Chapter 3

"Xiaoxian, did that woman bully you again?" In a corner of the third-floor hallway of S.M. Company, a tall girl held Xu Zhuxian's hand and asked.

"No, Sister YoonA." Xu Zhuxian's eyes sparkled as she said to the girl in front of her, "I saw Brother Seongwon today!"

"Brother Seongwon?" YoonA was slightly taken aback and then couldn't help but open her mouth wide, asking, "Is that the Brother Seongwon who raised you?"

"Sister YoonA, I just knew Brother Seongwon since I was little." Xu Zhuxian seemed to completely miss YoonA's teasing and explained seriously.

"Xiaoxian, you look exactly like that guy, all dazed and confused," YoonA put her hand on her forehead, as if recalling some unpleasant memory.

"Sister YoonA, Brother Seongwon is a senior, you can't talk about him like that." Xu Zhuxian pouted slightly.

YoonA was completely speechless, Xiaoxian was still defending that guy just like before.

"Brother Seongwon just returned from military service. I'm going to take a day off tomorrow to visit him. Do you want to come with me?" Xu Zhuxian thought for a moment and asked YoonA.

"Uh!" YoonA's face turned sour immediately, and she said to Xu Zhuxian, "Xiaoxian, you can go by yourself. If I go with you two, I might go crazy."

"Sister YoonA, how can you say that, we..." Xu Zhuxian's eyes shone with innocence as she stared at YoonA.

"Sorry, Xiaoxian. I have a heavy practice schedule tomorrow, so I can't go with you." YoonA hurriedly apologized, knowing Xu Zhuxian's straightforward and headache-inducing personality.

"Oh, then I'll go by myself." Xu Zhuxian was slightly disappointed but quickly perked up, nodding and saying, "Sister YoonA, good luck!"

YoonA finally breathed a sigh of relief, encouraged Xu Zhuxian a few times, and then hurriedly left like a frightened deer.

...

"Ah, I'm so tired!" In the practice room, YoonA was almost lying on the floor, panting, "Sister YooA's dance is amazing!"

Beside YoonA, a slightly dark-skinned girl handed her a bottle of mineral water and asked, "How is Xiaoxian? Has she been bullied again?"

"Huh?" YoonA paused for a moment, scratched her head, and said, "I don't think so—Xiaoxian said no. But she saw Brother Seongwon today and is going to take a day off to see him tomorrow."

"Brother Seongwon? Is that the guy who turned Xiaoxian into a bookworm?" YooA asked, surprised.

"Shh, Sister YooA, don't get me in trouble, Brother Seongwon is a senior!" YoonA sat up quickly and said to YooA.

"Got it." YooA smiled and said, "But why didn't you go with Xiaoxian? Don't you know him too?"

"No way," YoonA pouted, "I'll go crazy if I go with them."

"Ha ha..." YooA thought of Xiaoxian's personality and imagined the two of them sitting stiffly, like a formal lecture.

"But, is it okay for Xiaoxian to go by herself?" YooA smiled and then lowered her voice, "I heard that during military service, they don't see a woman for two years..."

"Cut it out, Sister YooA, don't try to trick me into suffering!" YoonA was unmoved, pouting, "Xiaoxian was almost raised by Brother Seongwon, their relationship is almost like father and daughter! Even if they haven't seen each other for two years, do you think their relationship would fade? And that guy's personality, cut it out..."

YooA saw that her little plan didn't work, her eyes twinkled, and she said, "I was just kidding. But Xiaoxian is only thirteen, we can't let her go alone. Let's go with her."

"No!" YoonA looked at YooA, though she didn't see anything suspicious, she still shook her head and refused.

"It seems YoonA really doesn't like being with that guy," YooA's eyes gleamed even more.

...

Seoul National University was founded in 1946, located in Seoul, South Korea, and is the most prestigious higher education institution in Korea, known for its rigorous teaching and strict requirements for students.

For ordinary artists to enter Seoul National University is virtually impossible, which is why Kim Seongwon asked S.M. Company for a recommendation. Even so, Kim Seongwon only got a chance; if he couldn't pass the interview at Seoul National University, everything would be in vain.

After leaving S.M. Company, Kim Seongwon went to Seoul National University that afternoon.

Led by a student from Seoul National University, Kim Seongwon easily found the office of the Dean of Academic Affairs.

Knock, knock, knock...

"Come in!" A slightly authoritative voice came from inside the office.

"Hello! I am Kim Seongwon." Kim Seongwon gently pushed the door open and saw a man with neatly combed hair, sitting straight, about fifty years old, behind the desk. He immediately bowed ninety degrees and said.

"Hello, I am the Dean of Academic Affairs at Seoul National University, Kim Changgi." The man slowly stood up from behind the desk, his gaze scrutinizing the young man who bowed so formally.

"Please sit down." Kim Changgi nodded slightly, indicating that Kim Seongwon should sit on the sofa beside him.

"Thank you." Kim Seongwon was slightly nervous.

"Are you an artist from S.M. Company?" Kim Changgi took out a file.

"Yes. However, my debut performance was not ideal. After completing my military service, I want to study and enrich myself." Kim Seongwon said, using the words he had prepared.

"How old are you?" Kim Changgi was slightly taken aback and looked up to ask. In his impression, few artists served in the military before the age of thirty.

"Twenty-two this year." Kim Seongwon smiled and said.

"Hmm." Kim Changgi nodded slowly, his impression of Kim Seongwon improved, but his expectations for him decreased: artists have little time to study, and he had just completed two years of military service.

"Given your situation, I suggest you apply to Kyungpook National University," Kim Changgi, who had a good impression of Kim Seongwon, thought for a moment and said.

"Thank you, Dean," Kim Seongwon understood Kim Changgi's intention and smiled, "But I have great confidence in my abilities."

He paused and added with a hint of pride, "I know seven languages, and I am proficient in English, Chinese, and Japanese. I can have basic conversations in Russian, French, German, and Spanish, but I am still improving."

Kim Changgi's hands trembled slightly, and he couldn't help but take off his glasses and gently wipe them—those who knew Kim Changgi well knew that he only did this when he was very excited.

"Is this the legendary language genius?" Even as the Dean of Academic Affairs at Seoul National University for over ten years, Kim Changgi had never seen a twenty-two-year-old who was proficient in seven languages!

Just Chinese alone was a challenge for many Korean elites, let alone being proficient in English, Chinese, and Japanese!

"Very good! Wait a moment!" Kim Changgi put on his glasses, stared at Kim Seongwon for a while, and saw the confident pride on his face. He then said slowly.

After saying that, Kim Changgi started making frequent phone calls.

A few minutes later, five teachers gradually entered the office.

"Genius! Absolute language genius!" After a series of tests, all five teachers, including Kim Changgi, were stunned. The teacher specializing in Chinese even raised his hands high and shouted at Kim Seongwon with shining eyes.

Kim Changgi tried hard to maintain his composure, patted Kim Seongwon's shoulder, and said, "Very good! From today, you are a student at Seoul National University. I will arrange for someone to help you with the enrollment procedures."

"Got it!" The Chinese teacher, who was extremely excited, responded briefly and hurriedly ran out.

"Teacher Kim, I am still an artist, and I may not be able to come to school often. I hope you can approve this." Kim Seongwon, seeing this, quickly made his request to Kim Changgi.

Kim Changgi frowned, but not because of the time issue: "Why be an artist? With your talent, you can stay at Seoul National University as a professor or continue your studies after graduation. Why choose a career with no future?"

In Korea, the social status of elite intellectuals far surpasses that of artists.

"Thank you, Teacher Kim, but being an artist is my childhood dream, and I will work hard to achieve it. I will not affect my exam results. If I fail any exam, I will withdraw automatically." Kim Seongwon said.

"Ah!" Kim Changgi couldn't help but curse. Withdrawal? How could he let Kim Seongwon withdraw!

"Alright, if you fail more than three exams, you will give up your career as an artist and focus on your studies!" Kim Changgi, seeing Kim Seongwon's determination, said directly.

"Thank you, Teacher Kim." Kim Seongwon nodded in agreement.

Under Kim Changgi's introduction, Kim Seongwon noted down the names and contact information of the five teachers. He could attend any of their classes at any time, as there was no one at Seoul National University who was proficient in seven languages.

...

"I didn't expect Teacher Han Jeong-sun to come and supervise our dance practice today." In the evening, outside the S.M. Company building, five girls gathered together.

"Yes. Xiaoxian, it's so late today, I think we should go tomorrow." YoonA, looking unwilling, said to Xu Zhuxian. She had been dragged over by YooA and the others.

"I have already called Brother Seongwon to tell him I will visit him today, so I must keep my promise. And I have already texted the sisters and me going to Brother Seongwon, and he is preparing dinner," Xu Zhuxian blinked and said to YoonA.

After hearing this, YoonA's mouth involuntarily drooled, and she said with a pained expression, "Ah! Who made you my dearest little sister! For you, I will make a sacrifice."

"I didn't expect Xiaoxian to have this side," YooA whispered to the other two girls beside her, "All my efforts are not as effective as one word from Xiaoxian."

"Ha ha," the other two girls laughed softly.

"Xiaoxian, is your Brother Seongwon good at cooking?" The tallest girl beside YooA suddenly blinked and put her arm around Xu Zhuxian's shoulder, asking.

"Ah, I forgot about Sooyoung's 'Food God' nickname," YooA sighed.

Xu Zhuxian shrank back, seemingly uncomfortable with the girl's affection: "Brother Seongwon worked in a Chinese restaurant from the age of six until he debuted at fifteen."

"Wow!" Sooyoung exaggeratedly opened her mouth wide, thought for a moment, and asked, "Is your Brother Seongwon handsome? Is his body good?"

"1.7 meters tall, average looks," YoonA said lazily before Xu Zhuxian could speak, "Completely not up to your standards, Sister Sooyoung, so stop dreaming."

"Ah!" Sooyoung sighed, seemingly disappointed.

"Sister YoonA, Brother Seongwon has changed a lot." Xu Zhuxian, hearing this, was slightly angry and said, "I almost didn't recognize him when I saw him yesterday!"

"Changed that much?" YoonA's spirit was immediately lifted. She knew very well how important Kim Seongwon was to Xu Zhuxian. If Xu Zhuxian almost didn't recognize him, the change must have been significant.

"Yes, Brother Seongwon is now over 1.8 meters tall and has a very good aura," Xu Zhuxian said seriously.

"Wow! I like men with good aura." Sooyoung immediately perked up, "Especially those who can cook well!"

"Really? Isn't Brother Seongwon already over twenty? How could he grow so much?" YoonA asked, puzzled.

"Boys develop for a longer time, so it's not impossible to grow at twenty," another girl with a beautiful appearance said, her voice clear and melodious like a lark.

"The bus is here, let's go! Gogo!" Sooyoung's eyes lit up, and she said hurriedly.