* * *
The realization struck him hard. Unlike Kang Dojae, whose dream had been tarnished by constant comparison and bullying during his trainee days, singing was still a shining dream for Dojae.
He clenched and unclenched his hands, feeling the scars. The exhilaration of singing in front of an audience came flooding back.
If he could sing.
If he could become a singer.
This swapped life might not be so bad after all.
‘Not that I know how to go back anyway… I hope Kang Dojae is doing okay by now.’
Considering their vastly different upbringings and memories, Dojae wished that Kang Dojae would at least find it less tough while their bodies were switched.
‘At least he won’t be looked down on for being poor. And there shouldn’t be anyone bullying him.’
Just as Dojae was about to change out of his uncomfortable clothes, the door opened and his mother walked in.
“Oh? Son, you’re home early.”
“Mom… You’re back?”
Dojae looked at Kang Dojae’s mother in surprise. She had a slight stoop and deep wrinkles around her eyes. Though she had the same face as the Empress of the Korean Empire, she was a completely different person.
Not all faces were the same across the two worlds, but some definitely overlapped.
“Have you had dinner?”
“Not yet. How about you, Mom?”
“What were you doing without eating dinner? Change your clothes and come out. I’ll make some stew.”
Feeling bewildered, Dojae nodded. After a somewhat natural dinner with Kang Dojae’s mother, Min Hyekyung, Dojae went to his room and lay on the bare floor.
‘The Korean Empire and the Republic of Korea are similar but definitely different. The circumstances of Kang Dojae and Lee Dojae are, of course, vastly different.’
Debuting as a singer…
The future…
His mind was in turmoil, especially since tomorrow was the day New Entertainment would finalize the members for the group debuting next year.
He had to make a decision before even adjusting to his environment.
“Indeed. That’s what I should do.”
But the answer came simpler than he thought.
***
‘Sleeping on a thin blanket makes my back ache.’
Having prepared and left the house, Dojae patted his back. His mother had already left for work earlier than him. The house was empty.
Accustomed to palace life, he had never used a bed, but the thick silk mattress in the palace was better than most regular mattresses. It was incomparable to the thin fabric Kang Dojae used.
‘Changing the door lock and improving the sleeping arrangements will require some money.’
While he thought that, he had already arrived at New Entertainment’s building.
The corridor leading to the practice room was more chaotic than usual.
Sunghwan, Yoo Myeongwoo, and four others were already confirmed debut members, and two more were to be selected based on yesterday’s evaluations. Trainees were whispering among themselves about who might make the debut, each secretly hoping to be the lucky one.
Debuting in a group from New Entertainment, one of the top three agencies, was almost a guaranteed success.
“Who do you think will make it?”
“Not sure. Based on yesterday, maybe Kang Dojae? He did the best.”
“Really? He wasn’t that good originally.”
“Well, he was always a likely debut candidate anyway. Good-looking, too.”
“True. Isn’t he close with Sunghwan?”
“Even though he joined recently, you’re clueless. They’re not close, he’s just a follower.”
Dojae listened to the chatter ahead without any change in expression, as if listening to others’ stories.
‘I wonder what the results will be.’
There was no anxiety. Dojae’s choice was already made.
At 10 a.m., not only the confirmed debut members but also the female trainees gathered in the practice room for the announcement.
In a tense atmosphere, the trainers and the rookie development team entered.
“Based on the evaluations up to yesterday, the members of the new boy group debuting next year will be Yoo Myeongwoo, Sunghwan…”
As expected, the names of the confirmed members were called. Those called stepped forward like triumphant generals.
And finally.
“Kang Dojae.”
Dojae’s name was called. At that moment, he noticed Yoo Myeongwoo’s group looking at him with wide smiles. It wasn’t hard to interpret the meaning of their smiles.
Despite being only the third prince in name, Dojae was still a member of the Imperial Family. He wasn’t easily shaken by common tricks and schemes.
Without flinching, Dojae smiled back at Yoo Myeongwoo’s group.
“Congratulations, Kang Dojae. We believed in your performance yesterday and chose…”
As the vocal trainer was about to speak to Dojae who had stepped forward, Dojae interrupted.
“I won’t be debuting here.”
His words caused a shocked silence to settle over the practice room like cold water.
When extremely flustered, one often finds themselves at a loss for words.
The employees and the team leader of the rookie development team, who had been struggling to gather their wits, finally spoke in turn.
“What do you mean you’re not going to debut? What are you talking about?”
“Is this some kind of modesty, like saying it’s too soon to debut?”
Dojae clarified his intentions once again.
“No, I’m saying I won’t debut with New Entertainment.”
The practice room buzzed with surprise at Dojae’s response.
The vocal trainer, seemingly incredulous, asked loudly.
“Are you saying you’re not going to be a singer?”
To take his words about leaving the agency as him quitting singing altogether was astonishing to Dojae.
‘Their pride in New Entertainment is remarkable. Or is it arrogance?’
The issue wasn’t just with the vocal trainer.
New Entertainment was indeed one of the top three agencies in South Korea, renowned for its prestige and influence.
It had produced numerous popular idols, had excellent promotional capabilities, and provided many opportunities for TV appearances.
Trainees from New Entertainment received attention from the industry and countless fandoms.
The agency was an object of envy among trainees, and debuting there meant a certain level of guaranteed success.
‘That’s why Kang Dojae endured it all.’
Given such an opportunity, it was natural for everyone to be beyond shocked and almost in disbelief at Dojae’s declaration.
Dojae swallowed a bitter smile and answered.
“No, I have to be a singer. It’s my dream.”
“Then why is a trainee who’s been practicing here saying they’ll leave now, when we’re about to debut you?”
The vocal trainer asked sharply.
‘His tone is disrespectful from start to finish. Even if Kang Dojae is younger.’
Dojae frowned, thinking.
“Do you really not understand why I’m asking this?”
“What? What’s with that tone?”
“I’m asking if you really don’t know that all the members picked for the team are the ones who have been bullying me.”
The practice room stirred once again.
Most people here knew that Sunghwan and his group had been bullying Dojae.
Only a few female trainees who practiced separately and some new trainees didn’t know.
Even some staff members were vaguely aware.
They had just passively observed, thinking it was merely boys playing around and assuming that if it got too tough, Dojae would quit on his own.
No one expected Dojae to make an issue of it by giving up his debut.
‘If Kang Dojae had remained in this body…’
He would have felt intense distress alongside the joy of being selected for the debut team.
‘He wouldn’t have been able to give up debuting here. He would have felt trapped, thinking he could never escape.’
Kang Dojae had wanted to die so intensely that his body actually changed.
Death might have come before debut.
“How can I debut in a place full of perpetrators and bystanders?”
Amidst the shock and astonishment, only Dojae remained calm.
Dojae looked coldly at Yoo Myeongwoo’s group standing in front.
The ones who had been smiling when Dojae’s name was called now had frozen expressions.
‘Yoo Myeongwoo is the nephew of New Entertainment’s director. He could easily block Kang Dojae’s debut if he wanted to.’
But why would they welcome the debut of Kang Dojae, whom they treated worse than a servant?
It meant they had a scheme.
‘They must have decided to take Kang Dojae on board after yesterday’s incident. If we’re on the same team, he won’t reveal the bullying.’
They wouldn’t want to lose an easy target for venting their anger.
Regrettably, Dojae’s suspicions were entirely accurate.
Like everyone else, they had never imagined Dojae would give up his debut with New Entertainment.
“Bullying? Dojae, that’s disappointing.”
* * *
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Thanks
Yeah. DoJae fighting. Leave that hellish place full of bullies and bystanders. But you gotta also keep some evidence just in case you’ll encounter each other again in the future and for sure they’ll gonna try to block your path again and bring you down, so be prepared DoJae.