76: Chapter 76 Girl Group Selection

In Seoul at the end of February, the wind was no longer so piercing. Chairman Wang Shunyi's Mercedes stopped in the underground parking lot of the SM Entertainment building. Kim Young-jun opened the car door for him and whispered, "Chairman, Choi Ji-yeon said the six trainees are all waiting in the practice room. Their average training time is three years, and they have a good foundation."

Chairman Wang Shunyi adjusted his cuffs and stepped out of the car. Today, he wore a custom deep grey suit without a tie, the top button of his shirt undone. He looked much more relaxed than he did at the office, yet he still exuded an air of condescending indifference. This posture wasn't something he deliberately put on; after standing in this position for so long, it came naturally.

Kim Young-jun followed behind him, holding a tablet that displayed the basic information of the six girls—age, height, weight, and measurements, with every item clearly listed. Chairman Wang Shunyi glanced at it, said nothing, and handed the tablet back to Kim Young-jun.

The elevator went up to the seventh floor, and at the end of the corridor was the practice room. Before the door was pushed open, a scent mixed with sweat, the fragrance of cosmetics, and floor cleaner wafted out. He had imagined this kind of smell before while watching idol variety shows on TV, but now that he actually smelled it, there was nothing special about it. He even felt it was a bit cheap, like the scent inside a roadside cosmetics shop that wasn't even ten square meters.

The practice room was large, with mirrors on all four sides and LED light strips embedded in the ceiling, illuminating the entire space without a single shadow. Six girls stood in a row, wearing uniform tight white T-shirts and black high-waisted sports pants, their hair tied in ponytails and wearing light makeup. Beads of sweat still hung on the foreheads and noses of a few, clearly having just finished a round of practice. When they saw Chairman Wang Shunyi walk in, their backs straightened even more, and their chests subconsciously pushed forward a bit. Choi Ji-yeon came forward to greet him, holding a folder in her hand.

"Chairman Wang, these six are the final candidates selected from the trainees. Their average age is nineteen, and their average training duration is three years. Would you like to look at the profiles first, or should I have them do a brief self-introduction?"

Chairman Wang Shunyi didn't take the folder. His gaze slowly swept across those six faces, from left to right, and then from right to left. The mirrors reflected their figures and also reflected his posture as he stood there—leaning back slightly, hands in his pockets, chin slightly raised, eyelids half-drooped, his gaze unhurriedly pausing on each person.

His gaze lingered on each girl's face for two seconds before moving down. They were all in identical tight white T-shirts, the fabric so thin that the outlines beneath were visible—youthful, young, and full. He looked around without much expression, only pausing a bit longer when his gaze fell on the third person.

"Ah! Let's have the introductions first. Name, age, position—one by one."

The girl on the far left was the first to speak. She was the tallest, roughly 1.68 meters by sight, with cool features and a jawline so sharp it looked carved by a knife. She took half a step forward, her voice steady and full of energy. "Hello, Chairman. I am Park Soo-yeon, twenty-one years old, main vocal position. I have trained for four years."

Chairman Wang Shunyi's gaze slid from her face to her collarbone, and then from her collarbone to her waistline. The white T-shirt was slightly damp with sweat, clinging to her lower abdomen and revealing the lines of her stomach—tight, young, and well-exercised. His gaze lingered there for less than half a second before moving away. It wasn't out of embarrassment; he had seen enough.

"Ah, Xiuyan-xi. Main vocal?" he spoke, his tone neither salty nor sweet, like a casual question.

"Yes, Chairman," Park Soo-yeon bowed respectfully, her ponytail swinging forward. As she bent over, the neckline of the T-shirt dipped forward, revealing a small shadow inside. She quickly straightened up, the neckline returning to its place, and nothing could be seen anymore. Chairman Wang Shunyi smiled inwardly and shifted his gaze without a word.

Choi Ji-yeon added from the side, "Park Soo-yeon has a very wide vocal range, reaching up to C6 for high notes. She currently ranks first in vocals among the trainees. Her image is also quite outstanding, and her cool style is very recognizable."

Chairman Wang Shunyi gave an "Mhm," the amount of interest in his tone about the same as listening to a weather forecast.

His gaze had already moved to the second girl. The second one was shorter, with a round face and big eyes, and two deep dimples when she smiled, making her look very approachable. She didn't wait for Choi Ji-yeon's introduction and hopped half a step forward—not a walk, but a hop, like a puppy eager for a treat.

"Hello, Chairman! I am Kim Ye-rin, nineteen years old, main dancer position! Training time is three years!"

The voice was very sweet, cloyingly so.

The corners of Chairman Wang Shunyi's mouth twitched slightly; it seemed he was only now beginning to experience the true power of a chaebol.

His gaze traveled down from her face. The round-faced girl had a more curvaceous figure than the first; the white T-shirt was stretched very tight, the lines of her chest almost forming a complete arc, rising and falling slightly with her rapid breathing.

His gaze paused there for a moment—indeed not bad, young, healthy, and full. But that was all. He expressionlessly withdrew his gaze and brought it back to her face.

"Ye-rim-xi, you're the main dancer? Perform a piece."

Music started from somewhere, likely arranged in advance. The beat was heavy and the tempo fast—a typical K-pop dance track in the style of Shinsadong Tiger.

Kim Ye-rin's movements were crisp and clean, with strong explosive power; every muscle in her body was engaged. Her waist was very thin, the waistband of her sports pants tied tight, her lower back dimples faintly visible under the T-shirt. The dance choreography included several intentionally designed waves that flowed from her chest to her hips in smooth lines.

Chairman Wang Shunyi's gaze followed that line for half a cycle, like he was watching a performance that was somewhat interesting but not overly so.

When Kim Ye-rin danced, her eyes became sharp and aggressive, completely different from her smiling appearance just now. This kind of contrast was indeed capable of attracting people.

Chairman Wang Shunyi had seen many of these trained facial expressions on TV. He pulled his hands out of his pockets and crossed them over his chest, changing his posture to continue watching.

The dance ended. Kim Ye-rin was panting slightly, her chest heaving, and the stray hairs on her forehead were stuck to her face with sweat. Her eyes sparkled as she looked at Chairman Wang Shunyi, as if waiting for a compliment. Chairman Wang Shunyi looked at her for two seconds and clapped twice, the sound not very loud.

"Ah! Not bad, the power is there. The facial expressions are a bit much; tone it down."

Kim Ye-rin was stunned for a moment, her smile freezing for a fraction of a second before blooming again as she bowed.

Chairman Wang Shunyi's gaze fell on the exposed skin—fair, young, and still carrying a hint of post-exercise pink.

His gaze swept to the third girl. The one who had been standing next to Kim Ye-rin was twenty years old, with long hair draped over her shoulders and a gentle temperament, like a quiet second female lead in a Korean drama. She was different from the first two; the T-shirt she wore was a loose fit, not showing off her figure much, but the shape of her collarbone and the lines of her neck were faintly visible from the neckline. She kept her head slightly lowered, not quite daring to look at him, her voice very soft.

"Hello, Chairman. I am Lee Ji-eun, twenty years old, lead vocal position. Training time is three and a half years."

"Ji-eun-xi, as a group member, the audience won't buy it if you keep your head down! Lift your head."

She slowly lifted her head, a hint of timidity in her eyes, but her features were indeed exquisite, like a porcelain doll. Her nose was high and straight, her lips thin and rosy, and her jawline soft. Chairman Wang Shunyi looked at her face, his gaze very direct.

From head to toe—face, neck, collarbone, and what was hidden under the loose T-shirt...

His gaze was like a soft measuring tape, measuring inch by inch, unhurriedly. Lee Ji-eun became even more uncomfortable under his gaze, the tips of her ears turning red, and her fingers subconsciously gripping the seams of her pants.

"Hey, what are you afraid of?" he said. His tone wasn't heavy, but it wasn't comforting either. "As the first girl group of the Sunyi Group, you are destined to hit it big. With this kind of timid behavior, who would feel at ease?"

"No... I'm not afraid." Her voice trembled slightly.

Chairman Wang Shunyi did not press further. He withdrew his gaze from her and moved it to the fourth, fifth, and sixth girls, like an examiner finally about to finish a long interview process, his patience gradually running out.

The fourth was Jung Mi-lin, eighteen years old, with short ear-length hair and bright eyes, the lead dancer position. Her body lines were very lean, not the full-figured type, but her muscles were well-proportioned and had a sense of power.

The fifth was Han So-hee, seventeen years old, the youngest maknae of the group, with a round face and big eyes, dimples when she smiled, and a petite figure with good proportions. They introduced themselves in turn; Chairman Wang Shunyi's gaze didn't linger long on each person, going through the motions like a scan, but he saw everything that needed to be seen.

The sixth. Choi Min-ju stood out, twenty years old, the leader position. Her height wasn't particularly prominent, but her shoulders and back were upright, standing there like a nail firmly driven into the ground. Her features weren't the most beautiful, but her gaze was the steadiest. While the previous five had more or less dodged, felt nervous, or were uncomfortable when he stared at them, this person alone looked him straight in the eye from beginning to end, neither humble nor arrogant.

"Ji-yeon," Chairman Wang Shunyi pointed toward Choi Min-ju.

"The leader?" He turned to look at Choi Ji-yeon.

"Choi Min-ju's dance, vocals, and rap are all top-tier, and her psychological resilience is very good. The other members all respect her."

Chairman Wang Shunyi turned back to look at Choi Min-ju again. This time he looked more slowly, starting from her eyes, along her nose, lips, chin, neck, and collarbone, all the way down; the fabric of the tight white T-shirt was very thin. His gaze paused there for a long time, like a collector examining a piece of porcelain, unhurried and even with a hint of pickiness. Then his gaze continued down, along her waistline, falling to the position of her hip bone before withdrawing.

"Aigoo, you really have a keen eye for talent; she's indeed capable."

Choi Min-ju didn't hide. Her cheeks flushed slightly red, but her eyes remained on him throughout, without any avoidance.

"The five of you go out first. Choi Min-ju, stay."

The other five girls looked at each other. Kim Ye-rin bit her lip, and Park Soo-yeon pulled her along expressionlessly as the five of them filed out of the practice room. The moment the door closed, Chairman Wang Shunyi heard Kim Ye-rin whisper in the corridor, "Why only keep her?" before the sound was cut off by the door.

Only three people remained in the practice room—Chairman Wang Shunyi, Choi Ji-yeon, and Choi Min-ju. The air was silent for a few seconds. Choi Ji-yeon stood there holding the folder, tactfully remaining silent. Chairman Wang Shunyi walked up to Choi Min-ju, very close—close enough that he could smell the scent on her. It wasn't the scent of perfume, but the scent of body wash, a light soapy fragrance with a hint of post-exercise sweat.

He reached out and patted her shoulder. He didn't use force; his fingers just rested loosely there, as if weighing the value of an object.

"Min-ju, what is the definition of a leader?" He looked into her eyes. Her eyelashes trembled slightly, but she didn't look away.

"Lead the team well, ensure the quality of performances, and maintain the brand image."

"And?"

She was silent for a second. "Handle the relationships between members well. Don't cause trouble for you."

"Hahaha." Chairman Wang Shunyi gave Choi Min-ju a deep look and nodded.

He took a step back and put his hands back into his pockets, his posture exactly the same as when he first entered.

"Go out. Tell them all to come in. The group name is decided—VIVID. Everyone must lose three kilograms before debut. The current on-camera effect isn't enough."

Choi Min-ju bowed her head and turned to walk out. Her pace was very steady, just as steady as when they had entered. Chairman Wang Shunyi watched her back.

The six girls stood in a row again. Chairman Wang Shunyi's gaze swept across their faces in turn, this time even slower than when he came in, and even less concerned with politeness.

"VIVID. BORN TO SHINE. Intensive training starts next month, debut in July. The music shows for the debut have already been arranged: M COUNTDOWN and Music Bank. Chairman Lee Soo-man will also secure two variety show resources for you; he'll notify you of the specifics later. Everyone must lose three kilograms before debut. In your current state, it's not enough for the camera. Control your weight; you understand what I mean."

Kim Ye-rin opened her mouth, but Park Soo-yeon lightly nudged her with her elbow, and she closed it.

Chairman Wang Shunyi's gaze lingered on Kim Ye-rin for an extra half-second, then moved to Choi Min-ju before shifting away.

"Ji-yeon, keep a good eye on these members. If there are any problems, tell me," Chairman Wang Shunyi continued to instruct.

"Also, confirm the styling for the debut album with the wardrobe team. The clothes shouldn't be too tight, nor too loose. This current training set doesn't show off the figure well. What should be shown should be shown, and what shouldn't be shown shouldn't be exposed. Handle the scale well. I don't want those bastards to destroy my money-making machines!"

Choi Ji-yeon bowed: "Understood, Chairman Wang."

Chairman Wang Shunyi said nothing more. His gaze swept over the six girls' bodies one last time—Park Soo-yeon's collarbone, Kim Ye-rin's chest line, Lee Ji-eun's thin waist, Jung Mi-lin's legs, Han So-hee's hip line, and Choi Min-ju's neck and shoulders. He nodded; they were acceptable, the quality was decent, the flaws were controllable, and they could be put into stock.

He turned and left. Kim Young-jun trotted after him, clutching the tablet.

The corridor was very quiet, the sound of leather shoes stepping on the floor echoing one after another, unhurriedly.

Choi Ji-yeon stood at the door of the practice room, watching that back disappear into the elevator. She let out a soft breath, opened the folder in her hand, and wrote a small line in the 'Items Requiring Attention' column—Kim Ye-rin: watch demeanor and personality management. Choi Min-ju: facial pressure test passed. All members: weight control.

The elevator doors closed. Kim Young-jun pressed the button for the first floor. Chairman Wang Shunyi leaned against the metal wall of the elevator car, his eyes closed. Kim Young-jun hesitated for a moment and asked, "Chairman, what do you think?"

"It's alright. We'll see about the sales after the debut. What I think doesn't matter; it depends on whether the fans buy it or not. In that regard, I'm a layman."

The elevator reached the first floor. He walked out, the hem of his coat catching a gust of wind. After sitting in the car, he took out his phone and scrolled through the photo album. It wasn't anything he just took—he hadn't taken a single photo. He looked for the photo Park Min-ji had sent yesterday: a cat lying on a windowsill basking in the sun, with Namsan Tower outside the window. He stared at the cat for a while before putting his phone away.

"Let's go. Back to the company."

Outside the car window, Seoul was grey. The sun was obscured by clouds; the light wasn't bright enough, but it wasn't raining either. In the rearview mirror, the SM Entertainment building grew smaller and smaller until it finally vanished...