Chapter 4: C4: Yummy
"I forgot, I have not eaten yet." Ace subconciously muttered as he walk at the streets pulling his luggage. It is now past eleven and his body was really exhausted. He just want to find an apartment and eat before sleeping.
"McDonald's? " He mumbled passing the big red building in his view. Never did he enter this kind of restaurants since born. He had only experienced eating inside a house with McDonald's deliveries.
"I'll eat first."
He pulled his luggage inside the building. There aren't too many people here because it still early. The costumers didn't bother looking up to him and just ate their fill.
He saw a four person table near the glass wall so he sat there. Before ordering, he opened his pitiful phone. Ko Ki had played it to the verge that it only have thirty four percent battery percentage remaining. The child was too mysterious but he didn't mind it and just talked to him.
The cold air from the air conditioner hit him, making him dizzy. Slowly, he layed his head on the cold table slowly drifting to sleep forgetting where he is.
"Look! Isn't he ashamed?"
"Is that a beggar?"
"No, look at his phone!"
"Why don't his companions wake him up?"
"That two person there isn't his friends. The sleeping man came here earlier."
"If he doesn't have money to order, why bother playing asleep?"
After two hours of sleeping, Ace still haven't woke up. Little did he know, the restaurant was now fully packed and his actions offended a lot of people. He is isn't a person which is hard to awaken but the other costumers were silent observing. Some costumers also took him a picture and posted it gaining attention. This was simply outrageous, they don't know his story yet they judged him.
In his table, there are two person in front of him sitting. They don't know Ace but seeing that the restaurant no longer has available seats, they decided to share the table since they are also top hungry.
The handsome man who also made other costumers look at them is one of the managers of SM Entertainment. The man looks strict and cold which was the reason that no one easily approached them. Beside him is his assistant which is a girl. At first, he didn't want to go and recruit trainees with his assistant but he does not have any choice left.
They spent their entire half day waking at the streets to recruit trainees for SM but no one had reached the requirements. Even if SM is the biggest entertainment company in South Korea, their requirements were too high so no aspiring artist came and auditioned to them.
Unexpectedly, the second most profitable show in Mnet- Produce 101 sent them a memo that they must send them a trainee. The show is a reality survival which 101 trainees must compete for the top eleven spots and debut. The show is famous since there judges doesn't have any power in this show, they only needs to give their suggestions.
Even if they were the biggest company, they were tight in trainees not a single one was under them. After the rise of BigHit and YG who were also famous companies, their requirements were raised higher. They can't disobey the show and must give one trainee. So they were out of the building, searching for recruits.
The lady can't stand being embarrassed and woke Ace up. She said, "Sir if you don't have any plan to order, please go out. You are troubling the other costumers."
At the time that she tapped Ace shoulder, he woke up but still half-sleep. Ace understood her words and thought she was a waiter.
"Please give me a bucket meal. Take my phone and pay it."
The lady's eyes widened and nearly puked blood! Ace mistook her as a waiter here! Her face reddened as her blood pressure rose!
The man beside her saw this and told her to go. He doesn't like seeing fights actually. Moreover he doesn't like being disturbed when eating. The lady couldn't do anything and obey her senior's order. She took the phone beside Ace and stomped her feet but halted. In her hands was an IPHONE X! The most expensive model of IPhone in the store at the moment!
"Please scan the code for Virtual Card." The lady told her.
She opened the phone and was dumbfounded. Only one gaming app was there and completely nothing! Except for the WeChat, his phone is practically boring.
She clicked the scanner and recieved a message confirming the transaction.
Her eyes bulged instantly, the remaining balance in his virtual card is no lower than fifty eight billion! She who was working for seven years already doesn't even have ten million in her account! They encountered a rich kid!
Meanwhile, Ace who was half-sleep realized the events. The restaurant does have the rule self service. Not a single waiter would come and take his order! Upon realizing, his five senses jolted immediately and he stood up creeping out other costumers.
"I'm sorry...I'm sorry...I apologize for my behavior...please forgive me." Ace rotated apologizing to other costumers. His face were pink after his bad behavior sunk in his brain. For a person professionally trained like him, apologizing is nothing.
The costumers saw his face and blushed. They see him as a sixteen year old handsome guy with lightly feminine features. He was more likely to win an Oscar if he becomes an actor!
The person in front him was also in daze. He was a manager that have high expectations and high demands for a handsome man. Even if, Ace caught his attention easily. He always turned blind eye to those idols since he doesn't see them as handsome. Ace just being like this hit his instincts telling him that he would be a great trainee.
Seemingly a person who came out of comics, Ace once again apologized to the person in front of him. He was clueless about this man's identity but his humble personality surfaced.
The lady who ordered also stopped on her tracks. She had encountered countless Idols caused by her job but Ace's visuals were akin to a godly existence.
Those who took a picture of him slandering him at social media again took him a photo and posted their apologies. Some even concluded in their post that Ace was really tired from a trip and slept at the restaurant accidentally. In the blink of an eye, his photo were around the internet gaining reactions.
"Seeing you fall asleep here, I say you must really tired." The man talked to him. The lady beside him realized his intention to recruit him.
His face once again revealed an embarrassed expression making him play with his fingers. " I just returned from overseas and came here after going to am orphanage. They let me sing there for countless times that made me exhausted . I still need to search for an apartment. "
The two nodded in their heads in satisfaction. One part of the package was already confirmed. If they manage to recruit this one this time, they would hit the jackpot. The show will start tomorrow and if they fail to search one, they'll put the SM into shame.
"The song must be really hard right?" The lady asked. Ace was already eating and stopped his movements. He wants to do something so that the lady would forgive his actions earlier so he answered honestly. "The kids told me to sing Good Day by IU so I ended up doing it numerous times."
IU was a respected person here, her earnings was often donated to charity. Her voice was even outstanding. She doesn't need any modifiers and she was the epitome of freshness and perfection! She was also an actress. Her career wasn't an easy one. She auditioned to various companies but only the Leon Entertainment saw her potential. Soon after she released her song, Good Day which displays here high vocal range.
Normally, the two person will be amazed but they were dumbstruck seeing him talk about it casually.
"What do you think about him?" The man asked showing a picture of an idol under their label.
Ace glanced for I bit and mumbled, "Yummy"
The two thought that they heard wrong. The man showed him one of their outstanding artist Baekhyun. He is a member of the group EXO and is their vocalist. SM trains their Idols to develop heavy vocal groups.
"I mean his hair looks yummy."Ace told them.
"I am Park Hyun Shik and this is Sang Go Ri, are you interested in becoming an Idol? We can sign your contract immediately and give you a free apartment." The man didn't hesitate any longer afraid to lose this chance. Ace looked up to him and considered. He really doesn't want to tire himself any longer.
Their offer will also make his plan easier. So he replied earnestly.
"That was my plan actually to audition. My path is difficult, yet choosen and blessed by destiny, I shall walk forth."
Hyun Shik and Go Ri smiled heavily. They didn't knew that they will finish their work here. Ace words were truly deep yet they knew that he accepted the offer.
Ace again continued, " My name's Ace, my real name won't be necessary as I will conquer the media and show my talents."
Park Hyun Shik wondered, why would he hide his real name? However, he still decided to warn Ace about the path he is taking. Being an Idol was really a hard job, many people had committed suicide because of this. " Young one, a journey of a thousand miles begin with a single step. Don't aim high at the start. You may lose time and your life because of this."
Ace stopped eating and wiped his mouth with the tissue. He looked at his barely visible reflection on the glass wall and said, " Time is akin to an illusion and moves like pendulum. The months and years wasted doing nothing and suffering eternally repeats. In the end, everything returns to dust. Even if those popular Idols are able to spread their talents, they won't be able to escape the pain of the illness and the Reaper of Death. In the end, what meaning is there to life?" Ace said, while deep in contemplation. There were the insights he had gained in his life.
Park Hyun Shik raised his eyebrow and replied, " The meaning of life is to stubbornly prevail-to live without regrets. Yet you are talking like you won't die."
Their discussion about these matters made Go Ri feel like she was super dumb. She really can't understand these two! She was also in awe since the super cold manager talked to someone in this extent.
"Why are you nagging me? Don't you dare stop me in my drama." Ace snorted while Go Ri chuckled. Park Hyun Shik had found his enemy, no one dares to offend him like this.
Ace again wore a wretched expression to continue his drama. Even if he is just doing a dramatic action, his words are still pure and true. This were his understanding about life. " I look like a living person but inside, nothing remains. This cruel world had beaten me, the mournful experiences stabbed me and being alone killed me."
Hyun Shik thought that he was bluffind and laughed lightly. He then told him, " Are you done eating? Let's go to the company."
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