Chapter 1: Broken Dreams

2007, JYP Practice Room

It was winter, and it continued to snow heavily in Seoul, making the already cold temperature even lower.

A down jacket of the most popular style was discarded by its owner on the cold floor on the side, wearing only a not so thick knitted sweater, Zheng Xiuxun's body kept writhing with the rhythmic music in the stereo, and the high-intensity exercise made his face appear abnormal flush, his forehead was covered with fine and dense sweat, and a few strands of hair stuck to his forehead, which looked a little messy.

As the tempo of the music accelerated, so did his movements, and in the last sprint, the whole person took off, spun '360' in the air and landed, ending with a rather handsome pose, and the music stopped.

After practicing, Zheng Xiuxun, who was relaxed from that tense state, instantly felt the soles of his feet soften, and sat directly on the cold floor, his chest rose and fell violently, and his burning lungs needed a lot of air to alleviate the discomfort caused by lack of oxygen, followed by the soreness of the muscles all over his body, as well as the pain in the ankle joints.

This seems to be his fourth year as a trainee at JYP, and he has been doing the same thing every day for the past 4 years, which is practice.

When he was only 12 years old, he came to participate in the JYP company's trainee draft just because of the hazy dream in his heart.

Needless to say, with his own talent, he was directly selected by guò and became a trainee under JYP, because he had an excellent performance in the usual practice and assessment, he won the honor of arranging music for JYP's 'first brother' rain, and also performed on the same stage with rain at JYP's family concert.

There is no one in JYP for such treatment, but he was only 15 years old at the time, and it is not an exaggeration to call him a 'genius', but a few years later, he still only stays at the title of 'genius', and his dream of debut is still so unattainable for him.

I don't know how long it took, but the door that had been hidden was pushed open, and a joking sound broke the silence in the practice room.

"Yo, why is our big 'genius' Zheng Xiuxun lying on the ground so unimaged, if someone looks at it, won't the tall image that he has built up with great difficulty be gone?"

Hearing this, Jung so-hoon, who had not moved on the ground, turned over and sat up, looked up at the person who walked in from the outside, and unceremoniously counterattacked, "Yo, Lee Jun-ho, who we vowed to conquer all the women of the Republic of Korea with singing, actually has time to come and see me?" Aren't you afraid that your competitors will create rumors about you, saying that your xing orientation is problematic, but you are actually a gay guy? ”

"So you mean you're a gay guy too?" Lee Jun Ho retorted, and at the same time put on a very powerful pose to show his charm as a man, the clothes outside can't hide his inner muscles, and it seems normal to have such a muscle to be said to be a gay guy?

"Whoever doesn't spread rumors about me, I don't mind letting him taste what is called a casserole big fist"

"Yes, if you want to be a gay guy, please don't pull me, I'm not interested in your hard muscles, show it in front of me, and I won't scream" Zheng Xiuxun said angrily, the trainee's figure is beyond doubt, but Li Junhao in front of him is a little too good.

This kind of muscle monster, even if it can't make its debut, it's more than enough to go to the gym as a coach, and maybe you can hook up with some rich lonely young women because of this, and then go to the peak of life in another way.

"Cut, if you scream, I can't stand it" Lee Jun-ho shook his body coldly, thinking about that scene, he was a chicken

With a pimple, he walked to Jung so-hoon and sat down, and Lee Jun-ho asked, "Hey, so-hoon, you should have heard about the company's new men's group project, right?" ”

"Well, I heard some news, it seems that I want to use a live-action show to select official members," Zheng Xiuxun nodded and said.

"I just heard that the list of people on the show will be announced tomorrow" Speaking of this, Lee Jun-ho paused, "You should understand what this means, right?" ”

The list of those selected to participate in the show is just an admission ticket, and you can't even get into the list, and you still want to become a member of the new boy group? Stop dreaming.

"Everyone is working hard to prepare for tomorrow, don't you see that no one is working overtime to practice today?" For the trainee group, in order to have a good score in the month-end assessment, it is common to practice overtime until the early hours of the morning.

"You're good, you're still practicing stupidly, you're as tired as a dead dog, it's better to think about how to be on the list tomorrow," Li Junhao said with a shrug.

"So what?" Zheng Xiuxun said disapprerovingly, "Only real strength can be recognized, no matter how flashy things are, in the end it is useless."

"Tsk, you are really brainless" Li Junhao shook his head, he has known Zheng Xiuxun for a long time, and he knows him very well, this stinky temper is not seen once or twice, it is called arrogance if it sounds good, and it is brainless if it doesn't sound good, of course, Zheng Xiuxun is indeed qualified to be arrogant, who makes people have this ability?

"I'm going to go to the dorm, are you going to come with me, or do you want to keep practicing?" After sitting for a while, Lee Jun Ho asked.

hesitated for a moment, although he was disgusted, but what Lee Jun-ho said was indeed correct, and Jung so-hoon was not really that kind of rigid person, so he finally nodded after weighing it and decided to go back to the dormitory with him.

Seoul at night is still so noisy, like a city that never sleeps, it looks very attractive, just like the current Jung so-hoon, the wonderful stage is like the night in Seoul for him, he can only watch from afar, but it does not belong to him.

Back in the dormitory, a simple wash, Zheng Xiuxun did not lie on the bed, but came to his wardrobe, ready to choose the clothes to wear tomorrow, even if it is just a trainee for wearing it is not a simple matter, must keep up with the current trend, after choosing a piece of equipment, Zheng Xiuxun is relieved to lie back on the bed.

I hope there will be a good result tomorrow, and after a silent recitation, Zheng Xiuxun entered a sweet dreamland, in which he dreamed that he entered the plan of a new boy group, and finally debuted, realizing his long-cherished wish for many years, standing on his own stage, and accepting the cheers and screams of fans who like him.

However, dreams will wake up after all, and there is a saying that dreams are often the opposite of reality, and it seems that Jung so-hoon will become a victim of this statement again.

The next day, Zheng Xiuxun got up early in the morning, opened the curtains, and bathed in the golden morning light, feeling the temperature of the rising sun.

"Jung so-hoon! You can! Shouting loudly at the rising sun, Jung so-hoon got off to a good start to the big day.

After washing up, putting on the clothes he carefully selected, Zheng Xiuxun came downstairs directly, and happened to meet Li Junhao head-on, and there were two other people with him, one is called Yu Zeyan, and the other is called Zhang Yourong, these two people are similar to Li Junhao, they are also fitness monsters, with hard muscles.

"Brother Zeyan, Brother Yourong, good morning" Zheng Xiuxun took the initiative to say hello.

"Good morning, so-hoon," the two nodded in response.

A group of four people set off, ready to walk to the JYP company building, the dormitory is not too far from there, after all, today is an important day related to whether or not "Hot Blooded Boy" can be selected to enter the new men's group project, everyone got up very early, usually there are few people in the company at this point, but today is extra lively.

Didn't stay too much in the hall, a group of four people came directly to the upstairs practice room, and met a lot of people who usually talk about it, it is normal for trainees to divide into groups, whether it is because of their personalities, or for the end-of-month assessment, the trainee group is equivalent to a small society, where you can see all kinds of life.

Don't think that opportunities are equal for everyone, that's completely nonsense, it's normal for trainees to be divided into three, six, nine, etc., the reason why Zheng Xiuxun is familiar with Lee Junhao is also because several of them are members of the A-level trainee class, and they usually don't look up and look down.

The sound of sparse talk filled the entire practice room, but it didn't take long for it to become silent with the arrival of the trainee headmaster.

The head of the trainee's room is considered to be the management staff of the company who holds the power of life and death of the trainees, and he is quite prestigious, standing at the front of the crowd, feeling everyone's gaze, Cui Caiqing nodded with satisfaction, but the expressionless appearance did not change, and took out a copy of the text, he opened his mouth and said, "Presumably you all already know the purpose of my coming today, so I won't say anything, this list was personally selected by President Park Jin-young, Judgment based on your usual performance and month-end assessment results"

"So you don't have to worry too much, as long as you have the strength, then the chances of being selected are quite high"

"Well, the name I read is the original member of "Hot Blooded Boy""

"Park Jae-beom, Ok Taek acting, Jang Woo-young ......"

The names were pronounced through Cui Caiqing's mouth, and the expressions on the faces of everyone in the room were different, and those who were read their names were ecstatic, while those who were not read by name had more and more ugly faces, especially as time passed, more and more names were read......

Zheng Xiuxun is one of them, before he came, he thought that he would definitely appear on the show's list, because any of his ratings in the usual month-end assessment were excellent, but the reality slapped him hard.

"Nikun, Lee Jun-ho...... Okay, these people whose names are read will follow me, and the others will continue to practice well" Until the end, Choi Caiqing did not pronounce Zheng Xiuxun's name.

With his head down, his hands were clenched into fists, because he was too hard, his knuckles were already white, and when he saw Cui Caiqing announce the end of the list, Zheng Xiuxun felt as if his heart had been slowly cut with a knife and bled a little bit, painful, painful.

At this time, many eyes were invariably focused on Zheng Xiuxun, some were sarcastic, some were curious, maybe they all wanted to know what kind of expression this trainee who has always been named 'genius' would have after losing the election, right?

When Choi Chae-kyung was about to leave the practice room, Zheng Xiuxun stopped him, "Director Choi, please wait a minute"

"What? Jung so-hoon: Do you have any questions? Cui Caiqing stopped and turned around slowly, still expressionless, making people not understand what he was thinking in his heart at the moment.

"Why? Why is there no my name? Didn't you say that you were selected based on the results of the usual month-end assessment? Zheng Xiuxun tried his best to restrain the feelings in his heart, and asked in a relatively gentle tone.

"Defeat is defeat, where are there so many in the world? It's not that you can enjoy special treatment if you are not named a 'genius', my big 'genius' Zheng Xiuxun xi" Cui Caiqing's voice is not loud, but it reveals a sense of superiority everywhere, he is the head of the practice room, no matter how famous Zheng Xiuxun is, it is just a trainee.

The successor of 'rain', this hasn't taken over yet, and it's starting to put out the score of rain? What's more, Rain has long since left the company, and this successor is not so valuable.

"I don't know if you're not satisfied with my answer?" Cui Caiqing's face was full of disdain.

"Okay, everyone who is named will come with me, don't let the president wait too long" Saying that, Cui Caiqing left the practice room without looking back, and the people who were selected also left one after another, and Li Junhao patted him on the shoulder comfortingly when he passed by Zheng Xiuxun.

Standing stunned in place, Zheng Xiuxun looked ahead with blank eyes, in this short period of time, his years of hard work and sweat have been wasted, you don't need to look to know that you will become a laughing stock in these people's mouths, right? I don't know how many nicknames are going to be circulated behind my back?

When Zheng Xiuxun thought that he had touched the edge of his dream, he suddenly found that a gust of wind blew, and the dream became an unattainable thing that could only be looked at from afar.

There was an inexplicable warm feeling on his cheeks, Zheng Xiuxun raised his hand and wiped it, only to find that he was crying, yes, several years of hard work have been in vain, it is time to cry, but what is the use of tears?

Maybe you can comfort yourself that you are still young and you can be selected next time, but who can guarantee a future full of unknowns?

Bowing his head slightly, a teardrop fell down his jaw to the floor, turning into a little crystal, just like his own broken dream.