Chapter 3

"Do you think I'll make it?" Jacan asked, squeezing his hands nervously while staring at his laptop screen, unblinking. It felt like the day of his debut performance, refreshing the YouTube page with Shinsu until their computer almost froze to see the real-time view count.

"You will. I'll bet my head on it," Shinsu reassured him. It wasn't because they were both famous singers before. But to talk about it according to general audition standards, Jacan could pass easily.

"I've been out of the industry for two years. I'm worried the new wave of talent will be too strong for me," He had dreams….but so did others.

"Of course. After we left the music industry, it became the new generation's time. Many young talents entered the industry, training hard during our debut, and now they’re emerging every day. This raised the competition in music shows, with fans fiercely supporting their favorites."

"That sounds... really exciting," Jacan pursed his lips and looked down at the two hands that had been clenched tightly since he didn't know when."

“Doesn't it? I feel a bit regretful too. If it weren't for that jerk, we'd be challenging the new generation and facing off against the veterans," Shinsu said, noticing his gloom and steering the conversation elsewhere.

"Forget about the past. Let’s focus on whether you’ll pass the audition. Han Shinsu tried to cheer up the younger man and returned to the important matter. “It looks like there's an email."

"!!!"

Three days ago

"Oh, my back hurts," Kim Sujin stretching her arms behind her and pounding her lower back with her small fists. "Are we still not done, PD?" Feeling no relief, she slumped forward, laying her arms and head on the table.

"We have 224 clips left," the lead producer said, removing his blue light glasses and massaging the bridge of his nose.

"I can’t keep my eyes open," Jung Wangseong said, nearly collapsing onto the table from exhaustion upon hearing the remaining count.

"Come on, guys. Just a little more.” the young rapper stretching his arms and twisting his waist to crack his back before sitting up straight, ready to continue the evaluations.

"On regular shows, the audition screening is handled by the staff. Why are we having the honorary judges do it themselves?" Kim Bomi asked the head PD.

"Because I don't want genuinely determined individuals or unpolished diamonds to be overlooked. It’s better if we scrutinize them right from the start. Having experts like you evaluate them will ensure we filter out the most capable candidates," the PD explained.

"That makes sense. Take this boy, for example. He looks pretty ordinary, but once the music starts, he transforms completely. His dance lines are sharp and impressive," If we had people judging based solely on appearance, this boy would have been unfairly dismissed."

"I'll get us some coffee to wake us up. Anyone want something specific?"

"Can we get some really expensive coffee, PD?" asked the sleepiest person in the room, raising his hand. If it was not freshly brewed, his brain wouldn’t function.

"Alright. I’ll pay out of my own pocket, so don’t worry about the group funds. Just text your orders in the group chat. I’m heading down now."

Despite saying he’d pay himself, thirty minutes later, Im Heewoo returned empty-handed, but with the company president in tow. Behind them, the secretary team carried trays of coffee for all the judges.

"!!!"

Everyone, who had been on the verge of dozing off, instantly perked up as if they had consumed pure caffeine.

"Boss!"

"Hello, everyone. I hope I’m not interrupting your work," Dong Hyunin paused to allow everyone in the room to greet him.

"Not at all. We were just waiting for the PD to bring us coffee," Kim Sujin, now sitting up straight, reported bluntly, instantly shedding her lazy demeanor. The others also regained their energy.

"These guys," PD Im shook his head. He thought it might have been better to wait for the president to come check on their progress rather than go downstairs himself.

"No more meetings today?" the older man initiated small talk. Despite PD Im being a senior relative of the SKM Ent. president, he maintained formal etiquette at work, avoiding excessive familiarity.

"No, I heard you were rushing to select trainees, so I wanted to check in," He saw the judges sitting tensely, so he replied in a friendly tone to ease the tense atmosphere.

"We have about two hundred clips left. We’ll finish tonight and send the summary report of those who passed the audition to your secretary by 3 PM tomorrow," They planned to review all the clips tonight and compile the report the next day.

"May I sit in and watch?" Dong Hyunin had been leading the company for over five years after his father's passing. Although SKM had always been a major label, he had taken the company to new heights by expanding internationally.

The artists under SKM's banner in those countries were moderately to highly famous. Given a bit more time, they could easily reach top-tier status, which had caused SKM's stock to soar since last year. It was expected to rise even further if the Star Fight project succeeded.

Although SKM had made a mark overseas, fans believed it was still not enough. Sure, the veteran groups within the company were legends, but it was time for fresh young faces to excite the hearts of fans, whether they were male or female.

This was why the Star Fight project, which had been shelved since Dong Hyunin's father's era, was revived and modernized.

The 5-year contract term was a revision made by the young president himself. This clause deterred both small and large agencies from sending their trainees to participate. Even if they debut and become extremely popular, by the time they return to their original company after the contract ends, their fame might have waned.

Additionally, the earnings over those five years would have to be split into three parts.

It was not a worthwhile investment.

Despite other board members not expecting much from the idol group that would debut through the survival show, seeing it as a fleeting trend, Dong Hyunin personally came to oversee the process.

"Come on, everyone, let's get back to work now that we have our coffee," Im Heewoo inviting the company president to sit in his original chair while he moved to the next seat, urging everyone to continue reviewing the applicants.

The lights in the meeting room were dimmed again, and they played the next applicant's video.

"Oh, another foreign applicant." Among the first 1,800 applicants, there had been almost fifty foreign ones, mostly from familiar countries like T, J, and C, with very few from other nations.

"This one looks mixed, but what a perfect blend," a female judge commented, noting his attractive features that would undoubtedly attract many fans.

"Beautiful eye color, doesn’t need contact lenses.”

"Name: Jacan Miller," Dong Hyunin read from the application form his secretary handed him as the applicant's face appeared on the big screen. For some reason, his heart skipped a beat.

Was he sleep-deprived?

"He's quite old for this, isn’t he? If he doesn’t debut this year, he might run out of chances," Lee Danbi skimming through Jacan's educational background and musical skills before widening his eyes at the list. Jacan claimed he could play all international musical instruments and even traditional instruments from country K like the gayageum. "Interesting."

"Of all the auditions we've reviewed, aside from trainees from major agencies, this kid has the most impressive background," The school he attended was an internationally recognized music academy.

"Let's watch the clip," Kim Sujin rubbed her hands together in anticipation.

The beginning of the clip featured an introduction to confirm that the person in the video matched the documents in the judges' hands.

Jacan had transformed the backyard garden of Han Shinsu's house into a makeshift stage, using flower pots as props, contrasting with other applicants who typically chose rehearsal rooms or plain backgrounds to highlight themselves.

He wore a clean white shirt and faded skinny jeans. Combined with his light hair and ocean-blue eyes, Jacan looked like he had stepped out of a fairy tale. He sat on a cream-colored wooden chair, limbs hanging like a puppet with broken strings.

For about five seconds, he remained still, then his handsome, slightly feminine face lifted slightly. His beautiful eyes stared straight ahead, unwavering, and his peach-colored lips parted to release a deep, soft voice with a slightly raspy, unique quality.

"Singing live without any music?" If so, this would make him the first applicant to sing a cappella, without any instrumental accompaniment. If he pulled it off... the subsequent videos would feel the pressure.

Jacan chose a currently popular song to cover, performing live while executing a robot dance. He incorporated movements to mimic being controlled by invisible strings.

Aligning with the intense love song's theme of being held captive by love. It was as if he was conveying his own experience of being confined in a beautiful garden, judged solely by his appearance, hinting that what one sees might not be the true reality.

"A unique presentation, not bad," Kim Bomi commented, noting her thoughts and marking her evaluation sheet. "His voice is excellent, more like a professional singer than an inexperienced trainee."

"I think so too," Jung Wangseong agreed, nodding. Even though he danced while seated, it didn't seem awkward; it actually enhanced the performance's realism.

"Good looks, great voice, excellent dance skills," Im Heewoo stroked his chin, contemplating the first episode's filming. He was confident this man would capture a lot of attention. "Pass without a doubt."

"Five passes."

"I feel like I've heard a voice like this before," Lee Danbi frowned, struggling to place the familiarity. It was like a memory obscured by a fog.

"He might have been an artist before. Judging by his application, he's not that young anymore."

"Let's evaluate the next person to save time," the head producer interjected, pausing the discussion temporarily and nodding to indicate that there were not just five of them, as in the previous round. They needed to keep things moving.

"Oh, okay," the two women pursed their lips and swallowed their idle chatter for now.

"Next up is..."

Back to the Present

"I... I passed! I passed, sis!" Jacan reread the acceptance email from SKM Ent. with wide eyes, shaking his sister's arm in excitement.

"See? I told you, you were bound to pass," It would have been strange if he hadn’t passed. Unless he was up against the top singers in the industry, she was sure Jacan would sail through the audition round.

Both she and Jacan had worked hard on their musical paths. Even a short clip could exude their artistic aura, something that inexperienced trainees couldn’t achieve without significant time and refinement.

"Ah, what a relief," said Jacan, collapsing onto the long sofa in exhaustion. He admitted that he had barely eaten or slept in the past three days.

This opportunity came at a crucial time. If he had missed it, who knew how long it would have taken for another chance to perform on stage again?

"So, what’s next?"

"I’ll need to find a temporary place to stay while waiting for the production team to call me for filming," he said. Staying with his beautiful sister any longer didn’t seem appropriate. Even staying for four or five days made him feel both grateful and uneasy.

"You're overthinking it," Shinsu sighed deeply. It wasn’t that she trusted him too much, but she knew he wouldn’t have any inappropriate thoughts about her. If he had, he would have acted on them long ago, back when they were a singing duo.

"You're thinking too little. Even if I’m gay, it doesn’t guarantee one hundred percent safety. If something unexpected happens and I lose control, then what?" Jacan argued, imagining how awkward it would be if anything happened.

"How about this? I have a friend who rents out condos in district N, which isn’t far from the SKM building. Would you be interested in renting there for now?"

"You have friends?" Jacan narrowed his eyes skeptically.

"Hey! Don’t doubt me. Everyone has friends," In the eyes of this younger brother, what kind of person did he see her as?

"Friend or boyfriend, be honest."

"F-Friend! Just a friend to talk to," she replied softly under his scrutinizing gaze.

"Are you sure you've looked into him thoroughly before starting to talk?" Despite her excellent appearance, family background, and career, her ability to judge people was lacking.

Outwardly, she appeared confident and composed, but in reality, she was too trusting and often gullible. If it weren't for Jacan acting as a guard dog during their time working together, she would have been caught in paparazzi traps numerous times. The men who approached her were rarely any good.

To become the confident woman fans saw, unafraid of anything, she had to rely on Jacan quite a bit.

"We're just talking for now," They weren't dating yet.

"If you sense anything off, you must tell me immediately," He wanted to ensure he could help her if needed.

"Yes, dad," Shinsu teased with a broad smile, feeling a mix of amusement and frustration that she still needed Jacan to vet her potential partners. She didn’t mind, though, because they had been through thick and thin together, closer than siblings.

"Alright, contact him. I'm free all day today, so I can go see the condo this afternoon."

"Okay," Shinsu picked up her luxurious phone to call her current suitor. He agreed immediately, eager to score points with her.

"He'll be free at three. You can meet him at the XXX condo. I'll give you his contact number so you don't miss each other."

"Thanks, sis," Jacan said, packing up his laptop. It was nearly eleven. "I’ll go for a walk to pass the time, and head to the condo at three." Staying at home, there was nothing to do. It would just make him more anxious about the audition results.

…

"Hey, Hyunin, are you going to the office today?" Dong Hyunin was about to leave his apartment when his best friend from across the hall called out, as if waiting for him.

"What is it?" Hyunin asked, slightly frowning.

"Well, um, I...”

"Choi Taeyong, what trouble have you gotten me into now?" The SKM company president, holding his suit jacket over his arm, squinted at his friend, contemplating cutting ties with him daily.

"I promised Shinsu I would take her brother to see a condo I bought on the 9th floor, but my mom just called me home urgently."

"Han Shinsu from HJ?"

"Yes, yes, that’s her. I’m courting her. You know she’s incredibly sweet, both in looks and personality. I’m trying to score some points right now."

"Stop," Hyunin raised his hand to silence his friend. If he let him ramble on, he would never get the details of why Taeyong was waiting for him. "What does this have to do with me? If you’re busy, just call your secretary or someone else to handle it." His time was money.

"My secretary is out with the flu, and it’s spread through the entire team. I had to bring in people from my dad’s company temporarily. Since they’re not my usual staff, I can’t ask them to handle personal matters."

"And this concerns me how?"

"It does! You’re my best friend and always my go-to person in times of need."

"Can I end this friendship today?" Hyunin threatened, heading towards the elevator.

"I called your secretary, and you have no urgent tasks today, just some documents to review. Come on, help me out. I want to impress Shinsu and hopefully win her over."

"This one’s serious?" Hyunin was surprised that his friend was asking for help with something so trivial.

"Absolutely! You know how crazy I am about her” From the moment I heard her voice on debut day, I’d been her biggest fan.

"What do I need to do?" Seeing his friend's sincere expression, which was rare, and having a light workday, Hyunin couldn’t refuse.

Who gave him only one best friend? Sigh...

Dong Hyunin informed his secretary that he wouldn’t be coming to the office in the afternoon and to email him the files instead. He would review them and provide feedback later.

"..." His sharp eyes scanned the sparse crowd in the café below the condo through his dark sunglasses. It had been a long time since he had the leisure to sit and enjoy a café's atmosphere. Since taking over the company, he had been working nonstop, his head spinning with responsibilities.

He looked down at his unsweetened Americano, feeling a pang of nostalgia. When did someone with a sweet tooth like him become accustomed to drinking bitter coffee?

Perhaps it was six years ago when he learned his father had terminal cancer, or maybe when his mother passed away shortly after, unable to cope with the loss, leaving him to face the world alone.

Taking on his father’s legacy and maintaining the image of a stern company president had stripped away any taste for sweets.

"Ridiculous," Dong Hyunin shook his head. Seeing he still had time before the meeting, he called over a server and ordered a sweet pastry.

Not long after, a chestnut cake decorated with thin gold leaf was served along with hot tea to cleanse the palate. Dong Hyunin’s thick tongue licked his lips slightly as he used a small spoon to bring a piece of cake to his mouth.

‘Let’s eat.’

"Mmm..." The president of SKM Ent. closed his eyes, savoring the sweet, delicate flavor and the aromatic chestnut filling his mouth.

"Um, are you Mr. Choi Taeyong?"

Clink!

"!!!" Dong Hyunin’s eyes flew open in shock, and the small spoon fell from his hand, clattering to the floor.

"Oh, I’m sorry! I’ll get you a new spoon right away," Jacan, startled by Hyunin’s extreme reaction, quickly bent down to pick up the fallen spoon and rushed to the counter to get a replacement.

"..." Dong Hyunin.

Everything happened so quickly that even someone as composed as Dong Hyunin couldn't recover his poise immediately. He closed his eyes to regain his composure before his friend's guest returned to the table.

'What the heck did I just do? Damn it!'

"Here’s a new spoon. I’m really sorry for startling you like that," Jacan said, offering a faint, apologetic smile. He knew he had called out, but he didn’t expect the other person to be so easily startled.

Of course, Dong Hyunin couldn’t hear Jacan's thoughts. If he had known, he wouldn't have been able to maintain his stoic expression.

"It’s fine. I was just lost in thought and got more startled than I should have. And no, I’m not Taeyong. I’m his friend. He had something urgent come up, so he asked me to come in his place..." Hyunin straightened up, thankful he was wearing sunglasses to hide his brief moment of panic. As he looked more closely at the newcomer, he immediately recognized Jacan as an applicant for the Star Fight competition.

Seeing him up close, Jacan looked even better than in his audition video or application photos.

"Excuse me?!" Jacan, taken aback, tightened his grip on his bag strap, recognizing the president of SKM Ent. instantly.

Crap! Why was the president of SKM here?!

...

"Oh, so you're friends with Choi Taeyong," Jacan said, astonished. His beautiful sister had managed to catch the interest of someone rich and from one of the country's most prominent families.

Choi Group’s scion wasn’t someone you could easily get close to, was he?

The answer was no. People in this group usually only mingled within their own social class. Not to mention, the elders in such families generally disapproved of their descendants getting involved with people from the entertainment industry. If his sister started dating him, she’d have a tough time ahead...

"I'm Dong Hyunin."

"Hello, I'm Jacan Miller."

"Mr. Jacan, since Taeyong is unavailable, he asked me to show you the room. Shall we go?" The young president didn’t want to look at the small piece of cake in front of him anymore. If he had known the guest would arrive almost half an hour early, he would have devoured it in one bite.

"Whenever you’re ready. I’m fine with anything," Jacan replied, noticing that the other had only taken one bite of his dessert and didn’t want to interrupt his break. "I can order a snack and keep you company if you like."

"..." Dong Hyunin rolled his eyes behind his sunglasses before deciding to take another spoonful of the cake.

Mmm... Delicious.

"..." Jacan shook his strawberry milkshake. The behavior of the man in front of him matched the information he had gathered perfectly.

Although the high-society rumors say that the young president in front of him liked to drink bitter coffee, avoid sweets, and didn’t go out at night, leading a life that consists solely of working, going home, and sleeping,

A perfect formula for an ideal president,

The information Jacan had gathered told a different story. It revealed that the president was once an avid sweets lover during his time studying abroad. If he weren’t someone who exercised regularly, he might have been looking at an SKM Ent. president with a very different body shape.

As for why he was digging up information about the other party... It was because this man was the main investor in the show, with not a single win from any other sponsor or co-investor. Once Jacan started looking into him, he got carried away and ended up finding out quite a bit about his background.

Jacan waited for Dong Hyunin to finish his dessert before calling the waiter to order a few more pieces to take home. Hyunin watched his actions for a moment before turning his gaze to the window, waiting for Jacan to settle the bill before getting up from his seat. He prepared to go upstairs to see the room his friend wanted to impress a girl by opening it up for temporary rent.

"If you’re okay with it, just let Han Shinsu know. The two of them can handle the rest themselves," Hyunin said. He didn’t want to be a message bearer for anyone anymore.

"Alright, thank you very much," Jacan bowed his head in gratitude.

"Then I’ll take my leave..." Hyunin said, eager to get back to his pending documents.

“Um, well... this is for you,” Jacan stopped Hyunin just before he turned to leave. “Consider it a thank you for helping me out today.”

“...” The young president looked at the box of sweets being offered, then glanced at Jacan’s face.

“But if you don’t like it, I apologize...”

“I’ll accept it, so you don’t feel bad,” Dong Hyunin replied, grabbing the cake box before Jacan could finish his sentence.

“Alright, then. I’ll be going now,” Jacan said, bowing slightly before turning away, leaving the young president with his friend's apartment and the box of cake in his hand.