Chapter 25: Forget About YG.

Page 1 of 3

“Minjeong, did it work?”

Ming Yan could only hear fragments of the voice on the phone.

However, when he saw the delighted expression on his niece’s face, he could more or less guess what had happened.

That phone call of his had not been made for nothing. He was sure Lee Minwoo had understood what he meant.

Once the deed is done, brush off your sleeves and leave without taking credit.

Ming Yan genuinely believed Kim Minjeong was outstanding. At the very least, she was more than qualified to become a trainee. Any effort he made behind the scenes was merely preparation for every eventuality; it could never play a decisive role.

“Uncle, I couldn’t have been tricked by a scammer, could I?” Kim Minjeong asked after hanging up, still looking utterly bewildered.

It all felt too unreal to the girl.

She had merely been playing on her phone and chatting when, all of a sudden, she had passed S.M.’s audition. Happiness had arrived far too abruptly.

Ming Yan laughed. “How could that be? If scammers wanted to trick you, they’d go after your money. What would they want with you?”

“Then… I passed S.M.’s evaluation?”

“Our Minjeong is the best.”

Ming Yan gave her a thumbs-up.

This was a momentous occasion. They had to celebrate properly.

“Uncle, it’s not as exaggerated as you make it sound. It’s not like I’ve debuted.” Kim Minjeong shyly scratched her head. She was still rather bashful and not accustomed to the way Ming Yan expressed his support.

“Now that you’ve succeeded as a trainee, how far away can debut really be?”

“It still seems pretty far away.”

“That’s all right. You just need to keep working hard. Your uncle will always be your strongest support.”

Ming Yan was already thinking that he should keep Kim Minjeong from spending too much time with Kim Jisoo. Everything she said carried a distinct trace of Jisoo-ness, and teenagers were particularly susceptible to influence.

Kim Minjeong called her mother next. Naturally, she had to share such wonderful news with her parents at the earliest opportunity.

A small part of her was also eager to show off. She had chosen the path of becoming a trainee despite the pressure, and now she had successfully taken the first step. At the very least, it proved that she had talent.

Ming Yan thought about it. When he had received a call from Kim Eunsook’s assistant three years ago, his mood had probably been much the same as Kim Minjeong’s.

Whatever else one might say, there really was a rush in that first moment of being accepted. But if he wanted that happiness to last, he still had to work hard afterward. Anyone who failed to persevere could only slink away in disgrace.

He took the phone Kim Minjeong handed him and spoke with his sister for a few more moments. “Hello, Sis. Don’t worry. I’ll take good care of Minjeong.”

“Just don’t spoil her too much. Be careful she doesn’t become spoiled rotten.”

Ming Yue had already heard quite a bit from her daughter about life after arriving in Seoul. Her dear little brother had clearly gone a little overboard.

What was that saying again?

You’re treating my daughter too well, so I’m going to punch you too.

Page 1 of 3

Page 2 of 3

“Minjeong is such a good girl. That won’t happen. I’m only doing what an uncle ought to do.” Ming Yan was somewhat baffled by his sister’s way of thinking. Hadn’t she been the one to entrust her daughter to him in the first place?

He had said he couldn’t do it, and she had insisted that he take care of her. Now she was blaming him for doing exactly that.

Was there any justice?

“And one more thing… Don’t let Minjeong see any of your personal affairs.” Ming Yue reminded him uneasily, “I heard from Minjeong that she’s already met several pretty young women.”

“Sis, it’s mainly just Jisoo and Nayeon. There’s no one else.”

“What about Jung Soojung?”

“She isn’t my type.”

“Since when did you become so picky? Isn’t it more likely that she simply ignored you?”

Ming Yue mercilessly exposed her brother’s disguise.

Ming Yan shook his head helplessly. “Her best friend is my ex-girlfriend.”

“Which ex-girlfriend?”

“…”

There was no way to answer that, so Ming Yan decisively handed the phone back to Kim Minjeong.

Still, he decided that he should restrain himself a little these days. If he had to endure a dry spell, then so be it. For now, taking care of Kim Minjeong had to be his top priority. After all, he was her elder.

After making the call to share the good news, Ming Yan began planning a celebration for Kim Minjeong.

…

“Minjeong passed her audition?” Kim Jisoo asked while scooping yogurt into her mouth.

“Yeah. I’ve been thinking about how to celebrate with her. Do you have any suggestions?”

At the very least, Jisoo was a girl. Maybe she would have some good ideas.

Kim Jisoo: Let me translate that. What exactly does “at the very least” mean?

Kim Jisoo pondered for a moment. “Hmm… My suggestion is that you take Minjeong out for several days of feasting. Once she debuts, she can do whatever she wants—but dieting will be mandatory.”

Losing weight was the greatest obstacle facing every trainee who aspired to debut.

Crying from hunger was not an exaggerated figure of speech. It really happened.

“That simple?”

“Exactly that simple.” Kim Jisoo nodded. “Oh, Nayeon told me you broke up again?”

“Ahem… For Minjeong’s sake, I should probably focus on her for a while.”

Ming Yan silently complained about Lim Nayeon’s big mouth. That girl clearly had no idea how to keep anything confidential.

Then again, there was no real need to keep something like this secret.

Page 2 of 3

Page 3 of 3

“Our company has plenty of female seniors. Want me to introduce you to someone?” Kim Jisoo had long since grown accustomed to Ming Yan’s ways, but she had never thought much of them.

They were simply too familiar with each other.

Ming Yan rejected the offer without hesitation. “Let’s forget about the women at your company.”

YG’s last girl group had been 2NE1. Leaving aside who might still be there, the overall level of beauty was not particularly impressive—at least, not according to Ming Yan’s tastes.

If it were S.M., that would be a different story. Red Velvet had a fourth-generation goddess of beauty whose reputation even surpassed Kim Jisoo’s. Going further back, there was also Jung Soojung. And if he aimed even higher, Lim Yoona of Girls’ Generation was not out of the question.

See? This was what people meant by heritage. That was heritage.

Ming Yan had an expansive palate. He was not picky.

A slightly older woman was no problem. Only an older sister knew how to show a man proper affection.

Some people, when you gave them a smack on the backside, could do nothing but cry out in pain. Others would obligingly lift themselves a little higher, saving you all the trouble.

“What’s wrong with the women at our company?”

“Jisoo, my girlfriend has to be at least prettier than you, right? Your company doesn’t have anyone like that.” Ming Yan shook his head.

Kim Jisoo paid no attention to appearances and licked the yogurt from the lid. “I’ll take that as a compliment.”

“It was definitely a compliment. Jisoo, you should have become an actress with me back then. Idols aren’t even allowed to date.”

Ming Yan smiled. “There’s a three-year dating ban.”

“When I was in high school, someone gave me a love letter. In the end, you and Nayeon chased him away anyway.”

Kim Jisoo pouted. Her two best friends had ruined all her romantic prospects, and she had no interest in that sort of thing anymore.

“You have to find the right person to date. Anyone who only came running after you became beautiful isn’t worth trusting,” Ming Yan declared righteously.

“Mm-hmm~”

“Jisoo, you seem to be making fun of me.”

“Remove the words ‘seem to be.’”

…

Ming Yan ended his call with his good friend and went to the door of Kim Minjeong’s room.

“Minjeong?”

“Uncle, I’m here.”

“Tomorrow, I’m taking you out for a huge feast.”