#Chapter 1: Beneath the Starry Sky

The city never truly slept.

Even at midnight, neon lights painted the streets with shades of blue, pink, and gold. Cars passed in the distance, their headlights disappearing into the darkness like shooting stars.

Douyi slowly walked through the quiet alley that led to his apartment.

His body ached from exhaustion.

Today had been no different from every other day.

A morning shift at the convenience store.

An afternoon delivery job.

Then hours of overtime at a small restaurant.

His feet hurt. His shoulders hurt. Even breathing felt tiring.

Yet tomorrow would be exactly the same.

And the day after that.

And the day after that.

Because he couldn't stop.

Not while debt collectors continued calling.

Not while hospital bills continued piling up.

Not while his mother was sick.

The cold night wind brushed against his face.

Douyi let out a tired sigh.

Ahead of him stood a long staircase connecting the alley to the residential area above.

Normally he would force himself to keep walking.

Tonight, however, he couldn't.

His legs simply refused.

He slowly sat down on one of the steps.

The concrete was cold beneath him.

For a moment, he closed his eyes.

Then he looked up.

His breath caught in his throat.

Above him stretched a beautiful night sky filled with countless stars.

The city lights usually hid them.

But tonight they seemed brighter than ever.

Douyi stared quietly.

His tired eyes softened.

A small smile appeared on his lips.

**Douyi:** "They're beautiful..."

The stars sparkled endlessly.

Free.

Untouchable.

Far away from worries.

Far away from pain.

Far away from debt.

Douyi hugged his knees and tears : "I can't cry."

His voice shook.

**Douyi:** "I wonder what it feels like."

The wind gently played with his dark hair.

**Douyi:** "To be free."

His voice was barely above a whisper.

For years he had worked nonstop.

For years he had sacrificed everything.

His youth.

His dreams.

His happiness.

Everything.

Just to survive.

A bitter laugh escaped him.

**Douyi:** "Maybe I'm asking for too much."

His gaze returned to the stars.

The smile disappeared.

**Douyi:** "But just once..."

He closed his eyes.

**Douyi:** "I want to be happy."

The words sounded strange.

As if happiness belonged to another person.

Not him.

Not someone like him.

His chest tightened.

Thoughts of his mother filled his mind.

The hospital room.

The medicine.

The treatment.

The doctor's worried face.

Cancer.

The word still terrified him.

**Douyi:** "Please..."

His voice trembled.

**Douyi:** "Let Mom get better."

The wind carried his prayer into the night sky.

**Douyi:** "I'd give up anything if she could be healthy again."

Silence answered him.

Yet somehow the stars seemed to shine a little brighter.

After sitting there for several minutes, Douyi finally stood.

No matter how tired he was, someone was waiting for him.

Home.

---

The apartment building was old and worn down.

The hallway lights flickered.

Paint peeled from the walls.

Yet to Douyi, it was still home.

He quietly opened the door.

The smell of warm soup greeted him.

His eyes widened.

**Douyi:** "Mom?"

From the small bedroom came a weak voice.

**Mother:** "You're back."

Douyi quickly walked inside.

His mother's pale face appeared from beneath the blanket.

Despite her condition, she smiled warmly.

Just like always.

**Mother:** "How was work?"

Douyi forced a smile.

**Douyi:** "Same as always."

His mother glanced toward the table.

There sat a simple meal.

Rice.

A few side dishes.

And a bowl of soup.

**Mother:** "You must be hungry."

Douyi froze.

Because he was.

He hadn't eaten properly all day.

But he also knew how much effort it must have taken for her to prepare the food.

Even standing was difficult for her now.

His heart hurt.

**Mother:** "Come eat."

Douyi looked away.

**Douyi:** "I already ate."

**Mother:** "You did?"

**Douyi:** "Yeah."

He smiled.

**Douyi:** "My coworkers dragged me out after work."

It was a lie.

A complete lie.

But he couldn't tell her the truth.

That he had skipped meals to save money.

That he wanted her to eat instead.

His mother looked relieved.

**Mother:** "That's good."

Douyi nodded.

**Douyi:** "I'm really tired."

**Mother:** "Then go sleep."

Her voice softened.

**Mother:** "And stop working so hard."

Douyi laughed quietly.

**Douyi:** "I'll try."

He knew he wouldn't.

Because he couldn't.

After helping her take her medicine, he quietly went to bed.

Outside the window, the stars continued shining.

Unaware that everything was about to change.

---

The next morning arrived too quickly.

Douyi barely had time to rest before rushing to work again.

Hours turned into another exhausting day.

Customers came and went.

Managers yelled.

Boxes were carried.

Deliveries were made.

And by evening, Douyi felt as though his soul had left his body.

As he walked home, something suddenly caught his eye.

A giant billboard towered above the street.

The face displayed on it was instantly familiar.

His favorite singer.

Standing beneath bright stage lights.

Thousands of fans cheering.

A dream.

A life he had once desperately wanted.

Douyi stopped walking.

The city noise faded away.

For a moment, all he could do was stare.

His reflection appeared in the billboard's glass surface.

Tired eyes.

Worn-out clothes.

Dark circles beneath them.

Nothing like the stars on stage.

A sad smile appeared on his lips.

**Douyi:** "I wanted that once."

His voice was filled with nostalgia.

**Douyi:** "I really did."

He remembered practicing songs alone in his room.

Dreaming about performing.

Dreaming about hearing people sing along.

Dreaming about becoming someone.

But dreams didn't pay hospital bills.

Dreams didn't buy medicine.

Dreams didn't erase debt.

Reality had won.

And his dream had lost.

Douyi lowered his head.

**Douyi:** "Some people are born to shine."

His smile became bittersweet.

**Douyi:** "And some people stay stuck where they are."

Just as he turned away—

Tap.

Someone touched his shoulder.

Douyi blinked and looked behind him.

A well-dressed man stood there.

Professional.

Confident.

Observant.

The stranger smiled.

**Man:** "Excuse me."

**Douyi:** "Yes?"

The man's eyes carefully studied his face.

Almost as if examining a rare treasure.

Then he smiled wider.

**Man:** "Has anyone ever told you that you're incredibly pretty handsome?"

Douyi froze.

**Douyi:** "...What?"

The man laughed.

Then reached into his pocket and handed over a business card.

The logo printed on it made Douyi's eyes widen.

HM Entertainment.

The biggest entertainment company in Korea.

His hands trembled.

**Man:** "I'm a casting manager."

Douyi stared at him.

Speechless.

The manager pointed toward the billboard.

**Manager:** "Would you like to become a trainee?"

For a moment, the entire world seemed to stop.

The city noise disappeared.

The passing cars disappeared.

Everything disappeared.

Only those words remained.

**Would you like to become a trainee?**

The dream he had buried years ago suddenly stood before him once again.

Waiting.

Offering him one impossible chance.

And Douyi had no idea that this single moment would change his life forever.

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