Chapter 8
Chapter 8
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 8
Chapter Title: Acceptance Announcement
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With the final note, Han Sarang's song came to an end.
Yet even so, no one spoke for a long while. An uncomfortable silence settled over the room.
"Good work, Student Han Sarang."
The one who broke the silence was CEO Oh Seo-hee.
"Thank you."
And with that, Han Sarang's audition was over. Now it was time for the judges' evaluations.
As everyone maintained the mood, the vocal trainer was the first to speak up.
"Student Han Sarang, do you happen to know how to act as well?"
The response didn't come right away. Puzzled by the sudden silence, the trainer looked up from the documents and gazed at the girl.
"Student Han Sarang?"
"Ah, sorry. I didn't hear you."
"I see. I asked if you could show some acting."
"No. Why acting?"
"Your vocalization struck me as unique. Upon closer look, it seems trained."
He spun the pencil in his hand with practiced ease, a intrigued smile playing on his lips.
"But it feels closer to an actor's vocalization than a singer's."
"An actor?"
Her pink eyes filled with puzzled curiosity, as if the idea was foreign to her.
Singers and actors train different vocal techniques. Singers refine power and range, while actors focus on delivering lines clearly.
So singers handle pitch freely, but actors achieve crisp clarity even in whispers.
"Even your soft whispers reached my ears perfectly. I liked that. It felt like you were speaking right into them."
"Ah, thank you."
"You'd do well as an actor too. But if your goal is singer, you'll need more pitch practice."
"Yes!"
What could have sounded like criticism instead made her eyes sparkle happily as she nodded. Her spirited response drew a pleased smile from the vocal trainer.
"No backing track, yet your song carried real power."
The producer's assessment bordered on outright praise. He too had been moved by Han Sarang's performance.
"Excellent work, Student Han Sarang."
With Casting & Promotion Manager Park Sung-chul's words, the evaluations wrapped up.
"Good work, Miss Han Sarang. Results will be posted on the homepage within the week, so please check later."
"Yes!"
"...Good work. Take care on your way out."
CEO Oh Seo-hee's words put the final period on Han Sarang's audition.
She gave a polite bow and the girl with light pink hues stepped away.
Once all other applicants had finished, heated discussions broke out among the judges.
"CEO, how many are we selecting this time?"
"Five max. Can't expand trainees beyond that right now."
"Then we should pass this one. She was nervous, but overall well-balanced."
The producer pointed to the first applicant's file. No one disagreed.
"This one's solid too. Clean dance lines—main dancer material."
Lee Su-rin mentioned an applicant she'd eyed.
"I'm picking this one. Bit older, but strong voice. And full of passion above all."
The vocal trainer nominated his pick. Several more names naturally rose as pass candidates.
After intense debate, four primary passes were finalized. One spot remained from Oh Seo-hee's stated max.
Yet no one mentioned filling it. The owner of that spot was obvious, no debate needed.
"Looks like all the judges agree."
Everyone nodded at Oh Seo-hee's words.
"Have to admit it, Manager Park. You have an eye."
The producer grinned at Park Sung-chul.
"Haha. Told you—a rough gem."
Han Sarang.
The smile and song she'd left behind lingered in the judges' minds like an echo.
"Skill-wise, she's iffy though."
As the producer said.
She'd skipped dance entirely, claiming no confidence, and her singing wasn't standout compared to others.
But undeniably, she'd caught the most eyes among applicants.
"Just needs your decision now, CEO."
Park handed over the shortlist. Oh Seo-hee stared quietly at Han Sarang's file.
"Pass the four. Hold on Han Sarang."
The unexpected words stunned everyone. Park Sung-chul especially couldn't hide his shock.
"CEO? Holding on Han Sarang?"
"Yes."
Her steady reply left Park looking baffled.
"Why? You saw her too. That girl—"
"I know. Think I don't? Just need a moment to consider."
Park swallowed his words under her cooled gaze.
"Good work, everyone. I'll notify results later."
Oh Seo-hee rose with the five files in hand.
The moment she entered her office, she lit a cigarette.
"...I know."
If asked to pick the most promising of five, Oh Seo-hee would point to Han Sarang without hesitation.
This wasn't about skill. Nor practice volume.
It was innate—a heaven-sent talent drawing eyes effortlessly, impossible from effort alone. Han Sarang had it.
Nurtured right, she could be BlueNMI Entertainment's first breakout star.
So why this unease?
When the song ended, Oh Seo-hee felt a faint dissonance.
Amid the 'light' that should be purely warm, something else brushed her heart.
Something unpleasant and dank, coiled like a snake in gentle warmth.
It resembled eerily the emotion that once shattered her brilliant career in an instant.
[Oh Seo-hee. You're truly insane.]
She squeezed her eyes shut at the past voice echoing in her mind. Ten years later, it rang as clear as if whispered nearby.
That contemptuous gaze burned vividly in her memory too.
"...Get it together, Oh Seo-hee."
After slapping her own cheeks a few times, she reviewed the pass files on her desk.
Was the lucky one daydreaming right now? No intent to let a shining gem slip due to past ghosts.
"Congratulations on passing, Student Han Sarang."
A basement studio thick with instant noodle stench.
I propped my chin, staring blankly at the words on the narrow room's computer screen.
"Passed."
Results from that audition I'd done. Pass notice had arrived by email.
No big thrill. I'd barely cared either way. If anything, joy over the pass bonus money.
Nice. Heh.
Chicken for dinner tonight.
Bang—.
Something heavy slammed by the front door.
I opened it to check. My biological mother, blackout drunk, was being supported by Yu-na Aunt.
Messy hair, smeared makeup. Bruises peeked from her skimpy clothes—signs of a scuffle.
"Fuck, enjoying the show?"
The curse flew straight at me from her lips. Her black eyes, devoid of warmth, glared with disgust.
"Already a shitty day, and you make it worse."
Ptoo—
She spat on the living room floor and staggered toward me, but Yu-na Aunt blocked her.
"You're drunk, Ji-ye. Let's go inside."
"Let go!"
Her fierce resistance made Aunt release her grip. Aunt, no pushover, oddly held back against my biological mother.
Face flushed red from booze, foul breath wafting, she closed in on me.
"Welcome home, Mom."
I smiled up at her sweetly.
Should I have pretended fear? She scowled deeply and grabbed my chin roughly.
"If not for the cash you bring in, I'd have dumped trash like you long ago."
"I'm glad I can help you that way, Mom."
"Pathetic bitch. No pride?"
She wrenched my face aside. Jaw throbbed, but tolerable.
"No, wait. No pride's a plus."
Her slender hand dropped limply on my head—not stroking, just resting.
"You'll end up whoring yourself out anyway... Pride won't do shit."
"Yes."
"Tsk. Tsk. Once support cuts off, you're street trash."
She eyed me up and down, exhaling irritably.
"Get lost. Out of sight."
I bowed politely and retreated to my room. Soon, retching echoed from the bathroom.
"Drank herself stupid."
I won't end up like that.
My biological mother made an excellent negative example.
I turned the screensaver-locked monitor back on. The audition pass email reappeared.
[We look forward to walking alongside you, Han Sarang. BlueNMI Entertainment.]
Reading that line drew an involuntary chuckle.
"We'll see."
Do they really want me? Doubt it.
I closed the email casually and launched the game.
Humming a tune, I popped into my mouth a slice of cake Manager Park had bought before.
Sweetness always hit the spot.