JYP Entertainment Building — 9:30 AM
Bang Chan stood outside the CCO's office, hoodie sleeves tugged over his palms, heart pounding like he just survived the monthly evaluation twice back-to-back.
He'd gotten the call half an hour ago:
"PD-nim wants to see you. Alone."
No context. No warning.
Just vibes. Dangerous ones.
His brain was already spiraling.
Did something happen? Did I mess up? Did someone say something? Did I do something wrong??
The team had been pushing themselves nonstop—training, recording, breathing this dream like oxygen. Chan had handpicked every member, built the group from nothing. They were far from perfect, but they were hungry.
They were his.
Still, being summoned by The J.Y. Park?
Never casual. Never random.
The office door cracked open.
Staff: "Come in."
Chan nodded and stepped inside.
JYP sat at his desk, calm as ever. That unreadable face of his, somewhere between mentor and chess master. A glass of water in front of him. Not a single paper out of place.
Chan stood tall, but inside? His heart was doing push-ups.
Chan: "You wanted to see me, sir?"
JYP (smiling softly): "I did. Sit."
He obeyed, posture straight, eyes alert.
JYP: "How's your team?"
Chan: "They're good. Still rough around the edges, but we're getting tighter. You can trust us."
JYP: "You chose them well."
That calmed Chan a little. Just a little.
Then—
JYP: "I want you to watch someone's audition."
Chan blinked.
Chan: "Me?"
JYP: "Yes. She's auditioning tomorrow."
A pause.
Chan: "…She?"
JYP (calmly): "Yes."
Chan didn't say anything, but his eyebrows rose half a millimeter.
A girl? Why was he being asked to watch her audition?
JYP (carefully): "I'm not giving you orders. I just want you to see her performance. Nothing more."
Chan hesitated.
His gut told him there was more to this.
But JYP was still JYP. And Chan couldn't say no to JYP. Not to the man who was finally giving him a shot after seven long years. Not to the man who was literally trusting him to build a group from scratch.
Chan (nods slowly): "Alright. I'll watch it."
JYP nodded once, pleased.
JYP: "She's auditioning tomorrow. Room 325. Be there. Watch. Listen."
Chan tried not to look visibly thrown.
A girl? Auditioning solo? And the boss personally wanted him to watch? What even was this?
But again—he wasn't in a position to question things. Not now. Not when his own dream was this close to real.
Chan: "…Got it. I'll be there."
He stood, bowed respectfully, and turned to leave.
Just before the door closed behind him—
JYP (softly): "Keep an open mind."
Chan didn't reply.
He just kept walking.
Still not knowing that the girl he was about to see... Was going to change everything.
To Be Continued...