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Translator: 8uhl
Chapter: 20
Chapter Title: Naturally, But Precisely
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Naturally, but precisely.
While preparing for the vocal evaluation, the two things Lee Cheong-ha and I talked about the most were these.
Naturally, so that no gesture seemed overdone in any action.
Sing with perfect pronunciation, clear enough to transcribe the lyrics just by listening.
"Is this even possible? We only have ten days left…"
"We'll make it possible."
After lying on the practice room floor and showing her how to naturally release tension from her body, there was no need to nitpick the rest.
Her tone and vocalization were already outstanding when she wasn't tense.
If we were talking pure talent alone, she was honestly far superior to me.
Of course, she still had plenty to refine, and she might not be perfect yet.
But interfering too much with Lee Cheong-ha, who had only just started singing, could erase her unique color.
Lee Cheong-ha's own color and vibe.
That would become her greatest weapon in the future, so I was careful not to touch it, proceeding with practice delicately.
And now,
"I've always waited, repeated it countless times."
That powerful weapon was being unleashed before Cheongyeom Arts High's esteemed teachers and haughty students.
The number Do-hyun and Cheong-ha had prepared for today was "My Dream" from the musical *House*.
A warm song about longing for one's dreams, hometown, and love.
Rather than piercing high notes, it relied on its unique atmosphere and rhythm.
The more acting was added, the richer the emotional line became, making it perfect for me and Lee Cheong-ha, who couldn't yet match the trio in pure vocal ability.
"I've always waited, repeated it countless times—"
The students and judges were startled by Lee Cheong-ha's following verse.
Ji-woong's eyes widened too, at her tone, which was even better than he'd expected.
After safely singing the first verse, Lee Cheong-ha seemed to relax, maintaining a natural posture.
Her voice, clear like morning dew unique to her, resonated through the small theater.
Though it was a vocal test, their major was musical theater, after all.
The evaluation would be strictly based on singing since the class was on vocals, but they couldn't completely ignore movement and facial expressions.
That was exactly what Do-hyun's team had aimed for.
The expressions and gestures Lee Cheong-ha showed, born from meticulously calculated practice, were as fluid as her singing.
Not a single forced movement.
Her motions flowed naturally and softly, as if her whole body had surrendered to the song, letting the audience relax and enjoy the stage.
The perfect expression was "it flows." Minimal movements that led seamlessly into the stage.
Before they knew it, the students were all gazing at Lee Cheong-ha with entranced expressions.
Song Ha-na and Moon Woo-hyuk looked displeased, but even they had no choice but to listen to her voice.
"What... what is she?"
"...Ha."
Kim Sun-woo said nothing, but watched the stage with a visibly surprised expression.
"Today too, the flowing time, Mom's words from childhood
She said I'd just see it if I went there."
Her bell-like voice climbed steadily toward the high notes.
Surprisingly, there was no strain.
"That's this place, where music is, my dream
Where family's love and music are."
Lee Cheong-ha's pristine voice stretched out toward the audience, flawless as if dusted clean.
Everyone held their breath, focusing on her song.
Lee Cheong-ha's verse ended the first part.
"She's the partner that Lee Do-hyun picked first without even testing?"
"Yes."
"Lee Do-hyun, that crazy bastard. Not only is she a girl, but it's amazing he didn't take her."
Ji-woong nodded silently as he overheard Han Hyo-jin muttering.
He was stunned too, finding it hard to believe.
He'd expected some good tone since she was a transfer from a regular high school, but not to this extent.
And the biggest question was how he'd gotten a kid with stage fright to sing like that.
Suddenly, the image flashed by of Lee Cheong-ha excitedly praising Do-hyun ten days before the vocal test.
The song wasn't over yet, but Woo-sik unwittingly clapped once and quickly lowered his hands in surprise.
It was the interlude.
Half the song remained.
"Was there a newbie like this?"
"Right? Lee Cheong-ha? Never heard the name."
Even among the mentor teachers at the back of the audience, a commotion stirred.
The mid-interlude ended, and Do-hyun's turn began.
"I've always waited for an angel's voice
A voice that makes my heart burst."
Ji-woong leaned forward, narrowing his brows.
He'd heard it during the test, but Do-hyun's tone had improved dramatically since then.
More than the tone, the key was expression.
Singing while gazing at Lee Cheong-ha with loving eyes, Do-hyun made every syllable feel infused with emotion.
It wasn't a tense scene, nor one with ultra-high notes.
Yet everyone in the audience perked up their ears, completely absorbed in their performance.
Drawing power.
The most crucial ability for an actor.
Do-hyun was demonstrating it in the vocal test.
Woo-hyuk's expression, only mildly surprised during Lee Cheong-ha's part, twisted completely.
Ha-na, meanwhile, was utterly focused on the song, eyes fixed on Do-hyun.
As Do-hyun's solo ended.
"Your"
"Your"
Their harmony began, and the two voices blended in perfect resonance, filling the small theater.
Their stage felt like a fresh breeze blowing through the theater.
The song danced lightly over the notes, effortless.
Han Hyo-jin unwittingly frowned.
What made those two scary wasn't just the singing.
Their expressions and movements were naturally free of excess tension.
No awkwardness, and the number's vibe suited that atmosphere perfectly.
The flowing motions were refreshingly smooth, naturally lifting the viewers' moods.
Just watching was beautiful and enchanting.
No difficult moves, yet their song made you think "amazing" instinctively. The students were already lost in a trance, visibly so.
This wasn't good.
Han Hyo-jin glanced at the judges' seats without thinking.
"I can't look away— you dancing in my dreams—!"
"I can't look away— you dancing in my dreams—!"
Finally, they ended with a perfect harmony on the song's highest note.
Lee Cheong-ha layered a clean high harmony over Do-hyun's main melody line, showing astonishing potential.
As the stage ended, the audience students, drunk on ecstasy moments before, shifted to panicked expressions.
Even Do-hyun's slightly shaky high note at the very end seemed like intentional staging.
The secret was not forcing the sound.
By relaxing and focusing on emotion, that subtle tremor felt naturally deliberate.
Ji-woong still saw Do-hyun as lacking, but a faint smile tugged at his lips, somewhat satisfied.
The music and lights faded, plunging the stage into brief darkness, with only faint breaths audible.
Haa. Haa.
In the dark, the two faced each other.
On the stage where only their slightly ragged breaths echoed, Lee Cheong-ha unwittingly reached out a hand.
"Thanks."
Was it because the stage was dark?
She'd offered a handshake, but Do-hyun's hand gently stroked her head instead, making Lee Cheong-ha blush without realizing.
***
As their song ended and they returned to the audience, the kids swarmed them.
Leaning out from their fixed seats, their eyes shone intensely as they spoke to Lee Cheong-ha.
They couldn't hold back during the short 1-2 minutes before the next stage.
"Did you skip tests on purpose to snag her?"
"Hey, that was insane, Lee Cheong-ha!"
Do-hyun had aced the vocal test, so everyone expected him to do well.
But the students showed huge interest in Lee Cheong-ha's unexpected performance, after she'd coughed and gotten scolded by Huh Ji-woong.
"Th-thanks."
Lee Cheong-ha seemed a bit flustered by the friends' praise and attention for the first time, then smiled brightly.
Yeah, that's Lee Cheong-ha.
She'd always been that bright, illuminating everyone around her just by existing.
She'd just been too quiet until now.
"Wow, our big bro Do-hyun. Stirring up trouble again."
And another always-bright kid...
*Why am I your big bro?*
Woo-sik, whom I'd momentarily forgotten, slung an arm around my shoulder and walked over.
"You were amazing too, Lee Cheong-ha. Your voice is like jade, pure jade."
Woo-sik casually chatting her up too made him impressive in a whole different way.
"Quiet."
If Huh Ji-woong hadn't come down from the back of the audience, who knows how much longer we'd have chattered.
At Ji-woong's appearance, Woo-sik released the arm and shut up.
If there was one person the great Woo-sik feared most, it was Ji-woong.
Our eyes met briefly.
I knew he wouldn't show emotion in front of others.
Gazing at me expressionlessly, I asked inwardly.
*How was our number, Teacher?*
***
My turn was thirteenth, so the backstage with just two teams left ended quickly.
The students stayed seated, while the teachers including judges gathered at the front of the audience, whispering.
Ji-woong paced around, checking the control box, probably tallying scores after evaluations.
If my memory was right, they'd announce rankings right here today.
The judge teachers had scored during the stages, so it wouldn't take long.
With no order to leave, the students buzzed in their seats.
The area around Lee Cheong-ha was especially rowdy with gathered students.
Seeing her in the middle, shyly smiling and chatting away, made me proud.
"Attention, everyone."
Finally, Huh Ji-woong took the stage.
The laughing and chatting kids went silent in an instant.
"We'll now announce the rankings."
Ji-woong turned toward the screen at the back of the stage.
Operating the remote for the projector would display all rankings and scores at once.
It seemed cruel, but it couldn't be helped.
Transparency was key.
No matter how objectively you tried to view musicals or art, completely eliminating subjectivity was impossible.
This was the best way to avoid noise.
In that brief moment as Ji-woong operated the remote, a heavy tension settled over the small theater.
Teachers and students alike clenched their mouths shut; the silence was so deep you could hear throats gulping.
"As announced beforehand, we're revealing both rankings and scores. If you have objections, come find me anytime—break time, lunch, whatever."
Click—
With Ji-woong's final words, the rankings appeared on the screen.
At the very top...
"Kyaa!"
Lee Cheong-ha yelped unwittingly and quickly covered her mouth.
The small theater grew chaotic instantly with the reveal, but I heard nothing.
[1st Place: Lee Do-hyun, Lee Cheong-ha]