Chapter 70
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Translator: Wjin
Chapter: 70
Chapter Title: Audition Preliminaries
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People's dreams vary widely, but there were those who lived without knowing what they wanted to do.
"Let's check that out too! Whoa! Major event! There's a library!"
"Hey! No way! We're late!"
In the underground passage of the bus terminal, the high school girls were in a frenzy. Hye-ri especially found everything novel since it was her first time in Seoul.
"Aww, just this one! Pleeease?"
"I said we're late!"
The two were dressed in school uniforms, guitars slung on their backs. Even though it was Sunday, they wore uniforms to signal they were high school girls.
After twists and turns, they finally arrived at the broadcasting station, but a massive line for the preliminaries already stretched out before them. They couldn't help feeling intimidated.
"Don't stare so hard. It's obvious we're country bumpkins."
"What's wrong with that? Nothing to be ashamed of. That person's got a great voice. Right?"
Hye-ri and Mi-ae had been best friends since elementary school. With so few students, options were limited, but their shared love for music kept them close.
High school first year.
An age when studies should dominate, but music was their sole focus. Polar opposites in personality, they bickered constantly, yet always took music seriously.
"Yeah, great vocal power. They'd be perfect for the chorus in my song."
"'We've Decided to Love'?"
"Exactly!"
"She'd add even more vibe since she's pretty."
"Not at all? Where's the pretty?"
"Come on, she's pretty enough."
"Objectively, we're better."
The two giggled while eyeing the woman with bleached white hair.
The Queen's preliminaries lasted two days. With so many entrants, each team got just five minutes.
-Over three thousand applied, right?
-We made it through that competition.
-Now the real thing starts.
Whispers buzzed around them.
The Queen's open auditions had stirred massive hype even before starting, thanks to the ads.
100 million won prize!
Guaranteed debut!
-Challenge your dreams.
The girl group project backed by Memento Mori and JJ Entertainment had become every girl's hot topic.
"Everyone's no joke. We gonna come in last?"
Hye-ri always spoke her mind bluntly. Mi-ae, thinking it seemed tactless today, replied.
"We made top 200. Last place? Doesn't matter—we made it here."
"Right! Right! Let's practice!"
"Suddenly?"
"Yeah!"
Their turn was still far off. Even at five minutes per team, an hour covered only twelve. They'd need to judge a hundred teams a day—tough on the station staff, she thought, as they tuned their guitars.
"What'll you do if you become a singer?"
Mi-ae asked.
"You?"
Hye-ri shot back.
"Buy Mom an apartment. Hate seeing her pull weeds with her bad back."
"Same."
"No copying."
"Sing in America?"
"Huh? What?"
"Wanna see if people who don't speak our language like my singing."
"Just sing pop songs."
"It's different!"
Mi-ae didn't get what was different but checked the lyrics again. She'd reviewed them thousands, tens of thousands of times, but this huge stage made her nervous.
She told Hye-ri again.
"About an hour till our turn."
"Yeah."
"Not nervous?"
"Why would I be?"
"That's normal!"
"Maybe I'm normal?"
"Ugh."
Hye-ri had nerves of steel. Mi-ae overthought everything.
"What if only one of us makes it?"
Hye-ri was straightforward.
"If it were you, do it. Someone's gotta succeed. Both failing would suck."
"If you make it, Hye-ri?"
"I wouldn't."
"Why!"
"No fun without you."
"Ha..."
Tension eased, Mi-ae scanned other contestants. Rivals and comrades alike. She didn't know the format, but surviving to the end needed strategy.
She looked at Hye-ri again.
"Whatever happens later, let's nail it here."
"You bet!"
Finally, their turn. Hearts pounding, they entered the room from the hallway. Cameras everywhere first, then a dozen judges opposite.
"Whoa! Whoa!"
If Mi-ae hadn't pinched her side, Hye-ri might've yelled "Celebrities!"
The five main judges were famous singers.
'Not a dream.'
Growing up rural, celebrities were TV-only for her.
Mi-ae shouted at the languid judges.
"Please take good care of us!"
Hye-ri chimed in.
"Us too!"
Cute? A low, amused voice echoed from them.
"From Jeongeup, right?"
"Yes!"
"We live in Jeongeup!"
The young man who spoke wasn't familiar to Mi-ae.
"Original song entry."
"Yes! I wrote the lyrics and composed!"
"I sing!"
Hye-ri had a quirky charm. Mi-ae envied and cringed at it. Around strangers, Hye-ri seemed weird.
"Bright and clear—nice."
Nice? Mi-ae blinked at him. Others chimed in.
"Purity and high school girl image always works."
"President's eye for talent surprises us again?"
"Means expect good things?"
The judges spoke as if repeatedly stunned by this "President."
Intriguing—who was he to command such presence so young?
"Let's hear it."
At his word, silence fell. Mi-ae eyed Hye-ri.
'Let's do it.'
'Yeah!'
Mi-ae's guitar struck perfect rhythm. She sang well but knew her cues.
Now Hye-ri.
"Why is it spring makes my heart flutter."
Judges' eyes widened at "why." Hye-ri's voice was one in a million.
"Must be 'cause of you."
The fresh high school vibe and Hye-ri's tone conjured sweet illusions on the lips.
Mi-ae's turn.
"No. Don't like it too fast."
Mi-ae's tone was ordinary—perfect foil for Hye-ri. Rice makes kimchi sustainable.
Back to Hye-ri.
"Why is it summer makes my heart flutter."
Lyrics of a schoolgirl crush, matching melody evoked youthful freshness, immaturity, imperfect emotions.
"Why is it autumn makes my heart flutter."
Hye-ri nailed highs, but her unique timbre blurred it.
Hye-ri could sing anything—no one sang like her.
"Aaaa. Aaaa."
"Aaa. Aaa."
Hye-ri stretched high climax; Mi-ae backed low.
Two years perfecting this song—even humming in sleep. Perfect harmony erupted; gasps of awe surrounded them.
Then eyes met that President's.
'What.'
No surprise—just knowing smile, as if familiar.
Even that expression suggesting he knew the song? Normals show novelty on unfamiliar tunes—none here.
Anyway, end the stage.
"Why is it. Right now we."
"Why is it. Right now we."
They finished together.
Prelims—no feedback. Five minutes for song and exit.
As they left, all eyes on President.
"Incredible."
"President nailed it again."
"Best so far."
As they spoke, next prepared. President added,
"You'll be surprised again this time."
Clearing two full days wasn't easy, but prepped serialization ahead and handled company via mobile.
Heading home after two days of Queen preliminaries.
"See? Everyone's smitten with your eye."
Executive Director Sara joined.
"Just did my job."
Spotted six or seven faces among 200 teams. They'd debut somewhere soon anyway.
"So humble. Wanna just spread a mat in Gangnam with me? Might earn easier."
True, but predict elections to COVID? Nostradamus reborn—might spawn a cult around me.
"Some entrants are high-level; show could sell. But your picks have wildly different vibes—team them up?"
Not rank-one; girl group focus. Understood her worry—necessity breeds adaptation.
"Main show in three weeks?"
Changed topic.
"Yes. Yesterday and today give plenty footage. Lots of variety show types."
Veterans do variety later, but our group must idolize same-gen peers.
So I said,
"About those ads I requested—make it good. Cheap rates."
Prayed hands jokingly. After two days, felt like our kids. Hye-ri especially—top audition next year solo.
"Building image from ground up, huh?"
"Absolutely."
"Save me first. City of Crime production starting. It'll work?"
"Absolutely."
"Break-even, then ads."
"How many viewers?"
"Varies by marketing, but at least a million."
A million. No clue on City of Crime 1's exacts, but it'd surpass easy.
Next year though.
"Anything else? Black Ink debut must be this year."
"Don't rush—could flop. If easy, others'd do it."
Precisely—they can't like me.
"Before audition buzz fades. Public forgets fast."
"Judges quick too."
"Viral noise is marketing."
"Ugh, why can't you lose once?"
"That's my charm."
"If only you shut up!"
Sara laughed, recalling earlier.
"That song—could use right away."
Mi-ae, Hye-ri's.
"Same thought."
Indeed, it charts cyclically for years.
Amazinger: every Hye-ri song did.
"Record every two weeks?"
"Tired already?"
"Homebody guy's happiest in his room."
"Classic author."
"Spare me then."
She burst laughing.
"......"
Suddenly asked,
"That day okay?"
"Oppa?"
"Yeah."
"Dad heard."
"Gasp... And?"
Sara beamed at me.
"Wants to meet him."
Oh god.