zerobaseone oneshots

rigged the game for you pt 1: was it worth it??

*takes place December 2025*

Flashback
March 2023

Hao stood in front with his yuehuas members as they along with other trainees watch the current week ranks live

Soon the trainees depart until it was only the yuehuas and hanbin left

Hanbin turned to look at hao and beams "we're still In the top 9 hyung, let's Make it" he exclaimed as he hugged hao with pride
"Let's debut together" he whispered then pulled apart

Hanbin smiles once more at hao before leaving the room with hao watching him go out the door

Ricky places his hands on hao making him jump a little
"Are you sure about this ge" he asked in their native language first concerning
Then he switch to Korean so the others can understand "what happens if he founds out"

Hao sighed as he kept his eye on the door "its for the best, I'm in too deep and everyone in the industry knows it's best If the idol is dating a normal person"

Yujin scoffed from behind "I think you're ridiculous hyung, hanbin hyung loves you, he doesn't care If you both are idols when you go out, as long as you make him happy"

Hao sighed then turns around to face his worried friends "even if I might go back to China, whether or not I made it into this group" he questioned

His label mates look at each other with a glance before gyuvin stood foward and place a hand on hao's shoulders "whatever happens we are here hyung, whenever you need us"
Ricky then grimace "but is rigging the rakings so you would place below top 9 worth it"

Seungeon nods "yeah hyung will it be worth it"

Hao looks at them all determined "it will I'm sure of it"

End flashback

After another win, Matthew and Taerae decided to get takeout for everyone

Well almost everyone, hanbin is currently at the meeting in the company but the rest of the members are in the dorm gathered around the table ready to eat

"Another comeback has come and gone, here to another one if possible" jiwoong cheers raising his glass

Hao chuckled as he clinks his glass with jiwoong's
"Here to one more month till freedom" he continued one

Matthew cheers before taking a sip then he sighed happily after gulping his drink "you must be really excited hyung, to finally be normal again" he exclaimed

Zhanghao tilts his heads and shrugs "I guess so, I mean my name will still be out there and I will still be recognized so" he shrugs once more as everyone laughs

"At least it's better than the whole rigged ranking route right hyung" Gunwook teased but then the air went silent as they heard something thud on the floor

They all turn to see Hanbin looking at them with a shock look on his face as a tiny whisper of rigged slips out of his mouth as he looks at hao confused and betrayed

Hao quickly stood up "hanbin, let me explain"
Hanbin cuts him off scoffing "Explain what hyung, you rigged the ranking to get into the top 9 or what" he shouts

"Eh more like to get out of it" yujin couldn't help but to blurt out
But it made hanbins eyes widen and look at hao even more shocked

Hao steps foward, hands reaching out but hanbin steps back with a scoffed "you couldn't wait to go back home that fast right... RIGHT" he thrust the stuff in his hand down to the floor

The tension was high
So high you can hear the nervous gulps

From behind hao, Matthew shook his head "hanbin just listen to hao hyung you're misunderstanding things"

Hanbin scoffed "oh am I!?, I can't believe this.. I'm being betrayed by both the love of my life and my best friend" he glares at both hao and Matthew who looks at him guilty

Jiwoong stood up hands reaching out "hanbin ah let's sit and talk about it"
But hanbin didn't listen, he steps back some more with a tear filled eyes "I tried to make sure we don't get disbanded but apparently someone would rather leave then stay" he strainly talks towards hao

"I know you're heading to China tomorrow hyung... if you miss your home so much then you should just stay there" he hiccups "you have an ex back home that you probably miss right, you miss him so much that you would rig the ranking just to go back home to him" hanbin's tears started falling

"Bin ah that's not-" hao's voice cracked

Hanbin turns away "I hope it was worth it hyung" Then he storms off leaving behind a somber air

Taerae looks towards hao along with everyone else
"Well hyung, was it worth it"

Hao sighed as he sadly watch the empty space hanbin was in

Tbc