Chapter 6
Chapter 6
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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 6
Chapter Title: The Second Audition
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I continued to save money by busking.
But it wasn't as easy as I first thought. As the number of repeat audience members grew, I had to constantly expand my repertoire.
I could buy the necessary equipment for busking with money, but my guitar playing and vocals depended purely on my own effort.
Still, this is a sweet deal.
I also bought a decent guitar for 500,000 won from a used instrument shop. As my financial situation improved, my confidence and ambition to achieve my goal grew.
*Bzzzt. Bzzzt.*
It was an unknown number.
A voice phishing scam?
My first instinct was to reject the unknown number. But the number reflected in my 'Third Eye' had a fresh, blue hue.
"Hello?"
"Yes. This is JD Enter. Is this Min-jun?"
"Yes!"
They said the acceptance notification would be a text message, so why a phone call?
"You've passed the first round of auditions. The date and details for the next audition will be sent to you via text shortly. Please check it carefully and make sure to attend."
The tone was business-like, but it sounded sweet to my ears. It wasn't as thrilling as when I passed an audition in my first life, but I was just as happy.
About an hour later, a text message arrived.
-This is JD Enter.
Congratulations on passing the first round, prospective artist. Your second in-person audition is scheduled for Wednesday the 5th.
Mission Song: 'As If It's Your Last' (dance and sing simultaneously)
Freestyle Song: Any song that showcases your vocals.
Note: Revealing clothing and heavy makeup are prohibited.
***
For the remaining fifteen days, I practiced hard, aside from my busking time.
I was confident I wouldn't fail the audition even if I took it right then, but I needed to stand out overwhelmingly. I was barred from debuting with any other company for three years, so I had to find a different way to make things work.
The day of my audition arrived. I woke up at five in the morning and couldn't fall back asleep.
*Swoosh.*
I ran my hands over my firm, pumped-up body from 100 push-ups as I showered. My toned physique boosted my confidence even more.
I chose an outfit that looked good with the sleeves rolled up. The defined muscles in my arms, honed by exercise, would surely earn me extra points.
I heated up a smoked chicken breast in the microwave. I rinsed a single-serving salad pack and drizzled it with oriental dressing and olive oil. This was the diet I'd been eating for breakfast and dinner, with the exception of lunch.
My audition was scheduled for after 3 PM, but I left home early, curious to see what kind of kids would be there.
I arrived at 10 AM.
There was an unusually large number of girls around the agency building. Their outfits varied from school uniforms to jeans, but their bare faces and lean figures told me they were here for the second audition.
It's still a small agency with little power, yet so many kids are flocking to it.
Will they even pick five from this crowd?
"The male DB team auditions are after 3 PM. You're way too early. Come back when it's time."
The staff member, who glanced at my guitar case with a mocking expression, told me to leave. Thanks to the sneer, my determination surged.
I looked around for a cafe on the second floor with a view of this place and started walking.
Soon, one person stood out, strangely different from the kids around her. A girl who, no matter which way I walked, only ever showed me her back.
"...What's with her?"
I let out a small laugh.
It was Lee Yoo-ah, wearing a plaid pleated skirt that looked like a school uniform and a semi-oversized short-sleeved shirt.
A 20-year-old Lee Yoo-ah's desperate attempt to look younger to compete with kids in their early to mid-teens. She really didn't need to.
"Yoo-ah?"
*Gasp!*
I burst out laughing at how startled she was, jumping with a shudder.
"Oh! Ah."
A startled Lee Yoo-ah turned around awkwardly. She had a sharp mind, but the ditsy charm she showed when flustered was rather cute. It was a charm that would definitely appeal to the public.
"So you terminated your contract and passed the first audition?"
"Yes... Thank you. Are you... Seonbae-nim... also here for the audition?"
I smiled lightly at the awkward Lee Yoo-ah and nodded.
But.
Something felt missing. Her makeup was natural, as if she were bare-faced, and her outfit wasn't bad, but...?
"Where's your guitar? Yoo-ah, you play the guitar well."
"Huh? Isn't this a girl group audition?"
How frustrating.
"It doesn't matter what kind of audition it is; you should show everything you can do. There's a freestyle song to showcase your vocals."
Even at 20, Lee Yoo-ah's playing was top-notch, enough for 'session musician' to be her second-highest career aptitude.
"All 11 AM audition participants, please enter now."
At the staff member's announcement, Lee Yoo-ah's expression turned urgent.
"A standard one is fine, right?"
Women, being smaller than men, sometimes carried smaller, female-specific guitars instead of standard ones.
"...Yes."
"It's already tuned."
I handed the guitar case to Lee Yoo-ah.
[Achievement Unlocked: 'When Favors Are Repeated']
Due to repeated favors, your favorability has increased past 50.
Reward: Favorability Unlocked
[Manipulating favorability may have side effects.]
One of the stats previously marked with '???' disappeared.
[Name: Lee Yoo-ah (Age 20)]
Favorability: 55/100
Favorability? I wondered if she'd fall for me if it maxed out, but that didn't seem to be the case. Neither of us had time for a leisurely romance. Besides, I had a goal to achieve within three years.
But it was obvious that this favorability score would be a great help to me in some way.
"Thank you for everything. I'll use it quickly and give it back."
Lee Yoo-ah bowed deeply and headed for the entrance.
"Call me when you're out. 24..."
"Okay!"
Lee Yoo-ah replied hastily and disappeared inside.
Did she already know my number? When I turned my head, I felt the gazes that had been on me hastily avert.
I found a seat by the window in a cafe with an iced Americano. The pleasant aroma of the coffee seemed to hint at the enjoyable day ahead.
***
♪♬Boom boom~ Boom boom♪♬
The audition hall, normally used as a practice room.
A beat echoed through the empty space, as if they were testing the sound system.
Lee Yoo-ah sat in the spot indicated by a staff member. Many of the participants' eyes were drawn to the large guitar case.
'Who's she, trying to be extra?'
'What's with the old fossil?'
The participants, much younger than Lee Yoo-ah, openly shot her looks of jealousy. Lee Yoo-ah, who was about to check the guitar, paused.
'I'll take it out when they stop staring.'
Seven years as a trainee.
Lee Yoo-ah was exhausted from the draining psychological warfare of 'survival of the fittest' (the strong are the only ones who survive) against all sorts of kids.
Lee Yoo-ah's stunning looks and vocal talent made many trainees jealous, and her virtually non-existent dancing ability provided the perfect excuse for that jealousy to turn into bullying.
*Click-clack.*
All eyes gathered on the source of the charismatic sound of heels.
"Congratulations to everyone who passed the first round. I'm Lee Sun, the Director of Financial Management at JD Enter, and I'm also in charge of the artists' physical conditioning."
A director who was a former girl group member, active until just a few years ago. At her appearance, the participants' eyes sparkled.
"Those of you participating in today's audition are more special than the participants on other days."
Director Lee Sun said, making eye contact with each of them.
"But I see a few participants who didn't read the instructions."
A few who received Director Lee Sun's gaze again flinched.
*Click-clack.*
She walked over and handed cleansing pads to a few of them. When she stopped in front of Lee Yoo-ah, staring at her, a cold sweat ran down Yoo-ah's back.
"...This is fine."
*Clap, clap.*
Director Lee Sun clapped her hands to draw their attention.
Lee Yoo-ah breathed a sigh of relief.
"Those who received pads, wipe off your makeup right now. If you think your eyelashes are too much, 'fess up voluntarily."
Though it had nothing to do with her, Lee Yoo-ah fidgeted with the innocent guitar case. When a few participants grumbled and hesitated, Director Lee Sun crossed her arms and spoke again.
"Whether you wipe it off or not is your choice, but I'm one of the judges."
*Scrub, scrub, rub, rub.*
At the participants' sudden change in attitude, the uninvolved contestants laughed in satisfaction.
"Listen while you wipe off your makeup."
A staff member handed out two-page questionnaires and pens.
"I want you to answer the questions on the questionnaire honestly and frankly. If we find any discrepancies with what you write now, you could face serious trouble even after you debut. Do you know what I mean?"
"Yes!"
The questionnaire was filled with questions about their private lives, such as drinking, smoking, and their school life.
10 minutes later.
"Anyone not finished yet?"
"Me."
A distressed Lee Yoo-ah raised her hand.
"Keep writing."
Director Lee Sun stood in front of Lee Yoo-ah and looked down at the questionnaire she was filling out.
Compared to the other participants who wrote relatively simple answers, hers was filled with dense text. Lee Yoo-ah was nervous but steadfastly continued to write.
As the staff member collected the questionnaires, Director Lee Sun singled out Lee Yoo-ah's and held it in her hand. Reading the essay-like responses, Director Lee Sun's lips twitched.
"...You have a way with words."
"Thank you!"
After Director Lee Sun left, Lee Yoo-ah touched her cold forehead. The gazes of the other participants on her had grown even sharper.
'I have to succeed. For my parents, if for nothing else.'
The more the younger participants tried to start a fight, the more Lee Yoo-ah steeled her weakening resolve.
"Lee Yoo-ah."
"Yes?"
"You're up."
Lee Yoo-ah, who thought her turn was much later, hurriedly stood up.
Lee Yoo-ah entered the audition room. There were five judges, including a beaming CEO Park Jae-yong and the charismatic Director Lee Sun.
She bowed and found her spot. The cameras in front and to the side, and the mirrors on all walls, made her feel dizzy.
"It says here you were in the top 16 of the competition show 'Best Vocalist'?"
"Yes."
"I was a judge on that show."
"Yes! You complimented me, saying I was good."
"...If you had come to JD, you could have debuted much sooner."
CEO Park Jae-yong looked regretful.
"Yes. I think so, too. But Producer Park Jae-yong didn't pick me..."
"Ah? I did? Did I really? Hahaha!"
CEO Park Jae-yong laughed exaggeratedly.
Director Lee Sun gave the CEO a peculiar look and spoke.
"Let's get right to it. Your original song first, not the mission song."
"Yes."
Lee Yoo-ah cleared her throat and set the mood.
♪♬ Cold raindrops on my lips— ♪♬
"Wait."
Lee Yoo-ah, who had been singing, opened her eyes wide as if to ask what was wrong.
"You seem very nervous. Relax, Yoo-ah."
"..."
"Is that guitar on your shoulder a prop?"
"Ah!"
The judges and staff puffed up their cheeks, looking amused.
Lee Yoo-ah hastily opened the guitar case.
A piece of cardboard fell out of the case.
-I'm a 9th-year idol trainee who dreams of becoming a producer. I hope that everyone who hears my song will have a future full of happiness.
"!"
Startled, Lee Yoo-ah flipped the sign over.
"...It's nothing to be ashamed of. But didn't you say you were at SJ for 7 years?"
CEO Park Jae-yong, who had been smiling the whole time, spoke with a stern expression.
"Yes."
"Busking is good experience. But even in your daily life, it's better not to lie."
"Huh?"
"If lying about small things becomes a habit, you'll end up making a big mistake without even realizing it."
Finally understanding the situation, Lee Yoo-ah waved her hands in denial and said.
"I borrowed the guitar! I came empty-handed because it was a girl group audition, but I saw another participant brought one. That's not my handwriting."
"...You managed to borrow one? Alright then, let's go again."
CEO Park Jae-yong became quite serious. Lee Yoo-ah took a deep breath to calm her pounding heart.
♪♬ Twang ting ding ding dang dong. ♪♬
After confirming the guitar was perfectly in tune, Lee Yoo-ah began to play.
Just as they say a master doesn't blame their tools, Lee Yoo-ah skillfully fretted the chords. Her pounding heart instantly calmed as she was drawn into the story of the song.
♪♬ Cold raindrops touched my lips. Your warm tears touched my lips ♬♪
Lee Yoo-ah, who had seemed a bit lacking somehow, began to shine.