Jaehyun's record company opens up auditions for a casting show, he's looking for the next big superstar, but he has no idea one of the candidates is no one else than his teenage son who's starting a rebellion.
Cover by TAEYONGSUNBAENIM
"In the backpack," whispered Renjun his teeth began to clench against each other.
He felt how Sicheng moved up.
"Here, drink it," he saw the boy's stretched out palm with the pill, so he sat up then swallowed it quickly.
He knew it will take about 15 minutes for it to kick in, so he laid back down when Sichang caressed his back lovingly till he stopped shivering.
"So what was it?" asked Sicheng when Renjun was ready to sit up and take a deep breath in.
"The cameraman, he came and... I remembered," Renjun felt a tear leaving his eyes.
"The moment when Jae took you from there?" asked Sicheng so he nodded.
"Sicheng will talk to the team to not to be too forceful with the cameras towards you, but you need to remember there will be cameras in this house all the time, so if you want to be here you must be brave. It's a different situation, no one here wants to harm you ok, Sicheng is here, Chenle is here, the other contestants can also become friends ok?" muttered Sicheng.
"Ok," Renjun washed the tears off, he told Sicheng everything's ok and assured him he can go.
He got up then walked down to the living room where most of the candidates were sitting watching the others awkwardly and suspiciously. He noticed a boy who seemed his age so he walked taking a chair closer to him.
A girl with violet hair and a lot od piercings was playing guitar quietly on the couch. soon a boy in his early twenties joined her, they started jamming a known song.
"Cool right?" asked the dark haired boy next to Renjun.
"Yes," Renjun nodded.
"I'm Jeno by the way," he stretched his hand out.
"Renjun," the boy shook it hesitantly.
"Ah, you're the one they're calling little Jae on all websites," Jeno smiled widely.
"What do you mean?" Renjun felt heat on his cheeks.
"You know, the former contestants are giving our some spoilers, they said there was a boy who got in, very small, was singing Jaehyun's songs and everyone thought he's like some mini Jaehyun and that he's very cute, so I guess it's you," Jeno was watching him with interest.
"I just like Mr. Jaehyun's music," whispered Renjun trying his best to sound very formal.
Ok, maybe he was a little similar to Jae but only because Jae had raised him. Maybe, although Jae was so manly, handsome and cool, and him, small, ugly, a loser, so where could the similarity be.
The day went by on official introductions, interviews, a photoshoot, the candidates ate a huge dinner together, everyone wanted them to get to know each other better, but Renjun was rather quiet, keeping Chenle's side. The boy Jeno joined them at the table, soon he and Chenle were laughing loud. Renjun tried to concentrate on his plate only when he felt a stare on him, he lifted his head to meet a pair of very dark eyes, the girl who was annoying them since the first audition was looking straight at him so he lowered his head.
"I think a lot of people here won't stand to the first live show," she said loudly.
"Are you talking about yourself?" asked Chenle.
"No I'm talking about you and your loser friend," she laughed.
"Hey, hey, the atmosphere should be nice, we're friends here, not enemies!" said the oldest boy, Jared.
"Are we?" she asked in her annoying way.
"If you don't want to eat with us you don't have to," muttered the boy.
"Fine!" she jumped up leaving a half filled plate disappearing upstairs.
"She takes it too seriously," said the girl with violet hair, Lila.
"Really, she will be the first one to go if the people see what kind of snake she is," muttered Chenle.
"I think she will play the nice one in front of the judges," Jeno laughed.
Renjun was still watching his plate.
He decided to simply keep away form the drama and concentrate on his mission here.
"Seven, eight and stop! Great! Great! Give yourself a ride of applause for the hard work!" said the choreographer.
He was called Niguel and was one of the top choreographers in the world, Renjun remembered him from dance classes in LA, so he pulled a snapback over his head when he entered the dance class and tried to keep the back row all the time.
"Lila how long are you doing?" asked Niguel hurrying to the girl with a water bottle as she had difficulties to catch her breath.
"Started dancing today," she sighed.
"You're doing great sweetheart, really I'm proud of you. Give a round of applause for Lila!"
Everyone clapped, Renjun noticed how Chenle and Jeno winked to each other.
They were spending a lot of time together since day one, causing Renjun to feel like the third wheel again, he felt even his best friend is suddenly busy with someone else.
"Ok I want you Jeno yes, Jared, Daisy and what's you name?" Niguel painted at him.
"Renjun."
"Renjun," repeated the man looking at his face carefully. "Yes come up and show us the routine."
The other contestants sat next to the mirror, Lila's face was still very red, she was using a handkerchief to wash the sweat off her neck.
Renjun stepped out stopping behind the others but Niguel told him to come up front so he did.
He felt uncomfortable, all the people were looking at him but the music came and he concentrated on the moves. He began to dance smoothy as the routine was easy, so he had a lot of time to accent each detail, he enjoyed it, he always loved to dance. He was downing deeply into it expressing it all to the mirror forgetting the audience till the music stopped. He caught his quickened breath when the others clapped.
"You guys did great, but Renjun, last time we've seen each other in LA you weren't that good thumbs up," said Niguel causing Renjun's stomach to move a hundred floors down.
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Thank you for the beautiful support on this story, I hope all of you have a good week.
What do you think about Renjun meeting the other candidates? Will Jeno become his and Chenle's friend? Will his secret be revealed?
