Chapter 33

# Chapter 033

Jang Hayang, Selected as a Short-Term Trainee!

The first day.

A time was given for ice-breaking and building camaraderie among the trainees.

The four of them sat in the practice room and introduced themselves.

In such situations, the timing after introductions is always a problem. If no one initiates conversation, the atmosphere can become awkward.

'I prepared a list of questions for today.'

Just as Rika was about to ask questions naturally according to the list,

"Do you all use informal language?"

Jang Hayang spoke up first, in a friendly manner.

Rika replied,

"I use formal language with Seolha, and informal language with me and Arah."

"You said you're 21, right? That's just one year older than me."

"Ah, yes."

Jang Hayang smiled brightly.

Baek Seolha couldn't guess her intentions.

'Does she mean we should use informal language because we're only one year apart?'

She wanted to avoid such a situation.

Having previously been an idol, Baek Seolha understood the importance of hierarchy.

Usually, a leader needs control over the group members.

Generally, this power comes from age.

Allowing informal language could potentially undermine the hierarchy, so Baek Seolha had never allowed it.

Although she hadn't told anyone, she had a vague feeling that she would become the leader.

Even if not, she felt a sense of duty as an elder to manage the members.

"Use informal language with me."

"Okay, I will."

Just as Rika was about to interject, Jang Hayang asked another question.

"Did you all come here because Mr. Park recommended you?"

Rika deleted the list of questions she had prepared from her mind.

The conversation was flowing well without it.

Jang Hayang had the ability to approach new people without any awkwardness.

"I came because a doctor recommended it."

Arah was the first to answer.

"Doctor?"

"Mr. Han Guin. Mr. Han. The pronunciation is similar, isn't it?"

"Oh, so that's why you call him 'doctor.' That's funny! Did you come up with that?"

"I'm the only one who calls him that."

"Does he not mind being called 'doctor'?"

"He seems to like it."

Han Guin appeared cold at first glance.

Jang Hayang thought it would be hard to talk to him when she first saw him.

"He's actually very affectionate, unlike his appearance."

If they were ranked by how approachable they were, starting with Seong Pil, Hong Gyuheon, and Han Guin...

By appearance alone, Seong Pil was the hardest to approach.

His blank expression, except when talking, often made people think he was angry.

"Does Mr. Park have a scary face?"

"Didn't you think so when you first saw him?"

"Mr. Park always has a smile, and he's very kind."

Rika, Baek Seolha, and Arah agreed.

Seong Pil had shown a gentle side from the beginning, creating a preconceived notion of kindness.

"I was recommended by Mr. Park."

"Right, Seolha is really a legend. There are videos of her."

"Videos? Who took them?"

Han Guin had filmed them in case of any issues. The three of them, excluding Baek Seolha, huddled together to watch the video.

On a busy street in the middle of the day, Seong Pil and Baek Seolha were facing each other.

[...But I know one thing. In that future, Seolha must be there. She has to be.]

[Crazy.]

Rika and Arah laughed at the rare curse words from Han Guin.

Baek Seolha's ears turned red, and she looked away.

[To be honest, I have fallen in love with Seolha.]

[What?!]

The video showed Baek Seolha's dazed response, and in reality, she covered her face.

[...It becomes even more radiant and brilliant. Our meeting was like that. As time passed, it felt like looking deeper into the eyes...]

[Stop! Stop it!]

"Guys, stop watching... "

[That's right! Please stop!]

Han Guin's desperate cry and Baek Seolha's plea overlapped.

Arah lay on the floor, rolling around.

[Now, that's enough...]

[Seolha, please, become an idol. I beg you.]

"Wow, this is really a legend. No matter how many times I watch it, it's amazing. It should be preserved in Garo Entertainment for generations. How can you say such things on the street?"

"Really. It's almost like a marriage proposal."

"Stop, please..."

Baek Seolha tried to intervene and turn off the video.

"Hayang, isn't this funny? Right...?"

Baek Seolha stopped, looking for agreement from Jang Hayang.

Jang Hayang's face was expressionless, without a hint of a smile.

"What is this? Is it staged?"

"Ask Mr. Han. He'll recreate it like a puppet show."

"Um, but since Seolha doesn't like it, let's not do it again, okay?"

"Yeah, it's embarrassing."

"Then, let's hear from Isikawa."

"Call me Rika! Let's see, I... "

"Let me guess. You were also recommended by Mr. Park, right?"

Rika wiggled her finger from side to side.

As if she was on a different level.

"Could it be the CEO?"

"I knelt down and begged Mr. Park on the street."

"Mr. Park knelt down and begged? On the street?!"

"No, I did."

"...Huh?"

Jang Hayang experienced cognitive dissonance.

So, Rika knelt down and begged on the street?

Rika made a V sign with her hand.

"I caught up to the fleeing Mr. Park and did a dogeza (prostration)! Mr. Park, moved by my sincerity, said OK!"

"..."

"That's why I'm here."

"Wow, impressive."

Impressed by Rika's proud tone, Jang Hayang unknowingly praised her.

Rika's nose lifted even higher.

Among the four gathered here, she was definitely the most unique case.

"So, so, I've been wanting to ask this."

In the lull of the conversation, Rika finally took the lead.

"Seolha, you're really beautiful. When you walk down the street, don't men ask for your number all the time? Like thirty times a day?"

"Ah, more like a hundred."

"Eh?!"

"Often."

"Then, then, have you... dated a lot?"

Arah and Rika perked up their ears.

At 18, they were at an age where they were very interested in such things.

They always sought the experiences of their elders. Baek Seolha, having no experience, couldn't help them.

But with Jang Hayang's arrival, they had the chance to hear about real situations.

"Not really, I haven't found anyone who catches my eye."

"Wow."

Arah looked at her with admiration.

Jang Hayang, speaking coolly and confidently about not finding anyone, seemed very impressive.

She even thought she wanted to be like that.

'I should say that when someone asks me in the future.'

"Then, what kind of person do you like?"

"Me? I, um, how should I put it... Someone I can rely on?"

"I get that feeling. I also like older men. Someone I can rely on... like 23 or 24 years old?"

Arah's comment made Baek Seolha burst out laughing.

But she quickly realized it was inappropriate and contained her laughter.

"Arah, 24 isn't old enough to rely on. He's a college student. Seolha laughed too."

"What? It's old enough. He's six years older than me."

"Um, yeah. Maybe I've been looking at Mr. Han and Mr. Park too much."

"Then, Rika, what kind of man do you like?"

"First, good-looking. Second, kind and attentive to me. Third, in good shape."

"You're shallow?"

Arah shook her head in disgust.

"Who only looks at faces?!"

"How about Seolha? Rank them 1, 2, 3."

"Me? I... First, someone with a good personality. And..."

Baek Seolha stuttered, blushing.

"Good-looking is nice too, but most importantly, someone with a good personality."

"Do you know something?"

Jang Hayang, listening to their ideal types, started to explain with a smile.

"Usually, when ranking ideal types, the 1st and 2nd places are switched."

"...Huh?"

"If saying the 1st place directly is embarrassing, they switch the two ranks."

"Oh, so Rika and Seolha... "

Arah looked at Baek Seolha and gently patted Rika's head, smiling faintly.

"Rika, I'm sorry for calling you shallow."

Baek Seolha bowed deeply. Jang Hayang patted her shoulder.

"Wanting someone good-looking is natural. Why be embarrassed?"

"You're right, Seolha. If you're good-looking, no one will say anything."

"..."

Time passed quickly.

The conversation continued without pause.

But Baek Seolha spoke little.

She was usually quiet, but somehow found it hard to join in the conversation.

'Is it a generation gap?'

The topics changed so quickly that it was hard to keep up.

"Ten minutes left. We have to go to the academy in ten minutes. It's a shame."

"But Seolha and Hayang have similar names, don't you think?"

"Oh, right. They both have 'white' in them!"

Baek Seolha and Jang Hayang looked at each other and smiled awkwardly. They didn't talk much to each other.

"By the way, my name is Isikawa Rika."

"I know."

"Shizukawa Rika!"

"Shizukawa...?"

"Stone, my, pear, flower. Arah?"

"I have a Korean name."

"Your name doesn't have Chinese characters?"

"Yeah, what's wrong with that?"

"What does your name mean?"

"Be good."

"..."

"What?"

"Your name is beautiful. I've always thought Arah was a beautiful name."

"Of course, it's Seolha."

The next topic was Baek Seolha's name.

"Hold on, let me guess."

Arah put her finger to her temple and pretended to concentrate.

"Snow, and then under."

"Hey, Arah. In Korea, we don't use 'under' in names."

"But it's 'under,' right?"

"Eh? Really? I just got goosebumps."

"Why?"

"When Mr. Park confessed to Seolha, he said something like 'the snow under the eyes is brighter and whiter,' right?"

"Oh."

Rika and Arah shivered.

"It's really creepy."

"It's probably a coincidence."

"Guess