Life at US 2

It was test day.

The company had arranged our transport, and the building looked even bigger than I imagined. My brother held my hand tightly the whole way, terrified I might get lost in that huge place. Professor Daniel told us to meet on the 7th floor, so we waited in the lobby, surrounded by people in suits, badges, and tablets.

A tall woman in a sharp business suit walked out and guided us toward the testing room.

The moment I stepped inside, I felt like some kind of experiment rat instead of a candidate.

They checked my IQ, gave me aptitude and reasoning questions, then another test with complicated equations. After that, wires were placed on my head for monitoring.

I was scared—so scared that they allowed my brother to sit next to me the entire time.

When it finally ended, we were told the results would be ready in two hours. To keep us occupied, they gave us a tour of the space facility.

It was the first time I had ever seen rockets in real life.

They were massive—so tall I couldn’t even see the top without bending backward. Rocket scientists walked around discussing engines and launch sequences, and everything looked straight out of a movie. The launch pads, the assembly areas, the control rooms—everything felt too big, too incredible. I kept walking until my legs hurt.

Those two hours became some of the most unforgettable moments of my life.

Even my brother looked like a ten-year-old again, his eyes sparkling as he stared at the rockets.

We grabbed some snacks afterward, and I ended up playing with a few of the scientists. My brother, who came here fully prepared to reject their offer, suddenly looked uncertain and conflicted.

Soon, Professor Daniel and Evon returned with my results. They had discussed everything with other professionals and looked impressed.

Evon smiled at me first.

Evon: “She made a lot of silly mistakes… but even then, these results are impressive for a 10-year-old. Now I understand why Professor Daniel referred her. She’s a prodigy. Don’t waste her potential in regular school. Let me handle her education. I promise—she will become a great scientist. The future will value skill over academic background.”

Minjun’s eyes shook a little.

Minjun: “But… what if she wants to work somewhere else in the future? Or move back to Korea? Won’t it be hard without a normal academic record?”

Evon: “She won’t just study here. We will also train her. She’ll work with real scientists once she reaches the right stage. She’ll have knowledge far beyond a school curriculum.”

Professor Daniel added softly:

“This is life-changing for Jaehee. Think carefully, Minjun.”

My brother signed the contract.

He even received a stipend for me. But he decided not to tell our aunt that I dropped out of school.

Time passed. Both of us became busy with our lives. My brother got assigned to a major project, and I excelled in my academics.

.

.

.

Three Years Later

By thirteen, I had gotten used to being teased as “the kid” among researchers. I became close to Evon too—he often dropped me home after late classes and even let me sit in on discussions about rocket updates. Slowly, I began to understand everything.

Around that time, my brother decided to start an entertainment company in Korea. We flew to Korea for a week, signed a contract with his close friend, Park Rumi, and named the company Wibe Entertainment.

My stipend money let me bring souvenirs home, but I couldn’t admit I earned it myself.

My aunt was shocked to see me after three years—taller, sharper, more mature. My brother still didn’t tell her I had dropped out of school.

We stayed three days before returning to the US.

A few months later, Wibe Entertainment began recruiting trainees for their first boy group. After several rounds of auditions and training in Korea, seven members were chosen. They eventually flew to the US for intensive training.

The final lineup:

Park Jaemin — Center / Main Vocal

Choi Minchae — Lead Dancer / Lead Vocal

Kim Rowoon — Visual

Lee Seojun — Main Rapper

Han Haemin — Vocalist

Kang Riwon — Leader

Jung Yunho — Maknae

***Download NovelToon to enjoy a better reading experience!***