Chapter 2

In the 2nd district of Gangnam, Seoul, where the S.M. Entertainment headquarters is located, there are always fans lingering around the main gate, hoping to catch a glimpse of their favorite stars.

On February 14, 2004, a tall young man stepped out of a taxi, spoke briefly with the security guard at the entrance, and then entered the S.M. building.

"Was that person an artist?" a girl standing near the entrance asked her companion curiously.

"Probably not," a round-faced girl with glasses pushed her glasses up, uncertainly replied, "I've never seen him before."

"But that person has such a good aura, he looks so charming!" another girl clasped her hands together, excitedly said.

"Pfft! How can he compare to Oppa Yunho!" the girl who asked the question pouted, disdainfully said.

"Oppa Jaejoong is the most beautiful!"

...

The young man who entered S.M. Entertainment was none other than Kim Sung-woon, who had just returned from military service. Two years ago, he was not very well-known, and after serving for two years, it was even less likely that many people at S.M. Entertainment would recognize him.

After entering the building, Kim Sung-woon ignored the receptionist and took the elevator to the third floor.

Everything here was almost the same as it was two years ago, but Kim Sung-woon's mood was completely different. His steady steps formed a resolute melody as they tapped on the floor.

"Ah!" Just as Kim Sung-woon was walking, the door of a nearby practice room suddenly opened, and a petite figure rushed out, bumping into him and letting out a short exclamation.

"Sorry, Oppa!" The petite figure didn't have time to look at Kim Sung-woon and hurriedly bowed to apologize.

"Never mind..." Kim Sung-woon smiled slightly, about to walk past, but then his eyebrows raised slightly in surprise, "Xian, what are you doing here?"

"Ah?" The petite figure suddenly looked up, curiously examining the senior, then a smile spread across her face, and she exclaimed joyfully, "Oppa Sung-woon!"

Kim Sung-woon smiled and nodded, gently patting Xu Zhuxian's head, "When did you become a trainee at S.M.? Did your aunt agree?"

"Oppa Sung-woon," Xu Zhuxian, who hadn't seen Sung-woon for two years, felt a surge of joy welling up inside her, unable to suppress it, and even a mist began to form in her eyes.

"Hey! Xu Zhuxian, why aren't you going? What are you doing?" Just as Kim Sung-woon was about to comfort Xu Zhuxian, a sharp voice called out from the practice room.

When Xu Zhuxian heard this voice, her body trembled slightly, and Kim Sung-woon frowned, pulling her to the side and pushing open the door of the practice room.

Inside the practice room, a group of girls were resting on the floor. Even in the cold of February, many were sweating profusely. Suddenly, a man pushed the door open, and they let out a low murmur, quickly standing up and straightening their appearances.

"Hello, Oppa!" Although the trainees had never seen Kim Sung-woon, they didn't dare to be careless and bowed in greeting, making the practice room silent.

Kim Sung-woon nodded slightly, his gaze sweeping over the group of teenage girls, and said, "The status of a senior is not to bully juniors. Don't learn this, it's only the trainees who can't debut who use this to vent. Understand?"

"Yes, Oppa!" Although Kim Sung-woon's tone was not high, the girls were frightened and lowered their heads, not daring to speak.

"Xian, what did they ask you to do? I'll go with you," Kim Sung-woon said softly to Xu Zhuxian behind him.

"No need, Oppa. I was just asking Xu Zhuxian to go buy some drinks for everyone. Since Oppa needs to talk to her, I'll go myself," a tall, fair-skinned girl stepped out of the crowd and said hurriedly.

Although she didn't recognize Kim Sung-woon, from his words, it seemed he was a senior who had already debuted. If she really let him and Xu Zhuxian run errands, she might never debut.

"Thank you for your hard work." Kim Sung-woon smiled slightly and didn't refuse.

"Sorry for the disturbance." Kim Sung-woon nodded to the group in the practice room and then led Xu Zhuxian out.

"When did you become a trainee?" Kim Sung-woon asked as he and Xu Zhuxian walked to the corner of the hallway.

"I came in last September, Oppa Sung-woon." Xu Zhuxian's eyes sparkled as she looked up at Kim Sung-woon, "But, Oppa Sung-woon, why... did you change so much? And your voice..."

"Ha ha..." Kim Sung-woon smiled slightly, not answering, and gently rubbed Xu Zhuxian's hair, "Being a trainee is very tiring, and you often encounter seniors with bad tempers. Is that okay?"

"It's fine, and most of the seniors are nice." Xu Zhuxian said, and then, as if remembering something, her chubby cheeks puffed up, and her eyes fixed on Kim Sung-woon.

"Still couldn't avoid it." Kim Sung-woon sighed inwardly. Xu Zhuxian's serious and stubborn personality was entirely shaped by him, and he wondered if this was a case of self-inflicted consequences.

"I served for two years on Dokdo, where communication was very difficult." After a moment's thought, Kim Sung-woon briefly explained his military service.

"Ah! No wonder Oppa Sung-woon didn't have any news for two years," Xu Zhuxian said, her hands tightly clasped, as if trying to share his hardships, "I'm sorry, Oppa Sung-woon."

"It's okay, ha ha..." Kim Sung-woon finally breathed a sigh of relief. This excuse would only be believed by someone as innocent as Xu Zhuxian.

"Is Oppa Sung-woon planning to return to the stage?" Xu Zhuxian asked again.

"Ha..." Kim Sung-woon suddenly let out a light, ambiguous laugh, "There's a problem with my voice. I came here to leave S.M."

"Ah!" Xu Zhuxian couldn't help but let out another exclamation. A significant reason she became a trainee at S.M. was because of Kim Sung-woon, and it was his presence that convinced her parents to let her become a trainee.

The joy of seeing Kim Sung-woon again was quickly overshadowed.

"It's okay, Xian. You don't need to worry about me. I'm planning to enter the variety show world," Kim Sung-woon said before Xu Zhuxian could ask more.

Xu Zhuxian didn't know how to react, just staring blankly at Kim Sung-woon.

"Xian, go back to practice. You must work hard! I have some things to do, and I'll come see you when I have time," Kim Sung-woon, not wanting Xu Zhuxian to worry, patted her head and said.

"Wait, Oppa Sung-woon." Xu Zhuxian ran back to the practice room and soon returned with a pen and a piece of paper.

"Oppa Sung-woon, leave your address and phone number for me. I'll come see you when I have time," Xu Zhuxian said, slightly out of breath.

Kim Sung-woon wrote down his address and phone number, then patted Xu Zhuxian's head again, watching her return before taking a deep breath and heading towards the office he remembered.

"Oppa Han Seung-ho." Kim Sung-woon's gaze suddenly focused, and a familiar figure appeared in his line of sight. He smiled slightly and called out.

In the hallway, a middle-aged man in a suit, slightly overweight, heard Kim Sung-woon's voice, paused, and turned around with a hint of doubt.

Han Seung-ho, Kim Sung-woon's agent before his military service, was also the one who persuaded him to serve.

"This tone of voice..." Han Seung-ho scanned Kim Sung-woon, then asked uncertainly, "Are you Sung-woon?"

Kim Sung-woon's lips curved slightly, and he nodded.

"I didn't expect you to change so much. You must be over 180 cm now, right?" Han Seung-ho laughed awkwardly, speaking somewhat hurriedly.

"Ha ha, let's talk in my office." For some reason, Han Seung-ho felt a pressure from Kim Sung-woon's gaze, causing a thin layer of sweat to appear on his forehead. This only happened when he faced Chairman Lee Soo-man.

Kim Sung-woon nodded and didn't speak.

"Since you went to serve, I've been transferred to manage the trainees, and I've been so busy that I forgot about your discharge. I'm really sorry," Han Seung-ho explained as he brought Kim Sung-woon to his office and poured him a cup of coffee.

"It's okay." Kim Sung-woon finally spoke again, "I've completed my military service on Dokdo..."

"Yes, yes! I'll definitely mention your case to the chairman. Prepare yourself and wait for your return to the stage," Han Seung-ho said hurriedly, inwardly cursing the person who arranged Kim Sung-woon's service on Dokdo.

"No!" Kim Sung-woon raised his index finger and shook it slightly, "Three conditions!"

"What? Three conditions!" Han Seung-ho's face changed dramatically, almost jumping out of his seat, and stammered, "This... this... is not possible."

"Let me finish!" Kim Sung-woon's expression turned serious, interrupting Han Seung-ho, "I don't have time to listen to your explanations. First, the company must return my contract to me; second, I want to be a regular guest on SBS's variety show X-Man; third, arrange for me to enter Seoul National University."

"Impossible!" Han Seung-ho said hastily as soon as Kim Sung-woon finished.

"I'm not negotiating. All three conditions must be met, without exception," Kim Sung-woon, who understood Han Seung-ho's personality, ignored his protests.

Han Seung-ho was startled by Kim Sung-woon's tone, his mind racing. After a moment, he said with a serious face, "Sung-woon, the first condition is easy, the second is勉强可以, but the third is impossible to achieve."

"The third condition only requires you to make an introduction, and I will pass their exams myself," Kim Sung-woon, ignoring Han Seung-ho's expression, said slowly, "I'll wait here while you go and arrange it for me."

Since meeting Kim Sung-woon, Han Seung-ho felt as if his brain had stopped working, completely following Kim Sung-woon's thoughts.

"Strange, how has this guy changed so much?" Walking to the fourth floor, Han Seung-ho suddenly realized, "He used to be so meek, like a puppet. How did he become so authoritative? Could military service have this effect? Fortunately, he didn't make any unreasonable demands."

Han Seung-ho shook his head and began to consider how to explain this to the chairman.

About half an hour later, Han Seung-ho returned to the office and saw Kim Sung-woon sitting calmly in the office chair, the coffee in his cup only half-drunk. His initial intention to play hard to get vanished.

"Here is your contract, and the X-Man regular guest position is arranged. Here is the PD's phone number; it's best to call him before you go," Han Seung-ho explained in detail, "As for Seoul National University, you can report in the next three days, but I advise you to prepare well. Seoul National University's standards are very strict, and even if you manage to get in, poor grades will result in mandatory expulsion."

"Thank you, Oppa Seung-ho." Kim Sung-woon smiled and bowed slightly.

Actually, apart from being overly opportunistic, Han Seung-ho had no other major flaws. At least, he didn't unjustly abuse artists.

The tension between the two was due to Han Seung-ho representing S.M. Entertainment. Now that the conditions were met, Kim Sung-woon naturally wouldn't give him a hard time, considering they had worked together for four years.

"Ah!" Hearing this familiar title, Han Seung-ho couldn't help but recall their four years of hard work together, sighed, and patted Kim Sung-woon's shoulder, "I didn't know the company would send you to serve on Dokdo. But it's too late to talk about that now. Just work hard!"

Han Seung-ho paused, then added, "If you have any difficulties, you can come to me."

Kim Sung-woon, thinking of Xu Zhuxian, said, "I have a younger sister named Xu Zhuxian who is a trainee at the company. I hope you can take care of her a bit. Just make sure she isn't bullied by the seniors."

"That's no problem," Han Seung-ho laughed, pretending to be generous, but a hint of helplessness showed in his eyes. Being demoted from an artist's agent to a manager of a small group of trainees was a significant blow to him.

"Goodbye, Oppa Seung-ho." Kim Sung-woon didn't linger, got up, and left. In the future, they might not have much interaction.