The metal door of the hotel elevator reflected four tired figures. Ouyang stared at the constantly jumping floor numbers, and felt the gold-stamped business card in his pocket getting hot like a branding iron. When the number jumped to "12", the elevator made a "ding" sound, like some kind of countdown reminder sound.
"You're finally back!" Teacher Zhang Ming opened the door abruptly, his eyes bloodshot behind his glasses. He was still holding his phone, with more than a dozen missed calls on the screen. "What time is it?" He glanced at the document bags in the hands of the four people, "What did you sign?"
Chen Zheng threw the contract onto the bed: "I didn't sign it! I just went to have a cup of coffee——"
"Coffee?" Zhang Ming grabbed the file bag, the gold-stamped "SM" logo flashed coldly under the bedside lamp. The sound of the papers turning was particularly harsh in the silent room.
He Zilin took off his glasses and rubbed his nose: "Teacher, we..."
"You four all want to go?" Zhang Ming suddenly interrupted him, tapping the penalty clause with his finger, "300 million won? This is a contract of sale!"
Chen Zheng's green hair drooped: "I don't want to be a trainee..." He glanced at Ouyang Guang secretly, "But I can accompany A Guang to the interview tomorrow."
"We too." He Ziqi put his arm around his brother's shoulders, "Just treat it as a meeting."
Zhang Ming turned his gaze to Ouyang Guang: "What about you? Have you thought it through?"
Ouyang Guang stood in front of the window. The night view of Seoul was particularly clear in the air after the rain. The outline of Jamsil Gymnasium in the distance looked like a dormant giant beast. "I want to try it." His fingers unconsciously drew drum beats on the glass, "Just... try it."
The room suddenly became eerily quiet. The ticking sound of the second hand on the wall clock was infinitely amplified, click, click, click, like a countdown.
"What are you preparing for the performance?" Zhang Ming finally broke the silence.
"Drum solos of "Love is Simple" and "Numb." Ouyang Guang took out a stack of crumpled sheet music from his backpack, the edges of the paper were frayed.
He Ziqi whistled: "So fierce? Lincoln Park?"
"When will you be ready?" He Zilin took the music score and his eyes widened slightly behind his gold-rimmed glasses.
Ouyang Guang shrugged: "On the plane."
Zhang Ming was looking through the sheet music when he suddenly frowned: "No dancing? Dancing is a must for SM interviews!"
"No." Ouyang Guang's ears turned slightly red, "In the school's art performances, we all play the drums while sitting..."
"It's already eleven o'clock, and it's too late to cram..."
"I can teach him the basics." He Zilin suddenly said. He and He Ziqi looked at each other, and both stood up and started moving the furniture in the room.
Chen Zheng pulled down the bed sheet and spread it on the floor: "Zi Qi and I will be the mirrors! Ah Guang, follow Zi Lin's example!"
At 1:23 in the morning, the lights in the hotel room were still on. Ouyang stared at the text message on the phone screen: "Son, is the concert over? Have you returned to the hotel?" The sender showed "Mom" and the time was 4 hours ago.
Chen Zheng was lying on his back, snoring. He Zilin and He Ziqi had also fallen asleep. Before going to the next room to rest, Teacher Zhang Ming neatly stacked the copies of the contract on the bedside table and circled the "penalty for breach of contract" clause in red at the top.
Ouyangguang tiptoed out of the bathroom and locked the door. On the bedside table was the drum sheet of "Numb", the corners of which were soaked with his sweat. He took a deep breath and called home.
"Hello?" My mother's voice was sleepy, and there was noise from the TV in the background.
"Mom, it's me."
"Guangguang!" Mom's voice immediately became clearer. "Why are you still awake so late? Is the concert good?"
Ouyang Guang's fingertips unconsciously picked at the notes on the music score: "Mom... I have something to tell you."
There was a rustling sound from the other end of the line, followed by my father's deep voice: "Put on speakerphone."
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