The Audition
There were six judges for this audition in total.
Me, Head of Department Yoon Heejeong, Team Leader Kim Ijun, the vocal and dance trainers, and composer Lee J.
"How is it?"
"I didn't sleep well on the plane, so I'm exhausted... so sleepy..."
"Focus a little..! Do you know how much money is riding on this...!!"
"It means there aren't any kids striking enough to snap me wide awake."
"......"
It wasn't just Lee J.
I turned my head and snuck a glance sideways, but the other judges' expressions weren't much better either.
Was the world really this short on talent?
Was I destined to end up as some idiot philanthropist after all?
"Contestant number 147. Lee Min-ju, entering."
Huh?? Lee Min-ju? Same name... wait, it's actually Min-ju??
The second I checked the photo attached to the application, my head snapped up.
"Hello! Contestant number 147, Lee Min-ju!"
"Yes, Ms. Lee Min-ju. Show us what you've prepared."
"Yes!!"
Her tone was bone-dry, but Head of Department Yoon Heejeong's eyes had changed.
Team Leader Kim Ijun beside her was the same.
If their gazes until now had been like rotten fish eyes, now they were glittering like they'd just spotted a fifty-thousand-won bill dropped at their feet.
I guess good eyes really do see the same things.
Well, Min-ju was definitely cute and pretty.
The problem was her skill.
If she tensed up like last time and failed to show what she could really do, Yoon Heejeong and Kim Ijun's eyes would go right back to rotten fish eyes.
"Mirror- mirror- on the wall Don't say it, 'cause I know I'm cute♪ Louis- down- to my drawers LV all on my shoes♪"
"Wow..."
That wasn't my gasp.
It came from Lee J, who'd been half-dead from exhaustion right beside me.
And that wasn't all.
Head of Department Yoon Heejeong had peeled her back off the chair and sat bolt upright, Kim Ijun was leaning so far forward he looked ready to tip over the desk, and both trainers had their eyes sparkling.
She was definitely better than the other contestants, but was it really that much?
Or was she just glowing by comparison because everyone else had been so painfully average?
One thing was certain, though.
She wasn't nervous. She was enjoying herself.
She rapped and sang with the same happy expression she'd worn that day, freestyling joyfully in the taxi.
Her singing was pretty ordinary, but even that was far better than the other contestants who'd just thrown themselves into dancing.
Though the energy did dip a little when the song ended and she switched to pure dance.
"What do you think, CEO?"
"Like I said, I'm only here to observe. Does my evaluation even matter that much? Everyone else's opinions are more important than mine. What did you all think?"
"She's by far the standout so far."
"If we train her dance properly, she should be fine."
"Great visuals, plenty of confidence. I'm in favor."
The string of praise made the corner of my mouth lift.
But why was I happy about it?
Because the odds of me becoming an idiot philanthropist had dropped a little?
No—there was another reason.
"If you accept me, I'll give it everything I've got! I'll work so hard!!"
Because she hadn't given up.
Even after getting kicked out of a good home and ending up in poor Yoo Serin's house, she still hadn't abandoned her dream.
Because that dream felt genuine.
That made me a little glad.
Like a proud dad smile was creeping onto my face, maybe?
"Contestant number 148. Yoo Serin, entering."
"Huh???"
"Serin too?"
At my and Lee J's reactions, every head turned to stare at us.
But that attention didn't last long.
Because every bit of it swung straight to Yoo Serin.
Team Leader Kim Ijun's reaction, in particular, was explosive.
"Pass!!"
"Excuse me..?"
"Team Leader Kim Ijun..!"
"Ah.. sorry... but Head of Department...!"
Kim Ijun crumpled his face at Yoon Heejeong like he was desperately trying to beam a message across.
I could tell what he meant, too.
Don't ask, don't argue—just accept her.
Even a specialist who'd produced countless idol groups was thinking that, because today Yoo Serin had come fully locked in.
Even her hair, even the light makeup on a face that was usually bare.
"All right, Ms. Yoo Serin. Show us what you've prepared."
"Yes..!"
"One moment."
Before I heard her sing, there was something I needed to ask.
The reason she was standing here.
She'd told me, firmly, that she had no intention of becoming a singer.
"Did you change your mind?"
"....Yes..."
"Why?"
"Well... I started wanting to... sing...."
"CEO..?"
"Do you know her..?"
"......"
I didn't answer Yoon Heejeong or Kim Ijun. I just stared straight at Yoo Serin.
Then I stood up.
"I'll end my observation here. Good luck, everyone."
"C-CEO..!!"
"Ah...."
I rose from my seat and left the audition hall.
There was no need to watch any further—it would be Yoo Serin, Lee Min-ju, and Jeong Mei.
Those three would be the ones chosen.
"CEO!!"
"Huh? Head of Department, why'd you come out?"
"Should we fail Yoo Serin?"
"What?? What are you talking about?"
"It seemed like there might be some history there."
"Ah... it's nothing like that."
"Then may I ask why you're leaving?"
I'd only been sitting there as an observer from the start.
I'd decided to leave it to the professionals, which was why there wasn't even an evaluation sheet in front of me.
That was why I'd left my seat.
"I'm going to do my own job. Just like those kids."
"Sorry??"
"Well then, take care~"
Min-ju hadn't given up on her dream, and Yoo Serin had found her courage.
So I had to go do what I needed to do, too.
A café in Busan.
I stood and greeted them.
I'd already met Min-ju's parents once before, right before I left for the States.
"Thank you for making time."
"Not at all."
"Did you come about Min-ju, by any chance?"
Straight to the point.
We hadn't even ordered coffee yet, so it felt a little awkward, but I didn't like beating around the bush either.
"Yes. Min-ju came to audition at our company today. She might already be celebrating a pass by now."
"Hoo...."
"That little—!!"
"Father, Mother. Please trust Min-ju this once. I'll do everything in my power to help her succeed."
I bowed my head and made the request, but no answer came.
Only a small sigh, and then Min-ju's father spoke.
"I looked into your company a little. It's an agency specializing in actors. And not long ago you posted a public audition notice to produce idols."
"Yes, that's correct. We were an actor-focused agency, and this idol project is our first."
"That's what worries me. I already don't like the idea of her becoming a singer, and on top of that she wants to do it at a company with zero experience. Forgive me if this is rude, but I'm speaking frankly as a parent."
"I understand. Especially since the CEO is about the same age as the interns at a university hospital."
"Ahem..!"
He didn't deny it—just cleared his throat.
Neither the company nor I sat well with them.
I would've felt the same in their position, so it didn't bother me.
I was just worried that persuading them would be hard.
"I didn't grow up under my parents."
"Pardon..?"
"Why are you suddenly saying—"
"I was raised by my grandmother, and she passed when I was eighteen. The only person I could lean on was gone. So I clawed my way through life. Without anything I wanted to do, without anything I wanted to become—just clawing. Back then, what I needed most was my grandmother's warm hand and her gentle voice."
"......"
"......"
"Min-ju needs that more desperately than anyone right now. Your warm hands and your gentle voices. Please believe in her. She's a tough, bold kid—enough that even I trust her. Even if she has to turn back at the end of this road, Min-ju will handle it. And I'll help her with that path too. With everything I've got. Money, support, opportunities—whatever I can do. So please, both of you, cheer her on. I'm asking you."
I had no idea if this conversation could persuade two people who'd already succeeded on completely different paths.
If it didn't work, I'd come back again.
I'd keep coming until it did.
Because this was all I could do right now.
"Hmm.... Well, the atmosphere didn't seem too bad...."
After Min-ju's parents left, I killed a little time drinking the coffee I'd ordered late.
Then I headed to the house to see Han Jihyun.
Fortunately, there was nothing to persuade on this side.
"Yes, Serin told me. That she was going to the audition."
"Are you giving her permission?"
"Is there anything for me to permit? It's Serin's life. I'm just worried... I always knew she'd leave my arms someday... I just didn't expect to send her off this soon... Did Min-ju pass too? If Min-ju's by her side, I'd feel a little more at ease...."
"Yes. I just got word that both of them passed."
"Ah..! That's wonderful! But Min-ju's parents..."
"I met them first. I haven't managed to persuade them yet, though."
"Ah....."
Once the business was done, the atmosphere turned extremely awkward.
Neither of us really had anything left to say.
Should I just get up?
But we'd only been sitting for less than five minutes—standing up the second the business was finished felt a little wrong.
"If you're uncomfortable, you can leave first."
"Ahem..! Then I'll take my leave."
"Yes. Please take good care of our Serin, and Min-ju as well."
"I'll do my best."
I bowed as deeply as Han Jihyun did, then stepped out of the house.
I walked down the narrow, steep slope toward where I'd parked the car.
But who was that?
"What are you doing..?"
That was definitely my car.
The one down there was mine, and someone was staring hard into it.
It looked like they were checking the phone number—was it about parking?
I didn't see any other cars around.
"Excuse me. Can I help you with something?"
"Ah, no... I, uh... just... the c-car was a little... i-interesting...."
"......"
Why was he stuttering like that?
And the car was interesting?
It was a used foreign car, expensive enough not to fit this neighborhood.
But you could see them pretty often on the road if you just went a little farther out.
It wasn't the kind of car you'd stop and gawk at.
And he'd been staring only through the front windshield the whole time.
If he was curious about the interior, looking through the driver's or passenger window would've been better, wouldn't it?
"Th-the car... i-i-is nice...."
"Thank you. Mind if I go now?"
"Y-yes, y-yes..."
Was he not panicking—did he just naturally stutter?
Maybe he was dealing with something.
"If you're heading down, want a ride?"
"N-n-no..! I-I'm... g-going home..."
I watched the man turn and start walking for a moment, then climbed into the car.
I drove to a nearby restaurant, grabbed a simple dinner, and headed back toward Seoul.
But what was this?
Something felt incredibly off.
Like I'd taken a dump and only wiped halfway before walking out.
"Is it just the traffic..? No... why does this feel so wrong..? Am I imagining it..."
I turned the music up a little and focused on driving.
But I couldn't shake the uneasy feeling.
"Wait. Phone number... phone number....?"
I stopped muttering and, just in case, called Han Jihyun.
It rang.
It just kept ringing.
Whew... thank god.
She picked up.
"Ms. Han Jihyun, this is Yoo Eun—"
"Oppa! Save—"
"H-hello?! Hello!! Shit..!!"
I wrenched the wheel around at once.
Then I laid on the horn and floored the accelerator.
BEEEEEEP!!!!!!!!