Peninsula: Starting with the nation's first love, the white moonlight

A practice room in the basement of SM Entertainment.

The two girls had just finished practicing and were resting on the sofa.

"Joohyun unnie, did you see that?"

The speaker was a girl with small eyes. She was biting a straw, and her eyes looked tired and anxious.

"Today is another day of open auditions. I just passed by the hall, and the people queuing outside had already circled around to the next block."

Bae Joo-hyun wiped the sweat from her face and sighed softly, "I saw it when I went to the convenience store earlier. They were all teenagers."

In Peninsula, trainees are at the very bottom of the entertainment industry, and very few actually make it to debut as artists.

Even so, many young people with dreams of becoming stars still flocked to the area.

Kang Seulgi joined the company in 2007 and stayed there for four years, watching one batch of people leave and another batch of new people join.

As for Bae Joo-hyun, although she hasn't been with the company as long as Seulgi, she faces a more cruel problem: her age.

Being an idol is a profession that relies on youth, and she is already twenty-one years old this year.

Even though many people told her that as long as she practiced hard, she would definitely be able to debut.

However, every time she saw those teenage trainees joining, her sense of crisis grew stronger.

Time is running out for her.

"Unnie, can we... really debut?"

Kang Seulgi lowered her head, staring at the floor beneath her feet: "Sometimes I'm really scared. I'm afraid that one day the dorm leader will suddenly walk in, pat me on the shoulder, and tell me to pack my things and go home."

Bae Joohyun gently patted Kang Seulgi's back, comforting her:

"Don't say such discouraging things. I've seen all of Seulgi's hard work. You will definitely debut!"

Bae Joo-hyun stood up, walked to the mirror, and turned the stereo back on.

"Have you rested enough? Let's keep practicing. Now that we've chosen this path, we can't afford to lose."

Meanwhile, in the practice room on the third floor of the company.

The members of Girls' Generation sat on the sofa in twos and threes, some resting, some touching up their makeup.

Kim Tae-yeon leaned against the window alone, her forehead pressed against the glass, searching through the crowd below again and again.

No, still nothing! The other side of the road remains empty, and there isn't a soul in sight under the sycamore trees.

"Did I really see wrong?"

Kim Tae-yeon stared at the screen for another ten minutes, but still found nothing.

When they broke up, they were both very nonchalant, without exchanging contact information or even asking each other's names.

However, after returning to Seoul, she would always think of those slow-paced days. In front of that sunny Chinese boy, she was just an ordinary Miss X.

"Taeyeon!"

Just as she was lost in her memories, someone suddenly patted her on the shoulder from behind.

"what!"

Kim Tae-yeon was startled and quickly turned around, only to find Sunny looking at her with a sly expression.

"Lee Soon-kyu! You scared me to death!" Taeyeon clutched her chest and glared at Sunny, annoyed.

Sunny walked around Kim Tae-yeon, making "tsk tsk tsk" sounds from time to time.

"Don't give me that. Okay, Captain Jin, tell me."

Sunny leaned close to her ear, raised an eyebrow, and said, "Why are you standing by the window so early in the morning instead of taking a nap? Is there someone downstairs who caught Taeyeon's attention?"

"What nonsense are you spouting! Who's watching anyone?!"

Taeyeon's secret was exposed, and her cheeks flushed slightly.

However, she couldn't lose her captain's authority, so she deliberately put on a stern face and pushed Sunny away a little.

She glanced out the window one last time, still unwilling to give up, sighed silently, and then casually drew the curtains closed.

"There's nothing to see."

Taeyeon turned around and clapped her hands:

"Kids, break time is over! Get ready to practice; we'll go over the stage choreography two more times next week!"

Meanwhile, in the interview room on the first floor.

Park Ji-hoon chose a song by TVXQ, and his singing was passable, but his self-choreographed dance was atrocious, resembling a primary school student doing calisthenics.

Li Luran covered his face; he just wanted to pretend he didn't know this guy.

"Okay, that's enough."

Less than a minute later, the teachers conducting the assessment interrupted Park Ji-hoon.

"Thank you for your enthusiasm for our company. We are aware of your talents. Thank you for your hard work. Please go back and wait for our notification."

On the peninsula, this phrase is equivalent to "you've been eliminated," just said in a slightly more euphemistic way.

Park Ji-hoon bowed dejectedly and then walked off the stage.

"Lu Ran, I'm finished. My Yoona doesn't want me anymore..."

Li Luran stood up, patted him on the shoulder and comforted him, "Let's go, I'll treat you to barbecue for lunch. You can turn your grief into appetite."

The two were about to leave with their bags on their backs when a loud shout suddenly came from behind them.

"Wait a moment!"

The talent scout sitting on the far side suddenly stood up and rushed to Li Luran's side.

Li Luran had been sitting in the corner, and the light was dim, so he hadn't seen him clearly.

Now that the person is under the light, upon closer inspection, their appearance, height, and facial features are simply tailor-made for SM Entertainment.

Most importantly, his aloof demeanor was simply amazing! He was definitely the best prospect he had seen in recent years.

"Hey student!"

The talent scout grabbed Li Luran's arm and asked urgently, "Are you here for an interview too? What's your number? Why didn't you go on stage earlier?"

This dramatic scene left Park Ji-hoon completely dumbfounded.

A hint of displeasure flashed in Li Luran's eyes, and he politely withdrew his hand.

"Excuse me. I'm not here for an interview." He pointed to Park Ji-hoon. "I'm just accompanying a friend to an interview. If there's nothing else, we'll take our leave."

Talent scouts weren't about to let such a promising talent slip by, and they immediately blocked their way.

"Hey kid, what's your name? How old are you? Are you from Seoul?" The talent scout spoke rapidly. "Listen to me, with your looks, it's a waste that you're not an idol!"

"I can't sing, and I can't dance," Li Luran frankly shattered his illusions.

"It's okay! It's absolutely okay!" the talent scout hurriedly waved his hand.

"Just look at your face! Even if you're tone-deaf, even if you're a blockhead! As long as the company gives you a makeover, and you stand there as the visual center of a boy band! I guarantee you'll become a star!"

The difference between people is just that great, Park Ji-hoon thought to himself as he wept silently.

I practiced like crazy for a month, only to be ruthlessly told to quit.

As a result, Li Luran stood there and was begged by a talent scout to debut.

World, be destroyed!

However, Li Luran remained unmoved by the lucrative offers from the talent scouts.

"I'm sorry, thank you for your kindness."

After saying that, he bowed politely and then pulled the still-dazed Park Ji-hoon out the door.

"Hey! Hey, please think about it again!"

The talent scout panicked and chased after Li Luran outside, stuffing a business card into his pocket.

"This is my business card! If you change your mind, feel free to call me anytime. My phone is on 24/7!"

In the cold wind, Li Luran pulled Park Jihoon out of the crowded street.

Throughout the journey, Park Ji-hoon kept complaining.

"Damn it... This really is a world that judges by appearances! They don't even appreciate my amazing dance skills!"

"But Lu Ran, you're really wasting a talent! The talent scout even stuffed his business card into your pocket and you turned it down? Do you know how many people dream of being in that position?!"

Li Luran did not refute.

What might be an unattainable dream for others is nothing more than a beautifully packaged commodity under the guise of capitalism in his eyes.

If one day he really does stand in the spotlight again, it will never be as an idol.