I rejected the school bully's confession because of soccer. - Chapter 4

The audition venue began to buzz with energy.
“Now, we’re going to introduce ourselves one by one.”
The PD instructed.
But most of the children were distracted.
They were either looking at things they were interested in, eating snacks, or chattering to their parents.
‘They can’t focus.’
I, at least, was focusing on the PD.
Being able to focus on what’s in front of me while observing the children’s reactions with my peripheral vision was a skill honed through soccer.
“Shall we start with Young-hoon?”
The self-introductions proceeded in order of age.
The children came forward in turn, stating their names and ages, and showing their talents.
Most of them were either hesitant due to nervousness or pretended to be confident but quickly became intimidated in front of adults.
For talent shows, they usually danced and sang popular songs or imitated comedians.
It was clearly at a child’s level, showing signs of hasty preparation.
But Hwang Min-chul was different.
‘That arrogant attitude hasn’t gone anywhere.’
Both his self-introduction and talent show were quite brazen and confident.
Such thoughts were brief.
It was my turn, and I slowly stood up and walked in front of the production team.
Unlike the other nervous kids, I spoke with a bright voice while wearing a relaxed smile.
“Hello. I’m Kang Tan, five years old.”
After giving a proper greeting, I lifted my head.
The eyes of the adults, including the PD, sparkled.
“Oh~ Kang Tan. You’re the youngest. But you look so relaxed?”
The PD smiled and asked a question.
“My dad always tells me. Don’t be nervous and enjoy. So nervous? I’m not trying to be that.”
“Haha, is that so? But you seem to listen to your dad well. Do you do everything your dad says?”
I slightly raised the corners of my mouth and nodded.
“Yes, I know how to be loved as if it’s my second life.”
Laughter erupted among the adults.
The PD also clapped and laughed loudly.
“Then do you act to be loved?”
“It’s essential.”
Another burst of laughter poured out.
“It seems your dad didn’t know you were acting. What do you think your dad will say now?”
I tilted my head and put on a serious expression.
“Regret?”

This time, even the parents of the children who came to audition burst into laughter.
The PD, looking intrigued, put his hand on his chin and asked.
“Kang Tan, have you done this a lot? How can you speak so well? And how do you know about regret?”
“No. It’s my first time. I need to communicate well to convey my intentions to teammates.”
The production team stuck out their tongues.
“Kang Tan, have you ever had teammates?”
At this point, I almost stumbled, realizing my slip.
“Of course. Family is my first and lifelong teammates. I’d like to make my second ones here.”
As soon as I said this, another murmur arose among the adults.
The PD nodded and continued to ask questions.
“Kang Tan is really on his second life, right. By the way, is there anything you want to do on our program?”
I put my finger on my chin, pretending to think.
At my first appearance of contemplation, I could feel the adults focusing.
“I just want to have fun playing, you know?”
“Oh~ Is that all?”
I sparkled my eyes and smiled innocently.
“Yes! If I had to say something I want to do, maybe play more fun soccer with people who are better than me?”
The PD nodded with an impressed expression.
“Wow, this kid has complete star quality. How can he speak so well? What did you prepare for your talent show?”
“I prepared soccer as my talent!”
“He’s really different, different. I’ll check our Kang Tan’s talent later, okay?”
I slowly smiled and swept my gaze over the adults’ laughter.
“If he’s just good at kicking the ball, he’d be really amazing.”
“That would be a real catch.”
“Please, even if he’s just average, that would be enough.”
I could already see the expectations they were placing on me.
‘Okay, I think that’s good enough for a first impression.’
If I just do well on the test, passing is a sure thing.
Feeling a small sense of satisfaction, I returned to my seat.
Even at that moment, I could feel the PD’s gaze constantly directed towards me.

The atmosphere at the audition venue started to heat up.
After the self-introductions ended, the tests continued.
Kang Tan stood up for the test.
His expression was relaxed and calm.
He carefully positioned himself at the starting point, fiddling with the soccer ball with his small hands.
“Alright, Kang Tan! Start when you’re ready!”
Kang Tan dropped the ball without delay.
From the first touch, the production team’s eyes changed.
The ball passed through the obstacles smoothly as if it was stuck to his foot.
It was so precise and smooth that it was hard to believe it was a young child’s movement.
The CP watching this scene from one side of the audition venue.
He wore an expression of disbelief and nudged the PD’s side.
“Hey, is that really a five-year-old?”
“I’m not sure either. But… he’s something else, isn’t he?”
The PD couldn’t close his mouth as he followed Kang Tan’s movements with his eyes.
Kang Tan quickly passed through the obstacles and slightly lifted his head at the last course.
Then he shot strongly towards the goal.
The ball shook the net precisely, and at that moment, exclamations burst from the production team.
“Wow, what was that?”
“Wow… that’s not a kid’s shot!”
“Can a five-year-old do that?”
The PD couldn’t close his mouth, his face surprised.
“If this goes on air, it’s going to cause a stir, right? It wouldn’t be an exaggeration to call him a soccer prodigy.”
The CP patted the PD’s back, smiling contentedly.
“Hey, I think this program will do well. Just having this kid is a big deal. What’s his name again? Kang Tan?”
“Yes, Kang Tan…”
The PD blinked his eyes and continued.
“Where did someone like this come from… he’s a lucky charm…”
“I’m thinking the same thing. Don’t let him go no matter what. This child will definitely make this program successful.”
Kang Tan walked towards where his father was.
Other children looking at him with eyes mixed with admiration and jealousy.
Production staff unable to hide their surprised looks.
‘Well, this much is basic.’
He returned to his seat, smiling inwardly.
The PD murmured to the CP once again.
“At that level, isn’t he really a genius? No, even geniuses probably aren’t this genius, right?”
“No, he’s more than that. He’s the future of the soccer world.”
That day, the audition venue was completely heated up because of Kang Tan alone.
It was rude to compare him with the other children gathered here.
It seemed doubtful whether even the youth of those currently called soccer gods beyond prodigies could be compared to this child.
And then a funny thing happened.
Not only the production team but even the parents of other children started asking Kang Tan for autographs.
“Um, I don’t have anything like an autograph…”
“It’s okay, just write your name for us.”
“Yeah, give me one too.”
Kang Tan thought for a moment and then started writing his name.
And he gave the first one to his dad.
“My first autograph is of course for Dad!”
He said it with deliberate emphasis.
So that everyone could hear, so that they could be witnesses for each other.
‘It would be even better if cameras were rolling.’
As Kang Tan was thinking this, true to his wish, the broadcasting station wouldn’t miss such a scene.
The debut broadcast of a child who would become a supernova in the soccer world.
If this child soars high, it would be like creating a pension for the broadcasting station.

PD Seo Ji-hoon, who was directing “Soccer King Golden Child”, was pacing back and forth, biting his nails.
From the first day of filming, his sensitivity was at its peak.
The situation of not seeing Kang Tan made his nerves extremely sharp.
“Why isn’t Tan here? Did something happen?”
To his urgent question, the junior writer slightly tilted her head.
“PD, there’s still over an hour left. None of the other kids have arrived either.”
“I don’t care about the other kids, quickly check on Tan.”
Seo Ji-hoon was serious.
The performance Kang Tan had shown gave him both enormous hope and terrible pressure.
It was because he was convinced that the little boy was the key to determining the success of this program.
“Quickly call Tan’s parents and find out where they are!”
The junior writer finally picked up her phone, matching the urgent atmosphere.
But Seo Ji-hoon grabbed her hand as she was about to make the call.
“No. No. A phone call won’t do.”
“…Pardon?”
“Go in person. Tan’s house was close, right? Then go right now and bring him here. Every time from now on.”
“What?”
“We don’t have time for ‘what’. Please. No, this isn’t a request, it’s a work order.”
The junior writer was dumbfounded but also understood to some extent.
Everyone knew how important Kang Tan had become to this program.
“Something really could have happened.”
Even as he spoke, Seo Ji-hoon took a deep breath as if trying to calm his own sensitive attitude.
“Many parents are sensitive about their children appearing on entertainment shows. If something goes wrong, it’s a disaster.”
The junior writer answered, hiding her tired expression.
“I understand. I’ll go check and bring him back, okay? So please calm down, PD.”
She got up, packing her bag.
Seo Ji-hoon added words even as she was leaving.
“Call me immediately if anything happens. Without Tan, our filming and everything is just over!”
“Yes, yes, I understand.”
Seo Ji-hoon again bit his nails and paced.
‘How long has it been since I’ve been this anxious in my life…’
It felt like forgetting where he put a winning lottery ticket.
At the same time, the overwhelming skills Kang Tan had shown were still flashing in his mind.
‘Tan is the real deal. If the program goes well, he’s the material to shine brighter than any star.’