The living room had gone completely silent.
Every contestant was staring at Merlin.
The screen still displayed the results of the compatibility ranking.
Highest Ranked Contestants1. Merlin2. Yuri3. Tara
Lowest Ranked Contestants1. Leon2. Kaito3. Kiara
Minho leaned forward slowly.
"Well… this is intense."
Luna whispered beside him,
"Let her think."
Merlin laughed nervously.
"Everyone staring at me is not helping."
Across the room, Leon leaned against the wall with his usual calm expression.
Jisoo sat quietly on the couch beside Aria.
Neither of them said anything.
But both of them were watching Merlin.
The host's voice echoed from the screen again.
"Merlin, as the contestant with the highest compatibility ranking, you will choose your partner for tomorrow's special date."
Merlin rubbed the back of her neck.
"This feels like a public confession."
Minho nodded.
"That's exactly what it is."
Luna elbowed him.
"Stop talking."
Merlin looked around the room.
Her eyes briefly met Jisoo's.
Then they moved toward Leon.
Minho whispered dramatically,
"This is the moment."
Merlin took a small breath.
"For my date…"
Before she could finish—
A loud buzzer echoed through the mansion.
Everyone jumped.
"WHAT?" Minho shouted.
The screen flickered again.
The host appeared.
"I apologize. There is one more rule."
Luna stared at the screen.
"You scared me!"
The host continued.
"Because Merlin received the highest number of compatibility rankings, she gains the First Choice Advantage."
The screen changed again.
New words appeared.
FIRST CHOICE RULE
Minho squinted.
"That sounds complicated."
The host explained.
"The contestants who received the lowest compatibility rankings will temporarily be placed in the Observation Group."
1. Leon.
2. Kaito.
3. Kiara.
Their names appeared on the screen.
"These contestants cannot be chosen for the first reward date."
The room froze.
Merlin blinked.
"Wait… what?"
Luna frowned.
"That's unfair."
Minho nodded.
"Very unfair."
The host continued calmly.
"This rule exists to encourage contestants to build stronger connections within the group."
"Contestants in the Observation Group will still participate in the next dates."
"But they cannot be selected for the first reward date."
That meant something very important.
Merlin could not choose Leon.
Across the room, Leon's expression didn't change.
He simply nodded slightly.
Aria glanced at him.
"You're taking that well."
"It's a rule."
Merlin rubbed her forehead.
"That changes everything."
Minho leaned toward Luna.
"This show is brutal."
The host continued.
"Merlin, please make your choice."
Merlin looked around the room again.
Now her choices were limited.
Minho.
Jisoo.
Yuri.
Kaito and Leon were no longer options.
The atmosphere in the room felt completely different.
Merlin looked directly at Jisoo.
He met her gaze calmly.
Then she smiled slightly.
"Alright."
"For my date…"
She paused for a second.
"I choose Jisoo."
The room exploded.
Luna clapped loudly.
"I knew it!"
Minho leaned back dramatically.
"Romance wins."
Jisoo stood up calmly.
"Well."
He looked at Merlin.
"Looks like this will be our first date."
Merlin laughed.
"Hopefully less chaotic than the missions."
Across the room, Leon watched quietly.
His expression remained unreadable.
Aria noticed.
"You expected that?"
Leon shrugged slightly.
"Maybe."
The host continued.
"Next, Yuri will choose his partner."
Yuri raised an eyebrow.
"That's unexpected."
He stood up slowly and looked around the room.
Then spoke clearly.
"Kiara."
Kiara blinked.
"But I was in the Observation Group."
The host replied,
"The Observation Group rule only applied to Merlin's first choice."
Minho burst out laughing.
"This show loves confusing people."
Kiara stood and walked beside Yuri.
"Well."
"That works."
Next was Tara.
She looked nervous.
Minho leaned closer.
"No pressure."
Luna whispered loudly,
"Pick him."
Tara laughed.
"Obviously."
She pointed.
"Minho."
Minho jumped up.
"Victory."
Luna clapped.
"That was predictable."
The screen changed again.
Remaining Pair
Luna — KaitoAria — Leon
Luna cheered.
"Yes!"
Kaito laughed.
"I saw that coming."
Aria turned toward Leon.
"Well… partner."
Leon nodded.
"That works."
The host smiled from the screen.
"Tomorrow, all pairs will go on dates across the city."
"Prepare yourselves."
The screen went dark.
The living room immediately filled with chatter.
Minho raised his hand dramatically.
"I have a question."
Luna sighed.
"What?"
"Why does this show enjoy emotional chaos?"
Luna grinned.
"That's the whole point."
Across the room, Merlin grabbed a bottle of water.
Jisoo walked over beside her.
"Ready for our date?"
Merlin smiled.
"I think so."
Then she laughed quietly.
"This experiment just got more complicated."
And tomorrow…
Things inside the mansion were about to change again.