Chapter 36: Are children nowadays all this well-nourished?

Ming Yan signed his name efficiently. He was Kim Min-jeong’s maternal uncle and her rightful legal guardian. With that signature, the girl from the countryside had officially become a member of the illustrious army of SM Entertainment trainees in Seoul.

"Alright, let me introduce you to the basic requirements and curriculum for our trainees." An SM staff member provided a brief overview to Ming Yan and Kim Min-jeong, primarily to help the new trainee settle in as quickly as possible.

Once the staff member finished, Ming Yan turned to instruct his niece, "Min-jeong, we don't look for trouble, but we don't fear it either. If anyone among the trainees bullies you, you must fight back. Your uncle will have your back, you hear me?"

School was one thing; at least everyone there was just a student. The composition of trainees was far more complex—a mixed bag where you could find all sorts of people. Kim Min-jeong was naturally introverted and easily bullied.

"Mmh, I know," Kim Min-jeong nodded. She had heard plenty of rumors about this from Kim Chae-won. Many trainees attended the School of Performing Arts Seoul, and there were even vivid, detailed stories about what went on inside the restrooms of certain entertainment companies. Of course, the veracity of those stories was anyone's guess.

Ming Yan had never liked being nagged himself, so once the important parts were covered, he prepared to leave. Kim Min-jeong was already fifteen; he only needed to manage the critical milestones, and for the rest, he would let the little one handle it herself.

"Little Uncle..."

"No need for goodbyes. I'll come pick you up tonight."

As the SM staff member led Kim Min-jeong off to see the practice rooms and meet her instructors, Ming Yan strolled leisurely toward the exit. If he happened to run into Bae Joo-hyun or Im Yoon-ah, he wouldn't mind asking for an autograph, though it wasn't exactly easy to bump into established artists inside the company building.

*Ding.* The elevator arrived. Ming Yan reached the first floor, thinking about grabbing a cup of coffee. His eyes scanned the menu of the SM internal cafe, pondering whether to get an iced Americano or try something fresh; drinking the same thing every day could get boring.

Suddenly, a voice spoke up from behind him: "Excuse me."

"Hmm?" Ming Yan turned around, puzzled, initially thinking the person wasn't addressing him.

The moment he turned, the first thing that caught his eye was a round, smooth "quail egg." Ming Yan swore he had never seen such a perfectly round head; no other term could describe it better than a quail egg.

"Are you Ming Yan-xi?"

The "quail egg" probably hadn't expected that someone she randomly asked for directions after getting lost just days into her time at the company would turn out to be a major actor. SM was truly full of hidden talents.

"You want an autograph, right? No problem." Ming Yan was used to such scenes; ever since he became an actor, he often ran into his little fans, so this was nothing out of the ordinary. SM wasn't lacking in anything, and everywhere you went, there were people who liked handsome men.

He held out his hand, and the two stood there staring at each other. The "quail egg" looked bewildered, seeming a bit confused by the situation.

Ming Yan had to take the initiative to prompt her, "Don't you need a pen for an autograph?" You could sign in many places, even on clothing, but without a pen, it was impossible to get the job done.

"Oh, a pen." The "quail egg" seemed to snap back to reality and hurriedly patted herself down. "I'm so sorry, I don't think I have a pen on me." She hadn't come out looking for an autograph in the first place.

"It's alright, we'll skip the autograph for today then." Ming Yan chatted patiently with the little quail egg; a public figure’s attitude toward fans was important, and he was waiting for his coffee anyway.

The "quail egg" still seemed confused. "Um... actually..."

"Are you looking for a photo?" Ming Yan had seen plenty of nervous young fans—some even cried right in front of him. Some girls found it hard to even speak clearly when faced with such a situation.

"A photo, yes, a photo is fine!" The "quail egg" finally gathered her thoughts. She put aside her need for directions; the person in front of her was the second male lead from *Descendants of the Sun*. Of course, she couldn't miss the chance for a photo. In some respects, Ming Yan’s popularity was even higher than Song Joong-ki’s, especially among young girls.

The "quail egg" scrambled to pull out her phone. The girl wasn't even short; despite her childish face, she looked at least 165 centimeters tall, and she would likely grow more.

"One, two, three... Kimchi!"

Ming Yan cooperated as the "quail egg" snapped two photos. Doing public relations was an essential part of an actor's job.

The "quail egg" expressed her excitement and gratitude: "Thank you! I never expected to run into you here."

"Are you an SM trainee too?"

"I am... oh, I'm so sorry, I have to go to class!"

The "quail egg" finally remembered she had important business to attend to and hurried away, moving with surprising agility.

Ming Yan shook his head with a smile. Children these days were so well-nourished. As for this quail egg, it wasn't just her head that was round. *Tsk tsk*, at such a young age, she was already better built than Kim Ji-soo. Talent was truly infuriating.

...

The next day.

"Director-nim, I am the one who should thank you for giving me this opportunity."

Ming Yan exchanged pleasantries with Director Kim Na-jeong, who had come to visit him specifically. He had only expressed his interest in collaborating through Jung Won-ryong yesterday, and the director had shown up today. It seemed she took it very seriously, not just making empty promises.

"It’s a mutual cooperation," Kim Na-jeong laughed. "If you had refused, I really wouldn't have been able to find a more suitable male lead."

"I don't have much experience playing a lead role, so I will need to learn a lot from you, Director-nim." Since Ming Yan had agreed to take the role, their dynamic had to change. During the filming process, the director and screenwriter held significant authority, and being humble would allow him to learn quite a bit.

"Our drama is scheduled to start filming at the end of the year. Based on the character's background, you may need to undergo some Taekwondo training in advance." The male lead in *Fight for My Way*, Ko Dong-man, dreamed of becoming a national Taekwondo athlete, so there would be quite a few fight scenes.

Ming Yan had played a soldier in *Descendants of the Sun*, and his rugged, masculine image fit the requirements for Ko Dong-man perfectly.

"Don't worry, I will."

Ming Yan was a very serious person. Since he had decided to take on the role, he would do his best to portray the character well. Making changes to his training or physical appearance to shape a role was only natural.

"Mmh, I've seen *Descendants of the Sun*. You have great potential; with a little training, you'll be fine." Kim Na-jeong nodded in satisfaction. Directors also liked serious actors; those who needed eye drops just to cry were no fun to direct. If she put in all that effort and the other person stood there like a wooden block with no reaction, that would be truly boring.