If gene editing technology could shape human destiny
What choice will I make?

In an era where genetic engineering and nanochip implants are prevalent, the Seoul Metropolitan Ballet prohibits scientific procedures on ballerinas.
Jenna, the daughter of the legendary ballerina Shin Su-yeon and the one who carries her mother's dreams, and So-yul, who was close to Jenna but felt the difference in their talents and fell into feelings of inferiority and jealousy.
One day, as the two of them were each moving forward towards their dreams, it was revealed that the deceased principal dancer Song Ra-hee had been the one who administered the nanochip. Before the shock could even subside, a mysterious file was discovered on her cell phone...

Author Ha Eun-kyung, who won the 2nd Teen Story King Award, chosen by teenagers themselves, and captured the hearts of teenagers across the country, has published a new book, "Turnout."
This science fiction novel is set in a near-future where genetic manipulation and nanochip treatments are prevalent. It features vivid events that unfold like a drama within a fresh worldview that only author Ha Eun-kyung can create.
This work presents readers with realistic concerns of teenagers, such as the journey toward their dreams, the feeling of inferiority toward a superior friend, as well as food for thought, such as scientific procedures (genetic manipulation, nanochip surgery, etc.) that will be encountered in the not-too-distant future, and the belief in true art.

This is Act 3 of Swan Lake.
Jenna took a deep breath and ran onto the stage.
This is the scene where Black Swan Odile longs for the prince's love.
It was a scene where the leader of the group urged him to smile almost dozens of times.
The tips of her toes wearing toe shoes were unusual.
It feels like there's something foreign in it.
I started doing the fouette, trying not to lose my smile.
It was the moment when I attempted thirty-two rotations, balancing on one leg and swinging the other leg.
My toes hurt.
A shard of glass quickly pierced one joint of my big toe and then stabbed the second joint.
sick…….
sick…….
I feel like I'm going to collapse because it hurts so much.


Jenna strained to look out into the audience.
The two thousand seats were packed to capacity.
In the darkness, the audience is holding their breath and looking at him.
Jenna's toes were so sore she could hardly breathe.
I wanted to run off the stage right away.
I made eye contact with my mother, who was sitting in the second row in the middle of the audience.
Did he notice his daughter's sudden change in expression?
Mom's eyes wavered anxiously, then she stared at Jenna with cat-like, haughty eyes.
Now I can neither run off the stage nor endure it.
Tears welled up in Jenna's eyes.
Mom must have sensed the tears.
He pursed his lips and made a stern expression.
Jenna, you have to keep dancing! Don't jump out like Mom! Even if you die, die on stage!
--- pp.7~8

In my childhood, there was no reason or object to fiercely compete with.
I just liked ballet, so I practiced hard.
Even in her first year of ballet school, Soyul was close with Jenna.
These girls were so excited that their eyes sparkled whenever they talked about their impressions after watching a ballet performance together.


But as time went by, I couldn't stand the gap between me and Jenna.
Wherever I went, all I heard was Jenna.
Soyul was really exhausted.
He practiced like crazy, but he couldn't figure out why he was falling behind Jenna.
There was no student who practiced more than Soyul herself.
Because Soyul was famous for being a terrible practice bug.
Soyul realized how scary her innate talents were.
For the first time, I experienced the limits of practice and effort.
It was all because of Jenna.


'I wish Jenna would just disappear!' I once found myself shivering, thinking that.
Even when I thought about it myself, I was scared.
But in the world of ballerinas, the idea of ​​friendly competition was a pretense.
How can there be goodwill when superiority is clearly evident? That kind of competition, at least for Soyul, didn't exist.
Becoming a top ballerina and dominating the stage was Soyul's sole purpose in ballet.

--- pp.41~42

“Vivian, what have you been talking about with Jenna lately?”
A blue light lit up in Vivian's eyes.
The light swayed from side to side, then soon gave off a steady blue light.

“Jenna has been asking me about stars a lot lately.
I wondered how far away the stars in the night sky are from Earth.”
“A star?”
“Yes, I’ve been really interested in astronomy lately.”
“What, astronomy?”
“Yes, astronomy is the study of the entire universe beyond the Earth’s atmosphere.
And other celestial bodies in the universe… … .”
"stop!"
Suyeon's face turned red.
Astronomy was my ex-husband Taeyoung's field of study.
Taeyoung works as the director of an astronomy research institute in Jeju Island.
He gave up his job as a university professor and moved to Jeju Island to study the stars in the night sky.
Suyeon was always displeased with Taeyoung.
Studying the stars made him feel like a dreamer.
That would be fortunate, but the problem is that Jenna has been interested in her husband's work since she was young.
But after a while of silence, I couldn't figure out why Jenna was interested in astronomy again these days.

--- pp.53~54

Chief Seo looked at Detective Kim and asked.

"But what brings you here today? I think we've already talked about everything."
Captain Seo drew a defensive line early.
Detective Kim thought that she was indeed a vixen.
A little later, Detective Kim opened his mouth.

“We are continuing to investigate the files stored on Song Ra-hee’s cell phone.”
Director Seo became serious.

“If it’s a file, I know I already told you everything then.
“I have nothing more to say.”
Detective Kim looked at Chief Seo with a relaxed expression.
“This time, something a little different was discovered.”
Captain Seo straightened his back.
Detective Kim finally explained why he had come here today.

“We discovered the source of the file stored on Song Ra-hee’s cell phone a few days ago.”
“What’s the source?”
Director Seo's face hardened noticeably.
Detective Kim looked at the scene and spoke again.

“The source of that file was the manager’s computer.
I know you are busy, but I am sorry to have to come see you again.”
Seo Yeon-jo remained silent.
The excited look he had shown just a moment ago disappeared, replaced by a nervous expression.

--- p.118

Director Seo looked at Soyul.
After a moment of silence, he spoke in a subdued voice.

“Soyul, I hope you surpass Jenna.”
Soyul stared at the manager, not understanding what he was saying.
Director Seo also looked at Soyul with unwavering eyes.
A little later, Captain Seo spoke in his characteristically charming, low voice.

“I believe that if you surpass Jenna, a ballerina who will make a mark in the history of ballet will emerge.
And… …I meant what I just said.
“I really wish that could happen.”
Soyul's heart was pounding.
A ballerina who left her mark in the history of ballet.
Soyul started ballet and received a lot of compliments.
But I've never heard such heart-fluttering praise.
It wasn't just praise in there.
All this time, Director Seo may have been seeing through his own mind.
He must have been watching himself stay in the practice room late at night, wishing he could compete properly with Jenna.
Soyul gained courage.
I had given up on ever being able to beat Jenna, but I felt like I could do it again.

--- pp.137~138

My heart felt heavy as I recalled the faces of my parents who had rushed to the restaurant after watching the performance.
Because I felt sorry towards my mom and dad who had supported me so much.
Today, his stage score was below 70 points.
It was because I couldn't land properly that it bothered me for a long time.
I practiced so hard that I almost lost my mind, but I ended up making a mistake.
I shouldn't have cared about the look in Manager Seo's eyes.
Because of that, I regretted not being able to concentrate on the stage.


"Soyul, take a taxi! You have to perform again tomorrow!" Mom said loudly as she handed Soyul the taxi fare in front of everyone.
Soyul's face flushed brightly again.
I was always embarrassed by my mother.
No matter how dressed up, my mother looked disheveled, and her painstakingly dried perm hair was split at the ends and looked unkempt.
Whenever I saw my mom sitting next to Jenna's mom at various competitions, I felt so embarrassed that I wanted to hide.
It was because I was compared to Jenna's mother so much.
But now, strangely enough, I keep laughing because of my mom.
I thought it was cool that a mother invested in her children with money she earned honestly.

--- pp.202~203