IWUC 02

Chapter 02

The answer was surprisingly simple.

‘If you understand the trends, exams get easier.’

I wouldn’t have known before, but now I did. I looked again at the tattered banner. It didn’t seem like much, but the “Friends Entertainment Quarterly Audition” actually contained quite a bit of information.

‘First, auditions are held every quarter.’

They recruit trainees, which means spots open up just as often.

‘Second, it’s common enough that they reuse banners.’

The banner was worn out. That meant auditions were held regularly, with plenty of applicants.

‘Well, Friends Entertainment is a good company.’

They had quite a few major idol groups. And most of them even renewed their contracts after expiration. Of course, there had been some controversies.

‘The biggest one was Zenith, right?’

For a moment, his face flashed through my mind.

‘Damn it. Kang Minje.’

Right. That bastard was here. His debut had been in the idol group “Zenith” under Friends Entertainment. A chill ran down the back of my neck.

‘Kang Minje, you asshole.’

I stretched out my legs. Old memories swirled in my head before scattering into nothing. I muttered quietly.

“So if I keep going like this… I’ll end up in the same group as that guy?”

A curse slipped out. I let out a small breath. Well, that was something to think about after passing. But it was also something I’d have to accept.

Meeting him. Maybe even being in the same group.

‘If I hate it, I can just get up and leave.’

I immediately shook my head.

‘No. That’s not it.’

This was the chance to become the idol I had dreamed of since I was young. And this place was good.

‘Being a trainee at Friends Entertainment carries weight.’

Even if I ended up elsewhere, just having been a trainee here would help.

‘Focus on one thing.’

I set my goal clearly.

‘I want to become a top idol.’

I wanted to succeed. I was desperate enough to do anything for it. And for that, I needed this company.

‘Kang Minje is a problem, but I’ll think about that later. What matters is passing.’

I looked around again. Quite a few numbers had already been called. The audition pace wasn’t too fast or too slow.

That was when I heard a frivolous voice from behind.

“Are you number 119?”

I quietly checked the number pinned to my jacket. I hadn’t even noticed before. Ah, so I was 119.

I raised my head. A guy with bleached yellow hair and a shallow-looking face grinned at me.

“I’m 118.”

He sure liked saying things no one asked. I deliberately smiled sweetly.

‘What luck.’

I recognized him.

‘Lee Kyungbae. He later went by the stage name Lee Kyung.’

A memory flickered.

We had met at a movie audition before—he was trying out for a supporting role as the protagonist’s friend. As he passed me, he had said:

—“What a joke, having to audition with someone like this.”

And now we met again here.

I smiled wider.

You walked right into this one, bastard.

Unaware of my thoughts, he leaned closer and asked,

“How old are you?”

“I’m in my second year of middle school.”

“You’re young. I’m a first-year in high school.”

Wasn’t that young too?

“I’m freaking out because I started late. These days trainees start from elementary school.”

Like gifted education, I guess. Makes sense. Money draws people in. If you have talent, starting early isn’t a bad idea.

“I really need to pass.”

He grumbled while adjusting his denim jacket. Despite being annoying, he looked a bit cute—probably because he was still young.

“Well, if this doesn’t work out, my dad said he’d just start a company for me. So I’ll just go with that.”

Take back the “cute” part. What the hell?

‘People really don’t change.’

So he was rotten from the start. Whether that yellow came from wealth or decay, I’d find out later—but he sure was consistent.

‘There was a rumor he bought that movie role with money…’

Guess that was true.

I smiled brightly.

If that was the case, I had nothing to hold back.

“Can I ask your name, hyung?”

“Huh? I’m Lee Kyung.”

Come on, hyung. Your real name is Lee Kyungbae.

“I’m Cha Dowon.”

Now that introductions were done…

‘Would you like to become my stepping stone?’

Our numbers were close, so we’d likely enter together. Whether this audition was absolute or relative evaluation, having someone to compare against wasn’t bad.

‘Arrogant idiots fall quickly.’

He patted my shoulder.

“Which audition is this for you?”

“My first.”

“Really? I’ve done a lot, and you have to stand out. You’ve gotta be flashy to get noticed.”

I smiled.

‘No way.’

The judges saw hundreds every quarter. Sure, some companies liked flashy people—but not Friends Entertainment.

‘They prefer sincerity, if I remember right.’

That’s why their artists tended to have quiet personal lives. Of course, there were always exceptions.

“Really?”

“Yeah!”

Then why was he saying this?

‘Trying to mess with me?’

Cute, honestly.

Then—

‘Damn it.’

I remembered.

Ten years ago… I had believed those exact words.

‘Unbelievable.’

My face burned. I had been so naïve.

I looked at him again. Lee Kyungbae smirked, clearly pleased.

‘People like you deserve consequences.’

So it was you.

The reason I gave up on becoming an idol.

Well, I had my share of blame too—but still.

Things were different now.

‘How should I screw him over properly?’

Just as I was thinking, a staff member gestured. It was time.

Too bad. Not enough time.

I smiled at him.

“Nervous, hyung?”

He walked stiffly.

“I-I’m not nervous at all.”

He was stuttering. Sure, not nervous.

Didn’t matter to me. The more shaken he was, the better for me.

I slightly lowered my head.

Back then, I had been shaking like crazy.

‘Maybe because I’ve done this before…’

I wasn’t nervous at all. I was excited.

Like stepping onto a stage meant just for me.

A breeze brushed past my neck.

‘Feels like someone’s pushing me forward.’

I lifted my head.

I’m not failing this time.

Let’s do this, Cha Dowon.

The wind answered again. My steps felt lighter.

The audition room was simpler than expected.

Just chairs and a long table.

‘The CEO and staff, I guess.’

Nothing special—

Until I saw the person at the far end.

A white cap. Sunglasses.

But I recognized him instantly.

‘Why is he here?’

Kang Minje.

My fists clenched.

I wanted to rush over and punch him.

‘No.’

I took a deep breath.

If I did that, I’d be thrown out—and never return.

‘Calm down.’

I already knew.

He would debut here. Successfully.

‘That group did well.’

If they’d lasted a few more years, they could’ve ridden the Korean Wave even higher.

‘But they disbanded so suddenly…’

I sat down as instructed, recalling Zenith.

‘They were good.’

Great songs. Solid concept.

They were everywhere at one point.

‘So why did they fail?’

I glanced at Minje.

He looked calm, observing everyone.

‘There was a lot of noise when they disbanded.’

I remembered an interview.

—“The company tried to build a group that suited Minje hyung.”

A departing member had smiled bitterly.

—“They openly searched for a ‘crazy maknae’ to match a ‘rational leader.’ Obviously, they couldn’t find one. So they just debuted trainees. That was us.”

—“Everything revolved around Minje—music, concept, everything. I want my own place.”

I smiled.

That interview revealed a lot.

First—Minje was the leader, but couldn’t manage the group.

‘Makes sense.’

Second—the group revolved around him.

‘Which means… joining his group guarantees success.’

I glanced at him again.

‘If you use me… I’ll use you too.’

Sleeping with the enemy.

‘As long as I don’t trust you.’

Right, Minje hyung?

This time, I won’t trust you.

We’ve got a lot to settle.

I smiled and sat upright.

The audition continued.

A participant sang a ballad.

‘Third—what they’re looking for is a crazy maknae.’

I smiled.

‘Perfect.’

Could I act crazy?

Of course.

‘I didn’t spend years in theater for nothing.’

So—

‘I just need to play the crazy maknae.’

Soon, the song ended.

“Number 118, what will you do?”

Lee Kyungbae stood.

“I’ll dance!”

“What song?”

“Yumi’s Shooting.”

Huh?

That was… unexpected.

A female solo artist’s song? And that one?

‘Zombie concept… pretty bizarre.’

I had learned that dance before. It wasn’t easy.

He started dancing.

It was… awful.

Way too exaggerated.

Embarrassing.

‘That’s something Yumi can pull off—not you.’

He completely missed the emotion.

‘This isn’t a comedy stage.’

The judges looked unimpressed.

I glanced at him.

‘He self-destructed before I even did anything.’

Seriously…

What was he thinking?

This guy is unbelievably stupid.