Chapter 7
Chapter 7
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Translator: penny
Chapter: 7
Chapter Title: Han Sarang's Light
-----------------------------------------------------------------
"Not bad, right?"
Oh Seo-hee spoke up, and everyone nodded in agreement.
"Your pitch wavered a bit from nerves, but your vocalization was solid overall."
The vocal trainer gave a calm assessment.
"Your dance lines were pretty good too. I liked it."
Coming from Lee Su-rin, a current idol, that counted as practically passing with flying colors.
Even in Oh Seo-hee's eyes, this girl had real potential. She still needed polishing in a lot of areas, but with the right guidance, she could definitely shine.
"Great flow right from the start. Bring in the next applicant."
Beyond the first standout, there were quite a few more who caught their eye.
- Hello. I'm Kim Min-hyun, and I applied because I want to dance on stage no matter what.
- Ah, hello. I'm Park Yu-ah, a first-year at Yeongrye High School!
There was a guy whose dancing rivaled most idols, and someone whose voice alone soothed the soul just by listening.
"Even without the kid Park Sung-chul Manager mentioned, this audition's already a success."
The judges' faces brightened amid the parade of impressive applicants.
Even the usually stern producer had a faint smile tugging at his lips—that said it all. Unlike last time, this audition offered a wide pool of choices.
"Perfect timing. It's the one Park Manager told us about."
Oh Seo-hee glanced at the applicant list, then smiled at Park Sung-chul.
"We can look forward to her, right, Manager Park?"
"Haha..."
With the judges satisfied by the applicants' high caliber, there was no more sarcasm in their eyes. Just pure anticipation.
Under that gaze, Park Sung-chul managed an awkward chuckle.
"The applicants are better than expected... It's putting me in a tough spot."
"What?"
"Well, you see. When I thought about it, I realized I never actually checked her dancing or singing skills."
A chilly silence settled over the practice room.
"What do you mean? You said she was a diamond in the rough."
"You'll see when you meet her. She might not be able to dance or sing at all."
"Manager Park, you didn't scout her just for her looks, did you?"
Park Sung-chul said nothing. Taking his silence as confirmation, Oh Seo-hee's brow furrowed.
Pretty people were a dime a dozen in this world. Look around, and you'd spot civilians more glamorous than celebrities.
But that didn't mean everyone could become an idol. Entertainment was a cutthroat industry where only a tiny fraction survived.
Oh Seo-hee had met countless people in this business.
To make it here, you needed more than just looks.
She called that "something" light.
A unique power that seized attention and pulled at heartstrings. A talent you couldn't manufacture through effort alone.
If you lacked that innate light, you at least needed the passion to burn yourself up and create it.
'Park Manager knows that better than anyone.'
Yet here he was, hyping up some girl over her face alone. Maybe it was time to seriously consider docking his pay.
"Come on, let's just see her first. CEO."
If Lee Su-rin hadn't stepped in to defuse things, a full scolding might have ensued.
Oh Seo-hee shot Park Manager a glare, let out a short sigh, and turned to the staff.
"Send in the next applicant."
Yeah, calm down.
Even if the girl had zero talent, that wasn't her fault. It was on them for misjudging.
She resolved to let her down gently with kind words, no matter what.
Soon, the practice room door opened, and a figure stepped in.
A petite girl with a small frame. She looked like the shortest applicant so far.
"Whoa, she's adorable."
Lee Su-rin beamed at the sight. Oh Seo-hee's expression, however, visibly stiffened.
'No. She was just dragged here.'
Oh Seo-hee swallowed her rising frustration and forced a gentle smile toward the girl.
"Hello. Please start with a brief self-introduction."
Her voice was steady, without a trace of nerves.
Confidence? Or did she not care if she failed?
"Hello. My name is Han Sarang, and I'm fourteen."
"Nice to meet you, Han Sarang. Mind if I ask one question?"
"Sure."
"Did you check our guidelines?"
"Yes, I did."
"...I see."
Oh Seo-hee's eyebrow twitched faintly. A subtle smile curved her lips.
The other judges knew that smile wasn't born of kindness.
"The guidelines said makeup up to basic foundation. Did you see that part too?"
It happened sometimes. Applicants who showed up in full glam despite clear instructions.
Oh Seo-hee didn't like people who couldn't follow even the simplest rules.
"Yes. So?"
The girl's attitude finally cracked Oh Seo-hee's composure.
She hadn't planned to nitpick a lack of talent—that wasn't the girl's fault. But ignoring basic rules was another story.
"Yet you look like you've got quite a bit on, Han Sarang."
"Huh?"
Han Sarang tilted her head in genuine confusion.
"I... didn't put on any makeup."
"You didn't?"
"Never have in my life."
Oh Seo-hee let out a hollow laugh. Was the girl brazen or just naive to say something so obvious?
"Then, could you come closer for a second?"
Surprisingly, the girl walked forward without hesitation. Oh Seo-hee stood to face her.
"Not wearing colored contacts?"
A soft pink hue rare in Korean eyes. Striking, sure, but a deduction in this setting.
"It's my natural color. Genetic."
"..."
Up close, there was no telltale edge of contacts.
...People's eyes could really be that pale pink, huh.
And no cosmetic sheen or scent either.
The eye color aside, her skin was so fair it'd tricked her. What, had the kid never seen sunlight?
"Judges?"
Staring too long? The pink eyes showed a hint of discomfort.
"...My apologies. You're so beautiful, Han Sarang, I mistook it."
Oh Seo-hee owned up quickly, bowing her head to the much younger girl.
"Ah..."
The girl blinked a few times, then smiled.
Her slightly rosy lips curved up slowly. Long lashes softly framed those pink eyes.
Not a full grin, nor a faint smile—somewhere in between. An indescribably warm expression.
"Thank you, Judge Unnie. I'm happy you think I'm pretty."
Something stirred faintly in Oh Seo-hee's chest. Unpleasant, yet oddly familiar.
"Can I go back now?"
"...Yes. We'll start the audition."
What was that feeling just now?
No time to dwell—Han Sarang's audition began.
"Your form says no dance prep, just a song?"
The vocal trainer asked with interest.
"Ah, yeah. I'm really bad at dancing."
"Oh? So you're confident enough in your singing to cover for it?"
"Huh? No, not really."
Hehe.
The girl scratched her cheek with an awkward laugh. The vocal trainer glanced at Park Sung-chul.
Park Sung-chul shrugged with a troubled look.
'Fine, if anyone's at fault, it's him.'
The vocal trainer concluded and flashed a kind smile.
"Alright, then. Sing your prepared song for us. Got backing track ready?"
"Ah... Is the backing track mandatory?"
"No, but you're the first to sing without one."
"Really? First for the judges—I'm honored."
The girl beamed genuinely, easing the room's lingering tension.
"You have such a pretty smile, Han Sarang."
Lee Su-rin grinned. Unlike the others, looks were her top criterion as a working idol.
Put simply, she was face-blind for talent. This girl left a favorable impression.
"Thanks. You're really pretty too, Unnie."
The "Unnie" made Lee Su-rin's lips twitch upward.
All eyes turned to the CEO next. Normally she'd take over, but she stayed silent, lost in thought.
"Then, please sing your song, Han Sarang."
Park Sung-chul stepped in.
"Okay."
Thus, Han Sarang's audition commenced.
No backing track, no mic needed. She clasped her hands neatly and took a breath.
[Don't make that face.]
A delicate soprano slipped gently from her lips.
All eyes naturally fixed on that voice. Even the vocal trainer, who'd been smiling, straightened up to listen.
'Unique vocalization. Decent timbre... Rhythm's a bit off.'
The vocal trainer jotted notes while listening intently.
[If you want to go home, turn and walk away.]
Lee Su-rin listened with sparkling eyes. Park Sung-chul breathed a sigh of relief—at least her singing was decent.
Oh Seo-hee, meanwhile, remained serious, lost in her own world.
The girl's voice filled the space for a while as everyone formed their judgments.
Then, as the song neared its end.
The girl, eyes closed while singing, slowly lifted her lashes. Revealing those pink irises beneath.
Her lips curved faintly.
A smile blooming naturally between notes. So subtle, yet it drew every gaze.
Her eyebrows arched gently.
Eyes neither fully open nor shut. That half-lidded pink gaze seemed to whisper, come closer.
Someone stopped writing. Someone else unconsciously mirrored her dreamy smile.
Only Oh Seo-hee watched steadily, gaze calm and unwavering.
Silent until the song's final note.