Chapter 153
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Translator: 8uhl
Chapter: 153
Chapter Title: The Application
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From 0-Years-Old, a Superstar 153
“Yeah. Let’s go to a coin karaoke again sometime.”
“Ah, speaking of coin karaoke, that ‘One Step’ video Seojun filmed got a crazy number of views on N-tube. There were comments in foreign languages, too.”
At Mina’s words, the other kids nodded. It had even been on the news. There was probably no other public service announcement that had spread so far across the world.
“I heard a ton of people are going to the Baekho Fire Safety Experience Center, too.”
“Oh, I saw an article about that.”
“They said the experience facilities have gotten a lot more diverse.”
The set of ‘One Step,’ which had been moved to the Baekho Fire Safety Experience Center, was refurbished and opened to the public in the middle of summer vacation.
In conjunction with the acting experience hall, they created courses that allowed visitors to experience things almost exactly as seen in ‘One Step’: a course to escape from Room 7, a course to find hidden tissues and bottled water in front of a blocked entrance and emergency exit, and a course to find the right room to escape through by checking the temperature of the doorknobs.
Because you could experience things almost exactly as seen in ‘One Step,’ it was a popular attraction not only for children but also for adults, especially Seojun’s fans.
Many videos edited similarly to ‘One Step’ were also uploaded to N-tube.
Even Seojun hadn’t known the ‘One Step’ set would be used that way.
“They said a lot of foreigners come, right?”
“Yeah. A ton.”
“That’s our Seojun for you!”
Everyone burst out laughing at Jiyun’s comment. After a good laugh, Jihu asked Seojun.
“By the way, don’t you have to take a test for an arts middle school?”
“Yeah. There’s no written test, but I have to act.”
“Of course you’ll pass, Seojun!”
“Yeoul Arts Middle School… Have you decided where you’re moving?”
“Not yet. Mom and Dad are looking, but it seems like there aren’t any good places.”
“Invite us over when you move!”
“Yeah. Let’s all go hang out.”
“Okay. You should all come over.”
Seojun smiled and nodded readily at his friends’ words.
* * *
Once they decided to move, Seo Eunhye and Lee Minjun became busy starting from the summer vacation.
The couple worked tirelessly, visiting many places to find a house close to Yeoul Arts Middle School.
“This one’s not great, right?”
“Yeah.”
Seo Eunhye and Lee Minjun whispered behind the real estate agent.
It was spacious, clean, and in a good location. The security was decent, but… something felt off. Perhaps because of the unsettling feeling, their first impression wasn't good.
“Why is that?”
This strange feeling gave the couple a lot to think about in deciding on a house. Inside Seo Eunhye’s and Lee Minjun’s wallets, a note from Seojun shimmered.
[I love you, Mom and Dad!]
Along with a drawing of a small bird, the note was filled with Seojun’s love, and the couple cherished it.
[[Pre-made/Prop] Fortune Teller Bird's Note - Mid-Low Grade]
Discerns a suitable house for the owner of the note.
A good house will give a good feeling, while a bad house will give an unsettling feeling.
How to use: Possess the paper with the bird drawing.
Duration: 2 months
This bird belonged to a very skilled fortune teller and assisted in bird divination. In particular, the fortune teller was famous for accurately predicting good locations for moving and had helped many people find auspicious sites for their homes, making them quite wealthy.
‘I hope the new place we move to is a nice apartment like this one.’
The note, filled with the wishes of Seojun and his parents, informed the couple that this was not a good place.
“Is this one not to your liking either?”
The real estate agent, noticing their expressions, sighed inwardly and headed outside to introduce another house.
It was a lost cause. Though the house was clean, spacious, and listed for a low price, it was on the market due to noise complaints about the upstairs neighbors. The agent shook their head, wondering when it would ever sell.
And so, with the help of Seojun’s ability, the couple continued their search around Yeoul Arts Middle School and finally found a good apartment in late September.
It was spacious, clean, and though the price was a bit high, it was understandable. Most importantly, the moment they stepped inside, a warm breeze washed over them, making them feel refreshed.
“That’s strange.”
That breeze alone gave the couple a very good first impression of the house. The little bird drawn on the note was also satisfied with this place.
But a feeling was just a feeling. The meticulous couple inspected every nook and cranny. They paid special attention to the two rooms that would become Seojun’s bedroom and practice room.
“We can put a desk and a bookshelf here.”
“And the bed over here. The sunlight is so nice.”
They also liked the view from Seojun’s room. They hoped their son would love the wide, open scenery as well.
“We’ll take this one.”
Seeing the couple’s satisfied smiles, the real estate agent smiled back, wiping cold sweat from their back. For a young couple, they had an unusually keen eye for houses.
* * *
“Seojun. We found a great house.”
At his mother's words, Seojun, who was eating braised ribs, looked up. Seo Eunhye and Lee Minjun looked at their son with proud faces. They wanted to brag about how nice the house was.
“You have no idea how great the view is from the window.”
“The house is spacious, and the energy feels good, too.”
Energy.
At that word, Seojun chuckled softly. It seemed the fortune teller bird’s ability had helped them pick a solid house. That alone was a relief to Seojun.
“So when are we moving?”
“The current residents have to move out, then we have to get it repapered and renovate your practice room, so… maybe around the end of November?”
“I see.”
“If there’s anything you want in your practice room, take your time and think about it.”
“Something I want…”
Seojun, popping a piece of melt-in-your-mouth rib into his mouth, thought for a moment, and his eyes sparkled.
“A camera and a monitor?”
“Of course, we have to install those.”
Seojun and Seo Eunhye laughed at the father’s words.
“Let’s put in a small fridge, too. For drinks and simple snacks.”
“Right. There will be times you want to stay in the practice room to focus.”
“For the wallpaper in the practice room, to help with concentration… Hmm, should we decorate it like the practice rooms at Cocoa Entertainment?”
“That’s a great idea. It’d be better to practice in a familiar environment.”
Seojun smiled brightly, seeing his parents seem even more excited than he was. Just from their conversation, he could tell how much he was loved. His heart felt all warm and fuzzy.
“What do you want to put in there, Seojun?”
“Hmm…”
At his parents’ sparkling eyes, Seojun also fell deep in thought.
A bookshelf for scripts? That was a given. As long as he had a monitor and a camera, Seojun was content.
Just then, what came to Seojun’s mind was the movie theater in Richel Hill’s mansion.
‘I can’t make it exactly like that, but…’
Seojun opened his mouth. Seo Eunhye and Lee Minjun perked up their ears.
“A screen to watch movies?”
“That’s a great idea! We could watch movies together as a family.”
“If we soundproof it, we can watch with the volume turned up loud!”
“We can get movable, comfy chairs, so when you’re practicing, Seojun, we can move them to one side. And you can sit there when you’re reading scripts!”
“Great. I’ll have to buy a projector.”
“Get the best one!”
Seojun burst out laughing at his excited parents.
A new home. A new school.
They were words that made him both nervous and thrilled.
* * *
October.
The application period for arts middle schools across the country began.
Seojun also printed out an application form from the Yeoul Arts Middle School website, attached his photo, and filled in his name, elementary school, and phone number.
“Major, Acting.”
While Seojun was diligently filling out the application, Seo Eunhye and Lee Minjun looked over the admission guidelines, which they hadn't bothered with when deciding on a school.
The curriculum was what mattered; the admission process was something they could think about after choosing the school.
“So there’s a practical exam and an interview.”
“A free performance of under two minutes… Our Seojun will do great.”
Seo Eunhye and Lee Minjun whispered, trying not to pressure their son. But Seojun’s keen senses delivered their words to him perfectly. Of course, Seojun was confident, too.
“I’m done with the application.”
“Okay. Good job. Should we mail it in? Or submit it in person?”
The family of three was once again deep in thought.
“How about we submit it in person and take a look around the school?”
“It’s a weekday, so I’ll go.”
“…I want to go, too.”
Seojun and Seo Eunhye laughed at the words of Lee Minjun, who had to go to work at Marine Company on weekdays.
Lee Minjun wanted to see the school his son would be attending. He was curious about the kind of school where Seojun would spend three years.
“Then let’s go together, Dad.”
“Yeah. Let’s look around the school, submit the application, and then go hang out somewhere.”
“It’s getting chilly, so should we go see a movie?”
“I’m in!”
Seojun shot his hand up in the air.
* * *
The last day of application submissions for Yeoul Arts Middle School.
“Looks like he’s not coming to our school.”
“I know, right?”
The staff members looking over the submitted applications gazed at the pile of forms with disappointed eyes.
“Are there any articles about which school he applied to?”
“Either he hasn’t applied yet, or the school is keeping quiet… There are no articles.”
At the words of a staff member who was checking the news online, everyone spoke up.
“Is he planning to go to a regular middle school?”
“It would be hard for him to film then.”
“There’s no place as well-equipped as our school…”
The door to the application office, filled with disappointment, opened. A woman who looked to be the mother of an applicant entered with a smile.
“Is this where I submit the application?”
“Yes. This way, please.”
The staff member in charge of applications called the woman over. The woman took out the application form. The staff member, who was checking the contents of the form for any mistakes, froze upon seeing the name written on it.
“Um…”
“Yes, oh, yes. I’m sorry.”
The staff member cut out the admission ticket printed along with the application form and handed it to the woman.
“You’ll receive a notification on your phone. Please come on the day of the practical exam.”
“Okay. Thank you.”
After the woman bowed and left the office, the legs of the staff member who had handled the application gave out.
The other staff, who had been doing their own work, rushed over in surprise as they saw their colleague collapse into their chair.
“What’s wrong? What happened?”
“Are you okay?”
“I… I…”
“I? Does your eye hurt?”
“It’s Lee Seojun!”
…?
Lee Seojun? Why bring up Lee Seojun now?
The staff member, who had collapsed in shock, shot up and held up the application form that had just been submitted. Everyone stared at the scene with a dazed look.
“Lee Seojun came to our school!”
The ID photo and name attached to the application form seemed to shine with a particular brilliance.
The people who confirmed the application stared, their jaws dropped. No matter how many times they checked, the name and photo remained unchanged.
* * *
After looking around Yeoul Arts Middle School with his parents, Seojun liked the school.
He was most pleased that there was a large stage where students could perform and practice rooms for acting.
“Seojun, what are you going to do for your free performance?”
“I haven’t decided yet. I was about to look for something.”
The practical exam for Yeoul Arts Middle School was a free performance of under two minutes.
Lines created by the applicant were acceptable, as were lines from well-known scripts.
A monologue performed alone was possible, as was a performance in the style of a conversation with someone else. Of course, for a conversational style, there would be no one to deliver the other lines, so if performed poorly, it would look strange, like someone talking to themselves.
“The score probably wouldn’t be good, either.”
Two minutes.
It was a short time, but it could also be long.
Seojun looked at the bookshelf filled with scripts. A goofy grin spread across his face as he looked at the bookcase, a treasure chest he had been filling since he was young. Just looking at it made his heart feel full.
“No, that’s not it. What should I do?”
Faced with so many scripts, Seojun pondered which role to perform. First, he decided to exclude the roles he had already played. It would be too easy, and showing the same performance again wouldn't be fun.
“First, let’s exclude foreign works.”
Placing the scripts of Korean works in front of him, Seojun fell into thought. Should he choose an adult role played by an adult actor, or a child role played by a child actor?
‘An adult role probably wouldn’t be a good idea, right?’
Then, should he be an innocent child like the one in his cameo for *Re-Investigation*, or a child steeped in sorrow?
Lost in thought, Seojun’s eyes rolled as they scanned the titles of the scripts.
He could tell what kind of characters were in them just by reading the titles. Just then, one script caught his eye.
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