Chapter 1

Star-world Entertainment, abbreviated as SW, is a mid-sized entertainment company in South Korea. It is considered neither too big nor too small. It is not too small because it has one group of artists. It is not too big because this group is named Suger, who debuted in 2002 with the song "Tell Me Why," a fresh and unique track that showcased the meaning of their group name, making them a force to be reckoned with in terms of popularity.

In the current climate, where members of Fin.K.L are going solo and S.E.S. is facing numerous issues, and while Baby.V.O.X. is strong, their agency is showing signs of unprofessional management that is dragging the group down, SW's CEO, Lee Soo-young, sighed as he drove to the company with his daughter. The company is considered mid-sized for another reason. Perhaps to those in the industry, SW, which already has Suger, is still not as well-known for this other reason: SW Entertainment is a subsidiary of the entertainment giant S.M.

In terms of professionalism, Lee Soo-young has always looked down on his younger brother, the founder of S.M. However, in terms of vision, he has never been as good. Girl groups are gradually declining, and at most, this year will be the last before the era of boy groups takes over. Lee Soo-young did not listen to his brother's advice and launched Suger last year. However, just two years is not enough time for a group to debut, accumulate popularity, and become a sensation. Even though he firmly believes that the top girl groups will soon disband or semi-disband, a group that fails to make a mark after being launched is no different from a failure.

Looking at the 12- or 13-year-old girl next to him wearing headphones, Lee Soo-young smiled and took one out to put in his ear. Fortunately, the girl who entered his company as a trainee is his youngest daughter. Perhaps by the time she debuts, it will be the right time for girl groups to make a comeback. This is both her dream and his wish as the CEO of an entertainment company and as a father. However...

He hummed softly and took the headphone out, tossing it back to her. "Sun-gyu, as a trainee of SW, how can you listen to S.E.S. songs?" The girl, named Sun-gyu, was taken aback but then smiled and hugged Lee Soo-young's arm. "Dad, Suger's members have been on hiatus for almost a year since their first album. Do you want me to listen to just those few songs all the time?"

Seeing that Lee Soo-young was still frowning, the girl pouted. "Besides, it's normal for me to support the idols from Uncle's company as his niece." Lee Soo-young's eyes flashed with a hint of amusement, but his tone remained unchanged. "If you like his company so much, why don't I send you there? SW is too small to accommodate the third Miss Lee." The girl was taken aback, then suddenly sat up with a delighted look. "Kim's company?! Is it true, Dad? You have to keep your word, no lying."

Lee Soo-young's eyes widened, and he pointed at the girl, too angry to speak. The girl grinned mischievously, her nose wrinkled and her eyes nearly closed, shaking Lee Soo-young's arm. "Just kidding. SW is the best company, and Dad is the most capable CEO. As your daughter, how could I go to another company? Not even Uncle's. Dad is the best, better than Uncle."

Whether influenced by his daughter's coquettishness or the last sentence, Lee Soo-young's expression softened. He pinched her nose a few times, causing her to swat at him. He chuckled, pulled her into his arms, and looked ahead silently. If I were better than him, I wouldn't be a subsidiary of his company. Even a teenager knows how to use this trick to comfort me. Is my obsession too deep?

On February 5, 2003, the fifth day of the Lunar New Year, it was also the first day back to work for companies in South Korea. From a distance, the three-story office building of SW was visible, and the driver was about to arrive at the company. As they were about to turn into the parking lot, Lee Soo-young squinted and looked at the office building.

Even with one less floor than yours, am I destined to be inferior to you? Apart from being your older brother, which is the only reason I can hold over you, I am inferior in every way. Perhaps it is indeed my lack of ability. But don't forget, in the past, I was the one who debuted first and was the most successful as a musician.

"Screech!" The car suddenly braked. Lee Soo-young, who was lost in thought, and Lee Sun-gyu, who was listening to music, were jolted forward, hitting the seat backs. Lee Sun-gyu even hit her head, rubbing it and frowning, resenting her height once again. Lee Soo-young scolded, "We're at the company, how did you drive?" But looking out the window, he did not blame the driver.

For many years to come, both Lee Soo-young and Lee Sun-gyu would never forget this scene. A handsome 12- or 13-year-old boy stood less than two meters in front of the car, blood trickling down his head, but he did not blink. His eyes were fixed on something, a look of longing and aspiration that anyone would follow.

Opening the car door, they stepped out into the light snow. Lee Soo-young and Lee Sun-gyu followed his gaze and understood where his longing lay. The snow-covered entrance of SW, with the prominent and heavy sign of Star-world. Lee Sun-gyu looked at her father with a strange expression, trying not to laugh.

The rapid development of the entertainment industry has made the dream of overnight fame for children very real. If you want to be a trainee, just say so. Why make it so bloody and pitiful? SW is not a big company like S.M. or DSP, it's not that hard to get in. The driver also got out, approaching Lee Soo-young with a panicked look. "CEO, I didn't hit him. Really. The blood on his head..."

Lee Soo-young waved his hand and stepped forward. But his mischievous daughter had already gone ahead. She waved her hand in front of the boy's eyes, but it did not break his concentration. Lee Sun-gyu frowned and stood in front of him. "Hey. It's the first day back to work after the New Year. If you come for an audition, the company will give you a chance. Why do you have to smear your head with paint to gain sympathy? Your character score will be very low. Do you know who this person behind me is... Hey!"

The boy's gaze finally turned, but the moment it met the girl's, he closed his eyes and fell backward into the snow. Lee Sun-gyu jumped back in fright. Lee Soo-young stepped forward and pulled the boy up, his fingers touching the blood on his head, confirming it was real.

"Sun-gyu, open the door!" Lee Sun-gyu hesitated, then ran to open the back door. Lee Soo-young carried the boy into the car, and the driver, now back to his senses, started the car and headed to the hospital. They had just arrived at the company and were about to enter the parking lot, but now they were leaving for the hospital. It was the first day back to work after the New Year...

In the darkness, he felt a headache and pain in his eyes. The childish voice in his ear was incessant, though not many words, it was extremely annoying. He had fallen on the ice at a crossroads on his way home. His head had hit the ground, and blood had flowed into his eyes on his 13th birthday. He tried to open his eyes but could not.

"Dad, this face is nice. After the blood is cleaned, he looks prettier than a girl... Is he a girl?" The blanket was lifted, but Moon Jung-woo could not move. A deep voice spoke, and the blanket was put back. "Sun-gyu, don't be silly." "Giggle, just for this face, even if he has no talent, he should be taken into the company. Dad always says he wants to surpass Uncle. Train him to fulfill your wish."

"Vision is your uncle's philosophy, not mine. Do you think I let you into the company just because you're the CEO's daughter?" "Mo? Dad! Are you saying my appearance is不合格?" "Haha. Far from your second sister... Not to mention your eldest sister when she was young. Among the three sisters, you are the least like your mother." "Dad!!"

"Ah!" He sat up suddenly, his eyes opening, but he was not used to the sudden brightness. His pupils adjusted to the light, and when he got used to it, he saw a hospital room, an IV bag, and two people, one big and one small, one male and one female, sitting by the bed. His head still hurt, and he instinctively touched it, feeling the bandage.

Lee Soo-young paused, then smiled kindly and approached. "It's just a cut in the hair. The bleeding has stopped, and there's no serious damage." Moon Jung-woo looked directly at Lee Soo-young and nodded slowly in response. Lee Soo-young patted Lee Sun-gyu's head. "You stay here with him, I'll go get the doctor." He then left the room.

Now, Moon Jung-woo had the chance to look at the curious face of the other person. He finally opened his eyes and wanted to see if the owner of the annoying voice was as annoying as the sound.

Surprisingly, she was not the type of pretty, but had a playful cuteness. Her eyes were not large, and her face was round. Moon Jung-woo couldn't decide whether to look at her eyes or her full, round lips first. Moon Jung-woo was not an aggressive person and did not easily show his emotions. His impatience was due to the events of the day, which had pushed him to his emotional limit and made him feel suddenly grown up.

So, when he saw this girl, whose voice had been annoying him, he unusually did not want to say anything nice to her: "Ugly girl! Do you know how noisy you are?" Lee Sun-gyu was examining Moon Jung-woo, finding him beautiful and delicate, words that should not describe a boy but fit him perfectly.

But the "ugly girl" comment made Lee Sun-gyu instantly transform into a cat with claws, leaning forward, her face close to his, glaring fiercely. "Hey, what did you call me?! Ugly girl?!" Moon Jung-woo did not back down, even as her breath almost touched his face. He remained calm, looking at her and saying something that made Lee Sun-gyu purse her lips and take a deep breath.

"Can a girl who isn't even as pretty as a boy be considered anything but ugly?"

Is this arrogance? Is this showing off? Is this self-righteousness? What does that curved smile mean? He is laughing, right! Why does this smile remind her of a peculiar creature, and as her anger rises, it finally triggers her memory, making her blurt out her thoughts: "Brat! Do you know how attractive you are?"

Moon Jung-woo was taken aback and replied casually, "So, are you the top?" Lee Sun-gyu scoffed, "Have you been waiting for this?" "If you were a boy, you might really be handsome." "Brat." "Ugly girl." "..." "..." This is what Lee Soo-young saw when he returned to the room with the doctor. The two children,针锋相对, were incompatible, bickering and competing in every way they could without using their hands.

But in Lee Soo-young's eyes, his never-defeated daughter was clearly at a disadvantage. Not being defeated does not mean never losing, and what surprised Lee Soo-young was that his daughter's determination not to lose... seemed more persistent this time.