In This Life, The Greatest Star In The Universe

Translator: MarcTempest

Editor: Rxel

Chapter 5

That was what the producer of Lemon Entertainment said.

“I think I found the last member.”

The moment he heard that, Yoon Seokhwan felt goosebumps all over his body.

Because the person that Director Jo Gyuhwan had his eyes on was someone he had the contact number of.

***

“I was really surprised. Isn’t it amazing?”

“Yeah, it’s amazing.”

“Why do you sound a bit lukewarm?”

He wondered why Seon Woojoo didn’t look happy and explained.

“You might feel that way because you know Director Jo Gyuhwan, but as a third party, it sounds a bit weird to me.”

“What’s weird?”

“Honestly, isn’t it? I was fine with the story that he predicted well like a fortune teller, but suddenly he sees a face on TV and decides to pick him. Isn’t that strange?”

“That’s not unheard of. You know the casting stories of famous actors, right? The casting directors are the ones who go to high schools to find someone who appeared briefly on a news interview.”

“…Is that so?”

While they were talking, the meat was cooked.

While the restaurant lady brought them soybean paste stew and rice, Seon Woojoo was lost in his own thoughts for a moment.

As Seon Woojoo opened the lid of the rice, the other person opened his mouth.

“Let’s stop the background explanation here. So what are you going to do?”

“Huh?”

“The audition, I mean. Are you going to come and watch, or not?”

Seeing Seon Woojoo’s hesitation, Yoon Seokhwan reassured him.

“You can just come and try comfortably. I know you haven’t practiced for two years, so I’m not expecting any great skills.”

“Ah, that’s not why I hesitated.”

The reason Seon Woojoo hesitated was something else.

What if the ability that he got from the concussion was only valid for today?

It could suddenly say ‘Ta-da, the trial version has ended.’ in a few days, so he had to be careful.

That was why he answered with a smile.

“I’ll come and try.”

“Really? I’ll tell the company that.”

“But there’s one condition.”

“Condition?”

Seon Woojoo told him as he was about to send a text message.

“I need some time.”

“Is there something going on?”

“I have something to check for a few days. I’ll come when it’s settled.”

Yoon Seokhwan’s eyes showed curiosity, but he seemed to decide not to ask any more questions.

***

After the college entrance exam, Seon Woojoo watched the situation for two weeks.

Fortunately, nothing happened.

The ability that he got that day stuck to him like a familiar guest, and it didn’t seem to disappear easily.

That was why he set the audition date when he was somewhat confident.

But he still didn’t have enough time to practice.

A lot of things happened in two weeks.

-Elderly man saved by righteous student, receives police commendation

-KG Group, donates 30 million won to ‘Galhyeon-dong righteous’

-Hyperstudy, offers free online courses for a year to righteous student

Seon Woojoo licked his tongue as he looked at the articles that popped up on his smartphone screen.

The broadcast was amazing.

Seon Woojoo only appeared on the news once, but the donations kept coming from everywhere.

The largest domestic entrance exam company offered him a free online course voucher, and KG Group sent him 30 million won.

30 million won.

His mouth opened wide as he saw the annual salary of an average office worker in his bank account.

A strange ability and a donation.

It was more profitable not to take the exam.

Seon Woojoo remembered the feeling of satisfaction when he transferred all the 30 million won to his grandmother.

She said she didn’t need it, but she accepted it reluctantly.

Our Lady Kim Deoksoon, she wasn’t honest.

Ding dong.

Seon Woojoo switched the smartphone screen to the messenger notification.

KingGodKimDeoksoon [Do well on the test,]

KingGodKimDeoksoon [Be humble. Don’t be cocky]

KingGodKimDeoksoon [Emoticon]

Seon Woojoo chuckled and smiled at the ‘fighting’ emoticon with a band around its head and a clenched fist.

Seon Woojoo sent a reply full of aegyo and put his smartphone away.

This was the alley of Sinsadong, where Lemon Entertainment’s headquarters was located.

Seon Woojoo followed the map on his phone and stopped at a building with a glass window in the middle.

He used it as a mirror to check his outfit.

Jeans, a gray coat, and a scarf.

It was the interview attire that he had found online.

Seon Woojoo smiled as he touched his hair lightly, which he had sprayed to keep in place.

His first impression was fine.

The only thing left was the real deal.

As he walked along the street, he soon saw the building of Lemon Entertainment.

A plain-looking five-story building.

On the black signboard with a lemon drawn on it, it said Lemon Entertainment in yellow letters.

He was about to call Yoon Seokhwan before he entered.

“Seon Woojoo-ssi?”

Seon Woojoo heard a pleasant low voice.

A man with a takeout coffee in his hand.

He was tall and wore a coat that fit him like a model.

“Yes, that’s me, but who are you…?”

“Nice to meet you. I’m Jo Gyuhwan. You heard about me from Director Yoon, right?”

“Oh, yes. Hello.”

Manners were basic.

Seon Woojoo bowed his head and greeted him politely.

“I’m Seon Woojoo. I look forward to working with you.”

“I should be the one saying that. I’m the one who needs your help.”

Director Jo Gyuhwan smiled softly.

Seon Woojoo had imagined him as a sentimental artist who worked in a room, because of his image as a genius composer.

But he was completely different.

He looked more like a successful businessman.

He didn’t match the image of a fortune-teller at all.

He was handsome, but his features reminded me of a Tibetan fox.

He said, “Did you feel a bit surprised? I asked you to come for an audition all of a sudden.”

“Yes, a bit.”

“Actually, this is rare for me too. It’s not often that I see someone and think, this is the one.”

“That’s an honor.” Seon Woojoo added with a smile, “I hope I have the skills to live up to your expectations.”

“You don’t need to feel any pressure. This is not a place to test your skills, but your potential.”

Director Jo Gyuhwan, who had been smiling gently, said as if he remembered something, “Oh, I almost forgot the gift.”

“Gift?”

“I had a feeling I would run into you, so I prepared something for you too.”

He handed Seon Woojoo the coffee in the paper cup.

“I hope you like it.”

“Me too.”

“Then I’ll go in first, and you can come in slowly. We’ll be waiting for you in the practice room on the basement floor.”

He walked away with his long legs, as if to show them off.

Seon Woojoo took the coffee and smiled awkwardly.

Coffee was one of the drinks he couldn’t drink, along with alcohol.

If he had too much caffeine, his heart would beat like crazy.

But when he opened the lid of the paper cup, he was surprised by what was inside.

…Huh?

The smoke that rose up smelled like cocoa.

Hot cocoa.

It was the drink he often drank.

It must have been a coincidence, he thought, but Seon Woojoo felt strange when he remembered the nickname of Fortune-Teller that Yoon Seokhwan had told him.

It felt like he was bewitched by a gumiho.

Well. It must have been just a coincidence.

Seon Woojoo gulped down the cocoa and looked for the practice room in the basement.

There was only one door open, so it was easy to find.

While he waited for the staff to come down in the practice room, he looked around and exclaimed.

They say that a dog can recite poetry after three years in a school, and Seon Woojoo got an estimate by looking around.

Practice room.

It was important to see what equipment was available here.

As the saying goes, one can tell ten by looking at one, the practice room revealed the company’s wealth.

Everything here was the latest equipment.

This level of environment must be in the top one percent.

***

Seon Woojoo felt like he made the right decision to come to the audition, seeing the impressive number of applicants for the trainee position.

It would be perfect if the company people were nice too.

Just as he was having such hopes, the company staff started to enter one by one.

One of them walked straight towards Seon Woojoo.

“Nice to meet you.”

He was a bald middle-aged man with glasses, and he had the best impression among the people he had seen.

Seon Woojoo could sense a faint Busan accent in his speech.

“I’m Park Kyuho, the CEO of Lemon Entertainment. You must have had a hard time coming all the way here. You came from Gunsan, right?”

“Yes. Thank you for having me.”

“Sure. Let’s have a good time today.”

President Park smiled warmly and offered Seon Woojoo a seat.

As soon as he sat down, he introduced the people who were sitting on the judging panel.

Director Jo Gyuhwan.

Director Yoon Seokhwan.

Rookie Development Team Leader.

Vocal Trainer.

Dance Trainer.

Seon Woojoo felt a bit nervous under their evaluative gazes, but he soon relaxed his expression with a deep breath.

“Shall we begin?”

The first hurdle was the camera test.

It was a procedure to check whether he had the so-called camera appeal.

No matter how handsome or beautiful someone was, their appearance on TV and in reality could be different.

The camera test was to verify that.

As Seon Woojoo made various expressions and poses, he suddenly remembered the past.

Was it when he was in elementary school?

He had taken the camera test in the third round of the TJ audition. How did it go?

He thought it was like now…

“Wow, you’re amazing.”

President Park said as if he was impressed.

“You look good in reality, but you also look good on camera. It’s only natural, since you were in TJ, which is famous for its tough auditions.”

The judges nodded in agreement with his words.

As Seon Woojoo expected, the camera test was a no-brainer.

The judges’ satisfied expressions proved that.

Especially the Rookie Development Team Leader seemed to have a great appetite for him, as if Seon Woojoo was a prime beef.

It seemed to be because of the unique circumstances that only Seon Woojoo had.

“It says here that you completed your military service as a sergeant?”

“Yes, I enlisted as soon as I became an adult. I was discharged shortly before the college entrance exam.”

“Then you don’t have any problem with your military duty?”

The judges were all pleased with the fact that he wouldn’t have to interrupt his activities because of the army.

Seon Woojoo smiled and responded appropriately.

It felt like he was practically hired, thanks to the casting of Director Jo, who was trusted by the company as a fortune teller.

But Seon Woojoo couldn’t relax yet.

It was always like this until here.

It was the same in other companies.

The people who were interested in his face or singing in the beginning would change their expressions when he danced.

As the trauma came to his mind, his mouth went dry.

It would work out this time.

Seon Woojoo clenched his fist with that thought.

***

A short break.

The camera was set up again, and the judges looked at the applicant with anticipation.

Seon Woojoo.

21 years old this year.

Special circumstances: TJ Entertainment trainee for 6 years and discharged from the army as a sergeant.

And… handsome.

That was the word that President Park actually wrote on his memo.

Seon Woojoo looked like someone who would make anyone turn around on the street, and who would get food or an umbrella bought for him by the staff on a rainy day.

He had a timeless beauty, rather than a trendy one.

He also had a slightly young-looking face.

He couldn’t dance, but he had lasted for 6 years in TJ, which made sense, but it also made no sense why he insisted on being an idol.

“Shall we listen to the song you prepared?”

“Yes.”

“What song are you going to sing?”

“I will sing Red Moon by Jang Sowon.”

The judges nodded their heads.

They all had the same thought in their minds.

‘Good choice.’

It was a seasoned selection for a six-year trainee.

In an audition, choosing a song with a loud chorus or a high note does not increase the chance of passing.

The entertainment insiders saw professional singers every day.

Unless someone performed a miracle in an audition, they wouldn’t be shocked or impressed by an auditionee.

They saw the best singers in Korea every day.

‘Red Moon has a diverse vocal range.’

Red Moon was a solo song by Jang Sowon, a former member of the disbanded girl group Sugarfish.

It was not a song with a powerful chorus, but it had a rich and varied vocal range.

It was a perfect song for an audition, to check the overall vocal level.

The only flaw was that it was a female key…

As they thought that, the prelude arranged for a male key flowed out of the speaker connected to Seon Woojoo’s smartphone.

He had prepared it specially for the audition.

‘He has a good sense.’

Seon Woojoo calmly parted his lips.

Please just go away

Don’t ask me why

My wounded heart is already

Six feet under

As he heard the first verse, President Park, the CEO, instinctively caught on.

‘He has talent.’

Seon Woojoo was objectively good.

He had taken a break from training for two years, but he was better than most trainees.

Did he work as a karaoke manager in the army?

‘If I train him hard for three months, he’ll regain his original skills.’

His breathing and vocalization were perfect.

His vocal technique was solid enough to have a flawless foundation.

The only drawback was that he had no skills, but that was not important for an idol who had less than 30 seconds of individual parts.

‘His eye contact and expression are stable too. He has something that attracts people’s attention. Well, that’s why the big agencies didn’t let him go even though he couldn’t dance.’

He felt proud that he had found a gem that others had discarded, but also anxious.

He was also the main vocal candidate in TNT.

The main vocal position was really hard to find in the idol industry.

How bad was his dancing that he failed to debut even with an actor-level appearance and excellent singing skills?

He suddenly remembered the warning that Yoon, the director, had given him before the audition.

-Don’t expect anything from his dance. It’s better for your mental health.

Now it was time to show his freestyle dance after the song.

Park Kyuho, the CEO, looked at Yoon Seokhwan.

He saw him closing his eyes tightly, as if he was anticipating a disaster.

‘How bad is he…’

He felt nervous for him.

President Park gulped down some water and waited for the dance performance.

Soon, Director Jo played the song he had chosen on the speaker.

An electronic music without lyrics.

‘…Huh?’

When Seon Woojoo started dancing, President Park could only make a bewildered expression.