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Translator: 8uhl
Chapter: 5
Chapter Title: The Vocal Test
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Attendance number 1, Kim Sun-woo.
The top admittee who entered as chief and drew everyone's attention was up first for the singing evaluation.
Regardless of gender, all eyes focused on Kim Sun-woo.
I was a little surprised to see even Ji-woong watching Sun-woo with interest.
"Start."
At Ji-woong's words, Kim Sun-woo cleared his throat briefly before launching right into the song.
It had been a long time since I'd heard Kim Sun-woo's voice live like this, so I turned my gaze forward with anticipation.
It matched the Kim Sun-woo in my memory perfectly, without the slightest difference.
His tone filled the practice room with a clean, clear quality that matched his face.
In a word, it was like... a pure, pristine zone?
Emotions flowed naturally into every syllable without any forcing.
His clear, blank-canvas face captured it all so richly.
He hadn't even started acting classes yet, but here he was doing acting in a singing test.
I wasn't among the students gasping in shock at his endlessly climbing high notes.
I was just mildly surprised to see him hold that high note without his expression changing a bit.
Kim Sun-woo's tone was undeniably easy on the ears.
It helped that he had an almost one-of-a-kind style, creating resonance within familiar pop vocal techniques.
Of course, the mature skills he'd honed after turning thirty weren't there yet.
But even so, wasn't this practically pro-level?
At seventeen, it almost felt out of place.
In the old days, I would've just thought, "Oh, a classmate who sings well," and moved on.
But now, it wasn't that simple.
Having experienced the pro world myself, I could feel just how impressive this level was.
Even Ji-woong seemed satisfied—his furrowed expression had softened subtly.
I had no choice but to acknowledge it.
The tests proceeded in attendance order.
After Kim Sun-woo, the rest showed consistently average singing skills.
Next up was the one worth watching: Moon Woo-hyuk.
186 cm tall, with an obviously massive build.
Some tall guys are lanky like me, but Moon Woo-hyuk had broad shoulders and sparkling green eyes that radiated an untouchable presence.
He was mixed-race but came off more as a pretty boy with a slightly fierce edge than outright foreign-looking.
I glanced at Moon Woo-hyuk's back and found myself kneading my own shoulder for no reason.
That had to be the mixed blood making his muscles pack on differently.
Yeah, at seventeen, this was totally normal.
"Moon Woo-hyuk. What song are you singing?"
"I'll sing Ludwig's 'Fate.'"
Hearing Moon Woo-hyuk's choice, I nodded without thinking.
It was a perfect pick to play to his strengths.
Moon Woo-hyuk's style packed real power into the lows, with a thick, weighty vocalization.
The moment he started singing, the practice room was overwhelmed by his sheer volume.
Even in the highs, his lows never thinned out or lost strength—that was his edge.
Trained as a prodigy since childhood, he had strong operatic vocalization above all, with pitch-perfect accuracy.
That said, at seventeen, he was definitely lacking in technical finesse.
"Next. Song Ha-na."
At Ji-woong's call, Song Ha-na stepped forward casually.
From my pre-regression memories, Song Ha-na had wielded near-perfect vocalization starting right around now.
Nothing special about her tone—it was mid-range—but paired with pro-level technique, it was a complete vocal package that snagged her lead roles.
Hearing it again confirmed my memory hadn't failed me.
Her immersive facial acting sent the high notes gliding effortlessly upward.
Pro-level skills meant she held her own against Kim Sun-woo without falling short.
Once Song Ha-na finished, Ji-woong—who hadn't praised anyone so far—finally spoke up.
"Well done."
Even Song Ha-na looked a bit thrown that Ji-woong had complimented her.
She quickly schooled her face back to neutral and returned to her seat.
Finally, Ji-woong called my name.
Sure, it was just a simple singing test—no formal evaluation, no scores—but this was the most crucial opportunity.
If I wanted to get back in Huh Ji-woong's good graces with a single song, I couldn't half-ass it.
"Lee Do-hyun. What song are you doing?"
"I'll sing 'In My Dream.'"
His eyes lit up when I named a famous musical number.
"'In My Dream'?"
"Yes."
"Why?"
He hadn't asked any other student for their reasoning.
Not every successful musical actor belts out powerhouse highs, but every musical actor wants high notes in their arsenal.
Plus, the kids packing this practice room were all seventeen.
Prime pubescent boys and girls dying to flaunt their high notes even a little.
They figured highs made the biggest splash.
But 'In My Dream' was calm overall, with hardly any high notes.
Ji-woong was puzzled by that and asked again.
He was probably wondering if I just couldn't hit them.
And honestly? He wasn't wrong. I couldn't handle a song jumping between highs and lows right now if my life depended on it.
But no need to spill the full truth.
"It's a song I like."
Ji-woong looked a little dubious but waved for me to begin anyway.
At the signal, I closed my eyes briefly, then opened them and let out the first line.
"My heart is pounding."
The kids who'd been messing around all snapped their attention my way at that soft, flowing opening.
Nobody had been focused on some no-name Do-hyun's singing test.
Not until that first line.
A singular tone that grabbed every ear in the room and sank into their hearts.
Now I got it.
Why Ji-woong had hammered tone for all three years of high school.
This wayward disciple had finally realized it—and now he was singing his earnest plea right in front of his mentor.
Just one line, and Song Ha-na, Moon Woo-hyuk, even Kim Sun-woo all sat up straighter.
"The moment I met you felt like a dream
Your miraculous eyes
I couldn't look away"
It wasn't just the tone.
The relaxed pro-like poise and facial acting had them hooked.
Kim Sun-woo's smile faded.
Displeasure crossed Moon Woo-hyuk's face.
Faint curiosity bloomed on Song Ha-na's.
Do-hyun's technique, honed from over a decade as a pro.
No explosive highs, but Ji-woong could tell it was no amateur work.
The facial acting and gestures flowed naturally, like someone with real stage miles.
No way that was a seventeen-year-old.
Once Do-hyun finished, Woo-sik jumped up clapping.
The other students, who'd been lost in Do-hyun's tone, shook it off.
Whew. That'll do.
It was a workaround I'd devised to avoid my old vocal habits.
Facial acting and technique, though? The thirty-three-year-old me bled through.
Some things were just muscle memory.
Cold sweat prickled my palms as Ji-woong stared me down.
After a long look, he finally motioned for me to head back in.
Dodged a bullet there.
"Next. Lee Cheong-ha."
A girl of average height and delicate build rose and came forward.
Her long brown hair gave off a pure, innocent vibe.
Lee Cheong-ha was so tense her face was rigid as she took center stage.
"Got your song picked?"
Ji-woong eyed her closely as he asked.
"Y-Yes..."
"No need to tense up. Go ahead and start."
Lee Cheong-ha took a big breath, then dropped her gaze to the floor.
Huh?
I took another look at the girl who'd stepped up.
Lee Cheong-ha... Lee Cheong-ha?
With a trembling voice and eyes fixed downward, Lee Cheong-ha barely managed the first line.
She eked out the next phrase on a knife's edge, but her volume faded.
Then, the instant she pushed into falsetto—
"Th...! Cough, cough."
Her voice cracked, and she hacked violently, straining her throat.
The song ground to a halt.
"What, got a cold?"
Ji-woong scowled and barked at Lee Cheong-ha.
"Cough, cough. ...Pardon?"
Lee Cheong-ha, mid-hack, whipped her head up at Ji-woong in confusion.
"Listen up, you slacker freshmen. Musical actors' bodies are their assets. Manage yourselves properly. You're done—go sit. Lee Cheong-ha's got no reference footage, so you'll pick your one-on-one teacher last."
"Y-Yes..."
Students who'd been holding their breath gasped at Ji-woong's reprimand.
Ji-woong was acting off.
That wasn't how he treated sick kids—probably meant he knew Lee Cheong-ha's backstory.
She peeked up with a startled look, then shuffled back to her seat.
The other students just flicked indifferent glances her way—no one said a word.
Those still waiting checked their own throats, tension unrelenting.
Our mentor wasn't messing around.
I glanced back and forth between Ji-woong and Lee Cheong-ha.
For someone who'd just been dressed down, her expression wasn't half bad.
I'd caught a glimpse of Ji-woong's thoughtfulness that I must've missed pre-regression.
Got a little moved.
***
"Alright. Tests are done. I've got all your notes— they'll be reference for your one-on-ones later."
With that, Ji-woong turned to Song Ha-na.
"Like I said, this doesn't count toward scores, so relax. What does count starts now."
I swallowed hard without realizing.
Here it comes.
"Pair up male-female for duets. Use the tests you just did to pick your partners."
The second Ji-woong finished, the room buzzed chaotically as kids scrambled for pairs.
Wonder who'll be good.
Craning my neck this way and that, my eyes locked with Song Ha-na's.
No way she wants to pair with me.
Scanning the room, Sun-woo was mobbed by girls.
Shifting my gaze further, I spotted Lee Cheong-ha sitting alone.
The image of her trembling earlier flashed back.
No one was next to her—she hadn't even finished her singing test.
Lee Cheong-ha looked resigned, head bowed quietly.
Lee Cheong-ha, Lee Cheong-ha...
No matter how I turned it over, there was only one answer.
I sorted my thoughts, stood, and walked over.
"Hey."
Everyone's stares prickled like needles.
I want to give this a shot.
"Let's duet together."
"W-With me?"
I nodded casually.
Lee Cheong-ha, dazed, pointed at herself.
The whole practice room murmured at my pick.
"Yeah."
"Why me..."
Even Ji-woong eyed Do-hyun and Lee Cheong-ha.
Talk about an unexpected twist.
Lee Cheong-ha and that guy?
"Just felt like it. Wanted to pair with you."
"I-It'll be okay? Doing it with me."
Okay? Hell yes.
Weird that it'd taken me this long to clock it.
She never really stood out through graduation.
But that was only in high school.
No one could've predicted Lee Cheong-ha becoming Korea's youngest actress to break into Broadway straight out of school.
Couldn't let a seedling like that slip by.
Pre-regression, that line would've been mine.
"Of course."
"…If I'm okay for you."
At her reply, I grinned shamelessly and stuck out my hand with a "Looking forward to it."
Watching her smile shyly as she took it—Broadway's youngest export, or rather, Lee Cheong-ha—I felt inexplicably good.
What a jackpot. Kinda bittersweet too.
"Huh?"
Song Ha-na was past disbelief—straight-up pissed.
For partner picks, she'd written off Kim Sun-woo and Moon Woo-hyuk early.
Sun-woo had snagged top spot this time; better to crush him than team up.
And she wanted something fresh over Woo-hyuk.
She'd locked eyes with Do-hyun just now and thought, perfect.
Then this bombshell.
Song Ha-na could forgive him not coming to her.
She was famous from the jump—might intimidate.
He'd been decent seconds ago, but he'd get buried dueting with her anyway.
But who the hell was he pairing with?
"Who're you with? Wanna do me?"
"Do it!"
"Whoa, scared me. Why so mad?"
Song Ha-na dumped her frustration on Moon Woo-hyuk next to her.
Moon Woo-hyuk blinked in confusion, glancing around.
What's eating the ice princess now?
Following her glare, there was Do-hyun at the end.
Lee Do-hyun.
Moon Woo-hyuk's face twisted harshly.