Chapter 13

Chapter Thirteen: A Song of "Loving You"

"Edelweiss" is a song that is easy to sing and catchy, with simple lyrics and a moving melody.

Lee Soo-man, Yoo Young-jin, and Kim Sung-soo, sitting in a row, listened to Park So-yeon's singing and exchanged glances, all slightly shaking their heads. Before her, there were many who were better, but they were all passed over.

"Alright, you can stop!" Yoo Young-jin said, "Park So-yeon... um... your voice is powerful, but it's not what we had in mind. Although you hit the right notes, many of them were off.

Do you know why I was surprised when you said you would sing 'Edelweiss'? 'Edelweiss' is a song that is almost universally known, but it is precisely in its simplicity that the true test lies. The more ordinary a song, the harder it is to make it extraordinary. It's not that the song you chose is bad; it just doesn't suit you.

That's all I have to say. Next!"

Park So-yeon hung her head in disappointment and retreated. Lee Yun-jae didn't react much, as if it was just a routine matter. In fact, he had expected this. For Park So-yeon to think that half a month of last-minute practice would make her an S.M. Entertainment trainee was a pipe dream. If that were possible, it would be unfair to those who had worked hard. Moreover, Park So-yeon was not a musical prodigy with a strong sense of music.

"Next... BoA (Note: All names in the story are their known stage names)."

"Good luck, BoA!" Park So-yeon, though somewhat dejected, still cheered BoA on. Lee Yun-jae gave her a thumbs-up to encourage her.

BoA took a deep breath. As the last contestant, she felt even more pressure than Park So-yeon. Strangely, when the pressure became almost unbearable, BoA seemed even more composed, with steady and powerful steps and a determined look in her eyes.

Lee Soo-man, Yoo Young-jin, and Kim Sung-soo exchanged glances, all surprised by the aura BoA exuded. At such a young age, BoA had a presence that caught them off guard. Lee Soo-man felt a slight excitement, wondering if the last contestant was the one he was looking for.

Even before BoA started singing, the aura she exuded had already impressed Lee Soo-man, Yoo Young-jin, and Kim Sung-soo. A young girl naturally having such a presence was remarkable. Among all the contestants, none had the natural aura that BoA possessed. Moreover, as the last contestant, she had endured immense pressure and stood calmly before them, which further impressed them.

"Um... BoA! What will you perform today?" Lee Soo-man asked, holding BoA's profile.

"I will perform 'Your Fragrance'!" BoA, who had been clenching her fists, suddenly relaxed and said confidently.

"Oh... 'Your Fragrance'!" Lee Soo-man's eyebrows raised slightly. The song was written by him and composed by Yoo Young-jin in 1993, an old song. He was surprised that BoA had chosen this song.

"Alright, let's hear how you can interpret this song in front of its creators!" Yoo Young-jin said with a smile, and the music began.

BoA closed her eyes, and when she opened them again, the determination was gone, and her eyes looked ordinary, as if she were just a passerby on the street. She seemed to ignore the presence of Lee Soo-man, Yoo Young-jin, and Kim Sung-soo, and began to sing.

When the first line of the lyrics came out of BoA's mouth, Lee Soo-man's eyes lit up as if he had discovered a new world. Yoo Young-jin and Kim Sung-soo exchanged glances, both pleased.

Although BoA had not received systematic training, her love for singing had helped her smooth out some rough edges. Her performance, while somewhat abrupt, was not unpleasant. Her pitch and tone were well-controlled, neither too much nor too little.

Throughout the song, BoA had only two off-key moments, but no off-notes, and the performance was smooth. The transitions, though needing improvement, were not noticeable to the average listener and would require professional training to refine.

Lee Soo-man, Yoo Young-jin, and Kim Sung-soo exchanged glances and nodded. BoA not only had a sweet appearance but also a voice with great potential. What was most surprising was her natural presence and composure, which made her stand out.

Considering all these factors, Lee Soo-man made a decision but wanted to see her dance skills. If BoA could only sing, he would still accept her as a trainee and focus on her development, but she wouldn't be suitable to represent Super Junior, a group that would represent all of Asia. If she could sing and dance, she would have the qualifications.

"Alright, let's see your dance skills next!" Lee Soo-man said.

BoA took off her jacket, did a few stretches, and then, with the music, began to dance the latest popular steps.

Soon, Lee Soo-man had a conclusion about BoA's dance skills. Her basic skills were poor and would require two years of intensive training, but her coordination and flexibility were excellent. Her movements were sometimes soft and sometimes powerful, seamlessly transitioning between the two.

Without hesitation, Lee Soo-man made his decision. The six other candidates waiting on the side were far inferior to BoA, both in terms of natural presence and composure, as well as her control of the song and accuracy in pitch and tone.

After BoA finished dancing, she looked at Lee Soo-man and the others with nervous anticipation. Lee Soo-man discussed with Yoo Young-jin and Kim Sung-soo, and they quickly reached a consensus.

The atmosphere in the practice room became tense as everyone held their breath, waiting for the final decision.

Cough... Lee Soo-man cleared his throat and said, "Alright, I've made my final decision. There's no need for further interviews! In addition to the six who have been selected as trainees, the final special selection is you—BoA!"

BoA stood there in disbelief, as did Park So-yeon, BoA's mother, and everyone else, except for Lee Yun-jae, who was not directly involved.

Yay...

BoA jumped with excitement, then bowed deeply to Lee Soo-man and the others in gratitude. She ran to the door and hugged Lee Yun-jae, without whom she might not have had the chance to participate, along with Park So-yeon. Finally, she hugged her mother with tears of joy.

While BoA was overjoyed, the other contestants, though accepted as trainees, looked at her enviously. They would be ordinary trainees, but BoA was specially selected by Lee Soo-man for intensive training to become a Super Junior, representing all of Asia.

"Alright, everyone, the audition is over. Please leave S.M. Entertainment, and the parents of the selected trainees stay to discuss the details!" Lee Soo-man organized the documents on the table and stood up.

"Park So-yeon, it's time to go!" Lee Yun-jae tugged at Park So-yeon, who was still reluctant to leave.

"Wait!"

Park So-yeon seemed to remember something, ran to BoA's ear, and whispered a few words. BoA laughed, as if Park So-yeon had told her a joke, and said, "Park So-yeon, you didn't audition just for this, did you?"

"BoA... please! I'm a big fan of HOT. If you get the chance, please get their autographs and send them to me!"

Lee Yun-jae stumbled, surprised by Park So-yeon's request, which made him laugh and cry at the same time.

"Alright, Park So-yeon, don't embarrass yourself... BoA, congratulations, you've finally achieved your dream!" Lee Yun-jae walked over.

"Thank you! Without your help, I might not have even gotten off the train!" BoA was overjoyed. Lee Yun-jae had played a crucial role. Without his help with the ticket, meals, and accommodation, she would have gone home long ago.

Lee Yun-jae waved it off, "It's no big deal! Just don't forget us when you become a big star!"

BoA laughed and pinched Lee Yun-jae's chubby cheeks.

"Alright, we should go... it's getting dark!" Park Sang-hae patted Lee Yun-jae and Park So-yeon on the head and encouraged Park So-yeon, "Park So-yeon, don't give up. Let's practice more and try again next time!"

Park So-yeon nodded firmly.

The other candidates left, and Lee Yun-jae and the others stayed to congratulate BoA. Just as Lee Yun-jae was about to leave the practice room, Yoo Young-jin, who had been sitting quietly with a furrowed brow, stood up and shouted, "Wait!"

Everyone looked at him curiously, unsure who he was calling. Lee Yun-jae instinctively stopped and turned to meet Yoo Young-jin's gaze.

"Little boy, what's your name?" Yoo Young-jin asked, puzzled by the situation.

"Are you talking to me? I'm Lee Yun-jae!"

"Lee Yun-jae... can you sing a song for us?" Yoo Young-jin asked.

Lee Yun-jae was taken aback and said, "I'm not here to audition. What's the big deal if I don't sing... no thanks!"

"Yun-jae, since they asked, why not sing? It won't hurt!" Park So-yeon encouraged.

"Yun-jae, sing a song. It's a good opportunity to practice!" Park Sang-hae added.

"Yun-jae, since the teacher asked, sing a song!" BoA also came over to persuade him.

Lee Yun-jae scratched the back of his head, feeling a bit awkward, then sighed and thought, "Fine, I'll sing a song. It's not like it will hurt. Besides, I haven't sung that song in a long time."

Lee Yun-jae nodded and said, "Alright... I don't mind singing a song, but I need to borrow a guitar!" He pointed to the guitar by the piano.

"Oh... you can play the guitar?" Yoo Young-jin asked, surprised.

Lee Yun-jae nodded, "I started learning at six. My mom made me... I just got used to it over time."

"Alright, play and sing a song! Use any instrument you like!" Yoo Young-jin sat down and gestured for Lee Soo-man and Kim Sung-soo to do the same. Although they were curious about Yoo Young-jin's intentions, they followed his lead, thinking it was just another song.

Lee Yun-jae took the guitar, walked to the microphone, and strummed a few chords. Satisfied, he said, "I'll sing 'Loving You'!"

"Loving You" was unfamiliar to BoA, Park So-yeon, and Park Sang-hae, but it had a different meaning for Lee Soo-man, Yoo Young-jin, and Kim Sung-soo, who all raised their eyebrows in surprise.

"Loving You" was co-written by Minnie Riperton and her husband in 1975. When the song became popular in the U.S., Lee Soo-man couldn't sing, Yoo Young-jin was four, and the Korean people were struggling to survive.

"Didn't expect you to know 'Loving You'!" Yoo Young-jin chuckled.

"I learned it because it sounded good!"

Without further ado, Lee Yun-jae gently strummed the guitar, and an old, yellowed sheet of music came to mind, which he had found in his father's study by chance.

In those days, songs were simple, with no complex mixing. A single guitar could produce a moving melody that touched the soul.

The guitar played softly and gently, gradually penetrating the hearts of the listeners. Then, Lee Yun-jae began to sing.

"Loving you

I'm easy 'cause you're beautiful

Making love with you

Is all I wanna do

Loving you

Is more than

Just a dream come true

And everything that I do

Is out of loving you

La la... Dooundooundoodoo, Ah..."

Lee Yun-jae, being younger and not in his voice-changing period like BoA, had a light and clear voice, like a spring rain nourishing dry, hard soil.

When Lee Yun-jae hit the high notes, his voice remained clear and strong, without any strain. This surprised Lee Soo-man, Yoo Young-jin, and Kim Sung-soo, who couldn't believe the range of his voice. Without training, his range was already impressive, and with proper training, it could become even wider and higher, and he could also sing low notes.

BoA's clear eyes gradually became misty, drawn into Lee Yun-jae's singing.

The song "Loving You" stunned everyone in the room. Park So-yeon looked at him with wide eyes, as if seeing him for the first time. She had never heard Lee Yun-jae sing and never imagined that her "bedmate" had such a powerful skill.

Park Sang-hae looked bewildered, recalling his past, his first love, the beautiful and talented Han Won-jung. He sighed, "This child has inherited his mother's good genes."

Lee Soo-man was now uncertain. The talent pool was growing, and he found it hard to make a decision. Initially, he wanted to train a top-notch trainee and focus on the international market. Girls had an advantage in the international market, so he had focused on female candidates. However, Lee Yun-jae's unexpected appearance made him reconsider.

In terms of voice, Lee Yun-jae was better than BoA, with a lighter and clearer tone. However, he was too young to be a trainee. Even BoA, at thirteen, was considered young. Boys develop later than girls, and there was no guarantee that after training, his voice would remain exceptional. It would be a waste if his voice became ordinary after development.

"Old Lee... what do you think? Don't miss this opportunity!" Yoo Young-jin whispered.

"Old Lee, this child is really good. He's skilled in guitar and piano, and though his singing needs improvement, he's only ten and very malleable!" Kim Sung-soo also urged, wanting to keep this talented child.

Seeing their enthusiasm, Lee Soo-man found it hard to turn Lee Yun-jae away. He looked up and said, "Child, do you want to join our company and become a trainee?"