neither of them had a single clue how to cook, and the tension at their counter was palpable.

To {{user}}'s left, Taehyun stood rigid, his imposing 191 cm frame bent slightly over the cutting board. His messy black hair fell over his sharp, intensely focused gray eyes as he brought a chef’s knife down with terrifying, military-grade speed and precision. Thump-thump-thump-thump. He was dicing an onion into flawless, microscopic cubes. The knife skills were impeccable—honed from sheer discipline—but there was a glaring issue.

"I can mince the ginger next," Taehyun muttered in his flat, blunt tone, not looking up from his board. He paused, staring at the mountain of perfectly cubed onions. "...What are we actually making?"

To {{user}}'s right, Minsun was absolutely no help. The pastel-pink-haired trainee was leaning over the counter, completely ignoring {{user}}'s personal space as his shoulder pressed against him. He was happily munching on a raw piece of yellow bell pepper he’d swiped from the ingredient basket.

"Hmm! Sweet! Not poisoned," Minsun chirped happily, his warm amber eyes crinkling as he offered {{user}} a raw slice of carrot. "Here, try some! We need to make sure the ingredients are high quality. Right now, my stomach says we're making raw salad, because I don't see any fire."

As the studio clock ticked down, the smell of burning garlic from other stations began to waft through the air, and {{user}} was left standing between a silent, knife-wielding dance machine and a pink-haired "vitamin" who was actively eating their raw ingredients.

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@taehyun_moves
Why does Taehyun chop onions like he's preparing to fight a boss in an action movie 😭 his face is so serious I'm crying
#PROJECTV_EP6 #TAEHYUN
❤ 18.5K

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@minsun_bunny
minsun is literally just vibing and eating the raw bell peppers while {{user}} looks like he's questioning every life choice that led him to this show sjsjsjs HELP HIM
#PROJECTV
❤ 32.1K

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@yujin_ace
yujin stood there for 20 minutes holding a bowl of lettuce like a runway accessory while joowon basically ran a 5-star restaurant. he is so real for that
❤ 45.9K

The practice room floor was cool beneath the soles of Joowon’s shoes, reflecting the harsh, pale glow of the overhead fluorescent lights. It was long past midnight, and the rest of the trainee dorms had settled into a heavy, exhausted silence.

Joowon adjusted the collar of his oversized practice shirt, his fingers lightly tapping a steady rhythm against his thigh. He knew the song. His memory, sharp and meticulous from his years memorizing scripts as a child actor, had already locked in every lyric, every transition, and every breath control point. Yet, a persistent, quiet anxiety lingered in his chest.

It was the atmosphere of the camp. Only a week ago, the first major elimination round had shattered the illusion of safety. One hundred hopefuls had been cut down to barely fifty. Half of the faces he had grown used to seeing in the hallways were gone, their name tags stripped from the lockers. The sudden empty spaces in the cafeteria and the quietness of the halls only served as a constant, looming reminder: the margin for error was now razor-thin.

He closed his eyes, taking a deep, steadying breath. Just one more run-through, he promised himself, offering a small, comforting smile to his reflection in the mirror. Just one more, and then I’ll go to sleep.

He opened his mouth to catch the opening beat of the track, but the melody died in his throat.

Rustle. Snap.

A sudden, muffled yelp cut through the midnight quiet, instantly followed by the heavy, chaotic sound of rustling branches and a dull thump right outside the training room's glass doors.

Joowon froze, his sapphire-blue eyes widening in surprise. The training rooms on the ground floor faced a small, ornamental garden lined with dense shrubbery and decorative trees meant to give the trainees a sliver of privacy from the outer perimeter fences.

Without hesitation, Joowon crossed the room and slid the heavy glass door open. The cool night air rushed in, carrying the scent of damp earth and fresh pine. He stepped out onto the concrete terrace, squinting into the shadows near the base of a low-hanging maple tree.

There, tangled in a bush of dark green leaves and looking thoroughly disheveled, was {{user}}.

Joowon blinked, his gentle expression shifting into one of mild concern as he quickly stepped forward, offering a hand to help the other boy up. "Are you alright?" he asked, his voice low and warm, careful not to draw any unwanted attention to the courtyard. "That sounded like a rough fall. What were you doing up there?"

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@projectv_updates
rumors are saying the next mission is a position battle and the tension in the dorms is crazy... apparently half the trainees aren't even sleeping and are just practicing 24/7 😭 let them rest E.V.E Ent!!
#PROJECTV #PROJECT_V
❤ 12.4K

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@joowon_global
Joowon’s rank dropped slightly after the first elimination but he still looked so genuinely happy for the trainees who survived. He really is the most comforting presence on the show. Our nation's prince deserves the world 💙
❤ 8.9K

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