Chapter 3: Zero Skills

[These are your stats, host. Every aspect is from the former Choi Joon-ho.]4

- Vocals: C+1

- Dance: D-1

- Visual: C

- Rap: E-29

- Charm: E+6

June looked at the stats with wide eyes. How was he a trainee for six years but only has stats like this? It was no wonder he didn't debut. Bo Wen probably has better stats than this!

[You should not talk about the dead like that, host.]5

June rolled his eyes. "How am I going to be an idol with stats like this? It's impossible!"

[Don't worry, host. Your stats can always be improved. When you complete tasks and side-missions, you have the chance to upgrade your skills.]

"Can I upgrade them now?"

[These are your missions for the day:

1. Give coffee to the old grandma downstairs.2

2. Sing a song without your voice cracking.5

3. Have someone call you "handsome."22

The missions will be replaced with new ones when you accomplish them.]

June scoffed. These missions were easy! He decided to get the first one done so he could at least be decent in singing.

He made coffee and went downstairs, knocking on the door. It didn't take long before the door opened, but it wasn't an old grandma who did. Instead, a small child looked up at him with wide eyes.

"Where's ya grandma, kid?"

The child merely looked at him with horror before bursting into tears.

"What? Why are you crying? Man up and tell me where your grandma is!"9

The little boy cried even harder, making June's ears hurt. He clicked his tongue and kneeled down to his level. He tried to smile, but it came out as an intimidating grimace.2

"Show me your grandma."11

The little kid wailed and tipped the boiling cup of coffee toward June, causing the liquid to splash over his chest and face.3

"Little demon!" he screamed as he wiped his face with his shirt. The door slammed close, and he was left with a burning face.

[You need to wash your face, host. That can cause a burn scar.]

June trudged upstairs in a sour mood. He thought he was going to get his skills upgraded, but the little boy ruined everything! It seemed like these missions were not as easy as he thought.

He went to the bathroom to splash his face with cold water and frowned when he saw how bad he looked. His face was red from the hot liquid, he had small scars from the broken mirror, and there was a forming bruise on his head because of his fall a while ago.

He clicked his tongue and left the bathroom, determined to get his stats up. However, with his current appearance, he definitely won't be able to complete the third mission. So, he decided to try out the second one.

He brought out his phone and looked for a song. He played Shining Light by the idol group IMMORTALS. As much as he hated to admit it, he knew a lot of idol music since Mei Ling would always blast them in their living room. At this point, he knew about K-pop as much as his sister.

Other than that, all he listened to was songs from the 1970s and Chinese punk rock hits. The thugs from his gang loved music like those.1

He closed his eyes and tried to sing. Jun Hao was actually quite a good singer when he was in his old body. It was his dream to become a singer when he was younger, and the nuns would always let him sing when they were still living in the orphanage.3

However, when he got older and became oriented to reality, he realized that being a singer was only for the privileged. They had to train and wait until producers actually liked them before they could start making money. So, he let go of that dream and decided to become a thug to make quick money instead.2

He closed his eyes and remembered how he used to sing when he was younger.

"In the darkest night, a flicker caught my eye3

A shimmering glow, a spark that reached the sky

A beacon of hope, a flame that burned so bright

I couldn't turn away, it ignited something deep inside

Through the trials and the tears, through the storm and the rain

That light kept shining, it whispered my name

And as I walked this path, uncertain and unsure

I knew deep within, my dreams would endure

You're the shining light, guiding me through the night

You're the fire that burns, igniting my soul so bright

In the face of doubt, I'll spread my wings and fly

For dreams never die, they reach beyond the sky"2

June finished the song without any trouble. His voice was still shaky because of Joon-ho's underdeveloped vocal cords, but his past skills came in handy. His voice did not crack, and he had a tone that was full of potential.

As he opened his eyes, he saw the screen pop up before him. 

[Congratulations! You have accomplished the second mission. Please pick an aspect to improve.]1

June placed his hand under his chin and thought for a while. His voice had a lot of potential, and if he improved on this, he'd have a better chance of debuting.

"Vocals," he said.4

[Nice choice! Vocals+1. Current grade: B-]2

"Aren't you going to replace the missions?" he asked the system.

[The missions only reset once you complete the whole set. Please do your best to complete them, host. I wish you could improve before the competition starts.]

"Competition?" June asked, taken aback.

[Why, yes! Did I forget to tell you?]1

"Yes!"

[Silly me! Choi Joon-ho applied to join an idol survival show before he passed, and he had now been accepted.]4

[You are now part of the popular show 'Rising Stars!' The system wishes you luck.]