Chapter 45
Chapter 45
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 45
Chapter Title: Our Seon-hwa's Song
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“A child star... you mean Seon-hwa?”
“Yes. If possible, I'd like to ask you...”
At Chae Soo-jeong's words about wanting to ask a favor, Park Chan-su found himself showing interest without realizing it.
But upon hearing what followed, he felt a twinge of bewilderment.
Child Star.
An audition music program in the works at MBS, centered around boys and girls twelve and under aspiring to be singers.
It was being touted as the kids' version of Wnet's hot Ultrastar K right now,
and though preparations were still underway—no official broadcast date or even main filming had started yet—the rumors had already spread quietly through the industry.
And Park Chan-su had already been approached to serve as a judge and advisor for this 'Child Star,' and he was involved in the pre-production.
He had no idea how she knew, but Chae Soo-jeong was asking him for a favor related to it.
To let her daughter, Chae Seon-hwa, participate in Child Star.
“I'm not asking you to force her through or anything. Just give our Seon-hwa a fair shot, even if it's only once.”
“Hmm... even if you say that...”
At Soo-jeong's request, Chan-su made a slightly troubled face.
Honestly, if it were a normal audition program, he had no reason to refuse from his position.
It wasn't biased judging or anything; she was just asking for a regular chance to participate.
Given how much he already owed her in various ways, refusing even this would be the real rudeness.
However.
Despite being young—or rather, still young by some measures—Chan-su had been around this industry long enough to know.
That Chae Soo-jeong's 'simple request' wasn't so simple.
A variety show flaunting itself as a hunt for child prodigies to lead the music industry in the future.
But that was just on paper.
In reality, it was nothing more than a 'fancy show for the kids of big shots and connected folks.'
Even with main filming less than a month away, there hadn't been any public announcements from MBS.
Of course, they'd put out some minimal notice a week or two before broadcast, but for an audition-format show to drag its feet on recruitment like this meant they had no intention of running it properly from the start.
In that light, Chan-su couldn't help feeling awkward about how to explain it to Soo-jeong.
'What to do... Should I make some excuse and turn it down here? Or just tell her straight up that it's total garbage?'
The former would only pile onto the already hefty debt he owed her emotionally.
The latter risked direct backlash over the 'confidentiality clause' as an advisor.
Of course, Chae Soo-jeong wasn't the type to blab, but it tied into his personal credibility.
No matter how distasteful, a promise was a promise, and he couldn't break it lightly.
Besides, for someone like him who'd resolved to at least run a fair judging process amid the mess, it didn't sit well.
'No... maybe she already knows? Asking for a fair shot to participate in the first place suggests she's sniffed something out...'
As he pondered how to handle this...
“If you're really worried, why don't you check it out later and see for yourself?”
“Me? Check what...?”
“Our Seon-hwa's skills. See if she can handle it there or not—judge for yourself.”
“Hmm...”
Soo-jeong's words carried confidence.
Chan-su nodded reluctantly, but honestly, he wasn't expecting much.
Seon-hwa was a child actress whose acting talent even seemed better than his own, sure.
But acting and singing were separate worlds, as he himself was proving all too clearly right now.
And above all, since it was her own daughter—not someone else's—Soo-jeong's confident attitude likely came with a hefty dose of parental bias.
'Well, in a mom's eyes... even if the kid just doesn't mess up the lyrics, she'll look like a genius singer.'
Still, since it was Chae Soo-jeong of all people—
Thinking he'd at least take a look, Chan-su headed straight to the recording studio in Building B right after wrapping today's shoot, with Soo-jeong in tow.
The place buzzing with OST work for this drama.
After passing by the complex recording equipment and staff deep in their tasks, a voice hit his ears—one that was awfully familiar... no, frankly grating by now.
'Oh right... the OST lead was that chick, huh?'
Lisa.
No, Im Hyun-soo.
A fellow idol singer, and someone awfully prickly in every way.
Work-related or not, Chan-su let out a small sigh at having to see someone he didn't care to meet again, then peeked inside the studio.
-“Can I reach it? That place where you are. My heart is always by your side.”
As expected, she was belting it out earnestly.
And next to her was Seon-hwa—so tiny she always seemed pint-sized—standing before a mic as tall as she was.
Not her part yet, so she was catching her breath for the moment.
Figuring he'd wait and see, he glanced at Lisa's face.
And...
“!...”
“...”
Their eyes met for an instant.
Lisa's face naturally scowled.
Seeing that instinctive reaction, Chan-su smirked.
But then—
“...Heh.”
“?”
Right after, Lisa flashed a strange smile.
As Chan-su wondered, 'What's with her now...', Lisa subtly nodded her chin.
A gesture laced with evident pride.
At its end... was the girl, Chae Seon-hwa, slowly drawing in a breath.
Looking just about to start singing.
Wondering again what her deal was, Chan-su turned to watch Seon-hwa.
But...
-“I love you, forever. No matter the time, no matter the place. Only you.”
“!? ...Huh?”
The song flowing from Seon-hwa's mouth.
The moment he heard it, Chan-su felt chills race across his skin.
'What... what the hell? This?'
A voice utterly unimaginable from a child.
Perfect pitch, lyrics ringing clear without a hint of slurring.
And the vivid, heartfelt emotion woven through it all.
If he hadn't seen her, he'd never have guessed this was an eight-year-old girl singing.
It was like a slap to the back of the head for Chan-su, who'd just been thinking, 'How good could a kid really be?'
A genius.
A child who fit the word so perfectly even he hesitated to claim it for himself.
As Chan-su stood there dazed, Lisa's face bloomed with an even deeper smile...
The smile of a victor.
“Wh-what the...”
Meanwhile, still reeling, Chan-su muttered blankly.
Toward him—the one who'd brought him here—Chae Soo-jeong asked in a voice brimming with clear anticipation, quite unlike her usual self.
“Our Seon-hwa's singing. What do you think?”
“! Uh... th-that's...”
For a split second, thinking, 'This woman can make that face too,' Chan-su felt his cheeks flush hot.
But with so many eyes around,
especially that woman right next door in the studio, he quickly schooled his expression and spoke in his still-shaky voice.
“In-incredible.”
He had so much he wanted to say.
How long had she been singing? How'd she learn without lessons?
But amid the swirl of thoughts, all he could voice was pure admiration.
Seon-hwa's vocal talent was that shocking, even to him.
Then—
“I've pretty much figured it out already. That the show's no real audition.”
“!”
The next moment, Soo-jeong spoke with newfound seriousness.
Confirming his suspicions, Chan-su felt his excitement settle as his face grew composed.
And...
Watching him, Soo-jeong smiled her usual calm smile and said,
“Ordinary kids won't even get a chance to try. They might've already picked a winner internally. But... what if our Seon-hwa slipped into that lineup?”
“...No way.”
Soo-jeong's question dripped with heavy implication.
Hearing it, scenarios flooded Chan-su's mind.
Biased judging only worked if the playing field matched.
The restrictions on participants were to keep any truly outstanding kids from rising and disrupting their closed league.
Besides, MBS was a proper terrestrial broadcaster.
Even with editing tricks and sleight-of-hand, cross certain lines and backlash would come from all sides.
If a real genius got in there.
An outlier even that woman Lisa—who Chan-su had to admit was talented—marveled at.
What if Seon-hwa officially joined?
'...Could land a massive blow if played right.'
Of course, it might draw sharp glares from MBS's higher-ups.
But in this cutthroat industry rife with tricks and corruption, it all boiled down to money in the end.
Especially now, with MBS's variety shows floundering.
There might be complaints and noise, but those at the top wouldn't be clueless.
Realizing Soo-jeong's intent,
Chan-su nodded with a resolute expression.
“I'll do everything I can. Leave it to me.”
“Thank you.”
Soo-jeong flashed a deep smile.
Seeing it, Chan-su smiled back.
A smile carrying even more genuine feeling than before.