Chapter 03
At 12:50 PM the next day, I arrived in front of Musicprove’s building ten minutes early.
The building looked exactly the same as I remembered—or maybe just a little less old—which gave me a strange feeling. Back when I used to come and go here for work, I’d heard that there wasn’t a single person left in the company who actually looked out for us. I wonder how things are now.
If I end up joining…
I’ll have to make sure the people who were supposedly “on our side” and later quit don’t leave this time. For example, Lee Subin, the team leader from the New Talent Development Team who left the casting comment on my video.
According to Kang Sua, Team Leader Lee Subin personally gathered all the EVERGREET members herself.
She also said the debut album quality was surprisingly high considering how little money was spent—and that, too, was largely thanks to her.
The more allies you have in a company, the better.
And if those allies are competent? Even better.
…Alright. At least until debut, Team Leader Lee Subin will definitely be with Musicprove. After debut, I’ll have to do whatever it takes to stop her from leaving the company.
Yesterday, Team Leader Lee texted me the address and told me to wait in the lobby once I arrived. I sat quietly on a sofa in the corner of the lobby and waited.
“Are you Seo Ji-on?”
“Yes, that’s me.”
At the gentle voice, I stood up reflexively and put on my best professional smile. A woman with a warm, kind impression greeted me.
“Welcome. I’m Lee Subin, the New Talent Development Team Leader. You’re even prettier in person than in the video.”
“Ah… th-thank you! I’m not very good with compliments…”
She smiled lightly at my flustered reaction.
…Well, at least it’s better than coming off rude, right? I’ve been told so often that I look unfriendly that I still don’t know how I’m supposed to react to compliments about my looks.
“Is that a guitar?”
“Yes. I thought it’d be better to accompany myself instead of scrambling to find an MR track. Is that okay?”
“Of course. We actually prefer that. Since it’s heavy, why don’t we leave it in the audition room and take a quick tour of the company first?”
I followed Team Leader Lee into the elevator and headed to the third floor. After leaving my guitar in the dance practice room, we toured the building together. Nothing seemed particularly different from what I remembered.
“It’s a good company for making music. The lack of idol-launch experience might worry you, but our staff will do everything they can to make sure there are no issues.”
Unfortunately, there will be issues. I think this was one of the problems Kang Sua mentioned.
Still, I smiled like a “regular music-loving person interested in singing.” People outside the industry usually don’t know how different idol launching is from general artist management. I nodded as if thinking, Isn’t it all kind of the same?
“Oh, hello Team Leader! And next to you is…?”
Huh. Kang Sua.
“What? Ji-on, why are you here?!”
“You know each other?”
“Yes! We’re school roommates—we shared a dorm this semester!”
This time, Team Leader Lee looked surprised and turned to me.
“Ji-on, you’re from Seojeong Arts University?”
“Ah… yes. But I’m not a vocal major. I’m in composition.”
Why does it feel like I did something wrong…?
I smiled awkwardly and tried to think of a way out of this uncomfortable situation.
“Then why are you here?”
“I’m a trainee here… I guess I never told you?”
“Wow, seriously? That surprised me.”
I acted a bit shocked, like I’d never expected to see her here.
“I wasn’t sure when to mention my school, and the timing felt awkward. Since I’m not a vocal major, I hesitated to bring it up…”
I pretended like I’d simply missed the right moment.
“That’s fine. I was going to ask while explaining the contract and trainee system anyway. We just found out a little earlier than planned.”
Team Leader Lee nodded lightly.
Good. That went smoothly.
“Sua, can you take the others and wait on another floor for a bit? We’re going to film the audition video on the third floor.”
“Yes! The others just came back from school and are eating. I came in a bit early.”
“Alright. Tell them not to force open the dance studio if it’s locked—just wait somewhere else.”
“Got it!”
Before running down the stairs with a bright smile, Kang Sua looked at me and quietly mouthed, See you later. I hope she stays that cheerful in the future, too.
“Shall we go film the audition video now? Like I said earlier, no need to be nervous. It’s basically a camera test.”
“Yes!”
Quick movement and polite manners make a good first impression. I followed Team Leader Lee back to the third-floor practice room where I’d left my guitar.
***
The audition room itself wasn’t anything special. A camera on a tripod, and another New Talent Development staff member sitting nearby.
Even though I’d tuned it yesterday, I checked the guitar tuning one last time just in case. E2, A, D, G, B, E4. Once I confirmed everything was clean, I adjusted the strap and slung the guitar over my shoulder.
“I’m ready.”
“Great. Once the camera starts, say your name, age, and the song you prepared, then begin.”
“We’re starting the recording.”
Hearing their voices, I felt myself tense up slightly. It had been a long time since I’d sung properly in front of people like this. Still, since this was casting, I figured I wouldn’t fail unless I completely messed up—and that eased my nerves.
The camera turned on.
“Hello, I’m Seo Ji-on, twenty years old. The song I prepared is ‘yourself’ by Chloe Bins.”
Deep breath.
One, two, three, and.
A bright, familiar guitar melody flowed effortlessly from my fingertips—so familiar I could play it with my eyes closed.
***
The audition seemed to go well. They asked if I could sing a ballad or a rock-style song, so I sang two more. Team Leader Lee seemed to like them more than I expected.
“…So, if you debut, we’d like you to take the main vocal position.”
I never thought of myself as an exceptionally good singer, so that surprised me.
I always believed my voice was more the “pleasant” type than the “technically amazing” type.
“You’re an adult at twenty, so legally we don’t need parental consent. But rather than deciding right away, I think it’d be better to talk with your parents first.”
You shouldn’t sign contracts lightly, after all.
Team Leader Lee laughed kindly.
Parents…
The word made me think briefly of them, but my mind quickly drifted to a professor who constantly emphasized the importance of contracts during lectures.
One bad contract can cost you your copyrights!
An adult who rushes you to sign is a very bad adult!
Read every contract carefully, check for unfair clauses, then think again before signing!
The famous “Did you think before signing?” series from our harmony professor at Seojeong Arts University.
He always told us to be careful with contracts. They’re like wordplay—if you get scammed, it’s infuriating.
Stress and anger are dangerous things in life, he’d say. His voice felt especially vivid today.
Team Leader Lee Subin really does seem like a good person. Still, contracts should always be reviewed carefully.
I received Team Leader Lee’s contact information, business card, and a copy of the contract. After politely saying I’d get back to her in a few days, I left the Musicprove building.
Oh right—I asked if there was a trainee dorm, and she said I could move in if I wanted. Looks like my housing problem might be solved soon. A dorm is five thousand times better than a goshiwon.
[▷ Tutorial Quest: Join the agency ‘Musicprove’ (Time limit: D-8)]
I stared at the translucent panel. I still had about a week, so I planned to think it over calmly before responding.
- Seojeong 2N Vocal Kang Sua: Don’t go
- Seojeong 2N Vocal Kang Sua: Seriously, wait
- Seojeong 2N Vocal Kang Sua: I’ll buy you dinner!!!
- Seojeong 2N Vocal Kang Sua: (Begging bunny emoji)
I opened my messenger app to see messages flooding in from Kang Sua. Did she send these in a hurry before practice? Her desperation made me laugh.
ㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋ
Okay okay
Starbucks next to the building
I’ll be there lol
She was trying this hard—no reason to ignore her. And whether I liked it or not, I needed to stay on good terms with her going forward.
Plus, free dinner.
***
“Hello. I came because Sua unni said she’d buy me food, but she didn’t tell me she had a friend coming…”
“She’s our company trainee. Is it okay if we eat together?”
…This situation was unexpected.
He was at least five centimeters taller than Kang Sua, with a well-managed, attractive build and a face that probably gets called handsome all the time.
If Kang Sua is the “wow, she’s really pretty” type, he’s more the “you’re seriously handsome” type. His features were sharp and defined rather than soft.
I recognized him.
Go Hyunseo. A year younger than me, maybe? I hadn’t seen him as often as the members, but he had a face you don’t forget.
“I don’t mind, but if someone else is joining, you should tell the person you’re meeting. I’m Seo Ji-on—Sua’s friend and college roommate.”
“Isn’t there a friendlier way to say that? It sounds so business-like.”
“But we are roommates.”
“Wow… I bet you saved my number as ‘Seojeong Arts Kang Sua.’ So cold.”
“Uh, yeah. It’s ‘Seojeong 2N Vocal Kang Sua.’”
“…Are you a T?”
“Why ask something so obvious?”
Go Hyunseo watched our banter quietly, then smiled.
“Unni always calls me T too… I’m Go Hyunseo. I’m nineteen. You can talk casually with me.”
“We just met—are you sure that’s okay?”
“You’re older than me, right? It’s easier for me that way.”
Same as always—past, present, probably future too. He’s great at steering conversations his way. I smiled and agreed to speak casually.
“So what are you buying?”
“Just come with me.”
“You’re going there again? You went yesterday too.”
“…Hyunseo, can’t you just follow your unni for once…?”
“Ji-on unni, do you like sushi? There’s a Japanese place Sua unni always goes to.”
“Yeah, I like Japanese food.”
“Then that settles it.”
“…Why do you both treat me like this?!”
Seeing Kang Sua deflate made me laugh. Yeah, you’re better off staying a little immature like this.
“You’re laughing?!”
“Yeah. It’s funny.”
We comforted her half-heartedly and arrived at the restaurant.
So this is the place… I’d heard there was a good one nearby, but it closed. I never imagined I’d come here like this.
And back then, Hyunseo was still with Musicprove.
In my previous life, I met him much later—around when I started producing for EVERGREET. He came by the company to visit the members.
“Honestly… you know how it is, unni. Life’s tough if you only chase dreams. I felt like I’d done all I could.”
When I asked why he quit after seeing his practice videos—because Kang Sua said he was amazing—that was his answer.
I didn’t know exactly when he quit, but if he hasn’t quit yet, I absolutely need to keep him until debut.
EVERGREET’s leader was Kang Sua, but she said it was mostly because she was the oldest. The trainee everyone originally thought would be leader was someone else—and judging by the circumstances, that was Go Hyunseo.
“Hyunseo’s famous. He made it to the finals of a survival show.”
“Well… I only got there because I was eliminated from my original debut lineup.”
I just nodded along, listening.
“But still, getting eliminated means it didn’t really matter.”
“Who says it doesn’t matter?! Who said that?! I’ll go yell at them!”
“…You’re yelling at me now?”
“Well… no…”
Seeing Kang Sua instantly lose her fighting spirit made me snicker.
Give it up. Even if you mature, you’ll never win against Hyunseo in words.
“Was the survival show DreamGirls Project? On V.net? I was a senior in high school last year, so I didn’t watch, just heard juniors talking about it.”
“Yeah, DGP. It wasn’t super famous, so I didn’t think you’d know.”
I acted surprised, like I’d guessed by chance. …In reality, I already knew.
Go Hyunseo was one of the final 18 contestants on V.net’s girl group survival show DreamGirls Project.
He was also part of the legendary first cover mission stage, Bad problem.
[Exclusive / Vertical Cam] Go Hyunseo oneN:D ♬Bad problem Team 2
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[Episode 4] “I’m confident I’ll rank 1st” oneN:D ♬Bad problem Team 2
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His individual fancam ranked first among all contestants in the first round. As a dancer, he could easily compete with a current top girl group’s main dancer and not lose.
His stage control and charisma fully transformed oneN:D’s second-generation hit Bad problem—a song that usually got lukewarm reactions when covered.
The future is uncertain, but one thing I know for sure:
If he joins, Go Hyunseo will be an invaluable asset to the team for their entire career.
That is the second reason why I must bring Go Hyunseo all the way to debut.
