Chapter 9: Departure - Destination Seoul

Lee Yunjae instantly froze. Running away from home to Seoul, he wasn't afraid, but if he really left, it would surely cause a huge commotion at home.

"No, no..." Lee Yunjae said repeatedly, "Suyeon-ssi, why don't you talk to Uncle and Aunt first? If we really leave, they will worry to death!"

Park Suyeon glared at him and said, "What's there to worry about... It's just a two-hour train ride to Seoul. What's so scary? We can even go and come back on the same day! We'll go in the morning and return in the afternoon!"

Lee Yunjae still felt it was inappropriate and said, "What if something happens on the way and we can't come back the same day?!"

"Then we'll stay at the train station for the night... Anyway, I'm going for sure!" Park Suyeon said, gritting her teeth.

Lee Yunjae sighed and continued, "Sister, we need money to go to Seoul... Do you have any money?!"

Park Suyeon shook her head. She had no money; even if she did, it would have been spent on posters. Now, if she could take out 2,000 won, she would be grateful. Her eyes flickered slightly, and Park Suyeon looked at Lee Yunjae, her lips curling into an unnatural smile. Lee Yunjae immediately felt a chill down his back, sensing something was wrong.

"Money... I don't have any, but you do! Your money is my money, right!"

Hearing this, Lee Yunjae almost fainted. When did his money become hers? Although he had enough money to stay in Seoul for a few days, he was still hesitant. They were too young, and if they encountered bad people, they wouldn't have the ability to resist. It was too dangerous to go out without adults.

"Good little brother... Please help me! This is a rare opportunity. S.M rarely holds such a big audition. Whether we succeed or not, I have to try!" Park Suyeon pouted.

Lee Yunjae was indecisive. Helping was inappropriate, but not helping was also inappropriate. He found himself in a dilemma. Seeing Lee Yunjae's hesitation, Park Suyeon pulled out her trump card, a card that appeared in her hand at some point.

Lee Yunjae froze when he saw it, then patted his head, feeling regretful. This card was given to Park Suyeon on her birthday by Lee Yunjae. As a return favor, the card could be used to fulfill one wish. Now, he had no choice but to help.

"Alright, alright... I'm scared of you! I'll go with you!"

"Yay! Great!"

Park Suyeon jumped excitedly on the bed. Lee Yunjae, holding a sliver of hope, said, "Suyeon-ssi, are you really not going to tell Uncle and Aunt? They will worry!"

"No... Absolutely not! If I tell them, I probably won't even be able to leave the house!" Park Suyeon said firmly.

Seeing Park Suyeon's determination, Lee Yunjae didn't say anything more. He knew it was useless to argue now. He might as well save his breath.

"So, how are we going? When are we going?"

Park Suyeon stroked her chin and said, "The audition is on July 15th, so we have a month to prepare. The final exams are coming up soon. I'll try to get good grades to make them happy, so they won't scold me as harshly..."

Lee Yunjae looked at her with a skeptical gaze and said, "Suyeon-ssi... With your grades, how many points do you think you can get?!"

"That's where you come in. You have to ensure that I score at least 80 points in every subject this time!" Park Suyeon laughed.

"That's impossible... Do you think the teachers are blind? Unless you start cramming now, there's a slight chance!" Lee Yunjae thought for a moment and said.

"Alright... Help me study. From today, we'll study extra hard. With your help, I can definitely score over 80 points!" Park Suyeon's eyes lit up, and she shook Lee Yunjae's arm.

Lee Yunjae sighed deeply, feeling like he was digging his own grave.

......

While Park Suyeon was "coercing" Lee Yunjae to help her study, she didn't notice that Park Sanghae was standing at the ladder entrance, having come out to use the bathroom. Hearing Park Suyeon's entire plan, Park Sanghae couldn't help but laugh, thinking, "This girl, if she didn't want us to hear, why did she speak so loudly? Oh well..."

Park Sanghae returned to the bedroom, got into bed, and told the whole story to Choi Jiya. Choi Jiya threw off the blanket, ready to rush out, but Park Sanghae quickly pulled her back. Choi Jiya frowned and said, "What are you doing... This child is getting bolder and bolder, tricking Yunjae into going to Seoul with her. If we don't stop her now, we won't be able to control her later!"

"Wife... Don't get so angry! Suyeon is growing up, she has her own thoughts and things she wants to do. We shouldn't stop her. Besides, it's good that Yunjae is helping her study. I can secretly follow them... Nothing will happen!" Park Sanghae persuaded.

"That's not what I'm worried about!" Choi Jiya said, gritting her teeth. "I'm worried that this girl is going to participate in an audition... She doesn't want to study properly and just wants to be a star. What will happen in the future?"

Park Sanghae laughed and said, "Relax! There are so many people in Korea who want to be stars. It's unlikely it will be her. You know your daughter's capabilities, right? It's summer vacation, so let her go and have some fun, gain some experience. I guarantee she won't be selected."

After a pause, Park Sanghae added, "But, if she is selected, that wouldn't be bad either!"

"You're out of your mind... What do you mean it wouldn't be bad? It's terrible... She's still a student, does she not need to go to school?!" Choi Jiya objected.

"Wife, think about it this way... Suyeon is not like Yunjae. Her academic performance is already poor. If she has the talent to be a singer, it's not a bad choice. Being a singer earns more than a regular job... Isn't the point of studying to find a high-paying job? It's better to let her choose a career she likes!

Besides, being a star isn't bad. HOT is from S.M Entertainment, and they are so popular now, a household name in Korea. It's quite prestigious..."

Choi Jiya glared at him and said, "You're always talking... Every few sentences are about what's good for our daughter. Am I not thinking about her?"

"Of course not... I know you care about Suyeon. But she's 12 years old and has her own thoughts. Wanting to go out and explore is a good idea. As for her grades, she can barely get into high school, let alone a good university. It's better for her to inherit the family business (the bakery).

So, if she is selected, being a star is better than being a baker, right?" Park Sanghae explained hurriedly.

"So, you agree with her going? And you're trying to convince me... Don't think I can't tell!" Choi Jiya said, somewhat displeased that her husband was on her daughter's side.

"No... How could I! This house is still under your control. If you don't let her go, I'll guard the door on that day and not let her out!"

Choi Jiya stared at him for a long time, then sighed and said, "Alright, alright. Let's see how she does in the exams. If she scores over 80 points, I'll let her go!"

Park Suyeon didn't know that her secret, which she thought was very hidden, had already been discovered by her parents.

......

In the following days, Park Suyeon seemed like a different person. She no longer dozed off in class and was always energetic. With the goal of 80 points, she seemed like a completely different person.

After school, she no longer played with the magic ball but started reading books. Choi Jiya rubbed her eyes, finding it hard to believe that her daughter could be like this. Seeing her daughter sitting on the sofa reading at home was unprecedented. She silently thought, "It seems the allure of being a star is strong."

At the dinner table, Park Sanghae was surprised to see Park Suyeon reading while eating. He looked at Choi Jiya, who glared at him and continued eating.

"Suyeon, why are you so diligent today? Did you take the wrong medicine?" Park Sanghae asked, holding his bowl.

"Hey, don't disturb me. I'm at a crucial part, don't interrupt my thoughts!" Park Suyeon said, eating white rice without touching any side dishes, holding a textbook, and never taking her eyes off the page.

Lee Yunjae was impressed by Park Suyeon's perseverance. He also realized that once a person has a goal, they can change completely.

In the evenings, Lee Yunjae tutored her, explaining things until late at night. Sometimes, he would fall asleep on the desk from exhaustion. Fortunately, it was summer, or he would have caught a cold.

As the final exams approached, Park Suyeon studied even harder. In the eyes of her teachers, Park Suyeon seemed like a different person, completely different from before. She was attentive in class and quietly reviewed after class, a complete transformation. However, they were skeptical and hopeful about how long this sudden enthusiasm for studying would last.

The days passed with Park Suyeon's intense studying and reviewing, and soon it was the end of June. It was time to see the results.

The two-day final exams were much easier for Lee Yunjae than regular classes, but for Park Suyeon, it was like a battle, a battle she had to win.

On the first day of the exam, Park Suyeon, after reviewing intensively for half a month, managed to complete the test without cheating from Lee Yunjae, gritting her teeth and doing it herself.

On the second day, the first subject was math, which Park Suyeon hated the most. The math test had two sides and additional questions. Lee Yunjae finished it in 40 minutes, including the three additional questions.

When he finished, he turned to look at Park Suyeon, who was frowning and tapping her head with her pen.

"Ah... Studying isn't that easy!" Lee Yunjae shook his head and sighed. Although Park Suyeon had been working hard and studying overtime, learning requires accumulation. Without a solid foundation, it's impossible to do well. For someone like Park Suyeon, who started late, it was unrealistic to expect good grades after just half a month of effort. It wouldn't be fair to other hardworking students. There's no harvest without effort, that's the truth.

Taking advantage of the teacher's inattention, Lee Yunjae took Park Suyeon's test paper and placed his own on her desk. This trick of switching papers had always worked for Park Suyeon. They sat in the second-to-last row, so no one would notice. Of course, Lee Yunjae wasn't really switching papers; his answers were all correct, including the additional questions. If the paper had Park Suyeon's name, the math teacher wouldn't believe it, so Lee Yunjae only needed to help her score around 85 points.

Ten minutes later, Lee Yunjae quietly switched the papers back. At that moment, a chubby hand reached out from behind them. Lee Yunjae, somewhat helpless, said, "Fatty... You really..."

The chubby boy behind Lee Yunjae and Park Suyeon laughed and whispered, "Of course! Stop talking nonsense and give me the chocolate, or I'll tell the teacher!"

Reluctantly, Lee Yunjae gave the chubby boy ten pieces of chocolate as a bribe. Every exam, Lee Yunjae would lose some chocolate, and every exam, the chubby boy would enjoy it. Lee Yunjae ate Dove chocolate, which was considered high-end. After he finished his own supply, Park Sanghae would give him a limited supply. Eating chocolate was Lee Yunjae's only hobby, and Park Sanghae didn't want to take it away, even though it was expensive. The limited supply was manageable.

Finally, the English exam ended, and Park Suyeon let out a long sigh, stretching. The two exams were very challenging for her, and without Lee Yunjae's help, she wouldn't have made it.

Three days later, the results were announced. On the school bulletin board, Lee Yunjae was still at the top of the fourth-grade rankings, scoring 430 points out of 430 in math, English, Korean, and moral education (a made-up subject). He scored 430 points, 50 points more than the second place, making the second-place student feel like gnashing his teeth.

Park Suyeon finally passed this hurdle, scoring a total of 338 points, averaging 84.5 points per subject.

When this score was handed to Park Sanghae and Choi Jiya, they both felt like they were dreaming. Seeing their parents' shocked expressions, Park Suyeon finally felt relieved. She knew her parents wouldn't agree to her participating in the audition, so the only option was to run away. They would be very angry, but this score would help ease their anger.

Lee Yunjae sighed inwardly, thinking, "Uncle and Aunt... This is all Suyeon-ssi's doing, not mine!"

In the following days, Park Suyeon rarely went out. She somehow got a song sheet, the song she planned to perform—Edelweiss from The Sound of Music, a world-famous song.

Edelweiss has been translated into many versions and is sung by children in various countries, making it a popular song worldwide.

Park Suyeon was in a state of intense practice, practicing the song more diligently and persistently than her previous studying. Lee Yunjae, seeing her dedication for the first time, began to quietly cheer her on.

To avoid being discovered, Park Suyeon usually practiced when her parents were out. During this time, Lee Yunjae would play with the magic ball at the door, acting as a lookout. If he saw Park Sanghae or Choi Jiya returning, he would inform Park Suyeon immediately.

The summer heat was unbearable. For others, the 15 days seemed long, but for Park Suyeon, they passed quickly. She wanted to prepare more, like adding a dance, but there was no time.

On the morning of July 15, 1997, Park Suyeon got up early and rushed to Lee Yunjae's attic, asking him to check the coast. Lee Yunjae, yawning, went downstairs and saw Park Sanghae and Choi Jiya eating breakfast.

"Yunjae, why are you up so early today?" Park Sanghae said with a smile.

"Hehe... Uncle is also up early!" Lee Yunjae scratched his head, a sign of his guilt. Park Sanghae and Choi Jiya exchanged a knowing smile and said, "We have something to do and won't be home all day, so be good and don't go wild. Have instant noodles for lunch, and there's bread too!"

Lee Yunjae was overjoyed and nodded, "I know, Uncle..." With Park Sanghae and Choi Jiya out all day, it was perfect. Lee Yunjae felt secretly happy.

Sure enough, at 7:30, Park Sanghae and Choi Jiya left. Shortly after, Park Suyeon and Lee Yunjae quietly left, leaving a note on the door.

However, before they could leave for a minute, Park Sanghae and Choi Jiya, hiding nearby, came out and laughed at the note on the door.

"Alright, stop laughing and follow them. We'll lose them if we wait any longer!" Choi Jiya urged.

Park Sanghae responded and quickly followed, seeing Park Suyeon and Lee Yunjae hail a taxi on the main road, heading to the train station.

"Ha... Finally free! Let's go... Destination—Seoul!"

In the taxi, Park Suyeon excitedly shouted, and Lee Yunjae shook his head in disbelief.

Page break for AD start

Page break for AD end