《In This Life, The Greatest Star In The Universe》 Chapter 1: Chapter 1: Chapter 1 Prologue Not only do they decorate various media, but they also make people wonder how they became idol singers who spread K-POP worldwide. How did they seed? Experts cite visual, vocal, dance, and entertainment skills as the sess factors of these idols. Of course, this is not an urate analysis. There is now that says that skill necessarily leads to poprity. But it is true that the more talented you are, the more likely you are to seed. Why am I telling you this? Thats because I got a talent. A talent that others dont have, a very special talent. Chapter 1 I got a strange ability Huh? My head buzzed. I was called to the top office of the headquarters and asked a question that was like a bolt from the blue. What did you say? Its exactly what you heard. I could only open my mouth nkly at the sight of the director who was adjusting his sses with an embarrassed expression. So you want me to leave thepany? Its not that I want you to leave thepany. To be precise, its that youve been dropped from the debut team. Why? I couldnt ept it. Why did I get dropped from the debut team? Woojoo. No, you told me three weeks ago that I was confirmed for the debut team. You also said that the group name was TNT. But now you suddenly Debut can be overturned at any time. Woojoo, you know how this business is. No one can rx until they debut perfectly. This kind of thing happened a lot when your seniors debuted. It wasnt a wrong statement. TJ Entertainment. TJ Entertainment,monly known as one of the four major agencies in Korea, is an entertainment agency that has produced numerous boy groups and girl groups since the 2000s and has earned the nickname of an idol powerhouse in the industry. Thats why they produced a lot of idol groups and when I saw the cases of the senior groups who debuted from TJ Entertainment, it wasmon for the members to change at thest minute. But I didnt think it would be my story. I know its hard to ept. I do too. But Is it because of the dance? There was no answer, but it was enough to be a positive. There was a nning team meeting a while ago and there was a lot of talk. They said the choreography bnce didnt seem right. They said it would affect the team color if they debuted like this. I and the management director tried to protect you, saying that you were a promising kid, but it was a decision made by my superiors, so I couldnt do anything about it. There was only one person above the director. Park Tae-joon, the chairman. The CEO of TJ Entertainment and the hand of Midas who is famous in the entertainment industry. The top manager of thispany decided to drop me from the debut team. There was nothing more to say. Im sorry it turned out this way, Woojoo. It felt like the sky was falling. A feeling that couldnt be exined by anything. Thepany that I had devoted nearly six years of my time to, and that I was about to debut, was trying to cut me off. With the words that I was defective as their product. I felt nauseous. The heat rose up to my face and it felt like my internal organs were twisting. The cucumber I ate for dieting came up to my throat and went down. The director gave me a sympathetic look as I tried to calm down my rough breath. Are you okay? What was unfair was that I couldnt argue at all. Because what thepany said was true. Trainee Seon Woojoo. A trainee with good singing skills, butcking in dancing skills, who always survives by his face in the monthly evaluations. It wasnt strange to be eliminated for that reason. But even if that was true, I couldnt help but be angry. They shouldnt have picked me for the debut team in the first ce. I took profile pictures, unpacked my luggage at the dorm with the debut team members, and now theyre telling me to leave? It was infuriating. Woojoo. Im sorry. I grabbed a tissue and dabbed at my eyes, which were streaming with tears without me realizing it. Maybe it was because I had burst into tears once. The tears kepting. It was the first time I had cried in front of someone else since my grandmother had been sick. After a while, I felt a bit calmer and took a deep breath. I sat down quietly. Are you feeling better now? Yes. The director had a calm expression. Well. He was someone who cut off trainees every month. My tears must have been amon sight for him. So My voice was choked. What will happen to me? You have three options. The director exined. First, you can quit the idol trainee program and switch to the acting department. Acting? Why acting all of a sudden? This is an opinion from the management department. You have poor dancing skills, but you have excellent visuals. You also have good camera presence. There was a lot of feedback that your visuals were too good to waste on being an idol. The director smiled, trying to lighten the mood. How about switching to the acting department since itse to this? Weve recruited a lot of actors over the years and we have a lot of know-how now. Were going to produce our own drama soon. If you agree, were willing to support you a lot from thepanys perspective. Whats the second option? If you still want to be an idol, we can connect you to another agency. Another agency? Lemon or DNS, for example. Theyre smaller agencies, but theyre close to us. In other words, they were medium or small agencies. He continued. If you dont like these options, well the only thing left is to terminate the contract. In the end, he was telling me to choose one of three things: stay and switch to the acting department, go to another agency and prepare to be an idol trainee, or terminate the contract. I asked. Can I debut if I go to another agency? That depends on you. The director gave me an ambiguous smile. He was basically telling me to start over from scratch at another agency. I let out a bitterugh without knowing it. Ill respect whatever you choose, but wed prefer you to go to the acting department The director said something, but I didnt hear it. I was just spaced out. I couldnt feel more detached from reality even if the world was ending tomorrow. All sorts of thoughts flooded my mind. Is this really happening? Am I really getting cut from the debut team? What am I going to tell my grandma? How am I going to face the others when I pack my stuff from the dorm? What have I done for the past six years, Seon Woojoo? My thoughts branched out like a stem sprouting from a seed, making my head a mess. When I finally sorted out my thoughts, I made a decision. Manager. Yes. Have you decided? Yes. It was a decision I would surely regretter. Ill terminate the contract. *** Joo. Hey, Seon Woojoo. Someone shook my shoulder. I must have dozed off. When I came to my senses, I saw a young man looking at me with concern from the drivers seat. A man with sses. He looked like the ghost from the book I read when I was young, minus the pale skin and beard. Yoon Seok-hwan. He was someone I had known for a long time. His title was the deputy of the management team that handled the trainees. His face showed a worried expression. Are you okay? Sorry, hyung. I guess I fell asleep. Were here. You have to get up. The car stopped at an apartmentplex in Gangnam-gu. This was the dorm of the boy group TNT that I belonged to. I came here to pack my stuff after terminating the contract with thepany. The Carnival that Seok-hwan hyung drove was thest courtesy from thepany. Its funny. What is? When I was confirmed to debut, I felt like I was in heaven, but now I feel like Im at the gates of hell. Seok-hwan hyung couldnt say anything. Where are the others? Not in the dorm? Theyre all at the training center at this time. Right, they must be busy with the choreography practice. They already felt like strangers to me. They probably thought I was gone for a while for some profile shooting or something. Yoon Seok-hwan adjusted his sses and asked. Are you really not going to say anything to them? Itll be awkward for both sides. But youve been together for so long, theyll be hurt. Especially Taehyun, hell be Seok-hwan hyung. My voice was choked. Im sorry, but I dont think I have the energy to care about anyone elses feelings right now. Im sorry. What are you sorry for, hyung. Ill just pack my stuff quickly and get out. 17th floor. The elevator went straight up to the dorm without stopping. Inside the dorm. As expected of an eight-member group, there were hangers lined up in the living room, and clothes were piled up on top of them. I quickly went into the room and packed my stuff. I hadnt brought all my clothes from my hometown in Gunsan yet, so I didnt have much to take. A family photo I took with my parents when I was a kid. And a few clothes. Lastly, some unwashed training suits that smelled bad. As I came out with my stuff, emotions welled up inside me. I bit my lip hard to stop the tears from bursting out. I was holding back my tears when I got back in the car. Yoon Seok-hwan asked me with concern. Do you have a ce to stay tonight? I dont know Do you want to stay at my ce? No, thanks. I dont want to bother your family. I live alone, you know. Thats even worse. Yoon Seok-hwan chuckled at my joke. Im going back to Gunsan, hyung. Wasnt your school in Seoul? I dropped out to focus on the debut group. Thepany told me not to do that, that it wasnt necessary, but back then I only wanted to focus on debuting. Stupid Seon Woojoo. Did you tell your grandmother? Not yet. She must be worried Worried? Shell probably curse me out. Like You son of a bitch, I knew you would do this. I shivered at the thought of my grandmothers harsh words. Well. At least I wouldnt starve. My grandmother wasnt the president of thepany, but she was a great cook who ran a restaurant. Are you really giving up? Yeah. The spring breeze blew in as I rolled down the window, tickling my hair. Youre being too extreme. You should take some time to think about this. Being an idol isnt the only way to be an entertainer. There are so many other paths. You could be an actor, a model Why do you seem more regretful than me, hyung? Of course. If I had your face, I wouldnt do this. Am I that good-looking? Look in the mirror, man. There are so many handsome and pretty people in the world. Yoon Seok-hwan snorted as if that was absurd. When I was a rookie trainee, he was the intern in the management team. We had spent six years together, building a strong bond. But he went from being an intern to a Assistant Manager. And I was still a perpetual trainee. I said with a smile. I dont want to be an entertainer anymore. Why? Just. I think Im tired of preparing for this for six years. Then what are you going to do? I dont know Maybe it was because of the warm spring weather, but the streets of Gangnam were crowded with people. I looked out the window and opened my lips. I want to live a normal life. Go to college, see the cherry blossoms in spring, date someone. And go to the army when the timees. Ugh. What? The army never mind. He made a face as if to say youll see when you experience it. I just shrugged. By the time we knew it, the car had stopped. Were here. When we arrived at the bus terminal, Yoon Seok-hwan handed me his card. Joo. Yeah? You might be too upset to make a good decision right now. You might say you want to quit being an idol or whatever. But you never know what will happen in life. So if you change your mind I can call you at this number, right? Yeah. Yoon Seok-hwan smiled and reached out his hand. Take care. See you again. After shaking hands, I got out of the car. With a backpack on my shoulder. I waved at the car that left a long trail of exhaust. Before I entered the terminal, I looked around. Everything was spring. The peoples clothes, the flowers around, everything was spring. Ah, the weather is nice. I looked at the clear sky and entered the terminal. Thats when I thought. I would never have anything to do with idols again. But that was my mistake. Three yearster, my life turned upside down. Chapter 2: Chapter 2: Chapter 2 Three years was a short but long time. Especially for the guys who had been to the army, they would understand what I mean. How could 21 months be so long? I never thought that 21 months would feel longer than six years of trainee life. -The army is no. I understood what Seok-hwan hyung said before we parted at the terminal. A lot had happened in three years. I had helped out at my grandmothers shop and lived there until I enlisted in the army as soon as I became an adult. It was because I hated to pay for food or rent when I couldnt make any money. I also thought about my career then. After giving up on my childhood dream of being an idol, I wandered for a while and finally changed my future goal. It was to be aposer. Maybe I inherited it from my parents who were musical instrument yers, but I had some musical talent of my own and I chose to be aposer to make use of it. If I couldnt be an idol, why not make idol music? That was one of my thoughts. And I thought it would be a pretty cool career path to start as aposer andter be a producer. So I prepared for the college entrance exam. I thought it was essential to enter a good music college if I wanted to be aposer. Of course, preparing for the college entrance exam in the army was not an easy task at all. There were many obstacles. For me, who had been obsessed with only one idol for six years and neglected my studies, the GED and the college entrance exam were huge barriers. It was lucky that I mastered English and Chinese during my trainee days, otherwise I would still be preparing for the college entrance exam. With a fresh start, I studied for two years. I went through countless workbooks and mock exams, and now I only had the college entrance exam left. Winter of 2013. Present. Three years after leaving thepany, I, Seon Woojoo, a 21-year-old who had just been discharged from the army, was a college entrance exam taker. The cold weather that made my breath visible. Every year, when the college entrance exam day came, I understood why people said it suddenly got cold. Ugh. Its cold. I browsed the inte with my new smartphone that I bought after being discharged and walked down the street. It was still early in the morning. The street lights were still shining. [Who are the stars taking the college entrance exam today?] I clicked on the article in the entertainment section of the portal site and saw familiar faces. TNT Han Tae-hyun, Lavi En Rose Jeon Yu-bin, and so on. The faces that I had seen here and there at TJ Entertainment were crowded on the screen. They were all familiar faces. The one that caught my eye was TNTs Han Tae-hyun. TNT. After I was cut and a new member was added, TNT debuted right away. The result was a huge sess. Not just a sess, but a super hit. They swept all the rookie awards that year, and the prefix of the best rookie idol ever was attached to them. Honestly, I didnt expect them to do that well. Well. It had nothing to do with me anyway. I took a deep breath and looked at the hill in front of me. Maybe it was because of the snow yesterday. There was ice on the hill that led to the test site. How am I supposed to climb this? I was momentarily in a state of panic when I heard a strange noise. nk- It was the sound of a manhole cover and a wheel hitting each other. An old man was pushing a cart and struggling to climb the hill. Maybe it was because we were of simr age. He reminded me of my grandmother in Gunsan. He was climbing the hill with difficulty, but he swayed every time the wind blew. I felt sorry for him. Should I help him? I had plenty of time to enter the test site since it was early in the morning. I checked my electronic watch that I had been using since the army and nodded. I might as well get some good luck. You never know. Maybe the high and mighty one in the sky would see me and say, What a cheeky kid and bless me with some luck. I thought so and smiled brightly. Sir. Sir. Are you calling me? A weak voice came back. Are you having a hard time? I have some strength left, so Ill take you to the end of the hill. Youre helping me? Yes. Youre cheeky and weak-looking. Dont worry. I may look like this, but I havent been discharged for long, huh! As soon as I grabbed the handle of the cart and pushed it, I realized something was wrong. Huh? Whats wrong? Nothing, haha! Iughed outwardly, but cold sweat ran down my padding. Is this weight for real? I soon realized two shocking facts. I thought it was only paper boxes, but when I looked inside, I saw that there were old junk like radios and discarded electronics piled up. The second was that the old mans arms were muscr and alive. And every time his pants fluttered, his magnificent calves were exposed. I felt embarrassed that I had meddled with someone who could easily handle it on his own. Kid, are you okay? This is really heavy. It looked light. The old man chuckled. Oh, kid. Is there anything easy in this world? Youre right. Not just anyone can do this. You need to have some know-how. How long have you been doing this, sir? I blurted out anything that came to my mind as I was out of breath. Ive been doing this all my life. Huff, huff Thats amazing. A proud smile appeared on the old mans face, who was selling junk. I sent my son to college with this Oh, youre already out of energy? What good are you young people for? When we finally reached the top of the hill, I grabbed my knees. Wow, this is crazy. Steam was rising from inside my padding, and sweat drops rolled down my forehead. One lesson I learned today. Never underestimate this old man. Thank you, kid. You didnt help much, but you have a good heart. Youre pretty and handsome, too. I could die for you. Yes, yes, thank you for your hard work. Where are you going now, kid? Im going to take a test at the school over there. Oh, the college entrance exam? Yes. Oh dear, you suffered a lot trying to help an old man. The old man held my hand tightly, and I felt a warm heat. You did a good deed, so youll be blessed. Thank you. I didnt feel like I helped much, but it was rewarding. Is this why people do volunteer work? I exchanged warm words with the old man and bowed my head to say goodbye. Then I moved my steps toward my destination. It was soon the entrance to the test site. But as I walked, massaging my sore shoulders, I couldnt help but turn my eyes to a strange sound. Boom! It was a car speeding from afar. What? Are you crazy? A white sedan was racing like mad on the side road near the school. The driver must have been drunk, because the movement was abnormal. And the direction the car was heading was clear Sir! On the path of the angry car, the old man was on the phone, standing next to his cart. I shouted desperately. Grandpa! But he didnt react at all. He must have been hard of hearing, because he was almost screaming on the phone. Meanwhile, the car was speeding toward the cart, and my heart started to beat anxiously. No! I had no time to think or do anything. I felt a sense of time stopping as I ran with all my strength toward the old man. In the meantime, the car had quickly closed the distance. Watch out-! When the license te came close to my eyes, I pushed the old man away. Crash! The car that smashed the cart in an instant broke into the hair salon window. Are you okay-? The old man who fell to the ground was fortunately fine. The problem was me. Ugh-! My feet were slipping as I pushed the old man away. Huh? What is this? It was because I stepped on the ice. In an instant, my center of gravity shifted to my back, and my body fell into a temporary state of weightlessness. It felt like a viking going down. The next thing was a sh. Thud-! My body that hit something once rolled down the hill. When the rotation stopped, I saw a sign of a meat restaurant with a smiling cow. Ow. My head hurts. My vision was fading. 45,000 won for three servings of sirloin That was myst memory. *** When I came to, I was in a hospital. It was 10 oclock. When I heard that I missed the test time by a long time, I felt like the world was copsing. If there was a god, I wanted to ask him. What grudge did he have against me? It was always like this. Whenever I thought my life was going well, he always gave me a hard time. When I was seven, my parents passed away. When I started practicing for a piano contest, my grandmother was diagnosed with cancer. When I was about to debut, I was eliminated from the debut group. And now, I saved a person on the day of the exam, but I couldnt take the test. What should I say to my grandmother? She must be praying for me to ace the exam at the temple. I felt hopeless. I was going crazy. Thanks to years of experiencing misfortune, I was able to recover mentally quickly. Actually, this time was better than the others. Other times, I had no reward for the misfortune that came out of nowhere, but this time, I saved a persons life, so it was rewarding. The problem was that I only saved his life. Cough! The old man was lying on the bed next to the emergency room, and he cringed every time he coughed. It was because I broke his ribs when I pushed him. I felt sorry for him and opened my mouth. Im sorry, you seem to be in a lot of pain because of me. Oh, dont say that. The nice-lookingdy who came as his guardian waved her hand. Her husband next to her nodded his head. If it werent for you, Mr. Seon Woojoo, our father wouldnt even be lying on this bed. I appreciate your kind words. The people who came to the hospital were the old mans son and daughter-inw. I thought the son looked like a professor, and when I received his business card, he was indeed a professor at a university hospital. The old mans name was Choi Ik-hyun, and the sons name was Choi Yong-jae. Is Ik-hyun amon name in the Choi family? Yes, thats my fathers name. Is there a problem? No, not at all. I suddenly remembered the representative of the Wijeongcheksa movement that I saw in the college entrance exam book. He looked at me with concern. How are you feeling? The doctor said it was a miracle that Im fine. He said Ill be okay if I rest for a day. How about staying at the hospital? We havent paid you properly yet, and well pay for your hospital bills too Im fine. I didnt do it for money. I waved my hand at them, who kept insisting that I have a meal with them. I felt ufortable. And I wasnt in the mood to have a cheerful meal with them. As I was about to say goodbye to the couple, the old man who was lying on the bed grabbed my wrist. Kid His voice was weak and hoarse, probably because of his broken ribs. Im sorry. What? Ivemitted a great sin. You had to take that important test, but you got involved with an unlucky old man I did something unforgivable. Really. Dont say that. I held his hand tightly, which seemed to be full of guilt, and tears welled up in his eyes. As if I was making a vow to myself. You can take the test again, but you cant bring back a life. Still Its really okay. I smiled to reassure him, and he wiped his eyes. The couple next to him looked at me with a helpless expression. Then Ill see youter. I said goodbye to them, who wanted me to have a meal with them, and as soon as they were out of sight, I sighed. Is it true that I have to study for another year? I felt hopeless as I realized that I had unintentionally be a repeater. Then I noticed the TV hanging in the hospital lobby. An action movie was ying on the movie channel. It was a movie I had seen in the army. The protagonist was the best spy in the world, but he lost his memory and ran away. The scene in the movie was the beginning. A policeman pointed a gun at the protagonist. The protagonist, who had lost his memory, raised his hands and surrendered. Then the policeman approached and grabbed his shoulder. And then. The protagonist, who had martial arts in his body without knowing it, reflexively flipped the other person over. Huh? I felt strange watching the familiar movie scene. No, was it a sensation? It was not one of the five senses: sight, hearing, smell, taste, touch. It was a different kind of sensation. As I tried to figure out that mysterious sensation, my phone vibrated. Hello. -Is this Mr. Seon Woojoo? It was a heavy voice. Yes, who is this? -Good day. This is Detective Jang Kyung-il from the Eunpyeong Police Stations Traffic Investigation Unit. Oh, yes. -Yes, Im calling you in rtion to the traffic ident investigation this morning. Do you mind telling me where you are right now? When I told him the name of the hospital, a bright voice came from the other side. -Thats good. Im actually in the hospital lobby right now. Really? Im in the lobby too. -Are you the tall man whos on the phone right now? Where are you? Im right here- I felt someones hand on my left shoulder from behind, along with a voice. At that moment. My body started to move on its own. What? It felt like someone else was controlling me. I grabbed his hand and turned my body like lightning, and in an instant, I threw him to the ground. Thud-! A tense silence filled the hospital lobby. Chapter 3: Chapter 3: Chapter 3 Oh my god. What have I done? Are you okay? I hurried over to the policeman who was groaning on the marble floor. Im sorry! I dont know how I-Im fine. Grab my hand and get up. As the young man grabbed my hand and got up, my head was in a mess. Whats going on? It was unbelievable. My body moved on its own and I pped a stranger on the floor. He looked shocked, but so was I. The move I used to flip him over was the same one I had just seen in a movie on TV. Hello. After moving to a cafe in the hospital, the man introduced himself. Im from the Eunpyeong Police Station. Im the investigator in charge of this case. Hi. He had a short sports cut. His skin was rough and his features were thick, making him look like a detective. His name card said Traffic Investigation Team Chief Jang Kyung-il. Are you hurt? Im fine. Jang chief smiled coolly. I used to be in the judo club back in the day. This is nothing to me, ow, ow, ow! Are you okay? Ah, ah I mean, its nothing. He seemed to be in a lot of pain, but I let it go. Youre amazing at flipping people over. Youre not a beginner, are you? You must have been a professional to do it unconsciously. Ah, yes Figures. It was a lie, but I couldnt say I just copied the technique from a movie, haha. here, could I? He then took out a notebook and started asking me questions. I answered faithfully. After a short Q&A, I asked him a question I was curious about. Was he drunk driving? The car was swerving all over the ce. No, he wasnt. Hes an epileptic. He said he was dropping off his daughter at the test site when he had a seizure. Can epileptics have a drivers license? Yes, they can. The policeman nodded. Well, itsplicated to exin here, but there was no legal problem with his license. I see. I felt bitter thinking that the reason he couldnt take the exam was because of the family of another examinee like me. What happens now? Hell be arrested. He almost killed two people, after all. I almost died. I realized how reckless it was to jump in front of a speeding car. Would I do the same thing if the situation repeated itself? Honestly, I couldnt guarantee it. My life is precious, but there is one person in this world who lives only for me. Have you contacted your family? My grandmother lives in Gunsan. I tried to call her, but her phone is off. She must still be praying for me at the temple. Oh The young policeman, who had a hard time expressing his feelings, changed the subject. I know this is not the best thing to say, but you did a great thing. Thank you. How many times have I heard that today? About 26 times, I think. But the policeman said something different from the others. You must feel wronged and angry right now. But life is not free, you know. You get what you give. Yes? Youll be fine for a while. He smiled as he picked up his notebook and asked me. What did you say? Do you know what hospitals and police stations have inmon? I dont know. Rumors spread like wildfire there. He shook my hand with a smile. What did he mean by rumors? I was about to follow Chief Jang, who left me with a puzzling riddle, out of the hospital cafe. Thats when I realized what he meant. Oh? Hes here. A crowd of people surrounded me. They were all different in gender and attire, so I didnt notice at first. But as soon as I saw someone carrying a camera on their shoulder, I knew what was going on. Someone handed me a business card. Hello, Mr. Seon Woojoo. Im Noh Yong-ki, a reporter from KTN. Do you have a minute? I blinked my eyes in confusion, then understood. Thats what he meant. The story must have spread through the people who work at the hospital and the police station. Well, it was a good story, even from my perspective. -A student on his way to take the college entrance exam throws himself to save an old man pulling a handcart. I smiled at the reporters business cards. Sure. I have time. I remembered a proverb I had seen in an English textbook while studying for the exam. When life gives you lemons, make lemonade. It means to turn a crisis into an opportunity. Yeah. If its already happened, I might as well enjoy it. I was ready to make some lemonade. *** KTN Evening News. A middle-aged anchor with neatlybed hair was on the TV screen. [2014 College Entrance Exam] With that screen as the background, the anchor opened his mouth. -This is the Issue Talk Talk corner, where we look at the issues in the online world, with anchor Hong Ah-ran. -Yes. The anchor appeared on the screen that popped up on the right. She was standing in front of a screen with the inte search rankings. -Today, on the day of the college schstic ability test, a heartbreaking but heartwarming news was reported, right? -Yes. Thats right. Hong Ah-ran touched the screen, and the inte search term number one was erged. -The inte search term that we will cover today on Issue Talk Talk is Galhyeon-dong Hero. He has been the top real-time search term since this morning. Shall we watch the rted video? The source was written on one side of the blurry video. It was a ck box recording of a car parked nearby. The video started with an old man struggling to pull a handcart. A young man in a yellow padded jacket appeared and started to push the handle with him. Then, the screen changed to a CCTV footage. A car started to speed up and the young man ran and pushed the old man away. Bang! There was no sound, but the handcart was smashed in an instant, and the paper inside flew everywhere. The car spun out of control and stopped. The screen returned to the briefing room. -This ident happened at 6 a.m. today, in front of a high school in Galhyeon-dong, Eunpyeong-gu. The car caused an ident while speeding. ording to the police investigation, the driver had been suffering from epilepsy sincest year. The police suspect that he stepped on the elerator while having a seizure. -Thats unfortunate. Were there any victims? -Yes, as you can see, the 70-year-old old man, Mr. Choi, who was pushing the handcart, almost died, but luckily he was rescued by a passerby. -The rescuers personal information was the talk of the day, right? -Yes. Thats right. Hong Ah-ran touched the screen and a video thumbnail appeared. The same young man in a yellow padded jacket. -The hero who saved the 70-year-old old man was a student who was on his way to take the college entrance exam today. Shall we watch the first interview that reporter Noh Yong-ki obtained this afternoon? The young man was sitting in a cafe. He took off his yellow padded jacket and wore a ck sweater. His face was slightly tired, but handsome. [Seon Woojoo / Galhyeon-dong Hero] : Do you regret it? The young man smiled bitterly and said. [Seon Woojoo / Galhyeon-dong Hero] : I do regret it a bit. But human lifees first, right? I dont think it can bepared to an exam that I can take again next year. [Reporter]: What were you thinking when you went to save him? [Seon Woo-ju / Galhyeon-dong Hero]: Well, I dont think I had any thoughts. My body moved before my mind did. The screen briefly showed a clip of the interview, then returned to the briefing room. Anchor Hong Ah-ran looked straight at the camera and continued. -That was an interview with Mr. Seon, the hero of Galhyeon-dong. Fortunately, Mr. Seon only suffered a mild concussion despite rolling down the hill. On the other hand, it was revealed that he had scored in the top percentile several times in the previous mock exams, which makes his sacrifice even more regrettable. -Its a heartwarming but sad story. How are the other victims? -Mr. Choi, the victim, was transferred to the hospital afterwards. He broke a rib, but other than that, he only had minor bruises. -Thats a relief. -The incident has also raised questions about the poor license management of the Road Traffic Authority. I turned off the DMB screen at that point. When I entered the inte portal, my name was stered all over the news section. -On the day of the college entrance exam, a student saves the life of a 70-year-old man -Galhyeon-dong Hero Seon Woo-ju: I feel burdened by the excessive attention for what I did. -Seoul Police Agency considering awarding the hero of Galhyeon-dong I looked up at the night sky and breathed in the cold air. What a crazy world. I used to imagine that every day when I was an idol trainee. I wanted to be famous, to be recognized by my name alone. Ironically, that was the case now. Of course. I knew better than anyone that this was a temporary interest. But today, I was more famous than any other trainee in the world. And not only for being a hero, but also for something else that was trending on the inte. The screenshot of my interview that was circting on various onlinemunities. -Wow, hes so handsome lol -But he really looks young I thought he was a high schooler -If I were the director of a cram school, I would hire him right away with a years tuition Thepliments on my appearance were embarrassing to read. I cautiously read thements one by one. I was happy to receive attention, but I felt strange. After all, the fact that two years of studying went down the drain was true. Sigh I looked at the night sky again and then at my smartphone in my hand. It kept buzzing with messenger notifications. Countless messages. From close friends to acquaintances I rarely contacted, to people I barely remembered. My phone, which was usually quiet, was spewing fire with all the calls. They probably saw the news or the inte and wanted to check on me, but I wasnt in a situation to reply to all of them. There was something more important than that right now. I looked at the baseball in my hand. An empty yground. The school lights were all off because it was the night of the college entrance exam. I held the ball in a ce where no one was watching. What happened today. I needed to verify what it was. I was about to throw the ball to the stand of the yground for the experiment, when my smartphone suddenly vibrated. I couldnt help but gasp when I saw the name on the screen. Why is he contacting me all of a sudden? I pressed the call button anyway. Hello. -Oh, you answered? I pursed my lips at his surprised tone. What do you mean, you answered, hyung? -Well, Im d you still call me hyung. You havent forgotten my name, have you? Of course I remember. -See, myworking skills are still alive. The callers name was Yoon Seokhwan Youre talking nonsense, are you feeling better, hyung? I heard you quit soon after I left because of a herniated disc. -How did you know? I heard it from Tae-hyun. Han Tae-hyun was a trainee who had made it to the debut group TNT with me. We kept in touch for a while after he quit, but after he came back from the army, I only checked on him through TV. Are you feeling better? -Im all healed. I started working again while you were in the army. TJ Entertainment? -I tried to go back, but they already filled my spot. Thats how bigpanies are. They are a bit like that. I sighed as I badmouthed thepany. By the way, whats up? -Do we need a reason to contact each other? Yes. - You contacted me because you have something to say. I wont take it badly. -I have something to propose to you. Cant you do it over the phone? -You know how it is in this industry. Its customary to talk face to face. Do you have any ns today? No, I dont. -Thene out, man. Lets meet and catch up. Ill buy you dinner. Gulp. Now that I think about it, I havent eaten dinner because I was so busy. I felt my stomach rumble and coughed. I wont go unless its expensive. -I have a corporate card ready. Just name the ce. Flower sirloin. -Flower sirloin? Yeah, not just flower sirloin, but snowke sirloin. -Werent you a pork lover? That was true. It still is, but. Thest thing I remembered when I slipped on the ice at dawn was very clear. Three servings of sirloin for 45,000 won. If it wasnt for that memory, I would have suggested pork belly. -Anyway, I appreciate that you like free stuff. How about I take you to a amazing beef restaurant I know? Youre in Eunpyeong-gu right now, right? How did you know? -How would I know. Your face is all over the intemunities. Was it that bad? -Ill send you the address of the restaurant on KakaoTalk. Hyung, but it might take me some time. -How long? I fiddled with the baseball as I answered. I have something to do. -Okay. Contact me when you leave. I hung up the phone and got up. I brushed off the sand that was stuck to my butt with one hand and searched for YouTube with the other. [MLB top ys] There were clips of the best games yed by the American Major League Baseball yers. I clicked on the video and the games started ying with BGM. I focused on the video with bated breath. And how long had it been? When the video ended and the ads started ying, I was sure. A strange feeling. I felt a sensation that I couldnt describe with words throughout the video. If I had to express it A sixth sense beyond the five senses. The experiment I was doing now was to test that. After watching a rough y video, I set my smartphone to camera mode and ced it on the stand. Then I stepped back and took some distance before taking a pitching stance. As soon as I intended to throw the ball. My body moved on its own. It was the same as when I pped the cop in the morning. My body moved involuntarily. Whoosh- I felt a momentary pain due to the angle that exceeded my flexibility, but it was only for a moment. My right arm drew a splendid curve. Bang-! The baseball that hit the stand bounced a few times and then rolled away. Instead of picking it up, I grabbed my smartphone right away. And then I checked. [First video] Before watching the MLB video, I yed the video I had recorded forparison. As soon as the video started, I shivered with embarrassment. I looked awkward in every movement in the video. It was no wonder I was nicknamed robot when I was a trainee. From the choppy motions to the awkward arm and leg positions. Ping. The ball flew away without any appeal. I threw a few more balls after that, but there was no need to watch any more. I pressed the back button to exit the video and then entered the next one. [Second video] The video started ying and within seconds, I let out an involuntary sigh. Is that really me? Its different. From the eye contact to everything else, its different from the first one. It was clumsy, but enough to make people say You must have yed baseball before? wherever I went. The interval between the two videos was five minutes. But in just five minutes, my posture had changed so much that even I couldnt believe it. There was only one factor that could exin the huge gap between the two movements. It was that I had seen the pros pitching movements. Doubt turned into evidence, and evidence turned into certainty. Could I use the same movements as the ones I saw once? I didnt know why. Maybe it was because of the concussion that changed the nerve cells in my brain, or maybe it was a heavenly reward for a good deed. But two things were certain. Ugh! My thigh twitched. It was because I had lifted my leg beyond its flexibility to follow the pros pitching movement. I grimaced as I massaged my sore thigh. My body couldnt keep up with the movement. There was no such thing as a perfect freebie in the world. That was the first certain fact. And the second one was A new path had opened up for me. Chapter 4: Chapter 4: Chapter 4 Dance. What if I could conquer dance, which I never improved at even after six years of being a trainee, because of my terrible motor skills? I missed countless debut opportunities while I was a trainee. Some of my friends who joinedter than me debuted before me. I was even kicked out of the debut group after barely making it. It was all because of dance. The main reason why I gave up on my idol dream, and why TNT fired me, was dance. But what if I could ovee dance To find out, I repeated the same experiment as before. I danced the way I knew how. Then I watched the original choreographer on Mitube and followed along for a second recording. When I looked at the result, I couldnt close my mouth. Oh my god. It worked? It was a thought I had just in case, but it was really possible. The gap between the two videos was less than a minute, but my movements were amazingly different. I was speechless. It felt like the stars in the night sky were falling on me. It was distant and unreal. The cause of my lifelong regret, and why I was cut from the debut group, was solved so easily. Was it a dream? I copsed on the ground. The coldness of the winter sand seeped through my jeans, but I sat there nkly and looked at the sky. The stars scattered in the night sky. The moon half-hidden by the clouds. I recalled what happened today, while taking in all of that. From saving the old man and watching an action movie at the hospital. To doing an interview and going to the yground to test my ability. None of this was a dream. At first, I denied reality, thinking it was impossible. But the more I experimented, the more certain I became. I didnt know why, but I clearly gained some ability. A kind of superpower. Iughed out of disbelief. Haha As if I had gone crazy, Iughed for a long time. Then I brushed off my butt and got up. Now dance is not a problem. I told Seok-hwan hyung that I would give up on being an idol, but in fact, I auditioned several times after leaving TJ Enter. And I failed every time. The judges who were happy at my visuals and vocals frowned when they saw my wooden dance moves. And when they heard how long I was a trainee, they shook their heads. They meant that if I couldnt do better after six years, there was no point in trying more. But now its different. Dance was no longer an obstacle for me. Then, I could walk again. I could dream again. The path that I had given up on. Idol. Maybe its possible now. *** Eat quickly. The meat will burn. Huh? Oh. I snapped out of it at Seok-hwan hyungs urging. The meat restaurant that Seok-hwan hyung took me to was a famous ce in Eunpyeong-gu. I used to drool over it when I was a trainee, wishing I could go there once. But he knew my grudge and chose this ce. I put a piece of well-cooked flower sirloin in my mouth. The savory and fatty vor of the charcoal-grilled beef. He looked at me with a sour expression, as I made a blissful face. People would think you havent eaten for three days. Eat slowly. Whos going to take it away from you? Wasnt it you? What? Werent you going to take me away? Why do you think that? You ordered five servings of snow sirloin for 50,000 won each, and youre not even flinching. That means its not your personal card, right? And you said you were going to get the corporate card earlier. Doesnt that mean its not a personal matter, but a business matter? Wow, youre a Sherlock Holmes. Ah, try it, bro. As a thank-you for the drink, I fed him a carefully wrapped lettuce wrap. He smiled and said, So if I catch you, will you go with me? See for yourself. I nced at the menu and answered. If you add one more steamed egg, my heart might waver. Yoon Seok-hwan smiled and added the steamed egg. While we were eating meat, the hot steamed egg came out. I scooped a spoonful of steamed egg and blew on it, then brought it to my mouth. Seok-hwan looked at me and cautiously opened his mouth. By the way, are you okay? What do you mean? The college entrance exam. I saw the article that said you prepared for two years since you left the army. Your mock test scores were also in the top tier. Its a shame, but what can I do. I cant change what happened. You must be upset. Its okay. Im used to this kind of thing now. I answered with a smile. When did my life ever go the way I wanted? If I had achieved everything I wanted, I would have been the star of Asia by now. I think its a waste of time to be emotional about something I cant change. Its only a loss for me. You have a diamond-like mentality as always. Not a diamond, maybe gold. But not pure gold, the kind that has some impurities mixed in. At my joke, Seok-hwanughed uncontrobly. What did your grandmother say? What do you mean? I shivered as I recalled the phone call I had a few hours ago. She cursed at me with every word a primate can use. Do you know what a chinchi is, bro? She even brought up a chinchi? My grandmother could make the twelve zodiacs with the animals she cursed at me. If she wasnt my grandmother, I would have sued her. She must have said that out of concern. I know. Thats why I felt sorry and worried. Bro, can we talk about something else? Its ruining my mood. What are you talking about? Youre drinking c right now. C is alcohol too. Since when is c alcohol? Its bad for your body and it makes you feel good when you drink it, so its alcohol. I drank the soju, why are you talking nonsense? I gulped down the c and made a kya sound. I cant drink alcohol. My face would turn red as soon as I drank, so much so that people would think I was drunk. Lets toast. We clinked sses and I picked up a piece of meat. Hyung. Yeah? Whats the reason you asked me to meet? I liked Yoon Seok-hwan as a person. But business was a different matter. No matter how much I liked him, Seok-hwan was a fiercely living social being. He didnt call me to eat beef and reminisce. There must be a reason why you asked me to meet today. Honestly, you saw my face on the inte and asked me to meet, thats an excuse. Thats true. What? Youre more famous than you think. Hey. Just look at your poprity today. Youre like a mid-tier idol. Stop flying me. I waved my hand. Excuse me. Yes? I turned my head and saw a woman approaching our table. She was in her twenties. Her eyes sparkled as if she wanted something. Are you the hero of Galhyeon-dong? The hero of Galhyeon-dong. I was indifferent when I saw it in print, but I felt embarrassed when I heard it directly. Seok-hwan hyung chuckled at my expression that was gradually turning red. Yes, I am, but whats the matter? Wow, awesome! The other person burst into a heartyugh. I saw it on the inte today. Its really amazing. Ah, yes You look even better in person. Thank you. Can I take a picture with you? A picture? Sure, thats fine. I felt like I had be a celebrity. Before turning on the camera app, I saw the famous idol group Sixty Seconds pictorial photo that decorated the background screen of her smartphone. Is she an idol fan? After taking the picture, she asked, Can I post it on Facebook? and left gracefully. She seemed to havee out for a meal with her family, and when I nced at their table, her younger brother looked like a test taker. I muttered to myself as I watched the happy family. I guess I really sold my face. Do you believe it now? A little bit. You asked me why I wanted to meet you, right? Whats the matter? I nodded. Youre an entertainer No. I answered before he could finish his sentence, and he blinked his eyes. Listen to me, you brat. Youre going to tell me to be an actor. Its obvious. I dipped the flower sirloin, which was grilled medium rare, in the oil sauce, and a little bit of blood oozed out and floated in the oil. I enjoyed the taste of the 1++ grade beef, which was greasy and chewy, and opened my lips. You didnt like being an actor? No. I picked up the soju bottle and filled Seok-hwan hyungs ss. I dont care if Im an actor or an idol now. Actually, something special happened today. I saved an old man who was driving a rear car and fell on the ice, and I got a strange ability. The ability to copy any action I see. I figured it out when I tried various things at the school yground. There was no limit to the actions I could copy. Not only martial arts skills such as punches and kicks, but also gymnastics, b-boying, idol dances, and even dancing. The dance, which had been a headache for six years, was solved, which meant that I didnt have to be an actor. Im thinking of trying to be an idol again. Now? There are people who debut at twenty-five, whats the big deal. Im a littlete at twenty-one, but Im still young enough to try. Are you going to give up on the college entrance exam? Im not sure. I scratched my cheek with a somewhat awkward feeling. I told you, being an idol is not confirmed yet. I havent decided what to do with the college entrance exam yet. So you want to be an idol, right? Huh? Seok-hwan hyungs reaction was strange. I tilted my head as I looked at him, who was sparkling his eyes. Thats great, Woojoo. What is? If you want to be an idol,e to ourpany. Wait a minute. I raised my hand to interrupt Seok-hwan hyungs words. Why is the story going that way? Werent you here to tell me to be an actor? When did I? Huh? You misunderstood it yourself. Thats why you should listen to peoples stories until the end. Sorry, I got it wrong. Yoon Seok-hwan took out a business card from his pocket and handed it to me. [Lemon Entertainment Director Yoon Seok-hwan] I opened my eyes wide at the words written on Seok-hwans new business card. Manager? You got promoted. Promoted? Its like moving from a bigpany as a director to a smallpany as an executive. Congrattions. You got into a goodpany. Lemon Entertainment was a small nningpany, but it was a verified one that was evaluated to have a solid foundation. It started as an actor specialized nningpany, and now it was expanding its territory to the music industry. There was also a famous girl group that debuted here recently. Scarlet is from Lemon Enter, right? Yeah. Scarlet was a popr four-member girl group. Was itst year? They appeared like aet and established their image as a talented girl group. This time, were preparing a boy group after Scarlet. Soe and audition. Are you serious? Seok-hwan nodded at my question. Im serious, do you think Id joke with you while feeding you expensive meat? Do you remember that I was cut off because I cant dance? Do you think Id forget that? Then why? I looked at Seok-hwan suspiciously. Then he let out a sigh-likeugh and shrugged his shoulders. When I told you toe and see, the first thing I said was your dancing skills. I didnt want to discourage another person. But the higher-ups said they didnt care and told me to bring you in. Higher-ups? Oh, I havent told you yet. Yoon Seok-hwan tilted his ss and sighed. Do you know aposer named Jo Gyu-hwan? Of course I do. Its a name you cant not know if you studyposition. Well, hes famous. Jo Gyu-hwan. A geniusposer who had many hit songs that you could recognize by just hearing the title. He was a person who made billions of won in royalties every year at a young age. Hes the production director at Lemon Enter. Hes the second-inmand after the CEO, and hes mainly in charge of casting actors and singers, and producing. Scarlet is his work too. He continued. But hes a really weird person. His nickname is fortune-teller. Fortune-teller? He knows what will hit and what will flop amazingly well. His uracy rate is almost 99 percent. Is that possible? Its true, man. Yoon Seok-hwan snapped at me, who wasughing as if it was absurd, and told me a few examples. He picked a song that everyone said would flop as the title track. He persuaded thepany to put an actor in a minor-themed movie that was sure to fail. The song that was supposed to flop hit number one on the chart in a day, and the male actor who reluctantly starred in the movie became a ten million actor. Most of them are stories I heard, but I watched Scarlets casting myself. The casting of Scarlet, who was famous as a talented girl group, was like that. He picked someone he saw walking around Hongdae. He handed a business card to a high school student sitting on the subway. And thats how he made Scarlet, who picked up like that, the most hit rookie group in 2012. Seok-hwan shook his head as if he was tired, remembering that time. Anyway, that Jo Gyu-hwan director wants you as a new member of Lemon Enters boy group. What? Just like I said. I stared at Seok-hwan for a moment. Hyung. Yeah? Tell me honestly. The boy group youre telling me to join right now. Its not in a good state, right? Huh? Not in a good state? Why would they suddenly pick a new member for a problem-free group? There must be some internal problem, so theyre picking a new member. Seok-hwans offer was tempting. It was a boy group produced by Midass hand, and Midass hand wanted me personally. But nothing goes well in the world. When a really amazing opportunityes, you have to think about it. Why did this opportunity stay until it was my turn? Especially when Im not even a trainee, but a student. What, its not a problem per se. Seok-hwan hyung scratched his nose and said. Its just a bitplicated. He exined the situation to me. Originally, the idol project that Lemon Entertainment was preparing was a boy group. While Director Jo Gyu-hwan was ambitiously producing Scarlet, thepanys management team was independently preparing a boy group. The goal was seven members. But there was a problem. One of the trainees had a bad personality and constantly shed with other trainees, and eventually he was kicked out of thepany. That alone would not have dyed things so much. Just when it seemed like the situation was settled with the expulsion, two of the six remaining members left before their debut. The problem was that they left after taking their debut profile pictures. The remaining four were mentally broken. And thats how two years passed. After Scarlet settled in earlier this year, Director Jo took over as the boy group producer. So? He decided to drastically revise the original seven-member project and debut with five members. He held a lot of auditions, but unfortunately he didnt seem to find anyone he liked. Until today, that is. Until today, he said. Could it be When we were having lunch, your face came on the TV at the restaurant and his eyes were looking at you in an unusual way. I asked him why and he said this. Chapter 5: Chapter 5: Chapter 5 Thats what the producer of Lemon Entertainment said. I think I found thest member. The moment he heard that, Yoon Seok-hwan felt goosebumps all over his body. Because the person that Director Jo Gyu-hwan had his eyes on was someone he had the contact number of. *** I was really surprised. Isnt it amazing? Yeah, its amazing. Why do you sound a bit lukewarm? He wondered why I didnt look happy and exined. You might feel that way because you know Director Jo Gyu-hwan, but as a third party, it sounds a bit weird to me. Whats weird? Honestly, isnt it? I was fine with the story that he predicted well like a fortune teller, but suddenly he sees a face on TV and decides to pick him. Isnt that strange? Thats not unheard of. You know the casting stories of famous actors, right? The casting directors are the ones who go to high schools to find someone who appeared briefly on a news interview. Is that so? While we were talking, the meat was cooked. While the restaurantdy brought us soybean paste stew and rice, I was lost in my own thoughts for a moment. As I opened the lid of the rice, the other person opened his mouth. Lets stop the background exnation here. So what are you going to do? Huh? The audition, I mean. Are you going toe and watch, or not? Seeing my hesitation, Seok-hwan hyung reassured me. You can juste and watchfortably. I know you havent practiced for two years, so Im not expecting any great skills. Ah, thats not why I hesitated. The reason I hesitated was something else. What if the ability that I got from the concussion was only valid for today? It could suddenly say Ta-da, the trial version has ended. in a few days, so I had to be careful. Thats why I answered with a smile. Ille and watch. Really? Ill tell thepany that. But theres one condition. Condition? I told him as he was about to send a text message. I need some time. Is there something going on? I have something to check for a few days. Ille when its settled. Seok-hwan hyungs eyes showed curiosity, but he seemed to decide not to ask any more questions. *** After the college entrance exam, I watched the situation for two weeks. Fortunately, nothing happened. The ability that I got that day stuck to me like a familiar guest, and it didnt seem to disappear easily. Thats why I set the audition date when I was somewhat confident. But I still didnt have enough time to practice. A lot of things happened in two weeks. -Elderly man saved by righteous student, receives policemendation -KG Group, donates 30 million won to Galhyeon-dong righteous -Hyperstudy, offers free online courses for a year to righteous student I licked my tongue as I looked at the articles that popped up on my smartphone screen. The broadcast was amazing. I only appeared on the news once, but the donations kepting from everywhere. Thergest domestic entrance exampany offered me a free online course voucher, and KG Group sent me 30 million won. 30 million won. My mouth opened wide as I saw the annual sry of an average office worker in my bank ount. A strange ability and a donation. It was more profitable not to take the exam. I remembered the feeling of satisfaction when I transferred all the 30 million won to my grandmother. She said she didnt need it, but she epted it reluctantly. Our Kim Deok-soondy, shes not honest. Ding dong. I switched the smartphone screen to the messenger notification. Kinggodkimdeoksoon [Do well on the test,] Kinggodkimdeoksoon [Be humble. Dont be cocky] Kinggodkimdeoksoon [Emoticon] I chuckled and smiled at the fighting emoticon with a band around its head and a clenched fist. I sent a reply full of aegyo and put my smartphone away. This was the alley of Sinsa-dong, where Lemon Entertainments headquarters was located. I followed the map on my phone and stopped at a building with a ss window in the middle. I used it as a mirror to check my outfit. Jeans, a gray coat, and a scarf. It was the interview attire that I had found online. I smiled as I touched my hair lightly, which I had sprayed to keep in ce. My first impression was fine. The only thing left was the real deal. As I walked along the street, I soon saw the building of Lemon Entertainment. A in-looking five-story building. On the ck signboard with a lemon drawn on it, it said Lemon Entertainment in yellow letters. I was about to call Seok-hwan hyung before I entered. Seon Woojoo-ssi? I heard a pleasant low voice. A man with a takeout coffee in his hand. He was tall and wore a coat that fit him like a model. Yes, thats me, but who are you? Nice to meet you. Im Jo Gyu-hwan. You heard about me from Yoon manager, right? Oh, yes. Hello. Manners were basic. I bowed my head and greeted him politely. Im Seon Woojoo. I look forward to working with you. I should be the one saying that. Im the one who needs your help. Jo Gyu-hwan director smiled softly. I had imagined him as a sentimental artist who worked in a room, because of his image as a geniusposer. But he waspletely different. He looked more like a sessful businessman. He didnt match the image of a fortune-teller at all. He was handsome, but his features reminded me of a Tibetan fox. He said. Did you feel a bit surprised? I asked you toe for an audition all of a sudden. Yes, a bit. Actually, this is rare for me too. Its not often that I see someone and think, this is the one. Thats an honor. I added with a smile. I hope I have the skills to live up to your expectations. You dont need to feel any pressure. This is not a ce to test your skills, but your potential. Jo Gyu-hwan director, who had been smiling gently, said as if he remembered something. Oh, I almost forgot the gift. Gift? I had a feeling I would run into you, so I prepared something for you too. He handed me the coffee in the paper cup. I hope you like it. Me too. Then Ill go in first, and you cane in slowly. Well be waiting for you in the practice room on the basement floor. He walked away with his long legs, as if to show them off. I took the coffee and smiled awkwardly. Coffee was one of the drinks I couldnt drink, along with alcohol. If I had too much caffeine, my heart would beat like crazy. But when I opened the lid of the paper cup, I was surprised by what was inside. Huh? The smoke that rose up smelled like cocoa. Hot cocoa. It was the drink I often drank. It must have been a coincidence, I thought, but I felt strange when I remembered the nickname of fortune-teller that Seok-hwan hyung had told me. It felt like I was bewitched by a gumiho. Well. It must have been just a coincidence. I gulped down the cocoa and looked for the practice room in the basement. There was only one door open, so it was easy to find. While I waited for the staff toe down in the practice room, I looked around and eximed. They say that a dog can recite poetry after three years in a school, and I got an estimate by looking around. Practice room. It was important to see what equipment was avable here. As the saying goes, one can tell ten by looking at one, the practice room revealed thepanys wealth. Everything here was thetest equipment. This level of environment must be in the top one percent. *** I felt like I made the right decision toe to the audition, seeing the impressive number of applicants for the trainee position. It would be perfect if thepany people were nice too. Just as I was having such hopes, thepany staff started to enter one by one. One of them walked straight towards me. Nice to meet you. He was a bald middle-aged man with sses, and he had the best impression among the people I had seen. I could sense a faint Busan ent in his speech. Im Park Kyu-ho, the CEO of Lemon Entertainment. You must have had a hard timeing all the way here. You came from Gunsan, right? Yes. Thank you for having me. Sure. Lets have a good time today. CEO Park smiled warmly and offered me a seat. As soon as I sat down, he introduced the people who were sitting on the judging panel. Director Jo Gyu-hwan. Manager Yoon Seok-hwan. Rookie Development Team Leader. Vocal Trainer. Dance Trainer. I felt a bit nervous under their evaluative gazes, but I soon rxed my expression with a deep breath. Shall we begin? The first hurdle was the camera test. It was a procedure to check whether I had the so-called camera appeal. No matter how handsome or beautiful someone was, their appearance on TV and in reality could be different. The camera test was to verify that. As I made various expressions and poses, I suddenly remembered the past. Was it when I was in elementary school? I had taken the camera test in the third round of the TJ audition. How did it go? I think it was like now Wow, youre amazing. CEO Park said as if he was impressed. You look good in reality, but you also look good on camera. Its only natural, since you were in TJ, which is famous for its tough auditions. The judges nodded in agreement with his words. As I expected, the camera test was a no-brainer. The judges satisfied expressions proved that. Especially the Rookie Development Team Leader seemed to have a great appetite for me, as if I was a prime beef. It seemed to be because of the unique circumstances that only I had. It says here that youpleted your military service as a sergeant? Yes, I enlisted as soon as I became an adult. I was discharged shortly before the college entrance exam. Then you dont have any problem with your military duty? The judges were all pleased with the fact that I wouldnt have to interrupt my activities because of the army. I smiled and responded appropriately. It felt like I was practically hired, thanks to the casting of Director Jo, who was trusted by thepany as a fortune teller. But I couldnt rx yet. It was always like this until here. It was the same in otherpanies. The people who were interested in my face or singing in the beginning would change their expressions when I danced. As the trauma came to my mind, my mouth went dry. It will work out this time. I clenched my fist with that thought. *** A short break. The camera was set up again, and the judges looked at the applicant with anticipation. Seon Woojoo. 21 years old this year. Special circumstances: TJ Entertainment trainee for 6 years and discharged from the army as a sergeant. And handsome. That was the word that CEO Park actually wrote on his memo. He looked like someone who would make anyone turn around on the street, and who would get food or an umbre bought for him by the staff on a rainy day. He had a timeless beauty, rather than a trendy one. He also had a slightly young-looking face. He couldnt dance, but he hadsted for 6 years in TJ, which made sense, but it also made no sense why he insisted on being an idol. Shall we listen to the song you prepared? Yes. What song are you going to sing? I will sing Red Moon by Jang Sowon. The judges nodded their heads. They all had the same thought in their minds. Good choice. It was a seasoned selection for a six-year trainee. In an audition, choosing a song with a loud chorus or a high note does not increase the chance of passing. The entertainment insiders see professional singers every day. Unless someone performs a miracle in an audition, they wont be shocked or impressed by an auditionee. They see the best singers in Korea every day. Red Moon has a diverse vocal range. Red Moon was a solo song by Jang Sowon, a former member of the disbanded girl group Sugarfish. It was not a song with a powerful chorus, but it had a rich and varied vocal range. It was a perfect song for an audition, to check the overall vocal level. The only w was that it was a female key As he thought that, the prelude arranged for a male key flowed out of the speaker connected to Seon Woojoos smartphone. He had prepared it specially for the audition. He has a good sense. Seon Woojoo calmly parted his lips. Please just go away Dont ask me why My wounded heart is already Six feet under As he heard the first verse, Park, the CEO, instinctively caught on. He has talent. He was objectively good. He had taken a break from training for two years, but he was better than most trainees. Did he work as a karaoke manager in the army? If I train him hard for three months, hell regain his original skills. His breathing and vocalization were perfect. His vocal technique was solid enough to have a wless foundation. The only drawback was that he had no skills, but that was not important for an idol who had less than 30 seconds of individual parts. His eye contact and expression are stable too. He has something that attracts peoples attention. Well, thats why the big agencies didnt let him go even though he couldnt dance. He felt proud that he had found a gem that others had discarded, but also anxious. He was also the main vocal candidate in TNT. The main vocal position was really hard to find in the idol industry. How bad was his dancing that he failed to debut even with an actor-level appearance and excellent singing skills? He suddenly remembered the warning that Yoon, the manager, had given him before the audition. -Dont expect anything from his dance. Its better for your mental health. Now it was time to show his freestyle dance after the song. Park Kyuho, the CEO, looked at Yun Seok-hwan. He saw him closing his eyes tightly, as if he was anticipating a disaster. How bad is he He felt nervous for him. Park, the CEO, gulped down some water and waited for the dance performance. Soon, Jo, the director, yed the song he had chosen on the speaker. An electronic music without lyrics. Huh? When Seon Woojoo started dancing, Park, the CEO, could only make a bewildered expression. Chapter 6: Chapter 6: Chapter 6 You dance well, dont you? Seon Woojoo was dancing to the beat of the electronic music, twisting and bending his body in various ways. His skill was extraordinary at first nce. It wasnt amazing. But as the saying goes, one can tell ten from one. He had the potential to be a main dancer level if he invested a few months. His flexibility is a bitcking though. Maybe it was because he had stopped practicing for two years. Some of the movements that should have been smooth were rough. But flexibility was something that could be solved with stretching, so CEO Park Kyu-ho gave him a passing score for his dance. He had the skill worthy of a six-year trainee. Why did Director Yoon pick on him so much? He turned his head with a curious feeling and looked at Director Yoon Seok-hwan, who was sitting at the edge. His face was wide-eyed. He looked like he had seen a ghost. Thats impossible. Yoon Seok-hwans eyes shook uncontrobly. Who was Seon Woojoo? He was the one who was known as a log or a robot among the trainers of TJ Entertainment. The unfortunate trainee who failed because of his dance skill despite being good at singing. Should I be moved by this, or angry? He felt happy to see the person he cared for like a younger brother dance well, but honestly, he was also flustered. What happened in front of his eyes was something he never imagined, something he thought was impossible. Seon Woojoo was the person who stayed up all night practicing but still got a failing grade for his dance at the end of the month evaluation and felt depressed. How could a person change so much? He felt proud and dizzy at the same time, and on the other hand, he felt a pang in his heart as if he was looking at a child who had grown up well. If you improved your dance so much in two years, you should have told me sooner. He felt bitter that he had worried for nothing for three weeks. The freestyle ended soon. Seon Woojoo, who was wiping his sweat and panting in the middle of the practice room, smiled when he met his eyes. What a cheeky guy. Yoon Seok-hwan pped in his mind and looked around. He passed. He could tell from the eyes of the judges who looked at each other without saying anything. He passed the audition. People liked his dance, too. There are really all kinds of things in the world, he thought and smiled. *** After the audition, I signed a contract with Lemon Entertainment. For now, three months. It was a contract that said that either side could terminate it at any time if they wanted, and that it would automatically extend if there were no problems. CEO Park Kyu-ho brought up the topic of debut. Next June? The debut date was June 2014. It was almost December, so the remaining time was about six months. The investors are on fire. They say its been two years since the trainees were released, so they want to see the results. Im fine with that, but are you sure? The schedule seems a bit tight. Its okay. If it doesnt work, Ill beg the investors, or something. President Park smiled and reached out his hand. So dont give up and just work hard. Got it? Yes. I will. Its your first day, so lets start the lesson tomorrow. Do you want to say hello to the kids? Right now? Were going to see each other anyway, so isnt it better to do it sooner? Yes, sure. I dly epted the offer. We were going to see each other and get along, so CEO Park Kyu-hos words were right that it was better to do it sooner. The basement practice room. President Park went in first, and I fixed my clothes for a moment. When he gestured for me toe in, curious eyes followed me. I paused for a moment when I saw the four trainees. They all had extraordinary visuals. I didnt know about their skills, but I felt something like an aura from them. Two trainees with a handsome and a pretty boy vibe, both tall and with thick lines. And a trainee who was still young but had a visual that made me think hes an actor as soon as I saw him. I felt our eyes meet in the air. Say hello. Park, the CEO, said with a smile. This is the new member who will be practicing with you from today. We awkwardly nodded our heads and greeted each other. As we exchanged words like Nice to meet you, the CEO introduced the trainees to me. He was just telling me their names, but to be honest, I couldnt tell who was who right now. One of the trainees, who had a calm face, raised his hand. CEO, I have a question. Sure, go ahead. Bi-ju. You said he will be practicing with us, so does that mean he is the one? The member that Director Jo Kyu-hwan said he would bring in Thats right. Really? He was brought in by Director Jo? The CEO nodded, and a strange atmosphere spread among the trainees. The way they looked at me, how should I put it? They looked like people who had been waiting for a long-awaited delivery and finally received it. A tall trainee asked. So, are we debuting? We have a rough schedule. The A&R and management teams are still in a meeting, but you can expect it to be around June next year. Wow! The youngest-looking member eximed without realizing it. Then he said, Hyungs! Were debuting! and hugged and cheered with his peers. The CEO smiled at the sight. I felt like a broomstick that had been thrown in, but Iughed along with the trainees. I knew how they felt. Debuting was more than just appearing on TV for trainees. It was a ray of light that appeared in an endless tunnel. They couldnt help but be excited. Even if the outside world warned them not to get their hopes up too high, they felt ted. They wanted to hug everyone they met. Thats what debuting meant to the people running in the tunnel. The moment they saw the end of the tunnel, their hearts raced and they couldnt help but smile. I empathized with them. Guys, calm down. The CEO said with a smile and pulled out a card. Since we have a new trainee today, lets have a wee party and grill some meat at the ce nearby. A loud cheer followed. I smiled quietly as I heard the noise. All in all, it was a good first impression. *** We finished the first day by breaking the ice over dinner. The real lesson started from the second day, which was today. I arrived at the practice room and turned on the light. It was 7 a.m. The lesson started at 9 a.m., but I arrived two hours early on purpose. To make up for theck of practice time. I was far behind. I had stopped practicing for two years. I warmed up my body by doing some leg splits and other exercises, then connected my smartphone to the speaker with an AUX cable. -Cold Brown: See You It was a hit song on the Billboard chart recently. An R&B song with a prominent dance performance. I saw a video of this performance on YouTube this morning on the subway. Soon, the moves that I would have never been able to do before flowed out of my body. Wave. A series of movements thatbine to form a single ripple, and that ripple transfers from one arm to another. Now I could understand the whole process. I could not only imitate the movements, but also intuitively grasp how they worked. Amazingly, this ability also applied to singing. The ability to understand and mimic the movement of muscles. Maybe it was because the vocal cords were also muscles. In fact, I had recovered 60 percent of my original skills before the audition, thanks to this. At this rate, it wouldnt be impossible to reach the minimum level of debut in a month. Thud- After sweating enough from dancing, I was groaning while doing the leg-splitting three-set, when the first trainee entered the room with the door open. He had fair skin and neat features. He gave me the impression of a gentle deer for some reason. His name was Kim Bi-ju, I think. Kim Bi-ju, who was yawning constantly as if fighting off fatigue, smiled brightly when he saw me. You came early, hyung. Hi. Did youe early because its the first day? Yeah, it would be bad to bete on the first day. I heard a clearugh. From observing him yesterday while having dinner together, I found out that this trainee with a soft appearance had a very calm personality. Kim Bi-ju sat down next to me and started stretching. I admired how his legs stretched like rubber. Hes very flexible. Was his position the main dancer? As the best dancer in the group, his movements were somehow smooth and graceful. He smiled when our eyes met while I was admiring him inwardly. Why are you looking at me like that? You seem very flexible. I guess its because Ive been dancing since elementary school. Thats why my dance skills improved, but I dont think Im growing taller. He made a sad face, saying Its sad, right? . I smiled at him. Dont worry. Youll grow more. Im turning twenty in two months, hyung. What? Didnt you say you were all high school students? Me and Junghyun, I mean the tall guy, were graduating next year. The youngest is going to high school now. The tall guy must be the one with a slightly rough vibe. Anyway, I mistook him for seventeen because of his boyish looks, but hes more baby-faced than I thought. We chatted while stretching, but it was inevitable that it was awkward since we only met once. It was like a conversation of Wow, youre handsome, ., No, youre more handsome, .. When the conversation stopped for a moment. Kim Bi-ju, who saw me struggling with the leg-splitting, opened his lips quietly. Woojoo hyung. Yeah? When you were at TJ Entertainment, you said you were selected for the debut team but failed because of your dance, yesterday. Thats right. What is he trying to say? Its a bit out of the blue, but I hope you debut with us this time. Huh? I was bewildered. What do you mean? The CEO said were going to debut in June next year. We only have half a year left, and its going to be really tough to prepare in that time. You might get a lot of stress because of your dance skills. That might happen. But you cant give up in the middle, okay? Okay. Peoples feelings are unpredictable. If you feel like giving up, please tell me. Kim Bi-ju said with a serious face. I can buy you food if youre having a hard time. And I can also give you some advice or something. Dont worry and just tell me anytime. If youre having trouble with the dance, I can help you even if I have to stay up all night. Thanks. Ill remember that. He was so serious that I wondered what he was talking about, but as I listened to him, I gradually smiled. Hes scared right now. He had experienced two times before, when his debut was canceled because the members left right before the debut, and that was stuck in his head like a trauma. He was afraid that I would leave like the previous situations. And he heard me say yesterday that I gave up because of the dance, so he must be anxious from his perspective. He wanted to debut, but it would be troublesome if I, thest one to join, left. Did I say something wrong yesterday? I briefly summarized my trainee history and told him, but I guess I said it in a way that could be misunderstood. What should I say to him? I cant tell him that dance is no longer a problem because I have superpowers. He seemed embarrassed after saying something, and he was stretching with a sheepish face. I smiled involuntarily at the sight. Thump- While I was stretching silently with Biju, another trainee appeared. A coat with tteokbokki and a beanie. He had a handsome face like Kim Bi-ju, but a different vibe. If Kim Bi-ju was a warm spring, he was a chilly winter, with a calm and neat impression unlike Kim Bi-jus arrogant prince-like one. A very cold feeling. Was his name Seo Ri-hyuk? I remember him clearly. He had such a strong impression that I remembered his face even when we had dinner yesterday. He said he would turn eighteen next year. I greeted the kid who came in with earphones, but he only nodded his head in reply. When I blinked, Kim Bi-ju whispered to me. Hes always like that. Hes chic. He was about the same height as Kim Bi-ju, in the early 170s, but he had good proportions. A slender body and an intelligent face. He leaned against the wall and quietly listened to music, then briefly turned his head to my gaze and ignored me. Hes prickly. I had a conversation with Seo Ri-hyuk when I went to the hallway where the water purifier was to clear my throat. Excuse me. He turned his head and I saw his sharp eyes. I smiled and replied. My name is not there, its Seon Woojoo. Oh. If its awkward to call me by name, you can call me there. With a gentle smile and a sweet voice. From experience, I needed to speak softly but firmly to these people who seemed to have a personality. Otherwise, they would eat me alive. You said your name was Seon Woojoo hyung, right? He looked like he didnt like calling me hyung. I have something to say, do you have time? What is it? I couldnt say it yesterday because I didnt have time. I unfolded the paper cup and blew on it, then poured water and nodded my head as if to tell him to speak. His ck eyes stared at me. Yesterday, you, no, hyung said you gave up being a trainee because of dancing. Are you guys some kind of close brothers? Chapter 7: Chapter 7: Chapter 7 Im sorry, but Im not very smart. I dont understand what youre trying to say. Well Seo Ri-hyuk hesitated, as if he was looking for the right words. What I mean is Dont give up. Oh, really? If youre going to quit halfway or suddenly leave, then just go now. For everyones sake. At this point, I was curious. What happened two years ago, when two trainees left and the debut was canceled? Why did one of them be so nervous, and the other one so wary? Or was it because I said something weird yesterday, when I gave up on dancing? Hes so defensive. He said it was for everyones sake, so it seemed like the trainees had a good bond with each other. Seo Ri-hyuk pointed at Kim Bi-ju outside the practice room window with his chin. You might not know yet, but Bi-ju hyung spends more than 13 hours a day in the practice room. The other members are simr. I listened quietly. Theyve been living for nothing but their debut, and if it fails again, I dont know what will happen. So youre saying, if Im going to quit, I should quit now? Yes. I nodded cheerfully. Okay. What? Ill quit now. A dumbfounded expression shed across Seo Ri-hyuks face. What did you say? You said, if Im going to quit, I should quit. I calmly replied, muttering to myself, Should I pack my stuff now?. Seeing me act like a madman, Seo Ri-hyuks expression became urgent. No. I mean- You mean, you want me to stay, right? Isnt that it? Seo Ri-hyuk was speechless, and then nodded. I smiled. Do you know how much Ive fought in my life? I survived among more than 100 trainees, so this situation was nothing to me. Of course, he might have said that out of concern for his hyungs or dongsaengs. So youre saying, you want me to work hard and not give up, right? Yes. Okay, Ill work hard. Lets get along well. I reached out my hand with a smile, and Seo Ri-hyuk reluctantly shook it. Then Ill go in first. Seo Ri-hyuk blinked and tilted his head. He looked like he wanted to stop me, but he didnt know how. By the way. They have a strong friendship. They both said the same thing, so it seemed like they cared for each other a lot. Well. I guess I still feel like an outsider to them. But it was a bit depressing to hear them say, Dont cause trouble for us outright. But what can I do? We havent known each other long enough to build trust, so it cant be helped. I just have to focus on the debut and not be impatient. I smiled at Seo Ri-hyuk and went back to the practice room. What did you talk about with Ri-hyuk? Huh? You looked a bit serious, so I was wondering. It was nothing. Maybe my expression betrayed me, but Kim Bi-ju smiled as if he knew something. Ri-hyuk is a bit clumsy with people. Sometimes he says things that can be misunderstood. Please understand him. No, he was nice and kind, what are you talking about? Kim Bi-juughed at my words. Seo Ri-hyuk, who came back in, passed by me like a breeze and sat next to Kim Bi-ju. His eyes were still full of caution. He made me feel like I brought a stray cat home. While I was thinking that, the time was getting closer to 9 oclock, when the lesson started. Ten minutes before the start. The door opened wide and someone came in. Hyungs! Im here! The one who shouted like a newborn baby was the youngest among the trainees. I watched him shake his head as he saw me. What a mess. Youre in trouble, Kim Jung-hyun. Im sorry! Whats your excuse for beingte today, overslept again? Aaah! Kim Jung-hyun twisted his body in pain as the dance trainer pinched his side. The other membersughed as if it was amon sight. Im sorry. I was feeding my hamster and lost track of time. Yeah. Your hamster is more important. Yes, he was not eating well today so I had to wait until Aaah! His face was handsome and sturdy, but his image was shattered by his words. Kim Bi-ju, who was sitting next to me, smiled at my expression. Kim Jung-hyun, who got scolded for beingte, threw his backpack in the corner of the practice room and sat behind me. I could hear his heavy breathing in my ear. Hello. I replied with a smile to his greeting in a deep voice. The dance trainer, who was shaking his head at Kim Jung-hyun, seemed to remember something and looked at me. Ah, perfect timing. Come out and show us some dance moves, new face. Me? You can dance, right? Lets see what youve got. Itll be a good motivation for the others. The trainees looked puzzled at the trainers words. They had heard that I quit dancing because I was bad at it, but the dance trainer said he can dance well. There was a misunderstanding between them. As I stood up, all eyes were on me. This is awkward. The dance trainer gestured with his chin and said. Pay attention, everyone. Look at his lines, his transitions. Hes from a big agency, so hes still good even after taking a two-year break. I felt pressured as if I had be the representative of a big agency. I could feel their focused gazes, not missing a single movement. I connected my smartphone to the speaker. The song I chose was See You by Cold Brown, which I practiced this morning. *** Kim Bi-ju was curious. He can dance well? Last night, at the barbecue restaurant, Seon Woojoo briefly told him his story as a trainee. I gave up because I couldnt dance well. He was worried when he heard that. Vocals could be covered by AR to some extent, so it was okay to becking, but dance was something that was clearly visible to the eye. He was startled at first, but then decided to trust Jo Kyuhwans judgment. Jo director must have a reason for choosing him. To the people of Lemon Entertainment, Jo Kyuhwan was like a guarantee of sess in Chungmuro. The Midas touch that made everything he touched a hit. The trainees trusted the geniusposers eye. But that didnt mean they werent anxious. It was a problem that he quit dancing after six years of training, but it was also a challenge to bring a trainee who had taken a two-year break to debut level in six months. The road ahead seemed bleak. Then, an unexpected sight unfolded before the trainees. Huh? Wang Jiho. He was a friend who stood out in my memory because of his peculiar way of speaking. He was a typical handsome guy who was going to enter high school next year. I thought he would have the perfect face for a role of a chaebol third-generation heir on TV when he grew up a bit more. But anyway He was about the same height as Seo Ri-hyuk and Kim Bi-ju, but he had a good bone structure that made me feel he would catch up with me when his growth spurt was over. Good morning, Woojoo hyung. Hi. By the way, I brought something for you, hyung. The youngest one, who was rummaging through his expensive Canada Goose padding, carefully took out something. Do you like chocte? Thanks, Ill enjoy it. You cant run out of sugar when youre practicing, right? I didnt know what brand it was, but it looked expensive at a nce. It was a foreign chocte. Hey, Wang Jiho. Seo Ri-hyuks eyebrows sharpened. Why dont you give any to Bi-ju hyung and me? Oh, Im sorry. The youngest one smiled innocently. I was in a hurry to leave today and I forgot about yours. Then he took out a chocte from his pocket and ate it deliciously. So he had his own but not ours. I thought he had a unique character as I epted the chocte. Then I asked Seo Ri-hyuk, who was looking at my chocte with envy. Do you want some? No! Kim Bi-ju smiled at his hasty answer. Ri Hyuk, why are you so quick to refuse? Im always like that, hyung. Hey, when did you be like that, hyung? Wang Jiho and Kim Bi-ju started teasing him as they saw him biting his lip. Seo Ri-hyuks ears turned red. I thought he was a tough guy who warned me harshly, but it turned out he was like a neighborhood bully. As I observed the teams atmosphere with various situations, I asked the members. Wasnt there one more person? Who? Oh, Jung-hyun? Kim Bi-ju, who was looking at the clock, frowned and muttered to himself. Is hete again? Well, its not a big deal for a day or two. Jung-hyun hyung will be here soon, Woojoo hyung. Junghyun must be the tall and handsome trainee I saw yesterday. He was going to graduate with Biju next year. From what I heard, he seemed to bete often. 9 a.m. When the clock struck, the door opened with a click, but the person who came in was not another trainee, but a dance trainer. Hello! We got up and bowed to the teacher, who greeted us briefly. He had a very tired and grumpy face, as if he was saying, My life is so exhausting, dont bother me. The dance trainer yawned and said. Sit down. I dont want to look up. He looked around and said. I thought you would be depressed because of the year-end evaluation. Howe you look so happy? We debuted, sir. Oh,e on. You guys are debuting. Its the end of the world. The world is doomed. Why are you saying that, sir? You used to say we were the best. The trainer shook his head at Kim Bi-jus words. That was then. If you go out there with this skill, Ill be in big trouble if you say youre my students. Got it? If anyone asks, Ill be sure to say Im Juye hyungs student, sir. Theughter that only the people who had been together for a long time shared filled the room. I was just dumbfounded. By the way, one, two, three Wait a minute, wheres Kim Jung-hyun? Then, I heard a thumping sound from afar, as if a herd was approaching. Where did I hear that? Was it when Simbas father died in The Lion King? Bang- The trainee who opened the door almost breaking it came in quickly, breathing heavily. The youngest, Wang Jiho, made an O shape with his mouth. It was a neat dance line. There were no shy techniques, but the dance was clean and crisp. How is this possible? Kim Bi-ju raised his hand to his mouth. Thats not a move that someone who took a break for two years can do. It was like watching a famous dancer perform in front of him. As Seon Woojoos body moved dynamically to the R&B beat, everyone uttered the same exmation. The youngest whispered to Seo Ri-hyuk. Wow, doesnt he dance better than you, bro? Shut up, Wang Jiho. Just stating the facts- He pped his neck with his palm. The youngest coughed. Seo Ri-hyuk, who had been pouting his mouth, realized something was wrong as he watched quietly. The two silent older brothers. He red at them, who had nothing to say. Whats wrong? Why dont you deny it? The two older brothers smiled awkwardly. Rain poured down in the main vocals heart. When the dance was over, Seon Woojoo, who had been moving like a possessed person, stopped and smiled. On the other hand, the trainees who pped had awkward smiles. I was tricked. Kim Bi-ju twisted his body in embarrassment, recalling what he had said earlier. It was like giving a wrinkled thousand-won bill to an old man who picked up trash, only to find out he was the chairman of a conglomerate. A feeling of emptiness. On the other hand, he also felt relieved. He had one less thing to worry about. Alright, lets end the show and start the lesson. Ju Ye-hyung, who pped his hands, started the lesson. It was the same lesson as usual. But the trainees eyes were elsewhere. What the hell. Seon Woojoo absorbed everything the trainer showed him. And that was in one go. The trainees who watched him copy the choreography like a human copier were amazed at first, butter they were horrified as if they were seeing a monster. When the lesson was over, Seo Ri-hyuk felt his position was shaky and asked. Hey, can you sing well too? No. He heard him mutter maybe? with a smile. Theres no way he can sing well too. But the main vocals hunch became reality. *** 5 p.m. Vocal lesson time. The trainees who sat around the vocal trainer looked at one ce. Seon Woojoo, who was calmly singing a bad song. His facial expression is amazing. Doesnt he look like Yoon Chan-hyuk sunbae? He sings better than Junghyun. Hey, Kim Bi-ju. Im a rapper, you know. Do you think they have udon at the kimbap ce? They do. Really? Lets go buy someter. What kind of conversation was this? Kim Bi-juughed incredulously and smiled at Seon Woojoo, who was singing in the middle of the lesson room. He was dumbfounded at first, but now he could only admire him. He took a break for two years, but how good was he originally? It was the first day that the misunderstanding deepened unintentionally. Chapter 8: Chapter 8: Chapter 8 Year-end Evaluation After the first day of lessons, life went on as usual. I could sense a change in the way the kids treated me, but it was definitely a positive one. How should I put it? At first, I felt like aplete outsider, waiting in front of a sign that said No Entry!. But now, I felt like they had allowed me to enter their fence. I was d they were nice. But the peacefulness of my daily life was shattered by a new event. In early December. While we were practicing our choreography, the door of the practice room opened. As soon as they saw Director Jo Kyu-hwans face, the youngest quickly turned off the MR. Hello, Director! Uh, yeah. Director Jo greeted us lightly and smiled. Wow, you guys smell like sweat. You must have been practicing really hard. I came down to tell you something. Its nothing big, so rx. He handed us a paper. Your year-end evaluation assignment is out. Really? Everyone took the paper and gathered around Kim Bi-ju. The paper was printed in a neat official format with an announcement. 2013 Joint Year-end Evaluation Announcement -Location: Taehwa High School Auditorium -Date: 2013. 12. 28 (Sat) -Participating Agencies: DNS Media, Lemon Entertainment, Hwai Entertainment, Big Brother Company, Oullim Entertainment -Assignment: A performance thatbines two different songs with one theme -Please inform the parents of the trainees in advance, as the traffic situation around the venue may be chaotic on the day. Unlike the others who looked tense as they read the announcement, I was clueless. What is a year-end evaluation? I knew about the monthly evaluation. If a normal high school student takes a mock exam every month, then an idol trainee takes a test called a monthly evaluation. Its the same as a test, except its not about math, English, or Korean. Its also the same in that you get stressed depending on your score. The only difference is that if you mess up a mock exam, you dont get kicked out of high school, but if a trainees monthly evaluation results are stagnant for two or three months, they get their contract terminated right away. If you dont improve, you get thrown away. Thats the life of a trainee. When I was at TJ Entertainment, I had to take several of these evaluations every month. A small one every two weeks and a big one every Thursday. The subjects were different each time. Sometimes it was individual, like You have a weak high note, so master this song. Sometimes it was team-based, like Make your own choreography andpete with each other. I guess the performance thatbines two different songs with one theme written on the paper was one of those test subjects. What I didnt understand was why they did the monthly evaluation publicly. And with other agencies. Is it like a showcase? A showcase is a term for a stage that is used for promotion. Its like showing them in advance and seeing their reaction, like the word showcase means. I heard that one of the four major agencies, MOP, does this kind of thing and shows the trainee stage to the public. Well. Anyway, thats not important. I needed information. What is a year-end evaluation? As I looked at the trainees who were scanning the announcement, I picked the one who had the loosest mouth. Ue? Yeohalheongao? (Huh? Year-end evaluation?) Yeah. During the break, Wang Ji-ho, who was munching on the chocte bread I bought him, asked. Is this your first time hearing about the year-end evaluation? I only know about the monthly evaluation. Oh, this is when we do the monthly evaluation with the nearby agencies every six months. The one we do in December is called the year-end evaluation. Is it simr to the MOP showcase? Its different. MOP invites the general audience, right? Our year-end evaluation is when we invite the trainees families or acquaintances. Isnt it better to have the general audience? I shivered, and the youngest agreed. I know, right? Its so embarrassing to mess up or rap in front of your parents. I felt like crawling into a hole just thinking about singing and dancing in front of my grandmother. While we were gloomy about the bleak future, Wang Ji-ho chewed on his chocte bread. But theres another real reason why we have to do well on the year-end evaluation. What is it? Its because its apetition between the agencies. We and DNS are the biggest, so we have a rivalry. If we debut a girl group, they also debut a girl group, and so on. The year-end evaluation is also like that. Is it like a Korea-Japan ser match? Kind of. Wang Ji-ho drank his milk and continued. Besides, we got totally crushed in June. If it was ser, it would be like 7 to 0. The atmosphere was no joke. The CEO didnt even greet us for a few days. Our CEO? Can you believe it? But its true. Do we have to win this time? Yep. But you guys are amazing. Did DNS do that well? From what I remember, the guys over there did really well. Maybe theyre in the debut group this time? Wang Ji-ho showed me some articles he searched on his smartphone. -Lavender Rose brother group debuts 9-member Street Boys -DNS Media rookie Street Boys, first appearance with debut reality show -LaRose junior group Street Boys, debut story revealed with K-Net reality show The description said they were a hip-hop concept 9-member boy group. They were aiming to debut in April and currently filming a reality show to be aired on K-Net. Are they ourpetitors? Yep. Why are they filming a reality show before they debut? Isnt that so enviable? If they do this, fans will flock in. I nodded. From the perspective of the general public, its a 0.1% rating program that they dont even know about, but its different for idols. If youre from one of the four major agencies, youll get recognition just by sending them out, but for small idols, this is a big deal. I tapped the arm of the youngest who was looking at the inte articles with envious eyes. I bought another chocte milk for the youngest, along with drinks for the other members, on our way back to the practice room. We sat around in a circle, each holding a drink. It was time for a strategy meeting. We had to discuss how to prepare for the year-end evaluation assignment: a performance thatbines two different songs with one theme. DNS did hip-hopst time, right? How about we go for a strong concept too? Hyung, they have four rappers on their team. Youre the only rapper we have. If we go for an intense concept, well be at a disadvantage. Hmm but dont you think Jung-hyun has a point? Kim Bi-ju said. What if we try a strong concept too? If we do a soft concept likest time, we might lose. I dont know. If we challenge them head-on, well be in trouble. I think we can do it. This is not an easy problem, you know. They calmly debated. The first step was to decide what concept to do before choosing the songs. Three of them were actively expressing their opinions, while the youngest and I were watching the situation. The youngest was ying with his phone, not caring about anything, while I was deep in thought. Something didnt seem right. They all seemed to be barking up the wrong tree. *** -DNS guys -DNS did the same concept asst time -We have to overpower them with vocals Was it because of the defeat in the first half of the year? DNS Media came up in every sentence they said. This was not something that could be solved by fighting. The year-end evaluation felt like a survival program. A war to defeat the rival and im victory. Maybe they wouldnt have been so obsessed with this idea if it wasnt for the fact that their families wereing to watch and the painful lossst time. They seemed to be driven by the obsession to do better than the other side. And I felt it too. But the reason I kept silent was because of seniority. I had the most experience, but I had only been at Lemon Entertainment for less than two weeks. It was awkward to butt in. It was like a newly appointed captain joining the discussion of the senior sergeants. Guys, we have to decide quickly. Seo Ri-hyuk banged the floor. Itll take more time if we have to do the arrangement too. Didnt the director say he would do it for us? The director and the engineers are all busy because of Yoon Chan-hyuk sunbaes album. So we have to do everything ourselves. And if we add the choreography, well have only two weeks of actual practice time. Then lets decide soon. Did anyone hear what DNS is doing? The year-end evaluation topic was a performance that connects two different songs. In other words, singing different verses from different songs. Choosing the songs was a challenge. They looked at us as they racked their brains. Do Ji-ho and Woojoo hyung have any opinions? Im fine with whatever you guys do. The other three pairs of eyes turned to me. I have an idea, but Yeah? Just tell us. Sorry to say this, but I think the way you guys are doing it is wrong. The atmosphere suddenly quieted down. Seo Ri-hyuks eyes narrowed and his tone became sharp. Whats wrong with it? From what I heard, you guys are only talking about what DNS is doing. So? Beating the rival is important, but this is not a survival program. I think we should consider the essence of the stage. They didnt seem very friendly. They looked at me as if to say, What do you know? But I had no choice. If we went on like this, we would go in a weird direction and ruin everything. I think we should think about the audience first. The audience? The reason we stand on stage is because its fun, right? And our goal is to make the audience happy. The goal of every entertainer is to please the public. Before we decide on the performance theme or the songs, we should analyze the audiences preferences first. I had thought about this a lot since I was young. How can I increase the sales of my grandmothers restaurant? If you want to run a food business, you have to think about the nearby market, what people eat these days, and what kind of customerse to the store. That was the gist of what I wanted to tell them. Dont sell fish stew just because the next-door restaurant does well. Think about the customers whoe to your store first. Kim Bi-ju smiled. That makes sense. It does. Seo Ri-hyuks eyes were still sharp. But thats too vague. Who doesnt know that we have to please the audience? The important thing is a concrete n. I have an idea. Yeah? Lets hear it. I told them my n. It was what I had in mind since I heard the topic. A stage that would showcase our charm and satisfy the audience. They had different reactions. I like hyungs idea. Its not bad, but isnt it a bit vague? Its either all or nothing. Im fine with it as long as I get a rap part. Its too difficult. I like the idea, but it will take at least two weeks to arrange this. And only Jung-hyun hyung and I know how to do it among us. Theres a solution for that. I know how to arrange. No. Seo Ri-hyuk said again, frustrated. Its not just about knowing how to arrange. Its too hard, dont you get it? If you know how to arrange, you should know how difficult this is. By the time you finish, the year-end evaluation will have already started. One day. What? One day is enough. A silent tension filled the air. They all looked at me with expressions that said, What is he talking about? They might not understand from their perspective. They might think Im just being overconfident and bbering without any evidence. But I had a reason for what I said. I had studied hard for two years, not only for the college entrance exam, but also for the musicposition major. Seo Ri-hyuk narrowed his eyes at me. Are you serious? Of course I am. I said with a smile. One or two days will do. Thats nonsense- Then do you want to bet with me? Seo Ri-hyuk hesitated for a moment. A bet? Yeah. If I cant finish the arrangement by midnight tomorrow, Ill buy snacks for a week. Wow, really? The youngest, who had been silent like a stone, lit up his eyes. Jung-hyun and Bi-ju looked at this scene with interest, but they also seemed tempted by the offer of a weeks worth of snacks. Seo Ri-hyuk paused, wondering if this was some kind of trap, and I gave him a gentle smile. Its a bet you have nothing to lose. Whats the condition? Huh? What do you want? Simple. I answered. If I win, youll let me n the performance for the year-end evaluation. Its a bet you have nothing to lose, right? Isnt it? Yeah, its a no-lose bet. The youngest, who had his eyes on the snacks, agreed, and the senior line quietly watched what the younger one would do. After some deliberation, Seo Ri-hyuk answered. Okay. I smiled as I saw him. I guess hiding and waiting is not my style. If Im in the game, Ill take the lead. Chapter 9: Chapter 9: Chapter 9 3 a.m. The practice room was so quiet that I could hear the sound of the clock ticking. I was drawing a musical score. I listened to the song with my ears and wrote the notes with my hand. What should I put here? Guitar? Keyboard? It was not an exaggeration to say that I could do the arrangement. I studied, but also learned the basics from various producers when I was at TJ Entertainment. I took a sip of the chocte drink. This should be enough for the outline. Dozens of A4 papers scattered around me. They looked messy, but they were arranged in a certain order. A kind of mind map, I guess. I focused on the A4 papers as if I was inputting them into my head and closed my eyes. First, I have to make the stage. Our stage was the auditorium of a high school. A barren field. In my vast mind, a model of the auditorium that I searched on the inte was erected. The stage was still dark. I installed the instruments. Guitar, bass, keyboard, drum, saxophone, cello, etc. Now lets put some people on it. The lights came on the stage on the barren field. 1st Kim Bi-ju. 2nd Kim Jung-hyun. 3rd Seo Ri-hyuk. 4th Wang Ji-ho. 5th Seon Woojoo. The trainees came in one by one and started singing on the stage. The first performance was without apaniment, just the lyrics. What is this? When Ibined the five voices in my head, I was surprised. It was because of the harmony that the five voices created. They had simr but different vocal ranges and made a beautiful harmony. This is why Director Jo picked me. I felt like one of the mysteries I had been holding was solved. Director Jo Kyu-hwan probably heard my voice on the TV interview and imagined this harmony. A perfect harmony. But the admiration didntst long. I had to do a new work now. I moved the instruments in my head. No. It was more like they moved naturally than I moved them. I repeated the work while improvising in between. Every time I made some progress, I opened my eyes and checked the time. 3:30 a.m. I closed my eyes and went back to work. 4 a.m. I continued until I got something perfect. 5 a.m. When I finally finished the final arrangement, I started to transfer it to a piece of paper like a possessed person. It took a long time to make the final work, but it was quick to transfer it. Its done. What I saw in front of me was just a paper version. To make the finished product as I promised the kids, I had to go up to the studio and turn on theputer. But there was no one in thepany right now, and I was not in a mental state to do such work either. Im tired. Sleepiness poured over me like a waterfall. I fell into the temptation of sleep naturally. *** 5:30 a.m. Jo Kyu-hwan, the production director of Lemon Entertainment, got out of his car and inhaled an Americano. A caffeine-packed drink that he made himself. As he took a sip, he felt his mind wake up. Ah, Im hungry. I slept a total of 10 hours in thest week. It was a murderous schedule. I finally got some sleep at home, but the nerve cells in my body were still begging me to let them rest. Ill sleep well after Chan-hyuks album is done. As I left the underground parking lot and headed for the stairs, I stopped for a moment. Whats that? There was a lighting from the hallway where the practice room was. Who stayed up all night? Curious, I approached the ce. There were only five trainees left after Scarlet debuted. Among them, there were only two who would stay up all night. Is it Bi-ju? Or Ri-hyuk? The immature youngest and theid-back Jung-hyun were out of the question. Expecting to see their faces, I found an unexpected face under the practice room window. Seon Woojoo? He was the new face I had cast. Why did he stay up all night without going home? As I tilted my head, I saw a strange sight. Piles of manuscript paper scattered around. I carefully entered the practice room and found papers with dots shaped like notes. I knew right away. It must be because of the end-of-year evaluation assignment. I frowned for a moment and looked at the contents. It didnt take long for me to figure out what rule he had used to arrange the papers around. Wait a minute. I felt a sudden surge of wakefulness. Wheres the finished product? I found it right away. Seon Woojoo, who held the finished product tightly in his hand like a baby. I was worried that he might wake up, but I was more curious as a musician, so I took the paper out of his hand. Lets see. The sound of turning the paper echoed with his faint breathing. I stared at the paper until the ice in the Americano meltedpletely. Then I smiled. Look at this. My eyes were filled with joy as I looked at the young man sleeping. *** I had a dream. I was on a tourist bus with the pigs, going to Pyongyang for a pork belly party, when the driver suddenly let go of the steering wheel. In the dream, I was startled and pointed at the steering wheel. Hey, driver! The steering wheel- From now on, I will take you safely to your destination. Then EDM started ying. Sloshing. The driver and the pigs cheered and danced, shaking the bus. I screamed in fear as the situation seemed to tip over at any moment. Uh-oh! I opened my eyes with cold sweat and saw the practice room. Huh It was a total nightmare. The stress I had yesterday was bigger than I thought. I felt empty in my hand as I struggled for a while in the aftermath of the dream. Huh? Where did it go? As I got up to find the score I had written, something that had covered my body slid down. A cashmere coat. It looked like it would cost hundreds of dors at a nce. Whats this? No wonder I slept so warmly. I was confused by the mystery of the unidentified coat and the missing paper, when a message came at the right time. The sender was Director Jo Gyu-hwan. -Come to the recording studio on the second floor when you wake up. -PS. Bring my coat too. The director took it. I muttered like a sleep talker and brushed back my messy hair. Then I carefully took the expensive-looking coat. It felt like the moment when King Sejong covered Lady Shin with his dragon robe. I could imagine how burdensome she must have felt. By the way, why did he call me? *** The second floor of Lemon Entertainment was full of recording studios andplex equipment. It seemed to be the working space. It didnt take long to find the recording studio that Director Jo mentioned. [On Air] As soon as I went up, I saw the bright sign of the practice room On Air. Knock knock- Someone answered my knock. Come in. I opened the door and saw a familiar scene. The recording studio that I had seen enough at TJ Entertainment. Director Jo was looking at some papers and clicking his pen on the table, and a man was singing passionately in the recording booth. Huh? That guy. I looked closely and recognized him as Yoon Chan-hyuk. A singer who debuted as the winner of the K-Net audition program. He was one of the strongest yers in the music market with his top-ss vocals. It was strange to see someone I had only seen on music shows in real life. Director Jo nced at me and pressed the talk back button. Chan-hyuk, lets take a 10-minute break. -Why? Just take a break when I tell you to. You kid. Yoon Chan-hyuk came out of the booth with a reluctant expression, as if he was joking. Wow, he looks exactly like he does on TV. The singer, who reminded me of a friendly neighborhood brother, showed curiosity about me. Hyung, who is this? Hes a new trainee who just joined. Say hello. I bowed politely. Hello, senior. Im a new trainee, Seon Woojoo. Aw, dont be so formal. Just call me hyung. Senior sounds weird. Yoon Chan-hyuk, who was humming, looked at Director Jo. By the way, why did you call him? Well. I have something to talk to him personally. Sorry, but can you give us some space? For how long? Just a cup of coffee. 10 minutes? Maybe a little more. No, hyung. Yoon Chan-hyuk shook his head. I have to record when Im in the mood. You know that. Ill be back in 10 minutes. Hey. Hmm hmm. Hey, Yoon Chan-hyuk! Im singing in the rain~ Im singing in the rain~ Yoon Chan-hyuk sang and waved his hand cheekily. Director Jo clicked his tongue. They looked more like close brothers than a producer and a singer. You two seem very close. Close, my ass. Director Jo shook his head as if he was annoyed. Do you know how much I suffered to make him a human being? I quietly smiled, reminded of a grandmother who would say, I had a hard time raising you. Did you sleep well? Yes, thanks to the coat you gave me. Good, Im d. When I sat on the sofa, he took out something from the table drawer. It was the sheet music I made. This is yours, right? Yes. Then let me ask you a few things. Yes. What is it? Have you ever learned music? What do you mean by that I mean, have you ever learned music professionally? For example, harmony, music theory, and so on. Ah, yes. I recalled my past and answered. I learned a bit at my previouspany. TJ Entertainment? Yes. The producers there taught me some things. Like how to use MIDI or write beats. No wonder your basics are solid. Director Jo Kyu-hwan stroked his chin. Your arrangement shows that you can y some instruments too. Thats right. Piano? Yes. I practiced a lot when I was preparing for a concours in elementary school. Anything else? A little guitar. The producer strokes his chin. You did this in one day. This level of arrangement. Yes, but as you can see, its rough. No, no. You did great. If I were a college professor, I would have given you an A. Is that so? Did you hear a lot ofpliments on your talent forposing? I heard some at my previouspany. It must have been more than some. Youre so modest. I felt awkward by the praise from a famousposer, when he said something totally unexpected. Woojoo. Yes. Do you want to learnposing from me? Excuse me? I blinked in confusion. What did he just say? Are you a bit surprised? Its just that I see potential in you from your arrangement. Of course, youre still a rough gem, but I think you can be a beautiful jewel with some polishing. He asked me in a casual tone. How about it? If you learn well from me, you can go out as aposer-idolter. Ill do it. Huh? Ill learnposing. What the hell. A legend in the industry was offering to teach me his super skills. Who would refuse that? I had to ept it before he changed his mind. Maybe he thought I would need some time to think, Director Jo paused for a moment. Well, thats good. Then. He handed me a USB. Take this first. What is this Its your arrangement that I transferred to theputer. I tweaked it a bit. Wow, thank you. I bowed 90 degrees without realizing it. If I had done it by myself, it would have taken me until tonight, but the task was done in an instant. Then, lets see. To teach youposing, my schedule is As he looked at the calendar filled with letters like a curse, and tried to coordinate the schedule for learningposing, our conversation was interrupted by a bad singer with a burning passion. What? Youre not done yet? We bothughed at the bad singers eyes that seemed to say Recording! And more recording!. *** Im afraid that loving you will be my scar Yoon Chan-hyuk, who was immersed in singing in the recording booth. Jo Kyu-hwan nodded his head and gave some directions. Chan-hyuk, this is a stylish song, so you have to sing it more delicately. -I got it. He quickly changed his singing style as if he understood the direction. Hes a pro indeed. But what Jo Gyu-hwan was really focusing on right now was not Yoon Chan-hyuk. He recalled the conversation he had with Manager Yoon Seok-hwan this morning. Woojoo? Whats that? Manager Yoon Seok-hwan, who was looking at his smartphone in thepany lounge, asked. Why are you suddenly talking about Woojoo I saw thisst night. Sheet music? It looks like he arranged the song for the year-end evaluation by himself. Jo Gyu-hwan tapped the staff notation. Ive seen idolspose songs, but never arrange them. You know, arranging is much harder thanposing. You cant do it without musical knowledge. Oh, right. Yoon Seok-hwan said. He had a knack for that since the beginning. TJ knew that and took special care of him. They even assigned him a famous producer. He must have been a promising talent. How else could he survive there without being able to dance? Dance? He dances well. Thats because you saw him recently. He used to be terrible. He looked like a log trying to split a bamboo. A bizarre scene came to his mind. Well, anyway, when he left, thepany was sorry. They even thought about bringing him to the A&R department. He can y instruments, and he has a lot of talent. But? He said no. He said he only wanted to be an idol. Hes an unusual guy. Jo Gyu-hwan, who was quietly smiling, caught something in the others words. Wait a minute. He can y instruments? Its all in the genes. Genes? What do you mean? Oh, you dont know who Woojoos father is. Yoon Seok-hwan told him a name of three sybles. And Jo Gyu-hwans eyes widened. It was a name he knew. Chapter 10: Chapter 10: Chapter 10 8:30 a.m. I dered that the arrangement wasplete in front of the gathered trainees. What did you say? Seo Ri-hyuk had a doubtful expression on his face, as if he didnt trust his ears. How did you do that in one night? Well. Im kidding. It just happened as I did it. He looked speechless and asked. Are you sure you did it right? Youll know when you listen to it. The youngest one chimed in with a smirk. If you messed it up, its invalid. You have to buy us snacks. Hey, is snacks the most important thing in this situation? Why, hyung. They say a well-fed ghost has a good temper. Of course, eating is important. While the youngest and the main vocal were bickering, Kim Jung-hyun and Kim Bi-ju, the high school seniors, were talking among themselves. It sounded like something along the lines of He finished it already?, I dont know, lets just listen to it. I took the USB that I got from the director and plugged it into the speaker. Im a bit nervous. The director said he did someputer work, but I never actually heard it. I made such a bold im, but what if it suddenly sounds like a mess? Okay, Im going to y it now. They all looked skeptical. How high could the quality of an arrangement that was done in a hurry in one day be? But the atmosphere changed as soon as the apaniment started. Kim Jung-hyun made an o shape with his mouth at the neat introduction. He nodded his head, and Kim Bi-ju also nodded. The youngest one stopped chewing his chocte and listened attentively. Seo Ri-hyuk also listened seriously. The first 30 seconds were the time for evaluation. But after 30 seconds, the trainees were fully immersed in the song. Two different songs. The part where the melody that connects the middle of the songes out, which goes straight from the first verse to the second verse. They tilted their heads in confusion at the somewhat unfamiliar section. This is where Jung-hyun will rap. They all nodded, and especially the rapper Jung-hyun smiled with satisfaction. He said it was a good melody for writing lyrics. Soon, the rap part ended and the second verse began. The second verse wasposed of a different music from the first verse. They all listened with nervousness, but they all marveled at the smooth transition. How was it? I asked for their opinions after the song ended. Its amazing. I was a bit skeptical when you said youd do it in one day, but I didnt expect it to be this good. I like the rap part. It fits well. Im sad about the snacks, but I like it too. They all seemed genuinely satisfied. I was relieved. To be honest, I wasnt confident. It was the first time I did an arrangement in two years, and I made it hastily overnight, so I was worried about the reaction, but it was better than I expected. Well Seo Ri-hyuk opened his lipsst. Lets say you won the bet. Yeah. Im conceding because the quality is good. He looked reluctant but helpless, and I smiled at him. Now I got what I wanted. I didnt rely on my age or trainee experience, but I gained their trust naturally through my arranging skills. As promised, Ill have full authority over the performance. I recalled what I had nned in advance. Lets start with the role assignment. *** The choreography was done by the main dancer Kim Bi-ju. The vocal directing was done by the main vocal Seo Ri-hyuk. Kim Jung-hyun, the only rapper in the group, naturally took charge of the rap part. What about me? Uh well. I was momentarily at a loss as I looked at the youngest member, who was staring at me with wide eyes. It was hard to say he was useless. I couldnt say anything bad to a budding sprout, so I came up with a good excuse. Youll be in charge of supplies. Huh? What are supplies? Its taking care of snacks so that no one goes hungry. Oh, Im confident in that. The youngest nodded his head as if to say he could handle it. By the way, Woojoo hyung. Kim Bi-ju took out something from his bag. It was a spring notebook. He flipped open the notebook that said practice notes and skimmed through the densely written words until he reached the middle. Whats this? I heard your n yesterday and I roughly sketched out some choreography. What do you think of this if you havent divided the parts yet? Really? Let me see. On several pages, there were crude drawings of figures moving along different paths. The drawings were rough, but they conveyed what he wanted to do well. As I looked at them, I saw him with new eyes. You made this in one night? Yes. Youre amazing. It was a sincerepliment. When I was at TJ Entertainment, I had to make choreography for the monthly group evaluation, so I knew how hard it was to make choreography. And he did it in one night. And the quality was better than I expected. No wonder he had dark circles under his eyes. He was different from the other trainees. Why did he have shadows under his eyes? It turned out he went home alone and made this. Okay, then lets go with this I was about to continue when I stopped. Huh? I noticed something strange as I looked at the choreography distribution that Kim Bi-ju made. It was too natural that I didnt notice it. Wait a minute, I divided the parts yesterday. Part distribution. The first thing to do when doing a group performance is to divide the parts of the song. And then you have to make choreography. I took out the part distribution outline that I saved on my phone andpared it with Kim Bi-jus choreography distribution. Wow. Whats wrong? The youngest, who couldnt stand his curiosity, joined in. Look at this. I handed him my phone, and the four of us gathered around to look. Just like me, they looked back and forth between Kim Bi-jus choreography distribution and my part distribution, and then blinked their eyes. What? Why are they the same? Kim Bi-jus choreography distribution and my part distribution matched almost 90 percent. It was an unrealistic thing. It was as if we had telepathy. It was hard for Kim Bi-ju, who divided the choreography by himself on the bed, and me, who arranged the song in the practice room, to have the same frequency of thought. At that moment, we all felt a strange conviction. It was like a sign before a big hit. We all nodded quietly as we looked at each other, feeling that everything was falling into ce. Shall we go with this then? They all nodded at my question. It was the moment when the part distribution, choreography distribution, and role allocation were decided in less than a day. That meant that the basic framework waspleted. By the way, what are we going to call our team? Team name? Kim Bi-ju smiled at my question. As we belong to different agencies, we have to make a team name before we debut. We also have a new member, so we want to change it. What was your previous name? Lemon Boys. Why does my face feel hot? Its a bit weird, right? Its not a bit, its very weird. Who came up with that? The CEO did. Now that I hear it again, its a nice name. The trainees chuckled at my change of attitude. Even though it was temporary, making a team name was a difficult task. Devils, Yellow Green, Five Star, and all kinds of nonsense came out, but none of them stuck. It was like choosing ate-night snack. I needed something that would capture my appetite, but nothing came to mind. Lets just decide on something. Its only temporary, right? How about Five Star? Not that one, Jung-hyun. I shook my head at Kim Jung-hyun, who had been insisting on Five Star. He looked at the others with pleading eyes, but soon deted at their unanimous rejection. Seo Ri-hyuk delivered the final blow. Just go with Five Star. Really? I can always quit. I never thought choosing a name would be so hard, after we had arranged the song, divided the parts, and learned the choreography. As we were struggling, the youngest spoke up. Woojoo hyung. Yeah? Hyung, where did you buy that sweatshirt? This one? K-mart. I asked with a smile. Do you like it? No, I only wear expensive stuff. Wang Ji-ho said sarcastically, pointing at my sweatshirt. Hyung, theres something written on your sweatshirt. This? Yeah, what does it say? Jung-hyun hyung, read it for us. Chicken is the new ck. I looked at the words on my sweatshirt, hearing Kim Jung-hyuns fluent English pronunciation. Wang Ji-ho said. How about that? New ck. New ck? How is it? Every time a name came up, there was always some criticism, but surprisingly, there was no objection this time. It was decent. I even searched the inte to make sure it didnt have any weird meaning in English, but it seemed fine. The New ck. An expression used to mean a new trend. Who agrees to go with New ck? Everyone raised their hands at my question. Thats how our temporary team name New ck was decided. All that was left was practice. *** December 2013. While everyone was busy wrapping up the year, we were also immersed in preparing for the end-of-year evaluation. Thankfully, all the members of team New ck did their jobs well. Okay, lets check the choreography first. Kim Bi-ju came up with an amazing choreography in a few days. It might not be impressive to an expert, but it suited our taste. But because of the higher difficulty than expected, the other members, except me, were dying every day as if they had entered hell. Especially Seo Ri-hyuk, who was a dance hole, his face turned paler by the day, but he was like a fish in water in his own field. The vocal tone is not clear, Bi-ju hyung. You told me to do it as usual. Youre not using your voice properly. Sorry. I think I messed up the breathing at the beginning. Ill go back to the beat. It was a terrifying directing, more so than any tiger teacher. We had to improve our skills by force, because if we made even a slight mistake, we would get a sharp criticism. Hyung, can you listen to my rap? Kim Jung-hyun, the rapper, also did his role well. His lyrics had a rhythm that made me nod my head, and his flow was full of rhythm and rhyme. When the rap was over, the youngest came over like a paramedic and gave Kim Jung-hyun a chocte. It was a cute scene every time I saw it. We were all doing our best in our own areas. December 28th. For the uing final battle. *** On December 27th, the day before the year-end evaluation. I wanted to hear her voice after a long time, so I called my grandmother. After a few rings, a Busan-like voice and a cheerful voice rang in my ears. -Is it Woojoo? Yes, grandma. Its me. -What are you doing at this time? When did I ever call you for a reason? I answered with a smile. Ah, I just wanted to hear your voice, grandma. -Youre sick. Dont curse. -You deserve it for doing such things. Thats too much, really. I called you because I missed you, grandma. I smiled at the grumbling that came from the other side of the phone. Are you ready toe tomorrow? -Im all set. If youre not feeling well, just stay home. Its not a big deal toe all the way to Seoul. -I have to go, then. Right? -Yes. If I dont go, youll regret itter, right? Youll say, Grandma, I was sad back then, how could you note? Well. Thats not wrong. Actually, Id be happy if you came to see me, grandma. -Right? Yeah, yeah, thats why I prepared a gift for you this time. To give it to you, grandma. -What? Did you buy me another nutrition cream or something? No, something else. I had bought a clothes for my grandmother at a department store a while ago. Of course, it was a secret until tomorrow. How about the nutrition cream I gave youst month? Are you using it well? -Im saving it. Its good because its foreign. I felt proud at the sound of her liking it. Tell me if you want to buy anything else. I got a signing bonus this time, so Im rich. -Youre sick again. Its true. Buy a lot of cosmetics, too. Then you can get date requests from grandpas at the senior center. -Enough, you. If I were a man, Id be sick of you. You dont know how much I suffered, bleeding and crying, until your grandfather died I guess I chose the wrong topic. My grandmothers voice, spitting out herints about myte grandfather like a machine gun. Grandma, I think I have to go now. -Why? Dont you want to listen? No, its time for practice. The kids are calling me. That was true. The youngest was running towards me like a puppy from afar, while I was talking on the phone in the hallway. See you tomorrow, grandma. With that, I hung up the phone. *** Mrs. Kim Deok-soon sighed after hanging up the phone. Ugh, what a sick kid. It was pitiful that he had to do this until this time. An idol, huh. Whats that, that hes clinging and crying like that. She was secretly happy when he said he would give up. But then he said he would do it again. What can I do? Hes twisting his own fate. Ever since he was young, he dreamed of being an idol. And now, He finally made it this far. Tomorrow is the day of the evaluation. What was it called again? Mrs. Kim Deok-soonid out the clothes she would wear tomorrow and applied some skin cream on her face before going to bed. Then, she suddenly remembered something. Something in her vanity drawer. In the second drawer, there was an old picture. An aged paper that showed the passage of time. [Seon Woojoo, 2nd grade, ss 1] Under the clumsy handwriting, there was a drawing. A child was ying the piano and singing under a yellow spotlight. [Future dream: Universe Superstar] [Teacher, I will be the most famous person in the world] Mrs. Kim Deok-soon looked at it and prayed deeply in her heart. Dear Buddha in heaven. Please. Please let my grandson seed this time. Chapter 11: Chapter 11: Chapter 11 December 28th. The long-awaited day of the year-end evaluation finally arrived. We were crammed inside the Starrex, swallowing our saliva nervously. We were wrapped up in padding, scarves, and hats, but our bodies were still shaking. We dealt with our tension in different ways: some shook their hand warmers silently, some licked their dry lips, some bit their nails. I sat in the passenger seat, melting my cold hands with a hand warmer. The car was cold. We didnt turn on the heater, afraid that our vocal cords would dry out in the middle of winter. I spoke to Seok-hwan hyung, who was holding the steering wheel. Hyung, this feels like when I went to take the college entrance exam. Are you that nervous? No, it means I have a good feeling. Wait a minute. Yoon Seok-hwan narrowed his eyes. Didnt you not take the exam? Oh, right. We looked at each other nkly and then burst intoughter. Meanwhile, unlike the cheerful atmosphere in the front seat, the back seat was quiet. If the youngest, who usually chattered excitedly, was silent, you could imagine how serious it was. Hey, Kim Bi-ju. What should I do? I have to do well this time. Why? My dad is bringing my grandfather too. He even rented a bus for the vigers. Kim Junghyun, who was always calm, sighed deeply. Well. I guess I wouldnt be able to sleep at night either if the vigers came on a rented bus. Cheer up. Kim Bi-ju said. I was nervous when my sister came, but it was nothingpared to you. I only have my younger sistering. I think my whole family ising. My dad might be too busy toe, but I hope he doesnt. As I listened to the youngests stream of consciousness, I thought of something else. Come to think of it, we had been practicing happily for a month, but we didnt know much about each other. No, to be precise, unlike these guys who knew each others situations, I was the only one who didnt know. Seok-hwan hyung nced at me. What did your grandmother say? Huh? Is sheing? She said shell be at the terminal soon. I have to tell her the wayter. As I checked the messages from my grandmother on my smartphone, Kim Bi-ju stuck his head out to the front seat. Manager. Bi-ju asked. Who are our judges? Well, I dont know exactly. I think Yoon Chan-hyuk will be representing our side. And I think Jang Sowon will being from Hwai Entertainment. Jang Sowon sunbaenim? Why? Were in trouble. As if they were facing the end of the world, the kids looked worried. Seok-hwan hyung looked at me, asking for an exnation. One of the songs we chose for the year-end evaluation is Jang Sowon sunbaenims song. Oh, thats tough. Anyone who watched the audition program would know, but singing a judges song in apetition was a risky move. A singer is a pro who gets paid to sing. Its not easy to sing in front of an expert who knows everything about music, especially the song that they know best. To put it simply, singing Jang Sowons song in front of Jang Sowon was like a college student who had to do a PPT on the professors specialty in front of a Nobel Prize winner in economics. Aye. Thinking about it made me nervous too. I straightened my hunched shoulders and shook my head. By the way, Jang Sowon. Come to think of it, I sang Jang Sowon sunbaenims song at the audition too. I was nervous, but I was also a little excited to see the owner of Red Moon, the song I sang at the audition. Jang Sowon. She was a member of the girl group Sugarfish, which debuted when I was in high school. Now, Jang Sowon, a former member of the disbanded group, is actively working as a singer-songwriter. She is one of my favorite singers because I like her melody lines. Thats why I chose her song as my performance piece from the beginning. I was nervous but excited to perform in front of my favorite singer with her song. By the way, I had something to tell you guys. Yoon Seok-hwan said as if he remembered something. Its nothing big. K-Net sent a cooperation letter saying theyre filming a reality show today. Filming? Seo Ri-hyuk, who was sitting in the back seat, raised his eyebrows. What filming? You know, right? Street Boys, the boy group thats debuting from DNS. Theyreing to film their reality show and take a few scenes. Its just one camera, so dont be nervous. Haha. The expressions of the kids who were turning into ster statues in real time were priceless. There was no Agrippa that I saw in the art room. Seok-hwan hyung coughed awkwardly and said, This is not it. Should I turn on the radio? His hand pressed the radio button and adjusted the FM frequency up and down. " This is a story sent by listener 5289. Hello. Im a listener who has been listening to TBC Beautiful Morning for three years. As winteres and the cold wind blows, I keep thinking about my eldest daughter who is abroad. " A calm voice recited the story. The tension that was tight like a string in the Starex interior loosened slightly. "Such a big kid is taking an important test today. She wont be able to hear me because shes taking the test right now, but I want to tell her whats in my heart using the radio. Seongeun, mom knows how hard you worked. Its not about doing well, but doing your best until the end. Dont feel pressured. Mom trusts you. " It was a moment when Seongeun, who was abroad, became resentful in the situation where everyone was nervous because of their family. The kids stiffened at the burdened tone of the MC. " Well y listener 5289s request song, Family Photo " Seok-hwan hyung switched the channel to AFN and a fierce rap flowed out, but the atmosphere was already as heavy as it could be. At the same time, the distant view of the high school came into sight. " " What are we going to do with this mood? Seriously. *** Taehwa High School auditorium. The empty auditorium was filled with coldness. No one was there, so it seemed like we were the first ones. Hoo. The trainees started to warm up with heavy breaths. Kim Bi-ju came up to me while I was stretching. Woojoo hyung. Yeah? Im worried, but will our stage really go well? I couldnt help feeling anxious even though I practiced countless times for a month. Well. I made the performance together, but the arrangement was entirely my own work. I wasnt sure about that part. Itll be fine. Dont worry. Actually, Im not sure either. The stage is so unpredictable that I cant tell what situation will unfold. I just have to do what I can. But I cant say that to them who are anxious. I smiled confidently, contrary to my inner feelings. Come on! Lets match the lines in advance. The reason we came early was to check the harmony on the stage. As we danced and hummed, our stiff bodies loosened up. At first, I couldnt show my skills because it was a strange ce, but as I repeated, the way I did in the practice room came out naturally. I wish I could do this much in the real thing. I thought so and moistened my throat with warm water in the thermos. nk. The auditorium door opened and bright light came in. A group of men came in with loudughter. They wore oversized clothes, gold nes, and other hip-hop fashion items that caught my eye. There was no need to say who they were. Street Boys. *** The boy group that was about to debut from DNS Media was our rival for the year-end evaluation. The Street Boys, who wereughing and joking among themselves, seemed to notice us soon enough. The eyes of the trainees from the two agencies met in the air. The air felt cold on my skin. For 0.5 seconds, there was a sharp exchange of res. Hello. Hello. We greeted each other politely and passed by. It would have been a disappointing scene for anyone who expected a confrontation, but thats how reality was. It might have been different if it was a scripted survival program. But it was hard to feel any hostility towards people we barely knew. The only thing we felt was a sense ofpetition, because our agencies were rivals. While we practiced in one corner of the auditorium, they also made their nest nearby. They had nine members, and their atmosphere was quite different from ours. They were lively, to say the least. They had a lot of noise, not only because of their number, but also because they seemed rxed. They were a bit over the top, though. It was probably because of the K-Net production team that came with them. The cameraman with the ENG camera, the PD, and the writers. While they practiced, they would act cute or wink at the camera. And all of that was watched by our New ck members, who were bursting with envy. Hello, fans. The member with pink hair stood in front of the camera. We, the Street Boys, came to this Taehwa High School auditorium to prepare for the year-end evaluation performance. Woohoo! The members filled the audio with their own apuse, while the writer with a notebook asked a question. What is the year-end evaluation? Well, the year-end evaluation is a monthly evaluation that is conducted by five agencies, including ours. Its an event where we invite thepany staff and family members and perform for them. We will do our best to show you a great performance today. Please look forward to it! As the leader finished his speech, the other eight members also made V signs or shouted Peace! at the camera. Go Street! As they all shouted their slogan, I felt the morale of our New ck members plummet below zero. Maybe it was because of the trauma of losing our debut or the inferiorityplex. They kept shrinking. The more theyughed and talked over there, the more our kids were conscious of it. A vicious cycle. What to do about this? I was thinking of a solution when I felt a sudden change. Even though I didnt say much, their skills changed all of a sudden. They were good. Just a moment ago, I was the only one who was very passionate, but the rest of the members also started to do well. Kim Bi-ju pulled off the choreography beautifully. Kim Junghyuns hand gestures were shy in his rap part. Seo Ri-hyuk hit a three-octave high note from his throat. And the youngest, who performed the cute choreography with 120 percent. They were really good, our team. Yeah. I knew they could do it. I smiled proudly, and then I blinked at what was happening nearby. Whats going on over there? The Street Boys side. They also wiped the smiles off their faces and practiced twice as hard as before. What was going on? Why were they like that? There were oohs and aahs of three-octave ad-libs and unnecessary dance breaks everywhere. It was as if they all had a stim pack. The mystery was solved soon enough. Director. Please capture the other trainees on camera too. Make sure the whole auditorium is in full shot. Got it. Wow. The trainees are really good. It was because of the camera. Every time the reality camera of Street Boys pointed at us, Seo Ri-hyuks high notes exploded. Kim Jung-hyuns rap poured out like a machine gun. I looked at Kim Bi-ju, who danced like a puppet, and Wang Ji-ho, who sparkled his eyes and acted cute. I heard the admiring voices of the K staff. Wow. They are so passionate. Youth is good. Dont they sweat if they do that already? Did they hear that? As if they had practiced under the scorching sun, the trainees on both sides started to pretend to wipe their sweat. I smiled happily as I watched the trainees who were sincere to the camera. As expected. Broadcasting is the best. Chapter 12: Chapter 12: Chapter 12 I should make a note of this. The camera at the broadcasting station is the cure-all for trainees Hyung, we look good on camera, dont we? Definitely. Well be awesome. I smiled as I watched our kids whispering to each other. It was the moment when I had a great realization, after worrying about how to boost their morale that had hit rock bottom. The moment when we became Street Boys, New ck, and We Are the World. From the Street Boys side, a pink-haired guy nodded his head and gave us a thumbs up. I guessed what he meant by that. The camera is great. Its the best. Its thrilling. On our side, Kim Jung-hyun also nodded his head and raised his thumb. Hey, dont do that. I was speechless. Werent they the ones who were having a nerve-wrackingpetition just a while ago? But they were also kind of cute, so I quietly smiled. Then, my eyes met with the leader of the Street Boys. We had the same look in our eyes. A feeling of disbelief as we watched our younger siblings giggling at the camera and the attention of the broadcasting staff. So youre the same. Thank you for your hard work. As he nodded his head, I nodded back. *** While New ck was practicing, Yoon Seok-hwan was waiting for someone outside. A very important person. Soon, he spotted the person among the crowd. A woman in her seventies wearing a mink coat. Yoon Seok-hwanpared the womans face with the photo on his smartphone and approached her with a smile. Are you Woojoos grandmother? Yes, I am. But The other person looked him up and down with a suspicious eye. Who are you? Im Yoon Seok-hwan. Im Woojoos manager. Oh, Ive heard of you. Kim Deok-soon showed a bright smile. That, a manager who begged my grandson to be an idol? Excuse me? Thats what he said. He said he had a manager he knew and he asked him to please help him out, so he had no choice but to do it again. Yoon Seok-hwan realized the whole story. Seon Woojoo, that bastard. He sold me to his grandmother because he was afraid he would get scolded if he said he was doing idol again. Hey, why are you standing there like a statue? Sorry? Didnt youe to guide me? Yes, I did. Then guide me! I cant see the way at all and Ive been wandering around this neighborhood. My legs are killing me. Yes, yes, grandmother. Of course, Ill guide you. Yoon Seok-hwan climbed the stairs slowly, matching the pace of Kim Deok-soon, who was grimacing with pain in her knees. On the way to the auditorium, Woojoos grandmother asked cautiously. Are you a director? Are you a high-ranking person? No, Im not. Im just a staff member who takes care of the kids. No, Im just worried that my grandson might cause trouble for you because I was rude to you. The person who was fuming with anger just a moment ago suddenly became careful when it came to her grandson. Yoon Seok-hwan smiled and replied. Dont worry about it. Really. Im sorry. My legs were hurting so much earlier. Its okay. Haha. But is he really good? Sorry? I mean, when he joined the otherpany before. They only did the contract and stuff, but I never saw him sing or dance. Dont you know? He never does it when I ask him. Hes so bad at it, and hes so shy that he twists his body and says, Grandma, I cant do it. Thats surprising. Hes not like that. Before long, the auditorium was filled with people. There were more than 100 people in total, including the staff from five agencies and the families of the trainees. Yoon Seok-hwan smiled as he guided Mrs. Kim Deok-soon to a chair. You can look forward to todays stage. Really, its a stage that your grandson prepared with blood and sweat for a month. Is that so? Youll see. Yoon Seok-hwan gave a meaningful smile. *** The year-end evaluation finally began, with the trainees families and thepany officials gathered in one ce. The host was a fairly famousedian. Hes on TV. Oh, my, oh, my, is he the one whos on that fishing program? Unlike the calm officials, the trainees families chattered excitedly at the appearance of the celebrity. The audience burst intoughter every time the host cracked a joke. Of course, not everyone enjoyed it. Cant they hurry up and get on with it? Have some patience, oppa. Arent you bored? I want to finish quickly and go eat. Yoon Chan-hyuk, a bad singer, yawned repeatedly. Jang So-won looked at him with disdain. Oppa, youre not even doing any eventstely. What are you so tired of? You try doingeback and concert preparations at the same time. Oh, right. When are youing back? Next month. Thats a relief. I thought it would ovep. Jang So-won brushed her chest. It was a pain topete with a bad powerhouse in the music charts. She was d she avoided that situation. Yoon Chan-hyuk asked in a sullen tone. When are you releasing yours? Im negotiating with thepany. Still? You know thepanys finances are not good these days. I want to release it around next February, but it depends on the situation. Yoon Chan-hyuk then remembered the project that she was working on recently. Are you doing a coboration? Yeah. Did you find a singer to sing with? No, not yet. Jang So-won sighed deeply. I made the base of the song, but I cant find a singer to sing with. I want something fresh, but theres no such singer these days. What about me? Oppa, youre not very fresh, are you? Forget it, then. Yoon Chan-hyuk grumbled. Im too busy to do it anyway. *** I heard a snicker from Jang So-won at myme excuse. We were casual drinking buddies who often met at these asions, so our conversation was informal. We chatted and joked like we were here for fun, but as soon as the show started, the atmosphere changed 180 degrees. Our eyes became sharp and focused. We transformed into professional judges and quietly checked the evaluation sheets. It was the end-of-year evaluation. There were 10 teams in total, since somepanies had many participants. Unlike the monthly evaluations, there was no time for criticism or praise after each performance, because the trainees families were watching. The end-of-year evaluation was an event for the families. To show them how their sons and daughters were doing. So it was not appropriate to ask for our scores in front of them. Instead, we announced the rankings from first to third based on the judges scores. As each performance ended, we gave our harsh opinions from the judges seats. What do you think? Some were negative. I thought they were trying to be sexy, you know? But in my opinion, they were not sexy at all. Their expressions were artificial and They seemed nervous, didnt they? Its okay to be nervous as a trainee, but you cant show it on stage. Some were positive. They were all good. Their voices, pitch, tone were stable. They should have more confidence. They dont need to be so humble with their skills. And some were general and agreed upon. The level is high this year. The judges nodded and looked at the schedule. Only two left, right? Lemon and DNS. DNS are the ones who are debuting soon, right? Street Fighter. Street Boys, sir. Oh, right. Whos first? Oh, Lemon, I see. Theyreing out now. Oh, theyre all handsome. Five trainees appeared on stage, each wearing a stage outfit. As if it was a school festival, there was a polite apuse, and the brown-haired handsome leader grabbed the microphone. -One, two, three, hello! We are New ck. -Please introduce yourselves. -Im Seon Woojoo, a 22-year-old trainee. They each said a word to introduce themselves. They all looked nervous. The kids who held the microphone and stood on the big stage. Wow, theyre so fresh. Theyre all my type. So cute. Yoon Chan-hyuk and Jang So-won exchanged such words, but they tilted their heads when the music came out. The music that came out of the speaker was trot. They were not the only ones who reacted that way. The judges, the staff, and everyone else looked up at the sudden sound. They all showed curiosity, but the most dramatic reaction came from the audience. The middle-aged audience who had been yawning openly until then. They only paid attention when their own children came out, but they didnt care about the performances of other peoples children. Idol songs were a culture that the parents generation could not understand. They couldnt understand the English lyrics that were rampant, and the performance was only dizzying and not fun. When there were only two teams left, the parents were looking at their watches, waiting for the boring show to end. Thats when the trot music came out of the speaker. They looked at the stage like bears waking up from hibernation. It was a familiar ssic for the middle-aged generation, Please Be With Me. The arrangement was slightly modernized, but the main melody was a trot that everyone knew. The trainees who moved to the big stage. In the meantime, a group p started in the audience. The sound of pping along with the beat. It was a different reaction from before. The members who had stiff faces looked at each other. And then they all looked at one person. To them, Seon Woojoo smiled as if to say, See, I told you. Lets start with a trot song? Four weeks ago, in the practice room. Seo Ri-hyuk frowned. He couldnt believe it. He wasnt looking down on trot songs. They were popr among the older generation, and the trot singers had undeniable skills. But that had nothing to do with the performance of the trainees. Are you serious? Its fresh and fun. Theres a limit to being fresh. This is not a joke, this is a stage. Just like the outfits, the performance also has to suit the time and ce. Thats why we should do a trot song. Seon Woo-ju smiled. Think about the show time. Our stage is either ninth or tenth, right? By the time we go up, the judges and the audience will be exhausted. Our families might like whatever we do, but what about the others? He had a logical tone. Its not bad to go safe, like you said. But the songs that the trainees choose are either pop songs or electronic songs with loud sounds. They might sound different to our ears, but to the audience, theyre all simr. But if we start with a trot song, well have half of them hooked. He had a point. There was a legendary singer who won a music award with a simr strategy in the past. Everyone agreed with Seon Woo-jus words. And this is about the venue. Have you ever performed at Taehwa High School? No. We performed at Chanyoung High School. While you were debating, I searched for the pictures of the Taehwa High School auditorium. Look at this. As you can see, the stage is smaller than you think. That was something they hadnt thought of. Seo Ri-hyuk let out a faint exmation as Seon Woo-ju showed him the picture on his smartphone. If we do a trot song, we can make the choreography movements smaller. From what I saw, the other teams didnt consider this and theyll stumble. He was right. The teams that performed so far made a lot of mistakes. It was because of the narrow stage. They had prepared shy and cool choreography, but there was not enough space to show it. Even if they changed the movements after the rehearsal, it was impossible to avoid mistakes after practicing for a month. Then their expressions changed. They were distracted by the movements and couldnt focus on the stage. How could the audience focus when the singers couldnt? But New ck was different. They had adjusted the movements beforehand, so they could concentrate on the stage, and it showed on their rxed faces. The audience rxed their bodies. They felt morefortable than the previous stages that were well-done but somehow uneasy. Look at them? Jang So-won smiled like looking at a cheeky junior. Your kids, I dont know whos in charge of the choreography, but theyre not ordinary, huh? What do you mean? Look at the movements. So? Ah. As a professional singer, Yoon Chan-hyuk also realized what she meant. Theyre not stumbling. Theyre good at using the space. There must be a smart kid in the team, right? You cant do that choreography without doing some research beforehand. Jang So-won rested her chin on her hand and sparkled her eyes. Maybe well see an interesting stage. Soon, the instrumental ended and the song began. The first member toe out was Wang Ji-ho. When a young middle schooler with a cute face appeared with a microphone, everyones attention was drawn. Where are you, my love Are you here or there Why are you avoiding me I didnt do anything wrong The adults smiled at the catchy trot song. His acting was excellent. He had the right amount of charm for his age group, without being too much. The people felt a friendly vibe from him. Seeing their reaction, Wang Ji-ho smiled. Thump. I could hear my heart pounding. It was a feeling that anyone who had been on stage would know. The stage was where the singer and the audience exchanged emotions. I felt the warmth of the audiences goodwill, and a tingling sensation in my chest and a shiver in my throat. Trot was an excellent choice. Ji-ho, you have to do the first verse. No question. Why? What do you think is the reason for doing trot? To get the attention of the people, of course. And obviously, the most eye-catching member should go first. Thats when Seon Woojoo said. In my opinion, your strength is your facial expressions. You have the power to make the viewers focus on you with your charisma. You have to use that to your advantage. As he finished his part, Wang Ji-ho winked and threw a finger heart to the audience. Everyone except the healthy males smiled. He moved to the side and exchanged a look with Seon Woojoo, who wasing on stage. He saw a grateful look in his eyes and responded with a gentle smile. When Seon Woojoo appeared in the center, a different kind of smile emerged from the audience, who had been smiling like mothers at Ji-ho just a moment ago. Chapter 13: Chapter 13: Chapter 13 Wow, hes handsome. Which agency did he say he was from? A song without any gimmicks, but with a standard quality. Unlike Wang Ji-ho, who had a fresh charm until a moment ago, this one had a sense of skill and ease. Im right here Come to me,e to me Why dont youe to me Please say something to me If the first part was meant to capture the attention, the second part was meant to convey the emotion. Moreover, it was a perfect part for Seon Woojoo, who had not yet fully developed his skills, as it had few high notes. The song builds up with the umting emotion I cant wait any longer But you dont seem toe At the moment that reached the highlight, Seon Woojoo quickly moved to the side. The main vocal finally appeared. Seo Ri-hyuk grabbed the microphone and stood in the center of the stage. My love, where are you Ive been wandering this world looking for you Lets hold hands at least A skill that was different from the others who sang before. Everyone who heard the song was amazed. The vocal was well bnced between the sorrow and the trendiness. And while the main vocal was singing, the other members supported him like dancers in the back. They were five, but the stage was full of their performance. Meanwhile, Jang So-won eximed. Wow, who did the arrangement? Why? Dont you hear it, oppa? The tone of the song is changing. Yoon Chan-hyuk, who was listening carefully, also widened his eyes. It was a song that started with a trot sound, but when he came to his senses, the tone had changed. The atmosphere gradually changed to a pop feel. Was that why? Even though the main vocal was singing the chorus of the trot, the distinctive trot-like feeling was noticeably reduced. It was a slow change, so it felt natural. As if to symbolize that change, when the first verse ended, the rest of the members all left the back stage and the rapper appeared. A heavy rap delivered by a low voice. You who were with me when I was struggling I was always sorry I couldnt buy you anything My sorry heart I wanted to show you a proud look Even if its not a big gift My appearance on stage I hope you keep it in your heart Thanks to the urate pronunciation, Kim Jung-hyuns rap was delivered quickly. Words for the parents. All the parents in this ce smiled warmly. Gratitude for those who are with us. It was the topic chosen by the five trainees of Lemon Entertainment. The gratitude for the parents and siblings who came to see the stage was the topic they wanted to express. This song that you like prepare for you So, Let me tell you something The only word we want to say A moment of pause. Kim Jung-hyun finished his rap with a cool smile. Thank you and I love you The song started again. It was a different song from the trot in the first verse, but people were so immersed in the song that they didnt notice it. Huh? Thats my song! Jang So-won opened her eyes wide. Her first single With You was ying in a dance version. As soon as the rap ended, the five members entered the stage and started dancing. The center of attention was undoubtedly Kim Bi-ju. His boyish appearance contrasted with his high-level choreography. The audience gasped at the impact of the gap. Thanks and thank you Fold your gratitude Into a letter And open your heart to me Unlike the first verse, the second verse appealed to the 20s and 30s. The upbeat rhythm and the cheerful apaniment created a lively atmosphere. The second verse flowed smoothly from the first one. Then, after the chorus, the bridge part leading to the third verse. The calm apaniment started to build up. Their movements matched like waves, down to their fingertips. Even those who didnt know much about dance could tell how much effort they had put into this one move. It was a precise choreography. And then. Finally, when the apaniment was about to explode. Seon Woojoo, who had been dancing on the edge, moved slowly against the current. But faster and faster. His legs elerated and flexibly dropped to the floor. He slid gracefully like a dolphin cutting through the water. He slid down and stood up in the center with an elegant gesture. Silent exmations erupted everywhere. *** I felt relieved when the most nerve-wracking move was over. I did it. I felt more rxed. I had sessfully pulled off the part that I was afraid of messing up. It felt like a ten-year-old indigestion had cleared. The others felt the same. They said they trusted me, but they must have been worried that I would make a mistake. The mood of Team New ck changed. They seemed to loosen up. Their expressions and dance lines became softer. It was fun. There are stages like that during a performance. When you do better than you prepared. When you go beyond 100 percent and reach 120 percent. When you feel sorry that the song is over. It wasnt just me who felt that way. I could tell that everyone felt the same. Without words. They looked like they wanted to unleash everything they had for the remaining time. And while that was happening, something changed in my heart. There had been a wall between me and the members, knowingly or unknowingly, for almost a month of practice. But through this stage, I felt that wall finally crumble. No. To be precise, it felt like everyones wall was copsing. Amon ground of loving music and dance. We felt like we became one as we performed thest part. Thanks and thank you Fold your gratitude Into a letter Open your heart for me Lee Hyuk, or rather Ri-hyuk, sang the chorus while I danced my best. As if it was thest time. As if I would never be on stage again after this. We matched every move, even the slightest gesture, and finally we reached the end of the stage. We stood on the stage, panting. There was silence for about two seconds, and then apuse erupted. It wasnt a thunderous apuse. Honestly, this wasnt the stage of the century, was it? But it was a good stage. If I had to choose the most brilliant stage in this year-end evaluation, I would pick us without hesitation. But it didnt matter how the reaction was now. We had another gain. We poured out everything we had practiced on the stage and smiled at each other. I just felt good. I dont know how to exin it. Liberation? Or joy? A feeling of fullness that I couldnt describe with anything. A feeling that I could do anything and wanted to do everything together. I spotted my grandmother in the middle of the audience and gave her a bright smile. Grandma. Im here. *** You did well! You did well. Kim Deok-soon, who was pping, even teared up, and Yoon Seok-hwan, who was watching, smiled and said. How do you feel, grandma? Your grandson, he sings well, right? Hmm. She came to her senses when she saw her grandsoning down from the stage and coughed. Well, hes not bad. He could go to the national singing contest. Didnt you just love him? Oh, of course I did! How can I not love him if hes like you, sir? Yes, Im happy too. Yoon Seok-hwan, the manager, said. I didnt know he could do this well. He was worried that he might make mistakes like he did in thest mid-term evaluation, but he did so well that it was beyond his worries. You worked hard. Kids. He sincerely apuded. *** Street Boys looked like they had their spirits drained by our stage. They were half-mental from the start. -Hell -Hello! We are Street Boys! Their greeting was not in sync. They must have practiced a lot, because they didnt make any mistakes, but the stage was nd. Maybe they were conscious of our stage, which was aimed at the masses. Hip-hop and rock mixed performance was important for confidence, but it had ack of confidence. In the end, the first ce of the 2013 year-end evaluation naturally went to New ck of Lemon Entertainment. *** Director! Were number one! -You did well, kids. When they showed me the cheap trophy, Director Jo Kyu-hwan, who was on a video call, smiled as if he was proud. The youngest shouted with an excited face. Buy us meat! Meat! -Ill talk to the president. Hell buy you some today. He said with a smile. -Anyway, congrattions and you really worked hard today. Kids. The president who came soon after seemed to be in a good mood, and he keptughing and announcing a dinner. There was also a time for family reunion. Grandma! As soon as I saw her, I ran over and hugged her tightly. Let go! You little rascal! Just let me do this for a bit. I really missed your smell, Grandma. Ugh. Grandma grumbled, but soon patted my back gently. I grabbed her shoulders and looked at her with sparkling eyes. How was it? I did well, right? Well. Yeah, yeah You did. What? I cant hear you. Ah! I said you did well! Oh, my goodness. We were having a conversation with our families, but our members were still gathered in one ce. I didnt know why. Maybe we just wanted to be together right now. We felt happy and smiled whenever we looked at each other. You guys did a great job. Really. So did you, hyung. Bi-ju said with a smile. Wow, I was so worried when you said you were going to do trot, but it was really It was a masterstroke. Yeah, it was a masterstroke. You did a great job, hyung. No, you guys did more. The five of us were having a contest to see who could say the most ttering words. Thats when an unexpected third party joined the conversation. Hello. We all froze when we saw the person who cut through us. A beauty with a coat over her shoulder. She had slightly nted eyes, but a charming smile on her lips. She was the singer, Jang So-won, and she was looking at us. Oh, hello! Senior! Hello. She had a seasoned air about her. She was the original singer of the song we performed. It was like Jesus suddenly appeared at the weekend church camp. We had no choice but to freeze. I watched your performance. It was fun and well-organized. Thank you! I bowed 90 degrees and greeted her. The others quickly followed suit and bowed in unison. Ouch, my ears. Just rx. No, no. I just came to say hello and thank you as the original singer. Its only polite to do so. Jang So-won smiled and scanned us. She had the eyes of a predator looking for prey." By the way, who did the arrangement? It doesnt look like thepany did it for you. It seems like you did it yourselves. I raised my hand. I did it. Really? You did it? Yes. Good for you. Jang So-won looked around us and asked. I want to give you my contact number. Who is the leader among you? Leader? We havent Before I could finish saying that we hadnt decided yet, I blinked. The other four members were gesturing to me with their eyes. Jang So-won nodded as if she understood. So youre the leader? I thought so. She wrote her number on a post-it and handed it to me. Here. This is my number. Why are you giving this to us? Im preparing a single with a coboration song. I was looking for a singer to sing with me. With us? We looked at each other. Was Jang So-won offering us a coboration? Dont worry about it. Ill talk to thepany too. Okay, okay. Ill be waiting. Jang So-won made a phone gesture with her hand and smiled at us before turning away. We bowed our heads awkwardly as we watched her back. Wow. When she was gone, everyone gathered around me. The members looked at Jang So-wons number as if it was a precious ring. And the people around us were watching us. Hey, Seon Woojoo! Someone ran over and grabbed my shoulder. Seok-hwan hyung looked at me with a flushed face and nced at Jang So-won who was disappearing in the distance. You just, I mean, did you get a coboration offer from another singer? Uh? Uh. You lucky bastard! Seok-hwan hyung was happy as if he had gotten free publicity and suddenly hugged me. Hey, get off me! The people around usughed at my annoyed reaction. It was a pleasantughter. Chapter 14: Chapter 14: Chapter 14 Daily Life, and the Dorm Two weeks after the end-of-year evaluation. After spending three golden days of vacation in Gunsan, I turned twenty-two as the new year arrived. 2014 The entertainment industry was bustling from the start of the new year. The news of a famous girl group member and a top star actors romance swept the entertainment news, and a drama that reminisced the 90s was making headlines every day. And there was also the uing big event. Something about a kingdom. An animation that Ji-ho had been raving about ever since he saw the trailer on YouTube, saying Hyung! Hyung! You have to watch this for real! was about to be released. Should I book the tickets for him? I was checking the screening schedule on my smartphone when I closed the window at the notification that asked me to log in. Ugh, too much hassle. Bi-ju or Ri-hyuk will do it, right? Then I zipped up my padding jacket all the way. The chilly wind was blowing in the alley of Sinsa-dong. I walked briskly into the Lemon Enter building. I was about to go to the practice room with a heater when I saw a stranger in front of the elevator. A woman wearing a ck mask and a padded jumper. She pressed the elevator button several times, then noticed a paper that said and got annoyed. Ugh, this sucks! A husky voice. Shes a singer. Why does it have to break down today of all days! She seemed to be furious at the thought of having to carry her luggage up the stairs. A heavy-looking carrier. Can I help you? Why today, of all days! She burst out again, and I quietly backed away. Im the weakest link in thispany. A lowly citizen like me just passed by quietly. Excuse me. And a failed escape. Excuse me? The ck mask went down to her chin, revealing her fair skin. She had a big and distinctive pretty face. And a face that I knew. She was one of the members of Scarlet, a senior group in thepany. Sorry, but can you help me with this? Yes! I smiled brightly and nodded. Of course I should help you. The basic of social life is to look good and be liked by the seniors. Besides, its just a carrier. Lets get it over with quickly, I thought, and grabbed the handle of the carrier. Thats really heavy, so be careful- Dont worry. This much is nothing Hrk! I lifted the carrier and fell over. I told you. Its really heavy. I didnt know it was this much. Even though I did 100 push-ups every day after being discharged from the military, I strained my muscles. It felt like a sack of rice. After several attempts, I finally lifted the carrier, and the other person went up the stairs and reached out her hand. What is it? I asked you to help me move it. Yes. You did. I meant lets carry it together. I didnt want to pass the luggage to her, but seeing her roughly 150 cm height and thin arms and legs, I changed my mind. It would be easier for me to do it alone. Ill just carry it, senior. Just show me the way. She stared at my face closely as I climbed up slowly, one step at a time. I dont recognize your face. Youre a new trainee, right? Yes. Im a senior singer. I smiled at the sight of the other person who was puffing out his seniority with a stern face. You obviously know who I am. Of course. I also knew his name. Arent you Daisy, the senior? Thats right. Daisy of Scarlet smiled with satisfaction. Youre a great junior. Thank you for your ahhhh. Hey, are you okay? Im, Im fine. Senior. You dont look fine. You have the expression of a grandfather whos about to copse. Rain poured down in my heart. Sigh. Lemon Enter, second floor. As I passed by the recording studio where I learnedposition from Director Jo Gyu-hwan every week, another studio appeared deep inside. When I finished the delivery there, sweat was pouring down my armpits and back. Good job. Daisy handed me a tissue as if to wipe off the sweat. I watched her open the carrier while poking her eyes. What was in there? The box of red ginseng was packed so ambitiously. No wonder it was heavy. I was surprised when another item was added. Do you carry dumbbells around the studio? Theyre for stretching my feet. The chair is too high. Like this. The short senior singer lifted the dumbbell with difficulty and ced it under the studio chair. Then he sat down and tapped his feet. Perfect height, right? It felt like he was saying Ta-da, impressive, right? but I was just dumbfounded. Senior. Yes? Have you ever heard of a footrest? Its one of the great inventions of the 21st century. Senior? He wasnt listening to me at all. Daisy, who was humming a tune and filling the studio fridge with red ginseng drinks, handed me several bottles. You worked hard, so drink a lot. Thank you. I drank the red ginseng juice as soon as I took it. It tasted bitter and healthy. As expected, free stuff is the best. I looked around and asked. Is this the studio of Scarlet seniors? Yep. I was envious. I wonder if we could get a studio someday. Who did the interior design? Who do you think? She asked me back with an expectant look. I pretended not to know. Did you do it, senior? Thats right. I did a great job, didnt I? A pink sofa with a zebra cushion. It was the kind of interior that an interior designer would change for free. By the way. Daisy asked as she closed the fridge door. I heard a while ago that youre coborating with Jang So-won senior? Yes. There was a huge rumor in thepany. What rumor? The new trainees did a great job, and the PR team staff were gossiping about it. They said the managers mouth was up to his ears because they got free publicity. She showed her curiosity. How is it going now? I dont know. They said theyre negotiating with Hwai Entertainment. Daisy opened her mouth and said Hmm. Well, I hope it goes well. Thank you. With that, we said goodbye. Its time to start the lesson. Ill go now. Wait a minute. She stopped me from leaving. She opened her wallet from her padding and handed me something. What is this? Its a tip. Buy some snacks with the kids. There were two Shin Saimdangs. All the fatigue I had so far melted away. Oh, its okay Why dont you lower your mouth and say it? Take it before I change my mind. Ill take it gratefully, senior. Ill buy a delicious meal with the kids. What senior. It was time for her to say to call herfortably. Call me sister next time. Huh? Call me sisterfortably. Well, I can call you that if you want, but She tilted her head at my words. What are you talking about? Youre not a high school student, are you? Im twenty-two. She suddenly went silent and blinked her eyes. Really? Yes. Oh, you look so young. Good job and see you next time. I smiled quietly as I watched Daisy fumble with her words. Then I bowed my head and left. As soon as I closed the door, I heard a faint scream of Embarrassing!. I took out my smartphone and typed Daisy in the search bar. Her profile appeared. -Day-Z (Kim Nayoon) -Singer -Born: 1996.03.27 -Group: SCARLET -Agency: Lemon Entertainment Shes three years younger than me. What is this happy feeling? I didnt feel this way when I was in high school, but now that Im in my twenties, I feel happy when I hear someone say Im young. I have to tell my siblings quickly. *** Lunchtime. We had finished our morning work and came to a nearby restaurant. ck Pork Butcher Shop. It was our favorite spot for lunch, cheap and tasty. As usual, we ordered the bulgogi set and chatted about what happened to me this morning. So what did he say? Im twenty-two, you know. His pupils started shaking when I said that. The members burst intoughter. We were alwaysughing at the slightest things, since we spent all day in the practice room. Bi-ju added. I get where Nayoon ising from. Huh? I felt the same way when I first met hyung. I thought he was younger than me. Me too, I thought he was a high school student. Right. If he hadnt told us his age from the start, we would have made a mistake too. Hmm. What was this satisfying feeling? Well, I do look young, dont I? Nah, thats not it. Jung-hyun said with a smile. Hyung, the more I look at you, the more I see that old vibe. True. Doesnt hyung have that thing? Whenever he gets a chance, he goes ouch~ and rubs his back. Lol Lol Lol A simrughter spread among the kids. Maybe we had be close enough to do that. We whispered jokes without hesitation. I looked at the duck hot pot boiling on the gas burner. It was a special treat we bought with the 50,000 won someone threw at us this morning. Jung-hyun savored the delicious smell and said. But Nayoon must be making a lot of money. She pulled out a 50,000 won bill and paid right away. Of course she is. Honestly, 100,000 won wouldnt be a problem either. Ouch. Scarlet is one of the top girl groups right now. If they keep it up for another year or two, they could buy a building in this neighborhood with cash. Really? Ri-hyuk nodded at my question. They have more sales than bigger groups, but ourpany pays well. Oh. Woojoo hyung, you didnt know that when you joined? The youngest exined. Among the small agencies, Lemon Entertainment was one of the few that matched the big four in terms of welfare for their artists. Oh. That was news to me. The youngest showed me the inte and exined how otherpanies paid. Then he suddenly changed the topic as if he remembered something. Right. Guys, do you know this? There was a post about us a while ago. What? Hold on. For real? For real? Everyone crowded around Ji-ho. It was the first episode of Street Boys reality show yesterday. So there were some reactions posted, and we were mentioned too. [Anyone watched the new reality show on K?] I usually start stanning groups through reality shows I turned on the TV and saw Street Boys? They have a reality show now It was not very fun so I was about to turn it off, but the scene where they did the year-end evaluation or something was interesting lol The kids from Lemon Entertainment seemed to do better [37ments] -I dont usually stan groups through reality shows or variety shows -The reality show was boring Its only the first episode so its hard to tell, but I dont really want to watch more Honestly, when was thest time a debut reality show was fun? You watch it for the fresh vibe -Who knows the name of the brown-haired guy in the main picture? Its urgent! Whats the rush lol What are you going to do with them, they havent even debuted yet How would I know the profile of a trainee who hasnt debuted -They only appeared briefly but they were good I was more drawn to them -Are they all staff from the agency or what? Theyre not just good-looking, right? Ugh, I smell a male fan with bad eyesight The fight started in the middle of thements, and out of the 40ments, 70 percent were arguing. What? Ri-hyuk frowned. Is this all we get for our reaction? Well, technically, its a reaction to Woojoo hyung, so its our reaction. Yeah, Ri-hyuk. Bi-ju said with a smile. Honestly, it feels good just to be mentioned, right? The members scrolled down thements to see if there was any mention of them. But at some point, they became quiet. They followed a link and yed a video, and then they all looked at me. Whats wrong? Woojoo hyung. The members eyes were filled with admiration. You gave up the college entrance exam to save your grandfather? They all looked at me as if they hadpletely misunderstood something. *** Hey! Break time. When I came back to the practice room after drinking water, Ji-ho shouted. Its him! Its him! And then various jokes followed. You guys are hooked on this. I felt embarrassed every time I heard the awkward nickname of hero. The younger ones threw a word or two at me, as if they enjoyed seeing me embarrassed. As they joked around and rested, our manager Yoon Seok-hwan appeared at the door. What are you doing, not practicing? He alwayses when were resting. He looked like he was going to nag us like our grandmother who woulde into our room and scold us during exam periods, so I cut him off. What brings you here? Oh, right. Seok-hwan hyung nodded. I have something to tell you. I have three good news for you, which one do you want to hear first? The best one first. We just finished the revenue sharing negotiation with Hwai Entertainment. We signed the contract, so youll be coborating with Jang So-won right away. Finally, the schedule is fixed. Whats the other news? Second, we also finalized the contract for your dorm. You can move in from this weekend, so adjust your schedules ordingly. The sooner you move in, the better. We have a dorm now. We all exchanged nces and muttered awesome with our mouths. We were looking forward to thest good news, but we were surprised by the words that came out of his mouth. Lastly, your group name is also confirmed. Its New ck, the name you came up with. Wait. The name I took from my sweatshirt logo? Chapter 15: Chapter 15: Chapter 15 New ck? Why? Seok-hwan hyung tilted his head. Is there a problem? No. Not really. There was no problem. But I wondered if it was okay to use the name I made up on the spot based on the words on my clothes as the official team name. It might be sudden, but the CEO came to the fortune-telling shop after the year-end evaluation. A fortune-telling shop? They asked what the name of the new boy group they wereunching should be, and they said to keep it as New ck. They said it felt good. But then Yoon Seok-hwan told me the name that the CEO and his staff hade up with before. And I had to admit, New ck sounded way better. I had a few candidates in mind. I''ll read some of them to you. First, Guardians. I guess it means they protect their fans. "" Flying Angels. Or FAG for short. Hot Voice. The point was to emphasize thest sound to make it sound like Voice and Boys. Oh, this one was rejected in the middle. I looked at the group names written on my smartphone. With each name I read, our faces turned paler. How did thispany manage to survive without going bankrupt? I knew something was off since Lemon Boys. When the exnation was over, we desperately squeezed out our voices. New ck sounds really good. Yeah. Now that I look at it, its like a gem. Director Yoon Seok-hwan chuckled. See? New ck is the best, right? Yes. The group name might not suit your taste, but its not that important. Even if the name is weird, it wont be a problem if you be famous. Look at the Americans. Have you ever seen them unable to pronounce Dostoyevsky because its hard? We nodded our heads at his logical argument. Thats how New ck became the official name of our debut team. Yoon Seok-hwan said as if he had thought of something fun. Do you know what? What? The fortune-teller that the CEO gave a generous tip to said something strange. Just listen to this for fun. Yoon Seok-hwan said with a smile. He said that you have to use the name New ck to achieve great sess. He said that if you use that name, you will probably be the most famous boy group in the world. Weughed at that. It was a ridiculous thing to say. *** That Sunday. I dragged my suitcase along the alley in Gangnam. I didnt have to go far before I saw my destination. A four-story vi. I heard that room 301 here was our new dorm. Can you believe theres no elevator in this day and age? I groaned as I climbed the stairs with my heavy luggage. Ugh! When I make it big, Im going to move to a ce with the best elevator ever. Seriously. I finally reached the third floor. I entered the door lock password and opened the door. The space was more spacious than I expected. Not bad. I smiled contentedly as I thought it was roomy. But then I felt something was wrong. Wait a minute. This is not spacious I looked around the dorm in panic, but it was exactly as I saw it. A living room and a bathroom. That was all. There was one bedroom attached, but it was hardly a room. There were three bunk beds crammed in there, and I could almost hear the CEOs voice. Haha. Woojoo. If you want to get out of here, you have to seed. The ce was barely furnished, so there were sawdust everywhere on the floor. I lifted my foot and saw that my sock was ckened. I need to clean this up. Is there any way I can dump this on the others and get out of here? I seriously considered it, but gave up. It doesnt matter, right? I turned on my smartphone and found the best angle to capture the living room. With my years of experience as a selfie expert, I took a picture. Then I sent a message to my grandmother. Me [Grandma~ This is our dorm] I sent the picture that showed the living room in the best light. I wanted to reassure my grandmother who might be worried, so I chose the best shot. She replied right away. KingGodKimDeokSoon [Looks nice] KingGodKimDeokSoon [You have to work hard] Me [What?] Me [What kind of grandmother tells her grandson to work hard? Thats not my grandmother, right?] Me [Give me back my grandmother, Kim Deok-soon] She replied shortly to my yful message. KingGodKimDeokSoon [Crazy kid.] Wow, thats harsh. Really. Is that our grandmother? I sent a protest message, but there was no reply. Should I call it a cool read receipt? But I felt less worried when I sent her a picture. I felt relieved as I thought that. I switched the chat window and entered the group chat. Seon Woojoo and his ckers (5) Me [Im here!] Me [Where are you guys? Are youing?] The 4 that was floating in front of the yellow message started to disappear one by one. Kim Jung-hyun [I think Ill bete] Seo Ri-hyuk [Eek, Ri-hyuk is on his way] Me [Whats with that weird way of talking?] Seo Ri-hyuk [Teehee] What is this, I blinked my eyes as the chat window was filled up. Seo Ri-hyuk [Wang Ji-hyo Mannerless] Seo Ri-hyuk [That wasnt me who sent it] Seo Ri-hyuk [Im so pissed off] Wang Ji-ho [Lolololololol] Wang Ji-ho [It was me, bro] Wang Ji-ho [Were on the bus right now lol] It looked like Jihyo had yed a prank with Ri-hyuks phone. I tilted my head as I saw the 1 that didnt disappear in front of the message. Thats strange. Usually, Bi-ju is the first one to read and reply. As I wondered about that, I heard the sound of the doorbell. Ugh! A face covered with sweat appeared. A decent height and a slender figure. He looked like a young schr, sitting on the entrance with his hands full of luggage. Wow, I thought I was going to die. Bro. Bi-jus hands were red from carrying so much luggage. You should have called me if it was hard. Huh? Why? I can carry it myself. Anyway, you worked hard to get here. How about a ss of water Oh, right. Theres nothing in the fridge. I brought some. Bi-ju rummaged through the mart stic bags and took out a bottle of water. Wait a minute, Ill look for a cup in the kitchen. Its okay. You brought that too? This time, a box of paper cups came out of the stic bag. I was sincerely impressed. Youre amazing at preparing. Really. While Bi-ju was drinking water slowly, I looked at the mart bags. What did you buy so much? The manager said theres only a bed and a fridge in the house. So I stopped by the mart on the way. Whats this? Mold remover. Then whats this? Deodorizer. Ill put it in the closet and the shoe rack. I stuck out my tongue as I saw that he had brought all the cleaning supplies that I needed. Hes really good at housekeeping. As I watched Bi-ju neatly sort out the cleaning supplies by type, I suddenly remembered something I had forgotten. How did you pay for this? This? Of course, I paid with my own money. Let me see the receipt. Why? Why? We have to split it by N. Nah, its okay. Bi-ju waved his hand with a smile. Were all going to use these things anyway. Because were all going to use them, thats why. It doesnt make sense for you to pay alone. But bro, I bought these on my own. Isnt it a bit rude to ask the others for money? No. Its not. I said firmly. Just give me the receipt. Im fine. Youll be in trouble if you keep letting yourself get ripped off like this. How are you going to survive in society if youre so naive? I uploaded the receipt photo and the amount to deposit to the group chat. I was about to say, you take a picture of your ount and upload it, when I put down my smartphone and met the eyes of someone staring at me curiously. Whats up? Oh, Im just amazed. By what? My sister always says that. Really? I asked with a smile and gave Bi-ju a brief guide on the amodation. After checking out the ce, Bi-ju expressed a simr impression to mine. It reminds me of the movie I watched with Jung-hyun a while ago. What movie? The Shawshank Redemption. The one about escaping from prison? Yeah Weughed for a while, but at the end, it turned into a sound that I couldnt tell if it was crying orughing. A sad situation that was also funny. We looked around the cramped ce and started making a list of things to clean. Are you going to start right away? No. We have to wait for the kids. I matched his calm smile with a warm expression. Yeah. We have to do this together. As we skimmed through the cleaning list and wondered who to assign what to, the ves arrived one by one. Were here! Our youngest, always cheerful. Wow, whats with these stairs Leehyuk, who came in with a half-dazed face, dropped his luggage and copsed. While he gulped down the water bottle that Bi-ju handed him, as if it was the elixir of life, the youngest looked around the ce. And then he showed a surprisingly identical reaction. This is all the amodation? Yeah. Its not bad if you look around. Ive never seen him speechless before. Iforted the youngest, who looked as deste as a man who had lost his country. There was only one thing I could say. Lets seed. *** Human adaptability is truly amazing. I adapted to the New ck Prison, which I thought I could never adapt to, as if it was my own home. I got used to Jung-hyuns snoring every night, and to Leehyuk, who muttered Im going crazy in sync with him, tossing and turning. I also got used to the youngest, who would always ask me Hyung, are you sleeping? If youre not, y with me. and wake me up, then fall asleep by himself. We all adapted to the ce. And so, after a few days, we had a routine for our morning activities in this prison I mean, amodation. Hmm. Early morning. As always, I yawned and came out, and heard a tter from the kitchen. Bi-ju, who would always wake up before anyone else and prepare the meal. Did you sleep well, hyung? No. I shook my head. Jung-hyun snored like crazy yesterday. It was no joke. I couldnt sleep at all. Really. Me neither. I had a dream that I was defusing a bomb and cut the wrong wire. I woke up from the explosion, and it was Jung-hyun snoring from the second floor. Bi-ju chuckled. I put the water bottle back in the fridge and stuck my face in the ce where the cooking was going on. What are you doing? Im making toast. It was mostly simple cooking, but making five servings every day was still a very hard task. Can I help you with anything? Just set the tes, please. Okay. We spread the table in the cramped living room and put the tes on it. Around then, another member would wake up from his sleep. Im up. He opened his eyes wide and flopped down on the sofa in the living room. The youngest. Hed be better off sleeping. He repeated opening and closing his eyes, nodding his head. The reason why this guy, who slept the most among the members, got up so well was because of breakfast. Ji-ho. Hm? Yes? Just sleep. No. I have to eat the biggest toast. At this point, it was a great obsession. He would nce at the food when Bi-ju divided it with a frying pan and take the biggest one for himself. Dont eat and wait. Ill wake up the kids ande back. While the youngest and I drooled over the toast, Bi-ju went to wake up the members. It was obvious who would get up first. Im not eating, hyung. Seo Ri-hyuk, the main vocal who always skipped breakfast because of his small appetite, went straight to the bathroom. Bi-jus regretful expression. Soon, when Jung-hyun, who barely got up, joined us, the four of us having breakfast was our fixed routine. Kwarurur- Jung-hyun looked at the ceiling and said casually. I guess the upstairs bathroom is flushing water. Yeah. The dormitory was so poorly soundproofed that we could hear the upstairs bathroom flushing. This was also part of our everyday life. -Ah, hot! Oh, that too. Chapter 16: Chapter 16: Chapter 16 The sound of a car hornes from outside the dorm. Looks like the manager is here. Lets go down. It was Yoon Seok-hwan, who came to pick us up at the same time every day. Afraid of getting scolded, we quickly put on our clothes and grabbed our shoes that were scattered around. By the way. Im sure Bi-ju cleaned everything up the day before, but when did it be a mess again? Ji-ho, thats not mine. Hyung! Thats mine. While the culprits who took up 90 percent of the shoes at the entrance were making a scene, Ri-hyuk opened the shoe cab and looked at them with disdain. Meanwhile, Bi-ju checked the gas and electricity cords. After finishing all this and getting into the Starex on the first floor, that was the end of our morning routine. Hello! Good morning, manager. Recently, thepanys staff had quit one after another, so manager Yoon Seok-hwan was in charge of picking us up from the dorm to the practice room. Of course, today was a little different from usual. Manager Yoon, who was dressed dandy. We were also not wearing our usual tracksuits, but rather decent casual clothes. Are you all ready? The corners of Yoon Seok-hwans eyes rose through the rearview mirror. Today was the day. The day we went to Hwai Entertainment for the coboration work. Coboration. It was an industry term that meant working with another artist. To be more specific, it was when artists with different genres or musical colors sang together. It was different from featuring, which was often marked as feat. Hong Gil-dong in songs, where the other musician only participated in a part of the song. Coboration meant that the two musicians had equal weight. It didnt really matter. It was just a convenience to distinguish them, and even the people who worked in the industry were confused. I really had a hard time with the featuring terminology. Manager Yoon brought up the behind-the-scenes of the negotiation with Hwai Entertainment. I thought I was going bald because of them. Who? The CEO? Everyone in the car burst intoughter at the youngest who suddenly joined the conversation. Im sorry, CEO. Manager Yoonughed as he took out the memory of the ck box in the car. I have to erase the ck box recording every day because of him. What if someone listens to it, really. You can turn off that function. Its okay. I sometimes use it anyway. He plugged the memory into his phone and continued his interrupted story. It was a mess because of the song title. Hwai Entertainment said that they were not artists who hadnt even debuted. They wanted to do it with Feat, and we said that it was obvious that they had equal weight. They fight over that too. Thats why we have a nningpany, you bastard. Manager. Ri-hyuk, who was munching on a banana in the back seat, asked. So what happened? We tied it up somehow. I told them that we had a talented kid who couldpose among us. Hes not just singing, but also participating in the song work. Manager Yoon looked at me and asked. Why did I say this? To do well? Thats right. You have to do well. Whether the song title will be Jang So-won X New ck or Jang So-won Feat. New ck depends on your hands now. It was a word that felt a lot of pressure. By the way, Ive never been to Hwai Entertainment. You havent been there? Ri-hyuk hyung, I originally went to audition for acting. Thats why I came to ourpany in the first ce. So his dream was to be an actor. I thought he looked like an actor every time I saw him. I asked Ri-hyuk. Have you been to Hwai Entertainment? Im probably the only one whos been there among us. I went there to audition for vocals. Oh, the one you got eliminated in 10 seconds? It wasnt 10 seconds. "You said it yourself, right? You got eliminated as soon as you entered the audition venue." "Why did you get eliminated?" Ri-hyuk answered reluctantly to my question. "They said I looked like I could sing well, but they made me dance first." Everyoneughed, except for one person. Seomo, who was ranked fifth in the New ck dance hierarchy and had been swallowing tears in his heart, rationalized. "It was apany that we wouldn''t have joined anyway, even if they begged us." "Oh, really? Hyung?" "Can you please be quiet" While the youngest smiled at his sincere request, Ri-hyuk started to talk about the Hwai Entertainment building. "I was going to give up because of the facilities." "Facilities?" "It looked decent from the outside, but it was weird inside. I went into the practice room and there were toothpaste stains on the mirror." "What. That was a long time ago." I said as if to summarize. "It could be different now." "But Hwai Entertainment has a lot of money, right? It was the secondrgestpany among the ones that participated in the year-end evaluation, after us and DNS. Why was their practice room like that?" "That''s true." "Wasn''t that when the seniors of Sugarfish were doing well?" We all wondered at Bi-ju''s words. Hwai Entertainment. At one time, it was apany that ordinary people would say "Ah!" when they heard it was the agency of Sugarfish, because the power of Sugarfish in their heyday was enough to threaten the top girl group at the time. They must have made a lot of money back then, but why were their facilities like that? The more I thought about it, the more it seemed like a sloppypany. They didn''t even have an official website. Usually, if they have a certain size, they would have a website with pictures of their artists, but Hwai Entertainment didn''t have anything like that. Well. It doesn''t really matter. Anyway, Hwai Entertainment was one of the well-known agencies then and now. I''ll show you the dance moves I prepared for you Follow me, Honey A girl group song with a lot of electronic beats mixed in came out of the radio. The familiar chorus tickled my ears after the bridge part ended. Baby Lla Baby Lla Bi-ju hummed the song and nodded his head. The other members also sang along to this song, which was hot on the charts recently. The singer was none other than Girls On Top. Hwai Entertainment was their agency. "Girls On Top are really hot. Isn''t this still number one?" "Probably." "No, it''s not. They only got first ce on the music show once in the first week." "Really?" Scarlet made aeback in the second week. They must have been second ce for the whole period. Thats why their nickname was Beans on Top. Girls on Top. A four-year-old girl group that was doing well. They were famous among the general public for their variety shows and dramas, and in the industry for their good songs. A line of digital monsters that followed their senior group Sugarfish from the same agency. Their debut album was a flop, but after that, all their title songs ranked within the top 10 on the charts, showing their great poprity. The only drawback was that their songs were all simr in vibe. Girls on Top seeded with a second-ce marketing strategy. They didnt aim for the first ce, but solidified their image as the second ce. Thanks to this strategy, Girls on Top approached the public as a friendly second-ce girl group, while the first ce kept changing. Until Scarlet appeared the next year. In 2012, a rookie girl group called Scarlet, produced by Director Jo Kyu-hwan, emerged and started to push Girls on Top out of their second-ce position. Their nickname Beans on Top also changed, and their presence in variety shows also diminished. But they were still a well-known girl group. Come to think of it, Hwai Entertainment has an amazing lineup of girl groups, really. They probably feed thepany. I guess so. But wasnt Sugarfish more awesome? They were huge when I was in elementary school. The 90s-born kids who shared the same memory nodded. Sugarfish. They were once called the top group of their peak, boasting an incredible poprity, but their glory was short-lived. It was because of the controversies of the members. One of them was arrested by the police for smoking marijuana with her boyfriend, I think. It was a shocking incident at the time. The most popr member of the girl group that sang well on music shows the day before appeared on the social page of the newspaper the next day. Somehow, Sugarfish tried to continue their activities after kicking out the member, but theypletely lost their lifeline when another member was reported to have an affair with a movie director. Five members. Jang So-won was one of the three remaining members. She was a really amazing person. It took a long time for Jang So-won, who fell from a popr singer to the bottom, to make aeback. The path of a singer-songwriter. Using her ownposing skills, Jang So-won seeded in building a new image by taking advantage of the fact that she was an unpopr member. And now she was the most sessful member among the five. She participated in drama OSTs and released single albums. Unfortunately, she didnt have a hit song yet. The song I sang at the audition, or the one I used for the arrangement at the end-of-year evaluation, was an average song that ranked 70th on the monthly chart. Of course, it was an amazing achievement for us who hadnt even debuted. What happened to the other Sugarfish seniors? I dont know, except for Jang So-won senior. I heard that Baek Hyang senior quit and went to school or something. Lisa senior is living as a musical actress. Theyre all doing well. Then what about the other two? I dont know. Theyre probably not doing well. The topic of the conversation moved to another direction. Maybe it was because of their status as trainees who had a foot in the entertainment industry, but they seemed to have a lot of rumors they heard. They were telling each other what they knew. I frowned as I watched them. What are they talking about? It felt like watching entertainment reporters on TV saying things like Miss A or Mr. B and gossiping. And it seemed like I wasnt the only one who thought that way. The eyes of Seok-hwan hyung, who I could see through the rearview mirror, were grim. Are they going to get scolded? But before I could say anything, Yoon Seok-hwan cut in. Hey, kids. His voice was cold and the air froze. The four trainees who were chatting in the back seat widened their eyes. He looked angry, unlike usual. What are you doing now? The members stiffened at the managers sharp gaze. Im asking you. The atmosphere was like before a storm. What are you doing now? Are you not going to answer? We were talking, sir. Bi-ju looked around nervously and Yoon Seokhwan stared at the kids in silence. A cold silence. I was also tense, sitting in the passenger seat. He drove without saying a word for a long time. It was as if he wanted us to think about what we did wrong. Unlike the youngest and Junghyun, who didnt catch on, Ri-hyuk sighed and Bi-ju made an oops expression. After about five minutes, Yoon Seokhwan spoke calmly. Kids. Thankfully, his tone was gentle. I dont mind if you gossip about the entertainment industry among yourselves. Thats fine. But dont you think you should keep those stories to yourselves? Were sorry. I dont like how it looks either, but how do you think it looks to others? He shook his head. It doesnt matter if Im the only one here. I wont spill anything you do wrong. But youre not going to debut? Youll have a road manager or a stylist soon, are you going to do this then? At this point, Jung-hyun and Ji-ho also made an oops expression. Road managers are really tough, kids. When celebrities make ten million won a week, they barely make a hundred a month. Itsmon for them to quit for a mere hundred thousand won more. Do you think they wont spread what you said when they go somewhere else? Yoon Seok-hwan emphasized. The entertainment industry is small, kids. You havent experienced it yet. A story you tell in the car can spread to the whole set the next day. He looked around at the nodding kids and turned to the youngest. And Ji-ho. Yes? The youngest shrank his shoulders, afraid of being scolded. You know you were careless with what you said about the CEO, right? Im sorry. Ill be careful next time. Stop saying youre young, youre young. Be careful. Got it? The youngest nodded at Yoon Seok-hwans emphasis to think before he speaks. We might have felt bad depending on the person, but we all agreed with his calm tone. We had no choice. He wasnt speaking with emotion, but telling us what we did wrong and how to be careful in the future. It was a manager-like action. Unlike fans who love us no matter what we do, managers have to tell singers what they need to hear from an objective standpoint. And Seon Woojoo. Yes, sir. Here ites. You know you made the biggest mistake, right? Im sorry. The younger ones might not know better. But youve been to the army, you know what kind of remarks are problematic. If this happens again, you have to step up and take action. Got it? I wanted to say that I was going to do that, but I admitted it was my fault. So I bowed my head and said. Im sorry, sir. Please do well, Woojoo. Seok-hwan hyungs eyes looked gloomy as he looked out the window. I cant always be by your side. Chapter 17: Chapter 17: Chapter 17 Making the First Song 10 minutester. We arrived at the Hwai Entertainment building. It was in the same Gangnam district as Lemon Entertainment, but quite far from it. A street full of simr-looking buildings. Unlike ourpany, which looked like a normal vi, Hwai Entertainments building stood out at first nce. Wow. The youngest eximed, and Ri Hyuk nodded. I told you, right? It looks decent from the outside. It reminded me of a Hollywood movie where a cutting-edge ITpany had a branch in Korea. A neat white building. But our admiration from outside turned into horror as soon as we entered the building. What is this, this gloomy atmosphere? I remembered an old building I saw in Gunsan downtown when I was in elementary school. It had a creepy vibe. They must have made a lot of money with Sugarfish and Girls on Top, but where did that money go? Do you want toe with me to the office? We all declined Mr. Yoon Seok-hwans question. It was already awkward to be in someone elsespany, let alone where the employees were. He smiled and said. Okay. Go ahead and wait in the studio on the third floor. Jang So-won said she would be a bitte. Howte is she? I dont know. She had a schedule at dawn and shes on her way now. We nodded and headed for the stairs. Mr. Yoon Seok-hwan, who was in the elevator, tilted his head at us. Youre not taking the elevator? Ah, it feels like we should do this. Whatever. Do as you please. Ill contact you when its over. Ille and get you. Its not that we couldnt take the elevator. But it felt like we should do this. It wasnt just me, the others felt the same. It was the kind of sense that trainees shared. It was like a new recruit being careful about using the facilities in the base. The five timid ones climbed up to the third floor by stairs. A quiet hallway. We peeked our heads over there and exchanged conversations like a strategy meeting. In a low voice. Hey, where did he say to wait? The studio. Theres more than one studio, right? About seven rooms. And they all had no windows, so it was hard to tell if there was anyone inside. Should we ask the manager, hyung? Yeah. As I nodded at Bi-jus answer, I saw the members looking at me and doing nothing. What? You want me to ask? Nod nod. They must have remembered the scolding. Hyung is close with the manager. You know, birds of a feather. Yeah. Fine. You guys. I shook my head and sent a message to Seok-hwan hyung. While waiting for his reply, we just waited quietly near the elevator. He must have been in a meeting with the person in charge, because there was no reply. Then, the most nice-looking door in the hallway opened. Click- Our first reaction was admiration. Girls who looked like dolls with delicate features. They were wearing different clothes with their own personalities. We didnt need to exin who they were. Girls on Top. Seeing the faces we saw on TV in real life, it felt strange and also they look exactly like on TV. There was no aura or anything. It was just a very curious feeling. Ugh, Im so tired. The manager said the schedule is dyed and told us to hurry down. Why are they so pushy? The ones who were chatting among themselves with pale faces from the exhausting recording session stopped talking. They had spotted us. Our eyes met and we both felt awkward. We heard them whispering to each other, Who are they?, What are they doing here? They seemed wary of the strangers. We were also flustered, missing the timing to greet the senior singers. One of them came out. Hey. She was a member with fair skin and a pure manga protagonist-like appearance. Joo Hana. She was the visual member who made my seniors and juniors scream whenever she appeared on TV when I was in the army. Her voice tone was a bit high when I heard it in person. Who are you? Ive never seen you before. Ah, hello. I bowed politely and the others followed suit. We would have to face them anyway once we debuted. I thought it would be better to make a good first impression and smiled. We came here to work on a song with Jang Sowon sunbaenim. We heard them say hello awkwardly from their side. Oh, youre singers. You look like rookies, did you debut? We havent debuted yet. Excuse me? Were still trainees- Ah. What? Joo Hana looked incredulous. Youre trainees? At that moment, the cautious atmosphere from the other side disappeared. We saw their faces change as if they were thinking, We wasted our greetings on them. I felt sorry for my siblings who were trying to keep their expressions in check. As for me, I didnt care much. But I felt a bit bitter as I got a glimpse of the true face of the entertainment industry, where attitudes change depending on the rank. Joo Hana brushed her hair back and nodded. Ah, well good luck then. With that, she walked past us as if she had nothing more to say. The others followed her. They looked like a pack of lions following their leader. But one of them stayed behind. What was her name? I didnt know. She didnt seem to care about us at all. Her eyes were fixed on Wang Ji-ho. But something was wrong. Her eyes were burning with hostility. Hey. Wang Ji-ho. Huh? Dont you greet your seniors when you see them? Seniors? Ji-ho tilted his head. Why are you my seniors? Were in the same grade. Im your senior in this field, you know? The member who had a prickly reaction nced at us. Then she opened her mouth with a sharp tone. No. To be precise, she was about to say something. From far away, we heard the other Girls On Top members calling her. Gil Chaekyung! Arent youing? Unnie, I- Hey, the manager is freaking out and telling us to hurry! Gil Chaekyung sighed and red at Jiho. Then she walked away with a look that said Ill see youter. She hit Jiihos shoulder that was blocking her way. After she got in, the elevator door closed in the distance. It went down from the third floor to the first floor. We couldnt get on that elevator. While it was going down, we got a message from Director Yoon Seok-hwan. -Thest room in the hallway. What a great timing, Mr. Yoon Seok-hwan. As I saw him, I recalled what had just happened. Then I looked around at my brothers, who had unhappy expressions on their faces. They all looked at me. I struggled to find the right words for a while, and finally said: Lets not do this again. They all nodded silently. *** Thest room in the hallway. It was a space that served as a recording studio and a workshop, but it looked more like a storage room. There was equipment piled up on the wall. When we squeezed into the narrow sofa, Bi-ju opened his lips. Are we supposed to wait here? Or are we supposed to work here? Were probably waiting. Jung-hyun said, munching on a snack. They wouldnt make us work here. Jung-hyun hyung, how can you have an appetite in this situation? Whats there to stress about? Its just one of those things that happen. Jung-hyun, who always spoke calmly, offered a snack to Ri-hyuk. Here, have one. Normally, he would have refused because he had a small mouth, but he quickly took it and munched on it. He must be feeling stressed. Meanwhile, I looked at the youngest, who was ying a mobile game without saying anything. Ji-ho. Hm? About Gil Chae-kyung. Suddenly, his finger slipped and the game character fell off thedder. GAME OVER. He pressed the restart button and said, without looking away from the screen. What about her? She was pretty harsh to you. Whats going on between you two? Shes a kid from my school. She didnt seem like a simple schoolmate. Another GAME OVER popped up, and Ji-ho opened his mouth. This is kind of embarrassing Its okay. Why is it okay for you, hyung? Im not okay. He sounded more annoyed than usual, so I said. You dont have to tell me if you dont want to. She confessed to me before. Suddenly, the mood changed to confession. The memories of sadness and injustice seemed to disappear for a moment, and the brothers faces showed interest. Ji-ho turned off the game and said. We were in the same ss in elementary school. We lived nearby, so we hung out a lot. But when we were in fifth grade, I think. She confessed to me on the way home from karaoke. And then? I rejected her. She started picking fights with me every time she saw me. She woulde up to me and start a fight when no one was looking at school. It was really So thats what happened. But to be enemies after being rejected once. She must have a weird personality. I thought to myself. Wait. I feel like Im missing something. Wait, how did you reject her? The youngest looked embarrassed. Well, that I mean What exactly did you say? I was young and immature back then. You didnt say anything mean, did you? I told her she was ugly. Bi-jus sigh, and Ri-hyuks tongue-clicking next to me, Jung-hyun stopped eating his snack and sighed. I thought she was harsh, but I admit it, thats really bad. I would go and apologize to her right now, even if I had to bow my head. The youngest waved his hands at the brothers criticism. No, I actually hated her personality, okay? Youll know if you spend five minutes with her. She would always text me and ask me what I was doing, and annoy me. And when she gave me food, she would say things like You dont eat this kind of stuff at your house, do you? and stuff like that. Thats exactly you. Right. What do you call this, Woojoo hyung? Self-hatred. The members chuckled at my answer, and the youngest made a wronged expression. I said softly. But you were a bit harsh. No Apologize when you see herter. I dont know. I kept trying to say sorry, but she just left, and suddenly she went on a diet and became a girl group. Its funny to say sorry now. Still, say it. Got it? Okay. When I get a chance. I smiled as I looked at the youngest who was nodding his head reluctantly. Anyway. He still seems immature now, but I wonder what he was like when he was in elementary school. But its amazing. I dont think I had any romance when I was in elementary school. These days, kids are already doing that, what do you call it? The thing between boys and girls, where theyre ticklish and shy, not dating but something like that. I dont know, or Ill remember. We were waiting and chatting for a while, when the protagonist finally showed up after 40 minutes. A person who came in with his hair flying. A charming smile greeted us under her sharp eyes. Hi! We all got up. Hello, senior. What are you getting up for? Jang Sowon gestured with a cool smile. Sit down, sit down. Yes. Sorry, you guys must have waited a long time. Did you have breakfast? Yes, what about you, senior? I just finished my schedule. I dont usually eat breakfast anyway. She took off her wine-colored coat and looked around us. Im going to have coffee, what do you guys want? The younger ones heads turned to me at the same time. They looked like they were asking if it was okay to eat since he was buying. I nodded OK with my eyes, and Jang Sowonughed as if she found it amusing. Wow, the leader has you guys on a tight leash? Thats not it. He scolded them for being clueless this morning. Jang Sowon made a phone call. Hello, yes. Its me, Kyuhyun. Are you still at thepany? Sorry, but I need some coffee. She looked at us as if to tell us to order. One cocoa and two americanos. And onerge iced caramel mhiato with whipped cream. Why, hyung? No. A few minutester, a man in a hooded tee who looked like a manager came in and handed over a box of coffee. The mood rxed as we drank coffee. Jang Sowon took out aptop from his bag and started to connect it to the devices in the studio. Are we working here? Yes. He answered as if it was obvious. Isnt it too small? No. The good rooms are all taken by other people. Well He trailed off, but the intention was clear. The treatment of unpopr celebrities at thepany. If Girls On Top were to work, thepany would probably even take out the recording studio that had an owner. Lets listen to this first. He clicked on a folder on the desktop and then clicked on a filebeled [Main Theme Ver.1] inside. This is the melody Ive been working on for a few days, and I wanted to let you guys hear it before we start working. There are two types of melodies. The main theme that wemonly know as the apaniment, and the top line that lists the lyrics. What she made was the main theme. A fresh and light melody. It might have sounded like a simple sequence of notes, but the moment I heard the beginning, I felt something strange. A chill ran up from my toes. I felt the hairs on my ears stand up. The others looked calm or focused, but they didnt react like me. Oh my god. I rubbed my arms, covered in goosebumps, and opened my mouth. This is amazing, right? I felt like a miner who had found gold in the dark. Chapter 18: Chapter 18: Chapter 18 It felt like a factory was working in my head. A monotonous sound entered the factory. The notes on the conveyor belt were processed as they passed through various machines. Thats how the arrangement that would support the main theme started toe to mind. I trembled my eyebrows. This had never happened to me before. My brain was automatically coloring the colorless notes, stimted by the familiar yet unique melody. The notes that danced gracefully. I was mesmerized by the dance of the beautiful lights. Hey, hyung. Hey, hyung. Hmm? When did I close my eyes? When I opened them, Ri-hyuk was tapping me. What? Why is everyone looking at me? Whats going on? Jang So-won blinked and then burst intoughter. Did you fall asleep? Huh? I tilted my head and added, Me? You were like that for almost five minutes. Me? If you dont believe me, ask the others. No way. I muttered. It was only 10 seconds. Well, its possible to sleep if youre tired. It might have been a situation that would have made someone else frown or feel bad, but Jang So-wonughed cheerfully. I felt a bit wronged and said. Senior, thats not it. I waved my hand and exined what had happened. Well, I edited it as much as possible. I said, The melody was so good that I was briefly arranging it in my head. It was true, but why did it sound like an excuse? Hmm. Really? Jang So-won narrowed her eyes. So you get an arrangement when you hear it? No, its just that. She chuckled and joked. Our leader, a musical genius? I didnt know I had such a genius all this time. Did you guys know? Yes, senior. We call him the master of music among ourselves. The members had no intention of letting me go. Yeah. You guys got me good. The melody you just heard is the reason why I called you guys. Jang So-won wrapped up theughter and got to the point. You know Im releasing a new single album, right? Yes. I decided to record three songs. Two of them, the title and another one, are almost done with mixing. But the problem is this guy. Jang So-won tapped theptop. I managed to make the main theme, but I cant make any more progress from here. She continued to exin. The melody itself was when did I make it? Was it mid-Novemberst year? Around the time of the college entrance exam, it snowed, right? I know. Thats why I came here. Jang So-won smiled as if reminiscing that time. I saw the snow from the apartment balcony, and it was really pretty. It was daytime, but the sky was dark and the white things were piled up softly. I was humming a song without thinking while watching that, and at some point I realized it was perfect. You know that feeling, right? The feeling of electric shock and goosebumps. I nodded and sympathized. That was the feeling I got when I heard the melody. I felt something inmon. So I didnt look back and wrote the main theme right away but its not easy. Youre stuck, arent you? Yeah. Why do you think Im stuck? I answered his question. Because this melody suits a fresh and clumsy vibe. Oh, you felt it too? Jang So-wons eyes sparkled and she seemed to get excited. She had taken my words as a joke earlier, but now she looked like she realized they were true. The others, on the other hand, looked confused. Jung-hyun asked. What do you mean by that, senior? Leader, exin it to them. I felt their eyes on me and exined. The melody that senior sang is more fitting for a youthful and refreshing atmosphere than a sophisticated one. Is that hard to do? It is. Because professional producers and engineers work on it, and its not easy to preserve the clumsy vibe. The moment they touch the song, it bes very refined. In other words, it meant that it was hard to keep the slightly awkward and fresh vibe when a pro got involved. They were too good. When my siblings nodded in understanding, Jang So-won said. Leader is right. She smiled. At first, I entrusted it to some producers and engineers I knew, but it didnte out the way I wanted. Thats why I called you guys. She said this. Jang So-won, who couldnt give up on the melody she made because she liked it so much, started looking for a solution. She asked around the singers she knew, wandered around Hongdae and watched indie band performances, and searched the inte, but she couldnt find anyone who suited the melody. Until she went to the year-end evaluation as a judge, following the CEOs order of you dont seem to have anything to do, so you go. When I heard your arrangement, I got a good feeling. I liked each of your voice colors and your ability to interpret the song. Um, senior. Ri-Hyuk asked. How did you know who did the arrangement? I can tell by listening. Really? Producers work and kids work are different. She added. Dont misunderstand, Im not saying its bad, Im saying theres a difference between pro and amateur vibes. Amateurs have that, you know. Pros who get paid cant do things that amateurs can do boldly. You know what I mean? We kind of understood what she was saying. We heard all kinds of things, but in the end, it was a story of how she found us when the new song melody wasnt progressing. It was the moment when the mystery of why she gave us her business card that day was solved. Well, lets end the introduction here. Jang So-won pped her hands and asked. How was the melody? It was good. Not that. I mean, did you have any thoughts or feelings that came to mind when you listened to it? Just say anything, one by one. We looked at each other, and then Bi-ju spoke first. I thought of two lines. Lines? Yes, there are two lines, but they are parallel lines that cant meet. You know, like they seem to meet but they cant. I think I know what you mean. Jang So-won nodded and started to write a memo on her phone. While her long nails tapped on the screen, Jung-hyun opened his lips. It sounded like a hard beat to rap on. Rap? Im a rapper. Do you want rap in it? Uh no? Jung-hyun thought for a moment and changed his answer. Yes, I think rap would be good. It was an answer that could sound arrogant, but Jang So-wonughed at his naive tone. Okay, lets consider rap too. How about the song? Senior said you wrote it while watching the snow, but I felt a different vibe. Maybe it suits the spring day when cherry blossoms fall. Cherry blossoms? Yes. You know how it is sometimes. When youre sitting at the bus stop and the cherry blossom petals are fluttering. Jung-hyun had a surprisingly poetic side to him. As I looked at him with curiosity, our eyes met and he gave me a smug expression. No. Why are you so proud of yourself after saying that? And next, what about our Ri-hyun? Ri-hyuk. Right, Rihyun. Ri-hyuks ears turned red and we chuckled. Jang So-won, who was blinking her eyes, asked. By the way, what was your name again? Im Ri-hyuk, senior. Seo Ri-hyuk. Sorry, sorry. I got confused. You were the one who sang the best at the end-of-year evaluation, right? He looked expressionless, but I could see his lips curling up slightly. He seemed to cheer up quickly. Ri-hyuk took out his notebook. He had written something densely when he listened earlier. He read it out loud. There were a few points, but the conclusion was simple. Overall, I felt the same as Jung-hyun hyung. It sounds like a song that suits March or early April. You all felt the same way. Jang So-won said in amazement. He wrote the song while looking at the snow in winter, but three members had already said This sounds like a spring song. It was surprising. He tapped his phone screen and fell into thought. Then he called the youngest. How was it, our handsome baby? Im not a baby The middle schooler who was going to high school this year muttered, and we all looked at him with affection. Ji-ho thought for a moment and said. If it were me. Yeah. I would want to y it for someone I like. Someone you like? I wondered if there was something I didnt know and looked at him. Jiho quickly added. If I had one. I see. A spring song that you want to y for someone you like if you had one. Jang So-won, who was murmuring and taking notes, finally looked at me. I didnt have anything different to say either. The members and I felt the same about the song. But I wanted to find themon ground. We all told different stories, but everything we said was somehow connected. Lets say theres a tree. Were each talking about the branch were touching, but we cant say what the tree is. I wanted to find out the name of that tree. My mouth was itching. If I thought a little more, I felt like I could catch something. It would be really easy to work if I knew the name of the tree I was looking at. Ah! At some point, an image suddenly popped up in my head. One word that epassed everyones impressions. -A feeling of being on a parallel line, where you seem to meet but cant. -I thought of the bus stop where the cherry blossoms fell. -It sounds like a song that suitste March or early April. -I want to y it for someone I like. I felt like I had found the name of the tree that my thoughts had followed down from the branches. I agree with the other friends. Yeah? Jang So-won looked disappointed. But I think I know what the members are talking about. Huh? Theyre all telling slightly different stories, but if you put them together, it seems like the same topices out. What is it? I told him, curious. You know how they say that on the inte. Someone and someone have a crush. Theyre flirting. Go on. If youbine what I said earlier, its springtime, at the bus stop, I want to y it for someone I like, but that person is close to me but not close enough This was the conclusion I came up with. I think thats the theme of Melody. Oh, right! Wow. Senior, your eyes are about to pop out. She looked like someone who had found the answer she had been waiting for a long time. Jang So-won pped her hands and cheered. The younger ones had expressions of awe and curiosity. Ive been looking for the theme of Melody, and now I know. Are you satisfied? Satisfied? Its not just satisfying, its perfect. Jang So-won said with excitement. Lets decide on the title too. What should we call it? Something? Between Us? BeTween? Hmm Senior, can you slow down a bit? It felt like she had been waiting for a billion years at a red light and finally stepped on the elerator when the signal changed. She kept spitting out ideas for a while, when Ri-hyuk raised his hand. Excuse me, senior. Yes, Ri-hyun. Its Ri-hyuk. Oh, Ri-hyuk. Sorry. Since something is originally English, how about Something as the title? As soon as Ri-hyuk said that, everyone seemed to agree silently. Thats it. Thats how the title of the song we would sing together became Something, meaning something. As soon as the title was decided, the work meeting went smoothly. The original writer, Jang So-won, was active, but we also started to actively contribute our opinions. We were trainees, but our main job was singers. We also had Ri-hyuk and Jung-hyun, who could do arrangements, so we had various opinions on lyrics,position, and rted matters. There was some kind of rapport between us. Maybe it was the feeling of excitement when the emotions of people who love music resonated. We were discussing like that for a while. Gurgle- We turned our heads at the loud sound of stomach rumbling, and saw Jung-hyun scratching the back of his head sheepishly. We all looked at the clock. We were so engrossed in the song work that it was already 2 oclock, almost the end of lunch time. Look at me. You guys must be really hungry. No, were fine. Im hungry. Do you guys have any ns for lunch? I answered. I got a card from the manager just in case. I think we can just buy something simple from the convenience store with that. Is that enough for a meal? Jang So-won chuckled and got up from her seat. Where is he going? She put on her wine-colored coat that she had taken off her slender body. She looked like a model as she stood up gracefully and looked at us. What are you doing? We cheered at her next words. Lets go. Ill buy you pork belly. Chapter 19: Chapter 19: Chapter 19 The first day ended with a fantastic samgyeopsal. We had a really good time because our musical tastes matched well, but unfortunately, the work was sporadic. It was because of our schedules. We had our own lessons, and Jang So-won sunbae was busy with the OST work for the drama that was about to air. It was a hectic schedule, but we enjoyed working together whenever we met. Listen to this. The acoustic guitar in the studio. I pick up the guitar that has be familiar to my hand and strum the strings. My hand moves freely along the melody progression that I had been thinking of every time I went to bed at the dorm. At first, the younger ones were amazed as if they were watching a zoo monkey. Hyung, you can y the guitar now? Ive always known how to y. You have a new skill every time I forget. The younger ones who had reacted like that were now listening to my performance as if they were used to it. They nodded their heads or followed the rhythm. Jang So-won also closed her eyes and listened to the melody that I had supplemented with concentration. When the performance was over, I asked. What do you think of this top line melody progression? It sounds good. Can you give it to me? Now the guitar is passed to her, and she immediately modifies and ys the melody that I made. Of course, it was much better than what I made. She was a pro after all. I was amazed every time I saw her copy, modify, and y my melody on the spot. She finished ying and asked with a smile. How about this? It was really good. I said. It reminds me of your song Sunflower. Right. I added a bit of that sound to what you made. Yes. It definitely suits the simple and acoustic vibe. Do you want to y it again? I received the guitar again and started ying. When we did this, the younger ones reacted like spectators watching a ping-pong match, turning their heads this way and saying oh, and turning their heads that way and saying ooh. The song work progressed like water flowing. Like making a ship. At first, there was only a skeleton, then wood was added, then iron tes were attached, and finally a mast was raised. Something was being made like that. It was a fresh way of working. It waspletely different from the song production process that I learned at TJ Entertainment, arge-scale agency. It was a mess, in a way. We just got together and talked like a neighborhood banquet, got ideas for lyrics, made and fixed melodies. It was not solemn at all, but yful. There were many advantages to that. It was a pleasant atmosphere, so there was no hesitation in saying ones ideas, and it was fun, so we could keep trying new things. It was a really fun experience. It was the first time that the work itself was fun. I woulde to the Hwai Entertainment building and heal myself by working after getting scolded by the trainer teachers during the lesson. And at the same time, we all felt it. No one said it out loud, but we felt it instinctively. There was a tailwind blowing from somewhere. *** Of course, not everything was smooth. Most of all, wecked time. Making the song and writing the lyrics was fun, but when it came to recording, the schedule was very tight. It was because Hwai Entertainment set the release date for early February. That was the only hardship. We practiced hard, but the quality we wanted didnte out, so the atmosphere got a bit sour. Ji-ho even cried a lot because of Jang So-wons reaction, who turned into a tiger teacher. But in the end, we sessfully recorded. And when we listened to the final version, we had a dubious expression on our faces. It was a little worse than we thought. Jang So-won asked with a smile. Doesnt it sound worse than you expected? Huh? No. Its written all over your face. You guys. She exined to us. This is because the mixing and mastering are not done yet. Mastering? Simply put, its the process of adjusting the bnce of the song. The engineers catch and fix the subtle sound differences. It may not be a big difference, but youll know once you hear the final version. Oh You can look forward to it. She said confidently. It wille out so different that you wont recognize it. *** February 2014. It was the evening before the release of Jang So-wons album Wishful Thinking that contained Something. It was Sunday, the only day of the week when we could rest at the dorm in the evening, so the atmosphere was rxed. Like prison inmates taking a break. No. Why do I keep thinking of prison? I shook off the random thoughts and turned on the inte on my smartphone. I typed New ck in the search bar and the results came up right away. -Jang So-won, new album Wishful Thinking release imminent -Coboration with rookie New ck on Something -Who is the rookie boy group New ck that coborated with Jang So-won? There were many articles, but they were mostly repetitive, so there were only about 3 or 4 in total. Most of them were promotional materials sent out by Hwai Entertainment or ourpany. There were noments, of course. At best, there might bements like So-won unnie, fighting or something like that. I scanned the name New ck and felt a bit disappointed that there was not much content. I hope it goes well. I put a lot of effort into making the melody every night, so I hoped the song would achieve some results. Wait, is it too greedy to hope for sess as a rookie? Well, Jang So-won sunbae has a name value, so it could go well? Im conflicted. Its human nature to want to win the lottery without buying a ticket, but as the release date approached, I naturally felt humble. Actually, I think Im unconsciously setting up a defense mechanism in case I get disappointed. Oh, whatever. I turned off my smartphone andy down on the sofa in the living room. As I stared nkly at the ceiling, a sweet and delicious smell wafted from the kitchen next to me. Spicy stir-fried chicken. Every time Bi-ju, who was wearing an apron, stirred the frying pan with a spat, the smell wafted. It smells good. The youngest, who was pushing a mop with his feet, giggled. Good? Yeah, really good. My dad said he sent us the best chicken from the warehouse. He said to eat it with you guys. The identity of the spicy stir-fried chicken that Bi-ju was cooking was the one that Ji-hos father had sent us a while ago. A lot of chicken that filled the fridge. Breast, wings, and other parts of the chicken were enough tost us for a year. Ji-ho. Yes? What does your father do? He runs a chicken shop. Isnt it hard for him to run his own business these days? Is he okay with sending us so much? I dont know. The youngest shrugged his shoulders. My dad will take care of it. I shook my head at his immature remark. Hes still young. His father must be working hard to fry chicken for his son. Ji-hos parents are very sincere. They have three older sisters and hes the only son. Cant you guess? A T-shirt and shorts with a luxury logo. A high-end watch on his wrist. He was wearing that and pushing a mop. Thud! Something flew over my face as Iy on the sofa. Oof! I was startled and checked what was covering my face. It was my underwear. What? Whos there? Who do you think it is? Ri-hyuk? His eyes looked at me with disdain as I sprawled on the sofa. Hey, mister. Ri-hyuk, who was sitting next to a pile ofundry, tapped the floor. Why did you stop folding theundry? Stop cking off ande help me. I am folding them. Really? Im doing my best. I stayed on the sofa and picked up a piece ofundry with my left hand. Then I grabbed it with my right hand. And then I folded it lightly. Done. Ri-hyuk seemed speechless for a moment. Is that how you fold clothes? Do you really think thats folding? Geez, I cant even talk properly. You call that a piece of clothing? Yup. Have you ever done any housework? Sure. Then why do you fold them like that? Its good for your mental health to do things roughly if theyre not important. Whats the point of folding clothes neatly? Youre going to wear them again, right? I picked up another piece ofundry with my toes. Thats disgusting, really. There are important things and unimportant things in life, Ri-hyuk. Yeah? If you practice singing, you be a good singer, and if you practice dancing, you improve your dance skills, right? Right. And if you improve your skills, you perform better on stage, and if you perform better, you get more fans. And if you get more fans, our poprity goes up. See? So? If you practice singing, you be a good idol singer, but if you foldundry diligently, you be a good idolundry folder. And that doesnt help our work at all. So its about choosing and focusing, you see. Ri-hyuk followed the logic of my argument and reached a conclusion. So you just dont like foldingundry? Bingo. Youre so different from when youre in the practice room. Ri-hyuk was folding theundry again, apparently unhappy with my sloppy work. He folded the clothes like a craftsman, without a millimeter of error, and he cleaned the bathroom without leaving a speck of dust. He lived a hard life. I stretched and got up from the sofa. I wanted to taste the dakgalbi that was almost done. I was about to pass by when I saw Ri-hyuk struggling with a difficult piece of clothing, wondering how to fold it. Let me see. Huh? It took me exactly three seconds. I recalled the time when I was in the training camp, folding the clothes neatly to get a reward score. And I handed it to him. Huh? He looked at me with a dumbfounded expression. I smiled at him. I heard him muttering behind me, What the hell, how did you do that? He was studying the clothes I folded like a rival product. I passed by the youngest who waszily wiping the floor with a rag and went to the kitchen. Is it done? Hyung, you came at the right time. Bi-ju greeted me warmly. Its almost done, I just need to season it. Do you want to try some? Sure. I dly said, and Bi-ju handed me adle. It was a perfect taste. I nodded and gave him a thumbs up, and he lowered the heat. Ji-ho. Yes? Go wake up Jung-hyun and bring him here. We gathered around the table in the living room, with thest one being Jung-hyun, who appeared with his messy hair. There was no dining table. Well, there was no room for one. We ate the dakgalbi from the frying pan and marveled at its taste. How is it? The cook asked and everyone was busy praising him. Bi-ju, who looked proud, and his son, who provided the ingredients. As we ate and chatted about trivial things, our topic shifted to the events of February. Wow, our youngest is graduating from middle school. Bi-ju eximed. Time really flies. I remember when we first met, he was barely taller than my waist. Hes grown a lot. Dont exaggerate, hyung. He was already huge back then. Thats right. Jung-hyun-hyung was shorter too. Hey, it was only a 2~3cm difference. I quietly ate the dakgalbi, not knowing much about their past stories. Our youngest, who was 17 years old and already 175cm tall. His face was still young, but his body had grown quite a bit. Now Ji-ho is taller than Ri-hyuk. Ah, Bi-ju-hyung! Ri-hyuk looked displeased, as if the food had lost its vor. Everyoneughed at him. But it was true. Maybe it was because of his build, but Ji-ho looked slightly taller. I asked. How tall are you two? Im 175. I went to the health center yesterday and they said Im 174.6. Huh? Jung-hyun stopped inhaling the dakgalbi. No way, Ji-ho is bigger. Arent you 175? Ri-hyuk coughed at my question. Taking advantage of that, the youngest asked. Then why dont we stand up and measure, hyung? No thanks. Then Ill take it as Im taller. Ugh, why are you fighting over height? Right, Jung-hyun? I fist-bumped him as he smiled. The other two, except Ji-ho, looked like they were ready to grab a sword and start a fight. Bi-ju looked betrayed. Kim Jung-hyun, youre too much. Yeah, shortest. Do you not want to eat dakgalbi, dongsaeng-nim? He was going to graduate from high school this year and go to the same cyber university as me. It was a school we enrolled in because of the military. While the two same-aged friends were squirming, I spoke to Ji-ho. Hey, Ji-ho. Yeah? What should I give you as a graduation gift? Me? Ji-ho thought for a moment and said. I dont need a gift. I just hope our song does well. Me too. Our song ising out tomorrow. Do you think it will do well? I dont know. The guys who had quieted down were staring at my mouth. It felt like a fortune-telling shop. Shouldnt they ask Director Jo Gyu-hwan about this, not me? I need to clear my mind. Thats impossible. Bi-ju said with a smile. I keep having a reward mentality. Its not up to us whether it does well or not. The best song by Senior Jang So-won was Sunflower, right? That was in the 30s, wasnt it? Thats how it was. Honestly, its a huge sess if we make it to the chart. Honestly, its impossible. The music ranking depends on streaming, but neither we nor Senior Jang So-won have a fandom that will stream for 24 hours. I dont know about the title song, but our song, the third track on the list, might be difficult. Well. Unless some sudden luck happens. Huh? The youngest, who was looking at his smartphone while eating, suddenly screamed. What is it? Whats wrong? Guys, look at this. Ji-ho showed us an inte article on his smartphone. We all widened our eyes. Today, a day before the music release, a nuclear bomb-like issue exploded in the entertainment industry. Chapter 20: Chapter 20: Chapter 20 Lemon Entertainments PR Team. As the coboration song Something by Jang So-won and I was00 about to be released, the PR team of Lemon Entertainment was busy moving around. Are our kids in the music video? Which one, Something? Thats not the title track, so theyre not. Thats too bad. They would have only shown their own kids anyway. Probably. Seunghee? Yes? A voice came from the corner of the cubicle. The person who peeked out her head looked like she had pulled an all-nighter for several days, with dark circles under her eyes. Did you call me? Hows the video production for thepanys YouTube channel going? Yes. She answered. Well, Ive mostly finished editing the video of Jang So-won and me working on the song that I got from Ji-ho, I just need to add the subtitles. Okay. Upload it as soon as you can. The PR team leader turned his gaze. Did you create the official Twitter and SNS ounts for the group? Yes, I did. Just post some promotional phrases rted to the song for now, and if the reaction is good, well also upload some videos of the kids practicing. We might be able to attract some fans who are curious about the song. Yes. We have to catch the wave when ites. That was the philosophy of the PR team of Lemon Entertainment. We have everything ready to send to the media. Team leader, do you think we can do it with just us? Why? Well. I heard that theres no promotion at all from Hwais side. They said were more passionate than them, promoting a non-title track. Why are they like that? Theyre a weirdpany, really. Right. I heard from some reporters at a drinking party the other day. What did they say? They said Hwai Entertainment is really bad at handling things. Otherpanies at least pretend to do something when something happens, but they just stay still. They said theye out only after the situation gets worse, no matter what the reporters expose. Didnt they go bankrupt because of that when Sugarfish happened? Right. But I guess I understand why theyre like that. Their main is Girls on Top, right? I heard Jang So-wons album investment was reduced, so shes releasing a single. The team leader pped his hands to calm down the noisy atmosphere. Alright, lets stop the chit-chat for now. Lets start with the press releases that well send out tomorrow morning Team leader! The PR team member who was monitoring the inte shouted. Team leader, I dont think we can do any promotion tomorrow. What? Look at the inte. Where on the inte? Anywhere. Anywhere? It sounded like nonsense, but his expression was so serious that the team leader turned on his smartphone without a word. The entertainment news section. As soon as he saw the main news there, he furrowed his brows. He could see why Hwai Entertainment was so quiet and not doing anything. No, they couldnt do anything. -Popr boy group Sixty Seconds shocking profanity recording -In the recording, member Juwan and Girls on Top Joo hanas dating revealed -KM Entertainment silent, checking the facts A huge scandal had erupted. *** -Sixty Seconds profanity recording shockwave agency checking the facts [Popr boy group Sixty Seconds was caught up in an unprecedented controversy. It was because of a profanity recording that was posted on an inte site this morning. The nickname King Night Bread who identified himself as an anonymous insider posted a recording of about a minute on the bulletin board. The recording seemed to have been recorded in a vehicle that Sixty Seconds was moving in for a broadcast shooting. The members were talking behind the backs of their fellow celebrities, or using vulgar and abusivenguage. The recording spread rapidly through SNS, and is currently heating up variousmunities. Netizens reacted withments such as Wow, Sixty Seconds character is crazy, Thats not something a human would say, Theyre immature. All the broadcast boards that Sixty Seconds was scheduled to appear on are currently flooded with requests for them to step down. The agency of Sixty Seconds, KM Entertainment, said, We are currently verifying the facts and we are not sure if the recording is really from the members of Sixty Seconds. They also warned, We may take legal action against maliciousments without evidence. Thement section was fierce with nearly 5,000 replies. -These crazy bastards, I thought my ears were rotting from listening to them. -What do you mean by verifying the facts? LOL. You can hear them calling each other by their real names. Are you trying to deny it? LOL. Are you crazy? -The problem is not them leaving the group. These guys should be kicked out of the entertainment industry. -I was a fan of Sixty for four years, damn it. -The only one who was quiet, Juha, got screwed the most. LOL. How many people did they hurt with their recording? Seriously. The summary of the incident was simple. Sixty Seconds. A popr boy group. Sixty Seconds, a group created by KM Entertainment, one of the four major agencies, was known for their unique musicality and hip vibe. They were a huge sensation from their debut, as they were personally trained by producer Heo Kangmin, who had the nickname of idol maker. They were enjoying the highest poprity among the boy groups, along with TNT. Until yesterday. The problem was that their swearing, vulgar jokes, and backbiting in the car were leaked. You might think, so what? But the content was more shocking than you could imagine. We all couldnt stand it and turned it off from the first line. Things that were too hard to say out loud. It made the whole country boil with anger. Sixty Seconds became the biggest viins in the world, and their fandom waspletely shattered. One of the members managed to avoid the crisis with a low-level remark, but the inte was lumping him together with the rest. We were scared every time we saw the articles and the harshments that poured out every minute. We all had the same thought as we read the articles in our dorm. You guys dont know because you havent experienced it yet. The entertainment industry is a ce where a casual talk in the car can spread to the whole set the next day. It was the foresight of Yoon Seok-hwan, who warned us of this situation beforehand. So the manager was serious when he scolded us. That was close. We could have been like themter. Thats nonsense. Ri-hyuk retorted. Do you think we would be so dirty even if we talked nonsense? I get dizzy just reading the text. True. I answered. We are generally polite among our peers. Hyung, people dont use the word peers these days. Oh. Seriously. Woojoo hyung. We would have been in trouble if it wasnt for us. Yeah. No one would have yed with us if we were old, but these young people are so nice to us. I ignored the teasing of my younger brothers and read the articles on my smartphone. They were doomed. I justughed bitterly. Is this another prank from God, after the college entrance exam day? A huge scandal broke out the day before the album release. The materials that the promotion team worked hard on must be shredded by now. Theres no point in promoting the album in this situation. Well, theres nothing I can do. I just thought of it as an honorable death. Im doomed anyway, might as well get an excuse. *** The day of the album release. The Sixty Seconds incident was still dominating the real-time search terms. -Sixty Seconds recording -Juwan Baek Yujin -Juwan Joo Hana -Baek Yujin Joo Hana Somehow, the attention seemed to go to the girl group members who were involved in the dating rumors with Sixty Seconds member Juwan, rather than the content of the recording. The media and theizens interest turned to the strange side. -Joo Hanas past remark that she dates fans highlighted -Baek Yujins side dating Juwan? NO. Will take legal action -Girls On Topseback in jeopardy The peoples attention was drawn to Baek Yujin and Joo Hana, who Juwan mentioned as his girlfriends, as they were put on the chopping board. The media started to gossip about the girl group members personal lives. Variousmunities started to upload maliciously edited materials, and some deleted their posts after spreading dirty rumors and getting threatened with legal action. On top of that, there was a rumor that there was more provocative content behind the scenes, and recording full version rose to the search terms, creating a mess. At this point, theizens started to say isnt the uploader also a problem? Not long after, the identity of the person who caused all this chaos was revealed. There were stories that it was a manager who harbored resentment, or a stylist, but the culprit was an unexpected person. It was a car repair technician. The outline of the incident was like this. After the schedule was over, the manager noticed something wrong with the car and took it for maintenance. The repair shop employee who was fixing the SUV that looked like a celebrity car at a nce, took the ck box memory out of curiosity and copied it. And the employee who listened to it was surprised and shared it with his friends. That was the root of the problem. Someone posted it on an intemunity for fun. That was the fact that the repair shop employee confessed. Wow, I cant see any articles rted to Jang So-won sunbae. We muttered as if we were bored, looking at the newspaper that was filled with Sixty Seconds rted articles from page one to twelve. I changed theptop screen to the music site Mango. -February 3rd Jang So-wons album was scheduled to be released in five minutes, at 12 pm. One minute before. We clicked the download button as soon as the song appeared, after refreshing for a long time. We downloaded all three songs from Jang So-wons single album Wishful Thinking and clicked them with a nervous feeling. Something. The first thing that caught my eye was the album art. The back view of two men and women sitting at a bus stop. They shared one earphone each. The background was a gentle beige pastel tone. The eyes of the men and women were fixed on the blue sky that looked like it was drawn with colored pencils. [Jang So-won X New ck Something] Composer : Jang So-won, Woojoo Lyricist : Jang So-won I smiled faintly when I saw my name attached to theposition. Its really our song. And as soon as the acoustic guitar sound came out, we eximed. It was a big mistake to think that mixing and mastering wouldnt matter much. It was a world of difference from the final version that we recorded and listened to. Just like a slight difference in a persons face can make or break the overall impression, Something was perfectly refined into a sophisticated song. It was the moment when I realized the greatness of the engineers. I closed my eyes and enjoyed the song. It was really good. It made me feel ticklish and somehow reminded me of the past. It was fresh and warm. That was the impression I got. I reached for your hand that seemed to slip away every time. I wanted to close the gap between us. As I listened to the chorus of Jang So-won''s sweet voice, I smiled. They did a great job with the song quality. We listened to the song like we were mesmerized until it ended. I couldn''t believe it was our voice. It was thrilling. And it also reminded me of all the work we had done. Yes, this was it. Our song was out in the world. In this moment, when Sixty Seconds Issue was sucking everything in like a ck hole, we decided to focus only on the fact that New ck''s first song was released. The album release date. The title track Boy, and Girl'' barely made it to the 90th rank, but the other songs failed to enter the chart. But none of us were disappointed. Chapter 21: Chapter 21: Chapter 21 The Song That Will Rise A week after the release of the song. As usual, I was sitting in the recording studio on the second floor, taking lessons from Director Jo Gyu-hwan. Break time. Director Jo, who brought coffee, smiled at me. You look down. Huh? Are you disappointed that the song didnt do as well as you expected? No. I waved my hand with a smile, but it was true. The human heart is so fickle that, even though I think the process is more meaningful in my mind, I focus on the oue. The continuous chart out. Maybe this result means that our song is not good. Then was our effort wrong? That was the situation where such thoughts followed one after another these days. He smiled as if he knew how I felt and said. Dont worry. I was surprised by what he said next. Your song will rise. Huh? Your song, I think it will rise. If someone else had said that, I would have scoffed, but it felt different when he said it. Jo Gyu-hwan. A copyright holder who owns nearly 300 songs and the Midas of Lemon Entertainment. Thats why I had no choice but to be surprised. Theres a saying in baseball, DTD. Have you heard of it? No. It means the team that will go down will go down. Director Jo said. The music industry is simr. The song that will rise will rise. Thats the naturalw of this business and what Ive experienced so far. I appreciate your words, but honestly, this time- Its not just a hunch. Theposer continued to exin. The song itself is good. Really? Yeah, you did a good job. I felt good as if I was recognized. The duet part distribution is well done and the overall color of the song is good. The melody is fresh and the medium tempo is perfect for the uing spring season. And most importantly, the chart is now a free-for-all. A free-for-all? Sixty Seconds, the fandom powerhouse, is gone. They had 10 songs in the line-up. Oh Girls On Top is also faltering. TNT ising back soon, but they are out of the question anyway, so theres no real rival. If you do well, you can rob an empty house. Director Jo, who was browsing the chart on his smartphone, said. From what I see, the song is good, and the environment is also favorable. Here, if theres just one good opportunity, it would be great A good opportunity. I repeated his words and asked him. Then how can we make that opportunity? Huh? What can I do Before I could finish, Director Joughed. Then he burst into a heartyugh. I was confused and asked. Why are youughing? Because youre cute. Ive heard a lot ofpliments on my looks, but this was the first time I was called cute. Why do you worry about that? Huh? I know youre always thinking about how to make the team better because youre the leader, but your main job is to be an entertainer. Ah Why do you think we have an agency? Were here to tell you to just practice and not worry about anything else, but if you do everything, we wont be able to make a living. He looked at me with admiration and said. Right now, Yoon manager is going around the broadcasting stations and promoting your song, so dont worry. Really? Didnt you notice that hes been gely? I imagined Yun Seok-hwan, who was going around the broadcasting stations, begging them to y our song while holding his head in pain. He already had a herniated disc, so it must have hurt to bend his back. Director Jo Gyu-hwan smiled at me as if to reassure me. All you have to do is spread your wings. Well attach them for you. *** Maybe it was thanks to Yun Seok-hwans hard work. Sometimes, our song Something would y on the radio, and we would briefly enter the top 100. It was disappointing that our overall performance was low, but it wasnt a total loss. At least, our recognition had increased. The views on our dance videos, practice videos, and coboration videos that were uploaded on thepanys YouTube ount steadily rose. Most of them were from people who subscribed to Lemon Entertainments ount, but there were also some who came after listening to Something. They were not many, maybe a few hundred at most. What should I say? They were like those people who look for hidden gems in the alleys of tourist destinations. -I loved Something!! Im rooting for New ck! -I searched for you guys after hearing the song lol youre all handsome -Ill keep an eye on you lol Thesements, though few, were a great source of strength for us. When we were tired from practice, we would look at them and heal ourselves. That was a new habit we developedtely. Of course, there was a bigger reward for us. Me [Grandma, how do you like my song?] KingGodKimDeoksoon [Good] KingGodKimDeoksoon [Send me a cassette tape Ill y it at the store] Me [Where do you find tapes these days? Its all digital] Me [Anyway, just wait a bit] Me [Maybe well hit the jackpot soon ] KingGodKimDeoksoon [Youre amazing] I knew my grandma wouldnt be so nice. KingGodKimDeoksoon [Did you think Id say that you bastard] KingGodKimDeoksoon [Stop wasting your time and practice until you bleed] Seeing her reply full of curses, I felt relieved. Maybe I wasnt normal either. But she was just saying that. I could see how proud she was of me. She must have bragged to everyone around her. My grandson is a singer! An idol singer! He even released a song! She would say and promote us. I felt happy that I could give her a gift. I hadnt achieved anything until now. She only cared about me. Hyung. Bi-ju poked me in the side. Yeah? Ji-ho is waving at you. Oh. I looked down and waved back. Among the boys and girls in middle school uniforms, our youngest brother was waving his hand with a bright smile. February 13th. Today was Ji-hos middle school graduation ceremony, just a day before Valentines Day. *** Who are they? Theyre celebrities. Celebrities. Do they appear on TV? Mom, theyre not celebrities, theyre trainees. Theyre like interns who work at apany. Our Sooyeon knows everything. Mom, youre so out of touch. Even elementary school students know these things nowadays. Theyre so handsome. See that guy in the middle? Doesnt he look like hes good at studying as well as being handsome? Yes, maam. I bow. Youre too much. Hes a troublemaker, what do you mean hes good at studying? No, I mean he looks like that. Well, at least they dont act arrogant. I thought celebrities would be shy and all, but they all look so innocent. We heard whispers from everywhere about us. We pretended not to hear and leaned on the railing with rxed gestures, but we actually heard everything. Our smiles widened whenever we heard words like handsome or cute. Ah, Im happy. I love attention. We love attention. It feels like we get some respect when we go outside thepany. Right? Bi-ju answered. I havent heard anyone say Im handsome in a long time. You? The staff said I have a face thats buried in the entertainment industry. They must not look in the mirror. By the way, our youngest brother is really handsome. His face stood out among hundreds of people in the auditorium. The girls who were watching Ji-hos every move were also numerous. Sometimes, when Ji-ho waved his hand, they nced at us and giggled among themselves. Well, they must not be saying anything bad. On the other hand, the boys looked at the girls reactions and snorted at us. I chuckled quietly. I could guess what those kids were thinking. And it showed on their faces. Theyre so young and naive. Their skin was fair and their vibe was lively. Youth is the best. Stop talking like an old man. Ri-hyuk, who was nagging me, pointed his finger. Ji-hos parents are here, lets go say helloter. Where? Over there, the group of four women. Wow. Jung-hyuns exmation represented all of our feelings. Didnt he say he had three sisters? There was a dignified middle-aged man and a gentle-looking middle-aged woman, along with three women in their twenties who had model-like poses. The power of genes was amazing. There were more than a few nces at Ji-hos family, full of handsome and beautiful people. But what caught my attention was Ji-hos father. He had a vibe of a corporate executive, and he was covered in luxury suits. About Ji-hos father. Yeah? Didnt you say he was a chicken shop owner? Bi-ju smiled awkwardly at my question. He is an owner. Why? He looks like a corporate executive. I had an image in my mind when he didnte to the year-end evaluationst time. But when I saw him in person, he reminded me of Park Taejoon, the chairman of TJ Entertainment. Bi-ju hyung. Ri-hyuk cut in. Dont beat around the bush and just say it. Say what? Ji-hos father is the president of a chicken franchise, hyung. While I blinked, Bi-ju typed the name Wang Hyuntak on the search bar and showed it to me. -A businessman born in 1957. -The president of HoHo Chicken. HoHo Chicken was one of the top three chicken franchises, wasnt it? No wonder Ji-hos stuff was so expensive. He wasnt just running a chicken shop, he was running that chicken shop. I saw the sympathetic expressions on my siblings faces as they looked at me in disbelief. They seemed to say, We felt the same way at first. He was really a rich kid. It was the first time in my life that I saw a billionaire, so I was amazed when I saw Ji-hos father. Buzzing. The eyes of the people who were looking at us rolled to the other side. Naturally, my gaze followed them. The entrance of the auditorium. A bunch of cameras appeared with the sound of shutters from somewhere. It was a face we had forgotten. We forgot about them. Right. They went to the same school as Ji-ho, right? The youngest member of Girls On Top, Gil Chaekyung. It seemed like a long time since I saw her after she picked a fight with Ji-ho. She looks so innocent. Thats her. Our son always gets excited and talks about her whenever he goes to school. I thought she would look like a fox, but shes pretty. She looks like our daughter. Shes much prettier. Yesuh looks like you, so shes ugly. Can you please shut up for once? You make me angry every time you talk. Gil Chaekyungs appearance was impressive enough to elicit favorable reactions from people. She had a fine and gentle beauty that adults liked. As she walked, Gil Chaekyung nced at Ji-ho, who was waving his hand at us, and then turned her eyes to us for a moment. Then she smiled. It was a smile that seemed to have something up her sleeve. Im going to sit next to Ji-ho, okay? What? There are so many seats, why do you have to go there? What the hell. Whats her scheme? *** Gil Chaekyung was very annoyed. It was because of the attention that was focused on Joo Hana, who was identified as Juwans girlfriend when the controversy erupted. She was excited when the reporters gathered, but only for a moment. Most of the questions were How is Hana doing now?, How do you feel? and other things that were extremely unpleasant. Ask me about my graduation. At least for today, she should be the protagonist. She was angry that her sisters couldnte to the graduation because of the controversy, she hated that the reporters kept asking weird questions, and most of all, she hated that Wang Ji-ho was happily greeting his brothers. I hate seeing that. Why are you smiling like that? I hated his look so much that I deliberately sat next to Wang Ji-ho. Ill make him eat some dirt. She smiled brightly at the other students who widened their eyes. Hi, Jieun and Youngsun. We only saw each other once or twice a year. But they were thrilled that the celebrity in our ss knew their names. Thanks to that, Gil Chaekyung was able to start a friendly conversation easily. These kids are easy to handle. It was an easy task for Gil Chaekyung, who had been in the entertainment industry since she was in seventh grade. She quickly moved on to her n. Hi, Ji-ho. Long time no see. Yeah, its been a while. We keep seeing each other at our agency, right? Its amazing to see you here again. The others eximed at her words. Wow. Youre in the same agency? No. Then how did you meet at the agency? Gil Chaekyung whispered in a conspiratorial tone. Ji-ho came to get a song from my senior at our agency. Strictly speaking, it was a coboration, but if he objected here, he would only look bad. Gil Chaekyung smiled sweetly and said. By the way, the song came out, right? Really? Ji-ho, you didnt tell us that. I was a bit embarrassed But Gil Chaekyungs scheme didnt seem to work very well. Ji-ho, who should have blushed a little, was smiling like a puppy. Whats the song? No, whats the group name? Its not very famous yet, so its hard to say Gil Chaekyung answered as if she caught his words. Its New ck. New ck? Right, Ji-ho? This was the time when they should have reacted like Who are they?. But the situation went in a different direction. The air around them seemed to freeze for a moment at the name New ck. What? A murmur spread like a wave along with an inexplicable silence. Did you say New ck? Soon, the whole auditorium was filled with whispers, and Gil Chaekyung was stunned. What? What is it? This feeling that I unintentionally gave them a huge promotion. Chapter 22: Chapter 22: Chapter 22 We watched as Gil Chaekyung sat next to Ji-ho. What was she up to? The atmosphere that had been revolving around Ji-ho changed in an instant. The girl who was smiling brightly received friendly responses from everywhere whenever she said something. I couldnt see Ji-hos expression since he had his back to me. We were tense and attentive when it happened. Gil Chaekyung said something and a murmur started to spread. It was like throwing a stone into a pond and the waves spreading out in all directions. And the eyes that turned to us. Why are they staring? Wow. Whats going on? Unlike the confused kids, I stroked my chin. Gil Chaekyung looked slightly flustered. The only thing I could guess was that she failed to diss Ji-ho. The only way she could use to diss us or Ji-ho was the difference in poprity. She failed. Then the reason why the students were looking at us was probably because they knew who we were. When Ipleted that inference, I called out to Ri-hyuk. Ri-hyuk. Yes? Search our names on the search engine. Do you not have hands? Ri-hyuk took out his smartphone and moved his fingers quickly. Hm? He searched for New ck on the search engine and frowned as he skimmed through the articles. His eyes widened. Bi-ju and Jung-hyun, who were watching, also turned their heads to him. Unlike me, who had a hunch, they seemed nervous by his unusual reaction. Ri-hyuk, whats wrong? Did something happen to us? Ri-hyuk didnt answer and moved his fingers. The familiar yellow color and the screen of the music site Mango appeared. Huh? He was so surprised that he dropped his phone. My eyes caught that scene as I was yawning. The smartphone slipped out of his loosened fingers and fell. My body moved automatically and lifted my heel. Thud. The smartphone bounced up as it hit my heel like a hacky sack. I caught it and handed it to Ri-hyuk. Wow. Jung-hyun, who was next to me, widened his eyes and sent me an admiring look. I had been practicing acrobatic moves whenever I had a chance using my action imitation ability, so it was a natural move for me. I came back to reality and called out to Ri-hyuk, who was still in shock. Ri-hyuk. . Seo Ri-hyuk. Yes? Take your phone. Guys. Ri-hyuk met my eyes and muttered with a half-frozen face. We hit the jackpot. Jackpot? What do you mean? Look. Ri-hyuk held up his smartphone and showed it to us. [Mango Chart Real-Time Ranking]
  1. Jang So-wonXNew ck Something
  2. TNT Blink
  3. TNT Dont Smile
  4. TNT Pretender
  5. Teen Spirit Nana
Somethings real-time chart ranking was first. *** We traced the cause through inte searches. The event that started it all was a weekend variety show. Our song was used as the background music for a scene where the virtual couple confirmed their feelings for each other. Was this what Seok-hwan hyung had begged the PD to use? Until then, people didnt pay much attention to us. The TV viewers just said, Nice song. and moved on. The real start was when the highlight scene was edited and circted on SNS. -Woobin and Jieuns hug! -So sweet This is the best -But does anyone know the title of this BGM? -Im curious too. Ive been hearing it on the radio and cafestely. -This is Jang So-wons single song! The title is Something We gained some recognition, but it wasnt enough. But then, a video changed everything. An inte broadcast BJ sang a duet cover of Something with another BJ, and the video spread on SNS. The word of mouth spread like a virus. Thanks to the video that was shared on SNS, our song received a lot of interest, and since yesterday night, the ranking kept rising until this morning, when it finally reached the first ce. I must have refreshed the page a hundred times during the graduation ceremony. Is this a dream? Should I pinch you? You pinch yourself first. Bi-ju and I pinched each others sides, but only pain remained. Honestly, what if it was a dream? It was such a good dream that I didnt want to wake up. Even Jung-hyun, who was not easily surprised by anything, blinked his eyes like a bear that had woken up from hibernation. Ri-hyuk shrank his shoulders and put his hand on his chest. Wow, my heart is pounding. Are you okay? It feels like the floor is shaking. My legs are trembling. Do you feel it too? It doesnt feel real when you suddenly call me hyung. Ri-hyuk red at me. When we were smiling, Bi-ju asked me. By the way, hyung. Thepany must be in chaos right now, right? *** Lemon Entertainments PR team. It was as if a fire had broken out, with phones ringing everywhere. Hey! Someone answer the phone! Yes, Im on it! Hows the press releaseing along? Ive finished the draft for the reporters. I can finish it in 30 minutes. Good. Hurry up. Do we need to send someone to Ji-hos graduation ceremony? I dont think the reporters are that interested in our kids yet? No way. There must be some fans of Girls on Top there, right? What? Boss, didnt you know? Gil Chaekyung is in the same ss as Ji-ho and Seoil. The PR team leader hastily grabbed his phone. Hey! Someone go to the graduation ceremony right now! Talk to the reporters and make sure our kids dont mess up! Especially Ji-ho, hes a ticking bomb. Boss! Manager Yoon from the management department has already left. When? He rushed there as soon as he heard the news. Okay. I can breathe a sigh of relief with Manager Yoon there. Whats going on here? Seriously. The chaotic PR team. They only realized the situation after the ranking skyrocketed. Who would have expected a singer whose best record was in the 30s to top the chart with a solo song? There was no sign of it for the past two weeks, so no one could imagine it. These days, the teens are all about inte broadcasting, inte broadcasting. We underestimated them, huh? They totally boosted the song. Its a hit song, alright. Honestly, the song was amazing. Its just that wecked capital. Dont get too excited. Itsmon for a sh-in-the-pan hit to drop quickly. Boss. Someone who was looking at the chart opened his lips. It doesnt seem to want to go down, though? *** The one who brought us back to reality in this surreal situation was the youngest. Hyungs! The youngest ran towards us like a retriever, holding a bunch of flowers at the entrance of the auditorium. Im not a middle schooler anymore! Wow, youve grown up. Did you see? Our chart ranking? We all nodded at the youngests words. We saw it. We saw it, alright. He looked at us with a cute expression and pulled out a card. What should we eat, hyungs? I got this card from dad and its a no-limit card. Mom said I can spend up to a million won on anything. Look at the scale. We were excited about what to eat, having achieved a good result on the music chart and finished the graduation ceremony. Hey, Ji-ho. We turned our heads and saw the students of this school. They couldnt approach us when we were four, but they came closer when they saw Ji-ho, who was familiar to them. Well. I admit, we looked pretty awkward. Can we take a picture with you? Me too! Me too! We took selfies with them. It was a bit awkward at first, but after dozens of times, we started to smile naturally. The students asked us if they could post them on SNS. We were busy responding to the unexpected photo requests when another group of people found us. Youre New ck, right? Yes? Hello, Im a reporter from Star Daily. The ones who had just finished interviewing Gil Chaekyung all flocked to us. They must have thought we were newsworthy. They suddenly shoved their cameras in our faces and we were speechless. Excuse me. Someone intervened with a soft voice. Yoon Seok-hwan. Our manager, whom we hadnt seen for a while. These kids are new to interviews. He exined the situation to the reporters and stood by our side. He helped us by cutting off difficult questions or coaching us from the side. We managed to finish well, thanks to him, but we felt uneasy. It was bewildering. They threw questions at us out of the blue and our minds went nk. To be honest, it was not an experience I wanted to repeat. But there was a silver lining. Gil Chaekyung, who was looking at us from afar. She smiled and agreed to take pictures with them, but if you looked closely, you could see her lips trembling. She had lost all the attention that should have been hers. She hovered around the entertainment reporters, as if to say, Look at me, but no one paid attention to her, except for a few. It was inevitable. The graduation ceremony that had already been covered was less interesting than the song that suddenly blew up on SNS. I smiled as I watched Gil Chaekyung kick the sand and leave the field. She deserved it. *** It was a magical time that started in mid-February. Everything changed after we topped the music chart. -Something hits the jackpot Weekly chart No. 1 -Jang So-wons dazzlingeback -Somethings chart run, will it spark a coboration boom in the music industry? Our song was requested every time a love story came up on the radio, and TV was no different. Our song was everywhere, from variety shows, streets, to cafes. It was a strange feeling. I couldnt believe it when I saw our song ying as background music on a famous TV program, or when the guests hummed our song. In a clip that Jang So-won posted on the group chat, the guests were talking about our song. Inside a car with a camera installed. -I want to hold your hand, but it slips away~ -What song is that, sir? -Hey! Jinyu! Dont you know this? Its the hottest song these days, this is. -Really? We were on the most popr variety show, . I thought we made a good song, but I never dreamed it would be such a hit. Of course, the songs sess and our poprity were unrted. -Who are the rookie singers who sang Something with Jang So-won? -Jang So-won, New ck are really talented friends -Lemon Entertainment, We are flooded with inquiries about New ck There were some articles that were curious about us, but they were few and far between. Honestly, there werent many people who looked up the singers just because they liked the song. Most people didnt know the name of the singer even if they sang along to a famous movie OST. Once, I asked Seok-hwan hyung out of curiosity. Are we really getting a lot of inquiries? His answer was simple. Do you think so? We didnt care about the gap between poprity and recognition. We were so happy with the sess of the song itself. We even enjoyed this gap, you could say. Whenever a song came out of the cell phone store, I would record a video of myself singing along to that part, and when I stopped by the convenience store and our song came on, I would ask, Whose song is this? pretending not to know. Every day was fun. Especially for me. When Director Jo Gyu-hwan told me the estimated royalty ie of the management support team, I opened my mouth wide in shock. Why are you so surprised? Di-Director Is it that much? Of course. Director Jo smiled softly. You may not know this, but Something is a once-in-a-lifetime song for aposer. You were lucky to get it. My heart is pounding. Congrattions. Youre a realposer now. Even after splitting the ratio with Senior Jang So-won, I still got that much royalty ie. Director Jo said this was just the beginning. At this rate, it would be a hit song throughout the first half of the year, and if I added up the ie from karaoke and music downloads, I could buy a foreign car. It was hard to believe anyway. Every day was a thrilling, happy, and bewildering moment. Of course, as the world goes, there were also those who sent envious eyes to my sudden sess. -Dont you think Somethings music chart is rigged? The trend is weird too. There were people who constantly posted suchments on the inte. But they didnt get much response. -The article is really malicious. -It could be rigged, but if you look at it from this perspective, all the music is rigged. -Im not buying a rigged bird. -The problem is that the music is too good to say that. -Yeah, me too. I sing this these days when I go to karaoke with people around me. -The problem is that Lemon and Hwai are not those kind ofpanies. Lemon is too proud to do that kind of thing, and Hwai is just wtf.. let me say it -LoLLoLLoLLoLLoLLoL Hwa-i rigged? The same Hwai that stuttered when Joo-ha was there? These guys are too stupid to rig as smartly as you say. -Oh, I was scrolling down and got cold from Hwai. I was worried that it might be a problem, but these stories only circted in some corners of the inte and had no effect on the offline world. And finally. The day I had been waiting for came. Manager Yoon Seok-hwan came down to the basement practice room where we were practicing like crazy. Guys. He said with a face that said it had arrived. Youre going to be on a music show. And as a candidate for first ce. Chapter 23: Chapter 23: Chapter 23 Inside the car heading to the broadcasting station. Its quiet. No one is sleeping, but its very still here. Why is the atmosphere like this? Thats because today were going on a music show for the first time. Our first terrestrial debut. Something became a sensational hit, and the broadcasting station contacted us out of the blue. They said we were the first ce candidates and asked us to appear. When we heard the news, we didnt hug each other and celebrate, but rather looked at each other with nk faces. Why are we the first ce candidates? Did we hear it wrong? Manager, wait a minute. Did you just say were first ce? Guys, we must have heard it wrong. To our questions, Manager Yoon Seok-hwan nodded his head. Is this for real? To that question, he nodded his head again. Thats when we started to stutter and panic. We were the first ce candidates before we even debuted? It was an unrealistic thing to the point of being absurd. There were groups that couldnt win first ce even after three years of debut, but we were rookies who hadnt even debuted yet and we were the first ce candidates? And we were strong candidates at that. Thepeting candidate, TNTs Blink, might have had overwhelming album sales, but we had the upper hand in theprehensive score that included digital performance. Thats why the broadcasting stations appearance request was more like youre the first ce, soe and get it. But being flustered was inevitable. What do we do, hyung? Were not prepared for anything. The younger ones looked at me with hopeful eyes, expecting me to have a brilliant solution like I did at the end-of-year evaluation. I had no choice but to shrug my shoulders. What can we do? We have to do it with the determination to break our bones. Everything proceeded like roasting beans on a fire. The practice period was one week. We reduced our sleep time to about 30 minutes a day and devoted ourselves to preparing for the stage. Jang So-won sunbaes help was a big factor in this. She was an experienced veteran in music shows, so she knew what to pay attention to. If we had done it by ourselves, we wouldnt have dared to do it. We practiced with the determination to vomit blood for a week, but we were still anxious. Could we really do well? Guys. Manager Yoon Seok-hwan, who was sitting in the passenger seat, looked back at us. You know there are a lot of people at the broadcasting station, right? There are reporters too. Yes. The photos that are taken there are all uploaded on the inte. You cant take them back once theyre up, so you have to be careful with your actions. Yes. If you dont want to be remembered as a rookie who acts arrogant after bing a first ce candidate, you have to behave properly. Got it? Well keep that in mind. He seemed to be worried about us, as he nagged more than usual. After about 30 minutes of talking about precautions, the tension eased a bit. Bi-ju, who had clenched his palms, let out a breath. The heater was turned down low because of the makeup, so steam came out of his mouth. Hyung, Im really nervous. Me too. Is it normal to be nervous? It doesnt feel like it. I answered Bi-ju, who doubted it. Its true. Do you want to put your hand on my heart? Are you asking me to touch your chest? Hey, dont say it like that. It makes me sound like a weirdo. Bi-ju covered his mouth with his hand andughed, realizing that it sounded strange. It was a smile that showed his white teeth evenly. Ri-hyuk, who was sitting next to him, grumbled with a displeased face. Stop pretending to be nervous, both of you. I can see that youre not nervous at all. Its disrespectful to the people who are really nervous. Wow. Ji-ho, who was looking at Ri-hyuks face from the next seat, eximed. Ri-hyuk furrowed his brows. What? Hyung, your face looks amazing today. Really? Did the makeup work well? Ri-hyuk, who took it as apliment, smiled smugly, when the youngest lowered his head and grinned innocently. Nope. Your eyelids are trembling like crazy. I think its 120 times per minute. Shut up. Its because Ick magnesium. Shut up? How can you say that to our cute youngest? Ugh, seriously. Ji-ho chuckled and leaned his face closer, and Ri-hyuk pushed his face away with his hand. The youngests face crumpled like a bun. While they were bickering, I noticed that one of the headphones was empty. Is Jung-hyun sleeping? He seems to be. I cant tell if hes sleeping or not. Bi-ju smiled as if he remembered something. You dont know, hyung. The way to tell if Jung Hyun is sleeping. Theres a way? Yeah, theres a way to tell if Jung Hyun hyung is sleeping or not. You can tell by looking at his feet. The youngest cut in and pointed at Jung Hyuns feet. He had taken off his shoes and was wearing socks. Bi-ju exined in a gentle voice. He cant sleep outside if hes wearing shoes. So he always takes off his shoes when he sleeps. What a weird habit. Jung Hyun is a bit strange, you know. The others nodded in agreement with Bi-jus words. Thats weird. He didnt seem like a four-dimensional character. Did my doubt show on my face? Ri-hyuk looked like he had a lot to say but wouldnt. Youll know when you experience it. But hes a good kid. Bi-ju added casually. No, that makes it sound even weirder. And why does his expression look like our dog doesnt bite? *** PBS Broadcasting Station. The front of the building was crowded with fans who had been waiting since dawn to see the singers who appeared on the music show Music ON. The ce where the singers arrival was openly shown. The fans who gathered with the fan spirit of wanting to see the appearance of my singer, who was dressed modestly in casual clothes, even once more, and the paparazzi who wanted to capture their appearance in photos, mingled together. Maybe it was because of the overseas poprity of K-POP, but I could hear some foreignnguages here and there. The people who gathered inside the yellow line had various fashions, but most of them wore masks or sat on minidders. Soon, the singers started to get out of the vans. Hello! We are La Vie en Rose! One, two, three. With your girls, hello, we are Autumn Girls! Hello! We are Teen Spirit! Every time the singers greeted the photo zone, shes went off. Hyunyeon hyung! Youre so cool! Yubin-ssi! Yubin-ssi! I love your song! The camera enthusiasts chatted with each other as the singers came in and out. It seems like there are a lot of rookies this time, right? Theres even a rookie whos a candidate for first ce. Really? Who? New ck. The ones who coborated with Jang So-won. Thats because of Jang So-wons influence. Honestly, would you have listened to them if they released it under their own name? Sugarfish does have a strong name value. They were digital monsters, after all. Hwai Entertainment is too much. Instead of caring about Jang So-won, they should pay more attention to our Ontops song quality and outfits. I heard theyre in a total mess this time. Im just holding back my words because it seems like theyre bashing our kids. Are you a fan of Girls on Top? Yes. It must be hard these days. Cheer up. Honestly, its all because of Sixty Seconds. If it werent for those bastards. The surrounding people agreed with the words of a fan who cursed Sixty Seconds. Especially the fandoms of Laviang Rose and Girls on Top, who had Baek Yujin and Ju Hana involved in dating rumors with Juwan. Girls on Top areing in now. Theyre here! Theyre here! Did you see Hanas cheek? How much did she suffer from the hatements that her cheek became hollow? I feel so sorry for her, really. As Girls on Tops turn ended, a buzz came from the other side. The big shots who had secured their spots near the photo zone turned their heads. Whats that? Its not time for TNT toe in yet. TNT, the hottest boy group among the current ones, usually appearedst on the way to Mewon. It wasnt time for them to appear yet. But the fans soon realized what the buzz was about. Wow Five young men were walking towards the photo zone. When they lined up, people gasped for a moment. Who are they? Are they rookies who are debuting today? They had distinctive beauty rather thanmon handsomeness. From the right, they seemed to be lined up in order of age. The youngest member who had a handsome face but turned into a puppy when he smiled. The member who had sharp eyes and looked intelligent. The member who had a tall and sturdy physique and looked manly. The member who had a boyish appearance and somehow graceful movements. And. One member who received the most attention. He stood out like a peacock even with the same makeup as the others. His face was so small that it was amazing how his features fit in. He looks unreal. His nose bridge cant be natural, right? It looks like he put chalk in it. He would survive without any editing. People were immersed in their own thoughts when the five young men bowed politely and shouted in unison. Hello! We are New ck! *** Werete. Were sote. I was so nervous that I felt a tremor in my knees. If I had rxed, I might have copsed. It wasnt just me. The other guys were nervous too. We stood on the photo zone, which looked like a red heart cushion in the empty parking lot, trying to hide our trembling hearts as much as possible. Hello! We are New ck! The camera shes went off and the clicking sounds were heard. Gulp. I swallowed my saliva and smiled awkwardly. I hope I didnt look nervous and natural. Please look this way! But criticism came from the start. We waved our hands in the direction of the voice. Put your hands down! We cant see your face! We tried to make V signs and thumbs up. I had thought of all kinds of poses in the car, but I was so nervous that my body froze and I couldnt do them. The empty parking lot. We were standing in the middle of it. Strangers were taking pictures of us. I felt more nervous than I ever did during the year-end evaluation. What were they thinking as they looked at us? Did we look like clueless rookies? No. I shouldnt think like that. Just be natural, natural. As I saw Bi-ju posing naturally next to me, I regained myposure and smiled and posed as well. After a short photo session, a voice came from the crowd. Thank you! We bowed and greeted them. Thank you! We were so tense that when the photo zone was over, we felt like we had been released from prison. We finally walked towards the broadcasting station with bright smiles. There were still people wearing masks on both sides of the fence, holding cameras or phones, but it wasnt as nerve-wracking as the photo zone. We bowed and greeted them as we passed by. Sometimes we heard some light greetings. Im enjoying Something! Fighting! I love your songs! I dont know who you are, but I love you too. Really. Was it because we were on the real stage of the broadcasting station? The small words that people gave us felt like they were giving us strength. Of course, most of them were more indifferent than friendly. Honestly, would the people who came to see their idols at four or five in the morning care about another group? But we all walked to the broadcasting station with wide smiles and greetings. *** It was the same when we entered the broadcasting station. Hello! We are New ck! We greeted the staff and singers who passed by countless times, and repeated our group name over and over. I think I said it more than I ever said my own name. [Waiting Room Jang So-won, New ck] After the hectic morning rehearsal, we had some time to wait. While Jang So-won sunbae went out for a while, we decided to y a game to choose who would go out to buy drinks for us. As usual, Ri-hyuk, who had low stamina, sprawled on the sofa and said with a nk expression. I dont want to go. Wow, Im exhausted. Youre tired already? No, no. You cant. Your hair setting will get ruined, manager. Ri-hyuk. At my call, Director Yoon Seok-hwan smiled and said to Ri-hyuk. If you ruin your hair, Ill charge you for the hair cost. Im sorry. Lets leave him out, just us Theyre all asleep. In just a few minutes, they were nodding off and dozing. I was the oldest one and I was fine, but these kids. I thought I should hint to the fitness trainerter that the kids werecking stamina as I left the waiting room. How many were there? Including Jang So-won sunbae, the stylists, and the road manager hyung, ten? Eleven? As I approached the vending machine, I ran into a familiar person. A girl group member. When I saw her back, I was curious who she was because she had such a good sense of fashion, but when she turned around, I almost froze my face without knowing it. Gil Chaekyung. A momentary expression of stepping on poop crossed her pretty face. Are you the only one like that? Im the same. But no matter what was inside, I greeted her with a bright smile. Hello, sunbae-nim. I finally see you on a music show. Ah, yes. She was the same. She couldnt manage her expression for a moment, but a gentle smile like a queen in a historical drama returned. A warm expression of the world. Unlike before, the reason she showed this attitude was because our song was doing well right now. You must be the first candidate for first ce. Congrattions. Oppa. Interpretation) Weve won first ce a lot. You guys are the first now, right? Thank you, sunbae-nim. Weve been the first ce candidates since before our debut, so were nervous. Sometimes we wonder if its a dream or reality. Interpretation) Yeah, weve been the first ce candidates since before our debut. Thats right. You must be happy. By the way, whats sunbae-nim? Just call mefortably. I debuted when I was in middle school, so Im not that old. Interpretation) You debuted at that age, right? I did it when I was much younger. Sure, Chaekyung. When I suddenly spoke informally, she widened her eyes and I smiled. Isnt that a bit too much to say? No matter what, youre still my sunbae. Im the type who likes to be polite. Gil Chaekyung bit her lip slightly. The gentle smile she had just shown disappeared and her expression turned cold. Get out of the way. I need to get a drink. She pushed me with her shoulder and put a bill in the vending machine. By the way, why does she hate me? I can understand hating Ji-ho, but I dont know why she treats me like a hated kid in bulk. Is it because Im next to a hated kid? She took out a drink and gave me a smirk. Youll see if you get first ce. What do you mean? Todays first ce candidate is TNT, right? Their fans seem to be itching to take care of you guys. You know how extreme their fans are, right? Even if you win first ce, theyll say its rigged or something and leave a lot of hatements. Oh. Well, maybe if someone in TNT says theyre friends with us New ck, dont do that, then maybe. Thats when it happened. Gil Chaekyung, are you talking about us? A voice came from the other side. Gil Chae-kyung and I turned our heads and saw a boy group member with red-dyed hair standing there. Gil Chaekyung hesitated as if she was flustered. Uh, Tae-hyun oppa. But the one called Tae-hyun didnt even look at her and looked at me. His eyes widened. Woojoo hyung? Long time no see, Tae-hyun. Gil Chaekyung, who couldnt figure out the situation and rolled her eyes, smiled brightly at her. Chapter 24: Chapter 24: Chapter 24 Boy group TNT. An ambitious eight-member group nned by TJ Entertainment, a powerhouse of idols. A top boy group that has been hitting it big with every album they release since their debut in 2010. They naturally took the throne after Sixty Seconds, who had formed a dual mountain range, copsed with an absurd scandal, but even before that, TNT had been dominating in every index, from public poprity to album sales. Han Tae-hyun. He was one of the most popr members in TNT. Even though they had simr years of experience, Girls on Top were like fireflies in front of the sunpared to him. Huh? Uh She was about to badmouth TNT when she was almost caught, and she was flustered to see me and Tae-hyun looking close. Woojoo hyung? Have you been well? How long has it been? He hugged me as soon as he saw me, and Gil Chae-kyungs face turned contemtive. Ive seen this in a drama. It was the expression of a manager who found out that the subordinate he had been bullying was from a wealthy family. Uh Gil Chae-kyung stuttered. Whats your rtionship with Tae-hyun oppa? What do you mean by rtionship? Tae-hyun said with apletely different expression from when he was talking to me. Cant you tell? Were close. Oh. And I dont really feel like talking to you right now. Can you give us some Woojoo to chat? He tantly snubbed her, and Gil Chae-kyung shrank back. This industry is all about poprity. She was so startled that she dropped the can of soda she was holding, and she ran away as if to escape. I asked him as I watched her go. Not on good terms? Neither good nor bad. Well, so-so. To be honest, I was caught badmouthing her just now. How could I look good? You heard that? No, I only heard TNT. I guessed the rest. Tae-hyun said. Judging by the sound, she must have been talking trash about us, but the atmosphere was not like she was close enough to anyone to gossip with. The only thing that connects New ck and TNT is the first ce candidate. She probably said something like theyre having a nerve-wrackingpetition for the first ce. Youve gotten really good at reading the situation. Ive been in this business for a while. Im already a five-year veteran. He had been almost as clueless as Ji-ho when he was a trainee, but he had made a huge improvement. He used to follow me around in the practice room, calling me hyung. Now he was a member of a boy group that was enjoying the highest poprity. I was proud. It felt like seeing a child who had grown up well. We shouldnt be here, hyung. Lets go to our waiting room. The guys will be really happy to see you. Well, you have your staff and all Dont you know how tall Ji-hoon is? Juste with me. He grabbed my arm and dragged me along. Kim Bi-ju [Woojoo hyung] Kim Bi-ju [I think Im lost, please help me] I read the message and let go of Tae-hyuns hand. Sorry. Lets say hi next time. Why? My kid got lost. I have to go get him. Oh, your kid There was a moment of confusion on Tae-hyuns face. No, was it? It seemed like his expression had stiffened a bit. He quickly smiled brightly and took out his smartphone. Then lets take a selfie together. Thats okay, right? Hes really bad at directions. I think I should go quickly. Just one shot. We would have taken a lot of pictures by the time we finish talking. He took a few shots and confirmed them with me, then smiled. Congrattions on the first ce. The results havent been announced yet. Trust me, hyung. Tae-hyun grinned. I may look like this, but Ive eaten more broadcast station food than you. When I returned to the waiting room with Biju, who was standing there like a deer that had wandered into a military base, everyone was awake. I brought some drinks. As I handed them out, I received greetings like Thank you and Ill drink well. Ri-hyuk grabbed a can of c and made a sour face. Ugh, its lukewarm. What took you so long? Sorry. Biju said timidly. I got lost after going to the bathroom. Next time, call me. Not that hyung. The youngest, who had been listening, sparkled his eyes as if he had found something to tease. Ri-hyuk hyung, are you jealous that he didnt call you? What are you talking about? Just drink your soda. Of course, its Seo Ri-hyuk when hes upset. Ri-hyuk punched Ji-hos shoulder, and Ji-ho started to act as if he was in the most painful agony in the world. Jang So-won smiled as if she found them cute. Do you always y like this? Only those two. The eldest sister, who was watching the siblings bicker, had a motherly smile on her lips. How do you feel? Are you nervous before the live broadcast? I couldnt sleep for more than three hours yesterday. Me too. What about you, sunbae? Its my first time being number one as a solo. All the previous number ones were from group activities. Jang So-won said. I thought I would never be on a music show again after that incident. Honestly, who would have imagined? Our song pushed aside all the other songs and took the number one spot. Thats right. Isnt it amazing? Just a month ago, we were all in a small studio. Memories of the past came flooding back. It was so fun back then. Eating snacks and drinks, staying up all night in the recording studio. It feels like a dream. She smiled faintly. It feels like I would wake up if someone came over and poked me with a needle. I dont want to wake up even if its a dream. So many unimaginable things happened. We got flooded with calls for broadcasts and events I thought I would never get back up. An idol singer who fell from the top due to the scandals of her members. She must have faced a lot of contempt and disregard in the entertainment industry, where people change their attitudes ording to poprity. A solo activity that started from scratch again. And then Jang So-won, who received a lot of spotlight with her selfposed song and topped the chart, was now on the terrestrial stage as a candidate for the number one music show. It was a situation that could be called a second heyday. Ive been thinking about it I quietly handed her a tissue when I saw her eyes moisten slightly. She said thank you and dabbed her eyes. I must have let my emotions show a bit as I spoke. None of this would have happened without you guys. Thank you, kids. Really. Us too. I replied. If it werent for you, senior, we wouldnt have received even a tenth of the attention were getting now. Actually, we feel like were just riding on your poprity Dont be ridiculous. Leader, we couldnt have finished this song without you. No, really. Stop being so modest. All I did was add a few things to the melody you made, senior. We should be the ones thanking you. You know we couldnt havee this far on our own. The atmosphere was so warm and sincere that it felt like we should toast or something. The staff from Yoons team or Jang So-wons side were also listening to our conversation with gentle smiles on their faces. Usually, someone would burst into tears at a moment like this. But the tears came from an unexpected source. Minki, why are you crying? The road manager who brought us here was sniffling. Why is he crying? Lee whispered something in my ear and I heard Yoon Seokhwanugh and ry it to the others. Hes an original Sugarfish fan. Huh? What did you say? I was ck Sugar. Fan club? Yes, first generation Ugh Everyoneughed at the sight of him sobbing. Our road manager was a Sugarfish fan club member. He must have been overwhelmed by seeing his favorite group make aeback. Why didnt you tell us? Jang So-won got up with a smile. Come here. Who did you like the most? I liked Lisa I was going to hug you, but Ill just hold your hand. She hugged the road manager anyway. Pat pat. It was touching, but also weird. It felt like we were on a boat with the wrong people. *** Lemon Entertainment PR team. The PR team had been busy since morning, spreading articles about New cks appearance on a music show and promoting them. But they werent tired. It was hard when their artists got into idents or scandals and they had to deal with the aftermath, but it was fun when they had good news like this. Before they knew it, it was 5:30. As MusicON was about to start, the PR team members took a break and gathered around the TV. Wow, Im so nervous. Me too. Its the kids who are on stage, but were the ones who are anxious. Who do you think will win first ce? Well, our kids are the most likely. But I cant rx when I think about TNTs album score. But they wouldnt have invited them if they didnt have a chance, right? Well have to wait and see. You know how many times the broadcasters have screwed over small agencies? Remember the year-end stagest year? We went there trusting the PDs promise and Scarlet got their part cut for some unknown big names. That was really awful. I still get angry when I think about it. They said they were taking care of the big names and cut our kids part Hey! Its starting. The MusicON logo disappeared from the top of the screen and the live broadcast began. Actor Kang Hyunmin and girl group Laviangroses member Jeon Yubin were holding microphones and smiling brightly. -The hottest K-POP! The center of its poprity, live broadcast Music~ON! They introduced themselves. -Hello, Im Kang Hyunmin. -Hello, Im Jeon Yubin. Oh! Hyunmin, you have something on your face! -What is it? -Kim. Handsomeness. -Yubin, youre too much~ The male and female MCs exchanged cheesy lines and then started to introduce the stages for today. -We also have the coboration stage of Jang So-won and New ck. -Then, shall we see the chart rankings for the second week of March? The employees chatted as they watched the songs go up in reverse order. The Girls on Top are not doing well. Didnt they win first cest time? They did. But they lost some momentum because of the Joo hana controversy. What did she do wrong? Thats how the entertainment industry is. If you date a loser, your image bes a loser. Look over there! Something is number one. As Something appeared at the top of the chart, a cheer erupted from the scene. They were less popr than TNTs Blink, who ranked second, but they still had a strong appeal to the public. After the song introduction was over, the TV screen switched to the stage. While a girl group with an unfamiliar name performed the opening stage, the promotion team staff chatted. Its been a while since I watched a music show. Its a historic moment. An idol group that was forced to enter the music show after their coboration song swept the chart before their debut. Its a good story for the articles. By the way, what are you going to do with the personal interview request that came in for Jang So-won and Woojoo together? Ill do it. Well, they coposed the song, so its good for their image asposer idols. Im jealous. Even if they split it with Jang So-won, Woojoos personal royalty will be enough to buy a car every month. By the end of the year, hell be able to buy a house in Seoul. Everyone lost their appetite at someones remark. Does anyone know Woojoos contact number? Why? Well, look at this. One of the staff showed his smartphone. This is a tweet that TNTs Taehyun just posted on his personal Twitter. [TNT_Taehyun] @RealHanTH Met a good bro after a long time #7yearfriend_bestie #congrats_on_number_one_candidate #handsomeness_stuck_on_face In the picture, Seon Woojoo and Han Taehyun were posing with their arms around each other. Woojoo is handsome. He doesnt look inferior next to Taehyun. We see him every day, so we dont notice. The kids say that every time he changes his convenience store part-time job, he gets a number from Woojoo. Oh, the one who got a number from a guy the other day? Puhaha! Why are youughing? Love is sublime. Can you all stop talking? Lets spread some articles about this SNS thing. The people who were watching TV each took theirptops and started working. Hallyu stars are hallyu stars. Look at the RT numbers. But how do they know each other? Maybe they met at TJ? Ah, I want to ask. If it wasnt right before the live broadcast, I would call and ask. This is a perfect scoop. By the way, arent you jealous? Of what? TNT has golden connections. The others agreed with that. By the way, thanks for letting us know. What do you mean? TNTs fandom is notorious for being extreme. Theyve been spamming themunity with usations of Somethings chart maniption since a while ago. They must be bitter. A rookie group pushing their idol off the first ce. But if Taehyun posts a tweet like this, theyll calm down. TNTs member personally verified his friendship with New cks member and congratted them on being the number one candidate. Thats nice. He probably didnt do it on purpose. If Seon Woojoo was here, he would have thought he did it on purpose, but the promotion team just thanked him. Soon, as they were engrossed in their work, the stage finally began. Its starting. Turn off the mute and turn up the volume. A calm intro yed and the stage appeared on the screen. The promotion team staff looked at the TV with anticipation. It was the moment when Somethings stage was shown for the first time. Chapter 25: Chapter 25: Chapter 25 As the stage lights up, the set appears. Two benches. The members of New ck are sitting on them, divided into two groups. On the left, Kim Bi-ju and Kim Jung-hyun. On the right, Seon Woojoo is holding an acoustic guitar. As his long and slender fingers move, the songs apaniment begins with a refreshing guitar sound. At the same time, the TV caption pops up. [Jang So-won X New ck Something] The staff of Lemon Entertainments PR team eximed in admiration. Wow, Seon Woojoo. I heard he could y the guitar, but I didnt know he was that good. When did he practice? Hes always been good at ying instruments. Its in his family. Is that good? Honestly, if you go to a music school for three months, you can y like that. Yeah, yeah. No, really. He doesnt have to worry about starving anywhere he goes. His face is working hard. Seon Woojoos appearance on the broadcast was very convincing. A man sitting with his legs crossed, ying the guitar. His handsome face and full makeupbined to create a beauty that surpassed any ordinary actor. It was a close-up shot that made people say oh in awe. Then, the scene changes. Two men and women in front of the three men sitting on the bench. Jang So-won and Seo Ri-hyuk. They are dressed like college students and looking at each other. The first verse was skillfully delivered by Jang So-won, who approached Seo Ri-hyuks side. She had a proficient stage manner and vocal skill, as well as a smooth delivery of the lyrics. You dont know my heart, I dont know yours either But you know it too Our rtionship is not ripe yet Something that flows between us It was a soft song. It made the audience sigh with the gentle sound and the clear vocal, as if they were reminded of their first love without anyone. A song that sounded like a little tantrum. But not annoying. It was what she said to the man who didnt understand her feelings. As Jang So-won lowered her microphone slightly, the part switched to Seo Ri-hyuk. An icy expression. He looked cold and aloof like snow in winter, and he seemed to have sharp thorns somewhere. But when his part finally came, he made them feel like winter was gone and spring had arrived. The coldness disappeared and a warm and soft smile appeared on his face. His voice that came through the microphone was like a spring breeze. At first, I thought it was a spring breeze Not the petals on my shoulder Who are you, who tickles my heart We said we were friends, but Im different His voice was stable and confident, unlike a rookie. What are we, Im still confused So- Jang So-won and Seo Ri-hyuk grabbed the microphone together and looked at each other. The lovely eyes of the two who fell in love. From today, Im going to date you Ill catch you, who seems to be caught but not Ill narrow the gap between you and me Ill hold your hand, which seems to be held but not Ill walk the line between love and friendship From the second part, the rest of the New ck members also joined in. -It sounds better live -But the main vocal does everything and the rest just do the chorus? -They should have juste out as two -I knew Jang So-won was good, but they are amazing too They harmonize well There were some voices that wondered why the other New ck members came out, but the reaction was good both online and offline. First of all, Something was a hit song that was currently running at the highest price. Regardless of the participation of the members, Jang So-won and Seo Ri-hyuks live performance was saving the show. Of course, there was a reason why the main vocal Seo Ri-hyuk got all the parts. The first part distribution. When we recorded the song by dividing the parts equally ording to Park Aejus fairness, everything was perfect. The vocals that brought out the individual colors of each member, as well as the harmonious song as a whole. But both the New ck members and Jang So-won had no choice but to rearrange the parts after listening to the final version. Jang So-wons remark. Dont I look like a fishermans girl no matter how you look at it? That was the problem. The song quality itself was wless, but the problem arose because we overlooked the fact that the theme was flirting. Flirting. The push and pull between men and women. It seemed strange that four men with unique personalities appeared with one woman in such a rtionship. The woman seemed to seduce four men at the same time. And the other four men seemed to be caught in the fishermans and flirted with the woman. So we had to divide it again. One man and one woman. The result was the current Something. From today, Im going to flirt with you Im going to catch you who seem to be caught but not Im going to narrow the gap between you and me Im going to hold your hand that seems to be caught but not Im going to walk the line between love and friendship As we put the harmony together in the chorus, I smiled. *** The tension was relieved as the debut performance ended. I was so nervous that I almost bumped into the boy group waiting to go up as I came down to the back stage with my guitar. It was lucky that Jung-hyun caught me from behind, or I would have caused an ident. It wasnt just me who was relieved, but the other members as well. Especially Ri-hyuk, who had a soulless expression on his face. Good job, kids! Jang So-won, who returned to the waiting room, hugged each of us. But she was also exhausted, so she sat down on the sofa and gulped down water. Her face was slightly flushed. She had received the spotlight and the heat of the scene, so her face was red. It was the same for Ri-hyuk. Good job, Ri-hyuk. What do you mean, good job? You did a good job. I was worried because you were so nervous since morning, but you were flying on stage. You nailed your debut stage. When did I get nervous? Oh, what? Why are you allughing? Everyone burst intoughter. Especially the youngest, who had a smirk on his face. Who was the one who sat in the bathroom for 20 minutes saying his stomach hurt since morning? He tried to act as bold as possible with his words, but his eyes were so white and his face was red, it was kind of cute. He looked like a fierce baby who put on his mothers makeup wrong. So-won senior intervened with a smile. Thats right, Ri-hyuk did the best. Hepletely fell for her praise attack, and while I watched him, something light was ced on my shoulder. Hyung, Im sleepy. Ji-ho, you cant sleep now. Your face will swell. Just five minutes. No, you cant. I shrugged my shoulder, but he didnt budge and tried to sleep. He was a hero who could sleep with a helmet on his head while bullets flew by in the battlefield. But your head is really light. Is that an insult or apliment? Its apliment. Youre lighter than most girls, you know? Hmm? How do you know the weight of girls heads, hyung? At his careless remark, the eyes of the other guys turned like hyenas. They exchanged nces that tried to gang up on me in 0.1 seconds. You yed a lot when you were young. You yed a lot. Tell me honestly. How many people have passed through that shoulder of yours? Now that I think about it, Something was your story. Really? Did you write the lyrics about yourself, leader? I shook my head at Jang So-won, who was curious about the snacks. Theyre real. I smiled bitterly and picked up one of the snacks on the table. Wow, this is delicious. Look at him, hes changing the subject. Its true. You guys should try it too. By the way, this is really good. What should I call it, a fluffy bread? I handed out some of the unusual snacks to my siblings. They all had simr reactions. What kind of snack is this, senior? Ah. That. Jang So-won said. Its a dessert called souffl. Souffl. I memorized the name, thinking I should buy itter. I had no idea what this would lead to. *** The time to decide the first ce candidate. As the ending approached, Jang So-won and our members went up on stage. Next to us was TNT. Some of them looked surprised when they saw me as they climbed up the stage. Maybe Han Taehyun told them something. We greeted them with our eyes and stood in front of the camera. The front row. Everyone around us was a senior, so we naturally shrank a little. This weeks Music On first ce candidates are TNTs Blink and Jang So-won and New cks Something. The atmosphere was tense. Especially because of the huge number of TNT fandoms upying the front seats. Most of the cards they saw were TNT fandoms cards. Digital music score, preference score, broadcast score, album score. Then who is the winner? If we were watching TV, aparison window would pop up on the screen and various scores woulde up, but nothing was visible to us right now. We were just waiting for the MCs voice. Yes, Jang So-won X New cks Something! Congrattions! The moment I heard the word Something, I felt like time had stopped. My heart was pounding so loud that it echoed in my ears. Glittering papers fell from the sky. Maybe it was because of how I felt right now. It felt like I was seeing stars falling from heaven. I looked at the members next to me as I watched the glittering powder. Bi-ju covered her mouth with her eyes wide open, Jung-hyun choked on the glittering powder, and Ri-hyuk bowed his head, looking like he was holding back tears. The youngest was giggling, happy about something. MC Jeon Yubin handed the trophy to Jang So-won. The audience and the fellow singers on the side pped on the stage. The fans of the singers sitting in the red seats shook their cheering sticks along with the flowing Something. In the situation where it seemed like time had stopped, Jang So-won grabbed the microphone. She started to say her eptance speech with tears in her eyes, but I couldnt hear a word she was saying. I was just nk. I couldnt believe it was real. When I came to my senses, the microphone was in my hand in an instant. It was a situation where I had to say the eptance speech on behalf of New ck. My grandmother who would be watching TV at the white rice restaurant, Yoon Seok-hwan and the people from the agency who would be watching from the waiting room, the singers and the audience on the scene, and our members. The faces of the people passed by in a sh. It was the thoughts that passed by in 0.1 seconds of nkness. I grabbed the microphone and smiled and started the prepared speech. Thank you so much. It feels like a miracle has happened since before I debuted. That was the truth. It was a touching moment. Justst November, I was a normal 20-something preparing for the college entrance exam. But now, four monthster. I was standing on the first ce scene at the music broadcast of the oldest terrestrial broadcasting station in Korea. The highest ce on the stage I once dreamed of. A ce where I had to be humble. I finished my speech by naming the people from the agency and the people I was grateful to. Please love Something a lot and we, Souffl, will work hard to repay the love we receive now. Butughter erupted from everywhere. Why are theyughing? Jang So-won whispered in my ear. Leader, you just said souffl. Do you know that feeling? The feeling of every hair on your body standing up. In front of my fellow singers and the audience, who were having a st, I tried to grab the mic again to fix my mistake. Our tablet Ah! Please love New ck a lot~! So-won sunbae took the mic from me and spoke on my behalf. I clearly made a slip of the tongue, but I received friendly looks from everywhere. They must have found it cute because Im a rookie. The TNT members standing next to me were chuckling, as well as the other groups. The audience was also in a simr mood. Im doomed. This will be immortalized and haunt me forever. I felt like I had overdosed on shame. ** -Our tablet uh What a jerk. At the rice restaurant, Mrs. Kim Deok-soon sighed as she peeled an onion. They always get sick when theyre doing well. Why are you like that? If it were me, I would be dancing with joy if my grandson appeared on TV and won a trophy. Dont talk if you dont know. Do you know how much he hurt me? How did he hurt you? The kitchendy who was peeling onions with her asked. He doesnt look like someone who would hurt you. And so what if he did? Sister, these days, being handsome is everything. The first thing is the face, and the second thing is the face. Is it all about the face? If you look like that, even if you do something bad, youll be less hated. Look at our grandson. Hes so pretty. But when I went to visit himst time, do you know what he said? He said, stoping, grandma. He said his mom is having a hard time. I almost cursed him out, but I held it in. I see. He did inherit his good looks from his dad and mom. He does look less sickly when he does something sickly. Mrs. Kim Deok-soon looked at her grandson who appeared on the ending of Music On with subtitles scrolling by. He really made a fool of himself. He was already worth his face, but he looked even more handsome on the screen. She felt a pang in her chest as she saw his red eyes from crying. The onion is so spicy. Sister, why are you wearing sses while peeling? Whats so spicy? Its spicy if its spicy! Why are you nagging me? Oy, youre so temperamental Then, the door of the rice restaurant opened with a jingle. A man wearing a motorcycle helmet came in with a huge wreath. Is Mrs. Kim Deok-soon here? Thats me. Mrs. Kim Deok-soon took off her sses and approached him. What is it? Can you please sign here? Huh? Im delivering flowers. The senders name is Seon Woojoo. Oh, thats my grandson. Your grandson asked me to deliver it right at this time. You just need to sign here. The delivery man left the rice restaurant as soon as he got the signature. Sister, whats that? Ah, you dont need to know! The kitchendy who came over as soon as she saw the huge wreath that looked like an opening wreath eximed. What is it? Did your grandson send it? Ah, I dont know. On the left side of the wreath, there was a message saying [The prettiest Kim Deok-soon in the world, thank you and I love you.] and on the right side, there was another message saying [Who I am is a secret]. At first, she was dumbfounded, but she didnt feel bad. Oh my. Mrs. Kim Deok-soon smiled sheepishly. Hes being sickly. Chapter 26: Chapter 26: Chapter 26 We are Singers Inside the car on the way back to the dorm after the first music show. Puhahahahaha! Hahaha! Hahahaha! Everyone burst intoughter as Bi-ju egged on the youngest. Ji-ho, do it again. That thing. This thing? Yeah, that thing. As everyone looked at him expectantly, the acting prodigy of the group cleared his throat and started to get into character. Ahem. Then he perfectly imitated someone. Please love our Souffle a lot~. The kidsughed like crazy. I covered my face with both hands. If I die today, maybe I should write on my tombstone [Seon Woojoo, died of shame]. Its painful. Im so ashamed that I want to die. Wow, its exactly the same. I felt betrayed by Bi-ju, who was wiping away tears fromughing so hard. Bi-ju, what do you mean its the same? Huh? Its totally the same No, its not the same at all- You dont know because its yourself, hyung. The youngest cut in. Do you want me topare it for you? The clip from Music On should be online by now. No, no. That makes me want to do it more. I snatched the youngests phone, but it was useless. Jung-hyun, who was sitting next to me, had already yed the video. The smartphone screen. With the apuse from the scene, a caption appears: [1st ce Something]. On the screen, I look very nervous. I have full makeup on, making my skin pale and my features sharp. I look good, but thats not the point. The words I utter with teary eyes. -We Souffle will work hard from now on The kids burst intoughter again. Imented. Ive been so good to you guys. You call that good? Just change your clothes, ajusshi. Yeah. You dont do anything and lie down, and always say Ji-ho, get me some water and stuff. The youngest took the opportunity to butt in. Our youngest, you had a lot ofints about me? Yes, I hated you. You always bullied me, made me do chores. I see. I did a big wrong. Yeah. You should feel sorry for me now Ow! The youngest, who got a flick on the forehead from me, clutched his forehead and made a pained face. The membersughed. Ri-hyuk, who seemed to enjoy taking pictures, was a bonus. While everyone wasughing, I saw Jung-hyun tapping the smartphone screen with a focused face. What are you doing? Im saving the videos. Jung-hyun answered with a smile. These are all memories. I have to keep them as records. No You dont have to. I was already ashamed enough, but they were trying to nail me to the coffin. Yoon Seok-hwan also seemed to enjoy the noisy atmosphere. I brushed my hair back and said. Seok-hwan hyung. What. Can I cancel the contract? I want to get away from these ungrateful kids. Woojoo, just endure for seven years. Yoon Seok-hwans tone was echoed by the kids. Ah, where are you going? Bi-ju hugged my shoulder with a smile. We cant do without you, hyung. Yeah. Who do you think made us sessful with his songs? Do they act like this even though they know? Hey, its because they like you, hyung. Dont they know any better? I tried to re at the youngest who clung to me awkwardly, but I couldnt help butugh. I felt like I understood how people who raised pets felt. I was angry that they had made a mess of the house while I was gone, but when they came and cuddled up to me with their cute acts, my heart melted in an instant. Ri-hyuk saw my expression and chuckled. You look like a grandfather whos amused by his grandsons jokes. Our Ri-hyuk is so good at talking. I know that too. If only your heart was as good as your face. Where can you find someone as kind as me? Ji Ho made a face as if he had lost his appetite at that shameless remark. How can you say that without a steel te on your face? Shut up, King Ji-ho. Do you always tell me to shut up when things dont go your way? While the fourth and fifth in the hierarchy were fighting like dogs, the hyungs watched them with a smile as if they were cute. No. Even the main vocal and sub vocal who were arguing had smiles on their lips. Everyone was in a good mood. Maybe it was the best day of my life. It felt like my chest was wide open. Every time I took a deep breath, the knots that had built up over time were released, and the chilly wind that blew through the open car window felt refreshing. I wouldnt want to trade this feeling for a million dors. The reward for all the hard work was really sweet. I had passed through the invisible long tunnel and saw the light for the first time. How could anything not be exciting and happy? Jung-hyun handed me his phone as I was enjoying the breeze. Hyung, have you seen this? What is it? Your story is quite popr on the inte. Really? I looked at the smartphone screen. [New ck? The leader has amazing charisma] He looks like he can fit anywhere -What is charisma lol -Is that a joke lol -I only saw the face of the guy ying the guitar while singing -Im a true fan of Jin Sung and Im starting to stan him today Thanks to my speech for winning first ce today, my face was a hot topic. I clicked on the post below with the award speech. -Was Jang So-won always this pretty? -So-won unnie, take me -They dont look like rookies and theyre good at live -I was eating ramen at home and I burst outughing lol Theyre so funny Most of the reactions were positive. Thankfully, the reaction of the TNT fandom, which I was most worried about, was not bad either. -Hes the one who took a picture with Tae-hyun lol -He said he almost debuted with TNT It must be awkward for both of them. -I still find the chart movement suspicious but well They seem to like each other when they announced our kids right after -I havent seen Tae-hyun smile like that in a long time lol Are they really best friends The ones who were making a fuss about the music maniption a while ago were showing a soft response. It was probably thanks to Tae-hyun posting a picture on SNS. No wonder he kept taking pictures at the broadcasting station. I had a rough idea, but when I actually confirmed it, I was grateful. Me [Thank you] I sent a message to the number I exchanged earlier and the reply came right away. Han Tae-hyun [^^] Han Tae-hyun [If youre thankful, buy me a drink] Han Tae-hyun [Ah lol Thats right, you cant drink, hyung] Han Tae-hyun [Just buy me food] Han Tae-hyun [Lets get together with the B group kids] Han Tae-hyun [Ill make a group chat soon] I sent a vague reply and felt a strange emotion. Han Tae-hyun, a five-year idol. The guy who had less sense than Ji Ho had be so quick-witted after living in the entertainment industry. I wonder if our clueless youngest would change like that someday. Ji-ho chuckled softly when he felt my gaze. What? Huh? Why are you looking at me with such a loving eye? We still have a long way to go. *** Thats what I thought when we won our first ce on Music On. We were lucky. We kept topping the charts, but I wondered if we couldpete with the senior groups who had strong fandoms behind them. I hoped we could stay on top for two more weeks and then step down gracefully. But reality went against my expectations. -Something on a wild run, three consecutive weeks of music show wins -Rapper Hesionseback, will he end Something''s long reign? -A breathtaking March music war, the final winner was Something Music show grand m. We won first ce on all three majorworks and the music channel for three weeks in a row. It was unbelievable. Who would have imagined? In March, when the chartpetition was fierce, a coboration between an unknown idol group and an unpopr singer took the first ce. It was beyond surprising, it was absurd. To people who had no interest in the entertainment industry, the weekly music show wins might not mean much, but to us, the rookie group New ck, it was a huge achievement. And we felt the results every day. First of all, we started to get some schedules. After the music shows, we got some minor invitations from various ces. There were some local festivals that we had never heard of, with potatoes or sweet potatoes as their themes, and there were also some music festivals that we had heard of. The mostmon thing among them was school events. The universities were quick to move to get us to perform Something live for their festivals starting fromte April. The theme of Something was exactly that, something. It was the hottest topic among college students on SNS and elsewhere. One music critic even analyzed that the sess of Something was due to being the first to capture the popr subject of something. Something, with its rtable theme and addictive melody, was expected to be the biggest hit song of the first half of 2014. The hottest song in the college scene right now, Something. In this situation, where everyone wanted us toe to their school, the tension between Jang Sowon and New ck was inevitable. Thepetition was so fierce that I couldnt close my mouth when I heard the event fees that the universities offered through Seok-hwan hyung. When Junghyun was startled and squeezed the can, the soda exploded, and as we were wiping the floor, he exined. Theres usually an agency that connects the events. They grade you like beef. They check how many times you won on the music shows, what your chart ranking is, what your recent buzz index is, and they grade you ordingly. The music show wins are that important. Your senior Scarlet probably doubled her event fee as soon as she won. Yoon Seok-hwan added with a smile. Youre popr right now, enjoy it while you can. You cant keep it, and you shouldnt keep it either. What he said was not a sugarcoating, but a realistic congrattion. You cant keep it, and you shouldnt keep it either. It wasnt a wrong statement. The monthly chart first ce and the three consecutive weeks of music show wins that we were enjoying now were miracles that we didnt know if we could achieve again. An album is like a sports game for a singer. Just because you were the MVP in thest game doesnt mean youll be the MVP in the next game. Maybe it was like the independent trial probability that I learned in the college entrance exam. Even if the previous result was a sess, the next result was not certain whether it would be a sess or a failure. The poprity of Something was the poprity of the song. It wasnt the poprity of New ck from the beginning, so it was a poprity that we couldnt keep. Then, what did it mean that we shouldnt keep it either? -Honestly, Jang So-won did everything, right? She used to be a singer-songwriter herself. Shee just gave the rookie group a chance. -New ck only did the backing vocals without the main vocals on the music shows. -I honestly dont know why theyre there. -Its the adults situation, right? What do the kids know? -One of them participated in theposition. -The interview said it was a coposition. -Jang So-won was nice to say that, right? What kind ofposition is an idol? The producers at thepany do everything for them. -Theyre so eager to debut even though the song is doing well. -Isnt it because we didnt practice singing enough? Lol Thats what the intements I was reading said. Our poprity depended on Jang So-won sunbae. Most of our schedules were like that. Whenever Jang So-wons name came up at Hwai Entertainment, they would contact our management team and share the work. All the schedules we had in March. The magazine photoshoot and interview we did with Jang So-won sunbae, and most of the events we were invited to. Even if they contacted us first, they would say something like The condition is based on Jang So-won being with you. Thats what Yoon Seok-hwan meant when he said our poprity was not sustainable. It wasnt New cks poprity in the first ce. Now that I think about it, its strange. Were so popr right now, but its not our poprity? Of course, other people might think its a luxury problem. Its already a fortunate situation to receive this much attention when we havent even debuted yet. The members seemed satisfied too. Their expressions were so happy every day that I felt full just by looking at them. But I still felt like it wasnt enough. Shouldnt we row harder when the tide is high? Since this was our chance to imprint New cks first image, I didnt want the four of us, excluding Ri-hyuk, to be remembered as mere vases. I wanted to show people. That we had skills as singers. Chapter 27: Chapter 27: Chapter 27 How can I show the singing skills of our members? How can I create that opportunity? That was the problem I had to worry about as the leader of the team. After appearing on the music show for three weeks, the feedback I summarized was roughly like this: -The visuals are top-notch. They have their own personalities and could be actors. -Why does only the main vocal sing? -What are the rest of them doing? Cant they sing? -Is this a group push? It was a problem that started from an ambiguous situation. Theposition of Something was practically done by me and Jang So-won. But when we went into recording, a problem urred. It was weird to deal with Something with one girl and several boys. Thats why we unified the vocal and it was Ri-hyuk. But then, when we decided to name it Jang So-won X Ri-hyuk Something, it was a bit subtle. They all contributed. To be honest, it was something that happened because I didnt know the song would do so well. When the first music show appearance was confirmed, the two agencies were thinking of sending only Ri-hyuk. But then they met with Jang So-wons strong opposition, saying I wont do it if you do that, and we ended up going together. It was good in the end, but on the other hand, it left a question of Why do so many guyse out and just put in harmony and go back? Cant they sing? It was a tricky situation. Our kids can sing well. The problem is that there is no chance to prove it. I cant change the music show repertoire to show off their skills. When I was lost in my own worries, the road manager Seo Min-ki nced at me sitting in the passenger seat. Are you tired? No. Was the interview hard? The atmosphere was okay. It was a solo schedule after the music show ended. It was an interview with Jang So-won sunbae, the coposer of Something, and there was nothing special. There were a few awkward questions, but I guess I got used to the interview. I was less nervous than the first time. And even if a difficult question came up, Jang So-won sunbae supported me from the side. So-won did that when she was in Sugarfish. She helped her juniors. And the reporter was very responsive to whatever I said. I thought they would be harsh because Im a rookie, but they were very kind. I think I know why. What do you mean? The reporter was a woman. I made a face that I didnt understand, and Seo Minki chuckled as if it was enough. Never mind, kid. I just asked because you looked tired. I wondered if it was because of the interview. Thats not it. I was about to talk about my recent worries about showing off New cks skills, and I looked at him. He was someone I hadnt met for even a month. I smiled as I looked at the passing trees. I guess Im less tense. You should be. Youre number one for three weeks in a row, so what. But Im still a rookie. I have to be nervous. I looked at his face and remembered something I had forgotten, and rummaged through my pocket. Hyung, Jang So-won sunbae asked me to give you a gift today. She said its from her fan. Really? Where is it? Here. Min-ki hyung blinked his eyes at my empty palm. He had a what-is-this expression. When I folded and unfolded my palm, a chocte appeared. Ta-da. Hey, what was that? Its magic. You can do that too? I learned it from watching Youtube a while ago. But I had nowhere to use it. I learned magic by imitating the movements. Honestly, except for dancing, I had nothing to use it for in my daily life, so I yed with it as a hobby. He smiled brightly as I handed him the chocte. It looked like his fatigue for the day melted away. The site manager said you looked low on sugar because you were busy with the schedule these days, so he asked me to give you chocte. Belgium? He said he got it from a friend who lives there. Belgium? That must be Lisa. Really? Sugarfish Lisa, you know, the musical actress who quit and went to Belgium. Right, Min-ki hyungs favorite was Sugarfish Lisa. Iughed incredulously. Dont you have to switch to Hwai Entertainment? Hmm, maybe I should have. Hey, where are you going? You have to keep working with us. Min-ki hyung smiled at my yful retort and focused on driving. The street lights shed by as the car sped along. 10 p.m. We were on our way to thepany. Cant you go straight to the dorm? You have a music show early tomorrow. I have a meeting with Director Jo today. At this hour? Yes, were both busy, so this was the only day we could find. The purpose was obviously to show off my skills that Ive been worrying abouttely. Maybe he would give me some answers to my questions. Bzzz- As I was lost in thought, my phone rang. -A-Yo. Souffle man~ The cheerfulughter of the youngest came from the other side of the phone. -Did the interview go well? It went well. -What ack of enthusiasm. Your cute maknae called you and you answer with such a cold tone? Cute maknae? I dont have a maknae like that. -Why not? Im right here. Im hanging up. -Wow, Im so hurt. I raised you so well. I burst outughing at his ridiculous words. Hey, when did you raise me? -I fed you, I put you to sleep. Hyung, dont you remember anything? I think I do. -Right? Yeah, I remember. Was it two weeks ago? You came to me and said Ha please lend me one. because you had no underwear? -Why do you have such a good memory? Its a family trait. My grandmother is even better. Who are you talking to? Ji-ho? Min-ki asked me. I nodded. His voice on the other side of the phone became gloomy. -Did the manager hear it too? Yeah. -Please tell him this is a secret. If the hyungs find out, theyll boil me like a bone soup until I die. Especially Seo Ri-hyuk, that venomous bastard Youre asking for it. -Aww. Who should I text first? Ri-hyuk? -Stop! Stop! Have some manners, Woojoo hyung I chuckled as I heard the youngest members voice of surrender. What a cute kid. I felt a bit less tired thanks to the conversation with Jihoo. Why did you call me? Did we agree to have ate-night snack today? -No, we decided not to eat today. Why? -Ri-hyuk hyung said he thinks hes going to get pimples if he eats. You guys can eat without him. -Bi-ju hyung said thats not polite. He said we shouldnt eat without someone when we have food. I roughly guessed what he wanted from his words. You want a snack, dont you? -Yes. Send me the menu on KakaoTalk. Ill buy it for you when I go to thepany. -I love you, boss~ As soon as the call ended, a message came on KakaoTalk. It was a list of menus like instant tteokbokki, sausages, and snacks that are sold at convenience stores. I nced at them and tilted my head. Thats strange. The menu is a bit simpler than usual. It doesnt seem like it would cost more than 10,000 won in total. Usually, they spend almost 30,000 won on snacks every time. Whats going on? *** Lemon Entertainment. It was past 10 p.m., the time when most employees had left, but the lights in the practice room would still be on at this time. There was no time to rest. Music shows took up the whole day, from dawn rehearsals to evening broadcasts. And they couldnt rx in the remaining time either. They had to keep practicing. They couldnt ck off on their usual dance or vocal practice just because they performed Something live. They would know if they tried. The dance line would get rough if they skipped stretching for a day. In that sense, we, New ck, were always devoted to practice after returning to thepany from music shows. Well. Thats how it used to be. Why are the lights off? Something was weird today. The stairs leading down to the basement were also dark, except for the green emergency lights, and I couldnt see anything. I stumbled down the stairs and wondered. Did the lights go out? I had been going up and down these stairs sincest December, so I didnt fall. Maybe it was because of my imitation ability. Sometimes, when my senses became sharper, I would automatically perform the actions needed for the situation. The hallway was dark too. Where are they? There were several practice room doors, but today all the lights were off. Thats odd. If they werent in the practice room, they would have told me. Ssssh- I heard something as I was about to turn on the phone light. It sounded like a cockroach scurrying fast. What the? Ssssh- This time it was behind me. Fear crept up on me. Something was wrong. I was about to take a step back when something jumped on my shoulder. Aaah! Before I could scream, my body reacted again. It was the same as when I awakened my ability on the day of the college entrance exam and tackled the policeman. The same movement flowed out of my body. Thud-! I heard something fall to the floor. This time, something reached out to grab me from the darkness. Again, my body reacted naturally. The martial arts moves that I had watched on YouTube when I was bored came out automatically. Slipping. It was a boxing technique that involved swaying the upper body from side to side to dodge the opponents attacks. But that wasnt enough for my adrenaline-fueled body. I grabbed the opponents arm and threw him like a judo yer. Ugh! Ugh? Hey, hey! Turn on the lights! Lights! Why? Hey! Wang Jiho! Turn on the lights if I tell you to! Are, are you okay, boss? Along with the familiar voices, the hallway lights turned on with a bang. And then, my vision blurred. A middle-aged man with a bald head and a gentle face was groaning on the floor, clutching his waist. Manager Yoon Seok-hwan was in the same state. Director Jo Gyuwhan was stuck to the wall like a ma from a chicken shop, looking shocked. And then. What is this? The New ck kids, wearing bewildered expressions. The guys with straw hats were holding a cake, standing awkwardly as they watched the scene unfold. They were so surprised that their eyes were wide open like rabbits. What was going on? I was just as confused. No. What was this situation without any warning? I looked for the culprit who had sent me downstairs on an errand. Wang Ji-ho, where are you? Yes? Exin whats going on. Only after I helped the two men up, I was able to hear the details. I didnt need to hear the exnation. The kids were holding a cream cake. On top of it, it said Congrattions on 3 weeks in a row at number one!. Surprise party. It was a n to throw a surprise celebration for the 3-week streak of number one on the music show. I frowned and asked. Who came up with this n? The boss did. Oh, great n. It was a bit chaotic, but luckily no one was hurt. After the songs and congrattions were exchanged, the adults handed us thete-night snacks they had ordered in advance and left. I felt a pang of sadness as I saw Manager Yoon Seok-hwan and the boss walking away, arm in arm. As the kids were wiping off the cream on my face, someone handed me a tissue. Here you go. Thanks. Ri-hyuk asked me. Why do you look so flustered? I was surprised. We should be the ones surprised. The boss almost smelled the incense behind the folding screen. Someone grabbed me from behind all of a sudden Ri-hyuks expression was like a personification of tsk tsk as he saw me scratching my head, feeling embarrassed. Anyway, I was surprised. They said they were celebrating for me. Why do you think? Our main vocal said sarcastically. Since youposed the song, they wanted to thank you with a celebration Really? Were you grateful to me? Do I have to say it out loud? You have to say it, not be grumpy. Since you brought it up, let me hear it. Come on, say thank you. Tha As he was about to say it, Ri-hyuk picked up a convenience store bag that had fallen on the floor. I bought some sweet potato chips. Ill enjoy them. Hey. He ran away with the bag of sweet potato chips. I couldnt help butugh at his ridiculousness. Bi-ju came over and smiled as if it was a curious thing. Ri-hyuk is a bit clumsy at expressing his emotions. That guys personality is really weird. Still, the more I look at him, the more kind he seems. Bi-ju said to me with a smile. Hurry up, hyung. Theres a lot of bossam and jokbal. The CEO said not to worry about the amount and bought a lot for us today. I saw Jung-hyun and Ji-ho setting up the bossam and jokbal set on the newspaper on the practice room floor. It was a perfectbination with kimchi and bibim noodles. Bi-ju hyung, can I eat now? Not yet. We have to eat together. Wow, hyung is totally amunist! Bi-ju smiled at me as if to tell me to hurry up. Uh, Bi-ju Yes? I dont think I can eat with you guys. I have a meeting soon I had to change my words when I saw his expression turn gloomy. Maybe its better to eat a little and go? Good thinking, hyung. His bright smile returned. As I was led by Bi-jus hand, I thought to myself. Something is weird about everyone. One who cant be satisfied unless he does everything with everyone, one who cant sleep outside unless he takes off his shoes, one who has trouble expressing his emotions. And the youngest one is sigh. Im the only normal one in this group. Chapter 28: Chapter 28: Chapter 28 I was supposed to have a meeting with Director Jo, but thanks to someone who insisted on doing everything together, I had to sit down for a while. The atmosphere was harmonious. Ri-hyuk, heres a special wrap for you, bro. Oh, thanks. You have some too. Whats going on? The youngest and Ri-hyuk exchanged pork belly and trotter wraps with each other. And the result. Phew-! Hey! Wang Ji-ho, what did you put in there? Cough! Bro, what is this cough-? Of course. They both had red faces from stuffing their mouths with peppers or garlic. Sometimes I wonder. Maybe they are programmed at the DNA level to assassinate each other. Bro, have this. Bi-ju piled up the most appetizing parts of the pork belly and trotters on my te like a mother bird. Maybe I was hungry. I didnt have much appetite, but once I put it in my mouth, it melted. Unlike the younger line who were always bickering, the older line were eating peacefully in the opposite seat. Jung-hyun, who was inhaling the trotters with bones, spoke seriously as if he had thought of something. Woojoo hyung. Yeah? The technique you used to take down the director. Bi-ju and I burst outughing. The rapper who was loud enough to be heard by the neighbors said with a smile. Kim Jung-hyun, why are you trying to take down the director? Hes not a viin. Oh, right. Then, the technique you used to ambush the director? The rapper struggled to find the right word, and Ri-hyuk clicked his tongue. Bro, youre a rap maker, but you have poor vocabry? Im just focusing on eating right now. Anyway, the technique you used to pin the director to the floor. Where did you learn that? Just watching various videos on YouTube. Is that enough? That hyung, he can learn dance just by watching, right? At the youngests remark, everyone nodded in agreement. Thats true. Its unbelievable, but Ive seen him do so many unbelievable things that I just ept it now. Oh, thats just Woojoo being Woojoo, you know. Was I that weird? At my muttering, the siblings answered in unison. You were really weird. We thought you were an alien who came to help us. You pretended to be bad at dancing, and then you got praised for being good at dancing. You did a weeks worth of arrangement in a day, and you got asked to work with Jang So-won sunbae at the end-of-year evaluation. And when you went to work with her, you suddenly yed the guitar and arranged the song on the spot, and that song became number one. Now that I think about it, it is really weird. Iughed at Ri-hyuks agreement. Was that apliment, or an insult? But even I thought that the things that happened after I joined thispany were all weird. They were causally rted, but they seemed too unbelievable. Maybe the only exnation for all this is Director Jos miracle. When the youngest brought up a strange theory, I remembered the promise I had forgotten. Oh, right. I had an appointment with Director Jo. Wow, Im out of it. Imte. Where are you going? I had a meeting with Director Jo. A meeting? I licked my lips as I looked around at the members who were looking at me with bewildered expressions. It was an awkward time. I thought it was better to keep this worry to myself. Ill be back soon. See youter. *** CEOs office. I came up here to have a meeting with Director Jo, but when I came to my senses, I was in the CEOs office. Cheers~ The middle-aged men clinked their beer cans with red faces. Who am I and why am I here? The CEO smiled kindly and offered me a can. Woojoo, do you want a drink? Mr. CEO, please dont say that. He has a radio show tomorrow. Director Jo waved his hand and stopped him. I gulped down a zero c while CEO Park Kyuho gave me a piece of bossam. Youve worked hard, Woojoo. Really. Thank you. Ive felt it since the end-of-year evaluation, but ever since you came, things have been going smoothly. Haha, youre the second lucky charm of ourpany after Kyuhyun. Thats right. Director Jo agreed. The head of the management support team was singing happily. He said the music revenue for this quarter will break the all-time record. I havent seen him smile since he hit 10 million at the movies. Woojoo did a great job. Manager Yoon must be proud too. Oh, its all thanks to you and Director Jo. What are you talking about? Woojoo did well, and the kids did well. Its the result of everyones efforts, haha. If it werent for you tying the knot with Hwai Entertainment, this wouldnt have been possible. CEO Parks face bloomed withughter every time Manager Yoons tongue moved. I see. He didnt get that position for nothing. While Manager Yoon was busy ttering the CEO, his attention shifted elsewhere. By the way, youll be making a lot of money this time. Have you thought about what to do with the royalties? Not yet. I answered with a smile. Im nning to save it for now. Ive never had to manage this much money before. Thats how it is for trainees. Money keeps piling up. You dont know how to spend it, and you dont have anywhere to spend it. If I have to spend it, Ill spend it for my grandmother. Thats a good idea. What did you do when you hit your first jackpot, Director Jo? Did you buy a house for your parents? I bought them a car first, Mr. CEO. The house cameter. Right. While the adults were talking about real estate, I quietly ate my bossam. I had nothing to say in their conversation. Someone poked me in the ribs and I saw Manager Yoon giving me a strange look. I nodded. Im sorry about earlier, Mr. CEO. Is your back okay? Its a bit sore, but itll get better. Ill just put a patch on it. Im really sorry. No, its my fault. I tried to surprise you by grabbing your shoulder. You know what they say. Think of this as a good experience. Haha! Thankfully, the CEO let it go with a good-naturedugh. I looked at the other victim who was quietly eating with his Jopsticks. What about you, hyung? I have a herniated disc, you bastard. Im really sorry. If anything happens, Ill take full responsibility. Forget it, kid. Just take care of yourself and stay healthy. As Manager Yoon shrugged it off, the CEO joined in with a warm smile. I heard you were supposed to have a meeting at this time. Ah, yes. Since were here, can we listen in? I didnt hesitate for long. Whatever I say to the director, it will eventually reach the CEOs ears. It doesnt matter what I say. I cautiously brought up the concern I had been havingtely. The slightly drunk trio of old men listened to my story quietly. A brief silence followed my story. The first one to speak was Director Jo. Do you want to show off your members singing skills? Yes. Do you really need to do that? Huh? Director Jo said to me, blinking his eyes. Youre already breaking records on the music charts and dominating the music shows. The media is calling you the long-term rulers. I wouldnt mind if it was your debut song, but its a project song, right? Its not like you nned for this poprity. Dont you think you have enough for now? Director Jo Gyu-hwan finished his sentence with a somewhat indifferent face. It felt like I had to give a good answer, but I was honest with my thoughts. Well Im a greedy person. And I think this is the time to be greedy. It may be unexpected poprity, but its not a chance that wille again. I want to make the most of it. Director Jo stared at me. Did I say something wrong? He looked at me as if he was trying to figure something out, and then he smiled and drank his beer. Thats a good answer. I looked around. Thats when I realized that the CEO and Yoon Seok-hwan were looking at me with amusement. By the time I noticed the situation, Director Jo said. I was curious what you would say, sorry. Ah Actually, I was a bit surprised. He smiled. Manager Yoon and I were having the same dilemma as you. Really? We want to establish New cks image, but we dont want to miss out on the attention without Ri-hyuk. As you said, our kids have no problempeting with any decent singers. True. The adults must have had the same worries as me. We agree with you. If you want to seed in the entertainment industry, you need to take advantage of every opportunity you get. The others nodded in agreement. Manager, please tell Woojoo too. Yes. Yoon Seok-hwan got up from his seat and took something out of his briefcase. The document titled New ck Activity n was filled with neatly organized ns. I was going to tell you when the schedule was fixed, but Ill tell you in advance. What is it? Weve been thinking about how to solve what youre talking about. And we found it. You already found it? I looked at him with curious eyes, and Yoon Seok-hwan answered me. We need to introduce the group New ck to the people, right? Yes. We cant go on any variety shows. Especially not on public broadcasting. Theres no ce that will invite us alone without any conditions, and you guys dont have enough experience to fill the stories anyway. That was obvious. It was like a newbie entering a game full of veterans in thepetitive variety scene. But theres one ce where you can show off your musical skills without any pressure while getting the spotlight. Not radio. Music show? No, music broadcast. What are you talking about? Music broadcast, as in the ce we go every day? Seeing me blink, Yoon Seok-hwan pointed to the program name on the paper. Ha Seung-jus Music Cafe? Oh! Ha Seung-jus Music Cafe. Ate-night music broadcast that airs on PBS after midnight. Music Cafe, hosted by pianist andposer Ha Seung-ju, is a popr program despite itste time slot. Its famous for its good hosting by MC Ha Seung-ju and its high-quality live performances. Thats why appearing on Music Cafe meant that you had a certain level of skill. It was a perfect opportunity for us. Unlike music shows that only do stages, Music Cafe had a talk segment where the MC highlighted the charm of the invited singers. It was the best chance for rookie New ck to leave a good impression and finish their activities. But. Can we appear on it? Music Cafe is known to be strict about its appearances. I heard that they dont hesitate to cut even popr singers if they think their live skills are not good enough. Seung-ju hyung and I know each other, and Manager Yoon also has a good rtionship with the PD, so it wont be hard to appear. Really? I looked at him with hopeful eyes, and Yoon Seok-hwan said. Were going to appear on Music Cafe next week. Ive been working hard to grease the wheels for you for the past few days. Now its up to you to show how good you are on the show. How do you feel? Do you feel less worried now? Yes. But, Woojoo. Director Jo Gyu-hwan smiled softly. Did you consult with the members before you told us? It sounded like they didnt know anything. I felt like I had been hit in the face. Oops. The thought that I had made a mistake naturally came to my mind. Youre the leader. We can only assume that youre speaking on behalf of the kids when you talk to us. Im sorry. Theres nothing to be sorry about. You did it for the team. But next time, I hope you talk to the members first. He said with a smile. New ck is not a group that youre in alone. *** It wasnt long before Manager Yoon Seok-hwan brought us some good news. Youve been confirmed to appear on Music Cafe. Time flew by. We were only supposed to be on for about 10 minutes, but we needed a lot of preparation for that one thing. We had to do pre-interviews with the writers toe up with topics to talk about, and we also needed to prepare a different stage for the live performance. We stayed up almost every night making the repertoire and rehearsing. It was hard, but what could we do? Opportunity is something that you have to grab with your own effort. There are music shows that spend 12 hours for a 3-minute stage, so we couldntin about this preparation. Music show popr singer waiting room. Music Cafe? Of course, New cks appearance was a joint one with Jang So-won. We didnt have any songs of our own except for Something. She was happy to hear that we were going to be on Music Cafe. It was also because I had alreadyid the groundwork by consulting her about my worries. Oh, thats great. Jang So-won smiled as she ate her souffle and coffee. I was so annoyed by thements you guys got that I replied to them more than once. Dont let them call you a folding screen again and show them what youve got this time. Thank you for going with us. Going with you? I wont be able to see you much after we finish our activities, so I have to see you while I can. Sheughed. More than that, Im looking forward to the stage were going to do together. How about it? What did you prepare this time? **** PBS broadcasting station open hall. It was the day of the recording of Ha Seung-jus Music Cafe, when the spring flowers were beautiful in early April. We had finished our music show activities by then. We were still holding on to the monthly number one spot on the Mango Chart, but we had fallen out of the first ce candidate in the fourth week, pushed back by a solo singer and a popr idol who had made aeback. Both sides of the agency decided that it was time to wrap up the activities. And we had arrived at the final destination of this activity. Wow its huge. When we came from the waiting room to the back stage to rehearse, we were surprised by the size of the stage. It was a different scale. It was a huge difference from the music show studio. The tension was also doubled. Bi-ju bit and released his lips repeatedly, and Ri-hyuk wiped off the sweat that came out of his hand with a tissue. Our youngest, who would have teased Ri-hyuk if he was nervous, was also staring nkly with his mouth open. In the meantime, only Jung-hyun was calm like a bodhisattva. He was the one who thought, Wow, that skill is awesome. when I knocked down the CEO, unlike the other guys who were startled. It wasnt a surprising thing. The FD who appeared through the busy staff called us. New ck team. Yes! The FD who wore the inte listened to the instructions and looked around us. Who is Woojoo? Thats me. Ill go up first and start the rehearsal. Ill check the piano sound first. Ill do it for about 2 minutes and then proceed with the team rehearsal right away. Dont forget to pay attention to the route you told me in advance when you go up on stage. The FD, who had rattled off the precautions like a machine gun for a minute, quickly disappeared somewhere else. What did he just say? Uh I think I forgot because I was nervous. Jung-hyun, you heard him, right? Ah, I was distracted. My confused siblings naturally looked at me, or rather, I dont know why this was natural. I sighed and handed them my phone. Here. ? I recorded it, so listen. ! They looked at me as if I was their savior and waved their hands. Then I went up to the stage. The grand piano set in the center. Below the stage, I could see the writers holding notebooks to find points to improve and the production staff monitoring the screen. I checked the camera position first. I felt the cold touch of the piano chair seat and closed my eyes. And I started ying. Chapter 29: Chapter 29: Chapter 29 Ha Seung-ju, the host of Music Cafe, was sitting with his arms crossed. His face was expressionless. Its been a while since Ive seen an idol. He looked at the young man who came up on the stage. His first impression was that he was handsome. He was unrivaled among the idols these days. Usually, idols look good on stage, but their visuals drop when they appear in dramas or movies. But Seon Woojoo, who came up on the stage now, seemed to survive even on those screens. A dazzling appearance. Even from a distance, his features looked clear as if he had a different resolution. The writers who were watching the rehearsal exchanged a few words. Wow, hes handsome. Sunbae, is this your first time seeing him? Ive never seen him in person. Where did you see him? I met him a while ago for a pre-interview. That was him? Youre lucky. I got stuck with Jo Yu-ris band. The writersughed, imagining the indie band with piercings on their faces. Is he the leader on the stage right now? When I interviewed him, he said he coposed the song with Jang So-won. Oh, thats interesting. Is he the visual member then? I dont know. Why dont you know? The sub-writer asked, and the youngest writer said hesitantly. Well, if you judge by looks alone, Woojoo is the most handsome, but when I actually interviewed him, it was vague. Why was it vague? Lemon Entertainment is an actor agency, so they all have visuals. How should I put it? Its like assorted sushi. They have all kinds of types. The one on the stage right now and the youngest are pretty boys, and theres also a macho guy named Jung-hyun, and two guys who have a boyish vibe. Boyish? The two standing over there? Yep. Which one sang Something? Oh, thats Ri-hyuk. The one who looks nice is the visual, and the one who looks cold is Ri-hyuk. I see. Ha Seung-ju listened to the stories around him with a sour expression. What does the appearance matter? The content is what matters. He would admit to the visual aspect as the writers reacted, but he was doubtful about the singing. Hes handsome, but will his skills match his face? New ck was cast a while ago. His close juniorposer, Jo Gyu-hwan, called him and said he wanted to have the group he was producing on the show. -Sunbae, I have a favor to ask you. Do you think my show is for promoting rookies? -Theyre not just rookies. Theyre the ones who topped the chart this time. Whatever. -Sunbae. Just send me their practice video. Ill make the decision. Music Cafe was ate-night show, but it gained its poprity thanks to Ha Seung-jus picky attitude. Even if the CP from above told him to cast someone, he would refuse without hesitation if he thought they were not skilled enough. As if he knew his temperament, Jo Gyu-hwan said with a smile. -You wont regret it. The Music Cafe production team, who saw the practice video of New ck sent by email, agreed to cast them. -And theres a guy named Woojoo. Hes amazing. Im sure youll be interested in him too, Sunbae. Ha Seung-ju snorted, recalling Jo Gyu-hwans boast. No way. He had been ying the piano since he was young, and he hadposed countless songs and made connections with the entertainment industry. He was a veteran who had been worn out. Maybe if they were legendary singers. But how could an idols piano ying, who hadnt even debuted properly, pique his interest Huh? He was surprised when Seon Woojoo started ying the piano. It wasnt bad. It was like a piano entrance exam student ying. Considering that he was an idol, it was unbelievably good. And he had a sense too. He chose jazz. It was a jazz song that suited the broadcast time. It was a brilliant song choice. But what caught his attention was not the ying skill or the song selection. The way he yed the keyboard on the stage. His gaze, breathing, and finger movements. It was a familiar ying style, for sure. Who is he?'' Just as every person has a unique fingerprint, ying an instrument also has its own characteristics. It''s because each yer has different finger lengths, breathing, and rhythm intensity. Seon Woojoo''s jazz piano was familiar to him. And in a good way. Ha Seung-joo rubbed his temples as he traced back his past memories. Soon, he remembered someone. "Myung Joo hyung?" The PD next to him tilted his head at the sight of Ha Seung-joo''s bewildered expression. "What''s wrong, Seung-joo-ssi?" "Kim PD." The MC pointed at the stage with his slender fingers. "Did you find anything unusual about that guy?" "Unusual?" "Like his parents." "Well, I didn''t hear anything at the meeting." Was it a mistake? As he watched Seon Woojoo ying the piano on the stage, the PD asked him in a subtle tone. "What do you think of him, Seung-joo-ssi? He seems to be the best among the performers so far, judging by his piano skills." "He ys well." "That''s a soulless answer." Ha Seung-joo ignored the PD''s words and recalled someone''s words. -You might be interested in seeing him y the piano, too. Now that the piano performance was over, the members of New ck and Jang So-won were going up to the rehearsal stage. But Ha Seung-joo''s eyes were fixed on Seon Woojoo. I need to check it out.'' He felt a curiosity in his mind that had been idle. * * * The rehearsal ended without any trouble. It was partly thanks to the hard work they had done in the practice room, but also because the members were excited about the rare stage. Ri-hyuk was the main vocal, so he had been singing his heart out for the past four weeks, but we only added chorus on the stage. It was a time to vent out the frustration that had been building up. Without having to pretend to be excited, our members rocked the rehearsal stage. The production team seemed satisfied with the stage. The writers who were watching from below gave us some feedback on the hand gestures, but that was all. "I like it." The middle-aged man who had stuffed the script into his pocket, the main PD of Music Cafe, looked at us with a pleased expression. "New ck, are you confident to do this well on the main stage?" "Yes!" "Good. Good job. Wait in the waiting room until there''s another instruction. Well, the writers must have told you the precautions. So-won-ssi is experienced in broadcasting, so I don''t have to worry, right?" "Don''t worry, PD-nim." Jang So-won winked and the PD nodded with satisfaction. As I followed her down to the waiting room, someone grabbed my shoulder. "Are you Woojoo?" "Huh?" The person who grabbed my arm was none other than the MC of Music Cafe, Ha Seung-joo. ck hair with gray streaks. He wore horn-rimmed sses and looked neat and smart. He looked elegant like a British gentleman in a spy movie. I was momentarily stunned and hurriedly bowed. "Hello, sunbae-nim. I''m Woojoo from New ck." "Don''t be so surprised. I''ve been watching your rehearsal from the audience." "I didn''t expect you to talk to me" He smiled at me, who was flustered. It was a gentle smile, unlike his stern impression. As the indie band with a rough look went up to the stage for the next rehearsal, Ha Seung-joo took me to the seat. "Sitfortably." Yes. You dont have to keep your legs so close together. Yes! Answer more casually. Yes. Can I ask you a couple of questions? They might be personal, though. Thats fine. I saw on the inte that yourst name is Seon. Which Seon family are you from? What? I was reminded of a line from a crime movie, Which Choi are you? I was flustered, but I answered obediently. Im from the Boseong Seon family. I see. His eyes behind the sses shone sharply. Then whats your rtionship with Seon Myungjoo? I was ten times more surprised than at the surprise party a while ago. What the hell. How did he know that name? Your piano ying looked exactly like someone elses. The way you move your fingers, your style, how should I put it? I might be mistaken, but you definitely looked simr. I licked my lips. At first, I wondered if someone had told him, but I soon realized that wasnt the case. The pianist in front of me had guessed that name just by watching me y. It was a ghostly sense. What should I do? It was something I didnt want to talk about, even in the pre-interview. I hesitated for a moment, but decided to answer honestly. Hes my father. As expected. Ha Seung-joo smiled. His expression changed suddenly. From an intellectual British gentleman to a familiar uncle. So youre Myungjoos son? Do you know my father? Dont you know me? Ha Seung-joo smiled all over his face. I used to visit your house a lot when you were a kid. ? Well, you might not remember at that age. He passed away so long ago Ha Seung-joo made a oops expression and looked at me, but I smiled as if I was okay. You dont have to worry, Sunbae. Anyway, nice to meet you, Woojoo. Ha Seung-joo showed a nostalgic look. That kid grew up and debuted as an idol Time flies. Huh? Now that I look at you, your nose is exactly the same? He looked at me with a curious gaze. I didnt know how to react. I didnt remember him at all, even though he said he was close to my dad when I was young. I barely remembered my parents faces, let alone a stranger. He kept expressing his joy. Should I call it admiration? There was a tender emotion in his eyes. Ha Seung-joo looked at me wistfully, and he was putting off the rehearsal to look at me. By the way. He coughed and changed the subject, as if he thought he was staring too much. Are you keeping your father a secret on purpose? No. Its not really a secret, but It feels kind of funny to say it with my own mouth. I guess so. He nodded as if he understood. How long is your broadcast? I heard it would be about 10 minutes or so after editing. Are you trying to get your name out there with this appearance? Yes. The more attention you get from the public, the better. Ha Seung-joo stroked his chin and said. How about this? I owe a lot to Myungjoo hyung. In that sense, I have a proposal for you. What kind of proposal? Ill give you more time for your group. Its possible if I adjust one minute from each other team. It was a tremendous favor. In this industry, people lobby to get even 10 seconds more on the broadcast, and he was offering to increase our time significantly. Usually, there is a condition for such an offer. Right. He nodded. Anyway, your repertoire has a limit even if you increase your time. You probably dont have anything else prepared. And you have to think about the talk time too I had a guess what he was going to say next. How about talking about Myungjoo hyung? It was a troubling suggestion. The entertainment world is a ce where people would sell their distant rtives to get one second more on the air. And there was no guarantee that it would pay off even if they did. But this person was willing to give us a special favor by cutting down other peoples time. The problem was that the condition was quite awkward. What do you think? The producer who raised the ratings of Music Cafe from lower than the national anthem to its current position was waiting for my answer. Looking at Ha-seung-ju, I opened my lips. *** 7 p.m. It was time to record Music Cafe. The audience filled the seats and the hall was buzzing with peoples voices. They all looked excited and anticipated the soon-to-start Music Cafe. After the pre-MCs progress, the FD finally climbed on the stage and pped the te. Well start recording! Soon, a calm BGM started ying. The audience apuded as Ha-seung-ju in a tuxedo came out. On the TV screen, it was a scene where PBSs open hall was captured in a full shot with a cool caption of [Ha-seung-jus Music Cafe]. -Wee, everyone. Thank you foring to Ha-seung-jus Music Cafe. The audience liked the MCs sweet voice. -Todays weather makes me feel like spring has finallye to our side. Its much warmer, right? A yes answer is heard. -I see more couples in the audience than in winter. Nice to meet you. You chose a really good ce for a date. Peopleughed lightly at the self-praise. -These days, people describe spring as the season of flirting, right? To convey the warmth of such a spring day, we have some very special guests today. The first guests performance began. A hot indie band from Hongdae decorated the first stage. We admired the camera screen that was broadcasted from the waiting room. Theyre strong from the start. The lineup was not easy. Buster was a rising star who recently entered the music chart as an indie band. We warmed up as the sweet spring songs continued. Our turn was the fifth, right before thest. We expected to wait for a long time, but time passed faster than we thought, and we heard the call from the production team. Jang So-won team! Please get ready! We followed the FD who ran quickly to the back stage. We could see the stage behind the stairs. It was the same lighting, the same stage as the rehearsal, but the air was different. The audience outside filled the open hall and waited for our stage. It was a different tension than when we were on music shows. It reminds me of the end-of-year evaluation, right? It was a simr feeling at the end-of-year evaluationst year. We had improved our skills and confidence so much that we couldntpare to then, but when we got on such a huge stage, we remembered our humble attitude. The members nodded. Jang So-won sunbae looked at us as we huddled together like penguins and smiled. You worked hard for a month. Now, if we finish Music Cafe well, our activities are over. So We looked into each others eyes. Lets enjoy it. I reached out my hand and the other guys put their hands on it. We watched the FD gesture to wait and whispered fighting and raised our hands. -Now, lets introduce a new team. These days, if you dont know them, youre a spy, right? They are a coboration team that is flirting with the whole nation of Korea. We took a deep breath as we heard the cheers mixed with anticipation. Then we stepped onto the stage. Thud. My heart raced as I heard the sound of our feet on the wooden stairs. It felt like the air had stopped. I smiled as I felt the spotlight and the gaze pouring on us. We were going to show them. The stage that would adorn the end of our activity. Chapter 30: Chapter 30: Chapter 30 The first stage we presented at the music cafe was, of course, Something. I was hesitant at first. I wondered if I should rearrange or remake the song and sing it in a new way. But Director Jo Gyu-hwan disagreed with me. You shouldnt think that the audience always wants something new. If you change a familiar stage too much, it could backfire. Jang Sunbae So-won also agreed. I tried that when I was in Sugarfish. But the audience didnt like it. A stage is also a show. Its like a movie. If the audience has expectations, you have to meet them first. You can show them twists or new thingster. Following their advice, we prepared the stage for Something as we had done before. From today, Im going to flirt with you Im going to catch you, who are hard to catch Im going to narrow the gap between you and me When we sang the chorus, the audience sang along with us. I had sung with the audience before at small events, but it was amazing to have so many people sing with me. It gave me goosebumps all over my body. We couldnt get out of the afterglow until we entered the talk corner with MC Ha Seung-joo after the first stage. -That was a great stage, right? Lets give them another round of apuse. The audience pped along with the MCsment. We sat on the chairs that were set up. Jang Sunbae So-won was on the far left, the members were in between, and I was sitting closest to Ha Seung-joo. I had to do well in the talk corner. I had done interviews before, but this was my first time doing this kind of talk. I was afraid I might make a mistake, so Seok-hwan hyung locked us in the room and made us practice until we threw up, but I was still nervous. The microphone in my hand was damp with cold sweat. -First, can you introduce yourself? -Yes, hello. Im singer Jang So-won. The audience apuded. In the middle of it, some guy shouted I love you, noona! and the audience burst intoughter. It couldnt be our road manager hyung, could it? Jang So-won smiled with her eyes and took it easy. -I didnt know I had fans here. Yes, nice to meet you. Im Jang So-won, and you all know me as the main vocal of that group. Sugarfish was banned from appearing on TV after the drug scandal, so they were treated like Voldemort. The audience pped. It was a gesture of encouragement for her, who had ovee her dark past with a smile. -Its been a long time since Ive seen you, Jang So-won. -Yes, its been a long time since Ive been on a music show. Im not the type to get nervous when I go on stage, but today I was shaking. -Really? -Yes, because there are Sunbaes I respect here. -Youre making me weak, So-won. I have to stick to the script, but I want to take care of you more. -Thank you very much, Sunbae. -Did you see that, everyone? Im so soft-hearted. After the two experienced broadcasters exchanged pleasantries, the spotlight turned to us. -Can you introduce yourself? Hello, Im Woojoo, the leader of New ck. -Im Bi-ju, the main dancer. -Im Jung-hyun, the rapper. -Im Seo Ri-hyuk, the main vocal. -Im Ji-ho, the youngest and the visual. I love you. He was supposed to introduce himself, but he acted cute. It could have been seen as too much, but he pulled it off with his natural facial expressions. The MC, Ha Seung-joo, smiled. -Youre a team with a lot of personality. But Ji-ho, I heard from the writers that the visual member is Woojoo. -No, its me. The audienceughed at Ji-hos answer. -The youngest says so. What do you think, Woojoo? I also think our youngest is the most handsome. -Really? Actually I pretended to hesitate. I have to say this outside, or hell get mad when we go back to the dorm. -So youre not the visual? Yes, that friend is self-proimed visual, right? The audienceughed at my yful retort. The reaction was not bad. I could throw another line. Who should I throw it to? The one who is quick-witted would be better. The decision was made quickly. Actually, I think the real visual is Bi-ju. I didnt know much when I first saw him, but the more I look at him, the more he has aura. Ha Seung-joo, who had eye contact with me, seemed to catch on and changed the direction of the talk. -Is that so? Bi-ju, what do you think? No, not at all. Bi-ju smiled shyly. Some of the audience were swaying at the smile of the gentle-looking pretty boy. His delicate voice echoed through the public hall through the microphone. I think our teams main vocal, Ri-hyuk, is the most handsome. -Then, what about Ri-hyuk? A strange atmosphere was forming. Ri-hyuk, who noticed the situation, pointed at Jung-hyun with his finger and said. Our rapper is the visual. -Ah, then shall we move on to Jung-hyun? As expected, Jung-hyun pointed at me. Whileplimenting each others appearance, the youngest, who was naturally left out, made a sad face. The people burst intoughter as the youngests expression change was broadcast live on the screen. Of course, it wasnt sincere. It was just a show for the broadcast. If Ji-ho had a really hurt expression, the viewers board would have been a mess. -You have a subtle charm, New ck. Ha Seung-joo, the MC, moved on to the next talk while appealing to them. The topic was, of course, Something. It was time for me and Jang So-won, the coposer, to fly around. -I heard there was a special story in theposition process of Something. -Yes. Jang So-won grabbed the microphone. -There is an event called the year-end evaluation. -Year-end evaluation? -Idol trainees have a monthly evaluation. That is, a time to check how much their skills have improved. -Its like a mock exam for students, right? Indeed, MC Jambap was not eating for nothing. The audience made a sound of understanding at Ha Seung-joos analogy. -The year-end evaluation is a joint evaluation conducted by ourpany and four nearbypanies. -Its a kind of showcase. -Yes. Thats where I met New ck and Woojoo. -You met as singers and trainees, not as singers. -Yes, thats right. -What was the charm of New ck that led Jang So-won to coborate? So-won exined what happened at the year-end evaluation. Most of the trainees showed stages filled with electronic sounds, but a team that started with trot suddenly appeared. That freshness caught his eye. -Trot, huh? Im curious what kind of stage it was. Can I see a little preview? I dont know if I remember it properly, but Ill try. He answered in a rookie-like tone. Even though he said that, the script also said (New ck performance). It was a repertoire that he had practiced thoroughly. The audience gave a short apuse to the short trot medley that followed by Ji-ho, me, and Ri-hyuk. -Wow, you sing trot well. I can see what Jang So-won liked about you. -They were a team that popped like soda. But I was more interested when I found out that the one who arranged New cks song that day was not a professional producer, but one of the members. -Oh, really? The MC pretended to be surprised and exined to the audience. -As you know, arranging is harder thanposing. Because arranging requires an understanding of instruments and harmony. The peoples eyes were on me and they made a sound of awe. I felt embarrassed and awkward. It wasnt that great. -From then on, I started working with Woojoo. Now that I think about it, it was a fate-like encounter. -When I think of Somethings sess story, it really is. -Actually, it was Woojoo who came up with the idea of a crush. -Really? As I exined the story behind the song, Ha Seung-joos eyes were filled with interest. He nced at me. I flinched at his gaze, as if he had found something interesting. -From what I hear from Jang So-won, it seems like Woojoo had a bigger role in the song. How was it working with him as a coposer? Well, Jang Sunbae was kind enough to say that, but I think this song started and ended with Jang Sunbae. I just helped out a little bit. -Youre both so modest. This is such a humble coboration. You seem like the most humble duo among all the coborations so far. Peopleughed at Ha Seung-joos joke. While So-won and I were talking about the song and theposition, we mixed in some stories about the New ck members to avoid leaving them out. When we sang that part, Bi-jusuggested a certain move, Ri-hyuk did the vocal directing, and so on. The effect was a bit vague, but still. *** Hes good. The PD sitting in the control room said admiringly. I thought he would be nervous because its live, but hes doing well for a rookie. Hes not just doing well, hes doing great. Hes good at reacting and talking, too. I might introduce him to some other pro PDster. The target they were watching through the camera was Woojoo. Hes handsome and he speaks well, too. If you look at his visuals, he could crush any idol, dont you think? If he hits it big, hell gather some fans. Is being handsome enough to sell fans? These days, that Jajinmori? Whats that trend? Its called fan baiting, PD-nim. Yeah, that. But his face doesnt suit my taste. The PD chuckled at the writers satisfied smiles. He looked at Woojoo on the screen and eximed. Hes really working hard. Its not easy for a rookie to appear on Music Cafe. He must be prepared to die. Thats true. The only thing I regret is that the leader is feeding them lines, but the kids cant follow him as well as he thinks. Thats normal. Rookies tremble when they see the camera. As he said, Woojoo was giving appropriatements to his juniors. He and So-won were like a mother and father bird. But the members who were new to broadcasting sometimes stuttered. -Uh One member hesitated for about two seconds when he faced an unexpected question. In that case, Ha Seung-joo coldly turned his head away and asked another person. Seung-joo is ruthless. He has to take care of his own share, right? On radio, silence over three seconds is a broadcasting ident. Ha Seung-joo always focuses on the ones who can react well. It was an unfortunate way for the ones who were not in good condition that day, but the reason why Music Cafe could exist today was thanks to his entertaining hosting. Isnt it strange, PD-nim? What is? Its the first time Seung-joo asked to extend the guests time, right? Hes doing it within the allowed range. Just five minutes. Whats the problem? Its unprecedented. The other teams might be unhappy, you know The PD thought for a moment and smiled at the staffs words. Is there anyone among the guests who can say anything to us? No. Extending and reducing the time is the broadcasting stations own right. And just take care of the time. The uing content will be that much more buzzworthy. No problem. And what if they talk behind our backs? He added with a smile. As long as the ratings are good, its all good. **** The talk about theposition and the trivial matters was over, and there were only two stages left. -Well, its time to see the middle stage. The MC adjusted his sses and looked at me. He gave me a look that asked if I was ready. I nodded and Ha Seung-joo continued. -I heard that Woojoo has a talent for piano, too. Oh, no. I waved my hands and said. Even though Ive been ying since I was young, my skills are stillcking. -Dont be fooled by his modesty, everyone. Ha Seung-joo smirked as he looked at the audience. -I sneaked in earlier and watched him rehearse, and Im a pianist andposer myself, but I couldnt y with such emotion when I was his age. You can look forward to Woojoos piano. The audiences eyes sparkled with curiosity at the hosts appropriate remark. Their attention was focused on me. I casually walked towards the grand piano. I was nervous. I put on a rxed expression that I learned from the master of facial acting, Wang Ji-ho, but I couldnt help trembling. The stage is a strange thing. Just when you get used to it, a new nervousnesses along. As I passed by the members seats, they gave me encouraging looks. Hoo I took a shallow breath that no one could see and sat down on the piano chair. Cold touch. The seat felt very cold. The audience was silent. Their eyes, filled with curiosity and anticipation, watched me like stars in the night sky. I felt the heavy air on my body and started to move my fingers. *** The audience was inted with expectation. Ha Seung-joo never praised anyones piano before. How good is he? Their eyes were fixed on one ce. The handsome idol member sitting in front of the grand piano. He lifted one arm to the piano, and his thin, pale fingers caught the eyes of the people near the stage. Maybe he was a bit nervous, his Adams apple bobbed up and down a few times. Then the performance began. It was an arrangement of the legendary jazz ssic Route 66 for piano. A very cheerful melody. From the moment the first phrase was heard, the audience was captivated by the performance. It was probably because Seon Woojoo himself was immersed in the music. He lookedpletely different from when he sat down nervously in front of the piano. His fingers seemed to make notes flow out of the piano as they tapped the keys. The audience stared at Seon Woojoo in awe. He had a face that enjoyed music. His shoulders moved up and down naturally, and his knees also moved lightly as he pressed the pedals. His fingers danced happily on the ck and white keys. But it wasnt all joy. There was a hint of mncholy in the arrangement of Route 66. It was like watching a gentleman singing cheerfully about his lover who left him on a rainy day. The audience naturally got absorbed. They stopped seeing Seon Woojoo as a mere handsome idol and appreciated his stage as it was. Hes ying twice as well as he did in rehearsal. The PD who was watching from the control room grinned. Itll be a good clip to upload on the inte. That group must be good at live performances. They seemed so tense during rehearsal, but now they look totally rxed. What do you think of the audiences reaction? The assistant director who was watching the audiences expressions on the screen answered. Its a huge sess. I knew it. The PD muttered as he looked at Seon Woojoo ying the piano. Blood doesnt lie, after all. He had heard about Seon Woojoos father while talking to Ha Seung-joo earlier. When Ha Seung-joo suggested increasing the airtime of New ck, he frowned and wondered what he was talking about, but he soon agreed when he heard about Seon Woojoos father. It was a good story to boost the ratings. Some people might not know, but well Soon the performance ended. The camera captured the apuse of the audience, and Seon Woojoo returned to his seat. Ha Seung-joo smiled and asked. -That was a wonderful performance. Did you arrange it yourself? Youre really talented in music, fromposing to ying. -Thank you. Seon Woojoo bowed his head and Ha Seung-joo, the MC, nced at the cue card and changed the topic. -But did you inherit this musical talent? Of course, your own effort is important, but talent is also important for art, right? -Well, thats Seon Woojoo said with a smile. -I think I got it from my father. He was a pianist, and I saw him a lot since I was young. -Whats his name? -Seon Myung-joo At that name, gasps erupted from the audience. Seon Myung-joo. He was the most famous pianist in Korea 15 years ago. Chapter 31: Chapter 31: Chapter 31 Seon Myung-joo. That was the name of a world-famous pianist who was popr 15 years ago. Ah! Exmations came from various ces in the audience. He was that well-known. Most of the reactions came from the audience members who were over 30 years old. Seon Myung-joo. Strictly speaking, he was not a typical pianist. His specialty was jazz. He was a legend in the jazz world, starting from winning the best performer award at the International Jazz Competition. He was selected as the musician of the year at various awards, and his face appeared on the covers of prestigious music magazines. His life story was also sensational. He was an orphan who struggled to survive, but discovered his talent for piano and rose to be a global figure. He was unknown when he was active in Korea, but his name became known in his homnd as he gained tremendous poprity in the US and Europe. Especially in thete 90s, when the nation was suffering from the IMF crisis, the people who watched baseball and golf to forget reality also paid close attention to his whereabouts as he toured the world. Seon Myung-joo, who yed the piano on the most dazzling stage in the American continent, was a hope and a pride for many people when the whole of Korea was depressed. But that brilliance did notst long. Seon Myung-joo, who left the country for an overseas tour, lost his life when the ne he and his wife boarded crashed. It was a shocking news for those who lived in thete 90s. Thats why it was natural for people to sigh when Seon Woojoo revealed his father. They met a singer who was the son of a famous person who was once loved by the people. Not everyone knew Seon Myung-joo. Who is Seon Myung-joo? Some of the young couples who came to watch the music cafe with a light heart were unfamiliar with the name. Due to the nature of the music cafe, where people who are interested in musice to watch, there were many people who knew Seon Myung-joo, but on the contrary, some secretly took out their phones and entered Seon Myung-joo in the search bar. Soon, they widened their eyes as they checked some of the contents on Wikipedia or simr sites. The faces of the people who took pictures with Seon Myung-joo were extraordinary. They were the US president at the time or world-famous artists. They wondered if it was a photoshop, because they were such amazing people. They couldnt even imagine what his actions meant to the people at that time. As expected. The PD who was sitting in the control room whistled. He has a lot of buzz. *** The story about my dad was not a secret. I thought it would be revealed someday, so I was surprised when Ha Seung-joo asked me, but I soon calmed down. I expected this day toe. It was just a little sudden. When I was offered by Ha Seung-joo, the MC of the music cafe, I left a reply that I would think about it. It was not a matter that I could decide on my own. What should I do, grandma? I called my grandma from the hallway of the waiting room. Talking about my parents on the broadcast was not a simple matter for me. The victims of the ident were not only my dad. My mom and dad, who were raised by a single mother, boarded a ne to go abroad and died in a crash. I remember my grandma who was heartbroken because she couldnt even recover the bodies of her children. The story of my parents would inevitably bring up the ident, and that could reopen my grandmas old wound. She answered me simply when I exined the situation carefully. -Do as you please. Huh? -Do whatever you want. Its a past thing anyway. She sounded calm, as if it was really a past thing. I noticed a hint of emotion in her voice. A hesitation somewhere. Maybe it was the longing for her only daughter. But my grandmas next words were different from what I expected. -Are you okay? Huh? What do you mean? -You, you idiot. Im asking if youre okay. She was worried about me. Of course, it was not a topic I wanted to bring up. But it had been 15 years since my parents passed away. It was such a long time that their faces were faint. If it hadnt been that long, I wouldnt have been able to talk about it. -So, youre Seon Myung-joo son. This is quite surprising. Ha Seung-joo adjusted his sses and pretended to be astonished. I smiled. He was a good actor, having been on TV shows. -Did the other members know about this? The audiences eyes turned to the members. The members of New ck nodded calmly to the question. *** Before the broadcast, in the waiting room. I gathered Jang So-won and the members and exined what would happen on the show. As soon as the story was over, Bi-ju expressed his concern. No way. Whats wrong? Do you think it makes sense to exchange your family story for a few minutes of airtime? I dont think this is right. He sounded quite firm, unlike his usual soft tone that was like water mixed with alcohol, or alcohol mixed with water. Seok-hwan, who was watching from the side, also opened his lips. Its enough to just appear today. You dont have to push yourself. He said that, but his eyes showed conflict. On one hand, he was worried as a close brother. On the other hand, he saw it as a great opportunity from the perspective of the manager in charge. It was hard for rookies like us to get more airtime, even if the managers lobbied for it. And the story about our dad would surely make headlines in a good way. Im an outsider, so Ill leave. Jang So-won stood up. I dont think this is a situation where I can say anything. This is a problem that the members should decide. Our road manager, Seo Min-ki, also agreed with his favorite. They said they would leave the room for a while and left the waiting room. Only we were left in the waiting room. I looked around. It seemed like the members was against it and I was trying to persuade them. Think about it, its a good opportunity. Were going to end our activities with this, so wouldnt it be better to get more attention? Its hard for rookies like us to get this much airtime anywhere Hyung, thats the managers perspective. I felt like I was hit by the heavy voice of Jung-hyun. Hyung, youre not a manager, youre a member. Thank you for taking care of us, but were not stupid. We know why we got to appear on Music Cafe. You know? I heard it from the director. Seokhwan shrugged his shoulders at my gaze. They came to me the day after you had a meeting with the CEO. They said they wanted to change their image before finishing their activities. They said they had the same worries as you, so I told them you came first and talked to me. How embarrassing. I thought I was the only one who thought that. People think the same way. Ri-hyuk said. Dont you think we would have thought that too? To be honest, I felt betrayed when you secretly had that meeting. Hey, you guys didnt tell me either. Thats different, hyung. Bi-ju smiled. We didnt want to worry you, hyung. You looked so busy with your interviews and personal schedules. I didnt tell you because I was afraid you would worry too. Same same. We all burst intoughter at the youngests summary. He was right. We were pretending to be good brothers, so we could say we were the same. Well, then lets agree to be honest with each other from now on. My brothers nodded at my words. Im sorry I didnt tell you. I guess I got used to taking care of the trainees at TJ, and I saw you guys as my younger brothers too. Even though were all members. Please keep treating me like a kid. Im cute. The youngest, who cut in cheerfully, got a punch from Ri-hyuk, who said, Read the mood, dude. I forgot what I was going to say because of Ji-ho, and Jun-hyun spoke to me. You dont have to try so hard to take care of us, hyung. Just do what you want, hyung. This time, youre not our leader or producer or anything like that. We wouldnt be here without you anyway. Whats wrong? Its just a bit surprising. It was strange and new to hear such words from Kim Jun-hyun, who usually lived like a sloth. He wasnt a person who had no thoughts or awareness, as he smiled and said. Hyung. I looked around carefully. Bi-ju, Jun-hyun, Ri-hyuk, Ji-ho, Manager Yoon Seok-hwan, Min-ki hyung. They were all familiar faces, but they felt new and different. Did they always look like this? Maybe I had been treating them as mere supporting characters in my story. Characters who just reacted to the plot, unlike me who was always active. But when I thought about it, they were also the protagonists who made the story with me. And they were people I was grateful for. It was a habit in the entertainment industry to sell even distant rtives for more airtime. If they were like other people, they would have said do whatever you want but secretly hoped for more content. But they were all worried about me, and wanted me to do what I wanted. So, what are you going to do? I pondered for a moment at Ri-hyuks question. Then I answered. I want to talk. If they asked me why, I wouldnt know. It wasnt because I was worried about the airtime as a group leader or member, or because I wanted to get personal attention. I just. Had a story I wanted to tell. *** -He was a very famous person. The introduction of my father ended, and I came back to reality. The atmosphere was quite different from before. At first, people were tilting their heads, wondering who is Seon Myungjoo?, but they soon became curious after hearing the introduction. -I was curious from the beginning. You have talent inposing and ying instruments, so I was amazed, but talent is also inherited. It was true. The arrangement at the end-of-year evaluation, the sense ofposing Something, were all thanks to the talent of my father, who was a musician. -Is your dream of being an idol also rted to him? I nodded at Ha Seung-joos question. That was why I wanted to talk about my parents. I wanted to tell them. Why I insisted on being an idol even though TJ Entertainment suggested me to be an actor or a producer. I loved watching my father y the piano when I was young. So I tried to y the piano too, but I was terrible at it. I was a kid, so I couldnt even reach the pedals and I whined. The audience smiled, imagining my childhood. So I gave up on the piano. -When you were a kid? Yes, I think I was five years old then? I banged the piano keys with my tiny hands and said I dont want to do this! Oh, I dont remember it, but my grandmother told me there was such an incident. Ha Seung-joo and the others smiled. I think thats why I turned to singing. The first-generation idol seniors came on TV. And I danced and sang along. My parents really liked that. -That could be seen as the start of your idol career, Woojoo. Yes. Its also my first memory. My first memory was of waving my arms and legs around. My mom and dad pped and praised me with smiles. As a baby, I looked up at them with my mouth open. I thought their expressions were as beautiful as jewels. I wanted to frame them and hang them on the wall. Maybe thats when I started dreaming of bing an idol. Because I wanted to see them. Like my parents, the expressions that people made when I danced and sang. I calmly told that story. -You finally got to stand on the stage that you only saw on TV when you were young. You achieved your dream that you had every day, Woojoo. With Ha Seung-joosment, the topic about my parents was over. Then I started to worry. Did I say too much, like a drunk person? This and that, without any order. I felt embarrassed for being too emotional, but it was toote. Well, the production team will edit it for me. The talk about New ck was roughly done. There was one more thing to talk about. Jang So-won. I had something to say to her too. She was a member of Sugarfish, a group that almost reached the top of the nation, but disbanded in an instant due to the members scandals. She returned to the stage after doing some drama OST activities. A life-changing moment. When Jang So-won recalled her hard times, tears welled up in her eyes. The audiences eyes also reddened. It was also because of the night time, which stimted the emotions. And there was someone who was affected by that in my vicinity. -Sob One of our members suddenly burst into tears while listening to the story. Why are you crying again? Our youngest, who was full of emotions, was crying. It was not acting, but real. The two streams of snot were the symbol of real tears. His face, which still had baby fat and looked like a white rice cake, was crying. It was somehow cute and funny. Jang So-won and Ha Seung-jooughed. -Ji-ho, are you okay? -Sorry, but I cant focus because of Ji-hos snot. Can someone from the staff bring me a tissue? -Its okay. Just wipe it with your sleeve. -Hey! Thats a sponsorship! -Ji-ho, dont do that. The audience burst intoughter at Ri-hyuks sudden remark and Bi-jus baby-like gesture. Theughter that had stopped came out again when Jiho blew his nose. The sound of snorting came out through the microphone. It was the loudestughter since I came here. I gave him a tissue quietly, but he ripped it off with a sound. I felt a moment of detachment at the youngests behavior. Ji-ho Youre recording right now Get a grip I imagined the face of Yoon Seok-hwan, who was holding the back of my neck backstage. The only constion was that everyone here, including the audience in the seats, found the youngest cute. Right. Hes cute. So please, someone take him away -It seems Ji-ho is very tearful. -Hes the youngest and more delicate than he looks. Hes the one who cried the most when I scolded him during recording. Jang So-won answered with a smile. She patted Ji-hos shoulder like a big sister, and a warm atmosphere filled the air. I decided to just think positively, considering our image. Honestly, it was fun. From the perspective of having something to tease him about, who had cried for a month because of his mistake of calling New ck a souffle during his first-ce speech. I wasnt the only one. Everyone was waiting for it. Maybe they had a lot of grudges against the natural monument hyung-jorong, because the members mouths were twitching. Even Bi-ju was smiling broadly. That said it all. Look forward to it, King Jiho. Youre going to be teased for a month. *** The recording of Music Cafe so far had been sessful. If I had to point out a w, it would be that the rest of New cks members barely had any lines, even if I added them all up. It was partly because of my dads story, but also because the members stuttered a bit during the talk. But considering it was our first recording, it was excellent. If I had to score todays broadcast, it would be 90 out of 100. Of course, that was the score for the talk. Just as there are written and practical exams, there was one more important practical exam left, if the talk was the written exam. The final stage. The stage we had prepared with the intention of showing New cks musicality, our original purpose. -Unfortunately, its time to say goodbye to Jang So-won and New ck. It was a really fun time today. We thanked him in turn for Ha Seung-joos farewell. -Then lets bring thest stage. With that, Ha Seung-joo stepped aside for a moment, and we moved towards the main stage. I saw the staff on the scene moving busily. The lights were dimmed. Soon, the lights shone like direct rays, dazzling my eyes, while Jang So-won and we took our ces. And the sound source that flowed out. The intro that echoed through the PBS public hall. As soon as I heard it, there was a slight murmur from the audience. ? It was understandable. It was the exact same intro as the first stage. Chapter 32: Chapter 32: Chapter 32 Thest stage started with the same intro as Something. The audience was puzzled. They were going to do the duet song they saw in the first stage as their farewell stage too? Some frowned. Theyre milking it too much. No matter how much it topped the charts and was popr, it was too much to repeat the same song for the stage. Everyone thought that. Until the intro changed at the 5-second mark. I thought it was good during the rehearsal, but its still good to hear it again. Ha Seung-joo, who was standing on the side, smiled. It was a different intro from the original one. There was a cheerful piano melody on top of the acoustic guitar intro. And drums too. Unlike the calm and refreshing original song, it was lively and upbeat. Hearing the changed melody, Ha Seung-joo smiled. Gyu-hwan must have tweaked it a bit. He could feel the touch of a professional. Even if Seon Woojoo couldpose, he wouldnt have had time to arrange it after the appearance was confirmed. He could smell his favorite juniorposer in the small details. Anyway, its good. It was wonderful that the song made by the son of his respected pianist senior wasbined with the arrangement of his favorite juniorposer. It was a strange mix of vors. Ha Seung-joo closed his eyes and smiled all over his face. He didnt even notice that the production teams camera was pointing at him. Pfft! One of the staff in the control room burst intoughter. It was because Ha Seung-joo was smiling like a flower bud on the TV screen. He had a cute expression somehow. Ha MC-nim is doing it again, right? The girlish expression he makes when he hears good music. There will be another meme when the broadcastes out. Im sure someone will capture it. The staff chuckled. This New ck episode is getting a lot of attention. Ha MC-nims expression and all. The story of the genius pianist, and Jang So-wons underground life. Thats right. The PD nodded in agreement. But the most important thing is now. It was as he said. Ha Seung-joos Music Cafe was a music show after all. They invited singers and talked about music, but the essence was to show a good stage. Jang So-won and New cks talk was great. But it wasnt a stage. The first stage, Something, was perfect, but the problem was that the song was too familiar to the public. It had dominated the music charts for over a month, and by now it had umted enough fatigue. Thats why they needed something new. Something fresh. Seon Woojoos jazz performance was like an appetizer for that freshness. The main dish was from now on. I hope they do it as they did in the rehearsal. The PD thought that when the song started. In the original song, Jang So-won started the part by approaching Seo Ri-hyuk. The part where the vocals were expected. But breaking everyones expectations, the first member to grab the mic was none other than New cks rapper, Kim Jung-hyun. He walked out confidently and sat on the chair that was set up. My clock waiting for you Is at 2:30 pm When will I see your face Can you see me being nervous It was a rap that sounded like a song. His powerful voice and the gentle melody seduced the audience. Their attention rose instantly as the rap came in unexpectedly. The next in line was Jang So-won. Her clear voice echoed in the hall. How long will you make me wait, what kind of face will you make I leaned against the bus window and imagined Where did this thrille from? Maybe its between us Now people are starting to picture it in their minds. A man sitting at the bus stop. A woman going to him on the bus. As I naturally imagined that, my mind drifted to Seon Woojoo. Is this what love is? Waiting is not really my thing Youre like a spring breeze Wont you wait a little longer? A third person appeared. The audience enjoyed Seon Woojoos song, but also started to spread their wings of imagination in their heads. Is it a love triangle? Some people remembered Jang So-wons talk. Actually, Something was originally a song with parts for each of the New ck friends. Really? Why did you drop out? Well, Im the female vocalist, but there were five male vocalists, so the atmosphere was a bit weird. The atmosphere? Yes, I looked like a fishermans wife. As he said, the addition of a new person made the song have apletely different vibe from the original. The audience was curious when the main vocalist appeared. A more cheerful atmosphere than the original version. In that song, Seo Ri-hyuks rich voice filled the hall. If you ask me whats between us Id say- I think of us as sweet candy Slowly melting between us Ill cross that wall and hold your hand Ill hold your hand that seems to slip away Now Ill whisper to you If the original version was fresh, this one was sweet and cheerful. New cks expressions proved it. Unlike the serious first stage, they were all singing in a happy mood. The audience smiled. At first, New ck wanted to prepare a moist song that suited thete-night mood. Until Seon Woojoo opposed. Its a stage where the star-like sunbaes have gone. Even if were among the idols who sing well, its hard to impress there. He argued that it would be better to have a fun stage than to sing a difficult song to impress. So they prepared a lively version of Between. It was a special stage that they prepared to entertain the audience with a song that modified the original. Theyre good. The PD in the control room smiled. They have a sense of humor when they talk, and they know how to make a fun stage, not a clumsy bad song. Ill remember that. There, in New ck, what was the name of the leader? I forgot. Its Woojoo. Yeah. That guy. He thought hed call him once when he was in charge of another music program, and the PD said. Itsing soon. The highlight part. Yeah. They focused on the dozens of monitors, including the camera that illuminated the stage, expecting the audiences reaction. At the beginning of the second verse, the one who held the microphone was Kim Bi-ju. He had a voice that was distinctly different from the other members, almost like a whisper. I miss your face Ill pick some spring flowers and get ready Our sweet rtionship So you can feel the excitement As he said that, Kim Bi-ju smiled and took out a flower. He looked splendid. As the five members finished their songs one by one, the people realized that the image they had of New ck was wrong. New ck was a team where each member had their own vocal color. If they hadnt said they were idols, they would have believed they were just a vocal quartet. The audience admired their singing skills, but soon tilted their heads as they listened to the lyrics. Whats going on? Kim Junghyun, waiting for someone. Jang So-won, taking a bus to meet a man. Seon Woojoo, approaching someone. And Kim Bi-ju, also waiting for someone. Is this a love square? Like Puck, the fairy from Shakespeares y A Midsummer Nights Dream, Seo Ri-hyuk and Wang Jiho were like narrators who sang about the love of the men and women. The other four. Their rtionships seemed to be tangled and intertwined. And as the highlight of the song began, the four on the stage moved around Seo Ri-hyuk and Wang Jiho in the center. Ill whisper to you now As I hold your hand that I cant quite grasp Jang So-won walked towards him as if she had just gotten off the bus. As expected, it was Kim Junghyun. He greeted her warmly as if he was waiting at the bus stop, and they harmonized their microphones. Then what about the other two? If Jang So-won chose Kim Junghyun, then what about the other two? As I thought that, Seon Woojoo went to Kim Bi-ju. Kim Bi-ju smiled and handed him a bouquet of flowers, and Seon Woojoo epted it. A smallugh escaped. Seon Woojoo and Kim Bi-ju sang in harmony towards each other, and the audienceughed along without realizing it. Some of them remembered a music video. A man who longed for an impossible love as he watched a woman get married. But in the end, it turned out that the man was not longing for the woman, but for the man who married her. It was that kind of twist. And Seo Ri-hyuk and Wang Ji-ho scattered and moved like cupids who congratted each couple. When the song finally ended, the audience thanked the six who had entertained them. It was apuse that filled the hall. *** A singer knows. Whether they did well or not in their performance. They dont need to hear the apuse to know naturally. A good performance is different. Just like a good game where everything goes perfectly from the start, a good performance flows smoothly from the beginning. It was like that when we sang trot for our year-end evaluation. But knowing that we did a good performance and seeing the audiences reaction with apuse and cheers were two different things. Thats why I was smiling as I received the apuse. Jang So-won. Bi-ju. Jung-hyun. Ri-hyuk. Ji-ho. The members who performed with me and Sowon senior exchanged smiles and politely greeted the audience with their microphones. Thank you! Iughed involuntarily at the apuse that echoed in the hall. But what I liked the most was the expressions of the people. The expressions of my parents in my childhood memories floated over the faces of the audience. That was the reason why I wanted to be an idol. *** In the car on the way back to the dorm. Its quiet. Everyone is buried in their car seats, probably tired. We had a pre-recording for a music show since morning, and then we had to wait and do a live broadcast. But I was proud. I felt like I had lived a very hard day. You guys did a great job. I smiled brightly. We finally finished our activities. Phew, I cant believe its over Are you relieved? More than relieved, Im sad. We were on cloud nine for a month. We agreed with the youngests words. But dont you think we ended it well? When people pped for us, it was really amazing. It felt like ten times bigger than the year-end evaluation. Ten times? It felt like a hundred times to me. How did we do, manager? At Bi-jus question, Seok-hwan hyung, who was quiet in the passenger seat, smiled faintly. The reaction was good. You guys sang so well that theres no more criticism on the inte. Wow. You did great, guys. We cheered and pped our hands at the experts affirmation. It was what we wanted. Showing our singing skills was our goal. Min-ki hyung, how was it for you? She was pretty. Min-ki, can you send me to Hwai? Ah, manager. Im sorry. Im distracted by holding the steering wheel. We burst intoughter thanks to our clumsy road manager. Bi-ju asked me as if to confirm. Hyung, do you think well get a good response on the broadcast? The live reaction was good too. It was. I think there was a woman who cheered when I gave you a flower at the end. I was worried about that reaction, but Im really d. Its a relief. I nodded and smiled at Ri-hyuk. I called the member who was quietly looking out the window. Jung-hyun, are you okay? I was good. Thank you the most today. You know without me saying it, right? He was the one who told me not to worry about them in the waiting room, and to make a choice for myself. I was grateful to him. Jung-hyun smiled silently. It was a mncholic atmosphere for some reason. Past 10 p.m. In the dark car where only the street lights poured, we felt a different feeling than usual. Should I say it was empty? As Ji-ho said, the dream-like time was over. The music broadcast activities were over, and the celebrity-like activities like photo shoots would be gone soon. We havent debuted yet. When we go back to the dorm, well be trainees again. A long tunnel. We ran through the dark tunnel and slipped into a side road, where we smelled the flowers in a beautiful garden and sang joyfully. But the sweet time came to an end. We had to go back to the tunnel and run towards the light. But even if we pass through that tunnel, will we be able to meet that sweet time again? They would all be worried like me, even if they didnt say it. Dont worry. I wanted to say that, but Im not a god of the entertainment industry, and I cant guarantee unconditional sess. So I said something else. Youve worked hard, guys. We all looked at Yeouido, which was getting farther away beyond the car window. Until wee back, lets work hard. We all nodded and smiled. March 2014. With the recording of Ha Seung-joos Music Cafe, New ck ended their activities for the project song Something. Chapter 33: Chapter 33: Chapter 33 Untitled A week after the Music Cafe recording. We officially ended our broadcast activities, but that didnt mean we were done with everything. There were still events left to do. Something was undoubtedly the biggest hit song of the first half of the year, and there were many ces that wanted us to sing it. Naturally, thepany was ecstatic and booked our schedule non-stop. We would wake up at dawn, visit a southern region, then stop by Gangwon-do, and return to Seoul. This routine was repeated over and over. When I closed my eyes, I was in Gyeonggi-do, and when I opened them, I was in Seoul. I would often lose my sense of space. The air is so nice in Gangwon-do. Were in Seoul, dude. Wake up. I stretched in the car and looked out the window. Oh, what? It really is Seoul. As soon as I saw the city filled with buildings, the fresh air that came through the car window felt stuffy. See? This is what they call the cebo effect, guys. Ji-ho smiled brightly from the seat next to me. Since its you, it should be called the souffle effect instead. Youre so cocky because you havent been on Music Cafe yet. It would be broadcast next week, so there was only a week left. I smiled warmly. Just wait. When the clip of you cryinges out, Ill spread it everywhere. Ill help you with that. Ri-hyuk quickly joined in. But the youngest just smiled confidently. That wont happen. Hyungs. Why? I sent a bunch of chicken gift cards to the Music Cafe writers, you know. In other words, he lobbied them to cut out his crying scene, so he thought it wouldnt be broadcast. Ri-hyuk and I looked at each other, and I opened my mouth. I bet 500 won that it will be broadcast. Ill add another 500 won that it will be a close-up shot. I dont think it will be a close-up shot. As we exchanged bets, the youngest started to broadcast his unfounded faith in the broadcasting station again. His eyes were shaking nervously, so I guessed he didnt believe it himself. Of course. What kind of ce is a broadcasting station that they would not air something because a high school freshman sent them some gift cards? By the way, I just thought of something. Jung-hyun, who had been quietly listening to the conversation, opened his mouth. Do you think well have some fans now? Huh? Weve been on music shows for almost a month. And Music Cafe will be broadcast soon. I wonder if well get some fans. Everyone fell into thought. It was a question that everyone was curious about, but no one dared to say out loud. What should I say? The word fan sounds so fancy, like an expensive outfit. You nce at it through the shop window, but when they tell you to try it on, you wonder if you can wear it. New ck worked really hard for a month. We got up early and ran to music shows, did interviews with reporters, took a photo shoot, and went to events. But we didnt have much to show for it. The only exposure we had was on music shows. We were lucky to be on Music Cafe, otherwise people would think Ri-hyuk was the only one who could sing. The problem was that it hadnt been broadcast yet. What did we do to get fans? Ri-hyuk pointed out the realistic part. People still know Something as Jang So-wons song. If we stop someone on the street and ask them about New ck, they wont know. And its not like weve been on any variety shows. Is that so? Jung-hyun shrugged and spoke in a calm tone. I want to think positively. There must be someone out there who likes us. Right. Theyre definitely hiding somewhere. We just havent found them yet. Ji-ho, what do you want to do when we have fans? The rapper and the youngest were excited and drinking their imaginary soup, while Ri-hyuk sneered from behind. Tsk. I mean, you should worry about fan service only if you have fans, guys. Dont you think you should focus on how to get fans first? As he stared nkly at Ri-hyuk, Jung-hyun whispered to Ji-ho. Hes spitting fire again. Ooh, nice rhyme. You should put that in your mixtape, bro. Ji-ho hummed Hes spitting fire~ in a rap style, trying to make it sound cool. Ri-hyuk shook his head in dismay. To be honest, I sympathized with Ri-hyuk. How to get fans. We would probably gain some fans after our debut, but what could we do right now? I asked our manager, who was sitting in the passenger seat. Seok-hwan hyung. Hmm? Is there any ce we can go? You know how hard it was to get you on Music Cafe, right? The director and I had to pull some strings for that. I know. And your status is also ambiguous. Lemon Entertainment was one of the top five agencies for actors, but it was a medium-sized agency in the music industry. Of course, it wasnt so bad that we couldnt get any variety show appearances. But if we wanted to go somewhere, the broadcasting stations would demand our actors in return. And it was a delicate situation to trade our actors for us. The broadcasting stations treated us as rookie idols who debuted with Something. But we werent really official singers either. Thats why I understood thepanys position. If we had released a full album, they would have said Okay, lets promote New ck! and traded our actors and variety shows generously. But Something was already a famous song. And it was mainly sung by another singer from a different agency. And even if we did well on a variety show, it would be a problem. We would only gain fame, but no profit. Because we had no other songs to sing. This was like a dilemma. We couldnt promote because we had no songs, and we couldnt sing even if we promoted. So, the problem was the songs? But this wasnt something I could solve right away. The songs for our debut album were entirely supervised by thepanys A&R team. Then, what could I do with my own hands? Well, variety shows are out of the question. What else is there, Ri-hyuk? How about SNS? We have an official SNS ount, right? We could post some stuff andmunicate with the fans. Seo Min-ki, who was driving, nodded as if he agreed. Thats a good idea. What do you think, sir? A merciful smile appeared on our directors face. Min-ki, you have to manage that. SNS is not a good idea, guys. Our road manager changed his attitude quickly. We allughed. It was cowardly, but we couldnt me him. Usually, a group like us would have at least two road managers, but Min-ki hyung was handling our schedule alone. So, SNS was also on hold. I crossed out the SNS column on my mental list. Jung-hyun suggested a self-made reality show that captured our daily lives, but it was also rejected by Yoon Seok-hwan. He said the promotion team was busy with the movie that our actors starred in. And there was only one staff member who could edit the videos, and he was behind on his work. Bi-ju, what do you think Oh, youre listening to music. I tried to ask Bi-ju for his opinion, but our main dancer was staring out the window with earphones on. It didnt seem like a good time to talk to him. But wait. Something was weird. The earphone jack that went to his pocket was disconnected from his phone. He was just wearing them without any music? And his eyes were unfocused, unlike his usual self. Was he too tired from the event? I decided to be considerate of him. Then, Yoon Seok-hwan said as if he remembered something. Come to think of it, there was one variety show offer for you, Woojoo. Really? For me? Yeah, someone was interested in you. They said it was okay even if you were a trainee. Wow! But I think you wont like it I said to my manager, who trailed off at the end of his sentence. What are you talking about, hyung? Its a chance to make our name known. Even if its a jungle or an extreme challenge program, Im confident I can do it. Really? Of course. I can do anything. Seok-hwan hyung gave me a strange smile as he saw my firm determination. Then he uttered the name of the program. Military experience variety show, Men on a Mission. No way. At that moment, everyone except Bi-ju burst intoughter. **** After finishing our schedule in Chuncheon, we didnt go to our amodation, but headed straight to thepany as usual. It was because of the lessons and practice. Now that we officially ended our broadcast activities, we had to prepare for our debut. Juya. Seon Woojoo? A dandy-looking man was staring at me. I came to my senses and realized it was the recording studio. To be exact, it was where I receivedposition lessons from Director Jo Gyu-hwan. Why are you spacing out? I was wondering if I had to go back to the army. I exined the situation to Director Jo, who made a weird expression. He burst intoughter when I finished. Im serious, Director. I put on a serious face, but he keptughing. This guy is unbelievable. He waved his hand as I looked at him. Its because youre cute. So cute. Director, should I just go once with my eyes closed? It would be a benefit if we could make our group name known that way. Well Director Jo stroked his chin. That seems to deviate from the essence of the problem. The essence? As you said, it would be nice to have fans before debut. The power of idolses from fandom. Thats why these days, agencies are obsessed with debut reality shows and such. A close example was Street Boys, who were our rivals at the end-of-year evaluation. I like your idea of increasing fans. But the problem is that the direction is wrong. I guess its hard to appeal with a military variety show, right? Not going is No, no. The producer of New ck waved his hand and smiled. Im not talking about that. Im talking about the overall direction. Ourpany is an actor agency, so lets take an example from an actor. Suppose youre an actor. And you want to be more popr. What would you do? The answer came out without hesitation. I would try to appear in good works. Movies or dramas. Works with good scripts or direction Ah! Now you see why it deviates from the essence? Yes, I think I do. The gist of what our producer said was simple. Just as actors gain poprity through works, singers should gather fans through songs. Not through variety shows or other trivial things. Of course, Im not saying that singers should onlypete with songs like in the 90s. Its just easier that way. Easier? How was it when you appeared on Music Cafe? Broadcasting is not easy, right? Yes, it was a bit difficult. Real variety shows are even harder. I once appeared on a show, and I couldnt say a word because of the pressure from the entertainers. I felt a bit embarrassed. It felt like I was caught drinking soup by myself. There was no guarantee that I would do well in a military variety show, but I thought it would go well anyway. Why did I do that? Was it because of the sessive sesses of the end-of-year evaluation, Something, and Music Cafe? I dont know why I thought it was easy when nothing is easy. Everyone does that when things go well. Youre not weird. I looked at the director with gratitude for his warm words. What should I call him? He was not only the producer of our group, but also a reliable adviser personally. He always gave me good solutions for whatever I was worried about. It was like this when I was struggling with Something. Suddenly, I feel a surge of gratitude in my chest. Thank you. I think I did well to ask you. No, you did well to ask. He smiled. Im proud that you guys had such a concern. Its not something you can do just because someone tells you to. I thought for a moment and nodded. Then I repeated the solution he had suggested so far. In the end, we have topete with good songs. Thats right. Thats why were taking this ss. The ss resumed with that. It was a time to learn about various techniques while looking at theposition program on theptop screen. When the ss was over, Director Jo organized his papers and said. Did you get anything from the management team? They decided to go with a single album with four songs or so for the debut album. No, I havent heard of it. It seems that the news hasnt been delivered yet. Well, thats what they decided. The rest is something I have to ask for your permission He asked. How about one of your songs for one of the tracks? Not the title, but the track, so you dont have to worry. My song? Yes, your song. Well, it was about time I started making my own songs. I had studiedposition in the army, and I had started taking formalposition lessons from Director Jo sincest December. It seemed manageable to challenge myself with a track, not a title. Okay, Ill try. As I answered, I felt relieved. It felt like I had found the answer to my dilemma. Yes. Making good songs was more important than nning to make fans with variety shows or other programs. After all, the army is not a ce for entertainment. No way. Okay, well discuss the details with the A&R teamter. Director Jo looked at his watch and said. Its about time they came. They? I was puzzled. The members entered the recording studio with a knock. They greeted Director Jo with bright smiles, led by Bi-ju. Behind them were Yoon Seok-hwan and Seo Min-ki. Now that I see it, Min-ki hyung had a small handycam in his hand. Whats going on? I dont remember agreeing to film anything. As I tilted my head, Director Jo gave me a meaningful smile. We prepared a gift for you. Chapter 34: Chapter 34: Chapter 34 A gift? What kind of gift are they talking about? I looked around for a gift box, but there was nothing. The managers were empty-handed, and so were our kids. I dont see anything. Its not here. We have to go somewhere else. They had a look of mischief in their eyes. And in the hand of our teams rapper, there was a blindfold. He smiled and handed it to me when I looked at him. You want me to wear this? Its a surprise gift, Hyung. You really know how to surprise me in many ways. I answered without enthusiasm and put on the blindfold. It became pitch ck. The only sensations I felt were the cool air of the recording studio and the chatter of voices. Come on, lets go. Hyung. I got up, hearing the calm voice of Bi-ju. Someone grabbed my arm and led me. It felt solid, so it must be Jung-hyun. I heard Jihoosughter. You look like a Reesin, Hyung. Whats that? Its a character from a game. Hes old like you Ouch! I couldnt see, but I guessed by the sound and pped him. I heard Ri-hyuks delighted noise. The youngest groaned andined. How can you hit someone you cant see? Are you a bat or something? Do you still expect logic from that guy? He knocked down the CEO and the directorst time. Knocked down? I frowned. Im not a bad guy, you know. Then I heard the faint voice of Director Yoon Seok-hwan. I went to the hospital the next day, Woojoo. Im sorry. I heard the faintughter of the others. That was no joke back then kind of conversations. I recalled the incident that was caused by my unconscious mimicry ability and realized something. After I got the mimicry ability. I felt like my bnce and perception skills had improved overall. I was sure I was blindfolded and couldnt see, but I could walk steadily without losing bnce. Why are you walking so well? Did you put the blindfold on properly, Jung-hyun Hyung? A big hand touched my eyes. It seems fine. Really? Youre walking too smoothly Do you want to check? No, thanks. Last time I put my hand on your shoulder, the director got smashed. Ri-hyuk Hyung, the director is making a sad face right now. I couldnt see, but I felt like I could see his expression andughed. I headed to the lobby with the blindfold on. I heard a click sound. Someone must have pressed the elevator button. How is it, Woojoo Hyung? Can you walk with your eyes closed? So-so. How much? Can you walk without us holding your hand? I said with a smile. I have more confidence in finding the way than Bi-ju. Hyung. Bi-ju called me with a sad tone and everyoneughed. On the first day of the music Broadcast, Bi-ju got lost in the Broadcasting station. It was a famous story in thepany. When the elevator arrived and we moved again. I asked the question that I had been holding until then. Why did we take the elevator if were going back to the second floor? A moment of silence. See? I told you he would know. Ri-hyuk said and everyone murmured. The youngest tried to cover it up. Its not the second floor here, Hyung. Right, guys? Thats right. This is the third floor. Exactly. Theres no need to assume its the second floor. I chuckled at the absurd words. I took off the blindfold again when I walked through the second floor corridor, passed by the recording studio where I was before, and entered another room. This seemed like a ce I had never been to before. There were only two rooms that I had been to on the second floor. The main recording studio where I had lessons with Director Jo Kyu-hwan and the studio of Daisy, a member of Scarlet, whom I helped move her stuff in early January. But this room was different from those two. Soon, I took off the blindfold. Ta-da! Were here! As I adjusted to the bright light, a unfamiliar scene entered my eyes. A small room with a recording booth. It was about the same size as the living room of the dorm. There was a sofa, and on the desk with various audio equipment and speakers, there was aptop set up. What is this? As I looked around in confusion, Director Jo said. Well, you hit the jackpot with Something. Thepany had different opinions on what to give you as a reward. It didnt seem appropriate to just treat you to a meal, but it also felt weird to give you money. So this is Right. This is your personal studio. I opened my mouth in disbelief. And then I looked around again. The soundproofing equipment and facilities in the room felt unfamiliar. This is my studio? He looked at me with disbelief and asked. Why do you look so incredulous? This is too big of a surprise. Are you sure this is not a hidden camera and you have another gift? At that, Bi-ju reassured me. We didnt believe it at first either, but this is real. Hyung. Really? Really. I can bet on Ri-hyuk hyung. Why me? Ri-hyuk, who was grumbling, also said to me. Believe it. This is really your studio. But I havent done anything yet Director Jo said. You dont have to feel too pressured. Its not a free gift, its an investment in your potential. The CEO and the other staff all unanimously agreed on this decision. I see. I felt a bit numb as I looked at the equipment in the studio. There was a synthesizer that I had always drooled over on the inte, and speakers from a brand that was famous for its sound quality. The soundproof ss of the recording studio looked sturdy like a bunker. I took in all of that with my eyes and muttered. This is not a dream, right? I asked Manager Yoon Seok-hwan. Hyung, can you say something to wake me up from this dream? You still havent rejected that military variety show, right? So this is not a dream. I looked around the studio, hearing theughter of the people. It was a small room, or rather, it looked small. But to my eyes, it was bigger and more beautiful than any other room. My chest felt tight with emotion. So this is really my studio. Well, technically, its everyones studio. How do you like it? I nodded silently. Seeing my expression, Min-ki hyung, who was filming me with a camera, Seok-hwan hyung, and the other members had smiles on their lips. How do you feel, hyung? I just smiled at Bi-jus question. Because this was a feeling that I couldnt exin in words. *** Some might say that getting a small room as a gift was nothing to fuss about, but it meant a lot to us. It had a symbolic meaning. That was recognition. It was proof that we were recognized by thepany. We were no longer just trainees who had to practice in the basement, but finally acknowledged as artists. That meant that we had value worth investing in. Thats why we couldnt help but be moved. Lets eat! After the director left the studio, we sat around the pizza he bought us and chatted happily. I cant believe we have a studio now It still feels unreal. Bi-ju said, and the youngest, who had tomato stains all over his mouth, nodded. Yeah. We have our own space now. Honestly, I wasnt jealous when Scarlet debuted first, but I was really envious when they said they would make a studio for them. Wipe your mouth, Wang Ji-ho. You werent jealous when Scarlet debuted? Yeah. I talked about it all day then. Ji-ho looked at Bi-ju for help, but our main dancer just smiled and brushed off the pizza crumbs from the maknaes mouth. Well, anyway, thats that. The important thing is that we have a studio now. Yeah, it feels good. Right. I feel like were epted. Well, its not bad. As the younger ones agreed one by one, I remembered something I had forgotten because of the word work. Speaking of work, theres something about the next album. I told them what I had talked with Director Jo Gyu-hwan earlier. That making good songs was more important than gaining fans. And that he would put my song on the debut album. So I need your help. I said. I think its hard for me topose alone. Just like Jang So-won sunbae helped us with Something, I want topose with you guys this time. What do you think? Im in, hyung. Jung-hyun extended his fist and said. Ill take care of the rap part for sure. I smiled and fist-bumped with him. The other members also nodded and said they would help. I especially need the help of Ri-hyuk and Jung-hyun. Huh? Why is my name suddenly mentioned? Ri-hyuk, who was nibbling on a pizza, widened his eyes. You and Jung-hyun know how to arrange, right? Jung-hyun hyung is good at it. Im just at a basic level. You two were in charge of the arrangement for the end-of-year evaluation before I came. Besides, I clearly remember what he said to me. When we were preparing for the end-of-year evaluationst year, I suggested an idea for the arrangement and he said this. -Thats too difficult. I like the idea, but it will take at least two weeks to arrange this. The only ones who know how to arrange among us are Jung-hyun hyung and me. When I repeated his words, Ri-hyuk made a dumbfounded expression. How do you remember that? Why do you have such a good memory? Its a family trait. Ji-ho chuckled. Thats just the arrangement. This hyung was bluffing then. He really only knows the basics. Hey, Wang Ji-ho. Why? Im just telling the truth. Youre no help at all. Seriously. I had a feeling that he was avoiding or dodging the topic whenever I talked aboutposing. So he didnt know anything about it. Our Ri Hyuk. I turned my head to the rapper who was inhaling pizza like a vacuum cleaner. Youre the only one left. Yes, you can trust me. He might not seem very reliable, considering his usualid-back attitude, but Jung-hyun was a talented rapper. Rappers basically write their own lyrics for their job. Thats why they also had a high level of understanding when it came to making music. Most of the idols who were calledposer-dols were rappers for that reason. While eating pizza, Jung-hyun and I took the lead in discussing our debut song. Our debut is in June, so how about a seasonal song? Something refreshing and catchy for the summer. That sounds good. Maybe something like tropical house? But guys, doesnt tropical house feel more like a girl group thing? I think deep house would suit us better. Really? I never thought of it that way. I think it would be nice to have a catchy melody, even if its not the hook. Something that makes you hum along as soon as you hear it. Like Something? Yeah, like the melody that Jang So-won sunbae made. A catchy melody like Something But that was possible thanks to the melody that Jang So-won sunbae made. Could I make something like that? To be honest, I was skeptical. Objectively speaking, I had the ability to utilize existing things, but not to create something new. Then I would have to apply something that someone else made. Is there any basic source that someone made? There should be plenty in thepanys shared folder. There are also a lot of things that the A&R team made and discarded. At Ri Hyuks words, Jung-hyun made an ah sound. He looked like he remembered something important. What is it? Come to think of it, theres a really good source in the shared folder. Really? Yeah, theres something that someone made and left. This is a famous story in thepany. Before he continued, the other members made ah sounds. I know that story too. Are you talking about that? I think thats it. What? What is it? What kind of source is it? Well, I dont know how long its been there, but theres a strange source. It seems like it could be a hit song if its polished well. But But? The problem is that the sound is really weird. If you cut here, it pops out there, and if you cut there, it pops out here. Its really hard to fix, no matter how much you touch it. Jung-hyuns words were supplemented by Ri Hyuk. Thepanys A&R teamposers tried to fix it, but they all gave up. They said it was a shitty source. Is it that hard? Jung-hyun answered. Its not hard when you first hear it, but its really tricky when you actually try to work on it. Youll see when you listen to it. I also tried it once, but I gave up because it was impossible. What the hell is it? I decided to listen to it first and turned on myptop. Then I entered thepanys shared folder and yed the file in question. Untitled_(1). It was a title that meant untitled. I clicked on it with a nervous feeling, like an athlete before a game. Soon, the melody flowed out of the speaker. I frowned as I heard the monotonous sound. Huh? What is this, its really weird. They kept saying it was weird, but I wondered what was weird about it. But there was definitely something that caught the listeners ear. It made me want to listen more. I could see why theposers were tempted by it. I felt like starting to work on it right away. But the real weird thing was how I felt right now. When did I feel like this? I quickly found the answer as I thought about when I felt the same way as now. The first day I went to Hwi Entertainment. When I heard the melody that Jang So-won sunbae made. I felt goosebumps on my arms and a melody in my head. I wondered would it be the same now? I closed my eyes, but unlikest time, the melody that would apany the main theme did note to me automatically. But the more I listened to this source, the more I felt a strange conviction. If I had to make something for my debut album, it had to be this. I yed the same source over and over again, dozens of times. I finally made up my mind. Guys. I said, looking at the file name Untitled. Lets give this a title, shall we? Chapter 35: Chapter 35: Chapter 35 When I suggested working on a song that everyone else had given up on, my brothers had mixed reactions. Are you sure you can do it? Dont give up halfway. Lets be realistic and start with something easy. The main vocal of New ck, who was in charge of the reality check, was skeptical. Im worried, but if you say so, Ill support you. The main dancer smiled with concern and approval. Jung-hyun just shrugged his shoulders as if to say, do whatever you want. The youngest one proudly showed off his thick wallet while eating a pickle. Do as you please. Its your choice that matters. I dont know anything aboutposing, so Ill just treat you to some snacks. The vote was 3 in favor, 1 abstention, and 1 against. We settled our opinions on the debut song project. Ri-hyuk didnt seem happy and said. Ill go along with the majority, but can you really do it? Its objectively too difficult. Hyung, dont you remember what you said at the end-of-year evaluation? The youngest one chimed in. Back then, Woojoo hyung suggested an idea, but you said it was unrealistic and too hard. Are you really useless? Whose side are you on? Im obviously on the side of theposer who will give me a good part. He fed me a pickle with a smile in his eyes, and Ri-hyuk stuck out his tongue in disbelief. Then, Bi-ju suddenly said as if he remembered something. By the way, I was curious about this at the end-of-year evaluation. How do you work onposing or arranging? Right. Me too. It was so weird back then. You suddenly said, Ill finish it by tomorrow, and then you came back the next morning with thepleted arrangement. I dipped a pizza in the sauce and answered. It was thanks to Director Jos help that I finished early. If I had done it alone, it would have taken longer because of theputer work. Then how did you do the arrangement? Without a machine. I wrote it by hand. Roughly made a score. My brothers looked at me with strange expressions. You did it by hand? Yeah. Where did youe from? 19th century Europe? I did it that way in the army. I couldnt install Logic or Pro Tools on the militaryputer. In the end, I had no choice but to use my hand. They seemed to ept it when I mentioned the army. They probably thought it was a mysterious world they didnt know. They would probably believe me if I told them I was abat warthog breeder in the army. Then how do you work? Jung-hyun asked. We need to know that so we can figure out how to help you. Oh, the work method. I recalled the method I used when I worked on music. I created a stage in my head and worked from there. But if I said that, they would probably look at me even more strangely. Im telling you in advance, dont look at me weirdly after you hear it. I know Im a bit special. Just tell us, old man. What else can surprise us? Um Well, its like this. I put down the pizza and said. Close your eyes. They all closed their eyes. In the meantime, the youngest one stole a piece of pizza that Ri-hyuk had saved, with his eyes open. I held back augh and continued. Did you close your eyes? Then, think of a familiar space. Preferably arge one. The auditorium of your school, or the stage of the music show we performed on. Their eyeballs moved under their closed eyelids. Thats it. Then, in that state, you set up a session, that is, instruments, on the stage. Guitar, bass, keyboard, saxophone, cello, things like that. Drums are enough for drums. Leave out the other percussion for now. Hyung, I think I forgot from the middle. I couldnt even remember. Hey, Wang Ji-ho. Do you remember? I think I did it roughly. Ji-ho, who was focused on eating pizza secretly, didnt answer, and only Jung-hyun seemed to follow my instructions roughly. Youre almost there. The next part is easy. You put the five of us on the stage and work on it. Imagine that were all singing. Make a melody. Add some instruments. Just repeat that. Until it works. I did the same thing for the end-of-year arrangement. I kept imagining it in my head. Is that it? They opened their eyes and looked at me. I nodded. Thats it. Ah. One by one, the members opened their eyes. At first, they seemed to adjust to the light, but soon they looked at me strangely. I told you. It sounds weird. You can do that, hyung? ying instruments in your head? How else do you think I arranged the song in one day? They all had skeptical expressions. It was the same when I was at TJ Entertainment. When I told the TNT kids about this, they reacted simrly. Does that make sense, hyung? They would say. And they would look at me like I was an alien. Their gazes were exactly the same as back then. Some seemed to admire me, and some seemed to look at me with disdain. They all stared at me nkly. How much time had passed? Ri-hyuks voice broke the silence. What the hell. Wheres my pizza? *** The first day at the studio passed and we returned to our daily routine. Events, practice, lessons, and music production were added to the list. After singing Something with Jang So Won sunbae at a local event and returning to thepany, we had group PT, vocal, dance training, foreignnguage education, and so on. When that was over, Jung-hyun and I headed to the studio instead of the dorm and stayed up all night. Most of the work was technical. Discussions and work on how to shape the melody. The concept was already decided. The concept of our B-side song was a summer season song. We had announced the spring season with Something, so the n was to make a summer season song for our debut. Of course, this was what we said in front of the director. It was just a simple idea that we came up with, Its summer, so lets make a summer song. That was a secret between us. A cool and refreshing song that suited the summer. We made the melody of Untitled ording to that concept. It was a simple task. At first, I wondered how to tweak the melody, but once I tried it in my head a few times, it was surprisingly easy. Of course, it wasnt because I was talented. It was possible because I didnt preserve the subtlety of the melody as other people did. I tried to keep that feeling at first, but I failed in the end. So we decided to make a beat from scratch, even if we lost that subtlety. And we got a lot of help from our connections in the process. We asked Jang So Won sunbae for advice whenever we met him at the event hall, we asked the director for his opinion whenever we took lessons from him, and we talked to thepanys A&R team and the affiliatedposers whenever we had a chance. With their help, the work went smoothly. Where should we get the instruments from? I want to make the sound more sophisticated. Lets scan the Billboard chart up to 100, what. We referred to thetest trends in the US for the sound that went under the top line melody. Why dont you do the intro, Jung-hyun? Me? You have a good sense of rhythm, so you can find the bending or attack point well. Then it will have an impact. And here, B part, Bi-jus voice is soft, so it will fit well. I think it would be better if you did it, hyung. We also discussed the strengths and weaknesses of the members for the parts. What about Ri-hyuk? He has a good vocal bnce, so he can fit anywhere. Thats true. Well have to think about it when the choreographyes out. We should put him in the part with less dance. If Ri-hyuk had heard our conversation, his ears would have turned red. In this way, we progressed the work quite quickly, enough to discuss who to give the parts to. The problem urred then. Hey, Jung-hyun. Yes. Do you see this in your head? Are you talking about that weird method that only you can do? No, not that. I asked. Do you see yourself performing this on stage in your head? Uh Wait a minute. He closed his eyes and immersed himself in his thoughts for 10 seconds, then opened them. It doesnt work. Right, it doesnt work, does it? The problem was the identity of the song. The work was going smoothly, but no matter how much I listened, it didnt feel like our song. It felt like no matter what title I put on Untitled, it had nothing to do with New ck. To put it simply, I seeded in technically crafting a gem, but I didnt know what to make of it. I had a gem, but I didnt know if it should be a ne or a ring. What do you think is the problem, hyung? I think we didnt consider our identity when we made songs so far. Identity? Something is Jang So-wons song, but this is our song. It should feel like New ck, but its too nd. The problem I hadnt thought of until now was New cks identity. What kind of music do we want to do? What are the emotions or codes that we want to convey? I only studied how to make the sound better while working, but I didnt think about who we are as a group, or how to express ourselves in this song. Hmm In the studio, Jung-hyun and I were lost in thought. The sound of Jung-hyuns grip strengthener and me tapping the keyboard made a discordant sound. I learned by imitating movements, but the muscles of my fingers that couldnt follow the signals of my brain got tangled up in Rachmaninoffs piece. Just like my head. Time kept passing, and Jung-hyun, who had stopped the grip strengthener and was doing push-ups on the studio floor, came up with an idea. Hyung, how about this. Lets focus on what we like. What we like. That sounds good. What do you like, hyung? Me? Grandma is number one, money is number two. Uh neither of them seem to go well with our song. Maybe rap would be okay. Yo, I like two things. GrandMoney and Money. How about that? The rapperughed at the ridiculous rap. But focusing on what we like was a reasonable suggestion. Taste is rted to who we are. In the end, we have to think about what kind of singers we are. To do that, we have to know who we are. I honestly dont know. Do we have anything that can be called our team color? We have to find that out from now on. He scratched his chin and bit his lip. Then he got up from his seat. I think we need to talk to the kids about this problem. Its about our team color. Lets do that. Lets talk to them after the broadcast. They said theyd be here soon, right? They might take a little longer. Bi-ju said hes going to make them practice more because theyre not in sync. The clock on the studio wall pointed to 10 oclock. It was Friday night. Finally, the night music program Ha Seung-joos Music Cafe was airing. *** 11 p.m. Thirty minutes before the broadcast of Music Cafe, the studio was bustling with five people for the first time in a long time. On the table, there were aptop with PBS channel on and a pile of snack bags. Hyung, can I just have a sip? The youngest eyed the beer greedily, but Jung-hyun shook his head. No. Im the only one who hasnt drunk alcohol at school. I hear that other group kids say that their hyungs or unnies give them a sip each. Even Gil Chaekyung tried it. Why are you trying to drink alcohol as a minor? Ri-hyuk, who was sitting on the edge of the sofa, chewed on a sweet potato snack. And stop spilling snacks on the floor. Yes. He smiled and rubbed his snack-covered hand on purpose. Soon, a sweet potato snack hit his face urately. I must have been absorbed in the work. I was making a beat without knowing it, following the rhythm of the youngest and Ri-hyuks fight. Hyung, have one. A slice of apple that was carefully cut was offered. I turned my head and saw a tray full of apple peels and Bi-ju. Thanks. My mom says apples are the best when youre tired. You worked hardposing. Only you can do this, Bi-ju. As I ate the apple with gratitude, Jung-hyun put down the dried squid and stretched out his big hand. I worked hard on theposition too. Here. Ah, not the one thats been bitten. Dont you have a clean one like Woojoo hyung? I smiled at my friend who was the same age as me. No, I only smiled with my mouth. Jung-hyun, who was looking back and forth between the knife in his hand and his face, coughed awkwardly. Wow, that apple must be really delicious. Bi-ju turned to me and asked. Did you contact your grandmother? She must be sitting in front of the TV by now. Do you want to say hello to her since were talking about it? I pressed the speed dial number 1 and switched to video call. The younger ones who were measuring their head sizes on the screen slowly retreated behind me. Soon, Mrs. Kim Deoksoons face appeared. -Oh, my. What a surprise. Whats this? Why is your face showing up? Everyone burst intoughter and I felt embarrassed. I wanted to try video calling you for a change. -Then you should have told me before you called! Yes. Im sorry, Mrs. Kim Deoksoon. I smiled and introduced the younger ones. You remember them all, right, grandma? We metst December. I came here with them to watch the live broadcast of Music Cafe. -Ah, yes. Its nice to see all your faces. Her wrinkled face, which was tense when she saw me, softened and brightened as she looked at the younger ones. What the hell, why, how. Im your grandson, but you like them more than me. Hello! The younger ones greeted her and grandmas face became even brighter. -Oh, how pretty. Grandma. Im your grandson. Pay attention to me. -Youre so petty, you know that? Ive seen your face enough in the corner of the house. Why do you need to see it again? If someone else looks pretty, you go, Grandma, Im jealous and all that. Grandma, theyreughing at me. Ri-hyuk and Ji-ho were biting their lips and holding back theirughter. Is it that fun to see me suffer? But I didnt feel bad either. Its weird. I feel morefortable when I hear grandmas harsh words. We continued the conversation until the broadcast started. I tried to brag about how I got a studio at thepany, but she didnt evenpliment me once. She just told me not to bother her. Finally, when the logo of Ha Seung-joos Music Cafe appeared on the top right corner of the TV screen on theptop. Grandma, Ill hang up now. Ill call you again after the broadcast. -Is it channel 7? I cant see well these days. Yes, its channel 7, PBS. -By the way, Woojoo. Did you make any mistakes this time? Likest time, when you said something weird about bread Huh? What? I cant hear you. I love you, grandma. -You, this I ended the call with a faint you, this echoing. The younger ones looked at my face and burst intoughter. Yeah. Laugh I sighed deeply and then unknowingly got infected by theirughter. I felt lighter afterughing for no reason. My mind, which wasplicated by thoughts of my dad who would appear on Music Cafe and theposition, felt a bit clearer. Now I was looking forward to the scene that would be the youngests ck history. Oh, the logo is gone. It must be starting. Theptop monitor went ck and then the studio appeared on the screen. Everyone swallowed their saliva and looked at the screen. Chapter 36: Chapter 36: Chapter 36 The broadcast began as the PBS public hall was captured in a wide shot. In the center of the studio, brightly lit by the lights. An MC in a tuxedo and sses appeared. -Wee, everyone. Thank you for joining us at Ha Seung-joos Music Cafe. The camera screen showed the audience. Young men and women pping and cheering. The opening remarks ended and the broadcast went on as recorded. From Buster, a hot indie band in Hongdae, to Jo Yuri Band. The performances of the four teams ahead of us passed by in an instant. Uh, its our turn now. The youngest rolled his feet and muttered Im so nervous under his breath. -Well, now we have a new team for you. You know, these days, if you dont know them, youre a failed spy. Theyre the coboration team thats flirting with the whole nation of Korea. The intro of Something, which we sang at the venue this morning, flowed softly from theptop monitor. Wow. Our first reaction was admiration. It was a stage that we thought was decent on the spot, but after editing, it changed into something amazing. From the angle of shooting the singers to the scene transition between the audience and the stage. It was as if they were showing off that we were the stars of the day, with meticulous directing that was noticeable. Ugh. Ri-hyuk covered his eyes with sweet potato chips every time his face was close-up. His ears were red, unlike his pale skin. Why are you like that? My face keeps showing up on TV. Hey, youre an entertainer, you should be happy to get attention. I was incredulous, but I also sympathized with Ri-hyuks words. Our faces on TV were unfamiliar and amazing. We had been on music shows every day for a month and monitored them every time, but it felt different from then. It felt like we really became entertainers. It was the same when we sang at the venue. We were amazed by the poprity of the song, not by the fact that we were entertainers, when the college students sang along to the chorus of Something. Our hearts were still stuck in the long trainee life. But when we saw our faces on TV, on the broadcast, we felt like we really became entertainers. It felt like our feet were floating in the sudden reality. We really became entertainers. Everyone nodded. I didnt need to look in the mirror to see what kind of expression I was making. We all had the same face. Soon, the first stage ended and the real talk began. We looked great on the screen. We were nervous for our first variety show, but the PD edited it well and we came out with a fresh vibe. Of course, there was another reason why I was satisfied. Hyung, youre really handsome. Bi-ju smiled smugly. I dont know why hes smug, but he liked my face and pressed the capture button on theptop keyboard. Jung-hyun agreed and drank his beer. Woojoo hyung is handsome. Yeah, he looks great on the screen. Ri-hyuk retorted sullenly. But whats the point of being handsome? He doesnt dress up normally. Hey, I do dress up when I need to. I dont think Ive ever seen you do that. Who dresses up to go to the practice room? At that, everyone turned to me. To be exact, to me who was wearing a tracksuit up and down. We dress up every day Hes just relying on his face. Leave him alone, Bi-ju hyung. Hell get hooked sooner orter. Hyung, you just said were entertainers. Yeah, hyung. You should dress up more. Buy some clothes. Buy some cosmetics. Put on some BB cream. What? Why is the atmosphere suddenly turning into a pro-Woojoo style debate? I was dumbfounded, but I had nothing to say. It was true. Compared to what they do, I dont dress up much. Just shower, wash, sunscreen, repeat, like I did in the army. On the other hand, our kids take an hour to get ready. As a cat-like clean freak, Ri-hyuk didnt need to say anything, and even the mostid-back Jung-hyun spent five minutes every day deciding which snapback to wear. I surrendered to my nagging siblings. Fine. Ill dress up a bit more from now on. Only then did they stop lecturing me to use a mask pack, apply moisturizer, and so on. But I felt wronged after it was over. Guys, at least I wear a different color of tracksuit every day As they were about to roast me again, I gave up on my timid defense. Meanwhile, the talk show at the music cafe was in full swing. The audiencesughter echoed through the low-quality speakers. They must have cut out the boring parts of the talk. Our members looked more witty and charming than usual on the screen. It was about time for us toe out. -But is this musical talent something you were born with? Of course, your own effort is important, but art is also about talent, right? Then I started to talk about our dad with a serious expression. On the data screen, a video of dad ying the piano at Carnegie Hall, a photo of him with the then US president, and a scene of him and mom holding a press conference at the airport appeared. It was time to remember dads face, which I barely remembered, through the data screen. My siblings, who had beenughing and chatting until a moment ago, were quiet. They rolled their eyes at me, pretending not to look. Its okay, you dont have to worry about me. I said that, but they still looked at me cautiously. That atmospherested until the microphone was handed over to Jang So-won sunbae. Thankfully, when the talk changed, their expressions changed too. From clueless faces to rxed ones. Jung-hyun started to drink his beer again, Bi Ju resumed peeling his apple excessively, and Ri-hyuk rummaged through the bag and took out a dried sweet potato. This time, the youngest was super nervous. What is he mumbling? Hes saying it wonte out, it wonte out. Hey, Wang Ji Ho. Do you think it wonte out because youre wishing for it? Be quiet. Hes making a wish. Everyoneughed at the youngest, who was mumbling like a primitive man performing a ritual. Then, the scene we had all been waiting for came out. As Jang So-won sunbaes sad life story continued, the youngest on the screen started to cry. It would have been fine if it was just tears, but the two streams of snot were the highlight. His chubby face, still with baby fat, was covered with redness and snot, making him look like a country puppy. Or maybe a rice cake soaked in tears. Dont let the nose blowinge out. Dont let the nose blowinge out The youngest prayed desperately, but soon he received a tissue and blew his nose loudly, making the PBS public hall ring. The MC and the audience on the screen allughed their heads off. Pwahaha! As the youngest covered his face with both hands and copsed on myp, the hyungs were all cracking up. Ah, what is this! The youngest, who fell on myp, tore his hair and groaned. Whether he liked it or not, I was in the best mood. I thought of how he had teased me with souffl for a month after the broadcast, and I felt like I had taken a shot of soda. I pressed the capture button and smiled. Ill make him pay for this for the next month. *** Thanks to the story of being the son of a genius pianist, our talk time was the longest among the guests. But the talk was just a secondary element, the main event of the music cafe was the stage. So we focused on the stage that was about toe out. The title Jang So-won X New ck Between appeared on the screen. The piano melody sounded in the intro. Jung-hyun started the song with his rap. The stage was well edited, just like the first one. On the other hand, my mind settled down as I watched it. As soon as I saw the title of the song Between, I remembered Untitled, which I had forgotten for a while. How can we show our color? What is New cks identity? And what kind of music is New ck-like? I had to know that to give Untitled a title. I monitored the Between stage seriously and checked the charm points of our kids. Bi Jus dance line, Ri-hyuks voice, Ji Hos expression, Jung-hyuns rhythm. I already knew them all. They were the things I considered every time I nned a performance since the end-of-year evaluation. If I had to consider myself, I would say stability? What should I call it? The bnce of the group? I was second best in dancing after Bi-ju, second best in singing after Ri-hyuk, second best in facial expressions after Jihoo, and second best in rhythm after Junghyun. But I was decent enough in all of them. I had a wide vocal range that made me fit in any part, and unlike Bi-ju who filled his moves with tricks and ir, I was tall and danced by the book, making the viewers feelfortable. I feel embarrassed to say it myself. Of course, this is not my opinion, but the result of gathering the opinions of my brothers. Yeah, lets say I have a sense of stability. If I think about all this, can Ie up with a conclusion of what New cks music is like? I thought hard, but I couldnt find an answer. Maybe I should do a survey with the kids. Something like the 200 questions and answers I did back in the mini-homepage days. Thats how I watched Betweens stage with my eyes, while thinking about our debut album in my head. Huh? Suddenly, my eyes met with the brothers who were looking at theptop. Their faces were focused, as if they wanted to imprint their own stage in their eyes. But it wasnt the kind of focus that made them stick out their lips or widen their eyes. They were all smiling and enjoying the musicfortably. At that moment, a thought crossed my mind. Good music is music that makes you feel good when you listen to it, music that you want to hum along to. Taste is one of the factors that define who a person is. Then, wouldnt the music we like also be rted to our identity as singers? As I thought that, my head started to spin. I already had a few ideas in my mind. Some of them seemed doable right away. Finally, when Somethings stage was over and our part was done, I called the kids. Guys. Yes? But I couldnt say anything. It was because of their expressions, still smiling on their lips. I didnt want to ruin the mood by bringing up the work talk. I shook my head at the kids who were waiting for my answer. Its nothing. Lets clean up the table and go back to the dorm. The kids who got up from their seats and started to tidy up the table. I walked over to the youngest, who was frowning at his phone, and put my arm around him. What are you looking at? Im looking at the inte to see if theres any reaction to us. Is there anything? Not yet. I guess the news and stuff havent been posted yet because the broadcast is still on. Well, whats the big deal. I only got a fewments on themunity on the day of the college entrance exam. Thats not the problem. There was no need to exin what the problem was. New chats popped up on the smartphone without a break. Most of them wereughs like lol lol lol lol lol lol or boys chats like Wang Jihoo BS, or girls chats like Jiho lol lol lol . Oh, right. He goes to school. Looking at the atmosphere thats stilling up, it seems like hes going to be teased a lot tomorrow. I smiled and patted his shoulder. Now you know how I feel. I ignored Jihoo, who narrowed his eyes like Ri-hyuk, and checked the chat that came from my grandmother. King God Kim Deok-soon [You did well] King God Kim Deok-soon [You did well] I smiled and read on. King God Kim Deok-soon [The kids are so pretty] King God Kim Deok-soon [You take good care of them] King God Kim Deok-soon [Sent an emoticon] Iughed at the emoticon of a cute bear waving cheer sticks. Dont worry, grandma. Just like you did for me, Ill take good care of them. *** The next morning, when I woke up in the dorm, I was literally shocked. A few missed calls, dozens of texts, hundreds of chats. What the hell? Did a New ck recording leak while I was unaware? Or did a war break out while I was asleep? I cant even remember where I put my uniform. I made such a silly thought and entered the messenger. I looked at the chats and realized what the problem was. It was the Music Cafe that aired yesterday. Uh, what the hell. The kids who woke up from their sleep also grabbed their phones and frowned. Judging by their expressions, they all seemed to be in a simr situation. I went online to figure out what was going on, and blinked my eyes at the first page of the portal. [Real-time search rankings] 10th. New ck Woojoo Did people search for this on their way to work? My name was shining on the real-time search rankings. Hyung, our article is on the main page of the entertainment news! What? Really? And its an exclusive article by us. Except for the asional news of winning first ce on music shows, our name had never appeared on the portal main page. Even if it did, it was only briefly mentioned behind Jang So-wons name. My heart pounded at the excited shouts of the kids. I flipped through the entertainment news page with trembling fingers. Huh? Is this for real? Our group name was stered on the main page, three times. One at the top, one in the middle with a Music Cafe clip, and one at the bottom. -New ck Universe My father is the pianist Seon Myungjoo -[Music Cafe] Whats between us? Jang So-won X New ck Between -Jang So-won and New ck, a sweet coboration stage Whats going on right now? Just like when we found out about the sess of Something on Jihos graduation day, we traced the path of this phenomenon. It started with the article that came out after yesterdays broadcast. The article about the broadcast content where we revealed who our father was. Of course, we expected that much. Our fathers whereabouts were enough to make headlines. But what I overlooked was the influence that our father had as a pianist, Seon Myungjoo. A genius jazz pianist who was the pride of Korea during the IMF era, and the tragic ne crash in 1999. If you think about it, there was no way people wouldnt remember him. The article that came out yesterday made those people recall their memories. And it sparked their curiosity. The idol who debuted this time is Seon Myungjoos son? A normal Friday morning before the weekend. On a quiet morningmute with no hot topics, people looked at the entertainment news page and naturally moved on to the Music Cafe clip. The views proved it. The Music Cafe clip, which only the viewers watched, had almost doubled in viewspared to other days. And the most important thing was the quality of our Between stage. The people who came without much thought watched our performance and gave positive feedback. -Wow, the live harmony is crazy. -Is that brown-haired guy Seon Myungjoos son? -Are they not idols but some vocal trainer team? -There are so many good singers in our country lol lol lol Amazing -The vocal colors are so pretty I couldnt help but smile at thements that made me feel good, and the number of likes that piled up on them. Was it an unintended event that turned into a huge topic? Is this why celebrities children reveal who their parents are, I wondered, and it was amazing in many ways. But the most amazing thing was the voice calling me. Hyung. I turned my head and saw Ri-hyuk looking at me with a nk expression. It reminded me of that time. He had the same expression when Something became number one. Whats wrong? Look at this. He showed me his phone screen, where a music site was open. And when I saw the ranking of Between there, I widened my eyes like Ri-hyuk. 1st. Jang So-won X New ck Between The song that was released this morning was staying at the top of the real-time chart. Chapter 37: Chapter 37: Chapter 37 [Who is New ck, the No.1 trending search term?] [Entertainment IN = Reporter Oh So-hee] New ck is attracting the attention ofizens by topping the real-time search term rankings. This is the second time they have made their name on the search term list. It has been only two months since their coboration song Something with Jang So-won was released in February and topped the music chart. This is an unprecedented feat for a rookie group that has not yet officially debuted. What is the reason behind their poprity? The direct reason is their appearance on PBSs Ha Seung-jus Music Cafe that aired yesterday (10th). In the broadcast, New ck showed various charms along with the stage of Something. In particr, member Woojoos piano performance and Between performance highlighted the appeal of all the members, and revealed their strong side as a talented boy group that had been hidden behind their visuals. The stage, which received high praise from MC Ha Seung-ju, recorded a high number of views on the Music Cafe clip, ranking in the top 10 of the entire clip, and the song also briefly topped the music chart. But the most talked-about thing in the broadcast was the personal story of the leader Woojoo. The member, who showed his charm with his outstanding visuals and the story ofposing with Jang So-won, revealed that his father was Seon Myungjoo during the talk. The audience in the episode all had expressions of speechlessness. It was a rtable reaction for anyone who remembered Seon Myungjoo, the legendary star of Korea in the 90s. This story spread to various onlinemunities and became a bigger issue. Netizens reacted to this by saying things like The one who sang Something was Seon Myungjoos son, wow, amazing, He must have inherited his talent from his dad since heposed too, He must be making a fortune from royalties. Im jealous. The agency said, We are cautious because there is a lot of interest in New ck and member Woojoo after the broadcast. and added, We will all work hard to live up to the interest shown by the public. Regarding their future activities, they said, There is nothing decided yet, and except for some events, New ck is officially done with their activities. and avoided directments. New ck is aiming to debut in June this year, and the agency said, The debut album will also include member Woojoos selfposed songs. and expressed their gratitude for the support. *** The excitement of Betweens ranking was short-lived. As the rush hour ended, the music chart plummeted vertically. From 1st to 9th, from 9th to 23rd. But it still stayed in the upper ranks of the daily chart. We were happy with this unexpected result. We had already achieved a tremendous sess with Something, and we appeared on Music Cafe as a way of wrapping up our activities. None of us thought we would get anything more from there. And we also achieved our original goal of showing the public New cks skills. Before the Music Cafe started, thements that were mixed with doubts like Huh? New ck only has one main vocal singing? The rest of them just add harmonies. Arent they unprepared kids if you look closely? disappeared. Thements on the articles showed that atmosphere. For example, thement on the Entertainment IN article Who is New ck, the No.1 trending search term?, which had the highest number of views, was like that. -They were really good lol They must have been so wronged all this time -I was a bit annoyed by how they kept talking during the talk, but the stage was impressive. Woojoo, I think his eyes were drawn to him a lot. -I was shocked when I watched the broadcast yesterday;; I didnt know they were the ones who sang Something -They seem to be the top level among the rookies these days -Lemon really likes talented groups. Scarlet was like that too. They put a lot of effort into it. Most of thements praised New cks vocal skills. Even if we sorted by rmendations, the majority of the atmosphere was favorable to us. That alone was enough to satisfy me, but there were also manyments that remembered my dad. -Seon Myungjoo He was the person I liked since elementary school I dont know about the young kids these days, but he was a great source of strength when it was hard during the IMF. Hisst memory was heartbreaking, but its nice to see his son grow up and appear on TV. I hope you show good things in the future ^^ -My mom was teary-eyed watching it yesterday. -My father was amazed to see how much he resembled his facial features. There were also manyments that warmed my heart just by looking at them. Of course, not allments were friendly. If 30 out of 100 people liked it, about 70 were indifferent, and there were some cold reactions. To be honest, they were close to hatements. They were disliked and disappeared on the portal articles, but I saw a lot of them when I looked around variousmunities. -Who the hell is Seon Myungjoo? Am I the only one who doesnt know?;; -Do rookies these days have to sell their parents to promote? I turned it off because it seemed like they were selling their emotions too much yesterday -They havent even debuted yet and theyre doing media y -Why do you keep saying theyre pitiful, theyre pitiful? Whats so pitiful? The most useless thing in the world is worrying about celebrities He must have made billions from royalties. I dont know whats so pitiful about him. Our lives are the most pitiful. But there were also people who defended us. -There are people who dont know who Seon Myungjoo is; its something you can find out with a little search, whats the psychology of saying I dont know, so listen and see? If you dont know the US president, is he listen and see too? -Honestly, his musical talent is definitely inherited from his dad, but isnt it more ridiculous to hide it? If they wanted to do media y with that, they would have done it sooner. Something is already at the end. -I didnt care, but I think I should cheer for them after seeing the hatements -Theyre venting their anger at the kid because their lives are not going well;; The arguments went back and forth like this. I didnt care much about the hatements, but they were annoying to see, so I warned the kids whenever they looked at their smartphones. It would be a loss if they got a crack in their mental state. But from another perspective, this was a good sign. When we went around the music shows with Jang So-won, there was no one who hated us. What would New ck say? If Jang So-won was the strawberry on top of the cake, we were like the whipped cream. We were so invisible that most people didnt even know we were the singers of Something until we appeared on Music Cafe. But this opportunity seemed to have engraved our three-letter name in their minds. Although the interest in us would fade away in an instant, as seen from the chart performance of Between, they would at least remember uster as Oh, there were those guys called New ck. The scariest thing for a celebrity is indifference. You have to be known to be hated. And right now, we had more people who liked us than hated us. Hyung! The youngest opened his eyes wide and pointed at his smartphone screen. Whats up? Look at this. Our fan cafe membership has increased a lot! See? Until yesterday, it was less than 200. But now Eight hundred? The wee board was filled with posts marked new. The upgrade board was also glittering. The fan cafe, which had been like a dying amusement park, was moving. We looked at each other with wide-eyed faces and cheered. Like a bunch of minions. Mr. Jo was right. It was the easiest for a singer to attract fans with the stage. Just a week ago, we were wondering how to increase our fan base, thinking we had to go on some military variety show or something, but we didnt expect things to work out like this. The fan cafe membership gradually increased to about 1,200. The influx stopped after that, but it was still a huge influx. It was hard to believe, and thats why that day was like a festival. Everyone we met at thepany congratted us, and our families were busy bragging to their surroundings. Jung-hyuns father even sent a list of names of elders like Yoon Gil-do nim, Son Byeong-ok nim from the next vige, saying he had to send them autographs. I had to sign with him too, because he insisted he needed Seon Myungjoos sons autograph. The situation where our poprity soared overnight. But we didnt getcent orzy. We had experienced it once before, so we knew. How quickly interest cools down. We knew that we had just taken one step, and how important the next step was, so we went back to square one. To our debut album track, Untitled. *** I told Jung-hyun the idea I had while watching Music Cafe. A way to find out New cks musical color. He agreed to my idea ofparing the music we each liked, and we stayed up for several nights toplete the n. All that was left was execution. Finally, Monday. It was easy to work since it was officially our day off. Or rather, a day without a schedule? As Between achieved a modest sess, thepany called us together and asked for our opinions. How many schedules could we handle in a day? How much rest did we need? Events are just a side thing. Were trying to make hay while the sun shines, and we want to make you a lot of money by booking them. But if we prioritize, its the debut album. So we need to know how much you can handle so we can n. Under the leadership of Manager Yoon Seok-hwan, we gave our opinions. And finally, the CEO approved. A maximum of three schedules per day. Monday is a rest day. Well, not really a rest. Its just that we dont schedule anything, so we have to practice hard. So we did. While the younger ones were at school, three men in sweat-soaked tracksuits sat down at a shabby restaurant. Ugh, tough. Jung-hyun grabbed his chest and shook his T-shirt to cool off his sweat. As we sat down, the ownerdy came over with a bright smile, holding a water towel and a kettle. Oh, my, New ck is here. Auntie. Well have the bulgogi set. What about the kids? Theyll be here soon. Theyreing from school. Thedy, who always gave us generous side dishes and meals, walked briskly to the kitchen. She nced at me as she did. What should I say, she looked at me like a young head of the household. It was a change that happened after the Music Cafe appearance, she looked at me like a poor orphan. I was going to say I was fine, but I didnt. Thedy gave us generous side dishes and meals with a wistful look in her eyes. Hyung, look at this. What is it? Dad sent it. It was an MMS message from Jung-hyuns father. In front of a banner that read Congrattions! Kim Jung-hyuns first broadcast after joining New ck!, elders and men were cheering and shouting fighting! in a photo. Why do I feel like my empathy level is dropping? But the person in question looked satisfied, smiling and stroking his chin. Hyung, I feel like that. Like Im wearing a gold ne and going into exile. Its a flower ne and a homing, Jung-hyun. If Ri-hyuk heard you, he would have said something, man. Our rapperughed peacefully. Then he pointed at the restaurant door and said. They say the tigeres when you talk about it. The kids are here. The door opened with a ng. It was as if Ji-ho was saying Ji-ho is here! with his whole body. The youngest, who was whining about something, and the main vocal, who was rubbing his ears and showing his displeasure, came in. I asked Ri-hyuk, who sat down. Whats wrong with him again? I dont know. I dont care. He just says hes unhappy. Woojoo hyung, tell Ri-hyuk hyung something. Im telling him I had a hard time, but he doesnt even pretend to listen. I cant hear you. I cant hear you. You ordered bulgogi for me, right? But my interest was elsewhere. The word hard time made the hyungs faces grim in an instant. What? Who messed with our kid? When I looked at him with that eye, the youngest said. The kids The kids? They keep teasing me about my runny nose! Oh, what? As soon as he got to school, he was bombarded with all kinds of teasing he had been waiting for over the weekend. The youngest, who was sociable, was friends with almost everyone in the school. That meant there were hundreds of people who teased him. What? It was nothing. I smiled it off and thanked for the hot bulgogi set and the generous side dishes. Something was weird? I felt a different sense of difort than usual. A feeling of misalignment. The puzzle pieces were all in ce, but there was a sense of distortion somewhere. I didnt need to worry about what it was. There were five of us, but one audio was missing since earlier. Jung-hyun was talking, Ri-hyuk was talking, Ji-ho was talking, but one person was silent today. Whats wrong with Bi-ju? He usually smiled and chimed in with the kids stories, or stroked Ji-hos head. He didnt say anything. He didnt react even when the food came out. His eyes were looking at the food, but they were out of focus. He seemed to be thinking about something else. But where did I see that expression on his face? I imitated the expression that came to my mind on his refined face, and I remembered it right away. Oh! Chapter 38: Chapter 38: Chapter 38 That was the moment. A week ago, on the way back from Gangwon-do, his face looked exactly like that. He plugged in his earphones that didnt y any music and stared out the window gloomily, lost in his own thoughts. I didnt think much of it then. He soon returned to his usual calm expression. But now it seemed different. His face looked much more serious than before. What was wrong with him? As I pondered, I caught a glimpse of Ji-ho and Ri-hyuks uniforms. Blue jackets and red ties. The famous high school uniforms that many idols attended. They looked slightly disheveled today, unlike usual. Well, I could understand Ji-hos uniform. He was always running around like a puppy. He came home with dirt on him every day. But Ri-hyuks uniform looked simr to Ji-hos today. Why am I talking about this? Its because our main dancer would wake up early and iron their uniforms every time they went to school. Bi-ju didnt iron them today. I thought I missed it because I woke upte, but I guess not. Not only the youngest, but also the quiet Ri-hyuk had wrinkled uniforms. As I thought that far, I noticed some strange things. Bi-jus recent odd behavior. He was fine when everyone was around, but when he had some time alone, he would space out. Like someone who had something on his mind. What should I do with him? If it was someone else, I would just go and wrap my arm around his neck and joke, Do you have any worries? Do you want me to give you some advice? But he seemed awkward for that. He had a nice personality, but not an easygoing vibe. He had an aura that made me feel like I shouldnt be careless. And the reason was that I couldnt follow his emotions. For almost five months, fromst December to now, I watched them and figured out their characters. Especially Jung-hyun, Ri-hyuk, and Ji-ho. They were easy to understand. But I still didnt know what kind of person Bi-ju was. He seemed to have a lot of thoughts in that small head, but he never said anything. Hey, what are you doing? Arent you eating? Ri-hyuk, who was sitting across from me, looked at me. I came to my senses and saw that everyone was eating. Bi-ju had returned to his normal expression, as if he never had that face. Heughed and yed along with Ji-hos tantrums, andforted him. Was it my imagination? He looked so fine that I wondered if I had seen something wrong, but it wasnt. No one noticed it right now, but Bi-ju was holding his chopsticks upside down and eating. He was the one who always organized the fridge in order. He wasnt normal. Well. Anyway, lets eat first. We have somewhere to go today. It was also the day to decide the direction of our work. But when I looked at the meat, there was less than usual. It had been 1.5 times more since we went to the music cafe. I didnt need to look for the culprit. The sauce that fell from the bulgogi te was like ants chasing sugar, gradually heading to one ce. Ji-ho, who met my eyes, flinched with his cheeks full of food. Then he defended himself confidently. Im still in my growth period, hyung. Ouch! I grabbed his cheek like cheese. **** After finishing our meal, we picked up an ice cream each from the convenience store and walked along the alley, watching the sunset. Hyung, are you not angry anymore? A little. Not a little, butpletely. Unlike the younger ones who held a bar each, I had an expensive Haagen-Dazs bar in my hand. I enjoyed the crunchy feeling of hazelnut. As I seemed to feel better, the youngest quickly stuck to me like an excited puppy and chattered. I was really tired. They teased me all day long because I kept smiling. Then dont smile. Youre a celebrity now, bro. You have to manage your image. He makes a mature expression with his flushed face, which makes meugh. If hes going to say that, he should at least take out the Chupa Chups hes holding in his hand. And I hate it when Gil Chaekyung acts friendly but subtly disses me, you know how cunning she is Gil Chaekyung? Its a name I havent heard in a long time. The day we went to work at Hwai Entertainment, the youngest member of Girls On Top who tantly ignored us. She was the girl group member who became my mortal enemy after she rejected Ji-hos confession in elementary school, saying he was ugly. Youre in the same school as her again? Now were in the same ss as vocal majors. Anyway, she led the teasing by posting screenshots in the ss chat room since Friday morning. If you were in the same school in middle school, and now youre in the same ss, its almost like youre destined to get married. Bro, are you crazy? Ji-ho shakes his head vigorously. I dont even want to imagine it. Id rather have dirt in my eyes than that. You have to do it if you have dirt in your eyes. Jung-hyun, who was quietly listening to my words, put down his red bean ice cream. Then he asked seriously. Ji-ho, what if she has a hundred billion in assets? Would you do it then? What are you talking about, bro? My dad has a hundred billion too. What about a trillion? Ri-hyuk threw his ice cream stick into the street trash can and joined in. Jung-hyun bro. If you had a trillion in assets, would you marry someone like Wang Ji-ho? Id rather go for that guy over there. With Woojoo bro? Well, he doesnt do any housework, but at least he has a good visual. It would be fun to look at his face. Thats true, I agree. I nodded my head as I listened. Okay, Jung-hyun. Ill go for a trillion. We made a fuss like high school students who were talking nonsense. The youngests eyes turned into triangles. We cheered up the youngest who was tormented. Do you hate being teased? I should be the one teasing others, not being teased by them. You have a rotten mind from the root. I admire you. I patted the youngests shoulder and said. And then I realized something again. The audio is missing again. I turned my head and saw Bi-ju walking alone in a distant ce. His eyes were far away in the sky. He was looking at the evening sky that had turned red. I thought his brown hair looked like gold in the sunset. Ri-hyuk came to my side and asked. Why is he like that since earlier? He even picked up the chopsticks the wrong way. Did you see that too? Of course I did. I wanted to point it out, but he seemed to be in a bad mood. Me too. Bi-ju bro was totally weird today. He even tore my uniform Ouch! I felt like I was going to get addicted to the feel of his cheeks. They were so soft that they stretched like rice cakes when I pulled them. Grow up, will you? Is Bi-ju your mother? Ri-hyuk tilted his head at my words. Didnt Bi-ju bro do yourundry for you a few days ago? You pretended to sleep on the sofa after the work was done because you were tired. I dont remember that. Really? I always feel sorry for Bi-ju. Thats why I work hard on the work. I ignored the eyes of the older brothers who were scolding me and changed the subject. Jung-hyun. Yes? Dont you know anything? You and Bi-ju are the closest. Ah. But Jung-hyuns reaction was strange. He looked like aputer. It was as if a [loading] message and a gauge showing how many percent it had progressed would appear on his face. Well, you know. Everyone has some problems they cant tell anyone. At his sudden words, Ji-ho, Ri-hyuk, and I exchanged nces. Is he sick? No. Its not that. Then what is it? Um One thing I know for sure. I will never tell Jung-hyun about any secrets I might have in the future. How can he be so bad at hiding his expressions? Uh Lets just stop here, hyung. It seems like its none of our business, judging by your reaction. Why? Im curious. The youngest, who had no sense of the situation, nced at Ri-hyuk, who looked at me as if asking for my opinion. I nodded. Well, lets save that forter. Only then did Jung-hyun visibly rx. He was like a hard granite a moment ago, but now hes like a soft stic lump. Lets focus on the work first. Thats urgent. Oh, I forgot about that. Ri-hyuk asked. So whats the method youre going to use on us today? **** The New ck studio on the second floor of thepany. We had only received the studio a few weeks ago, but thanks to our teams housewifes interior design, it had changed neatly. There were toothbrushes and other living supplies. The cabs were neatly organized. It was a very modern feelpared to the Scarlet studio next door. They had a pink sofa with leopard print cushions. Standing in front of the sofa, Ri-hyuk asked me and Jung-hyun. So what are we doing now? Its nothing special. Jung-hyun answered for me. Were going to y some music for you. Just listen. You dont have to do anything special, just sit still and listen. So how long is it? Hyung, how many songs do we have? I clicked on the folder icon on theptop screen. And I calcted the time based on an average of three minutes per song. Well, not much. About five hours. Wait, what? Five hours? I smiled at the youngest, who was eyeing the entrance. I used the evil smile I learned from our manager. I locked the door with a bang. Any more questions? Iughed as I saw my brothers close their eyes and resign themselves to their fate. I knew it. *** The premise of the experiment that Jung-hyun and I were doing was simple. The musical color that we liked the most would be our color and our identity as a group. I thought that while watching the music cafe. Just like the expressions of my brothers watching Between, we would have music that we unconsciously liked and disliked. So I thought that if there was a musical color that we all liked, that would be our groups identity. Of course, everyones tastes would be different. But if we looked for the music that we all liked and wanted to do, there would surely be an intersection. If you pass light through a prism, it splits into different colors depending on the wavelength. If you think of light as a genre of music, then if you look closely, there will be a song that can contain all of our colors. This is the process of passing light through a prism. The differences between us are not a problem at all. As long as we know the musical foundation, the rest is easy. For example, if Jung-hyun likes hip-hop, we can make a song with Jung-hyun as the center under the overall direction. We just need to add hip-hop elements to the music that we like and want to do. Thats why Jung-hyun and I searched the Billboard charts and various music sites in our country and selected the music. About 300 songs, roughly by genre, mood, and emotion. It was also a hassle to ssify them, so we asked for advice from the A&R team. They were skeptical about why we were doing this, but well. Theres no harm in trying. Lets start now. We set up a camera and sat together on the sofa. And we yed the music. One song, two songs, three songs. The songs continued, and we skipped the ones that didnt get any reaction from the intro. Most of them were heavy metal songs that made wooo noises. I had expected it to take five hours, but we had to take breaks every two hours because Ji-hoined of hearing hallucinations. I dont know how long it took. We finished the experiment and copsed on the sofa with exhausted bodies. Do you really think this will work? Well have to find out. I heard the damp voice of Ri-hyuk, who had sunk like a wet cotton, and I also lifted my heavy body. Then I asked Bi-ju, who was lying next to me. Are you okay? Yes, Im fineee I didnt ask you, but Im not okay, hyung. I felt sorry as I looked at the younger ones who had be ragged. It seemed like a good idea before I thought about it, but now that I did it, I felt like a fool. Should I have just discussed the musical color with them? Im sorry, guys. I said that and sat down at the studio table. Jung-hyun came rolling his chair while chewing a banana. Shall we monitor it now? Youre going to help me, right? Dont mumble your answer while eating a banana. Ugh, why is my throat so dry? He drank some water and looked at the sofa where the others were lying and then at me, and came to me with resignation. y it, hyung. Thats when the analysis work began. At first, Jung-hyun and I sat at the table and quickly flipped through the videos, checking O, X, and so on. This one is liked by four of us, but one doesnt like it. This one is liked by two of us, but three dont like it. As we made a checklist like that, we noticed something strange. Hey, this It works? Songs that all five of us preferred and liked. As those songs appeared one by one, we saw some patterns. The emotions, atmosphere, and narrative that those songs shared. Ourmon theme of preference was love. Not limited to the love between men and women that kills each other, but a broad sense of humanity. Not a concept that is bound by gender, but the affection between parents and children, friends and friends. Our favorite atmosphere was warmth. Even Ri-hyuk, who seemed to prefer a cold atmosphere, liked a warm one. Not just a refreshing song, but the tone of the song. A song that looks at people from a warm perspective was our taste. A warm song with a broad theme of love. Finally, our favorite emotion was joy. There was no limit to this. We liked both the lively joy of dancing and the calm joy. I think its starting to take shape. Dont you see it? Yes, I do. Jung-hyun and Ibined the Untitled we had worked on and the results we had analyzed in our heads. Our goal was a refreshing summer atmosphere. The musical direction we wanted to do was a warm and joyful song with a broad theme of love. I could roughly picture it. Five boys who had fun all day, and at night, they lit a bonfire on the beach and sang and chatted happily. I imagined the atmosphere of Jules Vernes <15 Boys Adrift>. Then the pieces clicked in my head. It was perfectly conceived, as if it had been blocked before. I couldnt even imagine standing on stage with this before. Now I could even draw the audiences expressions. Jung-hyun, look at this. I quickly pulled out an A4 paper and turned on theposing program. As I did, I drew shapes and exined excitedly. Move this part back a little, and move this one forward. The chorus goes a little longer than now. Oh. Then its perfect, right? After thinking for 10 minutes, Jung-hyun and I looked at the paper as if it was a treasure. Did we do it? It seems like we did it? It seems like we did. We opened our eyes in a daze. Then we looked at each others faces and smiled. I felt a surge of affection for Jung-hyun, who was in front of me. About 0.3 Kim Deoksoons worth. Everything seemed beautiful now that our worries were gone. It was a moment of joy for Jung-hyun and me. Whats going on? Are you done? We turned around and saw Bi-ju rubbing his eyes behind us. Ri-hyuk and Ji-ho also came over, blinking like goldfish that had just woken up. Jung-hyun and I excitedly exined what had happened. We told them how we had struggled, what had blocked us, and how we had solved it. They looked confused, as if they couldnt understand our rambling. Thats when I decided to exin the experiment from the beginning, step by step. And their expressions gradually changed to something strange. Whats wrong with them? As I wondered, Ri-hyuk burst into a shakyugh. Guys, you know what? You didnt have to do all this. You could have just asked each other for your favorite music lists andpared them. Huh? Isnt that an easier way to findmon ground? Jung-hyun and I looked at each other. Oh, right. Yeah, youre right. Ri-hyuks face twisted like a demon. Oh, right? You guys are unbelievable! Our happiness of finding a title for Untitled was short-lived. That day, Jung-hyun and I got scolded by our siblings for almost an hour. Chapter 39: Chapter 39: Chapter 39 I sent my siblings back to their dorm and stayed in the studio. It was to finish the remaining work. Im the type who has to go all out once I get inspired, so I cant sleep if I end it like this. Just like the day I prepared the arrangement for the year-end evaluation, I stayed alone and devoted myself to the work. I roughly grasped our musical tendencies. I turned on theptops notepad and wrote them down. -Theme: Love (general) -Mood: Warmth -Emotion: Joy -Current songs concept: Refreshing summer season song I wrote down the facts I already knew and wondered what I missed. -Message I want to convey to the fans: ??? The most important listener for an idol is the fan. Unlike popr music like Something, the biggest consumer of idol music is the fandom. Fans are the reason why idols exist. Then, what message should I convey to our fans who are registered in the fan cafe now, and those who will be our fans in the future? I tapped the keyboard as I thought for a moment. -Invitation(?) Idols and fans are in a rtionship that shares the same dream. So I invited them to the dream we have I pressed the backspace to erase what I wrote. Its too burdensome. This song is our first meeting with the fans. This message is too heavy. Its like going on a blind date and the other person suddenly says, Mr./Ms. Who, wont you dream of the future with me? Burden spoils the fun. If you meet someone whos too pushy on a blind date, the pasta will go in through your nose and out through your mouth. Lets go lightly. Instead of keeping the meaning of inviting them to join us, I changed the content from dreaming the same dream, which is burdensome, to having fun together. Come here and lets have fun together, that kind of message. When I thought about it, it matched well with the refreshing concept of summer and the image of the sea. Lets summarize. In a warm atmosphere where weugh and chat together, we meet strangers and have fun, and friendship sprouts among the people we met at the travel destination. Then, the y would be the main material. What would be a good title to symbolize the y? What do you do when you go to the beach? The thought that flowed like water stopped. An unexpected setback, shall I say. When was thest time I went to the sea and yed? I think it was thest time I went to the sea in front of Gunsan for a field trip in the second grade of elementary school. After that, I moved to Seoul and continued my trainee life, and I only practiced on my days off. Of course, Ive been to the sea a lot. There was a sea 30 minutes away from home, and I had a lot of opportunities to go to the sea during my trainee days. I also got a lot of suggestions to go to the sea together on vacation. Thetter was obviously a dubious purpose, so I refused. That aside, its a bit shocking. What have I been doing until now? I dont even know what to do at the sea. Keywords like grilled ms and swimming came to mind, but that was only what I heard from others, not my experience. I shook my head as I thought about posting a question on the inte, What do you do when you go to the sea? I wanted to put my own experience in the song I made. I think I used to y a lot at the beach when I was a kid. As I drank chocte milk and thought for a long time, I remembered a very faint memory. Was it when I was five? It was a memory like a very old and worn-out book. *** Fireworks? The next day, I told my siblings the title of the song. I want to make a song with the atmosphere of ying together at the beach, and I thought fireworks would be a good material to symbolize that. Besides, fireworks have various meanings, right? Like celebrating something new ormemorating something by shooting them. It also fits the meaning of our debut album. Youre making sense for once. Ri-hyuk expressed the best positive he could. If the most picky Ri-hyuk was okay, the other kids didnt need to ask. Jung-hyun stroked his chin and asked. How did youe up with the title? It seems fine. I remembered something from my childhood. It was a memory of being at some beach with my parents when I was about five years old. Strangely, I dont remember their faces, but the fireworks I saw then are vivid in my mind. A streak of fire that soared into the bright and sunny sky. The kids smiled oddly at my exnation. Why are they like that? Bi-ju said with a smile. I think its good. It suits the mood of the song. I was about to thank him when the youngest one chimed in. Hyung, are you going to use Korean for the song title? I thought about using English at first, but Firework doesnt sound very good. My grandmother finds English hard. She always calls Something Samssing, so how unfamiliar would Firework be? The siblings who were sitting on the sofa in the studio nodded. Especially Jung-hyun, who had lived in a vige with a lot of elderly people since he was young, seemed to sympathize. Thats how I finished exining the title I chose, and Ri-hyuk raised his hand as if he had a question. How are you going to write the lyrics? Oh, I didnt tell you that. Im going to leave it to you guys. What? I smiled kindly at the siblings who blinked in confusion. Its our song. I did theposing, so you guys should do the lyrics. Now its your turn to suffer. *** Time flew by without a trace. It was no exaggeration to say that a month of April melted away. Every time I came to my senses, a few days had passed. Every day was busy with preparations for our debut. There were also changes in our joint work. The siblings who had pulled their hair out for a few days and poured out their creativity came up with lyrics for their own parts. A few more days passed. The source that was once Untitled transformed into by [Composed / Woojoo], [Lyrics / New ck]. The recording work also went smoothly. Ji-ho, who had been scolded by our main vocal as if he was being directed, had tears in his eyes, but well. It was an experience that had already happened once, so it was smooth. When New ck Fireworks waspleted, we felt a sense of aplishment as we listened to it together. It was the same feeling as when we first heard the finished version of Something. I didnt expect it to turn out so well. Jung-hyun licked his tongue as if he was impressed. Hyung, sometimes I wonder if youre not an alien who came to help us. But this is too good to be a b-side track. Right. This could be a digital singleter. Thanks for thepliments, but lets not count our chickens before they hatch. We have to hear the opinions of the CEO and the A&R team first. But its good, so were saying its good. You know Im not very generous withpliments, right? I know very well. I turned my gaze to the youngest one, who was smiling brightly, as I responded to Ri-hyuks words. I wanted to hear something else, not just that the song was good. Maybe its not what I really wanted to hear. What was he imagining, smiling so innocently? Ji-ho, how do you feel? Do you think our color is alive? Um, I dont really know about color and stuff. I just feel good when I listen to this song. I didnt feel like this when I listened to Something, but this one makes me feel like Im really watching fireworks. Ji-ho continued. It feels like Im watching fireworks at the beach with you guys. I remember the hard times we had as trainees, and the times we went to the year-end evaluation and music shows after meeting Woojoo hyung. And what should I say? I think of the memories, but I also feel like a good future is ahead of us I finally rxed when Ji-ho caught exactly what I intended. I think I did a good job, but making a good song and making a song that fits the intention are different issues. Then, did I capture the color well? Bi-ju nodded and said. I like this song too, hyung. Yeah? It feels good. Its like a perfect fit for our body. I cant say it too soon, but when I listen to it, I feel like He trailed off and smiled. It feels like our song, so I like it. **** At the end of April. The conference room on the third floor of Lemon Entertainment was busy with a group of people. The ones who had more freedom in their dress code than other departments were the staff of the A&R team. Artist & Repertoire. It was one of the three most important departments in an idol agency, along with rookie development and management. It was in charge of overseeing all the work rted to the artists albums. They decided what kind of concept suited the singers, solicited orposed songs for them. Depending on thepany, the characteristics and tasks varied, but in the case of Lemon Entertainment, there were many professionalposers under the influence of the producer Jo Kyu-hwan. Thats why the topic of conversation naturally flowed to music. Did you hear the song that Woojoo wrote himself? He brought it today. I heard that even the director hasnt heard it yet. I only know the title. Fireworks. Fireworks? The staff tilted their heads. Isnt that toomon? There must be at least five songs with the same title that we know of. Well, its just a filler song anyway. It doesnt matter what the title is, as long as the song is a hit. Who would have thought that a song called Something would be sessful? Thats true. I was shocked too. They reminisced about the sess of Something. When they heard that a rookie boy group that wasunching in theirpany was working with Jang So-won, their reaction was Oh, really?. It was not their area of responsibility anyway, since the trainees were handled by the rookie development team. They thought positively that Jang So-won was a talented singer-songwriter, and if the song came out, it would be free publicity for them. And when they hadpletely forgotten about that news. Suddenly, a unprecedented song appeared that dominated the charts on all sites. I was really surprised then. I came to the office in the morning and the phone was ringing, the PR team people were running around like crazy. That day was Ji-hos graduation ceremony, and by chance, there was someone from Girls On Top there, so there were a lot of reporters. Director Yoon also ran to stop the kids from being interviewed. Well, the wholepany was in chaos then. Scarlet also reached the top of the music chart pretty quickly, but it took a year. Who would have expected that kids who havent debuted yet would have their names on the top of the music chart. They recalled that memory and one of them said. I hope he did a good job this time, since he took charge ofposing himself. Well, it would be nice if it went well, but its not a big deal if it doesnt. But shouldnt we have helped him? I heard that Jang So-won helped him a lot with Something. Im afraid the quality wont be good if he does it alone We can fix it for him, right? They nodded their heads at someones casual remark. They all knew about the sess of Something, but the overall expectation of the A&R team staff was very low. That was because of the purpose of giving Woojoo the task ofposing in the first ce. In a situation where more externalposers offered to give them songs after Something and Music Cafe, there was no need to waste one filler song on a beginners selfposed song. The reason was simple. Image making. They wanted to use theposer idol image to promote the debut album. Thats why they didnt care much about the song in the first ce. It was a business, regardless of their musical curiosity. Besides, the source that Woojoo used as a base, thats really hard. Is there anyone here who hasnt tried it? They shivered at the thought of the notorious source. It was a source that noposer in the A&R team could ignore. It looked easy on the surface, but everyone who tried it lost their soul. If you cut this, that pops out, and if you cut that, this pops out. They had no idea how to handle it, so they all gave up. Professionalposers all gave up and cried out, how well could an idol who just startedposing do? They nodded their heads as their thoughts reached that far. Yeah, its definitely going to be hard this time. Lets just cheer him up a lot. Hes done a lot for us, thepany and us. We ate a lot of meat thanks to him, right? Hes a good kid. He knows how to take care of people. Every time Something set a new record, Woojoo treated the staff of Lemon Entertainment to a dinner. He also gave them small gifts. The staff liked and cared for the leader of New ck for that reason. Thats why the A&R team staff prepared in advance what kind of words or reactions they would have. So that Woojoo wouldnt get hurt, or lose his confidence. The director and the team leader areing. At the youngest staffs words, they all stopped talking and organized the documents on their desks. Soon, the producer Jo Kyu-hwan, the A&R team leader, and the New ck manager Yoon Seok-hwan came in through the door. Behind them, the New ck members followed like chicks. Hello! The staff greeted the energetic members with a warm smile. They only exchanged greetings for a moment. Before starting the meeting, there was a time for Woojoo to present the results of his work so far. So thats why we chose that title. We targeted our fans or potential fans as the main listeners of the song. We focused on creating a cheerful atmosphere, and we decided on the deep house genre But after making it, it felt a bit tropical, so the boundary is vague. Woojoo smiled and nodded his head. We know its not perfect, but we hope youll like it since its our first work. Of course. Well like it. Thats what they thought as they exchanged nces with the A&R team members. Even if they were disappointed, they agreed not to show it in front of them. Soon, the song started ying from the speakers. Huh? They tilted their heads when they heard the intro. The beginning was good. The rhythm was unique. It was like the stars in the night sky were twinkling in the beat. And a joyful melody adorned it. They didnt need to describe the background to imagine a clear night sky. Not bad. Theres not much to fix. They enjoyed the flowing intro with satisfaction. It seemed like there was not much to touch on the song. They were happy for a moment, thinking that their work was reduced. Their eyes changed when Kim Jung-hyuns rap came in. Jung-hyun is good at rapping. He definitely has talent for rap making. The rappers voice flowed under the upbeat melody. His voice was strong, so it sounded clear even without much effort. They exchanged looks. But until then, they just thought that Jung-hyun was good at making raps, and didnt think much of it. The problem started from then on. From the part where Bi-jus voice was heard to the part where Ri-hyuk sang. The rhythm and melody that were gradually rising changed explosively at the chorus. Like fireworks. Instead of mes, a refreshing melody soaked their ears. Did he make this? They were amazed not because of the quality of the song. To be honest, they studied every day listening to foreign or domestic hits, so they wouldnt be surprised by this level of song. They were surprised not by the quality of the song, but by the color. The strength of this song was the harmony with the members. The musical color, if you will. Anyone who heard it would say, Oh, this is their song. The members personalities stood out while blending well. Like the group name New ck, different colors came together to form a beautiful ck. No matter how good a song is, its not a good song if it doesnt suit the singer. Even if a big agency has a lot of money, its hard to seed if they cant give the singer a suitable concept. On the other hand, even if a small agency has little money, they can seed if they give the singer a good song that fits them. Thats why they say that idols are a fight between A&R and nning. In that sense, Fireworks was more than passing in terms of nning, not just pure musical aspects. The A&R team members minds were tangled. They thought it would be mediocre, so they prepared reactions and feedback, but they didnt expect the song to be this good. What should we do with this? They felt a dilemma while admiring the good song. It was like trying to cast an extra actor in a movie that had already finished casting the main and supporting roles, but suddenly a more suitable actor for the lead role appeared. When the song finally ended, silence filled the room. Chapter 40: Chapter 40: Chapter 40 After the song ended. I experienced a strange silence that I had never felt before. Why are they acting like that? I looked at the faces of the A&R staff. There were engineers who tuned the sound,posers, and other staff who handled various tasks. People with different personalities. But the expressions on their faces were all the same. They were like that since the song started. They looked as if they had seen something iprehensible. I wanted to copy their expressions using my mimicry ability right away. Then I would know what kind of emotion they were showing. The only emotion I could read in this situation was the confusion of my siblings. I opened my lips with a stifled feeling. How was it? Huh? The staff blinked their eyes at my words. Uh, I mean This is But they all stopped talking. Was this not what they expected? As the staff narrowed their eyes as if they were thinking of a proper reaction, our producer opened his lips. Well done. It was Director Jo who was sitting in the upper seat. You did much better than I expected. Well, it needs some editing, but its really good for your firstposition. I think its good enough to be included in the debut album. Oh, thank you. Ill give you feedback on the songter. Its not appropriate to do it here. I also need to hear the opinions of our team members. Director Jos gaze turned to the A&R team leader who was sitting next to him. There was a silent exchange of nces between the two men. The team leader nodded, and our producer opened his lips. Okay, then It sounded casual, but I felt something in it. You worked hard, and New ck can go ahead. Were going to have a meeting now, and I think there will be some sensitive talk. *** As the New ck members left with anxious faces, the meeting room was silent again. It was natural that Seon Woojoo couldnt read the atmosphere. It contained both positive and negative aspects. On the positive side, the song was great. Working on album production, they had to evaluate and review the songs sent byposers every day. That way, they naturally learned which songs were good, and which ones suited the singers better than anyone else. Fireworks was a gem in their eyes. The song was written thoroughly with the intention of easy listening, as Woojus goal was to attract potential fans. It was a pleasant song that was easy on the ears. And the Chorus was addictive. It was an excellent Joice to rewrite the original sourcepletely, rather than trying to preserve it as much as possible. If he had tried to keep it as it was, Seon Woojoo would have failed just like the seniorposers. But he wrote apletely different melody with it, like a skilled chef. Like dried peppers in pasta, the original source was so mushy that it was hard to recognize. But the addictive vor remained. Even now, some of them wanted to listen to it again, remembering the Chorus melody that lingered in their ears. Easy listening with strong addiction. Could there be a better song for a summer season song? Of course, the sloppy tuning, the inappropriate use of instruments, and the somewhat cheesy bridge part needed to be fixed right away, but the skeleton itself was very good. And that was the problem. The reason why they feltplicated emotions was because the song that Seon Woojoo made was too good. Good is good. The problem was that it was so good that the n was messed up. The A&R team had an internal nning meeting on what kind of album to make from the day New ck was Josen to perform with Jang So-won on a music show. So they had a rough idea. The documents they put on the table were all about that. Everything was decided from the beginning. The reason why Director Jo and the A&R team decided to let Wooju write his own song was mostly for business reasons. My goal was to give Seon Woojoo someposing practice, but that wasnt the main purpose. The agency was a ce to make money, after all. What were the chances of a noviceposer who just startedposing to make a good song? They had zero expectations from the start. All they needed was the image of aposer idol to promote their debut album after Something. So they were generous and said it didnt matter how the song turned out. Honestly, not many people would listen to the B-side tracks anyway, and they nned to outsource the title track to a famousposer. That is, unless Seon Woojoo brought this Fireworks as his own song. The song is too good for no reason. What I expected was a song that would make the listeners say Well, its not bad at best. A smooth song that would fit the album. But the Fireworks he brought now was not only good, but also matched New cks color perfectly. And it was intense. It was the worst condition for a B-side track. You cant cast an actor who is more handsome than the lead actor as an extra. So there were three options.
    1. Release it as a separate digital single.
    1. Keep it as a B-side track.
    1. Scrap the current n and restructure the album.
The A&R staffs hearts were leaning towards the first option. They didnt want to ruin the n they had worked on for almost two months. But if they did that, the promotion n to use theposer idol image would be distorted. And the second option was too risky. The fans who listened to the album would say Are they crazy? Why dont they push this as the title track and push something else? When everyone was silent and lost in thought, the A&R team leader sighed. He came with a B-side track, but he made a title track. At that,ughter erupted here and there. Everyone felt the same way. The first one to open his lips was Manager Yoon Seok-hwan. First of all, I think the song quality is good and it suits the kids color well, but I think it would be better for the A&R staff to decide on the fate of the song, considering how hard they worked on the album nning for the past few months. Were also, well, in a tricky situation right now The A&R team leader turned his eyes to Director Jo. It would be best if Director Jo made the final decision. He always made the right decisions in the past. Everyone nodded at that. At Lemon Entertainment, Jo Gyu-hwan always made the best Joices in the maJor decisions that determined sess or failure. Then what would he decide this time? Everyones eyes were on the producer who was sitting cross-legged and immersed in thought. For five minutes. Finally, Director Jo straightened his posture. Well The producers eyesnded on the nning document on the table. He flipped the paper over without hesitation, as if he had made up his mind. I think we need to go for a full review. *** A week had passed since he presented the song at the A&R meeting, but there was no news from thepany. Director Jo Gyu-hwan, who said he would give feedback, was silent. He thought about going to the A&R team and asking, but they seemed to be busy with meetingstely. He casually asked Seok-hwan hyung, but he wouldnt tell him what the secret was. And Min-ki hyung Thank you, Ill enJoy it! He was smiling brightly as he received a snack gift from Jang So-won sunbae. That hyung. He should have been Sugarfishs manager, not ours. This ce was the waiting room. Todays recording schedule was . Midnight Music was a program that aimed to be a music festival for all generations, airing every Sunday night. The music spectrum was diverse, so both trot singers and idols appeared without discrimination, and it was one of the PBSs gship programs that had been going on for a long time. This recording was also a result of Music Cafe. A PD in charge liked Between and requested our appearance. He heard that the Music Cafe PD and Ha SeungJoo sunbae strongly rmended us. It was supposed to be a recording schedule that was set earlier than the original one, but somehow it got pushed back to now. Well. It was a bit of an awkward time toe out, but I felt good to be at the broadcasting station after a long time. Of course, my head was still upied by the song. As I leaned on the sofa nkly, I saw the cozy desserts wrapped in vinyl flying around in front of me. Hyung, look at this. Its souffl. Souffl~ Yeah. Its souffl, you know. It looks delicious. Whats wrong with you? Why no reaction? Souffl why? The youngest, who was teasing me excitedly, turned to look at Rihyuk, who had poked him in the ribs. Leave him alone, hes been in a bad moodtely. Ah. At that, Jihoo closed his mouth as if he understood. He stayed like that for a while, with his shoulders drooping like a puppy, while Jang So-won, who was chatting with Minki hyung, asked. Why is our maknae so low on energy? Well, sunbae-nim. Lately, Woojoo hyung doesnt react even when I tease him, so its no fun. Teasing him with souffl was the Joy of my life Why is the leader in a bad mood? Im fine, sunbae-nim. I smiled at her, who tilted her head. Theyre just teasing me. Wow, look at him smile. He never smiles like that to us. Look at that shameless face! Ji-ho pointed his finger at me, as if to say, and Jung-hyun said, munching on bread. I cant remember thest time Woojoo hyung smiled at me. Hey, Kim Jung-hyun, you too I cant lie, you know. Hyung. Thats true. But was my expression really that badtely? I looked around and there was no one who said otherwise. I felt embarrassed. I said I was going to get a drink and left the waiting room. Ill go with you. I walked down the hallway with our teams main dancer, who smiled brightly, and I asked him. Was my expression badtely? Theyre just joking, you know. It seemed half-serious to me. Um Actually, you did look a bit stressed after you startedposing. Im not saying anything bad about you. Its normal, you know. When youre tired, you get annoyed and angry and stuff. It sounds like I did something really wrong when you say that. I guess it was pretty bad if he said that to me. I felt a lot of pressure after I got the studio. I had to show some results, since I got this somehow. I was stressed out by myself, even though no one expected anything from me. Thanks to that, I came up with a good song, but I was only focused on that. Dont take it too seriously. Theyre saying that half-jokingly, and half-worriedly. About me? You were stuck in the studio every day. Your eyes were sunken, and your cheeks were thin. You might say you werent that bad, but you were. It was worrying to see you like that. So when the song work was done, we were all happy. Of course, the song was good, but it also meant that you were back to normal. Thats what I should have done, but I guess Ive been acting sensitive since the A&R meeting. Bi-ju said with a smile. Theyve been asking me to talk to you for a few days. What did they say? They said its okay to rx a little. What does that mean? We want to go up too, just like you. But youve done enough, you know. I told you before at the music cafe, we wouldnt have gotten this far without you. We havent even debuted yet, and this is more than enough. So please, take it easy, and dont feel too burdened. Its okay to be rxed sometimes. Bi-ju added with a smile. And if possible, have some fun with us too. I felt grateful to him, who lightened the mood with a Joke. And to the others, who wanted to say the same thing behind him. Come to think of it, Ive been too absorbed in my own thoughtstely. I pushed them too hard, thinking that they had to do well. I shouldnt have cursed at those extreme parents on TV. Whenever I saw those news, Ri-hyuk would look at me with a lot of things to say. Thank you. No problem. Oh, Bi-ju is here. Ill have this drink. Okay. We pressed the buttons on the vending machine. Jang So-won Jose ck coffee, Ji-ho picked soda, and Jung Hyun got a pine drink. Bi-ju held the drink can in his hand and smiled. They sell this at the broadcasting station too. Ive been looking for this, but I could only find it at the hospital vending machine. Hospital? What hospital? Bi-ju flinched for a moment. Huh? Hospital? You just said hospital. Oh, I had to go to the hospital briefly the other day. He seemed to be fumbling with his words, but I decided not to ask further. I didnt want to ruin the good mood. I thought I had to smile and greet the members when I went back to the waiting room. As soon as I opened the door, I felt a frantic atmosphere. Hyung. Jung-hyun called me with a rare flushed face. Whats wrong, why are you like that? Its our song, Fireworks. Wait, what? They decided to make it the title song at thepany. *** Is that for real? I looked at my manager to check if he was telling the truth, and Yoon Seok-hwan smiled and handed me the phone as if to say, take it. Hello. -Hey, its me. Sorry for thete news. I heard Director Jos voice. -I just finished a meeting with the CEO. Director, is this really happening? Is my song going to be the title song? -Thats the conclusion they reached. They voted after gathering opinions from the A&R team, the management team, and the PR team. It was 47 to 3. The CEO and the head of the department also confirmed it after listening to the song themselves. -Are you listening? Yes, Im just feeling overwhelmed. I heard a faintugh from the other side of the phone. -I wanted to give you a heads-up, but I didnt want to disappoint you in case something changed. Anyway, you did a great Job, and congrattions. He said that the work wasnt over yet, and that there was a lot of editing left to do, but I didnt hear anything. My song was going to be the debut albums title song. I thought that someday I would sing this song at a concert or something. But I never imagined that I would stand on a music show stage with it as the title song. I felt so good that words couldnt describe it. I was already overjoyed when I got the studio, so this was beyond words. When the call finally ended, I flopped down on the sofa andughed. Bro! Congrattions! My excited siblings jumped on me. I could barely breathe under their weight, but I couldnt stop smiling. It felt like my chest was wide open and refreshed. *** Jo Gyu-hwan hung up the phone after hearing thest of the noisyughter from the other end. Was todays schedule the recording of the Midnight Music Show? Judging by the mood, he didnt have to worry about the stage quality. He smiled as he imagined the face of Seon Woojoo, who would beughing at the broadcasting station. Then he put his smartphone on the desk. As his long finger touched the screen, the prelude of Fireworks filled the office. Its good to listen to it over and over. Its addictive too. He closed his eyes and savored the melody. He didnt know if it would be a hit song that would top the charts or break records, but he was sure it would be a song that wouldst for a long time. It was addictive, but not easy to get tired of. Maybe it was because of the source he used as the basic base. He suddenly remembered the conversation he had with Seon Woojoo a while ago. -I have a question, why did you break and remake the original source in this song instead of applying it like other people? -Well, thats because it sounded weird when I listened to it. -Weird? -Yes. At first, everyone said it was strange, so I thought so too. I thought it would be great if I fixed it well. But the more I listened, the weirder it was. It might just be me, but. Wooju said cautiously. -Its like the final product thats already been fixed. It pretends to be a raw stone that hasnt been touched by human hands, but its not a stone. Someone tried to make a gem and failedpletely, and it looked like they carved it to look like a raw stone again. Whoever made that source, they were amazing. They didnt want it to look like a failed source, so they deliberately made it strange. - -Sir, whats wrong? Jo Gyu-hwan slowly opened his eyes and gave an awkward smile. Well. Everyone has a dark past. He looked at the documents on one side of his desk. A folder with photos and personal information of the New ck members. At the top, Seon Woojoos smiling face caught his eye. He tapped his face with his finger and smiled. Ill have to raise him well. He wondered. How far could this talented guy grow if he raised him well? He enjoyed his imagination and listened to the song. Chapter 41: Chapter 41: Chapter 41 Things Not to Miss That day, the recording of Midnight Concert went sessfully. Maybe it was because of the joy of having our song as the title track, but we naturally performed with more enthusiasm than usual. The audiences reaction was also good. After the recording, we receivedpliments from the PD, who said that our stage was great and that he hoped we would have another chance to perform. You did well, my kids. At thest farewell, So-won sunbae hugged us. She had moist eyes, even though we would meet again. Jang So-won, who looked like a big sister watching over her younger siblings, said something as if she remembered it right before we parted. By the way, Im going to be a DJ on HBS evening radio. Music Cafe was not only good for us. It also brought a good opportunity for the singer-songwriter who had been barely surviving with drama OSTs after her groups disbandment. It was a chance that So-won sunbae had finally found after years of hardship. The DJ position of the most popr gship program on HBS radio station. It was partly thanks to the sess of Something, but the radio station also decided that she was the right person after seeing how she skillfully took care of New ck, who were rookies in variety, and led the talk. When you debut, Ill nag the PD to put Fireworks on the ylist a lot. Ill also try to invite you as guests if you have time. Is that okay? Of course. Well go even if you dont invite us. His face was full of smiles as he waved goodbye and disappeared. That was how we wrapped up the happy time we had from February to May. Well, the person who was most regretful was obviously our road manager. Min-ki hyung waved his hand faintly, like someone waving a handkerchief to a spouse going to war. Everyone bit their lips and held back theirughter. *** Not long after, our debut date was confirmed. June 19th. It was as we had heard when we signed the trainee contract. The investors were impatient and asked when we would debut, so they set June 2014 as the target. We had about a month and a half left. We had to adjust our diet to lose weight, take Japanese and English lessons, go to the gym and get personal training, go to the salon and take care of our skin, and learn how to deal with variety shows. We were short on time. But no oneined about the schedule. Apart from the hardship, we knew that this was our only chance and we wouldnt have any time left. Most trainees just want to debut as soon as possible. They think that everything will be fine once they get on the air. We thought so too, before we started our activities. But we realized how wrong we were when we actually went out. When we performed on music shows, the day flew by in an instant, and even if we had events or schedules, the day flew by in an instant. We learned how foolish it was to think that we could practice during our activities. It was like the feeling of a working adult who knew how foolish it was for a job seeker to say, Well, I can get the certificate after I get a job. Thats why we devoted ourselves to practice with the determination not to miss this opportunity. And. I had one more thing to do. This is a song made by aposing group called OK Ranchst year. Listen to it and let me know what you think. We thought these people would match the color of the Fireworks song, so we were thinking of giving them an outsourced track this time. The A&R teams exclusive office was full of equipment that made my eyes sparkle. I was sitting there with the staff, making the debut album. Soon, the y button was pressed, and a cool melody tickled my ears. Just like Fireworks started with Junghyuns rap, this song also started with a cool rap. I wondered whose song it was, and it turned out to be Scarlets. Was this their second album track? The song that started with rapper Daisys voice ended and I parted my lips. This is a song from Scarlets second album. Was it Summer Nights? Oh, you know it? I listen to all the idol songs to study the trends. Um This song does seem to match the color of Fireworks. It has a nice summer vibe. Right? I added to the smiling staff. But, if I may say so carefully, if youre going to request a song, I hope its a different direction from Summer Nights. This one seems to perfectly match the color of Fireworks. The track might be overshadowed by the title. I hope its a song with a slightly different atmosphere. I recalled and said. Theres a song called A Midsummer Nights Dream in the third album of Teen Spirit. Its a future house genre with a dreamy feel, and it was alsoposed by OK Ranch. I think a different vibe with the theme of summer night would be nice too. A Midsummer Nights Dream, was there such a song? Most of the staff seemed to be unaware of it. Some of them found the song on a music site and nodded after listening to it for a while. This sounds good too. Well, we did ask for a different direction from Summer Nights, since it had the same color as ours. You really know a lot of songs. Did you listen to this one for research? I originally wanted to pursue a career in A&R. I was preparing for the music college entrance exam. The staff burst intoughter at that. It sounded familiar to me. It was simr to theugh I had when I met the kid at the bus stop during my vacation. He had said he wanted to be a soldier after seeing me in uniform. One of the staff wiped away the tears fromughing and asked. How do you feel about doing it yourself? It feels new every day. I like working on music, but I also realize that its not easy to earn someone elses money. The staff smiled sympathetically. I couldnt tell if they wereughing or crying. One thing for sure was, if I had to choose a dream again, I wouldnt go for A&R. The PR team, the management, the A&R, this damn entertainment industry grinds people for work. I knew how hard it was for the PR and management from seeing the managers and the PR team regrly. Thats why I had a utopian image of A&R as rtively rxed, but it turned out to be a hell of a job. First of all, there was no need to mention the workload. From song selection, nning,posing, album design, and so on, there was no boundary to the work, so whenever I asked, Do we have to do this too? the answer was Of course. And above all, if the album flopped, they were the first ones to be med by other departments, saying They made it wrong! So the stress was not trivial either. The staff I saw looked more like office workers suffering from performance stress than free musicians. Im sorry. You already had a tight schedule, and then the album concept changed suddenly, so you had more work to do. Thats right, you should have made a decent song. Yeah. You made a filler song for a long time, and then you made a title song? The staff joked and teased me. I offered to buy them ate-night snack. The reaction was sessful. We sat around the lounge on the fourth floor and spread out the food. One of the staff asked, breaking off a chopstick. By the way, you said youre off tomorrow. Do you have anything nned with the others? No. We decided to do our own thing. We thought about hanging out together, but Ri-hyuk said we see each other every day, so why do we have to see each other on our day off too. They allughed, saying that was typical of Ri-hyuk. Tomorrow was Buddhas birthday. It was the first official holiday for New ck. No lessons, no work, a perfect day off. Just thinking about it made my heart flutter. I should go to the dormter, wash my hair and go to bed right away. It would be the best day ever if I fell asleep watching a movie. Thats when it happened. Woojoo, didnt you say the kids were at the dorm? Uh, yes. I think I just saw Bi-ju. What? No way I said, but Bi-ju was walking on the other side of the ss window. The hallway beyond the ss. Bi-ju looked serious, staring at the floor. He didnt seem to notice us looking at him from behind the ss window of the lounge. Soon, he knocked on the door with a grave expression. Isnt this the directors office? The staff murmured. Then they asked me. Whats going on? Woojoo, do you know anything? No, I have no idea. I would have pretended not to know even if I did, but in this case I really didnt. Whats wrong with Bi-ju? The first time he acted weird was a month ago. I tried to find out what was wrong, but I stopped. He came back to normal, so I thought, oh, I dont know what it was, but its solved. But it seems that wasnt the case. I suddenly thought of something. He got better the day after Jung-hyun asked him what was wrong. It makes sense if I think he heard the story from Jung-hyun and pretended not to show it. Ive been too careless. As the group leader, I should have checked on the condition and thoughts of my brothers every day. I think I was too absorbed inposing and ying. Rather, I only heard from Bi-ju that the others were worried. Actually, when you think about it, isnt our members more important than any career like practice orposing? I nced at the office door beyond the ss window. There was no way to know what they were talking about, since the door was closed and the window was blocked by ss. I couldnt help but think of the worst possibilities. I waited for Bi-ju toe out and tried to find a good timing to talk to him, but he didnt show up until I left the break room. *** What are you thinking about so hard? Bi-ju. Thats too much, really. You have such a cute little brother next to you, and youre thinking of someone else? Stop being gross. I pushed the youngests face away with my palm. The people passing by looked at us with envy and smiled. This was aplex shopping mall in Sinchon. It was when I was running the music cafe main room. I came here because of a promise I made to the youngest, who used to diss the eldest for being a fashion terrorist. You dont even go out with me when I buy clothes for my sisters. And youre not even buying clothes for yourself, but for your brother. Why are you so sulky? You look like Ri-hyuk right now. You have a grumpy old man vibe. Hey, thats too much for Ri-hyuk. Lets say Jung-hyun. Jung-hyun doesnt make that face. As I followed him with bags full of clothes in both hands, Ji-ho chattered as if he was telling me what he had been holding back. I told you that you look good in warm brown tones, but you just ignored me. I carefully picked out clothes for you, but you only chose sweatpants. And when I looked for you, you were in the womens clothing store buying grandma clothes. And above all, who wears hiking boots with jeans? Thest sentence seemed to be the point. It was a holiday, so I washed the sneakers I usually wore and the only shoes left were hiking boots. Jung-hyuns feet were too big, and Bi-ju and Ri-hyuks were too small. I had no shoes that fit, so I wore a white tee, jeans, and hiking boots, but the youngest kept sneaking away and hanging his head as we walked. He asked me while we were looking for a shoe store. So, why did you bring up Bi-ju? He seems a bit weirdtely. Really? I dont see it. Isnt he the same as usual? Bi-ju came back to the dormtest night. When I asked him what was going on, he smiled and said it was nothing. He just had a meeting with the manager, he said, and I had nothing to say. It was awkward to ask him if something serious was going on, with a serious face. Oh, right. There was something suspicious. What was it? Bi-ju and Jung-hyun said they were going to y basketball together today. They did. But Jung-hyun always wears a ck top when he goes out to exercise with others. He says it makes him look strong like a burnt sweet potato. And? Today he wore blue. Isnt that weird? He wouldnt change his pattern all of a sudden, unless they were doing something other than exercising. I thought he was surprisingly sharp for a moment. Then the youngest asked me with a serious expression. Do you think theyre trying to eat something delicious without us? Youre a real Sherlock Holmes. Dont talk like Ri-hyuk. It hurts my feelings. But Ji-ho had a point. Come to think of it, Jung-hyun seemed to know something. He was flustered when I asked him before, and dodged the question. I tried to think of what it could be, but none of it made sense. I decided to end it today. We only had a month left until our debut. I didnt know what it was, but I had to find out today. I let it go until now, thinking it was his privacy, but if there was something that could affect our team activities, I had to know. Ill sit them down and talk to them when theye back. I felt a little better when I made up my mind. Anyway, lets have fun shopping since were here. I smiled and yfully put my arm around the youngests neck. Yeah. Lets not miss the small joys around us for now. *** We finished shopping and went out to the street. Maybe it was because of the warm weather in May. It felt like spring was pouring out from everywhere. The couples and young friends walking on the street seemed to have a spring scent. We walked cheerfully and looked for a ce to eat. You bought the clothes, so Ill buy the food. Tell me whatever you want to eat. I can afford expensive things too. I dont like expensive things. Then where do you want to go? How about that chicken ce over there? Hyung. Ji-ho turned pale. I ate chicken every time my dadspany tested new products. I feel like vomiting from the smell of oil. My second sister also broke up with her boyfriend because he liked chicken too much. Then chicken is out of the question. Just a sec. Ill ask my ssmates. Ji-ho opened his phone messenger. He was momentarily overwhelmed by the hundreds of friends on his list, but as soon as he wrote something in the group chat, replies came in an instant. He felt pleased. It was like watching a little brother who was popr in kindergarten. Theres a famous ce for ramen and katsu nearby. Theres also a homemade burger ce and a sushi restaurant. And theres a ce thats famous for meat rice bowls. And what? Why is Gil Chaekyung rmending a pufferfish ce? A pufferfish ce? That must be a ce where people die. Shes the type who would try to kill me if she had the chance. Thats interesting. You two talk to each other. We act friendly in front of each other. But we curse each other behind our backs. The youngest, who remembered his enemy, shook his head. He looked like he hated her a lot. I scolded the youngest, who was buried in his phone and sending replies. Ji-ho, youll fall if you look at your phone and walk on the street. Okay. Ji-ho answered with his head still on his phone. Stop looking at your phone. Im replying to Ri-hyuk hyung. Oh, really? What is he doing now? Hes looking at a robot vacuum cleaner with new technology. What? Why is he sending me a video? Our teams main vocal was spending his time at the International Vacuum Cleaner Expo at COEX. I couldnt understand why such an event existed, and why he went there. But when he left, he was humming the chorus of Fireworks, so he must have been in a good mood. It was when Ji-ho was talking while looking at his smartphone. By the way, Ri-hyuk hyung said that were all going to have dinner togetherter Eek! Ji-ho started to fall forward, as if his sneakers got caught in the gap between the sidewalk blocks. At the same time, my body reacted. It was like the nerve cells in my body woke up. Everything looked slow-motion. And my body pulled out the necessary action right away. I reflexively reached out and grabbed Ji-hos back. A second before he would have scraped his face on the ground, the youngest was fine except for his cor choking his neck. Hey! Are you okay? Im, Im okay. Are you sure? Why cant you lift your head? Its embarrassing. Arent people staring at me? No. No one is looking. Actually, they all looked and walked by. After a while, Ji-ho, who was looking around, finally rxed. Thank you, hyung. Be careful. If it wasnt for me, you would have debuted with dentures. We stood for a while and checked if he was okay, but he seemed fine. It was when we started walking again. Huh? I turned my head at the sound of surprise, and saw Ji-ho walking. No, his walking form looked weird. It was like he was limping. When I felt a bad feeling in my spine, Ji-ho called me with a nk face. Hyung. The moment I saw his expression, I sensed that I had one more headache. I think I hurt my ankle. Chapter 42: Chapter 42: Chapter 42 All kinds of thoughts swirl in my head. I quickly sit the kid down on the buildings garden and check his condition. I pull down his socks and touch his ankle area. Where exactly does it hurt? I dont know, hyung. I think I twisted it. He looked pale, so it must have been a bad twist. Hyung, what do I do? If the manager finds out, hell scold me a lot. And the trainers too Is that what youre worried about right now? I sighed at the youngest, who was saying stupid things in this situation. What should I do? I called Seok-hwan hyung, but there was no answer. Min-ki hyung was the same. After leaving a bunch of missed calls, I rubbed my frustrated chest. I have to act on my own for now. Lets go to the hospital first. We can get an X-ray there and get a prescription if theres a problem. Hyung. I cant walk because it hurts. Ill support you, so dont worry. The youngest nodded his head. I bent my body awkwardly to wrap his arm around me. Ow. Walk carefully. Did he break a bone or something? His wet eyshes and innocent face came into view. He looked scared. My ankle was sprained and it hurt, and I wondered if this would affect my debut schedule. Or if I would cause trouble for my hyungs while practicing. He looked worried. Thats when I remembered something I had overlooked until now. That Ji-ho was only seventeen. That he was not an adult yet. And that he was my younger brother who I had to take care of the most, being five years younger than me. Just hang in there. I said as I approached the roadside to hail a taxi. Ill take you to the hospital right away. *** We visited the emergency room of the university hospital. It was a holiday, so all the other hospitals were closed. The doctor who took care of Ji-ho diagnosed him with a mild sprain. He said he would be fine if he rested for a couple of days and not to worry. We paid the hospital fee and came out of the hospital with Ji-ho. Are you okay? I feel a bit better after taking the anti-inmmatory medicine. He looked much brighter than before, and I felt relieved. Dont scare me like that. You gave me a huge fright. Im sorry. He would have made a joke like Do you like me that much? at any other time, but he was obedient now. It was strange. Hyung, but Ji-ho asked cautiously, looking around. Are you going to tell the others? The hyungs or the trainer teachers. I have to. Min-ki hyung will pick us up tomorrow morning. What am I supposed to say? Can you go down the stairs? Hold on. He got up and walked a few steps, then quickly sat down. I dont think I can. Dont worry about it. No one will say anything for taking a day or two off because youre injured. Im not afraid of getting scolded, but the nagging is scary. As soon as Bi-ju hyung sees me, hell nag me for a week. No, hell follow me like a babysitter every time I go down the stairs for a month. Think positively. Thats how much we care about you. Im not a baby. I stared at the chocte milk in his hand. Ji-ho coughed and changed the subject. Then lets at leastpromise, hyung. I didnt fall because I was looking at my phone, but because I had an unavoidable situation and sprained my ankle. For example, I got injured while practicing dance. Why are you so afraid of hearing bad things? Just Ji-ho mumbled. I dont like it when someone looks at me with disappointment. No one will be disappointed by this, so dont worry. I was ready to take responsibility if anything went wrong. But that seemed unlikely. If anyone says anything or does anything, Ill stand up for you. I blinked and saw the youngest one looking at me with a strange expression. It was a hard-to-interpret look, as if he wanted to copy me. He was about to open his lips when it happened. Wang Ji-ho! A hoarse scream erupted from his lungs. Someone was standing there, drawing everyones attention. Why is he here? A sharp-faced young man in a striped shirt and ck jeans approached with a frantic face. Are you okay? Did you get hurt? Who is this? Who did this to you? Ri-hyuk, what are you doing here? He turned his head at my question. What happened? He was so overreacting. His shirt was stained with sweat from running, and his face was as pale as a corpse, except for his flushed cheeks. I knew he was secretly taking care of Ji-ho, but this was too much for a sprained ankle. He said he cant walk anymore? What? Ri-hyuk and I blinked at each other. Then we realized something was wrong and looked at the same ce. The youngest one avoided our eyes. Wang Ji-ho. Yes? Exin yourself. Ri-hyuk and I red at Ji-ho, who was sitting in a chair with his arms crossed. Well I told Ri-hyuk that I was hurt and needed to go to the hospital And I said I was in so much pain that I couldnt walk again. Dont lie. Is that what you sent me? Well, I was going to send that, but I stopped in the middle because it hurt so much in the taxi. He was whining about the pain, but he was texting someone in the taxi. It turned out to be Ri-hyuk. And he omitted the word like from cant walk again. I clicked my tongue as Ji-ho nced at Ri-hyuk. Ri-hyuk was getting angrier by the second. Hey. So you sprained your ankle, and itll heal in a week Its two days, not a week. The youngest one gave me a resentful look for interrupting. So what about your leg? Is it fine? It hurts a little. Fine. As long as its fine. Fine. Ri-hyuk muttered to calm himself down. I thought it was over, but then Ri-hyuk narrowed his eyes at something. Wait a minute, Wang Ji-ho. Isnt that my shirt? No, its not. Maybe It is my shirt. I told you not to borrow it because its new. Ri-hyuk turned his head 90 degrees toward me with a confirmed suspicion. Did you know? Uh, I didnt know. Geez, that was your shirt. Why did you do that, Ji-ho? I knew, but I didnt care. I didnt expect to see him here. If it was any other time, he would have scolded me for not knowing, since I have such a good memory. But luckily, Ri-hyuks anger was directed at the youngest one. It would have been fine if he stayed quiet, but Wang Ji-ho wouldnt be Wang Ji-ho if he did. Hyung, Im a patient, so you cant hit meeeeee! You crazy bastard! The youngest one got pped on the back like a son caught by his mom at a PC cafe. He threw me a cry for help. Hyung, you said youd take my ce, ahh! Of course. Oh, the boss called. I ignored him cheerfully. *** -Whats going on? Nothing much. I went out with Ji-ho for a bit and he sprained his ankle. There was silence on the other end of the phone. Scary. I quickly exined the situation ording to the 5W1H principle. -How is he, serious? Its not serious. The doctor said he just needs to take some anti-inmmatory pills and rest for two days. -Thats good. How did he fall? Cold sweat ran down the back of my head. His sneaker got stuck in the gap between the sidewalk blocks. Well, anyway, theres a reason. -Hospital? Im at the university hospital. Here in Sinchon. -Well Im d nothing serious happened. Is Ji-ho okay? I saw Ji-ho sitting on a bench far away, getting hit on the back. (I was looking at a robot vacuum cleaner and had to leave in the middle! Ro! Bot! Vacuum cleaner!, Im a patient here!) I looked around worriedly, but luckily no one was paying attention. Ji-ho seems to be fine. Anyway, Im sorry for bothering you on your day off, hyung. The situation was so chaotic earlier, I didnt know who to rely on. -Yeah. Who did you contact? I heard a cheerful voice from the other side of the phone. -Lets talk again when you get to the dorm. Even if you want to have more fun, try to go back to the dorm early. Dont get hurt again on a day like this. Your body is your asset in your profession. You know that, right? (Who is that?) I got it Huh? Hyung, I think I heard a womans voice just now. Who is that? -Im on a date, you idiot. I thought I should hang up quickly, but I was curious. Is she a real person? -Youre too much, really. I heardughter. -Later, Ill send a message to your PT teacher. Ask him to make you work out harder so you dont get distracted. Uh, I -Then lets talk againter. I felt like I had teased him for nothing. I sent a message to Minki hyung, telling him not to worry, and approached the bench where the kids were. It was a lull now. How are you, Ri-hyuk? Did you calm down? Calm down? He hit me more. I had to leave the expo in the middle because of him. I was looking at a robot vacuum cleaner with new technology. I can buy you that robot vacuum cleaner if you want. Its not for sale yet. Didnt you hear me say new technology? It was the first demonstration at the expo. I didnt quite understand his point of anger, but whatever. Im a patient here. I have to go to the back surgery now. What was that, Woojoo hyung? Back surgery? Orthopedic surgery. Yeah, right. I think I have to go to the orthopedic surgery. You sound like an orthopedic surgery. Mister, can you teach me that takedown technique? I can use it now. I told the kids about the conversation I had with Seok-hwan hyung. Ji-ho looked relieved that he wasnt scolded, and Ri-hyukined that such a careless kid should be punished. But they both had amon reaction to one thing. Seok-hwan hyung is on a date with his girlfriend right now. Girlfriend? Is she a real person? Yeah. I asked him that too. What did he say? What did he say? He said he would contact the PT teacher and make us work out harder. The two siblings had a deep look of resentment on their faces. I ignored them and pointed to the cafe on the first floor of the hospital. Lets go there and have something to drink. Yeah. Im so angry because of him. I need to drink something. Ill buy you one. As I approached Ji-ho, who was sitting on the bench, tofort him, he shook his head. I want to beforted by Ri-hyuk hyung. Why? Wooju hyung is too big. Its morefortable to beforted by a smaller person. Ri-hyuks face turned red. **** After I brought him the most expensive slice of cake in the cafe, Ri-hyuks mood improved a bit. So, did anything happen while you were dating that old man? Did anyone recognize him? No. Nothing at all. I even prepared a paper for him to sign. I chimed in from beside the youngest, who was pouting. He cosyed as a celebrity and even brought sunsses. Sunsses? Hes not an attention seeker. Hyung, you brought them too in the morning. I brought them to protect my eyes. We chatted for a while. Ri-hyuk seemed to rx gradually, and when Ji-ho gave him a gift of clothes he bought himself, hepletely cheered up. He smiled as he took the bag. Huh? Isnt that Jung-hyun hyung and Bi-ju hyung? I blinked at the youngests words. What is he talking about? Are they re-airing Music Cafe? I dont see a TV. No. Look, there are Jung-hyun hyung and Bi-ju hyung. What are you talking about? I turned my head and gasped. It was really Bi-ju and Jung-hyun. They were talking about something and then Bi-ju disappeared somewhere. And Jung-hyun walked away. Did you invite them too? No. Are you crazy? I would never invite Bi-ju hyung. He would only nag me. Come to think of it, Jung-hyun didnt seem to notice us. I was about to tell them to pretend we didnt know them and let it go. Ji-ho got up and waved his hand with a bright smile. Jung-hyun hyung! Jung-hyun, who was walking like a rxed lion, stopped abruptly. Then he turned his head toward us. For three seconds. Then he looked shocked. **** The American football coach said that. Whether its a sports team or office workers, its hard if they dont trust each other. And Ralph Waldo Emerson said that distrust is very costly. You said you were going to y basketball with Bi-ju hyung. Are you ying basketball at the hospital these days? Jung-hyun was speechless at Ri-hyuks logical words. Then he looked at me. He had an expression that asked for help. Why do they always make this expression when they look at me? Jung-hyun might have a good reason for that. Then, what is it? Ri-hyuk looked at me and Ji-ho with a cold gaze. Jung-hyuns throat tightened. I suddenly remembered the first time I met the members. Jung-hyuns impression was that of a charismatic eldest brother. He looked like a handsome athlete. But when I got to know him, I realized he was the kindest person ever. Usually, these types of people brag about their muscles or strength, but Ive never seen Jung-hyun use his strength on the kids, even as a joke. Of course, if he did, we would all be dead by now. Jung-hyun hyung, weve known each other for over three years since we were trainees. I think thats enough time to form a trust rtionship with each other. Ri-hyuk, theres a situation here. Then, what is it? Ri-hyuk said, looking around us. Lately, there have been more than one or two weird things, but we just let them go. Bi-ju hyung doesnt know where his mind is and hes spacing out every day. The other day, he even burned his breakfast. Dont we need to know whats going on when the situation is so strange? Jung-hyun pondered for a moment and then looked at me. What do you think, hyung? Well, its tricky. I sympathize more with your position that its hard to talk about someone elses personal life, but the problem is that weve already seen you guys. Its a bit awkward to pretend it never happened and move on. It would be funny to say, Thats Bi-jus personal life, lets move on. here. It was funny how we acted like nothing had happened at the lodge. Jung-hyun sighed and looked down at the table without saying a word. "Ah, Kim Bi-ju would hate this" Ri-hyuk and I leaned in to listen. Ji-ho smiled brightly among the brothers and sipped his frappino. "I came to see Kim Bi-ju''s younger sibling. They''re in the hospital." "Sibling?" I saw an inner conflict on Jung-hyun''s face. After a while, he opened his heavy mouth. "They have cancer." Ji-ho spat out the frappino he was drinking. Chapter 43: Chapter 43: Chapter 43 Cancer? Everyone was in a state of temporary panic at the news that came out of the blue. Ri-hyuk, who had been persistently questioning, had a nk expression. His face, which was already pale, looked like a sheet of paper. Ji-ho was coughing incessantly, as if he had heard something. Jung-hyun smiled awkwardly and said. I told you. Its better not to know. Do they have surgery if you have cancer? They did a while ago. But the situation is a bit vague now. What do you mean vague? Jung-hyun scratched his head at Ri-hyuks question. Ill stop here. Its better to talk to Kim Bi-ju for the details. Its a difficult issue for me to talk about Jung-hyun put his bulky old smartphone on the table. He pressed the shortcut number 7 and Bi-jus number appeared. We all swallowed our saliva. A gentle voice rang from the speakerphone. -Hey, whats up? Couldnt find the drink? No, its just you know. -You didnt identally break something on your way, did you? Do I always break things? -Thank goodness. I thought I had to pay for it again likest time. A clearughter was heard. Jung-hyun looked at his smartphone as if it were a time bomb. Hey, I have something to tell you. -What is it? I ran into Woojoo hyung, Ri-hyuk, and Ji-ho at the cafe. -Huh? Why are they all at the hospital? Did Ji-ho get hurt? Or Ri-hyuk? It cant be Woojoo hyung. What does it mean that it cant be me? Ji-ho twisted his ankle a little. -What?! His voice rose for the first time. Soon, a noisy sound was heard from the other side of the phone. Jung-hyun quickly fixed it. You dont have to worry. He said hell be fine if he rests for a day or two. -Still. Is he okay? Well, he looks okay. But they asked why we were at the hospital. They said they saw us earlier. So I wondered if I could tell them There was a long silence from the other side. Jung-hyuns Adams apple went up and down repeatedly. -Jung-hyun. Yeah? -You told them. Yeah? No. - I could only hear his voice, but I felt like I could see Bi-jus ghost in front of me. He looked at Jung-hyun with a look that said to answer him straight, with his arms crossed. His Adams apple went up and down a few times. Jung-hyun parted his lips. Im sorry. -I knew it. You sounded weird from the start. So youre talking about this on speakerphone? Yeah. - I intervened. Bi-ju, hi. -Yes, hellooo He said with a sigh that sounded like a long breath. -Jung-hyun, can you turn off the speakerphone for a moment? Why? -I have something I want to talk to you privately. Turn off the speakerphone and switch to normal call. Hey, I -Right now. Jung-hyun turned off the speakerphone as if he were pressing a switch to hell. He brought the phone to his ear. The volume was low, so I couldnt hear well, but a whispering voice continued without a break. It didnt seem like a good thing. He wasnt even exercising, but sweat was forming on Jung-hyuns wrists. Yeah, okay. Yeah, yeah, yeah. Yeah. No, what I was trying to say Yeah, right. Yeah Thats, yeah. It''s like the husband was nagged by his wife for a long time before Jung-hyun finally ended the call. Phew, I survived. Jung-hyun wiped his face. What did he say? He said hell let it go this time, since the situation is what it is. He said hell talk to you and the kids separately, and asked me to pick him up. Pick him up? He said he got lost. At that, the three of us opened our mouths in unison. Again? *** It took us 30 minutes to find Bi-ju. He was far away from the hospital. We wondered how she got here. As soon as we joined the younger ones in the lounge, Bi-ju ran to Ji-ho. Ji-ho, you said you hurt your foot. Are you okay? Huh? Oh yeah, Im fine. Dont worry about me. Normally, the youngest would have whined, but he waved his hand. He couldnt even look at Bi-ju. He was limping. I suddenly remembered the funeral of my mom and dad when I was seven. The kindergarten friends who came to the hall were just like that. They didnt know what to say, and they suddenly burst into tears. But he wouldnt cry. Didnt you say Ji-ho hurt his leg? Jung-hyun whispered in my ear. Ji-hos walk was normal. Not hobbling like before. Hes too shocked. He doesnt even know hes walking. Jung-hyun walked briskly and supported Ji-ho. I heard him say thank you, hyung. Ri-hyuk was supposed to help him, but what was he doing? I looked around and found another person who was walking with his eyes on the ground. He was the exact opposite of Ji-ho. It was strange to see him like that. Bi-ju looked at the younger ones and whispered. Thats why I didnt want to tell you. I thought it would be a burden. Why would it be a burden? Youre all busy with practice. I didnt want to make you ufortable. I dont like it when you look at me like that. Well, they always look at you like that. Bi-jus eyes turned to me. I nodded. Just like now. A smallugh escaped from his lips. It was a joke to lighten the mood, and it worked. Bi-ju said with a relieved expression. Thank you for treating me the same. If you were like that too, I would have suffocated. I went through something simr. If I hadnt, I would have been no different from them. Something simr? Did I tell you? When I was in elementary school, my grandmother had cancer surgery. Oh. I didnt say anything like I know how you feel. I knew what kind of reaction to show as an experienced person. Just treat them the same. Dont cringe, dont pity them, dont give them uselessfort. Is she okay now? Of course. Its been over 10 years. Cancer is terrible, but it usually doesntst that long. Bi-juughed again. Why? No, its just that I used to think the same way. That cancer couldntst that long. A bitter smile crossed his face. But it wasnt true. *** Before we entered the room, Bi-ju gathered us and exined the situation. His brothers name was Kim Minjun. He was 10 years old, almost the same age as our youngest. He was diagnosed with the disease when he was younger, five years old. I didnt know the exact name of the disease. He tried to exin it, but I couldnt understand it. All I knew was that he suffered a lot after the surgery. For the next five years, I couldnt go to kindergarten or school because I had to undergo constant treatment. Sometimes I even had to be hospitalized. He was admitted a few days ago because he suddenly had a fever. Jung-hyun knew about my situation, so he came with me. Im sorry I didnt tell you earlier. I didnt want to worry you. No, its understandable. Ri-hyuk said, swallowing his saliva, and Ji-ho nodded his head repeatedly. Bi-ju smiled and grabbed the door handle. Dont just pat his head. He hates that. The door opened with a click. The humid smell of the humidifier and the view of the hospital room came into sight. A middle-aged couple sitting on chairs and a kid reading a book on the bed. Mom, Im here. I exchanged awkward greetings with the middle-aged couple who got up from their seats. Bi-ju exined that we were here to visit the patient. Oh, youre here. Its the first time youve met our friends, right? His father had a calm impression. He spoke softly, like a professor, and he actually used to be a college professor. The father and son looked so much alike that if you put sses on Bi-ju and aged him for 30 years, he would look exactly like him. Do you like fruits? I sliced some apples. His mother, on the contrary, was lively in her speech. You know those people who make you smile just by looking at them. They have a charming personality. Bi-jus mother was like that. When I politely took a piece of apple, she called out to the kid who was staring at the book on the bed. Minjun, your brothers are here. Ill just finish reading this page. A cute voice came out. He looked like a smart student, not a patient, if he wasnt wearing a hospital gown. Minjun, who was speed-reading a science book, closed it. Jung-hyun hyung. Did you bring ice cream? Of course. Jung-hyun smiled and took out the contents from the bag. The kids face brightened up the room. Then he looked at us and eximed. Youre the ones I saw on TV. Right? Yeah. Bi-ju smiled proudly and tapped his cheek. Minjun, holding an ice cream in his hand, bowed his head. Hello. Bi-ju introduced him to us. This is Woojoo hyung. Hes the one who made our song. Nice name. I love space. Me too. He smiled and reached out his hand. I wondered what he wanted, but it seemed like he wanted to shake hands. He was so cute that I shook his hand. This is Ri-hyuk hyung. Hes the best singer in our group. Hello. Ri-hyuk smiled awkwardly and epted his hand. This is Ji-ho hyung. Ji-ho? Yeah, Ji-ho hyung. Oh. He withdrew his hand. He rubbed his palm on his belly as if he was wiping off sweat. But that was it. We burst outughing, and only Ji-ho looked bewildered at Bi-ju. What did you say about me, Bi-ju hyung? I didnt say anything. A little bit? Bi-ju said cautiously and thenughed as if he found it funny. Then he spoke to his brother. Minjun, you should shake hands with Ji-ho hyung too. Okay. Minjun reached out his hand and said. Stop being picky about food and be nice to our hyung. While Ji-ho blinked his eyes like a dumbfounded fish, everyone in the roomughed. *** How can he have such long eyshes and such a pretty face? Come on, eat. Thank you. I took the fork that Bi-jus mother handed me. I ate six pieces of apple, smiling and responding. Our Bi-yeon came back from the end-of-year evaluation and praised you so much. He said his new friend is amazing, even though hes younger. I and Lee were also amazed when we saw the video you filmed. Thank you. Bi-ju always praises you when hees home or calls. He says today Woojoo did this, and thanks to Lee everything is going well Mom. Ah, please. Ah. Bi-ju cut her off and fed her an apple. What did you say when you first appeared on the show? Mom, have another one here. Hes just like Bi-yeon, always interrupting me. Mom, please A smile lingered on my lips. It was fun to see Bi-ju, who always acted like a mother to us, act like this. Anyway. Bi-jus mother took my hand and said. Please take good care of our child. I trust you, Woojoo. Yes, Ill do my best. He looks so kind, but hes very stubborn. Hes just like his father Honey, have an apple. This time, his father fed her an apple. The mother, who chattered like a girl, was cute, and the father and son who desperately tried to stop her were cute too. They were different from the patients family I had imagined. But that didnt mean Minjun looked healthy. His face was bright, but hisplexion was not. Should I say he was pale? I think I now know what meant by purple lips. The mother told me. His fever has gone down a lot now. Yesterday, his fever was boiling and we had to call the doctor at dawn. He was crying and the doctor didnt want toe Thats how the university hospital is. I chatted with the mother while looking after Minjun. We were ying a board game on the bed. A ten-year-old and three older brothers. It was something like Blue Marble, but I didnt know what it was. We were all losing. It seemed like we were letting him win, but Ri-hyuk was the only one who looked annoyed. He didnt care about the others, but he seemed to be doing his best. I could tell by the way he looked at the dice with displeasure. Ji-ho was much more rxed than before. He evenughed sometimes. And Jung-hyun kept smiling at Minjun. He sometimes patted him, and it was the first time I saw him with such a gentle expression. Jung-hyun and Minjun are very close. Bi-ju father answered my remark. Jung-hyun always followed him whenever Bi-ju came. He also stayed up with us when we were having a hard time. Hes like family. His father looked at Jung-hyun with the same expression as Jung-hyun looked at Minjun. Of course, Minjun was the same. The little boy with the buzz cutughed happily whenever Jung-hyun made a booger joke or yed a prank that elementary school kids would like. He looked at his brother with sparkling eyes. Thats also what Jung-hyun bought. What? Oh. Bi-ju pointed to the stand by the bed. There was a Lego model. It looked like a scene from a hero movie. That was what Jung-hyun had carefully taken out in the morning. I felt like the mystery was solved. But there was still something that bothered me. Minjuns fight against cancer had started five years ago. Then why did Bi-ju suddenly act weirdtely? Bi-ju. I was about to talk to him. There was a cheer from where the board game was spread. Minjun had won the game. He lifted the miniature trophy that looked like a symbol of victory and smiled brightly. Minjun seems to be in a good mood today. I looked at the ten-year-old child following Bi-jus gaze. He had been fighting cancer since he was five. He was smaller and bald than his peers because of the anti-cancer treatment that suppressed his cells. He couldnt even go to kindergarten, let alone school. He looked like he was enjoying a rare pleasure. Brother, what did you want to ask? Nothing. I shook my head, thinking I shouldnt ruin the mood for now. The mother called her youngest son with a flushed face. Minjun, are you happy that your brothers are here? Yes! The boy smiled brightly. I wish today wouldnt end. Chapter 44: Chapter 44: Chapter 44 Those words hit me hard in the chest. How lonely must he have been to say that he wished today would never end with a board game in his hands? I couldnt imagine it, since I was always surrounded by people. A body that couldnt run and y with other kids. What was it like to feel so lonely, assembling Lego or reading books, waiting for someone toe like he was now? The game ended and Minjun tried to get up. Mom, I need to go to the bathroom. His mother was about to get up, but his father stopped her. Honey, you rest. Ill take him. He got up and carefully walked Minjun to the bathroom, holding his hand. Minjun looked ufortable as he walked. I asked his mother. Is it hard for him to walk? Hes been on a new medicationtely. Its so strong that his feet are swollen. You must be worried and exhausted. Nah, Im fine. My husband and kids help me a lot, so I can manage. She smiled bravely. Our conversation was interrupted by a nurse who came to check her blood pressure. Minjuns mother chatted with the nurse and gave her an apple. These kids are in an idol group with my son. Say hello. Hello. We had a brief signing time without intending to. It was one of those moments when I realized I was a celebrity. I watched her talk to the nurse and asked Minjun. Youre very close. Is she his doctor? No, we just met. Wow, youre very friendly. The two youngest cleaned up the board game and made the bed while Minjun came back from the bathroom. He looked like he was struggling to stand, leaning his hand on the wall. Dad, Ill rest a bit and then walk. Can you walk? Yes. His father waited patiently while Jung-hyun walked over to Minjun. Ill help you. He gently picked up Minjun and carried him to the bed. He tucked him in and Minjun smiledfortably. Jung-hyun is really good to me. Minjun likes me more than you. Minjun joked and sat next to his brother on the bed, tapping his cheek. They looked like a couple putting their child to sleep. I smiled as I watched them, and Minjuns mother handed me a fork with an apple. Hmm. How many did I eat today? I think Ill skip apples for a while. *** Hospital hallway. A colleague asked a nurse who was walking with a bright smile. Kim, why are you so happy? You know room 3, right? Theres a really pretty boy there. Oh, there? He was very handsome, the colleague agreed. The nurse looked around and lowered her voice. Hes a celebrity, you know. What? Really? Yeah. I talked to his guardian and hes an idol. Hes one of the ones who sang Something. Something? Ive never heard of it. Its a very popr song among young people. A few days ago, Bae sang it at karaoke. Oh, that one? Wow. Ive seen him often, but I didnt know that. And he was on TV, too. She searched on her smartphone and showed him a clip from Music Cafe. All five of them are here? Yeah. They came to visit him. I have to get my daughters autographter. How are they? Are they rude or anything because theyre celebrities? Theyre so cute. They even gave me their autographs. As the nurses chatted, a resident passed by and stuck his head in. What are you talking about? Doctor,e here. The resident showed interest in their story. He knew they were idols, but he didnt know they were a boy group untilter. Ah, a boy group? Im not interested in men. By the way, whats their group name? New wait a second. Oh, its written here. New ck. New ck? The resident tilted his head. Isnt that them? Them? The ones that Professor Choi used to talk about. The senior nurse thought for a moment and then eximed with the same expression. Did Professor Choie to work today? He must have. Later, you should casually mention it to the teacher. Helle running right away. In the meantime, the nurse who got the autograph was confused. Does Professor Choi like idols? You dont know, do you? The senior nurse said with a meaningful tone. Theres someone special in that group. *** After Minjun fell asleep, the five of us chatted with Bi-jus parents about various things. Oh, were almost out of apples. We all sighed in relief at the mothers words. Honey, should I go buy some more? Theres no need. Ill just ask Bi-ju to buy some. Bi-ju, your mom will give you some money, so please buy some snacks and apples for your friends at the hospital mart. And while youre at it, stop by the pharmacy and get some cooling patches for Minjuns forehead. Okay, Ill do that. Ill go with you. I volunteered before the two youngest ones, who were waiting for the right timing, could say anything. Unlike Jung-hyun, who happily epted the apples, they were suffering from the constant apple attack and couldnt refuse. As we left the ward, I said. Your mom really likes apples. Thats my moms best way of expressing her love. Bi-ju smiled and said. She grew up in an orchard house, but her grandfather only gave fruits to her uncle when she was young. If her grandmother or aunts tried to eat an apple, he would scold them terribly, so she only got to eat one on her birthday. Thats really a way of expressing love. We chatted as we arrived at the mart in the basement. Bi-ju, can I ask you something? Yes. Anything. I looked at the apples in the refrigerated disy and asked. Whats the problem with Minjun? Problem? You said hes been fighting the disease for almost five years. But yourplexion only got worse recently. No, I was fine. He pretended not to know, so I took out my phone. I opened the memo app and read the contents. April 27th. Bi-ju confused the days and ironed the kids uniforms on their day off. Ji-ho was happy. May 3rd. Bi-ju was spacing out again today. He made the same mistake over and over, and got scolded by the trainer. Ri-hyuk was relieved. Whats that? A diary and a leaders observation log, lets say. I put down my phone and looked at Bi-jus face. His eyes were filled with fear and despair. I raised my voice. So whats the problem? Minjuns condition has gotten worse recently. He might need another surgery. What? I threw away the nonchnt tone. What do you mean? Minjuns condition has gotten worse recently. He might need another surgery. Bi-ju sighed and clenched his chest. There were tears in his eyes. Itsplicated. Theres the surgery fee and the chemotherapy fee. You might not know, but our family is not well off. Even if my dad and sister make money, its like pouring water into a leaky jar. It all goes to Minjuns treatment. And we cant even choose who will do the surgery. The professors are all booked up. I want to get it done by a famous and good professor, even if I have to go into debt, but honestly, I doubt Minjun can hold on until then. Bi-jus face was gloomy. Whats the problem, hyung? Huh? Oh. Everything is a problem. My brother whos been suffering for over five years and living in hell every day. My mom who cant even go to a normal gathering because shes taking care of him. My dad who works as a driver after he gets off work. My sister who gave up her dream and does a job she doesnt like for the sake of us. I felt like the things I had kept in my chest were slowlying out. Bi-ju in front of me was unfamiliar. He always smiled and was always calm. What was inside him waspletely different from what I expected. If he wasfortable, he would only whisper his feelings in the middle of pouring them out. Sometimes I hate Minjun so much it gives me goosebumps. When he has a fever and reaches out to me, saying, Hyung, save me, it looks disgusting to me. I dont know. Im sick of it now. If the word sick of it had a shape, it would have been crushed beyond recognition by Bi-jus mouth. I endured it for five years. I believed that things would get better next year. That he would be cured and we could all live happily. But Bi-ju continued his story. What had happened since Minjun got sick. How hard his father was after he failed in business. How much white hair his mother had grown. Why his sister, who wanted to go tow school, became a tutor. And how much his heart ached every time. His calm voice was revealing his pain. I dont know, hyung. What do I do if Minjun leaves me like this? His eyes were stained like paint. I looked into Bi-jus eyes quietly. He looked scared like a lost child. I wondered what to say. Something optimistic like Itll be okay, itll work out. Somefort like Its not your fault. Some clich like I empathize with you. But none of them were close to the truth in my heart. I decided to just be honest. Nobody knows what will happen. Like when my parents died in a ne crash on my seventh birthday. Sometimes things just happen. Sometimes theyre really lucky, sometimes theyre horribly painful. You cant think why? in those situations. It wont help. Because its not your fault. I opened my lips to Bi-ju, who was listening quietly. I want to tell you that everything will be fine, but that would be a lie. I dont know what wille. Its like standing by the sea. Sometimes theres a gentle breeze. Sometimes a wave crashes in. Is that so. Bi-ju sighed. Then what should I do Do what you want to do. I said. But the important thing is that no matter what you go through, well be there for you. Well, it might sound cheesy, but youre not alone. We have to stick together from now on. Well be there for you. Whether the wave hits or the breeze tickles, well be happy and sad with you by your side. That was what I meant. It was a shallowfort, but it seemed to work. Thank you. Bi-ju smiled faintly. He looked much more stable than before, so I was relieved and smiled back. Shall we go? You picked everything, right? Oh, I havent picked the apples yet. Hmm Lets see. Buy this one. This one? I go to the market with grandma all the time, so I know apples well. Theres a wormhole here. Grandma usually picked them. Lets buy the one you picked before. I sighed as I saw Bi-ju finallyugh. I should buy a tissue or something on the way. *** An awkward silence. Hyung. Yeah? That I mean, the things we talked about at the mart earlier. Could you please forget about them? I dont know. Maybe if I had a device like the one in Men in ck. What is that? Is it a webtoon? Its nothing. Fine, Ill keep it a secret from the other siblings. Thank you. Another awkward silence. Its torture. I was racking my brain for a conversation topic when I opened my mouth. Hey, lets think of a solution. A solution? You know, we said we would stay together earlier. Oh A brief silence. Its not just words. We want to help you. No, no. That would be too much. Im grateful enough that you spared some time for me today. What. At first, I thought I could use the royalties Im getting now to help with the surgery costs Bi-ju, dont make that face. It hurts me. I was going to give up anyway. Im d. If I had to describe his expression just now, it was like someone who got proposed to on a blind date. Its nothing. Just small things. You do all the housework at the dorm, right? Ri-hyuk does the light cleaning andundry, but lets share the rest of the work. Oh. Whats the problem? Well. Bi-ju let out an awkwardugh. Hyung, this might sound weird to you but I actually like doing housework. What are you talking about? I like it, you know. When someone praises or enjoys the food I made with care, or when I see the ce clean after cleaning. He saw my expression change in real time and added. That, what is it, its the same thing. You said you wanted to be an idol at the music cafe because you liked getting attention from the audience. Im the same. Except the subject is housework Its weird, right? He gave up in the middle of his speech and I nodded. Its very weird. You also have a crush on the CEO. Hey, thats weird too. I had nothing to say to that. On the other hand, I was a bit flustered. I had always thought he did the breakfast and housework out of some kind ofpulsion. Maybe he had a habit of taking care of his siblings since he was young. Or maybe he had some psychological reason. I didnt know he just liked it Do you know Dobby? The house-elf? Uh I dont know what youre talking about. Never mind, you muggle. I know what a muggle is. Its someone whos not a fan of idols, right? Ji-ho told me. Iughed as I saw Bi-ju happy about what he knew. Thats not it. Hes like a house-elf. I thought I should give him a set of socks as a birthday present. I never dreamed your ambition was to be a housewife. So I joked with my sister before. What if I married into a rich family if I couldnt make it as an idol? Housework is my hobby anyway. Maybe thats a better prospect What? Nothing. Bi-ju narrowed his eyes like Ri-hyuk and then smiled. I smiled back. I felt strangely closer to him. Maybe it was because of the conversation we had earlier, but I felt the distance between us shrink again since the end-of-year evaluation. It was hard to express exactly, but it felt like the fence had dropped a level. We went from seeing only each others faces over the fence to being able to shake hands. Then what can we do for you I dont need anything. You already solved the hospital bill problem for me. Me? I had a meeting with the director. Oh. I remembered. A while ago, when I was in the break room with the A&R team, Bi-ju went into the directors room with a face like he had bought the world. I asked for an advance payment for the work I did for Something, exining my situation. And they agreed. So that was why he went to the directors office that day. Thats good. Was the amount enough? You have no idea how surprised we were when we opened our bank ount together as a family. Bi-ju said with a smile. We earned more money than we expected. Enough to cover Minjuns hospital bills for a while. Mom and dad are too embarrassed to say anything, but they are grateful to you, brother. No wonder they gave me so many apples Look forward to it. This is all thanks to you, brother. Ugh. I wont be able to use the letter sa in apple for a long time. Except for saying I love you to grandma. As I wondered how I could legally avoid eating fruits, we entered the ward again. But then. As I walked and talked with Bi-ju, I saw a man in the distance. A middle-aged man walking far away. Huh? Something felt strange. When I tilted my head, something weird happened. Huh? Everything sounded slow, like in slow motion, and the scenery in front of me started to change. Chapter 45: Chapter 45: Chapter 45 Huh? Whats happening to me right now? Without any time to think, the scenery in front of me changed. The emergency room. The smell of medicine and the chilly winter air, the noisy sounds of the emergency room. It felt like I was experiencing VR. I could perceive everything, but my body was sitting on a chair and couldnt move. Whats going on here? Before I could even ponder, there was a familiar face in front of me. An old man lying on a hospital bed. It was Grandpa Choi Ik-hyun, the one I saved on the day of the college entrance examst year. What? Is this real? If I could move my hand, I would have pinched my cheek. It was so vivid. Everything around me was realistic. Because it was literally reality. Did I somehow go back to the past like in a movie? It was when I had such an absurd imagination. -Cough! My eyes turned to the old man who coughed and curled up. The focus was on his ribs. The area I pushed hard to save him. At that time, I felt sorry for him when I saw that. What did I say then? -Im sorry you seem to be in a lot of pain because of me. Even though I didnt move, my mouth moved and spoke on its own. It was a very amazing experience. Thedy next to me waved her hand at my words. -Oh, dont say that. And the husband next to her nodded. -If it wasnt for Seon Woo-ju, my father wouldnt have been able to lie on this bed, really. -Thank you for thinking that way. He said, handing me a business card. There was this writing on it, along with the hospital logo. [Professor Choi Yong-jae, Pediatric and Adolescent Cancer Center] Huh? While I was feeling bewildered, the past me chatted with the other person. -If your grandmother is ufortable or if you need anything at the hospital, please contact me. Ill help you as much as I can. Just by looking at that, the scenery around me started to change again. It was reality again. The hallway leading to the ward where Bi-jus younger brother was hospitalized, I tried to move my hand as a test, and I could move it as I wanted. It felt like I had been watching some kind of memory for a minute, but the time in reality didnt seem to flow that way. Hyung? Bi-ju, who was walking ahead of me, turned his head to me. He asked me with a puzzled look, and I handed him the bag. Bi-ju, you said Minjun had to have another surgery, but you couldnt find a good professor, right? Ah, yes. Maybe I swallowed my saliva and said. There might be a good way. Huh? Take this. Can you go back to the ward first? Brother, I dont know the way Go left! I shoved the bag of apples to the bewildered Bi-ju and headed towards where Professor Choi was. Bi-ju was going to the right. Bi-ju, left! Ah, yes! After confirming that he was going to the left, I approached the other person. Hello! He looked puzzled as I greeted him with a bright smile. He did that for three seconds. A hearty smile bloomed on the tired face of the middle-aged man. Seon Woojoo? Yes, its been a long time. Professor. My mind is still in chaos. I dont know why the sudden sh phenomenon urred. But that wasnt important right now. Do you have some time? I know it might be a bit sudden, but Id like to buy you a cup of coffee. I decided to try my luck. *** The hospital room was quiet. My parents had quietly left the room to have a meal, and Minjun, who had a fever all night, was asleep. My one and only brother in the world. Every year, when the new year came, Kim Bi-ju made a wish. Please make my brother better. I dont care if he doesnt be an idol, just make him happy. But his wish came true in the opposite way. He had won the music show even before his debut, and he had a dream-like happy time. On the other hand, his brothers health worsened as time went by. Lately, he had to be hospitalized several times a month because of his high fever. He didnt know his exact condition, but he could tell from the shadow on his parents faces that the situation was not good. Today was a bit better than usual. His fever had gone down a lot, and he had a good time with his members. It would have been nice if his sister was here too. He wanted to show his mom a smiling face. Thank you, everyone. He thanked them in his heart as he looked around his members. Kim Jung-hyun, who was sitting on the caregivers chair and reading Minjuns childrens science book, Seo Ri-hyuk, who was looking at his phone with a frown, Wang Ji-ho, who was resting his chin and lost in thought. And Sunwoojoo, who was not here. He covered his face with his hand as he thought of his face. Ah, how embarrassing. He would have been embarrassed even if he had done it in a ce with a mood, but he had spilled his inner thoughts while picking out things at the mart. I dont usually say things like that He felt like he had told him everything, even the most trivial things. But he couldnt help it. He was waiting for him with his deep eyes, as if he would listen to whatever he said. But he felt a little relieved. It was the first time he had told someone such a thing. But why did he bring up the surgery? He didnt understand what happened earlier. Seon Woojoo had sparkled his eyes as if he had found an important opportunity. And then he approached the man in the white coat. Does he know the professor? Kim Bi-ju thought that when he saw him. Hey, hyung. He turned his head and saw Wang Ji-ho sitting next to him, crouching. He didnt have his usual witty expression, but a face that looked very nervous. Kim Bi-ju smiled at him. Is your ankle okay? Yes, I put on the patch that hyung bought for me. Wang Ji-ho lifted his ankle and showed him the patch that was stuck on it. It was poorly attached and the corners were already loose. Let me see. Kim Bi-ju properly attached the patch to the youngests ankle. Then he looked at Wang Ji-ho, who was crouching as if he had something to say. I have something to say to hyung. What is it? Well Im sorry for being immature all this time. I was also sorry for throwing a tantrum this morning because I was hungry. And Im sorry for messing up the room all the time. Oh, and So thats what it was. He had been pale since he met him at the hospital, so he thought his leg was hurting a lot. But it turned out that he was watching his mood. Hyung must have been worried about his brother every day, and Ri-hyuk and I always annoyed hyung at the dorm. Dont drag me into this. I was good to Bi-ju hyung. Seo Ri-hyuk, who was looking at his phone, said. The youngest, who had red at him for a moment, looked around with a dejected face. Im sorry. I shouldnt have done that. Its okay. Kim Bi-ju smiled and patted Wang Ji-hos head. As I thought that, I wished Minjun would have some hair to stroke too. I just thought you were cute as usual. Youre still like that. Ill do better from now on. Me too. When Seo Ri-hyuk intervened, Wang Jinho frowned. Why are you sneaking in when Im apologizing? Do it separately. Dont you like it? Guys. Kim Jung-hyun, who was reading a book, spoke. Minjun just fell asleep. The two younger brothers immediately shut their mouths. Seeing that, Kim Bi-ju smiled inwardly. It was fine if they didnt change. They were one of the few things that brought joy to his life. He would feel happy whenever they liked his cooking, or whenever they wore the uniforms he ironed and left with a neat look. While Wang Jinho and Seo Ri-hyuk were having a staring contest, Kim Jung-hyun came over. Where did Woojoo hyung go? I dont know. He said he had something to say to a doctor he knew. Unlike the two younger brothers, Kim Jung-hyun was afortable friend to him. He was the same age and didnt need any special care, a friend who lived well on his own. Maybe that was why he told him his situation early on. Then. What about Woojoo hyung to me? It was hard to define in one word. Seon Woojoo was one of those people who seemed familiar yet unfamiliar. Sometimes he seemed very warm, but sometimes he was cold. When he rested, he would lie on the sofa all day like theziest person in the world, but on weekdays he would stay up all night in the practice room. Sometimes he would lock himself up for hours working on a song. He was a person who was hard to figure out. One thing for sure was that he made impossible things possible. He snatched the first ce in the year-end evaluation when the morale was at its lowest, and he snatched the first ce in music shows and music charts. So if he had to define Seon Woojoo, he would say he was someone he wanted to rely on. He felt like he could solve all his problems. He wanted to tell him his worries. That was why he confided in him about his brothers reoperation earlier. Thats ridiculous. Seon Woojoo was not Superman, how could he solve his brothers hospital problem? Unless he had some connections. It was hard enough to schedule a surgery with his fatherswork, who used to be a college professor. He was thinking that when it happened. Bi-ju! The sound of the door opening and the scream startled everyone. The one who opened the door and came in was his mother. Mom? His mother, whose face was flushed, ran towards him. And then she hugged him tightly. He was confused. What was going on? He wiped the tears from his mothers eyes and asked. Mom, whats wrong? Minjun, Minjun She couldnt finish her sentence, as if she had a lump in her throat. Kim Bi-ju calmly waited for her to speak. Minjuns surgery date has been set! What? They said they could schedule the surgery! What did she mean? Not only the members, but he also stood there with a bewildered expression. Then three men appeared at the door. Seon Woojoo, who had a faint smile on his face, his father, who had tears in his eyes like his mother, and the doctor he had seen earlier. His mother wiped her tears and smiled. Bi-ju, this is Professor Choi Yongjae. Ah. It was a name he had heard before. He was an authority in pediatric cancer surgery. He heard that it would take at least three months to get a surgery from him. He was thinking that when it happened. Professor Choi said he would supervise our Minjuns surgery. Really? I would not have been more surprised if the world was going to end tomorrow. Kim Bi-ju opened his eyes wide and looked at his father. He nodded. And the calm-looking professor standing in the middle. Kim Bi-ju awkwardly greeted him and then looked at Seon Woojoo. He felt an indescribable heaviness as he saw him nodding with a smile. *** I thought of the characters from Toy Story. The green aliens. The cuties who waited in the w machine and said ooh whenever something happened. The people in front of me were like that. Every time Professor Choi Yongjae continued to speak, the people in the room said oh, ah, and um. The surgery schedule will be like this. I dont mean to be rude, but you must not tell anyone about what happened today. It could cause trouble if the word gets out. Yes! Yes! Of course. Bi-ju mother kept nodding. Bi-ju father took off his sses and wiped his tears with his sleeve. How can we thank you for this You gave up your vacation for us If you want to thank someone, you should thank Seon Woojoo here. Professor Choi pointed at me. Hes the benefactor who saved my fathers life at the risk of his own. How can I refuse his request? I have to help him as much as I can. They all looked at me with pressure. Professor Choi added. Of course, I cant guarantee that the surgery will go well. But I can tell you this. I will do my best to supervise it. He didnt give the patient any false hope, as doctors do. But his sincerity was conveyed by his best. Bi-jus parents and our members bowed their heads repeatedly. Finally, when Professor Choi left the room, my siblings ran to me. Hyung, whats going on? Did you know that professor? Is this real? I exined to them slowly. He was the son of the grandfather I saved on the day of the college entrance exam, and I happened to run into him today and asked him for a favor. I cautiously asked for his help, but he counter-offered to supervise the surgery himself. Bi-jus parents met him on their way up to the ward. When the short story was over, Bi-ju couldnt continue. Hyung But I couldnt say anything either. Bi-jus father came up to me and hugged me. Thank you, really. I heard his voice, which sounded just like his sons, in my ear. Before I coulde to my senses, his mother and Bi-ju joined us. I dont know why I was in the arms of this crying family. I didnt feel bad. Rather, I felt good. Mom, whats wrong? Minjun, who was asleep when the professor came, woke up from the noise. He looked at us with a bewildered face. Bi-ju quickly exined the situation to him. And that day. In my hand, as I returned to the hostel, was a trophy model of a board game. It was the trophy Minjun gave me. It was much smaller than the trophy I received for winning the music show, but it was a more precious gift to me. *** And a littleter. We were in the practice room, sitting around the phone, listening to the news. It was the result of Minjuns surgery. My mother, who was sobbing, told us what the professor had said. It went very well. So buy him a backpack and school supplies before next spring. Chapter 46: Fireworks Chapter 46: Fireworks Chapter 46 Fireworks A few days after hearing the news about Minjun. We were having lunch in the studio. Here you go. Bi-ju smiled brightly and handed out the lunch boxes. The boxes were made of high-quality material. The contents were so splendid that they made my mouth water. Chicken karaage, smoked duck, bulgogi, and more. I love you, hyung! Ji-ho tore the wooden chopsticks with a blissful expression. I also thanked Bi-ju. Please tell your father thank you. The lunch boxes we were eating were sent by Bi-jus father. He must have wanted to express his gratitude in his own way. Bi-jus family often sent us expensive lunch boxes like this after the surgery. How is Minjun doing? Dont even ask. Bi-ju waved his hand andughed. Hes so excited to go to school next year. Hes been nagging his mom and dad to buy him a backpack. His mom sends me pictures every day, and his expression is getting brighter and brighter. I didnt see the pictures, but I could imagine. The expression on his face as he was talking about it was sparkling. I felt a warm feeling in my chest. Oh, right. Bi-ju changed the subject after talking non-stop for a while. I ran into Manager Yoon on the first floor. He said to wait for him after lunch. He has some things to tell us. Things to tell us? Oh. We have a meeting today. A meeting where all the departments gathered to promote our debut album. It was like a mission briefing. The only things left for New cks album were the cover photo and the music video. The meeting today was to discuss the final work and marketing. Hyung, youre going to be famous as aposer now. Come on, no way. Why not? There hasnt been an idol who debuted with selfposed songs from the start. Arent you the first? He wasnt wrong. We were the first to debut with selfposed songs. It was unprecedented in many ways. It was only natural. It takes billions of won to make an album. Would there be apany that would entrust such a huge project to an idols selfposed songs? Ourpany also had a lot of opposition at first. Even the big agencies failed when they tried to debut solo idols with selfposed songs. How could we seed? But the staff seem positive. Bi-ju said with a smile. They seemed a bit hesitant before. But their expressions changed after they saw the final version of Fireworks. Thats right. I asked a sister in the PR team yesterday. She said the atmosphere in the departments changedpletely after the A&R team yed the finished songs. They said they have to promote them properly because theyre good songs. Wow, theyre really pushing us. Jung-hyun, who was admiring, added. The songs are good. And thepany is passionate. I have a good feeling But Jung-hyun couldnt finish his sentence. Ah! No! Hey, Wang Ji-ho. Cover Jung-hyuns mouth! No way. Why do I have to do it! I turned my head and looked at Bi-ju. Whats going on? Jung-hyun has a jinx or something. Whenever he says something is going to be good, or he has a good feeling, something always goes wrong. Thest time I heard him say that was the mid-year evaluation, I think? Thats right. Ri-hyuk shuddered as if he hated the thought. We got totally crushed by Street Boys then. The atmosphere in the rookie development team was terrible, and the CEO didnt even greet us properly for a few days. I hate to think about it. Really. Hyung, you promised not to use the word feeling except for snacks. Im sorry The rapper, who was scolded by his younger brothers, ate his lunch box with a sullen face. His face looked like an angry teddy bear, so it seemed like a sullen bear holding a honey jar. I felt sorry and cute for Jung-hyun, so Iforted him. Why are you guys like that to Jung-hyun? Dont believe in such nonsense. Hey, you dont know our history. Youll see. Do you know how long and glorious Jung-hyuns jinx is? I dont know. Youll find out soon. Why are you scaring me? Right, Bi-ju? But Bi-ju also gave a awkwardugh at my words. It made me feel uneasy. Hyung. Jung-hyun said with a sheepish expression. I want to say its not true, but its weird. Whenever I say something like that Whats this? Ri-hyuk looked at his smartphone with a frown. Whats wrong? Well, Jung-hyun said he had a good feeling, so I thought something might happen and went online. But as soon as I got in, there was this on the main page. Look. Hmm? What happened? The youngest looked at something and popped his head out, making the same expression. Can you show me too? Bi-ju also frowned as he took the phone. Then the three of them looked at me with a smirk. What? As Jung-hyun moved away from me, the younger ones looked at each other with my questioning gaze. You do it, hyung do it. The same look was exchanged. Bi-ju took the lead. Hyung, do you remember Street Boys? The ones wepeted with at the end of the year evaluation? The ones that DNS Media isunching. Yes, theres an article out right now. Bi-ju cautiously handed me his smartphone. As soon as I saw the headline that popped up on the screen, I couldnt help but frown. -New boy group Street Boys, the true self-producing idols are here. What is this? *** -Street Boys, debut album tracklist revealed Members selfposed songs are the title tracks -From title tracks to selfposed songs, Street Boys bring a fresh breeze to the music industry -DNS Media says Look forward to their selfposed songs It all started with an article from Young Daily. After that, articles with different titles but the same content started to appear. It meant two things. DNS Media was aggressivelyunching a publicity campaign. And Lemon Entertainment got a big blow from their rival. A representative of DNS Media said The recent music trend is changing rapidly and Look at Something. Didnt they seed by writing andposing their own songs as idols? We got convinced by that. Soon, it will be an era where idols have to survive by writing andposing their own songs and exined the reason for choosing a selfposed song as the title track How can they be so shameless? The director, who was reading the article, spat out a harsh word, but no one stopped him. Even CEO Park Kyu-ho was just listening quietly. A heavy silence hung over the conference room. Lemon Entertainment and DNS Media were traditional rivals. The two medium-sized agencies with thergest scale after the Big Four were always growling andpeting with each other. It started as a pride fight between the two CEOs, who were former managers and engineers of TJ Entertainment, but as fights always do, it had now turned into an inseparablepetitive structure. If Scarlet released an album, La Vie en Rose would release an album, and if theyunched Street Boys over there, we wouldunch New ck over here. From the end-of-year evaluation, there were pride fights between the twopanies everywhere. But until now, they had never crossed a certain line. This is too malicious. The A&R team leader opened his lips. They didnt even mention the word selfposed when they were about to debut in April, but suddenly they say its a selfposed title track. It cant be a coincidence, since theposer is someone we met. There was a name they knew in the production team of the title track that was posted on DNS Medias official SNS. It was Jung Chang-mo, aposer who used the pseudonym JCM. A third-yearposer. He was now coposing the debut title track Hunger for Street Boys, but he was originally supposed to be aposer for New ck. If the A&R team hadnt rejected him after hearing Seon Woojoos song. He must have tipped off DNS after hearing that we refused because of Woojoos selfposed song. Thats not what I meant to tell him Dont me yourself. CEO Park Kyu-ho opened his lips. His expression was slightly stiff, but he was smiling generously as usual. Heforted the staff who couldnt hide their disappointment. Whats done is done. We cant change that. Its not a one or two day thing to get hit and hit back in this business. You have to be strong-minded at times like this. Thepany has to hold its ground for the entertainers to survive. The staff nodded. So lets stop the negative thoughts here. Lets discuss the countermeasures. The meeting resumed. Come to think of it, this situation shows how desperate the other side is. The manager in charge of New ck, Yoon Seok-hwan, said. The current situation of DNS Media was not good. In line with the idol generation change, DNS recentlyunched a girl group called La Vie en Rose. But the result was not good. Only member Jeon Yu-bin was shining in variety shows, but there was nothing to say about the groups overall performance. So they were pouring their blood intounching a new group called Street Boys. Even the debut reality show they filmedst year was rumored to have a huge lobby on K. The problem was that Street Boys, who should have debuted already, had theirunch dyed due to DNS Medias internal problems. They suffered a lot of losses in investment costs, from venue fees to costume fees. In the meantime, New ck, who had risen sharply since the end-of-year evaluationst year, was enjoying a sensational poprity with their duet song. In a way, this mess happened because of Woojoo. When they heard that the person who made the fresh stage at the end-of-year evaluation was Seon Woojoo, the agencies just shrugged. They did a good casting this time, they thought. But then they heard that the new face wasposing with Jang So-won, and then they came back with a song that shook the whole country in February. At first, everyone thought it was Jang So-wons merit. But when the music cafe revealed the story ofposing and the fact that his father was Seon Myungjoo, the atmosphere changed to half-belief and half-doubt. Does he really have a talent forposing? In that situation, when they heard the news that Lemon Entertainment decided to reject the professionalposers song and go with Seon Woojoos selfposed song as the title track, there was no need to say how flustered DNS Media was. How good is the song that they are sending it out as the title track? From the perspective of DNS, who recalled the precedents of the end-of-year evaluation and Something, they couldnt ignore the selfposed song of an amateur. If they went on like this, Street Boys would be in a situation where they might lose their recognition to a strong rival from the start. The best strategy they could take in this situation was a preemptive strike. They would take the self-producing idol image for themselves first. Anyway, the situation has be awkward. The PR team leader said. In this situation, even if we spread press releases massively, the public will only see us as theters. We threw the breadcrumbs with the mention of the tracklist since April, but who would remember that. In a situation where DNS is sending out articles as they are. There was silence in the conference room again. The eyes of the worried people were tangled in the air. Then the voice came from the producer who had been silent until then. You dont have to look at it negatively. Director Jo Gyu-hwan opened his lips. Although we couldnt monopolize the image we should have taken because of DNSs marketing, on the other hand, this could be a big opportunity. Opportunity? Using their publicity materials in reverse. He continued to exin. DNS is betting their lives on the Street Boys project. They are trying to beat us to the punch with the publicity we havent done yet. The more we respond, the more they wille out stronger. We use that to create a rival structure between our kids and Street Boys. When Lemon and DNS started a marketing fight over their groups, the reporters naturally smelled something. The debut fight of the new boy groups. It was a topic that could bring some excitement to the recent boring music industry. Once the rival structure is formed, the next fight will be in our favor. The more DNS promotes, the more naturally New cks name will be mentioned, so we can enjoy the marketing effect for free. The bigger the fight, the more the publics interest will grow. True. There will be people who will listen to the song out of curiosity. CEO Park Kyu-ho was deep in thought. But this seems like a big risk. If we win after raising the stakes, itll be a jackpot, but if we lose, itll be a disaster. The winner would sweep up all the money, but the loser could suffer a huge blow. It could be a fight that would end up losing more than they gained. The CEO, who was tapping the table while lost in thought, turned his head to the A&R team leader. Team Leader Park. Yes, sir. That song that Woojoo made, you said it was mixed and finished a while ago. Can I hear it again? One of the things that CEO Park Kyu-ho felt strongly while raising singers at thepany was that it was ultimately a song fight. No matter who did more publicity. Or which program they appeared on. The most important thing for a singers sess was the quality of the song. Luck and opportunity were secondary, he believed that a good song would eventually be popr. Thats why he needed confidence. The confidence that this investment would pay off before making a big decision. Soon, the A&R team leader who got up from his seat yed the final version of Fireworks on the speaker. When the song finally ended. CEO Park Kyu-ho was able to make a decision with a confident feeling. *** Several hourster than the scheduled time. We, who were adjusting the choreography of Fireworks in the practice room, greeted Yoon Seok-hwan, who was exhausted. He looked like a math genius who had been microwaved. He drank the water that was on the corner table and looked at us with a blurry focus. Then he gestured for us to gather as if he had something to say. I have some things to tell you. We all sat down. The CEO made a decision after the meeting. From now on, were going to double the budget for New cks debut. The kids opened their mouths in astonishment at the shocking news. I was also pping my mouth like a goldfish. Wait a minute. Its already a lot, but twice? Everything will change. Were going to hire the best director for your jacket shooting and music video. The showcase preparation cost will also increase significantly. It goes without saying that thepanys celebrities will support you on SNS. The matters that were decided at the meeting were all amazing. The PR team will also increase the video production staff and film your daily life in a reality show format. Until a few days ago, when he was asked to film and upload our daily life, Yoon Seok-hwan said he didnt have the resources to do that. Thepany was busy with the movie promotion. And there was only one employee in charge of video editing. But todays event seemed to have changed all that. Basically, thepany will do everything they can to make you fly. The CEO and the executives are all determined. This is a big opportunity for all of us. Especially for you. The manager said earnestly. You have to grab it. If you want to survive. Thats how our debut battle with Street Boys began. Chapter 47: Chapter 47: Chapter 47 A few days after DNS Medias surprise publicity blitz. Lemon Entertainmentunched a massive counterattack. The PR team, which received twice as much budget as before, started to circte press releases like crazy. -New ck, the Something hitmakers, return with selfposed songs -This time, its a summer season song, New ck reveal the tracklist of their debut album -New ck, tond on the music scene next month with their new title song Fireworks The PR cost must have been enormous, as some of the articles even made it to the main page. Thanks to that, our group name rose on the real-time search rankings. Maybe it was because our name became more known through music shows and music cafes. This never happened when DNS Media promoted Street Boys. And it seemed to provoke ourpetitors. As if they wouldnt take Lemons counterattack lying down, DNS Media also poured out another round of publicity. -Lavender Rose, cheering for their junior group on SNS Who are Street Boys? -Rapper Hesion, praises Street Boys leader Hanjo for his rap skills -Street Boys, who rose on the real-time search rankings, are hot even before their debut The nerve war between the twopanies was going on everywhere. At this point, it was so obvious that anyone could see it, so posts started to appear on idolmunities. -Whats up with Lemon and DNS? Theyre sopetitive -Are Kyuho and Hyunsik fighting again? -It didnt seem like this when Scarlet and LaRose werepeting, why are they doing this? -Isnt it because DNS started it? They changed Street Boys debut date and song, right? Anyone can see that they were conscious of Lemon -What are you talking about? Didnt you see the interview? They said they were going to release it on their second album, but they had enough time to prepare it -Thement above is nonsense. Anyone can see that they followed New ck -Theyre fighting like crazy -Who are these guys? They already have fans?? I get that New ck is because of Something, but what about Street Boys? -They had a debut reality show on , it was pretty popr -Wow, theyre already fighting like this, Im looking forward to it -Some of thements smell like shit -Theyre just saying whatever they want because theyre rookies -It reminds me of the epic fight between TNT and Sixty. It wont be boring for a while Except for a few fandoms, most of the idol fans were watching with popcorn in their hands, as if they were enjoying the show. Maybe it was because of these reactions. The entertainment reporters smelled something and jumped in like hyenas. -The uing boy group war in June, who will be the winner? -Composer-dols vs Composer-dols, the points to watch in the June boy group war -June music scene, the bold challenge of rookie boy groups The entertainment reporters gave a grand name to thepetition between the two groups: June Boy Group War. Of course, other groups were also mentioned, but it was obvious that they were just for show. The main focus was the rival structure between us and Street Boys. Who would have a more sessful promotion, whose song would be better. The general public was still indifferent, but the interest was gradually rising among the idol fans. There hadnt been any rival fights in the idol scene since Sixty Seconds fell, so that was why. Especially since the main singers announced theireback in July and August, the rookie group fight was a spectacle for the boring June. Reflecting that, there were some visible changes. The number of fancafe members increased, and the views of the videos we uploaded on MTube soared noticeably. The more that happened, the more clear the meaning of this battle became for the twopanies. Opportunity. Whoever won, it was certain that the winner would monopolize all the attention. A fight that had to be won at all costs. In the situation where the two groups and their agencies were sharpening their knives, summer was slowly approaching. *** May, a studio in Gangnam-gu. Wow. The New ck members were eximing as they visited the studio for the album jacket shoot. Hyung, sit down. The sofa is as good as ours at home. Really. This is awesome. Wang Ji-ho and Kim Jung-hyun were sitting on the luxurious sofa and giggling. Doesnt this look really expensive? It does. It looks like an Egyptian jar. It would be nice if we had one of these at our dorm. Why would you put it in the dorm? Jung-hyun and Wang Ji-ho would break it for sure. Kim Bi-ju and Seo Ri-hyuk were admiring a strange artifact and giving their opinions. A jar that looked expensive at a nce. Everything in the waiting room was like that. The interior seemed to say, Do you think you belong here with your level? They said hes the best-selling artist in Gangnam. He must be really good. The waiting room is so luxurious. Look at the photos on the wall. Theyre all top star seniors. Wow. Oh? But there arent many idols, are there? Theres TN Ah, why? Are you clueless? Seo Ri-hyuk pointed with his chin at someone who was sitting in a corner of the sofa with his legs crossed. Then Wang Ji-ho realized. He had forgotten that there was someone who had been eliminated from the TNT debut group. But the other person seemed to not hear their conversation. He was looking at his smartphone with a serious expression. He looked very focused on something. Seo Ri-hyuk mouthed a question. What is that guy looking at? Hyung Jun-hyun, Hyung Woojoo, what are you looking at? Kim Jun-hyun blinked and looked at Wang Ji-ho. His bear-like face had an expression that said he couldnt understand at all. Before his booming voice could say Whats wrong? without any tact, Wang Ji-ho quickly raised his finger. Then he opened the messenger. [Universe Team without Universe (4)] Ri-hyuk [pdf idiot] As the two youngest ones were fighting, Kim Jung-hyun, who was peeking at Seon Woojoo from the next seat, yed with his fingers again. Jung-hyun [guys] Jung-hyun [This time Im watching a video] Bi-ju [?] Bi-ju [No, Woojoo hyung wouldnt do that] Ji-ho [ Bi-ju hyung breakdown] But the other members were also confused. I [Bi-ju] sighed. There must be a reason for it. Jung-hyun snorted. Are you kidding me? Hesughing now. We all looked at where Seon Woojoo was standing. He was holding his phone and smiling brightly. Ji-ho [Bi-ju hyung] Ji-ho [Seon Woojoo hyung, stop being a fanboy ande to my arms] I [No way] I [Seon Woojoo hyung has beenposing a lottely and working hard and getting stressed Hes only human, you know] I [Emoticon (sob)] Ri-hyuk shook his head. Hyung, you look like youve been hit hard by reality. Ji-ho [LOL LOL LOL LOL] As everyone was busy exchanging opinions while watching the leaders bizarre behavior, Seori Hyuk chuckled and typed on the keyboard. Seori [Just watch] Seori [He must have something up his sleeve again] I think Ive seen enough by now. I turned off my smartphone and recalled the expressions of the models I had just seen. At the same time, I slowly moved my facial muscles. On the ck screen of my smartphone, the perfect expression for todays shooting came to mind. Perfect. Ever since I heard that the concept of the album was the freshness of summer, I prepared for the shooting with my imitation ability. I referenced anything that suited the summer. I learned the smile of the cider advertisement model, the movement of the muscles around the eyes of the people who appeared in various summer pictorials, and the usual smile of the models on MewTube. Ibined all of that. It was possible because I practiced my imitation ability. Before, I could only copy one action exactly, but now I couldbine the movements of the muscles naturally. Thats why I found the optimal expression for the pictorial concept like a chemist who studies thebination of substances for a few days. The efficiency definitely increased from then on. The incident that happened when I met Professor Choi Yong-jae at the hospital. Suddenly, I experienced the past again like a shback. From that point on, the efficiency of my ability increased. I still dont know why that happened. Well, thats not urgent right now. The important thing is to achieve results in this album. But I asked the members who were looking at me with a strange expression. Why are you looking at me like that? They didnt answer me. I was about to ask again, tilting my head, when the managers came in. The photographer just arrived. Lets go and greet him. As we left the waiting room, Yoon Seok-hwans voice followed us. Do you know how famous the photographer who is doing the shooting today is? He usually doesnt work with rookies, but we barely persuaded him to do it. So greet him politely as soon as you meet him. Like the first day you went on a music show. Yes. You have to work really hard on the shooting. Thepany decided to upload the photos you took today on the inte. Everyone nodded enthusiastically, among them Ji-ho asked. Manager. Huh? Why doesnt he work with rookies? Usually rookies make a lot of mistakes. There are a lot of things to point out about their expressions or poses. Well, its inevitable because they have little shooting experience, but from the photographers point of view, its annoying if the shooting subject is clumsy. When we headed inside the studio, we widened our eyes. What, why are there so many people? What do you mean? Yoon Seok-hwan smiled as he looked at the bustling crowd. They are thepany staff who came to help you with the shooting. Wow There were at least 20 people. Including the outsourced staff such as makeup and the management team staff who came from thepany. They all came out because of us. I felt it for real. When I heard that thepany was pouring money into New ck, I was nervous, but now that I see it, I feel it in my heart. I steeled myself and told my brothers. We have to be prepared to break our bones, guys. Huh? Why are theyughing? I was serious, but they wereughing for some reason. *** The shooting began in earnest. The members of New ck stared at one ce and blinked their eyes. Yeah! Thats it! The photographer with gold-rimmed sses and a beanie pressed the shutter with an excited voice. Yeah. Yeah, yeah, with the expression of watching fireworks in the night sky, yeah! Thats right. Youre doing well. You. The members looked at each other in silence. Did I hear that right? When I was shooting, that photographer was so annoyed with me. He said if I was going to do it like that, I should just quit. Me too. He asked me why I looked so awkward. Ive never been dissed for my expression before. I got scolded a lot too. He dissed me for being too big to shoot. He said I was the biggest subject he ever saw among idols. He also said my pose was like a sphinx. Hyung. Thats because Hey, Kim Jung-hyun. If you lie down when he tells you to rx, of course youll get scolded. Before Seon Woojoos shoot, they had endured all kinds of insults from the professional photographer, as Yoon Seok-hwan had warned them. His expression was so fierce that it made their stomachs ache. But now, the person who had been so strict with them was smiling all the time. Its kind of unfair that hes now Hes doing so well. Right? Hes really good. They looked at Seon Woojoo, who was standing in the studio. A white T-shirt and jeans. With a sky-blue shirt loosely draped over them, Seon Woojoo smiled and struck a pose. There was nothingcking or wanting. As if to show what freshness was, he had a determined expression. Did Hyung always do expression acting that well? They were not the only ones who were amazed. Thepany staff who came to help with the shoot were also staring at him like they were bewitched. It was not just because of his appearance. His expression had something that drew peoples attention. Like when you see a sunset or a night sea in front of you and you cant help but stare at it. Huh? The members turned their heads at Kim Jung-hyuns remark. Whats wrong? That expression, its simr to the ones that the models had in the video that Hyung watched earlier. They looked at each other. So, that was him practicing his expression? It seems like it. Can you practice with that? It looks like it works They looked at each other again and chuckled. They realized what their leader had been doing. Of course, if someone else had done that, they would have said, Are you kidding me? and dismissed it as nonsense, but since it was Seon Woojoo, they epted it. He was a person who often defied theirmon sense. Hes really amazing. Seriously. Seo Ri-hyuk said with a bored tone. Its really lucky that hes on our side. Street Boys are really screwed. Of all the teams topete with, they have this crazy guy on their team. The youngests words made the older onesugh. By the way, didnt they say they would upload their jacket photos around the same time as us? Oh, right. Im curious about the reaction. They wondered what kind of reaction Seon Woojoos photos would get on the inte, since they were so well received on the scene. As they all looked forward to it. A few dayster, the concept photos were posted on the SNS ounts of bothpanies. Chapter 48: Chapter 48: Chapter 48 When our photos were uploaded on Lemon Entertainments official SNS, we were all catching our breaths in the practice room. It was a break time right after the practice. The youngest, who hadid his head on my thigh, sprang up. Hyungs! Look at this, it just came up! Really? Let me see. The five of us gathered around the smartphone like meerkats. On the screen that Ji-ho showed us, there were our photos posted on Lemon Entertainments official SNS ount. We gasped as we flipped through them. Wow, we dont look like ourselves, we look like different people. The youngest was right, we really looked like different people. The ones in the photos were not us, but young men from another world. Ji-ho, who wore a red hairband and smiled brightly. Ri-hyuk, who sat in front of a canvas with a sea painted on it, with a chic expression and paint smeared on his face. Bi-ju, who held a yellow flower in his hand and looked at it lovingly. Jung-hyun, whoy down leisurely and bit into a green apple. The concept shots that brought out each of our colors were so impressive that I would want to know who they were right away if I were an idol fan. The photos are really pretty. Im going to send them to my mom, dad, and sisterster. This is the first time Ive seen such a good shot of myself in years. Wang Ji-ho, how do I look? I think I came out well. You totally did, I admit. Yeah? You look like a pirarucu right now, but in the photo, you look like a cool handsome boy. The warm atmosphere of the youngest line turned into a mess as Ri-hyuk searched for pirarucu. I came out well. How about you? I think Im okay. Actually, I was more worried about how our kids woulde out. The shooting site was so tense that day. They all got scolded a lot. The hyung line smiled calmly as if they were relieved. Huh? Thest one is Woojoo hyungs and the group shot! What? Why are there so many photos? Theyre up! My concept shot and group shot just came up. And Im embarrassed to say it with my own mouth, but my personal shot was really the best. Wow The younger ones opened their mouths wide and looked at the photo. In the screen, I was sitting on a box with purple fireworks sticking out, smiling. Refreshing. I felt proud for some reason as I saw the smile that seemed to make me feel refreshed. I did everything to practice that. From magazine pictorials to the expressions that models in bikinis made. It was worth preparing. I thought it was amazing at the shooting site, but its really awesome. Its amazing how I keep looking at it. Right? How do you make such an expression? Ri-hyuk, who was moving his facial muscles strangely to imitate me, snickered. I was embarrassed, so I changed the topic. Hows the reaction to our photos? Its just likes for now. I guess our fans dont know yet. It hasnt been long since they posted it. The fans only gave us about 10 likes so far. I wonder what itll be like when it spreads on the inte. Wont they make a fuss over Woojoo hyungs photo? I know. Im looking forward to it. Honestly, even if we look at it, its something As the younger ones said a word each, I also felt excited. A photo that I think came out well. I wonder what people will say when they see this photo. *** After Lemon and DNS posted their concept shots, the photos went up on the idolmunity. -[Spoiler] Boy group concept shots for debut in June The post had concept shots of New ck, Street Boys and two other groups lined up. -Looks like Lemon is going for a refreshing concept? -They both picked good concepts -Whos the brown-haired one?? Hes so pretty -Isnt that the filter of their lives They didnt look like that when I saw New ck on the music show -Oh, theyre not bad? -You have to see them to know Theyre just profile pictures -But theyre all visually striking. Is it because Lemon is an actor agency that they picked unique kids? -When are they debuting? -Hey. Why are you guys only talking about New ck? Street Boys must be sad -Youre worse for hitting them like this -Street Boys concept is so fierce They all look like they want money for their eyes. -Theyre already obsessed with them They should watch their performance. Simr posts came up, but most of them were full ofpliments for the concept shots posted by Lemon. It was a clear win for New ck. It was only natural. New cks refreshing concept was more approachable than Street Boys hip hop warrior concept, and the photos taken by an excellent photographer caught more attention. Of course, there was another big reason. -That brown-haired one is totally my type Whats his name? -Is there more than one brown-haired one? -You should get it if I say it, dont you have any sense? The brown-haired one were talking about is the only one here. -the brown-haired one -Why do you put the definite article From thements asking for his name. -He looks so mysterious I cant take my eyes off him. - I dont know if its because of his expression, but I keep looking at him. -Wow Look at his expression. He doesnt look like a rookie at all. He has something. -He looks good enough to watch on stage even with just a photo. To the praises for his expression. But there were always sharp people. -But he looks so familiar. -I keep looking at him because its so amazing, and I think I know what this is. -? -It feels simr to that gif. This one. (A gif of a model walking with a smile in a swimming pool) -Oh? This is it. - Whats with the simrity? -They look totally different. -His mouth shape is simr. -There is a simr vibe. A kind of feeling that makes you feel refreshed just by looking at him in the summer? He has a good concept. -This is the most refreshing idol concept shot Ive ever seen. - I feel like I have to call him unnie after seeing that gif above. I keep feeling ovepped. -If he debuted as a girl group, the old men would have gone crazy -Agree Why is he so pure -There are already some posts on the male-dominatedmunity. As thements on the post said, the concept shot of the rookie male idol member also entered the male-dominatedmunity. [Seon Myung-joos son is debuting and his visuals are amazing ] -Is he top tier? -Totally. -Hes national top Ive never seen anyone who looks like that around me. -Hes top tier in small and medium-sized cities. Hes borderline in metropolitan cities. At first, there was a debate about what percentage of the top he was, but soon the topic moved to somewhere else. -Ah But his expression is so I dont know how to say it Nice. -Hyungs, would you give him your number if he smiled like that and asked for it? -I would. -What are you talking about;;; -Were disgusted here, but I think Id be shaken if I saw him in front of me. - Why are thements like this? -Its because of his expression. If the pictorial photo was a woman, many hearts would have been broken. -Isnt it a mans heart? -Ew The post reached the best as thements became full of arguments about whether they would give him their number or not. The reason for this was because of Seon Woojoos expression. The smile that was full of freshness was made from the beginning by gathering the attractive parts that did not distinguish between men and women, so the effect was also not gender-specific. Maybe it was because men also found it strangely captivating. It was an unexpected side effect for the person himself. *** Eulwangri Beach. While we were out to shoot the outdoor part of the music video, I was suffering from an untimely pain. Hey! Theres someone on the sand over there. Oh, Im drawn to him. Wow, isnt that the maic man Seon Woojoo? Huh? Hes running away. Catch him! As I ran like a madman, the younger ones with mini cams chased me like a pack of hyenas on a hunt. Guys! Dont run and be careful, youll get hurt! The voices of thepany staff who said that were full ofughter. They were the ones who teased me as soon as they saw me. Im going crazy. No, its good that the concept shot reaction is hot. Why did it be a hot topic in the mensmunity of all ces? And it didnt end there. It got imported back to the idolmunity and the situation got worse. Something like, The rookie male idol who became popr in the male-dominatedmunity.jpg. You know what happened next. Everyone at thepany teased me. The managers chuckled. The younger ones went crazy. I wish it was the souffl incident. When they made fun of me for mispronouncing New ck as souffl, it was almost nothingpared to now. Now, Im twice as miserable because weve gotten closer. Gotcha! I was finally caught by the three excited brothers. These devilish things. Wow. Woojoo hyung, our family goes to church. Uh But I dont go. I resisted the urge to smack the youngest one who was giggling. Im holding back because of the music video, really. Of course, it was more because of the handycam in their hands right now. Thepany was running a reality project where they filmed our daily lives because the concept shots got a lot of attention. Wow, Woojoo hyung is pissed again. Im not pissed. Its been a long time since I saw this expression after the souffl. Fans, can you see? This is the expression our eldest hyung makes when hes angry. Oh, why is Ri-hyuk hyung next to him like that? That hyung always has a bad expression, ugh! Ji-ho, who was grabbed by the cor by Ri-hyuk, dropped the camera, and Jung-hyun lightly caught it in the air. Then he smiled and filmed me. Why, do you want to tease me too? No, I just like watching more. Jung-hyun asked me while I was snickering. How do you feel about the concept shots getting more attention than you expected? Uh, Im very grateful. I had no idea it would be an issue like that, but I want to say thank you. I mean, gender is not a very important issue when ites to liking idols, right Hyung, you look like youre crying. No, Im not. Maybe some salt got in my eyes. Jung-hyun diligently changed the angles and captured my faint figure walking against the backdrop of the sea. As I moved my steps leisurely listening to the sound of the waves. The shooting equipment was still being set up on the sand. Bi-ju, who was sitting under a parasol, waved his hand and shouted when he saw us. Guys, our guest is here! Guest? I guess Nayoonie noona is here. Oh, the Kakao appearance? Cameo. Jung-hyun hyung, cameo. Itsmon to use cameos when shooting music videos. For the purpose of sending out a line of press articlester. Long time no see, everyone. Behind Bi-ju, a small-framed girl group member, Daisy, appeared. A face with fair skin and big eyes. She looked like a cute block of tofu waving her hand. We greeted her warmly for sparing her time for the fireworks music video shooting. Hello. Noona, long time no see! The kids greeted each other warmly. It was a polite greeting. Daisy, who was chatting happily, brought up something as if she had remembered it. By the way, I bought some sushi for you guys to eatter. The sincere wee that came out right away made the other person look nervous. Sushi was a big deal. *** The morning shoot was a sess. We had practiced the choreography like crazy, so it paid off to match our fingers and toes. The director also praised us constantly. He said we might finish by evening. Good job, everyone! After greeting all the staff with a 90-degree bow, I finally took a seat at the table under the parasol. Daisy, who had finished the cameo shoot, was with us. Wow, noona spent a lot of money. There are almost 60 people, including the staff and us. Right? Im kind of rich. Daisyughed cheekily, as usual. She was the same as when I saw her in January, when I threw her a luggage. The only thing that changed was her clothes, ording to the season. Daisy, who was chatting with the kids, looked at me. But oppa, youre hard to see. I thought Id run into you once, since the studio is attached and all. I went to ask you about myposition block several times, but you were never there. Did you? You should have left a note. I wasnt that curious. The person who shrugged his shoulders suddenly lit up his eyes as if he had thought of something. Oh, speaking ofposing, how about fireworks? Do you like it? The A&R team always talks about it when I go there. The ones who answered that were the younger ones. Look forward to it, noona. Woojoo hyung made a really good song. We wrote the lyrics too. Well, I hate to admit it, but the song is decent. It suits our color well and it was well made. Me and Woojoo hyung worked hard to make it. It feels like our song every time I listen to it. The kids were excited, while the person who actually made it was quiet. I didnt know they were so proud of the song I made. Wow. It must be really good. Daisy said with a curious expression. Not to mention, every time I go to the music show, I hear this all the time. The other group kidse and ask me. They say your junior group has a new songing out, hows the song? Really? What is this nonsense? The rumor is fast in this industry. Everyone is interested because of thepetition with DNS. Really? For us? No, not you, this oppa. Everyoneughed at Ji-ho, who made a sullen face. Theyre amazed that you have a selfposed title track this time. They wonder how good the song is, and if its going to be another hit like Something. Even Im curious, you know. The other group people do that? They pretend not to, but theyre really interested. Yesterday, I went to greet Teen Spirit in their waiting room, and they were subtly digging. She said with a displeased tone. They keep asking me how your junior kids song is. Its obvious what theyre up to. They want to be nice to you in advance, in case the song does well. Thats how they all calcte. I mean,posing is something that you can seed once by luck, but if you seed more than once, its skill. They think that if theyre nice to you when youre a rookie, they might get a good song from youter. Its scary when you think about the entertainment industry. The kids who havent even graduated from high school are living with their antennae up, wondering who will do well and what their potential is. Sometimes it feels disgusting. Be careful of the kids whoe to you, whether theyre boys or girls. There are a lot of foxes. Its okay. Ji-ho said reassuringly. First of all, Woojoo hyung doesnt like girls. Im going crazy because of him. Hey, dont say that, what does that make me? Of course, the man of charm. Woojoo hyung, its not bad to have guys like you. Instead of helping me, who was suffering, the younger ones joined in teasing me with giggles. Daisyughed as if she couldnt stop them. You guys are really mean, really. Right? Yes, so dont give these idiots a solo songter, and work with me or our sisters. Suddenly, Im intrigued. There were immediate reactions to the subtle suggestion. Dont try to seduce our hyung, noona. Thats right. Were so good to him. Come on, say something, hyung. I didnt answer. As if he wasnt sure, he looked at the younger ones with a vague sense of anxiety. What, why arent you answering? I felt likeughing when I saw the guys who had teased me all day being anxious. It felt refreshing. I ate a piece of sushi and smiled. The rice was very sweet. Chapter 49: Chapter 49: Chapter 49 After Daisy left, we finished the remaining music video shoot. While the staff were preparing to leave. We were staring endlessly at the sunset sea. Wow. It was a peaceful scenery that healed just by looking at it. The sound of the waves echoed in our ears, and the red-tinted seawater was swaying in the distance. It was a time when I felt like old memories came to mind. Hyung. I heard the youngests faint voice. I answered with my eyes still fixed on the far horizon. Why? Who will you give your songs to when we go soloter? Yeah, who will you give them to? I know everything, hyung. Youre not saying it out loud because youre worried about hurting the other hyungs feelings, right? I smiled at the youngest who was fidgeting next to me. Ill never give them to you. To you. Wow, thats so mean. Yeah, Wang Ji-ho, you should have listened to me better. After all, the main vocal can digest the songs the best, right? Youre even worse. Lees face, who was drinking the soup, crumpled. Hyung, I can write rap, so I dont need much help. Youre not either The rapper who was trying hard to appeal turned into a gloomy rock, and thest one left smiled gracefully. I knew it, hyung. No everyone says no why are you guys doing this to me? The kidsughed at my distressed expression. Theyre saying that because of what Nayooni noona said earlier. They said other groups are eyeing you because your songs are good. What if someonees and takes you away with candy? Am I some kind of object? Hey, thats not it. Hyung, youre that. What was it? That as our dad would say, a goose thatys golden eggs? Im really not giving you my songs, to you. Ji-ho pretended to cry, and me and the membersughed. Of course it was a joke. It was a topic that could get heavy if we werent careful, so we were all deliberately talking lightly. Well, I understand that youre worried because there are so many people who change after they get popr. But Ive always hated that kind of thing. I had plenty of that experience at TJ Enter. If there was a kid who had good monthly evaluation scores and seemed to debut soon, they would go and act friendly and fart around. I hated that kind of thing. I should have practiced singing one more time instead of doing that, why did they do that? Its all pointless. In the end, you have to work hard and do well for yourself. I dont understand people who try to use others to get ahead. Well, Ive seen all kinds of things at thepany I used to work for. The kids who used to ask me how I was doing every day when I was picked for the TNT debut team cut off contact with me the day I was dropped. Come to think of it. Bi-ju said as if he remembered something. I remember what you said back then. When we ran into Girls on Top at the Hwai Enter hallway. Oh, when they ignored us because we were trainees? I was really upset then. Yeah, especially Gil Chaekyung. Thats when you said it, hyung. Lets not be like that. I just smiled silently. Bi-ju was saying what I wanted to say for me. To reassure the kids, I opened my mouth. Yeah, dont worry about changing or anything after you get popr. Honestly, Im having a hard time taking care of our family, let alone someone elses. Did you hear that? Woojoo hyung called us family. Hey, Ji-ho. I put my hand on the youngests head, who was smiling innocently. Can you please not look at the trees when someone talks, but look at the forest? Youre trying to hear what you want to hear Wait, why are you guys making those faces? Was the word family that good? I was speechless at the sight of the siblings who looked like they were holding hot steamed potatoes in the winter. When was it that they said Are you going to leave us if you do well?. Now theyre suddenly smiling brightly. Look at Ri-hyuk hyung and Bi-ju hyung. They must be touched. Werent you the one who left the fandom when you saw the bikini? Theres no such thing as leaving the fandom, only taking a break. I was listening to my younger brother Lines iprehensible conversation when I heard Min-ki hyung shout from afar. Hey, guys! Lets get ready to go back! Okay! We looked around at the members and sighed regretfully at the beach. Its a shame we couldnt even dip our feet in the water. Well, lets go to the beach again when we have time. Oh, that sounds good. How about we make a promise to go on a trip as a celebration of bing a family? The youngest clung to me with his arms around my neck and asked excitedly. Hyung, hyung. What do you want to do when we go together? What should we do? Jung-hyun seemed to have an idea and said. We should grill some meat. And some ms too. Kim Jung-hyun, do you only talk about food? Oh, right. I forgot about drinking. It would be nice to have a drink. Woojoo hyung cant drink, so he can have c with the kids. Then whos going to drive? None of us have a license. I do. Lets count Jung-hyun hyung out. Why me? The youngest, who was still hanging on my neck, answered. Hyung, youre strong and you break things easily. I feel like youll pull out the steering wheel if you drive. And then youll be like, huh? And look at us like this. Everyone burst intoughter at the youngests exaggerated expression. Even Jung-hyun, the victim. Maybe it was because we had finished filming the music video, but we felt rxed for the first time in a while as we entered the parking lot. Behind us, the sunset was shining. *** With the music video, the visual work for the debut album was over. An album usually consists of three stages. The first is the production work based on the n made by the A&R team. The second is the visual work that shows the produced album in a visual medium such as photos or videos that match the concept. The third is the promotion stage. We were at the third stage now. In other words, there was nothing left for us to do. Of course, that doesnt mean we really didnt do anything. There are things you need to prepare. The day after the music video shoot, Yoon Seok-hwan came to us with a huge pile of papers. Hyung, what is this? We have to prepare for the showcase now. You guys can practice on your own, but I think I need to train you on how to deal with reporters and stuff. Well, Ive summarized it briefly. We shivered as we looked at the evil-smiling manager. The showcase is an important stage. Yourepeting with the Street Boys right now. The public will decide the direct oue after listening to the songs, but theres something called the initial momentum. Yoon Seok-hwan exined byparison. You know the movie that ourpanys actor starred in, right? I know. Its the movie that Director Jo told us to watch. Right. was a case where it didnt get much attention at first, but it became a ten million movie by word of mouth. Well, its hard topare directly with the music industry, but anyway, the initial reaction of the reporters is really important here. Isnt it the case that they write favorably for the ones who give more publicity money? Well, there are cases like that. But you can tell by looking at the articles. Whether its a press release from thepany that they copied diligently, or whether the reporter wrote the article with their sincere heart. In order to gain the upper hand in thepetition with Street Boys, we had to show an impressive performance at the showcase. In other words, we had to avoid any mistakes. Especially since you have a rival situation, if you make a slip of the tongue about the other side, youll be gone right away. If it were America, I dont know, but Koreans dont like it when chicks fight with each other. Then what should we do? Practice hard. For the time being, Ill teach you how to answer questions myself. So we received intensive training on how to answer questions that reporters might ask, along with performance practice. It was hard enough when we were doing Something activities, but we were d to have this opportunity. We really struggled back then. I didnt know what I could or couldnt say, because I had no clue about the rules of the industry. I was more nervous when I heard that we had an interview with a reporter than when we had a radio show or an event. So we paid close attention and listened carefully whenever Yoon Seok-hwan taught us how to answer questions. It was a satisfying lesson overall. I was really worried. Im d thepany taught us this. Bi-ju started to say something, but then he frowned. But these are the expected questions that the manager gave us. Do you think theyll really ask us these? Some of them are too much. Hyung, not everyone is as nice as you. Thats right. My dad says there are several jobs that you cant get along with in the world, and one of them is a reporter. Hey, your father is What? Never mind. Ri-hyuk stopped himself from saying anything, as if he remembered the infamous reputation of Ji-hos fathers franchise. But still I spoke to the worried Bi-ju. Dont worry too much. We practiced a lot, right? We can even smile if they curse at us in front of us. Seok-hwan hyung brought us all kinds of trashy questions and trained us. Thats right. Manager, you have the skills of a troll. Bi-ju smiled as if that wasnt what he meant. No, Im just afraid you guys will get hurt. Why do you worry about that? My friend of the same age, Jung-hyun, smiled calmly. Just go for it. Weve been through a lot of hard times when our debut was canceled. Compared to that, this is nothing. We made a good album, and we shot a good jacket and music video. Oh, Jung-hyun hyung, are you going to say that again? We have a good vibe. The kids panicked again, as if they remembered the jinx that something bad would happen whenever Jung-hyun said he had a good feeling. Our teams rapper looked indignant, as if he was wronged. I said its not a feeling, its a vibe. Anyway, its not allowed. Thats right. Well add vibe to the list of forbidden words. I smiled inwardly as I watched them make a fuss. They reminded me of my grandmother. She had a lot of superstitions, like dont break an egg on the first day of the month, dont do this or that when you go to the temple, I was used to that. But they were young kids, and they were acting like that, so it was kind of cute. Dontugh like its someone elses problem. Ri-hyuk said with a pouty expression. You dont know how scary it is, even though youve experienced it once. I dont believe in superstitions. Why are you looking at me like that? It reminds me of myself in the past. I used to be logical and not believe in any superstitions. Well, Im still logical, he muttered, and I kept smiling as I looked at him. Nonsense. When Jung-hyun first said he had a good feeling, and then the article about Street Boys came out, I didnt care. It was a coincidence. Jinxes are just jinxes, they have no effect. Thats ridiculous. I thought so and shook my head. What could possibly happen? And then, a littleter. Unbelievably, it actually happened. *** On June 11th, a week before our showcase. Street Boys, a nine-member boy group from DNS Media, finally had their debut showcase. They said they would broadcast it live on the inte on K-Net. We turned on theptop on the studio table and gathered around. It was to monitor ourpetitors. Wow, theyre doing a live on K-Net? We dont have anything like that. DNS and that broadcasting station are close, you know. Na Yoon said thatst time, Scarlet also got a lot of help from there when they debuted. K-Net, a music channel, usually had a music show on Thursdays, and it was a show that singers usually went on before they went on the terrestrial channels on Fridays. For idols, it had more influence than the terrestrial channels in some aspects. ording to the kids, the director of that station and the CEO of DNS were close friends. On the other hand, I dont know why, but I have a bad rtionship with Lemon. Its awkward and ufortable between us. Im not sure how much of it is true, but it seems like K-Net is pushing for Street Boys. They had a reality show before their debut, and now theyre doing a live broadcast on the inte the day before their debut. Oh? Theyreing out. Wow, theyve lost a lot of weight sincest year. Amid the shes of cameras, the members of Street Boys appeared on the low-quality screen. They were wearing hip-hop style outfits. Ooh, they look cool. They have swag, right? Should we try hip-hopter? Shh, be quiet. I think theyre about to start the song. The lights went out and the first stage began. We watched the screen with anticipation. Even though they were ourpetitors, we were curious as fellow musicians. What kind of song would it be? Soon, a powerful guitar riff sounded and the nine members started their choreography from the edges. Finally, when the hand gesture reached the leader in the center, All the lights turned on and the song officially started. Wow, this is good. We were enjoying the song and giving positive feedback, but our smiles didntst long. It was because of the self-written rap by the leader, Hanjo, in the middle of the first verse. People say You dont have Something cool Something nice But I think differently (differently) Whats so special about that We dontck anything We have hunger and ambition We all have a hunger From then on, the chorus of We all have a hunger kept flowing on the stage of Hunger with the group dance. But we were frozen stiff. It was because of the nuance of Something in the rap that Hanjo spat out. It was subtle, but anyone who wasnt a fool could notice it. Did he just Ri-hyuk couldnt finish his sentence, and I took over. Yeah. He just dissed us. Chapter 50: Chapter 50: Chapter 50 Our faces hardened as we looked at theptop screen. Silence filled the studio. On the monitor, Street Boys were having a st on their debut stage. Ugh, this is annoying. Ri-hyuk said. Its one thing for thepanies to fight, but this is too much. What did we do to them that they diss us? We dont know whats going on with them. Bi-ju said in a calm voice, trying to soothe the main vocal, but he didnt look happy either. Everyone felt the same. The youngest bit his lip and watched the monitor, and Jun Hyun stopped eating snacks and nced at the monitor. Even if therespetition, this is crossing the line. The reason we were angry was not simply because they dissed us. It was a kind of betrayal. We had been thinking of DNS and Street Boys as separate entities. No, we had tried to think that way. It was thepany that was doing the dirty work, not the Street Boys who were just following orders. Of course, I had a part in creating that atmosphere. In group activities, friendlypetition was helpful, but not negative emotions like hatred or jealousy. So I told them to treat Street Boys as colleagues in the entertainment industry. Lets not hate each other in this tough situation. The kids agreed, and until a moment ago, we were watching Street Boys stage andplimenting them. Until Han Jos rap came out. -We dont have Something. But whats the big deal. Honestly, it felt like a p in the face. I thought of them as friendly rivals, but they had been thinking of us like that all this time. Lets watch the showcase until the end. There will be questions from the reporters during the Q&A time. I decided to watch for now, calming down the younger ones. There would surely be questions about the rap during the Q&A time, so I wanted to hear what they would say and judge ordingly. The debut stage ended and the showcase went smoothly. A famousedian MC was hosting, and Street Boys were acting stiff and awkward like rookies. Finally, the Q&A time came at the end. As I expected, the first question was about the rap. -Im Oh So Hee, a reporter from Entertainment IN. First of all, congrattions on your debut. I have a question about the lyrics of your debut title Hunger. Street Boys grabbed the microphone nervously, and the reporters voice continued. -In the song, theres a self-written rap by Han Jo. It says, People say we dont have Something. But whats the big deal. I personally thought of New cks Something when I heard it. That was the question I wanted to hear. -Right now, New ck and Street Boys are in apetitive rtionship, and I wonder if that was an intentional lyric. What do you think about this, Han Jo, who produced the song himself? A member in a leather jacket held the microphone. He was tall and had a good-looking and kind face. The leader Han Jo smiled like a picture at the reporter. -I want to tell you that its not what you think. The context of the rap was rted to our personal stories. Weve been told by many people that we cant make it, that were not handsome, that we dont have the talent to be celebrities. The lyrics came from the meaning that we dont care about what people say weck. Thats funny. I realized that it was intentional when I heard Han Jos answer. Usually, when youre asked about a controversy you didnt expect, youre startled and lost in thought. But he answered as if he anticipated it. It meant that he or thepany had prepared for this beforehand. This is ridiculous. If youre going to diss, do it in front of us. Ri-hyuk muttered in displeasure, while Han Jo spoke with a smile. -And you said that were in apetitive rtionship with New ck, but actually, we dont think of them as rivals. Huh? -They debuted earlier than us, so theyre like seniors in the music industry, and we respect them. -You respect them? -When we made Hunger as our title song, we realized how much effort it takes to make one song. So I got a lot of help from professionalposers, but I heard that the leader of New ckposed by himself. Honestly, I wouldnt have dared to do that. It was awkward. He was stacking uppliments for us, as if he was building up to say something. -And not only did hepose Something with Jang So-won, but I also heard what he said on Music Cafe. Honestly, I think hes much more talented and amazing than me. On the screen, Hanjo smiled. -How can I say this, its like looking at a real genius. The moment I saw that smile, I realized that I had been thrown a huge shit that was iparable to the diss lyrics from before. *** -Street Boys Hanjo, New ck Universe is a genius -Street Boys New ck is not apetitor. Rather, they are genius seniors -They stuck together with hunger and ambition, Street Boys sessfully finished their showcase During and after the showcase, articles kepting up for a long time. It was a showcase of a rivalpany, but ourpany was busy. As soon as the live broadcast ended, Yoon Seok-hwan left to attend a general meeting at the producers call. It was because of the shit that Hanjo threw. Of course, it didnt seem like a problem on the surface. He praised me as a genius after all. But if you look behind it, there is a hidden intention. A subtle provocation. Honestly, when an idol releases a selfposed song as a title, the public tends to look at it with a biased eye. How much can an idol do inposing? So even if the quality is a little good, they say, Oh? Its better than I thought? and evaluate it positively. But what if someone praises you as a genius? They naturally feel a sense of rejection. How good did you do to be praised as a genius? Or, wow, you must be really amazing, they might say. Either way, its not good. The original expectations are too high, and the song doesnt sound good unless its really good. The fans are really angry. Jung-hyun said with a serious expression, looking at his phone. Its obvious that hes sniping, but he got away with it like a mudfish. He said he respects them, but hes actually saying that they can go to hell. Theyre all furious. The ones who were most angry were our few fans. They were waiting for their favorite singer to debut, but some jerk dissed them in front of everyone. And when you ask him if he did that, he said no, I respect them and sneaked away. Idol sites dont seem to have much to say. They just say the Street Boys song is good. Ji-ho handed me his phone. [Group photo of DNS rookie group Street Boys after the showcase] -Whats up with the costumes;; Theyre a bit tacky -Finally debuted, congrats -The middle and the second from the right are my type -Is the middle one the one whoposed the title song? -I didnt expect much from an idol selfposed song, but it seemed pretty good -Theres no visuals No visuals -Did they not spend money on the coordi? Did they put all the money into the song? -Yeah, the song is good -Ive been missing a hip-hop concept since Shitty and Tentee, hope they do well -They have a strong concept, but they pulled it off well, hope they seed The reactions were as usual as when rookies debut. There were also a lot of positivements about the song. -Isnt there a problem with the lyrics?;; Its tantly dissing New ck -?? There was something like that? -It must have been something like I dont need something like that, whats the big deal Didnt an articlee out earlier? -Lol, thats why the reporter asked him at the Q&A, and he said no -Yeah, he even praised them as geniuses and respected them. Hes too cunning -Whats cunning lol Theyre already trying to grab the rookies hair -Is he a fan of New ck? He seems to have increased his interest since their concept shot came out -Hey, Im not interested in either of them, but Ive never seen anyone as noisy as these two before they debut. Just calm down, theyre not even Tentee or Shitty level, they just debuted Most of thements that said the lyrics were dissing New ck didnt get much sympathy. -But is the New ck kid whoposed Something that great? Why is he a genius? -Its just lip service -What genius lol Theyre just drumming and ying instruments -Im curious about the song though -Me too lol I might listen to it once lol -Werent theypetitors? Street Boys are generously promoting New ck Im curious Most of the reactions to me bing a geniusposer overnight were curiosity. It didnt go as negatively as I thought. Most people seemed curious about our song and wanted to listen to it. It was going differently from what our rival intended. Just when I thought this could be an opportunity, Yoon Seok-hwan, who had finished the meeting, came to us. He exined the oue of the meeting. We discussed various countermeasures, but there doesnt seem to be anything we can do in this situation. We cant publish an article saying were not geniuses, and we cant say our song is that good either. Lets just focus on the showcase for the remaining time. He was saying what we were thinking. There was nothing more we could do here. The director and the coaches had done everything they could, so the rest was up to the yers who had to perform on the stage. And Street Boys strategy helped me in a way. I was wondering what to say to motivate the kids to practice for the next week, but now I didnt have to. They all had fire in their eyes. Hyung, lets do this with the determination to break our bones. I smiled quietly as I watched my brothers say what I had to say. *** A weekter. June 18, 2014, Wednesday. Media Art Hall in Cheongdam-dong. [New ck 1st Single Album The New ck: First Chapter Showcase] The reporters turned on theirptops while yawning. There was still plenty of time before the showcase started, so they chatted with familiar faces. Oh? Mr. Oh, reporter? We met at the Street Boys showcase. Hello. Whats with all the showcases this month? Next week, theres also a showcase for the rookies from Awl. The topic of conversation was naturally the rivalry in June. Who do you think will do better? Im for New ck. Well, DNS doesnt have much talent for boy groups. Hmm? I saw the chart performance of Street Boys and it was pretty good. They charted at 99th or something on the first day of the music show. It was a difficult feat for a rookie who had just debuted to enter the chart on the first day in this era of fierce idolpetition. The idol fandoms were buzzing about their fight. Honestly, it drew some attention. But its impressive that they charted with a selfposed song. I dont know. From what I heard from the insiders, the leader only wrote the rap, and theposer wrote most of the melody. It was almost like they just borrowed his name. Well, who writes songs by themselves these days? They all coborate. Right. Whats his name, the one whos debuting today, Woo-ju? Hes the odd one. Usually, professionalposers are involved in everything. They all nodded. I heard from the DNS side that the initial sales were good. I dont know, but it must be impressive. Good for them. I thought there wouldnt be any hip-hop concept after Sixty. We still have to wait and see. Its only been a week. But the song is good. Hunger seems to have nowhere to go but up. Soon, the reporters interest shifted to New ck. What about New ck? Does anyone have a source? I had a drink with the PR staff a few days ago, and they casually mentioned that the song was good. They said you can expect it. Lemon doesnt usually say theyre confident unless they are, so the song must be good. Are they bluffing? Ive never heard of an idol selfposed song being that good. They must have real talent. His father was like that too, and I saw him y the piano at the music awards. He had a good reputation. Someone said. And this time, they spent a lot of money on Lemon, so they must be really determined. They even asked Hwang Tae-seon to do the jacket shoot. Hwang Tae-seon? Isnt he the one who only works with top stars? The music video director is Jung Sung-moon. Hes the one who made the hit music video for TNTst year after working in the independent film scene. I heard about the people he worked with and they were not easy. Thats amazing. Its not easy to invest that much. They must think this album is worth investing in. One reporter stuck out his tongue and said. Not only the producer, but Park Kyu-ho, the CEO, is not an ordinary person. He started out as a one-man agency, but now hes one of the top three in the actor field. He also recruited a lot of actors who came out of FA recently. True, he never jumped into anything he wasnt sure of. Right. Scarlet was also thought to be just a bunch of pretty faces at first, but they turned out to be talented. The more they talked, the more curious they became. They thought it was too much investment for a small agency to debut a rookie group, but maybe there was a reason for it. To be precise, I wonder what kind of song ising up next that they invested so much in it. Ah? Are they about to start soon? As the announcement asked us to take our seats, the lights in the hall gradually dimmed. After it waspletely dark, the screen lit up. It was the music video that was scheduled as the first part of todays showcase. The opening scene of them with their arms crossed appeared. -Drip. The sound of water in the dark. -Drip. The screen brightened as the sound of water droplets continued. Then, a girl appeared. Daisy, the rapper of Scarlet, who made a cameo appearance, walked on the floor submerged in water. She had a faint smile on her lips. It was a mysterious atmosphere. She walked in a space that was dark but brightened by the lighting, where only darkness filled below. The girl who was walking leisurely stopped. It was because of the transparent ss wall that blocked her way. Daisy touched the ss wall and raised her hand to her mouth, smiling gracefully. Then, she blew a breath. With the help of the graphics, her breath sparkled like white light and scattered a bunch of light. The light split into five colors as it passed through the ss wall. Red, yellow, blue, green, purple. The light that split into five rainbow-like prisms zoomed through the space that looked like a starry universe. And then, they mixed again. The five strands of light mingled with each other and the light turned ck. Finally, the logo appeared. [The New ck] Along with that, the darkened screen brightened in an instant. A sunny sky. Five young men showed themselves in an exotic sea. The song that started at the same time. It was a refreshing intro that opened my ears. Chapter 51: Chapter 51: Chapter 51 The reporters were surprised by the shy opening that looked like a lot of money was invested. Wow. Lemon really went all out. The CG quality was not that of a cheap music video. It wasparable to a big-name agency. The inte reaction will be good, right? They momentarily stopped typing their articles to watch the video. Five boys lying on a foreign sandy beach. They looked confused. They didnt know where they were, why they were here, and who these people in front of them were. Soon, the face of the leader, Seon Woojoo, was zoomed in. The video effects and his mysterious expression made some of them gasp silently. Where am I right now Strange sea strange air Where are you I woke up in a remote ce Then, the youngest member with a cute appearance, Wang Ji-ho, appeared. The introduction of the two members who were good at facial expressions ended, and the atmosphere of the reporters changed. They became more serious and evaluative. The music video quality was good, but the song itself was good too. Even considering that their expectations were low from the start, New cks debut song was beyond expectations. The reporters were experts as well, since they had been in the entertainment industry for a long time. They naturally developed a sense of what songs were good and what songs would do well, after listening to idol songs and attending showcases every day. This song was a pass. If the highlight is good too, it will be a hit. As they thought that, the video continued. The plot was simple. Five young men crashnded on Earth by an unidentified girl. At first, they were bewildered by the unfamiliar environment and people, but soon they were captivated by the beautiful scenery and weather, and their guard towards each other faded. They started tough and y together. The song was refreshing but also had a warm touch. It felt like the song was inviting them. Come here and y with us. The song reached the highlight. A member with a cool vibe and a blue background started to sing a high note. The spark was already there You just have to shine Show your true colors Then, the highlight part hit the reporters ears. Look at that, its our firework (Firework) Our appearance that decorates the night sky Fireworks shot up in the sky, showing the different colors of the members. Along with the chorus, Like a Firework. The first verse ended, and the reporters fingers became busy. They wanted to upload their evaluations of the music video they just watched. Most of them were positive. Especially those who were preparing articlesparing them to Street Boys, they gave New cks song a higher rating. Of course, it was unfair topare a hip-hop concept and a summer season song. They werepletely different genres. But there was an essential difference between the two songs. New cks song had their own color. Warm and cheerful. Everything, from the mood of the song to the lyrics, fit the members like a custom-made suit. It made them think, Ah, this is their song. This was noticeable whenpared to theirpetitors. That made them more curious. Who is this leader guy? When he came out with Jang So-won and the song Something, everyone thought it was beginners luck. He had met the opportunity of a lifetime as aposer. But listening to this song, it didnt seem like that. Unlike Street Boys, who had a lot of promotion but not much substance, this group seemed to have real talent. Maybe thats why. Some of them had a strange anticipation in their eyes, shining brightly. There has never been a great sess for an idols selfposed song They quietly waited for the main stage of the fireworks, wondering if this time would be different. Along with countless questions. *** The debut showcase went smoothly. It was just like any other showcase for rookies, nothing too good or bad. They asked about the team name New ck, what it meant, what the members talents were, what funny episodes they had while making the album, who their role models were, what the album concept was, and so on. The main topic was the album, just like any other group. The difference was our rxed attitude. We had trained so hard for Something that we could handle thements at the showcase. Of course, we were still nervous on stage. Im a bit nervous, but excited. Right? Backstage, before the fireworks main stage. I smiled and asked, and Ri-hyuk answered. Well, Im less nervous than at the music cafe. Its manageable. Hyung, your legs are shaking like crazy. What are you talking about? Im not nervous at all. He said, but his leg that he propped up was trembling. Iughed because he was cute, but he red at me. While Bi-ju was rxing Ri-hyuks nerves, Jung-hyun, who was warming up, asked. Ri-hyuk, do you want a mint or something? Huh? Do you have one? No. I was just asking. The rapper said casually, and the main vocal spat fire from his mouth. Bi-ju, who was checking the mic packs and in-ears on the members waists, said. I feel more nervous than at Something. Back then, I was nervous but also excited. But now, Im a bit scared. Thats because we were already popr then. Iughed. Something was already number one on the charts, so we had a rough idea of how people would react. But now, we only released the music video. We dont know what kind of response well get, so of course were scared. Are you not nervous, hyung? I had a good dreamst night. Actually, I was nervous too. I was relieved that thepany people said the song was well-made, but honestly, I didnt know what the reporters would think. There was also the pressure of having to button up the first button well. I couldnt help but be nervous. But if I was nervous too, how anxious would they be? This was the first time I saw them so tense that their lips were dry since the end-of-year evaluation, so I borrowed the dream that Mrs. Kim Deok-soon told me yesterday. I was floating in the sky in my dream. And the sun and the moon were both up at the same time, shining brightly. And there was a mountain below, and dragons were flying around the apple farm. This is a lucky dream, you know. The others oohed and aahed, but Jung-hyun tilted his head and asked. Isnt that a conception dream, hyung? The youngest line burst intoughter, and Bi-ju wiped his face with a look of despair. Ah, stop talking nonsense, Kim Jung-hyun. My grandfather said that apples and dragons mean a sons dream. While the dancer was scolding his friend of the same age, Jihyo opened his eyes wide and asked. Hyung, I thought you didnt believe in superstitions. You have to believe when you need to, Jihyo. Life is easier when you swallow the sweet and spit out the bitter. Wow, my dad said the same thing. I felt a strange feeling, and the staff called us. New ck team, get ready to go up. Yes! The mood that was loosened by the joke was gone, and the tension came back. The members looking at me. I heard their faint breaths and met their eyes one by one. Then I smiled and reached out my hand. You guys worked hard following the leader who was always against you. We worked really hard, making us worry. Ri-hyuk put his hand on mine and said, and Iughed. Yeah. Lets trust me and go for this stage. Itll be great. Thats right. Our song is good, so itll be good. When Jung-hyun said itll be good, the youngest line tried to react sensitively, but I intervened. Yeah. Lets break Jung-hyuns jinx today by doing well on stage. Honestly, this doesnt make any sense. While Jung-hyun nodded his head, the staff gave us a signal to go up. Okay, lets cheer up onest time and go. We all put our hands together and shouted fighting softly. Then we went up to the stage. *** The stage was darkened by all the lights. The faces of the reporters, illuminated by theptop lights, floated like egg ghosts in front of the stage where we stood in formation. In the center, I was the focus. On both sides, there were Bi-ju and Ri-hyuk. On the wings, Jung-hyun and Ji-ho stood. I gently ced my hands on the shoulders of the two younger brothers who were breathing hard next to me. Three, two, one. As the countdown ended, the lights turned on with a bang and brightened up. In the dazzling light, the MR came out with a variation of the highlight of the fireworks. A fierce and fast beat. It was a 30-second dance break that we would show before the main stage. We all gathered together and started dancing. The choreography that came together and scattered a few times. We, who were scattered around the stage, gathered again. Our breathing was ragged. In a close state like the first time, we waited for the intro of the song. Now the refreshing deep house-style prelude woulde out Huh? Something was wrong. -Zzzt. Bi-ju and Ri-hyuk, who were pressed against me, flinched. Why is the sound like this? At first, I thought there was a crackling noise mixed in, but soon the sound condition started to change strangely. The prelude slowed down. About 0.4 times. With the song going in slow motion, we missed half of the timing to start the choreography. In a hurry, I looked down at the stage and saw that it was already a mess. The staff in charge of the sound were running around with panicked faces. What should I do? My heart was pumping and my head started to spin. What the hell. What should I do in this situation? Im a leader, but Im also a rookie who has only a month of experience in music broadcasting. I did some events with Something, but Ive never experienced this kind of sound ident before. There was always Sunbae Jang So-won, a pro singer, by my side, so I didnt worry. What should I do? Two seconds after the sound ident, the eyes of the other four were all directed at me. As always, when something difficult happens, they look at the most reliable person. The problem was that I was also confused. Uh A drop of cold sweat ran down the back of my neck. I could have found the answer quickly if I thought calmly, but I didnt have the mind to be calm in this situation. I was only focused on other aspects, such as stage movement, expression, etc., and I didnt expect this at all. My head was nk. It was like opening the task manager on aputer and seeing no response from Seon Woojoojus brain. As I was panicking. A familiar phenomenon began to appear with a strange sensation. As it had been at the university hospital. The scenery in front of me changed. *** The scenery changed without me noticing what was going on. The thumping music sounds from afar. The past me was sitting in a shabby waiting room. Where is this? I was wondering, but I soon remembered. It was the scene of a festival in Gangwon-do that we were invited to after Between performed at a music cafe. Oh my. Come to think of it, its amazing. Jang So-won was sitting cross-legged in front of me, eating a souffle. What is it, sunbae? No, its just that. There was never a sound ident while we were doing Something, right? Isnt it better to have nothing? Not at all. Its usually better to have something happen at least once. Its like a jinx, you know. If there are no minor idents, a big one will surely happen. Iughed, not believing in such superstitions, and Jang So-won gave me a sly look. You dont believe me? No, I do. I wondered why I was experiencing this memory, unlike when I was with Professor Choi Yongjae. I changed the topic. Sunbae, I have a question. What should we do if there is a sound ident? I think we should hear your advice beforehand, so we can prepare for emergenciester. As Jang So-won opened her mouth, I focused my attention on her words, both in the past and in the present. Her answer was simple. Its easy if there is a sound ident. Unless its a major ident that copses the stage, you must never stop. Why? Ri-hyuk asked, not understanding. Isnt it better to wait until the sound is restored? That seems like the best option. Thats only the best for you. The Sunbae in the music industry said. Stage flow, you cant ignore that. The audience was excited, but then they cool down. It takes a long time to get them back to that level. Maybe if its a solo concert. But usually, you cant even fill the time given at the venue. Then do you mean we should do it acape? If you dont have the skills, I dont know, but you should do it even without apaniment. Wouldnt that be awkward? It would be weird. As we hesitated, Jang So-wonughed. Then she looked at us as if we were cute. Youll know once you experience it. With that, the scenery in front of me changed again. The past time was one second. I had no time to question why this strange phenomenon happened in front of me. Just before the murmurs from the audience reached me. As the members looked at me, I swallowed my saliva and took a step forward. I didnt know until a moment ago. But now I knew what I had to do. Chapter 52: Chapter 52: Chapter 52 The members of New ck were in a state of panic. What do we do? They had never experienced this kind of sound ident before. The members naturally looked at one person. Seon Woojoo. Whenever something difficult happened, they always trusted that their leader would find a solution. The bright lights made Seon Woojoos facial expressions visible in real time. At first, he seemed as flustered as they were, then he had a nk look on his face, and then he nodded his head. What is he thinking? As the Lemon Entertainment staff harassed the agency staff, and a cold chill spread from the reporters. Seon Woojoo took a step forward. A faint singing voice began to echo on the silent stage. Where am I right now A strange sea, a strange air Seon Woojoos dance moves fluttered his loose sleeves, and everyone below the stage stopped their actions. The staff who were hastily fixing the sound. The managers who were nagging the site staff. The reporters who had their hands on theirptops with displeased faces. They all stared nkly at Seon Woojoos sudden behavior. Where are you I opened my eyes in a secluded ce The members who were spacing out also started their choreography after the leader finished the first verse. It was a cappe, but it wasnt hard. They had practiced so much for the past month that their bodies moved automatically as soon as they heard the lyrics. But they were still confused. What is Woojoo hyung trying to do? They couldntmunicate in this situation, and the members didnt know the leaders intentions. As they were thinking that. Seon Woojoo, who was doing a solo dance in front, showed four fingers behind his back. The number 4. They immediately understood his intention. He wants us to go to track 4. They had been feeling uneasy because the pitch was slightly different. The fourth track of their debut album was also Fireworks. Unlike the original version that gave a refreshing feeling, it was a sing along version arranged for a concert. It definitely suited a cappe better. The song is a cappe with track 4. The choreography is the same. The members who understood the situation naturally took over the parts. From Seon Woojoos part to Wang Jihos part. From Kim Jung-hyuns part to Kim Bi-jus part. The confusion and panic that had filled their minds soon disappeared. They werent scared now. Someone had already walked the path they had to go. Lets just do our best. As they showed off their choreography that they had polished for a month, the members focused on the stage and didnt notice. The reporters stopped typing and watched them. *** Oh Sohee, a reporter from Entertainment IN, sighed. What are they trying to do by calling the reporters? It wasnt a live broadcast, and they couldnt even control the sound at a showcase. It was ridiculous. Of course, it wasnt Lemon Entertainments fault. It was entirely the mistake of the agency that managed the site. But it was inevitable that she was annoyed anyway. Reporters are human too. They had to travel around for interviews day and night, and keep their antennae up for the incidents and idents that happened constantly in the entertainment industry. They were always tired. Thats why they were always checking when the photo time and Q&A time were, when to post the articles and move to the next interview site. Schedule dys were annoying situations for them. It will take 30 minutes to recover. She tapped herptop keyboard as she sighed at the staff who were running around. -New ck debut showcase, poor site management disappointing She increased her typing speed as she saw others writing articles with simr titles. Suddenly. A pleasant voice echoed in the quiet hall. Where am I right now? A strange sea, a strange air A soft song, like a hum. Oh, the reporter looked up. Was it because of the sudden voice? The reporters who had been buried in theirptop screens leaned forward. They saw a member standing in the center of the stage. A face that looked like a painting with heavy stage makeup. Seon Woojoo, the lead vocal of New ck, was singing without any apaniment. What is he doing? The reporters who had been pouring out theirints about the organizers in their articles looked bewildered. Oh, the reporter narrowed his eyes and looked at the stage. Does he intend to do it without any music? Idols usually sing live with pre-recorded AR lyrics. In other words, if 100 is a perfect live performance, they wouldy down 30 of AR and add 70 of their own skills on top of it. It was only natural. It was impossible to sing perfectly while flying around and bending their waists in intense choreography. Thats why it was better to be criticized for poor stage management than to choose what New ck was doing now. If they made a mistake, they would only expose theirck of talent and be ridiculed. A bad move. I wanted to give them some credit for diverting the attention of the disgruntled reporters, but that was the only benefit of their choice. However, she soon changed her mind. Theyre good, huh? She already knew that New ck had outstanding skills. As seen from their senior group Scarlet, their producer Jo Kyu-hwan was notorious for being very picky about selecting people. Besides, New ck had already showcased their talent once at a music cafe. They were a team with solid basics and a harmoniousbination of voices among the members. Of course, she never thought they were impressive. There were plenty of groups with that level of skill among the top idols. New ck was just a team A with potential for the future. But as she watched them perform naturally on stage, she felt like changing her mind. They were in a situation full of handicaps, with no apaniment and no friendly audience, but they could still pull off a stage like that. How many teams could do that? Probably very few. Lemon is really producing some monsters. It was a splendid live stage that made her wonder if they had deliberately caused the sound ident. Oh, the reporter, looked around. She was not the only one who was amazed. The other reporters also had expressions of curiosity as they watched the fireworks on stage. In the midst of the lonely lights that sprinkled a dreamy blue, the five members moved gracefully. There was no MR, but it didnt feelcking. Rather, it felt more than enough. As if coloring a nk paper, the colors of their voices filled the stage. Look at our firework (Firework) Our dazzling disy in the night sky The members spread their wings around the main dancer, Bi-ju. Then they all sang the chorus of Firework in harmony. Like a Firework Were gonna show you Like a Firework Our colors with you A five-part harmony as if they were a choir. Their faces were joyful, maybe because they enjoyed singing, or maybe because of the refreshing mood of the song. Some of the spectators smiled at the sight. Most of them were expressionless, but they all had the same thought in their minds. They didnt know when it would happen. But the idol group in front of them would definitely make it big. Oh So-hee stared at the blinking cursor on the Korean document on herptop screen. -New cks debut showcase, disappointing on-site management She shook her head and pressed the backspace. Then she started to write a new headline. It waspletely different from the previous one. *** At the same time. Backstage. Manager. Yeah? I heard from the staff on site, the sound system will take about 30 minutes to recover. Really? Yoon Seok-hwan replied indifferently. His eyes were on the members who were singing thest part of Firework. Tell them to let us know when the sound is fixed. And hold off on the performances scheduled after the title track. If they ask what to do first, say well start with the photo time. Yes, Ill pass it on. And Min-ki. These people dont seem to be doing their job well. Keep an eye on them. The first mistake is the worst mistake. If they mess up once, they might mess up somewhere else. We have to be careful ourselves. Seo Min-ki nodded and ran off, and Yoon Seok-hwan turned his gaze to the press seats. He seemed to have dodged a bullet. If the number one target to avoid in the entertainment industry was the broadcasting stations and PDs, then the number zero was the entertainment reporters. They were the ones who could spill blood over their profession, writing biased articles for the slightest reasons. They were the reporters who could put their grudge into their articles for something trivial like being one minutete for an interview. If he had made them wait for 30 minutes, he couldnt imagine what would have happened. -New cks debut, a shaky start from the showcase -New cks debut show, marred by poor event management -Oh! Then oops! New cks show, the song was good He shook his head to get rid of the headlines that yed in his mind. Fortunately, that was no longer the case. Because the reporters reacted well. Every time the lights turned, the faces of the reporters sitting in the press seats were clearly visible. They all looked at the stage as if they were mesmerized. As if they were looking at a mysterious and exotic animal. Yoon Seok-hwan saw the person who had elicited such a response. Seon Woojoo, who was dancing hard enough to see sweat droplets flying in the air. You did it again. You son of a gun. Yoon Seok-hwan smiled contentedly. He had felt it since he took care of him at TJ, but he was really something. Such a judgment in an instant. Most rookies would have frozen in panic, but how did he make such a decision in that short time? Thanks to that, the ident that could have been a disaster turned out to be a blessing. The expressions of the reporters, who usually looked bored at the rookie showcases, were different from usual. Of course, it wasnt the same as the emotion they felt when they saw a great performance. It was curiosity, like Hey, look at them? Or recognition of their skills, like Theyre the best among the rookies this time, arent they? Anyway, it was clear that they were close to liking them. Building a positive image with the reporters was the goal of this showcase, so it was a perfect result. When the stage was over, Yoon Seok-hwan was surprised. Huh? p p p. There was a small apuse from the press seats, which had been quiet until then. Quiet and gentle. It was an apuse that seemed to send encouragement to the people on the stage. It was a very unusual thing. Do the reporters p at the showcases too? They were the ones who looked at TNTs showcase with their arms crossed, as if saying Ill judge you. And they pped, even though it was small. They must have been surprised too, as they suddenly started typing. Geez. Yoon Seok-hwan finally rxed at that sight. He had been worried about how to deal with this ident, but it turned out better. He looked at the stage. The members of New ck, who had been bowing and greeting the reporters, were smiling as they looked at each other. What was so good? It seemed like honey was dripping from their eyes as they looked at each other. Manager. Seo Min-ki came back and breathed heavily next to him. I delivered what you told me. Well start from the photo time. Okay. By the way, manager. Yeah? Seo Min-ki seemed to have thought of something and showed me his smartphone. The article is up. Already? Yes, it seems like it will be on the main pageter in the evening. But the article is up for now. Who wrote it? Its Oh So-hee from Entertainment IN. What, Reporter Oh? A bad feeling suddenly crept up on me. Isnt she the reporter who broke the news first during the Sixty controversy? Last time, she broke the exclusive story of the actor and idol dating. Uh, I think youre right. Yoon Seok-hwan took the smartphone with a look of embarrassment and scratched his cheek. As soon as I heard the name of the reporter who had a bad reputation among the agencies, my heart thumped before I even saw the article title. Did she post it when the sound ident happened? I was wondering if I should call the PR team and ask them to take it down, when Yoon Seok-hwans eyes widened. -Ready rookie New ck, fall for their brilliant response Yoon Seok-hwan paused for a moment. And he scrolled down and then up again to check the reporters name. It was her, Oh So-hee. Although the site management was disappointing, New ck turned this crisis into an opportunity and proved their skills. Their calm andposed response to the sound ident was impressive to the reporters on the scene, and when the title song stage ended, there was an unusual apuse What, is this the same person? The keywords in the article were too ttering. Calm, brilliant, not like a rookie. At a nce, there were adjectives that were close to exaggeration. She must have liked them a lot. Especially Woojoo, the leader of New ck, attracted the attention of the audience throughout the showcase. As I saw at the music cafe, his sharp nose She really became a fan. I rxed as I read the article full ofpliments. That was the turning point, and news about the unexpected situation and the response of the New ck members came up one after another. The reporters reactions are better than I expected. I used to think that it was a sess if the reporters listened to the song and said, Oh, this is good.. This result was something I never expected. Yoon Seok-hwans brain started to roll. If a singer is a yer who runs on the field, the manager and thepany are the coaches of the sports team. As he was thinking about how to use this, a camera caught his eye. Min-ki. Is that camera in the center ours? Yes. When you do the photo time, go to the filming reporter and ask him to hurry up with the stage video. Should I send it to thepany? Well, Ill contact the PR team separately and have them prepare a press release. You send it to the staff who make the video. Edit it with the reporters reactions as the main focus, and only show a moderate part of the new song. What should I ask for the title? Yoon Seok-hwan thought for a moment. The attitude of a rookie who responds to a sound ident. Lets go with that. He smiled broadly as he watched the members go backstage. The real fireworks were about to begin. Chapter 53: Chapter 53: Chapter 53 After the media showcase was over, we returned to the waiting room. We all looked exhausted, but our expressions were bright. It was the feeling of relief thates from finishing a task well. It felt like a weight was lifted off our chests. Good job, everyone. Good work, hyung. We exchanged nces and patted each other. It was a rare atmosphere of camaraderie, as if we had gone through a hard ordeal together. Dont you think we did our best ever? We nailed the photo time and the Q&A session. Hey, did you do well? It was this ajusshi who carried us all by himself. I intervened between the two, fanning myself with a mini fan. Come on, Ri-hyuk. Ji-ho did well too. What did we do? He handled the sound ident by himself, and we just reaped the benefits. Hmm? Dont you get in trouble if you reap the benefits? Jung-hyun hyung, please stick to the context. The rapper was smiling non-stop, despite the main vocals scolding. He looked more cheerful than usual, as if he was in a good mood. Thank you, hyung. I awkwardly received Jung-hyuns high five. Smack! Ouch, that hurts. It felt like he hit me softly, but it was like pping hands with a volleyball yer. Jung-hyun smiled and said. Thanks to you, hyung, my jinx is finally over. Jinx? Oh. I was so busy with the showcase that I forgot about it. Every time I say I have a good feeling, something weird happens. But thanks to you, hyung, its broken now. Ah, I feel so relieved. See? I told you it was superstition, that thing. You do know that right after you said that, the sound ident happened, right? Honestly, it was thanks to Woojoo hyungs luck that we overcame that. Thats what it was. The two youngest ones retorted, but Jung-hyun just smiled contentedly. He joked that he would say he had a good feeling once a day from now on. Ri-hyuk suddenly asked, as if he remembered something. By the way, what about the acape you did earlier? Huh, why? When we asked you after the stage, you said you did it unconsciously. Thats right. I had brushed off the questions from my curious brothers with vague answers. Did you really do it without thinking? Sort of. Come on, you always n everything meticulously. You even locked us up to analyze our musical preferences when youposed Fireworks. Hey, thats not locking up. I said, looking around, but Ji-ho and Jung-hyun kindly nodded their heads. Those useless fools. I dont always think and act, okay? I was also shocked by the sound ident for the first time. Really? You seemed so skilled. It looked so cool Cool? Ri-hyuk stumbled over his words. Well, it looked cool to me. I dont think I could have done that. Just say it was cool, hyung. Agreed. I was amazed, hyung. You were doing the acape with the choreography, and it looked like you had a halo. That was the lighting, Jung-hyun hyung. Oh, was it? Look at him. His mouth is curling up. I tried to act nonchnt and control my expression, but I couldnt help but smile at theirpliments. It was a mixed smile. One was the pride I felt from their gratitude and praise. The other was the embarrassment I felt from knowing that this was not my skill, but my ability. Well. I cant tell them the truth, can I? Its more natural to say that my body moved instinctively. But I have a feeling now. I guess I can call it an achievement of sorts. This incident seemed to have peeled off ayer of the secret behind my ability. The essence of my ability. I had always thought of this ability as a motion imitation ability, a kind of superpower. But after experiencing what happened today, it didnt seem like a mere superpower anymore. When I first collected information about this ability, I came across a post on an inte blog. [There are two types of memory: derative memory and procedural memory.] Derative memory is the conscious memory that is used when recalling the days events while writing a diary or memorizing English words. Procedural memory is the unconscious memory that is used for tasks like riding a bike or using chopsticks. ording to my theory, this ability was a phenomenon that urred when procedural memory was maximized. The ability to unconsciously acquire the movements in the video just by watching them. Thats how it had been until now. But the two incidents that I experienced this time were not procedural memory, but derative memory that was maximized, as I mentioned earlier. The ability to vividly recall the events that were dormant in my memory as if they were happening right now. Looking back, it seemed to have manifested whenever I was in a crisis. Like a student who suddenly remembers a forgotten form in his head and solves the problem when there are only five minutes left in the exam. This ability also appeared when I was in a dire situation. If I had to say, it was stimted when I felt extreme stress. I was under a lot of stress at the university hospital because I had to solve Minjuns problem, and the sound ident just before was needless to say. In that situation, my brain moved unconsciously. It scanned the database in my memory on its own and showed it to me, saying Look! You, the owner! Of course, this is still just my hypothesis. Anyway, when I put all this together, my ability was not limited to motion imitation ability, but spanned a wider range. A memory ability that epasses both procedural and derative memory. Isnt it quite logical to think that the act of imitating a movement starts from remembering that movement in the first ce? Hyung. What are you thinking? Huh? You were smiling by yourself. Oh, I was just thinking about something else. Its nothing. I was letting out a sillyugh, feeling like I had be some kind of superhuman. I came to my senses and looked around. By the way, where are the managers and Bi-ju? Min-ki hyung said he was going to get something from the car with Director Yoon. Bi-ju hyung said he was going to wash his face in the bathroom. Did he go alone? Yes. He wont get lost again, will he? Ri-hyukughed. Bi-ju hyung is not a kid. The bathroom is right outside. How can he get lost? Its Bi-ju. True. Bi-ju hyung sometimes gets confused about the direction even in the dorm. I saw itst time. He was holding the food waste and hesitated on his way to the veranda. Dont worry, hyung. Helle back someday. I clicked my tongue as I watched my younger siblings act nonchnt. Wow. You guys are so heartless. Howe Im the only one whos worried? You didnt even notice when he went to the bathroom. Just then, the waiting room door opened and three people came in. Bi-ju and two managers. They each carried arge box in their arms and put them on the floor of the waiting room. The boxes were so heavy that they made a thud sound. Huh? What are these? As I tilted my head, looking at the contents of the boxes. Bi-ju said with a smile. These are gifts for our fans. *** Fan showcase. It was thest event for us today. If the media showcase was a business meeting with reporters, the fan showcase was a kind of fan meeting. It was rare to have a fan showcase from the debut. The fan showcase was literally a showcase for the fans, but where would the fans be for a rookie who just debuted? Of course, there were some teams that had fandoms before their debut, but that was not the usual case. On the other hand, we were a case that made our name known to the public through music shows, events, etc. before our debut. We also had a decent number of members in our fan cafe. Thats why thepany decided to open a showcase to repay the fans support. Of course. Street Boys did it too, so we have to do it too. We cant lose to them in this kind of thing. I wondered if that was our managers true intention. Wow. What are all these? Your photo cards, snacks, and some keychains and stuff. Wow. We gathered around the boxes like a bunch of meerkats. The boxes looked pretty heavy. I felt sorry for Seok-hwan hyung, who was rubbing his back. He has a herniated disc, can he carry these? Let me or Jung-hyun do it. I was going to, but your little brother here texted me that he got lost. Im sorry We allughed at Bi-jus embarrassed expression. Did you get lost again? Ah, I was going to buy some drinks for everyone after washing up, because they were having a hard time. But I couldnt find the vending machine He was wandering around the equipment alone, I barely found him. Yoon Seok-hwan shook his head as if he couldnt help it. Bi-ju handed out the drinks he got from the vending machine with a shy look. They were all a thousand won each, but mine was twelve hundred won. I felt a warm feeling as I sat around the boxes. We knew what to do without having to say it. We wrote signatures and greetings on the photo cards for the fans, and packed the other gifts diligently. The waiting room turned into a cottage industry site in no time. Jiho, who was putting a handful of chocte in a stic bag, burst intoughter. Wow, theres so much. But how many people areing, manager? There are so many photo cards too. Dont you know? We did ticketing a while ago. We were busy practicing, we didnt see it. Every time we tried to rest, someone woulde down and nag us to practice. At my words, Seok-hwan hyung coughed and changed the subject. What do you think, how many people do you think wille? Well Me, me! I counted all the photo cards, and there are about 50 of our individual cuts. So isnt it 250 people? What kind of miraculous calction is that. Thats. As I blinked, Jiho exined. If we give one each, its 250, right? Then 250 people. Oh. That sounds usible. Whats usible, Jung-hyun hyung. Ri-hyuk snapped at the two who were giggling like fools. And I agreed with Ri-hyuks opinion. 250 is too much, no matter how you look at it. Hyung, you have to dream big. Right. My dad said that if youre a leader, you have to aim high. There seemed to be a strange word in the middle, but lets ignore it. Honestly, I wonder if 50 people wille. Why? No, its a weekday. To be honest, I cant imagine that 200 people woulde to see our faces. Didnt Street Boys have more than 100 people too? Thats true. I heard that almost 100 fans came to Street Boys fan showcase a week ago. For a while, we talked about how many people woulde. I joined the conversation, but soon I felt something was wrong and shook my head. Honestly, it doesnt matter how many fanse. We should be grateful that theye at all. Thats right. Bi-ju, who was writing a message on a post-it with care, said. I think its a sess that there are people whoe here to see our faces and listen to our songs. Whether one person or a hundred, they are all the same fans. Wow The youngest, who was admiring, said. Usually, that kind of cheesy line is Woojoo hyungs part, but today Bi-ju hyung did it instead. Amazing. Hey. He got it from that old man. Whatever. I guess the saying is true that you be like the ones you love. What a waste. If only Kim Bi-ju had grown as tall as him. Ouch! Shut up, Kim Jung-hyun. Jung-hyun said a word and got pinched in the side by Bi-ju. I smiled as I watched my brothers and wrote Thank you for waiting! Well do our best! on the post-it. Really, it didnt matter how many people came. I would be overjoyed even if there was only one person in the audience. The reason I became an idol was because I wanted to see the expressions of the people who liked me and watched my stage. In that sense, it was a meaningful thing to meet the people who would like my stage and share my songs with them. It was a thrilling and heartwarming thing to imagine. I want to see the fans soon. I thought that and smiled. *** 7 p.m. We changed into new outfits and waited backstage. We were excited to meet the fans, but at the same time we looked around nervously. Why is it so quiet? I know, right? Its not like only one person came, right? I wanted to see the audience, but the lights were off and I couldnt see. I could feel the presence of people, but I had no idea how many there were. Lets go up. We followed the signal of the staff and went up to the stage. I was nervous. If the media showcase was an event to introduce us to the entertainment industry, this fan showcase was an event to introduce us to the fans. In some ways, it was a much more important event than the media showcase. I swallowed and stood on the stage. Darkness that I couldnt see an inch ahead. The silent silence tormented me. As I tried to adjust to the darkness and gauge the audience, there was a loud bang and the lights came on brightly. I squinted at the sudden light for a moment. As soon as I saw the audience, I was stunned. What? An unexpected situation unfolded before my eyes. -Wow! We were literally petrified by the sight we never imagined. Chapter 54: Chapter 54: Chapter 54 Am I seeing things? The concert hall was filled with fans who came to see us, under the bright lights. There were so many of them that the seats were not enough, and some people were standing in the back. I was stunned. What is going on? I was speechless. I looked at the audience who were cheering for us, then at my brothers. Their faces were wide-eyed. Ri-hyuk was so scared that he hid behind Ji-hos arm. I couldnt me him. Were these really our fans who came to watch our showcase? We should have greeted them as soon as we came out, but we were all flustered and panicked. The MC grabbed the microphone and smiled. -Oh, our New ck friends are very surprised, arent they? They cant even speak. How about we say hello to the fans first, even though were nervous? Yes, yes! I finally came to my senses and signaled to my brothers. One, two, three. -Hello! We are New ck! We bowed our heads to the fans, and another round of cheers flew to us. We were still nervous. Is this real? Not a hidden camera or something. Everyoneughed at my words. The MC ryed what Yoon Seok-hwan said from below the stage. -The manager in charge said that it would cost too much to do a hidden camera with this scale, so dont worry. The fans and we burst intoughter. We were so tense, but afterughing like this, our hearts felt lighter. It was all thanks to our fans, right? The hall was spacious when there were reporters earlier, but now it was so packed that there was no room to step on. But there was something more surprising. Their expressions. Hundreds of pairs of eyes were sparkling like stars in the night sky. And they were looking at us. The MC eximed. -Ive been to many showcases and hosted them, but this is the first time Ive seen so many fans at a debut showcase. Wow, my ears are tingling from the fans screams. He asked with a smile. -How many people did you say came, manager? Ah. Yes. He said 239 people came. I dont know the exact number, but I think this would be among the top six in the history of debut showcase attendance. My brothers and I looked at each other in shock. 239 people? Street Boys, who attracted fans with their reality show before their debut, had only a little over 100 people. Twice as much. Was this possible? If Seok-hwan hyung had told me before he went on stage that more than 200 people woulde to see our stage, I would never have believed him. But there were people in front of me. Fans who were holding slogans that said [You worked hard] or [Lets walk together] and sending us cheers. Their warmth reached our skin. I didnt know how to describe this feeling. My tear ducts were hot and I blinked my eyes. The tremor that rose from under my chin spread throughout my body. I bit my lip. Otherwise, I felt like I would cry. My heart was beating so hard that it seemed like I could hear it in my ears. Bi-ju looked at the audience with a choked expression. -Are you really here to see us? We He didnt finish his sentence, but I think I knew what he meant. What are we to have so many of you Maybe. We understood his feelings 100 percent and smiled silently. The MC said surprisingly. -I thought the members would know how many fans wereing, but it seems like they had no idea. -The manager didnt tell us. Jung-hyun grabbed the microphone. -And we were very worried, but thank you. We thought this. No matter how many fanse, even if one persones, we are grateful. Was it because of his pleasant low voice? The fans screamed. Jung-hyun stopped talking and tilted his head. The expression on his bear-like face was like saying, What? Why are people cheering for me when Im talking? Jung-hyun then seemed to remember something and said. -Ah, the remark that were grateful even if one persones was said by Woojoo hyung. -Jung-hyun. That was not Woojoo hyung, that was me. -Ah. It was you? The fansughed at the expression of our teams rapper, who blinked his eyes. Jung-hyun looked at the audience and corrected himself. -Thats what he said. -No, Im telling you, it was me. -Well. If you say so, it must be true. -No, wait Everyoneughed at the sight of Bi-jus frantic expression. I thought Jung-hyun would get a lot of scolding from Bi-ju and grabbed the microphone. It was time to greet them properly. The MC, who noticed, skillfully threw a cue. -You must have something to say to the fans, right? Lets hear from each of you, starting with Woojoo. Yes. Hello, everyone. Im Woojoo. Standing up there, I could see the expressions of the people clearly. All kinds of colors. They were all faces I had never seen before, but they all showed me the same look. Infinite affection. I had been on music shows and event stages, but it was the first time I saw the eyes of the fans who came to see us purely. I had dreamed of this moment. But when I actually received such a look, it was really Thank you. The passionate response came back to my trembling voice. Its been about three months since Something, right? -Yes! I really dont know how to thank you. I feel embarrassed. Im still nervous. I wonder if I deserve to receive so much love from so many people, but I also feel grateful for this moment itself. Im asking you again with no ill will, but are you really our fans? There were pleasantughs here and there. I feel so good that its hard to believe. Ive been on music shows since before my debut, but I never imagined that there would be so many fans. This is also the first time Ive seen the fans offline. So how do I feel right now? Well -You feel like you cant breathe, Woojoo hyung. The fans and the other membersughed as I took a deep breath at Jung-hyuns words. I thought for 3 seconds. I was thinking of how to express what I felt right now. And I found a suitable sentence. Thank you. Thanks to you, today was the best day of my life. I smiled brightly at the scream that flew right away. Really. It was the best day of my life. In the car on the way back to the dorm after the showcase. We did it! We did it! Ow, my ears. Hey, Wang Ji-ho. Keep it down. Why? Im excited. I know you are too, Ri-hyuk. You cant hide your smile, can you? Let go of me. The youngest of our group was poking Ri-hyuks chin with his finger, making himugh. The older members joined in theughter. He gave me a displeased look. Hey, dont justugh. Help me out. He always picks on me and you just watch. Hmm. Do I? I called out to Ji-ho. Ji-ho. Yes? Good job. Keep it up. Ah,e on! Ri-hyuk closed his eyes in annoyance as the eldest and the youngestughed together. I elbowed his shoulder and said. Hey. Remember when you guys yed with the souffle while I was on the radio show? This is nothingpared to that. That was so fun. I can do that again this time. No, dont. You were quiet when I was being teased? Hey, Wang Ji-ho. Do it quickly. Okay, just a sec! Our youngest brother was always good at imitating. He cleared his throat andposed himself. He made a dramatic expression, furrowing his eyebrows as if copying someone. Thanks to you, today was the best day of my life. Pffft! You didnt say it like that, did you? Hey, you guys are really The manager and the driver, who were sitting in the front seat, burst intoughter. I looked at Bi-ju, who wasughing so hard that he had tears in his eyes, and asked with a wronged expression. Did I really say it like that? Its okay, hyung. The fans loved it. Bi-ju said, and Gom, who was rummaging through a snack bag, nodded. He offered me a snack. What is it? Its a constion. You seem to be enjoying this. Ah. Do you want me to feed you? He smiled sweetly and put a snack in my mouth. I couldnt help butugh at our teams rapper. But Im really happy. We used to say that it would be great to have fans when we were doing music cafes and events. But it feels even better than I imagined. Me too. It feels like Im flying. I still cant believe it. 239 people. I thought it was a hidden camera prank by the director. The managerughed. He said he couldnt afford it. He spent all the money on making your album. Do you think he has money for that? To be honest, I didnt expect the 250-seat venue to be sold out either, when we first started ticketing. Ive never seen anything like this at a debut showcase. Were still in shock. Where did the fanse from? We did a lot of things, you know. We were on the top of the music charts for a month, we did music cafes, we went to a lot of events. Is that so? Or maybe its because of the Street Boys? I think the fan cafe reactions got a lot better after they dissed us. Ri-hyuk said that, and we suddenly remembered something we had forgotten. Oh. Right! Our song is released today. Our official debut date is tomorrow, but thepany decided to release the song at 8 p.m. today. The current time is 9:30 p.m. We were curious about the reactions to the song that was released. We took out our smartphones. As we did, I saw Yoon Seokhwans eyes smiling through the rearview mirror. Let me check the chart. We gathered around Bi-jus phone and started to scan the chart from the first to the hundredth ce. As expected, there was nothing from 1st to 50th ce. And when we turned to the 50th to 100th ce page, our eyes went down and stopped at a certain point. They went up and down several times. [98th. New ck Fireworks] We blinked at the number on the screen. Is this right? It seems right. Is it real? Of course its real. The members stared at each other. Soon, we cheered as the car drove away. *** DNS Media headquarters. It waste, but the conference room was full of employees. All of them had serious faces. Especially the middle-aged man sitting at the head of the table. His face was ashen. On theptop he was looking at, there was a music chart with a yellow mango symbol. [88th. New ck Fireworks] New cks debut song, which entered the 98th ce at 10 p.m., was now up to 88th as midnight approached. The CEO of DNS Media, Lim Hyun-sik, scanned the chart. [24th. Jang So-won X New ck Something] [88th. New ck Fireworks] [97th. Street Boys Hunger] As the already grim-faced Lims expression hardened, the employees in the conference room swallowed their saliva. Meanwhile, the head of the PR team continued his exnation. It seems that our promotion had the opposite effect. We seeded in creating a rival situation, but after that, Hungers diss rap and Han-jos genius remark rallied their fandom. The light-hearted ones seemed to have joined the active fan base. We underestimated the size of New cks fandom, which had quite a lot of potential fans from music cafes, events, and broadcast appearances. The fan inflow rate was simr to Street Boys, but there was a difference in scale So. Lim rubbed his temples as if he had a headache. Are you saying that everything we did ended up doing Lemon Enter a favor? It seems so. A heavy silence hung in the air. It was apletely different atmosphere from a week ago, when they had fired celebratory shots for entering the chart within the top 100. The department heads started to speak up. Our A&R told you not to change the song We told you from the PR teams perspective. Noise marketing could backfire From the managers point of view who runs the field No, wasnt it the 2nd teams opinion to put in the diss lyrics that werent even in the song? You even wrote a script for the interview and now youre backing off As they raised their voices and shifted the me to each other, Lim Hyun-sik rubbed his temples. He had a headache. Its not that Street Boys performance would get worse if New ck did well. But everything in the entertainment industry is rtive. If theres a drama that gets 20% ratings on a regr basis, that drama would be considered a sess. But what if theres a 50% one at the same time slot? Could you call that a sess? A boy group from a small agency, and their selfposed song charted in the 80s on the first day. It was unimaginable how much more they would rise. Then, the smartphone screen shed. Baldy [Park Kyu-ho sent you a gifticon.] Baldy [^^] Lim Hyun-sik resisted the urge to throw his phone and sent a short reply of congrattions. Damn it. He had never felt the expression giving a dog a bone more than today. Chapter 55: Chapter 55: Chapter 55 Wonderful Night Its been ten days since we sessfully finished our debut showcase. During that time, weve been busy with music shows, photo shoots, small events, and so on. Today, we had a new schedule to handle. Nice to meet you. A reporter greeted us at a cafe near the HBS open hall in Deungchon-dong. She had sharp eyes and a sophisticated vibe. Im Oh So-hee, a reporter from Entertainment IN. We met at the showcase, right? Yes, hello! We bowed our waists at 90 degrees, and she smiled at us. She told us to rx and sit down, but we kept swallowing our saliva. Our first interview after debut. We had done a lot of interviews during Something, but this was the first time we did it without Jangso-won sunbae or Seok-hwan hyung. Min-gi hyung came with us, but it was hard to expect much help from him. I remember that the manager always followed you around. Where did he go today? Yes, hes currently unavable because of a meeting. The road manager answered, and Oh So-hee nodded. Then lets start with just us Hm? She was about to press the record button on her phone, but she stopped at the sight of our members movements. We all turned off our phones. She smiled as if she found us cute. Did thepany tell you to do that? No, Woojoo hyung nagged us all the way here. He said that when we do interviews with reporters, we should turn off our phones. He said he would follow us around and nag us all day if our phones ring in the middle of it. The youngests words made usugh warmly. The atmosphere lightened up, and I rxed my stiff shoulders. I felt a little less nervous. It was annoying to see the customers around us staring at us or taking pictures with their phones, but there was nothing we could do about it. We had officially entered the entertainment industry. Min-ki hyung walked over to the customers who were tantly taking pictures of us, and the interview began. First of all, congrattions. As of the 27th, the music video for Fireworks reached one million views, right? I heard that its the shortest record for a rookie idol group thats not from the Big 4 agencies. It was a tteringpliment, but it wasnt wrong. Since the 2010s, when idol fandoms started streaming 24 hours a day, the rise of Fireworks was unbelievable. It wasnt like Yoon Chan-hyuk, who people would listen to whenever he released a song, or TNT, who had a powerful fandom. It was a miracle that a rookie group like us achieved such results. We were also flustered. We would check the chart rankings as soon as we opened our eyes every morning, with our eyes wide open. The conversation about our performance ended, and she changed the topic. You were also quite a hot topic in the idolmunity, right? Especially the acape live video that got a lot of attention. Yes, we received a lot ofpliments that were too generous. Among them, I remember thement that said we were like a group of main vocalists. We were really happy when we saw that. She smiled as if she knew what we meant. Then, how do you feel about the name New ck being hot in the idol scene right now? Does that poprity affect your daily life? Do people recognize you on the street? I dont think so. I answered with a smile. Rather, there were more people who recognized us when we were doing Something. I guess people dont know us much because were rookies. And its morefortable to have less attention for now. It would be different if we were a national idol group like TNT. If you asked the average person on the street to name an idol, they would probably name less than three. It was natural that people didnt know us. Thats why we had to work harder. We were having a pleasant conversation, when the question I expected came out of her mouth. How is your rtionship with Street Boys these days? There was a rivalry between the two groups before you debuted. Especially you, Woojoo, you were oftenpared to Hanjo because of your image as aposer-idol. Street Boys. To be honest, I havent had a real conversation with them since we debuted. We just exchanged brief greetings when we passed by each other. It was awkward because of the diss, but also because we had nothing to say. And considering the atmosphere between the twopanies managers, it wasnt a situation where we could chat casually. But I couldnt tell the reporter, We dont care about each other, and we dont talk. So I was about to give the prepared answer. We think of them as our fellow debutants in the entertainment industry. Led by the calm voice of Bi-ju, the members chimed in as if to ease the leaders burden. Right. Good job, my kids. Compared to the times when they froze during the interviews in the Something era, this was a huge improvement. As I watched the members say a word or two, Reporter Oh smiled. Ah, the reason I asked this question is because I interviewed Street Boys a while ago, and one of their members mentioned New ck as the group they want to be friends with. Especially you, Ri-hyuk. Me? Me? Not only Ri-hyuk, but the kids were also surprised. This hyung? Our Ri-hyuk? Uh, why? A perfect raw reaction. As our main vocal opened his eyes wide, Oh Sohee reporter burst into a heartyugh. Of course, I was holding my head in pain. Reporter, the kidsments just now I got it, Ill skip this question. The PR team leader already asked me to be careful. Reporter Oh smiled and changed the question. Then let me ask you something else. I heard that Street Boys are going to start filming their second reality show on K-Net soon. What about New cks future activities? Do you have any ns for broadcasting? We dont have any yet, except for music shows. But we are ready to do our best for any opportunity thates our way. Oh, so you dont have any yet. She looked a bit disappointed. I did some research before the interview, and it seems that there are some controversies going on in themunity and elsewhere because New ck has less exposure on TV. Controversies? Fireworks is the most sessful selfposed song among idol songs. Even though the song is good, its too good, so some people wonder if its really a selfposed song. Ah. Thats why I asked. Does thepany have any ns to show something about theposition in the future? It was something I hadnt thought of at all, so I hesitated. But not for long. I smiled and answered calmly. About that It was the best answer I could think of. I believe we will have a chance to show you in the future. *** Wow. That was tough. Back to the HBS public hall for the music show schedule. My legs were trembling as I climbed the stairs one by one. The kids were nervous that they might make a mistake during the interview, and when it was over, they seemed to lose all their strength. As I walked like a limp squid. Bi-ju came up to me, misunderstanding my expression. Dont worry about what the reporter said earlier. Huh? Theposition thing. Oh. That. Its because the song is so good that it happened. Dont listen to the jealous people. Really. I dont understand why they leave suchments. Our teams best trash talker added, and Jung-hyun followed. Those people will disappear soon. Jung-hyun hyung, when you say that, put down your fist. Its scary. Ah, sorry. Right. Woojoo hyung, ignore those weird people. The youngest, who was gulping down his mhiato, said casually. Taking care of the eldests feelings. Our kids are so nice. I smiled at the sight of our main vocals surprised eyes. *** But I didnt care as much as the kids worried. Composing music wasnt something that could be seen with the eyes, and it was a matter that had to be proven over time. Well. I wish I had a chance to show it, but still. I thought about telling them that I was just tired, but I decided to keep quiet because I liked their concerned looks. By the way, didnt you say that the manager went to a meeting? Is that rted to our schedule? Maybe were going to a new show Thats right. Min-ki hyung, did you hear anything? The road manager seemed to recall something as he answered my question. Well, I heard that he went to Sangam-dong. Sangam? Is it TBC? There was also K-Nets headquarters, but we had a bad rtionship with them. It was highly likely to be TBC. Since it was one of the three terrestrial broadcasters, I didnt have any special information to know, so I stopped guessing there. Hell let me know when its confirmed. With that thought, I returned to the waiting room on the fifth floor. We, who were wandering around therge auditorium with blue partitions roughly divided, quickly found the waiting room. Oh, youre here. Yoon Seok-hwan, who had already arrived, greeted us. He had just returned, pping his shirt hem and cooling off his sweat. He smiled when he saw my face. You came back with half of your face. Dont say that. I was so nervous thinking that we had to interview each other I was appealing that I was having a hard time, but the younger ones next to me waved their hands and said something with their mouths. Roughly, Youre just saying that, but you did well or something like that. These guys are really. Seok-hwan hyung chuckled and said. You worked hard. Lets stick together, hyung. Im having a hard time without you. I dont even know what to say. Get used to it, man. You guys are debuting now and Im busy running the business. You have to get used to hanging out with Min-ki and you guys. After the live without apaniment, Seok-hwan hyungs eyes were full of trust in me. He seemed to think that he could trust and leave the kids to me. I wanted to refuse that misunderstanding. So, how did the meeting at TBC go? TBC? How do you know that? I heard from Min-ki hyung that you went to Sangam-dong. I thought you went there for some show booking. A slightly flustered face. As soon as he realized that we didnt know what was going on, Seok-hwan hyung looked relieved. It smelled very suspicious. But before I could ask any more questions, our manager changed the topic. And with some news that made our ears perk up. By the way, your show schedule is set. Schedule? What is it? Radio. The manager exined to us, who looked curious. Its called Wonderful Night, a radio program hosted by Jang So-won. *** Jang So-wons Wonderful Night. HBSs gship radio program that runs from 8 p.m. to 10 p.m. The date we were going to was July 6th. Exactly a weekter, on Sunday. He said he was doing a special feature on rookie boy groups. The writer there told me that Jang So-won rmended you guys strongly. He joked that he would definitely call you when we parted in May. I didnt expect him to actually do it. What the hell is this? We were moved by the new schedule. Then Seok-hwan hyung delivered the unfortunate news. Only two of you will go. Why? The corner youre going to is apetitive one. Youpete with stories, and show live corners. So they decided to send out Ri-hyuk, who sings the best, and me, who sings the next best. We all agreed to that. But we frowned at the following story. Then whos the other team? Street Boys. Was it because we had been through it so much for thest month? It was a name I didnt want to hear at all. *** Cheer up, guys. We had finished the pre-recording and only had the live broadcast left. I was taking a break at the cafeteria. Bi-ju and Jung-hyun had some errands to run, so they left. I was with the two younger members. The menu was, of course, the famous sandwich of . I felt uneasy as I watched the youngest one devour the sandwich with enthusiasm. Why are you so excited when youre telling us to cheer up? Well, of course. Im not the one whos going on stage. Aaah Why are you like that when Im eating? I grabbed his cheek, which was like a sticky rice cake, and nced at the side. Ri-hyuk, who would have joined me in teasing him at any other time, was quietly looking at his phone. What are you looking at? Im searching for an article. Someone said they wanted to be friends with me in an interview earlier. Oh, that. I was curious about that too. Who was the one who said such a strange thing? He tapped his smartphone with his long and slender finger, and an article popped up. Street Boys Interview. The reporter was right. There was really such a statement written there. The speaker was the youngest member named Kiwon. He said he wanted to be friends with me because he saw my face at the same agency before What does that mean? We were in the same agency? Ri-hyuk tilted his head, and the youngest one eximed as if he remembered something. Ah! I think I know him! Isnt he Yoon Kiwon? It doesnt say his surname. It must be him. Ji-ho started to chatter. Hes in the same school as me. Vocal ss B. I heard he was from Oullim before. Didnt you train at Oullim before you came to ourpany, hyung? Oullim? I was there for a while. Ri-hyuk recalled his vague memory, while I shook my head. Why did he do such an interview? He must have known that he dissed us in a rap. I dont understand why he chose one of us as the idol member he wanted to be friends with. Was it because he didnt like us because of our history? Or maybe this was some kind of borate scheme. As I was thinking that, a shadow loomed over us, who were eating sandwiches and chatting. Excuse me A very calm and low voice. Who is it, I thought, and lifted my head. I had to hide my nervous expression. It was because of the person standing in front of me. Hanjo. The leader of Street Boys, and the one who had embarrassed us with his diss rap. What the hell. Why is he suddenly talking to me? I was startled by the person who spoke to me for the first time in ten days since our debut. Not only me, but also my siblings were shocked by what Hanjo did next. Here, take this. He handed me two bills worth 50,000 won each. Chapter 56: Chapter 56: Chapter 56 Sometimes life throws you some absurd situations. Like right now. A person who hadnt spoken to me for almost ten days since our debut, and who wasnt on good terms with me, came up to me and handed me a hundred thousand won. How was I supposed to interpret this? For a moment, I had a nk expression like aputer with no response. I looked back and forth between Shin Saimdang and the person. Are you giving this to me? Yes. Hanjo nodded slightly and asked. Didnt you lose this? I was wondering what he was talking about when something caught my eye. It was a wallet that was under the bill. An old wallet that was very familiar to us. The person exined as I took it nervously. I went down to the basement to greet the seniors and I found it lying in the hallway. I looked inside and saw a ID card with Kim Jung-hyun written on it I tried to return it to you at the waiting room, but you werent there. Oh Thank you. Do you want to check if anything is missing? I took the money out as it was and brought it to you in case you lost it. Thats not necessary. I thanked the person. Thank you. My friend who lost this is looking for it right now. I wondered why Kim Jung-hyun had sneaked out to go to the cafeteria. He must have taken only his same-age friend with him, knowing that he would get scolded. I smiled as I imagined the wallet expedition team bickering. We should give you something in return. No, its okay. Hanjo waved his hand and smiled. Suddenly, I saw his diss rap from the showcase sh over his face. But business is business and life is life. I was about to offer to buy him a sandwich or something, but he waved his hand again. Its not a big deal, really. Besides, we We? Hanjo looked at a corner table in the distance and we followed his gaze. Oh, wow. Eight pairs of sharp eyes. The street boys, dressed in hip-hop concept outfits and gold nes, were looking at us. But. Whats going on? As soon as our eyes met, they flinched and turned their backs. Whats up with that? By their looks, we should be the ones hiding, not them. They looked like thieves who were caught by the police at a crime scene. No, more like gangsters. Hanjo chuckled and gestured. Kiwon,e here. I didnt need to look for who Kiwon was. Seven of them turned to look at one person. It was like watching a mime show. The member who was singled out turned pale and shook his head. Come on. After a brief tug-of-war, the person came over hesitantly. We watched him curiously as Hanjo pulled him over and said. Jang So-won sunbae-nim, were going to be guests on your radio show. Well be doing somements and stuff, but it might be awkward to greet you there. So we wanted to say hello in advance and ask for your favor In other words, he wanted to get acquainted with us before the broadcast. I smiled inwardly, but I yed along. I introduced our main vocal, who still had a cold face. Were going to be on the show as a duo. He nodded silently as a greeting. That was the end of the conversation. We didnt have much to talk about, even though we started talking because of the wallet. Hanjo and Kiwon exchanged eye contact and went back to the table where their members were. I turned my gaze to my younger siblings. Then I remembered something I had forgotten. Oh. Right. Jung-hyun. I was about to call him, but Ji-ho was already talking to him on the phone. I heard a relieved voice from the other side. Meanwhile, my eyes were drawn to Ri-hyuk, who was staring nkly out the window. Ri-hyuk, whats wrong? Its him. Who? The guy we just greeted. Yoon Kiwon. Ri-hyuk lowered his voice as he nced at the youngest, who was happily chatting on the phone. I just remembered who he is. *** That day, as soon as I returned to thepany, I had a brief meeting with Director Jo Gyu-hwan. It was because of the radio schedule. I wouldnt have needed to talk to him otherwise, but I had something I wanted to show the listeners on this radio show. I asked for a consultation just in case. Im here. The studio at 10 p.m. Ri-hyuk, who was lying on the sofa listening to music, took off his earphones and got up. What is it? He said I can do whatever I want. He said its a good n, and hell let the A&R team staff know in advance. Well, thats good. I turned on myptop and sat down at the studio table. Ri-hyuk pushed his wheel chair over and came closer. Shall we pick a song then? The n I told the director was simple. -Theres a live corner on this radio program, right? Can I perform a song Iposed there? He asked me why, and I told him about the interview I had with Oh So-hee, a reporter from Entertainment IN, earlier today. The side effect of Fireworks sess. The song was good, too good, and some people thought that an idol member couldnt have written it. Someday, that doubt would fade away. But why should I refuse an opportunity to show off my skills, that was my argument. He thought for a moment and agreed. With one condition. Why is the self-cam on? The director told me to. He said he would let us go on the radio with our own song, so we have to record our working process. I dont like being filmed. Youre a celebrity, Ri-hyuk. How can you be afraid of being filmed? Whos afraid? Wait, why are you always avoiding the screen? He caught me. I deliberately adjusted theptop angle to focus on Ri-hyuk, but the sharp-eyed guy noticed it. I apologized with a sorry expression. I lost some confidence after removing my makeup Didnt you always say, I dont care about my appearance, while wearing sweatpants? Where did that person go? The fans will be disappointed if they see my bare face. Excuse me. Dont you know that your bare face is simr to our makeup? Youre making me angry at thiste hour. Ive always felt this way, but you have such a pretty way of speaking, Ri-hyuk. He snorted and handed me a ck mask from his hoodie pocket. Here, wear this. Oh Dont make a touched expression and just wear it. Give it back before you leave. Its new. Ill use it cleanly and return it. Take it. Right. He doesnt share things with others. I put on a baseball cap that Jung-hyun had left behind and hung the mask on my chin. I looked at the self-cam and it seemed decent. I looked like a pro idol. He looked at me pitifully and I coughed to change the subject. Lets pick a song then. We had a week left until the live radio broadcast. It was a tight schedule to make a song, let alone a decent beat. But the reason I was confident was What are you, a song collector? How many sources and melodies did you make? There were tons of song files in the folder. He looked bored as I exined. I was so stressed out when I made Fireworks. I made these things to relieve it. You know how it is at school. Everything is fun except studying. Thats the logic behind it. Amazing. Amazing. Right? Thats why your eyes were like that then. I clicked the mouse and said. Anyway, these are stress-relief works, so most of them are low quality. There are only two or three that are worth showing to the public. Ill listen to them all anyway. He took out an A4 paper from the printer and clicked his pen. Then I yed the file. As time passed, the expressionless main vocal gradually immersed himself in the songs. He had the least facial changes in daily life, but when it came to music, his expressions were the richest among us. He was the kind of person who deserved to be called a born singer. He focused on the songs like he was in a different space and wrote notes after each song ended. Which one would he like best? I had three candidates in mind. The first was a medium tempo song simr to Something, with autumn leaves as the theme, the second was a song with the mystery of a garden in a fantasy as the theme, and the third was a song with the night sea with the Milky Way as the theme. The one I wanted the most was I listened to them all and I think three of them are decent. But the mysterious one is impossible to prepare in a week, and out of the two, I liked Night Sea better. Yeah? It has a poetic atmosphere that suits the radio. And this might be just me, but He looked into my eyes and asked. Did you write this based on your experience? Huh? How did you know? Ive sung a song or two. I can tell by listening. It looked like you had the most fun writing this one. Yeah. I was so stressed out then, so I wrote this song thinking of my grandmother. Oh. He blinked and paused. His eyes flickered like a mouse cursor spinning in buffering. He seemed to feel obliged to say something nice to me. The problem was thatpliments and nice words were not his major. Maybe, that, your heart was, um Its okay, you dont have to worry about it. Lets decide to perform Night Sea live. And from now on, you have to do something with me. What? What do you mean? You must have sensed it when I said I wanted to go with my own song. What are you talking about? I never had such a feeling. He looked uneasy as he moved his wheel chair away. I handed him an A4 paper. You have to write lyrics, Ri-hyuk. This is a scam. I never agreed to this. You know writing lyrics pays well, right? This is all because I want my younger siblings to be rich. He looked like he had realized that thepany he joined was a pyramid scheme. I smiled apologetically. Im sorry. Its because I dont have much talent in writing lyrics. *** At first, he sighed heavily and gave me resentful looks, but once we started working, Ri-hyuk did his part well. No. He soared. I thought he had talent when we made Fireworks, but he definitely had a knack for writing lyrics, probably because he read a lot of books. Of course, I wasnt resting either. Since it was a song that contained my personal experience with my grandmother, I made the skeleton of the lyrics, and Ri-hyuk polished the important parts and the sentences I wrote. In the meantime, I also coordinated the work with the A&R team. Our Woojoo, you must be worried that the A&R teams work will decrease? Im sorry, Im the culprit I must have spent at least a hundred thousand won on Americanos for the staff. Fortunately, thanks to the sess of Fireworks, the A&R team grumbled verbally, but they enjoyed working with me. Most importantly, this song was basically a song that looks like it was made by ourselves, even if its a bit clumsy rather than a song that was touched by an expert from start to finish, so it didnt need much intervention. Thats how [Composition: Woojoo], [Lyrics: Woojoo/Ri-hyuk]''s quickly took shape. It was possible because we already had a nearly finished song. But everything was going smoothly when an unexpected problem popped up from nowhere. Hmm Three days before the Wonderful Night guest broadcast. I was practicing live with Ri-hyuk in the studio when I felt a strange difort in his singing. Ri-hyuk. Yes? Are you sure you can sing this? What do you mean, can I sing this? It was hard to pinpoint exactly what was wrong. But I dont know, its just a feeling, but this song seems a bit hard for you. What? Did I make a mistake? No, Im not talking about the technical aspect. The vocal trainers always say that sincerity is important when singing. You have to feel, empathize, and convey the emotion in the song. Sincerity. A song is a medium that tells you to feel the emotion Im expressing. Therefore, before I sing to the audience, I have to have that emotion in me. I dont feel that in your song right now. Honestly, you sing much better than me. But its like youre missing two percent. We made Night Sea with our own experiences in mind. My experience of falling asleep on my grandmothersp when I was young. The memories of my childhood that grew under her warm touch, thats what we chose as the theme I dont feel that in Ri-hyuks song. I was careful not to sound too harsh, but he answered calmly. Youre really a ghost when ites to work. Tell me, whats the problem? If you think you cant do it now, just be honest. We can prepare something else. If it was a ready-made song with guidelines on how to sing it, we could get ready in three days. To be honest, its really hard to catch the emotion. In what way? Night Sea is about remembering and longing for the person who treated me warmly when I was young. Right. This might sound weird, but I dont have that kind of memory. I have to react well to this. I didnt have much contact with my rtives or grandparents. And, well, my family had some personal issues. Uh I see. Dont make that face. Im not saying this to make you pity me. Im just telling you objectively how I am. Then, did you have someone you relied on? Anyone? No. Really? There was a decent vocal teacher at the academy. But? He got arrested for drunk driving a few years after I left. I cant sing a beautiful night sea~ while thinking of that kind of person. Yeah, I guess not. I racked my brain and asked. Then lets think the other way around. What if you were that kind of guardian, and you took care of other people? Any experience like that? No. Youre answering too fast. Because I really dont have any. You have a younger sister. Hmm. Thats different. He said to me, who was embarrassed. I dont like it when someone takes care of me, but I dont like the opposite either. Ive never seen anything good happen so far. Is that so. Dont you remember what I told youst time? He bit his tongue and said. Yoon Kiwon of Street Boys, I got fired from thepany for helping him. Chapter 57: Chapter 57: Chapter 57 I remembered the story that Ri-hyuk told me a while ago. I didnt know who he was at first. But when I thought about it, his face came to mind. He looked different when I met him before. He was younger then. Before he came to Lemon Entertainment, Ri-hyuk was a trainee at Awullim Entertainment. Awullim Entertainment. One of the five small agencies that conduct annual evaluations with DNS and Lemon. Its apany that has a reputation for being reliable in the industry. Its specialty is vocal. Unlike other agencies that emphasize dance performance, Awullim is an agency that specializes in nurturing singers. Its like a middle form between an idol and a singer. If you look at the singers that came out of Awullim, there are many solo singers or vocal groups that are not idols but have an idol-like vibe. For example, the four-member vocal group ylist that has a high poprity for their beautiful appearance. It was natural for Ri-hyuk, who was weak in dance, to join Awullim. You remember, right? I was rejected by Hwai Entertainment because they told me to dance first. After that, I applied to other agencies, but I was eliminated every time because of my dance. I had no choice. Of course, thepany staff who saw our monster vocal printed out a contract even before the audition was over. Thats how Ri-hyuk became a trainee. Everything went well. Thanks to his overwhelming vocal skills, he was at a level where he could debut in a sh, and thepany people liked him too. The problem was that Ri-hyuk hated that ce. Well, everypany has a different atmosphere, but there, the rookie development team staff who manage the trainees were like, Do this, do that. They would make us lie down if they told us to. Ri-hyuk said with a disgusted look. The problem was that there was a guy named Sato among the rookie development team staff. Sato? He was called Sato because he was a psycho on the fourth floor. Anyway, there was one guy who was too friendly with the trainees. He would give favors to the ones who were close to him, and treat them harshly if they didnt get along. How were you? How do you think? He was frustrated because he couldnt eat me. But he couldnt touch me because the CEO liked me. It felt like he was the top student who was left alone no matter what he did. Anyway, it was really bad. The smart ones would stick to that guy and tter him, and the trainees would split into factions. There were probably only two people who were alone there, me and that guy Yoon Kiwon. So you knew him from before? No. I never talked to him. Ri-hyuk said that he was a my-way at that time, and Yoon Kiwon was a trainee who had a faint presence that didnt catch his eye. The only image that came to mind was that of a timid kid. But usually, when theres a mess upstairs, the kids downstairs have no ce to vent their stress, right? You vented it on him. I think so. I didnt care and didnt know what was going on. I guessed what kind of atmosphere it was. When people are in a stressful situation, they usually look for a target to vent their anger. Maybe there, the youngest and weakest trainee was the target. It was when they were deciding the debut group, and I was almost confirmed. I was half-preparing for my debut. So I was like, Lets just do my thing and ignore them. As the dissatisfaction piled up. The incident happened on a normal day. Ri-hyuk went to the practice room after school to practice. He saw a strange sight. A kid lying down in one corner of the practice room. He could see that he was struggling so hard that his arms and legs were shaking. There was so much sweat on the floor of the practice room that the kid had spilled. But what was unbelievable was that thepany staff and the trainees were ying and eating snacks next to him. It was so ridiculous. So I asked. Why is he being punished? But the answer was outrageous. What did they say? Just. They said just. I got so angry when I saw that. So You fought. I fought big time. I dont know why I did that, but I think I just got angry. Ri-hyuk was terminated from his contract that day. Thats the end of it. Honestly, it was a long time ago, and I wouldnt have remembered it if they hadnt told me first. But he must have been grateful and remembered you. Now? When everyone else was giving me unfavorable testimonies back then, he was the only one who kept his mouth shut. Hey, what do you expect from a middle schooler? I was in eighth grade then, you know? I asked Ri-hyuk, who narrowed his eyes. *** So, what about the other trainees? What happened to them? Well, I heard that the staff member who did that to you got fired soon after, but the rest probably debuted by now. Theyre the ones who were in ylist, you know, the ones who ate those snacks back then. ylist. I made a mental note to pay attention to that name, when Ri-hyuk spoke again, lowering his head. Anyway, my philosophy is that theres no point in being nice to others. In the end, Im the only one who gets hurt. He said it calmly, but he looked somehow lonely. *** As I recalled the story he told mest Sunday, Ri-hyuk tapped the floor of the studio with his foot. So, I dont really know. Ive never relied on anyone or been someones support. I dont know what that feels like. It was true that I had never seen himin or lean on anyone in all this time. What about Ji-ho? Are you serious? Dont look at me with that contemptuous expression. Youre hurting my feelings. Im just asking honestly, do you think Ji-ho relies on me? He didnt hesitate to answer. No. See? That fox-like kid relying on me. Thats ridiculous. Ji-ho is a fox? I thought he was clueless. Ive been watching him for almost three years. Hes just pretending to be dumb, but he has a lot of schemes inside. Is that so? I didnt notice. Well. One thing was certain. Ji-ho was not the type to depend on Ri-hyuk. He seemed to think of him as a fun brother to hang out with. Our kids were generally independent, only relying on me when they were in trouble or danger. Hmm. This was a headache. Ri-hyuk. What. You should have told me sooner if this was the case. You came to me three days before the song was done and said this. Dont say that. I thought I could do it then. He blushed and protested, and I nced at him and pondered. What to do. Should I change the song now, as if promoting the album tracks? No, no. Then Id have to rearrange it again. All four of our single album tracks were songs for five people, so I had to worry about the part distribution and deal with Jung-hyuns rap part. Should I use Something to fill the gap, I wondered, but I was negative. People had heard it too much, and more importantly, Jang So-won was the DJ. He would know right away how poorly prepared our song was. Jang So-won, a senior with a strong professional conscience, might scold us properly after the schedule was over. I didnt want to disappoint someone who liked us. I thought about various things, but the conclusion was that I had to push through with the song Night Sea that we had now. I was silent, lost in thought, and Ri-hyuk misunderstood my expression and said. Im sorry. Its because of me. No. You cant me yourself for this. You cant ask him why he grew up in such an environment when he had no such experience since he was young. Maybe it would help if I watched a movie with a simr sentiment. I dont like movies, they hurt my eyes. You read a lot of books, right? Then how about a novel. I mostly read non-fiction. Literature is only essays like Walden? I dont like things that are too emotional. . I took a deep breath. And gave him a gentle smile. Do you hate me? No. Its not that I hate you, its just that I. Just? Just, I see you in a good way. It sounded a bit awkward, but lets move on. He was a bratty 18-year-old who didnt like this or that. Looking at him, I finally came up with a solution. Then lets forget about warmth or anything else, and try to substitute it with the closest emotion you can feel. When I wrote Night Sea, I felt gratitude too. Thats the core of it. Gratitude? Sure, you must have someone youre grateful for too. Um Dont tell me you dont have anyone. The chair where he was sitting creaked as he turned. His white sneakers tapped the floor as if reflecting his train of thought. Who is he thinking of? I suddenly became curious. Various emotions flickered across his pale face, which had been expressionless. For a brief moment, it seemed like a faint smile even touched his lips. Ri-hyuk answered readily. I do, someone Im grateful for. Who? Do I have to tell you that? Isnt that my privacy? Fine. Dont tell me then. Youre so stingy. I chuckled and looked at the sheet music of Night Sea on theptop screen. Shall we practice based on that then? Sounds good. *** Finally, the long-awaited day arrived. July 6th. On a sultry summer night, with the highest temperature of 33 degrees at noon, our siblings saw us off as we got into the car in front of our dorm. Have a safe trip. Bi-ju sped my and Ri-hyuks hands together with both of hers. A warm voice came along with a gentle touch. And dont fight with each other. When did we ever fight? I heard from the staff in charge of video production. They said 70 percent of your practice videos were fights. She handed me a lock-and-lock container. It was our housewifes consideration to eat on the way to the radio station, for hydration. Good luck, hyung. Jung-hyun stuck out his fist as if to bump it with mine. He looked like he was in pain. Instead of bumping it, I grabbed it like a bundle and shook it yfully. Jung-hyun smiled. When a warm atmosphere was going back and forth, Ji-ho fanned his hand as if it was hot. Can I go in now? Its too hot. Hey. Have a good trip~ Ji-ho hid behind Jung-hyun as we red at him, then peeked out his head. He looked like a country dog on a stone wall. I heard its a radio show that you can see today. Ill leave a lot ofments in the chat roomter, so look forward to it. My nickname is Ri-hyuk is a pirarucu. Youre asking for it. And I sent you a gift too, so look forward to it. A gift? I wanted to ask more, but Min-ki hyungs signal to leave made us get in the Carnival. We waved our hands to our siblings as we lowered the tinted ss window. Anyone would think we were going to war, but well. If you think about it, we werepeting with Street Boys, so it wasnt a wrong thing to say. Lets do well. I wiped the sweat on my palm and nodded. *** HBS building in Mok-dong. A lobby with a ss ceiling and walls, where I was busy sending messages. Me [Grandma. Do you know your grandson is on the radio at 9?] The 1 disappeared right away, but the reply came after 5 minutes. Grandma [I have it on] Grandma [Is that the girl you sang with,?] Me [Yes. Shes a good senior] As I tapped the smartphone keyboard, Ri-hyuk tilted his head. Who are you talking to? My grandma. Say hello to her for me. Wait a minute. I tapped on the keyboard. Me [Ri-hyuk says hello] Grandma [Who?] Me [Ri-hyuk] Me [The one who sings well and has nted eyes but a very bad personality] I made a lot of typos as I tried to fend off the phone snatcher. Me [You know. The younger brother who can sing] Then Ri-hyuk nodded his head. I read the reply from grandma to the curious guy. Grandma says thank you. And she says to be nice to the older brother in front of you. You made that up, right? Of course. Do you think our grandma would say something like that? She would tell you not to bother me and behave yourself. Please tell her Im taking good care of her grandson. I chuckled and shook my head. I sent him onest message, telling him to listen to my songter, and put my phone away. It was a good thing I didnt mention Street Boys. There were all kinds of things that happened until the debut showcase, but grandma only knew the good ones. Seeing her reaction now, I think I did well. If I had told her, she would have been furious and asked me if it was okay to hang out with those bastards. Lets go, guys. We followed Min-ki hyung, who came back from the cafe with a box of coffee. It was Americano and cake slices that we bought for the production staff. While waiting for the elevator. I asked Ri-hyuk, who was busy tapping on his phone. Who is it? Wang Ji-ho. He said he sent me a gift earlier. I asked him what it was, but he wont tell me. Well, youll find out soon enough. It seemed like Seok-hwan hyung knew, so there shouldnt be any problem. I thought I would find out when I got there anyway. To be honest, Ri-hyuk didnt seem that curious either. It looked like he was looking for something to distract his tense nerves. Like when people suddenly text their friends to escape from an awkward situation. I smiled, thinking I knew why he was doing that. Ding- But when the elevator door opened, my smile was gone. They say you meet your enemy on a narrow bridge. As soon as I saw Street Boys and their managers in the elevator, I had a feeling that it would be a very awkward situation. Chapter 58: Chapter 58: Chapter 58 The air was stiflingly awkward. As we got on the elevator, the other side moved aside hesitantly. Hello. Hanjo, who was in the corner, whispered a greeting. While the leaders exchanged eye contact, the two main vocals nodded at each other and started to distance themselves. Was that a greeting or not? One of them was digging into the corner as if he was going to sell a cave, and the other was staring at the numbers going up with a stiff posture like an ostrich. I could only snicker. Then a hearty voice spoke to us. Oh, hello there. The street boys manager, Mr. Park, was hidden behind the huge box carried by the road manager. He smiled warmly. Its nice to see you again here. Did youe alone with the road staff, New ck? Yes, our manager was busy. Well, its a busy time for you. New ck is doing so well these days. Your songs are popr and youre on various shows. He knew we were only on our own radio show. He was subtly rubbing it in, but his tone was so smooth and friendly that I couldnt find fault with it. If I frowned, I would be the weird one. Im also out of my mind these days. Our kids are going on K-Net reality show again. Theres so much to do. I have to eat with the production team, have meetings with the writers. I feel like I need two bodies. Sigh. Yes, you must be working hard. Mr. Park scratched his nose with a hmm, as if he was disappointed by the polite reply from Minki hyung. He was frustrated. In a situation where New cks performance was clearly better, the street boys manager seemed to want to show us something like were still better at this! in his own way. Ding- 12th floor. The conversation was naturally cut off as the door opened at the radio center. As we followed the sub-writer who came to greet us, we heard a groan from behind. The road manager on the other side was sweating from the heavy load. Hanjo approached him as if he wanted to help, but the road manager shook his head with a wink, ncing at Mr. Parks back. It felt like thepany atmosphere was different from ours. Lemon was more lenient with singers and managers, probably because they started as an actor agency, but DNS seemed to squeeze the lower staff, since they were an idolpany from the start. I was d I joined ourpany. Mr. Park misunderstood his gaze and brought up a story he didnt ask. Its the support from the street boys fans. Huh? That box. Oh yes. The fans went crazy when they heard our kids were going on the radio. Thepany said it was enough, but they were so passionate, they sent a lot of snacks and drinks for the staff to enjoy. You can see how many fans they already have He sounded like an uncle who bragged about his sons job to his unemployed nephew on a holiday. And his two embarrassed sons as a bonus. Hmm? The sub-writer, who had been silent until then, turned around with a pause. Did you bring it for us? Yes, its from the fans for the writers and the PD. Oh, yeah thats a lot. The sub-writer smiled awkwardly, and Mr. Park tilted his head. We felt the same. We heard that they brought free food, but we didnt look as happy as we thought. Whats going on? When we finally entered the studio, we understood why she had that expression. The studio with a radio booth attached. On one wall, there were stacks of boxes that looked expensive at a nce. Dessert boxes with hotel marks. On each box, there was a cute font that said [To the Wonderful Night production team, from New cks youngest Ji-ho! Enjoy!]. It felt like I was hearing a hallucination. -I sent you a gift, so look forward to it! Iughed as I realized what was going on. PD-nim, the guests are here. The PD, who was sitting at the console table, got up and greeted us with a smile. Oh, wee. I was just about to thank you for the cake you sent me Park Manager, who was looking at the expensive-looking dessert containers that cost several thousand won each, made a dumbfounded expression. It was the kind of expression you make when you bragged about your child, but then found out that your nephew, who was a job seeker, had passed the civil service exam and was waiting for his appointment. The PD, who was exchanging greetings with us, turned his gaze to the Street Boys. What is that? Ah, this is I held back augh as I watched him fumble for words. *** As the managers left the studio with mixed expressions of joy and sorrow, we entered the radio booth. Hello, sunbae-nim! Oh, Im d to see you all. Jang So-won waved her hand and weed us. We sat in a U-shaped table around the DJ, with me and Ri-hyuk on the left, and Hanjo and Kiwon on the right. She smiled and talked to us, seeing our nervous faces. Is this your first time on the radio for both groups? Yes. You must be very nervous, but please do your best. Ill fill in the gaps for you, so dont be shy and be confident with yourments. Got it? Yes, sunbae-nim. The conversation ended there. Jang So-won gave us a faint smile and turned her eyes to the script. The meaning was clear. She couldnt fill the airtime with personal friendship alone, so we had to do well on our own. I nodded. We had to take care of our own rice bowls. I thought of the younger ones who were cheering for us at the dorm and looked around. Beyond the soundproof ss, the production staff were drinking coffee and chatting, in the corner there was a camera filming us, and in front of me there was a long microphone and a monitor. I adjusted the height of the microphone and looked at the monitor. -Is this weeks guest also an idol??? -Theyre all handsome -Street Boys fighting!!! The radio screen and the chat window were noisy. Next to it, there was a memo app, but I didnt know what it was for. Ill find outter. In the meantime, I moved my eyes to the guy next to me. He was nervous again. I smiled as I watched him breathe deeply. His long, ck eyshes blinked twice per second, and under the table, he shook one leg. Fortunately, because of his characteristic cold expression, he didnt look very nervous unless you looked closely. Are you nervous? Who, me? Yeah. You. Not at all. Dont worry. I was a little nervous at the music cafe, but I can do well on the live broadcast today. Hey. Im nervous too. How can you not be nervous? I smiled at him. Take it easy. Huh? You cant always do well. You might mess up. Dont try too hard. Just rx. Lets have fun chatting with you, me, and the listeners today. Thats the mindset, okay? Okay. He held out his fist as if to say fighting. He stared at my fist and then quickly grabbed it and shook it like a handshake. No. Youre supposed to bump it, Ri-hyuk. I wonder if he was watching me and Junghyun do it earlier. I wish there was a short-term education program for skinship. Id like to send him there. By the way, its a mess over there. If this is clear, then thats cloudy. Kiwon was swallowing saliva with a very nervous look on his face. He opened and drank the cap of the water bottle every five seconds, and there was only half of the water left before the broadcast started. And Hanjo, who was adjusting the headphone length for the youngest, was also quite tense. At first, I thought they were just nervous because it was their first live broadcast, but soon I realized why they were acting like that. It was because of Jang So-won sunbae. Street Boys debut song Hunger had a diss rap aimed at our song Something. And Jang So-won was the originalposer of that song. Of course, I didnt know if she knew about the diss rap, or what she thought of it, but from the perspective of those rookies, they must have felt bitter even if they kept quiet. I sneered at the sight of them ncing at the DJ who was quietly looking over the script. They should have been more shameless. They should have stuck to the attitude they had at the showcase Q&A, saying Its not a diss. Youre misunderstanding. I didnt understand why they did that if they were going to be so cautious. Well. There were more than a few things that didnt make sense if I started to reason logically, so I decided to ignore them. It was none of my business anyway. I had enough trouble taking care of our kids, let alone caring about the situation of another group. There were only two things I cared about right now. How to leave a good impression on the listeners through this broadcast, and how well we could perform Night Sea at the live stage in the fourth part. Nothing else was that important. -Themercial is almost over. Please get ready. As the PDs voice rang through the speaker, pressing the talkback button, the guests put on their headphones along with the DJ. A soft feeling. While enjoying the old and cozy texture, the signal music sung by Girls On Top flowed out. -Forever tonight, Jang So-wons Wonderful Night. The live broadcast finally began. *** Seok-hwan hyung once told me something. Entertainment is a war without gunfire. That meant that we had to do all kinds of things to get one minute and one second of airtime, throwingments, interrupting, and trying to attract attention. But now. The genre of the scene that was being staged in the radio studio was far from that. You two groups are so warm. You get along so well, but you must have been sorry that you didnt have a chance to talk on music shows. The two leaders answered with a smile. Yes, we didnt know we would get along so well. Me too. I always wanted to be friends with New ck. The reason for this interesting y was simple. -You have to do all kinds of things to get airtime when you go on air. It was because of Seok-hwan hyungs training. -But thats for recorded shows. The problematic parts are edited out. But you know the radio youre going on is live, right? If you try to get airtime and get branded as unlikable, thats worse. So the managers advice was to create a friendly atmosphere as much as possible. We, the rookies, didnt have the skill to snatch airtime with a smile, let alone the status to do so. The other side must have received simr training, as the atmosphere was friendly all the time. Well. I hated to admit it, but they actually didnt have a bad chemistry either. Your positions ovep, too. Woojoo and Hanjo are the leaders of the group, and Kiwon and Ri-hyuk are the main vocals, right? Yes, thats right. Thats an interestingbination. Its amazing that the two leaders have simr vibes, but the main vocals havepletely different impressions. The monitor screens notepad had some text entered. The PD was entering some of the listeners reactions that he thought were interesting. Jeong Da-eun says, The temperature difference is like spring and winter. Thats true. Kiwon looks like a cute and warm chick, but Ri-hyuk has an ice princess vibe. Cant I be a prince? No, you cant. Ri-hyuk suits a princess better. Ri-hyuk smiled faintly at the yfulment. How about you, Kiwon? The listener says you have a warm impression like spring. Ah, yes. I like spring, too. Kiwon gave a random answer, looking nervous, and the DJ smiled. You can see the temperature difference in this aspect, too. Hanjo takes great care of Kiwon, but Ri-hyuk has a very independent atmosphere. No, I take great care of him, too. I jumped in at the right timing. Ri-hyuk looks very independent on the outside. But when you get to know him, hes a very needy friend. I always take care of him as an older brother. Thats not true at all. Ive always done well on my own. Now youre even lying. As we joked around with each other, the attention of the broadcast naturally shifted to New ck. The DJ seemed to think that we were better than the other side, who kept missing his cues. But. The person who made New ck the center of the broadcast today was neither me, nor Ri-hyuk, nor Jang So-won. It was a third party. Hey, a funnyment just came up. Ri-hyuk, its from Piraruku. Looks like theyre a New ck fan. Yeah. Thats our youngest. Just as I was getting nervous about what he was going to say, Jang So-won senior burst intoughter. They say, Please lower the lights!! Ri-hyuks face is disappearing! What? My face? As soon as we checked the monitor, we allughed. The PD had turned up the brightness, and Ri-hyuks face had vanished like a ghost egg. It was because his skin was too pale. He looked like a sketch of a handsome boy with no face. -His face is gone lol -I thought he was holding a reflector lol -Sudden ghost egg lol The chat was filled with lol as if they found him cute. Ri-hyuk covered his face with his hand, embarrassed. And when the PD lowered the brightness again. -OMG hes like a tomato. Just like someonemented, a very ripe persimmon had appeared on the screen. Chapter 59: Chapter 59: Chapter 59 The studio erupted intoughter because of someones face that turned bright red. With the help of frantic fanning and the water I handed him, Ri-hyuks face quickly returned to normal. Of course, everyone had alreadyughed enough by then. Thanks to Ri-hyuk, we had a goodugh. The DJs voice made everyone chuckle again. Come to think of it, you were like this when you were active as Something, right? Whenever the lighting was a bit strong, your face would disappear and the lighting director would sigh every time. Next time, you should tan your face a bit before youe. Yes. I hear that a lot these days when I go on music shows. As I was talking to Jang So-won, Hanjo joined in with a smile. Your ears are really red right now. Oh, they are. Its a phenomenon we jokingly call the ears of truth. Ri-hyuk is actually very shy, even though he doesnt look like it. I know, I know very well. His ears burn like that whenever hes embarrassed. No, they dont. Ri-hyuk, who still had a flushed face like a drunk person, shook his head. I dont get embarrassed easily. It was a tant lie. Anyone could see that. Not only the people in the booth, but also the production staff who were watching from behind the ss had smiles on their faces. Especially the writers, who looked like they couldnt stand how cute our kid was. I couldnt understand it at all. -Lololololol -Liar -We saw your face turn red lol The listeners reactions were not bad either. If Seok-hwan hyung was monitoring, he would probably beughing out loud. I felt it during the music cafe, but whether it was intentional or idental, making people like us was not an easy thing. The scene where he became an egg ghost was funny, but the twist that Ri-hyuk, who seemed cold, was actually a shy person seemed to appeal to the listeners as a good impression. Of course, the person in question was still suffering. Ri-hyuk is Pirarucu Yes? The ID that justmented is our groups youngest, Ji-ho. Oh, really? People showed interest at Ri-hyuks words. I wondered if I should stop him, but I decided to leave him alone for now. He kept saying he was going toment with that nickname before we left the dorm. I didnt think he would actually do it. So this was Ji-ho? Thats amazing. Yes. I n to have a sincere talk with him when we go back to the dorm. Oh, poor Ji-ho. Jang So-won, who smiled like an older sister, changed the topic. But the nickname was Pirarucu, right? Uh. Is it a pet name? Uh well I couldnt help butugh. Thats why I wondered if I should stop him before he said it. Jang So-won sunbae, who had a high sense of talk, wouldnt miss something like this. -Pirarucu? -What is Pirarucu? -Someone please exin Hanjo and Kiwon, who were on the opposite side, also seemed to forget about their talk and looked curious. Huh? Woo Joo, you look like you know something. Ah, well Dont say it, really dont say it, if you say it, were done, Ri-hyuk gave me a look. Hey. Do you think people wont look it up? But before I could answer, someone pasted an encyclopedia entry in thement section. For the listeners who were only listening, Jang So-won read thement. Pirarucu is thergest freshwater fish in South America. Its a fish that lives in the Amazon River. Ive never heard of this name before, why does Ji-ho call Ri-hyuk this nickname? Its not a nickname. Ri-hyuk exined. There was a time when I was so exhausted from practice that I copsed, and Ji-ho looked at my expression and said I looked like that fish Thats too much. Our Ri-hyuk is so cute. So, please remember this. I dont look like a pirarucu at all, everyone. Im not a pirarucu. People smile at his desperate denial. I dont know what the expressions of the people listening to the radio are right now, but Im sure theyre good, just like the people here. Its amazing. He was like that in an interview with reporter Oh a while ago, too. Considering that he couldnt even fill his part at the music cafe and I had to feed him, it was a huge improvement. I suddenly felt grateful to Ji-ho, who created this opportunity. Well done. Our youngest. Although he sacrificed Ri-hyuk, he got a meaningful amount of broadcast time. The flow of the broadcast changed at some point. The Street Boys, who had a fair share when they were introduced at first, were pushed aside, and Ri-hyuk and I were leading the broadcast with Jang So-won. I felt thankful to the youngest who gave us this opportunity. But that gratitude didntst even five minutes. It was when Jang So-won brought up the album while introducing each member and leading the talk. New cks song is very hot right now, right? I checked again before I came to the station, and Fireworks entered the daily chart at 39th ce. Yes. Were getting too much love. There have been groups that have been noticed from their debut titles, but this is the first time that a member hasposed the title song and achieved this much. How do you feel these days? Its hard to exin in words. It was like a dream. I feel like Im floating in the air every time I see the chart. I know that feeling. The DJ smiled as if he knew everything without saying anything. He started reading thements that the listeners wrote. Africa Youth, I love the song!!! There are a lot of exmation points. And Gold Love, You should aim for the music show 1st ce candidate. Oh, really, if you go like this, you might be able to aim for the music show 1st ce candidate, right? Oh, dont say that. Thats a big deal. He waved his hand and said. We think were enough right now. Weve been getting too much results from the beginning, and its a very grateful thing that weve achieved this much. Isnt that too much of a broadcastment? Im a rookie. Sunbae. Sheughed when I threw a joke. As if a shark appeared on the calm water, Ri-hyuk is a pirarucu appeared again in the chat room. The PD typed something in the notepad. New ck memberment!! As the DJ nodded at the message, I felt a bad feeling. What is it? What is it again? As the 1st ce candidate talkes up, thements areing up. Some of them are jokingly asking if you have any 1st ce promises in the future. Promises? Yes, one of them is from Ri-hyuk is a pirarucu. The leader of New ck has been to the army, right? How about re-enlisting as a promise? He says Hahaha! Jang So-won burst into realughter as she said thement. It was because of my expression. *** I really thought you were so young every time I saw you on the music show. But I never dreamed that you came out of the army. Yeah. Im a veteran. -Veteran??? -The expression just now -Did you reallye out of the army??? Yes. Im a veteran, okay. Ah, Im crying. The expression is really Its been a long time since Iughed so much on the broadcast. Im d youughed because of me Peopleughed in realughter as if it wasnt a realugh when Ri-hyukughed. Jang So-won and Kiwon, who were nervous and only looked at the DJ, also burst intoughter, let alone the others. There was amotion everywhere. Wang Ji-ho, you son of a bitch. I wont leave you alone when I go to the dorm. The youngest is the youngest, but the guy who sits next to me and shakes his cheeks is also annoying. Hes the only one. The kids in the dorm must be giggling and pressing the capture button. Bi-ju is probably making a gif file in real time. Should Iugh or cry? Personally, it was a shame level of embarrassment that I felt again after Souffle, but from the perspective of the rookie group New ck, it couldnt be better than this. We came out as rivals, but we ate all the broadcast time. By now, Parks manager of the Street Boys, who is listening to the broadcast, will be furious and snort. I couldnt believe he was bragging about it. The atmosphere of the broadcast was more like a special episode for New ck, rather than a rookie boy group special. Everyone was nice to us. I could feel the warmth from the production staffs expressions and thements in the chat room. Especially the engineer and the PD, who seemed to have a soft spot for me as a fellow veteran. Well, lets just move on. But this is definitely going to be uploaded on the inte. I dont know how my facial expression changed, but judging by the peoples reactions, its bound to be a meme. When I was in Souffle, I was so unknown that it was buried right away. But this time, I debuted and gained some poprity, so I dont know what kind of response it will get. Whatever. I just prayed that it would help the box office of Fireworks. Wow, I didnt expect tough so much from the small talk that opened the third part. Did you enjoy it, everyone? Lets give a round of apuse to Woojoo, who made us allugh! Wow- Thank you, everyone That senior seemed to be trying to kill me with embarrassment today. I even brought a gift for him, but Im seriously conflicted. Should I put it back? I nced at Ri-hyuk, who was giggling to himself, but he seemed to be having too much fun. Fine. Its been a while since he smiled like that, so lets just let it go. Not you, though. Wang Ji-ho. ** The schedule of Wonderful Night that we had to perform today was divided into three stages. The first one was small talk. It was a time when the DJ introduced the guests and chatted with them. Thankfully, thanks to the hard carry of the younger ones, we got an overwhelming amount of airtime and a good image today. But, as the name suggests, it was just small talk, so we couldnt say that the broadcast was over! There were two more important parts left. The live stage was scheduled for the fourth part, which would start at 9:30, so now it was time to proceed with the main corner of the third part. Okay, lets start the main corner of the third part. The name is Tell me your~ Troubles! We responded to the DJs cue and a bam! sound effect yed. Tell me your troubles. It was the second most important corner after the live stage. The format was simple. The production team selected the trouble of the week and each team gave advice on it. The winner was decided by text voting. It was a simple format, but as soon as the corner started, the guests expressions became serious. Not only me and Ri-hyuk, but also the Street Boys members. They all looked like athletes facing a decisive match, rather than guests on a radio show. But this reaction was not excessive. There was a reward that they had to get. If they won this corner, the winning team would get to put their name on the ylist of Wonderful Night three times next week. An opportunity to introduce their songs to the general public, beyond the fixed audience of music showsposed of soldiers and idol fandoms. It was like an oasis in the desert for rookies who were thirsty for promotion. After Autumn Girls Endless Season yed, the DJ told us the trouble of the week. Hello, Wonderful Night. Im a high school student who turned eighteen this year. Im a regr listener of Wonderful Night, so I decided to send you this story. Ive had a problem since a while ago. The story was like this. The writer had a best friend who had been close since middle school. A friend who always hung out with him, whether it was eating or ying. A friend who was so close that they even knew each others parents. The problem started in the second semester ofst year. Wow, youre really a god of notes. I messed up on that subject, can I borrow your notes for a bit? The writer dly agreed to lend his notes. After the exam, his friend came back with a bright face. Awesome. I got 90 points thanks to you. He was happy for him until then. But as the final exam ofst year and the midterm exam of this year came, it became a problem. The number of subjects that he borrowed notes for increased. And in the midterm exam, his friend who only slept got a better score than the writer. Thats when I thought it was unfair. The writers trouble was like this. How should I behave towards my best friend of five years in this situation? That was the dilemma of the writer who asked what to do in the midst of the final exams. Thats a tough one. As soon as I heard the story, the same thought that crossed my mind came out of Hanjos mouth. The Street Boys, who got the first turn by drawing lots, took on the challenge. The speaker was, of course, Hanjo. I personally rted to this story. I had a simr experience when I was in school. I think I know how the writer feels right now. Its frustrating when a close friend takes advantage of your hard work. He said calmly. But I think the writer should speak up about this problem. It may sound harsh, but its not something that can be solved by keeping it in your heart. So you want the writer to talk honestly to their friend? Yes. And I have some suggestions on how to do that Hanjos answer was textbook perfect. It was a softened version of what anyone would say when they hear this problem: Why are you being such a fool? You should stand up for yourself! He showed some empathy. And he added some concrete solutions. There was nothing to fault. Except that it didnt suit him. Maybe his words and actions didnt match. Even though it was a short encounter, I had a different impression of Hanjos personality. He was not the type to give such advice. He was careful with his words, and he preferred to keep quiet rather than cause trouble. It didnt resonate with me when he said, Why are you putting up with it? Tell them how you feel! Besides, I had a different opinion. While the ads were running, I was thinking about what to say to the writer. By the time I had it sorted out. A hand holding a pen appeared from somewhere and moved over my script. At first, only the initial consonants and came up, then they were scratched out and disappeared. It seemed like they were trying to write Cheer up or Good luck. But they hesitated, as if they didnt know what to write. Finally, the white hand produced a neat handwriting. -Just rx. I looked up with a smile and saw Ri-hyuk nodding his head. He was returning the words he had said to me before the broadcast started, when he was shaking with nerves. He probably thought I was nervous too. But I wasnt that nervous. I had gotten used to the live show, and more importantly, I knew exactly what to say to the writer. When the ads were over, and it was our turn. At the DJs signal to start the consultation, I told the writer what I wanted to say in a calm voice. I dont think you should tell your best friend about that. Chapter 60: Chapter 60: Chapter 60 As soon as I finished speaking,ments like ??? popped up in the chat window. The people in the booth also looked curious. They wondered what I was talking about. I think I have to consider the realistic problems. In the previous counseling session, Hanjo suggested, Express your opinion clearly without hurting the other persons feelings. It wasnt a wrong thing to say. If I dont behave properly in the future, this kind of thing could happen again. But I agree with Hanjo that its a good thing to open up your heart. Its better than keeping it to yourself. If you tell your friend honestly, I felt hurt by this and that, you can have a better understanding of each other. But what I was worried about was the worsening of the situation. From what you said, it seems like you have a very old and precious friend. I think your friend would think so too. But what if you poured out your heart to them. Your friend might think something like this. What, are you doing this because you dont want to lend me a notebook? Honestly, I dont think its a good idea to speak frankly, no matter how close you and your friend are. Would the friend who borrowed the notebook without any apology realize, Oh, Ive been doing wrong all this time after hearing a honest word? Rather, they might feel more resentful and rationalize their actions. Of course, Im not saying that your friend would do that. Its just a hypothetical scenario. And even if they think that way, if you two have the same feelings for each other, youll eventually mend your rtionship. But, until then? The one who suffers is the writer. Im worried about the pain youll feel while the rtionship is twisted. Youre in your second year and you still have a lot of school life left. Its sad to be estranged from a close friend, and you have to see them every day, whether you like it or not. And you might also get hurt in your rtionships with other friends. Before I spoke, I agonized over the problem, and after I spoke, I agonized over the rtionship with my friend. Its funny to divide the victim and the perpetrator, but from the writers point of view, its just a painful ending. Its good to be honest, but Maybe its better to be a little flexible. Especially since reputation cant be ignored. I felt it when I was a trainee, but the scariest thing in a peer group is when my image gets worse. You cant ignore reputation in school life. We understand your feelings, but other friends might not be so considerate. You might bebeled as a narrow-minded person in an instant. That could happen. Of course, my story is just an assumption. I said to the writer who might be listening somewhere. But I cant tell you to take the risk just because theres a possibility that things will work out. You mean to think realistically. Yes. When you watch dramas or movies, you see scenes where they say everything they want to say. But what they dont show is that in reality, you have to face the other person even after that scene. Its hard to tell you to endure that kind of stress. Then whats your rmended solution? There are two. I carefully chose the words that came to my mind. If it were me, I would choose to quietly distance myself from that friend. Its better than making a fuss and getting into trouble, and from experience, that kind of rtionship only hurts me more as itsts longer. Dont talk about the notebook and slowly drift apart? Yes, if it were me. I added, in case they misunderstood. Im saying thats what I would do in that situation, not that you have to do the same as me. You said they were a precious friend. Theres also a way to not break up the rtionship. Um ask them for a favor. A favor? Just like your friend borrows a notebook from you, you also ask them for something. There must be something that your best friend can help you with. If theyre good at dressing, you can ask them to go shopping and pick out clothes for you. If theyre good at sports, you can ask them for help with your physical performance evaluation. Take something from this side if they take something from that side? Yes. When the bnce of the rtionship is adjusted, the emotional bnce will also be adjusted. When you think that they gave you as much as you gave them, the bnce is achieved. If you think that way, the stress from the problem will naturally decrease. That was the gist of what I wanted to say. Realistically, I dont know what will happen if I say what I want to say. So either cut off this rtionship quietly or change it gradually. I nodded at the DJs gesture to make a closing remark. Ultimately, its a matter of choice. If youre an assertive person, Hanjos solution might suit you better. In fact, thats the best way to solve the root of the problem in the rtionship. Hanjo, who was listening quietly, looked at me. But if youre introverted like me and think, I cant do that, I wanted to let you know that theres another way. So dont feel pressured and choose the solution that suits you best. Its okay if you dont choose. Maybe youlle up with a better idea, right? I smiled as I finished my speech. Whatever you choose to do, Ill be cheering for you from behind. Thank you for listening. This has been New ck Woojoo. As the song I requested, Ill Be On Your Side, yed, I quickly scanned the chat rooms reactions. Not bad at all. I took a deep breath and took off my headphones. Now, only the results were left. **** At the same time. New cks dorm. The members were crowded in the cramped living room, looking at theptop screen. The youngest let out a wow. Wow. Did you see Woojoo hyung just now? How can his features look like that in low quality? Hes the only one with different quality. Everyone else is 480p, but Woojoo hyung is full HD. 480p? Whats that? That means Woojoo hyung is handsome, hyung. Oh, I see. Kim Bi-ju nodded with a convinced face. He stroked his brothers hair, who was lying on the murphy bed, while turning his eyes to theptop monitor. Thats right. Ri-hyuk is pretty too, but Woojoo hyung is really beautiful today. I have to save this, he thought as he pressed the capture button. Wang Ji-ho blinked at his proud smile. Hyung, what about me? Of course, our Ji-ho is handsome too. Isnt your answer too soulless? Is this capture button supposed to save it, Jung-hyun? It should. While Wang Ji-ho pouted his lips, Kim Jung-hyun, who was squeezing and releasing a hand gripper, looked at the screen. Woojoo hyung is really good at counseling. He bragged about it before he left. He said he used to counsel his younger siblings all the time when he was in TJ. Did he? Kim Jung-hyun, who was skimming thement section, said. The reactions are half and half. But whats with the pruning? Did Woojoo hyung tell his friend to prune? Why are they all telling him to prune? Jung-hyun, its not pruning, its cutting off. Oh, I read it wrong. Anyway, the opinions are divided. It makes sense. Theyre both right. Really? Kim Bi-ju tilted his head. I think I would quietly end the rtionship like Woojoo hyung said. Well. I think I would talk. Were friends. You have to tell them if youre upset, so they can understand. I dont know. Its a hard problem. As the members disagreed, the chat room was also filled withments about who was right. A short break. While Kim Bi-ju was searching for 480p on the inte portal, the youngest nced around. Hyung. No. You know what Im going to say. Are you trying to say you want toment? Kim Bi-ju smiled at the embarrassed youngest. He couldnt stop him earlier when he was making snacks in the kitchen. When he came back with a tray of French toast, everything had already happened. Luckily, they made enough airtime. But now that his nickname was revealed, there was no point inmenting more. That was his thought. Woojoo would have agreed with him if he was here. Ji-ho. Kim Bi-ju said softly. Lets stop here for today. Just one word. Ill let youment next time we have this kind of schedule. Okay? Okay. Wang Ji-ho agreed with a sullen face. But soon, his expression disappeared as the DJ announced the start of the text voting. They all moved their fingers busily. Did you all send it? Yes. Im also urging my school friends to text. Jung-hyun, what about you? Hey, which number did we send? It was number two, right? Did you send it to number two? Uh maybe. Kim Bi-ju frowned at the uncertain voice. Youre always like this, with your wallet and everything, you Kim Bi-ju hesitated, as if he couldnt find a negative word to say. Give me your phone. You idiot. Im not an idiot. He took the phone from Kim Jung-hyun and entered the password with ease. Hey. You know my password too? Isnt it hard not to know 0000? Fortunately, there was a number two in the sent messages. Kim Bi-ju sighed with relief and handed the phone back. Kim Jung-hyun scratched his cheek, embarrassed, and changed the subject. But strangely, Im not worried. About what? The result. I dont feel like were going to lose. They both thought for a moment and nodded. Thats true. Me too. I cant imagine Woojoo hyung losing to anyone, can you? The youngests words made the othersugh. It was true. They couldnt imagine Seon Woojoo losing to anyone. They didnt know if it was because of the image he had built up until now, or because of the recent live performance without apaniment, but thats how their leader was in their minds. He always made the situation favorable for himself, wherever he went. He was the kind of person who would sell refrigerators in ska and hot packs in the desert. Thats why they feltfortable watching him. Look at Ri-hyuk hyung. If it was any other time, he would be shaking nervously, but hes talking so casually now. They smiled at the rxed expression on the main vocalists face. They understood why he was like that. -Yes, its time to wrap up the third part. Now its time to announce the results of the text voting. Finally, themercial ended and Jang So-wons voice came out. Wang Ji-ho jumped up and listened carefully, and Kim Bi-ju also straightened his posture. Kim Jung-hyun quietly put down the grip strengthener he had been squeezing and releasing repeatedly. They said they were relieved, but when they waited for the result, they felt inexplicably anxious. It wasnt a huge reward like the first ce in a music show, but they really wanted to win, since the opponent was who they were. Thats when the three members gathered in front of theptop. -It was a really close match, they say. What? How many votes difference? Lets see 27 votes? Wait a minute. Oh, our staff says its 37 votes difference. As the chat room filled withments like Our sister is bad at numbers, Jang So-won smiled awkwardly. Shes really good at hosting. Yeah. Its like a survival show. They swallowed their saliva at the sight of her teasing the listeners naturally. Just then. -Well, what does the vote difference matter? The result is what matters! Okay, then Ill announce the winner. A fierce battle of ice and fire! The winner is When the winners name came out of Jang So-wons mouth. -Ah! -Uh! Across the monitor, the faces of the two teams were mixed with joy and sorrow. Chapter 61: Chapter 61: Chapter 61 As soon as the results were announced, I couldnt help butugh. The winner is New ck. Congrattions! The DJ and the other guests pped their hands with a wow. I didnt know what they really felt, but Hanjo and Kiwon also pped with smiling faces. I exchanged a nce with Ri-hyuk as I bowed politely. As I said before, the winning teams song will be on the ylist three times next week. Congrattions again. In that sense, lets listen to New cks Fireworks ande back to the fourth part. Frequency- -Please fix it! We all said the line together and took off our headphones. I was thrilled. I came out with a determination to do well in the live corner and the story counseling. I achieved one of those goals just now. Of course, it wouldnt be as amazing as a TV ad. But it meant a lot to me that my song was yed three times on a popr radio show. As I listened to the intro of Fireworks, Jang So-won, who was organizing the script, opened her lips. Fireworks is a really good song. The atmosphere is refreshing too. She said with a smile. You must have had a hard time making this, leader. Dont even say that. It was a mess with my eyes. Hey, it wasnt that bad. No, it was. You should have seen it then. He didnt evene back to the dorm every day. He was passed out on the sofa in the studio and Junghyun had to carry him down several times. No, senior. That didnt happen. I tried to manage my image hastily, but Jang So-won didnt seem to believe me. She justughed heartily. I cant live, really. How do you guys stay the same every time I see you? There was a lot of affection in her eyes looking at us. She was drawing a line until the ad time, but now she was the Jang So-won I knew. It must have been because the story counseling corner was over. The remaining fourth part was a corner where each group had their own time, so there was no room for biased conduct. Of course, there was a certain line even during the friendly conversation. It was not only because the broadcast was not over, but also because of the portrait on the opposite side. Street Boys, who were rummaging through the script with a deted atmosphere. There werent many lines to do in the fourth part corner, but the reason for rummaging was obvious. Ri-hyuks eyes lingered on Kiwon for a moment. It was an iprehensible look. I tried to read the emotion in his eyes while watching quietly, but Sowon opened her lips. Hey, guys. The two pairs of hands that were rummaging through the script stopped. Hanjo and Kiwon blinked their eyes and looked at Jang So-won. Wondering what she would say, Hanjo straightened his posture nervously and she smiled at him. Why are you so gloomy? Are you upset that you lost in the story counseling corner? Uh, no, senior. Hanjo waved his hand awkwardly with a smile. Kiwon also said no and waved his hand. The DJ nced at the camera and pretended to hold his chin and covered his mouth. The broadcast is not over yet. Dont be so gloomy. You have to cheer up and do well in the fourth part. You cant ruin the live corner just because you lost once in the story corner. Right? Yes. Yeah. Dont be down. I thought it was amazing. I dont think I could do that. If I were that person, I would have asked them as soon as I met them, You guys, diss rap? Its professional to not get personal feelings involved in business, but its not easy to act like that. Especially when youre in a better position than the other. The DJs words seemed to have an effect, and the Street Boys looked better than before. They started to look at the paper with the lyrics like they came to their senses. Jang So-won turned her eyes to us as she watched them. By the way, how did you prepare for the live stage? She pointed to the guitar case in the corner of the radio booth with a chin gesture. I can tell you prepared something else by bringing that, but did you bring your own song again this time? The two on the opposite side perked up their ears at the keyword of selfposed song. Yes, its a selfposed song. I made it not long ago. Whats the title? Its called Night Sea, Ri-hyuk wrote the lyrics and Iposed the song. I thought so, this was the sheet music. I snatched the sheet music that was sticking out from under Ri-hyuks script. At first, he looked at it with curious eyes, but soon his index finger tapped the table. He was reading the guitar flow. Maybe it was because he was a singer-songwriter whoposed his own songs. I felt like he quickly caught the essence of what I had made. This is your original song, right? Yes. You She stopped what she was about to say. It was time to start the fourth part after themercial break. Ri-hyuk looked at me with a questioning expression, as if asking what her reaction was. I just shrugged my shoulders. I didnt know either. And. When I lifted my head, Hanjo and Kiwon were looking at me like I was a bad omen. I smiled at them. *** The broadcast that seemed to never end was finally heading towards the end. The fourth part corner, Let me hear your voice. This corner gave each team 15 minutes to talk about their albums or music for 10 minutes and then perform live for the listeners. As it was during the counseling session, the interview started with Street Boys. But somehow, they didnt lookfortable talking. The debut title Hunger was co-produced by Hanjo and JCM, right? What part did you work on? Well, I wrote the rap Hanjo, who was calm otherwise, couldnt answer well. The whole question was aboutposing, and it seemed like the writers had written it based on Hanjo and my image asposing idols. They must have assumed that he reallyposed the song and prepared the question ordingly. But Hanjo couldnt give a proper answer. Was he that shocked by the third part? Thepany must have given him the expected questions and answers, but he was too flustered to answer properly. Of course, if Hanjo really had half of the stake in Hunger, he would have answered without hesitation, and it would have been a good opportunity to nt an image of him as aposer. I felt sorry for him. He would have looked really good if he answered well. But he was still better than the other members who came on the broadcast with him. They werepletely lost. Kiwon, youre the main vocal, right? I guess you must have felt a bit disappointed because Hunger has a strong hip-hop color. How are you going to make up for that in the live stage you prepared for today? Uh You have to answer quickly. The radio is a broadcast ident if you wait for more than three seconds. So Won, the senior, skillfully lifted the mood with a cheerful voice, and Hanjo quickly intervened and spoke for him. But he looked like he was mentally shaken too. As time went by, they seemed to lose theirposure. They were pushed back by us in terms of broadcast time from the beginning, lost in the counseling session, and couldnt revive the atmosphere in thest chance, the talk. They had no choice but to be like that. Street Boys, who wasted their time like that, were soon facing the live stage. Silence filled the air as themercial came on. Hanjo, who was unbuttoning his shirt in frustration, looked at the paper with the rap written on it and took care of the members sitting next to him. He was in the same position as the leader, and his sympathetic look was pitiful even for me, who was on the opposite team. It would be crazy if your team was like that on the broadcast. I lowered my head and turned my eyes to the member sitting next to me. Ri I stopped calling his name. His ck eyes under his long eyshes were carefully examining the sheet music. He was absorbed in something. Especially when he was about to sing. He looked like a different person then. Unlike his usual prickly and nagging self, he felt like a nk sheet of paper that had nothing drawn on it. Like an actor who adjusts his emotions before acting, Ri-hyuk also adjusted his emotions like this before singing. He was preparing in advance so that he could immerse himself in the stage right away. Even now, his face, which was staring at the sheet music with the lyrics, repeated the process of being filled with various emotions and then disappearing. It was probably the emotion of gratitude that we had talked about earlier. Now he even had a faint smile on his lips. Suddenly, a question that I had been curious about for a few days came to my mind. Who is he really? The person he is so grateful to. Thud, thud- I was staring at Ri-hyuk for a while, then I turned my gaze to the sheet music of Night Sea. A dull sound broke my reverie. An empty stic bottle was rolling on the floor. Oh, Im sorry The one who apologized to me was Kiwon. He seemed to have dropped it while trying to drink water. Soon he realized that the bottle had fallen right at Ri-hyuks feet, and he looked even more flustered. Ri-hyuk, who had been looking at the floor nkly, lifted his head and looked at the other person. Not awkwardly avoiding him like he did in the elevator, but now he was looking at him straight. With a slightly subtle expression. For a second. Then Ri-hyuks action waspletely out of my expectation. Here, take this. He handed the other water bottle on the table to him. With a smile on his lips. Why am I like this? The thought that I have every day, and the thought that Yoon Kiwon is having right now. Why am I like this. I wanted to do well It was the first live broadcast since our debut, so I should have done better, I should have said more, I thought. Park Manager had been telling me how important this opportunity was all the way here. -This is not just a radio show. Its the number one listener rating in the same time slot, and this corner is quite popr. You know who Autumn Girl is, right? The one with the leaf-colored hair, yeah. Na Hyun or something. She did well in the counseling and got posted on themunity as a sensiblement. Live and together. Park Managerughed heartily. -New ck? Hey. Honestly, they only have fans because they are half-half, what do they have in substance? You guys can definitely win if you do well. So, act like men and show some fierceness in your eyes. Got it? I couldnt understand why he was so hostile to New ck. Cant we get along well? Why do we have topete and fight with New ck? The most iprehensible thing was the diss rap. Why bother people who are minding their own business? Kiwon looked at Hanjo. The leader who was checking the lyrics with a stiff face. I want to help too. When all the members refused to do the diss rap that thepany asked for, he took the viin role as the leader. For the sake of promotion, he dissed people he had never even talked to properly. Kiwons eyes shifted slightly. A cold-faced man was sitting across from him. Would it have been different if it was him? The memory from a long time ago is still vivid. When my head was throbbing with blood and pain, the voice that pierced through my sight. What are you guys doing, he said. I sometimes wonder how he did that. I cant say anything to thepany people, but how did he do that then? I wish I could do that too. If I could speak up against thepanys burdensome demands, and if I could be confident like him. How nice that would be. Unlike me, who kept fumbling and missing the cues, he calmly took care of the broadcast time and also helped the leader who came with him. He also cheered me up from time to time. I dont know what he wrote on the paper, but it was enough to make the other leader smile like a picture. I should have done that too. Kiwon, are you okay? He nodded his head without saying a word, avoiding the careful eyes of the person next to him. He couldnt look him in the eye. He felt that sorry. What should I do. What if I ruin the stage, he worried, and reached for the water bottle. Thud- When he saw the eyes looking at him, he panicked, and then a white hand came in front of him. Here, take this. It was the most awkward moment of the day. Yoon Kiwon awkwardly took the water bottle that the other person handed him. He must have seen his empty bottle and offered his own water. Soon, the other person tapped his throat lightly. Your throat. ? Your throat, youre too tense. It seemed like he was saying that he was straining his throat muscles too much. Ah. That was when Yoon Kiwon opened his lips with a flustered face. Tha He meant to say thank you, but it came out as a squeak. Hanjo, who was next to him, was startled. He dropped the paper with the rap lyrics that he was looking at, and kept answering that he was fine to the other person who was checking his condition. He felt a bit dazed. If I had started the live like this It was a terrifying thought. If he had gone off-key from the first verse, the atmosphere would have been very solemn. Maybe he would have beenpared to the other persons live and be aughing stock on the inte. But luckily, that didnt happen. Thanks to the unexpected help from the other person. Is it because of him? He didnt know why he suddenly helped him, but he was sure that it had something to do with the person who came with SeoRi-hyuk. After helping him, he withdrew his gaze and only looked at that direction. But it didnt matter why the other person helped him. Dont miss this chance. Unlike before, when he was flustered, his eyes settled calmly. The leader was taking care of him, the DJ was encouraging him, and he even got help from the other team at the end. If he missed this opportunity after all this preparation, it would be really stupid. Are you okay? Yeah. I can do this. He smiled reassuringly at the other person who looked worried. He really felt confident. *** Ri-hyuk. What. Why are you giving someone elses water bottle instead of yours. Ri-hyuk. Hyung, Im thirsty. Ri-hyuk. Ugh, seriously. Ill buy you a whole box after the broadcast, so stop whispering! Chapter 62: Chapter 62: Chapter 62 How rude. Im doing so much for him, and he just gives me a cold shoulder. I nced at my annoying brother and straightened my posture. It was time for the live stage. The radio show was being broadcasted live, so Iposed my face calmly. I didnt want to cause any controversy with my attitude after doing well. And I was curious. What song would that duo perform? As soon as themercial break ended, the two idol singers took their ces in front of the microphones with serious expressions. The first one to start was Hanjo. Hes good. It was a fast-paced, catchy rap. I heard he had been active in the underground scene with his crew, and it showed. Hes good. Even though the lyrics were in English, they were easy to catch. The song that Street Boys chose, Silence, was an emotional hip-hop song about the hope for tomorrow. I had listened to it before when I was studyingposition. It was a song that built up the atmosphere with a rapid rap and then exploded with a vocal chorus. The rap was important, but the chorus was where the emotion had to burst out, so the vocal was really crucial for this song. Hanjo finished his rap and Giwon brought his mouth close to the microphone. Oh A powerful voice came out of his small frame. I was surprised for a moment. He looked so different from the timid image he had shown during the broadcast. Thement section heated up with his sweet voice. Jang So-won, who had been listening to the song with his chin propped up, raised and lowered his eyebrows slightly, as if he was impressed. He smiled faintly, as if he was surprised. Ri-hyuk and I also smiled as we listened to the song. It was not a fake, but a sincere respect for a good stage. The songsted for almost three minutes and ended in a sh. Thank you. As we and the DJ pped for them, The Street Boys bowed deeply and left the radio booth. Before the door closed, Giwon nodded his head toward Ri-hyuk. Ri-hyuk nodded back. Then he turned his eyes to me. He looked at me with a strange look, as if he had something on his mind. I raised my index finger at him. ? I mouthed to him. A case of water. He frowned and wrinkled his eyebrows. Iughed at his expression. *** The interview that followed with New ck was very smooth. Maybe it was because only the original members of Something were left and the atmosphere was rxed, or maybe it was because I had a lot to talk about with Sowon as a fellowposer. It was like one story led to another, and it went on endlessly, to the point where the PD had to signal us to stop. The DJ said regretfully. Oh, its time to say goodbye. Dont you feel sorry, everyone? We could have talked more if we had more time. As thements said that the DJ seemed to be the most sorry, Sowon smiled awkwardly. I guess I did a biased broadcast again. Well, they are my favorite juniors. And Wooju here is a very interesting guy. He has a lot of stories. Hes really rich in stories. Things like being a veteran idol, or a hero on the day of the college entrance exam. There were quite a few topics that people would be interested in if I started talking. But todays purpose was to talk aboutposition, so I had asked for his understanding beforehand. We have to let them go, right? Then, can you introduce the song youre going to sing for the listeners? I heard its your own song. And youre revealing it for the first time here on Wonderful Night. The provocative words of selfposed song and first reveal made the chat room buzz. I waved my hand modestly, seeing the reaction. Dont expect too much. Its stillcking in some parts. Dont be fooled, everyone. The DJ teased me. I saw the sheet music that Wooju brought earlier. You can look forward to his selfposed song today. Ah. Senior. Then, please introduce it. I replied with a yful smile to his joking eyes. Yes, the title of the song were going to y for you is Night Sea. Night Sea, why did you choose that title? Well, I grew up in my grandmothers arms since I was little. We lived in Gunsan, and our house was very close to the sea back then. When I sat outside in the yard at night, I could smell the salty air and hear the waves from somewhere. I exined with a smile, but the other two looked at me with the same expression as a decaania. Why are they like that? I feel a bit strange. Anyway, I really love feeling the breeze. You know what I mean. When the cool wind brushes past your body, you feel uplifted and everything seems to go well. It was the same when I was young, so I always nagged my grandmother to open the door that connected the living room to the yard when the weather was nice in spring or autumn. Our Kim Deok-soondy would grumble, what kind of door are you opening in the middle of the night? But she opened it anyway. When I couldnt sleep at night, I would open the door and lie down on my grandmothersp. Then I could see the night sky so beautifully. The moon was bright and the stars were twinkling. When I closed my eyes, I could hear the sound of the waves and my grandmothers chest was warm. I loved that so much. Am I describing it too much? Your expressions No. Dont mind us. Please continue. I feel very uneasy. Come on, Im talking about my memories, why are you looking at me like Im a young master? Yes, anyway, I made this song while recalling those childhood memories. I hope you enjoy listening to it. You have to say that. Ri-hyuk hit me and said. Your grandmother, you said shes listening, right? Oh, is Woo-jus grandmother listening right now? Yes, she should be listening to the radio in her bedroom by now. Actually, I wanted to talk to my grandmother so badly. But I was afraid that they would say I was using the broadcast for personal purposes, since I was a rookie. Then, before we go to themercial, why dont you leave a message for your grandmother? Um I twisted my body awkwardly, and the production staff behind the ss window smiled. Uh, our Kim Deok-soondy. I love you very much. This is the song I made, so please listen to it well And uh All the grandmothers in the country, fighting. Youve worked hard raising your grandchildren. In the end, I blurted out a bunch of nonsense. As I felt embarrassed by the that appeared in the chat window in real time, Jang So-won senior bit his lips and held back hisughter. Okay, then, after themercial, well be back with New cks Night Sea! Sigh I totally ruined my image today. Ruined it. I failed to manage my expression since the army joke, and just now, I sounded like I received a que from the national grandmothers association or something. I felt miserable as I took out my guitar from the case. Really, both of you stopughing. Im notughing. Its just that you have a funny face, sis. Senior. Jang So-won smiled and looked at me when I called him. He looked at the script as if to tell us to focus on the stage. You stopughing too. You water thief. Hey, Ill buy you some, so stop talking. Youre only a leader in name, but your distribution is like a grain of rice. If you keep saying that, Ill call you rice too. I decided to stop weighing the water thief and the rice. I was the one who lost. We joked around to ease the tension. Meanwhile, I checked if the guitar was well tuned and yed it lightly as a test. Okay. Checkplete. The instrument and the yer were ready, so the only thing left was the partner. Are you ready? I looked at him with concern. He was the kind of guy who hated showing his worry, but I couldnt help it. It was because the preparation period was short. And because he had no personal experience, Ri-hyuk had a hard time catching the emotion. I wondered if I was making him suffer because of my greed forposing. That thought showed itself in a corner of my chest. Ri-hyuk shook his head. Dont worry. Youre saying that because of the emotion, right? Yeah. Whats the point of worrying now? Leave it in front of the stage. He spoke in his usual blunt way, but his eyes nced somewhere else. It was where the Street Boys were sitting earlier. He turned his gaze to me as he looked at them. Well, you dont have to worry about that part. I think I have a rough idea of how it feels. So" He smiled faintly. Trust me. Ill do well. As he extended his fist like he was imitating someone, I reached out my palm and wrapped it around his fist like a cloth. I had a good feeling about this. ** Outside the booth. The PD, the engineer, and the two writers smiled as they watched the conversation inside. The sub-writer grinned as if she found the New ck members adorable. Theyre so cute, and the atmosphere is really harmonious. Right? Indeed. The main writer said regretfully. If I knew they would get along so well, I would have invited them alone. They were already asking to sing solo. Theyre nice kids, and they said they have confidence in themselves. Well, what can we do? We already booked them. The PD gave a bitterugh. He had been nning to invite New ck since their album came out, because of Jang So-won who always talked about them. But somehow, DNS Media got wind of it and requested a duel corner through the upper channels. Well, it worked out well in the end. The engineer said casually as he adjusted the sound on the console. My daughter is an idol fan, so I know this well. New ck and Street Boys have been fighting since before their debut. Really, sunbae? It was crazy. They had a lot of publicity and noise. Thats why there were morements today than usual, and the voting was fierce too. Maybe it had something to do with that. Thats true. There were some sharpments, but they were quickly deleted. I see. So thats why. They all nodded in agreement. Thements that were tense and hostile had disappeared after Ri Hyuk gave a bottle of water to Giwon. Then, Jang So-won signaled from inside the booth. They must be ready. The PD said and the engineer operated the console. Soon, a monotonous piano sound flowed through the speaker. The sub-writer asked nervously. Is this the right file? We checked it several times before the broadcast. Still The yback file that wasposed for 3 minutes and 20 seconds had a section where a simple piano sound repeated for the first 40 seconds. It felt like just gently tapping the keys. How are they going to stage this? He had heard roughly what they were going to do, but he didnt know the details, so he was worried. If it was a regr music show, it would be different. But for the live corner of the fourth part, it was usually just a matter of coordinating with the agency and the broadcaster about what song they would sing. Sometimes, singers would change their songs depending on their condition on the spot. Thats why he was worried about the unknown stage that he didnt know yet. He unconsciously sped his hands, as if he liked the various aspects of New ck that he saw during the broadcast today. The engineerughed. Are you a fan already, Soyeong? The sub-writer shook her head. Im thinking of checking out their fan cafeter. Hey, stop talking nonsense. Hurry up and monitor the real-time reactions. Yes But the other staff members also looked at him with warm eyes as he held the guitar and cleared his throat in the booth. It could be because of the cake they received as a gift. Or because they filled up the broadcast timefortably today. But they felt like they were good kids, and they hoped they would do well. As they watched. Ooh. Seon Woojus fingers started to move. It was a gentle guitar performance. I was worried that it would be boring with only the monotonous piano sound, but it matched well with the guitar sound. Piano and guitar. Only two sounds, but they felt rich. I was momentarily impressed by the decent performance, but soon they widened their eyes. Hes really humming. Seo Ri-hyuk was humming with his eyes closed. It was a soft and low humming. As I listened to his humming that gradually rose in pitch, I felt a strange sense offort in my heart. And above all, it was natural. It was a strange thing. He was filling the beginning of the song with humming, but it didnt sound awkward or unnatural at all. Wow, these days they all take out the singers who want to debut as idols. Thats why nowadays The engineer who was about to chat closed his mouth at the sight of the others focused faces. He looked at the booth as if he didnt understand what was going on, but he soon joined the line. I kept looking at him. He was not only singing, but also making a soft sound in the booth. He looked like apletely different person. He was not cold and expressionless, nor was he flustered when his face was flushed. He was like someone else who was somewhere else. He smiled nicely at the corner of his mouth as if he was empathizing with the emotion of the song. The sub-writer who was looking around the monitor said. The listeners reactions are pretty good. There are also a lot ofments saying its amazing. Its really eye-catching. Is that why you put it in? Someone muttered curiously. Of course, if Seon Woojoo had heard that question, he would have said this. He didnt put it in on purpose, but it just happened. It was something that stemmed from the method that Seon Woojoo suggested for Seo Ri-hyuk, who said he had a hard time catching his emotions. The intention was to warm up with humming for about 30 seconds before singing, but the more he did it, the more it naturally blended with the song. And. Most importantly, it was because he felt empty when he made the song and saw that it was only 2 minutes and 40 seconds long when he went on air. Of course, they didnt know that, and it was only a mystery to them. Is he starting the song now? Seo Ri-hyuk opened his eyes after humming. Then he smiled at Seon Woojoo as if he was ready. Seon Woojoo nodded and moved his hand. Oh The prelude of Night Sea that started in earnest. It was a warm and beautiful song that suited the title. *** Meanwhile, at that time. While the staff of HBS Broadcasting Station in Mokdong were admiring, the radio waves containing Night Sea spread far and wide. The closest was to an MP3 yer of a student who was solving a workbook in a nearby apartment. Next was to an old radio of a supermarket across the Anyangcheon. Then to the inside of a subway line 2 that had just arrived at Gangnam Station. And further away, to an old truck that was leaving the Seoul outer ring road. The gentle melody of Night Sea was spreading in all directions. And. One of its destinations was the house of someone who was waiting for his grandson toe out with an old radio on. Chapter 63: Chapter 63: Chapter 63 It was truly a day when everything went wrong. Mrs. Kim Deok-soon rummaged through her closet, grumbling. What a terrible day it had been. Theyre raising the rent again, those bastards. She threw the thick nket on the floor, cursing thendlord who wanted to increase the rent for her restaurant. Just take whatever they give you. She rubbed her sore back, cursing the customer who had asked her to remake the soybean paste soup five times for no good reason. Who do they think they are, the owners of this ce? She found the old radio behind the spot where the nket had been, and remembered the staff at the temple she often visited. She had gone there to pray for her grandsons sess. But they had been rude to her, saying that her donations had decreasedtely. All of this had happened in one day. Sometimes there are days like that. When luck is so bad that everything goes wrong, it goes wrong all day long. Her stubborn mouth was set in a straight line. I should just take the bad luck for him. If she had a son-inw, he would have scoffed at her for believing in such nonsense, but Mrs. Kim Deok-soon was sincere. She thought that whenever something bad happened to her, she was taking the bad luck for her grandson. Thats why she quickly calmed down. When things went wrong, it meant that something good was happening to her grandson. It had been like that when he first topped that chart thing and was so excited, or when he said some weird bread name as his eptance speech on a music show. She had also had some minor mishaps that morning, like dropping an egg or something. Then maybe today there was something good too. She nodded her head, thinking that good things are good things, and looked inside the closet. There was an old radio in the corner, but she hesitated to reach for it. It wasnt because she was short or couldnt reach it. It was because of the owner of the item. Myeong-eun loved it so much. The old radio was something her daughter had used before she got married. She felt a pang in her chest when she thought of taking out something her daughter had used. She should just install the program on her phone like Woo-ju told her. But the smartphone was an unfamiliar and mysterious world to her, so she eventually decided to take out the radio. Ah, look at the dust. She wiped the dust off with a wet tissue and plugged in the cord. Then she pressed the power button with a nervous heart. She was worried that it wouldnt turn on because it was so old, but it worked fine except for a slight crackling sound. She tuned the frequency and a cool voice came out. -Did you have a wonderful day today? Well, then, lets start Jang So-wons Wonderful Night! She recognized the voice. It was the woman who had been on the show with her grandson for a month. She looked very fierce, but. Her grandson said she was a very kind and nice senior. Its still an hour until hees on. She heard he was going to be on with other singers. They must not be bad people if he didnt say anything. She shook her head. She didnt know about that. He was always quiet about that part. Was it in elementary school? Some crazy kid who was jealous of her popr grandson picked a fight with him, and in the end, he taunted him for not having a mom and dad. He had a big fight because of that, and even when his parents came to school and made a scene, he was quiet. He said he didnt want to worry his grandmother, even at that young age. How much harder would it be for him now that hes grown up and entered that dirty and nasty world of those people? He didnt show it, but she was always worried about him. Thats how parents feel. I shouldnt have turned it on so early. She got up, feeling restless. She did some work when she felt uneasy, following the philosophy of Seon Woo-ju, which she didnt need to say who had taught her. She swept the room she had used in the morning again, mopped the floor, and gave some food to the stray cat that had beening to ytely. She was busy for a while. Finally, it was 9 oclock. I turned off the fan, worried that it might drown out the sound, and sat in front of the radio, waiting for my grandsons voice toe on. -Hello! We are New ck! There was apuse after their energetic greeting. -Im Woojoo, the leader and lead vocalist of the group. -Im Ri-hyuk, the main vocalist. I heard their familiar voices one after another. Then. Something sneaked in through the gap of the open door. Ugh. The cat that came in hesitated. That darn thing came in again. I waved my hand to shoo it away, but the cat only gained confidence and entered brazenly. There were dirty paw prints on the floor that I had just cleaned. I was about to curse and chase it out when. Meow. It came closer and flopped down, showing its belly. I missed the timing. She licked her lips several times and then pointed at the radio with a stern expression. Im letting you off today because of this. Next time, there wont be any soup. Nabi, you promised toe in only for today with this granny, right? You understand? Meow. She ignored the cat that cried out quickly and focused on the radio. It was nothing special, but it was a healing time for Mrs. Kim Deok-soon. How nice and warm was her grandsons voice on the radio. The fatigue of the day melted away. She stroked the head of the cat thaty quietly and listened to the broadcast. Sheughed nonstop during the third part. She couldnt guess everything that was going on because she only heard it with her ears, but the situations that unfolded in there were vividly drawn. Ri-hyuk who turned red, too. When she heard that her grandson had a miserable expression because of the army, sheughed because she knew better than anyone what that expression looked like. She enjoyed the broadcast like that. Her ears perked up at her grandsons words before the live performance. -I grew up in my grandmothers arms since I was young. She opened her eyes wide at his exnation of how he made the song called Night Sea based on what memory. Did he make the song for me to listen to? He kept telling her to listen to the radio, and that he would be mad if she didnt. She wondered why he was like that. It seemed to be because of that reason. She felt proud, and managed her expression with a smile, even though no one was watching. Well, he made a song for me. But she couldnt help butugh at his next story. The old memories were so fresh. She remembered putting him to sleep on the mat whenever he whined that he couldnt sleep. He was so cute when he was young. She smiled broadly at the thought. He was disgusting now, but he was so adorable when he was young. All the girls in the neighborhood would say, Granny, let me take Woojoo to school every time they went to school. -Then, before we listen to the ads, would you like to say something to your grandmother? Mrs. Kim Deok-soon swallowed. She tilted her ears, waiting for what he would say. -Uh, my Kim Deok-soondy. I love you very much. Oh my. She clenched her fists awkwardly, and the cat stared at her. For a moment. Mrs. Kim Deok-soon burst into a chuckle. -Since I made the song, please listen well And uh All the grandmothers in the country, fighting. Youve worked hard raising your grandchildren. He always had to say something silly at the end. The bread from thest broadcast, too. Sheughed at his mistake, but felt a bit nervous. I hope he sings well. It was because the S-whatever group had done well and left. She didnt like their songs because they were too fancy, but even she felt that they were good. She wondered what would happen if he sang worse than them. But that worry flew away as soon as Ri-hyuk hummed. He was good, anyone could see that. If someone else did it, they would have scolded him for humming so lightly, but the humming that flowed out now was calm and pleasant to listen to. It also had a feeling that made the listener immerse themselves. As if to soak the listener in the sentimental atmosphere. When the 30 seconds that felt like 10 seconds passed by in an instant, the song finally started. Flower y or something was noisy, but this is calm and nice. The grandson really had a lot of talent. Just by listening, the images conveyed by the song came to mind as if they were drawn. Ssh- The sound of waves inserted in the opening tickled the ears. A familiar scene came to mind again. On a summer night when the stars were shining, I opened the door to the yard and put my grandson to sleep on the porch. The memory of that time. The grandson sang softly next to me. When I walk in the old memories The rusty gate and the swaying tail When I take off my shoes and cross the threshold I see your knees Until the grandsons part was over, Mrs. Kim Deok-soon was still and held her breath. Her chest was warm. She felt a deep longing in every word. It seemed like he was saying that he missed that time too. His voice was warm. Her body felt hot. The lump that had umted throughout the day was gone without a trace. When she was looking at the ceiling for no reason and cooling her eyes. Seo Ri-hyuk started singing. When I lower my head and look at the night sky Everything is a trace This star is your scent That star is your touch His voice was as beautiful as when he hummed. He looked cold and sharp on TV, but how could his voice be so beautiful when he sang. Mrs. Kim Deok-soon smiled. She felt a longing in her grandsons voice, and somehow it seemed like he was saying this. Thank you. Maybe because they were on the same team. Seo Ri-hyuks song was as dear as his grandsons. Anyone who heard it would think it was a song sung by brothers for the same person. And, The grandson took over the song. Now the stars are not pretty And Im not afraid of the dark While he was singing of longing, his voice was prating. As if to express his gratitude. He still thinks The night sky you looked at That night sea As they approached the chorus, the two voices came together. It harmonized and became one voice. If there was such a thing as color in the song, she thought the color that was flowing out of the radio now would be very pretty. That night sea Your scent That night sea Your voice After the chorus, this time the humming of the universe tickled the ears pleasantly. Mrs. Kim Deok-soon snorted. She looked down and saw something round looking at her. Grandma, Im not crying. Nabi, youre shedding fur. Something warm pressed its head against her leg. At that touch, Mrs. Kim Deok-soon recalled the old days when she hugged her grandson tightly and fell asleep. As she was doing that, she seemed to hear a hallucination. Surely only the lyrics wereing out of the radio, but it seemed like she could hear her grandsons words in it. Thank you. And I miss you. She swallowed her saliva without saying a word. I dont know what to call this feeling that I have at times like this. Maybe Ill never know, even at this age. Its a mix ofplex emotions: pride,passion, gratitude, affection. She looked at the radio. She couldnt see his face, only hear his voice, but it seemed to convey his emotions more vividly. Unlike TV, where he just spoke one-way, radio felt like he wasmunicating with both sides. Maybe thats why her daughter always had the radio on. She wondered. As she thought that, her eyes moved to the frame on the desk. An old and faded photo. She stroked the face of her daughter, who was smiling with a bouquet of flowers. She smiled and said, Your son has grown up well, Myeong-eun. As the gentle guitar sound yed, Mrs. Kim Deok-soon looked out the window. It was a bright moonlit night. Truly, it was a song that suited this ambitious time. *** Somewhere in Gunsan, someone was listening to the song with tears in their eyes. The warm atmosphere of Night Sea touched the listeners emotions at thiste hour. A truck driver heading to Gyeonggi-do tapped the steering wheel unconsciously to the rhythm of the song. Someone who was going up the esctor at the subway station leaned their tired body on the handrail and smiled. The owner of the supermarket who was listening to the gentle guitar performance looked at the moon outside the window and thought about going back to his hometown for the next holiday season. A student who was solving a workbook at home took off his earphones in the middle of the song and went to see his parents who were watching TV in the living room. Meanwhile. The DJ and the production staff who were watching the two singers who were singing Night Sea on the spot had a soft smile on their lips. *** He plucked thest guitar string and finished the song. Whew. His eyes were dry. He felt a sudden wave of fatigue. He came to his senses and realized he was back in the radio booth. It had been a long time since he was so immersed in a song. He felt a pleasant sense of relief and looked at the main vocal who was fidgeting next to him. They exchanged smiles. You did well. You did well too. They didnt need to say it out loud. They knew. It was the first time since their debut showcase that they were so absorbed in a song. He honestly didnt know how the song would be evaluated. The A&R team said it was good, but he and Ri-hyuk were doubtful. When they worked on the song for a week and listened to the same song hundreds of times, they couldnt tell if it was good or bad. But. Even if the reviews were not good, he didnt care right now. He felt the same way as when he finished the performance at the end-of-year evaluation, or when he sessfullypleted the live without apaniment at the debut showcase. The feeling that they connected with each other while singing. It was a valuable experience that he couldnt exchange for anything. He and Ri-hyuk looked at each other for a while and then turned their eyes to the monitor. Huh? The chat room was quiet. Noments wereing up, and he tilted his head at the strangeness. Jang So-won, the senior who was about to react, also narrowed his eyes at the chat room where not a singlement came up. Then, he saw the production staff behind the ss window. Among them, a middle-aged man sitting on a chair raised his thumb. As if to praise them. They nodded and smiled back. But then, the engineer bent his thumb down. What? He wondered if it was some kind of new diss, but soon he realized it was a gesture to look at the monitor. And he and Ri-hyuk widened their eyes. What? They realized why the chat room was quiet. It wasgging. The chat room that had been silent until a moment ago exploded in front of their eyes. Chapter 64: Chapter 64: Chapter 64 When I first heard that we had a radio schedule, I thought I would miss the stage. Because unlike other stages where we faced the audience, we couldnt see their faces on the radio. I felt sorry that we couldnt feel their reactions properly. But. The moment I saw the chat window in front of me, I realized that I was wrong. I was surprised. I was confused because there were noments, but it turned out to be ag. Jang So-won stuck out her tongue and said. Its the first time Ive seen this since I became a DJ. Thements that were rising up too fast to read properly. Judging by the emoticons like ^^ or , they seemed to be mostly positive. I didnt know what they were saying, but I felt good. Just like when the audience cheered, I could feel their emotions even if I didnt know what they meant. The DJ spoke to us, who only had our eyes sparkling. Usually, we say goodbye right after the live, but we missed the timing because of the listeners reactions. How about we say a few words and part ways? Uh If it was any other time, I would have spoken smoothly. But because I waspletely immersed in Night Sea, my head felt empty. I just muttered whatever came to mind. It was a song that I wrote while remembering my childhood, but I feel like I made another memory that was no less than that today. Thank you so much for giving us this opportunity. Well show you more good sides in the future. Yes, that was New ck. Sowon senior pped her hands and said. Well say goodbye to New ck here, who shared this beautiful night with us. Good job! Thank you! We bowed our heads to the camera. It was a gesture of gratitude to the audience, as we did on stage. *** I had a hunch that we did really well on the broadcast today. Through the two consecutive jokes from the youngest, the advice session, and the live stage. But I really felt it when I saw the reaction of the production team. Good job, New ck. The PDs face was blooming with a smile as he held our hands. It looked familiar somehow, and I remembered that it was the same expression he had before. When we finished recording for Music Cafe, he had that expression too. The main writer and the engineer also said a few words. You guys have a lot of sense, and you have good chemistry with Sowon. Make sure you clear your schedule for the next album. Well definitely call you alone then. Yeah. Mikyung, youre a sprout that will grow into a rice cake. We have to reserve you in advance. Especially the main writers words made usugh out loud. I wanted to show this scene to Seokhwan hyung. Look, hyung. Were getting schedules too. Ah, this is our album. We handed over the first album CD that we couldnt deliver because of the cake incident, and they all liked it. This is when I feel the power of music. They seemed to like us more because they were still in the mood of Night Sea. Wheres the signature? The album cover is ck, so its on the inner page. Wow, the signature is so pretty. Especially the sub-writer seemed to like it the most. It was amazing. An hour ago, when we met in front of the elevator, he didnt even look at us. His face was tired, but now it was full of smiles. Ill check out the fan cafeter, he joked, and I said I was grateful even if it was a joke, but he said he was serious. We said goodbye to them, who were preparing to leave, and looked for the senior in the booth. Our little ones are already superstars. Its hard to see your faces like this. I answered with a smile. No, were just fireflies in front of the sunpared to you, senior. Thats right. Were like nkton, a tiny existence. Then Ill change to krill. She snickered at the nkton and krill who joked back. Then she pointed to the production team behind the ss with a chin gesture. You dont know, do you? Those people are not usually kind and friendly to rookie guests like this. Really? That means your song was good. Jang So-won said. I had a feeling it would be good when I saw the sheet music, but it was even better when I heard it live. The melody was good, but I could also feel the sincerity in the way you sang. Her gaze turned to our main vocal. At first, I was worried if Ri-hyuk could handle it. I thought he might have some trouble with expressing the emotion or the theme. How did you know? Why dont you know? Weve been singing together for over two months. She said as if it was obvious. I didnt know until she said it, but I realized then that experience was really amazing. I was so worried, but I was surprised that you did so well. I wondered if you were the same Ri-hyuk I knew. Well, I got some help. As his ears turned orange, she smiled and looked at me. She seemed to know who helped him without asking. As we exchanged news about the members and the managers, I got a text from Minki hyung saying he would arrive soon. I grabbed the guitar case and took out the gift I prepared. Oh, whats this? She was surprised when I handed her the box I put in the case. She nodded when I asked if she could open it. Headphones? Yes. You didnt have to give me this I have a lot to thank you for. There was a good reason for that. I felt awkwarding empty-handed after a long time, but more than anything, if it wasnt for her advice, our debut showcase would have been a disaster. We wouldnt have had an acape live, and the reporters reactions would have been harsh. At first, I considered a ne or an essory, but I thought it would be inappropriate between seniors and juniors. I was preparing for the counseling session and I went over the previous episodes. And Junhyun said your headphones looked too old. So we collected some money and bought them. Use them when you broadcast. I also put the receipt and the exchange voucher in there. The slightly touching atmosphere was shattered by Ri-hyuks words. I rolled my eyes at him as sheughed. He looked at me with a what-did-I-do expression. Sowon sunbae, who had been wearing headphones on her head, touched her ears and looked at us. Her eyes curved like crescents. Thank you, Ill use them well. She smiled as if she was d I gave her the gift. *** The hallway of the radio center, which had soundproofing, was quiet. As the radio broadcasts continued for 24 hours, another studio was probablymunicating with the listeners right now. As I passed through the iron door to the lobby, I felt strange. It was like going from one world to another. From tomorrow, Ill be back to my daily life with music broadcasts Ah, you scared me. Two people were sitting miserably under the elevator button. Street Boys. I had erased them from my memory since the live, Hanjo and Kiwon. They got up with a pale face as we appeared. Oh, youre here. What are you doing there? We were waiting. For us? Yes. Hanjo scratched his cheek awkwardly. I thought we should say goodbye before we leave, because of Kiwons incident. It felt weird to just leave Ah, yes We exchanged awkwardpliments about each others live, and then Hanjo coughed and called his brother. Kiwon, you said you had something to say. Ah, well Kiwon, who had returned to his timid self after singing powerfully, shrank. He fidgeted for a while. Then he cautiously spoke to Ri-hyuk. I, can I talk to you alone Ri-hyuk nodded, and the two main vocals headed to the corner of the lobby. It was a strange atmosphere. One side spoke cautiously, while the other side nodded repeatedly as if they knew something. They also said something to each other, and every time they did, the others expression brightened. What were they talking about? Was it about their former agency, or todays broadcast? I suddenly felt curious. I knew I shouldnt, but I could understand how parents felt when they peeked into their childrens diaries. What are they thinking? I turned my head and met Hanjos eyes, who had the same expression as me. In the awkward air, he spoke up. Thank you for earlier, during the live. I was so busy preparing for the rap that I couldnt take care of my brother properly. If it wasnt for you, he might have messed up from the start. Oh, sure. And personally, I have something a little A little? sorry to say to you. Ah. Well yes, its a bit like that. I think I know what he means, even though he doesnt say it. I wanted to tell you on this asion. I dont think well have the time or the mood to talk when we meet on music showster. Right. Its hard with the managers around. Im sorry. He suddenly came out with it. I looked at him and thought. How should I react to this? It would be a lie to say its okay, because I wasnt okay for a while. But it would also be awkward to say I knew, right? We had a delicate rtionship. I dont know how long it wouldst, but we were also rivals. And it was toote tough it off now, because we didnt know what would happen in the future. I realized it today, while doing the broadcast. They werent such bad guys. But the agency was a different story. When we were doing our second and third albums, DNS Media could have sabotaged us at any time. And they had no right to refuse, being their tools. We were tangled up in many ways. Thats why, the only thing I could say was decided. Lets meet on good terms, then. Were not friends, but at least we wont re at each other or pass by on music shows. He smiled softly, as if he understood the nuance. That was enough for him. We saw our brothersing back from their conversation. He asked me. Well, since were talking, do you want to exchange numbers? Oh. Thats He made a sheepish expression and showed me an old feature phone. This is our shared phone. Ah. Thepany takes out our text and call records every month. They dont like it when we have numbers that arent theirs. I thought of Park Manager, whom I met earlier, and gave a bitter smile. Once again. I was d I came to ourpany. *** Street Boys parted ways with us, taking a different elevator because they said their manager was waiting for them. It was just the two of us left. I watched the numbers go down quietly, then opened my lips. Ri-hyuk. What. What did you talk about with him? Nothing much. He shrugged his shoulders. This and that, you know. We talked about what happened three years ago, and also thanked each other for todays broadcast. I see. What about you? What did you two talk about? We were simr. The conversation was cut off as the door opened. We took a few steps in the lobby on the first floor, and my phone started to vibrate. It looked like it was connected to the wifi. Bae Eunmangdeok [Wang Jiho sent a gifticon] Bae Eunmangdeok [Wang Jiho sent a gifticon] Bae Eunmangdeok [Hyungs, I love you so much] Bae Eunmangdeok [You know my sweet heart, right?] Bae Eunmangdeok [(Emoticon)] In the group chat, emoticons of raising both hands with gifticons kept popping up. Lee Hyuks lips curled up slightly. What are you going to do? Read and ignore. Good idea. He wont forgive you just because of this. While the youngest, who had nothing but money, was busy sending gifticons, I checked other messages. It was from Mrs. Kim Deoksoon. Geez. She sent me a 13-line long review. Is it from your grandma? Yeah. She said she liked the song. And what is this, what does she mean by this? What is it? She asked me if I know how to wash a cat. Do you? No. I quickly searched and sent her a link. Whats with the cat all of a sudden. I was puzzled for a moment, but I didnt think about it for long. As I read the message carefully, I felt proud and loved. She really liked Night Sea. Our Mrs. Kim Deoksoon, who always replied with short answers, read and ignored, or crazy guy, sent me such a long message. I could feel the emotion in every word. Especially thest one, Grandma loves you, my grandson. I closed my phone, feeling a bit choked up. I should video call herter when I get to the hotel. It was when I got out of the elevator lobby, bowing to the security guard who guarded the entrance that looked like a ticket gate. Oh. I lifted my head at the short exmation. I soon joined the line of people who were doing the same. Wow. The HBS building was made of ss on all sides. The moonlight was shining everywhere. The lights were off and the first floor was dark, but the moonlight pouring in made me feel strangely sentimental. I also remembered something I was curious about. Hey. The ck eyes that absorbed the moonlight turned to me. Can I ask you something Im curious about? What is it? That guy, the youngest of the Street Boys. You suddenly gave him a water bottle, right? Why did you do that? Well, its nothing. Lee Hyuk looked away. I was just trying to calm myself down. I was thinking of someone Im grateful for. What would this person think, how would they feel, I was thinking like that. And then I heard the sound of the water bottle and saw him in front of me. He spoke calmly. Thats what I thought. If I were the person Im grateful for, what would I do in this situation. I thought they would do something like this. Smile and help the kid who was nervous. So you gave him my water bottle? Lets forget about that. Forget about it, Ill have to drink salt water for the next three days. I rolled my eyes at him and he did the same. I turned the conversation into a joke, not wanting the atmosphere to get too serious. A text came saying they would arrive soon, so I and Lee Hyuk took our ces in front of the HBS station. As I rubbed my arms in the cold air. This time, a soft voice came from beside me. Hey. Lee Hyuk spoke, looking at the moon in the distance. Thank you for today. What is he talking about? He didnt seem to notice me blinking, and he kept looking at the night sky. I was really nervous because it was my first time on the radio. I was worried about what if I mess up the script, what if I ruin the song. But thanks to you, I prepared well for a week, and today I did this and that. So, thank you. I feel strange. Did I hear that right? No. The guy who always avoided or changed the topic when I asked him to say thank you suddenly said it. It feels like my head is tangled up. When I feel aplex emotion, I hear his voice. What are you doing? I snap out of it and see that the Grand Carnival has arrived. The license te shows that its our car. He walks a few steps ahead and looks back at me with a sullen tone. Dont space out, hurry up. His cold face is back to normal. I would have thought I imagined it if it werent for his ears shining brightly in the dark night. I smile and follow him. Hey, I have one more thing Im curious about. What is it now? The person youve been thanking, who is that? He looks at me incredulously and then a faint smile appears on his face. Whats that? That expression just now. Its nothing. I just find it funny. Whats so funny? I keep asking him, but he doesnt answer. We chat and get in the car. Its a pretty charming night with the sound of cicadas somewhere. *** An hourter. When two members of New ck arrive at their dorm and start a fierce battle with the youngest, one tries to stop them and one eats dried squid. At that moment. On each music site, a song titled Wooju & Ri-hyuk Night Sea (Original Ver.) was just uploaded. Chapter 65: Chapter 65: Trantor: MarcTempest Editor: Rxel Chapter 65 Your Name Is Ssh. As Woojooy down with his eyes closed, he heard the sound of water tickling his ears. Someone touched his head. ¡°Is the temperature okay?¡± ¡°Yes, it¡¯s fine.¡±A routine question and a routine answer. While the hair salon assistant washed his hair, he fell asleep. He barely woke up to a shaking hand and sat in front of the mirror. The clock said it was 4 a.m. As his hair was being dried, he saw the corpses sprawled on the sofa behind the mirror. Junghyun, who took off his shoes andy down on his back, was cuddling with Jiho, and Bijoo and Rihyuk were nodding off while sitting. Next to them were Minki Hyung and the actor team leader who came to support them today, wearing baseball caps. The only ones moving were the expressionless salon teachers. It was quiet. They would probablyugh and chat when they got to the broadcast stationter, but at this time of the day, they were all quiet like zombies. A fitting sight for a Monday. The reason they got up at this time was because of the music show. People who only know the three major terrestrial broadcasters and K might ask, ¡®Huh? What music show on a Monday?¡¯ But there was. The actual broadcast was on a different day. The recording they were doing today is ¡®Global K-Pop¡¯, a music show by Korean TV that introduced Korea in English. The actual recording was at 10 o¡¯clock, but the standby was at 7 o¡¯clock, so they were getting ready from now on. Well. It was better than sometimes having to get up at 4 a.m. like this. ¡°You look more tired than usual. Did you not sleep well?¡± ¡°No, I slept the same as usual, but I guess it¡¯s because I had a radio schedule yesterday.¡± ¡°Oh, right, you went on the radio?¡± As he chatted with the hair teacher, a face with a grimace sat on the chair next to him with a thud. ¡°Hyung, I think I¡¯m going to die.¡± ¡°Why again?¡± ¡°My body hurts from where you and Rihyuk Hyung hit me yesterday.¡± ¡°Hey, when did I hit you?¡± Woojoo raised his hand to exin, and the tired facesughed. As his hair was being dried, Jiho, who was shaking like a beanpole, seemed to remember something and said, ¡°Ah, I was mistaken. I guess it was in my dream.¡± ¡°Hey.¡± ¡°But my body still feels sore. You two kept choking me from behind, and using wrestling moves on me.¡± Well. That was true. After the radio ended and they went back to the dorm, Woojoo taught him a lot of wrestling and jiu-jitsu moves on YouTube. ¡°You deserve it, you bastard.¡± ¡°But thanks to me, you got the broadcast time, right? You admit that?¡± ¡°Wow, you¡¯re so shameless without changing your face color.¡± ¡°What can I do? This is my charm.¡± Woojoo couldn¡¯t think of anything to say back because he was so tired. Woojoo chuckled and shook his head, and Jiho picked up his smartphone. He pressed the bookmark with a familiar hand movement. Soon, a yellow mango-shaped icon appeared. What rank were they today? Woojoo was too tired to even touch his phone. As far as he remembered, the chart ranking of Fireworks was stagnant for a few days. In the early 40s. It did go up to 39th ce yesterday. Woojoo was about to ask the youngest how their ranking was, when he was puzzled by the reflection in the mirror. Why was he like that? His eyes were huge, like a character in a cartoon. ¡°Jiho, what¡¯s wrong?¡± ¡°Hyung. There¡¯s ¡®Night Sea¡¯ on the Mango real-time search, you know?¡± ¡°What?¡± ¡°And there¡¯s a song too. It¡¯s at 135th ce.¡± ¡°Wait, wait.¡± His head was a mess. ¡°What are you talking about? You¡¯re saying our song was released after the radio schedule yesterday?¡± ¡°Yup.¡± ¡°How is that possible?¡± ¡°Look here. It¡¯s at 135th ce.¡± The youngest shoved his phone at Woojoo as if to show him. Sure enough, there it was. Night Sea at 135th ce. 135th. Woojoo & Rihyuk ¨C Night Sea (Original Ver.) It even had an album art. A song that they hastily made a week ago was out as a digital single, and it was ranked pretty high. There were only two people who could exin this anomaly, but neither of them was here. The stylists who were touching up their hair looked at them with curious eyes. ¡°Jiho, what¡¯s going on here?¡± ¡°Well. I don¡¯t know.¡± Eventually, the only two people who were awake in this room started to search on their smartphones. For a moment. As Woojoo browsed through the idolmunity and the inte portal, he soon found the cause. [Best] The reaction of a veteran idol to the re-enlistment joke.gif ¡°¡­¡± Woojoo turned his head with a cold gaze, and there was only an empty chair spinning there. *** The waiting room of the music show ¡®Global K-Pop¡¯. ¡°¡­New ck is making headlines for their appearance on HBS SuperFM ¡®Jang Sowon¡¯s Wonderful Night¡¯. On the broadcast, members Woojoo and Rihyuk showed off their witty advice and amazing live performance, and Woojoo¡¯s selfposed song ¡®Night Sea¡¯ was revealed for the first time, drawing admiration from the listeners and the DJ with its lyrical atmosphere and the story behind it.¡± A pleasant low voice recited the article content like a rap. ¡°But the most talked-about thing after the broadcast was Woojoo¡¯s expression. His reaction to the listener¡¯sment asking ¡®How about re-enlisting?¡¯ as a first-ce pledge made the DJ and the guests burst intoughter¡­¡± Woojoo rubbed his throbbing temples and tapped the smartphone screen. The abusing articles that were lined up were turned off and themunity best post that he had opened earlier appeared. Thements had grown even more. -LMAO???????? -His expression was so real???? -It was even funnier when he realized and tried to control his expression???? -He¡¯s the type that¡¯s easy to tease?? -What the hell is that expression in the gif? -Who is it? Who said re-enlistment? At first, Woojoo wondered what was so interesting about it, but when he saw the gif, he agreed. It made sense. And of all things, the topic was the military, so it was spread not only on the idolmunity but also on other sites. Didn¡¯t people have anything else tough about? What was so funny¡­ It was funny, but. Woojoo didn¡¯t know. He couldn¡¯tin about this burning feeling anywhere. ¡°Hyung, don¡¯t worry. Last time, when we had the souffle, the post on the idolmunity was gone soon.¡± ¡°Thank you, Bijoo.¡± ¡°You¡¯re wee.¡± ¡°Aren¡¯t youughing too much right now¡­?¡± ¡°No, Hyung. I just have a smiling face.¡± The second, who was good at managing his expression, barely held back hisughter, so the rest of them didn¡¯t need to be said. They¡¯d been giggling at their phones since a while ago. ¡°You¡¯re all having fun. You¡¯re having a st.¡± ¡°Honestly, what can we do if it¡¯s funny? Wow. This gif is really art.¡± ¡°You should be d that you were buried because of me.¡± ¡°That¡¯s what luck is.¡± The fourth was happy that his puffed-up face was buried. He was eating dried sweet potatoes like popcorn. Next to him, the third was smiling as he looked at the posts on the fan cafe. There seemed to be a lot of interesting stories. Woojoo wanted to ask him how the reaction was, but he couldn¡¯t open his mouth. And. The culprit who created this situation was sitting next to him, looking around. ¡°Woojoo Hyung, try to think positively.¡± ¡°About what.¡± ¡°Um. Thanks to this beautiful change of expression, we have another good thing happening to us. You burned your whole body to save us.¡± ¡°And I burned to death?¡± ¡°¡­Uh, that¡¯s not it. Ouch.¡± Woojoo pinched the youngest¡¯s side as he twisted his head. "Wow, the response is good." Yoon Seokhwan looked at his phone with a satisfied smile. "It''s true that the live performance got attention thanks to you, like Jiho said." "Hyung, don''t you care about me?" "Of course I do. I''m just happy for your sess as a manager." Woojoo stuck out his tongue at the math genius who smirked. He had no allies here. But they were not wrong. His expression became a hot topic unintentionally, and as a result, their name became more known. ¡®How funny. But who is that guy?'' Something like that. It seemed that variousplex causes were at work, but one thing was certain: it was because of that that Night Sea became a buzz. "I didn''t expect you to release the song so soon." "The Director ordered it right after you mentioned your selfposed song. I was preparing it beforehand. The timing was the problem." It was thanks to their producer''s quick action that it came out so fast. You had to row when the water came in. The original n was to release itter, but thepany had a quick internal meeting after listening to the live performance. Of course, it was not an official sound source. The official sound source would be modified by the A&R team and released in three weeks. As the word ¡®Original Ver.'' attached to it implied, this song was just a demo version that Rihyuk and Woojoo sang yesterday. That was why it was so crude. There were a few parts that he had to fix right away. He felt like a high school student who had his painting submitted to an international art contest without knowing it. Woojoo was embarrassed and ashamed. At least there were manyments praising Night Sea in the review. -It''s a warm song. ^^ -I heard it live yesterday and the sound source came up right away. Thank you for the good song. -It sounds like an old song, I like it?? It was a rewarding thing. The melody that Woojoo created received such excessive love. "Puhaha, Hyungs. Look at thesements. Aaah¡­!" Of course, he was also very excited in another way. * * * 11 a.m. The music show Global K-Pop pre-recorded two to three weeks of episodes and aired them, unlike other broadcasters. That was why they divided the recording into five parts, and they, the youngest in terms of seniority, were naturally in the first part in the morning. The others who were with them were also all rookies or singers with low seniority. Their rivals, Street Boys, Soul Six of Harmony who debuted right after them, and Blink, a girl group that debuted earlier this year, etc. "Oh, we saw your gif! That guy! Right?" "Yes, that''s right¡­¡­" As they were waiting backstage, the Blink members came back and pretended to know them. Theyughed among themselves at Woojoo¡¯s resigned smile. Was Soul Six behind them? He had a feeling that they would also pretend to know him when they saw his face. "See, Hyung. Thanks to that, we''re expanding ourwork like this." "I don''t need this kind ofwork¡­¡­" "Wow, you''re so negative today." Woojoo red at him, wondering who made him negative, and then he saw the camera and smiled kindly. Rihyuk chuckled. The writer came over with a VJ holding an ENG camera and smiled. "We''re filming a behind-the-scenes video for YouTube today. How do you feel about today''s recording?" "Great!" "I''m so excited, thinking about meeting the fans." As they exchanged some stories, thepany staff checked the mic pack and pin fixed on their waist and clothes. Phew. Woojoo took a deep breath and waited for the standby signal. Woojoo hoped the atmosphere would be good today. He was happy to think about meeting the fans, but he was also a little worried. The atmosphere was subtlest time. Global K-Pop recorded jointly, so each group''s fandom took out some people and distributed the seats. In other words, there were fans of other groups mixed in the recording studio. Maybe because Street Boys'' fans were also there, the atmosphere was subtlest time. They didn''t openly show their dislike or curse at each other, but Woojoo felt a subtle tension. The problem was that the seats here were as close to the stage as an indie cafe in Hongdae. It was impossible not to be nervous with the audience right in front of their noses. ¡°Let¡¯s go in.¡± At the staff¡¯s cue, they headed to the stage. A cheer erupted from the crowd. Their fans who upied the side seats. Seeing them, Woojoo couldn¡¯t help but smile and feel warm. And then, the younger members giggled as if they had spotted something. ¡°Hyung, look at that.¡± Junghyun pointed to one of the fans who was yfully waving a slogan that read [Woojoo, I¡¯ll go to the army for you]. In an instant, the whole audience burst intoughter. Not only them, but also the fans of other groups. The fans of Street Boys alsoughed awkwardly, but the atmosphere was different from usual. What was going on? There was no hostility or tension likest time. Did something happen? Woojoo was wondering if he should find outter, when he noticed another phenomenon that was different fromst time. Usually, in this situation, people who would have muttered ¡®Who is Woojoo?¡¯ were all looking at him and smiling as if they knew who he was. The fact that people knew his name. Maybe. As the youngest said, it might be a good thing. ¡°We¡¯re starting the recording!¡± Of course, today¡¯s Fireworks was spectacr. *** After finishing the music show recording, they had a brief interview with a reporter from Young Daily, and then they returned to thepany. The conference room on the third floor. It was his second visit since he introduced Fireworks to thepany people. Bijoo asked curiously, ¡°What¡¯s going on today? They said all the team leaders areing.¡± ¡°Well, they must have something to say.¡± ¡°Do you have any idea, Hyung?¡± Woojoo didn¡¯t know either. He only heard that there was a meeting about New ck and that they had to attend. ¡°Maybe it¡¯s about that thing Seokhwan Hyung went to TBC for.¡± ¡°Oh, right. Is it going to be broadcast?¡± ¡°I don¡¯t think so. If it was, they wouldn¡¯t have to announce it so grandly. It¡¯s not like we¡¯re going on a survival show or something.¡± The mystery was back to square one, when Jiho said he remembered something. ¡°I think I heard something about that. I chatted with a promo team noona a few days ago and she said they were going to do something around the time of the fan signing event. Like deciding on a fandom name and stuff.¡± That was right, this Sunday was their first fan signing event. But more than that, he was interested in what Jiho brought up. ¡°Fandom name?¡± ¡°Yeah, I think they¡¯re going to have a public contest or something this time.¡± ¡°The fans get to choose?¡± When Woojoo was in TJ, thepany nning team came up with the fandom name. Woojoo marveled at the novel way of doing things. Rihyuk looked around and whispered, ¡°Well, you know, there was a big fussst time when thepany decided on Scarlet¡¯s fandom name. The President had a name he liked and pushed for it. Curtain, he said.¡± ¡°Curtain?¡± ¡°Yeah, curtain.¡± Woojoo suddenly remembered the group names that thepany had suggested before New ck was decided. Lemon Boys, Flying Angels, ck Hole, Hot Voice. A creepy feeling ran down his spine. ¡°That must have been a mess.¡± ¡°Yeah. So I guess they changed the way they do things because of that. If you go to Scarlet¡¯s fan cafe and search for the President¡¯s name, you¡¯ll see a lot of nasty posts.¡± ¡°Well, the meaning is nice,¡± Rihyuk said. ¡°A curtain that shields and protects your singer from the outside world, something like that. The intention was good, so the internal response was positive.¡± Still, having a fandom name like Curtain was a bit much. Woojoo felt sorry for the members of Scarlet. They had to say things like ¡®We love you, Curtain!¡¯ or ¡®Curtain is the best!¡¯. Woojoo hoped their fans would get a prettier name. As he was thinking that, the door opened and the staff came in. Chapter 66: Chapter 66: Trantor: MarcTempest Editor: Rxel Chapter 66 The meeting attendees were well-dressed. They were not arge group of nearly twenty people likest time, but only the necessary ones. It was not afortable seat. First of all, the A&R team leader and the PR team leader. At Lemon Entertainment, the team leader was equivalent to the general manager of a normalpany. They also had a lot of experience, so their posture naturally improved.The A&R team leader greeted them. ¡°Long time no see. Everyone.¡± ¡°Nice to see you again. Team leader.¡± He nodded to Yoon Seokhwan, the director sitting next to Woojoo, and Minki Hyung. Then, Director Jo, who was in the upper seat, opened his lips. ¡°You probably heard that it¡¯s a meeting. Right?¡± ¡°Yes.¡± ¡°Well, it¡¯s not wrong, but rather than a meeting, I think it would be better to think of it as a time to share stories. There are things I need to tell you, and there are also matters I need to ask for your opinions on.¡± The meeting began as the A&R team leader handed out papers. ¡°First, let¡¯s talk about the indicators for Fireworks.¡± The kids leaned their heads forward with Woojoo in the center. A graph with a curve drawn on an A4 paper was visible. Starting from the 88th ce on the first day, the 70th ce in the first week, the 50th ce at the end of June, and the 30th ce now. ¡°Unfortunately, it will probably drop sharply from this week. It¡¯s also the time when fandom-strong groups like MOP¡¯s Daydream areing back, and you¡¯ve already risen as much as you can.¡± They nodded their heads. ¡°And the main point is this. The response to Night Sea is good. That¡¯s why someposers contacted me. They asked if you have any intention of working together, Woojoo. I mean you.¡± ¡°¡­Yes?¡± ¡°Offers for songwriting came to you. What do you think? Are you interested?¡± The members widened their eyes and looked at Woojoo. Their congrattory gazes. Woojoo was confused. Him? Why? What did they see and want to work with him? Night Sea was not that great of a song, even though it had a good response. Besides, the names of the people who made the offer were all famous enough for Woojoo to know. ¡°Why did they ask me?¡± ¡°They seemed to find your song refreshing.¡± The exnation continued. There was already interest among the people in the industry since Fireworks, saying ¡®Is the title song really an idol selfposed song?¡¯ But they were hesitant because they were associated with Hanjo as aposing idol. They wondered if Lemon had a professionalposer¡¯s touch like DNS. Then they were convinced by this Night Sea. The reason for the offer was familiar. Like when Jang Sowon Sunbae made Something. A kind of fresh element. The songwriting skills were already familiar to them, so Woojoo was supposed to provide them with a new perspective or freshness. It was a good offer. No, rather, it was an opportunity to learn various things while watching the expertspose. The siblings urged Woojoo as if to hurry up. The A&R team leader also seemed to expect it. ¡°What do you think?¡± Woojoowas lost in thought for a moment, but he didn¡¯t hesitate for long. Let¡¯s check first. ¡°What exactly do they mean by wanting to work with me? Are they talking about the next album work, or a separate single song?¡± ¡°Thetter.¡± ¡°Then I¡¯d like to say no.¡± ¡°¡­?¡± The members looked at Woojoo with iprehensible expressions. Ignoring their stares, Woojoo cautiously expressed his opinion. ¡°I think it¡¯s good to learn songwriting, and to promote with a songwriting image. It¡¯s also a good opportunity for me personally. But we¡¯re still rookies, and we have a long way to go, and I want to prioritize the group right now.¡± Woojoo thought it was a good opportunity too. He wanted to do it very much. But he thought it was not good for the group. It could cause trouble for the group activities because of him, and it could also have a bad influence on the fans. ¡°Well, if that¡¯s what you want, I can¡¯t help it.¡± As the A&R team leader adjusted his taste, the PR team leader smiled and looked at Woojoo. Woojoo turned his head and almost smiled too. It was the same as before. When he said they were family in Ulwang-ri, he had a simr reaction. Especially when he looked at Bijoo and swallowed hisughter. ¡°By the way, this is an offer that came to Rihyuk. After seeing your vocals yesterday, we got several coboration proposals. Well, judging by your expression, you seem to agree with Woojoo. Right?¡± ¡°Yes, I think so too.¡± Rihyuk answered and looked at Woojoo. As if to ask if he saw it. He smiled as if to say he did well, when the Director, who had been quiet, opened his lips. ¡°Then, how about working together on the next album?¡± ¡°That would be great. I don¡¯t know if they would want that, though¡­¡± ¡°If that¡¯s your opinion, then I¡¯ll review it with them.¡± ¡°Excuse me?¡± Was this something that could get an OK? Something was strange. During Woojoo¡¯s trainee life, he only heard thepany say do this, do that, but as soon as he suggested something, they agreed to it. Woojoo felt a strange feeling when the Director smiled and said, ¡°You guys are artists now. We don¡¯t order you around like we did when you were trainees. Especially when ites to music, your opinions as performers are more important.¡± It felt like they got promoted again. When they got a studio after the sess of Something, he was recognized as a promisingposer, but this meeting felt like they weremunicating with thepany as equal artists. They all smiled as they looked at each other with a sense of aplishment. *** The meeting went on in a frenzy. Woojoo had to take notes to remember the content. It was full of surprises. There were somepanies, such as uniformpanies, that were having meetings rted to advertising. There was also a discussion about sponsorship with a clothingpany. And there was talk of appearing on a variety show with a terrestrial broadcaster. Of course, they told them not to expect too much about thest one. It was just talk. Woojoo could tell that Seokhwan Hyung was working hard these days, smelling of alcohol day and night. They gasped as the staff members uttered one word after another. The Director nodded as if to say they did well. ¡°You did a great job. You achieved more than we expected.¡± Woojoo felt a strange feeling at his words. It was amazing and proud. During the two weeks of running around the music shows after the debut showcase, there were so many things going on behind the curtain. It also showed him where their first album activity was going. Woojoo didn¡¯t feel it when they were only on music shows. What it meant to be a sessful rookie. ¡°Director Yoon, is there anything else to report from the management side?¡± ¡°No.¡± ¡°Phew, finally we can talk about it.¡± The cheerful PR team leader smiled. He brought up his agenda, which seemed to be the main point of today. ¡°This Sunday is the fan signing event, right?¡± ¡°Yes.¡± ¡°We¡¯re going to solicit and vote for the fandom name around then. First of all, I have a favor to ask you to shoot a message for the fans.¡± It was what Jiho mentioned earlier. ¡°We¡¯re also nning an event for the fan signing event.¡± ¡°An event?¡± ¡°Nothing fancy. Just something like a small gift you prepared for the fans. Like the ones you gave at the debut showcase.¡± ¡°Oh, yes.¡± Woojoo remembered the small snacks and photo cards they gave to the fans. ¡°I¡¯m not telling you to prepare that. Just brainstorm some ideas together. It¡¯s different if we make it or if you think of it, because of the sincerity.¡± Woojoo understood what he meant. Even if it was the same proposal, it would be better to have a simple but heartfelt way than a shy one made by a professionalpany. He added something else. ¡°And don¡¯t forget one more thing.¡± ¡°Sending you the video of the discussion process?¡± ¡°You¡¯re quick.¡± He smiled with satisfaction. The meeting ended with his words. Woojoo took a deep breath as he watched them leave like the ebbing tide, following the President. ¡°Wow¡­¡± Woojoo turned his head and saw that his brothers had the same drained expressions. They were tense in front of the team leaders, and they were shocked by what they heard today. But more than anything. Woojoo felt a surge of pride. They all swallowed theirplex emotions without sorting them out, when Junghyun said one thing, ¡°Our album, it really did well, huh?¡± Looking back, there was no better summary than that. *** Lemon Entertainment¡¯s YouTube ount. The ¡®New ck¡¯ category there was overflowing with videos. From the videos they shot at the end of the year evaluation, to the recording process of Something, the behind-the-scenes of the day they won first ce on a music show, the practice video of the Music Cafe, and so on. The videos started to increase intensively after DNS Media came in with negative publicity. Since then, self-produced reality shows, practice videos, daily videos, and more started to go up like crazy, and the most recent one was a five-part series titled ¡®Woojoo & Rihyuk, Night Sea Composition¡¯. In part one, Woojoo was sitting in the studio with a mask on, working and arguing with Rihyuk. From part two to four, it was the lyric writing and practice process. Part five showed how the live performance of Night Sea turned out. Among them, part five was the second most viewed video, along with the acape live video titled ¡®How a rookie deals with a sound ident¡¯, following the fireworks MV. -This makes me cry??? -I like this better than the title track of this album -It makes me feel gloomy but warm -The lyrics ? -I¡¯m hooked on this songtely, it¡¯s so good? -This ce is a live paradise -First time listening, they¡¯re so good ?? They have rich voices too -eng sub plz There were a lot ofments, as befitting the unusually high viewspared to other videos. Woojoo was reading them with satisfaction, when a white hand pped in front of his eyes. Ah. Surprise. ¡°Hey, mister. Focus a little.¡± Woojoo looked up and Rihyuk was looking at him with a round face from across. Today was Tuesday. It was the waiting room of ¡®It¡¯s Showtime¡¯, a music show hosted by HBS MTV. ¡°I still can¡¯t think of an idea. I was watching the videos on our YouTube and thinking.¡± The promotion team leader asked them toe up with a simple idea, but he still didn¡¯t have anything clear. He couldn¡¯t find anything that felt right. They agreed to give a gift to the fans, but they couldn¡¯t agree on what it would be. ¡°How about handwritten letters?¡± ¡­Bijoo¡¯s suggestion was immediately rejected. First of all, there were 100 people, and handwritten letters felt too sentimental. It was a bit burdensome. ¡°How about we all have dinner together after this? Like a barbecue ce.¡± ¡°Hey, Junghyun.¡± ¡°Yes.¡± ¡°Let¡¯s think again.¡± Junghyun nodded his head and said, ¡®okay, I¡¯ll do that¡¯, and started to rack his brain. No, Junghyun. He wasn¡¯t telling him to think of something else. He was scared of what he was going to say next. ¡°How about a song gift?¡± ¡°Oh, that¡¯s good.¡± ¡°Right? It¡¯s reasonable and all.¡± The main vocal¡¯s idea was realistic and good. Woojoo wrote it down on paper and when the hyungs looked at me, the maknae said as if he had been waiting, ¡°I have that. Sandwich.¡± ¡°Sandwich?¡± ¡°You know, the Inga sandwich.¡± ¡°Oh¡­¡± ¡°I was thinking at the shop earlier, and that sandwich came to mind. Honestly, there are a lot of things we can give with money. But what can¡¯t we buy with money? I was wondering that.¡± ¡°That¡¯s true. There was a sandwich.¡± This was also a good idea. Every Sunday, HBS Popr Singer was aired, and the sandwiches sold at the cafeteria there were famous for their taste. They were also slowly gaining poprity through SNS these days. He was sure the fans would know. But this time, Rihyuk disagreed with him. ¡°Hey, that¡¯s not bad, but isn¡¯t it too vague? It¡¯s fine to give them as a gift to the fans who are waiting for the public broadcast, but for the fan signing event¡­ It¡¯s not like we made them ourselves or anything.¡± ¡°Hmm, you¡¯re right. I didn¡¯t think about that.¡± Rihyuk had a point. The sandwiches were a good idea, but they were too ambiguous to be called a gift from them. They were too simple, too. They racked their brains for a while, but nothing satisfactory came up. Was there no perfect gift? Something that had meaning, too. Something that would make the fans think, ¡®They care about us this much¡¯ when they saw it. They continued to worry, but Bijoo changed the topic. ¡°But don¡¯t you think it¡¯s more important to do well at the fan signing event? I think the attitude is more important than the gift¡­¡± ¡°True. I¡¯m a bit nervous about that.¡± When Junghyun said he was a bit nervous, it meant he was extremely nervous. ¡°Me too. Thepany said they would give us some guidelines soon, but they¡¯re just guidelines. We have to learn how to do it by going there ourselves, but I¡¯m afraid I¡¯ll make a mistake or something.¡± ¡°Me too, I can¡¯t do it like I do with my friends at school. But being too polite is also weird.¡± Everyone seemed to be worried about the fan signing event. Woojoo was the same. He wanted to give them some advice, but he had to have done it at least once himself. ¡°Ah. How about asking the senior singers?¡± Everyone looked at Woojoo at Bijioo¡¯s suggestion. ¡°Why are you looking at me?¡± ¡°You have the most connections among us, and you know, these days a lot of people are trying to get close to you.¡± ¡°I don¡¯t know.¡± Woojoo scrolled through his phone contacts and muttered, ¡°I¡¯m not that good at socializing either. I have some friends from TJ, but I haven¡¯t contacted them for a long time. By the way, you guys should be close with Scarlet, right?¡± ¡°We¡¯ve been busytely, so we haven¡¯t been in touch much.¡± Woojoo knew what kind of rtionship they had. They would greet each other with ¡®Wow!¡¯ and chat whenever they met, but they never contacted each other separately. ¡°Then how about Jang Sowon Sunbae? She was a member of Sugarfish, right?¡± ¡°Junghyun.¡± ¡°Yes.¡± ¡°You know, even if she likes us, she might get angry if we ask her about her group days when they disbanded.¡± ¡°That¡¯s true.¡± No, that wasn¡¯t true, it was obvious. Woojoo felt suffocated and rubbed his forehead, and the kidsughed at him. Suddenly, one contact caught his eye. Come to think of it. ¡°I did contact him a few days ago.¡± ¡°Who?¡± ¡°Taehyun.¡± ¡°Wow, TNT¡¯s Taehyun?¡± ¡°But he might be busy. From what I heard, he¡¯s been very busy with his fan meeting in China and stuff. Well, I¡¯ll just leave him a message, but¡­¡± Woojoo was about to close his phone after sending him a message asking if he was busy, when it rang. Jiiing- The kids blinked their eyes and looked at Woojoo¡¯s screen with the sender name ¡®TNT_Taehyun¡¯. Woojoo added some words in embarrassment. ¡°He must be free right now.¡± Chapter 67: Chapter 67: Trantor: MarcTempest Editor: Rxel Chapter 67 Woojoo thought he was busy with the Chinese fan meetings and stuff. And it was a video call, too. The kids swallowed their saliva as they stared at the vibrating phone. ¡°Are you going to answer it, Hyung?¡± ¡°Of course.¡± It would be ridiculous to ask if he was busy and then not answer.As soon as Woojoo pressed the answer button, the screen brightened up. A sunny sky and a swimming pool were in the background. There were parasols, tables, and sunbeds in a luxurious scenery. A handsome man in a robe smiled at him from there. Soon, a cheerful voice came through. -Hey, military man. Damn. ¡°How did you know?¡± -I had a free schedule today. I was toozy to go out, so I was just surfing the inte and ying, and I saw your face everywhere. ¡°¡­Did you watch it?¡± -Of course. I showed it to the kids, too. Damn. Then, Woojoo heard voices in the background saying, ¡®Who that Taehyun?¡¯, ¡®Who? A girl?¡¯, ¡®Is she a girl?¡¯ -Say hi to Woojoo Hyung, guys. He turned the screen, and three people in the pool waved their hands with a smile. -Oh, it¡¯s Woojoo Hyung. Long time no see, Hyung! -Wow. Why did you age so much in a few months? -Hyung, take care of yourself! Woojoo heardughter from the phone and from his side at the same time. ¡°¡­¡± Han Taehyunughed as he saw Woojoo¡¯s expression. -Don¡¯t mind them. They¡¯re just joking around. He drank his fruit juice and stretched out elegantly. -So, did you call me to y with me? ¡°You called me, didn¡¯t you?¡± -Oh, right. I guess I was out of it because I haven¡¯t slept welltely. He shrugged his shoulders and then looked at Woojoo slyly. -I thought you were bored and wanted to talk. But you seem like you have something to ask me. ¡°That¡¯s right.¡± -What is it? ¡°Can our kids say hello first?¡± This time, Woojoo turned the camera lens to the members. Oh, the kids got up and greeted him. ¡°Hello, Sunbae-nim!¡± -Aww, why are you being so formal? Don¡¯t be so stiff. He got up from the sunbed and bowed to them. Theyughed from both sides. The atmosphere became more rxed. Indeed, it was a brilliant choice to contact him for fan signing tips. He knows how to make people like him, like a popr idol. Woojoo exined the situation to him. -Hmm, fan signing tips, huh? ¡°You look tired. Should I call youter?¡± -It¡¯s fine. He waved his hand and sparkled his eyes. -But if I help you, will you buy me something? Food? ¡°I can buy you food, of course, but do you really want to eat a flea¡¯s liver, you rich kid?¡± -If you don¡¯t like it, forget it. ¡°Fine. Let¡¯s hang up.¡± -Ah, ah, ah! I¡¯ll tell you, I¡¯ll tell you. Then he asked cautiously. -But you¡¯ll still buy me food, right? ¡°It was nice knowing you, Taehyun.¡± -I¡¯ll tell you, I¡¯ll tell you, seriously, you little brat. At the word ¡®little brat¡¯, Rihyuk took out his phone and made a note. Why was he writing down something like that? Of course, Woojoo was joking and promised to buy him a meal sometime. Including thest time with the SNS photo, something expensive. -I¡¯m not telling this to just anyone. I¡¯m telling you because that guy is treating us. This is a real honey tip. He said, unting his insider knowledge. -It¡¯s your first fan sign, right? Just remember three things. He immediately followed with a lecture that the kids listened to with awe. It was very useful information. It was like a summary of the essential tips for surviving a fan signing event. Something like ¡®Three Ways to Survive a Fan Sign.txt¡¯. It was much more practical than the precautions that thepany gave them. Woojoo was memorizing those tips when he said. -Actually, you can forget everything I said and just remember one thing. ¡°What is it?¡± -If you feel stuck. Stuck? -Just watch how that guy does it. I¡¯ve seen him since I was a trainee, and if you follow him roughly, you¡¯ll get by. ¡°Oh, yeah. That¡¯s true.¡± Bijoo pped his hands and agreed enthusiastically. -Right? I¡¯m telling you the truth. Even their pro diforter, who always picked on Woojoo, nodded his head, and the other two also agreed loudly. Woojoo was d that they got along well, but he felt weird that they agreed on something strange. What did they think of him? Anyway, it was time to prepare for the pre-recording, so Woojoo ended the call. ¡°¡­Thanks a lot, Taehyun. Text me when youe to Korea. Well. I don¡¯t know if we¡¯ll have time to make ns, though.¡± -Yeah, Hyung,ter¡­#%&^! ¡°Why is it so loud?¡± Woojoo frowned at the noisy background sound, and he got up from his seat as if to ask him to wait. Woojoo saw his slippers shuffle. Then he showed Woojoo his phone over the pool fence. ¡°¡­What is that?¡± On the hotel ground. Hundreds of fans were gathered there, making a fuss. He waved his hand and a deafening cheer came back. -There¡¯s an event near here tonight. He said casually, smiling like a Hallyu star. They all looked nervous. *** ¡°Yes? Dy?¡± The broadcasting station called to tell them about the dy before the pre-recording. They should have told them sooner. They were ready to go out in their costumes. ¡°How long do we have to wait?¡± ¡°I don¡¯t know.¡± Minki Hyung answered. ¡°It¡¯s raining outside, so the set change is dyed. And there was an ident at the Street Boys¡¯ rehearsal.¡± ¡°ident?¡± ¡°The singer and the camera collided on stage.¡± ¡°Wow, are they okay?¡± ¡°I heard they broke a bit.¡± ¡°Oh no¡­¡± They imagined someone lying on the floor, bleeding profusely. Minki Hyung said, ¡°The camera broke.¡± ¡°Really?¡± ¡°The person is fine, but the camera broke.¡± ¡°Oh no¡­¡± Woojoo guessed they had a tough person in that group. When they looked at him, Junghyun smiled sheepishly and rubbed his nose. Woojoo didn¡¯t know why he looked so confident. ¡°It¡¯s a shame. I was in the best condition just now.¡± Woojoo nodded at Jiho¡¯s muttering. They were full of energy to meet the fans, but now they felt like t c. ¡°Are the fans okay in the rain?¡± Bijoo looked out the window and said. Tudududu- The heavy raindrops hit the window. Everything around them was blurred by the raging rain. Only the headlights of the cars passing by the road scattered. The palm of his hand that wiped the steam on the window was cold. ¡°Everyone must have left their umbres at home since the weather was nice today. I wonder where they took shelter?¡± ¡°Well, I guess so. That¡¯s probably what they did.¡± Rihyuk scratched his cheek as he spoke. ¡°There are a lot of ces nearby since we¡¯re in Sangam-dong. There are burger joints, cafes, and more. They must have gone into one of them.¡± ¡°Should I buy some umbres with my own money and send it to them?¡± ¡°You¡¯re so thoughtful, our youngest.¡± Woojoo tried to pat his head, but he only tapped his shoulder because of his hair and makeup. Of course, Woojoo appreciated his idea, but they couldn¡¯t do it. Who would go buy umbres right now? It would have to be someone from thepany, but he couldn¡¯t ask Minki Hyung. -Hyung. Can you please buy some umbres for the fans with our money? That was ridiculous. That was why all they could do was hope that the shower would stop soon. ¡°But.¡± Junghyun, who was looking out the window, said, ¡°The fans whoe to the site are really amazing. I couldn¡¯t do that. Coming to watch the pre-recording every day.¡± They all nodded. Really. It wasn¡¯t something anyone could do. The time changed every day. People who watched music shows must have wondered about it at least once. No, it clearly says it¡¯s live. How did the singers¡¯ stages connect without any dy? If it was really live, shouldn¡¯t there be a dy while the singers went up and down the stage? That was what pre-recording solved. They recorded it in advance. During the live broadcast, Singer A goes on stage and performs the first verse, then switches with Singer B, who is next in line. Meanwhile, the second verse goes on TV as a recorded segment. In the past, this kind of pre-recording was a symbol of poprity that not everyone could do, but these days, even rookies did it because of the various corners that were popping up. The problem was that the recording time of this pre-recording changed every time. Sometimes, if you were lucky, you could finish it in the morning, but sometimes, if you were unlucky, you had to do it at dawn. There was no standard. Junghyun said, ¡°It¡¯s a schedule for us, but not for the fans.¡± ¡°Right. They don¡¯t have to do this much for us.¡± If Woojoo had to give a reason, there would be only one. Just because they like them. They came to see them every time because of that one reason, that they wanted to cheer them on. ¡°I couldn¡¯t do that either.¡± What, getting up at dawn to see them? ¡°Me too.¡± Bijoo agreed with them. ¡°I couldn¡¯t do it either.¡± ¡°Me neither.¡± ¡°I can¡¯t even wait for rocket delivery, let alone do something like this.¡± Woojoo saw other groups¡¯ fans in the distance through the window. Colorful umbres like a mushroom field. Woojoo remembered the countless waves of fans that Taehyun showed him. Whether it was in China or Korea. In any country, the fans were always waiting. Maybe the time of the fans was the time of waiting. That was what he thought. ¡°¡­Ah.¡± They looked at Woojoo when he made a sudden sound. ¡°What¡¯s wrong, Hyung?¡± ¡°You have that look on your face again. What is it this time?¡± Woojoo organized his thoughts for a moment in response to their questions. Then he opened his mouth. ¡°Guys.¡± Woojoo had a good idea. ¡°I think I know what to give them as a gift for the fan signing event.¡± *** Sunday, July 13th. A multiplex theater in Yeouido. [New ck 1st Single Album ¡®The New ck: First Chapter Fan Signing Event] The seats in the small theater began to fill up one by one. A private fan signing event for 100 fans who bought the album. The atmosphere was quiet. It felt like if one could catch the words floating in the air, they would be words like anxiety, excitement, nervousness, and flutter. They were face to face with their singer, whom they had only seen from afar, and having a conversation. It was a situation that any fan would tremble in. And. The way to calm that feeling was different for each person. Some logged in to the fan cafe or chatted with their friends, some fiddled with their camera settings, and some struck up a conversation with the person next to them. ¡°Excuse me, hello.¡± ¡°Uh¡­ Yes. Hello.¡± The awkward greeting was brief. People became friends quickly for the reason that they liked the same thing. ¡°What are you watching?¡± ¡°The live performance of Night Sea from Wonderful Night.¡± ¡°Oh, I was listening to that on my way here too. Don¡¯t they have such beautiful voices?¡± ¡°Right? It¡¯s like they get into your ears the more you listen. That kind of feeling.¡± ¡°Really, our kids are so good at singing. You know, the fan cafe membership increased a lot after they did the live without apaniment on the showcase.¡± As one person spoke, another chimed in, and the conversation continued. When they were about to start the fan signing event, the lights in the theater dimmed. ¡®What?¡¯ As they tilted their heads, the projector started and a video yed on the screen. ¡®Do they usually show VCRs at fan signings?¡¯ ¡­That question soon disappeared from their minds. Because of the face that filled the screen. He squinted his eyes and examined something close to the camera. It was a close-up of Seon Woojoo¡¯s face, and someone swallowed their breath. -Is it working? He looked around the camera and turned back. -It seems like it. -Are we on? On? -Guys,e over here quickly. The fans smiled at the gentle voices. The New ck members gathered in their dorm in their training clothes. They frowned at the cramped living room for a moment, butughed at the sight of Kim Junghyun, who was sitting like a statue in the middle, holding a sketchbook that said ¡®D-5¡¯. -Junghyun Hyung, that looks like it. The mafia statue. -Mafia? -He means Moai, Hyung. Wang Jiho, do you really know anything? -Wow, this Hyung really has a foul mouth¡­ -Guys, we¡¯re sending a message to the fans. Be quiet. Okay, Woojoo Hyung, I think you can talk now. Woojoo, who had been looking at his brothers with a fond expression, looked at the camera. It was a different expression from when he looked at his members. -Hello, fans. You must be very surprised right now. Uh, what? Why are they suddenly appearing? Like that. He said. -The reason we¡¯re filming this is because we prepared a gift for you, but we wanted to show you how we made it, rather than just giving it to you. Shall we start then? -¡­ -Isn¡¯t there a cue? -Hyung, who was supposed to do it? -Right. -Wasn¡¯t it Wang Jiho? If you forget, it¡¯s either Wang Jiho or Junghyun Hyung. -Why are you biting me for no reason? I¡¯m so cute¡­ -You? -Yes, me¡­ Theyughed as they bickered. Woojoo picked up the camera and moved his seat. -Hyung! Where are you going? -I¡¯m going to have a secret talk with the fans. Shut up. He said and smiled at the camera. -Please forget the bad behavior of my brothers. Now, shall we go to the making-film with me? Ta-da~ He posed for three seconds. Then he looked down at the camera with a very embarrassed expression and muttered, ¡°Did it record? It must have, right?¡± The video started with that. The first scene was the same as before, inside the dorm. They were gathered in the living room, drawing pictures. They each made a crude caricature of their favorite animal, and then they started to transfer them to one picture. The animals in the forest. Below that, they wrote ¡®The New ck¡¯ in a cute font. They each wrote two letters, but there was a debate over who would write thest K. -Shouldn¡¯t Kim do it since it¡¯s K? -Right. -No, it should be Wang since he¡¯s the King. -Why are you arguing over this? Just let anyone write it. -Then let¡¯s leave out Rihyuk. -What? Why? I write the best. -Hey, guys. Woojoo sighed and said. -Why don¡¯t we just add from in front of it? -¡­! It was a trivial conversation, but the fans who were watching had a smile on their lips. Soon, the design was sent to thepany. D-4, D-3. While they were waiting for the result, there were scenes of the members peeking at the fans outside the waiting room, practicing their signatures, and reading fan letters with delight. Finally, D-1. The members were happy to receive the product. An eco-bag with a shoddy print. Then the members put snacks and photo cards in it. It was a short reality format like any other video that came up to thepany, but it was a big gift for the fans who watched it. Not only for the people who came to the fan signing event, but also for the fans who would see it on the inteter. The members seemed to say this. -We¡¯re waiting too. We¡¯re always waiting for our meeting with you, as much as you¡¯re waiting for us. Throughout the VCR, their feelings were clearly conveyed. The eco-bag was just a medium, it seemed like the process was the gift for the fans. Then the waiting room of the music show came out. -We¡¯ll finally meet tonight. Actually, we¡¯re waiting at the door while this video is ying. We¡¯re about to go in, but you¡¯ll wee us when we do, right? The fans nced at the entrance. -Let¡¯s meet with a smile. -See you! The video ended there. The afterglow of the VCR was floating around the room, when the door opened with the refreshing intro of Fireworks. The five members appeared. It was the second official meeting between New ck and the fans. Chapter 68: Chapter 68: Trantor: MarcTempest Editor: Rxel Chapter 68 The Fan Signing Event That Finally Began The members of New ck started to greet their fans in a frenzy. Since they arranged the seats by age from youngest to oldest, the first one to meet the fans was the maknae. Wang Jiho smiled awkwardly and swallowed his saliva. ¡°Hyungs, trust me!¡± ¡­That was what he boasted before going up to the fan signing event.But when Bijoo Hyung offered to switch seats with him, saying he might not be okay, he waved his hand in refusal. He regretted his own arrogance. Wang Jiho had faith in his sociability. He had easily befriended anyone he met at school, so he thought he could do the same with the fans. But¡­ ¡°Uh, hi, I¡¯m. Nice to meet you. I¡¯m Wang Jiho.¡± As soon as the first fan appeared, he blurted out a weird self-introduction. Laughter erupted from the fans behind him. This was not a blind date, what kind of greeting was that? He felt embarrassed, ashamed, and almost tearful. He briefly apologized to the fan. ¡°Sorry, can you wait a moment? I¡¯m so nervous¡­¡± Don¡¯t cry, someone said from the line behind him. Wang Jiho took a deep breath and calmed his trembling heart. But he couldn¡¯t help the tears welling up in his eyes. These were the fans who came to the showcase, watched the music shows, and left supportive messages on the fan cafe. He wanted to talk to them properly, thank them, chat with them, and show them his best side¡­ But he couldn¡¯t say a word. He froze when he faced the fan. His mind went nk. He felt grateful, but also so nervous that he couldn¡¯t think straight. He couldn¡¯t remember any of the words he had prepared, and his mouth wouldn¡¯t move. He felt sorry and sad, and tears started to roll down his cheeks without him knowing. The fan standing across from him asked, ¡°Are you okay?¡± ¡°I.¡± Everyone was listening. ¡°Do you have a tissue¡­?¡± A loudughter broke out. Someone handed him a tissue from the line, saying here you go. Some fans whispered, remembering the Music Cafe incident. ¡°I¡¯m okay now!¡± After theughter subsided, Wang Jiho returned to his normal self. He was more talkative than usual because of the nervousness, but still. ¡°Oh, hello. Oh, wow! Oh, the doll is so pretty. Oh, did you bring it for me? Is it for the other members too? Oh, you have them. But still¡­ This lion you gave me has the longest fur, and oh, its eyes are like buttons.¡± He rambled on like a broken doll, spilling his thoughts to the fan. The fans covered their mouths andughed. He was just adorable. Of course, not everyone wasughing. Sitting right next to him, Rihyuk had his head bowed down like a person waiting for the apocalypse. ¡®I¡¯m doomed.¡¯ Wang Jiho¡¯s situation didn¡¯t seem like someone else¡¯s problem. No, if Wang Jiho was like that, how bad would he be? He was already anxious about showing a ridiculous side of himself to the fans. The more he thought about it, the more he tried to keep a calm expression and clenched his jaw. ¡°Rihyuk, are you okay?¡± ¡°Yes. No problem.¡± ¡°Your hand is shaking a lot.¡± ¡°It¡¯s dehydration.¡± His hand that was signing was shaking like crazy. He had practiced signing hundreds of timesst night, but the result was like a jagged saw de that needed to be cut out with scissors. ¡°I¡¯m sorry, I practiced a lot.¡± ¡°It¡¯s okay.¡± ¡°No, it¡¯s not. Let me write your name again.¡± The fan just smiled at his serious words. But he tried three times and each time the name ¡®Soojin¡¯ looked like ¡®hangover¡¯. Thanks to that, the fan joked that she felt like drinking, and rain fell in Seo Rihyuk¡¯s heart. ¡®I write well.¡¯ He had imagined itst night, lying on the upper bunk and pulling up the nket. He thought that if he wrote a nice signature and a neatment below, every fan who passed by wouldpliment him on his handwriting. ¡­That was bullshit. Another victim whose name ¡®Sangeun¡¯ became ¡®shark¡¯ughed out loud. ¡°It¡¯s okay, Rihyuk. It¡¯s the thought that counts.¡± ¡°I, I usually write very nicely.¡± ¡°Sure, sure. I know.¡± ¡°Really. Ask the other members.¡± But she didn¡¯t look convinced at all. She just found him cute. He decided to take a picture of his handwriting and ask them to post it on thepany¡¯s SNS when he got back to the dorm. ¡®By the way, why does she find me cute?¡¯ He used to have no one approach him because of his prickly appearance, but somehow the fans had no hesitation. He wondered why, but soon he realized the reason. ¡°I cried so hard when I listened to Night Sea live. It reminded me of myte grandmother, and the lyrics really resonated with me. It was so good. I wanted to tell you how much I enjoyed it when I saw your face. Thank you for singing so beautifully¡­ Rihyuk?¡± ¡°¡­Yes?¡± ¡°Are you okay? Your ears are very red.¡± ¡°No, it¡¯s just a habit of mine. My ears turn red when I get the spotlight.¡± ¡°Wow, it¡¯s just like I saw on the radio.¡± It was because of the radio. The screenshots of Rihyuk on the visible radio had spread, and it seemed like his image had be that of a neighborhood fool who looked prickly but was actually soft. The fans smiled kindly at him as he danced and sang. Feeling wronged, Rihyuk thought he would never let the youngest go when he got back to the dorm. Meanwhile. Unlike the younger line who was too nervous to calm down, the older line was rtively calm. ¡°Hello.¡± Kim Junghyun greeted the fans indifferently. But the fans who received his greeting flinched. ¡®I¡¯m not a scary person.¡¯ Kim Junghyun tried to reassure the fans by saying various things. He was not good at talking, but his sincerity got through, and the fans soon becamefortable with him. He looked calmpared to the younger line who was too tense. At least on the outside. But under the calm surface, a whirlwind was stirring. -Hyung, please think before you speak. -Yeah, don¡¯t say anything weird. -Junghyun, don¡¯t forget to smile at the fans. You look scary when you¡¯re still. He was doing his best because of the members¡¯ earnest requests. He tried hard to smile at the fans. He desperately searched for the right words to say whenever he spoke. ¡°Wow. You¡¯re so slim!¡± ¡°Me?¡± ¡°Yes! You look so sharp. You looked huge on the video, but you¡¯re actually very slim in person.¡± ¡°Oh.¡± What should he say to her? Kim Junghyun¡¯s brain went into full throttle. He finally found a suitablement. ¡°I actually weigh only 66 kilograms.¡± ¡°Wow, at that height?¡± The reaction was not bad. The conversation sometimes went off on a tangent, but the fans seemed to enjoy it with constantughter. He was relieved. Junghyun brushed his chest and nced at the next ones. ¡®Those two don¡¯t have to worry.¡¯ Bijoo and Woojoo, who were always calm and good at everything, had nothing to worry about. And they didn¡¯t look nervous at all. Of course, that was also Junghyun¡¯s misconception. ¡®Oh¡­ it¡¯s a fan.¡¯ Bijoo¡¯s mind was spinning more than usual as he smiled brightly. What should he say to greet them? Would it be rude to call them Noona right away? Then what about the honorifics? What if he said the wrong thing and hurt their feelings? While he was thinking of all sorts of things, Bijoo kept a calm smile. ¡°Hello.¡± The fans seemed to marvel at him as they saw him. Unlike Junghyun, who looked a bit nervous, he appeared calm andposed. Of course, his mind wasplicated. He was just used to managing his expression and gauging the mood of the house, because his younger brother had been sick since he was young. The fans thought he was mature for a moment, but that was only temporary. He also showed his age-appropriate side from time to time. ¡°Wow. This is the post-it.¡± ¡°Isn¡¯t it amazing?¡± ¡°Yes, I¡¯m amazed. So I just have to answer what you wrote here?¡± ¡°Yup, yup.¡± The fans smiled at the sight of Bijoo, who checked the answers to the multiple-choice questions and wrote the reasons in a descriptive form, ending with a period. His personality shone through. He was the member who practiced the most in the practice videos, and he acted as diligently and seriously as the youngest, who was always teased by the others for being a serious bug. And. When he made a mistake, his calm face disappeared and he made the same expression as the other members. ¡°Oh, I¡¯m so sorry. I think I gave you a wrong signature.¡± He was talking about the secret recipe of the kimchi fried rice that the members devoured like crazy in their self-produced reality show. He was talking and signing at the same time, and he identally wrote ¡®from. Kim Chiju¡¯ instead of ¡®from. Kim Bijoo¡¯. ¡°Just a second, let me ask if I have a white-¡± ¡°It¡¯s okay.¡± The fan waved their hand and stopped him. ¡°Don¡¯t worry about it. This is also pretty and nice.¡± ¡°No, no. The signature is messed up.¡± The fansughed at his sullen face. A cheerful atmosphere. The members, who were initially tense as if they were in a photo book, gradually regained theirposure as they saw the reactionsing back. ¡®As Woojoo Hyung said, let¡¯s rx.¡¯ They loosened their shoulders a little and the members regained their natural appearance. At the same time, they checked on the one on the far left whenever they had a chance. -Forget everything I¡¯ve said so far, and just remember one thing. If you feel stuck, just look at how I do it. I¡¯ve been watching him since I was a trainee, and if you roughly follow him, you can get by. Of course, Woojoo was also busy, so he couldn¡¯t help them much. But it was important that he was in the same ce. They felt mentally stable just by having someone they could rely on nearby. Like looking at a talisman when things didn¡¯t work out. Whenever they had a chance, the members nced at the leader. To get some peace of mind, and to see how he did it and follow him. ¡°Hoo¡­¡± Jiho, who had been speaking hastily, took a deep breath before the fan came over, as Woojoo did. Rihyuk held his wrist with his other hand when his hand shook, and followed the one who signed like that. Junghyun gave up because he didn¡¯t think he could follow him. Bijoo watched how long he made eye contact and followed him right away. And. When they felt that it was getting better, they couldn¡¯t help but stick out their tongues at him. He was the one who made the same mistakes at first, but he became proficient in no time. Of course, they couldn¡¯t follow everything he did. ¡°Woojoo, I love Night Sea so much that I listened to it on my way here.¡± ¡°Oh, really?¡± The members flinched at that. -¡®Oh, really?¡¯ or ¡®Oh, I see?¡¯ are absolutely forbidden. The fans prepare what they say in advance. They choose ande with a hundred things they want to say. If you say ¡®Oh, I see¡¯, wouldn¡¯t the mood go t? But he handled the mistake differently from the members. Woojoo lifted his head and looked at the fan. And then he smiled. It was a familiar expression. It was simr to the one that caused a stir in the album pictorial. ¡°What did you like about Night Sea?¡± ¡­and he naturally continued the previous conversation. And the fan¡¯s reaction to that smile was very good. A warm finish. But the members¡¯ eyes on the leader became a bit bleak. ¡®He¡¯s using his face, Woojoo Hyung.¡¯ ¡®Hmph¡­¡¯ ¡®He¡¯s covering it with his face. That old man.¡¯ ¡®Wow, look at his face. He¡¯s so serious.¡¯ They loved and cherished their leader, but sometimes he seemed too uptight. *** It was because of what Han Taehyun said¡­ Woojoo adjusted his posture as he felt the members¡¯ eyes on him. It wasn¡¯t just a simple, ¡®Do your best!¡¯ It was more like, ¡®If I falter, our kids will falter too.¡¯ That made him more alert than usual. As he was gathering his courage, an album was ced next to him. A ck cover that looked like a luxurious hardcover book, with ¡®First Chapter¡¯ written in silver. The fans and Bijoo started to chat. His heart raced like crazy. His mouth was dry, and his palms were sweaty. His mind went nk as each fan came. What should he say? He thought of various things to say, but then shook his head. Right. He should be sincere. Sincere. He calmed down his trembling chin and waited for the next fan toe. Finally, when someone sat in front of him, he remembered Han Taehyun¡¯s advice. -When you meet the fans for the first time, you might be tongue-tied. Because you don¡¯t know how to address them. In that case, just call them ¡®Noona¡¯ in a friendly way. If they look young, just use politenguage. So Woojoo smiled and greeted them. ¡°Hello, Noona.¡± But the fan¡¯s reaction was strange. She hesitated for a moment, then spoke cautiously. ¡°Oppa¡­¡± Oppa? ¡°I¡¯m sixteen.¡± Oops. The fan manager behind him chuckled. ¡°Uh¡­ I mean.¡± ¡°Yes.¡± ¡°How old are you¡­?¡± ¡°I was born in ''99.¡± ¡°Oh, you¡¯re born in ''99. I¡¯m born in ''93.¡± Woojoo was confused. He didn¡¯t even know what he was saying. ¡°Um, well, you must have watched the 2002 World Cup, right?¡± ¡°When I was four¡­?¡± Laughter erupted around him. Somehow, he was the singer and she was the fan, but she was calm and he was flustered. Woojoo smiled awkwardly and scratched his cheek, when she handed him the album. ¡°Please sign this.¡± Woojoo dly nodded and took the album. Then he said, as if to exin himself, ¡°Please understand. It¡¯s my first time doing a fan signing. I¡¯m so nervous. You can see, right? I¡¯m still very tense.¡± ¡°Yes, I can see.¡± She answered. ¡°That¡¯s why I like you.¡± Woojoo smiled back at her sparkling eyes and lifted the name pen over the album. ¡°What¡¯s your name?¡± *** At the same time, The fans were having the happiest time of their lives. Their hearts were warm and they couldn¡¯t stop smiling. It was already a blissful thing to face their idols, but they were more than satisfied with the unexpected experience. ¡®Wow, their faces are amazing¡­¡¯ Was it because they were from an actor agency? The boy groupunched by Lemon Entertainment wasposed of members who could be called visuals in any group. They were so pleasing to the eye. It felt like their brain cells were rejuvenating by five years every time they got a signature. ¡°Please move on.¡± When the fan manager gestured them to move on, they felt so cruel. They wanted to see those faces more. If the singers sitting across from them were paintings in a museum, they would have wanted to stare at them nkly for half a day, go for lunch, ande back to look at them until the doors closed. But time was limited. The fans did their best to engrave the appearance of their idols in their minds during the given time. Their fluttering eyshes. Their shy and embarrassed expressions. And even their breathing. Of course, they had no idea that the members of New ck were making sad faces inside every time. ¡®Why are they looking at me right now? Did I make a mistake again?¡¯ ¡®Wow. Look at their eyes. They¡¯re so beautiful¡­¡¯ It was a constant misunderstanding between the singers and the fans throughout the signing event. But the affection in the eyes of the fans who looked at the members was not just because of their looks. ¡®This is why some people only stan rookies.¡¯ Those who had stanned veteran groups felt amazed by the sight they had never seen before. Was it freshness? It was a sensibility that could only be felt in the rookie days. They made mistakes, felt embarrassed when they saw the fans, and their sincere feelings came out every time they said a word. Those feelings were mostly heartwarming emotions. Of course, they knew that this was not forever. Just like every idol, New ck would also be skilled professional entertainers as time passed. They were the stars that would someday be distant. But while they were here, they didn¡¯t think about that at all. It was like giving water to a growing tree. Every time they showed a little interest, the fans smiled happily at the sight of the earnest and sincere leaves sprouting. It was a precious time that they didn¡¯t want to exchange for anything. And then. When those fans reached the end of the table. They reached out their hands to those who were regretting the words they wanted to say but couldn¡¯t, or the questions they wanted to ask but swallowed. ¡°Thank you so much foring today.¡± Jiho gave them a gift as he held their hands as they left. It was an eco-bag with a picture of animals resting under a tree and ¡®From The New ck¡¯ written below it. A gift made by their singers. As the feeling of regret disappeared, the fans who received the gift had a relieved smile on their faces. Chapter 69: Chapter 69: Trantor: MarcTempest Editor: Rxel Chapter 69 The fan signing event was nearing its end. They had nned to have a long time for chatting with the fans, and because of that, the fans who took their eco-bags looked very happy. It was a sight that filled them with joy. While they were doing the sound check for the stage that would follow the signing time, Woojoo secretly peeked at the faces of the fans in the audience. ¡°They really like you guys.¡± ¡°Of course.¡±The fan manager who was standing next to Woojoo answered. ¡°They would have been happy even if you gave them just lotion.¡± ¡°Hey, that¡¯s a bit¡­¡± ¡°It¡¯s true. Scarlet gave out rice cakes as gifts at their first fan signing event.¡± ¡°Rice cakes?¡± ¡°One of the members had a rice mill at home. Anyway, they gave out just one rice cake each, but the fans loved it. I saw some online reviews saying that they kept the rice cake until it got moldy.¡± She pointed at the fans and said, ¡°Look. Their expressions.¡± They all hugged their eco-bags and smiled brightly. ¡°Let alone a rice cake, the things that you guys made yourselves don¡¯t even need to be mentioned.¡± Was that so? Woojoo didn¡¯t know much about that, since he was a singer, not a fan. He just thought that was how it was, since the staff who was in charge of the fan-rted events said so. Woojoo was grateful that the fans appreciated our gifts. Woojoo secretly wondered if giving them eco-bags was enough. Maybe it was the thought that mattered. As he was thinking that, someone whispered in his ear. ¡°They really like you.¡± ¡°Ah. You scared me.¡± ¡°It¡¯s me, Junghyun, Hyung. Don¡¯t be surprised.¡± ¡°Please, warn me before you whisper behind me.¡± Woojoo was lucky that he controlled himself reflexively, because he felt the sensation thates from somewhere in his nerves when he was about to tackle someone. That was close. Woojoo red at him, and he rubbed Woojoo¡¯s shoulders as if he was sorry. ¡°Ah, this feels good.¡± The fan manager and the staff who were filming themughed at Woojoo¡¯s expression of closing his eyes and sighing. ¡°Hyung, you sound like my grandfather.¡± ¡°Really?¡± ¡°That too.¡± As they were chatting, Minki Hyung and the younger ones came back from the bathroom. Woojooughed as soon as he saw them. ¡°You guys look like a group of people who drank in the daytime.¡± ¡°What are you talking about?¡± Rihyuk, who had a flushed face, snorted. ¡°You¡¯re not any better, you know?¡± Well. He was the same. During the signing time, every time the fans praised him or said something nice, his face got so hot, and now it waspletely red. They looked more like five kids who applied their sister¡¯s blush wrong than a five-member idol group. The youngest said with a smug face, ¡°I¡¯m sad that it¡¯s over. I could have done more.¡± ¡°You would have lost your voice if you did more. Hey. Wang Jiho. How can you talk so much without hurting your throat?¡± ¡°That¡¯s because you did all the talking for me, Hyung.¡± As they were having a fierce eye fight, Bijoo put his palms on his cheeks that were burning red. He couldn¡¯t touch them because of the makeup, so he cooled them down with his hands that he washed and became cold. He asked with a smile, ¡°Were you nervous?¡± ¡°Yes, I made a lot of mistakes. I wrote the names wrong, and I said some nonsense while talking.¡± ¡°You did well.¡± ¡°But I was d that you were next to me, Hyung. It helped me to follow what you did, just like Han Taehyun Sunbae-nim said.¡± ¡°¡­Did you hear everything?¡± ¡°Yes.¡± He raised his hand and whispered, ¡®I¡¯ll keep the World Cup to myself.¡¯ Woojoo just smirked at that. As they heard the news that the sound check was over, they looked at the younger ones. ¡°Shall we go?¡± It was time to meet the fans again. *** A fan signing event consisted of three main parts. First, there was the sign time, where they gave autographs to their fans. Then, there was the photo time, where we took pictures with them. And finally, there was the talk time, where they chatted and answered their questions. ¡°Members, please pick one of these post-its that are written here.¡± Today¡¯s talk time was a Q&A session. It was called corner. There were 100 post-its stuck on a panel. Each of them picked one when it was their turn. ¡°A promise you made to the members? I have that. The day after our radio schedule, Rihyuk Hyung came back and was sulking all day because I pranked him. So I promised to buy him a robot vacuum cleaner. Yes? Oh, I know, thetest model that was at the expo. What, Woojoo Hyung? Why didn¡¯t I buy you anything? You said you were fine then. Huh? You weren¡¯t serious? Why are you changing your mind now?¡± ¡°A member you would take to a deserted ind. I would take Seon Woojoo-ssi. What? Why wouldn¡¯t you take me? Don¡¯t you know? Fans, don¡¯t misunderstand, but I went to an amusement park with Wang Jiho and got a rash on my body. He whined all day long. He was hungry, his feet hurt, and he texted me every time he went to the bathroom. No, you did. But what did I say?¡± ¡°A personal wish? Um. I want to be more sessful and move to a bigger ce. And I want to bring my friend who lived with me. Woojoo Hyung, why is the manager making a fuss over there with his mouth? Ah. The friend I mentioned is a hamster I left at my hometown. His name is Ham Sik. He¡¯s a male, and he has a simr personality to Rihyuk.¡± ¡°That¡¯s a very good question. What I¡¯m into these days. Ah! I¡¯m reading that. Harry Potter. Every time I do chores, Woojoo Hyung teases me that I look like the house elf Dobby. No, Hyung. You did tease me. I was happy when you said I was a fairy, but I felt really betrayed. Anyway, I¡¯m reading it, but Dobby hasn¡¯t appeared yet. Oh. It¡¯s because it¡¯s the first book? I know Voldemort dies, Jiho-ya. ¡­And hees back and dies again?¡± It was a casual Q&A, but the fans enjoyed it every time they spoke. Their eyes sparkled. It was only a 30-minute talk time, but the atmosphere that started from the sign time got warmer and warmer. ¡°They said we can do two more.¡± As Woojoo spoke ording to the fan manager¡¯s signal, there was a disappointed reaction from the audience. They smiled as if they were sorry and looked at each other. ¡°Then who wants to pick one?¡± ¡°Me! I want to pick one!¡± ¡°Wow, our maknae is confident. Okay. Jiho-ya, you pick one.¡± Jiho approached the panel and looked around. Rihyuk, who was giving him advice on what to pick, was knocked down by a bright remark, ¡®Hyung, you¡¯re such a know-it-all.¡¯ Woojoo smiled as he watched him calm his mind by repeating ¡®robot vacuum cleaner¡¯ like an order. When Jiho peeled off a post-it. ¡°Someone wrote this. They asked what we would do as a promise if we ever got first ce on a music show with our song.¡± ¡°Ooh.¡± ¡°That¡¯s a meaningful question.¡± Woojoo nodded at him, who made a face as if he picked well. Before Woojoo answered, he made a premise. ¡°First ce on a music show, that¡¯s still too far for us. There are so many great seniors and colleagues in the music industry. It¡¯s hard to imagine that we could beat them and get first ce. Really, someday, it might happen. That we get first ce¡­¡± Woojoo winked at Seokhwan Hyung and the fan manager, who nodded from afar. The question was good, but a bit risky. If Woojoo said something wrong, he might get criticized by other idol fans, saying things like ¡®They¡¯re so ridiculous, they got first ce once with a digital single before debut.¡¯ or ¡®They¡¯re so arrogant for rookies.¡¯ So he yed it safe. Woojoo didn¡¯t want them or their fans to get insulted because of this remark. ¡°It¡¯s such a distant thing, and I don¡¯t have the courage to think about it. Honestly, first ce is too big of a goal for us.¡± ¡°Hyung. How about first-ce candidate?¡± Junghyun said. ¡°Not first-ce promise, but first-ce candidate promise.¡± ¡°Oh, that¡¯s good.¡± ¡°I think that¡¯s okay too.¡± Woojoo turned his head and saw the audience¡¯s reaction. It seemed like a promise to do something when they became first-ce candidates wasn¡¯t bad. ¡°Then why don¡¯t we each say what we have in mind?¡± Woojoo felt like he became an MC. The people who liked them were the audience, and the brothers he cherished were the guests of the show. The maknae thought for a while and opened his lips. ¡°I want to do it in Myeongdong. You know, there¡¯s a famous street there. I want to do a free hug or a performance in the middle of it.¡± ¡°I don¡¯t mind if it¡¯s fans. But I don¡¯t want to hug strangers.¡± The fansughed at Rihyuk¡¯s firm answer. ¡°I will sing the song that bes the first-ce candidate in a female key.¡± ¡°Can you do that?¡± The song was already high enough to kill them. The main vocal showed them a smug smile. ¡°Why are you like that? I¡¯m New ck¡¯s main vocal.¡± As the fans sent yful exmations, Rihyuk shrugged his shoulders. ¡°Hey, Rihyuk.¡± ¡°Yes?¡± ¡°Sorry to say this, but we humble Hyungs don¡¯t have a voice like yours.¡± The fans burst intoughter. But it was true. In the chorus part where even Junghyun dropped out because his voice cracked, singing in a female key was really over the top. As he ignored the guy who grumbled why he asked then, he turned his gaze to Junghyun. ¡°I want to try that. Dancing in a Teletubby costume.¡± ¡°There are four of them.¡± ¡°Oh. I¡¯ll do the vacuum cleaner.¡± The room erupted inughter as he made an elephant trunk with his hands and made a ¡®shoosh¡¯ sound. Ah. Really. Woojoo tried not tough out of pride, but he ended upughing and making a sniffling sound for a long time. ¡°Then what about Bijoo?¡± ¡°I want to try switching parts and singing? Something like that.¡± ¡°As expected, our Bijoo is the best.¡± ¡°I wanted to see you rap.¡± ¡°I¡¯ll cancel that.¡± Woojoo didn¡¯t know why the fans were disappointed. Actually, when he was auditioning for TJ, he was going to tell them that he was picked for rapping, but he kept his mouth shut because he thought they would make a big deal. The rap he did then, it raised his empathy level just by listening. ¡°Myeongdong free hug, singing in a female key, wearing a mascot costume, switching parts and singing. A lot of different things came out. What should we do? How about we decide by voting like democratic citizens? Please raise your hand for a free hug.¡± When he summed up the results, the mascot costume and switching parts and singing were tied for first ce, and the free hug wasst. Even the members voted, but they only voted for their own things, so the result was half and half. The decision was now up to Woojoo. Woojoo was going to choose the safe option of switching parts and singing, but he changed his direction drastically when he saw Bijoo¡¯s eyes sparkle. ¡°I¡¯ll choose the mascot costume.¡± ¡°Huh, why?¡± ¡°It¡¯s because of you. You.¡± Woojoo poked Bijoo yfully and said to the fans, ¡°But we might have trouble with the characters because of the copyright. If we can, we¡¯ll think about something else that¡¯s cute. Until then, please keep looking forward to it.¡± Well. He didn¡¯t know when that day woulde. As he got the signal to wrap up the schedule and ask thest question, Woojoo smiled and said to the fans, ¡°Now there¡¯s onest question left. This time, I¡¯m going to choose. There was one thing that caught my eye earlier.¡± It was the post-it he found while wondering how to end the fan signing event. ¡ªQ. What does a fan mean to New ck? The atmosphere that wasughing until a moment ago became quiet. ¡°I¡¯m sure this is a question that many of you, including those who came here today, are curious about.¡± All rtionships were basically insecure. You knew your own feelings, but you didn¡¯t know what the other person felt. That was why fans were always anxious. I like you guys so much, and I support you from behind, but do they just see us as a money source, or a nuisance that follows them around? They already showed them once with a VCR that it wasn¡¯t like that, but he wanted to tell them again with his own mouth as he wrapped up. ¡°I don¡¯t think there¡¯s a clear definition of the rtionship between idols and fans. There are different thoughts for every 100 people. So what I¡¯m saying right now is just one of those thoughts.¡± Woojoo grabbed the microphone and looked at the serious eyes. ¡°Sometimes we joke among ourselves that we¡¯re not a five-member group, but a seven-member group. What that means is that we can¡¯t do anything by ourselves. We only know how to sing and dance, we really don¡¯t know how to do anything else. Do we know how to schedule, drive, or have a sense of fashion? If it weren¡¯t for thepany staff who help us in every way, we wouldn¡¯t have been able to do anything.¡± It was a talk for the fans, but somehow the staff were also focused. ¡°And the other spot is the spot for the fans, I think. Just like the staff who help us, we can¡¯t achieve anything without the fans. Really.¡± Thepany made the process, such as albums or fan signing events, but the fans made the results. Music show first ce. Who made that, the fans made it. ¡°Every time I see our members, I feel grateful, and every time I see you, I think of you as a reliable and thankful teammate. That¡¯s what we¡¯ve wanted to tell you since before.¡± Woojoo finished with a plea. ¡°It¡¯s okay if you don¡¯t cheer for us up close. It¡¯s okay from afar, too. I just hope you cheer for us with afortable mind. If you look at us like that, we¡¯ll work hard without looking away and show you a good side. Yes, that¡¯s it. This has been New ck. Thank you.¡± ¡°Thank you!¡± New ck all bowed and greeted them. But somehow there was no reply. As Woojoo looked at the silent audience with an anxious expression. ¡°¡­¡± Just when he was wondering if he had said something wrong. A very hot reaction started toe back. Much more than he expected. *** A few dayster. ¡°Guys! Guys!¡± ¡°Why again?¡± ¡°We got that announcement!¡± ¡°What?¡± ¡°You know, they said they were going to vote for the fan club name! That ended today. They just said the results came out.¡± ¡°Oh, really? What is it?¡± ¡°I don¡¯t know! I haven¡¯t seen it yet because I wanted to see it with you guys.¡± ¡°Let¡¯s go in and see. What it turned out to be.¡± The members gathered in front of the smartphone with a fluttering feeling. ¡°Wow, I¡¯m really nervous.¡± ¡°Me too, I¡¯m so nervous. What do we do, we have a name now.¡± ¡°That¡¯s right. It¡¯s a good thing we didn¡¯t even peek at the fan cafe. We really don¡¯t know what it¡¯s going to be.¡± ¡°Right. I feel like I¡¯m opening a random box in a game right now.¡± ¡°How do you feel, Woojoo Hyung?¡± ¡°I¡¯m so nervous. We¡¯re going to have a name to call our fans from now on. Our whoevers, like this.¡± ¡°Yeah.¡± ¡°Oh! Here it is, the result!¡± When they clicked on the post in the announcement, the voting results came out. And. ¡°¡­¡± Everyone looked at one person¡¯s face. [New ck Official Fan Club Name Vote!! +It will run for 3 days, so please participate] -Final results view 1st ce: Souffl¨¦ (85.2%) 2nd ce: Teammate (11.8%) 3rd ce: Tablet (2.9%) 4th ce: New Pink (0.1%) -The fandom name is confirmed as Souffl¨¦~~^^!! ¡°¡­¡± Silence flowed for 3 seconds. Then someone¡¯s voice, denying reality, began to echo in the practice room. Chapter 70: Chapter 70: Trantor: MarcTempest Editor: Rxel Chapter 70 The Butterfly Effect There was a saying called the butterfly effect. It meant that somewhere on Earth, a butterfly¡¯s wing p could cause a huge result like a typhoon. In other words, a very trivial thing could turn into a huge thing. Just like right now. ¡°I think of this poem.¡±Junghyun, who was reciting a poem in front of the self-cam. ¡°Before I called his name, he was nothing but a gesture. When I called his name, he came to me and became a flower. That name.¡± ¡°Sou.¡± ¡°Ffl¨¦.¡± His younger brothersughed, and Woojoo made a detached expression. When the youngest one pointed the self-cam at Woojoo, he said, ¡°Hyung, smile a little.¡± ¡°I¡¯m smiling.¡± ¡°You look so sad right now. It¡¯s a historic moment when the fans¡¯ name is decided, so why are you so gloomy?¡± Should he get rid of it, that thing? If there was no camera, he would have removed it right away. ¡°That¡¯s right. It¡¯s a really meaningful thing.¡± ¡°Bijoo, you too.¡± ¡°Ahjussi, don¡¯t nag Bijoo Hyung and rx your face.¡± ¡°You look better when you smile, Hyung.¡± They said one thing after another to tease Woojoo, and the staff in the waiting room were holding back theirughter. The makeup teachers and the manager hyung too. Woojoo smiled bitterly and smiled warmly at the camera that the youngest one was holding. ¡°Hello. I¡¯m Woojoo, the former member of New ck.¡± The younger onesughed again. ¡°Of course, it¡¯s a joke. I think of the butterfly effect. Who would have thought that my mistake woulde back like this? At first, I was very miserable and ashamed when I saw the voting results, but now I¡¯m epting it with gratitude.¡± ¡°Your expression doesn¡¯t say that at all?¡± ¡°Well, just be quiet while I¡¯m talking. Rihyuk.¡± They giggled among themselves, saying, ¡®Woojoo Hyung was really hurt.¡¯ ¡°Actually, it doesn¡¯t matter what the name is, isn¡¯t it a happy thing that we have a name to call our fans? Now, every time I see our fans, I think of calling them ¡®our Souffl¨¦¡¯, and I feel like crying in many ways.¡± ¡°Of course you would cry.¡± ¡°¡­¡± ¡°Don¡¯t mind what Rihyuk Hyung says and keep going. Hyung.¡± ¡°Yes. I¡¯m really happy that we have a name to call you. Tomemorate that, shall we all say hello to our Souffl¨¦ together?¡± They gathered together and waved their hands vigorously toward the camera, saying, ¡®We love you, Souffl¨¦!¡¯ And after saying goodbye. Woojoo turned off the camera and smiled at the members. ¡°Let¡¯s talk for a moment, you guys.¡± Woojoo chased after the younger ones who ran to the corner of the waiting room, and he became a beast. *** Meanwhile, at that time. On the idolmunity ¡®Green Room¡¯ board, someone had posted a carefully written article. [The butterfly effect caused by a rookie male idol¡¯s slip of the tongue.hyogwa] The subject is the rookie New ck who debuted this year!! The fandom name was decided today and I wrote a post because I was excited?? (Official SNS photo capture) The fandom name that was decided this time is ¡®Souffl¨¦¡¯, which is bread. I looked it up and it¡¯s a French dessert. (Photo) ¡ªDoesn¡¯t it look delicious? I¡¯ve never tried it either Anyway, you might wonder why the fandom name is a bread name?? But there is a story behind it. In February of this year, when New ck won their first ce with Jang Sowon on Something, Woojoo, the leader, made a slip of the tongue in the Music On speech??? (Video) ¡ªFrom 1 minute and 10 seconds ¡®Our Souffl¨¦¡­¡¯ Those who saw it at the time will remember?? The TNT Taehyun¡¯s explosive reaction capture that is sometimes used as ament is from that time (Capture collection 1,2,3,4) ¡ªThe younger ones who are having fun and the eldest brother who is suffering This is a scene that often appears in their own reality show, but the kids tease Woojoo all the time with that???? I heard that there was a fandom name contest recently. Maybe Kyuho was conscious of the scandal that happenedst year when they chose Curtain as their fandom name? There were many opinions on what to do, but after the first private fan signing event on Sunday, the public opinion shifted drastically. (Video) -How the members prepared gifts for the fan signing event (Video) -From 8 minutes and 13 seconds. You have to watch this if you are a fan! There are a lot of touching words. Anyway, after these two videos were uploaded, the fan cafe was buzzing with reactions. Everyone was lightly supporting them, but then they felt more passionate. So when the fandom name contest was held, they thought, we should also give them something with love, and someone came up with the perfect name. There are some other processes, but¨C The remark he made in February led to the fandom name. They will post a thank you messageter, and I¡¯m personally looking forward to their reactions. Hmm, I wrote it so grandly, but the ending is a bit weak;; I¡¯ll post some pictures of them as I finish the post!! I hope you like them!! (New ck pictorial collection) [Comments: 3] -I had a feeling it was them ?? -You wrote a good sales pitch ??? -They look prettier every time I see them At first, there were a fewments, but then the post was pushed back by other posts and the page turned, and the interest in the post was cut off. It was a typical reaction to a sales pitch for a rookie idol group. The writer who posted it also checked the reactions and closed their phone with a gloomy face after a while. Meanwhile, The number of views on the post started to increase silently. *** In the car moving to the event hall after the music show. ¡°Wow, what a surprise.¡± Woojoo was shocked when he entered the fan cafe as usual. Bijoo, who was listening to music with earphones next to Woojoo, turned his head. ¡°What¡¯s wrong, Hyung?¡± ¡°The number of members in the fan cafe has increased a lot.¡± ¡°Really?¡± Woojoo showed him his phone screen and his eyes widened. ¡°Really?¡± ¡°What¡¯s going on? It suddenly jumped up.¡± When was thest time this happened? It was when the number of members went from 200 to 800 after the Music Cafe broadcast. Now the increase was even bigger. ¡°Wow. My heart is pounding, man.¡± ¡°Hyung. Calm down.¡± Bijoo plugged one of his earphones into Woojoo¡¯s ear. A calm R&B music flowed out. But the scene in the car was quite different from the calm music. It looked like a scene from aic. The two youngest members in the back seat had their eyes wide open as if they were about to pop out. ¡°What are you guys doing?¡± ¡°It¡¯s the YouTube views. They¡¯re huge.¡± ¡°Really?¡± It was true when he checked. What was this? They were caught off guard by the sudden phenomenon, and even Seokhwan Hyung in the passenger seat joined the search. They soon found out the cause. There was a post about the fan signing event on the idolmunity ¡®Green Room¡¯. It was a sales pitch written by their Souffl¨¦. The post had over 200ments and over 10,000 views. And for the first time, thement section, which was usually half and half for rookies, was full ofpliments. -Oh, it¡¯s our kids, roomies, please look at them nicely!! -I saw their remarks and they¡¯re really good -They speak so nicely ??? -It¡¯s the charm that only rookies can have?? They can¡¯t do that when they get older -They must have been well trained by thepany. They have to know that fans are precious to survive in this industry -I was always a bit ambivalent when their posts came up, but I became a bit of a fan after seeing this. *** Woojoo scrolled down thements, wondering if there would be any hate, but there was none. He still felt nervous, though. The fansign was on Sunday, but why did it be a hot topic now? On Monday, when the fansign video was uploaded on thepany¡¯s YouTube channel, it was rather quiet. But now, after the fandom name was decided, it felt like a fire had been lit. Woojoo didn¡¯t expect this at all¡­ He was happy, but also a bit flustered. Until now, the stage had always been the main thing, no matter what kind of issue there was. Something¡¯s debut stage, the stage that they showed at the Music Cafe, and the most recent one, the Night Sea stage. Even if there was a brief issue, in the end, it was always the song or the stage that got the attention. This was the first time that something other than their main job became an issue. Wait, was he a celebrity now? Was fan service also part of his job? As he was thinking that, a face that looked like a rice cake popped out between him and Bijoo. ¡°Hyungs, I think I know the reason now.¡± ¡°What is it?¡± ¡°Jiho, put on your seat belt.¡± At Bijoo¡¯s scolding, Jiho clicked his seat belt back on. But his face was flushed red. He looked like a very excited puppy tied to a leash. ¡°The digital chart ranking has been the same since Sunday, right? The A&R team leader said it would go down.¡± ¡°Oh.¡± ¡°Don¡¯t you think our fans are working hard after the fansign?¡± ¡°That could be possible.¡± It sounded usible, even though it was just a guess. The digital chart ranking had been weird since Monday. Last week, at the meeting, the team leader showed them the expected chart trend and said it would drop, but the actual chart was different. [31st. New ck ¨C Fireworks] Fireworks had stayed in the 30s and slowly climbed up to 31st, and then it didn¡¯t go down. It was like that until today, Friday. It was stuck there. Soon, they would be pushed back by groups like Daydream, who had a strong fandom, but it was still an iprehensible phenomenon. Yesterday, too, the staff members at the A&R office looked at the trend as if they couldn¡¯t understand it and asked him, ¡°Woojoo, did anything happen on Sunday or Monday?¡± Junghyun, who was looking at his phone, said, ¡°What if we be the first-ce candidate?¡± ¡°Hey, don¡¯t count your chickens before they hatch.¡± ¡°Why are you like that, Hyung? Nothing is impossible. Right?¡± They were in a good mood, humming ¡°A world where anything is possible~¡± and looking at Woojoo, Rihyuk stuck out his tongue. ¡°Is it that easy to get first ce?¡± ¡°Don¡¯t be so negative. Just let them be happy, Rihyuk.¡± ¡°Well, fine.¡± Rihyuk muttered as if he was grumbling at his words. ¡°He¡¯s probably worried that we¡¯ll be disappointed if we get our hopes up. We¡¯re almost done with our activities.¡± Well, it was almost time to end. ¡°Seokhwan Hyung, when is ourst music show next week?¡± ¡°It¡¯s on Wednesday.¡± The man who had been texting with thepany because of the fan cafe membership increase, answered dryly. Bijoo said to Woojoo, ¡°It¡¯s only a few days left, Hyung.¡± ¡°I know. Why is time so fast?¡± He lost his appetite. ¡°It feels like we just did our debut showcase yesterday, and now we¡¯re ending our activities. It feels so sad.¡± ¡°Me too. I feel like we can do more.¡± ¡°We did enough, right?¡± Rihyuk, who was in the back seat, joined in. ¡°We worked really hard, right? And the results are really good too.¡± ¡°Rihyuk, seat belt.¡± This time, Woojoo pointed out and Rihyuk pointed his finger forward. ¡°We¡¯re here.¡± Woojoo turned his head and saw the venue where they would perform today. *** Woojoo was in a good mood, since it was a rare event for them. He liked the smell of grass and the sound of insects that he couldn¡¯t experience in the city. ¡°Ah! A moth!¡± Rihyuk was startled and hid behind Woojoo, while Junghyun casually caught the moth with his hand. He only grabbed its wing. ¡°Don¡¯t worry, Rihyuk. I got it.¡± ¡°Ah! Get rid of it! Hurry!¡± ¡°Rihyuk Hyung, calm down, ah! Junghyun Hyung! Get it away from me! Ah, my eyes, it hurts!¡± The two younger brothers were making a fuss, and Junghyun looked embarrassed. He went to a nearby bush and let the moth go. ¡°Take care,¡± he said. He looked like a trainer who released a Pokemon. ¡°I can¡¯t live because of them.¡± Bijoo smiled sympathetically. They followed Seokhwan Hyung to the back of the outdoor concert hall, after parking the car. There were tents everywhere. They were probably the singers¡¯ waiting rooms. They walked past the metal frames set up outside, and the busy staff members, and got a rough idea of the stage. They would have a rehearsalter, but they wanted to avoid any mistakes. ¡°It¡¯s bigger than I thought.¡± The event today was a regional festival in Icheon, Gyeonggi-do, with the theme of summer night. The size of the seats was not huge, but the stage was decent. It was much better than the event where they had to sing Fireworks awkwardly after the trot singers finished, in front of a crowd of elders. ¡°I¡¯ll talk to the event agency staff for a while, so you guys go to the waiting room with Minki.¡± ¡°Okay.¡± They headed to the tent that was set up far away, like a waiting room. As they felt the hot July air and the sound of insects on their bodies, reminding them that this was not a city, the youngest asked a question. ¡°Hyung. Who¡¯sing today?¡± ¡°Um¡­¡± Who was it? Woojoo knew that there were about ten teams that would be on stage today. There were some who yed traditional music or instruments, and some trot singers. And among them, there were about five idol groups. ¡°Street Boys, us, and who else? I don¡¯t know much except for Teen Spirit sunbaenims.¡± Anyway, today¡¯s event was like ¡®Teen Spirit + alpha¡¯. Teen Spirit. They were one of the best boy groups after TNT. They were a pretty boy group from MOP Entertainment, which focused on visuals. They met them in February when they were doing music shows. Well. They didn¡¯t leave a good impression. Their words were rough, unlike their beautiful appearance. When Woojoo talked to them a few times, he felt that God bnced their speech when he gave them such looks. But wasn¡¯t it too much to call Teen Spirit? The event scale didn¡¯t seem to be enough to call Teen Spirit. Maybe that was why New ck was hired. If they had distributed it properly, they would have filled the lineup with some idol groups with name value. But they spent all their money on Teen Spirit, and hired some rookies with the little money left. But it wasn¡¯t a bad choice. From the perspective of the event¡¯s sess, Teen Spirit¡¯s fans were already waiting in the seats from far away. Woojoo had to warn the kids to be careful with their words before going on stage. Since Teen Spirit¡¯s concept target was mainly teenagers, their fandom was quite prickly, both in age and personality. Woojoo looked around the brothers to talk, but one was missing. ¡°Hey, wait a minute. Where¡¯s Junghyun?¡± He looked around for the missing kid, and saw Junghyun standing still in the distance. They approached him. ¡°Junghyun, what are you doing there?¡± ¡°¡­¡± Junghyun frowned and looked at the sky. What was there? Woojoo looked up at the sky, but there was nothing special. It was a clear sky. Except for the faint sunset that was fading away, there was nothing remarkable to note. They were six people lying on the ground, looking at the sky. The staff who passed by them wondered what was going on and nced at the sky briefly, only to disappear with a ¡®hey, what¡¯s that¡¯ expression. Woojoo spoke to the statue-like figure who was still frowning. ¡°Junghyun.¡± ¡°¡­¡± Before he could ask again. ¡°Hyung.¡± Junghyun lowered his head and said to Woojoo, ¡°It looks like it¡¯s going to rain a lotter.¡± Chapter 71: Chapter 71: Trantor: MarcTempest Editor: Rxel Chapter 71 ¡°Is it going to rain?¡± ¡°Yes.¡± Junghyun scratched his cheek as he exined. ¡°I¡¯ve lived in the countryside since I was young, and I heard a lot of weather talk from the adults who went to the fields. I also experienced it myself.¡± ¡°Then?¡± ¡°The smell of the air is also a bit strange. And the wind is blowing a bit¡­¡±He moved his big hand around as if he wanted to exin something, but he seemed frustrated that he couldn¡¯t find the right words. ¡°It¡¯s like that feeling you get before it pours down. You know, that kind of thing.¡± ¡°Rihyuk, didn¡¯t you check the weather earlier?¡± ¡°I did.¡± Rihyuk tapped his phone and showed Woojoo the screen. ¡°Look here. It says ¡®clear¡¯ for today¡¯s weather. And there¡¯s no mention of rain for the next few days.¡± ¡°Isn¡¯t it because of the typhoon? They say there¡¯s a typhooning.¡± ¡°That won¡¯te for a few more days.¡± It would take at least another day or two for the typhoon that wasing to reach the southern region. So this ce, which was in the central region, was far from the influence of the typhoon. And the weather bureau said it wouldn¡¯t rain. Well, Woojoo honestly didn¡¯t trust the weather bureau, but it was hard to see it raining when he looked at the clear sky in front of him. The problem was the weight of Junghyun¡¯s words. He was always saying silly things, but when he was serious, he was the one who made the most urate statements. When Woojoo was wondering if he should go to the Music Cafe and talk about his dad, or when he spoke sincerely to the fans before the fan signing event. Of course, this weather forecast was a different matter, but most of the stories that Junghyun told seriously were worth listening to. That was why they all frowned. ¡°Minki Hyung, don¡¯t you think we should tell them if it¡¯s really going to rain like Junghyun said?¡± ¡°I don¡¯t know. That¡¯s a bit¡­¡± Minki Hyung scratched the back of his head with a troubled expression. Of course. How could they go to the organizers and say, ¡®The weather is clear and the forecast is good, but our kid says it¡¯s going to rain.¡¯ ¡°Let me go and talk to the manager first. You guys go ahead and get in,¡± Minki Hyung added as he walked toward Yoon Seokhwan. ¡°It¡¯s a big deal if it rains a lot.¡± He was right. Rain was a very fatal factor for outdoor events. Especially for singers. Even bad singers who didn¡¯t move much couldn¡¯t perform their best because of the rain, let alone idols who had breathless choreography as a basic. To think that they had to roll their feet on that wet stage¡­ Ugh. It was dizzying just to imagine it. Woojoo was worried as he recalled the videos of idol singers falling that were circting on the inte. ¡°Can we trust this, Junghyun Hyung?¡± Rihyuk asked again as if to confirm. ¡°I can¡¯t say for sure, but I have a strong feeling.¡± ¡°Ah, what is this? Is it really going to rain?¡± ¡°But don¡¯t worry too much. We have a good hunch.¡± ¡°Hyung, we agreed not to use that word.¡± ¡°No. The jinx was broken because of Woojoo Hyung.¡± ¡°Didn¡¯t the sound system break down suddenly when you made that jokest time?¡± He shook his head and looked at Woojoo with his innocent eyes, as if asking for help. ¡°Junghyun is right. There¡¯s no such thing as superstition in this world.¡± No one agreed with him. As Junghyun and Woojoo walked with sad shoulders, the little ones ahead of them started to have a worried conversation. Of course, Woojoo was worried too. But it didn¡¯t feel real. Because the sky was very clear right now. Woojoo couldn¡¯t believe it, so he had to ask him again. ¡°Junghyun, can you feel it when it rains?¡± ¡°No. It¡¯s not like that. Sometimes the weather bureau says it won¡¯t rain, and the day is clear, but the adults who go to the greenhouse say, ¡®Junghyun, cover the pile over there today.¡¯ And on those days, it always rains¡­¡± ¡°Really?¡± ¡°Yes. Today is a bit simr to those days.¡± Was it really going to rain? It was when Woojoo tilted his head while looking at the sky dyed red by the sunset. "Hyung. But¡­" "Yeah." "Did I say something weird? Everyone is worried, and it seems like Minki Hyung got in trouble with the manager because of me¡­" He scratched the back of his head with aplicated expression. He seemed quite bothered. He didn''t mean much by what he said, but everyone overreacted because the event wasing up. Unlike his calm face, his eyes showed a whirlwind of emotions. Woojoo was wondering what to say to him when a serious voice called him again. "Hyung." "Hmm?" "I said all that¡­" Said what? "What if it doesn''t rain?" Woojoo couldn''t help butugh at that moment. He felt a sudden relief. On one hand, he was d. This was Kim Junghyun for you. He tilted his head as if he didn''t understand the context. ¡®What''s wrong with that?'' Woojoo tapped his shoulder andughed. "What do you mean, what if? It''s good if it doesn''t rain, dummy." * * * But that actually happened. "¡­" They came out again after the rehearsal and stared nkly at the sky. They weren''t the only ones. The other singers and performance teams were also looking at the sky. "This doesn''t look good." As someone muttered, the sky was not normal. Dark clouds were gathering from the far west against the dark blue sky. The ck clouds slowly marched over the wide field, making them swallow their saliva. Soon, the worried voices of the performers filled the venue. "Hey. Do you think the equipment will be okay?" "What do we do, Unnie? Don''t we have to change our choreography?" "What''s our order? I think we should ask them to move it up." The rock band was worried about their expensive equipment getting wet, and the boy groups and girl groups were discussing the choreography changes. The most worried ones were the folk music team. They all looked serious, imagining jumping and tumbling on the slippery floor. As the worry spread like wildfire, the staff on the scene were out of their minds because of the fire on their feet. "Hey, maknae! Is this all the waterproof cloth we have left?" "Bring some more cable ties and tidy up the wires here! I have to do everything myself¡­ Hey, hey! How are you going to set up the tent there, you idiot!" "Pump! I''m going to install the drainage pump now!" Under the wless direction of the general director who was in charge of the event, the staff ran around in all directions. The more Woojoo looked, the more amazing it was. Sometimes on TV, they showed the construction site and fast-forward the scene of the building going up. It was simr to that. When Woojoo blinked, there was a tent set up there. When he blinked again, the waterproof cloth was neatly covered. He didn''t have to worry. Seeing the staff checking the curtain on the stage and every corner, he felt less worried about the external factors of the stage. On the other hand. Unlike the other teams who were raising their voices over the choreography or costume issues, or the staff who were running around frantically, they were rtively calm. "You all understood the choreography we changed earlier, right? Like this. Don''t rotate your feet as usual, but shake them off like this." They all nodded to Bijoo, who showed them the footwork as an assistant. They practiced a few more times to confirm. "Bijoo Hyung, it''s not that I can''t do it. But this movement seems a bit weird." It was obvious to anyone that he was the weird one, and he was the only one who couldn''t do it, but Bijoo didn''t say anything and gave Rihyuk a one-on-one lesson. Meanwhile, the rest of them stretched and loosened their bodies. "Wow, we really owe it to Junghyun Hyung. We''re lucky we knew it was going to rain, otherwise we would have been fighting like crazy." "Junghyun did a big thing." The reason they were rtively rxed was thanks to the human weather station next to them. An hour ago, after finishing the talk with the event agency, Yoon Seokhwan came back and suggested changing the choreography after thinking for a while. Woojoo was already worried about the members getting hurt, so he agreed with them wholeheartedly. They called the choreographer and changed a few slippery moves over video chat. The result was sessful, except for the main vocal who struggled with the simple movements, just like Woojoo used to. Woojoo was about to thank Junghyun for his suggestion. ¡°Junghyun.¡± ¡°¡­Yes?¡± ¡°What are you looking at?¡± He was staring at something again, making his heart sink. Woojoo wondered what it was this time. It wouldn¡¯t be strange if he said, ¡®I think a wild boar wille outter.¡¯ Was it just his imagination that he seemed a bit odd? He said it was nothing. ¡°Over there, the staff seems to be doing something wrong.¡± ¡°Where?¡± ¡°The one installing the pump.¡± He pointed to the youngest staff who was setting up a drainage pump in the corner of the concert hall. ¡°I¡¯ve seen adults use that thing, and they have to make it more vertical¡­¡± He exined in a low voice, and Jiho and Woojoo looked at each other. Their kid sometimes seemed strange, to say the least. Jiho whispered in Woojoo¡¯s ear, ¡®He¡¯s a weird Hyung.¡¯ Woojoo chuckled, and he suddenly realized something and blew into his ear again. ¡°Come to think of it, you¡¯re weirder, Hyung.¡± He always did that. Woojoo rolled his eyes at him, and then Bijoo and Rihyuk joined them after their rehearsal. ¡°How was the rehearsal?¡± ¡°It was good, there were some regrets, but Rihyuk followed me well. It¡¯ll be fine on stage.¡± ¡°¡­I¡¯ll just think it¡¯s fate if I fall.¡± Bijoo tried to put a positive spin on it, but Rihyuk¡¯s troubled face said it all. Woojoo didn¡¯t try tofort him, fearing it would backfire. Bijoo changed the subject with a smile. ¡°When is our rehearsal?¡± ¡°They said they¡¯ll start soon. They¡¯re checking the curtain instation. I heard the order might change a bit too.¡± ¡°By the way, Hyungs. The event is starting soon.¡± The youngest, who was looking around, asked curiously, ¡°Don¡¯t you see Teen Spirit sunbae-nims?¡± ¡°Well, they¡¯lle right after their other event. We did that too when we were Something.¡± They probably had three or four events a day at that level. It was amon thing. They chatted with the younger ones like that. Vroom- A thunder-like sound echoed from the dark clouds. The sudden silence. As everyone on the scene froze, swallowing their saliva at the meaning of that sound. He felt suffocated. ¡°Hey, guys.¡± Woojoo said to the eyes that looked at him nkly, ¡°Why do you always stick to me?¡± *** 8 p.m. The 2014 Moonlight Festival, hosted by Icheon City, Gyeonggi Province, finally began. A skilled announcer led the event, and cameras from the broadcasting stations were scattered around. They mostly had marks like ¡®PBS Gyeonggi¡¯ or ¡®Gyeonggi TV¡¯. It seemed to be a bigger event than Woojoo thought. Especially under the tent that looked like a VIP seat, the mayor and his wife and the staff were seated. It was a big event, and the seats were full of people, even though it was drizzling. There were many families who came out for a pic, and many elders. There were also many young faces, but most of them wore masks or heldrge cameras, the unmistakable signs of idol fans. They were probably Teen Spirit fans with a high probability. Soon the performance began. The first order was the folk y team, which was originally thest. The sound of janggu, drum, and gong. The lively sound flowed and the audience¡¯s reaction was good. After that, various performances followed. There were idols, bands, and dance teams. -Wow! But the person who received the loudest cheers from the audience was a young trot singer. His name was Song Bohyung, Woojoo thought. He was a senior singer whose name he didn¡¯t recognize, but he got the best response from the middle-aged and elderly audience today. Of course, he also did a great job of leading the mood. -Ladies! Give me a p! p p p, gentlemen too! p p p! Okay, then let¡¯s go! His rich voice flowed along with the upbeat trot intro. Every time, the audience erupted in apuse and cheers. Maybe it was because of that enthusiastic reaction, but the Street Boys, who were next after them, looked troubled as they waited. They kept ncing at New ck, and Woojoo wondered why, but soon he realized the reason and smirked. That was right. They beat them with trot at the end-of-year evaluation. They seemed to be reminded of that trauma, and Hanjo was busyforting the demoralized members. They exchanged light eye greetings as their eyes met. New ck also warmed up their bodies and prepared to go on stage, when a camera appeared somewhere. It was a local broadcasting station called Gyeonggi TV. Woojoo answered sincerely to the reporter¡¯s question about how he felt before the performance, and he calmly waited for the stage. He hoped nothing would go wrong today. *** ¡°The rain is getting worse.¡± The raindrops started to get thicker as Street Boys went on stage, and now it was pouring. Yoon Seokhwan looked at the stage with a worried eye. Seo Minki, who was holding an umbre next to him, asked, ¡°Are you very worried?¡± He nodded. He had told them to be careful, since their bodies were their assets, but he was also concerned as a guardian who looked after the young kids. -Hello, we are New ck! New ck greeted the audience as they went on stage. The reaction was perfunctory. The appropriate and polite apuse that new groups received when they came to events. The stage of Fireworks started right away. And when they reached the chorus part, Seo Minki let out a sigh of detion. ¡°¡­Oh!¡± Rihyuk almost slipped on the slippery floor during the choreography. ¡°Uh¡­¡± And Woojoo, who skillfully caught him. It wasn¡¯t just Rihyuk. Bijoo, the main dancer, also wobbled several times on the slippery floor that exceeded his expectations. And every time, Woojoo appeared swiftly and held him up, continuing the stage. It was natural. Anyone would think it was the original choreography. Yoon Seokhwan smiled as he watched him smile brightly, not caring about his wet clothes in the rain. ¡®Well done.¡¯ He still wondered how he became so good at using his body without losing his bnce. But the fact that he, who used to be a klutz, was now leading the members skillfully, made him feel very proud. He had watched him since he was in elementary school. It was when he looked at him with a warm eye, not as a manager looking at a member, but as a brother looking at a younger sibling. ¡®¡­What¡¯s going on?¡¯ He saw the staff of the agency talking in serious voices behind the venue. Seo Minki came back soon and told him the situation. ¡°Manager, it¡¯s about Teen Spirit. They¡¯re next after us.¡± ¡°Oh, they were almost here.¡± ¡°That¡¯s¡­¡± The road manager bit his lip with a troubled face. ¡°They had a fender bender on the wet road.¡± ¡°What?¡± He had just relieved that there was no ident, but now there was a problem outside the stage. Chapter 72: Chapter 72: Trantor: MarcTempest Editor: Rxel Chapter 72 ¡°A car ident?¡± Yoon Seokhwan adjusted his sses and asked, ¡°What do you mean?¡± ¡°There was a collision with a truck at the nearby intersection.¡± ¡°What about the people there? Are they hurt?¡± ¡°No, it¡¯s just a minor scratch on the vehicles, but the other party is making a big fuss and holding their necks.¡± ¡°¡­That¡¯s unlucky.¡± Yoon Seokhwan clicked his tongue.He didn¡¯t need to say it, he could imagine it. It was something that happened often when dealing with celebrities. But he had no time to sympathize with the manager on the scene. ¡°This is trouble.¡± The fans had to drive all the way to the market, and there were waiting audiences everywhere, and the star singer who would decorate the finale might not be able toe. The situation was not good. He was calcting whether there would be any bacsh on New ck, when the team leader from the event agency came running with a desperate face. ¡°Si, sir! Mr. Yoon!¡± He was so urgent that he ran without an umbre, and the team leader gasped for breath. ¡°You must have heard roughly what¡¯s going on, but right now Teen Spirit is in contact¡­¡± ¡°Yes, I heard they can¡¯te because of the ident.¡± ¡°I just finished talking to the manager on the scene, and we¡¯ve located them, so we¡¯ve arranged for a vehicle. It¡¯ll probably take about 40 minutes, though¡­¡± Yoon Seokhwan¡¯s eyes narrowed. He guessed why the other person had spoken. In two minutes, New ck woulde down, and next was the turn of the rookie girl group Blink. Even if they stretched their repertoire, it would be 10 minutes. That was, another 30 minutes until Teen Spirit arrived. The team leader from the event agency said with a frantic face, ¡°I¡¯m sorry, but can I ask you a favor? We¡¯re in a situation where the fire is on our feet, so¡­¡± ¡°Did you ask Blink?¡± ¡°They want to help, but this is their first album activity, so they don¡¯t have any repertoire to perform.¡± ¡°What about the other singers?¡± ¡°They¡¯re all gone, and right now there¡¯s no one but New ck. Some of them have already entered the tollgate. I¡¯ve asked Song BoHyung toe as soon as possible, but he said it would take at least 30 minutes¡­¡± So they wanted New ck to help somehow. It was tricky. If it was normal, he would have thought about it positively, but today the situation wasplicated. First of all, the rain. The kids were already soaked and sticky, and if they stood up more, they might catch a cold and affect their future schedule. And the audienceposition was also the worst. The middle-aged and elderly groups who were not friendly to idols, and the Teen Spirit fans who were waiting for their singers in the unpleasant weather. It was a situation where they could get scolded for doing a good deed. But they couldn¡¯t easily refuse either. In a situation where the only remaining singer was them, and they had to face the other party often, it was not easy to reject their request bluntly. If they had enough benefits to outweigh the disadvantages, he might have considered it. The team leader from the event agency seemed to sense his hesitation and quickly added, ¡°If you help us with this, we¡¯ll take good care of you. New ck will also get a lot of events, and we¡¯ll solve this problem well. Let¡¯s be good to each other. I¡¯ll arrange a seat for you soon, so please help us with this¡­¡± ¡°I understand.¡± ¡°Yes?¡± ¡°I¡¯ll talk to the members once.¡± ¡°Thank you!¡± ¡°But, I can¡¯t guarantee anything. It¡¯s not a matter that I can decide on my own. ording to thepany policy, if the artists refuse, I can¡¯t do anything either.¡± ¡°That¡¯s still better than nothing!¡± The team leader, who seemed to be worried that he might change his mind, thanked him profusely. Finally, the stage was over and the five members came down with flushed faces. Yoon Seokhwan exined the situation briefly. They all had the same thoughts, and as the story went on, they showed expressions of pity, confusion, and embarrassment. ¡°What do you think?¡± The members, who had been looking confused for a moment, turned their heads to one person. And. That one person was deep in thought right now. *** Woojoo was flustered. He barely managed to catch the kids who fell on the stage, and endured the rain that poured into his in-ear monitor as they finished the event. But now they wanted them to fill in for the stage. Woojoo made an awkward expression and Seokhwan Hyung nodded his head as if he understood. Woojoo was about to ask for his opinion, but it seemed like he had the same thought as him. This was a curse. Woojoo didn¡¯t want to do it, but he couldn¡¯t refuse. Woojoo spoke to the event staff who had been looking at him with a burdened gaze. ¡°Are you the team leader?¡± ¡°Yes.¡± ¡°How long do we have to fill in for?¡± ¡°Until Song Bohyunges as a substitute, it should be around 15 minutes.¡± 15 minutes. ¡°The MC will cover about 5 minutes with her speech,¡± he said hastily. It was too polite to face a rookie singer who only released one album. That meant the situation was urgent. Woojoo looked at the anxious faces of his siblings and quickly checked their opinions. ¡°How about you guys? Any thoughts?¡± The four of them exchanged nces and Bijoo stepped up as the representative. ¡°I don¡¯t know how many songs we can do, but I think it would be better to help if we can. It¡¯s not bad to get wet again when we¡¯re already soaked, right?¡± It was a difficult situation to reject, so they decided to ept it nicely. Woojoo felt the same way. He looked at the event staff and opened his mouth. ¡°We¡¯ll try to go on stage for now.¡± ¡°Thank you! Really!¡± The event team leader grabbed Woojoo¡¯s hand and ran out into the rain like crazy. He seemed too happy. Woojoo felt a bitter feeling from the warmth left in his hand, but it was only for a moment. He was in the dark. It was like giving money to an old man who put out a can on the street and then running out of money to go home. What should they do? They had to fill in for 10 minutes. A song usually took 3 minutes, so that was three songs. They could stretch the speech to two songs, but then they would have to cover 8 minutes out of 15 with the speech. Of course, if they did that, they would be disintegrated by theser beam from the audience¡¯s eyes. In the end, it was a three-song repertoire. What should they do? Woojoo had to hand over the MR right away, but he didn¡¯t even know what to sing. This was an opportunity, Woojoo. An opportunity. Woojoo vowed to make the most of this opportunity, but his mind was ahead of his head. It was because of the pressure. When was thest time he was this stressed? Maybe it was the sound ident at the debut showcase. Woojoo hoped to get some hint like he did then, but he shook his head. He had to solve this situation with his own hands. As he was wracking his brain and worrying. Thump. A handnded on his shoulder. There was only one person among the members who could raise his hand at this angle. ¡°Hyung.¡± ¡°Yeah?¡± ¡°Don¡¯t worry too much,¡± Junghyun said, looking at Woojoo. ¡°We can think together this time.¡± ¡°¡­¡± ¡°Last time at the debut showcase, you were alone, but here we have time to think together.¡± His pleasant bass tickled Woojoo¡¯s ears. ¡°So, let¡¯s think together.¡± ¡°¡­¡± This was touching. ¡°We¡¯ll do well together. And we¡¯ll fail together. Isn¡¯t that nice?¡± He was joking at the end. ¡°What are you talking about, I don¡¯t want to fail.¡± ¡°I¡¯m in.¡± ¡°Junghyun, of course it¡¯ll work out.¡± ¡°No, I meant what Woojoo Hyung said. Don¡¯t feel pressured.¡± Woojooughed at their bickering. ¡°Oh? He¡¯s smiling. Guys. Woojoo Hyung is smiling now.¡± ¡°Wow, thank goodness.¡± ¡°¡­What¡¯s with you guys? Was my face weird?¡± ¡°You looked too serious. Like you had all the troubles of the world on your shoulders. I thought the earth was going to end or something,¡± Rihyuk said casually. ¡°Let¡¯s think together like Junghyun Hyung said. We need to pick three songs for our lineup. The time we have left is¡­¡± ¡°Ten minutes, Rihyuk.¡± ¡°We better hurry then.¡± ¡°The manager just asked the staff and came back. He said we have about 20 minutes. The announcer will try to stall as much as possible, so we should think about what to sing. Hurry up and decide.¡± Twenty minutes to choose three songs for a ten-minute performance. That would be a good title for a song, Woojoo thought absurdly. His mind was nk as a sheet of paper. But he felt more rxed than before. It wasn¡¯t up to him alone. He had members to share opinions with. ¡°Let¡¯s narrow down the list then.¡± They went back in time from when they started their official broadcast activities. There weren¡¯t many songs they prepared since then. Something Between Night Sea Woojoo expected more, but that was all. ¡°That¡¯s it.¡± ¡°It¡¯s decided. Three songs.¡± ¡°No way. Between is basically a rearranged version of Something. If we do them back to back, the audience will hate it.¡± ¡°We did both at our music show, remember?¡± ¡°Hey, Wang Jihyo. There was a long talk break then.¡± Between was the obvious choice to drop. It was iparable to Something in terms of poprity. While Something was still above Fireworks on the music chart, Between was hard to find. And most importantly, they had more practice with Something for their own events. ¡°Then what do we do for thest song?¡± ¡°Like we did at the showcase, Fireworks acoustic, oh wait. We just did Fireworks and came down.¡± ¡°We have to avoid the idol color as much as possible.¡± Woojoo said, ¡°Because of the rain, the order got messed up and we had Street Boys, us, and Blink in a row. The audience age group is also higher, so they¡¯ll be bored. If we do more idol songs, the reaction won¡¯t be good either.¡± ¡°Hmm¡­¡± The younger ones were stroking their chins and thinking, when Jiho seemed to have an idea. ¡°Come to think of it, that reminds me.¡± ¡°Of what?¡± ¡°Hyung, you said at the year-end evaluation, we should consider the time and ce for the stage.¡± He was referring to the three factors Woojoo used to think about when nning a stage: time, ce, and situation. Now that he thought about it¡­ He was too anxious to remember the three elements he usually considered. Woojoo racked his brain. A dark night, a slippery floor, a bored audience of idol singers. What else? Oh. That was right. ¡°Seokhwan Hyung, who¡¯sing up next as a filler?¡± ¡°Trot singer Song Bohyung.¡± Woojoo almost shouted in surprise. He had a good idea. But there was one thing he had to check first. ¡°Minki Hyung, sorry to ask, but can you get my USB from my bag in the car?¡± ¡°USB?¡± ¡°Yes, it should be in a ck pouch. The ck box next to it, don¡¯t touch, ah, never mind. Just the USB.¡± As Mingi Hyung ran to the car to get the USB, Woojoo briefly exined his idea to the younger ones. Thankfully, they liked it. ¡°Not bad.¡± Even Rihyuk, the most demanding of them, gave a positive reaction. While Woojoo handed over the USB with the MR to the staff and gave them some simple instructions, they checked onest thing. ¡°Yes, is this Song Bohyung¡¯s manager? Oh, are you driving yourself? When are youing? Yeah, yeah, 15 minutes should be enough. Yes, we¡¯ll wait for you. Yes, the sooner youe, the better.¡± Seokhwan Hyung drew an OK sign to them after he hung up the phone. Now they were done with all the preparations. They had prepared as if they were roasting beans on a fire, so they didn¡¯t know how the quality would be, but they decided to give it a try anyway. And. ¡°Thank you, guys.¡± Before they went back on stage, they gathered under the umbre that the two managers held. ¡°Thanks to you, I¡­¡± ¡°Hey. We don¡¯t have time right now, so save the cheesy speech forter.¡± ¡°Yeah.¡± ¡°Huh? I wanted to hear it.¡± ¡°Let¡¯s talkter, guys.¡± ¡°¡­I¡¯m really hurt, seriously.¡± Woojoo rolled his eyes at the giggling siblings, but soon he joined theirughter. It made him feel a bit less nervous. They shouted a small fighting! and went back on stage. *** The atmosphere of the event was not very good. The announcer Jung Hyojin, who was the MC, swallowed her dry saliva at the cold mood. It was after she said that Teen Spirit would be a littlete. Most of them had dissatisfied expressions, and the idol fans scattered around were very cranky. In such a predicament, she used her skillful MC skills to revive the mood with witty remarks or improvised prize events. Of course, that mood didn¡¯tst long either. ¡°When is this going to end? Who are these people who areing now?¡± ¡°They¡¯re the ones who came out earlier.¡± ¡°The idols? Again?¡± The family visitors who came out for a picined. Among the idols who came out today, the only group that the general public knew was Teen Spirit. Especially for parents with teenage children. Teen Spirit was as popr as TNT in that age group. That was why they endured the performances of unknown rookies, because they expected to see the famous ones they saw on TV in real life. But that was dyed too. The elderly especially were very unhappy, and they clenched their lips, saying that they should y some trot instead of these weird and ugly young guys. Of course, there were some who had the most intense emotions. ¡®Ah, what is this? Really.¡¯ The fans of Teen Spirit who had taken a bus for an hour from Seoul were boiling with anger. Especially the homemasters who had put a lot of effort into the camera settings to take pictures and upload them to the website. Some of the radical fans wanted to raise their voices to the organizers, but they shut their mouths as soon as they saw the PBS and Gyeonggi TV cameras around them. They didn¡¯t want to ruin the fandom image. It was already an issue that a fan had cursed at a rookie girl group at the department store eventst time. So they all kept quiet and expressed their anger only through SNS. Meanwhile, there was amotion in front of the stage for a different reason. ¡°¡­¡± Under the tent with the best view, the aides and attendants who were assisting the mayor were restless. ¡°The event management is really¡­¡± His wife grabbed his arm tightly, so he stopped there, but Mayor Kim Younggeon did not hide his difort. What was this? They couldn¡¯t prepare for the rain properly, the singers werete, and the order of the lineup was four consecutive idols. This festival was the first event he had with the citizens since he took office. He was elected in the local electionsst June and moved from the city council to the mayor. He thought there was nothing more unpleasant in the beginning of his term than the words that this festival was worse than the previous mayor¡¯s. The attendants quickly bowed their heads at the sight of the mayor turning his head, but he was looking at the audience. At a nce, they had bored and annoyed expressions. ¡®How can this work?¡¯ He doubted that the group called Teaspoon or something could revive this mood. He bit his tongue and looked at the stage again. It was a cloudy day with rain, but even so, idol singers with striking appearances calmly walked onto the stage. Please. He hoped that they would at least maintain this atmosphere, even if they didn¡¯t do well. Mr. Kim frowned. ¡®Why are only two of theming up?¡¯ He muttered, wondering if the rest had already left, when a gentle music started to flow from the stage speaker. He thought it was strange. Because the song that was ying now was not idol music. Rather. It was a warm melody that stuck to his ears. Chapter 73: Chapter 73: Trantor: MarcTempest Editor: Rxel Chapter 73 The gentle sound of an acoustic guitar filled the air, drawing the attention of the audience to one spot. Under the spotlight. A sharp-faced singer stood with a microphone in his hand. He looked cold at first nce, but when he closed his eyes and smiled, his expression changedpletely. From icy to warm, like a spring breeze. The audience watched the transformation with interest, and heard a soft humming in their ears.It was an unusual introduction. The couple who had been scolding their child, the old man who had been resting his hand on his cane andining, the Teen Spirit fans who had been chatting on the fan cafe, they all stopped what they were doing and looked at the same ce. The humming was somehowforting. Like a mother holding her child and singing a luby on a rainy day, the low and gentle humming came through the drizzling rain. After about 30 seconds. Seo Rihyuk finished his humming and opened his eyes with a soft smile. Soon, the sound of waves inserted in the MR signaled the start of the song. Ssh- The weather was not suitable for the image of ¡®the starry night sea¡¯ that the song originally had, but the warm prelude of piano and guitar created a sentimental atmosphere. The blue light that had been slowly rotating began to surround Woojoo. As I walk through the old memories The rusty gate and the wagging tail With the rain as the background, his voice spread to every corner of the audience. The lyrics were easy to catch with his clear pronunciation. The song was written by him for his grandmother who had taken care of him since he was young. With the story and the melody of the night sea that reminded them of old songs, the audience responded well regardless of their age. The blue and yellow lights scattered around created a dreamy mood, as the two vocals exchanged their singing. Of course. It was a secret that the festival lighting team was doing their best to create such a mood. They just reacted to the good song. A calm smile appeared on their faces, who had been amazed by the humming at first. When the 2 minutes and 40 seconds were over. The audience sent a round of apuse. *** When the audience was sending a gentle apuse to the stage of Night Sea, Jung Hyojin, who was in charge of MC, let out a sigh of relief. ¡®¡­It worked.¡¯ The audience¡¯s expressions had changed noticeably. Just a while ago, they had been so fierce that her face had stung while conducting the prize event. But now they looked like different people. There were no more furrowed brows or pursed lips. Only peaceful faces. Was this the power of music? She suppressed a smile that was about toe out, as if they had just watched a soothing public service advertisement. ¡°That was a wonderful stage, both of you.¡± She squeezed in between Street Boys and Blink, who had received the attention of a rookie group 1 at best, and now they were in the spotlight. Maybe it was because of that, but they both looked nervous. She recalled the keywords she had heard from the New ck members. Night Sea. Selfposed song. Grandma fan. ¡°It was a song called Night Sea, right?¡± -Yes, that¡¯s right. ¡°The chorus was really catchy and impressive. It felt like you were singing to someone. Do you have any behind-the-story that you can share with us here?¡± Anyway, she had to fill up five minutes with herments until the next substitute, Song Bohyung, came. Since it hade to this. She decided to use this time to introduce New ck. -Ah, Night Sea is¡­ Fortunately, the member of New ck, who boasted a beautiful appearance, took the opportunity well. -It¡¯s a song that Iposed while thinking of my grandmother. ¡°I only knew Fireworks as your selfposed song. Is this also a selfposed song?¡± -Yes. Curiosity appeared on the faces of the audience. He smiled shyly, as if he was embarrassed by their interest. He calmly exined his intention and experience ofposing the song, and the audience¡¯s eyes became more friendly towards him. He was a nameless rookie just a moment ago, but now he was someone¡¯s son or grandson in the eyes of the people around him. -Actually, I didn¡¯t write it all by myself. I got a lot of help from my friend here in writing the lyrics. He skillfully shifted the focus to Rihyuk, and Jeong Hyojin smiled at him. While the audienceughed lightly at Rihyuk¡¯s embarrassed expression, she saw the signal from below. It meant that the next stage was ready. While the other members were waiting backstage, the MC checked the audience¡¯s reaction. It was time to wrap it up. ¡°Now we¡¯re going to listen to one more song. I¡¯m really looking forward to it. I was surprised when New ck said they were going to sing this song.¡± She asked in a subtle voice, ¡°Is this song also selfposed?¡± The idol fans knew the title of the next song, but the general public tilted their heads. Another selfposed song? What song was it that they co-wrote? Seeing the curious faces, the MC smiled. ¡®This will definitely get a response.¡¯ No one would not know this song. *** This time, all five of them stood together. The audience¡¯s eyes were focused on the stage. They were curious about the song because of the MC¡¯s words that it was a song that everyone knew, and that it was selfposed. ¡®What are they going to sing?¡¯ The ones in front of them were rookie singers. They had just debuted with a title song called Fireworks. But something was strange. They had only debuted a month ago, but they had three selfposed songs, and one of them was known by everyone. Some impatient people went to the inte portal and typed in ¡®New ck¡¯. Then, a familiar intro came in. ¡®What¡­?¡¯ They didn¡¯t know the title. But it was a song they had heard before. The song that they heard on the street, in front of the phone store, on the radio in the city bus, on a famous variety show. It was Something. A song about a couple who had a crush on each other. Then they realized that the singers who sang it as a duet were the ones in front of them. ¡®They were them.¡¯ They opened their eyes wide in surprise, but only for a moment. As the medium tempo intro flowed, they pped along to the rhythm. As Koreans always did when they heard an exciting song, the atmosphere became more lively. The first one to open his lips was Bijoo. You don¡¯t know my heart, I don¡¯t know your heart But you know it too Some of the audience widened their eyes in surprise. He was a familiar face. He was the member who danced the best among the idols who came out today, so he naturally remained in their memory. That was why it was strange. ¡®He was the dancer, right¡­¡¯ He was not inferior to Rihyuk and Woojoo, who sang earlier, in terms of singing skills. No. In some ways, his beautiful voice was more attractive. They thought he wouldn¡¯t be good at singing, but they were surprised. When Jiho took over the part. He sang well. Even the member who looked like he only relied on his face could sing well, and the audience¡¯s eyes changed as they looked at New ck. They thought they were a dance group because of the song Fireworks, but they looked like a vocal group now. They were good enough to make them wonder why they became idols when they heard their songs. And. Some of the audience felt a sense of incongruity from the fact that the member who wrote this song was standing there. ¡®How many things can he do?¡¯ He wasfortable enough to dance and take care of the members who were about to fall, he didn¡¯t lose to the main vocal when they sang together. And on top of that,posing. If they told their friends that there was such a group, they wouldn¡¯t believe it. -I saw an idol at the festival this time. They were called New ck, and they came out as a filler. But none of them couldn¡¯t sing. Even the one who was the main dancer was singing really well. They could all go solo, yeah, seriously. And then. -And the leader is aposer, and he made the title song himself. And he also made Something with Jang Sowon? It was true, but it felt like a promotion. Around the time they thought that, the tall member grabbed the mic between the first and second verses. And then the rap started. His pleasant voice tickled their ears rhythmically. ¡°¡­¡± They added one more thing to the story they had earlier: ¡®He raps well too.¡¯ Meanwhile. Even if it wasn¡¯t that much of an appreciation, most of the audience felt the same. ¡®Prejudice is really big.¡¯ New ck¡¯s skills were no different from before. It was just that the song Fireworks was idol music, so they just passed it off as ¡®they¡¯re idols¡¯. They did well, but to the average person, idols were beings who danced on stage. But when they took off those colored sses and looked at them, they all had amazing skills. And professional spirit too. Even though their new outfits were getting wet in the rain, and they had to perform suddenly, the New ck members were enjoying the stage with bright smiles. It made the viewers feel good. As the stage of Something continued, the name ¡®New ck¡¯ gradually imprinted in the audience¡¯s minds. One thing was certain. They would be the most memorable among the teams that performed today. *** The song ended and a fairly hot apuse came back. The heat was transmitted even through the cold rain. How long had it been? It had been a long time since they sang Something at the venue, but it had also been a long time since they received such apuse. Woojoo felt proud as he looked at the audience with a different feeling. The audience who pped with smiles, the people who searched their phones and seemed to find Something amazing, the staff who talked to the event staff with a relieved face. And even the fans of Teen Spirit who gave a mixed apuse. The nerves that were tense with tension rxed. The rest looked at Woojoo as if they were asking if they did well, and he nodded with a smile. ¡®You did well, guys.¡¯ Nearby, Seokhwan Hyung also gave them a thumbs-up. Then he heard what Minki Hyung said and drew an OK with his finger. It meant they were ready to finish. -Now we have onest song left. ¡°Yes, I¡¯m really sorry.¡± -This time, I heard you¡¯re singing a song by another singer. Can I hear the title? ¡°It¡¯s a song by Teacher No Jaehyun called ¡®Stay with Me¡¯.¡± The reaction from the audience was good, as it was a famous ssic. Especially the elders¡¯ faces brightened. ¡®Stay with Me¡¯ was a trot song they sang at the end of the year evaluation. At first, they had a few choices and thought about it, but considering the audience age group and the event atmosphere, it was the best choice for the final song. After raising the mood a little with Night Sea and Something, they decided to use this song, which they have MR, to boost the mood and pass the baton to Song Bohyung. Then the king of the event, the trot singer, would take care of it. And more than anything, the reason they chose this song was because it was backed by the most practice. Last December. They practiced for 10 hours a day for a month and made the song stick to their bodies. Of course, they would have a lot of sloppy parts because they rested for six months, but they nned to make up for that by inducing the audience¡¯s response. Whileying the groundwork by saying it might be a bit clumsy, Woojoo had a conversation with the MC. ¡­Huh? A murmuring sound came from somewhere. It was a serious atmosphere that could be heard through the rain. Woojoo nced sideways. And he was surprised. What was that? Woojoo didn¡¯t know where the problem started. He couldn¡¯t see it from the angle. But centered around a group of staff, the water was spreading as if it was backflowing. It looked like it might spill over to the side of the stage. The audience couldn¡¯t see what was happening on the stage because of the angle, but Woojoo had a feeling it would be a mess once they found out. What should he do? His first thought was to reassure the audience that everything was fine, no matter what. No. It would be better if they didn¡¯t know at all. His brain was spinning. The staff would soon fix the problem professionally, so they just had to distract the audience for a while. Distract them as much as possible¡­ Suddenly, Woojoo noticed the space between the stage and the seats. He wasn¡¯t sure. But it was the best idea he could think of at the moment. As the upbeat intro yed, Woojoo winked at the two who were quick-witted among the four of them. Did they get what he meant? They nodded right away. If they acted, the others would follow. p- p p- As the people pped along to the lively trot music, Woojoo stepped down from the stage and headed towards the seats. The people in the front row widened their eyes. Woojoo took a spot in the empty space between the stage and the seats, and soon his siblings came down after him. They were a bit nervous, but they smiled at the audience. As they pped their hands above their heads and encouraged apuse, their bodies moved on their own. Was it because they practiced so much for a month, except for sleeping time? It flowed more naturally from their bodies than when they checked it lightly before going on stage. And then, the first verse started and their youngest stepped forward. He sang the first verse of the trot song with a cute and lively expression. Where are you, my love? Are you here or there? The audience reacted with amusement as a singer of their son¡¯s or grandson¡¯s age sang cheerfully. Well done, our baby. Woojoo thought he did enough. He was preparing for his part when Jiho moved his steps while singing. Uh, where was he going? Woojoo¡¯s heart sank as he saw him approaching the mayor and his wife. He wasn¡¯t going to do anything weird, was he? Woojoo swallowed nervously, and as he got closer to them, he gestured with his hand as if pointing at someone while dancing. Why are you avoiding me? I didn¡¯t do anything wrong He sent a heart with his hand and a yful smile. He sparkled his eyes and looked at the audience as if asking them to look at him nicely. The people¡¯s expressions softened noticeably. It was a dramatic change, to say the least. Especially the one who was pointed by his finger. It was amazing. The mayor, who had been gloomy all day, burst into a bigugh that surprised everyone around him. *** At the same time. The fan cafe of Teen Spirit, the free board of Soul. -Are they still not at the venue?? -Why isn¡¯t MOP announcing anything? F*** -What do we do;; -The atmosphere must be really bad, sigh¡­ -Can anyone at the scene update us on the situation? Ament soon followed. -New ck, the rookie group, is filling in for them. -Ah¡­ -You don¡¯t have to say it, I can imagine¡­ -They must be embarrassed too s*** -Huh? No. -? -The atmosphere is good. Thement section was flooded with question marks, and below that, a shortment was posted. -The atmosphere is great. Really great. Chapter 74: Chapter 74: Trantor: MarcTempest Editor: Rxel Chapter 74 The atmosphere of the event hall came alive. It was just a small gesture, but the audience burst intoughter at the aegyo of the youngest member of New ck. As whispers like ¡®He¡¯s funny¡¯ and ¡®He¡¯s cute¡¯ went back and forth. In the lively mood, New ck started to sing a trot song. Of course, it wasn¡¯t as high-quality as their live performances of Night Sea or Something. The people in the hall knew that too.But the reason why the audience could enjoy the show sincerely was thanks to the effort of the idol members. They showed their determination to make people happy, even though they were not familiar with the genre of trot, and even though they could have embarrassed themselves by singing it wrong. That was evident in their performance. They went on stage not to show off their coolness, but to have fun with them. The audience¡¯s eyes softened at the sight of the singers who were soaked to the skin aftering down from the stage in less than 30 seconds. The leader who sang while peeling off the hair stuck to his forehead, the dancer who moved his wet body gracefully on the muddy ground, the vocal who shivered and lost his voice but still tried to clear his throat. The rapper and the youngest who became a duo and led the audience¡¯s reaction diligently. Even though it was a short song, their best effort touched the audience. And. There was someone who smiled at the audience¡¯s reaction. ¡®Well done, good job.¡¯ Mayor Kim Younggeon had been smiling broadly since a while ago. His reaction waspletely different from when New ck first came on stage. Unlike before, his eyes were dripping with honey as he looked at the five singers. He thought the festival waspletely ruined today. No, it actually was. But an unexpected rookie boy group appeared and pulled the event out of the swamp. He thought there would be no other team among the ones who performed today that could elicit such a response, except for the trot singers. Rather, if another team hade up, the atmosphere might have gotten worse. It was a godsend that New ck came up. He decided to go and thank them personally, maybe shake their hands or something, when the event was over. ¡®What¡¯s the problem?¡¯ He saw something strange in his eyes. He couldn¡¯t see well because of the backlight from the spotlight, but there was amotion behind the stage. What was the problem? He narrowed his eyes and ordered the staff behind him to find out what was going on. When the staff ran over and reported the situation, his mood that had soared to the sky came back to the ground. ¡°¡­What?¡± ¡°That is, the pump that drains the water broke.¡± The staff quickly added as he frowned. ¡°They said it will be fixed soon, so don¡¯t worry. They said they will fix it before New ck¡¯s stage is over. The water overflowing is temporary.¡± He couldn¡¯t just take their word for it, so he decided to have one staff member go over with an umbre and monitor the situation. When he turned his attention back to the stage. Before he knew it, the first verse of ¡®Stay with Me¡¯ was over and Kim Junghyun was rapping with a microphone. It wasn¡¯t as much as the trot, but the rapper who was waving his hands and feet to induce a response was apuded by the audience. And then, a thought suddenly crossed his mind. ¡®Could it be¡­¡¯ He wondered why New ck hade down from the stage at first. Then he thought, ¡®Oh, it was to get the audience¡¯s reaction.¡¯ But now it seemed like that wasn¡¯t the only reason. ¡®Could it be, they¡¯re trying to divert the audience¡¯s attention from there?¡¯ At first, it was a doubtful thought, but soon he was convinced. It was obvious. If New ck had continued to perform on stage, the audience would have inevitably noticed the water stream flowing in from the side because of the direction of the light. Of course, that wouldn¡¯t have ruined the event. Just the mood. His eyes moved from the youngest member of New ck who reminded him of his son who went abroad, to Seon Woojoo who was smiling and moving his body next to Kim Junghyun. ¡®Well¡­¡¯ He decided to think about what he could do to repay them better, along with the thought that he owed them a lot today. He would at least send them some rice. He was thinking about that when the tone of the song changed gradually. ¡°Are they going to do something other than trot?¡± Kim Junghyun¡¯s rap sped up as if it was approaching the climax, and the atmosphere became more intense. And finally, when his rap ended. Thud- The lights that illuminated them went off at once. For a second, people blinked in confusion. Then the lights came back on. Thud- But the ce where the lights shone was not where New ck members were. At the back of the straight line of seats. There, standing with a cheerful smile, the singer¡¯s face received a huge cheer from the audience. Along with the upbeat second verse intro. Singer Song Bohyung walked towards New ck in the front row and greeted the audience with enthusiasm. -Hello! I¡¯m back! A coboration stage between an idol group and a trot singer at an unexpected time. Everyone, regardless of age or gender, pped and cheered at the sight. It was a stage that everyone could enjoy with a smile, transcending generations. *** Woojoo¡¯s heart soared with the hot cheers. The idea of switching with the trot singer before the end of the stage was what he suggested today. -You know the MR we have is the one we used for the year-end evaluation, right? The first and second verses are different songs. The second verse is ¡®Thank You¡¯ by Jang Sowon. If we do it as nned, the reaction won¡¯t be that great. That was because the audience at that time already knew that the first and second verses were different. So they didn¡¯t find it strange that they coborated with different songs. But today¡¯s audience was not the trainee parents who looked at them with affection, but ordinary people. If they raised the mood with trot and changed the second verse to a different song, there was a high possibility that the audience would be confused. -So we¡¯re going to do trot for the second verse too. -What? How? -We¡¯re not singing it, we¡¯re passing the baton to Song Bohyung. There¡¯s a part where Junghyun¡¯s rap breaks off abruptly, right? That¡¯s where we stop the song and start again. It¡¯s a song without a bridge, so it won¡¯t be a big problem to y the first verse intro again. -Won¡¯t that be weird? -The lighting team will help us make it smooth. Fortunately, the lighting director agreed readily, and they checked the arrival time of Song Bohyung and put it into action. The reaction was, as you could see. Very good. Every time Song Bohyung sang with a yful smile, the elderly and middle-aged audience pped and cheered enthusiastically. They all had the same expression. The marketdy who smiled and said Jiho was cute was also bouncing her shoulders as if she was excited. Woojoo guessed experts were different. In terms of vocalization and bringing out the charm of the genre, it was the same song, but Woojoo felt goosebumps on his body. He didn¡¯t know you could sing it like this. As they handed over the protagonist¡¯s spot to Song Bohyung, they backed up the choreography so that it wouldn¡¯t look empty. He seemed to appreciate their gesture. He asionally smiled at them as he sang. Maybe he liked the sight of the audience cheering louder than when he sang. Anyway, it was a good memory for New ck and for him. -Thank you for your hard work today, New ck! Thank you! After the song ended, instead of the MC, he waved his hand and thanked them, and they all gathered together and bowed deeply to the audience. And then. The rain that had been pouring down like a pole over them began to subside. ¡°Do you want me to rub your back?¡± ¡°I¡¯m fine, don¡¯t worry.¡± Rihyuk then plopped down next to Woojoo, who was crouching on the floor. Soon, Bijoo also leaned his head on his shoulder and joined them. The three of them were slumped against the backstage wall like zombies. The two managers who were holding umbres over them didn¡¯t tell them to get up, but just smiled. Seokhwan Hyung patted Woojoo¡¯s shoulder andughed. ¡°You did great, really.¡± ¡°I don¡¯t think I can ever do that again.¡± ¡°What are you going to do? It looks like we¡¯re going to get a lot of gigs from this event.¡± Woojoo rolled his eyes at his joking remark, but the mood was warm. It was just physical exhaustion. Woojoo was so nervous that he thought he was going crazy, trying to sing three songs in a row that they weren¡¯t even prepared for. Thankfully, the audience seemed to like it. ¡°Hyung, I¡¯m so cold¡­¡± ¡°Me too.¡± The kids who were soaked by the rain clung to Woojoo¡¯s shoulder. The professional idols who were smiling and dancing on stage just a moment ago were nowhere to be seen. Now they were just his kids. Woojoo wanted to get up and go to the car and rest, but he had no strength in his legs to stand up. Oh, except for one. ¡°Jiho.¡± ¡°Yes?¡± ¡°Why are you on Junghyun¡¯s back?¡± ¡°My legs gave out. I asked him to carry me.¡± He grinned cheekily, hanging on to someone else¡¯s back. The three Hyungs shook their heads at him. ¡°Junghyun, are you okay?¡± ¡°Yes, I¡¯m fine.¡± Among the five of them, he seemed to be the least affected by the fatigue and stress, maybe because he had a higher tolerance and stamina. Well, he still looked pretty worn out. Woojoo grabbed Seokhwan Hyung¡¯s hand and got up, looking around at the others. ¡°The managers must be tired of holding the umbres too. Let¡¯s go to the car and rest for a bit. Turn on the heater. We need to change our clothes before we catch a cold.¡± Bijoo and Rihyuk grabbed his hand and got up one by one. ¡°Do we have spare clothes?¡± ¡°We have our regr clothes, not the costumes.¡± ¡°Oh, I don¡¯t like them, they¡¯re dirty¡­¡± ¡°Then you can stay naked¡­ Hey, who¡¯s looking at me like that? You¡¯re hurting my feelings, Hyung.¡± ¡°Please, just get hurt already. When are you nning to get hurt?¡± Bijoo squeezed in between them, who were bickering. ¡°Rihyuk, I¡¯ll lend you my nket.¡± He looked at Woojoo with disdain and muttered to Bijoo, ¡°You¡¯re the best, Hyung.¡± ¡®What about me?¡¯ Woojoo looked at him and he only gave him a scornful look. Woojoo thought to himself that he should get a box of water from him soon. That was when it happened. ¡°Excuse me.¡± A reporter came up to them as they were heading back to the car. He was with a man carrying an ENG camera. He looked at them and handed a card to Seokhwan Hyung. ¡°I¡¯m Baek Cheolhwan, a reporter from Gyeonggi TV. I think we had a brief interview earlier, but I was wondering if we could talk more properly.¡± ¡°Oh, sure.¡± Seokhwan Hyung looked at them and said, ¡°First, our kids¡­¡± He was about to say that they needed to change their clothes, when they heard a loud thud! They all turned their heads. It was the sound of the drainage pump that was far away. It seemed to have been fixed when they got off the stage. But it broke down again in no time. Thump, thump, thump- The machine vibrated and spat out water. The water was flowing back, and it didn¡¯t look good. The youngest staff member, who looked thoughtful, ran to call the other workers, and they just stared at it. The water that it had spat out earlier was nothingpared to this. It was serious. It wasn¡¯t their problem, but Woojoo felt a pang in his chest. At that rate, it would reach the stage soon. Woojoo swallowed hard, looking at the event stage where Song Bohyung was singing. The machine was shaking as if it would explode at any moment. It was when Rihyuk hid behind Woojoo, as if he saw a bomb. ¡°Hey, Junghyun Hyung! Where are you going?¡± Junghyun, who was carrying the youngest on his back, walked towards them with big strides. ¡°We¡¯re getting wet!¡± Just a while ago, the youngest went to the market side and made Woojoo¡¯s heart sink. And now, their rapper started to move. ¡°Junghyun, where are you going?¡± ¡°Ah.¡± He said as if it was obvious, ¡°I think I can help.¡± *** Baek Cheolhwan, a reporter from GBS Gyeonggi TV, followed him with curiosity. ¡®¡­What¡¯s going on?¡¯ He wanted to get an interview, but the situation turned weird. ¡°Is it showing well on the screen?¡± he asked with a feeling that he might get a good scoop, and the cameraman nodded. When they arrived at the scene. The staff members rushed over at the call of the youngest staff. ¡°Hey, what happened here?¡± The director shouted with his scruffy beard trembling, but no one could answer him. The youngest staff stuttered. ¡°Well, it broke down earlier, but then it was fine, and we checked it¡­¡± ¡°And then?¡± ¡°It broke down again.¡± ¡°Damn it, what kind of answer is that? I¡¯m going crazy, really. Hey! Someone, fix this!¡± ¡°Director, we don¡¯t know why the machine is malfunctioning. If we touch it wrong, it might get worse¡­¡± The director, who was about to swear, closed his mouth at the appearance of the agent sent by the market side and the sudden camera. And the New ck members too. The eyes turned to them as if asking what they were doing here. The staff members were pushing and shoving with buckets they brought from somewhere to stop the water, when Junghyun parted his lips slowly. ¡°I think I know how to fix that.¡± ¡°¡­¡± He opened his lips after a brief stunned expression. ¡°No, I don¡¯t know what you¡¯re talking about, but this.¡± ¡°I saw it before.¡± ¡°¡­?¡± ¡°When I went down to the main house, it was the same thing. It broke down and I saw the adults fixing it. I know why it does that.¡± The staff members blinked their eyes at his calm and rxed voice that didn¡¯t match the urgent situation. Ssh, ssh, ssh¨C The director, who was lost in thought at the sight of the water flowing back, called someone. ¡°Hey, Juyeong. You try to fix this.¡± Then he turned his eyes to Junghyun. ¡°You just said that, right? It was the same breakdown. Tell him what to do while he fixes it. This is urgent¡­¡± Junghyun quickly lifted the pump with the staff. The conversation went fast. The staff¡¯s hand moved busily as Junghyun told him what to do with words like impeller and strainer. The hand trembled and dropped the cross screwdriver every time, and he picked it up slowly and said calmly, ¡°I saw my grandfather doing it, and he separated the filter from there¡­¡± As the water overflowed more and more, the New ck members also joined the staff¡¯s line to scoop out the water. It was when the situation turned around in five minutes. ¡°It¡¯s done!¡± The staff reassembled the machine and shouted. ¡°It¡¯s done!¡± They quickly reconnected the electricity and turned on the machine. Everyone sped their hands and watched it. The pump that was turned on started to work normally. The water that had overflowed disappeared and the water started to drain. It was a situation that would have taken 30 minutes to find and fix the cause of the breakdown, but it was done in five minutes. The staff let out a sigh of relief, and the director washed his face with the rainwater. As the atmosphere returned to normal, the staff returned to the scene, and the agent from the market side also disappeared quickly. The director and the staff who handled the repairs thanked them with a grin. The members and managers of New ck responded to him, but they looked very nervous as they nced at one of their members. Junghyun, who smiled leisurely at the director who grabbed his shoulder and talked to him. And. There was someone else who was watching this whole situation andughing. ¡°Is the recording done?¡± The cameraman raised his thumb at Baek Cheolhwan¡¯s question. While the shooting continued, he went to a ce a little far away and took out his phone. The call was connected right away. ¡°Hey, it¡¯s me. Writer Kim. I went to cover a festival in Icheon. I got some good scenes, but it¡¯s a bit awkward to send them to the news, so I wanted to toss them to the program you¡¯re in charge of.¡± He said with a smile, ¡°This, the picture looks pretty good.¡± Chapter 75: Chapter 75: Trantor: MarcTempest Editor: Rxel Chapter 75 The situation was going weird. Maybe it was because of the rain. Woojoo¡¯s head was fuzzy, and he felt like his brain couldn¡¯t keep up with the many things happening in front of his eyes. You know what he meant. Like when you were watching a movie in a drowsy state, but the plot slipped through your fingers like sand. The scenes kept flowing, but you were just blinking in front of the TV.No. He was blinking, but his hands were moving. ¡°What¡¯s your child¡¯s name?¡± ¡°Doyeon, Lee Doyeon.¡± ¡°Your daughter has a very pretty name.¡± ¡°He¡¯s a boy.¡± ¡°¡­¡± He coughed awkwardly, and the man with the impressive arms signed the paper he handed Woojoo. His hands are trembling from the cold. Thank you, he said as he left, and then a woman came and asked if she could take a picture with him. ¡°Yes, of course.¡± Woojoo pushed back the hair that stuck to his forehead and took a selfie with her. She thanked him for the song and left, and he took a deep breath. He looked around and saw that his brothers were also surrounded by people. He was out of it. It was thirty minutes ago. They changed their clothes and had a short interview with Gyeonggi TV after the pump was fixed and they returned to the car. They were about to leave when they were stopped by some other people. One was a city hall employee who said the mayor wanted to meet them and thank them personally and asked if they could wait a moment. The other one was. ¡°Shit, we¡¯re sote!¡± ¡­That was the line that came with the handsome boys. When they flinched, the member with the blond hair came over and asked if New ck had time for them to apologize. They said yes. It wasn¡¯t a bad thing. Meanwhile, the Teen Spirit members ran out of breath to the event hall, spitting out curses one, two¡­ maybe thirty. So they decided to wait for about thirty minutes until the event was over. The problem was that they didn¡¯t know they would run into the audienceing down after the festival while they were waiting for the people they promised. Someone started with a ¡®Huh?¡¯ and it quickly turned into a ¡®Wow!¡¯ of admiration, and then people poured in in no time. It was awkward. They didn¡¯t have much experience with ordinary peopleing up and talking to them. They all looked amazed, and they came up and greeted New ck with a smile. They asked them how old they were, what their names were, and how they liked the song¡­ Woojoo was out of it. He nodded to the people whoplimented them on their looks or singing, smiled with the people whoughed, signed if they wanted a signature, and took a picture if they wanted a picture. They were very tired, but it was a chance to make a good impression, so they acted as sincerely as possible. Woojoo felt like he was reaching his limit¡­ His eyes were losing strength, and he kept dropping the market in his hand, so Seokhwan Hyung stepped in to control the traffic. ¡°I¡¯m sorry. Our kids have a schedule soon. We¡¯ll only give signatures or pictures to the people here.¡± Minki Hyung also joined in and started to disperse the people around them. Leaving only about a dozen people nearby. They secretly gave signed CDs to the people who leftining. But the people kepting, so they finally moved to a less crowded ce. Woojoo was out of it. They were able to breathe when they arrived at a quiet ce. They got out of the car that was a mess with wet clothes and sweat smell and copsed on the ground, and the brothers gathered around. His butt was almost wet, but Rihyuk spread a big portable mat. Woojoo asked him why he carried such a thing, but he didn¡¯t answer. They sat on the mat and caught their breath. ¡°Wow.¡± Jiho, who was sitting behind Woojoo and had his arm around his shoulder, pointed to the sky. ¡°Hyungs, look at the sky. It¡¯s crazy. It¡¯s the prettiest thing I¡¯ve seen recently.¡± He said he would show it to his sisters and took a lot of pictures with his phone. Theyughed at him and turned their heads to the sky. Some possible ways to continue the conversation were: It was really splendid, just like Jiho said. The stars that were sprinkled on the dark blue night sky. Maybe it was because the rain had stopped. The weather that had been hot all day was cool. The night breeze that came from somewhere shook the grass and trees, and the cool touch of the wind tickled their skin along with the sound of insects. It was a night that made Woojoo feel sentimental for no reason. ¡°¡­¡± Woojoo felt strange. Should he say that what happened today already felt faint? Teen Spirit waste because of the rain, and the fact that they barely managed to continue the stage with a patchwork was still shocking and unbelievable. While Woojoo was lost in that thought. His eyes went to the member who decorated the beginning and the end of the whole incident. Junghyun was staring at the sky. He was handsome, too, when Woojoo looked at him. He always did funny things or said absurd things, but he looked handsome when he closed his mouth like this. Should Woojoo say he looked like a handsome athlete? The way he looked at the sky now also felt like something he would see in an outdoor advertisement. ¡°Hyung.¡± ¡°Yeah?¡± ¡°I don¡¯t know if it¡¯s just me, but¡­¡± Junghyun asked with a serious face, ¡°Aren¡¯t you hungry?¡± ¡°¡­¡± ¡°I¡¯m so hungry that I can¡¯t see the sky.¡± Woojoo felt like it was broken again. He resented himself for admiring him just a moment ago. On the other hand, Woojooughed at the thought that he was like himself. ¡°Hungry? Wait a minute, I¡¯ll see what I have.¡± ¡°I have snacks.¡± When Bijoo reached for the bag in the car, Jiho rummaged through his pocket and pulled out a bunch of snacks. How did he hide them? Seokhwan Hyung, who would have scolded him for not controlling his diet if it was normal, justughed in disbelief. The managers were also hungry, and seven pairs of hands reached for the snacks. ¡°Wow, Wang Jiho has grown a lot. He even treats his Hyungs to snacks.¡± ¡°That¡¯s right. You should be grateful, Hyungs. I¡¯m giving you the treasure that I hid from the boss¡¯s eyes and ears.¡± ¡°Where did you hide it?¡± ¡°That¡¯s a secret.¡± ¡°Why do you have so many secrets?¡± ¡°You have to have some secrets and show some unfamiliar sides to be attractive. Look, Junghyun Hyung was cool today because he did that.¡± Theyughed at someone¡¯s proud expression. ¡°Anyway, you worked hard. Junghyun too.¡± Woojoo put a caramel in his mouth and looked around his brothers. ¡°You all worked hard. I couldn¡¯t say anything before we went up, but thank you for following my words to do trot all of a sudden.¡± ¡°Oh, it¡¯s started. The cheesy words.¡± ¡°¡­¡± ¡°Stop whining and talk after you eat.¡± ¡°¡­¡± Woojoo melted the caramel quickly and spoke again. ¡°Anyway, thank you for following me even when I suddenly went down the stage. You also lifted the stage atmosphere well, and you must have been tired from getting wet in the rain.¡± ¡°It was really hard. I don¡¯t think I can do it again.¡± ¡°I liked it.¡± Bijoo said with a smile, ¡°It feels like it will be a memory when it passes.¡± ¡°Me too.¡± ¡°What am I supposed to be if you guys say that¡­¡± ¡°I like it now, too.¡± After that, a pleasant silence flowed. It wasn¡¯t just Woojoo, but it seemed that the kids also felt the things that happened today were amazing and unusual. There were times like that. When you were so tired that your eyes closed, but you had a feeling that it would feel like a good memory when you looked back. They shared that feeling without words, but Jiho changed the topic. ¡°By the way, speaking of memories, I remembered something.¡± The youngest member took out his phone carefully. ¡°How about we take a selfie? The sky is so beautiful right now, and I found the perfect angle earlier. Let¡¯s leave some proof that we were here.¡± ¡°A selfie?¡± ¡°Maybe the fans heard about this event too. We should let our Souffl¨¦s know that we¡¯re doing well and make some memories.¡± ¡°Oh, that sounds good.¡± They nodded at each other and gathered in one spot. Soon, the youngest member connected his selfie stick and opened the camera app. ¡°¡­¡± He closed it again. ¡°Guys, this is a bit difficult.¡± ¡°I know, right?¡± ¡°We look so haggard. And someone is making us look even worse byparison.¡± ¡°Should we fix ourselves up and try again?¡± The five idols who had been battered by the wind quickly regained their confidence with the help of a wireless curling iron, BB cream, and tint. Oh, and a beauty filter too. ¡°Okay, then let¡¯s take it. One, two, three¡­!¡± And the result was quite satisfactory. With Junghyun in the center. They five were smiling brightly together. *** One hour after the Moonlight Festival in 2014. Posts appeared on the official SNS ounts of each group. @The_New_ck_Official A photo with the Hyungs after the Icheon Moonlight Festival event!! ?? It was such a fun time today!! #happy #love_you_souffle #selfie_is_best_with_maknae #managers_are_awesome_too #why_does_Rihyuk_Hyung_keep_saying_he_is_the_best @TSprit_Love Together with The New ck. Thank you so much for today. There were photos of the New ck members with excited faces, and photos of Teen Spirit and New ck smiling together. As the fans who attended the event uploaded their fancams one by one. ¡°¡­?¡± Just as she finished her overnight work and stretched, a fan with the nickname ¡®Woojoo, your face is welfare¡¯ logged into the fan cafe and tilted her head. ¡®What¡¯s going on?¡¯ She had juste in to see the boys¡¯ faces and heal herself. But there were a lot of posts. At first, she thought it was because of the sales pitch she had posted in the green room yesterday about ¡®Souffl¨¦¡¯. But she soon realized that it wasn¡¯t. -Fancam of the event by a Teen Spirit fan 1080p -More selfies are up -[[Capture]] Jiho¡¯s expression at today¡¯s event.gif -The New ck just appeared on GBS Gyeonggi Morning News??? She narrowed her eyes and scrolled down. ¡®What¡¯s going on.¡¯ It seemed like a lot had happened in just one night. *** The finale of the festival was warm. Teen Spirit, who had finished their performance, brought their manager and came to them to apologize. With a sincere expression of ¡®thank you so much¡¯. The direct words of gratitude from the 10-year-old boys who had been through a storm made the road manager behind them thoughtful, while they were busy holding back theirughter. After that, the mayor came with his staff and had the same purpose. He thanked them for finishing the event well. He said he would repay them with something good, so they thanked him, but seeing Seokhwan Hyung¡¯s face brighten up as he talked with the city hall staff, it seemed like there was something. Anyway, after finishing the event that day. They returned to their normal lives and enjoyed their small happiness. ¡°Wow¡­¡± The waiting room of the music show ¡®Popr Singer¡¯. They were crowded on a narrow chair, and Lemon Entertainment¡¯s YouTube ount popped up in front of them. ¡°Look at the views. They went up a lot.¡± ¡°Check the number again. You might have seen it wrong.¡± ¡°One, ten, hundred, thousand¡­ It seems right?¡± The views of the Fireworks music video had gone up quite a bit. After hitting a million, the graph that had been t started to rise sharply. Rihyuk stuck out his tongue. ¡°I¡¯ve only heard of fancams, but I never expected them to be this amazing.¡± ¡°They say that these kinds of events produce legendary fancams.¡± Junghyun, who had been browsing a music site, handed Woojoo his phone as if to show him something. ¡°Hyung, have you seen this?¡± ¡°What is it?¡± ¡°The real-time chart rankings have skyrocketed.¡± This time, they all gathered around Junghyun¡¯s phone and gasped. Fireworks and Night Sea had climbed up the real-time chart rankings. ¡°What¡¯s going on?¡± ¡°13th and 105th? Is this for real?¡± ¡°Well, it¡¯s better than Something, right?¡± True, it was less shocking than when they were number one on the real-time chart, but it was still unbelievable. Woojoo¡¯s heart was pounding. What was happening, really? The reason why they were experiencing this happy event was nothing else but¡­ [Fancam] 140718 New ck ¨C Night Sea/Something/Please Stay With Me @Icheon_Moonlight_Festival_Special_Stage ¡­A video with that title. Fancam. A termmonly used to refer to videos of various performances recorded with high-quality cameras at broadcasts or events. Usually, there were two types of fancamers. Those who professionally recorded and uploaded videos of various singers, or those who were fans of a certain group and recorded and uploaded videos of that group mainly. The person who uploaded their video was thetter. 80% of the videos on the list were of Teen Spirit, and 20% were of other groups that they asionally recorded at events. Woojoo didn¡¯t know the exact exnation, but maybe they had some spare time while waiting for Teen Spirit that day and decided to record them. But it was incredibly high-quality. The quality was so good that you could see their smiling faces clearly in the rain. The video had a lot of views andments, since it was uploaded by a fancamer with many subscribers. The most talked-about part was the trot song they sang at the end. To be precise, it was more about their attitude than the song. -They¡¯re all smiling even though it¡¯s raining;; [email protected]:38 ?? they¡¯re so cute -They¡¯re not like rookies, they¡¯re good at performing. I was just watching Night Sea and Something, but I was impressed by the trot part. -They have professionalism, but also sense. Turning off the lights and passing it on was cool Jiho drawing a heart was also well-received, but the stage direction where they passed it on to Song Bohyung was especially impressive. -Do you know? That was an improvised stage. -?? -Exnation) That day, Teen Spirit had a car ident, so they filled in for them. -That was improvised?? After that, thements changed, and there were a lot of surprised reactions about the fact that the stage was improvised. Well. Woojoo didn¡¯t know how this fancam led to the music video of Fireworks. There were countless possibilities. Maybe Teen Spirit fans came to watch the fancam and saw them, or maybe someone who saw it posted a link on another site, or maybe someone who was at the event that day spread the word. But what was certain was that the makeshift stage they stood on Friday turned out to be a good thing. ¡°Just a sec, I¡¯ll call the PR team ande back.¡± Yoon Seokhwan left the waiting room with a pleased expression. He was very happy that good news came to end their activities. Of course, they felt the same. ¡°Wow, look at this, Hyung. Our Souffl¨¦s are going crazy.¡± ¡°Hyung, there are a lot ofpliments on the stage direction. They say you have sense. That¡¯s why I justmented that it was your idea, Hyung.¡± ¡°Wow, he¡¯s good at rapping. I have to like this.¡± ¡°What? Why is it only about Wang Jiho? I sang the song.¡± The faces that had been groaning with cold medicine yesterday were gone, and everyone was smiling and shining their eyes. Looking at the fan cafe posts, their Souffl¨¦s were also happy. Everyone was happy, and so was Woojoo. The only reason why Woojoo couldn¡¯t fully feel that feeling was because he was too nervous and tired that day, and because he took a nasal spray this morning and his head was fuzzy. Anyway, Woojoo was d that they could finish our activities in a splendid way. When he was thinking that, Jiho said something as if he remembered something, ¡°Oh, we have to do that soon.¡± ¡°What?¡± ¡°You know. What was it that we said we would do? Oh! ¡®We Go to the Scene¡¯.¡± They all gasped. They had forgotten about it because they were distracted by the fancam. They had filmed them that day at GyeonggiTV. They said the footage was transferred to a lifestyle information program from the same station. Woojoo wondered how it would turn out¡­ Ah, ah. ¡°Achoo!¡± Woojoo sneezed and shivered with a cold. Rihyuk moved away from him with a disgusted look. Junghyun handed him a whole box of tissues, and Bijoo poured him some warm barley tea while he looked at the smartphone that the youngest had set up on the table. The DMB screen showed ads for housing subscriptions and insurance. Woojoo wondered how they would look. As they all waited with anticipation. The broadcast began as the logo of ¡®Going to the Scene¡¯ disappeared. Chapter 76: Chapter 76: Trantor: MarcTempest Editor: Rxel Chapter 76 It was a familiar format: ¡®Going to the Scene¡¯. It was like those TV programs that Mrs. Kim Deoksoon, who ran the rice restaurant, used to watch whenever there were no customers. They would cover topics such as the weather of the week, festivals in some regions, or trendy diseases. They were programs that delivered news and life information in an entertaining way. They were not originally scheduled to appear on them. The reporter who interviewed them that day sent them some footage, and they heard that it was restructured around them because of the positive internal feedback.It would have been impossible if it was a terrestrial broadcast. It seemed to be possible because it was a cable broadcast that was suffering from chronk of material. Anyway, they felt grateful to the reporter who gave them this opportunity and focused their attention. A man in a neat suit appeared against the studio background. [Hello, I¡¯m announcer Kim Seunggwan.] The MC¡¯s greeting started with a story about summer, and then went on to cover one topic after another. A typhoon that was ravaging the southern region, a wild boar hunt that appeared in the farms, and a tripe restaurant in the food alley at Gwangmyeong intersection. Finally, New ck¡¯s story came up. They rolled their feet at the thumbnail of the familiar venue. ¡°Uh, I guess it¡¯sing out now. Why am I so nervous about nothing?¡± ¡°Hey, Wang Jiho. Stop making a fuss. You¡¯re shaking the screen.¡± ¡°Rihyuk, you¡¯re shaking your legs too.¡± ¡°¡­No, I¡¯m not. The ground is shaking.¡± They exchanged lightughter, and Bijoo turned up the volume. [What wordes to your mind when you hear ¡®festival¡¯? Excitement, joy, happiness. Those are the words that pop up in your head, right? The protagonists of the next corner are the ones who stirred up the audience¡¯s enthusiasm at the festival.] As the thumbnail of the venue changed to New ck, they all covered their eyes with a scream. It was a different kind of embarrassment from the music cafes. It was embarrassing enough then, but it was even more embarrassing and shameful to show their faces on a lifestyle information program that had nothing to do with idols, and they wanted to turn it off quickly, but they also wanted to see it. [Last Friday, the 2014 Moonlight Festival hosted by Icheon City in Gyeonggi Province was held in a heated atmosphere. There were some very special events that day. Let¡¯s meet today¡¯s protagonists, the rookie idol group New ck, and their hrious festival experience. Let¡¯s watch!] As they swallowed their saliva, the screen changed at the announcer¡¯s gesture. [Gyeonggi Province, Icheon, July 18th] Above such captions, the scene of setting up a special stage appeared. The stage was erected as the staff moved, and the seats that surrounded it in a semicircle also revealed themselves. A structure that allowed a clear view from the back seats due to the natural slope. A humorous voice actor narrated. [This is Icheon, Gyeonggi Province, where preparations are busy for today¡¯s festival. The staff are busy preparing~] The busy scenes of the staff passed by. [And not less than them, the singers are also nervous~] The folk music group, the rock band, the boy group and the girl group were preparing for something in turn. And then the video they shot at theirpany came out. [No! Who are those five men shining over there?] A cheesy and childish halo CG made themugh, and Rihyuk put a water bottle on his flushed face. Woojoo barely held back the barley tea that almost went through his nose. [Are we filming right now?] It was what he said to Minki Hyung, but it looked like he said it to the VJ on the screen. The day they edited the video at the broadcasting station, they contacted theirpany separately. They said they wanted to cover the festival with New ck as the main focus, and asked if they had any separate footage. It was a precious opportunity to promote for free, no matter what channel it was, so thepany didn¡¯t refuse and provided the material. The result was the shy caption ¡®Rookie Boy Group New ck¡¯ on the screen right now. [What are you doing right now?] [We¡¯re warming up our throats.] [You¡¯re doing it weirdly.] [It¡¯s the way our main vocal taught us. It works well.] They all huddled together and warmed up their throats by saying ¡®five hundred won, five hundred won¡¯, and fakeughter sounds flowed as BGM. This was something very embarrassing. After that, the story flowed naturally. The scene of New ck cheering before going on stage, the scene of performing Fireworks in the rain, and finally the scene of MC doing a prize event in a chilly atmosphere. [But, the atmosphere at the scene is strange. Thest singer who should havee is noting. What happened?] When they talked to the staff of the event agency, or when they were in a hurry to go back, there was no camera nearby, so another person¡¯s interview flowed like a narration under the screen of the prize event. With a tense BGM. The site official said that thest singer couldn¡¯te because of the rainy road. The reason they kept quiet about that incident was because they didn¡¯t want to be teased by the Teen Spirit fans. After that voice ended, their interview voice came on. [We felt like we had to go up there, even though we¡¯re not very skilled.] There was nothing special about the rest of the content. They performed back to back in front of the audience who gave them cold stares, singing Night Sea, Something, and a trot song. At the end, they sang with Mr. Song Bohyung, who appearedst, and the video seemed to end with the atmosphere being lifted¡­ ¡°Hey, what¡¯s this? It¡¯s not over?¡± They thought their interview would end warmly and that would be it, but the scene of them walking down the stage with shaky steps continued. The screen that was filmed at the broadcasting station followed. [But then, at that moment. One of the members seemed to notice something and started to act impulsively.] Junghyun, who was carrying Jiho, moved his steps with a serious expression. ¡°Huh?¡± Junghyun, who was watching the DMB next to Woojoo, blinked and asked, ¡°Did that have toe out too?¡± In the screen, Junghyun, who was talking to the director on the scene, soon crouched down and helped with the repair. His face, wet from the rain, looked cool. Finally, when the pump started working normally, the staff on the scene sighed with relief. [I was really surprised.] When did they interview the director? [He came up to me and said, ¡®I know how to fix it¡¯. I thought he was talking nonsense at first, but he really fixed it. I was shocked. Anyway, today¡¯s performance and the help he gave on the scene¡­ New ck is awesome!] The man with a scruffy beard gave a thumbs-up with an awkward expression, a contrived production that made themugh. Of course, theughter got bigger. Their interview came out. [Junghyun? We¡¯re sometimes surprised too.] [I¡¯m his friend, but there are more than one or two times when I¡¯m amazed.] [He¡¯s an amazing guy.] [He predicted that it would rain earlier. He was looking at the sky alone when the weather was clear and said, ¡®It¡¯s going to rainter¡¯.] As theyughed out loud at the youngest¡¯s imitation of someone, Junghyun scratched his cheek with an embarrassed face. The DMB screen switched to a solo interview. [How did you know how to fix it?] [My dream was to be a farmer.] Woojooughed again at the unexpected answer. That was what he told the reporter seriously that day. The handsome man with thick eyebrows scratched his mole on the screen. [I¡¯ve seen a lot of farming on the inte, and I¡¯ve seen a lot of adults using machines when I went down to my hometown since I was young. It was a coincidence. I saw the same breakdown before¡­] His slow speech and naive expression filled the screen, which would appeal to the elders. He answered the question of what he wanted to say to his hometown people. [Dad, Mom, I¡¯m doing well like this. Don¡¯t worry, okay?] As moths kept flying in front of the camera and blocking the view, Junghyun quickly reached out and caught a moth. The reporter had a bewildered face. Junghyun, on the other hand, continued to talk with a nonchnt expression, holding the moth in his hand. [Anyway, I hope your crops do well and you have a good harvest. Oh, and please send me some rice. You know my friend, Bijoo. He has a huge appetite and uses rice like water.] As their team¡¯s rapper was tormented by the pest in the waiting room, the scene quickly changed. The question of ¡®Who impressed you the most today?¡¯. [Kim Kyuhyun/Gyeonggi-do, Icheon] New ck. They were really passionate even though it was raining. [No Yujung/Gyeonggi-do, Icheon] I came out to make memories with my mom, and I think the New ck guys are memorable. They sang really well. [Park Daebok/Gyeonggi-do, Icheon] I don¡¯t know. The trot singer and the young guys were the best. The audience praised them with a smile, and the interviews with the rted people continued. [Song Bohyung/Trot singer] The young kids are amazing. It wasn¡¯t an easy choice to sing trot, but I was very impressed. I hope we have a chance to perform together someday. After that interview, the scenes that were filmed that day passed by quickly like a zoetrope. The clich¨¦d narration of ¡®We support the dream of the rookie singer New ck¡¯ ended, and the screen returned to the studio. ¡°¡­¡± They felt a strange feeling. That day, after everything was over, Woojoo felt a warm and touching sensation slowly rising up in him. Was that the right word to describe it? It was a cable program that didn¡¯t even make it to the ratings chart, but they had a satisfied smile on their lips as they watched it. Of course, they didn¡¯t forget to tease someone who was embarrassed by it. ¡°Hey, isn¡¯t Junghyun a superstar now?¡± ¡°He¡¯s totally a big star.¡± ¡°Hyung, don¡¯t act like you don¡¯t know us when you get famous.¡± ¡°Junghyun, did I use too much rice?¡± And the person who was teased just scratched his nape with a shy face. ¡°I just fixed a pump¡­¡± *** It was long past the time when the morning broadcast of ¡®Going to the Scene¡¯ ended. Sunday night. When everyone was resting, the TBC Entertainment Department¡¯s meeting room was brightly lit. ¡®Who should I choose?¡¯ The man with a baseball cap pulled down low, PD Gu Jaeyoung, stroked his stubbly beard. He was looking at a pile of documents. Profiles sent by various agencies. They were of various kinds. There were actors, idols, andedians. All he had to do was pick one out. ¡®Easy to say.¡¯ Having many choices was not always a good thing. Especially in a special episode like this, where he had to bring in multiple guests, he had to think not only about the guests¡¯ poprity, but also about thebination. How would they show their chemistry on the broadcast? ¡®This is tricky.¡¯ PD Gu was in charge of this year¡¯s TBC Chuseok Special. There were still two months left until Chuseok, but the actual filming was only a month away. Moreover, this year, TBC¡¯s gship holiday entertainment program ¡®Idol Sports Day¡¯ was on hiatus, and the higher-ups were worried that the ratings would fall behind other broadcasters. That was how important this special was, and choosing the guests was also a burden. ¡°What are you thinking about so hard?¡± Sitting in the empty meeting room and looking at the documents, his co-director, PD Oh, popped his head in. PD Gu licked his dry lips. ¡°Taejun. Team C.¡± ¡°Team C?¡± ¡°Who should I fix from here?¡± ¡°Daydream or New ck?¡± Two profiles of five-member groups were lined up side by side. One was a rookie, the other was a three-year-old boy group. PD Oh, who was sipping his americano, said casually, ¡°Just go with Daydream. It¡¯s a Chuseok Special, why risk ruining the atmosphere with rookies?¡± ¡°I was thinking that too, but¡­¡± ¡°But?¡± ¡°I don¡¯t know, they just rub me the wrong way.¡± ¡°New ck?¡± His junior tilted his head and asked. ¡°There was nothing special when we researched them, right? They debuted with Jang Sowon and Something, and what, one of the members¡¯ father is a congressman. That¡¯s it, there was nothing else to talk about.¡± ¡°What about Daydream?¡± ¡°Simr, but they have more broadcast experience. Less risk.¡± ¡°I see.¡± ¡°Are you worried about Lemon¡¯s manager? The one with sses, he¡¯s beening by a lottely.¡± ¡°You¡¯re too much. I¡¯ve been in this business for years. Do you think I¡¯d be swayed by a manager?¡± It was true that Yoon, the manager of Lemon Entertainment, had beening by and persistently pitching his group. Thanks to that, they made it to the final candidates, along with Daydream, who wouldn¡¯t have been considered otherwise. But it wasn¡¯t just because of that. He had a feeling that they weren¡¯t bad when he looked at the data that the writers had researched. A PD¡¯s intuition, if you would. The problem was that he had no evidence to prove this intuition. ¡®After all, rookies are a gamble.¡¯ Even if they had been active sincest February, it might be too much to put them in a Chuseok Special of a variety show. He thought that as he moved New ck¡¯s profile under Daydream¡¯s. A sub-writer came in with a coffee in one hand and asked, ¡°What were you two talking about?¡± PD Oh seemed to have thought of something and said, ¡°Right, Mr. Yang.¡± ¡°Yes?¡± ¡°You were in charge of the pre-research for the Team C guests, right? You also researched New ck, didn¡¯t you?¡± ¡°Yes, I did.¡± ¡°Was there anything special?¡± ¡°Nothing different from what I gave you before, oh¡­!¡± The two of them turned their heads at the sudden exmation. ¡°A junior I know sent me a video during the day. He¡¯s a sub at a cable channel, and he said there were some kids called New ck on their show. He told me to take a look.¡± ¡°What video?¡± ¡°I haven¡¯t seen it yet.¡± She brought herptop over for the curious duo. When she clicked on the file saved in her mailbox, a video popped up. ¡°Going to the Scene, what kind of program is this?¡± ¡°It looks like something simr to our Info Express, you know, that kind of thing.¡± ¡°Can you both be quiet and watch?¡± But before she could say anything, the broadcast started and they shut their mouths. A five-minute clip. But by the time it was over, the main PD had a strange expression on his face. ¡°Wait a minute, can you y that part again?¡± ¡°Here?¡± He didn¡¯t point out where exactly, but moved the mouse on his own. The scene where Kim Junghyun fixed the machine and said his dream was to be a farmer after living in the countryside. His slow and naive tone of voice made some scenes sh in his head. The main PD, who had been lost in thought, threw a nce at his junior. ¡°Taejun. We¡¯re going to the countryside for this special, right?¡± ¡°Yes, we are.¡± ¡°What do you think?¡± ¡°Definitely¡­¡± ¡°Doesn¡¯t it look good?¡± ¡°Yes, I wasn¡¯t sure before, but now I¡¯m certain.¡± When the sub-writer tilted her head, wondering what they were talking about, the main PD nodded. ¡°Let¡¯s contact them as soon as it gets light.¡± A faint smile crossed his face. Gu Jaeyoung. He was the main PD of the nation¡¯s most popr variety show ¡®Around the World with a Dice¡¯ on TBC Broadcasting. *** Monday was their official day off. Of course, that didn¡¯t mean they didn¡¯t do anything and rested. It meant that they should work on their self-development since they didn¡¯t schedule anything for them. That was also because thepany was considerate of them. On the other hand, on such a day off, Rihyuk and Woojoo were immersed in the recording hell. -Rihyuk, I think your tone needs to be a bit lower. ¡°Okay, I¡¯ll fix it.¡± -Woojoo, you¡¯re doing well, but when you say ¡®that night, that sea¡¯, I wish you would breathe a little more lightly. Please pay attention to that part. ¡°I got it.¡± The A&R staff members with paper and pen behind the ss window spoke, and they nodded and continued the recording. The work they were doing was the official recording of ¡®Night Sea¡¯. They were about to release the song soon, so the atmosphere was quite serious and their attitude towards the recording was different. ¡°Good job, everyone!¡± After about two hours of recording, they were left alone in the studio again. Rihyuk and Woojoo copsed like exhausted cats. ¡°Hey, move over.¡± ¡°Iy down first.¡± ¡°I was born first.¡± ¡°Good for you, old man.¡± ¡°You have no manners.¡± ¡°Old fart.¡± They fought over the sweet spot on the sofa, but they eventually agreed to share it half and half. Rihyuk, who was lying down like a tired cat, groaned. ¡°I¡¯m dying. Seriously.¡± ¡°Are you tired?¡± ¡°I guess I still have some cold left. I feel like I need to sleep to get rid of it.¡± ¡°Just hang in there. The day after tomorrow, the music show will be over, and we¡¯ll have a day to rest.¡± ¡°I wouldn¡¯t have any wishes then.¡± Maybe it was because of the fatigue that was creeping up on him. As their eyelids slowly closed and their voices became more and more drowsy, the door suddenly opened right before they fell asleep. Huh. What was going on? Woojoo lifted his head to see who it was and saw his younger siblings. ¡°Hyungs! Hyungs!¡± ¡°What¡¯s up?¡± ¡°We have some amazing news!¡± At first, Woojoo wondered what it was, but then he guessed. Seokhwan Hyung had run off to the broadcasting station earlier, saying he had some good news. Maybe he got a variety show offer. Woojoo shook off the sleepiness and felt excited. ¡°Hyung, we¡­¡± But the words that came out of Bijoo¡¯s excited facepletely missed his expectations. ¡°We¡¯re fixed as the first-ce candidates for Showtime tomorrow.¡± ¡°What?¡± Woojoo jumped up without realizing it and Rihyuk fell off him. Chapter 77: Chapter 77: Trantor: MarcTempest Editor: Rxel Chapter 77 Woojoo woke up with a start. The sight of his siblings entering the studio felt unreal. ¡°What are you talking about?¡± Woojoo asked as he lifted up Rihyuk, who was sprawled on the floor. He would have normallyined that Woojoo got dust on him, or called him a bad Hyung, but he was just gaping like a fool. Of course, Woojoo was the same. ¡°We¡¯re the first-ce candidate?¡±¡°Yes.¡± ¡°Us?¡± ¡°Yes.¡± Woojoo looked at the other two guys standing next to Bijoo. They nodded vigorously. It seemed like they were telling the truth. Junghyun was really bad at lying. Woojoo stared nkly at Rihyuk. ¡°We¡¯re the first-ce candidate?¡± ¡°That¡¯s right.¡± ¡°¡­¡± ¡°¡­¡± There was a brief silence, and then they screamed and hugged each other. They yed rock-paper-scissors and danced around. They were like monkeys around a bonfire, cheering and celebrating. It took them a while to calm down. ¡°Guys, it¡¯s a rare happy day for us. Let¡¯s have a toast.¡± ¡°Yeah, let¡¯s drink.¡± ¡°I¡¯ve always wanted to drink this whenever I saw it in the fridge.¡± Woojoo opened the grape juice in the studio fridge with a pounding heart. It was something he couldn¡¯t touch because of the PT teacher who threatened him with an extra set of squats every time his BMI got worse. If not today, then when? Woojoo took a sip of the sweet juice and asked what happened. ¡°So, how did this happen?¡± Bijoo exined to them how they became the first-ce candidate. Showtime. Showtime was a cable music show that was recorded every Tuesday in Sangam-dong. Unlike other programs, Showtime had a peculiar rule. Singers who didn¡¯t perform that day were excluded from the first-ce candidate. ¡°Right now, there¡¯s a lot of damage because of the typhoon.¡± ¡°Typhoon?¡± What did that have to do with the first-ce candidate? ¡°Because of the typhoon, Autumn Girl ended their activities early. Their song has lyrics like ¡®The endless season¡¯, ¡®The rain sweeps away your heart¡¯. I guess their agency was worried about the controversy.¡± Woojoo took out his smartphone and searched for Autumn Girl. It was true. -Autumn Girl, who achieved a triple crown for three consecutive weeks on music shows, ended their activities early due to the typhoon ¡®Jokjeobi¡¯. SNH Entertainment said, ¡®We think the lyrics are inappropriate in the current situation where many people are suffering from the damage¡¯¡­ There was also a heartwarming story that one of the members was from the affected area and left for volunteer work to help with the recovery. Thements were also positive. Woojoo understood why the first-ce candidate was empty after reading the article. Usually, normal music shows would give the first ce to anyone who had the score, even if they didn¡¯t perform that day. That was why sometimes at the end of the show, they would congratte the air! They had good chart rankings and album sales, so they would probably be on the candidate list for the three major terrestrialworks and K, except for Showtime. They would have a fiercepetition with Daydream, who was making aeback on Thursday. Yeah. Woojoo understood that much. ¡°Do we have the score to be the first-ce candidate?¡± ¡°We barely made it,¡± Bijoo said. ¡°Thanks to the fancam, our MV views and chart rankings soared over the weekend. The PR team said that it seemed to be reflected.¡± ¡°Ah¡­¡± It all came back to that day¡¯s event. Woojoo was dumbfounded at first, but then he epted it. The first ce was empty, and they rose up over the weekend and got in as the third ce. ¡°We¡¯re the first ce candidate¡­¡± It started to sink in. His heart was racing. A pleasant shiver ran up his neck and cheeks. A first-ce candidate, Woojoo felt like spreading the news around the neighborhood right away. He should call Mrs. Kim Deoksoon quickly¡­ As he was having such thoughts, Rihyuk, who was expressing his joy by pping his cheeks, flinched as if he remembered something. ¡°Uh.¡± ¡°What¡¯s wrong?¡± Why was he looking at the grape juice as if it was poison? ¡°Well, you know. There¡¯s something we¡¯re forgetting right now.¡± ¡°What did we forget?¡± ¡°Do you remember our fan signing event? The promise we made as first-ce candidates, to wear mascot costumes and dance in Myeongdong.¡± Oh. Right. ¡°¡­¡± Everyone blinked. ¡°¡­¡± Thoughts shed through Woojoo¡¯s mind. Midsummer. The outside temperature was 33 degrees. A hot and humid mascot costume that didn¡¯t ventte. The crowded Myeongdong. They imagined the hellish scene in their heads and their faces turned pale. ¡°¡­¡± After a brief silence, Woojoo cautiously said, ¡°Should we be happy for now?¡± ¡°Yeah, yeah. Hyung. It¡¯s a good day.¡± ¡°Right, we¡¯re not the ones who are doomed right now, it¡¯s our future selves.¡± They desperately changed the topic and regained the cheerful atmosphere, but there were still mascot costumes flying in their heads. *** The next day. They arrived at the HBS Sangam Tower and received warm greetings. ¡°Congrattions on being the first-ce candidate!¡± ¡°That¡¯s awesome.¡± ¡°How do you feel, being the first-ce candidate? We want to experience it with you.¡± Every time they met in the hallway, rookie singers with simr seniority congratted them and talked to them. ¡°Thank you, we¡¯re really out of our minds. We suddenly became the first-ce candidates at the end of our activities.¡± There were twice as many eyes on them as usual, so they were four times more careful about their words and actions. Especially in front of the other first-ce candidates. Today, the senior singers who were the first-ce candidates with them on Showtime were the girl group, Misty, and the solo singer, Joana. They were also in a good mood. There was no Autumn Girl, who had swept the trophies for three weeks in a row, and Jung Woonhyung, who was second, had ended his activities, so Showtime¡¯s first ce was up for grabs. They would have been third if it had been normal, but they became the strong contenders for first ce. No matter how much they desired the first ce, everyone seemed happy with the sudden luck. After greeting everyone around, Woojoo felt drained. At least he was d that they could restfortably in the waiting room that they used to share with the first-ce candidates. While they were getting their makeup done for the pre-recording, they felt a strange emptiness and looked for their manager. ¡°Minki Hyung, when is the Directoring?¡± ¡°He¡¯s busy right now.¡± ¡°Is he still working? I haven¡¯t seen him since yesterday, is he having trouble with something¡­¡± ¡°Don¡¯t worry too much.¡± The road manager smiled as he looked at his phone. ¡°I heard about the situation and it seems like the mood is good.¡± They hadn¡¯t seen their director since yesterday. He said he was doing business, but he hadn¡¯t been away from his seat for this longtely. Woojoo couldn¡¯t figure it out. Did they have any variety shows to appear on? It wasn¡¯t like he was making a new show. The youngest, who couldn¡¯t contain his curiosity, asked Minki Hyung, ¡°Are you not going to tell us what it is?¡± ¡°He said to keep it a secret until it¡¯s confirmed. I want to tell you, but it¡¯s not my ce to say. Just wait until tonight. You¡¯ll have an idea by then.¡± The youngest kept asking questions persistently, but the manager shook his head. Woojoo guessed that the deal was done at the practical level and now it was up to the higher-ups to finalize it. Woojoo wondered what their Director¡¯s project was, that he had been working on for a month. He was curious about the story that he would hear tonight. ¡°Ah, I¡¯m excited.¡± The youngest smiled as he stretched. ¡°I feel so good. The Director¡¯s work is going well, and so is ours.¡± ¡°Yesterday you were a mess. You look better, our youngest.¡± ¡°I¡¯ve emptied my mind.¡± They couldn¡¯t help butugh. He had been bothering them all day yesterday, asking ¡°Will we be first tomorrow?¡±, ¡°Can we be first?¡±, ¡°Can we be second?¡± while following them around. Woojoo thought it was understandable. He was getting his final makeup done, when Rihyuk bit his tongue as if he was annoyed. ¡°Really, I couldn¡¯t sleepst night because of him. He rolled into my bed and whispered ¡®first, first, first¡¯ like a ghost. I thought he was possessed.¡± ¡°I was that greedy yesterday.¡± ¡°What about now?¡± ¡°I¡¯vepletely emptied my mind,¡± Woojoo said with a fake smile. ¡°How can you empty it? It¡¯s natural to be greedy.¡± Woojoo couldn¡¯t sleep either after talking to Mrs. Kim Deoksoon. Honestly, he couldn¡¯t help but be greedy. It was the first ce. They were lucky to be nominated, but that didn¡¯t mean they didn¡¯t want to be first. They had expectations, and what ifs. But today, on their way here, they made a promise. They were very grateful to be nominated for the first ce, and the result wouldn¡¯t change no matter what they did, so let¡¯s enjoy the time they had today. Let¡¯s share this luck with their people and their fans, who came to see them at the end of their activities. ¡°Guys, fan letters are here.¡± ¡°Ooh.¡± The fan manager appeared and handed the New ck eco bag to Minki Hyung. They took out the letters inside. Envelopes of various colors. They were letters from the fans who came to see the workshop. ¡°Wow¡­¡± Exmations came out of their mouths as they read the fan letters. ¡°Hyung, look at this. Someone drew a caricature of us and it¡¯s so cute. There are different versions here, haha! Look at Rihyuk Hyung¡¯s pirarucu version. It¡¯s so cute.¡± ¡°I want to see it too.¡± ¡°Me too.¡± ¡°Don¡¯t look, that¡¯s a bad person.¡± ¡°Rihyuk Hyung¡¯s red bean version is here too.¡± Theyughed at the caricature drawn by a talented fan. ¡°Someone suggested that I should make a vlog, what do you think?¡± ¡°What?¡± ¡°Some fan said I should make a vlog about growing green onions or onions.¡± ¡°Oh, that¡¯s not bad?¡± One fan suggested that they should make a vlog about growing vegetables. ¡°I heard someone asked you to announce the weather every time you pre-record, Junghyun Hyung. They said you¡¯re better than the weather forecast.¡± ¡°Why does everyone ask me how much rice I use¡­¡± It was a cable program that didn¡¯t get much attention on the inte, but it seemed like all of their Souffl¨¦s watched it, judging by thements about Junghyun. Of course, there were other things that took up most of the space. -Guys, congrattions on being the first-ce candidate. We know how hard you¡¯ve worked, so don¡¯t feel pressured. It¡¯s a great thing to be a candidate. -P.S. What kind of mask are you going to wear? ¡­Woojoo pretended not to see thest postscript. Woojoo erased thest PS from his mind and savored the fans¡¯ hearts. They said they didn¡¯t care if they didn¡¯t win first ce, they just wanted them to enjoy the stage without any burden. As they all smiled warmly. That was when it happened. Knock, knock. The door opened and an FD with an inte stuck his head in. ¡°New ck, get ready.¡± ¡°Yes!¡± Woojoo answered energetically and looked around at his brothers. ¡°Let¡¯s go meet our Souffl¨¦s.¡± *** Maybe it was because they were ending their activities with the happy news of being the first-ce candidate. Today¡¯s recording was more passionate than usual. The fans chanted their name as the intro yed, and they sweated more than usual to repay their support. ¡°Good job.¡± The director smiled and said, ¡°You have some time until the next recording. Why don¡¯t you chat with your fans for a while?¡± He usually gave them some time forments, but today he seemed to be extra generous because they were the first-ce candidate. New ck watched the staff members leave like the ebb tide and turned their eyes to the fans. ¡°How do you guys feel?¡± They got responses like nervous, excited, etc. ¡°We¡¯re really nervous too.¡± ¡°I¡¯m not that nervous¡­¡± ¡°Hyung, you know your eyes are shaking, right?¡± ¡°Shut up.¡± They teased each other as usual, but today there was a lot of interest in Junghyun. Someone shouted ¡°Tomorrow¡¯s weather!¡± and made themugh. Woojoo felt happy seeing Junghyun¡¯s awkward face. He wasn¡¯t very talkative, so Woojoo was worried that he didn¡¯t get much attentionpared to the other members in the reality shows and such, but he felt like he could throw away some of that worry. The atmosphere was warm and friendly. After about 10 minutes, it was time to change the set, so Woojoo brought up thest important topic. ¡°You all remember the promise for the first-ce candidate, right?¡± They nodded and brightened their eyes. ¡°I was thinking about something. You know how it¡¯s been really hottely, and everyone¡¯s feeling irritated? I don¡¯t think it would be a good idea to have people in mascot costumes on the streets¡­¡± h, h, h. ¡°You just want to see us in mascot costumes, don¡¯t you?¡± Nod, nod. ¡°As expected, our Souffl¨¦ is the best.¡± Woojoo raised his thumb with a self-satisfied smile, and everyoneughed. Woojoo also smiled and continued the conversation. ¡°Actually, I was joking about the first-ce pledge.¡± Woojoo was serious. ¡°I read your letters carefully, and I really liked what you said. You said it¡¯s okay if we don¡¯t get first ce, and we shouldn¡¯t feel pressured. We told ourselves to have fun and enjoy, but we were worried that we might disappoint you.¡± ¡°I saw itst night, for real.¡± Rihyuk interrupted with a snicker. ¡°He was mumbling in his sleep next to me. ¡®What should I do?¡¯ He kept saying. I asked him, ¡®Why, what¡¯s wrong?¡¯ And he said, ¡®We¡¯re in trouble, Rihyuk.¡¯ And then he said, ¡®Souffl¨¦ is falling from the sky¡­¡¯.¡± ¡°Junghyun, take him away.¡± Their rapper dragged their main vocal into his arms. ¡°Hey, I¡¯m curious.¡± ¡°Me too.¡± Bijoo and the youngest, along with the fans, made a curious noise, but Woojoo waved his hand. ¡°I¡¯ve never heard this story before, so I think it needs to be censored. Please understand. We had an incident where our fan club name was decided by a slip of the tongue.¡± The mint chocte fans who were holding their breath nodded in agreement. Woojoo smiled awkwardly. As the staff members started to enter the studio one by one for the set change, Woojoo wrapped up the talk. ¡°Okay, then let¡¯s talk more at the mini fan meeting after the show. I¡¯ll listen to Rihyuk¡¯s story and tell youter.¡± ¡°Thank you for your hard work today!¡± ¡°See youter!¡± ¡°Oh, and we have a gift for you, so please check it out after you leave.¡± They tilted their heads in curiosity, and Woojoo waved and smiled at them. *** But when they returned to the waiting room, they were the ones who were surprised. ¡°Wow.¡± They opened their eyes wide at the sight of the stacked boxes, and Minki Hyung and the fan manager smiled and said, ¡°These are lunch boxes from the fans.¡± ¡°Wow¡­¡± ¡°We decided not to ept any support, but we made an exception for today. The biggest one is yours.¡± They were wondering what to eat, and this was such a blessing¡­ There was a sticker of their group photo and a message saying ¡®You worked hard! We¡¯ll always support you!¡¯ on the lunch box. They were touched by their kindness. ¡°Hyungs, look at this. The lunch box is shining.¡± Butter garlic shrimp, abalone, buffalo wings, pork ribs, and the main dishes of samgyetang and eel. As they were admiring the luxurious lunch box, Junghyun said, ¡°By the way.¡± ¡°The fans must be going crazy right now.¡± *** The fans who came out of the broadcasting station were guided by the fan manager to a certain ce. It was where they usually had mini fan meetings. ¡®What is it?¡¯ When they arrived, there was a food truck parked there. The fans who had failed to get into the show today greeted the neers. ¡°Come quickly!¡± ¡°What is this¡­ huh?¡± A familiar and savory smell. A smell that grabbed the appetite of the hungry people who were about to have lunch. The sound of oil sizzling. Some of the fans who had recently decided to go on a diet felt their hearts flutter. A different kind of excitement from seeing their singer. The food truck of ¡®HoHo Chicken¡¯, which made chicken in real time, caught their eyes. As they were immersed in the emotion, someone told them big news. ¡°Do you know this?¡± The one who was picking a chicken with a toothpick said, ¡°This is boneless.¡± With a gasp, a bigger wave of emotion spread. Chapter 78: Chapter 78: Trantor: MarcTempest Editor: Rxel Chapter 78 30 minutester, The New ck posted a message on their official SNS. @The_New_ck_Official We really enjoyed the lunch boxes you sent us! Woojoo Hyung said he was so touched that he cried, because he was eating army food around this timest year. It¡¯s true. Junghyun and Jiho ate one more each. And Rihyuk didn¡¯t leave any rice for the first time. #Thank_you #Love_you Along with the photos of the members eating, they also wrote a long review of each food, like a food blogger. The fans who were at the scene also started to upload their proof shots.@IiiiII23 I came out of the fan meeting and ended up eating chicken, thanks guys, #I¡¯m_bing_a_pig_today #Diet_fail The SNS posts of The New ck¡¯s fans quickly spread to the fan cafe. -?????? -I want to tell people. Everyone. Please be a fan of our kids. Let¡¯s be rich not in our hearts but in our bodies?? -Last time they gave us sandwiches at the music show, and today the fans who went to the fan meeting got lucky??? -I¡¯m at the scene right now and it¡¯s so delicious¡­ I give up on dieting today -Chicken is legit -Live report) Chicken 10 pieces vs eco bag debate -???????? -Live report) Eco bag wins by andslide -Breaking news) A fan said, ¡®What if the kids personally handed us the chicken?¡¯ and the atmosphere is buzzing -Breaking news) ¡®The kids are the kids and the chicken is the chicken¡¯ a dramatic agreement is reached -?????????? -Wow, it must be really delicious, they¡¯re frying it on the spot? -Yeah, someone from the headquarters who¡¯s in charge of cooking came, I heard Jiho¡¯s dad works at thatpany -Hul, that¡¯s awesome??? While the fan cafe was bustling, the PR team of Lemon Entertainment was working as usual. They checked the SNS posts of The New ck members, and also sent out press releases about the heartwarming stories of the fans and the singers exchanging gifts. When their busy work was somewhat settled, the PR team leader opened his mouth. ¡°Isn¡¯t it time for the ending stage soon?¡± ¡°Yes, it should be.¡± ¡°Turn on the TV. We have to watch it ourselves on days like this.¡± Someone picked up the remote and turned on the TV. They switched from the terrestrial channel that they had left on to monitor the drama that theirpany¡¯s actor was in, and the number went up and up. ¡®HBS MTV¡¯ was the channel name, and Showtime was being broadcast live. As Soul Six from Oullim Entertainment was performing, the employees rolled their chairs to the front of the TV screen. Soon after, Soul Six¡¯s stage ended, and the final three stages began. Unlike usual, the order was from the highest to the lowest rank. ¡°Our kids are thest ones, right? They won¡¯t make a fuss about this, will they?¡± ¡°It¡¯s fine. There¡¯s no one with a big fandom enough to make a fuss about that. Maybe if it was Teen Spirit.¡± ¡°They¡¯re all pretty mediocre.¡± ¡°I¡¯ve been browsing some idol-rtedmunities, and they say that this Showtime¡¯s first ce is the best ever.¡± Everyone gave a bitter smile, and someone asked, ¡°Who do you think will be the first ce today?¡± ¡°Well, I think Misty has the highest chance. They have the biggest fandom among the three. And their album sales have been rising since thest one, and this one¡¯s not bad either, right? They even got third ce on some other music shows.¡± ¡°Yeah, their fandom is surprisingly strong.¡± ¡°What about Joana? Isn¡¯t she possible?¡± ¡°Really?¡± ¡°She was a girl group member and then herpany pushed her as a solo, so she has some existing fans, right? They¡¯re few but very core, I heard.¡± ¡°Her album sales are low, though.¡± But there was no one who said that New ck would be the first ce. Because of the objective numbers. It might have been possible if it was the third or fourth week, but now, their overall indicators were low. Soon. New ck¡¯s ¡®Fireworks¡¯ stage began. ¡°Wow.¡± Someone eximed. ¡°Look at the stage quality. This is why the broadcasting station gave them the finale, right?¡± ¡°They¡¯re really good.¡± ¡°Their makeup looks good today, too, and their expressions are really, wow, this is why we feed them expensive food.¡± ¡°Woojoo is going wild, really.¡± They admired the appearance of the New ck members singing the chorus of Fireworks. And the refreshing song, too. ¡°Fireworks is always nice to listen to. I had a feeling that this would be a hit ever since I first heard it.¡± ¡°The A&R team said that the song is good, and even though it might not make it to the annual chart, it will stay on the chart for a few months.¡± ¡°We have to work hard on promoting the official release of Night Sea. We might be able to rise together with the double title track.¡± ¡°Look at the kids on stage.¡± Someone smiled and changed the topic. ¡°They looked so young and cute when they came out on Something in March. But now they look like pros, don¡¯t they?¡± ¡°Exactly. They look like celebrities now.¡± ¡°How¡¯s the real-time reaction?¡± ¡°It¡¯s not explosive, but it¡¯s not bad. There arements asking for the members¡¯ names and saying they¡¯re handsome.¡± Then, someone checked a message and asked, ¡°Team leader, Young Daily wants to schedule an interview for tomorrow. What should I tell them?¡± ¡°Put them on hold. We have another schedule.¡± As the employee nodded, another employee asked, ¡°Schedule? There was nothing on the management team¡¯s schedule except for the music show.¡± ¡°We have an unofficial schedule. We have a meeting with TBC Broadcasting Station.¡± ¡°A meeting?¡± As someone asked, New ck¡¯s stage ended and all the singers who appeared today gathered in one ce. The countdown starting from five ended. And on the screen, the total scores appeared quickly along with each group¡¯s album photos. -Yes! The first ce is Joana¡¯s ¡®Starlight¡¯! Congrattions! -Congrattions! With a click! sound, glittering papers fell from the air. -Please tell us how you feel about being first. -Uh¡­ Uh, yes. Me? Yes. The solo singer with a ponytail and a leather jacket had her eyes wide open. Soon, Joana regained herposure and mentioned the staff while giving her first-ever first-ce speech. The singers behind her pped for her. But what the promotion team employees were looking at was not the speech, but behind it. ¡°They look really happy.¡± ¡°Our kids have great reactions.¡± ¡°Woojoo must have told them everything beforehand.¡± Usually, this was the time when they had to be careful about their expressions. In the past, Sixty Seconds caused a controversy when they crossed their arms and looked displeased when TNT won the first ce. Well. Of course, it wasn¡¯t that bad. They were worried that they might unconsciously show their disappointment. But after seeing the result of being third, they smiled brightly among themselves and soon sent apuse to the senior singer who became first. They must have had high expectations. They acted professionally, and the promotion team employees smiled as well. A loud phone rang. ¡°Are you here? Yes, yes, I¡¯lle out to meet you.¡± As Hong, the deputy, got up in a hurry, the others asked, ¡°Who¡¯s here?¡± ¡°Oh, it¡¯s the costumes that the kids will use in Myeongdong. The samples just arrived.¡± *** ¡°¡­¡± When they returned to thepany, there were some monsters in the practice room. ¡°Oh, my god.¡± Rihyuk made a fuss and hid behind them. They were having simr reactions. ¡°Am I seeing things?¡± ¡°Hyung, what is this, or what are these?¡± ¡°They¡¯re so ugly.¡± ¡°Please tell me we¡¯re not going to wear these costumes¡­¡± The youngest looked at them with a desperate look, but they had nothing to say. Woojoo felt like crying too. They wereughing and talking until a while ago. But after seeing that, the thoughts of being a first-ce candidate, or the fun things that happened while having a mini fan meeting flew out of their heads. The only thing they could think of was that the ¡®things¡¯ in front of them were not the costumes they were going to wear. The youngest shook his head and said, ¡°Hyungs, I thought about it again, and I don¡¯t think these are the costumes we¡¯re going to wear. If they were, there would be five of them.¡± There were three costumes in front of them. ¡°Oh, right.¡± As Woojoo muttered a hopeful wish, Bijoo spoke. ¡°What if they¡¯re just samples, and they want us to choose one out of the three?¡± ¡°Choose from there?¡± That seemed like a problem in itself. Woojoo¡¯s eyes drifted to the three dolls that were leaning against the wall of the practice room. From the left: A bald, flesh-colored doll that resembled a sausage. A primitive tribesman. A very strangely shaped teddy bear. If there were viins in the doll world, they would be them. Their menacing appearance made Woojoo swallow hard. ¡°No way,¡± Woojoo said. ¡°Unless thepany staff have lost their sense of aesthetics, they wouldn¡¯t have picked those things.¡± ¡°That¡¯s true, right?¡± ¡°Yeah, Hyungs. When have you ever seen Woojoo Hyung say something wrong? If he says it¡¯s not, then it¡¯s not.¡± ¡°Right, right.¡± ¡°Hey, you guys seem to be in denial of reality right now¡­¡± ¡°I can¡¯t hear you, I can¡¯t hear anything.¡± Ignoring Rihyuk¡¯s words, Woojoo plugged his ears. Then, the door of the practice room opened with a click. It was Hong Daeri from the PR team. ¡°Oh, when did youe back?¡± ¡°I¡¯m sorry for the dy.¡± ¡°Congrattions on bing the first-ce candidate. I wanted to congratte you earlier, but Director Cho said it might make you nervous, so he told me to wait until it was over.¡± ¡°Oh, it¡¯s okay. Thank you.¡± The smiling deputy handed Woojoo a congrattory message and then asked him, ¡°How is it?¡± ¡°What do you mean¡­?¡± Don¡¯t tell me. ¡°It¡¯s the mascot costume you promised to wear if you became the first-ce candidate. The rentalpany sent us a sample, and we¡¯re going to order it once you choose.¡± ¡°You want me to choose?¡± ¡°Yeah, I thought it would be fair to give you the option.¡± The costume looked anything but fair. ¡°What¡¯s wrong, Woojoo?¡± ¡°Nothing.¡± Woojoo wondered if this was a hidden camera prank, so he nced at the mirror or the rail, but he didn¡¯t see anything. Were these people serious? ¡°Okay, then let me exin each one to you.¡± Did you order them yourself? Woojoo tried to keep a straight face while the deputy looked excited, and she led them to the leftmost one and started exining. First, the bald sausage. ¡°This is a finger puppet.¡± ¡°Fingers?¡± ¡°Yeah, they¡¯re originally in five sets. From the thumb to the little finger, there are exactly five of them, just like you guys.¡± She showed them a picture of theplete set on her tablet PC, and Woojoo couldn¡¯t help but gasp at the sight. It reminded him of something. ¡°Uh, boss.¡± ¡°Yeah?¡± ¡°Is it just me, or does the middle finger look a bit long¡­?¡± Woojoo was trying to find the right words to say when the most blunt member of our group blurted out. ¡°Sir, you look like a middle finger when you stand in a line like that.¡± ¡°¡­Oh.¡± Their boss looked flustered. ¡°I didn¡¯t think of that at all, but I guess it could look that way.¡± ¡°It would be a disaster if any of us on the side had a dance move that involved bending our knees. There are a lot of foreign tourists in Myeongdong, you know¡­¡± ¡°Sorry. This wasn¡¯t my choice, actually.¡± She revealed the behind-the-scenes story. ¡°I ordered the remaining two, and the boss liked them. He said he wanted to help out with the kids wearing the masks.¡± ¡°Ah¡­¡± ¡°He asked me to keep it a secret, but I¡¯m telling you just in case.¡± It seemed like she spoke well. Butter, when the boss asked shyly, and the youngest or Junghyun said, ¡°Oh, is that the fuck-you doll?¡± there would be a hugemotion. ¡°Um, shall we move on to the other two then?¡± The second one was a doll that resembled a primitive tribe. This one was cute. Maybe it was because it was sandwiched between a flesh-colored sausage and a murderous teddy bear, but its appearance and outfit were somewhat adorable. ¡°How about this one? There were so many predictions on the fan cafe, so this was the only one left after avoiding them all.¡± ¡°Not bad,¡± Rihyuk said. ¡°It looks pretty good to me.¡± ¡°Me too.¡± ¡°Um, I don¡¯t know if it will fit my shoulders, but I agree.¡± ¡°This is the best of the three.¡± But Woojoo disagreed. ¡°I like the appearance too, but the dark skin of the primitive people, and the clothes that remind me of African people. There are a lot of overseas K-pop fans these days, so it might be risky. It could be seen as racial discrimination if we do it wrong. Koreans mightugh at it, but foreign tourists might feel differently.¡± That was the kind of thing that caused controversy over racial discrimination on foreign websites. Things like painting their skin ck and making tribal noises. ¡°I think it¡¯s better to avoid anything that could cause controversy.¡± Everyone nodded and agreed. ¡°Then, there¡¯s only one left. Do we have to order again? How about this one?¡± Thest remaining murderous teddy bear. If you just smeared some blood drops on that T-shirt and gave it a knife model, it would be a perfect Halloween costume. Why did they put teeth on the teddy bear? It was smiling, but it felt like it was saying ¡®I¡¯ll chase you to hell¡¯. Woojoo watched the teddy bear with an awkward feeling for a while, when Junghyun stepped in. ¡°Wait a minute. I know a designer, so I¡¯ll ask him.¡± Junghyun picked up his phone and connected somewhere. He answered ¡®cousin¡¯ to their curious eyes. Were they the ones with weird taste? The designer praised all the costumes. He said the third teddy bear was the best for the public. He said he would show it to his son and daughter. Soon, two children appeared on the video call screen. They looked like seven and five years old, a cute little boy and girl. ¡°What do you think?¡± As Junghyun brought the video call screen close to the teddy bear, a loud cry burst out. The call ended with the angry scream of his wife, his excuses, and the sound of his back being pped. ¡°¡­¡± There was a moment of silence, and they asked, ¡°Manager, do you have anything else?¡± ¡°Um¡­ Ah!¡± She called somewhere and soon an intern from the PR team came down with a big doll. It was a chicken with a red T-shirt. ¡°Oh, it¡¯s cute.¡± They said without knowing. The T-shirt said ¡®Hoho Chicken¡¯. This was really cute. ¡°Did your dad send it?¡± ¡°Yeah, my father said to take it and use it if you need a doll costume. It¡¯s cute, but the problem is that there¡¯s a trademark on it¡­¡± ¡°How about taking off the T-shirt?¡± ¡°We already tried that. I¡¯ll show you why it wasn¡¯t a candidate.¡± He took it off. ¡°Um¡­¡± ¡°Uh¡­¡± ¡°This is too erotic for a chicken, don¡¯t you think?¡± Rihyuk¡¯s philosophical expression was tranted by the youngest. ¡°The chicken is too sexy.¡± *** In the end, they couldn¡¯t choose a doll costume that day. They refused the manager¡¯s words that she would look for it again. They said they would look for it themselves. ¡°No, there are so many good ones, but¡­¡± Woojoo was looking at the doll profiles on the rental site, and the youngest sipped his caramel mhiato and said, ¡°But they¡¯re toomon. The fans are posting a lot of guesses on the fan cafe, and they say things like teddy bears are too boring¡­¡± They had worked too hard on the stage. It was just a doll costume, but the fans were expecting a lot. It felt like they had to do something like jumping out of a helicopter with a parachute. Woojoo deleted the 8-piece teddy bear set from his wishlist, swallowing his tears at the negative reviews about them. ¡°All the good ones are already rented out¡­¡± As they were browsing the site with regret, they heard Seokhwan Hyung¡¯s voice calling them from afar. ¡°Oh, they¡¯re here!¡± They put away their phones and checked their outfits. They were at a cafe inside the TBC Broadcasting Station. They all got up nervously at the sight of someone walking with Seokhwan Hyung. The reason they had been desperately trying to rx by talking about the teddy bear costumes was because of that person. ¡°Hello! We are New ck!¡± ¡°Oh, hi.¡± He was PD Gu Jaeyong. He was the one who created the national variety show ¡®Around the World with Dice¡¯. He might have a high status in the industry, but he was also very big and fierce-looking. Woojoo couldn¡¯t help but flinch when he nced at him. He looked like a scary person. As soon as he sat down at the table, he blurted out something rather odd. ¡°Before we get into the main topic, there¡¯s something I want to ask you first.¡± ¡°Yes, PD-nim.¡± ¡°Which one of you is the one who came out of the army?¡± ¡°That¡¯s me, PD-nim.¡± ¡°Oh, I see. Since you came out of the army, do you¡­?¡± He was spinning his hand around for a while, like someone on their team who couldn¡¯t find the right word. He finally asked Woojoo a question. ¡°Are you good at digging?¡± ¡­What kind of special was this? Chapter 79: Chapter 79: Trantor: MarcTempest Editor: Rxel Chapter 79 Are you good at digging? Woojoo asked the PD, hiding his confusion, ¡°Digging?¡± ¡°Um, I just wanted to check that first.¡± ¡°I don¡¯t know if I¡¯m good at it, but I¡¯ve done it quite a bit.¡± ¡°Really?¡± He crossed his arms and fell into his thoughts.While Seokhwan Hyung went to the counter to order coffee for the PD, Woojoo recalled what happened yesterday. ¡®Guys! You¡¯re fixed for the variety show!¡¯ Last night, Seokhwan Hyung called Woojoo with a hoarse voice and rambled on. He said he had a hard time for a month, he would make them famous, he loved Seon Woojoo, he would be mad if they didn¡¯t work hard, variety shows were difficult, etc. He had a lot to say, but they only heard two things. Around the World With Dice. Chuseok Special. Woojoo couldn¡¯t believe it and asked him several times. Around the World With Dice, aka ¡®Roda¡¯, was a national variety show that was so popr. It was the undisputed top in terms of ratings. If PBS¡¯s ¡®Mr. Producer¡¯ was popr among young viewers, Roda was a program that was popr among all age groups. And they were going to be guests there. It was hard to believe. At first, Woojoo thought he was joking. Make some sense. How could they be on the Chuseok Special of Roda, a program that even Kim Deoksoon, who didn¡¯t know much about TV shows, knew? Honestly, they were still skeptical. It was too unbelievable. But seeing the grim man in front of Woojoo lost in thought, it felt real. PD Gu Jaeyong. The star PD who created a national variety show with a very simple format of rolling dice to decide the next filming location and mission. He was so famous that there were more cafe customers looking at him than New ck. By the way¡­ What he said in the interview was true. Woojoo skimmed through some articles beforehand to get to know him better, and they matched his current appearance. He said he only thought about the show all day, and he said things that seemed natural to him, but the other person was confused. ¡°Ah.¡± He seemed to snap out of it and smiled when he saw the coffee. ¡°I¡¯ll enjoy the coffee, sir.¡± He looked at them and scratched the back of his head. ¡°Did you guys get confused?¡± ¡°Not at all.¡± ¡°I¡¯ve been thinking about the special all day, and I have a rough sketch in my head, but I need someone who can dig well to get the captions and scenes I want.¡± ¡°Oh¡­¡± ¡°Anyway, I¡¯m sorry for thete introduction.¡± He smiled and greeted them. ¡°Nice to meet you. New ck friends.¡± ¡°Hello! We are New ck!¡± They all smiled and bowed their heads. The atmosphere was friendly. It was their first meeting, and it was a light asion to get to know each other over a cup of coffee. ¡°Do you feel nervous?¡± ¡°Yes, really.¡± ¡°All the rookie guests have the same expression.¡± ¡°I¡¯m especially amazed. I was watching Roda in the army barracks this timest year.¡± ¡°Us too. We thought they were lying, sir.¡± Heughed and said to Seokhwan Hyung, ¡°Be nice to him. He worked really hard. He came to see me every day with coffee and cake.¡± ¡°¡­I did bother you a lot.¡± ¡°Thanks to that, we have this good connection.¡± The PD said with apliment. ¡°When I meet guests as a PD, I usually get a sense of how they will be on the show. But New ck is especially good. I¡¯m not lying, I feel like something wille out well.¡± He rubbed his mustache and looked at Junghyun. ¡°Junghyun, right? I especially feel something from you.¡± ¡°Me?¡± Woojoo burst outughing at his face, which was sniffing his clothes with his head tilted. The PD, who had been smiling politely until then, showed a genuine grin for the first time and asked them, ¡°Is he always like this?¡± ¡°Yes, he¡¯s really hard to control sometimes.¡± ¡°Good, good. We need characters like this.¡± That seemed to spark his interest, and he started to ask Junghyun various questions. Where he grew up, whether he worked on a farm, and so on. As the conversation went on, he drank his coffee less and less. When he turned to them with questions, he even took out his phone and made notes. ¡°Bijoo, you said cooking is your specialty?¡± ¡°Yes, I learned a lot from blogs, TV, books, you name it. I also love it, and I¡¯ve been used to making my own meals since I was young.¡± ¡°Do you know how to make holiday dishes too?¡± ¡°Yes, I have a video of me making jeon for Lunar New Year this year.¡± Bijoo showed him the evidence on his phone, and he nodded and wrote it down. ¡°Let¡¯s see, Rihyuk. Singing, quizzes, cleaning¡­?¡± ¡°Yes, yes! I¡¯m the main vocal, so I love cleaning!¡± They tried to hold back theirughter at Rihyuk, who was saying anything out of nervousness. PD Gu Jaeyong frowned. ¡°Really? You love cleaning?¡± ¡°Yes, that¡¯s true¡­¡± ¡°Wow, that¡¯s great. I can picture the scene perfectly.¡± While Rihyuk was feeling uneasy in the strange atmosphere, the PD who was thinking hard by himself looked at Jiho. ¡°I don¡¯t need to ask Jiho.¡± ¡°Huh?¡± ¡°I don¡¯t think you need to do anything. You¡¯ll be popr with the elders just by standing still.¡± He was sharp. Woojoo was a bit annoyed by the youngest¡¯s expression of pride, saying ¡®I¡¯m cute after all¡¯. ¡°And Woojoo¡­¡± Maybe because of the military, the PD who had been listening to Woojoo about what had happened sincest November until now spoke. ¡°I¡¯ll have a lot to show you, or rather, show you. With Junghyun.¡± You just said you¡¯ll squeeze it out. The person who looked like a bandit gave Woojoo and Junghyun a look of interest. It was scary, but it was a good thing. National entertainment, and even something that could be on the Chuseok Special. That was the best situation they hoped for. The meeting that was supposed tost for about 10 minutes ended when the ice in the coffee melted. ¡°When TNT was a rookie and came on our show, it felt just like this. This feels good,¡± the PD who was getting up from his seat said. When PD Gu Jaeyong, who was talking to Seokhwan Hyung about the main shooting schedule and the pre-meeting, turned his head to say goodbye to them, he said as if he remembered something. ¡°I forgot to tell you that.¡± ¡°Yes?¡± ¡°You said you were worried about the doll costume promise earlier.¡± Wow, they told you a lot of stories today to a stranger. He said, scratching his mustache, ¡°I¡¯m saying this to repay you for the free coffee I¡¯ve been mooching off you, but our team has a prop that we¡¯re throwing away. Do you want to take it? It¡¯s something we made for filming but didn¡¯t use.¡± ¡°¡­?¡± ¡°It¡¯s very unique and cute.¡± ¡°¡­!¡± And ten minutester. They went to the prop room warehouse and shouted, ¡°Eureka!¡± *** The streets of Myeongdong on Friday afternoon were always crowded. Not only Koreans, but also Chinese and Japanese tourists who came here for summer vacation were chatting in their ownnguages and making the street lively. People who set up stalls were selling ice cream and snacks, and the street was crowded with customers looking for various cosmetic shops and duty-free shops. Around lunchtime, when the staff with menus in foreignnguages were busy moving around the restaurants, some electric wires and amps were installed in front of a building. ¡°What¡¯s that? What are they doing?¡± The passers-by started to look with curiosity. They didn¡¯t know what it was, but they had a feeling that something was going to happen soon. They stopped their steps and naturally formed a semi-circle around it. What were they doing? Some tourists wondered if a Korean singer wasing out, some couples thought that there might be a puppet show because the ce was spacious, and some people hoped for a prize event. Along with the majestic BGM. The door of the building opened and what appeared was something they never imagined. ¡°That, right now¡­¡± ¡°Is that a penguin?¡± They were giant penguins. They were strange penguin dolls with different species and expressions, walking and waddling. Someone burst intoughter and people took out their smartphones. They had a feeling that it would be fun. The penguins showed themselves one by one. A baby penguin with fluffy fur walked out, followed by a gentoo penguin that looked mean. Then came a noble penguin that waddled elegantly and a king penguin that waddled boldly. Andstly. Everyoneughed at the appearance of the emperor penguin with a crown on its head. ¡®What is that?¡¯ It was amazing to see. While the others felt like they were watching people walking in costume, the emperor penguin seemed like a real penguin. It was customized to look like a human, but somehow it acted like a real penguin. It looked like it came out of a documentary about Antarctica. Peopleughed at its huge waddling. A couple who wasughing uproariously whispered to each other. ¡°What are they doing?¡± ¡°I don¡¯t know. Is it a children¡¯s event?¡± ¡°It doesn¡¯t look like it¡¯s for children. The penguins look scary, don¡¯t they?¡± It was because of their awkwardness that Gu Jaeyong ordered them for a special feature on Antarctica and then discarded them as unlucky works. But considering the atmosphere, they thought that a penguin animation song woulde out. The prelude that came out with the thumping of the amp was unexpected music. ¡°Isn¡¯t that TNT¡¯s song?¡± ¡°Yeah, it is.¡± The first song that came out was BLINK, the most popr song in East Asia by TNT. As they heard the familiar song, the tourists¡¯ eyes were drawn to it. But the songposition was not only TNT¡¯s. There were Teen Spirit, Autumn Girl, and Scarlet. It was a medley of K-pop songs that had been popr in the music industry recently. And then. ¡°Hahaha!¡± The reason why people couldn¡¯t help butugh was because of the dance moves that the five penguins followed. They were elegant but somehow cute because of the costumes. The moves that stretched out their arms became pping wings, and their heavy bodies shook every time they bounced their steps. It was not smooth, but rather bouncy. But there were two unrivaled beings among them who wore those costumes. One was the noble penguin that looked beautiful. It was a penguin that caught the eye even though it jumped around and moved its wings like cheerleading. Many people¡¯s eyes followed it from the start of the show. They had never seen such a graceful dancing doll before. And then, the noble penguin stepped back and switched ces with someone at the center. They high-fived each other by pping their wings. The emperor penguin emerged with a haughty strut. They were amazed by the noble penguin, but now they burst outughing. ¡°What is this, they look like real penguins.¡± It felt like they were penguins who learned how to dance from idols. Someone joked that they were masters of describing movements. Then, a sudden incident happened. The crown of the emperor penguin, who was dancing breakdance fiercely, fell off. ¡°Oh no¡­!¡± He knelt down and picked up his crown, carefully putting it back on. The peopleughed again at his sight. The penguins¡¯ dance continued for five minutes and ended. The people who were thereughed at the ending scene. ¡°Aww, how cute.¡± The baby penguin, who was in a good mood, ran to hug someone, but the grumpy-looking gentoo penguin pped him away with his wing. The baby penguin fell over. The noble penguin, who was going to help him up, also tripped and rolled over. The king penguin walked over and lifted them up by putting his wings under their armpits. And then, the emperor penguin walked over and bumped the gentoo penguin with his plump belly, getting his revenge. The penguins bowed their heads together, holding their wings. It felt like watching aedy skit. The people pped andughed loudly. ¡°Hey, don¡¯t push me!¡± ¡°My phone!¡± The crowd had grown in no time. And half of them were filming with their smartphones. ¡°Excuse me.¡± A man with a grim expression appeared, pushing through the crowd. He approached the penguins. He looked like he was rted to them. ¡®Are they a dance team?¡¯ The people felt that their identity would be revealed soon. Most of them thought they were a dance team. If they were idols or celebrities, they wouldn¡¯t need to wear those costumes. They would have shown their faces right away. Then, they must be ordinary people. But their dance skills were too good to be non-dancers. That was what everyone thought. Especially, the noble penguin and the emperor penguin. No. Actually, the emperor penguin was the most interesting. Who was the owner of that posture that looked like a real penguin walking out? Aedian? Soon. The staff appeared and helped them take off their doll heads. Pop- And when the faces covered in sweat emerged from the steamy costumes, everyone swallowed their saliva. Someone eximed. ¡°Wow¡­¡± Inside the costumes were actors. No. They were faces so handsome that they could be mistaken for actors. One by one, as they revealed their faces, cheers erupted. The atmosphere of the audience changed drastically from the cute one they had before. The cute baby penguin had a bright smile and a youthful appearance, pping his wings happily. The penguin that had a sharp face and was cooling off his sweat with his wings. The noble penguin and the king penguin had a refined boy and a man with bushy eyebrows, respectively. And thest one, the most anticipated one. The emperor penguin who had captivated everyone¡¯s attention throughout the event took off his costume and there was a moment of silence. ¡°¡­¡± He was wiping his wet hair with his wings, and his face was unrealistically beautiful. He smiled awkwardly at the audience and admiration flowed out. ¡®He was that penguin¡­?¡¯ ¡®Hello, we are the rookie idol group New ck!¡¯ Even as they heard the greeting, people were staring nkly at their faces. When their images were imprinted in their minds like afterimages. The five members received microphones, as if they were preparing for a new performance. When they wondered what they were going to do next. A very refreshing melody flowed out of the amp. That day, it was a Fireworks song that everyone who was there would never forget. *** The reaction on the scene was really good. Woojoo was so happy that he felt like jumping, because it was unexpected. They prepared this project with the intention of being as cute and funny as possible, since they didn¡¯t have confidence in meeting the expectations of their fans. Woojoo felt inferior while watching penguin videos on YouTube and imitating their movements, but seeing the response made him think it was worth it. And their efforts also paid off. ¡°My name is Woojoo, like the greatest star in the universe, that Woojoo.¡± Woojoo exined his name in Chinese characters to a Chinese tourist, and in English to those from the West. He always wondered when he would use the English and Chinese he learned from TJ. But he finally felt like it was shining. With thatmunication, Woojoo repeated New ck enough to engrave it in the ears of those who came from abroad. ¡°Did you enjoy it? We are New ck.¡± ¡°It was fun, right? It was our first attempt as New ck.¡± ¡°Goodbye. We were New ck.¡± Woojoo was in charge of interpreting othernguages except Japanese, and there was a funny episode when he interpreted Chinese. ¡°He¡¯s asking if you¡¯re a Chinese descendant?¡± ¡°Hyung, what¡¯s a Chinese descendant?¡± ¡°I¡¯ll trante it for you.¡± Some people were puzzled why Wang, a Chinese surname, couldn¡¯t speak Chinese. Woojoo decided to exin to Jihoter what an overseas Chinese was. Meanwhile, Woojoo felt like a Hallyu idol, being in Myeongdong where there were many tourists. Maybe that was why he was in such a good mood. After fulfilling their promise for being a first-ce candidate, Woojoo felt like they finally wrapped up their music show activities. Their first album was really over. Woojoo felt relieved and exhrated. It all started when he found a source in May, and it snowballed into this ending. It was a new feeling. If he had met his past self and told him this story, would he have believed him? That the song Woojoo made would rank within the top 100, that the rough sketch of Night Sea that he made back then would receive love as a demo version on the radio. That Junghyun fixing a pump at an event would lead to a national variety show appearance. And that they would be lucky enough to be a first-ce candidate on a music show. He would never have believed it. Woojoo couldn¡¯t help butugh cheerfully. Of course, it was only the end of their first album activities, and they still had a long way to go, but he wanted to enjoy this moment for now. ¡®You did well, guys.¡¯ As Woojoo looked at his younger brothers who were busy talking to the people around them, he saw the sunset sky behind the crowd. It was red like fireworks. Woojoo smiled at the sight. July 25th, 2014. With the dance moves of five penguins, their long first album activities came to an end. Chapter 80: Chapter 80: Trantor: MarcTempest Editor: Rxel Chapter 80 The Time That Has Passed Friday lunchtime. New ck¡¯s fan cafe was busier than ever. There were twice as many posts as usual, and the real-time chat room was buzzing with fans chatting. They were all waiting for one thing. -Ah¡­ I¡¯m so excited-They said it would be around 12 o¡¯clock, so they should being out soon, right? -Yeah, probably -I wanted to go too??????? It was the promise that New ck had made to their fans for being the first-ce candidate. -I really wanted to go, why do I have to work -Why am I a graduate student -Let¡¯s all cry together?? -I wish they did it on the weekend, Kyuho is so consistent with his work??? -I asked the Lemon PR team and they said they wanted to do it on the weekend too, but they got rejected by the city hall;; -Huh¡­ I see They all epted it and swallowed their regrets. -Is anyone in Myeongdong right now? -Me Someone answered. -I work nearby, so I sneaked out when I went to lunch?? -Is it crowded?? -They¡¯re lining up and setting up the amp right now, but there are a lot of people¡­ But they don¡¯t seem to know what¡¯s going on. They all look like ordinary people. -Huh, are there not many fans?? -No? I guess it¡¯s because it¡¯s a weekday -What if there¡¯s no reaction? It can¡¯t be embarrassing¡­ The Souffles were worried about the citizens¡¯ reactions. They wanted to run to them and cheer them on, but they all had their own lives to live, so they could only suppress their anxious feelings. -Oh? There¡¯s an announcement up -I brought the YouTube link The fans moved to the link that someone posted in the chat room. Soon, a low-quality screen showed the Myeongdong street. A security line was set up in a semi-circle, and security guards in suits were standing there. [What is this?] [Are they busking?] [Is this some kind of broadcast?] The sound of murmuring came from the speakers. The pedestrians stopped one by one and looked at the empty mini stage, wondering what was going on. In that atmosphere, the fans swallowed their dry saliva. -Ugh¡­ -Ugh, I¡¯m shaking¡­ -It¡¯s their promise, but why am I nervous;; -I¡¯m afraid I¡¯ll vomit, so I¡¯m on a forced fast for lunch¡­ -Me too Just then, a majestic BGM started to flow from the broadcast. The chat room went silent. The door opened and New ck appeared. -??? -Penguins? -????What is that??? After a moment of confusion, the chat room was flooded withughter. Penguins with different expressions, different characteristics, were waddling down the stairs. -Lol???? I can tell who¡¯s who -????That fluffy penguin is definitely Wang Jiho -Giant penguin is so Kim Junghyun???? -Who are the remaining two? -Bijoo and Rihyuk, right? When they started to guess the members, everyone¡¯s attention was drawn to one person. -Emperor penguin¡­? An emperor penguin that stood out from the rest. It looked like a real penguin was inside, not a doll suit. Unlike the other penguins who walked awkwardly, the emperor penguin waddled and pped its wings. It exuded a professional aura that was hard to miss. -??, that¡¯s Woojoo -Woojoo -Definitely Woojoo The penguins gathered in one ce and started dancing to a K-pop medley. The chat room was buzzing every time the five penguins pped their wings, and someone captured their funny poses and posted them online. -??, I can tell by their dancing -The yellow feather is Bijoo -Rihyuk is so cute ???? -Rihyuk¡¯s personality shows even in his dance ? As the penguins danced, the fans could tell Bijoo and Rihyuk apart. With that small mystery solved, the chat room quieted down. Everyone was mesmerized by New ck, who had transformed into penguins. Finally, the dance was over. The staff came over to take off their costumes, and the fans swallowed their saliva, waiting for their reaction. Pop- One by one, they took off their costumes. The sound that was empty without the background music was filled with loud noises. The live audience¡¯s exmations. The fans nodded their heads in agreement, recalling the shock they felt when they first saw New ck. And when it was Woojoo¡¯s turn, the fans had a feeling of what wasing next. Pop- Suddenly, the screen was covered with a white filter, and a face with high-definition features appeared. The idol member who brushed off his sweaty hair. Rawpliments from everywhere sounded through the speakers. And then. -Woojoooooo -Everyone?? Yes, they are our kids?? -Quick, say you¡¯re New ck -Everyone, calm down¡­ The fans behind the screen were making a racket. *** Woojoo always enjoyed spending time with the fans. Especially when they were happy, Woojoo felt happier too. From that perspective, his mood was at its peak today. ¡°Oppa. I wanted to go see you perform in the penguin costume that day, but I couldn¡¯t because of my academy schedule. I was so sad.¡± ¡°You did well. Studiese first.¡± Woojoo signed the album CD and said, ¡°Instead, since you couldn¡¯t see it, I¡¯ll show you a bit of what I did that day. Is there any penguin dance you want to see?¡± ¡°Oppa¡¯s break dance.¡± ¡°It¡¯s hard, but I¡¯ll try.¡± Woojoo got up from his seat and did the dance he did that day. The movements that were engraved in his body flowed out. It was a dance that he made by imitating the penguin movements from YouTube. The fan in front of himughed out loud. Snap- Snap- The people sitting in the front row of the waiting seat pressed the camera shutter, and Woojoo smiled awkwardly and wiped the sweat dripping from his cheek. Was it because of the weather? He sweated even with a little movement. After finishing all the conversations, he shook hands and waved to the fan who couldn¡¯t go with a regretful face. ¡°Phew, it¡¯s hot.¡± Woojoo cooled off with a mini fan and looked around. They were holding a fan signing event under a tent set up in front of a department store in Daejeon. It was a kind of national tour that they couldn¡¯t visit because they were always active in Seoul or Gyeonggi-do. The open fan signing event schedule that was held in alphabetical order in metropolitan cities such as Gwangju, Daegu, Daejeon, Busan, and Ulsan was a new activity that filled the empty space where there was no broadcast. The difference from thest fan signing event was that it was open, so people passing by the department store watched them with curious eyes or held up their smartphones and snapped their faces. They typed and disappeared, and Woojoo wondered if they were saying something like ¡®New ck, the idol group, is that them?¡¯ Woojoo felt a bit strange. A month ago, he was nervous all day if someone looked at him or pointed their phone at him, but now he was calm even when people passed by and looked at him. Did he get used to the attention? And even when dealing with the fans, Woojoo was still clumsy, but he had made a lot of progresspared to when he first met them and trembled. ¡°Hello. Is it very hot?¡± ¡°Yes, it¡¯s really hot.¡± ¡°I¡¯m sorry, we should have met in a ce with good air conditioning.¡± As Woojoo handed over the mini fan he was using to a fan who was fanning herself, she smiled and brushed her hair back. The conversation that followed was friendly and warm. Woojoo also received a gift, a picture of five penguins dancing that was torn out of a sketchbook. She said they had juste off the stage, and her skills were¡­ ¡°Wow, you have a jewel hand.¡± ¡°A jewel hand?¡± ¡°Oh, I learned some new words from Jiho yesterday. He said people who draw well like this are called jewel hands.¡± Then, Bijoo whispered to him, ¡°It¡¯s a gold hand, Hyung.¡± ¡°A gold hand?¡± ¡°I was curious too, so I searched it yesterday.¡± ¡°¡­Wang Jiho, that son of a gun.¡± The fans sitting in front of Woojoo and Bijoo burst intoughter. Jiho, who was on the far left, perked up his ears and then sent them a heart with the cutest expression he could muster. The fans in the hall startedughing too. ¡°Really, I can¡¯t scold him for that.¡± Woojoo sighed and continued the conversation with the fan in front of him. The main topic was the promise for the first-ce candidate. The impact in Myeongdong was so strong that every fan he met talked about the penguins. Thanks to that, Woojoo learned a lot. The fan cafe had a lot of nicknames with ¡®penguin¡¯ in them, the fans made a virtual group called ¡®Penguins¡¯ and fangirled over them, and the most popr member was the ¡®Emperor Penguin¡¯ born in ''93, and the paper that PD Gu Jaeyong described as a ¡®Combat Penguin¡¯ turned out to be a ¡®Gentoo Penguin¡¯. And those stories always ended with a question directed at Woojoo. ¡°But how did you do that?¡± ¡°The Emperor Penguin?¡± ¡°Yeah, yeah, even the experts were amazed.¡± Experts? That was the first time he heard that. Seeing Woojoo¡¯s curious expression, she showed him a screenshot. It was ament on a video on an SNS page called [Today¡¯s Honey Jam Guaranteed^^]. -I¡¯m a current Antarctic ecologist. A friend sent me a link and I watched it and I was amazed. You look like a friend who studied penguins hard. Penguins are animals that can¡¯t move their center of gravity evenly. When they put out their right foot, they tilt their body to the right, and when they put out their left foot, they tilt their body to the left, and their center of gravity shakes as they rotate their body. I was writing that the actor did a good job of reproducing that even though his body structure is different, but then an idol friend came out. What¡­ How did you do that? [Like 336] ©¸ Suddenly an idol?????? ©¸ ???????? ©¸ Doctor, you¡¯re flustered Woojoo couldn¡¯t help butugh as he watched. ¡°Actually, I¡¯m good at imitating things. I wanted to do it properly, so I studied how penguins move for a few days.¡± ¡°You can do that?¡± ¡°Um, yeah, it worked.¡± Honestly, he had a hard time making excuses for this part. He was embarrassed to exin his ability. He couldn¡¯t say this: Do you want to hear it? I got a weird ability when I hit my head during the college entrance examst year. I can imitate anything I see. Of course, he didn¡¯t know it would work for animals too. Woojoo was curious and thought about looking at snakes or insects, but he gave up. He didn¡¯t know if it would work, but he didn¡¯t want to lose his human dignity. He thought he should set a date and experiment properly again, and he told the fan, ¡°Do you want me to show you again?¡± As Woojoo sat down and showed her the pping of his wings, the fan across from him cracked up. Thanks to that, Woojoo seeded in diverting the attention of the person who was tilting her head at his awkward exnation. While Woojoo was signing the album CD, the fan asked him thest question. ¡°What are you going to do now?¡± It was the mostmon question along with the penguin dance. They all had the same expressions. Eyes filled with anticipation and anxiety. It was fine when they were active on music shows, because they were on TV every day, but now that there was no talk of what they were going to do, the fans seemed anxious. They wondered if they would be hard to see because they were going around the local events. ¡°There are various things we are preparing for. There are external schedules. Internally, we are talking with thepany¡¯s PR team. There will be a reality show too. We also got permission to write on the fan cafe, so we will be visiting you very often soon.¡± When Woojoo said that, the fans smiled brightly and took the CD and went back to their seats. Every time he saw them, he felt a tingling in his mouth. He had two things he wanted to tell them. About the two ns they were preparing right now. *** After finishing the five-day fan signing tour around the city, they finally got some rest. ¡°Tomorrow, you can rest as much as you want.¡± Seokhwan Hyung¡¯s words sounded so sweet. Woojoo almost thought he was listening to a heavenly harmony. He unknowingly hugged Rihyuk and ran around the room. They soon realized the situation and red at each other. ¡°Hyungs, don¡¯t think too much today.¡± With that threat, they spent the night watching a movie that their maknae yed on hisptop. They originally wanted to go to the theater and watch ate-night movie, but they all rejected the idea. Rihyuk said he was tired, Bijoo said he didn¡¯t want to go unless they all went together, Junghyun said he didn¡¯t care what they did and ruined the maknae¡¯s enthusiasm, and Woojoo said he couldn¡¯t go because his body was sore from the emperor penguin dance. Bijoo felt sorry for him and kept putting sliced apples in his mouth. Meanwhile. The energetic 17-year-old Nangrang kept nagging them to do something else. They ended uppromising and watching a movie at home, or rather, at the dorm. Like this. Woojoo wanted to wash up and sleep as soon as possible, but if he did, their maknae would nag him for days. So they watched a movie that was popr these days. It was a movie about Admiral Yi Sunshin, who was about to hit ten million viewers. It was amazing. Woojoo heard that nowadays you could watch movies that were in theaters right away on VOD. Woojoo said it seemed like the world had be a better ce whileughing, but the kids teased him for being old-fashioned. Damn. Anyway, that was all he remembered. He fell asleep right away. Not just him, but everyone. Even the guy who said he was going to burn the night with the Hyungs fell asleep first. He kept waking up and saying ¡®I¡¯m not sleeping¡¯ with his fish eyes. Really, there was nothing he could do about Jiho. Anyway, when Woojoo woke up from the scene where Admiral Yi Sunshin was in trouble, everyone was sleeping together with the drainedptop. The nket was thrown away and the living room was a mess. When was thest time they went to a training camp? Woojoo thought it was in fifth grade, but it was the first time he saw such a sight in a long time, so he felt strange and surprised. Woojoo opened his eyes and Junghyun¡¯s face was right in front of him. He was really shocked. He didn¡¯t know if it was because his eyebrows were bushy, but it felt like he was watching them right in front of him. The mountain with the president¡¯s face carved on it that he learned in the English exam. He was so surprised that he didn¡¯t even notice that his card wallet was switched until he got on the vige bus. He found out after he tapped it. -Beep -Child. He was surprised and so was the driver. And he decided. He was going to get rid of Wang Jihyo today. ¡°What a day, starting from the morning.¡± Woojoo wondered why there was a child¡¯s bus card in his card wallet and decided to ask himter as he headed to thepany. When he stopped by the office to get the practice room key, the staff in the management team¡¯s office looked at him with surprised eyes. ¡°Aren¡¯t you off today?¡± ¡°I¡¯m going to practice a bit.¡± ¡°Take it easy. Why do you want to practice even on your day off?¡± The staff clicked their tongues and gave Woojoo an awkward smile as he took the practice room key. He looked around the office and didn¡¯t see the face he was looking for. ¡°Are you looking for Director Yoon?¡± ¡°Yes.¡± ¡°He went to a meeting because of your ad deal. He¡¯ll be back after lunch.¡± ¡°Oh, thank you.¡± ¡°Sure. You¡¯re so diligent, evening on your day off.¡± The staff smiled at Woojoo. Their satisfied smiles seemed to misunderstand him as ¡®he¡¯s really diligent¡¯. Woojoo bowed and didn¡¯t bother to correct their misunderstanding. It wasn¡¯t a lie. From a certain point of view, it was true that he came to practice. But today¡¯s purpose was not normal practice. It was to check what he had been putting off because of the activities. The change that happened to his body sincest November. He had been vaguely thinking about this ability, what it was, and today he was going to do some experiments to find out. Chapter 81: Chapter 81: Trantor: MarcTempest Editor: Rxel Chapter 81 Woojoo took a seat in the middle of the practice room, enjoying the breeze from the air conditioner. Woojoo did the three-set leg stretch that he had learned since he was a TJ trainee, and loosened up his stiff body. ¡°Ah¡­¡± He let out a refreshing sound that he couldn¡¯t make normally because of his younger siblings¡¯ nagging, and indulged in the feeling of being alone in the practice room. Then he stretched and wandered around the practice room. He had been bothered by the ceiling CCTV since earlier.Should he cover it, that thing? He thought about covering it with an A4 paper like the detectives did in the police movies, but he soonughed it off. That would look too suspicious. And he had heard a story from his siblings. They said it was installed because of a theft incident that happened before, and thepany wouldn¡¯t check it unless there was a special reason. Besides, he wasn¡¯t trying to do anything weird, so it wouldn¡¯t be a problem even if someone saw it. They would just think, what is he doing in the practice room? Actually, Woojoo didn¡¯t n toe to the practice room from the beginning. He was going to go to the nearby school gym that was empty because of the vacation, but he was worried about the warning he heard from thepany people a while ago. Be careful, you¡¯ll have fans following you soon. Maybe he had a fate with the practice room that he couldn¡¯t escape, he thought as he got up from his seat. Woojoo finished with loosening his shoulders and started the real experiment. Boxing skills. Simple coin magic. Headstand. High-difficulty dance moves. He didn¡¯t need to watch the videos again. As soon as he saw them, they were automatically stored in his body. His body moved on its own as soon as he thought of something unconsciously. It was a feeling of being stimted by a strange sensory organ that was not sight, hearing, smell, touch, or taste. If he had to express it, it was like electricity running down his spine¡­ It wasplicated to say. Anyway, when he felt that stimtion, he understood how to do the movements without anyone exining them to him. For example, when he flipped over the police officer and the CEO at the hospital, it was like this. Woojoo grabbed the opponent¡¯s arm, bent his body, shifted the center of gravity, and pped him down. It was like the cuts in a film that were divided into segments. The ability to do anything by just watching it once. But it wasn¡¯t limitless. He couldn¡¯t ignore the influence of hardware and software. For instance, he couldn¡¯t do the same thing as the NBA basketball yers who did dunk shots, or the foreigners who twisted their limbs in bizarre ways, even if he knew how to do it. He was not a giant with a basic height of 190cm and muscles bulging, nor a normal person with a limit to flexibility. If he did a dunk shot in this state, he would only go near the goal and fall down. In the end, he had to have the hardware conditions to perform movements with a certain level of difficulty. By increasing muscle mass or flexibility and changing the physical condition. Of course, it was a great advantage to understand how the muscles moved and apply it to other movements. Woojoo learned how the senior singers used their throats, how the models walked, and how the actors made facial expressions, and used them for his work. But there was also a limitation on this side. It was a software problem. If hepared it to a game, it was like each person had a maximum level of ability that they could develop. It was a problem that was usually called talent. For example, if the limit that he could exert was 80 and he couldn¡¯t go higher than that, the dance machine of their team had a limit of 120. If it was something like singing that he was originally good at, it would be different, but Woojoo felt that he had a limit in the fields that he had no talent for. So his position was lead vocal, lead dancer, and leader. The second best in vocal and dance in the team. Woojoo didn¡¯t know about acting or rap because he didn¡¯t challenge them, but he thought he would be the second best in the team if he did. Woojoo couldn¡¯t help the given limit, but it was a miraculous ability that made him reach the final destination faster than anyone else. That was the conclusion he came to. *** Well, anyway, this was all the information he already knew. Woojoo had been researching and learning how to apply it since he got the ability until today. But what he still didn¡¯t understand was the principle. He could fully understand how others made expressions and danced, but he didn¡¯t understand how it worked. It felt like holding a smartphone in his hand. He could search for any information in the world, but he had no idea how theponents inside worked. There were so many things he couldn¡¯t understand. The two biggest problems were: One was the phenomenon of experiencing the past as if it were a virtual reality, which happened when he met Professor Choi Yongjae that day or during the showcase sound ident. The other was what happened when he imitated the emperor penguin¡¯s movements a few days ago. No. Woojoo thought he was just mimicking the movements, but why did memories pop up and how could he follow the movements of an animal that wasn¡¯t human? He was so curious that he wrote an email to a professor in the field of brain neuroscience who was famous in Korea, but he got a reply after a month. He said it was a scientifically impossible phenomenon. Woojoo wanted to go and show him in person, but if he did, his name would be on the world¡¯s academic journals and he would be locked up in a secret base like CIA or NASA in the US. That was something he wanted to avoid. In the end, the only option left was to search the inte and think by himself. Well, the penguin walked on two legs like a human, so he would give it that. But what was the connection between memory and movement? And. How did memories flow out? At first, Woojoo thought it was caused by pressure. But that wasn¡¯t it either. Woojoo had severe stress at the recent event hall when he performed as a substitute for Teen Spirit, but there was no shback phenomenon then. If he knew the principle, he would use it. The reason he focused on that part was not for anything else. If Woojoo could vividly experience the memories of the past¡­ If the range of memories that this ability applied to was possible before the day he got the ability¡­ Maybe. Maybe he could see his mom and dad¡¯s faces. Now Woojoo could only see his mom and dad¡¯s faces in an album or by searching for ¡®Seon Myungjoo couple¡¯ on the inte. Woojoo would really like to see them. He wanted to smell his mom¡¯s scent, hear his dad¡¯s voice, and touch their skin again to feel what it was like. It was a problem he had been thinking about for a long time. Woojoo shook his head after thinking deeply. Don¡¯t be pathetic, Seon Woojoo. That was why people needed to be busy. If he stayed still, he would end up having pitiful thoughts. Woojooid a mat on the floor and took a yoga pose to rx his tense muscles. His phone vibrated briefly. Movie Viin [Hyung] Movie Viin [Did you take my card wallet??] Woojoo tapped his fingers. Me [??] Movie Viin [Oh, really] Movie Viin [Don¡¯t be so heartless like Rihyuk, ??] Movie Viin [You know how cute I am] Me [?] Movie Viin [(Shivering emoticon)] Movie Viin [Anyway, I charged 100,000 won, so I can¡¯t lose it] Me [Why did you buy a child card?] Movie Viin [Is that what kids use??] Me [Did you charge 100,000 won without knowing¡­?] Movie Viin [Oh no?? I bought it because the design was exactly my taste¡­] Movie Viin [Please keep it for me, I want to use it as a decoration] Woojoo replied OK and got up from his seat. He decided to stop thinking about it. ¡°I should get to work.¡± He had more than one or two things to do. The most important thing was the song work. He had to prepare for the second album soon, so he thought it would be good to make some songs in advance. Woojoo couldn¡¯t expect to have another title song like Fireworks, but it was better than nothing. As he was burning with work ambition, his phone vibrated long. It was Seokhwan Hyung this time. ¡°Hello.¡± -Are you at thepany right now? ¡°Well, I have something to do¡­¡± -I wanted to tell you when I was with the kids, but I have some good news. Woojoo heard Seokhwan Hyung¡¯s voice clearly over the phone. -Your school uniform ad shooting schedule came out. *** School uniform ad. That was the main project he wanted to tell the fans along with the Chuseok Special ¡®Around the World with Dice¡¯. When the radio was over, Woojoo heard that they were having a meeting with the school uniformpany, and they were confirmed as the first choice on the day they became the first-ce candidate. To be exact, they met with the advertiser the day after the music show ended and stamped the contract. It was a very friendly atmosphere. ording to Seokhwan Hyung, they were a cheekypany that only poked and peeked at them until then. ¡°Do you know that the school uniform ad trend has changed?¡± Seokhwan Hyung, who was holding the steering wheel, said to Woojoo, who was sitting in the passenger seat. ¡°They used to only shoot with top stars before I went to the army.¡± ¡°That¡¯s right. When the seniors who were doing well at TJ shot a school uniform ad, thepany would distribute bromides and stuff. They told the trainees to get motivated.¡± ¡°The trend has changed these days.¡± The manager exined. ¡°There are fourrgepanies that hold the industry tight, but the market size is limited. They have to eat all the pies, whether they have them or not. It¡¯s hard to have fun with the old-fashioned top star marketing.¡± ¡°So they use rookies, Manager?¡± ¡°To be exact, they use rookies who look like they will make it. It¡¯s not like the sales go up significantly if they use a very famous idol. They¡¯d rather buy a lottery ticket with a small amount of money and enjoy the promotional effect.¡± They brightened up at that. No matter what the case was, it meant that the people in the clothing industry, who were sensitive to the trend, highly evaluated their potential. They even decided to secure them in advance. ¡°What should I do, I¡¯m not ready to make it yet.¡± They allughed at the youngest¡¯s joke. It was fun to have a schedule for the first ad they ever shot, and everyone looked fresh after sleeping for more than twelve hours. The dark circles that were gloomy were gone and they looked fresh. Woojoo was the same. He was in the studio until midnight and then went back to the dorm, but it was after he had a good sleep. ¡°What did you guys do yesterday?¡± The kids answered his question. ¡°Junghyun and I had a family gathering. Junghyun¡¯s parents suddenly came up to Seoul.¡± ¡°Oh, what did you eat?¡± ¡°Flower sirloin for eight people.¡± Junghyun answered with a proud face, while Bijoo nced at Woojoo. His long eyshes blinked quickly. It felt like seeing a deer that was caught stealing crops in a field. Why was he like that? ¡°I should have invited you too, but it was a sudden appointment. It was really like a lightning strike.¡± ¡°Ah, I don¡¯t care at all.¡± ¡°I called Hyung, but¡­¡± ¡°He said he had his phone on silent because he was working yesterday.¡± He waved his hand with a smile. Woojoo thought he hadmitted some grave sin, but he seemed to feel sorry for not inviting him to that gathering, since he considered Woojoo his benefactor. Woojoo didn¡¯t have any particr thoughts when he waved back. Then, Rihyuk suddenly spoke. ¡°I didn¡¯t do anything special. I just read a book at the hostel yesterday.¡± ¡°What did you read?¡± ¡°The Courage to Be Disliked.¡± He showed Woojoo the book he was reading. It had a yellow cover with the title The Courage to Be Disliked. Woojoo was impressed by the title. ¡°Aren¡¯t you already enough?¡± ¡°¡­Be quiet, seriously. And don¡¯tugh, everyone.¡± ¡°I thought it was a book written by you when I saw the title.¡± ¡°Shut up, Wang Jiho.¡± ¡°Huh? Do you want to fight? If I hit me with that corner, the robot vacuum cleaner that¡¯s on its way will go back to its hometown.¡± Rihyuk¡¯s eyes darted between the robot vacuum cleaner and Jiho¡¯s head, holding the corner of the book. The winner was the robot vacuum cleaner. As Rihyuk snorted and turned his eyes to the book, Jiho stuck his head out through the gap in the front seat. ¡°Hyung, don¡¯t you want to ask me?¡± ¡°You came rolling to my seat yesterday and told me what you did with the girls for an hour.¡± ¡°There¡¯s more to tell¡­ But never mind.¡± The youngest, who was sulking, looked at Woojoo¡¯s face and smiled slyly. ¡°Hyung.¡± ¡°What.¡± ¡°You look really happy today.¡± ¡°Of course, I rested well.¡± ¡°That¡¯s not it. I know that expression. It¡¯s the grandfather expression thates out when you talk about the army or the old days. Is it because of the uniform?¡± Woojoo felt embarrassed. ¡°That¡¯s right, that¡¯s it.¡± Rihyuk closed the book and joined in. ¡°I wondered why you were like ¡®What did you guys do~ My kids~¡¯ today. You¡¯re excited to wear a uniform after a long time, you old man.¡± ¡°Hyung, is it your first time wearing a uniform in a while?¡± ¡°Woojoo Hyung, you graduated from high school a long time ago.¡± ¡°No, not that.¡± Woojoo exined, but they didn¡¯t buy it. It was true. It had been almost four or five years. Woojoo had some regrets about the uniform that he didn¡¯t get to wear much because he dropped out of high school. He was definitely thrilled. Woojoo knew that feeling wouldn¡¯tst long. ¡°¡­Huh?¡± They were on their way to the agency to hear about the concept and schedule of the advertisement. But then a familiar neighborhood appeared. Woojoo saw Cheongdam-dong and some very familiar buildings. Wait a minute, this was. ¡°Seokhwan Hyung.¡± ¡°Uh, yeah?¡± ¡°You didn¡¯t tell me the name of the agency we¡¯re going to meet today. Whichpany is doing this ad?¡± ¡°It¡¯s run by arge-scale nningpany¡­¡± Seokhwan Hyung¡¯s eyes scanned Woojoo¡¯s face. Then he calmly said, ¡°It¡¯s called TJ New Media.¡± That was when a familiar building that he had seen so often before started to reveal itself. A building that was like a symbol of K-pop, boasting its artistic presence in the middle of Cheongdam-dong. It was the headquarters of TJ Entertainment, where he had been for six years. Chapter 82: Chapter 82: Trantor: MarcTempest Editor: Rxel Chapter 82 A lobby decorated with marble. Woojoo was observing a group of animals in there. They were animals with the scientific name of siblings, and their main features were handsome faces and long arms and legs. And they made a sound of ¡®wow¡¯ and ¡®ah¡¯ as they looked around. ¡°Wow, look at that, guys.¡± The lowest-ranking individual in the group pointed at the elevator far away with a fuss.¡°There are three elevators. Three.¡± ¡°Look, there¡¯s a fountain too.¡± ¡°Should we put a coin and make a wish?¡± ¡°Hyung, do you think we came to y at an amusement park, uh¡­ the vacuum cleaner thatdy is using is thetest model¡­¡± And among these fools, the only intellectual who kept his sanity was him, Seon Woojoo. Woojoo asked incredulously, ¡°Is this so amazing?¡± The answers came back right away. ¡°Yes.¡± ¡°Of course.¡± ¡°Are you not amazed, Hyung?¡± Bijoo nodded as if he agreed. ¡°Hyung, this is where you¡¯ve been for six years, but we¡¯re amazed. We only heard about it, it¡¯s our first timeing into arge agency.¡± ¡°Is that so? I just feel like I came back to the school I graduated from.¡± The entrance of the agency that led the Korean wave was splendidly decorated, but it was not that great to his eyes. Woojoo came here too many times and got sick of it. And he didn¡¯t leave on a good notest time, so he wasn¡¯t very pleased with the space itself. ¡°Wow.¡± Woojoo wondered what this wow was about, and followed the eyes of the siblings with a smile, and soon realized what they were looking at. The pictorials on the wall. There were dozens of photos of celebrities, who could be called the signs of thepany, spaced evenly apart. And the most eye-catching ce was the pictorials of eight TNT members, who boasted the best poprity. With Han Taehyun, who had a smug smile, as the center, there were not only TNT members, but also familiar faces everywhere. Trainees who didn¡¯t be idols, but changed their careers to actors, models, singers, etc., and his ssmates. Woojoo felt a strange feeling as he looked at them, who went a different way from him, who pursued only the idol life. ¡°Huh? Look at that empty spot, Hyung. Maybe a new picture is going up.¡± ¡°Where?¡± ¡°There. The best spot after the TNT seniors.¡± Jiho pointed to arge frame leaning against the wall below. Woojoo exined to the curious siblings. ¡°Maybe someone ising to sign a contract today.¡± ¡°Really?¡± ¡°It¡¯s an event that TJ does when they recruit celebrities. They meet in the lobby and show them the pictorial hanging up, then go up to the president¡¯s office and stamp the contract with a bang, and then give them a tour of thepany. Well, something like that.¡± ¡°Wow.¡± ¡°Come on, what¡¯s so amazing about this?¡± In the end, it was concluded with another wow. Now, while the siblings were curious about who the protagonist of that picture was, Seokhwan came back after writing the visit log. ¡°What are they looking at and getting so excited about?¡± ¡°Someone is signing a contract today. Look, they¡¯re preparing a picture.¡± ¡°Oh.¡± Seokhwan nced at the spot where the pictorial would hang and said casually, ¡°It must be a big contract. Look at the location.¡± ¡°Right, who is it?¡± ¡°I don¡¯t know. There¡¯s no singer who can hang there right now, it must be an actor. There are so many listings in the FA market these days.¡± He closed his mouth with that. A group of people came out of the elevator. It was time to go back to the mode of sparing words, as Woojoo did at the broadcasting station. ¡°Hyung.¡± Bijoo, who was staring at the pictorials, asked Woojoo, ¡°If our picture gets hung up, where would it be?¡± ¡°I don¡¯t know.¡± The answer that they wouldn¡¯t be able to hang up at their level was on the tip of his tongue, but he didn¡¯t bother to say it out loud. Woojoo had to protect his innocence. That was why he smiled and pointed his finger at a random spot. ¡°I¡¯ll be somewhere over there.¡± *** They arrived at the seventh floor and were immediately guided to the conference room of TJ New Media¡¯s advertising department. On the wall of the spacious meeting room, where they could see Cheongdam-dong at a nce, there were advertisements that they had produced, hanging like trophies. In front of them, there were two men with sses, looking neat and professional. They were the AEs, or the advertising nners, who were in charge of this ad. Their job was tomunicate between the advertiser, who ordered the ad, and the production team, who handled the filming. They also supervised the overall production of the ad. They were like the PDs in entertainment shows or dramas. Maybe that was why they all had bloodshot or tired eyes. The man on the right, Manager Kim, smiled awkwardly. ¡°Sorry for the mess. We should have greeted you with a better look, but we¡¯ve been so busy preparing for the PPM. The schedule is tight and we have no time to spare.¡± They nodded and smiled sympathetically, as they could rte to the situation. The meeting started right away. ¡°This is the concept of the ad. What you need to focus on, New ck, is the ad storyboard that we¡¯re giving you now.¡± As the deputy handed out the storyboard, Manager Kim exined. ¡°You probably already know this, but this ad won¡¯t be aired on TV. We¡¯re going to distribute it mainly on SNS tforms. You know those ads that pop up before you watch a YouTube video?¡± ¡°Yes, we do.¡± ¡°That¡¯s how it¡¯s going to be.¡± Soon, the storyboard was ced before their seats. Woojoo felt a surge of pride as he saw the words ¡®Ad Model ¨C New ck¡¯ printed on the freshly printed paper. And at the end of the storyboard, where there were countless titles and names of the ad agency, production, AE, AD, PD, CD, CW, and so on, one name caught his eye. Advertiser ¨C KG International It was thepany that owned the school uniform brand ¡®Everdream¡¯, for which they were the models. Before they met with the advertisersst time, Woojoo had searched them up and found out that they were a tradingpany under the KG Group, a conglomerate. They had a wide range of business fields, such as raw material trade, clothing, hotel management, and so on. They were the models for the school uniform brand, which was a minor part of their clothing business. Of course, it was a small fraction of their sales, but they felt a bit pressured by the image of a conglomerate. Was that why? As Woojoo carefully flipped through the storyboard, he listened attentively to the exnation from the agency. ¡°The advertiser wants to shed the old image that the brand has had. ording to our research, the keywords thate to mind when people think of Everdream are mostly ¡®school uniforms that parents choose¡¯, and ¡®old-fashioned¡¯. To break away from that prejudice, this ad will be different from the previous ones. It will have a unique concept.¡± He borated. ¡°Since the core target of the ad is teenagers, we¡¯re not going to go with the clich¨¦d CFs that only show you being cool and fancy. We¡¯re going to use a dramatized concept, with an interesting story inside.¡± ¡°A drama? So there¡¯s a story?¡± ¡°Yes, it¡¯s different from a normal ad. You can think of it as a short film.¡± An ad with a story like a drama. *** From the perspective of the viewer, it seemed like a very interesting concept. The problem was whether they had the ability to pull it off. Since Jiho was the only one among them who had proper acting training, Woojoo couldn¡¯t help but ask a slightly worried question. ¡°Is there any need for emotional acting¡­?¡± ¡°No, there isn¡¯t.¡± The deputy sitting on the left waved his hand and said, ¡°We also took into ount that you are neers, so there are only one or two scenes that require serious acting. The rest are all content that you can handle in everyday life. The goal is advertising, not drama, so you don¡¯t have to worry about that.¡± ¡°However, I hope you understand that the more prepared you are, the more discretion the director and the advertiser will have on the spot.¡± He meant that he didn¡¯t ask for anything difficult, but he hoped that they would prepare very hard. Seokhwan, as the person in charge, answered on their behalf. ¡°Yes, we will prepare well so you don¡¯t have to worry.¡± As he said that, they started to flip through the script. It was amazing. They had seen scripts for variety shows while doing broadcast activities, but this was apletely different kind. It was drawn like aic, so easy to understand intuitively. Each scene was marked with ¡®#1¡¯ and so on, and there was a narration of what dialogue was needed. As Woojoo read, he could picture the advertisement in his head. Wait a minute. This was a bit of a strange content. Woojoo was looking at it easily with his eyes, but he felt like he couldn¡¯t process it in my head. It wasn¡¯t crazy or twisted, but it wasn¡¯t the typical content that you would think of for a school uniform advertisement. The material was very unique. ¡°It¡¯s unique, isn¡¯t it?¡± The other side smiled and said, ¡°Actually, we also provided various ideas when we prepared for thepetitive PT, but we didn¡¯t expect the advertiser to choose this one.¡± Woojoo could see why. It was surprising that a conservative conglomerate chose this kind of advertisement. Woojoo looked over the content again and asked, ¡°So, the kids in the script are magicians, right?¡± ¡°Yes, the story of magic school students. That¡¯s the concept of this advertisement.¡± They were told to look through it once before they got into the formal meeting, and they flipped through the script calmly. The sound of paper rustling filled the quiet conference room. The advertisement content was simple. It was a short story of the mishaps that happened to magic school students as they learned magic. The beginning was especially impressive. If it came up as an advertisement on YouTube, you would pause for a moment before pressing the skip button. It was light, but not too light. As they looked at the content, their eyes became more serious. Woojoo was also focusing on it. Woojoo looked at it once, then skimmed it backwards. He tried to get a feel for it by imagining what kind of content it would be. He thought. This. It feels¡­ ¡°How is it?¡± The AE asked them how they liked the advertisement content, and they all sorted out the words that came to their minds. The sound of paper rustling echoed in the conference room. Against the backdrop of the sunlighting in through the window. Their youngest was looking at the script with a very unfamiliar expression. Not with his usual nk face, but with a very serious face. He looked at the narration several times, like a person who checked the OMR card several times while taking an important exam. He didn¡¯t answer when they talked to him. It felt like they shouldn¡¯t interrupt him, so they waited for him to finish. He was like that for a while, and then he finally closed the first page and looked up. They all turned their eyes to him. The two AEs asked him the same question they had asked them. ¡°How is it?¡± ¡°It¡¯s interesting, but¡­¡± He finally opened his mouth and exined what they had felt very simply. ¡°It seems too good to waste on an advertisement.¡± The mood brightened up after that, and they were able to finish the meeting in a friendly atmosphere. ¡°Yes, then I¡¯ll see you on the shooting day.¡± As they were packing up and sorting out the documents, the manager, who had been loosening his sleeve buttons and catching his breath, came over as if he had something to say. ¡°By the way, this is just a friendly heads-up.¡± ¡°Oh, yes.¡± He looked around as if no one was listening. ¡°It seems that the staff at KG International have changed, and they are reviewing the business sector a lot. They seemed to be very meticulous about everything. Especially the person in charge of this advertisement, he was so passionate that he paid a lot of attention to the details.¡± He was trying to be discreet because of the location, but his roundabout words meant this: The executives of thatpany have changed their lineup, and they are checking whether their work is profitable and running smoothly. And they are doing it very intensely. Because of that atmosphere, the advertisement manager was also freaking out over every little thing, so you guys should be careful. Seokhwan and Woojoo nodded. ¡°Thank you for telling us. We¡¯ll do our best to prepare.¡± ¡°Yes, please do.¡± They finished the meeting and left the conference room. Woojoo handed over the continuity to Seokhwan, afraid that it might get lost, but their youngest looked very disappointed. ¡°Ugh, it was so fun.¡± ¡°Was it that fun?¡± ¡°Didn¡¯t you guys think so? I was totally focused on it.¡± He did. He felt a bit weird when he recalled the scene he saw earlier. It was strange to see their kid, who usually giggled all the time, suddenly quiet and staring at the continuity. ¡°I imagined all kinds of things while watching it. It seemed like there were a lot of things to addter, and it felt like a prologue?¡± ¡°Really? I just thought it was fun.¡± The other siblings agreed with Woojoo¡¯s opinion. ¡°It¡¯s a shame to leave it as an advertisement, but I don¡¯t know if it¡¯s that good.¡± ¡°Me neither. Isn¡¯t it just a Harry Potter knockoff?¡± ¡°I still don¡¯t know what the story is about. It was fun, though.¡± ¡°Ah, I¡¯m frustrated. This feels like there¡¯s something more to it¡­¡± Their youngest was saying that when the ignorant brothers were annoyed. They left the advertising agency office and went to the lobby, but something was weird. The staff at the desk were gone. And there were people gathered in front of them, making a lot of noise. ¡°Wow. Amazing. How can a person look like that?¡± ¡°So, did the contract go through today?¡± ¡°I think so, the director is taking him around and showing him the inside of thepany.¡± The staff who had greeted them with a calm face when they came were now whispering with sparkling eyes. Even the staff who were in the office came out and joined the crowd. *** They tilted their heads at the sight. ¡°Who¡¯s here?¡± ¡°Maybe it¡¯s the person who was trying to hang a poster on the first floor earlier.¡± ¡°Oh.¡± It must be him. Woojoo was going to wait until the crowd dispersed, but he decided to head to the elevator, considering the time for the next schedule. When he was halfway behind the crowd, he couldn¡¯t help but open his mouth wide at the figure in front of him. ¡°Wow.¡± It was the thirteenth wow he heard today. But this time, it was justified. The person who was greeting the people surrounded by them was one of the hottest top stars in Korea right now. Actor Lee Gyeonwoo. He rose to famest year as a guard who loved the princess in a fusion historical drama, and then he became a Hallyu star earlier this year with a life role as a painter with superpowers. He was a person who showed his face on the entertainment section almost every day, so they were also amazed. And his appearance. ¡°Wow¡­¡± Woojoo had never seen anyone so handsome before. His head was very small, and his eyes, nose, and mouth were unrealistically ced. TV really couldn¡¯t capture the real thing. But that admiration was only for a moment. Woojoo scratched the back of his head at the sight of the person next to Lee Gyeonwoo. He was there too. A middle-aged man with a calm expression, wearing a luxury suit and gold-rimmed sses. He was Han Yeongjun, the general manager who told him that he was kicked out of the debut team when he left TJ Entertainment. It wasn¡¯t a bad memory, but he felt a strange feeling. Junghyun asked Woojoo, ¡°Do you know him, Hyung?¡± ¡°Yeah.¡± ¡°Should we say hello¡­ Oh, it¡¯s hard.¡± Woojoo was going to say hello and go, but there were too many people around. It would be awkward to go through that department store bargain sale scene to announce his existence. ¡°We¡¯ll bete for the next schedule. Guys.¡± ¡°Yes, sir.¡± Woojoo gave up on waiting for the timing to greet them and walked around the hallway. Someone in the crowd noticed them and called them first. It was the Hallyu star, Lee Gyeonwoo. ¡°Huh? You¡¯re New ck, right?¡± How did he know them? Woojoo was about to greet him with a big smile. But next to him, Han Yeongjun recognized Woojoo and widened his eyes. ¡°¡­Seon Woojoo?¡± Chapter 83: Chapter 83: Trantor: MarcTempest Editor: Rxel Chapter 83 Awkward gazes intertwined in the air. Director Han Yeongjun, who had a startled expression for a moment, soon regained hisposure. Woojoo greeted him first with a smile. ¡°Long time no see, Director.¡± ¡°Yeah, it¡¯s been a while.¡± Director Han Yeongjun, who had been looking at the panel that said ¡®Advertising Department¡¯, showed a faint smile as if he understood the situation.Their group also said hello. While they exchanged awkward greetings, the crowd in the lobby began to grow as people from other floors came to join them. Of course, the object of their attention was not New ck. It was Lee Gyeonwoo, the top star actor with a towering height. He pretended to be happy to see them and was now listening to a whisper from his manager. His eyes were calm, like a yer listening to the director¡¯s instructions. He nodded his head and greeted them. ¡°Hello.¡± His voice was soft and pleasant. ¡°I didn¡¯t expect to meet people I know here.¡± ¡°You know us?¡± ¡°Of course. We¡¯re filming together, aren¡¯t we?¡± ¡°¡­Yes?¡± He noticed that their reaction was strange and said ¡®ah¡¯. Then he chuckled. ¡°You haven¡¯t heard yet. We¡¯re going to record together. That special episode.¡± ¡°Oh!¡± ¡°I heard we¡¯re on the same team.¡± Then they understood. He was going to appear on the Chuseok Special. From what they heard, he was assigned to the same team as them. He felt d for some reason and greeted them again. He talked to them about various things. He said he enjoyed listening to Night Sea and Something, andplimented them on their visuals and singing skills. Woojoo wondered what he had heard from his manager earlier, and it turned out to be this. He had learned some minor details about New ck before talking to them. It was a showy gesture, but they were happy to see it. He was like a walking billboard. Every word he said made the people around them perk up their ears and tap their smartphones. They heard whispers like ¡®New ck?¡¯, ¡®What are they filming together?¡¯ in their ears. It was a win-win for both of them. They got publicity and he got image. The top star approached the rookie idols without hesitation and showed sincere interest in them. His actions seemed to impress the people. In this short time, Woojoo heard ¡®Wow, he¡¯s really nice¡¯ at least thirty times in his ears. They also praised his drama and yed along, creating a warm atmosphere. When the director heard a whisper from his secretary, he interrupted. ¡°Gyeonwoo, I think we have to go down soon for lunch with the Chairman.¡± ¡°Oh, yes.¡± Lee Gyeonwoo, who had been smiling softly, reached out his hand for a handshake. ¡°It was nice to meet you. See you at the recording.¡± ¡°Thank you, Sunbae-nim.¡± Like a pied piper, Lee Gyeonwoo and his entourage moved to the elevator with the crowd. Meanwhile, they were left alone again. Some people came up and asked them what show they were going on, but Seokhwan Hyung took care of them. Woojoo felt like hectic things had happened in a row and was nk for a moment. ¡°Now I have a chance to talk to you.¡± Woojoo heard a middle-aged man¡¯s voice from behind. He had sent the others away first, and Director Han Yeongjun was standing there. The younger ones sensed the atmosphere and cleared the space. He asked with a smile, ¡°Are they all younger than you?¡± ¡°Yes.¡± ¡°They¡¯re handsome. I thought they were actors.¡± He nodded his head with a smile. ¡°I couldn¡¯t talk to you properly earlier, with Gyeonwoo and all. How have you been?¡± ¡°I¡¯ve been living hectically.¡± ¡°I heard you debuted. Lemon, right?¡± Woojoo smiled awkwardly. ¡°Yes.¡± He also smiled. Because thest time they met, thepany that offered to introduce him to an idol agency was Lemon Entertainment and DNS Media. At that time, Woojoo hated everything! He ran away saying that. And now, a few yearster. Woojoo debuted as New ck of Lemon Entertainment. When he felt a bit awkward, Director Han Yeongjun said with a smile, ¡°You look like you¡¯re doing well. I¡¯m d to see that. Besides, my nephew was so sad after you left. I got a lot of scolding from him.¡± ¡°Oh, I¡¯m still in touch with Taehyun and we¡¯re doing well.¡± ¡°Really?¡± He stuck out his tongue and said, ¡°You never told me anything. You were a shy kid before you debuted, but now you¡¯ve changed a lot. You¡¯re not like you used to be.¡± ¡°Really? You look the same to me.¡± Director Han Yeongjun was about to say something, but he just smiled. Then he checked his message and fixed his clothes. ¡°I have to go now.¡± His eyes curved like crescent moons behind his sses. ¡°Yeah, it was nice to see you. Woojoo, see you next time.¡± ¡°Yes, see you next time.¡± After exchanging polite greetings. He got into the elevator that arrived soon and disappeared. And Woojoo looked at the closed door for a moment. He felt strange. He didn¡¯t know why he felt this way, but he felt a strange feeling while talking to Director Han Yeongjun. Several scenes shed by. The posters of various stars hanging in the lobby on the first floor. The director leading the top star to the office. And their appearance that no one could recognize yet because they were still rookies. And. The question from Bijoo about where they would be on the wall of TJ Entertainment¡¯s building. The thirst for sess that had been dormant in his heart for a while rose up again because of the sess of their first album. *** From that day on, Woojoo devoted himself to work. They went to events during the day and practiced at night. And the most important thing they were working on was, of course, the advertisement. They had two versions of the Everdream uniform advertisement. One was the YouTube advertisement CF that they had exined before, and the other was the photo shoot. ¡°How is it, Hyung?¡± ¡°Hmm¡­¡± They all looked at the camera screen. ¡°Jiho, how about lowering your chin a little? No, not that way. Tilt it to the left by about 10 degrees.¡± ¡°Hmm, I don¡¯t know.¡± ¡°So this is what you¡¯re doing right now.¡± Woojoo mimicked the youngest member¡¯s pose. ¡°Wow, that¡¯s spot on.¡± ¡°You even got the expression right?¡± ¡°You¡¯re a master of disguise. This guy.¡± Woojoo ignored their teasing and showed them another example. ¡°You should tilt your head slightly here. You have a symmetrical face, but your left side looks more refined.¡± ¡°Um, okay, I¡¯ll try that.¡± They were in the practice room, with a camera and a tripod set up, experimenting with different poses. ¡°Hyung, can you check my posture too?¡± ¡°Bijoo, you¡¯re already so poised and handsome, there¡¯s nothing I can criticize ¡­¡± Bijoo smiled at his praise, while the other two protested. ¡°What about me then?¡± ¡°And me, Hyung?¡± Woojoo gave them some tips as well, but he wondered how he ended up being the unofficial photo director. Maybe it was because of thest time they shot the jacket for their first album. Woojoo had nailed the expressions and poses then, and they seemed to think he was a super model. Or maybe it was because he had practiced his expressions and postures for days before they started the rehearsal today. ¡°Since dawn, you¡¯ve been doing this. You said you had to check everything carefully ording to the contract.¡± ¡°¡­¡± ¡°So everyone had to skip breakfast and be on alert.¡± The two men swallowed their saliva and approached the advertiser. Woo Heeseon, the team leader from KG International¡¯s clothing division, was holding a list in one hand and flipping through the clothes on the hanger. She seemed to be checking if the costumes were ready. ¡°You came early, team leader.¡± ¡°Yes, I have a lot to check.¡± She bent her waist to check the tags inside the uniforms, and also the embroidery of Everdream. They stood behind her, who was checking everything meticulously, and only swallowed their saliva. When the super boss, the advertiser, walked around the scene and checked for any problems, anyone would be nervous. The problem was that she was calm and picky. She had such a keen eye for detail. She pointed out any issues in a soft voice, but they were not trivial, but rather reasonable questions. That was why the two employees had to follow her around with tears in their eyes until the models arrived at 9 o¡¯clock. Meanwhile, the atmosphere on the scene was more tense than usual. It was because everyone was preparing nervously because of the sudden appearance of the advertiser. Kim, the manager, scratched his cheek. He was worried. ¡®I don¡¯t know if the rookies can do well in this atmosphere.¡¯ He thought of New ck, whom he had met a few days ago. He was impressed by how passionately they read the advertising script. But whether their skills would match their passion on the scene was uncertain. Well, the only constion was that today was not a CF, but a photo shoot. Considering the quality of the photos in New ck¡¯s first album, he thought they would do well enough in the photo shoot. He just hoped they would make as few mistakes as possible. ¡°The models have arrived!¡± Someone¡¯s words made the scene busy again. Soon, the models entered, following the sharp-looking director. ¡°Hello!¡± The staff¡¯s eyes turned to the cheerful greeting. They came in casual T-shirts, but they had a refined vibe that was evident in New ck. They bowed their heads to each staff they saw and approached New ck. And when they reached the advertiser and the two AEs. ¡°Hello, we are New ck!¡± As they greeted, Kim Seunggwan, the manager, looked closely at the advertiser¡¯s expression. But something was strange. At first, Team Leader Woo looked at them lightly, but soon she started to smile faintly. It was a dramatic reaction for someone who had been expressionless all day, checking the scene preparation. What is it, the effect of their faces? He thought, and soon realized the reason. ¡®Huh?¡¯ It was because of the clothes New ck was wearing. They were different types, but they were all brandsunched by KG International. From T-shirts, pants, shoes, to hats. He didn¡¯t know who prepared them, but he thought they must be a very sensible employee. Advertising was a message. And New ck showed how hard they prepared for this advertisement without having to say it. Meanwhile, as the advertiser¡¯s expression softened, the atmosphere on the scene also began to change. As they walked around the studio and made eye contact with the staff, the faces of the people on the scene, who had been stiff, rxed a bit. In less than a few minutes, Manager Kim felt the atmosphere on the scene changing. Along with that, he had a feeling that today¡¯s shooting would go very well. Chapter 84: Chapter 84: Trantor: MarcTempest Editor: Rxel Chapter 84: Early August. The studio was cool with the air conditioner, even though the temperature outside was over 30 degrees. But the staff on the set felt a strange heat. ¡°They¡¯re crazy.¡± ¡°I¡¯ve never seen a rookie photo shoot go so fast. Is this okay?¡± ¡°But don¡¯t you see? Every shot they take is an A-cut, or at least a B-cut. The photographer is also impressed.¡±The studio set was decorated like a school. It looked like a real ssroom, with desks, chairs, and props. It was so realistic that it wouldn¡¯t be weird to start a lesson right away. But the people standing there didn¡¯t look real. ¡°Wow¡­¡± ¡°How are they all so good-looking?¡± ¡°That¡¯s because they¡¯re from an actor agency.¡± ¡°I saw Lee Yeonwoo in person when he did a magazine photo shoot a while ago, and they don¡¯t lose to them at all, do they?¡± ¡°Hey, that¡¯s an exaggeration.¡± But no one disagreed that the New ck members had outstanding beauty. ¡°Okay! Good, good. Look at the sky! Yeah!¡± The photographer, who was quiet at first, was now excited and directing them. Usually, the models were praised on the advertising set. That way, they could feel morefortable and natural. But as time went by, hispliments became more sincere. ¡°Good! Good!¡± The resulting pictures were amazing. ¡°Look over there.¡± Someone poked the person next to them. ¡°That guy, the advertiser, he¡¯s smiling for the first time since he came here.¡± ¡°He can smile too.¡± ¡°He has a reason to. I would be proud too if I chose the models well.¡± As they murmured, the staff gathered around the monitor to admire the pictures after each individual cut. Wang Jiho, holding a shoe in his hand and smiling yfully. Seo Rihyuk, reading a book with a calm face and sses. Kim Junghyun, with a ser ball on his side and a grin on his face, his hand in his pocket. Kim Bijoo, blowing flower petals and smiling brightly. It was a feast of A-cuts. A production staff member who was sticking out his tongue smiled and asked the manager, ¡°Manager. What kind of models are these kids? They pose like pros.¡± ¡°They practiced a lot by themselves.¡± ¡°Did someone teach them?¡± ¡°Yes, they did it on their own. I left them alone. Unlike acting, we don¡¯t have any staff to coach them. And more importantly, there¡¯s a kid among the members who¡¯s like a teacher who teaches expressions and poses.¡± ¡°Who¡¯s that?¡± Yoon Seokhwan, the manager, answered with a smile, ¡°You¡¯ll see soon.¡± At that, the staff realized that someone was missing. ¡°Come to think of it, they¡¯re a five-member group.¡± ¡°Who¡¯s left? Oh! There was the most handsome guy here. The one who stood out the most among them¡­ Was his name Eunha?¡± ¡°It¡¯s Woojoo, Woojoo.¡± ¡°It seems like it¡¯s time for him toe out. The makeup took a long time. The others usually finish by now.¡± Soon, the door of the makeup room opened and Seon Woojoo came out, and everyone noticed the cause of the dy. ¡®The makeup artist really got into it.¡¯ It was understandable. Woojoo¡¯s face changed dramatically after the full makeup. His eyes, nose, and mouth were the same, but his impression waspletely different. He looked neat and straight without makeup, but with makeup, his features became more refined. ¡°Who was the one who said he didn¡¯t lose to Lee Yeonwoo in person?¡± ¡°Me.¡± ¡°I was short-sighted.¡± As they chuckled, Woojoo was surrounded by his brothers. He walked with them like satellites, taking selfies with his phone. The staffughed at that. ¡°It¡¯s been a long time since I¡¯ve seen such a good atmosphere on the set. I should have expected it from the moment they came in with their clothes.¡± Then, someone asked with a worried tone, ¡°Is this okay? They did his makeup well, but his face stands out too much. It draws attention away from the uniform.¡± ¡°That¡¯s true.¡± It was a reasonable point. It was good to have a striking appearance, but not more than the product being advertised. The advertisers and the agency seemed worried about that too. But as soon as the shooting started, everyone regained theirposure. ¡®He has an amazing posture.¡¯ The model was not posing to show off himself, but to highlight the uniform he was wearing. It was when they took the first shot. When everyone thought it was an A-cut. ¡°Ah!¡± The photographer scratched his head with his hand inside his beanie, as if he was annoyed. ¡°Why is he doing that?¡± ¡°It was fine¡­¡± Soon, the cause was revealed. The photographer grabbed the idol member¡¯s arm and started tapping his watch. ¡°Woojoo, you have to take off this weird watch. You ruined the photo.¡± ¡°Oh, I forgot.¡± ¡°Ugh¡­ The photo was an A-cut, but the watch is like this¡­¡± ¡°I¡¯m sorry. I¡¯ve been wearing it since I was in the army¡­¡± The problem was the watch that Woojoo was wearing. An old digital watch with a loose strap. The photographer could not hide his regret, as the first photo seemed to be pretty good. On the other hand, the shooting resumed sessfully. The members¡¯ poses and expressions were lively, as if they had been taught by someone. The staff could also feel how much effort they had put into every small movement and expression. The advertiser, who had been smiling faintly, was now nodding andughing. Then, someone said, ¡°They¡¯re taking very few shots. If they take the group shotter, they might finish earlier than ever.¡± Everyone felt hopeful at that remark, when the individual shooting was almost over. ¡°Okay, let¡¯s go with the most suitable feeling for the advertising concept ¡®Enjoyable School Life¡¯. Just do whatever you want with a free pose.¡± ¡°Can I use a prop?¡± ¡°Use anything you want.¡± Woojoo picked up a backpack and slung it over one shoulder, smiling brightly. It was the best shot of the day. ¡°That¡¯s it! Good job!¡± ¡°Thank you!¡± As the staff pped lightly, Woojoo bowed his head and greeted them. Woo Heeseon, the team leader of KG International, approached him. She asked him a question, smiling satisfactorily, ¡°Why did you pose like that at the end?¡± ¡°We did a lot of research among ourselves after seeing the advertising proposal. The concept was ¡®Enjoyable School Life¡¯, so we thought about how to convey that and came up with it beforehand.¡± His answer was convincing enough for everyone in the room. ¡°The best part of going to school is when it¡¯s over, right? That¡¯s why I tried to pose with my backpack.¡± As he was surrounded by his siblings again, Woojoo headed back to the waiting room. Manager Kim of TJ New Media spoke to Director Yoon Seokhwan. ¡°He exceeded our expectations. I didn¡¯t know he could do so well. Especially Woojoo, his expressions were extraordinary.¡± ¡°Yes, he practiced a lot.¡± ¡°Is he good at facial acting from the start?¡± ¡°Yes, well, he practiced that too. And there are other factors¡­¡± Yoon Seokhwan¡¯s eyes softened as he followed the backs of the New ck members. ¡°I think he was just excited to wear a school uniform.¡± *** Woojoo feel good. Very good. It had been a long time since he felt this good. He enjoyed pouring out what he had practiced, but more than anything, the outfit had a big impact. Snap- Woojoo raised a finger to make a V on his eye. Snap- He set the timer and made a flower with both hands. Snap- He tried the so-called ¡°pretty face¡± angle that was popr when he was in middle school. ¡°Geez, you do everything. Everything.¡± ¡°Shut up.¡± ¡°Are you that thrilled to wear a school uniform?¡± ¡°You, a school kid, wouldn¡¯t know. This feeling.¡± ¡°I don¡¯t want to know. How it feels to take pictures with that cheesy expression.¡± ¡°Fine, don¡¯t say a word. Really.¡± Woojoo nced at Rihyuk and took another selfie. At that moment, the youngest plopped down next to him. ¡°Leave him and take a picture with me, Hyung.¡± ¡°Okay. Junghyun, do you want to join us?¡± ¡°I¡¯ll take itter.¡± ¡°Then, shall we take it just the two of us?¡± Woojooughed with the youngest and took a bunch of pictures. They changed their poses and expressions. They also made finger gestures at each other. Who would have thought? He never had a friendship photo experience when he was in high school. And now he was doing it with a seventeen-year-old when he was twenty-two. ¡°You¡¯re doing great, great. We could have a photo exhibition.¡± ¡°Why is he so crooked today?¡± ¡°He¡¯s trying to control his emotions. He asked me to give him a chic image.¡± ¡°Rihyuk, being annoying and being chic are different things. Chic is like this.¡± Woojoo made a chic expression. Rihyuk made a sullen face, while Junghyun blinked. ¡°Wow, you¡¯re good.¡± Then, the youngest followed him. Junghyun eximed again. ¡°Jiho is good too.¡± ¡°Please be quiet. I need to control my emotions.¡± Their annoying eighteen-year-old opened ¡®The Courage to Be Hated¡¯ and started reading. Meanwhile, Jiho and Woojoo looked at the smartphone screen face to face. There were a lot of pictures of two idols wearing dark navy jackets and red ties. ¡°Hyung, should we make this our profile picture?¡± ¡°You¡¯re the only one who looks good. How about this one?¡± ¡°You¡¯re the only one who looks good. I look like an ugly bun.¡± ¡°That¡¯s how you look.¡± ¡°¡­¡± ¡°Where are you going, hey, our youngest is the most handsome in the world.¡± He tried to get up with a snort, but Woojoo grabbed his arm and sat him down. As Woojoo looked at the album with Jiho and chatted, Minki Hyung came in and knocked. ¡°The three of you are going for a group shot.¡± ¡°Yes!¡± He waved his hand and told them to do well. Woojoo was left alone in the empty dressing room, and he checked the pictures he had just taken. Then he turned his head. He was taking a long time. Woojoo should have sent someone with him when he said he was going to the bathroom. It was right in front of them, so he just let him go. But he was such a klutz. As Woojoo was about to call him, the door opened with a click. ¡°Ah, it¡¯s on the right? Thank you.¡± Bijoo, who was thanking someone outside, came in with his phone. Then he pointed it at Woojoo. It looked like he was recording a video on his low-quality phone. ¡°What are you filming?¡± ¡°Oh, I¡¯m just showing the fans the filming set and stuff.¡± Their boy, who was smiling gently, sat next to him. ¡°Bijoo, you look like a ss president in that uniform.¡± ¡°Oh, I was the ss president.¡± ¡°Really?¡± ¡°Yes, I¡¯ve done it several times.¡± ¡°I see.¡± He had that kind of vibe. You know, those kids you saw at school. They were boys, but they were quiet and diligent, and they got elected as ss presidents in the second semester after being quiet in the first. Bijoo, who was showing various smiles to the phone camera, asked Woojoo, ¡°So, what¡¯s the theme of what you¡¯re filming now?¡± ¡°Um¡­¡± He answered after thinking for a while. ¡°How about a time capsule?¡± ¡°A time capsule?¡± ¡°Yes, something we can watchter when we¡¯re older.¡± ¡°Like at the 10th anniversary fan meeting?¡± ¡°Yes, something like that.¡± ¡°That¡¯s nice.¡± Woojoo waved his hand at the screen. ¡°Hello, I¡¯m Woojoo from New ck.¡± ¡°Woah.¡± Bijoo pped his hands and filled the audio. And then silence. ¡°But if this is a time capsule, when are we opening it?¡± ¡°I don¡¯t know, maybe when we¡¯re in ourte twenties?¡± ¡°Hey, if you¡¯re in yourte twenties, I¡¯m thirty.¡± Bijoo burst outughing. He wasughing so hard that he snorted. He pointed the camera at Woojoo again. ¡°Um, then tell me how you feel about wearing a uniform.¡± ¡°Hi, future me and siblings. I¡¯m wearing a uniform right now and I¡¯m so excited. I feel great today.¡± ¡°How great?¡± ¡°Um, enough to forgive someone who did something wrong?¡± ¡°Wow¡­¡± Woojoo opened his eyes wide and asked him, ¡°Bijoo, if this is a time capsule concept, don¡¯t you have to say something serious?¡± ¡°Then say a word of blessing.¡± ¡°Hmm, what should I say? Wait a minute.¡± Oh. Woojoo wanted to leave a message for their siblings who were high school students now. ¡°Rihyuk, Jihyo. Are you watching? It¡¯s your Hyung. I told you back then. School life is the most beautiful time. The past time is really precious. But look. You didn¡¯t cherish that time. Do you regret not listening to me now? It¡¯s very sad, right?¡± ¡°Hyung, that¡¯s not a blessing.¡± Bijoo covered his mouth with his hand andughed, showing his white teeth. ¡°How about this, Hyung? Since we¡¯re talking about school, let¡¯s leave a message for the fans who are students too.¡± ¡°Fans?¡± Then the story changed. ¡°Um, fans¡­ Then. Oh, hello. Souffl¨¦. It¡¯s Woojoo.¡± ¡°Hyung, your tone suddenly changed.¡± Woojoo ignored him and looked at his reflection on the screen. ¡°Oh, it¡¯s different to talk to our Souffl¨¦. Please ignore what I just said to my siblings. Oh, our Souffl¨¦ who are working hard at school, you¡¯re awesome.¡± Bijooughed at his forced thumbs-up. ¡°I said that to my siblings because they rarely go to school. They¡¯re busy with their singing activities, and sometimes they don¡¯t go at all. So I told them to value their school life. To them, broadcasting stations and filming sets are everyday, and school is a special ce.¡± But. ¡°I have to say something different to the fans who are going to school now, or who will see this in the future. School life is hard, right?¡± Woojoo said with a smile, ¡°People around me might say that those days were the best, but I¡¯m sure the students who are in school right now are having a hard time. It¡¯s not always fun, right? There areplicated friendships, exams, and many other things.¡± To be honest, he didn¡¯t really know what school life was like. He was already a trainee since middle school, and by the time he could attend school properly, he had already dropped out. But he guessed living as a person was simr wherever you go. Woojoo imagined what their fans¡¯ school lives would be like, based on his trainee days, and spoke. ¡°So, I want to say that I appreciate your efforts, or that you¡¯ve done well. It¡¯s like going through a long tunnel. I want to tell the Souffl¨¦s who might be watching this in the future to hang in there a little more, and I want to thank our Souffl¨¦s who have been with us for a long time for enduring well.¡± ¡°¡­¡± ¡°Hey, Bijoo, how was that? I did well, right?¡± But Bijoo had a vague expression on his face. Did he do something wrong? As he was thinking that, Bijoo hesitated. He looked like he had something to say, but couldn¡¯t. ¡°Oh, what should I do¡­¡± ¡°What¡¯s wrong?¡± ¡°Hyung, you said you could forgive anything because you were in a good mood, right?¡± ¡°Yeah, so?¡± ¡°Hyung, this, I really didn¡¯t know this would happen, but¡­¡± With a dying voice, Bijoo said, "This was a live broadcast, Hyung." "What?" As Bijoo tapped the screen, the chat window that had been hidden popped up. * * * A loud yell of ¡®Hey!'' echoed in the dressing room. On the screen, a group of people burst intoughter as they watched Woojoo scolding Bijoo. "Hahaha!" They were the members and managers who had their phones in their hands. Chapter 85: Chapter 85: Trantor: MarcTempest Editor: Rxel Chapter 85 Woojoo wished he had the ability to stop time. Then he could pause time for a moment and calm myself down. ¡°HAHAHA!¡± There are also some guys he wanted to punch after stopping time. ¡°Surprise sess!¡± ¡°Wow, this is so fun.¡±¡°Really, there¡¯s no fun like this. Did you see his face just now? He was so flustered that he blinked his eyes.¡± ¡°¡­Hyung, Woojoo Hyung. Are you okay?¡± Woojoo was surrounded by his younger brothers and spaced out. You know that thing. The drama meme where everyone wasughing and talking, but the long-haired guy was alone flipping his hair. That was his expression right now. Woojoo nced at the members who wereughing and talking next to him and looked at the phone screen. -???????? -Woojoo ???? -???????????? If Woojoo counted the number of ¡®?¡¯ in the chat room, it would match the number of all the grains of sand in the world. Woojoo took the phone from Bijoo and brought it close to his face. The chat stopped at that moment. What was going on? Woojoo checked his face reflected on the screen to see if there was anything strange and greeted them with a bright smile. ¡°Nice to meet you, everyone. How have you been?¡± There was no answer for a while, and then ament blinked. -We¡¯re happy too¡­¡î Woojoo couldn¡¯t help butugh. He handed the phone to Junghyun as he watched the chat room explode again. While his long arm captured them in one screen, Woojoo quickly reviewed the situation. Did he make a mistake in speaking? Woojoo wondered if there was anything that could be a problem, but fortunately there was nothing. Seokhwan Hyung¡¯s expression was rxed as he watched them from the side. Now the problem was. ¡°Before we have a fun conversation with our fans, we need to have an honest talk with our brothers.¡± It was time to punish the traitors. ¡°Where¡¯s our second youngest?¡± ¡°Me, me?¡± Woojoo smiled at Bijoo who flinched. And he wrapped his arm around his cheeky neck. ¡°They say you get chopped by the axe you trust. Did you betray me?¡± ¡°Hyung, this is a misunderstanding.¡± ¡°What misunderstanding?¡± ¡°I didn¡¯t volunteer because I wanted to¡­¡± Bijoo trailed off with a friendly smile. ¡°Well, our second youngest wouldn¡¯t say he wanted to do it. Come on, spit it out. Who told you to do it?¡± ¡°That¡¯s¡­¡± Bijoo¡¯s eyes quickly scanned the members. Then he shook his head as if he couldn¡¯t say it. ¡°I can¡¯t. I can¡¯t tell you.¡± ¡°Rihyuk and Jihyo pushed you, right?¡± ¡°Huh.¡± ¡°I saw it just now. Your eyes were looking at those two.¡± It was nice to have the ability to mimic movements. Woojoo could see the direction of his pupils moving. As expected, the two denied it. ¡°Not us.¡± ¡°Yeah. How can you doubt our cute brothers?¡± It was them. The guys who usually growled at each other were united, which meant they did it together. Woojoo said sarcastically, ¡°Okay, whoever confesses first will be spared.¡± ¡°Uh¡­¡± ¡°I¡¯ll count to three. One, two¡­¡± ¡°I¡¯m sorry, Rihyuk Hyung!¡± Jihyo quickly snitched. ¡°Rihyuk Hyung said it would be fun.¡± ¡°No way.¡± Rihyuk protested. ¡°He said he wanted to go first.¡± ¡°But I was the one who suggested it first, even though you came up with the idea. It would be fun to do something like a time capsule.¡± ¡°Wow, you said not to betray me and then you did.¡± ¡°I have to survive too, you know? Woojoo Hyung is so petty and holds grudges.¡± Woojoo watched his younger brothers bicker cutely and then suddenly got hit by a misfortune. ¡°Hey.¡± Everyone burst intoughter. Woojoo looked at the phone in Junghyun¡¯s hand in disbelief and saw that the chat room was filled with ¡®?¡¯ again. ¡°This is harassment, everyone.¡± They didn¡¯t seem to believe him. ¡°You won¡¯t believe me no matter what I say, right?¡± His heart rained as he sawments like ¡®yep¡¯. Damn. His image was ruined, now. No. When did he ever have a good image? Woojoo gave up and chatted happily with the fans, while he also heard a brief exnation from Seokhwan Hyung about what had happened. SNS live. It was something that thepany had prepared for the fans who were curious about them after the radio show. It was fresh content. Usually, when idolsmunicated with their fans, they either left a message on the fan cafe or chatted with them. Doing it like an inte broadcast was a novel way. Of course, the familiarity of the format was separate from the satisfaction of the live broadcast. It was very high. -What are you doing now? -I want to see your uniforms more closely!! -Guys ???? -Ahhhhhhhhhh -What are you going to have for lunch?? Even though they couldn¡¯t face each other, it felt so good to be able tomunicate with the fans like this. Fans were all the same fans. Whether they came to see them offline or cheer for them from afar, they were all precious fans to them. That was why they felt sorry for them. There must have been some people who wanted to talk to them, but had to watch them from a distance for personal reasons or other reasons. They couldn¡¯t know what they were thinking or what they wanted to say. That was why they were happy that they had this opportunity through this broadcast. The fans who had only watched them online could also join them and talk to them about various things without any pressure, since it was this kind of format. They said to the fans who were pouring out chats, ¡°We did well on the shooting, and we have a lot of time left because of the standby, so we have plenty of time to talk to you. So, if you have anything you are curious about, please tell us everything. And¡­¡± They all said with a smile, ¡°Let¡¯s have fun with us today.¡± ¡°Let¡¯s have fun!¡± That was what they said as they continued their time with the fans after their first fan signing event. They called it ¡®Ask Us Anything! Part 2¡¯. It had been about thirty minutes. At first, there were very few viewers. They were a rookie group, so it was inevitable that they didn¡¯t have many fans. But then, something amazing happened. The number of viewers started to increase gradually, and thements began to pour in. Some of thements were unreadable to them. No, it wasn¡¯t because there were too manyments. Woojoo didn¡¯t know about the others, but he could recognize some of thements that were scrolling up. This was¡­ Yeah, it wasn¡¯t that they missed them, but that they couldn¡¯t read them at all. Woojoo was lucky enough to be able to read some of them, but the younger ones were puzzled by some of thements. Bijoo whispered in his ear, ¡°Hyung, it¡¯s a chat room.¡± He looked confused. ¡°Why are there Japanese and Chinesements?¡± *** [The idol leader who unknowingly revealed his true feelings during a live broadcast today] (Capture collection) The subject is New ck¡¯s Woojoo! He said he didn¡¯t know that they were doing a live broadcast for the first time at thepany today. He said he couldn¡¯t visit the fan cafe for a few days because of the advertising photoshoot and practice. His reaction was so real that I brought it here lol [Comments: 9] -???????? -Is this a hidden camera?? -It could be staged, but he would have to be a great actor to react like that lol -His dumbfounded expression was hrious ? -This is fun ??? -Wow, he must not swear or anything like that normally. It would be hard to prank him with a live broadcast. -The agencies hate live broadcasts like this after Sixty. -[OP] To answer thement above, Woojoo is very careful about his speech mistakes. He said that at the fan meeting. They got scolded badly by the manager before his debut, so they all watch their words even in private lol -I think he just made it up, ? Lemon Entertainment PR team. Hong Seoyoung, the assistant manager, scrolled down herptop mouse. But there were only ninements. Considering that it was posted not long ago, it wasn¡¯t a bad response. It wasn¡¯t like the penguin dance that went viral on variousmunities, but it was a minor topic. She felt proud. It was her n that she prepared when she was told to make a content for New ck and their fandom tomunicate during the break. A live broadcast using an SNS app. The first tform she considered was an inte broadcast, but the meeting with thepany was not good, and the PR team also thought that the inte broadcastpanies and New ck¡¯s image did not match well. So she decided to do a live broadcast on SNS, and upload a video edited with highlights for the fans who couldn¡¯t participate. And. The result was very good. ¡°What are you looking at?¡± Nam, her colleague who joined thepany at the same time, sat next to her after brushing his teeth. ¡°Fan cafe monitoring.¡± ¡°Oh, the live broadcast? The response was good. A reporter called me earlier and asked if Scarlet had any ns to do that.¡± ¡°Scarlet too?¡± ¡°No. They have a lot of ces to go.¡± Hong Seoyoung smirked. He was right. Scarlet was a top group that was often invited to variety shows and other broadcasts, so they didn¡¯t need to do this kind of n. This was only possible because of New ck¡¯s uniqueness. They had sessfully finished their first album activities, and their fandom size had increased considerably, so they neededmunication, but they still weren¡¯t called much by the broadcasts. ¡°And the team leader wouldn¡¯t approve it. This also requires the singers¡¯ skills to back it up, so New ck wouldn¡¯t have gotten permission if it wasn¡¯t for Woojoo.¡± That was also true. Live chat was not a preferred content for the agency. They could edit the broadcast, but a live broadcast was impossible to fix. ¡°They never make any verbal mistakes, do they?¡± Nam said, ¡°Jiho and Junghyun might be a bit risky sometimes, but most of the time they¡¯re within the eptable range. And if it seems like it could be a problem, Woojoo cuts it out. Wasn¡¯t he the one who cut out that primitive doll costumest time?¡± ¡°¡­¡± ¡°We almost got into big trouble because of that.¡± He was referring to the incident where a boy group that appeared on a variety show tried to be funny by dressing up as ck people and got scolded by the overseas K-pop fans. There were almost 3,000ments on a foreign website about it. What would have happened if New ck had worn that doll costume? Hong, who had a bitter smile on her face, changed the topic. ¡°Speaking of overseas, something came to my mind.¡± She called her colleague. ¡°Can you take a look at this?¡± ¡°What is it, the live video from earlier?¡± ¡°Yeah, something weird caught my eye.¡± Hong brought up the recorded video on the screen. ¡°Doesn¡¯t the chat window look strange?¡± ¡°Uh, well¡­ Huh?¡± Soon, Nam noticed something odd and tilted his head. ¡°Why is there something like Japanese here?¡± ¡°I thought it was weird too, while I was watching. I talked to Yoon earlier and he said the same thing.¡± ¡°It¡¯s not time for the overseas reactions yet. Unless there was a reason for them to notice us.¡± ¡°I have a guess about that.¡± She searched and showed him. ¡°When we made a promise to do the penguin dance in Myeongdongst time, there was an SNS post by a tourist. It seems to have gotten quite popr.¡± ¡°Wow. How many retweets does this have? There¡¯s a K attached to it?¡± Then, the penguin started dancing on autoy. They couldn¡¯t help butugh at the video that came in unexpectedly. The emperor penguin who dropped his crown while dancing vigorously. ¡°I¡¯m going crazy because of them. Seriously.¡± ¡°This is a lifesaver when you¡¯re feeling down. I save it on my phone and y it sometimes when I¡¯m depressed.¡± Nam, who was browsing the SNS posts with weird sentences like ¡®Handsome man found inside penguin box in Myeongdong today¡¯ tranted by artificial intelligence, asked, ¡°So, did the foreigners notice us because of this?¡± ¡°I don¡¯t know.¡± ¡°It¡¯s amazing, the Japanese are understandable, but the Chinese can¡¯t use other countries¡¯ SNS, right? How did they get in?¡± It was full of mysteries everywhere. But there was one thing for sure. They had found an unexpected clue in the live broadcast that was nned to connect the fans who mainly acted online and New ck. It might seem like a trivial thing, but she felt something inexplicable. He saw Hong tapping on herptop and asked her, ¡°What are you doing now?¡± ¡°I¡¯m going to request some foreign subtitles for this.¡± ¡°Impossible.¡± But regardless of what the other person said, she wrote the proposal. It was about adding English subtitles to the reality shows and live broadcasts that thepany produced internally. She honestly didn¡¯t think they would approve it from above. They were already struggling with the budget they spent on the first album, and the actors¡¯ team was constantlyining. And they wanted more money? She was just following the philosophy of the PR team: ¡®Row when the tide rises¡¯. ¡®Surely they¡¯ll say no.¡¯ That was what she thought when she submitted the proposal. But before a day had passed, the production director Jo Gyuhwan approved it through the team leader. Not only in English, but also in Chinese and Japanese. *** They were immersed in the spectacle of events today. They started from the beach music festival in Busan in the morning, then sang a fiery Fireworks song at a local festival in Gyeongsan, and then headed back to Seoul. Not to go to thepany, but for the congrattory performance of the youth culture festival. They had no time to think. A tight schedule in every way. They were doing well among the rookies, but even considering that, it was too much. It was all thanks to that day. The day when the event agency team leader promised to repay them for Teen Spirit¡¯s performance. Woojoo thought he was just bluffing. He didn¡¯t know he would keep his promise and say ¡®I have some good kids¡¯ whenever the event organizers said ¡®Oh, there¡¯s one awkward spot left. Do you have any rookies to call?¡¯ It was a good thing in many ways. The only regret was that they had little time to practice other things. Woojoo looked at the script for the school uniform ad CF that they would shoot in a few days. The paper shook because of the vibration of the moving car, but his eyes were fixed on it. #12. [VIDEO] A teacher is standing in front of the podium with a chalk in his hand. [AUDIO] Teacher: The magic we will learn this time is levitation, which makes your body lighter. The content was simple. It was to show the practical aspect of the school uniform brand Everdream, which was light and stretchy, through magic. Five students were practicing among themselves and identally cast magic on their uniforms, something like that. It was just a fun topic, but. There was a very interesting setting attached to it. ¡°Hyung, what are you looking at?¡± ¡°¡­Huh?¡± Woojoo was focused on the script, so he was stunned when Jiho stuck his face in front of him. Woojoo rubbed his eyes, which were suddenly tired. ¡°I was looking at the ad script.¡± ¡°What, why are you rubbing your eyes as soon as you see me?¡± ¡°Ouch, my eyes are burning.¡± ¡°¡­¡± ¡°That means you¡¯re shining, Jiho.¡± ¡°Really?¡± Hee-hee, theyughed, and Rihyuk, who was looking at ¡®First Steps in Japanese¡¯, shook his head. The car was quiet. Bijoo had earphones plugged in and was dozing off. Junghyun had taken off his shoes and was sleeping. It was natural, since they ran two events since morning. Woojoo smiled with a tired face, and the youngest, who had plenty of energy, rubbed his shoulders. ¡°Feeling good?¡± ¡°Very good.¡± Jiho nced at the script and asked, ¡°Is there something bothering you?¡± ¡°Well, I¡¯m a bit worried that we have a lot of lines.¡± ¡°That¡¯s a good thing.¡± ¡°It¡¯s a double-edged sword. There are quite a few supporting actors, too, and if we mess up there¡­¡± ¡°Ugh, I think I know what you mean.¡± It was horrible to imagine the scene where the director and the staff frowned, and the supporting actors sighed heavily. Jiho said, ¡°It¡¯s not like the dialogue is too heavy or anything. We can do it if we practice enough.¡± ¡°Why are you suddenlyforting me?¡± ¡°I don¡¯t know about singing, dancing, or rapping, but I¡¯m the best at acting.¡± ¡°That¡¯s true. Our youngest is the acting senior.¡± As Woojoo stroked the head of the acting senior who was beaming with pride, Jiho seemed to remember something and asked him, ¡°Wait, maybe I¡¯m not the best at it.¡± ¡°Huh?¡± ¡°Maybe you¡¯re better than me.¡± ¡°Come on.¡± Jiho said to Woojoo, who was making a face of disbelief, ¡°Don¡¯t you rememberst year? When you joined as a trainee, you said you couldn¡¯t dance. And you lied to us that you couldn¡¯t sing well either.¡± ¡°¡­That wasn¡¯t a lie.¡± It was just a misunderstanding. Jiho asked him, ¡°Hyung, can you act well too?¡± Chapter 86: Chapter 86: Trantor: MarcTempest Editor: Rxel Chapter 86 There were some people who made you wonder what they were thinking as they lived their lives. Their group had four of them. Except for Woojoo, they all had some weird points in one aspect or another. Of course, there was one who was undoubtedly the most outstanding among them, but their youngest was also a remarkable owner of a peculiar personality. He had a tendency to say things like ¡®Look at that, look at that, oh my goodness¡¯ 99 percent of the time, except for the asional 1 percent of moments when he was amazing. He was the most iprehensible to Woojoo, but now he could clearly see what he was thinking.¡°Acting?¡± Woojoo asked with a smile, ¡°Why acting all of a sudden?¡± ¡°No, I¡¯m just curious. I also remembered how we got scammed by Hyungst year. You said you took a break from singing for two years then, but you did well.¡± ¡°I don¡¯t sing better than him.¡± ¡°You didn¡¯t ask him.¡± Rihyuk, who had briefly interrupted, twisted his lips and turned his eyes to ¡®First Steps in Japanese¡¯. He nced at him before that. His eyes said, ¡®You know you have to answer well, right?¡¯ ¡°Anyway, I just asked because I was curious. You might be good at acting too, and I might end up praising you too much¡­¡± Woojoo felt like he could see it. A young child who was holding a candy in his hand and worrying that someone might snatch it away. In fact, their youngest was not very prominent in areas such as singing, dancing, rap, orposing. And he was conscious of that fact. He tried to hide it, but it was obvious to the people who watched him from the side. At the year-end evaluation, when everyone had a role to y, he also wanted to help somehow and made up a role for himself. Of course, that role was the cute one of being in charge of snacks, but no oneughed at that. That was how much he wanted to help. And apart from doing his part in the group, acting was the only advantage that Jiho had to show off to his brothers. Was he originally an aspiring actor? Woojoo heard he came here to be an actor, but ended up bing an idol. But he didn¡¯t give up on his dream of being an actor. Even now, when it was time for personal lessons, he went to take acting lessons while everyone else went to learn rap orposing. Woojoo didn¡¯t know how much acting meant to Jiho, but what he saw inside him was not light. ¡°Well. I¡¯ve never learned acting.¡± ¡°Huh? Why?¡± Jiho asked with surprise, ¡°You know, those big agencies like TJ, they have a lot of potential beef ribs? That.¡± ¡°Beef leaves. You idiot.¡± The youngest turned his head sharply, and Rihyuk chuckled and lifted his book. Jiho coughed and said, ¡°They say they give acting lessons to the good-looking ones.¡± ¡°Hmm, that¡¯s probably for the actors who have a wide pool of MOP. TJ has a different system for that.¡± There were four major agencies, each with their own characteristics. SNH valued character, KM valued hip-hop and relevance, MOP valued visuals, and TJ valued performance. TJ was a performance fanatic as apany. They didn¡¯t care about visuals or anything else. If someone¡¯s dancing skills didn¡¯t match the group¡¯s overall level, they would kick them out of the debut team, even if they were good dancers. That was why there was a rumor among the trainees that Woojoo got into TNT¡¯s debut team by corruption. ¡°They invest a lot in the trainees for choreography and singing, so they don¡¯t give separate acting lessons. Well, unless you¡¯re an aspiring actor.¡± The conclusion was simple. ¡°I don¡¯t know, I¡¯ve never learned acting.¡± ¡°Really?¡± ¡°How long have you learned?¡± Jiho counted his fingers and said, ¡°I¡¯ve been learning at an academy since middle school¡­ for three years.¡± ¡°That¡¯s a long time.¡± ¡°If you include the fairy tale acting academy I attended, it¡¯s ten years.¡± Rihyuk and Woojoo, who were reading a book, burst intoughter. Jiho was the only one with a serious face. ¡°I¡¯m serious¡­¡± ¡°Yeah, I know.¡± Woojoo said with a smile, ¡°Anyway, I don¡¯t know much about acting either. I¡¯mcking in many ways. So I need your help too.¡± ¡°Just trust me, Hyung.¡± ¡°Please take good care of me, senior.¡± As they were joking around to lighten the mood, Rihyuk put down his book and asked, ¡°But have you really never learned acting?¡± ¡°What?¡± ¡°Acting.¡± ¡°Yeah.¡± ¡­Woojoo answered, but then he remembered something. ¡°Oh,e to think of it, I did get one lesson when I was at thatpany.¡± ¡°Really?¡± ¡°The teacher said something.¡± ¡°What did he say?¡± Woojoo recalled the past, looking at the curious faces of the two guys. What did the acting teacher say back then? He just casually said, ¡°Well, you¡¯re not bad.¡± *** After the schedule was over, they received a message from their manager. ¡°Your CF shooting schedule is set. The location is a boys¡¯ middle school in Yeongdeungpo.¡± The location was confirmed. ¡°We¡¯ll probably shoot it in two days.¡± ¡°Two days?¡± ¡°You know the ones who became Everdream models with you guys? Blink.¡± They nodded. Blink. They were rookies with a simr career as us, and they had the best performance reviews among the new girl groups that debuted this year. ¡°They messed up at the shooting site. It looked like a simple script and a light concept for a CF, so they must have been careless with the preparation. Because of that, they kept making mistakes on the spot.¡± Blink had experienced the nightmare that they had only imagined. ¡°I heard from TJ¡¯s Manager Kim. It was awful. The director was about to curse them out. The advertisers had executivesing over and everyone was frozen. He said he thought he was going to die from the awkwardness.¡± Then he begged them to prepare well over the phone. Woojoo remembered the stiff-faced advertising agency staff that he met for the first time at the photo shoot that day and smirked. Seokhwan Hyung continued. ¡°So we changed our n and decided to prepare more thoroughly, and we¡¯re going to have you all take acting lessons.¡± ¡°Lessons?¡± ¡°We have someone who works exclusively for ourpany. He¡¯s an acting teacher and we¡¯re going to invite him for a day. Jiho, you know him, right?¡± ¡°Ah, yes.¡± Jiho answered the curious faces of the Hyungs. ¡°He¡¯s been teaching me since I joined thepany. He¡¯s very kind and nice. But he¡¯s strict about acting¡­¡± ¡°Anyway, he agreed to take charge of it.¡± Seokhwan Hyung said earnestly, ¡°It¡¯s a one-time lesson, but I hope you guys prepare well. He said he won¡¯t say anything after teaching you for a day, so it¡¯s a favor.¡± ¡°Yes.¡± ¡°And¡­¡± His eyes behind the sses scanned them and stopped at Jiho. ¡°Especially, Jiho. He said not to becent because you¡¯re good, and to prepare harder than the other Hyungs because you learned acting.¡± ¡°Yes.¡± ¡°Then I¡¯ll count on you.¡± The manager left and they gathered in one ce to discuss. Jiho was the main axis. ¡°First of all, we need to divide the roles before we practice together.¡± There were five of them, so naturally there were five roles for them to y. It was a short and simple web drama-style CF, but there were some lines attached even for trivial things. Transfer student ss president Model student Athlete Student 5 The weight was simr for everyone. It felt like they divided it fairly by 20 percent. It didn¡¯t take long to divide the roles. After Jiho took the transfer student, who had a slightly tricky scene, they just chose the person who was closest to their usual character. ¡°No.¡± Of course, there was someone whoined. ¡°Why am I the only one who¡¯s student 5 when everyone else is an athlete or a transfer student?¡± *** 11 p.m. At that time, when the younger ones had all returned to the dorm, Woojoo was sitting in the studio and tapping the synthesizer absentmindedly. ¡°Ants are.¡± Ding ding. ¡°Today too.¡± Ding ding. ¡°Working hard~.¡± Ding ding. A majestic organ sound like the one you heard in a church. It was worthy of a synthesizer that cost millions of won. If the management support team leader knew Woojoo was using it like this, he would run over and shake him by the cor. He pped his cheek as he hummed the ant song and the dung beetle song in a row. ¡°Ah, I can¡¯t think of anything¡­¡± What he was worried about was the song work. Woojoo didn¡¯t know exactly when, but he guessed their second album would be released around October or November. This time, they might have a contest for the title song among theposers. Thepany seemed to want him to include one of his songs in the second album, maybe because of his image as aposer-idol. So he had to make a song. ¡°What should I do?¡± Woojoo already showed a refreshing summer season song with Fireworks. And a warm and emotional song with Night Sea. What should he do now? Everyone had their own way ofposing, but he was the type who needed a clear image to start working. For example, the fireworks he saw with his parents when he was young, or the night sky he saw lying on his grandmother¡¯swn. ¡°Hmm¡­¡± Woojoo felt like he focused too much on himself, so maybe he should try to make a song about their members. But that was a problem in itself. If he thought about the overall color of New ck, he would end up with something not much different from Fireworks. Then he would have to deal with each member individually. But he didn¡¯t know much about their musical colors. And if he made a song based on one of them, he couldn¡¯t predict how the other members would react. ¡°This is hard.¡± The closer Woojoo got to the members, the more he cared about these small things. Maybe it was a sensitive part emotionally. They always showed a bit of jealousy when he sang Night Sea as a duet with Rihyuk. That wasn¡¯t a bad thing. It was natural for humans. They wanted to do it too, they wanted to stand on the stage and get attention like that. That was why he couldn¡¯t say that he was trying to make a song for someone. It was something he had to think carefully about. After ying the synthesizer for almost an hour and singing a song without a foundation, he decided to take some time and think more. Woojoo had other things to do anyway. He turned off the synthesizer and sat down on the sofa in the studio. [¡®Everdream¡¯ CF ¨C ¡®Magic School¡¯ episode] The advertisement script that he had been looking at in the car was in his hand. His eyes went to the tenth scene. #10. [VIDEO] The ss president approaches the transfer student [AUDIO] ss president: Hi, you¡¯re the transfer student, right? From the part where the character ¡®ss president¡¯ that he yed appeared to the end. Woojoo looked at that part over and over again and wondered. What should he do? Should he just read it? ¡°Hi, you¡¯re the new student, right?¡± Ugh, how embarrassing. Woojoo felt like his ears would burn if he was Rihyuk. He read the lines over and over again, along with the other dialogues that followed, but he didn¡¯t feel much better. Acting was not something anyone could do. It was a different field from singing and dancing on stage. Woojoo kept repeating the lines, but they just stuck in his mouth. He didn¡¯t feel like he was doing well. Maybe he was just mediocre, as TJ had said before. Well. On the other hand, it meant he had to use his brain. Since he was a trainee, he had always used his head to cover up his weaknesses, such as stage direction. It was a habit to look for solutions as soon as a problem arose. If he had trouble expressing emotions¡­ He had to make up for it in other ways. For example, facial expressions or body movements. With that in mind, he wrote down on an A4 paper what kind of actions would go with each scene. The next part was easy. With the ability he had, it wasn¡¯t hard to practice the expressions and movements that suited the scene. He was in the middle of practicing like that, walking and moving his hands, when it happened. ck- Woojoo turned his head at the sound of the door opening and saw Bijoo. ¡°Oh, Bijoo.¡± ¡°Hyung, I¡¯m here.¡± Behind the smiling brother with a slightly tired face, he saw a familiar face. She was a girl group member with a small stature and a very pale face. ¡°Hello, Sunbae-nim.¡± She narrowed her eyes at Woojoo¡¯s greeting. ¡°We seem to have gotten closer. Can¡¯t you just talk casually now?¡± ¡°I¡¯m morefortable with this.¡± It was Daisy. The rapper and maknae of Scarlet. Woojoo asked her why she came with Bijoo. ¡°Why are you two together?¡± ¡°Oh, I ran into Daisy Sunbae-nim on the way up.¡± Bijoo carefully peeled off the hair stuck to his forehead with a tissue. He looked soaked from practicing hard. ¡°I was going to go to the dorm after practice, but I came up to go with you, Hyung. It¡¯s dangerous at night these days-¡± ¡°That¡¯s nice of you. You even worry about me.¡± ¡°I thought it would be safer to go with you, Hyung.¡± ¡°¡­¡± ¡°Oops.¡± Bijoo and Woojoo looked at each other and burst outughing. Afterughing for a while. Woojoo gave a nce to the guest who visited the studio. ¡°What brings you here, Sunbae?¡± ¡°I was just working on a mixtape and got bored, so I came to hang out.¡± ¡°Don¡¯t you need to rest? You¡¯re busy and youe all the way here¡­¡± ¡°It¡¯s okay, I have a little break time.¡± She wasn¡¯t leaving. She kept looking at the interior of their studio with interest, which made Woojoo uneasy. The studio they used had a pink sofa and a polka dot cushion. Then she noticed something on the table. ¡°What¡¯s this? ¡®Wave your hand?¡¯ ¡®Use magic?¡¯.¡± ¡°That¡¯s the script for themercial.¡± Bijoo gave her a sweet smile and snatched it from her, then handed it to Woojoo. Unexpected. If it were Rihyuk or Jiho, they would have asked him, ¡®Hyung, can I take it?¡¯ But they were firm with people who weren¡¯t in our group. ¡°Wow, that¡¯s mean. Oppa. Why is this a secret among the samepany people?¡± She made a sour face. ¡°I even did a cameo for you in the music video.¡± Woojoo thought their maknae was the only one who was like a sticky rice cake, but there was another fluffy cake here. Daisy started to whine. ¡°I brought sushi to the set, and I gave you 100,000 won to buy snacks.¡± ¡°100,000 won?¡± A memory suddenly came to mind. She gave him 100,000 won at the beginning of this year, saying that he had worked hard carrying her stuff. But he told his siblings it was only 50,000 won. Oops. Before she could say anything, Woojoo quickly interrupted her. ¡°So, how was your practice?¡± ¡°Huh?¡± ¡°Weren¡¯t you practicing your dance moves?¡± ¡°Oh, yeah. There¡¯s one hand gesture that I can¡¯t get right. Do you want to see it?¡± He got up from his seat and moved like a dancer. It was an elegant gesture, like a magician bowing to the audience and waving their hand after a show. ¡°Wow.¡± ¡°It¡¯s so bad.¡± ¡°¡­¡± Then he showed them the same thing again. ¡°How is it?¡± ¡°¡­I don¡¯t see much difference?¡± ¡°Don¡¯t you feel the difference? There¡¯s a difference between being smooth but strong, and being strong but smooth. You understand, right?¡± No, not at all. Woojoo turned his head to Daisy, but she also shook her head. He kept trying different hand gestures and pondering for a while, then changed the topic. ¡°Then, were you practicing your acting?¡± ¡°Yeah, I was working on some songs too.¡± Woojoo also had something that came to his mind thanks to him. ¡°Oh, by the way, can you take a look at this? You too, Sunbae.¡± ¡°What? Acting?¡± ¡°Yeah, I¡¯ve been practicing, but it doesn¡¯t seem to work well¡­ It feels awkward.¡± They smiled and said it was okay. ¡°It¡¯s okay. It¡¯s your first time.¡± ¡°Yeah, I can¡¯t act either.¡± ¡°Hmm, let me show you.¡± Woojoo nodded at their encouraging smiles and showed them the first few scenes that he was in, which he had prepared roughly. He recited his lines while moving his body. Now, the third scene¡­ Woojoo stopped. Because of the two fish on the sofa, who were just blinking their eyes. ¡°¡­?¡± What kind of reaction was this? ¡°What¡¯s wrong with you?¡± Chapter 87: Chapter 87: Trantor: MarcTempest Editor: Rxel Chapter 87 An Ambitious Moment. When Woojoo asked the two people who came to his studio to watch his acting, they did so with a light heart. ¡°Um, I¡¯ll show you first.¡± He stood in the middle of the studio with an awkward expression. Bijoo smiled quietly. He was amazed to see his brother, who flew on the stage, being nervous because of an advertisement acting.He pped his hands with Daisy and cheered him up. ¡®¡­Huh?¡¯ The atmosphere suddenly changed. The one who was scratching his cheek sheepishly just a moment ago disappeared, and there was someone else in his ce. He had the same face, but his expression was different. He had a confident, if not arrogant, look. Not only his face, but also his detailed movements were different from the Seon Woojoo Bijoo usually knew. He moved leisurely. He minimized his body movements, as those with high dignity did. He was good at dancing, so he felt the difference in his gestures more than anyone else. ¡°Who is that guy, Oppa?¡± Daisy asked with a thud, but Bijoo had nothing to say. He saw him for the first time too. When his head wasplicated, Woojoo walked towards the studio wall with a rxed step. Then, he stopped upright. ¡°Hello.¡± A pleasant low voice. Woojoo¡¯s tone was a little lower than usual, but it didn¡¯t sound awkward. ¡°Are you the transfer student?¡± As if he was in a situational y, Woojoo continued his lines towards the air. Naturally, without being embarrassed or anything. His soft voice carried on the conversation with the transfer student. Bijoo picked up the advertisement script that was lying on the corner of the sofa. He carefully recited the lines in his mind, being careful not to tear the worn-out paper end. ¡°Is this your first time at our school?¡± -Yeah, hello. ¡°What did youe to this school for? Magic? Potion making? Or¡­¡± As he read the dialogue, Bijoo couldn¡¯t help but stick out his tongue. He didn¡¯t know if he practiced considering the time for the other person to speak, but it was flowing like a real conversation. Daisy, who had peeked her head in, soon realized the situation and made a strange expression. Bijoo stared nkly at the person in front of him. ¡®¡­What is this.¡¯ He always thought he was a versatile brother, but he still thought he had some limits. He thought he would have something he couldn¡¯t do, at least. And since he recently heard from his own mouth that he ¡®got a not bad review for his acting in TJ days¡¯, he thought acting was an exception. ¡®I got scammed again.¡¯ A bitterugh came out. As expected. He shouldn¡¯t believe him when he said he couldn¡¯t do something. ¡°Uh?¡± He realized that the two were looking at him with weird faces, and Woojoo¡¯s acting stopped. Everything went back to normal. His arrogant expression turned into a rxed face. His leisurely steps became light. His gestures, which imitated someone else, changed flexibly. When they felt the air of the studio return to normal, Woojoo asked, ¡°Why are you like that?¡± Why are you like that? That was the question they wanted to ask him. *** ¡°Didn¡¯t you hear that you have talent for acting?¡± Daisy asked him as he locked the studio door and came out. Bijoo nodded his head too. ¡°Hyung, did you really never learn acting?¡± Why were they like this? ¡°Yes, I heard that I have talent for the first time today. And to answer your question, Bijoo, I learned it once.¡± ¡°What did he say?¡± ¡°Why didn¡¯t they stop you from bing an idol?¡± ¡°You two get along so well.¡± ¡°Answer me first.¡± ¡°Hyung, are you asking me seriously?¡± Woojoo was about to go outside, but two kids blocked his way. Heughed. ¡°No.¡± He said, after gulping down some water, ¡°What did I do in there that made you both react like that?¡± Daisy asked, squinting her eyes, ¡°Are you really asking because you don¡¯t know?¡± ¡°Yes.¡± ¡°You said it was awkward and you couldn¡¯t do it.¡± ¡°It was awkward and I couldn¡¯t do it.¡± To be honest, he didn¡¯t know what he did so well. He just applied what he had learned from imitating various actions. Did it feel like acting? It wasn¡¯t anything special. He didn¡¯t put any emotion into it or anything. What was this? Woojoo thought for a while and concluded that good was good. ¡°Well, I¡¯m d you liked it. I was worried what I would do if I couldn¡¯t do it, but now I have one less thing to worry about when I go to the set.¡± They were pounding their chests at his calm response. That was a bit of an overreaction. If this was a preparation for a stage like singing or dancing, he might have been very excited by this reaction, but it was just okay. It was like, ¡®Wow, that went well.¡¯ Acting was not his interest. After being tormented by the kids for a while, he said goodbye to Daisy, who was going back to her studio. ¡°By the way, I wanted to ask you something, Sunbae.¡± ¡°What is it?¡± Woojoo asked for a moment of understanding from Bijoo and talked to her alone. ¡°Scarlet also puts their own songs in every album, right? I know you have about four songs.¡± ¡°Five, if you count the mixtape.¡± ¡°I¡¯m curious, how do you make your own songs? For example, if you have eight bars of drums and bass, you have to add a song theme or color to it. How do youe up with that idea¡­¡± ¡°Oh, that?¡± Daisy looked at me and tilted her head. ¡°Why do you ask?¡± ¡°Well, it seems like you¡¯re asking something obvious.¡± ¡°Really?¡± ¡°Don¡¯t you have a concept that you and the members want to do?¡± Oh. ¡°Our sisters talk about it together. Let¡¯s go for a cool look with suits this time. Let¡¯s go for a fierce one. Or, I want to be a princess this time. We talk about what we want to do like that.¡± ¡°¡­¡± ¡°It¡¯s your own song, right? We¡¯re making it together, so you can do whatever you want.¡± Woojoo felt a sudden nkness in his head. Was he stupid? That was such an obvious answer. If the members had any concepts they wanted to try, they could just work on them. Woojoo felt embarrassed when he thought about how he had been talking about their musical color and pretending to be Beethoven for an hour. Woojoo smiled and thanked her who was looking at him with a nk expression. ¡°Thank you. You helped me a lot.¡± ¡°If you¡¯re grateful, let go of my words. Oppa.¡± ¡°I¡¯ll do that next time we meet.¡± Daisy chuckled and closed the door. Woojoo watched her sit at the studio table and turn on herptop, and she approached Bijoo who was waiting at the end of the hallway. ¡°What did you two talk about, Hyung?¡± ¡°We have a theme for the B-side track for our second album, right? I asked her for some advice on that.¡± ¡°Did Daisy Sunbae say anything weird?¡± ¡°She just said that since it¡¯s our own song, we should do what we want.¡± They both went down the stairs. ¡°Bijoo, do you have any concept you want to try?¡± ¡°Um¡­ Ah! I do!¡± This was the first time Woojoo saw him smile so brightly in a while. Bijoo took out his phone and showed him a video. ¡°It¡¯s a video of American dancers. They did a sword dance with motion capture from an animated movie. It''s upbeat music, and they all dance together like this, da-da-da, matching every move perfectly. Like this, in sync¡­¡± ¡°Bijoo.¡± ¡°¡­Rihyuk would have a hard time, right?¡± ¡°He¡¯d die.¡± Woojoo narrowed his eyes and said, ¡°And he wouldn¡¯t die easily. He¡¯d kill us all first before he goes.¡± ¡°But we¡¯d still go together.¡± ¡°Bijoo, don¡¯t make a satisfied face when you hear this. Hyung is scared.¡± ¡°I don¡¯t care where I go. As long as we¡¯re together.¡± ¡°No, we¡¯re talking about the underworld right now.¡± ¡°Oh, I was distracted and heard it wrong.¡± Bijoo nodded and said, ¡°Let¡¯s live long, Hyung.¡± ¡°Sometimes I understand why you¡¯re friends with Junghyun.¡± Bijoo nced at him. It was a casual look, but it was the best eye roll he could express. Theyughed and left thepany. ¡°Let¡¯s go home, Hyung.¡± ¡°Yeah.¡± Woojoo was about to end the day on a good note, when Bijoo suddenly remembered something he had forgotten and eximed, ¡°Hyung, what was that about 100,000 won?¡± *** The next day. Practice room. They realized why those two were praised so much for their acting. ¡°They really stand out.¡± As everyone gathered around the smartphone, Rihyuk said, ¡°I thought Wang Jiho and they were filming a drama.¡± ¡°Wow, they¡¯re really good.¡± ¡°Right? I told you Woojoo Hyung was good, but you guys didn¡¯t believe me.¡± Bijoo had a very proud expression on his face. The video they were watching together was their first script-reading recording. They had to monitor how they looked on camera, so they recorded it with their smartphone. They made faces as they watched themselves. They teased andughed at each other. In the midst of the cheerful atmosphere, the focus was on Woojoo¡¯s acting. Every time Woojoo appeared, Junghyun gasped in awe. Rihyuk looked at him as if he was annoyed and changed his exmation to wow. Of course, there was a difference in degree, but everyone had their eyes wide open. When they did the reading practice earlier, they blinked their eyes a lot and Woojoo wondered why, but he understood when he saw himself on the screen. He looked convincing. He didn¡¯t know how good his talent for acting was. He never tried it seriously. But the expressions and movements that he acquired through his ability made up for hisck of acting skills. The perfect expression, movement, and voice for the role made him look like a great actor to anyone. That was why he felt a bit ufortable with their admiring reactions. He felt like he would be exposed if he tried emotional acting. ¡°Wow, this is amazing even if I watch it again. Junghyun Hyung, can you rewind it a bit?¡± ¡°Here?¡± ¡°That¡¯s so amazing. How did you make that expression? Can you do it, Hyung?¡± ¡°Junghyun, stop it.¡± ¡°But Woojoo Hyung, you said you never learned acting?¡± Woojoo answered awkwardly to the question that came back to him. ¡°I didn¡¯t.¡± Woojoo winked at the siblings who were admiring him without any tact. Everyone seemed to understand what he meant, except for Junghyun. The target he nced at was the youngest, who was lying on hisp and staring at the scene on the screen. Woojoo couldn¡¯t see his expression from his angle. But he could tell by his sly neck, or his arms and legs that were exposed outside his short sleeves, how his muscles were moving. He pretended to be rxed, but he was tense inside. This was trouble. Every time they praised Woojoo, he felt the head on his knee getting heavier. He was already saying, ¡®I¡¯m better at acting than you guys!¡¯ and if they kept praising him, what would he be? He had been learning for three years, and they were praising someone who had never learned. Bijoo and Rihyuk seemed to notice his intention and changed the topic. ¡°Ah, I hate to admit it, but Wang Jiho is really good. Hey, why are you so good?¡± Woojoo nodded to Rihyuk, who asked him how he was. ¡°But I guess Jiho is the most noticeable because he has acting experience. His diction and vocalization are the best.¡± Woojoo nodded to Bijoo as well. ¡°He¡¯s good, I think I¡¯ll download and watch his drama when ites out.¡± Thest one was Junghyun. He spoke as he felt, because he couldn¡¯t lie, and Jiho was the only one who reacted positively. When they btedly realized the youngest¡¯s mood and were restless. ¡°Wow, this is so fun.¡± The youngest got up from his seat with a chuckle. ¡°We all did well. Rihyuk Hyung is really bad, though.¡± ¡°Hey, Wang Jiho.¡± ¡°And I was scammed by you, Hyung.¡± ¡°Me?¡± ¡°Yes, you said you couldn¡¯t act and acted weak. But you¡¯re really good even though you never learned.¡± ¡°It was easy because the lines were simple. I wouldn¡¯t have a chance if I had to do emotional acting.¡± ¡°I don¡¯t know, I got scammed.¡± Everyone was relieved to see the youngest member return as usual, but Woojoo was the only one scratching his cheek. Something seemed off about him. He would have preferred if he acted annoyed like he always did when he teased him. But this was too unexpected. He was a person full of desire for his own things. He thought he was the best, and he wanted to make a career out of the field he chose. How would he feel if someone who had never learned anything suddenly entered that field? He would have been upset. ¡°What¡¯s wrong, Hyung?¡± ¡°Nothing. It¡¯s nothing.¡± Woojoo felt uneasy seeing him smile like that. *** The problem urred during the acting lesson. The teacher who imed to be teaching Jiho just watched them silently as they read the script. And as soon as they finished, she gave him an ambiguous expression as if asking him how it was. ¡°Jiho.¡± ¡°Yes?¡± ¡°Your acting today seemed a bit too forceful. Did you have a reason for that?¡± ¡°¡­No.¡± He answered in a t voice, and the teacher¡¯s gaze turned to Woojoo. Please. Woojoo hoped she wouldn¡¯t say anything weird. ¡°What was your name again?¡± ¡°Woojoo, teacher.¡± ¡°You did well. You could have gone into acting with that level.¡± ¡°¡­Thank you.¡± ¡°Did you really never learn anywhere? I heard it was the first time.¡± She then bombarded Woojoo with various questions for five minutes, and he felt like dying since he could see the youngest member right across from him. But Woojoo was relieved that there was nothing problematic until then. The acting teacher narrowed her eyes as she looked at the advertisement concept. ¡°Did you guys divide the roles among yourselves?¡± ¡°Ah, yes.¡± ¡°Hmm¡­¡± She muttered with a subtle expression. ¡°I think you chose the wrong lead for this.¡± Woojoo panicked and swallowed a gasp. No. How could she say that when her own student was right next to her? If words had shape, he would have shoved them back into the teacher¡¯s mouth, but they had already reached the youngest member¡¯s ears. When Woojoo turned his head. The face of the youngest member, who had been cheerful all day, was cracked. New ck¡¯s dorm. After the lesson was over, Jiho had to endure a whole day of being surrounded by his Hyungs, who alternated between scolding him for being a bad student and praising him for being the best maknae, every minute. A night of ambition. Wang Jiho lifted the curtain and gazed at the full moon. He bathed in the moonlight and fell into a deep thought. One thought led to another. And when his thoughts reached a certain point, Jiho put on his tracksuit pants and grabbed his phone, then tiptoed downstairs. Soon, the door of the dorm closed quietly behind him. At that moment. ¡°What the hell.¡± His four Hyungs, who were pretending to be asleep, got up at the same time. ¡°Where is he going?¡± *** ¡°Were you awake?¡± ¡°What about you, Hyung?¡± ¡°None of us slept.¡± ¡°No, I saw him pretending to sleep earlier.¡± They had been sleeping in the same room for almost six months, so they could tell whether he was really sleeping or faking it without looking. They all seemed to be worried about what happened earlier, so they just watched him silently. Rihyuk changed his pants. ¡°This crazy bastard¡­ Does he not know how scary the world is and ran away!¡± ¡°He didn¡¯t run away,¡± Woojoo said. ¡°He¡¯s too timid to go anywhere.¡± ¡°Hyung, I think we should go out and look for him anyway.¡± ¡°I was going to do that. Junghyun, you¡¯ve been around the dorm a lot with him, right? Do you know any ces he might go?¡± ¡°There are a few ces, yeah.¡± They all grabbed their clothes and ran out of the dorm. But as they were going down the stairs, they had to stop. Jiho was sitting on the stairs in front of the first-floor entrance. They heard him sniffle. Judging by his breathing and how he rubbed his eyes with his arm, he seemed to be crying. Woojoo¡¯s heart felt a pang. Gulp- Suddenly, they heard a sound and turned their heads. What was that? As they were all looking at each other from behind, they heard Jiho cry again. And then. Gulp- We tilted our heads a little and saw what made that sound. Their maknae was crying and eating convenience store tteokbokki. Chapter 88: Chapter 88: I barely held back myughter. His face, like a sticky rice cake, was dripping with tears. He hung his head and slurped the spicy rice cake soup. Gulp- Everyone bit their lips hard. They felt like they would burst outughing any moment. Rihyuk was banging his head on the wall every time he heard a sound. -Bro, what should we do? Bi Ju showed me his phone memo. I was about to type something in response when Jung-hyun tapped my shoulder urgently.Behind him, Rihyuk was pointing his finger down. Uh oh¡­ Jiho had finished his rice cakes and wasing up one step at a time. We ran away without hesitation. Quietly, without making any noise. As Jiho moved from the first floor to the second floor, we encountered a problem at the door of our dorm. ¡°It won¡¯t open!¡± ¡°What the hell, why won¡¯t it open?¡± The light on the smart door lock¡¯s number pad faded and turned off. We pressed the door lock again in a hurry, but there was no response. The battery seemed to be dead. Why now¡­! Footsteps stopped behind us. ¡°Huh?¡± Jiho blinked his eyes as he saw us crowded in front of the door. ¡°Guys, what are you doing there?¡± ¡°Seriously, how many times did I tell you to change the battery? Sincest time, I¡¯ve said it at least¡­ four times.¡± ¡°I know, I know.¡± ¡°How many rounds have we done to find a battery?¡± ¡°Let¡¯s eat first and talk. Rihyuk. The kids are going to get sick.¡± ¡°¡­Fine.¡± Rihyuk nibbled on his fries with a sullen face. I looked around while listening to the calm jazz music. 1 a.m. There weren¡¯t many customers in the burger shop. We had wandered around for a long time to buy a battery to open the door lock, and we stopped by here because we were hungry. Jung-hyun chewed on his burger and said. ¡°But, how can there be no square batteries? Everywhere we go, they say they¡¯re out. I thought convenience stores would definitely have them.¡± ¡°That¡¯s what I¡¯m saying.¡± ¡°But we did buy them, right? Now we don¡¯t have to call the manager.¡± Everyone looked relieved at Bi Ju¡¯s words. ¡°Thinking about calling the manager, ugh¡­¡± ¡°Ugh, I don¡¯t even want to imagine it.¡± ¡°Why are you guys shaking? I¡¯m the one who¡¯s going to get scolded by him.¡± ¡°I hate that.¡± ¡°Yeah, it¡¯s just the atmosphere that¡¯s a bit¡­ you know.¡± Iughed at their fussing. Then I turned my eyes to the one who hadn¡¯t said a word until now. Our youngest was eating his burger silently. He would have been excited and chatty as usual. But now he was just rolling his eyes. He felt half sorry and half embarrassed for his brothers who had to go on a battery expedition because of him. He hesitated to reach for the fries. I handed him one. ¡°Don¡¯t be shy and eat.¡± ¡°¡­Thanks.¡± Rihyuk, who was next to me, gave him a pile of his fries. ¡°Hey, King Jiho. Did youmit a crime or something? It¡¯s our fault for being careless. If anyone made a mistake, it¡¯s all of us.¡± ¡°But because of me¡­¡± ¡°It¡¯s not because of you.¡± Bi Ju squeezed some ketchup for Jiho. ¡°So just eatfortably.¡± ¡°Jiho, you have something on your mouth.¡± Jung-hyun also brushed off the crumbs on Jiho¡¯s mouth. As we wereforting our youngest. Jiho lowered his head and tears started to fall. ¡°What the hell, why is he crying again?¡± ¡°Hyung, Jiho is crying.¡± ¡°Jiho, what¡¯s wrong?¡± His tears seemed to be from resentment before, but now they seemed to have a different meaning. ¡°¡­I¡¯m sorry.¡± ¡°For what?¡± ¡°Just, everything.¡± He said and then started to sob. He blew his nose almost ten times before he calmed down. His snub nose turned red. The older brothers didn¡¯t know whether tough or cry, and the youngest spoke. ¡°I¡¯m sorry for making you suffer because of me. I have to go to the broadcasting station tomorrow. And today¡¯s lesson must have been hard too¡­¡± ¡°Don¡¯t worry about us.¡± I said. ¡°It¡¯s not the first time we¡¯ve stayed up all night. Is sleep the problem? What matters is that our youngest is so upset. Right?¡± ¡°Yes.¡± ¡°You¡¯re much more important.¡± Jiho rubbed his eyes with the tissue he got from Junghyun. I watched him silently and then asked calmly. ¡°I couldn¡¯t ask you before because the situation was not good, but what happened? Is it because of what happened in today¡¯s acting lesson?¡± ¡°¡­Yes.¡± ¡°What part of it made you so sad?¡± I had a hunch, but I couldn¡¯t judge by myself. It felt moreplicated than my guess. ¡°¡­You know I originally wanted to be an actor and then switched to being an idol. Sopared to you guys, I had a shorter trainee period. I¡¯m the worst at singing, and the second worst at dancing. My skills are reallycking.¡± ¡°And you¡¯re tripping over yourself because of that?¡± ¡°That¡¯s the truth.¡± As Rihyuk clicked his tongue, Jiho continued. ¡°So¡­ I didn¡¯t say it much, but I felt nervous whenever I worked with you guys.¡± ¡°Because you think you¡¯re the worst?¡± ¡°Yes, I can¡¯t do anything but be funny. I don¡¯t know how to do anything else.¡± He said before I could deny it. ¡°When you guys were preparing for the end-of-year evaluation, or singing, orposing, I had nothing to do so I just stayed in the back. My singing is mediocre, and I don¡¯t have much to do.¡± We listened quietly. ¡°So I felt like a useless person sometimes¡­ But this time, I thought I could help with the acting. I wanted to help you guys somehow, since I always rely on you. But you¡¯re all good at it. And the teacher kept pushing me and saying things like that.¡± ¡°¡­¡± ¡°You guys are good at everything. But I feel like a burden, like that kind of kid¡­¡± I had prepared hundreds of words tofort him, but they all disappeared as he spoke. I thought he was just jealous of the intruder in his field. I never thought he had such deep thoughts. I always thought of my brother as a naive kid, but I never expected him to have such thoughts, especially not him. The other members had simr reactions. Bijoo looked at him with a gentle eye, his chin resting on his hand. Junghyun was silently crossing his arms, and Rihyuk was sighing briefly. ¡°Hey.¡± Rihyuk was the first one to speak. ¡°What do you mean you¡¯re useless, you idiot?¡± ¡°Don¡¯t call me that.¡± ¡°I call you an idiot because you¡¯re an idiot, idiot. What else should I call you? Useless? If anyone¡¯s useless, it¡¯s me.¡± ¡°Why are you saying that, hyung? You¡¯re good at singing.¡± ¡°What else can I do besides that? I can¡¯t dance, so we have to change the choreography because of me. You guys want to do harder stuff, but you can¡¯t because of me. I feel sorry for you guys every day.¡± ¡°¡­¡± ¡°Anyway, stop talking nonsense.¡± Bijoo chimed in. ¡°Don¡¯t be depressed, Jihyo. You¡¯re not the only one who thinks that way. We all feel inadequate sometimes. Honestly, I felt that way every time Woojoo hyung did something. I couldn¡¯t help him with anything.¡± ¡°You guys also feel that way sometimes?¡± ¡°Yeah. Of course.¡± After a brief silence. Junghyun, who had been quietly listening, said one thing. ¡°We love you, Jihyo.¡± ¡°¡­¡± ¡°Not because you¡¯re good at acting. Just because, you¡¯re you. That¡¯s why we like you. So don¡¯t think you¡¯re useless because of that.¡± It felt like we were writing a rolling paper for each other, so naturally, their eyes turned to me. ¡°This feels like it¡¯s my fault somehow.¡± ¡°No, hyung.¡± Jihyo waved his hand and said hastily. ¡°It¡¯s not because of your acting today, it¡¯s just that I was thinking too much by myself¡­¡± ¡°That¡¯s not what I meant.¡± ¡°Huh?¡± I scratched my cheek and continued. I was talking to the whole group now. ¡°And I just found out about this.¡± ¡°About what?¡± ¡°That you guys think you¡¯re causing trouble or that you don¡¯t have anything to do in the group. That you¡¯re not a helpful member.¡± That was what I used to think every night when I joined TNT. ¡°Actually, I used to worry about that a lot too. It was different, but I wondered if I was really a useful member for the group. Well, not much has changed now, but¡­¡± ¡°Hyung?¡± Junghyun asked incredulously. ¡°We wouldn¡¯t have made it this far without you.¡± ¡°Right, what are you talking about?¡± ¡°¡­Are you joking?¡± ¡°Why do you think that, hyung?¡± Iughed at their protest, with their eyes wide open. ¡°I¡¯ll say the same thing to you.¡± ¡°¡­¡± ¡°It¡¯s the same. Honestly, even if I did something, without you guys, could we have been so sessful? How would Night Sea have turned out without Rihyuk, or Fireworks without Junghyun, or our choreography without Bijoo.¡± And. ¡°Jihyo. You might think you didn¡¯t do anything, but without you, our atmosphere would have been really dull.¡± ¡°¡­Really?¡± ¡°If it was just us, we would have been so boring that it would have been a disaster.¡± The other brothers nodded in agreement. ¡°I think it¡¯s really lucky that we met each other. It¡¯s hard to meet people who are good at what they do, and also have good personalities. You guys must know that, since you¡¯ve seen a lot of other trainees.¡± Even in TJ, which was famous for its strict verification, there were a lot of people who had a lot of rumors about their past or behavior. Honestly, meeting thisbination was like winning the lottery. ¡°I know, I know that.¡± I smiled and looked at them. They were my brothers, my family, my everything. ¡°I hate it.¡± Seokhwan hyung spoke to Minki hyung, who was holding the steering wheel with a smile. ¡°Minki, did you see his picture?¡± ¡°Yeah, I did. I went to check the entertainmentmunity this morning, and his name was everywhere.¡± ¡°There¡¯s no promotion like this. How did our Woojoo catch such a lucky break during his break?¡± The managersughed among themselves, and my brothers also teased me. ¡°Hyung, I told you to buy some clothes every day.¡± ¡°That¡¯s right.¡± ¡°He¡¯s in such a hurry and he¡¯s still picking out clothes. He¡¯s so ungrateful. He doesn¡¯t appreciate what he has.¡± ¡°No, I do. How grateful I am, huh? This is hrious! Ahh¡­¡± I grabbed the youngest¡¯s cheek and pulled it. The mood was good. Someone who was at the storest night wrote about us in real time and got quite a lot of views. Thanks to that, our pictures of hugging each other in a warm atmosphere spread everywhere. Maybe it was because people were curious about why we were hugging each other. The news site famous for clickbait articles also ended with ¡°What is the reason behind an idol hugging each other in the middle of the night¡­?¡± and ¡°No one knows the secret¡±. The PR team was happy about it, and our manager was smiling from ear to ear. He said he received several calls from entertainment reporters since this morning. Thanks to that atmosphere, a serious problem was lightly passed over. With a short warning. ¡°I told you. There are eyes following you wherever you go, so be careful.¡± ¡°I know, hyung.¡± I was the one who felt the lesson more than anyone. I didn¡¯t expect someone to see us and write about us at that store where no one was around. The fans also said they wereughing at first when they saw the post, but then their hearts started pounding. It was lucky that it was a warm atmosphere, or else it would have been a shock. There¡¯s no safe ce except the dorm. I reminded myself of the lesson again and looked at my brothers. ¡°Wow, look at the views of Lee Gyeonwoo sunbae¡¯s clip.¡± ¡°There are so many articles.¡± I looked at the main entertainment section of the portal site at the words of my brothers. -Lee Gyeonwoo, joins ¡®Jusehan¡¯ Chuseok special as a guest -Hallyu star ¡®Lee Gyeonwoo¡¯¡­ Hot reaction to street mission -The biggest Chuseok special Jusehan, who are the remaining guests? Lee Gyeonwoo, who appeared on Jusehanst night, was flooding the portal. The topic of interest was the corner that was recently being conducted on ¡®Roll the Dice Around the World¡¯. There were so many Chuseok special guests that they decided to allocate some time at the end of each episode to introduce them in advance. We were also going to meet the Jusehan team in a few days at themercial shooting site and film an introduction video. They said we would do a simple talk and a mission, but I was a little worried. -Jusehan guest is a rookie idol, is that true? -Then it¡¯s really boring -lol That¡¯s nonsense. Who would do such a thing? Our main PD did. I scratched my cheek as I looked at thements on the inte. Is this okay? I hope I don¡¯t mess up and get cursed at. There were quite a few cases like that. I scrolled down thements and thought anxiously, then decided to focus on another task for now. ¡°Hyung, let¡¯s practice the script again.¡± ¡°Okay.¡± I stroked the youngest¡¯s head and held themercial script in my hand. The worry disappeared and my mind becamefortable. I don¡¯t know how the variety show filming will go, but I was confident about themercial CF. It was the same now. As I read the lines written on the script with the members, I felt a strange certainty. This is something. ¡°I have a good feeling, hyung.¡± ¡°¡­¡± ¡°What¡¯s wrong?¡± ¡°No, nothing¡­¡± Chapter 89: Chapter 89: Trantor: MarcTempest Editor: Rxel Chapter 89 The first day of shooting Everdream¡¯s CF. The school auditorium was bustling with people. The shooting staff were busy carrying their equipment, and the production staff were checking if the props were ready. And in the corner, a group of extras were waiting. ¡°The atmosphere is so tense.¡± A male extra muttered.¡°Everyone looks so stiff. I can¡¯t evenughfortably.¡± ¡°Why are they like this?¡± ¡°Why do you think?¡± A middle-aged extra chimed in. ¡°It¡¯s because of the incident that happened a few days ago. The idol kids didn¡¯t prepare at all, they said. So the director threw the script and stormed off, and the mood was ruined.¡± ¡°Oh no. That¡¯s terrible.¡± ¡°That¡¯s not them. It¡¯s someone else.¡± ¡°Really?¡± ¡°I talked to the assistant director earlier, and he said today¡¯s stars are different. They were a girl group, and today it¡¯s a boy group. New ck.¡± ¡°Who¡¯s New ck?¡± ¡°They¡¯re newbies.¡± A young extra answered. ¡°They¡¯re probably the most popr among the rookie boy groups this year. They¡¯re pretty famous among idol fans.¡± ¡°Well, whatever. It¡¯s none of our business anyway.¡± The extras, who had only one line each, didn¡¯t care who the main actors were. ¡°I just hope they do well. Seriously.¡± ¡°Me too. The mood is already bad enough.¡± ¡°Don¡¯t get your hopes up. They¡¯re idols, and not even well-known ones. It¡¯ll be a miracle if they don¡¯t mess up their lines. I once had a minor role in a drama, and everyone suffered because of an idol there.¡± ¡°Hey, they might be good.¡± ¡°No way. If they are, I¡¯ll chop off my hand.¡± ¡°Hey, don¡¯t say that. You might jinx it.¡± As they chuckled at the old man¡¯s crude joke, someone remembered an important topic. ¡°Oh, by the way, I heard a broadcasting station ising to film a variety show today.¡± ¡°Really? I didn¡¯t hear about that. Where?¡± ¡°They¡¯re from TBC. They wouldn¡¯t tell me what it is, but the assistant director hinted that it¡¯s a big deal.¡± ¡°They¡¯re rookies, right? How did they get on a big show?¡± ¡°Maybe their agency pulled some strings.¡± ¡°What¡¯s big on TBC? I don¡¯t watch TV much these days, so I don¡¯t know.¡± ¡°Other than Around the World With Dice, what else is there?¡± ¡°Me too. I don¡¯t know anything except Around the World With Dice.¡± Then, someone asked. ¡°Is it Around the World With Dice, by any chance?¡± Laughter erupted. ¡°Don¡¯t talk nonsense.¡± ¡°Seriously.¡± ¡°If Around the World With Dice ising, I¡¯ll eat a watermelon when I go shopping.¡± ¡°Stop it. You know it¡¯s possible to be lucky.¡± ¡°No, it doesn¡¯t make sense. Just a few days ago, there was a fuss about Lee Gyeonwooing. How can these rookiese out?¡± ¡°I wish it was a show I knew. I could get an autograph.¡± They were passing the time with their chatter. When the auditorium door opened, people¡¯s eyes focused. Someone smirked and said, ¡°Here they are. New ck.¡± Five idols came in with lively greetings. *** The atmosphere of the shooting site was not good. If it was because of a picky advertiserst time, this time it felt like everyone was on edge. Worried eyes followed them as they walked by. Rihyuk licked his tongue and whispered, ¡°What¡¯s wrong with Blink that they¡¯re reacting like this?¡± ¡°It¡¯s understandable,¡± Woojoo said. ¡°With the shooting dy and the additional shooting, the production cost must not have been a joke. It¡¯s strange if the mood is good.¡± ¡°But, it¡¯s not our fault.¡± ¡°It¡¯s not good either. Not yet.¡± Woojoo reassured his worried siblings. ¡°Don¡¯t worry about people¡¯s reactions from now on. Just do as you practiced, and it¡¯ll be fine.¡± As they walked and talked. Two AEs from the advertising agency greeted them at the corner of the shooting site. They had bloodshot eyes and cracked lips. Seokhwan Hyung asked them how they were. ¡°You must have had a hard time.¡± ¡°You can¡¯t even say. Really.¡± The other smiled faintly. ¡°It was a mess. We had to do a reshoot, but the advertising cost increased. The advertiser was unhappy. The production was a disaster. We must have spent hundreds of thousands of won on phone calls trying to coordinate everything.¡± Manager Kim asked them as if pleading, ¡°I heard you prepared well, but today, really. You really have to do well. The executive director of the clothing business division of KG International ising. There are six people, including those from other departments.¡± ¡°Is it a school uniform ad?¡± ¡°Yes, they¡¯re reviewing the brand profitability of the wholepany. They¡¯ll be sharp.¡± ¡°¡­¡± He added a word as if tofort them. ¡°But it would be nice if you did well and left a good impression. KG International has a lot of brands and spends a lot of money on advertising. It¡¯s good to leave a good impression on them.¡± What a fantastic environment. The staff sighed deeply, the faces of the agency staff were shriveled, and the advertiser was growling. The supporting actors kept ncing at them, but not in a friendly way. They were just curious. Manager Kim exined why. ¡°It¡¯s because of the live broadcast. There¡¯s a rumor that you¡¯re filming a variety show.¡± ¡°I hope we¡¯re not ruining the atmosphere of the set.¡± ¡°Not at all. The advertisers were very happy to have you. Honestly, who wouldn¡¯t wee Around the World With Dice?¡± He looked at them expectantly. ¡°Maybe you¡¯ll be famous again after appearing on Around the World With Dice.¡± ¡°That would be nice.¡± ¡°Oh, right. I have something to tell you about the variety show. The director of the production team that¡¯s filming today¡­¡± He trailed off as he turned his head. The CF director was approaching them. A young man with a sensitive face, wiping the sweat from his forehead. He looked like he had juste in from outside. He was Yu Geon, the director in charge of the advertisement today. ¡°Director, these are the models for the advertisement, New ck.¡± ¡°Hello, we¡¯re New ck!¡± ¡°Uh, yeah.¡± He scanned them with a roll of script in his hand. ¡°Did you prepare well?¡± ¡°Yes, we did our best.¡± ¡°You don¡¯t look nervous.¡± He looked displeased. ¡°Have you ever done any other ads?¡± ¡°No, this is our first time.¡± He sighed and exhaled sharply. He looked like he had a lot to say, but he didn¡¯t. ¡°Just, please do well. Don¡¯t make any mistakes.¡± He turned his back and disappeared. That was unfair. They were nervous and prepared a lot. Especially Jiho and Woojoo, they had the script so torn up that they had to tape it back together. Well. They didn¡¯t expect him to appreciate their efforts. That was something they knew among themselves. But it was disconcerting to see him show his displeasure so openly. He didn¡¯t like them from the first meeting. He was a director who had worked in independent films and moved to the advertising industry. He had a great sense of visual and storytelling, but he was very conservative about filming. He didn¡¯t like the fact that Around the World With Dice team wasing today. He thought they would disturb the set. It was understandable. One rookie group had already canceled, and now another rookie group wasing to film a variety show. The manager added, ¡°It wouldn¡¯t hurt to leave a good impression on him, too. He has a lot of connections in the film and drama industry.¡± *** The preparation was over. They finished their makeup in the dressing room and came out to the auditorium. It had turned into a filming set. Woojoo gasped. There were expensive cameras and lighting equipment, and a lot more people than when they did the photo shoot. The assistant director waved at them from a distance. He pointed to two x marks taped on the floor and exined, ¡°We¡¯ll start with your two-shot first. Jiho, you sit here half-crouching, and Woojoo, you walk over and hold his hand and pull him up. It¡¯s not a difficult scene, so let¡¯s just check the movement first.¡± They agreed to do a rehearsal after checking the movement. Woojoo felt like an actor for a moment, but it didn¡¯tst long. He swallowed hard as he saw the crowd. There were staff for lighting, audio, props, and so on. There were also supporting actors, employees from the advertising agency and the productionpany, and the advertisers. Woojoo saw Ms. Woo, the team leader, next to a middle-aged man with a dominant presence. Was he the executive director? She waved her hand and cheered them on from afar. Woojoo nodded at their members who were doing the same, and asked the youngest, ¡°Nervous?¡± ¡°Yes, very. How about you, Hyung?¡± ¡°I¡¯m dying. My heart feels like it¡¯s going to pop out.¡± ¡°Me too.¡± Theyforted each other for a while, and nodded. ¡°Let¡¯s do well.¡± ¡°Fighting!¡± As all eyes on the set turned to them, the filming finally began. *** Director Yu squinted his eyes. ¡®Something doesn¡¯t feel right.¡¯ He shook his head as he watched the two membersughing together in the middle of the gym. He remembered the day when he filmed with Blink. They looked rxed and confident, smiling just like that. He thought they would do well. But they messed up their lines from the start. ¡®Their faces are decent, though.¡¯ The two members were in charge of the visuals in New ck, and they looked good on camera. One of them said he wanted to be an actor, but it was hard to tell from their faces. ¡°Action!¡± And the filming started. The first scene was very simple. A magic school. The protagonist, a transfer student, identally cast a spell on the ss president¡¯s jacket, making it fly around. The protagonist chased after it and ended up in the auditorium. He finally caught the jacket and copsed on the floor. The ss president approached him. -We meet again. When the first line came out of Seon Woojoo¡¯s mouth, he blinked. It was not bad. ¡­That was his initial judgment, until he saw the rest of his acting. No. It was not a bad result,pared to his expectations. The picture was good. Wang Jiho, who was sitting on the floor with a grimace, looked like he had just run out of breath and fallen down. He was sure that this was the one who wanted to be an actor. He could feel it in his acting. He didn¡¯t learn it in a day or two, he had a solid foundation. -Uh, ss president¡­? His expression of confusion was perfect. It was not impressive, but it was satisfactory and more. At this rate, he could shoot each scene in a few takes. He didn¡¯t know about the other members, but with these two, he could finish in half a day. That was what he was thinking. ¡®¡­Huh?¡¯ He tilted his head as he watched Seon Woojoo¡¯s acting on the monitor. ¡®Wait, is he the one who wants to be an actor?¡¯ On the screen, Seon Woojoo bent over and smiled at Wang Jiho. His face was friendly, but not entirely kind. His eyes scanned the transfer student¡¯s face, as if he had detected something suspicious. He noticed the details. He could tell that he put some intention into every finger. ¡®What is he doing?¡¯ Seon Woojoo nodded at Wang Jiho, but he was confused. Because the detail that Seon Woojoo was showing right now was not in the script. There was only a line that said [bend down and reach out your hand]. The meddlesome director had to give directions for every movement, but the idol was doing it on his own. It was strange. Because it would take years for any actor to naturally perform such embodied gestures. Acting was not a job that only used your face and voice. It was a job that used your body to express the character on the screen. For example, you could show the character¡¯s current state of mind, such as liberation, by stretching your neck flexibly. Or, you could create a sense of pressure by tensing your shoulders and neck. That was why it was weird. ¡®The acting skills are low, but the expressions and gestures are professional.¡¯ It was full of mystery. ¡°Cut!¡± As soon as the scene ended, the transfer student and the ss president turned back into two idol members. The assistant director whispered to him as he took off his headphones, ¡°Sunbae, they¡¯re good, aren¡¯t they?¡± ¡°Not bad.¡± ¡°No, not bad is not enough. This is amazing. Think about Blink.¡± When the assistant director talked about how the shooting was going well today, he, who was lost in thought, spoke up. ¡°Sejun.¡± ¡°Yes?¡± ¡°Isn¡¯t there something strange about that kid, Woojoo, acting?¡± ¡°What do you mean?¡± ¡°Well, the body and the acting don¡¯t match, but that¡¯s one thing. The acting itself is not ordinary either.¡± ¡°I don¡¯t know about that.¡± The assistant director said, ¡°Honestly, aren¡¯t they both strange?¡± ¡°Both?¡± ¡°Yes, I was looking at Jiho. But he feels weird. He¡¯s doing it right, but he doesn¡¯t feel like he¡¯s doing it right. I don¡¯t know why I think that¡­¡± As they were talking about different things, the director made a quick decision. ¡°Let¡¯s try it again.¡± He didn¡¯t know exactly what it was, but he felt something. If he could find out the cause of this phenomenon, he had a hunch that he could raise the quality of themercial he was shooting more dramatically. ¡°Ready, action!¡± The shooting continued again. This time, he focused on the acting of the two idol members. ¡®I know what Sejun wanted to say.¡¯ He felt it as he watched the two members act. They definitely showed a lot of practice, and they were wless. From the perspective of the advertisement, it was. It was a light concept advertisement that was distributed on SNS, so it didn¡¯t need proper drama acting or anything like that. They were doing a faithful and prepared acting that suited the concept. Not more, not less, just right. But to the eyes of someone who had been directing for a long time, it was disappointing. ¡®I think I can get more out of this¡­¡¯ The acting of the two was unsatisfactory for different reasons. Wang Jiho, who was acting as the ¡®transfer student¡¯, was slightly clumsy in his expressions and movements, but it wasn¡¯t because he couldn¡¯t do it. It was as if he was being considerate of the person in front of him. It was like a tall person walking with a small child and deliberately shortening his stride to match the pace. And on the other side, Seon Woojoo. He was strange in his own way. He was excellent in terms of technique, but he showed ack of skill in emotional expression and dialogue delivery. The problem was that he also felt like he was less capable than he actually was. Unlike the other person who seemed to be unconsciously restraining himself, he seemed to not know what he had. He looked like a driver who would run well if he stepped on the elerator, but didn¡¯t know how to start the engine. That was why it was regrettable. If he could coordinate well, he could produce something more splendid than the current intended advertisement. ¡®What should I do?¡¯ He tapped the advertisement script with his finger. The first thing that came to his mind was the early script that he had made with the original agency production team, but had discarded due to the difficulty. It was a much better product, with more content and a more favorable expected response. Director Yu turned his head and looked at the advertiser standing behind him. The executive director of KG International nodded his head with a calm expression, while the other staff members also showed signs of relief. It was a better reaction than expected. And unlike the Blink case, this one was only two days of shooting from the start. ¡®Then¡­¡¯ But he soon shook his head. There was a risk in doing so. He needed more certainty. First of all, there had to be a premise that those two could handle what he wanted to some extent. ¡°Cut!¡± That was why he approached the two members with big strides. *** The director¡¯s expression was different from before. He seemed to be in a good mood, but he tried to hide it. As soon as he said cut, he suddenly came over to them, and Woojoo was worried that he had done something wrong, but it was a relief. They looked at him with bewildered faces, and they heard a strange question. ¡°Can you act with emotion?¡± Chapter 90: Chapter 90: Trantor: MarcTempest Editor: Rxel Chapter 90 The director¡¯s request was simple. ¡°Be more specific with your acting. Don¡¯t just think of the roles as they appear in the ad script, but imagine that you¡¯re really in that situation. How would you feel if this were real? That¡¯s what you need to convey.¡± ¡°¡­Emotional acting?¡± ¡°It might seem like a lot to ask, but I think this could really improve the quality if you do it well.¡± Woojoo felt like saying it was too hard, but he swallowed it. Because of hisst words.Even though he had never learned acting, he couldn¡¯t miss this opportunity. Woojoo had to try, even if he failed. No. They had to seed. ¡°¡­Hyung, can we do it?¡± the youngest asked Woojoo with a worried look. ¡°We never practiced emotional acting. I don¡¯t know if we have enough time¡­¡± ¡°I know, it¡¯s hard.¡± Woojoo nodded. ¡°But let¡¯s give it a shot. The director gave us a chance, we can¡¯t waste it. Let¡¯s do our best, whether we live or die.¡± ¡°Then¡­¡± Jiho looked at the clock on the wall of the auditorium. Then he looked at the other members who were filming. ¡°It looks like we have about thirty minutes. I¡¯ll try to teach you as much as I can about emotional acting with my skills.¡± The lesson began right away. ¡°First, stand up.¡± ¡°How?¡± ¡°However you feelfortable.¡± ¡°Who feelsfortable standing up?¡± ¡°Don¡¯t talk back. We don¡¯t have much time.¡± ¡°¡­¡± Woojoo did as he said. He stood in the mostfortable posture he could. ¡°Now, make eye contact with me.¡± ¡°Like this?¡± ¡°Yes, and while you look at me, think of the person you love and cherish the most in the world.¡± There weren¡¯t many people he loved and cared for. Their Kim Deoksoondy. Seokhwan Hyung. And¡­ ¡°What?¡± The youngest narrowed his eyes. ¡°Did you think of someone? You look the same as before.¡± ¡°Why would I look the same?¡± ¡°As expected. I knew it.¡± He looked smug. ¡°It¡¯s because I¡¯m the cutest and the most lovable, right?¡± ¡°You are cute.¡± ¡°Really?¡± ¡°You looked cute when you ate tteokbokki while crying.¡± ¡°¡­¡± The youngest, who had been ring at him, switched back to teacher mode. ¡°Usually, when you try to act with emotions, your body bes tense. And your movements be unnatural. So, whether you¡¯re a hero or a viin, it¡¯s important to rx your body when you deliver lines with emotions.¡± ¡°Hmm, I think I got it. What¡¯s the next step?¡± ¡°There are various methods. This one is about acting theory, so let¡¯s skip it. For beginners, the easiest thing to do is¡­¡± The youngest seemed to have thought of something after a moment of hesitation. ¡°There are two tricks that you can use.¡± ¡°What are they?¡± ¡°One is to recall a situation that you experienced in your life that is most simr to what¡¯s written in the script.¡± ¡°A simr situation¡­¡± Well. A situation where he was looking for his lost school jacket and ran into a transfer student who had it in his arms in the auditorium. There was no way he would have such a situation. It wasn¡¯t even a normal situation. Woojoo thought hard, but he couldn¡¯t find anything simr. ¡°What¡¯s the second one?¡± ¡°This one is more difficult. It¡¯s to imagine that you are in that situation.¡± ¡°Isn¡¯t that acting?¡± ¡°No, by ¡®you¡¯ I mean you, not the character.¡± ¡°Me?¡± ¡°Usually, when actors act, they think that they be the character. They think, what would this character think in this situation? That kind of thing. But the method I¡¯m talking about is to think from your perspective, not the character¡¯s.¡± ¡°Oh, I see.¡± He meant that instead of thinking how the character, the ss president, would feel, Woojoo should put himself, Seon Woojoo, in that ce. ¡°I¡¯ll try the second one.¡± ¡°Okay, then shall we practice once?¡± Woojoo nodded to his younger brother, who was shining his eyes. Had he grown tallertely? He always looked so young, but now he felt more reliable than anyone. They started practicing again. Instead of focusing on the actions and expressions that suited the situation, Woojoo focused on himself. What would he feel if he were in that situation? What would he think? He focused on those points and colored each line with emotions. Meanwhile, Woojoo admired Jiho¡¯s emotional acting, who was guiding him from the front. Was their kid a genius? Even Woojoo, who didn¡¯t know much about acting, could tell that he was very good. He didn¡¯t just act superficially, but he started to put real emotions into it. And the character looked different in an instant. It felt like he was talking to the ¡®transfer student¡¯, the character in the y. He was amazed by his naturalness. On the other hand, Woojoo also felt betrayed. How could he cry and say that he couldn¡¯t act when he was so good? Woojoo wondered if he was the one whocked self-awareness. It was impossible to exin how he could do so much in a situation where he had absolutely not enough practice time, unless it was talent. Woojoo praised him with admiration after the reading was over. ¡°You¡¯re amazing, our youngest.¡± ¡°I¡¯ve been learning for three years. Of course I have to do well.¡± ¡°No, this is not something you can do well by learning.¡± Woojooplimented the youngest, who spoke casually. ¡°You have real talent, you know.¡± ¡°¡­Thank you.¡± But the youngest had a rather ufortable expression. Woojoo wondered why he was acting like that, even though he usually jumped around at the slightest praise, when apletely irrelevant question came back. ¡°Hyung, are you really acting for the first time?¡± ¡°Why?¡± ¡°No, it seems like you have something, Hyung¡­¡± ¡°No, I don¡¯t.¡± Woojoo had a guess. Expression, the most basic thing to convey emotion. Since he had the ability to imitate movements, he had to be good at expression acting. So he must have conveyed emotions better. It was when he smiled at the misunderstanding youngest. ¡°Next scene, let¡¯s get ready!¡± ¡°Okay!¡± Woojoo walked back to the center of the auditorium. The extras who came in from the gaps between the seats looked exhausted. They must have felt pressured by their first acting experience. Woojoo high-fived the members and switched ces with them. They checked the movements with the assistant director and waited for the standby. ¡°Hyung.¡± ¡°Hmm?¡± Jiho swallowed his dry saliva. ¡°Do you think I can do well?¡± ¡°Why are you worried? I should be the one who¡¯s worried.¡± Woojooforted the youngest and said, ¡°You¡¯re doing great, don¡¯t worry. I¡¯ve never seen anyone act as well as youtely.¡± ¡°Come on.¡± ¡°It¡¯s true. I can bet on Rihyuk too.¡± ¡°That¡¯s not convincing. You should bet on Bijoo Hyung.¡± ¡°If I could, I would bet on Seokhwan Hyung too.¡± They exchanged smiles as they saw their manager nodding his head as if to cheer them on from afar. ¡°It¡¯ll be fine. And what if you can¡¯t do it?¡± ¡°It¡¯ll be embarrassing.¡± ¡°Hey, how many people here will see us again? They¡¯re just people we¡¯ll see once and never again. As soon as the shooting is over, they¡¯ll probably forget what we look like.¡± ¡°Really?¡± ¡°Yeah. The only ones who don¡¯t need to know about our embarrassment are our fans.¡± At that, the youngestughed. He seemed to calm down for a moment, then looked up at Woojoo and nodded his head. ¡°Let¡¯s do it right, Hyung.¡± *** The shooting resumed. The three members who had just finished their shooting walked towards the monitor. The director and the assistant director with headphones. The production staff, the advertising agency staff, and the advertisers in suits lined up in a row. They whispered nervously from behind. ¡°Can you see?¡± ¡°No.¡± Bijoo lifted his legs and shook his head. ¡°I can¡¯t see well because it¡¯s too far.¡± ¡°Junghyun Hyung. Can you see?¡± ¡°Can¡¯t you see?¡± ¡°¡­¡± ¡°Are you too short? Should I carry you one by one?¡± The two members red at him withser eyes. But the situation was easily resolved when Team Leader Woo, who had spotted them, gave up her seat. The monitor came into the members¡¯ eyes. The faces of the eldest and the youngest were reflected on the screen. As Jiho¡¯s face was close-up, a sigh of admiration escaped from them. ¡®You¡¯re doing well. Our youngest.¡¯ The leader asked him casually, as if interrogating him, and the transfer student answered while hiding his confusion. But he wasn¡¯t just flustered. At first, he was startled, but soon he avoided the questions by turning his answers around. He had a way with words, and he looked older than the high school student he was ying. He acted well for his character. In fact, the role of ¡®transfer student¡¯ that Jiho yed was a setting where an adult entered a high school student¡¯s body. [The protagonist who possessed an extra in the webtoon he was watching.] It was an advertisement about a college student who was watching a webtoon on the subway and realized that he had be a ¡®transfer student¡¯ in the magic school of that webtoon, and after a lot of trouble, he returned to reality. Jiho¡¯s acting brought out the narrative of that character well. His face was young and innocent, but as they watched, he felt like a twenty-year-old college student had possessed him. -I¡¯m sorry, I have a hard time telling you. The others might not know, but it was a surprising thing for the members who knew Jiho as usual. There was a limit to experience. It was amazing to see their younger brother, who had just entered high school this year, bring out the feeling of a college student. And his emotions were clearly conveyed. When they saw him acting coolly, as if he had been holding back all this time, they stuck out their tongues. They realized why the youngest could do that. ¡®Woojoo Hyung is supporting him.¡¯ Usually, when one side did too well, the other side got buried, but Woojoo was backing him up firmly. Of course, the feeling was different. If Jiho acted as if he was one with the role, Woojoo seemed to be acting as that role. They couldn¡¯t tell the exact reason. But they were sure that he was good. Feeling a strange sense of pride, the New ck members looked at the expressions of the people around them. The director, the assistant director, the advertiser, the advertising agency staff. Their faces were different, but they all stared at the monitor. Rihyuk turned on his phone¡¯s memo pad. -But when did those two practice? -Yeah Junghyun shrugged his shoulders, and Bijoo moved his fingers. -Maybe they practiced beforehand? *** The scene ended in one cut. ¡°Cut!¡± ¡°Good job!¡± As preparations for the next scene began again, the advertiser¡¯s side began to get ready to leave. An agency staff member followed them. ¡°How was it, Director?¡± ¡°Not bad.¡± The executive director of KG International smiled as he watched the New ck members jumping around in the distance. ¡°Much better than thest time. I can trust them and leave it to them.¡± The staff of the advertising agency looked relieved at his words. The executive director left the auditorium, putting on the coat he received from his subordinate. He greeted the people who came to him from all directions, then turned his eyes to Ms. Woo, the team leader. ¡°Did you say you¡¯re staying at the set?¡± ¡°Yes, sir.¡± ¡°Please follow up well on this project. Report to me immediately if there are any changes or issues.¡± ¡°I understand.¡± ¡°By the way, I heard that the broadcasting station isingter. Take good care of them when they arrive. Give them whatever they want.¡± He gave detailed instructions on every trivial matter, and then he moved his steps. That was when it happened. ¡°Excuse me, sir!¡± Yoo Geon, the director in charge of today¡¯s CF, walked up to him briskly. He looked at him as if to ask what he wanted, and the director got straight to the point. ¡°How about changing the continuity a little bit?¡± ¡°You want to make changes?¡± ¡°Strictly speaking, it¡¯s not a change. Do you remember the original continuity that we nned to shoot?¡± ¡°Oh, that one.¡± As the one who approved the project, the executive director nodded his head. ¡°Tell me.¡± Ignoring the nces of the staff behind him, Yoo Geon exined firmly. It was a rather logical argument. The shooting period was only one day longer, the actors had enough skills to pull off their roles, and only a few lines and scenes were changed. The overall plot was the same. That was why they suggested to go back to the original script, which had received better feedback at the nning stage. When all the exnations were over, the executive director, who had been listening with a calm expression, had only one thing on his mind. ¡°What about the cost?¡± ¡°It¡¯s just changing a few lines and one or two scenes. There¡¯s no difference at all.¡± As he turned his head to check if that was true, the finance manager nodded and gave him a thumbs up. The executive director of KG International thought for a moment and made his decision. Soon after, Director Yu¡¯s face brightened up. *** Finally, the morning shoot was over, just before lunchtime. ¡°Hey, hey, hurry up and throw some flowers. Our top star is leaving.¡± ¡°He¡¯s leaving!¡± As Junghyun and Woojoo walked around, pushing away the crowd like bodyguards for the top star, Rihyuk and Bijoo pretended to scatter flowers in the air. The person in question was blushing. ¡°Guys, why are you doing this to me? I¡¯m embarrassed.¡± They ignored him. ¡°Wow, look at our top star being humble.¡± ¡°You don¡¯t have to be humble. Jiho, you did great.¡± ¡°You did amazing.¡± ¡°You¡¯ve grown so much, Wang Jiho. It feels like yesterday when you cried after eating tteokbokki.¡± ¡°It was yesterday. And can you stop doing this?¡± ¡°What are you doing? Hurry up and throw the flowers. He deserves it.¡± They teased the youngest member by making a fake flower path for him. It was a petty revenge for what happened a few days ago. He was so good at it, but he cried and made a fuss that he couldn¡¯t do it. It was still annoying to think about it. Of course, they didn¡¯t just do it to tease him. It was their way of showing gratitude to the youngest who did well all morning. ¡°It¡¯s because we love you that we do this for you.¡± ¡°Why are you only doing this to me? Hyung did well too.¡± ¡°No, no, the MVP of today is you, you.¡± They tried to create a mood like that, but the other members looked at each other as if they agreed. ¡°That¡¯s true.¡± ¡°Woojoo Hyung did well too.¡± ¡°No, guys. Jiho did much better.¡± ¡°Hyungs, hurry up and make a flower path for Woojoo Hyung too.¡± And so, Woojoo got the same treatment as the youngest. As they were being forced to walk on the flower path in pairs, Jiho asked Woojoo something as if he remembered something, ¡°Right. Hyung, I have a question for you.¡± ¡°Yeah. What is it?¡± ¡°It¡¯s about the teacher who taught you acting. Do you know his name?¡± ¡°Why?¡± ¡°No. I¡¯m just curious.¡± ¡°Do you guys want to know too?¡± They all nodded. ¡°Well, it was such a long time ago¡­ It was like a special lecture for one day only. He taught all the trainees together. He was quite famous.¡± Woojoo thought for a while, and then he recalled his name. ¡°Kim Seokmoon? I think that was his name.¡± *** While Woojoo was changing his clothes in the dressing room. The members who were waiting for the food truck gathered around and searched their smartphones. ¡°Oh, here it is.¡± When they searched for the name ¡®Kim Seokmoon¡¯, several names came up. They clicked on the movie category and his profile appeared. He was a person who had once been active on the screen, but had to give up his dream of acting and became an educator after getting a disability from a horse-riding ident. When they searched for rted articles, there were many interviews. -Kim Seokmoon ¡®I¡¯m not satisfied with the actors these days¡­¡¯ -Professor Kim Seokmoon, who raised the Hallyu star, ¡°Gyeonwoo¡¯s acting is so-so.¡± -The story of actor Kim Seokmoon¡­ ¡®There was no way in my time.¡¯ There were pictures of him in a wheelchair with a grumpy expression and the actors he had raised like shooting stars. ¡°Gyeonwoo Sunbae¡¯s acting is so-so¡­¡± ¡°What did he say to Woojoo Hyung?¡± ¡°He said it wasn¡¯t bad.¡± ¡°That ¡®not bad¡¯ seems to have a different definition from the ¡®not bad¡¯ we know. It might be apliment, if anything.¡± ¡°He¡¯s good at it, isn¡¯t he?¡± ¡°That¡¯s right, he wasplimenting him.¡± ¡°¡­¡± Silence ensued. Soon, Jiho sighed. ¡°I fell for it again.¡± The members, who were looking at each other like meerkats, turned their eyes to the eldest brother who was walking from afar. He tilted his head, as if aware of their gazes. Rihyuk clicked his tongue, seeing his calm expression. ¡°It¡¯s really strange, you know.¡± ¡°What is?¡± ¡°Well, anyone can see that you have talent.¡± Seo Rihyuk clicked his tongue again. ¡°Don¡¯t you think you¡¯re deluding yourself by saying you don¡¯t?¡± Chapter 91: Chapter 91: Trantor: MarcTempest Editor: Rxel Chapter 91 Lunch was catered. They said it was the food from themercial set. And they were right. ¡°Wow.¡± Woojoo eximed as he saw the feast on the disposable te. Stir-fried pork, smoked duck, beef bulgogi. He was worried about his face swelling, so he couldn¡¯t have the crab soup, but this was the most delicious meal he had in a long time.¡°Uh, I¡¯m so happy.¡± ¡°Finish eating before you talk, Wang Jiho. You¡¯re spitting rice everywhere.¡± ¡°I¡¯m happy because of you.¡± Woojooughed as he looked at Rihyuk, who was frowning. Under the temporary tent set up in the yground, the staff were chatting and eating. Bijoo smiled. ¡°The staff look much more rxed now.¡± ¡°It¡¯s because Woojoo Hyung and Jiho did well. They were all like this when we were filming.¡± Junghyun imitated their expressions with his eyebrows in a V shape, making everyone burst intoughter. ¡°Wow, that¡¯s so urate.¡± ¡°Right?¡± ¡°You¡¯re good. Junghyun, you should act too.¡± ¡°I can¡¯t do that. It¡¯s not my personality. I can¡¯t even lie.¡± Woojoo nced at the youngest, Jiho, who was still pping his hands for Junghyun. He had been so proud of his acting since Woojoo praised him earlier. Woojoo thought he would still be saying, ¡°Acting is not lying!¡± by now. But he was distracted by something else. ¡°Jiho, what are you looking at?¡± ¡°¡­¡± ¡°Hey, Mr. Wang.¡± Woojoo snapped his fingers, but he kept ignoring him. Rihyuk looked at Woojoo and pped his hands in front of Jiho¡¯s eyes. The youngest jumped like a cat. ¡°Ah, you scared me! What is it?¡± ¡°What are you staring at instead of eating, that old man over there?¡± ¡°Ah¡­ I was looking over there.¡± It was a table far away. The director, the assistant director, the advertiser, the advertising agency staff, and Seokhwan Hyung were having a heated discussion. ¡°Do you think they¡¯re changing the ad script?¡± ¡°Probably.¡± ¡°I hope it¡¯s something more interesting.¡± ¡°I don¡¯t care about the interest, as long as it¡¯s not too hard.¡± ¡°Me too.¡± ¡°Well, anyway, we three don¡¯t have much to do. It looks like they¡¯re going to focus on the two of them.¡± Rihyuk handed Woojoo a banana he had brought as a snack. ¡°I¡¯ll work hard.¡± ¡°What? Why don¡¯t you give me one?¡± ¡°Take one from another Hyung.¡± Bijoo smiled and handed his banana to Jiho. Seeing that, Junghyun, who had been hesitating for a while, split his banana in half and gave it to Woojoo and Jiho. There was no King Solomon here. ¡°By the way, when is the Around the World With Dice teaming?¡± ¡°Uh, I¡¯m nervous.¡± ¡°Me too, I¡¯ve only seen them on TV¡­ I wonder if they look the same in real life?¡± Woojoo heard they would arrive around the end of lunchtime. The recording time was about 30 minutes. It was just a simple introduction video, but Woojoo felt nervous for some reason. Not only him, but everyone looked anxious and tense. When the shooting was over today, there would be an article. Woojoo had seen thements on the rumor that a rookie would appear on the Chuseok Special, and they were not very friendly. He didn¡¯t know what they would say when they found out they were fixed. Woojoo hoped they could get some good scenes from today¡¯s shooting. As Woojoo was thinking that, he suddenly felt a presence and turned his head. There was a man holding a te. ¡°¡­Who?¡± He had a peculiar outfit. A gray T-shirt and jeans, with a baseball cap and a mask on top. He was slender but had a muscr body from working out. Was he a staff member? ¡°Uh¡­¡± He plopped down at their table. His abrupt action made Jiho and Rihyuk move their chairs closer to him. Woojoo also opened his lips with a wary look. ¡°Excuse me, but¡­¡± But before he could finish his sentence, he pulled down his mask to his chin. ¡°Hi.¡± ¡°¡­¡± ¡°I had some time left, so I came to have lunch.¡± ¡°¡­¡± ¡°Oh, are you surprised because we¡¯re meeting for the first time?¡± Woojoo was so shocked that he opened his mouth wide. Because the handsome man who was smiling cheerfully in front of them was someone they all knew, or rather, everyone in this ce knew. Ye Heechan. He was a fixed member of Around the World With Dice, who would shoot with them today. *** Woojoo tried to greet him hastily, but he waved his hand. ¡°Don¡¯t make a fuss.¡± ¡°Ah, yes.¡± ¡°Just sitfortably. Comfortably.¡± Woojoo nodded stiffly. He picked up a side dish with his chopsticks and looked at the five idols who were frozen like statues. ¡°Aren¡¯t you going to eat?¡± ¡°Ah, we¡¯ll eat.¡± ¡°Good, you all look young. You should eat a lot.¡± He spoke casually and ate the side dish. Then he parted his lips with a face that couldn¡¯t help but admire. ¡°The best thing about lunch is the ad rice. It was worthing early.¡± ¡°¡­Did youe here for a meal?¡± ¡°Yeah, I was going to eat some tripe nearby, but I thought it would smell. I felt like it was lunchtime, so I came to get some food.¡± He had a peaceful face. ¡°There was no other seat than your table.¡± ¡°Didn¡¯t anyone recognize you?¡± ¡°Nah, they seemed to think I was a staff member. No one would have noticed.¡± Seokhwan Hyung mouthed ¡®Around the World With Dice?¡¯ from afar, and Woojoo nodded. ¡°Well, it¡¯s food and food. And I wanted to get to know you before the shooting.¡± He pointed at them with his finger. ¡°By age, it¡¯s Woojoo, Bijoo, Junghyun, Rihyuk, Jiho. Right?¡± ¡°That, sunbae-nim.¡± ¡°No?¡± ¡°I¡¯m sorry, but you got them all wrong¡­¡± Heughed heartily, as if he was embarrassed. Woojoo was nervous. Hisughter made the staff at the other tables blink. They seemed to recognize him. ¡°Sorry, sorry.¡± Ye Heechan smiled. ¡°I¡¯m not good at recognizing faces. When you said you were in order of age, I thought Junghyun was an alien. He looks like the oldest.¡± ¡°I am the oldest.¡± ¡°I heard you did your military service. Oh, this is an unexpected gap.¡± ¡°I look young in real life too.¡± The younger onesughed at Woojoo. Rihyuk even drank water from a bottle as if he was thirsty. Woojoo red at them, and Ye Heechan smiled as he picked up some bulgogi. ¡°You guys seem to get along well as a group.¡± ¡°Yes, we¡¯re close.¡± ¡°That¡¯s good. Sometimes when idolse out, they fight with each other and make a mess. I¡¯m d I don¡¯t have to worry about that.¡± Ye Heechan looked around at the younger ones and said, ¡°By the way, I got the face wrong, but I still remember everything else. I even made a song for you. Look. Seon Woojoo,poser idol, Fireworks, Night Sea, twenty-two, veteran, leader of New ck¡­¡± Theyughed at the melody he made up to match the slogan ¡°Dokdo is ournd¡±. He alsoughed cheerfully. ¡°How is it? Did I get it right?¡± He stopped joking and started to eat again. He looked like he could do a foodmercial with how deliciously he ate. Oh. He already did that. He had donemercials for ramen, hamburgers, and anything rted to food. Ye Heechan. He was the youngest member of the cast of ¡®Around the World With Dice¡¯, arge family of four men and three women. He had a rather unusual career. He became famous as a handsome academy teacher on a variety show, then debuted as an actor. He had been ying minor roles for several years, until he got a chance to appear on a show called Around the World With Dice and became popr. He had aid-back and easygoing personality as his concept, and his catchphrase was also famous. -Let¡¯s livefortably in thisplicated world. Woojoo thought it was just a broadcast concept, but it seemed to be his true personality. Beep¨C Beep¨C He nced at his vibrating phone and pressed the reject button without hesitation. ¡°It¡¯s one of our members who¡¯s filming today.¡± ¡°Ah.¡± It was so natural. The phone rang again. This time, it was a different name, so he answered. ¡°Hey, Hyung. Where are you? I¡¯m at the set. Oh, okay. Come inside quickly.¡± Did they alle? Before Woojoo could ask, loud screams erupted from everywhere. The staff and extras jumped up from the table. ¡°Who is it? Who¡¯s here? Who came?¡± ¡°Around the World With Dice! Around the World With Dice is filming today?¡± ¡°Today¡¯s filming was Around the World With Dice?¡± ¡°Oh, I saw it! I just saw it!¡± ¡°They look exactly like they do on TV.¡± ¡°Paper, paper, where¡¯s the paper? I need to get an autograph.¡± It was chaos. They looked at New ck like pebbles on the street when they met them, but now they were running around with excited faces. It looked like a fish market. The VJ and the production team with cameras pushed through the crowd, and the only ones left in the middle of the crowd were a woman with a model-like pose and a big manager. She smiled brightly and greeted the people who came to her. ¡°Hi, everyone.¡± New ck stood awkwardly as they watched the senior entertainer greet them. ¡°¡­Should we go and say hello too?¡± ¡°Do you have the confidence to get through there? I don¡¯t.¡± ¡°She¡¯lle to us, just sit down.¡± Ye Heechan gestured for them to sitfortably, but they waited in ce. Soon, the time of meeting. While the managers and the production team exchanged greetings, the other members of Around the World With Dice reached them. ¡°Hello, we¡¯re New ck!¡± ¡°Hi.¡± She narrowed her eyes as she greeted them calmly. She seemed to recognize the back of the person who turned away and sat down. At that moment, Ye Heechan also turned his head. ¡°Are you here?¡± His tone waspletely different from when he talked to New ck. With a displeased expression, Ye Heechan scanned his opponent from head to toe. And the feeling was mutual. ¡°What is this?¡± She retorted in a tone of disbelief. ¡°I tried calling you but you didn¡¯t answer, and now I find you here enjoying a feast.¡± ¡°Come and eat. The food here is good.¡± ¡°I¡¯m not eating with you.¡± ¡°Then don¡¯t eat.¡± They didn¡¯t seem to get along well. But New ck was only curious to watch. They thought they only had bad chemistry on the show, but they were the same in real life. ¡°Ouch.¡± Ye Heechan, who had been gently scratching his opponent, got up. Then, a sound of ¡®wow¡¯ erupted from the onlookers who were watching from afar. He, who seemed to enjoy their attention, nced at the woman next to him. Did he hear someone say ¡®pretty¡¯? He then narrowed his eyes. ¡°Hey, what¡¯s with your face today¡­¡± ¡°What. Do you think something changed?¡± ¡°Why did you put so much effort into your face? Just because you¡¯re filming with an idol¡­ Ahh!¡± ¡°This is real.¡± The peopleughed as Ye Heechan got hit on the back. It was the same scene they had seen on TV. ¡°Heechan Oppa.¡± ¡°You¡¯re calling me oppa now.¡± ¡°Ahh! Guys, help me out.¡± New ck alsoughed as they watched. Ye Heechan and Yeo Heeyeon. They were the youngest line of Around the World With Dice, and siblings who were only a year apart. *** ¡°Did you guys prepare well?¡± ¡°Yes.¡± ¡°You have to do well.¡± They had simr faces, but the siblings had different personalities. If the brother was the type to do things casually and go with the flow, the sister was the type to be passionate and driven. She showed off her skills in warming up her body, as expected from a former athlete. Ye Heeyeon looked around them and asked, ¡°Woojoo, Bijoo, Junghyun, Rihyuk, Jiyo. Right?¡± ¡°Yes, that¡¯s right.¡± ¡°Three of you are good at physical stuff. Bijoo is dance, Junghyun is sports, and Woojoo can do anything well?¡± ¡°Yes, Sunbae-nim.¡± ¡°You two are singing and acting.¡± She had urately grasped their personal details and moved her neck as she spoke. ¡°We¡¯re going to do a mission at the end of the introduction videoter. Something about getting a golden key. Right now, our team is at the bottom of the score. We have to do well on the recording today, at least for that.¡± ¡°Hey, Ye Heeyeon.¡± Ye Heechan interrupted, ¡°Do you always grill the kids as soon as you meet them?¡± ¡°Of course. The situation is what it is. At this rate, we¡¯ll end up eating only lettuce without pork belly for dinner on the first day of the special.¡± ¡°¡­Do we only eat lettuce?¡± Junghyun asked with a shocked face. Ye Heeyeon, who was about to speak seriously, couldn¡¯t help butugh. Then she exined the situation. Every time they introduced a team member, they had to do a mission, and if they seeded, they would get something called a ¡®golden key¡¯. It would be an important clue for the Chuseok Special. The siblings predicted that they would use it to decide the dinner menu or the sleeping space for that day. Their kids were fired up by the mention of beef. ¡°Hyung, let¡¯s work hard.¡± ¡°We have to eat meat.¡± ¡°Right. Like Woojoo Hyung said, what was it? We have to do it with the determination to break our spine.¡± ¡°You¡¯ll die if you break your spine. Kids.¡± The makeup artists who were fixing their makeup pursed their lips. While checking if the microphone was fixed properly, the surroundings became noisy. People were watching from the edge of the auditorium. It looked like a movie theater. It would be perfect if they handed out popcorn. Most of them were staff, so there was no one taking pictures with their smartphones, but there were plenty of people who seemed to be using messengers. As New ck stuck together andforted each other, something rolled over with a ttering sound. It was a basketball hoop for today¡¯s mission. *** In front of all the staff in the studio, Around the World With Dice¡¯s youngest line, Ye Heechan and Ye Heeyeon, introduced New ck in a corner that ended smoothly. Ye Heeyeon said in a lively voice, ¡°Okay! Now we¡¯re going to do one more mission and then part ways. How about it, New ck? Are you nervous?¡± ¡°Yes, my heart is pounding.¡± ¡°Taejun Hyung, you saw how nervous they are, right? Let¡¯s go easy today, a little.¡± ¡°Really.¡± Ye Heeyeon continued, ¡°If you tell me to dance with a pole installed on the street like I did without hesitation yesterday, I won¡¯t stay still!¡± ¡°That was really hard, pole dancing.¡± The siblings shuddered with the same expression and the peopleughed. ¡°Don¡¯t worry.¡± The man who had the script under his arm, PD Oh Taejun, said with a smile, ¡°To repay your support, we¡¯ll go easy today.¡± PD handed them a basketball. ¡°You know free throws in basketball, right?¡± ¡°Yes.¡± ¡°It¡¯s simple. You put on headphones that y music, and you seed in free throws. The method doesn¡¯t matter. You can kick it with your feet, or throw it with your hands. As long as you use your body, anything goes.¡± ¡°Is that all?¡± ¡°But, there¡¯s a different number of people who have to seed at each distance. If the dice roll is 1, the distance is short, but all seven of you have to seed. If it¡¯s 6, it¡¯s considered a sess even if only one persones out. But¡­ the distance will be a bit long.¡± The production team brought a box the size of a delivery box. It was a dice with blue fur like a cushion. It was an object that Woojoo had only seen on TV, and he looked at it with curiosity while they looked at them with serious faces. ¡°Hey, we have to roll this well.¡± ¡°Who was it? The one who¡¯s good at sports. And basketball?¡± ¡°Yes, I¡¯m good at it.¡± ¡°Then, do you want to roll it, Junghyun?¡± ¡°No, no!¡± the four said at the same time. They looked at New ck with puzzled faces. ¡°Why?¡± ¡°Because he¡¯s a notorious jinx.¡± ¡°He¡¯s the icon of misfortune.¡± ¡°It¡¯s like a superstition among us¡­ Whenever Junghyun says he has a good feeling or something, things go wrong.¡± ¡°¡­No, it¡¯s not. That¡¯s not it.¡± Ye Heechan looked around them and asked, ¡°Then, who¡¯s the luckiest person here?¡± At that, the younger ones all looked at Woojoo. He was flustered. His siblings handed him the dice with hopeful eyes. ¡°No, I¡¯m also a symbol of bad luck¡­¡± ¡°It¡¯s okay. It¡¯s okay.¡± ¡°Yeah! Just roll it without pressure. We won¡¯t say anything if you roll wrong¡­ Hey!¡± The spectators burst intoughter with a loud scream. Six white circles. In an instant, they all red at Woojoo as if he hadmitted a heinous crime, and he could only make a wronged expression. Hey. You told me to roll itfortably. *** ¡°I knew it. Junghyun Hyung cursed Woojoo Hyung in the car. He said he had a good feeling today.¡± ¡°Hey. Is Junghyun Hyung some kind of ck magician?¡± ¡°But he has a point. Woojoo Hyung is usually very lucky.¡± A brief practice time. When Junghyun and Around the World With Dice¡¯s the two members stood in the middle of the court, the members behind them whispered. ¡°Isn¡¯t the distance too far?¡± ¡°This, I think they have to throw it like lifting a heavy stone.¡± ¡°But it still doesn¡¯t seem to go in.¡± It was almost the end of the court. Only one person had to seed, but Woojoo doubted it. And there was a headphone with music. ¡°What is this? Why is the Heart Sutra ying?¡± Peopleughed. The members alsoughed, but soon they hardened their faces when they saw Junghyun trying to make a shot and swaying awkwardly. ¡°Junghyun, what¡¯s wrong?¡± ¡°I heard Fireworks and my body moved without me knowing¡­¡± ¡°Fireworks?¡± The PD answered that. ¡°New ck said in the pre-survey that they practiced a lot. They said they could dance even if they only heard the song in their sleep. That¡¯s what we prepared for the penalty. It seems to be very effective.¡± ¡°¡­¡± ¡°That, there¡¯s no devil like that.¡± The members who silently agreed with that shuddered with worry. Jiho asked, ¡°It looks too hard. Can you do it, Hyung?¡± ¡°It¡¯s vague. How about you, Bijoo Hyung?¡± ¡°It doesn¡¯t seem easy. The distance is far and there¡¯s a penalty.¡± When they were making worried expressions, Jiho turned his head to the one who had been silent until now. ¡°Hyung, how about you, possible?¡± When he thought he would say he was also having a hard time. ¡°Just a moment.¡± ¡°Yes?¡± Woojoo began to look around carefully. He scanned the distance and position of the basketball hoop and the route like an athlete on the field. He also nodded his head back and forth with a very focused face. Since it wouldn¡¯t work anyway, it was a question to rx, but the reaction was serious. ¡®Why is he doing that again?¡¯ The members looked at each other with those eyes. Woojoo answered calmly, ¡°I think I can do it.¡± Chapter 92: Chapter 92: Trantor: MarcTempest Editor: Rxel Chapter 92 He had always wondered about something. What did it feel like to be a variety show participant who performed missions? When Woojoo was young, he thought it would be fun. It looked exciting to see them y chicken fights or chase each other on TV. But when he actually appeared on one, it was nothing like that. Fun? What fun? It felt like taking an exam.The closest situation he could think of was the performance evaluation for arts and physical education at school or the monthly evaluation as a trainee. It was like shooting a free throw in front of a crowd. And not just any free throw, but one from almost the end of the court to the basket, while wearing headphones that distracted your concentration. ¡°Oh, what a pity!¡± ¡°That was so close!¡± Every time they failed, he heard sighs of regret from everywhere. But the spectators¡¯ eyes were full of amusement. The only ones who felt like dying were them and the members of Around the World With Dice. ¡°Ah! This won¡¯t go in!¡± Ye Heeyeon took off her headphones and ruffled her hair with her hands. Her face was flushed with frustration. She received the ball from the staff and passed it to the next yer, Ye Heechan. He smiled casually and bounced the ball lightly. Then he put on his headphones and took a shooting stance. It was a pose that showed he had some basketball experience in his childhood. His arm stretched out and the ball drew a parab. Thud- Unfortunately, it hit the backboard and fell. Unlike his sister who clenched her fist and groaned next to him, he just shrugged his shoulders and smiled as if he was sorry. When it was their turn again and Junghyun was about to do it¨C ¡°Wait a minute, let me try one more time.¡± Ye Heeyeon took the ball. She started bouncing the ball right away, with a face burning withpetitive spirit. Woojoo admired her as he watched her. She was good. He could read her movements clearly because of his ability to mimic actions. She was a former athlete, and her movements were not ordinary. Woojoo remembered the inte article about the members of Around the World With Dice. He searched for their unique characteristics in case he made a mistake, and he saw that Ye Heeyeon was a former athlete who retired due to an injury. An Achilles tendon injury from a traffic ident. Then, by chance, she joined Around the World With Dice with her actor brother when her rehabilitation was over. That was why she was a versatile character who excelled in physical episodes in Around the World With Dice. Their team¡¯s sports maniac opened his mouth in awe. ¡°Wow, your posture is perfect. You must have learned basketball, Sunbae-nim.¡± ¡°She has a different sport,¡± Ye Heechan replied with a smile. Just then, Ye Heeyeon moved swiftly. She quickly passed the ball to herself, then stretched out her long legs with strength and speed. And her sneakers kicked the ball. ¡­Wait, sneakers? Bang! The basketball flew away after being hit by her kick, and reached its destination like a delivery. Woojoo¡¯s mouth opened wide at the sight. Unfortunately, it bounced off the rim and fell. ¡°Ah, ah, ah! I could have done it!¡± He remembered. She was a ser yer. Ye Heechan approached his sister who was screaming and gave her a warm constion. ¡°You¡¯re too much. How could you miss that?¡± ¡°¡­¡± ¡°Ah, ah, ah! Everyone, he¡¯s killing me!¡± Peopleughed as they watched the scene, but New ck couldn¡¯tughfortably. Junghyun¡¯s skillful shot also failed. And Bijoo, who unintentionally danced and messed up his steps. Rihyuk was, well¡­ yeah. Rihyuk. Jiho threw the ball between his legs like a tank from Fortress, and only seeded in making a bigugh. It was a situation where all the other siblings failed. ¡°It¡¯s your turn now.¡± Ye Heechan handed Woojoo the ball. Woojoo stood in the middle of the court, receiving the eyes of everyone. He was nervous. How should he do this? He had all kinds of thoughts. His goal for today¡¯s recording was to fill the airtime without any negative image. The problem was that they did the self-introduction corner too smoothly, and there were not many episodes to go on the air. There were two ways to fill the airtime here. One was to make themugh. To make a funny joke or use physicaledy. But neither of them were his territory. First of all, Woojoo had no confidence in jokes, and if he tried to do physicaledy on purpose, it would be obvious. The only remaining option was to seed in shooting well. Ye Heechan tapped Woojoo¡¯s back as if to rx him. ¡°Just do it. It¡¯s practice.¡± ¡°Yes,¡± Woojoo answered and looked at the basketball hoop in the distance. The backboard with a white tape border looked as small as a passport photo. The rim looked like a straw hole. It was farther than he imagined. Woojoo bounced the ball and measured the distance. Ye Heeyeon whispered something to the siblings as he dribbled. Woojoo swallowed his dry saliva and focused on the target in front of him. Along with that, his mind settled down. At first, he was trembling, but as he bounced the ball, he felt a strange certainty. The feeling that his body knew what to do before he did. It was the same as when he flipped over the cop at the hospital. The headphone music made him flinch a few times, but he kept ignoring it consciously. Eventually, Woojoo grabbed the ball with his hand. Holding it, he moved his wrist a few times to gauge the strength. Like a volleyball yer practicing a toss, he repeated lifting and dropping the ball up and down. After checking, he held the ball in his right hand. It was the moment of decision. As Woojoo imagined the action in his head, his body moved naturally. He stretched his arm back like a person throwing a spear, then used the momentum to throw it forward with all his strength. The ball flew in a parab. But even before it went in, Woojoo felt a strong conviction. It was like when he had a good performance. No one cheered, but he knew whether he did well or not. It was the same logic. As the siblings, Around the World With Dice and the members, the production staff, the advertising staff, and the extras all followed the trajectory nkly. Thud-! The ball went into the rim and wrapped around the. The sound of the bouncing ball echoed in the quiet gym. Through the silence, someone¡¯s faint voice was heard. ¡°¡­Wow, that went in.¡± With that, their teammates shouted with a scream that hurt their ears. It felt like he had risen from a ve to a noble. This must have been what thete Joseon period looked like in the college entrance exam books. Just a moment ago, he was treated like a traitor for rolling a six on the dice, but in an instant, he became a hero. ¡°That¡¯s right! That¡¯s it, Woojoo!¡± ¡°Hyung, you did great!¡± ¡°Wow, there was a yer in the NBA who threw like that. The distance was much farther, but the posture was very simr to yours.¡± Thest remark was a bit embarrassing. That was true. Woojoo had been practicing basketball as well as testing his abilities sincest November, but the shot he just made was the result of a quick search on YouTube. With keywords like ¡®Long shoot NBA¡¯. Of course, no one knew that. And there was no need to know. Anyway, it worked out well. But it was funny how things worked out. Actually, Woojoo was the one who caused this distance, but everyone seemed to forget that because of the shot. ¡°Well, actually, if you think about it¡­¡± ¡°Shut up.¡± Woojoo whispered menacingly in the ear of the rebel. Meanwhile, the atmosphere of the set changedpletely thanks to the shot. Everyone¡¯s expressions changed. From ¡®How are we going to do this from this distance?¡¯ to ¡®We can do this, right?¡¯. Oh Taejun, the PD, nodded and said, ¡°Okay, then shall we move on to the main mission?¡± But the cheerful mood soon faded. The situation was that only one of the seven had to seed. But until it was Woojoo¡¯s turn, no one had seeded. Especially Ye Heeyeon had the most resentful expression on her face. She roared like a lion to the sky, and frankly, it was a bit scary. And then it was Woojoo¡¯s turn again. In the midst of the tense air, the younger ones gave him warm cheers. ¡°Please do well. If you seed, I¡¯ll forget about the dice you rolled six earlier.¡± ¡°Thank you. Rihyuk. I feel very reassured by you.¡± ¡°You should be grateful.¡± This was just. ¡°Hyung. You know that if you seed, we can eat meat, right? There¡¯s meat on your hands. On your left hand, there¡¯s sirloin, and on your right hand, there¡¯s snowke sirloin. If you fail, they¡¯ll fly away into thin air.¡± ¡°Jiho. Do you care about me at all?¡± ¡°Of course. I always worry about our big brother¡¯s¡­ What is it? Rihyuk Hyung, what was it? Anbo?¡± ¡°Anwi. You idiot.¡± ¡°Right. Jiho. If you¡¯re worried about anwi, you should call 111.¡± ¡°¡­Whatever. Anyway, fighting.¡± Junghyun also nodded and held out his fist to Woojoo. Boom! A gust of wind blew and his hair fluttered. ¡°Cheer up, Hyung.¡± ¡°¡­Ah, you scared me. I thought you were going to hit me.¡± ¡°Sorry. I¡¯m just a bit too excited because of the meat.¡± ¡°I can see that.¡± As Woojoo nodded his head while holding their third sibling¡¯s fist in his hand, Bijoo lifted his microphone with his hand. A soft whisper tickled his ear. ¡°Hyung, if we seed, I¡¯ll forget about the 100,000 won that Daisy Sunbae gave.¡± Oh, this was effective. As Woojoo suddenly burned with motivation, the other siblings looked curious, but Bijoo just smiled silently. Meanwhile, the Ye siblings were busy trying to get as much content as possible. How should they put it? They were dramatically heightening the atmosphere. It felt like they were building up the highlight scene step by step. ¡°Woojoo.¡± ¡°Yes, Sunbae.¡± ¡°Don¡¯t be nervous and rx.¡± The pleasant-looking handsome guy put his arm around Woojoo¡¯s shoulder. ¡°Don¡¯t worry about this golden key thing or whatever. It¡¯s nothing special, but they make it sound so important. That¡¯s how this show is. They say they¡¯ll take us to Bali, but they go to Onyang Vige Bali. They say they¡¯ll go to Bangkok, but they lock us in a room.¡± ¡°Ah, yes¡­¡± ¡°So just rx. What, is there anything else?¡± ¡°No.¡± The diligent-looking beauty stood across from her brother. ¡°Don¡¯t listen to what he says, Woojoo.¡± ¡°Look at her tone. To her brother.¡± ¡°That guy, he¡¯s so smooth that everyone else is starving, but he sneaks out and mooches off other teams. He thinks he can fail. But we¡¯re different. Can we fail, or not?¡± ¡°¡­Ah, no?¡± ¡°Right. That¡¯s the mindset! We have to go with full of energy. Okay?¡± ¡°Oh, okay¡­¡± ¡°Ugh, she makes me tired. Really. I¡¯m telling you to rx.¡± It was like that. Like an angel and a devil fighting over his head. They must have intended that, too. The spectatorsughed nonstop as they watched Woojoo sandwiched between the scary siblings. Woojoo cried out, lonely. ¡°I¡¯ll put on the headphones¡­!¡± The echo of ¡®Woojoo¡­¡¯ faded as he ignored the siblings whispering in his ears and put on the headphones. Then the siblings who were mouthing words next to him soon moved away. They winked at him from an angle that the camera couldn¡¯t see. They meant that they hadid the groundwork for him, so he should do well. So. He did that. *** ¡°He pulled it off.¡± The onlookers stuck out their tongues as they watched the people who wereughing loudly with the keys wrapped in yellow cooking foil. ¡°How did they do it? I can¡¯t figure it out no matter how I look.¡± ¡°Hey. I just got a message from my friend. He said don¡¯t lie. How can an idol do that when he¡¯s not even an athlete?¡± ¡°I can¡¯t believe it either. I wouldn¡¯t have believed it if I were you.¡± The production team of Around the World With Dice smiled with satisfaction as everyone else was snickering at the one who hadpleted the difficult mission. Writer Yang Mihyun spoke as he packed his stuff. ¡°How was it, PD-nim?¡± ¡°Well. It was okay.¡± ¡°It seems like you got some good scenes out of this, right?¡± ¡°Yeah, we did. There weren¡¯t many sessful missions out of the ones that had six dice eyes so far. We got quite a lot of usable ones, so the problem is what to cut out from here. I¡¯m definitely going to include that full-court shot.¡± ¡°The reaction won¡¯t be bad when it airs.¡± PD Oh Taejun nodded. His gaze lingered on one member who was smiling from afar. ¡°The reaction will be fine. Until then, well, it¡¯ll be noisy one way or another.¡± *** ¡ð YoHC_0509 ? RealHanTH and 792 others -Our team¡¯sst guest ¡®New ck¡¯ and our meeting! We had a surprising thing happen while filming the introduction video! Watch it if you¡¯re curious! #YeHeeBinggu #ButIDidWell View 78ments -gmldus87 : Change your picture if you don¡¯t want to die -YoHC_0509 : ~_~ Ebebebe -gmldus87 : Hey. -gmldus87 : I said change it -YoHC_0509 : Sister. How about paying more attention to your inner beauty than your outer beauty? -gmldus87 : Answer the phone -Promis.Jang : Are you guys fighting again¡­? -_- Anyway¡­ I¡¯m so happy to see our New ck after a long time¡­ *** The recording that day ended sessfully. Woojoo knew it without anyone telling them. They had gotten some pretty good scenes. That was why the atmosphere was warm and friendly. ¡°It was fun thanks to you.¡± ¡°Please work hard like this for the main recording too.¡± The Ye siblings who said that invited them to a group chat. It was a room with the production team and the team celebrities who would work together for the Chuseok Special. They said they made the room to get to know each other in advance. Woojoo bowed his head as he looked at the chat, where Lee Gyeonwoo Sunbae and other sunbaes greeted them. They were all big names. And then. ¡°Thank you for your hard work!¡± The two-daymercial shoot was also over. The changed script didn¡¯t have much difference in content. The story focused on the emotions of two characters, Woojoo and Jiho, and changed a few lines of dialogue and one or two scenes. It wasn¡¯t so difficult that it required the acting skills of a top star, so Woojoo could do it smoothly. It was a good experience in many ways. It was also meaningful that he practiced acting in advance for the music video with a story that they would filmter. But most of all, it was because Woojoo discovered his talent for acting through this opportunity. He wasn¡¯t as possessed as Jiho, but he felt like he had some talent. Well. That made him think a littleplicated. The choice that TJ offered him was to be an actor. Woojoo wondered what he would be like now if he had chosen that path then, but he shook his head after a while. It was already a past thing. It would be a lie if he said he had no regrets, but as someone who had a dream of being an idol, he liked himself now more. By the way. ¡°Where did they go and note back?¡± As the advertisement staff left, Woojoo was alone in the empty school ssroom. Seokhwan Hyung said he had some good news and ran to the HBS Broadcasting Station, and Minki Hyung was resting in the car. The younger ones said they had a gift for him and disappeared, which made him anxious. They had a live broadcast with the fans in a minute. Woojoo looked at thezy sunset outside the window and picked up his phone. It was a smartphone that thepany gave them for live streaming. As Minki Hyung told him, he pressed the button and soon his face appeared on the screen. The first ones toe in were about ten Souffl¨¦s. ¡°Hi, Souffl¨¦s. It¡¯s Woojoo.¡± Woojoo greeted them and told them where the younger ones were for the fans who might be curious. ¡°Um, the younger ones went somewhere for a moment. Yeah. They said they had a gift for me and told me to wait. It¡¯s almost time for them toe back. In the meantime, let¡¯s have fun with me. Oh, and the younger ones.¡± Woojoo gave a wicked smile to the phone. ¡°If you¡¯re watching this, hurry up ande. If you¡¯rete, I¡¯ll start with Rihyuk and tell them one of your secrets.¡± As Woojoo talked with the fans, he didn¡¯t even notice the time passing. Thud, the ssroom door opened with a sound. His kids came in with something hidden behind them. ¡°Oh, you¡¯re here. What¡¯s that?¡± ¡°Well, uh. You started the live. Hello, Souffl¨¦s! We came to give Woojoo Hyung a gift.¡± The kids who were whispering to each other pushed something out with a bang. It was a school uniform hanging on a hanger. There were question marks in the chat window. ¡°What¡¯s with the uniform¡­?¡± Rihyuk coughed and said, ¡°Well, that. You know, when we first did a live with the fans. You liked wearing a uniform then, and, well, anyway.¡± ¡°That¡¯s right. We prepared this gift for our uniform maniac.¡± ¡°We had a hard time getting it.¡± ¡°Thanks, but. Why are you suddenly giving me this¡­?¡± As Woojoo was stammering, Bijoo exined, ¡°Hyung, you said you couldn¡¯t graduate from high school because of your debut problem. You also said you were sorry that you didn¡¯t have a graduation album. So we prepared this. Since we don¡¯t have a schedule, we thought we¡¯d do it with the fans today¡­¡± As Woojoo lost his words at the unexpected answer, Bijoo smiled and said, ¡°Hyung, we want to make a graduation album for you.¡± Chapter 93: Chapter 93: Trantor: MarcTempest Editor: Rxel Chapter 93 Documentary, and Daily Life The photo shoot took ce outside. They didn¡¯t ask the manager, but they thought it was a bit weird for outsiders to take pictures in the ssroom. One afternoon in August. They changed into their school uniforms and wandered around the school. They tried the flower bud pose in front of the flower bed, crossed their legs on the bench, and sat in the pavilion.They carried two selfie sticks. One was for taking pictures, and the other was formunicating with the fans on live broadcast. ¡°Okay, let¡¯s get some rmendations for the next pose!¡± Thements poured in right away. -How about standing side by side and raising your shoulders and hands? -The Creation of Adam¡­? -Just do everything?? They¡¯re all pretty??? -Your outfit matches your face. Astronomy. Thestment was unusual. It looked like a bad trantor had tranted the sentence ¡®You look good in your uniform, Woojoo¡¯. Woojoo imagined the fan typing the sentence in a foreignnguage, tranting it, and pasting it in the chat. It was kind of cute. There weren¡¯t manyments, so he tried toment on each one as much as possible. ¡°Standing side by side and raising your hands? Let¡¯s give it a try.¡± ¡°Thank you for saying we¡¯re all pretty.¡± ¡°Right? The uniform suits me, right? I know it looks good on me.¡± The younger ones made admiring expressions at his basic English expressions, and Woojoo felt embarrassed. Then, he noticed an eye-catchingment. ¡°The Creation of Adam? I can¡¯t remember it all of a sudden. What was it, this¡­¡± ¡°It¡¯s a famous painting,¡± Rihyuk said. ¡°It¡¯s a work by Michngelo. It¡¯s painted on the ceiling of the Sistine Chapel in the Vatican, where God and the first human touch their fingers on the clouds¡­¡± ¡°Oh, I remember. That¡¯s it.¡± ¡°It sounds fun. Shall we give it a try?¡± ¡°First, Woojoo Hyung, just stay still. I¡¯ll lift you up.¡± Junghyun lifted Woojoo up like a prince. ¡°Hey, Junghyun. This pose is a bit awkward.¡± ¡°I¡¯m fine. Hyung.¡± ¡°Yeah, I know that. But I¡¯m not talking about you.¡± ¡°Be quiet and take the pose quickly. Yes. Lift your knee a little, and stretch your hand. And the angle¡­¡± ¡°Just do it roughly, Rihyuk Hyung. If you try to do it like the original painting, there¡¯s no end to it. You have to be naked too.¡± Theyughed and posed. Woojooy on the left side, and the youngest, who was lifted by Bijoo and Rihyuk,y on the opposite side and took the pose. Then, he stretched his finger gracefully, but his expression was so holy and solemn that Woojoo couldn¡¯t help butugh. He looked at the selfie stick and sawments like ¡®????¡¯ in the chat. ¡°Wow, it came out well.¡± The quality of the photo was superb. Woojoo nodded with a smile at the fans who asked him to upload it on the fan cafe or SNS. Of course he would. ¡°Hyung, where should we go next?¡± ¡°Let¡¯s go to the end of the yground over there.¡± Woojoo led his younger brothers like a teacher taking care of kindergarten students. ¡°Wow, the flowers here are so pretty!¡± They said they would take his graduation photos, but they seemed more excited than him. Especially their second youngest, who loved doing things together, looked so happy that he couldn¡¯t be happier. Woojoo felt the same way. Surrounded by his brothers who were bouncing around like puppies, heughed endlessly. It was a fun day, after a long time. *** At dusk. In the car passing the Hangang Bridge illuminated by the sunset, they each held a can of soda. ¡°Good job, guys.¡± Woojoo smiled and offered a can of zero c. They clinked their cans like a toast andughed. ¡°Ah, it¡¯s really hot.¡± The youngest pped his white shirt with the winding through the open window. It was understandable. It was summer, and they were wearing winter uniforms with jackets, not even summer ones. It was hotter than a steamer. Rihyuk drank the barley water in the thermos and said, ¡°Really, we have to suffer a lot because of our ipetent Hyung.¡± Woojoo almost spat out my zero c. ¡°Hey. Isn¡¯t that the kind of line I should say? When I say, guys, you worked hard, you should say, no, what are we suffering for?¡± ¡°Look at that military vibe.¡± ¡°You look too old, Hyung.¡± ¡°¡­¡± ¡°Why are you like that, Hyungs. Woojoo Hyung doesn¡¯t look old, he is old. Right? Our sun old.¡± ¡°¡­I¡¯ll let it go today, because I¡¯m in a good mood, really.¡± Woojoo poked the youngest¡¯s side. Then heughed heartily. They were having a lively conversation with the members about themercial shooting and the photos they took earlier, when Minki Hyung handed Woojoo his phone. ¡°The manager has something to tell you guys.¡± They switched to speakerphone mode and gathered around. -Yeah, it¡¯s me. Seokhwan Hyung¡¯s voice was bright like a clear sky. -I have two news for you guys. Which one do you want to hear first? Good news, or interesting news? Junghyun quickly answered. ¡°Anything.¡± -Then I¡¯ll start with the good news. You guys know HBS MTV, right? Showtime, I mean. ¡°Yeah. Of course we know.¡± This was the first music show where they were nominated for first ce. -HBS decided tounch a new program. It¡¯s an idol reality show starring New ck. ¡°A reality show? Really?¡± -It¡¯s confirmed for the next quarter. We¡¯ll start filming in early September and air it around the time you release your second album. They all cheered. An idol reality show. The program they envied every time Street Boys did it on K. The dream and wish of every rookie idol. They were going to do a TV reality show. As they pped and celebrated, Woojoo heard the melody of Suntus ringing in his ears like a hallucination. ¡°Hyung, then what¡¯s the fun news?¡± -It¡¯s rted to promotion, but I think you¡¯d better see it for yourself. Turn on your phone and go to the official SNS ount. ¡°The official ount?¡± -There should be a video tagged with you. They went to the official SNS and immediately noticed what the fun news was. *** PBS Current Affairs and Culture Department. A woman was sitting at a desk with a partition, holding a phone. ¡°¡­I¡¯m sorry, but is the interview difficult? We¡¯re not a pro who does weird editing and stuff. It¡¯s a documentary. Yes, teacher. A documentary. If you could spare us five minutes-¡± -I don¡¯t really want to talk about that day on the air. I¡¯m sorry. ¡°Teacher, teacher! Just listen to me for a moment¡­¡± The phone was already hung up. Jung Woojoong, the youngest writer of the PBS special documentary team, sighed. It was her tenth attempt at casting. It seemed like it would work this time, but the other person suddenly changed their mind at thest minute. ¡®This special is unusually hard to cast.¡¯ Even though she put the name of the public broadcaster forward, it was hard to find someone who agreed. It was because of the nature of the documentary topic. The special was about righteous people. People who did righteous deeds. People who threw themselves into disaster scenes or various idents without hesitation. They were the interviewees for this documentary. A man who ran into a burning car for a crying baby, a college student who saved a homeless man who was trying tomit suicide, a water rescue worker who ran to save a drowning person, etc. The subject was good, but the casting was a problem. The righteous people in public institutions such as firefighters, police, and coast guard were easy to cast, but the problem was the ordinary people. Of course, to deal with such incidents, they needed the permission of the victims, but most of them were reluctant to do so. They didn¡¯t want to recall the painful memories. And even if the victims agreed, the righteous people who were there at the time often refused because they felt burdened. There were several cases where the victim barely said OK, but the righteous person refused. ¡°Please, just listen to me for a moment¡­!¡± And now she had failed her eleventh casting. She crossed out one contact with a pen and read the twelfth contact below. ¡®Name: Choi Ikhyun. Name: Choi Yongjae, 02¡­¡¯ She saw a small note that said ¡®Galhyeon-dong Hero¡¯. It was an incident that happened on the college entrance exam dayst year in Galhyeon-dong, Eunpyeong-gu, Seoul, and was featured in various media. The summary was simple. A driver who had a seizure suddenly elerated and ran towards an old man who was pulling a rear car at the time. It was a close call, but a student who risked his life and jumped in prevented any casualties. The fact that the rescuer missed the college entrance exam was a big regret. ¡®Let¡¯s give it a try.¡¯ She took a deep breath and pressed the phone number. Soon, she exined her purpose to Choi Yongjae, who answered the phone. She was filming a documentary and wanted to cover the righteous person who saved someone at the time, and asked if he was avable for an interview. The other person asked her to wait and called her back after 30 minutes. -Yes, my father agreed. Yes. She clenched her fist. There was only one thing left. ¡°Then, can I get the contact information of the person who was rescued? The name is¡­ here, yes. Seon Woojoo.¡± -Oh, I have the contact information, but¡­ The other person hesitated. -I can¡¯t give it to you without permission. He¡¯s affiliated, no, I¡¯ll ask him first. You¡¯re Jung Woojoong, the writer of the PBS special documentary, right? I¡¯ll contact you again. The phone was cut off. Jung Woojoong blinked. Was he cast, or not? And he had to ask for the casting opinion on behalf of someone else. ¡°Who is the rescuer, some special person?¡± Maybe a celebrity or something. Sheughed as she let her imagination run wild. He was a student taking examsst November, so he probably was attending some academy for a repeat year now. Jung Woojoong drew a triangle next to ¡®Galhyeon-dong Hero¡¯. She also added a question mark. *** The interesting news that their manager told them was Jang Sowon¡¯s SNS. @Promis.Jang I was nominated by Lisa Unnie, and I participated in the Ice Bucket Challenge to help patients with Lou Gehrig¡¯s disease. I donated to the Hope Foundation with a small heart, hoping that it would help. I¡¯m so happy to be a part of this good cause. When they yed the video, her manager poured a bucket of water over Jang Sowon¡¯s head, who closed her eyes with a nervous expression. -Ah! Oof! She shook her head, which was stuck like seaweed, and the other side cheered. The so-called Ice Bucket Challenge. It was a campaign that was popr worldwide since this summer. The purpose was to raise awareness of Lou Gehrig¡¯s disease, and the feature was to pour ice water over your head, donate, and nominate three people. And Jang Sowon nominated them, who were partners of Something. ¡°Ha¡­¡± ¡°Rihyuk, stop sighing.¡± ¡°Why, I¡¯m going to breathe with my mouth.¡± ¡°Water will get in your mouth.¡± ¡°¡­¡± At the Han River Citizens¡¯ Park in the morning. The five were standing in short sleeves in a secluded ce where apartments across the river and power lines were visible. They finished the greeting and each held a bucket of water. Ssh- The cold water snapped them out of it. Ugh. Woojoo didn¡¯t think he would have to take a cold shower again after discharge. He wrapped a big towel around his body as soon as the shooting was over. The morning air and the cold water made him shiver. ¡°Hyung, here.¡± Woojoo took the towel that Bijoo handed him and dried my hair. They all got into the car in the parking lot, shivering. Woojoo turned on the heater, but his fingers on the smartphone were still trembling. ¡°Wow, my fingers are shaking.¡± ¡°Type itter. Hyung. It¡¯s not urgent.¡± ¡°I have to write it in advance, so the PR team staff can see it and confirm it.¡± Woojoo soon finished the message to post on SNS today. The content was pretty good, but the problem was the target. ¡°Who should we pick, guys?¡± ¡°Jang Sowon already did it with us. How about Scarlet Noonas?¡± ¡°We can¡¯t choose idols from the samepany.¡± It was best not to get involved with idols from the samepany, at least publicly. Woojoo didn¡¯t know how they were personally, but since they shared the same agency¡¯s resources, it would only cause trouble if their groups got mixed up. The fans would react sensitively to even the smallest things. Why do they get that and we don¡¯t? Don¡¯t use them to boost their poprity. Stuff like that. Whatever. It was a separate issue, but it was better not to give them any reason to connect them in the first ce. His siblings agreed with him and they continued to brainstorm. They had never met any of the otherpany¡¯s celebrities, except for Daisy. And there was no way they could choose the members of Around the World With Dice that they met recently. Junghyun stroked his chin. ¡°We don¡¯t have many friends in the entertainment industry, do we?¡± ¡°We¡¯ve only debuted for two months, you know.¡± ¡°True.¡± ¡°And what does it matter? We¡¯re close enough with each other.¡± The members nodded at Rihyuk¡¯s words. After a long discussion, they decided to pick some rookie idols who had a simr debut date as them. They sent messages to the contacts they had exchanged duringst month¡¯s music shows, and all three teams responded positively. The leader of Soul Six was especially grateful and even sent a thank-you message. ¡°Wow.¡± The youngest turned his head to Woojoo. ¡°Woojoo Hyung you¡¯re close with TNT¡¯s Taehyun Sunbae-nim, right? What if we pick them¡­¡± ¡°That would be a disaster.¡± ¡°Why?¡± ¡°Don¡¯t you remember how we got cursed at for ovepping the first ce with them on the music show? Taehyun is nice, but his fans are pretty sharp. He can act friendly with us, but we can¡¯t do the same.¡± ¡°Ugh, what a cruel world.¡± ¡°And they¡¯ve already done it, haven¡¯t they? Who did they pick? The girl you hate from Girls on Top, Teen Spirit, and someone else.¡± ¡°¡­Really?¡± The youngest smiled smugly at the mention of Gil Chaekyung, his old nemesis. He seemed more interested than usual because of the recent news. -Girls on Top, joining the ¡®Around the World With Dice¡¯ Chuseok Special -Chuseok Special, Girls on Top also joining¡­ rising expectations -Two idol teams participating, Girls on Top and the ¡®rookie¡¯ New ck Girls on Top was appearing on the Chuseok Special with Around the World With Dice, and their agency, Hwai Entertainment, was aggressively promoting them. Girls on Top. The popr girl group that was inpetition with Scarlet. When they first visited thepany building to work on Something with Jang Sowon sunbae, they ran into them. It wasn¡¯t a pleasant memory. Anyway, Girls on Top had been struggling since their most popr member, Joo Hana, had a dating scandal in February, but they had regained their momentum with their recent regr album release. And since they confirmed their appearance on Around the World With Dice, Hwai Entertainment had been pouring out promotional materials with all their might. And they, the other idol guests, were also getting some attention. It was a problem because it wasn¡¯t a good kind of attention. -Neers on Around the World With Dice¡¯s Chuseok Special, Who are ¡®New ck¡¯? -Producer Koo Jaeyoung ¡°New ck? I picked them because they have potential.¡± -[Weekly Entertainment Editorial] The Nation¡¯s Variety Show is Different. ¡®From Top Stars to Neers¡¯ On Around the World With Dice¡¯s Guest Lineup¡­ Most articles calmly reported their appearance, but some media outlets leaked articles with a subtle nuance. It was like ¡®Lee Gyeonwoo, a top star, is on the Chuseok Special. But there¡¯s also a totally new idol group? Haha, just saying¡¯ kind of feeling. They might as well curse openly. They wanted to increase their views by attracting hate, and they were the easiest target. They, who mainly appeared on music shows, didn¡¯t have a popr image yet, and their fandom was small. It was hard to get a good reaction. As a program that was called the nation¡¯s variety show, Around the World With Dice had more than one or two extreme viewers. Even if they weren¡¯t extreme, who would be happy to see a male idol group they had never heard of? Seokhwan Hyung, who skimmed the articlements on the portal mainst night instead of them, told them not to look. He told them to wait until the broadcast on Sunday. So they said they knew, but¡­ Human curiosity was scary. Even though Woojoo had a feeling he would get hurt, he wanted to check the content. Like when someone badmouthed you behind your back, you felt bad but you wanted to verify what they said. Should you look, or not? It was when Woojoo was fiddling with his finger on the article title on the screen, as if he was putting his hand on the lid of Pandora¡¯s box. Beep- Ah. Surprise. Woojoo thought someone was watching him and gave him a signal. Don¡¯t do it. But as soon as he saw the name on the phone screen, the thoughts of articlements or ice bucket challenge flew away. [Professor Choi Yongjae] ¡­What? Why was he contacting him all of a sudden? ¡°Hello.¡± -It¡¯s been a while. Seon Woojoo. A deep voice asked how he was. Woojoo wondered what he wanted as he exchanged light greetings with him. Then he heard something he never expected. ¡°A documentary?¡± Chapter 94: Chapter 94: Trantor: MarcTempest Editor: Rxel Chapter 94 Woojoo asked, hiding his nervousness, ¡°A documentary?¡± -We got a call from PBS. They want to cover the incident that happened on the day of the college entrance examst year. Professor Choi started to exin. He said he received a call from PBS¡¯s Current Affairs Department this morning. A special documentary for the 50th anniversary of the station. They were looking for interviewees on the theme of heroes and they were interested in what happened that day.-They asked for your contact information, but I hesitated to give it to them because you are a celebrity. Why did the word celebrity make him so embarrassed? Woojoo¡¯s face, which was frozen by the ice bucket challenge, was burning hot. He should write it down somewhere. Listen to embarrassing words when it was cold. -So, what do you think? ¡°First of all, thank you for letting me know. It¡¯s a really great¡­ offer.¡± PBS was not just any ce. It was the channel that grandparents watched all day long in the countryside. It was the most influential terrestrial broadcaster in Korea. Being featured as a hero in PBS¡¯s special documentary was an offer that any entertainer would covet. But, there was something he had to think about first. ¡°Are you okay with it?¡± -Yes? ¡°It¡¯s a good thing for me, but I know it¡¯s a bad memory for the professor and your family. I hope I didn¡¯t cause any trouble¡­¡± -What are you talking about? Woojoo heard a lightugh. -Don¡¯t worry. It¡¯s actually my father who insisted on doing this. He said he was grateful to the young man in the yellow padding. ¡°Oh, I see¡­¡± -What do you want to do? He didn¡¯t hesitate for long. He gave Woojoo the contact information of PBS¡¯s Current Affairs and Culture Department after he agreed. ¡°Thank you very much.¡± Woojoo thanked him. ¡°Thank you for everything you did at the hospital. I owe you again.¡± -Not at all. It¡¯s good to share good news. ¡°Thank you for your time. You must be busy.¡± They exchanged pleasantries and agreed to have a meal together soon. Then Woojoo hung up the phone. ¡°Whew¡­¡± Woojoo took a deep breath and sorted out the situation. A PBS special documentary. It was such a big deal that he felt unreal for a moment. As he looked at the phone number of the PBS station written on the memo pad, he saw a bunch of meerkats gathering and buzzing. *** -Are you the writer PBS, Jung Woojoong? ¡°¡­Yes, I am.¡± She almost stumbled over her words. It was because the voice on the other end was very soft. How could there be such a person with such a nice voice? -Hello. I¡¯m Seon Woojoo. I got your contact from Professor Choi Yongjae. He said you wanted to interview about what happened on the college entrance exam dayst year. ¡°Oh, yes! That¡¯s right!¡± He was the hero. She smiled brightly. -Sorry for thete contact. I had to consult with other people. ¡°No, not at all. I¡¯m always grateful.¡± -I contacted you first before ourpany called you. She thought he would be studying again, but he seemed to have a job. He said thepany would contact her because of the documentary. Was it a bigpany? Come to think of it, he won the KG Group Hero Award, so maybe he got in with a special admission. Anyway, it was none of her business. Jung Woojoongughed heartily. ¡°Thank you so much for contacting me. You heard about our broadcast from Mr. Choi, right?¡± -Yes, I heard briefly. ¡°Let me exin it to you again.¡± She briefly exined the outline and interview details of the documentary, and circled a list with a smile. Now it was three. The previous two cases were old, but this one was a recent event, so it was timely and topical. Naturally, her voice softened. ¡°I want to set a date for the interview, but when would it be good for us to visit you?¡± -Uh¡­ Just a moment. I have a lot of schedules. She noticed that there was a lot of music noise since earlier. Then she heard various male voices. Some of them sounded slightly surprised, but they were all good. When she tried to listen carefully, Woojoo¡¯s voice came in. -I have too many events until Thursday¡­. ¡°Oh, you must be busy with your work?¡± -Yes, because of my work¡­¡­. Heughed. He seemed to find the word ¡®work¡¯ amusing. -Maybe Friday would be possible, but I¡¯m not sure. Our events increased suddenly after we appeared on the news. Which news did thepany appear on? But it was strange. She felt like the conversation was going off track since earlier. -Can I contact you through my agency for this part? ¡°Agency?¡± -Yes, my agency. By now, she was sure that something was wrong. She asked cautiously, ¡°Excuse me, Mr. Seon Woojoo, what are you doing right now¡­?¡± -Ah. He said casually. -I¡¯m a singer. ¡°¡­What?¡± She was flustered. It was a job she never expected. ¡°A singer?¡± -Yes. I¡¯m a singer, but¡­ did you contact me without knowing? I thought you knew. ¡°Just a moment.¡± She quickly turned on the inte. When she searched for ¡®Galhyeon-dong Hero¡¯ on the portal, articles popped up right away. Not far away, she found a title that said ¡®New boy group New ck Woojoo, a hot topic as a good Samaritan before debut¡¯. She felt a surge in her chest as she looked at the article that was tucked away in the corner. ¡®Why did I find this out now?¡¯ ¡­she thought, and then she realized why. She had done a superficial research on the case, thinking that she just had to figure out who was cast. She thought there was no need to search in detail, since it was such a famous case. And who would have imagined that a student who took the examst year would be an idol in half a year? She was dizzy. She almost missed this good material. If the senior writers knew, they would have scolded her for doing a poor research, and they would have given her a hard time all day. She calmed down her excited mind and searched for ¡®New ck¡¯. -Who is ¡®New ck¡¯, the first variety show appearance on the special Chuseok Special? -New ck, became the model for Everdream school uniforms -New ck, participated in the ice bucket challenge to help Lou Gehrig¡¯s patients ¡°Very grateful¡­¡± School uniform model, national variety show, and thetest campaign. They seemed like a pretty sessful rookie idol group. And one of the members of that idol group was a good Samaritanst year, which didn¡¯t seem to be well known. ¡®Didn¡¯t thepany promote it?¡¯ They left this good material alone. She wondered and asked calmly, ¡°Then, when can we do the interview?¡± *** After contacting the writer of PBS, Woojoo left the rest of the work to thepany. Since he was an idol, there were more than a few things that he had to coordinate with the broadcasting station. First of all, they were very busy. After the news of the Chuseok Special came out, the number of events for New ck increased. Woojoo wondered why they called them, who hadn¡¯t even recorded anything, but they didn¡¯t refuse and handled all those events. He was busy with practice, songwriting, various management and lessons, so he had no time to spare for anything else except sleeping. And now. They were having a meeting at HBS MTV. ¡°Documentary?¡± ¡°Yes, I had a favor to ask someonest year.¡± The faces of the people listening to his story were full of interest. HBS Sangam Tower, 13th floor. This small room was the team meeting room for the variety project ¡®New ck Reality (tentative)¡¯ that they were going to appear on. ¡°A benefactor¡­¡± The PD fiddled with his pen. ¡°This is really good material, but is it already scheduled to be filmed by PBS?¡± ¡°Yes, I heard they¡¯re going to start shooting next week.¡± ¡°We¡¯re also going to be on it.¡± The youngest one chimed in and everyoneughed. ¡°Wow, you guys must be amazed. You¡¯re getting ads, documentaries, and even going to Around the World With Dice.¡± ¡°You guys have done a lot. You guys.¡± ¡°By the time we film our reality show, you might be superstars.¡± The writer¡¯s joke made everyoneugh. The production staff and New ck had a fun first meeting for a while. Then, the PD pped his hands and cleared the table. ¡°Alright, I think that¡¯s enough for the group meeting. Let¡¯s have some individual interviews before we go to lunch.¡± ¡°¡­Individual interviews?¡± ¡°It¡¯s your reality show. We have a lot of research to do on each member.¡± Oh. This was new. In the other programs they had been on, they always did the interview as a group. But this time, it was an eight-part reality show featuring them, so it seemed like they needed individual data. The first one to go was Jiho, who waved his hand at them. ¡°You guys will miss me.¡± Theyughed at his wistful expression. He took it seriously and waved his hand back, and theyughed again. But something strange happened as they did the individual interviews. The expressions of the kids changed subtly as they came back one by one. As if they were hiding a secret. They didn¡¯t tell Woojoo why when he asked. What was going on? He wondered as he was calledst. A small room with a camera set up. Woojoo sat down and asked the PD and the main writer, ¡°Are we starting filming already?¡± ¡°No, we¡¯re just going to take a few cuts before the main filming. You know, like in the variety shows? The scenes where they¡¯re having a serious meeting.¡± ¡°Yes, I know.¡± ¡°Let¡¯s do some research on your personal life then.¡± It was nothing special. Woojoo briefly exined his background to the PD and the writer. He lived with his grandmother since he was young and came here after being a trainee at another agency. Of course, there were some things he avoided mentioning. For example, that he was part of the TNT debut group, or that he was close to some of the idols who debuted now. They were friendly to them, but they were still broadcasting people. They cared more about the buzz or the ratings than their image. So Woojoo deliberately avoided talking about his past. He had looked at some of the rookie idol reality shows before he came here, and there were quite a few scenes like that. The camera showed the idol sitting on a chair from a low angle, and the idol talked with a sad face. -I was actually supposed to debut as Teen Spirit at MOP. -Yes, all of my ssmates who practiced with me there have debuted now. There are a lot of famous people too. Sometimes I feel inferior to myself¡­ -I¡¯ve been friends with Liz from Autumn Girl since middle school. Now she¡¯s active as Autumn Girl. Something like that, and then they would shed tears at the end. Woojoo didn¡¯t want to end the scene in such a clich¨¦d way. But the writer and the PD didn¡¯t care about that at all. Instead, they just handed him a nk sheet of paper. ¡°This time, the reality show you¡¯re going to film will be free of any clear theme, like guerri concerts or travel. You can do anything you want, like hidden camera, horror experience, water y in the pool, etc.¡± ¡°Oh, I see.¡± ¡°So, if you have anything you want to try with your brothers, just write it down. We¡¯ll review it.¡± They wanted him to provide some ideas. That was why the others looked so uneasy. ¡°Can I ask what the members wrote?¡± ¡°Well, they wrote various things.¡± ¡­They said, dodging the question. What did they write? Ever since Woojoo was pranked by the hidden camera during the live show, his heart would pound whenever he saw something suspicious. So¡­ Maybe he should write something fun too. Lately, he had something he wanted to try with his kids. Woojoo slowly opened his lips. ¡°How about this?¡± They both loved his idea. *** In the recording booth attached to New ck¡¯s studio. ¡°Hyung, what are you doing?¡± ¡°What?¡± Rihyuk answered with a sour face. ¡°I¡¯m singing.¡± ¡°No. Sing without being conscious of the camera.¡± ¡°Hey. How can I not be conscious when you¡¯re doing that?¡± ¡°What am I doing?¡± ¡­He said, lying on the floor with a camcorder. Rihyuk turned his head sharply, as if asking Woojoo to say something. ¡°Tell him to stop.¡± ¡°You do it.¡± ¡°He doesn¡¯t listen to me.¡± ¡°When did he ever listen?¡± Zap. ¡°Well, you know¡­ Jiho is the director now. His word isw on the set.¡± ¡°Ugh, I¡¯m boiling.¡± Rihyuk loosened his neck, as if trying to calm his anger. ¡°Five hundred won, five hundred won¡­¡± Woojoo also stretched out to relieve his fatigue, while the youngest, who was sitting on the floor, gave him a signal. When he put on the headphones and waited for the song to start. What was going on? Why wasn¡¯t it ying? As he leaned his head to the side from the recording microphone, he saw Junghyun munching on snacks across the ss window. Their eyes met. ¡°¡­¡± The guy who received Woojoo¡¯s fierce re chuckled and pressed a button. The MR started ying. The moment he heard that warm intro, he smiled unconsciously. It was the official sound source of ¡®Night Sea¡¯, which had changed surprisingly. Maybe it was because the experts arranged it and the engineers polished it with mixing and mastering, but it still felt like a treat for his ears even after listening to it hundreds of times. Soon, Rihyuk and Woojoo sang a duet. The project they were working on now was the so-called Night Sea MV shooting. It was only a practice video in reality, not a music video. You know what he meant. The one where idols sang with headphones in a booth in a ck and white video. That was the official music video of Night Sea, which would be released in two weeks. Thepany gave them a tripod and a camera and told them to just film it, but they decided to entrust it to their youngest. Woojoo also remembered how he criedst time, saying ¡®I don¡¯t have anything to do¡¯. It was also because he wanted to get some advice from him, who was burning with acting spirit these days. And Woojoo regretted it very much. How could he nag so much¡­ Earlier, Rihyuk almost sang Night Sea with anger without realizing it. Woojoo was the same. They sang a warm and fierce song as a duet. I¡¯ll soak you in the night sea, that kind of feeling. -Let¡¯s stop for a bit. Jiho lowered his head at them, who looked at him as if to say what now. ¡°It¡¯s not me.¡± Then Woojoo realized he heard a voice from the headphones. Bijoo was standing on the other side of the ss window. He had convenience store bags in both hands, swollen as if they were about to burst with snacks. He pointed at the clock with his mouth, saying something. 6 p.m. Woojoo remembered something he had forgotten for a moment because he was focused on the song. Oh. That. They took off their headphones and exchanged nervousughter. ¡°It¡¯s time for Around the World With Dice.¡± Sunday. Today was the day New ck appeared on TBC¡¯s gship variety show ¡®Around the World with a Dice¡¯. Chapter 95: Chapter 95: Trantor: MarcTempest Editor: Rxel Chapter 95 As Woojoo set up hisptop on the studio table, he texted his grandmother. Me [Grandma] Me [Do you know that I¡¯m on Around the World With Dice today?] Me [(Emoji)] As soon as he sent the emoji of a white rice cake saying ¡®I have something to tell you¡­¡¯ and tapping its fingers, he got a reply. KingGodKimDeoksoon [I turned it on]KingGodKimDeoksoon [But how long are you on for?] Me [About 5 minutes?] Me [More than 3-minute curry Kim haha] KingGodKimDeoksoon [Call me when you¡¯re on] KingGodKimDeoksoon [I have a lot of customers] Did she have a group of customers from the hiking club? Woojoo smiled happily as he imagined the bustling restaurant full of customers. Then, Bijoo handed him some snacks he bought from the convenience store. Their faces were full of excitement as they held the snack bags and drinks. ¡°Wow, when was thest time we watched a show together?¡± ¡°I know, right?¡± Junghyun said as he opened a non-alcoholic beer. ¡°It feels like ages ago since we watched Music Cafe. How long has it been? Three months? Four months? It¡¯s been a long time.¡± ¡°I can barely remember it.¡± ¡°What do you mean you can barely remember it?¡± Rihyuk scoffed. ¡°I still remember how you were covered in snot there.¡± ¡°I can do that too.¡± Junghyun imitated the youngest¡¯s sniffling expression and burst intoughter. Jiho pursed his lips. ¡°How is that the same?¡± ¡°¡­¡± There was a brief silence, and then they all looked at each other and said at the same time, ¡°It was exactly the same.¡± ¡°It was like a hundred percent sync.¡± They chuckled and toasted as they watched the youngest make a sour face. Then, he smirked as if he remembered something andughed wickedly. ¡°Rihyuk Hyung shouldn¡¯t beughing right now. Soon, your crazy basketball shot will be on the air.¡± ¡°Ah.¡± ¡°That¡¯s the face of someone who just remembered.¡± Their main vocal¡¯s ears started to turn red. Well. Woojoo had to admit that he looked funny back then. It wasn¡¯t just him. The other guys also turned their heads slightly and smiled. ¡°Ah, this is bad.¡± Rihyuk asked with a serious face, ¡°Do you think they¡¯ll show that?¡± ¡°Just think of it as sacrificing yourself for a bigugh. It¡¯s not a big deal. We won¡¯t tease you all day.¡± ¡°¡­You mean you¡¯ll tease me for half a day.¡± ¡°That¡¯s right.¡± Woojoo grinned and ate a snack. As the main vocal received aforting apple slice from their team¡¯s housewife, the logo of Around the World With Dice finally appeared on the TV. The opening showed the members movingically like a si family. Then, the endless sponsor messages followed. And they were not ordinary ads. The oldest member of Around the World With Dice, Woo Jaeyong, was tapping his back and saying ¡®Ayoo, I can¡¯t go on anymore!¡¯ Then, the other members said ¡®Teacher! We¡¯ll carry you!¡¯ and flew like bullets in a tel ad. Ye Heechan and Ye Heeyeon were bickering and then reconciled as they cooked ramen. And at the end, the siblings drank the soup at the same time and said ¡®Eww!¡¯ in a ramen CF. ¡°It feels different from Music Cafe,¡± Woojoo said as he licked his lips. ¡°Back then, it felt like we were on a popr music show. But this¡­ I don¡¯t know how to exin it.¡± ¡°I know, right. I¡¯m so nervous.¡± The youngest shivered and rubbed his palms. The others were the same. They looked like actors who were watching their own movie for the first time. Their hearts were pounding and they were nervous about how they woulde out. Woojoo also swallowed his dry saliva and asked, ¡°Did you guys tell your families?¡± ¡°I just got a text.¡± Bijoo showed him his phone. ¡°My sister sent me a message. She said she¡¯s watching us from a restaurant near our house. She even ordered some pork belly and sent me a proof shot.¡± Along with his cheerful younger brother Minjun, Bijoo¡¯s sister, mom, and dad were smiling widely and making V signs. They were the familiar faces they had met at the hospital earlier. But Woojoo noticed some changes. Minjun, who had been pale from his illness, looked healthier even though he was still thin. His parents, who had been shadowed by worry, had bright faces like the sunny sky. Especially their mom, who looked like a girl on a pic with her rosy cheeks. ¡°Mom must be really happy. She¡¯s even blushing.¡± ¡°That¡¯s because she had a drink of soju¡­¡± ¡°Oh.¡± They exchanged embarrassed smiles. ¡°You all look great.¡± ¡°This was the program Mom watched a lot when she was taking Minjun to the hospital. It was something sheughed at every Sunday.¡± ¡°It must mean a lot to her.¡± ¡°Mom and Dad were so excited. When I told them we were going on Around the World With Dice, they started calling all our rtives and stuff¡­¡± Appearing on Around the World With Dice was not just a meaningful thing for them. When their sons and daughters say ¡®Our album is selling well¡¯ or ¡®We have an event to go to¡¯, the parents didn¡¯t really know if that meant they were doing well or not. Even if they told them they were doing well, it was different from seeing them on TV. And when they found out that the TV program they were going on was Around the World With Dice, Woojoo couldn¡¯t imagine how they felt. Then, Junghyun suddenly showed Woojoo his phone. ¡°I got something from my dad too.¡± Woojoo thought it was a low-quality picture, but when Junghyun pressed a button, a video started ying. Amunity hall full of old and middle-aged people. -Come on, p~! Junghyun¡¯s dad shouted and a loud apuse followed. -Dear residents, today our Junghyun is on a very auspicious TV show! The residents pped their hands as he said TV! -Come on, let¡¯s do the wave~ Hooi~~ Why were they doing the wave? ¡°¡­What is this?¡± ¡°My dad sent it to me. He said they¡¯re going to watch and cheer together.¡± ¡°You did tell him we¡¯re only on for like five minutes, right?¡± ¡°I did, but he¡¯s like this,¡± Junghyun said with a sigh. ¡°I think he¡¯s just using this as an excuse to have a party with the vigers. They¡¯re probably going to ughter a cow, drink soju, and have fun.¡± ¡°Yeah. When else are they going to have fun? You did a good deed.¡± ¡°I¡¯m happy too.¡± Woojoo looked at him smiling contentedly and then turned his eyes to the youngest, who was busy moving his fingers. ¡°What are you doing?¡± ¡°I¡¯m chatting with my friends on the ss chat. They¡¯re all buzzing about us going on Around the World With Dice. Especially because of Gil Chaekyung.¡± ¡°Oh, same ss?¡± ¡°Yup. She kept promoting it like ¡®hehe, Jiho will also be there that day¡¯. It was such a contrasting atmosphere. Totally annoying.¡± As the interested Hyungs leaned in, Jiho showed them his phone. Gil Chaekyung [It¡¯s not just me who¡¯s appearing ?? Jiho is alsoing] Gil Chaekyung [I hope we all appear a lot ??] Gil Chaekyung [??? You guys are watching right now, right¡­? I¡¯ll be there soon and Jiho too!] ¡­She was really mean. Jiho made a sly expression and said, ¡°She¡¯s doing this because she has more seniority and she thinks she¡¯ll get more screen time. Ugh, so spiteful.¡± ¡°Just endure it. What can you do?¡± ¡°It wouldn¡¯t have happened if she didn¡¯t confess to you and call her ugly.¡± ¡°Wow. I have no one on my side.¡± ¡°Aww, we¡¯re on our maknae¡¯s side. Don¡¯t say such sad things.¡± ¡°I don¡¯t know. I feel really bitter.¡± Meanwhile, as Woojoo tried tofort the youngest, he remembered something he had forgotten until now. One person who kept silent during the family talk. It was Rihyuk. Woojoo heard it when heposed Night Sea. He didn¡¯t keep in touch with his family except his younger sister. ¡­Woojoo thought he made a mistake. He should have been more careful with the family talk. He unknowingly got nervous and forgot to say that. Only then did Bijoo seem to notice and looked restless. Woojoo felt like he had made a slip of the tongue and nced at him, but he met his eyes and smiled thinly. He said with a smile, ¡°Don¡¯t worry about it. Well, we have each other, right?¡± *** The broadcast finally started. It continued from thest episode, where they did a mission at the Gapyeong French Vige. They became street painters like in Europe and drew portraits for the visitors. The strange quality of the paintings, the shocked reactions of the applicants, and the conversations with the pedestrians were the fun points of today. At the end of the show, they gathered in one ce. -Well, then let¡¯s pick the next destination! They rolled a dice to decide where they would go next and the episode ended. Of course, that wasn¡¯t the end. A logo that said [2014 Chuseok Special] appeared and the screen changed. New ck swallowed their saliva as the introduction video flowed. The first team introduced their guests,edian Seo Jihyung and model, Han Sora. Seo Ji-Hyung, who was ridiculed for hisme jokes, and Han Sora, who showed off her elegant walking in front of the members, seemed to be the editing points. ¡­But something was strange. Maybe it was because they weren¡¯t professional broadcasters. The amount of footage seemed a bit small. Then the second team¡¯s guests appeared. The building of Hwai Entertainment showed up, and Girls on Top, who were checking their choreography in the practice room, greeted them hastily. -Oh, hello! They looked confused by the sudden intrusion, and the membersughed heartily. The promotion of Girls on Top¡¯s new song came out briefly, and then the mission proceeded with the nearby pedestrians. It was a pretty fun one. They had to raise the heart rate of the same-sex people with their words or actions. It looked fun at first nce. But it wasn¡¯t. Girls on Top were too reserved. They should have done it even if it meant ruining their image, but they were all sitting there acting cute, so it wasn¡¯t fun at all. Woojoo wished it would end soon, and it really did. ¡°¡­Huh?¡± ¡°Is that it?¡± ¡°Is this the end?¡± It cut off abruptly, as if to say they had shown enough. Their faces turned serious. ¡°This is bad. If Girls on Top were like this, what if we getpletely edited out?¡± ¡°Nah, that won¡¯t happen.¡± ¡°How much time is left for the broadcast?¡± Woojoo looked at the clock and said, ¡°There¡¯s still 15 minutes left?¡± ¡°What? This is weird. There¡¯s only us and rapper Heysion left in the introduction video.¡± ¡°Maybe they¡¯ll show something like a Chuseok Special preview at the end.¡± ¡°Hyung, how can they show a preview when we didn¡¯t record anything?¡± It was iprehensible. The previous ones were like that too. They could have shown more, but they ended abruptly. It felt like squeezing a rag with your hand once and putting it in the basket, instead of wringing it outpletely. Were they going to be on for two minutes and that was it? Woojoo was worried. Right now, not only Mrs. Kim Deoksoon, but also their siblings, families, and friends must be sitting in front of the TV. If they really got cut off in two minutes, there would be no shame like that. That was why they couldn¡¯tugh at the scene where the Ye siblings and rapper Heysion were dancing the bong dance. And then. ¡°Uh¡­ I think we¡¯reing out.¡± It was here. Rihyuk covered his eyes with sweet potato chips as if he couldn¡¯t bear to watch. Woojoo would have done the same if it weren¡¯t for shrimp crackers. Junghyun, who was pretending to be calm, was also crumpling the can. Finally, New ck appeared on the screen. ¡°We¡¯re on¡­!¡± But surprisingly, Woojoo felt calm. Maybe it was the same feeling of relief that he had when he faced the actual test paper after being nervous with the OMR sheet. And it wasn¡¯t as weird as he thought. It was clumsy and awkward, but they looked pretty good on the TV screen. Actually, there was something really weird. When the time to greet the members of Around the World With Dice and New ck in the auditorium was over, they looked at each other with wide-eyed faces. Even Junghyun had a flustered expression. ¡°Hyung.¡± Junghyun pointed at the clock at the bottom of theptop and said, ¡°¡­We spent two minutes just introducing ourselves.¡± *** As always, when a popr variety show was on air, variousmunities were full of people running Around the World With Dice¡¯s live broadcast. That was why a free board of onemunity was no different from a live chat. -The baby cried after seeing the picture ???? -Around the World With Dice Ye Heechan is crazy ??? -Around the World With Dice¡¯s chemistry today was amazing -It¡¯s like a show when the three of them are together -The French vige there must be crowded with people now, right? I nned with my wife¡­;; -Let¡¯s use some prefixes And then, the corner where the introduction video came out after the main broadcast. -Today¡¯s lineup is a bit weak -Seo Jihyung is really boring¡­ -Honestly, it¡¯s more of a problem that they keep epting him -Ah¡­ When will it end? -Wow, Han Sora is amazing. -Wow, modeling is not for everyone. -Looking at Han Sora¡¯s fashion show walk again.gif As thements flooded in, Girls on Top appeared. -Girls on Top are here. -Wow, Joo Hana is stunning. -Is that Joo Hana? The one with the dating rumor? -Today¡¯s mission is so fun. Since Girls on Top was a popr girl group, thements quickly piled up. But the admiration for their visuals was short-lived, and the atmosphere of anticipation turned into disappointment in an instant. -They¡¯re pretty, but not fun. -I¡¯m just satisfied with looking at their faces. -Didn¡¯t they say it¡¯s been a while since they did variety? They don¡¯t seem eager or anything. -What??? They¡¯re four years into their career. -Use quotation marks. -The old PD has lost his touch. Of course, the situation waspletely reversed by Heysion¡¯s appearance. The rapper with dreadlocks dancing with a stick on the street along with EDM music drew a bigugh. And the two members also joined the dance without holding back. -????????What is that? -They¡¯re all crazy?? -They got too rxed and exploded???? -Today¡¯s MVP is honestly Heysion¡­??? Meanwhile, in the midst of theughter-filled atmosphere, somements started to express doubts. -Today¡¯s episode feels strangely short, doesn¡¯t it? -It feels like it¡¯s ending too quickly. Is there something in the ending? -There must be more introduction videos left. -Aren¡¯t the remaining ones some unknown rookies? No one thought that they would spend all that time introducing New ck. That was why when New ck came out,ints erupted. -They spent three minutes introducing some nobodies¡­ Wow. -At this point, it¡¯s fair to say that Gu Jaeyong took some money. -What agency are they from?? -They¡¯re so boring for three minutes????? -Girls on Top must feel wronged for being called boring earlier. Anyone could see the difference in speed. While they quickly went through the other guests¡¯ segments, New ck¡¯s broadcast time was slow and steady, building up gradually. Anyone could see the special treatment. Some even cursed at the small-time kids who got so much airtime from Around the World With Dice. *** Fortunately, the atmosphere of rivalry disappeared as soon as the mission content was revealed. -Wow¡­ look at the difficulty level -They want them to do that??? That¡¯s almost a full-court shot -Full-court is an exaggeration, ??. The gym looks small to me -While reciting the Heart Sutra¡­?? -What, ??. If you seed, I¡¯ll buy you chicken -That¡¯s not that hard. I did it when I was in the basketball club;; A heated debate ensued about the sess rate. Some said it was possible, some said it was only possible for athletes, not for the skinny members they had, and a very few said there was a chance of sess. And by then, the viewers who had watched Around the World With Dice for a long time noticed something. -It seems like they put a lot of effort into the content, maybe they seeded? -This?? -If they seed, that would be amazing¡­?? -Gu Jaeyong only writes a lot when he gets hooked on something weird, otherwise he always writes nonsense A subtle anticipation mixed with the atmosphere as the New ck members started to challenge one by one. Starting from Ye Heeyeon who kicked the ball, to the rest of the New ck members. -Wow¡­??. That¡¯s almost a delivery cross -Ser yer ss is not going anywhere -But is New ck practicing a lot, ??. They are not just a concept, they can really dance -They all failed;; -Only one left, it seems Then, thest member came up. As the tense BGM yed, New ck¡¯s Woojoo held the ball. The camera captured his calm expression in a close-up. He then bounced the ball skillfully and gripped it firmly in his hand, then snapped it towards the sky. As the drum sound of the BGM stimted the tension like a heartbeat. Woojoo¡¯s shot waspletely out of the people¡¯s expectations. He didn¡¯t kick the ball like Ye Heeyeon, nor did he use one hand or two hands. He threw the ball like a baseball pitcher, stretching his right arm far back and putting his strength into it. A full shot was taken right away. As the ball drew a perfect parab, the bulletin board went into a temporary lull. The expressions of Around the World With Dice¡¯s siblings, New ck members, and the staff who were watching were captured in slow motion. Soon, they widened their eyes as if they saw something unbelievable. But it was hard to tell if their reaction was due to regret for missing the shot, or surprise for seeding. Another full shot. The ball flew along a beautiful trajectory andnded on the goal. It didn¡¯t bounce on the ring and go in, but it went in smoothly as if he had dunked it. Thud- The sound of the ball wrapping around the was caught on audio. Along with the exmation that the people on the scene unknowingly uttered, the screen showed arge ¡®!!!¡¯ caption. The team members on the scene ran to Woojoo right away. -Wow, ???? -It went in -Meanwhile, Ye Heeyeon¡¯s true gum smile, ?? -Where is the person who said he would buy chicken?? Did he delete hisment? -It was possible, huh? Theints about the content were gone long ago. Soon, on the TV screen, Woojoo, who had the golden key in his hand, was surrounded by the members and gave his closing remark. -Thank you. I¡¯ll do my best! He wiped the sweat on his forehead with his hand, looking very nervous. The TV viewersughed at his gesture. After the recording was over, the siblings approached Woojoo, saying, ¡®Hey, you sweated a lot.¡¯ ¡®I wanted to do well¡­¡¯ His voice was caught on the microphone. He licked his dry lips, thinking the shooting was over. His appearance, trying hard as a rookie, was edited warmly. Then, the preview for the next episode came out, but the viewers still had his image in their minds. The people who were watching the show on TV at home, on DMB on the subway and bus, and at the train station lounge, searched for the name New ck on their smartphones. As expected of the number one entertainment show with an average rating of 23 percent, the portal search rankings started to rise rapidly. Of course, there were people who were most happy about all this. Chapter 96: Chapter 96: Trantor: MarcTempest Editor: Rxel Chapter 96 A Korean restaurant in Gunsan. The ce was busier than usual, as the regr customers and the members of the hiking club who had just returned from Seonyudo Ind ovepped. It was so hectic that it took 30 minutes to serve each table a set of side dishes. Mrs. Kim Deoksoon wiped the sweat off her face with a tissue and sat down at a corner table. Around the World With Dice was on TV. They were drawing portraits of people in a ce that looked like Europe.She turned up the volume and heard the conversations of the customers. ¡°Where is that ce?¡± ¡°It¡¯s in Gapyeong. My daughter went there with her granddaughter the other day. The pictures looked amazing.¡± ¡°I see. It¡¯s far away.¡± ¡°I know. We can¡¯t go there.¡± ¡°Anyway, it must be crowded. Once they appear there, everyone will go there and it will be a mess.¡± Mrs. Kim Deoksoon nodded slightly. ¡®Is it a very popr show?¡¯ She didn¡¯t really know how great the show was. She only thought it was a sessful program because every Sunday, the customers would say, ¡®Please turn on TBC!¡¯ She preferred dramas over variety shows. She wouldn¡¯t have cared much if it wasn¡¯t for her grandson. -Grandma! I¡¯m going on TV, on TV. You know that program I told you I used to watch a lot in the army. Yeah. That one. It was a few weeks ago. He was so excited when he called her that she could picture his face jumping around. She couldn¡¯t help but smile inwardly at his expression. That was why she was worried. What if he didn¡¯t do well when he liked it so much? Well. He said he would only be on for five minutes today and the real thing would be on Chuseok. She was hoping he would do well when she saw the kitchen maid sitting across from her. She handed her a ss of cold water and said, ¡°Do you watch TV, Unnie? Oh, that one.¡± ¡°The one where Woojoo is going?¡± ¡°Yes.¡± ¡°Wow, that¡¯s amazing. He¡¯s on TV shows too.¡± ¡°Hey, but Sukja. Is this really famous?¡± She asked as if she heard all kinds of strange things. ¡°Don¡¯t you know, Unnie?¡± ¡°How would I know? I only watch dramas.¡± ¡°This is a big deal. My grandson doesn¡¯t like TV either. But he always watches that PBS thing on Saturdays and this one on Sundays. He says he can¡¯t talk to the kids at school if he doesn¡¯t watch it.¡± ¡°I guess it¡¯s really something.¡± She nodded indifferently as she watched the other person make a fuss. Then, she suddenly asked her something that came to her mind. ¡°By the way, you didn¡¯t tell anyone else, did you?¡± ¡°No, I didn¡¯t.¡± ¡°You shouldn¡¯t. You got that, right?¡± ¡°Of course I won¡¯t. You have no idea how much I suffered because of Unnie¡­¡± There weren¡¯t many people around who knew that her grandson was a celebrity. At most, there was Sukja, who helped out in the kitchen, and Mrs. Oh, who ran a rice cake shop next door. Mrs. Kim Deoksoon knew how to deal with fame well, thanks to her experience of having a nationally popr pianist as her son-inw. She was careful to behave modestly after she became known, and before that, she tried not to talk about it as much as possible. ¡®I had so many troubles because of that¡­¡¯ Fame was like a typhoon. The person in the middle of it might be calm, but the surroundings were swept away by the storm. That was the lesson she learned from living close to seventy years. As the day got brighter, the shadow got darker. Fame meant that something corresponding to it would follow. People around her would ask her for money, or ask them to sing a congrattory song at their son¡¯s or daughter¡¯s wedding, or thendlord would raise the rent after hearing the news. Of course, that was also a problem, but it was for the sake of her grandson. He had wanted to be an idol since he was young, but how could he do that if the olddy bbed about it to everyone and ruined his chances? That was why she kept quiet. When people asked her what her grandson was doing these days, she would just say ¡®studying, studying¡¯. ¡°Unnie.¡± ¡°What.¡± ¡°But until now, it was, well, you know. I could understand if it was a music show, but this is something that everyone will know once they go out. Just go to the next house and see. They must have it on. They¡¯ll look at it and say, ¡®Hey, isn¡¯t that Woojoo?¡¯ Right? Well, unless he changed his name to something like Kkng or Pororong.¡± ¡°Hey, don¡¯t talk nonsense. I¡¯m still not going to tell anyone.¡± ¡°Jeez, you¡¯re so stubborn. Anyway, Unnie shouldn¡¯t be so hard-headed either. You have to know yourself¡­ Know yourself.¡± The aunt in the kitchen cringed under the re of Mrs. Kim Deoksoon. While she was filling up the empty side dishes for the guests or cooking the added menu items, the main show of Around the World With Dice was over. Soon, the caption [2014 Chuseok Special] appeared and the topic of conversation changed. ¡°Hey, how does Seo Jihyung get on TV every time when he¡¯s not even funny?¡± ¡°He must have some connections.¡± ¡°He¡¯s close with Oh Hyungseok on Around the World With Dice. They¡¯reedy seniors and juniors, you know. They push and pull each other.¡± ¡°That industry is so dirty and cheap, right?¡± ¡°They all let their friends go out and do whatever they want.¡± The guests made loudments as eachedian, model, and girl group passed by. When a rapper with dreadlocks danced the bong dance, Mrs. Kim Deoksoon said, ¡®What a disgrace¡­¡¯ and everyone burst intoughter. She suddenly felt anxious. ¡®What if hee out like that¡­?¡¯ She hated the thought. She shivered as her grandson finally appeared on the screen. Mrs. Kim Deoksoon turned up the volume by two levels. She didn¡¯t want to hear thements that he was boring or that he looked fresh because he was young. But the guests¡¯ voices were still loud. ¡°Hey, what are they doing?¡± ¡°Rookie idol New ck¡­? I¡¯ve never heard of them before.¡± ¡°Before, at least I knew everyone except the rapper, but I don¡¯t think I¡¯ve ever seen those girl group members either. This is the first time I¡¯ve seen them.¡± ¡°I searched it up and they debuted two months ago.¡± ¡°Two months ago?¡± ¡°Ugh, why are theying out when they¡¯ve only debuted for two months?¡± ¡°That ce is like a m market. Seo Jihyung is like that, and they must have caught a good line too. Thepany is pushing them or something.¡± ¡°Hey, why are they wasting time introducing those kids like that?¡± And thest man who spoke raised his hand. ¡°Boss, can we have more seasoned crab?¡± ¡°Yes~¡± Mrs. Kim Deoksoon whispered to Sukja, who was about to get up, holding her arm. ¡°Just pick out the legs and give it to them.¡± It was a timid revenge. She couldn¡¯t stop her as she smiled and disappeared into the kitchen. Mrs. Kim Deoksoon turned up the volume by two more levels and focused on the broadcast. Her grandson was so pretty. How could he shine alone in that dark ce? She wasn¡¯t the only one who felt that way, as a cheerful-looking young man spoke. -Woojoo, your face is glowing by itself. -Oh, it¡¯s the sunlight. He moved over a seat and the light came in. ¡°¡­¡± As she coughed and drank some water, the PD gave a basketball to the New ck team, who had just finished their introduction, and exined the mission. The guests stuck out their tongues. ¡°You want them to do that?¡± ¡°Wow, how are they supposed to do that? Are they basketball yers or something?¡± ¡°Even the yers can¡¯t do that in one try.¡± ¡°That¡¯s too much for the rookies. The others at least got to do something funny.¡± ¡°Hey, that¡¯s not fair. It¡¯s all because of him, who is he? The handsome one who rolled the dice wrong. And this¡­ what¡¯s with this crab? Why does it have so many thorns?¡± The mission was so hard that people stuck out their tongues. The program member who almost seeded by kicking the ball with her foot was the closest to sess. Then the other members failed one by one, leaving only her grandson. ¡®Please give him something easy¡­¡¯ Mrs. Kim Deoksoon sighed deeply. The result was obvious without looking. She knew her grandson¡¯s athletic ability well. She didn¡¯t know about dancing, but whenever he went to the school sports day, the spectatorsughed loudly. How could he be so much like Myeongeun? When he yed ser, the ball went over the fence, and when he ran, he tripped over himself. Well. Whenever that happened, the kids who liked him thought he was cute, but from the grandmother¡¯s point of view, he was pitiful and sad. She drank some water out of frustration. ¡°Huh, what¡¯s that?¡± ¡°Is he good at basketball or something?¡± ¡°He¡¯s bouncing the ball like crazy.¡± She lifted her head at the conversation she didn¡¯t understand and saw something unbelievable on the TV screen. Woojoo was dribbling. That was a miracle to Mrs. Kim Deoksoon. Normally, when the ball bounced off the floor, he would scream, ¡®Ahh! Grandma, my nose!¡¯ But he was bouncing the ballfortably on the TV screen. What the hell. ¡®Did they say everything on TV is a show? Did he practice beforehand?¡¯ But then she shook her head. He wasn¡¯t the type to improve by practicing. But the one who was bouncing the ball in front of her eyes was definitely her grandson. And he was handling the ball like a pro. Her eyes widened. He wasn¡¯t like that¡­ As she thought that, she saw a picture-like sequence of moves. The guests who were moving their spoons busily in the restaurant now fixed their eyes on the screen with the tense background music. And then. A pleasant sound of the ball wrapping around the rang through the TV speaker. ¡°¡­Wow.¡± Someone eximed btedly, and people started to chatter right away. How did he do that? Did hee here as a basketball yer or something? Hey, that¡¯s why the show was long. What¡¯s their name? Hurry up and search it up and so on. They couldn¡¯t help but be surprised. They were watching some newbies on TV without much thought, when one of them made a shot that seemed impossible for any average basketball yer. He scored from one end of the court to the other in one go. It was a scene that was hard to believe for anyone who saw it. But no one in this ce was more shocked than the person who had raised that grandson for over 20 years. ¡°Unnie, what¡¯s going on?¡± ¡°I don¡¯t know¡­¡± Her head was nk, as if a typhoon had swept through it. He wasn¡¯t like that. The TV screen showed her grandson wiping his cold sweat. He looked confident, but he must have been trembling inside. Oh, my boy. She watched him with a proud heart. The broadcast ended soon after, but the people in the restaurant were still talking about him. ¡°I wondered why they wasted so much time, but it was worth it. Amazing, really. The people who filmed that must have never expected to get that much footage from him.¡± The ones who had been badmouthing her grandson earlier had now turned 180 degrees and were showing a friendly reaction. Mrs. Kim Deoksoon got up silently and went to the kitchen. ¡°What¡¯s this, boss?¡± ¡°¡­It¡¯s on the house.¡± She smiled brightly and gave them a te full of seasoned crab with meat. The regrs from the hiking club who had been chatting loudly about how the boss was in a good mood today told them to eat up quickly. The door of the shop opened with a bang. ¡°Unnie!¡± ¡°Boss!¡± Two owners of a snack bar and a barbecue ce nearby stuck their heads in. They looked very excited. ¡°Isn¡¯t that Woojoo? Woojoo!¡± ¡°No, why is he on TV? And as a singer¡­¡± At that, the other customers turned their eyes. The hiker who had said the boss was in a good mood earlier asked curiously, ¡°Is the one who was on TV someone you know, boss?¡± Mrs. Kim Deoksoon felt a nervous feeling as she met their gaze. She had no idea what was going on. She didn¡¯t know for sure, but the broadcast that her grandson was on seemed to be quite a famous show. *** A family who was having a meal at a barbecue ce stared nkly at the TV, and people at a rural vige hall were drinking happily. A member of a girl group threw her phone away in anger after looking at half of the group chat. There were also people who were happy to watch the broadcast. -Finally¡­ Finally people are starting to notice our kids -They¡¯re number one on the search engine!!! -Why am I so moved, seriously -Woojoo??????? New ck, who had only been known in the idol scene, had announced their name to the public for the first time. Some people might say that it was just 10 minutes, but those 10 minutes were Around the World With Dice¡¯s 10 minutes. The fans¡¯ hearts were bound to be different. Their favorite singer. He was charming, talented, and perfect, but no one knew him, so they always felt sorry for him. He showed his face on a popr variety show for the first time. And in an impressive scene. The fans who had been with them since their first album felt a surge of emotion when they saw ¡®New ck¡¯ on the real-time search rankings. Especially those who had been with them since Something. -Today I¡¯m going to eat chicken?? It was a festive atmosphere. *** It was the first time he had such a hectic day since his debut. [Real-time search rankings] 1st. New ck 2nd. Woojoo 3rd. Full Court Shot 4th. Around the World With Dice As soon as the broadcast ended, they made it to the real-time search rankings. They stayed there for an hour and then dropped off, but they were experiencing the power of broadcasting while looking at it. They had 10 minutes of airtime. It was more than twice as much as the others, but they didn¡¯t know that those 10 minutes would attract people¡¯s attention. This was why every agency crawled up to the variety show PDs and begged them to get on the air. To soar to the top of the real-time search rankings with just a brief appearance on a famous variety show¡­ Of course, it wasn¡¯t just because they showed up. It was because Woojoo did something amazing like a master who appeared on a show. And the editing. What ended with a ¡®wow¡¯ on the spot turned into a ¡®wow¡¯ after the editing. It was a bit embarrassing. Woojoo thought for 10 seconds and did it, but the slow motion and people¡¯s reactions. And they cut out the scene where he was practicing beforehand for a dramatic effect, so it looked like he did it without any hesitation. He felt a bit of goosebumps watching it, but fortunately the response was very good. -Who is ¡®New ck¡¯, the rookie group that Around the World With Dice appeared on¡­? -Member Woojoo, former Muka¡¯s ¡®My father is Seon Myungjoo¡¯ remark revisited -New ck¡­ The trendy rookie group after ¡®Something¡¯ and ¡®Fireworks¡¯ Woojoo didn¡¯t know when they became a trendy rookie group, but there was an article with that headline. Just a while ago, the entertainment reporters were subtly dissing them, but now they were like ¡®New ck? You know who they are, right?¡¯ and sneakily joining the bandwagon. Theyughed so much as theypared the names of the reporters. And on the portal main, there was a clip of them from yesterday, edited as a highlight. -Wow¡­ ???? It¡¯s amazing even if I watch it again -It looks like a setup -Setup -Where are the people who said they got casted with money???? The most fortunate thing was that the hatements had almost disappeared after New ck announced their casting news. There were still some, but the extreme viewers seemed to have decided to wait and see for now. -Well¡­ I guess we¡¯ll have to see the special episode, but they seemed to work hard. They were much better than Girls on Top, who are also idols. -They just act pretty¡­ ?? Why did they evene out? Those were thements that would make Girls on Top and Hwai Entertainment explode. -They seem decent. The PD must have had a reason to cast them. Good luck. -Let¡¯s see if they be good or bad. -I saw them yesterday and they had good chemistry with Heechan and Heeyeon ??. Those were thements that were more or less positive. Their goal was to introduce themselves with a non-negative image, and it seemed like they achieved more than Woojoo expected. ¡°What are you looking at?¡± ¡°Our article.¡± ¡°Your face is going to get sucked into the smartphone, dummy.¡± Woojoo smiled and put away his smartphone at Seokhwan Hyung¡¯s teasing. They were on their way to a cafe that was a bit far from thepany. They moved to the third floor right away. There was a camera set up in the quiet cafe in the morning. Woojoo greeted the man who looked like the assistant director and the woman who looked like the writer. Among them, there was a familiar face with dark circles under her eyes. She was the youngest writer, Jung Woojoong, whom he had met once before. ¡°Hello. I¡¯m Seon Woojoo.¡± Woojoo sat down and smiled at the camera that was adjusting the angle. It was the day after Around the World With Dice aired. Today¡¯s schedule was a documentary shooting. Chapter 97: Chapter 97: Trantor: MarcTempest Editor: Rxel Chapter 97 The interview ce was a Nordic-style cafe located on Garosu-gil. It was a quiet weekday morning inside. Seokhwan Hyung and Woojoo sat across from three men and women, sipping their drinks. They were the production team of the PBS 50th anniversary special documentary. ¡­or so they said, handing them their business cards. They were inhaling the desserts and coffee they bought for them.They all had dark circles under their eyes and looked like miners with pickaxes, digging into the chocte cake with their spoons. They seemed to be eating for survival. Seokhwan Hyung spoke with pity. ¡°Take your time. We still have plenty of time for the interview.¡± ¡°Ah, yes. Thank you.¡± The assistant director wiped his mouth with a tissue. ¡°We stayed up all night preparing for the shooting, and we haven¡¯t eaten anything yet. This is our first meal of the day¡­ We¡¯re a bit pathetic, aren¡¯t we?¡± ¡°We were so hungry, really,¡± the two writers also said with gloomy faces. While Seokhwan Hyung went down to buy more, Woojoo chatted with the production team. In the process, he learned several facts. They were under subtle pressure from the higher-ups because of thememorative special of the 50th anniversary documentary. That was why Woojoo, a controversial figure, would be featured prominently. They asked Woojoo to cooperate with them in various ways. That might be the reason why he heard polite words from the broadcasting staff for the first time since his debut. Writer Jung Woojoong said, ¡°First, we¡¯ll shoot the interview at the cafe. This will be the main part, so just answer the given questionsfortably. Don¡¯t be conscious of the camera¡­ Oh, I don¡¯t need to exin this to you.¡± ¡°Yes, I¡¯m confident about not being conscious of the camera.¡± Woojoo nodded his head and the writersughed for some reason. ¡°After that, we¡¯ll go to thepany and film the practice scenes. This part has been discussed with our PD, right?¡± ¡°Yes, the members are waiting right now,¡± Seokhwan Hyung answered. As he said, the kids were waiting for Woojoo¡¯s contact at thepany. Woojoo smiled unconsciously, remembering the kids who came out to see him off before he left. While the equipment was being set up, he picked up his phone to turn it off. Bijoo [Hyung. Come back well!] Bijoo [?] Junghyun [Fighting] Junghyun [Fi] Jiho [Re] Junghyun [Ting] Bijoo [Ting!] Junghyun [Zzizzibong Kim Bijoo] Jiho [Bijoo Hyung won] Bijoo [What do I have to do?] Rihyuk [Don¡¯t do anything, Hyung.] Rihyuk [No. Why are you guys talking on the chat when you¡¯re right next to each other?] Jiho [?? This way, Woojoo Hyung won¡¯t feel left out~~] Jiho [Love you, old man. Love] A peach emoji with a cane and a groaning sound popped up. This was real. Rihyuk [There¡¯s no one normal in this group] Jiho [You] Rihyuk [Shut up] Bijoo [Rihyuk, be nice] Junghyun [(Picture)] Woojoo opened the notification that said ¡°picture¡± and saw Junghyun making a V sign with his fingers, while their energetic brothers were moving around in the background. Bijoo came out like a housekeeper who didn¡¯t know what to do after seeing the cats fighting. Jiho [Huh? 1 is gone] Jiho [Are you reading¡­!] Woojoo smiled as he saw the noisy messages popping up and sent a short reply. Woojoo [thank you] Woojoo [will do well ande back] Rihyuk [Don¡¯t act like we¡¯re saying goodbye when we¡¯ll see each otherter] Woojoo [flip him off] Rihyuk [????] Rihyuk [This is my victory] Jiho [You¡¯re shaking with your phone in your hand] Woojoo [??] Woojoo sent that message and turned off the power. Thanks to his siblings, his nervousness had calmed down. After everything was ready, the assistant director said to Woojoo, ¡°Look this way for a moment, please.¡± ¡°Yes.¡± ¡°Okay, perfect. Are you ready?¡± ¡°Yes, I am.¡± The red light on the camera came on right away. Woojoo remembered the time when he had an interview with KTN after the college entrance exam. He was so nervous then. Of course, a lot of things were different from then. The interviewer changed from a reporter to a documentary producer, the outfit changed from a padded jacket to a short-sleeved T-shirt, and the job changed from a student to a singer. And the biggest difference was him. At that time, Woojoo was frozen by the fact that he was talking to a reporter and couldn''t speak properly, but now he was much better. A natural and confident tone of voice. Woojoo got used to being in front of the camera often. Now he knew what to say and what not to say, and what to say to avoid being edited out on the broadcast. "Before I ask you a question, can I show you the video from that time again?" "Yes, that''s fine." The writer turned on the video app on his smartphone. The CCTV footage of the identst November was yed. A car was speeding down a hill in the distance, and an old man was standing by his rear car below. The viewers might feel anxious seeing him calmly making a phone call. Then, a young man who was approaching the school gate turned his body without hesitation and ran like crazy. He pushed the old man aside and saved him. That was the end of the video. ¡°What were you thinking when you jumped in at that time?¡± ¡°Um¡­¡± Woojoo practiced some expected questions and answers with Seokhwan Hyung, and he decided to answer honestly. ¡°I¡¯m embarrassed to say this, but I didn¡¯t have any thoughts when I jumped in. There was no time for that. The car wasing and the grandfather didn¡¯t know¡­¡± Woojoo moved without knowing. ¡°It felt like my body moved on its own rather than having any intention.¡± ¡°On its own?¡± ¡°Yes, rather than thinking that I had to save him, I didn¡¯t have any thoughts because someone was in danger right away. It was unconscious, I think. Like when you reach out and catch someone who is about to trip on the stairs without realizing it.¡± When a baby ying on the table was about to fall to the floor, people reached out to catch the baby without knowing. His action was the same. It was more of an instinct than a sense of duty to save that person. That was why he sometimes felt embarrassed by the word hero. Other heroes might have moved with a noble mind, but he just moved unconsciously. He had that thought, but the reaction was strange. The production team nodded at each other. They looked like judges who heard the answer they wanted from the applicant in an interview. It felt like he had to ask, ¡®Did I pass then?¡¯ The writer asked Woojoo another question. ¡°Then, if something like this happens again, will you do the same thing?¡± ¡°Um¡­ I don¡¯t know.¡± Woojoo gave a wry smile. ¡°I think in my head that I should do it, but I can¡¯t guarantee that I¡¯ll do it again. There are too many variables. If I had enough time to make a decision, I might not have had the courage.¡± If they gave him five minutes and asked him to jump in or not, he didn¡¯t know what decision he would have made. Would he have chosen to jump at the risk of his life? ¡°But if I had to act with only one second left like then, I think I would have done the same thing.¡± Then, the production team looked at each other again. What was that? Woojoo couldn¡¯t figure it out. *** They finished the interview at the cafe and got in their cars. ¡°Did I do well?¡± ¡°You did well. Your interview attitude was good, and there was nothing to criticize.¡± ¡°But I think I did well, too.¡± ¡°Then why are you asking, dummy?¡± Seokhwan Hyung, who was holding the steering wheel,ughed as if he couldn¡¯t believe it. ¡°What¡¯s the problem? You did well.¡± ¡°Every time I said something, the writer and the PD kept exchanging nces. So I wondered if I said something wrong.¡± ¡°Oh¡­ I heard them talking when we left. They said ¡®We found the right one¡¯. I don¡¯t know what they were looking for, but yourments must have been exactly what they wanted.¡± ¡°Then I¡¯m relieved.¡± ¡°Well, if I have to be more specific¡­¡± The manager gave him some minor feedback on his eye contact and interview skills. Woojoo memorized them in his head and looked at the time on the navigation. Five minutes until arrival. It was just the right time. Maybe it was a good opportunity to say what he wanted to say for thest few days. ¡°By the way, Hyung. I have something to tell you.¡± ¡°What is it?¡± ¡°Well¡­¡± Woojoo hesitated for a moment and then opened his lips. ¡°I wanted to thank you, Hyung.¡± ¡°Suddenly?¡± ¡°Yeah.¡± ¡°That¡¯s out of the blue. Turn on the blinker at least, jerk.¡± ¡°Hyung, be careful. If Junghyun heard that, he might have really jumped over to the driver¡¯s seat and turned on the blinker for you.¡± It was a ridiculous joke, but they bothughed. Afterughing for a while, Seokhwan Hyung nced at Woojoo and asked, ¡°So¡­ what are you thanking me for all of a sudden?¡± ¡°Well, this whole schedule. You arranged it for me, right?¡± Woojoo stammered. ¡°Junghyun did a big favor, but actually, you chased after the PD for a month and pitched us to him. It¡¯s thanks to you that we¡¯re getting this kind of response now.¡± ¡°I¡¯m grateful that you think that way.¡± ¡°Well, that¡¯s part of it.¡± It was because of the interview earlier. ¡°When they interviewed me about the college entrance exam, I remembered how you called mest year and asked me to join Lemon. I wondered if I could have been here as New ck without you. You know, this and that¡­¡± Woojoo scratched his cheek in embarrassment. ¡°I just wanted to say thank you.¡± ¡°¡­Hmm.¡± A very awkward silence followed. Maybe he should have written a letter instead. But he couldn¡¯t write a cheesy letter like ¡®Hyung, I¡¯m so happy to see you¡­¡¯. So he thought he¡¯d use this time when they were alone. But somehow it was awkward. Woojoo thought he got his sincerity, but the atmosphere was tense. Seokhwan Hyung adjusted his sses and tapped the steering wheel with his palm, not knowing what to do with his hands. Woojoo looked out the window, hopelessly searching for a distant mountain somewhere. The navigation alert saved them. [You have arrived at your destination.] As if nothing had happened, Seokhwan Hyung told him to get ready for the kids. Then he seemed to remember something and said, ¡°Oh, by the way, you guys have a door lock, right?¡± ¡°Yeah, why?¡± ¡°I think it¡¯s a bit broken, so I¡¯m going to rece it today.¡± ¡°Broken?¡± ¡°I tried to get it fixed, but the technician said it was unusable.¡± ¡°¡­Really?¡± ¡°Yeah, and he said it looked like you guys used it roughly. Did you guys keep opening and closing it up and down?¡± ¡°No, we don¡¯t use it much.¡± What a weird thing. Woojoo thought as he got out of the car. *** When he went down to the basement practice room, the brothers were gathered in one ce. They were in a cheerful mood when he talked to them earlier, but now they looked serious. Woojoo was curious and stuck his head in. ¡°What are you doing?¡± The meerkats looked up at the same time. ¡°Did youe?¡± ¡°Hyung, did you do well?¡± The youngest clung to him. ¡°Did you talk about me too?¡± ¡°Why would I talk about you there?¡± ¡°Because I¡¯m your most precious brother¡­?¡± ¡°Wrong. The person I cherish the most among our members is¡­¡­.¡± Their heads turned at the same time. ¡°¡­¡­None. None of you.¡± They reacted with disappointment. Actually, Woojoo was joking, but their expressions were so serious that he missed the timing. ¡°I brought you something to drink.¡± Woojoo gave them the coffee in the box and answered roughly how he felt about the interview. Then he pointed to theptop and asked, ¡°What were you doing?¡± ¡°Oh, we were looking at the article that came up on the portal main,¡± Bijoo said. ¡°There¡¯s an article about us, and we were liking and disliking thements there.¡± Junghyun turned theptop screen to show Woojoo. There were likes onments like ¡®New ck is the best!!¡¯ and dislikes onments like ¡®Wow, who are these guys? What is this crap¡­ ??. Woojoo wanted to dislike it too, but he heard that if they clicked it again, it would be canceled, so he clicked it twice. ¡°So what was so serious?¡± ¡°Well, nothing much,¡± Rihyuk said. ¡°There was onement that we couldn¡¯t tell if it was a hatement or a fanment.¡± ¡°What is it?¡± ¡°Listen to this. ¡®?, you¡¯re famous for your red face.¡¯¡± ¡°Hmm, it¡¯s kind of ambiguous. It sounds like apliment, but also a subtle insult. But it doesn¡¯t make me feel bad either.¡± ¡°Right?¡± Bijoo said. ¡°That¡¯s why I was unsure.¡± ¡°I know. It¡¯s like when I dissed Rihyuk by saying ¡®You have a bad personality, but a pretty face.¡¯ He liked it.¡± ¡°Why are you picking on me? Where is my personality bad?¡± ¡°¡­¡± ¡°Hey, answer me.¡± As the discussion went on, Bijoo suggested. ¡°How about we vote by pressing like if we agree?¡± ¡°Bijoo, that¡¯s how they vote in North Korea.¡± ¡°Oops¡­¡± ¡°As expected, you¡¯re amunist, Hyung. You always like doing things together.¡± Everyoneughed at Rihyuk¡¯s remark. In the end, they decided to vote 3 to 2 on whether it was a good or a badment. They each logged in and made 3 likes and 2 dislikes. ¡°Okay, let¡¯s move on to the work talk.¡± Woojoo pped his hands and drew the attention of his siblings. ¡°The documentary production team ising to film us. They added one more team because of the equipment issue.¡± As he ryed what the manager had told him, Seokhwan brought the documentary crew down. They briefly made eye contact and then looked away awkwardly. Damn. Why did he say that cheesy thing? ¡°Hello, we¡¯re New ck!¡± The writers were amazed by their kids, just like they were at the cafe. They seemed surprised. Jung Woojoong stuttered. ¡°¡­You all look much better in person.¡± Thank you, they said, making themugh. It felt like they were healing from being hit here and there by his kids. The assistant director exined to them. ¡°We¡¯re going to take a few shots, nothing difficult. Just act naturally.¡± Naturally. They remembered that word and looked at each other. Just do what they usually do. *** The PBS documentary crew set up cameras in the practice room. They were trying to capture a glimpse of how the person who was a hero back then was living now. As everyone started stretching their bodies, the assistant director asked Jiho, who was loosening up nearby, ¡°I have a question. How much do you practice when you¡¯re active?¡± Jiho lifted his leg 180 degrees like a Shaolin martial artist and said, ¡°Well, it depends.¡± The production team was momentarily startled by the sight. They felt like they would scream if they were in that position, but the other person had a very calm face. ¡°Are you not tired?¡± ¡°Not really. I do this every day. Oh, do you see Bijoo Hyung over there?¡± He pointed to a member who looked like a handsome young boy from a distance. Bijoo was stretching his body like a nocturnal animal. ¡°Bijoo Hyung can sleep even with a torn leg.¡± ¡°¡­Oh, I see.¡± ¡°By the way, you asked me about the practice time earlier. When we¡¯re on music shows, we don¡¯t have much time, so we do it from eight to ten. When we¡¯re preparing for activities, we do it from seven to ten.¡± ¡°Oh, that¡¯s less than I thought.¡± ¡°I don¡¯t know. I think it¡¯s enough for me. But Bijoo Hyung and Woojoo Hyung always say we need to do more.¡± He covered his mouth with his hand and whispered, ¡°They nag a lot.¡± The production team had to hold back theirughter at that. The shooting started soon. A refreshing melody filled their ears. The title was something like Flower y, and it sounded nice. But as soon as the practice started, they were confused. They danced sharply to the song, but the kids who wereughing and cheering a while ago were now full of fierceness in their eyes. They practiced very fiercely, if that was the right word. The shooting intention was ¡®a leisurely daily life of idols~¡¯, but what was captured on the screen was ¡®we¡¯re going to make it, we¡¯ll definitely make it!¡¯ burning idols. They wanted to stop and start over, but the atmosphere was too serious to interrupt. ¡°Do rookie idols usually practice like this?¡± ¡°It seems a bit scary.¡± ¡°Maybe it¡¯s because they have little practice time. They try to do it hard and fast.¡± They were all ignorant of idols, but they knew that this was not normal hard work. But the more they watched, the stranger it seemed. Could they do those moves easily with just a few hours of practice a day? The choreography looked difficult at a nce. When the song ended and the New ck members were soaked in sweat, they asked the youngest again out of curiosity, ¡°Hey, didn¡¯t you say you practice for a few hours a day?¡± ¡°Me? Yes?¡± ¡°Yeah. You said from seven to ten.¡± ¡°Oh. That¡¯s the preparation period.¡± Wang Jiho tilted his head. ¡°I was talking about seven in the morning.¡± ¡°¡­¡± The production team blinked their eyes for a moment. Chapter 98: Chapter 98: Trantor: MarcTempest Editor: Rxel Chapter 98 ¡°Can you make it easier?¡± ¡°Yes, I would like you to go in with less force than now. It¡¯s a scene where you insert it gently¡­¡± The production staff who were watching the practice scene made that request. They seemed to think it was too much. Woojoo was flustered. They did it as usual because they told him to do it naturally.But he said he understood anyway. He didn¡¯t have a good sense of what it meant to reduce the force. ¡°But¡­¡± The assistant director asked, ¡°Do you always practice like this?¡± ¡°Yes. I did it as I always do because they told me to do it naturally.¡± ¡°¡­You¡¯re working really hard. It reminds me of the time when I filmed the breakdance crew practice scene.¡± He stuck out his tongue and Woojoo smiled and said, ¡°Maybe the rookie idols are all simr to us.¡± The time when idols could practice the most was usually when they were rookies. They also had rtively few schedules, and a lot of desperation to make it. They weren¡¯t special. Even the stories Woojoo heard from the seniors who debuted at TJ were that they practiced for twelve hours a day as a basic. The production staff looked surprised by that exnation. They all debuted like this¡­ Woojoo smiled awkwardly and went back to his siblings. ¡°What did they say?¡± Rihyuk asked him. ¡°Do they want us to work harder?¡± ¡°No, they want us to reduce the force.¡± ¡°Force?¡± Junghyun blinked and asked, ¡°How do you reduce the force¡­ Like this?¡± ¡°Hey, that¡¯s too much. Junghyun.¡± Theyughed at him who was iling his arms and legs like a squid. On the other hand, they were confused by the request to reduce the force, but they soon delivered the scene that the production staff wanted. They liked it as soon as we did it casually. They moved to another ce with the production staff who were satisfied with getting what they wanted. It was time to record. They decided to shoot a few cuts in the second floor studio because of the story that went back and forth between theirpany and PBS. Woojoo didn¡¯t know what kind of deal there was, but as a result, their song was briefly yed on the PBS documentary. It was the official sound source of Night Sea, which was about tounch soon. Maybe in the documentary, they would say ¡®Doing singer activities¡¯ and pass by with a cut of the melody and lyrics. As Rihyuk and Woojoo were fighting to clear their throats in front of the promotional opportunity, the rest of them moved to another ce. ¡°Where are you going?¡± Bijoo answered as if he didn¡¯t understand. ¡°We¡¯re also doing an interview for the documentary.¡± ¡°Interview?¡± ¡°They said they would ask about what kind of person you are normally.¡± ¡°Oh¡­¡± Rihyuk said with a regretful tone at my reaction, ¡°It¡¯s such a shame. If it wasn¡¯t for the recording, I would have gone in and talked a lot.¡± ¡°No, you have to go with me.¡± Woojoo said to the two idiots who were giggling behind Bijoo, ¡°I¡¯m not worried about our second, but you two have to talk well when you go in. Don¡¯t say anything weird.¡± ¡°Don¡¯t worry, Hyung. I¡¯ll talk well.¡± ¡°Yeah. I¡¯ll tell them how great you are in detail.¡± ¡°¡­I¡¯m feeling uneasy.¡± Woojoo made an anxious expression as he looked at their cheerful faces. Oh dear. Those guys. When were they going to grow up? ¡°I¡¯ll keep an eye on them.¡± ¡°Right, Bijoo. You¡¯re the only one I can trust.¡± ¡°But Hyung, how much do we have to tell them? If they ask about your daily life and stuff¡­¡± ¡°Just be honest. Tell them what you felt.¡± ¡°Then can I say that you whine in the living room on your days off, or that you don¡¯t fold yourundry and leave it to me and Rihyuk¡­¡± ¡°Bi, Bijoo.¡± ¡°Yes.¡± ¡°I¡¯m sorry.¡± Woojoo apologized with a pitiful face, and the members burst intoughter. ¡°Good luck.¡± Woojoo waved to them as they left, saying that. They looked like they were telling him to look forward to it, and he couldn¡¯t help but smile. *** 2nd floor studio. The production team marveled at the modern interior. They were probably shocked by the pink sofa and the leopard-print cushion they saw in one of the rooms they passed by, but objectively speaking, it was well decorated. A cozy feeling. They heard that one of the members had a lot of interest in this ce and decorated it. The photos on the wall were also hung by the members. They were photos of the members wearing school uniforms and posing with flowers in the school garden. They had a family photo-like vibe, and the production team smiled. Meanwhile, they had something else they were interested in. ¡°Do all idols have studios these days?¡± ¡°I know, right? It¡¯s amazing.¡± ¡°Oh, our members are an exceptional case.¡± Yoon Seokhwan, the manager, answered. ¡°Woojoo has a talent forposing. This room was made for him to workfortably.¡± ¡°Composing?¡± The production team was amazed by their response. They didn¡¯t know much about idol activities since they had done research mainly on the characters. ¡°Oh, I know that.¡± Only Jung Woojoong answered. ¡°I looked it up and it said that Woojooposed Something, the song they sang with Jang Sowon.¡± ¡°Yes, he coposed it.¡± Manager Yoon Seokhwan answered. His voice was proud. ¡°He also made our debut title song.¡± ¡°You seem very proud of him.¡± ¡°¡­Did I show it too much?¡± The manager smiled sheepishly and scratched his cheek. ¡°The song you¡¯re going to hear now was alsoposed by Woojoo alone. Of course, with the help of our A&R team¡­¡± ¡°Oh, this is it. The song that the PD mentioned.¡± ¡°Yes, so please film it well.¡± They nodded casually. They had heard about theposition, but they weren¡¯t particrly interested. He was a talented guy, but the song that New ckposed was not their concern. They were filming it just because the main PD told them to. Soon, a staff member from the A&R team came down and sat at the studio table. The song was already recorded, but he was hired to make it look usible for the broadcast. He pressed the talkback button and spoke to the idol members inside. ¡°Let¡¯s start.¡± The documentary team also started filming. The [REC] screen with a blinking red light showed the two members wearing headphones. The documentary team watched them with ordinary eyes. It was a scene they were used to seeing at the culture station. The scene they saw every time a voice actor did the narration for the recorded footage. That was why they were watching it with a casual eye. ¡°¡­?¡± A rich volume filled their ears through the high-end speakers. A sophisticated intro. They didn¡¯t know if it was because of the high volume, but they made a small exmation with their lips as soon as they heard it. It felt like the notesing out of the speakers were flowing into their ears. ¡®¡­It¡¯s good.¡¯ They thought it would be an idol song, but what came out was a soft melody. It was a song that suited the summer night. A song that would make you fall into the mood when you walked alone in a dark park. And when that intro ended. They blinked their eyes at the voice of the vocal that followed. Seo Rihyuk¡¯s voice spread like paint in all directions. ¡®He¡¯s good.¡¯ They thought that idols these days were not just anyone, and stuck out their tongues, when Woojoo¡¯s voice joined him. The two vocals became one and tickled their ears. ¡®¡­It¡¯s nice.¡¯ The song was good in itself, regardless of the singer¡¯s skill. Even someone with a bad ear could tell its value, they supposed. That was why they felt a subtle thrill. It was like being an audience at a preview of a movie that was about to hit big. ¡°Manager, this is going to be released soon, right?¡± ¡°Yes, it was originally a demo song made by Woojoo, but we¡¯re nning to re-release it as a polished song from ourpany. We¡¯ve also prepared a promotion n.¡± ¡°By the way, the title is¡­?¡± ¡°Oh. It¡¯s Night Sea.¡± Manager Yoon Seokhwan smiled. He seemed to empathize with what the production team was thinking and asked again, ¡°The song turned out well, didn¡¯t it?¡± The three of them nodded silently. *** Meanwhile, while Woojoo and Rihyuk were singing Night Sea as a duet, the other members were called to thepany¡¯s conference room. It was because of an interview about Woojoo. ¡°What kind of person is Woojoo, or rather, Seon Woojoo?¡± The three members showed different reactions to that question. Bijoo asked for some time to think, Junghyun answered without hesitation, and Jinho quickly looked for the best angle and replied. Their answers were as varied as their reactions. But in the end, they all came to the same conclusion. The production team wondered if they had coordinated their answers beforehand. ¡°Woojoo?¡± Andstly, Rihyuk also answered after a brief thought. He also gave the same answer as the other members. *** As the recording of Around the World With Dice¡¯s Chuseok Special was getting closer, they were busier than ever with their schedules. And they experienced different reactions than usual. ¡°Uh, you¡­ you¡­ Around the World With Dice! Right?¡± ¡°Wow, you look so different from TV.¡± ¡°Can I have your autograph?¡± There were more people who recognized them at rest stops or on the streets. And they were not idol fans. It was strange that when they were one or two apart, they would pass by and tilt their heads. But when they were together, there were one or two people who recognized them. It was amazing. From the time they were doing Something to now, there were hardly any non-idol fans who recognized them. The power of entertainment was great. People who were not interested in idols recognized them. Of course, most of those few people didn¡¯t know their names and said things like ¡°Oh! That, Around the World With Dice!¡±, ¡°Uh¡­ that basketball!¡± There were a few moments when Woojoo felt like he had to say ¡°Hello, we are the rookie boy group Around the World With Dice¡±. On the other hand, there was no big change in the fandom, apart from the public recognition. The number of fan cafe members was the same, and their Souffl¨¦ were excited about Around the World With Dice¡¯s Chuseok Special or the reality show spoilers, showing normal reactions. Woojoo realized something from this opportunity. Entertainment shows were the best for raising public awareness, but activities rted to their fans were still their main job. And their main job that they had been working hard ontely was promoting their music. -[Entertainment IN] New ck interview ¡°Surprised and grateful for the attention from the show¡­¡± -New ck releases MV teaser before officialunch of ¡®Night Sea¡¯ -[Exclusive] How did a fandom name be a Souffl¨¦? Hundreds of articles popped up everywhere after thepany released the promotional materials, mostly ttering ones from major media outlets. The official music of Night Sea. They initially nned to just do a simple promotion and end it, but they heard that the Management Department changed the strategy after we appeared on Around the World With Dice. They said let¡¯s stir the water while it¡¯s flowing. So they did everything they could. They did interviews with reporters who were friendly to them, including Mr. Oh from Entertainment IN, and went on various radio shows to promote. Unfortunately, there was no entertainment show. They got offers from various ces, but they couldn¡¯t do them because of Around the World With Dice¡¯s side. They said they had some materials that they promised to use for the special, and it would be a problem if they used them first on other shows. Anyway, after finishing all these promotions, they were now in a car heading back to Seoul, looking at a tablet PC. ¡°Wow, I¡¯m nervous. Nervous.¡± The youngest one made a fuss. ¡°Why am I so nervous when I didn¡¯t even sing? Why? Why? Hyung? Why am I nervous?¡± ¡°Because you¡¯re blocking all the air conditioner wind for us?¡± ¡°¡­Hey, you¡¯re quick with your wit.¡± Jiho moved his seat slightly, and the vent that had been blocked until then gave them a cool breeze. Bijoo adjusted the vent so that the wind woulde evenly to everyone. ¡°I¡¯m nervous too. Hyung. We all went to promote together this time.¡± ¡°Right,¡± Junghyun said, shaking his jelly, ¡°I¡¯m nervous too.¡± ¡°Don¡¯t lie.¡± ¡°I¡¯m actually not nervous, but I felt like I had to say that.¡± Woojooughed at the guy who spoke calmly. And their main vocal who hadn¡¯t said anything until now was constantly refreshing the tablet PC screen. ¡°Get a grip, Rihyuk. Just hold on a little longer.¡± ¡°He¡¯s anxious, that¡¯s why.¡± He then asked Seokhwan Hyung, who was sitting in the passenger seat, ¡°Manager, when will our MV be released?¡± ¡°Wait and see. It¡¯ll be up 10 minutes before the hour.¡± ¡°Yeah, wait and see. I¡¯m waiting calmly too¡­¡± ¡°How are you calm? I heard you talking in your sleepst night. You said¡­!¡± Woojoo covered Rihyuk¡¯s mouth with his hand. He tried to bite him like a crocodile, and Woojoo struggled with his mouth. The younger onesughed at them. Bijoo mediated between them, and Junghyun asked something as if he remembered. ¡°Ah, right. What did Grandma say? Does she know that we¡¯re officially debuting with Night Sea today?¡± ¡°No, I haven¡¯t told her yet.¡± They hadn¡¯t talked much these days. No. Every time he called her, she kept asking him, ¡®Hey, when did you get so good at dancing?¡¯ How could he answer that? Woojoo tried to dodge the question, but she was too persistent. And she had this superpower of detecting his lies every time he made one. She was like a viin who could see through him. Woojoo wanted to change her name on his phone to Super Viin Kim Deoksoon. Well, he guessed he would have to call her after they released the song. ¡°How are the fans reacting?¡± Junghyun asked, looking at his phone. ¡°They¡¯re all excited. We¡¯ve been promoting it every time we did a live broadcast. So there¡¯s a lot of anticipation¡­?¡± ¡°Ah, speaking of live broadcasts, should we turn one on now?¡± ¡°Not now. Let¡¯s do it after the songes out and greet them,¡± Woojoo said, looking around at the members. ¡°Remember what happenedst time we posted the school uniform photos.¡± ¡°Oh, right.¡± It was the second live broadcast when they took graduation photos. Their Souffl¨¦ wrote and posted some promotional posts on the idolmunity, but the response was lukewarm. -Is that okay to take pictures at someone else¡¯s school without permission? -It looks like they just took them without any approval. -Yeah, is it just me or is that ufortable? -I would be annoyed if I were a student at that school. Even though it¡¯s outside, they¡¯re outsiders taking personal photos. As soon as someone expressed their difort, a few others followed withments. Their Souffl¨¦ deleted the posts in a hurry, but most of the reactions were not very positive. New ck and thepany were both flustered. They thought they had done enough consideration before doing the live broadcast, but they didn¡¯t expect that kind of reaction. So they decided to reduce the frequency of live broadcasts and approach them more carefully. Especially when their name was getting more known. ¡°Uh, there¡¯s only one minute left!¡± They gathered around the tablet PC and shivered. Soon, the countdown started and they refreshed thepany¡¯s YouTube main page. 6:50 p.m. [Woojoo & Rihyuk ¨C Night Sea Special MV] was the title of the freshly uploaded video. With eyes full of nervousness and excitement, they looked at the screen, and Riyuk clicked on it. But instead of the video they expected, something else came up. ¡°Ah, what. I was startled.¡± It was an ad that yed before the video. Woojoo said, feeling impatient, ¡°Quick, skip the button¡­ Huh?¡± But after five seconds, they blinked their eyes with dumbfounded expressions. They had no choice. An unexpected scene was ying. -I¡¯m an ordinary college student. With that narration, a handsome man holding a handrail in a shaky subway was looking at his phone. A screen with a refined tone. It was an ad that looked like a scene from a movie. But the actor wearing a campus look and sses was someone we all knew. ¡°¡­That¡¯s me?¡± Thanks to the youngest¡¯s face on the screen, they immediately realized what was going on. It was the ad they had filmed. The SNS CF ¡®Magic School Edition¡¯ for the school uniform brand Everdream. Chapter 99: Chapter 99: The man was reading a webtoon. It was called ¡®Magical School Kids.¡¯ It was a popr webtoon a few years ago. When he was in high school, every Tuesday, people would greet each other with ¡®Did you see MagiKids yesterday?¡¯ It was a webtoon that enjoyed the highest poprity, but now it was getting bashed for its absurd plot and ruined characters. It used to have no ratings below 9.9, but now it had a miserable average of 7.2. Thetest episode¡¯sments were full of irrelevant and negative remarks. -Let¡¯s milk the author until he dies lol -Today¡¯s weather is minus 3 degrees. Be careful of the cold!-Everyone, did you know that you should wash strawberries with a toothbrush? The man was a loyal fan of that webtoon. It had been his source of strength throughout his high school life, so he always gave it 10 stars and a like, no matter what the content was. But he couldn¡¯t do that for this episode. ¡®What the hell¡­¡¯ He looked at his smartphone with a dismayed face. He didn¡¯t notice the people around him staring, as he made a horrified expression. -Magical School Kids 592 [End] The final episode¡¯s rating was 1.0 Usually, when a webtoon ends, people tend to give generous ratings out of nostalgia, but 1.0 was too low. The problem was that it deserved it. In the final episode, the protagonist and his friends faced a horde of evil and met a terrible death. Thement section was exploding, and variousmunities were flooded with posts titled ¡®Today¡¯s MagiKids Ending.jpg¡¯. The man opened his eyes in disbelief. What had happened? Why¡­ Tears welled up in his eyes. He couldn¡¯t believe it as he scrolled down. The characters he had loved for years were all dead. Some of the minor characters even disappeared into dust without ast word. Of course, if this had happened during the serialization, there might have been a chance to fix it. But the word in front of his eyes was ¡®End¡¯. It meant it was over. He didn¡¯t care about the people watching him, as he burst into tears. Everything around him was gray. He wished it had ended differently. Why did it have to end like this? Eunho, Eunsung, Jieun, Teacher Park¡­ Did they deserve to be sent off like this? He felt ashamed to cry over a webtoon, but it had been hispanion during hard times. He had gained strength from watching the friendship and love of the characters in the webtoon. But someone had taken it all away from him. ¡®If only I were the author¡­¡¯ The transfer student who learned the solution to this phenomenon tried various methods right away. He used his brain to keep the other person at school, but his n was ruined when the other person chased him, saying he had something to give him. He tried to avoid the situation by taking a different route, but what was bound to happen happened. On a different road from the original work, a young girl was crying. But despite the changed content, the development was the same. A car wasing while the child was crying, and the protagonist jumped in and was paralyzed by the viin¡¯s magic. The story was still going as it was. Before he could stop him, the protagonist ran to the road without hesitation, and soon he was paralyzed by the viin. A car approaching. And the transfer student used the ¡®magic to lighten clothes¡¯ that he learned in ss today and ran at an amazing speed. He seeded in saving the protagonist. When Ra Eun-ho thanked him for a long time, creating a warm atmosphere, the other person picked up the phone that fell on the floor. ¡°Is this your phone?¡± ¡°Yeah, it is.¡± Just then. The phone vibrated and a message appeared on the screen. [Notification!] [You have sessfully saved ¡®Ra Eun-ho¡¯ from today¡¯s ident.] His face hardened at the sight of the strange text. Soon, various questions followed, and Raeunho red at him. ¡°Who are you?¡± In the tense atmosphere¡­ *** One of them was sitting nervously, while the other was gasping for breath. The face of the one who was sitting changed into a fierce expression. [What are you?] The moment the ¡®transfer student¡¯ opened his lips to speak. Right then. The screen switched. A white screen with the logo ¡®EverDream¡¯ appeared. A cheerful narration sounded in front of the people who were looking with stunned expressions. [School uniforms arefortable! EverDream~] At that moment, everyone who was watching the ad had the same expression. ¡°¡­¡± EverDream¡¯s SNS CF ¡®Magic School Edition¡¯. It was the ad that won the excellence award at the TV CF Awards in 2014, and also became known as the ¡®annoying ad¡¯ on the inte. *** [The video that is getting cursed on the inte right now.metube] It¡¯s a school uniform ad by EverDream¡­ I really want to kill the bastard who nned it Just watch it once and tell me what you think -Ah shit If I were the author, I wouldn¡¯t have ended it like this. That¡¯s what I was thinking when it happened. Suddenly, something strange started to happen. The lights in the subway went out one by one from afar, and then the car he was in also plunged into darkness. And then he lost consciousness. *** The man who opened his eyes again was bewildered. He was sitting in a ssroom of some school. It was break time and the students were chatting. He looked around with a flustered face and was shocked. The face reflected on his phone screen was younger than his current one, but that wasn¡¯t the only reason. The familiar ssroom scenery. The navy blue uniform and red tie that he had seen somewhere before. ¡®Could it be¡­¡¯ As he sensed the identity of this ce, a shadow fell over him. It was a tall and handsome high school student. When he smiled, the surroundings brightened up. He had such an outstanding appearance that he would be the perfect visual for a Korean version of a high-teen movie. He was literally the protagonist. The protagonist of the webtoon Magic School Kids, Ra Eun-ho. ¡°Hi, you¡¯re the transfer student, right?¡± The ss president sat next to him and grinned. ¡°The homeroom teacher told me to take good care of you. You might have a hard time adjusting since you came from a non-magic school.¡± ¡°¡­Huh? Uh.¡± ¡°If you have any problems, just tell me. I¡¯m not very good at studying, but I¡¯m confident in taking care of people.¡± As they exchanged awkward greetings, some of Eun-ho¡¯s friends came and nudged him. A boyish-looking student said, ¡®Basketball, anyone?¡¯ and they got up from their seats. For a while, the man who had suddenly be a ¡®transfer student¡¯ stared nkly and tried to sort out the situation. This was the world of the webtoon. He didn¡¯t know if he was dreaming or hallucinating, but the transfer student decided to find a way out. And then he remembered something. The protagonist¡¯s legs were still fine. He grabbed his phone and checked the date. It was April 2012. He knew it from binge-reading the webtoon several times. It was before the ident happened. Eun-ho¡¯s traffic ident, the author¡¯s first blunder. He was hit by a car while trying to save a young girl disguised as a viin, and becameme. Eight monthster, in December 2012, everyone died. As he was immersed in hisplicated thoughts, a mysterious message arrived on his phone. [Mission: Save the protagonist ¡®Ra Eun-ho¡¯ from today¡¯s ident!] [Reward: Return] That was the only way for him to go back. -LOL I was going toment but I see someone had the same reaction as me -What is this, seriously? Ugh, this is BS -So what¡¯s the story behind this¡­?? -LOL who came up with this idea, really? -LOL I don¡¯t think I¡¯ll ever forget this for the next few years. Everdream LOL I was speechless¡­ -Looks like another meme came out -Please¡­ give me the rest of the story¡­ -LOL they did a great job. Who¡¯s the director? The SNS ad that started off mildly got a huge response on the inte in less than three days. It was thanks to word of mouth. The people who first watched it out of curiosity spread it around with the mindset of ¡®I can¡¯t be the only one who suffers!¡¯ and the ad became known in no time. As a result, Everdream was used as a meme like the cafe logo of a certain si for a while. It was an unexpected oue for both the advertiser and anyone else. Of course, it wasn¡¯t just because of the story of the ad. It was aprehensive result. Above all, the director¡¯s skill was great. Yu Geon, who had been active in the independent film scene, pulled out the video almost like a short film. That was the reason why it caught people¡¯s attention. Any scene could be captured and called a drama without any difort because of the quality. And also, a fresh format that had never been seen before. There were some crazy ads with storiesing out slowly, but the dramatize concept of the ad was still a new format for consumers. Andstly, it was the acting of New ck that backed up the story. Because of that, the two members of New ck who performed brilliantly in the ad video also got a positive response. -Wow LOL he¡¯s so handsome, who is he? I got a forced memory correction -222 -Yeah, it feels like a non-existent first love -LOL they¡¯re those guys, the ones who came out in Jusehan -Jusehan?? -The one who yed the ss president and made the shot -I watched the ad and it was the best thing I¡¯ve seen in a while¡­LOL -But did they learn some acting¡­?? I thought they were unknown rookie actors when I first saw them, especially the one who yed the transfer student -Yeah, me too And there was someone who was smiling while watching all these reactions. ¡®The response is good.¡¯ In the office of the 3rd team of the clothing business division of KG International, team leader Woo Hee-seon was smiling. She had a feeling from the internal presentation. Unlike Blink¡¯s ¡®Girl Detective Team¡¯ which had good quality but bad acting, New ck¡¯s ¡®Magic School¡¯ showed synergy with the acting that exceeded expectations and the directing that was stimted by it. She thought it could be submitted to a short film festival. And it also achieved the goal as an ad. Brand awareness. Just like the donut ad that gave a deep impression with the irrelevant Antarctic background scene, this ad imprinted the brand Everdream on people. She didn¡¯t emphasize the functional aspects of the uniform, such as sticity, that she intended when she first nned it, but it was a more sessful result than then. Above all, the response from the teenagers who wore the uniforms was good. She smiled as she looked at the ad video that was spreading more and more on SNS. The news from everywhere was good. The reaction of the upper line to her decision to select the ad model was also good, and the news that came through a friend who worked in the personnel department was also good. There was a tailwind blowing from somewhere. ¡®They must be busy too.¡¯ She smiled as she thought of New ck, the ad model. They must be quite excited. The name New ck was known to the teenagers who were interested in idols. ¡°Ah! I saw that.¡± She gave him a look to be quiet when the boy pretended to know. He soon smiled. The two friends showed the video to their other friends with one mind. Immediately, they reacted like they did when they first saw it, with angry faces saying, ¡®Ah, what is this? What¡¯s the story behind it¡­?¡¯ ¡°Ugh, what is this.¡± ¡°Hey, who are they? They¡¯re so handsome, really.¡± ¡°They¡¯re the ones who yed basketball on Jusehan.¡± ¡°Oh, him? Wow. I didn¡¯t recognize him.¡± Soon, her friends started talking about New ck, the rookie boy group. And. The girl who pretended not to know, the fan cafe nickname ¡®PowerwSouffl¨¦¡¯, smiled contentedly from behind. ¡®They don¡¯t know.¡¯ That she had an album in her house with a message written by Seonwooju himself, ¡®Please forget the World Cup joke¡­¡¯ PowerwSouffl¨¦, who was subtly promoting New ck during the conversation, smiled quietly. It was a perfect cosy of a normal person. *** I want to make a program like a documentary called ¡®New ck 3 Days¡¯. I want to show how much can happen in three days. Actually, I thought I would get a reaction from Jusehan, but I didn¡¯t think about the advertisement at all. It was our first advertisement, so it was meaningful, but it was only distributed on SNS, so I didn¡¯t expect much from its impact. But when I saw the advertisement for the first time, I opened my mouth wide at the quality. It was so well directed that we watched it without a break. I found outter that the director who directed our CF, Yu Geon, was famous in the industry for his screen quality. Thanks to that, ¡®Night Sea¡¯, which started with a great score of 89th on the first day, rose to 59th in three days. It was still lower than Something, which didn¡¯t seem toe down from the top 20, and Fireworks, which stayed in the early 50s, but considering that it had only been released for three days, it was an encouraging result. How happy I was for three days. If there were sad or depressed people, I wanted to hold their hands and share the emotions I was feeling now. This feeling, you wouldn¡¯t know unless you experienced it. The emotion I felt from the fact that all three songs in the top 100 of the music chart were either made by me or I participated in making them. Maybe I¡¯ll be proud of it for the rest of my life. And, I wasn¡¯t the only one who felt that way. ¡°What if we make it to number one?¡± We allughed at Junghyun¡¯s words. But he was very serious, eating jelly. ¡°I¡¯m serious. Really, if we get a documentary and a Chuseok special, we might go up more.¡± ¡°Hyung, this is already amazing. Did you see the articles?¡± ¡°Yeah. My dad called mest night and asked me if I had any thoughts about being a chicken ad model.¡± ¡°What did you say?¡± ¡°I asked for a lot of money and he hung up.¡± We allughed as we imagined the situation. I looked around with a smile for a while. We were in the conference room of HBS MTV broadcasting station. It was the day of our second pre-meeting. "But they''re really noting." Bijoo said with a worried tone. "It''s been like 30 minutes since they said the meeting would start." "I know, right?" As the members were shaking their heads in disbelief, I was the only one who knew the truth and smiled secretly. The younger ones didn''t know, but there were hidden cameras all over the ce, filming us. The PD and the writer were watching from somewhere else. -So if you have something you want to try with your siblings, feel free to write it down. We''ll review it. That was the question I got at thest meeting, and it was my proposal. It was a timid revenge for the surprise camera I got during the school uniform ad. As I was waiting for the fun toe, the TV turned on. "Wow, what is that!" The younger ones were startled as if they had seen a ghost and looked at the TV screen. At first, they had a nervous expression, but soon their eyes widened. "¡­What is that?" "Why is that here?" It was because of the video that was ying on the screen. The production team''s voice was heard. -What kind of person is Ui-in usually? On the screen, the interview we had at thepany was ying. They all reacted with ¡®What, why is that here¡­?'' Soon, Bijoo and Rihyuk, who noticed something, turned their heads to me. The other members also realized what was going on. "That wasn''t the documentary team that filmed that?" "No." I gave a bright smile to the younger ones who blinked in surprise. "That was the reality team." Chapter 100: Chapter 100: Trantor: MarcTempest Editor: Rxel Chapter 100 Woojoo¡¯s siblings stared nkly at the TV. Then they turned their heads to him. ¡°A reality show? Not a documentary¡­?¡± ¡°Yeah. You remember when the documentary team came with another team? They were the writers who wanted to film our reality show.¡± Woojoo asked them back, ¡°Didn¡¯t you find it strange? That two teams came to film one scene for a documentary.¡± ¡°¡­How are we supposed to notice that, you idiot.¡± While Rihyuk red at Woojoo, Jiho pointed at the screen.¡°Oh? Bijoo Hyung is on.¡± ¡°Ugh¡­¡± ¡°Hyung, why are you like that?¡± And the protagonist of the screen was burying his face in his knees, bending his waist. He looked like a herbivore hiding from its natural enemy. Woojoo whispered in his ear, ¡°Bijoo, you can still hear it even if you do that.¡± ¡°Ugh, I don¡¯t know.¡± He covered his ears as well. He soon realized how funny his posture was and returned to normal, but his expression was gloomy as he looked at the screen. ¡°I said so many cringy things¡­¡± ¡°It¡¯s not just you, Hyung. Me too.¡± Rihyuk¡¯s ears had turned red like Rudolph¡¯s nose. It seemed like his face would soon light up like an LEDmp. ¡°Anyway, this is it, right? Revenge for the prank we yed on you during the school uniform ad.¡± ¡°No, I didn¡¯t do it for that¡­¡± ¡°That¡¯s right. That¡¯s right.¡± The youngest chuckled. ¡°I know. I learned it when I acted with you, but Woojoo Hyung has a habit when he says something different from what he feels.¡± ¡°Be quiet.¡± While Woojoo said that, Bijoo on the screen was lost in thought after hearing the production team¡¯s question. He had a lot to say, but his expression showed that he couldn¡¯t organize his thoughts well. The person watching it, as well as the other siblings, had agonized faces. What did he say that made them react like this? Woojoo expected the members to give a politepliment. It was an interview with a broadcasting station, so he wanted them to say something simple like ¡®Woojoo is a very diligent person who lives a life that inspires others¡­¡¯ A textbook-like and exemryment. His goal was to capture them feeling embarrassed while saying those cringy lines, but somehow their reactions were too much. It was like middle schoolers who had their diaries opened by their parents. Then, Bijoo on the screen answered with a calm face. -Woojoo Hyung is¡­ I think he¡¯s a very warm person. I¡¯ve known him for a while as a singer, but when I first found out, we were very surprised. ¡®What? That person¡­?¡¯ He smiled. -Because it was right after our year-end evaluation, like a test. He led us very well then, so he had an image of a smart and capable Hyung. Woojoo did. -But¡­ as time passed and we got to know each other better, I felt that he was a very warm person. Now, even if I hear that Woojoo Hyung did something good, I wouldn¡¯t be surprised. -Can you give us a specific example? -There was a time when I was personally very struggling, and I made a snack for Woojoo Hyung. He was working on his debut title song and stayed up all night for almost a week. That was right. -I brought him a snack at the dorm where he was resting. But after a few bites, he asked me if I had any more dough left. -He did? -Yeah, so I said I was going to give it to the other members. But he said he wanted to eat it all by himself because it was so delicious. -By himself? The production team asked as if they didn¡¯t understand. How was that considerate? Bijoo on the screen nodded and smiled. -Yes, so I was like, what? It was weird¡­ Butter I found out that I had put salt instead of sugar. -Ah¡­ -After a while, I asked Woojoo Hyung about that time. Why did you do that, Hyung? When I asked him that, he said he didn¡¯t want me to get stressed over something like that because I looked so tired. -It was his way of being considerate. -Yes, I think I felt it then. He stayed up all night for a week, and he ate that¡­ with a smile. The other members looked amazed as if they didn¡¯t know that happened, and Bijoo and Woojoo felt very awkward. Woojoo didn¡¯t know how to describe this feeling. Awkward and embarrassed. He felt like hiding behind something whenever Mrs. Kim Deoksoon was around. While he was feeling that way, Junghyun asked Woojoo with a puzzled look, ¡°Hyung, there¡¯s something I¡¯m curious about.¡± ¡°Yeah.¡± ¡°Usually, when people do this kind of thing, they¡¯re embarrassed and the purpose is to watch others.¡± ¡°That¡­ right?¡± ¡°But aren¡¯t you embarrassed by this too?¡± ¡°¡­¡± Junghyun hit the nail on the head. That was exactly what Woojoo was feeling. No, this was supposed to be a surprise camera that he nned. He realized he made a mistake from then on. ¡°Ugh¡­¡± As the video continued, the members covered and uncovered their faces with their hands like a cuckoo clock. And in between, Woojoo¡¯s hollow scream echoed. ¡°PD-nim, can we stop this¡­?¡± But the camera light kept blinking. *** While the hidden cameras captured the members¡¯ reactions, the main writer and the main PD wereughing in a separate room. -PD-nim, writer-nim¡­ are you there? It was because of a member who was desperately calling out to the camera on the screen. The main writer said with a smile, ¡°He¡¯s unstoppable, really. He looks so smart, but he¡¯s actually a goofball.¡± ¡°Right? How did he not see thising?¡± The essence of a hidden camera was that one didn¡¯t get caught and someone else did. That was why Woojoo¡¯s n was weird. It was obvious that he would be embarrassed too. That was why it was funny. During the pre-interview, he didn¡¯t fall for the subtle leading questions from the production team and answered smartly, but he was sparkling when he exined this n. But the production team didn¡¯t bother to point that out. It was a n that could produce a lot of content. The rest was a breeze. Since PBS was going to shoot a documentary, they decided to go out at the same time and get some interview cuts. They didn¡¯t say where, but the members seemed to think it was a documentary shooting. The PD rolled his pen and said, ¡°If we edit this and put it at the end of the first episode, it will get a good response, right? The members¡¯ sincerity towards the leader, something like that. We¡¯ll put the Woojoo reaction cuts mainly.¡± ¡°We have to. The members¡¯ reactions too. If we catch the editing points well, we can easily make 10 minutes.¡± As they checked the scenes recorded on the camera, they talked about the reality project. ¡°There were a lot of good things that the other members suggested. If we do one of these well, we can fill up eight episodes in no time, right?¡± ¡°Right. The other things too. As long as the reactions are like this, it will be enough.¡± ¡°Then, if we do another one of the things they suggested¡­¡± They skimmed through the proposals that the New ck members wrote on A4 paper. Then they quickly agreed on their opinion. ¡°This is good.¡± ¡°It¡¯ll be fun to see their reactions. Especially Woojoo.¡± Theyughed wickedly as they watched him cover his face on the screen. Meanwhile, on the screen, the five members were suffering and begging, ¡°Please stop this!¡± *** PBS Current Affairs and Culture Department. The production team of the special documentary was busy editing the footage. The cramped editing room. Each small room barely big enough to stretch out was filled with PDs like caterpirs. They each looked at their monitors and clicked their mice. They had to sift through dozens of hours of shooting to find the usable cuts. And some of those edited cuts went to the youngest assistant director, who was in charge of the trailer. The assistant director with a pale face drank coffee repeatedly as he skimmed through the footage sent by his seniors. Soon, he picked out the ones that he thought were suitable for the 30-second trailer. Maybe it was because he was sleepy, but he instinctively chose the scenes that he felt were ¡°good¡±. When he was about to make the final trailer, he blinked his eyes. ¡°What is this?¡± He checked the selected clips and saw that a certain person had arge share. The owner of a face that attracted people¡¯s attention even without stage lighting or fancy makeup. He was an idol member, right? It was not only his facial features, but also his expressions that were colorful and lively that drew his eyes. He was so drowsy that he unknowingly chose the ones that looked good. He shook his head to clear his mind and returned some of the clips to their original state. Then he added some other clips. Now the amount of footage of the idol member that he would use for the trailer was about three seconds. The assistant director was in a dilemma. Should he use it at the beginning or at the end? And he made his decision. *** [?? Did anyone just watch PBS??] They were showing some documentary trailer and it went by in a sh?? Did you see the person who appeared for two seconds at the front?? -What are you talking about;; -No, there was a scene like an interview and it passed by;; And then there was¡­ Ah, how do I exin this -Documentary trailer? -Yeah -What¡¯s the title? Go to the PBS homepage. There¡¯s a preview section where they upload the trailers -Ah! Thank you! [I found an awesome ordinary person] (Capture) I captured the documentary trailer ????? It looks like a special feature on ordinary people, and there was an interview cut You have to see this as a gif ?.? -Wow¡­ -Me too, link please -Where do I feel like I¡¯ve seen him before -Yeah, me too, it doesn¡¯t feel like the first time -How is that an ordinary person, he¡¯s a celebrity¡­ -?????????? That¡¯s him, the one who appeared on Around the World With Dice -? -Link [Person info ¡®New ck¡¯] -?? -???? What, he¡¯s a celebrity -What was his name again? Eunho? -Woojoo -No, he has a role in the ad, the magic school -Oh, right? -But why is he in that documentary?? Ordinary people¡­? *** The terrible reality show shooting was over and time flew by without a break. A few radio schedules and dozens of events, and a live broadcast with their Souffl¨¦. Woojoo wished he had ten bodies. No. Not ten, but one or two. Around the World With Dice and the SNS ads must have made a good impression, because they were getting requests for advertising contracts from everywhere. It was a lot for a rookie, but only 10 percent of them were seriously considered. They couldn¡¯t ept things like jade mats or ion exercise machines, and thepany rejected some of the decent ads like water purifiers. ¡°Think long-term. It¡¯s about image management,¡± Seokhwan Hyung said. ¡°Ads are the same as acting works for actors. You can¡¯t just do everything that pays. You have to do something that matches your image. There are plenty of cases where the image gets worse because of a wrong ad.¡± Everyone agreed with that. There was someone who got scolded for doing a debt relief ad, and someone who got a bad image for doing an ad for apany that had a problem with history. Of course, they didn¡¯t get such ads, but they couldn¡¯t do absurd ads either. For example, it would be weird for Woojoo, a twenty-something, to sit on a massage chair and say, ¡°Ah, this is so refreshing.¡± ¡°That suits you perfectly.¡± ¡°You and Hyung are perfect for it.¡± ¡°Huh? It seems like it would suit you well.¡± ¡°They must be trying to use you as an exclusive model.¡± There were some ridiculous opinions. So Woojoo muttered, ¡°Let¡¯s see how we divide the parts for the next song,¡± and they all said no, and told him that Hyung suited a school uniform ad. Woojoo totally agreed. Anyway, for the sake of long-term image management, thepany decided to sign contracts with two of them after reviewing them. There were betterpanies, but some of them tried to negotiate the price through a model agency, and they lost the deal. ording to the testimony of their road manager Seo Minki, who was involved in the process, ¡°It was like a robbery, they only didn¡¯t use knives.¡± The ads that were selected after such a difficult process were two. One was a low-cost airline, which was small in scale but had a solid financial structure, and the other was a domestic sports clothing brand that had recently gone public. To be honest, Woojoo was flustered. Woojoo felt like they hadn¡¯t done anything other than the first album, and suddenly they got an ad request. He heard it was for the same reason as Everdream. They thought it would be better to buy it cheaply in advance, because it seemed like it would do well. Woojoo hoped they could live up to their expectations. He had been feeling that way a lottely. It was like a balloon that¡¯s inting. Every time something went well, it felt like air was rushing into the balloon. It was getting bigger and bigger, but you were afraid it would pop if someone poked it with a needle. Maybe it was because the interest had increased a lot. They even put up a clip of the scene that Woojoo appeared in for two seconds on the inte and made articles about it. -Who is the idol group ¡®New ck¡¯ that appeared in the documentary teaser? -New ck ¡°Thankful for the poprity of the ads¡­ We don¡¯t know the rest either¡± -[This week¡¯s entertainment focus] Neers are always hungry, boy group New ck Woojoo saw the captured screen and the members agreed that it was understandable, but it was burdensome for him. He was a show-off, but the speed of the interest growing was beyond his expectation. It was like depositing a bean-sized amount of money in the bank and getting a lot of interest very quickly. Well. Woojoo had a lot of thoughts, but for now he decided to focus on the schedule. ¡°Wow¡­¡± It was the ¡®wow¡¯ that he heard again since the day they visited TJ Entertainment. And this time, Woojoo was also participating. ¡°Wow, it¡¯s really huge.¡± It was the weekend before the final recording. They gathered under the giant stage, each holding a card with their name on it, and looked around. Sangam World Cup Stadium. Woojoo couldn¡¯t help but admire the size of the venue that could amodate more than 60,000 people. Today¡¯s schedule was ¡®Find Your Dream Concert.¡¯ It was an event organized by the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism, where they gathered about thirty idol groups. Since they were rookies, their rehearsal was almost the first in order, so they entered early and checked out the seats. But the expressions of the younger ones who were looking around the ce were strange. Woojoo probably looked the same if he looked in the mirror. There was a fact that only three rookie groups, including New ck, participated in this concert out of the twenty-five groups that debuted this year, but there was another reason. ¡°It would be awesome to have a concert here¡­¡± Even the always calm Junghyun said that, so the other members didn¡¯t need to say anything. ¡°Right? We¡¯ll be able to do it here someday, right?¡± ¡°I guess so.¡± Woojoo answered. ¡°Someday.¡± ¡°I want to do it now. With our Souffl¨¦s sitting down.¡± ¡°That would be hard. Even if our Souffl¨¦s were cloned five times each, they wouldn¡¯t fill this ce.¡± They allughed. And they enjoyed looking at the concert hall. Even if it wasn¡¯t this ce, they thought of the scene where they would sing in front of their fans someday. ¡°But it¡¯s a shame.¡± The youngest said, ¡°I think we won¡¯t be able to watch the documentary because it oveps with the concert finale.¡± ¡°Well, you can watch it on rerun. And I won¡¯t be on it much anyway. How many heroes are there in there?¡± Woojoo said that and went up to the stage. They only cared about the documentary, but they didn¡¯t have high expectations. There were so many heroes in the world. As if Woojoo would be on it a lot. **** While the performance was in full swing on the special stage of the World Cup Stadium, PBS was starting a documentary. Peaceful scenes flowed along with the calm background music. A mother pushing a stroller, a young man helping an old man pulling a cart up the hill, a quiet scene in front of a boarding house, and a view of a port city. The static scenes slowly connected. Then. The atmosphere changed dramatically with the tense music. The mother lost her bnce on a rock and let go of the stroller down the hill, a car rushed at an old man, a fire started in the boarding house, and an oil tank exploded in the port. And the people who threw themselves at those ces without hesitation were captured like a movie. The words that appeared on the ck screen. [Hero] ¡°A person who is wise, talented, and brave, and does what ordinary people find difficult to do.¡± ¨C Korean Dictionary ¡°A person who does something great or courageous.¡± ¨C Merriam-Webster Dictionary Soon after, the word hero was focused on with an exnation of its origin. [The Birth of a Hero: Born or Made] That was the title of the PBS 50th Anniversary Special Documentary. Chapter 101: Chapter 101: Trantor: MarcTempest Editor: Rxel Chapter 101 The 8th ¡®Find Your Dream Concert¡¯ in 2014 ended with a finale of all the performers singing together. Asposer Ha Seungju yed the piano, the singers each sang their assigned verses. The audience members held various colors of light sticks. The idol singers waved their hands to them. The atmosphere at the venue rose with every verse of the song. New ck also sang a short verse and waved their hands to the audience.As Woojoo looked around the huge concert hall, his heart trembled. Woojoo wanted to bring his precious people up here and share this scenery, this feeling with them. The concert hall that surrounded them in a semi-circle. Thousands of lights sparkled like the Milky Way. The audience who waved their light sticks, the audience who chatted with their neighbors, the audience who sent enthusiastic cheers, they all became a big heat that enveloped them like a curtain. And when that heat met the song Woojoo sang in the middle, a magical emotion came over him. The goosebumps that rose up his throat. Theplicated thoughts disappeared and joy filled his head. Woojoo suddenly thought. Woojoo, no, they also wanted to stand on this stage someday. Woojoo wanted to sing their song together with their Souffl¨¦s. Woojoo had such a desire. *** After the concert, they walked around with excited faces. The concert was over, but the social life was just beginning. They greeted the stage staff, the senior singers, and the director one by one. They also bowed their heads to the staff who passed by in the hallway. ¡°Thank you for your hard work!¡± Of course, they weren¡¯t the only ones who did that. The three rookie groups who participated in today¡¯s concert also greeted each other like that. Blink. They ran into the five-member girl group who came out of Teen Spirit¡¯s waiting room at the door. New ck greeted them warmly as they usually did on music shows. ¡°Hello.¡± ¡°Ah, yes¡­ Hello.¡± The Blink members smiled awkwardly and nodded their heads. Then they quickly left the spot. What was going on? Usually, when they met in the music show hallway, they were the ones who held New ck for almost five minutes and chatted. Woojoo wondered if he was the only one who felt weird, and Junghyun tilted his head. ¡°What¡¯s going on? Didn¡¯t they always talk to us first at the broadcasting station?¡± ¡°It¡¯s because of the advertisement now.¡± They turned our heads at Rihyuk¡¯s words. ¡°Advertisement?¡± ¡°We both filmed the Everdream uniform advertisement. We did the boy group version and they did the girl group version.¡± ¡°Oh¡­¡± Woojoo guessed then. ¡°We both filmed the same thing, but one side got only badments. The other side got all thepliments and attention. Honestly, it¡¯s enough to make you flip out. Well, I don¡¯t think we would have done that.¡± It was something Woojoo often saw when he was a trainee. They became friends with the same entrance date, but as the monthly evaluation scores came out, their rtionship gradually became awkward. They must have felt ufortable with New ck. They knocked on the waiting room and greeted the Teen Spirit members who were busy packing their stuff. They weed New ck warmly even though they were busy. They said, ¡®We¡¯re so d to see you.¡¯ Their attitude had be much friendlier since the eventteness incident. New ck greeted them and came out, and they ran into another rookie group. It was Street Boys, a nine-member idol group with a hip-hop vibe. Their smoky eye makeup was impressive, but the sound of their gold nes jingling as they walked was also noticeable. ¡°Hello, we are Street Boys!¡± Woojoo didn¡¯t know why they greeted them with their belly buttons, but they did the same. The leader of the other team, Hanjo, acted like he knew Woojoo. ¡°Wow, long time no see. I think I haven¡¯t seen you since the eventst month. How have you been?¡± ¡°Yes, I¡¯ve been busy. How about you?¡± They exchanged a brief talk about their situation. The conversation with Street Boys, their original rivals, went better than the greeting with Blink. They both drew a clear boundary line and kept their distance. The members of both sides also seemed to think so, and they conversed politely but not awkwardly. Then, the youngest, Yoon Kiwon, handed a drink to their main vocal. Rihyuk smiled faintly as he took it. And their youngest, who had been watching all that, snorted. Jiho looked back and forth between Yoon Kiwon and Rihyuk, as if he was displeased with something. What was wrong? He had a subtle expression on his face. So Woojoo tried to mimic his expression. But then Woojoo met Hanjo¡¯s eyes. ¡°¡­¡± It felt like a kindred spirit, like when mothers who came to visit the kindergarten met each other¡¯s eyes. Maybe it was just his imagination. Hanjo cleared his throat awkwardly and changed the topic. ¡°We haven¡¯t seen your faces much since the radio show ended. You seem familiar, though. You¡¯ve been on TV and stuff.¡± ¡°Did you know about our news?¡± ¡°The manager updates us every day.¡± Woojoo remembered the face of Park, the manager of Street Boys, whom they met on the radio. He was the one who was very conscious of New ck. Hanjo gave a wry smile. ¡°I heard a lot. New ck is doing a school uniform ad. They¡¯re on the Chuseok Special. They¡¯re filming a documentary. I might know more than the Souffl¨¦ guys.¡± ¡°It¡¯s Souffl¨¦.¡± ¡°Oops¡­¡± They both burst intoughter as they looked at each other. They exchanged brief greetings, and soon they were led away by their road managers. The other side waved and said, ¡°Congrattions. On the real-time search ranking too.¡± ¡°Thank you. I hope your album does well too.¡± With that, they left the concert hall. Just like when they first arrived, the parking lot was now quiet and empty. It was night, but the heat ofte August was still there. As they each held a hand fan, the two guys were noisy. ¡°Hey, why!¡± ¡°Give it to me. Hurry.¡± ¡°Why?¡± ¡°You¡¯re suspicious. You even gave him a drink.¡± ¡°I gave it to him because I was grateful for what he did before.¡± Jiho narrowed his eyes. ¡°When was that? Why are you thanking him now? I¡¯ve never seen such a grateful person in my life.¡± ¡°It¡¯s ¡®gracious¡¯ or ¡®polite¡¯. Younguage destroyer.¡± ¡°Anyway, you gave him a drink because you have something up your sleeve.¡± The youngest was spouting conspiracy theories, and Rihyuk chuckled. Woojoo stuck out his tongue. ¡°Do they ever stop fighting? They did it yesterday too.¡± ¡°They fought yesterday too?¡± ¡°You didn¡¯t see it. They came to the studio and fought over dipping sauce and soy sauce.¡± It was a mess. One guy imed that he was right about Chinese cuisine because of his royal bloodline, and another guy brought up a rted paper to prove his point. Bijoo looked confused. ¡°¡­You guys fought over something weird.¡± ¡°Exactly, dipping is the right way.¡± ¡°No way.¡± Junghyun intervened with a serious expression, ¡°Hyung. Dripping is the truth.¡± The opinions were divided one to one, and they both looked at one person at the same time. Bijoo blinked. ¡°Bijoo, what about you?¡± ¡°I like soy sauce¡­¡± ¡°Hey.¡± ¡°Ugh.¡± ¡°Soy sauce is good too¡­¡± And so, the first New ck sweet and sour pork debate began, with the manager included. It was apletely pointless conversation, but maybe because the concert was over, the atmosphere was warm and friendly. But as Woojoo talked, he felt a nagging feeling. It seemed like they were forgetting something. ¡°By the way, they were really nice.¡± ¡°Who?¡± ¡°Street Boys.¡± Junghyun said, ¡°They all looked scary, so I didn¡¯t even realize I was tensing my throat. But when I talked to them, they all seemed gentle.¡± ¡°Yeah, they did. They congratted me on thest time I gave them a gift. They said congrattions on the real-time search ranking first ce.¡± ¡°Oh? Me too.¡± ¡°Me too, I heard that.¡± And Woojoo was the same. Hanjo said to Woojoo before we parted. He congratted them on the real-time search ranking first ce. ¡°¡­?¡± The six of them stopped and stared at each other. And 3 secondster. ¡°¡­!¡± They all picked up their smartphones at the same time. When they turned on the inte, they saw the real-time search rankings along with the familiar portal screen. 1st ce Tax evasion. No. 2nd ce Heavy rain. No. [3rd ce] New ck Woojoo ¡­What the hell was this? *** There was a tense atmosphere on the way to the dorm. Their managers seemed to be flustered too. The PR team staff who were at home on the weekend were the same. But there was no need to figure out what was going on. As soon as Woojoo entered the portal main, he saw a huge headline. -PBS documentary guest New ck Woojoo, ¡®Galhyeon-dong hero¡¯ attracts attention It was a fresh article that had been posted less than 30 minutes ago. It was apanied by a capture screen from the documentary and the content was densely written. ¡®Did you know that one of the members of a rookie idol group that is slowly making a name for themselves was the hero ofst year¡¯s college entrance exam?¡¯ It wasn¡¯t like the thousands or tens of thousands ofments that were attached to the current issue of celebrities¡¯ tax evasion scandals, but there were nearly two hundredments. And most of them werepliments that Woojoo was ashamed to say. -KG Group¡¯s PR team moved. ¡°Ah¡­¡± Woojoo learned the details while talking to Seokhwan Hyung. -They must have moved quickly as soon as they heard the news of the documentary. There were several people who received the KG Hero Award in the interview today. It¡¯s a good opportunity to promote thepany, and they also got an article to post on the entertainment section. It seemed that KG Group had released some promotional materials for image management. No wonder there were so many articles like ¡®Did you know that the hero of Galhyeon-dong was a KG Hero Award winner?¡¯ It made sense if arge corporation moved. But for that¡­ ¡°Hyung, look at this. There¡¯s a post about you on the idolmunity.¡± ¡°Oh? Me too.¡± It seemed like more people had seen it than Woojoo thought¡­ If the reaction was this good, how did he appear in the documentary? As he wondered that, the youngest, who was refreshing the page like a cat pressing a water dispenser, shouted, ¡°Here it is! The rey!¡± They all looked at the screen. *** The documentary began in earnest after exining the origin of the word ¡®hero¡¯. It was the first time Woojoo watched a documentary since The Animal Kingdom. Woojoo thought it would be very boring. But he was wrong. These days, documentaries were made with sophisticated production techniques. It felt like watching a well-directed drama rather than a documentary. ¡°Wow, this is the first time I¡¯ve ever seen a documentary.¡± The youngest eximed, seeming to enjoy it more than expected. They also agreed and watched the small screen. The first half focused on each incident. A college student who threw himself at a stroller rolling down a hill, firefighters who extinguished a fire that spread from an exploding oil tank. And finally, the ¡®Galhyeon-dong Hero¡¯ appeared. Ugh. His hands and feet. Woojoo clenched and unclenched his fists, repeating the motion as he watched the screen. A data screen came up. A white car was speeding in the distance. A circle was drawn around it, as if to tell them to look at it. Another circle was around an old man who was on the phone in front of the rear car. The scene changed to an interview with the old man. [Choi Ikhyun / Victim at the time] Oh, it was terrifying. I was talking on the phone without knowing anything, and suddenly someone ran up to me and pushed me hard. At first, I was dazed and wondered what was going on¡­ And then, bang! The screen switched again. A young man in a yellow padded jacket ran out like crazy and pushed the old man. [Choi Ikhyun / Victim at the time] If it wasn¡¯t for that guy, I would be in the underworld by now. You have no idea how grateful I am. He sounded grumpy, but his sincerity was evident. Woojoo felt warm. He didn¡¯t even realize that his cheek muscles were rising. This was how it felt to do a good deed. A smile came to Woojoo¡¯s face. Woojoo was so disappointed that he couldn¡¯t take the college entrance exam, but it was as if someone whispered to him. You did a great thing by throwing yourself then. The expressions of his siblings who were watching the victim¡¯s interview were the same. Bijoo touched his cheek and said, ¡°You did the good deed, but I feel good too.¡± ¡°Me too.¡± Rihyuk scratched the back of his head and said, ¡°It¡¯s weird. I feel a bit proud too¡­¡± ¡°I think I know why. It¡¯s kind of like when someonepliments our sisters for being pretty.¡± Woojoo smiled as he looked at the members. Meanwhile, on the screen, the overview of the incident was revealed. Traffic investigator Jang Kyungil, a senior inspector, came out and gave an interview. It seemed like he was a lieutenant back then. He must have been promoted. Woojoo remembered the policeman who held his waist when he fainted at the hospital and smiled awkwardly. The story of how his father had a seizure on the day of the college entrance exam and how he got a suspended sentence in the first trial came out. ¡­These were all things Woojoo already knew. And finally, Woojoo¡¯s interview came on. Woojoo saw himself smiling on the screen and his siblings who were huddled together cheered loudly. ¡°Wow¡­¡± ¡°This is the best casual fashion I¡¯ve ever seen from you, Hyung. It was worth picking out your clothes.¡± ¡°Right? Anything is better than the floral tracksuit. This is a huge improvement.¡± ¡°I need to save thister. Oh¡­? That hair, I did it with a curling iron.¡± Theymented on Woojoo¡¯s appearance and he narrowed his eyes at them, thenughed. They did help him a lot that day. They made such a fuss since the morning, telling him not to look bad. They styled his hair with a curling iron and rollers, picked out his clothes and shoes¡­ And on top of that, they nagged him to take care of himself more often. Anyway, thanks to their coordination, Woojoo looked pretty good on the TV screen. Rihyuk eximed, ¡°Man, you have a great shell, a great shell.¡± ¡°Isn¡¯t that something that applies to you too?¡± ¡°¡­Ah, be quiet and watch the documentary.¡± He was the one who started it. While they were chatting, the interview continued. The editing emphasized what Woojoo said by changing the angles at important moments. Especially when he said ¡°my body moved instinctively¡±. Then a narration came on. [Then, what were the good deeds that these so-called heroes of Korean society did? Were they born with it? Or did they learn it?] The first half of the documentary ended and the focus shifted. Now it showed the personal aspects of the heroes, not the individual incidents. A college student who was in a drama club, a firefighter who walked his pet dog with his wife and daughter. It subtly conveyed the message that they all grew up in different environments and had different personalities. Thest one was Woojoo. [The hero is currently pursuing his dream as a rookie idol group ¡®New ck¡¯.] A scene of him dancing with his siblings for 30 seconds, and a scene of Woojoo recording Night Sea for a simr length. But the focus was on Woojoo, so Rihyuk¡¯s mouth was the only thing that showed up in the recording booth. Like a hero in a superhero movie who only revealed his mouth under a mask. ¡°Puhahaha!¡± They all burst intoughter. ¡°Hey, what¡¯s this? Why is only my mouth showing?¡± ¡°Well, at least your voice came out nicely.¡± ¡°Bijoo Hyung, that¡¯s not a helpful constion¡­¡± They chatted while the documentary went into the second half. [USA. New York University.] A brief shot of the New York City skyline, followed by a building of a university that looked like it was just plopped on the street. A white-haired professor who looked like an old man from a chicken shop was passionately lecturing in a ssroom for about 10 seconds. Then the scene changed to his office. [Chris Abbott / Neuroscientist, Author] I¡¯ve always been curious about the brains of the heroes. How are they different from ordinary people? I focused on that. Along with that, various research data came out. It looked like a serious experiment, with all kinds of dataing out, and finally a brain image. And then he said the surprising result. There was no difference between the brains of the heroes and the ordinary people. In other words, the conclusion of the documentary was ¡®heroes are neither born nor nurtured¡¯. They were just people who made a choice at that moment. The people we call heroes are all the same people, and the thing that makes the difference is not big. So¡­ [Heroes are not far away. We all have the potential to be heroes in our lives.] With that narration, music flowed. Various scenes crossed. New ck stopped their chatter and watched the screen intently. Like the ending of a touching movie, where the supporting and main characters were shown living in different ces, the scenes changed quickly. And when the editing reached the end. Thest one to appear was Woojoo. The scene of Woojoo running urgently shed by, and then it smoothly transitioned to a shot of him smiling at the camera during an interview. Did he really smile like that? It was such a human-like expression that Woojoo understood why they used it as the ending cut. ¡°¡­¡± The documentary ended, and the car was already waiting in front of the amodation, but they were staring nkly. *** Meanwhile, in a back alley of Gangnam district, the members of New ck were admiring. When the inte was flooded with the captured images of the handsome human and the rted articles. There was one person who couldn¡¯t smile. ¡°Ha¡­¡± Han Juyeon, the youngest writer of Around the World With Dice and the person in charge of New ck, received a call at home and held back her tears. They did the same thing with the SNS ads¡­ Were they some kind of onions? ¡°I have to do more research¡­¡± Chapter 102: Chapter 102: Trantor: MarcTempest Editor: Rxel Chapter 102 The idolmunity green room. In the wee hours of the morning, a post about a rookie idol member was uploaded on the best board. -An idol member who appeared as a witness on PBS documentary today -A rookie male idol with a strange background -A summary of New ck¡¯s Woojoo-rted posts.txt The cause of the incident was an article on the portal main.The mysterious whereabouts of an idol member were the topic of interest for those who stayed up all weekend. -Wait¡­ So I get that the kid who was famous for being a witness on the college entrance examst year is an idol now¡­ But how does the timeline work?? He joined thepany right after the exam and then Something came out three monthster? -Yeah, that¡¯s right -Jang Sowon officially coposed Something -And he debuted in June? In seven months¡­?? -What¡­ Is it just me or does this not make sense There was no one among the idol fans who didn¡¯t know about New ck. They were the most noteworthy achievers among the idols who debuted this year. Their hit song Something in spring. Their debut title ¡®Fireworks¡¯ ranked 54th on the July monthly chart. The music video umted 150 million views. They also appeared on the national variety show and got a school uniform CF. Apart from the public recognition, they had impressive results in the idol fandom. There were already predictions that New ck would win the Rookie of the Year Award for boy groups. But apart from the group¡¯s fame, there was little known about the individual members. In fact, there was no interest. It was just ¡®they¡¯re handsome¡¯ kind of impression. But today was different from the usual atmosphere. -Something is weird¡­ -Really weird -Did all this happen in such a short time???? He was a student untilst year, and then he came out with a song called Something in February. Then he revealed on Music Cafe that his father was a world-famous pianist. And then he had a lineup of selfposed songs from Something to Fireworks, and then to Night Sea. It was ¡®oh. That¡¯s amazing¡¯ when heard one by one, but when put together, it was strange. It was like assembling a puzzle. They collected the pieces andpleted the whole picture, but they were puzzled by thepleted picture. That was why the post by Han Supple, who summarized the information, quickly gained high views. [Summary of New ck¡¯s Woojoo-rted posts.txt] I brought a summary of New ck¡¯s Woojoo for the curious roommates! He was a trainee for about 6 years at TJ. He said he was discharged, but I don¡¯t know the details. He doesn¡¯t like to mention it. He went to the army after being discharged and missed the college entrance exam because he saved an old man. He got an offer from Lemon Entertainment from a manager he knew on the day of the exam. He met Jang Sowon, who was a judge at the monthly evaluation, and she picked them up after noticing his arranging skills. (Music Cafe official) That¡¯s how he made Something with Jang Sowon. After Something did well, thepany gave him a studio and asked him to make some songs for the album¡­ But the song was so good that it became the title. (Fireworks) He got a chance to appear on a radio show and decided to make a song quickly and went out with a demo song and performed live. It got a good response. This is the Night Sea that is on the music chart right now. I skipped the rest like Around the World With Dice, CF, documentary, etc. because I think you all know¡­! There are so many spoilers for our kids that I want to tell you, but I don¡¯t think you¡¯ll like it¡­ There¡¯s a hidden camera on the live broadcast, a self-made reality show, an episode of filling in for an event¡­ And a penguin promise¡­ Anyway, there¡¯s a lot I feel like I wrote a messy post, but I¡¯ll end it with their pictures!! I hope you all look kindly on our New ck kids¡­ _ After the pictures of the New ck members were posted, thement section was full of excited people. -??????What -So this all happened in less than 6 months? -Is this real?? For real? -Yeah, it¡¯s real¡­ -I was so suspicious while reading it¡­ -It¡¯s like a dictator¡¯s chronicle?? Did he make a grenade with a pine cone -No¡­ It seems like they just wrote the facts dryly, but why don¡¯t I believe it -What did they do so much? -They seem to be the busiest among the boy groups who debuted this year. I saw them at a neighborhood event a while ago??? They¡¯re amazing in real life. They look different from the camera -First of all, they don¡¯t have any humiliating photos from their debut. -He was from TJ¡­ That makes sense. He looked different from the other members when he performed -?? That¡¯s not a skill you can get in 6 months of training. I was shocked -Why did they let him out¡­? -Hey, Kyuho, if you have any conscience, you should do it three times a day in his direction -It¡¯s a well-known fact in the academic world that Kyuho¡¯s conscience disappeared along with his hair Thements broke through 200 in an instant. It was the first time that a sales post about New ck had such a response. *** When Woojoo woke up, nothing had changed in the world. The world was the same. The only difference was that his poprity had risen among the idol fans. Woojoo was surprised when he saw the link that thepany¡¯s PR team sent him. There were tons of posts about Woojoo on the idolmunity. It was the first time he received such intense attention. He was not immune to hatements, so he checked the replies with trembling hands, but most of them were curious or positive. It made him feel good. But Woojoo wasn¡¯t very happy. What Woojoo wanted was not Seon Woojoo, but New ck bing famous. Idols were a group activity. Woojoo was already worried about singing Night Sea with Rihyuk alone, but after the ad, the documentary, and Around the World With Dice, the interest in Woojoo only increased, which made him feel a bit regretful. Woojoo hoped that everyone would get attention in this Around the World With Dice special. With that thought, Woojoo packed his stuff. 4:30 in the morning. Woojoo sat in the living room with a dark blue dawn sky as the background and opened his suitcase. He packed toiletries, underwear, and clothes to change. ¡°Please put this in, too, Hyung.¡± The youngest, who had piled up his socks to his chin, looked at Woojoo. ¡°What do you want me to put in?¡± ¡°My socks.¡± ¡°Are you going to sell socks or something?¡± ¡°So, are you going to put them in or not?¡± ¡°Our youngest, do you see the initials ¡®SWJ¡¯ here?¡± ¡°Does it stand for ¡®Seon Woojoo is awesome¡¯?¡± ¡°I¡¯m never going to put yours in.¡± Woojoo put them in. He was dumping all his stuff that didn¡¯t fit in his bag to his Hyungs. ¡°Ah, I¡¯m nervous.¡± Woojoo asked Junghyun, who was putting clothes in his duffel bag. ¡°Are you nervous, too?¡± ¡°Yes. I¡¯m excited to go to the countryside for the first time in a while. The smell of the trees, and the fragrant smell of the soil¡­ I love it.¡± ¡°¡­¡± Woojoo ignored him. He checked the paper after packing. It was the list that Rihyuk wrote yesterday. Toothbrush, toilet paper, stic bags, and what was this? Red pepper paste¡­? Did he think he was going on an overseas trip? In fact, it was a trip. They were packing their bags for the Chuseok Special recording. They gathered in front of TBC in Sangam and moved to a vige in Gyeonggi-do for a two-day shoot. They had a lot of luggage because they had slept in. Woojoo locked his suitcase and approached Bijoo, who was making breakfast. Woojoo smiled at him, seeing the dark circles under his eyes. ¡°Did you not sleep well?¡± ¡°I was too nervous. It¡¯s my first variety show, so I¡¯m worried.¡± ¡°I know. It¡¯s a bit tough for a first-timer. You have to shoot for two days with strangers.¡± ¡°Yes, so I made up my mind.¡± Bijoo looked at Woojoo seriously and said, ¡°I¡¯m going to stick with you today, Hyung.¡± ¡°Why does your conclusion sound so weird?¡± Woojoo pointed to the youngest, who was ying EDM in the living room and dancing the morning shoulder dance with Junghyun, ¡°But Jiho reserved mest night.¡± ¡°Can I get a waiting number then?¡± ¡°Rihyuk is number one.¡± ¡°¡­There¡¯s nothing easy here.¡± He exchanged smiles with the guy who made a yful sad face. Bijoo skillfully flipped the fried eggs onto a te. Then he took out another egg and asked, ¡°Do you want me to cook the egg all the way?¡± ¡°No, I¡¯ll have it soft-boiled.¡± ¡°Okay. ¡­Oh!¡± ¡°Oh.¡± Thest egg he cracked was a double yolk. They looked at each other with a touched expression. ¡°A double yolk, this is a sign of luck.¡± ¡°Right? Maybe we¡¯ll hit the jackpot today on the show.¡± ¡°That¡¯s not it.¡± Rihyuk, who was drying his hair with a towel behind them, poured cold water on them. ¡°Double yolks are caused by stress or hormonal imbnce in chickens. The symbol of luck is nonsense like blood type or zodiac personality¡­ Why are you looking at me so scarily? I¡¯m just telling you.¡± *** TBC building in Sangam-dong. The meeting ce was in front of a statue called Mirror Man. At first, Woojoo wondered where it was, but it was there. A red square frame and two blue giants facing each other with their fingers. 6 a.m. When they arrived, the area around the statue was full of busy staff. Jimmy Jib cameras and various equipment were set up, and the writers, lighting, sound staff, guests, and managers were all there, making it a real mess. ¡°Hello, we¡¯re New ck!¡± They greeted everyone with a smile, but no one responded. They were all busy and had exhausted faces as if they were about to copse. ¡°Hello.¡± They also greeted the guests who were already there awkwardly. A woman in a pink T-shirt and a man in a green polo shirt. They were Han Yeoreum, a rookie actress who recently appeared as a chaebol daughter in a weekend drama, and Bae Younghoon, a former pro gamer who recently switched to a broadcaster. They were the most unknown people in each team, just like New ck. At first, they stood there nkly, but soon they started talking to each other as they saw the managers greeting each other. After a brief chat, the seven of them became close. It was because of a strange sense of kinship. Han Yeoreum brushed her styled hair carefully and said, ¡°They¡¯re making a fuss about promoting the new drama I¡¯m going into. Do you see that manager oppa over there? He¡¯s been nagging me in the car since this morning¡­¡± ¡°I¡¯m in the same boat.¡± Bae Younghoon adjusted his sses and said, ¡°They¡¯re so sweet about the variety show I got with difficulty¡­ I had a dream of bing fried ricest night.¡± Everyoneughed at that. He wasn¡¯t trying to be funny, but his tone was hrious. ¡°And after I got cut to a two-minute introduction video, the boss sent me to a gag school.¡± ¡°There¡¯s such a school?¡± ¡°It¡¯s in Songpa. It¡¯s run by a retirededian and it costs 300,000 won per session.¡± ¡°I¡¯d like to go there if I could afford it.¡± ¡°They¡¯re going to close down soon.¡± Everyoneughed at his calm remark. Han Yeoreum handed out throat candies to everyone and said, ¡°I feel a bit more rxed being with other rookies. It¡¯s going to be so embarrassingter¡­¡± ¡°Later?¡± ¡°When more people start to gather soon.¡± ¡°¡­I hate to even imagine it.¡± New ck tilted their heads as they watched the two guests shiver. Baek Younghoon asked them, ¡°Is this your first time doing a variety show?¡± ¡°Yes.¡± ¡°Oh, I see.¡± They nodded. The former pro-gamer turned broadcaster said with a gloomy face, ¡°You¡¯ll find out soon enough.¡± *** As the opening approached, the guests began to arrive one by one. Every time someone new came, there was a noisy greeting and small talk. It was a warm atmosphere. The employees who were going to work at the TBC building sometimes stopped and peeked at the scene, and what they saw was probably something like celebrities smiling brightly orughing and patting each other¡¯s arms. Of course, that was far from the truth. It was a scene of fiercepetition. They scanned each other and quickly approached and marked anyone who seemed sessful. Maybe it was because it was an industry where connections had an overwhelming influence, regardless of the field. It was intense. Watching it in real-time, Woojoo couldn¡¯t help but admire how they survived in the entertainment industry. They made drinking appointments so naturally. And in this situation, they were making empty greetings. ¡°Hello, we are New ck!¡± They either nodded their heads or barely acknowledged them, making them feel like they were greeting the air. But they whispered to each other that they hoped they would fail in science, as they watched Rihyuk say that they were greeting 78% nitrogen and 21% oxygen. Meanwhile, the inappropriate socializing continued. ¡°Didn¡¯t I see you at a drinking party with Director Yoonst time? Here we are again.¡± ¡°I had a cameo in that drama, A Million Candles. The voice of the cat ghost. ¡®Give me some churu¡­¡¯ Oh, you know it?¡± ¡°I go to the same salon as you. Which stylist do you get your hair done by?¡± Woojoo didn¡¯t know if the Korean entertainment industry was so small that you could know everyone by crossing one bridge, or if he should admire the brains of the seniors who found those connections. Jiho whispered, ¡°I¡¯ve been to a family dinner with my dad and some businessmen, and it¡¯s exactly the same as what I saw there.¡± ¡°People are all the same wherever you go.¡± ¡°Should we try talking to some other people?¡± ¡°Let¡¯s save it. We can talk to them when we start recording.¡± The atmosphere right now was not for rookie idols to join in. If they were careless, they might end up wandering around like theedian Seo Jihyung over there, getting ¡®Don¡¯t you have any sense?¡¯ looks. Meanwhile, there was another celebrity who was having a mini fan meeting. ¡°Wow, look at where Lee Gyeonwoo Sunbae-nim is. It¡¯s like a fan sign event.¡± Lee Gyeonwoo, the Hallyu star they met at TJ Entertainment, stood out like a star among the celebrities. He had an unreal appearance, and he was polite to anyone who talked to him. He looked like the perfect protagonist of a ball if he just held a wine ss. And in that background, one by one, the nasty viins appeared. And sure enough. They came. ¡°Hello, we are Girls on Top!¡± A six-member girl group dressed in fancy clothes like airport fashion. Oh Hyungseok, who was in charge of the old man position in Around the World With Dice, said, ¡°The atmosphere is different when a girl groupes,¡± andughter erupted around him. Girls on Top came in front of New ck. ¡°Hello, we are New ¡­¡± They ignored New ck. Especially, the youngest member of Girls on Top, Gil Chaekyung, smirked as she looked at Jiho. ¡°I¡¯ll get revengeter.¡± ¡°How?¡± ¡°That¡¯s for you guys to figure out. I¡¯m just going to get revenge.¡± Woojooughed as he watched the youngest member burning with determination. But he also felt a fire in his heart. ¡­How dare they ignore their kid? That was the feeling. Especially, Rihyuk narrowed his eyes. Girls on Top immediately started to chat with Around the World With Dice members in a friendly way. They had to socialize like that too, but their team leaders were nowhere to be found. They were really thete siblings who were called that on the program. Woojoo looked around and decided to have a calm conversation with each other. ¡°Three, six, nine, three, six, nine. One.¡± ¡°Two.¡± ¡°p.¡± ¡°Four.¡± ¡°Five. Ah, Junghyun Hyung. You have to say four, not four. You¡¯re twisting your tongue.¡± ¡°Six.¡± ¡°¡­¡± ¡°¡­¡± ¡°Woojoo Hyung. The fans might not know, but we won¡¯t fall for that smile. No. You can¡¯t smile like that either.¡± They were ying three, six, nine with their mouths because they had nothing to do. They wanted to do some business, but the people around them didn¡¯t take them well. They would listen with one ear and scan the surroundings with a hmm¡­ They didn¡¯t seem to like them very much. It was understandable. Connections meant ¡®If I get close to this person, maybe I¡¯ll get some benefits, right?¡¯ But they had nothing to give them. New ck was on the real-time search for a few weeks, but there was no one in this ce who hadn¡¯t been on the real-time search. Honestly, it was amazing to be here. And with that, Woojoo felt a bit strange. It wasn¡¯t that they deliberately looked down on them or ignored them, but they just floated around naturally. It was like looking at each other from a distance in the middle of summer, exchanging smiles with Bae Younghoon. They were all together, and then the three of them who fell as the balloon inted. Woojoo decided to do his best today and get some footage. The main PD, Gu Jaeyoung, picked up the megaphone. -Okay, let¡¯s gather for the opening soon! Please tidy up your seats! People started to gather around the five members of Around the World With Dice in the center. The staff¡¯s voices were heard. ¡°Where are Heeyeon and Heechan?¡± ¡°They had a t tire on the way and took a taxi. They said they¡¯ll be here in five minutes.¡± ¡°What a lie¡­ Hurry up!¡± ¡°Heechan just texted me. He said he¡¯ll send a proof shot saying ¡®Taejun Hyung will say it¡¯s a lie.¡¯¡± ¡°¡­Why is he making a V in front of the t tire?¡± ¡°He got hit by Heeyeon right away.¡± As Woojoo listened to the conversation, he found their seat that the production team had told them in advance. In the middle of the line on the right, stretched out like Hak Ikjin. It was a decent position. But there was someone in their seat. Aedian with a muscr body and red hair. Seo Jihyung. He had a round and likable face, and he stood there as if it was natural. Did he misunderstand? Woojoo whispered cautiously to him. ¡°Um, Sunbae-nim. The seat¡­¡± Seo Jihyung turned his head slightly and looked at Woojoo. Then he frowned and gestured with his eyes for Woojoo to go away, making sure no one else saw him. ¡­He knew all along. Woojoo stared at him in disbelief, and he mouthed the word ¡®go¡¯. What the hell. Was he trying to push them away just because he had a good opening? Actually, the seat next to them was better, but there was a scary-looking reggae-haired rapper there, so he must have picked on them, the easy targets. He turned his head back and smiled as if nothing had happened, and Woojoo¡¯s siblings looked at me. They had expressions that said, what kind of person is this? Woojoo was speechless for a moment, too, but then he quickly thought. And he came to a conclusion. Woojoo spoke politely, loud enough for the others to hear. ¡°Oh¡­ I¡¯m sorry, Sunbae-nim. I guess we got the wrong seat. I¡¯ll go ask the writers again.¡± The people next to them nced at them and Seo Jihyung. He noticed their gaze and tried to lighten the mood. And heughed heartily. ¡°Was this your seat? Don¡¯t just stand there, you should have said something sooner. I forgot my seat¡­¡± ¡°Didn¡¯t they stand there the whole time?¡± The guest who was standing on the left of Heysion, the famous celeb Maxi, asked. Seo Jihyung pretended not to hear and smiled. Then he quickly moved his seat. He red at Woojoo as he left, and Woojoo just replied with a polite smile. What a weird person. Well. Woojoo was stunned for a moment, but on the other hand, he felt like he learned indirectly what kind of ce the entertainment industry was through this experience. A ce where Woojoo had to take care of his own bowl. That was his first impression of entertainment. Chapter 103: Chapter 103: Trantor: MarcTempest Editor: Rxel Chapter 103 The Battle for the Best Spot Before the Opening The writers had assigned them their positions, but everyone was sneakily standing where they liked. Where they thought they would look good on camera. It was a weird formation. PD Gu Jaeyong frowned as PD Oh Taejun picked up the megaphone. -Please go back to your ces.Everyone hesitated. -Move as we announced earlier! Right now! At his roar, everyone returned to their original spots. Woojoo had expected this scene. That was why he hesitated when Seo Jihyung told them to move. They would make them go back anyway, so why bother to sh with a senior in the entertainment industry? But Woojoo also thought that he had to look after his own career, and he anticipated another problem. Sure enough. PD Oh targeted the rookies. -Han Yeoreum, Baek Yeonghoon! Don¡¯t you know your ces? He shouted at them, who looked embarrassed. -If someone is standing in your spot, you should at least say something! Did you n to wait until the production team told you? That was the reason. When there were too many people and they couldn¡¯t control them, they usually tried to set the tone in the beginning, and the targets were always the easiest ones. The ones who wouldn¡¯t cause any trouble even if they spoke harshly to them. In other words, the rookies. If they had said ¡®Okay, we¡¯ll move¡¯ when Seo Jihyung told them to, they would have been scolded like that too. Thankfully, they avoided that crisis. Woojoo nodded at his younger siblings, who looked at him with strange eyes. Meanwhile, the guests stiffened at the sight of the angry PD. They understood what he meant. If they didn¡¯t follow the rules, they would be edited outter. The tense atmosphere continued until Woo Jaeyong, the eldest and grandfather of Around the World With Dice, opened his lips. ¡°Oh, Director, why are you picking on people from the morning?¡± -Sir, it¡¯s because they don¡¯t follow the rules¡­ ¡°Look, the weather is nice and we¡¯re all gathered here. Do you think this will make the mood lively? Look at the guests¡¯ faces. It¡¯s not a Chuseok Special, it¡¯s a portrait special. A line portrait.¡± The old joke madeughter spread here and there. Another senior actor and grandmother of Around the World With Dice, Yang Okbun, also waved her hand. ¡°Yes, kid. Taejun, do you think this will make the shooting fun? We invited them to have fun together.¡± -Yes, yes¡­ ¡°Oh,e on, everyone smile. Smile. Don¡¯t frown your pretty faces.¡± As the two elders eased the mood,ughter circted here and there. But maybe because of the PD¡¯s scolding, the atmosphere was much more orderly and obedient than before. Soon, the youngest line of Around the World With Dice, Ye Heechan and Ye Heeyeon, arrived and the mood became lively again. Oh Hyungseok, the eldest brother and father of Around the World With Dice, aedian, clicked his tongue. ¡°Heeyeon, Heechan! Come on, hurry up. You invited the guests and this is embarrassing.¡± ¡°We didn¡¯t know the tire would burst.¡± Ye Heechan answered with a rxed face. Oh Hyungseok gave a hollowugh. ¡°How did the tire burst at that timing? You guys have a knack for findingedy at the wrong moments.¡± As they greeted each other, the Ye siblings found their ces. The girls from Girls on Top greeted them warmly, but they ignored them and stuck to New ck¡¯s side. Especially Yeo Heeyeon, right next to Woojoo. ¡­What? It was ufortable. She came into Woojoo¡¯s personal space and made him awkward. She smiled contentedly at Woojoo. ¡°Hi.¡± ¡°Uh¡­ hello.¡± But the way she looked at Woojoo was strange. A friendly feeling. The guests around them whispered, ¡®Are they close?¡¯ Soon, Ye Heechan solved that question. ¡°She likes you.¡± ¡°What?¡± ¡°She liked you since the basketball mission. She said it was fun to have a guest who used his body. She said it would be fun to do something physical with you today.¡± ¡°¡­¡± Yeo Heeyeon nodded and whispered to Woojoo, ¡°Let¡¯s have some fun today.¡± Woojoo felt a chill down his spine. It was the first time that her words sounded so scary. Woojoo realized what it was when he saw the look in her eyes. She looked at Woojoo like a farmer who had a strong brown cow. Woojoo imagined himself being dragged away by a nose ring and unconsciously rubbed his nose. Woojoo¡¯s siblings giggled. *** Finally, the opening shoot began. The gimme camera captured the cast members as the Around the World With Dice members raised their voices. ¡°Roll the dice!¡± The guests responded. ¡°Dice!¡± The opening started with a round of apuse. Comedian Oh Hyungseok held up the progress card and looked around the guests. ¡°Wow, how many people are there? There are so many people. Jaeyong, how many guests did you say we have for today¡¯s Chuseok Special?¡± PD Gu Jaeyong held up three fingers. The Around the World With Dice members acted surprised. ¡°Wow, thirty people!¡± ¡°Thirty people? Isn¡¯t that the most since the Idol Special?¡± ¡°But it¡¯s less chaotic than then. That was crazy. We had a hundred people chasing each other.¡± ¡°What did the teachers do then?¡± ¡°We were eating ice cream in the situation room.¡± The members started talking about the show. It was a boring tension. There was no sparkling wit or witty dialogue like on the show. About once every ten minutes. While they were chatting, the guests reacted withughter that made their mouths cramp. Finally, the guest introduction corner. There was a loud fuss every time someone introduced themselves, but one person was especially amazing. The owner of the bright appearance smiled softly. ¡°Hello, I¡¯m Lee Gyeonwoo. I yed the painter Kim Youngshin in the drama ¡®The Brush of Memory¡¯ this year. This is my first time appearing on a variety show, so I¡¯m very nervous. Please take good care of me.¡± ¡°Wow, your face is shining!¡± ¡°My goodness, China and Southeast Asia must be going crazy right now. How did a Hallyu stare to such a humble ce?¡± ¡°Humble? I¡¯m a fan of the program.¡± He gave a textbook answer that he watched it whenever he had time despite his busy schedule. After talking for about five minutes with the hottest star as the topic. The other guests continued their introductions. They made a big fuss over the famous people, but overall they were all supportive. Finally, it was New ck¡¯s turn. ¡°Hello, we are New ck!¡± There was a polite apuse. The naive uncle position, Actor Song Jinwoo, asked his older brother, Oh Hyungseok, ¡°Hyung, where have I seen those kids before?¡± ¡°They¡¯re the ones who sang Something!¡± ¡°Oh, they¡¯re the ones who sang Something? No wonder their voices sounded familiar.¡± Of course, he didn¡¯t really remember them. It was thanks to the writer who held up a sketchbook with ¡®Something!¡¯ written on it in front of the camera. Some people also said ¡®ah¡¯ and looked amazed at the keyword Something. Oh Hyungseok asked, ¡°Is this your first variety show, New ck?¡± ¡°Yes! This is the first variety show we¡¯re appearing on!¡± ¡°You look like it. You¡¯re fresh and cute.¡± As he said that, the mother position, Broadcaster Nami Ri, pointed at New ck as if she had found something. ¡°Oh my, look at their legs shaking. They must be very nervous.¡± It was their main vocal. Amidst the chuckles around them, Rihyuk coughed. ¡°I, I have low blood pressure, so that¡¯s why.¡± ¡°Isn¡¯t low blood pressure when your hands shake?¡± ¡°Yes, that¡¯s why my hands are shaking too.¡± He seemed to have said anything out of nervousness, butughter erupted from everywhere. ¡°His eyelids are shaking too, is he okay? Should we give him some heart medicine or something?¡± ¡°Oh, his ears are red now.¡± The members acted like they had caught him and made a funny situation out of Rihyuk. New ck also pped andughed. Woojoo had thought this since before, but their fourth member¡¯s ears were a variety cheat key. How did they shine whenever they needed some content? From now on, Woojoo should call him ear cheat key instead of truth ears. Thanks to that, they got to sing a song as well. Woojoo sang a short verse of Night Sea with Rihyuk and smiled. It was an introduction that took care of both promotion and content. *** The opening ended and the mass migration began. The staff loaded the equipment onto the vehicles, and the guests said goodbye to their managers. Usually, managers didn¡¯t apany them on this kind of variety show. Everyone cheered them on and said to do well, while Woojoo had a dumbfounded expression. It was because of the happy manager. ¡°Hyung, can you at least make a sad face like the other managers?¡± ¡°Like this?¡± ¡°No, more like you¡¯re sorry to see us go.¡± ¡°Sorry. I guess I was too tired because of taking care of you guystely.¡± Seokhwan Hyung smiled happily, and Bijoo pretended to be hurt. ¡°Manager, are you happy that we¡¯re leaving?¡± ¡°Of course, happy or not. I feel like flying. I didn¡¯t understand why my friend smiled when his wife went to her parents¡¯ house, but now I think I get it.¡± ¡°I¡¯m disappointed, Manager,¡± Junghyun said with a snort. ¡°We won¡¯t buy you any souvenirs.¡± They allughed. The manager who looked after them kindly gave them a warning. ¡°Call me right away if anything happens. I set your numbers as ambnce sirens for ringtones.¡± ¡°Okay, Hyung. Thank you.¡± ¡°Rest well while we¡¯re gone, Manager.¡± ¡°I can¡¯t do that. If I rest well, your schedules will disappear.¡± He seemed to have a lot of work to do after sending them off. Seokhwan Hyung got busier as New ck became more known. That was the job of a manager in the first ce. Going around and handing out business cards and promoting, drinking. So these days, most of the schedules were handled by the road manager, Minki Hyung, and other staff from the actor team. Seokhwan Hyung only showed his face as the manager in charge for important schedules likemercials or variety shows. That was why he didn¡¯t have to follow New ck today. He could have just dropped them off and said goodbye. If Woojoo were him, he would sleep for an hour or two more, but he felt grateful to the manager who didn¡¯t mind this hassle. ¡°Hyung, look forward to it. I¡¯ll impress the rural elders and bring back a lot of kimchi cabbages.¡± ¡°That won¡¯t happen.¡± Rihyuk said, ¡°Kimchi cabbages are sown in August.¡± ¡°Right. You sow the seeds for fall cabbage in August and harvest them in October.¡± As Woojoo red at the farmer who agreed with the encyclopedia, they both flinched. Woojoo gave an order to the third one. ¡°Junghyun, take away that annoying red-eared guy who keeps ruining the mood.¡± ¡°Yes.¡± ¡°¡­No, Hyung. Why do you always act like his servant? Oh, don¡¯t lift me up. People are looking¡­ Ow!¡± Everyoneughed as Junghyun carried away Rihyuk on his back. Jiho said he had to take a picture of this and raised his phone. ¡°Wow, our Rihyuk is so cute. Look here. I¡¯ll take a shot for you.¡± ¡°This is ridiculous¡­!¡± The other guests who were chatting with the managers also smiled and covered their mouths. As the camera-wielding VJs captured the scene, Seokhwan Hyung patted Woojoo¡¯s back and chuckled. ¡°You already got one segment done.¡± *** Oh Taejun, the PD in charge of Team C, stood with a rolled-up script in his hand. ¡°We¡¯ll split into two cars and move. The members will drive. First, Heeyeon will drive and Gyeonwoo will sit in the passenger seat. That way, the picture will look better.¡± The two handsome and beautiful guests nodded calmly. Lee Gyeonwoo. He was the most important guest for Team C today. He didn¡¯t participate because he wanted to, but because he had to promote the uing TBC pre-produced drama ¡®The Throne of Emptiness¡¯. That meant he had to be treated specially. Next were the two guests. A self-proimed attention-seeker SNS celebrity, Maxi, and a rapper with dreadlocks, Heysion. They both looked like they came out of a painting by an impressionist artist. One had thick eye makeup, leopard-print pants, and a slender body that seemed to be 180 cm tall. The other had a fierce expression that made Seo Jihyung, who was picky and bossy, look timid. He had a lean body, but the muscles that showed under his shorts and sleeveless shirt were dynamic. ¡°Maxi-ssi.¡± ¡°Call me Maxi, Director.¡± His voice was soft andnguid, unlike his strong impression. Oh PD nodded. ¡°Maxi, you¡¯ll ride in the same car as Heeyeon. Heysion, you¡¯ll sit in the passenger seat of the car that Heechan drives. And.¡± Oh PD looked around New ck. Then he gave a simple and clear answer. ¡°You guys can ride freely.¡± As soon as he finished, Ye Heeyeon raised her hand. ¡°Oh, then I¡¯ll call dibs on Woojoo.¡± ¡°Me too.¡± ¡°Why you?¡± ¡°Why do you think? I¡¯m trying to protect the kid from your clutches.¡± Thank you, Sunbae-nim¡­ The siblings started a serious discussion with serious faces. As Woojoo watched them decide the winner with rock-paper-scissors, he asked, ¡°Um, seniors. Don¡¯t I have a say in this?¡± ¡°No.¡± ¡°Nope.¡± ¡°Sorry¡­¡± The younger ones chuckled as the VJ captured this scene. The winner of rock-paper-scissors was Ye Heechan. While Ye Heeyeon looked disappointed, the younger ones turned to Woojoo. ¡°Me! Me!¡± Number 1, Wang Jiho, appealed to Woojoo. ¡°You talked to mest night, right? You promised to take me with you if we go on air today.¡± ¡°Did I?¡± Woojoo pretended to be clueless, but the youngest shook his head at him. ¡°You didn¡¯t forget, did you? We were lying on the bed together, face to face, and made a promise.¡± ¡°Hey¡­ No, that¡¯s not it! Camera director, that¡¯s not it. Hey, if you say it like that¡­¡± ¡°I went through the trouble of going to the next bed.¡± ¡°You just be quiet. No, really, that¡¯s not it.¡± Maxi, who was lowering the window,ughed as he saw Woojoo waving his hands in panic. Woojoo said, ¡°No, I¡¯m not aedy god, just get in by yourself.¡± ¡°No way.¡± Rihyuk refused. ¡°We have to be together when we¡¯re on air. You¡¯re like a totem that makes me feel safe when I hold you.¡± ¡°You¡¯re out too.¡± ¡°You worship the leader as much as you believe in that totem.¡± ¡°I¡¯ll give you a pass again.¡± ¡°Or maybe you¡¯re like a dolmen¡­¡± ¡°Just get in there.¡± Then Junghyun appealed to Woojoo. ¡°I have a lot of snacks in my bag.¡± ¡°You pass.¡± ¡­That was not what Woojoo said, but what Ye Heechan said. Junghyun blinked his eyes as he was kidnapped. It was like a scene of a stupid prince being kidnapped by a handsome thief, and Woojooughed. And the younger ones¡¯ expressions became urgent. There was only one seat left. As Bijoo was about to pull out his trump card and say ¡®one hundred¡­¡¯, Jiho shouted. ¡°One!¡± ¡°Two!¡± Rihyuk followed. Bijoo blinked his eyes. Then the second oldest brother smiled slyly at the youngest. ¡°Hyung, you¡¯re out.¡± ¡°¡­Really?¡± ¡°Yep.¡± ¡°Is there no such thing as a loser¡¯s revival?¡± ¡°Nope.¡± Bijoo walked away with a wobble, after hearing the firm answers from his two siblings. He looked like a sad deer. In the end, the one who got to ride with Woojoo was Jiho, who won the rock-paper-scissors. Meanwhile, the other teams were making a lot of noise. They were not joking around like them, but seriously discussing how to ride and who to ride with. Woojoo watched them as he climbed into the Starex. He sat next to the window, with Jiho in the middle. Ye Heechan, who was sitting in the driver¡¯s seat, smiled. ¡°You guys are good at getting the content, huh?¡± ¡°Oh. That¡¯s just how we are.¡± ¡°I hope you do well here too. You know there¡¯s a mini cam installed in the car, right?¡± Woojoo knew. The first thing he checked when he got in was the camera location. Yeo Heechan tapped the camera that was stuck between the driver¡¯s seat and the passenger¡¯s seat. They waved their hands towards it. At the same time, Woojoo made an awkward greeting with the musician who had a wicked look in his eyes, as their eyes met through the rearview mirror. ¡°Hello, Sunbae-nim.¡± ¡°¡­Hi.¡± He didn¡¯t sound very enthusiastic. Heysion. The top-notch hip-hop musician in Korea. He was famous for his various exploits, but he was also a legend in the underground hip-hop scene. Now he was appearing on variety shows and creating a funny neighborhood brother image, but he was a very amazing person in his field. The only problem was theirpatibility. -Burn the shy shells ¡­He once dissed idol singers with a rap like that, and he was known for hating the idol industry in general. The problem was that they had to get along with him to get the content for today. Woojoo thought he should try to talk to him as much as possible in the car, when the radio crackled. It was Ye Heeyeon¡¯s voice. -Bendy, this is Gangster. We¡¯re leaving, so follow us. ¡°Okie dokie.¡± With that, the trucks with TBC stickers started to move, and the Starex cars followed them in a line. It was the start of the real recording. Chapter 104: Chapter 104: Trantor: MarcTempest Editor: Rxel Chapter 104 This was more awkward than he thought. It felt strange to film a car conversation scene that Woojoo used to see on variety shows. Inside the ordinary car, not on the stage, the camera light blinked silently. It didn¡¯t react to anything he said, it just watched them quietly. It was like a little kid sitting in the corner, looking at him with every move he made. Heysion pointed at the camera.¡°This is my first time filming in a car. Is this all being recorded?¡± ¡°Yes, Hyung-nim. It¡¯s all being recorded.¡± Ye Heechan answered softly. He drove the car skillfully, looking ahead. ¡°I was really unfamiliar with it at first. There was no cameraman, just this one thing installed in the car, and they told me to talk by myself. I didn¡¯t know what to do.¡± ¡°¡­It¡¯s burdensome.¡± Heysion fiddled with his curly hair. Junghyun asked, ¡°So I can say anything?¡± ¡°No.¡± Ye Heechan smiled. ¡°You can¡¯t say anything, Junghyun-ah. You have to say something interesting.¡± ¡°Something interesting. Then Jiho can do it.¡± ¡°Me?¡± The youngest blinked his eyes, and Woojoo quickly joined in. ¡°Yeah, Jiho can do it.¡± ¡°Our youngest is so funny.¡± ¡°¡­Me, me?¡± The bad Hyungs coaxed the youngest with warm smiles. Heysion and Ye Heechan asked, ¡°Do you think the youngest is the most interesting?¡± ¡°Yes, we¡¯re all boring¡­ Jiho is really funny.¡± ¡°No, no. No, no.¡± But as they kept pushing him, the youngest showed his determination. ¡°I¡¯ll tell you a funny story.¡± ¡°Oh. Good.¡± Ye Heechan adjusted the camera angle with a smile. Jiho looked at Woojoo hesitantly, so he told him to speakfortably. But. ¡°It¡¯s about Woojoo Hyung.¡± ¡°Me?¡± ¡°Yes, it¡¯s about Hyung. A few days ago, I¡­¡± No way. ¡°Ah¡­ This was a bad idea. Seniors. I¡¯ll tell you a different story instead.¡± Heysion put his hand down. ¡°Let¡¯s hear the youngest friend¡¯s story first.¡± ¡°Right, Jiho-ya. Go ahead.¡± With their encouragement, the youngest started his story. ¡°It¡¯s a mystery story. We live in a dorm, you know. It¡¯s very small, ah, Woojoo Hyung told me to say it¡¯s a big dorm. But is it big? Ah, if you look with the eyes of your heart, it¡¯s big?¡± He repeated his whisper word for word, and everyoneughed. This guy with no filter. But that habit of not going through his brain was helping him in entertainment. He hadn¡¯t even started properly, but Ye Heechan¡¯s lips were smiling. ¡°So what happened?¡± ¡°A few days ago, there was something strange. Bijoo Hyung, you know, the one who looks like a pretty boy. He does a lot of housework, you know. But he started nagging a few days ago.¡± ¡°What did he say?¡± ¡°He said you guys are bringing too much dirt these days. He said there¡¯s a flower bed or something, and you shouldn¡¯t go in there.¡± ¡°That¡¯s too childish.¡± Heysion said, ¡°Who goes in there when they see a flower bed¡­ Ah, you went in?¡± The two idiots nodded their heads. Junghyun said with a serious face, ¡°But we don¡¯t go in there these days.¡± ¡°Yes, so, you know. It was so unfair. Me and Junghyun Hyung are older now, so we don¡¯t go into ygrounds or anything. But Bijoo Hyung said we always bring dirt, and it was so unfair.¡± ¡°That must have been unfair.¡± ¡°Yes. So I made a rash decision¡­ Huh? Oh, a bold decision. I decided to reveal the truth. So I started looking for the culprit, and it was one night.¡± Jiho exined the situation with a grim face. A dark bedroom with moonlight pouring in. ¡°Suddenly, Woojoo Hyung got up from the bed with a swoosh.¡± The two men showed great interest. Junghyun shivered and rubbed his arm. Their youngest had attended a fairy tale storytelling academy, and the vibe from that experience was still there. He looked like a vige chief telling a story about a hero. Ye Heechan urged him. ¡°Oh, then what?¡± ¡°I secretly followed him. But Woojoo Hyung put on his shoes and went outside. And he looked around menacingly, as if to see if anyone was following him.¡± It was because the entrance was dark and he couldn¡¯t see well. Jiho continued his realistic story. ¡°I was like, what? On the first day¡­ But when I went out at dawn, I saw dirt on Woojoo Hyung¡¯s sole. But I thought he wouldn¡¯t tell me if I asked, so I decided to tail him.¡± ¡°What happened?¡± ¡°I failed on the first day because I was hungry and stopped to eat tteokbokki. Uh¡­ I seeded on the second day, and Woojoo Hyung went to a yground near the apartment. And then he brought a shovel from somewhere.¡± ¡°A shovel¡­?¡± ¡°Yes. And he dug the ground in the yground, like this. Dig. Dig. And then, suddenly, he lifted his head like this¡­ Snap!!¡± ¡°Wow. That¡¯s scary!¡± The two men reacted realistically. It was lucky that the traffic was jammed. Otherwise, Ye Heechan would have turned the steering wheel and they would have all be guests of the underworld. How embarrassing that would have been. The King of Hell would ask them why they came, and they would say ¡®We were too scared by the story¡­¡¯. Woojoo had to scold the youngestter to be careful while driving. Of course, he seemed to know that and timed it well, but Woojoo never trusted him when he did something. Woojoo didn¡¯t know if he was really thoughtful or just lucky. Anyway, the reaction to the story was good. ¡°Wow, that¡¯s amazing.¡± Heysion sighed and clutched his chest. ¡°But Woojoo, why were you digging there?¡± ¡°It was because of the variety show¡­¡± ¡°Variety show?¡± ¡°When I had a pre-meeting, I told the PD that I was discharged from the army, and he asked me if I was good at digging.¡± ¡°You dig all the time in the army. Why do you need to practice?¡± ¡°I was actually an administrative soldier.¡± Ye Heechan burst intoughter. ¡°You¡¯re telling the truth now?¡± ¡°Yes, the PD had high expectations then, so I couldn¡¯t tell him properly. But I think he won¡¯t tell me to pack up and go now¡­¡± The two menughed heartily. Thanks to the youngest¡¯s horror talk, the mood was good. Woojoo could sense a bit of warmth in Heysion¡¯s eyes as he looked at them. He seemed to recall something and asked, ¡°Are you guys the ones who had a showdown with Street Boys?¡± ¡°It wasn¡¯t really a showdown. We just happened to release our albums at the same time.¡± And theirpanies fought like cats and dogs over it. ¡°We greet each other friendly whenever we meet at the broadcasting stations.¡± But their managers exchange res and curses with their eyes. Heysion chuckled. ¡°Hanjo told me that you guys crushed him.¡± ¡°Ahaha¡­¡± ¡°I¡¯m his rap teacher, you know. I hear a lot of trivial stories from him, but he speaks highly of you guys. He said he was grateful for your help when he went on the radio.¡± He was talking about that time. The day when Yoon Kiwon almost messed up on Jang Sowon¡¯s Wonderful Night, and Rihyuk helped him out. The dreadlocked rapper smiled. ¡°Now that I think about it, we have a surprising connection. Didn¡¯t I lose to you on the charts when Something came out?¡± That was right. ¡®The hip-hop chart dominator Heysion is here! Is it the end of Something¡¯s era?¡¯ The entertainment reporters wrote as much as they wanted, but the result was that they stayed at 4th ce until they dropped out. Life was full of surprises. Woojoo never thought he would meet this person here, and film a Chuseok Special with him. They exchanged small talk and the atmosphere became morefortable. Meanwhile, Junghyun took something out of his bag carefully. Then he spoke to Heysion. ¡°Sunbae-nim, I have a favor to ask.¡± ¡°What is it?¡± ¡°Can you sign this¡­¡± The other person tilted his head and then burst intoughter when he saw the album. ¡°What is this? Isn¡¯t this my album?¡± ¡°Yes, I bought it when I was in elementary school. I brought it today to get your autograph.¡± ¡°Wow, this is a total ck history. How did you manage to keep it?¡± ¡°Is this your first album, Hyung-nim?¡± ¡°Yes, this was a total flop. I released a thousand copies nationwide, but only sold two hundred. So you were one of those two hundred?¡± He seemed pleased. He examined Junghyun¡¯s face, as if checking whether he was trying to get on the show on purpose. And then he smiled, as if he realized the truth. Come on, Sunbae-nim. There was no one in the world who could lie worse than their kid. He took the pen and the CD with a cheerful smile. ¡°What did you like the most on this?¡± ¡°Track 3. The Soundness. I used that beat for my first mixtape when I was in middle school.¡± ¡°Really?¡± ¡°Yes, I loved that rhythm so much.¡± ¡°You have a good taste, kid. I also liked track 3 the most.¡± ¡°It¡¯s a real masterpiece. I decided to be a rapper when I listened to this in elementary school.¡± Ye Heechan looked at him with curiosity. ¡°How did you know about this album? You were in elementary school.¡± ¡°Actually, I bought it thinking it was rock music. As you can see, on the cover, Sunbae-nim is shaking his head¡­¡± ¡°Ah, stop there! Respect my portrait rights, please.¡± Heysion covered the camera with his hand. Woojoo was curious to see what the album cover was like, and everyoneughed. There was a childish logo that said ¡®Rapper Kim-Duckbae¡¯, along with a long-haired rocker-like man shaking his head. It felt like this would definitely go on the air as a footage. Junghyun held the album like a treasure, and Ye Heechan suggested with a pleasant smile, ¡°Then, since we¡¯re here, why don¡¯t we listen to it on the way?¡± ¡°This is a precious album¡­¡± Junghyun looked anxious, but the two menughed. Especially Heysion, who seemed satisfied to see the CD surface that was worn out from ying too much. Soon, the rough sound filled the car. Heysion immersed himself in the music and gavementary on each track, while Junghyun listened attentively, almost taking notes. Then he said with emotion, ¡°I feel like I¡¯m meeting Buddha right now.¡± Heysionughed out loud. It was not a fakeugh for the show, but a real one. Woojoo also joined him with a happyugh. Woojoo was worried about how to get close to him, but it seemed to be solved more easily than he thought. It was all thanks to someone¡¯s fan love that hadsted since elementary school. *** The car that was moving along the winding road arrived at a small vige in Yencheon County, Gyeonggi Province. In front of the vige hall, six broadcasting station vehicles and Starex vans were parked in harmony. They had been enjoying the air conditioner all the way, but everyone seemed to feel stuffy inside, so they stretched here and there. Woojoo asked Junghyun, who was sniffling his nose, ¡°How is it? Is it different from Seoul?¡± ¡°It¡¯s definitely different. It¡¯s not as good as where my dad lives, but I like it here too.¡± ¡°Ugh¡­ I feel nauseous.¡± ¡°You¡¯re such an idiot. Who told you to eat so many snacks?¡± The youngest rubbed his chin area as if he felt sick. Woojoo massaged his shoulder and pounded his back. Soon, a sound close to a burp came out. The youngest looked at him in surprise. ¡°Wow. My stomach suddenly feels better. How did you do that?¡± ¡°What do you mean?¡± It was a massage skill that Woojoo practiced by watching YouTube whenever he had time, hoping to use it on Kim Deoksoon. Woojoo smiled as he saw the surprised youngest. ¡°Why are you making such a proud face?¡± Woojoo I turned his head and saw Rihyuk. He also looked like he had a bad stomach. ¡°Do you want me to pound your back too?¡± ¡°No, don¡¯t touch me. My stomach is not good.¡± He looked pale, so Woojoo wondered what was wrong, but someone put their hand on his shoulder. Bijoo slumped down with a sigh. ¡°What¡¯s wrong? Are you feeling sick?¡± ¡°No, it¡¯s not that¡­ It¡¯s just that the seniors were talking nonstop, then feeling awkward, then talking again, then feeling awkward again. I was wondering when to join in, so I came here with a lot of pressure.¡± ¡°You did a good job.¡± ¡°How was it for you?¡± ¡°We had a good time. Junghyun was a fan of Heysion Sunbae-nim.¡± ¡°Oh, really?¡± They exchanged stories that they had in the car as they approached the vige hall. Heysion and Junghyun were arm in arm, calling each other ¡®brother¡¯ and ¡®younger brother¡¯. It was an unexpected friendship. On the other hand, Ye Heechan and Ye Heeyeon were sticking together as siblings, and Lee Gyeonwoo and Maxi were walking quietly as if they had nothing to say. Lee Gyeonwoo Sunbae-nim seemed to have a quiet style. He didn¡¯t talk unless it was necessary. Woojoo was envious of him. He didn¡¯t have to talk passionately even when he appeared on a variety show. Woojoo was five times louder than usual today. Thanks to the several throat candies that Han Yeoreum gave them earlier, he was able to endure it. Woojoo looked around to see how the others were doing, and they seemed to be well-mixed and talking to each other. Where did Seo Jihyung go? Woojoo felt someone walking behind him, trying to bump into his shoulder on purpose. And his body moved unconsciously. It was the boxing skill he used to dodge the attacks from the President and Seokhwan Hyung at Lemon Entertainment. Woojoo avoided it so naturally that the person who tried to push him stumbled and lost bnce. ¡°Ouch!¡± Woojoo heard people around him exim. He looked to the side and saw a red-haired man lying on the floor. There he was. Woojoo reached out my hand to the fallen Seo Jihyung. ¡°Sunbae-nim? Are you okay?¡± Woojoo whispered softly and helped him up. ¡°Oh? Sunbae-nim, you have some dust on your clothes.¡± ¡°Ah, it¡¯s okay¡­¡± ¡°Let us dust it off for you!¡± ¡°Oof, oof, oof¡­!¡± ¡°Oops, sorry! We¡¯ll dust it off gently.¡± ¡°Cough!¡± As they shook off the dirt on his ck T-shirt, people passed by with smiles. They looked like they were enjoying the heartwarming scene. PD Oh Taejun who followed them with a camera also captured the scene and moved on. As he nodded his head and disappeared, Seo Jihyung looked bewildered and wondered what had just happened. ¡°Wow, I was so nervous.¡± Bijoo whispered, ¡°I thought you might punch him or something.¡± ¡°What if I did? Would we have gotten some airtime?¡± ¡°It would have been a hot topic for sure. In a bad way.¡± ¡°I¡¯m d I didn¡¯t.¡± Woojoo suddenly remembered the gossip texts he got from Seokhwan Hyung. -Rookie Idol A who ignoresedians, knocks down senior during famous variety show filming¡­ Something like that. Woojoo was nervous too. Woojoo was afraid he might identally hurt someone. He usually tried to control his ability to prevent such things, and he felt like his effort paid off a little. Meanwhile, as they headed to the vige hall, they saw the vigers who had heard the broadcasting out. ¡°Hello!¡± The vigers who recognized the celebrities cheered. The biggest reaction was for the two veteran actors, Woo Jaeyong and Yang Okbun, who were once national stars. The grandmothers especially looked like they had turned into teenage fans. Age didn¡¯t matter when it came to fandom¡­ ¡°Who¡¯s that handsome guy? Isn¡¯t he from a drama?¡± ¡°That¡¯s right! He is!¡± The attention soon shifted to Lee Gyeonwoo. Woo Jaeyong¡¯s embarrassed expression and the members teasing him were caught by the VJ¡¯s camera. And then. ¡°Who are these guys? They¡¯re so handsome.¡± ¡°There are five handsome guys. They¡¯re so pretty. Let me see your hand.¡± ¡°They¡¯re pretty, they¡¯re nice.¡± Surprisingly, New ck also got some attention. Maybe it was because the elderly didn¡¯t know much about celebrities, they seemed to judge by their looks objectively. In contrast, the younger generation recognized the celebrities and greeted them with bright eyes. Amidst the noisy conversations, they split into teams and took their seats. Then, PD Gu Jaeyong held up a script. ¡°Okay, today¡¯s broadcast concept is a special edition of , where we show our gratitude to the elders who have worked hard throughout the year before Chuseok!¡± He continued. ¡°Today, the residents will rest and you will show your filial piety. Before I exin the details, let me reveal the first mission.¡± The main writer immediately held up a white cloth. There was calligraphy written in brush on it. [The first virtue of filial piety: Cook a delicious meal] And the moment Woojoo saw that. Bijoo smiled the brightest smile in the world. It was all thanks to someone¡¯s fan love that hadsted since elementary school. Chapter 105: Chapter 105: Trantor: MarcTempest Editor: Rxel Chapter 105 As soon as the first mission was revealed, everyone started toment. ¡°A cooking mission?¡± ¡°Are we really going to cook? I remember watching an episode of Around the World With Dice where they had to gather firewood and cook over a fire pit.¡± ¡°No way. We¡¯re probably going to serve a meal to the elders.¡± The main PD, Gu Jaeyong, exined, ¡°The first mission is to serve a delicious meal to the elders. You will be divided into three teams. The team that gets the most customers will win.¡± Then, Yang Okbun, the teacher, frowned her wrinkled forehead.¡°Director Gu, what about the recipes and stuff? There must be at least a dozen people here who can¡¯t cook, like me.¡± Everyone nodded, and PD Gu Jaeyong answered as if he knew. ¡°Yes, we anticipated that you might have such concerns, so we prepared the recipes for you. The assistant directors will hand out one copy to each of youter. You just have to follow the instructions.¡± He added, ¡°Of course, we won¡¯t impose any restrictions on the recipes. You can call your mother or someone you know. You can also use the recipes from the inte blogs.¡± ¡°This is too nice to be true.¡± Theedian, Oh Hyungseok, furrowed his brow. ¡°You¡¯ve never been so lenient before. What¡¯s the catch this time?¡± ¡°Yes, there is a catch.¡± The members of Around the World With Dice sighed as if they expected it, and the guests listened attentively. ¡°There is no limit on the recipes, but there is a limit on the ingredients.¡± ¡°¡­Ingredients?¡± ¡°We bought the ingredients that you will use for cooking. But to get them, you have to visit the elders¡¯ houses. There is a map with the ingredients marked on it¡­ Where is it? Hyungseop! Oh, right.¡± The assistant director appeared with arge sheet of paper. It was a map of the vige, with the names and ingredients of each household where the elders lived. [Kang Chilbok, Lee Geumsoon ¨C pork] Like that. It looked like a game map that indicated where you could buy potions from NPCs. ¡°The ingredients are ready like this. There is enough quantity, so you don¡¯t have to worry too much. However, to get the ingredients, you have toplete the missions given by the elders of each household.¡± Things like changing light bulbs or working in the fields. They were missions based on the hardships of the elders who lived alone in the vige. PD Gu, who was looking around the cast, pped his hands. ¡°Then, before we start the first mission, I¡¯ll give you some time to discuss with your teams.¡± *** Inside the spacious vige hall. Thirty cast members were divided into three teams. ¡°First of all, let¡¯s split our team into three groups.¡± Ye Heeyeon, the leader, wrote ¡®Task Allocation¡¯ on an A4 paper. Then she wrote down each item. Ingredient Gathering Team (8 people). Cooking Team (2 people). ¡°First, let¡¯s find someone who will stay and cook. Is there anyone here who has some experience with cooking?¡± ¡°Me.¡± Bijoo raised his hand cautiously. The team members¡¯ attention was focused on him, and Bijoo smiled shyly. ¡°I¡¯m not very good at it, but I¡¯m confident that I can do my best. Cooking is my hobby.¡± ¡°Bijoo is just being modest.¡± Woojoo added. ¡°He¡¯s really good at cooking.¡± ¡°Really?¡± ¡°Yes, he¡¯s better than my mom. ¡­Uh, can you edit that out of the broadcast?¡± The youngest¡¯s remark made the team members and the VJugh, and Ye Heeyeon wrote Bijoo¡¯s name in the cooking team. ¡°Then, how far can you go?¡± ¡°I know how to do basic cooking. I don¡¯t know much about foreign cuisine, but I can handle Korean food to some extent¡­¡± ¡°Did you learn it by yourself?¡± ¡°Yes, I learned from watching YouTube or reading cookbooks.¡± The team members looked a bit skeptical at the word ¡®self-taught¡¯. ¡°Well, as long as you can do basic knife skills, that¡¯s fine,¡± Ye Heechan said calmly. ¡°It¡¯s the same for the other teams. Even if someone says they¡¯re good at cooking, there are only two or three out of thirty here¡­¡± That was true. The other teams were also arguing over who would cook. Especially the Team B, which included six girl group members, looked gloomy as if they had no one who could cook. On the other hand, the Team A was cheerful. Heysion asked. ¡°Why are they so happy over there? They look like they¡¯re having a feast.¡± ¡°Wait a minute.¡± SNS celebrity Maxi raised his hand to his ear. As they tilted their heads at his sudden action, anguid voice conveyed the situation. ¡°Mr. Seo Jihyung, you¡¯re opening a restaurant? You have a Korean cuisine license too? Wow, you¡¯re our team¡¯s savior. Savior. Yeah, Jihyung! Yeah, you should do something other thanedy¡­ he says.¡± ¡°You can hear that?¡± Lee Gyeonwoo asked in surprise, and the celebrity nodded. ¡°I¡¯m good at listening to other people¡¯s conversations.¡± How did he hear that? It was amazing that he caught the dialogue from that far away through this noisy crowd. Woojoo tried it once, but it didn¡¯t work. Theedian who announced that he had a Korean cuisine license was smiling proudly as his teammates cheered for him. But then, apuse erupted again from Team A. The target was none other than Han Yeoreum, the rookie actress who greeted them before the opening. Maxi leaned his ear again. ¡°She graduated from CIA.¡± Everyone blinked. ¡°CIA? Like in the TV show?¡± ¡°Isn¡¯t that like a spy agency?¡± ¡°Wow, awesome.¡± ¡°What, then she¡¯s not Korean?¡± Junghyun tilted his head. ¡°But can she say that she came from that kind of organization? In movies, they have to hide their identity and stuff.¡± ¡°Maybe she was an office worker?¡± As they exchanged silly stories, the true identity of CIA was revealed. It was an acronym for a very famous cooking school in the US, simr to the Central Intelligence Agency. They all coughed as they saw the inte search results. Heysion licked his tongue. ¡°They won¡¯t have any trouble with cooking there. They have someone who graduated from a famous school, and a restaurant owner too.¡± Judging by the atmosphere, Team A had already secured their victory. Teacher Woo Jaeyong was in high spirits andughed heartily, and Oh Hyungseok praised Seo Jihyung. Their teammates encouraged Bijoo. ¡°Don¡¯t feel too pressured.¡± ¡°Yeah, don¡¯t try to beat the people who learned cooking professionally. We¡¯ll do our own thing.¡± ¡°The elders might prefer home cooking more.¡± ¡°Bijoo, you don¡¯t know the oue. If we work hard, we can be first. So cheer up. Okay?¡± But they didn¡¯t seem to think that their second would cook well. He looked refined and moved gracefully, so he didn¡¯t match well with cooking. They probably thought that he liked cooking as a hobby. That wasn¡¯t wrong. Bijoo did enjoy cooking. But his skill was not just at a hobby level. Woojoo always noticed it when he chopped vegetables or stir-fried rice. His movements were extraordinary, to say the least. Woojoo thought he could learn how to cook by watching him instead of YouTube videos. Objectively speaking, their second brother was a good cook. But judging by the people¡¯s reactions right now, it felt like their expectations were below zero. Bijoo blinked and looked at Woojoo. Woojoo smiled at him. They would find out soon enough. *** They decided on the menu quickly. Japchae, bulgogi, and soybean paste stew. The other teams were simr. They all chose a stew as the basic dish. Team A¡¯s main dishes were steamed fish and bossam. Team B¡¯s were bulgogi and various pancakes. Team C¡¯s were mountain vegetables and rice cakes. Since they were catering to the elderly, the food had to be soft and familiar. And since other residents would alsoe to eat, they had to preparerge quantities. That was why there weren¡¯t many dishes that met both criteria. The only thing left was the ingredient war. ¡°Okay, you have two hours to get the ingredients. You have plenty of time and plenty of ingredients, so don¡¯t just focus on the mission. Have a good time and chat with the elders.¡± The mission started with PD Gu Jaeyong¡¯s words. ¡°Good luck!¡± ¡°Make sure you get all the ingredients you need!¡± As their second brother and Ye Heeyeon waved their hands, their Team C split into three groups. ¡°See youter, Hyung.¡± Heysion and Junghyun went to the right fork. ¡°I¡¯ll do well!¡± Jiho left with Lee Gyeonwoo and Ye Heechan to the left fork. And the remaining three of them walked down the middle road. Woojoo, Rihyuk, and Maxi. Maxi was walking in the middle, but Rihyuk circled around and stuck to his left. He seemed to think he was moving subtly, but it was obvious to anyone. The one who noticed it blinked his eyes. Then he asked in a sullen voice, ¡°Hey¡­ do you hate me?¡± ¡°¡­Huh?¡± ¡°You moved away, so I thought you hated me¡­.¡± It was so straightforward that they both were flustered. Rihyuk waved his hands in surprise. ¡°No, no, it¡¯s not like that at all!¡± ¡°Thene here. Let¡¯s talk and walk.¡± ¡°¡­Uh, okay.¡± As Rihyuk returned to his original spot, Woojooughed. ¡°He¡¯s very shy, you know.¡± ¡°Aw¡­ I see. I¡¯m very shy too.¡± ¡­said the person who had eye makeup like an Indian. Rihyuk snorted at Woojoo¡¯s words. ¡°I¡¯m not timid. Not at all¡­.¡± ¡°Your ears are so red, they look like ketchup up close.¡± ¡°Do you want me to tell you how to make them redder?¡± ¡°Oh, how?¡± ¡°Justpliment him.¡± Rihyuk shook his head. ¡°Don¡¯t say weird things. It¡¯s just hot, that¡¯s all. These ears have nothing to do with embarrassment¡­¡­.¡± ¡°Your voice is really nice. It makes me feel good when I hear it.¡± ¡°¡­¡­.¡± ¡°Your proportions are amazing too. Do you want to be a fitting model for my online store?¡± ¡°¡­¡­.¡± ¡°Wow, you¡¯re really shy.¡± His sweet voice and bright tone made Woojoo feel curious. Maxi. He was a famous person on SNS for his selfies and online store. He first appeared as a guest on a cable TV show, and then became popr everywhere because of his unique character. He was known for his concept of speaking without filtering his brain. Well, he might go home and say, ¡®Geez, it¡¯s so hard to make a living¡¯ but he looked the same as he did on TV. A VJ with a 6mm camera followed him all morning, so he had no chance to give up his concept. He asked, ¡°Where are we going first?¡± ¡°We¡¯re going to get the bulgogi ingredients first. We¡¯re going to the people who are not doing the mission right now.¡± There were three houses marked with beef on the map. Woojoo gave up on the first house right away, as he could see VJ¡¯s face and hear the noisy sounds beyond the wide-open gate. The second house was about four minutes further away, and the sun was so hot that his face felt burning even though he applied a lot of sunscreen. Their main vocal, who was famous for his pale skin, had turned into a ripe strawberry. ¡°Ah, I¡¯m dizzy¡­¡± ¡°Are you okay?¡± ¡°Don¡¯t worry about me. It¡¯s just because of the heat.¡± Woojoo should have brought something like a straw hat. He felt worried as he whined. Maxi, who was walking next to him, pointed at a house in the distance. ¡°Is that it?¡± ¡°No, you have to turn left from there. That house is¡­¡± Woojoo checked the map and said, ¡°It¡¯s a different house. An old man lives there, and he gives turmeric as an ingredient.¡± ¡°Turmeric?¡± ¡°It¡¯s an ingredient for curry,¡± Rihyuk answered. ¡°¡­There¡¯s no dish that uses turmeric.¡± Just like you couldn¡¯t make chocte with cacao beans, you couldn¡¯t make curry or anything with that one ingredient. Turmeric. The other houses had ingredients that could be used for cooking, like tofu, chives, beef, etc., but that house only had one useless ingredient. A house that looked fairly neat, unlike the other old houses. They passed by it, and Maxi looked at it with pity. ¡°Aw, poor guy. No one would visit him with that ingredient.¡± ¡°I know, right?¡± Woojoo said, ¡°Then how about we stop byter?¡± ¡°I¡¯m in.¡± ¡°Me too. He must be lonely living by himself, so let¡¯s say hello to himter.¡± Soon they arrived at their destination, the second house. ¡°Excuse me.¡± Woojoo lifted the door handle and knocked with a thud. The door opened soon, and an olddy came out in her slippers. ¡°Oh, you¡¯re here! Come on in!¡± Her name was Im Soonhyun. She said she had been waiting for them, as her friend from the senior center had called her and bragged that the people from the broadcasting station hade to her house. She was happy to see them two at first, but when she saw Maxi behind them, she looked a bit surprised. This guy with thick eye makeup and leopard print pants. Im Soonhyun seemed to have a culture shock for a moment. Then she decided to give him apliment. ¡°Oh, you¡­ You look brave like a lion.¡± Woojoo couldn¡¯t help butugh at the awkward praise. Anyway, they exchanged greetings in a friendly atmosphere. Woojoo asked for permission to hold her hand, and then he held both of her hands and looked into her eyes with a smile. Woojoo deliberately pronounced more clearly than usual, and he was d that she seemed to like it. After the VJ took off his shoes and entered, they followed him into the house. A brown Pomeranian in the living room ran towards them with a bounce. ¡°Wow, how cute.¡± As Maxi and the VJ smiled broadly, Woojoo alsoughed because it was adorable. ¡°¡­¡± Rihyuk was standing still in his ce, hunching his shoulders as if he was glued to the spot. The puppy ran around Rihyuk as if it was happy to see him, but he only rolled his eyes without moving a muscle. The VJ, who had been frowning because of the sunlight and the filming equipment, showed a faint smile for the first time. ¡°Are you afraid of dogs?¡± Grandma Im Soonhyun snickered and picked up the dog. Then she led them to a ce with her awkward gait. The living room. To be precise, it was more like a storeroom than a living room. Grandma looked embarrassed and said, ¡°Is it messy?¡± ¡°No, no.¡± ¡°My back has been hurting so muchtely that I couldn¡¯t clean up. That¡¯s why, can you please help me with this a little bit¡­ Do you think you can do it?¡± ¡°Cleaning?¡± And then, Rihyuk, who had been groaning as if he was going to faint from anemia, suddenly straightened up. He looked like a squid with a developed erector spinae muscle. Their fourth member¡¯s eyes sparkled. ¡°Do you mean we can help you with cleaning?¡± He looked at the stuff piled up in the living room with Grandma, and while wiping the dust with a tissue, he gave an estimate like a person who was very excited. As Woojoo approached Rihyuk, who was asking Grandma if this would be okay, Maxi whispered to him, ¡°Does he like cleaning?¡± ¡°He goes to a vacuum cleaner expo on his days off.¡± ¡°Geez¡­ There are all kinds of weird people.¡± ¡®I know, right. Geez.¡¯ But thanks to him, Woojoo had a feeling that the mission would be rtively easy. As Woojoo walked towards Rihyuk, who was gesturing for him toe, he thought of the other members. He wondered how they were doing. *** At the same time. Junghyun and Heysion, who had seeded in getting tofu for their mission, were heading to another house. The two men, who had been exchanging rap verses with rhymes about the ingredients for soybean paste stew, heard a strange sound. ¡°Ahh! You scared me!¡± With a scream, the Team A members ran out of a house gate. One of them, the model Han Sora, lookedpletely flustered. As Junghyun tilted his head, Heysion asked, ¡°What¡¯s wrong with you guys?¡± ¡°We had to do a mission, but it was too fierce¡­ Oh, you startled me!¡± With a scream, something leaped onto the wall. It had glossy ck fur, sharply curved horns, and a massive body that wasrger than anyrge dog. The creature that boasted a regal appearance was none other than¡­ ¡°A ck goat?¡± A ck goat roared with dignity from the top of the wall. -Baa! Chapter 106: Chapter 106: Trantor: MarcTempest Editor: Rxel Chapter 106 The ck Goat. Junghyun was sincerely amazed as he looked at the fierce and scary goat. ¡°Wow, it¡¯s really cool. The horns are huge.¡± Heysion, who had felt a moment of intimidation from the goat, chuckled as he saw Junghyun¡¯s eyes sparkle. He then looked at the Team A members who were in a state of panic. ¡°Is the mission rted to that goat?¡±¡°No, that¡¯s more like a bonus mission¡­¡± Han Sora said, brushing her startled chest. ¡°They said the goat doesn¡¯t eat much, and if we can feed it somehow, they¡¯ll give us some extra ingredients as a bonus. The PD also said it was okay. So we tried, but¡­¡± ¡°That thing is so fierce, it¡¯s unbelievable.¡± Actor Lee Kangjin of Team A answered instead. His forehead was full of cold sweat. ¡°It¡¯s so aggressive, it growls at us as soon as we approach.¡± ¡°¡­Goats growl?¡± ¡°That¡¯s just an expression. I¡­ oh, why am I looking at it.¡± The ck goat that had jumped over the wall was staring at Lee Kangjin. It was more than just a re, it was a gaze full of emotion. Heysion made a suspicious expression. ¡°Did you just give it food?¡± ¡°That¡¯s right. We tried to feed it something, but it suddenly got angry and flipped the bowl. So we said a few words¡­¡± ¡°A few words?¡± ¡°We spoke a bit harshly, and then¡­¡± He hesitated to continue. It was easy to imagine what kind of reaction the ck goat had shown, so they didn¡¯t ask any further. They left the Team A members with a word of sympathy. The two rappers heard the conversation they were having. ¡°Too bad. If we had seeded, we would have gotten a decent dessert ingredient.¡± ¡°Teacher Woo Jaeyong just sent a message.¡± ¡°What did he say?¡± ¡°How can two healthy men be intimidated by a single ck goat and not even feed it?¡± ¡°Did you send him a picture of the goat?¡± ¡°Just a second. Yes, I just sent it¡­ Oh, he replied.¡± ¡°What did he say?¡± ¡°He said to warn him before sending such a picture. He said he¡¯s taking heart medication these days.¡± ¡°¡­¡± The two rappers listened to the conversation. They looked at each other as they saw the goat jumping down the wall again. ¡°Should we give it a try?¡± ¡°Yes, Hyung.¡± ¡°Then let¡¯s go in and say hello first.¡± As he followed Heysion, Junghyun licked his dry mouth. He felt strange. The word ¡®Hyung¡¯ didn¡¯t stick to his mouth. It could be because of the huge age difference, but it just didn¡¯t fit. He felt ufortable, but he didn¡¯t know why. He shook his head and smiled. Forget it. He didn¡¯t want to think about it. ¡°Hello!¡± ¡°Oh my, you scared me.¡± The olddy¡¯s eyes widened at the appearance of the reggae-haired rapper. The old man with white hair who was waving a fan clicked his tongue. ¡°Don¡¯t be so surprised. We saw them in front of the vige hall earlier.¡± ¡°I didn¡¯t see them. I was busy looking at the handsome young men. Oh my, there¡¯s another one. The most handsome young man among the young men.¡± ¡°Thank you.¡± Junghyun nodded his head. ¡°I¡¯ve heard that a lot from the elders.¡± He added casually that he was also the elders¡¯ type, and the old coupleughed out loud. The husband clicked his tongue again as he saw his wife scrutinizing Junghyun. ¡°He¡¯s a handsome one, alright.¡± ¡°Be quiet, dear. You were staring at that girl who was making a fuss earlier.¡± ¡°¡­I should keep my mouth shut.¡± Junghyun, who always had a friendly conversation with the elders whenever he went to his hometown, looked at Heysion. A slightly awkward expression. He didn¡¯t know what it was. Before they parted, Woojoo Hyung showed him a note on his phone where the camera couldn¡¯t see. He noticed on the way here that Heysion Sunbae-nim seemed to feel left out of the conversation because he was the crew leader and a senior in the music industry. So, when he suddenly became quiet and you couldn¡¯t tell what his expression was, try to include him in the conversation quickly. So Junghyun asked Woojoo. Like when Jiho got mad? You¡¯re smart, Junghyun. Junghyun smiled warmly and followed his advice. He reached out his hand to Heysion and said, ¡°We came here to do the mission together.¡± ¡°Are you two brothers?¡± ¡°No. He¡¯s my fan and we became sworn brothers.¡± Heysion perked up and joined the conversation. Seeing him, Junghyun thought again. Hyung really suited Woojoo Hyung the best. After exchanging brief greetings with the elderly couple, they went straight to the mission to get the soybean paste. The pile of firewood in the yard was their target. ¡°Chop the firewood?¡± ¡°Yes, just do fifty and you can go.¡± ¡°¡­Fifty?¡± Heysion was shocked. He looked at Junghyun with a worried expression. Specifically, at his slender body. ¡°Can you do it?¡± ¡°Huh?¡± ¡°I mean, you look like youck strength. Idols don¡¯t eat properly, right?¡± ¡°That¡¯s true, I¡¯ve lost some weighttely.¡± ¡°How much do you weigh?¡± ¡°I¡¯m 67kg.¡± ¡°¡­That¡¯s 15kg less than me.¡± Heysion smiled at Junghyun as he expressed his concern. ¡°You don¡¯t have to worry. I¡¯ve done this a lot before.¡± As Junghyun said that, he lightly pulled out the axe handle that was stuck in the wooden base. With one hand. ¡°¡­¡± Heysion stared nkly. He had a strange expression on his face, so Junghyun quickly remembered Woojoo¡¯s advice and said to the elderly couple, ¡°The Hyung here is also very strong.¡± ¡°Really?¡± But the sunbae still looked odd. Junghyun shouldpliment him again. Junghyun held the firewood with one hand and lifted the axe. ¡°I¡¯m sure you¡¯ll do better than me. I¡¯m on the weak side.¡± ng! The firewood split in half with ease. Then Junghyun handed the axe to Heysion with one hand. Heysion coughed and grabbed it with both hands. He still had a strange expression. Junghyun spoke to the elderly couple again. ¡°He¡¯s a senior who¡¯s very strong, so he¡¯s much better than me¡­¡± Thwack-! The firewood didn¡¯t split, but bounced off like a nail that was hit wrong by a hammer. The couple chuckled at the sight of it falling to the ground. ¡°Oh my, he sure has a lot of strength.¡± ¡°But that¡¯s something you need to do with skill, not force.¡± Heysion made a sheepish face as Junghyun continued. ¡°It¡¯s because he¡¯s too strong¡­¡± ¡°Hey, Junghyun.¡± ¡°Yes?¡± ¡°Stop teasing me¡­¡± Heysion looked gloomy as Junghyun tilted his head. He did what Woojoo Hyung told him to do, why was he like that? Heysion asked Junghyun as he handed him the axe handle lightly, ¡°Have you done this a lot?¡± ¡°I grew up in the countryside since I was young.¡± His father made him do all kinds of work when he was young, because he was too weak at home. He made a strange expression again. So Junghyun said it. *** The firewood chopping mission was over in a sh. Junghyun had seeded in no time. The previous team had struggled for a long time, and the old couple praised him for being amazing. Of course, Junghyun never missed a chance topliment Heysion. The VJughed so hard that he held his stomach, but Junghyun couldn¡¯t understand what that meant. And Heysion also started tough a lot at the end, and Junghyun confirmed that Woojoo¡¯s advice was right. Bijoo had whispered to him when they left the vige hall. -If you don¡¯t know something, just do what Woojoo Hyung does. His friend¡¯s words were very wise. And he was proud of himself for following that advice faithfully. Heysion said, ¡°By the way, this ck goat¡­¡± He pointed at the ck goat that was lying down leisurely with a leash around its neck, and the old man asked, ¡°Daegil? Why him?¡± ¡°You said you gave a mission to the team that came before us.¡± ¡°Oh, that?¡± The old couple exchanged awkward smiles. ¡°We have too many sweet potatoes, they¡¯re rotting. We wanted to share some with them. And Daegil hasn¡¯t been eating welltely¡­¡± ¡°I had a friend who had a dog like that. Wasn¡¯t it because it¡¯s pregnant?¡± ¡°You bastard with balls.¡± ¡°Boss, tone it down. You¡¯re making those young men nervous.¡± ¡°Gohani ran away.¡± The two rappers bit their lips and suppressed theirughter. Anyway, they had a mission toplete. Feeding the ck Goat Leader! They approached it with a brass bowl full of cabbage. But the ck goat seemed very wary. As soon as it saw the contents, it hesitated at the barrel that was acting like a turret. As they looked closer, they realized how big it really was. "It''s because he ate a lot of good things. He was weak since he was young, so he had to eat ginseng roots and stuff like that." As soon as Grandpa said that with a smile, Grandma pped him on the back of his head. ¡°He only eats spicy food like bellflower root or ginseng, that¡¯s why his temper is so bad.¡± ¡°Is it the food? He learned it from watching you.¡± "If he looked like me, he would have looked more like my muse. If he were human, he would have been baked into bread by now." While the couple was having a casual conversation, Heysion approached with a bowl of rice. That was when the goat sprang up and ran towards him. ¡°Ah, what a shock!¡± ng! The chains that were pulled tight like violin strings trembled and made a noise. Junghyun watched the ck goat enterbat mode, lowering its head. Heysion carefully put down the bowl of food. ¡°What should we do about this?¡± ¡°I know, right?¡± ¡°Junghyun.¡± ¡°Yes, Hyung.¡± ¡°It¡¯s our job. Not someone else¡¯s.¡± ¡°Oh, right.¡± Heysionughed at the sight of Junghyun, who had no sense of crisis. He pondered for a moment and said, ¡°Shall we try to approach him more friendly?¡± ¡°Friendly?¡± ¡°Like this.¡± Heysion cautiously approached, put his hand on his thigh, and leaned slightly. Then he smiled and said, ¡°Hi, Daegil.¡± The goat Daegil suddenly stopped his action and stared at him with his eyes. Heysion smiled while maintaining eye contact. ¡°Hey, this seems to work.¡± ¡°¡­Um, Sunbae-nim.¡± ¡°Yes?¡± ¡°I saw it on an animal documentary.¡± Junghyun said, ¡°Looking straight into the eyes of an animal is a signal to fight.¡± ¡°¡­¡± ¡°Do you want to fight me, that¡¯s what it means.¡± ¡°¡­So, am I screwed now?¡± Junghyun turned his head. The old couple nodded. ¡°Yes. You¡¯re screwed.¡± ¡°Hey, then what should I do?¡± Heysion said in a crouching posture. His eyes were still dull. Grandpa said, ¡°That one, he¡¯s a nasty bastard, so just give up and go.¡± ¡°How do I go?¡± ¡°Just move your body¡­ Ouch.¡± Daegil suddenly kicked his leg and ran towards him. And the chain was pulled tight again. But it didn¡¯t stretch any more. ¡°Haha¡­¡± When the two rappers and the VJ exchanged a smile of relief, Daegil, who was moving tightly, took another step. Thud. The iron rod where the chain was stuck was pulled out. The ck goat, who was staring at it, and the humans looked at each other. ¡°¡­¡± Then the death sprint began. *** ¡°At that time, I couldn¡¯t even dream of divorce like now, and I wondered how I should live every night. If only my son wasn¡¯t a baby.¡± ¡°Aw¡­ You must have had a hard time.¡± As Grandma Im Soonhyun dabbed her eyes with a tissue, Maxi did the same with his eyes. Then he spoke to Woojoo with moist eyes. ¡°Do you want one too?¡± ¡°No, I¡¯m fine.¡± Then Woojoo asked Grandma, who he was massaging her shoulders, ¡°Grandma, isn¡¯t it very cool here?¡± ¡°Yes, yes, oh my. It¡¯s cool. How do you massage so well?¡± ¡°I practiced every day to do it for you, Grandma.¡± ¡°That¡¯s impressive.¡± Grandma Im Soonhyun nodded. She gave Woojoo some advice as they talked about her children. ¡°But you should also take good care of your parents.¡± ¡°Yes, I will.¡± Woojoo smiled and shook his head at Maxi, who was about to say something. ¡°Do you want me to press here? Grandma also says it¡¯s very cool when I massage this part¡­¡± ¡°Oh, good. Good.¡± ¡°So, Grandma, what did you do next?¡± ¡°Well, let me tell you.¡± Grandma Im Soonhyun started to tell Woojoo about the ups and downs of her life. She had no ce to talk about these things before, so she kept unfolding her stories. How hard she lived alone, how great the second man she met was. She talked about her happy life, and how her husband passed away. The VJ fixed the camera and sipped the plum tea, and Maxi listened to the stories with glistening eyes. The Pomeranian puppy, Dusik,y on his back on Maxi¡¯s leopard-print pants and fell asleep. His soft belly swelled and shrank as he breathed. Meanwhile, another mini-cam installed on the tripod captured someone who was busy roaming the living room. It was their main vocal. He was wearing a ck T-shirt, and his tiptoeing walk reminded Woojoo of a crow. His cheek twitched every time he wiped the dust on the objects with a wet tissue. ¡­Did he like it? Well, he was the one who sang so much that he wanted to buy a robot vacuum cleaner. Unlike the second one who liked all the housework, their fourth one was very fond of cleanliness. He would neatly fold the nket as soon as he woke up in the morning, and if someone squeezed the toothpaste from the middle, he would squeeze it from the end. So he couldn¡¯t stand seeing anything messy. He even cleaned the waiting room when he arrived at the music show. ¡°Hey, take a break.¡± Grandma called out to him with embarrassment. ¡°It¡¯s a bit awkward to sit here by ourselves. Don¡¯t put all your energy here and go help them.¡± ¡°I¡¯m fine.¡± He shook his head. ¡°I¡¯mfortable alone.¡± ¡°Oh dear¡­ It¡¯s hard to do it alone.¡± ¡­But Maxi didn¡¯t move an eyebrow. Woojoo was the same. No, Woojoo wanted to help, but he nagged too much. Woojoo had swept the floor properly, but he said Woojoo did a sloppy job. He said Woojoo had cleaned this spot, but when he wiped it with a wet tissue, dust came off. He red at Woojoo and asked why there was dust here. As soon as he dered that he would do it himself, Maxi and Woojoo quickly sat on the floor. They continued their conversation from before. Woof! Woof! Pomeranian, Dusik, suddenly woke up from his sleep and started barking at the outside. ¡°¡­What¡¯s going on?¡± VJ muttered and picked up the camera. It was because all the dogs in the nearby houses started barking. At the sound of the siren announcing the air raid, Grandma Im Soonhyun clicked her tongue. ¡°Daegil ran out again.¡± Daegil? Woojoo wondered if there was a scary person wandering around the neighborhood. ¡°They should have boiled and eaten him long ago, that bastard.¡± ¡°Ahem¡­ You shouldn¡¯t say that about people. Grandma.¡± ¡°What are you talking about? He¡¯s a goat.¡± ¡°¡­A goat?¡± ¡°You¡¯ll see. He¡¯s a big, ck one.¡± They all went out to the yard at the iprehensible story. And when they peeked their heads out of the gate, they witnessed a strange scene. VJ, wearing a yellow T-shirt, ran past them at full speed. He was so fast that he left a trail behind him. He made a sound like ¡°Aaaah¡­!¡± as he passed by, like a racing car. The sound got closer and then farther away. And then another scream came closer. ¡°Aaaah¡­!¡± It was Heysion and Junghyun. ¡°¡­?¡± And behind them, a ck goat was chasing them with a heavy stone tied to his leash. What did Woojoo just see? He blinked and looked again, but the ck goat was still chasing the people. ¡°¡­¡± VJ, Maxi, and Woojoo looked at each other. They nodded their heads with a warm smile. Then they quietly closed the gate. Chapter 107: Chapter 107: Trantor: MarcTempest Editor: Rxel Chapter 107 ¡°Huff¡­ Huff¡­¡± The three men gasped for breath. They had been chased until they reached the entrance to the back mountain of the vige. They looked around nervously, and when they saw nothing, they sighed with relief. ¡°Phew, shi¡­ oh shi¡­¡± VJ rubbed his chest. Then he seemed to snap out of it and checked the camera.Heysion asked, panting, ¡°Director, did you film that?¡± ¡°¡­You remember I ran in front of you, right?¡± ¡°I do, but¡­ Ugh. Are you okay?¡± ¡°Yes.¡± Unlike the two men who were soaked in sweat, Junghyun looked calm. Heysion stuck out his tongue and said he had a monstrous lung capacity. ¡°Are you not tired?¡± ¡°No, I just ran at the speed I jog.¡± ¡°¡­¡± ¡°I don¡¯t really know, but you two suddenly ran, so I followed you. But why did we run?¡± ¡°Yeah, why did we run?¡± Actually, there was no reason to run away. Even when the goat raised its horns like a seizure, the grandfather of the house didn¡¯t look worried. Usually, when dogs threatened people, the owners got scared and stopped them, but he said something like, ¡®That guy is doing it again.¡¯ That meant there was a reason. VJ and Heysionughed and said they felt unmanly. ¡°Ugh, really. Why were we so scared of a goat? Now that I think about it, it was nothing.¡± ¡°Exactly. It was just a small goat¡­ Aah! That scared me!¡± With the sound of a chain dragging on the ground, the ck goat Daegil came walking over from afar. Junghyun looked back and asked, ¡°¡­Why are you hiding behind me?¡± ¡°You¡¯re the one in front of us.¡± ¡°Yeah, we¡¯re not hiding. It¡¯s because of the camera equipment.¡± It was strange. They wereughing heartily in front of him just a moment ago. Behind Junghyun, VJ turned on the camera and filmed the goat. Then, Daegil stopped walking. He stared quietly at the humans like a lion watching the hyenas he chased out of his territory. The ck goat turned his body and disappeared. He was truly the king of the jungle, or rather, the countryside. Junghyun blinked. ¡°He¡¯s just leaving?¡± ¡°He is.¡± ¡°¡­He is.¡± They looked at each other andughed. Of course, they looked pathetic. They had run from morning until the end of August on a hot day, and their faces were showered with sweat. Especially Heysion, whose dreadlocks were fluffy. Under the shade of a tree, Junghyun fluttered his T-shirt and looked at the two men. ¡°¡­But what should we do?¡± ¡°What do you mean?¡± ¡°Grandpa and Grandma will look for the goat. Don¡¯t we have to take it home?¡± ¡°Hmm¡­ Then¡­¡± Heysion asked VJ, ¡°Director, can you contact the other production staff? Let¡¯s tell them first, and meanwhile¡­ Well, let¡¯s just follow it for now.¡± They followed the ck goat that was trotting down the bumpy road. When they reached the paved road, the goat had slowed down considerably. ¡°It must have been hard for it to chase us all the way here.¡± ¡°It¡¯s brave to run here with a stone on its head. I¡¯ve never seen a ck goat with anger issues in my life, man.¡± Butpared to before, it was a peaceful scene. The ck goat walking with a heavy stone on its cor, and the two men following it leisurely. VJ captured that on camera. Especially Junghyun. The idol member who smiled happily at the wildflowers that bloomed on the border of the road and the fields. Heysion followed his gaze and pointed at a flower. ¡°This flower looks really pretty. It has purple buds on its leaves that look like bells.¡± ¡°It¡¯s called a peri flower.¡± ¡°¡­You know the name?¡± ¡°I used to see it a lot when I was young. My grandfather told me that it was a flower that the elders used a lot as a herb in the old days.¡± ¡°Oh, really?¡± ¡°Yes, and this is easily confused with the season when sesame leaves grow, but they are actually different species.¡± Heysion blinked his eyes as he watched him exin the wildflower in a naive tone. Then he put his arm around his shoulder. ¡°Hey, you¡¯re like a wildflower expert now. How do you know all this?¡± ¡°My dream is to be a farmer after I finish my idol activities.¡± The two adultsughed as if they couldn¡¯t stop him. When Heysion pointed at another wildflower, Junghyun answered right away with a detailed description. The rapper with dreadlocks said to VJ, ¡°This is being filmed, right? It¡¯s awesome.¡± VJ made an OK sign with his hand. While following the ck goat, Heysion asked Junghyun various questions to get more content. Why he dreamed of being a farmer. What was growing in that field over there. Little stories about the countryside. And every time he exined, Heysion felt moved by the happy expression on Junghyun¡¯s face. ¡°I feel like I¡¯m filming a healing show with you.¡± ¡°Really?¡± ¡°If it wasn¡¯t so hot, I would have kept walking like this¡­ It reminds me of my father.¡± ¡°Your father was a farmer too?¡± ¡°He had an orchard¡­ He would sparkle his eyes like you when he talked about fruits.¡± ¡°I think I know how he felt.¡± Heysion smiled at the sight of the idol shaking his head. Meanwhile, the houses of the vige came into view. They just had to pass this road and they would reach the entrance of the vige. It was then that Daegil walked along the road with familiar steps. ¡°We got in touch with the other team,¡± the VJ said as he put down the phone. ¡°They said not to worry about the goat. It will find its way home by itself.¡± ¡°Are you sure? What if it runs into something and causes trouble?¡± ¡°They said it¡¯s fine. That ck goat is the terror of the neighborhood dogs, but it never attacked a human.¡± ¡°Then why did we run away?¡± ¡°Exactly. The old manughed and asked why we ran away too.¡± ¡°¡­¡± The three men looked at each other in silence. Then they exchanged warm smiles. It was a tender camaraderie that only men could share when they realized they had done something stupid. Heysion unfolded the map and said, ¡°Then let¡¯s leave that anger management disorder goat alone and move on to the next mission¡­¡± But then they heard a nking sound. It was the sound of a metal rod caught on the iron grate of the drain at the edge of the road. To be precise, it was the metal rod attached to the cement block that the ck goat had around its neck. nk- The ck goat struggled and twisted its body, but it was still stuck. It kept moving forward like a bull, only looking ahead. And they saw a caring at a fast speed from afar. It was a white truck. It would hit the goat if it kept going like that. Even if it slowed down, it would be the same. The ck goat seemed to see the car too, as it blinked its eyes. The problem was that the ident seemed to have stopped. It could have turned back, but the goat was still trying to move forward, iling its legs. ¡°Hey, hey! Come here!¡± And as the two men desperately called the goat, Junghyun ran out. He ran quickly and grabbed the goat, and then. ¡°¡­¡± He started to wrestle with the goat. *** Junghyun¡¯s decision to run out was not the result of aplex ident. ¡®Should I save it? Or not?¡¯ What if he saved it? He could save it, but Bijoo would scold him terribly. It was okay if Woojoo Hyung and the two younger brothers followed him around all day and said, ¡®Rihyuk, scold this careless guy.¡¯, ¡®Careless? He¡¯s the epitome of carelessness.¡¯, ¡®Haha, Junghyun Hyung. Look at this meme!¡¯ But Bijoo¡¯s scolding was¡­ ugh. He would sit him down in the living room and whisper from one to ten, ¡®So, tell me what you did wrong.¡¯ That was scary. But. If he left it like that, it would get hit by a car. The face of his same-age friend who would gently scold him and the face of the ck goat in front of him spun around. Uh¡­ That was why he made up his mind. The most important thing was a life. As soon as Junghyun decided, he ran out. Then he picked up the ck goat in the middle of the road and ran back. The startled goat twisted its body this way and that. Junghyun thought about letting it go, but if it struggled like this, it would be hit by the truck that wasing. He had to hold on to it, but he didn¡¯t know how to catch a four-legged animal. When he was young, he saw his grandfather subdue a ck goat. Heid it down and pressed its neck slightly with his knee to immobilize it. But that was hard to do at this angle. So Junghyun thought of one thing in his head. ¡®Oh, that.¡¯ A while ago, when Woojoo and Rihyuk appeared on a radio show, the youngest teased them in the chat. When they came back that day, Woojoo used some kind of jiujitsu or wrestling technique on the youngest. That came to his mind. So Junghyuny down and applied the technique to the ck goat. The goat still bleated and twisted its body, but it couldn¡¯t resist his strong force and soon calmed down. Meanwhile, a white truck zoomed past them. *** ¡°Hey, you bastard! How can you run like that when a car ising?¡± ¡°I¡¯m sorry.¡± ¡°Junghyun. Shooting is important, but if you get hurt like this, you¡¯ll ruin the show even more.¡± ¡°I¡¯m really sorry, Director.¡± Junghyun scratched the back of his head as the two men scolded him. He also pulled out the iron rod that fell into the drain. The tame ck goat looked at him briefly. Junghyun stroked its head as if he was petting a puppy. He looked at the others and apologized again. ¡°Well, you did well anyway.¡± Heysion wrapped his arm around the slightly sullen man¡¯s shoulder and smiled. It was a good thing after all. He was partly responsible for thismotion, and the VJ also didn¡¯t want to see a pet goat die because of the guest¡¯s carelessness during the shooting. So the two who were scolding him soon thanked him. ¡°By the way, did you get this on tape properly?¡± ¡°Just a moment.¡± They gathered together and checked the recorded footage. ¡°¡­¡± From the first time they met Daegil until now, they realized that everything was recorded perfectly. They were captivated by a strange certainty. ¡°Director, this will go on air for sure, right?¡± ¡°Unless another team makes a dog sled and runs with it, nothing better than this wille out.¡± ¡°Really?¡± Junghyun was the only one who looked puzzled. ¡°This is going on air?¡± ¡°How can it not, you idiot.¡± Theyughed hollowly as they saw Junghyun smiling brightly and saying he had to tell the members quickly. As they returned to the vige, they noticed something unusual. ¡°¡­But Junghyun.¡± ¡°Yes?¡± ¡°That goat, it seems to be following you, doesn¡¯t it?¡± The ck goat Daegil was trailing behind Junghyun with a clingy sound. *** [¡ñ REC] 2014-08-30 10:48:31 Heysion: But, you know. There¡¯s something I¡¯m curious about. Junghyun: Yes. Heysion: The thing you did to the goat¡­ Where did you learn that? Junghyun: (Bright expression) Oh, that? There¡¯s a member in our group who¡¯s good at physical stuff. Heysion: Woojoo? Junghyun: Yes. I learned it from watching him. (Looking at the camera) Woojoo Hyung, did I do well? Remember when I asked you how to do it, you exined it to me while hugging a pillow. Thanks to that, I was able to subdue the ck goat. Heysion: Puhahaha! Junghyun: (Giggling) Why are youughing? Heysion: (Wiping tears) Nothing, just ask the person himselfter. *** Grandma Im Soonhyun¡¯s house. Woojoo covered Grandma¡¯s eyes with his hands as they stood in the middle of the yard. ¡°Do we have to do this much?¡± ¡°Surprise gifts are always more fun, Grandma.¡± ¡°Oh, my. How much did you clean up?¡± Grandma didn¡¯t know the state of the living room. They had to move some stuff around, so they all cleaned up together for thest 15 minutes, but the dust was too much, so Grandma went outside for a while. And when she came back with some chicken feed, it was time to reveal the result. ¡°It must be amazing, amazing.¡± ¡°Just a moment.¡± The door opened and Rihyuk, who was standing in the living room, gave Woojoo a thumbs-up. He smiled brightly and said, ¡°Now you can go in.¡± Woojoo led Grandma into the living room. As soon as he removed his hands, Grandma Im Soonhyun¡¯s thin eyes scanned the living room. Then her eyes widened. ¡°Oh, my¡­¡± ¡°It¡¯s neat, right?¡± While Grandma looked around the living room, Woojoo sang the BGM that they used to use in the old home improvement programs. ¡°Ta-ra-ra-ra~ Ta-ra ra-ra-ra~¡± Rihyuk joined him soon. As the cheerful BGM echoed, VJ and Maxiughed. It was because of the harmony they added. Theyughed at the song that sounded like a two-person acape group. Woojoo exined to Maxi, ¡°It¡¯s our upational disease.¡± They used to y like that in the car, too. If one of them sang, the others would join in with harmony. Meanwhile, Grandma, who was looking around the living room, seemed touched. ¡°It¡¯s so clean. So clean.¡± ¡°Right?¡± Rihyuk smiled proudly. Woojoo would have teased him for being smug on any other day, but not today. It was understandable. The living room had changed remarkably. It looked like a warehouse before, but now it was a neat interior with a touch of human care. There was still old wallpaper and furniture, but it was the most dramatic change that could be shown in a short time. It looked much more spacious just by rearranging the stuff. Woojoo said to the grandmother who looked impressed, ¡°It¡¯s very pretty, right?¡± ¡°Don¡¯t be so cocky.¡± Rihyuk interrupted with a snort, ¡°I did all the cleaning, and you¡¯re taking the credit?¡± ¡°We helped you move the stuff.¡± ¡°¡­¡± He kept saying he was fine by himself, but in the end they had to intervene. He was sweating so much while moving the stuff that he looked like a red-eared turtle. Maxi, who was gently scratching the chin of the Pomeranian in his arms, added as if he agreed, ¡°Weak¡­ Rihyuk.¡± Woojoo held back hisughter as he saw his face turn red. *** Grandma Im Soonhyun held Rihyuk¡¯s hand and thanked him, saying she would give him something¡­ He didn¡¯t refuse and took some. The production team said it was okay. Thanks to that, they left the house with a bag full of money. Then they went around the vige to get other ingredients for cooking. The first mission to get beef was the only difficult one, the rest were all things that ended quickly and easily. The production team was actually encouraging that. They made sure that none of the teams would suffer fromck of ingredients, but instead, they made them visit each house where the elders lived alone. ¡°Oh, thank you. It¡¯s so hard to go up and down the attic. I couldn¡¯t even get what I needed until my son came.¡± Thest mission ce they visited, another grandmother grabbed both of Woojoo¡¯s hands and said. Then she handed him a red ticket that meant mission sess, and it said ¡®soy sauce¡¯ on it. That was the system. When theypleted the mission and got the certificate, the ingredients were delivered to their cooking team at the vige hall. And they would start cooking as soon as they got the ingredients. Team A, who chose a dish like bossam that took a long time to cook, started cooking as soon as they got the pork. Maxi, who was checking the chat room for them, said, ¡°Your members are doing well.¡± ¡°Really?¡± ¡°They said they all did well¡­ One of them became friends with a ck goat.¡± ¡°Maybe it was the goat from before.¡± ¡°I guess they always get along by fighting.¡± He smiled warmly as if it was a happy ending. Woojoo smiled as he looked at Maxi. Woojoo shook his head, trying to erase the image of Junghyun dancing with the ck goat in his mind. Rihyuk asked Woojoo, ¡°How did they be friends with the ck goat?¡± ¡°It¡¯s Junghyun.¡± ¡°That¡¯s very convincing.¡± He chuckled and looked at his wristwatch. They had 40 minutes left until the mission was over. They had gathered enough ingredients, and they had plenty of time. So Woojoo suggested to Maxi, ¡°Excuse me, Sunbae-nim.¡± ¡°Call me Maxi.¡± ¡°You lost to me in rock-paper-scissors earlier.¡± ¡°¡­Hmph.¡± He was stubborn about the honorifics, so Woojoo proposed to settle it with rock-paper-scissors. Of course, Woojoo won. Woojoo used his mimicry ability to make scissors every time he was about to throw fast. By the way, Rihyuk lost too. ¡°Excuse me, Sunbae-nim. We have some time left. How about we go there?¡± ¡°Turmeric grandpa?¡± ¡°Yes, him.¡± ¡°Sure. Can we stop by there?¡± The VJ nodded at the question. It seemed that no one had gone there yet. Well, turmeric was not a useful ingredient anyway. They approached the grandpa¡¯s house. Unlike the other houses, it was a neat one-story house that looked new. As they got closer, they saw that thewn was well maintained, and a Labrador retriever with a graceful coat was sitting in a doghouse painted in pastel tones. What was this? The aura of wealth that emanated from somewhere¡­ Woojoo felt something was strange when the door opened with a bang. ¡°Oh, you¡¯re here! Wee!¡± The grandpa, wearing luxury brands all over his body, came out waving his hand. Chapter 108: Chapter 108: Trantor: MarcTempest Editor: Rxel Chapter 108 The grandfather¡¯s name was Kang Moonsik. ¡°Oh my, I thought you wouldn¡¯te to our house. Oh, you¡­¡± He rolled his eyes as he looked at the three of them, as if he wanted to show off the celebrities who visited his house. But he had no idea who they were. One of them was a broadcaster who became famous through SNS, and the other two were rookie idols who had just debuted. ¡°What a handsome and beautiful bunch! Hahaha!¡±¡­That was how he summed them up. ¡°Come on in! Come on in!¡± They followed the excited old man into the house. ¡°I cleaned up the whole house since this morning, because I heard the broadcasting people wereing. It¡¯s clean, right?¡± ¡°The house is amazing.¡± Maxi admired the living room as he looked around. The living room was spacious and elegant, decorated with a neat interior. The sunlight was warm as it came in, and the reason why the scorching sun felt so nice was probably because of the air conditioner that was blowing strongly. Ah. It was cool. Woojoo was very d to feel the coolness on his skin. ¡°Do you want something to drink?¡± ¡°No, we¡­¡± ¡°Do you have milk?¡± ¡°¡­¡± Three sses of milk flew in at Maxi¡¯s words. As they all settled in the living room, Rihyuk quickly got up and took the tray from the old man. ¡°Thank you very much.¡± He turned his head and drank the milk like a shot, and Woojoo couldn¡¯t help butugh at his sight. ¡°So, what are your names?¡± They had a brief introduction time. Of course, he didn¡¯t seem to recognize who they were. He asked what SNS was, for crying out loud. At least when they said, ¡°We¡¯ve been on PBS¡¯s Music Night,¡± he said, ¡°You must be famous singers, then.¡± Actually, it didn¡¯t seem to matter who they were. He justughed and said, ¡°It¡¯s important that you¡¯re on TV.¡± ¡°I¡¯ve been sleepless since yesterday, because the broadcasting people wereing. I even put on my best clothes.¡± No wonder, he was wearing clothes he didn¡¯t usually wear. Woojoo was surprised by the luxury logo that was prominently stamped on his belt and polo shirt. ¡°I¡¯ve done everything in my life, but I¡¯ve never been on TV¡­ Yeah,st time, that, on my hometown show, they showed every other house, but, well, the broadcasting people said they wouldn¡¯t show my house because it didn¡¯t look like a country house.¡± ¡°There are some bad people out there.¡± ¡°Right? They were all rotten. They kept the old folks standing.¡± But Woojoo thought he knew why this house wasn¡¯t on TV. It was very modern. It would be an inappropriate scene for a show about rural life. Other people lived in houses with te roofs, but this one had a tiled roof even for the doghouse. Did Around the World With Dice assign turmeric to this ce for that reason? To make them not go¡­? If that was their intention, Woojoo felt bad. No matter how nice the house was, it was a lonely house for an old man living alone. Woojoo asked him, ¡°Sir¡­ Do you live alone?¡± ¡°Yes. The house was built by my children, but they don¡¯te by these days. They just built the house and left.¡± ¡°Oh¡­¡± ¡°Poor thing¡­ You must be lonely.¡± Woojoo wondered how to react, but their celeb did it for him. Woojoo listened quietly to his story. He let out all the chatter he had been holding back, like a floodgate that had opened. He told them everything from catching crayfish in the ditch when he was young, to the jungle of the Vietnam War, to the love story with histe wife, to thebor he did to raise his children. It was like a turbulent modern history of Korea. But this was not good¡­ Woojoo felt sleepy. Was it because he ran around all morning without sleeping well? His body was weary. Woojoo tried to keep his eyes open and smile, and react to each story, but his eyelids kept getting heavy. Even the VJ who was filming them was half-fainted. The other two were not much different. Rihyuk and Maxi had a bizarre expression on their faces, like dead people with their eyes wide open and their mouths smiling, as if they were in a horror movie. Woojoo probably looked the same. When the story finally ended with the news that he had returned to his hometown in the 2010s. ¡°Ah, I talked too much about myself.¡± ¡°¡­No, it was very interesting.¡± Woojoo pped his hands, and Rihyuk joined him. ¡°That¡¯s right. It was very educational.¡± ¡°Aw¡­ You must be tired of talking.¡± Grandpa looked at his watch and asked, ¡°It¡¯s about time to go. You have to do that, what, mission or something.¡± ¡°Yes, Grandpa.¡± ¡°Then, can you y a game with me?¡± ¡°A game?¡± Grandpa immediately took something out of the drawer. ¡­It was a card game. Woojoo and Rihyuk, who were minors, were flustered, and Maxi¡¯s eyes sparkled, while the VJ shook his head. It seemed like he couldn¡¯t broadcast it. Grandpa Kang Moonsik looked genuinely sorry. ¡°Oh, that¡¯s too bad. I was so envious of the others ying at the senior center.¡± ¡°Why don¡¯t you join them?¡± ¡°They don¡¯t let me in because I¡¯m a man. They say I talk too much and tell me to go away, but what do I talk too much about¡­ Huh.¡± Woojoo held back theughter that was about to burst out of his mouth. ¡°Well, that¡¯s it then.¡± Grandpa Kang Moonsik said with a shy expression, ¡°Just shake hands with me before you go.¡± ¡°We¡¯ll give you a hug.¡± ¡°That¡¯s okay, you don¡¯t have to do that¡­¡± ¡­He said, but when they hugged him one by one, his mouth reached his ears. He waved his hand with the retriever outside the house and shouted, ¡°I¡¯ll go to that house for sure when I have dinner! Bring a lot of people!¡± He made a boastful promise, and they smiled and nodded. They had to walk back to the vige hall, as the mission time was almost over. Woojoo missed them so much, even though it had been only a few hours. Woojoo wanted to see the members as soon as possible, and he quickened his pace. Especially, Woojoo was curious about Junghyun¡¯s story. What happened to him after he was chased by the ck goat. *** ¡°¡­Is this all sweet potatoes?¡± Heysion stuck out his tongue as he looked at the two boxes of sweet potatoes. The old couple asked him with a serious face, ¡°Is it not enough?¡± ¡°No, no.¡± ¡°Well, it could be. Let me get another box.¡± ¡°Always making me do it¡­¡± Grandpa grumbled as he brought out a box of sweet potatoes to the yard. Heysion asked, ¡°Isn¡¯t this too much to give us¡­?¡± ¡°It¡¯s for Daegil, so don¡¯t feel burdened.¡± ¡°Thank you very much.¡± Grandpa waved his hand. ¡°Don¡¯t thank me. We should be the ones thanking you. That old goat hasn¡¯t been eating properlytely, so we were worried. But now that you solved the problem, we¡¯re so relieved.¡± ¡°We thought he had some kind of disease, like that goat from Hong Soon¡¯s house that had a cyst. But the vet said he¡¯s very healthy.¡± ¡°It¡¯s because he ate too much ginseng.¡± ¡°That¡¯s right, he got crazy from eating too much ginseng.¡± ¡°We didn¡¯t know it would turn out like this¡­¡± As the couple started to bicker again, Heysion coughed awkwardly. Then they looked at the camera and quickly made up. And then they looked at the idol member who was sitting in front of the doghouse. ¡°You¡¯re amazing. How did you manage to make Daegil so obedient?¡± He couldn¡¯t tell them that he had used a wrestling move to save the goat from being hit by a truck. That would sound ridiculous. ¡°¡­¡± Junghyun was squatting in front of the doghouse, gently scratching the ck goat¡¯s chin. He looked like a pure country boy with a gentle smile. The goat seemed to like it too, closing its eyes and bleating as it ate. Of course, the goat spat out the cabbage that was in its bowl, shaking its head and chewing hard. But every time that happened, Junghyun whispered something in the goat¡¯s ear. Then the ck goat obediently chewed its food. The ck goat, who had anger management issues, was now good at controlling its temper. It still red at Heysion and the VJ with a rude look, but it was docile to the one who subdued it. ¡°Grandpa, Grandma. I fed Daegil all his food.¡± ¡°Good job, good job. You¡¯re amazing.¡± Grandpa and Grandma came down and approached the ck goat. Grandpa reached out to pet it, but Daegil jerked his head away. ¡°It¡¯s because of the ginseng.¡± They allughed. Soon they left the house, carrying boxes of sweet potatoes. Junghyun walked briskly with two boxes in his arms, a happy smile on his face. He looked like an elementary school student who had aced a test. Heysion asked, ¡°Do you like it that much?¡± ¡°One of the members loves sweet potatoes and always eats dried ones. I think he¡¯ll like it if I give him these.¡± And the one who cooked would like it too. Junghyun smiled. His smile was so bright that it lit up the surroundings. *** The vige hall. The team members in charge of cooking were busy moving cooking utensils around the table. The production staff informed them of the situation from time to time. ¡°Team A has acquired fish!¡± ¡°Wow!¡± Comedian Seo Jihyung and Actress Han Yeoreum high-fived each other in joy. Soon, good news came from the other teams as well. ¡°Team B, we got beef!¡± ¡°Team A, we¡¯ll share the seasoning we got from the mission with you!¡± ¡°Team A, we just got gochujang!¡± Every time, the production staff brought out the refrigerated ingredients and handed them over. But there was not much news from Team C. Bijoo and Ye Heeyeon, who were in charge of the cooking team, looked at the clock and tapped their feet. ¡°Sunbae-nim, why aren¡¯t our teammates contacting us?¡± ¡°I know, right? Does Ye Heechan have any brains? He should hurry up andplete the missions like the other teams!¡± ¡°¡­Should we send them a message?¡± ¡°No. Let¡¯s wait and see.¡± Then, they heard amotion from the production staff. ¡°¡­A ck goat? Who filmed the ck goat scene? They said Doyoung did.¡± ¡°What ck goat?¡± ¡°One of the members of Team C, Heysion and New ck, the tall guy, had a chase with a ck goat, but they missed that part.¡± ¡°A chase? With a ck goat?¡± Ye Heeyeon looked at the person next to her who was covering his forehead. Bijoo was muttering ¡®Kim Junghyun¡­¡¯ under his breath. ¡°Junghyun must have done something.¡± ¡°¡­I¡¯ll definitely ask him what happened when hees back.¡± As she smiled at the sight of the handsome boy with a sinister glint in his eyes, Seo Jihyung from Team A said mockingly, ¡°Your team can change your menu to ck goat soup.¡± ¡°Mr. Seo.¡± ¡°What?¡± ¡°Mind your own business and look at your frying pan. It¡¯s burning.¡± ¡°Oh, no¡­!¡± Ye Heeyeon thought he was a person with no redeeming qualities. She wondered why Oh Hyungseok always favored him and brought him along for every special episode. But today, she could understand him a little. ¡®He¡¯s good.¡¯ She had only heard that he ran a tripe restaurant in Hongdae, but she didn¡¯t know he was such a good cook. He was perfect in terms of skill, except for the fact that he was subtly flirting with Han Yeoreum, who was on the same cooking team. ¡°Is he good?¡± Yang Okbun, a veteran actress from Team A, came over to Team C with a tangerine in her hand. Ye Heeyeon asked, ¡°Ma¡¯am, don¡¯t you cook?¡± ¡°Kid, I don¡¯t even touch water in dramas, let alone cook. They¡¯re doing so well together that they don¡¯t like me interfering.¡± ¡°Mr. Seo is like that, but the actress over there is good too.¡± ¡°She¡¯s not ordinary. Her knife skills are amazing. Kid, I¡¯ve never seen anyone use a knife like that in my life.¡± As she said, Han Yeoreum, who had graduated from an American culinary school, was wless. She was a bit clumsy at first, but soon she remembered how to cook and proceeded smoothly. Ye Heeyeon peeled an orange and pointed at Team B. ¡°They look pretty tired.¡± ¡°Doesn¡¯t Jinwoo Oppa know how to cook a little? He sometimes posts pictures of his cooking on SNS.¡± ¡°That¡¯s just for show.¡± She heard Song Jinwoo chopping ingredients on the cutting board from afar. ¡°Because of that delivery app that you and Heechan advertise, I don¡¯t have time to cook anymore.¡± ¡°Right, that¡¯s convenient, isn¡¯t it?¡± ¡°The delivery samgyeopsal was really delicious.¡± ¡°Is that good?¡± She moved to Team B and chatted with them. She wanted to get some talk out of Song Jinwoo and Joo Hana from Girls on Top, who were on the cooking team. The veteran actor admired the hands of the girl group member. ¡°Your hands are so pretty, and your arms are thin. Can you handle cooking?¡± ¡°I¡¯m working hard, sir.¡± ¡°But working hard and doing well are different things.¡± ¡°Ah, teacher.¡± Song Jinwooughed. ¡°Stop teasing other people and help your teammates. You¡¯ve been eating oranges all day.¡± ¡°I was about to do that.¡± ¡­She said and went back to Team C. This time, she showed interest in Kim Bijoo. ¡°Hey, you¡¯re an idol too, aren¡¯t you?¡± ¡°Yes,¡± Bijoo answered politely. ¡°How did you learn to cook?¡± ¡°I did it as a hobby¡­¡± ¡°Then we have no choice but to win.¡± ¡°What do you mean by that?¡± Yeo Heeyeon snapped. ¡°You never know who will win until the end. Don¡¯t you remember the golden goal in 2002, sir?¡± ¡°Wow, kid. You scare me when you talk about the game.¡± And then. ¡°Team C! We got soy sauce!¡± ¡°Team C! We¡¯ll give you the noodles we got!¡± The ingredients started to arrive one after another. There was a slight gap after the first mission, but after that, it was smooth sailing. As they blinked at the incredible speed, Bijoo looked at the map and said, ¡°I guess Woojoo Hyung is on the move.¡± ¡°¡­Yeah.¡± Woojoo was solving the missions like a super-fast typhoon. It was the same for the other teams with Jiho and Junghyun. They took the many ingredients and started to move after sorting out the cooking materials. ¡°I¡¯ll chop some carrots first.¡± ¡°Okay, be careful. Don¡¯t hurt yourself¡­¡± Chop, chop, chop, chop, chop- ¡°¡­?¡± Ye Heeyeon blinked her eyes. The carrot was sliced in an instant. Bijoo moved the knife with focused eyes. He was not a novice who had only done it for a year or two. ¡°Bijoo.¡± ¡°Yes?¡± he answered while keeping his eyes on the ingredients. ¡°Didn¡¯t you say cooking was your hobby?¡± ¡°Yes, it¡¯s my hobby.¡± ¡°You seem to be really good at it¡­¡± ¡°Well, I had some circumstances, so I¡¯ve been cooking since elementary school. It¡¯s been about 10 years.¡± ¡°¡­That sounds more than just a hobby.¡± Bijoo smiled and started to handle the remaining ingredients. While Ye Heeyeon was staring nkly, his hands moved swiftly. That was when she noticed the calluses on his hands. He skillfully tore the packaging and sorted the ingredients. He quickly washed them. He boiled water and nched the ingredients. It was like watching a cooking show. Song Jinwoo and Joo Hana from Team B were dumbfounded by them. They had conceded that Team A was the overwhelming favorite, but they thought Team C was in a simr situation as them. ¡°Oh, look at him,¡± Yang Okbun eximed. ¡°He¡¯s just like my daughter-inw. You¡¯re lucky, Heeyeon.¡± ¡°I guess so.¡± Ye Heeyeon snapped out of it and looked at Bijoo who was preparing the ingredients. She had originally nned to take the lead since they were both bad at cooking, but she changed her mind. ¡°Bijoo, what can I do?¡± ¡°Can you please take care of the spinach?¡± ¡°Got it!¡± ¡°¡­Sunbae-nim, um, taking care of the spinach is not just fiddling with it. You have to remove the dirt and the stems, ah! Don¡¯t hold the knife like that, it¡¯s dangerous¡­ You can just use scissors.¡± Meanwhile, the camera director captured the scene. It was a rare sight to see Ye Heeyeon, who had a strong personality, being scolded by someone. Of course, the one who was talking was smiling and whispering softly. ¡°Sunbae-nim, you have to wash the spinach thoroughly because there are wrinkles on the leaves like lettuce.¡± ¡°¡­Yes. No, okay.¡± Ye Heeyeon vowed to get a cooking certificate as soon as this was over. On the other hand, as the cooking began in earnest, a delicious smell started to emanate from Team C¡¯s table. Perhaps because of that, Team A also seemed to be aware of the new dark horse and started to heat up their cooking. And in between them, Song Jinwoo and Joo Hana from Team B were burning. Their cooking. ¡°Hey, water cup! Paper cup! Paper cup!¡± ¡°The paper cup is on fire! Sunbae-nim!¡± Ye Heeyeon felt like it was none of her business as she watched the scene. If Bijoo hadn¡¯t been able to cook, she would have been in the same situation. ¡®These kids are weird.¡¯ One of them threw the ball from the end of the basketball court and made it in, and the other one said he had been cooking for 10 years. Did the rest of them have something like this too? Meanwhile, as the cooking went smoothly, Ye Heeyeon witnessed a strange phenomenon. Whenever Bijoo hummed and looked troubled while cooking, he would ask her for permission. ¡°Sunbae-nim, can I go outside for a moment?¡± ¡°Outside?¡± ¡°Yes, I have something to ask about cooking, but it can¡¯t be on TV.¡± ¡°Come back soon.¡± He woulde back with a very refreshed expression, and his cooking skills improved greatly every time. And that happened more than twice. Ye Heeyeon couldn¡¯t contain her curiosity and asked, ¡°Who are you asking right now? Is he a chef or a cooking researcher?¡± ¡°No, she¡¯s not.¡± Bijoo smiled and said, ¡°She¡¯s the owner of the most famous restaurant in the neighborhood.¡± *** A Korean restaurant in Gunsan City. -Grandma, it¡¯s me again¡­ A boy with a fresh face smiled shyly on the video call screen. Mrs. Kim Deoksoon smiled. ¡°Yes, my Bijoo. What¡¯s the problem this time?¡± -I have a question about the fire control. ¡°Uh-huh, ask me anything.¡± She rested her chin on her hand and smiled warmly. How could his eyshes be so long? He was so handsome and unlike her grandson who had no affection, his face was fair and cute. He spoke so earnestly and politely. Unlike her grandson who always said ¡®Grandma, you have to love only me¡¯ and acted spoiled. She liked him. That was why Mrs. Kim Deoksoon passed on her 50 years of know-how to him. ¡°Yes. But where are you calling from? It¡¯s so dark. Did you go into a warehouse or something?¡± -I can¡¯t tell you where I am¡­ ¡°Yes. Well, then I can¡¯t help it.¡± -Yes, thank you. As he bowed his head with his phone in his hand, the video call screen moved dynamically. And then. -Grandma. I owe you a lot today¡­ Aah! A moth! A moth came into the bathroom¡­ Click. As she watched the video call cut off with a scream, Mrs. Kim Deoksoon smiled affectionately. As expected. There was no normal person around her grandson. Chapter 109: Chapter 109: Trantor: MarcTempest Editor: Rxel Chapter 109 The vige hall was bustling. The guests who had returned with the ingredients greeted each other happily, and New ck were also having a family reunion. The moment Woojoo locked eyes with the youngest, who was sucking on an ice cream from afar. ¡°Jiho!¡± ¡°Woojoo Hyung!¡± He ran towards Woojoo like a ser yer doing a ceremony. Woojoo also responded with a warm wee.¡°Hyung! Hyung! I got so much love from the grandmas and grandpas today while doing the mission.¡± ¡°Really?¡± ¡°Yes, I think I might move hereter.¡± Woojooughed at that. Rihyuk looked at Woojoo with a sour face. ¡°Why are you two making such a fuss? You were only apart for two hours. Anyone would think you haven¡¯t seen each other for a year.¡± Jiho looked at Woojoo nkly and asked, ¡°Why is he like that, Hyung?¡± ¡°He¡¯s jealous because you only ran to me.¡± ¡°Oh, I see. Are you feeling left out, Rihyuk?¡± ¡°No, I¡¯m not.¡± ¡°Right, right.¡± Rihyuk sighed as he watched them exchange such words. ¡°Can you two just go away¡­ Oh, why are you dancing?¡± They yed rock-paper-scissors with Rihyuk in the middle. While they were doing that, someone joined them. It was Junghyun. They looked like monkeys dancing around a bonfire, and the people passing byughed. ¡°Please¡­ Stop it, you¡¯re embarrassing us. We¡¯re going to be known as gag idols if we keep this up.¡± ¡°It¡¯s okay. Our cool image was already ruined by Junghyun.¡± ¡°What are you talking about?¡± ¡°Jiho doesn¡¯t know yet. The ck goat.¡± Woojoo was about to tell him about it, when the door of the portable toilet opened and someone came out with a phone. He squinted his eyes in the sunlight and saw them. His eyes widened. They waved their hands and greeted him first. ¡°Bijoo!¡± Bijoo ran to them happily. ¡°Did you all do well? How was it, Hyung?¡± They each said a word as they were excited, and Junghyun also started his story. He said he had a chase with a ck goat named Daegil, and they became somewhat friendly. Theyughed for a while, but their expressions crumpled at the end. One was Woojoo. ¡°Junghyun, you didn¡¯t tell the camera that I hugged a pillow and exined jiujitsu techniques, did you?¡± ¡°¡­Well.¡± ¡°No, right?¡± ¡°Hyung, hypothetically. If I really did that, would it be a big deal?¡± ¡°Hey!¡± And the other one was Bijoo, who looked unusually serious. ¡°Junghyun, you ran into the road when a car wasing?¡± ¡°¡­Ah.¡± As he was about to scold him, Woojoo and the two brothers quickly ran away. Rihyuk chewed on the bulgogi in his spoon and said, ¡°Come to think of it, we now have two heroes in our team. The Galhyeon-dong hero and the Yeoncheon-gun ck goat hero.¡± ¡°Puhaha! The ck goat hero.¡± The team members who were helping with the cookingughed. Woojoo smiled as he saw Junghyun looking pleased with that nickname. ¡°Junghyun, don¡¯t be happy about something like that.¡± ¡°I¡¯m a hero now, too, Hyung.¡± He grinned, and the youngest, who was pouring soy sauce on a spoon, lit up his eyes. ¡°Speaking of which, why don¡¯t we give each other nicknames?¡± ¡°What do you want to be?¡± ¡°Hmm¡­ Hannam-dong Fire Fist? Isn¡¯t that cool?¡± he said he made up the name after his favoriteic character, but it was so random that everyone justughed. Ye Heechan, who was listening, joined in. ¡°Then I¡¯ll be Heukseok-dong Sloth.¡± ¡°Hahaha, that suits you.¡± ¡°I¡¯ll be Cheongdam-dong Reggae Hair then.¡± The adults started to join in the fun with one word each. Woojooughed at Maxi¡¯s crazy talk about LA, which was meant to be a diss, and the situation became funny when Ye Heechan teased Ye Heeyeon. Somehow, the others seemed more excited. And Woojoo wondered what kind of magic their youngest had done, because Lee Gyeonwoo, who used to be quiet, suddenly became more talkative. Well, it was fun to talk when he gave such a seal p reaction to everything. ¡°Why is their team so cheerful?¡± ¡°Maybe they just gave up on cooking and focused on filling the time?¡± ¡°Things are going weird. I thought Lee Gyeonwoo would be the center, but isn¡¯t it New ck in the center?¡± ¡­That was what the other team members whispered, and their celebrity with good ears ryed everything to them. He asked Woojoo if he did well, and Woojoo gave him a thumbs-up. As the other team said, their team¡¯s atmosphere had changed to revolve around New ck. It wasn¡¯t because they were very funny or had great entertainment skills. Maybe it was because of the guest lineup. Everyone wanted to have afortable conversation, and the easiest person to talk to in this ce was the young New ck. And since they were having fun together, it was easy to have a conversation with just a few words. They felt like a matchmaker who connected people who wanted to get closer. Anyway, a meeting ce was opened around them. When they got excited and talked, the other guests added a word or two and had a conversation with each other. Heysion said with a smile, ¡°It feels like I¡¯m getting younger when I talk to them.¡± ¡°Ugh¡­ I don¡¯t think so¡­¡± ¡°Hey, stop saying that all the time.¡± Thanks to that, the other guests also became friendly. But the other team had a misunderstanding. They didn¡¯t give up on cooking and just tried to fill the time. Rather, it was going so smoothly that they had time to chat. ¡°Ah, really! Be careful. Ha¡­ Soy sauce¡­ Who spilled the soy sauce?¡± ¡°I¡¯m sorry.¡± Team B had some close calls. You know what he meant. Theyughed and fixed it right away because it was a broadcast, but their expressions froze for a moment. And there was a faint tension between them. There were scenes where the people around them were nervous. On the other hand, Team A had Seo Jihyung and Han Yeoreum doing the hard carry, but the atmosphere looked bleak. Handling the bossam and steamed fish was like a wless surgery. The two chefs handed over the scalpel when they said ¡®scalpel¡¯. In many ways, their Team C was unique. And unlike Team A, which had two main chefs and confusion, they had one head chef, which was an advantage. ¡°Bijoo, how do I do this?¡± ¡°Bijoo, should I turn off the fire now?¡± ¡°Chef Bi, can you check the seasoning for me?¡± At times like that, their second youngest ran around the table like a fairy of cooking. When the cooking was almost done, Bijoo picked up some bulgogi and came to Woojoo. ¡°Hyung, can you taste this for me?¡± ¡°Sure, okay.¡± His gloved hand fed Woojoo a piece of cooked bulgogi. It was sweet and savory. Woojoo widened his eyes. ¡°This is really good, you know?¡± ¡°Really?¡± ¡°But this tastes familiar¡­ Oh, you¡­¡± ¡°Yes, that¡¯s right.¡± It was his grandmother¡¯s recipe that he had tasted somewhere before. It wasn¡¯t just Woojoo who felt it was delicious, the others who tasted the seasoning also raised their thumbs and opened their eyes wide. It was like a scene from a cooking manga with BGM ying in the background. ¡°Wow, this is exactly like what you get at a restaurant. Do you want to open a restaurant with meter?¡± Maxi, who was tasting the food, made such a proposal. As the bulgogi, japchae, and soybean paste stew werepleted one by one, a warm atmosphere filled their team. They thought they had a chance. And they had an extra menu. ¡°Oh my¡­ are they sweet potato sellers?¡± ¡°Junghyun helped them feed the ck goat, so they gave us this.¡± It was three boxes of sweet potatoes. They immediately used the leftover ingredients to make various desserts with sweet potatoes. Sweet potato fries, roasted sweet potatoes, boiled sweet potatoes. ¡°30 minutes left until the deadline!¡± As the end time approached, they finished cooking and gathered together in a circle for a meeting. Ye Heeyeon said, ¡°The elders and the vigers will being soon for lunch, so let¡¯s think about how to attract them.¡± The remaining task was to solicit customers. The mission was not to make the most delicious food, but to attract the most customers. Woojoo cautiously said, ¡°How about offering roasted sweet potatoes as a sample menu in advance?¡± ¡°Oh, that¡¯s a good idea.¡± ¡°We have skewers, so we can cut them small and say, ¡®You don¡¯t have toe to us, just have a bite and go¡¯ like this¡­¡± ¡°Then they¡¯ll feel too awkward to go anywhere else.¡± ¡°Yes, that¡¯s the key.¡± The othersughed at Woojoo¡¯s words. ¡°Have you ever done business in the universe?¡± ¡°My grandmother ran a restaurant. I grew up watching how she did business since I was young.¡± To be more precise, Woojoo saw a lot of nearby shops go bankrupt. Woojoo told them various stories that he had seen, and Maxi also listened carefully to the know-how that Seo Jihyung, the food business owner of Team A, spouted. When they synthesized the results and came to a conclusion. ¡°The cooking time is over!¡± It was time for the oue of the mission to be decided. *** In front of the vige hall. ¡°Oh, I¡¯m hungry. When are they going to let us in?¡± ¡°Grandma, you have to wait a little. It¡¯s not time yet.¡± ¡°I don¡¯t care about that. My legs hurt, and I want to go to the car and sit down for a while.¡± ¡°Dad, where are you going?¡± ¡°I¡¯m going to take a look inside.¡± People started to gather 10 minutes before the scheduled time. It was a rare opportunity to have a meal made by the TV program participants, and to appear on TV, so most of the vigers attended. The age groups were very diverse. There were children who came holding their mother¡¯s hand, middle and high school students, and middle-aged people. They all waited for the door to open with anticipation. The FD came out and gave instructions. ¡°Our meal menu is ready.¡± A paper with arge menu was attached. ¡°You can go in and have a meal at the team you like. Once you choose a team, you can¡¯t move to another team.¡± Along with some minor notices such as prohibiting filming, the entrance began. ¡°Hello!¡± Everyone¡¯s eyes widened at the sight of the celebrities they had only seen on TV. It was different from when they greeted them earlier, their faces were right in front of them. ¡°Our steamed fish is really delicious!¡± ¡°Do you crave some tender pork belly? Come and have a bite here.¡± Team A, filled with actors and models, waspeting with their faces and their food¡¯s visuals. Team B also had six girl group members who were cheerfully attracting customers with their smiles. Meanwhile, three men approached from Team C, each holding a te of sweet potato snacks. ¡°Please have a taste.¡± With his tall stature and warm appearance, he was Ye Heechan, who had once been famous on the inte as the handsome instructor meme from a variety show. ¡°Would you like to try this?¡± He was Lee Gyeonwoo, who had yed the male lead in a drama that boasted an average rating of 31.9 percent. ¡°Pleasee and try our food, it¡¯s delicious.¡± And he was the idol with a gentle expression and a surreal beauty. Thanks to him, Team C had a strong start. Song Jinwoo, a member of Team B, sneered. ¡°They would have won even if they had shrimp crackers instead of sweet potatoes.¡± But soon, the other teams copied them and thepetition became a tie. Then, the food evaluation began and people flocked to Team A and C, who had decent vors. Overall, Team B wasgging behind. Team A had the upper hand, and Team C was chasing after them. After some time, Team A was celebrating their victory, while Team B and C decided to change their direction and chat with the elders to get more footage. ¡°A feast is notplete without a congrattory performance!¡± Theedian, Oh Hyeongseok, was hosting the event and lifting the mood. As he said he was looking for a guest singer, someone quickly volunteered. ¡°Me! I want to sing!¡± ¡°Okay, we have Jiho from New ck. Let¡¯s hear him sing.¡± As the people who were eating pped and cheered, a handsome and young member stood in the center of the vige hall. He had a tissue in his hand that fluttered like a rag. Soon, a trot song yed from his phone¡¯s BGM. Wang Jiho sang the trot song and waved the tissue like a handkerchief, making everyoneugh. And behind him, a tall member danced like a store opening mascot, making themugh again. After the performance ended and the encore stage followed, the audience smiled as they watched the idol members act cute to the elders. Starting with Jiho, more volunteers came out. The youngest of Girls on Top, Gil Chaekyeong, also sang a trot song with her sisters, unwilling to lose. Seo Jihyung also sang a legendary song that he had released and flopped. Since they were the most talented and fun people in Korea, it was easy for them to liven up the atmosphere. Meanwhile, thepetition also settled down. ¡°Team A is going to win,¡± Ye Heechan said calmly, and his sister shook her head. ¡°Wait and see. The production staff said they haven¡¯te yet, about twenty of them.¡± ¡°Hey, do you think they will alle to us? Just ept that we lost and eatfortably.¡± ¡°Are there still people who haven¡¯te?¡± Lee Gyeonwoo asked, and Maxi nodded. ¡°There are still some people who haven¡¯te. Earlier¡­ I think I didn¡¯t see that grandfather. The rich grandfather.¡± ¡°Rich grandpa?¡± ¡°You know, the nice-looking house in the middle of the vige.¡± Woojoo realized that Grandpa Kang Moonsik hadn¡¯t arrived yet. Was he busy? Woojoo thought he said he would definitelye. ¡°Hyung.¡± His youngest brother rested his pointy chin on my shoulder. His face was flushed with excitement from the audience¡¯s cheers. ¡°How was it? Did I sing well?¡± ¡°You did great, the elders loved it.¡± ¡°Really? Was I better than her?¡± ¡°Of course. No doubt.¡± He was trying topete with Gil Chaekyung, who was receivingpliments from the elders in the distance. ¡°Hyung, let¡¯s go back soon.¡± They also went around the tables with the elders, along with the other members. They answered with smiles to their question of whether they were enjoying their meal. They said it was as good as eating at a restaurant, and their second brother, who was in charge of cooking, kept smiling brightly at that. Yeah. It was fine as long as the elders liked it, even if they lost thepetition. Woojoo thought it was a good experience to make people happy in this way, even if it wasn¡¯t on stage. And then. ¡°What¡¯s that, there are so many carsing in?¡± ¡°Four of them!¡± The celebrities who were chatting with the vigers at the tables looked outside and widened their eyes. Everyone was surprised and went out. There must have been about twenty people in those cars. The situation could change the oue of the mission depending on where they were going. Everyone ran out of the vige hall. And people started getting out of the four cars. They looked like five families rted by blood. ¡°Oh, my leg!¡± And Woojoo blinked at the familiar voice. Grandpa Kang Moonsik, dressed in luxury clothes, got out of the car. When he showed signs of pain in his leg, one middle-aged man asked, ¡®Are you okay, Father?¡¯ And the oldest-looking man among them asked Grandpa, ¡°Father, where do you want to go? We? You like bossam, don¡¯t you? Do you want to have some?¡± Team A¡¯s faces brightened for a moment. ¡°No, I have a ce I promised to go to.¡± Grandpa Kang Moonsik looked at Woojoo, Rihyuk, and Maxi, who were staring nkly among the people, andughed heartily. ¡°Oh, my! You were here!¡± He came over and grabbed Woojoo¡¯s hand, happy to see him. The other team members looked at them with wide eyes, especially Mr. Seo Jihyung. His eyes looked like they were about to pop out. Woojoo asked nervously, ¡°Grandpa, then who are they all¡­?¡± ¡°They¡¯re my sons.¡± He smiled and held Woojoo¡¯s hand, which was stiff with surprise. ¡°I told you. I¡¯m bringing a lot of guests.¡± Chapter 110: Chapter 110: Trantor: MarcTempest Editor: Rxel Chapter 110 He said so when they parted. That he would bring a lot of peopleter. Woojoo didn¡¯t think much of it. He thought he would just bring some old friends from the neighborhood. Woojoo never expected his sons and his family to show up. When Grandpa Kang held Woojoo¡¯s hand, a middle-aged man asked him as a representative, ¡°Dad, should we go to this table?¡± ¡°Yes, let¡¯s go with these people here. Is there enough food?¡±¡°Of course. Of course.¡± Fifteen people followed Woojoo into the vige hall. The other guests looked at them with stunned faces. Especially Team A, they had their eyes wide open, because until then, they had 10 more guests than them. And now, they had five more. Ye Heeyeon clenched her fist and cheered behind Woojoo. After seating them at each table, their team members gathered around the table where Grandpa Kang was eating. ¡°Dad talked about you all the way here.¡± The second son with sses said, ¡°He said someone came and listened to him for over 30 minutes. He said he was grateful and had to thank you.¡± ¡°30 minutes? That¡¯s impressive. We can¡¯t even listen to dad¡¯s stories.¡± ¡°Shut up! You brats!¡± Grandpa Kang scolded, but it was a cheerful atmosphere. Meanwhile, the brothers chatted with each other. Woojoo felt curious. ¡°I didn¡¯t know your sons lived in the same vige.¡± ¡°Didn¡¯t I tell you?¡± No, he didn¡¯t. Woojoo had memorized what he said and even took notes when he talked to the elders today. Woojoo answered with a smile. ¡°Maybe you did, but I must have forgotten.¡± ¡°Is that so? Anyway, these guys built fancy houses and never came to visit. I have to go see them.¡± ¡°¡­Dad.¡± One of the sons said incredulously, ¡°You told us not toe yesterday because you had to go to bed early.¡± ¡°Oh, I don¡¯t remember that.¡± Woojooughed as he watched him brush it off. As the meal began, Woojoo brought Bijoo and made him sit down. ¡°Is the food okay? Our member cooked it.¡± ¡°Wow, did you make it yourself?¡± one of the daughters-inw asked. ¡°It tastes like restaurant food. I thought you brought it already made.¡± ¡°Hey, daughter-inw. These days, reality is the key to broadcasting! Reality! That¡¯s what old-fashioned shows do,¡± Grandpa Kang said excitedly, and one of the sons intervened. ¡°Dad, you¡¯ve be a broadcasting expert.¡± A burst ofughter erupted. Their team was also happy to be in first ce. They greeted the new guests and went around, but whenever the two members of Around the World With Dice went by, there were exmations of wow. Not to mention the Hallyu star who elicited dolphin-like squeals from the mothers and students. They also worked hard to promote themselves to the young guests. ¡°Wow, I¡¯ve never seen an idol before. Awesome. What¡¯s your name?¡± ¡°We¡¯re New ck. How do you like it? Is this your first time seeing a celebrity in person?¡± ¡°Yes!¡± ¡°Hey, Wang Jiho. How can you call yourself a celebrity with your mouth?¡± The young guests were momentarily mesmerized by their kids. Woojoo was used to seeing them 24 hours a day, so he was indifferent, but he felt like they were handsome when he saw them like this. The eldest son alsoplimented Woojoo. ¡°You¡¯re really handsome.¡± ¡°Thank you.¡± ¡°Dad said on the way here that there was someone who looked exactly like him when he was young.¡± ¡°Oh¡­¡± Woojoo blinked and asked, ¡°That¡¯s amazing. Do I look like him?¡± ¡°No.¡± The one who answered was the youngest daughter of the eldest son. The little girl who still had no front teeth chewed on the bulgogi and said, ¡°My grandpa looks like a steamed bun.¡± A loudughter burst out. And it took five minutes to make Grandpa Kang Moonsik, who was badly hurt, feelfortable again. After the meal, Woojoo saw off Grandpa Kang Moonsik who was leaving. He held Woojoo¡¯s hand and said, ¡°You have to sleep after the shooting is over.¡± ¡°Yes, Grandpa. I think we¡¯ll probably sleep in a vacant room that the other vigers lend us.¡± ¡°Really? I didn¡¯t hear anything like that¡­¡± Then he said to Woojoo, ¡°Thene to our house and sleepter.¡± ¡°¡­Yes?¡± ¡°You¡¯ll only hear an old fan whirring if you go to another writer¡¯s or manager¡¯s house, but we have a lot of empty rooms in our house.¡± ¡°Oh, but even without a n¡­¡± When Woojoo said that and declined, Grandpa¡¯s family said, ¡°Pleasee and sleep as my father said. He likes having a lot of people around, so it¡¯s not a bother.¡± ¡°Still¡­¡± ¡°Our house has a great air conditioner.¡± ¡°Thank you very much.¡± Everyoneughed at Woojoo as he bowed his head quickly. Their youngest put his chin on Woojoo¡¯s shoulder and said, ¡°Me too, Grandpa? Can I go too?¡± ¡°Sure. Sure you can.¡± ¡°Can I go too?¡± Lee Gyeonwoo, who was quiet, raised his hand. ¡°I really want to go. Grandpa¡¯s house.¡± His eyes were full of longing for the air conditioner. The other team members were the same, and after a discussion, the whole Team C decided to sleep at Grandpa¡¯s house. He wanted them all toe. They exchanged thanks in a warm atmosphere. ¡°Can I have your autograph¡­¡± Woojoo gave autographs to the young guests and also did some publicity. ¡°Please promote our song to your friends.¡± ¡°Oh, yes. I will.¡± ¡°Don¡¯t forget topliment us. ¡®I saw New ck on the recording that day and they were amazing in real life.¡¯ Something like that.¡± ¡°That¡¯s weak, Hyung.¡± ¡°What¡¯s weak?¡± ¡°We need some stronger expressions.¡± The youngest smiled brightly and joined in. ¡°When I saw them in person, their faces were glowing. Wow, celebrity aura. Please say something like that too. And¡­ oh, this is good too! When I saw them in person, they were so nice. How about that?¡± ¡°Jiho, don¡¯t make the guests ufortable. Junghyun, take him away.¡± ¡°Yeah, Hyung. Take him away quickly. He doesn¡¯t give me and Bijoo a chance to talk.¡± The kids, who were about elementary and middle school age,ughed at them as they bickered over nothing. ¡°I¡¯ll definitely promote you!¡± she said with a flushed face, clutching the signed poster tightly. She looked like she was really impressed by Woojoo. That was right. This was how he increased the fan base. Woojoo was smiling smugly when Jiho next to Woojoo gave him a cheesy look and said, ¡°Please spread the word to your friends~¡± ¡°¡­¡± ¡°Ahhhh! This Hyung is a scammer!¡± *** Just like when they first arrived at the vige hall, they stood in their teams and the main PD, Gu Jaeyong, who held a megaphone, announced the results. ¡°The winner of the first mission is Team C.¡± ¡°Woohoo-!¡± They must have gotten closer as a team. As soon as the result was announced, they hugged each other and jumped around. The other teams also pped and cheered for them. While they changed the tape, they exchangedpliments in a friendly atmosphere. Bijoo and Woojoo received the most praise. ¡°Seriously, this was all Bijoo. We didn¡¯t do much cooking. He did everything like a chef.¡± ¡°No, I also got help from you guys¡­¡± ¡°Ooh, so humble¡­ I¡¯m sorry.¡± Junghyun, who was teasing him, flinched at the piercing re of their second youngest. Bijoo¡¯s eyes seemed to say, ¡®I¡¯m still mad at you for running into the road.¡¯ But he soon smiled yfully. ¡°Woojoo Hyung worked the hardest. If those people didn¡¯te at thest minute, we wouldn¡¯t have won.¡± ¡°That¡¯s true.¡± Lee Gyeonwoo asked curiously, ¡°But how did you think of going to them? I don¡¯t think anyone would have gone there since the ingredient was turmeric.¡± ¡°There was no special reason.¡± Maxi answered for Woojoo, pointing at him with his chin. ¡°Woojoo said he felt sorry for the grandfather and wanted to go.¡± ¡°How nice.¡± ¡°Of course. Our Hyung is the nicest person in the world. He saves people and stuff. He donates whenever something bad happens.¡± Then he put his hand over his mouth and whispered as if he was telling a secret. ¡°But he¡¯s really mean to his brothers.¡± ¡°Hey.¡± ¡°Look at that. Ugh, my heart is pounding.¡± ¡°Uhuh¡­¡± They all burst intoughter at the sight of him hiding behind Junghyun and Bijoo and pointing at Woojoo. In the meantime, their main vocal was sulking. ¡°Hey, why don¡¯t you hide behind me?¡± ¡°Hyung, you¡¯re too small to hide behind.¡± ¡°¡­¡± ¡°Aww¡­ Poor Rihyuk¡­ Cheer up.¡± His insincere cheer made themugh even more. While Ye Heechan and Ye Heeyeon, and the other guests were chatting with each other, they stuck together. ¡°I kind of want to brag to our fans,¡± Bijoo said, ¡°It¡¯s not a big deal, but I want to tell them that we won.¡± ¡°Me too.¡± ¡°Me too. I haven¡¯t been to the fan cafe for half a day, but I¡¯m curious and anxious. I want to write a bragging post.¡± Woojoo felt the same way. As soon as he visited this vige in Yeoncheon County, he thought of their Souffl¨¦. It was a typical rural vige, but the serene scenery itself was healing. If only Woojoo could do a live broadcast, he would have walked around the neighborhood and talked with them, andmunicated with them. If he sang a song for them in the woods, they would have loved it. ¡°That¡¯s why I wrote a post in the morning and came,¡± Rihyuk boasted with a proud face. ¡°I greeted the fans and told them that I would do well in the recording today.¡± ¡°¡­?¡± But they blinked their eyes. Woojoo asked, ¡°What are you talking about? I also checked the fan cafe in the morning and there was no post with that title.¡± ¡°What?¡± ¡°Woojoo Hyung was right. I was lurking on the fan cafe this morning and I didn¡¯t see any posts like that.¡± ¡°¡­That can¡¯t be.¡± ¡°Rihyuk. Where did you write it? Did you get the board wrong?¡± ¡°I¡¯m not the kind of person who would make such a mistake¡­ Oh.¡± Woojoo thought he knew what happened. It felt like watching a ss bottle fill up with bright red liquid in real-time. His face turned red in an instant, starting from his ears. ¡°What¡¯s wrong? Where did you write it?¡± *** Lemon Entertainment PR team. "Pfft¡­ Hong Seoyoung, the agent in charge of New ck, spat out the coffee she was drinking. Then she coughed for a while as the sound ofughter reached her ears. The PR team leader raised one eyebrow, and Hong bowed her head and wiped her mouth. Thepany¡¯s actor showed up with his manager in the morning and spouted nonsense that the recent slump in the ratings of the mini-series was due to theck of effort from the PR team, creating a tense atmosphere. But because of that atmosphere, she couldn¡¯t help butugh. [What¡¯s wrong?] She sent a link to her colleague, Nam Seokwoo, who was next to her partition, via the work messenger. Then the sound ofughter started from the next seat. -[No.1 Reading Cafe -Book is the New ck]''s post. Title: I¡¯ll be back soon ^^ ID : Dr. Chuck Hello, fans. This is Rihyuk from New ck. ^^ We¡¯re going to record a variety show today. ^^ I¡¯m very nervous and excited, but I think of it as leaving to show you a more awesome side of us, our Souffl¨¦s, and that joy is indescribable. ^^ I¡¯ll do my best ande back. Well then. ^^ P.S. Does the post look a bit soft? Bijoo Hyung said that adding ^^ at the end makes it look softer. [Comments] -? -?? -What is this? This is a reading review section. Was Dr. Chuck an idol? -Is this a fake ount or what -???????? I just searched the ID and this person is really a singer -??????????Did you confuse the cafe? And when this post was captured and uploaded to another site as ¡®The idol who entered the wrong fan cafe.jpg¡¯, the Souffl¨¦s who visited the fan cafe were bewildered. Title: Reading an international rtions theory book ID : New ck Rihyuk Greetings. Today I read a theoretical book that covers international rtions in a general way. Concepts such as liberalism and constructivism, unlike the other biology or physics books I¡¯ve read so far, were quite interesting. My previous perspective on social science was¡­ (Continued) P.S. I¡¯ve been busy with worktely and couldn¡¯t log in for a while. I¡¯ll be back soon. [Comments] -??????poor Rihyuk¡­ -???? I¡¯m going crazy for real ?????? -Ooh, did our Rihyuk get excited by reading a book¡­? ???? -He must be grinning from ear to ear right now -222 And then he¡¯ll have nothing to say and pick on the youngest and the oldest -333 Bijoo will calmly soothe him -44 And Junghyun will be eating something by now¡­ -Nod nod. Junghyun doesn¡¯t care about that stuff -But, I saw that Rihyuk¡¯s ID was revealed on the reading cafe and he did a lot of knowledge answers, you know? -Wow¡­ Please share the link And because of this unintentional mistake, the person¡¯s dark history was also being dug up. *** Junghyun was lucky. ¡°I want to be a singer. How do I do that?¡± ¡°What do you mean, how?¡± Woojoo answered. ¡°You have to work hard. What other way is there? I also have the same dream as the questioner. Who knows. If you work hard, maybe someday you¡¯ll reach the top of the world. Heh.¡± ¡°Hey, be quiet. Seriously!¡± ¡°That¡¯s the point. Heh after saying you¡¯ll reach the top.¡± ¡°Hyung, should we try the pose too?¡± Junghyun and Woojoo struck a pose and said ¡®heh¡¯, and the other two doubled overughing. Bijoo, who was poking at the kimchi, looked at his phone and said, ¡°Oh, there¡¯s this too. There¡¯s a kid who only eats rice with soy sauce. What should I do?¡± ¡°He won¡¯t die from starvation. He¡¯s just not hungry enough. I¡¯ve known the value of rice that farmers have grown with sweat and tears since I was young. I never left any rice¡­ Puhaha! And he even got chosen.¡± ¡°¡­I wish the earth would end, really.¡± Woojooughed at the guy who was spewing venom. Ye Heechan, who was eating a lunch box nearby, asked them, ¡°What¡¯s so funny?¡± ¡°Rihyuk¡¯s dark history was uncovered on the inte.¡± ¡°Really, if I hadn¡¯t taken cold medicine and sleptst night¡­¡± Soon Ye Heechan alsoughed at the post they showed him. The scene of his tant past writings that had been going on since elementary school quickly spread to the people on the set. Judging by the reaction, their HBS reality team must have loved it too. Rihyuk, who became the butt of the joke, stabbed his rice with a spoon. It was lunchtime. It was about 30 minutes of rest before starting the second mission after finishing the first one, and Woojoo found this while he was on the fan cafe. It was already posted on the idolmunity. Woojoo was so stressed out from being on edge on the show, but he felt like he was healed a lot thanks to this. Maxi asked in a whisper, ¡°Mr. Know-it-all, what¡¯s our next mission?¡± ¡°I¡¯m not going to tell you.¡± Now that he thought about it, he was curious. What were the missions and what were the rewards for them? Woojoo was just running around without thinking while doing the first mission, but now he was a bit curious. ¡°Sunbae-nim, are you not eating that?¡± ¡°Um, I don¡¯t like it. Do you want more?¡± ¡°¡­Yes!¡± Lee Gyeonwoo smiled and handed Woojoo his lunch box, and their third one grabbed it. Come to think of it, he was just staring nkly when he first got the lunch box, and then he said ¡®ah¡¯ and awkwardly tore the wrapper. His hand movements were awkward, so it looked like his manager usually did everything for him. Lee Gyeonwoo wasn¡¯t the only one, some of the celebrities also showed simr signs. They would wait quietly and then suddenly say ¡®oops¡¯ and do their own actions. One of the celebrities in Team A was even awkward at opening a water bottle. Woojoo would make a vow every time he saw that. He shouldn¡¯t be like that even after he made it big. But then Woojoo smiled and shook his head. No one knew what the future him would be like. The staff had simple kimbap, and the celebrities had lunch boxes. After the meal, the recording resumed. It was past 2 p.m., and it felt like they would do two more shootings here and finish around 10 p.m. ¡°We¡¯ll give you the reward we couldn¡¯t give you earlier. Team C,e out and get the giant golden key.¡± It was five times the size of the key they got for seeding in the self-introduction corner. It was actually worth five small keys. The older brother,edian Oh Hyungseok, asked, ¡°What is this for, PD-nim?¡± ¡°Yeah, I¡¯m curious too.¡± ¡°You never told us. What do you use that for?¡± Main PD Gu Jaeyong nodded at their exploding curiosity. ¡°Let me exin that part¡­ The golden key is the key to open the treasure chest hidden in this vige. You need to get a total of sixteen keys to open the chest. And the team that opens the treasure chest will win today.¡± Woojoo saw what he meant. But he wasn¡¯t particrly interested in the golden key. Their goal was to secure as much footage as possible anyway. The golden key was just a nice bonus. That was what Woojoo was thinking when it happened. ¡°Then what¡¯s the reward for the first ce?¡± ¡°The theme of the Chuseok Special is filial piety, right? So we prepared a luxury package travel voucher for you to send to your families.¡± ¡°¡­¡± Amidst the oohs and aahs, Woojoo¡¯s siblings looked at him. Woojoo nodded too. His mind changed. Chapter 111: Chapter 111: Trantor: MarcTempest Editor: Rxel Chapter 111 It was when Woojoo was in middle school. He heard from some trainee hyungs that having posts on the inte could cause trouble, so he deleted the ones he had written in the past. Most of them were contest entries. -I want to send my grandma to America! She loves Hawaii! -My grandma loves Thand!!! Really. -?(Must read) Please pick me! ¡î¡ïIf he remembered correctly, they were something like that. That was how much he wanted to send his grandma on a trip since he was young. So whenever he had some money, he would take her to ces like Busan, but she had never been abroad. Of course, now Woojoo could afford to send her anywhere. He could even get her a first-ss ticket with the money he made from his songs. But she refused, saying that she didn¡¯t want to go alone with the money he worked hard for. So Woojoo hoped that if he got something from a variety show, she would have no choice but to go. No. ¡­Maybe he should just lie and say he got it from a variety show and send her off? Woojoo shook his head soon. It was because of Kim Deoksoon¡¯s superpower to detect his lies. Meanwhile, the guests¡¯ expressions changed at the mention of a luxury travel voucher. ¡°Director Gu, you should have told us that beforehand!¡± Teacher Woo Jaeyong clicked his tongue. ¡°Then, the people here would have tried harder in the first mission, right?¡± ¡°I¡¯m sorry.¡± ¡°¡­Hmph, I¡¯m not satisfied. Anyway.¡± The veteran actor adjusted his sses, and everyone nodded as if they agreed and fired up their enthusiasm. His kids were also fired up. Junghyun¡¯s parents lived in the countryside, Bijoo¡¯s parents had a hard time because of his brother¡¯s military illness. The youngest¡­ Ah, he didn¡¯t have any motivation. He was smiling brightly and saying, ¡®Travel voucher¡­ nice¡¯ with his eyes. And Rihyuk whispered to Woojoo, ¡°I¡¯ll give you mine if I get it, so you can send your grandma twice.¡± ¡°Thanks.¡± ¡°Ah, don¡¯t touch me.¡± ¡°¡­¡± Woojoo patted his shoulder affectionately, but he pushed his hand away. Sometimes he seemed like a cat rather than a brother. As they each burned their ambitions for the travel voucher, the main PD exined. ¡°Okay, then we¡¯ll proceed with the second mission. This mission doesn¡¯t have a golden key reward.¡± ¡°What did you say?¡± Song Jinwoo, a member of Team B, asked incredulously, ¡°No, Director. Then how are we supposed to close this gap? We have fewer keys and we¡¯re behind.¡± ¡°You can worry about that in thest mission.¡± At that, everyone racked their brains. Thest reward must be huge, or there must be a system where you could steal it. Even if the ones ahead had an advantage, they couldn¡¯t guarantee a win. He exined, ¡°The second mission is a continuation of thest mission. First, let¡¯s bring in the vigers before we reveal the mission.¡± About ten vigers came out from behind the production staff. There were some familiar faces among them. It was Im Soonhyun, the grandmother who Rihyuk and Woojoo cleaned for. ¡°Oh, there¡¯s the grandpa and grandma who raise Daegil.¡± Junghyun and others greeted the ones they recognized. The main PD said, ¡°Okay, then let¡¯s reveal the second mission.¡± At that, the main writer unfolded a white cloth. It had [The Second Virtue of Filial Piety: Helping with Work] written in calligraphy. Someone asked, ¡°Helping with work? We already did that, right? Like changing light bulbs or cleaning houses.¡± ¡°In this case, you will help the elders with their livelihoods. For example¡­ what is it?¡± He read the list. ¡°For farming, there¡¯s sowing fall radish seeds, and for orchards, there¡¯s harvesting apples, and for barns, there¡¯s livestock work. There are also other things like peeling garlic, and if the vigers choose you, you can go and help them.¡± ¡°Is that it?¡± ¡°Yes, isn¡¯t that filial piety?¡± They all looked puzzled as the other person cheerfully said that. Woojoo felt the same way. To be honest, it was amon format that came up whenever they dealt with rural areas, but something felt suspicious. It seemed like there was more to it. As each of them had a VJ following us, the elders started to pick out their workers. ¡°Wow, our Daegil¡¯s lifesaver. Youe with me. Let¡¯s go pick some apples together.¡± ¡°Hyung, I¡¯ll go check it out.¡± ¡°I¡¯ll follow you this time.¡± As they scattered in different directions, this time Woojoo was able to join the team of his younger siblings. Strictly speaking, it was because they were afraid of doing the show alone and stuck to him. Naturally, Woojoo was grabbed by the hand of Grandma Im Soonhyun. *** They visited the te-roofed house again. There were colorful bowls on the table, a Pomeranian named Dusik was running around the yard, and a straw mat wasid out. ¡­And there were piles of garlic. ¡°It looks like a mountain made of garlic.¡± ¡°Garlic Mountain.¡± ¡°Oh, you¡¯re using English without making a mistake for once.¡± ¡°Right? It¡¯s been a long time since he spoke like someone who received a high school education.¡± ¡°What do you mean?¡± The youngest pouted his lips. ¡°Sometimes I feel like you guys think I¡¯m stupid.¡± ¡°Name the six metropolitan cities.¡± ¡°¡­Grandma! I¡¯ll help you!¡± The youngest ran over and helped Grandma move the load. ¡°Do you think he doesn¡¯t know?¡± ¡°He doesn¡¯t know.¡± ¡°We did our fan signing events in the metropolitan cities, how can he not know?¡± ¡°What do you think he thought? He probably just said ¡®Wow, Daegu¡¯.¡± It was convincing. They helped Grandma move the straw mat. Considering the lighting, the VJ changed the camera settings and took his position. They sat around on bathhouse chairs on the mat. ¡°There¡¯s a lot of garlic, Grandma.¡± ¡°It¡¯s a lot.¡± Grandma Im Soonhyun smiled and said, ¡°Your eyes might sting a bit, but bear with it. It¡¯s still much better than what the others are doing.¡± ¡°True, this is just sitting down, so it¡¯s not too bad.¡± The ones who went to the field to sow seeds or to harvest apples must have been on a march of misery in this scorching sun. Rihyuk asked, ¡°But Grandma, what are you going to do with all this garlic?¡± ¡°I have no use for it.¡± ¡°¡­What?¡± ¡°No, the people from the broadcasting station came and asked me to do something, but I already did everything I could. There was nothing left to do¡­ So I thought about what to do and I remembered garlic because I run a restaurant.¡± ¡°Ah.¡± Woojoo said with a smile, ¡°But it¡¯s nice to be able to talk to you, Grandma.¡± ¡°Huh, what¡¯s so good about talking to an olddy.¡± ¡°Really. I grew up with my grandmother since I was young, so my hobby is listening to stories that adults tell me.¡± ¡°You speak so nicely.¡± As she peeled the garlic, Grandma started to tell a story. It was a story he had heard once before. What was it? Woojoo felt it since earlier, but every house he visited for the mission, they said ¡®Hey, listen to my story¡¯ and told him their stories. At first, Woojoo thought they were lonely because they lived alone, but it seemed like they were deliberately telling him stories. Something was bothering his intuition, but he still didn¡¯t know what it was. As he thought about it, he added some words to make them not bored whenever Grandma told a story. ¡°I went to another vige with my husband, that time was¡­ When was it?¡± ¡°It was 1968, Grandma.¡± ¡°That¡¯s right, that¡¯s right. It was noisy then because of the armedmunists.¡± ¡°What are armedmunists?¡± And their curious youngest asked questions from time to time. ¡°Uh, that¡¯s¡­¡± ¡°They¡¯re spies who came in with weapons.¡± As Rihyuk exined the 1.21 incident of 1968, Grandma eximed. ¡°Oh my, you¡¯re good at cleaning and you know the old days well. I¡¯m impressed.¡± ¡°This brother reads a lot of books. That¡¯s why his nickname is Chek Chek Doctor.¡± ¡°You¡¯re smart, are you going to college?¡± ¡°No. This brother only graduated from middle school.¡± Rihyuk lost his words in disbelief, and Woojoo burst outughing. But Grandma shook her head with a serious expression. ¡°Education is not important these days. What¡¯s wrong with being a middle school graduate? The times have changed and it¡¯s not the era where you seed by studying well.¡± ¡°¡­You¡¯re right, Grandma.¡± Rihyuk rolled his eyes politely. Jiho hid behind Grandma. ¡°And with these faces, you don¡¯t need to study.¡± ¡°Really, Grandma?¡± The youngest, who had a bright smile, asked as if he had thought of something, ¡°By the way. Grandma, do you know all the metropolitan cities?¡± ¡°Busan, Ulsan, Daegu, Gwangju, Daejeon, Incheon.¡± ¡°¡­¡± ¡°That¡¯smon sense. Our Dusik knows it too.¡± As the youngest became equal to a Pomeranian in his sleep, Rihyuk and Woojoo smiled and high-fived. They continued to talk with the elderly. ¡°What did you want to do when you were young, Grandma?¡± ¡°Me?¡± A shy smile appeared on her wrinkled face. ¡°I wanted to be a singer.¡± ¡°Really? You must have been very good at singing.¡± ¡°People in the neighborhood said, ¡®If you say singing, it¡¯s Im Soonhyun.¡¯ If I hadn¡¯t married wrong, I would have gone to Seoul and be a singer.¡± Woojoo suggested, ¡°Then why don¡¯t you sing with us?¡± ¡°No, I can¡¯t.¡± ¡°It¡¯s the mindset that matters. And we¡¯re really good at ying apaniment. We can sing along with any song you sing.¡± ¡°I¡¯m embarrassed.¡± ¡°Don¡¯t be embarrassed, Grandma. My dad says, you have to let go of your face to seed.¡± Rihyuk also sniffed his nose as he peeled the garlic. ¡°That¡¯s right, Grandma. Please sing once.¡± ¡°Then¡­¡± Grandma Im Soonhyun said with a hesitant face, ¡°I don¡¯t watch TV much, so I don¡¯t know the lyrics very well. There¡¯s a song I used to sing when I was ying with rubber bands as a kid.¡± ¡°Oh, is it a nursery rhyme?¡± As Woojoo imagined the scenery of a deer running around on the hillside, Grandma cleared her throat. They pped their hands and created the atmosphere. ¡°Ah, one beat rest! Two beats rest! Three beats rest and one, two, three, four!¡± With a pure expression as if she had returned to her childhood, Grandma started to sing. Ah~" Let¡¯s crush themunists~ ¡­Communists? How many millions are there? They¡¯re going to South Korea like a bunch of dogs~ Woojoo burst outughing at the garlic and everything. It was not the fakeughter he had been using for entertainment. It was a genuineugh. Heughed so hard that he snorted for a long time. The VJ looked like he was about to faint. Judging by his reaction, it seemed like this would definitely make it to the broadcast. Woojoo learned the truthter. It was a military song called ¡®The Song of Victory¡¯ that children used to sing while ying with rubber bands after the Korean War. They yed while singing that song. The old folks must have grown up in a really dynamic environment. ¡°Ah, I¡¯m crying.¡± Rihyuk wiped his tears. Woojoo was the same. The olddy looked embarrassed. ¡°¡­Was the song a bit too much?¡± ¡°No, it was great.¡± ¡°You know what, we should sing that song like a work song while we work.¡± ¡°Good idea.¡± They followed the lyrics that the olddy taught them and peeled the garlic. The work went faster. Woojoo wondered if this was why people sang work songs when they farmed. When he was wondering what to do now that the work was done so quickly, he saw the grandmother tapping her back. ¡°Ouch, my back.¡± ¡°Let me massage you again.¡± ¡°Fine, aiya, not there, lower.¡± While they were bickering, Rihyuk and Jiho cleaned up the garlic. As Woojoo watched the siblings swinging their spicy hands at each other,ughing, the front door opened with a creak. A grandmother in a fluorescent outfit walked in. Grandma Im greeted them with a bow. ¡°You¡¯re here, Chilseong.¡± ¡°I was on my way to visit the elders and stopped by.¡± Then she smiled warmly at them. ¡°If you were surrounded by such handsome young men, wouldn¡¯t you call me?¡± ¡°Oh, I forgot.¡± Chilseong, who was sitting on a chair in the yard, tilted her head. She seemed to be amused by the grandmother¡¯s warm smile. ¡°Was the massage that refreshing?¡± ¡°Take it. It¡¯s so refreshing that you can¡¯t even speak. I¡¯ve been having back paintely and couldn¡¯t sleep at night, but I slept well in the afternoon.¡± ¡°Really?¡± Another grandmother said to Woojoo, ¡°When you¡¯re done, do it for me too.¡± ¡°Woojoo. I¡¯m fine, so give those old folks a massage too.¡± Woojoo moved to another grandmother right away. After asking where she was feeling bad, he massaged her focus area. It wasn¡¯t a massage skill he learned to use in entertainment, but somehow he thought he was using it well. Thanks to his ability, he could tell at a nce where to target for the best effect. Woojoo noticed a spot where her muscles moved unnaturally. That was why he focused his attack on that area. ¡°Ah, there, there. That feels really good.¡± The result was very good. She stretched her back with a refreshed expression, and Woojoo felt like her posture had be more upright than before. Grandma Chilseong grabbed his hand. ¡°Thank you, really. It¡¯s refreshing.¡± ¡°I¡¯m d you feel refreshed.¡± ¡°I was fine. But I don¡¯t know if I just made you suffer bying here for fun.¡± ¡°No.¡± As Woojoo was about to say that, the olddy standing behind the Chilseong gave Woojoo a look. What was going on? But he finished what he was saying anyway. ¡°I actually enjoy giving massages to the elderly.¡± ¡°Really?¡± As Woojoo said that, Chilseong chuckled. But Grandma Im Soonhyun touched her forehead as if she had a headache. Woojoo didn¡¯t understand their reactions, so he asked her after they left. ¡°Grandma, what¡¯s wrong?¡± ¡°Ugh. That¡¯s the biggest gossip in town.¡± ¡°¡­Gossip?¡± What did that mean? *** The vige elders¡¯ hall. ¡°Ha ha ha!¡± Amidst the heartyughter, two elderly members of Around the World With Dice¡¯s group, Woo Jaeyong and Yang Okbun, chatted with the other elders. ¡°What do you mean, Mr. Woo? Call me Hyung. Hyung. Euhaha!¡± ¡°Ugh.¡± Yang Okbun peeled an orange and looked at her reflection. ¡°I don¡¯t want to age like that.¡± ¡°Hey, we¡¯re all in the same boat.¡± ¡°I still take care of my hair, though.¡± It was a time ofughter and banter among the elders, as the two members exchanged jokes and stories. The door slid open with a creak. ¡°Chilseong is here.¡± ¡°I¡¯m here!¡± The people in the nursing home looked at her with a slight surprise in their eyes. It was because of Chilseong¡¯s bright expression. She was always scowling, so much so that even the ck goat leader avoided her. She was none other than Chilseong. But to see such a person smile like that. And on top of that. ¡°Unnie, why are you standing like that? Your back is so straight today.¡± ¡°I just got a massage.¡± ¡°A massage?¡± ¡°Well, I went to visit Soonhyun¡¯s ce and there were some handsome guys there. You know the one who looks decent among the five of them, right?¡± ¡°Oh, the one who looks like our grandson?¡± ¡°What are you talking about, he looks like our grandson.¡± ¡°He looks like our son to me.¡± When the bestpliment adults could give to someone¡¯s appearance continued, Chilseong started to tell what happened at that house. Then, a strange aura began to swirl in the old people¡¯s home. ¡°¡­That, can we go and get it too?¡± ¡°Ugh, it¡¯s hard. It¡¯s a nuisance.¡± ¡°That¡¯s right.¡± ¡°No, the guy said that. He said giving massages to the elderly is the happiest thing in the world for him.¡± ¡°Hey¡­ Still, it¡¯s a bother.¡± With that, something unusual started to happen. ¡°Ugh, I think I left the gas stove on.¡± ¡°I need to go and chop some green onions.¡± ¡°I have to call the temple for something¡­¡± As they saw one by one leaving their seats, Woo Jaeyong and Yang Okbun smiled and made eye contact with the VJ. They knew where to go. *** Before long, the sun was setting behind the mountains. Bijoo, Junghyun, and Ye Heechan were walking along the dirt road, rubbing their shoulders, after returning from the apple farm. ¡°Ah, I¡¯m sore.¡± ¡°Do you want me to massage you?¡± ¡°No.¡± Bijoo shook his head. Junghyun, who was staring at him nkly, handed him an apple he had brought from the farm. ¡°¡­What¡¯s this?¡± ¡°It¡¯s an apple as an apology.¡± ¡°What do you mean?¡± ¡°It seemed like you were angry with me for running onto the road.¡± ¡°Oh.¡± ¡°I won¡¯t do anything dangerous from now on.¡± Bijooughed. He had given a vague answer because he was tired, but it seemed like his friend had misunderstood. ¡°It¡¯s not that. I¡¯m just tired.¡± ¡°Hey, then do you want me to massage you?¡± ¡°I¡¯m fine.¡± ¡­He said, but soon his friend was massaging his shoulder. Ye Heechan smiled as if he found them cute. ¡°You two are really close.¡± ¡°It¡¯s not like that.¡± Junghyun shook his head. ¡°He¡¯s always nagging me and making me feel uneasy. I have to let him win on purpose sometimes.¡± ¡°Don¡¯t talk nonsense, Junghyun.¡± ¡°It¡¯s not nonsense. Woojoo Hyung agreed with me.¡± ¡°No, he didn¡¯t. Woojoo Hyung told me something different. He said you¡¯re working hard to take care of Junghyun.¡± ¡°¡­¡± The two who realized the truth gave a hollowugh. Ye Heechan smirked. ¡°You guys have a leader who could be a politician, huh.¡± ¡°I¡¯m disappointed in Woojoo Hyung.¡± As they were joking about their leader, they saw a house with an open door in the distance. A loud noise came from inside. And as they passed by, they saw a strange scene through the gap of the door. Three VJs were filming, while Woojoo was giving massages to the elderly. Jiho and Rihyuk were performing like guest singers for the other waiting seniors. ¡°¡­¡± The three had no idea what was going on. Chapter 112: Chapter 112: Trantor: MarcTempest Editor: Rxel Chapter 112 A vige festival was held at an unexpected time. The younger line was singing trot songs in the yard, the elders were pping andughing, and the Pomeranian Dusik was running around excitedly. And Woojoo was suffering. Oh, his arm hurt. If you had ever massaged someone else¡¯s shoulder, you would know that it required more strength than you thought. You knew what he meant.When you said to your friend, ¡®Let me give you a massage¡¯, and started kneading their shoulder, but after about 20 seconds, you lost your strength and slowly lowered your hand. The problem was that he had been massaging for 20 minutes now. It was really hard. Woojoo had a cramp in his arm. His hand had been numb for a long time. He secretly stretched his back and clenched and unclenched his fist, but his hand was still stiff. But Woojoo managed to smile brightly at the grandfather who sat in front of him. ¡°Where do you feel ufortable?¡± ¡°Well, I have a curved back¡­ It hurts so much when I lie down.¡± ¡°Let me try to massage it for you.¡± Soon, the grandfather¡¯s sincere exmation came out. Like a vending machine that dispensed a drink when you pressed a button, he kept saying it felt good whenever he kneaded his sore spot. The faces of the elders, which had been stiff and rigid, bloomed like flowers in full blossom. Woojoo felt a subtle sense of pride whenever he saw their expressions. While the youngest one was joking around and mingling with the elders, Rihyuk whispered in Woojoo¡¯s ear. ¡°That¡¯s enough. You look too exhausted.¡± Woojoo smiled and said he was fine. Yang Okbun, who was peeling a tangerine, seemed to notice and spoke up. ¡°Oh my, look at you. Don¡¯t you think you should stop? Your hands are¡­ Oh dear, your beautiful hands are all red.¡± She said it loud enough for everyone to hear. That was when the elders, who had been chatting happily, started to express their concern. ¡°Oh no, oh dear. We¡¯re such a bother to you¡­¡± ¡°What should we do, should we get some ice and rub it on your hands?¡± ¡°I can¡¯t believe it. I didn¡¯t notice at all.¡± Woojoo waved his hands to reassure them. ¡°I¡¯m fine, I can do more¡­¡± ¡°No more, no more. Come and sit down.¡± Woo Jaeyong gestured to a chair in the yard. Woojoo followed his silent gaze and sat down quietly. ¡°Oh dear, you¡¯ve worked so hard.¡± ¡°No, you don¡¯t have to do this for me¡­¡± In an instant, the roles were reversed. There was a grandfather who patted Woojoo¡¯s shoulder with his fist, and some people who brought him honey water from the kitchen. And someone else added some ice to it, saying it would be too hot. ¡°Are you hungry?¡± Woojoo waved his hand, knowing that he would rush to the kitchen and cook something if he said yes. Before he could answer his question, Rihyuk pped his hand over Jiho¡¯s mouth. Woojoo felt like a grandson who had a dozen grandparents. In the midst of that, Teacher Woo Jaeyong asked, ¡°Why are you working so hard? Just pretend to do it, okay? You have to be smart as a person.¡± ¡°But I only get to see them for one day, so I want to do it with care.¡± ¡°You¡¯re foolish, so foolish,¡± Teacher Yang Okbun said, as the veteran actor clicked her tongue. ¡°Why, you¡¯re so amazing. You gave it your all to do this for me. Look at your face. You¡¯re sweating like rain.¡± ¡°Oh dear, you¡¯re right.¡± Three VJs were taking turns filming this scene. This was going to be on air, for sure. Sometimes, Woojoo had a feeling like this when he was recording. He still felt sore in his arm, but he was d that he managed to meet the quota. Of course, Mrs. Kim Deoksoon would curse at those bad old people who made her grandson suffer when she watched the broadcast. But Woojoo also felt good to receive such affection from the elders. If there was one thing that bothered him, it was this. ¡°I still haven¡¯t given a massage to some of you¡­¡± ¡°Ah, just stay still! The others here will do it.¡± ¡°That¡¯s right, I also want to give you a massage.¡± As Jiho interrupted with his lively voice, everyoneughed. Behind the elders, a voice rang out. ¡°Hello!¡± It was Ye Heechan¡¯s voice. After him, Bijoo and Junghyun also walked in with bags of apples. When did they get here? "We love massages too." Bijoo smiled and looked at Woojoo. Woojoo had a feeling that he wanted to say something, but he didn''t know why. It felt like he had done something wrong. Woojoo tried to think of all the things he had done wrong in the past 30 days, but there were too many to count, so he gave up. The elders who hadn¡¯t received a massage from Woojoo yet kept refusing the offer from the new faces, saying they didn¡¯t want to bother them. But after much persuasion, they finally agreed to sit down and enjoy the service. The two elderly members of Around the World With Dice¡¯s team elicited lively conversations from the elders, while the younger ones showed their filial piety to them. It was a heartwarming scene. As Woojoo watched that scene, he gulped down some refreshing honey water. Then, Junghyun squeezed Woojoo¡¯s shoulder. ¡°Ow! Hey! Be gentle!¡± ¡°Oh, sorry.¡± ¡°Junghyun, go massage some other grandpas and grandmas. Why are you kneading me?¡± ¡°In our house, our Hyung is the oldest, right?¡± ¡°You and I are only two years apart. I¡¯m young.¡± ¡°That¡¯s true.¡± ¡°Hey, Junghyun. When you agree with me, can you put some soul into it?¡± ¡°Speaking of which, I have a question,¡± Junghyun asked. ¡°Hyung, am I letting Bijoo win, or is he being considerate of me?¡± ¡°¡­Huh?¡± ¡°I mean, we talk differently.¡± Woojoo looked at Bijoo, who was giggling next to him. He met Woojoo¡¯s eyes and narrowed them slightly. Then Woojoo remembered. They weren¡¯t fighting, but they were a bit annoyed with each other. Woojoo stepped in as a mediator. Woojoo wondered what to do and remembered how politicians acted on TV. He copied them. ¡°Did I? I don¡¯t remember¡­¡± ¡°Hyung. I¡¯m disappointed.¡± ¡°It¡¯s okay. Your disappointment is already familiar to me.¡± ¡°Then I¡¯ll be twice as disappointed.¡± He snorted and made the people around themugh. Then, Rihyuk, who was tapping someone else¡¯s shoulder, said, ¡°Junghyun Hyung, there¡¯s something else. When you were chased by the ck goat earlier, that guy saw you and closed the door.¡± ¡°Wow.¡± Junghyun changed his eyebrows into triangles. ¡°I¡¯m three times as disappointed, Hyung.¡± ¡°Wow, Seo Rihyuk, you snitch¡­¡± ¡°I didn¡¯t do anything wrong. I just told the truth.¡± ¡°I¡¯m four times more disappointed in you.¡± Woojoo wondered how many times it would go up. As the elders around themughed and added a few words, Woojoo defended himself. ¡°Junghyun, how can you help someone who is chased by a ck goat? In movies, you run away first when a monster appears.¡± ¡°No, I have a zombie movie that I watched with Bijoo before, and there, a kind old man saved the protagonist from a horde of zombies. He told him to take shelter in his house.¡± ¡°¡­Why do you only get smart when you talk to me?¡± ¡°I¡¯m smart.¡± He was serious, but his expression was funny, so the siblings and the elders burst intoughter. Then, Junghyun said with a realization, ¡°Bute to think of it, the old man who saved him died.¡± ¡°¡­¡± ¡°So, from that perspective, you were wise, Hyung.¡± ¡°Junghyun.¡± ¡°Yes.¡± ¡°Swear at me instead.¡± A loudughter erupted. The second mission that started with peeling garlic ended in a warm atmosphere like a neighborhood banquet. The elders left with a fresh expression, emitting a strong garlic smell from their shoulders, and they enjoyed a small joy from the fact that they secured some footage. ¡°Wow, look at that. Peeling garlic was a piece of cake.¡± Jiho pointed to the members of Girls on Top, who looked miserable. They were all sweaty and dusty, and one of them had a bit of dirt on her butt, probably from falling down. They must have been sowing the autumn radish seeds over there. But they looked happy, maybe because they had done a lot of work. The other teams also had a simr vibe. Maxi and Heysion had red eyes, too. What did they do? ¡°Ugh¡­ I¡¯m not going to live in the countryside.¡± ¡°The grandpa said so, too. It¡¯s better for girls not to live in the countryside.¡± ¡°Right. I¡¯m a city-like beauty, you know.¡± As Woojoo watched them say that, he swallowed augh. Then, Junghyun whispered to Woojoo, ¡°She seems like a very unique person.¡± ¡°I guess so.¡± To him, she looked like his soulmate. ¡°Hi, everyone!¡± Meanwhile, Ye Heeyeon appeared. She had two or three watermelons hanging from each hand. Everyone¡¯s eyes widened. ¡°What¡¯s that, Sunbae-nim?¡± ¡°Oh. The grandpa gave them to me for doing a good job. Let¡¯s eat them togetherter.¡± ¡°You did a lot of work.¡± Lee Gyeonwoo exined. ¡°Nah, it wasn¡¯t much.¡± ¡°No¡­ You were very passionate, you know¡­¡± The Hallyu star looked at the distant mountain with a wistful expression. It was a very sad expression, but it seemed like he had taken the pain that he should have suffered. There were friendly greetings here and there, and when the teams finally gathered. There was a discussion about the identity of thest mission. ¡°But what¡¯s thest mission?¡± ¡°Maybe it¡¯s something like a game. Like the one where you wear earplugs and pass on words.¡± ¡°Maybe it¡¯s rted to the second mission? The PD said to think along the lines of the extension cord, remember?¡± ¡°Right. That¡¯s why I checked for any hidden things while doing the mission. I wondered if there was a key hidden somewhere in the house.¡± ¡°Did you find anything?¡± ¡°No. I just got scolded for snooping around other people¡¯s houses.¡± As they listened to that conversation, their team also discussed. Ye Heechan rubbed his chin and said, ¡°Based on my experience, this is 500% a physical challenge.¡± ¡°Hmm? Why?¡± Heysion asked, and Ye Heechan answered. ¡°It¡¯s like a rule thates from experience, but our program has a physical special once in every ten episodes. It¡¯s been a while since we had one. And¡­ more than anything, the guest lineup is like that.¡± ¡°Guest lineup?¡± ¡°Ah, this is annoying to exin. Hey, Ye Heeyeon.¡± Ye Heeyeon, who had pped her brother¡¯s back, answered instead. ¡°Look at Team A. We have three members and seven guests. Team B has two members and three guests. Team C has two members and four guests.¡± ¡°¡­Sunbae-nim, aren¡¯t there eight guests on our team?¡± ¡°You guys are a bundle, remember? You only got one key when youpleted your mission.¡± That was right. That was why Woojoo thought it was unfair. There were four guests, so even if they got them all, they would only have four keys, but Team A had seven individuals. ¡°Usually, when they give an advantage to Teacher Jaeyong and Teacher Okbun¡¯s team, it means that the mission involves physical activity. That¡¯s because they are really strong. Hyungseok Oppa is also a legendary klutz.¡± ¡°Ah¡­¡­.¡± Then, the other guests, including them, nodded. It felt like a mystery was solved. Lee Gyeonwoo asked, ¡°Then what¡¯s thest mission? A chase?¡± Heysion shook his head. ¡°It¡¯s hard to chase because of the terrain. Junghyun and I know because we were chased.¡± ¡°Oh, it was fun. I can do it again.¡± ¡°No, put it away.¡± While they were talking, Woojoo was lost in thought. About the content of thest mission. Woojoo had a hunch about something. It was something that he had thought was strange while doing the mission, but he was sure of it when he went to Grandma Soonhyun¡¯s house. Woojoo had a feeling that it was this. Ye Heechan poked Woojoo with a finger. ¡°What are you thinking about, Woojoo? Do you have any idea?¡± ¡°I have a guess, but I¡¯m not sure¡­¡± ¡°Tell me then.¡± ¡°Okay. Let¡¯s hear it.¡± Woojoo said cautiously, ¡°I¡¯ve been feeling this since earlier. Did you have any such thing while doing the mission? The elders kept telling us stories about their past.¡± ¡°Yeah, they did.¡± ¡°Oh, I listened for a long time too.¡± They all nodded. ¡°But I went to the same house as the first mission, and they told me the same story again on the second mission. They repeated the same story like rewinding a tape.¡± ¡°Oh, right. I was like, ¡®Why are you telling me the same story again?¡¯¡± ¡°¡­Was it just me?¡± ¡°Oh, then this might be¡­¡± Woojoo nodded. ¡°The PD said that the second mission was rted, right? I think that might be a hint.¡± ¡°Wow, this is a mess.¡± Heysion said, ¡°I just ignored what they were saying.¡± ¡°I was too busy working¡­¡± They all looked worried as Woojoo spoke. ¡°It might not be. It¡¯s just my guess.¡± ¡°No, it makes sense.¡± Ye Heeyeon asked Woojoo, ¡°Woojoo, what about you? How did you listen to the elders¡¯ stories?¡± ¡°Oh, I wrote them down on my phone memo since the first mission, in case I forget.¡± ¡°Wow¡­¡± The expressionless VJ filmed them as they talked, and Lee Gyeonwoo started to say something. ¡°I¡­¡± ¡°Everyone, gather up!¡± The assistant director¡¯s shout calmed the atmosphere, and the main PD, Gu Jaeyong, came out after finishing the meeting with the writers. ¡°Now, I will reveal the third and final mission. The team that wins this mission will get a luxury travel voucher.¡± Everyone swallowed as PD Gu Jaeyong stroked his stubbly beard and smiled. ¡°Did you do well on the second mission?¡± ¡°Director Gu, don¡¯t beat around the bush and just reveal it.¡± ¡°Actually, the third mission is linked to the first and second missions.¡± ¡°¡­?¡± ¡°Didn¡¯t you wonder why the elders kept telling you the same stories over and over?¡± As they blinked, their teammates looked at Woojoo with a strange expression. Gu Jaeyong PD smiled and said, ¡°Actually, the way to show filial piety is not only to give them gifts or help them with chores, but also to listen to their stories.¡± ¡°¡­!¡± ¡°The third mission will be revealed now.¡± As everyone seemed to have guessed the content, the main writer unfolded thest sheet. [The most important virtue of filial piety: listening attentively] ¡°The third mission, finding the treasure chest, will be based on the stories you heard from the elders.¡± As people murmured, ¡°What, what, what do we do?¡± the PD smiled smugly. You didn¡¯t expect this, did you? His expression said. Meanwhile, their team members looked at Woojoo with somewhat uneasy eyes. Ye Heeyeon swallowed and asked, ¡°So, you have all the notes in your phone, right?¡± ¡°Yes.¡± As Woojoo nodded, the team members¡¯ faces brightened. ¡°I met all of them.¡± *** Thest game, ¡®finding the treasure¡¯. Each team was given a questionnaire and several maps on A4 paper, and the PD exined. ¡°Please look at the example on the questionnaire. There will be a question written there. For example, ¡®Gu Jaeyong¡¯s birthday is October (?)th.¡¯¡± As PD Gu Jaeyong said, there was a question written at the top of the paper. [Gy Jaeyong¡¯s birthday is October (?)th.] Below that, there was a phrase that said, ¡®Which one is correct for the nk?¡¯ ¡°As you can see, there are multiple-choice options. From 1 to 9. You just have to choose the right answer.¡± The main PD¡¯s exnation continued. ¡°These are questions based on the stories that the elders told you today. If you know the answer, go to the elder¡¯s house and say the password like ¡®Number!¡¯ Then they will give you a key.¡± ¡°Is that it?¡± ¡°Yes, simple, right?¡± The PD smiled and said, ¡°But you only have one chance to answer. If you get it wrong, you won¡¯t get the key under any circumstances. Of course, if you don¡¯t know from the start, you can tell us and we¡¯ll give you a hint. But it¡¯s not free. There¡¯s a mission.¡± ¡°¡­Like when we filmed the introduction video?¡± ¡°Yes, but that would take too much time, right?¡± The PD grinned and said, ¡°So you can also steal keys from other teams. The method is simple. Just say ¡®I challenge you!¡¯ andpete in a mission.¡± ¡°What, then stealing is overwhelmingly advantageous.¡± ¡°That¡¯s right. But if you want to steal someone¡¯s key, you have to bet the same number of keys.¡± ¡°¡­¡± ¡°So please think carefully.¡± Someone raised their hand and asked, ¡°PD, so if we get sixteen, we win?¡± ¡°Oh, I forgot to tell you. Do you see thest map of the back mountain that we gave you?¡± ¡°¡­¡± ¡°There are numbers from 1 to 64 marked there. Among them, there are three ces where each team¡¯s treasure chest is buried.¡± At that moment, everyone had the same thought in their minds. ¡°Sure, it might seem like we just have to dig up one each, but we buried them one meter deep.¡± ¡°¡­¡± ¡°So the other team got sixteen of them. But there¡¯s no need to worry at all. If you just work harder with your shovels, you can still win this.¡± ¡°¡­¡± ¡°Isn¡¯t this more fun as a game?¡± As the PDughed out loud, everyone looked at him as if he was a devil. Then, they heard the sound of metal scraping behind them. There were three metal shovels. As they all felt hopeless, Heysion noticed the leader of New ck smiling smugly next to him. He wondered why he was like that, then he suddenly remembered something. The conversation they had in the car this morning. -But why were you digging there? -Because of this variety show¡­ That was what Woojoo said, looking very happy. Heysion nodded his head. He felt it during the ck goat incident too, but that group had a lot of weird people. Chapter 113: Chapter 113: Trantor: MarcTempest Editor: Rxel Chapter 113 The exnation for the treasure hunt was over and the team meetings began. ¡°Do you know any of the quiz answers?¡± ¡°Um¡­ I know a few, but there are too many trivial ones¡­¡± ¡°I have no idea.¡± For Teams A and B, it was like finding a needle in a haystack. But by racking their brains and recalling their memories, they managed to fill out some of the answer sheets.¡°I think we can secure some of them this way. For the rest, we¡¯ll have to rely on the missions¡­¡± ¡°Or we¡¯ll have to steal them.¡± That was themon opinion among Team B, who had the least number of golden keys. ¡°Let¡¯s steal them right from the start. We only have two anyway, so we have nothing to lose. The rules said we can still steal even if we have zero keys. It¡¯s only one per person, but¡­¡± ¡°Then we should target the team with the most keys.¡± Team B¡¯s eyes naturally turned to Team C. Team C, who had won the first mission, had seven keys. One of the members of Girls on Top, Gil Chaekyung, nced at someone and smiled faintly. ¡°Then we¡¯ll go after New ck from Team C.¡± ¡°Idols versus idols, that sounds fair.¡± ¡°Is that okay? They¡¯re on fire today. Can you handle them?¡± ¡°Yes! Please trust us.¡± Meanwhile, Team A was also having a strategy meeting. ¡°We¡¯ve filled out about 40 percent of the answer sheet, so let¡¯s quickly go to the houses that match them.¡± ¡°Sounds good.¡± ¡°And¡­ about stealing the keys, we have to do that too, right?¡± As the other guests nodded at Oh Hyungseok¡¯s words, Model Han Sora suggested something. ¡°I think we should be more careful about being stolen than stealing, don¡¯t you think?¡± ¡°That makes sense too.¡± At that moment. ¡°How about this?¡± Comedian Seo Jihyung proposed an idea. ¡°What if we divide the roles and have someone who specializes in stealing?¡± ¡°You mean you?¡± ¡°Yes, sir. I may not be good at being funny, but I¡¯ve done a lot of missions in variety shows.¡± ¡°That¡¯s true.¡± ¡°Don¡¯t worry.¡± Seo Jihyung said confidently, ¡°I¡¯m confident in doing any mission.¡± Watching him, Yang Okbun peeled an orange and said, ¡°Hey, Jihyung. Then who are you going to target?¡± ¡°Of course, Team C. Who else?¡± ¡°Hmm¡­¡± The veteran actor asked with a worried tone, ¡°Are you sure? They¡¯re on a roll today. Heechan and Heeyeon look in good shape too. You know you can¡¯t beat Heeyeon physically, right? Unless you¡¯re an athlete, you can¡¯t beat her.¡± ¡°Come on, I know. That¡¯s why I¡¯m looking at the other kids.¡± ¡°Kids? New ck?¡± Actor Lee Kangjin asked, and Seo Jihyung nodded. ¡°Yes.¡± ¡°They look like they¡¯re not easy to deal with, even though they¡¯re rookies. Can you do well?¡± His pride was hurt by the question, and Seo Jihyung¡¯s eyebrows twitched slightly. He said confidently, as if to prove himself, ¡°Don¡¯t worry, everyone. I¡¯ll take it from them as you see.¡± *** ¡°Don¡¯t worry, everyone. I¡¯ll take it from them as you see.¡± ¡°Oh, really.¡± Ye Heeyeon crossed her arms and tapped the dirt floor with the tip of her sneakers. ¡°He totally looks down on our team. I have to give him a good scolding to wake him up.¡± ¡°Uh, Heeyeon¡­ Calm down¡­¡± ¡°What calm down, we¡¯re going to smash them from the start!¡± Lee Gyeonwoo backed away from her erupting like a volcano, and Maxi continued to eavesdrop. ¡°Hey, Jihyung. Stay away from Heeyeon, she has a long grudge and no joke. If you lose, she¡¯ll chase you around all day. You can¡¯t handle that. You know? What, you think you can run away? Go ahead and try.¡± ¡°Teacher, that¡¯s too much! I don¡¯t have a grudge!¡± ¡°Hey.¡± Maxi wiped the spit on her cheek and made a sad face. ¡°Why are you angry at me, I¡¯m just delivering the message.¡± ¡°Oh, I¡¯m sorry. Unnie.¡± ¡°No, it¡¯s okay. It happens.¡± ¡°Please tell me the rest quickly.¡± As they listened to the other team¡¯s ns in real-time, Woojoo was solving the problem. ¡°Number 39 is Grandma Kang Boksoon¡­ I wrote this down on my notepad. She said she was born in North Korea, and she was born in Wonsan.¡± ¡°Wonsan is number 7.¡± ¡°The next problem is someone I haven¡¯t met.¡± ¡°Don¡¯t worry. I remember.¡± Lee Gyeonwoo drew a neat circle on the choices. That was how they became a duo and solved the problems. It was what happened when he was solving the problem after the mission exnation. -I have a good memory too. When they were stuck for a long time, that senior stepped up. He had such a good memory that he solved the problems about the people he had met once. He was a unique character. At first, he seemed like a confident and overflowing Hallyu star, but when Woojoo looked closer, he was very introverted. He responded softly to anyone who approached him, but he seemed to have a hard time with that. It looked like the typical exhaustion that introverts felt when they met outsiders. Woojoo gave him a thumbs-up as he solved the problem quickly. ¡°Wow, Sunbae-nim. You have a really good memory.¡± ¡°I have to memorize a lot of scripts.¡± ¡°No, really. This is something that¡­ you have to have a good memory to do.¡± ¡°Is that so? ¡­Oh, we¡¯re done.¡± It was thest question. The team members had been working on a strategy. They didn¡¯t need a special strategy like the other teams. They literally had the correct answers to all the problems, so it was more important how they got there than where they went. Their focus was on the movement patterns. While Heysion and Junghyun, who had run around the whole town being chased by the ck goat, told them the fastest routes, Ye Heeyeon said. ¡°We have to hit and run as fast as possible. You know what that means, right? We have to get the golden keys first, and as soon as we collect sixteen of them, we go straight to the back mountain. Okay?¡± ¡°Take it easy, Ye Heeyeon. You¡¯re so fired up¡­!¡± Ye Heeyeon, who was punishing her brother, looked at Woojoo. ¡°And Woojoo?¡± ¡°Yes, Sunbae-nim.¡± ¡°You said you practiced a lot of digging, right? You stay near the entrance of the back mountain as much as possible. We¡¯ll take care of the keys, so be ready to run away at any time.¡± ¡°Yes, I¡¯ll do that.¡± Woojoo nodded and then asked something that came to his mind. ¡°By the way, how do we shake off the other teams?¡± ¡°That¡¯s easy. Just run fast.¡± ¡°¡­¡± Everyone was speechless, and Ye Heechan bit his tongue. ¡°Little sister. That¡¯s only possible for you.¡± ¡°Oh, really? Then¡­¡± That was when everyone was thinking. Junghyun suggested an idea. ¡°I have one thing in mind.¡± It was an idea that everyone liked. *** 7 p.m. ¡°The mission will start now. Please get ready¡­ One, two¡­ Three! Please go!¡± As the main PD¡¯s signal with the megaphone sounded, 30 celebrities started running at once. They scattered to the houses they had checked their routes beforehand, while several people stuck to Team C¡¯s tail from the start. The keys could be stolen until the middle point of the vige. As the guests and the VJs were panting, Team C finally entered a house. Somewhere, a suspicious sound of chains rattling was heard, but Seo Jihyung of Team A and Song Jinwoo of Team B rushed in without hesitation. ¡°¡­?¡± But Team C¡¯s people were nowhere to be seen. nk- As the back door closed, they tried to run, but they couldn¡¯t get past the yard. It was because of the being that was standing there. Baa- With a heavy bleat that rose from the ground, yellow eyes shed in the darkness. The two men swallowed their saliva at the sight of the huge ck furball. ¡®Come to think of it¡­¡¯ They remembered hearing that some people from Team C were chased by a ck goat. They had scoffed at them for being chased by a goat, but when they became the target, it was noughing matter. Meanwhile, as the two humans stopped, the ck goat leader recalled the whisper of Junghyun that he had just heard. ¡®Baa. Baa.¡¯ They didn¡¯t know what that sound meant, but it was not important to the ck goat. The leader started to charge at the intruders. And then. Swish- As the ck goat rushed in, the chains were pulled tight. But he didn¡¯t reach the humans, and Seo Jihyung and Song Jinwoo looked at each other and snickered. ¡°Geez, you¡¯re scared of a tied-up goat.¡± ¡°Yeah. Hey, goat, we¡¯re just passing by~¡± ¡°You¡¯re so pathetic, really.¡± Every time theyughed, the ck goat became more furious and twisted his body. And finally. Thud- ¡°¡­¡­.¡± The moment the ck goat and the two humans locked eyes, the same thing that happened in the daytime repeated itself, only with different people. *** Jiho was moving with Heysion as a two-person team. ¡°Grandma Chilseong! Number eight! Hometown Geoje, Gyeongnam.¡± ¡°Oh yeah.¡± That was how they exchanged passwords and received paper certificates as they went around. He came out of the first house in a good mood, but he ran into his nemesis right away. Oh Hyena and Gil Chaekyung of Girls on Top. The one with fierce eyes and the one with a sweet face popped out of the alley. And then they pointed at Jiho. ¡°We challenge you!¡± Jiho smiled politely at the girl group members. -Hyung, what if I can¡¯t control my expression? -Just think of it as acting. He felt better remembering the previous conversation. ¡°Hello, Sunbae.¡± ¡°Yeah, long time no see.¡± As the two of them chatted amiably, Heysion asked, ¡°Do you know each other?¡± ¡°We were in the same ss in high school. I was the ss president, and that Sunbae was the vice president.¡± ¡°So you were ssmates. I see. But you were the president?¡± ¡°Yup.¡± ¡°Oh, you¡¯re quite a leader. You.¡± ¡°No, not really. The kids made me the president when I brought two pizzas and a chicken.¡± ¡°¡­¡­.¡± While they were talking, the production staff said, ¡°The challenger is Gil Chaekyung, and the target is Wang Jiho, right?¡± ¡°Yes.¡± ¡°How many keys do you want?¡± ¡°One¡­ no, two.¡± The producer nodded and said, ¡°The mission is a trivia quiz, best of three.¡± ¡°Tr, trivia?¡± Jiho felt his vision go dark. He had no confidence in trivia at all. How was he supposed to do this? This was something that Rihyuk or Woojoo should do¡­ But he soon shook his head. The two brothers were not around, so he had to do it by himself. ¡°Okay, then here is the first question. What is the capital of the United States?¡± ¡°Chaekyung! New York.¡± ¡°No.¡± ¡°Jiho! LA.¡± ¡°No.¡± ¡°Chaekyung! Los Angeles!¡± ¡°Absolutely not.¡± But once he started, he felt relieved. It was what it was. Heysion and Oh Hyena were pounding their chests in frustration behind them, but the vocal and the president and vice-president of ss 1 proudly showed off their ignorance. ¡°Chaekyung! Washington!¡± ¡°That¡¯s correct!¡± ¡°Ah¡­! I was about to say that!¡± This happened after more than 50 city names came out. While Gil Chaekyung, who won the first round, sent him a smug look, Jiho clenched his mouth. And then the quiz continued, and Jiho¡¯s eyes sparkled. ¡°When I called his name, he came to me and became a flower. Who is the poet who wrote this poem?¡± ¡°Uh¡­ Uh¡­¡± He had heard this before. When they decided on the names of their Souffles and teased Woojoo, Junghyun had recited this poem. But why couldn¡¯t he remember? He had heard the title before. ¡®Oh, really, Wang Jiho, you idiot¡­¡¯ He thought, and his brain automatically reacted to the keyword ¡®idiot¡¯. -It¡¯s Kim Chunsoo. You idiot. Did you sleep in literature ss? Jiho raised his hand. ¡°Jiho! Kim Chunsoo!¡± ¡°Wow¡­ Unbelievable.¡± Heysion, who was standing behind him, swept his chest and eximed, and Jiho smiled in victory. Then he smiled at Gil Chaekyung. ¡°We learned this in our literature ss.¡± ¡°We don¡¯t have a literature ss in our grade.¡± ¡°¡­Next quiz, please!¡± Now it was one to one. The two idols who were burning withpetitive spirit faced the quiz. ¡°This is thest quiz. Name six metropolitan cities in our country.¡± ¡°¡­Metropolitan cities?¡± Jiho doubted his ears. Could he be so lucky? He had just heard the names of the six metropolitan cities and where they were. Grandma Im Soonhyun had said that even a Pomeranian would know that. ¡®But what were they?¡¯ As he tried to recall the city names in his head, Gil Chaekyung quickly raised her hand. ¡°Chaekyung! Seoul, Incheon¡­¡± ¡°Nope.¡± ¡°Jiho! Busan, Daegu, Daejeon, Incheon, Gwangju, uh, uh¡­ ooh¡­ Ulsan!¡± ¡°That¡¯s correct!¡± Gil Chaekyung¡¯s eyes widened. She looked incredulous. Jiho felt a surge of pride. He didn¡¯t know why Heysion behind him had the same expression. Anyway, Jiho approached Gil Chaekyung and gave her a bright smile. ¡°Thank you, Sunbae. I¡¯ll take the key!¡± *** Woojoo teamed up with Maxi and wandered around. Their Team C was currently leading with 11 keys, while Team B had 7 and Team A had 9, chasing them closely. After visiting a few predetermined ces and resting near the back mountain, the production crew gave them some sad news. ¡°Team C lost one key!¡± ¡°Why?¡± Maxi asked, and the VJ answered while looking at his phone. ¡°Heysion¡¯s team got two keys, and Rihyuk¡¯s team lost three keys, so one was taken away. Both games were quizzes.¡± ¡°¡­What?¡± Did Woojoo hear that wrong? The youngest won a quiz, and Rihyuk lost? ¡°Rihyuk¡¯s team had a nonsense quiz.¡± ¡°Oh¡­¡± ¡°Heysion¡¯s team had a simplemon sense quiz.¡± ¡°Oh¡­?¡± One made sense, and one didn¡¯t, but it wasn¡¯t a big deal anyway. And that was when it started. After getting some keys, the stealing and being stolen started to happen frequently. When one team took the lead, the other two teams would join forces and attack, and that was how the bnce was maintained. It was a dynamic fight. But from the waiting position, Woojoo was only yawning. Rather. ¡°I wish someone woulde and find us.¡± ¡°Yeah. This is kind of boring.¡± As they exchanged such words. Rustle- The bushes rustled, and a shifty-looking Mongol man appeared. It was Seo Jihyung. But he seemed more surprised to see them than they were. ¡°Huh. What. Why are you here¡­¡± Then he quickly put on a smug expression and pointed at Woojoo. ¡°I challenge you!¡± Things happened in an instant. The mission that they wouldpete in was also revealed right away. It was ¡®chicken fight¡¯. While the production staff drew a line on the dirt floor with a stone, Seo Jihyung smiled triumphantly. Why was he like that? He acted as if he had already won, but Woojoo couldn¡¯t understand why. Using his body was his specialty. Seo Jihyung stood with his legs locked. Standing on the empty lot where a chilly wind blew, he looked at his opponent with a determined eye. Chicken fight was his forte. He had been doing it for almost 10 years on the entertainment scene, along with games like popping balloons. ¡®I will win this.¡¯ He could confidently say that with a 99% probability. The chance of his opponent winning was maybe 1%. It was impossible unless he was a chicken in his previous life. Especially look at him. He was handsome enough to rival Lee Gyeonwoo, but his body was frail. He seemed to have at least 20 kilograms less weight than him. And with that much difference in weight ss, one push would be enough. That was why he boldly said, ¡°I¡¯ll bet two.¡± The game started right away. Best of three. ¡®I¡¯ll finish it cleanly from the start!¡¯ As soon as the game started, Seo Jihyung charged confidently. And when he threw his body at the idol who was defenseless. ¡®¡­Huh?¡¯ He felt something strange. There should have been something touching his body, but there was nothing. And then his vision shed. When he came to his senses, he was lying down. ¡°¡­What, what is this?¡± ¡°Are you okay?¡± What happened? He disappeared right before the collision and then he felt an impact from behind. He wanted to borrow a camera from the VJ and see the rey. That was why he approached cautiously in the second round. As he moved carefully, Woojoo also moved annoyingly. The opponent also seemed to consider the weight difference. ¡®But what¡¯s with him?¡¯ He said he wouldn¡¯t win unless he was a chicken in his previous life, but he looked like a master who had been rolling in the chicken fight scene for over ten years. ¡®Ugh! Why can¡¯t I catch him?¡¯ Woojoo always slipped away just as he was about to grab him. And he always had that smug smile on his face that annoyed him so much. Maybe it was personal, but Seo Jihyung didn¡¯t like him from the start. Woojoo made him look bad in the opening, and he ruined his hard work in the cooking mission. Of course, it wasn¡¯t his fault, but he was just a thorn in his side. So when he had the chance, he decided to give him a taste of his own medicine. But it didn¡¯t go as nned. However, soon he saw an opportunity. He realized that Woojoo was getting tired. ¡®Now¡¯s the time!¡¯ Seo Jihyung sprinted towards him as he showed a gap in his defense. But at that moment, his lips curved into a strange smile. ¡®¡­Huh?¡¯ Woojoo dodged him with a swift sidestep. And where Seo Jihyung stopped was the edge of a line drawn with stones on the dirt. ¡°Whoa!¡± Seo Jihyung wobbled on the brink, and Woojoo came closer and pushed him off bnce. ¡°Oof! Ouch!¡± Seo Jihyung fell t on his face. He felt a weird embarrassment and stayed down for a while. Then someone squatted in front of him. Leopard-print pants. And sunsses in the dark night. Maxi was looking at him with a pitying expression. Her whispery voice reached his ears. ¡°Aww¡­ you only threw away the poor key.¡± ¡°¡­¡± Seo Jihyung felt like crying for some reason. Chapter 114: Chapter 114: Trantor: MarcTempest Editor: Rxel Chapter 114 Woojoo approached Seo Jihyung, who was lying on the ground, and reached out his hand. ¡°Are you okay?¡± ¡°Ah, well¡­ Yeah. I¡¯m fine.¡± He looked away at a distant mountain with an embarrassed face, then grabbed Woojoo¡¯s hand and got up. He seemed a bit upset. Woojoo could understand why.He was chased by a goat, and then he lost a chicken fight to a rookie idol here. He looked so pitiful that Woojoo handed him a bottle of water. ¡°Sunbae-nim, have some water.¡± ¡°Ah¡­¡± ¡°You look like your throat is burning.¡± He nced at the bottle and then looked up at Woojoo with a strange expression. ¡°Thank you.¡± He nodded and walked over to the VJ. ¡°Director, what¡¯s the ranking right now?¡± ¡°Uh, hold on.¡± The other person checked his phone and said, ¡°Reflecting the two you just got, your team is now in the lead with fifteen.¡± Maxi and Woojoo high-fived. If they got one more here, it would be their victory. But then, the VJ said, ¡°Behind you, Team A has ten¡­ Wait, what? They have sixteen now?¡± ¡°What?¡± ¡°They stole them from Team B.¡± ¡°¡­¡± Then, Seo Jihyung, who was groaning, sprang up. ¡°What did you say? Team A is in the lead now¡­?¡± ¡°Yes, right now.¡± ¡°Wow, that¡¯s awesome.¡± He grinned and handed Woojoo the bottle of water, then started running toward the back mountain. He left a cheeky remark as a bonus. ¡°Hahaha! I¡¯ll go ahead!¡± And a minuteter, they got a call too. ¡°Hello¡­¡± -Woojoooooo! ¡°Yes?¡± -Twenty-eight! Twenty-eight! Oh, geez. Ye Heeyeon shouted. -Hurry uppppp! It¡¯s the twenty-eighth spot! Woojoo ran before he even hung up the phone. Woojoo ran so fast that he caught up with Seo Jihyung, who had left earlier. He widened his eyes as Maxi and Woojoo gave him a bright smile. Woojoo greeted him rudely as a bonus. ¡°Excuse me!¡± ¡°I¡¯ll go first. Trot trot¡­!¡± *** At the same time. In the dark night, the cast members wandered around the mountain with a huge sh. The forest where the moonlight shone through the branches. The wind that blew from somewhere was chilly. But that annoying sight was heated up by the enthusiasm of over fifty people. Of course, the atmosphere was different for each of them. ¡°Just dig anywhere!¡± ¡°The soil here looks fresh. What if we dig this and there¡¯s nothing?¡± ¡°Ah, I¡¯m hungry. Why does the soil look delicious?¡± Team B, who lost the game with six keys, dug the soil with a hoe, holding back their tears. And Team A and Team C, who figured out the location of the treasure chest, dug the ground passionately. ¡°Hurry up and dig!¡± ¡°Hurry up! Before we get caught up!¡± Lee Kangjin, an actor of Team A, led the scene with sweat. The other team members also swung their hoes next to him, who pushed the soil with a big shovel. They were the leaders. On the other hand, Team C was struggling alone with Ye Heeyeon. But even though she was alone, her speed was different. Model Han Sora urged her members. ¡°Hurry up! Do it faster! That guy is too fast!¡± When Team A was digging hard to widen the gap with Team C, who was chasing hard. ¡°We¡¯re here!¡± Finally, Team C¡¯s reinforcements arrived. It was Maxi and Woojoo, the leader of New ck. ¡°Hey! You should havee faster!¡± ¡°The road was too confusing. It took us a long time to get here.¡± ¡°Here, take this.¡± Ye Heeyeon handed the shovel to Woojoo. The people of Team A, especially the members of Around the World With Dice, tilted their heads at the sight. It was strange. Why did the character who wanted to do everything herself when someone else was working willingly hand over the shovel to that idol member? Soon the question was answered. ¡°What¡¯s up with him?¡± ¡°That, that, what¡­¡± ¡°Why is he so fast?¡± Strictly speaking, it wasn¡¯t a fast speed. Woojoo was digging at a moderate speed, neither fast nor slow. But the amount of soil he lifted each time was different. That slender idol member lifted as much soil as the whole Team A with one dig. It was a truly strange thing that could not be otherwise. Of course, if you looked closely, Woojoo¡¯s digging was different from the others. Unlike those who used only their upper body strength and quickly exhausted their stamina, he used the power of his thighs. Or he applied the principle of leverage when digging. But no one in this ce had the luxury to think about that in detail. They just stared nkly. Team A, who were mesmerized by the idol who dug the ground like a skilledborer, came to their senses when they saw the pile of dirt that the other team was stacking up. Yang Okbun, who held a hoe, urged Lee Kangjin, ¡°Hey! Dig faster! We¡¯re all being chased by them.¡± Team A tried their best again, but the situation was not good. It was because the rest of Team C joined in. ¡°Why are you sote?¡± ¡°Bijoo disappeared somewhere. He¡¯s a road idiot, you know. He was going to cry alone in the valley, and we brought him here.¡± ¡°Whatever, just dig! We¡¯re second right now.¡± ¡°Director, please give us a hoe too!¡± The fiercepetition began as all the members of Team A and Team C gathered in one ce. Thanks to Woojoo¡¯s early digging, the depth of the two teams¡¯ tes was soon simr. A fierce battle. When one team dug more, the other team dug more too. Thest-ce Team B watched like spectators, chatting with popcorn-like faces, and the production crew captured the fiercepetition of the two teams on camera. ¡°Ah, we¡¯re almost there! We¡¯re almost there!¡± ¡°Cheer up!¡± ¡°Travel voucher! This is a travel voucher!¡± As they shouted loudly, the game was almost over, and both Team A and Team C were noticeably exhausted. ¡°This doesn¡¯t look like a meter at all.¡± ¡°Cheer up! Kangjin, ah! Don¡¯t spread out!¡± When Seo Jihyung took over and dug, Team C was also noticeably tired. And then. ¡°Let¡¯s sing a work song!¡± ¡°A work song?¡± ¡°You know, the song we learned from the olddy earlier. The one that the adults yed with rubber bands!¡± Ah, the members of New ck in Team C started singing while digging. Crush the Communist Party! How many millions are you going to South Korea with a spy ne? Team A was momentarily stunned by the absurd song, and Team C dug more vigorously with the momentum. Now they were all singing that song. At that sight, Team B and the production crew couldn¡¯t help but burst intoughter. And thanks to that momentous song and someone¡¯s amazing digging, the fate of the two teams was decided in no time. ¡°Woah-!¡± It was the victory of Team C, who surrounded Woojoo and jumped around. *** Back at the vige hall. As Team A and Team B looked at them with envy and regret, the PD called their names. ¡°Team C,e out and get your reward.¡± ¡°Woojoo, you go!¡± ¡°Yeah, you go and get it.¡± Woojoo walked out feeling nervous for some reason. A luxury travel voucher. That was what the panel said, and he received it as the representative. When Woojoo came back, he saw many eyes full of regret on the panel. There was a slight awkwardness in the congrattions, but it didn¡¯tst long. ¡°Great job, everyone! Let¡¯s go eat!¡± The PD, Oh Taejun, who had left somewhere, took the celebrities to a nearby vacant lot. ¡°Wow¡­¡± There was a paradise there. Drums with bonfires set up, tes of pork belly piled up on each table. People were so simple. As theints washed away, cheers and pleasant conversations began right away. Soon, the smell of greasy charcoal-grilled pork belly filled the air with smoky aroma. They drooled at the smell, but unfortunately, they couldn¡¯t eat right away. It was because of thements on the first ce. They each said a word to the camera. Lee Gyeonwoo talked about the managers, Maxi talked about his parents, and Heysion talked about his grandmother. Then it was their turn. ¡°I¡¯ll send it to my parents,¡± Rihyuk answered briefly. He seemed to skip it like that because it was awkward to mention hisplicated family history. Next was Jiho. ¡°I want to send it to my sisters.¡± Heysion, who was nearby, asked with a mischievous expression, ¡°What about your parents?¡± ¡°Oh, my parents are in the sky right now.¡± ¡°¡­¡± As the others, including Heysion, froze, Jiho said, ¡°Ah.¡± ¡°They¡¯re on a ne right now. They¡¯reing back after their trip to Macau.¡± ¡°Oh, man! You scared me. Why did you do that to me, really¡­¡± Jiho bowed his head to the camera. ¡°I¡¯m sorry. Dad, Mom. You¡¯re alive, but I¡¯m sorry. But what if this goes on air? I think I¡¯m going to get in trouble.¡± ¡°Ask the director to edit it.¡± ¡°Wow, can I do that?¡± As the others nodded to the timid youngest, he smiled brightly and sent a heart with both hands to the director. ¡°Dear director, please do me a favor!¡± The shooting director, as well as the other staff, burst intoughter. He patted the youngest on the head without saying anything. ¡°I want to send it to my parents, too,¡± Bijoo said. ¡°I¡¯m really happy that I can show my filial piety by sending you on a trip this time, since you¡¯ve worked so hard. Thank you.¡± They pped with their members. Then Woojoo lightly hugged Bijoo, who came back. Next, Junghyun also said that he wanted to send his parents as a courtesy. Finally, the camera turned to Woojoo. ¡°I want to send my grandmother. She had a hard time raising me. I really wanted to send her on a trip abroad, and I¡¯m so happy. Thank you!¡± Then Woojoo sent a heart to their Lady Kim Deoksoon towards the camera. ¡°I don¡¯t know if I¡¯ll be on the show, but Grandmother¡¯s grandson loves her very much~¡± ¡°Hey, can we join too?¡± ¡°Me too, I love my dad, mom, and sisters!¡± Woojoo smiled as he watched his younger brothers behind him sending big hearts to their families. It was a really good night. *** 11:30 p.m. Finally, all the recording was over. The first floor room of Grandpa Kang Moonsik¡¯s house, where the air conditioner was blowing hard, was where they were going to sleep. As soon as Woojoo finished showering, the younger ones were enjoying a pillow fight. ¡°Junghyun Hyung! Catch him!¡± ¡°Okay.¡± ¡°Ah, that¡¯s cowardly! Why are you two teaming up? Woojoo Hyung! Help me!¡± ¡°¡­I¡¯mzy.¡± ¡°Ugh. Since this happened, let¡¯s all attack that demon king together!¡± ¡°Woah!¡± ¡°What, why me!¡± Woojoo was attacked by a pillow in his sleepiness and joined the fight. They rolled around for a while with the five of them, and then a sound like ¡®yay!¡¯ came from outside. Grandpa Kang Moonsik¡¯s family and their Team C were ying Go-Stop. Grandpa¡¯sughter kept ringing, and he seemed happy to fulfill his wish of ying a game of cards that he had said during the day. That was good. As Woojoo thought that, the tension in his body rxed. It wasn¡¯t just him, their main vocal had also became one with the warm floor. ¡°Ah, I¡¯m tired¡­ I need to wash up.¡± And then Jiho hit Rihyuk¡¯s back with a pillow. He tried to fight back with a kick, but it didn¡¯t reach. Woojoo held back from making a joke about him being a sad animal with short legs. Woojoo was so tired. They got up at four in the morning, checked the luggage, filmed the opening in Sangam-dong, picked out the talk while moving by car, ran around to get the ingredients in Yeoncheon. Cooked, peeled garlic. Then Woojoo gave others massages, and he even messed up while doing the final mission. It was the most exhausting day of all the schedules he had done. As hey down on the floor, his eyes closed. ¡°Guys, how about we y rock-paper-scissors to see whoys out our nkets?¡± ¡°I¡¯ll do yours too, Hyung.¡± Junghyun spread out his spot. Everyone else started to lie down on their own mats. Junghyun came to Woojoo¡¯s spot and covered him with a nket. It was so heavy, it must have been a country-style nket. But thanks to that, Woojoo felt sleepy. ¡°Guys, should we y rock-paper-scissors to decide who turns off the light?¡± ¡°I¡¯ll do it.¡± ¡°Aw, you¡¯re so considerate of the old man. We have to suffer because of you.¡± ¡°What are you talking about, really. You¡¯ll get scolded by the grandpa and grandma if you say that, Wang Jiho¡­¡± ¡°I¡¯ll turn off the light.¡± Darkness engulfed them in an instant. But as soon as the light was off, Woojoo couldn¡¯t sleep. Woojoo felt like he was awake in a daze. He stared at the ceiling pattern for 10 minutes, then he started to y with the shadows in the moonlight. ¡°Is it just me? I can¡¯t sleep.¡± ¡°Me neither.¡± ¡°Same here.¡± Chop, chop. Woojoo heard the sound of someone patting their cheeks. It looked like Bijoo was putting on a mask pack. ¡°I guess it¡¯s because we¡¯re not used to this ce. It¡¯s not our home.¡± ¡°Yeah, maybe that¡¯s why.¡± ¡°Hey, guys. It¡¯s not a home, it¡¯s a lodge.¡± ¡°Oh, right.¡± A chuckle came from the darkness. ¡°I feel like this lodge is my home now.¡± ¡°Don¡¯t you feel morefortable in the dorm, Hyung? Ah¡­! Don¡¯t put your leg on my stomach.¡± ¡°It¡¯s my choice.¡± ¡°Anyway, you two have the same mental age. So childish. Really.¡± ¡°Yeah, Mr. Smarty Pants.¡± ¡°¡­Don¡¯t bother me, I¡¯m going to sleep.¡± ¡°He always goes silent when he¡¯s at a disadvantage.¡± ¡°I don¡¯t care. Don¡¯t bother me, I¡¯m going to sleep.¡± ¡°Junghyun is quiet right now. Are you sleeping, Junghyun?¡± ¡°I¡¯m not sleeping, Hyung.¡± ¡°What were you doing?¡± ¡°I was just thinking about something else.¡± ¡°Like what?¡± ¡°Well, I was talking about music with Heysion Sunbae earlier. So I was nning the mixtape I¡¯m going to make in the future.¡± ¡°Oh, work¡­¡± Woojoo suddenly remembered the reality that he had forgotten for a day. ¡°Come to think of it, I have to work on the song when I go back to Seoul.¡± ¡°Oh, do you have any ideas?¡± ¡°No, I mean, I have a lot of beats and melodies, but I don¡¯t have anything that I¡¯m really satisfied with yet. I need to take some time and see.¡± ¡°Don¡¯t rush it, Hyung.¡± Chop chop. Bijoo spoke as he patted his mask pack. ¡°I know it¡¯s not a title track, but a B-side. I wish you could work on it without too much pressure.¡± ¡°Yeah, that would be nice.¡± ¡°By the way, since we¡¯re talking about the B-side, how about we discuss it among ourselves?¡± ¡°Oh, that sounds good.¡± They each shared their opinions. ¡°I don¡¯t know about anything else, but I hope the B-side has some hard choreography. I¡¯ve been practicing a lot of dancetely, and I feel like everyone else is suffering because of me, so I want to go hard¡­¡± ¡°How about a groovy vibe?¡± ¡°Let¡¯s make the part distribution more tight and focused¡­¡± It felt strange to talk about the song. In a good way. It felt like having an honest conversation in the dark, with a bit of embarrassment and sincerity. Maybe that was why they chatted for a long time in a daze. As people started to fall asleep one by one, and only the maknae and Woojoo were left. The maknae whispered to Woojoo, who was about to fall asleep, ¡°Actually, I was really scared today.¡± ¡°What was?¡± ¡°There were a lot of strangers, and it was scary. You guys are the only ones I can rely on here. There are no managers. So when I went to get the ingredients with the other seniors earlier.¡± ¡°Yeah, then.¡± ¡°I was so scared. I mean, it¡¯s not that they were bad or anything, but they had this masked feeling. I guess it¡¯s natural for a broadcast. There¡¯s a difference between the broadcast image and the reality. But I was a bit scared of that. Maybe because I¡¯m still young.¡± ¡°Yeah, you¡¯re young. Jiho.¡± ¡°Hyung, are you sleepy?¡± ¡°¡­No, I¡¯m not sleepy at all listening to our maknae.¡± ¡°Anyway, so I was. Earlier, when I saw Hyung¡¯s face in front of the vige hall, I was so happy. What do you call it? It felt like I was surrounded by people with masks, and I finally found someone without a mask?¡± ¡°¡­Oh, I see.¡± ¡°Hyung, are you listening?¡± ¡°¡­¡± *** At the end of August. On a hot night. Outside, the unfamiliar sound of crickets was loud, and inside, theughter of people and the ticking of the clock were ringing. In a room where five idols were snoring from exhaustion, Woojoo was dreaming. A dream about music. In his dream, he was at a masquerade ball. To be precise, it was the terrace of the ballroom. Woojoo could see the moonlit garden below, and he heard the sound of crickets and peopleughing and talking. Somewhere, there was also a discordant sound like someone dragging a chair. But strangely enough, the dream was ck and white. And everyone around him was wearing masks, except him. And the attendees of the ball treated him like he didn¡¯t exist. They didn¡¯t answer him when he talked to them, they didn¡¯t react when he waved his hand. It was a weird ce. Woojoo had a dream about the pigs he met on a tourist bus to Pyongyang. They were ying violins, and there was a banner on the ceiling that said ¡®Mrs. Kim Deoksoon¡¯s 2976th Rebirth Anniversary¡¯ in Chinese. And on the highest throne in the ballroom, his grandmother was sitting. ¡°Nice to meet you, Mrs. Kim Deoksoon!¡± The masked people knelt down and kissed his grandmother¡¯s feet, who looked at them and said they were more handsome than her grandson. Then she suddenly started telling them about her life¡¯s hardships. That was when he realized it was a dream. There was no way his Kim Deoksoon would say someone else was more handsome than him. As Woojoo thought that. The door of the ballroom opened and someone came in. At that moment, Woojoo opened his eyes wide. It was as if paint was spreading, the light and color changed from the person who opened the door and came in. And then the ballroom started to melt like chocte. ¡°Ahhh!¡± And Woojoo woke up from the dream. ¡°Huh, hah¡­¡± It was a dream. As soon as Woojoo realized he was back in reality, he fumbled for his phone on the bedside table. Recording. He had to record this. He hummed the melody that the pigs had yed in the dream. His head was all tangled up. He had to record this before it flew away. He had no time, so he called someone who always recorded phone calls. -Hello. ¡°Hey, Hyung.¡± -What¡¯s up at this hour? ¡°Seokhwan Hyung. I¡¯m sorry¡­ Is this recording? Listen to this song I¡¯m singing. It¡¯s my ownposition.¡± -What? Woojoo sang as he pleased. He was drowsy. As he was falling asleep again, he blurted out something to him who was dumbfounded. ¡°Seokhwan Hyung, I¡¯m sorry. I¡¯ll buy you pork cutlet.¡± Then he fell asleep again. *** In a luxury house in Pyeongchang-dong. -Seokhwan Hyung, I¡¯m sorry. I¡¯ll buy you pork cutlet. The man who was drawing the notes of the melody he had just heard on his desk, looked at the phone screen andughed. ¡°He¡¯s something else.¡± At first he was speechless, but soon he chuckled without realizing it. He thought he couldn¡¯t stop him. ¡°I¡¯m not Seokhwan, I¡¯m Gyuhwan¡­¡± He muttered that and nced at the notebook with the melody. 3:30 a.m. The one who called him, mistaking him for Yoon Seokhwan, the director, was Seon Woojoo, the producer andposer of Lemon Entertainment. Chapter 115: Chapter 115: Trantor: MarcTempest Editor: Rxel Chapter 115 Holidays are for Family The next morning. It was the second day of filming for the Chuseok Special, and they were busy from the morning. They were saying goodbye. They carried the gift baskets prepared by the production team and visited each house to greet them. ¡°Oh my, why are you giving me this? I¡¯m fine¡­¡±Grandma Im Soonhyun, who had two Pomeranians sitting on herp, was happy to see the makeup set they gave her. ¡°Hahaha! I have to wear this and show off.¡± Grandpa Kang Moonsikughed heartily as he looked at the clothes with Around the World With Dice¡¯s logo on them. They were all very happy, and some of them even gave them gifts in return. Especially the grandparents who raised the ck goat Daegil, they gave them a unique gift. It was ginseng in a box. ¡°Ginseng.¡± ¡°Oh, this is what you fed Daegil.¡± Grandpa nodded at Junghyun¡¯s admiration. ¡°That¡¯s right. This is so effective that he became uncontroble and his personality turned out like that. If you eat this, you won¡¯t be able to sleep at night. Right, honey?¡± ¡°I sleep just fine.¡± ¡°¡­Well, the effect may vary depending on the age. Anyway, this is good for men, very good.¡± ¡°Wow.¡± The guests were amazed. As they wondered what expression to make and looked at the distant mountain, a fiercepetition began over the ginseng. Maybe they were more enthusiastic than yesterday¡¯s mission. And the glory of the winner went to Heysion, a married man of five years. Maxi smiled. ¡°Wow¡­ you were in a hurry.¡± ¡°Shh, let¡¯s just keep quiet about this. Please!¡± The rapper with dreadlocks frowned and everyoneughed. They finished filming and gathered in front of the vige hall again around 11 a.m. ¡°Hello!¡± ¡°Good morning!¡± The returning people greeted each other warmly. It was only a day of filming, but they felt closer because of the hardship they shared yesterday. Finally, the ending shoot was done. Oh Hyungseok, a member of Around the World With Dice, looked at the guests¡¯ tired faces andughed. ¡°You all worked hard yesterday and today. In that sense, how about we all p once?¡± "Wow¡­ They all pped. ¡°Hey, I can¡¯t do this again if you ask me to.¡± ¡°What did you do, Teacher? You just ate tangerines.¡± ¡°Hey, you try being our age. Even if the head sends a signal to move, the body doesn¡¯t respond.¡± ¡°And you got the third highest pay.¡± ¡°Ahem.¡± While the members of Around the World With Dice were chatting, the guestsughed or cheered as they filmed the ending. Woojoo also had a smile on his face. But in his head, he was thinking of something. What was it? He felt like he had forgotten something important since a while ago. There was definitely something, but it was buried under the bottom of his mind and wouldn¡¯t show up. What could this nagging feeling be? Meanwhile, the endingment was reaching its end. The PD spoke to the members. ¡°Alright, you all worked hard today. Before we finish, it¡¯s time to choose the destination for the next trip.¡± PD Gu Jaeyong took out two dice. The dice were made of soft microfiber material and were as big as a human head. Oh Hyungseok took them and asked, ¡°So, who¡¯s rolling these today?¡± ¡°Yes,st night, you all voted anonymously while eating meat. Who was the MVP of the special recording?¡± That was right. ¡°The result is out. There was a guest who received 10 votes from Team C alone and got the most votes. Yes, Woojoo from New ck, pleasee out!¡± Woojoo showed a polite smile to the people who pped for him. And with a nervous heart, he walked out. Hoping that no one would notice anything strange in the PD¡¯sment. As if he read Woojoo¡¯s mind like a ghost, their youngest tilted his head. ¡°Huh? Then, if our team was unanimous, Woojoo Hyung also voted for himself?¡± ¡°That¡¯s right.¡± ¡°Woojoo, did you write your name too?¡± ¡°No, this is¡­¡± ¡°Wow, you were acting so humble until now!¡± ¡°No, I mean¡­¡± They all burst intoughter as if they caught him red-handed. Woojoo tearfully exined, ¡®I didn¡¯t think I could do it¡­¡¯, but it was no use. Woojoo stood in front of everyone with a moist eye for some reason. ¡°Can I roll it like this?¡± ¡°Yes. See the panel with the destinations? You¡¯ll roll once for the tens ce and once for the ones ce. The higher the number, the better the ce.¡± The assistant director held a panel with the destinations written on it. From 11 to 16, they were ces that felt like they would be full of hardship, and from 61 to 66, they were foreign resorts like Boracay or Cebu. It was when Woojoo was about to roll. ¡°Uh, wait! Stop!¡± Yeo Heeyeon raised her hand as if she remembered something. ¡°I¡¯m against Woojoo doing this!¡± ¡°Her tone is exactly like a father-inw¡¯s tone, I¡¯m against this marriage.¡± ¡°No, you idiot! Remember. He also rolled the dice wrong when we did the basketball mission. Anyway, I¡¯m against it! He¡¯s the type who only uses his body!¡± ¡°Puhahaha!¡± People burst intoughter at his words. The PD also chuckled and said, ¡°Yes, I¡¯ll reject it.¡± He gestured at Woojoo as if to roll the dice, and Oh Hyungseok, who was standing next to him, asked him seriously with a snort, ¡°Woojoo, are you¡­¡± ¡°Yes.¡± ¡°A bad roller?¡± ¡°¡­I¡¯m not a bad roller.¡± Woojoo answered, shaking his head. ¡°I practiced a lot.¡± ¡°Dice?¡± ¡°Yes, I got a lot of curses for rolling the wrong onest time. If I add up all the curses I heard from my siblings, I could live until I¡¯m two hundred years old.¡± ¡°Wow, your siblings were mean.¡± Oh Hyungseok tried to console him with those words, but the others teased him with one-liners based on that. Then their kids got angry. ¡°When did we curse at you? Don¡¯t spread baseless rumors.¡± ¡°Don¡¯t lie, Rihyuk. I remember every precious word you said.¡± ¡°I didn¡¯t really do it.¡± ¡°Jiho, don¡¯t you remember? ¡®I¡¯m never going to be on the same team as Hyung in Blue Marble.¡¯ And Rihyuk said, ¡®The probability of not choosing six is five-sixths, but it¡¯s amazing how he chooses that one.¡¯¡± ¡°¡­¡± The two siblings became silent, while the other guests smiled. Woojoo left them at that point. Woojoo ignored Junghyun¡¯s pure admiration, saying, ¡®Wow, Hyung. How can you be so bad at it?¡¯ and Bijoo¡¯s subtle sigh in his breath, saying, ¡®Don¡¯t me yourself.¡¯ Woojoo continued. ¡°So I practiced rolling dice along with shoveling.¡± ¡°You practiced that too?¡± ¡°Yes, it¡¯s my first time on a variety show¡­¡± ¡°PD-nim, let¡¯s invite this guy again for another special. He looks like he would practiceting fish if we do a fishing special.¡± ¡°I¡¯m confident.¡± Woojoo burned with determination, looking as if he would do anything they asked him to, and the PD smiled and said he would consider it. After finishing that talk, it was finally time to roll the dice. ¡°Okay, let¡¯s see how well you practiced.¡± ¡°Yes, I¡¯ll try sixty-six Hawaii.¡± ¡°You¡¯re ambitious. Alright, let¡¯s go sixty-six!¡± ¡°Can I¡­ roll it once before that?¡± Woojoo asked for the PD¡¯s permission and rolled the dice as a trial. Using his mimicry ability, he controlled his muscles. He had simted it by writing numbers on the leftover clothes boxes he ordered at the lodging, and it worked here too. ¡°Oh! You got a six for real.¡± And then, for the first ten¡¯s ce in the real game. ¡°Wow, you got a six again!¡± ¡°¡­That¡¯s amazing.¡± ¡°Do you think rolling dice is something you can practice?¡± Once again, a single digit. Woojoo pretended to hesitate for a moment before rolling the dice. As expected, the result was 6. The guests were amazed, and the members of Around the World With Dice rushed over, surprised by the sudden destination of Hawaii. ¡°Wow!¡± ¡°Woojoo, let¡¯s go to Las Vegas special!¡± ¡°Hyung, let¡¯s go to Macau too!¡± Woojoo ignored the weird noises that he heard in between. *** ¡°Thank you for your hard work!¡± Woojoo bowed 90 degrees to the other celebrities and the staff who were busy carrying the filming equipment or moving around. Woojoo was excited when he was filming, but it was time to go back to being a rookie. Somehow, the scene was exactly the same as before the opening, but the reaction was different. ¡°Oh, hi. You did well.¡± ¡°You guys worked hard too. Have a safe trip.¡± The staff who had worked with them greeted them calmly, and they exchanged numbers with the celebrities from Team C. ¡°If you have any questions about rap, just ask me on chat. I don¡¯t know much about your skills, but I can help you with recording mixtapes.¡± ¡°Let¡¯s exchange numbers with me instead of this old man. I¡¯m pretty.¡± ¡°Woojoo, do you have a phone? Call me when you need a body.¡± They came to them first and asked for their numbers. It was a noticeable change. They were the ones who didn¡¯t even look at them at the opening. Woojoo didn¡¯t know if they liked them as human beings or if they saw their potential after watching what they did today, but it was a good change. They said goodbye to the people they had filmed with. They watched the managers who came from Seoul greet them happily and get in the car, and they sat down at the pavilion in front of the vige hall. ¡°Ah, when are theying? Really, I want to go back to the dorm and rest.¡± ¡°Me too.¡± ¡°I hope theye soon.¡± While the younger ones were lying down and chatting, Woojoo was still thinking hard about something. What he had forgotten. ¡°By the way, who¡¯sing to pick us up? Hyung, did you say the director ising?¡± ¡°No, not Seokhwan Hyung, but Minki Hyung¡­¡± And then, the keyword Seokhwan Hyung reminded Woojoo of something. ¡°Ah!¡± It was the dream he hadst night. The ck and white ballroom where color appeared when someone entered, and the pigs yed the violin. That melody. It was the clue for their album work that he had forgotten in his memory. ¡°Hyung.¡± Woojoo came to my senses when Bijoo tapped his arm. ¡°What¡¯s wrong, Hyung?¡± ¡°I forgot to tell you something. It¡¯s about our next track work¡­¡± Woojoo briefly exined the dream he hadst night. It was because of the story he heard from Jiho. They all burst intoughter when he told them the content. Especially Bijoo, who held his stomach andughed. ¡°What kind of dream is that, Hyung?¡± ¡°No, it sounds funny when I say it like this, but you¡¯ll think differently when you hear the melody.¡± ¡°But, Hyung.¡± Junghyun said seriously, ¡°You said it was a pig dream.¡± ¡°That¡¯s right.¡± ¡°Then shouldn¡¯t we buy a lottery first?¡± ¡°Right, Hyung. Didn¡¯t you see any numbers or anything? How many times did the grandmother celebrate her birthday on the banner?¡± ¡°¡­Is the lottery important now?¡± ¡°We can use the album budget after we win the lottery.¡± ¡°Oh? That¡¯s true.¡± Should he really buy it? If it was a lottery dream, he could make Kim Deoksoon happy. Bijoo tilted his head and said, ¡°I think it¡¯s a sign that the song will be a hit.¡± ¡°I think so too,¡± Rihyuk agreed, and everyone looked surprised. ¡°What¡¯s wrong with you? I thought you would say that dreams are superstitions.¡± ¡°I don¡¯t believe in that kind of thing, of course. But I do believe in theposing ability. Think about it. When we made Something, Fireworks, or Night Sea. We always said they were hits when we heard the melodies.¡± ¡°That¡¯s true.¡± ¡°That means there¡¯s a high chance that this song will do well too.¡± He was right. Of course, Woojoo didn¡¯t make the melodies for the first two songs, but he felt intuitively that they were good when he heard them. As his thoughts reached that point, the expressions of his brothers became serious. ¡°Hyung, can we hear the melody once?¡± ¡°Wait a minute, I called Seokhwan Hyungst night. It should be there.¡± Woojoo rummaged through his phone. He also used an app that automatically recorded, so he could easily find the file with yesterday¡¯s date. He skipped the conversation part, lowered the volume, and yed the part where the melody came out. A soft humming poured out a monotonous melody. ¡°Wow.¡± They widened their eyes and Woojoo said, ¡°How is it, good right?¡± They nodded their heads and were about to say their opinions. His phone, which had the volume turned up to the max, let out an absurd line. A drowsy voice, drunk with sleep. -Seokhwan Hyung, I¡¯m sorry. I¡¯ll buy you a pork cutlet. Woojoo sighed briefly as he blinked and saw his younger brothersughing hysterically. ¡°¡­Fine, go ahead and make fun of me.¡± ¡°Pffft! I want to hear this again. This is hrious¡­ Huh?¡± The youngest, who was holding his phone, gasped. He seemed surprised by the letters that appeared on the screen. ¡°What¡¯s wrong?¡± ¡°Hyung, look at the name of the person who answered the phone. Doesn¡¯t it say ¡®Jo Gyuhwan¡¯?¡± ¡°What?¡± It felt like someone hit him in the back of the head with the handle of an axe. Woojoo felt his chest churn as he took the phone. Jiho was right. Instead of the three letters that should have been Yoon Seokhwan, there was the name Jo Gyuhwan. ¡°Hyung, does that mean you called the bossst night?¡± ¡°¡­It seems like it.¡± There was a moment of silence. Only the sound of crickets from somewhere filled the space between them. ¡°¡­¡± And then, without any warning, the members burst intoughter. Woojoo just smiled warmly as he watched them. He seriously considered it. Should he just kick them out and do the next song solo? *** A Japanese restaurant near the HBS building in Sangam-dong. Bzzz- A message from Woojoo that said [I¡¯m sorry¡­] was ringing on the screen, but no one was looking at it. They were all focused on the sounding from the phone. -Seokhwan Hyung, I¡¯m sorry. I¡¯ll buy you pork cutlet. The people who were seatedughed at that. One side was the production team of HBS MTV¡¯s reality show, and the other side was the production director of Lemon Entertainment, Jo Gyuhwan, and the manager in charge, Yoon Seokhwan. The PD of HBS picked up a shrimp tempura andughed. ¡°He¡¯s really something, that Woojoo.¡± ¡°Yeah, he¡¯s hard to control sometimes,¡± Yoon Seokhwan replied as he picked up a sweet potato tempura. While the people from the broadcasting station and the managementpany were having a pleasant conversation, Jo Gyuhwan, who was quietly holding a ss of alcohol, asked, ¡°So¡­ what do you think of our proposal?¡± ¡°It¡¯s great, amazing,¡± the main writer said as he ate some corn cheese. ¡°We actually only confirmed the format, but we were still having internal meetings about the details. We can¡¯t refuse such a good offer.¡± The PD and the writer, who had skimmed through the A4 bundle that Yoon Seokhwan had handed over, asked to summarize the story. ¡°So, you want to dedicate one corner of this reality show to show the process of New ck preparing for their second album? Starting from the part where Woojoo came up with the melody for the track.¡± ¡°Yes, everything from start to finish.¡± The staff of Lemon Entertainment nodded and said, ¡°We think it will be a very good story.¡± Chapter 116: Chapter 116: Trantor: MarcTempest Editor: Rxel Chapter 116 Life didn¡¯t always go as nned, but Woojoo didn¡¯t expect today to be so different from what he had anticipated. He was supposed to go back to the dorm, take a refreshing shower, drink a can of zero c while teasing his younger brothers, and then fall into a deep sleep. But everything changed when he received a text message. -Do you want to meet me? The sender was Director Jo Gyuhwan. As his destination changed to thepany, his brothersughed at him, and before he knew it, he was in the underground parking lot, getting into the car with the director who came to pick him up for a meal.That was the end of his memory. Woojoo slept. Sometimes it happens. Even though you knew you shouldn¡¯t sleep, you fell asleep almost like fainting. This was one of those cases. Woojoo quietly opened his eyes in the passenger seat. Then he swept his bangs and checked the surroundings. As if nothing had happened. ¡°It looks like we¡¯re almost there.¡± ¡°Did you sleep well?¡± ¡°¡­¡± His eyes, which resembled a Tibetan fox, curved softly through the rearview mirror. Woojoo raised his thumb and said, ¡°¡­The ride is very smooth.¡± ¡°I left you alone because you were sleeping soundly. It seemed like I shouldn¡¯t wake you up.¡± ¡°Did I snore by any chance?¡± Director Jo Gyuhwan turned the steering wheel and smirked. ¡­He snored. Woojoo sighed and said, ¡°I¡¯m causing trouble for you. I call you at dawn, I sleep in the passenger seat¡­¡± ¡°No, I wasn¡¯t sleeping anyway at that time.¡± ¡°Is that so?¡± ¡°I was just lying down, about to fall asleep.¡± ¡°¡­¡± Heughed at Woojoo¡¯s expression. Somehow he seemed to be teasing him since a while ago. But Woojoo was d that he looked happy. The car stopped at a traffic light, and Woojoo checked the surroundings. It was near Namsan. As he scanned the various restaurant signs, he asked, ¡°Where are we going?¡± ¡°Oh. I asked the Scarlet kids to rmend me some good ces, and they suggested this one.¡± He pointed to a sign in the distance with his finger. ¡°We¡¯re almost there. There it is.¡± ¡°¡­¡± The sign he pointed to said ¡®Original Pork Cutlet Restaurant¡¯ in a calligraphic font. ¡°¡­¡± ¡°You said you¡¯d buy me pork cutlet.¡± ¡°Can you forget about that, sir?¡± He pondered. ¡°Hmm, that might be difficult for a while.¡± ¡°Then I¡¯ll have to buy you the most expensive one there.¡± ¡°¡­Huh? Why do I eat only one pork cutlet?¡± ¡°Thank you. I¡¯ll buy you two.¡± He burst intoughter. *** With a pork cutlet that was steaming hot in front of Woojoo, he lowered the mask he was wearing to his chin. Then he ate a piece of pork cutlet. ¡­It was delicious. The crust was what Jiho would call the epitome of crispy and moist. And the sauce was the nostalgic taste he used to eat when he was young. Woojoo should bring his kids here and feed themter. As he thought that, he looked at Director Jo Gyuhwan, who was eating across from him. He looked like a specimen of a sessful office worker in histe thirties who could appear in an advertisement. He was at an age where he could be a manager or a team leader in other nningpanies, but he was the production director in charge of album production at Lemon Entertainment. He was in charge of producing Scarlet and New ck, and he also had a lot of influence on thepany¡¯s decision-making. It was burdensome for him to ask Woojoo to have a meal with him. ¡°How is it, is it good?¡± ¡°Yes, it¡¯s really good. Thest time I ate pork cutlet was in the army¡­¡± ¡°Uh.¡± ¡°I have to bring my siblings here someday.¡± Woojoo said that as he ate a piece of pork cutlet. Director Jo smiled at him. ¡°You¡¯re working hard as the leader. Is everything going well?¡± ¡°Yes, it is. My siblings are very obedient.¡± ¡°Well, there¡¯s no troublemaker among them. We got rid of those who were back then.¡± He gave a bitterugh and drank some water. Then he seemed to remember something and said, ¡°By the way, I saw you guys on the portal today.¡± ¡°Really?¡± ¡°Go check it out.¡± As he said, Woojoo went online and saw an article popping up. -August album chart, the rise of rookies amid the sess of veterans It was an analysis article. It said that while the established singers were staying in the top ranks of the Mango monthly chart, the rookies were showing a strong momentum. [The rise of rookies is also noticeable. New ck¡¯s ¡®Fireworks¡¯ ranked 43rd and ¡®Night Sea¡¯ ranked 56th in the monthly chart, and ¡®Something¡¯, a coboration with Jang Sowon, is still in the upper ranks. Especially, it is a notable point that all three songs wereposed by New ck member, Woojoo.] Along with the somewhat embarrassing nickname of ¡®super rookie¡¯, their name was also seen in thements below the article. -New ck is doing well for a rookie -Did Street Boys get paid by thepany???? It doesn¡¯t seem like they deserve to be there with that rank, right???? -New ck is the best among the rookies this year The likes were not very high, but they were pleasantments, so Woojoo sent the article link to the members. ¡°How do you feel?¡± ¡°I feel proud. I also feel like I¡¯m recognized.¡± ¡°That¡¯s because you did well. You didn¡¯t get it for nothing.¡± ¡°Thank you.¡± ¡°So, what I¡¯m trying to say is¡­¡± He started to get to the point. ¡°We¡¯re going to make a corner for this reality show. We¡¯re going to show the process of preparing for the second album. Especially focusing on youposing.¡± ¡°Like when I made Night Sea, with a self-cam?¡± ¡°Well, yeah. The filming crew wille sometimes too.¡± ¡°But do you think the fans will be curious? They might say it¡¯s boring¡­¡± Woojoo asked cautiously. He could just agree with anything else, but he couldn¡¯t take it lightly when it came to their activities. Reality shows were not for the general public. They were for the fans who loved their idols. Fans wanted to see idols eating delicious food, doing fun things, not sweating and filming until the choreography was confirmed, getting scolded by the trainers, and staying up all night with a haggard face. He agreed. ¡°That¡¯s true in general. Idols don¡¯t usually do anything on their own in the album preparation process, they just be the subject. It¡¯s not fun to watch them do as they are told.¡± That was what Woojoo thought too. Woojoo nodded and expressed his agreement, and then he said something he never expected. ¡°So, what I¡¯m trying to say is, I want to entrust you with the production of the next second album.¡± ¡°¡­What?¡± What was he talking about? ¡°You want me to produce the album?¡± ¡°Well, not exactly. You¡¯ll be more like providing the ideas. The practical aspects will be handled by me and the A&R team, but we¡¯ll prioritize your opinions on the album concept and such.¡± ¡°¡­¡± ¡°What do you think? It¡¯s a good offer, isn¡¯t it?¡± It was an amazing offer. The producer was the one who oversaw everything about the album, from the concept to the track list, the jacket photo and the music video. If you excluded the asional suggestions on the songs, the ordinary idol members usually followed the concept that the A&R team came up with. So, the fact that he was offering Woojoo such a position meant that he was acknowledging him to some extent. And besides, it took millions of dors to make an idol album. He was letting Woojoo participate in a project that involved that much money, which was already a huge deal. But that also meant a lot of pressure. He smiled softly and said, ¡°Don¡¯t feel too burdened. I¡¯m not asking you to do everything. I¡¯m just saying that you should learn from this opportunity.¡± Woojoo was conflicted. Should he do it or not? He wanted to do it. It was the most important thing for a singer, the opportunity to shape their own album the way they wanted. Woojoo wanted to take it, even if it meant taking on a lot of responsibility. But Woojoo was only epting this offer if it was good for their group. His eyes were looking at the pork cutlet, but his mind was weighing the pros and cons. Finally, when Woojoo seemed to have made up his mind, he asked Woojoo with a smile, ¡°So, what¡¯s your decision?¡± ¡°Yes, I¡¯ll do it.¡± Jo Gyuhwan smiled as if he knew Woojoo would say that. Woojoo asked him seriously, ¡°But before that, I have one question.¡± ¡°Sure, go ahead.¡± ¡°Why are you making me this offer?¡± *** After receiving the offer from the producer of New ck, Woojoo spent a few nights in the studio. Click. Woojoo turned on the air conditioner full st, pulled his hood over his head, and kept clicking the mouse. On the monitor, there was aposing program. The title of the file he was working on was. Pig_in_the_Dream_(1)_1_13st+01 On the desktop, there were files with simr titles, almost like wallpaper. They were the results of countless trials and errors Woojoo had gone through for the past few days. But thanks to that, the song that was rough at first was gradually taking shape. Woojoo dragged a measure and added or removed some notes, and he remembered what Director Jo Gyuhwan said. -The melody you yed for mest night. He said with a strange expression. -Iughed it off when I first heard it. But it kept lingering in my memory. It was stuck in my head. It felt familiar somehow, and I liked how it sounded. I wondered if there was an original song. That was something Woojoo was thinking about too. Woojoo liked it after hearing it, but it could be an existing song for all he knew. -It could be a giarism issue, so I stayed up all night looking for a simr melody. -¡­Did you find any? -No. Woojoo felt relieved at his words, but as his thoughts reached that point, the producer and Woojoo looked serious at the same time. It was a very good sign that there was no such song, but it felt like a song they had heard before and it sounded good. They didn¡¯t say it out loud for fear of jinxing it. And that was the reason why he offered to produce for Woojoo. -It¡¯s certain that the song you made will be the center of this album, whether it¡¯s a track or a double title. It has a strong color. So I wanted to make an album that matches the color of the song you made from the beginning. The melody they called ¡®Pig Song¡¯ was going to be the core of the next album. That was why he immersed himself in the work since the day the show ended. ¡°Ugh~¡± Woojoo yawned and covered his mouth as he saw the mini-cam installed on the table by HBS MTV. Woojoo felt embarrassed and spoke to the camera. ¡°You¡¯ll see itter, but¡­ PD-nim, please edit this part out.¡± Woojoo made a scissors gesture with his hand and then drew a heart. ¡­They would edit it well, right? Woojoo was curious what kind of editing point they would find in this boring work process. Meanwhile, another camera opened the door and came in. ¡°Ta-da.¡± The younger ones followed the camcorder in Junghyun¡¯s hand like chicks. A pleasant low voice rang out. ¡°This is our studio. This is where I make mixtapes or Woojoo Hyungposes.¡± ¡°Hi.¡± ¡°Oh, Woojoo Hyung is right there,¡± Junhyeon narrated as he saw Woojoo waving his hand. ¡°Nice to meet you. Mr. Seon Woojoo.¡± ¡°Yes, hello.¡± Woojoo bowed politely to match the younger ones¡¯ skit. While doing so, the camera captured his hooded tee and tracksuit from top to bottom. ¡°Wow, is today¡¯s concept trashy?¡± The younger ones behind him burst intoughter. Woojoo alsoughed for a moment and then answered the interview. ¡°Trashy? It¡¯s trendy. As you can see, this wrinkled gray hooded tee and ck tracksuit are the point. This is the trendyposer look these days.¡± ¡°Oh,poser look. Is that ck dot in the middle of the gray hooded tee also a point?¡± ¡°Huh? This is¡­¡± Woojoo covered it with embarrassment, and Rihyuk said, ¡°That¡¯s it. Spicy pork stew soup.¡± ¡°Hey, why did you say that?¡± ¡°Puhaha! Look at Bijoo Hyung¡¯s face. Isn¡¯t that the shirt he sucked on yesterday?¡± ¡°It¡¯s okay. I¡¯m used to this kind of thing now¡­¡± As Bijoo was showing how to wash the spicy pork stew off his clothes in front of the reality cam, Woojoo changed into a hoodie. And then, carefully, Woojoo coughed. ¡°Wow, look at him acting like nothing happened.¡± ¡°Hmm? What happened?¡± The others started tough as they saw Woojoo pretending to be innocent. Woojoo asked while casually ying the piano keys, ¡°Are you guys done with your individual lessons?¡± ¡°We¡¯re on a break right now. Jiho said he has nothing to do after his acting lesson.¡± Bijoo said as if he remembered something, ¡°Oh, by the way, I stopped by the management team¡¯s office before I came here. They said our broadcast on Chuseok day is confirmed.¡± ¡°So it¡¯s settled.¡± Woojoo had heard that they might appear on a live special show called ¡®Challenge! Music Quiz¡¯ on PBS, but he didn¡¯t know it was finalized. Woojoo was happy but also disappointed. He thought they could go home for Chuseok if they didn¡¯t have any schedule. Woojoo wanted to go to Gunsan and eat something delicious with his grandmother, and watch Around the World With Dice together on the holiday. Woojoo wondered if he was the only one who felt that way, but the others looked simr. Because if not now, they wouldn¡¯t be able to go until the end of September. After the Chuseok season, they had the 2014 Incheon Hallyu Tourism Concert a weekter, so they needed to practice. It was a subtle feeling. Was this how office workers felt when they had to tell their families that they couldn¡¯t go home for the holiday because they were busy? Woojoo didn¡¯t know what to say to Mrs. Kim Deoksoon, who had been subtly asking him when he woulde down. Woojoo couldn¡¯t just say, ¡®Watch my face on TV, Grandma.¡¯ As Woojoo was thinking about that, the youngest, who was allergic to the sentimental atmosphere, changed the topic. ¡°Hyung, so how¡¯s the pig song going?¡± ¡°Yeah, it¡¯s going well.¡± Woojoo narrowed his eyes at him. ¡°You seem very proud of it.¡± ¡°Of course, I¡¯m the biggest¡­ What do you call it, Junghyun Hyung?¡± ¡°Common multiple?¡± ¡°Common division, Junghyun.¡± Rihyuk clicked his tongue at the conversation. ¡°Contributor. Contributor.¡± ¡°Right, right. I¡¯m the biggest contributor to this melody. I¡¯m proud of it because I also contributed to making the song.¡± ¡°That makes sense.¡± They smiled at their youngest, and Bijoo asked, ¡°Is it almost finished?¡± ¡°Well¡­ yeah. The technical part is almost done, but I haven¡¯t decided on the final touch, you know. The character of the song, if you will. If Fireworks was a message to our fans to have fun with us, I don¡¯t know what kind of song this one should be. That¡¯s why I haven¡¯t decided on the title yet.¡± And he needed to finalize this song so he could decide on the concept for this album. Of course, this time the melody was his own creation, unlike the Fireworks incident, but still, since the original idea wasn¡¯t his¡­ ¡°Ah!¡± Woojoo pped his hands and eximed, ¡°I was missing something obvious.¡± ¡°It looks like he came up with another dangerous idea.¡± The others backed away slowly, as if they had found a hazardous substance, seeing Woojoo smile. Especially Junghyun and Rihyuk, who had suffered from Fireworks and Night Sea. Bijoo was being dragged away by them. But Woojoo¡¯s eyes were only on one person. ¡°Jiho.¡± ¡°Yes?¡± ¡°Come here and sit down.¡± It would be best to hear it from the person himself. The maknae looked at the other Hyungs with a sense of crisis, but the other three had already run away. ¡°Don¡¯t be scared.¡± ¡°Um, well¡­¡± ¡°You said the lesson is over, right? You have nothing to do?¡± Woojoo gave Jiho a bright smile and tapped the chair next to him, signaling him toe. ¡°Come on. Let¡¯s have some fun making a song with Hyung.¡± *** Group chat ¡®Space Team without Woojoo.¡¯ Jiho [How could you guys do this to me] Jiho [How could you abandon me like this] Jiho [Wait for it¡­ I¡¯ll get my revenge] 2 hourster. Jiho [Save me] 4 hourster. Jiho [Can¡¯t youe and get me?????] 6 hourster. Jiho [I¡¯m not New ck anymore] Jiho [I¡¯m going to be a rookie actor from tomorrow] -Jiho has left the chat room. Chapter 117: Chapter 117: Trantor: MarcTempest Editor: Rxel Chapter 117 The reason Woojoo chose Jiho as his partner for the so-called Pig Song project was simple. ¡°It¡¯s because of you that I dreamed of going to a masquerade ball. I thought it would be better to hear from the person who came up with that idea if I wanted to put an image into the song.¡± ¡°I shot myself in the foot.¡± ¡°Shot yourself in the foot? That¡¯s a weird expression, um¡­ it¡¯s more like winning the lottery.¡± ¡°Lottery?¡± ¡°The lottery of working with me.¡±¡°¡­¡± It had been a long time since Jiho looked at him with such disbelief. ¡°And you were jealous whenever Junghyun or Rihyuk worked on a song with me.¡± ¡°I never did that.¡± Jiho shook his head. ¡°I¡¯m always living happily. I¡¯m satisfied with my role as the youngest.¡± ¡°Really?¡± Woojoo tilted his head and asked, ¡°That¡¯s strange. I¡¯m sure you said that at McDonald¡¯s while eating fries. ¡®When the Hyungs are preparing for the year-end evaluation, or singing, orposing, I don¡¯t have anything to do and just stay in the back.¡¯¡± ¡°¡­You remember that?¡± ¡°I don¡¯t ignore what you guys say and keep it all in mind.¡± ¡°¡­¡± ¡°So don¡¯t try to run away and have fun working with me.¡± Woojoo grabbed the guy who was turning his chair towards the door and pulled him back to the monitor. He looked nervous as Woojoo loaded theposing program. Jiho looked like a kidnapped hostage and Woojoo couldn¡¯t help butugh. ¡°Jiho, why are you so scared?¡± ¡°I keep thinking of Junghyun Hyung and Rihyuk Hyung.¡± ¡°What about them?¡± ¡°They had nightmares after working with you.¡± ¡°¡­¡± ¡°I saw Junghyun Hyung having a nightmare for the first time. He was thrashing around and almost fell off the second floor of the bed. And at the night sea, Rihyuk Hyung was mumbling curses in his sleep.¡± ¡°Was it that hard?¡± ¡°I¡¯m telling you, their dark circles were no joke.¡± Woojoo didn¡¯t really remember. He was the type to focus on one goal and run towards it, so he was neglectful of the surroundings. Was it that hard to work with him? Woojoo thought of Fireworks and Night Sea. -Junghyun, how was it? It was fun, right? -Well¡­ but, Hyung. I saw on TV that this kind of creative work should be done alone. -Hmm. -Rihyuk. You worked hard. -¡­ -Hmmm. The youngest nodded his head as he watched Woojoo¡¯s changing expressions. And then Woojoo spoke to the camera. ¡°Please edit this out, PD-nim.¡± ¡°No way. You have to keep this in. And also add a caption like ¡®The evil boss who exploits his younger siblings¡¯.¡± ¡°Hey, I have an image to maintain too.¡± ¡°Then think of your image and do something like ¡®The old man who torments children¡¯¡­ Oh! Look at this, this Hyung is a murderer!¡± Anyone would think he was hitting the kid. Woojoo grabbed his cheek and stretched it out, and he was speechless in front of the camera. Woojoo also looked at the camera and said, ¡°Some of the other siblings seem to have scared the youngest with weird stories, but everyone, today I will show Jiho how funposing is.¡± ¡°Woojoo Hyung.¡± ¡°Yeah?¡± ¡°Can you let go of my hand now? I won¡¯t run away anymore.¡± ¡°Not yet.¡± Woojoo smiled brightly at the camera. After finishing the talk for the reality segment, they immediately started working. The point Woojoo focused on was the color of the song. If the debut song Fireworks was a song that introduced the color of the group New ck to the fans, this time Woojoo wanted to show more of the individual colors. Especially this time, the focus was on the youngest, who came up with the idea of a masquerade. ¡°What kind of music do you like? I don¡¯t really have a preference. I listen to what my friends listen to or what¡¯s popr these days. I usually y Mango Chart 100 on random and have fun.¡± ¡°Why do I like games? There¡¯s nothing special about it. It¡¯s fun to spend money and it¡¯s just fun. Are there people who don¡¯t like games?¡± ¡°My favorite color is red! There¡¯s no reason for that either. Red is hard to pull off unless you¡¯re really handsome. That¡¯s my special feeling? That¡¯s why I like pink too. Hyung¡­ But what does this have to do with this song?¡± It had something to do with it. What Woojoo intended for this song was to show one of the colors that their group had. If Fireworks was a mix of everyone¡¯s colors harmoniously, this time it was about highlighting each color. To do that, Woojoo needed to understand the members. Right now, he wanted to make a song that showed his color well, with the youngest as the main character. It was just a matter of timing, but Woojoo had been thinking about it for a long time. New ck was a group activity. That was why he wanted their Souffl¨¦s to like all of them, not just individual members. But Woojoo had been getting too much attentiontely. From the Music Cafe to now. There was a time when this happened. Woojoo was looking at the posts on the fan cafe, and the board was full of ¡®Woojoo¡¯. It was equal to the sum of the posts of the other siblings. Woojoo felt a chill in his chest when he saw that. It was a bad sign. From his experience of watching senior singers since he was a trainee, it was not a good sign when one member¡¯s personal fans grow disproportionately. If things went wrong, the fandom could fight and cause trouble from the rookie days. Woojoo really didn¡¯t want that kind of atmosphere. What he wanted was not his personal sess, but the sess of our group that he belonged to. That was why his goal was to make the other members get attention through this track. That was also why he epted the album producing offer from Director Jo Gyuhwan. But this time¡­ ¡°Jiho.¡± ¡°Yes.¡± ¡°Where are you going?¡± ¡°¡­I¡¯m going to drink some water.¡± ¡°There¡¯s a water dispenser inside. Why are you going outside? Drink it inside.¡± ¡°I want to drink something warm.¡± ¡°There¡¯s hot water too.¡± ¡°Now that I think about it, my throat feels a bit sore, so I¡¯m going to get a tea bag too.¡± ¡°Oh, a tea bag?¡± ¡°Yes.¡± ¡°Open the second drawer. Bijoo sorted them by type. There¡¯s also honey that Grandpa Kang Moonsik gave us, so drink it with honey if your throat hurts.¡± ¡°¡­¡± Woojoo looked at the youngest, who made a ¡®??¡¯ emoticon with his face, and continued his thoughts. How could he make his charm 100 percent alive on stage? Jiho¡¯s skills are decent. No, he was good. He used to cry and say, ¡®I don¡¯t know how to do anything! Waaah!¡¯ But that was only because he was behind them, not because he was bad. If he went to another group, he would be more than enough to be called an ace. He was what they called a bnced type. He could dance and sing without any ws, and above all, his visuals were amazing. He would be liked by people even if he just stood still. But it was hard to get attention with just dance or song. If Woojoo put him in the center while Bijoo and Woojoo dance on both sides, he would be stressed out and couldn¡¯t handle it. He guessed he had to give him some impact in the bridge section that connected the second and third verses. ¡­Should he try to highlight his facial expressions? Woojoo clicked the mouse as he thought. He yed each section and closed his eyes, imagining it in his head. The stage of PBS public hall. Jimmy-jib cameras moving on both sides, and the main camera set in front of them. The scene of them standing with their siblings. Woojoo left the performance part alone and started to n for each part. But then. ¡°Hmm.¡± ¡°What¡¯s wrong?¡± Woojoo asked the youngest, who was gulping down peppermint tea next to him. ¡°I think I need to paint the color first. And adjust the overall tone of the song.¡± He tilted his head and Woojoo recalled the color that was designated as theirs in the first album. Of course, the color he thought of was red. *** -¡®Bijoo Hyung¡¯ invited ¡®Jiho¡¯. Bijoo [Jiho] Bijoo [Are you feeling very upset?] Jiho [I don¡¯t know] Jiho [Everyone left me] -Jiho left the chat room. -¡®Junghyun Hyung¡¯ invited ¡®Jiho¡¯ Junghyung Hyung [hi] Jiho [Don¡¯t invite me] -Jiho left the chat room. -¡®Junghyun Hyung¡¯ invited ¡®Jiho¡¯ Junghyun Hyung [hi] Jiho [Stop it] Junghyun Hyung [hi] Bijoo [Jiho, I want to help you but I¡¯m in a lesson right now] Jiho [Junghyun Hyung too?] Junghyun Hyung [no no I¡¯m done] Junghyun Hyung [good job] Jiho [wow] Jiho [wowow] Jiho [I¡¯m so disappointed] Jiho [And why doesn¡¯t Rihyuk invite me?] Rihyuk [?] Rihyuk [Why would I invite you?] Rihyuk [Try being a rookie actor like us and meet someone who cares about you] Rihyuk [You should go outside and get some cold wind to know what hardship is tsk tsk] Jiho [yeah genius] Jiho [f you] Rihyuk [f you f you f you f you] Jiho [f you x 200] Jiho put down his phone. Then he looked at the person sitting on the studio table with his chin propped up. Woojoo was staring at the screen as if he was going to pierce it. He thought he was an amazing Hyung. It had been two hours already. He didn¡¯t drink a sip of water, and he was either lost in thought or suddenly clicking the mouse like crazy, or ying the synthesizer keyboard and stroking his chin. He remembered the chocte factory he had seen in a movie. He felt like there were Oompa Loompas running around in his Hyung¡¯s head, operating machines he couldn¡¯t understand. And then he would make a bunch of songs like that. ¡°Jiho.¡± ¡°Yes.¡± ¡°Do you want to listen to this? Which one do you think is better? I¡¯ll y you Version A and Version B.¡± ¡°Um¡­ I think B is better. It has a more stylish vibe?¡± ¡°Okay.¡± Sometimes, when Jiho was distracted and gave a half-hearted answer, he would notice it like a ghost. ¡°What¡¯s better?¡± ¡°A.¡± ¡°They were both the same version.¡± ¡°¡­¡± ¡°You have to focus, Jiho.¡± ¡°Wow, please put this on the show. He even dug a trap and did that.¡± Honestly, Jiho didn¡¯t understand how this kind of selection helped. At first, that was. But as he listened to the changing song, he felt something different. Familiarity? Comfort? The song itself felt like it fit him perfectly. It was like watching a tailor-made suit being made at a custom tailor shop in real time. Woojoo smiled at Jiho, who opened his eyes wide after listening to the final version. ¡°How is it?¡± ¡°It feelspletely different from before. How did you do this, Hyung?¡± ¡°Well¡­ Like in the first album, your symbol is red, right? So I painted the song with color.¡± Painting with color? He exined for Jiho, who tilted his head. ¡°Everyone feels differently, but sound has color too. For example, when the sound moves like this.¡± Woojoo tapped the keyboard of the synthesizer. His long fingers moved gracefully from high to low. ¡°Can you see the color getting darker? Even if it¡¯s the same color, it¡¯s deeper, and it feels a bit bluish.¡± ¡°¡­¡± ¡°Um, if you don¡¯t understand well, I¡¯ll exin it with instruments instead of scales.¡± He yed the sound of another instrument on theputer. He clicked a few buttons and a pleasant flute sound came out. ¡°Well, this is a sound we won¡¯t use in our music, but it¡¯s a flute sound, right? The sound is very clear and faint, right? It reminds me of a clear sky.¡± ¡°¡­?¡± ¡°And this drum sound is white or ck. When the drum sounds, it feels like ck dots are spreading on a white background, right?¡± Jiho blinked his eyes as he listened to his serious exnation. Sound had color? It sounded ridiculous, but he seemed to see the color in front of his eyes and described it vividly. Then he remembered the past. When he made Something, he closed his eyes for 10 minutes and said he knew what to do, or he tapped the car window with his fingers rhythmically and said, ¡®Ah, I can make a beat with this¡¯ and hummed a melody along with it. As Jiho thought about it, he remembered what the other Hyungs said when they came back from working with Woojoo. -Woojoo Hyung is really¡­ weird. Junghyun nodded his head as if there was no better expression, and Rihyuk also stuck out his tongue and said. -Really, he¡¯s a born musician. When Jiho heard that, heughed it off as if he was Mozart, but now that he saw him work closely, he felt like he knew why they said that. As Woojoo exined, Jiho nced at the camera. Even the same members found it a bit strange, and he wondered what kind of reaction the fans would have when this came out on the broadcastter. *** That day, the work that he had made the youngest do was finished smoothly. At first, he was a guy who looked bored and miserable, but at some point, Woojoo felt that the way he looked at him changed. He looked starry-eyed. Woojoo didn¡¯t understand exactly, but anyway, he started to talk more from some point. -It would be nice if that part was a little shorter. Yes, if you make it short, you can quickly hit and enter when you perform. -If you think that Bijoo Hyung stands in the center in the chorus, the sound can be a little higher than that. Thanks to his suggestions like that, the work was done smoothly except for the title. If it was like this, he thought he could show the finished product to the A&R team right after Chuseok. The Novembereback was the goal, so the schedule was rxed. Meanwhile, the beginning of September passed like a sh. In the entertainment industry, the babies who appeared in the parenting entertainment were receiving the love of the whole nation, and there were many incidents and idents. Especially, a famous actor was exposed to have made a marijuana farm in Gyeonggi-do with a gangster, and it was noisy, rising to the social side. In addition, the list of celebrities who received marijuana was revealed, causing a great shock to the entertainment industry. It was such a big incident that it caused a lot of waves, but New ck was calm. Most of them were people they had never met and only seen in pictures, and their interest was in Around the World With Dice, which would be broadcast soon. ¡°Will ite out well?¡± The day before Chuseok. As usual, Woojoo ate bulgogi for lunch and held an ice cream in his hand, and it was an alleyway to go to thepany. Woojoo answered Junghyun¡¯s question. ¡°It wille out well.¡± ¡°Um, I just thought of it, but it might look weird to roll around with a ck goat.¡± ¡°You¡¯re thinking of that now, that¡¯s amazing.¡± ¡°I¡¯m amazing, aren¡¯t I?¡± ¡°Woojoo Hyung is teasing you, Junghyun.¡± ¡°Ah.¡± As Rihyuk scolded him, Junghyun shrugged his shoulders and said, ¡°Anyway, my parents will watch it with their rtives, so I can¡¯t be embarrassed.¡± ¡°But you saved the life of a child, Hyung.¡± ¡°That ck goat was eight years old. The lifespan of a ck goat is usually 12 to 15 years, so it¡¯s middle-aged if you think of it as a person.¡± ¡°Then let¡¯s say you saved the life of a middle-aged person.¡± They decided to do that with Woojoo¡¯s summary. The story went in a weird direction, but it was their usual conversation. Bijoo said regretfully, ¡°I wish I could watch TV with my parents on the holiday, but it¡¯s a shame.¡± ¡°Me too.¡± ¡°Well, we can watch it together anyway. We are also a fa¡­¡± As they turned their eyes to Rihyuk¡¯s words, his ears turned red. He answered with a cough. ¡°I¡¯m going.¡± As he said that, he walked ahead of them. Theyughed among themselves, watching him go. He was about to say ¡®family¡¯, wasn¡¯t he? Well, it wasn¡¯t so bad to spend this holiday with just them. Zzzz- Woojoo told his siblings to go ahead, and followed them with a smile on my face. ¡°Hello. This is Seon Woojoo, the professional happiness consultant who always brings happiness to the customers~ Kim Deoksoon.¡± -You¡¯re sick. ¡°Ah, really.¡± Woojoo frowned. ¡°You should appreciate this kind of thing.¡± -You should be more sincere. Who would like it if you use such a weird voice? ¡°Our fans love it.¡± -Sigh, they are weird too. What¡¯s so good about a guy who only has a decent face? Woojoo lowered the volume a few notches, seeing the siblings in front of him biting their lips to hold back theirughter. Anyway, her voice was so loud, theirdy Kim Deoksoon. ¡°Why did you call me all of a sudden, Grandma?¡± -What do you mean why? It¡¯s the day before Chuseok, so I called. Oh, can¡¯t a grandma call her grandson? ¡°It¡¯s just that your tone is strange.¡± -What is? ¡°It¡¯s the tone you use when you¡¯re hiding something.¡± -I don¡¯t know. Nothing like that. ¡­That was what she said, but something felt off. As Woojoo thought about it, he entered thepany building. The door opened with a beep as he scanned his key card. -So where are you now? ¡°Well, I¡¯m on my way to practice with the kids.¡± -Oh, is that so. The younger ones were ying among themselves in the basement hallway, as if they were considerate of his phone call. They walked while dancing, and whenever someone pointed a finger at one of them, they would take over and dance. When Jiho, who was dragging his body, pointed at Bijoo, Bijoo danced lightly and pointed at Woojoo. Woojoo also danced while holding the phone and went into the practice room. It was when the younger onesughed at his ridiculous break dance. ¡°Grandma.¡± ¡°What.¡± ¡­Huh? Woojoo turned his head sharply at the sound of a loud voice from a corner of the practice room. At that moment, his whole body stiffened. ¡°¡­¡± Their members¡¯ families were gathered on the wall side of the practice room, looking at them. Mrs. Kim Deoksoon clicked her tongue, looking at Woojoo frozen in the same pose as he danced. ¡°Did youe.¡± ¡°¡­¡± His eyes were wide open. ¡­Why was Grandma here? Chapter 118: Chapter 118: Trantor: MarcTempest Editor: Rxel Chapter 118 Woojoo felt his body stiffen as if he had locked eyes with Medusa. ¡°¡­¡± Mrs. Kim Deoksoon was standing with her smartphone in her hand, and the families of Bijoo, Junghyun, Jiho, and Rihyuk¡¯s brother were there. They all had faces that wondered how to react. This was so embarrassing. Woojoo didn¡¯t know whether to act like nothing happened or tough.Then Bijoo came into the practice room with a light step and a sense of humor. Jiho and Junghyun followed suit. Bijoo said to the families who wereughing at Rihyuk dancing a dance of unknown nationality, ¡°You must be surprised. We y like this every day.¡± The awkward atmosphere quickly turned into a friendly one. When Woojoo mouthed a thank you to Bijoo, he gave him a light smile. Rihyuk, who had turned red, whispered to Woojoo, ¡°You owe me one.¡± ¡°I¡¯ll buy you a good vacuum cleaner.¡± Woojoo decided as he watched him leave with a chic expression. Woojoo should buy him the Hello Kitty vacuum cleaner he saw on the inte. ¡°Mom! Dad!¡± ¡°Sister!¡± Meanwhile, family reunions were taking ce in the practice room. Woojoo also ran up to Mrs. Kim Deoksoon and hugged her tightly. ¡°Grandma!¡± ¡°Oh my, I can¡¯t breathe. How long have you been away that you¡¯re making such a fuss?¡± ¡°Ah, I missed you so much, Grandma.¡± ¡°Baloney. If you missed me, you would have contacted me. Lately, you¡¯ve been¡­¡± She went on and on, but Woojoo didn¡¯t care. Woojoo curled up and hugged her tightly, feeling warm and fuzzy. A warm energy flowed through his body. He felt his tear ducts moisten without realizing it. Woojoo hadn¡¯t gone through any big hardships, but it felt like the emotional barriers he had built up melted away with one hug. ¡°Grandma, I missed you so much.¡± ¡°Did you?¡± ¡°Yes, I¡¯m so happy. Grandma smells good and is warm.¡± ¡°Oh, I forgot about this. I was going to take this off and throw it away, but I forgot because of that weird dance.¡± ¡°¡­¡± Woojoo blinked as he watched her slip her hand under her clothes and peel off a hot pack from her stomach, then he quickly covered her with his body so no one else could see. ¡°Why are you wearing a hot pack?¡± ¡°Last time I saw, Seoul people have no middle ground between cold and hot. On the way here, the bus was sting cold air, and if it weren¡¯t for this, my stomach would have frozen solid.¡± She asked Woojoo if he wanted one, but he declined. Woojoo hugged her again, finding her chirping adorable. ¡°Are you mad at me for hugging you?¡± ¡°Yes, I¡¯m very mad. I¡¯ve been waiting for months to hug you, Grandma.¡± ¡°¡­Oh, you¡¯re crazy.¡± She said that, but she patted his back. Woojoo felt good. Woojoo was bigger now, but it felt like he had gone back to his childhood when he hugged her. He fit snugly in her arms, just like he did back then. Woojoo closed his eyes and enjoyed the feeling. He felt it again, he loved his grandma more than anyone in the world. *** The members¡¯ families had nned to visit for Chuseok two weeks ago. It was a special order from the boss for them who couldn¡¯t go home. The barbecue restaurant they were going to eat together in the evening, and the hotel room Woojoo was going to sleep with his grandmater. He felt a surge of gratitude. While Seokhwan Hyung left to make a reservation for the barbecue restaurant, Woojoo showed the members¡¯ families around thepany facilities. ¡°This is our studio.¡± The families were amazed by the recording booth and various devices that only appeared on TV. Junghyun¡¯s father, who was bulky, tapped on the ss. ¡°This is sturdy, is it bulletproof?¡± ¡°¡­Dad, don¡¯t ask that,¡± Junghyun said with a stern face, holding his mother¡¯s hand. ¡°Of course it¡¯s bulletproof.¡± ¡°Is that so? As expected, the entertainmentpany that leads the cutting-edge IT era is different. Hahaha!¡± He used to be a wrestler, but now he was a cooperative leader in the region. He had a potbelly like the ones you saw in old paintings of the richest merchants, but it had been a long time since Woojoo felt such a pressure from someone. His voice was so pleasant that the ss shook every time heughed heartily. ¡°Hey, don¡¯t be so rude.¡± ¡°Hmph.¡± But he seemed to be helpless against Junghyun¡¯s mother. ¡°Mom, this is the thing thates out on TV. It¡¯s amazing. Honey, I¡¯m going in there, so take a picture for me.¡± ¡°Do you want to stand with Biyeon?¡± Bijoo¡¯s family was as usual. His mother was friendly and had a warm conversation with Woojoo¡¯s grandmother, and his father was still sweet. The mothers who saw that asked their husbands to take pictures for them, but they frowned at the response that they didn¡¯t need to take such things. Woojoo could see the fathers getting into troubleter. ¡°Hello, Minjun.¡± ¡°Hello, Woojoo Hyung.¡± Woojoo bent his knees and looked into the eyes of Kim Minjun, who greeted him with his belly. Then Woojoo asked with a smile, ¡°Are you ready to go to school this year?¡± ¡°Um. No. My body is recovering slower than I thought, so I have to wait until next year.¡± ¡°Oh, dear¡­¡± Oh, no. He got it from Maxi. Woojoo corrected himself by tapping his mouth. ¡°That¡¯s too bad. You must have been looking forward to it.¡± ¡°But I¡¯ll get healthier and go. By then, my hair will grow more and I¡¯ll escape from being bald.¡± ¡°Yeah, Minjun¡¯s hair will grow well.¡± ¡°But, Woojoo Hyung.¡± ¡°Yeah.¡± Kim Minjun whispered with his hand over his mouth, ¡°I saw a picture in the hallway earlier, but is the President here sick too?¡± ¡°The President? Oh¡­¡± Woojoo burst intoughter at the sight of Kim Minjun pointing to his head. Then Woojoo heard a voice. Oh, really. He shouldn¡¯tugh at things like this, but he let it slip in a moment of carelessness. ¡°Well, the President is not like that. He¡¯s naturally losing his¡­ Oh, what am I saying, Woojoo. Minjun, forget what I said.¡± ¡°Oh, he¡¯s just bald.¡± ¡°Minjun, you shouldn¡¯t say that.¡± It was a soft but stern voice that Woojoo thought was Bijoo¡¯s, but it wasn¡¯t. It was his sister, who had the same eyes as him. Woojoo greeted her politely right away. Her name was Kim Biyeon. She was Bijoo¡¯s older sister who was much older than him, and she was working as a tutor at an academy. ¡°We met once at the year-end evaluation, right?¡± ¡°Yes, it¡¯s been a while.¡± ¡°I often hear from my brother how great you are. Thank you so much for what you didst time.¡± ¡°It¡¯s nothing.¡± She bowed her head slightly. Woojoo had a feeling he knew where Bijoo got his polite manners from. ¡°Oh, the interior here is so beautiful.¡± Jiho¡¯s mother, who came dressed elegantly, looked around with sparkling eyes like a girl. Then she asked Woojoo, ¡°Who did this? It¡¯s so pretty.¡± ¡°From the wallpaper to the cushions, Bijoo did everything.¡± ¡°Oh my, I thought you hired a professionalpany, but it was done by a member. Amazing.¡± ¡°Yes, and¡­¡± ¡°Hyung!¡± His exnation was cut off by the youngest who suddenly barged in. Jiho, who hugged his mother from behind, smiled brightly. ¡°Isn¡¯t our mom pretty?¡± ¡°Uh, she¡¯s very graceful¡­¡± ¡°Really? You think mom is pretty? I think my son is the prettiest in the world.¡± Then they giggled and chatted away, while Woojoo just blinked his eyes. After clinging to his mother for a while, the youngest introduced Woojoo to his sisters. ¡°Hyung! These are our sisters.¡± ¡°Hello.¡± Woojoo had an awkward conversation with the three sisters who kept brushing their hair. Then Jiho introduced Woojoo to his father. ¡°This is our dad. What do you think? Am I more handsome?¡± ¡°You little¡­¡± ¡°Still, I love my dad the most in our family. He has a lot of money, and he¡¯s cool when he yells at work on the phone.¡± ¡°Don¡¯t go around swearing, you brat.¡± His father said that, but he looked like he didn¡¯t know what to do with his cute son. ¡°Anyway, nice to meet you. I¡¯ve heard a lot about you.¡± He handed Woojoo a business card that said ¡®(CEO) Wang Hyuntak of HC¡¯. HC stood for HoHo Chicken. His father whispered to Woojoo, ¡°I have a knack for spotting people who will be famous, and I have a good feeling about you. Do you have any interest in shooting an ad?¡± ¡°Dad, don¡¯t say weird things! Ugh, Woojoo Hyung, don¡¯t listen to him.¡± His father reluctantly followed their youngest with a disappointed face. This was crazy. Woojoo looked around the studio filled with people, looking for someone who was not visible. Then someone tapped his arm from behind. It was Rihyuk and his sister. ¡°This is my sister, Seo Yein.¡± ¡°Hello.¡± She looked remarkably simr to Rihyuk in her facial features. She said she was in middle school, but she was almost as tall as Rihyuk¡­ ¡®If you mention height, I¡¯ll kill you.¡¯ ¡­said the angry parrot behind him. As Seo Yein turned her head away from his gaze, Rihyuk smiled brightly. What was that smile? It was a sight Woojoo had never seen before, and the other siblings looked dumbfounded. Woojoo soon found out the reason. While they were chatting about Rihyuk, the other person grabbed his arm and shed a bright smile. ¡°Our Oppa is really nice, right?¡± she asked. ¡°Uh¡­ yes.¡± Woojoo replied. In more ways than one. ¡°Really, I¡¯ve never seen anyone as nice as our Oppa,¡± she continued. ¡°Oh, yes¡­¡± Woojoo agreed. From afar, Junghyun rubbed his ears as if he had heard something wrong. Then he got scolded by his mom for not letting go of his finger. ¡°Rihyuk is really nice,¡± Woojoo said. As Woojoo did, something came to his mind. He approached Rihyuk with a grin, making him flinch. Then Woojoo gave him a friendly pat on the shoulder. Normally, he would have red at Woojoo and pped him away, saying ¡®don¡¯t touch me¡¯. But now he was trembling at the corners of his mouth. Yes, this was it. Woojoo smiled brightly and said, ¡°He really epts whatever we do. He¡¯s really nice. He doesn¡¯t even act like he hates anything. Right?¡± ¡°¡­Uh, yes.¡± He nodded. ¡°That¡¯s right. Rihyuk Hyung is the world¡¯s strongest with his kindness,¡± the youngest chimed in. ¡°When I went out a few days ago, I borrowed a T-shirt from Rihyuk Hyung¡¯s closet and wore it,¡± he added. ¡°Uh, I didn¡¯t know that. It¡¯s the first time I hear it,¡± Woojoo said. ¡°But this Hyung is really too generous. If he were a bad-tempered and prickly person, he would have cursed and made a fuss. Right?¡± he asked. ¡°Yes. Our Oppa is really nice,¡± she agreed. She said she couldn¡¯t see him often because she lived in America. Was that why she thought of him as a unicorn-like being? Woojoo thought Rihyuk hated it when his siblings talked about him, but he was just a normal guy. Junghyun also joined in. ¡°Yes. Rihyuk is really nice. I oncey down on Rihyuk¡¯s bed as soon as I came back from going out,¡± he confessed. ¡°¡­What, what did you say?¡± Rihyuk gasped. ¡°But he forgave me,¡± Junghyun said. As they took this opportunity to confess their sins, Bijoo also joined in. ¡°It would be perfect if he ate well here,¡± he said. ¡°Our Oppa doesn¡¯t eat?¡± she asked. ¡°No, he eats so little that I worry sometimes. Look at him now, his bones are so thin,¡± he said. ¡°My bones are naturally thin. Hyung,¡± Rihyuk protested. ¡°¡­You should eat more to grow taller. Ah, what a pity,¡± he sighed. Seo Yein¡¯s eyes turned to Rihyuk. Rihyukughed and said, ¡°I didn¡¯t have an appetite. I¡¯ll eat well.¡± ¡°Yeah? You¡¯ll eat well?¡± he asked. ¡°¡­Uh, yes, Hyung,¡± he said. Bijoo gave him a sly smile and held out his pinky finger to Rihyuk. ¡°Should we make a promise then?¡± ¡°¡­Hyung, I¡¯m eighteen.¡± ¡°Promise me you¡¯ll eat well from now on.¡± Woojoo swallowed augh as he saw him trembling his lips and hooking his finger with his. Jiho whispered to Woojoo, ¡°I have to get that kid¡¯s numberter.¡± ¡°I totally agree.¡± Woojoo smiled as he looked at Rihyuk, who was shivering. *** They had some personal time until dinner, so Woojoo went to a department store near Mrs. Kim Deoksoon¡¯s ce. A bright women¡¯s clothing store. Woojoo walked around the ce full of mannequins and looked for some decent shops. ¡°Oh my, you¡¯re so absent-minded.¡± ¡°Grandma, this is just the beginning. After buying clothes, I¡¯ll buy shoes, and after shoes, I¡¯ll buy cosmetics. There¡¯s a lot to buy.¡± ¡°Isn¡¯t that too much?¡± ¡°I¡¯m rich now.¡± Woojoo hadn¡¯t received the ie from the Fireworks and the Night Sea songs yet, but he could afford this much with Something alone. He entered a shop and pointed at a hanger with a luxury coat on it. ¡°I can buy everything from here to the end. So, see if there¡¯s anything you like.¡± As Mrs. Kim Deoksoon carefully rummaged through the coats, Woojoo asked the clerk next to him with a confident face, ¡°That coat in the middle is pretty, how much is it?¡± ¡°We¡¯re having a promotion right now because of the event. If you get a 30% discount from there¡­¡± The other person tapped the calctor in her head. ¡°Eight hundred and ny¡­ You can think of it as 900,000 won.¡± ¡°Oh, really?¡± Woojoo called Mrs. Kim Deoksoon. ¡°¡­Grandma, the n has changed. I can¡¯t do it from the end to the end, but I can do about four in the middle part.¡± The clerk covered her mouth andughed. As his grandmother was choosing clothes, the other person seemed curious about who he was. ¡°Are you a model?¡± ¡°No, I¡¯m a singer.¡± ¡°Oh.¡± ¡°I¡¯m an idol, and if you type ¡®Woojoo¡¯ there, you¡¯ll see the real universe with stars flying around. You have to search for ¡®New ck¡¯.¡± Woojoo also promoted our group. He told her to watch them on Around the World With Diceter that night, and then he looked for his grandmother. She was hesitating in a corner of the hanger. ¡°You like that one, don¡¯t you?¡± ¡°No, it¡¯s not that I like it, but it seems to have some functionality, and the fur is a bit luxurious¡­ Oh, never mind. I can¡¯t do this. I¡¯m an old granny living off my grandson¡¯s blood.¡± ¡°Don¡¯t talk nonsense.¡± Woojoo took out the coat she was looking at. It was light, and the material and lining were good. As expected. It was the most expensive outfit in the store. But he didn¡¯t want to make her feel pressured by the price, so he handed the clothes to the clerk without saying anything. Then Woojoo grabbed her hand. ¡°Don¡¯t you like anything else? You need at least two sets for the winter. Otherwise, people will say, ¡®Oh, poor grandma, she only has one outfit.¡¯¡± ¡°No.¡± ¡°This is yourst chance, Grandma.¡± ¡°Well¡­ I liked that one over there.¡± She spoke in a voice that was barely audible, like an ant crawling in. Woojoo smiled as he looked at her. Then he told the clerk, ¡°Please give me this one and that one.¡± ¡°Hey, Woojoo.¡± ¡°Hmm?¡± ¡°Can I have that hat too¡­?¡± ¡°The fur hat? You¡¯ll look like General Kim Jwajin if you wear that.¡± ¡°¡­¡± ¡°I¡¯ll buy it for you. I¡¯ll buy it for you.¡± In the end, two coats and a hat were packed in a shopping bag. Woojoo felt happy. She looked so happy holding that heavy bag. Something rose up in his chest without him noticing. He bought expensive things for Grandma. He made it. It would be perfect if he gave her the travel voucherter. That was what he was thinking, when as soon as they left the store, a dark cloud settled on Kim Deoksoon¡¯s face. It was as if it started raining in the garden that was full of sunshine until a moment ago. Maybe she came to her senses after splurging for the first time in decades, she asked Woojoo with a face full of guilt, ¡°But Woojoo.¡± ¡°Yeah.¡± ¡°Is this okay for me to do?¡± ¡°What?¡± ¡°I mean, this is the money you earned by working your ass off¡­ If I spend it all like this, this is¡­ Oh, I¡¯m crazy. I should return this right now.¡± ¡°You can¡¯t return it in Seoul, Grandma.¡± ¡°Who do you think you¡¯re fooling? You¡¯re talking nonsense. Stop it and return this quickly¡­¡± ¡°Grandma.¡± Woojoo grabbed her shoulder and said, ¡°You can buy this.¡± ¡°¡­¡± ¡°Why are you crying all of a sudden?¡± Kim Deoksoon wiped her eyes that were filled with tears with her hand. His heart ached. What was money for? ¡°I¡¯m sorry¡­¡± ¡°Stop crying, Grandma. Okay?¡± Woojoo felt like crying too, but he held it in andforted her for a long time. She nodded at the question of whether she would stop crying, and took his grandmother to the elevator with a sigh. ¡°Let¡¯s go look for some shoes now.¡± ¡°¡­Uh, Woojoo.¡± ¡°Yeah?¡± ¡°My feet have been hurtingtely¡­¡± ¡°I¡¯ll buy you some with good cushioning, very expensive ones.¡± His grandmother coughed and looked away. She seemed embarrassed by her own words. Woojoo¡¯s eyes had been fixed on her shoes for a while. Shoes that were covered in dirt and worn out. ¡°Wait a minute.¡± They had been rattling since earlier, so Woojoo crouched down and fastened the buckles properly. ¡°Stop wearing these shoes.¡± ¡°They say it¡¯s not good to change shoes often.¡± ¡°Who says that? Some health show on TV?¡± ¡°The monk.¡± ¡°¡­I told you that temple is weird.¡± ¡°No. The monk is wise.¡± That was a strange thing to say from the start. When the topic of superstition came up, their superstitious enthusiast spoke up. ¡°By the way, didn¡¯t I tell you I had my fortune read by the monk again? He asked me how you were doing.¡± ¡°What?¡± ¡°He said you have great lucking.¡± ¡°Oh, really?¡± ¡°Yeah, he said a huge dragon has entered. You¡¯ve been doing well so far, but you¡¯ll do much better from now on. He said you¡¯ll be very lucky from now on. Didn¡¯t you say you were making a song?¡± ¡°Yeah, I¡¯m releasing an album in November.¡± ¡°November?¡± ¡°Why?¡± ¡°That¡¯s strange, he said your luck would start from this month.¡± ¡°Really? I don¡¯t have anything like that.¡± Maybe some good opportunity woulde. His grandmother kept talking about this and that, but he didn¡¯t feel much interest as he didn¡¯t believe in superstitions. It wasn¡¯t that important anyway. There was something else that filled his mind. Sess. It was no longer just a wishful thinking that their next album would do well, but a craving for material sess. Woojoo made up his mind as he looked at those worn-out shoes. Their next album. He had to make it properly and make it a sess. Chapter 119: Chapter 119: Trantor: MarcTempest Editor: Rxel Chapter 119 ¡°Thank you.¡± Woojoo got out of the taxi with both hands full of shopping bags. As the taxi drove away, his grandmother grumbled. ¡°These Seoul taxis drive so recklessly. I thought I was going to die from motion sickness. And the food we ate earlier was too rich.¡± ¡°I told you. You wouldn¡¯t like the cheese tiramisu cake.¡± ¡°Yeah, yeah, you¡¯re so smart.¡±¡°Listen to your grandson sometimes.¡± ¡°Ugh, I feel awful and you keep nagging me. You¡¯re making me lose my appetite. Oh, my poor stomach.¡± ¡°¡­¡± Woojoo really couldn¡¯t win against her. Woojoo switched the shopping bags to his left hand and rubbed his grandmother¡¯s hand with the other. She must have had trouble digesting. She made a sound like a burp. ¡°Can you eat meat after this?¡± ¡°Of course. It¡¯s free,¡± she said with a determined look that made Woojoough. They entered the alley and saw the sign for the meat restaurant. As they walked into the store, the other family members waved at them. Junghyun came to greet Woojoo and took his bags. ¡°Thanks.¡± His grandmother smiled proudly as she put her new shoes in the shoe rack and went inside. The long tables were set with appetizing side dishes and the TV was ying the TBC channel. Seokhwan Hyung, who sat next to Woojoo, had a tablet PC and two phones, browsing variousmunities and real-timements. Woojoo wanted to talk to him, but he looked so focused that he left him alone. He was also busy being called here and there. ¡°Woojoo!¡± ¡°Honey, the kids don¡¯t like it when you talk to them like that.¡± ¡°Woojoo, sir! Come here.¡± Junghyun¡¯s father took out arge ceramic bottle and said he had something for him. It looked like a genuine antique, but heughed heartily. ¡°This is a precious liquor. Junghyun always says he owes you, so I brought this as a gift. Want a drink?¡± ¡°Well, sir¡­¡± ¡°Dad, Woojoo can¡¯t drink.¡± ¡°Really? Why?¡± ¡°He has low al¡­ what¡¯s that, ah, alcohol dehydrogenase.¡± Woojoo almost said alcohol idiot, a term they used among themselves, but Bijoo poked him in the ribs to stop him. Rihyuk had taught him about alcohol dehydrogenase. Everyoneughed, and his father made a tsk sound. ¡°That¡¯s too bad. You¡¯re missing out on half of life if you can¡¯t drink. Well, I guess I¡¯ll have to drink it myself,¡± he said, humming a tune as he popped the bottle open. Jiho¡¯s father, who had been eyeing the bottle, came over. His wife also offered Woojoo a ss, and she looked excited at the mention of the precious liquor, like a girl going on a pic. While the sses were going back and forth, Woojoo was talking to people, but he focused his eyes on one person. It was their Kim Deoksoon. His grandmother, who was hard to say had a good personality even as a joke, had no affinity. If left alone, she would just sip water awkwardly. So Woojoo was worried and watching her, but¡­ ¡°Grandma, try this crab. The shell might be hard, but it¡¯s really delicious.¡± ¡°Can you hear the TV sound well? If not, I¡¯ll turn up the volume for you. Yes, yes, louder? Just a moment.¡± ¡°You look ufortable with the cushion. I think I need to put another one under you.¡± It was his part to take care of her as a grandson, but somehow the other family members stepped up and cared for her. They talked to her with a smile, gave up the side dishes they liked, and checked if there was anything ufortable. In response, his grandmother smiled all the time. Woojoo was flustered. They all looked at her with a mix of liking and gratitude. What was this? Did she secretly learn some ck magic to lure people? Seokhwan Hyung asked Woojoo, seeing him with a bewildered expression, ¡°What¡¯s wrong?¡± ¡°They all seem to be nice to my grandmother.¡± ¡°Oh. That.¡± Seokhwan Hyung smiled as if he remembered something. Then he told Woojoo the whole story. *** 5 hours ago. In the conference room of Lemon Entertainment, where the family gathered, Director Yoon Seokhwan started the presentation. The family read the leaflets carefully as he exined thepany¡¯s financial status and the affiliated celebrities with PPT slides. It was a serious atmosphere, as it was rted to their son and brothers. Director Yoon said, ¡°This is what we told you at the year-end evaluation. Now, I¡¯ll tell you about the most curious thing, the kids¡¯ activities and settlements.¡± The slide changed. The achievements that New ck had achieved since February this year were listed. Four crowns of music shows with the coboration song Something, various awards and four consecutive weeks of music chart number one, etc. Then came the album sales of the first album that exceeded expectations and the music chart performance of ¡®Fireworks¡¯ and ¡®Night Sea¡¯. And Around the World With Dice¡¯s ads that are popr on SNS. ¡°Any questions?¡± The family raised their hands and asked what they were curious about. Every time, an answer came back. ¡°Something wasposed by the leader, Woojoo, so we had a say in the activity. If not, the gap in poprity would have made the distribution of profits very narrow¡­¡± ¡°Between? Woojoo came up with the idea, and our A&R team supported it toplete the song.¡± ¡°The reason why the members¡¯ names are in the lyrics of Fireworks is because Woojoo wanted topose with his brothers. He is currently working on the second album with Jiho.¡± ¡°Yes, Around the World With Dice is real, not edited. Woojoo actually made the basketball shot.¡± The family blinked their eyes. They never imagined that one member would have such a big impact on New ck¡¯s sessful debut. CEO Wang Hyuntakughed. ¡°Our kid always calls me and says that he would have had a hard time without that guy¡­ He really saved his life.¡± ¡°Oh, our son said the same thing.¡± ¡°I thought he was our brother¡¯s girlfriend at first. He always said Woojoo, Woojoo on Skype.¡± ¡°Our kids owe him a lot. Really.¡± When someone said thank you, Grandma Kim Deoksoon waved her hand. ¡°Oh, what did he do so much? They are all good-natured and worked hard to get there.¡± ¡­she said, but her lips were smiling happily. The other familiesughed. It was a harmonious atmosphere. They had seen their sons go through a slump for almost two years, after three members left before their seven-member debut. They even urged their sons to give up on being idols. But everything changed after the evaluation at the end ofst year. Their sons, who had been half-depressed, smiled brightly and called them every day with happy voices, bragging about what they did today. It was obvious who made that change possible. Director Yoon smiled and said, ¡°Now, I¡¯ll talk to you about the settlement. Ourpany pays not quarterly, but semi-annually. I¡¯ll send you the statementter, but so far it¡¯s like this.¡± The families looked puzzled at the amount that would be paid to the members. Junghyun¡¯s father tilted his head. ¡°Is that right? I¡¯ve heard about how this industry works, but don¡¯t they usually get paid after two or three years?¡± ¡°That¡¯s usually the case. They have to pay off the album production costs and training expenses, but ourpany has a solid financial structure and the CEO has a philosophy that ¡®this is thepany¡¯s profit and loss, the artists should get paid for what they work for¡¯.¡± ¡°Oh¡­¡± ¡°We may not know about other aspects, but we take care of the settlement better than the four major agencies.¡± The parents, who were not affiliated with Lemon Entertainment, felt a growing affection for thepany. At the same time, they felt grateful to Woojoo again. This time, it was for a different reason. When the members¡¯ families turned their warm eyes to someone¡¯s grandmother again, Yoon Seokhwan smiled quietly. *** ¡­That was Seokhwan Hyung¡¯s story. ¡°Of course.¡± Woojoo nodded. ¡°Money is the best.¡± ¡°¡­Did you really listen to what I said?¡± Woojoo smiled silently and picked up a well-cooked meat. He dipped it in the sauce and ate it. The charcoal smell and the savory aroma stimted his nose. The flower sirloin with a little blood oozing out was a taste that made the world look beautiful. ¡°Wow, this is awesome!¡± The youngest raised his thumb and whined from afar, and everyoneughed. ¡°Hey, it¡¯s me. President Kim. Our son is going to be on TV soon. Yeah, Around the World With Dice. Don¡¯t miss it.¡± ¡°Yes, Mom. You just need to turn on the TV. No, not PBS. TBC. T! B! C! The program with Woo Jaeyong.¡± ¡°Oh, how have you been, Congressman? My son is going to be on TV.¡± The family was busy preparing for the broadcast, surrounded by soju and beer bottles. The parents made a round of phone calls, and the siblings were busy moving their fingers. ¡­ Woojoo was nervous. As the logo of Around the World With Dice appeared on the top right corner of the TV screen, his heart pounded. Woojoo was already nervous enough when they watched it together, but with the family around, it was twice as bad. Woojoo had nothing to do with his hands, so he grabbed Mrs. Kim Deoksoon¡¯s hand. ¡°Hold my left hand. You need your right hand to eat meat.¡± ¡°¡­I¡¯m not holding it because I¡¯m stingy.¡± Woojoo didn¡¯t have any appetite for meat, so he put down his chopsticks and moved closer to the TV screen. Then someone wrapped their arm around his neck from behind. ¡°Hyung, I¡¯m so nervous. I bragged to my sisters and mom and dad that we¡¯re going to be on a lot, but what if the PD edited everything out and said we¡¯re no fun?¡± ¡°Don¡¯t worry. That won¡¯t happen. Besides, Jiho.¡± ¡°Yeah.¡± ¡°Wipe the red pepper powder off your lips.¡± ¡°¡­Oh.¡± His face was so pale that the stain on his lips was clear. Bijoo took out a tissue and wiped Jiho¡¯s mouth. ¡°Jiho, why did you get so messy?¡± ¡°It was so delicious that I couldn¡¯t maintain my dignity.¡± ¡°Hyung, don¡¯t wipe him like that. He¡¯ll get spoiled.¡± ¡°Rihyuk, you¡¯re making him feel weird with your smile.¡± They chuckled as they saw Rihyuk smile at Junghyun¡¯s remark. Junghyun eximed. ¡°This is what hypocrisy is.¡± ¡°Yeah, hypocrites.¡± ¡°Be quiet, everyone. I haven¡¯t forgotten what you said earlier. I¡¯ll get back at youter.¡± ¡°You and Jiho always talk about revenge whenever you get a chance.¡± Woojoo stuck out his tongue, and the siblings blinked. Bijooughed and said, ¡°Actually, you do it the most, Hyung.¡± ¡°Me?¡± ¡°Yeah. You always say you¡¯ll give us less parts in the songs when we tease you for being old.¡± ¡°Well¡­ that¡¯s more about action than words. I don¡¯t really take revenge, do I?¡± Bijoo tilted his head. ¡°Then what about Seo Jihyung Sunbae-nim?¡± ¡°Oh, the show is starting. Turn up the volume.¡± The youngest used the remote app to turn up the volume. As the slurping sound of the ramenmercial by the Ye Heechan and Ye Heeyeon siblings yed, Woojoo realized something strange. ¡°When did you guys get here?¡± They were all with their families, but when Woojoo came to his senses, they were surrounding him. Bijoo whispered, ¡°It was too embarrassing to watch with our parents.¡± ¡°I don¡¯t mind that, but¡­ ording to a study in Ennd, this is how we feel psychologically stable.¡± ¡°So that¡¯s why you¡¯re blushing. You¡¯re feeling better now.¡± ¡°I¡¯m really smiling because of Yein. Everyone at home won¡¯t leave me alone when I go back.¡± ¡°Huh? You said home, Rihyuk Hyung.¡± Theyughed and chatted, and the other family members smiled as they saw them huddled together like meerkats. Bijoo¡¯s mother came over and took a photo of them with her phone, saying they were cute. They pretended to get along for a while, then bickered after she left. The broadcast was about to start. -Thump thump¡­ I¡¯m watching TV right now. Aah!! They¡¯re our kids, but why am I nervous? -Heart, calm down. -They¡¯ll do well, right? The preview looked like they had a lot of screen time. -Ah¡­ I don¡¯t care if it¡¯s boring, just show their faces a lot. -Agreed. Welfare is not far away. Producers, our kids¡¯ faces are the welfare. In the fan cafe chat room, their Souffl¨¦s were gathered tofort each other¡¯s nervousness, and themunity was buzzing with people who were interested in the special guests. The Team C group chat was also lively with Heysion, Maxi, and Ye Heeyeon sending messages. And then, the broadcast began. Woojoo thought it would start right from the opening, but it began with the scenes of the guests arriving. Han Yeoreum and Bae Younghoon arrived first, followed by New ck, and then people started to flock in. They exchanged conversations and rxed their nerves. There were so many guests that they only got a brief glimpse, but in the middle, there was a scene of them ying the 369 game. Somements like ¡®What are they doing ??¡¯ popped up on the portal¡¯s real-timement window. Then the opening started. They introduced themselves one by one, and when they greeted the TV, our parents pped. It felt strange. Embarrassing but proud. Mrs. Kim Deoksoon looked at Woojoo on the screen with a smug smile, and when he winked at her, she frowned. So prickly. -Wow¡­ They¡¯re all handsome. -Top-notch visuals. -Can they sing well? Right away, Rihyuk and Woojoo sang Night Sea. The guests pped on TV, and their family cheered and pped. It was like cheering for a ser game. The broadcast went smoothly. Woojoo thought the editing would be chaotic with 30 people, but it wasn¡¯t. It was like a movie, with natural scene transitions. The conversations that took ce in each car were seamlessly connected. In their case, the story of his blunder that Jiho told came out. The inte reaction was not very good. -Ugh¡­ What¡­? They¡¯re on for a long time again. -I let it slidest time¡­ But they¡¯re kind of boring?? -I felt it from the opening, but they¡¯re getting a lot of screen time, aren¡¯t they?? As soon as the first mission started, theints disappeared. The scene of Woojoo and Rihyuk cleaning was quite funny, and more importantly, it was thanks to the highlight of the mission to get the ingredients. -???? ck goat -???????? -What is that ???? It was an episode of Junghyun and the ck goat Daegil. As the scene of the humans being chased by the ck goat appeared, ¡®?¡¯ started pouring out from everywhere, such as themunity, SNS, and thement section. Especially when Junghyun put a wrestling choke on Daegil to save him from being hit by a car, it waspletely hrious. Their family who watched it offline alsoughed their stomachs out. -That¡¯s really ???? today¡¯s best scene for real -Wow, ????I spat out my beerughing -I cried fromughing Thements were positive. And it seemed that the way they looked at them became more generous because of that. -They are really funny too ???? I thought the kid who likes cleaning was a bit funny, but the goat was really a st -[Breaking news] Daegil turns out to be good at anger management -Daegil is really carrying ???? The amount of their side that came out afterwards was also quite good. It was nice that the youngest was joking with the adults, and Rihyuk¡¯s cleaning geek side also got some attention. Especially when Bijoo was cooking, it was great. They said he looked like he had some cooking experience, and he was on people¡¯s lips along with Seo Jihyung and Han Yeoreum from Team A. Their parents were proud and so was Woojoo. Woojoo was sad that their kids didn¡¯t get to shine until now, but it felt like people were recognizing them. Woojoo wanted to shout out loud with a loudspeaker in the neighborhood that his kids are good at this and that, but it felt refreshing as if his chest was cleared. His amount was small, but he didn¡¯t care about that. As he thought that. When the guests came in to the vige hall while doing the cooking mission, Woojoo¡¯s worried face was close-up on TV. -Hyung, what¡¯s wrong? -Earlier, I met an old man and he said he would definitelye. But he hasn¡¯te yet¡­ Did he look that gloomy? His face was on the camera, making a depressed expression with his chin clenched. ¡­Why were they focusing on him? As several cars came in outside the vige hall, the guests buzzed and went outside. And then. When he saw Grandpa Kang Munsik getting out of the car, his face showed genuine joy. ¡°Wow, Hyung¡¯s expression¡­¡± Was that him? His face, which made people feel happy just by looking at it, was somehow embarrassing. But the inte reaction was very good. Their fans were dancing with their shoulders, and on the inte, there werements asking what his name was, and screenshots. While Woojoo was feeling awkward, the broadcast continued. It felt like the tension was released. With Woojoo¡¯s scene being thest one, he had wrapped up his thoughts on today¡¯s broadcast. It might have been just a feeling, but he had a hunch¡­ He wasn¡¯t the only one. The adults who had been watching the TV screen with bated breath started to drink and chat while checking their smartphones. Even Mrs. Kim Deoksoon, theirndy, began to pick at her food with chopsticks. Everyone¡¯s expression was subtle. They must have felt the same as Woojoo, having some certainty after seeing the broadcast length. It was when the second mission had passed, and the preview for the second part tomorrow had aired. The only sound in the eerie silence of the barbecue restaurant was the charcoal burning. Ziiing- The phones of everyone in this ce started to ring at the same time. Chapter 120: Chapter 120: Trantor: MarcTempest Editor: Rxel Chapter 120 6 p.m. At that time, when the yellow full moon was floating in the sky, the highways and terminals across the country were crowded with cars and people. They smiled briefly as they thought of their families they would meet after a long time, but soon they were exhausted by fatigue. Some sighed as they looked at the congested highway, while others nced at the electronic board in the waiting room with their tickets in hand. Some satisfied their hungry stomachs with the broth of fish cakes in paper cups. Everyone had their own way of killing time.Some yed games on their smartphones, some exchanged messages with their friends, some stared nkly at the people passing by. But the most reliable way was TV. Those who were suffering from their whining children trapped on the highway turned on the DMB, and those who were sitting in the train station or bus terminal waiting room stared at therge TV. As it was Sunday evening, the channel was naturally set to TBC. -Roll, roll! Dice! -Wow! The celebrities who gathered in front of the broadcasting station pped and cheered, and the TV viewers chatted with each other. ¡°Wow, there are so many people. What are they going to do with all of them?¡± ¡°I saw the preview. They¡¯re going to some rural area for a mission. I think they¡¯re going to split into teams andpete.¡± ¡°Really? Sounds fun.¡± While the members of Around the World With Dice introduced the guests, the travelers who watched TV also bloomed their conversations. ¡°Look at Han Sora¡¯s proportions. She¡¯s crazy.¡± ¡°Seo Jihyung is on again. Didn¡¯t hee outst time when they did the mudt thing? He¡¯s almost a regr at this point.¡± ¡°Honey, is that the actor over there? The painter from Memory of the Brush. He¡¯s so handsome. He stands out even among the celebrities.¡± As the people who were famous in their fields appeared, the people¡¯s attention was naturally focused. ¡°What? There¡¯s already an article up.¡± ¡°Really?¡± It had been less than 10 minutes since the show started, but there was an article on the entertainment section of the portal site. -Chuseok Special Around the World With Dice, stars gathered -Lee Gyeonwoo, ¡°I gained 5kg after Memory of the Brush. Please look at me kindly¡­¡± -Heechan & Heeyeon, thete siblings make the castugh It was truly a national variety show. Even trivial conversations became articles, and themunity sites were filled with posts from the viewers who were following the show in real time. Some people who were just browsing the web were curious enough to turn their eyes to the TV in the waiting room. And soon they smiled or burst intoughter. The travelers who were driving listened to the cast¡¯s conversations as if they were listening to the radio. Theyughed at the various skits, ad-libs, funny anecdotes, and inter-vehiclemunication using walkie-talkies. Meanwhile, New ck also appeared briefly, but no one showed interest in them. ¡°Oh, they¡¯re handsome.¡± ¡­That was the extent of the reaction, along with a brief inte search. As the real-time search terms were filled with the names of Lee Gyeonwoo, Han Sora, and others, people didn¡¯t care who the rookie boy group was. Most of them only knew TNT when it came to idols. But as the first mission started, New ck began to enter the people¡¯s eyes little by little. ¡°Oh, he must have done some housework before.¡± ¡°Does he like cleaning that much?¡± The idol member who was whining like a squid in the hot weather was sparkling his eyes and cleaning. His expression was so cold that it seemed like ice chips would fall off, but now he looked so happy. ¡°Is that a setup?¡± ¡°No, look at that¡­ He¡¯s just like his mom. He¡¯s nagging and cleaning.¡± His face was blooming. It was not the smile of capitalism, but the smile of genuine happiness that hung on his cold face. He smiled brightly and smiled with the spring flowers CG in the background. Someone who was sitting in the Seoul Station waiting room picked up his smartphone. ¡°Wow, he was born in ''97. He¡¯s a baby. A baby. He¡¯s 10 years younger than me.¡± ¡°What about the one next to him?¡± ¡°He¡¯s ''93.¡± As the clich¨¦d story of how young the idols were these days came out, the result of the cleaning followed. The scenery changed amazingly. The house looked different even though they only moved the furniture and cleaned up the stuff. ¡°Wow¡­¡± ¡°The little things make a big difference. The house looks bigger just by moving the furniture.¡± ¡°He could start a cleaningpany, man.¡± As the idol member exined why he arranged the furniture with excitement, the grandmother¡¯s expression of gratitude made them smile involuntarily. It was a heartwarming scene. As the scene switched back to the actors of Team A and the singers of Team B, they forgot about New ck in their head. This time, another member appeared. A member who looked like an elegant pretty boy was having a worried conversation with Ye Heeyeon in the vige hall. -What do we do, Sunbae-nim? They seem to be so good. -It¡¯s okay. We can win. The camera captured the scene of Seo Jihyung and Han Yeoreum cooking. Seo Jihyung¡¯s cooking skills were extraordinary, as he ran a famous tripe restaurant in Hongdae, and Han Yeoreum was like a god of cooking. As the caption ¡®coboration of domestic and overseas¡¯ and the BGM of a cookingic came on, the people who were watching admired. ¡°Wow, Seo Jihyung is back.¡± ¡°Han Yeoreum, right? That person is really good. She¡¯s like a chef in a drama.¡± On the other hand, everyoneughed at the sight of Team B burning their food. Song Jinwoo of Around the World With Dice and Joo Hana of Girls on Top were destroying everything they touched like a gag duo. Then the screen moved to Team C. What kind of mess would they show this time? Ye Heeyeon was famous for being a disaster in cooking, and that refined idol seemed to be a million light-years away from cooking. But the scene that followed betrayed everyone¡¯s expectations. Bijoo, who was talking anxiously about the mission, grabbed a knife and cut the carrot in an instant. ¡°¡­?¡± The people who were watching blinked their eyes, as only the scenes of him being insecure or worried were edited. Ye Heeyeon on the screen also made the same expression. -Didn¡¯t you say cooking was your hobby? -Yes, it is. Team A also started to raise their faces at the feast of cooking skills that could not be seen as a hobby. Their rtionship had changed over time, and Bijoo¡¯s skillful handling of Yee Heeyeon came out. -I¡¯m done with this! -Good job, Sunbae-nim. Try this. -Oh, thank you¡­ I mean, thank you. Ye Heeyeon, who was happy to eat the meat given as apliment, tilted her head as if he was strange. ¡°He¡¯s a bit weird.¡± ¡°I know, right? He seemed timid, but he says everything.¡± He looked delicate and weak at first, but he turned out to be a pro housekeeper. That was how New ck was imprinted in the viewers¡¯ minds. But although he attracted attention with his unique character, he didn¡¯t give the impression that he was very funny in terms of entertainment. He just stood out because he looked like a painting and did weird things. But then. A scene of the actors of Team A being shocked came on the TV screen. -Ah! What is that? With a ¡®bang!¡¯ sound effect and a slow screen, a ck goat appeared. As the caption ¡®[¡áDaegil, 8 years old, anger management disorder]¡¯ came out, the people who were going homeughed and admired. ¡°It¡¯s huge, that ck goat. It looks like a cow.¡± ¡°I think I¡¯d faint if I saw that at night. His personality is really¡­¡± The ck goat, who seemed to devour everything around him, was threatening. As the tension rose, Heysion and Junghyun visited Daegil¡¯s house. The rapper with dreadlocks bowed his knees and smiled at the goat, and the ck goat ran wild as if he epted it as a challenge. And then. ¡®! ! !¡¯ big exmation marks filled the screen, and the humans in the TV froze. As the caption ¡®[Not a still screen]¡¯ came out, the running started with a shout of ¡®Run!¡¯. The moment the ridiculous scene of the ck goat with a stone tied to his leash and the humans chased by him came out. ¡°Hahaha!¡± In the dark car, in the waiting room, in the KTX or bus, the people who were watching Around the World With Dice burst intoughter. It was the highlight of the day. Theyughed every time the ck goat chased them, and the scenes of the cast running away from various ces came out like aedy movie. Some of them were so amused that they wiped their tears. ¡°Wow, that¡¯s amazing. Really.¡± ¡°It¡¯s so funny. I wouldn¡¯t believe it even if they said they scripted it, man.¡± ¡°Oh, my stomach hurts.¡± The train they were waiting for or the road in front of them disappeared from their minds, and the scene of the ck goat and the humans chasing each other remained in their brains. The keywords ¡®New ck¡¯ and ¡®Junghyun¡¯ rose to the real-time search terms then. After that, Junghyun was the topic of the show. He wrestled with the goat, called the names of the wildflowers with his straight face and round eyes, and taught his friend of the same age about the orchard at the apple farm. He was specialized in rural areas. After he received attention from the show, the eyes that looked at New ck subtly increased. If the same scene showed multiple guests, they would unconsciously look at New ck, and when New ck appeared in a solo shot, they felt a strange familiarity. And the more they watched, the more they noticed a member who had not been highlighted until now. It was Woojoo. While the other members attracted attention with their unique characters or today¡¯s highlight scenes, Woojoo blended in naturally. The middle-aged woman who watched him hold hands and chat with the grandmothers like a friend smiled. When the old man Kang Moonsik, who had not shown his face, came back, he sincerely rejoiced and smiled regardless of the mission¡¯s oue, and the old man who sat on the terminal bench with a cane stared at the TV screen. Then, two members of Around the World With Dice, Woo Jaeyong and Yang Okbun, appeared in a scene where they received massages with the elders. He looked exhausted, but heughed and enjoyed chatting with the old people. The camera caught him rubbing his sore hands several times behind his back. An old person watching TV said, ¡°He¡¯s quite remarkable.¡± Their actions suited the theme of this Chuseok Special, ¡®filial piety¡¯, and warm eyes followed them. Then, New ck came out together. The youngest sang a trot song and showed off his wit, and the other members gave massages instead, making the travelers smile warmly. It was a healing scene. The other teams also produced simr emotional codes, and the first part of Around the World With Dice ended warmly. Then, the preview showed them messing up or doing various missions in a variety show style, but it was also a satisfying part. When the show ended. As the news about the Chuseok travel came out, people returned to their daily lives. Back to boredom, looking for something else to kill time. And the travelers who enjoyed today¡¯s show naturally moved to the inte. They wanted to see what other people thought about the scenes they saw today, and if they agreed with them. Soon, they nodded their heads as they read the posts on SNS ormunities filled with the inte. ¡®What is this.¡¯ But there was someone who was confused by the inte. A young man who had not been discharged from the army for a long time, Ha Eunsung, blinked his eyes as he tapped his smartphone. It was because of the familiar face he saw on TV. ¡®What is this, really.¡¯ He was bewildered as he looked at the profile of ¡®New ck Woojoo¡¯ on the portal. The senior he met as an administrative soldier in the armyst year was on TV as an idol. ¡®Didn¡¯t he go to take the college entrance exam?¡¯ It was a mystery. *** As New ck¡¯s name rose on the real-time search, entertainment reporters quickly posted articles about them. Around the World With Dice¡¯s Chuseok Special, which pushed the second ce in the same time slot by more than 10 percent with an average viewership rating of 18.8 percent, was a hot topic in every household. In a country house in Gyeonggi-do. ¡°New ck? What do they do?¡± ¡°They¡¯re idols, I guess. They must be popr among the young kids, right?¡± ¡°I¡¯ve never heard of them. Well, I guess you have to know some. Oh, I want to get a massage too.¡± ¡°Is it news after this?¡± They were having a family meal, with the table full of dishes. Instead of talking about ufortable topics like politics or jobs, they were entertained by the variety show on TV. And every time the name of New ck came up, along with somements on the celebrities, there was someone who flinched. They scooped up some kimchi stew with one hand, while tapping their phone under the table with the other. -I feel so weird right now??? Watching TV and hearing my family talk about our kids As soon as they posted that, other Souffl¨¦s started to reply as if they were waiting. -Me too¡­ I feel really strange. I¡¯m happy but also nervous;; -They¡¯re asking me who New ck is and I want to answer so badly that my tongue and lips are dancing -My dad asked me and I got tongue-tied and said they¡¯re aliens and I don¡¯t know their names¡­ Ha¡­ My mom is teasing me now, saying I¡¯m so interested in that stuff?? Be quiet, Mom. I even went to their workshop¡­ -Iughed so hard when I saw it with my rtives ????? Junghyun being chased by the goat was hrious?????? He¡¯s such a clown -I never thought I¡¯d talk about New ck with my rtives on Chuseok -You guys worked so hard????? Among thosements, someone wrote what all the Souffl¨¦s were thinking. -The reaction is really good, I hope thissts long?? They remembered when they hit the jackpot with Something. They went to Jiho¡¯s graduation ceremony and suddenly the entertainment reporters wanted to interview them. This time, it was their parents who were the interviewees. ¡°Hello, yes. That¡¯s right. That¡¯s our kid. Amazing, right? I was surprised too when I saw it. Who would have thought our son would do that? Yeah, yeah, the PD must have liked him a lot.¡± ¡°Right, Iughed too when Junghyun ran around. What? Why would Junghyun video call with your niece? Stop talking nonsense and hang up.¡± ¡°Hello. Oh, is this Sukja? What? You watched the show?¡± Their close rtives and friends called them as soon as the show ended. What¡¯s going on with your son being on TV, is it true, etc. Their Kim Deoksoondy was annoyed by the phone calls, but she was smiling cheekily. The other parents were smiling so brightly that their smiles almost exploded into the sky. Woojoo felt proud watching them. It was just one appearance on a show, but the parents looked like there was nothing more glorious in the world. Some of them were shaking their hands holding their phones. They were all nervous as well. Especially, their phones were vibrating non-stop. ¡°Wow. I¡¯m getting so many messages right now.¡± ¡°Me too.¡± ¡°Me too, and there are so many names I haven¡¯t heard in a long time.¡± Around the World With Dice¡¯s national variety show was indeed a national variety show. When Woojoo was in the army, my seniors, juniors, peers, trainers, and trainee friends from TJ. They were calling from everywhere. Woojoo replied to the messages from Around the World With Dice¡¯s team and Jang Sowon Sunbae, and then turned off his phone. ¡°¡­What¡¯s going on. I feel so weird.¡± It didn¡¯t feel real. Woojoo wondered if it made sense to get this much reaction from one show, but he also realized that they had never been on a show properly before. Bijoo hung up the phone and spoke with a flushed face. ¡°I feel weird too. It¡¯s like I¡¯m dreaming, not in reality.¡± ¡°Should I pinch you?¡± ¡°Yes, please. Hyung.¡± It wasn¡¯t a dream. It was just another reminder of how spicy the cooking enthusiast¡¯s food was. They all had the same expression. They felt dizzy, even though they hadn¡¯t drunk any alcohol. Was he crazy for making such a fuss over a variety show, or¡­ Woojoo didn¡¯t know. His thoughts were tangled and he couldn¡¯t make a decision. They seemed to do well on the show, but he had no idea how much impact it had. Everything was new to him. ¡°Wow, my heart is pounding.¡± Rihyuk shook his hand and spilled his water cup, and Jiho kept sipping his c as if his throat was burning. Junghyun, who had been staring at the inte nkly, looked at Woojoo. ¡°Hyung, what do we do now?¡± ¡°What do you mean?¡± ¡°Do we have to prepare for interviews? Do we need to get ready for things like I Love You, Celebrity News?¡± ¡°Why would you do that?¡± Woojoo couldn¡¯t help butugh. On the other hand, as his brothers got more excited, Woojoo regained his sanity. Woojoo thought of the seniors who had risen to fame with variety shows, and at the same time, he thought they had to be careful. ¡°First, calm down.¡± A beep sounded. Woojoo¡¯s throat was dry. He grabbed someone¡¯s c nearby and drank it in one shot. What was wrong with this? Did it taste weird, or was it just him? But he didn¡¯t have the mind to think about that. ¡°Don¡¯t get too excited. You know variety shows, right? Even if the response is good, it usually fades away in a day or two.¡± Woojoo said that tofort his brothers. When he did. Seokhwan Hyung, who had finished the call, switched his phone to silent mode and stuck out his tongue. Then he said to them, ¡°You guys already got an offer from a cable channel.¡± ¡°¡­Now?¡± But before Woojoo could think of anything, he swayed. Why was he so dizzy? ¡°Hyung, are you okay?¡± ¡°Just a sec.¡± Woojoo waved his hand at his brothers as if he was fine. Then he leaned against the wall. This was what happened when he drank¡­ Did he drink? At that moment, an irresistible sleepiness came over him. *** There was amotion when Woojoo fell asleep after blinking his eyes for 30 seconds. ¡°Woojoo Hyung? What¡¯s wrong with you?!¡± ¡°Don¡¯t we have to call 119? Wake up!¡± Surprised, Rihyuk pped Woojoo¡¯s cheek repeatedly, while Jiho grabbed his wrist and sobbed. ¡°Don¡¯t hit Woojoo Hyung! What if something goes wrong?!¡± ¡°Stop talking nonsense! He won¡¯t die from this!¡± ¡°Woojoo Hyung? Can you hear me? If you can, blink your eyes.¡± ¡°Hey, what¡¯s going on?¡± ¡°Woojoo Hyung suddenly felt dizzy and fainted.¡± As the adults were also startled, Kim Deoksoon ran over with her perm hair flying. She was shocked for a moment, but soon she bit her tongue as she saw her grandson¡¯s condition. ¡°He drank alcohol, the bastard.¡± ¡°¡­Alcohol?¡± ¡°This guy loses his taste with just a drop of soju on his tongue. The doctor said there¡¯s nothing wrong with him, but he¡¯s like this.¡± ¡°But Woojoo Hyung drank c¡­¡± Then, everyone¡¯s eyes turned to the c ss that Woojoo had just drunk, and its owner. ¡°Jiho.¡± ¡°¡­¡± ¡°What did you put in there?¡± ¡°Well, that¡­¡± Jiho stuttered. ¡°Well, a little bit of beer¡­?¡± ¡°¡­¡± ¡°And I was curious, so a little bit of soju¡­¡± ¡°¡­¡± ¡°But c was the most! I haven¡¯t even drunk it yet¡­¡± Jiho, who was held by the three sisters¡¯ hands, was in pain, and Rihyuk was flustered by his brother¡¯s appearance. Junghyun and Bijoo crouched down as if they were worried and looked after the leader. ¡°Is he okay? Don¡¯t we have to go to the emergency room?¡± ¡°Don¡¯t worry, the doctor said he just needs to sleep.¡± Kim Deoksoon sat next to him and said, ¡°Oh, this sick bastard. Can¡¯t he tell the difference between alcohol and c, or soybean paste and shit?¡± Kim Deoksoon smiled as she stroked her grandson¡¯s hair, who was sleeping soundly. The day before Chuseok. The family gathering that had been heated up by the variety show appearance ended with a ridiculous somaek-c incident. Chapter 121: Chapter 121: Trantor: MarcTempest Editor: Rxel Chapter 121 The Proper Attitude Towards Luck When Woojoo woke up, he saw a strange ceiling. A luxurious hotel room. Woojoo looked at the dawn sky outside the window and calmly recalled what happened yesterday¡­ Yeah, right. ¡°Ugh!¡± Woojoo threw off the bed sheet and ran to the bathroom. He clutched the toilet and gagged for a long time.Fortunately, nothing came out. The food he ate yesterday was 59,000 won per serving. He didn¡¯t care about anything else, but if he threw up such expensive meat, he would remember it for a long time. Woojoo wiped his mouth with the back of his hand and leaned his head against the cold bathroom wall for a while. His head was throbbing with a headache. At that moment, the light turned on and he saw Kim Deoksoon, the olddy, standing there in her pajamas. ¡°Are you okay?¡± ¡°¡­Uh, Grandma. My stomach is a bit queasy. It¡¯s nothing, don¡¯t worry about it.¡± ¡°You¡¯re sick. You¡¯ve been acting crazy since the barbecue ce. How can I not worry?¡± ¡°¡­¡± Come to think of it, Kim Deoksoon¡¯s eyes had dark circles under them. At first, Woojoo thought she didn¡¯t remove her eye makeup, but it turned out to be dark circles. No way. ¡°Grandma, did you stay up all night because of me?¡± ¡°No.¡± ¡°Just sleep¡­¡± ¡°I said no. Why would I stick to a drunk guy who passed out all night, stick to him.¡± She said no, but it seemed like she did. ¡°Why wouldn¡¯t you stick to me, I¡¯m not pret¡­¡± ¡°Are you still drunk?¡± ¡°Ugh!¡± As he gagged again, Kim Deoksoon¡¯s thick hand patted his back. After a while, Woojoo sat at the table in the hotel room, lost in thought. 5 a.m. The ck night view of the city was visible through the window. Behind it, Kim Deoksoon¡¯s reflection was seen on the ss as she opened a cup noodle. Woojoo smiled faintly. ¡°I was just about to have a hangover cure, good¡­¡± ¡°It¡¯s mine.¡± ¡°¡­¡± ¡°What, you want some too?¡± ¡°No, I don¡¯t.¡± Two cup noodles were ready. Woojoo had a live broadcastter, so he drank the broth sparingly, but it still felt like his stomach was settling. As he enjoyed the spicy and salty broth, he burped. ¡°¡­So who brought me here?¡± ¡°Junghyun carried you.¡± ¡°He¡¯s worked hard. ¡­ But did they cover my face when we entered the hotel?¡± ¡°I wore a mask. You were the one who came out like a chaebol chairman on a wheelchair, everyone wasughing at you.¡± ¡°¡­¡± He was doomed. How was he going to face the other family members in the morning? Woojoo covered his face with both hands and muttered. ¡°I won¡¯t let you off the hook, Wang Jiho.¡± ¡°¡­Don¡¯t be too hard on him. He already got scolded by his sisters yesterday.¡± ¡°He deserved it.¡± How dare a minor drink alcohol? Woojoo felt the Confucian spirit burning inside him. Grandmaughed. ¡°But he¡¯s a good kid. He stayed until one in the morning yesterday, didn¡¯t he?¡± ¡°Really?¡± ¡°Really. He said he would wait until you woke up, and the four of them were circling around you like puppies who lost their owner. I was so amused that I took a picture of it.¡± ¡°¡­Pfft!¡± Woojooughed at the picture that Grandma Kim Deoksoon took with her phone. It looked like a scene where the grandchildren gathered around the bed of an old man who was dying. The siblings were sitting around the bed, looking down at him. ¡°I can¡¯t live, really.¡± ¡°They said they were going to take a video with your phone and leave.¡± Woojoo went into the phone album and there was really a video. He was curious and pressed the y button briefly. The four of them bowed their heads to the phone camera. -One, two, three, hello. We are the siblings. -But why are we greeting? -Isn¡¯t it weird if we don¡¯t¡­? I feel awkward if I don¡¯t greet before I say something to the camera. -Is that so? Okay then. -It¡¯s an upational disease, this. -You also greeted with us, don¡¯t pretend to be objective. -Yeah, somaek. -Grandma, please scold this guy! -Kids. Don¡¯t fight. This is a letter of the heart for Woojoo Hyung. We don¡¯t know when he¡¯ll wake up¡­ -Hyung, Woojoo Hyung is alive. There was another 10 minutes of video, so Woojoo turned it off for now. There was something more important on his mind than that. Yesterday¡¯s Around the World With Dice. Woojoo licked his tongue at the missed calls, messages, and notifications on his phone. ¡°It seems that people watched more variety shows than I thought.¡± ¡°The manager said they watched it like crazy. I was curious too, so I asked Bijoo to crack his smartphone, and there were a lot of articles too. I was amazed when I saw that.¡± ¡°Oh, what part?¡± ¡°You¡¯re really brave, sir. You said that. You¡¯re going to have a lot of luck from this month on¡­¡± Woojoo proudly plugged his ears. Seeing that, Grandma Kim Deoksoon¡¯s mouth moved violently with consonants like ¡®?¡¯, ¡®?¡¯. Of course, she was angry. But Woojoo had a secret weapon to appease her. ¡°Grandma.¡± ¡°What.¡± ¡°I have something to show you. I got it from the variety show I went to.¡± ¡°What? You jerk.¡± He opened his bag and took out a small box. He had wrapped it in severalyers of envelopes to prevent it from getting crumpled. ¡°Open it.¡± ¡°What is this? I can¡¯t see anything. The letters are too small.¡± ¡°It¡¯s a luxury package travel voucher.¡± ¡°¡­!¡± Their Mrs. Kim Deoksoon¡¯s eyes widened like she had touched a golden ticket. Her pursed lips quickly rxed, and her eyes softened. Woojoo smiled contentedly. Money was the best. *** 6:30 a.m. At the time when goosebumps rose on your arms from the chilly air, they said goodbye to their family at the hotel lobby. They were going to have breakfast at the buffet and then go back to their homes, and New ck had to go to the salon for makeup. ¡°Grandma, please call me when you get on the bus at the terminal.¡± ¡°I know, I know. Keep your wits about you. Don¡¯t make a fool of yourself on TV by messing up the name of the bread again.¡± They hugged for thest time and got on the van. Theyopened the window and waved to their family. They could only return to their normal lives after they disappeared like dots. Minki Hyung tuned the radio frequency and started a conversation. ¡°Yesterday¡¯s broadcast was fun.¡± ¡°Did you watch it too?¡± ¡°I watched it for monitoring. I watched it with my parents at my hometown, and they were so happy when I told them I was in charge of you.¡± The rtives¡¯ kids asked him to get autographs for them, and the road managerughed. Then he pointed to his glittering phone with his chin. ¡°That¡¯s all the callsing in rted to you guys.¡± ¡°¡­What is it?¡± ¡°Isn¡¯t it amazing? The reporters who used to be hard to reach are now contacting me first, asking me what the schedule is like, or calling from some cable channel.¡± It could change depending on how the second part of Around the World With Dice, which would air tonight, turned out, but for now, it was perfect. Woojoo turned to the siblings to share the excited mood, but they were looking at something else. ¡°¡­Why are you staring at me like that?¡± Their pupils followed him every time he moved. They were like motion sensors. ¡°Did I get something on my face?¡± ¡°You look too fine, that¡¯s why,¡± Rihyuk said. ¡°The person who copsedst night is acting like this. Really, are you okay?¡± ¡°Of course I¡¯m okay.¡± ¡°Oh, don¡¯t smile so smugly and say that. Are you really okay?¡± ¡°Ouch, our Rihyuk was so scared?¡± ¡°You¡¯re fine. Totally fine.¡± He turned his gaze to the window, annoyed. Woojoo chuckled as he watched him. At that moment, arge hand rested on my forehead. Bijoo was holding Junghyun¡¯s arm as if it were a stethoscope and putting his hand on Woojoo¡¯s forehead. Junghyun, who was chewing on a gummy worm, answered, ¡°36.7 degrees.¡± ¡°Hmm¡­ that¡¯s normal. Are you sure you¡¯re okay?¡± ¡°¡­What are you guys up to?¡± Woojooughed incredulously. Luckily, Minki Hyung had a thermometer in his car and lent it to him. Woojoo inserted it in his ear and it showed 36.8 degrees. ¡°How do you match it so well?¡± ¡°I¡¯m a bit versatile, you know.¡± Junghyun looked proud, but Rihyuk clicked his tongue and said, ¡°Don¡¯t seed in weird things, Junghyun Hyung. Our fans always think it¡¯s a lie.¡± ¡°That¡¯s right. I can¡¯t even talk about Hyung at school. No one believes me.¡± ¡°So what? It doesn¡¯t matter.¡± Junghyun and their brothers were chatting casually in the back seat. Meanwhile, Bijoo was writing something like st night 37.3 degrees¡¯ on his phone¡¯s memo app. He met Woojoo¡¯s eyes and smiled sheepishly. ¡°It¡¯s a habit from taking care of my brother¡­¡± ¡°Ah.¡± ¡°But are you really okay, Hyung? I heard you get drunk with just a drop of soju on your tongue.¡± ¡°Who said that?¡± ¡°Grandma did.¡± ¡°¡­She talks too much, Kim Deoksoon.¡± The brothers in the back seatughed and Woojoo felt embarrassed. ¡°I can drink at least a sip of soju. The problem is when I go over that, I copse.¡± ¡°You¡¯re really weak with alcohol.¡± ¡°Rihyuk, are you old enough to drink?¡± ¡°¡­¡± ¡°Hyung, Hyung, then you can¡¯t eat rice cake with alcohol?¡± ¡°No, I get drunk if I do.¡± Woojoo said kindly to the youngest who asked him, ¡°I wouldn¡¯t have copsed yesterday if it was just soju or beer. Someone made a somaek with c.¡± ¡°¡­I¡¯m sorry.¡± He looked so dejected that Woojoo found him cute. Woojoo must still be a bit drunk. He thought their youngest was cute. ¡°Don¡¯t you want to drink that much?¡± ¡°I don¡¯t want to drink, but when I go to school, the kids tease me like ¡®Ehehe, Wang Jiho has never drunk alcohol~¡¯.¡± ¡°They¡¯re weird kids. Don¡¯t mind them.¡± ¡°So I was curious yesterday and tried to put some in c. It was really hard to make. I had to sneak around my sister and mom¡¯s eyes and collect it¡­ I didn¡¯t know Hyung would do a one shot.¡± ¡°Well, technically, it¡¯s the fault of the person who did a one shot of someone else¡¯s ss.¡± ¡°Oh, that¡¯s true.¡± Woojoo smiled sweetly at the guys in the back who nodded. ¡°Rihyuk, you said you pped me yesterday.¡± ¡°¡­Now that I think about it, I guess the bigger mistake was making that soju-c mix in the first ce.¡± ¡°Oh, right.¡± As they talked, Bijoo grabbed Woojoo¡¯s arm and spoke with a serious expression. What did he want to say that he looked so earnest? ¡°Hyung, I¡¯ve been thinking about this sincest night.¡± ¡°Yeah?¡± ¡°From now on, you can¡¯t drink anything that someone gives you on the street. Got it?¡± ¡°What, why all of a sudden¡­?¡± ¡°Even the drinks from the fans are off-limits. You have to let Junghyun try them first and then drink them.¡± ¡°I¡¯ll do the taste test for you.¡± ¡°Bijoo, but if the fans give us something, we have to drink it.¡± ¡°No, you can¡¯t. And don¡¯t drink if someone invites you for a drink either. From now on, you can¡¯t even have a sip of anything. No matter how close they are to you.¡± His voice was sweet and pleasant, but his words were all gentle nagging. Woojoo thought about covering his ears like he did with his grandmother, but he gave up. He didn¡¯t have any travel vouchers to use on him. *** Woojoo was looking at his phone the whole time, from getting his hair curled and makeup done at the salon to going to the waiting room at the PBS broadcasting station in Yeouido. It wasn¡¯t just him, all five of them were like that. -[Last Night TV] Around the World With Dice¡¯s highest rating minute, the chase with ck goat -New ck¡¯s first variety show appearance, they captured both humor and emotion -Who are the hot searchers ¡®New ck¡¯? No matter which portal site Woojoo went to, there was at least one article about them on the main entertainment section. Thements attached to them were also at least 500 each, and they were all positive. -???I watched it with my dadst night and we cracked up¡­^^* -As a fan of Around the World With Dice, I really enjoyed watching it. I thought it was weird that PD Gu brought some unknown idols (no offense, don¡¯t curse me) but he had a good eye after all. It would have been boring without the ck goat. -I liked them after watching yesterday¡¯s show ?? Sometimes Woojoo sawments like ¡®they¡¯re desperate to get famous¡¯ or ¡®they¡¯re too arrogant for rookies¡¯ when he sorted by recent, and he felt a surge of anger, but then he realized they weren¡¯t wrong and agreed. They did want to get famous, and they did try to get more screen time. So what? Instead, Woojoo and the others each downvoted them once. Thements with -5 disappeared like dew in the morning. Woojoo went to variousmunities and searched for ¡®New ck¡¯ and there were quite a few posts. -New ck seems like they¡¯ll get a lot of ads -They look like rookies but they hit the jackpot? -I realized why the agencies are so desperate to send their idols to Around the World With Dice¡¯s show -They must be getting a lot of offers -?? what¡­ Then what about Girls On Top, they were Screen on Top -But one of them made a meme of blowing up the food. As a fan of Girls on Top, I¡¯m very satisfied ??? Would they get any ads? Woojoo doubted it. When they filmed the school uniform ad, they heard the staff members say that the advertisers didn¡¯t spend their money on temporary fame. They had to see at least a quarter¡¯s worth of potential. If they could keep this momentum going until their second album, then things might change. But it was true that they were getting a lot of offers. Several cable channels had already asked them about their schedule, and even one of the terrestrial channels had contacted them. They heard at least four of them on their way to the station. Thepany was also in chaos because of that, and they had a staff meeting on Chuseok day. They said they would tell them the details after the recording was over, but it was all good news. The only bad news was. ¡°Ah, I want to leave a message for the fans.¡± ¡°Minki Hyung, can¡¯t we write a little bit? Just a small message to the fans¡­¡± ¡°No.¡± ¡°Then how about a proof shot on SNS?¡± ¡°No.¡± The younger ones looked at Woojoo with eyes full of regret. Woojoo shook his head too. ¡°We can post it after today¡¯s broadcast. It¡¯s not toote.¡± ¡°Don¡¯t you think the fans are curious about our reaction? I think we should at least leave a message¡­¡± ¡°I know how you feel. But let¡¯s just wait a little longer.¡± Woojoo wanted to brag to the fans and say ¡®Did you see us on the show?¡¯ but thepany wouldn¡¯t let them. Woojoo agreed with them. The reporters were looking for stories by digging through their fan cafe and official SNS. They were re-examining everything from their appearance on the cable channel GBS¡¯s ¡®Go to the Scene¡¯ to our past remarks. In this situation, they had to be careful about every word and action. They couldn¡¯t afford to lose the luck that they had finally found. His younger siblings looked sullen, but they soon epted it. It was a pity, but Woojoo thought the fans would understand. Besides, today there would be many videos uploaded to thepany¡¯s official ount, such as greetings for Chuseok and reality shows prepared for Chuseok. -[2014 Chuseok Greetings] Strong and Powerful Morning! How are you, we are New ck -[Chuseok Special] #1. The Origin of Chuseok (feat. Expert Teacher Seo) -[Chuseok Special] #2. Shall we make songpyeon? (feat. Non-Cook) There were also videos of making songpyeon to send to the winners of the event they had done in advance, and other videos of us ying yutnori in hanbok. They had a goodugh when Junghyun broke the yut stick. Yeah. For now, they decided to postpone the online meeting with the fans and focus on the schedule that was right in front of them. ¡°Hello! We are New ck!¡± They greeted the broadcasting staff with enthusiasm every time they met them inside the PBS annex. They usually nced at them and left, but sometimes they said, ¡®Oh, hello¡¯ and went on. Then theyughed among themselves, as if they were talking about yesterday¡¯s broadcast. They arrived at the public hall at 9 a.m. Two hours before the broadcast started, they greeted the PD who was directing theplex camera equipment and cables. ¡°Oh, New ck. Long time no see.¡± He was someone they already knew. The production team that nned today¡¯s PBS live Chuseok Special ¡®2080 Music Quiz Show¡¯ was the same one that made ¡®Ha Seungju¡¯s Music Cafe¡¯ that they appeared on. The PD, who had the script tucked under his arm, smiled. ¡°Wow, you guys did well on the variety show yesterday. By this time next year, you¡¯ll be hard to book, won¡¯t you?¡± They all smiled warmly at his joke. Then the PD immediately started to swear half-heartedly at another staff who made a mistake. ¡°¡­¡± Woojoo smirked and crossed the stuffy public hall studio. The people who were going to appear today were waiting in the audience. The concept was that celebrities and ordinary participants would join together, but when they approached, the people who were flipping through the script looked at them. And the first one to react was not from the celebrity side. ¡°Huh? ¡­New ck?¡± At that moment, they were the ones who were surprised. It was the first time that people recognized them before they greeted others. Chapter 122: Chapter 122: Trantor: MarcTempest Editor: Rxel Chapter 122 Woojoo greeted the celebrities and the ordinary participants as he climbed up the stairs to the auditorium seats. There were veteranedians, bad singers, music students, and more. They greeted him back with various voices, but their group had only one thing on their minds. As soon as they sat down, Bijoo whispered to Woojoo, covering his mouth, ¡°Hyung, do you think they really recognize us? Is this for real?¡± ¡°I don¡¯t know. In my opinion¡­¡± Jiho whispered back, ¡°Maybe they are from our fan cafe?¡± ¡°That could be possible.¡±¡°Hey, if you want to talk, do it between yourselves. Don¡¯t whisper in my ears.¡± It was like they were talking through a tin can phone with a string. The two of them put Woojoo in the middle and murmured. ¡°It¡¯s possible.¡± Another one joined in. From behind Woojoo, Ryuk whispered logically. ¡°They said the ratings for yesterday¡¯s show were 18.8 percent. That¡¯s not as high as the old dramas that got 50 percent, but statistically, 20 percent is a very significant number.¡± ¡°Right. The inte is going crazy right now.¡± ¡°True. I¡¯m very proud to say this, but it¡¯s a fact.¡± Left, right, up. His brothers whispered in surround sound. Woojoo remembered the sound of the ghost mother from a horror movie. His ears tickled, so he quietly got up and sat three seats away. Then the four of them moved to the same spot. It was back to square one. ¡°Do you think they really recognized us? Not as fans, but as ordinary people?¡± ¡°Hyung, that¡¯s obvious. Why would they know our names otherwise?¡± ¡°No.¡± Woojoo couldn¡¯t stand it anymore and whispered back, ¡°Why don¡¯t you just ask them? Why are you having a debate over this?¡± ¡°Then I¡¯ll ask them.¡± Junghyun jumped up, and the four of them grabbed him and made him sit down. ¡°Shh! Junghyun, sit down.¡± ¡°Sit down, Hyung!¡± ¡°Sit down, sit down, Kim Junghyun. That¡¯s right.¡± ¡°Ugh, other people are looking at us.¡± The people in front of them turned their heads at theirmotion. They were so out of sync. The four of them awkwardly looked down at their phones. Woojoo decided. He should never do anything that requires hiding with these guys. While he was sighing at their clumsy behavior, the two college studentsughed to themselves. Then they leaned back and spoke to them. ¡°Excuse me.¡± ¡°¡­Yes?¡± ¡°Can we take a picture with you?¡± ¡°A picture?¡± ¡°Yes, for proof. To show our friends. They¡¯re curious because we saw you on the show yesterday.¡± A picture. That wasn¡¯t possible right now. The staff at the broadcasting station were very sensitive about taking pictures inside the studio. If they make a click sound here, they would be immediately branded as criminals. ¡°Just a moment.¡± Woojoo called Minki Hyung, who was nearby, and asked him if they could take a picture. He politely declined on their behalf. It was a tip Woojoo learned from living in this industry. It was apletely different story if you rejected them directly or if you wanted to do it but your manager stopped you. ¡°How about we take it after the show? We¡¯ll have more time then.¡± ¡°Oh, sure.¡± Their disappointed faces brightened up. Then they started chatting right away. ¡°I really enjoyed watching the show yesterday. I watched it with my mom and dad, and it was awesome when the goat came out¡­¡± ¡°The ck goat was awesome. How was it for you?¡± ¡°Huh, who were you? You looked really cute, though.¡± ¡°¡­¡± They held back theirughter at the youngest¡¯s gloomy face. Well, he did have the least impact in this Chuseok Special. While the two people in front of them and his brothers were having a conversation, Woojoo felt a strange feeling. Woojoo thought of the fake gold coins that appeared in a novel. They were things that fairies sprinkled from the sky, but they disappeared after a few hours. Woojoo had been in disbelief all the way, even as he looked at the articles and inte reactions about Around the World With Dice. Is this really true? Is this not fake? That kind of feeling. That was why when the ordinary participants acted like they knew them, Woojoo was so incredulous that he was having this kind of debate¡­ But now he was starting to feel a bit convinced. That the gold coin that rolled into his hand was not fake but real. *** 11:40 a.m. ¡°Ten seconds to live! Five, four, three, two, one!¡± The assistant director with a headset shouted the countdown in a loud voice. The male and female announcers in hanbok smiled brightly and eximed. ¡°Neither more nor less, only like Chuseok! Chuseok Special, Challenge! 2080 Music Quiz Show, hosted by announcer Yang Seokjun.¡± ¡°Kim Hyeryung here.¡± As the two announcers skillfully led the show, the cast members pped and cheered enthusiastically. The assistant director waved the script and prompted the reaction from behind the camera. A semi-circr set. There was a podium with a touch screen in front of the participants, like a quiz show. [PBS Challenge! 2080 Music Quiz Show] Looking at the touch screen with the logo floating around, Junghyun and Jiho had restless expressions. Bijoo and Woojoo held their arms. ¡°Today¡¯s quiz show is not only for the participants, but also for the viewers who can guess the answers.¡± ¡°There will also be prizes given by lottery.¡± After the prizes for the viewers were quickly shown, a public-spirited message followed that the ARS texts from the viewers would be used for helping the needy. ¡°Well, then, let¡¯s introduce the cast who will join us today.¡± Once again, the introduction of the cast continued with cheers. Comedian Moon Kinam, who was a music lover, the veteran bad singer The Moon, who collected LP records, the famous popr music critic Hwang Hocheol, and other celebrities passed by, as well as ordinary participants such as music students, Seoul National University music club, and elderly trot enthusiasts. They all had confident faces, saying that they knew music well. It was a formidable lineup, but Woojoo also smiled confidently among them. Woojoo didn¡¯t know about anything else, but he was confident about music quizzes. And finally. ¡°Yes, there are people who say that we can¡¯t leave them out when ites to music. They are rookie idols, but they are more confident than anyone when ites to music. They are New ck!¡± They said the lines they had prepared in advance to camera number 5. Woojoo opened his lips first. ¡°Today¡¯s music quiz show is.¡± Bijoo took over. ¡°We, New ck, will take care of it!¡± Then Rihyuk blew a hand kiss to the camera. ¡°Quiz? What¡¯s that? I¡¯ll get them all right.¡± The music critic Hwang Hocheol, who was on the left, shook his beard at the contrived and cheesy line. The people from the Seoul National University music club on the right were looking away as if they were embarrassed. New ck also bit their lips. Don¡¯tugh. Don¡¯tugh. The line they just said was what the production team told them to say. As soon as they said it didn¡¯t matter who did it, Woojoo¡¯s brothers nced at him and mocked him, so he quickly yed rock-paper-scissors to take the lead. As a result, the winner was their main vocal. They all nodded their heads with warm faces as they looked at Rihyuk, who was wide-eyed like a radish. Woojoo was d he didn¡¯t get caught. ¡°Before we start the quiz show, let¡¯s introduce today¡¯s prize.¡± What did the prize matter? Today¡¯s broadcast was all about their New ck¡¯s image¡­ ¡°Today¡¯s first prize is a premium beef set!¡± ¡°Wow.¡± Their five eyes widened at the same time. At that sight, the critic Hwang Hocheol on the left shook his beard again. *** Idolmunity green room. [WhiteWhiteWhite(Red)White.jpg] This quiz show is so funny that I brought a capture????? -???????Crazy???? -One of them is an angry bird??? Isn¡¯t that the one who was cleaning yesterday? -Yeah, Rihyuk -Smoke seems toe out of his ears -You nailed the title??? White and then red by himself -?????What¡¯s going on? -It¡¯s a quiz show and after saying an awkward line, he became like that! -The bearded guy on the side shaking his beard is the killer??? -Ah??? Where is this? -pbs! They¡¯re doing a quiz show live right now! Souffl¨¦ fans are happy now¡­ A minuteter. [Today¡¯s prize is meat.gif] This is a freshly cooked gif -? I can¡¯t see the gif¡­ -I¡¯ll summarize it for you (++) (-) (?_?) (¨C) (@[email protected]) -???????Who¡¯s the topment??? -????Perfect match -Ah¡­ I think the upload failed. I posted it again in thement! -?????????They¡¯re so cute -Rihyuk? Is he opening his eyes wide? -Surprisingly, he said he did his best¡­ -Cute?? But it won¡¯t be easy. I turned the channel to watch the quiz show and the difficulty was much higher than I thought *** Challenge! 2080 Music Quiz Show. As the PBS homepage¡¯s nning intention, ¡®a domestic music quiz show that covers all generations¡¯, said, today¡¯s quiz was about the history of popr music in Korea. Crossword puzzle for the first round. Subjective quiz for the second round. While the announcers exined the rules, the production team talked in the control room. ¡°Is this difficulty okay? It¡¯s too hard.¡± ¡°Hard?¡± ¡°Honestly, I think it will take all the time to solve it.¡± ¡°If you think it¡¯s hard, just give a lot of hints, okay? If it doesn¡¯t work, rece it with a backup question.¡± As the camera captured the guests from various angles, the main PD picked out the cuts to go live. Camera 1, camera 3, camera 5¡­ While following the cue sheet, one engineer looked curious. ¡°Who¡¯s going to win today?¡± ¡°Maybe Mr. Hwang Hocheol. He knows everything about popr music.¡± ¡°Don¡¯t ignore the ordinary people. The trot club people are also witnesses of music history.¡± ¡°Mr. Deum was not easy either. When we did the pre-interview, we learned a lot from him, from collecting LP records to wow.¡± As someone looked over the faces of those formidable people, he asked, ¡°By the way, how did New ck get cast? Do they know anything about music?¡± ¡°The PD brought them himself.¡± ¡°Did he call them because they look good?¡± ¡°No.¡± The PD answered as he looked at New ck on the screen, ¡°One of them is aposer, and he¡¯s very knowledgeable about music. After the Music Cafe recording, Mr. Ha Seungju was impressed. He said he studied music very well.¡± ¡°Really? Who is it?¡± Then the PD¡¯s finger pointed at one member who was sparkling his eyes on the screen 5. *** Live broadcast. They were all determined to win the quiz that had a premium beef set as the prize. ¡®I have to win.¡¯ They were confident about their knowledge of Korean music history, more than general knowledge. Hwang Hocheol, who knew the hit songs and debut singers by year, smiled, and The Moon, a bad singer, adjusted his horn-rimmed sses and cautiously eyed hispetitors. They were nervous because it was their first broadcast, but the ordinary participants were also not to be underestimated when it came to music. Especially, the college students from a club who had made a cheat sheet and expected questions were burning with resolve. As the first round of the quiz began, they each nced at the people who could be their rivals, but New ck was not anyone¡¯s target. It was understandable. ¡®¡­They¡¯re really handsome.¡¯ Their faces had been on almost every inte sitest night, and their real appearance was also amazing. The camera definitely couldn¡¯t capture their real beauty. Their facial features, which looked t on the screen, were so three-dimensional that they were overwhelming. Especially, the member named Woojoo attracted people¡¯s attention naturally. ¡®I see why they came out.¡¯ The participants naturally inferred the reason why New ck was cast. Usually, the program would send out one or two good-looking participants to attract attention. They thought they were one of those cases. ¡°Okay, I¡¯ll give you the crossword puzzle for the horizontal 1.¡± ¡°Here¡¯s the question. What is the title of the third track on Eun Sera¡¯s fourth album ¡®Your Flower is My Heart¡¯, released in 1989? I¡¯ll y the song for a hint.¡± ¡°Hwang Hocheol, correct! The Flower of Innocence!¡± ¡°Yes, that¡¯s correct!¡± As the pop music critic, Hwang Hocheol answered correctly. The score of [10] appeared on the electronic board in front of him. The participants pped and admired the critic who answered before the hint came out. Then, a fiercepetition began. ¡°Seoul National University, correct! The movie Seopyeonje!¡± ¡°Oh my! The answer is! That¡­ that thing! Bae Byungho¡¯s Love¡¯s Sailboat!¡± ¡°The Moon, the song by the band Vector and Scr, The Law of Multiplication.¡± The pop music critic Hwang Hocheol and the bad singer The Moon were leading, while the ordinary people were also chasing them. But as the middle of the crossword puzzle, the questions with higher scores appeared, something unexpected happened. A question that only yed 3 seconds of the song. ¡°New ck! The song that just yed is Woo Jooho¡¯s folk song, ¡®If There is a Barrier to Love¡¯.¡± ¡°Yes, that¡¯s correct!¡± ¡°¡­¡± How did he answer after listening to it for only 3 seconds? The member Woojoo gave a humble interview that he had listened to various songs while studyingposition. And right after that. ¡°That song was not on the 6th album, but on the 7th album, and it was not 1998, but 1999. So the number that goes in the nk is seventy-nine. I was seven years old then. It¡¯s very vivid.¡± What was vivid? ¡°It¡¯s a song by Gu Jaehak, and I think it¡¯s a great song. I don¡¯t think I¡¯m the only one who knows it, I think a lot of people in our generation know it too. The guitar sound is really beautiful.¡± The members standing next to Woojoo had bewildered faces. Even Hwang Hocheol, a popr music critic,ughed incredulously. ¡°Tell me honestly. How old are you?¡± The studio erupted inughter. The announcers exchanged witty remarks, and New ck¡¯s streak of correct answers continued. As the bizarre trio of a bad singer, a critic, and a rookie idolpeted, Woojoo did his best. But his younger brothers were not idle either. When familiar music with gayageum blended in came out, Jiho raised his hand excitedly. ¡°Jiho, this is the subway transfer song!¡± ¡°You have to be more specific.¡± ¡°New ck, correct.¡± At that, Junghyun raised his hand and asked cautiously. He looked like a bear opening a honey jar and looking around. ¡°The 2nd line transfer song¡­?¡± ¡°Wrong.¡± A loudughter broke out in the studio, and Woojoo looked at the distance with moist eyes. Then he gave the correct answer. ¡°It¡¯s Eolssi-gu-ya, made by the National Gugak Center. You asked me to name two of the instruments used, so I¡¯ll say gayageum and janggu.¡± ¡°Yes, that¡¯s correct!¡± *** They came in third ce in today¡¯s live quiz show. They tied for a while, but the high-difficulty questions in thetter half with high scores were taken by Critic Hwang Hocheol and Deomoon. The critic who won the beef set shook hands with them and said it was a good match, and that he looked forward to the music on their next album. After taking pictures with the participants and the cast, they left the PBS station. As soon as they got in the car, the youngest wiped the sweat off his forehead. ¡°Phew, that was a close one.¡± ¡°It was tough.¡± ¡°Hey, what did you guys do? Hmph, ahem. Are you worried that I won¡¯t let go of this ginseng? This is mine only.¡± Woojoo hugged the box of ginseng jelly that they received as a third prize. Woojoo fended off his brothers who looked at him like a pack of hyenas, and protected the cute ginseng character waving his hand and saying ¡®Hi~¡¯. Rihyuk stuck out his tongue. ¡°You¡¯re like Scrooge.¡± ¡°Hey.¡± ¡°Rihyuk Hyung, you should worry about yourself. What was that quiz? I¡¯ll save you all~¡± ¡°Puhaha!¡± ¡°The fans must have gone crazy because of that.¡± Bijoo turned on his smartphone with curiosity and logged into the fan cafe. They also leaned in to see. They wereughing happily, but soon their expressions hardened as if they had poured cold water on themselves. ¡°Hyung, why is the board like this¡­?¡± The atmosphere of the posts was not good. While they were doing the live show, something had happened that they didn¡¯t know about. Chapter 124: Chapter 124: Trantor: MarcTempest Editor: Rxel Chapter 124 After the Chuseok holiday, people returned to their daily lives. The same was true for the A&R team of Lemon Entertainment. The employees who came back after the holiday drank Americanos and headed to their studios or dealt with their backlog of work. ¡°Good morning!¡± The youngestposer, Seo Pilgeun, greeted the office with a cheerful voice. He turned on hisptop as soon as he sat down, but not to work.The A&R team had a free atmosphere. As it wasposed of professionalposers, their outfits were also casual, such as snapbacks, fashion sses, or hoodies, and they had a lot of autonomy in their work. However, he was still new to thepany, having joined before the holiday, so he was careful not to stand out. He browsed the inte. The biggest issue on the social page was the increase in cigarette prices, and the entertainment page was buzzing with various scandals and idents. Of course, there was also some positive news. -¡®Autumn Girl¡¯, Chuseok Special ¡®Mr. Producer¡¯ great sess -TNT, captivating Asia with just 10 seconds -The birth of a new trend idol, ¡®New ck¡¯? This year, TBC¡¯s gship holiday variety show, Idol Sports Festival, was canceled, and the idols who lost their ce appeared on various shows. Most of them were edited out, some survived. And very few of them hit the jackpot. The most dramatic rise to fame was undoubtedly New ck. Autumn Girl was a girl group that had won the music shows twice in a row with their recent two albums, and TNT was the top boy group that made Asia stir with just their appearance, so they were already famous. But New ck was a group that no one knew. When they were active as Something, they were unknown singers who only did chorus for Jang Sowon¡¯s songs, and they only got some attention when they appeared on Ha Seungju¡¯s Music Cafe. After that, they raised their awareness through fireworks, SNS ads, and so on, but they were still only known in the idol scene, not by the public. But everything changed with their appearance on Around the World With Dice. It started with a basketball shot that even a pro yer would have a hard time making, and continued with their performance on the Chuseok Special. ¡®Variety shows are really amazing.¡¯ The portal¡¯s ranking of the most-watched TV programs was full of New ck¡¯s names. -The attack of the ck goat¡­ ¡®I only like one guy¡¯ -¡®Anger management disorder¡¯ ck goat Daegil, ¡®Control your anger~¡¯ ¡°I¡¯m the chicken fight champion¡± Idol vs Comedian Each video was full ofughter and praise. Was it that funny? He only watched Mr. Producer, where Autumn Girl appeared, during the holiday. He heard that Around the World With Dice was also fun, but he didn¡¯t feel like watching it because everyone around him spoiled the content. He felt like he had watched an episode without even seeing it, with all the talk about ck goats and stuff. Just then, he heard New ck¡¯s story from the employees¡¯ mouths. ¡°Wow, they made it. Our kids made it.¡± ¡°I had a feeling when I saw that ck goat on TV during the holiday. I said this is going to be a hit.¡± ¡°I met the management team on the way up, and they were so happy. I haven¡¯t seen them like that since Scarlet¡¯s kids rocked the awards stage.¡± ¡°I brought a signed paper to give themter. My nephews asked me to get it.¡± Seo Pilgeun listened attentively. He didn¡¯t know what New ck was like, since he hadn¡¯t met them properly yet. He had only seen them once. He was passing by the second-floor studio when he saw a very handsome guy agonizing over something behind the ss window. He was about to greet him, but he was staring at his phone and then looked around and started ying the synthesizer keyboard with his toes. He didn¡¯t want to admit it, but it was a really impressive performance. ¡°Woojoo is really nice, too.¡± ¡°They¡¯re all nice. They don¡¯t have any wrinkles, and they don¡¯t fight with each other even when one of them does well.¡± They seemed to have a very good reputation. The seniorposers of the A&R team chatted while sipping their coffee. ¡°But this willst for a month, right?¡± ¡°It will. They¡¯ll get more momentum from this and film a reality show, too. They¡¯ll attract more fans.¡± As he listened to various stories, he remembered something he had to do. The demo songs that came into the A&R team¡¯s mailbox. Before he went into the meetingter, he had to listen to them in advance so he could give better opinions. He thought so and yed several songs. ¡®This is a pass.¡¯ The retro-style song was a bit old-fashioned. There was no singer in thepany who suited this concept. ¡®This is pretty good.¡¯ A bad song that flowed naturally from the intro to the chorus, although the intro was a bit long. It sounded like a song that would fit well in a bad singer¡¯s album, like Yoon Chanhyuk. That was how he continued his song exploration. During the holiday, he listened to about nine songs that had piled up. On the day of Chuseok, he found an email that had been sent. It was from an ount called ¡®Deoksoon-love¡¯. ¡®Deoksoon-love? Is there aposer like that?¡¯ Of course, there were some unusual pen names among theposers, such as Apgujeong Tyranno or Horuragi Holhol, but he had never seen Deoksoon-love before. He wondered what kind of crazy thing it was, but the song title was ¡®Masque¡¯, which was normal. He downloaded the audio file and yed it. Unlike the others, he listened with a light heart because it was sent by an unknownposer. ¡®Let¡¯s see what it¡¯s like.¡¯ ¡­That was his only thought for three seconds. As soon as the intro started, he couldn¡¯t help but admire it. It wasn¡¯t because of the song¡¯s quality or the fine density. It just sparkled, so to speak. The song was screaming, ¡®I¡¯m a gem!¡¯ with its whole body. And an image came to his mind. An image of a small spark starting in the darkness and bursting into mes in an instant. ¡®This would be a hit if it was a dance song?¡¯ His heart pounded. They had to get this before someone else did. His throat suddenly dried up. He was sure that it would make it to the top 20 on the chart with a decent arrangement. He wiped the sweat on his palm and looked at the other employees. There was a jewel rolling around in front of his eyes, but the seniorposers were chatting andughing. He called them in a hurry. ¡°Sunbae-nims, listen to this.¡± ¡°What?¡± ¡°This came in thepany email on Chuseok. But it¡¯s awesome, no. Listen to it quickly.¡± The senior staffughed at the youngestposer who was urging them. Seo Pilgeun turned up the speaker volume and yed the song. But their reaction waspletely different from what he expected. They exchanged a strange smile, as if they knew it would happen. ¡°I knew this would happen.¡± ¡°It¡¯s a good thing we didn¡¯t do the title song contest. I was putting it off because of this.¡± ¡°Let¡¯s forward it before Gyuhwan Hyunges inter.¡± While they were talking like that, the new employee stared nkly. ¡°Um, this is¡­¡± ¡°Oh, you don¡¯t know?¡± One of them said with a smile, ¡°This is made by Woojoo.¡± ¡°Really?¡± *** The studio he visited for the poster shoot of HBS MTV¡¯s idol reality show ¡®It¡¯s the New ck¡¯. While changing his clothes, his ear suddenly itched. ¡°Why is my ear so itchy?¡± ¡°Someone must have cursed you.¡± ¡°Really?¡± Woojoo asked Rihyuk, ¡°Was it you?¡± ¡°What are you talking about? I don¡¯t swear much. Ahh! Darn it, Wang Jiho. He¡¯s going to die¡­ Ahh!¡± As Rihyuk took off his shirt and lifted it over his head, Jiho took advantage of his blindness and poked his ribs. ¡°Rihyuk.¡± Bijoo said, putting his hands in the sleeves of his striped sweater, ¡°Even if Jiho is joking, you can¡¯t talk like that outside. You know the cameras are rolling, right?¡± ¡°I know that much.¡± ¡°I¡¯m just worried you might make a mistake. There are more than one or two eyes watching us right now.¡± He was their second oldest. Woojoo felt proud as he said what he wanted to say. Meanwhile, Junghyun, who was wearing a brown jacket, counted something on his fingers. Then he said with a smug face, ¡°Correct, there are eight eyes watching Rihyuk.¡± ¡°¡­¡± Bijoo was speechless, and Woojoo and the othersughed out loud. While they were changing their outfits in the waiting room, they heard a knock from outside. Seokhwan Hyung and Minki Hyung came in. ¡°Are you ready?¡± ¡°Yes.¡± ¡°The photographer is waiting for you. Let¡¯s go quickly.¡± After checking our outfits in the mirror, they followed Seokhwan Hyung to the studio hallway. Two cameras with the mark HBS MTV followed them. The writer asked them, ¡°How do you feel about your first reality poster shoot?¡± ¡°Um¡­ I¡¯m honestly nervous. Our dream was to do a reality show since before our debut.¡± ¡°Me too. I wanted to do it so much that I wrote it as a wish in my diary every night before I went to bed.¡± ¡°Hey, maknae.¡± ¡°Yes.¡± ¡°When did you start writing a diary?¡± ¡°Why do you have to tackle me at a time like this? This is a precious moment.¡± ¡°An important moment.¡± Rihyuk whispered from behind, ¡°Y-yes. An important moment!¡± Woojoo didn¡¯t know what was so funny, but the writer smiled with his gums every time their kids talked nonsense. The maknae, who had a poor vocabry, looked at the camera and said, ¡°I¡¯m actually smart, but I talk too fast and that¡¯s why I sound like this. I¡¯m really smart. I know all the metropolitan cities.¡± ¡°Jiho.¡± ¡°¡­What now?¡± ¡°How many provinces are there in our country?¡± ¡°I¡¯m not talking to you today.¡± Their kid was fuming. While he was doing that, Junghyun spoke to the camera. ¡°Um¡­ I¡¯m looking forward to today¡¯s shooting.¡± ¡°Why is that?¡± ¡°The photographer is the same one who took our album jacket photos. He said I looked like a sphinx back then, and I really liked that.¡± ¡°Junghyun, show me that pose.¡± As Junghyun curled his fists like a cat and shrank his neck, the cameraman suppressed hisughter. Meanwhile, unlike the two fools who were smiling innocently, Bijoo and Rihyuk looked nervous while smiling. It was because of the photographer who was in charge of their reality poster. Hwang Taesoon. He was so famous that even famous stars would request to work with him again and again, as he was good at bringing out the charm of his subjects. The jacket photo that received great praise from our idol fandom was also his work. The problem was his personality. He was so fierce that their kids almost heard curses that were close to dissingst time. I¡¯m going to throw away all these photos. You, the white one. It¡¯s because of you that we can¡¯t get an A-cut right now. Yeah! You! I¡¯m going to die. I¡¯m going to die. You guys, only the leader practiced properly. What did the rest of you do? Woojoo remembered the unpleasant memories. Woojoo was fine because he did well, but the younger ones were quite hurt that day. Well. They got over it quickly. It was all part of being a rookie, and if you started to take everything to heart, there was no end to it. But Woojoo thought he wouldn¡¯t say anything too harsh today, since there was a camera like this. ¡°Hello!¡± A studio with a white background andplex lighting. Woojoo greeted the staff politely. He didn¡¯t want to hear things like ¡®The rookies are acting cocky after doing well on a variety show¡¯ so he greeted them more diligently than usual. But it was good to do well on variety shows. Some of the staff looked at them with a friendly expression, and some smiled at them. It was a small change that Woojoo felt after the broadcast of Around the World With Dice. Whether it was the broadcasting station or the shop, people became a little more kind. They greeted them well. Woojoo wondered if that was why they said you had to be popr even a little bit. But the next moment, Woojoo was surprised by the dramatic change that happened. ¡°Hello, we are New ck!¡± ¡°Oh, hello.¡± The photographer with gold-rimmed sses and a beanie smiled at them. And that was a bright smile, like meeting a close friend. ¡°Long time no see. How have you been?¡± Oh my god. *** The photo shoot took ce in a friendly atmosphere. The photographer with the camera spoke in an excited voice as he moved around. ¡°Good, good! Well done! That¡¯s the way to go, okay!¡± The youngest one, wearing a striped shirt that gave off a princely vibe, raised his hand to his ear, highlighting his silver earrings. The more he receivedpliments, the more splendid his expression became, as was his nature. As a result, he took an elegant photo that was unlike his usual self. ¡°Wow, your skin is so pale, I need to lower the lights a bit. No, I mean it as apliment. Okay, put your hand on your cor!¡± Rihyuk leaned against the wall, gazing at a distant ce with a cold face. The screen captured the image of a young man who seemed to be looking at some leaves somewhere. The blue cardigan suited him well. Woojoo managed his expression as the camera tried to capture him smiling fondly every time his brothers took photos. ¡°Good posture, haha! You look like a sphinx, I remember now. Let¡¯s try something different this time.¡± Junghyun, who wore a brown jacket, sat in his ce and leaned against the wall, then lifted his chin slightly. He smiled slyly and looked at the camera. He was actually a fool, but he looked like a handsome sports club senior on the screen. ¡°You¡¯re the member who dances, right? You have charisma no matter what you do.¡± Bijoo wore a striped sweater and rested his chin on his hand, then smiled. His eyshes fluttered and he looked shy, which made the reality writer smile contentedly. When their eyes met, Woojoo nodded at him. That was right. Their kid was pretty. No, why did the cameraman keep trying to shoot Woojoo¡¯s expression? ¡°Woojoo! It¡¯s your turn now.¡± It was his turn right away. Woojoo went out and did the poses that the photographer asked him to do, and also showed the poses that he had prepared in advance. Everyone reacted well. During the monitoring time that followed, his brothers opened their mouths. ¡°Wow¡­ this is cheating.¡± ¡°What¡¯s cheating?¡± ¡°This is not you. I can¡¯t ept it.¡± The photos were good enough to make such jokes. Woojoo looked at the camera, but beyond that¡­ ugh, it sounded cheesy when he said it. It was just a snapshot of him holding a jewel flower in his hand, wearing a ck shirt. ¡°Why do you always make this seductive smile every time you take a photo?¡± ¡°Junghyun, seductive smile?¡± The people around themughed at Junghyun¡¯s words. And among thoseughing was the photographer Hwang Taesoon. It was hard to believe. Until a while ago, he had a stern face, but now he was smiling and praising them. It was partly because of the camera, but it seemed to be a temporary thing because Around the World With Dice¡¯s reaction was quite good. ¡°¡­So this is why everyone wants to make it.¡± As they walked to take a group photo, Bijoo whispered in Woojoo¡¯s ear. He also smiled and nodded silently. Woojoo felt it while taking the poster photo. At first, he was happy with the luck that came into his hand, but now he felt like he didn¡¯t want to let go of it. ¡°Let¡¯s do better.¡± At the words he said before the group photo, the members nodded. Then they changed their expressions right away towards the camera. With the happiest faces in the world. *** A few days after the reality poster shoot, New ck, who were at thepany practice room, heard the news of a new schedule from Seokhwan Hyung. The face on the video call started to talk. -I¡¯ve reviewed all the variety show offers that came in from everywhere, and I¡¯ve only picked the ones that suit your image. Their expressions on the screen were quite determined. -First of all, Junghyun got the most offers. He has the ck goat impact and all. There was a lot of talk from the rural variety shows, but we only got one schedule. ¡°Oh, what is it?¡± -It¡¯s called Animal Friends, a TBC weekend animal show¡­ They¡¯re going to see Daegil again, the veterinarians. They seemed to want a story of visiting the anger management disorder goat again. -And Bijoo, you got some cooking-rted variety shows from cable TV and education broadcasting, right? They¡¯re on the same time slot, so take a look and decide as you like. ¡°I can decide¡­¡± Bijoo made a touched expression, and the three of them got some decent other variety show schedules. Rihyuk got a program that introduced houses, and Jiho and Woojoo got to join the three of them as freeloaders. -Oh, and Woojoo, you really don¡¯t like going to the army, right? ¡°Yeah.¡± -Well. We thought that was not a good fit for you, so we decided to try to save your image of digging or being a veteran in another way. Woojoo was speaking frantically. ¡°Hyung, what are you talking about? Why are you keeping that? Just get rid of it. Hurry up.¡± But Seokhwan Hyung said something strange. -It¡¯s something you have to do anyway. ¡°What do you have to do?¡± -A notice came. ¡°A no, notice¡­?¡± He lifted up a piece of paper and showed it to Woojoo on the video call. As Woojoo stared nkly and his siblings giggled, the devil on the screen smiled brightly. -Congrattions. You got a reserve army notice. Chapter 125: Chapter 125: Trantor: MarcTempest Editor: Rxel Chapter 125 Chapter 19. A Song for You Tap tap. Woojoo woke up from a half-asleep state. Tap tap. Something unknown was tapping on his thigh where the nket was lifted. At first, he ignored it and turned over, but it kept attacking his body persistently.When Woojoo finally opened his eyes. He met eyes with Rihyuk through the fence of the bunk bed. He was hitting his body with a long sturdy clip stick in his hand. ¡°¡­What is it?¡± ¡°You asked me to wake you up.¡± ¡°Ugh¡­¡± ¡°Get up, quick. You have to go to the reserve forces today.¡± The clip stick moved toward his head and made a cking sound. Woojoo flipped over the nket. ¡°Just five more minutes.¡± ¡°No way. Bijoo Hyung told you to get up, now.¡± He immediately started making a crazy cking sound outside the nket like he was popping casts. ¡°¡­¡± Woojoo was fully awake. When he came out to the living room, Bijoo was wearing an apron and cooking diligently, and Rihyuk hung the clip stick on the living room hanger. Woojoo was so tired that hey down on the sofa and closed his eyes. ck! ck, ck! It was annoying. ¡°Ugh¡­¡± ¡°Come on, get up. Why are you so sluggish?¡± ¡°I stayed up all night¡­¡± ¡°Again?¡± ¡°You know how busy I am with the final work with the A&R team staff.¡± Woojoo scratched his head and got up. Lately, he had been working all night with the A&R teamposers almost every day. He didn¡¯t know how the schedule would be, but at least the title song had to be finished before theeback in a month. The schedule was pretty tight. But thanks to this effort, the A&R team agreed to do the final work while he was away for training for two nights and three days. The only thing left was the mobilization training. Dragging his tired body, he finished washing up and came out, and Rihyuk hadid out the items in his backpack in a row. ¡°Toothpaste, towel, socks¡­¡± ¡°What about the kids?¡± ¡°They probably left around 4 o¡¯clock.¡± ¡°They left early.¡± Junghyun and Jiho left the shop early in the morning to record Animal Friends, a show produced by TBC. It was a messst night. They said they would prepare for the variety show and asked Woojoo to y the role of Daegil, so he charged at them like an angry ck goat. ¡°I wonder how they¡¯ll do.¡± ¡°Well, if they stick together, they¡¯ll definitely get a lot of content. I¡¯m more worried about me and Bijoo Hyung.¡± Rihyuk pointed to the camera on the living room floor. It was a camera they received to make a daily VCR for the reality show. This was Bijoo and Rihyuk¡¯s schedule. Making a VCR at the dorm while Woojoo went to training and Junghyun and Jiho filmed the variety show. ¡°Well, you¡¯ll do fine.¡± ¡°Enough with the empty constion. Here, check the items on the list. I¡¯ve checked them all.¡± ¡°Thanks.¡± Woojoo looked around the list of ¡®items needed for the reserve forces¡¯ written in Gothic font. As he checked them one by one, Rihyuk brought out a box from the room. ¡°¡­?¡± ¡°I looked it up on the inte, and they said you have a lot of time left when you go to the reserve forces. So I thought I¡¯d lend you a few books.¡± Woojoowas touched in the midst of his sleepiness. He said he would lend Woojoo his stuff, which he would make a fuss about if he touched. ¡°Why are you twinkling your eyes? Don¡¯t make me feel bad. I¡¯m just lending them to you because I pity you.¡± ¡°I know, Hyung knows how you feel. Oogoo.¡± ¡°Ah, stop being so annoying. Don¡¯t look at me like you think I¡¯m cute.¡± ¡°Okay, okay.¡± Woojoo said with a smile, ¡°Then give me some rmendations. You know a lot about books, right?¡± As soon as Woojoo said that, Rihyuk¡¯s eyes lit up and he started to list the rmended books. How about this one, or that one. Woojoo honestly felt like he would be too busy sleeping, but it was nice to see him so excited and chatty. He listened to his exnations and casually picked two books to put in his bag. Then, Woojoo heard a sweet voice. ¡°Come and eat.¡± On a table spread in one corner of the dorm, there was a feast. From soybean paste stew to simple meat dishes. ¡°Wow, I feel like I became a king in the Joseon era.¡± Their housewife, who was wearing an apron, nodded his head at Woojoo¡¯s impressed expression. He looked determined. ¡°I saw that you guys were eating really bad food, so I decided to make you some home-cooked meals.¡± ¡°Wow.¡± ¡°I chose the side dishes that you like, Hyung.¡± ¡°I¡¯m touched, really.¡± Even their Kim Deoksoondy didn¡¯t do this much for him. Woojoo took a spoonful of the stew and felt moved. ¡°Bijoo.¡± ¡°Yes?¡± ¡°I¡¯ll miss you the most.¡± ¡°Me too, Hyung. I¡¯ll miss you a lot.¡± ¡°No, I¡¯ll miss you more.¡± ¡°No, I will.¡± Rihyuk, who was watching their back-and-forth, shook his head as if he lost his appetite. Meanwhile, Woojoo felt a strange emptiness as they ate. It was like the audio was muted. Rihyuk seemed to catch that feeling too. ¡°It¡¯s so quiet. I can¡¯t hear Junghyun Hyung¡¯s sniffling, or Wang Jiho¡¯s gulping. This is¡­¡± Bijoo and Woojoo nodded silently, and then Rihyuk continued, ¡°It¡¯s peaceful and nice.¡± ¡°¡­¡± They nodded again, looking at him smiling contentedly. Then they exchanged some normalments. ¡°It¡¯s a bit lonely.¡± ¡°Yeah, it¡¯s quiet.¡± ¡°We¡¯ll have more individual schedules from now on, so we¡¯ll have to get used to this, right?¡± ¡°Yeah, we will.¡± Woojoo said with a smile, ¡°It¡¯s a shame. It would be more delicious if we ate together.¡± They had that conversation and finished two bowls of rice. Woojoo put on his military uniform, which felt loose after dieting since debut, and then wore his boots. Bijoo handed him a bundle. ¡°What¡¯s this?¡± ¡°Hyung. I packed you a lunch box.¡± ¡°Lunchbox?¡± He had been working hard on something since earlier, and it turned out to be a lunchbox. But personal lunchboxes were not allowed. Woojoo gestured to Rihyuk, who was about to say something behind the smiling guy, to keep quiet. ¡°Thank you.¡± ¡°Don¡¯t shake it or anything. It¡¯s shaped. Hyung.¡± ¡°Got it.¡± What kind of character lunchbox was it? Woojoo wondered as he left the dorm. *** Two weekster, on the first episode of HBS MTV reality show ¡®It¡¯s the New ck¡¯ Inside the car driven by the manager Woojoo: (close to the camera) Hello, viewers. Manager: Wow Woojoo: You are watching the first idol to go to the reserve forces in the history of idol reality shows. Manager: Wow Woojoo: Hyung, put some more soul into the sound effects. Manager: Woo-wow Thements flowed between the twoughing men. The members in the studio below the screen were shown. (Rihyuk) Wow. They¡¯re reallyughing like crazy. (Jiho) The military uniform is so pretty. Do they sell that too? (Woojoo) Wait a little longer. The country will give it to you. The scene changed again, showing Woojoo sighing heavily as he looked out the window. Woojoo: (deep sigh) Manager: What¡¯s wrong? Woojoo: I¡¯m nervous because it¡¯s my first time going to the reserve forces. Manager: I see. Woojoo: Do you shoot a lot of guns there? Manager: No, just once. Woojoo: If you have any tips, please share them with me. Manager: I don¡¯t know any tips, but just sleep well there. You look very tired. Woojoo: No, I¡¯ll do my best. As soon as the 10-second countdown marked by the subtitles ended, Woojoo started to doze off. The other members wereughing uproariously with embarrassed Woojoo at the bottom of the screen. Manager: We¡¯re almost there. The training ground is close. Woojoo: (holding out a bundle) Hyung, can you keep this for me? Manager: What is it? Woojoo: Bijoo said he packed me a lunchbox, but I don¡¯t think I can bring it in¡­ Oh, I feel so sorry. He said he made a character lunchbox. Manager: Character? Woojoo: Just a sec. (He carefully untied the bundle and opened the lid) Maybe, something like Pikachu. He opened the lunchbox with hopeful eyes, and there was a soldier mascot with spiky hair holding up a thumb. Woojoo: (trying to stay calm) Manager: What is that? Woojoo: (Forced smile) I¡¯m the mascot of the Military Manpower Administration¡­ *** [The rookie idol who made a character lunch box for the leader going to the reserve forces.jpg] Woojoo¡¯s high-quality but unnecessary lunch box and his expression management for the broadcast are the killing points -Is that spiky-haired guy the mascot of the Military Manpower Administration?? -Yeah, that¡¯s why my mom and sister hate him so much ???? -I sent this screenshot to my cousin and he freaked out¡­ He asked if it was a lunch box made by Satan -It¡¯s really high-quality though ??? -¡®Trying to stay calm¡¯ ? That caption is perfect -????What is he doing in a reality show going to the reserve forces -It feels familiar now ?When I see a weird title of a rookie promotion post in the stone category, I enter with the thought that it¡¯s New ck -22222 ???? -333 This is real ????? -They¡¯ve been on the rise since they appeared on Around the World With Dice. I see them everywhere these days. -I¡¯m a New ck fan, so please watch Animal Friends this weekend! They meet the ck goat again! *** Yeongcheon County. Junghyun and Jiho, who visited the vige where Around the World With Dice was filmed again, were walking around with the production crew of Animal Friends. The vigers who returned to their daily lives after the holiday weed them. ¡°Are you filming again?¡± ¡°Yes! We came to see Daegil!¡± They stopped the tractor on the dirt road and greeted them, and waved their hands while working in the fields. ¡°Oh, my back. Why did you twoe this time?¡± ¡°The show was really fun. But the PD cut me out so well when I appeared, ugh¡­ Junghyun was on a lot though.¡± ¡°Will this camera show us if we greet it?¡± The vigers, who had tasted the broadcast once, had a different attitude towards the camera. And Jiho and Junghyun got along well with the vigers. ¡°Grandmaaa!¡± ¡°What.¡± ¡°Take this!¡± The vigers burst intoughter at the sight of Jiho throwing a heart at the elderly who were working in the fields. The vigers thanked Junghyun, who helped them carry their luggage on their way home. Meanwhile, the vigers weed the two members and asked about the others. ¡°Did the guy who gives good massagese?¡± ¡°He went to the reserve forces.¡± ¡°Oh, that¡¯s too bad. My back was straightened after I got his massagest time.¡± ¡°You¡¯re bending over right now?¡± ¡°Hey! Don¡¯t talk back to an adult. Anyway, I was so grateful that I thought I should give him something.¡± The others were the same. They mentioned the other members every time they met someone, and most of them said they had something to give themter and asked them toe to their house. At that, Jiho and Junghyun looked up at the sky as they walked to Daegil¡¯s house. ¡°People are looking for Woojoo Hyung a lot.¡± ¡°So, we should have gotten a massage too, huh?¡± ¡°I guess so.¡± ¡°Let¡¯s get a massage after the shoot. I brought our photo book with me, so I can show it to each massage therapist.¡± ¡°Oh, that¡¯s a good idea.¡± They smiled happily to themselves, then looked up at the sky with a gloomy expression. ¡°I miss the kids. And Woojoo Hyung too.¡± ¡°Me too.¡± The production staffughed as they watched them wave their hands towards the blue sky. They felt like they had to add some CG effects of the other members¡¯ faces in the sky. ¡°But, Woojoo Hyung is doing well there, right?¡± ¡°Don¡¯t worry. He became the leader in just a month after meeting us. He¡¯s the kind of person who can sell electric nkets in the desert and seed.¡± ¡°Is that so?¡± ¡°That¡¯s right.¡± ¡°Then, I guess I don¡¯t have to worry.¡± They looked at each other and giggled. They only worried about their leader for 10 seconds, then changed the topic. ¡°Jiho, what do you want to eat at the rest stop tonight?¡± ¡°How about tornado potatoes?¡± ¡°Deal. And popcorn chicken?¡± ¡°Deal. Ah, I¡¯m so excited. Hyung, Hyung, let¡¯s destroy the rest stop tonight.¡± The production staff could only swallow theirughter as they watched them talk about their dinner menu when it was still morning. They walked arm in arm, looking like a perfect pair. *** At the same time, Gangnam-Seocho Reserve Training Center. The soldiers in charge of serving food nced at the celebrity among the reservists. ¡®He¡¯s really handsome.¡¯ Woojoo, was it? He was a member of an idol group that became famous after appearing on Around the World With Dice. He seemed to have made friends already, as he chatted andughed with the people around him. Every time he did, the surroundings seemed to brighten up. An outstanding appearance. But the soldier who was serving food didn¡¯t feel like he was a celebrity. Rather, something else¡­ As he thought that, Woojoo finally picked up a tray. And then. He looked at the tray with a nk expression and parted his lips. It was a pleasant voice that sounded good in the ears. ¡°Excuse me.¡± ¡°Yes, Sunbae-nim.¡± ¡°Can I have some more sausages?¡± His white finger pointed at the sausage and vegetable stir-fry. The soldier answered, ¡°Sunbae-nim, we¡¯re serving fixed portions right now¡­¡± ¡°Ah, really?¡± ¡°Yes, that¡¯s right.¡± ¡°Ugh¡­¡± Muttering a familiar sound of annoyance, the idol member moved on to the next cell. ¡°Give me more sausages.¡± As he served the other reservists, the food handler realized what he was feeling. The rich and rxed expressions of the others. The casual way they walked. He blinked his eyes as he watched the figure disappear in the distance. ¡®What the hell.¡¯ He was just a senior sergeant. *** While Jiho and Junghyun were ying with the ck goat mascot and high-fiving, Woojoo, who had returned to his perfect senior mode, was eating his meal. In the peaceful dorm, Vivaldi¡¯s Four Seasons was ying from the Bluetooth speaker. Rihyuk smiled contentedly as he read a book. ¡®Good. So good.¡¯ It was a rare moment of peace. There was no childish prankster, nor the two fools who followed him. It was a peaceful moment. He chuckled happily and turned the page. Then he spoke to the reality cam installed on the sofa armrest. ¡°Hello. This is Seo Rihyuk¡¯s ¡®The Man Who Reads Books¡¯ time. Today¡¯s book is a ssic that Koreans should listen to. To match that, I also yed some ssical music¡­ What are you doing, Hyung?¡± Bijoo was sweating as he took out a kimchi jar from the fridge. He came to his senses and saw that the living room was covered with newspapers. ¡°Hyung. What are you doing?¡± ¡°The manager said to make some reality content while the others are broadcasting, right?¡± ¡°So I¡¯m working hard, well, very, very well, filming right now. Introducing books in a radio concept¡­¡± ¡°We should do something together.¡± ¡°How about we do our own thing today, since we¡¯re apart?¡± ¡°I like doing things together.¡± ¡°¡­¡± ¡°Woojoo Hyung is not here, Junghyun is not here, Jiho is not here¡­¡± ¡°Hey, fine! Fine!¡± As soon as he said he wanted to y separately, the second oldest¡¯s face turned gloomy. Rihyuk sighed deeply. He was fine with the other members, but why did his heart soften when this Hyung acted like this? Of course, Rihyuk, who sighed and sat on the newspaper, did not notice the subtle smile on Bijoo¡¯s face. Rihyuk put on stic gloves and asked, ¡°So what are we going to do?¡± ¡°I¡¯m going to make some kimchi dumplings. Junghyun¡¯s mom sent us some fresh kimchist time.¡± ¡°Are we going to eat that for dinner?¡± ¡°Yeah.¡± ¡°Let¡¯s just order some. Use the delivery app.¡± ¡°No way.¡± Rihyuk swallowed his tears at the firm refusal. He thought he would restfortably in the dorm, but there was a final boss waiting for him. ¡°Sigh¡­¡± As Rihyuk resigned himself to reality and exined the origin of the dumplings made to the reality cam, Bijoo struggled to open the kimchi jar. ¡°Hrrrgh!¡± ¡°¡­?¡± ¡°Hrrrgh!¡± ¡°Hyung, is it not opening?¡± The kimchi jar that was supposed to open by twisting was tightly sealed. Rihyuk stepped in, looking at his flustered second older brother. ¡°Let me try. I¡¯ll do it, this is just open¡­¡± ¡°Open?¡± ¡°Why is it not opening? Hrrgh, hraaah!¡± Bijoo burst intoughter, flipping his stomach, as Rihyuk frowned in embarrassment. ¡°Hyung, don¡¯tugh and help me.¡± ¡°Okay.¡± The two joined forces to grab the lid of the kimchi jar. ¡°Let¡¯s try to open it on the count of three.¡± ¡°Okay. One, two, three!¡± ¡°Hraaah!¡± ¡°Hraaaaah!¡± Five minutester. ¡°It¡¯s not working. This thing.¡± ¡°Yeah, it¡¯s hard.¡± Ten minutester. ¡°Hraah!¡± ¡°Open up, sesameee!¡± ¡°Ugh, this damn kimchi jar!¡± ¡°That won¡¯t work. Rihyuk.¡± ¡°Why?¡± ¡°You have to say nice things to it. I saw on the inte that water bes prettier when you say nice things to it.¡± ¡°That¡¯s all nonsense, Hyung.¡± ¡°Oh, really?¡± ¡°Hyung, you have to filter what you hear on the inte. 90 percent of it is a scam.¡± With that, the two members grunted and held onto the kimchi jar. But the kimchi jar was as impregnable as a fortress. ¡°How can two men not open this one thing?¡± ¡°Yeah. Usually¡­ ah.¡± Something shed through the two members¡¯ minds. They realized that every time they had to use their strength at the dorm, the others had taken care of it. ¡®Hyung, why can¡¯t you lift that? Hey, let me do it.¡¯ ¡®Bijoo. You look like a pretty boy with a thin waist when you lift that heavy thing. Aah!¡¯ ¡®Geez, you guys can¡¯t do anything.¡¯ As they saw the faces of the members who said those words spinning in front of their eyes, the two members discovered the cruel truth. ¡°We¡­ we were the weakest ones¡­¡± The main dancer, who had explosive strength when dancing but was skinny otherwise, and the main vocal, who hated moving his body at all. ¡°How much do you weigh, Hyung?¡± ¡°I¡¯m 49 kilograms. What about you?¡± ¡°I¡¯m 57.¡± ¡°Well, I¡¯m 60 if I round up.¡± ¡°Me too, I¡¯m 60 if I round up.¡± ¡°¡­¡± ¡°Hyung, this is not the time to talk about this.¡± ¡°Ah.¡± Bijoo looked at the unopened kimchi jar with a sullen expression. ¡°¡­I miss Woojoo Hyung. He would have watched a YouTube video and told us how to do it.¡± ¡°Let¡¯s not give up and try it ourselves.¡± ¡°Us?¡± ¡°Why can¡¯t we? We just have to watch a YouTube video on how to open a kimchi jar and follow it.¡± ¡°Ooh.¡± Three minutester. ¡°Aaaargh!¡± ¡°Ugh, ugh, ugh! Open! Open up! How can you not open after all this?¡± ¡°Rihyuk! Don¡¯t scream! You¡¯re disturbing the neighbors!¡± ¡°You¡¯re screaming too, Hyung! Aaaargh! Why isn¡¯t this working¡­ I did exactly what the video said¡­ Ugh!¡± The two members started to struggle with the lid of the kimchi jar. Meanwhile, the camera silently blinked its red light, capturing their pathetic scene. Chapter 126: Chapter 126: Trantor: MarcTempest Editor: Rxel Chapter 126: The two members continued their debate as they looked at the tightly sealed kimchi jar. ¡°It must be defective, right? We¡¯ve tried everything we could.¡± ¡°Or maybe we¡¯re just too weak.¡± ¡°¡­¡± ¡°Hmm, what should we do?¡± As Vivaldi¡¯s Four Seasons softly yed in the background, Bijoo changed the topic.¡°This song is really nice. It¡¯s from the Four Seasons, right?¡± ¡°Yes, it¡¯s Spring,posed by Vivaldi.¡± ¡°Vivaldi?¡± ¡°Antonio Vivaldi, a famousposer from the Baroque era.¡± Bijoo summarized the exnation he had read in a book. ¡°He¡¯s like the Woojoo Hyung of Europe.¡± Rihyuk couldn¡¯t help butugh. But they couldn¡¯t talk about ssical music for long. No matter how much they wanted to escape reality, the kimchi jar was still standing proudly in the middle of the living room. ¡°I think we have two options left. First, we give up on the kimchi dumplings. Second, we ask for help from other people.¡± ¡°Do we have to ask someone else?¡± Bijoo stroked his chin and said, ¡°But wouldn¡¯t that be weird? We¡¯ve never met the neighbor next door.¡± ¡°Well, that¡¯s true. And it would be strange to suddenly go and ask them to open the kimchi jar for us.¡± ¡°What about upstairs?¡± ¡°The upstairs?¡± ¡°Yeah, there¡¯s someone who works at apany, right? They always greet us kindly whenever we meet.¡± ¡°We can¡¯t ask them. I, uh¡­¡± ¡°Oh. Right.¡± Bijoo realized his mistake as he saw his brother¡¯s face turn red in an instant. He was the one who always banged on the wall and screamed whenever the upstairs neighbor turned on the water and made the shower hot. Bijooforted his embarrassed brother and smiled. ¡°Then let¡¯s call someone and ask for help.¡± ¡°Call? Who? Not our managers, right?¡± ¡°Of course not. Someone else.¡± Soon, a chubby face appeared on the video call. ¡°Hello, Grandma.¡± -What¡¯s up? What¡¯s going on with our Bijoo at this hour? ¡°Are you busy?¡± -No. I was just watching TV and eating snacks. The customers all left. Yeah, Sukja. They¡¯re the ones who work with Woojoo. You¡¯re not going to introduce them, so go peel some tangerines. Kim Deoksoon greeted them with a bright smile, apparently bored. They chatted with her for a while, then exined the situation. -Why are you asking me that? ¡°Well, Grandma, you know a lot about cooking, so I thought you might know how to open the jar.¡± -Bijoo, you were afraid your mom would scold you, so you called me, right? ¡°¡­Yes.¡± Kim Deoksoonughed and gave them some tips. As the reality camera and the video call screen watched, the two members started to exert their strength. ¡°Huuh!¡± -Yeah! Put some strength into it! Strength! ¡°Aaah!¡± -Oh my, look at that, look at that. You guys can¡¯t even peel garlic. You¡¯re so flimsy. And your names are even Biri Biri. ¡°Hey! I can peel garlic! Huuh!¡± -Your mouth is alive, Rihyuk. You¡¯ll float on the water. She calmly put in some extreme damage, as expected of Woojoo¡¯s grandma. But thanks to Kim Deoksoon¡¯s honey tips, the lid was gradually opening. As Summer from Vivaldi¡¯s Four Seasons reached its climax, the person on the screen muttered. -But usually, when the jar doesn¡¯t open like that¡­ She was about to say something, when Bijoo and Rihyuk smiled brightly. The lid was opening. But at that moment. Boom! The lid spun around and popped up, and the kimchi exploded like a mole in a whack-a-mole game. Kimchi juice sshed everywhere. It didn¡¯t reach the hanger, but from the trophy they received at the year-end evaluation to the sofa. And Bijoo and Rihyuk stared at the kimchi jar with nk eyes, covered in kimchi juice on their clothes and faces. -What the hell is that? What happened? Are you guys okay? The two members trembled and closed their eyes amid Mrs. Kim Deoksoon¡¯s scream. *** That evening. ¡°Hmm~¡± Jiho and Junghyun, who had safely finished filming Animal Friends in Yeoncheon County, returned humming a tune. They were in a very good mood after eating a lot of food at the rest area. They climbed the stairs while ying rock-paper-scissors and holding the reality camera, and were surprised when they entered the dorm. The atmosphere was gloomy. ¡°¡­¡± In the dark, Rihyuk and Bijoo had lit a candle and were eating. It was a very fancy menu. There were all kinds of delivery food, such as pork feet, boiled pork, chicken, pizza, etc. Jiho rubbed his belly and said, ¡°Wow, I should have eaten less at the rest area if I knew this.¡± ¡°I can eat more.¡± Bijoo and Rihyuk, who noticed their presence, waved their hands weakly and greeted them. ¡°Are you here?¡± ¡°Yes, we¡¯re here.¡± ¡°Did you do well on the show?¡± ¡°Yes, but Hyung. Can we eat too?¡± ¡°Come quickly.¡± Jiho and Junghyun happily loosened their pants. Jiho quickly grabbed a chicken leg that had no owner. ¡°But why is the mood like this? I thought I entered a haunted house at an amusement park. It¡¯s so dark and gloomy.¡± ¡°Ah, I was trying to create a romantic atmosphere.¡± Bijoo answered, ¡°I did something wrong to Rihyuk¡­¡± ¡°Sigh.¡± ¡°I¡¯m sorry¡­¡± ¡°Next time, please respect what I say, Hyung. If we just did our own things, there wouldn¡¯t have been an explosion.¡± Explosion? Did he get really angry? ¡°Here.¡± Junghyun and Jiho rolled their eyes. Of course, they were busy devouring the pork feet and chicken with their mouths. Bijoo looked apologetic and Rihyuk had moist eyes. Jiho came to a conclusion. It hade. ¡°By the way.¡± He asked Rihyuk cautiously, ¡°Hyung, did you hit puberty?¡± ¡°Leave me alone, please¡­¡± ¡°He really hit puberty. This is serious.¡± While Rihyuk was sighing, Jiho hugged him and said he wouldfort him. Rihyuk, who had squinted his eyes at first, soon softened. Arge green lump came in front of Bijoo¡¯s eyes, who had been tapping his phone keyboard hard. ¡°Ah, surprise.¡± ¡°It¡¯s a wrap. I made it for you to eat.¡± ¡°Thank you.¡± When Junghyun gave him arge wrap, Bijoo¡¯s mouth swelled like a squirrel. Junghyun looked at the phone screen and asked, ¡°Why do you keep searching for Woojoo Hyung¡¯s name?¡± ¡°I wonder if there¡¯s any news or something. I¡¯m anxious too.¡± ¡°Well. He¡¯ll be fine.¡± Then, Wang Jiho, who was eating the bossam, paused. ¡°Come to think of it, Woojoo Hyung really likes bossam.¡± ¡°He likes pork feet too.¡± ¡°He loves spicy chicken too.¡± ¡°Hey, everyone. Who doesn¡¯t like chicken or pork feet?¡± ¡°Oh, right.¡± ¡°Now that I think about it, Woojoo Hyung eats really well. He doesn¡¯t have any preferences.¡± Rihyuk lowered his head and said, ¡°He can¡¯t eat cucumbers.¡± ¡°Why cucumbers?¡± ¡°Well. When he was a trainee, he ate cucumbers every day to diet, so he hates it.¡± ¡°Wow, then he can¡¯t eat pickles either. Poor Woojoo Hyung¡­¡± Jiho ate a pickle and made a sad face. ¡°I miss Woojoo Hyung so much, I haven¡¯t seen him for a day.¡± ¡°Me too.¡± ¡°I miss Woojoo Hyung.¡± ¡°That¡¯s right.¡± The image of Woojoo shed in the minds of the members who were looking out the window. About 10 seconds. Soon, they continued to eat deliciously. Woojoo was out of their minds. No one knew that the camera that Jiho forgot to turn off was filming. *** There was no word that fit the reserve training camp better than the mental hospital of time that he saw in aic. Woojoo had always felt that there was an inexplicable energy in the military barracks. Even a normal person could lose their taste and fall asleep. Just sitting still, Woojoo felt sleepy, so he slept like a honey for three days. The other guys were amazed that his skin was glowing every day. The three days passed without a hitch. The officer came to get a signature for his daughter, and Woojoo received a shooting target with a hole in it for the first time in his life. He had a good time chatting with strangers. Sometimes people asked him to tell them some stories about the entertainment industry, but he refused vaguely and they didn¡¯t ask him again. Every time, he talked endlessly about his siblings, but when Woojoo came to his senses, there was no one around. Anyway, Woojoo greeted everyone he met for three days and promoted New ck. Some of them kindly said they would download Bambada as soon as they got their phone when they left. *** From the first episode of HBS MTV reality show ¡®It¡¯s the New ck¡¯ aired two weekster New ck¡¯s House While the BGM of the animation Crayon Shin-chan yed, the scene showed the two members trying hard to open the kimchi jar. The studio view appeared at the bottom of the screen. Rihyuk said, ¡°Wow. That¡¯s really pathetic.¡± ¡°You know it well,¡± Woojoo said. Their second oldest said, ¡°We really struggled for an hour with that. Our hands were numb.¡± Junghyun, ¡°So did you open it?¡± ¡°You¡¯ll see.¡± Then they started to open it with the advice from a person called ¡®Woojoo¡¯s Grandma¡¯. Bijoo: Rihyuk! Let¡¯s try harder! Just a little more! Rihyuk: Okay! As the two joined forces, the kimchi jar slowly opened. The others in the studio sped their hands and hoped. Arge countdown number appeared on the screen: 5 seconds. As soon as the seconds ended, the kimchi jar burst with a loud bang! Along with that, the other three members in the studio fall to the floor and roll aroundughing. Rihyuk said to himself, ¡°Come on,ugh. Laugh¡­¡± Bijoo sighed. The other members burst intoughter. ¡°Hahahahaha! Hehehehe!¡± As theyughed, Rihyuk was peeling off a piece of cabbage that was stuck to his face on the screen. His face turned the same color as the kimchi. Rihyuk: Ah, seriously! Hyung! I swear I¡¯ll never eat kimchi dumplings again! Never! Bijoo: Rihyuk-ah. Rihyuk: (crying) Ouch, the kimchi juice got in my eyes. *** [The New ck¡¯s reality show that fans are calling a si] I thought the reality show concept was weird from the start¡­ (Skipping some parts) The highlight of the first episode, the kimchi explosion scene. You have to watch this in video, not in GIF. -?????????? -???????? their frozen faces are epic -???????????? who are these guys, can someone tell me their names -The one on the left with the devastated expression is Bijoo, and the one with the trembling lips is Rihyuk! -I felt this when I watched Around the World With Dice, but these guys are really blessed by theedy god ?????? -??????????I became a fan after watching this -The one who screams with his face turning the same color as the kimchi is the killer ?????????? -I, I¡¯ll never eat kimchi dumplings again! Never ?????? *** ¡°Thank you, sir.¡± It was time to leave after the training. Woojoo bowed to thank the person who downloaded the song for him. He took pictures with those who wanted to take proof shots, and waved his hand with a smile to those who wanted to have a meal with him. ¡°I wish I could join you for dinner, but my manager scheduled something for me tonight.¡± ¡°That¡¯s too bad.¡± ¡°I know, right. You worked hard. Please leave a good review on the inte!¡± Woojoo said goodbye and left gracefully. As he headed to the main road after receiving a text from Minki Hyung, he saw some of the people who had left earlierughing as they passed by. What, was there something funny? ¡­Woojoo wondered, but then he saw some handsome guys holding a huge card in front of the training center¡¯s main gate. [Milky Seon Woojoo] [Wee to Society] Like they were waiting for a guest at the airport, Junghyun and Jiho were holding the card together, and Bijoo was waving a mini g in between them. Ah. Seriously. Behind them, Rihyuk was wearing a baseball cap and a mask, and only lowered his head, and Woojoo could empathize with his feeling. ¡°¡­¡± Woojoo tried to slip through the crowd and pretend he didn¡¯t know them. But he was caught by the eyes of their Kim-something, who was like a hawk. He immediately whispered to Jiho. ¡°Hyung! Woojoo Hyung! I¡¯m! Here! Here!¡± ¡°¡­¡± Jiho¡¯s voice was so loud. Really. The people who were buzzing soon started to look at Woojoo. It was a lethal dose of embarrassment that Woojoo hadn¡¯t felt in a while. He sighed and walked towards them. ¡°Hyung! I missed you!¡± ¡°Me too!¡± The younger ones ran towards him as he walked with a limp. Now he saw that there were also reality show producers with cameras on their shoulders. The writer wasughing out loud, and Woojoo felt annoyed. They surrounded Woojoo like a pack of retrievers, and started to sing a cheer song while jumping around. ¡°Ya ya~ Ya ya ya ya~ Ya ya ya ya ya~.¡± ¡°Go go go!¡± ¡°Please¡­ guys. People are watching. I¡¯m really embarrassed. I¡¯ll die.¡± They all stopped and looked at each other at Woojoo¡¯s words. A secondter. ¡°Ya ya~ Ya ya ya ya~.¡± ¡°¡­¡± ¡°There¡¯s no use in stopping them. They were all so excited to see you.¡± Woojoo could onlyugh at Rihyuk¡¯s words. The youngest clung to him, and Bijoo stayed by his side with his sparkling eyes. When the producers asked Woojoo how he felt, he said one thing. ¡°Oh, it¡¯s the reserve forces. It was a meaningful time to serve the country for three days.¡± ¡°Are you serious?¡± ¡°Is your voice disguised?¡± The writerughed at Woojoo¡¯s yful question. What could he say? He couldn¡¯t admit that he was still using the equipment from 6.25. If he had told the truth as he felt it, he would have been sued by the Ministry of Defense. As they were doing the interview like that, Woojoo¡¯s phone rang and the writer¡¯s eyes widened. It must have been because of the name [Han Taehyun] that appeared on the video call screen. ¡°Is this?¡± ¡°Yes, that¡¯s right. TNT.¡± ¡°Hey, can he say a word of support for you?¡± ¡°I¡¯ll ask him.¡± Soon, an idol member who was moving in a car swept his yellow hair and appeared on the screen. As the writer kept nagging, Woojoo asked him and Han Taehyun dly agreed. -Hi, it¡¯s. What is it, Hyung? ¡°It¡¯s New ck.¡± -Ah. Hello, New ck viewers. I¡¯m TNT¡¯s Taehyun. As their siblings pped and cheered, the person on the video call smiled. -Yes, he¡¯s a very dear and beloved Hyung to me. He¡¯s very charming. I hope his real self will be well conveyed. Then he asked. -Is this enough? I want to have a personal call. ¡°Oh, sure. Go ahead.¡± The writer nodded with a smile, as if he had gotten the necessary amount. Wow. He could speak so confidently to the production staff. -Your eyes are sparkling. ¡°Hey, that was cool for a moment.¡± -What are you talking about? You can do this too when you¡¯re five years in. ¡°That¡¯s very hopeful.¡± Woojoo walked a little away and made a video call. As he did, he nced at the other siblings and said, ¡°But I¡¯m filming right now, so let¡¯s talk quickly and hang up.¡± -You¡¯re so mean. Really. ¡°You¡¯ll be more generous when you¡¯re five years in.¡± The person on the screenughed. ¡°So why did you call?¡± -Well, I¡¯m filming too. ¡°Filming?¡± He turned the screen and Woojoo saw a person who looked like a manager taking a picture of Taehyun. ¡°You should have told me you were filming, Sunbae-nim. That was a close call.¡± -Don¡¯t worry. We¡¯re going to give it to the production team after our PR team edits it. I called you for some advice on the show. ¡°You need my advice?¡± -Yeah, I¡¯m going to do that. The military variety show, Men on the Go. At that moment, Woojoo burst outughing. Why did he feel so good? Taehyun looked annoyed as he said to his camera, ¡®Wow, please put this in.¡¯ While he was doing that, Woojoo asked for a moment, ¡°Just a second.¡± Woojoo called Minki Hyung and asked him to contact Seokhwan Hyung. He said OK to this kind of call. So Woojoo gave him some good tips. -Thank you, Hyung. I owe you again. ¡°But, Taehyun. Can¡¯t you ask your managers for these tips? They¡¯re all veterans¡­¡± -Huh? What? The reception is bad. ¡°The managers next to you¡­¡± -Ah, I need to change this phone. ¡°What do you want to eat?¡± -I want beef, ouch. Theyughed for a while and ended the short call. -Mister, let¡¯s have a meal together. We¡¯ve been saying we¡¯ll meet since March and it¡¯s been six months. ¡°Hey, you¡¯re the busy one.¡± -No. I¡¯m going to be active in Korea soon. ¡°Korea?¡± -A repackaged album in November¡­ Ah, don¡¯t tell me to stop talking about this? Well, it¡¯s not a secret anyway. They repeated the words to have a meal together several times and hung up. He would be on TV again soon. The show ¡®Real Men¡¯ featured scenes of the guests preparing for their enlistment, and it seemed that Taehyun had chosen Woojoo as his celebrity best friend to call. By the way, it was November. There was a high chance that theireback schedule would ovep with theirs. Well. It didn¡¯t matter much. Unless they and TNTpeted for the first ce on music shows like they didst time with ¡®Something¡¯. New ck was not in the same league as them anyway. ¡°What did you talk about, hyung?¡± ¡°Nothing much. He said he was going to ¡®Real Men¡¯, so I gave him some advice and stuff.¡± Woojoo answered the youngest who was asking him this and that with bright eyes, and put his arm around his shoulder. ¡°Let¡¯s go. Home.¡± ¡°It¡¯s not home, it¡¯s the dorm.¡± Someone snapped at Woojoo, and Woojoo exchanged nces with the other brothers. ¡°Then let¡¯s go to the dorm~!¡± ¡°Yeah!¡± ¡°Hey, don¡¯t leave me out!¡± As theyughed and chatted about the things they had missed for three days, Woojoo¡¯s phone vibrated briefly again. Woojoo thought it was Taehyun, but it was Director Jo Gyuhwan. -The title song is just finished. The text message continued below. -We have to start making the album now, so bring the members to the conference room by 9 a.m. tomorrow. We have some issues to discuss about theeback schedule and the fan meeting. This was the beginning of the album that Woojoo was participating in as a producer. Woojoo felt a new sense of nostalgia, but the word that caught his attention the most in the text message was something else. It was fan meeting. Chapter 127: Chapter 127: Trantor: MarcTempest Editor: Rxel Chapter 127 Lemon Entertainment¡¯s PR Team. Deputy Hong Seoyoung was sitting in her office, clicking her mouse. She was checking if the press releases had gone out properly. -New ck, first solo reality show confirmed, airing on October 3rd -¡®Trendy rookies¡¯ New ck, debut reality show to be revealed on November 3rd (official) -Exclusive reality show ¡®It¡¯s the New ck¡¯, premieres on the 3rd [official statement]She scrolled through dozens of articles with simr titles, making sure there was nothing weird in the content. The content was all the same. The rookie boy group New ck, who had gained attention through variety shows, was going to present an eight-episode solo reality show starting from October 3rd. It was an article that most people wouldn¡¯t click on, except for the fans, but she checked it thoroughly. Then she slightly raised her eyes. ¡®Our boys have gained a lot of fans.¡¯ Whether they came from the fan cafe link or not, there were already a fewments on the article within 10 minutes of its posting. -New ck fighting¡­! -Wow, a reality show @[email protected] I¡¯m looking forward to it!!! -I hope our cuties do well¡­^^ It was an article that would have been buried without a singlement in the past, but this small change caught her eye. Of course, not all changes were good. Lately, there were malicious posts that became articles, or other fandoms that attacked them on SNS. It wasn¡¯t something she had to see only negatively. As there was shadow where there was light, it was a natural bacsh that came from New ck suddenly bing a hot topic through variety shows. On the other hand, it meant that there were more people who liked New ck as well as those who hated them. The visible indicators proved that. ¡®YouTube views also skyrocketed.¡¯ The videos in the New ck category of Lemon Entertainment¡¯s ount all showed a drastic increase in views. And there were Englishments too. No wonder. On the site where overseas K-pop fans gathered, there were posts with links to New ck¡¯s videos. -Who are these guys? I¡¯ve never seen them before. -Their dance lines are so beautiful. And the penguin is so cute. -Are they a performance team? What¡¯s their name? -They¡¯re New ck. It¡¯s written in the title. -Oh, sorry. I thought it was just a catchphrase. ¡®How did they find out about our boys?¡¯ It was a strange thing. It was also brought up as an agenda at thest PR team meeting. Why did the foreignments suddenly increase? She didn¡¯t know the exact cause. She just guessed that it was because of Girls on Top. Usually, overseas K-pop fandoms also watched Korean variety shows that idols appeared on, and they spected that New ck caught their attention by appearing on the show with Girls on Top, who had a lot of overseas fans. Whatever the case, the views of their own reality show and performance videos increased, and Englishments like ¡®OMG¡¯ started to appear, and the English subtitles shone. ¡®Subtitling was a godsend.¡¯ As the videos supported English subtitles, the influx of foreigners became visible. And it wasn¡¯t just the overseas fans who showed interest in New ck. -Why didn¡¯t I know about these guys? -???? Their voices are my type -I searched after watching Around the World With Dice and I¡¯m hooked on their reality show After watching the variety show, they searched for rted videos on YouTube and ended up watching all kinds of practice videos, fancams, and reality videos that New ck had piled up like a mountain. Naturally, this interest also affected the fan cafe membership. ¡®I can¡¯t get used to it, I can¡¯t.¡¯ She stuck out her tongue as she looked at the fan cafe membership. It was slowing down now, but it was amazing right after the broadcast. Before, it was like a neighborhood gathering where the Souffl¨¦s gathered and cheered. Now it was like a neighborhood festival with a lot of people. She was also worried. ¡®Will they be okay?¡¯ It was the most careful time when the fandom suddenly grew. The members¡¯ behavior that was allowed when the fandom was small suddenly became like a clique and caused controversy, or the fandom was shaken by a single post that the members wrote casually on the fan cafe. ¡®It was like that with Scarlet too.¡¯ But strangely, she wasn¡¯t worried. That was probably because the member who was the most thoughtful in interacting with the fans was leading New ck. ¡°The problem is us.¡± ¡°What?¡± Mr. Nam peeked his head out from the partition next to Hong Seoyoung. ¡°What¡¯s the problem now, Ms. Hong?¡± ¡°It¡¯s the fan meeting venue. If we go with this location¡­¡± ¡°Then what?¡± ¡°We¡¯ll get cursed out, right?¡± ¡°Where is it?¡± ¡°It¡¯s Art in Hongdae, a small theater near Sinchon. I booked it three months ago¡­¡± ¡°Let me see. Maximum capacity 300 people?¡± Mr. Nam chuckled and sipped his coffee. ¡°Go ahead and announce the venue. It¡¯ll be fun. They¡¯ll say thepany is crazy, how can they fit 300 people when the showcase was 200, right?¡± ¡°That¡¯s what they¡¯ll say, right?¡± Right now, they were preparing for their first official fan meeting. Originally, they nned to do it on a small scale. They were going to gather at a small theater to celebrate their 100th day since debut, blow out some candles on a cake, and p lightly. That was what they thought would happen back then. ¡®Who would have known the fans would increase so much¡­¡¯ She remembered the ce they had booked before, but then she imagined himself being crushed by angry Souffl¨¦s and decided to call and cancel. ¡°But it¡¯s a happy problem. If you go somewhere and say our fandom grew and that¡¯s a problem, they¡¯ll curse you out.¡± ¡°Unless you¡¯re going to make the call for me, be quiet.¡± ¡°Yes, sir.¡± Ms. Hong red at his colleague, but soon smiled. He wasn¡¯t wrong. It was a happy problem, in a way. As she picked up the phone, she thought of someone who had caused all this. *** ¡°That¡¯s why we had to postpone the fan meeting we nned for the end of September. The earliest we can book a ce is mid-October.¡± Lemon Entertainment conference room. Hong Seoyoung exined to New ck, who were sitting around. ¡°This is the ce we¡¯re trying to fix now.¡± A picture of the venue appeared on the tablet PC. A live hall operated by an online bookstore. Woojoo asked, ¡°How many people can it hold?¡± ¡°About a thousand?¡± ¡°Wow¡­¡± They looked at each other in shock. ¡°Did you hear? A thousand.¡± ¡°A, a thousand? A thousand people areing to see us?¡± ¡°Ms. Hong, are we really having a fan meeting there?¡± As they raised their voices one by one, Rihyuk pinched his thigh next to Woojoo. He nced around and smiled warmly when their eyes met. His sneakers stepped on Woojoo¡¯s shoes. Ouch. It wasn¡¯t a dream. A thousand people¡­ Why couldn¡¯t he believe it? A thousand people came to see them? Director Jo Gyuhwanughed. ¡°Why, don¡¯t you believe it?¡± ¡°I feel a bit nervous. A thousand people¡­ I wouldn¡¯te to see myself if I were them.¡± ¡°That¡¯s true.¡± Woojoo hit Rihyuk, and the youngest got his foot stomped in return. Director Jo said with a smile, ¡°You might not believe it, but that might not be enough. The fan cafe membership has increased more than you think.¡± That was true. ¡°Anyway, do you want to check the date? It¡¯s an official fan meeting, so the preparation will be pretty tight, but I want to give you a choice.¡± The brothers immediately picked up the tablet PC and looked at the calendar. Bijoo asked, ¡°Hyung, when do you think it would be appropriate?¡± ¡°Just a moment.¡± Woojoo turned on his phone, and Junghyun leaned in. ¡°What are you looking at?¡± ¡°Just a moment, Junghyun.¡± ¡°Okay.¡± Woojoo checked the date on his phone¡¯s background and counted the days on the tablet PC. And he stopped at the 25th. ¡°This day. Saturday the 25th.¡± The staff across from Woojoo tilted their heads. ¡°I have an anniversary app on my background. The 25th is exactly the 100th day since Souffl¨¦ was born.¡± The staff startedughing at the app that said ¡®63 days with our Souffl¨¦!¡¯ on his phone screen. Seokhwan Hyung clicked his tongue and said, ¡°I¡¯ve never seen anyone use a dating app like that.¡± ¡°It¡¯s really weird.¡± It wasn¡¯t weird. He was serious. ¡­That was what he wanted to argue, but he quietly put down his phone after seeing the words ¡®269 days until Mrs. Kim Deoksoon¡¯s birthday¡¯ or ¡®92 days since our debut¡¯ on the screen. Then Woojoo said what came to his mind. ¡°I just thought of something. How about something like Souffl¨¦ Day or Souffl¨¦ 100th Day Party for the fan meeting title?¡± ¡°Wow, 100th Day Party sounds really good.¡± Bijoo agreed enthusiastically. He has the same sensibility as Woojoo. Assistant Hong rolled her pen and muttered, ¡°100th Day Party sounds a bit old-fashioned¡­¡± ¡°¡­¡± ¡°Souffl¨¦ Day. This is good. I¡¯ll reflect it when I make the proposal.¡± Assistant Hong wrote a note in her notebook. After some trivial talk about the fan meeting, Director Jo changed the topic. ¡°Now let¡¯s talk about the album. Theeback date is set for November 20th, so keep that in mind.¡± He continued, ¡°It could be a week earlier, but then we¡¯d have to do the showcase the day before the college entrance exam. And start the music show on the exam day. That¡¯s kind of¡­¡± ¡°Right, the fans have to study for the exam.¡± Woojoo nodded, and the brothers agreed. ¡°Right. We can¡¯t disturb the fans¡¯ studies with our showcase or music show.¡± ¡°That¡¯s true.¡± ¡°They need time to study.¡± But as they said that, the adults on the other side dropped their pens andughed. One staff member scratched his neck and said, ¡°Well, kids. We said that because of the revenue aspect. If we release it on the exam day, the buzz will drop and it won¡¯t be good.¡± ¡°Oh, right. I wanted to talk about that too.¡± Theyughed again at their follow-up. It felt like a meeting to pamper them rather than a meeting. Maybe it was because their recent activities went well. But as Director Jo continued with a calm face, the meeting atmosphere became thick again. ¡°Theeback gap is five months, so it might feel long, but I think it¡¯ll be fine. We¡¯ll show you the album preparation process and your appearance through the reality show, and by the time the eighth episode ends, it¡¯ll be exactly 21 days.¡± ¡°Oh, we¡¯ll start the music show around the time the reality show ends.¡± ¡°That¡¯s right. And a month before that, we¡¯ll have the fan meeting.¡± He timed it well. Actually, it was a result of coincidence. Scarlet said it was because they ran a music show in October. It was a rule that idols from the samepany didn¡¯t ovep their music shows. The A&R team leader said, ¡°By the way, the title song is pretty much done. Stay after this is over. I¡¯ll let you hear it.¡± Director Jo turned his head to them. ¡°You know that Woojoo is participating in the album producing this time, right? I¡¯m going to see him a lot with me. So help him out a lot too.¡± ¡°Yes. We will.¡± ¡°And Woojoo, you said you have something to show us?¡± ¡°Ah, yes.¡± Woojoo got up from his seat. Then he took the USB and turned on theptop connected to the beam projector. At the same time, Bijoo and Rihyuk started to distribute the prints from Woojoo¡¯s bag. The staffughed at the sight of a smallpany. Assistant Hong said in a cheerful voice, ¡°Did you prepare a presentation too?¡± ¡°Yes, I was preparing the materials and¡­¡± Woojoo smiled and stood in front of the staff and members. Soon, everyone chuckled at the PPT title ¡®2nd Album Proposal¡¯ that appeared on the screen. Meanwhile, the male staff looked somewhere ufortable and asked, ¡°What is that? It¡¯s a very familiar font. What is it?¡± ¡°Oh, I¡¯m a former administrative soldier, so I used the same font as I used in the army¡­¡± ¡°It was the smell of a familiar spam. No wonder, the official document that the copyright association sent a few days ago was exactly the same.¡± One of the staff touched the post-it that was pressed like a belt where the stapler was stamped andughed. ¡°You learned how to do your job properly.¡± ¡°That¡¯s right. He¡¯s much better than our intern.¡± They joked that they should call the reality camera and film this too, and Woojooughed and started the presentation. It was the ideas he came up with since he was in charge of the album producing. He wanted to do it with a determination to break his bones. Maybe that was why, the staff who were listening jokingly at first became quiet as the content went on. The younger ones also listened to his words seriously. Woojoo didn¡¯t know how much of his opinion would be reflected, but it seemed sessful from the staff¡¯s reaction. As soon as the exnation was over, questions flew in from all over. *** ¡°Two, three.¡± ¡°Hello, we are New ck!¡± ¡°Wow¡­!¡± In the car going to HBS Broadcasting Station. Woojoo waved his hand at the phone for SNS attached to the selfie stick. It was a live broadcast after a long time. Woojoo thought there would be few people because they did it without notice, but there were quite a lot of fansing in real time. ¡°Wow, there are so manyments. I can¡¯t read some of them. Oh, I can read this one. This is, uh, nihao, right?¡± ¡°There are more Englishments than before.¡± There were morements written in Korean, but it felt like the proportion of Englishments had increased. Amazing. Woojoo smiled and waved his hand again. ¡°Yes, we are on our way to the broadcasting station for the first episode of the New ck reality show ¡®It¡¯s the New ck¡¯.¡± ¡°We usually announce it beforehand, but today we wanted to see you guys, so we turned it on.¡± ¡°I also had a dream about Souffl¨¦ yesterday.¡± ¡°Really?¡± ¡°Yes, Hyung. I dreamed of shaking hands with Souffl¨¦. My hand was made of bread, and every time I shook hands, bread crumbs fell off¡­¡± They burst intoughter, and the fans also wrote ¡®????¡¯ in the chat window,ughing for a long time. ¡°Oh, right.¡± Woojoo pped his hands and said, ¡°Do you know that? I went to the reserve army a while ago. I have some amazing episodes from then, and I¡¯ve been saving them to tell you guys.¡± ¡°Here we go again. Military stories. Everyone, cover your ears.¡± ¡°Don¡¯t you get tired of telling the same stories every time we eat?¡± Woojoo ignored the protests and continued. ¡°It was me. It was me, I shot a full score for the first time. I¡¯m really notorious for being clumsy, so it was the first time I ever hit anything on the target. I used to always hit other people¡¯s targets¡­¡± Woojoo took out the shooting target from his bag and showed it off, and his brothers sneered. Wait, you guys. You won¡¯t be able tough at me in a few years. Especially you, Rihyuk. ¡°Is shooting a gun that hard? It¡¯s easy.¡± ¡°Where did you shoot a gun?¡± ¡°Sudden Attack.¡± ¡°Ah, ouch, my neck. I really¡­¡± As Woojoo grabbed his neck, Bijoo handed him a ginseng pouch. ¡°Thank you.¡± Woojoo sucked on the ginseng and spread its greatness to the fans. ¡°Ah, I feel alive. Everyone. Ever since I ate ginseng, I wake up really well in the morning. It¡¯s great.¡± ¡°Why are you suddenly advertising ginseng?¡± ¡°Hyung, a fan justmented that you look like their grandfather when you eat ginseng.¡± ¡°Who is it? Confess right now.¡± Woojoo shivered and the chat window popped up with ¡®???¡¯ again. They had a fun timemunicating with thements left by their Souffl¨¦s. ¡°We¡¯ll have some good news soon. See you again, byeong!¡± ¡°Byeong!¡± ¡­and they ended the live broadcast around the underground parking lot of HBS. Woojoo felt energized after meeting the fans for the first time in a while. That was why he looked a little brighter. When they arrived at the studio, the PD greeted them. ¡°Hello. You guys are in a good mood today.¡± ¡°Yes, we came fully charged.¡± ¡°Good. Go inside the studio and get used to it. It will take some time to set up the equipment.¡± The set of HBS MTV¡¯s ¡®It¡¯s the New ck¡¯ was decorated with a very unique atmosphere. There was a three-seater sofa in the middle, and two one-seater sofas on the side. The table was filled with various snacks, and the set had props like bookshelves and vases. It was like looking at the living room of a luxury house with good lighting. ¡°Wow, it feels like we¡¯re home. It¡¯s been a long time since we had this kind of atmosphere.¡± ¡°The sofa is really soft. Hyung, should we buy one of these when we move?¡± ¡°Shall we?¡± Bijoo and Woojoo looked at each other and searched for the product name of the sponsored sofa, and nodded as soon as they saw the price. Bijoo wrote down the item in his memo and saved the memo title as ¡®Someday¡¯. On the other hand, the more Woojoo looked at the set, the more familiar it felt. Something familiar. Woojoo asked Minki Hyung, who came back from talking with the staff on one side of the set, ¡°Hyung, do you know what our reality show is? What did the PD say he used to do?¡± ¡°He said he did Beauty Salon, a cable beauty program.¡± ¡°Oh, a beauty program.¡± Woojoo nodded and gasped. ¡°A beauty program?¡± ¡°Yeah, why?¡± ¡°No, nothing.¡± It might be just his feeling, but he had a feeling that the reality concept was not ordinary. Chapter 128: Chapter 128: Trantor: MarcTempest Editor: Rxel Chapter 128 As soon as they sat down, the staff came over and put microphones on them. Woojoo sat on the one-seater sofa on the far left, followed by Bijoo, Junghyun, and Rihyuk. Jiho sat on the one-seater sofa facing Woojoo. ¡°Jiho, don¡¯t cross your legs.¡± ¡°Okay.¡± Before the assistant director could say anything, Woojoo took the initiative.The youngest uncrossed his legs. He didn¡¯t usually cross his legs, but when Woojoo saw him rolling his feet, he realized he was nervous. The other members were the same. Bijoo kept checking his makeup on his phone, and Rihyuk was, well, Rihyuk. If Woojoo had to give him a title from Greek and Roman mythology, it would probably be the God of Nervousness and Fragile Mentality. Junghyun was the only one who looked calm, ncing at the fancy snacks on the table. ¡°Junghyun.¡± ¡°Yes, Hyung.¡± ¡°Those are sponsored. Sponsored.¡± ¡°But if they¡¯re sponsored, shouldn¡¯t we eat them? This sofa is also sponsored, but we¡¯re sitting on it.¡± ¡°Why do you only get smart when you talk to me?¡± The staff who was putting on the microphone smiled and bit his lip to hold back hisughter. He seemed to enjoy their pathetic conversation. Woojoo asked him about the snacks, hoping to lighten the mood, but he quickly said no. Junghyun and Woojoo looked at each other and shrugged. Meanwhile, Woojoo took care of his younger brothers. ¡°Ah, I¡¯m nervous.¡± ¡°You don¡¯t look nervous at all.¡± ¡°Your legs are shaking.¡± ¡°¡­¡± Bijoo chuckled and Rihyuk¡¯s ears turned red. Woojoo made jokes to ease the tension andforted his brothers. ¡°It¡¯s our first reality show, so I know it¡¯s meaningful, but don¡¯t be nervous and just act like you normally do. Let¡¯s do what we do at home, ah, I mean at the dorm. Since when have you guys been so timid?¡± ¡°I¡¯m timid, Hyung.¡± ¡°Yeah, Bijoo is timid. But I¡¯m talking about the rest of you. Since when have you been so nervous?¡± They were used to being on camera these days, but they seemed a bit tense because it was their first reality show recording. For a brief moment, they looked like they did when they were trainees. It was understandable. It was every idol¡¯s dream to debut and do a reality show like this. As Woojoo joked around and rxed them, their faces quickly returned to normal. ¡°Puhaha, can I eat this?¡± ¡­Woojoo made them too rxed. After the chaotic set was ready, the PD who had rolled up the script came over. ¡°We¡¯ll record in a few cuts. You probably heard this already, but your reality show concept is simr to a beauty show.¡± HBS MTV Reality ¡®It¡¯s the New ck.¡¯ As they heard in the pre-meeting, their reality show was a bit different from other idols. Usually, idol reality shows showed their travel or daily life, but in their case, they had studio recordings as well. The main writer said this. ¡°You guys have a different personality and vibe from other boys your age, so I thought it would be fun to do it that way. You guys just chat and have fun with each other.¡± Maybe it was because the PD had worked on a beauty program before, so he decided to go with a simr format. They filmed VCRs for the reality show, and thenmented on them in the studio. The PD continued his exnation. ¡°Of course, we¡¯ll also have some events in the studio besides thements. You¡¯ll find out about thatter.¡± He smiled mysteriously as he turned to the camera, and Woojoo felt uneasy. Woojoo heard that he was going to implement the proposals they submitted before. He asked the PD as he walked away, ¡°You guys didn¡¯t submit anything weird, right?¡± ¡°What do you mean, weird? I just said I wanted to do something like a debate.¡± ¡°I only said I wanted to exercise together.¡± ¡°Hyung, did you say you wanted to do something physical?¡± ¡°It¡¯s fun if we do it together.¡± Junghyun¡¯s casual remark made Woojoo and the other brothers sigh and frown. ¡°Junghyun, please do that by yourself.¡± ¡°Yeah, you do it. Junghyun.¡± ¡°Hyung, we agreed to only do breathing exercises together, except for practice.¡± ¡°¡­Huh, what? The shot already went in?¡± When did they start filming? Woojoo saw a blinking light on the camera number three on the side. The camera director who was looking through the viewfinder was smiling. Did they film everything they were talking about from the beginning? No way. The PD who had the script under his arm also smiled and gave them a sign. ¡°Okay, let¡¯s start. High, cue!¡± They greeted the viewers as written on the cue card. ¡°Hello, everyone, this is the first reality show of New ck after our debut.¡± ¡°It¡¯s the New ck!¡± ¡°¡­Wee to the show.¡± ¡°Woohoo!¡± They pped and cheered like seals. They memorized the cue card content as soon as they got it, so they naturally gestured with their hands. ¡°Alright, then let¡¯s introduce ourselves to the viewers first.¡± ¡°Demo! Show us a demo.¡± ¡°Uh, please be careful with your pronunciation. Yes, I¡¯ll go first. Hello, I¡¯m Woojoo, the charismatic leader and lead vocal of New ck! Nice to meet you!¡± ¡°Woohoo.¡± The younger members who were pping for Woojoo quickly changed the topic. ¡°It looked like your cheeks were trembling when you said charismatic.¡± ¡°That¡¯s an illusion. I don¡¯t get nervous.¡± ¡°Your hand is clenched like a chicken foot, Hyung.¡± ¡°I like clenching my hand.¡± ¡°Oh, then do you like omurice?¡± ¡°I don¡¯t like it.¡± ¡°That¡¯s too bad. I like it.¡± There was a lot of nonsense going on, but this part was actually suggested by the PD and the writers. They said it was okay to go off-topic as long as they had fun chatting. Woojoo was a bit flustered at first. Was this really okay? But when he nced at them, the writers gave him an okay sign. They finished introducing themselves and started watching the VCR. ¡°Today¡¯s prepared video is¡­ They tried everything to eat kimchi dumplings, the so-called Rihyuk & Bijoo¡¯s kimchi dumpling making!¡± ¡°The trend is idol whopleted military service, Leader Woojoo¡¯s reserve training!¡± ¡°They smashed the rest area. The cute, handsome, and popr maknae Jiho and rapper Junghyun¡¯s rest area food tour is ready!¡± ¡°Your introduction was very biased, wasn¡¯t it?¡± ¡°Agreed.¡± ¡°¡­Then let¡¯s watch it!¡± Theyughed at the natural-born maknae who casually turned the conversation. Woojoo unconsciously reached out to pat his head, but he was too far away. While the VCR was being prepared, Woojoo made a gesture with his hand, and Jiho stuck out his head and pretended to be patted. Rihyuk pped his hand away, and Jiho acted like he fell behind the sofa, making the production staffugh for a moment. ¡°Oh, here ites. Here ites.¡± The first order was the members¡¯ personal VCRs. They each made a video introducing themselves, and the first one was their youngest. He looked at the camera with sleepy eyes and got up from the bed with a puffy face. Jiho: Hello. This is our dorm. Um, I heard this is a video for self-introduction¡­ Yes, I¡¯m Jiho. Haaah~ The Hyungs pped like seals and liked his mouth-gaping expression in the studio. Jiho said in agony, ¡°Please, please blur me out.¡± ¡°It¡¯s okay. You look good in your natural state.¡± Then, the video showed Jiho pointing the camera at Woojoo, who was sleeping next to him on the second floor bed. Jiho: This is Woojoo Hyung. He¡¯s really pretty even when he sleeps, right? But he has a very bad personality. Woojoo: (Sleep-talking) Grandma, I have a lot of money. Jiho: (Covering his mouth andughing) Pffft. Woojoo said to the production staff, ¡°Please edit out the yawn just now.¡± ¡°Didn¡¯t you say you liked his natural state?¡± ¡°Well, the situation changes depending on the time.¡± Junghyun pretended to know. ¡°Oh, I¡¯ve seen this proverb. It¡¯s called ¡®favoring the outsider over the insider¡¯.¡± ¡°That¡­¡± Rihyuk tried to exin something, but he just brushed his hair back. Well, they would edit this out anyway. The writer made a note in his notebook, which meant he got the editing point. It was a bit of a word to say on an idol reality show. Meanwhile, the youngest in the video approached their second youngest, who was washing rice in the kitchen. Jiho: My daily routine is like this. I wake up in the morning and help him make breakfast. ¡°We didn¡¯t know that.¡± ¡°You guys were all asleep.¡± ¡°Jiho, I didn¡¯t know either,¡± Bijoo said, and the youngest threw him a hand heart. ¡°Hey, why are you like that?¡± The reaction on the spot was not good. After a fierce diss for a while, the VCR viewing continued. Bijoo: What is this? Reality? Jiho: Yes, please say hello. Bijoo: Hello. I¡¯m Bijoo, Jiho¡¯s brother. Jiho: Can you tell me about the kimchi fried rice you¡¯re making? He immediately exined the recipe, and the youngest showed his clumsy attempt to help him make breakfast. Jiho: Eek! Crash! Jiho: Eeek! Bang! Bijoo: ¡­ Jiho: Hyung. Bijoo: (Trying to stay calm) Jiho: You seem to be in a bad condition today. Bijoo: Jiho. Jiho: Yes. Bijoo: Go and get some more sleep¡­ They pped andughed together as they watched from the studio. ¡°Bijoo doesn¡¯t usually say anything bad, but our Jiho is really amazing.¡± ¡°He almost achieved a feat.¡± ¡°That¡¯s what happens when you do something that people don¡¯t do.¡± ¡°No way.¡± Jiho said to Bijoo, ¡°Hyung, please say something. Did I help?¡± ¡°Uh¡­ yes.¡± ¡°Tell me objectively, Hyung. In percentage.¡± ¡°About 3 percent¡­?¡± ¡°Wow, 3 percent. That¡¯s like the correct rate for a difficult problem.¡± They ignored the youngest who was ring at them and continued the conversation. While the VCR that captured the daily lives of each member was ying, they addedments as best as they could. Woojoothought these videos that came out first would be useful for creating the initial characters. And then, the long-awaited VCR viewing time. ¡°Puhahaha!¡± They rolled off the sofa and tumbled on the set as the scene of the kimchi pot exploding came on. It was a totally unexpected scene. The staff who saw the video for the first time alsoughed along. ¡°Yeah. Laugh,ugh.¡± ¡°We did our best, Rihyuk.¡± Only the two of them swallowed their tears as they looked at the studio ceiling. No wonder. When Woojoo came back to the dorm, he wondered why the smell of kimchi kepting from somewhere. It was that. By the way, their Mrs. Kim Deoksoon¡¯s voice was broadcasted. Woojoo had to call her and let her know when the recording was over. In the end, the VCR ended with the two of them giving up on kimchi dumplings and cleaning up. The next thing that followed was Woojoo¡¯s reserve army video. ¡°Hyung.¡± Bijoo asked Woojoo with his eyebrows fluttering. It was the first time Woojoo saw him look so sorry. ¡°Wasn¡¯t that mascot popr?¡± ¡°No¡­¡± ¡°Huh, that¡¯s weird. I saw on the blog that people who went to the army liked that mascot.¡± ¡°That¡¯s a fishing article, Hyung.¡± ¡°Hyung, why are you so gullible? It¡¯s not the time to take care of us, but yourself.¡± As the youngest one said some nonsense, Woojoo threw a punch in the air at him, and Jiho pretended to block it with a shield. Then he counterattacked Woojoo with a punch in the air. ¡°Reflection.¡± The othersughed and pped like seals at Woojoo¡¯s short answer, while the youngest one trembled with anger. ¡°Do it again. I want to see that rainbow reflection.¡± ¡°No way.¡± Woojoo teased him mercilessly, and Jiho made a face for the camera. He wasn¡¯t really mad. He knew he looked ugly when he got angry. After the video of Woojoo¡¯s military enlistment and discharge, the story of Junghyun and Jiho finally came out. It was the footage we took while visiting the vige in Yeoncheon County after filming Animal Friends. It was only a two-day shoot, but they felt attached to the ce, and they smiled involuntarily at the sight of the grandpas and grandmas on the screen. They were all doing well. Im Soonhyun: That Woojoo¡­? Oh, he¡¯s such a sweetie. I felt so good after he gave me a massage. Rihyuk also helped me clean the house, so my Dusik is behaving well these days¡­ (beep) He¡¯s happy. Come again! They smiled warmly at their greetings. The production team had deliberately edited the video to highlight those moments. They seemed to be riding on the poprity of Around the World With Dice. After the vige tour, they saw Junghyun and Jiho having fun at the rest area. They bought snacks from the convenience store, tteokbokki and odeng from the stall, and twisted potatoes. They ate with gusto. Just when they thought the video was over, they saw Rihyuk and Bijoo failing at making kimchi dumplings. Rihyuk opened his eyes wide. ¡°What? You didn¡¯t turn off the camera?¡± ¡°Uh, I did. Jiho turned it off.¡± ¡°Wasn¡¯t it you, Hyung?¡± ¡°Not me. You were holding the camera.¡± ¡°We¡¯re in trouble.¡± Rihyuk looked at Woojoo nervously. What was wrong? The camera they casually threw away showed them eating deliciously on the screen. Everyone: Ah, we miss Woojoo Hyung. After the caption showed 3 seconds, they started eating as if nothing happened. Bijoo: It¡¯s good. Rihyuk: Of course, food is better than the leader. Hey, Wang Jihyo, stop making that slurping noise. Jihyo: But Woojoo Hyung must be eating well, right? (Slurping in Rihyuk¡¯s ear) Junghyun: (Blocking the two who were throwing cat punches at each other) Well, he must be. But can we eat this pig¡¯s feet? Woojoo narrowed his eyes right away. The camera caught the reaction of his siblings who were flustered. That was how the VCR viewing ended. ¡°Cut! Let¡¯s take a break and go!¡± Woojoo had a sincere conversation with his siblings for a while. *** After finishing the shooting at the HBS building, they went out for the afternoon shooting with the production team. In the moving car. ¡°Woojoo Hyung, how do you feel now?¡± ¡°I¡¯m fine.¡± ¡°He¡¯s sulking, that one. He¡¯s sulking. Give him some red ginseng quickly.¡± They handed Woojoo some red ginseng, and he sucked it. He was just narrowing his eyes for the camera, but inside he was enjoying the reaction. As soon as he ate the red ginseng and pretended to rx, they started a serious discussion among themselves about how effective it was. Woojoo smiled quietly. They went down to the street with the reality production team and started shooting from Hongik University Station. ¡°We¡¯re here at the street of youth, Hongdae!¡± ¡°Let me correct that. The street of youth is Jonggak.¡± ¡°Junghyun, take him away.¡± They got rid of the righteous one and continued shooting. When the broadcast camera and the five pretty idols came together, people flocked in no time. Of course, it wasn¡¯t that crowded since it was a weekday lunchtime. ¡°Wow! I know them.¡± ¡°Right? New ck?¡± Woojoo heard the whispers in his ears. When he heard the younger ones call New ck ¡®them¡¯¡­ Woojoo was happy. Yeah. Keep calling them that. The people who passed by stopped for a moment and wondered what it was, then went on their way. Some of them stared at their faces with curiosity. There were also some who were making a fuss among themselves. The broadcast camera had a strange power. When they were among ourselves, everyone would go ¡°Huh?¡± and then ¡°Wow!¡± with surprised eyes, but when there was a broadcast camera, people would gather with rxed faces. ¡°Two, three.¡± ¡°Hello, we are New ck!¡± The content they did for the first episode of their reality show was promotion. A kind of broadcast promotion. The effect was not big, but it was good for filling up the time, and it had the advantage of being able to do word-of-mouth marketing through SNS and such. They walked around Hongdae and greeted the passers-by while handing out promotional materials. The reaction was pretty good. People who didn¡¯t know them would look at the broadcast camera and go ¡°Hmm¡± and those who knew them would show opposite reactions. They would either feel very close to them, or they would go ¡°Eek¡± and cover their faces in front of the camera while taking the promotional materials. After three hours. They finished filming in Sinchon and Hongdae, and they heard a rumbling sound from their stomachs. ¡°Hyung.¡± Junghyun whispered loudly, ¡°I¡¯m hungry.¡± ¡°Uh, okay.¡± Woojoo thought they should eat something quickly, seeing him stomping his feet like an angry bear. Just when Woojoo was about to look for a ce to eat. ¡°Ah.¡± He remembered a suitable ce. A grilled intestine restaurant in Hongdae. They were going to prepare for a fan meeting soon and go on a diet, so he thought he should feed them something delicious before that. When Woojoo said he would buy them a meal because they worked so hard, the production staff smiled happily. ¡°But there aren¡¯t many customers here.¡± ¡°Maybe it¡¯s because of that cow, what, disease that¡¯s going around.¡± Woojoo heard it was a very popr ce, but there were no customers. Maybe it was because the break time had just ended. Then, the waiter saw the camera and widened his eyes. ¡°Are you celebrities?¡± ¡°Uh, yes. We are¡­¡± ¡°One moment.¡± He disappeared into the kitchen and came back soon. ¡°Well, the boss said he would grill it himself because you are filming a show. He said he would give it to you for free.¡± ¡°Oh, really?¡± The director started to set up the camera at the word free. And the younger ones asked Woojoo, ¡°Hyung, is this¡­¡± ¡°Right.¡± Woojoo smiled and said that, when the door of the store opened with a bang and a man with a fierce expression ran in. ¡°Hahaha!¡± He greeted them with a heartyugh. ¡°Wow, I heard you were filming a show¡­ Huh?¡± The smiling face of Seo Jihyung froze when he saw them. Chapter 129: Chapter 129: Trantor: MarcTempest Editor: Rxel Chapter 129 Seo Jihyung ran with excitement in his heart. ¡®A broadcast¡­!¡¯ His heart was pounding. He had started to feel nervous when his younger brother, who worked at the store, called him and said, ¡®Hyung, some celebrities are here. Idols.¡¯ He clenched his fist and shouted ¡®Yes!¡¯ to himself. He was that happy. It was understandable, since the sales of his tripe restaurant had been declining day by day.At first, he had prospered thanks to the fame of his name, but soon enough, other tripe restaurants sprang up like mushrooms around him, and his sales plummeted. They were mostly run by building owners. He tried to ovee the crisis by serving customers himself on weekends, putting up signs of famous people, and doing all kinds of promotions, but it was no use. That was why he was overjoyed when he got a mission to cook on the Chuseok Special of Around the World With Dice. -You¡¯re very good at cooking, aren¡¯t you? -Yes, I run a tripe restaurant in Hongdae. -Jihyung, you¡¯re like a chef with your knife skills. -I cook often. Oh, did I not tell you that I have a tripe restaurant? ¡­He did all sorts of advertising, but the PD, Goo Jaeyong, was a genius. He noticed everything and edited it all out. That was why he was so thrilled when he heard that the broadcasting station¡¯s camera was here. ¡®But who are they?¡¯ A boy group or a girl group? Did they appear on a variety show? Or a food program? He imagined all kinds of possibilities, but they were all pleasant ones. Being on a broadcast was a very happy thing in itself. With a fluttering heart, he flung the door open. ¡°Hahaha!¡± A refreshingugh burst out from the depths of his chest. ¡°Ah, I heard you were filming¡­ Huh?¡± As his eyes adjusted to the dim interior, his ck history was smiling in front of him. ¡°Hello, Sunbae-nim.¡± The idol group that stood up and greeted him cheerfully was the same one he had met once on a broadcast. New ck. He looked at the one who shone the brightest among them. ¡°¡­¡­.¡± Scenes shed through his mind. The scene where he tried to steal the spotlight and failed miserably, the scene where he tried to hit his shoulder in revenge and missed and fell to the ground, the scene where he confidently challenged him to a chicken fight and ended up hugging the floor. Thest one was the most vivid. -?????? -Jihyung,e on. Is this your first time on the floor? -It was hrious when they showed a shback of him saying ¡®Ah, Hyungseok Hyung-nim! I was the best at chicken fighting in Majang-dong when I was young!¡¯ before he went out ???? -Ack¡­? I would have fainted from embarrassment -He looks like an ugly sweet potato covered in dirt -?????? -He looks like he lost his country, ?? His closeedian friends teased him by sending him boxes of sweet potatoes, and his rtivesughed out loud when they watched his show during Chuseok. That shameful memory became Woojoo¡¯s face and danced on his retina. But business came first. Yeah. The customer is king. ¡°Oh, look who¡¯s here! Our New ck friends! Haha! Long time no see!¡± He winked at his brother to set things up quickly and greeted the people from the broadcasting station. ¡°So, which show are you from¡­?¡± ¡°Ah, we¡¯re just here for a meal, actually.¡± ¡°I see. But you¡¯re filming, right?¡± ¡°Yes, it¡¯s a reality program, so we might need some footage.¡± ¡°Reality? Reality show¡­?¡± ¡°Idol reality.¡± As soon as he saw the camera with the HBS MTV mark, Seo Jihyung blinked. ¡°¡­¡± Yeah. Anyway, being on TV was important. With that thought, Seo Jihyung picked up the tongs and started grilling the tripe. Soon, a savory smell filled the air, and the chopsticks moved busily. ¡°Sunbae-nim, please have a bite.¡± A tall and muscr member offered him a piece of tripe, but he shook his head with a broadcast smile. ¡°No, thanks. I¡¯m not hungry.¡± Well, he was nice. While he was smiling outwardly and grumbling inwardly, Seo Jihyung¡¯s attitude changed a bit. Junghyun called Woojoo. ¡°Woojoo Hyung, can I order more?¡± ¡°Sure, go ahead. I¡¯ll pay for it today. Order whatever you want.¡± ¡°Yay.¡± As they cheered happily, this time, a handsome man with a sharp face leaned in to Woojoo. ¡°Hyung, Hyung, what about me?¡± ¡°Our youngest is growing up, so he should eat well.¡± ¡°Hyung, then what about me?¡± ¡°Of course, our Bijoo works hard every time, so he should eat a lot too.¡± ¡°¡­¡± ¡°¡­¡± ¡°Hey, what about me?¡± ¡°Let me see, should I order a soda?¡± As Woojoo got up to get a soda, Seo Jihyung gestured for him to sit down. Woojoo came closer to him and whispered, ¡°Sunbae-nim, our kids eat a lot, don¡¯t they? I¡¯ll pay for itter.¡± ¡°Nah, just eat for free.¡± ¡°No, I didn¡¯te here to freeload today.¡± ¡°Huh?¡± ¡°I thought I shoulde here at least once, since you said in your endingmentst time that I should visit this grilled tripe ce if I ever go to Hongdae.¡± ¡°¡­¡± Seo Jihyung felt a pang of guilt. Oh. He shouldn¡¯t be doing this. ¡°¡­Well, enjoy your meal.¡± Seo Jihyung looked at Woojoo with a curious eye. And then the orders started to skyrocket. ¡°Can we have one more tripe, please?¡± ¡°Yeah, let¡¯s order one more.¡± ¡°Can you give us some more intestines and honeb tripe? Rihyuk, trust me and try the intestines once. They¡¯re sweet.¡± As Seo Jihyung watched the five idols devour the tripe like vacuum cleaners, the production staff and he made the same expression. And as the bill kept rising. Seo Jihyung unconsciously sped his hands politely. Then he carefully picked up the menu and showed it to Woojoo. ¡°Do you want to try this too? It¡¯s a new part and it¡¯s delicious.¡± ¡°Yes. Let¡¯s order more.¡± His heart skipped a beat. ¡°Then how about this¡­¡± ¡°Yes, that too.¡± His heart pounded. They were the best customers ever. While he was bringing out the ingredients, he heard Woojoo¡¯s voice in my ear. ¡°Hey, Junghyun. Did you enjoy it? What? You want to eat more? Aren¡¯t you tired?¡± Whenever such a conversation took ce, the orders increased. As he looked at the sales slip, he did his best to grill the tripe. Junghyun also did his best to eat. And the camera captured that scene of a battle. *** Two weekster. The idolmunity board. [My rough stomach and the tripe on the grill, and the leader watching over them.gif] The current hot reaction to New ck¡¯s reality show episode 1????? The impact of the kimchi explosion?was a bit overshadowed, but it was one of the highlights of episode 1??? Behind the scenes: They said they starved the next day and had a hellish PT with the trainer because of what they ate that day. -?????????? -He really eats like a beast -Daegil¡¯s friend eats well -What????is Daegil¡¯s friend??? -That¡¯s too much. He has a name, you know??? -Daegil¡¯s friend????perfect match -The shaking pupils in the gif are the kill point -(Added) Junghyun¡¯s official statement on the live broadcast: It must have been my mood. Every time you called me that day, you said it was Junghyeom. -?????? -But what kind of duel is this? Try eating it. Burning vs Don¡¯t ignore my stomach -Wow¡­ I really crave tripe Meanwhile, the GIFs of the kimchi pot explosion scene and the tripe eating scene from the first episode of ¡®It¡¯s the New ck¡¯ started to spread slowly to othermunities. *** That evening, at the fitness center. ¡°Hyung, look at this.¡± ¡°What.¡± ¡°I forgot to tell you earlier. Seo Jihyung Sunbae-nim told me toe again and gave me four point cards with ten stamps each. He seems like a really nice person.¡± ¡°Well, Junghyun.¡± ¡°Yes.¡± ¡°Giving you four point cards means.¡± ¡°Yes.¡± ¡°That the tripe you ate that day cost that much, don¡¯t you think?¡± ¡°Ah.¡± He was making sounds like ¡®ah¡¯, this kid! Woojoo wanted to give him a headlock, but he had no confidence in beating his strong head with his hand. ¡°Hoo. Hoo.¡± Woojoo justy down on the Smith machine and did the bench press calmly. Yeah. Woojoo made a lot of money fromposing, but what did he do with it? He spent it on Mrs. Kim Deoksoon and his siblings. ¡­But he felt bitter. ¡°Hyung, your posture is off.¡± ¡°Right. Why is that?¡± ¡°I think you¡¯re using your muscles wrong. Don¡¯t push with your shoulders and here, how about this? Do you feel the stimtion?¡± ¡°Junghyun. Don¡¯t touch other people¡¯s chests casually.¡± ¡°Can I touch it?¡± ¡°Let me finish my sentence¡­¡± Then Woojoo followed the trainer¡¯s posture exactly, and Junghyun assisted him with the exercise. ¡°Yes. You have to hold it in that state. Hyung.¡± ¡°Ugh¡­ I¡¯m losing strength.¡± ¡°No. Hold on. Hold on. Bite your teeth hard. Hyung.¡± ¡°Nyaaa!¡± In the end, Woojoo was trained until his upper body muscles were sore. When he loosened his body that had be limp, Junghyun tilted his head as if it was strange. ¡°It¡¯s really weird.¡± ¡°What is?¡± ¡°When you made the shot at the charity event, and usually when you do that kind of thing, you need to have muscle support¡­¡± ¡°And?¡± ¡°You¡¯re too weak, Hyung.¡± ¡°You¡¯re strong.¡± ¡°Thank you. Hyung.¡± ¡°¡­¡± Woojoo shook his head and brushed away the sweaty strands of hair from his forehead. As he cooled down his throat with some refreshing ginseng, he saw his younger siblings rolling around in the PT room through the ss window. Unlike Woojoo and Junghyun, who had always maintained their stamina, the rest of the weak line was being gently taken care of by the PT instructor. Usually, Bijoo and Rihyuk were the regr customers, but today their youngest joined them because he said he was feeling sore. By chance, the three of them looked at Woojoo as they changed their positions. They waved their hands lightly and Woojoo mouthed to them. ¡®Fighting!¡¯ Woojoo got some rough responses back. Well. He felt sorry for them, but what could he do? It wasn¡¯t like they were doing this just to torture their bodies. They had a producing meeting for the title song of their second album, and there was a suggestion to increase the difficulty of the choreography. If the first album¡¯s Fireworks emphasized the vocal part, this album would increase the dance proportion. They decided to request the choreography from a foreign choreographer, but when they saw the sample video, they realized that they needed more core strength in their waists than they had now. So the conclusion was ¡®let¡¯s make the kids¡¯ bodies stronger first¡¯. Soon enough, the three soaked siblings opened the door and copsed in front of Woojoo. ¡°Ah, I think I¡¯m going to die.¡± Rihyuk, who fell with a thud, sat down in front of Woojoo and handed him a water bottle. ¡°Do you want a drink?¡± ¡°Did you drink from it?¡± ¡°Yeah.¡± ¡°Then I don¡¯t want it.¡± ¡°Just say no if you don¡¯t like it.¡± Then Woojoo suddenly remembered something he was curious about. ¡°Rihyuk, I¡¯ve always wondered, what if you were stranded in the desert?¡± ¡°That¡¯s a pointless hypothetical. I hate sand.¡± ¡°Let¡¯s say you went there, and you were stranded.¡± ¡°Wow, that sounds awesome. I¡¯m so happy just imagining it.¡± The two youngest ones, still sprawled out, swung their sleeves at each other like cat punches. It was a pathetic sight. Rihyuk soon gave up and asked with a tired face, ¡°So what¡¯s your point? If someone gave me a water bottle that they drank from, would I drink it?¡± ¡°Yeah.¡± ¡°I don¡¯t need to. I¡¯ll find an oasis.¡± ¡°But what if the oasis is a mirage?¡± ¡°Stop adding things to the scenario.¡± He then enthusiastically exined how he would use the principle of distition to get water, but Woojoo didn¡¯t listen. ¡°Woojoo Hyung, can I drink some water?¡± ¡°Yeah. Go ahead.¡± ¡°Ew, why is there ginseng in it?¡± ¡°Sorry. I got confused.¡± As Woojoo handed over the bottle of water, the youngest one gulped it down. Meanwhile, Bijoo, who had been sitting with a nk face, took the bottle from Woojoo and said, ¡°I¡¯ve been feeling thistely, but it seems like the training difficulty has suddenly increased. It feels harder than before¡­¡± ¡°It¡¯s because thepany told us to.¡± Rihyuk cut in. ¡°The trainer said earlier that the management team wanted us to work harder, something like that.¡± ¡°¡­¡± ¡°Yeah, you need strength to dance! He said that. And then he asked if we knew how to dance, and when I said yes, he added another set as if I was provoking him.¡± As Woojoo¡¯s heart burned with indignation, Junghyun changed the topic at the right moment. ¡°But it seems like the hard work is paying off. You guys look better too.¡± That was true. There was no change in their physique, but their bodies felt firmer. Their strength also improved, and they felt a clear difference when they practiced the choreography. Even doing the same moves, their steps and limbs were more powerful. Especially their main dancer, his change was noticeable. His graceful dance line in a white T-shirt became more dynamic and heavy. As Woojoo watched their guys stretching their legs, he was briefly lost in thought about the album. He remembered the videos of the choreographers they saw as samples. The choreography that he likedst time, it looked hard because of the jumps, but maybe they could pull it off¡­ As Woojoo smiled unconsciously at that thought, Rihyuk shivered. ¡°What¡¯s with that look?¡± ¡°What look?¡± ¡°You just smiled at us with a bad vibe.¡± ¡°Yeah.¡± Jiho said, ¡°It reminded me of that cartoon I watched when I was young. You know, the one where the wolf blows the pigs¡¯ houses away.¡± ¡°The Three Little Pigs?¡± ¡°Oh, yeah.¡± ¡°But we¡¯re four brothers.¡± ¡°Let¡¯s make it five. We have to include Woojoo Hyung.¡± They were caught by the trainer as they sat and talked nonsense, and they had to do the finishing exercise. He was a huge guy, but he knew how to adjust the pace so well, he made them do it until they felt like they were going to die. But today, Woojoo couldn¡¯t focus. It wasn¡¯t because of the album they were preparing for, but because of what Junghyun saidst time. -Our trainer, doesn¡¯t he have a great body? His arms are as big as Bijoo and Rihyuk. He said that the left one was Bijoo and the right one was Rihyuk, and Woojoo couldn¡¯t get that out of his mind. Damn. It wasn¡¯t just him who remembered that, Bijoo also pursed his lips. Don¡¯tugh. If theyughed, they would get another set. Of course, that effort was useless. ¡°Teacher, but what if our muscles get too big from working out like this? Won¡¯t our fans be sad?¡± After the trainer¡¯s refreshingughter, they had to do two more sets. When Woojoo was in the reserve training, a day felt like ten days. But after that, ten days passed by like a day. It was like a ry race they used to do in elementary school. When Woojoo came to his senses, the next day would run towards him with a baton, shouting ¡°I¡¯m here!¡± and then three secondster, ¡°Hey, I¡¯m here again!¡± Maybe it was because he was living a busy life. Lessons, dermatology, exercise, foreignnguages¡­ Woojoo heard from thepany that the overseas response was good, and they were considering activities in Japan or Southeast Asia after the second album. He had to prepare for that, so he paid attention to studying Japanese and English. Foreign Souffl¨¦. Woojoo still didn¡¯t have a feel for it. He kept thinking of a bread with colorful decorations on top. Maybe it was because of the diet? That was how they were getting ready for the second album title practice, both physically and mentally. And Woojoo had to attend the producing meetings as well. He exchanged ideas with Director Jo Gyuhwan every day. About the concept of the second album, the personal colors of the members, how to arrange the intro and outro, and so on. And Woojoo learned by watching how to do things like lyric contests, song confirmations, andmunication with designers. The director was also happy with his ambition to be a producer idol, not just aposer idol, and gave him a lot of tips. And time passed, and finally. Friday, 5 p.m. ¡°Wow, I¡¯m nervous.¡± ¡°Hey, Wang Jiho. Why are you making such a fuss? There¡¯s still an hour left before the reality show starts.¡± ¡°I¡¯m a little nervous too¡­¡± They were gathered in the studio, rubbing their hands nervously, before the first broadcast of HBS MTV¡¯s idol reality show . As a talk show with MCs¡¯ sarcastic jokes was ying on theptop screen, Woojooughed. ¡°I haven¡¯t seen you guys nervous in a long time, really.¡± ¡°Maybe it¡¯s because it¡¯s a reality show, Hyung. It¡¯s our first reality show on TV.¡± ¡°Well, now that I think about it, you guys were really jealous of Street Boys at the year-end evaluation. Remember? They were so¡­¡± ¡°Hyung, eat an apple. An apple.¡± Bijoo put a neatly sliced apple in Woojoo¡¯s mouth. As he chewed on the apple, his phone in his pocket vibrated briefly. It was Assistant Hong from the PR Team. -Come to the office with the members for a sec What was going on? Chapter 130: Chapter 130: Trantor: MarcTempest Editor: Rxel Chapter 130 What was going on? It wasn¡¯t strange to get a call from the PR team. They usually contacted the management team, but sometimes they called us too. They would ask for our opinions on the slogans for the promotion, or tell us what to be careful of when doing interviews with reporters. But. ¡°What did they want?¡±¡°I don¡¯t know.¡± It didn¡¯t seem like a good thing. This person usually put ¡®^^¡¯ at the end of their texts as a habit, but today they sent a short and curt message. At least it wasn¡¯t a phone call. It was a really urgent matter when the PR team called us directly. I led the younger ones out of the studio. But these guys. They crowded around the elevator, wanting to ride it. Iughed at the sight of them. ¡°You¡¯re going to take the elevator to go up one floor?¡± ¡°Yes.¡± The youngest pressed the button and said as if it was obvious. ¡°We have to enjoy this, the taste of sess.¡± ¡°¡­What does taking the elevator have to do with the taste of sess?¡± Iughed incredulously, but Bijoo had a serious expression on his face. ¡°You don¡¯t know, but there was someone who scolded us for taking the elevator before.¡± ¡°Oh, really?¡± I didn¡¯t know that. ¡°They said, why are you taking the elevator when you haven¡¯t even debuted yet¡­¡± ¡°Some people are weird.¡± ¡°Well, back then there were more than one or two weird people, right?¡± Rihyuk retorted and we waited for the elevator with the younger ones. Taking the elevator to go up from the second floor to the third floor. It was a funny scene, but seeing the kids¡¯ eyes sparkle, I also felt amused. Come to think of it, we always took the stairs when we went up from the second to the third floor. It was the first time we took the elevator for that. ¡°We¡¯re here!¡± Ding, the elevator opened with a sound. But then, a middle-aged man with a pleasant face appeared as the door opened. We froze at the sight of the person whose head was shining under the elevator light. ¡°¡­?¡± While we blinked our eyes, the CEO, the head of the department, Director Jo, and the head of the management support team who were in the elevator blinked their eyes too. ¡°Oh, hello.¡± We greeted them, and the head of the management support team pressed the open button quickly. The CEO smiled warmly and asked. ¡°Oh my. Long time no see. Haha. Do you have something to do upstairs?¡± ¡°Ah, well.¡± ¡­I said and looked at the younger ones, but they all hid behind me. These guys always do this when something awkward happens. I discreetly pressed the down button while smiling. ¡°I pressed the down button, but I identally pressed both.¡± ¡°I see. Well, then, take care.¡± ¡°Yes, please go ahead.¡± I bowed my head politely with a friendly smile. Director Jo, who was standing behind the CEO with his tall height, watching the situation, pursed his lips. I felt a sting on my cheek, as if he had noticed our expressions. Damn. As soon as the door closed, I turned my head sharply and saw the younger ones¡¯ faces and let out a hollowugh. The image I saw on the inte came to my mind. The expression of a fox who lost its country after having its prey snatched by an eagle. I was going to scold them at first, but then Iughed. So I patted their shoulders and said. ¡°Let¡¯s just go as usual, by the stairs.¡± The PR team¡¯s office was peaceful. I was worried that something might have happened, but when I got there, it didn¡¯t seem like that. But. ¡°What is all that?¡± Rihyuk pointed at a corner of the PR team¡¯s office with a disgusted expression. There were boxes of parcels stacked up. ¡°Did youe?¡± Three men and women greeted us. They were the manager and the assistant who were in charge of idols, and a different intern fromst time. ¡°Hello.¡± I bowed politely and asked right away. ¡°Did you call us because of the delivery?¡± ¡°Oh, we suddenly got a lot of packages.¡± ¡°What are these?¡± Jiho asked and Hong assistant answered. ¡°These are gifts for you.¡± ¡°Gifts?¡± That was strange. ¡°Didn¡¯t you announce before that you don¡¯t ept personal gifts from fans¡­?¡± ¡°We did. We clearly posted that notice, but they still sent them. They must have timed the delivery to be now as a way of congratting you for the first episode of the reality show.¡± But it was still weird. The fans had sent us personal gifts before. They had sent a lot of them when we got our first win after our debut. But we had agreed with the agency¡¯s policy of banning any kind of gifts, regardless of the amount. So whenever we got these gifts, the PR team would open them and only keep the fan letters, and send the gifts back. That¡¯s how we had always done it until now¡­ ¡°By the way, did you have a reason to call us?¡± ¡°Uh, well¡­¡± The manager with a nervous expression raised his hand. He gestured for us toe closer and opened the delivery boxes to show us. ¡°Wow¡­¡± Every box had expensive items in them. Who sends these things in delivery boxes? I thought. Hong assistant said. ¡°We usually send them back right away, but there were some items that were too costly to handle carelessly.¡± The answer was obvious, but they must have felt burdened by the amount and wanted to check with us first. I looked at my siblings and they nodded as if they had the same thought. ¡°Yes, please send them back, no matter the amount. We¡¯ll just take the fan letters, if there are any.¡± ¡°Got it.¡± Hong assistant smiled and nodded. The intern started to tape the boxes again, while Junhyeon asked about the boxes that were piled up separately. ¡°By the way, what¡¯s in those boxes, assistant?¡± ¡°Oh, those are red ginseng.¡± ¡°Red ginseng¡­?¡± We blinked our eyes and she answered. ¡°Woojoo, you said you liked red ginseng on your live broadcast, and I guess the fans saw that and sent you these gifts.¡± ¡°¡­¡± ¡°We¡¯re going to send those back too.¡± I nodded my head. His expression seemed to falter slightly, and Bijoo came over and stuck to me. He looked like a hamster trying to share his body heat with me, and I smiled involuntarily. The manager said. ¡°Hey, guys. Do you want to go up first? I have some fan letters for you separately, and I have something to discuss with Uju about the promotion.¡± ¡°Hmm? We have plenty of time, we can wait.¡± ¡°Me too.¡± Bijoo and Rihyuk kidnapped the first-graders who answered cheerfully. Rihyuk kept ncing at me as he looked back, so I smiled and gestured him to go quickly. When the kids disappeared, the manager called me aside. ¡°Can youe over here?¡± ¡°Yes.¡± What does he want? As I walked inside, I nodded and greeted the other employees who nced at me. Meanwhile, I found a pile of boxes stacked inside the partition. ¡°What is this¡­?¡± ¡°It¡¯s a personal gift that only came to you, but I thought it wouldn¡¯t look good to the other members, so I kept it here separately.¡± ¡°Oh, okay.¡± Then he handed me a bundle of fan letters that he had stored in the drawer. The thin pile of paper that felt like a feather usually felt heavy today. Maybe it was just my mood. Hong manager smiled and said to me. ¡°I guess the fandom size has grown since Around the World With Dice, and suddenly these gifts came in.¡± ¡°Yes, it¡¯s a grateful thing.¡± As I answered that, he looked at me and brought up another topic. ¡°Uju. Today is the first episode of the reality show. You agreed to watch it live with the fans, right?¡± ¡°Yes, that¡¯s right.¡± ¡°I think the timing of the gifts has nothing to do with that¡­¡± ¡°That¡¯s true.¡± ¡°Should I announce on the fan cafe that today¡¯s live broadcast is canceled?¡± ¡°No.¡± I waved my hand with a smile. ¡°It¡¯s a promise with the fans. We have to have fun together.¡± ¡°Okay, I got it.¡± ¡°Then I¡¯ll go.¡± I was about to say goodbye and leave, but I remembered something and called him again. ¡°Excuse me, manager.¡± ¡°Huh?¡± ¡°Can you tell the people who sent me the gifts that I appreciate their hearts?¡± ¡°Sure.¡± The manager who was staring at me smiled. ¡°I¡¯ll deliver it.¡± I feel sorry for the fans. I wonder if I should look back on what happened. Lately, I¡¯ve been talking a lot about red ginseng when I do live broadcasts or write on the fan cafe. I was so excited and happy to see the effects of the red ginseng that I received as a prize for winning the Chuseok quiz show. But it seemed to have a different effect on some of the fans. Maybe I should have been more careful with my words and actions. It seems like a chance to think about the professional aspect for a moment. ¡°What are you thinking? Bro?¡± ¡°Ouch. You startled me.¡± ¡°Was my beauty that surprising?¡± ¡°You¡¯re a surprising existence in many ways, our youngest.¡± I was sitting on the sofa, spacing out, when a mischievous face popped up in front of me. He kept making jokes, so I stroked his head. Rihyuk nced at my expression and took out a sweet potato snack from the bag and handed it to me. It was his way of showing his best affection. ¡°Was there any trouble upstairs?¡± ¡°None. Except for the ones who insisted on taking the elevator earlier.¡± ¡°Ahem.¡± The younger ones coughed and avoided my gaze. I asked with a smile. ¡°Are you ready for the live broadcast?¡± ¡°Yes, I set up a tripod on my phone.¡± Bijoo showed me the phone mounted on the tripod with a ta-da. He looked around and hid the red ginseng bag under the table that seemed to be visible on the camera angle. Then he changed the subject. ¡°What are you watching on TV?¡± ¡°Well, I guess they¡¯re showing the behind-the-scenes of the music show we did a few days ago.¡± ¡°I see.¡± ¡°Oh, look, there are the Scarlet sisters.¡± On theptop screen, the behind-the-scenes video of HBS MTV¡¯s music show Showtime was being reyed. There were many familiar faces. The Scarlet members, wearing ck feathered costumes, were being interviewed before going on stage. I eximed. ¡°The costumes are really pretty. Is it a crow concept?¡± -Our concept for thiseback is ck swan. A ck swan. The leader of Scarlet, Ara, said that and the younger ones pped and giggled. Then Jiho fiddled with his phone. ¡°I have to send this to him.¡± ¡°Hey, don¡¯t do that.¡± Why would you want to make someone you haven¡¯t even met hate you? Next, the Street Boys, who were promoting their second album, came out wearing loose school uniforms. Hanjo, who had smoky eye makeup, started the interview. -Yes, our second album title ¡®Deeper¡¯ is aeback song that is deeper than ourst title. Please support us a lot. -Peace! They greeted roughly and then walked away shyly, thinking that the filming was over. Bijoo smiled and said. ¡°He¡¯s your friend, right?¡± ¡°He¡¯s not my friend.¡± They kept teasing me every time Hanjo came out sincest time. It would be really awkward if we met. I imagined it in my head. We faced each other and said, ¡®I, as a friend¡­¡¯, ¡®Oh, yes. From the interview¡­¡¯, ¡®So¡­ you did.¡¯. Ugh. It was autumn outside, but for a moment it felt like the temperature around me dropped below zero. While I was thinking that, the behind-the-scenes video was soon heading towards the end. As a finale, Scarlet, who won first ce, came down to the backstage and thanked the camera. -Thank you to our Curtains, who always wrap us softly. We love you always! The leader sent a hand heart, and the rest of the members danced with the trophy as the behind-the-scenes ended. We chatted while themercials were on. ¡°By the way, the fans sent us a lot of gifts today. Of course, we didn¡¯t ept them because of the rules and all¡­¡± ¡°We can¡¯t help it. We promised, right?¡± ¡°Right. And we should be the ones giving them something. I hate it when someone gives me something.¡± The four of them scanned the youngest from head to toe. The earrings he got from Bijoo, the yellow T-shirt I bought him for his birthday, the ck jeans that he stole from Ryuk so many times that Ryuk clicked the quantity like crazy and ordered ten of them, and the sugar-free snacks he was holding in his hand that he got from Junghyun. Ryuk clicked his tongue. ¡°Where¡¯s your conscience? Seriously.¡± ¡°What do you mean?¡± Junghyun said, looking at the shameless youngest member. ¡°Oh, this reminds me of that. You know, the folk tale where the triangle in your heart spins and bes a circle.¡± ¡°Um, Junghyun Hyung. It¡¯s spinning, not sparkling. And it¡¯s not a folk tale, it¡¯s a story that Native Americans told.¡± ¡°Oh, an American folk tale then.¡± ¡°¡­¡± Rihyuk shivered at the sight of the bear rummaging through the sugar-free snack bag with a calm face. Weughed among ourselves for a while, then the topic returned to normal. ¡°Anyway, I thought of something when I saw the gift earlier¡­ Don¡¯t you think we should give a gift to our fans at the fan meeting this time?¡± ¡°That sounds good. It would have a special meaning too.¡± Bijoo agreed with a smile, and Rihyuk nodded. ¡°That¡¯s fine. I was wondering what to do this time that the fans would like. The problem is¡­¡± ¡°What¡¯s bothering you?¡± ¡°It¡¯s hard to do something by hand when there are a thousand peopleing, isn¡¯t it?¡± ¡°True.¡± I scratched my cheek. ¡°Even if we fold a thousand paper cranes, it¡¯s only one per person.¡± ¡°But that would be really funny. Hey, our souffl¨¦s, when you leave, please take one paper crane from us.¡± He mimicked handing out imaginary paper cranes, and described the expressions of the fans who were dumbfounded by his gesture. Weughed again because of the youngest. Rihyuk bit his tongue. ¡°They¡¯ll lose all their respect for us. Anyway, my point is that it¡¯s hard to give the same gift as the first fan signing event when there are so many people.¡± ¡°How about eco-bag season 2?¡± Bijoo shook his head at Junghyun¡¯s question. ¡°Hmm, that might be too nd. It¡¯s our first fan meeting, so I want to give them a more meaningful gift.¡± ¡°Any good ideas?¡± ¡°I can only think of money when you say a meaningful gift. My dad always says that the most meaningful gift is cash.¡± ¡°Wow.¡± I eximed. ¡°If we give money envelopes to our fans, that would be legendary in its own way.¡± ¡°Our name would be on the front page of the society section. One of us would be arrested as the ringleader.¡± ¡°Oh, arrest.¡± ¡°¡­¡± ¡°¡­Why are you all looking at me?¡± I was annoyed by the guys who looked at me at the same time. Then, as if he had imagined something, Bijoo said with a determined face. ¡°We won¡¯t let you go alone, Hyung. We¡¯ll go with you¡­ Pfft.¡± He burst intoughter, as if he found his own words funny. That was contagious, and we startedughing again in no time. It was strange. Maybe it was because we were working so hard these days. Ourughter barrier was almost like an apartment garden fence. I like it, though. The story always jumps to unexpected ces. It¡¯s like a hangover conversation. When we first talk, it¡¯s like a flower garden, but when Ie to my senses, I¡¯m already on a ship heading to a neutral country. It¡¯s chaotic, but every time we have this kind of conversation, the fog in my head clears and I feel the sun shining. I pped my hands and summarized the situation. ¡°Let¡¯s think about the fan meeting giftster, and watch the broadcast first.¡± As I cleaned up the messy table, the logo of Reality Episode 1 appeared on the top right corner of the screen. Then I turned on the live broadcast with the public phone. We waved our hands to the camera beyond the screen, as we watched the number of viewers rise rapidly. ¡°Hello!¡± ¡°Hahaha!¡± It was a brilliant decision to watch Reality Episode 1 with our Souffl¨¦s. Usually, when I watch dramas or variety shows, it¡¯s more fun to see thements or jokes that people make in real time, and that¡¯s exactly what happened. Iughed every three minutes because of the fans who made jokes whenever there was a funny scene. ¡®It¡¯s the New ck¡¯ started with a pink title that introduced the host of the beauty show, and it was full of rich content for 50 minutes. From self-introduction interviews to military enlistment, discharge videos, and exploding kimchi pots. I searched and found an article. -New ck Woojoo, video call with TNT Taehyun on reality show ¡®Golden Network¡¯ Most of the articles were rted to Taehyun. I guess the articles about the reality show content wille up after the broadcast ends. Meanwhile, a special video was revealed as the episode 1 ended. -Special preview of New ck¡¯s second album production! ¡­with that caption, the screen showed me sitting in the studio. Chapter 131: Chapter 131: A ck hoodie and a hat. That was my work outfit, and as soon as I appeared on the screen, the jeers poured out. My siblings all went ¡°Aye~¡± in unison. ¡°Wow, what a dramatic shot. When did you start wearing makeup for work?¡± ¡°Makeup? That¡¯s my bare face, everyone.¡± ¡°That¡¯s not your bare face.¡± Junghyun looked at the screen with a hawk¡¯s eye. ¡°Your eyebrows are different, hyung.¡± ¡°My eyebrows are a bit fickle. I guess they were in good condition that day.¡±¡°Wow, you¡¯re really shameless.¡± With Rihyuk¡¯s exmation, Bijoo started tough. He seemed to like my weird jokes. His long fingers, holding a dried sweet potato, pointed at the screen. ¡°But, ajusshi, what shade of BB cream did you use? 13?¡± ¡°Rihyuk-ah. The fans are watching too, so don¡¯t make trouble.¡± ¡°Our Souffl¨¦ needs to know the truth.¡± ¡°That¡¯s right.¡± I smiled brightly at the chat window, where ¡®????¡¯ was rising in real time. ¡°Is anyone here curious about Rihyuk or Jiho¡¯s dark and secret past? Raise your hand, please. I¡¯ll tell you.¡± The chat window became busy right away, as if the eager breads were raising their hands here and there. -Hand! -Hand here! -??????Look at Jiho and Rihyuk¡¯s faces I put my hand on my mouth and pretended to whisper, and the two brothers said politely. ¡°Oh, I was mistaken. You¡¯re totally bare-faced now.¡± ¡°I thought you wore makeup, but you have mineral skin. Oh, is it called water glow?¡± I chuckled at the change of attitude of my brothers. They tended to be annoyed when I dressed up for TV and acted like it was my usual look, because I didn¡¯t care much about my appearance. Of course, there were some exceptions. ¡°Bijoo-ya.¡± ¡°Yes?¡± ¡°Let¡¯s do the captureter. I¡¯m busy.¡± ¡°Oh. But you looked really cool just now¡­¡± Bijoo made a regretful expression as he kept pressing the capture button. I was running out ofptop space, so I couldn¡¯t keep it all. Last time, at the music cafe, he pressed the capture button so much that one folder took up a huge amount of space. Junghyun pointed at theptop screen. ¡°Oh, the scene changed.¡± The A&R team staff appeared on the screen. That¡¯s strange. They weren¡¯t the kind of people who wore such neat clothes¡­ Theposers, who had dressed up for the broadcast, gave interviews. -It was amazing. Woojoo brought Fireworks as his selfposed song, and as soon as I heard it, my head went ting. -I cried. (Why?) I had already nned to secure the title song in advance¡­ but it all fell apart. -I think he¡¯s a fast learner. I¡¯ve been watching him since Something, and I was moved by his recent Night Sea. I looked away, embarrassed by thepliments. While the fans and my siblings were teasing me, the scene changed again. This time, it was our members. -He was extraordinary from the first time he came. He boasted that he would do a difficult arrangement in one day. -Rihyuk-hyung lost miserably in a bet then. (No, I didn¡¯t! I only lost a little.) -We always talk about that. If it wasn¡¯t for Woojoo-hyung, we wouldn¡¯t have made it this far. I said with a smile. ¡°Now it¡¯s ttering.¡± ¡°That¡¯s right.¡± We smiled warmly at each other and looked at the distant mountain. Then, the video of the Night Seaposition process on thepany¡¯s YouTube, the headlines of the articles about the sess of Fireworks and Night Sea, and the majestic BGM followed. This was really embarrassing. It felt like I was watching the great biography of the gloriousrade Seon Woojoo, made by a dictatorship. ¡°Please don¡¯t misunderstand, everyone. The reality show producers made it look so big for the broadcast.¡± I cooled down my flushed cheeks with a water bottle and waited for the next scene. ¡°¡­Huh?¡± "I thought the screen went off, but then a drowsy voice popped out from the screen. -Seokhwan hyung. That was the call that started it all. ¡®Oh, no!¡¯ The embarrassing call I made to the director yed back. The melody was hummed for security reasons, and only the first note was heard before it was beeped. I erased the sound that leaked out of theptop speaker with a loud ¡®Ahh!¡¯ every time my voice came out. Junghyun smirked and asked. ¡®Hyung, but the fans are not watching this here, they are watching it on their own TV at home right now.¡¯ ¡®Oh.¡¯ ¡®I¡¯m smart, right?¡¯ ¡®¡­¡¯ While they wereughing at me saying ¡®Seokhwan hyung, I¡¯ll buy you pork cutlet~¡¯, the chat room was filled with pork cutlets. I teared up as I saw it. Then, Director Jo Gyuhwan was sitting in the office and giving an interview as the producer of New ck. Theughter of the production team was heard first. -(Did you eat the pork cutlet?) Yes. I even took a proof shot. A proof shot popped up on the screen with a click sound. So that¡¯s why he asked me to take it that day. I lowered the level of the gift card I was going to send to the director after the broadcast. From tiramisu set to bagel. -Our kids have received a lot of attention while they were active. But there are also a lot of parts that didn¡¯t get attention. I always felt sorry that I couldn¡¯t show the true colors of these talented kids as a producer. He went on to say this and that. -¡­For that reason, through this reality show, I want to show the fans of New ck how the members participate in the album production and their production process. In simple terms, that¡¯s what he meant. The gap between the debut in June and theeback in November was long, so he was going to throw some hints about the second album through an eight-part reality show. At the same time, he was going to show my aspect as aposer idol, which the fans were always curious about. The remaining 15 minutes were scenes inside the studio. -Hello. I¡¯m Woojoo. I waved my hand and smiled at the camera. -Well¡­ I was just going to film the scene where I y with the song, but since it might be unfamiliar to our Souffl¨¦s. I¡¯ll tell you some very simple things aboutposing. I yed some chord progressions with the guitar and gave a basic exnation of harmony, but none of them seemed to understand. -I don¡¯t know what it is, but Woojoo is doing something hard¡­ -Lololololololol -It¡¯s okay if you have a good voice¡­ We¡¯re happy -We don¡¯t have to know everything to be happy, right? Right? (Moist) Iughed at the fans¡¯ reactions. Our fans are really nice. I would have yawned and made a fuss if it were me, but they responded to my boring exnation. And then." ¡°Junghyun.¡± ¡°Yes.¡± ¡°How can you y with your smartphone when I¡¯m on the screen?¡± ¡°¡­Ah, it was boring for a moment.¡± He threw a fact bomb with an innocent face, and the chat room burst intoughter again. ¡°I can¡¯t live. Really.¡± While hemented, the scene ofposing continued. From why we call each other piggy song to me making a melody with Jeeho sitting next to me. It came out edited in a funny way. While I was talking with confidence, Jeeho, who was sitting next to me, fell asleep and woke up, and repeated the cycle of suffering for an hour. I shook my head at thement that I looked like a wicked boss. ¡°It¡¯s edited for broadcasting. Actually, Jeeho enjoyed it too.¡± ¡°It was the hardest time of my life.¡± ¡°People grow through trials.¡± I coughed at the re of the youngest. Meanwhile, as the production process approached the end, the fans were puzzled. When I closed my eyes and imagined the stage in my head, or spread dozens of A4 papers and immersed myself in thought. And when I exined the color of the sound to Jeeho and adjusted the tone of the song. The scenes that were normal for us seemed unfamiliar to our souffl¨¦s. At first, some people teased me if it was a setting, but soon they realized that the scenes on the screen were real and lost their words. I wonder if I could see their bewildered expressions beyond the chat room. Come to think of it, it was the first time I showed how I make songs properly. Someonemented. -Isposing usually done like that? I answered. ¡°I think it depends on the person. But I tend to work in that style¡­ Something was a bit different, but I made Fireworks and Night Sea like that. Basically, I think of it in my head first and then keep touching it when the resultes out.¡± It felt like it was not a reality show but a Q&A time. While I was talking about the questions that came up quickly, the kids smiled. ¡°Finally¡­¡± Finally? ¡°Our souffl¨¦s realized that you¡¯re weird.¡± ¡°It¡¯s a historic day.¡± I thought I was screwed as I looked at the happy siblings. Friday evening 7 p.m. As New ck¡¯s first reality show ¡®It¡¯s the New ck¡¯ ended, posts began to appear on the fan cafe. -Kimchi explosion scene gif please lol -Woojoo¡¯s expression when he saw the picket at the training ground lololol -But what¡¯s the rtionship between TNT Taehyun and Woojoo? The reactions to the reality show were varied. Some fans mentioned the scenes that were funny enough to be mistaken for a si, and some fans were curious about the support from TNT Taehyun. For that, there were posts with the answer ¡®We were close when we were trainees.¡¯ along with the proof shots taken at Music On in March. The atmosphere was happy enough toin of indigestion with the countless hints that poured out. But what the fans were most interested in was the album production process at the end. -Do you know any souffl¨¦s who know a bit aboutposing lol? I was a bit surprised watching it¡­ -I¡¯m not the only one who felt that way lol The fans who had thought ¡®Woojoo is good atposing too~¡¯ as an idol who is good at something were happy but confused. They had seen that side of him in music cafes or self-produced reality shows, but it was the first time they saw it in detail like today. There is nothing more proud than having an idol you like do well in a certain field, but the scene that the fans witnessed today exceeded their expectations too much. That¡¯s why they still felt a bit awkward. On the other hand, there was also regret. -But we can¡¯t promote this anywhere, right? -Yeah, it looks scripted and we might get bashed¡­ -I¡¯m still a bit awkward lololol It was a bit awkward to post ¡®Look at our kids!¡¯ on the idolmunity. It had a vibe that you could feel when you watch the video, but if you only see the picture, it was enough to be ridiculed as a script. Especially after Juse, the awareness was high and there was a subtle pressure from everywhere. That¡¯s why New ck¡¯s fans started to promote the kimchi explosion scene, the reserve army lunch box, and the tripe restaurant mukbang, which had good reactions, on the idolmunity. Meanwhile, the first episode of New ck¡¯s reality show went viral on various onlinemunities with hrious screenshots. It received positive feedback for its funny scenes, such as the kimchi pot explosion, but it also got some unexpected reactions from elsewhere. ¡°What¡¯s this?¡± Seo Ji-hyung, aedian who ran a tripe restaurant in Hongdae, tilted his head as he checked the sales records. His younger brother asked. ¡°What is it?¡± ¡°I don¡¯t know, I feel like the sales are increasing slightly¡­¡± ¡°You¡¯re imagining things. That¡¯s all.¡± But as the days went by, the customers kept increasing. It wasn¡¯t a huge surge, but it was encouraging that the downward trend had stopped. ¡®Why are there so many female customers¡­?¡¯ He searched the inte, but couldn¡¯t find anything, so he often asked the customers how they came. Every time, he got a flustered reaction. ¡®What¡¯s going on?¡¯ Soon, a couple who came in told him the truth. ¡°Oh, I saw this meme on the inte a while ago.¡± ¡°A meme?¡± ¡°Yeah, the idol kid who eats well.¡± ¡°Oh.¡± He remembered. Two weeks ago, New ck came and made a record-breaking sales and left. That¡¯s when he understood the reactions of those who asked how they knew. ¡®They were fans of New ck.¡¯ Lately, as he saw the gradually increasing sales records, the faces of New ck members shed in his mind. ¡®Then¡­¡¯ The next day. Seo Ji-hyung printed out huge screenshots of the reality show where New ck members appeared and stuck them on the wall. He also wrote a phrase on the wall where they had sat. [¡ý Where New ck members ate] He looked at it and smiled contentedly. Then he thought of someone. Someone who gave him this great opportunity. Joonhyun said. ¡°But the reality show is getting reactions from unexpected ces.¡± ¡°That¡¯s right. Hyung, same with the album tracks.¡± I nodded. We worked hard on the reality show for our fans, but it surprisingly got attention from elsewhere. Before the reality show aired, there were few people who sent us songs for the second album contest, but the number increased a lot after the first episode. There were some pretty famous ones too. ording to Director Jo, the scene where I appeared in the reality show became a hot topic among theposers. It was more of a curiosity than apliment, as they thought I was a ¡®strange kid¡¯, but anyway, it was good news for us. It meant we could make our second album more diverse and rich. Of course, what was most important to us right now was the official fan meeting that would take ce before the album. ¡°Let¡¯s talk again about what we should give to our fans.¡± We sat in the lounge and spread out a paper, exchanging various ideas. The topic was the gift for our fans. From food to photo cards, to giving them eco-bags again, there were different opinions. ¡°No, let¡¯s try something different this time.¡± I said. ¡°Eco-bags or food are things we can only give to those whoe to events like fan signing or music shows.¡± Rihyuk agreed. ¡°That¡¯s true. They are gifts that can only be received by those whoe to the site.¡± ¡°I want to broaden the scope a bit. There are people who want toe to the fan meeting but can¡¯t.¡± ¡°What about those whoe to the fan meeting?¡± ¡°We¡¯ll give them something else too.¡± ¡°Ah, I get it now.¡± The younger ones finally understood what I meant. I wanted to take care of the Souffl¨¦s who couldn¡¯te to the fan meeting, as well as those who did. To deliver our hearts to everyone equally. ¡°It might be a bit difficult.¡± Bijoo said. ¡°I talked briefly with the promotion team earlier. They didn¡¯t say it outright, but it seems like the budget is over.¡± ¡°That makes sense. We upgraded the venue too.¡± The atmosphere became somber as we thought of the cancetion fee for the small theater and the weekend live hall rental fee. Joonhyun asked. ¡°Should we fold paper cranes? Paper is cheap.¡± ¡°Do you have the confidence to fold as many as the fan cafe members?¡± ¡°Hold on.¡± He tapped his phone calctor and nodded. ¡°If I start folding paper cranes right after eating, it¡¯s possible.¡± ¡°¡­I see.¡± ¡°Paper cranes are a no. Let¡¯s think of something else. Something that will make the fans go wow.¡± ¡°Should I film a cute video?¡± ¡°Put it in.¡± I shook my head. There were various suggestions, but none of them seemed convincing. The problem was money. What could we give them that wouldn¡¯t exceed the budget like thest time with the eco-bags? Then, Rihyuk asked me something that reminded me of something. ¡°Right, speaking of gifts, you said thatst time on Chuseok. You said you¡¯d buy me a vacuum cleaner.¡± ¡°Oh, that.¡± ¡°When are you going to buy it?¡± ¡°Just wait a bit. There¡¯s a weekly sale this month. It¡¯s a waste of money to buy it now.¡± Rihyuk nodded as I said that, and then something shed through my mind. The keyword was weekly sale. An event where products are discounted for a week. I thought of the so-called ck Friday overseas and the ck Friday Week for the week with that day. My head started spinning fast. We named the fan meeting event Souffl¨¦ Day, so¡­ I quickly exined to the younger ones what came to my mind. An event that wouldn¡¯t exceed the budget realistically, and that all the fans could participate in. ¡°That sounds good.¡± The most picky main vocal of ours agreed, and Bijoo said with a serious face. ¡°Hyung, but.¡± ¡°Yeah.¡± ¡°¡­Let¡¯s keep it a secret that you got the idea from the weekly sale.¡± ¡°Ah.¡± Naturally, I decided to keep it a secret. Some timeter. On the fan cafe of New ck. [The New ck 1st Fan Meeting ¨C Souffl¨¦ Day] A news that would make the fans jump with joy came out. The first official fan meeting. As everyone was happy to see the group poster with the schedule and the venue, another notice was posted. It was a strange title: [Souffl¨¦ Week]. Chapter 132: Chapter 132: Trantor: MarcTempest Editor: Rxel Chapter 132 They checked the fans¡¯ reactions after uploading the announcement on their official SNS. The Souffl¨¦s were dancing with excitement at the news of their first official fan meeting. Bijoo spoke with a bright face. ¡°Hyung, it¡¯s been a long time since I¡¯ve seen the fans so happy.¡± ¡°I know, right? I¡¯m so happy too. Hey.¡± ¡°It¡¯s different, you know. Reality shows and stuff are just on TV, but this is actually seeing their faces.¡±¡°Don¡¯t you think we¡¯re more excited than them?¡± ¡°No. We are.¡± ¡­As he was saying that, theptop screen turned off in power-saving mode. In the ck screen, he was smiling so brightly that his teeth sparkled. Woojoo coughed and kept hisposure. ¡°¡­Let¡¯s look at the fans¡¯ reactions a little more.¡± Woojoo shook the mouse and quickly turned the screen back on. He rxed the muscles around his mouth that had been tense. A faint smile escaped and he felt good. How long had it been since theirst offline event? Thest broadcast was in July, so it had been three months already, and even if they counted fan signing events and such, it had been two months since they met the fans officially offline. They weren¡¯t even that far apart, but they hardly had any chance to meet the fans. They only consoled their empty feelings with fan cafe posts or live broadcasts. This was different. It was a world of difference between showing their faces on a TV show andmunicating with the fans directly. Sometimes, when they saw their Souffl¨¦s in the seats of the event hall, Junghyun would spot them with his eagle eyes and be nervous, and Woojoo would remember and confirm them. And then they would wave their hands like crazy. Of course, there were also people who came to see them near thepany or the dorm, but they didn¡¯t answer them at all. It was unfortunate, but they couldn¡¯t help it. They had already notified them in advance through thepany¡¯s announcement, and more importantly, it was strictly forbidden for celebrities to have personal rtionships with specific fans. It wouldn¡¯t hurt to say hello, but if that led to a personal friendship, it always caused trouble. For example, even saying a few more friendly words at the official seat could make the fans feel alienated over time. In other words, the key was not to give the impression to other fans that ¡®Oh? They¡¯re being nicer to some kids? They only treat me well if Ie near thepany or offline.¡¯ They might not know and pass it by, but it would be hurtful from the fans¡¯ perspective. It was an easy mistake for anyone to make. Woojoo wouldn¡¯t have thought of this if he hadn¡¯t seen the idents that the senior groups at TJ Entertainment had caused. Rihyuk also agreed with him. ¡°That¡¯s right. I moved around several book clubs because of the staff¡¯s favoritism. I even had a big fight.¡± It was a strange example, but it seemed appropriate. Anyway, for that reason, the ¡®Souffl¨¦ Week¡¯ that Woojoo suggested this time was a festival that they nned so that not only the people who came offline, but also the Souffl¨¦s at home could enjoy with them. A festival for all Souffl¨¦s. Woojoo scrolled down the mouse and clicked on the notice about Souffl¨¦ Week. ¡°Souffl¨¦ Week¡± Mon: Jiho ¨C Member Talk + Game Tue: Rihyuk ¨C Member Talk + Debate ¡­ Sat: Official Fan Meeting Sun: Surprise Gift Reveal It was an event where they would spend time with the fans every day until the official fan meeting, taking turns by member. For example, Jiho would y games with the fans, Junghyun would give quizzes, or Bijoo would give away souffl¨¦s that he made by lottery. Of course, the prizes were small. Almost like stationery jewel rings? But it was meaningful to be with the fans. ¡°I think this event is really good, Hyung.¡± Bijoo smiled. ¡°It doesn¡¯t go over the budget and we can do it ourselves.¡± ¡°Right?¡± ¡°Yes, I need to search for souffl¨¦ recipes soon.¡± Their Bijoo started tapping his smartphone. Suddenly, when Woojoo suggested the title of the eventter, he said ¡®Bijoo¡¯s Story¡¯ instead of ¡®Star¡¯s Story¡¯, and he flipped over andughed. Their kid had a weird sense of humor. Their main vocal, who was always rumored to be nitpicky, showed a satisfied smile today. ¡°Well, I don¡¯t want to admit it, but it¡¯s good. We can also have a debate in front of the fans.¡± ¡°Why do you think the debate is more important? You?¡± ¡°Of course. Look forward to it. I¡¯ll pick a topic that¡¯s really hard to conclude.¡± ¡°Rihyuk.¡± ¡°What?¡± ¡°If artificial intelligence ever takes over the world, let¡¯s not do this kind of thing. Okay?¡± ¡°¡­¡± ¡°Haha, look at your face, Hyung. You¡¯re so embarrassed¡­ Ouch!¡± As Jiho pointed andughed at Woojoo, he said to Rihyuk, ¡°Bring something more fun next time. Likest time, whether you dip or pour the sauce on the sweet and sour pork, that kind of thing.¡± ¡°How is that a topic for discussion?¡± Junghyun shook his head. ¡°It¡¯s dipping, obviously.¡± ¡°No, it¡¯s pouring.¡± ¡°I prefer soy sauce¡­¡± They ended up forming an alliance and attacking the soy sauce faction. It was exciting to see everyone preparing an event each, and Woojoo smiled happily. Jiho said, ¡°Hyung, Hyung. But what about this? Can¡¯t we do this every year?¡± ¡°Every year?¡± It¡¯s not a bad idea, but Woojoo didn¡¯t know if it was possible. ¡°Well, it would be nice if we could.¡± ¡°I had this idea earlier. We do this every year and gradually increase the scale. And then when we be super sessful, we rent out COEX and hold a souffle expo or something¡­¡± The youngest was so enthusiastic that they joined him in imagining and burst outughing. A souffle expo, huh. They joked among ourselves. ¡°By then, there would be giant balloons of our dolls floating around, right?¡± ¡°Oh, I want to sell Junghyun hot dogs, Junghyun burgers at a stall. I¡¯ll ask Bijoo for the recipes.¡± ¡°Hey, I can do that.¡± ¡°I want to do that thing. You know, in the US amusement parks, there are people with c bags who refill your drinks. I want to do that.¡± ¡°Excuse me, can we all talk sense? Please.¡± Someone pointed out theck of realism, but it was a funny scene to imagine and they teased each other. Well. Imagination was free. Maybe it was because they nned this together, but they were just happy. ¡°Okay, then, shall we get ready?¡± They all nodded, but Bijoo looked at theptop screen and asked Woojoo, ¡°But, Hyung. Friday is the day you chat with your fans, but why is there nothing on the event slot?¡± ¡°Oh.¡± Woojoo smiled and said, ¡°I have something else to prepare.¡± ¡°¡­?¡± Woojoo gestured to the studio table with his chin, and his siblings got it. Woojoo asked with a smile, ¡°Anyone curious about what I¡¯m going to do?¡± The scene where Junghyun and Jihyo visited the vige in Yeoncheon County and reunited with the residents was apanied by the appearance of the ck goat Daegil as a scene stealer. A veterinarian who appeared in that episode examined Daegil at the hospital and checked for any possible abnormalities in his body, but there was nothing wrong. Soon after, an animal scientist who appeared on the scene looked at the video and the ck goat and nodded his head. [Im Jungho/Animal Scientist]: There¡¯s nothing wrong with him mentally or physically. Simply put, he just has a bad¡­ dirty, no, a bad personality. The expression and caption of the animal scientist who awkwardly softened the words that he was crazy were somehow exquisite and spread all over themunity. At the end, the cause was revealed. [Im Jungho/Animal Scientist]: This is the cabbage you feed him as food. You changed it recently, right? [Ko Myungsik/Daegil¡¯s Dad]: ¡­How did you know? The farming was not good this year, so I changed the cabbage to foreign ones. [Im Jungho/Animal Scientist]: It seems that he didn¡¯t like the taste. That¡¯s why he¡¯s angry all the time. [Junghyun/Daegil¡¯s Friend]: He¡¯s like that because he doesn¡¯t like the food? [Jiho/Daegil¡¯s Younger Brother]: Wow. Amazing. He¡¯s really immature. Then, at the end of the broadcast, Junghyun grabbed Daegil¡¯s hand and said, ¡°You have to eat well from now on,¡± with a heartwarming ending. The subtle and funny directing of the cuts of Junghyun walking with Daegil¡¯s leash, along with the gentle BGM and the flying CG flowers, was quite a topic. And on the same day. The team of Around the World With Dice, whom Woojoo had chosen Hawaii as a travel destination, rolled in Pugok Hawaii after the preview, and the ¡®Men Go¡¯ male celebrity special was broadcast. They had a lot of work to do, so Woojoo only watched the clips after it was over, and the video call between Woojoo and Taehyun had a pretty high view count. Inside the car. Taehyun: He¡¯s the closest Hyung to me after our members. We were really close since we were trainees, and he¡¯s also a veteran, so¡­ I¡¯m calling him to get some advice. Then, Woojoo appeared on the screen wearing a military uniform. Taehyun: Hyung, but your outfit¡­ Woojoo: I just finished the reserve duty. Woojooughed for a while in front of Taehyun, who wasughing. Behind him, the younger brothers holding the cards that said [Milky Woojoo], [Wee to Society] flowed out. Among them, Bijoo shyly waved a mini g. Then, when Taehyun said that he was appearing on ¡®Men Go¡¯, Woojoo burst outughing. It was a bit mean, even for him. Woojoo thought he might get cursed by TNT fans, but fortunately, the editing was good. It showed him giving serious advice. Woojoo: There¡¯s no honey tip in the army. You just have to do what they tell you to do. Taehyun: But there are times when you have to be proactive and stuff. Woojoo: I¡¯ll tell you one criterion. Something happens, right? But if you look at it and think, should I do it? Then you have to do it, and if you think, can I do it? Then you don¡¯t. Taehyun: Oh, oh. That advice got a good response from the veterans on the intemunity, Woojoo heard. Woojoo: Don¡¯t get hurt. That¡¯s the most important thing. Taehyun: But the broadcast time¡­ Woojoo: The broadcast time is important, but not getting hurt is the best. So be careful when the instructors tell you to be careful. If you think you can¡¯t do it, just drop out. Your body is more important. Taehyun: I¡¯ll get scolded for being selfish. Hyung. Woojoo: Then you¡¯ll live long. Taehyun: (Laugh) Hyung. Woojoo: (Laugh) Anyway, don¡¯t get hurt. The fans are the ones who are most heartbroken when you get hurt. Then Woojoo asked him a question. Woojoo: But how long are you going for? Taehyun: Oh, I¡¯m going for 2 nights and 3 days. Woojoo: 3 days? Taehyun: Yeah. Woojoo: 3 days¡­? So you¡¯re saying 3 days¡­ Hoo¡­ The scene where he shivered on the screen was a funny point, judging by thements below the clip. On the other hand, the clip turned out to be a good thing for Woojoo. The fans of TNT liked his advice to not get hurt, and he heard from the promotion team that they liked Woojoo a lot. Plus, some stories. -New ck Woojoo, ¡®Men Go¡¯ phone call with TNT Taehyun and prove their close friendship Unlike their reality show, it was a terrestrial broadcast, so the publicity was quite powerful. Everyone was happy about it. Well, not everyone. *** The first start of the Souffle Week, Monday. ¡°¡­¡± In the silence, Woojoo spoke. Everyone nodded their heads in unison. Only Junghyun, who was about to raise his hand, was grabbed by the wrist by Bijoo. While preparing for the uing Souffl¨¦ Week and the official fan meeting with the PR team, they also sped up the work on the reality show and the album. They selected the songs for the album through a contest with the A&R team. They decided to entrust the Intro and Outro of the second album, which would be the beginning and the end of it, to Junghyun, their rapper. He had been burning with passion for work since he met Heysion at Around the World With Dice, so Woojoo asked him if he wanted to do it and he said yes right away. They quickly found someone to help him with the song production. Woojoo went to the studio with a bunch of red bean buns and pine tree drinks to cheer him on, and he saw a familiar face. ¡°¡­¡± A tall and skinny man sitting next to Junghyun. A ck leather jacket over a hoodie. And dreadlocks. It was Heysion, who was on the same team as them at Around the World With Dice. ¡°Hi.¡± ¡°¡­Hi, nice to meet you.¡± Woojoo asked cautiously, ¡°What brings you here¡­?¡± ¡°What do you mean? I came to help my rap brother with his work.¡± Woojoo was a bit surprised. He liked Junghyun enough to call him his brother, since he had been a fan of him since his minor debut album, but he was basically a person who had a strong aversion to the idol industry. So Woojoo asked him while watching him work. Woojoo beat around the bush, but what he really meant was why he was participating in their work when he hated idols. And Woojoo got a really clear answer. ¡°Well, I still don¡¯t like idols much. Oh, I¡¯m not talking about you guys, I just don¡¯t like this system in general.¡± ¡°¡­¡± ¡°But, what I realized as I got older.¡± Heysion raised his thumb with a serious expression. ¡°Money is the best.¡± Woojoo engraved his golden words in my heart. With Heysion¡¯s help, the Intro and Outro of the album came out beautifully. The PR team was thrilled. -Rapper Heysion, participates in New ck¡¯s second album -¡®Around the World With Dice¡¯s connection leads to the album¡¯, New ck¡¯s Junghyun & Rapper Heysion¡¯s work -Heysion, ¡°New ck is a great junior singer¡± Of course, the PR team and their managers were not the only ones who liked it. -¡®Animal Friends¡¯, New ck¡­ Reunites with the ck goat Daegil -Shock! ck goat Daegil ¡®not an anger management disorder¡¯ -Animal Friends, New ck surprised by the animal expert¡¯s words ¡®Daegil has good anger control¡­?¡¯ The show that featured Daegil, the ck goat who had more cult poprity than any celebrity since the Chuseok Special. ¡°Guys.¡± ¡°What? Traitor.¡± ¡°Traitor? Your words are full of thorns, Rihyuk.¡± ¡°You are a traitor.¡± The youngest answered with a chubby face. ¡°You always bully us, scold us, and hit us.¡± ¡°When did I ever bully you, scold you, or hit you?¡± ¡°Well, there are many if you look for them. Anyway! You are so kind to Taehyun Sunbae, but to us¡­¡± ¡°Hey, that¡¯s because¡­¡± Woojoo exined to the guys who looked at him with pouting faces. ¡°It¡¯s different. He¡¯s someone I see very rarely, so I¡¯m nice to him. But you guys are close to me and we¡¯re always together. So it¡¯s more casual¡­¡± ¡°Hmm.¡± Junghyun stroked his chin. He seemed to want to say something smart, so Woojoo fed him a sweet snack. It worked. Then, Bijoo came out and said with averted eyes, ¡°I¡¯m a bit disappointed too, Hyung.¡± ¡°Come on¡­ If you¡¯re going to say that, you guys also ordered and ate something delicious when I went to the reserve army.¡± ¡°Wow, you were holding on to that?¡± ¡°I knew you would. You said you would keep it in mind.¡± ¡°Sigh¡­¡± It was too hard to argue with four against one. In the end, Woojoo slumped like a scapegoat. ¡°I havemitted a great sin, everyone¡­¡± ¡°You should know that.¡± Woojoo was angry and resentful because he didn¡¯t know what he did wrong, but soon heughed. It was because they were all joking. They were having a meeting at thepany conference room with a camera in front of them, nervous about the first event of Souffl¨¦ Week. The youngest nudged Woojoo with his shoulder. ¡°Hyung, I¡¯ll forgive you, so please massage my shoulder.¡± Ouch. ¡°Ow! It hurts!¡± ¡°Wow, our youngest. Your neck is so stiff.¡± Woojoo massaged his neck and he groaned. But it was strange. His shoulders were always soft and rxed without stress, but today they were stiff and hard. ¡°What did you do yesterday, you?¡± ¡°Ah. I practiced a lot for the game with the fans today.¡± Bijoo asked, ¡°Jiho, did you sleep at 2 o¡¯clock as Hyung told you?¡± ¡°Yes. Of course.¡± ¡°I don¡¯t think so. I woke up in the middle of the night and touched yourptop cover and it was hot.¡± He clicked the mouse a few times and [Yesterday¡¯s end time 05:34:29] came up. The youngest looked at Rihyuk with a bitter expression. He felt like he could have gotten away with it if it wasn¡¯t for him. While Bijoo sat the youngest down and talked softly about the dangers of using theputer for a long time, they finished preparing for the event. The first part was a live broadcast with the fans, and the second part was a random invitation for Jiho to y games with them. Thepany wanted them to do individual specials, but Woojoo opposed it. It would be troublesome if the viewer numbers varied by member. After killing some time. ¡°Two, three. Hello, we are New ck!¡± ¡°Wow!¡± They pped their hands and greeted the Souffl¨¦s who wereing in eagerly. Then they started the live broadcast with Jiho in the middle and them surrounding him. There were various Q&A and talk time about the youngest and them. And then the game time. Colorful beans were driving carts and running in a game, or there was a game with Fizz or something that looked like Rihyuk. Woojoo didn¡¯t know anything, so he just watched nkly. He only yed the games that were popr in PC rooms when he was in elementary school, so he didn¡¯t know anything about these games. ¡°Ah, but I¡¯m the only one doing it, so the other Hyungs might be bored. So I want to give you a chance, Woojoo Hyung. What do you want to do? Do you want me to turn on Go?¡± ¡°¡­I know how to y games too.¡± He didn¡¯t. Woojoo always got teased by his younger siblings and the fans whenever he yed the games that Jiho rmended. The chat window would fill up with ¡®LOL¡¯ as they watched him from behind or on the screen. ¡°¡­Ah, the mouse is stiff.¡± ¡°That¡¯s the new one that the PR team bought this morning, Hyung.¡± ¡°It¡¯s probably because theputer is slow¡­¡± ¡°I optimized it yesterday.¡± After setting a record for thest ce in every game, Woojoo looked at the camera and said, ¡°I haven¡¯t yed any of the recent games, you see. I only used to y things like StarCraft.¡± ¡°Oh, we have StarCraft too.¡± ¡°You do?¡± The youngest one clicked on the icon that was installed on the sharedptop. Woojoo said, ¡°But I don¡¯t think there are many people who y this game¡­ Oh, there is someone?¡± ¡°Wow.¡± A match was made. As soon as he created a random room, one of their fans joined. It was someone with a fearsome nickname, [Killer_Souffl¨¦]. ¡°Hyung, the fan is asking if you can y well.¡± ¡°Of course.¡± Woojoo smiled and said, ¡°I may not know much about other games, but I yed this one a lot when I was in elementary school.¡± ¡°Oh, are you an expert?¡± ¡°Yes. This game is like my own territory, I think.¡± ¡­That was what I said. Then the game started. And. ¡°Wow, yer Seon Woojoo. You really can¡¯t control, huh. Are you showing us that you are the worst yer ever?¡± ¡°That¡¯s right. This is why we need a dome stadium. Did you see how Hyung flinched because of the monitor light just now?¡± The idiot duo exchanged their ridiculousmentary while yer lost three times in a row. And with the same strategy each time. When he typed GG, Killer_Souffl¨¦ left a cool remark and disappeared. -You suck at games, Oppa ¡°¡­¡± As his siblings burst intoughter, the fan cafe was flooded with gifs of him grabbing the back of his neck. Chapter 133: Chapter 133: Trantor: MarcTempest Editor: Rxel Chapter 133 Woojoo had another dream after a long time. It was an interview room, and across from him, an interviewer in a suit, Megi, was angry at him for submitting such a poor resume that he couldn¡¯t even boil a spicy soup. When Woojoo asked what was wrong with his resume, Megi threw it at him and told me to look for himself. Then he asked Woojoo what kind of skill that was and got angry again. Skill: ck History Maker Woojoo saw that and cried out, no, I¡¯m not a ck history maker, but Megi wouldn¡¯t listen.Then agents in suits came and said, ¡®Mr. Seon Woojoo, you are under arrest for suspicion of leaking the secret of ck history making.¡¯ and dragged him away as the dream ended. ¡°¡­That¡¯s the story.¡± ¡°Geez, that¡¯s spectacr.¡± Rihyuk clicked his tongue. Just like yesterday, they were chatting in thepany meeting room before the live broadcast. Junghyun said as if he was impressed, ¡°Oh, it was really fun. I¡¯ll definitely watch it if your dream bes a movie.¡± ¡°That¡¯s a million-dor movie script.¡± ¡°Hey, kids. Don¡¯t you ever think about why I had such a dream in the first ce?¡± ¡°I don¡¯t know¡­¡± ¡°I have no idea.¡± The guys who had teased Woojoo until he went to bed at the dorm yesterday were all ying dumb. Only Bijooforted Woojoo. Rihyuk sneered. ¡°Why do you have nightmares over something like that? I¡¯m the worst in our team when ites to ck history.¡± ¡°That¡¯s true.¡± ¡°I would have been a chaebol by now if I made money every time I was embarrassed.¡± ¡°No way. Woojoo Hyung is not easy either.¡± Suddenly, a 100-minute debate began on who was the best in ck history in their team, Rihyuk or Woojoo. ¡°¡­¡± Woojoo decided to ignore them and have some time for himself. Yeah. He would leave them and be with their Souffles¡­ -???????This is Woojoo¡¯s gif from yesterday -Woojoo grabbing his neck.gif -Everyone¡­ Woojoo¡¯s hobby is lurking in the fan cafe¡­ He might be watching right now, so let¡¯sfort him -Ah¡­ -Yeah, we should. Woojoo, cheer up! -It¡¯s okay, you don¡¯t have to be good at games ????? -???? ¡­Maybe he should quit for a day. Woojoo turned away from the words on theptop screen. Woojoo was proud that there were many positive reviews for the content he prepared for the fans himself. But what was this subtle sense of defeat? It felt like he got what he wanted, but he was full of wounds. ¡°Well, look on the bright side. This is what they call a tactical defeat but a strategic victory, right? We lost the battle but won the war. Thanks to someone¡¯s sacrifice, everyone is happy¡­¡± ¡°Rihyuk.¡± ¡°What.¡± ¡°Prepare for the debate¡­¡± ¡°I¡¯m doing it, okay? Geez, you¡¯re so ungrateful for my constion.¡± Woojoo was speechless with disbelief when a staff member from the PR team called them. ¡°Guys, let¡¯s move the tables.¡± ¡°Yes!¡± They changed the arrangement of the tables in the conference room with the PR staff. They split into two tables, and they actually formed teams to have a debate. ¡°A debate, huh¡­¡± They were supposed to prepare some content for the fans, but somehow their main vocalist seemed to fill it with his own agenda. ¡°Is this really for the fans?¡± ¡°Just let it go, Hyung.¡± Jiho whispered to him, ¡°Last time, Rihyuk got totally humiliated on the reality show, remember?¡± ¡°Oh, yeah.¡± It was on the second episode of the reality show. The producers asked them what they wanted to do, and Rihyuk said he wanted to have a debate, so they prepared it for them. They were shocked by the sight of the specially prepared debating hall. Then they were stunned by the sight of the opposing team members who were adorable kids. It was the third graders team vs the adults team. At first, they exchanged rxed smiles as they saw the debate topic: ¡®Are exams necessary?¡¯ They chose ¡®Exams are necessary¡¯ as their position, like the old folks they were, and smiled at the cute kids across from them. Third graders? They thought they were no match for them. But then, at some point, their expressions became anxious, Rihyuk¡¯s voice became faster, and the producersughed every time they said something. When the filming was over, the elementary school kids asked them for autographs, and they asked them where they went to school. They told them they went to a gifted education center. And they added with a bright smile. They said New ck was worse than their sixth grade seniors. Woojoo teared up as he recalled that honest fact violence. ¡°Who would have thought we¡¯d lose to elementary school kids¡­¡± ¡°I want to forget that memory, Hyung. From now on, I¡¯ll pretend I don¡¯t know anything when ites up,¡± Bijoo said, looking at the distant mountain, and Jiho raised his finger as if he had something important to say. ¡°But we¡¯re more popr than them.¡± ¡°Right. And we¡¯re older too.¡± ¡°Oh,e to think of it, we have IDs, Hyung.¡± ¡°I just remembered. We can buy beer, but they can¡¯t.¡± ¡°That¡¯s true.¡± ¡°Man, I feel so lucky that the fans don¡¯t see this pathetic conversation.¡± Someone said, and they looked at each other at the same time. Woojoo then resumed the story. ¡°Do you remember when he lost a verbal fight to an elementary school kid and steam came out of his ears?¡± ¡°I remember. The PD teased him, saying that he had dry iceing out of his ears, right?¡± ¡°It was hrious when he tried to win against the kid desperately.¡± ¡°When did I do that?¡± Rihyuk denied it. ¡°And I lost because they were studying for the college entrance exam right now. If I was studying at school, I would have won easily.¡± ¡°Against an elementary school kid?¡± ¡°Well, that¡­¡± He seemed embarrassed by his own words, and his ears started to glow like Rudolph¡¯s nose. They pped like seals andughed. Woojooughed even more. Woojoo remembered the guy who teased himst night from the lower bunk of his bed, saying, ¡®Do you like YouTube? I¡¯ll send you some game videos.¡¯ Of course, Woojoo secretly watched the videos under the nket after everyone fell asleep. But while he quickly understood the shy mouse control, he couldn¡¯t grasp the logic of the game. -You¡¯re a game noob, Oppa Woojoo shook his head to get rid of the words that lingered in his mind. Whatever. Since their Souffl¨¦s were enjoying all these ck history, Woojoo decided to be happy too. Then, he remembered today¡¯s event. ¡°By the way, Rihyuk, did you prepare well for the debate topic?¡± ¡°Yes. More or less.¡± ¡°Let¡¯s do something fun. You know it¡¯s content for the fans, right?¡± ¡°Don¡¯t worry. I brought a topic that suits the fans¡¯ taste. The PR team also approved it.¡± He was so confident that Woojoo decided to trust him for now. The live broadcast resumed. Just like yesterday, Rihyuk, the star of today, led the talk show with various topics. And then, the so-called 1st New ck Debate began. They divided into teams ording to the topic and received various materials and ideas from the fans to express their opinions. Rihyuk looked at the chat window and said, ¡°Hello, Souffl¨¦s. Today, we have the 1st New ck.¡± ¡°Debate~!¡± ¡°¡­with Seo Rihyuk. Thank you for joining us.¡± The fans teased him in the chat window for his serious tone, like a moderator of a real debate. Rihyuk cleared his throat and said, ¡°There are three topics for today in total. First, let¡¯s warm up with a preliminary debate.¡± The preliminary debate topic was the ssic fried vs seasoned chicken. With the help of the fans, the debate was filled with nonsense for 10 minutes. Of course, there was no conclusion. Woojoo said, ¡°Jiho. Put your hand on your chest and tell me. If you had to choose one between seasoned and fried chicken for the rest of your life, honestly, you would choose fried, right? Isn¡¯t that obvious?¡± ¡°No. I would choose seasoned.¡± ¡°Excuse me, everyone.¡± ¡°To be honest, this is a matter of boneless versus bone-in. If you have to choose between seasoned and fried chicken, seasoned is the official choice, right?¡± ¡°Excuse me!¡± Bang, bang, bang! As Rihyuk banged the mini hammer on the table like a gavel, the fans burst intoughter. The absurd debate finally ended and the real debate began. Rihyuk had asked them several times, almost begging, to be serious and not do this kind of thing. But as soon as the first topic came out, everyone became serious. ¡°Okay, the first topic is about Woojoo, the leader of New ck.¡± Him? ¡°Woojoo¡¯s position is lead vocal, lead dancer, and leader.¡± ¡°Oh, right. You could say that lead is his position. Leader is also lead+er, right?¡± As they pped andughed at Junghyun¡¯s random remark, Rihyuk red at them and said, ¡°Thank you for your opinion, but I always had doubts about him. Should we consider Woojoo as a vocal member or a dance member?¡± ¡°Wow, this is good.¡± ¡°This is nice. I¡¯ve been thinking about this too.¡± The guys sparkled their eyes and liked it. Jiho and Rihyuk took the side of dance, and Woojoo naturally joined the vocal side with the Hyung line. The real debate started. It was funny, but it was more serious than he thought. It was like the debate of the century, whether he was more focused on dancing or singing. And the way Woojoo looked at that fierce debate. ¡°Woojoo Hyung, why do you look so moved?¡± ¡°Yeah, your eyes are moist too.¡± Woojoo smiled and said, ¡°I have a reason.¡± It was a moment of loneliness and emotion for him. Meanwhile, the light-hearted debate that started with the first topic went back and forth as soon as one side gained an advantage, the other side counterattacked with another piece of evidence. It was like a ping-pong match, with the ball bouncing back and forth. Woojoo was busy moving around too. ¡°Our game noob, please sing for us.¡± ¡°Hyung, can you dance for us? It would be nice if you rap too¡­¡± The kids kept asking Woojoo to do this and that. Woojoo honestly wanted to refuse because it was annoying, but he did his best because he was in front of the camera. But even though he did that, the first debate didn¡¯t seem to end. And it really didn¡¯t end. They were still debating the first topic until the live broadcast ended that day. Especially in the chat room and the fan cafe. ¡°This, this was not part of the n¡­¡± Rihyuk said with a flustered face. He didn¡¯t expect the fans to jump in so seriously on a topic he prepared for fun. The fan cafe poll that followed the debate was almost a tie. It was the moment when the New ck version of the fried vs dipped debate appeared: ¡®Is Woojoo a vocal member or a dance member?¡¯ Of course, someone¡¯s sigh was a bonus. ¡°Ah¡­ I prepared the debate topic so hard¡­¡± *** The Souffl¨¦ Week proposed by the New ck members was sailing smoothly with the fans¡¯ good response. An event where they gave out small gifts to the fans by lottery. The gifts were cheap, but they received great praise from the fan cafe and the idolmunity. -It¡¯s much better than selling goods with greedy eyes. Are you watching, MOP? -Kya¡­ Why didn¡¯t you do this when you were in Scarlet, Kyuho? -I heard that it was because Kyuho let go of his hand that this happened?? -Why are you like this, Lemon, so shocking -I became a fan of New ck recently¡­ Kyuho, Kyuho, give me some goods, head-banging -Head???????are you a monk? -But they¡¯re having a fan meeting so soon;; Isn¡¯t it only four months since their debut? -It seems like they have some variety show inflow¡­ Well, it¡¯s a very exceptional case, but anyway, their first single album was a hit for a rookie As expected from the idolmunity, the conversation quickly turned to their performance. Normally, the fans would have been sensitive about such talk, but they were rxed enough for the week leading up to the fan meeting. Whether they talked or not. They were busy catching the breadcrumbs falling from the sky. The Souffl¨¦ Week was truly a festival for the fans. Monday¡¯s game, Tuesday¡¯s debate. Then there was Wednesday¡¯s quiz show where Junghyun asked the fans questions about the members¡¯ personal information. On Thursday, they went to a workshop led by Bijoo and made soap to give to the fans by lottery. Bijoo: Wow. This is really fun. Guys, Hyung. Let¡¯s do a lot of events like this in the future. Everyone: (ignores) Bijoo: (turns around with a grin) Everyone: (ps and cheers) Wow! Bijoo: (happy smile) And Woojoo¡¯s live broadcast on Friday got a reaction from the idolmunity for its unusual content. At first, he started to talk to the fans and give them some advice on their minor worries, but when he talked to a senior high school student who was preparing for the college entrance exam, the broadcast content changed weirdly. Woojoo: Uh, the history question for the 2011 college entrance exam, number 8? Let me see¡­ This is Na Woongyu¡¯s Arirang in 1926, and the Wonsan General Strike in 29. So the word that goes in the nk is an event from the 20s. The answer is obviously the Shinminhyeop faction, KAPF. But this kind of thing is all in thementary book¡­ Yes? You want me to wear sses too? This has no prescription¡­ Just a moment. (fumbles) Is this okay? You want me to exin more? Jiho: Hyung, you¡¯re being fooled by the fans. Junghyun: Thement window says you fell for it again, Woojoo Oppa, kung kung kung. Oh, you have to read it as keu keu keu? When the younger ones burst intoughter, Woojoo realized the truth and took off his sses. The screenshot of him doing that was all over the fan cafe. Meanwhile, the reality show ¡®It¡¯s the New ck¡¯ was also entertaining the fans along with the Souffl¨¦ Week. The scene where they arrived at the indoor rock climbing gym in episode 4 and saw a bear scratching the back of its head and grumbled. Or the red creature that copsed before climbing 5 meters. Or the youngest whoughed at him and copsed himself. Woojoo had climbed to the top with such astonishing speed that people wondered if he had been a cockroach in his previous life. And there was Bijoo, who had acrophobia, sitting on a nket and drinking helium gas as a penalty. He cheered them on with a high-pitched voice, saying ¡°Fighting! Fighting! Kyahaha!¡± It was a feast of clues. And the day before the fan meeting. A video was uploaded to the YouTube ount of Lemon Entertainment. The members were sitting in front of theirputers in the empty management team office. Woojoo: Did you all sync your clocks? Jiho: Hyung, who uses a wristwatch for ticketing these days? I heard from my sister. For college course registration, you have to sync with the server time. Woojoo: Oh. Bijoo: Let¡¯s make sure we seed in ticketing today, and give this as a prize to our fans. Junghyun: What if we fail? Rihyuk: Don¡¯t worry. I searched the inte yesterday and read all the ticketing tips. In theory, we can¡¯t fail. Woojoo: I get nervous when he¡¯s so confident. Junghyun: Me too. Jiho: One minute! One minute left! They put their hands on their chests and said their hearts were pounding, their faces tense as they tried to ticket for their first official fan meeting. Soon they grabbed their mice with abative attitude. As the atmosphere became more intense, the time approached. As the site that announced the server time started to beep 10 seconds ahead, the members¡¯ throats went up and down. Rihyuk: Now! With that, they all clicked their mice. Three secondster. Theputer stuttered and the same pop-up window appeared on everyone¡¯s screen. [The seat you selected is already taken.] In the video, the members blinked nkly, while the fans burst intoughter in thement section. *** Finally, the day of the fan meeting. At a live hall in Gwangjin-gu, rehearsals were underway for the event. -Hello, we are New ck! The MC and the members waved their hands and greeted the audience, assuming there were fans in the actual seats. While the HBS MTV camera crew filmed the fan meeting preparation scene, the on-site staff were busy. The lighting crew, wearing pouches on their waists, moved quickly ording to the director¡¯s instructions, and the stylists, who procured the costumes, walked down the hallway with their hands full of clothes bags. ¡®There shouldn¡¯t be any problems.¡¯ Yoon Seokhwan, the manager of New ck, stood next to the director and looked at the stage. He had to check the site thoroughly, as he had experienced a humiliation once due to a sound problem at the debut showcase. The New ck members, dressed in casual clothes, performed the bad song and cover dance they had prepared for today, while the director held the microphone. He directed them to stand ording to the lighting position. ¡°Junghyun, move back a little and stand on the top light side. Yeah. There.¡± -Yes, I got it. The director smiled as he watched them understand each other perfectly every time. ¡°They¡¯re really good kids. You¡¯d think they¡¯d be nervous on a stage in front of a thousand people, but they¡¯re not.¡± ¡°They¡¯re only like that on stage.¡± Yoon Seokhwan adjusted his sses and smiled. He wouldn¡¯t say that if he saw how they were shaking backstage. Meanwhile, the rehearsal for Woojoo¡¯s selfposed song, which was thest part of today¡¯s fan meeting, continued in sequence. After a somewhat unusual performance, the director grabbed the microphone. ¡°Yes, thank you for your hard work, members. Please go back to the waiting room.¡± -Thank you! The director chuckled as he watched them cheer and go down to the backstage. Then he asked as if something came to his mind. ¡°That, thest song. I think the fans will love it when they hear itter.¡± ¡°Yes, I think so too.¡± Yoon Seokhwan smiled. ¡°Regardless of the quality¡­ it will be a memorable stage in many ways.¡± Chapter 134: Chapter 134: Trantor: MarcTempest Editor: Rxel Chapter 134 Saturday evening. People who came out of exit 2 of Gwangnaru Station walked along the street dyed with autumn leaves under the clear sky. There were people of all kinds. They had different outfits, but as soon as they got off the subway, the Souffl¨¦s instinctively recognized other fans. They had a feeling of ¡®Oh, that person too¡­¡¯. Like a stream of water merging into one, a line of people tailing each other naturally reached the front of the concert hall.Soon, arge banner greeted them. [The New ck 1st Fan Meeting ¨C Souffl¨¦ Day] Reflecting the actual color of the Souffl¨¦s, the pastel-toned yellow and orange gradient captured the eyes of the fans. Outside the concert hall, posters were everywhere. The fans who lined up for the fan meeting bounced their feet with excitement. As soon as the entrance started, the sales booth for MD products rted to New ck and the photo wall of New ck members were crowded with fans. Fans who smiled or made a V sign in front of the posters and panels. Meanwhile, there were things that caught the eyes of the fans who were wandering around the live hall. ¡°Wow, this is awesome. There are so many wreaths.¡± ¡°Huh¡­ There are really a lot. I think it was like this when I went to a friend¡¯s wedding a while ago.¡± It was the wreaths that wereid out everywhere. ? Jang Sowon & Wonderful Night ¨C See you again on the radio¡­! ? Comedian Seo Jihyung ¨C Work less and earn more¡­¡î ? Heeyeon & Heechan siblings ¨C New ck does better than the ck and brown cows ? Maxi ¨C Ugh¡­ A fan meeting¡­ The fansughed and took pictures as they saw the wreaths with funny messages from various celebrities. Of course, there was one wreath that was the most photographed. ? TBC Men Go ¨C Woojoo¡­? Just in case, I¡¯ll send it¡­ It was from the production team who sent it as the fact that TNT Taehyun was a reserve idol became a hot topic through a video call. The Souffl¨¦s burst intoughter and took pictures. They thought they should post them on the fan cafeter so that the person could see them. Thanks to the Souffl¨¦ Week thatsted for five days, the fans¡¯ expressions were like those who were looking forward to the highlight of the festival. And it wasn¡¯t just the fans who felt the festive atmosphere. There was also an exmation of surprise at the ce where the MD products were sold. ¡°Sir, manager.¡± ¡°What?¡± ¡°Some items are already sold out.¡± ¡°We just started selling¡­¡± At first, they were confused. And as soon as they grasped the meaning of the words, the expressions of thepany employees also gradually spread with the festive mood. It was literally the first fan meeting of all time, even before it started. *** Live hall waiting room. Woojoo checked his outfit in front of the mirror. He was wearing a white shirt and jeans. It was his stage outfit for the first time in a while, so he tucked in his pants a bit to look cool¡­ and got scolded by the stylist manager right away. ¡°Woojoo, why did you make a belly pants?¡± He said Woojoo was wasting this good body by doing something weird and gave him a hard time. The youngest, who was watching Woojoo from nearby, burst intoughter. On any other day, Woojoo would have chased him and said,e here, you son of a gun. But today, he couldn¡¯t help but smile. He was nervous and happy, and happy and nervous. He listened to the BGM ying on the scene through the in-ear and rxed his body. ¡°Five hundred won¡­ five hundred won¡­¡± Rihyuk was in a corner, looking at the wall and loosening his throat. His voice was so low that it filled the waiting room like a cloud of dry ice. Junghyun and Jiho were caught by Seokhwan Hyung while secretly grabbing snacks from the waiting room and had them all confiscated. Idiots. They should have taken them earlier like Woojoo. ¡°Manager, what is that?¡± ¡°Oh, this? I saw Woojoo sneakily taking this earlier, so I kept an eye on where he put it.¡± ¡°¡­¡± ¡°Woojoo, did you think I wouldn¡¯t know?¡± Seokhwan Hyung shook the chocte chip cookie bag with a smirk. Seriously. Woojoo had to buy that as soon as he came back. He watched thepany staff and the scene staff running around the waiting room and the hallway with hawk eyes, looking for a timing, but he couldn¡¯t find any and gave up. Woojoo flopped down on the sofa, and Bijoo came and sat next to him. ¡°Hyung, I¡¯m really nervous.¡± ¡°Me too.¡± Bijoo and Woojoo sat on the sofa and rubbed their palms together. ¡°Wow, you guys look like a bunch of handsome flies. Hyungs.¡± ¡°You son of a gun.¡± Woojoo red at him and then smiled and tapped the seat next to him. ¡°Come over here. Let¡¯s do it together.¡± ¡°Okay.¡± ¡°Me too.¡± Crunch, crunch, crunch. While they were trying to relieve their tension, Rihyuk, who had finished loosening his throat, came over and looked at them with disbelief. ¡°What are you guys doing?¡± ¡°Rxing.¡± ¡°Does that help?¡± ¡°A little?¡± He hummed, and Woojoo could tell he was going to try it by himself somewhere out of sight. Of course, this didn¡¯t really relieve the tension. It just felt a little better to be sitting together. Bijoo said, ¡°I feel strange. I¡¯m not nervous because of the stage, but I¡¯m still shaking.¡± ¡°It¡¯s because you¡¯re meeting the fans now.¡± ¡°They¡¯re all here, right?¡± Woojoo nodded. He felt sorry that he could only hear the music from the stage through his in-ear monitor. If there was a TV connected to a camera like in the broadcasting station, he could see what the fans were doing. Well. They probably had the same expression as them. ¡°Oh! The reality cam is here.¡± ¡°Hello!¡± The HBS MTV production team came in and interviewed each of them. They asked New ck how they felt about their first fan meeting. Woojoo spoke in front of the camera. ¡°I¡¯m really, really nervous. I¡¯ve been doing a lot of broadcast activitiestely, but I still feel like I can¡¯t adapt. We¡¯re meeting our fans for the first time in a long time. Actually, I couldn¡¯t sleepst night because I was so excited¡­¡± ¡°Dubi-dubap-bap~ Dubi-dubap-bap~¡± Behind him, two younger brothers danced like monkeys on the camera lens. Woojoo ignored them and continued. ¡°Our fan meeting with Souffl¨¦s, we¡¯ve been waiting and waiting for it! Today, we¡¯ll have a really cool and wonderful time¡­¡± ¡°Dubi-dubap~¡± ¡°Hey!¡± ¡°Wow, it¡¯s the cockroach king!¡± Woojoo brushed his hair back as he watched them run away with a smile. The cockroach king. The writer held back augh at that weird nickname. Soon, Rihyuk and Bijoo joined Woojoo and answered the interview, and finally, the two puppies who clung to Woojoo told their feelings. While they were talking in front of the reality camera, the time finally came. ¡°The show starts in 5 minutes!¡± ¡°Let¡¯s go!¡± They left the waiting room with nervous faces, along with their managers. The way to the backstage was so nerve-wracking. As they moved, their kids also drank from empty water bottles or cracked their necks and shook their shoulders. Woojoo asked with a smile, ¡°Doesn¡¯t it remind you of the showcase?¡± ¡°Yeah, it does.¡± ¡°We were so surprised then. We didn¡¯t expect so many fans toe.¡± ¡°Today, there are four times more than then.¡± The number of people seemed to make the younger ones nervous. A thousand people. Woojoo couldn¡¯t even imagine or dare to think of such a number, so he was still shaky when he arrived at the backstage. They had performed in front of tens of thousands of audiences at the Find Your Dream concert, but it was a different story when the audience wasposed of only their fans. But if Woojoo was nervous, they would be more nervous, so he smiled boldly. ¡°Let¡¯s do it like we did at the first showcase. Be nervous, but don¡¯t shake.¡± Woojoo reached out his hand for a high-five when the reality camera was filming them. They all gathered their hands and shouted ¡°Fighting!¡± before going on stage. ¡°Let¡¯s go on stage.¡± Following the guidance of the staff who held the inte mic, they quickly climbed up the stage. The stage was dark. Soon, a bright blue light illuminated the stage and the fans cheered loudly. ¡°Woah!¡± The sound was so loud that it felt like there were ten thousand people. The intro of their song yed through the loud amp. Their debut song, Fireworks, was always refreshing to hear. They wore blue outfits and moved their hands and bodies along with the song, and the fans responded enthusiastically. Woojoo felt goosebumps on his neck as he heard the familiar fan chant. His heart was pounding. And his whole body felt a pleasant thrill. ¡°Woah!¡± After the song ended, their fans kept jumping around while their hearts were still racing. -Wow, the reaction is amazing. Now, please greet everyone! The MC said in a yful voice. ¡°Two, three.¡± ¡°Hello, we are New ck!¡± New ck bowed their heads and the fans cheered again. Woojoo¡¯s eyes slowly adjusted to the bright light and he could see the seats. At the same time, his eyes widened. ¡°Wow¡­¡± Woojoo unconsciously eximed. During the rehearsal, he thought ¡®Can our fans fill all these seats?¡¯ and the seats were packed. Not only the first floor, but also the second floor. They made eye contact and waved their hands to every angle of the stage, and the MC smiled. -New ck, you are very passionate from the start. The MC for today was theedian, Park Jaeshin. He was an MC who was in high demand and hard to book for idol events, but thanks to Seo Jihyung¡¯s introduction, they got him easily. He led the talk skillfully while they greeted their fans. They forgot all the lines they had prepared. ¡°Hello. I¡¯m Woojoo. Uh, you are so¡­ uh, really, there are so many of you. How did you¡­ Did you see a lot of maple trees on your way here? I really thought it would be nice if our fans saw them too.¡± His siblings chuckled at Woojoo¡¯s rambling. ¡°Let¡¯s have fun together today since we haven¡¯t seen each other for a long time!¡± -That¡¯s right. We won¡¯t let you go home. The youngest cut in and the fansughed. After that, the fans reacted warmly to whatever their siblings said. It was the same as their debut showcase. They seemed to like everything they did and said, and pped for them. It was touching. Even their Mrs. Kim Deoksoon didn¡¯t treat him like this¡­ Meanwhile, there was one person who gave the biggestugh to the Souffl¨¦s today. -Hello, I¡¯m Bijoo. He was their main dancer who bowed politely with both hands. -Uh¡­ I really want to thank our Souffl¨¦s who came to this ce. You must have sore throats from cheering, sore faces from smiling, sore arms from waving the light sticks, and sore legs from walking¡­ He listed one painful part after another. Eventually, the fans who had been holding back theirughter burst outughing as the MC made ament. -ording to Bijoo, our fans have no painless parts. -Oops. He looked embarrassed as the live hall was filled withughter. Bijoo nced at Woojoo as if his mind had stopped for a moment. Woojoo smiled and grabbed the microphone. ¡°Yes, we will make you feel refreshed when you go home today by making you healthy.¡± Soon, a passionate response came from the scene. *** After the official fan meeting began, the Souffl¨¦s who were sitting in the seats had no time to spare as they waved their mini light sticks. Some of them tried to take pictures but were stopped by the security guards, but most of them couldn¡¯t take their eyes off the stage. ¡°Wow¡­¡± ¡°Wow¡­¡± They seemed to see the faces of the members erged even though they were far away. Especially for those who became fans during the first album, unlike those who joined recently. A member who gave a young schr-like impression with his neat appearance. A member who had sharp eyes but softened his expression when he smiled. And. If the previous two had a boyish vibe, then there were different kinds of handsome men after that. A member who had a masculine line and a member who had a standard handsome face. Finally, there was a member who stood out among them with his gorgeous appearance like a peacock. It seemed like his facial features were shouting that he was here in every corner of the country as they watched. ¡®His face does it all¡­¡¯ The mini games in the beginning of the idol fan meeting were as boring as ever, but the members¡¯ faces were interesting. But unfortunately, they seemed to have no awareness of their appearance. One was sitting nkly, and the others were sitting in a ce where only their silhouettes could be seen from behind the screen, exposing the truth about the members, the so-called silhouette talk. The distorted voices keptughing. [This is so fun. Kyakkyakkyak.] [Hey, be quiet. Lower your voice.] [Junghyun has a lot of stories, right? Let¡¯s see~] [Something to say about Junghyun? Um¡­ I have a lot, but I¡¯m a bit hesitant to say this. It might be embarrassing to talk about this in front of everyone¡­] ¡°Bijoo, is that you?¡± [No¡­ no, it¡¯s not. Yo.] [I¡¯ll tell you. Junghyun Hyung is¡­] [Hey, if you say Junghyun Hyung, people will know who you are.] [You can tell by the way you talk. You fools. Hahaha. You have to change the way you talk like me, so no one knows who you are.] ¡°Woojoo Hyung?¡± [No¡­ um. I¡¯m Wang Jiho.] [Hahaha. That¡¯s so funny!] [You¡¯re so pathetic, hahaha.] Even though their voices were distorted, the fans could tell who was who from their talk. Theyughed endlessly at their revtions of each other¡¯s truths. They alsoughed at their hrious antics in various games. But that was only for a moment. The stages that followed in between took the Souffl¨¦s¡¯ breath away. Junghyun¡¯s solo rap performance, Bijoo¡¯s dance stage where he danced randomly to thetest dance songs. And the first duet stage of Night Sea, which was officially released. Every time a stage left a lingering impression, another stage came with a powerful impact. At the end, Jiho¡¯s impromptu drama lesson followed. While the youngest acted as the acting teacher, the members did improvisational acting ording to the scenes. Rihyuk and Woojoo acted ording to the theme of ¡®a boy and a girl on a country road at sunset¡¯. Woojoo said, tapping the air. -Hyuksoona, do you want to ride a bike with me to school? Sit in the back. -No. -Why? -That¡¯s a unicycle. -That¡¯s why I prepared two. You ride one too. -Okay. -Ah, Hyungs! You can¡¯t do it like this! While the youngest made a crying face, the two older ones pretended to ride unicycles and walked across the stage. The time flew by as they continued with such corners. Meanwhile. One of the things that the fans remembered the most from the first fan meeting was New ck¡¯s cover stage. It was a choreography arranged for a five-member version of Teen Spirit¡¯s Gunflower. The stage was filled with red lights. The five members of New ck, dressed in suits, moved their bodies to the groovy dance song melody. The movement of the center Bijoo and the others was like a picture, and the fans were distracted by turning their heads this way and that. The members who had been smiling and having fun disappeared, and their expressions matched the dark and serious mood of the song. Before the chorus, Rihyuk showed his upper body choreography, while two members on each side crossed each other with a smooth wave. From the second floor, it looked like two wings crossing. Then Bijoo slid to the front of the stage. He flicked his hair lightly, and a graceful gesture popped out towards the audience, as if he was inviting them. The cheers were only for a moment. He withdrew his hand, and the members who had been standing in a line spread out like wings at the same time. At that moment. Bang- The dark and red light changed to a different color. A bright light. As the members drew an L shape with their hands around Bijoo, a loud cheer erupted. The cheers grew louder and louder every time the members smoothly waved their hips. Their practice showed. They had practiced so much in such a short time that their hip wave movements were razor-sharp. It looked like soft waves wereing and going from side to side. It was a sight they would never forget. Even after the stage was over, the people who came with their friends whispered to each other excitedly. ¡°Wow, the choreography feels really different.¡± ¡°But Fireworks too, don¡¯t you think something is different today¡­?¡± ¡°Yeah, yeah. The kids look like they¡¯ve grown a bit.¡± The fans who didn¡¯t know that the members were working hard at the gym for their second album were clueless about this mystery. They could only sigh and gasp. ¡®I wish time would stop¡­¡¯ As the Souffl¨¦s were thinking that, thest stage came too soon. It was a special stage that Woojoo had prepared. Chapter 135: Chapter 135: The stage that had gone dark lit up again. The first thing that caught the eyes of the Souffl¨¦s was the piano set up in the center of the stage. ¡®What is it?¡¯ The fans were full of curiosity. Unlike the other members who yed games or held a discussion, Woojoo, who did the live broadcast on Friday, just talked and ended it. -Actually, I did prepare an event for you. But it was awkward to show you on the live broadcast. So I decided to reveal it as a surprise gift on the day of the fan meeting. He didn¡¯t say what he had prepared, but on the live broadcast, Woojoo kept sparkling his eyes and smiling contentedly. That was why the fans had high expectations. Was he going to do something unusual like the penguin dance he didst time?Or was it a song gift? The fans who were looking forward to the second stage of the rookie animal group Penguins were disappointed by the casual outfits of the members who appeared. But that was only for a moment. The Souffl¨¦s¡¯ pupils sparkled. It looked like there was something. They couldn¡¯t see it well from the angle, but it seemed like there was aptop next to the keyboard, and a strange machine connected to the cable. The MC left and only the members remained to do thest stage. In the sad atmosphere, Woojoo parted his lips. -Really, this is thest thing I wanted to say today¡­ We have to say goodbye¡­ A sound of ¡®Ahhh!¡¯ came from the audience. Woojoo smiled sheepishly and said. -Yes, it¡¯s time for us to be apart again. You don¡¯t want to go, do you? As they answered in unison, Woojoo said. -We really don¡¯t want to let you go either, but it¡¯s time. -Don¡¯t go. Stay here with us. -Really? Should we live here? The members chatted andughed for a while, then Woojoo grabbed the mic. -Yes, it¡¯s really a pity¡­ but we have no choice but to say goodbye. So, I prepared a gift to soothe your sadness. As you might have guessed, it¡¯s a song. Woojoo sat down at the piano, and the members gathered behind him. -You know, I realized that we don¡¯t have a fan song for our Souffl¨¦s yet. So I made one myself. -Really. I was stuck to him and watched him. -Huh? Why are you watching him? -Well. Why are you watching him too? -You told me to watch him. -When did I? -You did. You said to stop him if he adds anything weird¡­ -Guys, Woojoo Hyung is talking right now¡­ -When did I? What time, what minute, what second? -Hey¡­ our brothers. I¡¯m having this sentimental conversation with our fans. Please focus. -Yes. The fansughed for a moment at the sight of them being scolded by the leader. -Yes, this is the fan song I prepared. As my younger siblings said, I prepared it by myself, and there are many shorings because we prepared the lyrics ourselves. But you¡¯ll listen to it nicely, right? At the answer that followed, Woojoo¡¯s eyes curved softly. -Then I¡¯ll start. The title is ¡®Starlight¡¯. Woojoo, who was smiling brightly, soon focused on the keyboard. It was as if he was recalling some sketch in his head. What was he thinking? When the fans were curious about the thoughts in his small head, his fingers moved gently. It was a very monotonous melody. ¡°¡­?¡± That was it. When Woojoo lifted his fingers after finishing a very simple eight-bar performance, the fans were still puzzled. ¡®Is that all?¡¯ As they thought so, the monotonous keyboard melody that Woojoo had just yed began to repeat. ¡®Oh, what is he doing with that machine¡­¡¯ Then they noticed that Woojoo had lightly stepped on the button of the machine on the floor like a pedal. Some whispered to their friends next to them, ¡®I saw that on TV. Loop station.¡¯ Seeing the amazed fans, the members standing behind him smiled strangely. It was a face that seemed curious about what expression the fans would make. Soon his fingers moved again and another melody made by the keyboard was added. That wasn¡¯t the end. Woojoo picked up the acoustic guitar that was ced under the keyboard. When the two melodies became one, the soft melody of the guitar harmonized perfectly with him. Then he tapped the sound hole of the guitar to the beat. That was how the instruments were added one by one. It might be an extraordinary skill for a professional musician, but it was an amazing sight for the fans. Because the song was being made as the sound was added. It was like a pretty and cozy house was being built on a barren field. And as if the house was for them, the members of New ck smiled softly. Soon Woojoo brought his mouth to the microphone and mixed the sound of ¡®tut tut tut¡¯. Then he gestured for his siblings toe closer. As Woojoo snapped his fingers with his index finger to give the beat, the members¡¯ harmony was added as if they were doing a cappe. A beautiful falsetto, a low bass, and a soft voice that enveloped it all. It was like the final touch. As the instruments were added one by one, the colors were added to the picture. Thest touch of the beautiful picture. And finally, Woojoo¡¯s fingers moved the keyboard again and raised the curtain of the main theme. A song of gentle melody. It was ¡®Starlight¡¯, the fan song of New ck prepared for Souffl¨¦s. *** Woojoo stepped on the record button of the loop station with a trembling heart. It was done. He was so nervous, he was worried that he might step on it wrong and make a mistake. As Woojoo rxed, he looked at the younger ones behind him. The ones with the microphones nodded their heads with a smile, and Woojoo smiled back. Hey guys, do you want to try this? It all started when he showed his siblings a video while they were preparing for the Souffl¨¦ Week. A scene of a famous pop singer using a loop station to sing at a concert. As Woojoo expected, his siblings liked it and they decided to make a song for their fans using the same method. Woojoo did it by himself and it was a bit rushed, so he wasn¡¯t sure about the quality. He just hoped that their fans would like it. A spacious live hall. Thousands of eyes were on them as the sounds they looped together became a song. It was a melody that felt like a warm darkness. The notes felt like a gentle and intimate conversation. When Woojoo closed his eyes, the seven sounds mixed like a rainbow and turned ck. Woojoo pressed the keyboard softly, thinking of the warm and empty night sky. The lonely and deste night sky. Woojoo used the keyboard as a brush and filled the nk space with stars. He made small and cute stars with a soft melody and added another melody to make them shine. Soon, a night sky embroidered with stars was drawn in his head. It was a rather long intro. At first, Woojoo was nervous by the suffocating silence, but he soon realized that the reaction was not bad. A strange excitement came from the audience. Now, the beginning of the song. A clear voice sang the first line behind him. If what I sayes true I wish all the seasons in this world Would be our time At first, Woojoo thought about asking a lyricist, but they decided to write the lyrics themselves to match the theme of a fan song. They tried to put the stories they wanted to tell their fans in each member¡¯s part. Jiho continued the song. -I don¡¯t have anything special to say to the fans. I just like them. Can I write that I like them? The best Souffle ever, right? So Woojoo told him to write that. He thought it was like their youngest to express his love sincerely and without pretense. In the dark audience, countless light sticks drew a smooth curve. When Jiho finished his part, their pre-recorded harmony decorated the end. So that I can get closer to you Please remember my name The second runner was their main vocal. -Ah, really. Why do you keep looking at me? Are you curious what I¡¯m writing? Please, go away and let me focus. Ah, if youe closer one more time, I¡¯ll¡­ What will I do? I don¡¯t know, so just go away! He was the one who reacted nervously whenever they tried to peek at what he was writing while ying tag. Woojoo wondered why, but he understood when he saw the finished product. In the fourteen lines of lyrics, he wrote in detail how he was grateful, affectionate, wanted to see, wanted to stay together, and sometimes sorry to the fans. He acted like a cynic when he was writing. But he wrote 500 words. While they teased him for being a 500-character viin, he must have felt embarrassed and came back with apressed version of the lyrics. A message to thank them for liking him. The response came back as the main vocal sang the lyrics with his clear and refreshing voice. It was nice. It felt like the waves were gently rolling in, as if the seats were dyed blue. When Rihyuk lowered his mic, their harmony that they recorded earlier wrapped up the song. If time has no end It will be us As it was Junghyun¡¯s turn, he changed the melody of the piano a bit. -I want to say this. Let¡¯s stay together until the 50th anniversary dinner show. Instead of rapping, he calmly conveyed his feelings with his vocal. A message to stay with him for a long time. Woojoo was worried if it would be okay without rap, but his deep bass voice blended naturally with the song. After Junghyun¡¯s song ended, their voices echoed through the amp again. I¡¯ll hug you warmly Come to me Their main dancer¡¯s clear voice softly enveloped the concert hall. There was a good reaction to his voice. -Hyung. I can¡¯t use this, right? He came to Woojoo with a list of things he was thankful for, up to 23, and asked him. Woojoo told him he would have to do a New ck medley if he sang all that, and he looked sullen. He ended up summarizing it as thank you. After the younger ones finished their songs, each with a word, Woojoo raised the main theme. It was time to head to the chorus. After the long night passes Your eyes be stars And if they reach us Woojoo wanted to convey the lyrics that he wanted to tell the Souffl¨¦s, rather than his personal feelings, as a representative of the group. Starlight. People often used the word star to metaphorize celebrities. It meant that they shone like stars in the night sky, attracting people¡¯s attention. But Woojoo had a different opinion. The light that everyone had was the same for each person. There was no special person. The reason why someone shone was because many people looked at them. It was a thought Woojoo had after debuting in the entertainment industry and seeing many senior celebrities. Woojoo didn¡¯t feel any special emotion when he saw famous people on TV or people who were said to have a glow in real life. He never saw any unusual aura. They were just ordinary people. That was why he wanted to say that someone can shine, that they could shine, because someone looked at them.. Starlight was the title inspired by that. Like the word eye-light, it meant the light in people¡¯s eyes when they looked at someone made that person shine. They all sang the chorus together. Keep it Our starlight Remember it Our time The lyrics were sopressed that Woojoo wasn¡¯t sure if they conveyed the feelings well. That was why he focused on creating the atmosphere. The first verse flowed, and then the second verse. When they reached the bridge part, which was the third verse, Woojoo got up and stood side by side with his siblings. They sang while looking at the fans, and at each other. At the end, their voices became one harmony and spread in all directions, and Woojoo smiled naturally. At first, Woojoo sang with technical aspects in mind, but now it didn¡¯t matter. They made a song for the fans. And they could sing it here, that was enough. Woojoo shook off theplicated thoughts in his head and recited the lyrics with his siblings. ¡°¡­¡± When the song was over. They smiled happily at each other, and turned their eyes to the audience. Three seconds of silence. As Woojoo tilted his head. At that moment, the lights on the audience side turned on, and something rose like a wave. ¡°¡­?¡± At first, Woojoo couldn¡¯t adjust to the light, and ck dots remained like afterimages, but soon he saw what it was. They looked at each other and burst intoughter. It was a slogan event that the fans prepared for them. From the first floor to the second floor, New ck looked at the slogans and the smiles on their faces, and exchanged happy smiles with each other. Woojoo held hands with his siblings and they bowed their heads. ¡°Thank you!¡± It was a happy moment that would remain in their memories for a long time. *** After the fan meeting, the members posted on the official SNS and fan cafe of New ck. There was a photo of New ck sitting on the stage, and the fans holding slogans in the audience. [@The_New_ck_Official] [It was our first fan meeting that will remain in our memory. Thank you so much, and we love you.] Meanwhile, on idolmunities, fan cafes, blogs, and other ces, there were posts about New ck¡¯s fan meeting. The fans who couldn¡¯t participate offline felt nervous. ¡®What?¡¯ It seemed like there were amazing things, but they felt frustrated because they only heard about them without any videos or photos. They said the voice-changed silhouette talk was funny. They also liked the random y dance, and said that Bijoo¡¯s dance line was so pretty. They said the official audio of Night Sea was the first duet stage and it was good. They said they wore suits and danced powerfully¡­ And they said that Woojoo yed several instruments like a genius and sang a fan song. -What is this, why am I the only one left out?? -No¡­ I want to hear it too????? -Kyuho, Kyuho, I¡¯ll give you my hair, hurry up and send me the fan meeting video -I¡¯m a Souffl¨¦, back from the fan meeting¡­¡î Today was such a happy time¡­ Ha¡­ This full feeling, I can¡¯t exin this joy with words¡­ Ah, the only regret is that the postcard¡­ They only prepared a thousand for a thousand people, where do you find such a thing, Kyuho, really, ah, I¡¯m so mad Deep sigh????? ??????Stream of consciousness Today, I really want to take it out of my head and save it on a hard drive¡­! The cover of Gunflower was also a cover, but really, that¡­ at the end, when they sprayed the confetti Shift of excitement??? Soon, the official SNS of the agency announced that as thest event of Souffl¨¦ Week, they would release the fan meeting performance video and the fan song ¡®Starlight¡¯ made by the members for free. During the weekend, the frenzy continued. Sunday lunch. Three men sat in the office on the top floor of Lemon Entertainment and chatted. They were Park Kyuho, the president of Lemon Entertainment, the head of management, and Jo Gyuwan, the production director. ¡°Seoktae, shall we order Chinese food for lunch?¡± ¡°Yes, sounds good.¡± ¡°Let¡¯s get one yusanseul, two jajangmyeon¡­ Gyuwan, what do you want?¡± ¡°I¡¯ll have dumplings.¡± The three men who had been together since the beginning of thepany chose the menu amicably, and the head of management called the Chinese restaurant. Meanwhile, the CEO read the report on the fan meeting sales and smiled with satisfaction. ¡°Record-breaking sales.¡± ¡°That¡¯s why these days, the nningpanies only raise idols, President. It takes a long time to make this kind of profit with actors¡­¡± The head of management, who managed the actors, answered as if he was impressed, and Director Jo just smiled from across. The President said, ¡°By the way, these days, we¡¯re getting some interest from foreign investors regarding our kids¡¯ second album. What do you think, Gyuwan?¡± ¡°Did they reveal the reason for the investment?¡± ¡°Well, these days, the Korean wave is popr and all. They said they want to get a foot in the door with a promising group¡­ I can¡¯t tell what their real intentions are. It¡¯s hard to ignore them when the amount is big.¡± The head of management opened his mouth wide at the amount that came out of the President¡¯s mouth. Jo Gyuwan calmly answered. ¡°I think it¡¯s better to refuse.¡± ¡°Why?¡± ¡°Big money without a reasonable reason will be a trap. Foreign investors have a different perspective on us and the entertainment industry. If we get caught, the album concept will be ruined.¡± ¡°Right¡­ Well, I also refused for that reason.¡± The President nodded as if he agreed with his judgment. After talking about the movies, dramas, andmercials of thepany¡¯s actors, New ck came up again. Director Jo cleared his throat. ¡°It¡¯s about the second album choreography. I asked a famous foreign dancer, but the price is a bit¡­¡± ¡°What, is money important? How much is it?¡± ¡°Look here.¡± ¡°One hundred million, one billion¡­¡± ¡°¡­¡± ¡°Gyuwan, is the choreography price usually this expensive?¡± Jo Gyuwan nodded his head coolly. ¡°It could have been cheaper, but DNS said they had their eyes on this dancer for the next album of Street Boys¡­¡± ¡°Give it to me, let me sign it.¡± The payment waspleted right away. As the budget for New ck¡¯s second album was adjusted one by one, the President¡¯s face turned pale as he thought of the total amount. ¡°¡­¡± He reached for the phone, trembling. ¡°Should I call now and ask them to take out yusanseul?¡± ¡°It¡¯s toote.¡± The producer of New ck willingly took out his wallet and said, ¡°I¡¯ll pay for it.¡± The CEO smiled gratefully, and Director Jo said in a quiet voice again, ¡°By the way, there¡¯s also the matter of New ck¡¯s costumes this time.¡± While the New ck members were working andughing together on the second floor, the preparations for the music video and costumes of the second album were going on step by step in the office on the top floor. Chapter 136: Chapter 136: Comeback! New ck Lunchtime. As the staff members grabbed their coats and went outside one by one, New ck gathered on the sofa in the break room. On the table, they ced a smartphone stand. And they took out the lunch boxes they got from their management team. ¡°Alright.¡± Woojoo rubbed his palms and said, ¡°Let¡¯s open our lunch boxes first.¡± As everyone opened their lunch boxes at the same time, a sigh escaped. Not a good one.Jiho stuck out his tongue. ¡°Seriously, I know it¡¯s from my dad, but¡­ at this point, I feel like something is rising up from my stomach.¡± ¡°Today it¡¯s grilled chicken breast.¡± ¡°At least it¡¯s not boiled.¡± ¡°True. We should be grateful and eat it.¡± Inside the lunch boxes, there was grilled chicken breast. Lately, Jiho¡¯s father had been sending them diet lunch boxes. They were so-called hoho lunch boxes for dieters. Chicken breast sd. Woojoo looked down at his and handed it to Jiho. ¡°Jiho, there¡¯s a heart drawn with mustard here. It¡¯s yours.¡± ¡°Ah. Really. I have to tell my dad to stop doing this. I mean, this makes me look like a baby. I¡¯m already a grown-up.¡± ¡­said the youngest, who was met with scornful smiles from his brothers. Rihyuk snapped his stic fork. ¡°Stop whining, you idiot. When are you going to grow up? And it¡¯s not ¡®already¡¯, it¡¯s ¡®finally¡¯. What¡¯s ¡®already¡¯? Onion?¡± ¡°Onion. I want to eat onion.¡± ¡°That grilled onion from the tripe ce was so good¡­¡± ¡°If I had a time machine, I would go back to then.¡± The younger ones looked nkly at the air. They had been like thistely. New ck was on a strict diet for their second album activities, and they were all suffering from hunger. Thanks to that, their abs were showing, but they were at the age when they should eat a lot. Rihyuk scoffed as if it was ridiculous. ¡°Don¡¯t act like you¡¯re the same age as me.¡± ¡°Hey. How much difference is there between you and me?¡± ¡°Four years is a lot. When I was in sixth grade, you were in high school.¡± ¡°True.¡± ¡°Hey, Junghyun. Don¡¯t agree with him. Rihyuk. Didn¡¯t you hear the story that Oseong and Haneum were best friends in the Joseon era, even though they were five years apart?¡± Then the youngest¡¯s eyes sparkled. ¡°Oh. Then can I use informal speech?¡± ¡°Do it. Do it.¡± ¡°Woojoo.¡± The youngest¡¯s random remark made them allugh and p like seals. The youngest shook his head. ¡°Ah, but¡­ it doesn¡¯t feel as good as I thought. It feels weird and nauseous. I guess I¡¯m meant to be the cute youngest,¡± he said, and theyughed and picked up their forks. As they started to eat the dry grilled chicken breast, Bijoo tapped the smartphone on the stand. It was to watch a mukbang. They ate chicken breast with their mouths, but they watched a food program with their eyes, and brainwashed themselves that what they were eating was not chicken breast. But Bijoo yed a random video. -The title is ¡®Starlight¡¯. A fan meeting scene filled with the cheers of Souffl¨¦s. As the video uploaded on thepany¡¯s YouTube yed, the angry eyes of the mint chocte fans turned to the main dancer. ¡°Bijoo.¡± ¡°Yes?¡± ¡°Didn¡¯t you say you prepared a video that would make us full just by watching?¡± ¡°Yes. With the love of the fans¡­¡± ¡°Well¡­ that¡¯s nice, but let¡¯s watch something else. We.¡± Bijoo looked sullen, and Junghyun stepped in. ¡°I knew he would do this, so I prepared one. Hyung.¡± ¡°Oh, Junghyun.¡± ¡°Our tripe fairy prepared a video, I¡¯m looking forward to it.¡± Soon, Junghyun¡¯s phone was on the stand. The video started to y. It was a scene of a young lion trying to hunt a gazelle, only to get pped in the face and roll over. -Oh dear. Leo failed to hunt again today! Haha! As the sarcastic voice-over narrated, the sulky lion walked away towards the sunset. ¡°¡­¡± They turned their heads at the same time, and Junghyun spoke. ¡°Aren¡¯t you hungry?¡± ¡°Where do you feel that from¡­?¡± ¡°Leo failed to hunt and is starving. But we don¡¯t hunt and get this much food.¡± ¡°That¡¯s not a good way to think, Hyung.¡± ¡°Right. Kim Junghyun. Reflect on yourself.¡± ¡°Uh¡­ that¡¯s not what I meant.¡± ¡°Yeah. I¡¯d rather watch Daegil eat cabbage, Junghyun.¡± ¡°Oh. I have that. Here.¡± ¡°Put it on. Please.¡± After being scolded by them, he muttered ¡®poor Leo¡­¡¯ and left him alone. They ended up turning on the TV in the break room. A food show with sushi. They watched it with full attention and yed a skit among ourselves. ¡°Wow, Junghyun Hyung. The tuna sushi you¡¯re holding with a fork looks so delicious.¡± ¡°No, this is spam sushi. Can¡¯t you see the seaweed wrapped around it?¡± ¡°Soy sauce shrimp¡­ that looks tasty¡­ I¡¯m chewing on soy sauce shrimp right now. Soy sauce shrimp.¡± ¡°Why are you doing this too, Hyung, seriously. I¡¯m not going to participate in this pathetic skit.¡± As he said that, Woojoo¡¯s phone vibrated. It was a short text from Director Jo. -Next to Next to? Woojoo tilted his head as another text came. -Right ¡­As Woojoo turned right, he blinked his eyes. There was a group of people standing in the hallway. They werepany employees. Director Jo stood out among them and waved his hand with a smile, and Seokhwan Hyung was taking a picture of them with his phone and holding back hisughter. As soon as they looked at them, the employees burst intoughter. Four of them, except for one who had no shame, felt their faces turn red. Especially one of them, whose face turned as red as the thing on TV. ¡°Woojoo Hyung.¡± Bijoo whispered. ¡°The movie you talked about. Men in ck. I watched it recently.¡± ¡°¡­Yeah.¡± ¡°I want to use the device in it¡­¡± Woojoo silently agreed. *** ¡°Seokhwan Hyung.¡± ¡°Yeah.¡± ¡°Why did you share that on thepany messenger?¡± ¡°It¡¯s fun.¡± ¡°¡­I¡¯m going to make you a diss rap with Junghyun¡¯s help.¡± ¡°Sure. Good luck.¡± Woojoo shivered as he looked at their math genius who smiled kindly. Conference room. Thepany staff chuckled at the conversation between Seokhwan Hyung and Woojoo. When Woojoo red at them, they all looked away. ¡°Please forget what you saw in the break room¡­ Oh, team leader¡­¡± The PR team leader coughed andughed, making everyoneugh again. Director Jo, who was sitting at the head of the table, also turned his head slightly, with a smile on his lips. Woojoo didn¡¯t feel that way when he was a trainee, but after debuting and spending some time, the atmosphere of thepany changed a bit. Woojoo felt like he became a celebrity in thepany. Maybe it was because he was more familiar to them than the actors who rarely visited thepany, since he lived there like a hermit for practice. One of the PR staff once joked that they were like unicorns in many ways, but Woojoo didn¡¯t know exactly what he meant. Maybe it was something along those lines. ¡°Alright, let¡¯s start the meeting.¡± Director Jo pped his hands and the meeting began. The yful faces disappeared, and serious professionals remained, talking about numbers, statistics, and progress. The album production was almost done. They finished recording the songs and only had the visual work left, such as jacket shooting and music video production. ¡°This fan meeting was a huge sess. Not only the fans, but also other idol fandoms reacted positively.¡± They also talked about the results of the fan meeting. Woojoo didn¡¯t understand the details about the sales, so he just smiled at the good news. They showed Woojoo the download numbers of the free-released song Starlight, which were increasing rapidly, along with thements left by the fans. Woojoo had seen them once before he came here. ¡°Oh, and about the schedule.¡± Seokhwan Hyung said, ¡°You guys will probably go to the Mango Chart Awards in mid-December. KMA is¡­ well, it¡¯s not happening.¡± It was already the end of 2014. Along with that, important events for idols were also being prepared. The K Music Awards, hosted by the music specialty channel K, were scheduled to be held in Hong Kong in December, followed by the Mango Chart Awards by the music site Mango. KMA was a case where they were nominated for the Rookie Award, but they had almost no chance of winning. The deadline was the end of October, and unlike Street Boys or Blink who had already done their second album activities, they had theireback in November. Besides, theirpany and K were on very bad terms. Woojoo didn¡¯t know the exact reason, but it seemed to have something to do with the actors. Anyway, these awards and the year-end stages of the three major terrestrial broadcasters were big events for them. Unlike the music shows with low ratings, these stages were watched by not only idol fandoms but also the general public. It was a great opportunity to get attention if they did well, so many idol groups prepared for it. ¡°It¡¯s going to be very hectic. You have to prepare for the awards and the year-end stages while doing the music shows.¡± How many stages were there? Three for the terrestrial broadcasters, plus one for the awards. Four in total. The terrestrial ones would probably give them a tiny fraction of time, so the most important stage would be the awards one. ¡°We should start preparing gradually from now on.¡± Director Jo nodded. ¡°Think of some good ideas among yourselves. We need to n the stage production and hire the dancers as soon as possible.¡± ¡°Okay, I¡¯ll discuss it with the others.¡± The producing meeting continued with the discussion of the staff members who would participate in the production. From the newly contracted stylist director, to Hwang Taeseon, the photographer who worked with them on Fireworks, and Yu Geon, the director who did the Magic School CF with them. Various names came up, and Woojoo felt nervous. It seemed like they were spending more money than the first album¡­ How did they manage to get such a budget? Woojoo was amazed. ¡°That¡¯s it for the staff matters. Do you have any suggestions?¡± ¡°Um¡­¡± Woojoo hesitated and cleared his throat. ¡°Lately, I¡¯ve noticed some people around our dorm and thepany.¡± Thepany people also nodded, as if they expected that. The so-called fans. They started to appear sporadically after their appearance on Around the World With Dice, and now they were bing more frequent. ¡°We¡¯re trying to ignore them as much as we can, but I¡¯m worried about the others. We don¡¯t even go to the convenience store these days.¡± Woojoo didn¡¯t like wearing masks, but he got used to wearing masks and hats whenever he went out. Of course, Minki Hyung often apanied him when he went outside, but there was a limit to that. ¡°You never know, there might be someone with bad intentions.¡± ¡°We were actually thinking of hiring one more person as a bodyguard and manager¡­ We¡¯ll look into it.¡± ¡°Thank you.¡± They seemed to want to assign a formal road manager, not just rotating the actors¡¯ team. The staff members discussed among themselves, saying things like ¡®someone with a very strong impression¡¯, ¡®height limit of 190¡¯, ¡®but not violent or anything¡¯. The meeting ended like that. Woojoo stretched and got up to leave the meeting room, but the PR team leader stopped him. ¡°Oh, Woojoo. About your birthday¡­¡± ¡°Ah, yes.¡± ¡°You said you¡¯d leave a greeting video for the fans, right?¡± ¡°Yes, I did.¡± ¡°You don¡¯t have to do that, you know? We care more about your emotional well-being¡­¡± ¡°It¡¯s okay, team leader. I can leave a greeting video.¡± Woojoo smiled and said that, and the PR team leader nodded as if he understood. But he looked at Woojoo with a worried expression. He was probably concerned about his birthday being the same as his parents¡¯ death anniversary. He looked at Woojoo with a slightly sad eye, so Woojoo smiled at him again. Why was he like that? It was really fine. *** As they started working on the visual concept for their second album, they finally had a big change. It was their styling. At the studio of Hwang Taeseon, the photographer they hired for their album jacket, Woojoo was showing off his new look. -What changed about your hair? ¡°It went from brown to ck.¡± -Really? ¡°Don¡¯t you care about me?¡± -How would I know? I¡¯m not your girlfriend. Anyway, it¡¯s so dark that I can barely see it. You¡¯re such a crybaby¡­ Woojoo lowered his volume by three levels as he saw the staff members nearbyughing. -Show me Bijoo and Junghyun. ¡°Hello. This is Kim Bijoo and Kim Junghyun, transformed into Seon Woojoo~¡± -Don¡¯t do that nonsense. ¡°¡­Seriously, I¡¯m never giving you my photo card.¡± Woojoo then turned the camera to the other guys sitting next to him. Rihyuk and Junghyun, who dyed their hair in brown tones, and Bijoo, who bleached his hair brightly, waved their hands. ¡°Hello!¡± And then. -Oh my, Jiho¡¯s hair color looks like he soaked it in radish soup. Why did you make it so pink? ¡°Isn¡¯t it pretty?¡± -Well, it depends on who¡¯s looking. ¡°You¡¯re just like Woojoo¡¯s grandma¡­¡± The youngest, who dyed his hair red, made a sullen face, and Mrs. Kim Deoksoon on the screenughed. They alsoughed with her, but then they controlled their expressions as they saw the youngest ring at them. After introducing his brothers, they had a warm conversation with Grandma. -Tell me what you want to eat on your birthday. ¡°Really?¡± -Yes. ¡°Then make me some lobster.¡± -You¡­ #$#%#% Woojoo switched to mute for a while as various animals corresponding to the 12 zodiac signs filled the screen. As they were having a loving conversation, Minki Hyung called Woojoo. ¡°Woojoo! You¡¯re up first.¡± ¡°Okay! ¡­Grandma, I¡¯ll be back.¡± -Okay, don¡¯t be rude! Be humble. You got that? She nagged Woojoo with concern until the end. Woojoo was about to end the call with a smile when Bijoo reached out his hand. ¡°Hyung, can we talk to Grandma a little more?¡± Woojoo wanted to say ¡®No, Kim Deoksoon is mine¡¯, but he didn¡¯t want to be petty, so he generously handed him his phone. Then Woojoo bowed his head and approached Hwang Taeseon, who was weing him. It was time to work again. *** H Studio in Gangnam District The camera approached the four members who were gathered in a dark corner. On a small screen below, the leader was squinting his eyes in the studio. Woojoo: What? Did you guys eat snacks without me? Jiho: Hahaha! Look at Woojoo Hyung¡¯s eyes popping out. Bijoo: How could we eat without you, Hyung. Woojoo: (Satisfied) The question from the production staff in the VCR. Production staff: What are you doing there? Everyone: (Turning their heads) Uh¡­ that. The ones who had vampire-like makeup brushed off the cookie crumbs on their lips quickly. (Bijoo) There¡¯s aplicated situation, Hyung. Production staff: What did you eat just now? Everyone: No? Production staff: You have a cookie bag in your hand. Jiho: (Quickly handing it to the production staff) Now you¡¯re an aplice, director. Rihyuk: Let me feed you quickly. The members¡¯ faces as they eagerly offered the cookies made the production staffugh, and it was captured in the VCR. Bijoo: Actually, we¡¯re trying to prepare a birthday event for Woojoo Hyung¡­ But we can¡¯t think of any ideas. We had to eat snacks to fill up on sugar. Junghyun: Yeah. Yeah. Rihyuk: It¡¯s a scientifically proven fact. You need sugar to make your brain work better. As they said that, they discussed the uing birthday event for Woojoo in front of the reality camera. Production staff: How about a hidden camera or something? Everyone: (Gasp) Jiho: Absolutely not. That¡¯s the kind of taboo¡­ Rihyuk: Taboo rule. Jiho: Yeah, that. There¡¯s a rule that we can¡¯t surprise Woojoo Hyung. He¡¯s a human weapon¡­ Meanwhile, the screen changed ording to the members¡¯ story, and Park Kyuho, the President of Lemon Entertainment, made a surprise appearance in ck and white. A scene like a cable TV reenactment drama. Woojoo turned his head sharply, and Park Kyuho¡¯s surprised eyes were close-up. The camera work was chaotic as the ground shook, and the middle-aged man¡¯s acting of holding his waist and groaning in pain on the floor. While the members in the studioughed and flipped over, there was a serious discussion going on in the screen. Rihyuk: How about this? The members responded to his whisper-like words. And when he was about to exin the details. The episode ended with a preview and moved on to the album production. Chapter 137: Chapter 137: Trantor: MarcTempest Editor: Rxel Chapter 137 After the jacket photoshoot, they returned to their normal lives. Ever since that day, his siblings started to observe him closely, but Woojoo had no idea why. Were they nning to do something for his birthday? So Woojoo warned them in advance that he hated surprises, but they said they had no such thoughts and that they wanted to live. How rude. They asked Woojoo if he was some kind of great drug lord when he said that, and when he denied it, they questioned him back.Those brats. But his thoughts about his birthday were soon pushed aside by various new pieces of news. At the end of October. The track list for their second album was finally confirmed. A total of five songs. Because Heysion and Junghyun¡¯s work pace was slower than expected, they decided to include only one song, Outro, in the mixtape, and the fan song they made, Starlight, became the fourth track. After a meeting with the A&R team, the name of the title song, which had been debated between Masque and Masquerade, Masquerade Party, etc., was also finalized. Masquerade (Title) Fireworks Look at Starlight Outro: For You They examined the contents of the album cover design that came out with the track list in the practice room. ¡°Wow¡­¡± The youngest, who was lying on Woojoo¡¯s murpak, turned his head quickly. ¡°Hyung, how do you feel?¡± ¡°About what?¡± ¡°Your pig dream came true, right? That mascara thing?¡± ¡°Masquerade.¡± ¡°Yeah, anyway, that¡¯s our song now.¡± He made a face that said he had been through a lot, and Woojooughed. ¡°Jiho, we haven¡¯t even started our activities yet. Don¡¯t be so sentimental already.¡± The other siblings chimed in. ¡°Yeah, Wang Jiho. Get a grip.¡± ¡°Jiho. We have a long way to go.¡± ¡°A very long way.¡± ¡°Wow, you guys are all ganging up on me for one word¡­ You Hyungs have no sense of me?¡­¡± He couldn¡¯t think of the word ¡®dry¡¯, and he jumped up. ¡°Hey, let¡¯s practice!¡± He ran around the room, stretching his legs all the way to his head, and theyughed as they watched him. Then he lost his bnce and they burst outughing. Bijoo ran over and caught him. Then he nced at them who were chuckling. ¡°¡­¡± He scolded them for five minutes, no joke. What are you doing, making him get hurt? Kim Junghyun, how can you swallow those gummy bears so easily? You know Hyungughed the loudest, right? And so on. ¡°When something like this happens, you have to run over quickly. Got it? Especially you, Woojoo Hyung and Junghyun.¡± ¡°Yes. I understand¡­¡± As Junghyun and Woojoo answered, Rihyuk asked with a sullen face. ¡°Hyung, what about me?¡± ¡°Rihyuk, you¡¯re too weak¡­ It¡¯s okay if you can¡¯t help.¡± ¡°Oh, you¡¯re weaker than me, Hyung?¡± Jiho burst outughing with a hahaha! As Bijoo turned his head with a smile, the youngest took a step back with a gasp. ¡°Jiho.¡± ¡°¡­¡± ¡°Jiho, sit down here. Everyone¡¯s inside.¡± Stupid Wang Jiho. Woojoo want to write it on his tombstone. Wang Jiho, digging his own grave. A fairly long scolding followed. Especially, Jiho had a history of spraining his ankle a month before his debut album, so their main dancer looked at him with worried eyes. But it was unfair. When their youngest stumbled, Woojoo saw the movement of his muscles, but he just blinked and decided to regain his bnce. If he was really about to get hurt, Woojoo would have moved first. And then Woojoo would have been teased by the younger ones for two weeks, asking if he was the ghost of the Shinsadong practice room. ¡°Alright, let¡¯s practice!¡± Woojoo pped his hands and practiced the choreography to the title track Masquerade of their second album. Every now and then, Woojoo watched the video that the choreographer sent them and corrected their posture or exined the principles to the younger ones. They practiced for an hour and rested for ten minutes, then repeated the cycle. But if one person made a mistake, they stopped right away. Today¡¯s winner was Rihyuk. ¡°Ah, shit, I messed up.¡± ¡°Come here! Hurry up!¡± ¡°Rihyuk,e on!¡± As the youngest and Woojoo waved their hands like twin penguins, Rihyuk sighed and said, ¡°Ha¡­¡± ¡°Ah. This is so unfair. Of course I¡¯m the worst at dancing, so I make mistakes¡­¡± ¡°Stop making excuses. Red ears.¡± ¡°Hurry! Come here.¡± His displeased face kept spitting outints. ¡°Really. I¡¯m going to expose this injustice to the fanster. This tilted yground that I¡¯m going through¡­¡± ¡°Hmm? Isn¡¯t it t here?¡± ¡°Just hit him, Hyung.¡± Then the Indian bread that hit his back with a bang followed. It was a punishment that Woojoo came up with after much deliberation. There was something like that when you practiced choreography. When one person made a mistake, the atmosphere got sour, even if no one cursed or said anything. In the silence, a shaky voice says, ¡°Let¡¯s do better¡± or ¡°It¡¯s okay! It¡¯s okay! As long as you don¡¯t make a mistake next time¡­ Oh, you messed up again¡­?¡± and their lips tremble. That kind of thing. It was torture either way. Woojoo knew it well, having gone through it for six years. That was why they made this punishment game, to make the wrong person feel less guilty and to keep up the fun atmosphere during practice. The problem was, it was too much fun. ¡°Hahaha! This is hrious.¡± ¡°Right? I hope someone else messes up soon.¡± ¡°But Hyung, what if we get caught?¡± ¡°Junghyun, why are you thinking like that?¡± Woojoo smiled warmly and said, ¡°We just have to not get caught.¡± ¡°Wow. You¡¯re right, Hyung.¡± ¡°Wow, our Hyung is a genius. That¡¯s true. We just have to not get caught.¡± The three of themughed in unison, while Rihyuk sighed. ¡°If I ever have to leave a dying message, I¡¯m naming those three. Seriously.¡± ¡°Rihyuk, I¡¯m on your side.¡± ¡°I don¡¯t need you. I¡¯m going to walk my own path.¡± He showed his dance moves with a confident look that said ¡®no one can stop me¡¯. ¡°You got the hand gesture wrong¡­¡± As soon as Bijoo pointed out his mistake, his face was drenched with rain. After their main dancer¡¯s coaching, Woojoo pped his hands and drew everyone¡¯s attention. ¡°Okay, shall we try again?¡± They resumed their practice. The sweat that poured out of them cooled down by the air conditioner, and new sweat covered it up. Their bodies were tingling and they felt dizzy, but no one asked for a break. Even their youngest was practicing silently. No one said it out loud, but it was because of the pressure of their second album. They felt restless when they sat still. They wondered ¡®is this okay?¡¯ when they rested. They felt like they had to do something. There were many reasons for feeling that pressure. First, there were the articles that the entertainment reporters wrote whenever they had a chance. -New ck¡¯s second albumeback, ¡®Another selfposed title track?¡¯ -¡®New ck¡¯, the legendary rookie, will they seed again? Three points to watch -Who will be the owner of this year¡¯s Rookie Award? Ten experts answer Then, there was the interest from the idolmunity. -Oh, their next album is selfposed too?? -Fireworks was such a bop, I¡¯m looking forward to it ? -I wonder if the title track is good?? I saw their reality video and they were praising it like it was Korean Mozart level ?? -Mozart? -But they must be feeling a lot of pressure ? Their first album was a huge sess. -Honestly, just charting is an achievement Of course, the inte articles and the idol fans¡¯ interest were only a small part of it. To begin with, no one really cared about a rookie singer preparing for their second album, except for Souffl¨¦s. They felt it deeply. And as Woojoo walked around thepany, he heard some whispers. ¡°They poured a lot of money into this one.¡± ¡°I heard there was some talk from the actor team. They said the singer team spends too much money ever since Scarlet. They don¡¯t say it openly, but the team leaders seem to have had a big fight recently.¡± ¡°But the New ck kids are worth the investment, right? They were amazing at the Fireworks show.¡± ¡°Well, yeah. They¡¯ve been hitting it big so far.¡± Entertainment news, intements, and thepany people¡¯s stories all reached deep into Woojoo¡¯s heart. Of course, the most burdensome thing was thest one. The President and the Director were sparing no expense for our album, and the best experts were involved in the production. That was the source of the pressure. They had to show their best in the next album. But after the producing meeting was over, all they could do was their job as singers. That was why they were doing their best. Practice, and more practice. As their hearts pounded hard, their dance moves in the mirror were different from each other. But their expressions were the same. Faces full of ambition to do better than now. ¡°Oh, right. Hyung.¡± Break time again. As Woojoo gulped down the ion drink in the stic bottle, Bijoo told him an interesting story. ¡°I heard from the office earlier, they¡¯reing to our practice room tomorrow to film a reality show.¡± ¡°They¡¯re filming our practice?¡± ¡°I guess so. And they¡¯re also bringing a mentor to help us¡­¡± ¡°Really?¡± Woojoo smiled involuntarily. Woojoo didn¡¯t know who it was, but he hoped they woulde soon. He put down the empty bottle on the floor, thinking that. ¡°Alright, let¡¯s start again!¡± ¡°Go go!¡± ¡°Fighting!¡± Theywere still thirsty. *** Incheon International Airport, first floor, arrival hall. The door opened and a group of arrivals came in with their carts. ¡°Mom!¡± ¡°Wow, it smells different as soon as I get to Korea.¡± ¡°Here! Here!¡± The passengers from the US ne greeted their rtives in various ways, and among them, an African-American man walked out. A handsome face with sunsses. He was wearing a tracksuit, but his body shape and movements were somehow eye-catching. He admired the neat airport interior for a moment, then looked around. Behind him, his assistant followed him with a cart. ¡®He said he woulde to pick me up¡­ Oh, there they are.¡¯ They caught his eye right away. Three men and women. A man with sharp features and sses, a woman who looked like an interpreter, and¡­ ¡®¡­What the hell.¡¯ A huge man was standing there. He had seen plenty of giants in LA, but seeing such a physique on a Korean was startling. y Tyler, the name written on the wee sign, waved his hand lightly and approached him. ¡°I¡¯m Yoon Seokhwan, the director of Lemon Entertainment. Nice to meet you.¡± ¡°Nice to meet you too.¡± ¡°Was your flightfortable?¡± While the interpreter ryed the conversation between them, Tyler pointed at the one following him with a chin gesture. ¡°By the way, who is that guy? A bodyguard?¡± ¡°Ah¡­ He¡¯s a new manager I hired.¡± They got into the car that was waiting for them at the transportation center. On the way to the hotel in Gangnam, Tyler looked out the window. The blue sea came into view beyond the Incheon Bridge. ¡®Is this my fourth time in Korea?¡¯ y Tyler, a dancer and choreographer who ran a dance academy in LA and performed all over the world, recalled his past visits. Thest three times. He hade once for a workshop and apetition where dancers from different countries gathered, and the other two times were for K-pop idol choreography. They were not good memories. He had made choreography for bigpanies that paid him a lot of money, but he was not satisfied with the final product. Of course, the ones who received the choreography did their best, but they fell short of his expectations. It might be unreasonable to ask for that much skill from singers who had to sing as well, but he was still disappointed. If only they could do a little more. If they could go a little further, it would be splendid. He always had that regret. ¡®New ck, huh¡­¡¯ He didn¡¯t have high hopes. They had only been singers for about four months. He yed the video he had seen once on the ne on his phone again. New ck¡¯s cover stage of Gunflower. He recognized the moves he had made for Teen Spirit. ¡°Hmm¡­¡± He scanned the video. Then he noticed the loss of bnce when shifting the center of gravity, the wrong muscle movement when doing the wave, the wrong footwork, and so on. Minor details. He made aprehensive judgment based on them. ¡®With this level of skill¡­ Did they practice for a month and a half?¡¯ In reality, it was half of that, three weeks, but y Tyler had no way of knowing that. He stroked his chin. As he tried to remember the names of the members he had memorized beforehand, his gaze naturally lingered on one of them. The HBS MTV production team came in the morning and installed a bunch of cameras in their practice room. ¡°What¡¯s this?¡± Woojoo muttered. ¡°Yeah, Hyung. Who¡¯sing?¡± Jiho asked. There were mini cams everywhere, plus a director with a camera on his shoulder. ¡°I¡¯ve seen this before.¡± ¡°Really?¡± Junghyun nodded at Woojoo¡¯s words. As Woojoo was about to speak, Jiho interrupted him. ¡°I bet you 10,000 won he¡¯s going to talk about the army.¡± ¡°I¡¯ll take 5,000.¡± ¡°Can I join?¡± ¡°No way. This is only for minors.¡± ¡°Junghyun, do you want to y?¡± ¡°Huh? What?¡± ¡°Never mind.¡± They drummed and pped, then looked at Woojoo with sparkling eyes. Tell us, they seemed to say. ¡°Usually, when the army prepares something like this, it¡¯s either a general or a congressman¡­¡± ¡°I got it! I was right, so Hyung, give me 10,000 won.¡± ¡°I want 5,000.¡± ¡°Why do I have to pay you?¡± The conversation had gone to Andromeda. Woojoo rubbed his sore neck and snorted. Ah, he needed some red ginseng. Woojoo ignored the robbers who demanded 15,000 won and continued. ¡°Anyway, they said we have a mentor who will help us with our practice, but with so many cameras¡­¡± It meant that someone they should call ¡®teacher¡¯ rather than ¡®senior¡¯ wasing. Who could it be? They debated over their identity. ¡°Maybe it¡¯s Yoon Chanhyuk Sunbaenim. He could coach us on our song every day.¡± ¡°Or the crew members who work with Heysion Sunbaenim¡­¡± ¡°What about Han Ayoon choreographer-nim? She¡¯s been on a lot of showstely.¡± They were talking about their own wishes. The camera director checked his phone and turned the angle to their faces. The door opened with a click. The reality show crew with cameras, their managers, and a foreigner they had never seen before came in. His kids hid behind Woojoo in surprise. ¡°Hey, guys.¡± A man in a ck outfit and a fedora smiled cheerfully. Who was he? Woojoo paused for a moment, then he took off his sunsses. ¡°¡­?¡± Three seconds. Two seconds. One second. ¡°¡­!¡± As soon as they realized who he was, they all gasped and widened their eyes. ¡°Wow¡­!¡± y Tyler. He was the choreographer they paid almost a car¡¯s worth for and a world-famous dancer. Especially, Bijoo and Woojoo reacted strongly. For Woojoo, he was someone he often referred to when he learned to dance by watching videos on YouTube. The choreography for Cold Brown¡¯s song that they practiced hardst year was also his work. On the other hand, Bijoo was even more excited. He was the person who showed Woojoo an animation motion capture dance video before. He was like a cat who met the god of churu. ¡°Yo¡­!¡± It was the first time Woojoo saw his face light up. As he fanned his face and spoke, the other tilted his head. ¡°Yo¡­ You are my new!¡± ¡°New?¡± ¡°God is shin, Bijoo.¡± ¡°No no new! God!¡± Everyone in the room burst intoughter. How about angel instead of god, the other joked, and Bijoo nodded seriously and said ¡®okay, angel.¡¯ Then theyughed again. They all greeted the famous dancer one by one. As Woojoo said that, he looked at the people standing behind him. Their usual trainer, Juye Hyung, had a girlish face like Bijoo, and Seokhwan Hyung was smiling as he watched them chewing gum. And there were two new faces. A scary-looking big man and a woman who looked tired. Thetter seemed like an interpreter by her vibe. And the one next to her, could he be their new manager? ¡­Probably not. Even a ghost from a horror movie would run away barefoot if it went to his house. He had that kind of impression. The only thing that softened his scariness was the yellow rubber duck smartphone cover in his hand. While Woojoo was thinking that, he chatted with y Tyler, who was constantly talking cheerfully. He couldmunicate in English, but he deliberately asked for the help of the interpreter. Because the cultures were different, he was afraid that what he said might be misunderstood or misdelivered. He trusted that the interpreter, who was familiar with American culture, would convey it well. He would have to ask him a lot of thingster. ¡°As the person who created the choreography for Masquerade, I¡¯ll help you for three hours every day for five days. During the coaching, my time is yours. If you have any questions about dancing, feel free to use it.¡± ¡°Wow¡­ awesome.¡± ¡°Awesome, really.¡± The interpreter repeated ¡®Oh my god, oh my god¡¯ in a businesslike voice as they exchanged words among themselves. ¡°Okay, guys.¡± y Tyler pped his hands and spoke in English. ¡°First, show me your stage. How much have you practiced so far?¡± The managers left the room, and only their choreographer and the reality show crew remained in the practice room. ¡°Let¡¯s do well.¡± ¡°Let¡¯s go!¡± As they cheered each other by pping their hands, Juye Hyung pressed the y button. While enjoying the melody of Masquerade, they showed the results of their practice from the first one to thest night without holding back. Without a single mistake. During that time, their choreographer and the American choreographer whispered to each other. After the performance. ¡°Phew¡­¡± When the five of them gathered and breathed heavily, y Tyler nodded his head with his arms crossed. Then he parted his lips. Chapter 138: Chapter 138: Trantor: MarcTempest Editor: Rxel Chapter 138 Woojoo wondered what kind of evaluation he would give. Woojoo stared at him intently, determined not to miss a single word, whether it was praise or criticism. But what came out of his mouth was not a sentence. ¡°Hmm¡­¡± The interpreter said ¡°hmm¡± habitually and then coughed. They would haveughed if it was a normal situation, but it was not.The atmosphere was tense. y Tayler took off his fedora and scratched his head. Then he nced at the camera and paused. ¡°Really¡­¡± He nodded and said, ¡°That was a splendid performance.¡± They felt relieved. Only then could they breathe easily. He had deliberately dyed his answer because of the broadcast camera. They smiled and looked at each other, patting their chests. That was a close call. Really. He soon started topliment them with a cheerful smile. *** HBS MTV Reality ¡®It¡¯s the New ck¡¯ Episode 8 Studio y Tyler was responding to an interview with the production team. y: It was an amazing performance. It was a fantastic achievement to produce such a result in a short practice period. It made my heart beat faster for the first time in a long time. He watched the video of that day andmented on each individual. y: Junghyun has a great sense of rhythm. He ys with the song. Jiho is a master of facial expressions. Rihyuk was¡­ a bit disappointing, but I was convinced when I heard his singing. These guys are singers, not dancers. He continued to evaluate the rest of the members. y: The other two were brilliant. Bijoo was so flexible that he reminded me of a ballet performance. He was the center of the performance. He was the member I was most interested in before I came, and he did not disappoint me. Production Team: You really liked him. y: It¡¯s not just liking, I would have taken him as my disciple if I met him in America. A scene of him praising the main dancer of New ck for 10 minutes was fast-forwarded. [??] He smiled happily. y: Woojoo was a perfect example of performance. He was wless. I was a bit sorry that hecked creative ir, but he was one of the most outstanding members. And¡­ Production Team: There was something really surprising that day. y: That¡¯s right. It was the first time I experienced something like that. The caption asks, ¡®What happened that day?¡¯ and the scene switched back to the scene. *** Woojoo thought he should give him a nickname. The praise bomber. He praised them in all kinds of English, but Woojoo couldn¡¯t focus. Listening to him, it felt like they were some legendary dancing machine group, and Woojoo felt more sober. Ah, so he was just giving lip service for the broadcast. Of course, not all of hisments were praises. ¡°And¡­ Rihyuk?¡± ¡°Yes.¡± He looked at Rihyuk and started to point out some areas that needed improvement. Then he ended with some encouragement. ¡°Don¡¯t give up. Keep going.¡± He said he saw potential in him and told him not to give up and keep going. Their main vocal nodded silently. After receiving a lot of positive feedback for their Masquerade concept, they started to prepare for the real lesson. ¡°First, I¡¯ll give you a mission.¡± ¡°A mission?¡± ¡°Do the performance you just did, but this time at a slower speed. Um¡­ maybe 0.7x or 0.8x.¡± He turned his head as if to ask if they could adjust the speed of the music, and their dance trainer made an OK sign. The members all looked at Woojoo at the same time. They had confused expressions on their faces because of the sudden request. Woojoo raised his hand and spoke in English. ¡°Um¡­ Mister Tyler.¡± ¡°Call me y.¡± ¡°y, can we have some time to synchronize with the members?¡± He nodded. He said he would give them three minutes, Woojoo immediately gathered the members around him and put their heads together. ¡°Why does he suddenly want us to do it slowly?¡± ¡°Yeah.¡± ¡°Isn¡¯t it just a mission for the broadcast?¡± ¡°There¡¯s a reason for everything.¡± Their main dancer, who knew the most about dancing, exined. ¡°Usually, when they ask us to do the moves slowly, it¡¯s to see how well we¡¯ve mastered them.¡± ¡°Oh¡­¡± Then the doubt on everyone¡¯s faces disappeared. They were puzzled because they didn¡¯t understand the reason, but they felt relieved when they found out why. Now it was Woojoo¡¯s turn to step up. Bijoo exined the reason, so it was his job tofort them. ¡°It¡¯s okay to make mistakes, so just rx.¡± Woojoo said with a smile, ¡°Actually, in this case, they¡¯re trying to see our mistakes. So let¡¯s go with the mindset that it¡¯s okay to mess up. Got it?¡± The members nodded with less pressure on their faces. Then, with Bijoo¡¯s help, they adjusted some of the key moves to a slower tempo. Woojoo thought it wouldn¡¯t be easy since it was their first time doing it. ¡°What the.¡± Rihyuk, who had been repeating the main moves several times at a slow speed, said with a slightly surprised face, ¡°Why does this work¡­?¡± Bijoo¡¯s exnation was urate. y Tyler had asked New ck to dance slowly to Masquerade so he could see thepleteness of their movements. The choreography of Masquerade consisted mostly of fast and agile moves. Like jumping in and spinning half a turn. Or quickly brushing their faces with their hands in the chorus. The problem was the speed. The faster they danced, the lower the uracy of their choreography became. It was a natural consequence. When any movement was sped up, the small details were ignored and only the big ones remained. It was like painting andscape with a time limit. If they had three hours, they could depict the surrounding terrain in detail, but if they only had three minutes, they could only sketch the important features. That was why he wanted them to dance slowly, to pick out the minor details that New ck ignored while dancing, and to focus on teaching them. He hadn¡¯t seen any mistakes in New ck¡¯s performance just before. ¡®I can teach them well.¡¯ He smiled pleasantly. The outline was perfectly drawn, so now he only had to fix the details for the remaining five days. With that thought, y grabbed a chair in the corner of the practice room and climbed on it. The reality show crew captured his image on camera. A strange scene of a dancer climbing on a chair and looking down at the members¡¯ performance. ¡°¡­¡± The members of New ck looked at the American who had climbed on the chair with his shoes on. The camera caught the image of a nervous cleaning fairy and the members whoughed at him. Soon, Rihyuk walked over and handed him a bunch of tissues. ¡°Here, take this.¡± As if to tell him to put it on the floor. ¡°Uh¡­ thank you.¡± y Tyler, who looked at him with a puzzled eye, quickly wiped the sweat off his forehead and Seo Rihyuk blinked. His ears turned red. The other members behind him held their stomachs and tried not tough. Meanwhile, the choreographer noticed that part and said with a smile, ¡°Wow, your ears are glowing.¡± ¡°Yeah.¡± Woojoo nodded and answered, ¡°Like a Christmas tree.¡± The choreographer and the members burst intoughter, and Seo Rihyuk came back and stepped on Woojoo¡¯s foot to get his revenge. After the atmosphere was slightly rxed by the yful scene. The music started to flow and the members took their positions. They began to dance to Masquerade at 0.7 times the speed. At first, it was a bit clumsy and their lines got tangled a little, but overall it was satisfactory. ¡°¡­¡± And y Tyler was bewildered. ¡®There¡¯s nothing wrong with their movements¡­?¡¯ He expected to see some mistakes in the details, but New ck¡¯s choreography was wless. If the movements had nineponents from one to nine, they didn¡¯t miss any of them. He was flustered. ¡®This is not right¡­¡¯ He looked again, but there was still nothing wrong. There was a member named Seo Rihyuk who was not good at moving his body, but he was only awkward, not wrong. As he stared at the members with a tilted head, the dance trainer Juye Hyung pointed at one of them. ¡®Woojoo?¡¯ The member with the most striking appearance, whose hair was soaked with sweat in the middle. Was he the one who had something to do with this strange phenomenon? He wondered that when he saw another anomaly. ¡®Their lines are perfect too.¡¯ The reason he climbed on the chair was to check the lines of the choreography. They had paid a lot of money to make the choreography, so Masquerade had many hidden secrets. One of them was the detail rted to the audience¡¯s gaze. In a studio or a practice room with a camera or a mirror, only the front of the choreography was usually captured. But in a real concert hall, the audience existed in 360 degrees. Front, back, left, and right. He considered the audience¡¯s gaze and made the choreography look great from any angle. Just like Gunflower, which had received rave reviews for its splendid choreography, Masquerade also boasted a picturesque movement. For instance, therge group formed a diamond shape around a center point and moved smoothly to a square shape. And now. The choreography of New ck, seen from above, was moving exactly as he had intended. He couldn¡¯t help but admire the precision, when the dance trainer pointed to another side. This time, it was Kim Bijoo, the main dancer. ¡°¡­¡± As soon as the performance ended, he asked the members a question. ¡°I sent you the choreography video, but I didn¡¯t tell you anything about the movement beforehand. How did you prepare for this?¡± Bijoo answered calmly in English. Unlike before, when he had blurted out something in excitement, he was quite easy to understand. ¡°When I practice the choreography, I always draw the movement in my head.¡± ¡°¡­¡± ¡°So, I discussed a lot with the trainer teacher.¡± As he exined, Bijoo took out a notebook from his bag. It seemed like he had drawn it to exin to the members, colorful circles with their expressions drawn on them were moving along the arrows. There was also a description written in an unknownnguage below. y Tyler, who was staring at it curiously, looked at Bijoo and smiled. ¡®He¡¯s a likable guy.¡¯ At first, he didn¡¯t have high expectations for him in terms of performance, as he looked like a skinny and delicate boy. But he was surprised by the explosive strength and graceful dance line that came out when he danced, as well as his skill in interpreting the choreography. As one question was answered, he asked another one. ¡°You hardly made any mistakes in the choreography. How did you practice it normally?¡± ¡°Usually, the trainer teacher teaches me, but the leader helped me a lot with the small details.¡± At Bijoo¡¯s answer, Junghyun proudly pointed to Woojoo. ¡°Him. Him.¡± At his absurd appearance, y Tyler burst intoughter, and Woojoo gave a sheepish smile. Then he said, ¡°I¡¯m good at understanding the principles of the movements, so I always show them to my younger brothers in advance. Like this¡­¡± As he said that, he demonstrated the point choreography, breaking down the movements from one to ten, from beginning to end. He felt a strange feeling at that sight. ¡®He must have received the choreography not long ago¡­¡¯ This was the first time he saw such a case. He had seen many people who could copy the dance after seeing it once, but he had never seen anyone who could analyze the movements like 24 frames. Along with that, the mystery was solved. ¡®That¡¯s why they had such a high level ofpletion in a short time.¡¯ He thought that when he saw the choreography of Teen Spirit that they had covered. He thought they had practiced for about six weeks. But the actual practice time was three weeks. The choreography of now was not something that could be achieved in the given time. At first, he thought they were just dancers, but they were actually members who could analyze every single movement and teach the others¡­ ¡°No! No education.¡± The members said in unison. ¡°Brainwashing. Brainwashing.¡± ¡°What was brainwashing in English? Hyuk, Hyung.¡± ¡°Brainwashing.¡± ¡°Yes. Brain shower.¡± ¡°Please, Junghyun, Hyung. Remember the word you heard three seconds ago.¡± ¡°¡­Hey, guys. Can¡¯t you say I¡¯m passionate?¡± ording to the Korean conversation Woojoo heard through the interpreter, Woojoo had been brainwashing them repeatedly. Heughed at the sight of the handsome boys who used strange English expressions like ¡®It was painful. He tortured us.¡¯ A deep smile appeared on his lips. ¡®I like it.¡¯ At first, Tyler nned to check the choreography for three hours a day for five days and point out some improvements ording to the contract. But now his mind changed a little. ¡®I can do it.¡¯ He felt his artistic spirit boiling for the first time in a while. He came to teach them how to draw the outline properly, but they seemed to have drawn it perfectly, leaving only the coloring. His heart throbbed when he saw such a sketch. What would it look like when it was finished? ¡®For five days, I¡¯ll teach you everything I can.¡¯ Of course, it didn¡¯t take long for him to regret that decision. *** HBS MTV Reality ¡®It¡¯s the New ck¡¯ Episode 8 Practice Room The first day of the lesson went by lightly. After the choreographer passionately gave a lecture, he ordered chicken and beer at a nearby pub and chatted with the dance trainer Juye Hyung. y: Thank you for following me so passionately. I really want to take these guys to my academy in the US right now. Especially, Bijoo, there are so many things I want to teach him. Juye Hyung: Well¡­ I think you¡¯ll change your mind in a few days. y: What do you mean? (Chuckles) Juye Hyung: You¡¯ll see. y: Yes? Juye Hyung: They are usually sweet and kind, but when ites to work, they are really¡­ the incarnations of desire. y: Desire¡­ what? Juye Hyung: Just think of them as devils. Our kids. y: (Pupil dtion) Your children¡­? The situation where Juye Hyung said ¡®My children¡¯ in poor English and caused a big misunderstanding for a moment passed as aughing point. The practice room came out again. Woojoo: It¡¯s nostalgic to see it again. Rihyuk: Really, he was so sick of us in two days. That choreographer. Bijoo: But¡­ he said that. If you have any questions, ask anything. Woojoo: Right. And three hours was too short. Jiho: Hyung and Bijoo Hyung were the worst. As they said that, Woojoo and Bijoo, who were in the studio, looked at the distant mountain, and the scene of the practice room came out. The members who surrounded the choreographer like a bunch of minions. Woojoo: y, I have a question. This part where you wave your hand in Savi¡¯s part. Bijoo: When you turn, which direction is better to sweep your hair? Woojoo: And this part. y. y: Wait a minute, let me drink some water. He was flustered by the bombardment of questions and tried to leave the practice room for a moment, but he was frustrated. Woojoo: Junghyun! Bring him a bottle of water from there. y: ¡­ Junghyun: Here, Hyung. y: Where is the bathroom here? Bijoo: You won¡¯t know where it is. I¡¯ll guide you. Can I ask you a few things in the meantime? y: ¡­ Woojoo: But Bijoo. Do you know the way¡­? Bijoo: ¡­ Meanwhile, the other three who came in no time ran around. Junghyun: Woojoo Hyung. I have a question about my part, too. Please trante for me. Jiho: Me too. I¡¯m curious about facial acting. Rihyuk: You guys are really too much, aren¡¯t you? y: (Moved) Rihyuk: You guys are too much. I¡¯m the weakest in dancing, shouldn¡¯t I be the one asking the most questions? y: (Resigned) The members were eager to learn from the world-ss dancer¡¯s know-how every day during the choreography lessons. The scene changed. y Tyler was interviewed by the production team. His face looked strangely different. Jiho: Wow¡­ Look at y¡¯s face, he lost so much weight. Bijoo: Oh, what should we do? I feel so sorry¡­ Junghyun: It¡¯s amazing. How can he lose weight like that in a few days? Woojoo: We were really annoying¡­ Rihyuk: We were jerks. y Tyler, with a pale face, looked into the distance and said: y: I said before¡­ I wanted to bring these kids to LA and teach them, but I take that back. Production team: Did you change your mind? y: Yes¡­ His voice sounded faint. y: Really¡­ If I hear that New ck ising to America, I¡¯ll probably hide at my friends¡¯ houses for a while. Production team: ughter) y: (forcedugh) I¡¯m not kidding. ¡­Then he returned to his usual cheerful self and smiled warmly. y: Well, anyway, it was a very memorable experience. It was hard, but on the other hand, I was also fascinated by their passion. I¡¯m honestly sad that it¡¯s over. He said with a smile. y: I wanted to spend more time with them, but I have to go back to LA already¡­ I really miss them. Production team: You look very happy. y: (gummy smile) Absolutely not. Then a heartfelt video message wishing them sess for their second album followed. His face looked strangely relieved. After the broadcast, the fans made jokes about his gummy smile and said ¡°y is free!¡± with a Dobby reference. Someone posted an analysis of y Tyler¡¯s facial expression, which made the Souffl¨¦sugh. (A picture of y Tyler¡¯s face with a square border) Anger 0.00000 Contempt 0.00000 Disgust 0.00000 Fear 0.00000 Happiness 1.00000 Neutral 0.00000 Sadness 0.00000 Surprise 0.00000 It was pure ¡®happiness¡¯ with 100 percent purity. Chapter 139: Chapter 139: Trantor: MarcTempest Editor: Rxel Chapter 139 In front of Lemon Entertainment. As the van with the engine on waited for them, they said goodbye to the choreographer. ¡°We really appreciate your hard work for the past five days. And please take this. It¡¯s a gift we prepared for you.¡± ¡°No, no, you shouldn¡¯t!¡± They shook their heads at the American who tried to open the gift right away. Junghyun spoke with a serious face.¡°Not open. Korean manner.¡± Bijoo added softly in English, ¡°That¡¯s right. We might be too embarrassed if you open it here.¡± ¡°Yep! Rihyuk¡¯s ear will be fire!¡± ¡°Shut up, maknae.¡± ¡°Ahh¡­! Please don¡¯t touch me!¡± The choreographer and his assistantughed at the sight of their bickering siblings. y handed the gift box to his assistant and said, ¡°Alright, friends. I understand what you mean.¡± He then started to talk about the past five days. ¡°It was a fun time. It was also very rewarding to talk about choreography with you. I hope you can show your skills in the performance. Good luck. And B.¡± y called Bijoo. He was the only one among the members who got a nickname like ¡®B¡¯. And he deserved it. Even they, who saw him every day, would tease him by saying ¡®If the word dance became a person, wouldn¡¯t it be Bijoo Hyung¡­?¡¯ every time they practiced, amazed by his skills. How much more would a stranger be? Every time Bijoo danced, the choreographer would stroke his chin and say ¡®wow¡¯. Maybe that¡¯s why he had a friendly face as he handed him his business card. ¡°Here¡¯s my card.¡± ¡°Wow¡­¡± ¡°Someday, I don¡¯t know when, but if you evere to LA, contact me. Come to the dance academy I run, too.¡± ¡°Wow¡­¡± Bijoo turned his head with a bright smile, like a lottery winner. ¡°Ooooh.¡± They raised their thumbs and eximed as he shook hands with y. A smile of satisfaction came to Woojoo¡¯s face. It felt like he became a parent. It was like the homeroom teacher pointing at their kid and saying ¡®This kid is really outstanding¡¯ in front of everyone. Woojoo felt like he was recognized and happy. He was touched. Their kid was recognized by a world-ss choreographer. It wasn¡¯t just Woojoo. The other siblings were also satisfied¡­ Ah, Kim Junghyun. How can you eat snacks at a time like this? Rihyuk and Woojoo red at him and he hesitated for a while before putting a snack on each of their palms. Meanwhile, that touching sentiment didn¡¯tst long. Their youngest stuck to Bijoo and smiled brightly. ¡°Remember. We go together.¡± ¡°Sure,e all together.¡± yughed. In that atmosphere, they took a SNSmemorative photo with the choreographer in sunsses and hugged him. Soon after, the van driven by Minki Hyung headed to Incheon Airport. As the vehicle became a dot and disappeared, they gathered around Bijoo. ¡°Hyung! Let me see that card.¡± ¡°Here.¡± ¡°Ouch, it¡¯s blinding!¡± They covered their eyes at the card that Bijoo handed out, and Rihyuk looked at them with a disdainful expression. Bijoo scratched his cheek and smiled shyly as they yed andughed for a while. Of course, they regained their seriousness when they saw the passerby blinking at them. ¡°¡­That was kind of stupid.¡± ¡°But isn¡¯t this pathetess the charm of me and the Hyungs?¡± ¡°You¡¯re talking about charm. The fans will drop us if they see us like this. Drop.¡± ¡°Why would the fans hate us?¡± Junghyun tilted his head at Rihyuk¡¯s question. ¡°Uh, well¡­¡± ¡°Junghyun.¡± Woojoo put his hand on Junghyun¡¯s shoulder and said, ¡°Just ept it. Rihyuk just hates seeing us having fun.¡± ¡°Ah, I see.¡± "In a word, he has a twisted personality. Twisted. Oh, this sounds good. Should I add it as your nickname? ¡°Uh, twisted. Cute.¡± ¡°Please¡­ stop giving me weird names. Every time I go to the fan cafe, I get a new nickname.¡± ¡°Yeah, yeah. We¡¯re sorry.¡± ¡°Don¡¯t sneak your hand on my shoulder.¡± ¡°¡­So prickly.¡± Woojoo patted the grumbling guy and went into the office. ¡°Oh, right.¡± As they went down to the basement, the youngest asked as if he remembered something, ¡°y, do you think he¡¯s opening the present by now?¡± *** Inside a car running on Gangnam Boulevard. y Tyler, who was buried in the soft seat, took out the gift box. ¡®What¡¯s in it?¡¯ A strange imagination came to mind. As soon as he opened the box, a sleeping gas came out with a whoosh, and he woke up somewhere locked up. Five boys said, ¡®Hello, y. We want to dance.¡¯ and squeezed his know-how. ¡®Me too¡­¡¯ He chuckled and opened the box. ¡°Oh.¡± There were cute cookies inside. He took out the letter that came with it and saw that it was homemade cookies made by B. A warm smile came out. It felt like he was leaving with a good memory for the first time in a long time. ¡®They¡¯re interesting guys.¡¯ Although it was only five days, the five singers showed amazing growth. Of course, the speed of learning the choreography varied. But every time he visited the next morning, they were all more advanced than the day before. They were wearing the same clothes as the day before, with a stinky smell and dark circles under their eyes. Anyway, thanks to that, Masquerade was able to boast a high level ofpletion in a short time. ¡®If they practice more here¡­¡¯ What kind of product woulde out? y Tyler smiled as he read the awkward English messages that the members left on the letter. Then thest line of the text caught his eye. -Wait. We¡¯lle for you. Judging by the crooked handwriting that said ¡®From Wang¡¯, it seemed that the member with the angry face wrote it. He bragged that his surname was from the ancient Korean royal family. ¡°¡­¡± It sounded like ¡®We¡¯re doing well in America, y! We¡¯lle visit you!¡¯ but. Why did it sound so scary? He put the letter back in the box with a slightly trembling hand. Then he ate the sweet cookies one by one and looked at his disciple and assistant, Johnny. The assistant sitting next to him was staring at his smartphone. ¡°Are you watching another K-pop music video?¡± Johnny, who had just turned 20, was very interested in Korean idols. It was obvious that he would be watching the performances of groups like TNT, Teen Spirit, or Scarlet, who were famous for their performance. ¡°Johnny, what are you watching?¡± ¡°¡­¡± ¡°Johnny?¡± ¡°¡­Yes?¡± ¡°What are you watching?¡± ¡°Oh.¡± The smartphone screen that Johnny showed after he came to his senses was something he did not expect. A practice video of New ck¡¯s Masquerade, filmed in the practice room. y asked with a smile, ¡°Why were you watching that?¡± ¡°I don¡¯t know. It¡¯s a bit strange¡­¡± He trailed off. ¡°I guess I can¡¯t take my eyes off them.¡± ¡°Really?¡± ¡°Yes, the overall shape they make with their bodies, and they definitely catch my attention.¡± ¡°Hmm¡­ Will this be popr?¡± y Tyler was a person who pursued realisticmerciality, even though he pursued art. Johnny, who had a deep knowledge of K-pop, said, ¡°Well¡­ I can¡¯t be sure, but I think the song is good, and the choreography is powerful. I think K-pop fans will like it.¡± ¡°Here, or there?¡± The choreographer asked him whether he wanted to go to Korea or across the ocean. Johnny thought for a moment. And the answer he gave pleased y. ¡°Both.¡± *** Theeback showcase date was set. Wednesday, November 19th. Meanwhile, they put all their effort into practicing the choreography for the showcase and the music show. -Let¡¯s try to change our image this time. That was what Director Jo said at the producing meeting. They had already covered New ck¡¯s vocals through Something or Fireworks, so they would focus on dance this time. There was choreography in Fireworks, but it was not a big part of it because the main point was freshness. Of course, that didn¡¯t mean the choreography was easy. It was a story Woojoo heard from a friend who was a dancer among his TJ ssmates. They were doing a cover choreographypetition, and they chose Fireworks because it looked easy, but they saw a lot of blood. It looked easy on the outside, but once you got into it, every single thing was not easy. And now they had to do something that was hard on the outside and hard on the inside. ¡°Rihyuk.¡± ¡°¡­¡± ¡°Get up. We have to practice.¡± Their main vocal, who couldn¡¯t dance, would copse every now and then, and his body was covered with patches every day. ¡°Rihyuk, when you dance, don¡¯t try to do the movements perfectly, but let your body follow the rhythm more¡­¡± ¡°Like this?¡± ¡°Yeah, yeah. Good job.¡± Rihyuk was led by Bijoo, who praised him. ¡°Jiho. When you make hand gestures and expressions in the bridge part, try to make them symmetrical on your right and left cheeks.¡± ¡°Like this?¡± ¡°Hmm¡­¡± ¡°Why are youughing all of a sudden?¡± ¡°You looked like Crayon Shin-chan. Just now.¡± ¡°¡­¡± ¡°Hey, I¡¯m kidding. I have a loose mouth. Where are you going? Our youngest is the most handsome in the world.¡± Woojoo was helping Jiho, who would be the center of this album, with his facial expressions. The producer had assigned them personal colors since their debut album. And this mini album 1 was an album that took Jiho¡¯s color, ¡®red¡¯, as the theme. Red. A color that stood out wherever you went, like a traffic light or a police car¡¯s shing light. A color that suited their youngest, who had a striking appearance, and he actually liked it. -I like red the best too. Especially the original color. -Why? -It¡¯s a color that only good-looking people can wear. It was a truly ridiculous reason. Well. Jiho was the center of this album. Woojoo was the center of the chorus in the first verse, and Bijoo was in the second verse, but the highlight was clearly the bridge part in the third verse that Jiho took. The part where facial expressions were important. That was why they watched various movie clips on YouTube every day and discussed them with Jiho. But¡­ Today, something strange caught Woojoo¡¯s eye. ¡°Jiho.¡± ¡°Yeah?¡± ¡°You look different somehow¡­¡± ¡°Am I cuter than usual?¡± ¡°Not that.¡± Something seemed different. Woojoo circled around the youngest like a detective, but he couldn¡¯t find anything unusual. What was it? Really. Then, something came to his mind. ¡°Jiho, lean on that wall for a second.¡± ¡°Why?¡± Woojoo looked at the youngest leaning on the practice room wall and called his siblings. ¡°Bijoo, can you get me a ruler from that drawer?¡± ¡°Sure.¡± ¡°What are you doing? Tell me what you want to do. I¡¯ll do anything.¡± Rihyuk, who was eager and happy, said to Woojoo, ¡°I think Jiho got taller.¡± ¡°¡­¡± ¡°Wow, did I grow? Really?¡± ¡°¡­¡± While the youngest was jumping around happily, a shower fell on someone¡¯s face that was clear as the sky. Junghyun hummed and asked, ¡°He did get taller.¡± He pped Jiho¡¯s feet, head, and everything in between like a worm crawling, and said, ¡°Maybe about 176.¡± ¡°How can you tell?¡± ¡°No. Just a feeling.¡± Then, Bijoo handed Woojoo a ruler. ¡°Hyung, here¡¯s a ruler.¡± ¡°Quick! Quick, measure me.¡± Bijoo pushed the metal ruler with a bright face. Meanwhile, Woojoo pressed Jiho¡¯s head down, making his hair fluffy and trying to make him taller, but it was futile. When the result came out, they eximed. ¡°Oh! It¡¯s 175.8.¡± ¡°Wow! How tall am I then?¡± ¡°Wait a minute.¡± Bijoo opened the diary app and tapped on Jiho¡¯s tab. Woojoo didn¡¯t look closely because of privacy, but there was a lot of stuff there. Woojoo thought it was a parenting diary. There, Jiho¡¯s height was recorded by date, like a baby¡¯s weight, and thest one was 174.5 cm in February this year. ¡°Wow, he grew more than 1 cm.¡± Everyone¡¯s face lit up with satisfaction, except for one pathetic older brother who felt a sense of crisis. Then, Junghyun asked, ¡°But why does he look the same?¡± ¡°That¡¯s right.¡± ¡°Maybe it¡¯s because it¡¯s only 1 cm difference. You know, it¡¯s hard to tell by eye.¡± ¡°No.¡± Woojoo shook his head. ¡°There must be a reason.¡± Woojoo was thinking that when they decided to measure their heights since they were talking about it. Woojoo soon realized the reason. Why Jiho looked the same. ¡°Wow¡­¡± ¡°Hyung, we grew a little too.¡± ¡°Why didn¡¯t I grow¡­¡± All of them, except Junghyun, had grown a bit. Especially Rihyuk, who found out that he had grown 1.4 cm, quickly became cocky, and Bijoo smiled happily. Woojoo thought thest time he grew was in the army. ¡°¡­¡± After a warm silence. ¡°Hyung¡­!¡± ¡°Guys¡­!¡± They got up at the same time and danced with joy. *** The basement hallway. ¡®They¡¯ll like it, right?¡¯ President Park Kyuho was carrying snacks for the members to the practice room. Snacks that he bought from the convenience store himself. He could see the expressions of the members who liked them. The members had been avoiding going out because of their diet and the fans who came to thepany recently. A few days ago, he heard that the new convenience store clerk was a fan and the members were surprised, and Manager Yoon Seokhwan had personally talked to the owner. ¡®Well, at least I got them a new manager.¡¯ President Park nodded his head, thinking of the new manager who looked like a bodyguard. Then he stood in front of the practice room door. ¡®I have to take good care of our kids until theeback.¡¯ He smiled warmly and looked through the ss window. ¡°¡­?¡± He saw a strange sight. The members took turns standing against the wall, then gathered together with serious expressions. Then they pped and cheered. ¡®Are they measuring their heights¡­?¡¯ Then they read something on their phone and got up and started dancing around. President Park blinked his eyes. He didn¡¯t know what it was, but for some reason he didn¡¯t feel like going in. ¡°¡­¡± He carefully put the convenience store bag on the floor and left a note saying ¡®Fighting!¡¯ and left. Muttering to himself. ¡°Are the kids stressed out these days¡­?¡± *** The day they were excited about 1 cm of joy passed, and before they knew it, they entered the final stage of theireback preparations. The visual work of visualizing the concept of the song with images or photos. The most important of them was the music video. Of course, strictly speaking, what they were going to shoot today was not a music video. ¡°Ah, it feels so good to go out for a change.¡± A studio in Gapyeong. As soon as they got off the car in front of the huge building that looked like a warehouse, the youngest ran towards the flowers and trees that were scattered around. Junghyun also joined him and looked at the flowers together. ¡°Wow, it¡¯s chilly.¡± Rihyuk rubbed his arms. The weather in Gapyeong was quite chilly, partly because of the cloudy sky and partly because winter was approaching. ¡°Let¡¯s go in.¡± As they stepped inside, the reality show crew greeted them. They were setting up the cameras. ¡°Hello, Writer! Director!¡± ¡°Hi, guys.¡± They exchanged pleasantries and walked around the dark and huge warehouse. They greeted thepany staff and the makeup artists, as well as the field staff who were moving the equipment and props. Especially, the field staff were the ones we had met once before during Everdream¡¯s CF. ¡°Hello, Director Jo Yonghyun.¡± ¡°Oh, hi.¡± The staff, including the assistant director, were d to see them remembering their names. It was a small thing, but it made the atmosphere more friendly. ¡°Hey, Director Yu is inside. Go say hello to him quickly.¡± They walked past the tangled cables and the wooden boards leaning here and there. They approached Director Yu Geon, who was in the middle of the shooting set. ¡°Hello, Director!¡± ¡°Ah, New ck. You¡¯re here. Are you ready?¡± ¡°Yes!¡± Director Yu smiled. He didn¡¯t believe them when they said they had practiced for the Magic School CF. But now he was smiling at their words that they had prepared. Meanwhile, something behind the director caught their eyes. ¡°Wow¡­¡± A giant water tank with a depth of five meters. It was the set for the story film ¡®Five Colors: The Red¡¯ that they were going to shoot today. Chapter 140: Chapter 140: Trantor: MarcTempest Editor: Rxel Chapter 140 The aquarium that Woojoo could see through the ss was brightly lit with a blue light. They were going to film today at the 3-meter depth, rather than the 5-meter one. Woojoo swallowed hard as he looked at the 5-meter section, which was lower than the floor they were standing on. ¡°This is really scary. Guys, did you see the bottom? It¡¯s so dark, it looks like a monster could pop out any time.¡± ¡°It is creepy.¡± ¡°Hyung. Do you think we can do this well? The kids might be scared¡­¡±While Bijoo was expressing his worries, Rihyuk backed away with a pale face. ¡°What¡¯s wrong?¡± ¡°Nothing.¡± ¡°Are you scared? Of this?¡± ¡°I¡¯m not scared at all, okay? Who do you think I am, a kid? I can go there right now¡­¡± He shouted loudly, trying to act tough, but the four of them looked at the same spot. The truth detector on his ear was glowing. They all nodded. Meanwhile, Woojoo rubbed his arms, feeling goosebumps. ¡°But it is kind of scary. We have to go in there and film now.¡± ¡°Hyung, there¡¯s nothing in there, right?¡± ¡°What do you mean?¡± ¡°I mean, you know, in movies, sometimes a shark or a squid monster suddenly jumps out and grabs people with its tentacles, like whoosh!¡± ¡°Ahh! I can¡¯t hear you! I can¡¯t hear you!¡± Bijoo chased after Rihyuk, who ran away covering his ears, while Woojoo spoke to the youngest, who was letting his imagination run wild. ¡°Don¡¯t worry too much. If a monster shows up, Junghyun will take care of it.¡± ¡°Me?¡± ¡°Yeah.¡± ¡°Wait a minute.¡± Junghyun calcted something in his head, then nodded. ¡°I think I can do it.¡± ¡°¡­What exactly were you thinking, Junghyun?¡± Did he imagine fighting a fish monster with his fists? But to be honest, Woojoo didn¡¯t think he would lose. Actually, it was more likely that he would be best friends with the fish monster and swim around the aquarium¡­ Woojoo shook his head, chasing away the weird thoughts. ¡°Oh? There are people in there!¡± The youngest pointed at a few divers who were moving around with underwater cameras. They were wearing oxygen tanks and flippers, and looked very skilled. They were the directors. ¡°Hello.¡± New ck bowed their heads, and one of the directors who was passing by the ss made an OK sign with his finger. They all settled in their positions and checked their cameras, probably following the angles that were set in the script. Woojoo scratched his cheek. It felt like things were getting bigger than he expected. Woojoo remembered thest meeting, where he saw the preparations for the film. *** Lemon Entertainment conference room. Woojoo had just finished his military service, and they had set the date for the fan meeting. Woojoo gave a presentation in front of thepany staff. -Proposal for the second album It was about the second album, the mini 1, and the most important things were two. ¡°The first album showed the overall group color of New ck. So I thought, how about showing the individual colors of the members from this album? We started with red, so yellow, green, blue, purple¡­ something like that.¡± The first proposal was to show the colors of the members in each album. Director Jo stroked his chin. ¡°That¡¯s a good idea. We can also link them with the same theme.¡± The staff alsomented. ¡°Wow. That¡¯s a long-term project. If we do that, purple will be the 6th album, and we won¡¯t finish until the summer of 2016.¡± ¡°But it¡¯s a sure marketing point, right?¡± The overall reaction was positive, but it was such a long-term project that they didn¡¯t give an OK. They said they would review it. But the idea Woojoo suggested next was immediately adopted. ¡°And this is rted to what I just said. How about adding a story to the music video?¡± ¡°Like what other agencies do. The world view thing?¡± World view. It was a kind of fun element that the agency set up when producing idols. It was a way of setting up a song or a group color, and it was one of the things that fans enjoyed. Simply put, it was something like this. -They were five handsome men who had crossed dimensions from another world and arrived in a country of Eastern etiquette. They were called New ck¡­ ¡­Well, that was the idea. It was amon concept these days to insert storytelling into music videos and album covers, and to look for hidden meanings and stories in them. For example, the girl group Autumn Girls from SNH Entertainment had a tree and a flower that symbolized each member. ¡°Hello, I¡¯m Nahyun from Autumn Girls, representing the maple leaf.¡± Something like that. ¡°That¡¯s not the kind of n I¡¯m talking about.¡± Woojoo broke out in a cold sweat as he saw the interested faces of the staff. At the same time, images of senior idols that he had seen while doing research shed through his mind. Woojoo felt their facial muscles move involuntarily with his mimicry ability, and they were all full of embarrassment and shame. That was why it was a doomed concept that most of them closed their eyes and did in their debut years, and gradually disappeared as time went by. Someone asked with a smile, ¡°How about it, Director? Should we give it a try too?¡± ¡°It¡¯s childish.¡± ¡°¡­¡± ¡°Woojoo, keep talking.¡± Woojoo continued to exin. ¡°I don¡¯t want to do anything grand. I just thought it would be nice if the music videos were connected by a story, even if the concept was different for each album. If we shoot the title music video this time, it would start from the end of the previous title, Fireworks.¡± ¡°Oh, that¡¯s good.¡± Coincidentally, the title of the first single album was First Chapter. That was exactly what Woojoo had suggested, to make the whole music video a series of connected stories. It was an idea that Woojoo had thought of after being told to prepare an idea if he had something he wanted to do as a producer. In addition to that, someone said with augh, ¡°Woojoo, you¡¯re doing everything. What are we supposed to do?¡± ¡°Oops.¡± ¡°Oh my, we really have to hire Woojoo as an A&R team, don¡¯t we?¡± ¡°No way. We¡¯re taking him.¡± ¡°But how do we connect the music videos?¡± While the staff brainstormed in a friendly atmosphere, Woojoo looked at the producer of New ck. He was staring intently at the materials Woojoo had prepared. He was scribbling and erasing something with a fountain pen, and then he spoke as if he had made a decision. ¡°This is the n to make the music videos into a connected story.¡± The man who was called the Midas of Lemon Entertainment nodded his head. ¡°Let¡¯s make it bigger.¡± ¡°What?¡± ¡°Not just connecting the music videos, but adding some short film-like videos in between.¡± ¡°Director. What about our budget?¡± ¡°I¡¯ll get it. Well, you might feel sudden, but¡­ I think it¡¯s worth it for many reasons.¡± The production director smiled at Woojoo. ¡°I like it. This idea.¡± *** The problem was that the director loved his idea too much. -Hi there! -Who are you¡­? -We are the writers who are in charge of the story film! Woojoo came to his senses and saw that the scriptwriters hade to interview them and write the screeny. When Woojoo came to his senses again, he was facing a huge and terrifying water tank. It was a ce that felt like a swimming pool, where you could go up the stairs next to the tank. Rihyuk was checking out the safety equipment that was everywhere, and Jiho and Bijoo were looking at the water surface. The surface was pitch ck, as if something might pop out. ¡°But¡­ it looks really ck from up here.¡± ¡°Don¡¯t worry too much, Jiho. The water is only about 3 meters deep where we fall in.¡± ¡°I¡¯m still scared¡­¡± Woojoo stretched his body silently, recalling the scenes written in the script. ¡°Hoo.¡± As he twisted his neck around, Junghyun also started to stretch his arms and legs next to him. Woojoo had to stay away from him when they fell into the water. Woojoo had been working outtely, but he felt bad whenever he was next to him. His arms and legs were exposed like a swimmer, and his muscles were clear. Bijoo whispered, ¡°We¡¯ll stay away from him when we fall into the water.¡± ¡°I totally agree.¡± Then they stretched again under the guidance of the safety officer. They had prepared thoroughly for the risk of an ident, but Woojoo was still nervous. Woojoo never thought he would film something underwater in his life. ¡°Check your costumes too.¡± ¡°Yes.¡± ¡°Let me know if you feel ufortable or weird anywhere.¡± There was nothing ufortable. Except that the clothes he wore for the Fireworks shooting felt a bit small because he had grown. In the midst of theirpany staff, including Seokhwan Hyung, the field staff, and various cameras, they waited for the props toe. ¡°There it is. The boat.¡± Some people in diving suits pushed an old-looking boat. They all got on top of it, and the director with a loudspeaker gave them instructions. -Okay, you row about 5 meters from there and then fall in. I¡¯ll give you a sign, so try rowing once. ¡°Yes.¡± Junghyun grabbed the oar and rowed. ¡°¡­¡± The boat moved like a motorboat to the destination with one stroke of the oar. There was a moment of silence as everyone blinked. The director picked up the megaphone again. -Woojoo, do you want to try it? ¡°Yes, Director.¡± Woojoo nodded and grabbed the oar. Woojoo had practiced with Rihyuk¡¯s vacuum cleaner as an oar at the amodation. He watched several YouTube videos for this. But as soon as he started rowing,ughter broke out everywhere. ¡°¡­?¡± What was wrong with them? *** [The rookie boy group that seems to have lived twice.newck] You probably expected this by now It¡¯s Woojoo again?? The captured scene is from the reality show episode 8 when they filmed the story film?? The director told him to row And he rowed like a 30-year-old boatman????? Realughter burst out on the scene???? He said he practiced watching some old boatman on the inte, but the problem was he was so serious that he copied the expression too. -He looks so stern????? -These guys, this is, rowing~~! -The fans are teasing him as the old man and the sea -?????the old man and the sea??? -The director¡¯s words are even funnier??? ¡®Let¡¯s just do it with a magic boat that moves without oars.¡¯ -But he¡¯s good at it too ???? -If you¡¯re going to make that face, just give it to me¡­ -Upload the front and back parts too! It¡¯s so funny how Junghyun zooms out like a motorboat in the front part ? -This is really funnier than any variety show these days -Yeah, I¡¯m collecting New ck gifs. They¡¯re handsome, funny and cute *** Ssh- Water was everywhere. From above, raindrops from the sprinklers fell, and from the water cannons, water became waves and rocked. ¡°Ahh!¡± ¡°There¡¯s too much water!¡± The director said that the audio wouldn¡¯t be included anyway, so he told them to say whatever they wanted. So they were screaming on the raft. ¡°Ugh! I¡¯m not going near water for the next 10 years!¡± ¡°Rihyuk! You still have to shower!¡± ¡°Right. Ugh! I alwaysughed at the waves in One Piece, but they were this scary!¡± ¡°Hey, that¡¯s not the point! This is not the sea!¡± ¡°Woojoo Hyung, I drank too much water right now¡­ Cough! Too much¡­¡± ¡°It¡¯s okay, I drank a lot too!¡± While chaos ensued on the rocking raft, Junghyun was silently acting by himself. When they first filmed, he was calmly bncing by himself, so the director ordered him to act more serious. Junhyeon stroked his chin and muttered, ¡°This is serious. I¡¯m in a serious situation right now.¡± They tried to hold back theirughter and ended up swallowing water. Of course, their time on the raft wasn¡¯t that long. As soon as they reached the destination, the raft flipped over and they all fell into the tank. White bubbles tickled Woojoo¡¯s eyes, and when he opened them, only a blue hue filled his blurry vision. His ears were ringing. And somewhere, a humming machine sound echoed through the tank. 1 second 2 seconds. 3 seconds¡­ Woojoo iled right after falling into the water, but soon pretended to fall asleep with a peaceful expression. To be honest, it was scary. It was only 3 meters deep, but a little further away, a 5-meter hole looked like a monster from the abyss. It felt like something coulde out of there. But Woojoo was able to shake off his fear after hearing from Seokhwan Hyung how much the filming cost today. Money was scarier. That was why he did his best to act even underwater. ¡°Hoo¡­ Hoo¡­¡± With the help of the staff in diving suits, Woojoo came up to the surface and let out a long breath. Holding his breath was easier than he thought. Maybe because his lung capacity wasrge due to his profession. Even their main vocal, who had turned pale, was breathing calmly without any signs of suffocation. ¡°Good job, everyone!¡± The staff came over and handed them nkets. They took off their wet clothes and wrapped themselves in the nkets. They put warm, dry towels on their heads. ¡°Brr, it¡¯s cold.¡± ¡°So cold. Brr.¡± ¡°Hey, stop clinging to me. You nket ghosts.¡± ¡°Don¡¯t be so mean and stay with us. Hyung.¡± His younger brothers, whose hair was soaked like seaweed, stuck to Woojoo like glue. They huddled together like a group of penguins. At first, Woojoo tried to shake them off, but their body heat was surprisingly cozy, so he stayed still. ¡°Guys!¡± Director Yu gestured for them toe over with his hand. The five nket ghosts approached the director and sat down. The footage they had just shot started ying on the monitor. ¡°You all did great overall. Jiho and Woojoo, well, you were wless in acting as usual.¡± ¡°Thank you.¡± Jiho smiled and gave Woojoo a mini high-five, which he returned. The director pointed at the screen, where they were closing their eyes in the blue background. ¡°Bijoo and Rihyuk were also good. Especially, Rihyuk did well. His expression when he was scared looked really real.¡± ¡°¡­Thank you.¡± They all smiled faintly, knowing the truth behind that, when the director tapped the monitor and said, ¡°The problem is Junghyun¡­¡± The mood, which had been light, suddenly became heavy. ¡°Junghyun stands out too much by himself, I guess.¡± ¡°What part should I fix?¡± Junghyun asked earnestly, and the other answered. ¡°It¡¯s not so much fixing as the tone doesn¡¯t match. Everyone else is scared and serious, but you¡¯re the only one who¡¯s calm. So it feels like you¡¯re floating. You look too peaceful in the water, too.¡± ¡°Ah, I see.¡± ¡°Well, it¡¯s not bad as it is, but¡­ It¡¯s a bit disappointing.¡± How many takes was this? It felt like they had shot a lot until the final okay, but the director still seemed to have some regrets. They still had a few more scenes to shoot, but this was the most important one here. Hmm. While everyone was silently watching the monitor, Woojoo flipped through the shooting script with his wet hand. Well. Woojoo wondered if there was a good idea. But his head was still nk. His ears were ringing with water, and his body was shivering from the cold, making it hard to think properly. The only thing that came to his mind was that he wanted to drink a cup of hot cocoa as soon as possible. That was when it happened. ¡°How about this?¡± The assistant director suggested an idea. As he exined, everyone nodded. It was an additional scene, but it fit really well. The key was one thing. ¡°Junghyun, can you swim well?¡± Everyone¡¯s eyes turned to Junghyun. Their rapper nodded his head with a cool face and said, ¡°Yes. I can.¡± *** The shooting resumed. The two managers of New ck were watching from behind the ss where the tank was visible. Seo Minki said, ¡°I hope it ends soon. It would be a disaster if they catch a cold or something.¡± ¡°We have to take good care of them so they don¡¯t.¡± Yoon Seokhwan looked at the blue tank. It was shining with a beautiful but eerie blue light. ¡°Action!¡± After the director¡¯s faint shout. Ssh- The five of them fell into the water and began to sink. No. Unlike before, it was not five, but four. With their limbs rxed and their eyes closed, the four had a peaceful expression on their faces. Their hair swayed like seaweed, but even then, their fine jawlines and sharp noses glowed faintly in the tank. ¡°Wow, our guys look good even underwater. Woojoo is¡­ oh.¡± As Seo Minki eximed, a new figure quietly jumped into the water. ¡°¡­?¡± Kim Junghyun, dressed in a shirt, slid under the surface. Like a dolphin diving into the water. His movement was somehow elegant. He then gently moved his arms and swam. With a calm face, he approached the members and soon held each of their hands and softly hugged them. He then lifted them up to the surface one by one. Every time, Junghyun¡¯s appearance as he gently rose to the surface with a member in his arms was picturesque. ¡°Wow¡­¡± Meanwhile, as the staff watched and admired silently, the managers were tilting their heads. It might be just a feeling. But the scene of Junghyun swimming and saving the members seemed familiar. ¡®Like¡­¡¯ As he thought that, Seo Minki cautiously spoke. ¡°But, sir. It might be because that¡¯s Junghyun, but¡­¡± ¡°What is it?¡± ¡°Doesn¡¯t this look like that?¡± ¡°¡­?¡± ¡°The dolphin that saves people.¡± Yoon Seokhwan spat out the canned coffee he was drinking. Chapter 141: Chapter 141: Trantor: MarcTempest Editor: Rxel Chapter 141 The shooting that day ended sessfully. As soon as Woojoo got out of the aquarium and saw Junghyun on the monitor with the director, he felt a sense of relief. ¡®Ah, this is it.¡¯ It was a splendid scene. The sight of a handsome man swimming peacefully in the water, moving his arms softly, drew admiration from anyone who saw it. ¡°Wow, he¡¯s like a dolphin prince.¡± Woojooughed at the youngest¡¯s sincerepliment.Woojoo asked Junghyun something he was curious about. ¡°Junghyun, how did you learn to swim?¡± ¡°Ah.¡± He answered in a calm voice. ¡°My father didn¡¯t like it when I said I wanted to be a rapper. He always threatened to cut me off when I was in middle school. He told me to forget about farming, too.¡± ¡°And then¡­?¡± ¡°I decided to pursue rapping as a dream, and be a fisherman if it didn¡¯t work out.¡± ¡°A fisherman?¡± Woojoo blinked for a moment and then burst intoughter with everyone else. A fisherman, of all things. It was an answer he never expected. Junghyun said ¡®I might fall into the water, you know¡¯ with a serious expression, making themugh again. After the shooting was over, Woojoo heard a joke from Minki Hyung that he was ¡®a dolphin who saves people¡¯ andughed some more. It was a cheerful atmosphere. They wrapped up the shooting nicely that day. Then they quickly finished the rest of the story film and the post-production of the visual work. The music video waspleted in no time. They had been filming it sporadically since a month ago, so they only had the dance cuts left, which made their work easier. The only thing that was different from their expectation was that the actual shooting time was very long. Director Yu Geon, who had already stunned theizens with his visual magic in the magic school CF, was a hedonist who loved beauty, and he really liked their choreography. He felt like ¡®I have to film this¡¯. Thanks to him, they had to film the same scene dozens of times with different angles. Honestly, it was very hard, but they were able to endure it with the anticipation of the final product. Woojoo was very curious how the music video, which had invested much more capital and effort than the Everdream CF, would turn out. It wasn¡¯t long before the first edited version arrived at thepany, but Woojoo saved it forter. Woojoo thought that if he saw the intermediate process beforehand, he would be less impressed when he saw the finished version. And more than anything, he wanted to watch it with their Souffl¨¦s. ¡°¡­I get that, but guys. Can¡¯t we just watch it?¡± ¡°No, you can¡¯t. You have to watch it, Hyung.¡± They sat Minki Hyung in the studio and yed the first edited version of the music video. Then they imagined the quality of the music video through the manager¡¯s expression. As the song continued, they were pleased by his sounds of ¡®hmm¡¯, ¡®hoo¡¯, ¡®oh¡¯. ¡°Hyung, how is it? It¡¯s really good, right?¡± ¡°Yeah. It¡¯s good.¡± He nodded his head with a smile. ¡°It seems pretty good, right? It has a very stylish vibe¡­ I think the response will be quite good. Like Sugarfish¡¯s fourth album music video.¡± ¡°Wow.¡± They made a fuss over hispliment. As he was getting up with a smile, he remembered something to tell them and announced the new news. ¡°By the way, guys. You know that we have a new member joining our team tomorrow, right? He¡¯s new to the entertainment industry, so treat him well.¡± ¡°Yes!¡± ¡°He¡¯s a bit more fragile than he looks.¡± They nodded their heads vigorously. *** The next morning. They came down from the dorm and got on the car. They faced the new face sitting in the passenger seat. He reminded Woojoo of Jangbi from the Romance of the Three Kingdoms. ¡°Hello. My name is Seok Dowon.¡± ¡°¡­Hi. Nice to meet you.¡± They exchanged awkward greetings with the new manager. ¡°I look forward to working with you.¡± He smiled at them, but it was a sinister smile. Especially, Rihyuk, who was a professional scaredy-cat, frozepletely. His huge body and fierce appearance. Woojoo remembered what the staff members had said when he saw the first impression of the new manager, who had been hired through rigorous open recruitment. -He looks like a tough guy. -He must be at least 190 cm tall. -But he shouldn¡¯t have a violent temperament. Woojoo was amazed by the staff members¡¯ ability to recall the details for a moment. He looked at the new manager, who was sitting in the passenger seat and listening to various stories from Minki Hyung. Actually, it wasn¡¯t the first time Woojoo met him. Woojoo had seen him once when he picked up y from the airport. But he never imagined that he would be their manager. Or rather, he didn¡¯t want to believe it. But fortunately, he soon found out that he was a very kind person, unlike his first impression. He always called them ¡®Jiho-ssi, Woojoo-ssi.¡¯ with a somewhat friendly(?) tone and used honorifics. And his phone wallpaper was a cat picture. Bijoo said confidently, ¡°There¡¯s no person who likes cats that¡¯s bad.¡± ¡°But Hyung, don¡¯t you see viins in movies sitting on chairs and petting cats?¡± ¡°Hmm¡­ do they? Maybe I was wrong.¡± ¡°Bijoo Hyung, don¡¯t let yourself be persuaded by someone like Wang Jiho.¡± Meanwhile, Woojoo quietly put away his phone. Woojoo was going to show him a picture of Nabi, the cat that Mrs. Kim Deoksoon was raising, but it happened to be a picture of a grandmother in a dark room, stroking a cat with a sinister smile. ¡°¡­¡± Anyway, the new road manager was an unusual person. Woojoo wondered if he had graduated from a physical education college like Minki Hyung, but he said he had a normal college life and graduated. He didn¡¯t know any martial arts or sports. Rather, that seemed to be a plus point for him. Actually, protecting them with force was the job of the bodyguards, not the manager. The manager was a profession that should never use force, no matter what. Even if they were being attacked, it would cause a hugemotion if he fought back and got photographed. That was how the entertainment industry was. On the other hand, although he was a kind person in reality, his fierce appearance was a big help. Woojoo felt relieved when they walked around outside thepany. Of course, the people who approached them didn¡¯t care at all, but it was helpful for them mentally. It was reassuring. He was a good new connection that came to them in many ways. *** While a new person joined the team and they were preparing for theeback more vigorously, the idol fandom was very noisy. It was because of TNT¡¯seback. TNT, who had returned from a overseas tour that included four Asian countries, North America, and Europe, announced their repackaged album and the music industry was buzzing for days. -¡®Comeback¡¯ TNT, announces repackaged album ¡®To do, or Not To do¡¯ -¡®We¡¯re back¡¯ TNT, toeback with repackaged album in November -TNTeback countdown¡­ individual trailers released Their news often appeared on the main page of the entertainment section, and especially various idolmunities were flooded with interest in TNT. It was almost like a TNT board. The newsments and YouTube exploded whenever a teaser or a trailer came out. Woojoo was relieved that TNT and theireback date did not ovep. How hot was the interest in them? TNT, who had their showcase on the day of the college entrance exam and made theireback on PBS Music On on Friday, was exactly a week ahead of them. It was a stroke of luck. Their second album promotion was scheduled to start the day after the exam andst for a week. They were not exactly rivals, but it was better to avoid them as much as possible. That was the current position of the group TNT. They were like a typhoon. ¡°I¡¯m d we didn¡¯t sh,¡± Woojoo muttered to himself as he looked at his phone. 11 p.m. In the midst of Junghyun¡¯s snoring. Woojooy on the bunk bed and searched for various articles and looked at the familiar faces in the photos. Woojoo wished them well. Tick-tock- tick-tock- Woojoo heard the clock sound in the living room and pressed the light button on the digital clock. 11:58. It was his birthday in two minutes. Woojoo was so tired that he was sleepy, but he was waiting to look at the moon and wish for their second album to do well. His grandmother said it was good to make a wish at midnight on your birthday. Woojoo would have said it was superstition on any other day. But now he felt like he wanted to grab anything, whether it was superstition or not. Beep- As soon as the clock announced [00:00 2014-11-09], Woojoo was about to look at the moon and make a wish. His phone screen started to sh with birthday messages from his acquaintances. Woojoo should make a wish first and then check them. ¡­That was what he was thinking. ¡°Uh¡­!¡± Suddenly, two ghostly faces floated up from the head of the bed. They looked like that. The ghosts that appear in the mystery show with the narration of ¡®But!¡¯. Woojoo was startled by the glowing faces in the air for a moment, but then he realized that it was the phone light shining from below their faces. ¡°Hyung. Happy birthday.¡± A gentle voice came from the elegant ghost on the left. ¡°Happy happy birthday to our old man. You¡¯re one year older. Hehehe.¡± A yful voice came from the handsome ghost on the right. The left face, who saw Woojoo smiling, said cautiously, ¡°Jiho. Let¡¯s talk a little quieter. Rihyuk and Junghyun are sleeping.¡± ¡°Hmm? I don¡¯t think Rihyuk Hyung is sleeping¡­¡± ¡°I think he is.¡± ¡°Wait a minute. Seo Rihyuk~ Is it true that you were a red-eared turtle in your previous life?¡± Only Junghyun¡¯s snoring filled the room. The youngest said confidently, ¡°I guess he¡¯s asleep.¡± The two faces that floated up looked at each other and nodded. Then they looked up at Woojoo on the bunk bed. Soon, another screen lit up. On the billboard app, there were colorful letters that said [Happy¡îBirthday to our Star¡ï]. Woojoo almost burst into a bigugh. Happy birthday to you After Bijoo sang, he turned off the light and his face disappeared. Then Jiho sang. Happy birthday to you The two whispers, almost in falsetto, sang in harmony. At the end of the song, the faces that floated up disappeared and reappeared, exchanging lines. Woojoo covered his mouth and held back hisughter. He was going crazy. Really. When the two brothers finished their event and went back into the darkness, Woojoo went down and hugged them lightly. ¡°Thanks, guys.¡± ¡°Good night, Hyung.¡± Even after they went back to their beds, Woojoo keptughing. Really. Their kids were so extraordinary. Woojooughed and woke up. Woojoo turned on his phone andughed again. It was because of the message from Taehyun that said ¡®Let¡¯s hit it big together¡¯ along with ¡®New ck first week 100 million copies wish¡¯. Me [If I sell 100 million, what about you guys?] Taehyun [101 million] Taehyun [That one extra is for you to buy, Hyung] Me [If we sell 100 million in the first week, we can have a concert on Mars] Me [Let¡¯s go to Mars joint concert] As Woojoo was sending that reply, his phone vibrated. It was a message from their kids. There were texts from Rihyuk and Junghyun. Rihyuk [Happy birthday] Me [Were you awake?] Rihyuk [This is a scheduled message] Me [Didn¡¯t you say you were a red-eared turtle in your past life?] Rihyuk [I¡¯m going to kill Wang Jiho, seriously] Rihyuk [Ah, shit] He was awake. Me [Thanks] Me [Do you want me to go down and hug you too?] Rihyuk [You must be sleep deprived] Rihyuk [You¡¯re talking nonsense] Me [I better go to sleep] Woojoo felt like he was about to see a red-eared turtle in his dream. Ignoring the reply full of curses that came back right away, Woojoo checked Junghyun¡¯s text. It was a short message that said ¡®Happy birthday, Hyung¡¯, but at the end it said ¡®This is a scheduled message.¡¯ Junghyun sent him a scheduled message. Woojoo was strangely touched. *** Sunday morning. When Woojoo woke up from his sleep, he saw a shocking scene. Junghyun was standing in front of his bedroom door like a stern statue. ¡°¡­?¡± ¡°Good morning, Hyung.¡± ¡°What are you doing?¡± ¡°Prisoner¡­ ah. No, I¡¯m here to make sure you can¡¯t go out.¡± Outside, Woojoo could hear loud voices. Jiho and Rihyuk seemed to be fighting again. And a delicious smell of food wasing in. Woojooy down on the bed and asked with his chin propped up, ¡°What are you doing outside?¡± ¡°They said they prepared a surprise breakfast for your birthday.¡± ¡°¡­That¡¯s really surprising.¡± They must have been whispering to each other about this all the time. ¡°But we have to go practice¡­¡± ¡°It¡¯s your birthday, Hyung. It¡¯s okay to take a break for an hour or two in the morning.¡± ¡°Well, I guess I can sleep in for an hour or two.¡± ¡°¡­¡± ¡°What¡¯s wrong?¡± ¡°Nothing. I almost cried for a moment.¡± ¡°Because you¡¯re happy?¡± ¡°No¡­¡± Woojoo killed time by teasing Junghyun while he waited. Meanwhile, when he heard that everything was ready and went out to the living room, he looked at the feast on the table. ¡°Wow¡­¡± Bijoo smiled proudly. Woojoo wondered if they could eat anything because of the diet, but there were delicious low-calorie dishes everywhere. And next to the table in the living room. ¡°¡­¡± There was a mini tub with a ck-and-whitendscape photo as the background and a rubber duck floating on it. ¡°What¡¯s that¡­?¡± ¡°Oh, you said you wanted to see the rubber duck at Seokchon Lake, right? But we didn¡¯t have time to go see it.¡± Woojoo couldn¡¯t help butugh. They must have been recording everything he saidtely, preparing for this birthday event. ¡°Thank you. Everyone.¡± Woojoo felt sorry and happy at the same time, thinking that they must have been tired from preparing for theeback, but they did all this for him. Woojoo hadn¡¯t felt like this in a long time. Every time he opened his eyes on his birthday morning, he was always seized by a subtle feeling. It wasn¡¯t sad or anything, but the breaking news that came out on the TV screen when he was seven years old would haunt his mind and sometimes make him feel unreal. Woojoo didn¡¯t know how to exin it. It was really strange. Of course, that feeling would melt away as he ate the seaweed soup that his grandmother made and yed with her. But for the past few years, Woojoo was in the army and there was also the aftermath of the incident on the college entrance exam day, so he didn¡¯t get that feeling. He felt uneasy for a few hours. But then. Just like when he was with his grandmother, the feeling on his birthday morning disappeared so quickly. A smile appeared on his lips. ¡°¡­joo Hyung.¡± ¡°¡­¡± ¡°Woojoo Hyung.¡± Woojoo came to his senses and saw 22 candles on the cake in front of him. ¡°You managed to put them on.¡± ¡°Be quiet and make a wish.¡± Woojoo nodded and looked at the cake. ¡°Chocte cake, please keep me, Mrs. Kim Deoksoon, and our members and family healthy. And make our second album a hit.¡± ¡°Wow!¡± Woojoo blew out the candles. Then he thanked his siblings. ¡°Thank you so much, guys.¡± ¡°Don¡¯t mention it.¡± Among the smiling siblings, Bijoo spoke on behalf of them. ¡°Ever since we met youst year, we¡¯ve had so many things to be grateful for. We¡¯re d we could give something back to you this time.¡± ¡°Still, thank you.¡± Next, Woojoo received the gift they had bought with their money. It was a digital watch with a neat design. Rihyuk pointed at his watch and said, ¡°Change that one, will you? It looks awful with the loose strap.¡± ¡°Okay.¡± ¡°Since we¡¯re on the topic, change it now. Hyung.¡± Woojoo took off the watch he had been wearing since the army and put on the new one they gave him. Woojoo stared at the watch for a while and said with a smile, ¡°Thank you.¡± He was truly grateful. ¡°Let¡¯s eat now! Food!¡± ¡°Yeah, let¡¯s eat.¡± He started to have a meal with his siblings, feeling happy. They had a lot of pleasant conversations over the decent food they hadn¡¯t had in a long time. It was almost a year since they met, so they also took a trip down memoryne and talked about the things that had happened since then. They were chatting loudly when it happened. Beep- A short sound of his phone ringing broke the silence. There were times like that. When bad news came unexpectedly, or when you felt something was off even though it was nothing serious. ¡°What is it?¡± Woojoo cautiously picked up his phone and checked the message. It was a news link that Seokhwan Hyung had sent him, telling him to be aware of it. And when he clicked on it, a huge headline appeared before his eyes. -¡®TNT¡¯ member¡¯s health issue dys repackaged album by a week¡­ ¡®Comeback postponed¡¯ Chapter 142: Chapter 142: Trantor: MarcTempest Editor: Rxel Chapter 142 Health problems? Woojoo wondered what was going on and quickly clicked on the news link. His younger brothers also saw his serious expression and came closer to him. Rihyuk narrowed his eyes. ¡°TNT postpones theireback¡­? What happened?¡± ¡°Let¡¯s read it.¡±Woojoo slowly scrolled down the article. Fortunately, it was not about someone getting seriously injured. Flu. It was a story about Seok Jihun, the youngest and main vocal of TNT, who got infected with Type A influenza while juggling drama filming andeback preparations. ording to TJ Entertainment, they ¡®n to postpone theeback by a week considering the artist¡¯s condition¡¯. Bijoo¡¯s eyes were full of sympathy. ¡°Type A influenza is really painful¡­¡± ¡°Isn¡¯t he the senior we saw before? When we video called with Taehyun. There was a hotel swimming pool then.¡± ¡°Right. It was him.¡± Jihun was also one of the younger brothers Woojoo got along well with at TJ. They used to hang out together on their days off, and he taught him some vocal tips as the main vocal back then. But now they were distant. They would hug and greet each other warmly when they met at the broadcasting station, but they rarely contacted each other personally. It felt funny to contact him out of the blue, so Woojoo left a message for Taehyun to wish him a speedy recovery. On the other hand, after finishing his thoughts about the past connection. ¡°This is serious.¡± Woojoo focused on the problem of reality. The situation of TNT postponing theireback. The younger brothers looked at their smartphones with worried expressions. Bijoo kept brushing his hair back, Rihyuk scrolled down his smartphone with his eyes squinted. Jiho rested his chin on Woojoo¡¯s shoulder and bit his lower lip, then took his phone and started searching. ¡®What is the difference between Type A influenza that TNT¡¯s Jihun got and Type B influenza?¡¯, ¡®Fans are angry¡­ TJ¡¯s excessive schedule is on the chopping board again¡¯ and other headlines popped up. Heavy silence. Even Junghyun, who usually sighed briefly while looking at his smartphone, was in a bad mood. The youngest spoke in a gloomy voice. ¡°Hyung.¡± ¡°Yeah.¡± Woojoo answered calmly and the youngest said, ¡°You¡¯ve been working on the second album since August, right? And we all practiced really hard too.¡± ¡°We did.¡± ¡°What do we do now¡­?¡± The youngest, who usuallyughed ¡®ehehe¡¯ even when something happened, muttered dejectedly. TNT¡¯seback was pushed back by a week. So it ovepped with theirs. Of course, they were notpetitors. If Street Boys had ovepped with theireback again, it would have been a hassle. They were their rivals, so the focus would have been on thepetition. But New ck and TNT, who had been in the industry for five years, were in different positions, so they were not in apetitive situation. The problem was the attention itself. They were rookies who needed every bit of attention, so they had to promote themselves with teasers or music videos, but if a big group came back at the same time, they would take all the attention. It didn¡¯t matter how much it actually affected them, it was not a good thing. But¡­ Even so, there was no need to be this depressed. The younger brothers seemed to be very sensitive because they had put a lot of effort into preparing for the second album. ¡°Uh¡­¡± Of course, Bijoo was rolling his eyes. He didn¡¯t know what to do. It was Woojoo¡¯s birthday, so they should have been having fun, but the mood was like this, so he seemed restless. His face looked sad, frustrated, and not like this. If Woojoo poked him with a needle, he would probably shed a tear, so he was more nervous. ¡°Hey, guys.¡± Bijoo said, ¡°Today is Woojoo Hyung¡¯s birthday¡­¡± ¡°Oops.¡± ¡°Ah¡­¡± His other siblings, who were browsing the inte, blinked their eyes like they had just woken up from a dream. Then they looked at Woojoo with a bewildered expression. ¡°Uh¡­ uh, Hyung, do you want me to give you a massage¡­?¡± Woojoo couldn¡¯t help butugh at the sight of the bear fidgeting with his front paws in confusion. While Junghyun was blinking his eyes, Woojoo tapped his shoulder. ¡°It¡¯s okay, no massage.¡± ¡°Um. That.¡± Rihyuk scratched his cheek and said, ¡°I didn¡¯t want to ruin the mood today since it¡¯s your birthday¡­ but.¡± ¡°Sorry?¡± ¡°But¡­ unfortunately, the situation is like this¡­ ah, what am I saying. Anyway, I¡¯m sorry for making the mood like this on your birthday.¡± ¡°Sorry?¡± ¡°I regret it.¡± He raised his hands and swept his hair back, but it was obvious that he was trying to cover his ears. Woojoo quietly held back hisughter. Then, their youngest lifted his face from Woojoo¡¯s shoulder and said, ¡°Actually, to be honest, I¡¯m upset.¡± ¡°What is it?¡± ¡°Well¡­ you see. Ever since you gave me this, you¡¯ve been working hard and dreaming.¡± Jiho pointed out one by one with his finger. ¡°You stayed up all night talking to the A&R team staff about the title song, and you came to tell me whenever you found something good on YouTube to help me with my facial expressions¡­¡± ¡°So you¡¯re upset?¡± ¡°Yes. I feel like I¡¯m losing my presence.¡± Jiho added, ¡°Like¡­ this is not TNT Sunbaenim¡¯s fault, but I¡¯m sure he doesn¡¯t want to be sick either, but I still feel upset.¡± ¡°He¡¯s not good at talking, but I can rte to him.¡± ¡°Yeah. I get what you¡¯re saying.¡± Woojoo smiled at his siblings. They all looked upset. They had practiced together to make the album a sess, and Woojoo had put a lot of effort intoposing the title song. But suddenly, their schedule ovepped perfectly with a big group, and they were worried that their efforts would be in vain. ¡®And on his birthday¡­!¡¯ Bijoo¡¯s eyes were full of exmation. Looking at his expression, he seemed to wish he had a time machine, so he could go to the future and get a universal vine for TNT¡¯s Seok Jihun. They were all so upset that Woojoo felt like he had tofort them. ¡°Ah.¡± Woojoo said with a smile, ¡°I didn¡¯t know you guys cared about me so much.¡± ¡°We always do. I¡¯m just short-sighted.¡± ¡°Me too.¡± Woojoo nodded at the stupid brothers¡¯ answers. ¡°Well¡­ I guess you can be upset, but don¡¯t be too emotional about it.¡± ¡°But¡­¡± Woojoo raised his hand at Bijoo¡¯s words. ¡°Do you remember when we made Something?¡± ¡°Something?¡± ¡°Yeah, we all worked hard back then, even if not as much as now. But the day before the release, Sixty Seconds¡¯ recording leaked¡­¡± ¡°That was a mess.¡± ¡°Right. Compared to that, this is nothing.¡± Maybe it was because of Woojoo¡¯s birthday. He spoke honestly about what he had been thinking. ¡°We can¡¯t control everything anyway. No matter what we do in the future, there will always be unexpected things that will pop up like this.¡± So. ¡°Whether it¡¯s good or bad, big or small, let¡¯s not get too emotional and prepare calmly until theeback.¡± Woojoo smiled and said to his siblings who were staring at him, ¡°We¡¯ve done well so far, haven¡¯t we?¡± ¡°Yes.¡± Bijoo nodded his head, followed by the others who agreed with him. They resumed their meal in a more rxed atmosphere than before. The busy spoons and chopsticks. ¡°Wow, the food is really good, by the way.¡± Woojooughed at Rihyuk¡¯s grumbling. Under Bijoo¡¯s proud smile, Junghyun and Jiho nodded vigorously. ¡°I¡¯m going to have another bowl.¡± ¡°Eat a lot. I made plenty on purpose.¡± Then, Junghyun, who was fiddling with his phone, suddenly pushed the screen towards Woojoo. ¡°Oh, right. Hyung. The fans prepared a gift for your birthday.¡± ¡°A gift?¡± ¡°I saw on the fan cafe that someone with golden hands made a video.¡± It was a video titled ¡®To You, Our Universe¡¯, and it seemed to be made by a Souffl¨¦. ¡°Wait, wait!¡± The youngest raised his hand. ¡°Stop for a moment. We have to film this.¡± ¡°Okay. I want to film it too.¡± ¡°Bijoo Hyung, I¡¯ll just film it for you.¡± ¡°No, I want it for myself.¡± Woojoo smiled at Bijoo and the youngest holding their phones and looked at the screen where the video was ying. The calm melody of ¡®Starlight¡¯, which Woojoo made, was the BGM. It was aption of various videos from fancams, broadcasts, and YouTube that thepany uploaded. The first one was obviously the first-ce video of PBS Music On. -We, Souffl¨¦, will also work hard in the future¡­ ¡°Ah!¡± His scream made the others p andugh, and Woojoomented. ¡°Why did they start with this¡­¡± Then, scenes of me making mistakes, performing, and cuddling with his siblings followed. Woojoo remembered that time. The VCR they made when they had their first fan signing. The message they conveyed was that they were waiting for the fans, just as they were waiting for them. Woojoo felt the same message in this four-minute video. Whether he showed a cool, foolish, or any other side of him. The video seemed to say that they liked all of his aspects, as they twinkled like stars. Woojoo¡¯s heart ached as he saw the caption ¡®You are our universe¡¯ with the date ¡®11.9¡¯. A pleasant thrill ran up his chin. Without knowing it, his cheeks rose slightly, and his tear ducts felt prickly. Woojoo fidgeted, not knowing what to do with his hands and feet. ¡°Pfft¡­¡± Woojoo lifted his head, and the others were giggling at his reaction. The youngest, who was holding his phone like a cameraman, asked him, ¡°Please give us ament, Seon Woojoo.¡± Woojoo took a moment to organize his thoughts. His heart was heavy, and he wondered how to exin thisprehensive thing. Time passed. Woojoo described how he felt. ¡°I¡¯m really happy since this morning.¡± *** The letter posted on New ck¡¯s official SNS ount. @The_New_ck_Official (A picture of 22 candles burning on a cake) [It was a really happy day.] [I¡¯m reading the letters you sent me whenever I have time.] [One of them said ¡°Thank you for being born¡± and I wanted to say the same thing to you.] [Thank you for being here. My souffl¨¦s.] [We¡¯ll work really hard until oureback and see you again] [Soon.] @The_New_ck_Official (A picture of Woojoo making a V sign with a rubber duck on his head) [Hello, Souffl¨¦s] A second post that came up after the first one was cut off by the character limit. It was supposed to be a continuation of the first one, but since they were posted separately, the Souffl¨¦s who were looking at the SNS ount were momentarily confused. A picture of Woojoo with a serious expression and a rubber duck on his head. ¡°Hello, Souffl¨¦s¡± with a powerful greeting. They wondered what kind of new concept this was and felt bewildered, but soon realized what happened and burst intoughter. And then they started teasing him as usual. *** He regretted logging in after hearing from his siblings that a new joke was trending on the fan cafe. [I can¡¯t wait to see you guys on music shows! So pleasee back soon¡­] He clicked on it with a warm smile at first. Right. I miss you too¡­ -Hello, Souffl¨¦s He blinked his eyes at the post with a picture of him wearing a floral tracksuit attached. ¡°¡­¡± ¡°Hyung, what are you looking at? Hahaha! Ahh¡­!¡± There were dozens of posts like that. He sighed as he looked at them. No wonder Koreans were called the nation of wit. His Souffl¨¦s had created dozens of variations of the joke. Rihyuk made a satisfied face and said, ¡°Unfortunately, I lost.¡± ¡°What?¡± ¡°The ranking of making embarrassing history. You¡¯re number one now.¡± ¡°Rihyuk. Look at this.¡± Woojoo showed him a post with a smug expression. ¡°¡­¡± Posts that had changed ¡®Hello, Souffl¨¦s¡¯ to ¡®Hello, piraruku¡¯ and ¡®Hello, genius¡¯ and so on. He said he would never go to the fan cafe again, so Woojoo told him to do so. Then he went to a corner and tapped his phone screen diligently, but it was obvious that he was lurking on the fan cafe. ¡°¡­Didn¡¯t you say you would never go there again?¡± ¡°It¡¯s a reading cafe!¡± ¡°I can see everything in the mirror behind you.¡± ¡°Huh?¡± Woojoo smiled as he saw his flustered face. ¡°But there¡¯s no mirror behind you.¡± ¡°Oh, really!¡± Woojooughed as he saw his face turn red. Lately, he had been teasing his younger brothers as a way of managing his stress. But unlike the rising stress, the days that passed after his birthday were peaceful as ever. Practice, sleep, practice, sleep. A cycle of routine. Of course, outside the practice room, there were a lot of noisy things going on. TJ Entertainment was pouring out press releases like crazy. A dance challenge event, a famous actor¡¯s cameo in the music video, a message from a recovered member, and so on. It was a big issue in the music industry, which had no other news except for Scarlet¡¯s domination. Meanwhile, in the entertainment section, there was talk of a movie about a corn farmer who rides a spaceship and goes through a ck hole, along with a parenting reality show. And in the social section, there was a heated debate over the unprecedented water SAT, and winter was showing its face. The weather suddenly got cold. The outfits changed to coats or paddings as the lowest temperature ranged between -3 and 1 degrees Celsius. The nkets in the dorm also changed to thick cotton ones that their parents sent them. Thanks to the members¡¯ families who took care of Rihyuk, he ended up having four nkets by himself. And¡­ ¡°What¡¯s that?¡± His thoughts were interrupted by the guy who was dancing in the practice room. Junghyun was holding a camera, and Jiho was dancing. ¡°What is he doing?¡± Bijoo answered. ¡°He said it¡¯s a dance to wish for the admission of the high school seniors.¡± ¡°No way.¡± Their youngest made a triangle with both hands as he danced. He said as if it was obvious, ¡°It¡¯s an S, you know. A dance to wish for early admission.¡± ¡°What about regr admission?¡± ¡°Wait a sec.¡± He then quickly spread his arms and legs to make a ¡®J¡¯ with his whole body, and they burst intoughter. Junghyun, who was filming with his phone, said, ¡°Your head makes it look like a C.¡± ¡°Then I¡¯ll do this.¡± Theyughed again at the sight of their youngest, who shrunk his neck like a turtle. Really. For the sake of their kids¡¯ human rights and the seniors¡¯ eye health, he would never let him upload this. As he was shrunk like a turtle, Jiho saw Rihyuk and eximed, ¡°Ah!¡± He then put his hands on his ears and pped them. ¡°What¡¯s that¡­?¡± ¡°A red-eared slider.¡± ¡°Hey!¡± ¡°This is a pirarucu.¡± Rihyuk got up with a loud scream as he saw the youngest making an ugly face. They held their stomachs andughed. Soon, a Tom and Jerry chase began in the narrow practice room. They both got scolded by Bijoo and sat down, but. ¡°Ah, but when will this be uploaded?¡± ¡°They said it¡¯s at 6 o¡¯clock sharp.¡± ¡°I hope it came out well this time.¡± What they were waiting for today was the group concept photo. It was the first step of the promotion schedule that would lead to the group photo reveal on Friday and the music video reveal next Wednesday. The information about their mini album that their seniors were eagerly waiting for on the fan cafe. Of course, they were also excited and waiting for it. They did monitor it once at the shooting site, but the photos that were retouched in the studio were different from the originals. As they waited for the upload at 6 o¡¯clock sharp, they searched for New ck on the inte and surfed the web. -New ck, mini album promotion schedule revealed¡­ warming up foreback Chapter 143: Chapter 143: Trantor: MarcTempest Editor: Rxel Chapter 143 A space with a surreal feeling, where blue and red neon lights contrasted. They looked even more unreal in it. Maybe it was because of their slightly darker eye makeup, red lips, and their skin that was paler than usual. ¡°Wow¡­¡± Woojoo stared at the photos on theptop monitor in awe. There were two concept photos that were released.The background was the same. An old-fashioned room with colorful lights shining on it, creating a strong contrast between blue and red. They sat around a round wooden table. Each of them had a different masquerade mask on their seats, and they all faced the front. Some crossed their legs, some rested their arms on the back of the chair, and some looked at the camera casually. They had different poses, but the same expressions. They looked fierce at first nce, but the more you looked, the more you felt they were lifeless or sad. It was an expression that matched the concept of this mini album, ¡®Mask¡¯. ¡°Man, these turned out great.¡± As Woojoo eximed sincerely, Rihyuk nodded. ¡°Of course they did. Do you remember that day? We took hundreds of shots until we got the ones we liked.¡± ¡°We sure did.¡± Hwang Taesoon, the photographer, had be more friendly than before, but his perfectionism had also increased. They took a lot longer for the group shots than the individual ones. It was hard work. They had air conditioning, but they sweated non-stop in their suits because of the lights. When they changed clothester, steam rose from inside their shirts. And the lights were so bright. Later, they had afterimages in their eyes from the neon lights. For almost 30 minutes, they saw ck spots everywhere. Jiho kept bothering me, saying, ¡®What if I go blind?¡¯ And that night, he dreamed of red and blue tissues asking him to hire them as tissue men. The next day, they had a serious conversation with their siblings over dinner, but they couldn¡¯t figure out what tissue men meant. Anyway, the photos were of very high quality, thanks to their hard work. Bijoo smiled and said, ¡°I¡¯m d we took so many and got these good results. Especially¡­¡± Bijoo pointed at somewhere in the photo with his finger. But they didn¡¯t need anyone to tell them who the MVP of this shoot was. In the center of the photo. A person with red hair, sitting on a chair that was turned away from the camera, closest to it. He looked back over his shoulder, with a nk expression that gave a lonely vibe. That was his expression under the blue light that looked like turquoise on the left. On the right, his face was under a red light, and he had the same expression, but it looked like he was smiling faintly. His face looked like he was wearing a mask, because of the different lights. He didn¡¯t look like their youngest, but like a prince from a parallel world. ¡°¡­¡± They all rolled their eyes at the sound of someone breathing heavily by himself. Jiho was snorting. His cheeks were flushed. He looked so happy that he didn¡¯t know what to do, but when they looked at the photo again, they thought he deserved it. But his expression changedpletely when they looked at him. He should have just shown off, but every time they looked at him, he acted stern and said, ¡®Well, this is nothing new to me.¡¯ And he kept ncing at them, as if he was expecting a storm ofpliments. ¡°Ahem.¡± When they didn¡¯t say anything, Jiho cleared his throat and ran his fingers through his hair. ¡°¡­¡± ¡°Ahem!¡± Rihyuk turned his head slightly. Woojoo saw his lips curl up in a mocking smile. ¡°¡­¡± ¡°Uh, I don¡¯t know if this photo is good or not. Is this¡­ good?¡± Bijoo pursed his lips and looked away, and Junghyun just blinked. Woojoo met the eyes of the youngest, who was fidgeting while holding back hisughter. He realized the situation and shouted, ¡°Hey, really! You guys are mean!¡± He whined with a full of resentment. He looked like a giant red chick. ¡°No, I¡¯m so proud of how well my photo came out. But you guys don¡¯t even give me a singlepliment¡­ I stayed up for days practicing with Woojoo Hyung, and I didn¡¯t even have breakfast that day because of the shoot¡­¡± Theyughed and giggled as they watched the youngest one say, ¡®My dad saidpliments make even whales dance.¡¯ Soon, Bijoo and Woojoo hugged the youngest one, who had a sullen expression on his face, between them. ¡°Come on, it was just a joke.¡± ¡°Yeah, a joke. Your photo came out so well, we wanted to tease you a bit.¡± ¡°¡­Did it reallye out well?¡± ¡°Of course. It¡¯s very pretty.¡± While Bijoo was cooing over their youngest one, Woojoo called out to Rihyuk. ¡°Hey, the voice of inspiration. Give our youngest one some praise.¡± ¡°What?¡± Rihyuk red at Woojoo. ¡°Why are you asking me?¡± ¡°You bought a book the other day, didn¡¯t you? I received the delivery for you. ¡®The deadly pose that captures women¡¯s hearts¡­¡¯¡± ¡°The main character of this photo is what I mean.¡± Rihyuk, holding a pen, exined it like a cultural heritage. ¡°He upies the perfect center of theposition. The pose of putting his hand on the backrest shows his noble elegance¡­¡± The youngest one, lying on Woojoo¡¯sp, nodded. ¡°Right. I don¡¯t know what you¡¯re saying, but I have a noble aura, and I¡¯m noble, and cute.¡± ¡°Are you a triple noble?¡± Everyone pped their hands like seals and enjoyed Junghyun¡¯s joke. Meanwhile, Bijoo whispered to Woojoo, ¡®That book, right? The deadly pose?¡¯ ¡°I read it secretly.¡± Woojooughed at his whisper. Actually, he read that book secretly too. When he told him that, Bijoo was very happy. On the other hand, Woojoo kept throwing exaggeratedpliments at Jiho. ¡°Wow, but our youngest one really came out well. How did you do that? Look at that jawline.¡± ¡°Just. I think so too.¡± ¡°¡­¡± ¡°Give me more.¡± ¡°Ugh, I can¡¯t do it anymore. My stomach is churning.¡± Rihyuk stuck out his tongue at the youngest one, who was bing more and more arrogant. ¡°You have no conscience. Wang Jiho. If I gotpliments like that.¡± ¡°Would you be happy?¡± ¡°Yeah, happy¡­ not. I don¡¯t get swayed by thosepliments.¡± Woojoo burst outughing. ¡°Rihyuk. What are you, a robot?¡± ¡°Ah. Wait a minute.¡± At the word robot, Rihyuk frowned as if he remembered something. ¡°Sorry to change the subject, but when is the robot vacuuming, Wang Jiho? Is iting at all?¡± ¡°It¡¯s on its way.¡± ¡°Hey, just assemble it. That would be faster.¡± The youngest one chuckled and asked for a high-five, and Rihyuk looked at them with a disgusted expression. Bijoo changed the topic to make the atmosphere more harmonious. ¡°I think we all did really well together. I hope our individual cuts that will be released tomorrow will look this good too.¡± ¡°I agree. I hope they turn out well.¡± While they were talking about their personal concept photos in the corner of the practice room, Woojoo noticed that it was time to go. ¡°Let¡¯s check the fans¡¯ reactions now.¡± Junghyun scrolled down and said, ¡°Um¡­ the reactions are good. They¡¯re all crying.¡± ¡°They¡¯re crying?¡± ¡°Junghyun Hyung is saying yuyu. ¡®Cry Jiho crazy so pretty yuyu¡¯ something like that.¡± Everyone was crying in general. Maybe it was because their official SNSments were only from their fans. Woojoo didn¡¯t know how other idol fans or the public would react, but it was good for now. The most important thing was that their Souffl¨¦s liked it. ¡°Ah! Since we¡¯re on the topic, how about we turn on our live broadcast? To share our happy feelings.¡± ¡°Oh. That sounds good. We can talk with the fans too.¡± ¡°I agree.¡± ¡°Then it¡¯s decided. Well. Let¡¯s quickly get permission from the PR team¡­ What¡¯s wrong? Why the negative expression?¡± ¡°Well, you see. Right now we¡­¡± Woojoo smiled awkwardly as the younger ones were excitedly talking. Ding- Theptop with low battery went into sleep mode. And at that moment. Their five faces were reflected on the darkened screen. No makeup, hair soaked with sweat and turned into seaweed, discolored t-shirts and training pants. The camera wouldn¡¯t capture it, but there was also a sudden smell of sweaty sweat. The fairies in the pictorial were gone and only the monsters remained. ¡°Wow, we¡¯re really pathetic. We are,¡± Rihyuk said sincerely and we allughed. Junghyun said with interest, ¡°It would be funny if we broadcast like this.¡± ¡°I bet it would make headlines. ¡®Shock! New ck¡¯s bare faces revealed¡¯ something like that.¡± ¡°I bet the article would say ¡®Netizens ¡®I¡¯m more embarrassed watching them¡¯¡¯ I¡¯ll bet five hundred won on that. What about you, Bijoo Hyung?¡± ¡°I¡¯ll bet five hundred won too.¡± ¡°On what?¡± ¡°Just betting.¡± ¡°¡­What about you, Hyung ?¡± ¡°Well. I don¡¯t know about five hundred won, but I bet five thousand people would leave our fan cafe.¡± They burst outughing at Woojoo¡¯s words. They had been weirdtely. Maybe it was because they were stuck in the practice room all the time, but they would giggle at each other whenever their clothes touched. Woojoo said with a smile, ¡°Shall we practice again?¡± They all got up without a word. There was no dignity of human beings in their sticky appearance, but the faces in the mirror were full of passion. They say the beginning was half the battle. The promotion of the album. The first step, the group concept photo, was so good that it gave off a feeling of ¡®Ah, this is going to be good.¡¯ From the jacket photoshoot to the music video shoot. More than that, there was nothing that didn¡¯t have a lot of people¡¯s efforts and capital invested in it. That was why he had a good feeling. Woojoo thought this album would do well. *** For a week after the college entrance exam, New ck¡¯s mini album ¡®Five Colors : The Red¡¯ was promoted step by step. On Friday, the group photo was uploaded to the official SNS ount, and on Saturday, the individual concept photos of each member were uploaded. The ck and white photos had a gray city as the background, and only the red objects had color. They all looked like they were being chased by someone, wearing disheveled white shirts. Woojoo leaning against a brick wall and looking down at the camera. Bijoo was crouching down with one knee bent and looking back in an alley. Junghyun hesitated whether to enter or not in front of a door. Rihyuk cautiously looked out the window from a dark room. And somewhere like a ballroom. Jiho, dressed in a suit alone, looked back at the crowd of a masked ball. As soon as the concept photos were released on the official SNS, the Souffl¨¦s started jumping around with joy. -Guys????? I have no regrets even if I die today -Don¡¯t die??? -Wow¡­ Wow¡­ The photo quality is insane -But I felt it since the group shot, don¡¯t you think there is some kind of story behind it? -Yeah, I think so too. Like the apple, or the red umbre¡­ There are a lot of hints in it Along with thements on the members¡¯ appearances, the concept photos gave the Souffl¨¦s a new thrill. While waiting for the album release, various spections started to pop up in the fanmunity. Meanwhile, New ck¡¯s concept photos received positive feedback from the idolmunity. [New ck¡¯s concept photos that fans loved this time (spoiler alert)] -Wow¡­ I never thought I would see Lemon take good photos in my life -He grew up¡­ Kyuho-ya¡­ -They really came out well???? -Look at that red-haired oppa, he¡¯s so handsome -Maknae Jiho-ya?? he¡¯s not an oppa. He¡¯s seventeen -No, no, if I call him oppa, he wille to me and be my oppa -Wow. . but they really nailed the concept photos. Aren¡¯t they amazing? At this level? -I think the music video will be awesome too, since they invested a lot of money¡­ Honestly, if the song is good here, they will blow up -Hey, they¡¯re gonna make it big It was a timely moment. While TNT, who had postponed theireback and already used up most of their hints, was releasing the same press release, the gap was filled by the news of the rookies¡¯ next album. MOP¡¯s rookie girl group Serenity¡¯s uniform concept, Lemon¡¯s rookie boy group New ck¡¯s unique mask concept. Among the two, New ck drew more attention. ¡®It was the influence of the reality show.¡¯ Hong Seoyoung, an assistant in the PR team who was monitoring the reaction of the idolmunity, scrolled down. No matter which post she clicked, there were favorable responses about New ck. They also attracted attention with Around the World With Dice¡¯s Chuseok Special, but the reason why they gained such a liking from the idol fandom was because of the reality show. The kimchi explosion scene and various si-like scenes spread as gifs and videos, and more people seemed to like them. -Wow¡­ Daegil¡¯s friend¡¯s suit fit is crazy -also Stu¡¯s fit -?????? what is Stu¡¯s fit -How did he end up looking like that -Bijoo?? Are you right, where do you live -Why do you send kimchi? -They have a real gap¡­??? they look like the ones I saw in gifs recently Even though they were rookies, the idol fans knew the members¡¯ names quite well. ¡®But¡­¡¯ She knew that this much of a reaction wouldn¡¯te from just knowing their names or having a liking for them. It took two hands to p. The fact that these rted posts came up with such positive feedback meant that the quality of the concept photos was good. ¡°What are you looking at?¡± She answered the question from Nam, the assistant next to her. ¡°Monitoring our kids¡¯ photos.¡± ¡°Hmm¡­ oh, the response is really good¡­? Has there been anything like this in the idolmunity with rookiestely?¡± ¡°I didn¡¯t expect it.¡± That was why she was so surprised. They were promoting the album, but the signs were better than they thought. The premonitions, if you would. They were so good that they made her nervous. When they had the Fireworks show, it felt like a canary was chirping. But this time, it was like hundreds of magpies were dancing and telling them that something good was going to happen. Assistant Manager Hong cautiously calcted the statistics in her head. Theparison of the mentions of New ck and other groups. But the group shepared them to was not Serenity, the rookie group that debuted in the same year as them. ¡°The media articles are iparable to TNT, but themunity mentions are less different.¡± There was no urate indicator to predict the oue yet, but one thing was certain. Unlike Serenity, who was swept away by TNT¡¯seback, New ck was igniting a spark in the midst of it. And the signs were better than they expected. She swallowed her saliva. As an insider, she already knew the tracks and the quality of the album. The concept photos that were released were just a part of it. That was why her heart was strangely pounding. ¡°If we do well¡­¡± She had a thought in her mind, but she didn¡¯t say it out loud, afraid that it might jinx it. She just did her job quietly until the album was released. *** Woojoo always felt this way, but there was no end to practice. When Woojoo thought it was perfect, he saw somethingcking. And when he fixed that, something else came up. It was like whack-a-mole. As if they were saying, ¡°Hehe, catch me if you can!¡± and popping up. And when he hit them, they said, ¡°Next is me!¡± and jumped out. So these days, when D-Day was approaching, Woojoo felt like he was ying whack-a-mole with the highest score in front of him. If only he had a few more days¡­ Woojoo could make his hand movements more beautiful when he started the choreography, he could show a more splendid expression to the camera. He felt like he couldplete it 100% if he had a little more time. On the other hand, Woojoo also wanted time to pass quickly so he could have fun with their Souffl¨¦s. And above all, the news Woojoo heard these days was not normal. ¡°Hyung, did you see this? We have another article.¡± They always searched for ¡®New ck¡¯ or went to their YouTube channel with their siblings when they ate. Every time, his heart thumped. ¡°Wow¡­ why did so many people watch it?¡± Their music video teaser that was released on Sunday was already close to hundreds of thousands of views. It was a teaser, not a music video. It was notparable to TNT¡¯seback song, which recorded two million views in twelve hours, but it was an exceptional number for a rookie boy group. The managers and the PR staff seemed to not tell them on purpose, afraid that they might be shaken, but they all looked very nervous when they passed by. They looked both nervous and excited. -New ck, the rising rookie, reveals their ¡®fatal charm¡¯ in theireback teaser -New ck ¡®Masquerade¡¯ MV teaser released ¡®Charisma+Sexy¡¯ -Already hot¡­ New ck MV teaser views ¡®Explosion of interest?¡¯ The unit of the number of articles that came up was different from the first album. They decided not to look at the inte reactions until theeback, so they didn¡¯t go to the intemunities or fan cafes, but they instinctively felt that the atmosphere was different from before. A tense tension. As if they were waiting for something big toe, they spent their time calmly in that tension. D-3 The teaser for the new song¡¯s music video was released. D-2 The preview video containing the highlights of the songs in the album was released. D-1 The story film and the music video were released at midnight, and the day of the press showcase, November 17th, finally arrived. Chapter 144: Chapter 144: Trantor: MarcTempest Editor: Rxel Chapter 144 The day before the showcase. They finished their practice earlier than usual and arrived at their dorm. 8 p.m. ¡°Good job, everyone!¡± Woojoo said with a bright smile and gave high-fives to his brothers as they ran around the rooms¡­ ¡°Hey, don¡¯t run around like that. You might disturb the people downstairs.¡± ¡°Then let¡¯s just hop on one foot.¡±¡°Woah¡­!¡± ¡°And lower your voices¡­¡± ¡°Woahhh¨K¡± They settled for hopping on one foot and whispering instead. They were in high spirits. So they took showers, and toasted with sparkling water and ice cubes with their fluffy brothers. They decided to go to bed early today. No, they had decided. The problem was, after they turned off the lights. ¡°¡­¡± Their bodies couldn¡¯t ept what they usually didn¡¯t do. When five owls were lying under the nkets with their eyes wide open. ¡°Hyung.¡± Their rapper, who could sleep soundly anywhere, spoke. ¡°I can¡¯t sleep.¡± ¡°You can¡¯t sleep?¡± ¡°I¡¯m surprised too. Maybe I¡¯m nervous. I feel jittery when I think about our second albuming out.¡± ¡°¡­¡± He couldn¡¯t sleep and felt jittery. After his shocking confession, the others started to chime in. ¡°But I think I can¡¯t sleep either. I¡¯m worried a lot.¡± ¡°Me too. We have to do well tomorrow.¡± ¡°I feel like my heart is pounding. I shouldn¡¯t have bragged to the kids at school. They keep texting me that they¡¯re looking forward to our song tomorrow.¡± Woojoo listened to their words calmly and then said with a smile, ¡°Then how about we do some practice?¡± So they all got up from their beds and gathered. On the first floor of the middle bunk bed that no one used. They turned on a mini light that they used as a backup battery and took out some papers. It was the Q&A preparation material that Seokhwan Hyung gave them. -There will be some low-quality questions during the Q&A session of this showcase. Your poprity has increased, so it¡¯s easier to get haters. That was his message. The words of New ck in June and the words of New ck in November were now iparable in weight. -Be prepared for some jerks who will throw weird questions to get a headline. Especially, be careful about TNT or Serenity, who have oveppingebacks. It will be a big deal if the wrong titlees out. That was the reason why they practiced the Q&A. Weird questions¡­ Woojoo was a bit worried. They had be proficient in performing on stage, but dealing with the media was still awkward. ¡°It¡¯s awkward?¡± ¡°Yes.¡± ¡°¡­¡± The brothersughed as if they couldn¡¯t believe it. Why were they like that? Woojoo defended himself that he was nervous about the Q&A time as well, since he had messed up a lot in thest showcase, but no one listened to him. *** 10:30 p.m. As the New ck members who were preparing for Q&A started to lie down in their ces, and their voices became one by one drowsy. And in that state, theyy down like skewers in a row and started to snore. The fans couldn¡¯t sleep easily. It was because of the music video that would be released at midnight. ¡®Oh, I¡¯m nervous¡­¡¯ They all had theirputers or smartphones in front of them and repeated meaningless refreshes. -I have to work overtime today?? -I¡¯m in theb¡­ Gyesnim¡­ I want to go home¡­ -[Breaking News] 1 hour and 30 minutes ago They were chatting and waiting for the 12 o¡¯clock music video. -Huh¡­? -What¡¯s this, I refreshed and something weird came up -?? -A story film¡­? At 11 o¡¯clock, a strange rumor came to their ears. A video with New ck as the thumbnail was uploaded to the Lemon Entertainment ount. But it was not a music video. ¡®What is this¡­?¡¯ The fans were confused by the video that was posted without any prior notice. Fingers from all over the country, and across the sea, clicked on the mouse or touched the screen. An 8-minute video. Soon, the logo of Lemon Entertainment and the name of the director appeared on the ck screen. *** The video started with a familiar scene that they had seen once before. The music video of Fireworks. Five boys who crashnded on a strange, wary of each other at first, but soon became friends and had fun together. The Fireworks part at the end was the opening. Bang- Bang- Colorful fireworks decorating the night sky. The sandy beach where the waves rolled in. The faces of the five members sitting in front of the bonfire were captured on the screen. As the fireworks exploded, their faces were colored with red, purple, and various other colors, and then disappeared. Then, the close-up of Wang Jiho continued. The focus was fixed on his handsome face, and the background around him quickly brightened and darkened. It was a scene that showed the date changing by the sun and the moon setting. At the same time, Jiho¡¯s hair color changed. Like the autumn leaves turning red, from brown to red. And when it becamepletely red. The perspective changed. Swoosh- The white sand beach where the waves came in under the hot sun. The members of Molgol appeared, looking shabby. The blue jacket was stained with dirt, and the pants were full of sand. They rummaged through the cans that came in search of food, or looked at the sea with a thirsty expression. When they started to feel isted and reached their limit. Thud- There was a rustling sound from the forest behind them. They tensed up for a moment, but soon rxed when a young man with a green bracelet appeared. And they greeted him warmly with what he brought. A raft. The mood changedpletely. From despair and pain to hope and happiness. Afterunching the raft, the member with yellow hair and the member with blue clothes started to row. The voyage was smooth at first. Rumble- Soon, dark clouds gathered and a fierce storm began to pour. They rowed hard, but soon the boat was flipped over by a huge ssh of water, and they saw the calm surface of the water below. The blue sea was full of light. A member with a green bracelet started to swim gracefully and rescue the others one by one. The screen went dark for a moment. Then it brightened up again with the sound of seagulls somewhere. The people who were stranded on the sand opened their eyes one by one and looked disappointed. Back to the ind. They woke up on a different beach from where they had been before and tilted their heads at the sight of something unfamiliar. It was a door standing in the middle of the white sand. A literal door. A bright red door with a rose pattern engraved on the frame. The member with red hair grabbed the door handle with a curious face. Before anyone could stop him, the door opened. And with a sh, they opened their eyes again in a strange ce. A cityscape filled with contrast of ck and white, like a ck-and-white movie. The scene was like the opening of the music video for ¡®Masquerade¡¯, and the story film ended like that. ¡°¡­¡± They were mesmerized by the video and snapped out of it when they saw their own faces reflected on the ck screen. They were flustered. They were waiting for the music video, but a short film with amazing visuals came up. ¡°¡­¡± The fans who were surprised by the story film felt the same way. -What did we just watch¡­? The chat room exploded and the link to the video spread to various idol-rtedmunities. And the reporters didn¡¯t miss this hot topic. -New ck¡¯s surprise story film before theeback MV release¡­ ¡®Praised for the visuals¡¯ -New ck¡¯s story film buzz¡­ ¡°They put a story in the music video¡± -New ck¡¯s ¡®Masquerade¡¯ MV, captured both the attention and the fandom While the New ck members were in deep sleep, the anticipation for theireback album was growing. *** 4 a.m. When Woojoo woke up from his sleep, he was shocked for three reasons. ¡°Wake up. Woojoo.¡± The first reason was the grim face of their new road manager, Seok Dowon, who greeted him as soon as he opened his eyes. The second reason was when he rubbed his eyes. ¡°¡­Ah, surprise. Why are you guys here?¡± ¡°Why are you here, Hyung¡­?¡± They realized that they had fallen asleep in a row on the first floor bed. And the third reason was. ¡°Uh¡­ what is this.¡± When Woojoo habitually turned on the inte, he saw their name on the first screen of the entertainment section. -The trendy rookie New ck, caught the eye with ¡®morous visuals¡¯ before theeback¡­ That was the title of the article. As the van ran through the Cheongdam-dong street in November, they caught up with the story ofst night. The story film had be a big issue in the entertainmentmunity. It was understandable. When they watched the story film and the music video with the managers at the management team office yesterday afternoon, they all opened their mouths in awe. ¡°Wow, the reaction is really good.¡± ¡°The fans say, the visuals are really pretty.¡± The fan cafe was noisy. There were morements about the visuals than the content. Because the music video was focused on the choreography and the visuals, the story part was implied. A city where everyone wore suits and masks. The story of four people who fell into that world and were chased around, rescuing the red-haired one who lost his memory. They considered the unspecified majority who would watch their music video and put the story to a minimum, and focused more on the choreography. The most important thing was the song. -Wow????? The song is really good -Really¡­ I keep listening to the music video! The choreography in the chorus is so pretty and the song is really really good¡­ I¡¯m so happy -I¡¯m going to rmend this to everyone when the songes out -I¡¯m d it came out after the college entrance exam. If it came out before, it would have been addictive and disturbed my studies Most of thements were positive about the song. Woojoo was proud. From the end of August to November, they touched and touched again. They worked hard on the song that they showed for the first time. They were so happy that their favorite people gave them good reviews. They smiled at each other with tired faces. It felt like they had safely passed the first stage of the gate. Now all they had to do was meet the stakeholders. *** B Square in Hannam-dong. Reporters started to arrive for New ck¡¯s mini 1st album showcase. As they sat down and turned on theirptops, some of them exchanged light chatter with familiar faces. ¡°Ah, I¡¯m busy. So busy. I have no time today. I have to go to Serenity¡¯s showcase after this.¡± ¡°We split the staff from the beginning. Serenity and New ck, like this.¡± ¡°It would have been a disaster if TNT was there too. Really.¡± ¡°Hey, if TNT did it, we would all go there. Why would wee here?¡± Lightughter filled the air. ¡°TNT is only doing aeback show with their fanster. I heard it¡¯s about three thousand people.¡± ¡°Wow. That¡¯s almost a concert.¡± ¡°They¡¯re probably going to sweep the music charts tonight.¡± ¡°What do you think of the rookies this time? New ck and Serenity.¡± Someone¡¯s question prompted predictions. ¡°Serenity will probably do simr tost time¡­ New ck will do a bit higher. Their variety show effect hasn¡¯t worn off yet. And their fandom has grown more than I expected.¡± Soon, the conversation turned to New ck¡¯s 1st mini album. They admired the concept photos and the music video of the members that were projected on therge screen. ¡°They really spent a lot of money on this.¡± ¡°I wrote an article about thistest night. It suddenly became a popr video on YouTube.¡± ¡°It deserves it. The overseas fans must have gone crazy. The choreography is good too.¡± ¡°But, you know. I don¡¯t mean to be rude, but¡­ what were they thinking to invest so much?¡± What if they failed? They didn¡¯t say the rest, but they all had the same thought. New ck was the strongest candidate for the Rookie Award at various awards ceremonies, and the best promising group of the year. But they were not a group that deserved such a big investment. That meant¡­ ¡°It must be because the song is that good.¡± A voice from the back seat. Oh Sohee, a reporter from Entertainment IN, looked at herptop screen and answered. ¡°I heard from the insiders. The executives decided on the investment scale as soon as they heard the song.¡± ¡°Really?¡± They all tilted their heads. ¡°Is it that good?¡± ¡°I saw the music video yesterday, but I didn¡¯t get it. You know, you can¡¯t tell with one listen.¡± ¡°Me too. It felt decent enough.¡± ¡°Right. Honestly, there are only one or two songs that you can remember after one listen. Look. Their song too¡­¡± As he said that, someone hummed the chorus of Masquerade that he had heardst night. He was trying to show that it was forgettable, but it came out of his mouth naturally. He tilted his head as if it was strange. ¡°It¡¯s strange. Maybe it¡¯s because I fell asleepst night. I only heard the song once, but why does ite out so well?¡± ¡°Did you leave it on repeat and sleep?¡± ¡°No. Try it. It won¡¯t be just me.¡± ¡°No, who remembers a song they heard once yesterday¡­ It works.¡± One by one, they hummed the chorus of the song they heardst night. The melody popped out right away. It was a strange thing. It wasn¡¯t even on repeat, and the melody of the song they heard once or twice stayed with them until after they woke up. ¡°¡­¡± A strange silence. Then, one of the reporters who was humming the song said as if he remembered something, ¡°Oh, now that I think about it, I remember.¡± ¡°What?¡± ¡°There was a simr thing earlier this year. I heard it on the street and the song stayed¡­¡± The one who was recalling his memory nodded and said, ¡°It must have been during Something.¡± *** He had always felt this way, but the atmosphere of the press showcase was really the end of business. The only sounds that could be heard when the music video came out or when they performed or when they did some talk were two. The ttering keyboard sound of over a hundredptops and the clicking sound of cameras. It was literally a business meeting. It was just a stage in the background, and Woojoo felt like he was exining the product to the buyers who had their arms crossed. -Now, it¡¯s Q&A time. If you have any questions, please raise your hand one by one. While the host was proceeding, Seokhwan Hyung nodded his head as if to tell Woojoo to do well from below the stage. Woojoo also exchanged nces with his brothers quietly. Let¡¯s do it as we practiced yesterday. Soon, various questions flew in. -I¡¯m Lee Jonghak from Star Ten. First, I¡¯d like to ask you about the choreography. How was it working with the overseas choreographer¡­ -I¡¯m Bae Yeonjung from Media Cue. To member Junghyun, about Rapper Heysion¡­ Unlike thest showcase, where the questions were mostly about Woojoo, this time they were evenly distributed. They asked Bijoo about the meaning of ¡®B¡¯ in thement that y Tyler left on SNS. They asked Junghyun about the episode he had while working with Heysion. They asked Rihyuk if he could really handle the high notes he did in the music video while dancing. Especially, there were a lot of questions about Jiho, the main character of the album. Woojoo was happy that they showed personal interest in his brothers, but he was also worried. Could they do well? He was always anxious when they stand in front of these people. But¡­ ¡°Working with Heysion Sunbaenim was fun. He¡¯s a musician I really admire, and I want to do it again.¡± ¡°Ah¡­ The expression acting was a bit hard. I think it was possible thanks to the director¡¯s detailed direction.¡± There was a great improvement. The brothers who held the microphone gave textbook answers every time they answered. The reporters also gave them the exact points to write headlines. Woojoo was moved. It was like the feeling of a mother kangaroo watching her child run around in her pocket. But the pride was short-lived. Woojoo was the busiest one to digest the questions about the album. There were questions about the production process that came out in the reality show, and whether he really came up with the melody in his dream. And every time a bomb-like question came up, it was Woojoo¡¯s job to defuse it. Sure enough, as the fame went up, the frequency of weird questions was iparably higher. -TNT had a sudden dy in theireback due to a member¡¯s health problem. So you¡¯re making aeback in the same week. How do you feel? Interpretation: I want to write a hot headline by linking you and TNT. Just give me something. At times like that, Woojoo would answer with a kind smile. ¡°I think it¡¯s an honor to share the stage with the amazing sunbaenims that I¡¯ve always admired.¡± Interpretation: No way. That was how the questions came and went like a sword and a shield. -Now, the music video and the inte reaction are very good. How much do you set your goal ranking for this time? Interpretation: No matter what rank you say, I have the confidence to stir up the controversy. ¡°Our goal is to do our best on every stage we are given, rather than the rank. If we have to aim for a rank, we want to be the first in the hearts of our Souffl¨¦s.¡± Interpretation: No thanks. No thanks. Some of the reporters snickered at the word Souffl¨¦s, and the one who asked the question sat down with his mouth shut. When Woojoo didn¡¯t give them any bait, they naturally asked good questions about the album. And then. Woojoo didn¡¯t know why, but just like he did earlier, his siblings were looking at him with proud smiles. *** [New group leader who made a bigugh during the showcase by eating gold] Reporter: You and Lee Geonwoo¡¯s two-shot from the Around the World With Dice show is btedly bing a hot topic. People say you¡¯re handsome and you don¡¯t get overshadowed by him. What do you think? Woojoo: Lee Geonwoo Sunbaenim shines from his face. Reporter: No, I mean, my question is¡­ Woojoo: Sunbaenim is so handsome. Reporter: ¡­ Woojoo: Totally handsome. Super handsome. Reporter: (sits down) (Skipping some parts) I captured this because it was funny to see him ignore the questions ???? -The invincible shield ???? -The members¡¯ eyes are so cute next to him ????? -The reporters gave up after trying a few times ??? -Wow, he¡¯s really reliable -I want to take him with me when I go to the department store for a refund?? -Why are you so trivial??? -With that face, he could probably get a refund from the department store *** After the showcase, the reporters came straight to thepany. The official reason was to prepare for tomorrow¡¯s K music show, but in fact, they couldn¡¯t focus on practice. ¡°You guys did a great job.¡± The managers brought them the sushi they had been wishing for to the break room, but their interest was not in food. ¡°Rihyuk.¡± ¡°What.¡± ¡°Why are you refreshing twice a second?¡± ¡°I did it once. My hand was shaking so I pressed it twice.¡± Rihyuk raised his hand, but it was trembling. Everyone was the same. Bijoo was dropping the sushi he picked up with chopsticks, and their youngest was eating it with stic gloves on. ¡°Why are you guys shaking like that?¡± ¡­Woojoo said, while gulping down ginseng before the meal, but the ginseng slipped out of his mouth. His hand was trembling. The siblings burst intoughter. ¡°Maybe it¡¯s because it¡¯s cold.¡± ¡°¡­The break room temperature is 27 degrees. Hyung.¡± ¡°Hmm, let¡¯s check the chart.¡± It was 6:55 p.m. They were all looking at theptop screen while eating sushi or pretending to. Soon it would be 7 p.m. The time when the real-time chart would be updated. ording to the PR team, they were definitely going to top the charts. The atmosphere was great right now¡­ No. They couldn¡¯t becent. Yeah. Since when were they a popr group? Who cared what rank they were. They just had to work hard together¡­ Rihyuk. Stop refreshing the page like that. When Bijoo handed Rihyuk a pair of chopsticks and told him to eat something, Woojoo watched him inhale the sushi without a word. ¡°Junghyun, how do you feel? Will our song do well?¡± ¡°Hmm.¡± The youngest looked nervous at the sight of him stroking his chin. ¡°Wait a minute. Junghyun Hyung. The word ¡®feeling¡¯ is forbidden.¡± ¡°Uh-huh.¡± Junghyun pondered for a while before answering. ¡°I don¡¯t know.¡± ¡°You don¡¯t?¡± ¡°Yes. I have no idea.¡± He was the one who always said ¡®I have a good feeling¡¯ before, but now he showed a clueless reaction. At that, they all looked at each other. They were flustered when the feeling viin showed his first ¡®I don¡¯t know¡¯ response, when the youngest eximed. ¡°It¡¯s 7 o¡¯clock!¡± With that, they all gathered around theptop. Chapter 145: Chapter 145: Trantor: MarcTempest Editor: Rxel Chapter 145 The clock on the wall pointed to exactly 7 o¡¯clock. ¡°¡­¡± They all gathered in front of theirptops at the sound of someone saying, ¡°It¡¯s 7 o¡¯clock!¡± But no one dared to click the mouse. Bijoo suggested, ¡°How about you do it, Hyung? I heard that this kind of thing should be done by someone who has good luck.¡± ¡°That¡¯s nonsense.¡± Rihyuk interrupted, ¡°It¡¯s not like quantum mechanics where the oue depends on the observation. The result is already determined.¡± ¡°It¡¯s what Woojoo Hyung¡¯s grandmother told us¡­¡±¡°Oh, that.¡± ¡°Rihyuk was mean,¡± Junghyun said and picked up a shrimp sushi. While someone blinked as if he had be a bad guy in an instant, their phones started ringing one by one. With messages, texts, and calls. ¡°This must be a good sign, right?¡± ¡°I don¡¯t know. The kids are sending me messages like, ¡®Ahh, I can¡¯t watch it.¡¯¡± After they put on such a farce, Woojoo decided to update the chart. The atmosphere was tense, with even their breathing audible. Woojoo¡¯s fingertips were trembling. As he clicked the mouse, the real-time chart of Mango Chart was updated to [19:00]. ¡°Wow, TNT is here as expected.¡± As Junghyun said, the first page of the chart was full of TNT¡¯seback repackaged album. A ck cover with a question mark made of smoky smoke. TNT ¨C ¡®?¡¯ (Question) Cha Woohyun ¨C Time Management (Throne of Emptiness OST) TNT ¨C To do, or Not To do TNT ¨C White, Night TNT ¨C The Word That Is You With a drama OST in between, TNT lined up their tracks on the chart. Bijoo pointed. ¡°Let¡¯s start from the bottom, Hyung.¡± ¡°Yeah. Let¡¯s do that.¡± Woojoo dragged the chart all the way down. They started to climb up the chart from the 100th ce. ¡°Uh¡­! Ah.¡± Rihyuk screamed at the sight of ¡®Something¡¯ that appeared in the middle, but Woojoo understood. It was still hard to get used to the fact that a song that came out in February was on the real-time chart in November. ¡°Come out. Come out¡­¡± Woojoo muttered like a spell and scrolled up carefully. There was none in the 90s. Nor in the 80s. Nor in the 70s. It didn¡¯t show up as he went up. When he reached around the 30th ce, he said, ¡°Even if you don¡¯t see it, don¡¯t be disappointed¡­¡± ¡°Go up, Hyung.¡± ¡°Honestly, we.¡± ¡°Go up!¡± ¡°Y-yes¡­ I¡¯ll go up¡­¡± But there were none of their songs in the 20s either. ¡°¡­¡± A disappointed atmosphere that couldn¡¯t be hidden filled the air. Honestly, they expected it to be in the 70s. Considering the mood, they thought it would be there. They checked up to the 20s just in case, but there was none. That meant one thing. That their song had failed to enter the chart. It wasn¡¯t a strange thing. Of course, ordinary people, including Woojoo¡¯s grandmother, would ask if it was that hard to get into the real-time top 100. But it was. It was a remarkable thing for an idol from a small agency, let alone a rookie, to enter the chart. Honestly, Woojoo was ready to cheer wherever he saw their name. But it seemed like their name was nowhere to be found. ¡°Hyung. Don¡¯t give up and go up more. It might be up there.¡± ¡°Fine, let¡¯s see.¡± Woojoo nodded at Bijoo¡¯s encouraging words and scrolled up. With a half-giving-up attitude, Woojoo scrolled up. Right then. ¡°Uh¡­! Hey! Wait!¡± Rihyuk screamed in surprise and pointed at the screen. Woojoo turned his head and saw his face all contorted. He couldn¡¯t speak and just pointed at the screen with his finger. Woojoo tilted his head and Junghyun exined. ¡°Look there, at the top 10.¡± ¡°Top 10?¡± And as Rihyuk said, when Woojoo scrolled up to the top 10, at the moment he thought there was nothing. There it was, the name written in the 10th ce. A red sign that stood out between the two songs of TNT. ¡°¡­What?¡± Sweet Potato Trio ¨C You¡¯re So Ugly TNT ¨C Spring Spring New ck ¨C Masquerade TNT ¨C I See You at the End of the Universe At that moment, time stopped. I was crazy. That was the only thought in Woojoo¡¯s head. I was crazy. Really crazy. Everything felt like slow motion. The sound of Bijoo dropping the wooden chopsticks in shock. Rihyuk copsing on the sofa as if he had lost all his strength and Junghyun catching him. The squeaky sound of the red rubber duck. Jiho jumping up and spilling the soybean paste soup in the stic cup on the floor. When the soup sshed everywhere. That was when Woojoo came to his senses. ¡°Wow! Wow! This¡­! This.¡± While the youngest was flustered, Rihyuk, who had regained his senses, said, ¡°Hey, hurry up and take a screenshot. It might be aputer error and go downter. Let¡¯s take a screenshot first.¡± ¡°Yeah¡­ Yeah, let¡¯s do that.¡± ¡°Hyung! Hyungs! What is this? We¡¯re in 10th ce? No, why 10th ce, ah I¡¯m tongue-tied.¡± Amidst the colorful chaos everywhere, they stared at theptop screen in silence. Wondering if it was a dream. After checking that there was no change for a minute at 3.5 refreshes per second. ¡°Wow¡­¡± They all stared nkly at the air. Woojoo thought his mouth would open, but it closed instead. His throat muscles spasmed and goosebumps spread all over his body. He felt chills from his fingertips to his toes. As if they had been electrocuted, they trembled their cheeks and stared nkly at each other. Was this really happening? They stared at each other for a moment. ¡°Wow!¡± They all jumped up and hugged each other, running around the room. Their screams were so loud that they must have been heard in the other offices, but they didn¡¯t care. They had hit the jackpot. Woojoo felt a surge of adrenaline coursing through his body as they ran around for a while. ¡°Mom, I have to call Mom and Dad.¡± ¡°Me too, I have to tell my sister¡­¡± ¡°I need to call my parents and my brother.¡± ¡°Hyung! My friends are all congratting me. Haha. Gil Chaekyung has been silent and not saying anything¡­¡± They each grabbed their phones and said a word, and Woojoo swallowed hard. Woojoo wanted to tell Lady Kim Deoksoon the good news. That their album was a huge sess. Woojoo turned on his smartphone to call her, but someone else called him first. [Devil] It was Seokhwan Hyung. But as soon as Woojoo answered the phone. ¡°Hello¡­¡± ¡°Woojoo!¡± A voice came from both the phone and outside the phone. As if he couldn¡¯t wait for the elevator, their math genius burst into the break room. ¡°Guys, your music¡­¡± ¡°We saw it, Hyung.¡± ¡°You guys, you guys¡­¡± He stuttered, unable to hide his excitement. ¡°Hyung,e here. Celebrate with us.¡± ¡°Yeah, I should. I¡¯m so nervous right now, I don¡¯t even know what I¡¯m saying, oh, this is¡­¡± They all got up and weed Seokhwan Hyung. ¡°Ugh!¡± He stepped on the spilled soybean paste soup on the floor and fell. Well, he almost fell, but Woojoo moved quickly and caught him. ¡°Thanks, man.¡± He adjusted his sses and said, ¡°So now.¡± ¡°Wait, Hyung. Let¡¯s calm down a bit.¡± Woojoo exchanged nces with his siblings and nodded in a second. Then they sandwiched their manager between them. ¡°Wow!¡± They ran around the room again. ¡°Wow!¡± And one more time. *** ¡º Five Colors : The Red (2014) ¡» New ck [¡ï¡ï¡ï¡ï¡î] Finally, a group that knows how to use color has appeared. It¡¯s amon and boring business tactic for agencies to express the concept of an album through color, but New ck has done it. They have seeded with a colorful and skillful brushstroke. The mini album produced by Member Woojoo himself is not particrly impressive in its structure, but it has achieved a delicate bnce betweenmerciality and artistry. Without belonging to either side, they can reveal their unique color¡­ (Skipped) ¡­The fact that they have not even debuted for a year, and their potential, makes me happy for the first time in a while. By pop music critic Hwang Hocheol PM 07:00 -As expected, TNT¡­ lining up at the top of the chart -New ck¡¯seback is ¡®decent¡¯, Serenity is ¡®so-so¡¯ -[Photo] A powerful dance break from the start, TNT¡¯seback show Taehyun ¡®I¡¯m the dance king¡¯ -[Entertainment IN] You have to pay attention to their color from now on¡­ The discovery of ¡®New ck¡¯ -New ck, unprecedented chart strength ¡°Pre-releasing the MV was a masterstroke¡± PM 10:30 -New ck¡¯s new song ¡®Masquerade¡¯, will it go all the way to the top¡­? -Calm ¡®TNT¡¯, smiling ¡®New ck¡¯, ¡®Serenity¡¯ is crying -As of 10 pm, they rose to ¡®8th¡¯¡­ New ck¡¯s ¡®hit¡¯ in just 5 months after debut -¡®Masquerade¡¯ MV reached ¡®500,000 views¡¯ in 24 hours, agency ¡°We will release a thank you message when we reach 1 million¡± -[Stock Talk] After the actor trade, now a boy group hit¡­? ¡®Lemon Entertainment¡¯ ns to go public by the end of the year? *** Gunsan City. Ssh- It was raining heavily. The misty clouds that came from the sea shook their bodies and fog rose everywhere. The downtown where buses sshed water on the sidewalk, and people with umbres hurried by. Somewhere, the smell of delicious oil made Kim Deoksoon stop by the neighborhood fried food shop. The merchant she knew well handed her a paper bag and said, ¡°It¡¯s raining a lot, isn¡¯t it?¡± ¡°It¡¯s awful. It¡¯s been raining all day since yesterday. Oh, I wish the money would pour down like this rain.¡± ¡°That¡¯s right.¡± ¡°Sure. Good luck.¡± With that greeting, Kim Deoksoon left the fried food shop. She had a mart bag with cat food in one hand and a fried food bag in the other. She waved her hand at the neighborhood cats who found her and followed her. ¡°This is for our Nabi. You guys don¡¯t even have soup, so you know that.¡± Meow- Maybe it was because of the rainy day, but Kim Deoksoon¡¯s heart softened at the sound of the cats crying pitifully around her. ¡°Alright, then I¡¯ll give you some of this. This is thest time, so I won¡¯t give you any more next time. ¡­You¡¯re eating without even looking at me. Well, eat well and live well.¡± She smiled as she watched the cats start to eat. Then she returned to the store. It was daytime, so her eyes were sore from the gray sky. ¡°The weather is really shitty.¡± But unlike usual, there was a warm smile on her lips. It was because of the good news she heard from her grandson. Something about ranking high. She didn¡¯t know what it was, but it seemed like a very good thing. Last night, she got a video call and answered it, and her grandson and four guys were shouting ¡®I love you! Kim Deoksoon!¡¯ and making a fuss. She asked if they were crazy and theyughed like they were really crazy. ¡¾ Group Chat : Back Support Group ¡¿ Junghyun¡¯s Dad [It¡¯s a really beautiful night¡­ ???!!] Junghyun¡¯s Dad [I want to have a ss of wine on a night like this] Junghyun¡¯s Dad [Shall we all cheer up?] Wang Hyuntak is the Chairman [Yes,] Wang Hyuntak is the Chairman [Fi!] Junghyun¡¯s Dad [Re] Bijoo¡¯s Mom [Ting!! I love this feeling¡­!!] Bijoo¡¯s Mom [I love my son¡­!] The group chat that was formed during Chuseok was also full of joy for the parents. Pictures of the rankings and article links were posted endlessly, and stories full ofughter were exchanged. She only typed [Good for you] because her fingers were slow, but Kim Deoksoon felt the same way. She didn¡¯t know how the world was going, but he was the happiest grandson she had ever seen since he said ¡®Grandma, I¡¯m going to debut!¡¯ four years ago. Woojoo [Grandma~] Woojoo [I¡¯ll send you 10 of my photocards along with the second album¡­ Hehe] Me [Send me the others too] Woojoo [Hey Deoksoon] Woojoo [Don¡¯t be greedy] Woojoo [Just be a fan of me] Me [You¡¯re crazy.] She stopped in her tracks and shook her hand every time she replied. Me [Did it go well today?] Woojoo [Of course] Woojoo [It was awesome this time] Woojoo [The President came down to hug me and fell over] Me [What are you talking about] Woojoo [I should have cleaned up the soybean paste soup¡­] He suddenly started talking nonsense and disappeared after saying ¡®Watch the K live today¡¯. He said he was going to practice for the camera. ¡®You see, the monk was right. You got lucky.¡¯ She should have said that, but she felt a bit regretful. Meanwhile, Kim Deoksoon¡¯s footsteps stopped as she walked around the neighborhood. It was because of the song that came out of a cafe. ¡®This¡­¡¯ It was her grandson¡¯s voice. She opened the door and went in, curious, and the cafe owner who was sitting alone greeted her with a smile. ¡°Oh, our president is here. Why are you here?¡± ¡°I came in because of the song.¡± ¡°The song? Oh¡­ this. Is it also ying outside? I was just listening to it¡­¡± She gestured to the owner who was going to turn off the speaker. Then she asked cautiously, ¡°Is the song that good?¡± ¡°I had the poprity chart on at the cafe yesterday and the customers kept asking me the title of the song.¡± ¡°Really?¡± ¡°Yes, I¡¯ve been listening to it because I like the song.¡± As the song of New ck ended and yed again, Kim Deoksoon smiled. It was good. It wasn¡¯t her taste, but it definitely had a feeling of sticking to her ears every time she listened to it. It kept popping up in her head. ¡®What is he trying to do?¡¯ Kim Deoksoon thought of her grandson who was smiling in Seoul. She didn¡¯t know what had happened, but it seemed to be true that the song that Woojoo made was well received by people. *** It felt like the dreamy day was continuing. Yesterday, everyone at thepany greeted them with ¡®Congrattions!¡¯ all day long. They gave them candy or chocte, saying ¡®Hide it from the managers and eat it¡¯. It was the same at the K building in Sangam-dong. Every colleague singer that Woojoo met congratted him and greeted him from all over. He didn¡¯t know what Serenity really felt, but they smiled brightly and said they enjoyed their song. TNT didn¡¯t show up because they had a bad rtionship with K over the fairness issue ofst year¡¯s awards ceremony, but Taehyun sent Woojoo a long messagest night to congratte him. So he replied with a thank you. On the other hand, the music show that he visited after five months was familiar but strange. The facilities were the same, but the people had changed. The hallway after the rehearsal. Some strangers saw New ck and gasped in surprise. ¡°Hello! We are Fantanis! Senior!¡± ¡°Uh¡­¡± Their younger members were more flustered. Senior? They bowed politely and corrected them with a smile. ¡°We¡¯re not your seniors. We¡¯re in the same year and we¡¯re both rookies, so let¡¯s greet each otherfortably from now on.¡± ¡°Oh. Yes! We understand!¡± A six-member boy group that was tense from head to toe passed by them and then bowed again to the cleaningdy who was passing by, saying ¡®Hello!¡¯ They looked like they would greet even the fallen leaves. Woojooughed at that. And Bijoo grinned at him. ¡°Hyung. You said you¡¯re not a senior, but you sounded like one.¡± ¡°¡­Me?¡± No way. ¡°Yeah. You smiled kindly and said that. ¡®We¡¯re not your seniors~¡¯ Like this. Ahh¡­!¡± ¡°Hahaha¡­ Hello! We are New ck!¡± They greeted the senior singer who passed by. But they quickly adapted to the broadcasting station environment because they had seen some familiar faces at the big events. ¡°Hellooo¡­¡± ¡°¡­¡± ¡°Hello. Oh. That¡¯s enough.¡± They blinked their eyes at the youngest who was practicing his speech while walking down the hallway. ¡°Jiho, what are you doing?¡± ¡°Well, the year is almost over. And I think we¡¯ll have some juniors soon, so I¡¯m thinking about a serious tone of speech. You know.¡± ¡°Hmm.¡± They all looked at each other and rapped like the youngest, saying ¡®Yeah, you know?¡¯ The youngest red at them like they were the most hateful people in the world. ¡°Don¡¯t tease me. I¡¯m serious. I saw somements on the inte yesterday¡­¡± ¡°Don¡¯t mind those words, Jiho,¡± Bijoo said. ¡°People have different thoughts.¡± ¡°Is that so? But, every time I read an article, there are people who say something¡­¡± ¡°Take a screenshot. Wang Jiho. I¡¯ll track them down and get revenge for you.¡± ¡°That¡¯s a good idea. Rihyuk. Take Junghyun with you when you go.¡± ¡°Where are we going, Hyung?¡± They allughed at Junghyun¡¯s question. It was obvious that the articleparing them to TNT after their unexpected results was the root of the problem. The hatements had increased overnight. They must have been from some part of the fandom, but since they boasted thergest scale in the country, that part was bigger than any average fandom. Should he keep the kids from seeing thements for a while? As Woojoo was thinking that, his phone rang briefly as he entered the partitioned rookie waiting room. Devil [Your schedule is fixed] It was a message from Seokhwan Hyung. While Minki Hyung, who had been promoted to deputy, and the new manager, Seok Dowon, was in charge of the broadcast, their director was busy running the business. ¡°What is it, Hyung?¡± ¡°Seokhwan Hyung sent us the confirmed schedule for November and December.¡± ¡°Oh. I want to see it.¡± As the younger ones gathered around Woojoo, two image files popped up briefly on the phone message. ¡°¡­Huh?¡± They widened their eyes as they saw the dense letters. Chapter 146: Chapter 146: Trantor: MarcTempest Editor: Rxel Chapter 146 It was the first time. The first time Woojoo saw such a packed schedule. ¡°Ugh, why are there so many? Variety shows¡­¡± ¡°Jiho.¡± Woojoo raised his index finger and the maknae nodded. They were in a partitioned waiting room where they could hear the conversations of other rookies next to them.They had to be careful not to talk about their schedule here. A message notification popped up on Woojoo¡¯s phone screen. Jiho [Wow!!] Jiho [Woww!!!] Rihyuk [What are you saying] Jiho [I want to scream, but I¡¯m screaming in the chat room] Bijoo [Oh, me too, me too] Bijoo [Wow!] Junghyun [Wow] Jiho [????????] Rihyuk [Wow!] Jiho [Just one verse, please.] After a brief silence in mute mode, they marveled at the schedule in front of them. It was full. There was at least one schedule every day. There were radio appearances every evening, and a list of cable and terrestrial variety shows. There were some events in between, but most of them were fan signing events, and there were only a few real events. It was a new feeling. When Something was hot in March, they were full of events, but now they were full of broadcast schedules. They all felt proud of the meaning behind it. It meant that the broadcast station people finally ssified New ck from ¡®a sessfully debuted rookie group¡¯ to ¡®a rising group¡¯. Bijoo [Looking at the schedule, I think we need to take care of our health from today] Woojoo nodded. It was a happy but scary, or as their Deoksoon said, a freaking scary schedule. Of course, it might look doable if you just looked at it, but there were two things omitted from it. The daily music show recordings and the uing year-end stage rehearsals. -12.11 Mango Chart Award Rookie Award Candidate Stage After doing the schedule untilte at night anding back, Woojoo felt dizzy thinking about rehearsing at dawn. But he decided to smile. Me [Let¡¯sugh for now] Me [The ones who suffer are our future selves] The younger ones agreed. Junghyun [Oh] Jiho [That¡¯s right] Rihyuk [What do you mean that¡¯s right, you guys¡­] Bijoo [Then let¡¯s be happy (??????)? ] Junghyun [Agreed] Soon they started to dance with their shoulders in mute mode with the schedule in front of them. Minki Hyung, who had fallen asleep, looked at them with a drowsy eye for three seconds and then closed it again. He seemed to think it was a weird dream. *** After sessfully finishing theireback stage on K, they had an exclusive interview with Reporter Oh Sohee from Entertainment IN. She asked them how they felt and told them things like ¡®one million views on the music video in 48 hours¡¯ or ¡®the foreign K-pop webzine already mentioned 2014¡¯s ¡®best rookie¡¯¡¯. Woojoo had to work hard to control his expression every time. After the interview, she said the clich¨¦ ¡®I really thought New ck would do well¡¯ but he was very grateful to her. She was someone who had been watching them since their debut. The article title also came out with a very warm atmosphere. -[Exclusive] New ck, first interview aftereback ¡°Still nervous¡­ want to be more perfect¡± It had been only a day, but they already heard things like ¡®you guys will rise soon¡¯, ¡®the song will go up more¡¯. The entertainment industry insiders seemed to see something unusual in the trend. They also felt that they had really hit the jackpot. They were nervous until yesterday, but they realized how well they did when they came to the broadcast station. But as they said in the interview, they didn¡¯t want to settle for the stories they heard. It wasn¡¯t entirely their own sess. The staff and employees who stayed up every night for three months to make the album, and their Souffl¨¦s¡¯ efforts were huge. And above all, the most important ten spoons, no, drum-sized luck. This was the result of all theplex factors, so Woojoo was happy, but he also felt more greedy. They should do better. He became more greedy every time he heard that they did well. It wasn¡¯t just him, but the younger ones too. They couldn¡¯t miss this rare opportunity. HBS Mokdong Building. They arrived at the radio center on the 12th floor and greeted the people they had met once before. ¡°Hello!¡± ¡°Oh, wee.¡± They exchanged friendly greetings with the HBS production team that they had appeared onst July and sang ¡®Night Sea¡¯ with Rihyuk. The main writer said he would invite them again for their nexteback, and he kept his promise. And it was on the day of theireback. They bowed their heads repeatedly with their managers in the radio studio. ¡°Thank you so much. On the day of oureback¡­¡± ¡°Don¡¯t be too grateful. It¡¯s just that the corner where we invite singers is on Thursday, so it happened like this.¡± Woojoo greeted the main writer again, who smiled and spoke. ¡°We¡¯re so thankful that we brought some gifts along with the album.¡± ¡°Oh, you didn¡¯t have to do that.¡± ¡°Our youngest bought it.¡± ¡°That¡¯s right. So please make us look pretty.¡± The production team liked the appearance of their youngest, who popped up over Woojoo¡¯s shoulder and smiled brightly. Woojoo smiled and said, ¡°But this is radio, Jiho. They can¡¯t see you.¡± ¡°Huh? Butst time, Rihyuk Hyung and I showed our faces.¡± ¡°That was a visible radio.¡± ¡°Is it not today?¡± ¡°Close your eyes.¡± Jiho closed his eyes and said, ¡°I closed them.¡± ¡°What do you see?¡± ¡°Nothing. I only hear your voice, Hyung.¡± ¡°Exactly. That¡¯s it.¡± ¡°No¡­¡± Everyoneughed at the expression of their youngest, who looked like the world had ended. Woojoo asked, looking at the guy who went to the corner, ¡°Why is he like that?¡± Bijoo said with a smile, ¡°When Rihyuk was on the radiost time, he did really well, and he said he would do twice.¡± ¡°Three times.¡± ¡°Three times better than that today.¡± That was why he was so into his outfit today. Woojoo wondered why he got up early in the morning and took out and put back clothes from the hanger with fish eyes. The youngest one grumbled as he sat on the chair. ¡°I wore such nice clothes.¡± ¡°Well, you should have a nicer heart. You can never beat me, Wang Jiho.¡± Rihyuk¡¯s face bloomed with a smile as he spoke to Jiho. Meanwhile, everyone became serious as they started to skim through the script for today¡¯s broadcast. The reason why they had so many variety shows and broadcast schedules was to promote their new song, Masquerade. They didn¡¯t care much about the other talks, but they had to do a perfect job with the new song promotion. ¡°New ck, we¡¯re going in.¡± ¡°Yes!¡± 9 o¡¯clock. It was time to proceed with the third part of ¡®Wonderful Night¡¯, a singer introduction corner called ¡®Voice of Thursday Night¡¯, right after the second part ended. As themercials started to y and the [On Air] light went off, they entered the booth and greeted the DJ. ¡°Wee, our cuties.¡± Jang Sowon sunbae hugged them warmly with a bright smile. Then she said, ¡°You guys grew taller.¡± ¡°Wow¡­¡± They sincerely marveled. ¡°How did you know?¡± ¡°I saw it in your interview.¡± ¡°Oh.¡± Theyughed for a long time as they looked at each other. As they chatted about their recent activities, Jang Sowon Sunbae brought up the topic of the joint stage that wasing soon. ¡°You have a year-end stage with Mango, right? Something.¡± ¡°Ah, yes.¡± ¡°We should meet and practice, but you guys won¡¯t have time, right?¡± ¡°Um¡­ I think we have to discuss that with our managers. But we¡¯re probably going to have a hard time¡­ Maybe we¡¯ll have to exchange videos of the choreography and the movements.¡± ¡°You guys must be really busy. Running around for music shows, promoting.¡± ¡°We have to work hard,¡± Junghyun said seriously. ¡°We have to save up when the moneyes in.¡± Jang Sowon Sunbae gasped andughed, and New ck joined in. Only Junghyun was wondering what was wrong. The production staff behind the soundproof ss looked curious about what was so funny, but Woojoo was d they didn¡¯t know the conversation. As Fireworks yed as the opening song for the third part, Jang Sowon Sunbae wiped her tears and said, ¡°Ah, that¡¯s hrious. I think Junghyun¡¯s face makes meugh now.¡± ¡°We feel the same way,¡± they said, and then they told her that they had a lot of questions for Junghyun, like the ck goat and so on, and that they would ask himter on the broadcast. They promised to have a storm of chatter on the air. Then, as they prepared by flipping through the scripts, she said with a smile, ¡°I¡¯m proud. Really. I never thought I¡¯d see our cuties win first ce when I met themst year.¡± They all pped their hands. ¡°We¡¯re not number one yet, Sunbae-nim.¡± ¡°No, from what I saw, you¡¯ll definitely get it at least once. Whether it¡¯s the music show or the chart. You¡¯ll surely be a candidate for number one.¡± ¡°Yes, I heard about that candidate thing.¡± Woojoo heard it from thepany. They said their digital performance and chart trend were good, so they would definitely be a candidate for number one next week. A candidate for number one. The word number one still felt unfamiliar to Woojoo, so he used the word ¡®that candidate¡¯ instead of ¡®number one candidate¡¯ when he talked to their sunbaenim. Then, as if she remembered something, her face darkened. ¡°Ah, but you¡¯re ovepping with TNT, right?¡± ¡°Yes. That¡¯s right.¡± Jang Sowon Sunbae-nim scratched her cheek. ¡°Then it¡¯ll be a bit tough. When I was in a girl group, we ovepped with the most popr group at the time.¡± ¡°¡­¡± ¡°I rmend you not to look at the inte for a while. You probably won¡¯t have time anyway.¡± ¡°Yes. I¡¯ll do that.¡± ¡°Really, it¡¯s essential for your mental health. Essential.¡± She made a face as if she was gritting her teeth, and Woojoo felt scared. Bijoo opened a notepad and wrote something. Maybe he was adding something new to his to-do list. Then, the PD¡¯s voice rang out. -Themercial is ending soon. They all put on their headphones. It was time for the broadcast to start. *** 9:05. With a cheerful BGM, the DJ and the guests¡¯ voices came out. -Ah, it¡¯s not every day that we have this. Once a week, we invite singers to have a fun time. ¡®Thursday night¡¯s~ -Voice!¡¯ -Yes, today we have singers who will give you honey-like voices in your ears! -Two, three. Hello! We are New ck! As they pped and cheered and introduced themselves in the booth, the production team outside was entering the event winners. -Yes, the answer was New ck¡¯s Fireworks, and congrattions to 5775, 9888, and 3057. We¡¯ll send you a nutrition set. -Wow, nutrition! The DJ looked at the New ck members as if they were cute. -Wow, the reaction is really hot. ¡®New ck, that¡¯s awesome¡¯, ¡®Why don¡¯t you do a radio show today sob¡¯, ¡®The song was good¡¯ and so on. Ouch, my eyes hurt. The scroll is going up too fast, I can¡¯t read it. -I can read it. -Oh, really? -Yes. I have good dynamic vision. Member Junghyun volunteered to read it confidently. And then. -Uh, I read it. -Yes. -I forgot. That was the incredulous voice of Woojoo, who was watching him. -Aren¡¯t you too confident? -My eye movement is no joke, but my memory is bad. Then, Rihyuk stepped in and asked. -I have a question, Junghyun. What did we eat eight days ago? -Tofu sd and chicken breast steak. -¡­ Next, Bijoo asked. -Junghyun, then do you remember what I said to you this morning? When you enter the dorm, you have to take off your shoes in the shoe rack¡­ -Huh? Did you talk to me this morning? Bijoo snorted with his nose, making everyone p andugh. -Hahaha! I heard the snort. -We should have done a live radio today. Bijoo¡¯s expression just now was too precious for us to see alone. -Huh¡­ Then please invite us again next time. -How about it, PD-nim? Will New cke back? The PD, who was watching from outside the booth, nodded his head half-way and cheers came from inside. The main writer, who was watching them, sipped his coffee and said, ¡°How¡¯s the reaction today?¡± ¡°It¡¯s really good,¡± the sub-writer said, looking at the monitor. ¡°Thements are really good. They seem like fanments, but even considering that, they are funny and positive.¡± ¡°Fans?¡± ¡°Yes, look at the chat room. There are a lot more people thanst week.¡± The engineer looked at the number on the monitor and was surprised. ¡°When did they grow so much?¡± ¡°Maybe it¡¯s because of Around the World With Dice, or maybe we don¡¯t know something.¡± ¡°This industry is so dynamic every day. A few months ago, they were like singers only I knew.¡± It was a strange sight for those who had seen New ck¡¯s first performance. ¡°They grow fast, too.¡± ¡°Look at him, Rihyuk. He couldn¡¯t speak well and was flustered in July, but now he¡¯s good.¡± ¡°Really? He wasn¡¯t good then?¡± ¡°No?¡± ¡°I just thought his voice was so good¡­¡± ¡°He wasn¡¯t. The leader did almost everything.¡± ¡°True. Woojoo¡¯s face changed a lot.¡± Their eyes turned to Woojoo, who was next to the DJ. He was more rxed andfortable than when he appeared before. Maybe it was because of the members who joined and left at the right timing. -By the way, there was a behind-the-scenes story behind the album title, right? -Yes. It¡¯s my dark history. The melody that came out of a pig dream. And the story of calling thepany director at dawn made the chat roomugh. -So did you eat pork cutlet with the director? -Yes¡­ He said it was a famous ce, and it was really delicious. At first, I wanted to eat a little because of my pride, but I ordered another serving. -Please tell me, too. That ce. With that, Jang Sowon changed the topic. -By the way, I felt this before, but Woojoo¡¯s dreams always help a lot at important times. -Right. That¡¯s why Bijoo, I mean, Hyung. -Surprise. Be careful with your pronunciation. -Sorry. I¡¯m in my growth phase. -That¡¯s right. It¡¯s the time when your tongue grows. -Yes, anyway, Bijoo Hyung bought a dream interpretation book and said he would interpret Woojoo Hyung¡¯s dreams from now on. As they talked about the albumposition episode, it was time to finish the third part. -Well, let¡¯s end the third part here and return to the fourth part, ¡®My Way Karaoke¡¯ corner. -Please stay tuned! With that, Masquerade yed as the ending song of the third part. While they chatted again in the booth, the people outside who listened to the song were amazed again. ¡°The song is really good.¡± ¡°It¡¯s like, you know, there are foreign songs that people like and go up on the charts. That kind of feeling.¡± ¡°Yeah, it sounds like a foreign song.¡± The PD, who was listening to the song, asked, ¡°What rank is this, now?¡± ¡°I searched it this morning and it was 12th or something.¡± He nodded silently. Meanwhile, New ck¡¯s songs had been spreading across the country through the radio waves. On buses, in reading rooms, in subways, and more. As everyone quietly listened to the songs, the same thought crossed their minds. The PD parted his lips. ¡°This will go up. For sure.¡± *** The response to their first radio appearance after theeback was sessful. They didn¡¯t make it to the main screen, but there were quite a few articles aboutst night¡¯s broadcast. -Why did New ck members buy a book about lucid dreaming¡­? -¡®Masquerade¡¯,posed by Woojoo who ¡®felt the music in his dream¡¯ -New ck¡¯sments on ¡®Wonderful Night¡¯ spark interest in theireback song¡¯sposition There were also some weird things that caught attention. -New ck¡¯s Woojoo shows off his old-school vibe on ¡®Wonderful Night¡¯? ¡®All his favorite songs are from the 70s¡¯ -New ck, the youngest¡¯s bold revtion ¡®Our leader, his clothes and nkets are all grandma¡¯s style. All floral patterns¡¯ -[Last night¡¯s radio] New ck¡¯s Woojoo, ¡®You should live with a grandma too¡¯ makes the listenersugh out loud He was never going to visit the fan cafe today. Never. ¡°Ugh, grumpy¡­¡± ¡°Sigh.¡± ¡°Be quiet. You guys.¡± Friday dawn. Despite the fatigue, Woojoo ignored the bare-faced monsters who wanted to tease him and got into the car. Today¡¯s music show schedule was PBS¡¯s Music On. It was time to reunite with the old friends once again sincest February. Chapter 147: Chapter 147: Trantor: MarcTempest Editor: Rxel Chapter 147 There were two stages of rehearsal for a music show. First, the camera directors nned how to film the performance based on the choreography video that was sent by thepany beforehand. Then, they checked the stage with their eyes on site. This was the dry rehearsal, where the performers wore casual clothes with name tags. Next, they set up the costumes and makeup, and film the stage with cameras. This was the camera rehearsal. After that, they monitored the footage and made adjustments if needed. If not, they just went on live stage as it was. But there was one peculiar thing about PBS Music On.All the performers had to gather in the public hall from the morning and do the dry rehearsal together. This meant that they had to perform in front of all the other singers who were sitting in the audience. Naturally, it was very nerve-wracking. When they debuted with Something and Fireworks, they were trembling before they went on stage. Of course, now they were used to it¡­ Shiver, shiver, shiver- Woojoo thought there was an earthquake, but it was just the white face next to him shaking his legs non-stop. Woojoo asked him with a smile, ¡°Rihyuk, why are you shaking your legs like that?¡± ¡°I¡¯m not shaking.¡± ¡°What are you talking about? Aren¡¯t those your legs?¡± ¡°Ah, really.¡± His already sharp eyes became like needles. He snorted and snapped at Woojoo. The three guys next to Woojoo looked at him and did the same thing. ¡°Thank you?¡± ¡°Ye-es¡­ Thank you.¡± Thanks to that, everyone looked at them wondering what their rtionship was. Damn. Woojoo could already see the other teams asking them to share some of TNT¡¯s poprityter. Well. Let¡¯s end the greetings here. As Woojoo was about to take care of his awkward brothers who were only staring at the empty stage, Taehyun stepped up. ¡°Did you all have a good time?¡± ¡°Huh¡­ Hello.¡± He greeted their brothers warmly. ¡°It looks like the camera setting will take a while, so let¡¯s have a little talk about it.¡± ¡°We want to join too.¡± The always cheerful TNT¡¯s Hyung line also joined themfor a brief conversation. Woojoo also chatted happily with them, but cut it off at a reasonable point. They were so powerful here that they could even grill pork belly, but they were rookies who had to be careful. Woojoo was nervous that they might catch the eyes of the busy production staff every time their voices exceeded a certain decibel. Then, a quiet voice called him. ¡°Have you been well?¡± Woojoo turned my head at the heavy and clear voice. TNT¡¯s rapper and leader, Gu Seonwoong, held out his fist. Woojoo smiled as he greeted him. ¡°Oh, Hyung. Long time no see.¡± ¡°Keep in touch, man. Don¡¯t you ever call?¡± ¡°How can I call when I don¡¯t have your number?¡± Then they burst outughing. ¡®Wow, Gu Seonwoong is so fake¡¯, ¡®Look at him, ying politics¡¯ and otherments flew around asughter filled the air. TNT¡¯s leader exined as if making an excuse. ¡°It¡¯s because of the fans. I have to change my number all the time.¡± Woojoo also exchanged greetings with the other Hyung line. Unlike the younger ones who were chatting happily, it was a formal greeting. They calmlyplimented each other on how good their songs were, and congratted each other on their albums. There was a difference in friendliness between the younger and older ones, but there was a clear line drawn in this ce. Four years had passed. And probably because of the awkward rtionship between Woojoo and the green-haired member, who joined after he was kicked out, Baek Seungje, both sides seemed to be considerate of each other. It was only natural. No matter how close they were in the past, the most important thing was their current group. The ones next to Woojoo, whom he had seen for almost six years, were the most important¡­ ¡°Hyung.¡± Jiho whispered in a sly face from the left. ¡°If you like TNT so much, why don¡¯t you go over there?¡± ¡°¡­¡± Rihyuk grumbled from the right. ¡°You were smiling so brightly when you greeted them. What about us? We see your face every day. Is that it?¡± ¡°Leave me alone. It¡¯s my legs that are shaking.¡± ¡°Don¡¯t be so crazy.¡± ¡°That¡¯s right. Rihyuk.¡± Jiho chimed in. ¡°Why are you so nervous? We¡¯ve already released two albums. Show them your professionalism.¡± ¡°I¡¯m just cold.¡± ¡°Rihyuk, are you cold?¡± Bijoo, who looked worried, rummaged through his pockets. ¡°Here, I have a heat pack. Stick it on for a while.¡± ¡°As expected, you¡¯re the best, Hyung.¡± Their hypochondriac quickly grabbed the heat pack. Woojoo wanted to ask him why he didn¡¯t say that to him, either ¡®Hyung¡¯ or ¡®best¡¯, but he held back because there were too many eyes. It looked too childish. ¡°Bijoo, I want a heat pack too.¡± ¡°Here you go, Hyung.¡± Another heat pack popped out right away. Was he Doraemon? He looked like a squirrel with acorns in his mouth, his pants pockets bulging. Woojooughed at the sight of him. ¡°Oh, Wild Sunbae-nims are here. Hello!¡± They got up and greeted the senior singers every time they arrived. Each time, they received a warm wee with a smile. Most of them were faces they saw yesterday. From the rookies like Wild, Fantanis, and Serenity, to the veteran bad singer, Yeon. There was also Misty, who hadpeted with them for the first ce before, and who had won itst week. As the singers greeted each other, their voices went up and down like volume controls, depending on their seniority and fame. Suddenly, everyone got up, like bus passengers who had reached their final stop. ¡°Hello!¡± ¡°Hello. We are Fantanis!¡± Of course, it was TNT. The eight members nodded their heads as if they were familiar, and made their way up the seats. Woojoo was about to stand up and greet them too, but he was caught by Han Taehyun¡¯s radar, who was looking around. ¡°Hello¡­¡± ¡°Ah! Don¡¯t! Don¡¯t!¡± Taehyun waved his hand, and the three guys behind him did the same. The four younger members of TNT sang in chorus. ¡°Don¡¯t do it!¡± Then they chuckled among themselves. Those guys. While Woojoo was standing there dumbfounded, and the other singers were watching, his younger brothers greeted them awkwardly¡­ ¡°Ah! Don¡¯t do it there either!¡± They made such a noisy entrance. TNT quickly took their seats behind them. Taehyun, who sat behind Woojoo, tilted his head and smiled. ¡°Hi.¡± Woojoo sighed briefly at his greeting and said, ¡°Could you please be more professional¡­¡± ¡°I¡¯m just promoting that we¡¯re friends. Aren¡¯t you grateful?¡± ¡°¡­¡± ¡°It¡¯s no use doing well for him.¡± Woojoo swallowed the words that came up to his throat. No. He should greet him brightly. He couldn¡¯t say ¡®hi¡¯ with a gloomy face when he saw him after a long time. ¡­That was what he was thinking. When Woojoo met his eyes, he was looking at him with narrowed eyes from afar. Junghyun also snorted and tried to squint his eyes, but he had a spasm. p- Woojoo almost burst intoughter when he saw the whites of his eyes. His siblings were the same, trying to hold back theirughter by closing their mouths or pinching their arms. Anyway, Woojoo raised his hand and sent a message of apology in signnguage to his siblings who were ring at him. He got a ¡®no-no¡¯ message back. He changed his strategy. Woojoo sent them a message that the next song part would be dry if they kept doing this, and they soon became polite. *** The dry rehearsal finally began. The singers went up and down the stage in the order of the broadcast. While the PDs and directors sitting in the front row of the audience were discussing the camera work with the cue sheet, the singers waiting for their turn sat in the audience and yawned or swallowed their saliva. The only ones who opened their eyes wide and fluttered their mouths like fish every time the stage continued were Fantanis, who debuted a week ago. ¡°Oh, it¡¯s New ck.¡± ¡°Wow. I really wanted to see that choreography.¡± After Wild, a second-year boy group, bowed their heads to the production staff and went down, New ck came up. The attention that was ying dumb increased in an instant. New ck. They were a rookie group that debuted in June this year and were doing well. Strictly speaking, they had been active since February, but they had built up a career that was unbelievable until now. No one in this ce didn¡¯t know about the Chuseok Special broadcast. Even if they didn¡¯t watch the broadcast, they couldn¡¯t help but know because the name ¡®Daegil¡¯ was stered all over the inte. How many memes were there? When they saw the face of Junghyun, a member, they felt a sense of familiarity without knowing it. The Fantanis members whispered. ¡°I saw it yesterday, but it¡¯s amazing. He¡¯s the Daegil friend we saw on Chuseok.¡± ¡°Wow¡­¡± ¡°He¡¯s handsome even here, but.¡± On the other hand, the singers who had a lot of ambition for singing or were thinking about solo activities were looking at someone else. The member standing on the far left of the stage. Woojoo, the leader who stood out among the owners of the eye-catching looks. The so-calledposer idol. He was the coposer of Something and the soleposer of Fireworks, which was rumored to be on the annual chart this year. And on top of that, Masquerade, which was hitting a record-breaking performance on the music chart as an idol song. They had never met him in person, but those who tookposition lessons at each agency knew Woojoo¡¯s name well. The producers who gave them lessons would murmur to themselves, ¡°What kind of thing is that?¡± They were talking about things likeposing with his eyes closed, or seeing colors. At first, they thought it was ame genius concept, but everyone shut their mouths when the results of Masquerade were revealed. ¡°I have to get close to himter.¡± A sessfulposer was a valuable connection wherever they went. Especially if there was a singer who couldpose like that among the same idols, he was a connection that had to be secured. When everyone hadplicated calctions in their heads. The stage began. ¡°Wow¡­¡± As Jiho, who was in the center, started his acting and singing, the members of Fantanis eximed. Soon, the members of New ck started dancing to the song. A dance without an inch of error. It flowed precisely and smoothly as if measured by a ruler. Then, Bijoo, who disappeared to the side that the camera couldn¡¯t see, flew into the center of the stage. ¡°Wow¡­ He really did that.¡± They also admired the movement of spreading out and gathering around Woojoo in the chorus. At the same time, the senior singers who were watching from the seats gave a sarcasticugh. ¡®They really came prepared.¡¯ They were good. That was the thought that came to the minds of those who were watching. There was no one who hadn¡¯t practiced for 10 hours a day among the people in this ce, but that was more than that. How much practice did it take to digest that intense choreography with that level of proficiency? It was a performance that could only be achieved by dedicating the whole day to practice, except for the time to pick up and put down the spoon. When they reached the third verse, the members stood still and Jiho made a mysterious expression and sang, then the dance unfolded. There were some people who showed the most surprised reaction to New ck¡¯s stage in this ce. ¡°What is that?¡± Seok Jihun, the main vocal of TNT, whispered with a puzzled face. ¡°I really can¡¯t get used to this. Since when did Woojoo dance so well?¡± ¡°He must have practiced a lot in four years.¡± ¡°I¡¯ve been watching him for five years¡­¡± The TNT members who were watching the stage shook their heads repeatedly. They remembered the image of him dancing awkwardly as if his joints were stuck when he was a trainee. But now, he was showing a smooth and soft performance in front of their eyes. ¡°Really, what happened to him?¡± One of the TNT members muttered and looked at Taehyun. ¡°Hey, Taehyun. You¡¯re the closest to Woojoo, right? What happened to him?¡± ¡°I don¡¯t know either.¡± Han Taehyun shrugged his shoulders. ¡°He said he helped an old man who was driving a rear car and then his dance suddenly improved.¡± ¡°What?¡± ¡°Really, he said that. He said he did a good deed and then he danced better.¡± ¡°Hey, does that make sense? If that¡¯s true, I¡¯m going to volunteer around the country from today.¡± The members of TNTughed as they watched the stage, wondering about the mystery of how Woojoo could dance so well. ¡°It¡¯s nice to see it with our own eyes, though.¡± ¡°Right.¡± ¡°He always wished to dance well on his birthday.¡± They all nodded. As they knew how much he had suffered because of dancing, they felt strangely happy to see him on stage. *** They sessfully finished their first week of music shows, including Sunday¡¯s Popr Singer. The response was very good. The Souffl¨¦s who came to the pre-recorded or live stages screamed with joy every time they saw them, and they were happy too. Thements captured by the promotion team were also positive. [Today¡¯s good reaction to New ck¡¯seback stage.youtube] -It¡¯s a masterpiece, the more I listen to it¡­ -They will definitely be in the top candidate next week -I didn¡¯t care until I saw the live stage and fell in love -They are so good at performing ??? -I kept hearing their song everywhere and wondered what they were, so I watched the stage to criticize them, but I was impressed -The song is good -They are good at everything, vocals and dance are above average They wanted to check the reaction on the inte, but they had no time because of the full radio and other schedules from the first week. They promoted their CD in every studio. Every day, as the digital music performance changed, they met with reporters for interviews or took photos for magazines. At the same time, whenever they had a chance, they read fan letters delivered by the fan manager or took pictures to post on SNS. When it was all over, they had to prepare for the uing award show with the vocal and dance teachers fromte night to dawn. It felt like a preview of the uing schedules, the busiest days they had recently. Was it a day that passed when Woojoo closed and opened his eyes? When they came to their senses, they were sleeping with their heads together in the waiting room, and when they opened their eyes again, it was time for the next schedule. Meanwhile, Masquerade, which rose to the daily chart, was sailing steadily. They ranked sixth on the first weekly chart and were still climbing. Right below them was TNT¡¯seback song ¡®?¡¯, which had the firepower of the fandom, but this side also had a good public opinion. If theypared the digital music performance, it was still even. At first, the articles said that they did well in the face of TNT¡¯s overwhelming momentum, but the nuance gradually changed. -¡®Monster rookie¡¯ New ck vs ¡®Trend group¡¯ TNT, will thepetition be formed? -Showing the power of a rookie group in five months after debut -An unexpected storm of ¡®New ck¡¯ in the digital music chart ¡®Will they be number one?¡¯ Most of them described it as a fight between David and Goliath, but it was getting more and more like a confrontation. That was why they didn¡¯t go to the inte or their SNS these days. ording to Assistant Manager Hong, the fans on the inte were angry at theparison with the rookie group and mocked TNT, saying ¡®Are they over now? Are they declining?¡¯ She said they didn¡¯t have to worry because thepany was prepared for any malicious rumors or hatements. That was how the first week passed and it was Monday. When they finished recording Global K-pop and left the Seocho-dong Studio, Minki Hyung called them with a bright face. ¡°Guys! I have good news.¡± They felt their hearts pounding, wondering what the news was. ¡°What is it?¡± ¡°You guys are fixed as the top candidates for this week¡¯s music shows.¡± ¡°Wow¡­!¡± Their hearts were beating fast, and they asked eagerly. ¡°Where? Which music show?¡± ¡°All of them.¡± Their hot hearts cooled down. ¡°¡­What?¡± They widened their eyes in surprise, and the manager repeated it to confirm. ¡°You guys are fixed. All six of them.¡± Chapter 148: Chapter 148: Trantor: MarcTempest Editor: Rxel Chapter 148 They were the top candidates. Among the twenty teams of singers currently active, they were among the top two. There was a moment of silence at that news. The car was filled with the aftermath. ¡°Bijoo.¡± Woojoo couldn¡¯t help butugh as he looked at his brothers. ¡°Why are your eyes so moist?¡±¡°Uh, I don¡¯t know. Hyung. I almost cried just now.¡± ¡°You already did.¡± ¡°No, I didn¡¯t. It¡¯s just dust in my eyes.¡± Their second youngest¡¯s tear ducts were already moist. As soon as the tears started to flow, Bijoo lowered his head, and Junghyun handed him a whole tissue box. ¡°Hey, don¡¯t cry. I¡¯m not crying either.¡± ¡°You never cry anyway, Junghyun.¡± ¡°That¡¯s true.¡± Junghyun nodded. Bijoo carefully wiped his cheeks and eyes, avoiding his eyeliner, and smiled. You know how I feel, right, Hyung? His eyes said. Of course. The endorphins were going crazy right now. Woojoo looked at the three guys in the back seat. But¡­ ¡°Rihyuk, what¡¯s with your face? Are youughing or crying?¡± ¡°Ah. Don¡¯t talk to me right now.¡± ¡°What¡¯s going on here?¡± The youngest, who was smiling brightly, pointed to the white and sharp triangle next to him and exined, ¡°Rihyuk Hyung was about to cry, but Bijoo Hyung cried first, so he missed the timing.¡± ¡°Pfft.¡± ¡°Ah, seriously. Don¡¯tugh!¡± ¡°Hmm¡­ But Rihyuk, are you going to cry or not?¡± The bear asked seriously, and the triangle red at him. ¡°Hyung. Who announces that they¡¯re going to cry before they cry?¡± ¡°If you¡¯re not going to cry, then put this tissue box back where it was.¡± ¡°¡­¡± Even Bijoo, who was poking his eyes,ughed, and Rihyuk sighed and opened the window. ¡°Ugh, ugh¡­!¡± He quickly closed it again after getting hit by a st of wind. His hair was a mess from the badbing, and he looked like a doll. They pped andughed. As always, the serious atmosphere quickly dissolved intoughter. It was a pleasant mood. The scene of them standing as the top candidates in the music show filled with TNT¡¯s fans. Or the hatements on the inte. They put aside the realistic problems for now and rejoiced. They were no longer the lucky top candidates like in July, but the real deal. They were happy about that fact. Woojoo called the road manager who was sitting in the passenger seat with a smile. ¡°Minki Hyung.¡± ¡°Yeah?¡± ¡°Can we leave a message on the fan cafe?¡± ¡°I was just about to contact the Director because I thought you guys might want to post something or do a live broadcast, but¡­¡± But? They perked up their ears. ¡°He said no.¡± ¡°Figures.¡± ¡°You know how thepany wants us to avoid any risky behavior right now.¡± ¡°Yes, we know.¡± They just wanted to express their gratitude to the Souffl¨¦s. As they tried to soothe their disappointment, the maknae reminded them of something they had forgotten. ¡°By the way, what are we going to do for our first-ce promise?¡± ¡°Oh, right.¡± They started to discuss it on their way to the next schedule. ¡°Hey! I have an idea. I saw this on an idol show recently. They do the choreography at double speed¡­¡± ¡°Hey, Bijoo.¡± ¡°Yes?¡± ¡°Rihyuk is dead.¡± ¡°Ah!¡± ¡°He¡¯ll probably turn into a pile of dust and disappear.¡± ¡°I don¡¯t like either of those expressions, and I have more than a few things I want to point out, but I¡¯ll give you credit for the dance part.¡± Woojoo turned his head to Rihyuk. ¡°Rihyuk, what about you?¡± ¡°How about we raise the pitch for each part and do a high note challenge?¡± ¡°I like that.¡± ¡°Really?¡± ¡°Yeah. I love your idea that has no consideration for the other members.¡± ¡°¡­¡± ¡°Right. Rihyuk. I¡¯ve never spoken above a high C.¡± The maknae¡¯s curiosity was ignited by Junghyun¡¯s words. ¡°Ah, what about when you¡¯re hot?¡± ¡°Yeah.¡± ¡°Oh¡­ So you¡¯re saying that¡¯s the case in any situation?¡± ¡°Jiho, don¡¯t try to experiment with weird things.¡± Woojoo scolded the maknae and then called Junghyun. ¡°Junghyun, do you have any opinions?¡± ¡°Actually, no matter what we do, we can¡¯t thank the fans enough. So how about we wear animal costumes again?¡± ¡°You couldn¡¯t think of anything, could you?¡± ¡°Yes.¡± Well, that was that. ¡°Not bad¡­ But do we have to go for Penguin Season 2?¡± ¡°I¡¯m against it. It¡¯ll get boring if we do it again.¡± ¡°Let¡¯s try a different concept. How about Serenity?¡± ¡°Serengeti, you idiot.¡± ¡°What do you think of the animals there? We did Antarctica, so now let¡¯s do lions, elephants, giraffes. And we¡¯ll make Rihyuk wear a crocodile costume. Every time he dances, he¡¯ll have to do this with his head¡­¡± He imitated the crocodile¡¯s long snout wobbling and Woojoo burst outughing. While the younger ones were fighting, Bijoo asked Woojoo, ¡°Hyung, do you have any ideas?¡± ¡°I was thinking of school uniforms¡­¡± ¡°No way.¡± ¡°Nope.¡± The two youngest stopped fighting and united against him. ¡°Wow, look at this guy. He¡¯s not thinking of the fans, he¡¯s just trying to satisfy his own selfishness.¡± ¡°No, listen to me. The fans would love to see us in school uniforms and masks¡­¡± ¡°If the fans like school uniforms, then me and Rihyuk can just post selfies. We wear them all the time.¡± Woojoo looked at Junghyun and Bijoo for help and asked ¡®School uniforms, yes?¡¯ but they only gave him a polite smile and a ¡®No¡¯ in response. They were all either still in school or had graduated less than a year ago, so they didn¡¯t like the idea of school uniforms. Woojoo stuck out his tongue and said, ¡°You¡¯ll see.¡± ¡°See what?¡± ¡°You¡¯ll all miss your school uniforms someday.¡± Woojoo vowed to wait patiently until they felt nostalgic for their school days, but they justughed and asked if that was a curse. Afterughing for a while, Woojoo said, ¡°Actually, the school uniforms were a joke. I do have another idea that I want to share with you. Do you want to hear it?¡± ¡°Oh, sure.¡± They all agreed with his idea after he exined it to them. *** The next day. They ran into a familiar face at the broadcasting station where they came for the pre-recording of HBS MTV¡¯s ¡®Showtime¡¯ on Tuesday. ¡°Hey, guys!¡± ¡°Oh, hello. PD-nim.¡± It was Bae Jonggeon, the PD who was in charge of their reality show. He said he had some good news for them and they were surprised to hear it. Their reality show was going to be exported. ¡°To Japan?¡± ¡°Ah, I guess only your manager knows about it,¡± the PD said. ¡°The broadcasting stations decided to exchange programs, and our reality show was selected to air on MTV Japan. We¡¯re also in talks with Taiwan.¡± ¡°Wow¡­¡± ¡°Why are you wowing over this?¡± Heughed at their amazed faces and patted their shoulders. ¡°Congrattions on being a first-ce candidate. Really. When we started the reality show, you were just a promising rookie, but now you¡¯re a hit sensation.¡± Woojoo waved his hand at him as he praised their song, saying that he liked it since the filming. ¡°Ah, no. We¡¯re not that good.¡± ¡°That¡¯s nice. Being humble is good.¡± The PD looked at them with understanding and asked, ¡°By the way, I wanted to ask you something since you¡¯re here.¡± He congratted them on being number one, but it seemed like this was his main point. The PD asked them. ¡°Weunched a new idol program and we¡¯re looking for a fresh face with a mask. I stumbled upon it by chance¡­¡± ¡°Wow.¡± They almost said ¡®we want to do it¡¯ at the mention of TV appearance, but they looked at their managers first. Seeing their reactions, the PD smiled right away. ¡°Right. I have to talk to your managers.¡± He said that he felt like he had to ask them first because their group always looked like Woojoo was the captain. While Minki Hyung, who was pleased with the casting offer, took the PD to a cafe to contact the director, they went up to the waiting room in the elevator. Woojoo muttered as he watched the ground get farther and farther away through the ss, ¡°Wow, this is amazing. Really.¡± ¡°We must have made it. Street cast¡­ What do you call this. Rihyuk.¡± ¡°Strictly speaking, it¡¯s not street nor casting. It¡¯s more like lobby casting on the first floor of the broadcasting station.¡± ¡°Wow. Hyungs. We got our first lobby casting.¡± Woojoo had imagined a PD passing by and saying ¡®please appear¡¯ once or twice, but he never thought it would actually happen. Of course, there were no cake fireworks or flower bouquets like in his imagination. When he wasughing to himself thinking about it, he saw the maknae making fun of the other Hyungs with a fake old sailor voice, using the PD¡¯s captain joke. Woojoo retaliated right away. ¡°Ahhh¡­! I¡¯m going to sue you.¡± ¡°Do it. Do it.¡± Woojoo could onlyugh pitifully at the sight of their maknae spouting some third-rate chaebol lines. On the other hand, when they got off the elevator and saw the cue sheet on the wall of the waiting room, that smile turned sincere. ¡°Wow¡­¡± Serenity, who had been behind them and had two specialeback stages each weekend untilst week, was ahead of them. They were from MOP, a powerful agency, so they just epted it, but the situation changed in the second week. The ones behind them were either other first-ce candidates like Misty or TNT, or senior singers with higher seniority. They looked at each other with round eyes. ¡°Hyung.¡± Bijoo said, ¡°I didn¡¯t realize it until we got to the broadcasting station, but I guess we really became first-ce candidates.¡± ¡°Me too. I just realized it, this.¡± Jiho suggested as he looked at the cue sheet on the wall, ¡°We should take a picture of this cue sheet as a souvenir.¡± ¡°Yeah. Then¡­ did you mean a selfie?¡± They tried to take a picture of the cue sheet with their name as first-ce candidates, but the members immediately made a V sign and stood in front of the wall. Woojoo ended up joining them in selfie mode. Woojoo was smiling and teasing them as he looked at them while taking the picture. But when he checked the photo, he was the one smiling the brightest. *** The day went by busily. They did a pre-recording with the Souffl¨¦s, and aeback interview rehearsal with the two MCs of Showtime. During that, they also revealed their promise for the first ce. ¡°Yes, if we win the first ce, we will film and upload the choreography of our title song Masquerade in a real masquerade party version.¡± It was a typical first-ce promise. At first, Woojoo thought about going with something fun like the younger ones suggested, but he thought it was a rather sensitive issue. Since they were the first-ce candidates for the first time, their Souffl¨¦s must have taken it seriously. And Woojoo thought it was not advisable to do something silly like shouting out anything. Of course, they were the ones who took the first-ce candidacy more seriously than anyone else, but it was strange to ask them to know their true feelings separately by doing the opposite. They had to be careful since every action had meaning and interpretation at this time. -So be careful with your facial expressions. Got it? Before going on stage, Seokhwan Hyung called Woojoo and asked them to be careful. He also prepared them mentally. -You guys are the first-ce candidates this week, but to be honest, you won¡¯t win. He said that. -Next week or the week after, there might be some variables depending on the music scores, but honestly, this week is hard. It¡¯s the first week. And their fandom firepower is more than you can imagine. He seemed worried that they might be disappointed if they stood with high hopes. As he said, the probability was extremely low this week. It was as likely as Rihyuk not washing his hair for two days, and at the same time, Bijoo suddenly swearing and grabbing Woojoo¡¯s cor. The music scores were higher for them, but not by much, and the difference was too big in other aspects. The initial sales forecast was 200,000 copies, which was expected to break the record for the highest ever. Member Seok Jihun was cast as a supporting role in a drama that was sold to China for billions before it aired. He was the first Korean to appear on the Chinese New Year¡¯s program earlier this year. For those reasons, thepany also predicted that they could aim for it around the third week when the gap in music scores widened. Woojoo prepared himself after hearing that. Honestly, he thought it would be enough if they won once. Woojoo was rather calm. He was worried about their Souffl¨¦s. He wondered what would happen if they didn¡¯t meet their expectations. Woojoo was happy but alsoplicated. ¡°Hey, do I look like a totem pole to you?¡± ¡°I told you, you¡¯re like a megalith.¡± ¡°Go away, you¡¯re not getting any.¡± Woojoo red at Rihyuk, who pretended not to hear him, and then smiled at the expressions of their kids. They looked like they had lit a herb candle. They seemed to calm their nervousness by smelling the scent that came from Woojoo. Woojoo silentlyforted his siblings with a smile, while looking at the TV. When he saw the close-up shot of the TNT members, who were smiling leisurely and staring at the camera at the end. A huge cheer came from the public hall. The singers gave envious smiles and mouthed ¡®wow¡¯ as the staff came in from the hallway. ¡°Let¡¯s go in now!¡± The performers all went into the public hall while the pre-recorded specialeback stage was broadcasted. TNT members and MCs were standing in the middle. As New ck and Misty stood on both sides as the first-ce candidates, the TNT members greeted them with their eyes and a smile. Woojoo nodded and greeted them back. It was not a ce to greet them casually, as there were too many eyes watching and it was a formal asion. Meanwhile, Woojoo swallowed his saliva with his siblings. It was because of the number of TNT fans that they saw in the standing and seating areas in front of the stage. The wave of red glowing light sticks. The Dynamite Sticks, as they were called, really looked like bombs. The sight of hundreds of red glowing dynamites shaking in the dark was spectacr. And then Woojoo spotted the yellow light sticks that shyly sparkled among them. They were the disposable light sticks that they had given out at the fan meeting. As they looked at them, the yellow light sticks shook like excited little stars. They were cute. Woojoo looked for the fans who came to the scene, whether they had light sticks or not, and greeted them with his eyes. Woojoo didn¡¯t know why they avoided eye contact. Woojoo wanted to have more eye contact, but soon the TNT¡¯s pre-recorded segment ended and the red light came on the camera. The male and female MCs smiled brightly. -Yes! This is the Korean-Chinese joint music show, Showtime! It¡¯s time to announce the glorious first ce of this week! -Now, show us the scores! The score table popped up on the screen with the pictures of the three groups. New ck ¨C Masquerade TNT ¨C ? (Question) Misty ¨C Fallin¡¯ They got the highest score in the first category, which was the digital music score, and then the other scores came up. Broadcast appearances, album sales, SNS indicators. As one group¡¯s overwhelming score came up, the text voting results followed. With 70 percent in Korea and 98 percent in China, TNT¡¯s score was announced along with the result. -Yes, the first ce is TNT! -Congrattions. Bang! With the bursting of the confetti and a cheer that was loud enough to make Woojoo¡¯s ears ring, the public hall was filled with noise. ¡°Woooooo!¡± ¡°Congrattions on being the first-ce candidate.¡± ¡°Thank you.¡± Woojoo nodded at the congrattory greeting from Misty, who was also a candidate. They looked happy as they won the first ce for three consecutive weeks and this week was theirst broadcast. In front of the entrance for the performers. The hallway was buzzing with the voices of the singers waiting as TNT¡¯s title song performance was ying on the TV on the wall. As if to calm their nerves, the younger ones stuck to Woojoo today. Woojoo approached TNT, who had just finished their speech while hundreds of Dynamites shook like crazy, and congratted them. Everyone had peaceful and happy faces. ¡°Congrattions. Our Sunbae-nims.¡± ¡°Thanks. Hyung.¡± Taehyun answered as the representative. He seemed to have something more to say, but they didn¡¯t have time, so they lightly patted each other¡¯s shoulders and came down. During that time, the trophy in the leader Gu Seonwoong¡¯s hand caught Woojoo¡¯s eye. ¡­This felt weird. Woojoo thought it would be hard to get first ce, and he expected the obvious result, but it was different when he actually saw it. Maybe it was a strange feeling. It wasn¡¯t a vague jealousy of someone else who was doing well. Nor was it a childish emotion that said it was theirs. But it seemed like something in Woojoo¡¯s chest bloomed when he saw the trophy in his hand. He checked the music chart every day and talked about the first-ce candidates sincest night, but he felt it for real for the first time. The feeling that he really made it here. Woojoo felt a longing when he saw the trophy and the bouquet. He said it would be hard this week, but he realized how much he wanted to be first after the announcement was over. And it wasn¡¯t just him who felt that way. The expressions of his brothers who returned to the waiting room were simr. ¡°You all worked hard today.¡± ¡°You too, Hyung.¡± Even Bijoo, who was smiling, had a slightly different atmosphere than usual. Seeing their faces, Woojoo didn¡¯t think they needed a long talk, so he whispered quietly as they walked down the hallway. ¡°Let¡¯s do everything we can until the music show is over.¡± They all nodded. ¡°We don¡¯t know what will happen. So let¡¯s try everything for a month as if we¡¯re dead.¡± It didn¡¯t matter if it worked or not. It was their new goal. Chapter 149: Chapter 149: Trantor: MarcTempest Editor: Rxel Chapter 149 After the music show ended, they got into the car with grim faces, ready for the next challenge. Bijoo shook his head and said, ¡°Our next schedule is TBC radio ¡®Tempting and Tasty Time¡¯.¡± ¡°Tam-tam-tam, huh?¡± ¡°Yeah. Let¡¯s do it with the determination to break our bones.¡± They looked out the window with solemn expressions, and Dowon, who was sitting in the driver¡¯s seat, blinked his eyes, while Minki Hyung suppressed hisughter. Soon, the manager spoke.¡°By the way, you guys were curious about the text voting, right? It¡¯s not that the Chinese people voted that much, but that multiple voting was possible, so that¡¯s why there were so many.¡± ¡°Huh? But don¡¯t they have to pay a lot for that?¡± ¡°Chinese fans spent 100 million won on text voting today.¡± ¡°¡­¡± For a moment, a stupid expression appeared on everyone¡¯s face. Woojoo almost blurted out ¡®Did I hear that wrong?¡¯, which he hadn¡¯t said since he was discharged from the army. ¡°100 million won?¡± ¡°Yeah.¡± ¡°That 100 million won? Korean money?¡± ¡°Well, they probably used yuan over there, but that¡¯s what they said.¡± ¡°¡­¡± They looked at each other with nk faces, forgetting their grim resolve. Bijoo asked with a worried face, ¡°What do we do, Hyung? 100 million won.¡± ¡°It¡¯s okay. We don¡¯t need money¡­¡± ¡°What do we have then?¡± ¡°¡­¡± As they pondered for a moment, Rihyuk said, looking out the window, ¡°We have nothing, I guess.¡± ¡°Hey, why are you so negative? You need to have positive energy.¡± ¡°Shup, shup.¡± ¡°¡­What are you doing, Junghyun?¡± ¡°I¡¯m trying to drink some positive energy.¡± They burst intoughter for a moment because of their rapper, and then Woojoo said, ¡°Let¡¯s just do our best. As long as we do our best for each schedule, that¡¯s all that matters.¡± ¡°That¡¯s right.¡± ¡°Come on, let¡¯s forget about the 100 million and go back to the solemn mood.¡± As they made serious faces with the younger ones, Junghyun yed a song at the right timing. Rihyuk showed interest. ¡°This is Strauss¡¯s symphony ¡®Thus Spoke Zarathustra¡¯.¡± ¡°Really? I¡¯ve seen this song in wrestling.¡± ¡°¡­¡± Meanwhile, the rest of them, including Woojoo, looked at the schedule. ¡°By the way, what is this?¡± ¡°Which one?¡± The youngest pointed his finger at the middle of the paper. There was a schedule for Thursday morning that said ¡®The Little Witch¡¯s Great Adventure ¨C Movie Theater One-Day Part-Time Job¡¯. It was a Hollywood theatrical animation that was opening this week, and they were the ambassadors for it. ¡°I don¡¯t know, maybe it¡¯s selling tickets and popcorn at the theater?¡± ¡°Wow, that¡¯s really cool. I love that theater. I love watching movies too¡­¡± ¡°Huh? We¡¯re going to watch a movie?¡± ¡°We¡¯re doing a one-day part-time job at the theater the day after tomorrow.¡± ¡°Really? Well, that¡¯s not bad. It¡¯s nice to go out and meet people once in a while.¡± The managers in the front seat gave them an awkward smile as they looked forward to it. *** ¡°I would have never done this if I knew.¡± ¡°Rihyuk, you said you would do your best for any schedule, right? It doesn¡¯t matter what the schedule is, we have to do our best.¡± ¡°No, I get everything else, but why do I have to be a devil hamster?¡± ¡°You¡¯re not a devil hamster. You¡¯re a thousand-year-old vampire queen who learned magic. Stopining and act ording to the setting.¡± ¡°Eeeh¡­¡± Rihyuk, who had thick ck makeup under his eyes, pped his cloak with his eyes wide open. It was Thursday, when the music show was canceled due to the preparation for the uing KMA Hong Kong Awards. Their morning schedule was to promote ¡®The Little Witch¡¯s Great Adventure¡¯. In order to do a proper promotion, they had carefully studied the story summary and video that the filmpany staff had sent them whenever they had time. The story was simple. The youngest princess, who had always been ignored by her ten older brothers, was actually a powerful witch with hidden powers. When she had to leave the kingdom for a while because of the viin¡¯s scheme, a thousand-year-old vampire took over the kingdom with a horde of monsters. It was a story of how she, the princess who had left, saved the kingdom. It was very fun, apart from the promotion. It was a movie that adults could enjoy too, but Woojoo wondered why they tranted the original title ¡®Coming Home¡¯ into ¡®The Little Witch¡¯s Adventure¡¯. The domestic distributor asked them to dress up and take pictures with the child audience in front of the theater. ¡°Hi, did youe with your mom?¡± ¡°Yes!¡± ¡°Good, you have to listen to your mom. If you don¡¯t, you¡¯ll turn into a grumpy face like this oppa here.¡± ¡°Wow.¡± They crouched down and took a picture with the five-year-old kid who came to watch the movie. At a shopping mall theater in Yeongdeungpo. They stood in front of a photo wall with a huge title ¡®The Little Witch¡¯s Adventure¡¯ and a chaotic kingdom background. They each dressed up and greeted the little kids who came holding their mothers¡¯ hands. Of course, outside the frame, their fans with cameras and passers-by were buzzing. ¡°What are they doing?¡± ¡°Promoting the movie, I guess.¡± ¡°Wow, look at that. They¡¯re so pretty. That ck cloak is awesome.¡± The devil next to Woojoo shrugged his shoulders. He was stimted by that and the red-haired princess in a warrior costume grabbed the boy who was next in line. ¡°Who¡¯s the most handsome here, little one?¡± ¡°Uh, I¡­¡± The baby who was sucking his finger nced at their faces and instinctively pointed his chubby finger at Woojoo. ¡°¡­You!¡± ¡°Our baby can¡¯t use honorifics yet. Haha.¡± As the mother and New ckughed, Woojoo asked her with a smile, ¡°Can I hold your baby¡¯s hand?¡± ¡°Yes. Sure.¡± Then Rihyuk reached out his hand. ¡°Wait. This germ-infested hand.¡± ¡°Oops, it¡¯s the witch¡¯s spray.¡± The witch took out a spray from her ck cloak and disinfected Woojoo¡¯s hand with a solemn look. There was a bigugh around them. Woojoo held the baby¡¯s hand and said, ¡°Wee, little one. Of course, the fairy godmother is the most handsome, right?¡± ¡°Woojoo Oppa, let me touch your wings as a souvenir.¡± ¡°Oh, sure. Come here. Let¡¯s touch our wings together.¡± As Woojoo moved his shoulder, the baby who was touching the costume wings made a curious expression. Then, Jiho asked again, ¡°Then who¡¯s the prettiest here?¡± ¡°Hmm¡­¡± The baby¡¯s eyes swept over them. While he did, the three of them, except for Junghyun, quickly struck a pose. The red-haired princess, the witch in the ck cloak, and the blond prince each took an elegant pose. Only Junghyun, who wore bear ears as a headband and yed the role of a bear, blinked his eyes. But the winner was too obvious. The sore finger soon pointed at one person. ¡°¡­Sister!¡± ¡°Hahaha!¡± As they pped andughed among ourselves, the witch who became a sister in a sh blinked his eyes. Then he caught the concept and said, ¡°You have a good eye, my little friend. Come here. I¡¯ll grant you the honor of taking a picture with me.¡± Then he put the baby in his ck cloak, and made only his face pop out for amemorative shot. He hid his ears with a crown, otherwise his red ears would have shown. They did their best for the event. They did everything for the little audience who came to the theater with the intention of doing their best for whatever schedule they had. They sang a verse of a song, and acted like the actual characters. They wanted to promote Masquerade because there were a lot of people, but they refrained from it for the sake of the children. They had to make a good memory for the schedule they were doing. When there was a time when there were no children, they posed for the fans who were standing on the edge. ¡°Is it almost over?¡± It was time to wrap up the schedule after taking pictures with the kindergarten group. It was winter, so the heating was good in the theater, and the costumes were surprisingly hot, so they sweated a lot. The youngest, whose cheeks were red, pointed to the snack corner as if he was thirsty. ¡°Hyung, Hyung. Let¡¯s buy some popcorn when we go. And c.¡± ¡°Okay, let¡¯s buy one.¡± They were cooling down like that. ¡°Good job, guys.¡± The managers who were standing nearby gave them the necessary items and were about to go to the entrance and exit for the staff. A loud cry was heard. ¡°What¡¯s that?¡± ¡°I don¡¯t know. It sounds like a baby crying?¡± There was a woman and a girl who was holding her hand and crying near the ticket sales. They heard the story while watching the mother who was talking to the embarrassed staff. The mother seemed to have booked the wrong movie. Meanwhile, the baby was crying loudly. ¡°Minki Hyung, how much time do we have until the next schedule?¡± ¡°Well¡­ about 15 minutes plus.¡± Woojoo wanted to take off his costume and drink c right away, but¡­ Well. That was a problem that could be postponed for a while. They quickly finished the discussion and headed towards them. *** Yeseo was six years old this year. A while ago, Mom showed her a movie trailer on her smartphone. The title was ¡®The Little Witch¡¯s Great Adventure.¡¯ She wanted to see it so badly that she decided to go on the opening day, but when she got to the theater, she heard that her mom had made a mistake. But to see the next one, she had to wait for three hours. She was upset and hurt. She wondered how her mom could do this to her. And she felt like crying. "Uhuhuhu¡­ ¡°Yeseo, I¡¯m sorry. I¡¯m sorry. Stop.¡± "Uhuhuhu¡­ Even though her mom told her to stop, it wasn¡¯t something she could control. Her mom didn¡¯t know much about being six years old. As she was crying uncontrobly, some other giants appeared. At first, they were bright because of the lights on the other side. Huh? They were dressed differently from the ones she saw in the movie, but they wore simr clothes to the ones who came out of there. They were very pretty oppas. When she saw their faces clearly, she stopped crying. ¡°¡­¡± She had never seen people like that before. The most popr kid in the yroom, the chic and cool Siwoo, had a in facepared to them. Especially the one with fairy wings looked like a real fairy. As she looked at his face, her mom and the oppas talked to each other. Then her mom looked at her face and made a squeakyugh. It was the sound she made when her dad nced at the people on TV. Then the witch in the ck cloak crouched down. He had a pale face, red lips, and sharp eyes. He smiled softly and greeted her. ¡°Hello.¡± ¡°¡­¡± But handsome was handsome, and scary was scary. She was scared by the sudden appearance of these strangers, and she hid behind her mom. She even held her hand, which she didn¡¯t want to hold a while ago. Then, a gentle voice came. ¡°Your name is Yeseo, right?¡± The curly-haired blonde prince stepped forward. He smiled softly and called her carefully. ¡°Do you want to say hello to the oppas?¡± ¡°Come out and y with us.¡± This time, it was the red-haired princess. He was the oppa she thought was the second most handsome when she saw him. But what really made her open up was the bear. He was so big that she was scared at first, but soon he felt natural andfortable like an old tree. As she timidly stepped forward, the fairy godmother said, ¡°Your mom said you were sad because you couldn¡¯t see the movie, so she called us.¡± ¡°Really?¡± ¡°Of course. Isn¡¯t it obvious?¡± ¡°Really?¡± When she asked her mom if it was true, she nodded with a smile. Then the fairy godmother said, ¡°Um¡­ There¡¯s still a lot of time before the movie starts, so I¡¯ll show you a fun y by the oppas.¡± She was seatedfortably and handed a sweet penguin drink, and a y began. It was a y that summarized the movie story very briefly. But it was so realistic. Especially the fairy godmother and the princess looked like real characters. The scene where the spoiled princess flew around the sky alone every night and enjoyed the world. She was angry at the scene where the princes ignored her. When the witch took over the kingdom, and the family was all driven out and tried to get the kingdom back. The y ended with the scene where the princess saved her family in crisis and showed her hidden ability for the first time. Yeseo asked with a bright face, ¡°So? What happens next?¡± ¡°You have to watch the movieter.¡± ¡°Uh¡­¡± ¡°It¡¯s not fun if I tell you everything. Right?¡± The fairy godmother, who had been smiling softly, crouched down and looked into her eyes. His eyes were also amazing golden eyes that matched his golden outfit. She was momentarily captivated by his gaze, but his eyes curved softly. ¡°Just wait a little. Look, it¡¯s already been 15 minutes.¡± It was true. She cried for a long time waiting. ¡°You¡¯ll listen to Mom until then, right?¡± ¡°Yes.¡± ¡°Okay, see youter.¡± The oppas who waved their hands disappeared somewhere busy. That sight remained vivid in her mind. She would be seven years old next year, but she didn¡¯t know why. It felt like the first amusement park you went to with your whole family. She thought she would always remember this. When she was sitting in the chair and looking at the entrance where the oppas disappeared, her mom stroked her hair and said, ¡°Our Yeseo, you¡¯ve stopped crying now. Do you want Mom to video call Siwoo?¡± ¡°No.¡± ¡°Oh, what¡¯s wrong. Our princess.¡± ¡°Siwoo is ugly now.¡± She didn¡¯t know why that was so funny, but Mom burst intoughter. *** [¡õ New ck Mini 1st Album ¡®Five Colors: The Red¡¯ Product Review Corner] [Thank you¡­ New ck guys¡­] [¡ï¡ï¡ï¡ï¡ï] [Do you remember¡­ I¡¯m Yeseo¡¯s mom who was at the Yeongdeungpo Theater that day] [It was really our daughter¡¯s birthday that day¡­ And my husband had to go on a business trip because of work] [I made a mistake with the reservation and it was really dark in front of me¡­] [Thanks to you, it was a happy time for both our princess and me] [(By the way, I listened well all day)] [I wanted to give you something in return, but they said it wasn¡¯t allowed at thepany¡­] [I bought the album because I was grateful] [Our daughter doesn¡¯t care about the movie and she¡¯s been watching New ck oppas¡¯ photos and videos all day long since that day] [I did too and I ended up watching it with her] [Ah¡­ At this age, mother and daughter are doing fan service together] [The songs are good too] [I¡¯ve been exhausted by childcare these days, and I¡¯ve been hit by this and that, but I really heal every time I watch New ck guys¡¯ videos] [I¡¯ve been posting promotional posts on various cafes that I¡¯m active in¡­!] [Good luck ^^*] *** When the anecdote that happened at the theater that day started to spread warmly in various cafes where the moms were active, and they became known as a rookie group that they wanted to cheer for. Idolmunity ¡®Green Room¡¯ best board. [New idol who performed a y on the spot for a crying child after the event] It was a video uploaded by the mom -I came in shouting New ck before I even entered with the rookie keyword¡­ How many points is my prediction? -Something special and good + rookie = New ck. It¡¯s science now -????? Look at the kid¡¯s eyes. It¡¯s so round -I thought it was a lie, but Iughed when I saw the kid¡¯s nose red because of crying in the beginning -They¡¯re really nice kids -Did they like the outfit? They came in wearing that when they first came in for the fan signing that night and the fansughed and went crazy????? -The moviepany must be happy -I¡¯m d thements are normal¡­ Lately, TNT fans have been bashing them for being fake and trying topete with them, which I hated. Meanwhile, the butterfly effect of the live video was slowly spreading to other ces. -Their acting is so realistic lol -Oh¡­ But I¡¯m really curious about the movie content -Isn¡¯t that a spoiler? Come on¡­ -Come on what? You¡¯re annoying. You weren¡¯t going to watch it anyway. -I watched it because of my younger sibling and that¡¯s the first 10 minutes of the movie. -The first 10 minutes¡­? -But it was fun¡­ Surprisingly good. -Yeah, really. I don¡¯t know why they tranted the title like that and targeted the kids. The word of mouth about the movie started to spread thanks to New ck¡¯s performance. It was originally a movie for children, but as the word of mouth spread that it was fun, the adult audience gradually increased. The promotional effect brought by a rookie idol group. If New ck had just attended the event without understanding the movie content, wearing costumes and waving hands, it would not have happened. Whether they noticed their sincere attitude towards such a trivial schedule, Lemon Entertainment also started to receive inquiries. ¡°Yes? Movie promotion? We¡¯ll let you know after we discuss it internally.¡± ¡°Where are you from?¡± While Yoon Seokhwan, the manager, and the PR team were flustered by the various requests for ambassadors from everywhere. The PR manager of the domestic distributor who first hired New ck was also nervous about the unexpectedly rising ticket sales trend. ¡®What¡¯s going on.¡¯ As he thought that, he remembered the voice of his acquaintance who rmended New ck. -If you¡¯re going to do an idol, go with New ck. -Why? -I worked with them before¡­ They¡¯re really hardworking. Woo Heeseon, the manager in charge of the school uniform brand ¡®Everdream¡¯, said that. -Trust me. They do better than what you pay them. Chapter 150: Chapter 150: Trantor: MarcTempest Editor: Rxel Chapter 150 After the weekend, they received a thank-you message from the distributor of ¡®The Little Witch¡¯s Big Adventure¡¯. They said that thanks to their word-of-mouth, the movie ticket reservations were increasing. They seemed to expect a bigger profit than they originally anticipated. ¡°They asked me to tell you that you saved their lives,¡± Seokhwan Hyung said with a smile. ¡°They said it was like saving a person. They were so grateful that they said they would send us a gift, and I couldn¡¯t even refuse.¡± ¡°It¡¯s nothing. Don¡¯t mention it.¡± What they did that day was nothing special.They justforted a crying child, and luckily it became a hot topic. Their manager looked excited by this oue. ¡°Do you know how many ambassador offers we got over the weekend?¡± ¡°How many?¡± ¡°54. A total of 54 organizations contacted us for ambassador inquiries. There were sports, food, charities, and more.¡± He recited the list. Most of them were ces Woojoo had never heard of before, but there were some familiar ones. The reason why they wanted to hire them as ambassadors must have been different for each one, but he said it was probably because of their attitude. The biggest problem when hiring celebrities for ambassadors or advertisements was whether they actually did their role in promoting. For example, wearing jeans from another brand after shooting a jeans ad. Or receiving millions of won to be an ambassador, but having no interest or sincerity in the field they were supposed to promote. In the entertainment industry, where such situations weremon, they liked them because they studied their characters enough to do a y on the spot, even for a one or two hour event. Seokhwan Hyung gave them a piece of paper and asked them to check if there was any field they liked before reviewing it internally. Everyone¡¯s eyes lit up right away. ¡°Hey, Wang Jiho. Do you want a vacuum cleaner, a vacuum cleaner?¡± ¡°Wait a minute. I¡¯m checking if there¡¯s anything to eat with Junghyun Hyung. Ugh, broli¡­ I can¡¯t do this even if a knife goes into my body.¡± ¡°You have to do it if a knife goes in. Jiho.¡± ¡°Huh? Rihyuk, there¡¯s an air purifier here.¡± ¡°Really? Hurry up and circle it big. In red.¡± They talked to each other and circled the things they liked or could do well on the list. Looking at it, most of them were food. Seokhwan Hyung took the paper andughed. ¡°You guys really like eating.¡± ¡°In that sense, how about burgers for dinner?¡± ¡°No. I¡¯m busy.¡± ¡°You¡¯re so busy these days.¡± Seokhwan Hyung put the paper in his briefcase and chuckled. ¡°Of course. The busier you are, the busier I am. That¡¯s my job. If I¡¯m free, you¡¯ll be very sad.¡± ¡°That¡¯s scary in its own way.¡± Theyughed as they saw their manager who was flying around like a swallow to do business these days. Then Woojoo remembered their original purpose. ¡°By the way, you said they were going to send us a gift. Did they say anything?¡± ¡°Well. I think they¡¯re nning to send us a food truck or a coffee truck to the studio. Of course, they want us to take a picture in front of the movie poster and promote it again.¡± ¡°There¡¯s no such thing as a perfect freebie in the world.¡± Woojoo asked, ¡°Can we send it to the fans instead?¡± ¡°The fans?¡± ¡°Yeah, I think it would be much better for our Souffl¨¦s to eat and drink than the broadcast staff. If we receive it on the day of the mini fan meeting, the fans can eat too, and we can take a promotional picture in front of it.¡± ¡°That¡¯s right.¡± Bijoo nodded. ¡°I¡¯ve been watching closely every time we filmed, and there were more than a few people who were sniffling.¡± Maybe it was because of the cold weather. As they went back and forth between the cold outside and the indoor studio, they saw a lot of fans who were suffering from the temperature difference. Woojoo felt ufortable every time he heard the sound of sniffling. They joked that they should make a Souffl¨¦-only waiting room near the broadcasting station when they made a lot of moneyter. Seokhwan Hyung listened to their opinion and handled it skillfully. He left only one thing. ¡°Let me know if you have a menu you want.¡± ¡°Like coffee, or something like that?¡± ¡°Yeah, something like that.¡± ¡°I have one thing in mind, but wait a minute.¡± It took them less than a minute to exchange opinions with each other. As soon as the words left Woojoo¡¯s mouth, Seokhwan Hyung burst intoughter. *** A whileter, on SNS. @Souffl¨¦_from_Hell (Photo) I just came out of the studio And lo and behold There¡¯s fish cake soup What a treasure #Expressing_my_feelings_with_a_haiku #There¡¯s_also_tteokbokki When the fans were sipping the fish cake broth from paper cups and making ¡®eugh¡¯ noises. The Souffl¨¦s who were admiring the photo of tteokbokki and fish cake soup on the monitor were drooling. -Why do theye out when I¡¯m not there???? -I¡¯m going into the monitor -? I was there and it was hrious. At first, the kids hesitated to put it in the paper cups with their faces on them, but after one bite, they all devoured it¡­ -Sorry guys¡­ I need the broth more right now -You guys only post food pictures, but that was sent by the moviepany! ?? They must have sent it to thank us for the promotionst time¡­ The kids will alsoe to the mini fan meetingter and take pictures with you As the board was filled with the beautiful sight of tteokbokki, Jiho¡¯s selfie waspletely buried. Soon after, on the free board. [Everyone! I posted a selfie!] Soon, every 10 minutes, posts like ¡®My selfie!¡¯ Selfie!!!¡¯ came up. But the fans ignored him and enjoyed it, and the maknae¡¯s posts piled up. [I¡­ posted a picture¡­] [Is it broken?? Can¡¯t you see me???] [Secret reveal¡­!! Woojoo Hyung¡¯s expression when he stalks the fan cafe : ¤Ø(£þ?£þ¤Ø)] -What? Woojoo Hyung can see the post!!! [Since you guys don¡¯t show interest in my selfie, I¡¯llmunicate with the title¡­] -[Re] Lol Jiho, be sweet Only then did the fans start toment on Jiho¡¯s selfie,plimenting his new hair color. Wang Jiho was excited and fiddled with his fingers. He clicked on thement 14, a warm number. [You do not have permission] He pressed it again. [You do not have permission] [Please upgrade to a regr member~~^^] He blinked and looked at his inbox. There was a message from the fan cafe administrator. [You have been demoted for viting the rules (reason: spamming more than 5 consecutive posts)] Wang Jiho turned his head. One of the fan cafe administrators, Seon Woojoo, was sipping banana milk with a graceful expression next to him. ¡°¡­¡± He vowed to get revenge someday. *** -TNT wins first ce on all music shows for two weeks in a row -First week of December, ¡®No surprise¡¯¡­ TNT sweeps ¡®four crowns¡¯ for two weeks in a row -[Music Hot! Issue] New ck ranks third on the music chart¡­ Will they continue their momentum this month? TNT is continuing their dominance for the third week, just like they did for the second week. PD Baek, a producer from PBS Entertainment, parted his lips as he looked at his tablet PC. ¡°It¡¯s weird how the situation is turning out. TNT keeps winning first ce on the music shows, but their music chart ranking keeps dropping. On the other hand, New ck is holding strong on the music chart.¡± ¡°Well, I think our kids are getting recognition from the public in terms of poprity.¡± Director Yoon Seokhwan answered cautiously. It was then that he heard a familiar intro somewhere. Through the cafe speaker, New ck¡¯s Masquerade started ying. PD Baek chuckled lightly. ¡°I heard it on the radio on my way to work. These days, I hear New ck¡¯s songs wherever I go.¡± He continued. ¡°It¡¯s such a pity. If they didn¡¯t ovep with TNT, they would have been touring around all the music shows with first ce by now.¡± ¡°But I think there are pros and cons to this. Honestly, it helps them in terms of creating buzz.¡± ¡°That¡¯s true.¡± The PD nodded as if he agreed. As it was the third week of promotion for TNT and New ck in the first week of December, they started to show some differences from before. Unlike New ck, who stayed within the top five on the music chart, TNT¡¯s music fell down and settled between the 10th and 20th ce. Because of that, the gap between New ck and TNT, which was huge in the second week, was narrowing down in the third week. If the distance was 100 meters before, now it was about 10 meters. And it was expected to get even closer next week. Of course, for now, New ck still easily beat TNT in the music score, but TNT won first ce with the score that their fandom made up for in the rest. But even that had its limit, so even within the TNT fandom, there were some who said that they should prepare themselves for the worst. On the other hand, as Director Yoon Seokhwan said, this situation ofpeting head-to-head on the music shows had a big advantage in creating buzz. Even though they didn¡¯t win first ce, they gained more recognition by matching up with an overwhelming top-ss singer. After all, the entertainment industry was a ce where who you dated and who you hung out with determined your status. That was why New ck, who would have been recognized as a well-doing rookie 1 at best, was forming a higher image by being linked to TNT in a rivalry. New ck was already in a different category in the minds of the idol fandoms than Street Boys, who they were paired up with in a rivalry in June. PD Baek still sounded regretful. ¡°But it would be nice if they won first ce once¡­ It would help them with broadcasting promotion and all that.¡± ¡°We¡¯re doing our best on our side.¡± ¡°I know, I know. I¡¯ve heard a lot of stories and seen the stages myself, but the higher-ups are suspicious. There are so many famous and powerful idol groups, and they want to send out a rookie group that just debuted to apetition program.¡± PD Baek was the director of a PBS musicpetition program that started recording in January, and he was the one who cast New ck. He had reserved a spot for one idol group among the many famous singers he cast. That was why he seemed to get some worried looks from the higher-ups. He sipped his coffee and said, ¡°By the way, you¡¯re not going to the Hong Kong KMA this week, are you?¡± ¡°We didn¡¯t get invited.¡± ¡°New ck?¡± ¡°Yes, Jang Sowon also has a personal schedule and can¡¯t attend. We didn¡¯t make it to the Rookie Award nomination. Oureback was in November, so we missed the counting period.¡± ¡°That¡¯s too bad¡­¡± ¡°But we¡¯re going to the Mango Chart Award next week.¡± ¡°That¡¯s good. Anything is precious at this time when you need some buzz.¡± He wished them a good stage and talked about the program that was recording in two months. Soon after the meeting ended. ¡°Then I¡¯ll get going.¡± ¡°Yes, take care.¡± As he saw off the PD who was leaving, Yoon Seokhwan cleared his seat and left with his coffee. Then he stopped in his tracks. He looked around the cafe inside the PBS building and snickered. This was the ce where he used to annoy the PDs and writers by following them around, but now he could sit down and talkfortably with the PD. He smiled as he looked at his phone lock screen with the pictures of New ck members and managers. ¡°Hey, are you the director of New ck?¡± Someone grabbed him. He looked at the face and immediately bowed his head with a bright smile. ¡°Yes, hello. PD-nim.¡± ¡°Wow. Your song is doing well these days, huh? You¡¯ll be a hit soon at this rate.¡± Yoon Seokhwan smiled as he looked at the person who was talking to him in a friendly manner. He was the writer who had invited New ck to an outdoor event and then made them wait for a long time before canceling their appearance. He seemed to think that New ck would do better in the future and kept talking to him for a while. Yoon Seokhwan nodded along and smiled brightly at him. ¡°By the way, do you have a business card?¡± ¡°Here you go.¡± He had shoved it into his pocket with a ¡®Yeah, whatever.¡¯ when he gave it to himst time, but now he took it politely and left. Yoon Seokhwan chuckled to himself. ¡®Wow, what a world.¡¯ He hoped that this trend would continue next year as he walked to his car parked outside. His phone vibrated. Ding dong- He pressed the button to see the new message. Woojoo [Seokhwan] Woojoo [What are you doing?] ¡­Seokhwan? Woojoo [nwmhmmd] Woojoo [This is not me, it¡¯s not really Hyung] Woojoo [Jiho took my phone to get revenge on the fan cafe¡­ Ah, really] Woojoo [Anyway, our Seokhwan is doing so well, it¡¯s thrilling, always new, you¡¯re the best] Along with that, a coffee drink and a waffle gift arrived. He felt a slight boost in his mood that had been slightly down at the broadcasting station and opened the car door. *** December. It was time for the year-end settlement. It was an important month for everyone, but especially for singers. It was a time to check the results of the year and let go of everything. Two awards and three year-end stages. Especially for rookies, it was enough to hear ¡®You really made it this year¡¯ if they appeared in one of them. But they were invited to four of them. ¡°All three of them¡­?¡± -Yeah, man. You¡¯ll do your own stage in the other two ces besides PBS. Unlike the PBS year-end music festival where they only sang Something, they were guaranteed individual stages in the other two broadcasting stations. It was hard for small and medium-sized agencies to get out of the year-end music stage unless they were very sessful. Because usually, only five teams of rookies would go up, and there were 64 idol groups that debuted this year. Among them, excluding the rookies from the four major agencies, there were only two spots left, and one of them was theirs. ¡°Wow-!¡± They were practicing for the award stage and copsed, but they came back to life like a mummy when they heard the news and danced with their shoulders with their siblings. But then they quickly exhausted and copsed. Anyway, they did their best to prepare for the uing award stage with the strength of that news. At the KMA held in Hong Kong on the 3rd, TNT won the grand prize, and Blink won the Rookie Award instead of Street Boys, who were first in the vote. The news came from everywhere. Woojoo practiced whenever he had time. But there was a limit to the absolute time, so the only thing they could do was to reduce their sleep. So after finishing his schedule, Woojoo had a lesson with his trainer from midnight, and then practiced until dawn. And finally. December 11th, the day they had been waiting for by burning the midnight oil every day, was approaching. ¡°Hyung, how do I look?¡± Inside the car heading to the Olympic Gymnastics Arena where the award ceremony was held. Bijoo, who was lighting up his face with his phone, asked, ¡°Does it look like I covered my dark circles well?¡± ¡°Yeah. I can¡¯t see them at all. The cover was good.¡± As Bijoo rxed, the youngest one stuck his face out from the back seat and said, ¡°Huh¡­ Look how old I got in a few days. I had such smooth skin.¡± ¡°Did you?¡± ¡°Today, it¡¯s just smooth.¡± Should Woojoo get rid of him? Every time he went to the dermatologist, he heard the teachers say, ¡®Woojoo¡­ That good skin, are you going to take care of it like that?¡¯ Jiho said as if he had made up his mind, ¡°I¡¯m going to sleep like a baby when I get back from the award today. What time will it be when we get home?¡± ¡°Twelve o¡¯clock.¡± ¡°Tomorrow is Music On, so I have to get up at three thirty¡­ Ugh, I can hear the sound of my sweet sleep n falling apart already! Ugh!¡± ¡°Stop yelling, Wang Jiho. You¡¯re making my head ache¡­¡± Rihyuk, who was sitting next to him, groaned. Unlike their energetic youngest, their main vocal with poor stamina was almost like a zombie. He would probably smile brightly like a businessman when he got out of the car. Junghyun pointed to the buildings in the distance and said, ¡°Oh, we¡¯re almost there.¡± They made a loud noise in the cold car with the heater turned down low. They had no choice. Soon, they were going to walk on the red carpet, the pre-event of the award ceremony, which was the first time they had ever experienced since they were born. Me [Grandma channel fixed] Me [Fixed] Woojoo only sent fixed repeatedly and got a reply. Grandma [Sick] Grandma [You fix it] Grandma [The man should have a big belly,] Grandma [Rice-like] When Woojoo showed it to his brothers, they allughed out loud. Wait. Kim Deoksoon. He would show her a white face like rice, not rice-like. While Teen Spirit, who walked on the red carpet before them, was being interviewed, the field staff controlled the car. In the meantime, they discussed among ourselves. ¡°I want to get off first. Hand.¡± ¡°¡­¡± ¡°Why are you only looking at me?¡± After several rounds of tug-of-war, they finally agreed that Woojoo would get off first. As the field staff told them to go in, the car moved. ¡°Ugh!¡± They shook their hands and feet to calm their nervousness. ¡°We¡¯re here. Guys.¡± Outside the tinted car window, a huge crowd of fans, cameras, and the red carpet came into view. He was nervous. Before the door opened, Woojoo looked around at his brothers and couldn¡¯t help butugh. They looked serious as if they had never screamed. Squeak- And the moment the door opened. Woojoo couldn¡¯te to his senses as a fierce sh baptism flew in from all sides. Chapter 151: Chapter 151: Trantor: MarcTempest Editor: Rxel Chapter 151 As Woojoo got out of the car with a nervous heart, his whole body shivered. From the cold. It was the kind of weather that made you curse how damn cold it was. The breath that escaped from his lips fogged up his vision. The wind that blew through his suit pants gave him goosebumps. If he was near the dorm or thepany, he would have wrapped himself up andined, ¡°It¡¯s cold, so cold¡±, but there were shes blinking in front of him.¡°Look here! Here!¡± ¡°Woojoo, Woojoo!¡± ¡°Over here!¡± Woojoo couldn¡¯t even appreciate this red carpet as he tried to adjust to the blinding light. ¡°One, two, three, hello. We are New ck!¡± They bowed to the people who were looking at them and walked ahead. Unlike the front where the cameras were crowded, there were more general spectators from the middle. They were bundled up in scarves, padding, and masks, and they covered their mouths with pamphlets and chatted with the person next to them or took pictures with their phones. Woojoo smiled brightly as he passed by. When he looked back to see how the others were doing, they seemed to be doing well. They smiled softly and nodded, and waved their hands. Sometimes they did both at the same time, but they looked so nervous that they didn¡¯t even know what they were doing. But Woojoo couldn¡¯tugh at them. He was doing the same thing. The idol fans who saw themughed as they rubbed their frozen cheeks. ¡­Woojoo thought he could do better if he did it again. He swallowed his regret and waved his hand with a bright smile. Soon after, they reached the end of the red carpet and climbed a few steps to the photo wall with the logo of ¡®2014 MCA¡¯, the sponsor. sh- Hundreds of moths fluttered as the shutter sound and the sh exploded everywhere. The MCs, a man and a woman holding microphones, called them with a gesture. -Yes, New ck! Come over here quickly! -They are really handsome! -Over here! Andrew, the Chinese member of Daydream, and announcer Jung Hyojin greeted them in suits and dresses. Thetter was a familiar face. She was the host at the previous Icheon Festival, and she struggled with them when Teen Spirit waste. She looked happy to see them. -You are the hottest rookie boy group of the year, right? You were nominated for the Rookie Award and attended today, right? -It¡¯s not an exaggeration to say that you swept the music charts, from Something to breaking a million views on your music video in the shortest time among the rookie groups this year! Andrew praised them in fluent Korean, while they looked away. It was embarrassing. It was like getting first ce on a pop quiz and being happy, but then being interviewed on a broadcast and saying, ¡°Here¡¯s the first ce on the pop quiz!¡± They were actually things they did, but they sounded like achievements and made them shy. The interview started soon, which was a relief. They answered questions about their outfit concept, showed the point choreography of their song, and shared their thoughts on being nominated for the Rookie Award. Then they left the MC station. -No, behind you, no, you can¡¯t go there! ¡°Bijoo, not there!¡± ¡°Huh, no?¡± -You have to go behind. Yes. That was New ck. Woojoo quickly grabbed Bijoo, who was going the wrong way, and dragged him along, whileughter erupted from the people. ¡°Uh, I have a runny nose.¡± ¡°Me too.¡± ¡°I¡¯ve been holding back my sniffles for a long time.¡± Even with a hot pack inside, the temperature of minus three degrees was really, too, very, cold. ¡°Achoo!¡± They ended up sneezing together and wiping their noses. As they were going behind the MC station, Jiho asked with an excited face, ¡°Hyungs, do you think our photos came out really well?¡± *** At the same time. When they thought they had sneezed out of the camera¡¯s sight, New ck¡¯s photos were being uploaded in real-time. -[Photo] New ck, ¡°Achoo!¡±¡­ ¡®It¡¯s too cold today!¡¯ -[Photo One] New ck at MCA, the reverse charm of the handsome boys ¡®Achachacha¡¯ -[Picture] ¡®Oh my, Rudolph nose¡¯ New ck¡¯s youngest Jiho The headline of the article¡¯s photo spread across the idolmunities that were watching the red carpet event live. -?????? -The reporters are crazy ??. There are already dozens of types of sneezing sounds. -?? what is this -So cute ????. They¡¯re all pale and their cheeks are red and they¡¯re shaking. -Why does the maknae have a wet nose like a country puppy? -2222 ???? -They¡¯re all cute every time I see them ??? -Daegil¡¯s friend wiping his nose and smiling awkwardly is so funny ?. It matches the webtoon meme. Meanwhile, the stylist team was swallowing their tears, saying ¡®this is not what we dressed them for¡¯, and Director Yoon Seokhwan and the two managers were chuckling. Among them, there was one unexpected gif that became a hot topic. -What¡¯s his name!!! Tell me!!! -New ck Woojoo -He¡¯s crazy. He should be exported overseas. It was a photo of Woojoo sneezing whileughing during the interview. The timing was lucky and it looked like he was smiling and wrinkling his nose. Soon, the gif file started to spread all over themunity. -Who is this cutie??? -He¡¯s an idol. New ck Woojoo. He was on Around the World With Dice recently! -Wow¡­ I¡¯m amazed that there are such beauties in idols these days. -I came rushing in because they said he¡¯s handsome. -He looks better than the actors these days, doesn¡¯t he? And in the waiting room, the New ck members were looking at this reaction on their tablet PC. Woojoo was in the corner, closing his eyes and fixing his messed up makeup. While everyone else became snotty, he was the only one who survived and they looked at him with resentment. ¡°¡­¡± They were convinced by the makeup that was stronger than usual. His white face with shiny lips, his straight nose and deep eyes, and the shadow that naturally formed. It was a three-dimensional face. From his round forehead to his sharp chin, the curve and the well-fitting suit matched, and it made them think that the photo couldn¡¯t capture the reality. Then they realized, ¡®right, Woojoo Hyung is handsome¡¯ and epted it. Woojoo opened his eyes and held a water bottle like a wine ss. He had a simr expression to a foreign movie meme where fireworks exploded behind him. ¡°Have a drink. My snotty kids.¡± ¡°¡­¡± He was too mean even if they were resentful. *** The awards ceremony was often called ¡®the feast of the stars¡¯. It meant that a lot of famous people attended, and today Woojoo felt that more than anyone else. Woojoo was amazed by the faces of the people he met in the hallway from the waiting room to the stage. From the most popr girl groups and boy groups in the music industry to the famous actors who attended as presenters. Out of all the rookies who debuted this year, they were the only ones invited. ¡°Hello, we are New ck!¡± They greeted everyone they met with a bow, and they all responded warmly. Some of them, like Teen Spirit, said ¡°congrattions on the Rookie Award¡±. Others, like Girls on Top, said ¡°congrattions¡± briefly as they passed by, aware of the many eyes on them. Joanna, Autumn Girl, Daydream, and so on. They were all congratting them on the Rookie Award, but to them, it sounded like they were saying ¡°wee to this ce with us¡±. That was how overwhelmed they felt by the faces of the attendees today. When they were making awkward expressions, a small, pale face with a mochi-likeplexion bounced over and greeted them. It was Daisy, the youngest member of Scarlet. ¡°Congrattions!¡± Strangers who were dancing and having fun among themselves came over and congratted them with a loud cheer. They were Scarlet, a four-member girl group dressed in ck feathered outfits. ¡°Guys, congrattions!¡± As the leader, Ara, smiled brightly and high-fived their members, she looked confused when it was Woojoo¡¯s turn. She had a look on her face that said ¡®oh, we haven¡¯t met before¡¯. Then she sped her hands together like a parent meeting a teacher for the first time. ¡°Uh¡­ hello. I¡¯m Ara. I¡¯ve heard a lot about you. You¡¯re taking good care of the kids.¡± ¡°Yes, hello. Nice to meet you.¡± They shook hands politely and exchanged greetings, while the younger members on both sides pped andughed at their scene. It was a bit awkward at first. Unlike their members who were happily chatting with each other, Woojoo was meeting everyone except Daisy for the first time. But the atmosphere was friendly. They were so sociable that they soon feltfortable talking to them. ¡°Let¡¯s all go wow together!¡± ¡°Wow!¡± ¡­Before Woojoo knew it, they were all jumping around and cheering. When they got out of there and headed to the stage, Woojoo asked with a bewildered face, ¡°¡­It felt like I was caught in a whirlwind and then released.¡± ¡°That¡¯s nothingpared to their usual selves. They¡¯re really crazy, you know. Like Wang Jiho squared.¡± Rihyuk shook his head with a dazed expression. ¡°What¡¯s wrong with me? And you, Bijoo Hyung?¡± ¡°¡­¡± ¡°Don¡¯t pat me with a kind smile.¡± Then, Junghyun asked, ¡°But why does everyone congratte us on the Rookie Award? The ceremony hasn¡¯t even started yet.¡± ¡°Probably because we¡¯re the only attendees.¡± There were other candidates for the Rookie Award, but they were the only ones who received an invitation. It was almost like a foregone conclusion. Of course, that didn¡¯t mean they could rx. There was a casest year where TNT, who had achieved great results, attended the ceremony but lost to a random trend award. Last year, there was a general trend of giving awards to Sixty Seconds. As Woojoo was thinking about that. ¡°Wow¡­¡± The main stage of the Olympic Gymnastics Arena appeared before their eyes. *** The high and majestic ceiling. The wide stage. They were sitting at the very end of the attendee seats, admiring the grandeur of the gymnastics arena. It was really big. Of course, there were bigger ces in terms of size, but the gymnastics arena was a special ce to Woojoo. When he was a trainee at TJ Entertainment, the Rookie Development Team often took them to the concerts of their senior singers at the gymnastics arena. They wanted them to see how happy their sessful seniors were performing in front of tens of thousands of fans. That was the ce where Woojoo came back after a long time. He was nervous. It wasn¡¯t a concert, but he was going to stand on this ce as a singer for once. But¡­ He felt strange today. He was happy, but he also felt sentimental. Woojoo pretended to be the same as usual, joking around with his younger members, but he felt weird. ¡°Hyung, congrattions on being a Rookie Award nominee.¡± When Taehyun, who arrivedst, greeted them and congratted them, or when he saw the other TNT members, he saw their faces as trainees. Woojoo was pondering the nature of his feelings when the lights went out and the awards ceremony finally began. After Joanna, who debuted solo from a girl group this year, kicked off the show with her first stage, the MCs continued with their remarks. -Yes, we will announce the first two groups of the TOP 10 this year. -Girls on Top, and Cha Woohyun! Congrattions! There were various corners, such as taking selfies with the sponsored phones, but Woojoo couldn¡¯t pay attention to them. He was nervous. And trembling. While the senior singers¡¯ stages continued, Woojoo pped and cheered along, but his mind was elsewhere. The members were the same. They were smiling as usual, but they had a nk look on their faces as they pped. It was probably because of the Rookie Award. Unlike other awards, it was only given to the first-year artists, a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. Even celebrities who received the grand prize at the awards ceremony said in interviews that they regretted not getting the Rookie Award, which meant a lot to everyone. As Woojoo swallowed his saliva. The time had finallye. -Yes, the award that singers can only receive once in their lifetime, the Rookie Award. This year¡¯s award will be presented byst year¡¯s winners, Lee Jihon and Jolgae. A trio of folk singers who became famous as singer-songwriters on an audition program appeared wearing sunsses. After the leader Lee Jihon¡¯s greeting, the VCR started ying. [The super rookies who heated up K-POP in 2014!] ¡­With the embarrassing caption, the music video scenes flowed. Street Boys, Blink, Serenity, and other rookies who ranked in the Top 5 this year were mentioned. At the end, when their name came up with the caption ¡®New ck¡¯, a small but fierce cheer came from the audience. Meanwhile, as they swallowed their saliva while the VCR was ying, the presenter Lee Jihon opened the envelope with the winner¡¯s name. They were the only attendees, but Woojoo didn¡¯t know why he was so nervous. -Yes, the 2014 Mango Chart Award Rookie Award goes to¡­ He smiled and said. -New ck! Congrattions! At that moment, Woojoo almost jumped up and screamed without realizing it. As he shouted ¡®Wow!¡¯ in his head, he got up gracefully with his brothers. ¡°Guys.¡± ¡°Hyung.¡± Only then did Woojoo smile broadly, looking at his brothers who were also smiling. ¡°Congrattions!¡± ¡°Congrats.¡± ¡°Thank you.¡± The singers who were sitting in front of them got up and pped hands with them, congratting them. Woojoo smiled and greeted Girls on Top, who were trembling at the corners of their mouths, and Jang Sowon, who was congratting the Boshiraegi. ¡°Congrattions, Woojoo.¡± Woojoo greeted TNT, who had Leader as their representative. Woojoo made his way through the singers. Woojoo was so nervous walking down the path that the people in the standing seats were looking up at. His legs were trembling. ¡°Congrattions.¡± Woojoo received the trophy from Lee Jihun and the Jolgaes, and his brothers gathered around him as he stood in front of the standing microphone. More than a hundred pairs of eyes were looking at them in the bright light. If you counted the people watching from behind the camera, it would be ten times that. Their family, theirpany staff, and their Souffl¨¦s were all watching. Woojoo held the trophy tightly and opened his lips quickly. The eptance speech time was 1 minute and 30 seconds. ¡°First, I want to thank the people who are grateful to us.¡± Woojoo gave the spot to Junghyun for a moment. He swiftly named the people he was thankful for, like a rapper who raps fast and calmly. ¡°Thank you very much. President Park Kyuho of Lemon Entertainment. Producer Jo Gyuwan¡­¡± The audience and the singers who were watching burst into a shortugh, and then Woojoo stood in front of the microphone again as the representative. ¡°We¡­¡± Woojoo coughed as his throat choked up. He wasn¡¯t going to cry, was he? It felt like something was welling up in him, as if his body was telling him to cry. Bijoo smiled softly and put his hand on Woojoo¡¯s shoulder. ¡°Yes, it was an unbelievable year for us, starting from before our debut. We¡­¡± Woojoo was saying the speech he had prepared, but he didn¡¯t even know if he was saying it properly. He just nced at his brothers, whose eyes were moist. He also tried to hold back the blurriness in front of his eyes and continued the speech. It might not be a big deal for someone else, but it was a very meaningful award for them. No. It was for him too. Woojoo didn¡¯t know why he kept remembering the old days when he was at TJ Entertainment today, but as he spoke, he realized why. ¡°There¡¯s nothing that¡¯s taken for granted.¡± Woojoo thought he had that thought unconsciously when he was a trainee. If he debuted like the other seniors at TJ, he would win the Rookie Award right away, and soon seed and have a concert at this gymnastics stadium. But when he actually debuted and did the broadcast activities, he realized that it wasn¡¯t. There was nothing that was taken for granted. Fans didn¡¯t grow on their own, and the music chart rankings didn¡¯t go up on their own. They were all things that had to be earned. And even if they did it together, it was barely enough. That was why he was thankful. To his brothers who worked hard this year, thepany staff, and most of all, the fans who brought them to the Rookie Award. So Woojoo delivered thest thank you message. ¡°And Souffl¨¦, thank you so much.¡± Sincerely. ¡°I hope we can be together for a long time, so that our meeting so far feels fleeting. Thank you very much.¡± ¡°Thank you!¡± As he heard the apuse echoing in the hall, he went back to his seat with his brothers, holding the trophy. As Woojoo walked with a bit of relief, the youngest whispered to him with a flushed cheek. ¡°Hyung, I feel so good.¡± ¡°Me too.¡± It was the best day of their lives. Chapter 152: Chapter 152: Trantor: MarcTempest Editor: Rxel Chapter 152 When Woojoo returned to his seat with a feeling of ecstasy. As soon as he sat down, his younger siblings looked at him and simultaneously reached out their hands. ¡°The trophy.¡± ¡°I¡¯m going to touch it first.¡± ¡°Let me see that.¡± Woojoo was about to give it to Bijoo, who was right next to him, but he gave way to the other members first, saying he would take itst.Junghyun held the trophy in his hand and stared at it nkly. His eyes were not as calm as usual, but he looked like he had a lot on his mind. He did that for 10 seconds. Junghyun leaned toward Woojoo and whispered softly, ¡°Thank you. Hyung.¡± ¡°I¡¯m grateful too, Junghyun. You worked hard.¡± Woojoo smiled and patted his shoulder. They looked at each other with a happy face and nodded. Then, he pointed at the youngest ones. ¡°Look at them.¡± Bijoo and Junghyun turned their heads andughed in surprise. The two youngest ones were sharing the trophy and admiring it. This was a sight he had never seen before. They used to get along like cats and dogs, but now they had the trophy with ¡®New Artist Award-New ck¡¯ written on it in their eyes. Woojoo too. And them too. This trophy seemed to have some magic that made people more emotional than usual. Now that everyone had finished admiring it and it was Bijoo¡¯s turn to get the trophy. ¡°I¡¯ll take the trophy.¡± The staff on the scene took it away, saying they would keep it for them. ¡°Uh.¡± He was stunned and then quickly saddened. Theyforted and consoled Bijoo, who was sad. The conversation time was over soon. The VCR ended and the lights came on, and the stages of other singers began. These days, even the reactions of the singers watching the stage were uploaded as fancams, so they had to be careful about their behavior. But they didn¡¯t need to consciously give any reaction. They just admired it. Oh, wow, and wow. They said to each other, cool, so cool. The first stage after the new artist award was Scarlet. They sincerely admired the girl group of Lemon Entertainment, who debuted two years earlier than them. They heard that they were talented and saw their videos, but seeing them with their eyes was different. They looked like minions who were bouncing around just a while ago. But now they were waving long, ck cloths in the air and dancing. Wow. They were all main dancer level there. Even though there were only four of them, the stage felt full. Every time they made delicate gestures, some energy came out of their fingertips and filled the empty space. Woojoo watched their stage carefully. Hand movements or steps. Things that they could useter, like stage directing. The other stages that followed were the same. Because of the nature of the year-end awards stage, they all prepared with determination. Woojoo learned practical tips from the senior singers on how to handle the gaze in the spacious auditorium. He also observed how the bad singers handled the high notes and how to make them sound better. He copied the useful movements. It was a ce where they could see the stages of the top singers in Korea directly. Sometimes when Woojoo was frustrated, he lifted his body slightly and looked at the movements of other senior singers. If hepared it to a game, it was like real skills were pouring out from everywhere, so he had to collect them quickly. When they saw Woojoo, the younger ones giggled. ¡°New ck, get ready.¡± They got up from their seats at the call of the staff who came with the inte. The awards were divided into three parts. The performance that ended the first part was their main stage. *** At the same time. While New ck was changing their clothes and waiting in the backstage, the idolmunity was full of live posts. -Scarlet today, all of them are so pretty -They¡¯re good too¡­ Honestly, if they weren¡¯t a small girl group, they would have gotten more time in theter order -Daisy¡¯s rapping voice is really addictive -Oh, Cha Woohyun is here -His voice is so good, really¡­ -I don¡¯t like that their song style is always the same, but they sing well. As the stage reviews came out after each performance, the topic of New ck, who would be thest act of the first part, came up. -Are they really good enough to close the first part??? -They¡¯re overhyped, seriously;; They don¡¯t know their limits. -It¡¯s probably because there are a lot of Lemon actors in the awards lineup this time??? -Wow, thements¡­ Grab some chill and leave the rookies alone. Because TNT¡¯s fans were the most numerous, there werements saying that New ck was not at the level or skill to close the first part. The six-minute finale of the first part. If they added Something, it would be 10 minutes, as if they were doing a gymnastics show, there were sarcastic remarks. -Oh, it started. -Fireworks is my favorite song among the recent ones¡­ -They¡¯re so good at live singing, really??? As soon as New ck¡¯s Fireworks appeared on the live streaming screen, positivements came up. A stage that minimized the choreography and focused more on the vocals. As soon as the praise came up, morements followed. -They can sing well, sure. -Honestly, New ck is not a performance group, right?? They should just stick to vocals, not dance;; -?? Mediocre dance skills. As they were talking like that. Fireworks ended and the lights that had been darkened came on again. [New ck | Masquerade] Along with the caption that appeared on the screen, the outline of the stage gradually became visible. The bright red lights that surrounded all sides. The lights that shot out sinister rays here and there focused on the stage. Along with the cheers from the audience, twenty-five men who were on the stage took their positions and stood. They were dancers. Before the singers appeared, it was time for the professional dancers to raise the atmosphere of the stage with their dance. The men who wore the same tuxedos and masks that covered their entire faces. Soon, an elegant but somewhat uneasy intro flowed out. The sound of a clock ticking mixed in. Tick, tock, tick. Like wind-up toy soldiers, the dancers moved in a staggered manner. When they split into five groups. With the fiery red VCR in the background. Along with the drum sound that made the heart beat, the dancers threw their bodies to the rhythm of the music. The dance that captivated the eyes of the viewers was followed by exmations from various ces. -Wow¡­ The dancers are dancers. -They¡¯re so good, really????? -Just put them on stage instead of New ck. Meanwhile, after the dancers¡¯ performance ended. It was time for the singers to appear, but New ck was still not showing themselves. Usually, this would be the timing for the singer toe up on a lift. ¡°¡­?¡± When the audience on the spot and those watching on TV tilted their heads. When the audience near the stage, who already knew the situation, smiled with anticipation. A change urred in each of the five groups divided into seven members. As one by one they took off their masks in the center surrounded by the other six, the faces of the New ck members were revealed. As they took off their masks with expressionless faces, their outfits changed quickly while the camera zoomed in on them. They turned their clothes inside out to reveal red suits. They untied their bow ties to make them long ties. When they pulled off all these transformations gracefully. At the same time, a post went up on the idolmunity. -Where are all the people who said they¡¯re not a performance group?? While praises for New ck were posted, a familiar intro yed. It was their second album title track, Masquerade. *** When the impressive intro echoed in the gymnastics stadium. From the moment they appeared among the dancers who were dancing brilliantly, New ck¡¯s stage stuck in the audience¡¯s memory. ¡®They¡¯re good. These guys.¡¯ Most of them were fans who came to see their own singers. They knew New ck, but only through funny memes, so they thought of them as ¡®handsome but funny guys¡¯. But they revised their evaluation as they saw the performance with their own eyes. The song Masquerade itself was good, but they felt like they understood why they won the Rookie Award. They did a great job. It was hard to believe that they were rookies who debuted this year, with such stable skills. ¡®They dance really well.¡¯ They all performed wlessly, without a single hole in their dance. They must have practiced so much, they didn¡¯t even look at each other, but their spacing was perfect when they dispersed and gathered. And the choreography. They wondered how much they paid for the choreography, not to mention the refined quality, they admired the movements. The shape changed like folding paper in real time. It seemed like there might be some meaning behind the shape, enough to make them wonder. On the other hand, there were two things that the audience on the spot remembered from New ck¡¯s performance, apart from the stable live and outstanding dance. One was the main dancer¡¯s solo choreography in the first verse. The blond member who was crouching on the side with the dancers lightly moved his body and returned to the main stage. He flew like a bird. He sang in a soft voice and slid onto the stage, then stamped his legs. He spun his body and drew a curve in the air with his long legs. He looked so light, as if there was no gravity. Even then, New ck¡¯s main dancer smiled and sang without any difficulty. And the other thing they remembered was the third verse part. While the other four members were standing in ce and doing light choreography, the camera captured the red-haired member. In the music that stopped Take off your mask And show me your smile for me The member who was reciting the lyrics walked from the right end with anguid expression. He touched the shoulders of the members one by one and used them as pirs, and his expression changed subtly every time he walked. His expression changed once more every time he brushed past a member and swept his hand over his face. The point was how the atmosphere changed in an instant with his graceful hand movements, as if he was adjusting his mask. The audience who saw him up close were captivated by his appearance. Meanwhile, his light falsetto voice filled the stadium. Of course, this performance that captivated the audience¡¯s eyes was not the result of the member¡¯s practice alone. There was also the help of someone who scolded and coaxed and taught him how to act. There was also the help of someone who practiced the choreography with a kind face and no sleep. There was also the advice of someone who said he didn¡¯t want to hear him sing like that and taught him about singing while whining. There was also the help of someone who secretly brought him snacks. But the audience didn¡¯t know any of this, and it was just a scene that was amazing and memorable to them. Soon, the highlight of the third verse began. The section where they exploded everything they had built up until now. While fireworks popped and the smell of gunpowder filled the stage, the song also burst. The dancers and the members gathered in the center of the stage, and the leader of New ck took the center and matched the movements. The one who had the best bnce in all aspects, such as vocals, dance, and physique, took charge of the powerful choreography. Woojoo, who drew the eyes as if he was sucking them in, performed the song and dance in the center. The fireworks soared once more, and the members¡¯ faces were sweaty from the intense choreography, but it was a good spectacle. When the loud cheers started to be heard on the spot for the first time. ¡°The reaction is good, right?¡± Manager Seo Minki whispered as he watched the members¡¯ stage from backstage. Director Yoon Seokhwan smiled. ¡°I couldn¡¯t ask for more.¡± The members of New ck, who were checking the enthusiastic response from the scene, looked satisfied. When the dance break was over and the New ck members took their ending pose, panting for breath. Unlike the cheers that started out of courtesy, this time, sincere apuse and cheers filled the gymnastics stadium. It was a sessful first year-end stage. *** They finished the stage sessfully, but they had no time to enjoy the reaction. They were exhausted under the stage. Rihyuk was dizzy and gagged over a stic bag, and Bijoo leaned against the wall and closed his eyes, taking deep breaths. Even Woojoo, who had good stamina, drank two or three bottles of water each. It seemed like they were panting for a long time until the second part started. As Woojoo fixed his makeup and returned to his seat, he asked, ¡°Rihyuk, do I smell?¡± ¡°Your face doesn¡¯t smell, so get it away from me.¡± ¡°¡­¡± Woojoo was bothered by the sweaty and pungent smell, but it was okay because the other singers who performed before them were simr. Woojoo watched the second and third parts of the award show with afortable mind. He was relieved that the stage, which he was most worried about, was over. It felt like he had lifted a heavy stone off his shoulders. The stage was the heaviest stone among them. Because this was their real year-end stage. Unlike the year-end stages of the three major broadcasters, which ended in a cut of two minutes and a few seconds, this was the only ce that guaranteed them more than six minutes of time. Woojoo felt a lot of pressure to do well, but he thought they did well. Thanks to that, he enjoyed the atmosphere of the award ceremony with a big smile. -Yes, the digital song of the year is Something¡¯s Jang Sowon and New ck! -Thank you. This year really¡­ Woojoo stood behind Jang Sowon, a senior who was tearful as she spoke her eptance speech. Woojoo also learned from watching the performances of popr groups like TNT and Teen Spirit, thinking, ¡®That¡¯s how they decorate the stage.¡¯ When they all waved their hands to the audience at the end. They also had a congrattory time with TNT, who won the Artist of the Year and the Album of the Year. Gu Seonwoong, who held a bouquet of flowers, greeted Woojoo with his fish eyes, pouring out tears and snot. ¡°Thank you. Woojoo. We¡¯re happy that you¡¯re doing well.¡± He tried to hug Woojoo with his face covered with snot, so he avoided him carefully and said, ¡°You too, Hyung. Congrattions to everyone. You deserved it.¡± ¡°You guys deserved it too. Congrattions to New ck.¡± TNT, who had been shut out of the main categories in both award showsst year, was in tears. Woojoo thought they would have cried too if they had received the awards they should have receivedst year a yearter. Woojoo also lightlyforted Taehyun, who was tearful as he waved his hand to the fans. On the other hand, their New ck team was in a cheerful mood overall. ¡°Hahaha, good job, everyone!¡± ¡°Good job, everyone!¡± ¡°You all worked really hard today!¡± Woojoo took a selfie with the dancers who had shone with them on the stage, and thanked the choreography team leader and the members. They were so kind to amodate all their difficult requests without anyints, so he felt more grateful to them. The dancers left, chanting ¡°New ck! Meat! New ck! Meat!¡± as they heard that thepany had prepared a dinner for them. The passers-by smiled at their cheerful voices. The stylists, the managers, and the variouspany staff. Woojoo thanked them all, and then they moved to get in the car driven by Dowon. ¡°Bijoo, are you going to hold that the whole time?¡± ¡°I didn¡¯t get to touch it earlier. I¡¯m going to hold it until I go to bed.¡± Everyone smiled warmly at Bijoo, who was clutching the trophy in his hand. Woojoo patted the shoulders of his younger brothers and smiled. ¡°You guys did a great job. Really¡­ I never thought we would win the Rookie Award when we metst year.¡± ¡°I know, right. Last year around this time, we were practicing hard for the year-end evaluation.¡± ¡°Wow, goosebumps. It¡¯s been more than a year already.¡± ¡°Yeah.¡± Woojoo felt that time was really fast. It had been over a year since he met these guys. ¡°Time is really fast. Too fast to be sad.¡± ¡°Yeah,¡± Bijoo said with a smile. ¡°So I wish we could go a bit slower today.¡± ¡°Me too.¡± ¡°Me too.¡± They looked at the moon in the night sky and admired it for a moment. Then, Junghyun said with a sigh, ¡°We didn¡¯t take a selfie.¡± ¡°Oh, right. Let¡¯s take one quickly.¡± They gathered around Bijoo, who was holding the trophy, and took a selfie. About 100 shots in a row. They decided to y rock-paper-scissors to choose the best one to upload on SNSter, since they were all picky about their looks. Jiho pouted his lips. ¡°Wow, Woojoo Hyung won again.¡± ¡°Hey, isn¡¯t it weird? I¡¯ve never won against him in rock-paper-scissors. Not even a tie.¡± ¡°What¡¯s so weird about that?¡± "It¡¯s weird that he always wins. It¡¯s like he knows what I¡¯m going to do¡­ " Oops. ¡°Maybe you¡¯re just really bad at it?¡± Thanks to the youngest, who chuckled, Woojoo was able to get out of the danger zone. As they walked like that, they saw the choreography team and the other staff leaving separately. Jiho swallowed his saliva as he looked at them. ¡°They¡¯re lucky. They get to eat meat.¡± ¡°Just hang in there. We¡¯re done with the music show on Sunday. Let¡¯s grill some pork belly at the dorm then.¡± ¡°Yay! Junghyun Hyung, Woojoo Hyung said he¡¯ll buy us meat. Meat! I say go, you say gi!¡± ¡°Go.¡± ¡°Go!¡± Theyughed as they watched the youngest run ahead with Junghyun, shoulder to shoulder. Maybe it was because he secretly gave them snacks during practice. Jiho¡¯s eyes sparkled as he looked at Junghyun. Rihyuk said with a tongue click, ¡°That kid. He doesn¡¯t know that we bought those snacks ourselves, right?¡± ¡°He doesn¡¯t.¡± ¡°It¡¯s better that way, right?¡± They smiled as they walked behind them. The wind was very cold, but it was a beautiful and splendid night. *** At that moment. There were people who felt more ups and downs than New ck, and they were the three men who were eating pig¡¯s feet in the office. ¡°Gyuwan.¡± ¡°Yes, boss.¡± ¡°I¡¯m asking you again, just to make sure¡­ How much did that stage that Scarlet and New ck did cost in total?¡± ¡°About 400 million won.¡± ¡°¡­For 15 minutes?¡± ¡°Yes. There were fireworks and mes, too. And thebor cost was huge. They used a hundred dancers for both teams. And then there was the VCR production and the set cost¡­¡± ¡°Wow.¡± The director eximed without tact. ¡°Every time those fireworks went off, a hundred million was going up in smoke.¡± ¡°To be precise, we burned 440,000 won per second¡­¡± Park Kyuho¡¯s hand trembled as the pork trotter slipped off his chopsticks. A moment of silence. ¡°¡­¡± The three men silently devoured the pork trotters. They tasted strangely hollow today. Chapter 153: Chapter 153: Trantor: MarcTempest Editor: Rxel Chapter 153 Olympic Gymnastics Arena. After the awards ceremony, the audience poured out like a tide. In the cold wind, people chatted excitedly with their neighbors, their faces full of enthusiasm. ¡°Today¡¯s stages were all amazing.¡± ¡°I know, right? I have to watch the fancams when I get home. Did you see Hwiyeon¡¯s expression? His eyes were sparkling.¡± ¡°Are you kidding? I made eye contact with Yeonhu earlier.¡± ¡°Wow, lucky you.¡±Everyone was talking about their favorite singers. How the stages were, how beautiful their hands looked when they turned their heads while sitting, and so on. Among these affectionate stories, one group¡¯s name stood out. ¡°But didn¡¯t they do well earlier? New ck.¡± ¡°They didn¡¯t look like rookies. They were really good.¡± ¡°I was unconsciously sticking out my neck like a turtle while watching. When the red-haired guy came out in the third verse.¡± ¡°But what¡¯s his name? I only know Woojoo.¡± ¡°Let¡¯s search it up. ¡­Jiho? Wow, he¡¯s so handsome. And he¡¯s a high schooler.¡± The reason why New ck became a topic of conversation everywhere was simple. ¡°They were the most noticeable after our kids.¡± ¡°Lemon must have spent a lot of money on them. The kids did well too. They had a bit of a bite, you know what I mean?¡± Every time such conversations came up, a group of people walking around secretly pinched their cheeks. Their fingers were busy. They were Souffl¨¦s, who were posting on the fan cafe. -The reaction on site is amazing! -People are talking about our kids when theye out. They said they were the most memorable after their own singers??? -Most memorable after their own singers = best performance -Good, good??? -More than that, I envy the eyes of those who saw our baby oppas on site?? The Souffl¨¦s who had seen the stage with their own eyes were the same, but the Souffl¨¦s who were at work or home were also happy and jumping around. The photos, fancams, on-site reactions, andmunity reactions that wereing up. They couldn¡¯t help but smile and giggle while looking out the window and managing their expressions on the bus. While the Souffl¨¦s in various ces were flustered by the aftermath of the stage, the idolmunity also had a simr reaction. [Today¡¯s explosive reaction to the mango rookie stage.youtube] I was like wow¡­ the whole time I watched it Especially at 2:40 When Fireworks turned into Masquerade and the stage atmosphere changed from blue to red, it was so cool¡­ -The stage quality was insane -It was the best rookie stage I¡¯ve seen in recent years -It was a stage that only rookies could do. They had a fierce look in their eyes, and they popped out among the dancers. They couldn¡¯t do that if they had a high seniority, they would know each other¡¯s physique too well -New ck, I¡¯m a fan??? -Where are the people who were cursing when they saw the cue sheet earlier??? -Honestly, there were a lot of haters in the beginning of the stage too ??? But then they quieted down when they suddenly popped out among the dancers?? -They don¡¯t look like rookies There were praises for the stage in general. With this favorable atmosphere, there were also posts promoting individual members. -Today¡¯s ¡®red-haired guy¡¯ who was called, New ck¡¯s maknae¡¯s usual appearance -I was amazed every time I saw the expression change in the third verse part, so I made a gif -He was almost flying today, New ck¡¯s main dancer Bijoo These were posts that would have been hard to see in the usual atmosphere, but they popped up here and there. It was an opportunity for those who only knew the names of New ck¡¯s friends, Woojoo, and Rihyuk, to get to know the new members. The result of thebination of the capital-invested production and the members¡¯ performance. On the other hand, there were also those who pointed out meaningful points. -I think it meant something that Lemon spent a lot of money. It felt like they were stamping their feet on the ¡®Rookie of the Year¡¯ title?? -Yeah, the album and music sales were also like that, and now there¡¯s no one who canpete with New ck among the rookies One thing was that the title of ¡®Rookie of the Year¡¯ and New ck¡¯s name were firmly attached, and no one could take them off. The other thing was. -Today¡¯s performance was honestly good, but the foreigners would go crazy if they saw it -The song was a bit of a popr tone, but¡­ overseas, they definitely like sharp choreography and stuff -The amazing thing about them is that they find out and be fans when they do well on stage It was that New ck¡¯s performance today would not be limited to domestic reactions, but would also get reactions from overseas K-pop fans. *** Thand. With the K-pop cover dancepetitioning up in March next year, the members of ¡®WeeWhO¡¯, who had made it to the finals two years ago, were engrossed in a meeting. The topic was song selection. ¡°We need a choreography that can capture the attention of the audience instantly.¡± The leader emphasized by tapping the table. The members immediately yed the choreographies they liked on theirptops. But most of them were rejected for various reasons. This one required too many people, that one had a boring choreography. Then someone suggested. ¡°How about New ck?¡± ¡°New ck?¡± The question was echoed, but not because they didn¡¯t know New ck. As K-pop fans, New ck was an unavoidable name among this year¡¯s rookies. However. ¡°Don¡¯t you remember the Fireworks? We tried it because it looked easy and we all suffered.¡± ¡°¡­Yeah.¡± ¡°But it was good for dieting. My mom likes that dance.¡± They all looked into the air with a wistful expression. Fireworks was a choreography that was easy if done roughly, but endless if done with all the details like waves and points. Someone said. ¡°This time, Masquerade is obviously hard.¡± ¡°Right. Can we do it?¡± One of the members tried to imitate Masquerade¡¯s choreography clumsily and burst intoughter when he hit the wall. ¡°But that one, there was a lot of posts on the K-pop site yesterday.¡± ¡°Really?¡± Someone typed the address of a site where overseas K-pop fans gathered. Soon, a post in English appeared. It had over 100ments. They were decipheringments like ¡®Wow¡¯ or ¡®What¡¯s his name¡¯ when someone asked curiously. ¡°The reaction is amazing¡­ Is it because of the award show performance?¡± ¡°It¡¯s like they parachuted from a helicopter. How well did they do?¡± ¡°Let¡¯s watch it.¡± They immediately watched the low-quality performance video on YouTube. The members were singing in light shirts, giving a blue and refreshing vibe on the stage of Fireworks. ¡°They¡¯re good, but¡­ is that all?¡± ¡°Shh. Watch the rest.¡± The atmosphere changed as the dancers came out. The background also changed from the exploding fireworks to a focus on the fire. The mood turned sinister in red. As dozens of dancers appeared and started a sharp choreography, the watchers¡¯ mouths dropped open. ¡°Wow¡­ Huh?¡± The members revealed themselves one by one among them. The audience cheered at their gaze that stared at the camera. ¡°Wow¡­¡± They stared at the screen in awe. It was a performance that made them feel the beauty of it in their whole body. When the video ended, they understood why the K-pop sites were going crazy over it. The afterimages kept lingering in their eyes. The blond member who flew in while spinning, the redhead who acted with his expressions as he passed through the gaps between the members. And the handsome member who decorated the final dance, he dominated the stage. ¡°¡­¡± A brief silence followed, and the leader spoke. ¡°This is hard and tough, but listen. Should we try it once, even if it¡¯s a challenge? I wanted to try it as soon as I saw it.¡± ¡°Me too.¡± ¡°Let¡¯s do it even if it¡¯s hard.¡± They nodded their heads repeatedly, as if they were mesmerized by the monitor. It was a decision they would regret, but they forgot about any other songs when they saw this stage. Determined voices came out. ¡°Let¡¯s do this well. It must be rare.¡± ¡°Yeah.¡± ¡°This choreography, other teams wouldn¡¯t dare to do it, right?¡± Theyughed and praised themselves in harmony. And the next year. The dance team who arrived at thepetition hall with confident faces lost their words when they saw the countless Masquerades on the preliminary bracket. *** Woojoo woke up and it was noisy withst night¡¯s story. There were a lot of articles posted, and one of them was on the main page. -2014 MCA, New ck wins Rookie Award ¡®Thank you to the fans, let¡¯s be together forever¡¯ -New ck thanks for the Rookie Award ¡°Really grateful¡± Members rap withughter -New ck, a stage full of courage ¡°We are the Rookie of the Year¡± Woojoo didn¡¯t browse thements himself because the hatements increasedtely, but Assistant Manager Hong from the PR team sent him screenshots of the good reactions. Thements that made him feel good just by looking at them. But that was only for a moment, the waiting room was almost like a sleeping room. Jiho whispered next to Woojoo, ¡°They¡¯re all asleep.¡± ¡°Jiho.¡± ¡°Yes.¡± ¡°You don¡¯t need to say out loud what we all know.¡± The guy who was biting his lips ate the potato chips he bought from the snack bar. Crunch. ¡­Every time he did, Rihyuk opened his eyes. And every time, Jiho stopped like a frozen person. Crunch. He ate the potato chips again and Rihyuk opened his eyes. It felt like watching the movie When the Camellia Blooms. ¡°Haaah¡­¡± ¡°I¡¯m hanging in there. What else?¡± Woojoo answered with a smile and stretched his limbs. He couldn¡¯t afford to be damp. They would soon meet the Souffl¨¦s at the rehearsal, so he needed to warm up his body in advance. ¡°Oh my¡­¡± Woojoo looked at the youngest member who was carefully examining his face in the hand mirror. ¡°What are you doing?¡± ¡°I¡¯m checking my face a bit.¡± ¡°Oh, my little one¡­¡± Woojoo teased him with a warm smile. ¡°Did you finally catch the celebrity disease?¡± ¡°No, no. Celebrity disease.¡± Woojooughed as he saw him shaking his hand and denying it. While the other siblings were groaning and copsing, he was the only one who was energetic. The reason was this. He kept touching his cheeks whenever he went online yesterday. He was happy to see the reaction of ¡®Who is the redhead?¡¯ He was their youngest member who debuted on the stage for the first time. He seemed very excited. He looked like a puppy who went for a walk for the first time in a hundred years. He said no, but he acted very maturely on the way to PBS Music On today. He waved his hand here and there and shouted, ¡°Hello! I¡¯m Jiho!¡± ¡­and he also announced his name. Theyughed behind him and got scolded. Woojoo hoped there was someone who filmed him. He had to tease him with this for a long time. Woojoo smiled and coughed as he saw him ring at him with his axe eyes. Jiho gave his own exnation. ¡°I feel like we can win first ce today. So I¡¯m checking my appearance in advance.¡± ¡°Really?¡± ¡°Yes, I asked Junghyun Hyung for a fortune this morning. I asked him about the possibility of winning first ce today.¡± ¡°Did he say he had a good feeling? He said he felt like we would win first ce all week.¡± But they had been second ce all week. So they teased him that he was the Pele of the idol world. Jiho shook his head. ¡°No. He said he didn¡¯t know today.¡± ¡°Maybe he was just tired? You know how he sometimes says ¡®I don¡¯t know¡­¡¯ when you greet him when he¡¯s tired.¡± ¡°Huhut, that was too urate. No, that¡¯s not it. Wait a minute.¡± The youngest hit Junghyun with a selfie stick and asked him, ¡°Magical conch shell, can we win first ce today?¡± Junghyun, who was tossing and turning like a bear who woke up from hibernation, muttered an answer. ¡°¡­I don¡¯t know.¡± ¡°See?¡± ¡°True.¡± Woojoo said with a smile, ¡°I hope you¡¯re right and we can say something for first ce today.¡± "I''m hanging in there. What else can I do?" *** December 12th. The second week of December and their fourth week of music shows. Normally, they would go for five weeks, but the third week was usually when the music programs had their end-of-year specials without announcing the first ce. Christmas specials, year-end reviews, and so on. The next week was the end-of-year music festival and there was no broadcast. That was why this week was thest week of their music show activities. ¡°Hello!¡± PBS public hall. As they came out for rehearsal, they waved and smiled at the fans in the audience. They chatted with the Souffl¨¦s for a while as the previous singer performed on stage. They also thanked and greeted the other idol fans whoplimented them for being handsome. There were more eyes watching them than usual, maybe because of yesterday¡¯s stage. Whether it was during rehearsal or the actual stage, it seemed like more people were paying attention to their performance. Since this was theirst chance to be the first-ce candidate here, they gave it our all. Soon, it was time to announce the first-ce candidates and they all went up on stage. As it had been for the past three weeks, the names of ¡®New ck¡¯ and ¡®TNT¡¯ appeared on the screen. They stood there with familiar smiles and their brothers. -It¡¯s the live broadcast of Music On! in the second week of December 2014! Now, we only have the first ce announcement left. TNT and New ck, who will be the winner? -Let¡¯s reveal the scores. Yes, the digital music score¡­ Woojoo¡¯s head felt foggy, maybe because he was tired. Grandma would have said, ¡°Get a grip on yourself!¡± That was when he heard the voices flowing. The word New ck appeared on the screen inrge letters. -Yes, New ck! Congrattions! Oh. The announcement was made. As usual, Woojoo looked at the TNT members and tried to greet them. The members on that side smiled and mouthed the words. ¡®Congrattions.¡¯ Congrattions? Then, suddenly, a microphone and a trophy came crashing into him. -Please give us a word of your feelings! ¡­Why him? When Woojoo¡¯s head wasn¡¯t working properly, Bijoo and Junghyun shook his shoulders and spoke. The faces of the kids who had been nk until then were full of energy and happiness. ¡°Hyung! We¡¯re number one!¡± ¡°¡­Oh, really.¡± Woojoo woke up with a start. Oh my god. *** A Korean restaurant in Gunsan. ¡°Oh my! That¡¯s great! That¡¯s great!¡± Someone pped like a seal and shed a tear when they heard the news that New ck had won first ce. On the TV screen, a handsome someone looked bewildered. -¡­Oh, really. Kim Deoksoon, the olddy, clicked her tongue at the sight of her grandson, who waste to grasp the situation and flustered. ¡°Really. He always does that when I¡¯m about to be moved.¡± She sighed involuntarily. But soon, she smiled at the sight of her grandson expressing his feelings on the screen. ¡°He¡¯s still remarkable, though.¡± Chapter 154: Chapter 154: Trantor: MarcTempest Editor: Rxel Chapter 154 When Woojoo was young, he used to fast-forward or skip the scenes he didn¡¯t like when he watched videos. But now, he wished he could rewind. Just five seconds. ¡°Pfft¡­¡± He heard the members of Serenity, who were standing behind him, trying to stifle theirughter in real-time. The male and female MCs were covering their mouths with the cue cards, but Woojoo could see their smiling lips.Especially Han Taehyun, who wasughing his head off. Damn it. Even the camera directors, who were usually known for notughing at anything, were twitching their lips. How bad was it? Woojoo wanted to run off the stage right away, making a dragon roar, but he had to say his thoughts first. The things he had to say before the live broadcast ended. ¡°I was so shocked by this unbelievable event that I was speechless for a moment.¡± Woojoo tried to act natural, but no one in the audience believed him. He finished expressing his gratitude to the CEO, thepany staff, the family and fans who always supported them. As the staff roll was broadcasted on the TV screen, the intro of Masquerade yed from the amp. ¡°Congrattions!¡± They greeted the singers who bowed and left the stage. ¡°Congrats, Hyung.¡± ¡°Congrats, Woojoo.¡± The TNT members also hugged him lightly and went down the stage. While the audience was leaving, he grabbed the mic and did an encore stage. At first, he was so embarrassed that he avoided eye contact with the Souffl¨¦s who remained in the audience and sang while looking at his siblings, but Bijoo, who was singing next to him, winked at him as if to tell him to look at the audience. He turned his face to the audience with a sheepish expression and almost forgot his part of the song. It had been a long time since he saw someone so happy. *** They won first ce on a music show with their song. And that was only five months after their debut. The rted news appeared on the main page of the portal entertainment news, but Woojoo didn¡¯t have the courage to click on it. Especially the title of the popr clip on Music On, ¡®#Is_This_Real? An idol who is moved by his unbelievable first win¡¯. Woojoo lost all his motivation. In the car moving to the next schedule. ¡°Pwahahaha!¡± The siblingsughed and pped every time they saw something. ¡°Ah, I think I¡¯m going to cry.¡± Bijoo wiped away the tears that came out fromughing too much. ¡°It¡¯s so funny. Hyung, this¡­¡± ¡°I don¡¯t care. I¡¯m not going to watch it. I didn¡¯t ask.¡± ¡°¡­Hyung, are you crying?¡± ¡°No. I¡¯m not crying.¡± Woojoo leaned his head against the window and looked at the Yeouido scenery that was getting dark. Theyughed again at his appearance. Junghyun offered Woojoo a bear jelly. ¡°Do you want some, Hyung?¡± ¡°Give me a lot. I need sugar right now.¡± He picked out one jelly of each color and put them in his palm, then handed him the whole bag. He clenched his fist as if to cheer Woojoo up, and he stoppedughing. Jiho stuck his head out from the back seat. Woojoo thought he was going tofort him, but he opened his mouth like a carp. ¡°Can I have some jelly?¡± ¡°Eat them all. All of them.¡± Woojoo shoved six jellies into his mouth, but he just chewed them happily, and he felt a fire in his chest. Rihyuk giggled in the back. ¡°I have to remember this joke. Mister, do you know?¡± ¡°What?¡± ¡°The fans have already given you several nicknames. They say you have a first-ss license to make ck history. And¡­¡± ¡°Aaaaah!¡± Woojoo covered his ears and turned his head, but the white crane was chirping excitedly. ¡°Be quiet. You crane.¡± You dress like a crane too, Woojoo retorted, and the other siblings pped andughed loudly. The crane pped his wings threateningly at him with a fierce look, but Woojoo ignored him. After about three minutes, Woojoo uncovered his ears. Bijoo smiled kindly andforted Woojoo from the seat next to him. ¡°I sometimes think that.¡± He was the only one. ¡°Sometimes I wonder if God gave you so much talent, and in return, he gave you ck history¡­¡± ¡°Bijoo.¡± ¡°Yes?¡± ¡°Swear. Swear.¡± His siblings loved seeing him scream out the window. They were so excited about the fact that they won first ce on a music show for the first time. Actually, Woojoo felt the same way. Woojoo was in a better mood than usual and had pointless conversations and jokes with his siblings. The extreme fatigue was still there, but it disappeared for a while like bugs running away from the bright light. What moved them now was joy. How could he exin this? To someone, this trophy might be nothing more than a rock, but to them, it was more precious than anything. The first win. Woojoo didn¡¯t know how their remaining activities would go, but he thought he would never forget this first win. This feeling of having goosebumps on his spine while his eyes were blurry. Woojoo finally achieved the goal that he had dreamed of for six years as a trainee and eight years as a singer. The words ¡®MusicOn: New ck 2014.12.12¡¯ engraved on the translucent ss were dyed by the evening sunset. Every time Woojoo saw it, he felt a lump in his throat. Along with the satisfaction of getting what he wanted, the lump that had umted over time left his body. And new things filled that space. The first ce on a music show and the Rookie Award, Woojoo wanted to go beyond those and climb higher. Of course, their youngest was still excited and running around. ¡°Hyung, let¡¯s do a live broadcast with our fans.¡± ¡°Okay.¡± More than anything, Woojoo picked up the public phone to send a thank you message to the Souffl¨¦s who had suffered as much as they did. Thepany dly allowed them to do it today. They started the broadcast without notice, but the fans came in quickly. They all gathered together and waited for the chat window toe up with their hearts pounding. The firstment came up. -Congrattions on New ck¡¯s first win! They smiled brightly and shouted ¡®Wow!¡¯ and danced with their shoulders together. Then, the nextments came up. -I heard that New ck won first ce. Is that true? -Oh, it¡¯s true¡­? -They also won the Rookie Award? -Oh, it¡¯s true¡­?? Woojoo was stunned by thements that were swirling in a frenzy, while their siblings were making a fuss. They were barely holding on until then. -Is it true that Woojoo can¡¯t y games? -Oppa is a game noob When Woojoo expected ¡®Oh, it¡¯s true¡¯, a joke came in without blinking and he was seriously hurt. While he was holding the back of his neck, the reality and the chat window were filled with ¡®?????¡¯. *** ¡°Yes, this week¡¯s Live Music Camp, the winner is~ yes! New ck¡¯s Masquerade! Congrattions!¡± ¡°Who will be the number one singer of the second week of December? Let¡¯s reveal the scores! Yes! Digital score. Album score. Broadcast score, and SNS score and text voting. Congrattions! New ck!¡± As it often happens with misfortune, luck also came to them without any warning. They didn¡¯t just win their first music show in thest week, but they also swept the three major terrestrial channels and became triple crown winners. ¡°Congrattions!¡± As they smiled with dazed eyes, fireworks popped and confetti flew in front of them. A barbecue restaurant in Gangnam district. It was a dinner party that thepany prepared for them and the staff who won the first ce all weekend. Maybe it was because of the generous words of the CEO who told them to eat as much as they wanted today, or the relief that the music shows were finally over. The atmosphere of the dinner party was really hot. ¡°Woojoo! Say something!¡± The makeup artists banged their spoons and chopsticks and asked him to speak, while the managers, staff, and his brothers shouted ¡®Say something!¡¯ loudly. Meanwhile, the CEO and his wife brought trays of flower sirloin with happy faces. Woojoo stood up and the youngest handed him a spoon as if it was a microphone. ¡°Uh, thank you¡­ Hey, where did you learn this?¡± ¡°Dad showed me a video of hispany dinner. Dad and his coworkers were singing trot songs and pulling out tissues and throwing them in the air.¡± ¡°We can¡¯t do that.¡± Bijoo agreed with him and said ¡®Yeah, we can¡¯t¡¯. After thanking the staff, Woojoo exchanged some toast stories with them, and they decided among themselves without saying anything. ¡°Okay, let¡¯s toast together!¡± ¡°Really?¡± Some people eximed ¡®Really?¡¯ as if they were surprised, and Woojoo¡¯s back felt like a rubber band that was stretched. ¡°Hyung, let¡¯s toast too.¡± ¡°If we do the same toast as them, they won¡¯t leave us alone.¡± ¡°Then let¡¯s go with ¡®they won¡¯t leave us alone¡¯.¡± ¡°They won¡¯t leave us alone!¡± Damn. Woojooughed and clinked the ss filled with cider with the managers and his brothers. They had a schedule tomorrow, but everyone drank cider and ate meat for them who couldn¡¯t drink alcohol. While everyone was eating like crazy, Junghyun and Dowon took care of the meat. ¡°How is it? Did I grill it well?¡± ¡°Oh, awesome. Junghyun.¡± ¡°Hmm.¡± He smiled proudly with a face full of pride in grilling meat, and Woojoo kept giving him thumbs up. Meanwhile, Woojoo talked to Seokhwan Hyung about work. ¡°¡­Is that true?¡± ¡°Really?¡± ¡°Uh, yeah.¡± He answered while chewing on a wrap. ¡°They haven¡¯t decided on the program title yet¡­ but the singers have already signed the contracts. We also finished the talk about the appearance yesterday. It¡¯s good to have the title of the number one singer in the first year of debut.¡± ¡°Are you really going to be with Cha Woohyun Sunbae or Jo Yuri band?¡± ¡°Yeah, they said they¡¯re going to record around January 20th.¡± ¡°Wow¡­¡± Woojoo stopped eating and opened his mouth wide. The schedule that their manager brought was a musicpetition program on PBS that was going to be recorded in January. It was a project that they were working on internally. He said he would show Woojoo the n that the broadcasting station sent when there was no one in the office. ¡°And TBC hasn¡¯t given us a clear hint yet, but they might ask for a joint stage. A cover stage.¡± ¡°Where is our stage? Sangam? Or Ilsan?¡± ¡°Sangam.¡± ¡°¡­It¡¯s going to be cold.¡± ¡°But it¡¯s not Imjingak. We have to be grateful.¡± Woojoo nodded at Rihyuk¡¯s words. The TBC year-end music festival, which was held on December 31st, had two stages, and they were chosen to perform on the outdoor stage in front of the Sangam-dong headquarters. It must be really cold for the audience at night. Woojoo heard that they used to do live stages at Imjingak, where they rang the bell for the New Year, and he felt a lot of respect for the senior singers. Jiho, who was munching on a giant wrap that Junghyun made, asked, ¡°By the way, who are we doing the joint stage with?¡± ¡°It¡¯s not decided yet.¡± They didn¡¯t even tell them the exact details when it was only three weeks away. Woojoo was annoyed, but he let it go. It wasn¡¯t the first time that the broadcasting station did this. Well. It didn¡¯t matter which team they were with, as long as they did their best. ¡°Let¡¯s eat first, Hyung.¡± Junghyun put some meat on my rice and said, ¡°They say even Mount Geumgang is better after a meal.¡± ¡°That¡¯s a wise saying.¡± Wow, he didn¡¯t even mess up that idiom. Woojoo admired him as he put the beef in his mouth. He felt happy as he savored the oil, the aroma, and the juice. Then he saw it. He saw it on his smartphone¡­ The ¡®Korean Encyclopedia: Even Mount Geumgang is better after a meal¡¯. *** After a perfect weekend of winning the Rookie Award and three music shows, they went back to their schedule. The first schedule on Monday was the recording of HBS MTV¡¯s ¡®Idol Show¡¯. Idol Show. It seemed like a program that was made with the rival K¡¯s ¡®Show Show Show! Idol High School!¡¯ in mind. Just like Idol High, they invited one idol group and yed various games with them, while also getting some fun and talk out of them. It was a program that targeted the idol fans as the viewers. They were aiming for the broadcast in early January 2015, and New ck were the lucky ones to be the first guests. The PD who was in charge of ¡®It¡¯s the New ck¡¯ strongly rmended them to the outsourced production team. They felt the pressure of being the first guest, but also the determination to do well. ¡°But the script here is not that tight.¡± On the way to the studio, Rihyuk was flipping through the script in the car. ¡°It just has the MC¡¯s lines, and the rest is up to us, I guess.¡± ¡°Well, maybe they want some ad-libs from us.¡± Woojoo liked the fact that the format was flexible, but it was also burdensome. It was a format that required them to create the fun by ourselves. Bijoo, who was stretching his limbs in all directions, asked, ¡°By the way, how should we address them? Sunbae-nim? Teacher?¡± ¡°Sunbae-nim would be better.¡± ¡°Yeah, I think they wouldn¡¯t like it if we called them teacher.¡± The group name ¡®Trend¡¯ popped up on the portal search window. A 5-member mixed group that debuted in 1994. They were one of the first generation idol groups that dominated the 90s, and they are still considered as legends. The MCs for today were the oldest, Seri, and the youngest, Bukbuk. ¡°Bukbuk Sunbae-nim. Bukbuk Sunbae-nim.¡± They practiced among ourselves. It sounded weird and awkward. They We shouldn¡¯tugh, but for some reason, they couldn¡¯t help but smile, so they practiced with serious faces. Bukbukbukbukbukbuk. Bukbukbuk. The sound of ¡®bukbukbukbuk¡¯ echoed in the car until they entered the parking lot of the broadcasting station. ¡°Get used to it.¡± As they looked at the stunned expression of Mr. Dowon, who was watching them through the rearview mirror, Woojoo heard Minki Hyung, who was sitting in the passenger seat, speak. He sounded rather proud. ¡°That¡¯s our kids.¡± *** The idol show was produced by an outsidepany, so the studio was not located at the broadcasting station, but somewhere else. Woojoo knew that much, of course. The problem was. ¡°¡­What am I looking at right now?¡± ¡°Same here.¡± ¡°Let¡¯s try to name one thing we see in front of us.¡± ¡°A national g.¡± ¡°A slogan. The reliable staff of the people.¡± ¡°A sign for the detective team 4.¡± ¡°Steel bars.¡± ¡°My teeth reflected in the mirror.¡± They looked around with bewildered expressions. The cubicles and office supplies, the police logos on every wall. And even a detention center. This ce, which perfectly recreated the scene of a police station, was the studio where they were going to film today. ¡°Surprised?¡± ¡°No.¡± Yes, very. Mr. Ko, the PD who was in charge of the production of today¡¯s program, exined. ¡°Originally, the scheduled filming location was on the floor above, but it suddenly needed some construction work¡­ Well, there were someplicated circumstances, but I thought this ce would be fun too, so I decided to go ahead with it.¡± ¡°Oh. Is it a police station special?¡± ¡°Of course not. It¡¯s the first episode special.¡± ¡°¡­¡± Woojoo wasn¡¯t sure if it was their style of production, but both the director and the PD had a very unique vibe. The two MCs, who had arrived early and were fixing their makeup, also greeted them. ¡°Hi!¡± Seri smiled warmly and waved her hand with a greeting. She shook hands and greeted each of them, making them all smile awkwardly. The other MC, Bukbuk, arrived shortly after with a box of coffee in his hand. ¡°Nuna, here¡¯s the coffee.¡± ¡°Thank you. Our Bookie.¡± They looked at each other and smiled, even when the camera was off. They seemed to have a very good rtionship. When their eyes turned to them, New ck also greeted them. ¡°Hello, we are New ck!¡± He, who had kept his round and cute face even in his 30s, smiled at them. ¡°Hi, do you want some coffee? I didn¡¯t know your preferences, so I searched for some interviews and bought them.¡± ¡°Wow¡­¡± He was an angel. This person was an angel. Woojoo felt like wings were spreading behind him, and a halo was¡­ ¡°Watch out for the light!¡± It wasn¡¯t, but it was still dazzling. Their enthusiasm for the broadcast grew even more. After all the filming equipment was set up, the PD pped his hands and said, ¡°Okay, then let¡¯s start with the ritual before we shoot!¡± ¡°¡­Yes?¡± Immediately, a ritual table was set up with a pig¡¯s head photo on a tablet PC, along with some potato chips and snacks. ¡­In the middle of the police station set. When Woojoo was staring nkly, Junghyun whispered to him. ¡°Hyung, there¡¯s an electric shocker over there too.¡± ¡°¡­What?¡± Woojoo was startled and turned around, and saw a lie detector that was ced as a prop for filming. The one that gave you an electric shock when you lied after putting your hand on it. Fortunately, it wasn¡¯t an electric shocker. But¡­ ¡°Isn¡¯t this show a bit weird?¡± Rihyuk¡¯s whisper made them all nod. Chapter 155: Chapter 155: Trantor: MarcTempest Editor: Rxel It was a ceremony that people usually did when they bought a new car or started filming a movie. They would pray for no idents while driving the car or shooting the movie. Woojoo knew it was that kind of ceremony, but he never imagined that he would do it on an idol program. And it was being filmed by a camera. ¡°Hyung, how many times do I have to bow?¡± Bijoo whispered urgently, and Woojoo answered. ¡°¡­I think it¡¯s three times. Let¡¯s just follow the others.¡±¡°We can¡¯t do it twice. That¡¯s only for ancestral rites.¡± They all nodded at the lecture from the know-it-all. They casually copied what the other people were doing. Woojoo wondered why they had to do this too. ¡°Why are we doing this here?¡± Seri asked, and the PD adjusted his sses and answered. He sounded like it was obvious. ¡°Today, the fine dust is severe. So we decided to do it indoors.¡± ¡°Oh¡­¡± ¡°And just in case, we¡¯re also getting some footage for the early part of the show.¡± He was smiling like a weirdo, and his words ¡®just in case¡¯ bothered Woojoo. It sounded like ¡®in case we don¡¯t have enough content¡¯. They had to prevent that from happening. As Woojoo exchanged nces with his siblings and nodded, the staff attached microphones to their clothes. ¡°Ah.¡± Woojoo rubbed the back of his neck while doing the sound check. They had to pull off a great show no matter what. *** The managers and staff watched, and cameras ced everywhere started capturing them from different angles. Seri opened the recording with a card in her hand. ¡°Hello! Show Your Idol!¡± ¡°Idol Sho-ow!¡± They all responded to her chant with a ¡®Wow!¡¯ and pped. The background was a police station, but there were cameras everywhere, so it was a strange and funny atmosphere. Bukbuk looked at the camera and said, ¡°The first episode of the new year 2015, and the first guest of Idol Show, we wee the idol group.¡± ¡°Visual, vocal, dance. Wow, they really turned the music industry upside down in 2014~! The rookie idol New ck!¡± They bowed slightly as a greeting, and looked at the camera in front of them with their siblings. ¡°One, two. Hello, we are New ck!¡± ¡°Wow!¡± After giving their prepared New Year¡¯s greeting, they started a simple small talk with the MCs. ¡°As far as I know, this is the first time New ck has appeared on an idol introduction program, right?¡± ¡°Yes, that¡¯s right.¡± As Woojoo nodded with a regretful face, the youngest one excitedly brought up a story. ¡°It was my wish to appear on this kind of program. So I wished for it a few days ago, and it came true.¡± ¡°A few days?¡± Woojoo asked. ¡°We found out about the confirmation two weeks ago.¡± ¡°Wow, your wish came true!¡± He acted like he didn¡¯t hear Woojoo and made rabbit ears with his hands behind his back, turning left and right and poking his head out. The two MCs burst intoughter. Seri smiled and said, ¡°I was worried that we might be low on energy because it¡¯s a morning recording. I drove here with that concern, but you guys are really the tension we wanted.¡± ¡°We have to work harder, Seri.¡± Bukbuk asked with a bright smile, ¡°Shall we hear from the other members too?¡± ¡°I¡¯m so amazed and happy that the set is a police station.¡± Junghyun looked around and expressed his liking, and Bukbuk jokingly asked, ¡°Is this your first time at a police station?¡± ¡°No.¡± ¡°Uh¡­¡± ¡°Oh. I came here for a field trip when I was in elementary school. But I was too young to remember anything.¡± He asked ¡®Is this the same as the real thing?¡¯ and Bukbuk was momentarily stunned andughed. Seri tapped the member¡¯s back with her other hand and said, ¡°Oh dear. Our Bukbuk has a small dder, and you almost made him have an ident.¡± ¡°I guess I shouldn¡¯t make jokes that don¡¯t suit my personality. I thought we needed an editor from the start and my heart skipped a beat.¡± ¡°Isn¡¯t that the wrong word to use? Don¡¯t you mean heart attack?¡± ¡°Wow, did my heart stop?¡± They blinked as the two MCs, who didn¡¯t know the new ng words, chatted with each other. How should they react to this? As they were pondering their reaction, they locked eyes with the two MCs. ¡°¡­¡± A brief silence ensued, followed byughter. ¡°Hahaha!¡± They were amused by each other¡¯s expressions. They looked like old-fashioned sparrows who wanted to fit in with the modern birds and were struggling to find the right reaction. It was embarrassing but funny. Seri quickly fanned herself with the cue card. ¡°Gosh, how awkward. Did you see the faces of the New ck friends? My goodness. I thought they had be living fossils.¡± ¡°Uh, no. Sunbae-nim.¡± They waved their hands, but Bukbuk seemed determined to tease them and looked at the sky as he spoke. ¡°I¡¯m so sad, Seri. I feel like I¡¯ve turned into an ammonite.¡± ¡°Isn¡¯t that a Pokemon? Bukbuk. We¡¯re ammonites.¡± ¡°Oops¡­¡± They allughed again at his confused expression. He had a funny way of speaking, and Woojoo could see why he was a popr idol back then. Some people were just hrious even when they weren¡¯t trying. ¡°I¡¯ve been studying the new ng words to hang out with my friends these days¡­ but it¡¯s not easy.¡± ¡°No.¡± Woojoo interjected. He had to introduce their guy. ¡°We have a fossil among our members too. A friend who doesn¡¯t know the new ng words.¡± ¡°Really? Who is it? Raise your hand, please.¡± No one raised their hand. They looked at each other and then at Bijoo, who had a smile on his lips. Bijoo raised his hand with a sad face. It was an unnecessarily graceful gesture. ¡°Yes. It¡¯s me¡­¡± ¡°You don¡¯t know the new ng words?¡± ¡°It¡¯s not just the new ng words. He doesn¡¯t know anything! This guy, he doesn¡¯t know anything that¡¯s popr recently.¡± ¡°Even his batting style is the eagle style.¡± ¡°He also misunderstood the terms for dipping sauce and soy sauce.¡± The younger ones testified one after another, and Seri looked at them incredulously. ¡°Really? Even my four-year-old daughter knows those things.¡± ¡°No.¡± Bijoo denied. ¡°I¡¯m a trend person who follows thetest trends in my own way.¡± ¡°What does trend person mean?¡± Junghyun asked, and Bijoo paused for a moment. ¡°Doesn¡¯t it exist?¡± ¡°It doesn¡¯t.¡± ¡°Wait, that can¡¯t be right. I searched it for sure¡­¡± The two MCs chuckled at his expression and threw him a question as if to test him. Seri asked seriously, ¡°You writers did some research beforehand. The next one is the new word of the year selected by the National Institute of Korean Language. Green light.¡± ¡°¡­Green light?¡± He threw a guess and looked around. The faces of the two MCs lit up like green lights. Bukbuk asked with anticipation, ¡°Gold digger.¡± ¡°Uh¡­ wait a minute. I think I know that one. Someone who likes morning apples?¡± ¡°¡­?¡± Everyone who couldn¡¯t follow his train of thought turned their heads toward him. He squeezed out all his strength to figure out the meaning of the new word and said as if to excuse himself. ¡°My mom said morning apples are golden apples¡­¡± ¡°Pfft!¡± Everyone burst intoughter. Bukbuk smiled brightly and gestured. Seri moved aside politely and gestured. ¡°Come here, Bijoo. Don¡¯t stand there.¡± ¡°That¡¯s right. You should stand with us.¡± While they teased one person, Bijoo asked Woojoo what it meant and he told him. Woojoo told Bijoo with a proud face, but Rihyuk looked at Woojoo as if he was in the same boat. ¡°Wow. Time flies.¡± Bukbuk asked with a smile, ¡°Since we¡¯re on the topic, I¡¯m curious. Do you know who Trend are?¡± ¡°Yes, we do!¡± ¡°Of course we do.¡± They answered enthusiastically. They were people who couldn¡¯t be unknown to anyone who had even a little interest in the history of the music industry. Woojoo raised his hand. ¡°I know a lot, really.¡± ¡°Really? For real?¡± ¡°Yes. I joined TJ Entertainment because of you seniors.¡± ¡°Really?¡± The two MCs asked with a surprised expression. This part seemed to be something they knew from the pre-interview with the writers. Needless to say, what Woojoo just said was true. When he was young, he used to dance along to the songs of the first-generation idols in front of his parents. At that time, it was called Taejun Records, but the name of TJ Entertainment was vivid in his memory. They would hold the trophy and say ¡®Respectful Producer Park Taejun¡¯ every year-end. That was the reason he chose TJ Entertainment as his firstpany. ¡°Then, what was your favorite song of ours?¡± ¡°I loved the song from the fourth album. The one you wrote for your parents, ¡®Write a Letter¡¯.¡± ¡°Oh, that¡¯s a song that people don¡¯t know well.¡± ¡°And that¡­¡± Woojoo got excited and talked about this and that, and his childhood idols widened their eyes. At first, they looked surprised. But soon, they looked closely at his expression and smiled brightly among themselves. He didn¡¯t know what it was, but it was something they had experienced once. When Junghyun revealed that he was a fan for the first time, Heysion Sunbae-nim looked at him like that and smiled. Then Rihyuk said, ¡°Your face looks like a kid fan.¡± ¡°Hey.¡± Jiho patted Woojoo with a cooing face. ¡°Our Woojoo kid, are you excited to see your respected sunbae-nims?¡± ¡°¡­Jiho.¡± His siblings giggled and Woojoo had a shy face, when Seri said with a smile, ¡°Oh my. The baby fan grew up to be v. I¡¯m so happy. How about a handshake for a souvenir?¡± ¡°No, no!¡± Woojoo raised his hand for a moment to the ones who were approaching. ¡°Wait a minute.¡± ¡°Why?¡± ¡°My hands are sweaty.¡± Everyoneughed at his serious face rubbing his hands on the hem. *** After a while, the fan meeting with ulterior motives ended and the self-introduction corner began. ¡°Oh, there it is. The electric shocker.¡± ¡°Junghyun, it¡¯s a lie detector.¡± ¡°You were wrong too.¡± After they all burst intoughter, Seri put the lie detector on the mini table. The two MCs sat in front of the table, while the rest of them surrounded them on metal chairs as suspects. ¡°The rules are simple.¡± Bukbuk said, ¡°Each member has to put their hand on the electric¡­ oh, I mean, the lie detector and introduce themselves.¡± ¡°There is one opportunity for the members.¡± Woojoo listened to the exnation. ¡°Oh, what kind of opportunity?¡± ¡°If you don¡¯t like the member¡¯s introduction or have any questions, you can call their name and ask them a question.¡± ¡°Wow, it must be really painful to lie.¡± Seri nodded and said, ¡°Shall we show you a demonstration? Bukbuk.¡± ¡°Yes! Noona, what are you doing? Asking me to do it¡­?¡± While everyone wasughing, Bukbuk made a sad face and put his hand on the device. As his hand was wrapped with tape, Seri asked him. ¡°Please introduce yourself.¡± ¡°Yes, I¡¯m Bukbuk, who was the vocal of the group Trend. My old nickname was Cutie, but¡­¡± ¡°Seri! Bukbuk, do you still think you¡¯re cute?¡± ¡°No.¡± The button of the lie detector was pressed. And then. ¡°Ouch!¡± Someone jumped up andughter came from the production staff, but New ck, who would soon be the targets, just swallowed their saliva. ¡°Okay, then who among our New ck friends will go first?¡± The four heads turned at the same time. Woojoo bit his tongue. ¡°Of course, you only look for the leader at times like this.¡± ¡°Shall we start with Woojoo?¡± ¡°Yes, I¡¯ll show you a good example as the leader.¡± As soon as he stood in front of the lie detector, the younger ones raised their hands and shouted. ¡°Bijoo!¡± ¡°Jiho!¡± ¡°Rihyuk!¡± ¡°Hey, we haven¡¯t started yet.¡± ¡°Oh, we¡¯re just practicing.¡± Woojoo looked at Rihyuk¡¯s smiling face with annoyance. Woojoo looked at the camera and introduced himself. ¡°Hello. I¡¯m Woojoo. I¡¯m twenty-two years old this year. I¡¯m the leader and lead vocal of New ck¡­¡± ¡°Rihyuk!¡± ¡°What is it? Rihyuk?¡± Rihyuk asked, ¡°Who do you think sings the best in New ck?¡± ¡°No way. I took a psychological test a while ago, and it said my mental age was 35.¡± ¡°Pfft.¡± As Woojoo red at them, they all coughed and looked away. Woojoo quickly started the video letter. ¡°Nabi, eat your food in moderation. Grandma buys two bags of food every day because of you. And remember this.¡± Woojoo pointed his finger at the camera and said. He was d he could use the facial expressions he learned on stage for this asion. ¡°Kim Deoksoon is mine.¡± Woojoo repeated, ¡°Remember. Deoksoon is mine,¡± and they all turned over. The staff, as well as Minki Hyung and Dowon-ssi who were looking at their phones, smiled with their gums. ¡°Ugh¡­¡± Woojoo wrapped his head and banged it on the table. He felt ashamed. ¡­This would probably be added to the list of his dark history, but he didn¡¯t care at this point. He didn¡¯t know. It was none of his business what would happen to him in the future. When he was about to finish after introducing himself. Bijoo raised his hand urgently, as if he couldn¡¯t catch the timing because of the two youngest who were running wild. ¡°Bijoo! I didn¡¯t get to ask you something.¡± ¡°Yeah, you can ask Bijoo.¡± ¡°Can I ask you one thing that you think you did best this year?¡± ¡°¡­Is this a fan meeting all of a sudden?¡± ¡°I¡¯m really curious.¡± Woojoo didn¡¯t have to think. ¡°It¡¯s not this year, but I think I did really well by joining ourpany. From the President to our manager Hyungs.¡± The managers who were monitoring behind him looked at him. ¡°I met really nice people, and meeting our members was the best thing I ever did and the luckiest thing in the world.¡± ¡°Oh¡­¡± Seri lowered her head and said, ¡°Wow, but this would be a big deal if it wasn¡¯t your honest feeling. Isn¡¯t the President texting you?¡± ¡°It¡¯s okay.¡± ¡°Really?¡± ¡°Yes.¡± Woojoo answered. ¡°He¡¯ll see you in two weeks.¡± When theyughed, Bukbuk came over and pressed the button of the lie detector. A machine sound of beep-beep-beep rang, and a green ¡®ding¡¯ sign appeared. Truth. A sound of wow came from behind. Woojoo peeled off the tape of the lie detector and got up from his seat. When he turned his head to the siblings, he stoppedughing. They were making sad faces again, when they had beenughing happily until a moment ago. Woojoo looked at their wicked faces and said, ¡°It¡¯s no use being moved now.¡± ¡°Huh¡­¡± ¡°I¡¯m going to shock your hands today with determination.¡± ¡°You¡¯re serious, Woojoo-ssi.¡± ¡°Yes. I¡¯m going to be Edison for today and make their hands tingle.¡± The MCs liked Woojoo¡¯s determination and asked him who he would pick. ¡°Who should I choose? Guess. Genius¡­¡± When Junghyun was about to be chosen, Woojoo grabbed the shoulder of the white crane that he liked, who said he wasn¡¯t caught. ¡°What? Why me?¡± ¡°You¡¯re the genius.¡± ¡°¡­¡± ¡°Come on, stand up.¡± Woojoo sent Rihyuk to the lie detector and snorted. It was time for revenge. Chapter 156: Chapter 156: Trantor: MarcTempest Editor: Rxel Chapter 156 Woojoo felt his heart pounding and fluttering as he sat Rihyuk down in front of the electric¡­ no, the lie detector. Bukbuk looked at Woojoo and asked, You look so excited right now, Woojoo?¡± ¡°I¡¯m really looking forward to this. Rihyuk has the second highest share of ck history in our team.¡± ¡°Wow, second ce!¡± ¡°But he can¡¯tpare to the first ce.¡± ¡°¡­Jiho, please be quiet. Anyway, I¡¯m really curious about his ck history. I have so many questions to ask him.¡±Woojoo deliberately emphasized the ¡®so many¡¯ and his face turned pale as if he was a ghost. Woojoo approached him and asked teasingly, ¡°Are you nervous?¡± ¡°¡­¡± ¡°You should be. Rihyuk.¡± ¡°¡­¡± ¡°I¡¯ll give you a chance to repent now. Hurry up and confess your sins to me and beg for forgiveness. It¡¯s hell or heaven for you.¡± ¡°That¡¯s right. Hurry up and admit your mistakes.¡± ¡°Yeah, yeah.¡± The members all surrounded Rihyuk and pushed him. The two MCs also joined in with enthusiasm. Their main vocal, whose cheeks were flushed, looked like a betrayed person. ¡°What, I¡¯ve been doing so well all this time¡­! You can¡¯t do this to me!¡± ¡°Yes, we can.¡± ¡®Can we?¡¯ Woojoo turned his head to the siblings and they all nodded warmly. He tapped Rihyuk¡¯s hand, which was wrapped with duct tape. ¡°Now, it¡¯s time to decide. Rihyuk. Before the question corner, apologize to the members for your wrongdoings.¡± ¡°What, I didn¡¯t do anything wrong. Why should I apologize?¡± ¡°Are you sure?¡± At his question, Seri asked with curiosity, ¡°Does Rihyuk make a lot of mistakes and have to apologize?¡± ¡°Yes, he alwayses in with his shoes not shaken off. He drags me to the shoe rack and scolds me for not shaking them properly.¡± ¡°I have trouble opening my eyes in the morning. I identally used Rihyuk¡¯s toothbrush once and he was cranky all morning.¡± ¡°He eats too little.¡± ¡°¡­Don¡¯t you feel ashamed to say that?¡± Rihyuk looked at them with a dumbfounded face and Woojoo gave him a bright smile. ¡°No. We don¡¯t.¡± ¡°¡­Eek.¡± But Woojoo saw a sh of resentment in his sharp eyes. They were annoying for pushing him when he did nothing wrong, and he was frustrated that he couldn¡¯t get back at them right away. And in front of him, the electric shocker was smiling and waving his hand. Finally, Rihyuk made a decision. ¡°This is like the pragmatic diplomacy of King Gwanghae of the Joseon Dynasty. Just like he did a tug-of-war diplomacy between Ming and Qing without taking sides, this is a decision made from a pragmatic perspective.¡± Seri asked, ¡°Are you saying you¡¯re sorry?¡± ¡°¡­Yes.¡± ¡°Woohoo!¡± They raised their hands and cheered like the soldiers in a historical drama when the general said ¡®we won¡¯. Bijoo smiled happily and said, ¡°I love this atmosphere.¡± ¡°What¡¯s so good about it. Hyung.¡± ¡°It¡¯s so nice to have this kind of warm and friendly atmosphere.¡± Bijoo pretended not to hear and smiled warmly. Woojoo tapped Rihyuk¡¯s shoulder and smiled. He gave Woojoo a rude look that said ¡®take your hand off¡¯. ¡°¡­What, what is it now?¡± ¡°I appreciate your apology to us. But.¡± ¡°¡­¡± ¡°This is a work ce, after all. Don¡¯t you think we should separate work and y?¡± ¡°Ah! Really!¡± ¡°We¡¯ll do our best to burn your hand, Rihyuk. Shall we cheer up?¡± ¡°Yes!¡± ¡°One, two, fighting!¡± Soon, the MCs also joined them and they made a cheer with their hands together. Rihyuk looked at the production staff and said, ¡°What, even the MCs¡­ Isn¡¯t this unfair?¡± One camera briefly pointed at the PD. The PD winked and made an OK sign. Rihyuk lost his words for a moment. Seri continued the segment. ¡°Okay, then, Rihyuk! Please introduce yourself truthfully!¡± ¡°Uh¡­¡± ¡°You have to smile brightly. You¡¯re only looking at the camera now, but in two weeks, your fans will be watching you.¡± At Bukbuk¡¯s words, Rihyuk rubbed his cheeks. Woojoo thought he heard him grinding his teeth. ¡°Hello, viewers and fans. As you can see, I¡¯m the main vocal Rihyuk who always gets bullied. My family name is Seo from Dalseong. I¡¯ll be a senior in high school next year.¡± ¡°Wow, that was such an uninteresting introduction.¡± ¡°Jiho, don¡¯t make Rihyuk lose confidence.¡± ¡°Uh-huh¡­ I like singing and keeping things tidy.¡± ¡°Woojoo! Don¡¯t you think you¡¯re sugarcoating it? Be honest, don¡¯t you feel ecstatic when you see something messy and think of cleaning it up?¡± ¡°Not at all.¡± As Seri raised her hand over the button, Bukbuk said, ¡°Only the electric shock detector of truth knows the answer.¡± ¡°Oh. Is that the judge with a shocking personality?¡± ¡°A judge who gives you a jolt.¡± Bad jokes came from everywhere. Rihyuk answered again and the button was pressed. The judge revealed the truth right away. Yep. A lie. ¡°Ahhhh! Zap zap zap!¡± Woojoo felt a slight sting, but their sensitive guy had a different reaction. He danced like a broken cat with the electric shock detector on his hand and screamed in a soprano voice. His octave went up like an aria. Bijoo said. ¡°Ouch¡­ That must hurt. Are you okay, Rihyuk?¡± ¡°I¡¯ll get you all! Just wait!¡± Seeing his fierce eyes, Junghyun said. ¡°Oh, I¡¯ve seen a simr look in a historical drama.¡± ¡°What drama?¡± ¡°Jang Hee Bin.¡± Everyone burst intoughter. ¡°Oh, Hee Bin Seo, huh?¡± Anotherme joke came. Except for Bijoo who patted his back sympathetically, everyone else was teasing him. Rihyuk shivered for a moment. Then he continued his introduction. ¡°Yes, I like things to be clean. And I feel a little happy when I see something dirty and think of cleaning it up. Just a little bit. Like the leader over there who giggles when he sees the sea.¡± ¡°Aha. So the size of the sea, then.¡± ¡°It wouldn¡¯t even be a pond. Hyung.¡± This time it was Woojoo¡¯s turn. The MCs and the other younger onesughed and teased him. He had to suffer for a while. Rihyuk continued to introduce himself with a smirk. ¡°I have many nicknames, but unlike others, I like all the nicknames that the fans gave me.¡± ¡°That¡¯s because the fans hardly gave you any nicknames. They¡¯re all made by us.¡± ¡°Yes. That¡¯s correct.¡± ¡°Woojoo! Then I¡¯ll ask you a question. I actually feel kind of good when the members tease me because it feels like they¡¯re paying attention to me.¡± ¡°¡­Ah, why are you asking me that?¡± Seri asked them. ¡°Do you think Rihyuk likes it when you tease him?¡± ¡°Yes, he doesn¡¯t show it openly, but he secretly enjoys it. When we monitor at home, he gets upset if we don¡¯t react to his parts. He asks us with a cushion over his body like a turtle. ¡®Ahh. That part was really hard to sing¡­¡¯, ¡®Did I improve my dance?¡¯ and so on.¡± Jiho perfectly imitated someone¡¯s posture, making everyone p andugh out loud. Rihyuk seemed to lose his words for a moment as he watched andughed. Bukbuk asked Bijoo, ¡°Bijoo, you¡¯re just smiling silently right now. How do you feel? Does Rihyuk really like it when you tease him?¡± ¡°Uh¡­ Rihyuk? He¡¯s a bit lonely?¡± Rihyuk¡¯s eyes shotsers. Bijoo made a gap between his thumb and index finger, then narrowed it to a grain of rice under his gaze. ¡°Not very much. Just a little bit? He¡¯s a friend who likes attention.¡± ¡°Ah, why are you doing this to me, Hyung!¡± Bijoo avoided his eyes and scratched his cheek, and Woojoo patted his shoulder and said, ¡°As expected, our Bijoo is good at hitting thest shot.¡± ¡°Did I do well?¡± As they were caught up in the jokes, Rihyuk pointed to his hand and said, ¡°When can I take this off? I think I¡¯ve been doing this for fifteen minutes.¡± ¡°Ah, right. Then we forgot to proceed. Well, then, Rihyuk, why don¡¯t you answer the question just now?¡± ¡°¡­Well, it seems like thest question anyway.¡± ¡°Who says so?¡± There was a brief protest. But due to time constraints, they decided to end Rihyuk¡¯s question here. ¡°It might sound obvious, but.¡± Rihyuk said casually. ¡°I¡¯m prone to loneliness¡­¡± ¡°Ehehe!¡± As soon as he said the word ¡®obvious¡¯, they robotically started to tease him. Rihyuk looked annoyed and said, ¡°Hey, can¡¯t I say one thing without being interrupted?¡± ¡°Go ahead.¡± ¡°Anyway, I¡¯ll be honest here. It¡¯s true that I get lonely easily. But hey, isn¡¯t everyone lonely? As they say, there¡¯s loneliness in the crowd. Loneliness is always there, whether there are many people or not.¡± They all held their breath at his philosophical words. He was making another ck history. He was naturally making a remark that he would be ashamed and tormented by in five years. Unlike the two MCs who looked at him cutely, they had a light smile on the outside, but their hearts were not so light. They knew his situation roughly. Rihyuk¡¯s inner story, who had been living apart from his parents since he was a trainee. They didn¡¯t know the exact reason. Woojoo wasn¡¯t the type to ask unless it was serious. Rihyuk wasn¡¯t the type to go around telling stories that would hurt him either. But they didn¡¯t know that he was lonely. He would say ¡®leave me alone¡¯ as a habit, but his actions seemed to say ¡®please look at me¡¯. When he read a book next to Woojoo, he would nce at Woojoo and get excited when he asked ¡®what¡¯s the title of the book?¡¯. When he didn¡¯t eat, Bijoo would subtly grab his arm and bring him along, and he would pretend to say ¡®ah, I¡¯m not hungry¡¯ and eat happily. That was why he was curious about what Rihyuk had to say when he said he would be honest. Before they knew it, a ripe persimmon had settled in. ¡°I get lonely sometimes. But I¡¯m d to meet the members, just like our leader Woojoo said earlier.¡± ¡°So do you like it when we tease you or not? Which is it?¡± ¡°¡­¡± ¡°Yeah. Rihyuk.¡± Woojoo asked. ¡°Are you happy? Or not?¡± ¡°¡­How did I end up meeting these people and this¡­¡± ¡°Mr. Rihyuk, you have to answer.¡± ¡°Ah, yes. Sometimes. Very rarely, but when I¡¯m bored, they tease and it¡¯s fun¡­¡± Their heads tilted at the same time. Fun? Rihyuk repeated the word ¡®fun¡¯. ¡°It can be nice sometimes.¡± ¡°Guys! Rihyuk likes it!¡± ¡°He likes it!¡± ¡°Woojoo Hyung! We were right!¡± ¡°¡­What do you mean right? You cookie crumbs. Get out of here. Please.¡± As they ran around the room, hugging each other¡¯s shoulders, and one of them swept his hair back with a resigned smile. Bukbuk, who was pressing the lie detector button, tilted his head. Then he tapped the machine. ¡°¡­Huh? Why is it like this?¡± ¡°What is it?¡± ¡°Sister, this isn¡¯t working.¡± ¡°Really? Aren¡¯t you pressing it too softly? Move over. Buk-ah. You have to press it hard like this¡­¡± Seri came over and pressed the button, then blinked. ¡°It doesn¡¯t work.¡± ¡°What did you say?¡± Rihyuk¡¯s head snapped 90 degrees toward the two MCs, then another 90 degrees toward the front camera. The staff immediately came over and tapped the lie detector or checked the machine carefully. Like a mechanic looking at a precision machine, an old staff member who was changing the spare battery came to a conclusion. ¡°It¡¯s broken.¡± ¡°Hey! Is there no spare detector?¡± ¡°¡­They said no.¡± As the whole process was captured on camera, Rihyuk¡¯s face started to turn red with anger. He looked like he was about to explode. As white steam came out of his nose and ears like a furious bull, Bijooforted him from the side. Their second child asked cautiously, ¡°Um, then¡­¡± ¡°Let¡¯s just do this corner with Mr. Rihyuk. That would be funnier.¡± ¡°¡­¡± For a moment, it seemed like Rihyuk¡¯s soul left his mouth, and then his body slid off the chair like paper. Thud. The camera zoomed in on Rihyuk. ¡°Aaaah!¡± As Rihyuk screamed on the floor, the shooting set turned into a sea ofughter. Woojoo remembered a scene from a drama he had seen before. It was pouring rain, and the male protagonist, unable to calm his anger, got out of the car and pounded on the hood, shouting ¡°You trash!¡± at the sky. The setting was different, but the same scene was unfolding here. Everyoneughed at the loud scream that he uttered with such force, as if he had a good voice. The writers had brought something and handed it to the two MCs. Seri approached their kid, who was leaning on Bijoo¡¯s shoulder and making a face that said ¡°I¡¯m going crazy¡±, and gave him a prop. A wary, cat-like look shed in his eyes. ¡°¡­What is this?¡± ¡°It¡¯s a jeweled crown that the writers are giving you as a constion gift.¡± ¡°No, I¡¯m a senior in high school¡­¡± ¡°Try it on.¡± It was a fake stic crown that looked like it would be sold at a stationery store, but as soon as he put it on, Rihyuk became docile. They exchanged nces. ¡®He likes it.¡¯ ¡®He seems to like it, right?¡¯ ¡®He really likes it. Wearing a crown.¡¯ He must have yed princess games at the yground when he was young, because he liked wearing a crown. To think that he would be appeased by something like this. Everyone was happy, except for their youngest, who was secretly jealous and said ¡°That¡¯s mine¡± like a third-rate viin. In this mess, Seri brushed her hair back. She had a look of annoyance at the kids these days. ¡°I haven¡¯t been this exhausted since I raised our kid. Oh, I¡¯m out of sugar.¡± ¡°Seri, you really don¡¯t have the stamina you used to. Is it because you¡¯re getting older?¡± ¡°¡­No. It¡¯s because I¡¯m not in good condition these days. Bukbuk, you can¡¯t put me and you on the same level.¡± ¡°I¡¯ve been betrayed for 20 years.¡± Seri and Bukbuk, who had been chatting with each other, then gave the other three members time to introduce themselves. It was brief and they moved on to the next corner. They sat in the detective¡¯s seat at the police station table and spoke to New ck, who were sitting in the suspect¡¯s seat. ¡°Now we¡¯re going to go deeper. It wouldn¡¯t be fun if we just did it, right?¡± ¡°Yes, we have profiles of all of you here.¡± Bukbuk showed us a file and said, ¡°We¡¯re going to call out each of your crimes. You just have to show us your skills that match them.¡± In other words, it was a talent show. It was time for them to show off their talents. ¡°The production staff will vote on the spot to determine the ranking. And there¡¯s a penalty for thest ce.¡± ¡°Come on, show us.¡± A staff member brought a hot tteokbokki set. The logo was not hidden, so it was a sponsorship. But it definitely looked like a sponsorship, if you knew what he meant. ¡°Wow¡­!¡± The staff brought it closer and waved his hand to make them smell it, as if to say, smell it. The sweet smell of tteokbokki tickled their noses. ¡°We heard from the managers that you¡¯re hungry, right? You all came without eating breakfast.¡± ¡°Yes. We have to be empty to record well.¡± Seri smiled as if she agreed with Woojoo¡¯s answer. Then she told them the punishment. ¡°As you might have guessed¡­ thest ce can¡¯t eat tteokbokki!¡± ¡°That, that¡¯s a punishment¡­¡± ¡°Do you see over there?¡± She pointed to the iron bars with a progress card. ¡°You¡¯ll be locked up in the detention center and only watch the other members eat.¡± ¡°Ugh¡­¡± ¡°By the way, that¡¯s really locked. I tried it earlier.¡± ¡°Wow¡­¡± Seri and Bukbukughed at their reactions, which were like reaction kings. As they looked at the tteokbokki and lit their will, Woojoo was called as the first yer. Before that, a mini keyboard was set up. ¡°It says here that Woojoo¡¯s crime is ¡®being able to make a song out of any topic¡¯. What is this?¡± ¡°I¡¯m in charge ofposing among the members.¡± Woojoo answered. ¡°In that sense, how about I make a logo song for you?¡± It was agreed upon in the broadcast content, but as soon as he said he would make a logo song for them, the staff members raised their hands shyly even before the voting started. When the two MCsughed and made content for the show, the members of New ck smiled warmly as they watched their leader sit in front of the mini keyboard and volunteer to make a logo song. It was because of the serious look in his eyes, which was different from usual. ¡®You must have really wanted to eat a lot of tteokbokki, Woojoo Hyung.¡¯ ¡®Tteokbokki, huh.¡¯ ¡®I see something sparkling in your eyes.¡¯ But on the other hand, they were also looking forward to the oue that woulde out soon. They were curious to see what he would show in a new field of logo song, since he always made music rted to idols. They wondered what woulde out in many ways. ¡°How are you going to make a logo song?¡± ¡°Well, first I¡¯m going to express the impression I got from the two MCs in a melody, and then I¡¯m going to make it into a logo song.¡± ¡°Wow, I¡¯m excited.¡± As he said that, Woojoo paused for a moment and thought about something. The PD who was watching them on the monitor screen whispered to the assistant director and asked, ¡°Who were our guests for the second episode?¡± ¡°It was Daydream.¡± ¡°Let¡¯s proceed with the recording as nned. And let¡¯s move them to the third episode with ease.¡± ¡°What?¡± The PD¡¯s eyes stayed in the center of the studio. Woojoo, who was immersed in his thoughts, was captured on camera like a picture. The PD asked the assistant director, who was sending him a puzzled look, ¡°We haven¡¯t even recorded half of it yet. Do you think they can do it in one episode?¡± ¡°¡­Hmm. If we count the corners we prepared for the back, it¡¯s definitely impossible with one episode.¡± ¡°Right.¡± ¡°If they keep doing this much, we¡¯ll have to squeeze it into two episodes. The foreshadowing is pouring out like dog food¡­¡± ¡°We¡¯ll have to see how it goes in the back, but it¡¯s too much to send out just one episode.¡± Seo Minki, the road manager who was watching the two directors whispering to each other from behind, smiled. Then he proudly said to Seok Dowon as if to make him listen, ¡°See? That¡¯s our kids.¡± ¡°¡­Oh, yes.¡± But what the new manager saw right now was the youngest sticking his tongue out at the focused leader and making a bebebebe sound, then getting a smack on the head. Chapter 157: Chapter 157: Trantor: MarcTempest Editor: Rxel Chapter 157 Seri and Bukbuk looked at the handsome man in front of them. He was thinking about something. His already deep eyes looked even deeper as his beautiful fingers tapped the table rhythmically. ¡®What is he thinking?¡¯ It was their first broadcast in almost a few years. As the first guest of the show, they had researched New ck thoroughly, apart from the materials they received from the writers.They first asked the managers and staff, who were the core of the rumorwork. -What about New ck? Soon, various rumors came to them. -They are very nice. Sister. They said they are all nice. -They are famous for their good personalities. The rumor spread and there were a lot of applicants for the staff recruitment this time. -I¡¯ve seen them in person¡­ They are nice, but they don¡¯t seem easy. They were rehearsing on stage and they caught minor errors like ghosts and reported them to their staff. They agreed with the positive reviews that they were nice and professional. There was a difference in tension, but the members looked good in front of and behind the camera. And they did their best to get the content out. They might have been blinded by the admiration of the junior singers who sparkled their eyes. But the rumorwork¡¯s evaluation was urate. But there was a strange rumor among them. ¡®There¡¯s a geniusposer there.¡¯ It was a story that there was a member who made songs at the speed of pulling noodles from a Chinese restaurant. At first, they thought it was a weird story, but as soon as they searched, the evidence came out like pouring. The Night Seaposition uploaded by thepany, the piano skills shown at the Music Cafe, the unusualposition method and the loop stationposition that appeared in the reality. It was unbelievable. ¡­Did all those songse out like that? Of course, if they just made songs, there would be many more people who could make them faster. But it was rare that all those songs were of outstanding quality. Was it really true? As the two MCs looked at him with curiosity, Woojoo parted his lips as if he had sorted out his thoughts. ¡°Usually, a logo song is to promote apany or a product. So I¡¯m going to make the two MCs of the idol show the subject.¡± ¡°Oh, us?¡± ¡°Yes. To be exact, based on the impression I got from your voices. Of course, I¡¯ll use familiar codes to proceed¡­¡± As everyone¡¯s attention was focused, Woojoo put his fingers on the keyboard. ¡°First of all, Seri Sunbae-nim¡¯s voice is low and elegant.¡± ¡°Hmm¡­¡± She covered her face with the progress card to hide her rising smile. Meanwhile, Woojoo¡¯s fingers moved. It was a melody that stuck to the ears. It was a simplebination of sounds from the mini keyboard, but strangely, it sounded softly and faintly. But he tilted his head. ¡°Wait a minute. This is not it¡­¡± He moved his fingers a few times and started to make simr melodies. He finally found what he liked and smiled with satisfaction. They all looked puzzled. ¡®What¡¯s the difference?¡¯ It looked the same, but it seemed to sound different to his sensitive ears. ¡°Bukbuk Sunbae-nim¡¯s voice is fresh and popping. So like this¡­¡± He repeated it a few times and found the melody he wanted and yed it lightly. ¡®Oh¡­¡¯ Bukbuk looked at him with amazed eyes. He didn¡¯t know what was what, but the melody he just made suited him like a dress. ¡°Yes, you just have to mix these two.¡± Unlike before, when only his right hand moved, this time both hands moved. Soon, the two melodies mixed and the performance began. In the middle, there was a drum sound like Woojoo¡¯s footsteps. It was a fresh logo song. It was a short 30-second song that weed the neers as if to say hello. But what the two MCs admired was the harmony of the melodies. Why did he bother with this and that when he had a good one? He must havebined them in his head. ¡°Ah¡­¡± The two MCs looked at each other with a flustered face. It worked? Did it work? They were dumbfounded. They had been active in the entertainment industry for over 20 years since they entered the music scene. They could tell at a nce whether one was acting or being genuine. He really could produce good songs on the spot. The logo song he had just created was of high quality, and it would beplete with a little more touch. ¡°¡­How do you like it? Are you satisfied?¡± ¡°Did you really make this right now? This?¡± ¡°Yes. If you want, I can show you something else with a different theme¡­ If you don¡¯t like it.¡± They shook their heads at the same time. ¡°We like it. Really.¡± ¡°PD-nim! Hurry up and negotiate with New ck¡¯s manager! The logo song, this is amazing. Let¡¯s use this!¡± It was not just to their liking, but to their perfection. Soon, Seri joked. ¡°Woojoo-ssi, let¡¯s open aposing studio together.¡± ¡°Shall we? I was just thinking of getting away from these ungrateful friends.¡± As Woojoo yfully reached for Seri¡¯s hand, someone stepped in and grabbed his arm, lifting it up with a snap. ¡°No way! He¡¯s our private property.¡± ¡°Private property? ¡­Bijoo?¡± With an incredulous expression on his face, the members who had been teasing their leader all the time surrounded him. Jiho grabbed his shoulder. ¡°Don¡¯t go. Hyung is our golden eggying ve.¡± ¡°Hey.¡± ¡°That¡¯s right. He¡¯s a Dobby forposing.¡± ¡°¡­Junghyun-ah.¡± As the chaos ensued, the leader who was suffering got up from his seat, and Rihyuk quickly took off his crown. ¡°Where are you going? I¡¯ll put the crown on you.¡± ¡°¡­Put it on. Then.¡± The MCsughed at the sight of the leader who was happy with the crown on his head. It was funny, but it was also a joy to have gotten good footage. Suddenly, his younger brothers were nice to him. ¡°Rihyuk.¡± ¡°¡­Yes, Hyung.¡± ¡°Did you just say Hyung?¡± ¡°My pronunciation was a bit muffled. Hyung-nim.¡± ¡°Really. How nice would it be if you always called me Hyung-nim like this? What¡¯s with the uncle?¡± He protested with a red face. ¡°It¡¯s temporary, so don¡¯t get too excited. As I said earlier, it¡¯s a tribute to Gwanghaegun¡­¡± ¡°Rihyuk-ssi. Gwanghaegun fell from power due to a fake rebellion. The one wearing the crown right now is me.¡± ¡°Wasn¡¯t the Byeongjahoran during Injo¡¯s reign?¡± ¡°¡­Shall we move on to the next order?¡± Woojoo smiled naturally and moved on. Woojoo was going to move on to Bijoo¡¯s corner, but the situation changed when Jiho opened his lips. ¡°Wow, you make songs for the sunbae-nims like this, but you never made one for us based on our themes.¡± As the others agreed with him, his head went nk. These guys¡­? The two MCs asked Woojoo, seeing the disbelief on his face. ¡°What¡¯s wrong, Woojoo?¡± ¡°It¡¯s absurd that they say there¡¯s no song made with them as the theme.¡± ¡°¡­Absurd?¡± ¡°Yes. I already made one.¡± ¡°¡­?¡± His fingers swiftly yed the keyboard. ¡°Listen. This is Jiho.¡± As Woojoo showed them the melody that went from the youngest to the second youngest, the younger ones blinked. Then they soon made an ¡®ah¡­¡¯ expression. Woojoo said with a tongue click, ¡°It¡¯s Fireworks.¡± ¡°Fireworks? The title of New ck¡¯s album¡­ right?¡± ¡°Yes. There¡¯s already a melody made with the younger ones as the theme, but they don¡¯t know andin to me.¡± ¡°Uh¡­¡± ¡°And Masquerade.¡± Woojoo pressed a specific part repeatedly, emphasizing it as if he was hitting the enter key with anger. ¡°This is Jiho. Jiho.¡± ¡°Uh-huh.¡± ¡°¡­¡± After a brief silence, countless apologies followed. The two MCs said in amazement, ¡°So your songs were all like this?¡± ¡°Yes.¡± ¡°Wow¡­ this is really amazing. If this goes on air, Fireworks will go up the chart, right?¡± ¡°I can only imagine how nice that would be.¡± Woojoo sped his hands and smiled at the camera. ¡°Dear viewers. If you have time, please listen to Fireworks. We¡¯re getting a lot of attention with Masquerade, but Fireworks is also a really good song.¡± ¡°Yeah. Our songs are really pretty.¡± ¡°Why don¡¯t we sing a bit since we¡¯re talking about it? Everyone together~¡± Woojoo winked at them to harmonize, and the younger ones understood and sang the chorus in acape. They even made a giant heart behind him. ¡°Wow, this is fantastic teamwork.¡± Seri sent Woojoo a look of admiration as she watched him promote their first album in an instant. Then, Bukbuk asked, ¡°Since we¡¯re here, can we hear more of Woojoo¡¯s improvisation? For example, making a song with a member as the theme.¡± ¡°Shall we try?¡± Of course it was possible. Woojoo wondered who to choose, and soon his eyesnded on the youngest. He had a good idea. ¡°Can I do two?¡± ¡°Yes. That¡¯s possible.¡± ¡°Bijoo and Jiho, our kids,e here.¡± They tilted their heads and went to his side. Woojoo thought for a moment, and quickly came up with a short melody. Everyone pped andughed. ¡°Jiho. Jiho.¡± ¡°It¡¯s Jiho.¡± It was a melody that felt like a puppy who was about to cause trouble was running around. Jiho said, ¡°No, I¡¯m cool,¡± but no one listened to him. Then Woojooid a gentle melody. ¡°Ooh. This is Bijoo.¡± When the melody alternated, Jiho seemed to realize that something was going wrong. It was like a melody where a puppy breaks a flower pot while running around, and then the owner appears with a broom. Woojoo smiled and said, ¡°Only Bijoo has to sing.¡± ¡°¡­Me?¡± ¡°Yes, you have a lot of things you wanted to say, right? Use this opportunity to say what you want to the youngest.¡± Bijoo nodded willingly. ¡°I¡¯ll give it a try.¡± ¡°I think I know what you guys are up to¡­ Oh, I give up! I¡¯ll quit right now!¡± ¡°Okay. Let¡¯s start.¡± As soon as he said that, a faint voice came out of Bijoo¡¯s lips. Jiho, Jiho I have something to say to you It was only one line, but everyone burst intoughter. Close your bag when you go to school Wear your bag on both shoulders They said on the news It¡¯s bad for your back, you¡¯re in your growth spurt Woojoo yed the same part again like a karaoke song, and everyone sang along with the chorus, ¡®You¡¯re in your growth spurt!¡¯ Everyoneughed as they looked at the youngest who was out of his mind. The snacks that crumble Eat them sitting down Brush your teeth after you eat Let¡¯s promise ¡®Promise!¡¯ They all shouted the song together. And soon the song was over. Not only Woojoo who was listening, but also Bijoo was so amused that he couldn¡¯t continue the song. ¡°My¡­ my school life is over¡­¡± As their actory on the floor with a detached face, Rihyuk smiled and said to him, ¡°You know, that¡¯s bad for your back.¡± Immediately, everyone said ¡®You¡¯re in your growth spurt!¡¯ and the youngest screamed. Afterposing, the talent show of the younger ones began. As he imed, Bijoo could dance to any song, even to nursery rhymes and pansori. Bukbuk was surprised and asked, ¡°¡­The dance you did to the pansori was amazing. Did you practice a lot?¡± ¡°Yes. Woojoo Hyung watches YouTube videos and learns various things when he has time. I also follow his self-improvement and try to learn different dances whenever I have time.¡± ¡°Really, Woojoo?¡± ¡°Yes¡­ Haha.¡± Heughed awkwardly. But behind him, he was sweating. ¡­What the hell. This kid. Woojoo was already struggling to catch up with him, but he had learned various dances and upgraded to Bijoo 2.0. It wasn¡¯t like a Windows update. He looked at Woojoo with a misunderstanding and said, ¡®I¡¯m working hard too!¡¯ Woojoo pped his cheek. Then, other talents followed. ¡°I can hit high notes very well.¡± Everyone was impressed by their main vocal who could hit high notes that rivaled those of female singers. ¡°I tend to forget other things, but I have a great memory for things I like. Especially scripts.¡± Everyone was amazed by his ability to recite the script that the production team showed him. Seriughed and said, ¡°You guys should go on a master show instead of being idols.¡± ¡°People would flock like clouds if you just did a talent show.¡± It was tempting. Should they have formed a New ck art troupe instead of New ck? But there was someone who confidently took the first ce among these talents. ¡°I¡¯m really good at speaking fast.¡± ¡°That¡¯s right.¡± They all testified for him. ¡°Our kid may not have a good memory, but he doesn¡¯t make mistakes and speaks fast. He¡¯s the best in the world.¡± ¡°The announcer of the rap world.¡± They gave him a tongue twister to verify. As soon as he did, his low voice read ¡®soy sauce factory owner¡¯ and others quickly and urately. As the difficulty increased, they all said ¡®wow¡¯ and at the final stage, they opened their eyes wide. ¡°Coming from Switzend, in the forest where the birds whisper, he searched for a stag and ate it and in the forest¡­¡± Hepleted the sentence that was over 10 paragraphs long on the smartphone screen in a sh. Everyone pped spontaneously. There was no need to vote for who was the first ce. He had solid support. On the other hand, after the talent show, they all ate the sponsored tteokbokki with happy faces. They were supposed to vote for thest ce, but the recording time was extended and they were exhausted from giving their all to the show. Jiho gave Woojoo tteokbokki with a bright face. ¡°Hyung, have some.¡± ¡°Wow. Our cute youngest. You¡¯re in your growth spurt, but you¡¯re still considerate of your Hyung?¡± ¡°¡­I¡¯m never giving it to you.¡± As the others covered their mouths andughed, the tteokbokki that was almost in Woojoo¡¯s mouth went back to his. Then he stabbed the tteokbokki with a skewer as if to vent his anger, and Woojoo swallowed hisughter as he watched the youngest. It was a fun recording for a change. ¡°Did you all enjoy your meal?¡± ¡°Yes!¡± Seri and Bukbuk held back theirughter at their warm smiles, which had regained their energy from the tteokbokki. Then they read the progress card. ¡°Now the end of the show is approaching. It would be a shame to leave like this, right? We have to promote your new song too.¡± ¡°Yes, that¡¯s right.¡± ¡°In that sense, the production team prepared a small game for us.¡± As they narrowed their eyes, the production team immediately handed them a strange machine. There were various snacks in the basket, but most of them were hard. The kind of snacks that broke with a snap. They immediately guessed what the next game was. ¡°This is a machine that measures decibels.¡± ¡°Ugh¡­¡± ¡°As long as all the members eat one snack each, regardless of the type, you seed. You have three chances. If you exceed 70 decibels, you fail.¡± ¡°It¡¯s better to see it once than to exin it a hundred times. Shall we do a rehearsal?¡± They sat around the floor with a mat and put the snack basket in front of them and held their breath. Woojoo whispered with all his strength. ¡®One by one- we- the sound- more- I-¡¯ ¡®Should we- choose a snack-?¡¯ The siblings nodded. Seri said with a smile, ¡°We haven¡¯t started yet.¡± ¡°¡­¡± They started the rehearsal for real. As the decibel meter was in front of them, they cautiously reached for the basket. Crinkle- As soon as they took out the snack bag, the meter went up to over 40. Crack- They did our best to carefully peel off the stic adhesive part of the snack bag. 60 decibels. The two MCs who were watching them from the side held back theirughter at the sight of them trying to open the snack bag with all their might. Now, as they were all ready to eat the snacks, they looked at each other with determined faces. Junghyun whispered something like a magic spell. ¡®A. S. M. R.¡¯ We all let out the breath we had been holding. ¡°Pfft-!¡± ¡°Hey! How can youugh here? We have to win.¡± ¡°I¡¯m sorry. I wanted to try that whispering thing on YouTube.¡± ¡°Cough! Cough!¡± Woojoo patted the back of Rihyuk, who was coughing with a red face for a while, wondering if he had choked. It didn¡¯t seem like a very difficult game, but¡­ Somehow, a bad feeling started to creep up on him. Could they seed in this game? Chapter 158: Chapter 158: The rules were simple. Pick up a snack bag, open the packaging, and if you could eat without exceeding 70 decibels, you seeded. That was the n. Woojoo envisioned promoting their new song and returning to the dorm with his brothers in high spirits after that. But as the practice game began, such thoughts vanished. Was it because Junghyun¡¯s ¡®ASMR¡¯ echoed in his ears like a spell? Just looking at each other¡¯s faces made themugh. ¡°Pfft-!¡± There were times like that.When you were determined not tough, strangely, everything you saw afterward made youugh. Woojoo held back hisughter at the sight of the youngest¡¯s twitching nose. Hold it in. Just hold it in tight. But despite his resolve, he couldn¡¯t help butugh at Rihyuk wrestling with a snack bag. Rihyuk was gripping the edges with his fingers. Thump, thump, thump. As sweat trickled down his face and his hands trembled, they all held their breath, watching the decibel meter. Snap! The bag burst open, scattering crumbs everywhere. ¡°¡­¡± Rihyuk¡¯s face was covered in crumbs, and they burst intoughter at his appearance, like he¡¯d set off a flour bomb. ¡°Pfft!¡± ¡°Ah¡­ seriously, don¡¯tugh! It¡¯s embarrassing!¡± ¡°Ha ha ha!¡± Every time they yed the practice game, someone inevitablyughed. The two MCsmented like sports announcers. ¡°Ah, this isn¡¯t easy.¡± ¡°They¡¯re about to burst intoughter at the sight of a passing flower. Can New ck really seed like this¡­?¡± ¡°We never expected such difficulties from the practice game.¡± ¡°It¡¯s a pity. If they seed in the game, New ck can promote their new song.¡± ¡­Why are youughing while saying it¡¯s a pity, sunbae-nims? They sighed among ourselves. ¡°Let¡¯s do this right. We have to promote our new song.¡± ¡°You¡¯re the problem. You!¡± Rihyuk said, his face red with frustration. ¡°I keepughing because you¡¯ve been breathing heavily next to me.¡± ¡°Rihyuk. That¡¯s your fault. No matter how I breathe, you have to hold back yourughter. Promoting our new song is important. You need perseverance.¡± ¡°Hm?¡± Junghyun tilted his head and asked, ¡°Hyung, didn¡¯t you justugh at Bijoo?¡± ¡°¡­¡± Woojoo couldn¡¯t help it. How could he notugh when Bijoo seriously bit into a snack, clenching his fists as if saying, ¡®You must melt it in your mouth!¡¯? Bijoo, brushing off the crumbs from his mouth, asked, ¡°Hyung, did youugh at me?¡± ¡°I guess I just can¡¯t help butugh when I see you.¡± ¡°¡­Really?¡± Seeing his bright smile made Woojoo feel guilty, but he couldn¡¯t tell him, ¡®You were just too funny a moment ago.¡¯ Woojoo coughed to change the subject. ¡°Now¡¯s not the time to argue about who¡¯s responsible.¡± ¡°Right.¡± The youngest and Woojoo, who hadughed the most during the practice game, said that, and the other members half-opened their eyes. Woojoo said, ¡°Now it¡¯s the real game, and it¡¯s important to stay quiet. Let¡¯s all work together to earn the promotion for our new song.¡± ¡°Right. Let¡¯s give it our all.¡± Bijoo reached out his hand, and they all cheered together. While they were strategizing, the two MCs perked up their ears andughed among themselves, finding them cute. ¡°Oh my, they¡¯re adorable.¡± ¡°They remind me of us at that age, Noona.¡± ¡°Right? We were quite cute.¡± ¡°¡­?¡± Then their eyes met again. Just like the first time, they burst intoughter, like startled pheasants and sparrows in season 2. The pheasants with the cue cards fanned themselves and said, ¡°Hem hem, if the strategy meeting is over, let¡¯s move on to the main game!¡± ¡°Yes. That¡¯s right. The practice games so far were just child¡¯s y.¡± Wait a minute. ¡­What else was there? The production team immediately offered a basket of props. Looking at the old-fashioned sses and historical drama beards, they asked with bewildered faces, ¡°What¡¯s this?¡± ¡°Ah. It seemed too easy, so we prepared these props in advance. It¡¯d be a waste not to use them, so we decided to go ahead.¡± ¡°Really?¡± Their practice game was already challenging enough. ¡°But aspensation, we¡¯ll give you more chances. We¡¯ll increase your attempts from three to five, and you can choose any prop you like.¡± After some thought, they epted. They quickly picked out props from the basket. Woojoo grabbed Junghyun¡¯s hand as he reached for a Santa beard. ¡°Junghyun.¡± ¡°¡­Yes?¡± ¡°If you wear that, I¡¯ll dieughing.¡± ¡°Hmm. How about this one?¡± ¡°Pfft-!¡± Woojoo burst intoughter at the sight of Junghyun trying on the historical beard. It just didn¡¯t suit him. In the end, he chose the cutest one for him. ¡°Junghyun. How about this? It suits you.¡± ¡°Really?¡± ¡°Yeah! Wow, our Junghyun looks so good with goblin horns. It¡¯s like a gobline to life. Right, Jiho?¡± ¡°Exactly. Like a handsome corn chip.¡± Junghyun, with goblin horns shaped like a corn chip on his head, fiddled with the chin strap, pleased. Okay. That was one down. The youngest looked at Woojoo with a headband on. ¡°How do I look, Hyung? Like Rudolph?¡± ¡°You look like you¡¯d pull a sleigh well. Even the horns are as cool as velvet antlers.¡± ¡°Wow.¡± The youngest, wearing a reindeer antler headband, danced a cheerful shoulder dance. Watching him, Woojoo reached into the basket too. ¡°Then I¡¯ll take this¡­¡± The kids flinched. ¡°This seems okay¡­¡± Shake of the head. ¡°No?¡± Nod of the head. Woojoo aimed for a pink rabbit hat, but every time he reached for it, the younger ones made a ¡®maybe not¡¯ face. Eventually, Woojoo gave up and chose a beauty mark instead. Like the protagonist of a drama that Mrs. Kim Deoksoon enjoyed, he stuck a dot under his eye. Bijoo, wearing scuba goggles, pped his hands in approval. Soon, Rihyuk also put on a devil horn headband, and they looked at each other with determined faces. After staring at each other for three seconds with firm resolve. ¡°Pfft-!¡± ¡­Even though they hadn¡¯t started yet, Woojoo had a feeling they were doomed. Fortunately, as they entered the main game, they took on the challenge seriously. Laughing was one thing, but work was work. However, seeding was really difficult. On the first attempt, the youngest rustled the snack bag and exceeded 70 decibels. On the second attempt, Bijoo tore open a snack bag, and a ¡®zzzip-¡¯ sound made them exceed 70 decibels again. ¡°Then let¡¯s try for the third attempt!¡± After several practice games, they devised a kind of strategy. If they all picked up snacks or opened bags together, the noise would be louder, so they decided to take turns. For that reason, Woojoo stepped up as the first challenger. Woojoo carefully spread his thumb and forefinger to pick up the edge of the stic bag and lifted it. Tock. The snack bag brushed against the basket, and the younger ones held their breath. The decibel meter right in front of the bag momentarily changed color as the needle shot up and then down. ¡®Fighting-¡¯ ¡®Let¡¯s seed this time-¡¯ ¡®Do it gently, you guys-¡¯ The staff and MCs watching them covered their mouths or twitched their cheeks at what seemed like encouragement from tiny bacteria. Woojoo took a deep breath and tore open the snack bag. It was a movement he had mastered after several tries. It was truly a realm of silence, without a single sound. He sessfullypleted the silent mukbang below 70 decibels. As he nodded, four members gave a thumbs-up as if riding a wave in celebration. ¡°¡­¡± Then Rihyuk stepped up with a tense face. His fingers trembled as he opened the bag, causing a slight unease, but he soon managed to seed smoothly. The thumbs-up ritual continued. The third runner was Junghyun. A person of interest, withrge movements and fluctuating decibels with each breath. Woojoo showed his fist and whispered, ¡°Go, Junghyunmon.¡± The bear with its front paws raised responded immediately. ¡°Junghyunmon, deploy.¡± Bijoo almostughed, but the youngest next to him quickly covered his mouth. Ignoring Rihyuk¡¯s reproachful look, Woojoo cheered for Junghyun as if to wish him well. Soon, Junghyun reached out towards the basket of snacks and picked one. Okay. Pleased with his sess, Woojoo soon realized there was a problem. Whether it was the glue that was wrong or the snack bags stuck together like Vienna sausages, they came out together. Thump. As the snacks fell into the bag, one dropped and fell to the floor¡­ ¡°¡­!¡± Fortunately, it dangled precariously off the edge of the basket. A critical moment. Woojoo realized. The moment it fell, it was over. Junghyun, with goblin horns, stood up from his seat and approached the basket. ¡°¡­!¡± Woojoo was in a hurry. They crossed their hands to form an X or waved them down, whispering urgently. ¡°No! No!¡± ¡°Stop! Stop!¡± ¡°Don¡¯t!¡± In their haste, aliennguages were blurted out. Like someone drawing SOS in the sand towards a ne on a deserted ind, their signal told Junghyun to do absolutely nothing, and he froze, bent over. Pause. He turned his head. ¡°What should I do?¡± his eyes asked. While this was happening, Bijoo approached with baby steps to fix the situation, reaching for the dangling snack. Jiho quickly gestured for Junghyun to return to his seat, but Woojoo, on the contrary, dissuaded him. ¡°No!¡± ¡°Huh?¡± Amidst their conflicting opinions, Junghyun hesitated, unsure whether to go or not, and twitched. Then¡­ Pop. The snack fell. Everyone held their breath, but fortunately, the sound of the snack hitting the floor barely exceeded 60 decibels before fading away. Just when they thought they were lucky, Junghyun, relieved, stepped backward and stepped on the fallen snack. Crunch. And then he lost his bnce¡­ ¡°Whoa.¡± He slipped, but as he fell, he caught his bnce andnded on his arse in the basket. He was holding on to the floor with one arm and it was like watching a scene from The Matrix. ¡®¡­¡­! Rihyeok gagged at the sight of the top bag of snacks touching Junghyun''s trousers, saying he couldn''t eat that. ¡®¡­¡­.'' Everyone, including the staff behind the camera, looked on in disbelief. It was so silent you could hear ants scurrying past. Soon, Junghyun''s arm fumbled for his bnce and he pulled himself up. As the basket rose, so did he. ¡°¡­Gasp!¡± A face of tranquility. Yet, with a basket clinging to his backside, he resembled an ant standing upright. No, not an ant. What then? Horns sprouting from his head like a goblin¡¯s. Arms stretched out for bnce, and the oddly fitting brown basket, along with today¡¯s outfit. That dignified appearance¡­ what could it be? It was hard to describe as merely an ant. The moment he saw that stately stance, Rihyuk murmured with a face drained of color. ¡°¡­A rhinoceros beetle?¡± At the same time, a burst ofughter spilled from behind the camera. ¡°Pfft!¡± The staff, unable to hold back theirughter, were the first to break into giggles. *** Though they failed on their third attempt, they ultimately received a sessful verdict from the production team. ¡°I have to admit, that was impressive,¡± they conceded. Time was running short for the recording of the broadcast. Above all, it seemed the production team had been willing to give them a chance from the start. Even if they failed, there was always the ¡®three-line acrostic poem¡¯ chance! With all the props cleared away, they returned to the police station, their appearances fresh and crisp. ¡°Pfft!¡± They couldn¡¯t help but burst intoughter at the sight of Junghyun¡¯s face. ¡°Now, looking at Junghyun¡¯s face is enough to make meugh.¡± ¡°You finally understand how we feel, Sunbae-nim.¡± ¡°Yes¡­ Haha. I fully understand now. At first, I wondered why everyoneughed just by looking at Junghyun¡¯s face.¡± The dignified image of a rhinoceros beetle remained etched in everyone¡¯s minds. Even among the production crew, there were those who couldn¡¯t help but let out sillyughs. Producer Ko, too, had eximed in excitement earlier, ¡°That guy¡­ he must have the god of variety shows on his side!¡± They managed to extract a substantial amount of content, enough to elicit such enthusiastic responses. ¡°Sigh¡­¡± Why did he keep sighing? He couldn¡¯t quite pinpoint this subtle sense of emptiness. Where exactly was their image heading? Although Woojoo was smiling with a variety-show grin on the outside, he felt somewhat hollow inside. Bukbuk spoke up. ¡°So, shall we go ahead and promote the new song as promised?¡± ¡°Yes! We¡¯ll show you our Masquerade!¡± While the two MCs stepped aside, the five of them formed their positions on stage. Without any particr order, they casually surveyed the area within the police station that they could use and closed the gaps between them. After making a decision, Woojoo asked the person in charge of the performance, ¡°Should we reduce it by two steps, Bijoo?¡± ¡°Hmm¡­ I think we need to tighten it up a bit more. Hyung, about three steps.¡± ¡°Okay, let¡¯s go with that.¡± Due to the limited space, it was tricky to fully disy the Masquerade choreography, which was meant to bloom like a flower. After aligning the first move as a demonstration, they all nodded in agreement. ¡°We¡¯re ready!¡± ¡°Alright, let¡¯s enjoy the highlight part of Masquerade!¡± The booming speakers yed the highlight part of the song. They quickly adapted to the changed spacing and presented their performance. It was brief, but after the intense choreography, a single drop of sweat formed. As they stood in their final formation and gazed intently at the camera, the two MCs pped andughed. ¡°Wow! That was so cool! I thought you were someone else!¡± ¡°But you finished it off stylishly. Our New ck!¡± ¡°Thank you for seeing us in a good light.¡± They bowed their heads to the teasing seniors. As the broadcast wasing to an end, they were asked to leave ament for the viewers, so he stepped forward as the representative. ¡°Dear viewers! I really want to thank you for enjoying the show. We still have a lot to improve, but I hope you¡¯ll continue to view us favorably.¡± Woojoo continued with a smile. ¡°And don¡¯t forget about our Souffl¨¦s!¡± Behind him, his younger members were waving their hands, drawing hearts in the air, and dancing shoulder moves. Woojoo turned back for a moment andughed. ¡°I¡¯m not sure if you¡¯ll still like us after seeing such embarrassing antics¡­ Yes, we¡¯re grateful if you still find us endearing despite this. Just so you know, we don¡¯t usually do this, okay? It¡¯s just the excitement of variety shows.¡± ¡°Right. That¡¯s how it is.¡± ¡°And since this is the first recording after we won first ce on the music broadcast, I have something to say.¡± Woojoo wanted to say this. ¡°We¡¯re neers. We¡¯re very hungry. So we¡¯ll eat heartily and strive even harder to rise up! Please watch over us!¡± ¡°Please watch over us-!¡± ¡°And one more thing.¡± Woojoo looked into the camera with a serious face and then parted his lips. ¡°Forget about today¡¯s broadcast¡­¡± His voice trailed off as he gazed into the void, and the people on set burst into genuineughter. ¡°Good work!¡± ¡°Thank you for your hard work!¡± New ck greeted the staff who were cleaning up the set as they left the studio. The managers were chatting with the PD, and they went down to the first floor to breathe in the outside air. For about five seconds. Then, a whooshing winter wind made everyone exim ¡°It¡¯s cold!¡± and scurry back inside. ¡°Sigh¡­¡± As they looked outside, now bright with midday, white breaths streamed from everyone¡¯s mouths. It was a sigh. Rihyuk said, ¡°What on earth did we do today¡­¡± ¡°I wonder. We ran around so energetically, but all that¡¯s left is this wounded feeling.¡± ¡°Still, our fans will love watching it.¡± ¡°¡­Will they?¡± They looked at each other andughed hollowly, gazing nkly at the sky. Bijoo tried to lift the mood. ¡°Well, at least morning recordings are good for this. Even after we finish, it¡¯s still daytime.¡± ¡°Yeah. It feels like we¡¯ve made good use of the day.¡± ¡°And we¡¯ve made new connections too.¡± Perhaps they liked our all-out performance as first-time guests, because the MCs came over and gave them their phone numbers. ¡®Contact us if you¡¯re bored. We¡¯ll treat you to a meal,¡¯ they said. The youngest member said with a contented smile, ¡°Now we have the phone numbers of seniors Seri and Bukbuk in our contacts.¡± ¡°¡­So what? Today we all created dark histories.¡± Rihyuk started to say something but stopped. The one who sent a warning to the cat. The one whose lie detector broke despite being honest. The one who was sad for not knowing the new ng. The one who will soon hear from school friends, ¡®Are you in your growth spurt, Wang Jiho? Hahaha!¡¯ And the rhinoceros beetle. ¡­Thest one was the most powerful, but their rapper just stood there, hands in his hoodie pockets, smiling peacefully. Dark history was only dark history if you thought it was. But for Junghyun, shame didn¡¯t exist. His mobile game ID with Jiho was probably ¡®Daegil¡¯s friend.¡¯ They whispered among ourselves, watching a naturalist waving at magpies perched on the roadside trees from a distance. Woojoo said, ¡°Rhinoceros beetles must be happy.¡± ¡°I want to live my way like that too.¡± ¡°Don¡¯t worry. You¡¯re already on that path, Rihyuk.¡± ¡°¡­Be quiet. Seriously.¡± They were chatting and waiting for the managers when Woojoo¡¯s phone vibrated. ¡°Who is it?¡± ¡°Our manager.¡± It was a manager, but not just any manager¡ªit was their director. There was a file sent via messenger. [Attachment] TBC_Year-End Music Festival_Neer_Joint Performance_Outline The kids crowded around Woojoo. ¡°What is it?¡± ¡°Seokhwan Hyung sent it. Looks like our joint performance for the year-end music festival is finally fixed.¡± ¡°Oh, a joint stage?¡± ¡°Who is it? Who are we performing with?¡± ¡°Just a moment.¡± They opened the downloaded file and blinked at a name they hadn¡¯t seen in a while. They thought it might be a mixed-gender neer stage like HBS. They blinked at the name written in the attached file. ¡°¡­Street Boys?¡± They were the rival group we had beenpeting with sincest year¡¯s year-end evaluation. Chapter 159: Chapter 159: Trantor: MarcTempest Editor: Rxel Chapter 159 Street Boys. That was the name of the boy group that had been constantly linked to them as rivals. They nodded calmly at the mention of them. They went outside to talk, so that no one else could hear them. They huddled together in the alley, wearing their padded jackets. ¡°Well, it¡¯s not bad,¡± Rihyuk said, blowing out his breath. ¡°They have solid skills, you know. If we can match well with them, we can pull off a decent stage.¡± ¡°Yeah, they¡¯re good. They beat us a lot.¡±¡°¡­Don¡¯t hurt our feelings. Jiho.¡± Bijoo poked the youngest¡¯s side and smiled. They said they lost to Street Boys every time they had a joint evaluation before Woojoo joined. The younger ones had bitter smiles. It was as if the history of their long defeat shed before their eyes. They looked into the air with distant eyes. Then. They all turned their heads and looked at Woojoo. ¡°¡­¡± Their gazes were all subtle. As if they were looking at something adorable¡­ An object? Guys? ¡°¡­What¡¯s with these rude stares?¡± ¡°It¡¯s nothing,¡± Bijoo said, shaking his head. Then he grabbed Woojoo¡¯s shoulder with a serious face. ¡°Hyung, you¡¯re a treasure.¡± ¡°¡­¡± Rihyuk added, ¡°A totem-like existence. A totem for making songs.¡± ¡°¡­¡± ¡°Yeah, Hyung is the egg in the cold noodles.¡± Junghyun¡¯s final blow made Woojoo grab the back of his neck, and the younger ones giggled. It was a shame that he couldn¡¯t film this. He should show it to the Souffles. Everyone. Look. They were only fairies on the outside, but their hearts were goblins. ¡°It¡¯s really amazing.¡± The youngest rested his head on Woojoo¡¯s shoulder. ¡°We used to be so eager to beat the Street Boys Hyungs. They seemed like an insurmountable wall.¡± ¡°And now they¡¯re not?¡± ¡°Nah, it feels a bit different since Hyung came. Like, we can do it?¡± ¡°Hmm¡­¡± There was definitely more ease in their expressions. They were ahead in various indicators, and more importantly, their recent opponent was a worthy one. Afterpeting with TNT, any other group would seem rtively weak. But that didn¡¯t mean they could take other groups lightly. The entertainment industry was a different ce every day. Even if they were ahead for now, it wouldn¡¯t be strange if apetitor suddenly rose up with a hit fancam tomorrow. Woojoo carefully looked at the younger ones¡¯ faces. He hoped they weren¡¯t feeling too rxed because they were doing better. The source of confidence should be in something that didn¡¯t change. If you based your confidence on the results that could change at any time, you wouldn¡¯t be able to handle your mental state when it got reversed. That was a lesson Woojoo learned from elementary school when he started as a trainee. Of course, their kids weren¡¯t like that, but he felt a bit worried as a leader. Woojoo was about to gently talk to them. ¡°Ah, geez. Wang Jiho.¡± Rihyuk clicked his tongue. ¡°Since when did you be so arrogant because we did better? Geez. You¡¯re full of yourself.¡± ¡°I know, okay?¡± The youngest who had his chin on Woojoo¡¯s shoulder pursed his lips. ¡°I just wanted to have some fun. And get some cuddles from Woojoo Hyung.¡± ¡°Cuddles?¡± Woojoo turned his head in disbelief and he stuck out his hand and tickled his chin, saying ¡°cuddles¡±. Everyone burst intoughter. While Woojoo grabbed the youngest¡¯s cor and jokingly scolded him, saying ¡°you little brat¡±, Bijoo scolded him more seriously. ¡°You know we were lucky, right, Jiho?¡± ¡°¡­Yeah, Hyung,¡± Jiho said with a deted face. ¡°No, I¡¯m not stupid, I¡¯m just immature. I know that too. We were lucky.¡± He then made a whining sound. ¡°I just said one thing and you¡¯re already nagging me. At least today Woojoo Hyung smiled warmly and didn¡¯t say ¡®Jiho, get your act together¡¯.¡± Woojoo pretended not to be embarrassed. ¡°¡­Ahem.¡± But inside, he felt relieved. Because ever since they won the Rookie Award and the music show first ce, he had been feeling rxed. Woojoo snapped out of it right away, but he was tempted for a moment. So he worried about the others too. What if they thought they got these results because they were good. Even their youngest, who was the most immature, thought they were lucky. That meant the other members didn¡¯t need to be told. Junghyun didn¡¯t say anything, but¡­ He covered his mouth with his hand and made a ¡®coo coo¡¯ sound at the magpies. ¡°What is he doing?¡± ¡°I don¡¯t know. Maybe he¡¯s trying to summon magpies. As if they would answer him¡­¡± Caw! Caw! ¡°¡­¡± They all smiled warmly and went back to reading the document. ¡°The duration is about 2 minutes and 10 seconds¡­¡± ¡°That¡¯s tight.¡± They expected that. They weren¡¯t just doing a joint stage at the TBC year-end music festival. Even if they excluded Something, they had a 2 minute and 30 second version of Masquerade prepared. Maybe if they were from one of the big four agencies. But no matter how popr a rookie they were, the broadcasters wouldn¡¯t give them more than 5 minutes. What should they show in that limited time? As they pondered how to use the penalty, their eyes reached the topic. ¡°Cover songs from the 90s?¡± ¡°This is trendy these days. They do these stages on TV.¡± It was the entertainment trend of December. They brought back the singers from the 90s or the early 2000s who had made a name for themselves and reunited them. And the viewers cried andughed with them as they performed. It started with Around the World With Dice¡¯s nostalgia trip special. ¡°There were some great songs back then.¡± Woojoo felt good as he recalled the songs that were popr when he was young. Maybe it was because he had his mom and dad then. The songs he heard as a kid were all good. He could still memorize the lyrics of some songs from start to finish. Junghyun blinked and asked Woojoo, ¡°Hyung, aren¡¯t you only two years older than me?¡± ¡°¡­Let¡¯s see. What song should we do to make a good impression?¡± They had to discuss their opinions among themselves first, before they could talk to the Street Boys side. They would have the final say anyway. Soon, various songs came up. Woojoo realized how many hit songs there were in the 90s. While he was lost in nostalgia, Bijoo suggested an idea. ¡°Since it¡¯s a joint stage, we should choose a song that matches both groups, right? Street Boys are more into hip-hop, so how about a song that mixes hip-hop and vocals well?¡± Bijoo was right. It would be nice to have a song that suited both New ck and Street Boys. As Woojoo was deep in thought, Jiho sniffled. ¡°Ugh, it¡¯s cold. Why are the managers noting down?¡± ¡°Probably because of the logo song.¡± ¡°Wow. They¡¯re really using that? I thought the seniors were just saying that as lip service.¡± ¡°You¡¯re deaf, Wang Jiho. The moment I heard it, I knew it was perfect.¡± ¡°Me too. My ears are deaf.¡± The youngest smiled brightly. ¡°But my color doesn¡¯t change.¡± ¡°¡­Eek!¡± The two of them started a bloody fight with their padded sleeves, when a huge figure pushed the front door and appeared. ¡°Oh, you were waiting outside?¡± He was their bandit, no, road manager Seok Dowon. He looked even bigger because of the padding. He scratched the back of his head with a sorry face. ¡°Did you get cold? I had to help the manager with a phone call¡­ I came down as soon as I could.¡± ¡°Oh, no. It wasn¡¯t cold at all¡­¡± As Woojoo waved his hand and said that, Rihyuk sneezed! ¡°¡­¡± Their manager¡¯s face, which was already full of guilt, turned into self-me. ¡°I brought these because I thought you might be cold. Here, take them.¡± ¡°Wow¡­ Thank you.¡± They thanked the manager as he handed them each a warm hand warmer. Meanwhile, as they followed the manager with the car key to the parking lot, Woojoo¡¯s mind was still full of thoughts about the joint stage. At the same time. ¡°Call the team leader about the logo song. He¡¯s in an external meeting right now, so unless it¡¯s urgent, report itter.¡± -Yes, I understand. Yoon Seokhwan, the section chief, hung up the phone and put it in his pocket. Then he smiled at the person sitting across from him. ¡°I had an urgent call from the site.¡± ¡°Ah.¡± Park, the section chief of DNS Media, took a sip of coffee and narrowed his eyes. ¡°The logo song¡­ That friend named Woojoo must have made something again, huh?¡± ¡°Well, something like that.¡± He gave a vague answer, and the other person licked his lips and stopped. He was very curious about what Woojoo had done, but it was hard to ask more questions for the sake of his dignity. Yoon Seokhwan smiled politely, but inside he wasughing brightly. ¡®Good job, Woojoo.¡¯ He was a guy who only brought good news, not even a sparrow. He heard the rough situation from Seo Minki. The logo song that Woojoo made as a trial for the idol show was liked by both the MCs and the production team. But that wasn¡¯t the real news. ¡®The second part¡­¡¯ Originally, the idol show was only promised to appear as a guest for one episode. They didn¡¯t even think about the second part. The fact that the production team on the site checked the volume and decided that this was the second part meant that New ck did really well on that show. That fact was amazing. The manager was basically someone who brought work to the entertainer. That was why they felt the most proud and happy when the entertainer did better than anyone else. Of course, in this case, it started with the suggestion of PD Bae Jonggeon, who met New ck at the broadcasting station lobby, but he was happy anyway. He smiled and said, ¡°Anyway, we met like this because of the TBC year-end stage, so please take good care of us.¡± ¡°Yes, I¡¯ll do my best.¡± They were employees ofpetingpanies, but the meeting started with a gentle smile. The topic was only one thing. The division of work for the TBC year-end music festival joint stage. The special stage that was held at the end of the year was usually nned by the PD of the broadcasting station, who would send a proposal to the agencies saying ¡®I would like you to do this kind of stage¡¯, and the agencies would agree and prepare ordingly. But there were many things to coordinate with multiple stakeholders involved. Who would prepare the costumes, who would choreograph the dance, and who would select the song, etc. As the managers of New ck and Street Boys were discussing the work division, thest agenda item, the song, came up. Manager Park asked, ¡°How are you nning to select the song?¡± ¡°First of all, we have to let the members of both groups share their opinions. They are the ones who are performing, after all.¡± ¡°¡­Excuse me?¡± The other side tilted his head. ¡°You¡¯re leaving it to the kids? This is something thepany should decide.¡± ¡°Ourpany policy is to prioritize the artists¡¯ opinions. We listen to their opinions first and then decide, whether good or bad.¡± ¡°Hmm, we have different opinions on this matter.¡± There was a brief confrontation between Lemon, which was closer toissez-faire, and DNS, which valued strict management. But soon Manager Park nodded his head. ¡°Anyway, the song was decided to be chosen by Lemon, so I guess listening to their opinions is not a bad idea. I¡¯ll arrange a time soon.¡± ¡°Yes, thank you.¡± ¡°But I¡¯m a bit skeptical.¡± The other side asked with a doubtful face, ¡°Is there any point in them talking to each other? I don¡¯t think they have much to say or anything¡­¡± ¡°Ah.¡± Manager Yoon Seokhwan smiled and said, ¡°You¡¯ll see when you watch.¡± After finishing the afternoon schedule and returning to thepany, Seokhwan Hyung handed Woojoo a piece of paper with a number written on it. ¡°What is this?¡± ¡°Street Boys¡¯ number.¡± ¡°Oh.¡± ¡­Woojoo said and looked at the paper with the number with his brothers, and then he noticed something strange. ¡°There¡¯s only one number?¡± ¡°They use one phone together.¡± ¡°Oh, right.¡± That was what they said when they met on the radiost July. Theirpany was very strict with management, so they only used one old phone for contact. ¡°Wow,¡± the youngest said, looking at his own phone. ¡°They¡¯re so pitiful to not be able to use this¡­¡± ¡°Come to think of it, you guys almost couldn¡¯t use it either,¡± Seokhwan Hyung said, as if he remembered something. ¡°There was a talk about phones before you debuted.¡± ¡°What talk?¡± ¡°Shouldn¡¯t we ban the kids from using their phones, like other agencies do? That¡¯s what they were saying.¡± They perked up their ears at this new piece of information. ¡°So what happened?¡± ¡°It was rejected right away.¡± ¡°Why?¡± Seokhwan Hyung chuckled as he recalled the reason. ¡°Because you guys work too hard.¡± ¡°¡­?¡± ¡°Usually, when they give you some break time, you should at least have some fun. But you guys were crazy. You came to thepany every day off to practice. When they didn¡¯t let you in, you went to the nearby karaoke to practice.¡± ¡°We did work hard.¡± They smiled proudly. Maybe thepany was touched by their dedication. They expected a heartwarming story about how they let them use their phones, even though they thought they were pathetic. Yo, you losers! Something like that. ¡°We were really amazing, huh.¡± ¡°That¡¯s not it¡­¡± Seokhwan Hyungughed. ¡°It¡¯s because you guys live boring lives.¡± ¡°¡­?¡± ¡°That¡¯s what they said. They don¡¯t know what you do for fun on your days off. You just sleep in the dorm. You already live so dull, it would be inhumane to take away your phones too¡­¡± They blinked at the unexpected truth. There was a moment of silence. ¡°¡­They gave us phones out of pity?¡± ¡°No. It¡¯s not pity, but more like¡­¡± ¡°¡­¡± ¡°Um¡­¡± Seokhwan Hyung tried to salvage the situation. ¡°Of course, there¡¯s also the fact that you guys are amazing. They wanted to reward you for working hard, something like that¡­¡± ¡°¡­¡± But it was toote. Realizing that nothing he said could cheer them up, the manager took a drastic measure. ¡°Food.¡± ¡°¡­Food?¡± ¡°I¡¯ll order something expensive for dinner.¡± ¡°As if we would¡­¡± But they couldn¡¯t help but smile. ¡°Close your mouths before you talk. Kids.¡± Seokhwan Hyung gave a hollowugh as he saw their gloomy faces brighten up again. After eating the sweet and sour pork and ck bean noodles that their beloved manager ordered for them, they returned to the studio with warm faces. The youngest, who was eating an apple that Bijoo peeled for him, said, ¡°But I still can¡¯t agree.¡± ¡°With what?¡± ¡°Who else can have as much fun as we do?¡± Woojoo heard voices agreeing from all over the ce. Rihyuk, who was reading an advanced Japanese textbook, said, ¡°Well, do we really need to conform to other people¡¯s standards? As long as I¡¯m having fun, that¡¯s all that matters.¡± ¡°Wow. Rihyuk is making sense for once.¡± ¡°I¡¯m always right, you know.¡± Woojoo smiled at the arrogant guy. While he turned on hisptop and searched for 90s songs, he asked his siblings who were huddled on the sofa. Something suddenly came to his mind. ¡°Hey, guys.¡± ¡°¡­?¡± ¡°What do we usually do for fun?¡± There was a brief silence. ¡°¡­¡± Woojoo searched his memory hard, but it wasn¡¯t just him. Everyone else was the same. ¡°What¡¯s wrong? Why can¡¯t I remember¡­?¡± ¡°Oh, there was that time. That time.¡± Bijoo raised his hand and said, ¡°We all got together with our family for Chuseok, remember?¡± ¡°When Woojoo copsed and we all had to go back to the hotel without even having a party? When we had to nurse him by sticking close to his bed?¡± ¡°That was tough.¡± ¡°¡­¡± They talked about this and that for a while, but there was nothing special except for the time they spent with their family. Then Woojoo realized. ¡°¡­We were really boring, weren¡¯t we?¡± ¡°But our activities were fun, right?¡± As they were having this conversation, Rihyuk said with a nervous face, ¡°But even if we had fun, it wouldn¡¯t make much difference, would it?¡± ¡°What do you mean?¡± ¡°Tell me what you would do if you had a day off.¡± Everyone said one thing. ¡°y games all day.¡± ¡°Does it have to be something I can¡¯t do at work? Then¡­ I¡¯d go to a famous cafe and have dessert.¡± ¡°Gardening.¡± ¡°I¡¯d lie down and listen to music all day. Rihyuk, what about you?¡± ¡°I¡¯d go to a bookstore and pick out books.¡± After a moment of silence, they all realized with shocked faces. ¡°We were doomed from the start¡­¡± They looked at each other with pity and contempt, then they nodded their heads with warm smiles. ¡°Let¡¯s just work since we¡¯re doomed anyway.¡± ¡°Yeah. I guess we¡¯re born to work.¡± It was about time anyway. It was almost 7 p.m. It was time to contact the Street Boys about the joint stage. As Woojoo was looking through his phone¡¯s contacts, the youngest one said with a worried tone, ¡°How are we supposed to talk to the Street Boys? They don¡¯t think we¡¯re totally boring, do they?¡± ¡°I know, right?¡± ¡°This is bad. Really bad.¡± Everyone looked worried. At the same time. Street Boys¡¯ dorm. Nine people sat in a circle, with a phone in the middle, wearing serious expressions. ¡°We¡¯re in trouble.¡± ¡°What do we do? Hey, what should we say when we talk to the New ck people?¡± ¡°Exactly. They don¡¯t think we¡¯re boring, do they?¡± Sighs filled the air. ¡°They all seemed so good at talking and having fun¡­¡± ¡°This is bad, bad. What should we say? Seriously.¡± ¡°What if they find out we¡¯re no fun?¡± The members were making needless worries. Chapter 160: Chapter 160: Trantor: MarcTempest Editor: Rxel Chapter 160 Woojoo put down his phone on the studio table and asked his siblings, ¡°Instead of calling them right away, which might be awkward, how about we send them a text first?¡± ¡°Yeah, Hyung. That sounds good.¡± It wasn¡¯t because they were afraid of being boring. They were just being polite. They all nodded their heads in agreement, and Rihyuk stopped reading the textbook and clicked his tongue. ¡°Ugh, you guys are so timid.¡±¡°If we call, you¡¯ll have to talk first.¡± ¡°¡­People can be timid, you know. They say that all humans are inwardly timid.¡± Woojoo picked up his phone and sent a text. It was a simple message, saying hello, introducing themselves as New ck, and asking if they were avable to talk. Woojoo finished writing and showed it to his siblings. ¡°How is it?¡± ¡°The content is good, but how about adding an emoticon at the end?¡± Following Bijoo¡¯s suggestion, Woojoo added a ¡®^^¡¯ at the end of thest sentence, but Rihyuk shook his head. ¡°That looks too fake. Make it look sincere by adding something else at the back.¡± ¡°Like this?¡± ¡°Add one more on the left cheek too. Hyung.¡± Woojoo followed the requests of the two youngest and sent a ¡®^^¡¯ with cheek touches. 3 minutester. His phone vibrated and notified him of a message. -Hello, we are Street Boys. ?(???)? They replied that they were happy to meet them and that they were avable to talk. But what caught their eyes was the cute emoticon attached to it. It took them three minutes to write a short message, probably because they spent time on the emoticon. ¡°We lost.¡± ¡°We lost to people who use old phones with emoticons¡­ We all need to reflect.¡± ¡°Let¡¯s send something cute too, Hyung.¡± Because of his siblings¡¯ nagging, Woojoo opened the emoticon collection that he had saved beforehand. ¡°Ah, I was saving this for Kim Deoksoon¡­¡± It was a pity, but for the sake of New ck¡¯s reputation and dignity, Woojoo decided to use the emoticon generously. Copy + paste. -Are you avable for a video call now? ?(???o???)? Take my heart, Kim Deoksoon Woojoo dragged the cursor too long and identally copied something else, making his siblingsugh out loud. Soon, a reply came back. -Yes! We are ready too! ?(???)? Woojoo looked at his siblings and asked cautiously, ¡°¡­Should we call now?¡± They all stretched and loosened their bodies. ¡°Hoo.¡± ¡°I guess we can¡¯t dy it any longer. Let¡¯s call, Hyung.¡± ¡°Just a second. Let me look at the mirror.¡± ¡°Please¡­ don¡¯t make such a fuss over a video call. That¡¯s why thepany peopleugh at us whenever they see us¡­ Eek! Don¡¯t shove the video call screen in my face!¡± Woojoo ced his phone on the table and made a video call. Click. The phone screen lit up. The quality was not very clear, but Woojoo could see nine people huddled together in a small living room. They were all bare-faced. Without their usual smoky makeup, skull rings, gold nes, and so on, they looked softer than usual. ¡°¡­¡± -¡­ They looked at each other awkwardly and then greeted each other. Street Boys stood up from the living room and bowed. -Hello, we are Street Boys! They seemed to bow their heads, but Woojoo couldn¡¯t see their lower bodies. New ck also returned the greeting, but Woojoo had a feeling that they couldn¡¯t see them either. They finished greeting each other¡¯s lower bodies and looked at each other¡¯s faces. ¡°Is that your dorm living room?¡± -Yes. The leader of Street Boys, Hanjo, smiled and said. -This is our dorm. And you guys are¡­ ¡°Oh, we¡¯re in the studio.¡± -Ah. ¡°¡­¡± -¡­ Sometimes there were people like that. People who greeted each other with a ¡®Hi!¡¯ when they passed by, but didn¡¯t know anything about each other. New ck and Street Boys were like that. They debuted at the same time, so they met each other at the broadcast stations for a month, and greeted each other whenever they saw each other at various events. But they only got to know each other a little bit, because their schedules for the second album were different. Woojoo suggested it. ¡°How about we introduce ourselves a little to break the ice? Like our names or¡­¡± Before Woojoo could finish, the piranhas attacked him. ¡°No. What are we, at a campfire?¡± ¡°Don¡¯t make the atmosphere more awkward, Woojoo Hyung.¡± ¡°Hmm, you¡¯re so old-fashioned.¡± The Street Boysughed at Woojoo¡¯s dumbfounded expression. Hanjo spoke softly. -I think Woojoo¡¯s idea is good. How about we introduce ourselves with our names, ages, and positions? The hyenas over there attacked him too. -Wow. The leaders get along well. -Our leader is also very old! We call him Haljo. -¡­Hey, don¡¯t say that here. Haljo? Woojoo and Hanjo exchanged sympathetic nces. ¡®You have a hard time.¡¯ ¡®Thank you. We¡¯re in the same boat.¡¯ They shared a bitter smile. The members who were having fun biting the eldest on both sides soon started to introduce themselves. Theposition was simr. The leaders, Woojoo and Hanjo, were born in 1993 and were the same age, and the youngest, Jiho and Kiwon, were born in 1998 and were the same age. The only difference was that there were three and seven in between. Maybe that was why the overall atmosphere was simr. The other side was louder because they had more members, though. A member with blue hair and a yful look came forward and greeted them. -Hello. I¡¯m LB. Then someone shouted. -His real name is Persimmon! -What? Who is that? LB turned his head with a sour face, but the culprit was not revealed. He coughed and said. -¡­Ahem. LB. I¡¯m a rapper. Yeah, I always watched New ck from afar and¡­ -Ahhhh! ¡°Ah!¡± Woojoo cringed at the cheesy line and screams came from both sides. -Wood. Why are you doing this? We just got the mood going. -Did you kill the mood? You killed it? -No, that¡¯s not it. The mood was already doomed from the moment he opened his mouth. -I¡¯m sorry. Wood is really good at saying cringy things. ¡°It¡¯s okay. We understand.¡± ¡°We have someone like that in our team too. Whenever we go to a big concert hall, he says ¡®Someday this hall will be our dream stage~!¡¯ You know, that kind of person.¡± ¡°Puhahaha!¡± Their kids burst intoughter at the youngest¡¯s words. When Woojoo coughed and looked away, Hanjo sent Woojoo a sour look from the screen. Then, LB, who was being tormented by the members, shouted. -Hey! It¡¯s true. Honestly, we admire New ck¡¯s music videos and performances when we watch them. They sing so well¡­ ¡°Ehehe! Why are you doing that?¡± -He¡¯s breaking the fourth wall again. -Anyway, that¡­ that guy who shoots arrows in the air every time he cools down. -Wood, go inside. Unless you want to burn. LB went in with a sullen face and both sides pped andughed. But thanks to LB, the atmosphere became much morefortable. At first, Woojoo was worried about how awkward it would be, but the younger ones on both sides opened the door and it became lively in no time. The group culture was different, such as whether they used informal or formal speech among the members, but overall they had a good sense of humor. They were already talking like best friends. When the atmosphere calmed down a bit, a quiet-looking member from Street Boys spoke. -Actually, we were really worried before we called you. ¡°Really? Why?¡± -We don¡¯t really know how to have fun, and we¡¯re kind of boring¡­ We thought New ck would be more outgoing and yful, so we were very worried. But we¡¯re so d we get along well. ¡°Heh, you thought you were boring?¡± -Yes. ¡°We thought so too.¡± -Really? ¡°Yes.¡± -Heh¡­ what a coincidence. ¡°Heh¡­ what a coincidence.¡± They looked at each other quietly and then screamed ¡°Wow!¡±. Jiho waved his hand and shouted like he had met his long-lost twin brother. ¡°Nice to meet you! We¡¯re boring too!¡± -Us too! We¡¯re really boring! It¡¯s so nice to meet fellow boring people! -Wow! This is awesome! ¡°Should we name ourselves the Boring Family? Boring Fam?¡± -Wow! That sounds exciting! They yed andughed by themselves, and Rihyuk made a dizzy face. Hanjo and Woojoo sat with nk faces. Woojoo showed him an apple that he poked with a fork, and Hanjo held up a 1.5 liter bottle of water with a cheerleader gesture. ¡°Uh¡­¡± Woojoo¡¯s voice cracked. Woojoo took a sip of water and said, ¡°¡­Let¡¯s stop the bonding here and get to the work part, shall we?¡± -Yeah. We¡¯ve been talking for 30 minutes and we haven¡¯t even started working. The younger ones on both sides said ¡®Ooh!¡¯ and ¡®Just five more minutes, please. Hyung? Huh?¡¯ but they ignored them. Junghyun said, ¡°But we have to submit a team name for our joint stage, right? Shouldn¡¯t we start with that?¡± -Yeah! Let¡¯s decide on a team name! Us! The leaders looked at each other as they saw the bouncing kids. ¡®Should we just do it ourselves¡­?¡¯ ¡®Let¡¯s ditch them and go solo.¡¯ But they agreed to start with the name. Wasn¡¯t that the first step of any work? Soon, opinions poured out from everywhere. LB raised his hand and shouted. -How about ck Boys,bining New ck and Street Boys? -¡­ ¡°¡­¡± -Is that bad? -Wood, go inside. Unless you want to burn. LB lowered his hand, holding back his tears. This time, it was Rihyuk who suggested an idea. ¡°How about News,bining New ck and Street? Or something like Neutron, the English word for a neutral particle?¡± ¡°Rihyuk,¡± Woojoo said. ¡°You should go in too.¡± ¡°¡­¡± Everyone burst intoughter as Junghyun stroked his chin and muttered to himself. ¡°New Street¡­ Newt¡­ Nutria?¡± ¡°Junghyun, you should go in and hold hands with Rihyuk.¡± ¡°Hmm, it wasn¡¯t that bad¡­¡± Then, one of the Street Boys spoke up. -How about using the fandom name? You know, like Concrete with the Yogurt fans¡­ -Souffle, you idiot. -What good is having a brain if you don¡¯t use it? You don¡¯t think like that. -Oops, I¡¯m sorry¡­ The member apologized with a clueless face as everyoneughed along with the harsh diss. It was a relief. Earlier, when they were having dinner, Junghyun had asked, ¡®What was the name of their fan club? Granite?¡¯ After about ten minutes of various opinions, someone came up with a brilliant idea. -You know, we use that toothpaste-mixed color as our official color, and we gradient it with something else. ¡°Oh, yes.¡± -New ck guys are ck, right? How about mixing it with mint chocte? ¡°How about adding a suffix? Mint Choco-dan.¡± As Bijoo finished speaking, they looked at each other for a moment. After that strange silence, everyone pped and eximed. -Wow¡­ this. ¡°Wow¡­ perfect.¡± It was the moment when the 14-member joint group ¡®Mint Choco-dan¡¯ was formed. Only Hanjo and Woojoo looked at each other with that astonishing naming. ¡®Should we just give up?¡¯ ¡®Yeah¡­¡¯ They exchanged warm smiles with their silly brothers in between. After Mint Choco-dan was formed. The discussion about the joint stage began right away, and both groups had serious expressions on their faces. The Street Boys looked at the handsome men on the screen. ¡®Wow, they¡¯re so good-looking.¡¯ They must have done their makeup, but they all had such clear features that they could pierce through the video call. They looked good when they were promoting their first album, but maybe it was because of the various care and camera massage. They seemed to have a different vibe, and they looked even more handsome. As they scanned their own appearances with that thought, the Street Boys felt a strong brotherhood. They looked at each other and said, ¡®You¡¯re my brother-¡¯ when they heard a loud noise from the other side. New ck picked up their phone and changed the orientation of the screen. The other members lined up behind him, while Woojoo sat in front of the synthesizer connected to theptop. -First of all, we need to choose a song. Do you have any song in mind? ¡°Uh, just a moment.¡± ¡­They didn¡¯t. How could they have any thoughts? Whenever they wanted to suggest something, thepany would say, ¡®Just do as you¡¯re told. Why are you so talkative?¡¯ That was why they had a habit of not having any opinions, whether they liked the concept or not. What was the point of thinking when they didn¡¯t listen anyway? It only made them feel more uneasy. They looked at each other. ¡°¡­¡± They were flustered because they had never expressed their opinions before, from trainees to now. Then, a soft voice was heard. -Um¡­ Actually, we haven¡¯t known each other for long, so it¡¯s awkward and all, right? So when you say your opinion, you might think, ¡®Hmm, isn¡¯t it embarrassing if it¡¯s not a great idea?¡¯ It could be like that. Woojoo smiled and said. -It¡¯s really okay to say anything. For example, Junghyun. -I want to do that song from the 90s. Hip Hop Trio¡¯s Bus Stop. -¡­Does such a song exist? -No. I just made it up. Not only New ck, but also Street Boys burst intoughter. Woojoo continued. -Yeah. Like this, you can say anything. Let¡¯s all have fun talking. -You look like it, too. Like a kindergarten teacher. -Junghyun. -Yes. -Take him away. As the main vocal disappeared off the screen, Street Boys opened their mouths. ¡°Uh, we¡¯re a hip hop group, so. I hope it¡¯s a song that can show our hip hop color well.¡± ¡°Yeah. You know, there¡¯s dance hip hop in the 90s, right?¡± As they opened their mouths, Street Boys¡¯ members began to suggest their opinions. The initial hesitation was only for a moment. The atmosphere soon heated up. ¡°When we perform, the main dancerse forward and dance like this¡­¡± ¡°Yeah! And from the choreography, let¡¯s get rid of the ones like the dog-leg dance, and also¡­¡± ¡°Me, me! I have something I want to do!¡± Whether it was because of the pent-up frustration, or because the ideas they had in their minds were released. The members¡¯ mouths poured out ideas like a dam that had opened. At first, New ck¡¯s members also talked with them, but they soon got tired of the momentum and just agreed. After a while, all kinds of opinions came out. Woojoo tapped the piano keys like a school bell and drew attention. -So, to sum up, you want a song thatbines Street Boys¡¯ hip hop color and New ck¡¯s vocal, right? ¡°Yes, that¡¯s right.¡± They all answered in chorus. Then Woojoo smiled and said. -Um¡­ I was thinking while listening to your stories. How about doing a song by Trend sunbae-nims? ¡°Trend?¡± They were a group that had gained poprity among all ages with their songs that blended hip hop and vocal. Woojoo asked cautiously. -How about it? Are you okay with it? ¡°Yes. Honestly, if we can do it well, it would be great. They are famous for having many masterpieces, after all¡­¡± Woojoo said with a smile. -Let¡¯s start with choosing a song first. After an enthusiastic meeting, two songs were chosen as candidates. They were ¡®Fate¡¯, a song with a strong hip hop color, and ¡®Sunshine¡¯, a song with a strong vocal color. Both songs were hits that had attracted a lot of fans. The problem was¡­ ¡°There¡¯s no middle ground,¡± Hanjo said with a troubled face. ¡°Fate is too hip hop, and Sunshine is too vocal. They¡¯re both good, but¡­¡± They were worried. Both sides had to be happy, but if they chose one side, the other side would be buried too much. They would rather do ¡®Fate¡¯, but they couldn¡¯t say to New ck, ¡®Hey, let¡¯s do hip hop.¡¯ And if they did a vocal song, the rapper line, which was their strength, would bepletely overshadowed. It was a dilemma. Woojoo said in a very natural tone. -How about we do both? -How about we do both? ¡°What?¡± They wondered if they had heard wrong, and when they looked at each other, a soft voice came in as if to confirm the kill. -It seems like we can do both. We can just mix them. Of course, we¡¯ll have to ask thepany people about the arrangementter¡­ As Woojoo turned around with a ¡®right?¡¯ expression, the other younger members nodded their heads and said ¡®that would be nice¡¯. The members of Street Boys had a nk expression on their faces. ¡°¡­¡± Then they looked at each other. ¡®What are they talking about?¡¯ was the look in their eyes. They were talking about mixing twopletely different songs. It seemed hard enough to arrange one song, but they were acting like it was natural to mix them. Then, Woojoo, who was sitting in front of the synthesizer, called the main vocal. -Kiwan, can you show me your vocal range? ¡°Oh, sure.¡± Kiwan quickly demonstrated his range from low to high, while Woojoo closed his eyes and thought for a moment. Then he moved his fingers. The first start was the chorus melody of ¡®Fate¡¯, repeating it a few times and adding or subtracting a note or two. It progressed like that until¡­ ¡°Huh?¡± Before they could even realize it, the keyboard sound had naturally transformed into the melody of ¡®Sunshine¡¯. ¡°¡­¡± When everyone sitting in the living room had a bewildered expression on their faces, someone asked with a wide-eyed face, ¡°¡­What the hell. What just happened?¡± But no one could answer him properly. They looked at the screen again, but all they saw was Woojoo¡¯s rxed smile and¡­ ¡­the New ck members who wereughing like the Four Heavenly Kings under the Demon King. Chapter 161: Chapter 161: Trantor: MarcTempest Editor: Rxel Chapter 161 Woojoo almost burst outughing when he looked back. It was because of the expressions on their kids¡¯ faces. Woojoo didn¡¯t know exactly how to interpret them, but they looked extremely proud, happy, and arrogant. They had smiles like little kids bragging about their older brother to their friends. Woojoo couldn¡¯t live like this. On the other hand, the nine tree friends on the screen were staring at Woojoo nkly. They seemed to be amazed.The Street Boys started to make a fuss. -What? What? How did you do that? -Wow, awesome. So that¡¯s why we got kicked out of the year-end evaluation. -See? I told you, right? I saw a clip of that guy¡¯spositionst time and it was amazing. -Why are you so proud? You¡¯re just a persimmon tree. -Anyway, you¡¯re a traitor. -No, I¡¯m not¡­ It ended with someone¡¯s crying face, but the Street Boys looked at Woojoo like he was an alien. Hanjo asked. -But how did you arrange the song? ¡°Ah.¡± Woojoo answered with what he had in mind. ¡°The Trend Sunbae-nims¡¯ songs are really good, but they¡¯re a mixed group, so the female vocals have a different range, right? I adjusted the tone to match the main vocal, Rihyuk, and Kiwon.¡± Woojoo gently pressed the keyboard with his fingers. As he showed them the arranged melody after the original song, there were exmations of awe from everywhere. ¡°And since it¡¯s a 90s style, I changed the notes a bit to suit thetest trends. If the original song was like this¡­¡± Woojoo yed the melody that mixed ¡®Fate¡¯ and ¡®Sunshine¡¯, and then yed the changed melody again. Now they looked at Woojoo like he was a monster from outer space. To be honest, there were more parts that he cared about, but he decided not to exin them. But it seemed to be enough to convince them. ¡°How do you like it? Are you satisfied?¡± -It¡¯s amazing. -Really. I think we can go with this. The customers sounded happy. There seemed to be no disagreement about the song selection. Jiho shrugged his shoulders and said, ¡°How is it? Amazing, right?¡± -Yes. It¡¯s amazing. -We¡¯ll give you our leader, so please exchange with us. Hanjo looked at his younger brothers incredulously. -You¡¯re selling me? -Let¡¯s sacrifice your body and save our group. -We¡¯ll also give you LB as a set. -Oh. I¡¯m confident I can do well there! I¡¯m good at washing dishes, too! ¡°No way,¡± Bijoo said. ¡°We won¡¯t even sell Woojoo Hyung for a billion.¡± -What about 10 billion? ¡°Uh¡­¡± Everyoneughed at Bijoo¡¯s eyes shaking for a moment. As Woojoo chuckled nervously, being auctioned off, Rihyuk behind him parted his lips with a serious face. He looked like he was going to put a sharp retort to this ridiculous joke, as usual. Woojoo had high hopes. Come on, Rihyuk. Give them a goodeback. But what came out of his pale face was something he never expected. ¡°10 billion is not enough. You have to consider the estimated value. This precious thing¡­ person will generate so much revenue next year.¡± ¡°That¡¯s right. We can¡¯t sell him cheap.¡± ¡°Let¡¯s sell him expensive if we¡¯re going to sell him. We.¡± Woojoo grabbed the back of his neck at the sight of his younger brothers joking around. He dered as he looked at themughing on both sides, ¡°I¡¯m quitting the Mint Choco-dan.¡± -No way. -Woojoo-nim is already the leader of the Mint Choco-dan. -That¡¯s right. We ditched Hanjo Hyung as soon as we heard the arrangement. -Guys¡­ ¡­When did Woojoo be the leader? Bijoo pped his hands and shouted, ¡°Hyung, you¡¯re the leader.¡± ¡°Shall we sing a song of congrattions for your inauguration?¡± As they sang ¡®congrattions~ congrattions~¡¯ from both sides, Woojoo felt like his soul had left his body. He had seen a meme like that before. A meme of a cat being surrounded by ten retrievers wagging their tails like crazy. It was so cute that he saved it on his phone¡­ But cute his ass. Woojoo understood exactly how the cat felt as it ran away from the retrievers. He would delete it from his album as soon as this call was over. Feeling a bit dizzy, Woojoo said, ¡°I¡¯ll pass on this kind of celebration. I¡¯m resigning from the position of Mint Choco-dan leader.¡± -Huh¡­ ¡°I¡¯ll delegate the leadership to Hanjo.¡± -Hanjo Hyung? They looked at each other nkly. Then someone said without hesitation. -Resign. -Resign, Hyung. -Can¡¯t I be the second leader? -Go away, tree. Unless you want to be firewood. Under the pressure of countless siblings, Hanjo resigned, and the third leader of the Mint Choco-dan was elected by a vote. ¡°Congrattions~ Congrattions~¡± -Woo! Yu! Light! Color! Seon Woojoo! ¡°Congrattions on bing the third leader of the Mint Choco-dan, Hyung!¡± Beagles swarmed Woojoo from all directions. Even Rihyuk, who would normally sneer at Woojoo, patted his shoulder with a bitter look in his eyes. ¡°Ugh¡­ I hate this.¡± Hanjo said. -Woojoo-ssi, why don¡¯t we just form our own group? ¡°Should we?¡± They had to get along with each other if they wanted to be friends. Since they couldn¡¯t diss each other¡¯s groups, they made their own group leaders into firewood and had a barbecue party. After countless push and pull, Woojoo ended up being the 1st, 3rd, 5th, 7th, and 9th leader of the Mint Choco-dan. Of course, during that time, the joint stage meeting was also carried out diligently. ¡°Then we¡¯ll prepare the performance like that. We need to talk about the costumes,¡± Woojoo said. ¡°First of all, the song ¡®Sunshine¡¯ is a song that Trend Sunbae-nims released when they were rtively young, in their teens. It¡¯s a fresh and lively song.¡± Hanjo caught on to what Woojoo wanted to say. -That¡¯s right. So is ¡®Fate¡¯. It¡¯s a song that uses their autobiographical story of dreaming in a high school hip-hop club as a material. ¡°Hanjo, you really think the same as me.¡± -Did we click? As they praised each other and smiled happily, the twelve siblings looked nervous. Woojoo said, ¡°In that sense, there¡¯s only one costume that would suit this song, right? That is¡­¡± -School uniforms. ¡°School uniforms, yes.¡± At first, they felt a bit of resistance, but they quickly shut their mouths when they saw the eyes of the leaders of both groups, burning with obsession over school uniforms. Jiho spoke. ¡°Why don¡¯t we just let them wear school uniforms if they want it so badly?¡± -Yeah. When else would we get to wear these uniforms? ¡°Woojoo Hyung really loves school uniforms, that¡¯s why. Please understand.¡± -Hanjo Hyung too. He smiles from ear to ear whenever the school uniform conceptes up. With that, Hanjo and Woojoo started to passionately exin the aesthetics of school uniforms to their younger siblings. ¡°You guys don¡¯t know the beauty of school uniforms. How precious and conceptual they are. You might get sick of wearing them every day, but for some people, they are the clothes they always want to wear again.¡± -That¡¯s right. We won¡¯t be able to do this concept once we get older. ¡°I agree. Think about your leaders¡¯ ages. In a few years, we¡¯ll look like a shback scene from a high school drama if we wear school uniforms.¡± Everyone burst outughing at the shback scene joke. Anyway, after that persuasion, they were able to quell theints of the cafeteria kids who were making a fuss in each group. They had a lot of discussions during the hour and a half long call. It was the first time in a long time that they had such a fun and enjoyable conversation, and smiles filled their faces. They weren¡¯t very close friends yet, but it felt like they had made a good friend in the entertainment industry. Most of the people they had met so far and maintained some friendship with were distant seniors. Jang Sowon Sunbae, Ye siblings, Heysion, etc. That was why they didn¡¯t have anyone they could hang out withfortably and say anything, but they seemed to be just that kind of people. Of course, it wasn¡¯t just them who felt that way, but the other side also had a simr vibe. As if to prove how lonely they had been, Street Boys also poured out their chatter with a more upbeat tension than usual. New ck also responded enthusiastically and chatted away. -When we get a little more seniority, we¡¯ll have some free time! Let¡¯s eat together then! ¡°Sounds good! I know a lot of good ces!¡± -Wow! ¡­A meal promise. That was fast. But unlike New ck, there seemed to be another emotion mixed in with the reaction of Street Boys. -This feels really good. Someone said from the other side. -This is the first time we¡¯ve had a meeting like this where we can share our opinions. -Yeah. -It feels like we¡¯ve be important people somehow. Thank you so much. Really. It was just a normal meeting for New ck, but the other side was so happy. They looked like elementary school students who had been stuck at home because of a bad family environment and had gone to the market alone for the first time. Woojoo felt a bit bitter, but also thanked them for having fun with them even though they were boring. As they were about to say goodbye, Hanjo asked. -By the way, before we tell thepany people, I have a question. When will the arrangement be done? ¡°Wait a minute. I¡¯ll ask our A&R staff. This is not something I can do by myself in terms of time¡­¡± As Woojoo said that, he sent a message to Seo Pilgeun, who worked in theposition department of the A&R Team, with the public phone. There was no answer. Woojoo called him¡­ ¡°Huh, why isn¡¯t he picking up?¡± ¡°Did he go home?¡± ¡°No. He said he was workingte today.¡± Then, something shed through Woojoo¡¯s mind. He reached out to Junghyun and said, ¡°Junghyun, can I borrow your phone?¡± ¡°Wait a minute.¡± Junghyun rummaged through his pockets and tilted his head. Then he went over to the sofa. The phone stuck between the cushions came into Woojoo¡¯s hand. ¡­Woojoo should have borrowed someone else¡¯s. Woojoo immediately took Junghyun¡¯s phone and called Seo Pilgeun. As expected. -Hello. He picked up right away. ¡°Team Leader Seo.¡± -¡­Woojoo? What, what¡¯s up? ¡°Why didn¡¯t you answer my call?¡± -Oh, uh, well¡­ Woojoo, huh? Aha! I didn¡¯t answer because I didn¡¯t know the number. Hahaha. No. Woojoo didn¡¯t understand why they avoided him when it came toposition. Woojoo just contacted him a few times when he had something to ask or needed aboutposition¡­ Woojoo saw the light return to his siblings¡¯ eyes. ¡°¡­How many times?¡± ¡°Just put your hand on your chest and think. It¡¯s this old man.¡± Woojoo ignored him and exined the purpose of his call. After Woojoo hung up, he looked at the nine Street Boys who were staring at him. They all avoided his gaze while he was on the phone. Woojoo wondered what they had been talking about. ¡°Whatever you guys are thinking, it¡¯s a misunderstanding. Hey, Tree-ssi, stop avoiding eye contact. I¡¯m not a dangerous person.¡± -I¡¯m not a tree, I¡¯m LB¡­ ¡°Anyway, about the work, Hanjo-ssi? Why are you avoiding eye contact too?¡± -My eyes were tired from looking at the screen. These guys were really acting as a group. ¡°If you don¡¯t look me in the eye, you¡¯ll have to work with me.¡± All nine of them opened their eyes wide. And the siblings who were behind Woojoo leaned their necks like giraffes and looked at him. ¡°¡­¡­.¡± Soon, a noisyughter erupted everywhere. ¡­Woojoo wanted to do it alone. Seriously. After the meeting for the TBC year-end music festival joint stage. The ball was in the adults¡¯ court. Their A&R Team handled the details of the arrangement, and the management teams of each agency took care of the preparation of costumes and other coordination matters rted to the joint stage. They only set up the big picture, but they couldn¡¯t draw the small details ourselves. Everyone had their own expertise. And they didn¡¯t have much time. There was more than one year-end stage. They also had to prepare for the Something stage with Jang Sowon Sunbae, and more importantly, there was another joint stage besides TBC. The COEX exhibition hall. They looked around and eximed. ¡°Wow¡­¡± There was blue everywhere. There were temporary blue tents set up here and there in therge exhibition hall. Each tent had a sign with words like ¡®Daydream¡¯, ¡®TNT¡¯, ¡®Male Dancer¡¯. It was the ce where the performers of the HBS music awards, which would be held today, the 21st, Sunday, would wait. ¡°Are there not many people here yet?¡± ¡°It¡¯s the end of the year. The other seniors are busy with their schedules. There will only be rookies at this time.¡± Usually, the rookies rehearsed first because they had to wait longer after the rehearsal. And today, the rookies¡¯ joint stage was first. They entered a small tent with the name ¡®New ck¡¯ with their managers and other staff. ¡°Guys, let¡¯s practice by ourselves first.¡± While the staff were unpacking, they went to a corner and practiced the choreography they had learned before. The Masquerade choreography was now so familiar that they could match the movements even with their eyes closed, but today¡¯s joint choreography was not. When they practiced, the trainers and dancers matched the movements of the other teams, but it was difficult to do it by themselves, imagining the movements of the other people in their heads. They were practicing over and over again until they got it right, when the tent opened and Minki Hyung came in with his phone. ¡°They said almost all the other teams have arrived. They want us to coordinate our movements in front of the stage. I said OK.¡± ¡°Okay, let¡¯s go.¡± New ck quickly followed the two managers and headed to the open space at the corner of the exhibition hall. When they got there, they saw that two girl groups had arrived before them. More than a dozen of them greeted New ck. ¡°Hello!¡± They were Blink from KM Entertainment and Serenity from MOP Entertainment. Like New ck, they all had name tags on their chests for the dry rehearsal. The Blink members came up to them with a friendly smile. ¡°Oh, long time no see. Nice to meet you!¡± ¡°Yes, indeed.¡± They seemed to have gotten over the slight awkwardness they had after the Everdream ad, and greeted them warmly as usual. Serenity also exchanged greetings with them, since they had recently been on a music show together. Well, none of them had a long conversation, so it was more like a superficial greeting, but somehow they seemed more eager to talk to them than to each other. How should he put it? It was like when you were talking awkwardly to someone you had never met before, and then someone you knew came into the room. The two girl groups looked ufortable with each other, as if they were strangers. ¡­That was weird. Woojoo tilted his head involuntarily. They must have paired New ck with Street Boys for the rookie joint stage at the TBC year-end festival. Woojoo had assumed that Serenity and Blink would be doing a joint stage as well. But the atmosphere didn¡¯t seem like that. They looked like they had just met and were uneasy. Could it be¡­ At that moment, Woojoo thought of the fact that KM Entertainment and MOP Entertainment were two of the Big Four agencies, but then he stopped. ¡°Hello! We are Street Boys!¡± Street Boys appeared and interrupted Woojoo¡¯s thoughts. Their members came over to them and greeted them warmly. ¡°We haven¡¯t seen you since our phone call a week ago.¡± ¡°Ha, it¡¯s the leader.¡± ¡°Hello, leader.¡± ¡­Woojoo ignored them. They kept calling him the leader of Mint Choco-dan in front of other teams and managers, but they didn¡¯t know how embarrassing it was. Woojoo quickly opened his mouth to avoid the following words. ¡°Well, since we¡¯re all here, shall we try to sync up?¡± ¡°Yes!¡± There was a bit of confusion at first, as they had to arrange more than twenty idol members. They only settled down after looking at each other¡¯s name tags. Then, with a strange tension in the air, the four groups synced up. ¡°Hey! Watch out!¡± ¡°Ah, the steps are tangled. Let¡¯s spread out a bit.¡± At first, there were people bumping into each other everywhere, but after about five minutes, the sync was smooth. They all seemed to have practiced well enough, and Woojoo couldn¡¯t help but admire them. After about thirty minutes of syncing up. They got the news from the production team that it was time for the dry rehearsal, and the practice was over. ¡°Good job, everyone!¡± They pped their hands and started to move to the stage. The youngest one who stuck to Woojoo¡¯s side whispered to him. ¡°Hyung, the atmosphere is kind of weird, don¡¯t you think?¡± ¡°Right?¡± It seemed like he wasn¡¯t the only one who felt that way, as the other younger ones nodded quietly. What should he say? The atmosphere was unique, as if they had gathered the four rookie groups that had the best results this year. It wasn¡¯t that they hated each other or anything, but they felt a subtle sense ofpetition and nervousness. They didn¡¯t say anything out loud, but it seemed like they were expressing the words ¡®I have to do well!¡¯ with their whole bodies. If Woojoo had topare it, it felt like they were among the finalists. As of December 21st, there were 64 idol groups that had debuted on music shows. Among them, only four groups could perform on the year-end stage. New ck from Lemon Entertainment. Blink from KM Entertainment. Serenity from MOP Entertainment. Street Boys from DNS Media. There might be more teams that could achieve good resultster, but as of now, these were the only ones that were called noteworthy rookies, including New ck. It was an amazing feat, but that didn¡¯t mean that these four teams would definitely seed in the future. It was just a final entry. Performing on the year-end stage meant something like that. Only these four teams out of all the rookies had earned the right to enter the mainstream music industry as neers. And there was another meaning to today¡¯s HBS Music Awards. One of these four would win the Rookie Award. Chapter 162: Chapter 162: Trantor: MarcTempest Editor: Rxel Chapter 162 To be honest, Woojoo didn¡¯t know about this time. Last time, at the Mango Chart Awards, they were the only attendees among the rookie nominees, so they practically went out thinking ¡®we got this¡¯. But Woojoo was doubtful if they could keep up that momentum until this HBS Music Awards. Of course, they were overwhelming in terms of indicators. It was to the point where people would say, who else but New ck? They were the number one in album sales among the rookies who debuted this year. Their digital performance was beyond words. Masquerade was still staying within the top 10 of the daily chart, and Something was not showing any signs of dropping from the chart.On top of that, Woojoo heard that Fireworks would make it into the top 100 of the yearly chart. Objectively speaking, they, New ck, were the undisputed first ce among the rookie groups who appeared today. But the world didn¡¯t always go bymon sense. Due to the nature of the year-end stages of the three terrestrial broadcasters, where the influence of the big agencies was strong, it wouldn¡¯t be strange if another group took it. Then Woojoo would be a little¡­ No, very angry. Anyway, he wasn¡¯t the optimistic type for various reasons. Just look at Street Boys. They were the first ce in theizen vote, but they drank bitter water at thest Hong Kong Awards. Maybe that was why, after finishing the dry rehearsal anding down, Hanjo said quietly, ¡°I hope New ck wins.¡± ¡°Huh?¡± ¡°The award should go to the deserving ones.¡± The Street Boys members whispered loudly as if they really wanted them to win. ¡°Please win. The Rookie Award.¡± ¡°You have to make the leader¡¯s ck history.¡± ¡°This one has to go to New ck.¡± Their eyes were directed at the Blink members who were far away, and it was a look of rivalry. Come to think of it, they lost to Blink at thest KMA Rookie Award. They looked like people who were asking them to avenge their enemies, and Woojoo couldn¡¯t help but smile. It was amazing. They seemed to firmly believe that they would win the Rookie Award. More than them. Although it was called a music award, the event today was basically no different from a music show. Only the stage equipment and the size of the audience were different. As in a music show, the schedule was to wait, wait, and wait some more. After having lunch, and barely having dinner with a lunch box, the surroundings started to get noisy. The singers with seniority arrived one by one. ¡°Shall we go around and say hello?¡± They visited the tent of Teen Spirit, which was nearby, first. They had a pretty boy concept, but their mouths were always rough, so they were the group New ck visited first in the waiting room. It was a great strategy of hitting the whip first if you were going to get hit anyway. Sure enough. Even before they entered, there were various noises from inside the tent. -Get lost! Get lost! -Just one bite! Just one bite! Do you want to die like this? -No! I don¡¯t want to! The conversation was filtered even though it contained swear words. Tey looked at each other and smiled warmly. Junghyun said, ¡°They seem to be in a good mood today.¡± ¡°Yeah, the conversation is smooth.¡± ¡°Ugh¡­ I¡¯m still not used to it. Junghyun Hyung, I¡¯ll stand behind you, so please understand. Don¡¯t push me aside likest time, saying you can¡¯t see my face.¡± ¡°Okay. I got it.¡± ¡°Our coward. Are you scared?¡± ¡°You are. You freeze when you face Teen Spirit Sunbae-nims.¡± They left the guys who were growling at each other behind and Woojoo lifted the tent and entered. ¡°Excuse me¡­¡± As Woojoo entered, there were Teen Spirit members. Some were sitting and ying with their phones, and some were arguing. One was sitting with his mouth shut and shaking his head, and two or three others were standing in front of him with a pork cutlet on a chopstick. ¡­What was going on? ¡°Eat it, please! Please!¡± ¡°No! I¡¯m on a diet!¡± ¡°You¡¯re going to die like this! Do you want to diet your soul too? Is this how you¡¯re going to do it?¡± ¡°Uh, I¡¯m going to die.¡± ¡°Go ahead. You have a lot of sins, so you¡¯ll go to hell.¡± It was a scene of the leader, Hwiyeon, trying to feed something to Yeonhu, a member who was on a diet. They decided to greet them at this point. ¡°Hello! We are New ck!¡± The members of Teen Spirit looked at them at the same time. Then Yeonhu smiled at them. ¡°Hey, if you¡¯re going to give it away, why don¡¯t you just give it to New ck over there!¡± ¡°What are you talking about, you crazy bastard.¡± Then the leader, Hwiyeon, who was holding a pork cutlet with chopsticks, looked at New ck and asked politely, ¡°Do you want some?¡± ¡°¡­No. I¡¯m fine.¡± ¡°Hey! See! He doesn¡¯t eat!¡± He started to nag at the member again, but it was too noisy to stay still. Rihyuk and Jiho quietly hid behind them. The managers who were sitting nearby showed them a resigned smile and quietly rubbed their necks. They were about to finish the conversation and leave when Hwiyeon said that. ¡°By the way, you seem to be getting the Rookie Award.¡± ¡°What? The announcement is not yet¡­¡± ¡°Who else would get it if not New ck? Congrattions.¡± He bluntly congratted them first, so they thanked him and left the tent. Jiho swept his hair back and said, ¡°Whew. We handled that well.¡± ¡°Right. Today was not bad.¡± Rihyuk also chuckled and smiled, making Woojoough absurdly. It seemed like one of them grabbed his clothes from behind. Anyway. These cowards. Woojoo smiled and wiped the cold sweat on his hand with his pants. ¡°¡­Whew, we dodged a bullet. Come on, let¡¯s go and greet the rest.¡± Next, they stopped by the tent of Scarlet, a senior singer from the same agency as them. Inside, there was a constant sound ofughter. They could hear the singing too. Jiho peeked into the tent and shook his head. ¡°They¡¯re huddled around the heater and dancing with each other.¡± ¡°¡­Let¡¯se backter. Not here.¡± Woojoo remembered the award ceremony. When he came to his senses, he was wrapped up in the face over there. They also visited the tent of Girls on Top nearby and exchanged awkward greetings. They also greeted the senior singers, including the bad singer who would be with them today. But somehow, the greetings that came back were simr. -You seem to have a good day today. Congrattions. It sounded like apliment, but they all congratted them as if it was certain. At first, Woojoo wondered, ¡®Why are they like that?¡¯ Woojoo thought, ¡®It¡¯s not even sure yet,¡¯ but he soon realized. Everyone thought that no one else would get the Rookie Award if not them. Woojoo finally realized the truth that he had been half-doubting until now, thanks to them. ¡°Wow, did we really hit the jackpot this year?¡± Was it because they beat TNT and ranked first in thest week? The atmosphere was different from the Mango Chart Awards. It felt like the singers who came here acknowledged them to some extent. Woojoo felt happy, but also a bit embarrassed. Then, they ran into Street Boys, who came out of TNT¡¯s tent. But¡­ Something was off. They avoided eye contact with Woojoo. They acted awkwardly around him, as if they had done something wrong. Woojoo asked them, ¡°What happened in TNT¡¯s waiting room?¡± ¡°Uh, well¡­¡± Hanjo said with a troubled face, ¡°I¡¯m sorry. We had no choice.¡± ¡°What?¡± ¡°I¡¯m sorry!¡± ¡°Hey, what are you sorry for, you guys!¡± They all said ¡°I¡¯m sorry!¡± and ran away, leaving Woojoo blinking in confusion. Woojoo looked at his younger members, but they all shrugged as if they didn¡¯t know what was going on. And when he entered TNT¡¯s waiting room, he immediately understood what they were sorry for. As soon as Woojoo lifted the tent and went inside, eight pairs of eyes turned to him. Soon, a strange smile appeared on their lips. ¡°?¡± Woojoo was about to greet them, but Han Taehyun stood up from his seat. He smiled kindly. ¡°Wee, Leader.¡± ¡°¡­¡± ¡°Puhahaha!¡± TNT members looked at Woojoo and burst intoughter, pointing at him. ¡°Puhahaha!¡± ¡°Mincho boss. Mincho boss!¡± ¡°Leader, wee!¡± ¡­What did Woojoo do wrong in his previous life? Woojoo muttered that, and Junghyun blinked his eyes and asked, ¡°Did you love mint chocte too much?¡± ¡°Puhahaha! Come here! Daegil¡¯s friend! We¡¯ll give you a special treat!¡± ¡°Can Ie too?¡± ¡°Come on!¡± ¡°Kekkekke!¡± Damn. ¡­Woojoo really wished they weren¡¯t so friendly with each other, except for him. 8:45 p.m. Thousands of spectators filled the COEX D Hall, where a huge stage was set up. As the camera swept over the faces of the people wearing masks or holding light sticks. The 2014 HBS Music Awards finally began. After the special stage by the three male and female MCs, the MCs took their seats. -Hello! I¡¯m Taehyun, the charismatic dancer of TNT! -I¡¯m Hwiyeon, the cutie of Teen Spirit! -Yes, I¡¯m Han Yeoreum, the actress who will be hosting the first part. Nice to meet you. After each of them greeted, some events using the sponsored app followed, and the stage officially started. The opening stage was an indie band called ¡®Ee Jihoon and the Lazy Dogs¡¯ wearing sunsses. They heated up the audience with their music mixed with djembe and guitar. A cheerful folk song that everyone sang along with their light sticks. -They are the rookies who heated up this year! -Before the Rookie Award, let¡¯s enjoy the stage of the super rookies! The stages of the rookie candidates followed one after another. The first batter was Blink. [BLINK] The group name appeared on the giant LED screen, and the door opened. Four singers appeared on the lift with a powerful intro. They performed a rap and dance in the style of hip hop, wearing ck leather outfits. After the 1 minute and 30 seconds teaser dance, they moved to the front of the stage and lined up on the left. The second was Street Boys. The group name that appears on the screen against the gray wall. [Street Boys¡¯] The members, who usually wear gold nes and heavy smoky makeup, walked swaggeringly. They spat out fast and powerful raps with intimidating expressions and shrugging shoulders. While the rappers, led by Hanjo and LB, poured out the lyrics, the main vocal Kiwon¡¯s high notes followed in between. Someone¡¯s shout burst out from the audience as if to respond for a moment. The 1 minute and 30 seconds stage of the song ¡®Deeper¡¯, which was based on western hip hop, ended and the Street Boys stood in the center of the stage. The next act that came up. -We¡¯re Serenity With a whisper-like voice, the nine members of Serenity came up and started dancing. If the previous Blink and Street Boys had a hip hop-based vibe, they showcased dance music that focused on refreshing vocals. After the stage that highlighted their long arms and legs¨C ¡°Wow, amazing¡­¡± ¡°Insane. They¡¯re all good. This year¡¯s rookies.¡± ¡°Really, there¡¯s no w.¡± The audience members who stood in the standing seats exchanged whispers during the break. A loud scream started from somewhere. ¡®What?¡¯ It didn¡¯t take long to realize that it was the fans of New ck, who were scattered around. The letters that appeared on the screen. [The New ck] ¡°¡­Do they have more fans than I thought?¡± ¡°Listen to the sound.¡± As they looked surprised. A familiar melody flowed through the speakers. It was Masquerade, which was staying in the upper ranks of the chart. The general audience, who were just wow-ing and ah-ing, perked up their ears as they heard the song they knew. ¡°Wow.¡± The New ck members, who wore different suits with style, started the stage. It was a somewhat quiet atmosphere. Rather thaning out and moving around like the other groups, they moved within the given lines, forming a circle. As the song verse flowed, the corresponding member showed their performance, and the other members stood still like statues. In this way, the five members showed their choreography in turn, and then moved their bodies softly to the short chorus that followed. It was not a fierce dance like the usual Masquerade, but a smooth dance like flowing water. As their hands and feet moved smoothly and drew something in the air, the people¡¯s eyes moved back and forth. ¡®They¡¯re good.¡¯ It was the thought that everyone, whether near or far, or watching TV, had at the same time. They did well. Of course, they were a bit better than other rookie idols in terms of skills, but not enough to feel overwhelming. They felt that they were doing well, just like the other rookies. But there was something about their expressions or gestures that drew their attention, for some reason. Especially those who had been to music shows several times before, they licked their lips with a familiar feeling. It happened sometimes. They went to a music show to see their singer, but while watching another group¡¯s stage, they caught a glimpse of one member. But in the case of New ck, all five of them were eye-catching, even though there were some differences. It was the same for the joint stage that followed. Even in the joint dance where more than twenty idols gathered, the members of New ck captivated the viewers. Especially among them, one member who seemed to dance easily by himself and two members who charmed people with their facial expressions drew the attention. The reaction was the same on the inte. -I wish all the cameras except the front one were broken -Is this lip-syncing?? -Wow. The camera is always new and crappy, right? Those who were watching the year-end stage live also showed interest when New ck appeared on the screen. -New ck really stands out in a good way -What¡¯s going on this year? The rookies are so good¡­??? -Crazy??? The rookie pool is insane -They didn¡¯t have much time to match with each other, but they fit so well;; -Is it just me or New ck is especially noticeable¡­? -Is it because of their expressions? I keep looking at them because of that It was also the result of practicing expressions for almost five hours, but to those who didn¡¯t know the situation, it was a stage that somehow stood out. And the harmony also contributed. They didn¡¯t try to stand out by themselves, but they blended smoothly with the other group members in one screen. That was why the other groups were also getting good reviews. Maybe that was why. After the leader of New ck shook his head lightly to shake off the sweat and the main vocal of Serenity swept her hair back while breathing hard, they were caught in a picture-like two-shot and the screen went dark. When the model Han Sora and the actor Lee Kangjin, who came out as the presenters, announced the Rookie Award winners, no one was surprised. -Congrattions. New ck! Somehow, with moist eyes, the faces of the New ck members who came to receive the award and the people who were smiling in the singer seats crossed and flowed. Even though they must have expected it, somehow the ones who were most surprised at this ce were New ck themselves. The other members were standing behind and the leader of New ck grabbed the standing microphone with a very serious face. ¡­Then the static electricity rose. -Ouch, ouch! The scene where the MCs near him covered their lips with their lips or the progress card was caught on the screen with a tant scream. -Ahem. Then, with a nonchnt expression, Woojoo coughed and opened the first word of his impression toward the camera. He smiled with confidence, as if he could easily handle this kind of thing. -Hello. We are New ck. Well, be careful of static electricity. Everyone. At that,ughter erupted in the hall. It was the second Rookie Award, but the joy was no less than the first. ¡°Congrattions!¡± ¡°Congrattions!¡± They heard congrattions from everywhere after the second part ending stage. When they left the waiting room, Junghyun put the Rookie Award trophy in his padding jacket like a puppy and walked around, making everyoneugh. They were giggling. ¡°Wow, how can it be so pretty?¡± ¡°Right? Look at this radiance.¡± ¡°It shines. It shines.¡± They touched the trophy like a tempting gold nugget. They were happy. Really happy. Even if someone came next to them and said something bad, Woojoo felt like he couldugh it off today. Woojoo didn¡¯t know if it was because of the heat of the stage or because of the award, but his cheeks were hot. What should he do with this happy feeling? He had to call Mrs. Kim Deoksoonter and brag for an hour. Woojoo sent a selfie taken next to the trophy. He also wrote a sensible message. She would be touched by his sincerity, right? He smiled contentedly as he pressed the send button. ¡°Hyung! Hurry up!¡± ¡°Okay, I¡¯m going!¡± Woojoo quickly smiled and followed his siblings who were ahead of him. At the same time, in Gunsan. Mrs. Kim Deoksoon, who had ced a cat on herp and was watching TV, kept looking at her phone that was shaking with vibrations. ¡¾ Group Chat: Children¡¯s Harvest ¡¿ Junghyun¡¯s Dad [What a great day,] Junghyun¡¯s Dad [Our kids won another award!!] Bijoo¡¯s Mom [Oh my] Bijoo¡¯s Mom [Look at the message my child sent me¡­!] Bijoo¡¯s Mom [(Screenshot)] I¡¯m Chairman Wang Hyuntak [I just got a cute text too??] I¡¯m Chairman Wang Hyuntak [My adorable son ??] Each of them uploaded screenshots of the texts their children sent them, such as ¡®Thank you¡¯ or ¡®I love you?¡¯. ¡®Why isn¡¯t this brat contacting me.¡¯ ¡®Hurry up and send one, send!¡¯ As she was thinking this, she finally received the long-awaited message from her grandson. It was a message with 37 pictures attached. Woojoo [Kim Deoksoon acrostic poem~~!!] Woojoo [Kim not going to say anything] Woojoo [Deoksoon ah] Woojoo [Just look at my selfies~?] ¡°¡­¡± She suddenly felt a surge of anger. Chapter 163: Chapter 163: Trantor: MarcTempest Editor: Rxel Chapter 163 Everyone had a sensitive spot. Some people had a keen sense of smell and react to the slightest odor, while others had sharp hearing and woke up to the smallest sound. Like that, everyone had a sensitive area. For Woojoo, it was his grandmother¡¯s mood. ¡°Our Kim Deoksoon! I know her best. This is it.¡± ¡°Was that all you wanted to say, you burn victim? You made such a big deal out of it.¡±¡°Ahem, anyway, something¡¯s been off with hertely. Ever since the music awards, she¡¯s been lukewarm¡­¡± She had been like that since the day he won the Rookie Award. She seemed to be sulking about something, and her usual grumpiness was 1.3 times more than usual when he texted or called her. It was too subtle to ask her ¡®what¡¯s wrong?¡¯ but too noticeable to ignore. As Bijoo listened to his story in the car, he asked him, ¡°Hyung, what part is different from the usual Grandma?¡± ¡°Yeah, I¡¯m curious too.¡± ¡°Wait a minute. I¡¯ll show you.¡± Woojoo took out his phone and showed them the chat he had with Mrs. Kim Deoksoon. ¡°Look. When I say I love you, she says ¡®yeah.¡¯ but there¡¯s only one dot, right? But she usually uses two dots.¡± ¡°¡­¡± ¡°One dot means she¡¯s ufortable. ¡®Yeah..¡¯ and ¡®Yeah.¡¯ are totally different, right?¡± ¡°Aha¡­¡± No one sympathized with him. Woojoo thought about exining more, but he felt like he would look weird, so he gave up. It wasn¡¯t like he could get an answer from them anyway. He didn¡¯t know why she was so upset, but he decided to call her tonight and cheer her up with a lot of aegyo. Woojoo might as well buy her a nice Christmas present too. A handwritten letter would be a total hit, right? As he chuckled to himself, a cheerful melody came to his ears. It was the carol song ¡®Let it Snow¡¯ ying on the radio. ¡°Oh, the weather outside is frightful¨C¡± Jiho waved his arms and hummed along to the carol, and they all joined him. December 24th. Christmas Eve. Snow was falling outside the window. It was snowing heavily, and the bos of the cars parked nearby were covered with snow. The road had turned into a ck puddle, but the street was full of snow piled up everywhere. They looked at the snow umting one by one through the window and sang along to the carol happily. Their main vocal sang the carol lyrics with a clear and beautiful voice, and the youngest and Junghyun added rhythm by pping their hands. Bijoo danced as if he was a fairy sprinkling snow, and it was so cute that Woojooughed. It was a simple game they yed among ourselves, but it felt like a small stage they performed in the car, since their job was their job. It was quite convincing, as the eyes of Dowon-ssi, who was looking at them through the rearview mirror, were curved. As the next song came on, they sang along, and Woojoo asked the driver, ¡°Manager, when will we get there?¡± ¡°We¡¯re almost there. Oh, there it is.¡± He pointed to a building that was visible through the snow. The gray and gloomy five-story building was the headquarters of DNS Media. Snow-covered Christmas Eve. Today¡¯s schedule was a joint practice with Street Boys. As they arrived at the DNS Media headquarters, the road manager from Street Boys guided them. ¡°Wow, this is amazing.¡± ¡°There¡¯s a restaurant-like ce on the first floor. There¡¯s a sink, and I guess they cook and eat there.¡± ¡°It¡¯s kind of simr to ourpany, right?¡± The manager took pictures of them as they looked around like they were visiting a model house. Woojoo made a V sign and said, ¡°We came to DNS Media today~¡± ¡°For a joint practice~!¡± ¡°Now, shall we go and meet our Street friends~¡± ¡°Shall we~?¡± They were in perfect sync. Woojoo made a gun shape with his finger and said ¡®go go!¡¯ and the kids also smiled and said ¡®go go go!¡¯ The road manager on the other side nced and asked, ¡°Is this it? The reality show that the managers talked about?¡± ¡°Yes, it is.¡± Their manager answered. The scene they were filming with a handycam was going to be uploaded on YouTube as a practice video of them and the Street Boys. The title would probably be something like ¡®Behind the Scenes of Mint Choco-dan¡¯s Practice?!¡¯ Since thepanies had already agreed on this, the Street Boys were also waiting for them in the practice room, dressed up nicely. New ck followed their manager to the second floor and were guided to a spacious practice room. ck. As soon as they opened the door and entered, the Street Boys who were sitting in their ces turned their heads awkwardly. The fake acting began right away. ¡°Uh-uh! What¡¯s this?¡± ¡°Where is that Rookie Award vibeing from, like a minty breeze?¡± ¡°Wow! It¡¯s New. . Ck.¡± ¡°Stop acting, Tree, unless you want to burn.¡± ¡°¡­Annoying. Why do they always say I¡¯m burnt?¡± LB grumbled and they pped their hands andughed. They had agreed to pretend they didn¡¯t know each other and greet them casually, but they were all showing off their terrible acting skills. The enthusiastic wee followed. ¡°Woahhh!¡± ¡°The No-Fun Family is here!¡± ¡°Wait, wait. Let¡¯s do that thing. The one we practiced togetherst time.¡± One of the Street Boys¡¯ members pointed his finger at the New ck siblings. Then he asked with a serious face, ¡°Are you No-Fun?¡± ¡°Yes! We¡¯re No-Fun!¡± ¡°Woahhh! Comrades! Comrades!¡± They were good. They were good. While the energetic siblings were dancing like monkeys, the monkey bosses nodded their heads with solemn faces. ¡°¡­¡± No words were needed. Their eyes were full of camaraderie as they looked at each other among the chaotic siblings. When Woojoo was exchanging hot nces with Hanjo and saying ¡®You¡¯ve worked hard¡¯, one of the Street Boys¡¯ members pointed at the thing in Woojoo¡¯s hand. ¡°Hey? Boss! What¡¯s that?¡± ¡°Oh. Well, I thought it would be rude toe empty-handed as a guest. We brought some snacks for you.¡± ¡°Aww~ You didn¡¯t have to do that¡­¡± Their greedy eyes sparkled at the snack bag in Woojoo¡¯s hand. Their bear was also in there. Look at him. Drooling. Woojoo knew he would be like that, so he didn¡¯t entrust this heavy bag to him. ¡°Snacks! Snacks!¡± ¡°Quiet down and sit down, everyone. No snacks if you make noise.¡± ¡°Yes!¡± ¡­They listened well, didn¡¯t they? As Woojoo looked at them sitting in front of him like a bunch of kindergarteners, he seriously wondered if he could use food as a training method. Bijoo shook his head next to Woojoo as if to say no, so he gave up. In the midst of their kids and their kids staring at him with their round eyes, Woojoo unfolded the snacks one by one. ¡°First, I bought ice cream with 31 vors. The vors are random, and if you eat it in pairs¡­¡± ¡°Ahem.¡± ¡°And this is a cookie.¡± ¡°Ahem.¡± ¡°Jiho, do you have something to say?¡± ¡°No. Ahem.¡± ¡°¡­¡± Woojoo sighed as the youngest kept appealing to him with a smug face. ¡°These snacks are all paid by our Jiho. Let¡¯s all give him a round of apuse in gratitude.¡± ¡°Wow!¡± Their youngest enjoyed receiving bows with a pleased expression. Woojoo distributed the snacks he had carefully taken out and told them to eat well. Groups were formed here and there. It felt like meeting friends and having fun on Christmas Eve. They all smiled and shared cookies, orughed at some silly stories. A faint smile appeared on Woojoo¡¯s lips as he watched the warm scene of friendship. Yeah. Eat well. Kids. You¡¯ll have to eat well if you want to practiceter. Whatever. As Woojoo was watching them warmly, Junghyun, who was sitting across from him eating ice cream, said ¡°Oh.¡± ¡°What¡¯s wrong, Junghyun?¡± ¡°Hyung. Your expression just now was like that. That.¡± ¡°Like what?¡± ¡°That.¡± Junghyun seemed to have trouble finding the right word, so he bit his spoon and said, ¡°Hmm.¡± Then he said ¡°Ah! I got it.¡± and let go of his lips. He pointed at Woojoo with his finger, as if he had found a clear answer. ¡°The viin from Hansel and Gretel.¡± ¡°Hey.¡± Bijoo burst into a coolugh next to Woojoo. Maybe it was because he fed them well. The practice that day was very sessful. As far as Woojoo remembered, it was a very harmonious and warm atmosphere. -You devil¡­! -Hey, mister. Not everyone can dance as well as you and Bijoo. Please, have some humanity¡­ What? It¡¯s because of theck of flexibility? Don¡¯t make me do the splits! Hey! Woojoo-ssi! Stop pushing me! Aaaah! -If Bijoo and Woojoo appear in my dreams, I¡¯ll think it¡¯s a nightmare. The Street Boys also reacted warmly. -Do you always practice like this, New ck? -Wow. We thought we were tough when we practiced, but you guys are twice as tough. -Namoo. Where did that bastard go? ¡­Oh, he went to throw up ice cream? Well, that¡¯s understandable. -¡­Aaaah! The atmosphere was very hot, as befitting Christmas Eve. There was a lot of screaming everywhere, because Woojoo had increased the intensity of the practice much more than usual. He couldn¡¯t help it. That day was the first andst practice they could do with the Street Boys. They couldn¡¯t match their schedules on other days, so they had to make the most of it while they could. And he wasn¡¯t sure if it was that hard. Well. It might have been a bit hard¡­ ¡°A bit?¡± Rihyuk narrowed his eyes. ¡°A bit? Do you want to get salted?¡± ¡°Was it that hard? Bijoo, was it hard?¡± ¡°No.¡± Bijoo shook his head. He smiled softly, as if it was not at all, and said, ¡°It was manageable.¡± He turned his head and asked again. ¡°Bijoo said it was manageable, right?¡± ¡°No, I mean, you can¡¯t use those two as a standard¡­ Ah! I can¡¯t evenin about this anywhere. It was really crazy that day.¡± ¡°That¡¯s right. I would understand if the Street Boys put Woojoo Hyung¡¯s picture on a dart board.¡± ¡°Maybe they already stuck it on.¡± Woojoo said, ignoring the conversation that the three of them were having while nodding their heads, ¡°Anyway, thanks to our practice with the mindset of living only for today, our performance has be perfect, right?¡± ¡°Yes. It¡¯s thanks to me and Hyung¡¯s hard work that our Mint Choco-dan¡¯s joint performance waspleted.¡± ¡°Right?¡± ¡°Yes. You did a great job, Hyung.¡± ¡°No, no. Our Bijoo worked the hardest.¡± ¡°No, no. Hyung worked the hardest.¡± They smiled andughed together, saying ¡®It¡¯s all thanks to you¡¯, while the other three moved away as if they didn¡¯t want to join them. Rihyuk licked his tongue and said, ¡°He feels more upbeat than usual. Upbeat.¡± ¡°It¡¯s because he¡¯s wearing a school uniform.¡± That wasn¡¯t a wrong answer. One of the reasons why Woojoo was smiling happily right now was because of the clothes he was wearing. A blue jacket with a striped necktie. It was an outfit sponsored by Everdream, the school uniform brand that they were currently modeling for. It was a stage costume, but Woojoo was happy to wear a school uniform in his own way. He felt excited and thrilled. He wanted to do something fun with their kids, like going to the cinema and getting a youth discount, while screaming wow. His heart was pounding strangely and a smile kept leaking out of his mouth. As Woojoo started to take a selfie in front of the mirror, the youngest ran over and joined him. The other staff in the waiting room smiled as if they found them cute. ¡°Hyung, let¡¯s select our photos.¡± ¡°Let¡¯s do that.¡± As Woojoo looked at the photos stored in his phone¡¯s album with the youngest, he saw the date. December 30th. Today, the day before the TBC year-end music festival, was the day they pre-recorded their joint stage with Street Boys. Some of them had to pre-record because of the time needed for the singers to change and other things on the live stage, and their stage with Street Boys was one of them. So,ter, they were going to pre-record in the public hall where Souffles and Concretes would wave their light sticks together. Of course, there was still a lot of time left until the recording, but they had to dress up in advance. It was for the VCR shooting. TBC, who had seen their choreography video, suggested that a short VCR would be nice before they went on stage. Knock, knock. The door opened and the writer came in and called them. ¡°We¡¯re going to shoot the VCR.¡± ¡°Yes!¡± New ck went out to the hallway with their managers and saw that Street Boys were already waiting for them. They exchanged brief eye contact and gathered in front of the writer who was holding a notebook. She looked around them and said, ¡°What¡¯s the concept for the stage? It¡¯s about a singing club and a hip-hop club shing and then reconciling at school, right?¡± ¡°Yes.¡± ¡°We¡¯re going to show that in the VCR. Just a short clip, about 10 to 15 seconds. We¡¯ll film a scene where the two groups are walking from opposite ends of the hallway.¡± Their eyes briefly scanned the ends of the hallway. ¡°Then we¡¯ll film a scene where they meet in the middle of the hallway. We¡¯ll have a short dialogue there. You can say anything you want, as long as it sounds a bit rough or rebellious. The background music will cover it anyway.¡± They proceeded to film a few takes of each group walking towards the center with a serious atmosphere and a camera set up. The only thing left was the scene where the two groups faced each other. The leaders of each club had to confront each other in the hallway and exchange a line. Jiho whispered to Woojoo, ¡°Hyung, can you do this?¡± ¡°Why?¡± ¡°I¡¯m just worried. This is supposed to be like a delinquent teenager scene. I don¡¯t know if you can pull it off, you know, being a greenhouse lettuce and all¡­¡± ¡°Don¡¯t worry. I¡¯m a strong lettuce.¡± Their actor seemed concerned. The Street Boys were used to putting on a fierce expression and rocking the stage, but they had never done anything like this before. From the youngest¡¯s perspective, who specialized in acting, he wondered if Woojoo could handle the awkward dialogue. Woojoo whispered back. ¡°I¡¯m confident.¡± He had already mastered the perfect expressions for this situation. The two groups stayed at a distance from each other. ¡°Action!¡± As soon as the shooting signal came, they approached each other with swagger. The nine-member Street Boys, who walked with a cocky stride and a neck crack. The New ck members, who had fewer members but didn¡¯t lose their momentum, and hardened their faces with a fierce look. As the two groups walked towards each other, the Street Boys were surprised to see the member in the center of New ck. ¡®Wow¡­¡¯ Even though he had tried to look angry, the New ck members looked like angry roonspared to the leader, who had a different vibe. He was smiling softly just a moment ago. But now his eyes were cold and his lips had a rxed smile. He looked like a different person with just a change of expression. ¡®He¡¯s not just good atposing¡­?¡¯ He looked like a mafia boss from a movie, with a wless expression acting. ¡®He¡¯s scary.¡¯ The Street Boys felt a chill in their hearts. It wasn¡¯t because his expression was scary. It was because someone came to mind when they saw that expression. The person who always scolded them like a tiger. ¡®He looks like Teacher Heysion¡­¡¯ He reminded them of the stern rapper who taught them rap. On the other hand, the New ck members thought of someone else when they saw the leader¡¯s expression. ¡®He looks like Teen Spirit¡­¡¯ In reality, it was abination of the two expressions, but they didn¡¯t know that. They felt a shiver and rubbed their weak chests. For a moment, Hanjo and Woojoo had a staring contest. A serious atmosphere. As they nced at each other, as if their fate depended on it, silence fell on the hallway. ¡®Please say a line with a bit of a delinquent vibe.¡¯ The writer behind the camera signaled, and Woojoo opened his lips first. With a cold smile. His voice reached the ears of everyone who was nervously wondering what he would say. ¡°Do you have a lot of money?¡± The members behind the two leaders clenched their lips and felt their cheeks tremble. They barely held back theirughter. When the answer from Hanjo came, it was even worse. ¡°How much do you think I have?¡± ¡°About 5,000 won.¡± ¡°I have 10,000 won.¡± ¡°Good for you. Do you want to buy my math textbook?¡± ¡°Sorry. I¡¯m in humanities.¡± The members of both groups felt their cheeks tremble. As soon as the production team announced the end of the shooting, the members of both groups copsed on the floor and burst intoughter. The sound ofughter filled the hallway. ¡°¡­?¡± But the two leaders looked puzzled and stared at their siblings. Chapter 164: Chapter 164: Trantor: MarcTempest Editor: Rxel Chapter 164 ¡°Hahaha!¡± ¡°Kyaa! Kyaa! Kkueuueu¡­¡± ¡°Hehehe!¡± It was a bizarre scene. Twelve idols were in the hallway, clinging to the walls or each other,ughing and crying at the same time. The cameraman and the writer were no different.They were allughing so hard that Woojoo almost caught theirughter in the middle. Hanjo tilted his head and asked, ¡°What¡¯s wrong with them?¡± ¡°I don¡¯t know. I don¡¯t think it was that funny.¡± Woojoo asked Bijoo, who was holding Woojoo¡¯s leg and sobbing withughter. ¡°Bijoo, what¡¯s so funny¡­¡± ¡°Kyahaha.¡± ¡°¡­Bijoo? Are you okay? Do you want to go to the hospital with me?¡± ¡°Kkueu, kkueu.¡± Bijoo shook his head with a tearful face, when Rihyuk burst outughing with his hand over his mouth. ¡°Ma, math¡­ Pffft!¡± ¡°Hahaha!¡± Jiho and Rihyuk pointed at each other and tried to say something, but theyughed again as if they were choking. The Street Boys were the same. Hanjo said seriously, ¡°I saw something on YouTube a while ago. What country was it? Somewhere whereughter spread and they couldn¡¯t stopughing for months.¡± ¡°Really?¡± ¡°Yes. YouTube said it was true.¡± ¡°That¡¯s bad.¡± Thankfully, theughter stopped after about five minutes. ¡°Ah, I¡¯m going crazy.¡± The writer fanned her face with her notebook. She scolded them with a half-smile. ¡°How can you say anything when I told you to say anything?¡± ¡°¡­Sorry.¡± ¡°No, it¡¯s my fault. I should have written a script for you. Just wait a minute. I¡¯ll give you a usible line each.¡± While the writer was thinking of a good line, they heard voices of me from everywhere. ¡°Come on, how can you act so serious and then make it so funny? I thought I was going crazy.¡± ¡°I really kept thinking of sad things in my mind.¡± ¡°Can you have a normal conversation?¡± It was unfair. Woojoo just said anything when they told him to say anything. No. He should have tried to say something bad in the first ce. They were ming them for not being able to do it, but they didn¡¯t even try it themselves. Woojoo felt angry at the sight of his younger siblings. So Woojoo wanted to say ¡®You try it!¡¯ but he thought about it and decided to admit that they would be worse than him. ¡°Okay, I have the lines ready.¡± The writer handed them the revised lines. ¡®Do you have confidence?¡¯ ¡®Let¡¯s see.¡¯ They were lines like that. They all cooled down and finished the second VCR recording in one shot without having to redo it. ¡°Good job!¡± The cameraman who wasughing at Woojoo and Hanjo left, and the writer also left. Woojoo and Hanjo followed her cautiously. ¡°Excuse me, Writer. About what we just filmed.¡± ¡°Yes?¡± Woojoo was about to ask ¡®That¡¯s not going to air, right?¡¯ but the writer said ¡®Ah, ah!¡¯ and smiled as if she understood. ¡°The footage you just filmed?¡± ¡°Yes! That one.¡± ¡°You were worried about that. Don¡¯t worry.¡± Woojoo and Hanjo smiled brightly when the writer said cheerfully, ¡°I¡¯ll upload it as a behind-the-scenes for sure.¡± ¡°What?¡± ¡°It was too funny to be buried, right?¡± ¡°No, we¡­¡± ¡°I¡¯ll upload it for sure. As a behind-the-scenes!¡± ¡°No, wait. Writer-niiim! You should listen to people until the end¡­¡± They copsed on the floor with a lost look on their faces, watching the writer¡¯s back as she walked away. ¡°We¡¯re doomed¡­¡± ¡°We¡¯re doomed.¡± Behind them, their siblings were holding their stomachs andughing. Ilsan TBC Broadcasting Station. Late at night, a group of people entered the studio where the recording was taking ce with weary steps. They were the fans of New ck and Street Boys. ¡°Ah, the dy is insane. Seriously.¡± ¡°Is this for real? Four hours¡­¡± ¡°Those bastards at the station are treating us like free spectators.¡± Although they liked different singers, their faces had a surprisingly simr expression. Fatigue and anticipation. The fatigue was because they had to attend the recordings of not only their favorite singers, but also this group and that group all day. And more than anything, the dy of two hours for each recording made them wait and exhausted them. They all massaged their sore necks and shoulders, or lifted and lowered their numb legs alternately. On the other hand, they also felt anticipation. It was already announced a week ago that New ck and Street Boys would perform a joint stage. But the information was scarce. The only thing they knew was the weird unofficial name of Mint Choco-dan. It was the result ofbining the symbol colors of Street Boys and New ck. Some of the fans even suggested a temporary fandom name of ¡®Hawaiian Pizza¡¯ in response. Of course, it was quickly rejected and disappeared, but there were still some remnants who shouted ¡®Hawaiian Pizza¡¯ on SNS. Anyway, they all had high expectations for the stage. They had been waiting for it all day long. ¡°Oh, they¡¯reing out!¡± As fourteen idols came up on the stage for the rehearsal, a roar erupted from both fandoms. The fans¡¯ eyes widened. ¡®It¡¯s a school uniform. Oh my god¡­¡¯ ¡®The school uniform is crazy.¡¯ The visuals of the two groups wearing blue jackets and striped ties were impressive. They looked like characters from a webtoon about school life. Among them, the one who had the most dominant school uniform fit grabbed the microphone as the representative. The fans who looked up at him closely couldn¡¯t help but gasp at his long eyshes. He was the leader of New ck who shed a dazzling smile and greeted them. ¡°One, two, three.¡± ¡°Hello, we are the joint group Mint Choco-dan!¡± While the staff prepared for the rehearsal, the singers threw wittyments to the fans. ¡°I¡¯m the 1st, 3rd, 5th, 7th, and 9th leader of Mint Choco-dan, Woojoo.¡± ¡°Yes, I¡¯m the 2nd, 4th, and 6th leader and vice-leader, Hanjo.¡± ¡°I¡¯m the 8th leader of Mint Choco-dan, who boasts the shortest term in history. I¡¯m currently in charge of the second lowest rank, LB.¡± Then, the others introduced themselves as well. ¡°I¡¯m Junghyun, who is in charge of the lowest rank in Mint Choco-dan.¡± ¡°I¡¯m a servant.¡± ¡°I¡¯m in charge of the general affairs.¡± The sound ofughter came from everywhere. They seemed to have good chemistry, exchanging jokes with each other. Woojoo and Hanjo smiled brightly as the representatives. ¡°We have prepared hard for this stage, so please support us today. Now, mint?¡± ¡°Chocte!¡± This time, Hanjo asked, ¡°Mint?¡± ¡°Chocte!¡± ¡°Alright. We will show you a solid stage like concrete.¡± ¡°Please cheer for us warmly like souffl¨¦.¡± Their timing was perfect as they delivered their lines, and then the staff signaled the start of the pre-recording. The two groups moved away from each other. They got ready for their stage as they created some distance, and then the stage lights went off as the camera rehearsal began. ¡®What kind of stage will it be?¡¯ Everyone waited anxiously for the uing stage. Soon, a cameraman with a steadicam and an assistant stood in front of Street Boys. As they slowly stepped back to get a full shot, the song started. ¡®Wow¡­¡¯ It was Street Boys who started with a strong rap. The leader opened the rap as he walked towards New ck. He walked confidently and casually, as if challenging anyone who could stop him. The other members were the same. LB rapped rhythmically and showed a confident smile. You can¡¯t do it You don¡¯t fit in The words I hear all the time The song they were singing was ¡®Fate¡¯, a hip-hop song from the 90s. It was an old song, but it suited them as if they were wearing custom-made clothes. The arrangement made it sound like a modern song. It was an impressive arrangement. And the performance was powerful and expressive, creating a great synergy. But the fans of Street Boys had a slightly different emotion as they watched the stage. The main lyrics of ¡®Fate¡¯ were about following one¡¯s own path no matter what anyone says. That matched surprisingly well with Street Boys. They remembered the stories they had heard from the past reality shows. -My academy teacher told me that I didn¡¯t have the visuals to be an idol, so I should try to be a dancer or something else. -There were people who said that they would lose money if we became idols. -They said, what¡¯s the point of having skills if you don¡¯t have the visuals. I felt a bit¡­ uneasy whenever I heard that. But those who looked a bit downcast as they told their stories as trainees were gone. Now, they had expressions full of pride in their skills, as if those words didn¡¯t matter at all. It was a touching sight. As they reached the center of the stage, New ck also moved towards the center. If Street Boys were heavy and intense, they were light and gentle. As the lead vocalist Woojoo¡¯s voice rang out softly, the concert hall was wrapped in his song. If the rap before had spread its waves like a giant drum, the song now had caressed the audience softly. It felt like the melody had a shape and wrapped around their bodies. I thought I was dreaming When this night passes and passes It will be a dream that shatters into pieces The main vocal added harmonies to the lyrics here and there, but the leader was the one who sang the song. It was the same song as Trend¡¯s ¡®Sunshine¡¯. If ¡®Fate¡¯ was a song that came out in their debut with the theme of ¡®We overcame these hardships and achieved our dreams!¡¯, ¡®Sunshine¡¯ was a song that came out after Trend had achieved great sess. Unlike ¡®Fate¡¯, the theme of ¡®Sunshine¡¯ was not the difficulties or hardships they had gone through until they seeded. It was opportunity. How hard it was to seize the opportunity to seed after debuting in the entertainment industry. The thing that came so easily and warmly to others, why did it not reach them in the shadows? Theypared it to sunshine in the song. Of course, the lyrics that Woojoo was singing now were the same as the original, but the meaning was a little different. Unlike Trend, who had been at the peak of poprity at the time, New ck was now a rising star. But the meaning was simr. ¡®I really wanted to be on this stage.¡¯ It was as if Woojoo was speaking for New ck. His eyes were somewhere softly curved as he sang, as if he was engulfed in some emotion. No one but himself could know exactly what it was, but everyone in the ce knew it was close to joy. Because they knew the story of New ck before their debut. -It felt like the sky was falling. It seemed like a long time until Woojoo Hyung came in and we became a five-member group. Four trainees who had spent two years in a gray day after their debut was canceled for some reason. -You can¡¯t achieve what you want, right? I think I thought that way before I met our members. The leader of New ck, who had spent six years of hardship to stand on the stage of his dreams, but had given up on his dream altogether. When he sang as the representative of the opportunity, it had to be special. Soon, New ck walked lightly to the center of the stage and faced Street Boys. And then. ¡®¡­Huh?¡¯ That was when the subtle variation of the song began. The way they sang was the same. Street Boys sang two lines, then New ck sang two lines. But the gap between the lyrics they were singing was getting shorter. By the end, it was like they were exchanging one line each. ¡®Fate¡¯ and ¡®Sunshine¡¯ melted together like one song, but the people watching the stage didn¡¯t notice the change. At first, New ck and Street Boys didn¡¯t mix well as they told different stories, like oil and water. But as time went by, they blended together. Soon, the members¡¯ movements were one, regardless of the group. The same was true for the song. The lyrics of the two different songs alternated back and forth, but they fit together perfectly as one song. When Hanjo sang a verse, Woojoo followed. When Kiwon sang, Rihyuk added harmony. The main dancers of the two groups stood at the center of both sides, capturing the attention of the performance. It was a fantastic coordination. Meanwhile, the message of the short performance became clear as the two groups merged in thetter half. ¡®Thank you.¡¯ To those who had sent them support and encouragement, despite their own shorings. To everyone who had given them love and support, after they barely seized the opportunity to rise. It was a message of gratitude from both groups to those who had been their pirs until they reached this far. The original songs, ¡®Fate¡¯ and ¡®Sunshine¡¯, also had the same central theme of saying ¡®thank you¡¯ to each other¡¯s members, so they matched well with the message that New ck and Street Boys delivered. Their soft and sweet voices sang the chorus of each different song in a cross-over. Come here and hold my hand You were always my sunshine Come here and look at me I¡¯ll wrap you warmly now But to the audience in the seats, the meaning of the song didn¡¯t matter anymore. It sounded good. ¡®Wow¡­¡¯ As they sang the chorus and smiled at each other, the 90s-style song flowed into their ears with a modern and smooth arrangement. ¡®The arrangement is really good.¡¯ The song smoothly climbed up the curve. As the song reached the highlight part, the main vocals of both sides handled the high notes. The main dancers gestured softly at the audience on both sides. The leaders of both sides reached out their hands to the camera in the center as the stage finally ended. It was a two-minute stage that ended in an instant. ¡°¡­¡± A moment of silence. It was followed by the screams that burst out from the depths of both fans. As the site director announced the end of the rehearsal, the members of both sides waved their hands with bright smiles. They were different groups, and different fans, but the eyes and expressions that appeared on their faces were surprisingly the same. After the rehearsal ended and they repeated the same stage four times, the pre-recording finally finished. ¡°Good job!¡± They greeted and thanked the staff of both sides. And then. ¡°Wow!¡± ¡°It¡¯s over!¡± The stage that they had prepared for almost two weeks finally ended, and a cheerfulughter came. If they weren¡¯t from differentpanies, they would have gone to a dinner party right away. Hanjo and Woojoo smiled as they looked at the happy younger ones. ¡°You worked hard.¡± ¡°No, you did. Woojoo, you took care of our cute¡­ unbelievably cute younger ones.¡± ¡°No, we were the ones who got a lot of help this time.¡± They had the upper hand in vocal and dance, but they were better in the hip-hop aspect. It was an opportunity to experience each other¡¯s advanced culture. As the leaders praised each other¡¯s efforts, the younger ones hugged and cheered each other. ¡°No-Fun!¡± ¡°No-Fun!¡± ¡­It was a relief that they disbanded today. ¡°Wow, you really worked hard!¡± ¡°No, you did. New ck, you guys are so handsome, kind and nice.¡± ¡°Not at all. Street Boys, you guys were cooler. You even had a halo and everything. When LB rapped earlier, it was really dazzling.¡± ¡°That was the backlight.¡± ¡°Puhaha!¡± As they said that you were great, no, you were greater, Junghyun gestured to Woojoo and Hanjo. ¡°Hyung,e here. Let¡¯s take a group photo.¡± ¡°Okay, let¡¯s go.¡± Soon, fourteen people gathered. Their manager, Dowon, held Woojoo¡¯s phone and took a group photo. As the staff of both groups finished preparing to leave, they changed into casual clothes and said goodbye. "It was really fun." "Us too." "I''ll miss you." "Us too¡­" Someone from the other side asked, "Can we contact you when we get phones?" "Of course. Mint Choco-dan may be disbanded today, but our No-Fun Family is still here." "Then can we have your numbers?" "Here you go." "I''m looking forward to it. I''ll definitely call you when I get a phone." Woojoo smiled at their whispering so that their managers wouldn''t hear. Soon after, the two groups waved at each other as they were dragged away by their managers. "Bye!" "I''ll miss you!" Maybe it was because of the excitement of the stage, but they waved their hands earnestly with bright faces. It was a poignant scene, as if they were parting for life. As they headed to the parking lot by themselves, Bijoo said with a smile, "Hyung, I feel so good." "Yeah?" "Yeah, I''m happy to have made friends." "Me too." Woojoo also smiled, thinking that they had met some peers who got along well for the first time in a long time. * * * The next day. "¡­." "¡­." New ck and Street Boys, who met at the outdoor special stage in Sangam-dong, avoided eye contact with awkward faces. ¡®We''re screwed.'' ¡®So embarrassing, so embarrassing.'' They had forgotten that they would meet again the next day. Chapter 165: Chapter 165: Trantor: MarcTempest Editor: Rxel Chapter 165 ¡°Hi¡­ Hello.¡± ¡°Um. Hello.¡± They exchanged awkward greetings with Street Boys. Everyone looked around with embarrassed faces, not knowing where to look. But unlike usual, there was no special conversation. It wasn¡¯t because of the awkwardness. It was because of the manager of the other side, Mr. Park, who was squinting his eyes over there.He was someone who didn¡¯t like New ck and Street Boys getting along well, even though this was a stage ordered by the broadcasting station. They only exchanged light eye contact. ¡®Fighting!¡¯ Woojoo smiled back at Hanjo, who showed him his clenched fist. They only smiled softly for a moment, but as soon as the other side disappeared from their sight, they dropped their manners. ¡°Ah, it¡¯s cold. It¡¯s cold!¡± ¡°It¡¯s cold. It¡¯s too cold.¡± It was too cold. December 31st. Today was the day of the live broadcast of the TBC year-end music festival, thest day of 2014. There was no special schedule. They would go on stageter and perform a 2-minute 30-second version of Masquerade that was cut by 1 minute. And then, around 11:55 p.m., they would all go up on stage together and watch the New Year¡¯s bell and cheer. The schedule was nothing special, but the ce was special. ¡°Hoo¡­¡± Every time they breathed, the breath that came out of his mouth and nose floated like a ghost. Even though they stuck together like penguins and shared their body heat, it was so cold that they didn¡¯t know what to do. Every time Woojoo breathed in, his nose felt clear and at the same time, the mucous membrane in his nose felt frozen. Jiho made a sad face. ¡°Haah, I thought it would be fun to have an outdoor stage in the past, but now I want to punch myself.¡± ¡°It¡¯s not toote. Jiho. Punch yourself.¡± The youngest rolled his eyes at Woojoo. Anyway, the reason why it was so cold was because they were chosen for the special stage in front of the TBC building in Sangam-dong. It was really cold. No wonder Han Taehyun kept teasing him on KakaoTalk yesterday. Taehyun [You¡¯re outside? ????] Taehyun [Ew ?????? you¡¯re outside ?] He said it would be better than the Imjingak he went to when he was a rookie. Woojoo felt nauseous thinking about himughing at the TBC building in Ilsan right now. -Wow! The cheers from the audience sounded faintly. The FD who was looking at the stage called them. ¡°New ck, standby please.¡± ¡°Yes!¡± Bijoo, who was sniffling, answered. ¡°Hyung, I have a runny nose. What should I do?¡± ¡°Me too.¡± ¡°I think I have some too.¡± Woojoo nodded and suggested a clear solution. ¡°Sniff it.¡± ¡°Yes.¡± The five of them all tilted their heads. Soon, the snot-nosed kids started to giggle at each other. Ignoring Minki Hyung¡¯s sarcasticugh next to him, Woojoo said confidently, ¡°How is it? Did it go in a bit?¡± ¡°Well, the effect is not bad. It¡¯s dirty, but it¡¯s okay as a temporary measure.¡± And¡­ ¡°Manager, why are you filming this?¡± Dowon-ssi, who had been filming their every move with a handy cam, answered. ¡°Earlier, the Director said, ¡®Our kids¡¯ daily lives are sis. Film everything and upload it.''¡± ¡°Then I¡¯m in trouble. I¡¯m sorry, but can you edit out the part where I sniffed my snot?¡± ¡°Mr. Byun, the video production team leader, you know we love you, right?¡± They also acted cute towards the camera for a moment, but soon the FD signaled them to wait. ¡°Let¡¯s go!¡± They looked at each other and smiled brightly to melt their frozen cheeks.
    1. Not bad.
It was time to meet the audience. At the same time. The members of New ck appeared on the outdoor stage of the TBC year-end music festival, which was being broadcast live nationwide. Snow-white skin. Five idol members who boasted beauty like flowers blooming in the harsh winter came up. Every time they breathed, long breaths flowed out of their noses and mouths. New ck members waved lightly and shouted to the audience on the spot. -Happy New Year! As the audience smiled at their words, which they said with a slight sniffle. Laughter also circted in the idolmunity that was running the live broadcast. -So cute -????? They look like handsome steamed buns¡­ The kids are pale -Daegil¡¯s friend is also crazy today -They look like snowmen shivering in the cold After a scene of the white and fluffy New ck members waving their hands here and there for about a second. The music came on right away and the members changed the atmosphere in an instant and showed the choreography of Masquerade. -??????? What¡¯s with the temperature difference -Transforming from babies to oppas -They look like runny nose robots that turn on the switch whenever the musices on While the praise for the stage continued, the Souffl¨¦s looked at the screen with satisfaction. When the members smiled in the bust shots or stretched out their hands toward the sky with white breaths, they rubbed their cheeks and adjusted the angle of their smiles. They clenched their fists. ¡®Now¡­ the chorus!¡¯ They waited for that part that would be the highlight, with anticipation in their hearts. But then. Suddenly the camera changed and a full shot that caught the audience came out, and the New ck members turned into handsome ants. -Ah. Resentment began to explode everywhere. -Camera director¡¯s address please¡­ urgent -Wow, I was so impressed by the director who took the helicopter shot at the chorus, I¡¯m going crazy with rage -I think I can see better from the artificial satellite than this, you broadcasting station bastards -Worse than Kyuho But the boiling anger didn¡¯tst long. Because right after New ck¡¯s stage, a VCR came out. Two rookie boy groups appeared in school uniforms in the broadcasting station corridor. Other fans who were watching the live broadcast started to show interest in the unfamiliar VCR that switched from the outdoor stage. -Is this a joint stage of rookies -School uniform concept¡­? -The atmosphere is like a school drama vs a pure romanceic¡­? -New ck is not so fierce????? -Even kindergarteners wouldn¡¯t get their money stolen by them -Guys¡­ that¡¯s the best our kids can do While jokes were flying around everywhere, the TV screen had a background music full of excitement. The sound of footsteps came first. The tense faces of Street Boys and New ck, walking towards each other, were alternately captured in close-ups. A tight tension. The leaders took a step each. ¡°Are you confident?¡±, ¡°Let¡¯s see what you got.¡± The short VCR with these lines. They didn¡¯t know what the concept was, but it was an eye-catching introduction. -Oh, the dialogue is cheesy, but the atmosphere is good -It¡¯s nice, but something feelscking¡­ Usually at that timing, Woojoo would say something funny and make me excited -Woojoo, you¡¯ve grown up¡­ -What do you mean grown up, it¡¯s pre-recorded ????? Soon after, the stage lit up after the ckout, and the pre-recorded performance started to air on TV. Soon after,ments praising the stage poured out from everywhere. Including the VCR, 2 minutes and 13 seconds. But in that short time, the joint stage of New ck and Street Boys was enough to capture the attention. Most of all, the song was good. A 90s song was naturally transformed into a 2010s style, and their ears perked up. A ssic was a ssic even after time passed. Their ears reacted first to the pleasant melody. Those who were not interested in the stage that their idols were not doing, who were looking at their phones or briefly changing the channel, stopped at TBC and focused on the screen. Soon after, Street Boys walked towards the center while rapping, and New ck joined them. In the living rooms where there were families of the age group who knew the 90s songs, theyy down and watched TV, saying a word each. ¡°That¡¯s that song, right? Fate.¡± ¡°No, it¡¯s Sunshine.¡± ¡°It¡¯s Fate. You didn¡¯t hear the first part?¡± ¡°No, it¡¯s Sunshine¡± They soon said that they were right and wanted to listen more, but confusion filled their faces after listening to thetter part. That was because the two songs were perfectly mixed in thetter part and sounded like a perfect single song. Of course, they soon realized that the songs werebined, but it was such a perfect arrangement that it caused such confusion for a moment. And the performance that the two groups practiced with all their might. They moved so organically that they didn¡¯t look like two different groups, but like a 14-member group, and there was a response inside and outside the screen. The only regret was the time. When the impressive stage was about to catch their eye. In the blink of an eye, the ending came with the two leaders facing each other¡¯s backs, taking a deep breath, and reaching out to the camera. -What, it¡¯s over already? -Over? -They could have given more time for this quality, right?? -?? The time is a bit disappointingpared to the quality It was enough for people who didn¡¯t care about the stage that their idols were not doing to say that they were sorry. But whether the stage was good or not, the fans of the two groups felt the reaction on their skin. They dropped their phones from the sofa where they were reading thements. It was because of the conversation their families were having. ¡°They¡¯re pretty good.¡± ¡°The songs back then were good. The songs these days are all chaotic.¡± ¡°But it ended so quickly. Is it always like this?¡± The families who were saying ¡®um¡­¡¯, ¡®uh-huh.¡¯ whenever other idol singers came out were talking about the stage just now. Of course, this was not the first time for a 90s cover stage. There were several 90s cover stages right before, but this was the first time for such a reaction. ¡°What¡¯s their name?¡± One thing was certain. Although it was not over yet, the most popr cover stage in the first part was undoubtedly the one by New ck and Street Boys. The outdoor stage in Sangam-dong, where cheers and screams were heard from everywhere. Manager Park, who was watching Street Boys¡¯ stage from the backstage, turned his eyes to his phone. Thement window popped up. ¡®¡­The reviews are really good.¡¯ No matter whichmunity rted to idols he went to, there were only good reviews about the joint stage of the two groups. ¡®I told them how much they could do.¡¯ He said that when he consulted with Yoon Seokhwan, the manager of Lemon Entertainment. They should discuss the stage themselves. That was why he was not very pleased when the two groups said they would have a meeting in advance. ¡®Well, the result was good this time, but¡­ He couldn¡¯t apply Lemon Entertainment¡¯s strategy. It was only possible because they had a rookie group that could produce their own music, something unheard of before. ¡°Ah, Director Park, you¡¯re here.¡± As if the tiger woulde when he mentioned it. A stern-looking man with sses, Director Yoon Seokhwan, approached him with a smile. After a brief chat about work, the topic of the two managers shifted to the joint stage that had just been broadcasted. He grinned and asked him, ¡°How was it? Did you like the stage?¡± ¡°It was good. The part where they moved towards the center of the stage and all. Well, everything was good, from the arrangement to the choreography.¡± He added, ¡°I guess it¡¯s because the New ck kids suggested a lot of creative ideas.¡± What he wanted to say was this. This time, the result was good, but this kind of approach was only possible for New ck. But Yoon Seokhwan just smiled as if he found something amusing. ¡°That part wasn¡¯t done by our members.¡± ¡°What?¡± ¡°The choreography, I mean. Of course, our kids took care of the music, but for the performance part, they mostly adopted the opinions of the Street Boys, they said.¡± ¡°¡­What?¡± ¡°The parts you praised just now. They were all their suggestions.¡± He was dumbfounded until Yoon Seokhwan walked away. ¡®Our kids did that?¡¯ His eyes turned to the stage, where his singers were skillfully pulling off the performance. A bewildered and strange feeling. He stared nkly until the stage was over, and then the Street Boys came down to the backstage. ¡°Did we¡­ make a mistake?¡± ¡°No, not at all.¡± He shook his head as they quickly walked away. ¡°Kids.¡± He started to speak slowly as he looked at the nine idols who turned their heads. Just in case you don¡¯t know. Let¡¯s try this once, with that thought. ¡°There¡¯s an idol show you¡¯re going to in two weeks.¡± ¡°Yes, Manager.¡± ¡°I asked them to do something special for the stage.¡± ¡°¡­?¡± ¡°If you have any opinions, discuss them among yourselves. I¡¯ll pass them on to the choreographer.¡± There was a moment of silence. They blinked their eyes with a ¡®what are you talking about?¡¯ expression, then looked at each other and widened their eyes. Soon, a bright smile and a loud answer came. ¡°Yes! We¡¯ll do that!¡± ¡°Remember, this is just a one-time thing.¡± He added those words, but it was no use. The members of Street Boys were nodding their heads with happy faces, as if they were so pleased with something. What was the good news? Street Boys, who were far away from them, were sending them their happiness and gratitude. New ck looked at each other. ¡®What is it?¡¯ ¡®It sounds like they¡¯re thanking us for something.¡¯ ¡®Then let¡¯s all make a ¡®you¡¯re wee¡¯ expression together.¡¯ Following the youngest¡¯s suggestion, they nodded their heads and smiled with their upper teeth showing, as if to say ¡®you¡¯re wee¡¯. The heartwarming scene didn¡¯tst long. Their figures disappeared from their sight, blocked by the singers who filled the stage. The time was 11:55 p.m. Only five minutes were left until the end of 2015. ¡°Excuse us!¡± The MCs who had rushed from Ilsan to Sangam climbed onto the stage. Everyone stepped back a bit to make room for the male and female MCs. New ck stood at the back. While everyone was rubbing their noses and stomping their feet in the cold, the MC who took a deep breath started his speech. -Could the singers who were born in the year of the sheep pleasee forward? Please say a few words. The seniors who were born in 1991 started to share their stories about the New Year. Jiho whispered to Woojoo, ¡°Hyung, Happy New Year in advance.¡± ¡°You too.¡± ¡°It has to go well.¡± Thank you. Their youngest. The youngest whispered, ¡°That way I can hitch a ride with you.¡± ¡­It was a very typical reason for him. Woojoo also wrapped his arms around the shoulders of the three guys who were shivering in the cold and whispered, ¡°Happy New Year, my little brothers.¡± ¡°Hyung, you too.¡± ¡°Let go of me. You¡¯re taking away my luck.¡± They exchanged warm New Year greetings and waited for the sound of the New Year bell from Imjingak. Woojoo was excited. Would their Kim Deoksoon be watching this on TV? He didn¡¯t know if they would be caught on camera, but Woojoo smiled brightly at the camera. Bijoo whispered, ¡°Hyung, let¡¯s make a wish when the bell rings.¡± ¡°Yeah. Let¡¯s do that.¡± Soon, the countdown from the people in the venue began. Ten, nine, eight¡­ After the shouts passed. Ding- The bell that announced the New Year echoed under the night sky. Whoosh- As soon as it was 12 o¡¯clock, fireworks shot up into the sky. The eyes of the people who looked up at the sky were dyed with various colors by the fireworks that exploded like a firework show. The MC¡¯s emotional speech rang through the speakers. -Yes! Finally! It¡¯s the first day of 2015, the year of the sheep! ¡°Happy New Year!¡± While New Year greetings were exchanged here and there, New ck sped their hands together and quickly made a wish before the fireworks died out. Not more, not less. Please let 2015 go just like this year. When the fireworks went out, Woojoo remembered something he had forgotten while making a wish and quickly added one more thing. Please¡­ please don¡¯t let me have any ck history next year! Please! Woojoo made a wish and hugged his brothers lightly. The MC who was leading various New Yearments turned his body around. -Yes, Andrew. Could you please share your thoughts in Chinese for the New Year¡­ But he turned the wrong way. Andrew, the Chinese member of Daydream, was on his left, but he identally looked at Woojoo while looking at the cue card. The MC¡¯s expression showed a sign of ¡®oops¡¯ when their eyes met. The singers around them chuckled, their brothers blinked their eyes, and the MC made an awkward expression for a moment. It was good timing. After spending about a year in the entertainment industry, Woojoo quickly figured out what to do in this situation. Without hesitation, Woojoo took the microphone and smiled cheerfully. Chapter 166: Chapter 166: Trantor: MarcTempest Editor: Rxel Chapter 166 Beautiful People Make Beautiful ces New Year 2015. They were happy that the year had changed, but what made them even happier was the official vacation they were given. A whole week until January 7th. They cheered at that amazing period. ¡°Wow!¡±¡°Vacation! Vacation!¡± ¡°Yay, vacation man!¡± They hugged each other in the car and were so happy that the car that was stopped shook for a moment. They all clenched their fists and shouted. ¡°I¡¯m going to sleep! I¡¯m going to sleep a lot today!¡± ¡°Hyung, I¡¯m going to sleep for 24 hours!¡± ¡°Me too, me too, I¡¯m going to try sleeping for eight hours.¡± As soon as they returned to the dorm, they quickly washed up and threw themselves into bed. Woojoo thought he would enjoy the sleep while smelling the cozy nket that their Mrs. Kim Deoksoon sent him. But only for a moment. He fell asleep in an instant. When he came to, it was around 11 a.m. ¡°Wow.¡± Woojoo muttered as he looked at the clock, ¡°I slept for eight hours.¡± People definitely needed to sleep. He had been working for almost three months with less sleep, and his body was exhausted from fatigue, but it felt like it was all gone. There was still some old fatigue left, but it was the best condition ever. He was happy. Really. It was nice to see the sun shining on the balcony when he woke up. And this peace of being able to take a shower leisurely unlike usual¡­ Bang, bang! -When are youing out? Mister. Did you rent the bathroom? You¡¯ve been washing for almost an hour. ¡°Yeah, I rented it.¡± -Don¡¯t mess with me. I have a way to turn off the bathroom light and leave. ¡°If you turn off the light, I¡¯ll use your shampoo and toothbrush.¡± -¡­Hurry up ande out. Woojoo won the small battle and finished the shower with a satisfied feeling. As he came out shaking his head with a towel, Bijoo, who was wearing an apron, greeted him with a smile. ¡°Hyung, you¡¯re up? Happy New Year.¡± ¡°Oh, there¡¯s no one like our Bijoo. Happy New Year to you too.¡± ¡°Wait a little bit. Hyung. I¡¯ll bring you a delicious brunch. Can you set the table for me?¡± Woojoo set the table and went to help Bijoo with the brunch. While Woojoo took out the bacon and sausages, Bijoo, who was buttering the bread and toasting it in a frying pan, said, ¡°It¡¯s thest time we¡¯re staying here.¡± ¡°That¡¯s right.¡± ¡°Moving out¡­¡± Dorm move. They were nning to move out of this prison and into a new dorm soon. The new dorm was a newly built apartment located not far from here. Moving out of the dorm was a n that was confirmed since the sess of their first album, but it was upgraded to a better dorm after their second album hit the jackpot. It was a good thing in many ways. The moving day was thest day of their first vacation. In other words, there was only a week left to stay here. Bijoo looked around the living room and said, ¡°I¡¯m d we¡¯re moving out, but I think I¡¯ll miss it a little when we actually leave¡­¡± ¡°¡­¡± He looked at Woojoo¡¯s expression and asked, ¡°Won¡¯t you miss it?¡± ¡°Miss it?¡± ¡°We have memories here. Living together in such a small ce.¡± ¡°Nah. There are some things I won¡¯t miss.¡± Junghyun¡¯s snoring that he heard every night. The line of the first floor bed that shed like a shbang when Jiho yed mobile games. When Rihyuk had a nightmare, he would curse at the monster in his dream, saying ¡®Me! Don¡¯te near me! You trash!¡¯ or plead ¡®Please let me go¡¯. Bijoo tilted his head. ¡°Wasn¡¯t that monster you, Hyung?¡± ¡°¡­¡± ¡°Come to think of it, Rihyuk told me about his nightmare today. You chased him with red and blue earphones in both hands. He got in a car, but you turned into an ostrich and caught up with him.¡± ¡°What a strange dream that was,¡± Woojoo said. ¡°Rihyuk driving? He¡¯s the type to follow thew even in his dreams.¡± ¡°It was okay because it was set in America.¡± ¡°Well, that makes sense.¡± Woojoo nodded and brought the finished breakfast to the table. Soon after, Rihyuk, who was drying his hair, and the idiot brothers, who were dozing off with their heads together, joined them at the table. And then. ¡°Are you awake?¡± ¡°Yes. I have to go home too.¡± It was Manager Seok Dowon, who had taken their guest roomst night and slept with them. ¡°Have some breakfast before you go. I made six servings on purpose.¡± He tried to leave quickly, saying he didn¡¯t want to bother them, but Woojoo asked Junghyun to stop him. So, six men gathered around the small table like soy sauce bottles and started their breakfast. It was a simple brunch, but everyone¡¯s face was filled with happiness. They all had a good sleep and their skin was soft and smooth. While Rihyuk was looking at his phone and telling them the news of the world that happenedst night, Woojoo also picked up his phone. ¡°Let¡¯s see. Then I¡¯ll go to the fan cafe¡­¡± Woojoo was about to check the news on the fan cafe when he saw the messages that popped up on his phone screen. There were messages in every chat room on the messenger. Han Taehyun [??????????] Sowon Sunbae [Can I use that pic? You¡­ have a lot of money? (Shy)] Around the World With Dice C Team Chat Room [Aww¡­ Iughed so much on the first day of the New Year] Seo Jihyung [Come and eat some tripe. You have to eat tripe at times like this] Seri Sunbae-nim [I¡¯m so happy that it¡¯s the first broadcast tomorrow?? You must have the fairy of ratings on your side] What was this bad feeling? Woojoo hurriedly clicked on each chat window to find out what was going on. Then he went to the fan cafe and saw the first page, and he suppressed the urge to quit. He went to YouTube and ended up grabbing the back of his neck. ¡¸TBC Year-End Music Festival Behind #3 ¨C The Dangerous Secondhand Trade of the Rookie¡¹ ¡¸(Behind) New ck and Street Boys United! ¨C Well, either you¡¯re a duck or you¡¯ll end up liking our Mint Choco-dan, that¡¯s what I¡¯m saying¡¹ ¡­And he even wished for it! On variousmunities, including idol and humor sites, memes were spreading from the first day of the New Year. ¡ºHow idols trade secondhand these days.swf ¡» -??????? What is this -What is this??? A crazy web drama? ©¸It says TBC Year-End Music on the top right ©¸Top right TBC -So who is this? -Jungseok?????????Crazy????? -So random lol????? On the first day of the New Year, screenshots from the behind-the-scenes of TBC''s Year-End Music Festival were spreading like wildfire all over the inte. Especially on one site that had an astonishingly fast speed of distribution. "[For Sale] Gaming Mouse" On a second-hand trading site, the post content had memes saying ¡®Are you rich?'' and ¡®How much did you research?''. And along with that, people who liked to save memes on their phones downloaded those memes and used them right away. -Younger sibling: (Are you rich?) -Younger sibling: Big sis.. I need some allowance, this poor soul -Older sister: (How much did you research?) -Younger sibling: ?????? That was how the conversation between the two leaders was saved on phones all over the country. On the idolmunity, the Mint Choco-dan behind-the-scenes were spreading together, making everyoneugh out loud. ¨C?????? I''m dying ofughter from the start of the New Year ???? -It''s even funnier how they''re acting embarrassed ?????? Why don''t they know they''re funny -They''re so serious -It''s even more hrious because of the caption saying ¡®100% ad-lib'' ???? They seriously thought of that in their heads -Iughed even harder because of the writer and cameraman''sughter in the background ?????? -I''m going to save this and watch it when I''m depressed haha -I wonder how they feel about this?? Of course, the two leaders were currently running away from the giggling younger members in the dorm living room. They both had red faces and said ¡®We made a wish! A wish!'', ¡®Ah, damn it, you cursed tree!'' while suffering. The fans of the two groups were smiling happily from the first day of the New Year. -I came back from the Concrete jungle. I support thisbination -If anyone writes hatements, let me know.. We''ll drill them for you (shy) -Am I the only one who''sughing like a pervert after the video ends -Me too -Our Hawaiian pizza supports the Mint Choco-dan''s friendship -Hawaiian is a bit.. They''re Mint Choco, so let''s be greedy ducks -Greedy ducks? Do you want to start a peasant uprising at the fan meeting? The fans of the two groups were sending friendly messages to each other. It was a 10-minute video, but it was abination that had an amazing synergy at a nce. From the video call where the Mint Choco-dan was formed through the practice behind-the-scenes to the end of the stage, the fans of the two groups were smiling satisfiedly as the process was uploaded. Of course, the fans of New ck were even happier at some weird points. -Woojoo-ahhhhhhh -Right! I knew something was weird, I thought he had grown up without anything happening at that timing -Not at all.. He didn''t grow up.. -I almost felt sorry for him -Let''s go to a fortune teller pro once, Woojoo..¡î I''ll bet 500 won on the curse of shame -At this point, it''s not a curse of shame, but a blessing of shame, right..? -If Woojoo sets up, it''s a ck history -National treasure temple No. 1 ck history (ck History Temple) -Is Woojoo the abbot there? -No no, bald Woojoo can''t do it, the abbot has to be Kyuho 1 pick -Ack lolololololololololol As if to answer the fans'' reactions, Woojoo''sment soon came up on the fan cafe. "I love you, everyone?" I''ll just say one thing and go. You all say ck history ck history, but I''m not the kind of person who makes ck history all the time. Really.
    1. The reason why I didn''t use ? as usual and used ? with an empty inside is to show you my feelings for you
Even then, the fans were excited and teased their singer. The people who were the happiest about the hot reaction to the behind-the-scenes were none other than a man who was looking at hisptop. -But isn''t it Idol Show? Didn''t they say they''reing out there? -Yeah, they said they''re the special guests for the first episode -lolololololol I have to watch it -I''m kind of looking forward to it lololol The man, the PD of Idol Show, screamed with joy as he looked at thement section where the first episode of Idol Show was attracting interest. ¡®These, these guys are definitely protected by the gods of entertainment!'' Shame and entertainment. New ck had already received the protection of two gods. * * * In the end, they got scolded by their manager. -Making trouble from the first day of the New Year. Seokhwan Hyung, who spoke softly, soon burst into a happyugh. -Hahaha! Our Woojoo is the best! The best! He¡¯s already getting ads. Does our Woojoo have a god of wealth by his side? ¡°I¡¯m hanging up.¡± -Woojoo, are you really thinking of doing a workbook ad¡­ ¡°No. No, I¡¯m not.¡± -Then how about a study guide? The pay is pretty good¡­ Woojoo hung up. ¡°Ugh¡­¡± He was sick of his siblings, but the manager also called him and said ¡®Hee-hat-hat!¡¯ It made him want to flip out. Near the shelf, Rihyuk, who was picking up milk, asked him, ¡°Pfft, are you going to do a workbook ad?¡± ¡°I don¡¯t know, don¡¯t tell me what to do.¡± ¡°Hyung, take off your sunsses now. No one can recognize you anyway.¡± ¡°I just don¡¯t want to be recognized.¡± Junghyun blinked and asked Woojoo, ¡°Hyung, don¡¯t you think wearing sunsses at the mart makes you stand out more?¡± ¡°They¡¯ll think I had Lasik. Whatever.¡± His siblings nearbyughed at him in his tracksuit pants, padded jacket, and sunsses. People passing by looked at him. What kind of person wore sunsses at the mart and walked around? Their kids were all wearing masks, so they heard them muttering ¡®Is he a celebrity?¡¯ several times already. ¡°What do we need to buy?¡± ¡°Just buy some pork belly.¡± This ce is arge supermarket, Kmart. It was January 1st, and all the nearby supermarkets were closed, so this was the only ce that was open. They talked to the person following them. ¡°Manager, don¡¯t you need to go in and rest?¡± ¡°Oh, I don¡¯t have any schedule today anyway. I had a good breakfast, so I came along to digest it.¡± They were touched by the sight of him scratching the back of his head. ¡®He¡¯s an angel.¡¯ ¡®This person is an angel.¡¯ They said they were going to the mart, but Dowon-ssi drove them there. They said they could go by themselves, but he said the reason he became a manager was for safety. He said he would feel so sorry if something dangerous happened to them while they were out. Woojoo said with determination, ¡°But we¡¯ll grill some delicious pork belly for you. You¡¯ll eat like an emperor without lifting a finger.¡± ¡°Yeah. Sit with me and eat what the Hyungs grill.¡± He smiled silently. Rihyuk made a list of things to buy, and Bijoo carefully checked the dirt on the vegetables and put them in the cart. The other two guys wandered around the tasting corner, and each of them sneakily put some snacks they wanted in the cart, then ran away after seeing Bijoo¡¯s gentle smile and saying ¡®I¡¯ll, I¡¯ll put it back.¡¯ Finally, it was time to push the heavy cart to the cashier. In front of them, a cute seven-year-old baby holding hands with a couple who was paying looked at Woojoo intently. ¡°¡­?¡± Woojoo pretended to be clueless. But the kid who was looking at his side profile eximed ¡®Ah!¡¯ and tapped his mom¡¯s hand. ¡°Mom! It¡¯s the inte oppa!¡± ¡°Inte oppa? What are you talking about?¡± The kid came over right away and said ¡®Inte oppa!¡¯ Then, the siblings behind himughed and held their stomachs. The employee who was scanning the barcode nced at Woojoo. In the end, Woojoo bent down towards the kid and took off his sunsses. ¡°Wow.¡± He heard the husband¡¯s voice among the couple. Suddenly, everyone around him stared at him as if they could see through him, but he quickly adapted. Now, Woojoo was calm no matter who looked at him. He greeted the baby who was still holding his mom¡¯s hand. ¡°Hi.¡± ¡°Inte oppa!¡± ¡°Well, I¡¯m sorry, little one. My name is Woojoo.¡± ¡°I¡¯m not a baby.¡± The kid was so curious that he kept looking at Woojoo¡¯s face. Then, he hid behind his mom and peeked out his head and looked at Woojoo closely. His mom asked with a smile, ¡°Are you a celebrity?¡± ¡°Uh, yes. I¡¯m a singer. It seems like he recognizes me.¡± ¡°I see. How did our Sooyeon know you?¡± ¡°I saw him.¡± He took out his smartphone from his pocket and showed it to Woojoo. ¡­What? Did kids use phones these days? Where did he see him? Woojoo wondered if he watched some music video and smiled brightly. He had a hunch, but he wanted to believe it wasn¡¯t that. Soon, he showed Woojoo his phone screen shyly. A meme that said ¡®You rich?¡¯ ¡°Pffft!¡± The siblings behind Woojoo flipped over, and he trembled his lips. Then, he said to the innocent eyes, ¡°Hey, kid.¡± ¡°¡­?¡± ¡°You shouldn¡¯t look at these things. They¡¯re harmful. They emit radiation.¡± The people nearby burst intoughter. They chatted for a while and then agreed to take a picture. Everyone had slept well, so their faces were not bad. But Woojoo was happy that there were people who recognized him now. What was this? ¡°¡­?¡± As they were about to leave the cashier, Junghyun suddenly stopped and looked around. ¡°What¡¯s wrong?¡± ¡°¡­Nothing. It just felt weird.¡± ¡°Huh?¡± ¡°Just now, it seemed like someone was staring at me¡­¡± ¡°They¡¯re all looking at us right now. Let¡¯s go.¡± Woojoo grabbed Junghyun¡¯s arm and left the mart. After arriving at the amodation. They started preparing for a fun lunch. ¡°Are you really leaving?¡± ¡°Yes, I¡¯m going home to rest a bit.¡± ¡°Have some pork belly before you go¡­¡± Like Puss in Boots, the five of them lit up their eyes and told him to sit down, but the manager eventually left the ce. ¡°It would be nice to eat together.¡± ¡°He might feel ufortable with us ying around.¡± While they were touched by his visit, Rihyuk looked at the kitchen and said, ¡°Huh? He left the key to the ce?¡± ¡°Should we take it to him?¡± ¡°He won¡¯t being for a few days anyway. He should go home and rest.¡± They prepared while talking like that. They opened the windows a bit for venttion. They made a drink for Junghyun¡­ ¡°Uh, Junghyun.¡± ¡°What?¡± ¡°I¡¯ll take care of the brewing.¡± It was a close call. If Woojoo had left the brewing to him, they could have be stars in the night sky ¡ª literally. While Rihyuk wasying out the newspaper in a grid pattern, Bijoo was washing the lettuce, and Jiho was sitting quietly, munching on a greasy chopstick dipped in soy sauce. Woojoo suddenly felt a chill. It was because of a strange sound that came from somewhere. ck- It was an odd sound, so they all turned their heads. ¡­The door? And then they froze. Click- The locks were being opened one by one. Junghyun asked, ¡°Could it be the manager?¡± ¡°Junghyun¡­ He didn¡¯t take the keys with him, how could that be the manager?¡± ¡°Then¡­¡± He couldn¡¯t finish his sentence, but they all felt a creepy shiver on their arms. The sound of the lock echoed in the silent room. The meaning was clear. Someone was trying to break into their dorm. Chapter 167: Chapter 167: Trantor: MarcTempest Editor: Rxel Chapter 167 Of course, it could have been someone they knew. It could have been Seokhwan Hyung who opened the door. But there was no one among the people who had the keys to their lodging who woulde without contacting them first. Besides, today was the first day of the New Year, a day off for the staff. That was why the scenarios that came to their minds were mostly not good ones. Click-Thest lock was unlocked, and the sound of the door lock opening was heard. Beep, beep, beep, beep- The sound of pressing the door lock password made the younger ones stick close to Woojoo. Soon, the sound of the door lock opening was heard. Zing- Jiho and Rihyuk clung to Woojoo with their eyes wide open. They were so scared that their bodies were shaking as much as Woojoo¡¯s. Woojoo calmly wrapped his arms around their shoulders. But the intruder couldn¡¯t open the door. nk- nk- The door was caught by the auxiliary lock that could only be locked from the inside. Was it when they were filming the documentary? It was something that Seokhwan Hyung insisted on getting, and now it was protecting their safety. Bang! Bang! The younger ones gasped every time the door was pulled roughly. The intruder started to unlock the lock again. They didn¡¯t know about the existence of the auxiliary lock, and they thought they had unlocked it wrong. That was when Woojoo regained his senses. He calmly called the younger ones. ¡°Bijoo, call the manager Hyungs and let them know the situation.¡± ¡°Okay. Hyung.¡± ¡°Junghyun.¡± ¡°Yes, Hyung.¡± Woojoo handed over the two kids who were curled up in his arms and said, ¡°Take them to the bedroom. They seem too scared, so put them on the bed and calm them down.¡± ¡°Okay, I¡¯ll do that.¡± Junghyun took the trembling younger ones and disappeared into the room. ¡°Yes, hello. Manager-nim.¡± Bijoo made eye contact with Woojoo as he got through to Dowon-ssi. Meanwhile, Woojoo approached the door. Bijoo gave him a look of restraint, but he waved his hand and said it was okay. Woojoo put his eye to the peephole and tried to capture the culprit. In case he met them in the future, he had to remember their face. But the culprit was not one. There were two of them, wearing thick padding, hats, and masks. Judging by the hair that flowed out between the hood and the hat and their physique, they were both women. ¡­Sasaengs. It was the moment when his guess turned into certainty. Zing- Damn. Why now¡­! Suddenly, Woojoo¡¯s phone rang and he was startled. It was a call from Seokhwan Hyung, but the sound of the vibration seemed to be heard outside, and he felt a restless movement outside the door. They ran down the stairs with a thud. The presence of the intruders disappeared, and Woojoo sighed and went to the kitchen to answer the phone. ¡°Hello.¡± -Woojoo, don¡¯t ever open the door, and don¡¯t answer anything you hear. And¡­ ¡°They ran away.¡± -That¡¯s a relief. For now, we¡¯ll contact thepany people, so don¡¯t do anything until Dowon-ssi gets to the lodging. Don¡¯t look outside or open the door because you¡¯re curious. ¡°Okay, thanks. Hyung.¡± His voice cracked as he answered at the end. Woojoo hung up the phone and slid down to the kitchen floor. Then he leaned his body against the refrigerator door. Ah. What was this? Just a while ago, they were sitting down to eat pork belly, but now it felt like reality had disappeared. Woojoo was so tense that his body was shaking. If it was outdoors, he could have run away with the younger ones, even if he had to carry them. But being in a limited space where a stranger tried to enter was horror itself. Bijoo crouched down in front of Woojoo and asked him worriedly, ¡°Hyung, are you okay?¡± ¡°¡­Ah, I guess I was a bit rxed for a moment.¡± ¡°Can I have some water¡­ Where is the water?¡± ¡°It should be on the balcony. In the box of bottled water.¡± ¡°Then.¡± ¡°Don¡¯t go out. If you go out to the balcony, they will see you from outside. And I¡¯m fine.¡± Woojoo smiled at the guy who didn¡¯t know what to do in panic. Then he lightly rinsed his throat with the tap water from the sink. Woojoo straightened his wobbly legs and took a deep breath. If he panicked, they would panic more. ¡°Let¡¯s go. To the kids.¡± Woojoo gave a calm smile to Bijoo and went to the bedroom. The three of them who were sitting on the bed turned their heads at the same time. ¡°Hyung, what happened? Did they leave?¡± ¡°They left. You don¡¯t have to worry anymore.¡± ¡°Ah¡­¡± The youngest one rxed and sprawled on the bed. Rihyuk was clinging to Junghyun¡¯s side and just clicking his tongue. Even Junghyun, who was always calm, looked slightly tense. Bijoo was also smiling next to Woojoo as if he was fine, but his Adam¡¯s apple was bobbing up and down as if he was startled. Seeing the siblings trembling, Woojoo¡¯s mind felt rather calm. That was right. He had to keep the center. ¡°Come here, everyone.¡± As Woojoo said that, he approached the siblings with big strides. Then he sat on the bed and opened his arms to hug their kids. ¡°¡­¡± Only the sound of their breathing was heard in the room. ¡°Even if it¡¯s ufortable, let¡¯s stay like this until the manageres.¡± ¡°¡­¡± There was no answer, but they all stayed close together without a word. Woojooforted the siblings who were gasping and shrugging their shoulders, and looked at the ceiling of the bedroom. Suddenly, he missed their Mrs. Kim Deoksoon. After the incident, the staff in charge of New ck gathered in a hurry. ¡°Damn bastards.¡± The head of management growled. ¡°There is a line that you have to respect. Isn¡¯t this too much, even if you do it? Where do you start this kind of garbage on the first day of the New Year¡­¡± ¡°Do you think the saesang fans have any decency? If they did, we wouldn¡¯t have to meet here.¡± The head of management asked Yoon Seokhwan, ¡°Are the kids okay? No injuries?¡± ¡°Yes, they were very surprised. They are not hurt. Dowon-ssi is currently waiting at the dorm, but they are still not in good condition.¡± ¡°Of course. I would have fainted if I were in that situation.¡± Hong Seoyoung, the assistant manager of the PR team, said, ¡°Some stranger came with a key and even guessed the door lock password. It¡¯s lucky that there was a backup device. It could have been big trouble.¡± ¡°Fortunately, their purpose was not the kids. As soon as they sensed someone inside, they ran away like crazy.¡± When they reconstructed the story that Woojoo told them, they guessed that the fans¡¯ purpose was to rob the empty house. They went into the empty house to get something or hide there. The former was more likely. If they had targeted the New ck members, they would have been more happy to open the door and make a scene. The director shuddered. ¡°How did they get the keys? And, isn¡¯t that vi supposed to have a card lock?¡± ¡°I¡¯m more creeped out by the door lock password. I thought it wouldn¡¯t be that bad when the manager told me before¡­¡± ¡°It was bad back then.¡± Yoon Seokhwan smirked. He had heard a strange remark from a repairman when the door lock battery ran outst summer. -Why is the door lock so worn out? It looks like you¡¯ve been lifting and lowering it a lot. Look here. It¡¯s all worn out. It was an auxiliary lock that he had installed just in case. The director pped the table with his thick palm and said, ¡°Let¡¯s focus on cleaning up the mess for now.¡± ¡°We sent the managers to calm them down. And we¡¯re trying to find out if any information leaked from the inside.¡± Assistant Manager Hong continued, ¡°I wrote down the impressions that Woojoo sent me. Based on that, we¡¯re going to look at the videos and photos taken at the event tomorrow and see if anyone has simr clothes or impressions.¡± ¡°Anyway, he¡¯s really good at judging. Sometimes he seems better than most adults.¡± ¡°But even if we find out, there¡¯s not much we can do except cklist them or ban them from the event.¡± ¡°That¡¯s unavoidable. That¡¯s thew.¡± Even if they caught the stalkers, the maximum punishment they could get was a fine. Director Yoon sneered. ¡°What can we do? If punishment was possible, TNT or Teen Spirit would have done it first. They¡¯re the real hellholes.¡± ¡°¡­Yeah,pared to them.¡± TNT and Teen Spirit, who were running at the top of poprity, had suffered from stalkers to an indescribable extent. They would pop out when they were taking a shower in their dorm, follow them into the public restroom and take pictures, or cause a contact ident with the members and try to face them. Director Yoon said, ¡°The PR Team should also be more careful when receiving things.¡± ¡°We¡¯re always careful. We even got a box with a cutter de in it as a gift from Scarletst year.¡± Assistant Manager Hong showed a thin scar on her wrist, and the others smirked. Yoon Seokhwan changed the topic of the meeting. ¡°We can¡¯t keep them there anymore, since they tried to get into the dorm. We can¡¯t watch them 24 hours a day. We need to find a temporary shelter until we move.¡± ¡°That¡¯s right. They were pretty shocked, so they need a ce to go for a week or so¡­¡± But there was no suitable ce. The hotel was expensive, but it was actually easier to break into than the dorm. And they couldn¡¯t ask other staff to take them to their homes. The option of going back to their own homes was rejected by the members, who said their families would worry. In the end, they were having trouble finding a ce, when. ¡°Hmm?¡± The Director¡¯s phone vibrated at the right time. ¡°It¡¯s the President¡¯s call¡­?¡± Did he have something to say from his line? They had reported it, but. As they tilted their heads, the Director answered the phone. ¡°¡­Yes, sir. Yes, yes, really?¡± His face brightened in no time. After the call, he told them what he had said, and they all nodded with relief. It was a bit burdensome, but there was no ce safer than that. ¡°Wow¡­¡± They opened their eyes wide as they got off the car that the manager had dropped them off. Woojoo eximed, ¡°Is this a house or a castle?¡± ¡°What do you mean? It¡¯s obviously a house.¡± ¡°Our Rihyuk is fine now, right? I¡¯m so relieved, Hyung.¡± ¡°¡­Don¡¯t touch me.¡± He pushed Woojoo away with a smile, but he didn¡¯t seem to hate it as much as usual. Junghyun pressed the bell. They introduced themselves and heard a voice saying that he would open the door. Then the manager sighed with relief and said, ¡°Then I¡¯ll go.¡± ¡°Thank you so much for today.¡± ¡°No, no. Call me anytime if you need anything. I¡¯ll be right there.¡± They bowed their heads sincerely to the manager who got in the car and left. Soon after, they looked around. ¡°Wow¡­¡± A high-end residential area in Pyeongchang-dong. Tall walls surrounded the ce, and each house had arge gate and a garage that caught the eye. The house they were standing in front of was the biggest one here. nk. They passed through the automatic door and walked up the stairs quietly. ¡°Wow.¡± Four exmations of admiration came out of their mouths. A greenwn. There were also two or three trees, and birds were singing on them. It was a peaceful sight that made the heart calm. The youngest one had a different expression on his face. ¡°I feel like I¡¯m back home. It would be perfect if there was a fountain here. There¡¯s only a pond.¡± ¡°¡­¡± ¡°Hey, Hyungs. Why are you looking at me like that?¡± They just smiled at the excited youngest. They were d. He looked much more rxed than before. Even during the day, they were all shivering for an hour, wondering if there was any problem with their families. Woojoo also called Mrs. Kim Deoksoon, but fortunately there seemed to be nothing wrong in Gunsan. -Is there really nothing wrong? Your face is ruined. -¡­ -Oh, dear. That¡¯s a big problem. You have nothing to boast about but your face. -¡­Should I hang up? Thanks to his grandmother, whoforted him with insults as usual, he was able to regain hisposure. Of course, the aftermath was still there¡­ Anyway, this unfamiliar scenery was also helpful in blowing away the memories of a while ago. Soon they entered arge two-story mansion. The door opened automatically again. ¡°Wow¡­¡± Woojoo swallowed his breath as he saw the interior that was ck and white, as if to show the end of neatness. ¡°Crazy¡­¡± ¡°So clean. I love it. Perfect.¡± ¡°Is that a waterfall?¡± Junghyun pointed to a mini waterfall that looked like something you would see in a department store, where water flowed down a ss wall. The living room was also high enough to be six meters, and the front was all ss. A house full of the smell of wealth. The piano sound that was faintly heard from the second floor stopped abruptly, and a man in a robe for indoors came down leisurely with a mug in his hand. ¡°Are you here?¡± They all nodded their heads to Mr. Jo Gyuhwan, who smiled softly. ¡°Hello, sir!¡± ¡°You¡¯ve worked hard to get here.¡± ¡°No, not at all.¡± Woojoo waved his hand and said, ¡°Thank you so much for letting us stay.¡± ¡°No, I¡¯m lonely living alone, so it¡¯s good for both of us, right?¡± The person who provided them with temporary shelter was Mr. Jo. He said it was too big a house to live alone, and told them to make themselvesfortable. It was very kind of him. As a professional homebody, Woojoo knew how big a favor it was to lend his house. ¡°Follow me. I¡¯ll show you around the house.¡± They followed Mr. Jo around the house, like people who had entered a strange world for the first time. It took almost 40 minutes to look around. Every time, exmations came out of their mouths. ¡°This is the room I use for gaming, and Jiho said he likes games, right? Come and y when you¡¯re bored.¡± ¡°Sir, I love you!¡± A room full of various game consoles andputers. The youngest one ran around the room like a puppy who came back from a walk and tried to smell every corner. Meanwhile, Mr. Jo covered his mouth with his hand and whispered the truth to them. ¡°I made this room because my nephews were running around so much during the holidays.¡± ¡°¡­Is it effective?¡± ¡°They don¡¯te out of the room except for meals.¡± They all smiled happily. Next was the fitness room on the first floor. ¡°This is the exercise space I use before going to work in the morning, but you can use it as long as it¡¯s not that time.¡± ¡°Awesome¡­¡± They were moved by the sight of the state-of-the-art exercise equipment and the neatly stacked weight bars. Next, they checked out the kitchen. They were amazed by the two refrigerators, the oven, and various cooking utensils. ¡°You can use the kitchen anytime you want. Bijoo, are you listening?¡± ¡°¡­This is heaven.¡± He looked at the kitchen with sparkling eyes, thinking that he could finally make souffl¨¦s. Everyoneughed at his cute expression. He felt a bit embarrassed. He noticed that Director Jo was looking at them with a curious face, as if wondering if they were always like this. Anyway, they all had some dignity to maintain¡­ ¡°Woww!¡± ¡°Ah, you scared me. Why are you screaming all of a sudden, Hyung?¡± ¡°Wo! This, this is!¡± He was stunned by the basement studio. He didn¡¯t care about the reactions of his siblings who were backing away. ¡°This, this is¡­¡± ¡°These are hard to get in Korea, right? I ordered them specially from overseas.¡± ¡°These precious things¡­!¡± He felt a surge of excitement as he saw the luxurious lineup of machines in the studio. He covered his mouth with both hands, and Junghyun asked him with a smirk, ¡°Are these that expensive? They look¡­¡± ¡°Stop!¡± He pushed away Junghyun¡¯s hand that was trying to touch the console casually. ¡°Don¡¯t touch it carelessly, Junghyun! You have to wash your hands first. What if you get grease on it?¡± ¡°Wow. Did you see his eyes turn red just now?¡± ¡°I always feel this way, but he¡¯s not normal. He goes crazy whenever something rted toposinges up.¡± Theyughed and said, ¡®Did you hear that? He¡¯s nuts, nuts.¡¯ Look at these lovely machines! He gently stroked the console, and Junghyun said, ¡°Hyung, you look like that. That.¡± ¡°That?¡± ¡°That four-legged monster from The Lord of the Rings¡­ Ah. I remember.¡± He pointed at him. ¡°Gollum.¡± ¡°Uh¡­¡± He snapped out of it, like Frodo without the One Ring. ¡°Ahem.¡± Woojoo cleared his throat and tried to regain his dignity, but he felt that Director Jo¡¯s gaze had changed a bit. He seemed to keep some distance from him. But the most abnormal one was someone else. There was someone who got so excited that his pale face turned red every time he saw a perfectly organized room. ¡°¡­Perfect. It¡¯s the best. It can¡¯t get any more perfect than this.¡± Rihyuk looked at the tidy room with a dreamy expression, as if he was looking at a masterpiece in a museum. ¡°Director, who cleaned this ce?¡± ¡°She mostly did it.¡± ¡°May I ask your name¡­?¡± As soon as he heard the name ¡®Choi Youngja¡¯ from Director Jo, Rihyuk typed it on his phone, letter by letter. He was ready to take her as his master right away. After looking around the house once, we came to one conclusion. ¡°Hyung¡­¡± ¡°Guys¡­¡± They nodded and looked at each other. ¡°This is heaven!¡± The first day of the New Year. They had arrived at their own heaven. ¡°Wow!¡± And as he watched us, a hint of regret crossed Director Jo¡¯s face for the first time. ¡°Guys¡­ well.¡± ¡°Then we¡¯ll unpack in our room!¡± ¡°Let¡¯s unpack!¡± Director Jo tried to say something again. ¡°Guys, first of all.¡± ¡°Quick, bring the luggage!¡± ¡°The leader said to bring the luggage!¡± ¡°Wow, I¡¯ll bring the luggage!¡± ¡®Well, it¡¯ll be fine.¡¯ With a resigned step, Director Jo climbed up to the second floor. He heard someone calling him from behind. ¡°Excuse me¡­ Director.¡± ¡°Oh, Woojoo.¡± Seon Woojoo looked up at him with a very polite expression. Maybe he wanted to thank him again. ¡®Woojoo is the most normal one¡­¡¯ That was what Director Jo thought, when a pleasant voice pierced his ear. ¡°What¡¯s the wifi password here?¡± ¡°¡­¡± He had a feeling it was going to be a long week. Was it just his mood? Chapter 168: Chapter 168: Trantor: MarcTempest Editor: Rxel Chapter 168 10 p.m. Woojooy down on the bed after taking a shower, but he couldn¡¯t fall asleep. The events of the day lingered in his mind like an afterimage. He stared at the dark ceiling, but it felt like the scenes from earlier were ying vividly in front of his eyes. That was the first reason why he couldn¡¯t sleep. The second reason why he couldn¡¯t sleep was.¡°¡­¡± The handsome caterpirs who were clinging to him. Woojoo sighed deeply and said, ¡°I can¡¯t sleep.¡± A reply came right away. ¡°Me neither.¡± ¡°My eyes are still wide awake.¡± ¡°I can¡¯t sleep either today.¡± They lookedpletely oblivious to why Woojoo said he couldn¡¯t sleep. ¡°¡­Why are you guys in my bed anyway?¡± ¡°It¡¯sfortable here,¡± Rihyuk said, lying on Woojoo¡¯s leg as a pillow and speaking casually. ¡°I feel anxious when I¡¯m somewhere else.¡± ¡°Do you want me to make you ufortable?¡± Shake, shake, shake. ¡°Aaaah, don¡¯t shake your leg. It makes my head hurt. Cough! Ah, dust¡­¡± ¡°Rihyuk, stay still. What if Woojoo Hyung kicks us out because of you?¡± The youngest followed up with a pair of eyes that seemed to appeal to Woojoo. ¡°I¡¯m confident I can be quiet. Hyung.¡± ¡°Hey, Bijoo Hyung. Are you betraying us by living alone? Just lie down like me.¡± ¡°Oh, really?¡± ¡°Yeah. Hyung. You stamped our property rights on the idol show, right? So don¡¯t be shy and let¡¯s lie down more confidently.¡± ¡°Okay! I will.¡± Woojoo looked at his brothers who were now lying t and made a dumbfounded expression, then soon smiled. He felt relieved to be together. To be honest, he was scared to lie down alone too. They chatted for a long time. They talked about movies they wanted to see, and promised to go to famous restaurants. They talked about things they wanted to do or eat and had a good time. Suddenly, silence fell. ¡°¡­¡± There were moments like that. When you tried your best to avoid a certain topic and make small talk. But you finally ran out of things to talk about and realized that you had to bring up that topic. Bijoo asked cautiously, ¡°Someday, something like today could happen again, right?¡± ¡°¡­Well, yeah.¡± ¡°I wish things like this didn¡¯t happen.¡± Bijoo¡¯s voice was heard. ¡°I was really scared today. When I was standing there, my legs were shaking, and it was the first time in my life that I was so scared.¡± ¡°Me too. I thought my heart was going to pop out.¡± ¡°It was really scary.¡± Woojoo was about to say that he was scared too, but he gave up. Instead, he quietly listened to what the members had to say. How scary today was, whether they should go out in pairs from now on, whether nothing would happen to their families. Woojoo listened carefully to the stories of his brothers who expressed their worries and anxieties. About an hour of conversation passed when Junghyun asked Woojoo, ¡°Hyung.¡± ¡°Yeah.¡± ¡°We have no choice but to adapt to these things, right?¡± ¡°That¡¯s the only way.¡± It wasn¡¯t like their wishes woulde true if they prayed that these things wouldn¡¯t happen. The higher they climbed, the more weird people would get involved or all kinds of things would happen. But. ¡°Let¡¯s forget about it for now.¡± ¡°¡­¡± ¡°There¡¯s nothing we can do about it. And it¡¯s not like we can really adapt if we decide to. The best thing to do is to shake it off as soon as possible.¡± There was no answer, but they all seemed to agree. Maybe it was because Woojoo¡¯s eyes had gotten used to the darkness. He could see the silhouettes of his siblings tossing and turning. They all looked troubled, so he smiled faintly and changed the topic. "Do you want to know the best way to forget bad memories?" "What is it? A game?" "Hard work." "¡­." "You just have to work hard. If you work so hard that you don''t have time to think about anything else, you''ll naturally forget¡­ Hey, are you pretending to sleep?" These rascals, he thought as he shook his body. The siblings who were pretending to sleep opened their eyes and giggled. After chatting for a while, Jiho stretched and yawned. "I guess I''m rxed now. I feel at ease. Is this what it feels like to sleep in a very safe ce?" "That''s what I''m saying." As everyone nodded in agreement, Rihyuk spoke. "Director Jo really has a big heart. If it were me, I would never let anyone like this¡­ I mean, anyone else into my house." "We owe him a lot." "In that sense, let''s not cause any trouble for Director Jo for a week and leave." As everyone made a resolution, the youngest one said, "Right. Let''s give Director Jo the best week ever." * * * "¡­." After finishing his morning exercise and leaving the fitness room, Jo Gyuhwan had no choice but to stop in his tracks. ¡®What?'' Kim Junghyun was standing at the door with a warm smile. He had a towel on his arm, and his appearance looked like¡­. ¡®A butler?'' He looked like a butler from a foreign movie. He heard a friendly voice like a teddy bear. "Director, you must be tired from exercising." "Uh, yeah¡­." "Here''s a sports towel." "Th, thank you." He took the towel nervously. Before he could ask why he was here in the morning, the bear stretched out his front paw. There was a piece of paper. It said ¡®Today''s menu for the director''. Jo Gyuhwan couldn''t help butugh at the flower drawings next to each menu. ¡®They''re funny kids, anyway.'' He decided to y along and chose Menu A. Then he left to take a shower. He kept snickering. After Director Jo left, four heads peeked out from the next room. The leader asked, "Report, number 3." "He chose the American breakfast." They nodded their heads. Everyone got ready right away. While Bijoo calmly prepared the food, Woojoo made coffee with the familiar coffee machine. When Rihyuk followed the robot vacuum cleaner with a blissful expression, Jiho, who had nothing to do, was in charge of keeping watch. ¡°Oh, he¡¯sing.¡± Before long, Director Jo, who had neatly finished getting ready to go out, came down in a shirt. He smiled as he saw the members standing side by side next to the dining table. ¡°Did you all sleep well?¡± ¡°Yes, Director. Please eat quickly.¡± ¡°Okay. Thank you.¡± When Woojoo swiftly pulled out a chair for him, Jo Gyuhwan unknowingly suppressed augh that was about toe out. ¡®I can¡¯t live like this. Really.¡¯ They seemed to want to express their gratitude, but from his perspective, they were so cute that it was funny. Jo Gyuhwan¡¯s eyes turned to the te. ¡°Oh.¡± Sausages and bacon with steaming smoke, fried eggs with yolks that looked like they would burst when touched. On the side te, there was a well-cooked toast, and in the cup, there was a coffee with a rich vor. ¡®Not bad, huh?¡¯ At first, he agreed as a joke to match their pace, but the result was not trivial. ¡®Let¡¯s see.¡¯ He picked up a neatly arranged fork and stretched it out. ¡°¡­¡± Five pairs of eyes followed the end of the fork. ¡°¡­¡± As Jo Gyuhwan reached for the te, their eyes followed the fork as it moved. They were like cats chasing the movement of a fly. He coughed and asked, ¡°¡­Aren¡¯t you going to eat?¡± ¡°We¡¯re going to eat after you, Director.¡± ¡°Then at least sit down. I feel ufortable.¡± ¡°Oh, okay.¡± He smiled as he watched them sit down one by one. He took a sip of coffee and asked, ¡°Why were you standing in the first ce?¡± ¡°I saw it on a drama. When the chairman eats a spoonful, everyone stands like this.¡± Jo Gyuhwan chuckled at Woojoo¡¯s absurd answer. Then he ate the breakfast that Bijoo had made. ¡°Oh.¡± It was a sincere exmation. ¡°Is it good?¡± As if that was a signal, they clenched their fists and said, ¡®Wow, it¡¯s good¡¯ to each other. How their eyes sparkled every time he said it was good. Thanks to their rich reaction, Jo Gyuhwan said it was delicious every time he took a bite, like a son-inw who arrived at his inws¡¯ house. When he finished his meal, he said as he sipped his coffee. ¡°Thanks to you, I had a really good breakfast. Thank you.¡± ¡°No, Director.¡± Woojoo spoke as the representative. ¡°We¡¯re grateful to do this for you.¡± ¡°I know that, but. Don¡¯t do this from tomorrow morning.¡± ¡°But we have to do something for you¡­¡± ¡°It¡¯s okay. You came in here not because I forced you, but because I asked you to, right?¡± He smiled softly and looked around the five members. ¡°So, just rx for a week. That¡¯s why I called you. You got that?¡± ¡°Yes, Director.¡± ¡°Okay. Then keep that in mind. Oh, by the way, do you want to grill some meat for dinner? Pork belly?¡± ¡°Pork belly?¡± Junghyun swallowed his saliva as Jo Gyuhwan asked. ¡°Didn¡¯t you say you couldn¡¯t eat pork belly yesterday?¡± ¡°Yes¡­¡± They all had a sad expression on their faces as they remembered the pork belly they couldn¡¯t eat for lunch yesterday. ¡°I¡¯ll buy some meat when I get off work, so let¡¯s grill some pork belly in the yard.¡± ¡°Wow!¡± ¡°The President might be able toe too.¡± ¡°Wow¡­!¡± ¡°I¡¯ll try toe by myself as much as possible.¡± ¡°Wow!¡± He tried to keep a straight face, but he couldn¡¯t helpughing at the subtle changes in volume from strong to weak to medium to weak. Jo Gyuhwan, who was about to get up to do the dishes, was pushed back by the others who stopped him and left with his coat on. ¡°Have a good day! Boss!¡± He waved back at the five people who bowed their heads and said ¡®Have a good day!¡¯ at the entrance with a gust of wind. He keptughing as he headed to the garage. ¡®Iughed so much this morning.¡¯ He didn¡¯t know how many years it had been since he had gone to work with a smile that hurt his cheeks. Was this why his married friends bragged so much about their daughters and sons? Then he faintly heard someone shouting. -Our world is here now! ¡­What? He must have heard it wrong. They moved busily after finishing breakfast. It was to make the most of the week. After Woojoo told them that they had to move fast to shake off the bad things. They came to one conclusionst night. -Let¡¯s use this time wisely. Although it was a week-long vacation, it was too precious to waste it on just resting. Unlike the activity period when they slept for a few hours a day and did things half-asleep. It was a week that they could spend with a clear mind. They couldn¡¯t just lie on the sofa and waste it. They decided to spend their time as productively as possible, no matter what. Because once this vacation was over, they wouldn¡¯t have this kind of free time for a while. The schedule for the first quarter of 2015 was hell itself. There were several variety shows scheduled for January, plus a newpetition programunching on PBS. A new advertising schedule. And on top of that, the overseas showcase schedule and the idol sports festival recording in early February¡­ They would be short of bodies even if they used clones. The schedule was ten times busier than when they finished their first album, but they decided to focus on what was in front of them. ¡°Hehehe.¡± He couldn¡¯t help butugh every time he saw the machines in the basement studio. ¡°Puhahaha¡­¡± His face,ughing like a fool, was reflected in the ss window of the recording booth, but he couldn¡¯t control his expression. It was too good. ¡°Huhuhu¡­ ahem¡­ huhuh.¡± He managed to cough and manage his expression. He quickly connected hisptop and finished the preparations, then tried to mix different sounds. ¡°Ah¡­ I love it.¡± He shivered at the sound that came out of the high-end speakers. It might not make a difference to the casual listener, but there was a clear difference in the subtle distinction of the sound. He smiled contentedly as he looked at the ceiling for a moment. ¡°Thank you, Director Jo. I¡¯ll use it well.¡± Woojoo sent a photo of the equipment that Director Jo had let him use as a thank you, and he received a reply full ofughter. Woojoo didn¡¯t know what was so funny, but he was d he was in a good mood. He briefly caressed the machines with a smile, and then he started working, writing down various notes on A4 paper. The words written at the top of the memo were as follows:
    • Next album: Bijoo???
Below that, there were more notes. It was the n for the third album. Some might wonder why he was preparing for the third album right after the second one, but time was tight. Thepany had decided to make aeback in March. They had to shoot the music video in February at thetest, and of course the song had to be finished before that. That was why thepany was soliciting songs, and he was nning to make a song himself in a week. ¡°Hmm.¡± Woojoo looked at the crowded files in theptop folder. They were the ones he had made while working on the second album. The color of the next album was yellow. And the member who would be the center was Bijoo. ¡°What kind of vibe should I go for to make a good song~¡± Woojoo muttered to himself as he pressed the keyboard here and there. But the conclusion was not easy. Should he go for a more vocal feel like Fireworks, or a dance song like Masquerade? Bijoo was the main dancer, but he was also good at vocals. He was second only to me, but that was because Rihyuk and Woojoo were so good. He had enough skills to be a lead vocal anywhere else. He was a guy who could perform anything perfectly, so he felt ambiguous. Knock, knock. ¡°Come in.¡± ¡°It¡¯s me. Hyung.¡± As the saying goes, speak of the tiger and he will appear. Bijoo came in with a tray of apple slices. Woojoo was about to greet him with a smile, but he stopped when he saw the expression on his face. ¡°Bijoo, did you cry?¡± ¡°Ah, yes. A little.¡± Bijoo smiled faintly and wiped away the tears in his eyes. Woojoo looked at him with concern and made him sit next to him. ¡°What¡¯s wrong? Tell me quickly.¡± ¡°I was cooking and watching Harry Potter on my phone. I was watching thest part and¡­¡± Bijoo said in a watery voice, ¡°Dobby¡­¡± ¡°Dobby?¡± ¡°Yes. Dobby¡¯s ending was so pitiful.¡± Poor Dobby, Woojoo chuckled and ate an apple. He was the only normal one in this group. Bijoo, who had shown sadness for a while, showed interest in theptop. ¡°Are youposing, Hyung?¡± ¡°Yeah, you came at the right time. The next album¡¯s color and the center are you, right? So I was trying to make a song¡­¡± ¡°Actually, I came here because of that.¡± ¡°¡­?¡± ¡°Wait a minute.¡± Bijoo went out and came back with a stack of thick books. ¡°What is this?¡± ¡°These are the books I¡¯ve read since I debuted.¡± Woojoo calmly scanned the book titles. <30 Secret Composing Skills that Pros Hide> There were also some basic textbooks that Woojoo had seen. What? Did he want Woojoo to teach him how topose? But what he said was somethingpletely different. ¡°Um¡­ You might find this a bit funny, Hyung, but I¡¯ve been reading and studying a lot on YouTube.¡± ¡°Uh-huh. And¡­?¡± ¡°So what I¡¯m trying to say is¡­¡± Bijoo asked cautiously, ¡°I want to try making a song too. Can you help me, Hyung?¡± ¡°¡­¡± ¡°I know I¡¯m not good at it, but¡­¡± ¡°Bijoo.¡± ¡°¡­Yes?¡± ¡°Wee.¡± Woojoo grabbed Bijoo¡¯s hand and smiled brightly enough to show his teeth. Bijoo flinched at his fervent gaze. He looked like a zebra being attacked by a lion and roaring, ¡®Why are you doing this to me?¡¯ ¡°Hyung, I¡­¡± ¡°Don¡¯t worry. You don¡¯t have to do anything. I¡¯ll help you make a song with the determination to break my bones, so sit down here.¡± ¡°That.¡± ¡°Hey, don¡¯t back away. Sit down quickly.¡± Woojoo smiled brightly at his younger brother who looked doubtful about whether this was really a good idea. Yes. He wanted to try making a song once, and Woojoo had to help him with all his strength. Chapter 169: Chapter 169: Trantor: MarcTempest Editor: Rxel Chapter 169 ¡°Do you have any notes or something that you studied before?¡± ¡°Yes, I do!¡± Bijoo quickly took out a notebook in response to Woojoo¡¯s question. He examined it carefully. ¡°Hmm.¡± Woojoo pretended to be calm, but he was amazed inside. When did he study this much?The things that Bijoo wrote in his notebook were at a higher level than he expected. ¡°When did you have time to study this?¡± ¡°Well, I didn¡¯t have much time, so I did it whenever I could. I also watched you work from behind when you were working.¡± ¡°Since when did you do that?¡± ¡°I think it was when you first worked on Fireworks.¡± Bijoo recalled. ¡°You looked so tired then. I thought I should help you somehow, and I started doing it, but then I got interested and worked hard.¡± ¡°That¡¯s impressive.¡± ¡°Ugh, don¡¯t say that. Hyung. I get embarrassed when you praise me.¡± ¡°No, really. You¡¯re amazing.¡± Woojoo sincerely admired him. Bijoo¡¯s level was that of a beginner who had thoroughly learned the basics for three months. But the important thing was the process of getting there. He did this with only bits of time left over. When everyone else was asleep after practicing all day, he spent 10 or 20 minutes more reading, memorizing, and studying. It sounded easy. But how many people could do this without missing a day for six months? Woojoo felt a human respect for he who was in front of him. ¡°So, you did this by yourself?¡± ¡°Yes,¡± Bijoo answered readily, then looked around and asked, ¡°Is it a bitcking?¡± ¡°No, it¡¯s more than enough. You must have had a lot of questions, you should have asked me.¡± ¡°I wanted to ask you at first.¡± Bijoo scratched the back of his head. ¡°But you were always busy except when you were lying in the dorm. Thest time I tried to ask you, you were reading a script¡­¡± ¡°What about in the waiting room?¡± ¡°You were always reading fan letters. Or you went to the fan cafe and read the posts that the fans uploaded.¡± ¡°What about in the car?¡± ¡°You were listening to music and writing something on your notepad.¡± ¡°¡­The timing was off.¡± They looked at each other with regretful expressions and Woojoo continued, ¡°We can match the timing from now on, right? Right?¡± ¡°Right.¡± ¡°Hmm, before we start, let mepliment you a bit.¡± Woojoo smiled at him as if to say he did well. ¡°You must have had a hard time studying by yourself, but you did this much. You¡¯re really good. The Director would have praised you if he saw this.¡± ¡°Uh¡­¡± ¡°Really, you did a great job.¡± ¡°No, I didn¡¯t do it alone. Junhyun helped me a lot too.¡± "Helped you? I know what he would say if you asked him. ¡®Hmm, ask Woojoo Hyung. He knows that stuff.¡¯ " Woojoo imitated him perfectly and Bijoo covered his mouth and giggled. Woojoo said to him who wasughingfortably, ¡°From now on, I¡¯ll help you, so ask me anything you want. I¡¯ll answer everything.¡± ¡°Okay. Hyung.¡± They smiled brightly at each other. They started working right away. They put an A4 paper on the table and started brainstorming ideas. ¡°What should we do for the next album concept?¡± ¡°Can we decide that ourselves? The Director¡­¡± ¡°That¡¯s okay. I talked to the Directorst night. He said we have autonomy for the next album too.¡± ¡°Really?¡± ¡°Yeah, as long as it¡¯s not something ridiculous like a bread mask or a crab costume.¡± Thanks to the sess of this title song, Woojoo had a reward. It was the producer¡¯s authority. Of course, he didn¡¯t have full power. Thepany could interfere at any time. But his position was very high because he hit consecutive home runs from Something to Masquerade. He wondered if the A&R Team recognized him as the producer of New ck. Whenever he gave his opinion, they would ept it as long as it wasn''t too absurd. Woojoo asked Bijoo, who was pping his hands and happy as if it was his own sess, "Tell me what you''ve always wanted to do. You''re the star of the next album, right?" "Um¡­" "Don''t worry about the others. I can tell you''re thinking about them right now." "¡­Oh, can you?" "Yeah, so be honest with me." Woojoo wanted to know what Bijoo was thinking as an artist. What kind of music he wanted to do normally, and what he had to say this time. Bijoo finally opened his lips after some hesitation. "I¡­ I want to sing, Hyung." "Sing?" "I want to do a dance song, but with a lighter color this time. A song that has more vocal color than dance." "You want to reduce the dance? Woojoo asked him suspiciously, sensing something fishy. "Are you trying to be considerate of Rihyuk?" "No. It''s not that." Bijoo waved his hand and denied it strongly. "I really want to sing." "I feel like you''re being weird. You''re a dancer, right? You''re going to ignore your talent and go for vocals?" "Yes. I want to try singing properly this time." He nodded his head. "Actually, there''s not much difference. Both Fireworks and Masquerade are dance songs, right? Something is a vocal song, but it was a duet." It was a fresh and good idea. They had sung as five in a music cafe once, but except for that time, they had never sung properly as a group. Woojoo thought it wouldn''t be bad to try something new this time. But. "Can I ask you why? I find it a bit surprising." "I had a dream of being a singer, too." Bijoo started to tell his story calmly. "I love dancing, too, but what I wanted to be since I was young was a singer. A singer who can sing confidently in front of people." It was a bit unexpected. "When I was young, I was so timid that I couldn''t say a word at kindergarten. Whenever there was a time to speak up, the teacher always left me out. I would cry while talking." Woojoo imagined the little Bijoo crying at kindergarten, and he felt a pang of pity and cuteness. Bijoo reminisced about his past. "I couldn''t say a proper word until I graduated from kindergarten. So my mom sent me to a dance academy during the winter break to boost my confidence." "Did that help?" "Yes, I took sses with adults, and they all looked at me kindly. I was the best one, so I had to teach others when the instructor wasn''t there. That''s when I started to talk more." He said that dancing had been his life and passion for 14 years, from the winter of his seventh year to now. "I had a lot of opportunities for dancing. I could join a dance team. When I was in middle school, some unknown guys came and asked me to join a b-boy crew. That was tempting.¡± ¡°Why didn¡¯t you go?¡± ¡°They were too scary there. They had skull nes.¡± Woojoo burst outughing, but Bijoo said seriously, ¡°I¡¯m serious, Hyung.¡± They were the ultimate scary Hyungs who had the appearance of Street Boys and the inner spirit of Teen Spirit. Bijoo smiled and said, ¡°My dream is to be a singer, but I also love dancing. I want to do both on stage.¡± ¡°So that¡¯s why you became a trainee.¡± ¡°If I had to choose between a dancer or a bad singer, I would have to focus on one of them. I want to do something that lets me dance brightly and sing at times.¡± ¡°I can rte. I became a trainee for the same reason.¡± When Woojoo was young, he watched the first-generation idol seniors on TV and thought he had to do that. Sometimes they would stand together and sing an emotional song, and other times they would dance more energetically than anyone else on stage. The ability to try different genres of music was the charm he felt from the idol profession. Sometimes rough, sometimes smooth, and sometimes beautiful. ¡°So what kind of song do you want to try this time?¡± ¡°I want something that has a popr appeal.¡± Bijoo said earnestly, ¡°Something that everyone can enjoy, like the songs of the first-generation seniors. I wish we could make a song that anyone can hum along, like ¡®Fate¡¯ or ¡®Sunshine¡¯ that we did with Street Boys.¡± ¡°That would be really hard to make.¡± ¡°I know, right?¡± ¡°Yeah.¡± Woojoo said with a smile, ¡°But it sounds like a fun challenge.¡± Woojoo turned on hisptop and created a new file. The title was ¡®Untitled No.2¡¯. ¡°Hyung, what¡¯s wrong with your face?¡± ¡°What?¡± ¡°You look like a deted bun.¡± ¡°Wow, you¡¯re so polite to say that right after meeting me for the first time in six hours, Junghyun.¡± Rihyuk said, ¡°That¡¯s sarcasm, by the way,¡± and then Junghyun smiled sheepishly and said, ¡°Oh.¡± Rihyuk put down his ¡®Practical Spanish for Beginners¡¯ book on the table and asked, ¡°But seriously, why do you both look like that? Bijoo Hyung and you look like wet tissues.¡± ¡°Shut up. It was really hard.¡± ¡°I, I did okay¡­¡± They both sprawled on the living room sofa and breathed out ¡®phew¡¯. Rihyuk shook his head at the sight of them. Junghyun, who sat down next to Woojoo, offered him a water bottle. ¡°Do you want to drink this, Hyung?¡± ¡°What is it?¡± ¡°Protein shake. The boss said I can have it, so you can too.¡± ¡°Is it good?¡± ¡°Um, chocte-vored tofu? Tofu-vored chocte? Something like that.¡± Woojoo declined with a gesture of his hand. He had showered and was fluffy, but his muscles were more pumped than usual from the intense workout. And he had a protein drink on top of that. Woojoo wondered if he would turn into a Terminator by the time they left here. ¡°Junghyun, lend me your knee.¡± Woojoo rested his head on his hard leg. The TV screen that filled the front of the living room came into my view. There was a logo of HBS MTV on the top right corner, and Teen Spirit was doing their reality show ¡®I¡¯m Gisingggotto!¡¯ on the screen. ¡°¡­¡± There was a moment of silence. ¡°Am I hallucinating? Why do I hear ¡®Jon¡¯ in front of me?¡± ¡°Are you Jonna Gisingggotto?¡± ¡°Don¡¯t worry. It¡¯s not just you. I hear ¡®Jon¡¯ as a silent letter too.¡± As someone who knew the true identity of the senior idols who were ¡®lovey-dovey¡¯ with their sisters on TV, Woojoo felt nothing but awkward. Rihyuk said, ¡°Just bear with it a little longer. We¡¯ll be on after this.¡± The reason they gathered in one ce after working in different ces was because of the idol show. January 2nd, Friday, 6 p.m. It was time to monitor their first appearance on an idol program. They were half excited, half anxious. They were finally entering the idol program with their New ck, feeling the excitement, and the anxiety about the memes that would be produced afterwards. Woojoo¡¯s phone started ringing then. Ring- As he answered the call, his grandmother¡¯s face appeared on the screen. ¡°Who is this?¡± -It¡¯s your granny. You good-for-nothing brat. ¡°How dare you curse at me, you¡¯re such a Kim Deoksoon. I love you so much.¡± -Stop talking nonsense. Are you only showing your face? Let me see the others too. You have no sense. ¡°Oh, you¡¯re nagging again.¡± Woojoo turned the phone around while lying down and the kids smiled happily. ¡°Grandma! Hello! How have you been?¡± -Yeah, I¡¯m fine. I¡¯m d to see that Bijoo and Rihyuk are doing well too. Oh my, what happened to your body, Junghyun? ¡°I¡¯m in good shape, right?¡± -But you should hide that kind of thing. It¡¯s not good to show it off like that. It¡¯s shameful. ¡°Yes¡­¡± They chuckled as Junghyun pulled down his sleeves with a sullen face. His T-shirt had almost turned into a sleeveless one, so it was a relief that it was back to normal. Grandma alsoplimented Bijoo and Rihyuk. -Yeah, Rihyuk is studying hard and doing great. I saw himst New Year¡¯s too. ¡°Oh, on Chuseok?¡± -He was studying some Chinese thing when I saw him on Chuseok. ¡°It was Japanese.¡± -Switch to someone else. I get a fever when I talk to him. He¡¯s a world champion in spitting out nonsense. ¡°¡­I¡¯m sorry.¡± They all burst intoughter as Rihyuk was humiliated again after Junghyun. -Where¡¯s Jiho? ¡°He¡¯ll be here soon. He¡¯s lost in his game.¡± -Really? ¡°Why did you call me all of a sudden, Grandma?¡± -I called you to scold you. Why didn¡¯t you tell me that you¡¯re on TV today? Woojoo¡¯s heart and lungs thumped and thudded as he jumped up from the sofa. ¡°What, what? How did you know that, Grandma? I didn¡¯t tell you.¡± -You can¡¯t fool me, I know everything. These days, there¡¯s a lot of talk on that backside group chat. ¡°¡­I¡¯m screwed.¡± The kids held back theirughter next to him. -What¡¯s wrong with you? Tell me. Let meugh with you. ¡°Grandma, listen to me. You can¡¯t watch that show. There¡¯s some embarrassing stuff on there.¡± ¡°Woojoo Hyung has a lot of dark history on there.¡± ¡°Ah, you little punk.¡± Jiho hade down and joined the testimony. Woojoo covered both sides of the phone with his hands as the kids tried to testify one by one. -That¡¯s not my ears, you can¡¯t block them. ¡°Oops.¡± -You¡¯re worse than a butterfly, you jerk. Just then, Woojoo saw a cat rubbing its body against Mrs. Kim Deoksoon¡¯sp and meowing. Woojoo red at Nabi and then said to his grandmother, ¡°Anyway, you can¡¯t watch today¡¯s broadcast! Grandma! Especially, Nabi. She can¡¯t watch it even more.¡± -What¡¯s that? You¡¯re making me curious. ¡°Don¡¯t watch it! If you watch it, we¡¯re done!¡± -Hey, you¡­ Woojoo hung up the phone. Rihyuk shrugged and asked Woojoo, ¡°Why didn¡¯t you just tell her the truth? The more you do this, the more curious she¡¯ll be and watch it.¡± ¡°Could you say that you sent a video letter of a cat to your grandmother?¡± ¡°If it were me, I wouldn¡¯t have sent a video letter in the first ce.¡± ¡°Right, instead your electric shocker would break down.¡± ¡°¡­This is my win. Not a tie.¡± ¡°I said thest word, so I won.¡± While they were having a rock-paper-scissors battle, Jiho looked at them with pity and sucked on a chupa chup. ¡°How old are you guys, really?¡± ¡°Jiho, your HP is red right now.¡± Junghyun pointed at theptop screen, and Jiho shouted into his headphones. ¡°Oh, wait a minute. Namu Hyung, don¡¯t use a bow there. You¡¯re on fire, you know? Yeah! Your base is burning right now. Ah, damn it!¡± ¡°¡­?¡± ¡°Hey, hey, hey! Aaah!¡± They blinked their eyes at the sight of a middle schooler who was pounding his mouse and keyboard like a broken cat. Junghyun nced at theptop screen and exined, ¡°He¡¯s ying a game with the Street Boys. It¡¯s a n war, and he¡¯s losing. His n is Mint Choco.¡± ¡°Who¡¯s the opponent?¡± ¡°Guryong Elementary School, 5th grade, ss 3.¡± They allughed so hard that they didn¡¯t notice that they fell to the floor. 5:58 p.m. Woojoo read the posts that our fans posted on the fan cafe and idolmunity, trying to calm his nervousness. -I¡¯m so excited??????? -I¡¯m so looking forward to it and nervous. What wille out today? -If our kids go on a past life show, Conan or Kim Jeonil will definitelye out -I¡¯m nervous¡­ At this point, it¡¯s not fangirling, it¡¯s a random box territory -Congrattions! You won the SS-grade ck history card ¡®Oh, really?¡¯ LOL These people are really¡­ From his grandmother to the world, how could there be no one on his side? He could already see the posts that would pop up everywhere after the idol show. He would have to cut off the inte for a while. ¡°Oh, it¡¯s starting!¡± The dark screen brightened and the idol show finally began. Jiho covered his mouth and eximed. ¡°Wow! The logo song you made really came out.¡± ¡°Oh, really?¡± As the scenes for today¡¯s episode shed by like a trailer, the logo song that he had made was ying in the background. Woojoo smiled briefly at the catchy melody and the cheerful faces. ¡°Pfft!¡± Woojoo burst outughing. The first thing that appeared on the screen was a pig¡¯s head on a tablet PC. It was the quiz that they had taken on the day they arrived. There were subtitles at the bottom. -How many times do I have to bow, Hyung? -Just do it as you feel. The microphone was so good that it picked up their conversation. And their awkward bowing. The inte wasughing at them from the first scene. Then the MCs introduced them and showed them running around. Their impressions of being on an idol program. The stories they shared while exploring the police station set. And then the generation gap between the first-generation and the new-generation idols, and Bijoo¡¯s hrious misunderstanding of ¡®love at first sight¡¯. And then. ¡°Ugh¡­¡± The thing that Woojoo wanted to avoid the most. The corner where he had to write a love letter to a cat and get an electric shock. That was on the screen. Chapter 170: Chapter 170: Trantor: MarcTempest Editor: Rxel Chapter 170 Woojoo felt like hiding right away. People on the inte wereughing out loud. ¨C?? I¡¯m going crazy -Do they always broadcast with this crazy tension?? Answer me, coals ¨C????How many times am Iughing today -Even muggles would find this funny ??On the screen, Woojoo was reaching out with his eyes closed, and his siblings were teasing him nearby. But the embarrassing moment that came out of there was no problem at all. The real problem was after that. ¡°Ugh¡­¡± As Woojoo covered his eyes, his siblings shouted with clenched fists like people watching a ser game. ¡°Please, let Woojoo¡¯s lettere out soon!¡± ¡°I wish they put a gold border on the screen and a shy caption. ¡®Deoksoon is mine.¡¯¡± ¡°Is there any popcorn? I suddenly crave popcorn.¡± Woojoo screamed as if he was in agony. ¡°Are you human? Huh? Are you?¡± ¡°Should I be a cat then? Meow.¡± ¡°Hey! Wang Jiho,e here! I¡¯m going to unplug thatptop!¡± The more he suffered, the more his siblings enjoyed it and giggled. At least Bijoo didn¡¯t say anything¡­ He didn¡¯t say anything, but he brought popcorn. Bijoo. Woojoo pressed his trembling cheeks and watched TV. Woojoo begged and begged in his heart for them to edit it, but to no avail, his wish was not granted. -Then, since this happened, why don¡¯t we leave a video message for the cat? -For the cat? Woojoo shouted as he looked at the screen. ¡°No, don¡¯t do it!¡± ¡°Puhahaha!¡± In the end, he opened his lips ominously with the creepy BGM that the angel girl used when she left a warning. As Woojoo told the cat to eat moderately, their fans who were watching in real time were happy. -New idol S ¡®jealous of the cat¡¯ -Ew ??????so serious -Woojoo????? I love you so much ¨C????????I expected there would be some foreshadowing, but I never imagined this kind of foreshadowing -I decided to go to the Civil Affairs Office and change my name to Kim Deoksoon Woojoo decided not to react at all. Halfway resigned, he saw himself pointing a finger at the camera on the screen. Serious facial acting. Like a prosecutor interrogating a criminal, a person with a cold face looked straight ahead and opened his lips. -You must re. mem. ber. Kim Deoksoon is mine. -Remember. Deoksoon is mine. The caption, painted in gold, shed brightly with a close-up. ¡°Puhup! Puhahaha!¡± Woojoo resigned himself to the sight of them rolling off the sofa or hitting each other with cushions andughing. Was it his mood that made the ceiling look blurry? ¡°Wow, that was so funny.¡± ¡°I¡¯m so refreshed from ying games. Oh, the Street Boys just told me in the game chat. They¡¯re also watching TV andughing right now.¡± Woojoo turned his head sharply. ¡°Do they have time left? Why would they¡­¡± ¡°They¡¯re going to record next week, so they¡¯re monitoring in advance. Oh, Hanjo isughing the hardest.¡± ¡°¡­Fine, let themugh.¡± Woojoo smiled almost resignedly. There was nothing more to be ashamed of since everything came out. Then his phone vibrated. Woojoo shuddered at the name ¡®Kim Deoksoon¡¯. He remembered what he had forgotten. When he clicked on the chat window, there was a message attached with 37 selfies of the cat and the grandmother. Kim Deoksoon [I¡¯ll try a three-line poem with your name too] Kim Deoksoon [You jerk] Kim Deoksoon [How can you be jealous of a cat] Kim Deoksoon [Don¡¯t pout your lips and be more generous] Woojoo threw his phone on the sofa and buried his head in the cushion. ¡°Ugh!¡± He burst into tears. The first episode of Idol Show ended without a hitch. The 43-minute running time of Idol Show came to a close just before Woojoo managed to create a logo song. [Next week!] The preview came out, and the highlight was definitely Junghyun. When the legendary rhinoceros beetle appeared, Junghyun¡¯s body was hidden by a huge sticker. Instead, only the scenes of Seri and Bookbook, as well as everyone else, pping andughing while flipping over were shown. -What?? What?? What did Daegil¡¯s friend do again? ?? -I don¡¯t know what it is, but it¡¯s already funny ???? -Why are they so hrious ?????? -I¡¯m the one who never thought he would have a sense of humor with that face -New ck kids, pay youredy club dues soon -I saw them talk for the first time today, and I really feel a bond with them ?? They¡¯re so cute like neighborhood kids The idolmunity was heating up with reactions. The strange setting of a police station. The legendary opening that started with a high-five. The colorful captions and editing that filled the show. And the content itself, such as the ng battle between Seri and Bukbuk versus Bijoo, the cat video letter Woojoo left with the message ¡®Deoksoon is mine¡¯, and the scream of Rihyuk whose microphone broke at the perfect timing. And finally, the scene of Woojooposing on the spot. It was not surprising that the idol fansughed at this unexpected funny program that was thrown on a quiet New Year¡¯s first Friday. There were already articles on the inte. -Idol Show¡¯s first broadcast, New ck shows off their ¡®trendy idol¡¯ sense of humor -¡®Idol Show¡¯¡­ New ck Woojoo, video letter to grandma¡¯s cat? -New ck Rihyuk¡¯s cry of sess makes ¡®Idol Show¡¯ MCs burst intoughter¡­ As if to prove this buzz, their manager also sent Woojoo a message with the article url. Devil [The PD of Idol Show asked when you have time again] Devil [He said thank you and the viewers¡¯ response is great] Devil [Good job ^^?] Everyone wasughing. Their Souffles and the viewers who watched Idol Show were making memes and holding their stomachs. The managers and the PR team were happy that they got the buzz. The people around Woojoo were also smiling happily. Woojoo felt like he was being crushed by the ¡®??¡¯ that came from all kinds of people. Woojoo warned them that he would block them if they kept doing that, but no one was afraid of him. There were only three people who were sadly smiling in this situation. ¡°Sniff¡­¡± ¡°Sniff, sniff.¡± The one who wrote a video letter to the cat. The one who confessed the truth shamefully. And the youngest who was sad beyond words because his song ¡®It¡¯s a growth spurt!¡¯ would be released next week. ¡°Why are you eating so sadly?¡± Director Jo smiled as he put some pork belly on a paper te for Woojoo. Friday night. They gathered on the terrace and ate the pork belly that was cooking on the grill, holding back their tears. ¡°I¡¯m not crying, Director. It¡¯s because it¡¯s delicious.¡± ¡°That was fun.¡± He was hooked. ¡°Oh my, you guys have grown up like the Scarlet kids. You even know how to re.¡± ¡°It¡¯s because my eyes are thin from the smoke.¡± Director Joughed at Woojoo¡¯s answer. He cut arge piece of pork belly and put it on Woojoo¡¯s te, as if to say he worked hard. ¡°You did a good job. It¡¯s a bit embarrassing, but what¡¯s that? You raised your poprity with this job from the beginning of the new year.¡± ¡°That¡¯s right. I¡¯ll think of it that way.¡± ¡°Think positively. Well, you might get an ad from a cat foodpany.¡± ¡°¡­Director, you know. Ah.¡± ¡°Don¡¯t you want to hear it?¡± Woojoo fed him the wrap he had just made with arge piece of meat, looking at his eyes that smiled like a Tibetan fox. Woojoo looked around. It was a good time to talk about work, as they were eating meat andughing with their siblings. Director Jo Gyuhwan asked first, ¡°How¡¯s the work progress?¡± ¡°I guess there is such a thing as equipment luck. The equipment was so good that the work was easy.¡± ¡°Your face doesn¡¯t look easy.¡± ¡°I did hit a snag.¡± ¡°¡­Hmm, let me hear it.¡± Junghyun took the tongs and grilled the meat for Woojoo, while he came over to him with a can of cider. Woojoo told him the story. Three hours ago. ¡°Hmm¡­¡± ¡°Ugh¡­¡± Bijoo and Woojoo rubbed their chins silently, looking at theptop monitor. Bijoo clicked the mouse and the melody yed. As he listened to the tickling sound in his ears, he asked again, ¡°This melody you made, it¡¯s not exactly what you want, right?¡± ¡°Yes. It¡¯s simr, but¡­ more lyrical.¡± ¡°Wait a minute. How about this?¡± Woojoo immediately varied the melody and yed it on the keyboard. ¡°How is it, is it simr to what you thought?¡± ¡°Um¡­¡± ¡°You can say no if it¡¯s not.¡± ¡°No.¡± It was the 49th ¡®no¡¯. Working with Bijoo was a challenge Woojoo had never faced before. If he had to name it, it would be something like ¡®the ordeal ofmunication¡¯. -I had a feeling of what kind of song I wanted to make if I made my own song. Woojoo was happy at first when he heard him say he had something in mind. He thought the work would be easier. But there was one problem. -But I don¡¯t know how to express it in words. He had a melody in mind that he wanted, but he couldn¡¯t convey it properly. He was barely matching the notes by humming, but he said no to everything Woojoo yed for him. It was a frustrating situation. Bijoo looked at Woojoo with a helpless face. ¡°I¡¯m sorry, Hyung. Am I being too picky?¡± ¡°No, it¡¯s amunication problem. If you have a direction in mind, I should follow it.¡± ¡°I¡¯ll try harder, Hyung.¡± As Woojoo tried a few more times, he realized the depth of the problem. It was like ¡®exining an elephant¡¯. It was like the old times when someone who had explored the African continent had to go back to his hometown and describe an elephant. He drew an elephant on the sand with a stick and gestured with his hands, but the chances of the people in his head getting the exact image of the elephant he had seen were very low. Likewise, Bijoo had a feeling of the song he wanted in his head. The problem was that Woojoo didn¡¯t know it. After being stuck here for hours, Bijoo asked Woojoo cautiously, ¡°Hyung, what if we just ignore my feeling and move on? It wasn¡¯t supposed to be a grand title song from the start¡­ We might end up with no result if we stay here.¡± ¡°No.¡± Woojoo shook his head and said, ¡°Let¡¯s keep trying. I think there¡¯s something here.¡± ¡°Really?¡± Director Jo Gyuhwan looked at Woojoo with interest. ¡°What did you feel?¡± ¡°It was just a feeling. I felt like if I followed the direction that Bijoo wanted, it would be a really good song.¡± ¡°Hmm¡­ I know what you mean.¡± The proposer said as if he understood, ¡°I felt the same when Chanhyuk made the title song for me. He only cared about singing, and he never had any interest inposing before. But he said he had something he wanted to do. So I matched his idea and¡­¡± ¡°Was it that song? The Art of Breaking Up.¡± ¡°Yeah.¡± ¡°I thought it was the best song for Yoon Chanhyuk.¡± Woojoo knew the behind story of The Art of Breaking Up, the song that topped the annual chart that year and was the biggest hit among Yoon Chanhyuk¡¯s songs. Director Jo said, ¡°It wasn¡¯t just Chanhyuk. Scarlet was like that too. They can¡¯t make songs like you guys, but they have meetings among the members. They draw pictures of what they want to do for the next concept and bring them to me.¡± ¡°Then do you produce the songs for them?¡± ¡°Yeah. Usually, Ara and Nayoon lead the way, but sometimes the other members who don¡¯t talk much also express their opinions. When Bom or Rina say they want to try something.¡± He said, ¡°When I set the concept ording to their opinions¡­ the songs always turn out well. Just like the clothes they choose suit them well.¡± ¡°I agree. That¡¯s why I can¡¯t give up on this feeling.¡± ¡°Then we need to solve this quickly.¡± As he said that, Director Jo smiled slyly and Woojoo asked him, ¡°Do you know any way to do that?¡± ¡°I know a few. Some tricks that can help when the work is stuck.¡± ¡°Oh, really?¡± ¡°But it would be more helpful for you to find out for yourself. You have to think about it.¡± Director Jo took the tongs from Junghyun to take turns. Woojoo looked at the dark night sky while eating pork belly. Was there no way? It wasn¡¯t like telepathy. He couldn¡¯t y any games like body talk. ¡°What are you thinking, Hyung?¡± Woojoo smiled at Bijoo who sat next to him. ¡°I was thinking about the broadcast next week. If there¡¯s any ck history that I don¡¯t remember.¡± ¡°Hmm, I think you were fine.¡± ¡°You don¡¯t know. Bijoo. I¡¯ve been through it and I know. ck history is like cockroaches. They pop out from anywhere.¡± ¡°Of course, your words are convincing as an experienced person.¡± ¡°Hey.¡± Woojoo rolled his eyes and Bijoo avoided his gaze andughed. ¡°But you¡¯re lucky. You have no ck history in this broadcast.¡± ¡°No, I don¡¯t. I was embarrassed today because of the new words. Minjun sent me a message saying I was stupid.¡± As he showed Woojoo, he burst outughing at Minjun¡¯s messages saying [Don¡¯t you really know??], [Are you stupid???]. Woojoo pointed at his profile picture and smiled. ¡°His hair was really long, Minjun.¡± ¡°Yeah, now that he¡¯s going to school, he¡¯s so confident.¡± They chatted happily for a while, then they returned to the topic they had before. ¡°But we have a week, right? Don¡¯t rush it and try to work on it slowly.¡± ¡°Okay, Hyung.¡± ¡°It¡¯s a bit suffocating, though¡­¡± ¡°That¡¯s right, I can¡¯t express this with my body.¡± Bijoo¡¯s arm waved gently up and down, making a wave. And the moment Woojoo saw that. Something popped into his head. The first thing that crossed his mind was Bijoo¡¯s talent show that would air next week. -I can dance to any song. He really danced to Arirang and pansori without flinching. And it matched the song so well. That meant that the opposite was also possible. And then. -They can¡¯t make songs like you guys, but they have meetings among the members. They draw pictures and bring them to show what they want to do for the next concept. Just as Director Jo said, the main ingredient for making a song didn¡¯t have to beposing. Woojoo had been thinking wrong. If it was Bijoo, he should have changed his approach to suit him. ¡°¡­Hyung?¡± ¡°Bijoo, I just had an idea.¡± ¡°Yeah?¡± ¡°Forget about theposition for now. Let¡¯s think about making the choreography first, before we make the song.¡± Woojoo said to him, who looked clueless, ¡°So, try to make the choreography based on the feeling you have in your mind. I¡¯ll make the song to match it.¡± ¡°Ahh¡­! Will that work?¡± Woojoo nodded and Bijoo smiled brightly. It felt like they finally found a clue. 9 p.m. Jo Gyuhwan, who was reading a book in the library on the second floor, got up at the sound of a loud noise from the living room. ¡®What¡¯s that?¡¯ He stood on the railing of the second floor corridor and saw the scene in the living room. In the dimly lit living room, Woojoo and Bijoo were standing. Bijoo whispered, ¡°Mr. Jo seems to be reading a book, will we be too noisy?¡± ¡°It¡¯s fine. Even if you jump around like a sky hopper here, you¡¯ll be much quieter than Junghyun¡¯s breathing.¡± Jo Gyuhwan swallowed augh. Did they know that talking like that was actually louder? ¡°Are you ready?¡± ¡°Yes. I¡¯m ready.¡± Bijoo nodded seriously. ¡®What are they trying to do?¡¯ He watched the situation in the living room with curiosity. Chapter 171: Chapter 171: Trantor: MarcTempest Editor: Rxel Chapter 171 Bijoo, who was standing in the living room, asked Woojoo, ¡°Can I dance to any song?¡± ¡°It doesn¡¯t matter. Just think of making a choreography to the song in your head.¡± ¡°Wait a minute, let me think.¡± Bijoo pondered deeply. Meanwhile, Woojoo turned on the camera app on his smartphone and checked if the living room was captured on the screen. Okay. Confirmed.All he had to do was wait for their dancer¡¯s signal. After bowing his head as if in meditation, Bijoo lifted his head and calmly said, ¡°I¡¯m ready. Hyung.¡± Woojoo started filming and he immediately stretched his legs gracefully. At first, he took light steps. His bare feet softly brushed the carpet as if he was moving on a real stage. His slender silhouette began to draw gentle curves in the living room dimly lit by the faint light. ¡°Wow¡­¡± Woojoo let out an exmation without realizing it. It was amazing that he could do this with just an improvised dance. Even if he had some kind of feeling in his head, what he was seeing was a choreography that he made up on the spot. It was amazing. Woojoo had to think in his head three times to the left, once to the right, and so on to move, but he was dancing instinctively. Of course, it wasn¡¯t very difficult. But it felt different. Woojoo felt a unique and mysterious atmosphere that he could only see from people who were born with a natural talent for dancing. Everything around him seemed to dance with him. As if a gentle wave would rise when the wind blew, the surrounding objects swayed along with his arms and legs. When he flicked his fingers or moved his neck in the air, his hair and shadows fluttered and filled the empty space. He seemed to melt into the dark living room. It was amazing. Woojoo unknowingly followed his movements. He was lost in them for a moment. While watching the choreography that Bijoo improvised, Woojoo also started to think about the song. At first, he was doubtful if this method would work, but it was very effective. It was easier to understand than exining for hours while putting notes on the MIDI program. Woojoo understood what he wanted to do as soon as he saw his dance. A feeling like Canon in D. A beautiful melody that repeated and varied, giving a warm embrace to the listener. A song that was warm like the spring sun. As Woojoo followed his graceful silhouette, a song was quicklypleted in his head. After finishing his dance, Bijoo blinked his eyes. ¡°¡­Hyung?¡± Woojoo was sitting on the sofa, frozen. He was still holding his phone in recording mode, but he didn¡¯t react at all. ¡°Hyung, can you hear me?¡± ¡°¡­¡± ¡°If you can hear me, blink your eyes.¡± ¡°¡­¡± But there was no answer. Bijoo was about to say something more, but he looked like he was seriously thinking. From experience, it was better to leave him alone when he was like that. After about five minutes, he woulde back to reality and grab him excitedly, saying ¡°Bijoo! Bijoo! Oh, I did it!¡± and tell him what he had made. ¡®I should peel some apples.¡¯ While he was spacing out, Bijoo diligently peeled some apples. As expected, Woojoo returned to the real world soon. ¡°How was it, Hyung?¡± ¡°I think I know what you want to do.¡± ¡°Really?¡± He didn¡¯t know that himself. He had a feeling of a song that he wanted to try in his head. The dance he had just done was what he thought the choreography would be like if he made it based on that song. But was it possible to make a song just by looking at the dance? They had been talking for almost five hours, but they couldn¡¯tmunicate well. Bijoo knew he had a talent forposing, but he doubted if he could do it. Tap. Tap tap. Tap. Woojoo¡¯s fingers rhythmically tapped on the table. ¡°This is how the beat goes.¡± He then started to hum softly. He sang it as naturally as if he was singing the chorus of an existing song, but it was a song that Bijoo had never heard before. ¡°¡­¡± Bijoo was speechless. ¡®How can there be such a person?¡¯ Was it really possible to create a melody at such a fast speed in just over five minutes? And this song was exactly what he wanted. It was as if a skilled doctor had opened his head and plucked out exactly what he wanted and handed it to him. Woojoo asked with sparkling eyes, ¡°How is it, is this right?¡± ¡°Yes.¡± He was flustered, but soon he answered with a smile. ¡°This is exactly what I wanted.¡± The two of them, who were smiling brightly at each other, started to chat up a storm. ¡°Wow.¡± Bijoo covered his mouth and said, ¡°Awesome, Hyung. This is exactly what I wanted.¡± ¡°Right? I knew it.¡± ¡°How did you match it so perfectly? It¡¯s amazing.¡± ¡°It was possible because you danced with such a good feeling. How could it be possible because I did well?¡± ¡°No, it was because you did well, Hyung.¡± ¡°No, it was possible because of our dance god.¡± That was how the two members, who were praising each other for almost 10 minutes, left their seats for work. ¡°¡­¡± Director Jo Gyuhwan, who was watching the whole situation from the second-floor railing while sipping his coffee, scratched his chin. ¡®What was going on here?¡¯ One of them suddenly danced a solo dance in the living room that could be the next title song choreography. The other one watched him nkly and then made a melody that had to be the title song. What happened in 10 minutes was enough to surprise anyone. On the other hand, Director Jo Gyuhwan was also perplexed for another reason. ¡®How do I package this?¡¯ He thought the kid was stuck with his song, so he gave him some advice while eating pork belly. But then they started to drum and y the gong and made a song. ¡®I can¡¯t tell the media that¡­¡¯ If he told the truth, he would only hear that they were too obsessed with their concept. He had a headache. He wondered how to package what had just happened as he walked toward the library. ¡®Pork belly.¡¯ He stopped abruptly and nodded. ¡®Let¡¯s leave out the pork belly.¡¯ He didn¡¯t know about the rest, but that one had to go. The week they spent at Director Jo¡¯s house was like a golden time. Woojoo was happy. It had been a long time since he had slept so soundly after his debut, and it felt so good to be able to do something with a clear mind. Maybe it was thanks to that condition. On the morning of the sixth day. Bijoo and Woojoo came out of the basement studio and let out a gloomyugh as they looked at the finished product. ¡°Kuhuhu.¡± ¡°Heehee.¡± They stared at the ¡®Untitled No.2¡¯ saved on theptop desktop and Woojoo asked Bijoo, ¡°Shall we listen to it again?¡± ¡°Yes, yes, let¡¯s listen again. We.¡± ¡°Okay, here we go.¡± As soon as Woojoo pressed the y button, the song that waspleted in the first stage started to echo through the speakers. ¡°Kuu. This is it.¡± ¡°Wow. It sounds so good even when I listen to it again.¡± Woojoo smiled brightly and asked, ¡°Good, right?¡± ¡°It¡¯s so good.¡± ¡°Kuhuhu.¡± ¡°Hehehe.¡± Rihyuk clicked his tongue as he saw themughing happily. ¡°You two look like something.¡± ¡°Like what?¡± ¡°Like Dr. Frankenstein and his assistant,ughing as they see their artificial human wake up.¡± ¡°What are you talking about, we¡¯re not like that¡­¡± Woojoo saw their faces reflected on the ss window of the recording booth. Two faces, smiling and giggling, with cheeks flushed. Woojoo cleared his throat and regained hisposure, then asked Rihyuk, ¡°So, what¡¯s your opinion?¡± ¡°It¡¯s good.¡± Rihyuk read what he wrote on his phone¡¯s memo app. ¡°But there are a few things I want to say.¡± ¡°Tell me everything.¡± ¡°Before the chorus, there¡¯s a part where I hit a high note, right? Can you lower the pitch a bit there?¡± Rihyuk pointed at the monitor and said, ¡°When I go up there, I can reach it, but when we perform live, our condition is only about 80 percent of normal. Even if we use AR, there¡¯s also choreography. Considering that, the note might be unstable.¡± ¡°Got it, I¡¯ll fix that part. Anything else?¡± ¡°I think the chorus could be a bit longer. If we add some harmonies among ourselves¡­¡± They spent some time listening to Rihyuk¡¯s opinions, and finally, it was time for evaluation. ¡°It¡¯s better than I expected¡­¡± Rihyuk scratched his cheek and looked far away as he spoke. ¡°I agreed to go with a vocal-focused song when you suggested itst time, but I honestly didn¡¯t think it would turn out this good.¡± ¡°Really?¡± ¡°Well, yeah. It¡¯s a bit more than just not bad¡­ That kind of feeling.¡± Bijoo and Woojoo smiled brightly. He was the type who would say ¡°not bad¡± even when something was pretty good, but now he was positively saying ¡°good¡±. The song was still rough since it hadn¡¯t gone through mixing and mastering yet, but getting such a favorable response was a good sign. They clinked their paper cups filled with juice as a toast, and Rihyuk asked, ¡°So what are you going to do now?¡± ¡°I¡¯m going to call Junhyun and Jiho and hear their opinions, and then make some revisions based on the feedback.¡± And then¡­ ¡°The Director asked me to y him the songter. I can¡¯t guarantee it, but I think there¡¯s a high chance he¡¯ll push for it to be the title track. After that, I¡¯ll talk to the A&R Team and¡­¡± But the n Woojoo was telling him didn¡¯t seem to be what he wanted to hear. He asked cautiously, ¡°So you don¡¯t have any ns for the lyrics yet?¡± ¡°Yeah. I¡¯m thinking of outsourcing it to a lyricist.¡± ¡°Can I write them? The lyrics for that song.¡± He didn¡¯t say it outright, but it seemed like he really liked the song that Bijoo and Woojoo had made. Woojoo asked him jokingly, ¡°Are you confident you can write well?¡± ¡°I usually don¡¯t give a definite answer to this kind of thing¡­ but I have some idea.¡± Rihyuk said as he looked at the monitor, ¡°I got a feeling of what lyrics I should write.¡± That evening. ¡°Director, you¡¯re here?¡± ¡°Yeah, I am.¡± They greeted Director Jo Gyuhwan, who was taking off his shoes at the entrance, like little kids who came out to meet their parents. ¡°Have you had dinner? We¡¯re preparing it right now.¡± ¡°It¡¯s okay. I already ate. You guys eatfortably.¡± He looked tired and weary, as if he had a hard time at work. The atmosphere seemed like they shouldn¡¯t talk to him more, so they exchanged nces with each other. ¡®He must be exhausted.¡¯ ¡®Director looks so worn out.¡¯ They looked at him with pity as he climbed up to the second floor with heavy steps. ¡°He must be having a hard time.¡± ¡°Ugh¡­ who made Director so miserable? I don¡¯t know who they are, but they must be very bad people.¡± ¡°Exactly, who would do that to such a kind person¡­¡± They went back to the living room, ring at whoever had made the Director suffer. Jo Gyuhwany down on the bed as soon as he finished showering. Then he reached out and grabbed the calendar. January 2015. There was an X mark on each day from January 1st. He swallowed his dry saliva and marked an X on January 6th. ¡®Finally¡­¡¯ Everything would be over in a day. ¡®I¡¯ll be alone tomorrow morning.¡¯ He stared at the ceiling with dull eyes and reminisced about a week ago. He had smiled involuntarily the morning after he had brought in New ck. He thought it would be fun for a week. Of course, it was fun at first. He liked that the quiet house became lively. But he soon realized how big of a mistake that was. ¡°Hahaha!¡± Theughter of the youngest member of New ck was so loud that it followed him everywhere like a hallucination. -Wow, guys, did you see that cloud just now? Awesome! It looks so wicked, like Rihyuk Hyung. -Director! Did you see this? It¡¯s a funny meme on the inte, hahaha! -Wow! The soap smells amazing! Guys, guys, we have to get one of these when we go to the dorm, hahaha! He seemed tough every 30 seconds. He wondered if he needed some serious examination, but it wasn¡¯t just Jiho. ¡°Kekkek!¡± ¡°Hehehe!¡± Even now, all kinds ofughter wereing from the living room on the first floor. He covered his ears with both hands, but Jiho¡¯sughter pierced through them like ultrasound. ¡®What¡¯s so funny?¡¯ He peeked out of curiosity yesterday and saw themughing among themselves, pointing at the bean sprouts on the dining table. This morning, he smiled with joy when he saw the forsythias blooming in the yard. ¡®They¡¯re not normal.¡¯ The youngest one was always smiling brightly, but the others were no better. -This is heaven. This is heaven. Rihyuk muttered some strange words to himself as he pushed the vacuum cleaner. He cleaned almost every hour on weekends, even though there was no need. Whiiing. Now he could hear the vacuum cleaner in his hallucinations. It sounded like a mix of giggling and whiiing. But that wasn¡¯t the only sound he feared. Knock, knock. Every time he heard that sound, the study door would open and Bijoo woulde in with a tray. -Mom said apples are good for breakfast. -You had a lot for lunch. I saw on a blog that apples help with digestion. -Scientists say apples are good for dinner too. Yesterday, he brought him a soda for the first time and asked him with a smile. -Today it¡¯s not an apple. -I thought you might get tired of them. Bijoo smiled shyly. -I blended it today. -¡­ -It¡¯s the recipe mom taught me. That damn apple. Director Jo¡¯s cheeks trembled. He heardughter from the living room again, so he turned on the ssical music and closed his eyes. But in front of his eyes, apples were spinning around, and in his ears, various hallucinations werebined. Whiiing knock knock. Whiiing knock knock. ¡®At least Junghyun is quiet¡­¡¯ Something was strange. He went out to go to the bathroom and saw Junghyun standing in the middle of the hallway with a water bottle. Their eyes met in that state. -¡­ -Hello. -¡­ -I¡¯m breaking my record right now. 5 minutes 39 seconds. 40 seconds. 41 seconds¡­ He ignored him and went to the bathroom. ¡®And Woojoo is¡­¡¯ He looked fine, but he was the weirdest. ¡®What the hell is he doing?¡¯ When he woke up at dawn and tried to go to the bathroom, he saw a faintptop light from the living room. He seemed to be watching some videos. Every time the yback ended, he would twist his neck around in the living room, doing a Bongsan mask dance or swinging his fists in the air. When he asked him what he was doing, he gave him a strange answer. -I¡¯m preparing for the idol sports festival. -Oh, I see. He wanted to ask him if he was ready for a bench clearing, but he decided not to ask any more. He didn¡¯t want to be curious. He just swallowed his tears. ¡®Is this how the owner who got scammed feels?¡¯ He had brought in five angelic-looking beagles without knowing any better. The sofa was all torn up, the puppies were running wild, and the owner was drinking soju by the bottle¡­ ¡®The problem is that they¡¯re too nice.¡¯ They were more polite than anyone else, unlike the nephews who ran around and made a fuss. They seemed to try not to inconvenience thendlord as much as possible. But that didn¡¯t make it any less ufortable for a pro introvert. He wished they would go home soon. ¡®This is my house¡­¡¯ It felt like the owner had changed. ¡°Just one more day.¡± He repeated to himself as his throat burned. He went downstairs to get some water and saw the New ck members huddled in front of the living room TV. Woojoo quickly turned down the volume when he saw his expression. ¡°Director, is the TV sound too loud for you?¡± ¡°No. I came to get some water.¡± He couldn¡¯t help but smile as the five members came rushing over to pour him some water. ¡®They¡¯re cute, but something¡­¡¯ As hey back on the sofa in the living room and watched them on TV, Jo Gyuhwan suddenly paused. ¡®Wait, this scene looks familiar.¡¯ Jiho, lying on someone¡¯sp and munching on chips. Junghyun, smiling broadly as he watched TV. Rihyuk, making a sour face with his paleplexion. Bijoo, wearing a red shirt and slicing an apple. He pointed at them one by one with his finger. ¡®Hee-dong, Michael, Ddo-chi, Doughnut¡­¡¯ And Dooly, wearing a flower-printed shirt and giggling. He abruptly turned his head and looked at the mirror. Jo Gyuhwan, the director, blinked at the sullen face in it. It was a face that had aged a lot in a week. ¡®Go-gil-dong?¡¯ ¡­Was he Go-gil-dong? Chapter 172: Chapter 172: Trantor: MarcTempest Editor: Rxel Chapter 172 January 7th. It was the day they had agreed to pick up the members from Director Jo¡¯s house. The car that Manager Seo Minki and Manager Yoon Seokhwan were riding entered the alley. ¡°Wow, the house is really huge.¡± ¡°I know, right?¡± He had heard that it was a luxury house in Pyeongchang-dong, but it was more like a mansion at this point.As Yoon Seokhwan got out of the car and pressed the bell¡­ -Come in! ¡­the door opened automatically before he could finish. Yoon Seokhwan tilted his head. ¡®It seemed like he was in a hurry¡­¡¯ It was definitely Director Jo Gyuhwan¡¯s voice, but he sounded unusually exhausted. ¡®That¡¯s strange.¡¯ He wondered as he climbed the stairs leading to the yard. As far as he knew, Director Jo didn¡¯t have any albums in production recently. He didn¡¯t have any songs he was working on either. Investors and outsiders were usually handled by the head of the department and the President, so Director Jo, who was in charge of production, had no reason to be worn out. Besides, he was a person with amazing stamina. He was the kind of person who would smile gently and walk around even after staying up for three nights in a row. There was only one possibility¡­ ¡®It¡¯s not our kids, is it?¡¯ Heughed it off, thinking it was impossible, but he gasped when the front door opened. ¡°¡­Director?¡± A person with dark circles under their eyes came out to greet him. ¡°¡­Good morning,¡± they said in a hoarse voice. ¡°What happened to you?¡± he asked. Before Jo Gyuhwan could answer, he heard amotion from the second floor. ¡°Seokhwan Hyung! You¡¯re here!¡± ¡°Wow, Manager-nim! It feels like we haven¡¯t seen you in ages! How about a high-five to celebrate?¡± ¡°Manager-nim, I got in shape, right?¡± ¡­Junghyun? ¡°Junghyun?¡± ¡°Yes, it¡¯s me.¡± Are you sure? Junghyun smiled smugly, as if he knew what was going on in the manager¡¯s mind. ¡°I worked out at the Director¡¯s house and it was really effective. I also drank protein shakes.¡± ¡°¡­You¡¯re banned from exercising for a week.¡± Someone¡¯s face fell, and a burst ofughter followed. He couldn¡¯t focus on the conversation that ensued. ¡°By the way, Hyung. I made the title track for our next album.¡± ¡°What¡­?¡± ¡°I saw Bijoo dancing in the living room and Iposed it, and Rihyuk agreed to write the lyrics.¡± ¡°What¡­ What?¡± He thought it was a joke, but it was true. He had no idea what had happened, but it was clear that the people he was in charge of had done something again. He could tell by their faces. Unlike Director Jo, who looked like a storm cloud with rain pouring down, the members were smiling brightly and had flowers on their lips. Director Jo washed his face and said, ¡°Let¡¯s go.¡± ¡°Thank you for your hard work.¡± ¡°Hard work¡­ I¡¯m sorry, I¡¯m tongue-tied.¡± He felt a pang of sympathy as he looked at his face, which seemed to have lost its soul. Woojoo couldn¡¯t believe it was time to leave. He looked around the house from the entrance. He wanted to remember the time he spent here. Then he turned to Director Jo, who was leaning against the wall. His eyes were empty, like a person who had lost his vitality. ¡°Director.¡± He flinched. ¡°Thank you for everything. You were so considerate and made usfortable. I wanted to live here forever.¡± Was he touched? Woojoo looked at his pupils, which shook for a moment, and said earnestly, ¡°We¡¯ll repay you.¡± ¡°No, it¡¯s okay. Just go and rest.¡± The siblings shouted as if they didn¡¯t like what he said. ¡°We¡¯ll make you happy.¡± ¡°Thank you, sir. May you live long and prosper.¡± The other person chuckled briefly at Junghyun and Jiho¡¯s greetings. Then he said goodbye to them. ¡°Well, I had fun with you guys for a week. I¡¯ll invite you again when I have a chance, soe and visit.¡± ¡°Really? Can wee again?¡± Woojoo poked the youngest¡¯s ribs, who was trying to butt in without any tact. ¡°Thank you!¡± They bowed their heads as he waved his hand at them. With his warm smile as thest thing they saw, the door closed. But as they were dragging their luggage, Woojoo remembered something he had forgotten. ¡°Oh, right.¡± ¡°What is it?¡± Woojoo answered Seokhwan Hyung. ¡°I left something in the living room.¡± Woojoo grabbed the doorknob just before it closed and opened it, and Mr. Jo looked startled as if he had seen a ghost. He ran to the entrance as soon as he saw him. ¡°Why, what whywhywhy.¡± He blocked Woojoo¡¯s way like a goalkeeper blocking a penalty kick as he tried to take off his shoes and go in. ¡°Oh, I left something behind.¡± ¡°¡­Okay, hurry up and get it,¡± he said with a resigned face. Saying he had left something in the living room, Woojoo went back to get something and then came out again. ¡°Bye, sir!¡± Mr. Jo waved his hand. He only smiled calmly for a moment. As soon as Woojoo left, he went straight to the door and locked it. Then he leaned against the door and took a deep breath. ¡®Finally.¡¯ His heart was pounding. ¡®Finally they¡¯re gone.¡¯ He looked through the peephole to check. He saw Woojoo¡¯s back as he dragged his luggage down the stairs. He watched until the other disappearedpletely down the stairs. ¡°Hoo¡­¡± He let out a long breath. He looked around the empty house and felt like crying. ¡®How lucky I was all this time.¡¯ He often felt lonely when he was alone at home. But now he realized how blessed he was. ¡°Guys?¡± Like a child checking for ghosts, he wandered around the living room on the first floor. There was a scene like that in Dooly the Little Dinosaur. Gogildong tried to get rid of Dooly by putting him in a box, and putting him in the fridge with chains wrapped around him. But no matter what he did, Dooly always came back to Gogildong¡¯s house and said, ¡°Gildong.¡± Fortunately, there was no answer in the house. ¡°¡­They¡¯re gone.¡± He finally regained his peace of mind. Jo Gyuwan sat elegantly on the living room sofa with his legs crossed and sipped his coffee. He pressed the remote control button and ssical music flowed out. He closed his eyes slightly as he listened to the fourth movement of Beethoven¡¯s Symphony ¡®Choral¡¯. What a blissful and peaceful moment. He thought as he drank his coffee. ¡°¡­?¡± He saw an envelope on the corner of the table. ¡®Did they leave it behind?¡¯ Heughed when he saw the postcard in the envelope. It was decorated with a Christmas tree, and as soon as he opened it, a song yed. Next to it was a message from Woojoo and the members, thanking him. Except for Jiho¡¯s message saying, ¡°I¡¯lle again!¡±, they were words that made him smile naturally. He felt a warm feeling in his chest from the morning and was about to smile. Vroom- ¡°Ahh!¡± He screamed at the robot vacuum cleaner that passed by behind the sofa. ¡°Woohoo!¡± They shouted with joy as the manager dropped them off. ¡°An apartment!¡± ¡°Apartment! Apartment!¡± This was their new ce, unit 1103 on the 11th floor of building 101. They were wide-eyed from the moment they entered the lobby on the first floor. -10th floor. They pressed the button and a voice came out. They looked at each other. ¡°Wow. Hey. Now there¡¯s a voice when you press the button in the elevator. Can it do that too?¡± ¡°Just a moment.¡± Bijoo reached out his finger. While they all held their breath, Bijoo pressed the 10th floor with a stern face. -10th floor, canceled. ¡°Wow¡­¡± They eximed as they looked at each other. ¡°Wow, it can cancel if you press it by mistake.¡± ¡°We must havee to a really nice ce.¡± They spontaneously sang along in the elevator that went straight up to the 11th floor. They were overjoyed when they entered the ce. It had a spacious living room and a sunny balcony, but the best part was that it had three rooms. ¡°Wow.¡± ¡°Wow. Is it true that there are three rooms?¡± They were overwhelmed by the emotion. ¡°Really, we were so sad when everyone else was doing ¡®We¡¯re roommates!¡¯ on reality shows.¡± ¡°I know. We were all roommates.¡± ¡°That¡¯s in the past now.¡± Bijoo smiled happily as he looked around the spacious kitchen. Meanwhile, Rihyuk, who had gone ahead, came back in a hurry. ¡°Did you see?!¡± ¡°What?¡± ¡°There are two bathrooms!¡± They were all shocked. ¡°Is that true, Rihyuk?¡± ¡°Really, there are two.¡± ¡°Now the bathroom hell in the morning is over.¡± They remembered how hard it was every time they had to go out for a morning schedule. There was only one bathroom, but five people who needed to use it. It was a nightmare. They all looked up at the sky with one heart. ¡°Thank you, boss.¡± It seemed like the boss was sparkling in the sky. They heard a hallucination of himughing and saying, ¡®You¡¯ve worked hard, haha.¡¯ While they were all absorbed in looking around the house, Seokhwan Hyung asked, ¡°Did you decide on the room arrangement?¡± ¡°We decided when we stayed at Director Jo¡¯s ce. Junghyun gets the big room. The rest are me and Jiho, Bijoo and Rihyuk.¡± ¡°¡­Is it because of the snoring?¡± ¡°No. It¡¯s not.¡± Woojoo ignored the look that followed him. It was true. When Junghyun picked his straw, he saw the yellow tip and thought, ¡°Wow, he got the master bedroom!¡± But in fact, all five straws in his hand were painted yellow. It was a secret that only the four of them knew. Just then, Junghyun called Woojoo. ¡°Hyung, where should I put this?¡± Bijoo and Rihyuk were holding the trophies, having started to unpack. They were the trophies for the Mango Chart Rookie Award, the HBS Music Awards Rookie Award, and the ones they got for winning first ce on music shows. ¡°Um¡­¡± Woojoo looked at the shelf in the living room and pondered. Then he pointed at it. ¡°Let¡¯s put them all up there.¡± ¡°Wouldn¡¯t it be a bit cramped? How about we split them between the upper and lower shelves?¡± ¡°Let¡¯s leave the bottom one empty.¡± Woojoo shook his head and said, ¡°So we can fill it up again.¡± The brothers silently smiled and crammed the trophies into one space. After the two managers left for a meeting, Dowon-ssi stayed and helped them with the heavy luggage. When they finally finished unpacking, they ordered Chinese food and spread newspapers on the living room floor. ¡°Manager, have some of this. My dad says this fish meat is the best part of the scorched rice soup.¡± ¡°Are you sure you have enough?¡± ¡°Have this too. It¡¯s hot, so blow on it.¡± All kinds of toppings from the sweet and sour pork, fried chicken, and scorched rice soup flew onto the te that the manager was holding. He said in a perplexed voice, ¡°I¡¯m fine.¡± ¡°You didn¡¯t even eat the pork bellyst time. It¡¯s our turn to treat you.¡± ¡°¡­Okay. Thank you.¡± Dowon-ssi smiled awkwardly and started to eat the food they gave him. After a while, they finished their meal and saw off the manager who was going back to thepany. ¡°Then I¡¯ll see youter.¡± He smiled and greeted them, and the brothers winked at Woojoo as if to tell him to say something. Woojoo opened his lips right away. ¡°Manager, before you go, there¡¯s something I want to say to you.¡± ¡°What is it?¡± ¡°Thank you for what you did.¡± Woojoo bowed his head and he blinked. ¡°What I did?¡± ¡°Not today, but another day. The first day of the New Year.¡± ¡°Oh.¡± He looked at Woojoo and he smiled. ¡°I was so embarrassed that I couldn¡¯t even say thank you properly¡­ Thank you very much.¡± The brothers nodded their heads vigorously. Dowon-ssi scratched the back of his head and waved his hand as if to deny it. ¡°Don¡¯t worry about it. I¡¯m just a meddlesome person¡­¡± But they just smiled silently. He said he was meddlesome, but they knew how hard it was to care for them like that. That was why they gave him a gift they had prepared in advance. Hisrge hand took the gift box. ¡°What is this?¡± ¡°It¡¯s a gift we¡¯ve been wanting to give you. We were going to give it to you on the 31st ofst year, but¡­ somehow we ended up giving it to you now.¡± ¡°You don¡¯t have to give me anything¡­¡± ¡°We gave the other two managers gifts too, so don¡¯t feel burdened. It¡¯s like our tradition.¡± He smiled and said, ¡°Thank you. I¡¯ll take it.¡± He smiled gratefully at them and took the box with him. And before he left, Woojoo called him. ¡°And there¡¯s one more thing before you go¡­ I¡¯ve been wanting to tell you this for a long time.¡± ¡°¡­?¡± ¡°Please speakfortably. Hyung.¡± ¡°¡­Hmm.¡± ¡°Try it now.¡± ¡°O¡­kay.¡± He tried to speak casually, and they nodded their heads. Their acting expert said, ¡°You need to lower your tone a bit.¡± ¡°Okay.¡± ¡°That¡¯s it.¡± ¡°Okay.¡± Soon, the front door was filled with loudughter. At the same time. An office in Yangcheon-gu, Seoul. ¡°Okay, now we need to talk about the casting¡­¡± The PD, Sung, who was sitting at the head of the table, opened his mouth. ¡°Last time we met, I asked you to bring some good candidates. Did you all prepare?¡± The writers who were tapping on theirptop keyboards immediately started to name some celebrities. Most of them were unknowns, and some of them were people he had never heard of before. It was only natural. This ce, Kiwoom Production, was a small-scale outsourcingpany. They were in charge of a few current affairs and culture programs from HBS, a terrestrial broadcaster, but they were not very important programs. The new program they wereunching was the same. It had a low-rated time slot and a tight budget. Of course, they couldn¡¯t afford to cast any famous celebrities. ¡°Hmm¡­¡± He heard various names, but the PD¡¯s expression didn¡¯t brighten up. ¡®Maybe I should just cast someone within the budget.¡¯ He wanted to find someone who would suit the program well, since he had put some effort into it. He was thinking of narrowing down the candidates from the writers¡¯ suggestions. One of the writers had a confident expression on her face. ¡°Yeongji, do you have any opinions?¡± ¡°I think I found the perfect person, Director.¡± Everyone turned their heads at Seo Yeongji¡¯s words. She spoke with a self-assured tone. ¡°Remember what we agreed on at thest meeting. We had two ideal conditions for our cast.¡± First, they should have some historical knowledge. Second, they should have an attractive appearance that appeals to the young audience. As everyone recalled the two conditions, she turned herptop around and showed them. ¡°Take a look at this.¡± Two videos yed. One was of five idol members wearing strange clothes andforting a crying child at a movie theater. ¡°Oh, I¡¯ve seen this. It was pretty hot on SNSst time.¡± ¡°But who are they¡­? Their faces look familiar, but I can¡¯t recognize them because of their makeup.¡± Then, the second video yed. ¡°Oh, it¡¯s New ck.¡± New ck, who appeared as a guest on HBS MTV¡¯s ¡®Idol Show¡¯, showed off their beauty. The writers smiled involuntarily. ¡°Listen. Here.¡± Seo Yeongji emphasized and turned up the volume. -As I said earlier, the reality of Gwanghaegun¡­ -Rihyuk. Gwanghaegun was overthrown by Injo¡¯s coup. I¡¯m the one wearing the crown right now. -Wasn¡¯t the Byeongjahoran during Injo¡¯s reign? The two members of New ck exchanged historical jokes with ease. As soon as they saw that, a chorus of ¡®oh¡¯ came out of the mouths of the production staff. Writer Seo asked, ¡°Don¡¯t they fit our criteria perfectly?¡± ¡°Well, yes, but¡­¡± Negative opinions flowed out. ¡°You know, I¡¯ve heard some things from my contacts in the music industry. New ck is one of the hottest groups right now¡­ They must have a lot of offers from everywhere.¡± ¡°That¡¯s right, it would be hard to match their appearance fee.¡± ¡°They probably wouldn¡¯t want toe on this kind of program. Unless they have weird tastes¡­ Honestly, what would theyck toe here?¡± Positive opinions popped up right away. ¡°Well, there¡¯s no harm in trying. You never know.¡± ¡°Stop saying this pro, that pro. What¡¯s wrong with our program?¡± ¡°That¡¯s right. That¡¯s right. It¡¯s so beneficial.¡± At that, the ones who expressed skeptical opinions swallowed their words. ¡®What¡¯s our pro?¡¯ This was a children¡¯s educational program, you people¡­ Chapter 173: Chapter 173: Trantor: MarcTempest Editor: Rxel Sometimes you had to do things you didn¡¯t like. That was why he always tried to enjoy what he had to do anyway. ¡°Let¡¯s have some fun. Hanjo. It¡¯s embarrassing, but¡­ what can we do?¡± ¡°Yes. I¡¯ll do my best to enjoy it.¡± As Hanjo and Woojoo exchanged such words, the members around them whispered. ¡°What are they so serious about?¡± ¡°It¡¯s shameful. Well, I would have rolled around in embarrassment.¡±¡°But it¡¯s fun to watch. Hehe.¡± Hanjo and Woojoo turned their heads at the same time and gritted their teeth. ¡°These ungrateful bastards¡­¡± This was all thanks to them that they got this ad! Huh? They red at them and they ran away to a corner of the set, saying ¡°Grandpas are angry¡±. ¡°¡­¡± Woojoo took a deep breath and looked around. This was a studio they came to for filming. Today¡¯s schedule was a 30-second short ad for YouTube. The advertiser was ¡®Hyperstudy¡¯, thergest entrance exampany in the country, who hired them because of the meme from the TBC Year-End Music Festival. ¡°Hey, guys!¡± ¡°Yes, Director!¡± Fourteen of them gathered in front of the director. He looked at Hanjo and Woojoo alternately and said, ¡°You two are the main, so you have to do well. Got it?¡± ¡°Yes, we¡¯ll do our best with our bones breaking!¡± ¡°Then I¡¯ll also do my best with something breaking¡­¡± The Director pointed to the camera movement with his finger. ¡°I¡¯ll exin, so listen carefully. The basicyout is the same as the VCR you filmed. You¡¯ll walk from both sides like you did then, and then say the lines in the script. The rest of you, just act with your expressions in the back.¡± ¡°Yes, we got it!¡± ¡°You¡¯re energetic and good. Okay, I¡¯ll call you when you¡¯re ready, so warm up a bit.¡± The members started to loosen their necks or shoulders. As Woojoo rotated his arms and warmed up, Hanjo looked at him with curious eyes. ¡°Oh, I think I learned that in elementary school. Does that loosen your body?¡± ¡°It¡¯s very effective.¡± ¡°Then I¡¯ll also¡­¡± They did some national gymnastics and chatted. It was mostly about the new dorm or the recent schedule. Hanjo said, ¡°Oh, by the way, today is the day, right? Idol Show episode 2.¡± ¡°¡­Yes.¡± ¡°I¡¯m looking forward to it. I really enjoyed the first episode. I watched it to monitor how others do, but they were all funny and good.¡± ¡°I heard that. Hanjo, youughed the loudest when I wrote the cat letter.¡± ¡°Ah, ah¡­¡± ¡°I¡¯m disappointed. Was our friendship only that much?¡± ¡°No, no. That was a joke. Namuughed the loudest.¡± Hanjo pointed to LB, who was far away. He wasughing with Jiho, who was shoulder to shoulder. ¡°Anyway, our kids and the Street Boys seem to have gotten closer.¡± ¡°Yeah. The distance has also shortened.¡± Thanks to the influence of Mint Choco-dan, the Street Boys and their New ck kids were very friendly to each other. They were more friendly than them, but Woojoo didn¡¯t know the exact situation, but it seemed that they got a better position in thepany thanks to them. It was a pretty nice sight. The first friend they made since they entered the music industry¡­ should he say that? Well, they were not at the stage of talking freely yet¡­ ¡°Namu Hyung!¡± ¡°Jiho!¡± ¡°It¡¯s so nice that we¡¯re talking, right?¡± ¡­They are. They are. As the members who had simr personalities became friends, Hanjo and Woojoo turned their heads and soon met eyes. ¡°Then we should also¡­¡± ¡°Well¡­¡± After a brief awkward silence, Woojoo suggested, ¡°Shall we take some time?¡± ¡°Yes, that sounds good.¡± He answered with a sigh on his face. Just then, the production crew called them. ¡°Let¡¯s get ready for shooting!¡± The staff came over and brushed their hair, sprayed some hairspray to fix it, and made them look neat and clean. They walked towards the center of the studio, leaving no dust on their clothes. Hyperstudy¡¯s ¡®2015 New Years Package.¡¯ A 30-second YouTube ad preview. Thump- The screen went ck. The sound of a pounding heart filled the screen as it lit up again. Students in uniforms appeared at both ends of the hallway. On the left, nine science students with blue ties, and on the right, five humanities students with red ties. The tense BGM intensified and the scene resembled a meme from the inte. After a dialogue like the one from the year-end music festival. Woojoo: Great, then do you want to take online sses with me? Hanjo: Sorry, I¡¯m a humanities student. Then, Woojoo added something new. Woojoo: It doesn¡¯t matter if you¡¯re a humanities student. Hanjo: No way¡­ a unlimited package that doesn¡¯t care about science or humanities? Woojoo: (Smiling with his eyes) That¡¯s right. The two groups behind them make surprised faces with smoke effects. At the top of the screen, the golden words ¡®Hyperstudy 2015 New Year¡¯s Unlimited Lecture Package¡¯ appear. Below them, fourteen idols stand. With the voices of the two leaders in front, they all raise their thumbs. Everyone: Students are the future, Hyperstudy! Lemon Entertainment. Management Team 4 office. ¡°Why do you look so gloomy? Again.¡± ¡°I can¡¯t help but smile when I imagine how happy our Souffles will be when the ad airs.¡± ¡°I don¡¯t think so.¡± ¡°No, really. I¡¯m sincerely happy.¡± Woojoo gave a bitter smile and Seokhwan Hyung burst intoughter. Afterughing for a while, he said abruptly, ¡°Hey, anyone would think you were forced to do it. You were the one who wanted to do it first.¡± ¡°Well, yeah¡­ but I always feel a bit of a reality check. The strange sense of defeat that remains when I raise my poprity with a dark history.¡± ¡°Just be grateful. Other groups would be dying to film an ad like this.¡± ¡°I know that, of course. Our manager.¡± Knowing that, Woojoo gave it his all when he filmed this ad. ¡°How are the ads going? Are they ready?¡± ¡°Yeah, I¡¯m practicing with the kids after looking at the script.¡± They won two Rookie Awardsst year and they were the best rookies of 2014 in name and reality. That was why they had a lot of adsing in since the New Year. They already had three ces where they were the promotional models: a mid-sized airline, a school uniform brand called Everdream, and a domestic clothing brand. This time, they had a meeting with the staff and added three more: a famous pizzapany, a ginseng product, and a college entrance exam advertisement. The one Woojoo was most happy about was the ginseng ad. When they signed the contract, they sent them a ton of ginseng and asked them to eat it often in front of people. Woojoo couldn¡¯t eat it in front of the Souffl¨¦s before, afraid that they would think he was asking for gifts, but now he could enjoy it without hesitation. ¡°Hehehe.¡± Seokhwan Hyung tilted his head as he saw Woojoo¡¯s happy expression. ¡°Why are you smiling like that all of a sudden?¡± ¡°I have a reason. Hyung.¡± Woojoo coughed and asked, ¡°By the way, what did you want me toe and get?¡± ¡°This.¡± He opened the drawer with a key and handed him a thick stack of papers. ¡°What is this? Scripts?¡± ¡°These are the proposals for new variety shows or TV programs that came to you. There are hardly any from the majorworks, mostly from cable or general service channels. You guys should review them.¡± ¡°I see.¡± ¡°Let me know if you find any good ones. I¡¯ll discuss them with the team.¡± Woojoo skimmed through the titles as he took the stack of papers. There were romance, chase, quiz, and brain-teasing programs. ¡°They¡¯re pretty diverse, huh?¡± ¡°Your poprity has risen that much. Especially, the sense of humor and attitude you showed on Idol Showst week must have been well received by the insiders. Plus, it¡¯s the time for program reshuffling.¡± Seokhwan Hyung continued. ¡°The reason why there are so many types is that we¡¯re thinking of going for a less burdened image-making. We want to try them out.¡± ¡°Burden?¡± ¡°Oh, this is something we only talked among the staff.¡± Their manager stroked his chin. ¡°We thought about making your activities more public-friendly. Like the first-generation idols, we want to create an image of a boy group that the public feels close to.¡± ¡°Oh, like the old idol seniors?¡± ¡°Yeah. Something like a national idol¡­ Well, that¡¯s our wishful thinking.¡± Seokhwan Hyung said, ¡°Actually, the original n was to make your image very mysterious and cool.¡± ¡°Hmm, that sounds good too, but why?¡± ¡°You made so many ck histories that it all went down the drain.¡± ¡°¡­¡± ¡°Well¡­ It¡¯s a shame, but ever since you appeared on Around the World With Dice, the public doesn¡¯t think of you as mysterious anymore.¡± Woojoo stared at the air for a moment. Was it his mood that made it look blurry? He gave Woojoo a warm smile. ¡°That¡¯s why we decided to go for a boy group that¡¯s friendly to the public, since it¡¯s already like this.¡± ¡°So that even the grandpas and grandmas in the countryside can recognize us and say, ¡®Oh dear, isn¡¯t that New ck?¡¯¡± ¡°Hey, you¡¯re good at impersonating¡­?¡± ¡°Am I? I watched Power Diary on YouTube yesterday.¡± Seokhwan Hyung eximed and then said, ¡°Anyway, that¡¯s it. Of course, we have to be careful. It would be bad if we ruin ourselves or be likeedians.¡± ¡°Well, I don¡¯t think we¡¯ll go that far¡­¡± Woojoo was about to say no. But something shed through his mind and his mouth went dry. ¡°Uh.¡± ¡°What¡¯s wrong?¡± ¡°Well, Hyung. There¡¯s a little problem¡­ Something¡¯sing out on the second episode of Idol Show. That is.¡± Woojoo hesitated. Woojoo didn¡¯t know how to exin it for a long time. He licked his lips and stuttered, ¡°What¡¯sing out there?¡± ¡°Didn¡¯t Minki Hyung or Dowon Hyung tell you anything?¡± ¡°They said to look forward to something interesting. What was it? Oh, a stag beetle.¡± ¡°Yeah, that stag beetle¡­¡± But Woojoo couldn¡¯t say anything more. This wasn¡¯t something he could exin. So he just said calmly, ¡°¡­You¡¯ll see. You¡¯ll see.¡± Woojoo finished talking with Seokhwan Hyung and went down to the practice room, where he saw a strange sight. ¡°Aaaah!¡± ¡°¡­¡± ¡°Aaaah! Hyung! Stop stepping on me!¡± ¡°¡­¡± What was he looking at? Bijoo was stepping on Rihyuk¡¯s back. To be precise, he was holding his shoulders while his legs were almost torn apart at 180 degrees. ¡°Hyung, you¡¯re here?¡± Bijoo, don¡¯t smile so brightly. It¡¯s scary. ¡°What are you doing?¡± ¡°Rihyuk¡¯s flexibility has dropped a lottely. He needs to improve it if he wants to do the choreography this time.¡± ¡°Aaaah! This! I¡¯ll kill you all when I get free! Aaaah!¡± Woojoo could only smile warmly at the pathetic sight of the white crane pping its wings in anger. Woojoo crouched down and met Rihyuk¡¯s eyes, then gave him a thumbs-up. ¡°That¡¯s right, buddy. You should have stretched diligently when you stayed at Director Jo¡¯s house.¡± ¡°I didn¡¯t y around! I was busy studying foreignnguages! Aaaah!¡± Woojoo turned his gaze to Bijoo as he struggled in pain. ¡°Tell me if it¡¯s hard, Bijoo. I¡¯ll take turns stepping on him.¡± ¡°Okay, I will. Hyung.¡± ¡°Aaaah! Stop chatting cozily, you two!¡± ¡°Cheer up.¡± Woojoo wanted to tell him to stretch slowly, but they had an overseas showcase next week. They were going to the awards where they were nominated for the Rookie of the Year, and then fly to Taiwan the next morning. They nned to meet the Souffles in Taipei and show them their stage. Of course, it was Masquerade, that they could dance even in their sleep. They had more than enough practice, but flexibility was an important factor in the choreography details¡­ ¡°Ouch!¡± It was a bit painful, but it was something he had to do. That was when Junghyun, who was practicing the dance in the corner of the practice room, came over with Jiho in his arms. ¡°Hyung, what did you bring?¡± ¡°What? A script? Is that a script?¡± ¡°No, it¡¯s not. Wait a minute, Rihyuk. Bijoo. You guyse over here too.¡± When Rihyuk got out of the grip of their main dancer, Woojoo exined what he had heard from Seokhwan Hyung. Immediately, curious hands reached out for the proposals. ¡°Wow, there¡¯s so much stuff. Is this all for us?¡± ¡°That¡¯s right.¡± ¡°That¡¯s awesome.¡± For a moment, happiness spread across their faces. They were the expressions they had when they finished their diet and went to eat meat. ¡°We have to choose what we like from these, right?¡± ¡°I want to see too. Hyung.¡± Theyughed and took it for a while, but soon their eyes became calm and looked at the proposal. The sound of turning pages filled the practice room. Woojoo was about to tell them to look carefully, but they seemed so serious that he felt like he was being too harsh. He also examined the proposals thoroughly. He imagined how they would do if they got in, how well they could perform. Woojoo looked for a good program that matched well with them. The situation was different fromst year. In 2014, they wanted to go on any TV program to raise their poprity, but now they had to be more careful. Of course, going on a public broadcast show was still like reaching for the stars, but they could afford to be picky about cable or general service channels. For example. ¡°Love and Match¡­?¡± ¡°What¡¯s that?¡± ¡°It¡¯s a show on a general service channel. Celebrities appear and make couples with love sticks.¡± ¡°¡­Let¡¯s skip this one.¡± They also eliminated the programs that were too crazy or would ruin their image. After they removed the ones that they couldn¡¯t do, only a third of them remained. And then they chose a program that all five of them could appear on, and another third was left. It was when they were sorting out the few remaining proposals. ¡°Uh¡­!¡± Rihyuk shouted like he had found gold. ¡°This, this is it!¡± ¡°What is it?¡± ¡°I found something that fits my taste perfectly!¡± He swallowed his saliva and clenched his fist, looking excited. They felt rather sour. ¡°Why do I feel so uneasy when he says it fits his taste?¡± ¡°Exactly. It must be something weird. Like a show that cleans your house and asks, ¡®Is your home healthy? We have a home doctor.¡¯.¡± But they were curious. What did he see that made him so flushed and excited? Soon, they all blinked. ¡°¡­Sok Sok History Exploration Team?¡± The proposal that Rihyuk handed over said ¡®Sok Sok! History Exploration Team!¡¯. They thought the name was a bit childish, and sure enough. The first page of the proposal proudly stated the program category. ¡°Rihyuk, this is a children¡¯s educational program.¡± ¡°I know that. But look at the content. It¡¯s awesome.¡± Rihyuk exined, ¡°It teaches historical events of our country every episode. But the cast doesn¡¯t just exin the events, they act them out.¡± ¡°¡­Wait, wait! Act them out?¡± Their youngest was already 90 percent gone. ¡°They also do simple makeup.¡± ¡°Makeup!¡± ¡­He was 100 percent gone. ¡°They act out the events to exin them. They wear king or servant clothes, and go to folk viges or pces to film them.¡± ¡°Oh, that sounds fun.¡± Not only the youngest, but they were also interested. It was a children¡¯s program, but the format was fresh and appealing. It was a bit of an awkward time slot, but it was a huge advantage to be aired on HBS, a terrestrial channel. And most importantly, it was not a one-time appearance, but a regr appearance thatsted for a long time. They looked at each other. ¡°This is good, isn¡¯t it?¡± ¡°It seems like fun. And promising.¡± ¡°Let¡¯s give it a try. We can challenge the president with this.¡± They checked out the other proposals, but the one they liked the most was Sok Sok History Expedition. Woojoo decided to convey their opinion to the management team as the representative. ¡°Ugh, I¡¯m stiff.¡± Was it because they sat for over two hours reading the proposals? They gathered around in a circle and massaged each other¡¯s shoulders one after another. ¡°Ah, that feels good¡­ But guys, why do I feel like we¡¯re forgetting something?¡± ¡°Me too. I feel like something is missing.¡± ¡°Did we miss anything?¡± ¡°No. Except for watching Idol Show episode 2ter¡­¡± ¡°Huh?¡± Starting from Woojoo, the hands that were rubbing the shoulders stopped one by one. ¡°Huh?¡± ¡°Huh.¡± ¡°Huh¡­?¡± ¡°Huh!¡± The current time was 7 o¡¯clock. Idol Show, which started at 6 o¡¯clock, was already over. ¡°We should have monitored it!¡± They all ran to the corner of the practice room and looked at the phones connected to the chargers. They saw the messages that caught their eyes right away. Kim Deoksoon [You did well today too] Han Taehyun [Dude ????private property? ????] They ignored all the nasty messages and looked for the ce where their Souffles were gathered. As expected. -Our Jiho, are you okay with your growing pains? -Jangsoon ???? dung beetle ???????? -Daegil, are you watching? Your friend is a dung beetle -Mom and dad, this is the idol member I like¡­ No, he¡¯s not a cicada, he¡¯s a dung beetle (shy) -Let¡¯s go to Dung Beetle Day instead of Souffle Day for the next fan meeting -Iughed so hard I spit bubbles ???? ¡­Something had exploded. At the same time. ¡°¡­¡± Yoon Seokhwan stared at the ceiling without a word. For a long time. ¡°¡­¡± He felt a headache¡­ing on. Chapter 174: Chapter 174: Trantor: MarcTempest Editor: Rxel Chapter 174 The second episode of HBS MTV Idol Show boasted a higher rating and more buzz than the first one. The scene where Woojoo, whoposed the logo song, created individual melodies for each member and revealed the behind-the-scenes stories of making Fireworks and Masquerade. The growth song that started with ¡°Jiho-ya, Jiho-ya¡±. The talent show where the members showed off their unique skills. On various sites where idol fans gathered, there were posts about these highlights. -Woojoo seems like a real genius every time I see him-His musical talent is definitely innate -But it¡¯s amazing ??I don¡¯t know them well but I can rte to their melodies -Yeah I know what you mean ?? -I love the logo song From thements about Woojoo¡¯sposing ability. ¨C?Are they some kind of legendary heroes? -It¡¯s more like Master Show than Idol Show -Growth song ? -Jiho-ya, Jiho-ya ? I think I¡¯ll remember his name for sure -It¡¯s so simr to what my mom says that I¡¯m surprised -Daegil¡¯s friend must be a current soy sauce factory owner¡­ his pronunciation is so urate To thements about the members¡¯ mysterious abilities. But the scene that got the most reaction was the legendary ¡®rhinoceros beetle¡¯ from the decibel game. The memorable scene where Junghyun, who had horns on his head, got up with his butt stuck in a basket. The solemn caption that said ¡°Rhi. No. Ce. Ros. Bee. Tle.¡± with a golden halo and calligraphy font. The result ofbining the appearance that strangely reminded of a real rhinoceros beetle and the face that was as peaceful as a Tibetan fox. ¨C? I¡¯m crazy ? -Ah¡­ I¡¯ve neverughed so hard at anything else in my life -I should buy Daegil¡¯s friend or a fireball¡­ I feel calm when I look at him -Yeah agree he looks like a generous tree -The rhinoceros beetle meme is already spreading everywhere ?? The rhinoceros beetle meme was exported not only to the idolmunity but also to other ces. It was a bigger reaction than thest time¡¯s Math Bible incident. And the people who saw the rhinoceros beetle meme had the same reaction. ¡°¡­?¡± They blinked their eyes at first and then doubted their eyes. Then they burst intoughter. -??? What¡¯s the situation here? What¡¯s that?? ¨C?What is that?? -That¡¯s the guy who was on Around the World With Dice, the goat wrestler -He¡¯s dignified¡­ -I saved this meme but I have no idea how to use it¡­ -The world is not ready for this beetle yet Peace Hall of Kyung Hee University. ¡°Pfft¡­¡± ¡°Pfft, hello!¡± Peopleughed as they saw them and greeted them. They bowed their heads with sad faces to the greetings of the senior singers. ¡°Hello¡­¡± Four sad faces and one peaceful face. The peaceful face made people go ¡°pfft¡± or whisper to each other as he passed by. Junghyun said to Woojoo, ¡°Hyung, people keep looking at you.¡± ¡°¡­Looking at you. You.¡± ¡°Me?¡± He said, ¡°Why are they looking at me?¡± and then ¡°Is it good to look at me?¡± and then ¡°It¡¯s good¡± and smiled contentedly. They whispered to each other. ¡°I¡¯m really jealous of Junghyun Hyung. He doesn¡¯t feel ashamed. I¡¯d feel like dying.¡± ¡°Right, it¡¯s amazing. How can he be so calm?¡± He sat there with a serene smile, whether they said that or not. Today was January 14th. It was the day of the ¡®Gold Disc Award¡¯, one of the popr music awards that gave prizes based on the results of the past year. They attended as the Rookie Award nominees again. Maybe it was because all the singers who had been active in the past year were attending, but there were a lot of familiar faces. And because they had just aired the second episode of Idol Show, there were a lot of people whoughed at them. Woojoo wished they would pretend they didn¡¯t know, but they found it so funny that they came andughed at them. Everyone knew each other. Especially TNT, they approached them like cats passing by a fish, and then they all struck a pose. Woojoo quickly tried to stop them, knowing what they were going to do. ¡°Don¡¯t do it. Seriously, guys.¡± Woojoo clenched his teeth, but our top boy group didn¡¯t care and reached out their hands, saying: ¡°Remember, Deoksoon is mine.¡± ¡°Pffft!¡± ¡°Ouch! My stomach!¡± Theyughed and held their stomachs, saying ¡°Ouch!¡± to each other. They were so mean. Woojoo held back. If he messed with them, he would be buried in this industry. Woojoo covered his mouth with his hand so that the camera wouldn¡¯t catch his lips moving. ¡°¡­If you guys weren¡¯t my seniors, you wouldn¡¯t have survived in my hands.¡± ¡°That makes sense. Hyung.¡± When Taehyun looked at the other members, they nodded their heads, saying ¡°True.¡± He covered his mouth and said, ¡°But we are your seniors.¡± ¡°Hey.¡± Woojoo let out his anger as he watched themugh. TNT was just the beginning. Street Boys came and teased Woojoo so much that he regretted being close to them. Scarlet came and sang an improvised song with lyrics that he didn¡¯t like, ¡®rhinoceros beetle and cat¡¯, but the harmony was unnecessarily good. Jang Sowon Sunbae came and made a weirdugh, saying ¡°Our little ones¡­ sob sob¡± as soon as she saw Woojoo and Junghyun. Teen Spirit came confidently and asked, ¡®Who¡¯s in puberty?¡¯ and they showed their loyalty by pointing at Jiho at the same time. They gave them a thumbs up, saying ¡®That was hrious¡¯ and disappeared. ¡­Now that Woojoo thought about it, there were no normal people around. It was all Junghyun¡¯s fault. If he excluded people like TNT who he wished would leave him alone, the reason why the busy celebrities who attended this ce knew about them was because of the legendary ¡®rhinoceros beetle meme¡¯. It was impossible not to know if you surfed the web. Everyone who came to them asked for it at least once. ¡°We want to see that, that thing. The rhinoceros beetle.¡± ¡°Sure.¡± Then Junghyun would reenact that scene and everyone would p andugh. It felt like they became famous among the idols. It wasn¡¯t bad, but somehow Woojoo felt like crying. He didn¡¯t know when it started, but the fellow celebrities also treated them warmly. Woojoo wanted to do something cool too¡­ Yeah. Seokhwan Hyung said they wanted a friendly and close entertainer image. Woojoo decided to be grateful for the fact that people liked their image. Whatever that image was. -Yes, the Rookie Award for the Digital Music Category goes to New ck! Congrattions! That day, they won the main award for the Digital Music Category with Something, and the Rookie Award for the Digital Music Category with Masquerade. ¡°Thank you very much.¡± As Woojoo spoke their eptance speech with moist eyes, people seemed to think, ¡®He must be so happy to receive the award.¡¯ Of course, he was ecstatic. But his eyes were moist for a different reason¡­ It was a good day. It was already great to receive the Rookie Award, but now they had the title of ¡®Rookie Award Triple Crown¡¯ in front of them. -[Summary] New ck, Achieves Rookie Award Triple Crown -¡®Rookie Award¡¯ New ck, Wins 2015 Gold Disc Award -New ck ¡®2014 Best Rookie¡¯, Starts Overseas Activities They received congrattions from everywhere. But unfortunately, they didn¡¯t have time to celebrate with the staff or rx. They had to leave the country tomorrow. After they carefully ced the new trophies in the disy case, they started packing their bags. ¡°¡­Why is there so much stuff?¡± The A4 paper titled ¡®Things to Bring Ver 2.0¡¯ was a list prepared by Rihyuk. Honestly, Woojoo felt like they had to bring too many things, even things that seemed unnecessary, but they couldn¡¯t leave them behind. It was a list written by someone who had experience going abroad. ¡°It¡¯s amazing, isn¡¯t it?¡± As Woojoo put a recorder in the suitcase, he brought up a story that came to his mind. ¡°Howe Rihyuk is the only one who has been abroad, or even on a ne? You guys haven¡¯t even been to ces like Jeju Ind?¡± ¡°Yes.¡± Bijoo, who was stuffing a small pot, said, ¡°Was it in high school? We almost went to Jeju Ind for a school trip, but Junghyun and I got sick and couldn¡¯t go.¡± ¡°Were you sick?¡± ¡°Ah, that time.¡± Junghyun answered instead. ¡°We got food poisoning that time.¡± ¡°What did you eat that gave you food poisoning, school lunch?¡± ¡°Chicken skewers.¡± Woojooughed as he saw the one who had a happy face saying ¡®It was a good memory¡¯ and the one who had a sad expression. ¡°It¡¯s amazing. Junghyun gets sick too.¡± ¡°I¡¯m actually a bit frail, Hyung.¡± ¡°Isn¡¯t that a 10kg dumbbell you¡¯re putting in the suitcase right now?¡± ¡°I¡¯m trying to get stronger. The manager lifted the ban on exercise a week ago.¡± ¡°¡­Well, do whatever you want, our long-lived beetle.¡± Woojoo gave a thumbs-up to the one who was cheerfully packing the dumbbell. It was his luggage anyway. Then Bijoo, who was putting adle in the pot, said, ¡°But I¡¯m surprised by Jiho.¡± ¡°Right.¡± The other kids would be fine even if they hadn¡¯t been on a ne, but their youngest was surprising. He felt like he had been abroad dozens of times already. Woojoo was about to talk to Jiho, but he only saw the messy contents of the suitcase in the living room. He was nowhere to be seen. ¡°Jiho¡­¡± As he was about to call his name, he sneaked out of the room. And he was holding a camera. ¡°Ta-da.¡± The Hyungs had a dumbfounded expression as they saw the one who came out with a handycam. ¡°What¡¯s that?¡± ¡°This is a behind-the-scenes cam.¡± ¡°Oh, our behind-the-scenes~¡± The three who had dumbfounded faces immediately smiled. Their faces, which were gloomy from exhaustion, bloomed like flowers. ¡°Our youngest! You¡¯re filming behind-the-scenes!¡± ¡°Koo koo koo, you¡¯re working hard.¡± Right, Junghyun? ¡°Wow, these hypocritical humans,¡± the youngest whispered to the camera, curling his lips. ¡°Did you see their facial expressions change? These are the kind of people they are. They only say nice things when the camera is on, but they treat me like a pebble on the street when it¡¯s off.¡± ¡°Aw, a pebble? Where can you find such a pretty pebble?¡± ¡°¡­Hmm, I¡¯ll forgive you.¡± ¡°Of course, you¡¯re still a pebble though.¡± Bijoo and Junghyun startedughing, and Jiho shook his cheeks. ¡°Wow, you¡¯re really mean, oldies.¡± ¡°We¡¯re kidding. Where is our Jiho just a pebble? He¡¯s the jewel of New ck.¡± ¡°¡­Really?¡± ¡°Yes, he¡¯s still in his growth period.¡± ¡°I¡¯m not going to talk to you, Hyung.¡± Jiho pouted and whined as Woojoo teased the youngest andughed. ¡°Come here, let¡¯s y with Hyung.¡± ¡°I don¡¯t want to.¡± ¡°If you don¡¯te soon, I¡¯ll release the growth song online.¡± ¡°Fine, fine!¡± Woojoo smiled and calmed him down as he quickly approached him. He was soon appeased when Woojoo fed him some snacks. Jiho soon started filming them with his handycam. They also sang and danced happily in front of the camera as they packed their bags. What they were filming now was a self-produced reality show called ¡®New ck Exploration¡¯. It was their daily life that they showed to their fans after ¡®It¡¯s the New ck¡¯. Their poprity and recognition had increased recently, so thepany had created a separate ount called ¡®Channel New ck¡¯. This reality show was the content that would be uploaded to that ount. ¡°What are you packing?¡± ¡°Well, we¡¯re going to Taiwan for our first showcase. We¡¯re packing for that.¡± ¡°There¡¯s also that. Variety show.¡± ¡°Yes, that too.¡± They also had a public broadcast variety show on their Taipei visit. It was a schedule that came in while they were adjusting the Taiwan showcase schedule. They would film it after they left the country and then part ways. As Woojoo exined what they were going to do this time, the youngest showed interest in Woojoo¡¯s luggage. ¡°What¡¯s that? A recorder?¡± ¡°I y instruments to relieve stress. So I thought I¡¯d bring a mini keyboard, but it didn¡¯t fit in the carrier. So I switched to a recorder.¡± ¡°Oh, then please y for the fans.¡± ¡°Just a moment.¡± Woojoo quickly turned on the background music on his phone and yed a trot song with the recorder. Everyone burst intoughter. As they filmed the reality show like that for a while, Woojoo remembered something he had forgotten. ¡°By the way, Jiho. You said it¡¯s your first time on a ne, right?¡± ¡°Yes. So when I said I was going abroad, people teased me a lot. They told me to take off my shoes and get on.¡± ¡°Have you never ridden one before?¡± ¡°Nope. When I was young, I lost my parents and had a lot of trouble, so they didn¡¯t take me because they were scared. Dad also said if I wanted to go, I had to earn money myself,¡± Jiho said. ¡°So I¡¯m really looking forward to it. It¡¯s also my first time to ride a ne. How about you, Hyung?¡± ¡°¡­Um.¡± Woojoo hesitated for a moment and then smiled. ¡°Of course I¡¯m looking forward to it.¡± ¡°Let¡¯s eat a lot of delicious food this time. Mango shaved ice and beef noodles, my sisters said¡­¡± As the youngest chattered excitedly, Bijoo nced at Woojoo and tried to say something. ¡°Did you pack everything?¡± Rihyuk, who had transformed into a fluffy rice cake after showering, appeared. He shook his head with a towel and confidently opened his carrier in front of them. ¡°A pot, a recorder, a dumbbell¡­¡± ¡°¡­¡± ¡°Did you all enjoy your hobbies instead of packing the stuff I told you to?¡± They all tensed up as a long sigh escaped his mouth. His sharp gaze fixed on the spacious carrier. ¡°Hey, Wang Jiho. Why do you have so little luggage?¡± ¡°I made some room for the souvenirs I¡¯m going to buy.¡± ¡°¡­Hahaha, I see.¡± He swept his hair back and smiled, and they all awkwardly followed him with a ¡®hahaha!¡¯ andughed along. But that was short-lived. ¡°Are youughing right now?¡± He spat fire from his mouth as he yelled. They got scolded for almost 30 minutes. She had a restless sleep the night before. As soon as Kim Deoksoon came to the store in the morning, she made a video call to someone. A handsome face popped up right away. -Hey, Soonie Soonie Deoksoon. He looked crazy as usual, but he seemed fine. He was in a moving vehicle. ¡°Are you on your way to the airport?¡± -Yes, I am. I¡¯ll be there soon and join the variety show crew and shoot the opening, and then I¡¯ll leave the country. (Grandma! Hello!) ¡°Oh, okay. Hi, everyone.¡± The other members greeted her warmly, but today her attention was only on her grandson. She scrutinized him for any difference, but he looked the same. He had his usual rxed smile, and he even seemed a bit excited. ¡®Did I worry for nothing?¡¯ As she stared at him, he smiled contentedly. -Good posture. Keep looking at me like that. ¡°¡­You¡¯re sick.¡± -Ah, how can our Deoksoon¡¯s voice be so sweet even when she curses. You¡¯re my favorite. He ttered her and then asked. -But what¡¯s up with the morning call? ¡°I just wanted to check on you. Nothing¡¯s wrong, right?¡± -Of course not. What could be wrong? Oh, I¡¯m a bit nervous going to the airport. It¡¯s my first time going abroad. He said that and then added. -By the way, have you ever been to Incheon Airport? ¡°No.¡± -You were happy when I gave you the travel voucher from the show, but why didn¡¯t you use it? The other parents all did. ¡°I¡¯ll use it soon. Soon. I don¡¯t have time, you know. You go do your business.¡± -You have to use it, Grandma. He grinned and said. -You should go when you¡¯re one year younger. ¡°Cut it out!¡± -Ah, I still have something to say¡­ She hung up with a sour face. But she was uneasy. ¡®Is he really okay?¡¯ She epted the travel voucher from her grandson, but Kim Deoksoon had no intention of using it. No, she couldn¡¯t. She was afraid of flying. Ever since she lost her son-inw and daughter in an ident, she would wake up in a cold sweat from the sound of a ne. ¡®He can¡¯t be okay¡­¡¯ The fear of flying was not something she had alone, but something her grandson shared. He couldn¡¯t be fine. Her eyes turned to the blue sky outside the window. ¡®I hope nothing goes wrong.¡¯ She worried about her grandson who was on his way to the airport. Chapter 175: Chapter 175: Trantor: MarcTempest Editor: Rxel Chapter 175 ¡°Ah, she¡¯s so grumpy.¡± Woojoo smiled as he hung up the phone with his grandmother. It was 8 a.m. The car was driving on the Yeongjong Bridge, heading to Incheon Airport. ¡°Hey, guys! Look over there. A ne is flying!¡± Jiho tapped Woojoo¡¯s shoulder and eximed. He saw a small dot disappearing into the sky in the distance.¡°I guess we¡¯re getting closer to the airport.¡± Woojoo yed along with our kid¡¯s excitement, but he was feeling restless inside. He had to board a ne¡­ It wasn¡¯t because of the pain from his parents¡¯ ident. It was a long time ago, and he had cried enough. He wasn¡¯t sad anymore, except for the asional emptiness in his chest when his siblings talked about their parents. But Woojoo couldn¡¯t help the fear that had been ingrained in him since he was young. He was afraid of nes. Of course, he knew the chances of an ident were low. The probability of dying in a ne crash was one in a hundred million. Lower than getting struck by lightning. But as someone who had experienced that one in a hundred million, that slim chance was nofort to him. Well. Nothing would happen anyway. Nothing would¡­ ¡°Hyung, are you okay?¡± Bijoo looked at Woojoo with concern. ¡°You look a bit pale. And you¡¯re sweating.¡± ¡°Ah, it¡¯s nothing.¡± Woojoo wiped the cold sweat on the back of his neck. He smiled as if there was nothing to worry about. ¡°I got motion sickness from looking at my phone.¡± ¡°Do you want me to put a patch on you? I brought some in my carry-on just in case.¡± ¡°No, thanks. We¡¯ll be there soon.¡± This time, Rihyuk put down his Spanish textbook and leaned in. ¡°Tell me if you¡¯re feeling unwell. Your face looks like old flour.¡± ¡°My stomach is a bit upset.¡± ¡°What can I do for you? Tell me if you need anything.¡± ¡°Well¡­¡± As Woojoo parted his pale lips, Rihyuk looked at him seriously. He seemed a bit tense as he sensed something from him. Woojoo grinned. ¡°Can you sing me a song?¡± ¡°Ugh, what. You¡¯re fine.¡± He turned his gaze to his Spanish textbook, pretending to be annoyed. He was quick to catch on. Unlike the fools who shared one earphone and sang along, the two of them had been watching him closely since yesterday. Oh, and one more. Seokhwan Hyung, who was sitting in the passenger seat, nced at him through the rearview mirror. Woojoo sent him a heart with his hand and winked. He shook his head as if he couldn¡¯t stop him. He was d to have people who cared for him like this. They had a variety show filming at the airport, and it was their first overseas schedule. Everyone was nervous but excited. That was why he didn¡¯t want to bother them with unnecessary stories. ¡°Wow, there¡¯s the airport!¡± Woojoo saw Incheon Airport in the distance. The car climbed up the elevated road and headed to the departure hall on the third floor. In no time, they arrived at gate 10. ¡°There are so many people.¡± Junghyun pointed out the window. There were cameras everywhere. They were reporters who came to take pictures and fans who came to see them. While the kids checked their outfits, Woojoo looked at his face on the smartphone screen. His ability to mimic was effective today as well. Regardless of his mood, a bright smile that made him feel better just by looking at it appeared. Woojoo waved and smiled at the cameras as he stood on the crosswalk. Dowon Hyung cleared the way and they followed him. As they entered the gate, they were greeted by the cast and the cameras with the TBC logo. ¡°Hey, they¡¯re here!¡± A man with a gruff expression gestured. ¡°Come on!¡± ¡°Hello, hello.¡± Woojoo bowed his head to the three men and women and stood on their left. ¡°Wow, there are so many people. You¡¯re not called the best rookie of 2014 for nothing.¡± The man who was fluently telling a story was Yoo Changhyun. He was a formeredian who appeared on various variety shows. He was invited to liven up the atmosphere on the special episode of ¡®Patisserie Korea¡¯ today. Patisserie Korea was a survival show that aired with poprityst year. It gathered pastry chefs who made bread or cake andpeted with each other by showing off their desserts. Woojoo heard that it had good ratings because of the format of the cookingpetition. That was why TBC prepared a special episode after the broadcast ended to squeeze out the remaining poprity. It was called the global tour. The top 5 who achieved decent results went abroad with their mentors and opened a one-day cafe, selling their own menu. The point was to see how the menu that was well received in Korea would react to foreign people. They were the one-day part-timers at that cafe. ¡°Wow, are these all fans?¡± As the screen door opened and the people outside kept pouring in, Yoo Changhyun stuck out his tongue. The passing tourists also joined in with their phone cameras on. Of course, it wasn¡¯t just because of us. Among the passing hikers, a woman in a pink jacket raised her thumb and shouted. ¡°Chef Park, you look younger than on TV!¡± ¡°Oh, thank you. You look young too.¡± A 40-year-old man with a good build and thick lines smiled and answered. Chef Park Jaewoo. He was the mentor of the contestants on Patisserie Korea, and a person who showed off his warm appearance and extensive cooking knowledge on various cooking shows. ¡°Oh, I¡¯ve seen that person. He¡¯s the winner of Patisserie Korea, right?¡± ¡°I can¡¯t recognize him without his sses.¡± And there was a woman in her 20s with a small and round face. Min Sejin, who seemed unfamiliar with the broadcast, was the winner of this Patisserie Korea. With New ck and their fans, the crowd naturally grew. ¡°Shall we introduce ourselves one by one?¡± ¡°Yes, two, three. Hello! We are New ck!¡± They greeted each other in turn. Yoo Changhyun skillfully lifted the mood while the chef and the winner chimed in or responded. Chef Park Jaewoo smiled. ¡°You all look great. I can¡¯t tell who¡¯s the visual member.¡± ¡°You don¡¯t know who it is?¡± Jiho smiled brightly and tapped his chest with his finger. The people watchingughed as if they found him cute, and Yoo Changhyun asked, ¡°Is Jiho the visual here?¡± ¡°Yes, I¡¯m in charge of the visual of New ck. As you can see, I¡¯m the most handsome.¡± ¡°The guys over there don¡¯t seem to think so?¡± While Jiho was talking, they were making X signs with their hands and shaking their heads behind him. When the youngest turned his head, they smiled kindly. ¡°Isn¡¯t Woojoo the visual?¡± ¡°Yes, Sunbae-nim. You¡¯re really urate. This kid is just bluffing, he¡¯s not at the level topete with me yet.¡± ¡°That¡¯s right. I¡¯m number one, including personality.¡± ¡°Oh, the overall ranking?¡± ¡°Yup. Woojoo Hyung is number one in appearance, but his personality is so vicious that I¡¯m higher in the overall ranking.¡± While the youngest was dissing him, Chef Park and Min Sejinughed. Maybe because the atmosphere had rxed during the break, Min Sejin, who had been quiet, pretended to know Junghyun. ¡°I saw that rhinoceros beetle meme!¡± ¡°Rhinoceros beetle?¡± The winner exined to the two cast members. Yoo Changhyun showed curiosity. ¡°The rhinoceros beetle pose! Can I see it again?¡± ¡°Uh, our manager said we shouldn¡¯t do this¡­¡± Junghyun scratched the back of his head and came to a clear conclusion. ¡°I¡¯ll just do it and get scolded.¡± ¡°Manager, where are you? Oh, there you are. Your neck must be itching, huh?¡± The camera briefly went to Seokhwan Hyung, who was making a sad face among the crowd. Soon, Junghyun struck the rhinoceros beetle pose and everywhere turned into a sea ofughter. It looked funny even without sound. Thanks to that, from then on, the onlookers started to say things like ¡®Oh, ck goat!¡¯, ¡®Big luck?¡¯ They rode the wave and joked around and exchanged quips with dozens of onlookers and the camera. Their friendly growth period also contributed to the good mood. ¡°By the way, are you two interested in idols? Do you know us?¡± ¡°No. I don¡¯t really¡­¡± ¡°Me too, I don¡¯t know much about idols.¡± Jiho smiled brightly at the mentor and disciple who hesitated. ¡°That¡¯s good! Then you can get to know us from now on. Hyungs, we¡¯ll sing you a song.¡± ¡°Oh, shall we pick a song?¡± Woojoo spoke up at the impromptu promotional opportunity. ¡°Then, since we¡¯re doing this, we¡¯ll show you our hard choreography too.¡± ¡°You¡¯re passionate! Well, then, let¡¯s make some room.¡± The onlookers moved back and they briefly showed them a medley performance of Fireworks and Masquerade. Yoo Changhyun asked, ¡°Do you know Patisserie Korea, both of you?¡± ¡°Of course.¡± Woojoo answered. ¡°I really enjoyed watching it.¡± Woojoo had watched it diligently whenever he had time at Director Jo¡¯s house after hearing that he would be on the special. Bijoo made ament about his interest in cooking, and they told him what they found funny. He seemed happy to hear things they wouldn¡¯t have known if they hadn¡¯t watched the show. When it was time to wrap up the opening, Yoo Changhyun finished hisment. ¡°Anyway, we hired them as daily part-timers in Taiwan. How about a word of ambition?¡± ¡°We¡¯re really good at work,¡± Woojoo said with a smile. ¡°Please look forward to it.¡± ¡°Oh, by the way, I had dinner with the members of Around the World With Dice a while ago. When New ck came up, Heeyeon said she was so excited. She said there¡¯s an idol who works better than a ck or brown cow.¡± ¡°Yes, that¡¯s Woojoo Hyung.¡± Their kids pointed at Woojoo with proud faces and he smiled resignedly. Chef Park Jaewoo asked, ¡°I heard from the production team that you¡¯re good at Chinese. You don¡¯t need an interpreter this time, right?¡± ¡°ÊÇ.¡± Woojoo answered like that and showed his confidence to the camera. ¡°Please watch. I¡¯ll show you how I work like a cow this time.¡± After the opening shoot, they decided to part ways with the TBC crew for a while. They were on different nes. ¡°It¡¯s so spacious, maybe because it¡¯s business ss.¡± Jiho, who was sitting next to Woojoo, looked around and spoke in amazement. The other kids also looked around and were satisfied. It was a seat provided free of charge by Cloud Air, a mid-sized airline that they were advertising models for. The seats were spacious and satisfying enough for their kids to stretch their long legs. The problem was Woojoo. ¡°¡­¡± Woojoo sat by the window and closed his eyes, watching theplexly moving cargo vehicles and the nes taking off in the distance. He felt nauseous. He felt like he wanted to go to the bathroom and vomit the toast he had for breakfast. Cold sweat soaked his back and palms. Even though he didn¡¯t drink coffee, his heart was pounding like a wave in his ears. To put it bluntly, it was a mess. -Ladies and gentlemen, hello. Thank you for choosing Cloud Airlines today. The captain¡¯s announcement came on, informing them of the imminent takeoff. ¡°Hyung, are you okay with motion sickness?¡± Bijoo, who was sitting in the middle seat across the aisle, called out to Woojoo. ¡°Yeah, I¡¯m fine.¡± Woojoo smiled and waved his hand. Unlike before, he was now awkward at managing his expression. They all went back to normal, as if telling him not to worry. ¡°That¡­ no.¡± Rihyuk tried to say something, but then closed his mouth. Junghyun was also flipping through a booklet with a calm face. They all seemed to notice and respect his wish to pretend nothing was wrong. ¡°Hoo.¡± Woojoo leaned back on the seat and took a deep breath. The air around him felt like it was choking his throat, so he unbuttoned a couple of buttons on his shirt. It was worse than he thought¡­ He regretted not telling their manager beforehand, if he had known he would react like this. But it was toote. He couldn¡¯t just get off and get back on. As he was restless, the ne slowly moved and his heart sank. ¡°¡­¡± When Woojoo closed his eyes, he kept seeing the news he had seen when he was young, or various ne idents. When he opened his eyes, everything around him seemed to sway like a mirage. His ability, which was usually so helpful, felt cruel today. Please. Please, show me something. Woojoo wanted some help, like when he felt the extreme tension at the showcase, whether it was his ability or anything else. But unlikest time, his ability was silent this time. He felt nauseous, as if he was going to vomit on the spot. Swoosh- An earphone popped into his left ear. It was a sudden sensation, and Woojoo felt stunned. Was his mind frozen? Jiho showed him his smartphone and smiled brightly. ¡°I want to listen to music.¡± ¡°Jiho¡­¡± ¡°Yes?¡± Woojoo¡¯s voice cracked. ¡°Don¡¯t you have to turn it off before takeoff?¡± ¡°It¡¯s okay, it¡¯s on airne mode.¡± ¡°Really?¡± ¡°Yes, Hyung. Besides, I¡¯m scared of taking off, so please listen to music with me.¡± He picked a song before Woojoo could say anything. He hummed along to the lyrics, ¡®Let¡¯s go, together,¡¯ and Woojoo saw him singing to himself. Woojoo was speechless, but his mind calmed down a bit. It felt reassuring to have one earphone in his ear, as if someone was holding his hand. And then the ne started to elerate. Woojoo grabbed the armrests with both hands and closed his eyes. This is not a ne. This is not a ne. As the ne sped up and up, he felt like his heart was going to burst. Jiho tapped him and talked to him, saying he was scared too. Maybe thanks to him. Woojoo didn¡¯t have time toe to his senses, and the ne was soaring into the sky. ¡°Uh, what?¡± Jiho said in disappointment. ¡°I was so nervous because everyone was saying that the takeoff was scary. It¡¯s not that bad, right?¡± ¡°¡­Yeah.¡± ¡°Let¡¯s listen to some music. Us.¡± Woojoo felt relieved as he saw the clouds outside the window. At the same time, the tension that had been stretched tight was loosened. It was over. He was d that the ne took off without any trouble. He leaned back, wiping the cold sweat, feeling the fatigue in his body. Suddenly, a face popped up on the window full of clouds. It was the youngest¡¯s eyes, looking at him with concern. Woojoo turned his head, and he was still smiling innocently, but he felt that way. ¡°What song do you want to listen to, Hyung? Something upbeat?¡± ¡°Anything,¡± Woojoo said, feeling grateful to him. ¡°Anything is fine.¡± It didn¡¯t matter anyway. He was falling asleep without knowing it. He had a sleepless nightst night. And after escaping from the extreme tension, his body was telling him to sleep. ¡°I¡¯m going to close my eyes for a bit¡­¡± ¡°Are you sleeping?¡± ¡°Yeah, wake me up when it¡¯s time to eat¡­¡± Woojoo fell asleep in an instant. And, he had a dream. A beach that he didn¡¯t remember where. It was an ordinary scenery. There were seagulls or something flying around, and a clear sky that he couldn¡¯t tell if it was afternoon or morning. He was standing on the bright and cheerful sand. But he was small. His hands were like ferns, and his steps were clumsy. He didn¡¯t know how old he was, but the people around him looked like giants. -Woojoo. A warm voice. A woman¡¯s voice. When he turned his head, he couldn¡¯t see her. She should have been visible, but she looked like she had noise on her face. But he knew who she was. Im Myeongeun. His mom. She always wore a neat sky-blue dress that his mom liked. -Woojoo. Dad bought something fun, do you want to go see it with me? -Something fun? As Woojoo tilted his head, his mom picked him up with a sh. Her smell filled his nose with the sea breeze. From her arms, Woojoo stared at the sea. Soon, a handsome man in a shirt waved his hand at them with a bright smile. He also had a faint face like he had static on it. Seon Myungjoo. His dad. Woojoo couldn¡¯t see his face, but he felt it. -Woojoo! Ta-da! He pointed at the sticks stuck in the beach. -Dad bought this to show you. How is it, have you ever seen it before? His wife smiled at her husband who was excited like a child. -Howe you¡¯re more excited than him? -Of course. I¡¯ve been waiting to show this to Woojoo. -Is it okay to show this to the baby? What if he hurts his eardrums or something¡­? -It¡¯s okay. Your mother-inw said so. Kids have to grow up tough. That¡¯s why I¡¯m like this¡­ Ouch! Sorry, sorry! It was my fault. Woojoo didn¡¯t understand the meaning of the conversations when he was young. The couple who had been giggling and snuggling with each other soon embraced him in the middle of their hug. But his young attention was fixed on the stick. What was that? Dad lit the end of the stick with a match and came over to him excitedly. -Woojoo, look at that. It¡¯s going to fly up to the sky now. Mom¡¯s warm hands covered his soft ears. Just for a moment. With a loud bang, the stick shot something out with white smoke. A bunch of fireworks cried out. Woojoo opened his eyes wide and flinched for a second. The fireworks painted beautiful mes in the sky. He bit his finger and stared at it with his mouth open. Mom covered his mouth with her hand and said, -Honey, look at him. -See? I told you he would like it. It was the most beautiful sight he had ever seen in his life. Of course, the fireworks at the Han River might be nothingpared to the few fireworks on the beach. But what mattered was that Woojoo heard the most beautiful words in the world with a warm kiss on his cheek. -Mom and Dad love you the most in the world, Woojoo. It was a pretty dream he had after a long time. Chapter 176: Chapter 176: Trantor: MarcTempest Editor: Rxel Chapter 176 Jiho cautiously turned his head. ¡°¡­Hyung, are you asleep?¡± Woojoo was breathing softly with his eyes closed. ¡®He¡¯s asleep.¡¯ He felt certain and turned his head to the other side. Rihyuk was flipping through a Spanish textbook, Junghyun was tapping on the screen, and right next to him, Bijoo was writing a diary.¡°Hyungs.¡± Jiho covered his mouth and whispered, ¡°Woojoo Hyung is asleep.¡± The three of them stopped their actions and turned their heads at the same time. ¡°Asleep?¡± ¡°Hey, is that guy okay?¡± ¡°How does he look to you?¡± Then, the managers in the front seats also stuck their heads over the seats. ¡°Is he okay?¡± Maybe because of the noise around him, Woojoo ¡®hmm¡¯ed and tossed in his sleep. Jiho hurriedly murmured, ¡°Back to your positions, back to your positions!¡± They all went back to their original ces and repeated their awkward actions. It was like a scene from aedy movie where they were doing a poor undercover investigation. Bijoo was writing with a pen cap, and Rihyuk was holding the book upside down. As Woojoo fell asleep again, Jiho patted his chest. ¡°Woojoo Hyung is asleep again. He looked really scared when we took off, but he seems okay now.¡± ¡°Phew, thank goodness.¡± Sighs of relief came from everywhere. Woojoo had not confessed his fear of flying, but everyone here knew it. They had lived together in one house for over a year. They already knew each other¡¯s habits and subconscious fears. He was the person who unconsciously flinched whenever a ne appeared on TV or in a movie. How could they not know? Jiho pursed his lips. ¡®¡­He¡¯s too proud.¡¯ He was just the leader of an idol group, not a king of a country. ¡®Just tell us.¡¯ It would be better if he opened up to them. Their leader was the type who was okay with someone relying on him, but hated relying on someone else. He seemed to think that he had to hold the center. But unlike the early days of their debut when the members were psychologically unstable, they had grown up a bit now. ¡®It¡¯s okay to lean on us a little¡­¡¯ He would hate being pitied by his younger brothers. All they could do was help him from behind, like they were doing now. They felt relieved as they watched Woojoo sleeping soundly. ¡°Ah, why does he make us worry so much?¡± Rihyuk grumbled. ¡°His face was so pale and he kept saying he was fine. Isn¡¯t it better to just admit that he¡¯s scared?¡± ¡°Hmm. Well.¡± Junghyun answered. ¡°Woojoo Hyung must have his reasons.¡± ¡°Me too, I wouldn¡¯t tell Rihyuk.¡± ¡°This is real.¡± Rihyuk red at him. ¡°Do you think I can¡¯t attack you because you¡¯re far away? I¡¯m just holding back because of the seat belt¡­¡± ¡°Me too. If it wasn¡¯t for this light.¡± They growled at each other. Ding. The seat belt sign went off and an announcement said that they could move around now. ¡°I¡¯ll let you off today.¡± ¡°Be grateful. Hyung.¡± They coughed and looked away. Bijoo, who had beenughing, called the youngest. ¡°Jiho-ya, keep an eye on Woojoo Hyung. If he suddenly breaks out in a cold sweat or something, let me know.¡± ¡°Okay, I will.¡± ¡°And here¡¯s a list of songs that Woojoo Hyung likes. If you y this, he¡¯ll be able to sleepfortably.¡± ¡°Hoo, okay¡­¡± In the old MP3 that Bijoo handed him, there were folders sorted by members. The songs in the folder named ¡®Woojoo Hyung¡¯ were mostly old folk songs or outdated tunes. They were the least suitable genre for Jiho, who only listened to thetest chart hits. ¡®Wow, what a grandpa¡¯s taste¡­¡¯ An angel and a devil spun around above his head. ¡®Just y those songs as Bijoo Hyung said. Woojoo Hyung is sleeping, so let him rest.¡¯ ¡®He¡¯s asleep anyway. He won¡¯t know if you y what you want.¡¯ After some hesitation, he decided to side with the angel. Jiho sipped his c with a gloomy face. It was when he looked at the clouds outside the window along with the lyrics ¡®Too painful love is~¡¯. The scenery was so beautiful that he thought he should send some photos to his sisters as soon as hended in Taiwan. ¡°¡­Hm?¡± Woojoo¡¯s face had changed. He looked calm, unlike before when he was sweating coldly with a pale face. He wondered what kind of dream he was having, as his lips twitched slightly. He seemed to be smiling, too. ¡®I hope it was a good dream.¡¯ Jiho drank his c and smiled brightly. Thanks to having a good dream for once, he was able to finish the 2 hour and 30 minute flight veryfortably. Except for one problem. ¡°¡­No, I mean,¡± he asked again, incredulously. ¡°You couldn¡¯t wake me up because I was sleeping soundly?¡± ¡°Yes, exactly that,¡± Jiho said, gulping down the bottled water with a straw. ¡°You were sleeping so hard, I thought, oh, I shouldn¡¯t wake him up.¡± ¡°My little brother. I told you, didn¡¯t I? Wake me up when the in-flight meales, okay? I even asked you as a favor before I fell asleep.¡± ¡°Heh, did you?¡± ¡°¡­I¡¯ll never ask you anything again.¡± He felt bitter. Literally, not figuratively. He had eaten a tiny breakfast, hoping to fill his stomach with the in-flight meal. He thought it was food when he suddenly shook him awake, but it was Taiwan. -Hyung, we¡¯re here. -Food? -No. We arrived in Taiwan. -¡­ Well. On the bright side, he didn¡¯t feel the fear ofnding because he had a good sleep. ¡°Phew.¡± He felt bitter, but he was also excited. It was his first flight ever, and he was so scared, but after going through it once¡­ He still wasn¡¯t used to it. He shivered at the thought of taking off again. But that was the day after tomorrow, and he decided to focus on his activities in Taipei for now. This was Taoyuan International Airport. An airport located on the outskirts of Taipei, the center of Taiwan. They met up with the production team of ¡®Patisserie Korea¡¯ before leaving the baggage im area. ¡°Korea is one hour ahead of here, so please adjust your watches ordingly.¡± Woojoo followed the PD¡¯s instruction and set his watch. The main and sub writers showed them the cue sheet and briefly exined today¡¯s shooting schedule. Usually, the main writer didn¡¯t bother to talk to them in terrestrial TV shows, but Woojoo was surprised to see him here. It turned out that it was because of the staff reduction. When they went to an overseas location, they minimized the staff to save costs. So the shooting crew was also small, and there were only two writers. They listened to their exnation attentively. ¡°We will start the actual cafe operation tomorrow. Today, we will explore Taiwanese food. We will mainly focus on your reactions, so please exaggerate your gestures and expressions, whether you like it or not.¡± They also told them the ces they would visit, and Woojoo got the idea. This must be a coboration with the tourism bureau. As the saying goes, three years of a dog¡¯s life makes it recite poetry. Woojoo could guess the behind-the-scenes deal by listening to the content of the show. In exchange for getting local assistance for the cafe operation, they had to introduce the attractions of Taiwan in an appealing way. A win-win situation. ¡°In the afternoon, you will each carry promotional materials and do street advertising. You all know the content, right?¡± ¡°Yes.¡± Park Jaewoo, the chef, and the rest of the cast answered. They were about to start filming from the immigration scene, but their steps stopped abruptly. ¡°What? What¡¯s going on?¡± Yoo Changhyun, who was cracking jokes, tilted his head. Some local airport security officers blocked their way. They said something, but the PD who was called as the representative looked puzzled. ¡°Excuse me? What?¡± ¡­He asked, but the local security officers kept saying ¡®Wait¡¯ in English, looking frustrated. It seemed that they had anguage barrier. The PD snapped. ¡°Hey, you can¡¯t speak English well at the airport? Interpreter, hey! Don¡¯t we have a Chinese interpreter?¡± ¡°The local coordinator is waiting outside.¡± ¡°Ah, call him then. Come on!¡± Then, Woojoo¡¯s brothers nced at him, and he cautiously stepped forward. ¡°Director, I can speak Chinese.¡± ¡°Oh, Woojoo? Okay, you talk to them. See what they are saying.¡± The PD looked relieved and gestured him to do so. The security officers were talking to each other in Chinese. ¡¸Hey. Can¡¯t they understand?¡¹ ¡¸I heard that Koreans learn Chinese a lot these days¡­ No? Call someone who can speak English.¡¹ His brothers were twinkling their eyes behind him, and the camera followed him. ¡¸Excuse me¡­¡¹ Woojoo called the security officers. ¡¸What¡¯s going on outside, right now?¡¹ ¡¸Oh?¡¹ ¡¸Uh¡­¡¹ The two men looked very surprised. They smiled at him warmly and then exined the situation to him. ¡¸The outside situation is very chaotic right now. We have security personnel controlling it, but you have to wait until it calms down a bit.¡¹ ¡¸I see. How long will it take?¡¹ The senior officer who was talking on the radio said. ¡¸It will take about 5 to 10 minutes.¡¹ ¡¸Thank you. You are working hard.¡¹ ¡¸No, you are working harder. I support you.¡¹ ¡­I support you? That was a random remark, but he didn¡¯t have time to pay attention to it. Woojoo exined the situation to the production team and their group who were listening with curiosity. The PD asked, ¡°So how long do they want us to wait?¡± ¡°They said there¡¯s some event outside and a lot of people gathered. They said we have to wait for 5 to 10 minutes.¡± ¡°I see.¡± It looked quite noisy outside. Woojoo could hear the crowd noise from here. Park Jaewoo, the chef, praised him with a smile. ¡°You speak Chinese very well.¡± ¡°No, not really. I¡¯m not that good.¡± ¡°Really? You sounded like a native. I thought you lived in China for a long time. Oh, is that it?¡± Woojoo shook his head and smiled. ¡°No, this is my first time abroad.¡± ¡°Wow, that¡¯s amazing.¡± Min Sejin, the winner of Patisserie Korea, asked with a curious face, ¡°Can you teach me some practical Chinese, then? Like, ¡®What¡¯s in this dish?¡¯¡± ¡°Me too, me too. Woojoo, teach me too.¡± Woojoo killed some time by teaching Yoo Changhyun and Min Sejin some basic phrases. But it took longer than he expected, so he chatted with his younger brothers who gathered around him. ¡°Hyung, I thought you were Taiwanese,¡± Junghyun eximed with admiration. The younger ones looked at Woojoo with awe, so he smiled and exined. ¡°I learned for a long time. A long time.¡± Ever since TJ Entertainment nned TNT with the Chinese market in mind, they made them take intensive Chinese lessons. They even hired a local Chinese teacher to teach Woojoo one-on-one. Of course, Woojoo added a few things here and there. He practiced to sound as close to the locals as possible by watching Taiwanese shows, YouTube clips, and so on. Taiwan also used Chinese, but there were some subtle differences from China. Like less retroflex sounds or weaker aspiration. Maybe it was because he changed his tone to suit the local style. The security guards seemed to appreciate that difference too. ¡°But, you know.¡± Bijoo pointed to the noisy outside and said, ¡°What are they doing out there?¡± ¡°Right, what¡¯s soplicated? Are Hollywood actorsing or something?¡± ¡°I don¡¯t think so. They don¡¯t release blockbusters in winter,¡± Rihyuk said logically. ¡°The conclusion is simple. Patisserie Korea got a reaction overseas too.¡± ¡°Oh, is that it?¡± ¡°But seriously, ask them once. Who¡¯sing?¡± ¡°No, why do you care so much¡­¡± Curious about the siblings¡¯ nagging, Woojoo approached the security guards again and asked, ¡°Excuse me, why is it so noisy outside? Who¡¯sing?¡± ¡°Who¡¯sing, you ask?¡± They startedughing as if they had heard the most amusing story in the world. Then the radio crackled. The employee who was exchanging radio messages told him to go out. ¡°Go and see for yourself.¡± Woojoo stared at them, who were still snickering, and went outside with hispanions. ¡°Uh¡­¡± The moment he stepped into the immigration hall, a huge crowd screamed. Everyone was startled by the noise. ¡°What, what is it?¡± ¡°Huh¡­¡± The most surprised ones were New ck. Almost by eye, hundreds of people were looking at them. There were people with big cameras and people with cards. Woojoo was stunned to see the words ¡®Wee, New ck!¡¯ in Korean. What was this nonsense situation? ¡°¡­?¡± There were loud screams everywhere, and Woojoo heard people calling his name. ¡°Let¡¯s move!¡± The security guards lined up and made a passage to the gate, but they were having a hard time because there were so many people. Yoo Changhyun clung to Woojoo in admiration. ¡°Wow, New ck was so popr overseas? Totally global.¡± ¡°We didn¡¯t know either. Sunbae-nim.¡± ¡°Sunbae-nim? Come on, the one with a lot of money and sess is the sunbae-nim. Here, let me ride on this poprity for once.¡± He waved his hand as if he was cheering instead of Woojoo, and smiled mischievously. He made aic situation and then whispered to Woojoo, ¡°Friend, I estimate that those are the local media. Wave your hand towards them. That way, your face will look good.¡± ¡°Thank you. I¡¯ll do that.¡± There was no need to exin anything to the siblings. When Woojoo winked and waved his hand, they did the same. If it was normal, he would have stopped and admired the scenery around him and said ¡®Thank you, our foreign Souffl¨¦¡­!¡¯. But he didn¡¯t have time for that. ¡°Mister, ahh!¡± Someone reached out and grabbed Rihyuk¡¯s bag, and he was startled for a moment. Woojoo went over and gently held him and walked. People were screaming everywhere, and arms stretched out from between the security guards¡¯ arms. They had no mind at all. They ran out and got into the car as if they were being chased. It was less than 40 meters, but it felt like a thousand miles. ¡°¡­¡± ¡°¡­¡± Everyone in the car looked pale. Woojoo took a sip of water and called out to them. ¡°¡­Guys.¡± They stared at him nkly. ¡°I guess we¡¯re more famous than we thought.¡± The local coordinator they met in the car, the one who handled the local affairs for the shooting,ughed. ¡°Did you have no idea?¡± ¡°Yes, we knew we had some overseas recognition, but we didn¡¯t expect this much.¡± Seokhwan Hyung said, ¡°Usually, when a Korean idol goes abroad, the airport crowd is bigger than their actual poprity in Korea, but¡­ this is the first time we¡¯ve experienced it.¡± ¡°That¡¯s true, but New ck also has quite a fan base in Taiwan.¡± Woojoo asked, ¡°We have fans?¡± ¡°Yes.¡± ¡°Like this?¡± ¡°Even considering the airport crowd, yes. Why not? New ck was the hottest rookiest year,¡± he said, as if reminding them that they had just won a Rookie Award yesterday. ¡°And what was it, I heard from a friend who works at a Taiwanese broadcasting station that you¡¯re very popr.¡± Woojoo thought it was Around the World With Dice¡¯s turn to be mentioned, but he was talking about an unexpected program. ¡°It¡¯s The New ck, right?¡± ¡°¡­Huh? Yes. That¡¯s right. Our reality show.¡± ¡°They have MTV in Taiwan too. That reality show was quite popr there. Well, there were a lot of unusual scenes that got a lot of attention on the web.¡± Then Woojoo remembered when they were nominated for the first ce after Masquerade. The PD they met at the HBS Sangam Tower said he exported it to Japan and there was some talk in Taiwan. Woojoo never thought it would turn out like this. They, who had been silent, looked at each other. ¡°Guys.¡± ¡°Hyung.¡± They immediately hugged each other with ecstatic faces. ¡°We¡¯re popr!¡± ¡°I guess it was a good thing we exploded the kimchi pot.¡± ¡°Ha, the dark history we¡¯ve built up is shining! Is this what they mean by light at the end of the tunnel?¡± ¡°There¡¯s a reward after hardship, you idiot.¡± ¡°If we can make fans with our ck history, let¡¯s make more of it from now on.¡± ¡°Yeah, let¡¯s do that.¡± Seokhwan Hyung kept saying ¡®No, guys, no. Absolutely not. That¡¯s not it.¡¯ from the side, but they didn¡¯t hear him. Woojoo shouted, ¡°ck history.¡± ¡°Awesome!¡± ¡°ck history.¡± ¡°Hooray!¡± The local coordinator and staff stoppedughing and looked at them who were cheering. The shooting resumed at the first restaurant. As they sat around the table, Yoo Changhyun threw a joke at New ck who were smiling brightly. ¡°Wow. You all have flowers on your faces?¡± ¡°No. Puhaha¡­¡± ¡°No? You keepughing, and you must have had a great time at the airport?¡± ¡°No. It¡¯s not that. Puhaha.¡± ¡°Good, right?¡± ¡°Very good. Heehee.¡± Park Chef and Min Sejin burst intoughter as they saw themughing happily as if they were thinking of something good. Chef Park Jaewoo looked at the menu and asked Woojoo, ¡°Then, can you order something for us, New ck, our global star? Here¡¯s xiaolongbao.¡± ¡°Yes, I¡¯ll order.¡± Since it was a broadcast, the owner couple came out and took their order. They ordered xiaolongbao, a Chinese dumpling, and other dishes, but while they were waiting for the food, a hot fried dish that they didn¡¯t order came out. ¡°What is this?¡± ¡°It¡¯s a service.¡± The ownerdy looked at Woojoo with a warm face and said, ¡°You seem to have a hard time working abroad¡­¡± ¡°Yes?¡± ¡°¡­?¡± ¡°¡­?¡± The other person tilted her head and asked, ¡°¡­Weren¡¯t you Taiwanese?¡± ¡°Me?¡± Woojoo was making a confused expression when it happened. Suddenly, he understood what the ¡®We support you¡¯ he heard at the airport meant, and the puzzle in his head was solved. ¡­Wait a minute. These people. Did they think he was Taiwanese? ¡°¡­¡± Woojoo must have practiced Taiwanese-style Chinese too hard. Chapter 177: Chapter 177: Trantor: MarcTempest Editor: Rxel Chapter 177 Woojoo could roughly guess what they were thinking. (He¡¯s a Korean idol) ¡ú (Huh? He writes in Chinese, but he speaks like a Taiwanese) ¡ú (Ah! He must be a Taiwanese member). Woojoo smiled at the boss who tilted her head and said, ¡°I¡¯m Korean.¡± ¡°¡­?¡± ¡°I¡¯m not Taiwanese, I¡¯m Korean.¡± ¡°Oh.¡±She finally understood. Just as Woojoo was about to say, ¡®Yes, I just studied Chinese hard¡¯, she pped her hands and eximed, ¡°Then are your parents Taiwanese?¡± ¡­Why did the conversation jump like that? ¡°No. They¡¯re both Korean¡­¡± ¡°That can¡¯t be. Your pronunciation is exactly like a Taiwanese. Honey! Come here and see. This Korean celebrity speaks better than you.¡± ¡°What?¡± Her husband came over with a sour face and exchanged a few words with him. Then he gave Woojoo a thumbs-up. ¡°Respect.¡± That was the end of the happening. Woojoo was worried that they might take back the service, but they brought him one more instead. They seemed to appreciate that a foreigner had studied theirnguage to this level. Woojoo exined the whole story to the people who were looking confused. Soon, everyone pped and burst intoughter. ¡°Hahaha!¡± Chef Park Jaewoo asked, ¡°How do you speak so well that you¡¯re mistaken for a local?¡± ¡°I know, right? I was surprised too.¡± ¡°Are you sure this is your first time abroad? You¡¯re so fluent, it¡¯s weird. Are you a genius ofnguages, Woojoo?¡± Yoo Changhyun chimed in. ¡°Exactly. What¡¯s your secret, Woojoo? Let¡¯s hear yournguage secret while the food ising out.¡± ¡°¡­There¡¯s no secret, really.¡± There was. It was just that he couldn¡¯t talk about it on the show. The reason why he was mistaken for a local here was thanks to two things. One was that he mastered Chinese during his trainee days. The other was that he learned the pronunciation and gestures of Taiwanese people by watching YouTube and TV shows with his ability. But he couldn¡¯t say here, ¡®Actually, I can imitate the pronunciation perfectly by watching how people use their lips and throat muscles¡¯. Before he could even try to exin, his younger brothers started talking excitedly. ¡°Ahem, Woojoo Hyung is good at everything. He does everything perfectly, no matter what.¡± ¡°He speaks well too.¡± ¡°And he¡¯s super smart. He just uses his smart brain to torment us all the time.¡± Woojoo felt ridiculous as he looked at their proud faces. Why are you guys so proud? As if to answer him, their warm eyes came back. ¡®You are our property.¡¯ ¡®The happiness of the ve is the happiness of the master.¡¯ ¡­Woojoo vowed not to let them go when the camera was off. The recording went smoothly. They had a light meal at this ce, then went to another ce for another meal. The format of the show was simple. When the food came out, Chef Park Jaewoo ate a bite andmented. ¡°Taiwanese beef noodles are definitely less greasy and cleaner than the ones in the maind. The meat is also tender and not chewy at all.¡± He smiled happily. The cook gave him a gentle smile and handed him another chopstick of noodles. The steamy noodles and rich broth were captured by the camera, making everyone sigh. ¡°It¡¯s no wonder that beef noodles are called the soul food of the Chinese-speaking world. I can tell by just one bite.¡± He savored the food with a satisfied face and told the story of the origin and recipe of the beef noodles in a pleasant voice. They were interesting stories that made them perk up their ears. There were also questions in between. ¡°What do you think is in here?¡± While everyone was eating and saying, ¡®Hmm? It¡¯s just delicious¡¯, there was one person who answered quickly, and that was Bijoo. His partner put down the chopsticks gently and said, ¡°It tastes like garlic, and I think they stir-fried onion and ginger and added them. The rest is unfamiliar and confusing, but is this the taste of bean sprouts and bok choy that I see here?¡± ¡°Bijoo has a good sense of taste, huh?¡± ¡°Yes, I love this dish. Chef.¡± The two of them immediately started to chat. The excited chef talked about the dish, and Bijoo answered with a smile. ¡°Our Bijoo has a great sense of taste!¡± ¡°I admire you, Chef!¡± The chef and the singer looked at each other and smiled broadly. ¡­What a perfect couple. While the two of them were filming Patisserie Korea live, the rest of them enjoyed the meal. Min Sejin¡¯s round face trembled. ¡°It¡¯s so delicious, awesome.¡± ¡°Sejin, shouldn¡¯t you join the cooking conversation over there? That kid is taking the chef away right now.¡± ¡°I¡¯m fine, I¡¯m a dessert specialist. And if the chef fall for this and changes his disciple¡­¡± As they were talking, Park Jaewoo, the chef who was having a lively conversation, suddenly grabbed Bijoo¡¯s hand. ¡°Look at your hand. This is a cook¡¯s hand. It¡¯s not a callus from eating knife rice for a year or two.¡± ¡°Is my hand a cook¡¯s hand?¡± ¡°This kind of hand should cook¡­¡± y Tyler did the same, and Chef Park seemed to like their partner quite a bit. Yoo Changhyun teased Min Sejin, ¡°It looks like you¡¯ve already lost.¡± ¡°It¡¯s not over yet. When we go to the mango shaved ice shopter, the situation will change. Just wait and see.¡± They allughed at the pastry chef who made a face like a concubine who had lost the king to a harem member. They did their assigned roles faithfully. Park Jaewoo, the chef, and Min Sejin, the pastry chef, showed off their knowledge and passion, and Yoo Changhyun yed theedian next to them. The role given to New ck, the guest, was reaction. ¡°Wow, awesome. It¡¯s so delicious. It¡¯s a taste that you wouldn¡¯t know even if you die together!¡± ¡°Hmm?¡± Junghyun asked, ¡°But if they both die, isn¡¯t the food weird?¡± ¡°Oh, you¡¯re right. Hyung. It¡¯s creepy. Goosebumps!¡± ¡°Goosebumps.¡± Min Sejin, who was sitting across from him,ughed and choked. Junghyun kindly handed her a tissue. With a serious word. ¡°Tissue.¡± She spat out the noodles again. ¡°Pfft!¡± And then she started tough almost like crying. ¡°Khh! Kk!¡± The pastry chef covered her swollen face with both hands andughed, shaking her body. She wasn¡¯t the only one. They all dropped their chopsticks andughed, half-turned over. ¡°¡­I¡¯m going crazy, really.¡± The person who caused theughter was just eating beef noodles with a peaceful smile. They always exchanged jokes and showed enthusiastic reactions like ¡®Wow! This is the taste!¡¯ whenever they ate together. The writers seemed satisfied with their performance, as they smiled with their gums. ¡°Wow, but our New ck really eats well.¡± Yoo Changhyun, who was looking at the stacked tes, asked with his tongue out, ¡°Do you always eat like this?¡± ¡°Yes, we eat a lot like cows grazing on grass. We eat a lot except when we¡¯re preparing for an album.¡± ¡°That¡¯s right.¡± Rihyuk put down his chopsticks and said, ¡°I¡¯m the one who eats the least among the members.¡± ¡°¡­?¡± ¡°So I¡¯m worried.¡± This time, Bijoo said, ¡°Rihyuk always picks at his food.¡± ¡°Is this the amount of the person who eats the least? Rihyuk ate more than the three of us.¡± ¡°Yes, isn¡¯t it too little? He¡¯s in his growth spurt¡­¡± ¡°That¡¯s right. Rihyuk needs to grow taller too.¡± As they looked at their son with his ears red, Bijoo and Woojoo made a worried expression. The regr cast looked dumbfounded. Min Sejin said with a nk face, ¡°¡­I feel like I witnessed something going wrong.¡± ¡°Seriously, it¡¯s like seeing my grandmother. She always tells me to gain weight because I¡¯m skinny.¡± They just ate as they normally do, but the others looked disgusted. Minki Hyung, who was standing nearby, whispered something to Dowon Hyung with a warm smile. Then, the store owner came out with arge te. It had freshly fried eggnt fritters. ¡¸It¡¯s a service.¡¹ The three of them were surprised and asked, ¡°Another service? Did you be Taiwanese again?¡± ¡°No. I heard that you are from a Korean TV program, so I¡¯m giving you more service. Please promote it a lot.¡± ¡°What do we do? We can¡¯t eat anymore¡­¡± ¡°Don¡¯t worry.¡± Woojoo smiled confidently. ¡°We can handle it.¡± As the regr cast looked at them with ¡®wow¡¯ eyes, Rihyuk, who was next to him, licked his tongue. ¡°Please, don¡¯t say anything cool for no reason.¡± ¡°That¡¯s right. It¡¯s a waste of face.¡± ¡°Anyway. Woojoo Hyung is good at cheesy lines.¡± As Woojoo turned around and red at them, Yoo Changhyun looked curious. ¡°But New ck looks really full right now. Can you eat all these eggnt fritters?¡± ¡°Yes, we can. We have a way.¡± The three of them focused on them. Woojoo gave his siblings a look and they nodded. They looked like athletes having a strategy time. ¡®Is that the way?¡¯ ¡®Yes. That¡¯s the way.¡¯ After the eye contact was over, Woojoo said seriously, ¡°Let¡¯s loosen up.¡± The five idols who unbuckled their belts in a sh made the people around themugh and fall back. Xiaolongbao, beef noodles, caste, mango shaved ice. They quickly recorded and quickly captured the famous food in Taiwan. They showed off their amazing stomachs from the beef noodle shop, and everyone was sincerely impressed by them. Yoo Changhyun joked that they would get the title of ¡®well-eating idol¡¯ when the broadcast came out. They went into street promotion after finishing the mango shaved ice shop that was on CNN. ¡°One, two, fighting!¡± They gathered their hands and shouted fighting, then went out to the street with promotional materials. As personal cameras followed them, theyughed and loosened their bodies. ¡°The weather is really nice.¡± ¡°Right. It¡¯s warmer than I thought.¡± Most of the people walking on the street were wearing coats or thin padding. The weather in Taiwan, which exceeded 15 degrees on average in January, was like a cold spring day. It felt warm because they hadn¡¯t left Korea for long. It was like a Russian who arrived in Korea in winter and said, ¡®Huh, it¡¯s trivial.¡¯ They were in Yongkang Street. It was called Hongdae of Taiwan, but it felt like Yeonnam-dong except for the signs full of Chinese characters and the unusual street food. ¡°Hello!¡± Woojoo approached everyone who passed by with a shy smile. ¡°We¡¯re opening a one-day cafe near here tomorrow! If you have time, would you pleasee and visit?¡± ¡°Oh¡­ sure. But what channel are you from?¡± ¡°We¡¯re from TBC.¡± ¡°¡­A Korean channel?¡± They all took the promotional materials with a nervous expression. Almost no one recognized them. But some people seemed to know that they were celebrities and asionally asked if they could take a picture with them. They shook hands and took photos. They promoted their cafe with bright smiles to everyone, as if they were having a street fan meeting. Then something amazing happened. ¡°I know you guys!¡± They were tourists from another Asian country, and they pointed at them with excited faces. ¡°¡­New ck!¡± When they asked how they knew them, they said they were K-pop fans. They especially loved their videos on YouTube. Woojoo¡¯s younger brothers were moved to tears by their words. ¡°Hyungs, we famous!¡± ¡°We be star!¡± Woojoo chuckled at their brothers¡¯ Konglish, but the foreign Souffl¨¦sughed along. They showed them a simple dance as a fan service and took a picture together. ¡°Hmm¡­¡± They asked them to take the picture again several times because they thought they looked ugly. They nodded their heads sadly after talking among themselves. But they still smiled happily when they saw the picture with New ck. As the broadcasting station camera watched them, the foreign Souffl¨¦s who were leaving them pointed at Junghyun and said, ¡°You¡¯re my bias, goat man.¡± Junghyun looked at Woojoo with a tilted head and Woojoo tranted it for him right away. ¡°You¡¯re my favorite, goat man.¡± ¡°Ooh. Me too. You are my Souffl¨¦s.¡± Junghyun blew a kiss from afar as a fan service, and they allughed at the ¡®goat man¡¯ story. Maybe it was because they worked so hard to sell. ¡°We ran out of promotional materials!¡± They used up all the promotional materials in less than two hours. The writer smiled happily and said that they even used up the spare supplies. They all smiled brightly. They had a good feeling. The half-day broadcast shooting was over. ¡°Good job, everyone!¡± ¡°Thank you, see you tomorrow.¡± The TBC Patisserie Korea production team and regr cast members decided to move separately to prepare for the cafe tomorrow. They also had their own afternoon schedule to follow. They had some free timeter that night, but they were not here to have fun in Taiwan. They were here to work. Their first schedule was an interview with Taiwan¡¯s famous entertainment magazine ¡®HIT!¡¯. ¡°Hello.¡± The editor of HIT! who came out as the interviewer was fluent in Korean. The interview conducted in the studio flowed smoothly in a friendly atmosphere. They were also being nice to them, and the editor asked mostly favorable questions. But just in case, Woojoo answered the interview carefully. And their managers were also recording the interview content to prevent any malicious editing. As the five of them sat together on afortable sofa, the editor who sat separately crossed her legs. And then she asked a question. ¡°You haven¡¯t started your overseas activities yet, but New ck has already made fans in Taiwan. I think it¡¯s because of your charm as singer-songwriters. Do you listen to a lot of songs when youpose?¡± ¡°Yes, I listen to all kinds of songs from different countries.¡± ¡°Do you listen to Taiwanese songs too?¡± ¡°Yes.¡± As Woojoo talked about the famous singer-songwriters of Taiwan and theirtest songs, the other¡¯s eyes sparkled. ¡°Then, what do you think of Taiwanese music, Woojoo?¡± This was a tricky question. If he said something wrong, it could be reported as ¡®K-pop idol New ck, what do they think of Taiwanese music~¡¯. Even if it was apliment, it could be taken the wrong way if a singer from another countrymented on their music. So he did what he always did and smiled softly. ¡°I¡¯m not at the level where I can evaluate the songs of my seniors. I¡¯m listening hard.¡± ¡°¡­I see.¡± That was how he avoided any awkward questions that came up. After the interview, Woojoo shook hands with the editor and smiled. ¡°You did a great interview.¡± ¡°Thank you. It¡¯s because you asked good questions.¡± The other justughed at Woojoo¡¯s humble gesture. ¡°I¡¯m looking forward to the photo shoot.¡± While their managers were socializing with the editor and the magazine staff, they changed their outfits. It was for the photo shoot that would be published in the magazine. But¡­ ¡°Hmm.¡± They dressed up neatly in suits and looked at the ties in their hands. ¡°The color is a bit¡­¡± ¡°It¡¯s too revealing.¡± They all looked ufortable with the colorful ties that matched their personal colors. ¡°Maybe it¡¯s because it¡¯s a foreign magazine and they have a different aesthetic sense than us¡­¡± Blue or red would have been better, but the rest of the colors were a problem. Woojoo also scratched his cheek with the purple tie in his hand. Well, what could he do? Woojoo gently put on the tie, and their stylists fixed their makeup and clothes. ¡°Woojoo, you go first for the shooting.¡± ¡°Yes, Hyung.¡± Woojoo followed Dowon Hyung to the studio. He stood in front of a wall with a white background and checked the camera position. The photographer spoke in English. ¡°Let¡¯s start with anyfortable pose!¡± Woojoo pushed his leg slightly to take a rxed pose, but before he was even ready, the other pressed the shutter. Click! Chapter 178: Chapter 178: Trantor: MarcTempest Editor: Rxel Chapter 178 How could he take a picture so suddenly? Woojoo was startled for a moment, but he quickly posed for the photographer¡¯s shutter. ¡°Good! Good!¡± He kept eximing in English. The short photo shoot was over and it was his siblings¡¯ turn. It was hard for the photographer to give detailed directions like in Korea, so Woojoo wondered if he should trante for them somehow, but it was easily solved.Thanks to the universalnguage of bodynguage. ¡°Shoo shoo!¡± The photographer raised his hand to his waist and roughly described the pose. ¡°Yes, yes.¡± His kids nailed the pose perfectly. They had taken so many photos for magazines, album covers, posters, etc. that they seemed to have gained a lot of experience. Woojoo was proud of the fact that his siblings, who used to get scolded for their clumsy poses when they debuted, had grown enough to pose skillfully. Rihyuk nced at Woojoo with a sly eye as he smiled softly. ¡°What¡¯s with that expression?¡± ¡°What?¡± ¡°You look like a grandfather who came to a kindergarten recital. You keep giggling at the other Hyungs.¡± ¡°¡­¡± ¡°He¡¯s doing the same thing as the manager right now.¡± ¡°Seokhwan Hyung?¡± Woojoo turned his head andughed. Seokhwan Hyung had the same expression as him. He smiled at the corners of his mouth and his cheeks rose. Their manager must have been proud too. Then their eyes met. ¡°¡­¡± Woojoo grinned and said ¡®ooh¡¯ and he coughed and turned into a polite gentleman. They finished the group shot and praised the siblings. ¡°You guys did a great job. You all did well.¡± The responses were lukewarm. ¡°Really? I think I messed up the pose earlier. I should have lowered the angle a bit, but I got confused and did it differently.¡± ¡°I was a little disappointed.¡± ¡°Me too. I practiced like crazy in front of the mirror yesterday.¡± Woojoo smiled at their faces full of regret. They looked fine to Woojoo. They must have raised their standards and felt dissatisfied. Bijoo said, ¡°I was greedy because the pictures you took came out so well.¡± ¡°No way. I have a lot of things I don¡¯t like. I made a lot of mistakes.¡± At the same time, the four of them red at Woojoo and snapped their heads. ¡°No, really¡­¡± Woojoo made a wronged expression, but no one sympathized with him. The photographer gestured for them toe over and showed them each of their pictures, giving them a thumbs up. ¡°Good picture.¡± Their kids¡¯ faces brightened. Then came Woojoo¡¯s photo collection. ¡°Oh.¡± The members praised him for taking good pictures, but he saw only poses full of regret. They all looked like B-cuts, and he scratched the back of his head with an awkward face when the photographer silently raised both hands. ¡°¡­?¡± He gave Woojoo a double thumbs up and said with a serious expression, ¡°Very good picture.¡± Woojoo avoided the resentful gazes and stared at the air. They finally got some free time after finishing the variety show and the interview. They changed their clothes like crazy as soon as they checked in at the hotel and gathered in the lobby. Seokhwan Hyungughed at their excitement and happiness, almost ready to jump around. ¡°You know we have a schedule at dawn tomorrow, right? We¡¯re not here to sightsee. Just go around lightly for an hour ande back.¡± ¡°Manager, I have a question!¡± ¡°Yeah. Jiho.¡± ¡°Is the hour you¡¯re talking about from now on? Or is it from when we get to the city?¡± ¡°That¡¯s¡­¡± ¡°Jiho. Why are you asking that?¡± Woojoo said with a smile, ¡°Even the worst person wouldn¡¯t say it¡¯s an hour, including the travel time.¡± ¡°¡­¡± ¡°Right, Hyung?¡± Woojoo winked quickly at his siblings. ¡®Hold hands and open your eyes. Don¡¯t lose heart.¡¯ ¡®Yes!¡¯ The five of them held hands and shone their eyes brightly. ¡°That¡­¡± Brightly. ¡°That¡­¡± Brightly! Finally, their manager gave up. ¡°It¡¯s only a five-minute ride anyway¡­ Fine, let¡¯s make it an hour after we arrive. Minki and Dowon will join us nearby, so contact us right away if anything happens.¡± ¡°Yes!¡± ¡°Don¡¯t run! Hey! You¡¯ll get hurt!¡± Like puppies freed from their leashes, the five of them ran outside at the same time. They took the hotel shuttle bus to the night market, and along the way, they recorded a simple video with a selfie stick. ¡°Hello, Souffl¨¦ fans. We finally got our first free time in Taiwan!¡± ¡°We¡¯re so happy.¡± ¡°Please look forward to it. We¡¯re going to have a st in Taiwan.¡± As the foreign tourists on the shuttle watched them go ¡®wow¡¯ andughed, Woojoo turned the camera to Junghyun. ¡°Junghyun, how about we do a three-line poem with Taiwan as a theme to celebrate our night out?¡± ¡°Sure.¡± ¡°Ta.¡± ¡°Tire.¡± ¡°Yi.¡± ¡°Teeth.¡± ¡°Wan.¡± ¡°Peas.¡± Rihyuk swept his bangs aside. ¡°¡­Junghyun Hyung, let¡¯s think about the definition of our three-line poem again.¡± Apart from that, the rest of themughed and enjoyed their nonsense poem. ¡°Hahaha!¡± Laughing like crazy, Woojoo was d that there were no Koreans on this shuttle bus. A cafe on the inte. ¡¾ I just rode the same bus with Korean idols in Taiwan¡­ ¡¿ There were five handsome guys on the hotel shuttle They had such a celebrity vibe that I was stunned¡­ My friend said they were New ck? They were singing a cappe and having their own free time, and theyughed like kids whenever a motorcycle or a car passed by¡­ It¡¯s so weird. Every time they make jokes, my friend and I are cracking up behind them, trying not to make a sound. LOL Tall guy: Wow, a motorcycle. That looks fun. How about I try riding thatter, Hyung? Big brother: Uh¡­ I can see it, I can see it¡­ Tall guy: What do you see, Hyung? Big brother: I see the future of our group falling apart, Junghyun. Tall guy: I won¡¯t ride it then¡­ (pouting) And then they allugh together. LOL ¨CLOL what is this -Tell us more, this is hrious -Go talk to them and take a picture -[Author] I think they know we¡¯re foreigners. My friend and I are pretending to be Chinese. ¨CLOL that¡¯s even funnier 5 minutester. -[Author] I took a picture, here¡¯s the proof. -Wow, you did it -How did you take it? -[Author] I said ¡®one picture¡¯ in broken Korean and they smiled and posed for me. They were so nice. ¨CLOLOL -I want to hear more, please -[Author] There was a guy who spoke Chinese really well. So I said I was Japanese and then the white guy started speaking fluent Japanese and talked to me. I panicked and ran away, saying ¡®sorry, sorry¡¯. They were teasing each other behind me and the white guy¡¯s face was priceless. -Why did you run away LOL -LOL perfect ending 10 minutester. -[Author] Oh no¡­ I ran into them again at the night market. ¡°Hey, there are those Japanese people. Rihyuk, go say hi to them again.¡± ¡°No way.¡± ¡°Maybe they ran away because they were embarrassed earlier.¡± ¡°¡­Ahem.¡± Rihyuk waved his hand timidly at the two tourists he saw from afar. ¡°¡­!¡± They looked shocked and quickly got up from their seats. Woojoo didn¡¯t know why, but they looked like they had seen something awkward and scary. As soon as they saw their boy, who was steaming from his face, they burst intoughter. ¡°Hahaha!¡± Rihyuk roared like a fire-breathing dinosaur, making them dodge and keep their distance. ¡°Ugh, seriously. How did I end up meeting these people?¡± He sighed heavily, looking at the ground. Woojoo gently patted him and he soon cheered up. They started to explore the night market. ¡°Wow.¡± Everything was amazing. Woojoo thought it wouldn¡¯t feel much different since they were in the same Asian region, but foreign countries were foreign countries. It felt different. The Chinese characters on the signs that lit up. The noisy sounds of Chinese. Thenterns that hung on the streets, shining like gold, as if they were from a temple. Woojoo¡¯s heart was pounding and excited. ¡°Wow¡­¡± ¡°This is what it¡¯s like to be a foreigner.¡± It was chilly at night, but he felt goosebumps on his arms. So this was it. He had crossed the sea and arrived at this unfamiliar ind country. Just a day ago, he was in Seoul, but now he saw these strange sights and people. It was weird. Woojoo decided not to forget and took in the night market scenery with his eyes. He was snapping pictures with his phone like crazy. Bijoo asked Woojoo with a smile, ¡°Do you want to show your grandma?¡± ¡°Yeah.¡± Woojoo had to tell their Kim Deoksoondy everything he saw and was amazed by. Bijoo was also taking pictures of the food, shops, and signs around them with his phone. ¡°I think I miss my family more when I go abroad. It would be nice toe here together.¡± ¡°I know, right. Too bad.¡± ¡°By the way, did you decide what to buy for your family?¡± ¡°I¡¯m going to buy some snacks. They say everyone buys snacks when theye here.¡± While Bijoo and Woojoo were thinking about what to buy, Junghyun was wandering around with a film camera. He bought it as a celebration for getting paid. He looked pretty serious when he took pictures. For the first 30 minutes, Woojoo wandered around the market with his siblings, looking at everything. They bought and ate various things. They also bargained for some simple souvenirs. ¡°That¡¯s too expensive.¡± Woojoo asked the youngest, ¡°Jiho, do you know how to haggle?¡± ¡°No.¡± ¡°You know, in movies or dramas, they usually show that the youngest sons of rich families have hidden talents. They like to have fun, but they turn out to be geniuses who inherited the merchant¡¯s skills.¡± ¡°Hey, what are you talking about? I don¡¯t have anything like that.¡± Jiho looked confused. ¡°But why do you need to haggle when you have a lot of money? Just buy it.¡± ¡°Oh, right.¡± ¡°I¡¯ve never haggled before. But instead.¡± Their youngest charmed the shop owner with his cuteness and gestured ¡®price down please¡¯. Thedy who was selling the goodsughed and gave them a discount. They came out with their bags and grinned. ¡°Wow, cuteness is universal.¡± ¡°Good job. Our little one.¡± They were happy that they got a good deal, but they soon got scolded by Rihyuk. ¡°You guys are too excited. I saw on the inte that you can buy it for half the price. You¡¯reughing so hard after you got it for two-thirds of the original price. Oh my.¡± ¡°I¡¯m sorry.¡± They bowed their heads to Rihyuk, but only for a moment. Jiho and Woojoo said to each other, ¡®You wanted to buy it, right?¡¯, ¡®It¡¯s yours, right?¡¯ and showed off their friendship. It was a fun night out. ¡°Huh? Hyung, there are prizes over there! Prizes!¡± There were prizes hanging along with a game of shooting arrows at a target. Woojoo asked the siblings who had bright eyes, ¡°What do you want to get?¡± ¡°I want that fake Pokemon doll.¡± ¡°Hyung. I want that rhinoceros beetle doll. I want to make it my mascot.¡± They approached the shop owner who greeted them with a smile, thinking they were clueless tourists. ¡°Wee!¡± He tempted them with a cheap challenge for the prizes, so Woojoo smiled back. But the smile of the old man who thought he had caught a sucker was very short-lived. Shoo! Thud! ¡°Wow!¡± ¡°Wow, even a worm can roll.¡± Woojoo ignored the siblings¡¯ments and shot the arrows. Shoo! Thud! Every time Woojoo pulled the bowstring, the arrows piled up in the center of the target. The shop owner¡¯s face turned red and blue, and soon people gathered around and watched in awe. Their kids murmured. ¡°I love it when people are amazed by Woojoo¡¯s skills.¡± ¡°Me too. Ah, I¡¯m not the only one who thinks he¡¯s amazing.¡± ¡°Fine.¡± ¡°He¡¯s good at using his body, you know. But the owner here doesn¡¯t look too happy.¡± The owner said as Woojoo swept up the prizes, ¡°Oh, that¡¯s it for today¡¯s challenge!¡± ¡°But you said it was unlimited¡­¡± ¡°Shoo! Shoo!¡± He was too impatient. ¡°Then I¡¯ll take the prizes.¡± Woojoo handed out dolls and gifts to his siblings as he left. What a pity. If he had more time, he could have cleaned out all the game stalls in this night market. Like the game where you hooked a ring on a bottle neck and made it stand. Or something like bingo. After finishing the sightseeing, he parted ways with his siblings. ¡°See you in 15 minutes!¡± They said it was free time, but they couldn¡¯t really enjoy ourselves as five people crowded together. So they decided to split up for a while. ¡°Rihyuk, take good care of Bijoo.¡± ¡°Don¡¯t worry. I installed a location tracking app on his phone. ¡®Where is our kid?¡¯ That one.¡± ¡°Good job, Bijoo. Follow Rihyuk closely.¡± ¡°Yes, Hyung. I¡¯ll follow him diligently.¡± Woojoo looked at them with a sour face, like seeing a young child on the street. Bijoo, who was dragged away by Rihyuk, waved his hand with a faint look. ¡°See youter, Hyung!¡± ¡°See you soon!¡± Rihyuk got angry. ¡°Hey, really! Stop making a fuss when we¡¯re going to see each other in 10 minutes!¡± ¡°Rihyuk will miss me too.¡± Woojoo waved his hand and Rihyuk reluctantly waved back with an awkward face. Now that he was alone, he felt lonely and sad¡­ ¡°Who cares?¡± Woojoo sang a cheerful song and went out for a walk. His interest was mainly in the music that came from the street. What kind of songs would flow out of Taiwan¡¯s night streets? He heard some K-pop here and there. He walked around listening to the popr music in Taiwan. He didn¡¯t mind the people who stopped and nced at him as he passed by. The problem was when he was walking and eating some street food. A man followed him. ¡°Do you have any thoughts of bing a celebrity?¡± ¡°What?¡± ¡°I¡¯m not a weirdo¡­ I work for apany. I saw your face and felt it right away. You have a face that should be a celebrity.¡± He showed Woojoo his business card. It said something like a workshop in Chinese characters. Woojoo thought it was a work studio, but it was an entertainment agency. He said he was active in maind China and that he would do well with a face like mine. He started to persuade him. He gave Woojoo his business card and left before he could say anything. ¡°Think about it!¡± And that was the start. After that, a few more people gave him their cards, but most of them went back with a sheepish face when he said he was already an idol in Korea. Woojoo sighed as he looked at the cards. Was this some kind of street-casting paradise that he didn¡¯t know about? There was no such thing when he was with five people, but when he walked alone, people stuck to him everywhere. Some people came up and talked to him or gave him their numbers. Whenever Woojoo stopped to buy some street food, someone came up and talked to him. They said they didn¡¯t know his face because he was abroad andughed as he didn¡¯t wear a mask, but that was ufortable in another way. In the end, Woojoo decided to give up on music appreciation and turned around. ¡°Excuse me.¡± Woojoo wondered what it was this time and turned his head with a gentle smile. A camera? There was a cameraman with a reporter holding a microphone. The mark showed it was a Taiwanese broadcast. ¡°Yes?¡± ¡°We¡¯re doing interviews with the citizens who came out to see the night market. How do you feel about your outing today?¡± ¡°Oh, sure.¡± Woojoo briefly told them his impressions and ended the interview. They asked Woojoo what his name was, but they said it was okay to go by a pseudonym. Woojoo told them he was 21 when they asked him his age. ¡­Well, you know, overseas they counted by the international age. Woojoo thought about reporting to his manager after the interview, but he decided not to bother since he only said a few harmless words. It was when he arrived at the meeting point with his siblings. ¡°¡­?¡± All five of them had the same expression of shock on their faces. ¡°¡­You too?¡± ¡°¡­Hyung too?¡± They put together the business cards they each received and there were seven in total. Theyughed as they shared what happened in thest 15 minutes. It seemed like they also had some variety-like experiences. ¡°Hey, how did you guys pull off such a spectacle in 15 minutes? Seriously.¡± ¡°Hyung, did nothing happen to you?¡± ¡°Of course not.¡± Rihyuk tilted his head at Woojoo¡¯s words. ¡°No way. Aren¡¯t you the most eye-catching person among us?¡± ¡°Me?¡± ¡°Yeah. The Street Boys Hyungs also said that about you. You¡¯re the Kim Jeonil of the idol industry.¡± ¡°Call me Conan. And really, nothing happened.¡± Woojoo protested to his doubtful siblings. ¡°Really. I just listened to some music and came back.¡± The next morning. The Souffl¨¦s of Taiwan, who were enjoying a peaceful breakfast, spat out what they were eating when they saw the morning news. "Pfft¡­ Their idol was on the morning news of TTS, Taiwan¡¯s terrestrial channel. Seon Woojoo, smiling softly. ¡°Woo Jenmin, 21 years old¡± ¡°The weather is nice today, and the night market has a really beautiful atmosphere. It¡¯s always a wonderful ce.¡± The interview video passed by in an instant. ¡°¡­¡± They wiped off the cereal they spat out on the table and looked at each other with stunned expressions. ¡®What just happened?¡¯ Why was a foreign idol on their country¡¯s morning news? And with a fake name too. They had no idea what was going on. Chapter 179: Chapter 179: Trantor: MarcTempest Editor: Rxel Chapter 179 People were interested in beautiful men and women all over the world. After the morning news of TTS ended, rted posts started to appear on Taiwan¡¯s websites. [Did anyone see the guy who was on TTS morning news today?] The post had a screenshot of the interview. He had a snow-white skin that shone alone in the middle of the night. Deep eyes.A young man with a perfect face sculpted by wless angles smiled and spoke in a gif file. Thements were explosive. -Where did hee from with such beauty? -Woo Jenmin? I¡¯m going to search for him all over the country. Wait for me. -His name suddenly sounds pretty too. Woo Jenmin. -Is he trying to be a celebrity by showing up on TV first? -He looks like a Korean actor. Did he get stic surgery in Korea? -If that face is the result of stic surgery, I¡¯m buying a ticket to Korea right now. Idiot. The curiosity about the mysterious handsome man named ¡®Woo Jenmin¡¯ spread quickly on the web. TTS News Bureau was bombarded with inquiries about who he was since morning. ¡°Who is Woo Jenmin? We only did an interview with him, so we don¡¯t know the details. Yes, it¡¯s a pseudonym.¡± ¡°Sorry. We don¡¯t have any information about the person in the interview¡­¡± But they didn¡¯t have any better information than anyone else. They just did an interview. The staff who were bothered by phone calls all morning put down the receiver and wiped their sweat. ¡°This is crazy.¡± ¡°They¡¯re going crazy over one interview scene. I keep getting calls from my friends who work in entertainment agencies. They¡¯re asking me where he is.¡± ¡°Why?¡± ¡°They think he might show up again. They¡¯re dying to get him.¡± With a bitter smile, one of the news bureau staff who was surfing the web on hisptop said, ¡°I don¡¯t know who he is, but he¡¯s definitely a hit. Soon his identity will be revealed, and the entertainment agencies will try to snatch him up.¡± That was what everyone was thinking. But when the name ¡®Woo Jenmin¡¯ appeared on the website¡¯s search terms, the happening ended in a ridiculous way. -Isn¡¯t he a Korean celebrity? Someone who recognized New ckmented. At first, most people didn¡¯t believe it. -What are you talking about? A Korean celebrity? But then evidence photos started to appear. The scene of him looking at the camera at the end of a music show, various videos of him doing well on Korean broadcasts. He had a bit more makeup on, but it was definitely him. The people who were expecting a story of an unknown ordinary person who was discovered by a news scene were disappointed, but they soon epted it. -Ah. He¡¯s a Taiwanese who works in Korea? But that wasn¡¯t it either. ording to the data someone posted, his father was a famous jazz pianist not only in Korea but also in the world. A fan of New ck posted a message. -I tranted a post from the Korean fan cafe with a trantor, and it said that Woojoo was taking a ne for the first time. He had no connection with any foreign country, let alone overseas schedules. People were more confused. -What¡­? Is he a genius ofnguage? -I think it would be more convincing if he said he lived in Taiwan for a few years. -I wish someone would ask him how he learned thenguage. I¡¯ve never seen a Korean who speaks so well. It makes me want to study for the first time in a while. The reaction was more friendly than when he was a mysterious Taiwanese. And now that the question of who Woo Jenmin was was resolved. The Taiwaneseizens were interested in something new. -But why did hee to Taiwan? At the same time. The Souffl¨¦ who were waiting for the breadcrumbs of New ck who went to Taiwan received an unexpected breadcrumb. -Woojoo¡­? Why are you there? On the news screen with a lot of Chinese characters, Woojoo was smiling and answering the interview. The initial shock was only for a moment. When someone tranted what had happened on the Taiwanese web,ughter erupted everywhere. ¨C??????Woojoo?????? -I doubted my eyes ???? -Oh my, my baby did well. His first overseas schedule was the news. But he came out as a local? A local¡­ -Woo Jenmin???? -How excited were the Taiwaneseizens? -It¡¯s even funnier when I imagine it???? -They thought he was a gem of their country, but he was a foreigner¡­¡î -I¡¯m just proud???Our kid is amazing, now even the foreign kids know -A cute 21-shem???? Why did he say he was 21 years old? Soon, the Souffl¨¦s who gathered their meanings started to post ¡®Woo Jenmin, 21 years old¡¯ memes all over the ce as sales articles. After having a goodugh, the Souffl¨¦s were also swept away by a new curiosity. -But how well did he speak that they mistook him for a local? -Yeah. How did he do it¡­? But that question didn¡¯tst long. -Well, how do you think he did it? -I gave up on understanding our kid -(Roughly, the content that Woojoo did Woojoo) -?? Woojoo just did Jenmin as usual -????????? -Now is not the time to do this, everyone, hurry up and spread this meme so that Woojoo can squirm with shame -Let¡¯s all fight together kyarruk They were fans who were bing more and more like their singer. The recording of the TBC Patisserie Korea special started from dawn. The daily cafe located on Yongkang Street had cameras set up inside and the cast members were busy preparing for the opening. Patisserie Min Sejin was busy checking the ingredients carefully, and Park Jaewoo, the chef, assisted her. The rest were in charge of odd jobs. ¡°I¡¯ll put the chairs down here.¡± ¡°Can you put a flower on each table?¡± ¡°Fork! Fork!¡± They worked hard to set up the tables and chairs neatly, and put a flower on top of them. They also set up the cutlery like forks and spoons neatly on the napkins. At first, they all did the same thing, but soon the work was divided. ¡°Junghyun Hyung, and Jiho,e over here.¡± ¡°Huh?¡± ¡°Why, Rihyuk?¡± ¡°Why? These people are really.¡± As Junghyun and Jiho nced at each other, Rihyuk blew up at the fork setting. ¡°Junghyun Hyung, who put the fork and spoon like that?¡± ¡°This doesn¡¯t work?¡± ¡°¡­Hoo.¡± Rihyuk, who took a deep breath and found peace of mind, soon red at the youngest. ¡°And Jiho, who told you to fold the napkin like a crane?¡± ¡°I¡¯m sorry¡­¡± ¡°You two do something that requires strength, not setting. Anything that requires you to use your fingers delicately is forbidden. Forbidden.¡± The youngest bit his lips. ¡°I got it. But you don¡¯t have to look at me with such a pathetic eye. I¡¯m hurt.¡± ¡°Right. You¡¯re hurt.¡± As the camera turned its lens to the scene of him protesting the injustice, Woojoo joined in at the right timing. ¡°Rihyuk was too harsh. Our siblings are so delicate.¡± ¡°Right. We¡¯re young.¡± Rihyuk¡¯s ears turned red as he stuttered. ¡°Well, I¡¯m sorry if you were that hurt, but this is for the customers, you know. We have to make the interior look nice¡­¡± ¡°Wow. What a serious bug.¡± Rihyuk¡¯s face cracked. The two idiots giggled and looked at each other. ¡°Actually, we weren¡¯t hurt.¡± ¡°Right. We were kidding.¡± Then they went to help the staff who were carrying the luggage. Rihyuk sighed, left alone. Yoo Changhyun, the entertainer, teased him. ¡°I saw Rihyuk earlier and he was fierce. Does he always shoot fire from his mouth like that?¡± ¡°He can¡¯t even talk.¡± Woojoo said with a smile, ¡°He¡¯s the best among us when ites to cleaning and organizing. He¡¯s really meticulous about hygiene and cleanliness.¡± ¡°Right, we joke that if Rihyuk opens a restaurant, we won¡¯t have to worry about sanitation.¡± Bijoo also nodded and added, making Rihyuk re up. ¡°What are you talking about, I¡¯m normal,¡± he said, wiping the window frame with his gloved finger and clicking his tongue at the ck dust stuck at the end. Yoo Changhyun admired him. ¡°He looks like a duty officer on weekends. He¡¯ll do well in the army.¡± ¡°Right? He¡¯ll get a lot ofpliments for doing a good job.¡± The veterans exchanged bitter smiles. That was how much Rihyuk was running around. ¡°Put the table there, please. You have to leave a passage there to make it look nice. Yes, there.¡± Every time his hand touched something, it changed like magic. When they arrived at dawn, it was narrow and dusty, but now it was spotless and transformed. The table arrangement that felt somehow spacious was a bonus. ¡°Truly a home doctor¡­¡± Woojoo muttered to himself. He had thought his cleaning skills were extraordinary since Around the World With Dice¡­ ¡°What are you mumbling about? Don¡¯t stand there like a handsome pir and throw this away for me.¡± ¡°Yes. I understand¡­¡± Woojoo took the two bags of trash and swallowed his tears. It was the life of a leader with no authority. When he came back after throwing away the trash, Bijoo hung a cute chick light bulb package on the wall above the neon sign that said ¡®Cafe Sweet¡¯. Yoo Changhyun asked, ¡°What¡¯s that?¡± ¡°Oh, I saw it at the night market yesterday and thought it would look pretty in the cafe.¡± ¡°That¡¯s true. It adds to the atmosphere.¡± It really did. If Rihyuk had meticulously cleaned the dust off the cafe, Bijoo had added color to it with his interior design. Of course, this transformation was made possible by thebor of those who suffered underneath. ¡°Hyung, hang that picture a little more this way, please.¡± ¡°Like this?¡± ¡°It looks a little crooked. If you tilt it 15 degrees to the left, it should look straight.¡± Bijoo smiled brightly and bossed Woojoo and Junghyun around. ¡°Oh my, when did it change like this?¡± The result was impressive enough that Park Jaewoo, the chef, and Min Sejin, the pastry chef, thanked the weak line. The other three sucked in the chocte they ate when they ran out of energy, with dumbfounded expressions. ¡°¡­The bear does the work and the king gets the money.¡± ¡°Right. I¡¯m a king, but why can¡¯t I get paid?¡± ¡°Huh? Don¡¯t we get paid for appearing?¡± It felt like seeing someone else get praised for making something they made. Woojoo thought of the history textbook that only mentioned which king¡¯s era the cultural heritage was from, without the name of the craftsman. ¡°Let¡¯s change clothes.¡± They changed into white shirts and ck pants, like serving part-timers. They all put their hands together and shouted ¡®Fighting!¡¯ after dressing up. Min Sejin, the pastry chef, swallowed her saliva and said, ¡°¡­Will a lot of peoplee?¡± The opening time was 10 a.m. Everything was ready, and all that was left was the customers. They were feeling nervous. They handed out flyers to people on the street yesterday, asking them toe, but they wondered how many would show up. Yoo Changhyun made a remark. ¡°I read a quote from a book. It said that if you wish hard enough, the universe will listen. Woojoo, how many customers do you think wille today?¡± ¡°¡­What?¡± What was with this change of topic? The camera turned to Woojoo. Everyoneughed as they saw him staring nkly. Yoo Changhyun asked Woojoo, ¡°How many do you think wille, today?¡± Woojoo also smiled and answered. ¡°Well, this is kind of a superstition, but we have our own way of checking if today¡¯s event will be a hit or not.¡± ¡°Really?¡± ¡°Our Junghyun is the Pel¨¦ of the idol world. He predicts everything backwards. If he says he has a good feeling, something always goes wrong.¡± Their members joined in and told some stories that actually happened. Everyone looked at them with curious eyes. ¡°Really? Then, Junghyun, how many customers do you think wille today?¡± ¡°Um, I don¡¯t know.¡± ¡°See? This is a sign of sess. When we got our first win on a music show, this guy also said he didn¡¯t know.¡± Everyoneughed and said that was not a prediction, but they kept a serious expression. Park Jaewoo, the chef, joked, ¡°Actually, you don¡¯t have to worry. If there are no customers, just put these New ck guys in front of the store.¡± He said that people would flock in like water. They allughed at that. ¡°It¡¯s about time.¡± They all got up. It was time to change the sign from ¡®Closed¡¯ to ¡®Open¡¯ and lift up the blinds that were down. Yoo Changhyun said, ¡°Should I go outside and see if there are any customers waiting?¡± He opened the door slightly and peeked outside. Woojoo looked at his back. But his back stiffened. ¡°¡­¡± He turned around and looked at them with a panicked face. He swallowed and said to them, ¡°People.¡± ¡°People?¡± ¡°There are too many.¡± ¡°What?¡± ¡°They¡¯re in line. You have to see this. Come on, let¡¯s go out. They¡¯re all chanting Wooz Wooz or something. It¡¯s crazy.¡± The others looked at Woojoo when he said ¡®Wooz Wooz¡¯, but Woojoo just shrugged. What¡¯s going on? Was the promotion yesterday that effective? They grabbed the doorknob and opened it. Then they all stuck their heads out in order of height, from top to bottom. ¡°Woaaaaah-!¡± Oh. What a surprise. About a hundred people in line screamed. At first, he thought they were their fans, but they were looking at Woojoo, who was stuck in between them. They all pointed at Woojoo, making a fuss. ¡°It¡¯s Woo Jenmin!¡± ¡°Is that the most handsome guy over there Woo Jenmin?¡± ¡°He looks even better in real life!¡± ¡­Who the hell was Woo Jenmin? The customers came in like waves. ¡°Jenmin, please take the tangerine cake to table four!¡± ¡°Jenmin Hyung!¡± ¡°Jenmin, the customers here don¡¯t speak English! Hurry up and help me exin the menu!¡± And then Woojoo was renamed. Jenmin. Jenmin-ah. Every time he heard the echo in his ears, he shook his cheeks. ¡°I won¡¯t answer if you keep calling me Jenmin.¡± ¡°Woo Jenmin~¡± Yoo Changhyun teased Woojoo as he called him, and he turned to the customers with a bright smile. ¡°What can I do for you?¡± The Taiwanese customers burst intoughter at the sight of him switching to a professional smile. Woojoo didn¡¯t know whether to thank or be sad about the morning news that introduced him as Woo Jenmin. ¡°Thanks to Woojoo, we¡¯re doing great.¡± Woojoo was happy that they had a lot of customers, as Chef Park Jaewoo praised him, but he was sad when he thought about the future. He was already nervous and crazy when he thought about the data screen that would say ¡®Woo Jenmin, 21 years old¡¯ when he went on air. Well. Fortunately, this was not even a ck history anymore. ¡°Woojoo Hyung is twenty-one years old~¡± ¡°¡­Let¡¯s talk after the broadcast.¡± Then, Junghyun rapped ¡®I want to be younger even by one year, so I lied about my age~ My age is twenty one¡¯ and Woojoo was furious inside. Then he went to the ce where the customers called him with a bright smile. Yeah. This was an opportunity. Woojoo took pictures and signed for the customers who came to see him with the thought of fan service. Woojoo smiled as he saw them enjoying themselves. ¡°Ingredients! We¡¯re running out of ingredients, we need to get more!¡± ¡°Jiho, Jiho! The customers there want shaved ice, not cake!¡± The daily cafe was a huge sess. People started lining up and flocking in as soon as the meme of Woo Jenmin spread by word of mouth. The younger ones used the simple Chinese expressions he taught them to take orders skillfully, and the pastry chef and the chef showed amazing desserts. The customers who liked their faces in the first ce tasted the desserts and had ecstatic expressions. ¡°Hoo¡­¡± Woojoo took a deep breath and wiped the sweat on his forehead. It was busy and hectic, but it was a perfect business sess as it was. He was a little embarrassed, but he was happy to think that he had an influence on the sess of this cafe. ¡°¡­?¡± What was going on? The PD who was behind the camera looked at the text and started to go into the kitchen with a serious face. Yoo Changhyun¡¯s face also hardened as he heard something. Bijoo, who was busy serving, asked, ¡°Hyung, what happened?¡± ¡°Just a minute, I¡¯ll go and see.¡± Woojoo went into the kitchen with the menu board on his side. As he entered the dark door and the hot kitchen, he saw a shocking scene. Chef Park Jaewoo kept asking ¡®Are you okay?¡¯ with a worried expression, and Patisserie Myung Sejin nodded with tears in her eyes. The cameraman who was filming the whole situation also looked very embarrassed. ¡°What¡¯s going on?¡± Chef Park Jaewoo answered for Woojoo. ¡°This kid sprained her wrist badly while kneading the dough.¡± ¡°¡­What?¡± There was a big ident in the kitchen. Chapter 180: Chapter 180: Trantor: MarcTempest Editor: Rxel Chapter 180 This was trouble. Today¡¯s main star was Patissier Min Sejin. She was the winner of a survival program and she was going to showcase various desserts from abroad. The worst situation happened when the person who had to perform the most injured her wrist. ¡°¡­¡± A cold silence fell over the kitchen.The production staff silently rubbed their heads and rolled their eyes, and Chef Park Jaewoo held the injured person¡¯s wrist and looked at her with concern. ¡°Sejin, are you okay?¡± ¡°Yes, I¡¯m fine. It¡¯s just a slight sprain, so I can still knead the dough¡­ Ugh!¡± Min Sejin tried to reach for the dough again, but soon let out a groan of pain. Woojoo asked, ¡°How did this happen¡­¡± ¡°The orders kepting in, so I got impatient. The prepared stock was also running low.¡± She had put too much force on her wrist in a hurry and sprained it. She said with a guilty face, ¡°I¡¯m sorry, I¡¯m so sorry.¡± ¡°¡­¡± ¡°I ruined everything. You all prepared so much¡­¡± Her voice cracked. At the same time, a tear rolled down her cheek. Everyone looked awkward. Bijoo and Woojoo felt sympathy for her, so their hearts sank for a moment. It was like them spraining their ankles during rehearsal on the day of an overseas showcase. The audience wasing in, and everything was messed up, from the choreography to the situation. ¡°¡­I¡¯m sorry.¡± It was a choked voice. She turned her head away from the camera as if she didn¡¯t want to be seen and wiped her tears. She spoke as if she had made up her mind. ¡°I¡¯ll do my best somehow.¡± ¡°No.¡± The PD said, ¡°I understand how you feel, Sejin, but you can¡¯t do that. If you push yourself too hard here and make it worse, what are you going to do?¡± ¡°But the broadcast right now¡­¡± ¡°Do you think the viewers will like seeing this? It¡¯ll only cause controversy over abuse.¡± Yoo Changhyun, who was watching the mood, stepped in. ¡°Let¡¯s not do this and talk about solutions first. The orders are stilling in.¡± ¡°I¡¯ll take care of the main menu.¡± Chef Park Jaewoo said, ¡°I¡¯m not as good as Sejin, but I participated in making this menu, so I can make it with a simr quality. The problem is the other misceneous menus¡­¡± People¡¯s eyes looked at the finished products that had already been made. Korean-style glutinous rice donuts with red bean paste or cream, shaved ice with injeolmi powder, and mini fish-shaped bread or macarons that were modified for dessert. Min Sejin looked helpless. ¡°Drinks or shaved ice are easy to make, but the other bread types are the problem. Chef, you have to make the main menu, so you don¡¯t have time. At this rate, the remaining stock will be gone in 30 minutes¡­¡± Silence flowed. People thought that making cute desserts was a charming and fun job, but in reality, it was a profession that required strong muscles. It wasn¡¯t something just anyone could do. And you needed skilled skills to quickly shape the dough or bread. The PD asked, ¡°Is there anyone who has done some baking? Sejin can just direct you from the side.¡± Everyone shook their heads. They said they would only ruin it if they tried. That was when Bijoo and Woojoo exchanged nces. ¡®Hyung, should I say something?¡¯ ¡®Let¡¯s say it together.¡¯ Woojoo parted his lips after roughly agreeing with his eyes. ¡°Excuse me.¡± The production staff, the PD, and the cast who were holding the camera looked at Woojoo at the same time. The PD asked with a pale face, ¡°Woojoo, do you know how to do it?¡± ¡°Can Bijoo and I try? Bijoo likes cooking as a hobby, so he sometimes does some baking.¡± Bijoo nodded. He didn¡¯t have much confidence, but he said he would do his best. Chef Park Jaewoo agreed. ¡°Oh, that¡¯s right. You¡¯ve cooked before. Bijoo.¡± ¡°And¡­ if you don¡¯t mind, can I lend a hand too?¡± ¡°Woojoo? You?¡± They looked at Woojoo with doubtful eyes. It was as if they were saying, ¡®You don¡¯t look like someone who has ever gotten their hands dirty.¡¯ ¡­How did he exin this? Before Woojoo appeared on the show today, he binge-watched ¡®Patisserie Korea¡¯ at Director Jo¡¯s house. And to act like he knew something, he also watched some videos of famous pastry chefs from abroad on YouTube. Woojoo wasn¡¯t perfect, but he could imitate the skills that he had seen with his eyes. He felt it in his body. It was like an electric signal running through his neuralwork. He also had a manual in his brain for how to move his fingers on the dough. But he couldn¡¯t say shyly, ¡®I have superpowers.¡¯ He made a quick decision in 0.5 seconds. ¡°My grandmother runs a Korean restaurant and I helped her a lot since I was young. I¡¯m very familiar with kitchen utensils.¡± That was true. And he added one more spoonful of justification, ¡°It¡¯s a work that requires strength and it would be hard for Bijoo to do it alone.¡± ¡°Woojoo Hyung¡­¡± Bijoo looked at Woojoo with a touched face. The people nodded. The truth was, they were not in a position to be picky since the ace of the team had been injured. ¡°Let¡¯s do that.¡± The PD agreed. The serving was done by Yoo Changhyun and their four members, and Bijoo and Woojoo went into the kitchen as assistants. ¡°Bijoo.¡± ¡°Hyung.¡± ¡°Let¡¯s do our best.¡± They high-fived lightly in the mood. As they nodded at each other, they rolled up their shirt sleeves and approached the kitchen table. ¡°What should we start with?¡± Min Sejin sighed inwardly. ¡®How did ite to this¡­¡¯ They had spent a lot of money at the broadcasting station to do this overseas location, but she got injured right before the most important shooting. ¡®I¡¯m disqualified as a professional.¡¯ She felt sad, ashamed, and sorry. She couldn¡¯t lift her head because she was so depressed. She felt like everyone was pointing fingers at her. ¡°I¡¯m sorry.¡± She apologized to the two idol members in front of her. They must have been busy with serving, but because of her, they had to do the baking that they had never done before. They had no responsibility for that, but they might get scolded by the customers for making something tasteless. When she apologized, the other side looked confused. ¡°Why are you apologizing, Chef?¡± ¡°Yes?¡± ¡°Injuries are not something you choose to have. I hope you don¡¯t think like that.¡± The leader of New ck smiled. Beside him, Bijoo also put on a gentle smile as he wore his gloves. ¡°That¡¯s right. Someone once told me that what¡¯s done is done, and worrying about the past is harmful.¡± ¡°Wait a minute.¡± Woojoo tilted his head and whispered, ¡°Isn¡¯t that what I said?¡± ¡°That¡¯s right.¡± ¡°Don¡¯t quote me like a biography. It¡¯s embarrassing.¡± As theyforted the shrunken girl with their chatter, Min Sejin felt grateful. Woojoo grinned and said, ¡°Just give us the ingredients, Chef. We¡¯ll work like pros.¡± ¡°Then¡­¡± Min Sejin told them what they had to do. But she was still worried about the two in front of her. ¡®This is harder than it looks¡­¡¯ It was physically demanding, but there were also many details to touch on the skills. Small things like the texture and the taste. As she wondered how to advise the beginners, Bijoo¡¯s hand moved quickly. ¡®¡­What?¡¯ As expected from someone who said cooking was his hobby, he measured everything in no time. And he stirred the whisk with speed and uracy. There were some ws, but his skill was impable. ¡°I¡¯ll do the dough.¡± It was Woojoo¡¯s turn. While Bijoo moved to another ce to make shaved ice ording to the recipe, Min Sejin looked at Woojoo. ¡°When you do the dough, you have to knead it like you¡¯re doingundry¡­ You¡¯re doing it.¡± Woojoo was faster to retort. At first, he seemed a bit clumsy, but after a few times, he started to mix it with great skill. ¡°You have to switch hands from left to right¡­ You¡¯re doing it.¡± Before she could say it, Woojoo moved his hand. He was sweating from the tension, but he was so proficient that it didn¡¯t make sense. "¡­ She looked back at him. ¡®He must know him well since they¡¯re in the same group.¡¯ She was about to ask him a question about Woojoo. ¡°¡­Uh, what?¡± A surprised voice came out of Bijoo¡¯s mouth. ¡°There¡¯s no way Woojoo Hyung can do that well.¡± ¡°¡­¡± ¡°Then the conclusion is¡­¡± Bijoo smiled brightly with a convinced face. ¡°As expected, Woojoo Hyung is good at everything.¡± His point of eptance was strange. It was when she was about to give him some advice on the other parts after the dough stage. ¡°When you put the red bean paste in the donut, hold it with your left hand and lift the paste, then turn it around once¡­¡± He was already doing it. A beginner would have stuffed the paste into the dough and pressed it hard for a long time like making dumplings. Woojoo made a round shape in one go, turning his hand swiftly like he did. And that too, at a fast speed like a spider with eight hands. ¡®Was he a dung beetle in his previous life?¡¯ She decided to stop coaching. Instead, she gave him simple instructions like ¡®Please knead the dough.¡¯, ¡®Please put this in.¡¯, ¡®Please coat it evenly with sugar.¡¯ It was fantastic teamwork. When she gave him the instructions, Woojoo handled the steps that required strength skillfully, and Bijoo decorated and made them pretty with delicate hand movements. And then¡­ ¡°Are you really doing this for the first time?¡± The results that the challengers made were good enough to serve to the customers. The cameraman, Chef Park Jaewoo, and Min Sejin tasted them and admired the sweet desserts. ¡°¡­Can we just serve them like this?¡± ¡°They¡¯re delicious.¡± The two novice pastry chefs smiled brightly and high-fived each other. ¡°Hyung, they said it¡¯s delicious!¡± ¡°Bijoo, we did it.¡± Chef Park Jaewoo chuckled as he saw the disappointed expression on Min Sejin¡¯s face, who was munching on the delicious bread. ¡°Do you feel inferior?¡± ¡°Yes¡­ I was a total mess when I first did it. How did the first bread turn out like this?¡± ¡°We¡¯re lucky, right?¡± ¡°That¡¯s true. The result is so good that I can think like this. I¡¯m really grateful.¡± She looked at the New ck members with grateful eyes. Her eyes stopped at one ce. She whispered to him, ¡°Woojoo, what is his identity?¡± ¡°I know, right. He was mistaken for a local, and the atmosphere he gave off when he was baking was like a 30-year veteran. When I studied abroad in Europe, the artisans made desserts with that expression.¡± ¡°Huh, yeah. That grandfather¡¯s expression when he was baking cookies¡­!¡± Then she remembered where she had seen it. As Woojoo kneaded the dough, his expression changed slightly, but they were familiar expressions. Like the stubborn mouth of Kyungryun, who resembled the old masters from overseas. ¡°Hey.¡± Woojoo asked then, ¡°Can we leave it like this?¡± Everyone nodded. At the same time, the cold atmosphere that had been swirling around the kitchen began to warm up again. Especially¡­ ¡°We, we made it.¡± The PD¡¯s eyes, looking at New ck, were filled with emotion as if he had seen a benefactor. ¡°I came to get some bread¡­!¡± Yoo Changhyun, who entered the kitchen cautiously, looked puzzled. The kitchen atmosphere was so warm. The PD in charge was smiling all the time, and the cameraman was thumbing up while drooling over the bread. ¡®¡­What?¡¯ As if she was going to pass on her know-how, Min Sejin, who had an ice pack on her wrist, was lecturing passionately. The two disciples were sweating so much that their shirts were soaked, working hard on kneading or making cookies. Park Jaewoo greeted her. ¡°Hey, Changhyun, try one.¡± ¡°¡­Huh?¡± ¡°They made these, try them.¡± He looked at the tray filled with glutinous rice donuts and various desserts. They were all misshapen and smelled rustic. He bit into one with a suspicious eye. ¡®¡­Wow!¡¯ The sugar melted on his tongue, and the sweet taste hit his brain. He opened his eyes wide and made an ¡®O¡¯ with his mouth, which the camera captured. ¡°It¡¯s, it¡¯s okay? No, it¡¯s delicious.¡± ¡°Right? Can you believe they made these?¡± ¡°¡­Those two?¡± Yoo Changhyun stuck out his tongue as he heard the whole story. ¡°One is a beginner, and the other is doing it for the first time after only watching TV, and this is what they came up with?¡± ¡°That¡¯s right. I don¡¯t understand it either.¡± ¡°Did you film that?¡± The cameraman made an OK sign with his finger. Yoo Changhyun chuckled and muttered, ¡°It¡¯s going to be a riot when this airs.¡± He was nervous, but on the other hand, he breathed a sigh of relief that things went well. He grabbed a dessert from the tray. He chuckled as he did. ¡®They can do anything.¡¯ They were strange kids who had skills in all kinds of fields. And the strangest one of them was definitely Woojoo. From foreignnguages to his skill at kneading dough. ¡®He¡¯s good at everything. He¡¯s a hit.¡¯ He understood why Ye Heeyeon kept mentioning the member ¡®Woojoo¡¯ at the drinking party. And the members seemed to know about their leader¡¯s peculiarity. ¡°¡­Let¡¯s say Bijoo Hyung is like that. But Woojoo Hyung made this bread?¡± As an answer to the question of what the leader who had disappeared was doing, Yoo Changhyun pointed to the pretty dessert. The members, who were momentarily flustered, regained theirposure. ¡°It¡¯s Woojoo Hyung.¡± ¡°Am I weird? Why am I not surprised?¡± ¡°He¡¯s always like that.¡± They said, and started to serve with calm faces. Meanwhile. The customers who were enjoying the desserts at the store screamed with joy as they ate the desserts served by the New ck members. ¡°It¡¯s delicious. So delicious.¡± ¡°It¡¯s perfect. Really. Korean desserts are good too.¡± ¡°The taste is a little different from before?¡± There were some sharp people, but most of them enjoyed the cake and shaved ice with satisfied faces. But their satisfaction with their taste buds was only for a moment, and their interest shifted elsewhere. ¡°Where did the two go?¡± ¡°Exactly¡­ I want to see Woojoo¡¯s face.¡± The customers felt a visual happiness every time they saw the New ck members who were serving. They were all handsome, but thebination of the five was too perfect. It was such a perfectbination of handsome men, as if they were saying ¡®we¡¯ll show you all the types you want¡¯. It was a pity that they left. The customers quickly grabbed a passing waiter. ¡°Excuse me, where did those two go?¡± The tall one tilted his head. The customers gestured with their hands to describe their heights. ¡°Cute guy, handsome guy.¡± ¡°Aha.¡± The serious bear-like face nodded as if he understood. Then he answered. ¡°Jenmin makes bread.¡± ¡°What?¡± His bushy eyebrows pointed at the dessert on the table. ¡°The bread you eat. Jenmin made it.¡± ¡°¡­?¡± ¡°Enjoy. Bread.¡± From his bushy eyes to his sturdy body. Maybe it was because of his big and macho vibe. The customers admired his cool answer and his back as he left. ¡°He¡¯s awesome.¡± ¡°He has a powerful presence, just my type¡­¡± Meanwhile, someone was watching him from nearby. A snow-white and sharp member grabbed him and pecked at him like a bird. He nodded at whatever he was saying. Thump, thump. The customers swallowed their saliva at the sight of his rough walk and serious expression as he returned. A huge shadow loomed over them. They looked up at him nkly. His eyebrows looked somewhat gloomy. ¡°Sorry. Me Chinese stupid. Me be more kind.¡± The customers burst intoughter at his cute and funny Chinese. Chapter 181: Chapter 181: Trantor: MarcTempest Editor: Rxel Chapter 181 ¡°Phew.¡± Woojoo wiped the sweat off his forehead and the back of his neck with a handkerchief. His whole body was soaked with sweat. It was hard enough to work, but the heat from the oven made him feel like he was going to die. Woojoo took a breather as he watched the bread bake to a golden brown in the oven. ¡°Hoo¡­¡±He held onto the corner of the kitchen table and took a deep breath. Big drops of sweat rolled down his temples. Why was he so out of it? His vision turned white and then colorful spots scattered across his eyes. Woojoo sniffed as he wiped the sweat with the handkerchief. ¡°Bijoo, why does this handkerchief smell like a rag?¡± ¡°That looks like a rag, Hyung.¡± ¡°Ah.¡± Woojoo smiled awkwardly and put down the rag. The cameraman pped his cheek. Bijoo handed him a ss of ice-cold juice with a smile. ¡°I had some spare time, so I made some fruit juice. Drink it to cool off, Hyung.¡± ¡°Thanks. What¡¯s in it?¡± ¡°Apple.¡± Woojoo quickly pulled away his mouth from the straw and looked at Bijoo¡¯s drink. ¡°What¡¯s that?¡± ¡°This is apple ade. Do you want to switch?¡± ¡°¡­No, no. It¡¯s fine.¡± ¡°Please drink it and tell me how it is, Hyung.¡± Their kid looked at him with sparkling eyes. He took a sip and gave him a thumbs up. He smiled happily when Woojoo said it was good. Woojoo peeled off his hair that was stuck to his forehead from the sweat and asked him, ¡°Are you okay?¡± ¡°Yes, I¡¯m okay. It¡¯s fun too.¡± ¡°Tell me if you¡¯re tired. We have priorities, you know.¡± The most important thing for them was the showcase tomorrow. It was important to do well in the variety show recording, but it would be worse if they got injured by overdoing it. As Woojoo was watching Bijoo closely. Min Sejin came over after finishing her conversation with Chef Park. ¡°How are you, are you resting?¡± ¡°Uh, yes.¡± ¡°Wow, you¡¯re all sweating so much. I¡¯m sorry. It¡¯s hard, right?¡± She made a sorry face, and Woojoo muttered, ¡°I realized something. This is not something anyone can do.¡± It was a sincere remark. Woojoo realized that there was a reason why there were experts. You had to have knowledge and theory of various desserts in your head, handle the kitchen tools well, and have a sense of aesthetics. And strong muscles too. Their job was to use their strength without using their brains, but that was hard enough. Woojoo looked at Min Sejin, who had a small frame and did this work alone, with admiration. ¡°You¡¯re amazing. Bijoo and I are sweating like crazy just doing this for a while.¡± ¡°You¡¯re being modest.¡± She snickered. ¡°You both did great. I was jealous of Woojoo when I saw him kneading the dough. How did you do that from the start?¡± ¡°Thanks to the Chef¡¯s advice.¡± ¡°No, it¡¯s not, it¡¯s not¡­¡± she muttered to herself, looking puzzled. Woojoo justughed. Woojoo followed what the masters did, but she seemed to think he had talent. He couldn¡¯t tell her otherwise. Luckily, her eyes moved to the oven and he avoided the crisis. ¡°¡­¡± Her eyes seemed to sparkle more than usual because of the red light from the oven. Woojoo asked her, looking at her affectionate gaze at the cookies and bread, ¡°You really love bread, don¡¯t you?¡± ¡°Yes.¡± The patissier fixed her eyes on the oven and smiled. ¡°It makes me happy to see them. And touching the dough too. I love bread. When I¡¯m depressed, I also relieve my mood by touching the dough. Is that how you say it?¡± Woojoo understood what she meant. It was simr to how he would make a song whenever he felt stressed. Min Sejin, who was smiling warmly at the bread, turned her head and looked at them. ¡°Thank you. Really.¡± ¡°Oh, no.¡± ¡°That¡¯s right, don¡¯t do that. It¡¯s embarrassing.¡± Bijoo and Woojoo waved their hands with awkward faces, but she shook her head instead. ¡°It¡¯s been my wish for a long time. To introduce my desserts overseas. If it weren¡¯t for Chef Park and the New ck members, today would have been really awful.¡± ¡°¡­¡± ¡°Thank you for helping me.¡± Seeing her sincerely thanking them, Bijoo and Woojoo waved their hands and then smiled proudly. Woojoo felt warm and fuzzy from the sincere emotions that were conveyed. As the atmosphere was friendly and cozy, she said, ¡°Now we have secured enough quantity, and the rest can be done by me and Chef Park. How about taking a break and going out to the hall?¡± Woojoo asked, ¡°Are you two okay?¡± ¡°Yes, we¡¯re fine.¡± As if they had done enough for her, Min Sejin told them to take a break. Chef Park Jaewoo also nodded and joined in. ¡°Good job, both of you.¡± ¡°We¡­¡± ¡°Quick! Go and rest a bit.¡± The chef and the PT pushed them out of the kitchen. Woojoo wondered why they kicked them out so harshly, but he realized the truth when he saw the dressing room mirror. Bijoo blinked. ¡°We look like we got hit by a flour bomb. Hyung.¡± ¡°¡­Yeah, we really look terrible.¡± Flour was decorated on their noses, cheeks, and everywhere else on top of their sweaty faces. Bijoo and Woojooughed for a while and then took a selfie of their appearance in front of the mirror. They changed into spare uniforms and put on their microphones again. They headed to the hall without a break. It was to return to their original mission. Bijoo asked in a worried voice, ¡°Are they all doing well?¡± ¡°Don¡¯t worry too much. They¡¯re all doing fine. Do you think something will happen while we¡¯re away?¡± Woojoo smiled confidently. He had told his siblings what they should be careful of before starting the serving part-time job. There would be no problem if they just did as he said. As they walked down the corridor from the kitchen to the hall, Bijoo said, ¡°But I¡¯m still a bit anxious. Even though Yoo Changhyun Sunbae-nim is there, Junghyun and Jiho are¡­¡± ¡°Don¡¯t worry too much. They¡­ Oh my. What is this.¡± Crash! A loud noise stopped them in their tracks. ¡°I¡¯m sorry! I¡¯m sorry!¡± The first thing that caught their eye was a broken te. Woojoo saw their youngest, stuttering with a flustered face. ¡°¡­¡± Yoo Changhyun, who was looking at him, took a te to the kitchen and said in a frantic voice, ¡°Clean that up quickly, guys!¡± ¡°Yes, we¡¯ll go right away!¡± Rihyuk was collecting the te debris with a dustpan when he hit his head on a nearby table and shed tears. ¡°Ouch!¡± Junghyun was wandering between the tables with a confused face, wondering which table ordered which menu. As they watched this novel mess, Bijoo and hehad a dumbfounded expression. ¡°¡­¡± Then Rihyuk, who had spotted Bijoo and Woojoo, came over in a hurry. His face had turned pale as if he had lost his mind. ¡°¡­Help me.¡± A short and desperate word. Woojoo asked him, ¡°What happened? What¡¯s this? It was fine until we left.¡± ¡°It was okay at first. At first. The atmosphere was good.¡± When he heard the whole story, he realized it couldn¡¯t be helped. At the opening, the customers wereing in steadily, but as time passed, they came in faster and faster. As they exceeded the normal level, their novice part-timers panicked. One thing got tangled up and everything else got messed up. It was like earphone cords that got twisted once and got all knotted up. ¡°There¡¯s a camera and a broadcast, so the customers are smiling, but it¡¯s about to explode right now.¡± Rihyuk pointed to a table with his chin and Woojoo saw that it was true. There were people who only looked at the time on their phone lock screens or fiddled with forks or napkins for no reason. They had an expression that said, ¡®When will the menue out?¡¯ Woojoo muttered. ¡°¡­We¡¯re in big trouble here.¡± In the kitchen, the baker in charge sprained her wrist, and here, their kids were overwhelmed by the customers and in a panic. By Woojoo¡¯s standards, this was more serious. They were only appearing as one-day part-timers. It was a surprise baking assistant activity, but strictly speaking, what they had to do well was this serving part-time job. ¡°¡­What should we do, Hyung?¡± Rihyuk looked at Woojoo at Bijoo¡¯s question. They looked at Woojoo as if he would know the solution. Woojoo turned his head at their gaze. He quickly scanned the situation in the hall. He figured out the main problems and asked Rihyuk to bring the others. ¡°Bring the kids over.¡± They had to divide the roles. After finishing the rough dishes and returning to the hall, Yoo Changhyun scratched his back of his head irritably. ¡®This is crazy. This.¡¯ He didn¡¯t know when it started, but the hall situation had turned into a mess. ¡®Why are there so many customers?¡¯ He had experienced various part-time jobs before he passed the gagman audition, but he had never seen so many customers. Orders came in like crazy, he went back and forth between the kitchen and the hall, and washed the dishes. Everyone was working hard, but the more they did, the more dissatisfied the customers seemed. ¡°Excuse me, we ordered earlier, but they got theirs first.¡± ¡°What?¡± ¡°They got theirs first.¡± ¡°What do you mean by that¡­¡± The biggest problem was thenguage. He knew how to speak Chinese, but it was so noisy that he couldn¡¯t hear the unfamiliarnguage well. ¡®Jenmin should be here. But of all things, the bread god descended¡­¡¯ If he wasn¡¯t so good at kneading the dough, he would have swapped him with another member and pulled him out. Yoo Changhyun sighed quietly so that the camera wouldn¡¯t see. ¡®What do I do with this?¡¯ When he felt at a loss where to start and what to fix. He saw Woojoo and Bijooe back. Woojoo, who had gathered the members, was whispering something to the younger ones. ¡°¡­Then let¡¯s do it that way. Got it?¡± The members all nodded and Woojoo smiled and patted their shoulders. ¡®He¡¯s really like a leader.¡¯ He nodded at the sight of himforting the members like an adult, but that was only for a moment. Yoo Changhyun approached him. ¡°Did you have a meeting or something?¡± ¡°We just did some work division.¡± ¡°Work division? What do you mean¡­ Oh, there¡¯s an order. Woojoo, can you go take the order from those customers?¡± ¡°Yes, Sunbae-nim.¡± Woojoo gracefully walked between the tables and greeted the customers. Yoo Changhyun also moved to the call of someone from somewhere. And then. ¡®¡­What?¡¯ That was when it started. The situation that was suffocating, as if hundreds of cars were gathered across a tunnel, slowly began to change. At first, he didn¡¯t notice, but he felt it from the atmosphere. The tension that was tight loosened up, and it became more friendly. Woojoo took the orders leisurely, matching the eye level of the customers who asked for menu rmendations. ¡°Hahaha, did you really make this?¡± ¡°It was a lot of work to make it. Then, shall I serve you this as a side dish?¡± ¡°Yes, please!¡± ¡°What would you like for your drink? My rmendation? This is delicious and has less sugar.¡± As he teased them with a hint of sarcasm that they would need a diet c or something for their greasy menu, the customersughed. ¡®He¡¯s good.¡¯ At first, it seemed like it was because of Woojoo, who spoke Chinese fluently like a local. But the more he looked, the more it was different. The customers were still many and busy, but the work seemed to be more rxed. ¡®¡­Ah!¡¯ That was when he noticed the change and remembered what he said. -We did some work division. Just as he said, they really divided the roles. The first thing he saw was the notebook that Rihyuk carried around. ¡°Rihyuk, two injeolmi shaved ice and cream donuts for table 10.¡± ¡°Rihyuk Hyung, refill for table 8!¡± As the members called, Rihyuk recorded the order of the orders like a central control tower and delivered them together. ¡°Bijoo Hyung, you have to serve that menu to table 7 first.¡± The menu to the customers who came in first. That alone seemed to ease theints of the customers. ¡®Are those two in charge of simple tasks?¡¯ Junghyun and Jiho, who were struggling withplex tasks, were given simple but important tasks. They went over to fill up the empty cups or napkins around the customers. Junghyun moved with a warm smile, holding a kettle. ¡°Do you need more water?¡± ¡°Yes¡­¡± ¡°I¡¯ll give you. Water.¡± ¡°Wow. Say it again. What you just said.¡± ¡­For some reason, the customers pped and cheered among themselves, which seemed to increase their satisfaction. ¡°I¡¯ll refill it for you.¡± Jiho also walked around with a bright smile, bringing the customers what they needed. They had regained theirposure after avoiding theplicated matter from before. The customers seemed to feel morefortable as the staff became more friendly. ¡®Is Bijoo in charge of the dishes?¡¯ As they took the customers¡¯ orders, Junghyun and Jiho would move the tes and do the dishes. ¡®And Woojoo is¡­¡¯ He was everywhere. Wherever he went, Woojoo greeted them with a gentle smile. ¡°Sunbae-nim~¡± He was wearing rubber gloves with Bijoo at the sink when he brought the tes to the kitchen. ¡°Sunbae-nim~¡± ¡°¡­?¡± When he went around to take orders, he approached the bored-looking customers and spoke to them with a soft smile. ¡°Sunbae-nim~¡± ¡°¡­¡± He was about to set up a new table, but Woojoo had alreadyid out the forks and spoons in a sh. He casually tossed the napkin with his hand and folded it neatly in an instant. He looked like a veteran waiter at a fancy restaurant. ¡®He¡¯s like lightning in the east and west¡­¡¯ He was like a dreame true for the part-time workers. Then Woojoo turned his head and greeted him. ¡°Sunbae-nim~¡± ¡°¡­Tell me honestly. How many bodies do you have?¡± ¡°Um¡­ just one.¡± Don¡¯t hesitate. You look like you have more. He stuck out his tongue as he watched Woojoo go back and forth like a clone. Suddenly, he remembered Ye Heeyeon¡¯s voice. -Do well. Do great. He was amazed when he saw him baking, but he was even more amazed when he saw him serving. ¡®¡­He¡¯s really good.¡¯ If he was an employer somewhere, he would have hired him with a high sry. He had a great knack for work. He learned new tasks quickly and found his own work to do when he had spare time. ¡°Woojoo, you¡¯re working on the shaved ice¡­?¡± ¡°Woojoo, you¡¯re filling up the dish soap here¡­?¡± The cast looked at him with admiration as he moved like Hong Gildong. Chef Park Jaewoo said, ¡°That kid will survive anywhere. He¡¯s really amazing for a newbie. I wouldn¡¯t envy anyone if I had one like him.¡± ¡°New ck is all like that. They work well.¡± Woojoo and the other members were praised together. Of course, the other members also did well with unfamiliar tasks. But to Yoo Changhyun, it was a result of someone leading them well. ¡®They¡¯re in sync.¡¯ He quickly organized the tasks and assigned them to the members ording to their preferences. At first, he didn¡¯t understand why the New ck members were so proud and trusting of their leader, but now he understood. ¡®I don¡¯t know about the other teams¡­¡¯ He didn¡¯t know how the part-time workers who went to other countries were, but to him, New ck was the best. But on the other hand¡­ ¡°Sunbae-nim~¡± ¡°Hey, you scared me!¡± He felt his heart jump when Woojoo burst open the bathroom door and appeared behind him. ¡°¡­Are you in a perfume ad? Please, make some noise before you show up, Woojoo.¡± ¡°I¡¯m sorry.¡± Woojoo smiled awkwardly and moved away with a swish of his feet. That was when he noticed his strange gait. Come to think of it, he had been silently appearing and disappearing with that peculiar walk. ¡°Woojoo.¡± ¡°Yes?¡± ¡°What kind of walk is that?¡± ¡°Oh, this?¡± Woojoo answered with a smile. ¡°It¡¯s the Maasai walking.¡± ¡°¡­¡± He blinked his eyes as he watched Woojoo slide away. ¡®He¡¯s not normal either.¡¯ That was for sure. Chapter 182: Chapter 182: Trantor: MarcTempest Editor: Rxel Chapter 182 The one-day dessert cafe was a huge sess. It was a total hit. The customers kept lining up until closing time, thanks to the word-of-mouth spread by the photos they posted on SNS. The production crew had to cut off the queue at some point, but it still took an hour for it to clear. ¡°Thank you. Have a nice day!¡± They bid farewell to thest remaining customer and gathered in the hall with the rest of the cast.After finishing the cleanup and the ounting. The camera¡¯s red light went off as they ended with the closing remarks, and the PD in charge pped his hands on behalf of them. ¡°You did a great job for two days!¡± ¡°Thank you for your hard work!¡± They apuded each other, looking at each other. It was a warm atmosphere, likerades who had fought a tough battle together. They would have liked to go out for a meal together, but unfortunately, they had different paths to take. They had to go back to Korea and film, and they had their own Taiwan promotion schedule. They waved their hands and said goodbye to each other, feeling a bit regretful. ¡°It was fun today!¡± ¡°See you in Korea!¡± ¡°Thank you for your hard work!¡± The PD came out separately and thanked Seokhwan Hyung, who came to pick them up. ¡°I was really at death¡¯s door. When Sejin-ssi sprained her wrist, I saw darkness in front of me. I could see the director¡¯s face and the letter of apology, but if it weren¡¯t for these kids, I would have been screwed today.¡± He even boasted that he would edit the footage to make their performance shine. ¡°Oh, I see.¡± Seokhwan Hyung smiled softly, but he looked confused. Woojoo could see the questions hovering over his eyes, like ¡®Did our kids make bread?¡¯ and ¡®Did they serve amazingly?¡¯ As soon as they got in the car, the managers bombarded them with questions. ¡°What on earth did you do there?¡± They all knew about the Woo Jenmin happening that was on the morning news, but they had no idea what happened at the cafe. As they unraveled the episodes that happened until the cafe closed, they all lost their words and just twitched their mouths. ¡°So you baked instead of the pastry chef, and the customers loved it?¡± ¡°Yes, there were a lot of them.¡± Bijoo answered proudly, and Woojoo drew a sign of pride with his finger. ¡°¡­¡± The managers looked at each other. They nodded their heads, making a face that said ¡®Did we hear that right?¡¯, and smiled warmly. Seokhwan Hyung snickered. ¡°I thought something was wrong.¡± ¡°¡­?¡± ¡°That¡¯s just you guys,¡± the manager said. ¡°I feel a bit relieved now. I would have been more anxious if you said nothing happened. It¡¯s better this way.¡± ¡°That¡¯s right. I feel much better. How about Dowon-ssi?¡± ¡°I¡¯m calm. I guess I got used to it.¡± They blinked their eyes as they watched them. What? They didn¡¯t seem to be worried that something had happened. They had already assumed that they would cause some trouble on the variety show, and they were just curious about the details. They immediately started talking among themselves, like ¡®Should we look into some baking shows?¡¯, ¡®How was it there, what a crazy thing?¡¯, ¡®We should go as guests on the Master show.¡¯ They narrowed their eyes as they listened to them. ¡°Why does it feel like our image is weird?¡± ¡°Right? The manager and the manager Hyungs look at us differently than before.¡± ¡°We¡¯ve been weirdtely.¡± ¡°Us?¡± Rihyuk, who was scribbling something on his notebook in the corner, raised his head. ¡°Leave me out of it.¡± ¡°Why?¡± ¡°Isn¡¯t that obvious? I¡¯m the most normal person here.¡± ¡°Ah, who¡­¡± They made a flustered face, and his white face started to turn red. ¡°No, it¡¯s true. Is there anyone here more normal than me?¡± They all raised their hands at the same time, and Rihyuk made a sour face. ¡°You have no conscience. These people.¡± ¡°To be honest, you¡¯re not normal. And neither are they.¡± Woojoo said this while his siblings nodded vigorously. ¡°I¡¯m the most normal one in New ck. Not you.¡± ¡°¡­¡± They shook their heads as if they were headbanging, denying it. ¡°Guys? Why won¡¯t you admit it?¡± ¡°h, h, h.¡± ¡°Stop talking gibberish, Junghyun.¡± ¡°¡­¡± ¡°Come on, say something. Guys.¡± They turned away from Woojoo, as if they had heard something they shouldn¡¯t have. They looked at Woojoo like he was a sweet potato stuck in a ginseng field. That was when Rihyuk suggested. ¡°Then why don¡¯t we try it out? Who¡¯s the most normal one in New ck?¡± They had a deep discussion on their way back to the hotel. They started to campaign for themselves, trying to prove how normal they were. By the end, they were acting childish, saying things like ¡®The Souffl¨¦s said so?¡¯, ¡®Do you want to go to the fan cafe? Go?¡¯. ¡°Then let¡¯s ask the managers!¡± ¡°Let¡¯s do that.¡± They followed the youngest¡¯s suggestion and called the managers. They told them the whole story and asked for their opinions. Seokhwan Hyung looked ufortable. ¡°So, you¡¯re asking who¡¯s the most normal among you?¡± He nodded. He thought for a while, then gave them a simple answer that sank them. ¡°Normal people don¡¯t have this kind of debate.¡± They couldn¡¯t think of a bettereback than that. After they showered and dressed up at the hotel. They started their promotion in Taiwan. The first thing they did was a broadcast interview. Taiwan had MTV, just like Korea, and they appeared on a program that introduced foreign singers. They had a lively chat with the two MCs, who spoke in English. Rihyuk and Woojoo, who were fluent in English, led the conversation, and Bijoo asionally chimed in. Junghyun and Jiho made peopleugh with their bodies or cuteness. They also yed a simple game that was popr in Taiwan,ughing and having fun. It was a pretty enjoyable atmosphere. After the TV show recording, they headed straight to a shopping mall in Taipei. They were there to hold a public fan signing event, but as soon as they passed through the entrance, the crowd screamed. ¡°Kyaaaah!¡± ¡°¡­Wow, what the!¡± Rihyuk was startled and unconsciously hid behind Woojoo and Junghyun, making the Taiwanese fansugh. ¡°Hmm.¡± Woojoo coughed and walked coolly, but Jiho teased him with a giggle, and the others suppressed theirughter. They acted like nothing had happened, but it was useless. Woojoo thought everyone who wanted to take a picture had already done so, since he had seen shes going off since earlier. They sat on the stage that was set up in the center of the first floor of the mall and greeted their fans. It was strange at first. People who spoke a foreignnguage came up to them and said they were fans. ¡°I really missed you!¡± They talked to them excitedly, and Woojoo greeted them back, but he couldn¡¯t help feeling a bit stiff. It was because he was nervous. It wasn¡¯t because he had never seen Taiwanese people before. He had already spent a whole day working at the cafe, so he was used to people who spoke Chinese. But it felt weird to think that those people were their fans. Overseas fans. Unlike the music show awards or the Rookie Awards that he had always dreamed of, overseas fans were something that he had never imagined before. He had seen some English or Chinese characters written in thements on YouTube or live broadcasts, and he thought, ¡®Oh, we have fans abroad too.¡¯ But he never expected them to exist so realistically. Who would believe it? That so many people across the ocean in a foreignnd liked them. But. ¡°¡­They do.¡± They were right in front of him. And they were so simr to the Souffl¨¦s in Korea that he was shocked. Their eyes sparkled as they looked at them. Their heads turned this way and that whenever they drank water or dusted off the clothes of their members. Their mouths turned sad whenever they said ¡®We¡¯ll be going now¡¯ in Chinese. And their throats bobbed up and down whenever their eyes met. Suddenly, Woojoo realized that fans were the same everywhere, regardless of nationality or race. The word ¡®Souffl¨¦¡¯ that he had defined by himself until then felt like it had expanded more widely. The members seemed to feel the same way. They had approached the customers without hesitation at the daily cafe, but they were shy at first, just like Woojoo. But they soon adapted. Of course, there was some help. Unlike the general public that they had to approach first, this time, they came to them first. ¡°Excuse me¡­¡± A fan who came in front of Woojoo spoke in Korean with a trembling voice. ¡°I learned Korean.¡± ¡°Wow, you¡¯re good at it. How did you learn it?¡± ¡°YouTube. Books. Academy¡­¡± The Souffl¨¦ who spoke awkwardly in Korean looked at Woojoo with an embarrassed face and said, ¡°Like this¡­¡± She pointed at herself and them alternately with her shaking finger and said, ¡°I wanted to talk to you, so I learned it.¡± ¡°¡­¡± ¡°I like you.¡± ¡°¡­¡± Woojoo stopped thinking for a moment. He didn¡¯t know what to say, so he opened his mouth nkly. Something rose up in a corner of his chest. He almost teared up as he signed, so he made a sad face. ¡°I¡¯ll cry if you say things like that, really.¡± ¡°You can¡¯t cry. That¡¯s trouble.¡± The fan who spoke hastily made Woojoo swallow his tears, and heughed like a sneeze. Thanks to the fans who tried to get closer to them, they were able to rx and be themselves. Their first fan signing event overseas. What did he think of seeing the Souffl¨¦s in another country? It was simr to when he met their fans in Korea. It was warm and cozy like the sweet breads they made today. Woojoo looked at the clouds and the moon through the ss ceiling of the mall with a fuzzy feeling and smiled quietly. It was good. Woojoo thought that for the first time. He did well by taking the ne anding here. If he had toe again next time, he would still be scared, but he thought it was worth it. Woojoo gently held the hands of each person who left the seat and conveyed his feelings. ¡°Thank you. Really.¡± He meant it. The next day after the fan signing event. New ck¡¯s showcase was held at a concert hall in downtown Taipei. After the performance, which invited a hundred reporters and conducted Q&A and stages, the general fans entered. ¡°Wow. I¡¯m so nervous. I¡¯m shaking.¡± ¡°Breathe deeply, breathe. Don¡¯t be nervous.¡± ¡°¡­You¡¯re nervous too.¡± As the line got shorter and shorter, the fans from Taiwan rubbed their hands or stomped their feet nervously. They looked more excited than the singers who were performing. Hundreds of fans who entered the venue wandered around the dark seats to find their ces. Among the people who held cards or disposable light sticks, someone whispered to their friend next to them. ¡°I¡¯m so nervous. I¡¯ve only seen them on videos, but do they look the same in real life?¡± ¡°I went to the mall yesterday because I heard they were having a fan signing event. The line was too long so I couldn¡¯t get a sign, but I just watched from afar.¡± ¡°How was it?¡± ¡°They were shining. They had a halo behind them like a Buddha!¡± The friend who had seen them in person started to describe them excitedly, but it felt somewhat unrealistic. ¡®Really?¡¯ She had been a fan of New ck since Masquerade, and she knew everything rted to New ck. That was why she was doubtful. ¡®More than the camera screen?¡¯ Their beauty seemed to break the TV screen, but they felt even more in real life. Honestly, they were amazing just as they appeared on the camera. She decided that her friend¡¯s story was a bit exaggerated and turned her eyes to the VCR on the stage. The names and individual photos of the members were written in bold letters on different colored backgrounds. ¡®¡­They¡¯re so pretty.¡¯ Soon, the lights in the venue went out. ¡®It¡¯s starting¡­!¡¯ The silhouettes of the people walking behind the curtain asionally came out, and screams erupted everywhere. ¡®How can their shadows be so pretty?¡¯ At that moment, a blue light poured over the five people who gathered on therge stage. Ta-da! New ck members wearing sky blue shirts and jeans. The cool intro of Fireworks started, and the five idols smiled and reached out their hands. The audience felt a visual shock at the sight of them. They looked like oriental paintings drawn with a brush, and the lines that separated the members and the stage were delicate and fine. ¡®I¡¯m going crazy¡­¡¯ Someone who had onlyughed at their friend¡¯s Buddha joke felt goosebumps as they looked at the distant stage. ¡®It¡¯s real.¡¯ Should she say they had a halo? It wasn¡¯t just because of their visuals. First, it was their voice. ¡®It¡¯s really live. This is.¡¯ A soft and sweet voice flowed out. Like coloring a nk paper, the five voice colors blended together with their own personalities. They wanted to close their eyes and listen, but the fans couldn¡¯t take their eyes off the stage. What should they say? The performance itself felt alive. Maybe it was fitting for a song titled ¡®Fireworks¡¯ that the sparks seemed to explode ording to the flow of time in the song. They were momentarily amazed by the harmony of the five members. But the fans quickly started to chant the cheers they had learned beforehand. At the same time, something happy flickered and disappeared on the lips of the New ck members who were sweeping the stage. The sight of them elicited a roar of apuse. ¡°Wow¡­!¡± The refreshing opening stage ended with a bang. The New ck members, who were smiling in the midst of the cheers, waved their hands as they cooled off their sweat. The MC came up on the stage and the five lined up in a row. The leader, who had been looking at the members, softly parted his lips. ¡°Two, three.¡± The five bowed their heads and greeted at the same time. ¡°Hello, we are New ck!¡± After the group greeting, the members introduced themselves with bright smiles. The Taiwanese fans felt a strange sensation. They had seemed like people from another world with their graceful movements and voices when they were performing just now, but now they felt very friendly. While the other members were introducing themselves, theyughed happily at what they liked, made eye contact with the fans and waved their hands, blew kisses, and were really out of their minds. Whenever there was a gap, the members grabbed the microphone and spoke. ¡°I love you, everyone!¡± ¡°I love you more.¡± ¡°What are you talking about? You guys. I love you the most, okay? You can¡¯t even recite the Thousand Character ssic¡­¡± The three had a silly conversation, while the other two smiled softly or shook their tongues in disdain. It was a familiar sight. And the conversation that went off the rails in an instant. ¡°Ha! That¡¯s hrious!¡± ¡°¡­Excuse me, New ck!¡± The interpreter and the host shook the cue cards with a frantic face. ¡°Excuse me, we¡¯ll proceed now. Hello!¡± ¡°Ha ha ha!¡± ¡°This is awesome! Let¡¯s build a house here and live forever!¡± The fans burst intoughter at the audio that kept pouring in, and the host looked miserable. It was a familiar sight that they had seen a lot. But on the other hand, there was also a strange sight. ¡®He speaks so well¡­¡¯ They were bewildered by the leader¡¯s fluent Chinese, as if he had lived in Taipei for over 10 years. ¡®Is he really Woo Jenmin¡­¡¯ There were always interesting sights. Q&A time. Whenever a question that was difficult to answer in Chinese came up, the members answered in Korean. Then the trantion followed, and the fans who had been staring nkly said ¡®Ah!¡¯ and cheered. But Woo Jen¡­ no, Woojoo was different. ¡°When I was a trainee, my Taiwanese friend told me to go to Taipei, but I didn¡¯t know it was this nice. I should havee sooner. I¡¯m going to bring my grandmother next time.¡± While the Taiwanese fans cheered at his story, the rest of the Korean singers stared nkly. They tilted their heads like puppies trying to understand human speech. ¡°¡­?¡± Then the interpreter exined what Woojoo had said in Korean. ¡°Ahh¡­!¡± The fans burst intoughter at the sight of the members pping and nodding in agreement. ¡®It seems like something is going backwards.¡¯ It was a strange scene, but what did it matter? It was fun. Everyoneughed happily. The atmosphere was heated. ¡°Woah¡­!¡± Even as they came down from the stage after the Masquerade performance, the fans¡¯ cheers didn¡¯t stop. ¡°Ugh, I¡¯m dying.¡± The youngest, soaked in sweat, gulped down a bottle of water and wiped his lips. ¡°Wow, this is no joke. This is totally different from the showcase I imagined.¡± ¡°Right, it¡¯s like a concert.¡± They nodded in sympathy. It was officially called the Asia tour showcase, but somehow it felt like a concert. ¡°Huff.¡± They quickly changed their costumes under the stage. Rihyuk was about to faint as he took off his clothes, so Woojoo held him up. ¡°Are you okay?¡± ¡°Don¡¯t worry. I¡¯m fine.¡± He waved his hand, but he looked exhausted. They all did. They were worn out from dealing with the huge crowd that came yesterday, beyond their expectations. They managed to endure thanks to the patches. Especially Bijoo and Woojoo, who made the bread, had patches all over their bodies. Woojoo smiled and said to the younger ones who were changing their clothes with difficulty, ¡°Just hang in there a little longer.¡± ¡°¡­Yes.¡± They changed their costumes, smelling of patches. Woojoo nced at the MC who was conducting the lottery event on the stage, then turned his eyes to the younger ones who were ready. ¡°Are you ready?¡± They all nodded. It was almost thest stage. It was time to give a surprise gift to the fans who had been waiting for them. Chapter 183: Chapter 183: Trantor: MarcTempest Editor: Rxel Chapter 183 The Souffl¨¦s looked at the stage. ¡®What is the surprise gift?¡¯ Woojoo had said during the Q&A session that he had prepared a surprise gift for the fans here. He even hinted that it would be quite fun, so the fans¡¯ anticipation was soaring. In the darkened auditorium, they all tapped their feet. ¡®I want to see it soon.¡¯They felt like receiving a box and unwrapping the gift. And, they were confident that they would be moved by whatever it was. Even if he gave them a handful of sand and said ¡®This is my heart¡¯, they would put it in a ss bottle and cry. The important thing was that New ck had prepared the gift for them on purpose. Ta-da! Finally, the lights came on. ¡®Where did the other members go?¡¯ The fans tilted their heads as they looked at the scene on the stage. Woojoo was sitting on a chair with a guitar around his neck. But they didn¡¯t wonder for long. They saw his sweaty, messy hair, and the in-ear that he had taken out and hung on his shoulder. They all stretched their necks like giraffes and made a briefmotion. ¡°¡­¡± Woojoo had been closing his eyes slightly. ¡®¡­What is he doing?¡¯ The fans held their breath and watched him. He was blinking his eyes and tapping his shoe on the stage. He looked like someone listening to music. But there was no sounding from the venue. ¡°¡­?¡± They all looked puzzled. They already knew that Woojoo was strange. They also knew that he had a natural talent for music. But did he need to make such a big deal out of a simple guitar performance? Some felt like ¡®Just y, why¡­?¡¯. Most of them were smiling at the screen, showing him breathing heavily from the sweat. The singer opened his eyes. He smiled at the audience and moved his fingers gently. ¡®What song is it?¡¯ The acoustic guitar yed an unfamiliar melody. As Woojoo plucked the strings, a quiet and beautiful sound echoed. The fans were quickly immersed in the improvisation. ¡®It sounds familiar, but not really. It¡¯s so mysterious.¡¯ It was a familiar melody, but it was hard to pinpoint what it was. It was like being shown a picture of a city in East Asia and being asked where it was, but the picture had cultural assets from each country. ¡®What song is this?¡¯ One thing was certain. The performance he was doing now was part of a bigger song. It was like a pretty corner of a puzzle. As they listened to the performance, they each fell into their thoughts. When he finished ying the guitar, Woojoo dropped his hand. Then he turned his eyes to the audience. ¡°You were surprised, right?¡± The fans rxed and smiled at the singer¡¯s casual tone. ¡°You must have been surprised because I came up and yed the guitar right away. Before ying, I was acting like a person who was intoxicated, nodding my head.¡± Woojoo smiled. ¡°I¡¯m sorry. I was going to tell you what I was going to do before ying, but I thought this would be more fun. You¡¯ll understand, right?¡± The fans smiled warmly. How could they not understand when he smiled like that? Woojoo tapped the body of the guitar and started to exin the situation. ¡°As you saw the song just now¡­¡± ¡°You mean heard it. Music is heard with the ears.¡± The fansughed at Rihyuk¡¯s voice. That seemed to be the cue for the members backstage to startining. ¡°He¡¯s trying to act cool in front of the fans. He¡¯s such a Jenmin.¡± ¡°Yeah. Woo Jenmin.¡± ¡°Jenminaaaaaa~~~¡± Someone¡¯s voice full of aegyo imitated a voice changer and the fans burst intoughter. Woojoo¡¯s face slightly widened. ¡°Uh¡­¡± ¡°Exin quickly, Jenmin. We want to go up.¡± ¡°Hao! Hao!¡± ¡°Sound director? Can you cut these rude noises, please?¡± At Woojoo¡¯s request, who made a gesture of cutting his throat with his hand, the random voices disappeared. Woojoo smiled contentedly. ¡°That¡¯s great. Oh, that¡¯s not it. Um¡­ where did I stop? Ah. As you may have noticed, the performance I just yed for you was part of a song.¡± He then exined. ¡°Beforeing here, I and my brothers in Korea thought a lot about what gift to give to the fans. Should we cover the OST of a popr Taiwanese movie, or the fan song Starlight¡­¡± As he mentioned ¡®Starlight¡¯, which had not been released yet, the fans cheered, and Woojoo gave a sheepish smile. ¡°Yes, I thought about tranting the lyrics of Starlight and ying it for you¡­ but that seemed too boring.¡± The fans tilted their heads. It didn¡¯t seem boring at all¡­ But Woojoo had a different idea. ¡°So I wanted to add a special melody to it.¡± ¡°¡­?¡± ¡°When I was walking around the night market on the first day, yes, that¡¯s right, when I was interviewing Woo Jenmin. I listened carefully to the songs that were ying in the market. What kind of songs are popr in Taiwan, and what kind of songs do people like.¡± So he analyzed the structure of the Taiwanese pop songs, and interpreted the impressions he got from them in his own way. ¡°¡­¡± The fans looked at the singer with a bewildered expression. A more surprising fact was revealed. The reason he closed his eyes before strumming the guitar was to calcte the rhythm to mix the improvisation with Starlight. ¡®So¡­¡¯ He yed the guitar improvisationally while listening to Starlight in his head. ¡®¡­?¡¯ At first, it sounded like a weird noise, but soon the intro of Starlight began to flow. ¡°This is where it¡¯s going to mix in.¡± At the same time, the guitar melody he had just yed blended naturally with Starlight. As everyone opened their mouths wide, Woojoo gestured to the backstage. ¡°Come on up, guys.¡± As the members of New ck came up cheerfully and lined up in a row, the fans felt a nervous feeling. The guitar melody that Woojoo had just yed and Starlight were perfectlybined. It was too good to listen to. It was as if the already excellent song had transformed into a melody optimized for the local fans. The Souffl¨¦s of Taiwan stared nkly at the stage. ¡®Is this possible?¡¯ They couldn¡¯t understand how this could be done in such a short time. It was like seeing a mysterious being that defied theirmon sense. Then, Woojoo grabbed the microphone with a smile. ¡°This is ¡®Starlight¡¯, a special gift that I prepared for you, and that you can only see here. Please enjoy it.¡± As the melody of the song yed, the fans gently waved their glow sticks. And everyone in this ce had the same thought. ¡®It¡¯s the best gift ever.¡¯ They thought they would never forget the concert that happened today, even after decades. With Starlight as the finale, the showcase ended in a heated atmosphere. At the same time, they boarded the ne to Korea, finishing their three-day promotion schedule in Taiwan. ¡°Ugh¡­¡± Their bodies were sore. Theyid down on the business seats of Cloud Air, the airline they were advertising for, just like when they came here. Their bones ached and their muscles were sore. ¡°We should rest when we get to Seoul, Hyungs.¡± ¡°Let¡¯s do that. Seriously.¡± ¡°I want to go to a bathhouse.¡± The exhausted younger members whined from all directions. A passing flight attendant suppressed augh at the sight of the handsome octopus squad dancing their seduction dance. They would have cared about their image if they weren¡¯t so tired, but they gave up. The managers also closed their eyes and shook their heads, and the stylists and makeup artists were already asleep. But despite the fatigue, everyone¡¯s faces were filled with relief. They looked out the dark window at the cargo trucks and the shining airport, and Woojoo turned his eyes to Rihyuk next to him. He was writing something diligently with a pen. ¡°What are you doing?¡± ¡°I¡¯m making a list of things to do when we get to Seoul. I have quite a few things I learned from here¡­ Oh, stop looking. Really.¡± ¡°Hey, I¡¯m not looking.¡± ¡°You are.¡± ¡°I¡¯m not. I¡¯m too mean to look.¡± ¡­Woojoo said with a sour expression, but he actually peeked. He barely held back a smile as he saw his notes, such as ¡®Find the name of the disposable shampoo at the hotel¡¯. He would have blown up at Woojoo for looking at him like that, but he let it slide with a bite of his lip. Maybe he was more generous than usual because of the happiness of going back to Korea. Jiho poked his head out from the front seat. ¡°I guess people should live where they used to live. I never thought I¡¯d miss the dorm so much.¡± ¡°I agree. Korea is the best.¡± They nodded at Junghyun¡¯s words, who was sucking on a jelly. They had a good time with the Taiwanese fans, and it was fun to explore Taipei, but. People should live where they are used to living. After about three days, they missed Korea like crazy. ¡°And there are two most important things that we don¡¯t have here.¡± ¡°What are they?¡± ¡°Kim Deoksoon and the studio.¡± ¡°¡­Didn¡¯t you talk to Grandma every night?¡± ¡°The quality is different. The quality.¡± The younger members shook their heads at Woojoo, who was talking about the video call quality. ¡°And we have to make the songs for the third album soon. We have to work with the A&R Team.¡± ¡°Hyung. About that.¡± Junghyun asked Woojoo with a serious face, ¡°Is it really fun, or isn¡¯t it because you don¡¯t have to listen to what the A&R Team says?¡± ¡°Huh? Why?¡± ¡°Hmm¡­ Never mind. Hyung.¡± ¡°Don¡¯t say weird things, Junghyun. I¡¯m so nice to the A&R Team, I even buy them souvenirs. They like me too.¡± ¡°Wait, hold on.¡± Rihyuk raised his hand and cut Woojoo off. He took out the earplug case and plugged the orange earplugs into his ears. ¡°¡­?¡± He smiled and said, ¡°Go ahead and talk. I can¡¯t hear you now.¡± ¡°I hate you.¡± ¡°I can¡¯t hear you. Try again.¡± ¡°I hate you.¡± ¡°Yeah, yeah. I know how you feel.¡± He teased Woojoo with a smug smile, and the younger members pped andughed at Woojoo, who got burned. ¡°¡­Wait a minute.¡± When did he lose his authority as the eldest brother? No. Did he ever have it? Woojoo thought about it, but that wasn¡¯t it. When he first met them, they acted like he was the older brother and tried to impress him, but he didn¡¯t know when they became like this. Now they treated him sofortably. Were they the weird ones? When Woojoo was at TJ Entertainment, everyone called him powerful and charismatic¡­ -Sir? As if mocking him, the voices of the TNT debut group members passed by as they waved their hands. Ahem. Anyway, this was different from the ideal leader he had dreamed of. But if he had to choose between the two, he liked this one better. He liked it better when they treated him like a peer rather than being a little scared and dependent on him. That was his impression from this overseas schedule. Unlike the debut period when he was anxious, he liked that the more mature members now reached out to him from an equal position. And¡­ ¡°Oh, the ne is about to take off.¡± As Jiho said that, the younger ones started to move in an orderly manner. ¡°Hyung, right. Do you want to listen to this song?¡± Bijoo offered Woojoo an MP3 yer. ¡°Uh¡­ there¡¯s an extra neck pillow. Do. You. Want. To. Try. It?¡± Junghyun put a dinosaur-shaped neck pillow around his neck with crazy acting. ¡°Let¡¯s go shopping for clothes when we get to Seoul, Hyung. Really. I saw the article about the airport fashion and the fans¡¯ments. They said you look like a grandma going to the market.¡± ¡°¡­What?¡± Jiho deliberately changed the topic with a ridiculous story. As the ne entered the runway, Rihyuk, who was sitting next to Woojoo, plugged in his earphones and nced at him . Woojoo smiled at their subtle attempts to take care of him. He thought their rtionship had changed from before. It wasn¡¯t one-sided anymore. Now he could lean on them a little too. That was why he appreciated their attention and awkward help. ¡°¡­¡± Maybe it was because of that. This takeoff was a bit more bearable. It was different from thest time when he was in a perfect panic state. This time, he only broke out in a cold sweat. It was still scary. And he thought this part wouldn¡¯t be easily solved in the future. Trauma was really stubborn. But he felt a little relieved that he didn¡¯t have to pretend to be okay in front of the younger ones anymore. Clunk! He felt the ne soar into the sky as it took off. ¡°¡­¡± Woojoo opened his eyes that he had tightly closed while gripping the armrest. The younger ones were doing their usual things. They seemed to be considerate of him, turning their gaze elsewhere so he wouldn¡¯t feel embarrassed. ¡°Here, take this.¡± Rihyuk handed Woojoo a napkin, pointing at his face. Maybe he thought he was about to cry like a few days ago. ¡°Thanks, but I¡¯m fine.¡± ¡°What?¡± ¡°Did you give it to me because you thought I was crying?¡± ¡°What are you talking about? I gave it to you to wipe your mouth.¡± ¡°¡­?¡± When Woojoo wiped his mouth with the tissue, saliva dripped out. ¡°¡­¡± Woojoo turned his head and saw his sad face in the window. How long had he been asleep? He woke up feeling thirsty. Oooh. His ears were stuffy, and the wing of the ne outside the window was flying over dark clouds. Everyone seemed exhausted, lying down with neck pillows. Woojoo smiled softly as he saw Junghyun breathing heavily with a snoring prevention device. Rihyuk was writing something diligently. ¡°¡­What are you doing?¡± ¡°I¡¯m writing lyrics.¡± ¡°Oh, that.¡± Then, the keywords ¡®third album¡¯, ¡®Bijoo song¡¯ floated in his head. The song that Bijoo and Woojoo made while preparing for the third album at Director Jo¡¯s house. He heard it and said that. The lyrics, he asked if he could write them. So Woojoo gave it to him, and he was working on it here. ¡°You must be tired. Get some sleep. You can do it when you get back to Korea.¡± ¡°I can¡¯t sleep. There are too many strangers around, and the ne is noisy. You know I¡¯m sensitive when I sleep.¡± He smiled like a grumpy cat. ¡°So, are you done with the lyrics?¡± ¡°I¡¯m almost done. Ah¡­! Don¡¯t look yet.¡± ¡°When are you going to show me?¡± ¡°When it¡¯s finished. Just wait a little longer. It should be done by the time wend.¡± ¡°What are you, a poet? Are you preparing for a literary debut?¡± ¡°¡­This is a careful work.¡± Woojoo stretched and asked him, ¡°Then, can you tell me the theme?¡± ¡°The theme of these lyrics is ¡®the things that are invisible¡¯.¡± ¡°Invisible things?¡± ¡°I felt that part when I did the fan signing and the showcase. We didn¡¯t know what was going on in ces we couldn¡¯t see. Honestly, I never dreamed that we would have fans overseas.¡± ¡°That¡¯s true.¡± ¡°But someone was always looking at us and waiting for us in ces we couldn¡¯t see.¡± Rihyuk¡¯s lips curled up in a short smile as if he was thinking of the fans. ¡°When I think about it, isn¡¯t that the case for all rtionships? Even when we¡¯re not looking at each other, one side is looking at the other. They secretly take care of us, even though we can¡¯t see them in their eyes.¡± ¡°Ah¡­¡± ¡°That¡¯s where I got the idea. ¡®Even if you feel lonely and alone, there is someone who cares for you in an invisible ce.¡¯ I¡¯m trying to write lyrics that areforting like that.¡± ¡°It does match the melody that Bijoo made. It has a hopeful feeling too.¡± Woojoo admired Rihyuk¡¯s idea, but his eyes stopped in the middle of the memo. ¡°So, the theme is that there is love and warmth for us somewhere we can¡¯t see, right?¡± ¡°That¡¯s right.¡± ¡°Something that exists but we can¡¯t see.¡± ¡°Yes.¡± ¡°I¡¯m asking just in case.¡± Woojoo pointed at the memo. There was a title that made him gasp. ¡°You¡¯re not seriously going to name it ¡®Dark Matter¡¯, are you?¡± ¡°Why?¡± ¡°¡­¡± ¡°It fits perfectly. A substance that exists in the space we live in, but we can¡¯t see.¡± ¡°Uh¡­¡± ¡°What¡¯s wrong?¡± What was wrong? He looked at Woojoo with a natural face, as if he didn¡¯t know what the problem was. Woojoo¡¯s back hurt. He had no choice¡­ If he left the group to them, it would be a disaster. Chapter 184: Chapter 184: Trantor: MarcTempest Editor: Rxel Chapter 184 Chapter 25. Challenge, Finding the Masterpiece! On Sunday morning, they arrived at their amodation from Incheon Airport and fell asleep right away. And Woojoo had a nightmare for the first time in a long time. -You ungrateful bastard! The pigs from Crayon Shinchan trampled on him. ¡®Ah! Why are you doing this to me?¡¯ he protested, but they said he didn¡¯t know his sins and beat him up.-You¡¯re living off our dreams and you ate unlimited pork in Taiwan? Repent and say you¡¯ll eat beef from now on, they said. Then they hit him with their hooves, asking if he had any money left. Woojoo got scolded for a while. They must have felt sorry for hitting him so hard, because they offered him a disgusting soup while he was lying down. -What is this? -It¡¯s dark matter cold soup. It¡¯ll raise your HP. -No way! Woojoo screamed in his dream and finally woke up. It was the most horrible nightmare he had recently, so he grabbed his siblings and shared the content with them as soon as he got up. Most of themughed, but there was one who looked at him with a dumbfounded expression. ¡°So what¡¯s the conclusion?¡± ¡°It¡¯s your fault that I had a nightmare.¡± ¡°What did I do?¡± ¡°Rihyuk. It¡¯s because you came up with this weird title called Dark Matter.¡± ¡°That¡¯s your own fault for having a weak mental. Anyway, you always me others¡­¡± Of course, it wasn¡¯t entirely because of Dark Matter that he had a nightmare. To be exact, it was 70% because of the ne, but Dark Matter also had a significant impact. At first, he thought it was a joke and tried to ignore it, but it turned out he was serious. -How is it? Not bad, right? He said with a pleased expression, but Woojoo felt suffocated. Woojoo wondered how to reject him without hurting his feelings, but luckily, their youngest solved that problem. With a bright smile, he said one word. -Dog. -Dog? -It¡¯s crappy. The title. And so, the title went back to undecided. They had a meeting while eating the breakfast that Bijoo prepared, and everyone agreed that anything would be better than Dark Matter. ¡°Well, we have plenty of time to decide on the titleter. Let¡¯s think about it slowly,¡± Woojoo said, pointing at the monitor. On Sunday afternoon. They were working on the song that would be the title track for their third album in thepany studio. Bijoo and Woojoo sat in front of theptop and arranged the harmony and mood of the song to match Rihyuk¡¯s lyrics, and Rihyuk tapped his notebook with a pen, thinking about the title. ¡°Should we go for a softer and more lyrical feel?¡± ¡°Hmm¡­ I think the B part is better as it is. If it¡¯s too lyrical, it might lose its edge.¡± ¡°Then let¡¯s stick to the original n.¡± Woojoo worked on the song as if he was carving a gem, carefully discussing with their siblings every time they cut or added something. Meanwhile, there were others who were doing different things behind him. ¡°What¡¯s the problem, Hyung?¡± ¡°Here¡­ I don¡¯t like the bridge part. I need to make it smoother until the hook.¡± ¡°Uh, what should we do? I don¡¯t know.¡± ¡°Oh, really?¡± Woojoo heard Junghyun¡¯s warmugh. ¡°I¡¯m d. I thought I was the only one who didn¡¯t know.¡± Woojoo smiled quietly at the sight of the two fools looking at theirptop with their foreheads touching on the sofa. Woojoo turned his head and asked, ¡°Do you need any help?¡± ¡°It¡¯s rap.¡± Junghyun shook his head. ¡°It¡¯s my field, so I¡¯ll try it myself. Hyung.¡± Woojoo threw an apple slice as a sign of support, and Junghyun caught it with his mouth. He was amazing. How could he catch food so easily from this distance¡­ No, no, that wasn¡¯t it. He was impressed by his words that he would try it himself with his own strength. Was it heartwarming? The next album would have a title track that Bijoo, Rihyuk, and Woojoo participated in, but Junghyun¡¯s mixtape would also be included as a track. He told Woojoo that after the showcase in Taiwan. -I want to do it on my own this time. Of course, the A&R Team or an external producer would help him with thetter part of the work, but until then, he wanted to do everything by himself. His eyes were shining with motivation, unlike when he used to work on his personal projects out of habit. -¡­I also want to show something with my own rap when I go abroad next time, like you, Hyung. He seemed to have developed some ambition after seeing the surprise gift Woojoo had prepared for their overseas fans. It was a good thing. He was more than happy to wee Bijoo and Junghyun¡¯s desire to make their own songs. They would be a great asset to their group as they delved deeper into music. Even if their level wasn¡¯t visible like in a game, it was clear that they would be a big help. Right now, their work speed was iparable to before. In the past, they would have spent a long time talking about ¡®um, the feeling is a bit¡­¡¯ but now, when Bijoo said ¡®the code progression in the back part is unnatural¡¯, Woojoo fixed it in a breath. Thanks to that, he was finally able toplete the final version of their song. ¡°Okay, let¡¯s listen.¡± They all gathered on the sofa and pressed the y button. They looked at the speaker with sparkling eyes. ¡°Wow¡­ This is awesome.¡± ¡°Can you believe we made this?¡± ¡°Wow.¡± They shivered with pride as the song flowed out. Woojoo said with a smile, ¡°How do you think the A&R Team will like it?¡± ¡°They¡¯ll love it when they hear we made the title. They¡¯ll cuddle our Woojoo cutie when we meet them tomorrow.¡± ¡°Right?¡± Woojoo felt his chest swell and his heart flutter as he thought about talking to the staff about their new song tomorrow. Lemon Entertainment. The office with the A&R sign was gloomy from the morning. ¡°Ugh¡­¡± ¡°Sigh¡­¡± Sighs popped out everywhere. Even considering it was Monday morning, their faces were too depressed. ¡°Ah, I should loosen up my throat beforehand.¡± ¡°Me too, please.¡± The A&R Team leader gave a hollowugh as he saw them unwrapping throat candies with sullen faces. ¡°Hey. It¡¯s not like we¡¯re going to die. It¡¯s just our artisting, why are you so scared?¡± ¡°Then you take care of him.¡± ¡°Hey.¡± The other person red at him. ¡°Do you want to die?¡± ¡°See? I told you, this guy is all talk.¡± Someone grumbled and popped a mint in his mouth. Next to him, someone was soothing his stomach with iced americano. The reason why the staff were showing collective stress was because of the passionate person who was about to barge in here. ¡®Woojoo ising.¡¯ A phrase that sounded like a horror movie catchphrase echoed in everyone¡¯s head. ¡°He¡¯lle in with a happy smile. ¡®Everyone! I made a song!¡¯ Holding a USB.¡± ¡°No, that¡¯s not it. You still haven''t figured out Woojoo¡¯s character.¡± Theposer team¡¯s Seo Pilgeun shook his head. ¡°Before that, he¡¯ll show us a bag of souvenirs and tempt us.¡± ¡°Oh, right.¡± ¡°And then he¡¯ll start whining as he gives us the USB.¡± ¡°¡­Hey, doesn¡¯t this sound like we¡¯re feeding hay to a cow before making it work?¡± Sadughter came from everywhere. ¡°But I miss him. It¡¯s been a few days since we saw him.¡± ¡°Me too.¡± They were talking affectionately about the singer they were managing. ¡°Good morning, everyone~¡± A handsome man in a coat and a tumbler. The person who wrapped a muffler around his neck stylishly was Jo Gyuhwan, the director of the A&R Team. He sipped his Americano as if he noticed the gloomy cloud in the office. ¡°Why are you all so down?¡± ¡°It¡¯s because of Woojoo.¡± ¡°Woojoo? Oh, he finished his Taiwan schedule and came backst night. What about Woojoo?¡± ¡°He texted us this morning. He said he finished the title song. He¡¯sing up to y it for us¡­. Why are you backing away?¡± ¡°Me?¡± Director Jo blinked. Then he coughed as if he saw his own feet unconsciously stepping back. ¡°I just remembered something I have to do.¡± ¡°¡­.¡± ¡°Let me see, I have to prepare for today¡¯s meeting¡­.¡± The sound of his shoes tapping hurriedly was heard. The sound of ¡®pak, pak, pak¡¯ followed, as if he was pressing the elevator button like crazy. Someone tilted their head. ¡°Maybe it¡¯s just me, but doesn¡¯t it seem like the Director has been avoiding the New ck kidstely?¡± ¡°Yeah. He¡¯s been acting weirdtely. Remember when he got drunk at the wine bar and cried out Gildong¡¯s name?¡± ¡°Was that the name of the dog he used to have?¡± They were each making their own guesses. A staff member with sharp ears raised his hand. ¡°¡­He¡¯sing!¡± The office was silent. Footsteps began to be heard from the hallway. Lively, heavy, prickly¡­ Anyway, the footsteps of five people mixed with their personalities and announced their arrival. Soon the door opened and five people appeared. ¡°Hello!¡± Everyone smiled at the sight of the New ck membersing in with bright smiles. They brightened up the mood as they wandered around the office. ¡°I missed you, really.¡± Woojoo greeted each staff member and handed them something he had wrapped in both hands. Seo Pilgeun, who had said ¡®he¡¯ll hand out a bag of souvenirs¡¯ earlier, smiled slyly at the other staff members. Woojoo began to unwrap the bundles like a grandfather who brought gifts. ¡°I thought a lot about our A&R Team when I went to a strange ce. I missed you too. So I bought a lot of gifts.¡± ¡°We bought some too~!¡± ¡°Me too.¡± The members each handed out various snacks and souvenirs, saying they bought them to celebrate their settlement. The eyes of the A&R staff widened. ¡°Oh my, I really wanted to eat this Pungli-soo. Thank you. Let¡¯s save this and eat it together.¡± ¡°Why save it?¡± ¡°Of course we¡¯ll eat it together¡­.¡± ¡°Ah.¡± Woojoo lowered his head and said, ¡°It¡¯s one box per person.¡± ¡°¡­!¡± ¡°We¡¯re the kind of people who treat chicken as one chicken per person.¡± ¡°Woojoo¡­.¡± ¡°Wow, he¡¯s a learned man. A learned man.¡± The A&R staff took the huge gift packages and made a sour face. ¡®They¡¯re good kids.¡¯ The gift-giving time was over and a friendly conversation continued about what had happened on this overseas schedule. When everyone burst intoughter at the Woo Jenmin happening. ¡®I¡¯m healing from Monday morning thanks to this.¡¯ They nodded their heads with a smile. Yeah. They were so nice to them, they could easily endure the torture of their eardrums when working. They pictured the future in their head. Now the other members would go down to the practice room and do their own things and Woojoo would stay alone and hand out the USB. Then he would drag someone and ask questions like crazy and ask for opinions. ¡®But¡­¡¯ The staff felt uneasy at the sight of a different scenery than usual. ¡®Why aren¡¯t they leaving?¡¯ Junghyun and Jiho left, but the other two stayed in the office. Bijoo took out a notebook from his chest with a warm smile. It looked like he had prepared a hundred things he wanted to talk about. ¡®By the way, didn¡¯t Bijoo say he made a melody?¡¯ It made sense to think that he was participating as a coposer. But Rihyuk¡­ ¡®What is that?¡¯ They wondered as they looked at the dense list of ¡®Dark Matter¡¯, ¡®Space Dust¡¯, ¡®Invisible Hand¡¯. As if to answer his question, Woojoo smiled and said, ¡°Rihyuk is in charge of writing the lyrics this time. There¡¯s a problem with the title. He said he had so many questions, so we decided to stay together.¡± ¡°Together?¡± ¡°Yes, all of us together.¡± Woojoo smiled and put his arms around the shoulders of his younger brothers next to him. Then they both smiled back. One softly, one awkwardly shaking off the hand on his shoulder. They looked like handsome young men on the outside, but what would the A&R Team say¡­ They looked like Cerberus from hell. And that with a beagle, a schnauzer, and a cocker spaniel for each head. ¡°¡­¡± Seo Pilgeun of theposing team felt dizzy for a moment. Was it an illusion? The faces of the two members standing in front of him looked like soft Woojoo, prickly Woojoo. It was like an amoeba had multiplied. Sparkling. Members with glittering eyes like the leader. Rihyuk looked around with anticipation. ¡°Which studio should we go to?¡± ¡°It¡¯s amazing how the position has changed. So this is how Woojoo Hyung felt. I¡¯m already excited to work.¡± Bijoo, who smiled like the sun. ¡®¡­Can someone please take them away.¡¯ The eyes of the A&R Team staff moistened as they looked at them, who had be three instead of one. As they prepared for their third album, they resumed their normal lives and schedules. Everyone was busy. The video production team had edited the footage we shot in Taiwan and uploaded it as a reality show. -EP3. What happened in Taiwan?! (feat. Woo Jenmin) -EP4. Our kids are so pretty that the left and right hearts are flying The thumbnails were full of colorful letters and B-grade vibes, which made Woojoo feel embarrassed as he watched them. But he was d that their fans enjoyed them. The sad thing was that now there was no one who didn¡¯t know about the Woo Jenmin incident among the Souffl¨¦ fans. Jenmin was everywhere, whether he went to the YouTubements, the fan cafe, or the official SNSments. If not, -Woo, your sister is serious. Please refrain from wearing floral shirts. This is Gothic font. -You are the flower, why do you keep wearing flowers??? -Jenmin dresses well¡­ The main character shouldn¡¯t lose to the sub-character There were onlyments that asked him to take care of his body. His grandmother looked pretty when she wore them, but sadly, they didn¡¯t suit him. Woojoo packed all the floral clothes except for pajamas, nkets, and tracksuits in a box and taped it shut and put it in the closet. His siblings teased him that it was not a closet but a wardrobe, which made him sad. Woojoo thought he heard Rihyuk say ¡®Should we send it to the incinerator¡¯ in his sleep, but that must have been a dream, right? It was a Taiwan trip that made a lot of ck history, but thepany was very happy. ¡°Guys, you did a great job!¡± When Woojoo went to the call of the PR Team, Hong Seoyoung, the assistant manager, gave him a thumbs up. She turned herptop and showed him the various numbers and articles on the monitor, and spoke in an excited voice. ¡°Your trip to Taiwan was a huge hit.¡± The Woo Jenmin happening made them a hot topic on the inte. And thanks to that, the other promotions got a boost. The weekly magazine ¡®HIT!¡¯ in Taiwan, where they took the pictorial, also had higher sales than usual, and the MTV promotional interview and showcase video had high views. There was also a reaction on the web. It was a strange story that they got several times more results than one usually got from their first overseas schedule. ¡°¡­Wow.¡± As she said, the number of subscribers and followers on their official SNS and YouTube ount had noticeably increased. ¡°We¡¯re going to Singapore and Shanghai this month, right? I¡¯ll just ask you to do this much there. You really did a great job, everyone.¡± ¡°Yes, leave it to us.¡± Then their kids looked at Woojoo. They had a look of expectation in their eyes, and Woojoo brushed his hair back. ¡°Hey, ck history doesn¡¯t juste out when you expect it. It just happens.¡± His siblings¡¯ eyes sparkled at his fakeugh. ¡°That was so cool just now.¡± ¡°Is this the vibe thates from ck history?¡± ¡°¡­You¡¯ll seeter.¡± The assistant manager turned her head and twitched her lips. She couldn¡¯t scold them in front of the staff. Woojoo ignored the teasing siblings and asked, ¡°Why did you call us?¡± ¡°Oh, I wanted to tell you this and that. There¡¯s also the cat food ad and the video emoticon that you just got. And the stories that went back and forth with the History Exploration production team.¡± They were everyday things, but there seemed to be more than usual. As the PR Team was in charge ofmunicating with the public, they had a lot to say about their activities. ¡°But the most important thing is this.¡± The assistant manager picked up one of the proposals piled up on her desk and handed it to Woojoo. ¡®Sok Sok! History Exploration Team!¡¯ was the title of the musicpetition program on PBS that they were going to participate in. It was the most important activity and the project that thepany invested the most in during this break. Did something happen there? ¡°A little¡­¡± The assistant manager stroked her chin and said, ¡°There¡¯s something I¡¯m worried about.¡± Chapter 185: Chapter 185: Trantor: MarcTempest Editor: Rxel Trantor: MarcTempest Editor: Rxel Chapter 185 ¡°Is there a problem?¡± They looked tense. Especially the youngest one, who opened his eyes wide and asked anxiously. ¡°Are we not allowed to go out? Is that it?¡± ¡°No, that¡¯s not it.¡±Assistant Manager Hong lowered her hand. ¡°There¡¯s nothing wrong with your appearance. That¡¯s something that the CP on the other side and our side have agreed on perfectly.¡± ¡°Oh, thank goodness¡­¡± ¡°What I¡¯m worried about is the entertainment reporters. The articles and public reactions that wille out soon.¡± They moved to the conference room and continued the conversation. ¡°Do you remember the Around the World With Dice special? When the news came out that you were appearing.¡± ¡°It¡¯s still vivid.¡± How could they forget? The national variety show¡¯s Chuseok Special had a rookie idol as a guest, and it got a lot of hatements. Woojoo never saw them himself, but he could guess from the expressions of their managers and the likes and dislikes numbers on the articles. She gave a bitter smile. ¡°It¡¯s a simr situation. The time slot for this Challenge, Legendary Song Discovery Team is the weekend golden time.¡± ¡°¡­¡± ¡°You might not get a feel for it because you¡¯re mostly guest appearances, but this time it¡¯s a really big deal. It¡¯s also a project that the PBS Entertainment Department is working on with all their might.¡± It was probably because they were envious of the rival TBC¡¯s hitpetition show ¡®Patisserie Korea¡¯, but this time PBS was ambitiously preparing a musicpetition called ¡®Challenge, Legendary Song Discovery Team¡¯. Woojoo spoke as the representative. ¡°We know it¡¯s an important opportunity.¡± This time, five teams would appear on ¡®Challenge, Legendary Song Discovery Team¡¯ and show their skills. It was apetition where theypeted with each other¡¯s skills, but the content was a bit different from the usual survival shows. There were no eliminations here. Instead, it was a seasonal system where the ¡®first-generation¡¯ members led the broadcast for almost two months. In other words, for two months, their faces would be on terrestrial TV, and on public broadcasting PBS¡¯s weekend time slot. An amazing opportunity to stamp their eyes on the general public, not just idol fans. ¡°Right, it¡¯s very important. But it¡¯s not only important to us, but also to the broadcaster. The publicity size is also big. The amount of press releases will be simr to a decent drama.¡± They had a calm expression as they guessed what woulde next. ¡°There will be a lot of hatements.¡± ¡°You have to be prepared.¡± Assistant Manager Hong said with a stern face, ¡°Unfortunately, you¡¯re rtively less famous because of your seniority. The rest of the participants are quite well-known to the public. There will be some unfair things in that regard.¡± ¡°We think it can¡¯t be helped. We have to ept it.¡± The younger ones nodded. The singers who participated in thispetition were mostly people who the public would say ¡®oh, that person¡¯. On the other hand, they were the rookies of the year, who were making a name for themselves in the idol world, but stillcked public recognition as second-year idols. And considering the prejudice that the public often had about idol skills¡­ Woojoo didn¡¯t have to see it to know what reaction it would be. ¡°Before we go into recording this week, the press release will be released together, and your name will be in there too.¡± Assistant Manager Hong gave them a warning. ¡°We¡¯ll try to avoid press interviews as much as possible, but if you see any reporters or anything, be careful. Don¡¯t say anything wrong and jeopardize your program appearance.¡± She then told them what to answer when they were asked questions by reporters. ¡°We¡¯ll be careful with our mouths.¡± ¡°Right, and don¡¯t look at thements. You promise?¡± ¡°Yes, assistant.¡± They nodded vigorously at her, who looked at them with worried eyes. ¡°You don¡¯t have to worry, we really won¡¯t look at thements. We didn¡¯t even look at themst time during Around the World With Dice.¡± ¡°Okay, then let¡¯s leave the talk I brought up out of spite here.¡± She changed the subject as if she had relieved a burden. The rest was about the projects and external events that the publicity team was preparing. The mood was dampened for a while because of the concern about the hatements, but it brightened up as they talked about something else. ¡°¡­Yes?¡± They showed curiosity. ¡°Emoticons?¡± ¡°Yeah, the fans call you meme kings. Especially Woojoo, you¡¯re the tycoon of the meme world.¡± ¡°I wish I could be a different tycoon¡­ That¡¯s a sad nickname.¡± Woojoo smiled miserably and Assistant Manager Hong them messenger emoticons on her phone. Emoticons of Scarlet members dancing shoulder to shoulder with ¡®Dongshil Dongshil~¡¯ written on them, or Daisy pointing her finger and saying ¡®Do you get money if you dig the ground!¡¯. ¡°Girl groups seem to release them quite a bit. These are animated emoticons when you press them.¡± ¡°Oh.¡± ¡°So you¡¯re selling yours too¡­ I mean, ahem.¡± The other person coughed awkwardly as their eyes narrowed. ¡°We¡¯re making them to give joy to our fans. We¡¯re also in talks with the messenger side. Hmm, there¡¯s one thing that¡¯s unfortunate though.¡± ¡°¡­?¡± ¡°We have to write funny texts for the emoticons, but right now 80 percent of the funny memes are about Woojoo.¡± ¡°Ah, oh¡­¡± ¡°We have to bnce it out for the fans. We can¡¯t favor a specific member. We¡¯re adjusting it ording to the proportion.¡± The members said with repentant faces, ¡°We¡¯ll try to make more embarrassing history to help you out.¡± ¡°We were too careless, weren¡¯t we?¡± ¡°I guess we were relying too much on Woojoo Hyung. We should have made them without being pushed back.¡± At that, the assistant manager looked flustered and said no, that¡¯s not it, you¡¯re celebrities who have to manage your image, and kept saying that. They decided to set a separate day for the emoticons and shoot them at the studio. ¡°What else is there?¡± ¡°There¡¯s also the promotion event we discussed with the children¡¯s education program side. And the cat food ad. And especially the press conference for the Challenge, Legendary Song Discovery Team¡­¡± Wait a minute. Woojoo had been distracted by the music variety show until now, but there was something strange in there. ¡°¡­A cat food ad?¡± ¡°Yeah.¡± ¡°A cat?¡± ¡°Yeah.¡± ¡°The one that meows?¡± Assistant Manager Hong nodded. ¡°That¡¯s the cat food.¡± ¡°Why do we have such an ad¡­?¡± ¡°The advertiser said they really liked the cat video letter you used on the idol show, Woojoo.¡± ¡°¡­¡± Woojoo had a guess of what the ad content would be, so he closed his eyes slightly and put on a resigned expression. Some timeter. Arge mart in Gunsan. Rattle! A cart full of stuff passed through the crowd of people. ¡°¡­Oh my, why is there so much to eat?¡± Mrs. Kim Deoksoon clicked her tongue. She hade out to do some shopping, but the mart was packed with customers. She dodged every time someone brushed past her. ¡®This can¡¯t get scratched.¡¯ She was worried about the bracelet as well as the clothes that Woojoo had bought her. It was an expensive essory that her grandson had given her as a first settlement gift. ¡®I must be crazy. Why did I wear this ande out¡­ Damn it.¡¯ She came out to show off a bit, but she didn¡¯t expect so many people to be out on a weekday. ¡®If I get a scratch here¡­¡¯ She broke out in a cold sweat just thinking about it. If he followed her around all day, he would nag her endlessly with a sad face, saying, ¡°Oh, Grandma, you don¡¯t like the gift I bought you, do you? I¡¯m so disappointed, so upset, so devastated.¡± The employee who was selling fried dough balls called out to her. ¡°Hello, Ma¡¯am. Long time no see. Wee.¡± ¡°How¡¯s business?¡± ¡°So-so. Try one of these.¡± She took a greasy dough ball from the tasting corner and ate it with a skewer. ¡°How does it taste? Do you want one?¡± ¡°Yeah, it¡¯s good. But it¡¯s not my style. I need something a little salty and crunchy here.¡± The employeeughed at her blunt answer. Then he pointed at the bracelet that was sparkling on Kim Deoksoon¡¯s arm. ¡°Oh, look at this pretty thing. Who gave it to you?¡± ¡°My grandson.¡± ¡°The one in Seoul?¡± ¡°Yeah, he made some money this time and decided to treat me.¡± ¡°What a good boy, what a good boy.¡± The employee pped his hands and looked at her enviously. Kim Deoksoon, who had a smug expression on her face, heard a question in her ear. ¡°But what does your grandson do in Seoul?¡± ¡°Ah, nothing much¡­¡± That was when something caught Kim Deoksoon¡¯s eye. Her mouth, which was moving proudly, stopped. ¡®¡­What?¡¯ At first, she thought she had seen it wrong. But there was no doubt that what she saw with her sharp eyes of 1.0 vision were the faces of her grandson and his friends. She widened her eyes at the sight of the five men standing on a panel. ¡®Why are they there?¡¯ She knew that her grandson was doing some ads. He did school uniform models, and some airne models. On the ginseng he sent her a while ago, there was a banner that said ¡®Happy New Year!¡¯ with a picture of New ck in hanbok. So she didn¡¯t think it was strange to see his face on a promotional product. But the corner was weird. ¡®Pet food?¡¯ Far away, there was a panel standing at the entrance to the section where animal food was piled up. In the center, Woojoo was smiling and reaching out his hand. A familiar pose that made her sick. On the speech bubble, there was a calligraphic text that said ¡°Nabi. Re.mem.ber. The food is Essential Light.¡± The other guys who were smiling warmly behind him were just extras. ¡°¡­¡± She stared nkly as the other person asked again. ¡°Ma¡¯am, what does your grandson do in Seoul?¡± ¡°¡­¡± Kim Deoksoon couldn¡¯t say a word. Starting with the cat food ad, the third week of January passed by in a blur. They had a meeting with the children¡¯s history education program ¡®Sok Sok! History Exploration Team¡¯ and stamped the contract. The PD kept holding their hands and said, ¡°Let¡¯s have a good rtionship.¡± The production team, including the writer, seemed to like them very much. They smiled happily at their visuals, and praised the historical knowledge that Rihyuk and Woojoo showed. And Jiho¡¯s simple improvisation skills. They said there was no one like them for this job, and they grabbed their hands within five minutes of starting the meeting. The actual recording started in early February, after the studio setting and script were ready. Woojoo didn¡¯t know how happy the younger ones were. It was a children¡¯s program that was hard to call entertainment, but it was another regr program for them. ¡°I like it.¡± There was someone who liked it for a weird reason. ¡°What an opportunity to teach the growing sprouts how fun history is. Don¡¯t you feel excited and thrilled just thinking about it?¡± ¡°¡­¡± ¡°I can raise the future historians with my own hands, hehehe¡­¡± The main vocal, who had a harmless line, was making a harmful expression like a witch. Woojoo nodded with a smile. ¡°Junghyun.¡± ¡°Yes, Hyung.¡± ¡°Drag him away.¡± ¡°¡­Why are you doing this, let go of me!¡± Anyway, those were busy days that passed by quickly. -Congrattions! New ck wins the Rookie Award! On Thursday, they won the Rookie Award at another award ceremony held at Jamsil Indoor Stadium. A whopping four crowns. And the articles poured out ordingly. -Four-crown ¡®hit rookie¡¯ New ck, to appear on PBS¡¯s new music variety show? -PBS ¡®Challenge, Legendary Song Discovery Team¡¯, first lineup revealed -From skilled bad singers to rookie idols, PBS¡¯s new variety show ¡®Legendary Song Discovery Squad¡¯ Woojoo didn¡¯t know if it was their PR team or PBS¡¯s decision, but the timing of the lineup reveal and their Rookie Award win matched well. The reaction to the newpetition program was hotter than expected. There were some reactions like ¡®Another music variety show?¡¯ because there were already so many music programs, but it was thanks to the solid lineup. -Wow, awesome. Cha Woohyun is on thepetition show?? I¡¯ll definitely watch it live -Lisa, long time no see on TV -I hope Lisa does well -Wow¡­ they gathered all the hot singers these days Those were thements that the PR Team showed Woojoo when he said he was curious. There were noments about them, filtered out, and that gave him a rough idea of the situation. Either they had no interest or most of them had negative reactions, so they were cut out on their own. Objectively speaking, most of them would be closer to thetter. Woojoo was honestly curious. He was itching to know what kind of view the public had of them, but he held back. It was because of what Seokhwan Hyung told him. -Most of the actors at Lemon Entertainment, who are known for their strong mentality, are shaken by a single maliciousment. It¡¯s human to shrink even if the insults are about the role, not yourself. An actor yed a viin so well that he got a lot of maliciousments about his role, and after seeing that, he shrank when he acted. Woojoo decided not to look at it. Anyway, it wasn¡¯t like he could change anything right away by looking at it, or control what people thought. Woojoo just thought he would let it go as it was. ¡°We¡¯re almost there.¡± Friday morning. They entered the PBS Broadcasting Station in Yeouido, shaking off the fatigue from the award stage the day before. They arrived at a spaciousrge conference room after passing through a rough and old corridor. ¡°I guess we¡¯re the first ones here.¡± They were supposed to meet and greet the other participants before the filming. They hadn¡¯t met the other cast members yet, as they only had pre-meetings with the production team. ¡°I hope they¡¯re all nice people.¡± ¡°Me too.¡± Being the youngest among the cast, they were both excited and nervous about what kind of people the senior singers would be. They were huddled in a corner of the conference room, killing time by eating dumplings and chanting ¡°dumplings, dumplings, dumplings¡±. Suddenly, the door opened and they turned their heads. ¡°Excuse me¡­¡± A woman peeked her head in cautiously. She had a gentle face with slightly drooping eyes. She was wearing a very thick padded jacket, as if she was very sensitive to the cold. She reminded Woojoo of the tire man drawn on the stack of tires on the shelf that he sometimes passed by. As soon as their eyes met, they widened them. ¡°Oh¡­!¡± New ck all got up quickly and greeted her. ¡°Hello! Sunbae-nim!¡± ¡°Oh, hi¡­ hello.¡± She greeted them awkwardly as she entered the room. Woojoo spoke to her as a representative. ¡°I heard from Jang Sowon Sunbae yesterday.¡± ¡°Oh, me too¡­¡± She smiled faintly. ¡°I heard a lot about you from Sowon.¡± Then she brushed her hair back with an awkward expression. Lisa. She was a former member of the disbanded girl group Sugarfish. While Jang Sowon was active as a singer-songwriter, Lisa was working as a musical actress. She had originally gone to Belgium for a break, but she had recently returned to Korea and was actively working. Woojoo had seen an article yesterday that said she had entered her second heyday after hereback, as the musical she starred in for the first time was a huge hit. He remembered the favor that Jang Sowon had asked him at the award ceremony yesterday. -My sister is very shy. Please be friendly to her. She¡¯s a very timid and kind sister. ¡­Woojoo had heard that beforehand, but it felt a bit strange. When he saw her on TV or musical clips, she acted with confidence and sang with power, but her real personality was the opposite of that. Maybe Jang Sowon had said something nice to her, because she quickly let go of her guard around them. They chatted in afortable atmosphere. ¡°¡­Kind?¡± ¡°Yes.¡± ¡°Sowon is kind?¡± ¡°Yes. She¡¯s very good to me.¡± She looked at the air as if she had heard something unbelievable and said, ¡®That can¡¯t be¡­¡¯ Theyughed at her expression. She lowered her eyes and said, ¡°I¡¯m having a hard time because of her.¡± ¡°¡­Yes?¡± ¡°I just want to rest at home, but she alwayses over and drags me to shopping, or to walk in the park, or to feed me weird lunch boxes. If I say I don¡¯t want to go out, she teases me for being a homebody.¡± They held back theirughter. ¡°Andtely, she¡¯s been nagging me to make a duet song with her.¡± Woojoo pictured a yful younger sister tormenting an introverted older sister in his head. So Jang Sowon had that side to her. They seemed to be very close. Even though sheined, Lisa¡¯s face was full of affection. Then Woojoo said, ¡°By the way, Sunbae-nim.¡± ¡°Hmm?¡± ¡°There¡¯s a fan of yours among our managers.¡± ¡°Really?¡± There was one person who had cried and rejoiced when Jang Sowon won first ce with Something. He had sobbed, ¡®My favorite is Lisa, sob!¡¯ How happy would he be to meet his favorite singer? Woojoo wanted to introduce him to her, but he couldn¡¯t see Minki Hyung. ¡°Where did he go?¡± He looked at Dowon Hyung, who was sitting in the staff seat by the wall. ¡°Hyung, where did Minki Hyung go?¡± ¡°He said he had something to do and left.¡± ¡°That¡¯s weird. There¡¯s nothing going on today¡­¡± He had been trying to leave the room with an awkward face since earlier. Maybe he was embarrassed to meet his favorite. Woojoo asked Lisa for her permission and made a video call. Minki Hyung¡¯s face appeared on the screen, standing in the hallway of the broadcasting station. -Hello. ¡°Hyung, it¡¯s me.¡± -Oh, what¡¯s up? Woojoo exined the situation. ¡°Right now, I¡¯m with Lisa Sunbae that you like. Maybe you can say hello to her face to face¡­¡± -No way! Theyughed as they handed the phone to Lisa, wondering if he was too shy to talk. The singer coughed and smoothed his hair nervously, trying to greet her fan face to face. -¡­ ¡°¡­?¡± Lisa blinked her eyes in confusion and looked startled. ¡°LisaLover?¡± -¡­ ¡°Why are you there, LisaLover?¡± They burst intoughter at the silence that filled the screen. Chapter 186: Chapter 186: Trantor: MarcTempest Editor: Rxel Chapter 186 There was a ripe red radish here. ¡°So you were the manager of New ck, LisaLover.¡± ¡°Yes¡­¡± ¡°It¡¯s so amazing to see you here. Thank you so much forst time. You came with the others for my first musical performance.¡± Lisa was holding onto Minki Hyung and talking happily. The person who was so shy around them was whispering to her fan.She looked like a chick who met an old friend and was d. ¡°When I went to Belgium to learn how to make waffles, I thought of the Korean fans a lot. Oh, right. I used the gift you gave me there very well.¡± ¡°Ah, yes¡­¡± Unlike Lisa, Minki Hyung had a face that looked like he was dying. While he was telling them how much LisaLover was a passionate fan since the beginning of Sugarfish, Minki Hyung closed his eyes with a sad expression as he nced at themughing. He had a face that anticipated what would happen next. Woojoo thought of the faces of the management team members who would tease him all day long, saying, ¡®How are you, Seo-ssi? Are you good? LisaLover?¡¯ ¡°See youter, LisaLover.¡± When Lisa went outside with her manager for a moment, Minki Hyung came over almost kneeling. ¡°Guys,¡± he said earnestly. ¡°Today¡¯s event is a secret. To the Director and thepany people.¡± ¡°Don¡¯t worry. We have heavy mouths.¡± He looked at them with a timid eye. ¡°¡­You guys?¡± ¡°Don¡¯t provoke us with that distrustful expression. LisaLover.¡± ¡°¡­¡± Minki Hyung muttered, ¡®How did I end up like this?¡¯ and they burst outughing. His eyes were filled with misty moisture as he looked at the sky. It was a pity. If it had happened to their kids, they would have teased him all day long with that. There was a line that they couldn¡¯t cross because he was a manager. Woojoo tried to calm the atmosphere and said, ¡°Don¡¯t worry, Minki Hyung. We won¡¯t tell anyone in thepany. Trust us.¡± ¡°You¡¯re the only one, Woojoo.¡± ¡°Hyung, but it¡¯s unfair for us to do that with our mouths.¡± The younger ones nodded their heads, saying, ¡®Right, right.¡¯ ¡°¡­There¡¯s none. I wish there was none.¡± ¡°What did you say?¡± ¡°Nothing. Woojoo-ssi. So what do you need? Should I buy you some delicious snacks?¡± ¡°No, no. Don¡¯t do that.¡± Woojoo knew how hard and stressful the job of a road manager was, so he didn¡¯t have the conscience to eat him alive. That was why he cautiously brought up the favor he had been wanting to ask himtely. ¡°You know the title of the third album we¡¯re working on, right?¡± ¡°¡­Uh-huh.¡± ¡°We need a new perspective. You know, the A&R Team and us are experts who only do music all day long, so our tastes and eyes are biased. So we need a popr perspective.¡± There was no one better than a person who was a passionate fan of a girl group for idol music. ¡°Hyung, when you have time, can you give me some feedback on this song¡­¡± ¡°I¡¯ll buy you food. Rather.¡± He was uncooperative. ¡°Wait a minute. Hyung. Your ear.¡± Woojoo whispered the magic word in Minki Hyung¡¯s ear like a secret agent. ¡°LisaLover.¡± ¡°¡­Oh, I¡¯m already itching to hear the song.¡± ¡°Thank you, Hyung.¡± Woojoo smiled happily as he looked at the new ve he captured. He turned his head to the younger ones. They all raised their thumbs with satisfied faces. ¡®Good job.¡¯ ¡®Wee, new ve.¡¯ Then, Woojoo¡¯s eyes met with Dowon Hyung, who was standing nkly. He flinched. The giant man over 190 shook his body and desperately avoided Woojoo¡¯s gaze. ¡°¡­Tsk.¡± ¡®I¡¯ll capture, I mean, ask himter.¡¯ Then the door opened again and Lisa and her manager came in. They had coffee boxes and mini cakes in both hands. Woojoo thought it was prepared for the production staff, but it wasn¡¯t. ¡°Enjoy.¡± It was a snack gift from Lisa. She smiled at Minki Hyung and said to New ck, ¡°LisaLover, I mean, Manager Seo, I always receive gifts from you. This time, I wanted to give something back.¡± ¡°Thank you.¡± Usually, the celebrities managed by the managers get the benefits, but it was the opposite case, which felt strange. They had a warm first meeting thanks to themon ground of Jang Sowon Sunbae, but she was still shy. But after she found her LisaLover-nim, she seemed to like them too. Maybe it was like her fan certification mark. Well. Woojoo would also want to treat the celebrities managed by their Souffl¨¦s well if he were in their shoes. Woojoo was immersed in admiration as he watched the celebrity and fan taking selfies with happy expressions. In the distant future, Woojoo would also be like that with fans¡­ ¡°I¡¯ll take the tiramisu with strawberries!¡± ¡°Then dibs.¡± Like that with fans¡­ ¡°Huh? Dibs is what I have to do. Junghyun Hyung.¡± ¡°¡­Sulky.¡± ¡°Junghyun, you eat apples with me.¡± Woojoo would also be like that with fans in the future¡­ ¡°By the way, do you all know this? Dibs is derived from an English expression. If you¡¯re going to say it in Korean, it¡¯s better to say ¡®jjim¡¯. We¡¯re meeting children now, so we have to be careful with ournguage.¡± ¡°Really? When I y games, the kids swear the best.¡± ¡°¡­Really? The kids also swear?¡± ¡°They told me I suck. Last time, some kid cut off our friendship with voice chat because he said I was too bad.¡± ¡°Huh? That¡¯s an objective evaluation, isn¡¯t it?¡± Woojoo gave up on being immersed in admiration as the endless chatter like a bunch of kids kepting. Yeah. ¡­He would just eat bread. As the promised time approached, the participants started to arrive one after another. The third guest to arrive was someone they had met once before. He was wearing a shiny suit, either because he had just arrived from the event, or because it was his prepared outfit. He had a smile full of joy on his face, and his expression and voice were full of charm. He was a man in his early thirties. ¡°Hello~! Song Bohyung is here!¡± The trot singer who opened the door and came in looked inside and made a disappointed expression. ¡°What, there¡¯s no camera.¡± ¡°¡­¡± ¡°It doesn¡¯t matter. Hello, elders, I mean, everyone~!¡± Song Bohyung, who was still in the mood of the event, came in with his manager, smiling cheerfully. ¡°Nice to meet you. Lisa.¡± ¡°Yes¡­¡± He noticed that she was shy, and he stepped back with a tactful ¡®nice to meet you~¡¯. As he kept some distance, Lisa looked morefortable. Then he turned his eyes to them. ¡°Oh, New ck! We met at the festival in Bucheon?¡± ¡°That¡¯s right.¡± Junghyun and Rihyuk nodded along with Woojoo. ¡°It¡¯s the Icheon Starlight Festival.¡± ¡°Oh, right. I was such a fool to think it was your eyes.¡± Heughed cheerfully and they joined him. Song Bohyung. He was the trot singer who shared the stage with them when they filled in for Teen Spirit in Icheon. He sat close to them and struck up a friendly conversation. ¡°I haven¡¯t seen you since then. How have you been?¡± ¡°Good, how about you, Sunbae-nim?¡± ¡°Great. As you can see, my price has gone up a lottely, and so has my glittery outfit.¡± He unted his shiny clothes and theyughed again. Jiho asked with sparkling eyes, ¡°Wow, that¡¯s so pretty. Can I touch it?¡± ¡°Gently, gently.¡± ¡°Gently~¡± While the youngest imitated his tone and touched it, they also admired his glittery costume. ¡°Wow¡­¡± Woojoo was especially moved. Amazing. The clothes were really pretty. They were glittery and every time he moved, they reflected the light in rainbow colors. It was like a beautiful sight of a silk carp ascending to heaven and sprinkling five-colored rays. ¡°Guys.¡± Woojoo looked at him dreamily and said, ¡°Can I¡­¡± ¡°No.¡± Bijoo said firmly, ¡°I can¡¯t allow that.¡± ¡°Bijoo, you know what I¡¯m going to say?¡± ¡°You want to try it on in casual clothes, right? You can¡¯t, Hyung.¡± ¡°Then.¡± ¡°You can¡¯t wear the costume either.¡± ¡°I gave up the floral pattern for you guys¡­¡± Woojoo drooped his shoulders and made a sullen face. Bijoo hesitated and fiddled with his hands. He thought he had seeded, but Rihyuk encouraged Bijoo not to give in. Hmph. Really hmph. Then, Lisa, who had been ncing at them from nearby, timidly joined in. ¡°Can I¡­¡± ¡°Yes, touch it. Touch it.¡± Lisa also gently stroked the glitter and widened her eyes. ¡°Pretty.¡± Song Bohyung proudly showed off his hit item. ¡°Isn¡¯t it tempting? I got it from Italy.¡± ¡°Bohyung, that¡¯s thepany name.¡± They all pped and burst intoughter. Song Bohyung scratched the back of his head andughed. He was as easygoing as ever. Song Bohyung. He was a nobodyst summer, but now he was a rising star in the trot world. ¡°So, you see. I thought it was myst album and I just released it, but it hit the jackpot.¡± He said it was hisst chance when he was wondering if he should continue his life as an unknown singer. His name went up on the charts, and the trot songs he released afterwards also gained poprity with their addictive melodies. He was one of the most recognized among the young trot singers these days. Usually, people¡¯s gait and shoulder movements changed at this point, but he was no different from before. Song Bohyung pointed his index finger and said, ¡°I came to a conclusion. This is a bubble that will pop soon. I shouldn¡¯t be greedy and suck up the honey at times like this.¡± The people in the room agreed andughed at his wise saying that he should be humble and suck up the honey as much as possible. It was nice. Lisa and Song Bohyung were both popr with the public. Of course, if they only looked at the music performance, they also did well with Fireworks and Masquerade. Especially Masquerade, it was so popr that anyone who was interested in music would know. The video views, the steady response from the overseas K-pop fandom, and so on. Recently, Woojoo was surprised by the poprity of Masquerade when he heard about the downloads and streaming counts from the management support team. -Sir, this looks like a typo. There¡¯s an extra zero. -That¡¯s right. -¡­! They were the most popr rookie group among the idol fans. Even in terms of fandom, they had more fans than all the other singers who appeared on this showbined. It was thanks to their Souffles that they could be here with confidence and dignity, without being ignored. The power of idols came from their fans, after all. But despite all these achievements, they were thest in public recognition, which was arguably the most important aspect. That was why Woojoo was worried that they might get snubbed if they showed up, but luckily they seemed to meet some nice people. Woojoo didn¡¯t know what kind of people Lisa and Song Bohyung were in reality, but they felt friendly and kind at first impression. Of course, sadly, not everyone was like that. ¡°Hello!¡± ¡°Yes.¡± The four men and women who nodded their heads in response to Lisa and Song Bohyung¡¯s greetings entered the room. They were wearing leather jackets and had piercings on their faces like dots. They were Jo Yuri Band, a rock band that was gaining huge poprity with their excellent musical skills and mass appeal. Their vocal skills were also great, and they were more famous than the three of thembined. ¡°Hello, Sun¡­¡± Woojoo greeted them cheerfully as they passed by them, but they just walked past them. They sat down as if they didn¡¯t exist, and Woojoo¡¯s siblings looked at him. Woojoo smiled and greeted them again. ¡°Hello, Sunbae-nims.¡± ¡°¡­¡± Their eyes turned to them. Their eyes looked squinty because of the smoky makeup. Why were they staring at them like that? The man in the middle with a grumpy expression, Jo Yuri, brushed his jacket shoulder and said casually, ¡°Isn¡¯t Sunbae-nim a word you use for someone who works in the same field as you?¡± He didn¡¯t say anything else after that. Woojoo told his siblings to sit down with a smile, as they made embarrassed faces. What could they do if they didn¡¯t want to be treated as seniors? Woojoo just smiled softly. Considering that they were the youngest among the cast, he thought it was best to deal with them politely. ¡°Achoo!¡± Then, Song Bohyung, who was watching, sneezed and the four-member band¡¯s eyes turned to him. Song Bohyung smiled slyly and gave them a wink. ¡°Sorry. My nose is a bit sensitive to breaking the mood.¡± ¡°¡­¡± ¡°I didn¡¯t mean to sneeze, you know.¡± The people sitting across from them made ufortable expressions, but they didn¡¯t say anything. Song Bohyung smiled at them. New ck nodded their heads slightly in gratitude. ¡°Here, have some snacks, our juniors.¡± Lisa emphasized the word ¡®juniors¡¯ and handed them some snacks. She was too timid to say anything, but she gave them snacks with an angry expression that said, ¡®They¡¯re Lisa¡¯s fans, you know!¡¯ She was kind of cute. Woojoo felt proud of himself for being polite and respectful to them. The two singers seemed to like them more for being calm andposed. Woojoo thanked her again and turned to his siblings. ¡®Are you okay?¡¯ They smiled at his question. ¡®Don¡¯t worry.¡¯ They looked unfazed as they munched on cookies. Woojoo was relieved that they weren¡¯t upset. For a while, they had a warm time deleting the songs of Jo Yuri Band from their phones, led by Rihyuk. Woojoo was indifferent, to be honest. It wasn¡¯t surprising that they treated them badly, since they did the same to the other two established singers. Woojoo was just curious. Why did they show hostility to them, whom they met for the first time? Maybe they hated the idol industry or were immersed in their own world. But it turned out that they were neither. ¡°Hello, Sunbae-nim!¡± They all snorted when they saw them greeting the thest one to enter, Cha Woohyun. Their 90-degree bow was impressive. New ck thought they had no sense of hierarchy, but they onlycked it for the lower ones. Cha Woohyun only said one nd word to them who greeted him. ¡°Nice to meet you all.¡± Behind the giant of nearly 190 cm and his expressionless face, the production staff came in. Cha Woohyun, who was chatting with the PD, was the star of this program. He was one of the top three singers in the country, and he had a lot of experience and hit songs. He was also very active, so whenever a new drama aired, one of the OSTs would have his song. He was still in histe 30s, but he had a career that would make him worthy of being called a teacher in 10 years or so. ¡°¡­¡± Woojoo blinked for a moment when he saw Jo Yuri sticking to Cha Woohyun¡¯s side and talking to him. Song Bohyung covered his glittering clothes with his tongue, as if they had eyes. ¡°Hello.¡± The PD, who sat in the front seat, smiled at the singers. ¡°We sincerely wee you to join our Challenge, Legendary Song Discovery Team. Let¡¯s get along well for the next two months.¡± They pped and introduced ourselves warmly. Bad singer, Cha Woohyun. The rising star of trot, Song Bohyung. Musical actor, Lisa. Indie rock band, Jo Yuri Band. And rookie idol, New ck. After the five teams greeted each other. It was time to prepare for the actual shooting, and the cast headed to their assigned waiting rooms. ¡°Ju Won!¡± The PD called the assistant director. ¡°Where¡¯s the hidden camera we installed in the conference room?¡± They all stopped in their tracks. ¡°It¡¯s over there by the nt.¡± ¡°Oh, there. Take it and bring it. We need to edit and put in the part where the cast get to know each other.¡± ¡°¡­¡± As someone¡¯s face turned pale with shock, they suddenly felt a surge of excitement. Chapter 187: Chapter 187: Trantor: MarcTempest Editor: Rxel Chapter 187 Jo Yuri walked briskly towards the PD. Woojoo had never seen anyone look so anxious before. ¡°PD-nim.¡± He pointed at the flower pot with a trembling finger. ¡°Was there a hidden camera installed there?¡± ¡°Yes,¡± the PD answered calmly. ¡°Viewers these days like realism. The participants have to be unaware of the camera to give a more genuine impression.¡±There was someone who was too genuine. While they stopped to watch, the PD narrowed his eyes as if he sensed something. ¡°Yuri-ssi.¡± ¡°Yes, PD-nim.¡± ¡°Why are you reacting like that? Is there something in there that shouldn¡¯t be broadcasted?¡± ¡°No, but¡­¡± Jo Yuri said with an awkward smile, ¡°There¡¯s a little bit of content that I¡¯d like to ask you to edit¡­¡± ¡°Edit?¡± ¡°Yes, PD-nim.¡± At that moment, the PD¡¯s face hardened. ¡°Yuri-ssi. This doesn¡¯t seem right.¡± ¡°¡­¡± ¡°Do you think it¡¯s appropriate to ask the PD to cut or change things with editing?¡± There were superiors in every field that shouldn¡¯t be messed with. The entertainment industry also had such superiors, and the broadcast station PDs were among the top. They were the ones who decided how to cast and present the celebrities on screen. ¡°That really got them.¡± Woojoo heard Song Bohyung¡¯s murmur. Jo Yuri Band¡¯s behavior had clearly offended the PD. The rock band that acted arrogantly towards the other participants looked like mice in front of a cat. Woojoo whispered to them, ¡°Let¡¯s go.¡± ¡°Yes, Hyung.¡± Afraid of getting burned by the sparks, all the participants quickly left the meeting room. ¡°See youter, Sunbae-nims.¡± Woojoo bowed his head to Lisa and Song Bohyung and headed to the waiting room with the managers. Meanwhile, behind me, the PD¡¯s low but clear voice echoed eerily. Bijoo asked, ¡°They¡¯ll edit their part, right?¡± ¡°They will. Probably.¡± If it was a cable survival show that used all kinds of devilish editing to boost ratings, he wouldn¡¯t know. But this time, the purpose of the Challenge, Legendary Song Discovery Team was to delete any controversial remarks. They would probably cut out Jo Yuri Band¡¯s part entirely from the friendship section. Rihyuk made a sour face. ¡°I don¡¯t like it. It¡¯s just going to be broadcasted and we¡¯ll get bashed. I almost said what I wanted to say earlier.¡± ¡°You held back well. How did you do it?¡± ¡°It¡¯ll be satisfying for a moment, but I can¡¯t handle the consequences. And¡­¡± Rihyuk hesitated. ¡°I can¡¯t let the members suffer because of me. If it was like before, I would have snapped¡­ What, why are you looking at me like that?¡± ¡°Because you¡¯re admirable.¡± ¡°Seriously, stop making that grandfather-like expression.¡± Woojoo lifted his arm to give a wingman to the grumbling Samdak. ¡°No way.¡± Rihyuk blocked it himself, but that arm was a fake. Woojoo gave him a shoulder hug with the other arm and smiled. ¡°You¡¯re the one who¡¯s hopeless.¡± He chuckled at the sight of him sighing with a resigned face. He said to the siblings who were walking with him in the hallway, ¡°You know it doesn¡¯t matter whether the broadcast is on or off. They already suffered a big loss from their side.¡± ¡°That¡¯s true.¡± Junghyun thought for a while and said, ¡°The PD and the writers will see what they did on camera.¡± ¡°Once they see it, their first impression will change too.¡± It was a disaster for the Jo Yuri band, no matter what. It was natural that celebrities had different images for real and for broadcast. But if they acted sweet in front of the production team and did that behind their backs, they would lose their nerve. No matter how nice they were to them, it was hard to like someone who changed their attitude depending on the person. And that part also affected the editing and filming, whether they knew it or not. Broadcasting was also done by people. And this story would also reach the ears of the senior guest, Cha Woohyun. Woojoo didn¡¯t know what reaction he would show, but it was clear that he wouldn¡¯t be friendly. In a situation where they ignored the other guests who were worse off than them, they were also isted from the rest who wanted to look good. Well. He didn¡¯t feel sorry for them. He only remembered the wise words of Mrs. Kim Deoksoon, who said that you had to be nice all the time. ¡°Let¡¯s end that story here.¡± The indie band that would get a bad image from the production team by being mean to others was no longer of interest to him. Woojoo entered the waiting room with ¡®New ck¡¯ written on it and said while unpacking with the other staff, ¡°The important thing is thepetition ahead.¡± The amount was also important, but this ¡®Challenge, Legendary Song Discovery Team¡¯ had its focus more on music than entertainment. That was why it didn¡¯t matter who picked a fight with them. The ranking was determined by musical skills. ¡°It¡¯s a program that values songs. We don¡¯t need to worry about anything else. We just have to sing well.¡± ¡°I think so too.¡± ¡°Show them how good you are, Hyungs. I¡¯ll try hard to catch up.¡± The members agreed. Woojoo sat on the waiting room chair and got his makeup done, and with his hand, he rotated the jelly bag and picked one out while discussing the contents of the uing broadcast seriously. Woojoo spotted someone who had been sulking in a corner. ¡°Minki Hyung?¡± Their manager was leaning his head against the wall, looking miserable. ¡°¡­I¡¯m done for.¡± ¡°Oh. Right.¡± Woojoo remembered that they had talked about LisaLover for about 10 minutes earlier. They gathered around Minki Hyung and tried tofort him. ¡°That¡¯s right. You didn¡¯t do anything wrong, Manager. You were just a fan of someone.¡± ¡°Do you want some jelly?¡± ¡°Cheer up, Manager. We¡¯re rooting for you.¡± Minki Hyung thanked them and asked with a worried face, ¡°¡­Will this be on air?¡± ¡°Hold on.¡± Rihyuk spread his hands and asked, ¡°Truth or lie, choose what you want.¡± ¡°Truth.¡± ¡°Of course it will be on air.¡± They all nodded in agreement. ¡°If I were the PD, I would put this in for sure.¡± ¡°It¡¯s an amazing story. Someone who has been a fan of someone for a long time meets their singer as the manager of another celebrity. It¡¯s almost an epic of fate.¡± ¡°Wow, I can already hear the background music.¡± They chatted like people sitting around a bonfire. The bonfire was burning Minki Hyung¡¯s heart, and they were adding more firewood. Bijoo opened his eyes wide. ¡°Uh-oh, Manager, your eyes are moist.¡± He said with a sad face, ¡°Do you know how perfectly I did my job until now? If this goes on air, my parents will see it, my friends will see it¡­¡± Jiho smiled brightly and asked, ¡°What about your girlfriend?¡± ¡°Jiho.¡± ¡°Yes?¡± ¡°Sometimes I hate you.¡± The youngest puckered his lips after being dissed, and theyughed out loud. The first recording of took ce at the PBS headquarters. After finishing their makeup and dressing up neatly, the five teams rushed onto the stage and took their ces. ¡°Hello.¡± The main MC of the program was Baek Sangjung. He was a famous MC with a great sense of entertainment,ing from an announcer background. He nced at the cue cards while holding the microphone under his arm and smiled politely at the cast. ¡°Please do well in the recording.¡± He made a brief greeting and then looked at the cue cards again, discussing the lead-in with the writers. Bijoo covered the microphone with his hand and whispered to Woojoo, ¡°Hyung, I¡¯m a little nervous.¡± ¡°Just rx.¡± ¡­Woojoo said, but he was also feeling a bit shaky. They had been on a popr variety show called Around the World With Dice before, but it was only a one-time appearance. That was how it was for all the shows they had been on. A guest star who shone for one episode. This was the first time they were on a terrestrialwork¡¯spetition program with a proper format. It felt like staying in a different hotel room every day and then suddenly moving in for a long-term stay. Woojoo was nervous. They had to do well. He wanted to make their group known to the general public by doing well on this¡­ No, wait. That kind of thinking would only make him more anxious. ¡°Hoo.¡± Woojoo tried to calm his mind by doing the Lamaze breathing he learned from YouTube, and Junghyun showed interest. ¡°What¡¯s that, Hyung?¡± ¡°Lamaze breathing. It helps you stabilize.¡± ¡°Oh. Teach me, please.¡± Woojoo taught the Lamaze breathing to his younger brothers who were shining their eyes. Soon, the five of them started doing it together. ¡°¡­What are you doing?¡± ¡°Lamaze breathing.¡± Songbo Hyung burst intoughter. ¡°Isn¡¯t that what you do when you give birth?¡± ¡°What?¡± ¡°It¡¯s the Lamaze method of childbirth. My wife told me about it and I know it too.¡± ¡°¡­Childbirth?¡± The younger ones turned around and looked at Woojoo with embarrassed faces, and he put his hands down in surprise. ¡°Oh, don¡¯t misunderstand. Guys. I just learned it from YouTube. It was rmended content on Masai Walking¡­¡± It was a breathing technique that a foreigner showed while doing yoga. At that time, Lisa, who was standing next to Woojoo, chuckled andughed. ¡°I just remembered, you were the one who Sowon always bragged about, the one who does a lot of embarrassing things.¡± ¡°Embarrassing things?¡± What kind of nonsense did that senior say¡­ The younger ones nodded in agreement, stroking their chins. ¡°It¡¯s not wrong.¡± ¡°It¡¯s embarrassing every day. Hyung¡¯s day starts with boo and ends with kke. How about that?¡± ¡°Next nickname is Boodik GoGo?¡± These guys were really. ¡°Hey, be quiet. This is all being picked up by the mic.¡± ¡°It¡¯s already being filmed.¡± Woojoo turned his head and saw an ENG camera capturing the nervous faces of the participants before the show. The PD here really liked realistic stuff. The managers gave Woojoo a thumbs up from afar, as if they were doing well, but it didn¡¯tfort him. ¡°I wanted to look cool on this show¡­¡± Song Bohyung and Lisa smiled at him as if they found him cute. Well, he guessed he could still make a good impression from now on. To show the general public a cool and charismatic side of him, not just the idol fans¡­ That was when his shadow loomed over him. Cha Woohyun. A man with a burly appearance that suited a soldier or a policeman more than a bad singer looked down at Woojoo and asked, ¡°I¡¯m curious about something.¡± For the first time, curiosity rose on his expressionless face. ¡°Lamaze breathing, is that diaphragmatic breathing?¡± ¡°Huh? Yes¡­¡± ¡°Show me how to do it. I want to see if it helps with singing.¡± As soon as they exchanged a few words, Woojoo got a sense of what kind of character he was. A music geek. Woojoo felt like he was the real deal. He was indifferent to everything else, but he showed interest in anything rted to singing, like vocal skills or techniques. ¡°Hee- hee- hoo.¡± ¡°Hee, hee, hoo.¡± And so, Woojoo¡¯s determination to start off with a bang was already thwarted. He wanted to say to the band of Jo Yuri, who looked enviously at him from afar. Do you want to switch? I can switch with you¡­ ¡¸ ¡®Challenge, Legendary Song Discovery Team!¡¯ First Recording, First Edit ¡¹ The camera captured the view of the Yeouido PBS Broadcasting Station across the road and the sidewalk lined with gloomy trees. A typewriter sound and a caption appear. [Friday, January 23, 2015, PBS Main Building Open Hall] The full shot of the open hall was shown. -Hello, viewers. The announcer Baek Sangjung, who was the MC, greeted them with a neat and lively outfit. -We¡¯re going on a musical journey to find hidden masterpieces, and I¡¯m Baek Sangjung, the MC who will apany you on this journey! Nice to meet you! The people gathered backstage cheered and pped. Among them, five idols danced a wee shoulder dance, making the people nearbyugh. -You¡¯ve already given me a warm wee. The announcer joked as he looked at the cue card. -Wow, I heard who wasing once, you know? But it¡¯s still an amazing lineup even if I look at it again. After raising the tension. One team at a time came up on stage and performed and introduced themselves. Lisa, who walked up like a model with a cool and confident stride, sang a powerful song full of high notes. In the middle, her splendid scenes as a musical actress were inserted. At the end of the cheering video of Jang Sowon, who shouted ¡®Unnie, fighting!¡¯ and screamed, the scene returned to the studio and the performers were amazed. Especially New ck, the main vocal smiled as if his ears were pleased, and the other members alsoughed. After the song was over, Lisa grabbed the microphone and showed a confident smile. -Hello, everyone! I¡¯m Lisa, a musical actress. This is my first time participating in apetition program, and I¡¯m so excited. After a brief talk with the MC. Next, Song Bohyung, the rising star of the trot genre, came up and sang his hit song. There were also personal interviews inserted in between. When the talk was going on after the song, the topic of his hometown came up. -The lyrics of the song ¡®Ddan Ddan Ddan¡¯ are rted to dialect, can you show us your dialect once? -I¡¯ll show you with a line from the movie ¡®ck Flower¡¯. You¡¯ll see, I¡¯m very good at it like a native. He used his hometown dialect to imitate a famous line from the movie in a cheeky way, and everyoneughed at his talent. It was nothing like the original. He insisted on doing more, and Baek Sangjung, who was leading the talk, sent him to the seat prepared on the stage and grabbed the microphone. -Yes, next person, or rather, next team, pleasee up. Five men in casual outfits came up on the stage. The lights went out and a spotlight shone on the members of New ck. A handsome man with a cold expression grabbed the microphone. From his sharp-looking mouth came a soft humming. Starting with the main vocal, the lead vocal added a note, and then the main dancer added another. They harmonized like an a cappe group. They all smiled at each other and then started singing without apaniment. New ck¡¯s debut song ¡®Fireworks¡¯ was ying in an a cappe version. While the other members made sounds like ¡®tsu tsu¡¯, the camera captured the member who was singing the current verse in a bust shot. They closed their eyes slightly and sang. It was a splendid performance like an a cappe group. It was obvious how well they did without any captions to emphasize it. They had dazzling looks, but their skills were even more impressive. The following reactions. Song Bohyung nodded his head and smiled as he watched New ck, and Lisa pped her hands like a mini seal. Jo Yuri Band awkwardly nodded their heads. Cha Woohyun stroked his chin as if he was interested. Then, Cha Woohyun¡¯s heavy voice was inserted. Cha Woohyun: It was an interesting stage. In front of a dark curtain, a giant man was talking to the production staff. The production staff were not visible from the camera angle, and the camera from below captured the man with a strong impression. Cha Woohyun: When you listen to the song, there is an energy that bursts out, you know. That was different. And this time, they seemed to have grown a level more. The writer¡¯s voice asked, ¡®Did they grow more?¡¯ Cha Woohyun: I first saw these guys at the Mango Awardsst year, and they improved a lot since then. Especially, Rihyuk, he was like a well-polished gem. I wanted to nurture him. As the praise from the luxury bad singer continued, the screen switched to Rihyuk¡¯s face in a close-up. Rihyuk: I love singing. As if someone told him to, he uttered an awkward line that made his ears turn red. At the same time, he scolded the members who teased him during the interview with a prickly attitude. But when he sang on the spot, Rihyuk was more serious than anyone, and he had a natural smile like a painting. -I really enjoyed listening to it. It was a treat for my ears. The five members cheered like minions at the announcer¡¯s praise. Baek Sangjung asked them. -How did you idols end up on the Challenge, Legendary Song Discovery Team? Do you have anything to say about that? All five of them raised their hands eagerly. -We can¡¯t hear from all of you. Due to time constraints, only one of you can speak. Then, four hands bent into a G-shape and pointed at one person. The owner of the dazzling beauty in the center smiled softly and grabbed the microphone. -Our group has always been interested in old songs, and we were impressed by the program concept of finding hidden songs and reinterpreting them in a modern way. Woojoo said. -And, personally, I also enjoy listening to old songs. -Really? -I think I know the most old songs among my peers¡­ -You¡¯re the same age as them? The MC joked. -Then, can we look forward to Woojoo¡¯s taste when you select the hidden songter? -Leave it to me. Woojoo smiled confidently. From the perspective of the viewers, he looked so assured that they might think, ¡®There are a truckload of people who know more old songs than him in that spot. What confidence is that?¡¯ As if to answer that question, the scenes that would follow were briefly edited and shown as a preview. -¡­! Along with the shocked faces of the cast. Chapter 188: Chapter 188: Trantor: MarcTempest Editor: Rxel Chapter 188 Woojoo sat down in the guest seat after introducing himself. There was a short break while the equipment was being set up for Jo Yuri Band¡¯s stage. Woojoo took a sip of water and breathed deeply. ¡°Phew.¡± He smoothed his forehead, careful not to mess up his styled hair. Cold sweat was dripping from his palm. It was his first fixed variety show, so he was nervous about hisments.Did he do well? Bijoo, who was ncing at Woojoo from the side, rummaged through his pocket and handed him a pink handkerchief. ¡°Here, Hyung.¡± ¡°Thanks.¡± ¡°I prepared a floral one for you because you said you were sad that you couldn¡¯t wear floral patterns these days,¡± he whispered, covering his mouth. Woojoo wiped the sweat off his forehead and smiled happily. ¡®Our Bijoo is the best.¡¯ Woojoo patted him on the face. Then they made faces at each other, saying ¡®Hyung is the best, dongsaeng is the best¡¯. The other siblings looked ufortable. ¡®They¡¯re too close.¡¯ ¡®Jealous.¡¯ Woojoo couldn¡¯t help butugh. ¡°You guys worked hard singing. Our siblings are the best.¡± ¡­That was his excuse to pat everyone on the shoulder once. Except for one person. ¡°What? Why did you just skip me?¡± ¡°You don¡¯t like it when someone touches you.¡± ¡°Don¡¯t you know that a handshake is okay?¡± He made a face as if he couldn¡¯t believe Woojoo¡¯sck of tact. How was he supposed to know that? But he soon smiled and shook hands with their Durumi. Woojoo looked at the stage where the drums and guitars were being set up and turned his attention back to the siblings. ¡°How was I? Did I do well with myment?¡± They all nodded. ¡°Well, it wasn¡¯t bad.¡± ¡°I guess it wasn¡¯t a ck history since you don¡¯t remember it.¡± ¡°I liked it. I really liked thement you made, Hyung.¡± There was one weird remark in the middle, but most of them were positive. Woojoo asked jokingly, ¡°Then how many points out of 10?¡± Serious answers came back right away. ¡°8.4 points.¡± ¡°Objectively, about 7.3. If you rate it like a movie, maybe 3.5 stars?¡± ¡°Early 8s.¡± ¡°I round it up to 10 points.¡± Woojoo smiled warmly at the siblings who gave himobjective evaluations without any pretense. ¡­Yeah. Whose fault was it? It was his fault for expecting ament like ¡®Hyung is 10 points in my heart¡¯. Woojoo shook his head and looked at the stage. The equipment was ready and the recording resumed. MC Baek Sangjung grabbed the microphone. -Yes, can the next teame up? The four-member band went up on stage and performed. The intense rock music echoed throughout the hall. Jo Yuri held the standing microphone and showed off her vocal skills, while the guitarist, bassist, and drummer made the music stand out with their excellent ying skills. They eximed in admiration. ¡°Wow¡­¡± It was the second time they saw Jo Yuri¡¯s band¡¯s stage. Woojoo had seen them at Ha Seungju¡¯s Music Cafe before, and he thought they were good then, but they were better now. It felt more musicallyplete. ¡°Good.¡± From Jo Yuri¡¯s cool high notes to the other members¡¯ ying skills. It was a skill that anyone would acknowledge. Their skills were probably among the top in the country. That was why they gave them a favorable response to the song itself, regardless of their personal feelings. They hummed along with the rhythm. The other guests also apuded Jo Yuri¡¯s band as fellow musicians. p, p, p. During the introduction time, the MC talked to Jo Yuri. -There¡¯s a story behind your name, Yuri, right? -Yes, a lot of people think I¡¯m a girl by just looking at my name¡­ My parents worked as diplomats in Russia. That¡¯s why I spent my childhood in Russia, where Yuri is a male name. He told them the story behind their band name as well. -As you can see, even a name like this can reflect prejudice. That¡¯s why I named my band after myself. It was my intention to break the fixed stereotypes of the world. He didn¡¯t sound cool, but he said something cool. Woojoo was secretly envious of him. When people asked them why they became New ck, we can only say ¡®Huh? That¡¯s actually a chicken story on the logo of a sweatshirt¡­¡¯. Now it was the most precious name in the world, but it was hard to reveal the behind story to others. Of course, Assistant Manager Hong squeezed her brain and made up a meaning for external use, saying ¡®It brings a new trend to the world¡¯. Then, Baek Sangjung looked at the cue card and showed interest. -This is interesting. He nced at Woojoo and turned his eyes to Jo Yuri. -I saw the pre-meeting interview content. The skill that Yuri wrote is exactly the same as Woojoo¡¯s. -¡­Yes? -¡®Music appreciation¡¯ is your skill? You must know a lot of songs. -Yes. That¡¯s right. Jo Yuri said confidently. -I like listening to music. I know a lot of songs. Especially about Korean rock music that started in the 1960s. -Oh, this is fun, isn¡¯t it? Baek Sangjung chuckled. -Let¡¯s have a verification timeter. Let¡¯s see if you two are really interested in old songs. Yes, thank you for your hard work! Then, Jo Yuri, who came to the guest seat with the band members, looked at Woojoo. He gave Woojoo a look that said ¡®You?¡¯. He seemed to have a bit of contempt andpetitiveness. The difference was that he didn¡¯t ignore Woojoopletely like when they first met. He seemed to recognize him as a rival because he saw their stage. Of course, he still had the expression that said ¡®How much do you know if you listen to the songs?¡¯ While the next stage was being set up, Woojoo smiled silently at him who was looking at him face to face. And¡­ He kept seeing the expressions of their siblings who looked at him pitifully. Their voices yed automatically in Woojoo¡¯s ears. ¡®You¡¯ll regret it.¡¯ ¡®Poor thing.¡¯ ¡®Pray for him in advance.¡¯ They looked at him as if they wanted him to be gentle. Woojoo didn¡¯t know what they thought of him. He wasn¡¯t someone who went crazy and ran wild when a song came out. He just liked music appreciation as usual. ¡°Wow¡­¡± Woojoo felt goosebumps all over. Every time Cha Woohyun sang a verse, the audience members who were sitting in the seats gasped and cheered. He was indeed the star singer of this program. Woojoo thought he sang well at the Mango Chart Awards, but it was amazing to hear him up close. He looked like a giant expressionless mustache man on the outside, but he looked like a different person when he sang. He had the ability to convey the lyrics perfectly through his expressions. He had a stable voice that seemed to be steady even on a shaky bridge. His voice went up and down freely, but not in a choppy way, but in a natural curve. ¡°He¡¯s crazy. He¡¯s really crazy.¡± Rihyuk kept eximing next to Woojoo. He was so excited that his pale face turned into a tomato prince. Normally, Woojoo would have teased him for his exaggerated reaction, but today they were all having the same reaction as him. It was truly an amazing skill. Everyone here was at stage 10, killing orcs, but it felt like a level 99 had entered and showed off the dragon he had killed. Of course, everyone here was talented, so there was not that much of a gap in reality, but it felt like that. He was overwhelming. But what the performers were really amazed by was the amount of practice behind his overwhelming skill. He had the skill that only a person with a natural talent for singing could achieve by eating and singing for over 10 years. He was humanly admirable. Woojoo thought about having topete with him in the contest, and he was already nervous and excited. -Wow¡­ The MC, Baek Sangjung, also forgot his role for a moment and opened his mouth wide. -You¡¯re not called the ¡®God of Singing¡¯ on the inte for nothing. -I¡¯m far from being a god. He answered seriously. Baek Sangjungughed and asked, thinking it was a joke. -Then, how do you rate yourself right now? -¡­ Cha Woohyun stroked his mustache, deep in thought. Then he said with a more serious face than anyone else. -About 73 percent. -Oh, I see¡­ He seemed to have a unique sense of humor. But there was someone who was happy and admiring the precise 73 percent figure. ¡°That¡¯s amazing.¡± Rihyuk whispered irrelevant stories. ¡°Isn¡¯t that really amazing? How much do you have to master singing to be able to calcte and make a witty joke with that figure¡­¡± ¡°¡­¡± ¡°I want to be like that senior too.¡± Woojoo suddenly thought of the future that would happen at the fan signing event. Their Souffl¨¦ was sitting with a happy face, and opposite him was Rihyuk, who had a nk expression like Cha Woohyun. -Rihyuk Oppa. You sing so well. -Not that much. ording to the current data, I¡¯m in the top 78 percent. -¡­? -It was a joke. Woojoo imagined a terrible future where a fan would leave them while losing interest. Woojoo decided as he watched Rihyuk, who was listening to Cha Woohyun¡¯s words as if he was going to write them down in his notebook. He had to prevent them from having a conversation. After the self-introductions of the cast members, Baek Sangjung said. -Yes, I¡¯ve seen the unique and cool personalities of the five teams. -It¡¯s time to enter the main game. -In line with the theme of finding hidden old songs, it¡¯s time to go and look for songs. He said. -First of all, before selecting the songs, I will reveal the year. had the following format. The production team set the year first. They prepared songs that they thought were hidden gems, regardless of genre, such as rock, folk, dance, etc. And then they randomly picked five out of the six songs. Baek Sangjung looked at the cue card and said. -Challenge, Legendary Song Discovery Team! The first year is¡­ The number appeared on the screen. ¡¾ 1990 ¡¿ Everyone looked at the screen with curiosity and smiled. -1990. Globally, it was the year when Germany was reunified and the Cold War ended. In Korea, it was the time when popr music flourished. The tension of the cast members eased a bit. Unlike the earlier songs that were hard to arrange in the style of the 2010s, the 90s songs were less burdensome. Then the production team handed the pouch with the lottery to the MC. -Now, it¡¯s time to pick the songs. In here are the songs that you have to prepare for the next two weeks. Song selection, one of the most important things in apetition program. Everyone had a nervous expression on their faces as the system distributed them randomly. -First, Lisa, pleasee out. Lisa, who was taking a deep breath, confidently pulled out a lottery. She unfolded the crumpled paper, and there was a title that made everyone tilt their heads. ¡º Ttolong Ttolong ¡» Baek Sangjung grabbed the microphone and smiled. -Ttolong Ttolong. I¡¯ve never heard of this title before. Shall we all listen to it together? Soon, a sweet voice rang out through the speaker. ?Ttolong Ttolong? Everyone blinked their eyes. ?Ttolong Ttolong Ttororong ?The dew is rolling down It was a children¡¯s song. All the cast members burst intoughter and Lisa looked miserable. The MC also cooled his head with a cue card. -How do you feel, Lisa? -It¡¯s a children¡¯s song. How am I supposed to pull this off? ¡­I heard the genre was very diverse, but it was true¡­ -Yes, it¡¯s amazing, isn¡¯t it? Then Baek Sangjung turned his head to me as if he remembered something and joked. -How about you, music lovers? Do you know what song this is? -¡­Uh. Jo Yuri grabbed the microphone with a bewildered face. -To be honest, I don¡¯t know. Because it¡¯s a children¡¯s song¡­ -What about you, Woojoo? Woojoo nodded and said, ¡°At first I was doubtful, but after listening to the song, I think I know. Isn¡¯t it the song that won the grand prize at the PBS Children¡¯s Song Contest in 1990?¡± -¡­ At that moment, everyone looked at him. -¡­? They had confused faces, like ¡®What is he talking about?¡¯ or ¡®Did I hear that wrong?¡¯ Even the production staff had expressions like ¡®That¡¯s not it¡­¡¯ Only their kids smiled proudly, saying ¡®This is our novi¡¯. Baek Sangjung asked again. -Do you know this? ¡°Yes.¡± -How¡­? No, first of all, we need to check the answer. PD! Is Woojoo¡¯s story correct? The main PD who was standing behind the camera nodded. He also looked flustered. Baek Sangjung turned his head sharply. -How did you know? ¡°I¡¯ve heard it before. I used to dream of being aposer instead of an idol.¡± Woojoo exined how he knew this song. In a moderate way. When he started studyingposition, his goal was idol music, but he thought realistically about what he had to do to make a lot of money. Then he had a phase where he thought ¡®Make money with children¡¯s songs¡­?¡¯ For example, making addictive children¡¯s songs for babies and bing a YouTube millionaire. Or creating a luby channel. That was why he was obsessed with children¡¯s songs and collected all kinds of songs. Maybe it was because of his personality that he saw things through once he got into them. He was so absorbed that he said to his junior at lunchtime, ¡®Who are you, momma will bring you to eat¡¯. Ddorong-ddorong was the song he heard then. Baek Sangjung said with an admiring face. -Wow, that wasn¡¯t unfounded confidence. You even got the title of the 90s children¡¯s song right. ¡°I was lucky. Besides, it¡¯s a famous song that won the grand prize¡­¡± -Lisa looks very curious about that song. -Yes. I was worried about how to prepare for the performance. Lisa nodded. -I¡¯ll have to ask Woojooter when the shooting is over. As their younger siblings made expressions like ¡®Oh¡­¡¯, ¡®Why?¡¯, ¡®Howe?¡¯, Woojoo gave them a wink. Fortunately, the songs that came out next were ones that the other senior singers also knew quite well. They had a talk on various topics, such as sharing their impressions of the songs, guessing who sang them, and so on. Cha Woohyun said. -It¡¯s Teacher Eunsera¡¯s song. I know this one as ¡®The Flower of Betrayal¡¯, but the song from the previous year was¡­ ¡°It¡¯s The Flower of Purity.¡± -Right, that one¡­ Wait a minute. Cha Woohyun nodded and then widened his eyes. -You know that? ¡°Yes, because she¡¯s my favorite senior singer.¡± Cha Woohyun and Woojoo joined forces to unravel the stories behind Eunsera¡¯s flower trilogy, and everyone listened with interest. It was a simr reaction to when they enjoyed listening to Chef Park Jaewoo exin the origins of the food at Patisserie Korea a while ago. It was like that afterwards, too. When an unfamiliar song came out and someone spoke up, Woojoo cautiously chimed in. As humbly as possible. At first, they were puzzled and said ¡®What?¡¯ but soon enough, they started asking him questions. Originally, it was a time for the cast to share their feelings and opinions about thepetition songs, but somehow the atmosphere turned into a corner like ¡®A Musical Journey with Dr. Woojoo¡¯. Song Bohyung said. -Woojoo, you seem to know more than me, both in speaking and in knowledge. Cha Woohyun intervened. -You look older than me, too. The othersughed. The MC was pushing it, too, and it seemed like he was trying to make Woojoo into an old-timer position. Woojoo wanted to vehemently refuse, but they already treated him like an old man who cut songs. And their kids smiled happily at that reaction. They looked like a cat-sitter who got a lot of likes on their cat pictures. -¡­ While everyone was having fun talking, Jo Yuri blinked their eyes like a honey-eating mute. He did tell an interesting story when a rock song came out in the middle, but other than that, he had nothing to say. Unlike Woojoo, who listened to anything and everything, he seemed to listen only to his own field. He wasn¡¯t very good at entertainment or speaking, either, so it felt a bit awkward. Normally, Woojoo would have spoken to him out of courtesy to get him involved in the conversation, but he just left him alone. And finally, thest two lots were given to them, thest ones. -Well, then, it¡¯s time for New ck to draw their lot. They rushed out. The younger ones leaned their chins or hands on Woojoo¡¯s shoulder and huddled together. They looked like they were wishing on a statue, murmuring their wishes. ¡°Go, Woojoomon.¡± With the support of Junghyun, Woojoo drew a lot. And then, a song titled ¡®Life¡¯ came out. He was familiar with the calm intro. Hmm¡­? Who sang this song again? As Woojoo closed his eyes slightly to enjoy the song, he saw a camera trying to zoom in on his face. He hoped he didn¡¯t make a weird expression¡­? Time is something that flows as it will It was a song with a trot-like feel, with a familiar vibrato technique, but not quite a trot. But regardless of the genre, it was a good song. Woojoo looked at his siblings as the serene voice expressed their thoughts on life. It seemed that a good song remained a good song even as time passed. He could see that their kids were also smiling and appreciating it. And this time, not only him, but all of them knew who sang this song. Baek Sangjung said. -The title is unfamiliar, but the singer who sang this song is someone I know, and you know, and everyone knows. New ck knows too, right? ¡°Yes.¡± Woojoo grabbed the microphone and said, ¡°It¡¯s someone we can¡¯t not know.¡± No Jaehyun. He was the original singer of ¡®Please Stay With Me¡¯, the song they sang at the year-end evaluation, and a legendary singer who had retired. His song was the mission song they had to perform this time. ¡®Good.¡¯ Woojoo was worried if they could handle the theme of the song well, but it was a very satisfying choice. No matter what songs were in the other slips that he didn¡¯t pick, there couldn¡¯t be a song that he liked more than this one. Woojoo was also showing off to his siblings with a ¡®See? My picking skills?¡¯ expression. -What¡¯s the other song? At Song Bohyung¡¯s question, the MC unfolded the remaining slip. ¡°¡­!¡± As his siblings looked at him, Baek Sangjung told him what was on the slip that he didn¡¯t pick. -It¡¯s ¡®Deoksoon-ah¡¯ by Yoo Myungdeok. ¡°¡­¡± His siblings held back theirughter as he blinked his eyes. Chapter 189: Chapter 189: Trantor: MarcTempest Editor: Rxel Chapter 189 Woojoo should have picked that one! That one! His siblingsughed at him, either smirking or covering their mouths with their hands, as he stood there with a regretful expression. ¡°You said you were good at choosing, right?¡± ¡°¡­¡± He couldn¡¯t hear the youngest¡¯s teasing.¡®Deoksoon?¡¯ That would have been a jackpot. Not only for the broadcast time, but also for their Kim Deoksoon. It was a chance to catch two Deoksoons, no, two rabbits at once! As Woojoo returned to his seat, Junghyun and Bijoo silently patted his shoulder. ¡°¡­Huh? Why did you suddenly look so sad?¡± Woojoo smiled and answered Lisa¡¯s question. ¡°It¡¯s nothing, Sunbae-nim.¡± He lifted his slightly drooping shoulders and smiled at the corner of his mouth. It might have been different if it was a personal broadcast with the fans. But there was not enough shooting time, and it was not the atmosphere to tell personal stories about his grandmother. He consoled himself and chatted with the cast. As the song yed again, everyone eximed. ¡°It¡¯s really a hidden gem. I know quite a lot of songs by Teacher No Jaehyun, but this song is very unfamiliar to me.¡± ¡°The soul and the R&B elements in it are amazing even if you listen to it now. Wow. He was really ahead of his time.¡± ¡°Do you know this song, Woojoo?¡± Woojoo nodded. ¡°I¡¯ve heard it before. I don¡¯t know much about it, though¡­¡± Starting from his answer, the siblings also shared their impressions. Warm. Sad. And so on. Like the other singers, he liked the melody and the emotion of the song. However. ¡°It¡¯s hard, isn¡¯t it?¡± Cha Woohyun said calmly, stroking his mustache. ¡°It¡¯s going to be tough. The song is not ordinary.¡± ¡°It¡¯s very difficult.¡± Song Bohyung also agreed with a serious face. ¡°The theme of the song is a reflection on the past life, so it¡¯s hard for young kids to express that emotion. And there¡¯s also the offbeat characteristic of Teacher No Jaehyun¡¯s songs. It¡¯s hard to digest.¡± ¡°Hmm, it¡¯s hard. Do you want to switch with me?¡± Lisa, who got the children¡¯s song ¡®Ttolong Ttolong¡¯, looked at them with a pitiful expression and made themugh for a moment. Woojoo said with a smile, ¡°As the Sunbae-nims said, it doesn¡¯t seem easy. I wonder how I should arrange it¡­¡± As everyone said, it was a very difficult song. There was the inner difficulty of the offbeat and the emotion, but more than that, there was the external pressure. was a program with the concept of reviving old songs that people didn¡¯t know well in a modern way. That was why the name ¡®No Jaehyun¡¯ was a double-edged sword. Among the original singers of the songs that came out today, he had the highest recognition, so he attracted a lot of attention from the people. It was a good choice in terms of poprity. But as a famous singer, the audience would have a stricter standard for him. The original singer of the song they wouldpare themselves to was a legendary one, so if they fell short of the expectations even a little bit, they would face harsh criticism. That was why it was a time to be nervous. ¡°Wow, this is tough,¡± Jo Yuri joked. ¡°Are you going to give up halfway because it¡¯s too hard?¡± He smiled and gave a friendly remark. ¡°I hope you all do well.¡± ¡°Thank you.¡± Woojoo smiled on the outside, but inside he felt a surge of anger. It was a subtle provocation, even though there was nothing wrong with what he said. The remark about giving up halfway implied that he didn¡¯t see them as equals. He wouldn¡¯t have said that to Cha Woohyun or Lisa. Woojoo looked into his eyes and smiled. ¡°Thank you. I¡¯ll try my best.¡± He was grateful. Really. Thanks to him, the tension he had for the song flew away. Instead of tension and excitement, he felt a crazy desire to win. It had been a long time since he wanted to crush someone like this, since hepeted with the Street Boys before debut. The members also smiled for the broadcast, but their eyes were zing with fire. ¡®We¡¯ll beat them.¡¯ ¡®I¡¯ll practice like a dog, for real.¡¯ While they were burning withpetitive spirit, Lisa changed the topic with a clenched jaw. ¡°I¡¯m looking forward to it. I¡¯m already excited to hear the behind stories of these songs.¡± ¡°Me too. I¡¯m thrilled, really.¡± The only thing left was two weeks of individual practice filming. But there was something different about this program from the usualpetition shows, which was meeting the original singers. They would meet the singers,posers, or lyricists of the songs and listen to the behind stories of the songs. The concept was not to use thepetition songs as mere tools to show off the singers¡¯ skills, but to highlight the stories that were contained in the songs themselves. Each of them felt anticipation as they met the old senior singers orposers and shared stories with them. Song Bohyung, who was brushing off the dust on his glittering clothes, asked, ¡°MC, can I ask you something?¡± -Yes, go ahead. ¡°What about the other one of the six songs? Are you just not going to sing it?¡± It was what everyone was thinking. It was a precious song too. Wasn¡¯t it a pity that it couldn¡¯t be on the show just because it lost the draw? -Oh, that part. The MC, Baek Sangjung, grabbed the microphone with a face that said he expected it. -You were curious, right? That one of the six songs would be buried. He smiled and said. -That¡¯s what I¡¯m talking about. Everyone nodded. -So the production team has prepared something. The songs that are excluded from the lottery, including Yu Myungdeok¡¯s ¡®Deoksoon-ah¡¯, will be performed as special stages by the winners of each round. At that moment, Woojoo¡¯s eyes sparkled more than anyone else¡¯s. What? Special stage? Woojoo turned his head sharply¡­ Ah. He felt a lump in his throat. He raised his hand to his neck and looked at him with watery eyes. ¡°MC-nim!¡± Woojoo raised his hand and asked, ¡°The reward for the first ce stage?¡± -Yes, after all the episodes of this Challenge, Legendary Song Discovery Team! are over, we will prepare a special stage in the form of a concert at the end of the season. The remaining songs will be given to the participants who won the first ce in each round. In short, after finishing all the rounds that areposed of round 1, round 2, and so on, when the final round came. They would use the remaining songs to put on a stage. -The result of thest stage will depend on how you do it! The singers widened their eyes. -If one singer wins the first ce in five rounds, they might be able to hold a solo concert in thest round. On the other hand, someone might not be able to do any stage at all. Everyone swallowed their saliva. Having no stage in thest round meant that they never won the first ce throughout thepetition, and that was a blow to their pride as singers. On the other hand, they were also tempted by the reward. But there was one more thing that was more important to Woojoo than anything else¡­ ¡®I must win the first round.¡¯ It was an opportunity he couldn¡¯t miss. To be able to do the song ¡®Deoksoon-ah¡¯ as a special stage. He pictured himself holding a microphone in a flower-filled future. Definitely! Kim Deoksoon, no, that song was his. As soon as the first recording was over, the broadcast schedule was set. February 4th. It was Wednesday, ten dayster from now, the date of the first round. ¡°That¡¯s tight.¡± Seokhwan Hyung, who was adjusting the schedule in the office, clicked his tongue. Then he gave Woojoo a worried look. ¡°Can you make it in time?¡± ¡°I can do it.¡± Woojoo nodded. ¡°I just have to do it. It¡¯s not impossible. It¡¯ll be a bit hard, but that¡¯s just a matter of grinding my siblings¡­¡± ¡°Grinding?¡± ¡°You heard it wrong. I just have to reduce the sleeping time and practice.¡± ¡°I don¡¯t know if you¡¯ll copse.¡± He sighed as he looked at his diary. It was because of the recording schedule that was nned right before thepetition. ¡°We can¡¯t avoid this. What if you get hurt in the middle and it affects thepetition?¡± The schedule that their manager was talking about was the ¡®Idol Sports Festival¡¯, a special broadcast that TBC station was preparing for the Lunar New Year. It was a kind of athleticpetition that invited idol teams that were currently active. The official name was Idol Sports Festival, but no one called it that. The fans had a nickname for it: ¡®Dollimpic¡¯. Regardless of the ratings or the buzz, it was a program that had a bad reputation among the fans. They had to squeeze in their appearance between their hectic schedules, and there were many cases of injuries due to thepetition between the teams. Thepany was also worried about it. ¡°I¡¯m really worried. This is why we don¡¯t send you guys to variety shows that use your bodies¡­¡± ¡°I think of it as an opportunity.¡± Woojoo answered with a smile, ¡°It¡¯s not like we can refuse to go if we want to. It¡¯s a chance to impress the viewers if we do well.¡± ¡°That¡¯s true in theory.¡± ¡°You don¡¯t have to worry too much, Hyung. We¡¯re pros now. We¡¯ll manage our condition well, so don¡¯t stress over it.¡± ¡°¡­Okay.¡± Seokhwan Hyung sighed briefly. He seemed to be very concerned that they had to record a program that would wear them out while they were preparing for apetition with the star-like senior singers. If they got injured, they could lose a whole round of thepetition. He adjusted his sses. ¡°Anyway, that¡¯s that. How¡¯s the preparation going?¡± ¡°I¡¯m exchanging ideas with the A&R Team about the basic concept. We have a rough direction.¡± ¡°¡­Sigh, they must be having a hard time.¡± Woojoo narrowed his eyes. ¡°Huh? What did you say?¡± ¡°Nothing. Nothing at all.¡± Woojoo smiled faintly as he watched the manager shrug it off. ¡°I¡¯m almost done with the preparation, but it¡¯s not confirmed yet. I have to meet with Teacher No Jaehyun and film it first. The idea might change as we talk about the song.¡± He nodded. Then he said ¡®ah¡¯ and told him the news. ¡°By the way, your schedule for the Legendary Song Discovery show has been set. We¡¯re filming it next week¡­ I¡¯m sorry, but you have to take a ne again.¡± ¡°¡­What, what?¡± Woojoo¡¯s face turned anxious. ¡°Why? Why is that?¡± ¡°Teacher No Jaehyun lives in a ce where you have to take a ne to get there.¡± Woojoo blinked his eyes. ¡°Where does he live? Overseas?¡± ¡°No.¡± Seokhwan Hyung answered. ¡°Jeju Ind.¡± ¡°¡­Oh.¡± Woojoo was silent for a while. ¡°Can¡¯t we go by boat?¡± Tap. Tap. -How to go to Jeju Ind by boat Tap. -Jeju Ind boat schedule -Why does the boat take so long -I hate airnes Tap. Tap. His fingers moved swiftly. On the smartphone screen, the portal site¡¯s past search words were filled with ¡®Jeju Ind¡¯ and ¡®boat¡¯. Thud. Woojoo turned his head and saw a fluffy head resting on his shoulder. ¡°What are you looking at?¡± ¡°I¡¯m looking at how to go to Jeju Ind by boat.¡± ¡°Really? You can go to Jeju Ind by boat?¡± ¡°Little one. How do you think our ancestors traveled between the maind and the ind in the old days¡­?¡± He nodded his head and said, ¡®Oh, right,¡¯ as he heard that. Bijoo asked, ¡°Doesn¡¯t it take a long time to go by boat?¡± ¡°It takes twelve hours from Busan. If we leave at 7 p.m., we¡¯ll arrive the next morning.¡± ¡°¡­Then it¡¯s hard.¡± Bijoo smiled at Woojoo. ¡°Hyung, eat this.¡± Junghyun gave Woojoo a nutrition jelly with a ¡®poor¡­¡¯ expression and put it in his mouth. Rihyuk licked his tongue and said, ¡°What¡¯s the point of searching that now? We¡¯re at the airport.¡± ¡°¡­¡± ¡°Just close your eyes and get on.¡± That was what they did. They were at Gimpo Airport. They had even passed the departure gate and were standing in line to board the ne. Woojoo was nervous as the line got shorter. His heart thumped every time he saw the ne engine outside the window. He was more anxious and uneasy than when he faced the first monthly evaluation with ack of dance skills. He kept looking back at the exit, but he couldn¡¯t leave now¡­ ¡°Stay away from me, guys. I¡¯m not running away.¡± ¡°You never know,¡± Bijoo said. ¡°We¡¯re standing here as a precaution.¡± ¡°Right. I¡¯ll protect my ve.¡± ¡°¡­¡± They surrounded Woojoo like penguins, as if he would run away with the ne in front of him. ¡°I¡¯m not going. I¡¯m not running away.¡± ¡°Why are you backing away?¡± Woojoo coughed at Rihyuk¡¯s words. ¡°It¡¯s one of the Masai walking techniques.¡± ¡°Stop lying and get on quickly.¡± ¡°¡­¡± Woojoo ended up boarding the ne with a sad face. As he walked through the twisted boarding corridor like a road to hell, Junghyun put his hand on his shoulder and smiled kindly. ¡°If you ride the ne well this time, I¡¯ll buy you ck pork cutlet in Jeju Ind. Hyung.¡± ¡°Junghyun.¡± Woojoo asked him seriously, ¡°A big one?¡± ¡°A big one.¡± ¡°Okay, let¡¯s go.¡± Rihyuk shook his head. ¡°How old are you? Seriously.¡± Woojoo whispered to Junghyun. ¡°Don¡¯t buy him anything. Junghyun.¡± ¡°Yes, Hyung.¡± ¡°Tell him to eat squid stir-fry.¡± Some other passengers who were walking by chuckled, but they weren¡¯tughing at him. Well, cutlet. Woojoo couldn¡¯t help butugh when he thought about it. But he felt a bit childish when he faced something scary. He was nervous. If there was a dimensional gate, he wanted to put his hand in it and hold hands with Mrs. Kim Deoksoon. His mind became a little calmer when he thought that far. The final goal of the first round of this audition program was first ce. He had to achieve that and get ¡®Deoksoon-ah¡¯. He thought he had to do it, so his mind was a little. ¡°Ugh.¡± ¡­It didn¡¯t get any better. Woojoo shivered as the ne started to take off. He really hated nes. He had experienced it once before because of the Taiwan schedule, but it was still painful to ride again. At least this flight was short, so he was relieved. ¡°Hello!¡± Woojoo greeted the production staff at Jeju International Airport. They were a small group of assistant directors, writers, and camera crew. On the way to Mr. Noh Jaehyun¡¯s house in a vige, the writer exined various things. ¡°Originally, the teacher lived in Seoul, but he his chronic illness recently worsened and he came to Jeju Ind for recuperation.¡± They asked with worried faces. ¡°Is he okay with filming?¡± ¡°Yes, he gave us permission himself. But he can¡¯t film for long.¡± ¡°Oh, okay¡­¡± ¡°Today¡¯s filming will be short and tight.¡± As Woojoo listened to the various precautions from the production crew, he faintly heard the sound of the waves crashing. It was a drizzling day. The car drove along the winding coastal road and entered a vige just as the sky cleared up. ¡°Wow.¡± The roofs were colorful under the morning sun. It looked like a foreign vige. It seemed more like a ce where outsiders came and built vis than a ce where locals lived for a long time. ¡°The houses are amazing.¡± ¡°They must be all vis. I see some empty ones too.¡± That was when they whispered to the youngest with mischief. ¡°Jiho, do you have a vi like this?¡± ¡°Um¡­¡± The youngest hesitated and said, ¡°The one in Gangneung is simr to this, but the one in Busan is bigger. No, wait. Maybe it¡¯s more like the one in Haenam?¡± ¡°¡­¡± ¡°Hey, don¡¯t look at me like that. I don¡¯t have that many, you know.¡± ¡°Show off.¡± Rihyuk made a sour face, and Jiho said, ¡°Oh, right. I told my dad about this. He said he wants to hang out with you guys at the vi sometime.¡± As soon as they heard that, they scolded Rihyuk. ¡°Hey, let him brag. I can¡¯t stand it.¡± ¡°Then you can¡¯t use it. Rihyuk.¡± ¡°Rihyuk will sleep outside the vi. I¡¯ll give you a mosquito.¡± ¡°¡­Wow, look at these guys changing their attitude.¡± Someone made a contemptuous face while the car arrived at arge two-story house in the corner of the vige. It was Mr. Noh Jaehyun¡¯s house. While the production crew was preparing the equipment, they took a deep breath and stretched their bodies. ¡°Ah, I¡¯m nervous.¡± ¡°Me too.¡± They felt their hearts pounding at the thought of meeting the person who made a mark in the history of Korean popr music. ¡°Let¡¯s start filming.¡± The ENG camera carried by the production crew set the angle, and they nodded and walked to the house. A neatly arrangedwn. They walked along the gravel path and stood in front of the entrance. The younger ones nodded and winked at Woojoo. Ding dong. A voice answered right away. -Who is it! A very weird voice came out. Before they could say anything, a hoarse voice with phlegm came out again. -Hey, who are you! But for a moment, Woojoo¡¯s lips didn¡¯t part. Maybe it was the faint familiarity in the voice. It was a weird voice, but it didn¡¯t make him tense. It felt rather warm and familiar. It was as if someone had aged their voice for over 50 years. That was how it felt. ¡°¡­¡± As soon as that thought crossed their mind, they both turned their heads to one side. Under the gray sky, a face shining brightly in white looked at them and frowned. -What are you looking at? -What¡¯s wrong with you? Why aren¡¯t you answering! They blinked their eyes at the voice that resonated strangely. Chapter 190: Chapter 190: Trantor: MarcTempest Editor: Rxel Chapter 190 -I should tell you who I am¡­ -Wait a minute! A stranger¡¯s voice interrupted Woojoo. Through the inte camera, they heard the voice of a middle-aged woman saying ¡°Oh my¡±. -Just a moment! I¡¯ll open the door for you! Soon, ady came out with a Busan ent. She introduced herself.¡°I¡¯m the one who takes care of the grandfather here.¡± ¡°Hello.¡± Woojoo entered the house with the production crew. Five pairs of socks shuffled on the wooden floor. They looked around and asked, ¡°Where is the teacher¡­?¡± ¡°He¡¯s in the living room.¡± But the living room was empty. As thedy tilted her head, a Busan voice came from another room. The camera followed them. When they got to the study, they finally met the person they had been waiting for. An annoyed sigh was heard. ¡°Oh dear.¡± ¡°Teacher, we¡¯re on air right now¡­¡± ¡°The broadcast is not important right now.¡± In the sunlit study, an old man was sitting in a wheelchair. Noh Jaehyun. The senior singer they had only seen in old videos or photos didn¡¯t look much different from when he retired. He had a wild face with a well-groomed white beard. He was dressed more formally than usual in a knit outfit, giving him a priest-like vibe. But his body in the wheelchair was thin and frail. What was he doing? He paid no attention to the broadcast camera and focused on something else. He was holding a book he had taken from the bookshelf. Rihyuk smiled at the title ¡®Silent Spring¡¯. ¡°That¡¯s Rachel Carson¡¯s book. It¡¯s a masterpiece.¡± He felt excited as he saw the books filling the study. Woojoo and his siblings stifled theirughter. When should they greet him? As they were looking for the right timing, Noh Jaehyun tapped the book cover and dust flew. ¡°The cleaning wasn¡¯t done properly.¡± ¡°I did it well.¡± Thedy protested, but Noh Jaehyun grumbled. ¡°No. I¡¯m right. It¡¯s not done enough.¡± He moved his wheelchair around the study as if to prove his point. He swiped the dust on a vase and showed his finger. ¡°See? It¡¯s full of dust.¡± ¡°Who¡¯s going to clean that far?¡± ¡°You have to do everything, even the small ces. If I leave it like this, this dust will get into my lungs. I¡¯ll get sick if I read books in this environment.¡± ¡°Ugh, stop nagging me.¡± ¡°It¡¯s not nagging, it¡¯s constructive advice. Ms. Kang. Haven¡¯t I told you many times? Just as a sound mind dwells in a sound body, a healthy environment makes a healthy person.¡± They blinked their eyes as they watched him preach the importance of cleaning. ¡®¡­It¡¯s Rihyuk!¡¯ This was Rihyuk. Woojoo didn¡¯t know why, but someone¡¯s face ovepped with the veteran singer¡¯s. Even the expression of thedy who was listening to his nagging indifferently was exactly like their reaction to Rihyuk. ¡°¡­¡± When they looked at someone, he also looked at them with a dumbfounded expression. ¡®What.¡¯ Then, the eyes of Noh Jaehyun-ssi, who was pouring out his nagging, turned to them behind the maid. ¡°Are you the people from the broadcast?¡± ¡°Yes, sir.¡± His pale and bushy eyebrows scanned them. Then, the big shot of the music industry, who was sitting in a wheelchair, slowly opened his mouth. ¡°Why are you standing there so nkly?¡± His faint and deep voice. When they stood awkwardly, Noh Jaehyun-ssi got angry. ¡°Hey, hurry up and sit on the sofa! It¡¯s ufortable to look up.¡± The first impression of the senior singer was exactly the same as someone they knew. ¡°Do you like tangerines?¡± ¡°Yes.¡± ¡°Here, have some.¡± He handed them a tangerine with his wrinkled hand and they took it awkwardly. Munch, munch. As they ate the tangerines like a hamster pack, Noh Jaehyun-ssi asked again as if he didn¡¯t like them. ¡°Tea? Do you like tea too?¡± ¡°Uh, it¡¯s okay¡­¡± ¡°Ms. Kang! Bring some tea!¡± Five cups of tea came out. ¡°Do you like bread too?¡± ¡°Um, I¡­¡± ¡°Ms. Kang!¡± Tangerine cake also came out in slices. ¡°Chocte?¡± ¡°Uh¡­¡± ¡°Ms. Kang!¡± The maid who was busy working in the kitchen shouted, ¡°Hey! Don¡¯t order me to do everything bit by bit! Do it all at once! All at once!¡± They shouldn¡¯t haveughed, but every time the old man in the wheelchair said ¡®Ms. Kang~!¡¯, New ck and the staff swallowed theirughter. He kept grumbling, but he also looked timidly at the maid¡¯s mood. He was somehow cute. Maybe it was because of that, but thedy also did everything she could for them with a smile, even though she rolled her eyes and said, ¡°Oh dear¡­¡± Teacher Noh Jaehyun coughed and said, ¡°Don¡¯t misunderstand.¡± ¡°Huh?¡± ¡°I¡¯m just treating you as guests, I¡¯m not a bad person.¡± He also had a habit of interpreting other people¡¯s friendly gazes negatively, just like someone else. ¡°Even though I look like this, I¡¯m good to her. There¡¯s no one in the country who gets paid more than our Ms. Kang.¡± ¡°That¡¯s true.¡± Thedy, who had been nodding her head gently, eximed, ¡°But who else would cater to our teacher¡¯s whims if not me?¡± ¡°What do you mean by that?¡± ¡°You¡¯re so picky about food, you alwaysin. And when I clean, you say you¡¯ll help me, but you just follow me around and nag¡­¡± ¡°Hmm, I just said a few words.¡± Teacher Noh Jaehyun waved his hand and told her to go rest when she tried to retort. ¡°That¡¯s what you do when you¡¯re losing.¡± They swallowed theirughter quietly as they watched thedy leave with the tray, saying that. They knew. They had someone like that in their team too. ¡°Ugh, this tastes awful.¡± Teacher Noh Jaehyun put down his teacup and grumbled, then turned his eyes to them. ¡°What are you guys doing now?¡± ¡°We¡¯re nning to perform a modern arrangement of your song.¡± ¡°Is it some kind of music contest?¡± ¡°Yes.¡± Woojoo spoke as the representative. ¡°It¡¯s an honor to be assigned your song. We¡¯ve always admired¡­¡± ¡°Enough of that.¡± He raised his finger. ¡°Be the first. The first.¡± ¡°¡­We¡¯ll try our best.¡± ¡°That¡¯s not enough. You have to be the first if you¡¯re going out with my song.¡± ¡°Then we¡¯ll be the first.¡± Only then did Teacher Noh Jaehyun stroke his beard with a satisfied face. ¡°Which song of mine are you doing?¡± ¡°It¡¯s a song called ¡®Life¡¯ from the album you released in 1990.¡± ¡°Life?¡± Teacher Noh Jaehyun tilted his head. ¡°Did I have a song like that?¡± ¡°¡­¡± ¡°Forgive me. I have so many songs.¡± That was true. Teacher Noh Jaehyun hadposed hundreds of songs as a singer-songwriter. In a situation where he had dozens of hit songs, he might not remember one of the songs on the album. That was when their main vocalist stepped up. ¡°This is the song, Teacher.¡± Rihyuk quickly caught the emotion and sang a short verse. Your sunshine Bes my memory On a serene night It willfort me His clear voice softly echoed in the spacious living room. It felt like their ears were being cleansed just by listening. Not only them, but also the writer who was watching from the side nodded his head without knowing. Teacher Noh Jaehyun, who was quietly enjoying the song, spoke. ¡°You¡¯re a kid who knows how to put emotion into a song. You learned well.¡± ¡°¡­¡± ¡°What¡¯s your name?¡± ¡°I, Seo¡­ Seo, Rihyuk, Teacher.¡± The ENG camera zoomed in on Rihyuk¡¯s face, which turned red in an instant. Teacher Noh Jaehyun shook his head. ¡°Don¡¯t be shy. You have the skill to deserve praise.¡± ¡°Th, thank you.¡± He bowed his head deeply, like a red radish. While that scene was being filmed, another camera captured their smiling faces. Of course. Their kid may have a bad personality, but he sang really well. ¡°I¡­¡± Rihyuk stuttered, ¡°I watched a lot of your videos, Teacher. You sing well too, and I respect you.¡± ¡°Uh, um, huhuhu.¡± The flustered singer looked at the air and gave an awkward smile. It was a scene where tomatoes were ripening together. ¡°Oh my, why is the heater so hot?¡± The veteran singer picked up a paper on the table and waved it like a fan. They also fanned their hands on both sides of Rihyuk¡¯s face to cool him down. That was when Teacher Noh Jaehyun, who was lost in thought, opened his lips. ¡°Life.¡± He nodded his head gently. ¡°I¡¯m starting to remember a little bit. Was it 20 years ago? I think it was a song I made when I was just fifty. Let me see. The record¡­¡± He called thedy and asked her to bring a notebook from the study. Teacher Noh Jaehyun put on his magnifying sses and beckoned them with his finger. Jiho looked at the contents and eximed. ¡°Wow, your handwriting is so pretty. My dad said that handwriting reveals a person¡¯s personality.¡± ¡°Ahem.¡± Teacher Noh Jaehyun coughed. ¡°Well, why are you praising me for something like this? Anyone can write like this.¡± ¡­But he wrote too well. The notebook was neatly filled with ideas, trials and errors about the song. "Here it is. Life." That was the partbeled ¡®Life'' in the index. The old singer took off his sses after reading it for a while, as if recalling his memories from his diary. "Read it to me." He asked, after giving a logical and detailed exnation about the song, "Who will do the arrangement? Did you ask theposer?" "I will do it, sir." "I see." He asked again, "Then I have one question for you. How did you like the song ¡®Life''?" "Um¡­." Woojoo looked around cautiously. He seemed to want him to be honest, but he wondered if he could really say what he thought. It would be fine if it was off the air, but this was a broadcast. Woojoo could be seen as a presumptuous idol singer who dared to judge the song of a veteran singer. But he urged Woojoo to answer. "Tell me honestly." "It was really good. I liked how it was calm but also expressed emotions in the chorus. I thought I was lucky to choose this song as mypetition song because it was so good." His siblings nodded as if they agreed, but he didn''t seem satisfied with Woojoo¡¯s answer. "Is that all?" "Um¡­." "Didn''t you see any ws in the song?" Woojoo hesitated and said, "A little, just a little bit¡­ It felt a bit nd." "I thought so. Where did you feel that?" "It felt like there was one melody missing in the whole song. If Ipare it to a blueprint, it was like a house that should have four pirs, but only had three." He was amazed when he first heard the song. ¡®Wow, such a hidden masterpiece¡­'' But the more he listened to it, the more subtle it became. It felt like something was missing. It was like when he first saw the source that became the basis of Fireworks. It looked perfect on the surface, but there was a hidden problem. The song ¡®Life'' by Noh Jaehyun-ssi looked like andscape painting that was not colored in some ces. Wait a minute. At first, Woojoo thought it was just his personal impression, but considering that he asked him so much, he came to a conclusion. "Did you make it like this on purpose?" "That''s right." He parted his lips. "The unfinished state of this song was my intention." * * * Silence fell in the living room. His siblings and the production staff looked surprised by the news that theirpetition song was ¡®unfinished''. But it wasn''t as shocking as being struck by lightning. The originalposer had publicly dered that ¡®Life¡¯ was iplete, but it was already of excellent quality as it was. Woojoo was just a little surprised. That the song they had to sing was unfinished. It was like trying to paint a different color on a sketch of an alreadypletedndscape painting, only to have the original artiste over and say, ¡®Hey, this is iplete. Actually, I have to draw clouds and trees in that empty space.¡¯ His throat was dry, so he reached for the teacup, but it was empty. ¡°Ms. Kang.¡± Teacher Noh Jaehyun broke the silence. ¡°Bring some drinks for the guests here. It¡¯s something I made a while ago.¡± Orange juice came out right away. The taste was a bit strange, but they didn¡¯t care. The other person started to talk. ¡°When I was making the song back then, I had this thought. They say that thendscape changes in ten years, but wouldn¡¯t life look different when you¡¯re fifty, sixty, or seventy?¡± ¡°¡­¡± ¡°I was only fifty, but I didn¡¯t think it was right to define what life was already. So I left out some of the melody lines that make up the song. So that I could fill in the nks whenever I needed to.¡± Woojoo asked as he sipped the juice, ¡°Then do you have a melody to fill in the iplete part?¡± ¡°No,¡± the other person said firmly. ¡°I tried to touch it again, but there were some awkward parts. I didn¡¯t even want to include it in the album, but thepany president insisted that I had to.¡± Woojoo could understand that. It was a good enough song to proudly put its name on the first episode of a TV program that searched for hidden masterpieces. It was already highlyplete as it was. ¡°There are two choices for you guys. One is to arrange it as it is and sing it as it is.¡± They nodded. A safe choice. It wouldn¡¯t ovee the limitations of the original song, which was a bit nd, but it would get a good review as long as they reproduced it well in a modern way. ¡°The other is to add your own new melody to it.¡± They swallowed their saliva. The second was a gamble. They could get great praise if they did well, but they could also get criticized for ¡®messing up a good song¡¯. And the chances of thetter were higher. Woojoo personally liked this one better, but it was a risky risk to take. No matter how good a melody he added, it would feel different from what the originalposer did. The key to thispetition was not to sing the song as ¡®my song¡¯, but to make the masterpiece stand out. So if he made it into a New ck song by adding his own touch¡­ Huh? Wait a minute. A good idea suddenly came to him. Why was he worrying about this when he had the originalposer in front of him? It wasn¡¯t that hard, right? ¡°Teacher, can I¡­¡± ¡°Go ahead.¡± ¡°Can Ie up with a melody to fill in here and ask for your opinion?¡± His siblings¡¯ eyes sparkled. What he was saying was a safe bet. He could y some melodies to Teacher No Jaehyun and get his confirmation. If it didn¡¯t work, he could just go with the original n. And if he could create a melody that the originalposer liked, it would be a win-win. He could make the song richer and avoid people¡¯s criticism. Who would dare toin if the originalposer approved? He was only supposed to film a short behind-the-scenes for the song, so he looked at the production team. The assistant director asked, ¡°Can you do it in a short time?¡± ¡°Yes.¡± ¡°Okay, I¡¯ll contact the PD.¡± They were all leaving tomorrow anyway. The production team¡¯s reaction was neutral, neither good nor bad. The only thing left was the other party¡¯s choice. Fortunately, he nodded calmly. ¡°That¡¯s fine. Let¡¯s do that.¡± ¡°Thank you.¡± ¡°Um¡­ but I have one favor to ask.¡± Teacher Noh Jaehyun said, ¡°Can you help me with some housework? There are some things that are hard for Mrs. Kang to do by herself.¡± ¡°Yes, we¡¯re very good at work.¡± He smiled faintly at their confident appearance. When the mood lightened a bit, Junghyun showed his amazed face with a juice ss. ¡°But this juice is really delicious, Teacher. What kind of juice is this?¡± ¡°Juice? What do you mean by that?¡± ¡°¡­Yes?¡± Teacher No Jaehyun said, ¡°This is a cocktail.¡± ¡°¡­¡± ¡°A cocktail?¡± At the word alcohol, Woojoo¡¯s siblings¡¯ heads turned mechanically. More precisely, they looked at Woojoo, who was drinking from the ss. ¡°Ah, no!¡± Bijoo snatched it from Woojoo and gulped it down. Woojoo was surprised and asked, ¡°Bijoo, why are you drinking?¡± ¡°¡­Uh, I don¡¯t know.¡± As he stared nkly at the sudden dark knight, Bijoo put his hand on Woojoo¡¯s forehead. ¡°That¡¯s not important right now. Hyung? Are you okay?¡± ¡°Me?¡± ¡°Are you okay? Who are you?¡± That was when Rihyuk grabbed his clothes and shook him. ¡°Mister, are you going to faint?¡± ¡°¡­I¡¯m fine.¡± Maybe it was because of the cocktail. Woojoo didn¡¯t feel as drunk as he thought. Could it be¡­ ¡°Ah!¡± Woojoo blurted out the fact that he just realized. ¡°Wow. Guys, I think my alcohol tolerance has increased.¡± ¡°What are you talking about? That makes no sense.¡± ¡°You sound drunk to me.¡± ¡°Hyung.¡± Junghyun pressed down on his shoulder. He was so strong that it felt like being squeezed by a bear. ¡°This is not the time. Hyung, lie down.¡± ¡°No, I¡¯m fine¡­¡± Uh-oh. That was when it happened. Was it the alcohol? His eyes started to close. He felt a sudden wave of sleepiness. His siblings gasped at the sight of him blinking. The production crew looked puzzled at the chaotic scene. ¡°What¡¯s wrong? What¡¯s going on?¡± ¡°It¡¯s a big problem. Woojoo Hyung is allergic to alcohol¡­ I mean, he¡¯s really weak to alcohol.¡± ¡°His limit is one drop.¡± As Jiho¡¯s voice faded, Woojoo¡¯s eyes slid shut. His body was losing strength. That was when he heard the voice of Noh Jaehyun-ssi, who was watching the farce unfold in front of him. ¡°It¡¯s non-alcoholic.¡± ¡°¡­?¡± ¡°The cocktail you drank, it¡¯s non-alcoholic.¡± ¡°¡­¡± ¡°They say the mind controls the body, but I never thought I¡¯d see the cebo effect in action like this.¡± A moment of silence. Woojoo had his eyes closed, but he could feel everyone¡¯s heads turning towards him. Rihyuk shook his cor. ¡°Mister. Stop pretending to be asleep and wake up.¡± ¡°¡­¡± ¡°I can see your eyes rolling under your eyelids.¡± Oh. How did he open his eyes? This was bad. Chapter 191: Chapter 191: Trantor: MarcTempest Editor: Rxel Chapter 191 Woojoo sobered up instantly. It was a strange thing to say, since he hadn¡¯t drunk any alcohol, but it was true. The drunkenness that had hit him just moments ago had vanished as if it was a lie. ¡°Pfft!¡± One of the staff members couldn¡¯t help but burst intoughter. ¡°Hahaha!¡±Laughter erupted from all directions. Woojoo felt embarrassed, sad, and wondered why his life was like this. ¡°Ouch, my stomach.¡± Noh Jaehyun-ssi alsoughed while holding his belly. His siblings kept patting his shoulder or pping their hands as they rolled around on the sofa. ¡°Kyahaha!¡± Bijoo? Bijoo. Hey. ¡°Sniff!¡± Woojoo smiled sadly as he watched his siblingsugh until they cried. Really. At this moment, he wished they would all disappear from his sight. After a while, theughter subsided. ¡°Oh boy, I haven¡¯t had anything tough abouttely. Thanks to you, I had a goodugh today.¡± ¡°I¡¯m d you liked it¡­¡± Yeah. Woojoo decided to takefort in the fact that he had brought some joy to the lonely veteran singer. Woojoo turned his head and looked at the assistant director. ¡°This¡­¡± Before he could finish the sentence ¡®Will this be on air?¡¯, the assistant director gave him a thumbs up. It was going to be broadcast for sure. This. Woojoo felt a headacheing on as he thought about the future of being teased by their Souffl¨¦s, Mrs. Kim Deoksoon, Han Taehyun, and others. But well, this wasn¡¯t the first time. Woojoo quickly recovered his mental state. He was someone who had written a video letter to a cat, after all. This was nothing. ¡°Wow.¡± Their youngest imitated someone and staggered. ¡°I think I¡¯m drunk from drinking non-alcoholic.¡± ¡°Giggle!¡± ¡°So funny! So funny!¡± ¡­Let¡¯s deal with themter. You guys. The filming time was extended. Originally, the only additional scene was supposed to be Woojoo and Noh Jaehyun-ssi making a melody together. But the assistant director came and delivered the main PD¡¯s opinion. ¡°The PD said he wanted to film some other parts too.¡± ¡°What parts?¡± ¡°The things that Noh Jaehyun-ssi asked you to do for him.¡± ¡°Yes, that¡¯s right.¡± That was what the teacher said earlier. He said Ms. Kang had some hard work to do by herself and asked them to help her out. So we dly agreed. But the goal of today¡¯s filming was to hear the behind-the-scenes stories of thepetition songs. Helping with the housework didn¡¯t fit the purpose of , so they nned to help him separately after the filming was over. But then¡­ ¡°The PD said he wanted to film that part too, since the shooting schedule was extended.¡± ¡°Oh, okay. I understand.¡± It was a good suggestion. They had to do it anyway, and it meant they could get more airtime. They immediately ryed the story to him. ¡°You want to do the work first?¡± The teacher tilted his head. ¡°Shouldn¡¯t you make the melody first? Don¡¯t you need some time to focus by yourself, Mr. Non-Alcoholic?¡± The siblingsughed and pped their cheeks at the embarrassing nickname. Woojoo coughed and said, ¡°It¡¯s okay. I usually don¡¯t concentrate in a quiet ce when Ipose. I think while doing other chores.¡± ¡°Then I don¡¯t care.¡± ¡°That¡¯s right. You don¡¯t have to worry.¡± Jiho chimed in, ¡°He really works while doing other things. He even suddenly shouts ¡®Maknae-ah!¡¯ while showering and tells me to bring his phone recorder. He says he came up with a good melody.¡± ¡°I had that when I was eating spicy pork stir-fry. He kept holding me and talking until the food got cold¡­¡± ¡°He once came to me while I was cooking and asked me to listen to his melody.¡± ¡°Last time, he jumped out while folding theundry, saying he had a good idea.¡± ¡°That was a real jump.¡± The teacher looked interested as he listened to the victims¡¯ testimonies. ¡°You¡¯re a strange person, Mr. Non-Alcoholic.¡± ¡°No, I¡¯m not. Teacher.¡± ¡°You¡¯re not convincing with that face.¡± The siblings all nodded. ¡®The shell is great.¡¯ ¡®Go away. The core.¡¯ As Woojoo wondered whether to like or dislike that, the teacher shrugged his shoulders. ¡°Then it¡¯s decided. I¡¯ll tell you what you have to do, so follow me.¡± They followed his slowly moving electric wheelchair. It was the library they visited for the first time. A ss window with a clear view of thewn and an antique wooden table. The other three sides were filled with bookshelves. ¡°It¡¯s really nice¡­¡± As they looked at Rihyuk, who seemed enchanted, the veteran singer said, ¡°Well, I need to sort out some books here¡­¡± The other person coughed. ¡°Ms. Kang had always wanted to organize the books. She said the order was weird and some of them were misced, and it bothered her. But she didn¡¯t have the energy to do it¡­ I mean, I couldn¡¯t do it for her.¡± They smiled inwardly. ¡®He must have wanted to sort out the shelves.¡¯ They knew exactly what was going on. The order of the books, the color arrangement. Those little things that annoyed his eyes, but he couldn¡¯t ask her to do them for him. And then, just then, some young people came to visit. ¡°Well, Ms. Kang said the arrangement was a bit strange.¡± His face was full of excitement as he listed the problems. And. There was someone on their side who had the same expression. ¡°Hmm.¡± He swallowed his saliva. His eyes were cold, but they shone with some happiness. His fingers trembled with joy. ¡°You mean you need to organize them?¡± ¡°That¡¯s right.¡± ¡°I heard what you said. You want to ssify the books ording to the Korean Decimal ssification, right? Social sciences are in the 300s, natural sciences are in the 400s, and so on.¡± ¡°No, you.¡± Noh Jaehyun-ssi eximed with delight, ¡°You read my mind. So what do you think?¡± ¡°Just a moment. Sir.¡± Rihyuk immediately started to look around the shelves and make an estimate, and they exchanged nces. The more Rihyuk blinked his eyshes, the more their faces turned pale. ¡®Hey, we¡¯re screwed. What do we do?¡¯ ¡®We¡¯re in big trouble.¡¯ ¡®I just want to eat¡­¡¯ Rihyuk said, ¡°Hmm,¡± and then asked, ¡°Sir, do you have a ruler?¡± ¡°Here it is.¡± A long metal ruler came out of the drawer under the table. Rihyuk walked around the room and made a precise estimate. ¡°37 centimeters. Then we can fill in 2.5 centimeters of books here.¡± ¡°That¡¯s it.¡± ¡°You want to sort the books in the 900s by topic, right?¡± ¡°That¡¯s right. Rather than dividing them by regions like Europe and Asia, let¡¯s divide them by political history or economic history.¡± They looked like architects discussing the blueprint of a building that hadn¡¯t been built yet. Rihyuk nodded. ¡°I get it. I can see the picture you¡¯re talking about.¡± ¡°Wow.¡± The old man in the wheelchair shivered. The cameraman who was filming him nced at them and lowered his head. They didn¡¯t know what they were talking about either. Meanwhile, Rihyuk and Teacher Noh Jaehyun had been having a cozy conversation face to face. ¡°Hahaha!¡± ¡°Hahaha!¡± They seemed so close that it looked like a fantasy was unfolding there. Anyone would think they were a grandson and a grandfather. Soon, they sped each other¡¯s hands and shouted. ¡°Rihyuk!¡± ¡°Teacher!¡± Teacher Noh Jaehyun said with a hint of resentment, ¡°You, where have you been all this time?¡± ¡°I¡¯m a rational person who doesn¡¯t believe in fate, but today I want to believe it.¡± ¡°Isn¡¯t this what Buddhism calls karma?¡± It was heartwarming. As Woojoo watched them, he felt like he should give them a rolling paper and say, ¡®Be happy together¡­!¡¯ But they couldn¡¯tugh. They knew what was going to happen after that conversation. ¡°Well, shall we get started?¡± ¡°Sounds good.¡± The two organizing masters looked at them. One of them had trouble moving because of his illness, and the other was so weak that he couldn¡¯t even open a Pringles lid. The simplebor was left to the elves. ¡°What are you doing?¡± Rihyuk smiled contentedly. ¡°We have to work.¡± ¡°¡­¡± ¡°Come on,e over here. I¡¯ll show you.¡± ¡°Me¡­¡± A timid bear raised his hand with a nce. ¡°I have an opinion.¡± ¡°Yes.¡± ¡°Why don¡¯t we just move the whole bookshelf? I¡¯m confident about that.¡± ¡°Organizing is not done with force. Junghyun Hyung. This requires a delicate touch.¡± Teacher Noh Jaehyun nodded and added, ¡°Right. Absolutely right.¡± ¡°Right, Teacher? I¡¯m always right.¡± This time, Jiho raised his hand. ¡°Cough! Cough!¡± He acted like a really sick person. ¡°My throat hurts¡­¡± ¡°That¡¯s why I prepared masks.¡± ¡°¡­¡± ¡°I brought them just in case, so take one eachter. And¡­ yes, Bijoo.¡± ¡°Can I help thedy with the lunch preparation¡­?¡± ¡°No way. You¡¯re essential personnel.¡± Bijoo made a sullen face. Rihyuk¡¯s crooked gaze swept over them with cold eyes. ¡°Why aren¡¯t you saying anything, mister?¡± ¡°He won¡¯t listen anyway.¡± Junghyun muttered ¡®Woojoo Hyung is smart¡¯ next to him. ¡°Still, you should try to say something.¡± ¡°I don¡¯t want to.¡± ¡°Say it quickly. You never know.¡± ¡°I know you want to see me get rejected.¡± Pause. ¡°Ah¡­no. No, that¡¯s not it. That¡¯s unknowable.¡± He must be right, judging by his tangled speech. While the other members held back theirughter, Rihyuk snorted ¡®tch¡¯. They quickly took off their sweaters and gathered in front of the bookshelf. ¡°Two, three.¡± ¡°Hello¡­?¡± They reflexively bowed their heads to each other and froze. ¡°¡­?¡± This, this was not right. While the camera director and the writer were doing aughter challenge, they cleared their throats and joined hands. ¡°One, two, three.¡± ¡°Fighting!¡± As they were about to start organizing the bookshelf with spirited expressions, the singer cheered them on. ¡°Cheer up, Non-Alcohol guy and sleepyheads.¡± Then he tapped the table chair. ¡°Rihyuk,e here and sit. Anyone who uses their brain should sit and direct.¡± ¡°Yes, Teacher.¡± Teacher Noh Jaehyun¡¯s kind voice continued. ¡°These days, young kids call teachers ¡®sam¡¯ instead of ¡®teacher¡¯. Just call me whatever you like.¡± ¡°Yes, sam.¡± ¡°Sit down quickly. This is a good spot to watch and nag.¡± ¡°No, Teacher,¡± Rihyuk said firmly. ¡°I don¡¯t think this is nagging. It¡¯s constructive advice to create a clean environment.¡± ¡°Right you are. Right. Heh heh.¡± As they watched them get along like a dream couple, they silently shook their cheeks. PBS Entertainment Office. The main PD of , Baek Sunghyun, was receiving a text report. It was news that the cast members were talking to the original singers. ¡¸ Lisa ¡¹
    • Visited a cafe near the elementary school where the original singer of the children¡¯s song ¡®Ttolong Ttolong¡¯ works as a teacher. Had a warm conversation with the original singer, who is a musical fan.
¡°Cha Woohyun¡±
    • The original singer was a bit intimidated by Cha Woohyun¡¯s force. So he deliberately took off his sunsses, but he looked even more scared. No other special issues.
¡°Song Bohyung¡±
    • Had a stormy chat with the original singer. Talking about how pitiful the street cats were for 30 minutes. Already talked about the song.
He nodded as he checked the messages from the assistant directors and writers. Most of them were harmonious. But¡­ ¡°Jo Yuri Band¡±
    • Fought with the original singer over the direction of the arrangement. The original singer seemed a bit upset. The atmosphere was smooth, but separate editing needed.
The PD frowned. ¡®This ce is really¡­¡¯ The Jo Yuri Band was a team that he brought in ording to the stern order of the entertainment director. They were good at what they did. And polite to the staff. But the problem was that they kept making trouble with other people. ¡®This is really¡­¡¯ He couldn¡¯t just scold them because they came in through the director¡¯s line. But they kept getting on his nerves. The Song Discovery Team was not a program made to havepetitors grab each other by the hair. It was a warm program nned to make the viewers happy. But if there was a character who caused discord like this, it was troublesome no matter how good they were. It was the same with thest time they acted badly to the other participants. ¡®Should I warn them?¡¯ He shook his head. ¡®No.¡¯ They would take care of themselves once they saw the first broadcast. Then, the vibration rang. ¡°New ck¡±
    • Decided to make a new melody on the spot with the original singer.
PD Baek¡¯s eyes lit up. ¡®They keeping up with something.¡¯ He didn¡¯t have high expectations for New ck at first. He found the boy group while wondering, ¡®Who are the new faces and talented idols among them?¡¯ They had good visuals and skills. He cast them thinking they would make a decent picture, but now they were rising as a dark horse. ¡®They were extraordinary during the recording¡­¡¯ Woojoo was active in all directions during the talk they had when they selected the song. It changed the editing direction. He was so excited to talk about the song that he felt his love for the music industry. He couldn¡¯t guarantee what the viewers would react, but there was a high chance that the public would like those small details that appeared on the broadcast. ¡®Maybe it¡¯s just my feeling¡­¡¯" He had a feeling this would be a big hit. That was good news for the broadcasting station as well. As PD Baek Sunghyun was reviewing the report on New ck, his phone started to ring non-stop. ¡°¡­Huh?¡± What was going on? -We¡¯re cleaning up right now. Rihyuk is a genius of cleaning. -Junghyun lifted the whole bookshelf by himself. The other members wiped the dust underneath. They looked like professional cleaners. -The youngest got a hardtack from the teacher for being cute. -Woojoo got scolded by the members for bringing a recorder. -Bijoo bonded with thedy in the kitchen over a makjang drama. They¡¯re checking the seasoning of the food now. PD Baek blinked. ¡°¡­?¡± He didn¡¯t know the details, but something strange was happening in Jeju Ind. They went outside after finishing the bookshelf. ¡°Ouch.¡± Woojoo rubbed his back. He had underestimated the book sorting task, but it was really hard. The cool breeze of Jeju Ind cooled his sweat. ¡°It¡¯s nice to be outside. The weather is good too.¡± ¡°Indeed.¡± ¡°Freedom!¡± Jiho spread his arms and basked in the sunlight. nk. nk. And Junghyun was walking with the handle of the rear car. ¡°Junghyun, are you okay?¡± ¡°It¡¯s fine. It¡¯s just a little stimtion for the muscles.¡± They were on their way back after moving the rest of the heavy stuff to a faraway ce. The camera was filming Rihyuk, who was taking care of the teacher, Noh Jaehyun, and his caretaker at home, so they were somewhat free. Bijoo peeled a tangerine and called Junghyun. ¡°Junghyun. Do you want a tangerine?¡± ¡°Yes.¡± ¡°I¡¯ll throw it.¡± ¡°Give me a tangerine.¡± Bijoo threw a tangerine and Junghyun caught it and ate it. It was a peaceful scene. Meanwhile, Woojoo was ying the ukulele that he brought from Seoul during the break. ¡°Bijoo, how about this?¡± ¡°Well, I like everything. But I think the teacher¡¯s opinion is more important, don¡¯t you?¡± ¡°Hmm, I guess so.¡± Woojoo nodded and yed the ukulele a little more. At the end of January. A monotonous melody echoed along the quiet vige road of Jeju Ind. That was when Jiho pointed ahead and said, ¡°Junghyun Hyung, there¡¯s a bicycleing from the opposite side.¡± ¡°Okay.¡± Junghyun skillfully turned the rickshaw. ¡°Whoa!¡± But something strange happened to the bicycle that was approaching from the other side. The old man who was riding the bicycle saw them and his eyes widened. He looked shocked, as if he had seen something unbelievable. He was so startled that his bicycle wobbled for a moment, making us go ¡®uh-oh¡¯. ¡°Watch out!¡± ¡°¡­¡± He looked at them as if he had seen a ghost. They waved their hands at him, but he tilted his head. ¡°Why is he like that?¡± ¡°Yeah, why is he looking at us like we¡¯re weird?¡± ¡°Maybe he¡¯s wary of us because we¡¯re outsiders.¡± They each made their own guesses, but the real reason was a mystery. The viger stopped his bicycle for a moment and opened his mouth dumbly. Then he looked at the scene in front of him. ¡®What, what is this?¡¯ The rickshaw carrying three people was spewing dust and moving away like a chariot from Ben-Hur. And. The people on it were waving their hands at him as if they were happy to see him. ¡®¡­Did I see it wrong?¡¯ He rubbed his eyes, but the sight was still the same. A handsome man wearing a straw hat and pulling the rickshaw with vigor. A handsome or beautiful person who was throwing tangerines to the horse like a groom. And a cheerful person who was spreading their arms and basking in the sunlight. Ding ding. And a weirdo wearing a sun cap and ying a strange mini guitar. ¡°¡­?¡± The viger¡¯s confusion deepened. ¡®Should I tell the vige head?¡¯ There were some strange guys roaming around the vige. Chapter 192: Chapter 192: Trantor: MarcTempest Editor: Rxel Chapter 192 Rihyuk narrowed his eyes. ¡®Hmm¡­¡¯ A chessboard with ck and white squares. The second hand of the chess clock ticked away, signaling the time limit. ¡®Where should I move?¡¯ Every time his eyes moved, the old man sitting across from him smiled.¡°Can¡¯t you think of anything?¡± ¡°Just a moment.¡± ¡°Take your time. Ha ha ha! Not that it will make any difference.¡± He was annoying. He was a distant senior, but he was teasing him in front of his eyes. Of course, he was not in a position to talk. -Pfft, sir. Is that the best you can do? Putting it there? -Junghyun Hyung. Younded on my Seoul. Pay me two million won in tolls. ¡­What? No way. I can¡¯t agree to a Seed Bank loan. -Hahaha! Hey, Jiho. Even a middle schooler would do better than you. He coughed as he remembered how he had bullied the members every time he yed a brain game. He looked back at his past self for a moment, but he quickly moved on to another thought because of the time limit. ¡®How can I make him not notice?¡¯ The reason he was racking his brain was not because he had no confidence in winning. It was rather to lose. 30 minutes ago. Teacher Noh Jaehyun, who was excitedly talking about reading, casually asked. -Do you y chess? -Yes. I know how to. At that, the veteran singer smiled brightly and brought out a chessboard. -Ms. Kang has no interest in this kind of thing. Neither do the people in the neighborhood. I have no one to y chess with. That was why Rihyuk decided to lose. He didn¡¯t want to give this excited person a memory of defeat. Of course, he hated losing to others more than dying, but he hated it more when the other person was gloomy. It wasn¡¯t out of courtesy for the elder or the senior in the industry, but because he genuinely liked the other person. ¡®Let¡¯s see.¡¯ Winning was easy. If he moved the knight and the bishop a few more times, he could easily win. But he deliberately tried to lose without the other person noticing, and that made him worry. ¡°Hmm¡­¡± Rihyuk raised his finger and moved a piece. He made it look like a slight mistake due to the time pressure. ¡°Ho ho.¡± The old man¡¯s lips twitched. Sure enough. Soon, his stiff finger moved a piece. ¡°Checkmate.¡± ¡°Uh¡­¡± ¡°Ha ha, ouch. I won again this time. You need to study chess more, kid.¡± ¡°I lost.¡± Rihyuk stretched and sighed. Meanwhile, the old man in the wheelchair moved his stiff body. ¡°Oh dear, I need a break.¡± He called the cameraman who was standing nearby. ¡°Can I have some rest time?¡± ¡°Yes, sir.¡± ¡°Thank you.¡± The crew left with a gentle apuse. The only ones left were the idol singer sitting at the table and the old man who was nearing eighty. ¡°Ugh¡­¡± Teacher Noh Jaehyun blinked and groaned. Rihyuk got up in surprise. ¡°Are you okay?¡± ¡°¡­I¡¯m fine. Don¡¯t worry about me.¡± The old man¡¯s skin, which had been fairly bright when they met in the morning, was pale and dry. He waved his hand. ¡°Hey, don¡¯t worry. I¡¯m fine.¡± ¡°But¡­¡± ¡°Don¡¯t bother me. I hate it when others fuss over me.¡± ¡°I¡¯m sorry.¡± ¡°Bring me a ss of water.¡± He ran to the kitchen and got a ss of water from thedy and handed it to him. The old man gulped down the water and made a face as if he was alive. ¡°I must have overdone it by using my brain for a while. I wanted to beat a young one so I strained all my nerves. Sigh.¡± Rihyuk thought that wasn¡¯t it. It wasn¡¯t because of chess. He just looked sick. ¡®What should I do?¡¯ He didn¡¯t know what to do. He wanted to do something for him, but there was nothing he could do. He felt like he understood why the team leader always prayed to the moon when it was full. ¡®Moon, please keep Kim Deoksoon healthy.¡¯ ¡°Hey.¡± The old man chuckled. ¡°Don¡¯t look at me like that.¡± ¡°¡­Huh?¡± ¡°Don¡¯t look at me with those affectionate eyes. You can¡¯t use your feelings for others.¡± ¡°That¡¯s not it.¡± He avoided his gaze when he saw his own face reflected in the window. Teacher Noh Jaehyun smiled silently and looked at thewn outside the window. And beyond that, the vige view. ¡°It¡¯s still a long way to spring, isn¡¯t it?¡± ¡°Huh?¡± ¡°I mean the season. How long do we have to wait to see spring here?¡± Rihyuk was lost in thought at the sudden question. ¡°Do you think spring wille soon? Jeju Ind is about five degrees higher intitude than Seoul, and this winter has been mild too¡­¡± ¡°I suppose so.¡± He tilted his head at the sight of the old man in a wheelchair smiling. ¡°Why do you ask?¡± ¡°It¡¯s nothing much. There¡¯s a can flower field nearby. I want to see it soon, but it only blooms in spring.¡± The wrinkled finger pointed at a spot. ¡°When springes, the can flowers bloom along the road from there. It¡¯s so beautiful that I can¡¯t take my eyes off it. When the wind blows, the yellow petals sway and rise. It¡¯s a magnificent sight.¡± ¡°¡­¡± ¡°Maybe it¡¯s because I grew up watching can flowers since I was young, but when I stand there and smell that unique fragrance, I remember the old days.¡± ¡°You said your hometown was in Hwanghae Province, right?¡± ¡°That¡¯s right. It¡¯s a ce I can¡¯t go to anymore.¡± The veteran singer nodded and looked into the distance as if recalling his old memories. ¡°I remember how the flowers bloomed all over the vige in spring. Do you like flowers?¡± ¡°No. Everyone else does, but not me¡­¡± He had a brother who loved to crouch down and smell the wildflowers whenever he saw them. He had another brother whose profile picture was a sunflower with the status message ¡®Happiness and joy every day¡¯. He had one who would pick flowers and put them in his ears and take selfies, and one who was obsessed with floral-patterned clothes. But he was not like them. Teacher Noh Jaehyun seemed to agree and nodded. ¡°I don¡¯t like flowers either. They¡¯re only pretty to look at, but useless, aren¡¯t they?¡± ¡°I think so too.¡± ¡°Oh, we agree on that again.¡± The two old men exchanged theirints about the impractical things and smiled contentedly. The old man looked out the window and said, ¡°Anyway, I think of the old days when I see the can flowers. Maybe it¡¯s because I¡¯m old, but these days I keep thinking of the past.¡± ¡°Um, I don¡¯t really know about that.¡± ¡°That¡¯s normal. You shouldn¡¯t feel this way so soon.¡± With that, the old man fell silent and stared at the window. He tapped his finger on the windowsill, lost in thought. But it trembled. It looked hard for him to move his finger. ¡°¡­¡± Rihyuk picked up his smartphone and fiddled with his finger for a while. For five minutes. He was so focused that he didn¡¯t even notice that the other person was looking at him. ¡°What are you looking at?¡± ¡°Uh, well.¡± Rihyuk showed him his smartphone and said cautiously, ¡°I searched and found that there are ces where you can take pictures of can flowers in January. It¡¯s near Seongsan Sunrise Peak. If you want to see the flowers, maybe we could¡­¡± The teacher¡¯s eyes widened as he listened to his rambling story. Then he burst intoughter. "Ha ha! Ha ha ha!" "¡­¡­?" "Cough! Oh my, ha ha!" Rihyuk blinked as he handed him a tissue. Not knowing what was going on, he asked when theughter stopped, "Why did you suddenly¡­¡­?" "Iughed because you''re cute." The old man clenched the tissue in his hand, as if the thought alone made himugh. "You''re a good person. You even let others win at chess out of consideration." "Huh¡­¡­" "Don''t worry about it. I had a good time thanks to you. I''m just telling you that you''re a good person." "Thank you. You''re the first person to say that I''m nice." "Hmm? Don''t the other members say that?" "They always say I''m awful." "That''s strange. Our Ms. Kang also always says I''m awful. I guess the people in this world have no eyes." The two old men sighed and talked about the cold-heartedness of the people these days, when amotion was heard outside. A cloud of dust rose as a rear car came speeding from afar. The New ck membersnded coolly from the rear car, along with the stunned faces of the TV crew filming them. Rihyuk blinked his eyes. ¡®Why are theynding so coolly from the rear car¡­¡­?'' Jiho was making a V sign in the meantime. Soon, the four of them started doing the rest of the chores outside. It was not audible because of the soundproofing, but their mouth movements and actions were loud enough to burst the eardrums. At one point, Woojoo stood on a rock and yed the ukulele like a rocker, making everyoneugh. Not long after, they spotted Rihyuk and Teacher Noh Jaehyun and waved their hands vigorously. ¡®Wait a minute?'' Woojoo said something with his mouth, then quickly wrote something big on several A4 papers around him. Then he got up. He held up the paper in his hand, which hadrge letters written on it, as if he was confessing with A4 paper. [Rihyuk] As he opened his eyes wide, another paper was flipped over. [Are you happy there?] "¡­¡­" [What about us? We''re here like this] [Sweating and cold and all that] It went back to the original and repeated. [Rihyuk] [Are you happy there?] Kim Bijoo almost fell backwardsughing. In the meantime, Jiho intervened and added a line, making ¡®Rihyuk'' into ¡®Ri-hate''. [Ri-hate] He muttered. ¡°No, those people are really¡­¡± ¡°Hahaha.¡± But he didn¡¯t know what was so funny. Seeing Noh Jaehyun-ssi smile, Rihyuk just pursed his lips. ¡°Good people next to good people. How nice to see.¡± ¡°I don¡¯t like it. Teacher.¡± ¡°Still, it¡¯s a good thing to have such people by your side.¡± Rihyuk only stuck out his lips at the old man¡¯s chuckle. ¡°Ah, my goodness.¡± They finally came inside after finishing the housework. ¡°Home is the best.¡± ¡°Right. No matter how I think about it, I don¡¯t suitbor.¡± ¡°Nod nod.¡± While he was cooling off in the living room, Rihyuk came out pushing Noh Jaehyun-ssi¡¯s wheelchair. ¡°Ah, you¡¯ve worked hard.¡± ¡°No, Teacher.¡± ¡°Well, then shall we go make a song as promised?¡± He told them to go upstairs. Rihyuk and Noh Jaehyun-ssi got on the home elevator together, but something was strange. Woojoo asked as he climbed the stairs, ¡°Is something wrong with Rihyuk?¡± ¡°Yeah. His expression is a bit weird.¡± Bijoo agreed with Woojoo. The other two didn¡¯t seem to know anything, but somehow their kid felt stiff. Did something happen while they were gone? ¡°Hey, what are you doing! Hurry up!¡± ¡°Let¡¯s go! Teacher!¡± They hurried upstairs at the teacher¡¯s shout. He took them to the living room on the second floor. There was a sofa and various instruments scattered around. And. ¡°¡­A piano?¡± ¡°It¡¯s something I y when I have time.¡± ¡°Wow.¡± Woojoo quickly sat down and pressed the keys. He felt the passage of time, but it sounded pretty as a good instrument. However. ¡°Hmm¡­¡± ¡°What don¡¯t you like?¡± ¡°There are some parts where the sound is slightly off, like this, this key sounds a bit different.¡± ¡°You¡¯re sharp. You¡¯re right.¡± Some of the keys sounded slightly higher or lower than they should have. The production crew and the siblings holding the camera didn¡¯t seem to understand. It was when he lightly yed the keyboard after everyone gathered. ¡°So, did you think of a melody?¡± ¡°Yes.¡± Woojoo said as he yed a few lightly, ¡°I thought of it when I yed the ukulele earlier, but I didn¡¯t like anything. I guess it¡¯s because it¡¯s a song that you made, so I couldn¡¯t feel it with what I made.¡± The problem was that the styles were different in terms of painting. If Teacher Noh Jaehyun painted with broad and blurry colors, he was the type who colored everything carefully. So it was obvious that he wouldn¡¯t fit in and stand out if he tried to draw something new there. ¡°So I decided to use your song from a different perspective.¡± ¡°That¡¯s interesting. What¡¯s the n?¡± ¡°First of all, you released songs by period, right? I searched for the representative songs that match ¡®Life¡¯ among them.¡± His fingers started to press the white and ck keys of the piano. He yed the representative songs of Singer Noh Jaehyun. Teacher Noh Jaehyun looked interested. ¡°That¡¯s good. But¡­ your ying sounds familiar.¡± ¡°Really?¡± Did he know his dad? Woojoo suddenly wondered, but he went back to the main point because of the camera that was filming him. ¡°Life is, in a way, the sum of time. So I thought it would be nice to mix your representative songs ording to the time order with the original melody. I¡¯m sorry if you feel a bit rude without asking for permission first¡­¡± ¡°No. Don¡¯t worry about that.¡± The other person put his hand down. He seemed to not care about that and only had interest in music. ¡°Let me hear it.¡± ¡°Yes, I¡¯m going to try it like this.¡± Woojoo immediately yed. Teacher Noh Jaehyun¡¯s representative songs flowed from his youth to his retirement. The production team stared nkly. A camera that was filming people¡¯s reactions as if they wanted to capture them in detail was added to him. ¡°So if you put them all together¡­¡± Theplete ¡®Life¡¯ started to flow. ¡°¡­¡± The production team murmured to each other with a ¡®what is this?¡¯ face, and their kids smiled contentedly. Rihyuk had a slightly serious expression. Teacher Noh Jaehyun nodded his head and appreciated it. It was hard to interpret what he was saying, so Woojoo was a little nervous. ¡®Is it okay?¡¯ Woojoo was worried that he might get angry and say, ¡®How dare you arrange my song like this!¡¯ Or he might click his tongue. When he pursed his lips and Woojoo¡¯s siblings looked at Teacher Noh Jaehyun with anxious eyes because of his slightly stiff expression. ¡°¡­Good.¡± When they blinked, Teacher Noh Jaehyun nodded. ¡°I like it.¡± Then Woojoo felt relieved. As he took a deep breath and smiled, Noh Jaehyun-ssi spoke. ¡°I have a few things I want to advise you on. There are some parts that feel a bit rough.¡± ¡°Oh, yes. Please tell me, sir.¡± ¡°First of all, the harmony of the notes in the chorus part¡­¡± Woojoo wrote down the feedback that Teacher Noh gave him on a note. He was truly impressive with his experience. He pointed out things that he had never thought of, and he was so sharp that it reminded Woojoo of the time when he was a TJ trainee and learned how topose songs in front of the producer. After he said about a hundred things. ¡°There¡¯s nothing else to say. You¡¯re brilliant.¡± ¡°Oh, thank you¡­¡± ¡°Do you guys have any opinions?¡± Since Teacher Noh had said everything, his siblings also said a few words, but there was not much to add. Only Rihyuk seemed to be passionately giving advice on the song for some reason. How strange. Why was he acting like that today? Woojoo thought he should ask him after the recording was over and put his hands back on the keyboard. ¡°Then, let me adjust the parts that Teacher Noh mentioned¡­¡± Woojoo yed again. There were some ws, but it was much better than before, and he looked satisfied with Woojoo¡¯s performance. He seemed to be slightly excited by his ying. His wrinkled lips opened. Your sunshine Bes my memory On a quiet night It willfort me It was the same verse that Rihyuk had sung, but it felt different. ¡®He¡¯s crazy.¡¯ He was too good even if he did well. He sang amazingly without caring about the penalty of sitting ufortably in a wheelchair. When Woojoo admired his skill that was infused with his long experience. When the production team turned the camera with excited faces as if they had captured a great scene. When their kids pped and marveled. ¡°Ugh!¡± The voice that was singing started to lose its pitch, and his breathing became rough. Then Teacher Noh started to cough. ¡°Cough! Cough!¡± He suddenly coughed violently and closed his eyes tightly. His whole body started to shake. ¡°¡­Sir?¡± Rihyuk shook him in surprise. Now everyone was frozen in their ces, looking at the singer who was barely holding his body. Chapter 193: Chapter 193: Trantor: MarcTempest Editor: Rxel Chapter 193 Woojoo¡¯s heart sank. ¡°Teacher!¡± Woojoo jumped up from his seat, knocking over the piano chair. ¡°Teacher, are you okay?¡± Woojoo touched his nose with his hand. He was shivering all over. He was breathing normally.He had his eyes closed and was shaking, but it looked more like he was in pain than unconscious. ¡°Rihyuk. Hold his head for me.¡± ¡°Okay. Got it.¡± Rihyuk supported Teacher Noh Jaehyun¡¯s head. His head stopped swaying and became stable. Junghyun and Bijoo came over and asked. ¡°Hyung, what should we do?¡± ¡°Let¡¯s call the caretaker first. We¡¯re not doctors.¡± The younger ones nodded. Woojoo raised his hand and wiped his forehead. Cold sweat dripped down. His heart was pounding like crazy. He was more shocked than scared. It had been a long time since he faced such a tense situation, since he saved the old man who was about to be hit by a car. His mind was a mess. What should he do? Should they go to the hospital? Did this happen because they came to do a broadcast? What if something bad happened to him? What about the younger ones? They must be scared. And the broadcast? Woojoo felt ashamed of himself for thinking about the broadcast at a time like this. The caretaker came up from the first floor with the staff. ¡°Oh my, what¡¯s going on!¡± She ran over to him as fast as her eyebrows could flutter and checked his pupils and breathing. They swallowed their saliva and asked, ¡°Is he okay?¡± ¡°Thankfully, it¡¯s nothing serious.¡± She pointed at Junghyun and Woojoo. ¡°Teacher can¡¯t rest in this state, so help me move him to the bed.¡± ¡°Okay, we¡¯ll do that.¡± ¡°Open the bedroom door over there! Yes! There!¡± The staff and New ck lifted Teacher Noh Jaehyun from the wheelchair andid him on the bed. It felt like moving a bag filled with liquid. His face twisted in pain when someone touched him. ¡°Ouch¡­¡± It took six of them to carefullyy the old man on the bed. They all rubbed their foreheads and necks, covered in sweat. Teacher Noh Jaehyun¡¯s face rxed and his shaking subsided. Woojoo shivered. But he felt another tremor. ¡°¡­?¡± Woojoo turned to the side and saw their youngest¡¯s pale face. He was so startled that he was shaking uncontrobly. His slightly parted lips were white with fear and his hands were clutching his jeans. Poor thing. Woojoo was also so scared that he didn¡¯t know what to do, but what about their youngest who had lived so recklessly in the world? ¡°He¡¯ll be okay.¡± Woojoo whispered softly and wrapped his arm around Jiho¡¯s shoulder. His ashen face nodded silently. When everyone was standing in front of the bed. About 10 minutester, Teacher Noh Jaehyun slowly opened his eyes that he had tightly closed. ¡°Wa, water¡­¡± Ms. Kang helped him sit up and Rihyuk handed him a paper cup of water. ¡°Oh my. I¡¯m dying.¡± Teacher Noh Jaehyun blinked his eyes for a long time while sitting crookedly and looked around. ¡°What are you all looking at? How embarrassing.¡± ¡°Ha ha.¡± Everyoneughed awkwardly, but their faces showed relief. It was a relief. Really. Rihyuk asked. ¡°Teacher, are you okay?¡± ¡°Ah, I¡¯m fine. I¡¯m fine.¡± He waved his hand and said, ¡°Don¡¯t look at me like that. I¡¯m not dying of a disease. Anyone would think I have an incurable disease.¡± Then he cleared his throat and said, ¡°I had several major surgeriesst year. My body hasn¡¯t fully recovered yet.¡± ¡°Ah¡­¡± ¡°Don¡¯t worry. It¡¯s not a big deal right now.¡± Ms. Kang shook her head and said, ¡°But rest is the best thing for you. Look at you now. What did the doctor say? You can¡¯t do anything that puts pressure on your abdomen until you¡¯re fully recovered.¡± ¡°Ah, Ms. Kang. What can I do about that passion.¡± ¡°Are you going to enjoy your passion and go?¡± ¡°What¡¯s wrong with that?¡± ¡°Teacher!¡± ¡°Oh, my ears. This person is nagging an old man.¡± He looked much better than before as he joked around. From the situation, it seemed that he had overdone it by singing and had a temporary episode. Rihyuk took a deep breath and ran his hand through his hair. Teacher Noh Jaehyun smiled wryly. ¡°Oh my. I must have scared our non-alcoholic group and the ckers. I¡¯m sorry.¡± ¡°No, Teacher.¡± ¡°I made a mistake because I was carried away by the passion. I¡¯ll be careful from now on, so don¡¯t worry.¡± ¡°I¡¯m sorry, we¡­¡± ¡°Ah. Forget it.¡± He waved his hand and looked away. ¡°Ahem, and don¡¯t look at me with that affectionate face. It¡¯s embarrassing.¡± Teacher Noh Jaehyun said, ¡°Instead of worrying about this old man, you should prepare your song. What did I say earlier? You¡¯re going out with my song, right?¡± ¡°First ce.¡± ¡°That¡¯s right. You have toe back with first ce. It¡¯s Noh Jaehyun¡¯s song. I won¡¯t let you off if you fail, so just focus on the song.¡± They nodded and answered the teacher, who lightened the mood. ¡°We¡¯ll definitelye back with first ce.¡± ¡°We already agreed to practice like dogs, so we¡¯ll run like sled dogs.¡± Teacher Nohughed at Junghyun¡¯s sled dog joke, then coughed. He then shifted his gaze to the production staff, who looked at a loss. Especially the assistant director, who was restless. ¡°Listen up. Let¡¯s scrap the recording just now.¡± ¡°Yes, Teacher.¡± ¡°I want to reshoot that scene. Is that possible? I don¡¯t want to show myself copsing.¡± ¡°Of course, Teacher.¡± His face brightened, as if he had been hoping for that request. ¡°Well, we¡¯ve rested enough, let¡¯s go again.¡± He looked a bit pale, but much better than before, as he got back on his wheelchair. After they went back to the living room. ¡°We¡¯re starting the filming!¡± The red light came on the camera, and Woojoo started ying the piano again. They were all pros. They calmed their startled hearts and filmed with serious faces. Their kids pped and smiled brightly, as if nothing had happened. Teacher Noh also smiled softly and nodded his head as he listened to the song. Seeing him, Woojoo thought again about the plight of a singer who couldn¡¯t sing. He said he would recover soon, but from what Woojoo saw, it didn¡¯t look like it would be resolved in a short time. How would it feel to be unable to sing, after living with music all your life? Woojoo felt a bitplicated. At the same time, his desire for the first ce in thepetition became stronger than before. They finished filming in Jeju Ind and returned to Seoul. They had no free time. They originally nned to walk around the market and try the omegi rice cakes that Junghyun had talked about as if he was singing, and buy some raw fish and eat it with cider. But everything was dyed due to the unexpected filming dy. But they weren¡¯t sorry. They got a lot of footage for the broadcast and had an exchange with a legendary singer. And Woojoo had something else he picked up. ¡°Ta-da.¡± Woojoo bought a t-shirt with a thumbs-up stone statue at Jeju Airport, intending to wear it as a couple tee with Kim Deoksoon. The younger ones reacted passionately. ¡°Wow, really¡­ You sent the flower pattern away, and now the stone statue is here. Don¡¯t you have anything else? That¡¯s not allowed.¡± ¡°Hyung. Why are you doing this to us?¡± ¡°I¡¯ll never let you wear that. Ever.¡± Woojoo stubbornly wore it and got off at Gimpo Airport, but when he slightly lowered the zipper to show off his shirt, the reporters went wild. -[Photo] New ck Woojoo, ¡®I brought back my Dolharbang~¡¯ -[Photo News] Woojoo, the fashion that made the members bow their heads -[Photo] New ck Rihyuk, struggling with the leader to zip up But Woojoo¡¯s bliss didn¡¯tst long. After returning to Seoul, Woojoo had a personal meeting with the stylist teacher who had a sad face for almost 30 minutes. The Dolharbang T-shirt went into the closet. ¡°Alright, everyone, let¡¯s try again!¡± They returned to thepany and started practicing hard for the petition, just like when they prepared for the album. A serious atmosphere. Woojoo had a personal ambition to get ¡®Deoksoon-ah¡¯, but he was more motivated after meeting Teacher Noh Jaehyun anding back. -I¡¯lle up to Seoul on the day of the performance. He said he woulde all the way from Jeju Ind to Seoul to see them in person, even though he was sick. Woojoo couldn¡¯t neglect anything. The production team came by from time to time and filmed them practicing, but they looked a bit surprised by the serious and solemn atmosphere. But they couldn¡¯t help it. They didn¡¯t have enough time tough or rx. Preparing for the Challenge, Legendary Song Discovery Team!petition¡¯s sound source and performance. Cooperation with the A&R Team for the 3rd album title. Producing meeting for the 3rd album. Studying the script for the children¡¯s program Sok Sok! History Discovery Team Other events and schedules They were busier than when they were about to release the album. But Woojoo wasn¡¯t tired or anything. He could feel the vibe. As if they were surfing and rising smoothly, he felt like their activities were going up step by step. Meanwhile. They were preparing for another important schedule. January 28th. At thest music awards ceremony, they achieved another feat of winning the Rookie Award. Five crowns. Except for the KMA, which they couldn¡¯t attend because of the counting period, they won the Rookie Award at every ceremony they participated in. That was why they got special permission to do a live broadcast with the Souffl¨¦s. About an hour and a half. Honestly, it was a short time tomunicate. To convey how grateful they were. Woojoo couldn¡¯t take out his heart and say, ¡®Hey¡­ can you take a look?¡¯ Woojoo did his best to show them¡­ ¡°Don¡¯t worry. They must have understood.¡± Rihyuk sneered. ¡°Who wouldn¡¯t know when you¡¯re all teary-eyed and saying ¡®E-everyone¡­¡¯ Even a fool would appreciate it.¡± ¡°You cried too, you know?¡± ¡°M-me! I¡¯m a person without tears. I¡¯m cold-blooded.¡± He scoffed at the guy whose eyes were swollen like a fish, and the other added an excuse. ¡°It¡¯s all because of the fine dust in winter.¡± ¡°Hmph.¡± ¡°Anyway, neither of you were joking.¡± The youngest, who was sniffling with a red nose, chimed in. ¡°Rihyuk Hyung was blowing his nose every 10 seconds. Woojoo Hyung was babbling like a drunk person and saying ¡®S-souffl¨¦, everyone¡­ I¡¯m grateful¡­¡¯¡± ¡°¡­¡± ¡°¡­¡± ¡°You two were so embarrassed. We weren¡¯t.¡± As Junghyun, whose eyes were moist, nodded, Rihyuk and Woojoo exined. ¡°That was a slip of the tongue.¡± ¡°It was because of the fine dust, I tell you.¡± But the others didn¡¯t believe them. Bijoo showed them his smartphone with a handkerchief, dabbing his wet eyes. ¡°The fans decided to write ¡®I¡¯m grateful¡¯ instead of ¡®I love you¡¯ on the fan cafe. Hyung.¡± ¡°¡­Yeah, thanks.¡± But Woojoo didn¡¯t care much about the guys who usually teased him. It wasn¡¯t his ce to talk. During the live broadcast, everyone was crying so hard that at first, the fans who were also ¡®???¡¯ changed their reaction to ¡®???? Stop crying, guys¡¯ter. Anyone who saw them would have thought they were drunk. They repeated the same words over and over. Theyughed and said they were happy, then suddenly cried and said thank you. It was like they were saying ¡®We¡¯re sorry to the fans who have a bad group¡­!¡¯ and they stoppedughing in the middle. That was when Rihyuk, who was snorting his nose, folded his tissue and sneered. ¡°Anyway, you must have a disease that makes you create ck history.¡± ¡°Junghyun.¡± ¡°Yes, Hyung.¡± ¡°Take him away. I can¡¯t concentrate.¡± As Rihyuk was dragged away by Junghyun¡¯s hand, Woojoo took a deep breath and focused on the target in front of him. A target with a yellow circle in the center and red and blue circles around it. He closed one eye and looked at it. Then he pulled the bowstring. Thud! The arrow hit the 10-point target precisely, and Bijoo pped his hands like a seal and cheered. He gave Woojoo a high-five and said, ¡°Hyung, you¡¯re so good. How do you do that?¡± ¡°Do you want to know the secret?¡± ¡°Yes.¡± ¡°Later, when you see the grandfather who turns off the rear car, go and help him.¡± ¡°¡­?¡± Woojoo smiled at Bijoo, who tilted his head in confusion, while looking at the arrows stuck in the target. This was an indoor archery range. It was a ce that the representative had prepared for them to get ready for the Idol Sports Festival, or the Dolympic, that would take ce soon. It waste, so only they and Dowon Hyung were here. ¡°Then I¡¯ll go as the first archer.¡± Woojoo wrote ¡®Men¡¯s Archery Team (3 people) ¨C Seon Woojoo¡¯ on the paper and looked at his brothers. ¡°Let¡¯s pick the other two here.¡± Rihyuk raised his hand. ¡°I give up.¡± ¡°You already got an X.¡± ¡°¡­¡± ¡°Okay, let¡¯s start with Junghyun.¡± It was time to select the other two who would go to the men¡¯s archery team event. Junghyun took the bow Woojoo handed him and stood up. Then he put the arrow on with a serious face. ¡°Junghyun.¡± ¡°Yes, Hyung.¡± ¡°That, the arrowhead is on the other side.¡± ¡°Oh, yes.¡± Then the arrow was properly ced. The brothers pped and cheered, while Dowon Hyung, who was filming with a handy cam,ughed. Soon, Junghyun took his stance. ¡°Wow, that looks good. That looks good.¡± They gathered their hands and admired. He definitely had a great posture holding the bow, since he was from the sports club. Jiho said ¡®wow¡¯ and said, ¡°You look like a historical drama hero, Hyung.¡± ¡°Really?¡± ¡°Yes, say a line too.¡± ¡°Hmm.¡± Then Junghyun pulled the bowstring and said, with a more serious expression than anyone else, staring at the target, ¡°I am the archer of Joseon.¡± ¡°Pfft.¡± They all flipped over and burst intoughter. ¡°Hahaha!¡± ¡°Kyahaha!¡± Dowon Hyung also gave up filming andughed for a moment. Woojoo was going crazy. The drama genre was wrong, and the line was wrong, so he didn¡¯t know where to start pointing out. ¡°I¡¯m going crazy. Really.¡± ¡°Hyung, sob, that¡¯s not archer, but national mother.¡± ¡°Oh, is that so?¡± They justughed at his calm scratching of his head. ¡°Let¡¯s see, Junghyun scored 10 points.¡± ¡°Isn¡¯t that amazing?¡± ¡°Yeah.¡± Woojoo smiled warmly and pointed at the target on the next line. ¡°The one on the side.¡± ¡°¡­Yes.¡± ¡°Junghyun is in. You should practice shooting with your brother before you go to the army.¡± After sending their kid who had good strength but poor uracy, it was naturally decided that Bijoo and Jiho would go. The rest of the lineup was also decided. ¡°Who wants to do the 60-meter sprint?¡± ¡°That has to be Rihyuk, Hyung,¡± Bijoo said. ¡°Rihyuk is fast at short distances.¡± ¡°Ah, I agree with that.¡± ¡°¡­Does he have any sports he¡¯s good at?¡± ¡°Don¡¯t insult him right in front of him. It¡¯s unpleasant.¡± Ignoring his angry face, Woojoo asked for an answer and Junghyun exined, ¡°Rihyuk may not know anything else, but he¡¯s the best at running away.¡± ¡°Wow. That suits him,¡± Woojoo eximed. ¡°It really does. He¡¯s sly.¡± ¡°Really?¡± ¡°I¡¯m going to¡­ not leave these guys alone. All of them.¡± While Bijoo calmed down the fire-breathing eagle, Woojoo wrote his name on the list for the 60-meter sprint. ¡°Then we¡¯ll also do the 400-meter ry¡­¡± ¡°What did Junghyun Hyung and Woojoo Hyung say they were doing?¡± ¡°I¡¯m doing basketball.¡± ¡°I¡¯m doing futsal.¡± There were team sports where they would mix with other idols. They had already told the production team about that part. The youngest looked at the paper and said regretfully, ¡°There¡¯s no horse riding.¡± ¡°Do you know how to ride a horse?¡± ¡°Yes, when I went to Daegwallyeong with my dad, the uncles there let me ride their horses.¡± Unfortunately, there was no such event for the youngest¡¯s wish. After making a quick decision, Woojoo practiced shooting arrows with their siblings at the archery range. Ziing. Woojoo opened his phone and saw a message from Han Taehyun. He seemed to have found out about the entry somehow, and the screen was full of question marks. Han Taehyun [Basketball???] Han Taehyun [You¡¯re doing basketball???] Han Taehyun [You??] Han Taehyun [The ball??] Han Taehyun [Bounce??] Han Taehyun [I don¡¯t think you know what basketball is right now, look at this] There was a Wikipedia link about ¡®basketball¡¯ attached. ¡°¡­?¡± Woojoo sent a reply. Me [What are you talking about] Me [If you¡¯re going to talk nonsense, whisper it quietly to your pillow] The answer came back right away. Han Taehyun [We¡¯re on the same team this time] Han Taehyun [Oh no] Woojoo tilted his head as he looked at the message and then realized. Oh. He only remembered him from when he was at TJ, he didn¡¯t know how he had changed now. Chapter 194: Chapter 194: Trantor: MarcTempest Editor: Rxel Chapter 194 Idol Sports Festival Woojoo thought to himself as he read the message. Well. He hadn¡¯t shown him anything special about how he had changed since the college entrance exam two years ago. Honestly, from his perspective, it must have been a shock that he could dance well, let alone at the level of a main dancer. He probably never expected him to be good at sports too. Their Deoksoon also looked at him strangely after seeing him on Around the World With Dice, saying ¡®What happened to you¡­¡¯Han Taehyun [What the heck] Han Taehyun [I thought I knew you] Han Taehyun [The legendary Yeouido Park incident is still fresh in my mind¡­] Woojoo quickly replied. Me [Shut up] Me [I¡¯ll expose your pre-debut dark history to theizens] Han Taehyun [Oops sorry] Han Taehyun [(Emoticon)] The emoticon of a rabbit zipping its mouth came back. Woojoo remembered the face of the guy who used to cry while eating soboro bread every day because he couldn¡¯t sing well when he was a trainee. He was good at dancing, but he always picked fights with people. But no matter how much he had a dark history, Woojoo couldn¡¯t do anything about it. The legendary Yeouido Park incident. When Woojoo was in TJ, he went to Yeouido Park with other trainees to take spring photos. Then they happened to y basketball. -I¡¯m sorry! I¡¯m sorry! Are you okay? I¡¯m not familiar with the ball. -Hyung, are you okay? You idiot? If you stand under the hoop, you¡¯ll get hit in the face. -Woojoo. ¡­You¡¯re really blessed to be born with that face. ¡­Woojoo heard all kinds of nonsense. It was understandable. Every time he dribbled, he got hit in the face by the ball, and he reached out for the ball, but he got hit in the sr plexus and fell down. He bounced the ball wrong and caused trouble to the pedestrians, and the other trainees had to fix it with their faces. Even though he kept refusing, the people who asked for his phone number disappeared with a cold face after seeing him y basketball. ¡°¡­Hyung? What¡¯s wrong? Are you okay?¡± ¡°I¡¯m fine.¡± Woojoo smiled at Bijoo, who asked him worriedly. Rihyuk, who was using his feet and all his strength to pull the bowstring, said, ¡°You look like that.¡± ¡°What look?¡± ¡°The look of being sad while remembering your embarrassing past.¡± ¡°No¡­I¡¯m not. I don¡¯t have any memories like that.¡± ¡°Of course you do. You¡¯re still making dark history as you breathe¡­ Ouch! My hand!¡± Rihyuk, who held up his hand that was swollen from the friction, made a painful expression. Woojoo was just like that. He red at Woojoo with a warm expression. ¡°Why are you looking at me like you sympathize?¡± ¡°I¡¯ve been through that too.¡± ¡°What are you talking about? You were flying around on Around the World With Dice.¡± ¡°Yeah. Liar.¡± Come to think of it, there was Around the World With Dice. The chat room was full of messages asking why 1 was gone and not answering. Me [Didn¡¯t you see me on Around the World With Dice?] Woojoo was about to send another message, thinking that he probably didn¡¯t have time to watch it. Han Taehyun [Wasn¡¯t that a prank?] Me [¡­] Me [You didn¡¯t believe me at all ??] Woojoo lifted his head and looked at the target of the archery range. There were five arrows with 10 points. Thud! Now there were six. ¡°Uhaha!¡± They pped andughed at the arrow that Junghyun had just shot from the next line. Jiho called Woojoo. ¡°Hyung, show us a demonstration. Let us learn from you.¡± ¡°Okay.¡± Woojoo got up from his seat, taking the bow from Junghyun. Then he sent a short reply to the other person. Me [You¡¯ll see,] Me [I¡¯ll show you, the new me,] He got an answer right away. Han Taehyun [Are you drunk?] Han Taehyun [No] Han Taehyun [Lol, right, you can¡¯t get drunk because you pass out] Han Taehyun [Seon Woojoo the alcohol master] Woojoo shook his cheeks. Was there anything on YouTube like ¡®How to team kill a basketball teammate you hate¡¯? He¡¯d learn it and use it right away. Early morning of February 1st. The day of the Idol Sports Festival finally dawned. This year¡¯s Dolympic recording was held over two days, and today was the first day. ¡°Ugh¡­¡± Woojoo sat on the dark living room sofa and whimpered like a squid. Did he sleep for about three hours? He was tired after preparing for the Challenge, Legendary Song Discovery Team!petition untiltest night. The octopus and the squid next to him were the same. ¡°Ugh¡­¡± ¡°Oh, man. I¡¯m dying.¡± While Bijoo was busy making something in the kitchen, the three of them made a lot of noise. Rustle rustle. They cheered warmly for Junghyun, who was packing his stuff in a sports duffel bag. ¡°Junghyun Hyung. Can¡¯t you pack quietly? It makes my head ring when you rustle.¡± ¡°Yeah. Just pack softly.¡± ¡°Junghyun. You have to pack quietly.¡± ¡°¡­¡± The grumpy bear asked, ¡°Can¡¯t you all just go to bed?¡± ¡°No,¡± Woojoo said. ¡°We have to see you off.¡± ¡°It¡¯s okay. Hyung. Just go to bed and sleep more.¡± ¡°No. No.¡± While the youngest leaned on his shoulder and sang ¡®No, no, no~¡¯, Woojoo said. ¡°We have to cheer for our Junghyun, who is going to y futsal.¡± Woojoo clenched his fist and showed it, but his shoulder was stiff. ¡°Ouch, my shoulder. ¡­Uh, what was I saying?¡± ¡°Cheering.¡± ¡°Right. We have to cheer. For our beetle.¡± The other events they were participating in, including basketball, were scheduled to open tomorrow with the opening ceremony. Only futsal was today. ¡°¡­¡± With their cheering, Junghyun started to pack his stuff carefully. Thud. Swoosh¡­ Boom. Swoosh¡­ ¡°¡­¡± Woojoo brushed his hair back. ¡°Junghyun.¡± ¡°Yes, Hyung.¡± ¡°Just pack your stuff as usual.¡± ¡°Okay.¡± Junghyun¡¯s face brightened as he packed his stuff vigorously. They had been giving him warm advice all along. ¡°Junghyun Hyung.¡± ¡°Hmm?¡± ¡°Why are you taking dumbbells with you? Are you going to battle with another team?¡± ¡°For strength training¡­¡± ¡°Leave them.¡± Woojoo smiled warmly too. ¡°Junghyun.¡± ¡°Yes.¡± ¡°That snack has too much salt. Your face might swell up on camera, so leave it. That drink is also full of sugar.¡± ¡°¡­Okay.¡± The youngest one joined in. ¡°Hyung.¡± ¡°Yeah?¡± ¡°That Hoho Chicken towel is mine.¡± ¡°Huh? Since when?¡± ¡°From the beginning. Wait, Hyung, have you been using it for exercise?¡± ¡°Uh¡­¡± As they gave him advice like that, Junghyun started packing his stuff with his back turned to them. Woojoo thought he heard him mutter ¡®I hate you guys¡­¡¯ but it must have been his imagination. ¡°Junghyun, eat.¡± They jumped up at the call of Bijoo, who was wearing an apron. ¡°Okay! I¡¯ming!¡± ¡°Ah, I¡¯m not hungry.¡± ¡°Let¡¯s go eat, guys!¡± Woojoo thought he heard him say ¡®I hate you guys¡­¡¯ again. He ran cheerfully, but there was only one spoon on the table. ¡°Huh? Where¡¯s our food?¡± ¡°Today, Junghyun is the star. We¡¯ll get you someter.¡± They all sat down miserably, while Junghyun ate like the birthday boy. Woojoo looked at the food on the table and tilted his head. ¡°But why are all the side dishes¡­¡± From grilled eel to oyster pancakes. Rihyuk blinked at the strange lineup of dishes, and Woojoo asked him a question. ¡°Bijoo, what did you make this based on?¡± ¡°Oh. There¡¯s a blog run by a famous housewife. I saw that she posted some food for boosting energy.¡± ¡°I see.¡± But he had a feeling that energy was not the kind of energy she meant. Woojoo decided to let it go as he saw Junghyun¡¯s happy face saying ¡®delicious, delicious¡¯. Their youngest brother sparkled his eyes and tilted his head. ¡°Hyung, what does it taste like? Can this cute little brother have a bite~¡± ¡°Um¡­¡± As Junghyun wrapped his bowl with his arms and sent them a plea for rescue, Rihyuk stepped in. ¡°Hey. Wang Jiho. Go eat a flea¡¯s liver. Why are you coveting what Junghyun Hyung should eat?¡± ¡°Where can you find such a big flea?¡± As the sibling line bickered, Junghyun sucked in the food almost like a vacuum cleaner. After spending a warm morning like that. They all went out to the cold hallway and saw him off. ¡°Then, I¡¯ll be going.¡± As Junghyun waved his hand in the elevator, they also waved back. ¡°Good luck!¡± ¡°Don¡¯t get hurt!¡± They waved until the door closed. Bijoo blew out a white breath and looked worried. ¡°Why does it feel like we¡¯re sending a baby to the water? I¡¯m so worried.¡± ¡°Don¡¯t worry. Junghyun is not a fool.¡± ¡°He¡¯ll be fine, right?¡± ¡°He¡¯ll do well. Trust me¡­ But why is that going up?¡± The elevator went up one more floor and came down. Then it came down again and opened at our floor. Ding. They made eye contact with Junghyun, who was riding with someone from upstairs. ¡°¡­¡± ¡°¡­¡± Junghyun held some snacks in both hands and looked sheepish. Then he greeted them with a mouthful of food. ¡°Hello¡­¡± ¡°¡­¡± ¡°I forgot to press both buttons¡­¡± ¡°¡­¡± As the woman upstairs bowed her head and shook her body, the door slowly closed. ¡°¡­¡± They looked at the numbers of the descending elevator and wore sincere expressions of worry. Goyang Indoor Gymnasium. The production staff ran around without a break, checking the situation on the scene and installing cameras and other equipment. Outside, fans were shivering in the cold, waiting to cheer for their singers. In the waiting room, the idol singers gathered together and sped their hands. The man in his thirties with a good physique spoke in front of them. ¡°Nice to meet you all.¡± He was Kang Beomsu, the coach of one of the four teams participating in today¡¯s futsal match, ¡®Rascal Ser School¡¯. He had an ordinary appearance and a monotonous voice. But the eyes of those who looked at him were full of respect. He was a legend to those who loved ser, as he was one of the main yers of the 2002 World Cup. Coach Kang held a paper and said, ¡°I heard from the production staff that the teamposition was messed up at thest minute. So they haven¡¯t made the entry properly yet. Is that true?¡± ¡°Yes, that¡¯s right.¡± ¡°Then we need to write down our positions quickly¡­¡± As he said that, the team members started to talk about their ser experience and preferred positions. It was time to observe the opponent¡¯s physique and condition. ¡°I¡¯m New ck Junghyun.¡± The handsome man greeted them with a pleasant voice. Among those present, his physique and muscles stood out. Kang Beomsu admired him inwardly. ¡®Wow, he¡¯s someone who needs to exercise¡­¡¯ If it weren¡¯t for his face, he would have gone to the sports world. He had a slim face even after dieting, but his broad shoulders and muscr shape were extraordinary. He asked a question right after introducing himself. ¡°Did you do some exercise?¡± ¡°Yes, I was briefly in the baseball club when I was in elementary school¡­ I yed ser a lot in middle school too.¡± ¡°Do you have a position you want?¡± ¡°Um¡­¡± He lost his words for a moment. Kang Beomsu watched the fleeting emotions on his face. ¡®What¡¯s going on?¡¯ Meanwhile, in Junghyun¡¯s head, someone¡¯s caring voice was ringing. -Junghyun¡­ Look at me. -It¡¯s good to do well, but don¡¯t get hurt. Our performance is more important. What do you think will happen if you fall and get injured? -Yeah. It¡¯ll hurt. But is that the end of it? If you get hurt, you can¡¯t practice, so you¡¯ll have to sit with me and work all day. I¡¯m fine with that, but you¡­ Can you handle it? He felt a chill. Junghyun chose the safest position he could think of. ¡°I¡¯ll be the goalkeeper.¡± ¡°Wow¡­!¡± Everyone¡¯s mouths uttered exmations. Unlike the striker who could score goals and make an impact, or the other positions that could show their presence by running around, the goalkeeper was a position that everyone avoided. It was nice if they did well. But the problem was that if they didn¡¯t, they would be branded as the hole of the team and get scolded. And it was not fun. That was why everyone was avoiding the position, but when someone said they would do it, they all smiled brightly. Kang Beomsu nodded. ¡®Not bad.¡¯ There was no applicant and he volunteered. He felt good about his movements, even though he only saw them briefly, so he wrote ¡®New ck Junghyun¡¯ as the goalkeeper¡¯s name on the entry. ¡®Well, he¡¯ll do fine.¡¯ It wasn¡¯t professional ser. It was hard to expect great skills from ser yed by idols for a special asion. He only hoped that he would do well without any injuries or goals. With that thought, Coach Kang moved on to another topic. The futsal stadium was heated up with cheers. ¡°Woah-!¡± Every time their singer dribbled and ran, scored a goal, or just brushed his hair back, a loud scream erupted. Hot atmosphere. After the first match of the four teams, the next teams came up for the match. ¡°Yes, this is the second semi-final match!¡± The announcer Baek Sangjung turned his head and asked, ¡°There are a lot of points to watch, right?¡± ¡°Yes,st year, Gu Seongwoong from TNT had a hard carry, but he failed to advance to the final. I wonder how he will do this year.¡± ¡°Look at his expression. He¡¯s really determined today.¡± The sports caster and the member of Around the World With Dice, Ye Heeyeon, who were sitting next to him, responded and gavements on the match. The yers who entered the field. As Chaekyung of Girls on Top was interviewing each director and captain with her cute charm, a conversation was going on in thementary booth. Baek Sangjung asked, ¡°Heeyeon, you used to be a ser yer, right? Is there any member that catches your eye today?¡± ¡°There are several friends that I would pick if I were a captain. Gu Seongwoong of TNT has a talent for scoring decisive goals as a striker. And Junggun of Wild is also talented as a defender.¡± Ye Heeyeon, who had once been a ser yer, spoke as she analyzed the strength of each team coldly. Then, the sports caster next to her asked, ¡°Where have your eyes been fixed since earlier?¡± ¡°That¡¯s a friend that I¡¯m keeping an eye on.¡± ¡°He¡¯s handsome. Let me see. ¡­He¡¯s a first-time participant, right? Junghyun of New ck.¡± As the sports caster flipped through the list with a photo attached, Baek Sangjung asked, ¡°Do you have a special reason to pay attention to him?¡± ¡°I saw him on a show once, and he wrestled with a ck goat.¡± ¡°¡­Really?¡± ¡°He wrestled with a huge ck goat.¡± ¡°¡­¡± ¡°And he won.¡± ¡°¡­¡± ¡°He had the best physique among the idols I¡¯ve ever seen. I¡¯m looking forward to seeing what he¡¯ll show today.¡± As the two of them were stunned by the words ¡®ck goat?¡¯ and ¡®wrestling?¡¯, Ye Heeyeon smiled contentedly and looked at the field. After the interview shooting was over, the referee¡¯s whistle sounded over the field where the formation was set. ¡°Yes, the game has started as soon as I told you! FC Real Daddy Jers vs. Scrappy Ser School!¡± ¡°Wow! They¡¯re going for it! They¡¯re going for it from the start! TNT Gu Seongwoong!¡± ¡°Teen Spirit Yeonhu tries to stop him, but fails. He¡¯s fast, fast.¡± ¡°Soul Six members also fail to defend! That¡¯s like a runaway train.¡± Gu Seongwoong, the leader of TNT, showed a terrifying dribble. He mocked the Scrappy Ser School team, who came out to defend, with light skills, and ran fast without stopping. He felt the sticity as if he had bounced off a springboard. ¡°Woahhh-!¡± As the casters in thementary booth made a fuss, there was also amotion in the stands where the fans were gathered. A scream of ¡®Oppa!¡¯ rang out once. But even in all that heat, Gu Seongwoong of TNT made a cool-headed decision. ¡®There¡¯s no offside in futsal.¡¯ His brain spun fast. He quickly scanned where the defenders were moving and where his teammates were. ¡®I¡¯ll just go for it.¡¯ He couldn¡¯t find a good angle to pass to his teammates. He ended up dribbling alone to the near the goalpost. Soon, a familiar face came into his sight. A calm expression and a somewhat bear-like appearance. ¡®Was he on Woojoo¡¯s team?¡¯ There was a name tag on his body that said ¡®New ck Junghyun¡¯. But that wasn¡¯t important right now. Thwack! He lightly kicked the ball, easily shaking off the defender who tried to block him. Then he put all his strength into his legs and kicked the ball as it floated in the air. The ball flew with a bounce, apanied by a sensation of sticking to his foot. ¡°Huff¡­ Huff.¡± That one second when he gasped for breath. He clenched his fist. ¡®¡­I did it!¡¯ There were times when you yed ser and you got that feeling. Everything was perfect and you had a premonition that it had to go in. The teammates around him were already making expressions as if they were preparing for a celebration, and cheers and sighs mixed with worry were about to burst out from the stands. ¡®I made it.¡¯ He turned his head and smiled at the other teammates. Swoosh. Junghyun moved to the side like a beetle. Then he raised his hand with a calm face like a Buddha. Thud! The ball bounced off his gloved palm. It was a powerful shot, but the ser ball that bounced off seemed to be saying ¡®I¡¯m hurt¡¯. ¡°¡­!¡± He rushed in explosively and kicked the ball again. ¡®I did it!¡¯ But then¡­ Thud! The other hand went up swiftly, with a calm expression on his face. ¡®Again?¡¯ He felt out of breath. He had barely snatched the ball after a tough struggle with the defender, and was about to take his third shot. But it was the same as before. Thud! The serene face and the lightly raised paw. No. Palm. He felt like he was seeing a Buddha with his arms spread out behind the opponent, like a hallucination. ¡°¡­¡± He was speechless. While the TNT fans in the stands were sighing, ¡®Hey, can¡¯t you y the ball properly? Why won¡¯t it go in?¡¯ and his teammates wereforting him. ¡°Woohoo!¡± While the opposing team members were giving a thumbs up to the goalkeeper, he turned his body and made a V sign with his eyes towards the audience. ¡°What is he doing?¡± To the enemy team. ¡°Woo woo!¡± ¡°¡­?¡± ¡°Junghyun, that¡¯s not our team!¡± ¡°The other way! The other way!¡± ¡°Ah.¡± The person who had been tilting his head finally found the right direction and greeted them with an ¡°ah¡±. As Gu Seongwoong blinked his eyes, sweating. Junghyun, who was turning his body, saw him and smiled. ¡°Thank you, Sunbae-nim.¡± ¡°¡­Yes?¡± ¡°The shooting just now. I had a bad feeling today, so I was really nervous.¡± ¡°¡­¡± ¡°Thank you for watching over me.¡± ¡°¡­¡± He couldn¡¯t bring himself to say that he wasn¡¯t watching over him. Chapter 195: Chapter 195: Trantor: MarcTempest Editor: Rxel Chapter 195 The First 30 Seconds. As soon as the game started, Gu Seonwoong¡¯s shot almost scored, but it was blocked by a crazy save from the goalkeeper. The game resumed. ¡°Hey, hey, hey! What are you doing there? Go in! Go in!¡± ¡°Block it!¡± ¡°Pass! Pass!¡± The fans in the stands cheered, and the idol members running around the field shouted.A heated atmosphere. Kang Beomsu, who was standing at the director¡¯s seat, was no different. ¡°Block it! Blo¡­ sigh¡­¡± He yelled and then brushed his head gently and sighed. ¡®Our defense is a mess.¡¯ At this rate, it was like opening the door with the shutters down and saying ¡®Please score a goal for us¡¯. They were doing their best, but the other team¡¯s attack was too strong to stop with effort. ¡°Hey! Hey¡­¡± The defense was broken through again. Fortunately, the crisis was over for now, thanks to Jung-gun, the wild card who was the only one doing his job as a defender. Director Kang took a deep breath. ¡°Whew¡­¡± Cold sweat dripped from his hand. ¡®We¡¯re going to lose this way.¡¯ The goalkeeper was lucky to save the shot in the first 30 seconds, but he couldn¡¯t do it all by himself. The goalpost was thest line of defense. Before that, the defenders had to cut the pass or kick the ball away. It wasmon sense that the blocker was at a disadvantage when it came to a one-on-one fight between the striker and the goalkeeper. It should be that way, ording tomon sense¡­ But he witnessed something strange. ¡®What, what is that?¡¯ Gu Seonwoong, the striker of the other team, mocked the defense line again and came in to shoot. A cannonball-like long-range shot. Bang! The sound. The friendly defenders also avoided it because it was so powerful. But Kim Junghyun had a calm face, as if he knew where the ball would go, and just lifted both hands. ¡®He¡¯s going to hurt his wrist like that?¡¯ Director Kang was about to shout urgently. p! ¡°¡­¡± He blinked his eyes. ¡®p?¡¯ Like a monkey doll with cymbals, Kim Junghyun pped his hands and the ball settled in them. ¡°¡­¡± The spectators, the broadcasters, the producers, and the idols all blinked their eyes. Gu Seonwoong, who shot the ball, also had a stunned expression. ¡°Wow!¡± The cheers from the audience and the same team followed, but the opponent was just fiddling with the ball with a calm face. Coach Kang narrowed his eyes. How did he move his hand precisely at that timing? It was an amazing athletic sense, no matter how many times he saw it. His heart was pounding. ¡®He should be an athlete¡­¡¯ A 22-year veteran of ser. Kang Beom-su found a gem in a special variety show. The problem was that the gem was an idol¡­ The first half ended and the second half began. As if to avenge the early onught, the ragtag ser ss started to counterattack. But the focus of the spectators was elsewhere. Thud! p! ¡°¡­¡± Thudd! p. He lifted his palm and threw it away, catching it lightly. Sometimes he seemed annoyed and just kicked the ball with his foot. The attackers of FC Real Daddyzers shot like crazy, but Kim Junghyun didn¡¯t allow a single goal. Thementators eximed. ¡°Wow, that¡¯s the wall ofmentation itself. Junghyun of New ck. He really doesn¡¯t allow a single goal.¡± ¡°The keeper is carrying the team hard. He has a crazy physical. The ball looks more painful than him right now.¡± ¡°The other team¡¯s expression is gradually hardening.¡± As they said, the members of Real Daddyzers continued to shoot meaninglessly with a lost face. They cursed inwardly. ¡®No.¡¯ Gu Seonwoong swallowed his tears. ¡®Why won¡¯t it go in! Why! Why!¡¯ He was the one who won the MVP with the most goals in thest Dollympic Futsal. But not today. His calm face lifted his bear paw and blocked it every time. The tears of Gu Seonwoong piled up. The other members of FC Real Daddyzers were the same. ¡®It feels like shooting at a concrete wall.¡¯ ¡®Come on, at least give us one out of courtesy!¡¯ ¡®Yally yally yallya. Ya ri and¡­ Ehera.¡¯ The members went crazy as time went by. When their faces were full of disappointment, the ragtag team had good news. ¡°Shoot! Goal! Wow, finally the ragtag ser ss scores their first goal!¡± ¡°Wow!¡± The scene of Wild¡¯s leader hugging and jumping around with his teammates elicited cheers from everywhere. And they all ran in one direction. ¡°Woohoo!¡± They all hugged and cheered with the keeper, who looked bewildered and clueless. It was only natural. Thanks to the keeper¡¯s amazing performance, the defenders and the other teammates could attack with ease. Soon, Kim Junghyun¡¯s peaceful smile as he joined the woohoo was captured by several cameras. ¡°Thank you!¡± ¡°Our keeper is the best and the most awesome.¡± ¡°Do you want to eat meat after this? I¡¯ll buy you meat.¡± After having some time to celebrate with their teammates, the game went in a favorable direction for the Scrappy Ser ss. The number on the scoreboard was 1:0. The other teamunched desperate attacks to make up for the situation, but the keeper was like an impregnable fortress. ¡°Aaaah!¡± Every time the other team shot and screamed in frustration on the ground, the Scrappy Ser ss¡¯s teammates were pleased. ¡®After all, the goal of the game is not to win, but to annoy the other team.¡¯ A satisfied smile appeared on everyone¡¯s face. Yeonhu of Tinspirit was one of them. ¡®He¡¯s awesome. This guy.¡¯ He couldn¡¯t help but admire. How could he use his body like that? Everything looked splendid, from his sturdy physique to his casual ball handling. Of course, he knew about the team called New ck before. He had seen them at the end-of-the-year stage where they won the rookie award, and more importantly, they were the nice team that filled in when they werete for the event. But he had no idea that there was such a character in that New ck team. ¡®Amazing.¡¯ He quietly watched near Kim Junghyun, who took off his keeper gloves and wiped his sweat. ¡®What is he doing?¡¯ He was holding the ball and mumbling to himself, as if he was preparing for a goal kick. Yeonhu listened carefully. ¡°¡­Hmm.¡± He had a serious expression. ¡°Will this burst if I squeeze it hard?¡± ¡°¡­¡± ¡°Will I get scolded by Woojoo Hyung if it bursts?¡± ¡°¡­¡± ¡°No. No.¡± He shook his head and put on his gloves again. ¡°But I can try this, right?¡± What was he going to try? He wondered as he stood on the defensive line and observed the opponent. Soon, Kim Junghyun furrowed his brows. He scanned the field quickly with his brown eyes, his face serious like a pro yer who was nervous before a real game. He adjusted his breathing and set the ball down. Then he stepped back a few steps and ran up to kick the ball. Boom! Yeon-hoo dodged the ball in surprise. ¡°Wow, what the heck!¡± The ball whizzed past his face like a bullet. ¡®What, is he shooting a missile or something¡­¡¯ Kim Junghyun, who shot the ball like a character from a different genre, put his hand on his forehead to make a shade. He then followed the trajectory of the ball. Everyone on the spot craned their necks to see the angle. ¡®Could it be¡­¡¯ As the same thought crossed everyone¡¯s mind. ng. The ball went through the hands of Andrew, the goalkeeper of FC Real Daddies. ¡°¡­¡± There was a moment of silence in the broadcast booth. ¡°¡­?¡± There was only one person who muttered to himself at that moment. The person who rubbed his nose with satisfaction. ¡°Wow, it really works.¡± ¡°¡­¡± Yeon-hoo, who was standing nearby, nodded his head. It was a goal kick that seemed to cure his puberty just by looking at it. ¡®I shouldn¡¯t mess with that guy.¡¯ Meanwhile, the silence in the stands was over. ¡°Woah-!¡± ¡°Goal! Goal!¡± ¡°Look at Coach Kang¡¯s face. He looks like he¡¯s crying.¡± The face of someone who rubbed his nose with satisfaction after scoring a goal kick was close-up on the screen. It was a scene that was chosen as one of the best scenes in futsal at the 2015 Lunar New Year Special Olympics. I was anxious all day. I was so anxious that I held my phone tightly whether I was in the practice room or at the restaurant, as if I had left my child by the water. I had asked Min-ki, who had followed him, to give me some updates on the situation, but there was no contact. Min-ki [Arrived at Goyang Gymnasium] Min-ki [I¡¯ll text youter] I sighed. ¡°Why am I so anxious?¡± ¡°That¡¯s right. Hyung. I¡¯m worried that he might get into some trouble.¡± ¡°What kind of trouble would Junghyun get into?¡± We took turns answering the youngest¡¯s innocent question. ¡°What if he gets into a body m with the other team and gets sent off? TNT Seon-woong is alsoing out, and the moment he sends him off, our Junghyun will get a million anti-fans.¡± ¡°He¡¯ll get a four-week fracture just by grazing him.¡± ¡°Junghyun¡¯s whole body is a weapon. Jiho.¡± Of course, I was worried that he might get injured ande back, but that was a normal case. The problem was that he was the kind of guy who would go out and hit someone ande back, not the kind who would get hit. No. Even if he got hit, the person who hit him would be taken to the hospital. ¡°¡­Hmm, he¡¯s amazing.¡± Jiho nodded his head as if he agreed. Since we couldn¡¯t watch it live, we were all worried about what he was doing. Zing. Suddenly, texts started pouring in. Min-ki [Junghyun blocked a shot] Min-ki [He blocked it] Min-ki [He blocked that] Min-ki [Again] Min-ki [Wow, he blocked that too] We all stared nkly at the texts that arrived with a gap. At first, I thought it was a lightmentary on the futsal game, but more and more strange texts wereing in. Min-ki [He scored a goal with a goal kick] Min-ki [The other team is in shock] Min-ki [He won the first game 2-0] And that was the start of the weird texts that day. Min-ki Hyung [Won the final 1-0] Min-ki Hyung [Director holding Junghyun¡¯s hand and crying] Min-ki Hyung [He was a talent that the ser world needed, but they found him toote] Min-ki Hyung [Oh] Min-ki Hyung [Junghyun got the MVP award] Min-ki Hyung [A Teen Spirit kid got a signed ball] We blinked our eyes. ¡°¡­What is he doing?¡± All day long, we were curious about those iprehensible texts, while also making incredulous expressions. And in the evening. When we were eating at a Korean restaurant near thepany, Won-seok Hyung, who had heard the whole story, smiled and said to us. ¡°Now you know how we feel.¡± ¡°Huh?¡± ¡°We¡¯re the same. In Taiwan too, we get texts about what¡¯s going on at the site, and there¡¯s always something exploding.¡± ¡°¡­¡± ¡°It¡¯s a familiar thing.¡± The manager looked at us with a sympathetic expression, as if he understood us. ¡°But this is Junghyun we¡¯re talking about. We don¡¯t do anything weird, you know.¡± ¡°¡­¡± ¡°Hyung, why don¡¯t you answer me?¡± ¡°Wow, the knife-cut noodles are so chewy.¡± He avoided answering and slurped up the noodles. It was unfair. Anyone would think we were the kind of people who would do something strange ande back. The next day. We arrived at the Goyang Indoor Gymnasium at 6 a.m. We had to stop by the shop and finish our makeup, so we only had a few hours to sleep. We arrived at the waiting room in a drowsy state. We sat on the sofa and curled up. ¡°Our Supple fans must be cold.¡± ¡°It¡¯s so cold outside. It¡¯s not fair to make them wait out there, is it?¡± ¡°Ugh, I don¡¯t like it.¡± We saw the long lines as we drove by. It was dark, and we passed by so quickly that we didn¡¯t know which group¡¯s fans they were, but it hurt our hearts to see them. Was it when I was in elementary school? On a cold winter day, when our Kim Deok-soondy went out to sell things at dawn, I felt sorry for her as I curled up in the electric nket and saw her off. I wondered why I had to suffer so much at dawn. I sniffled as I shook the mini hand warmer. I have to do really wellter. I have to do so well that they won¡¯t regreting today. That¡¯s what I was thinking when it happened. When we changed into our gym clothes and waited for the production team¡¯s call, the door opened with a click. ¡°Who¡­ huh?¡± We all jumped up at the sight of the person who came in. It wasn¡¯t just us, the managers were the same. A person wearing an old coat and puffing steam from his head. ¡°President?¡± ¡°How have you been?¡± A bald man with a kind face, our Park Kyu-ho president, came into the room. The managers, including Seok-hwan Hyung, bowed politely with both hands, while we looked nervous. ¡°How did you get here, President?¡± ¡°Oh, I heard they wanted me to attend. I¡¯m going to watch the opening ceremony and a few gamester.¡± From what I heard, it seemed that the representatives of each agency would attend the opening ceremony of the Dolympic today. ¡­It¡¯s kind of stressful. No matter how friendly and nice he is, it¡¯s a burden to have someone of his position near us. It¡¯s like even if the brigademander says ¡®Woojoo, we¡¯re friends¡¯, the brigademander is still the brigademander. And today, the president¡¯s mood was a bit strange. ¡°So, how¡¯s the preparation going, Woojoo?¡± ¡°Uh, yes.¡± ¡°Specifically, how¡­?¡± ¡°Huh?¡± ¡°I mean, I¡¯m curious how the event preparation is going¡­¡± Our president is not very interested in the small details, he only cares about the big things. But he was asking us about the preparation like a nervous person. I answered. ¡°I¡¯ve been practicing hard at the archery range that you lent us. Rihyuk is also doing mind training by pretending to be chased by a thief since morning. I¡¯m watching basketball videos.¡± ¡°I see. Hmm¡­¡± Director Park asked. ¡°Are you confident¡­ no, no, the most important thing is not to get injured. Right. Your healthes first.¡± ¡°Yes, Director.¡± ¡°Health is the priority. Yeah. That¡¯s right.¡± ¡°Ah.¡± Something shed in my mind. One of thements I saw on the inte before. -Are Kyuho and Hyunsik fighting again? That¡¯s when I remembered the rivalry between ourpany and DNS Media. We¡¯ve been so close with the Street Boystely that I forgot about that rtionship. Our director and their director are sworn enemies. I imagined the scene when they would meet at the ceremony today and it was drawn in my head. I smiled and said to the director who told us not to get hurt. ¡°We¡¯ll do our best.¡± ¡°Good.¡± The director patted our shoulders and was about to leave the waiting room. ¡°But, Director.¡± ¡°Hmm?¡± ¡°What will you do for us if we do really well today? Like, we beat DNS and get the trophy and stuff.¡± Our youngest spoke with a yful tone and the director chuckled. ¡°I can do anything for you. Just tell me what you want. I¡¯ll give you anything. Really.¡± ¡°Can we have a delicious meal¡­¡± ¡°That¡¯s a given. Is that enough?¡± The director shook his head and said. ¡°I heard that you need aposing equipment. The A&R team leader told me something about it.¡± ¡°Oh, yes. That¡¯s right.¡± ¡°I¡¯ll buy it for you. Sure.¡± ¡°Wow¡­¡± I was moved by the director¡¯s big smile. Ever since I visited Director Jo Kyuwan¡¯s house, I felt the need to upgrade myposing equipment. I didn¡¯t expect him to say that. But¡­ He doesn¡¯t seem to know how much it costs. I¡¯m sure. He wouldn¡¯t be able to say that so generously if he knew the price. As the directorughed and said he would buy us anything, Seokhwan Hyung was about to open his mouth. ¡°Well¡­¡± ¡°Shh.¡± I grabbed our manager¡¯s hand. Then I smiled brightly as if I was serving a customer. ¡°Director.¡± ¡°Hmm?¡± ¡°I¡¯ll work hard.¡± The directorughed again as I bowed my head. ¡°I¡¯ll get the trophy today.¡± ¡°You said not to get hurt.¡± ¡°I¡¯ll get it without getting hurt.¡± ¡°Did you see his face? He¡¯s totally determined. Woojoo Hyung.¡± My siblings backed away from me, filled with firm resolve. ¡°Where are you going?¡± I grabbed Rihyuk and wrapped my arm around his neck. ¡°Let me go. This.¡± ¡°60 meters. Run with all your strength. Rihyuk.¡± ¡°Ugh. I hate this.¡± ¡°It¡¯s worth it if we win.¡± As I nodded and cheered for Rihyuk, we walked slowly down the hallway. We met peopleing out of the waiting rooms. ¡°Oh, hello!¡± ¡°Hello!¡± We exchanged friendly greetings as we headed to the stadium. That¡¯s when I saw a familiar face. ¡°Hey, isn¡¯t that Teen Spirit seniors?¡± Jiho whispered and we turned our heads. Teen Spirit was walking out confidently with a ¡®badass¡¯ vibe. As they greeted everyone, we also said hello. ¡°Hello, senior.¡± ¡°Yes.¡± They epted our greeting as usual. As the other members passed by us, one of them, Yeonhu, stopped briefly and nodded his head to Junghyun. ¡°¡­?¡± We blinked our eyes as he spoke. ¡°Good morning, sir.¡± ¡°¡­¡± ¡°See youter.¡± We watched him politely say goodbye and leave. Then we looked at Junghyun. ¡°¡­?¡± What was that? What just happened? Chapter 196: Chapter 196: Trantor: MarcTempest Editor: Rxel Chapter 196 ¡°What the hell? What happened here?¡± ¡°Exin yourself. Hyung?¡± As they opened their eyes hesitantly, Junghyun scratched the back of his head as if nothing was wrong and answered. ¡°We were on the same futsal team yesterday. After the game, he asked me if he could call me Hyung.¡± ¡°Suddenly?¡± ¡°Yes. Suddenly.¡±Woojoo and his siblings looked at each other. At this point, Woojoo was really curious about what had happened yesterday. He said he just yed as a goalkeeper, but something was off. Junggun, the leader of the senior group Wild, came over and tapped Junghyun¡¯s shoulder. ¡°Did you have a good time yesterday?¡± ¡°Yes. Hello.¡± ¡°Thanks to you, it was really fun, man.¡± That was the start of the people who were on the same team as him yesterday greeting him warmly. Of course, not everyone was like that. ¡°Ugh¡­¡± There were also some who were startled by Junghyun. Gu Seonwoong, the leader of TNT, looked like he had encountered a monster and widened his eyes before moving away. Why was he like that? That guy. Woojoo was sincerely wondering how he could y as a goalkeeper and elicit such strong reactions. ¡°Oppas, hi.¡± Woojoo turned around at the cheerful voice and looked down. A cute rice cake in a ck tracksuit was waving her hand. It was Daisy, who had dyed her hair blonde. ¡°Oh, hi.¡± Woojoo greeted her with a smile. Then he said hello to the other Scarlet members behind her. ¡°Hello.¡± Ara joked with a smile, ¡°Why do you only speak informally to Nayoon?¡± ¡°Do you want me to do that too?¡± ¡°No. That would be awkward¡­¡± Woojoo smiled at the people who were shy around him. Scarlet. The senior girl group from the same agency as them was wearing jerseys with three white stripes on ck, just like them. The so-called L-team uniform. The teams for this round-robin tournament, which had more than two hundred participants, were organized by agency. For example, TJ Enter was T-team. DNS Media was D-team. As the groups from the same agency gathered, there were lively conversations everywhere. They were no different. Ara, the leader, put her hand to her mouth. ¡°Wow. Did the Presidente and see you guys too? What did he say?¡± ¡°He didn¡¯t say much. He told us to be careful. And he said he would buy usposing equipment if we win.¡± ¡°Wow. Look at the favoritism.¡± Another member, Bom, called out to Ara. ¡°Unnie, didn¡¯t the President say he would only buy us meat?¡± ¡°I know, right? That¡¯s so unfair.¡± As the other members nodded in agreement, Jiho asked, ¡°But didn¡¯t you guys eat 25 servings of flower sirloinst year?¡± ¡°¡­¡± ¡°The owner of the meat restaurant said you ate like wrestlers.¡± Junghyun gave him a friendly smile, and Woojoo barely held back hisughter. The Scarlet members coughed awkwardly. ¡°No, that was¡­¡± ¡°Honestly, we were starving that day. The portions were so small and expensive.¡± ¡°It makes me angry just thinking about it.¡± ¡°Hey, can¡¯t girl groups eat meat?¡± ¡°Why are you picking on me?¡± Jiho hid behind Woojoo with a sad face, avoiding the teasing from the Noonas. They allughed at his expression. They chatted lightly while waiting in one ce. ¡°Okay, let¡¯s all cheer up together.¡± Ara, the oldest member, stretched out her long arm. They lightly touched their hands and shouted ¡®fighting¡¯ briefly. ¡°L team, please enter!¡± At the staff¡¯s call through the inte, they all loosened up their bodies. Ara led the way with the g as the representative, and they followed behind the Scarlet members. They passed through the dark hallway. ¡°Woah!¡± A bright light and a scream greeted them. They adjusted their eyes to the light and looked around the spacious Goyang indoor gymnasium. Souffl¨¦. Where were their Souffl¨¦s? Woojoo scanned the ce quickly and Bijoo tapped the back of his hand and pointed to a direction with his eyes. They were waving their hands from the third-floor seats far away. ¡°Wow!¡± They waved their hands back and greeted them, and the Souffl¨¦s greeted them back with a wave. Ah, this felt good. Woojoo was in a daze since he woke up at 3 a.m., but seeing their Souffl¨¦s made him feel healed. Maybe 0.8 Kim Deoksoon? That was how happy he was waving his hands. ¡°¡­?¡± ¡°What¡¯s that?¡± They entered with bright smiles, but they stared nkly at the banner hanging where the Souffl¨¦s were gathered. -You are our gold medals! ¡­a touching phrase. There were five gold medals drawn on a ck background, but the problem was that their faces were photoshopped into each medal. Was it because they only photoshopped their faces on the gold color? They looked like monks without any hair. Or maybe like five golden courtiers. The Souffl¨¦sughed happily among themselves, showing their gleeful faces when they saw their stunned expressions. ¡°¡­¡± When did this atmosphere start? It was nice to be friendly with them, but¡­ Their eyes moistened as they recalled the warm and kind Souffl¨¦s of the past. Shriek! Thud! A swift arrow hit the eight-point mark on the target. ¡°Wow! I got eight points!¡± ¡°Jiho.¡± ¡°Yes?¡± ¡°The feather color of the arrowing to your body is wrong. You have to make it match the other part.¡± ¡°¡­Yes.¡± Their youngest made a sad face and protested. ¡°You don¡¯t have to be so harsh and point out everything. You can always praise me first and then do it.¡± ¡°Oooh, our youngest did well.¡± ¡°Hehe, really?¡± ¡°Then let¡¯s correct the wrong posture.¡± ¡°¡­¡± Woojoo grabbed the youngest¡¯s arm from behind and coached him. Next to Woojoo, Bijoo was practicing shooting arrows. Swoosh! Thud. An arrow stuck in the yellow target, worth nine points. Bijoo smiled brightly and turned his head to Woojoo. ¡°Hyung, did you see that? I just scored nine points.¡± ¡°Good job, our second youngest.¡± As Woojoo corrected the youngest¡¯s posture, he high-fived the second youngest who was jumping with joy. Woojoo found himself praising the kids more than coaching them. This was the gym¡¯s indoor practice room. There were targets prepared in the hallway so they could warm up their bodies. While Rihyuk and Junghyun were cheering for Scarlet, who was in the same L group as them, Woojoo was watching over his siblings¡¯ stance. -Wow! A faint scream came from outside. The girl group archery preliminaries were going on. They were in the first group of the preliminaries, so they would go straight to the match as soon as the women¡¯s division was over. And their long-awaited first preliminary opponent was¡­ ¡°Ha, you were hiding here.¡± Woojoo heard a snicker from somewhere. He turned his head and saw Han Taehyun and his gang approaching with a swagger. Woojoo said with a smile, ¡°Hey, don¡¯t show up with such a third-rate viin-like line.¡± ¡°Third-rate viin?¡± The other side looked incredulous. ¡°You¡¯re making me feel bad. Anyone can see that I¡¯m a handsome final boss, right?¡± ¡°You look like a mob.¡± ¡°¡­I swear I¡¯ll post a review of your personality on the inte someday. Be prepared for a million anti-fans.¡± As if you have time to go online. The grumbling guy soon came over with a smile. Their kids greeted the TNT trio who had quivers on their legs. Han Taehyun waved his hand. ¡°Don¡¯t greet them. They¡¯re Woojoo Hyung¡¯s friends, why bother?¡± ¡°We¡¯re not friends, we¡¯re brats.¡± Their youngest said in a sad tone, and the other side burst intoughter. Then he looked at Woojoo coaching Jiho and asked casually, ¡°Does Woojoo Hyung treat you badly?¡± ¡°No joke. He nags a lot, and if he doesn¡¯t like something, he res at me until I do it right.¡± ¡°I know that feeling. I know it well.¡± The TNT¡¯s younger line, Seok Jihun and Ji Hanbin, also chimed in. ¡°He¡¯s such a tiring Hyung.¡± ¡°I thought I was going to die from overwork every month when we had evaluations. I seriously considered getting insurance from then on.¡± ¡°Whatever.¡± Woojoo waved his hand and said, ¡°Bijoo, Jiho. Don¡¯t listen to those mean guys¡­¡± ¡°Really? How was it?¡± ¡°I¡¯m really interested in Woojoo Woojoo¡¯s past.¡± Why are your eyes shining like that? ¡°Curious? Come here. I¡¯ll tell you everything.¡± ¡°We¡¯ve been through a lot of hardships.¡± ¡°¡­¡± Woojoo felt annoyed as he watched them cheer each other up. What was the point of raising children? Seeing his old and new children join forces, Woojoo felt his cheeks tremble without knowing it. Woojoo said to Taehyun, ¡°Hey, stop interfering with my business and take your kids away.¡± ¡°We came here to practice too.¡± ¡°There¡¯s a separate ce over there. It¡¯s big and spacious.¡± ¡°The lighting is not good.¡± ¡°Then we¡¯ll use that ce.¡± ¡°Ah. I just came here to have some fun. You should be more tactful and adjust to the situation.¡± ¡°Yeah, yeah.¡± Woojoo gave a vague answer to the grumbling guy and then he also picked up a bow and practiced his posture. The other person¡¯s eyes widened. ¡°Huh? Your posture is good.¡± ¡°I practiced a bit.¡± ¡°Wow. You¡¯ve changed.¡± He pped his hands as if he was impressed and said, ¡°You¡¯ve changed. You¡¯re ying basketball and archery. You¡¯re keeping up with the times.¡± ¡°Thanks. Very much.¡± Woojoo smiled and hung an arrow and pulled the bowstring. The other person looked at his posture and tilted his head. ¡°¡­Strange. Your posture is good?¡± ¡°I practiced, so.¡± ¡°No, you¡¯re not the type of body that can improve by practice, right?¡± ¡°¡­¡± ¡°Is that not true?¡± ¡°Really. I¡¯m so hopeless even without charisma.¡± There was no one else around here like this. Woojoo was looking at the ceiling with a sad face. ¡°Hey, Taehyun.¡± Ji Hanbin, who was talking with their kids, said, ¡°Woojoo Hyung is good at shooting arrows, right?¡± ¡°What?¡± ¡°He¡¯s good at it.¡± ¡°¡­Did I hear it wrong? Did you say the name wrong?¡± ¡°Idiot. It¡¯s really Woojoo.¡± But the face of the person who said that also showed a look of disbelief. They looked at Woojoo as if they wanted him to exin. Woojoo shrugged his shoulders. Then he let go of the bowstring. Shriek! Thud. ¡°¡­¡± Woojoo showed off his arrow thatnded exactly on the 10-point mark and made a smug expression. Did you see that? My improved¡­ Three people approached Woojoo at the same time. ¡°Look at that bow. Who¡¯s the maker?¡± ¡°It¡¯s not for nothing that it¡¯s the 21st century. It¡¯s the era of science.¡± ¡°Isn¡¯t that something that was released by some researchb?¡± These guys were unbelievable. As Woojoo looked at them with disbelief, Bijoo and Jiho pped their hands and burst intoughter. -Yes, this is the men¡¯s archery preliminary round, group 1. TNT versus New ck. The voice of the announcer, Jung Hyojin, was followed by thementator¡¯s voice. -TNT is a strong team that made it to the finalsst year. Han Taehyun, Ji Hanbin, Seok Jihun. Personally, I was impressed by Han Taehyun¡¯s performancest year and I¡¯m looking forward to him this year. As thementators continued their conversation, the broadcast camera captured the participants on the scene. The six people sitting on both sides. On the left, the TNT trio, who looked rxed but somehow uneasy, and on the right, the rookie New ck, who showed a tense and determined expression. -Well, then, let¡¯s start with Han Taehyun of TNT. As soon as the popr member of TNT with green hair stood up, a fierce cheer erupted. He smiled as if he was used to it and picked up his bow. He brought the bowstring to his cheek and slowly closed one eye. When a fan shouted ¡®Kyaa!¡¯ by themselves and covered their mouth, a briefughter swept the scene. A calm silence. Shiiik! Thud. As he released the bowstring, the target showed 8 points, 8 points, 9 points in order. It was a short 20 meters indoors with no wind to worry about, which was an advantage over the actualpetition, but it was still a decent score for an amateur. ¡®I did well, if I say so myself.¡¯ Han Taehyun waved his hand to the fans with a proud face and returned to his seat. Then he looked at Woojoo, who was sitting calmly next to him. ¡®Let¡¯s see you try.¡¯ He looked at him with a sneer, who had been bragging about his archery skills earlier. ¡®You can¡¯t do it. You, Hyung.¡¯ He had been watching him for several years on TJ. Starting from the legendary Yeouido Park incident, Woojoo Hyung was a nightmare in every field that involved physical activity. ¡®Well, he¡¯s a bit good at dancing¡­¡¯ He was surprised by the appearance of his opponent, who suddenly became a dance genius to match him, but that was just dancing. Nothing else had changed much. Unless he suddenly gained some superpowers like in a movie. -Yes, it¡¯s Woojoo¡¯s turn. He¡¯s¡­ wow. The crowd is going wild. As soon as Woojoo¡¯s figure holding a bow appeared on the screen, the crowd went wild. Idol fans didn¡¯t care much about anyone who wasn¡¯t their idol, but it was different if the visual was outstanding. The crowd went wild at the visual of a rookie idol member. -You were like this when Joo Hana from Girls on Top or Lina from Scarlet came out during the women¡¯s preliminaries. Now it¡¯s Woojoo¡¯s turn. The camera caught a Souffl¨¦ holding a card that said ¡®Woojoo, you are the treasure and the gem of this country¡¯. ¡°¡­¡± Woojoo coughed and picked up the bow. The silence fell as his long eyshes fluttered and one eye closed slightly. The audience held their breath without realizing it. Woojoo pulled the bowstring in a picture-perfect posture. -¡­? Thementator, a former archery gold medalist, tilted his head for a moment. ¡®His posture is very stable, isn¡¯t it?¡¯ Did he join an archery club or something? As he was thinking that, Woojoo released the bowstring lightly. Shweeek! Thud! ¡°Wow-!¡± The cheers erupted as soon as the arrow hit. ¡°¡­!¡± At the same time, the TNT trio jumped up from their seats with their mouths wide open, and so did the members of New ck. -10 points! It¡¯s 10 points! -He smashed the camera lens! It was an arrow that hit the exact center of the 10-point target. The Souffl¨¦s screamed, and Junghyun of New ck, who was cheering, waved a card that said ¡®Make some noise~¡¯, and Rihyuk covered his face with his hands, showing off his pierced ears. But despite themotion, Woojoo of New ck calmly reloaded his arrow with aposed face. He had two more shots left. As the heat of the scene subsided, Woojoo pulled the bowstring again. Shweeek, thud! There was a moment of silence in the arena, followed by another cheer. -10 points! -Again? Another 10 points! And thest shot. -¡­It¡¯s another 10 points. -He scored 10-10-10 on his first appearance at the idol sports festival. The President must have a smile on his face right now! A middle-aged man holding a phone with the message ¡®Scarlet, New ck, love you?¡¯ on it was caught on the screen with a happy face. Meanwhile, Woojoo raised both hands and covered his mouth after hitting the third 10-point. He looked like he was saying ¡®Is this real?¡¯ If he hadn¡¯t covered his hand, the audience would have seen his mouth saying ¡®Oh my, oh my¡¯. ¡°Wow. This is amazing.¡± Woojoo, who was admiring himself, sent a heart to his fans with a happy smile. He then returned to his seat and high-fived his members. He then sent a smirk to the TNT trio, who had been stunned all this time. He had a look that said ¡®How about that?¡¯ ¡°¡­¡± The three members of TNT, including Han Taehyun, were lost in their confused minds for a long time. ¡®What, who is that? That?¡¯ It felt like they were looking at an alien wearing Seon Woojoo¡¯s shell. A situation that made no sense. Especially HanTaehyun, his eyes were wide open. ¡®How can I lose to that guy with my body?¡¯ It felt like he had been hit by a surprise attack. ¡°¡­¡± Was it because of that? Ever since Woojoo¡¯s ten-ten-ten, TNT¡¯s members started to tremble at their fingertips every time they pulled the bowstring. -Ah, 6 points. His hand slipped. -The shock was definitely big. -Will New ck take the victory easily like this? It was still early, but the flow of victory in the stadium was clearly leaning to one side. At the same time. Sitting in thementator¡¯s seat, Olympic gold medalistmentator Yang Heeseon blinked her eyes. ¡°¡­?¡± Announcer Jung Hyojin put down the microphone and asked, ¡°What¡¯s wrong,mentator?¡± ¡°Something¡¯s weird. I mean, that Woojoo guy.¡± ¡°Which part?¡± ¡°Um, well¡­¡± She had no idea how to exin. The way he held the bow, or his various expressions, they were not something that an amateur could easily do. He looked like a pro. Not like practicing shooting at a short distance indoors, but like going through a real battle, considering the direction of the wind and everything. ¡®I feel like I¡¯ve seen it somewhere¡­¡¯ At first, she thought he was a rising idol star, but that wasn¡¯t it. ¡®His posture is familiar, and I¡¯ve seen him somewhere¡­ Ah?¡¯ Yang Heeseon gasped as she remembered. As soon as he shot the arrow, Woojoo gave a slightly smug smile for 0.1 seconds, and it caught her eye. She muttered with a flustered face, ¡°¡­Sunbae-nim?¡± She felt a hint of the legendary senior archer in the unknown idol¡¯s posture and expression. She recognized him. He was the legendary senior archer she had admired. Chapter 197: Chapter 197: Trantor: MarcTempest Editor: Rxel Chapter 197 Bijoo, who was standing at the shooting line, took his stance. He took a deep breath and rxed his breath, then his delicate hand gesture gracefully pulled the bowstring. 8 points. 7 points. 8 points. It was a high score that matched his stable posture. ¡°Good job.¡± Woojoo and Jiho gave him a high-five as he came back with a gentle smile.Then, Seok Jihun, the youngest of TNT, shot 7 points, 7 points, and 6 points in a row. A lower score than thest special episode. It wasn¡¯t just Seok Jihun, but the whole TNT trio had lower scores thanst year. Especially Taehyun, he had a nk expression. ¡°¡­¡± The TNT trio looked at Woojoo¡¯s face like a ghost. It was a bit awkward. At first, Woojoo thought they wouldn¡¯t react so much, but when he thought about it, it made sense. When he imagined himself as Rihyuk, he understood their feelings. What if Rihyuk suddenly became a god of archery and came back? Woojoo would feel the same way. Then Jiho came back after shooting 7 points, 8 points, and 7 points. ¡°Good work.¡± ¡°Please praise me.¡± ¡°Woo. Wow. Great. Awesome.¡± He bowed down to receive the praise, and Woojooughed at his reaction. After Taehyun shot hisst arrow, it was Woojoo¡¯s turn. The eyes of the TNT trio followed his every move, while Jiho and Bijoo cheered him on. ¡°Good luck.¡± ¡°Hyung, make a cool final shot.¡± They cheered Woojoo on like he was the ace of the team, and he smiled for a moment. It felt strange. It was the first time in his life that he received such treatment because he was good at sports. Woojoo was always the hole in the team, and even in elementary school, he couldn¡¯t join the ser team and had to cheer. Even when he was a trainee, he often felt depressed when he had to use his body. He never thought he would feel sofortable and confident while exercising. He felt proud and excited. This was how people with good athletic skills felt when they used their body. He felt energized and confident. It was the first time he felt so happy and proud while recording a broadcast. He took his posture and pulled the bowstring. He felt the tension in his fingertips, and his body automatically performed the necessary actions. His eyes pierced the target, and his breathing was optimized for shooting. Woojoo gently released the bowstring, and the arrow hit the target precisely. 10 points. He felt a tingling sensation all over his body. ¡°Wow!¡± Woojoo smiled without knowing it, feeling his heart soar. That day, they easily defeated TNT, the runner-up fromst year, and advanced to the semifinals. Archery finals. Thepetition was divided into girl groups and boy groups, and the semifinals and finals were held. ¡°Wow!¡± Every time the idol members created various scenes of interest, there were enthusiastic reactions from all over. -Wow! Hepletely missed the target. He got a set. -A set of gifts for the holidays? -Jeon Yubin avoids his mistake cutely. After shooting outside the target, Jeon Yubin of La Vie en Rose made a cute honey bomb gesture on her head, saying ¡®Ahkong¡¯. And the scene of Im Hyunsik, the president of his agency DNS Media, grabbing his neck. -Wow! 10 points. He hit 10 points. -It¡¯s the second time breaking the camera lens since New ck! Hanjo of Street Boys, who cheered after hitting 10 points, and Hanseok of Daydream, who hit 10 points after him. Meanwhile, among such sights, there was someone who received the most attention. -Yes, Woojoo of New ck is up. -The atmosphere has changedpletely. Daydream looks tense. -He¡¯s a dark horse who beat TNT, the runner-up fromst year. Daydream¡¯s expression was caught on the screen, looking like a farmer watching the devil descend. Someone walked out following their gaze. The audience was stirred by his stunning visual, even after seeing it again. Woojoo of New ck calmly picked up his bow. ¡®Wow¡­¡¯ His movements were so amazing that they couldn¡¯t help but admire them. All his movements were natural and smooth, without any hesitation. They didn¡¯t know exactly what the correct movements were, but they felt that the rookie idol¡¯s movements were the closest to the standard. And his score was also astonishing. -10 points! Three arrows densely decorated the center of the target. -¡­He¡¯s crazy. Really. -10 points in a row, that¡¯s the first time in the history of the Idol Sports Festival. It¡¯s a record that won¡¯t be broken unless an idol from the archery teames out! -He has a natural talent. His skills were so impressive that even the former national archery team member praised his talent. Every time Woojoo hit the 10-point target, the faces of the opposing team wilted. Park Kyuho, the president sitting in the audience, smiled brightly. ¡°Hahaha! Lim, do you see that? That¡¯s our kid.¡± ¡°¡­¡± ¡°Don¡¯t you have a kid like that in yourpany? Haha!¡± ¡°¡­¡± While Im Hyunsik, the president of DNS Media, was silently enduring. The idol members who were squatting and watching whispered to each other, covering their mouths with their hands. ¡°He¡¯s crazy. Really.¡± ¡°What is he?¡± ¡°It seems like he only shot 10 points every time. Is that even possible? Even the teacher at the archery center sometimes made mistakes and shot 8 points.¡± It was a reaction of disbelief. At first, they thought he was just a handsome rookie male idol, but it turned out he was some kind of ecosystem disruptor. It felt like seeing a handsome bullfrog. ¡°I feel sorry for the Daydream Sunbae-nims, really.¡± ¡°I agree. I would have lost my mind if I had topete with him.¡± ¡°¡­The other kids are doing well too, right?¡± Although Woojoo was boasting an overwhelming presence, the other members were also achieving decent scores. It was the moment when New ck, who debuted for the first time at the Dolympic this year, rose as the dark horse of the archery world. ¡®They will win for sure.¡¯ ¡®How can he not miss a single 10 point shot¡­¡¯ ¡®Is he human? He¡¯s a machine that shoots arrows.¡¯ Those who were initially sneering inwardly soon watched the game withfortable eyes. If it were usual, they would have felt some jealousy, but not this time. ¡®He deserves respect.¡¯ It was a skill that could only be achieved by practicing for almost half a year for the Dolympic alone. And every time they felt that reaction, the noses of the Souffl¨¦s in the audience went up endlessly. Every time an arrownded on the 10 point target, their shoulders shrugged and their cheeks twitched. ¡°I¡¯m so happy¡­¡± ¡°It feels strange. I was just hoping that our kids wouldn¡¯t get hurt until we got here, but now that they¡¯re doing well, I feel somewhat warm¡­¡± ¡°It¡¯s a proud feeling.¡± Every time the New ck members appeared on the scoreboard, they smiled happily as they confirmed their beauty with binocrs. They had been in line since dawn. And waited for several hours. The fatigue and irritation that had umted as they heard unpleasant words from the security melted away. ¡®I really like it¡­¡¯ It was nice to be recognized in their main field of music, but it was also nice to see them active in a different field. They felt like they wanted to put up posters all over the country and brag, ¡®They are our kids!¡¯ Someone asked, ¡°But, I have one thing I¡¯m curious about¡­¡± ¡°What is it?¡± ¡°You know Woojoo, right? Why does he look so surprised and happy every time he shoots?¡± ¡°¡­Right?¡± He had a professional expression on his face when he shot the arrows, but he screamed with joy when his turn was over. He looked happy with his eyes wide open and his hands on his cheeks. There were various guesses about the reason, but the conversation didn¡¯tst long. ¡°His expression is so pretty.¡± ¡°That¡¯s true.¡± As fans who had been with them since their debut, they could tell when they saw their singer. They didn¡¯t know the exact reason, but they knew he was very happy. ¡°This is not the time for us.¡± ¡°That¡¯s right. Let¡¯s cheer for them.¡± They also smiled brightly and started to wave their cards and slogans enthusiastically. And then. ¡°¡­¡± Every time the slogan with five golden archers waved, the fans of other groups nearby had a nk expression on their faces. ¡°Woohoo!¡± They hugged each other and jumped around. ¡°Guys!¡± ¡°We did it.¡± ¡°We got the gold medal!¡± It was a moment of ecstasy. They put on the gold medals that the production team gave them, and went up to the fan seats on the third floor as a winner¡¯s privilege to takememorative photos with the fans. They savored that moment for a long time, feeling so good. ¡°Good job!¡± The morning recording ended with the men¡¯s and women¡¯s archery, but they still wanted to stay in the stadium. They left the stadium with a sense of regret. Everyone they met congratted or praised them. ¡°Congrattions!¡± ¡°You were amazing with the bow, where did you learn that?¡± ¡°Come on, reveal the bow maker. Seon Woojoo!¡± They kept nagging Woojoo to reveal the secret. After shaking them off, they made new friends with those who they only knew from music shows or year-end stages. And their close friends also came to talk to them. ¡°Wow. New ck got the gold medal.¡± ¡°As a member of the Mint Choco-dan, we believed that our leader would do it.¡± The Street Boys in white uniforms spoke with a pleased smile. They shook their heads. ¡°No.¡± ¡°What?¡± ¡°We¡¯re not New ck anymore.¡± Woojoo, Bijoo, and Jiho lifted their gold medals at the same time. ¡°We¡¯re New Gold now!¡± ¡°¡­¡± While Junghyun smiled and said ¡®I see¡¯, Rihyuk next to them looked disgusted. ¡°No way.¡± LB looked betrayed. ¡°What do you mean? What about our Mint Choco-dan?¡± ¡°Namoo.¡± Woojoo answered. ¡°Sorry, but the Mint Choco era is over.¡± ¡°¡­Sigh.¡± Then Hanjo joined in with a sad face. ¡°Woojoo. Was this all we were?¡± ¡°What were we?¡± ¡°Mint and chocte.¡± ¡°That was a badbination from the start. Like pizza and pineapple.¡± The Street Boys shouted. ¡°Our leader has no taste.¡± ¡°How dare you insult Hawaiian, that¡¯s a serious crime, isn¡¯t it?¡± ¡°What power do we have?¡± ¡°Yeah, let¡¯s be careful. We might get shot by an arrow.¡± While Woojoo swallowed hisughter, LB nodded in agreement and said ¡®our leader has a unique taste¡¯ and got persecuted by the Mint Choco followers. Namoo was on fire today as usual. Their youngest cleared his throat and showed off his gold medal. ¡°We New Gold are going to switch to Almond Bonbon-dan from today.¡± ¡°Wow, can we join?¡± ¡°First, you have to get a gold medal.¡± Jiho made jokes left and right and both sides burst intoughter. While the No Fun Family exchanged friendly greetings, Hanjo and Woojoo walked along the corridor side by side. He asked Woojoo with an admiring face, ¡°How long did you practice archery?¡± ¡°About two days.¡± ¡°¡­Two days?¡± ¡°Yes.¡± ¡°Then do you have archery as a hobby or something?¡± ¡°No. This is my first time. I was just lucky in many ways¡­¡± The other person looked at Woojoo with a strange expression and reluctantly epted it. ¡°Well, you look like you¡¯re good at exercising too, from the way you dance.¡± ¡°No, I¡¯m not. I¡¯m bad at exercise¡­¡± Wait a minute. Was he good now? ¡°I think I¡¯ve improved a bit since before.¡± ¡°By the way, aren¡¯t we ying basketballter?¡± ¡°Yeah. We¡¯re on the same team.¡± Hanjo and Woojoo were making a name for themselves as rookies on the basketball teamposed of ten idol members. The other person asked Woojoo with a curious face, ¡°Are you going to be amazing at basketball too?¡± ¡°I don¡¯t know. It¡¯s different from archery. It requires teamwork and all. You have to try it to know¡­¡± Woojoo practiced one-on-one with Junghyunte at night on the basketball court, but he didn¡¯t know how well he would do in a real game. Unlike archery, this was a team sport that required teamwork. He was unsure if he could do well. But Junghyun saidst time, ¡®Wow, you¡¯re like m Dunk.¡¯ So it shouldn¡¯t be too bad. Yeah. Let¡¯s have some confidence now. Woojoo nodded and chatted with Hanjo about this and that. After talking about how refreshing their bodies felt after doing rhythmic gymnastics at the opening ceremony today and the archery finals. Soon, the topic shifted to the sprint race that would take ce after lunch. ¡°By the way.¡± Hanjo asked Woojoo as if he was curious, ¡°Who¡¯s going out of the New ck memberster?¡± ¡°Oh.¡± Woojoo answered. ¡°The one with the worst personality among us.¡± ¡°Oh, you mean Rihyuk.¡± He recognized it right away and Woojoo swallowed augh. After lunch. While the filming equipment was being set up, they sat in a circle in front of one person. ¡°Hoo¡­¡± The snowman-like pale one put his hand on his chest and took a deep breath. ¡°Hoo.¡± They, who were sitting next to him, followed suit. ¡°Hooh.¡± ¡°Hoo¡­¡± ¡°Hooh.¡± ¡°Hoo¡­¡± ¡°Hooh.¡± ¡°Hey, stop copying me. I¡¯m just venting before the race.¡± They looked at each other at the words spat out by the grumpy face. Then they made a yful face and imitated someone. ¡°Truhsz m~¡± ¡°¡­¡± They high-fived and giggled at the sight of the guy making a sour face. The other person sighed. ¡°How can you guys be so useless? The other teams are all caring andforting each other¡­ Hey, don¡¯t touch me.¡± ¡°You asked for it.¡± ¡°I just said that. Who really wants that?¡± He was ten times more irritable than usual, maybe because he was nervous before the race. ¡°I¡¯ll handle my own tension, so just leave me alone. I need to do some mind training.¡± ¡°Okay.¡± They nodded and turned their backs, and Rihyuk closed his eyes for about 30 seconds and then opened them wide. ¡°Don¡¯t really lose interest, okay?¡± ¡°¡­¡± They were scolded by the guy who was very sensitive. He was so picky that they felt like they were the daughters-inw who were abused in dramas. That was why they all happily saw him off when he was called by the staff. ¡°What¡¯s with that expression?¡± ¡°It¡¯s a smile to wish you luck.¡± ¡°Yeah, right. Hah, I¡¯m so happy,¡± he said sarcastically. ¡°¡­I¡¯ll be back soon.¡± They waved their hands warmly at him, wondering what to cheer him on. ¡°Don¡¯t even think abouting back if you don¡¯t win.¡± ¡°Good luck, Rihyuk.¡± ¡°You¡¯re going to get it if you don¡¯te back first after being insulted like this. You know what I mean, right?¡± ¡°¡­Ugh. I don¡¯t know.¡± He ran away, covering his ears as if he didn¡¯t want to hear. ¡°Come back, Rihyuk¡­!¡± They all swallowed theirughter at the sight of Bijoo waving a handkerchief like a mother sending off her son to the army. As they sat together with their siblings, the men¡¯s 60-meter dash preliminaries began. This race was structured so that the first ce of each group would meet in the finals. Right away, in the first group, LB from Street Boys grabbed the first ce with a crazy speed. Woojoo was amazed. ¡°Mr. Namoo, you¡¯re so fast.¡± ¡°I heard he¡¯s the fastest in that team.¡± ¡°That¡¯s true, but they¡¯re all so fast in general¡­?¡± The level was higher than he thought. There were some who were from the track and field club. That made Woojoo worried. ¡°¡­Will he be okay?¡± Jiho, who was leaning on Woojoo knee, asked, ¡°What do you mean?¡± ¡°Rihyuk. I don¡¯t know if he can run properly when he¡¯s so skinny.¡± ¡°Don¡¯t worry. Rihyuk is fast.¡± ¡°¡­Really?¡± ¡°You haven¡¯t seen him yet.¡± Jiho emphasized as he mimicked running. ¡°Really, really fast.¡± ¡°¡­?¡± ¡°You know, in games, there are characters who are very weak but have high agility stats. They move around and hit, but they¡¯re so weak that they only do 1, 1, 1 damage. Those are the silly characters. That¡¯s Rihyuk.¡± ¡°He¡¯s that silly¡­ I mean, fast?¡± Bijoo and Junghyun nodded. ¡°Running is the only thing Rihyuk is good at.¡± ¡°He wants to run away by himself whenever something happens, so he doesn¡¯t care about anything else but running.¡± But it didn¡¯t match. Rihyuk could run well? Woojoo tilted his head, thinking of his usual dull athletic skills. Was this how Taehyun felt when he looked at Woojoo? ¡°Oh, he¡¯s on thene.¡± Their kid was on the thirdne. He looked like a paper dollpared to the people around him, probably because he was so thin. He zipped up his tracksuit to his neck and made a cocky expression. The production crew with the ENG camera moved around and captured the faces of the runners. They all posed, but when it was his turn, he smiled shyly and made a V sign. They all rolled aroundughing at the sight of him. The Souffl¨¦s had the same reaction as them. He noticed the reaction and hid his small face in his tracksuit, his ears burning. But theughter was short-lived. They all sped their hands and got ready to cheer for Rihyuk. The runners on the line also crouched and took deep breaths. Beep-! As the whistle sounded, the runners kicked the ground. ¡°Woah-!¡± But contrary to Woojoo¡¯s expectation, Rihyuk was not the leader. The one who took off the fastest was Caleb from Soul Six, who debuted around the same time as them. He had a tall height of over 185 and a running skill like an ostrich. Woojoo guessed it was too much to ask for Rihyuk. But from the second second, a white face in a ck tracksuit suddenly stood out. He was so fast, he looked like a crazy pretzel. ¡°¡­What is that?¡± He looked like a paper doll with a motor. He was waving his arms and running at a crazy speed. Rihyuk shot out like a bullet. ¡­He was really fast? ¡°Wow!¡± They jumped up and started cheering. ¡°Run, Rihyuk!¡± ¡°Rihyuk! Don¡¯t die!¡± ¡°Come on,e on,e on! I¡¯ll buy you a vacuum cleaner if you win!¡± Maybe that wish reached him. Rihyuk ran like crazy and crossed the finish line first. As they all pped and jumped around. ¡°¡­Huh?¡± Rihyuk, who was running at full speed, couldn¡¯t stop and crashed into the cushion wall. Then he copsed with a thud. What. The hell. Woojoo made a serious face. ¡°¡­What? What. What¡¯s wrong with him?¡± ¡°Oh, it¡¯s nothing.¡± Unlike Woojoo, who was shocked and widened his eyes, the others looked like it was nothing unusual. Jiho exined to Woojoo, ¡°He¡¯s so weak that he runs out of energy quickly.¡± ¡°I see.¡± ¡°I heard from the seniors at school that Rihyuk had a nickname when he was a sprinter.¡± ¡°What is it?¡± As Woojoo looked at someone who was shaking his hands and getting up from the wall, he heard Jiho¡¯s voice. ¡°Mayfly.¡± Woojoo couldn¡¯t help but burst outughing. Chapter 198: Chapter 198: Trantor: MarcTempest Editor: Rxel Chapter 198 A one-day wonder. As Woojoo burst outughing, Rihyuk came staggering over. ¡°What are youughing at?¡± ¡°Nothing.¡± Woojoo reached out his hand for a high-five. ¡°Good job. Wanna high-five?¡± ¡°No thanks.¡±¡°Then let¡¯s do it among ourselves. Guys.¡± ¡°Yeah!¡± The four of them pped their hands andughed, while Rihyuk pouted and sat down. Soon after, the third group of the men¡¯s preliminaries began. They watched the other idols run and marveled at their speed, when they heard a cough. ¡°Ahem.¡± They ignored it and cheered. ¡°Ahem, ahem!¡± They still ignored it and watched. ¡°Wow, they¡¯re all running so well.¡± ¡°I know, right? You can see how they¡¯re gritting their teeth and running. Like they¡¯re determined to be first.¡± ¡°Ahem, ahem ah¡­ cough! cough!¡± He seemed to have choked on his cough. They looked at him andughed, and he made a round face. ¡°Hey, aren¡¯t you guys being too mean?¡± He sipped some water like a cat and furrowed his brows. Woojoo asked him with a smile, ¡°What is it?¡± ¡°I ran and came back.¡± ¡°So?¡± ¡°Well, don¡¯t you think you should at leastment on it as a human being? Look over there. The Street Boys are saying to Namu¡­¡± They followed Rihyuk¡¯s finger and looked. They heard warm voices from the Street Boys¡¯ side. ¡°Hey, persimmon. If you don¡¯t want to burn, run like you¡¯re behind.¡± ¡°You¡¯re already losing steam. This guy.¡± ¡°If you don¡¯t get first, you¡¯re dead to us.¡± They turned their heads back, and Rihyuk blinked. ¡°Well, not like that, but. Look over there! See how nicely the Soul Six are talking?¡± ¡°¡­¡± ¡°Did you understand what I said?¡± That was when Woojoo spoke to the younger ones. ¡°He wants some praise.¡± ¡°No, that¡¯s not it¡­¡± They immediately surrounded the main vocal. ¡°Oooh, our Rihyuk is the best.¡± ¡°Write down the model name of the vacuum cleaner.¡± ¡°Rihyuk. You really ran well. You¡¯d be good at delivering letters.¡± He finally coughed and made a face that said ¡®I¡¯m pretty awesome¡¯, as he received thepliments from the members. They filled their one-day wonder¡¯s self-esteem for a while, and then Woojoo put his arm around his shoulder and said, ¡°Why are you feeling so hurt? We were quiet because we didn¡¯t want you to feel pressured.¡± ¡°What do you mean?¡± ¡°If we keep praising you, you might feel like you have to be first and get stressed.¡± ¡°Well, I guess that¡¯s true, but¡­¡± They were being considerate in their own way. He was already drained and turned into a liquid state after running just 60 meters once. It reminded him of a surreal painting he saw in middle school art ss, where a droopy clock hung on a branch. Rihyuk looked just like that. His face was pale and dripping with sweat, and he drank some water, but he looked dehydrated. He was so weak that their Souffl¨¦s looked like they wanted to feed him a dose of tonic from afar. If it had been the finals, it would have been different. But they didn¡¯t say much because they were worried that he might feel burdened and overdo it in the preliminaries. But he seemed to be hurt by that in his own way. ¡°What do I know? I¡¯m not feeling pressured by that¡­¡± When they gave him a look, he corrected himself. ¡°Well, a little.¡± His eyes narrowed. He coughed and said, ¡°¡­I know it¡¯s a bit of a burden, but why do you care about that? I¡¯m handling it well on my own.¡± ¡°Don¡¯t push yourself too hard. We have more important things than this¡­¡± ¡°You mean thepetition. I get it.¡± Rihyuk nodded. Then he pretended to catch a virtual heart that Souffl¨¦ threw from the fan seat and monopolized it. He hugged the virtual heart as if it was his own and waved his hand at them while whispering. ¡°But the fans are watching, you know.¡± ¡°¡­¡± ¡°I want to do it moderately, but it doesn¡¯t work out. They¡¯re all watching, so I want to do better. I want to do my best since I went out as a representative. Is that how I should feel?¡± ¡°¡­¡± ¡°Isn¡¯t that how you all feel?¡± He turned his serious face to them and there was a brief silence. Jiho eximed, ¡°Wow.¡± When Rihyuk was acting cool in front of the youngest, their maknae pped his hands and admired, ¡°That¡¯s so cringy.¡± ¡°¡­¡± They joined in. ¡°Hey. Rihyuk, are you going to the Olympics alone?¡± ¡°I have to write this down. Rihyuk¡­ I¡¯m the representative of New ck¡­ I run for the fans¡­¡± ¡°Puhaha!¡± ¡°¡­Hyung, where are you going?¡± Rihyuk got up with a snort. ¡°I¡¯m going to bond with LB.¡± ¡°Don¡¯t go. What did Namu do wrong?¡± ¡°¡­Eek.¡± He sat down with Street Boys¡¯ LB and started chatting. They wereining about their teammates. As New ck and Street Boys gathered and listened, LB¡¯s voice was heard. ¡°¡­They¡¯re all too much. I came in first ce, but they only criticize me. They don¡¯t even praise me once. I¡¯m sad.¡± ¡°I can sympathize with that.¡± ¡°I¡¯m really sad. How about we just form a group of our own, Rihyuk?¡± ¡°I¡¯m against that.¡± ¡°Okay.¡± ¡°And keep some distance. Namu. You invaded my personal space too much.¡± What bonding. LB looked sullen as he moved away from the bad cat like a big dog pushed away. Both groupsughed uproariously. 60-meter dash final. The winners of each group preliminaries lined up in thene one by one. ¡°Wow, the lineup is extraordinary.¡± ¡°Rihyuk Hyung looks like the weakest one there.¡± Woojoo agreed with Jiho¡¯s words. Maybe it was because they were the strong ones who won the preliminaries. Middle school track and field club alumni, ser club or childhood yers, etc. Among the idols who said they could run well, their kid was standing alone like a sickly crane among the muscr ones. He looked paler than before, as if he had lost a lot of energy. As they looked at him with concern, Street Boys¡¯ Hanjo said with a stern face, ¡°Then, that¡¯s it.¡± ¡°Yes. It was fun.¡± The friendly conversation was over. Each of them held slogans like ¡®Run, Namu¡¯, ¡®Pay for the food, Namu¡¯ or cards like ¡®Rihyuk is Rihyuk even backwards¡¯ and entered the cheering mode with a serious attitude. ¡°Rihyuk!¡± ¡°Hang in there a little more! The vacuum cleaner is crossing the Antic right now.¡± He flinched as he fiddled with the zipper that reached his chin. Then he mouthed fiercely to Jiho, ¡®It¡¯s the Pacific, the Pacific!¡¯ They nodded with satisfaction. ¡°He¡¯s fine.¡± ¡°He must have more stamina than we thought.¡± ¡°But his face is too pale. Ugh, I¡¯m upset. If I knew this, I would have fed Rihyuk some eel and abalone¡­¡± Someone¡¯s regret made themugh. Finally, the camera angle adjustment was over. All the runners crouched down and touched the ground with their hands. Beep-! The final race began with a whistle. Pabababak. Among the runners who were giving their all, their kid was in the back row in the first 1 or 2 seconds. But. ¡°Nyaaaah!¡± ¡­with that sound, their fourth one started running with all his might. He was slightly weaker than before, but fast. If the others were spewing speed from their heavy muscles, their Rihyuk was floating along with his low weight. If the others were running like heavy bullets, their Rihyuk was like a bullet without any contents. In conclusion, he was damn fast. ¡°Waaaaah!¡± He soon startedpeting for the lead with Pael of the boy group Ace, who was in first ce. Behind them, LB of Street Boys and Seonwoong of TNT were closely chasing. The four of them were jostling each other. ¡°Rihyuk-aaa!¡± ¡°Hyung, the vacuum cleaner has crossed the Antic and is at the front door! The front door!¡± ¡°Hyung will make you sweet potato chips!¡± While they were cheering fiercely. Finally, around 8 seconds. ¡°Waaaaah!¡± Pael of Ace barely came in first, and their Rihyuk came in right behind him. Third ce was LB. Starting with the leader Seonwoong of TNT, the rest of the runners came in one by one. ¡°¡­He¡¯s discharged again.¡± Their Rihyuk hit the wall with a bang and copsed. Then he got up holding LB¡¯s hand, but his ck hair was soaked with sweat and turned into seaweed. He kept gagging and his eyes were moist, as if his stomach had turned inside out fromck of oxygen. ¡°You really worked hard, Rihyuk.¡± He looked pitiful as he covered his mouth with his hand and gagged while being called separately as the silver medalist. -But the fans are watching. Their weakling ran with all his strength because the fans were watching. Woojoo felt proud and sad. Woojoo turned his head and looked at the Souffl¨¦s, and they all had eyes full of pity for Rihyuk. On the other hand, they also had proud faces. They also boasted about Rihyuk to the other groups around them with proud faces. ¡°That white kid is ours.¡± ¡°It¡¯s amazing. Really. Ah, I raised that Hyung almost like a baby. He¡¯s finally be human.¡± ¡°He¡¯s frail, but kind.¡± Meanwhile, the interviews of the medalists who had medals around their necks continued. After Pael of the group ¡®Ace¡¯, who had a record of 7 seconds 58 in 60 meters as a middle school track and field club member, was interviewed. Rihyuk, who had a record of 7 seconds 77 in second ce, appeared on the screen. His pale face was soaked with sweat. His contrast between his snow-white face and ck hair was so intense that the stadium was buzzing. As they bragged to the people around them again, ¡®He¡¯s ours¡¯. Announcer Jung Hyojin pushed the microphone. -Rihyuk, you showed the biggest reversal today. You ran so well. -Um, thank you. His ears were red as if they were stained on the screen. -Do you have a secret to running, Rihyuk? -Well, I think running is the best self-defense. -Yes? As the announcer blinked and the people in the stadium went ¡®?¡¯, their kid started to talk seriously. -For example, when you¡¯re attacked by a robber or run into a wild animal, I think the wisest self-defense is to run away. So I practiced hard. -Oh, I see. -Every time I run, I imagine being chased. That¡¯s the secret. They thought he was telling an embarrassing story, and his ears would be red, but their kid was confidently exining his philosophy. The announcer held back hisughter, and the audienceughed. They quickly waved their hands and started to exin to the other groups they had been bragging about. ¡°We¡¯re not really close.¡± ¡°It¡¯s not like you can raise them as you want. Being a Hyung is not easy.¡± ¡°I don¡¯t know him very well either.¡± ¡°Um, why is Rihyuk like that¡­?¡± And the other groups couldn¡¯t helpughing at them. Aww. How embarrassing. They sighed silently as they watched him strut over with a silver medal around his neck, like a baby sparrow bragging about the worm he caught. Swish, swish. Whack. Swish, swish. Whack. ¡°Ugh, seriously. Why do you always move away a little bit when I get close?¡± ¡°Go away. You¡¯re embarrassing.¡± He said, sounding aggrieved, ¡°What? I got a silver medal too.¡± ¡°That¡¯s because we don¡¯t associate with silver medals.¡± ¡°Yeah, yeah.¡± ¡°Shall we try again?¡± Woojoo smiled. ¡°Gather around, New Gold!¡± ¡°Yay!¡± Bijoo, Jiho, and Woojoo held up their gold medals at the same time. Junghyun squeezed in between them. Rihyuk fiddled with his silver medal and asked, ¡°What about Junghyun Hyung?¡± ¡°He got the MVP for futsal yesterday. Junghyun is the golden hand.¡± ¡°Right.¡± Jiho nodded his head. ¡°And we¡¯re New Gold, but if Hyung joins us, we¡¯re not New Gold anymore. The tier doesn¡¯t match.¡± ¡°¡­Wow, you guys are so mean. These people.¡± ¡°Rihyuk, go and join Namu and Silver and Bronze.¡± LB¡¯s ears perked up from afar. But Rihyuk shook his head and the other side looked glum. As the two groups chuckled, Rihyuk looked up at the ceiling andmented, ¡®If only I was 0.5 seconds faster!¡¯ ¡°Wooaaahhh-!¡± A huge scream filled and then left the stadium. ¡°Wooahh-!¡± Woojoo blinked his eyes. This was the kind of scream he heard during the morale-boosting performance in the army. It was like the sound of male fans when the ball went back and forth in a ser game. Woojoo asked, ¡°Hey. Am I the only one who went to the army?¡± ¡°Yes.¡± Junghyun blinked his eyes and answered, ¡°That¡¯s because you¡¯re the only one who came back.¡± ¡°Ooh. Junghyun is smart.¡± ¡°I¡¯m smart too. Hyung.¡± Woojoo smiled at Junghyun, who was talking with his eyes as round as possible. Meanwhile, the scream continued. The cause of thismotion was the scene unfolding on the mat in front of them. Women¡¯s wrestling. The girl group members, wearing singlets, were trying their best to topple each other. The fans¡¯ shouts and cheers echoed in the gym every time they rolled over. While the basketball preparation continued in the auxiliary gym, they sat on the floor and watched the women¡¯s wrestling. ¡°Oh, Scarlet Noonas are up.¡± Ara, Rina, and Daisy of Scarlet, except for Bom, went up to the waiting seat with their singlets on. The other side was. ¡°Hmph.¡± They sounded annoyed, but they kept their expressions bright and muttered ¡®hmph¡¯ ¡®hmph¡¯ to them. Girls on Top. Joo Hana, Oh Hyena, and Gil Chaekyung stood opposite Scarlet. The soldiers¡¯ scream-like sound rang out as Girls on Top waved their hands at the fan seat. ¡°Wooaaahhh-!¡± Everyone held back theirughter at that sound. This time, Scarlet waved their hands. ¡°Kyaahhh-!¡± Unlike Girls on Top¡¯s fandom, which was mostly male fans, Scarlet¡¯s fandom seemed to be mostly female fans. The idols sitting in contrast smiled. Daisy of Scarlet and Chaekyung of Girls on Top bowed politely to each other and grabbed their singlets. The announcer¡¯s voice was heard. -Yes, it¡¯s the youngest of the group versus the youngest. -What do you think, Mr. Commentator? About the match between the two members. -Well, I think Girls on Top¡¯s Chaekyung has a lot of advantages in terms of reach and such. Starting from her height¡­ As he said, Gil Chaekyung was a head taller than the petite Daisy. If you asked Woojoo who would win, one of them would get all the votes because of the physical difference. But¡­ Bang! One second after the match started, Woojoo saw it. Daisy lifted her opponent up and mmed her to the ground. -¡­ Thementator¡¯s awkward voice was heard. -Yes, well, reach and physique are important, but the key is strength. -She¡¯s truly the best in the world. Daisy. The sticky rice cake waved her hands at her sisters and shouted woo-hoo, making the audienceugh. But what could he say? To Woojoo¡¯s nk eyes, Daisy¡¯s smile looked like a general from the Three Kingdoms whoughed and said, ¡®I brought you the enemy¡¯s head, brother!¡¯ She was very hearty. As Woojoo watched the result of the match with a flushed face, Bijoo whispered to him, ¡°Scarlet was the wrestling championst year.¡± ¡°Oh, that exins it.¡± ¡°They say the meat they eat goes straight to their muscles. That¡¯s ourpany¡¯s motto.¡± No wonder they ate 25 servings of sirloin. They ate meat like wrestlers and they were strong too. Next came Rina. With her slender body and stunning looks that made her the visual of Scarlet, the audience was restless for a moment. Bang! With a nk face, she tripped Girls on Top¡¯s Joo Hana¡¯s leg and knocked her down. Another one-round win. -¡­ Then she went to Daisy, who had a face like weing Guan Yu, and messed up her hair. It felt like the image he had in mind was changing. Thest one to go up was Ara. The leader of Scarlet, who had a friendly smile, calmly took on Girls on Top¡¯s Oh Hyena¡¯s power struggle, and thenughed and broke her opponent. ¡°Kyaah!¡± The curtain, Scarlet¡¯s fandom, waved their cards and cheered. ¡°Wow. Amazing.¡± ¡°See? There¡¯s a reason why Rihyuk Hyung bows and acts politely whenever he sees them.¡± ¡°¡­When did I. I never did that.¡± But Woojooughed when he saw Rihyuk avoid their eyes when Scarlet looked at them for a moment. On the other hand, the screen showed their president wiping his head with a handkerchief and making a blissful expression. Next to him, DNS Media¡¯s President Im had a gloomy face at the next match table that said ¡®La Vie en Rose vs Scarlet¡¯. Nearby, Woojoo heard a whisper. ¡°They¡¯re so strong. Really¡­¡± ¡°But New ck is Lemon, right? Archery, running, everything. What¡¯s with their physicals¡­¡± ¡°It¡¯s like a martial arts tournament over there.¡± ¡°Why are you amazed by that? You didn¡¯te to ser yesterday, did you? You should have seen the indestructible yesterday.¡± Woojoo felt awkward when he heard the murmurs. As he was cheering for Scarlet¡¯s victory with his siblings, shadows fell on him. Woojoo looked up and saw seven or eight men standing there. -¡­? They were the Street Boys¡¯ Hanjo, Teen Spirit¡¯s Hwiyeon, and the other teammates who would y basketball with him. Han Taehyun smiled and tapped Woojoo¡¯s shoulder. ¡°What are you doing? Let¡¯s go y basketball.¡± Chapter 199: Chapter 199: Trantor: MarcTempest Editor: Rxel Chapter 199 ¡°Basketball?¡± Woojoo tilted his head. It wasn¡¯t time yet. He was curious, but he got up from his seat for the sake of the waiting teammates. Woojoo waved to his siblings who said they woulde to cheer him onter, and asked Han Taehyun, ¡°Isn¡¯t it too early for basketball?¡± Woojoo nced at his wristwatch. They still had an hour left until the standby time that the production team told them.Han Taehyun nodded. ¡°Well, yeah. But we haven¡¯t practiced together yet.¡± ¡°Oh.¡± They only knew each other by face, so it seemed like he wanted to do some practice before the main game. Who was on their team? Woojoo was looking at the faces of the teammates when it happened. ¡°¡­¡± Woojoo felt a gaze and turned his head. He was staring at Woojoo with a puzzled look. ¡°Why?¡± ¡°You¡¯re weird.¡± ¡°I¡¯m always weird.¡± ¡°Oh, right¡­ No, that¡¯s not it.¡± He looked at Woojoo as if he was seeing him for the first time. Then he scratched his head with a confused expression. ¡°You¡¯re really weird.¡± ¡°What is?¡± ¡°You¡¯re too rxed for a practice game.¡± ¡°Too rxed?¡± Did he make a strange face without knowing? The members teased him earlier for smiling every time he shot an arrow. Woojoo was thinking about this and that when Han Taehyun blurted out, ¡°You look toofortable.¡± ¡°¡­?¡± ¡°You were stiff when we practiced dancing. You always tense up when you have to use your body. But now you look super rxed.¡± ¡°¡­Huh?¡± Now that he mentioned it, he was right. When Woojoo was a klutz, he would freeze up whenever he had to do something that required physical skills. But not now. He was rxed when he did archery, and even now when he was going to y a practice game with strangers. He was at ease. When he realized that, he stopped walking. ¡°Hyung?¡± ¡°¡­I.¡± Woojoo was rxed before exercising. ¡°Awesome¡­¡± Wow. This was amazing. Woojoo made a grateful expression and he blinked. ¡°Why are you suddenly amazed?¡± ¡°There is. Something like that.¡± Woojoo said with a smile, ¡°You don¡¯t need to know. Idiot.¡± ¡°Hey, what is it.¡± Woojoo ignored his questions and walked towards the stairs that led to the basement. The sun shining through the window was warm like his mood. The auxiliary stadium. This ce was located on the second basement floor of the indoor gymnasium. The shooting preparation was almost done. The staff were walking around with rxed faces, while the teammates gathered to warm up. Hanjo and Woojoo did some national exercises and looked around. ¡°Is that the banner that the Roll Cakes prepared?¡± ¡°Yes, it is. And¡­¡± Woojoo whispered and put his hand over his mouth, ¡°It¡¯s Souffl¨¦.¡± ¡°Oops¡­¡± While Hanjo said ¡®oops¡¯, Woojoo turned his head with a smile. Woojoo saw a ck banner with white calligraphy that said ¡®Do well in basketball, Jenmin¡¯. It looked like it was prepared by the Souffl¨¦s. Woojoo pointed to the banner next to him that said ¡®Go Hanjo Go¡¯. ¡°Wow. That¡¯s the banner that the Cement guys prepared.¡± ¡°It¡¯s Concrete.¡± ¡°Oops¡­¡± Woojoo made an awkward face, but then they locked eyes and burst intoughter. Hanjo said, ¡°The fans will being in there soon, right? Our members will be cheering for you from down there.¡± ¡°Yes, I¡¯m nervous.¡± ¡°I¡¯m worried too. I want to do well¡­¡± Woojoo wasn¡¯t too nervous about ying basketball itself, but he felt tense thinking about doing it in front of the fans. Unlike archery, where he just had to stand and shoot arrows, this required him to move his body around a lot. And it was team y. It wasn¡¯t enough for him to do well alone, he also had to coordinate with the other team members. ¡°Come on, let¡¯s gather up!¡± Han Taehyun, who was the captain, called the team members. As Woojoo stood shoulder to shoulder with the unfamiliar team members, Han Taehyun showed them a piece of paper. ¡°Before the directores, I want to make an entry, but I don¡¯t know the skills or y styles of the team members. So I was thinking of having a practice match¡­¡± He looked around the basketball court and said, ¡°We¡¯ll do it on a half court. We¡¯ll split into 5 vs 5.¡± There were ten team members, but only five would y in the game. The yers would be substituted depending on the progress of the game, but it was important to be in the first lineup. That was why everyone was eager to show their skills. ¡°Question.¡± Hwiyeon from Teen Spirit raised his hand politely. Han Taehyun nodded and the other asked, ¡°What about the teams?¡± ¡°Um¡­ let¡¯s divide them by chance. Whatever.¡± The ten idols gathered their hands together. Someone shouted as if to start a chant, ¡°Okay, then flip it over¡­¡± ¡°Flip it over?¡± Everyone started to murmur. ¡°Isn¡¯t it Dedenchi?¡± ¡°I know it as Ddyenddyenppo.¡± ¡°In my neighborhood, flipping it over is the rule¡­¡± After a brief vote on the team-splitting slogan, they agreed on ¡®flip it over¡¯. ¡°Flip it over!¡± After a few tries. The palms facing up and down were exactly five each. ¡°¡­!¡± They lifted their heads and checked their team members, then gathered together. Hanjo and Han Taehyun were on the other side. And on his team, there was Wild¡¯s Woosan and¡­ ¡°Ah, shit. I¡¯m so thirsty.¡± The pretty boy from Teen Spirit gulped down water. Then he met Woojoo¡¯s eyes and Hwiyeon quickly offered him water. ¡°Do you want some?¡± ¡°No¡­¡± ¡°I didn¡¯t touch it with my mouth.¡± Woojoo waved his hand at him with a smile. ¡°I¡¯m not thirsty.¡± ¡°Oh.¡± Then he emptied the water bottle as if he was thirsty. Thump! Thump! The sound of basketballs echoed on the court. It was the sound of the other team bouncing the balls as a demonstration. As Woojoo watched them, he heard Hwiyeon¡¯s voice next to him. ¡°Hyung. You¡¯re really good at basketball, right?¡± Oh. Surprise. He got him. ¡°¡­Well, I don¡¯t know yet. I don¡¯t think I¡¯m that good, even if I am.¡± ¡°No way. You look like you¡¯re good.¡± ¡°¡­?¡± As Woojoo gave him a curious look, he said with a confident voice, ¡°People who are good at shooting arrows are also good at basketball.¡± ¡°¡­¡± ¡°Why?¡± Why¡­? As Woojoo looked at him with curiosity, he said as if it was obvious, ¡°Because I¡¯m like that.¡± Oh. He wanted to brag about himself. Woojoo gave him a look of admiration as he rubbed his shoulders with his school friends, and he nodded his head. ¡°Please take care of me.¡± ¡°Yes, me too. Sunbae-nim.¡± The game started without any strategy meeting. They divided the teams by rolling up their sleeves, and their side was blue. The heater was not on yet, and Woojoo felt the chilly air of the stadium on his skin as he swallowed his saliva. Thump! Thump! The first attack was by the team with Han Taehyun. Hanjo, one of the Street Boys, hit the ball with a serious face. He looked like he yed basketball quite a bit as a hobby, judging by his wrist snap and dribble. Maybe it was because of his mature appearance, but Woojoo thought he looked like a handsome college senior bouncing the ball. As he was dribbling, Hanjo suddenly elerated. He bent his body and lightly pushed away the person who was blocking him, and then passed the ball to someone else. ck. The ball was in Han Taehyun¡¯s hand as soon as it touched it, and their teammates moved quickly. ¡°Block him!¡± Woojoo moved along with the others who were heading to the goal. He still felt a bit awkward moving his body. He wasn¡¯t used to this. It was fine when he yed one-on-one with Junghyun, but now that he had to y a group game, his body didn¡¯t adapt. He had no focus. People were shouting and moving everywhere, and he couldn¡¯t keep up with their movements. ¡°Block him! Block him!¡± ¡°¡­!¡± Uh oh. Han Taehyun, who lowered his body deeply, made a paint motion and came towards Woojoo. A short moment of 0.5 seconds. At that moment, Woojoo thought he saw something like a smile on his lips as he tried to pass him. ¡°¡­?¡± At that moment, Woojoo¡¯s body moved without him knowing. He didn¡¯t know how to describe the feeling, but he had a gut feeling of what he had to do. What motion he had to make in this situation. He calmly stretched out his hand to match the angle he was advancing. And then¡­ ¡°¡­!¡± The ball that was moving from his left hand to his right hand was snatched by Woojoo¡¯s hand in the middle. The spinning ball was caught in his hand with a thud. ¡°¡­?¡± ¡°¡­?¡± Both of them were surprised. Did he¡­ seed? But there was no time to waste. With his heart pounding, Woojoo quickly turned his body and got into a good angle for shooting. Wow. It worked. He felt like he was in a trance as he dribbled. ¡°Pass! Pass!¡± ¡°Block him!¡± Their team asked for the ball and passed, and the other team followed him right away. Woojoo looked for a pass angle, but there was no gap. There was only one choice. Woojoo bent his knees and naturally performed the shooting motion that he had practiced for thest few days. He lightly jumped. He kept his elbow close. He threw the ball at a moderate height. He put a spin on the ball with his fingertips and pushed it with his right hand. After finishing the shot. ¡°¡­¡± Everyone¡¯s eyes were on the ball that was drawing a parab in the air. The basketball that flew with a picture-like trajectory soon went into the hoop. Thud! Without bouncing off the rim. It went in perfectly and the sound of the ball wrapping around the rang out. A small cheer erupted. ¡°Nice!¡± ¡°Well done!¡± The team members with bright faces ran over and gave Woojoo a high-five. Hwiyeon patted Woojoo¡¯s shoulder with a pleased face. ¡°See? If you can shoot arrows well, you can y basketball well too.¡± Their team was smiling. The other team was also slightly ¡®hmm¡­¡¯ but mostly ¡®oh¡¯ in their reaction. Anyway, this was just a game among themselves, and they would y together in the real gameter, so it was a good thing. Hanjo also passed by with a smile. ¡°Woojoo, you¡¯re a hundred percent starter.¡± ¡°No, I was lucky.¡± Woojoo waved his hand and denied it, but he thought that stealing the ball and shooting it just now was pretty convincing. And¡­ Their captain, who had to make the starting lineup, was staring at Woojoo with a nk face. ¡°¡­What?¡± Han Taehyun blinked his eyes. While the other team members moved to their positions, he waved his fingers around with a confused face. ¡°So you stole the ball from me and¡­ No, that¡¯s not it. This is¡­¡± ¡°What do you mean, that¡¯s not it?¡± Woojoo smirked, but he still couldn¡¯t rx his expression. ¡°Is this even¡­ no, possible?¡± ¡°To be honest, I was just lucky.¡± ¡°¡­¡± Woojoo felt proud, but he also thought that it might have been a fluke. He should try it a few more times. As he ran with that thought, something came to his mind. ¡°Oh, right.¡± ¡°¡­?¡± ¡°I forgot to tell you this.¡± Woojoo smiled at him, who still looked dumbfounded and incredulous. ¡°Thanks for the assist just now.¡± ¡°Hey!¡± Woojoo ran awayughing from him who shouted. Even after archery was over, he had said things like ¡®You don¡¯t know basketball¡¯, ¡®Dribble? You?¡¯ to him. It was the moment when Woojoo finally got back at him. Ah. It felt so good. The audience started to enter the auxiliary stadium. The production team set up the camera angles, checked the sound and other situations. Today, Yoo Seonghoon, the director of the basketball team ¡®Left Hand is Just a Decoration¡¯, calmly scanned the starting lineup. ¡®Taehyun, Hwiyeon, Woojoo, Hanjo, Woosan¡­¡¯ He looked at the faces of the five yers written on the paper. A handsome man who looked like he would have fun. A pretty boy with a refined smile. A creature who looked like he was from another world. A college student council president. A handsome Doberman. While he was looking at the lineup, the audience was cheering and calling their singers. The idol members sitting on the bench responded by raising their hands and shouting. Director Yoo asked, ¡°Are you going with this lineup?¡± ¡°Yes, Director,¡± the captain, Han Taehyun, answered. ¡°They are all good and have simr skills, but we agreed on the starting lineup after the practice game.¡± In other words, they had tried it once among themselves and picked the best five without any objections. ¡°Captain, wait a minute.¡± ¡°Uh, yes.¡± He quietly asked the captain who came to him, ¡°Who do you think is the priority for substitution here?¡± ¡°They are all so good¡­¡± ¡°Just tell me.¡± ¡°Well, Hwiyeon¡¯s condition is not very good today,¡± he answered with a smile. Director Yoo nodded as if he understood his evasive way of speaking. ¡°Then who is the one who can¡¯t be taken out here?¡± ¡°I want to say it¡¯s me, but¡­¡± Han Taehyun pointed to a name with his finger. ¡°New ck Woojoo?¡± ¡°¡­He¡¯s good.¡± ¡°Yeah?¡± Director Yoo tilted his head. He had participated in the Dolympic basketball section as a directorst year. Han Taehyun of TNT was a member who could say he was good at basketball among idols. He had thought that he was the ace of this team before he came. ¡°How good is he?¡± ¡°I don¡¯t know how to exin it. He¡¯s not very strong or skilled, you know? His skill itself is not amazing, but¡­ he has a huge presence in terms of teamwork.¡± ¡°Hmm¡­ I see.¡± He gestured as if he could go back now. He could see the details when he entered the game anyway. While he was checking the lineup, Director Yoo¡¯s eyes turned to him who was sitting on the bench and shrugging his shoulders. ¡®¡­He¡¯s handsome.¡¯ He looked like he would attract a lot of cheers even if he didn¡¯t y and just stood as a totem. ¡®He¡¯s that good?¡¯ He didn¡¯t look like it at a nce. As he looked around, he noticed that the other team members were asionally ncing at Seon Woojoo whilemunicating with their fans. ¡®They look so amazed by something¡­¡¯ He was genuinely curious about what had happened during the practice match. Meanwhile, after the ¡®Left Hand is Just a Decoration¡¯ team had entered first, the opposing team started to make their entrance. ¡°Wow!¡± It was the ¡®Zi Zone Basketball¡¯ team, led by Jun, who was voted the MVPst year. The ten yers in red uniforms waved their hands to the audience as they entered. Maybe it was because of their dazzling lineup. Zi Zone Basketball, the strongest contender for the championship among the four teams this year, entered with confident steps. A smile yed on their lips. ¡®We¡¯re going to win this match.¡¯ The other team was weak. Except for Han Taehyun of TNT, there was no one worth paying attention to. Hwiyeon and Woosan were pretty good, but there were plenty of members with simr skills here. And the other two were rookies. One of them had shown a dominant presence when he did archery, but this was basketball, where team y was important. And their team had members of Daydream, who had been in the basketball club since elementary school to middle school. The announcer¡¯s voice rang out. -Wow. They¡¯re really impressive. -They¡¯re the most powerful contender for the championship this year, right? They have Jun as their captain, who was the MVPst year. -He showed amazing skillsst year, didn¡¯t he? As they listened to the conversation, the ¡®Zi Zone Basketball¡¯ team headed to their spot. ¡°¡­?¡± By this point, the other team should be a bit nervous. But that was not the case. ¡®¡­?¡¯ They looked more rxed than them. They smiled smugly, as if they had prepared some special trick, and looked at them. Was it because of their green uniforms? ¡®What is it?¡¯ They looked like Slytherins with those expressions. Feeling uneasy, they headed to their seats, when some of them looked at one of the members. The leader of New ck, who had shot arrows like Jumong in archery today. To be exact, it was not him they looked at, but the four handsome men who were waving cards enthusiastically in the upper seat. -Jenmin, your face is a blessing Woojoo¡¯s face was blended with a gold medal, creating a huge poster that looked like a golden archer. They shook it at the same time. But what caught their eyes was not the strange poster, but their expressions. ¡®What¡¯s with them?¡¯ They were not even ying, but they looked very arrogant. They were the members of New ck. ¡°¡­¡± By now, something felt weird. Chapter 200: Chapter 200: Trantor: MarcTempest Editor: Rxel Chapter 200 It was the moment before the game. The camera at the scene captured the fans who were holding cards and slogans and cheering passionately in the stands. Meanwhile, on the scoreboard, the two teams that looked tense and determined came out. From the perspective of thementators¡¯ booth, on the left was the team ¡®Left Hand is Just a Decoration¡¯, led by Han Taehyun of TNT. On the right was the team ¡®Zi Zone Basketball¡¯, led by Jun of Daydream. The announcers andmentators chatted.-We are now at the Goyang Indoor Gymnasium Annex. The atmosphere here is really hot, isn¡¯t it? -Yes, it is. There are also a lot of points to watch. As the words appeared on the scoreboard, thementators exchanged their opinions. -Will Jun of Daydream, who finished secondst year, win this time? -Or will Taehyun of TNT, who was the main yer ofst year¡¯s basketball champion team, win again? The announcer added ament. -I remember how Jun was so disappointedst year. He almost won, but he missed it, didn¡¯t he? -It was a pity. Inst year¡¯s Dolympic basketball, the team that Han Taehyun belonged to won the championship with solid skills and teamwork. On the other hand, Jun of Daydream had to settle for second ce despite his amazing talent, because his teammates were somewhat behind. But. -This time, it¡¯s different. -Yes, it seems that most of thest year¡¯s winning members are in the¡­ Zi Zone Basketball team. In contrast, the Left Hand is Just a Decoration Team has two new yers in the starting lineup. -What do you think the oue will be,mentator? -Well¡­ The slow voice of thementator, who was a former basketball yer, echoed in the stadium. -There is a quote from my favorite NBA yer that I like. The game starts with the yers, but it ends with the team. Basketball is a team sport, you know. The key is how well the team breathes together. -Yes, and while you were talking, the game has started! The game began amid the fans¡¯ cheers. Bang! Jun of Daydream immediately caught the ball that the referee threw high. Hended lightly with his tall body over 185 cm and started to dribble and sprint right away. The game time was 10 minutes for the first half and 10 minutes for the second half, instead of four quarters. That was why the attack started with full force from the beginning. Three yers of the Zi Zone Basketball team went on a fast break and started to break down the defense of the other team. It was a deadly attack, like stabbing with a trident. The audience gasped as they saw them enter the zone with quick passes. ¡°Wow!¡± Thementators also eximed in excitement. -Wow, their teamwork is amazing. -They didn¡¯t have much time to practice together, but they showed an unexpected organization. The Left Hand is Just a Decoration Team doesn¡¯t give them any chance to interfere! Was it because of that? In no time, Jun of Daydream passed and received the ball and ran to the basket and made ayup shot. ck! The ball wrapped around the and the numbers on the scoreboard changed to [0 : 2]. -They scored in the first 20 seconds! -That was a fast attack. Jun, who had scored, gave a calm smile as he high-fived his teammates. The camera captured the scene of the fans screaming in excitement at the sight of the handsome man with a headband and ck short hair. The announcer said. -That was a great dribble and a great shot. They definitely dominated the game from the start¡­ But the other team didn¡¯t give up? -They still have some room to breathe. They are the ¡®Left Hand is Only a Decoration¡¯ Team. Even though they had scored with an amazing momentum, the ¡®Left Hand Only¡¯ Team didn¡¯t seem to be greatly affected. They looked calm and ready to counterattack. While Yoo Seonghoon, the coach, crossed his arms and made a stern expression, Han Taehyun, the captain, sent a message to his teammates with a gesture. -Do they have some kind of strategy? -They seem to have very good teamwork. They understand each other without saying anything. -Well, it¡¯s time for them to fight back. Han Taehyun passed the ball to Hanjo of Street Boys. Thump. Thump. Hanjo, who stood still, bounced the ball steadily. The idol member with a tall height dribbled the basketball with his left and right hands alternately. -Hanjo has a very good bnce in his body. His dribble is stable. -Yes. He has a good bnce. As Hanjo started to run, the other teammates also crossed the half-line quickly. ¡°Wow!¡± The hot atmosphere. The idol members, who were already sweating, made the fans shout with their game scenes. Meanwhile, Hanjo showed his skillful dribble and made a quick pass. It was a stable pass. -Yes, Hwiyeon! He got it! -That¡¯s fast. Faster. Hwiyeon was not as big as Hanjo or Jun of Daydream, but he was agile. He dribbled at a fast speed and prated the defense. When the opponent blocked his way, he quickly passed the ball to his ally who was running nearby. A rough pass. He threw it almost without looking, but the receiver caught it perfectly. -Woosan! He got the ball, or rather, the rain! -That¡¯s an amazing speed. If Hanjo was the role of supporting the team, Hwiyeon and Woosan were the role of making the attack tform by mocking the opponent¡¯s defense. And then. Woosan of Wild threw a pass like a hunting dog. -That¡¯s an incredible attackbination! -They never broke the pass flow! Taehyun! Taehyun got the ball. The ball went to Taehyun. The idol with green hair, who was the most popr in the country, shook the stadium with a huge scream as he appeared on the screen. But apart from the scream, the situation was not good. -They were already defending. -It¡¯s like a steel wall. It¡¯s hard to get through. It¡¯s hard to shoot from any angle. -He was a candidate for MVPst year, so he must have prepared for it. Taehyun of TNT was an idol with a unique athletic sense. He had a great performance in thest year¡¯s Dolympic basketball, so the ¡®Zi Zone Basketball¡¯ team had a countermeasure for him. In an instant, two people marked him. -I thought he had a shadow. -It¡¯s not easy to break through that¡­ Wow! He broke through! Han Taehyun was bouncing the ball quietly and then tricked the opponent with a technique of moving the ball between his legs. He turned his body and lightly got rid of the two defenders and ran towards the goal. But the other team was ready. -Is he going for ayup? Ayup? -That¡¯s hard! He ran towards the goal and threw the ball in ayup shot. But most people doubted his sess rate. ¡®It¡¯s going to be hard¡­¡¯ The two yers of the other team were preparing to jump to block him. In this state, Han Taehyun¡¯s shooting would be blocked by Jun of Daydream, who was tall. But he couldn¡¯t pass either. Hwiyeon and Woosan, who were on both wings, were also marked by one person each. The only choice left was to somehow make the shot. The tension was rising. As Han Taehyun drove in for ayup, Jun of Daydream jumped up and stretched out his arm. He was trying to block the shot. But right then. ¡°¡­?¡± Han Taehyun¡¯s body headed towards the basket. But he didn¡¯t make a shooting motion. Instead, he moved forward in that state and at the same time threw the ball back. ¡°¡­!¡± It was an unexpected move that no one sawing. While Jun of Daydream stared nkly with his eyes wide open, and the other teammates were marking Hwiyeon and Woosan. The ball flew quickly. Everyone¡¯s eyes followed the trajectory of the ball that flew like an arrow. Thud. Finally, like an arrow hitting its target, the ballnded in someone¡¯s hands like a picture. -Oh, there¡¯s Woojoo! -What a ghostly position selection. New ck¡¯s Woojoo was holding the ball, as if he had been there all along. Thementators said in an excited voice. -Wow, that was a nice back pass by Han Taehyun. -But what will happen now? It¡¯s too far from here. It was too far to attempt a shot. Somewhere between the three-point line and the half line. In fact, that was why there was no one marking Woojoo. He was rtively far away from the basketpared to the others. Everyone focused on Woojoo and the opposing team yers ran towards him. ¡®He¡¯ll pass, right?¡¯ The yers of the ¡®Zi Zone Basketball¡¯ Team thought that Woojoo would surely pass to someone. That was why they thought of his passing route in their heads. But¡­ ¡°¡­?¡± They looked stunned for a moment. -Huh? -Is he shooting from there? Woojoo¡¯s action was none other than a shot. The idol¡¯s face that clearly eyed the target appeared on the screen. Before the opposing team yers arrived, he lightly jumped from his spot. Like slow motion. It was the perfect shooting form that was implemented from Woojoo¡¯s body. Everyone in the audience stopped waving their cards and gaped at him. A strange silence. And the sound that ended that silence was the ball hitting the. Thud! ¡°¡­¡± ¡°¡­¡± When the opposing team had a stunned expression on their faces, a scream from the stands broke the silence. ¡°Ahhhh!¡± It was the sound of the four members of New ck hugging each other. Especially, someone¡¯s excited roar like a bear and the slurred voice saying ¡®Woojoo Hyung did it!¡¯ echoed in the auxiliary gymnasium. When they were caught on the ry screen, three of them shook the golden gs with one tomato-red face covered. Above them, the Souffl¨¦s also shook the gs while screaming. Cheers erupted from here and there with a bit ofughter. The ry booth was also a cauldron of excitement. -Wow, a three-point shot! A three-point shot! It¡¯s the first three-point shot in the Dolympics. -They make up for the lost points and take the lead at the same time. Yes, the current score is 3 to 2 for the ¡®Left Hand is Just a Decoration¡¯ Team! -The location selection was also great, and it was an amazing teamwork. An admiring voice came out. -Taehyun, who threw a back dribble, and Woojoo, who ate it with a three-point shot, are both amazing. -They have good breath. Breath. -Both Hanjo and Woojoo are new, but they have great skills. They all said in unison. -Another promising yer has appeared. Everyone. -A rising star of idol basketball has emerged. It was hard to judge the skill by one shot, but Woojoo¡¯s action was not trivial. -But why does he seem to be the most surprised? -He¡¯s enjoying it now! The leader of New ck, who seeded in a professional-like three-point shot, smiled happily on the screen. He gave a light high-five to Han Taehyun of TNT and smiled calmly while pping hands with the others. But for some reason¡­ He couldn¡¯t hold back hisughter that leaked out as he rubbed his cheeks. As they watched him, his smile made them feel good and the other spectators also smiled. ¡®What¡¯s so good about that?¡¯ As they thought that, a simr smile appeared on the lips of the audience. There was a variable that determined the oue of every game. These variables were diverse. Some of them were impossible to prevent and prediction was meaningless, and some of them were unpredictable. Their Junghyun, who went to the futsal game, was the former and Woojoo was thetter in this basketball game. ¡°Block him!¡± ¡°No, not him, him!¡± The opposing team was in a state of confusion. As Woojoo, an unpredictable variable, appeared, the opposing team seemed to have no clue. Squeak! The sound of sneakers rubbing on the smooth floor was noisy near him. The opposing team yer who was marking him. Every time Woojoo tried to go somewhere, he blocked him in front of him like a clone. Every time, Woojoo wondered if he should change direction and run. ¡°Huff, huff¡­¡± The opponent had a dying expression. Every time Woojoo made a motion to run, he tensed and rxed his muscles repeatedly. He couldn¡¯t help it. As he continued, his face was flushed. But, marking Woojoo was a useless thing to do. Because¡­ -Yes! Taehyun scored! -The score difference is already quite wide. The one who was blocking Woojoo had a disappointed expression. He was ced to guard Woojoo, who was shooting three-pointers in a row, but the gap he left was used by their team to attack. Han Taehyun¡¯s finish, which was followed by a quick pass from Hwiyeon and Woosan. It would have been different if it was another basketball game, but since it was a game with five people, one gap was big. They prated the weakened defense as if they were teasing them. ¡°Ugh¡­¡± The one who was marking Woojoo went back to join the defense. Then. ¡°Woojoo!¡± The ball flew to him. As the nearby opponent ran at Woojoo with bloodshot eyes, saying ¡®You again! Again!¡¯, Woojoo calmly threw the ball. He had seeded in a full court shot at Around the World With Dice, so he didn¡¯t have to worry about the uracy at this distance. A perfect posture. And a perfect breath. Before long, the ball caught in the and the disappointed faces of the opposing team filled his eyes. Sess. Their team scored three more points. ¡°Wow!¡± Woojoo heard the cheers of the audience. Especially his younger siblings, they were waving golden cards as if he had founded a country. But why did Bijoo¡¯s eyes look moist? Woojoo couldn¡¯t help but hold back augh at the sight of him glistening his eyes like a parent attending a graduation ceremony. Junghyun was smiling like a satisfied rock. Rihyuk was shaking a card with a calm face, but when he met Woojoo¡¯s eyes, he used it as a cushion. Was that for real¡­ ¡°Woojoo Hyuuuung!¡± And their youngest, please¡­ Please lower your voice. It sounded like he had eaten a train whistle, Jiho¡¯s voice came ringing. ¡°I¡¯m hereee!¡± ¡°¡­¡± ¡°Wave your clothes if you hear meee!¡± Wild¡¯s Woosan, who came over to high-five Woojoo, tilted his head and asked him, ¡°Your member is calling you over there.¡± ¡°I¡¯m not very close with him. Sunbae-nim.¡± The other personughed. Anyway, Woojoo blew a hand kiss in response to the hot cheers of the Souffl¨¦s and his siblings. The Souffl¨¦s cheered, and his healthy siblings made a face that their stomachs were upset. Woojoo saw their eyes. ¡®Do it moderately. Moderately.¡¯ ¡®You have to keep your line and live. Hyung.¡¯ ¡®Very awkward.¡¯ Woojoo coughed awkwardly and jogged. The game resumed. And a certain pattern repeated. Hanzo took the center, and the trio who joined the attack attacked the defense of the other team. If the defense was too tight, the ball flew to Woojoo, who was far away, and a three-point shot flew, and if the defense stuck to Woojoo and the defense became loose, the attack team immediately prated the gap and scored. It worked either way. The trend tilted in no time. Daydream¡¯s Jun kept making sessful shots with his amazing skills, but he was not enough alone. Meanwhile, Woojoo chose his position. -Woojoo is moving again. -He¡¯s really amazing at choosing his position. He looks like a very fast thinker. -At this point, he might be the star of idol basketball. Woojoo roughly moved to a position where he could easily catch a pass or shoot. Selection and concentration. That was the strategy he chose for this Dolympic basketball. If he had a body of iron like Junghyun, he wouldn¡¯t mind. But he had to minimize the risk of injury and such. That was why it wasn¡¯t good for him to get into a physical fight. It was hard in the first ce. His ability was to mimic movements, but it wasn¡¯t easy to control them unconsciously. If it was a solo skill like archery, maybe. But in a ce where other people¡¯s movements were constantly changing, he couldn¡¯t focus on his own actions. If he identally lifted up the other team while fighting unconsciously, it would cause all kinds of controversy and a million anti-fans. So the strategy he chose was to minimize contact with the opponent and increase efficiency at the same time. For example, like now, choosing a usible position and waiting to shoot was his first role. Of course, that wasn¡¯t all he did. His eyes sharply observed the other team¡¯s movements. ¡°Woojoo!¡± Woojoo received the pass from Hanjo and immediately dribbled the ball and jumped over the half-line. He had one more thing to do. As he made a motion to shoot a three-pointer, when the other team yers tried to block him. ¡°¡­!¡± Woojoo lowered his body and quickly passed the ball to the side. Long pass. He gave his team an attack point by urately aiming at the empty space of the other team. That was his second role. And this pass was supposed to go to Han Taehyun, who was under the goalpost. Thud! ¡­but. Ah. He made a mistake. Woojoo threw it too long and Jun from Daydream caught his pass with a smirk. Then he came over to their team and scored a goal. ¡°Woah-!¡± Well. Um¡­ Sometimes life didn¡¯t go the way you wanted it to. He was embarrassed. Woojoo thought he just did all kinds of cool things. But maybe because he contributed so far, their teammates looked okay. Except for one. This wicked green-haired monster who followed me pping. ¡°Wow. Hyung-nim, this little brother was really touched. You have the spirit of altruism to pass to the other team!¡± ¡°¡­¡± ¡°A headline has already been picked. Daydream Jun, ¡®Thank you for the assist, Woojoo.¡¯¡± ¡°¡­I¡¯ll do better.¡± Woojoo ran away like jogging because of their captain¡¯s generouspliment. He turned his eyes to the audience and saw his siblings sitting andughing. They met his eyes and held up a card with a happy face. They flipped it from the front to the back. What? There was a backside too? -(??????)? It¡¯s okay, it¡¯s a dark history ¡­The words written on the sign were shaken by his members and fans, andughter erupted around. Woojoo just smiled happily in the midst of that. Damn¡­ Chapter 201: Chapter 201: Trantor: MarcTempest Editor: Rxel Chapter 201 As the first half was nearing its end, the ¡®Zi Zone Basketball¡¯ Team, who had suffered an unexpected blow, gritted their teeth and went out. ¡°Pass!¡± ¡°Here! Here!¡± With that momentum, they continued to counterattack, and soon they scored several times. ¡°Nice!¡± They all high-fived with happy faces.Listening to the cheers of the fans, they fiercely continued their offense. Especially Jun of Daydream, who showed off his amazing dribbling skills and earned offensive points. But the score difference did not easily shrink. Every time they scored one, the other team also scored one. ¡°Wow-!¡± Han Taehyun of TNT showed anotheryup shot, and the fans screamed. Jun of Daydream wiped off the sweat dripping down. ¡®What¡¯s going on? Where did we go wrong?¡¯ He had been active in the basketball club for quite a long time, and the ones who became his teammates this time were also the lineup ofst year¡¯s winning team. Looking at each individual¡¯s skills, they were one step ahead. As soon as he saw the other team¡¯s lineup, he thought he would save some energy for the semifinals, and give his all in the finals. But the actual result was¡­ -¡®The Left Hand is Just a Decoration¡¯ Team is doing great. -What will happen in the second half? Will they keep the flow? Or will the Zi Zone Basketball Team show a miraculouseback? A miraculouseback. As thementators said, the probability of them turning the game around in this state was almost miraculous. After the first half ended. Jun, who was gulping down water, looked at a rookie idol. ¡®¡­Was his name Woojoo?¡¯ He was a member who left an impression with his witty New Year¡¯s remark atst year¡¯s TBC year-end music festival. He narrowed his eyes as he watched him drink the water handed over by Teen Spirit Hwiyeon like amercial. ¡®He¡¯s the key.¡¯ He was the most threatening and annoying yer. ¡®¡­What do I do? Seriously.¡¯ He had no answer. If he looked away for a moment, he would suddenly appear out of nowhere and shoot a three-pointer, and cheer by himself. If he marked him, he would suddenly throw a pass that pierced through the gap and assist his teammates. He was cutting off the passes diligently, but he was overwhelmed. ¡®How can he pass so well?¡¯ He was amazed by his uracy in shooting three-pointers, but what he admired the most was his passing. His posture was stable, and more importantly, he aimed and poked at the gaps precisely. ¡®I wish he was on the same team.¡¯ He would rather be on a team with someone who could pass well than someone who could shoot well. That was why Woojoo was the core of the other team. He supplied the ball naturally like water, and his teammates were running with ease. Then how should he deal with him? As he pondered, the coach seemed to have the same thought and called the yers. ¡°This won¡¯t do.¡± The coach gave instructions. ¡°Keep marking him. Don¡¯t let him pass to the others. One person should be in charge of marking him.¡± ¡°Yes.¡± ¡°The game is not over yet! Do it with fighting spirit!¡± The yers ran back to the basketball court with the encouragement of the coach who patted their shoulders. ¡°Hoo¡­¡± As he let out a long breath and headed towards the half-line, Jun spotted Woojoo stretching his body with the national gymnastics near him. ¡®Should I talk to him?¡¯ He was curious about him as a person, not as a team. ¡°Hi.¡± ¡°Hello, Sunbae-nim.¡± He asked Woojoo, who greeted him politely, ¡°Do you y basketball often?¡± ¡°¡­Yes?¡± ¡°You pass well.¡± ¡°No, I¡¯m not good at it. It just happened.¡± He waved his hand as if he was really embarrassed, not being modest, and he tilted his head. ¡°Why are you so good?¡± ¡°I just got lucky. I don¡¯t usually do much exercise.¡± ¡°¡­¡± ¡°But¡­¡± The other person hesitated and asked, ¡°Do I look good at it?¡± ¡°Yes.¡± He nodded and seemed very happy. While he was thinking that he was a strange kid, the second half of the game started. ¡°Block him!¡± ¡°Run, run!¡± The second half proceeded with the same heat as the first half. The difference from the first half was that now there was someone who openly marked Woojoo. And¡­ -The Zi Zone Basketball Team is starting to fight back! -Daydream Jun! He¡¯s not dead! He¡¯s the MVP ofst year! Will he challenge for aeback victory? The strategy of marking Woojoo was effective. After blocking the asional passes that pierced the gaps or the three-point shots, the game became much easier. It might be too much to spend a lot of resources on blocking one person, but it was worth it. Bang! Woojoo, who had a frustrated expression on his face after his shot was blocked, appeared. A worried face. Then he called the captain, Han Taehyun. ¡®Is he trying to change the strategy?¡¯ Jun¡¯s eyes followed the opponent closely. They covered their mouths with their hands and whispered to each other alternately. Soon Han Taehyun nodded, and Woojoo nodded too. They seemed to agree and lightly pped each other¡¯s hands and then moved away. Jun also called his teammate, the ace Hojin. ¡°Hojin.¡± ¡°Yes, Hyung.¡± ¡°Keep an eye on him for a while. He seems to have something up his sleeve.¡± The teammate ran straight away. The game resumed. The mark was more thorough than before. -They¡¯re really tying up Woojoo! It¡¯s the beautiful love of the senior singers for their junior. -That¡¯s like a one-mind level. Thementators joked at the sight of him clinging to the opponent like a second self. Meanwhile, Jun stared at Hanjo. The rookie idol with a serious expression looked around and threw the ball. Nearby was Hwiyeon. As the attack started, the other yers also started running. And Woojoo also started to move forward. ¡°¡­?¡± He was puzzled. The opponent had been active outside the three-point line until now. He was like amander who quickly passed the ball to a suitable position and scored points. Or he would shoot a three-pointer himself. But it was strange that he went inside the line. ¡®Block the others!¡¯ He gestured to his teammates. The opponent who was outside was threatening, but the one who came inside was not a very threatening target. It was hard to poke a hole in the ce where the yers were crowded. And it was hard to seed with a big motion like a three-point shot because of the defense that stuck to him right away. That was what he had to do¡­ -Yes, Taehyun! Pass! The ball goes to Woojoo. -It¡¯s empty! Han Taehyun, who was blocked by two people, quickly passed the ball to Woojoo, who was in the diagonal direction. The defense ran right away. It was a quick defense because he was nearby. He tried to block the opponent¡¯s movement. ¡°¡­?¡± Jun blinked as he checked the possible pass directions from there. A familiar move. ¡®¡­Is that?¡¯ He ran with a sense of urgency. But in the meantime, Woojoo dribbled with his back to the defender, then lightly turned his body. Fade away shot. He shot a fadeaway jumper while looking at the basket and falling back. All the yers widened their eyes at the trajectory of the ball flying in a high arc. ¡®What the.¡¯ As Jun felt a nervous feeling, the ball bounced lightly on the rim of the basket. ¡®Please!¡¯ Cruelly, the ball got stuck in the. ¡°Wow!¡± The audience, who looked surprised as if they were amazed, were caught on camera, while thementators shouted in excited voices. -It¡¯s a fadeaway shot! -Wow, I see this in the Olympics! A fadeaway shot is a difficult shot that is hard for the defender to block because you jump and shoot at an angle. But it also requires a great sense of bnce from the shooter. He was speechless. ¡®¡­What is he doing?¡¯ As he stared nkly at the ball bouncing on the spot, he saw Seon Woojoo smiling and high-fiving with the other teammates. Heughed bitterly and incredulously. ¡®He was good at everything?¡¯ He thought he was only good at long-range shots because he stayed outside the three-point line, but that wasn¡¯t the case. He smiled wryly. Then he realized that there was someone else who was more surprised than him at this ce. Seon Woojoo, who was waving his hands to the fans and members, covered his mouth with both hands and muttered, ¡°¡­Wow, it worked.¡± He was amazed and impressed by himself. ¡®What the.¡¯ He thought he was a weird kid. *** At the same time. When Woojoo seeded in a difficult shot, the cheering section where the idol members were seated was a cauldron of excitement. ¡°Woojoo Hyung!¡± ¡°Wow! Woojoo¡¯s color!¡± ¡°Did you see? I¡¯m the closest with that Hyung!¡± The New ck members, who were shaking their slogans and crying, made the people around themugh. ¡®They must really like him.¡¯ They made a face of ecstasy and put their hands on their cheeks. The youngest boasted his flushed cheeks. ¡°Hyung, I¡¯m so happy. What should I do? I shouldn¡¯t feel this way, but I feel so proud of Woojoo Hyung.¡± ¡°That¡¯s a natural feeling.¡± The member with the furrowed eyebrows nodded. ¡°Woojoo Hyung is our ve.¡± ¡°Pfft!¡± Another idol member who was drinking a beverage nearby burst intoughter with a snort. Meanwhile, they heard pleasant voices. ¡°It¡¯s nice to have a ve who makes songs, but sometimes it¡¯s nice to have a ve who uses his body.¡± ¡°Isn¡¯t this how the nobleman who looks at the stone pot feels?¡± ¡°It¡¯s a stone hammer, Hyung. The stone pot is bibimbap.¡± ¡°Oh, right. Should we eat that for lunch tomorrow?¡± ¡°Ugh, I have to take a picture of that¡­ I have to take a picture of Woojoo Hyung scoring¡­¡± They each said their own thing, which was like a scene of collective monologue. Then, the sharp member who was conscious of the surrounding eyes made a loud noise. ¡°¡­Stop calling him ve, everyone is looking at us. Let¡¯s call him Dobby when there are other people around, how many times have I told you?¡± ¡°Oh, right. Let¡¯s call him Dobby.¡± Then, the four of them started to dance with their shoulders and sing a cheer song, ¡®Dobby Dobby give me more¡¯. The New ck fans who were seated above were also happy and didn¡¯t know what to do. And as they looked at him, who was receiving the attention of everyone, the other idol members felt a strange feeling. ¡®What kind of character is he?¡¯ It was amazing. Seon Woojoo had such a good athletic sense that he could write Taereung Athletes¡¯ Vige as his address. He didn¡¯t miss a 10-point shot in archery. He also showed off his individual skills while showing fantastic teamwork with his teammates in basketball. Someone asked the New ck members, ¡°Hey¡­ by the way, does Woojoo always do sports well?¡± ¡°Yes.¡± The youngest answered with a happy face, ¡°Our Hyung is really good at everything except wearing clothes and ying games. Oh, his personality is a bit bad though¡­¡± ¡°He once made a shot from one end of the basketball court to the other.¡± ¡°I wrestled with a ck goat, but I could never have done it without Woojoo Hyung.¡± From then on, for almost 10 minutes, they bragged about him with an attitude of ¡®look, that¡¯s our Hyung¡¯. ¡°Ah, yes. That¡­¡± ¡°What else happenedst time?¡± ¡°Ah, yes¡­¡± ¡°Woojoo Hyung was like¡­¡± While a rookie idol who asked the wrong question was suffering, the people sitting in the front row were shocked. ¡°Uh¡­¡± The people who were making finger gestures in the air and had nk expressions on their faces every time Woojoo scored a goal. They were mostly the ones who knew trainee Seon Woojoo from his TJ days. As one of thergest agencies in the country, TJ alumni were everywhere and they all had simr reactions. ¡®¡­That guy?¡¯ The person who was called a log from space because he couldn¡¯t dance, regardless of his visual or singing skills. -Yes, yer Woojoo scores another shot! -He¡¯s dominating the game today. ¡­He was good at sports. ¡®What the hell happened?¡¯ The infamous worst klutz among the trainees was now moving like a basketball yer possessed. ¡°What the hell. Seriously.¡± ¡°Wow, my heart is pounding.¡± Among them, the TNT members who had known him the longest were the most shocked. Drip. The leader of TNT, Gu Seonwoong, who was watching the game, spilled the drink he was drinking on his mouth. Another member who was making a narration of ¡®Yena Seonjeong is his daughter¡¯ next to him got a p on the neck from the leader. ¡°Do you still have jokes in this situation? Look. Woojoo¡­¡± Gu Seonwoong swallowed his saliva and said, ¡°He¡¯s handling the ball safely.¡± ¡°¡­¡± ¡°Isn¡¯t it a shocking sight?¡± They all nodded. ¡°He used to joke that his horoscope said he should avoid round objects.¡± ¡°What the hell? He¡¯s the kind of person who breaks his nose even if he falls backwards.¡± Woojoo was amazing in a different way for how absurdly he used his body. He was ying badminton and threw his racket and then hit the ball with his face, making his nose swell like Rudolph. He was climbing the stairs and suddenly got his steps tangled and grabbed the railing and took a deep breath, making everyone confused. When he was young, he went to a taekwondo gym and kicked with both feet, and got a full refund from the master that day, which no one was surprised by. That was why when he went to the Han River with the trainees and had to ride a bike, he always had to get a bike with training wheels. Of course. -Hey! Seon Woojoo! That¡¯s a tree! -Ouch. He hit it. He hit it again. -Does he have an instinct to charge when he sees a bush? What, is he going to catch a Pokemon? ¡­That wasn¡¯t easy either. It wasn¡¯t a surprise that everyone was surprised when he made it to the debut team because of his terrible athletic ability. But he had amazing talents in other areas, such as visual,position, and singing skills. ¡°¡­What the hell?¡± The one who had such a past was now running around nimbly and doing well in sports, no, showing amazing skills. ¡°I was okay with the dance¡­¡± The TNT members all grabbed their heads and tore their hair with a ridiculous expression. ¡°Am I the only one who doesn¡¯t understand? How does this make sense¡­¡± ¡°We¡¯re the same. Hyung.¡± ¡°How can a person change that much?¡± But no matter how much they racked their brains and worried, they couldn¡¯t find an answer. It was just a mystery. ¡°Those New ck members don¡¯t seem to know, do they?¡± ¡°It seems like it.¡± They didn¡¯t seem to know what he was like in the past, and the New ck members were just smiling happily. After the second half ended. A littleter, until the team with Woojoo won the final, they smiled outwardly but felt confused inside. ¡®It¡¯s not bad, but¡­¡¯ It was a happy thing that he was no longer suffering from his athletic ability, but honestly, it was inevitable that it was absurd. Soon after, the trophy ceremony. -Yes, we have voted for the MVP among the yers who participated in today¡¯s game. -Congrattions! New ck Woojoo! Meanwhile, as Woojoo was called out with a nervous face to receive the MVP award, someone pointed to the entrance. ¡°Huh?¡± A person who was secretly watching the game. ¡°Isn¡¯t that the President of Lemon Entertainment?¡± ¡°I guess so.¡± ¡°¡­Why is he crying?¡± They put aside theirplicated thoughts for a moment. Seeing the middle-aged man who was sobbing with a handkerchief in his hand, as if he was overwhelmed by his emotions, they all burst intoughter. *** ¡°Good job, everyone!¡± They pped and cheered in the yer¡¯s waiting room. ¡°Victory! Victory!¡± ¡°Wow, shall we hear it one more time?¡± They all held up the trophy and smiled happily. It was just an amateur tournament among idols, not professional yers, but that didn¡¯t mean the joy of victory was any less. As they shouted and cheered without a care, Hwiyeon eximed, ¡°Picture! We have to take a picture!¡± ¡°Who¡¯s going to hold the trophy?¡± ¡°Well, of course, our MVP Hyung has to hold it.¡± Immediately, everyone¡¯s eyes turned to Woojoo and the trophy was handed to him. The team members gestured to him. ¡°Come to the center! The center!¡± ¡°But you¡¯re all my seniors, I shouldn¡¯t be in the center¡­¡± ¡°Don¡¯t say that and hurry up!¡± Woojoo smiled and took the center spot. He bent his body and made a V sign with the trophy handle in his hand. The hands of the same team members were ced on his shoulders. Some of them were the first ones he met, but they all looked at him with a warm and friendly expression. This was the power of sports. Woojoo finally understood what the feeling of youth sports was like, which he used to see only inics. ¡°Good job, everyone!¡± After taking a selfie with the director, they parted ways with apuse. Han Taehyun put his arm around Woojoo¡¯s shoulder and said, ¡°You did a great job today.¡± ¡°So did you.¡± ¡°Hyung, you¡¯re the MVP. Can you believe it? You used to be neither VP nor P, our Woojoo¡­¡± ¡°I know, right. It feels so weird.¡± Woojoo smiled as he looked at the mini que he received for being the MVP. It wasn¡¯t as much as when he achieved something in his main job, but he was happy to be a help to someone. It was really a change of perspective. He wasn¡¯t the only one who felt that way. Han Taehyun looked at Woojoo with curiosity in his eyes. He must be very curious from his point of view. But Woojoo couldn¡¯t answer him. When he felt a bit awkward, he opened his lips. ¡°Well, I have a lot of questions, but¡­¡± He smiled and said, ¡°Congrattions. I don¡¯t know how it happened, but.¡± ¡°Thank you.¡± ¡°Oh, and¡­¡± Han Taehyun, who had something to say, looked at Woojoo. Then he turned his eyes to Hanjo and snapped his fingers. ¡°Listen up, you two.¡± ¡°¡­?¡± As they brought their ears closer, he whispered something with a smile. ¡°¡­!¡± It was a story that made Woojoo and Hanjo widen their eyes at the same time. Chapter 202: Chapter 202: Trantor: MarcTempest Editor: Rxel Chapter 202 After chatting with the other team members in the waiting room, they each changed their clothes and left the room. ¡°Good job, everyone!¡± ¡°Thank you for your hard work.¡± As one by one left the room, Hanjo smiled and said to Woojoo, ¡°I¡¯ll go ahead. My siblings are waiting for me.¡± ¡°Oh, okay.¡± Woojoo nodded with a regretful face.He wanted to have a conversation with the oldies about today¡¯s game or fortune-telling, but unfortunately he couldn¡¯t go with them. ¡°Woojoo, let¡¯s take a selfie together.¡± ¡°Can I use your phone? That¡¯s great. Then let¡¯s exchange phone numbers this time.¡± The other team members grabbed Woojoo and asked him to take a selfie or exchange numbers. Someone chuckled and said, ¡°I always wanted to be friends with you when I saw you on TV, but you five looked so close that I couldn¡¯t find a chance to join in.¡± ¡°You could have just said so¡­ Actually, we¡¯re not that close. We¡¯re just like post-its.¡± Woojoo chatted with the senior singers and made friends with them, then he cut off at the right timing and got out. ¡°Thank you so much, Sunbae-nims! It was so much fun ying with you.¡± ¡°Yeah, you did well too.¡± ¡°Yes, I¡¯ll go up first.¡± Woojoo bowed energetically and closed the door behind him. It was only an hour, but he wanted to see his siblings soon. Woojoo walked briskly like Junghyun did when he went to eat, and the hallway passed by quickly. When he reached the stairs to the first floor. He faintly saw four figures huddled together in the dark stairs. They had handsome shadows. Anyone could tell they were his kids. What were they doing there? Woojoo was curious, so he walked along the hallway and stuck to the wall at an angle where he couldn¡¯t be seen from the stairs. When he put his ear close, he heard voices. ¡°It¡¯s dark again.¡± ¡°Junghyun Hyung, this is sensor-based, right? Just wave your hands like this~¡± The youngest¡¯s swaying voice and the shadows of the four waving their hands together swayed toward me. Woojoo held back augh. sh. Woojoo heard them giggling. ¡°But what is Rihyuk Hyung doing?¡± ¡°He¡¯s recording the cycle of the lights turning off. If he¡¯s right, they¡¯ll turn off again in 30 seconds.¡± ¡°Wow. This Hyung would have been Edison if he was born in the Joseon Era.¡± ¡°Wouldn¡¯t Edison be executed in the Joseon Era?¡± ¡°Is Rihyuk dead?¡± ¡°¡­Why are you suddenly killing me?¡± Woojoo felt calm as he listened to their nonsense. Jiho said he had something to try and moved his body in the dark, and when the light turned on, he imitated the concert opening. As the others pped and made a fuss on the stairs. Woojoo walked out with a ta-da smile. ¡°Hey, guys!¡± Soon, the four pairs of beautiful eyes that were chatting with each other turned to him. Their pupils dted and their eyes and mouths rose at the same time. The members jumped up. ¡°Woojoo Hyuuuung!¡± ¡°Guys!¡± They went up and down the stairs like excited monkeys. And they met at thending and shared a joyful reunion. ¡°Woah!¡± It felt healing. *** Indoor gymnasium facility management team. ¡°¡­¡± The management team employee who was staring at the CCTV with fierce eyes had a stunned expression. He was watching the movements of fans or staff who might sneak into other ces to prepare for emergencies, as there were many attendees. But there was a strange scene on the CCTV of the basement 2nd floor stairs. ¡®¡­What is this.¡¯ As he stared nkly, a senior employee next to him leaned his head in. ¡°What, what¡¯s the problem?¡± ¡°It¡¯s camera 24.¡± ¡°24? Basement level 2? Why is that¡­¡± He blinked as he turned his head. ¡®What the hell.¡¯ On the CCTV screen, four people were dancing around someone who was holding something like a medal in the center. They looked like monkeys who had won a battle. The leader showed off the medal, and the rest of them acted as if they were dazzled. Then they danced joyfully. ¡°¡­¡± ¡°¡­¡± The senior who was staring nkly parted his lips. ¡°But¡­ they can dance well.¡± ¡°They do dance well.¡± ¡°¡­¡± ¡°¡­¡± He didn¡¯t know who they were, but they were idol members who were dancing splendidly on the basement stairs. They had a bronze-age tribe vibe. ¡°Do their fans know about this?¡± ¡°Maybe it¡¯s better if they don¡¯t¡­¡± ¡°That¡¯s true¡­¡± ¡°¡­¡± The two men looked at the CCTV with awkward smiles. *** First floor main arena. They came back up and took their seats to watch the women¡¯s wrestling final. -Yes, it¡¯s finally the women¡¯s wrestling final! -Scarlet is dominant this year too! Scarlet, who had finished off Girls on Top with a single win, was still showing their dignity. While member Bom, who was sitting on a stic chair, was waving a fan like Zhuge Liang and cheering. The rest of the sisters, Yu Bi, Guan Wu, and Zhang Bi, were attacking the opponent¡¯s neck, or rather, the opponent. -Daisy! She defeats Misty¡¯s Su Ah and gets another single win! -She has such a heartyugh! She can¡¯t hide her joy of victory. -Last year, she got the nickname of Glutinous Rice General, right? There wasughter everywhere at the mention of Glutinous Rice General. ¡°¡­¡± They remembered Daisy as a plump glutinous rice cake. She still had that visual, but somehow her smile looked like a heroic hero whoughed heartily. It was kind of scary. Daisy, who was briefly scanning the audience, nced at them and the five cowards cheered politely. Starting with Daisy, who was the first runner, Scarlet recorded three consecutive wins. Misty, who had made it to the final, did their best, but their seniors from their agency were too strong. ¡°Woohoo!¡± Amid the fans¡¯ cheers. As they put the wrestling gold medal around their necks, they pped while thementators came out for the interview. The four of them, who were smiling contentedly, appeared on the screen. -Congrattions on winning the wrestling! -Thank you! They nodded their heads. -We have to make it short because of the time¡­ Who will do it? Yes. Rina. The visual member with a calm appearance brushed her hair back, and Curtain, the fandom, shouted ¡®Unnie!¡¯ and was restrained by the security. Rina, who was sending love to the fans, soon called someone. -President. The camera captured their president in the audience. Next to him, the President of DNS Media was making a nervous expression, and their President was wiping his nose with a handkerchief, his eyes red. He nodded his head at the call. Rina said to the President in a short and bold voice. -We¡¯re going to eat snowke sirloin this year. Daisy added ¡®1++¡¯ with her unique rap, andughter erupted in the arena. The other singers also pped and congratted them. They pricked up their ears at the conversations that were heard here and there. ¡°Lemon is the overall winner this year, right?¡± ¡°Yeah. They have the wrestling gold medal, the archery gold medal¡­ and the running silver and bronze medals.¡± ¡°Last year, it was only Scarlet, but this year, they swept the medals for both men and women.¡± Woojoo asked his siblings with an excited face, ¡°Are we the overall winners?¡± ¡°Unless something unexpected happens,¡± Rihyuk said, thinking hard. ¡°We¡¯ll win the overall championship, no matter who gets the MVP. They¡¯d have to fly in the air to beat us with this score difference.¡± ¡°Ugh¡­¡± ¡°Look at Woojoo Hyung¡¯s eyes. They¡¯re already zed over. He has the same expression he had in Director Jo¡¯s home studio.¡± Woojoo was happy. The overall championship was just a hollow honor. What mattered most to him was the promise he made with the President. He said he would buy Woojoo theposing equipment that was in Director Jo¡¯s house. Woojoo scanned the audience seats to see the President¡¯s face. He saw him sitting next to President Im of DNS Media, boasting to him. His eyes sparkled. Woojoo sent him a look. Sparkle, sparkle. Junghyun shook his head. ¡°I don¡¯t think the President sees you, Hyung.¡± ¡°Just a second.¡± Woojoo decided to focus his gaze a little more. Sparkle! Sparkle! Spark! Le! His persistent stare finally caught the President¡¯s attention. He opened his eyes wide and smiled warmly, waving his hand. He looked like the happiest person in the world, having crushed the rivalpany and taken first ce. They mouthed to each other. ¡®Woojoo-ah!¡¯ ¡®President-nim!¡¯ They exchanged affectionate nces. Woojoo heard whispers from the members next to him. ¡°Woojoo Hyung is looking at the President like a treasure goblin.¡± ¡°That greed¡­¡± ¡°The President must think this guy is a goose thatys golden eggs. Lucky him.¡± Woojoo ignored them and smiled. When he sent the President a finger heart, he chuckled and sent him a giant heart back. The youngest tilted his head. ¡°But the President still looks happy. Maybe he doesn¡¯t know how much theposing equipment costs.¡± ¡°Let him enjoy it.¡± Their younger brothers also sent stars and hearts to the President. The President smiled blissfully for a while, then got up from his seat, wearing an old coat. He seemed to be humming a tune. President Im, who got up with him, had a grumbling face. Maybe they had a bet on the meal. Junghyun said, ¡°Oh? He¡¯s leaving.¡± ¡°He should go now. He must be very tired. He stayed until the end.¡± As Bijoo said, the seats that were filled with directors at the opening ceremony were now empty. Most of them had left after attending briefly in the morning, due to their schedules. The only two presidents who stayed until this time were theirs and DNS Media¡¯s. It was already evening. It was amazing and grateful that he stayed until this time to cheer for them, even though he must have been busy. The youngest, who was lying on Woojoo¡¯sp, said, ¡°I¡¯m jealous. I want to go home too.¡± ¡°You can go at 10.¡± ¡°Oh, right! That¡¯s true.¡± The recording schedule for today was supposed to end around 1 a.m. But their youngest and main vocal had to leave at 10, because of thew set by the country for minors. They said that broadcasting recordings were not allowed after 10 for those under 15 or something. It was aw made to consider the harsh broadcasting environment for minors, but it seemed that it applied to most minors, not just those under 15. Of course, leaving meant waiting in the waiting room. Jiho made a sullen face, then a mischievous one. ¡°Ugh¡­ I want to stay here with you guys, but the country tells me to go, so I¡¯m so sad.¡± ¡°¡­¡± ¡°I guess I¡¯ll have to lie on the sofa in the waiting room.¡± ¡°¡­¡± The faces of the three, except Rihyuk, softened. Woojoo smiled warmly and gestured to their third. ¡°Junghyun-ah.¡± ¡°Yes, Hyung.¡± ¡°Take care of it.¡± ¡°Yes.¡± Woojoo looked around while their youngest, who was ticklish, screamed. ¡°Ugh¡­¡± ¡°This is unfair¡­¡± The other group members who were squatting nearby had bitter faces. They had been squatting for more than twelve hours since dawn, then exercised briefly, and then squatted on the cold floor again. They were all on the verge of getting sick. Cold. Hungry. And there were still more than six hours of recording left. It was driving them crazy. Sometimes they exchanged nces of camaraderie with each other, saying they were suffering. Since they were sitting in the middle of the stadium, there were eyes and cameras everywhere, and fans were watching from afar, so they all smiled outwardly. ¡°Yap yap!¡± The one who had been whining ¡®this is unfair¡¯ just a moment ago winked at the fans, making Woojoough. Maybe it was because of the restrictions on their behavior, but the Teen Spirit nearby seemed especially stifled. They whispered vulgar words to each other¡¯s ears, and then sent boyish charms to the fans. ¡°¡­¡± Woojoo still couldn¡¯t get used to it. That. He moved his gaze from the other idols and looked around more widely. While the next event was being prepared, the staff were going back and forth. He met eyes with Hanjo, who was sitting nearby. They nodded at each other and got up from their seats. ¡°Hyung, can we go to the Souffl¨¦s¡­ where?¡± ¡°Yeah. Let¡¯s go.¡± Woojoo smiled and said to the younger ones who were getting up from their seats, ¡°Let¡¯s go see the Souffl¨¦s now.¡± *** The information that Han Taehyun gave him after the basketball game was premium. -Don¡¯t you want to go to the cheering section and see the fans? Of course. It was much better to say a few words up close than to gesture and kick each other from afar. But¡­ -It¡¯s hard because you have to watch out for the staff. That was the problem. The program itself, Dolympics, was so abusive by the production team that Woojoo always felt like he had to be careful. They were decent where the cameras were. But in ces where they weren¡¯t, they would just pass by and yell ¡®hey, you¡¯, and push them with their hands to move the equipment. And they were so strict that if they did something wrong, their manager Hyungs would be called and scolded. No wonder the fans hated this program. That was why they couldn¡¯t go to the fan seats. The other senior idols had experience, so they would sneak in and out at the right timing, but as a rookie, they didn¡¯t know that timing. Woojoo was anxiously looking at the fan seats and wondering ¡®what should I do?¡¯ when their big senior gave him a tip. When was the right time to go. And that was right now. ¡°We¡¯re here!¡± ¡°Wow!¡± Their Souffl¨¦s greeted them with a happy expression. Woojoo smiled as he saw their faces, which were very tired but happy. Like Decaaniacs, he thought they probably had the same expression. Because they had been trapped for more than twelve hours from dawn until now, they exchanged eyes of friendship and talked. There were hoarse voices here and there, but it was a warm and lively atmosphere. ¡°Oppa!¡± Woojoo turned his eyes at someone¡¯s shout. ¡°I¡¯m going to the office and change my name to Kim Deoksoon!¡± ¡°Pfft!¡± The manager Hyungs who were standing nearby also burst intoughter, and the younger ones and the fans rolled over, holding their stomachs. The members urged Woojoo to answer, so he looked at the fan and said, ¡°Remember this first.¡± ¡°¡­?¡± Woojoo raised his finger and said, ¡°Deoksoon is the one and only.¡± Next to him, Junghyun eximed, ¡®Oh, you don¡¯t have any shame anymore.¡¯ Woojoo pped his hands and said proudly, ¡°Come on, repeat after me. All together. Deoksoon is the one and only.¡± ¡°Deoksoon is the one and only.¡± The fans around Woojoo blinked their eyes as they chanted ¡®Deoksoon is the one and only¡¯ like a choir. Woojoo nodded his head with a satisfied face. ¡°You can¡¯t change your name. If you really want to change it, don¡¯t use Deoksoon, but make it Deotsoon with a double consonant.¡± ¡°A double consonant. A double consonant. You hear that?¡± ¡°Oh, right. A double consonant.¡± While Rihyuk was clucking his tongue, everyoneughed for a while. Woojoo asked the Souffl¨¦ with a smile, ¡°What¡¯s your real name?¡± ¡°Ye¡­ Ye-ji.¡± ¡°Please don¡¯t change it. I¡¯ll remember you by that name. Kim Deoksoon is mine.¡± As soon as he said that, people everywhere showed their greed by saying they would change their names to Kim Deoksoon, but he didn¡¯t fall for it. Soon, the road manager Hyungs came with bags in their hands. ¡°You worked so hard today, so we prepared a special dinner for you.¡± To be exact, it was thanks to their youngest son from a rich family. They handed out their gifts to the fans in the seats, one by one. A luxurious paper box. On top of it were the letters they had been writing for days. Woojoo said to the Souffl¨¦s who were staring at them, ¡°As you can see, these are the words we wrote with all our hearts¡­¡± ¡°It¡¯s steak!¡± ¡°What? Steak?¡± Someone shouted and everyone started to open the paper boxes with surprised faces. ¡°Wow, it¡¯s steak.¡± ¡°Wow¡­¡± ¡°It¡¯s really steak.¡± This, this was not it. Woojoo said again with a smile, ¡°We wrote these words with all our hearts¡­¡± ¡°Wow, steak.¡± ¡°You¡¯ve been so good to us¡­¡± ¡°Steak!¡± ¡°¡­Enjoy your meal.¡± Woojoo smiled happily at the sight of the fans who were holding forks and knives to survive. He saw now. Meat. Meat was the best after all. Chapter 203: Chapter 203: Trantor: MarcTempest Editor: Rxel Chapter 203 They lost to the meat. At this point, Woojoo wondered if they should change their name from New ck to New Meat. Main vocal Chaet. Cute maknae Samgyeop. Gobchang, who boasts a chewy rap. Main dancer Anchang.Leader Flower Sirloin. Woojoo told his brothers this idea. ¡°How about it, isn¡¯t it awesome?¡± ¡°Why do you have to be the flower sirloin, Hyung? That¡¯s my position as the youngest.¡± ¡°Why.¡± ¡°It¡¯s the most expensive. And it¡¯s a flower.¡± ¡°Why a flower?¡± Jiho tapped his chest as if it was obvious. ¡°Flower is me.¡± ¡°Stop the nonsense, baby.¡± As Jiho and Woojoo were talking, the fans in the front row choked on their steaks. They supplied drinks to the fans who were sobbing. He turned his eyes. Their fans in the audience were holding forks and almost inhaling¡­ steaks. Bijoo asked with a smile, ¡°Did you all get hungry?¡± Nod¡­ gulp¡­ nod. Gulp gulp. Nod. Jiho tilted his head and asked, ¡°Didn¡¯t we give you something delicious for lunch?¡± ¡°That¡¯s¡­¡± One of the fans in the front row spoke, chewing on a steak. That¡¯s? But then the words stopped. Woojoo asked for the person who was choking for a while. ¡°Junghyun, give this person some grape soda.¡± ¡°Yes.¡± Junghyun brought a can of grape-vored soda from a nearby box and poured it instead of wine. And they bent down and listened. The Souffl¨¦ who had a blocked throat drank the soda and swallowed the food. ¡°That¡¯s¡­¡± ¡°Yes.¡± ¡°I digested everything while cheering.¡± ¡°¡­We gave you 1.5 servings per person, right?¡± Nod nod. They were their fans. They apuded in admiration of their extraordinary digestion, and embarrassedughter erupted everywhere. Woojoo was also surprised to think that something went wrong with the delivery and the Souffl¨¦s were starving. It turned out that they just digested well. They were eating steaks like crazy, sweating from the effort they put into cheering. Meanwhile, Woojoo spoke like a speech. ¡°You¡¯ve been working hard since dawn. I heard you lined up at six in the morning? And today¡¯s weather¡­¡± Gulp, gulp. ¡°¡­The weather is cold. And your seats are on the third floor, so you had to watch with binocrs because the distance was so far¡­¡± Gulp gulp. As he made a sad expression, the Souffl¨¦s began to chew their steaks slowly, looking around. Grrr¡­ Gulp¡­ Grrr¡­ As if a rusty swing was making a squeaky sound, Rihyuk pped Woojoo as they chewed their food. ¡°Hey, what are you doing to our fans who have been working hard all day? You should let them eatfortably.¡± ¡°Rihyuk is right,¡± Junghyun agreed with a serious face. ¡°They said they don¡¯t even touch dogs when they eat.¡± ¡°Look, look. You¡¯re making the fans miserable. The bad habits you had in the army areing out here too.¡± ¡°Hyung. The fans are eating.¡± Woojoo surrendered to the carpet bombing of his brothers. Then he smiled kindly at the fans. ¡°¡­Please enjoy your meal.¡± Their Souffl¨¦s were excited and started eating steaks with forks. Woojoo watched them quietly for a moment. Every time he spoke, he could see the fans struggling. He asked them jokingly, seeing them wavering like a child between their favorite food and an amusing TV cartoon. ¡°By the way, everyone.¡± ¡°Me, me.¡± ¡°Stop talking.¡± Woojoo rolled his eyes at his teasing siblings and asked the fans who had already devoured more than half of their steaks, ¡°Question! Do you like us or the meat?¡± ¡°Meat.¡± A deep voice came from beside Woojoo, startling him. ¡°Oh, you scared me.¡± ¡°It¡¯s me. Hyung.¡± ¡°Junghyun. I didn¡¯t ask you.¡± ¡°Hmph.¡± Woojoo left Junghyun sulking and asked again about meat vs New ck. ¡°Do you like us or the meat?¡± ¡°¡­New ck.¡± They gave Woojoo a look that said ¡®of course, it¡¯s you¡¯, but he saw their pupils waver for 0.5 seconds. And there were dozens of them. ¡°Wow¡­¡± His siblings looked shocked. ¡°Wow. I saw that. You hesitated when he asked which one you liked better.¡± ¡°Really¡­ the meat? Not us?¡± ¡°We need that electric shocker we used on Idol Show.¡± ¡°It¡¯s a lie detector, Hyung. We¡¯ll get arrested if we use an electric shocker.¡± The Souffl¨¦s desperately denied it and told them they were the best, but their wounded hearts didn¡¯t seem to heal. At first, Woojoo felt jealous, but then he thought it was pathetic to be jealous of meat, not a person. He suggested, ¡°Let¡¯s just change our names to meat.¡± ¡°That sounds better.¡± They all nodded and agreed. Jiho drew a V on his eyes and introduced himself. ¡°Hello, I¡¯m the youngest member, Flower Sirloin. My specialty is melting.¡± ¡°I¡¯m the main dancer, Anchang.¡± Bijoo added softly, ¡°Rare.¡± ¡°¡­Pfft! Cough! Cough!¡± Then the fans startedughing so hard that they almost cried. The rest of them also introduced ourselves. ¡°Main vocal, Chaetip. In English, it¡¯s Sirloin.¡± ¡°Rapper Kim Gopchang.¡± ¡°The man with manyyers of charm thates out as you peel. Leader Samgyeop.¡± They exchanged jokes and finished their introductions, and everyone in their fan section was drinking their drinks with flushed faces. ¡°Gasp!¡± It wasn¡¯t just the Souffl¨¦s, but also the Street Boys and Cement people who were listening to their conversation nearby. They were all holding back theirughter. Woojoo tilted his head and asked, ¡°¡­Was it that funny?¡± His siblings shrugged as if they didn¡¯t know. The road managers near them gave them a look that said ¡®are you serious?¡¯ *** 10 p.m. As they all sat together, Junghyun said, ¡°It¡¯s ten o¡¯clock. The younger line, please raise your heads.¡± ¡°I¡¯m not in the younger line.¡± Woojoo said to Jiho, who protested seriously, ¡°Jiho, stop ying Mafia and go to bed.¡± ¡°No, I don¡¯t want to,¡± Jiho whined. ¡°I want to y with you guys more. There¡¯s nothing to do in the waiting room anyway. Rihyuk Hyung will talk about boring science or history.¡± ¡°y phone games.¡± ¡°I forgot to bring my charger.¡± Woojoo smiled at him with his mouth pouting and said to Rihyuk, ¡°Take him away.¡± ¡°Hey, Wang Jiho. Follow me.¡± ¡°I don¡¯t want to go¡­¡± But the other underage idol members around them were getting up and leaving their seats. The underage members had mixed expressions of joy and regret, saying ¡®Finally, we can rest¡¯ and ¡®I¡¯m not a baby¡¯. They waved their hands to the fans as they headed back to the waiting room. ¡°I¡¯m going¡­¡± Jiho grabbed his nket and got up with a wobble, so Woojoo stopped him. A faintly pleased expression returned to his face. ¡°Are you holding me back?¡± ¡°Leave the nket. You¡¯re not the only one who¡¯s cold. We¡¯re cold too.¡± Junghyun and Bijoo burst intoughter, and the youngest red at Woojoo with a hurt expression. ¡°¡­You¡¯ll see. I¡¯ll pray in the waiting room and cast a debuff on you.¡± ¡°It¡¯s okay. I¡¯ve been through that kind of curse once.¡± ¡°I¡¯ll ask my dad to make it so that when you search your name on the portal, ites up as Wu Zhenmin, the Taiwanese singer.¡± Woojoo couldn¡¯t help butugh at that. Meanwhile, the youngest, who wanted to stay in his seat, was still dragging his feet. Woojoo called him. ¡°Jiho.¡± ¡°Yes.¡± ¡°Jiho, Jiho.¡± ¡°Uh¡­¡± Bijoo joined Woojoo in a sweet voice. It was the growth song they sang on the idol show. ¡°I have something to say to you.¡± ¡°Close your backpack when you go to school.¡± Junghyun chimed in, and their youngest ran away with a slightly red face. They high-fived each other, giggling. ¡°That was a good harmony.¡± ¡°We had some tapioca for a change.¡± Woojoo smiled wistfully as he watched theirnguage genius, and looked around. It was past 10 p.m., and the fans, the broadcasters, and the producers were all tired. The idols who came out as yers were ecstatic. ¡°Home¡­¡± ¡°Ah, I miss my mom.¡± Woojoo missed their Lady Kim Deoksoon. He had been doing makeup since 3 a.m. and sitting on the cold stadium floor until this time, so he was numb. There wasn¡¯t much left of thepetition, so he was trying to keep his body as tense as possible. If he rxed a little bit here, he felt like he would catch a cold and suffer for a few days. He was sleepy. He wanted to rx his face. That was why he felt like lying in their Lady Kim Deoksoon¡¯s arms for 10 seconds. Woojoo saw the producers running around again, as if there was a problem with the sound. ¡°Ah, what¡¯s the dy again?¡± ¡°It¡¯s freaking dyed.¡± ¡°Didn¡¯t they say they¡¯d ban us from participating if we spoiled the results? Should we secretly spoil it after it¡¯s over?¡± They heard thementing voices from here and there, and they huddled together and leaned on each other. ¡°Mandu, mandu, mandu, mandu.¡± ¡°You won, Hyung.¡± Instead of a punishment, Woojoo rubbed the shoulders of his brothers and waited. It didn¡¯t take long for the recording to resume. The only thing left was the women¡¯s 400-meter ry and the men¡¯s 400-meter ry. Junghyun looked at the girl group members on the track with a regretful expression. ¡°I wish I could have done the ry.¡± ¡°It¡¯s tiring, it¡¯s good, right? Let¡¯s just enjoy it with our eyes.¡± They were supposed to do the 400-meter ry too, but there was a problem. They were a group of five, but two were underage. They needed four to do the ry race, but they couldn¡¯t line up with three. Woojoo thought Junghyun alone would be enough, but they couldn¡¯t help it if that was the rule. They had to wait until next year when Rihyuk became an adult. -The women¡¯s 400-meter ry final is here! -Ready! Yes, La Vi en Rose is taking the lead. As thementators¡¯ voices rang out, they all barely held back their yawns and watched the night race. The people who watch this on New Year¡¯s Day will think it was filmed during the day, right? Actually, it was almost midnight. As he thought that and opened his eyes wide, the ry was won by Serenity, a rookie girl group from MOP Entertainment. Scarlet, who had exhausted all their strength by winning the wrestling match, sprinted at the beginning but ran out of energy at the end and got the bronze medal. The silver medal went to DNS Media¡¯s girl group, La Vie en Rose. Although the two groups were rivals in the samepany, they hugged and smiled brightly at each other, just like their Mint Choco-dan. The winner of the men¡¯s 400-meter ry was Street Boys. ¡°Congrattions!¡± ¡°Ah, thank you. I¡¯m so relieved.¡± Woojoo hugged Hanjo lightly, who had run with all his might as thest runner. He said while panting, ¡°Ever since New ck won the gold medal in archery, the manager¡¯s face has been very dark. And the President too.¡± ¡°You did a great job.¡± ¡°I think I can breathe a little easier now.¡± Woojooforted him and exchanged friendship with him, who looked relieved as if he had survived. A face popped up next to Woojoo. ¡°What about me? I¡¯m second ce.¡± ¡°Go away.¡± ¡°¡­Wow. Look at you acting like this after basketball is over. When you followed me around like a puppy, calling me captain, captain!¡± ¡°You¡¯re making up nonsense.¡± Woojoo pushed away the green-haired monster who chased him with a betrayed face. He med Woojoo for betraying him after he raised him. So Woojoo asked him when and where he raised him, and he said it was rude to apply the six degrees of separation to their rtionship. Meanwhile, as the recording was almost over, Woojoo greeted the idol seniors and the rookie boy groups who he had filmed with today. It was essential to leave a good impression before parting. But he didn¡¯t greet the girl groups. Thepany warned Woojoo, but so did Han Taehyun. -I met eyes with Joo Hana by chance the other day, and a lot of videos went up on YouTube. They said they made some videos overseas. They only nced at each other briefly, but a video came out with a romantic BGM. So they avoided each other like oil and water. Instead, they got along well with the same gender. ¡°Sir. You worked hard today.¡± ¡°Yes, Sunbae-nim.¡± ¡°Please speakfortably. I¡¯m not a person who holds grudges.¡± ¡°My brother said I can¡¯t do that.¡± ¡°¡­I can¡¯t help it. Then.¡± Yeonhu, the youngest of Teen Spirit, was standing politely next to Junghyun. With a face that looked like he had cured his puberty, Yeonhu asked Junghyun various things. ¡°I¡¯ve been curious about something. Hyung. How can you make your body like that?¡± ¡°Um¡­ It¡¯s a secret.¡± He looked like an elementary school student who admired a boxer, with a bright smile. He didn¡¯t seem to like his own cuteness. Junghyun thought for a while and said, ¡°Exercise is important, but so is nutrition. Do you eat a bnced diet?¡± ¡°No¡­¡± ¡°Eat well. Not just protein, but fiber is important too. You need to eat vegetables and fruits.¡± He looked like a professional fitness trainer, talking seriously about exercise. But Woojoo saw Hwiyeon, the leader of Teen Spirit, giving Junghyun a thumbs up nearby. Bijoo gave Woojoo a hint. ¡°The senior came to Junghyun earlier and gave him a Chupa Chups and asked him to answer like that.¡± ¡°Chupa Chups is legit.¡± Woojoo nodded and moved on. Today¡¯s finale. The award ceremony for the overall champion team. -L Team, pleasee forward! The three from New ck and the Scarlet members gathered together and took turns holding the trophy, while the Souffl¨¦s and Curtain cheered for them at the same time. The spacious indoor gym. Woojoo smiled as he took in all the scenery in there. He felt very tired and like he could copse at any moment, but he thought it wasn¡¯t a bad day. He sent a heart to the fans and left the stadium, and Junghyun, who was drawing a bear heart next to him, said, ¡°Hyung, you look very happy.¡± ¡°Yeah.¡± Because he had a really good thing happen. *** Lemon Entertainment President¡¯s room. ¡°Hot, hot, hot!¡± As he looked at the photos from the scene that his managers had sent him, Park Kyuho, the president,ughed and hit the armrest of his chair. ¡°Hahaha!¡± Heughed, looking at the ceiling. Then he turned his eyes to the directors, who were eating theirte-night snacks with ¡®why is he like that¡¯ expressions on their faces. The two office workers immediately smiled and managed their expressions. ¡°Me!¡± Park Kyuho said, his face flushed with alcohol, ¡°This Kyuho!¡± At his words, the two men exchanged nces. ¡®He¡¯s using the third person.¡¯ ¡®He¡¯s drunk. The boss.¡¯ Park Kyuho had gotten some drinks from Im, the president of DNS, and he seemed very happy. ¡°Ever since middle school, I¡¯ve beenpeting with that guy Hyunsik, from Taejin Records, and losing all the time! But I raised my kids well, huh! Hahaha! His face looked like a dog earlier!¡± ¡°¡­You¡¯re that happy?¡± ¡°Yes, I am!¡± Park Kyuho smiled warmly. ¡°Winning is the best.¡± Afterughing like that for a while, Park Kyuho returned to his usual gentle face after drinking a few sses of water. But the excitement was still there. ¡°By the way, Director.¡± ¡°Yes.¡± ¡°Buy whatever the Scarlet kids want to eat. Snowke sirloin or whatever. Tell them I¡¯ll pay for everything with my own money.¡± ¡°Yes, President.¡± ¡°And.¡± His eyes turned to the other director. ¡°I told Woojoo that I¡¯d buy him some equipment if he won the overall championship. He said he wanted the same equipment as the one you have at your house. What is it? Can you tell me?¡± ¡°¡­Yes?¡± ¡°What¡¯s wrong?¡± ¡°President.¡± The Director blinked. ¡°Did you check the price of that?¡± ¡°No.¡± ¡°¡­We¡¯re in trouble. You promised him that?¡± ¡°Well¡­¡± Park Kyuho felt a sense of foreboding and searched the inte site with the model name that the director gave him. ¡°¡­?¡± Park Kyuho blinked. ¡°This can¡¯t be. Where¡¯s my sses cleaner?¡± ¡°Here you go.¡± Park Kyuho quickly cleaned his sses and screamed. ¡°There was one more zero?¡± ¡°¡­¡± There were times like that. When the alcohol wore off in an instant, as if the energy of the whole universe was swept away, and your mind became clear. The redness on his face disappeared in no time, and Park Kyuho¡¯s posture became straight like a boy from Cheonghak-dong. ¡°What¡¯s wrong¡­ Huh!¡± The director, who had leaned in out of curiosity, also screamed, and the Jo Gyuhwan just gave a bitter smile. ¡®I¡¯m screwed.¡¯ He had promised to buy him anything after making all kinds of fuss. What should he do? ¡®He even told me to call himter.¡¯ Park Kyuho¡¯s hand trembled. And then¡­ ¡°Whoa!¡± Like a person who pops popcorn in a movie theater, Park Kyuho threw his phone into the air. Zzzz-. The phone fell to the floor and vibrated roughly. On the screen, the name ¡®Our Lucky Charm Woojoo¡î¡¯ popped up. ¡°¡­¡± Park Kyuho decided to change that name first. Chapter 204: Chapter 204: Trantor: MarcTempest Editor: Rxel Chapter 204 Part 27. The First Competition -After the beep sound, the connection was not made¡­ Woojoo put down his phone after hearing the friendly voice asking him to leave a voice message. ¡°He¡¯s not picking up.¡± ¡°Who? Grandma?¡± Woojoo shook his head at Junhyun¡¯s question. ¡°No, the President.¡±He told him to call him right after the Dolympic ended yesterday. He probably wanted to congratte him on his hard work and talk about theposing equipment. But now¡­ ¡°He¡¯s not picking up¡­¡± Jiho said next to me, ¡°Try againter. He might be really busy right now.¡± ¡°Nah. Forget it.¡± The President was not his friend. He couldn¡¯t keep leaving missed calls if he didn¡¯t answer his call. Bijoo cautiously said, ¡°Maybe it¡¯s because of that. The President was a bit shocked after seeing the price of theposing equipment yesterday¡­¡± ¡°Oh,e on. The President wouldn¡¯t do that.¡± ¡­Woojoo was about to say that there was no way, but the usual image of the President shed through his mind. A luxurious but worn-out coat and a canvas bag. The face that was happy when he bought him a drink at the cafe with a free coupon stamp. The way he went around thepany bathroom to turn off the lights whenever he had a chance. ¡°¡­¡± Woojoo couldn¡¯t say anything because he was the president, but the siblings and Woojoo exchanged nces and nodded. ¡°¡­Maybe he could be.¡± He was so frugal that he might have been a little shocked by the price of theposing equipment. Jiho tilted his head. ¡°But is it that expensive? I can ask my dad to buy it for me as a birthday present.¡± ¡°Right? It¡¯s not that much. ¡­Huh?¡± Someone poked Woojoo¡¯s side with a notebook. Woojoo turned his head and saw a pale face pushing a notebook with neat writing on it. [How can you say it¡¯s not expensive? Where is your conscience?] ¡°What¡¯s with you all of a sudden? It¡¯s a well-known fact that my conscience is gone, ording to Junghyun.¡± ¡°That¡¯s right.¡± Junghyun agreed happily, while Rihyuk quickly wrote a note with a sharp pencil. Swish, swish. Woojoo asked, ¡°How long are you going to talk with that notebook?¡± ¡°¡­¡± He raised his finger as if to tell Woojoo to wait. He erased the content he was writing with an eraser and started to write something else with a sharp pencil. Woojoo asked again, ¡°Does your throat hurt that much?¡± ¡°¡­¡± Scrape, scrape! He erased the content with a slightly annoyed expression and started to move the sharp pencil again. Jiho asked maliciously, ¡°Hyung. Can you tell me how to sing this part? I have no idea.¡± ¡°¡­!!!¡± ¡°Don¡¯t swear with your mouth. You look like an ugly goldfish.¡± ¡°¡­¡± That was how Jiho and Woojoo yed a prank on Rihyuk, making him write the content over and over again. Snap. ¡°¡­¡± Rihyuk¡¯s patience snapped along with the sharp lead. He smiled slyly without answering and turned a page, then wrote a single word on the nk space. Then he pushed it to Jiho. [?] ¡°Wow.¡± The youngest made a fuss and grabbed Bijoo. ¡°Bijoo Hyung. That Hyung swore at me.¡± ¡°Rihyuk is having a hard time, that¡¯s why.¡± Rihyuk drew another line on the notebook and turned it to Woojoo. [??] ¡°Wow.¡± Woojoo smiled. ¡°My little brother Rihyuk is so sweet. He gave me two thumbs up for my sake. I¡¯m so happy.¡± ¡°¡­!!¡± ¡°By the look of your mouth, you¡¯re thanking me, aren¡¯t you?¡± He pounded his chest and made an ¡®augh!¡¯ expression in response to Woojoo¡¯s teasing question. Around then, Bijoo slid his hand on Woojoo¡¯s arm and smiled. ¡°Hyung, stop teasing Rihyuk.¡± ¡°Okay.¡± Woojoo nodded and smiled. Rihyuk, who was spewing fire at the sky as if he was furious, received a thermos from Bijoo. Woojoo asked him, who was drinking barley tea from the tumbler, ¡°Are you really not going to talk all day?¡± Nod. ¡°Only use your voice when you sing?¡± Nod, nod. He tapped his throat as if it was not in good condition and Woojoo smiled silently. He couldn¡¯t do anything if he decided that way. The other brothers also looked around and said, ¡°If you feel sick in the middle, let me know right away. I¡¯ll try to find a way somehow.¡± ¡°Okay, Hyung.¡± Bijoo said with a smile, ¡°But I¡¯m so nervous that I don¡¯t even know if I¡¯m sick or not. I think I¡¯ll catch a cold when it¡¯s over¡­¡± They all agreed with that. Today was Tuesday. They finished the Dolympic yesterday and they had the first round of ¡®Challenge, Legendary Song Discovery Team!¡¯ tomorrow. But their condition was terrible. They yed basketball and archery yesterday, and ran too. From 7 a.m. to 1 a.m. the next day, they sat crouched in the stadium with a smile on their face and their legs were sore. Their bodies were so stiff that they could understand why their Lady Kim Deoksoon was walking around with a fat face. They were all on the verge of catching a cold. ¡°What should we eat for lunch?¡± He was humming and looking at the delivery app menu as if he was digging a honey jar. ¡°¡­¡± ¡°Hyung, what should we order today? Spicy pork vs pork cutlet?¡± ¡°Pork cutlet.¡± Woojoo thought that even if a virus got into him, the virus would run away saying that this was not what a virus should do. On the other hand, Woojoo and the other kids were all groaning. Especially their weakest one had a very exhausted face. He was still looking at the lyrics diligently, but his face was pale. ¡°Rihyuk, do you want to eat this?¡± ¡°¡­?¡± Woojoo handed him a red ginseng. It was a big decision. He took the bag and drank it with a gulp and gave Woojoo a short nce of gratitude. He would have said no and pushed him away if it was usual, but he seemed to be in bad shape today. ¡°¡­¡± The three of them kept ncing at the red ginseng that the fourth one received as if they didn¡¯t care. Woojoo smiled and took out more red ginseng. After four packs of cheers, they all had a brief drinking time. ¡°Ugh, bitter.¡± The youngest said with a grimace, ¡°I can¡¯t believe I have to eat this bitter stuff to survive¡­ I¡¯m going to rest all day tomorrow after thepetition. Really.¡± ¡°Yeah, let¡¯s do that.¡± Woojoo patted his shoulder and smiled. That was how he managed the condition of his brothers. Tomorrow¡¯spetition was a very important opportunity for them. The Dolympic with the Souffl¨¦s was also an important event, but it was only a secondary activity. The core of our activity was this fixed music program. They would have skipped the Idol Sports Festival long ago if it wasn¡¯t for the disadvantages we would get from not participating. That was why their brothers were really pushing themselves to the limit of their stamina and practicing. Woojoo was watching them, but seeing their serious eyes and clenched teeth, he didn¡¯t have to worry. They were all pros now. ¡°Okay, let¡¯s stop resting and start practicing!¡± Woojoo pped his hands and called his brothers. He turned on the MR and stood in front of his younger siblings who were sitting on the chairs set up in the practice room. ¡°The point we need to save in thispetition is the performance. If we justpete with pure singing, we are at a disadvantage. They are the seniors who sing the best in Korea.¡± They all nodded. ¡°Before we practice, I¡¯ll briefly go over the points we need to save in the performance. Remember them well.¡± Woojoo calmly exined as he yed the gentle apaniment through the speaker. The long-awaited day of thepetition finally dawned. 10 a.m. The car stopped in front of the PBS Broadcasting Station in Yeouido. They tilted their heads as they took off their masks before getting off. ¡°There are a lot of people?¡± This was the new hall. Since it was the same PBS, themute was simr to when we appeared on the music show Music On. There were also quite a lot of reporters with cameras. ¡°I guess they are reporters and fans of other seniors.¡± ¡°Then we should take off our masks.¡± They took off their masks again. They checked each other¡¯s faces with only basic makeup on and walked briskly as they got off. A cheer erupted. ¡°Ah.¡± They were their fans. They smiled broadly with a cat-like expression and walked with a light step. Half of the people in the seats were entertainment reporters and the other half were fans waiting for the singers. Among them, 90 percent were their fans. As they sent heart signs with their hands, they heard the reporters¡¯ voices. ¡°Here! Please say hello here!¡± ¡°One more heart!¡± ¡°Please strike a pose. Manager, don¡¯t stay there ande out!¡± Dowon Hyung stepped aside awkwardly and they posed. When they were making a V as a group, one reporter asked, ¡°What is your goal ranking today?¡± They folded their fingers that were making a V and only showed their index fingers. Their youngest danced a cheeky shoulder dance and said ¡®First ce for sure~¡¯. Laughter flowed among the fans. ¡°Thank you, thank you!¡± They bowed their heads here and there and entered the hall. Woojoo¡¯s heart was already pounding. ¡°There are more reporters than I thought?¡± ¡°Yeah.¡± ¡°Is it because of the programunch? It looks more than when we go to the music show.¡± The scale of the reporters who came out for themute was quiterge, as befitting a program that PBS was ambitiously promoting. Even considering the symbolism of the first recording, it was a big scale. Only then did Woojoo start to feel the reality of participating in thispetition. He was nervous as if he was facing an important exam, but on the other hand, he was also excited to show the results of our practice. ¡°Hello!¡± They greeted the staff who passed by the hallway with enthusiasm and walked towards the waiting room. The new hall. The ce where Woojoo used to stand every time he performed on a music show felt strangely unfamiliar today. ¡°Oh, this is amazing.¡± ¡°It feels a bit different from what we usually see.¡± They looked around as they came out to draw the order of the performance. The audience seats with red cushions were the same as usual, but the camera cement was different. The open space in front of the seats. Where three standard cameras and two jimmy jibs were messily ced during the live show, there were temporary chairs. They seemed to have arranged them to fill more audience. And two ces caught Woojoo¡¯s eye. ¡°I guess that¡¯s where the original songwriters sit.¡± There were seats set up separately next to the stage, where the original songwriters who came to watch thepetition would sit. Later, Teacher Noh Jaehyun would also sit there and watch their performance. Rihyuk wondered. ¡°Doesn¡¯t it look like there are more seats than I thought?¡± ¡°Maybe it¡¯s the judges¡¯ seats.¡± ¡°Their seats are over there.¡± Woojoo followed Rihyuk¡¯s finger and saw that it was true. The seats where the judges who would evaluate andment on today¡¯spetition were also added to the audience seats. They heard a kind voice as they were wondering. ¡°That¡¯s where the celebrity panelists sit.¡± ¡°Oh, hello. Sunbae-nim.¡± ¡°Hi.¡± Lisa, who was smiling softly at them, exined, ¡°People would get bored if we justpeted seriously. Other singers and entertainers will watch our stage from there and react. They¡¯ll also throw in some funnyments here and there.¡± ¡°I see¡­¡± They nodded with convinced faces. Lisa then tilted her head and asked, ¡°Where is LisaLover?¡± ¡°He¡¯s next to the writer.¡± ¡°Oh, there he is.¡± Lisa waved and smiled at them. Soon, their manager¡¯s nose and cheeks ascended as he watched his favorite¡¯s fan service. They pped their cheeks as they saw his happy face, as if he had achieved everything. ¡°Wow. He doesn¡¯t smile like that for us.¡± ¡°Maybe it¡¯s because we don¡¯t wave at him often.¡± They all smiled brightly at Minki Hyung and waved at him. ¡°¡­¡± He returned a grim face. He shook his head as if disgusted, and Lisa chuckled next to him. They gave their manager a sidelong nce. ¡°You¡¯ll see.¡± ¡°We¡¯ll make you jealous when we get NewckLover.¡± ¡°¡­I don¡¯t think I¡¯ll be jealous, though?¡± They ignored someone¡¯s logical remark and gave him a sidelong nce. Then they chatted with Lisa, mostly about thepetition. ¡°Did you prepare a lot?¡± ¡°Yes. But the time was a bit tight.¡± ¡°It was really tight. I have a musical rehearsal that I¡¯m preparing for right now, so it¡¯s hard to adjust the time.¡± ¡°We had the Dolympic.¡± ¡°Ugh, I hate that.¡± She knew well about the Dolympic, having been an idol as Sugarfish. But they couldn¡¯tin to her. ¡°We did it outdoors in the summer¡­¡± ¡°Ah, oh.¡± The Imjin Fortress year-end stage was the same. An outdoor Dolympic. It was a moment when their respect for the senior idols grew. As they talked with Lisa, they greeted the other singers who arrived one after another. ¡°Did you all eat? Food?¡± A cheerful smile on a 30-something man. Instead of a glittering suit, he wore a calm casual outfit and arrived as a trot singer, Song Bohyung. ¡°¡­Well. Hello.¡± Still an unlikable tone. They sprayed their hair with super-strong spray and wore a leather jacket with a pattern on the back, like a motorcycle biker gang. Jo Yuri Band greeted them as they climbed onto the stage. ¡°Long time no see, everyone.¡± A thick appearance that gave off a police or military vibe. Cha Woohyun. The most experienced senior singer in this ce led his bulk up. The trot singer, indie band, and bad powerhouse arrived, and finally MC Baek Sangjung arrived. He quickly arranged the stage and started recording. -Yes. Challenge, Legendary Song Discovery Tean! The long-awaited firstpetition day has dawned. The announcer threw his eyes at the camera with a yful smile. -Are you all nervous? ¡°Yes.¡± -You all look rxed for being nervous, but you don¡¯t feel it yet, do you? It¡¯s your first stage today. They nodded with sympathetic faces, as if they were the only ones who felt that way. Baek Sangjungughed. -Soon, six hundred spectators will enter that seat. Everyone¡¯s eyes turned to the empty seats. -And you willpete with each other¡¯s skills through the stage in front of you, and decide the winner of today¡­ you will. He lowered his voice calmly, drawing the attention of the future viewers and participants. The MC skillfully led the progress. He nced at the cue card and spoke vigorously. -Well, now that we have the rehearsal ahead of us, let¡¯s decide on the order. You all know how important the order is, right? Everyone¡¯s eyes settled calmly. The 600 audience members holding the remote controls are the ones who will vote for the first ce in today¡¯spetition. The audience does not give objective scores like AI, but they make subjective judgments of their own. That was why the order mattered. No matter how well you did, if the person in front of you was overwhelming, you would look rtively bad and get a harsh evaluation. And if you did poorly, but the previous person did worse, you would look rtively like a fairy. There was also the issue of condition. If you were ced in the back, you had to keep loosening your throat in a tense state to avoid choking, which increased fatigue. It was obvious. The rehearsal was during the day, but the performance was at 10 p.m., so anyone would be tired. The MC looked around the participants and asked. -What order do you want to go in? Song Bohyung, what order do you want to perform today? ¡°Well.¡± Song Bohyung smiled slyly. ¡°I think it would be best to go as early as possible considering the condition, but the middle wouldn¡¯t be bad either. Most of all¡­ My goal is to go ahead of our senior Cha Woohyun.¡± A smallugh burst out. It was themon thought of everyone in this ce, including them. Subjective or not, a singer with outstanding singing skills that could chew up anything was the number one target to avoid. -How about you, Cha Woohyun? ¡°I don¡¯t care when I do it,¡± Cha Woohyun said indifferently, as if it didn¡¯t matter. Rihyuk sent him a look of envy. Lisa and Jo Yuri Band also picked their preferred order as either front or middle, and then it was their turn to be interviewed. -How about New ck? You have such strong senior singers here, you must be nervous as a rookie? Woojoo answered as the representative. ¡°Yes, there are so many amazing seniors here¡­ We want to perform first.¡± It was best to get the performance over with before the condition worsened due to the rotation. If not, there was nothing they could do. The MC nodded. -I see. Well, then, this time we¡¯ll go in reverse order from when we picked the songs. New ck, who picked the songst, will pick the order first. Soon, a box with a lottery stuck in it like a sushi roll arrived. From 1 to 5. -Who¡¯s this time¡­? Before Woojoo could say anything, his siblings poked his back or pointed their fingers at him, saying, ¡°This person! This person!¡± ¡®Why me?¡¯ Woojoo looked at them with a wronged expression, and a warm smile came back. ¡®The leader has to do the hard stuff.¡¯ ¡®Go. ve. Go.¡¯ They smiled and gestured for him to hurry up, and he stepped forward to the lottery. ¡°Hoo¡­¡± Woojoo took a deep breath and reached out into the air. Please. Let them go first. Buddha. He had to win first ce today and get Deoksoon. Woojoo prayed hard, even though he didn¡¯t usually, and closed his eyes and waved his hand back and forth. Give him a sign when it felt right. ¡°¡­!¡± As he moved his hand like that, he felt something and stopped. -Oh, did you get a feeling? ¡°Yes, this is it. I think this is the first one.¡± Woojoo picked out number 4 and held it out. The MC untied the string with a serious face and unfolded the lottery. Then he smiled and grabbed the microphone. -Yes! Congrattions. Of course. -It¡¯s thest order! New ck! ¡°¡­¡± Woojoo blinked his eyes as he heard theughter from all over. He thought he prayed to Buddha, but the one who answered him was the god of ck history. Chapter 205: Chapter 205: Trantor: MarcTempest Editor: Rxel Chapter 205 Was this for real? His luck was unbelievable. If there was a newspaper called Souffl¨¦ Daily, the headline for tomorrow would surely be ¡®Leader Seon Woojoo, can you keep your unlucky hand like this?¡¯ Woojoo heardughter from around him as he made a face of despair. If it were any other time, he would haveughed along with them. But not now. This couldn¡¯t be happening¡­ The recording started at 7:30 p.m.Considering the instrument setting and the panelments in between, thest performance would start well after 10 p.m. Can he manage the members¡¯ condition until then? What should he do? This. It wasn¡¯t a mistake he made on purpose, but he felt so sorry for his siblings. He should have drawn a better lot. He just put on a smile for the broadcast when he saw the phrase [5th ¨C New ck ¡®Life¡¯] on the screen. -Yes, New ck drew the first one. We¡¯ll continue to draw lots in order. The other singers drew their lots one by one. They did interviews about their expected order and reactions to their actual order, just like he did. The lottery ended and the letters popped up on the screen. 1 Lisa 2 Cha Woohyun 3 Jo Yuri Band 4 Song Bohyung 5 New ck Lisa got the first spot because the number one didn¡¯te out until the end, just like thest time she drew the first song. Jo Yuri Band, who had to perform right after the heavenly vocal Cha Woohyun, had their faces turn sour. Song Bohyung smiled brightly and said he was lucky. Cha Woohyun answered briefly with a calm face, ¡®Second, huh.¡¯ ¡°Good job, everyone!¡± Woojoo got off the stage after the lottery. Everyone received drinks from their managers and started talking about their order. Minki Hyung and Dowon Hyung handed Woojoo drinks and patted his shoulder, seeing his slightly wilted look. On the way back to the waiting room, Woojoo scratched his head and said to his siblings, ¡°I¡¯m sorry. Really. Of all people, I had to draw thest one¡­¡± It wouldn¡¯t matter much if he was doing the show alone. He just had to do as much as he practiced, with the mindset that he could do more or less. But he felt guilty all the time because he had to lead the members. ¡°It¡¯s okay, Hyung.¡± Bijoo smiled and said, ¡°You didn¡¯t draw it on purpose, Hyung. It¡¯s luck. There are some good points to being thest one, too.¡± ¡°That¡¯s right.¡± Their youngest also opened his eyes wide and said, ¡°The main character always appears at the end, right? My dad also goes inst when he has a meeting.¡± ¡°Hyung. Lean on me. Your shoulder.¡± While Junghyun massaged Woojoo¡¯s shoulder, the two of them cheered him up, saying ¡®Cheer up! Cheer up!¡¯ ¡°Well. It could be a good thing, if you look at it that way.¡± Rihyuk said, ¡°You didn¡¯t get what you wanted, but strategically, it¡¯s not bad. You promised Teacher Noh Jaehyun that we would be number one, right? If we go first, we might have a good condition, but you¡¯re easy to forget by the audience.¡± ¡°That¡¯s true.¡± ¡°Today¡¯s likely winner, Cha Woohyun Sunbae-nim, is also rtively early, and we¡¯re thest, so if we do well¡­¡± he said seriously, ¡°There¡¯s a chance. Today.¡± ¡°¡­¡± ¡°There might be some variables, like condition or stage quality. But drawing thest one could be a blessing in disguise, you know.¡± It made sense. Woojoo nodded his head as he persuaded him, and Rihyuk poked his side and said, ¡°So don¡¯t hang your head like a sinner. It doesn¡¯t look good for an old man.¡± ¡°¡­¡± ¡°And what do you mean, you¡¯re the only leader and a pro?¡± Rihyuk made a dissatisfied expression. ¡°We can also control our condition well, you know?¡± ¡°That¡¯s right. We¡¯re adults now.¡± ¡­They said, while sucking on chocte milk like adults. Pururup. Just then, Junghyun made a sound of scraping the bottom of the chocte milk with a straw. A moment of silence. ¡°¡­¡± They looked at each other with that in their hands and burst outughing. Theyughed together for a while and then Woojoo tapped his siblings¡¯ shoulders and said, ¡°Yeah.¡± He shook off the thoughts of the lottery that had been in his head until a moment ago and smiled. ¡°Let¡¯s go get ready for the rehearsal.¡± *** New Hall Open Hall. The rehearsal was in full swing here, and the lights were sprinkling colorful light. The lighting director gave instructions and the lighting equipment moved back and forth. -Yes. Then let¡¯s go for the rehearsal. The singeres up to the voice of the main PD with a microphone. After a simple movement check, the song started. The singer¡¯s calm voice echoed in the open hall, and the camera captured his appearance from various angles. Below, the managers filmed their singers¡¯ performances with their smartphones. -Thank you for your hard work. A brief greeting and a courteous apuse. In that atmosphere, the singers went up and down repeatedly. A serious atmosphere that suffocated. It was not a situation where curses and shouts were exchanged as they did when they cleaned up the set in the morning, but it was still solemn. Challenge, Legendary Song Discovery Team! A program that PBS Entertainment Department ambitiously invested in withpetent staff and budget. There was also a pressure that the upper line showed great expectations, but more than anything, today was the long-awaited firstpetition recording. It was something that would determine the ratings and poprity in the future, so no mistakes were tolerated. ¡°Hoo¡­¡± The production staff who were breathing deeply or swallowing saliva here and there. Their faces were full of anxiety and tension. But as time went by, the production staff¡¯s expressions gradually changed. ¡°Everyone¡­¡± A writer pointed to the stage and stuck out his tongue. ¡°They¡¯re doing great, aren¡¯t they?¡± ¡°Yeah.¡± ¡°¡­They¡¯re doing much better than we expected.¡± They all nodded. As the rehearsal progressed, the anxiety on the production staff¡¯s faces gradually disappeared. They were still nervous about the recording with the audience, but the anxiety they had been holding on to was resolved. No matter how well they nned and edited, it was nothing but a matter of opening the board. The important thing was how much the performers caught the public¡¯s attention on the board that the production staffid out. In that respect, today¡¯s stage was all good enough to pass the passing score by far. Lisa, Cha Woohyun, Jo Yuri Band, Song Bohyung. With a well-arranged arrangement and the singers¡¯ excellent skills, a splendid stage continued. ¡°Wow¡­¡± Song Bohyung, who returned to the backstage with a pleasant smile, was admired by the assistant director. ¡°It¡¯s amazing that he¡¯s doing this well even though it¡¯s a rehearsal. He¡¯s not doing it with a hundred percent skill.¡± He asked the main PD, who was looking at the cue sheet next to him, cautiously, ¡°PD, how do you feel?¡± ¡°I feel good.¡± The expression on Baek Sunghyun PD¡¯s face, who had been stiffened by the reason of the firstpetition recording, rose for the first time. He smiled and said, ¡°They all came prepared. If we go to the main stage like this, we don¡¯t have to worry about the audience¡¯s reaction.¡± ¡°Right? I feel like I can hear people screaming already.¡± As they were talking, thest rehearsal stage came up. ¡°¡­Next is New ck.¡± The production staff looked at the cue sheet and made a strange expression. ¡®Why are they thest ones?¡¯ They were famous for being good at skills among the rookie idols, but the order of New ck was awkward. Whoever the previous four were. They were famous for having a lot of stage experience, and one of them was vocal skills that they could boast of as the best in Korea. But among them, the rtively weakest rookie idol was doing the finale stage. They couldn¡¯t help but feel a little awkward. ¡®¡­It would be nice if they just did the practice video.¡¯ They had received the stage practice video from the agency to make the camera line, but that was just a practice video. A video that they shot until they got it right. That was why no one knew what they would show in the real game. ¡°Hello!¡± The production crew saw the members of New ck politely greeting the audience as they climbed onto the stage. The handsome boys with various styles lined up in a row. PD Baek picked up the microphone. -We¡¯ll start the rehearsal now. As he gave the signal, the performance began. The darkened public hall. As the lights came on one by one, the voices of New ck members filled the venue calmly. And then. ¡°¡­?¡± They all blinked at the unexpected situation. ¡®They¡¯re good?¡¯ Contrary to their expectation that they would do the basics, New ck on the stage perfectly captured the mood of the song. Especially the main and lead vocals had skills that were not much different from their seniors. ¡°They did this well? It sounds great¡­¡± ¡°They¡¯re good. They must have practiced hard.¡± As everyone was surprised. There was one person who was the most surprised at this ce, namely PD Baek Sunghyun, who had personally cast New ck. ¡®What?¡¯ He knew they were good. He had seen their performances with Jang Sowon on PBS Music Cafe, and their live of Night Sea on HBS¡¯ radio ¡®Wonderful Night¡¯. He had all the materials to show what kind of group New ck was in terms of vocal aspects. But this was beyond his expectation. ¡®They¡¯re much better than I thought¡­?¡¯ To solve his question, PD Baek asked the managers of New ck nearby, ¡°Did you practice a lot for thispetition song?¡± ¡°Um¡­¡± The manager made an ambiguous expression. ¡°We didn¡¯t have much time to prepare for this song, PD. Of course, the members worked hard, though.¡± ¡°Really? They look good.¡± ¡°That¡¯s because¡­¡± Seo Minki smiled warmly. ¡°It¡¯s because the kids practice like crazy all the time. They¡¯ve practically lived in the practice room since their debut.¡± PD Baek realized what he had overlooked. ¡®They improved.¡¯ The materials he had seen were all from a year ago or at least six months ago. He didn¡¯t think about the fact that they were growing rookies, unlike the other vocals who were already finished. ¡®I didn¡¯t know the stage quality would be this good.¡¯ He was momentarily surprised, but soon he smiled at the thought that they would be good enough to show as the finale performance. He made that judgment not only because of their vocal skills. The assistant director whispered, ¡°The arrangement and performance are good, right?¡± ¡°Yeah. They did a good job.¡± He admired the arrangement that revived the original song in the style of the 2010s. ¡®He did that.¡¯ PD Baek looked back and forth between Woojoo on the stage and Woojoo¡¯s name on the arranger¡¯s name. He was amazing. He thought they were good in the practice video, but it felt different when he saw them perform live on the spot. He pondered. ¡®A rookie idol¡¯s unexpected reversal stage¡­ It would be good to attract people¡¯s attention.¡¯ The editing direction was drawn in his head. He was going to decide on the matter after seeing the audience¡¯s reaction, but he looked around and got confident. ¡°¡­¡± Unlike the busy staff, those who were standing still were all staring at the stage. A stage that naturally drew attention. A stage that caught the production crew¡¯s eyes even with the rehearsal would not get a bad reaction from the audience. ¡®I¡¯m looking forward to it.¡¯ He smiled faintly and picked up the microphone. -Good job, New ck. And he added one more thing. -I¡¯m looking forward to the main stage as well. -Thank you! As New ck members bowed and left the stage with a sigh of relief. A group of people who were standing far away at the top of the audience, near the exit, started to move quickly. It was the managers who had been watching the rehearsals until now. *** ¡°Challenge: Song Discovery Squad ¨C Round 1 Edited Version¡± [#1] ¡®Jo Yuri Band¡¯ Waiting Room A surveince camera in the corner of the ceiling was filming the waiting room. Four men and women in leather jackets were sitting with their legs stretched out. Jo Yuri, the vocalist, snapped at the bassist who was shaking his legs. -Stop shaking your legs, Hyung. You¡¯re jinxing us. -Hey, what can I do? I¡¯m nervous. Someone spoke as if agreeing. -It¡¯s frustrating. We can¡¯t even see the rehearsal stage. We need to see what kind of performance the others are doing. -Should we turn on the TV for a moment? -No, we can¡¯t. The camera is filming us. The drummer pointed at the surveince cameras ced around the room. As if to show that, the screen was split into four and showed the surveince camera footage of Jo Yuri Band from different angles. The band members looked gloomy as they stared at the turned-off TV screen. Usually, in music shows, they would be able to see the live camera footage through the TV in the waiting room. But in this program, it was forbidden to watch the rehearsals of the other teams. -Cha Woohyun Sunbae-nim must have done the best, right? I got goosebumps the moment I heard the first notest time. -I was drawn to that trot singer. -But when ites to vocals, Cha Woohyun Sunbae-nim is the best. As various guesses came out, the manager of Jo Yuri Band opened the door and came in. They asked him with a hopeful expression. -Hyung, how was it? The other people¡¯s rehearsals¡­ -Your impressions. Tell us quickly. -Uh¡­ they were all good. They had so much energy even in the rehearsal. Some of them sang so well that it gave me chills. Someone asked eagerly. -So, who was it? Which team did the best? -They were all so good that¡­ The manager hesitated as if conscious of the camera and then answered. -New ck. Silence fell. -¡­What? -They were all good, but these guys, how should I say it? They were¡­ uh, memorable. -¡­??? The faces of Jo Yuri Band members, who were bewildered by the unexpected name, were caught by the surveince camera. [#2] Another Waiting Room A scene where the situation that happened in Jo Yuri Band¡¯s waiting room was simrly reproduced in another waiting room was briefly inserted. In the split screen, several managers said in unison, ¡®New ck was good¡¯ and gave different answers. [#3] Participant Interview A musical actor sitting in front of a ck curtain, dressed in stage costumes. Lisa smiled coolly and said. ¡ô Lisa: Who are you looking forward to? (Pause) I¡¯m looking forward to New ck. The production team asked why. ¡ô Lisa: As soon as the manager came back from watching the rehearsal, he said, ¡®We¡¯re in trouble.¡¯ (Laugh) I asked him what was wrong and he said, ¡®When I saw New ck, they were grinding their teeth.¡¯ Lisa smiled sweetly and answered. ¡ô Lisa: I¡¯m personally curious. What kind of stage was it that made the manager react like that? *** 6 p.m. The scene was like a war zone, with an hour and a half left until the recording started. The staff were running around the hallway, almost tearing it apart, and the stylists were carrying the clothes they had received by quick delivery. It felt more real that they were facing apetition. It was like feeling a huge cogwheel moving with a vague sense only. All Woojoo could see were small cogwheels, but they seemed to be moving and making something huge turn. ¡°Hoo¡­¡± As Woojoo walked down the hallway after washing his face, the youngest pointed outside with his eyes wide open. ¡°Hyung, look over there. There are so many people.¡± ¡°Huh¡­ What?¡± The space where people were waiting in front of the entrance to the public hall. Woojoo was stunned to see hundreds of spectators holding tickets. They came this much in the middle of winter. Woojoo swallowed his saliva as he saw the waiting line that was tailing one after another, with 30 minutes left until the entrance. Junghyun said, ¡°We have to perform in front of them now.¡± ¡°Yeah¡­¡± Woojoo felt a surge of nervousness and swallowed his saliva¡­ There was no sound. ¡°Bijoo! Not there!¡± ¡°Here?¡± ¡°That¡¯s a dead end. Junghyun, grab his tail and stop him from going anywhere.¡± ¡°Okay. Hyung.¡± Junghyun nodded and grabbed Bijoo¡¯s sleeve. He kept wandering off to different paths. They moved on with Bijoo in tow. ¡°Here.¡± In front of the performers¡¯ waiting room. They heard a grumpy voice sayinge in as they knocked. As they opened the door and entered, an old man in a wheelchair snapped at them. ¡°What is it this time? I¡¯m exhausted from taking the ne¡­¡± ¡°We¡¯re here, Teacher.¡± ¡°Ah.¡± His expression softened abruptly. Especially when he looked at Rihyuk, he had a face like he was seeing his lost grandson. ¡°Our Rihyuk is here.¡± The youngest waved his hand behind him. ¡°Teacher, there¡¯s someone behind Rihyuk Hyung.¡± ¡°Oh, right. There¡¯s Mu-al-kol and the ckers too.¡± ¡°¡­Teacher, I want to be called Woojoo too.¡± He smiled faintly. Then he called ady who was doing something nearby. ¡°Ms. Kang.¡± ¡°Wait a minute. Teacher.¡± ¡°Ms. Kang! Give these kids some tangerine juice! And one for me too.¡± ¡°Wait, please! Right now! You have a microphone on your clothes¡­ a microphone!¡± ¡°Ugh. Always busy.¡± Woojooughed as he watched the grumbling teacher Noh Jaehyun. He was worried a lot when he said he woulde to see thepetition from Jeju Ind. But he looked very healthy by hisplexion. Thedy whispered a secret to them when she gave them the tangerine juice. ¡°He worked hard on his diet because he wanted to see this today. He even exercised, which he never did before.¡± They smiled at that. They had a pleasant time chatting with the teacher for a while. ¡°By the way.¡± Woojoo joked, ¡°Teacher, please give us your reaction after our stage is over. Like a surprised expression.¡± ¡°A proud or impressed expression would be nice too.¡± ¡°Hey, you guys. That depends on how good your song is¡­¡± the old man said gruffly, then coughed and put on a fresh face. ¡°¡­So what do you want me to do?¡± ¡°Like this.¡± Jiho and Woojoo acted out a moved and sobbing expression that didn¡¯t know what to do. He mimicked them. He was spot on, thanks to his long career in the entertainment industry. ¡°Like this?¡± ¡°Yes, like that.¡± They gave each other thumbs-up like mockers, and then burst intoughter. They continued to chat until they had to say goodbye because of the manager¡¯s call. ¡°See youter.¡± ¡°Good luck. I¡¯m looking forward to your stage.¡± He came out to the door in his wheelchair and they bowed to him repeatedly as they left the room. The sky outside the window was darkening. It was 6:30 p.m. They looked at each other as they watched the excited audience enter. It was time for thepetition. Chapter 206: Chapter 206: Trantor: MarcTempest Editor: Rxel Chapter 206 PBS New Hall. The audience began to take their seats. ¡®Wow¡­¡¯ Those who came to the studio for the first time looked around with wide eyes. On the stage, there was a panel that said ¡®Challenge, Legendary Song Discovery Team!¡¯ and behind the spacious stage, the sound team was checking the instruments. The recording hadn¡¯t started yet, but they already felt excited. ¡°This is amazing. This is a broadcasting station.¡±¡°Who¡¯sing out today? Cha Woohyun and who else?¡± ¡°There are so many instruments. Is that microphone for the chorus? People dancing with their shoulders and singing ooh-ooh.¡± The audience chatted with their friends with ted faces. ¡°Wow.¡± One of the front-row spectators opened his mouth wide and whispered to his friend. ¡°Awesome. Dude. There are so many people.¡± ¡°I saw some high schoolers without tickets earlier, they said they woulde in as soon as there¡¯s a vacant seat.¡± ¡°¡­For the first recording?¡± ¡®Challenge, Legendary Song Discovery Team!¡¯ was a new program that started this time, so it wasn¡¯t very well-known. But this number of people? There were groups of visitors here and there, but it was surprising that so many people came to see a show that hadn¡¯t aired yet. ¡°Hey, look here. It says what they¡¯re doing today.¡± ¡°Where?¡± ¡°Page 3.¡± Putting aside their phones for a moment, people started to flip through the pamphlets they received when they came in. It said who was singing what song today. ¡°The lineup is amazing¡­ Cha Woohyun doesn¡¯t usuallye out on this kind of program, does he?¡± ¡°They¡¯re all famous singers.¡± ¡°But I don¡¯t know the songs. I don¡¯t know any of them.¡± Most of them talked about the singers because of the unfamiliar songs. People who were interested in musicals talked about Lisa, and people who liked indie bands paid attention to Jo Yuri Band. Older people who had a certain age group recognized Song Bohyung¡¯s face. Cha Woohyun was the representative vocalist of Korea that everyone in this ce knew. But¡­ ¡°Who are they?¡± People tilted their heads as they saw the pamphlet text and photo that said [New ck: Noh Jaehyun ¡®Life¡¯]. Then they turned their eyes. The singers¡¯ pictorials passed by on the stage background screen like a slide show. Five idols sitting on chairs in casual outfits. ¡°New ck?¡± One of the people sitting in the seat blinked. ¡®Who are they?¡¯ They seemed familiar somehow¡­ But their memory was vague. Someone who was searching on their smartphone said, ¡°They¡¯re the ones. Around the World With Dice!¡± ¡°Oh¡­¡± ¡°They were on the Chuseok Special, right? The ones who fought with the goat and did the filial piety feast.¡± People who remembered Around the World With Dice¡¯s Chuseok Special, which was called the national variety show, appeared here and there. A slight smile crossed some of the audience¡¯s faces. But unlike recognizing their faces, the question remained. ¡°But aren¡¯t they rookies? Do they deserve to be here?¡± ¡°Right.¡± They understood that they left a big impression on the variety show, but they wondered why they appeared on apetition program. They knew that there were idols in it. They just thought that it would be either Daydream or ylist, who were famous for their singing skills, even if they weren¡¯t as well-known as TNT. ¡®Is there something?¡¯ Someone covered their mouth with their hand and whispered a joke, ¡°What if they¡¯re really good at singing? Harmonizing like crazy and going up to the end of the octave.¡± ¡°No way.¡± The one who heard that snickered and turned their eyes to the stage background. New ck¡¯s pictorial passed by again between the calm music. ¡®They¡¯re handsome.¡¯ They had attractive looks that caught their eyes, but their thoughts about New ck were only that. They felt a bit d to see the faces they had seen on the weekend variety show again, but they didn¡¯t know much about New ck as singers. And then someone came up on the stage, and the focus quickly shifted. A man with a mischievous expression. He walked up to the stage with a microphone in his hand, drawing everyone¡¯s attention. -Hello~! He greeted the audience with enthusiasm and introduced himself. -You must have been surprised, right? Some unknown guyes up and says hello. Is he the MC? You might think so, but you¡¯re half right and half wrong. He spoke in a funny tone, like a quack doctor, and made the audience chuckle. -I¡¯m Kim Chul, aedian from PBS¡¯s open audition, and I¡¯m in charge of the pre-recording MC today! Nice to meet you! He then delivered some precautions on behalf of the production team and started to liven up the atmosphere. -Come on, everyone! Let¡¯s hear some cheers~! Hey, that¡¯s too weak. Too weak. That won¡¯t do! Louder! One more time, scream~! ¡°Woo-hoo!¡± -Out of 10 points¡­ 9 points. I¡¯ll give you 9 points. You¡¯re still far from 10 points. ¡°Ah!¡± He encouraged apuse and cheers, and the air in the studio gradually heated up. The pre-recording MC yed some games with the audience, such as rock-paper-scissors, and gave out prizes. They were the autographs of the singers who participated in today¡¯s show. And¡­ ¡®New ck?¡¯ The one who had just made a joke about New ck¡¯s singing skills with his friend looked closely at the autograph he had received as a prize. There were five signatures in different styles. He moved his eyes from the calligraphic ¡®Seo Rihyuk¡¯, which was alone in a corner, to somewhere else. Soon, a snicker escaped his lips. ¡°What is this? What¡­ pfft!¡± His friend next to him alsoughed. It was because of the signature in the center. Next to the English letters ¡®Seon Woojoo¡¯, there was an appendix attached. A spaceship flying away with fire spewing from its tail. [ ??? ] It was a cute expression that was somehow unfamiliar. *** 7:30 p.m. The recording finally began. After the pre-recording MC had made the mood enjoyable, the main MC Baek Sangjung came on stage in a tuxedo. ¡°Woo-hoo!¡± It was a fervent atmosphere. Before thepetition, the singers lined up on stage and greeted the audience. Six hundred spectators. The studio, which had looked small when it was empty, seemed huge. They felt countless eyes looking here and there. But except for the audience who looked like Souffl¨¦s, there seemed to be no one who was interested in them. Even if there were a few, they only nced at their faces. Most of them were interested in Cha Woohyun or Jo Yuri Band. -Hello. We are Jo Yuri Band. The audience gave them a huge cheer. Jo Yuri Band smiled confidently. They nced at them as if to say ¡®Did you see that?¡¯ They ignored them. But they could feel the difference in poprity. ¡°Hello, we are New ck!¡± When they greeted them, they all said ¡®Woo-hoo!¡¯ but it was only a polite greeting. Last year, the MC would have introduced them by saying ¡®They are the ones who sang Something!¡¯ but it was weird to promote a song that was a year old. In this lineup of seniors, saying things like ¡®We won five Rookie Awards.¡¯ or ¡®We topped the music charts in our first year.¡¯ felt awkward. There seemed to be quite a few people who recognized them because of Around the World With Dice, but it was hard to talk about it because it was a different broadcast program. That was why the celebrity panels who were invited to spice up the mood mostly talked about our looks. -You¡¯re so handsome. How old are you all? Oh¡­ Jiho, you¡¯re eighteen? -You¡¯re a visual group. Did the PD cast you by looking at your faces? -Look at the size of your faces. You¡¯re ignoring the perspective. They wanted to say ¡®Please talk about our songs too¡¯ but the celebrity panels only talked about their looks. They practiced like crazy for two weeks, but they wasted almost five minutes on their faces. So they¡­ ¡°Ah, thank you very much.¡± They enjoyed it. Interest was not something you could pick and choose. You just had to take it as it came. Like professional attention-seekers, they humbly epted thepliments on their looks and cheered themselves up. -I know a lot about idols, and those guys were the rookies of 2014. But even the self-proimed ¡®idol expert¡¯ Bang Munsu recognized them. The man with a roon-like face spoke to the audience. -Last year, there was a huge influx of rookies from big agencies and others. The experts were like ¡®what the hell happened in 2014?¡¯ because there were so many talented rookies. New ck was the one who broke through thepetition and became the representative rookie ofst year. Woojoo wondered who he was, since he seemed to know a lot about idols, but he soon recognized his face. He was the host of K¡¯s rival program to HBS¡¯s ¡®Idol Show¡¯ that we appeared on. The MC asked him skillfully. -So, Mr. Bang, do you see New ck as the winner candidate today? -Uh¡­ yes, that¡¯s right! He stuttered and said ¡®yes!¡¯ andughter erupted from everywhere. Bang Munsu, who was grinning, looked at them. -New ck! I said you¡¯re the winner candidate, so you have toe to our showter! Got it? ¡°It would be an honor if you invite us,¡± Woojoo answered with a smile. Meanwhile, when Cha Woohyun greeted next, a tremendous cheer poured out from the audience. He was the star of the program, and his talk was quite long. ¡®Wow! New ck turned the rookie scene upside downst year¡¯ Bang Munsu said, but unlike them who hesitated when he said they were the winner candidate, Cha Woohyun was the most likely candidate for today¡¯s first ce. The talk was serious, and the audience¡¯s eyes were on him. The atmosphere waspletely different from theirs. If New ck was just a cute youngest, he was treated as a professional artist. He was such an amazing person, so Woojoo epted it, but it felt a bit different when they introduced other singers. But¡­ Woojoo had a feeling that the production team was trying to push them in that direction. The writers who gave instructions to the MC remotely, and the celebrity panels who also pushed them that way. It seemed like they wanted to nt a certain image in the audience¡¯s mind. It was just his guess, but he wasn¡¯t sure. But it was certain that the audience thought of them as just one of the rookie idol groups. It was natural. -Yes, the singers will go down now. I will exin the voting rules for today. The audience¡¯s eyes were on the singers who were going down with a calm face. Whether Woojoo looked here or there. Wherever he looked, there weren¡¯t many eyes that showed interest in them, except for a few people. ¡°Hyung. What¡¯s wrong?¡± Bijoo asked Woojoo when he stopped for a moment. ¡°No, nothing.¡± He smiled as if it was nothing and moved on, but his thoughts continued in his head. Was it because of the audience¡¯s reaction? Suddenly, he had a desire. He wished they could take all the six hundred eyes on the stageter. *** Thepetition officially began. The format was simple. A VCR that briefly showed how the practice or arrangement process went. And then a VCR where the singer introduced the song was yed, and then the main stage began. The video of finding the hidden songs and meeting the original singers and talking to them was originally for the broadcast, and it didn¡¯te out because it could affect the audience¡¯s evaluation. ¡°Wow¡­¡± They were huddled in the waiting room and watched the TV, spitting out admiration. ¡°Wow. The song is awesome.¡± ¡°Look at the gestures he makes when he sings. His expression is really amazing¡­¡± It wasn¡¯t because they were deliberately reacting because the observation camera was watching, but because the admiration came out naturally. Should Woojoo call them living vocal textbooks? Lisa, who arranged the children¡¯s song ¡®Ttolong Ttolong¡¯ into a musical scene and performed it beautifully. It was a great performance that made the original singer¡¯s eyes moisten. She just stood still and sang softly, but her voice alone made the audience cry. Cha Woohyun, who sang a song that was difficult to tune as if he was visiting his own house. Rihyuk stood up and pped at the sight of him singing freely. And Jo Yuri Band. They changed a lot of lyrics, but they made a trendy song that got a great response from the young audience. Regardless of their preference, their performance and vocal skills were the best. At the climax, when Jo Yuri raised the microphone above his head and sang the high note to the end, the celebrity panel and the audience opened their mouths wide. After the singers¡¯ performances, the celebrity panels made a fuss and talked about the songs. Then, twoposers and famous singers who made up the judges picked up the microphone and evaluated. -I didn¡¯t think it would be arranged like this when I first heard it was a children¡¯s song. It was a very difficult challenge, but you seeded perfectly. There were praises. -It was a stage that made people say, ¡°That¡¯s Cha Woohyun.¡± Thank you. There were also rave reviews. -Jo Yuri Band did really well. But there are a few things that I regret. The arrangement felt too focused on technique. Vocal skills can surprise the audience, but they don¡¯t necessarily move them. You know, when you see an acrobat walking on a tightrope, you p because it¡¯s amazing, but you don¡¯t get emotional over it, right? There were also sharp criticisms. As the singers went down with happy or relieved faces, the next performance preparation continued. Meanwhile, New ck looked at the lyrics sheet, listened to the MR with earphones, and warmed up their throats. ¡°Five hundred won, five hundred won¡­¡± ¡°Five hundred wooooon¡­¡± As they all warmed up their throats under the lead of the main vocal, a staff member with an inte knocked and poked his head in. ¡°New ck, stand by!¡± ¡°Yes!¡± On the TV screen, they left the waiting room after Song Bohyung sang ¡®The Flower of Betrayal¡¯. Woojoo was nervous. The way to the backstage felt so long. It felt like time was moving slowly. While Song Bohyung¡¯s song ended and the celebrity panels chatted, they loosened up their bodies behind the dark stage. ¡°Whew¡­¡± The production crew with an ENG camera filmed them. The writer asked, ¡°Are you nervous?¡± ¡°Yes, very.¡± They huddled together and made a fuss, saying ¡°Eeeeh!¡± Woojoo took a deep breath and said, ¡°I really hope we don¡¯t make any mistakes.¡± ¡°Me too. We practiced so hard for this, but if we mess up, I feel like I¡¯ll cry and be so frustrated.¡± They rxed their tense mouths as they did an interview in front of the camera. They also loosened their lips like horses, saying ¡®Prrrr¡¯, drank water bottles, and massaged each other¡¯s shoulders. Dowon Hyung asked, ¡°Aren¡¯t you guys drinking too much water?¡± ¡°It¡¯s okay. Hyung.¡± They kept drinking water because they were thirsty. After their manager Hyungs and their staff cheered them on by clenching their fists, the FD who was standing on the stairs to the stage gave them a signal that it was time to go up. Woojoo¡¯s heart started pounding. As his body was dyed with anxiety and nervousness, he reached out his hand. His younger siblings also reached out their hands with serious faces. ¡°Guys, let¡¯s cheer up before we go up. We¡¯ve been practicing for two weeks¡­¡± ¡°Let¡¯s go. New ck.¡± ¡°Let¡¯s just do what we always do! Fighting!¡± They quickly cheered and went up the stairs to the stage. The sound of the wooden stairs creaking made their hearts race. *** New ck started to go up on the stage. Five idol members in neat and tidy winter outfits, such as sweaters, jackets, and turtlenecks. ¡°Woah-!¡± As they went up, there was a customary scream and apuse. It was a heated atmosphere, partly because of the lingering effect of Song Bohyung¡¯s passionate stage. As the smell of gunpowder from the fireworks that exploded on the previous stage gradually faded. The stage went dark and the New ck members scattered and took their ces, and soon the VCR started ying. -Yes, this is my studio. The idol leader with a beautiful appearance took the production crew somewhere. A gentle interior of the studio. In it, Woojoo clicked the mouse and started to exin the arrangement intention to the production crew. Next to him, Seo Pilgeun, an assistant from the A&R Team who was working with him and was called for an interview. -Woojoo¡­? A brief silence of sadness. -He¡¯s a friend who is really sincere about music. So much so that our team members joke that he should be less sincere. There wasughter in the hall. Then the scene changed. The image of the New ck members practicing passionately, sweating even though they were only singing. -Ah, my throat hurts. Hyung, can you give me some throat candy? -It¡¯s mine. As he casually handed one to him, the image of the member also appeared. The interview VCR that was filmed in the waiting room today yed after the rehearsal scene. The leader calmly continued to exin the song along with the greeting. -As you may have seen in the previous video, the song we are going to sing is ¡®Life¡¯ by Teacher Noh Jaehyun. While the rapper held the recording microphone like a subordinate serving the boss. -We are a group with an average age of 20.4, and I¡¯m only 21 years old. He added ¡®only. only.¡¯ as a response to the sharp eyes around him. -Since we haven¡¯t lived even half of our lives yet, we were very worried if we could digest it at first. Life is not one path, but there are many branches, so it¡¯s diverse. The leader said seriously. -We did our best in arranging and practicing to bring out the weight and emotion of the song. We may becking, but we will do everything we can as we have the opportunity to participate in thispetition. -Please look forward~ to it! After greeting the viewers and the audience together, the curtain rose as the VCR turned off. The members scattered around. The main vocal, who was standing alone in the front, received the main spotlight. He closed his eyes slightly and nodded his head as the piano melody flowed. But he was not singing. When the piano melody gradually faded. As if another wave followed behind the receding wave, a voice prated the spot exquisitely. It was the leader standing behind him. A soft humming echoed through the hall as a faint blue light colored his face. That was the start, and the blond member next to him added another sound. And the rapper and the youngest grabbed a microphone each. Like the faint blue light, the four members moistened the audience¡¯s ears with harmony and instantly drew attention to the stage. It was a warm feeling of harmony. But was it because the members gave strength and weakness to the sound? Something seemed to be visible. Strangely enough, the eyes began to move along with the sound. To stop somewhere as they gave strength and weakness. The natural ce where the audience¡¯s eyes stopped was the main vocal who was standing in the center with his eyes closed. Piano melody. Harmony. As various sounds gradually tempted the audience step by step, the harmony began to fade again. And. Finally, the main vocal¡¯s lips opened. Chapter 207: Chapter 207: Trantor: MarcTempest Editor: Rxel Chapter 207 It was a calm voice. My love On the road where today and yesterday meet There You saw me The main vocalist of New ck, who had half-opened his eyes, grabbed the microphone. It wasn¡¯t a big gesture.He held the microphone with one hand, and expressed the song with the other. A short verse. But the refreshing voice that threw the wave shook the audience. As if a stone had fallen into a pond and made ripples, the impact wrapped around the spectators. ¡®Wow¡­¡¯ The audience either widened their eyes or made a dumbfounded expression at the first verse that was mixed with a breathy appeal. The celebrity panels were no different. ¡®¡­What? Who is he?¡¯ The eyes were focused on the main vocalist in the center of the stage. His skin was snow-white. His expression and appearance were all sharplyposed of angles. He put down the microphone. Some people unconsciously made a regretful expression, as if they had just heard how good the first verse was. But he closed his eyes again, as if he had finished what he had to say to them. Now, the piano melody and the harmony that his four members had made. The clear voice of the main vocalist also disappeared from the stage. As soon as an empty space appeared, the air seemed to rush in, and the audience¡¯s eyes were automatically fixed on the stage. And then. The empty space was filled again by the voice of the universe. The scent of flowers is still there Why are you shaking The road you¡¯ve been on Is it in your heart The lead vocalist sang softly, as if ying a delicate instrument, and started to move his steps one by one. The youngest, who had been standing next to him, gently added a harmony. The members of New ck each sang their parts and started to walk forward. Sometimes it doesn¡¯t matter Sometimes it does On the left, Bijoo and Junghyun sang. The birds are gone You¡¯re already here On the right, Woojoo and Jiho exchanged songs. The two who met in the middle smiled warmly at each other and started to match their harmony. When they lined up on both sides of Rihyuk. Once again, the main vocalist gently wrapped his hand around the microphone. So, my love Come to my end Speak out your heart And shine like a star- Love, and Let¡¯s talk about everything As if thete spring flowers decorated the end of the season, the clear voice adorned the end of the harmony. The moment the five voices became one and scattered with a long echo. There was silence in the audience. ¡°¡­¡± It was only about 30 seconds. It was an intro before the main song, but the audience felt their mouths open without knowing it. ¡®¡­What?¡¯ It was a stage they had prepared with determination, as if to correct the prejudice they had held against them. The cameras that had been shining on the audience captured the faces of the astonished or confused spectators. A couple looked at each other with their mouths covered with their hands in surprise. ¡®What the hell¡­?¡¯ If it had been a performance by other singers, they wouldn¡¯t have been so surprised. If Cha Woohyun had sung the same song, they would have nodded their heads and said, ¡®As expected¡­¡¯. But the ones there were the rookie idols, New ck. They had great visuals, but no one was expecting much from their skills. The only thing that was special about them was their faces. That was why even at the recording opening, the celebrity panels and the MC focused more on their visuals than their skills. The overall atmosphere was that New ck¡¯s image was ¡®a younger brother who tries hard even though he is a littleckingpared to his seniors¡¯. But what was happening in front of their eyes was breaking everyone¡¯s expectations. ¡®Wow¡­¡¯ They had divided the vocal positions nominally, but none of them fell behind, regardless of that. Even the youngest, who used to look cute, had the skill to put in harmonies with ease with his versatile pitch. Some people felt a sense of incongruity as they looked at Jiho¡¯s serious expression. ¡®Didn¡¯t he say himself that he was the mostcking during the opening talk?¡¯ If they thought about it, it wasn¡¯t a wrong statement. It was true that he was rtivelyckingpared to the main or lead vocals. It was just that Rihyuk and Woojoo sang so well that they didn¡¯t lose to other seniors. Woojoo, the lead vocal who gave a solid impression with his rich volume. Rihyuk, the main vocal who made you say that he was born with it, just by listening to him, regardless of technical aspects. And the voices of the other three who supported the two vocals firmly. It was abination that had nothing to throw away. ¡®They¡¯re good.¡¯ That was the impression that the audience had after watching the first 30 seconds. They were surprised and flustered for a moment. But as they epted that the rookie idol group in front of them was talented, the audience¡¯s hearts becamefortable. Soon, everyone smiled or started to focus on the stage with full of expectation and curiosity. Thest stage. They all thought that it would be nice if a cool stage waspleted, enough to soothe the regret that thepetition was over. Meanwhile. The eyes that were watching the stage at that moment were not only the audience. When New ck¡¯s ¡®Life¡¯ intro was in full swing. Composer Pyo Hyungwon, who was sitting in the judge¡¯s seat, smiled. ¡®This is something.¡¯ Heughed at the unexpected situation. He nced around and saw that the audience had already immersed themselves in the stage. The atmosphere had changed in an instant. New ck¡¯s gamble in the first 30 seconds seeded and made the audiencepletely on their side. ¡®This is the taste of a rookie.¡¯ Theposer smiled softly at the attitude of the five idols who seemed to challenge him. But what he praised was not just their vocal skills. ¡®They did a good job with the intro.¡¯ He praised the intro itself from apositional point of view. The piano and harmony that looked like they were cut off on the surface actually had continuity in their sound. If you looked closely, you could say that they made it into a natural flow. ¡®Did that guy do the arrangement?¡¯ Theposer¡¯s eyes fixed on the leader of New ck who was standing on the stage. He snorted. ¡®¡­Even the main vocal kid. He¡¯sposing something that¡¯s not what you¡¯d expect at that age.¡¯ The audience here were just amazed by their vocal skills, but for a professionalposer, that part was more amazing. ¡®He really made it understandable intuitively.¡¯ The intro that followed the climax for 30 seconds introduced the audience to what kind of song No Jaehyun¡¯s ¡®Life¡¯ was. It was a clever n. ¡®Challenge, Legendary Song Discovery Team!¡¯ was different from the usualpetition program. In other survival or audition programs, they usually choose a cover song that everyone knew. A song that makes you say ¡®Ah!¡¯ when you heard it. But Challenge, Legendary Song Discovery Team! was about finding songs that people didn¡¯t know. That was why they had less emotional aspectspared to the existing songs. It was hard to empathize with a drama scene that you didn¡¯t know when you flipped through TV channels. You had to at least know what it was to immerse yourself in something. New ck¡¯s intro dug into that part. They summarized the highlights and important points of the song to make the audience familiar with the song, and then proceeded with the main stage to give them more immersion. Of course, this weakness was also known by other singers. That was why they all used various methods such as VCR or intro to introduce them as much as possible. But what New ck prepared had a more noticeable aspect than the others. It was easier and more convincing. The reason why this was possible was probably¡­ ¡®They have affection for the song.¡¯ Most of the intros sung by other singers were the result of third-partyposers arranging them. But even if they were experts, they couldn¡¯t fully understand the song. Just as a schr who was well-versed in geography couldn¡¯t know the neighborhood better than someone who had lived there for 30 years, unlike the intros of other songs, ¡®Life¡¯ intro was made by someone who loved and listened to the song more than anyone else. He could feel the interest and affection for this song just by listening to the arrangement. And the performance too. The arrangement was intuitive, and the performance made it easy to see what kind of song Life was. The scene of them whispering warm voices to each other and meeting in one ce at the end, after escaping from various paths. It was a performance where the members who prepared the arrangement, the members who prepared the performance, and the members who sang it harmonized. The maximum courtesy that could be shown for this song. ¡®You must be happy, Teacher.¡¯ In the middle of the ce where the original singers gathered, an old man in a fedora nodded his head in a wheelchair. He looked at the stage with a somewhat choked expression. Composer Pyo Hyungwon understood his feelings. Who would hate it if a talented junior singer prepared their song with great interest and effort? He smiled sympathetically as the other judges whispered. ¡°¡­Wow, they¡¯re good, aren¡¯t they?¡± ¡°Right. They don¡¯t look like rookies.¡± ¡°They¡¯re definitely good. It¡¯s unexpected.¡± The three judges nodded their heads as they looked at each other. Meanwhile, the main stage started after the intro ended on the stage. The lights changed from blue to yellow. The five idols who were warming up their emotions while the live band behind the stage started ying. The gentlebination of notes that the keyboard yer made by moving his fingers slowly echoed in the public hall. The yellow and blue beams crossed and shone on the stage. Rape flowers in my memory A small thrill and joy were my share Swept away by the storm and time Until I left my mother¡¯s way The main vocal, holding a microphone, put his hand on his chest and started singing with a calm expression. Every time he opened his lips with his eyes closed, his voice touched the skin of the people in the public hall. The celebrity panels made a ¡®wow¡­¡¯ mouth shape or shook their heads at the same time, and the scene was captured by the camera. The piano¡¯s slow melody matched the beat of the song and gradually increased the speed. The baton was passed to the youngest of New ck. I walked without a mind Spring was kind Summer was bright Autumn was lovely Winter was sad When I opened my eyes, I was here His urate pronunciation and vocalization delivered the lyrics clearly. His usual mischievous expression disappeared, and he sang with a serious face as if to convey the emotion of the song. He held the microphone and stared at somewhere far away, as if he was reflecting on the path he had lived a long life. The youngest¡¯s powerful expression followed the main vocal¡¯s amazing singing skills and immersed the audience more. The sub-vocal, who had a calm gaze on the camera, slowly put down the microphone and Woojoo picked up the microphone. Before the echo of the previous voice disappeared, a soft voice seeped in. Sometimes It was the way others chose for me Sometimes It was the way I chose for myself His pleasant voice went back and forth between various pitches and moistened the ears of the audience. He didn¡¯t make a loud noise or scream, but his voice was clearly delivered to the deep corners of the concert hall. At the same time, the string instruments started ying a soft melody. The melodies of singer Noh Jaehyun¡¯s past songs blended with Life andplemented its color. The old middle-aged audience¡¯s lips softened as they felt the old nostalgia somewhere. His stable voice whispered softly in their ears, as if to say ¡®rx and listen to our storyfortably¡¯. And then, a heavy voice flowed out. This is how I ended up here Sitting on a rock The way I chose, the way I didn¡¯t choose I spent time thinking The warm scent I missed The summer night that passed I regretted and missed it But what can I do I know that some things are meant to be forgotten as I live on. But this time, they wanted to give more weight to the song, as if it was a new challenge. He sang with a rhythmic voice, somewhere between singing and rapping. It was the kind of style that suited the phrase ¡®sing as you recite¡¯ when they memorized the lyrics. At the same time, other sounds joined in. The other four picked up their microphones and filled the gaps in the sound. In the soft harmony, a heavy voice deepened the song with a rhythmic melody. And then again. The lyrics that they had sung once in the intro started to follow. Jiho grabbed the microphone and captured the emotion. My love, On the road where today and yesterday meet There, You saw me The acoustic guitar and the piano, along with the string instruments, led the song deeper. As the tension of the song gradually rose. Rihyuk continued the song. The scent of flowers is still the same But why are you shaking The road you¡¯ve walked Is it in your heart As he approached the climax, hisfortable vocals eased the tight tension. The live band¡¯s melody, which had be more frequent than before, loosened the atmosphere as if unscrewing a tight screw. But when he delivered thest line ¡®Is it in your heart¡¯, he added more tension to the song. The start of the road to the climax. The member who had been silent until then took the microphone. He was the blond member who sparkled in the yellow light. Sometimes it doesn¡¯t matter Sometimes it does The birds fly away But you¡¯re already here A beautiful voice flowed out. His voice was pretty, but his gestures with the song kept catching the eye. With the intensifying melody, Bijoo started to raise the song. The next one to take over was Woojoo. So, my love Come closer to my end Shout out your heart And shine like a star- Love, and Let¡¯s talk about everything He slowly raised his voice as he closed his eyes and tilted his head slightly with the microphone. But the voice that seemed to rise or not was still there. He was going for a high note, but it wasn¡¯t aplete one. The thin high note gradually thickened and filled the stage, but the audience felt a slight tension and frustration. ¡®It would be nice if he burst it.¡¯ As if to betray that expectation, Woojoo¡¯s voice lowered the note and eased the tension again. Some audience members sped their hands. Some looked at him with focused faces. The celebrity panels nodded their heads and watched the stage. Tss, tss, tss. The drum hi-hat sound and the bass drum started to ring slowly. Soon, all the instruments of the live band started to y. The colorful moving lights. The drums, piano, violin, cello, guitar, and others harmonized and yed together. The sound filled the hall. The sound that had been built up exploded with pleasure. Someone brushed their arm with goosebumps. The five of them took the microphone at the same time. Your sunshine Bes my memory In the quiet night It willfort me Tell me your story The night is long and cold Let¡¯s talk together And forget everything Unlike the previous verse, where they moved quietly, The members of New ck made bigger gestures in the chorus. Short hand movements becamerge ones. They sang with high notes, moving their chins or cing their palms on their chests. It was a refreshing chorus, as if piercing through the ceiling of the hall. When one of them hit a high note, the rest added harmonies and ad-libs to make the sound richer. But it was not just a high note for the sake of skill. It was a song that expressed the relief of letting go of the regrets for the roads they had left and the roads they could not take. The roads they had passed were the roads they had passed. They sang this song tofort themselves and others who had walked a long way, as if to say, let¡¯s put aside our regrets for a while. While the young audience smiled or sped their hands and listened attentively. The middle-aged audience, who were the main target of the song, looked at the stage with calm faces or closed their eyes and nodded. Someone who waved his hand lightly from the murpak was also caught on camera. Their eyes, each with a different story, focused on the stage. The chorus ended. The second verse followed a simr structure to the first one. The more advanced melody captivated the audience¡¯s ears, and now they werepletely immersed in the stage. New ck recited the lyrics to them. The members also sang with a more rxed attitude, as if they were enjoying themselves. It was natural. When one of them grabbed the microphone and immersed himself. The other one would unknowingly follow the mood and add his voice and ad-lib. Like threads and yarns weaving a beautiful fabric, the voices of New ck intertwined and tangled. The warm emotion that the five voices created wrapped the audience snugly. The final chorus. At the section where they exploded everything they had built up in the first and second verses, there were exmations everywhere. ¡®Wow¡­¡¯ As the level of admiration increased, the reaction became less, as if they were staring with their eyes wide open or slightly opening their mouths as if they were bored. The staff had a simr reaction. The production team smiled after admiring their performance, which was several times better than the rehearsal. Some of the celebrities on the panel seat got up with exaggerated gestures or leaned back on the backrest and said ¡®Wow¡­¡¯ with their faces, asking the people around them ¡®You too, right? You too?¡¯ The judges sitting on the jury seat smiled at thebination of sounds. The singers who participated today were seen in the waiting room, watching New ck on TV and making a sigh or a bitter smile. ¡®It¡¯s a sess!¡¯ While monitoring all those reactions, the writers and the main PD congratted themselves and smiled. When New ck¡¯s voice filled the hall, someone shouted in the PD¡¯s ear. ¡°PD, look over there!¡± ¡°Where!¡± ¡°Teacher Noh Jaehyun!¡± The main PD turned his head after looking at the camera where the original singers¡¯ faces were captured. He wanted to see it with his own eyes. Even from a distance, the emotion and expression of the other person were vividly conveyed. New ck¡¯s song reached the climax. On the face of the veteran singer who watched the beginning and the end of the song, there was a smile of satisfaction and happiness more than anyone else. ¡®I have to capture that.¡¯ While making that decision, the main PD smiled with excitement. A sessful final performance. He walked slowly towards the stage, listening to the fading voice of New ck and the live band. The festival was over. And it was time to check the results. Chapter 208: Chapter 208: Trantor: MarcTempest Editor: Rxel Chapter 208 After singing thest chorus, Woojoo felt a sense of relief as he put down the microphone. He had been nervous about making any mistakes, but luckily the stage went smoothly. ¡°Whew¡­¡± He took a deep breath and calmed his emotions. He didn¡¯t know who the camera would focus on for the ending shot, so they all maintained a gentle expression. But inside, his heart was pounding. As a singer, they knew better than anyone that they had done well. And they knew that they had shown the best they could today. There were some minor ws, but considering the condition and thest order, it was a perfect stage. As soon as the music stoppedpletely, a thunderous apuse and cheer erupted from the audience. Everywhere they looked, they saw people pping and cheering for them. ¡°¡­Thank you!¡±They bowed to the audience in the midst of the prolonged apuse. They also turned their heads and thanked the live band that had yed passionately for them today. And they hugged each other lightly and patted each other¡¯s shoulders. No words were needed. They had practiced together for almost two weeks, and they had finished the stage without any errors. They exchanged encouraging nces with each other. Then they greeted the audience again. ¡°Thank you so much!¡± Woojoo finally rxed and let out a breath. They took off their in-ears or brushed their hair slightly, and wiped off the sweat that had dripped down. While the judges were talking to each other, the celebrity panels were talking excitedly. -Jiho! Auntie is crying! Someone shouted, andughter came out. Their youngest responded with a cute hand heart, and the audience burst into cheers andughter. Thepliments poured out. -Aww, what do I do? You guys are so good. -I thought of my mom for a moment. -I was really mesmerized. At first I was like, ¡®Huh? What? Look at them!¡¯ and then I fell for them! I thought he was just a cute maknae, but he had a hidden punch! The panelist who was spitting saliva with excitement made everyone nod in agreement. The self-proimed ¡®idol expert¡¯ Bang Munsu also stood up and shouted. -See? What did I say? New ck is a strong candidate for first ce. He said regretfully. -Ah, what a waste. I should have bet on this! -Munsu, you¡¯re cheap. -No, Hyung-nim. I mean¡­ No, no, anyway! New ck! Keep your promise with me! Come on our show! It was K¡¯s ¡®Show Show Show! Idol High School¡¯. Woojoo replied to his request, which was a mix of joke and seriousness, with a microphone. ¡°Yes, we¡¯ll definitely go.¡± -You see his face change when he hears the casting talk. I see why he said he was a rookiest year. They all have something shining in their eyes. -I can tell by looking at their faces that they are ambitious. They joked, but they were right. They sent them a look that said, ¡®Thank you for the casting. We¡¯ll work hard like cows.¡¯ When the panelists exaggerated their impressions of the song, someone called another panelist. -How about you, Yoonsoo? -Uh¡­ -As a fellow idol, don¡¯t you see something? Yoonsoo, the only rookie idol among the panelists, smiled awkwardly. He was from Fantanis, a group that debutedst November and that they had met on a music show. When they showed him a friendly look, he picked up the microphone. -Honestly, I don¡¯t know what to say. They are rookies like me, but¡­ they don¡¯t seem like rookies. When they harmonized earlier, I really got goosebumps. He looked at them with sincere admiration and said, ¡®You guys are awesome.¡¯ They nodded lightly to thank him. After the idol, a current singer was summoned. -How about you, Deum? It was a bad song, right? The bad singer Deum picked up the microphone. The man with a sharp nose looked at the other panelists and said. -Honestly, I was surprised when I saw them. I thought, ¡®These kids know how to do a stage.¡¯ They were amazing. How did they sing like that there? I was really impressed. I couldn¡¯t touch that kind of emotion when I was their age. The celebrity panelists agreed with him. Deum asked them. -I¡¯m curious, how old are you guys? ¡°I¡¯m twenty-three this year. And our kids are one or two years younger than me.¡± There was a smallughter from the audience. The panelists were the same, they seemed to find Woojoo¡¯s expression ¡®our kids¡¯ amusing. Then, Bijoo grabbed the microphone and answered the question. ¡°Junghyun and I are twenty-one.¡± Rihyuk and Jiho also introduced their ages in turn. ¡°I¡¯m neen this year.¡± ¡°I¡¯m eighteen.¡± Dumun opened his mouth wide as he heard each age. -No, I can understand Woojoo, but you two are still high school students? ¡°Yes.¡± ¡°Yep.¡± -Can you¡­ capture the emotions? In a song like ¡®Life¡¯? Rihyuk held the microphone and replied, ¡°We analyze the song carefully before singing. We make notes while imagining the emotional lines. We ask people around us who have a lot of life experience what it feels like at this time¡­¡± Right. That was why he asked Woojoost time what emotion would be good for this part in ¡®Life¡¯¡­ ¡°Huh?¡± Woojoo blinked and grabbed the microphone. ¡°Wait a minute, Rihyuk. You asked me about emotionsst time.¡± ¡°Uh.¡± He paused. ¡°Could it be that the person you just mentioned was¡­¡± ¡°¡­¡± ¡°¡­ Come on, answer me. It wasn¡¯t me, right?¡± The main vocal¡¯s evasive gaze made the panelists and the audienceugh out loud. Someone joked. -Is Woojoo a bit old-fashioned? While their younger siblings nodded their heads like crazy nutcrackers, Woojoo made a dumbfounded expression. The audience pped andughed as if it was so funny. ¡®Well, that¡¯s why he did well with this arrangement¡¯ Woojoo smiled sadly as the panelists pushed him. He wanted to have an image of a fresh rookie idol leader here. But he felt it was already ruined. He smiled resignedly and looked around the people in the audience and the nearby panelists. ¡­ Where did Teacher go? Woojoo couldn¡¯t see him after the song ended. He must have gone down for a while. Woojoo really wanted to see his expression. Then, the MC came up on the stage. -Yes, it was a stage full of reversals. I was really surprised as I watched. The announcer Baek Sangjung asked with a smile. -Shall we hear the judges¡¯ evaluations at this point? Theposer Pyo Hyungwon, Jo Eulseon, and the famous bad singer Im Sunghee were sitting in the judges¡¯ seats in turn. -New ck sang Teacher Noh Jaehyun¡¯s ¡®Life.¡¯ How was it, our judges? -No need for long words. Theposer, Pyo Hyungwon, with a cold expression, put down his pen and said. -If I had to cast one vote today, I would vote for this stage without hesitation. It was a rave. The audience responded with a ¡®Wow!¡¯ at his words. New ck raised their hands to their mouths and looked at each other. They couldn¡¯t stop their lips from curling up at the tant praise. The MC asked. -Composer Pyo Hyungwon, you said the same thing about Cha Woohyun¡¯s stage earlier, didn¡¯t you? -Uh¡­ Theposer raised his finger after a brief pause. -That¡¯s why we need a one-person two-vote system. The only drawback of this show is that you have to vote only once. Theposer¡¯s snake-like answer caught the audio of ¡®Yeah, too bad!¡¯, ¡®They all did so well¡­¡¯ from various ces. Composer Pyo Hyungwon continued his evaluation. -I was shocked when I heard the intro. It was excellent and well-structured in itself. And more than anything, I felt that this guy really knows this song well. Theposer¡¯s eyes turned to Woojoo as the panelists and the audience nodded their heads. -You did it yourself, right? This arrangement? ¡°Yes, that¡¯s right.¡± -I have nothing to say but amazing. Really. Woojoo was at a loss for words when they praised him so openly. He felt embarrassed, but he also tried to suppress the smile that kept tugging at his lips and maintain a calm expression. Maybe it was because thepliment was so good that it made his mouth sweet. He felt both happy and slightly awkward. Then, Composer Jo Eulseon also gave a rave review of the arrangement and the structure, and Woojoo smiled sheepishly. But¡­ Why are you guys happy for me? Woojoo was the one who managed his expression, but every time they said he did well on the arrangement, his kids looked happy. The MC caught that right away. -Howe the members are pleased when Woojoo gets the praise? ¡°Yes.¡± Bijoo took the mic as the representative. ¡°We feel really good whenever Woojoo gets praised. He¡¯s our pride and joy.¡± ¡°That¡¯s right. He¡¯s like the dakgalbi of Chuncheon.¡± The people burst intoughter at their youngest¡¯s word choice. Woojoo couldn¡¯t help but chuckle. After the praise for the song structure and the overall performance. Finally, the vocalist Im Sunghee, who took the mic, looked at them and said. -Like Deum said earlier, it was a sentiment that couldn¡¯te from that age. They lovingly talked about what was good and what wascking for each member for a long time. Then they asked with a curious face. -As I listened, I got the feeling that you were arguing with harmony and harmony. You can¡¯t do that if you don¡¯t know. Do you study this stuff normally? ¡°I learned harmony.¡± -Really? From whom? The eyes of the siblings all turned to Woojoo. As if he wanted to testify, their youngest took the mic. ¡°We didn¡¯t know because we wanted to know¡­ We learned it locked up in the studio. You know those silver-shell choctes? He piled them up and tapped the piano keys. With this face¡­¡± -Puhaha! He imitated Woojoo¡¯s expression so well that he could have been an actor. Woojooughed awkwardly at the sound of people¡¯sughter. Really. This royal bastard. I¡¯ll see you after the show. ¡°¡®Jiho, what sound goes well here?¡¯ And if I got it wrong, he¡¯d say, ¡®You¡¯re wrong.¡¯ And he¡¯d take away the chocte. One by one, one by one.¡± Woojoo looked embarrassed at the testimonies of the victims that followed. Was his image good like this? On the other hand, there was a separate star of the day that everyone was paying attention to. -The main character of the stage was definitely Rihyuk. I¡¯m amazed. It¡¯s amazing that he can sing with such a sentiment at that age. And above all, his skills are growing right now. Vocalist Im Sunghee sparkled her eyes and talked about Rihyuk for almost 10 minutes. Woojoo remembered the choreographer y who looked at Bijoo before. If it wasn¡¯t for the recording time, she would have praised him for almost an hour, saying, ¡®Our Rihyuk¡­¡¯ She must have liked Rihyuk¡¯s vocals on the stage. But the real person didn¡¯t know what to do with thepliment and just bowed his head with a flushed face. Every time thepliment continued, he looked at the ceiling with a ¡®uh-hum¡­¡¯ and scratched his red ears and his face heated up. ¡°Th-thank you¡­¡± Their tomato monster held the mic with both hands and bowed politely, and the audience pped as if to cheer him on. ¡­He got redder. He was strong in insults, but he had no immunity topliments. Then the MC tripped over Woojoo¡¯s expression. -Earlier, the members were like that when Woojoo was praised, but every time Rihyuk was praised, Woojoo¡¯s nose seemed to rise by a centimeter. ¡°Yes.¡± Woojoo nodded calmly. ¡°I¡¯m really proud of our members.¡± -You have a great affection for each other. Woojoo smiled without saying anything. Of course, he didn¡¯t have no feelings for the siblings, but today he was especially happy. He missed it. Their kids are so good, and they could do this much. But they didn¡¯t have a chance to show off their singing skills. It was a long time since they sang properly in front of the public and got recognized. Woojoo smiled involuntarily at the sight of the audience sending them a friendly look. When they started recording, he thought he¡¯d be happy if half of them were like that. It was more than he had ever imagined. -Ah, the teacher is finally here. Teacher Noh Jaehyun, who had been away for personal reasons, came back with the help of thedy. As the old man with a grumpy face settled in his seat. Baek Sangjung asked. -How was it today, Teacher? -Ah, um. Teacher Noh, who had coughed a few times, looked at them. -Well, it wasn¡¯t too bad. He said that, but his face was flustered as he rubbed his cheeks. The MC smiled. -You can¡¯t hide your expression. Were you very happy? -Ah, well¡­ yes, I was. -New ck kept looking at your empty seat. How about you tell us how you felt as the original songwriter? Woojoo¡¯s heart thumped. They gathered around like the underlings waiting for the boss penguin¡¯s words and turned their bodies toward the teacher. The teacher, who met their sparkling eyes, looked embarrassed. -Well, today I had this thought. He said, as if he was going to close his eyes and say it. -I wrote this song 20 years ago, but the finale was done by these kids today. Apuse erupted. -What, that kind of thing¡­ Ah, why are you pping so shyly. You¡¯re making me feel awkward. They smiled and sped their hands as they watched the veteran singer who didn¡¯t know what to do with the enthusiastic apuse of the audience. It felt like a part of their hearts was filled when they heard the praise from the one they cared about the most today. Teacher Noh Jaehyun grabbed the microphone. -Anyway, I¡­ His expression looked like he was going to say ¡®you brats¡¯, so they were nervous, but what came out of his mouth was unexpected. -¡­I have to say thank you. New ck, along with our Rihyuk. ¡®Please don¡¯t call me non-alcoholic.¡¯ Teacher Noh, who met Woojoo¡¯s eyes, gave a faint smile. -¡­Woojoo, Bijoo, Junghyun, Jiho. Thank you all. Today, you made a memory that I won¡¯t forget for a long time. They smiled brightly and bowed politely, except for Jiho, who blinked his eyes. He lingered his warm gaze on them. *** The first ce announcement. As the recording reached the end, the tired audience voted for the stage they thought was the best with their remotes. They stretched their fingers and promoted ¡®number 5¡¯. -The long-awaited voting results will be announced! Lisa, Cha Woohyun, Jo Yuri Band, Song Bohyung, and New ck lined up on the stage. Everyone had different expressions. Lisa and Song Bohyung smiled as if they were sorry but couldn¡¯t help it. Jo Yuri Band hid their nervous expressions with awkward smiles and tried not to meet their eyes. Meanwhile, people¡¯s eyes stayed in two ces. Cha Woohyun and New ck. Unless something went wrong, it was everyone¡¯s expectation that one of the two would be the first ce. -Now, the first ce! I¡¯ll announce it. Baek Sangjung, who received a cue card from the writers, grabbed the microphone and shouted. -Out of 633 votes, the team that got 305 votes and recorded a voting rate of 48.3 percent is¡­ New ck! Congrattions! As soon as Woojoo heard the ¡®New¡¯ sound, his fist tightened. They did it. It wasn¡¯t like when they won the music show, where gold foil popped out with a ¡®bang¡¯, but the cheers of the audience in this ce were enough. ¡°Hyung!¡± ¡°Guys!¡± They couldn¡¯t jump around in front of the senior singers, but they didn¡¯t know what to do as they looked at each other. When they were doing a half-hearted celebration that was neither a high-five nor a hug. ¡°Congrattions!¡± ¡°You really got first ce. You did great today.¡± Song Bohyung and Lisa were the first to greet them. Jo Yuri Band awkwardly asked for a handshake, conscious of the others¡¯ eyes. Cha Woohyun tapped their shoulders with a calm expression, saying ¡®I¡¯m second.¡¯ ¡°You did well. You guys.¡± He was the stone Buddha of the music industry. He would have nodded calmly and said, ¡°I¡¯m number one.¡± even if he had won the first ce. They bowed politely once again to the panels and the audience who pped and smiled happily. -We¡¯re not an audition program, and we don¡¯t have any special rewards, do we? The writers prepared something because they heard it was boring. A bright red cape that looked like something a Roman soldier would wear appeared. They were in a hurry to give each other the cape, while they had moist expressions from the lingering feeling of being number one. It looked like a scene of love, but in reality, it was a desperate struggle to avoid bing a ck history photo. In the end, their shameless stag beetle wrapped the cape around himself and was proud of it. And so, everyone was happy. -¡­The winner will have a special stage at the end of the season. In this case, it would be Yoo Myungdeok¡¯s ¡®Deoksoon-ah¡¯. This was one of the biggest achievements of today. They also renewed their own legendary stage. They also took care of ¡®Deoksoon-ah¡¯. It was literally killing two birds with one stone. -You have another special story, right, Woojoo? ¡°Yes. My grandmother¡¯s name is ¡®Kim Deoksoon¡¯. I¡¯m already excited to sing for her. My heart is Deoksoon-deok¡­ thumping.¡± Good. Woojoo passed it off naturally. ¡­Or so he thought, but it seemed like he was the only one who thought that. He ignored the reactions of my siblings who wereughing around him and continued with the first-ce speech. ¡°I¡¯m really unbelievable and happy to be number one among such amazing seniors. I will be a more diligent rookie.¡± ¡°Thank you!¡± The audience who got up from their seats as the exit time approached pped for them. 11 p.m. The long recording finally came to an end. *** At the same time. Lemon Entertainment President¡¯s room. ¡°First ce in thepetition?¡± ¡°Yes.¡± ¡°Our kids?¡± ¡°Yes, sir.¡± ¡°¡­That Junghyun¡¯s cape king photo is done for now. Today, Woojoo¡¯s arrangement was one of the biggest factors in the game, right?¡± ¡°Yes.¡± Jo Gyuhwan, the director, answered Park Kyuho, the president, who kept asking the same questions he had already asked, while sipping his coffee. ¡°Two¡­ no, Woojoo¡¯s arrangement really appealed to theposers, I heard from Yoon Seokhwan, the head of the department.¡± ¡°¡­¡± ¡°Sir? What are you doing?¡± Park Kyuho, the president, who looked deted, swiped his tablet PC with his finger and pressed some item. What popped up on the screen was aposing device. He caught the director, Jo Gyuhwan¡¯s eye. ¡°Are you buying it?¡± ¡°I already promised him¡­ How can I not push him when he¡¯s doing so well? I have to push him. Our kid.¡± ¡°You look sad.¡± ¡°No. I¡¯m happy. I feel good.¡± The middle-aged man took a deep breath with both hands up, as if he was mind-controlling himself. Then he clicked on the cart. ¡°Our wallet, our Woojoo is the best¡­ Moneyes in when you put money in¡­¡± The President, who was denying reality and brainwashing himself, made the Director smile and hold his coffee cup. Chapter 209: Chapter 209: Trantor: MarcTempest Editor: Rxel Chapter 209 Work and Daily Life Woojoo slept soundly for the first time in a long time. After finishing the practice time that he had been doing intermittently between naps, he slept for more than eight hours and felt refreshed¡­ ¡°Huuuh.¡± ¡°Ugh.¡± But he had to work.Somehow, everyone was full of colds. ¡°Ugh, I¡¯m dying.¡± ¡°Why is my body so chilly? Is the heater temperature right? Turn it up a bit.¡± ¡°Wait a minute.¡± Bijoo, who was sitting on the sofa in the studio, wrapped himself in a nket and called Woojoo. ¡°Hyung.¡± His voice waspletely nasal. ¡°Yeah?¡± ¡°Rihyuk is cold, can we turn up the studio temperature a bit¡­? I¡¯m worried it might bother you while you work.¡± ¡°Sure. Turn it up a little more.¡± Bijoo immediately reached out and adjusted the temperature. The warm air flowing from the ceiling. The siblings wrapped in nkets closed their eyes and smiled happily. ¡°Temperature.¡± ¡°Warm.¡± ¡°Humidity.¡± ¡°Perfect.¡± The guys who wore nkets over their heads sipped their drinks with their noses red. The youngest one felt Woojoo¡¯s gaze and asked him as he gulped down the convenience store fish cake soup, ¡°Why? Don¡¯t I look cuter than usual when I¡¯m wrapped in a nket?¡± ¡°That¡¯s not why I looked.¡± ¡°¡­¡± ¡°You look like No-Face. All of you.¡± ¡°¡­¡± They howled at Woojoo for saying such a harsh thing. But it was kind of hot. This. They kept saying they were cold and turned up the temperature, and the studio felt like midsummer. At first, Woojoo thought about reducing the wind, but the sight of the members annoyed him, so he just decided to take off his hoodie. Junghyun, who was operating the machine in a T-shirt, gave him a friendly look and said, ¡°You¡¯re hot too, right, Hyung?¡± He was the only one with a healthy face. ¡°Are you okay?¡± ¡°Yes.¡± ¡°Junghyun, I¡¯m curious, so I¡¯m asking you. Have you ever had a cold since you were born? Or any other disease?¡± ¡°Um¡­¡± Junghyun thought for a moment and said, ¡°Ah.¡± ¡°I have. I¡¯ve been sick before.¡± ¡°¡­The fact that you have to think about it is amazing.¡± ¡°I had enteritis when I was in elementary school because I ate bad raw fish.¡± Why did he feel like that raw fish was more amazing? He admired their sturdy third one as he looked at him. Woojoo envied his stamina. He was groaning right now. ¡°Ahh¡­ Achoo!¡± Woojoo barely held back his sneeze until he pulled out a tissue, worried that germs might get on the studio equipment. ¡°Ugh, I¡¯m gonna die.¡± ¡°Do you want me to massage your shoulders, Hyung?¡± ¡°Yeah, yeah.¡± Woojoo entrusted his shoulders to their long-lived beetle and sank into his thoughts. Last night¡¯s events shed through his mind. They won the glorious first ce in thepetition and returned to the waiting room, where they cheered and celebrated with the members and staff for a long time. Woojoo felt proud of all of them who did it even in the worst condition. Above all. -As expected, you have to be number one with my song. You guys did a great job. It was a stage that suited my taste. Woojoo liked the happy expression of the original songwriter, Teacher Noh Jaehyun. His face, which was usually pale, turned red with blood, and he joked that he would recover faster from his illness thanks to them. His wife also smiled constantly behind his wheelchair. -Teacher, I haven¡¯t seen you smile so big in a long time. -I feel excited when I hear a good song after a while. I wanted to sing along when I watched it. He said he had to work hard on exercise and rehabilitation to hold the microphone as soon as possible. He asked Woojoo to send him some tangerines and gave him his address. Woojoo guessed he wouldn¡¯t get out of his apple addiction for a while once he gots them. ¡°Ugh¡­¡± But that joy was separate from this. As soon as the audition ended yesterday, the four of them, except for Junghyun, fell ill together. They barely held on to their nerves after the Dolympics, but when the audition was over and the tension was gone, the cold virus ran wild like a king who had broken free of his reins. None of them had a high fever, but they all had sore or cracked throats, andined of the cold. So they went to the hospital with their managers and got prescriptions for cold medicine, and each got a vitamin shot, but there was no sign of recovery from the mise. ¡°Woojoo Hyung.¡± Woojoo turned around and saw Bijoo, who had pulled a nket over his head, looking down at him. ¡°Don¡¯t you need to rest too, Hyung?¡± ¡°I¡¯m fine. Don¡¯t worry.¡± ¡°You don¡¯t look so good. You might get really sick if you slip up.¡± ¡°I¡¯m fine right now.¡± Bijoo shook his head and called Junghyun. ¡°Junghyun.¡± ¡°Yeah.¡± His hand, full of calluses, rested on Woojoo¡¯s forehead. Then Junghyun said with a serious face, ¡°Feels like 37.3 degrees.¡± ¡°37.3¡­ Okay. I¡¯ll check again in an hour. No, you won¡¯t remember anyway, so I¡¯ll tell you.¡± ¡°Okay.¡± Woojoo just smiled at the sight of them talking like doctors and nurses looking at a chart. What are you doing? You guys. As Woojoo returned to his seat, Bijoo kept staring at him with wide eyes. ¡°Hyung, seriously, tell me if you¡¯re not feeling well. Okay?¡± ¡°Yeye.¡± ¡°You have to answer properly. Hyung.¡± ¡°¡­Yes.¡± He was the second. He was the second. Woojoo clicked the mouse with a gloomy face and put on his headphones. Music rang in his ears. A bad song. It started with a calm melody and exploded into harmony in the chorus. It was ¡®Life¡¯, the song they sang yesterday. The audition song was scheduled to be released as a source after the first audition, so he were working on thetter part in advance. He fixed the parts that were subtle or unsatisfactory at the scene yesterday. But his head was fuzzy because of the cold medicine, and he couldn¡¯t concentrate. Dazed. As he looked at it, the drum was a drum, and the cello was a cello. Eventually, he took off his headphones and tilted his head to look at the ceiling. ¡°¡­Ouch.¡± He was frustrated because he couldn¡¯t focus. But he couldn¡¯t restpletely either. Usually, you know your body best. His worsened condition was the result of the Dolympics recording and the usual two or three hours of sleep. It wasn¡¯t a problem that could be solved easily in a short period of time. Rather, if he let go of his nerves and rested today, he might not be able to get out of bed tomorrow. So he was trying to do something right now. Because this week¡¯s schedule wasn¡¯t over yet. ¡°If it weren¡¯t for the recording tomorrow, I would have rolled around in the dorm all day.¡± ¡°Me too.¡± ¡°Hey. We¡¯re not the only ones tomorrow. What about the events on the weekend?¡± ¡°¡­Crazy. Why did we agree to do that? The manager tried to stop us.¡± ¡°We didn¡¯t know it would be this bad¡­¡± Woojoo regretted it too. Seokhwan Hyung had a doubt, saying, ¡®You guys can¡¯t do it, can you? You can¡¯t do it, can you?¡¯ But they agreed to do a few events on the weekend with the attitude of ¡®What are you talking about? We¡¯re young and strong¡¯. And they had to go to PBS to record for the second audition tomorrow. ¡°¡­¡± Why did he feel like there was moisture in his eyes? Rihyuk, who was sipping barley tea, looked at Woojoo¡¯s face and said, ¡°Is it because you¡¯re getting old?¡± ¡°No. No way.¡± Woojoo shook his head as he denied it, and the other guys chuckled. Jiho, who was lying on the sofa and munching on snacks, said, ¡°I want to eat something spicy. Spicy. When you want to get rid of a cold, you have to eat something spicy.¡± ¡°Tteokbokki?¡± ¡°No. Today is a day when a hot and spicy vor suits better than a sweet and spicy one. How about budae-jjigae or gopchang-jeongol?¡± ¡°Ah, the broth is good.¡± Junghyun nodded his head with a satisfied expression. They chatted for over 30 minutes about what to eat for dinner, when Jiho asked Woojoo, ¡°Hyung, what do you want to eat?¡± ¡°I don¡¯t really have anything today. I don¡¯t have much appetite.¡± Junghyun looked puzzled by Woojoo¡¯s words. Woojoo smiled and said, ¡°I¡¯ll just follow whatever you guys want to eat today.¡± ¡°Then¡­¡± As the younger ones were discussing the dinner menu for another 30 minutes, there was a knock on the studio door. Their manager came in. ¡°Ah, Dowon Hyung.¡± ¡°I stopped by on my way up.¡± Dowon looked at their condition and gave a bitter smile. He handed them a bag full of supplements and vitamin drinks. He asked them how they were feeling and checked on them with a worried face for a while, then he seemed to remember something and said, ¡°Oh, right. I came out to tell you this. The Director wants you all toe down in a bit.¡± ¡°Why?¡± ¡°You know how the President said he would buy us meat during the Dolympics.¡± ¡°Ah¡­!¡± They had forgotten. ¡°How can you forget about meat. We?¡± ¡°Let¡¯s reflect.¡± ¡°So we¡¯re going to eat meat. Now?¡± Dowon Hyung nodded his head and added, ¡°Beef.¡± ¡°Ooh.¡± ¡°Flower sirloin.¡± ¡°Ooh ooh!¡± Their faces turned red. They were like that just by hearing the keyword meat. The manager added with a smile, ¡°Scarlet also ate 35 servings of meat this time, and the President said you guys don¡¯t have to worry about money today and eat.¡± ¡°President¡­!¡± ¡°I hope you guys don¡¯t get sick after eating¡­ Guys?¡± He blinked his eyes at the sight of them getting ready. The sight of them wrapped in nkets and ¡®euiing¡¯ was gone and they were full of energy. Woojoo was the same. ¡°Hyung, you said you didn¡¯t have an appetite¡­?¡± ¡°I got it.¡± Woojoo shrugged his shoulders and said ¡®it¡¯s beef¡¯ and they all gave him a look of understanding. ¡°So, Hyung, when can we go?¡± ¡°Guys. It¡¯s still far away. Rx a bit¡­¡± Woojoo nodded his head and moved his eyes to the monitor. ¡°Ah, then let¡¯s listen to the song we worked on for thispetition¡­¡± ¡°Let¡¯s go. Guys.¡± The manager rushed out of the door. With a cheerfulugh, they ran towards the meat. *** The next day. PBS main building. ¡°Hmm? Did you have something good yesterday? You all look a bit brighter.¡± ¡°Yes.¡± They answered Song Bohyung, who they met in the broadcasting station hallway. ¡°We had beef for dinner yesterday.¡± ¡°¡­¡± ¡°We ate 40 servings for five people.¡± At first, he looked nk, but then he burst intoughter at their happy faces. Woojoo didn¡¯t know what the point was, but he had a face that made themugh. They headed to the recording studio with the trot singer they met in the main building hallway. He muttered, ¡°You guys did really well yesterday. I was watching and saying ¡®wow!¡¯ and pping with the manager, right?¡± ¡°Was it a standing ovation?¡± ¡°Not that much. I pped while sitting~¡± Theyughed at his witty tone. ¡°But the reaction yesterday was really no joke.¡± ¡°Yes, the audience was definitely¡­¡± ¡°No, not the audience. Us.¡± He said with a smile, ¡°Honestly, you¡¯re all good at singing. I expected that to some extent. Everyone was like ¡®Wow, they¡¯re good¡¯ when we first heard you sing. But yesterday¡¯s stage¡­ wow. It gave me goosebumps.¡± ¡°Aw, no. We were just lucky yesterday.¡± Woojoo waved his hand modestly, but he felt happy. Song Bohyung, who was watching them, patted Woojoo¡¯s shoulder andughed. ¡°There are things that depend on luck and things that don¡¯t. Remember when we gathered after thest stage yesterday? Everyone had the same expression, except for Cha Woohyun. Like this.¡± He imitated their faces. Their eyes were wide and a bitter smile was mixed in. A ¡®we lost¡¯ kind of face. Woojoo didn¡¯t see it himself, but he could guess what the atmosphere was like. ¡°So¡­¡± He was about to say something more when they ran into an indie band walking towards the main hall. They stopped. Jo Yuri, who was walking in front, saw their faces and looked away with a somewhat awkward expression. Then they quickly walked into the hall, as if to avoid any interaction. ¡°¡­?¡± Song Bohyung exined to them, ¡°It¡¯s because of the arrangement.¡± ¡°The arrangement?¡± ¡°Yesterday, there were only two teams that did their own arrangements, besides theposers. New ck and Jo Yuri Band.¡± ¡°Oh¡­¡± ¡°They must have feltpared. They looked like they were having a mental breakdown yesterday.¡± Jo Yuri Band¡¯s arrangement, which was criticized for killing the original color and singing with only skills. And their arrangement, which was praised by theposers for keeping both the original and their own colors. Judging by their reaction just now, they seemed to have hurt their pride. Woojoo felt embarrassed for them. ¡°Honestly, it¡¯s because New ck did such a good job with the arrangement.¡± Their members were proud of hispliment. Song Bohyung, who had something to say, told them before entering the hall. ¡°That¡¯s why I decided to join this project again.¡± ¡°¡­?¡± ¡°I want to ask you some things before I hand over the arrangement to theposer. I¡¯m looking forward to it. I¡¯m going to stick to you like a leech and ask you.¡± He smiled exaggeratedly, as if he was going to follow the sessful person. They smiled back at him. As they entered the hall, Woojoo said to the trot singer who said ¡®I reserved it. Reserved.¡¯ ¡°You don¡¯t have to reserve anything.¡± ¡°Hmm¡­¡± He looked at Woojoo as if he didn¡¯t know what he was talking about, then nced at the siblings next to him. ¡°Is he always like this? Pretending not to know?¡± The siblings answered in unison. ¡°He¡¯s really mean. He always deceives us.¡± ¡°He¡¯s always like this. He¡¯s good at everything, but he acts like he doesn¡¯t know and says ¡®Hmm¡­¡¯ That¡¯s Woojoo¡¯s concept.¡± ¡°He lives in his own world.¡± ¡°¡­Guys.¡± Woojoo tried to shut their mouths, but Song Bohyung had already burst intoughter. ¡°I felt sadness in this song. It¡¯s a cheerful atmosphere, but there¡¯s a sense of regret¡­¡± ¡°Sadness.¡± ¡°Yes?¡± ¡°Never mind. Please continue.¡± Lisa gestured with a smile for me to go on. She muttered ¡®sadness¡¯ to herself, as if to remember it. It felt like she wanted to tell theposerter. Woojooughed at first. But every time a song was selected, they had simr reactions. ¡°Mo Hoyeon¡¯s song has that melody often, right? It sounds like an ordion reminiscing the past¡­¡± ¡°ordion sound.¡± ¡°Yes, that part seems to be the key.¡± Cha Woohyun stroked his chin and said ¡®Hmm¡­¡¯ at Woojoo¡¯s words. What was with this atmosphere? It was different fromst week. Today¡¯s songs from 1984 were mostly sad, but even considering that, it was a rather serious atmosphere. Last time, they listened to Woojoo lightly with a smile, but this time, they seemed to be listening very attentively. Almost too much. Song Bohyung, who was sitting on a nearby chair, smiled at Woojoo and said ¡®See?¡¯ ¡°¡­¡± The atmosphere had changed drastically, and Woojoo felt nervous at first. Maybe it was because of yesterday¡¯s performance, but they seemed to regard him as an equalpetitor rather than a cute maknae. Among them, his arranging skills were getting attention. Woojoo had attracted their eyes with a surprising stage that broke their prejudices, but their singing skills were not that special to them. The fivepetitors here had simr levels of vocal abilities. But there was a difference in arranging. The MC, Baek Sangjung, also mentioned that. -Wow, Woojoo, you are very popr today. Woojoo was happy but also a bit embarrassed by this situation, but he soon adapted to the new mood. Woojoo smiled and exchanged talks about music with the other senior singers. Except for one group. The Jo Yuri Band tried to chime in whenever he spoke, but they didn¡¯t fit in well. Naturally, the broadcast time was getting shorter. After they continued recording in the changed atmosphere. ¡°Good job, everyone!¡± ¡°Well done.¡± Soft greetings came from everywhere. Not only the singers, but also the staff showed a different reaction overall. Most of them had friendly eyes. The doubtful looks that they had when they were cast as ¡®idols¡­?¡¯ were gone. Instead of being a burden, they felt like promising neers who could produce a lot of content. Especially the main PD who hired them despite many objections looked at them with a pleased expression. He looked like someone who had seeded in a risky investment that everyone had discouraged. As they greeted him, he smiled and said, "The recording from the other day is being edited right now, and you can look forward to the result." When their managers smiled brightly at his words, he turned his gaze to them and asked, "By the way, you''re appearing on anotherwork tomorrow, right?" "Yes." They nodded. Saturday, February 7th. Tomorrow was the day when the recording of Patisserie Korea, which they had gone to Taiwan forst January, would finally air. PD Baek Sunghyun said, ¡°I wish it would make some headlines. It¡¯s one of the hottest programs these days¡­¡± The PD shook his head. ¡°No way. If you went as a guest, there wouldn¡¯t be anything worth mentioning.¡± ¡°¡­¡± ¡°Hmm?¡± He tilted his head at their strange smiles. ¡°What happened there?¡± There was. A lot of things¡­ Chapter 210: Chapter 210: Trantor: MarcTempest Editor: Rxel Chapter 210 But Woojoo couldn¡¯t tell the PD the truth. ¡®¡­ PD-nim. I went to see the night market in Taiwan and became Jenmin¡­¡¯ That was impossible. It was a long story to exin here, so he just gave a vague answer. ¡°I had some episodes in the local area.¡± ¡°Oh, what happened?¡± PD Baek Sunghyun smiled brightly.¡°That¡¯s good. If the newses out from that broadcast, we¡¯ll get some benefits too.¡± ¡°¡­Yes, I hope so.¡± Woojoo was sure it woulde up. But not in the way the PD thought¡­ He looked like he was running a happy circuit in his head as he spoke. ¡°Well.¡± PD Baek said, ¡°Considering the amount of footage you and Teacher Noh Jaehyun picked¡­ It¡¯s not surprising that there¡¯s that much in other ces too.¡± PD Baek, who convinced himself, spoke with a pleased face. ¡°I¡¯m looking forward to it.¡± ¡°Ah, me¡­¡± ¡®I have something, but it¡¯s not what you think¡­¡¯ Woojoo wanted to say, but he was already gone with the call of the assistant director. Woojoo reached out and spoke to the air. ¡°¡­Listen to me until the end. Jenmin is in there.¡± ¡°Just give up,¡± Rihyuk said, hitting Woojoo. ¡°It¡¯s all done with editing anyway. What¡¯s the point of doing it now? Give up and ept Jenmin who¡¯sing.¡± ¡°Right. Calm down~ Breathe. Our Jenmin. Now, exhale when you say hoo¡­ Haaak!¡± Woojoo pinched the youngest¡¯s nose with his index and middle fingers like a king crab¡¯s w. *** After the song selection for , the weekend schedule continued. Saturday noon. Today¡¯s schedule was an event at arge shopping mall in Ilsan. ¡°Aah. Five hundred won~ Five hundred won~¡± Woojoo sang to the wall of the waiting room, loosening his throat. A high note seemed to rise from his locked throat. He still felt sick. He recovered his strength with meat power, but his throat, which had been tortured for two weeks, still showed no sign of returning. ¡°How are you guys? Are you okay?¡± ¡°Just so-so. A little stingy.¡± After the youngest, Bijoo and Rihyuk also answered. ¡°Me too, a little¡­¡± ¡°I¡¯m about 60 percent of my usual. It won¡¯t affect the stage, so don¡¯t worry.¡± Except for the healthy rapper, the rest of them were not in good condition. They ended up calling the manager. ¡°Minki Hyung. Please ask the sound staff to put a lot of AR today.¡± ¡°Okay.¡± Minki Hyung, who nodded, suggested. ¡°How about putting the AR to the maximum? Your throats are not good, so you can just lip-sync.¡± ¡°Lip-syncing is harder.¡± ¡°True¡­¡± They were used to live performances, so it was harder to just move their lips. Minki Hyung went to deliver it to the site staff. The stylists touched up their outfits and hair, and Dowon Hyung gave them a warm drink. ¡°Thank you. Hyung.¡± Woojoo sipped the warm citron tea and loosened his throat. When the door opened, a group of people came in. ¡°Hello!¡± They exchanged greetings. There were people who looked like mothers, and some who looked like hair and makeup artists. Among them, the one they focused on was the kid in the middle. He looked like a lower elementary school student, with a young appearance. He had chubby cheeks and a cute face. Kim Jiho. He was an elementary school dance YouTuber who was going to perform with them today. It was not their n, but the shopping mall side asked them to do a joint performance, so it was a stage that was arranged. ¡°Hello. I¡¯m Kim Jiho.¡± He greeted them with a crisp voice. His cuteness made the Hyungs speechless. Jiho matched their eye level and pushed his palm forward. ¡°Oh, nice to meet you. I¡¯m Wang Jiho. We have the same name.¡± ¡°Yes¡­¡± Little Jiho shyly pped his hands with him. ¡°Do you want to sit here?¡± They made the kid sit in the middle of the sofa and tried to make himfortable. ¡°Maknae! Get some drinks for Jiho here.¡± ¡°¡­Okay.¡± ¡°Jiho, this Jiho¡¯s leg is ufortable, so bring him a cushion to sit on.¡± ¡°Why do I always have to do it?¡± ¡°Jiho.¡± ¡°What?¡± ¡°I called our cute Jiho here, not you.¡± Theyughed and pped at the sight of their youngest trembling. Then they all high-fived. When else could they tease their maknae like this? They handed him a chocte milk with a straw and talked to the little Jiho we had seated in the middle. ¡°Are you ten years old?¡± ¡°Yes¡­¡± ¡°What do ten-year-olds learn these days? Do you still learn about healthy living, wise living, and stuff like that?¡± ¡°What is that?¡± ¡°¡­You don¡¯t have it?¡± You don¡¯t have wise living? Rihyuk quickly searched and told them that the subject had changed to ¡®Spring, Summer, Autumn, Winter¡¯. He exined to Woojoo, who looked surprised. ¡°Just ignore this guy. He¡¯s mostly harmless, but he doesn¡¯t know what to do when he sees young people because he wants to be friends with them.¡± ¡°Oh, is that so?¡± ¡°That¡¯s not it. We¡¯re not that different in age. What year were you born?¡± ¡°My birthday is August 13th, 2006.¡± At the mention of ''06, the pupils of the Hyung line shook. The ''93 and ''95 borns looked at each other and said, ¡°Hey¡­ We weren¡¯t Hyungs.¡± ¡°Hyung, we were uncles.¡± ¡°You can call me uncle or mister. Jiho.¡± That was how they eased the atmosphere and the little Jiho, who was tense at first, started to smilefortably. When Woojoo was ten, he was acting like a fool, saying ¡®Heheh, Kim Deoksoon, heheh¡¯. He was a smart kid. Was it because of smartphones? Or maybe kids these days were precocious. In the rxed atmosphere, the other person looked at them with curiosity. ¡°Do idols make a lot of money?¡± ¡°Well, I don¡¯t know¡­¡± They looked at each other and said, ¡°We¡¯re earning right now, so we¡¯ll tell you after we make some.¡± The kid YouTuber said with a worried face, ¡°I like dancing, so I started YouTube, but these days, people say I¡¯m getting old, not cute, and subscribers are leaving, so¡­¡± Little Jiho fidgeted with his feet in his shoes and spoke. He liked dancing, but he was worried about what to do in the future. They gave him some serious career advice for a while. He was interested in idols, so they exined it to him as best as they could without hurting his innocence. ¡°It¡¯s time for us to go.¡± At Minki Hyung¡¯s words, they all got up and checked their outfits in front of the mirror. Woojoo exchanged a few words with his mother. ¡°Thank you. It¡¯s been a long time since our kid was sofortable in the waiting room.¡± ¡°Wasn¡¯t he always like that?¡± ¡°Last time, we shared a waiting room with some other singers, and since then, our kid has been a bit hurt¡­¡± Woojoo guessed the situation and smiled quietly. Sometimes, when they shared a waiting room, there were some people who were not so nice. They don¡¯t even greet them properly, and when they talked to them, they acted like they were annoyed and say ¡®Why, what, why¡¯. And if they left them alone, they acted like they were ignoring them. ¡°Let¡¯s go.¡± They left the waiting room with the two Jihos. As they pushed the door to the mall, they heard a noisy sound. The crowd was no joke. It was arge shopping mall with a central hall that was open to the top. They walked towards the temporary stage that said ¡®Winter Sale Mini Concert¡¯ and waved their hands. ¡°Hello!¡± People gathered on the ss railings of each floor where the esctors were twisted and looked down at them. Some couples and students who were curious about the celebrities stopped and stared at them nkly. ¡°This way.¡± With the help of the security guards, they made their way through the crowd and stood on the stage. ¡°Two, three, hello! We are New ck!¡± ¡°Woah-!¡± A small cheer came from the area where the idol fans were gathered. It must have been from their fans. There were many other fans at the event today, as other idols were also attending. They all recognized them. Of course, not all of their gazes were friendly. Some of them gave them a disdainful look with their eyes over their masks. Woojoo didn¡¯t know the exact reason why. As he heard the clicking sounds of the huge cannon cameras, he thought they couldn¡¯t make any mistakes today. The MC introduced them. -Please introduce yourselves. ¡°Hello, I¡¯m Woojoo, the lead vocal and leader of New ck.¡± Woojoo smiled brightly and made eye contact with each person. ¡°I¡¯m so happy to be able to perform in front of so many people on such a nice day and on a weekend.¡± Woojoo gently pulled the little Jiho to the center. ¡°Especially today, I¡¯m more excited and nervous to share the stage with a talented dancer.¡± The kid YouTuber looked at Woojoo with curiosity. His slightly round eyebrows raised. When Woojoo winked at him, he quickly grabbed the microphone and greeted, ¡°Hello~¡± ¡°Aww, what do I do? He¡¯s so cute¡­ Oh, what? The mic was on?¡± Their youngest muttered with his hands sped, and his voice echoed around. Laughter erupted from everywhere. They had a pre-show talk in a cheerful atmosphere. Curious eyes lingered on Woojoo and his brothers. Like the audition on Wednesday, most of the public¡¯s reaction was ¡®handsome¡¯. There were also some people who said ¡®huh?¡¯. Woojoo had to admit that Around the World With Dice was amazing. The impact of ¡®Daegil¡¯s friend¡¯ was huge, but there was hardly any program that could make people say ¡®wow¡¯ after six months with just one appearance on a Chuseok Special. But the programs they were going to appear on were not inferior to that. The TBC Patisserie Korea, which would air tonight, was also showing high ratings as a follow-up special. And they were confirmed as regr cast members of the Challenge, Legendary Song Discovery Team!, which PBS was investing in for promotion. Woojoo hoped that by spring, not only idol fans but also the general public would know them better. -New ck has a lot of TV appearances ahead, right? They did their best to promote themselves to the mall customers. ¡°Yes, do you know Patisserie Korea? We¡¯re going to be the special guests on their Taiwan episode today.¡± People showed more interest at the mention of Patisserie Korea. They also said that the Challenge, Legendary Song Discovery Team! would be airing soon and asked them to look forward to it, and they Woojoo himself with his brothers. And then. -Well, then let¡¯s watch New ck¡¯s Masquerade with Kim Jiho! They performed Masquerade to match the opening theme. Fortunately, there were no mistakes on today¡¯s stage. *** They finished their schedule and rxed at the dorm for a while. Woojooy on the sofa in a T-shirt with a tyrannosaurus on it and decided to do nothing. ¡°Junghyun.¡± Pong! Junghyuny on the living room floor and threw snacks into Woojoo¡¯s mouth like a basketball shot. They all hit the target. ¡°Bijoo.¡± Swoosh! Bijoo, who was lying on the murpak, put a sweet dessert in Woojoo¡¯s mouth. Woojoo was happy. Every time he smiled happily, brushing off the powder on his lips, Rihyuk put the crumbs in a tissue with a disgusted face. ¡°How old are you that you still spill¡­ Hey! Hey! Wang Jiho!¡± If he scattered the powder, Jiho was spreading the chicken leftovers from dinner all over the ce. As the two of them fought, they watched the TBC channel. A simple logo that said ¡®Patisserie Korea ¨C The Tour¡¯ appeared on the top right corner. Actor Lee Gyeonwoo sipped coffee in the ad and recited the phrase ¡®This is it¡¯. ¡°Hyung, you look very peaceful.¡± ¡°Yeah?¡± ¡°Yes. You were so nervous before the Idol Showst time.¡± ¡°Junghyun. There¡¯s a level to ck history. If I used to have a level 1 resistance to ck history, now I¡¯m at level 10. Jenmin is now amon thing for me.¡± ¡°You¡¯ve grown a lot, Hyung.¡± Usually, they say that means you¡¯ve grown up¡­ While the TVmercial was running, Woojoo picked up his phone and opened the messenger. There were 800 unread messages from his contacts. He had a lot of things piled up because he was so busy. He checked the ones that were marked as favorites first. Grandma [You were on TV again today] Woojoo hated the family group chat of the members. Because of that, their Deoksoon knew everything he didn¡¯t want her to know. Grandma [Why don¡¯t you say anything? You have a lot of secrets] Grandma [What did you do this time?] Grandma [Last time you took a picture with a crow, did you spin a top with a crow this time?] Woojoo replied. Me [There¡¯s nothing like that] Me [Deoksoon, just enjoy your grandson¡¯s beauty today] Me [(Emoticon)] Their Lady Kim Deoksoon sent a warm reply to the emoticon of a hippo waving a flower and posing coolly. Grandma [You crazy bastard] Woojoo felt a warmth in his chest. There were also others like Han Taehyun who sent him a picture of him wearing 3D sses and tearing popcorn, saying [What¡¯s going on today?]. Just then, a telmercial came on TV, where the TNT members said ¡®Yeah, Wee to the brave new world.¡¯ and struck a cool pose. Woojoo took a picture of that and sent it to them, and they all shivered. ¡°Hyung, it¡¯s starting.¡± Woojoo straightened his posture at Bijoo¡¯s words. Hey down in a more intensely stretched pose and gulped down the drink¡­ ¡°Puh!¡± The drink went in wrong and he coughed for a long time. The kidsughed and giggled, and Woojoo felt a bit awkward for a moment. He finally got up and drank the soda. He looked back and forth between the TV screen and theptop screen that the youngest was looking at. -Today we¡¯re going to see the second episode of the overseas tour -Oh? Taiwan? -[Patisserie Korea] Looks like they¡¯re showing desserts in Taiwan??? -[PTK] They should just stay in Korea, why go overseas¡­ Unlike idol shows or other broadcasts, this was a program that many general public watched, so there was a lot ofmunity reaction. There were also SNS and portal live chats. They soon gathered in the studio, dressed up in their outfits, and the parties and mentors sat down and talked. -This time, we¡¯re going to see what happened when we went to Taiwan. -What happened? -It was really dynamic. Patissiere Min Sejin and Chef Park Jaewoo. The familiar faces talked as if to make them look forward to what happened in Taiwan. The video started right away. ¡°Oh, here ites. Here ites.¡± ¡°We¡¯re here. Hyung!¡± The entertainers Yoo Changhyun, Patissiere Min Sejin, and Chef Park Jaewoo were chatting at the airport, and New ck appeared. They waved their hands as they crossed the open gate. The scene changed with a golden caption saying ¡®New ck¡¯. Several scenes were inserted quickly. Their music video scene, ¡®New ck! Congrattions¡­¡¯, ¡®New ck!¡¯ The award winners calling their name at the end-of-the-year Rookie Award ceremony, and white headlines popping up over them. ¡®Star of the Year¡¯ or something like that. ¡°Wow¡­ Looking back, there were a lot of people. Hyung.¡± They were introducing themselves in the crowd at Incheon Airport on the TV. Woojoo looked at the live chat for a while. -New ck? Are they famous? -?? -They were on Around the World With Dice before?? Other than that, I don¡¯t know -This is a bit wrong. Patissiere Min is the winner, what kind of treatment is this? They put famous actors or entertainers on the other side, and here they have rookie idols?? TBC has been like this since before, they have a really strong tendency to favor certain guests -Wow wow calm down, sir -Min¡¯s fans are starting again¡­ But honestly, you have to admit that MSJ won because of her fandom, she¡¯s not that outstanding -If you only look at the skills, it¡¯s rather Ha Jaekwon -Ha fans, calm down, it¡¯s over and it¡¯s a special, you¡¯re ruining the mood -Jeong people are starting again, starting again It was a survival program, and it was a popr program, so fights were easily started. Their story was not well-known. Othermunities only had posts like ¡®New ck? Who are these guys?¡¯ or ¡®New ck, are they that handsome group?¡¯. They started to get attention when they arrived at Taoyuan Airport. -Wow¡­ -What is this -[PTK] What¡¯s going on here They were surrounded by hundreds of people. -Hallyu is really big -Even considering Hallyu, they seem to have some overseas fans, right??? -NNN No need to be surprised, when new idols go abroad, they all gather fans like that -But it¡¯s amazing, so this is what it¡¯s like when idols go abroad From then on, people seemed to be more interested in them. Especially. -[PTK] Doesn¡¯t that guy named Woojoo speak Chinese well? -[Partico] My wife is Taiwanese and she says he¡¯s good at it?? -His pronunciation is good -Wasn¡¯t he Korean??? The scene where Woojoo spoke Chinese fluently sparked people¡¯s curiosity. When he talked to the security officer. When he got mistaken for a Taiwanese person and received service at the xiaolongbao restaurant,ments flooded the live chat. -??????? sb I was mistaken -It was natural -Thedy was flustered -Why is that guy so confident that he¡¯s better than her ??? -Phew¡­ I was nervous that she would take away the service -YY Me too, I was tense even though I wasn¡¯t eating Then, the mukbang started and Chef Park Jaewoo began to exin the dishes. -Chef, why are you doing this to us ??? -The beef noodles must be delicious¡­ -Sigh, if you do this, I have no choice but to order chicken, take responsibility -Why chicken when noodlese out? -(Roughly saying to have some sense) -I already ordered, you fools -Chicken shop owner: pleased -Isn¡¯t that mango shaved ice the one that came out on Around the World With Dicest time?? As the mukbang continued, there were cries of saliva exploding everywhere. New ck couldn¡¯t stand it either and decided to order pizza as well. ¡°Why are we hungry when we¡¯re eating.¡± This event proved that mukbang made even the participants hungry. Meanwhile, their voracious eating also became a topic of discussion. -They eat well¡­ -They eat well???? -Don¡¯t they diet?? They look unprofessional -Even if they gain weight, they¡¯re five hundred million times better looking than you -Why are you suddenly attacking them personally -I like them because they eat well¡­ Whether it¡¯s girl groups or boy groups, I don¡¯t like it when theye out and eat like sparrows -If you search for the dance they do, you¡¯ll see that they don¡¯t need to do it. The difficulty level is Billy Bootcamp level -????? Why are they unbuckling their belts, I¡¯m going crazy The scene where they ate and ate again came out with a funny BGM. At the end, with the words ¡®Let¡¯s loosen up¡¯, they even unbuckled their belts and ate until they were full. The reaction was not bad in many ways. A small caption saying that the Taiwan Tourism Bureau cooperated passed by, and finally, when they were promoting on the street. An unexpected scene appeared in front of them, who were waiting for Jenmin. There was a close-up of a person. ¡°¡­Huh? Bijoo. Why are youing out.¡± ¡°Right?¡± It was Bijoo. He was diligently stuttering in Chinese, ¡®Pleasee¡¯, and smiling brightly. A caption flowed under him. [Count how many times ¡®Bijoo¡¯es out from now on] As they blinked and looked, simr scenes started toe out. The scenes where Woojoo and the members, and the cast and staff shouted. -Bijoo! -Bijoo¡­ why are you going there! -Bijoo! -Bijoo! The scenes were counting down fast, and every time, their boy would get lost and say ¡®uh-uh-uh¡¯ timidly, wondering ¡®how do I get back?¡¯ and ncing around nervously, only to be rescued by someone else. Then he would smile brightly and decide to ¡®promote hard!¡¯ with enthusiasm. And then he would lose his way again. ¡°Pfft!¡± They all burst intoughter when the editing was so funny that even the person himselfughed. ¡°Guys, look at this.¡± At Jiho¡¯s words, they all turned their eyes to theptop screen. Chapter 211: Chapter 211: Trantor: MarcTempest Editor: Rxel Chapter 211 As expected. The reaction to their second child was heating up. ¨C?????? -I thought you were asking me to do something, but you were just bad at directions -It¡¯s not easy to get lost on the main road¡­ -But that kid managed to do it ?-So cute¡­ There was a favorable response to Bijoo, who unintentionally made aughing point. ¡°Wow.¡± Bijoo opened his eyes wide and was happy. ¡°Hyung, this is the first time I¡¯ve gotten attention for my personal dark history. Awesome.¡± ¡°Exactly. How did this happen?¡± They looked at each other with surprised expressions. After a brief silence. Woojoo said seriously, ¡°Shall we congratte you first?¡± ¡°Woohoo-!¡± They cheered like a band of misfits who had won a battle. They all danced with their shoulders and looked at the inte reaction more. The hottest one was the femalemunity. -So cute???? -What¡¯s his name? -Cute-looking kids do cute things too -0_0 This expression of looking around is so cute ?????? -Dazed and confused From today, someone¡¯sment that he was their favorite made them all smile. ¡°I¡¯m jealous. I should have gotten lost a little too.¡± ¡°You look like you know the way too well. You can¡¯t do that. Only cute-looking kids like Bijoo can be bad at directions.¡± ¡°No. My sisters said I was cute too.¡± ¡°¡­Oh dear. I can¡¯t hear the TV. Junhyun, turn up the volume.¡± Woojoo stroked the youngest¡¯s head, who was pouting his lips, and turned his eyes to the TV. Exactly 34 times of ¡®Bijoo!¡¯ and 12 times of ¡®Bijoo, hurry up!¡¯bined to make a total of 46 times quickly passed by. They gathered together with the Patisserie Korea crew and checked the results. -Wow¡­ Did you use up all those mountain-like flyers? So fast? Chef Park Jaewoo, who had an amazed face, passed by and there was a simr reaction in the studio. -You did it that fast? -It took us half a day to spread those promotional materials. How did you do it at that speed? -Wow. Are they friends who came after handing out flyers? The patissier in the studio, Min Sejin, answered. -The New ck friends handed out the flyers really fast. Yoo Changhyun saw it and joked, ¡®Did youe after doing flyers part-time?¡¯ On the main screen, they showed a scene of them smiling kindly and handing out flyers. Ah. Woojoo was happy. It was worth it to grab every passing person and say ¡®Pleasee¡¯, ¡®Our dessert is delicious¡¯ while promoting that day. -You all worked hard! Then, a scene of them saying goodbye to each other came out. The Patisserie crew went to prepare for the cafe business, and the part-timer New ck went to the Taiwan schedule. As if to show the passage of time, the camera installed on the Yungkang Street captured the change of the sky. The caption with the ticking sound of the clock. [Local time AM 06:00] As the light turned on in the dark cafe, the cast members started to show up. The Patisserie crew, who wore outerwear because of the dawn weather, and New ck, who came in with a face that held back a yawn. Yoo Changhyun asked. -Did anything happen yesterday? -No, we just went to see the night market after the schedule was over. They started to chat and get ready for the cafe. While preparing separately in the kitchen, the hall was organized under the leadership of Rihyuk and Bijoo. Thements praised the neat setting and the sensible interior that each of them showed. -But how many customers came? The studio asked. As time passed, the audio from outside was heard. They deliberately didn¡¯t show how many customers had gathered. Naturally, the viewers couldn¡¯t help but think, ¡®What? I hear the sound outside, how many came?¡¯ Gradually increasing the curiosity. Finally, the entertainer Yoo Changhyun went out of the cafe door, saying he was curious. The cameraman outside captured the scene. The wooden door opened with a ng in the quiet alley, and a celebrity¡¯s face popped out. [!!!] The caption and the face stained with shock. -What is it, what is it -What the hell -Why are you guys the only ones who know and are surprised, let us know too When the live viewers were feeling frustrated, Yoo Changhyun closed the door and told the others inside what was going on. And then¡­ Woojoo and his siblings stuck out five heads through the open door gap, like a scene from aic. Some of the customers in line made a scream-like sound. When they were surprised with a ¡®¡­?¡¯ face. From here and there, the audio of ¡®Woo Jenmin!¡¯ in Chinese started to catch on. At the same time, the full shot of the line that stretched from the beginning to the end was captured. The studio and thement section were amazed by the endless line. They asked the patissier. -How many people are gathered there? At that time? -It was over three hundred at that time. -Thr¡­ three hundred? -We started with about thirty people¡­ No, that wasn¡¯t enough, so we had to do some more soliciting. As he said, the caption said ¡®Total 337 people!¡¯ and ¡®Patisserie Korea Tour Record!¡¯. The studio people opened their mouths wide. Thement section was simr. -Three hundred??? That¡¯s a lot -What¡­ Is it because Min Sejin is the winner? -Did Patisserie Korea do that well in Taiwan¡­? -I don¡¯t buy it -I think they¡¯re idol fans. New ck fans, right? As if to answer that, the interviews of the Taiwanese citizens in line started to catch on. [I came here because I was curious after seeing Woo Jenmin yesterday.] [Actually, I got a promotion yesterday¡­ But I was curious and wanted to see it when I saw Woo Jenmin.] [Woo Jenmin.] As they said, they repeated the gesture of saying ¡®Woo Jenmin¡¯ like ¡®I love you, Celebrity Communication¡¯. The production team¡¯s question was heard. [Who is Woo Jenmin?] Finally, it came. Woojoo¡¯s siblings sped their hands and sparkled their eyes, and Woojoo sipped his drink with a resigned face. ¡®Woo Jenmin?¡¯ The production team¡¯s question came out, and someone on the scene took out their phone and showed them the meme from the Taiwanese intemunity. [!!!] Woojoo¡¯s photo that was close-up with the caption. From then on, they started to show the whole story of the incident. The process of how a person named ¡®Woo Jenmin¡¯ became a hot topic on the TTS morning news, a terrestrial broadcast in Taiwan. From the news clip to the scene of Woojoo covering his face with both hands and suffering in the cafe. Of course,ments were exploding everywhere. -Ack???????? -????????????What???? -????????? -Unimaginable identity ??? From the live chat. -[???]????? I¡¯m going crazy -I burst outughing with my friends -These guys know how to do entertainment -?Ack?????That¡¯s why he was mistaken for a Taiwanese, right?? -Cute brackets ???? The Taiwanese broadcaster must have thought they were locals To the reactions of themunities. Especially, their Souffl¨¦s, who were enjoying all these reactions with popcorn, were the happiest. -Jenmin?????Noona has no regrets now -Congrattions on winning the first ce in the national ck history contest of ¡ïGunsan Elementary School Seon Woojoo¡ï -Look!! Sound the trumpet!! -[Breaking News] Our kid is the number one in the national ck history ranking -Let¡¯s go to the bigger water and aim for the world -?????? Are you guys crazy Their Souffl¨¦s, who were sincere in teasing Woojoo, pped their hands andughed. ¡°Hyung, there are articlesing out too. The title is¡­¡± ¡°I know it all without you telling me. It¡¯s okay.¡± Woojoo pushed away Bijoo¡¯s smartphone, which was trying to show him the articles with a warm smile. The title was obvious. ¡®[Shock] New ck Woojoo, the story of being mistaken for a Taiwanese¡­?¡¯ And the content was filled with nothing nutritious. ¡°Wow¡­ Look at the speed of thements and posts. The reaction jumped up as soon as Woo Jenmin came out.¡± ¡°Really?¡± ¡°Yeah. Look at this, Hyung. Every time I refresh, the first page changespletely.¡± It must have been the highlight scene of the day. It was probably the most hrious and attention-grabbing scene at the party. The reaction was very hot. Woojoo could imagine the face of the PD who would be pleased to receive the ratings tomorrow. ¡°¡­Yeah. It¡¯s good if the reaction is good.¡± Woojoo decided to think that he had saved the show with this one body. As the vibration rang, our Mrs. Kim Deoksoonmented [?], and Woojoo felt a little choked up. Me [Deoksoon] Me [Are you happy?] Me [I¡¯m fine if Deoksoon is happy¡­] As he was typing gloomily, his grandmother¡¯s reply came. Grandma [But you did well on the news] Me [Yeah¡­?] He did look good in that interview. As he pped his cheek and sent a reply to his grandmother, Rihyuk asked Woojoo with a dumb face, ¡°What¡¯s the good news?¡± ¡°Hmm?¡± ¡°No, the joys and sorrows of humanity are passing over your face, and you don¡¯t know what to do because you¡¯re happy now.¡± ¡°Well, my grandmother said¡­¡± Woojoo said seriously to Rihyuk, who was suspicious. ¡°I looked handsome there.¡± ¡°¡­¡± ¡°What¡¯s wrong?¡± ¡°Nothing. I¡¯m just wondering where this conversation went wrong.¡± Woojoo poked his back with his toe, and he gave him a pitiful look. ¡°Ouch!¡± He was furious as he rubbed his clothes with dirty socks, and Woojoo hid behind Bijoo. There were a lot of people watching everywhere, and Woojoo¡¯s phone vibrated like a crazy dance machine. In the midst of the chaos, the situation on TV was going as they knew. Their skilled ordering and the chefs and pastry chefs working hard in the kitchen were caught. And suddenly. -Ah¡­! With a scream, the pastry chef grabbed her wrist. She had injured her wrist while preparing the dessert. The staff and cast gathered for a countermeasure meeting. The serious atmosphere on the scene intensified, and everyone in the studio said, ¡®What should we do¡­¡¯ and the fans of Min Sejin, the pastry chef, screamed in thement section. Then. -Can we try it? Bijoo and Woojoo stepped up. *** The viewers who were watching in real time showed a bewildered reaction. -??? -No¡­ I appreciate the intention, but I don¡¯t think this is something that can be done with intention. -This seems like a stretch. -But she hurt her wrist right now. They have to do something. -Yeah, that¡¯s true¡­ But I¡¯m nervous. Hundreds of guests lined up. The busy hall. It wasn¡¯t easy to stop filming in the meantime, so the choice of the New ck members was understandable. They decided to move their bodies as the pastry chef instructed, and their courage was admirable. However, they were anxious about the oue. Then. -??? -?? -Am I seeing something wrong? -He¡¯s good? -He¡¯s good On the screen, Woojoo kneaded the dough and mmed it on the floor. At first, he was a little clumsy, but as time passed, his movements became surprisingly stable. Anyone could see that he had some experience with bread. The studio had a simr reaction. -Uh¡­? One by one, they all had stunned expressions. Then they turned their heads to Min Sejin. Woojoo smiled and spoke in the studio, unlike himself on the main screen, who had the same expression as the other pastry chefs. -Woojoo said he practiced a lot by binge-watching Patisserie Korea. He said it was his first time doing it for real. -¡­? -Amazing, right? I felt the same way. Immediately, snorts of disbelief erupted from everywhere. As Woojoo was followed by Bijoo, who was making delicate decorations, one of the pastry chefs said. -They could be a duo in season 2, don¡¯t you think? Everyoneughed at that. Of course, baking was not something that could be done by mere actions. It required background knowledge and long experience. But their movements on the scene were superb. The two members followed the instructions of the pastry chef perfectly, as if they were her left and right arms. Their smooth teamwork made someone suspect that it was rigged. -Is this a scripted scenario? How can they do so well when they were suddenly thrown in? -Yeah, I agree. -It¡¯s a setup. But soon, those opinions were crushed. ¨C??what nonsense are you talking about? -Do you think they would risk faking a wrist injury, trying to manipte the production team, and ruining the daily cafe sales just to get a guest spot? -If that¡¯s acting, Min Sejin should go to Hollywood. -I understand the ones who are crying foul. I¡¯m watching it with my parents and they¡¯re both nervous. -¡­But am I the only one curious? How does it taste? As the viewers¡¯ attention was focused, Yoo Changhyun and the production team came to taste the bread. Soon. -It¡¯s delicious? -It¡¯s good¡­ At that, Min Sejin sighed and the two members smiled happily. As the people who were watching live felt relieved and empathized with the patissiere¡¯s feelings. There were people who were bewildered by all this. They were none other than the fans of New ck. -Coals, answer me. Do you all know how to bake? -They must have learned some baking. -Did that Jenmin guy get a bread certificate? The idolmunity was also flooded with questions from those who were following Patisserie Korea live, but the Souffl¨¦s couldn¡¯t answer rashly. ¡®We don¡¯t know¡­¡¯ Only Jenmin knew from the memes, but they never expected the baking king Seon Woojoo to pop up. -Woojoo is really amazing. -It¡¯s not just Woojoo, they¡¯re all like that. Look at Bijoo. How amazing is it that he gets lost on the way? -One of the things I can¡¯t understand about Woojoo is that we can¡¯t understand Woojoo. By. Albert Einstein -Our kid is approved by Einstein. -Einstein was a Souffl¨¦. I¡¯m going to drink only milk there from now on. ¨C??who¡¯s the one who made the quote? Come out. The fans who weren¡¯t surprised by anything about New ck were also momentarily stunned. -It¡¯s like digging potatoes, not fangirling. If you pull one thing, ites out with a bunch. Everyone agreed with someone¡¯s words. But the surprise was only for a moment. The Souffl¨¦s on the inte were busy preparing new sales posts while making gifs of the members¡¯ expressions and actions. Meanwhile, on TV, the flow continued naturally. After securing the stock quantity, Woojoo and Bijoo started to go back and forth between the kitchen and the hall. -Excuse me! -Add a donut to number 7! In the kitchen, Chef Park Jaewoo and Patissiere Min Sejin were sweating and working hard on the main menu. In the hall, the idol members were running around as if they were sprinting. And their appearance left a deep impression on the people who were watching them on their smartphones and TVs. Woojoo and Bijoo, who were concentrating on making bread with all their strength, without even noticing the flour on their faces. The sharp-looking member whose shirt was soaked with sweat from running between the tables. The youngest, who was smiling brightly and wittily taking orders from the customers, despite his tired face. The member who was moving around gracefully and filling in the gaps. The focus was on the dessert made by the pastry chef, as well as the customers¡¯ reactions and Minsejin. But every scene showed the sincere side of New ck members. As the reporters were preparing to post articles like ¡®New ck, showing their presence as part-timers on ¡®Patisserie Korea Tour¡¯. -You all worked hard! On the scene, they all gathered and settled ounts. The production staff and the cast were calcting the sales for the day after finishing the minor details. And then¡­ -Wow¡­ We made this much? -They said we have the highest sales among the overseas tours right now. Is that true? -¡­Should we just keep touring like this? Everyone was smiling andughing happily. The episode in Taiwan ended with a calm BGM, and the main screen switched back to the studio. Meanwhile, the broadcast wasing to an end, but the online reactions were just beginning. The inte was buzzing as soon as the broadcast ended. -¡®Trendy rookies¡¯ New ck, transform into part-time workers on ¡®Patisserie Korea¡¯ -¡®Patisserie Korea¡¯ New ck¡¯s great performance, Chef Park Jaewoo ¡°The best part-timers¡± -¡®Ace part-timers¡¯ The discovery of rookie idols New ck The main scene was the Taiwanese people praising the desserts, but they also got a lot of attention. ¡°Wow¡­¡± The articles had just been posted, but there were already over 300ments. The responses on SNS andmunities were also pretty good. The posts about Patisserie Korea were still active, even though the broadcast had ended a while ago. ¡°Hyung, look at this.¡± Junghyun showed Woojoo some of the Best posts on amunity. ¡º As a cafe owner, I was impressed by New ck today ¡» [As you know, the visual is really important for cafe part-timers¡­ It¡¯s not a brain teaser, but sometimes when you hire good-looking or pretty college students, the sales go up a lot;; It doesn¡¯t matter if they can¡¯t work. Even if you just stand them like statues, the sales for that time slot are several times higher. In that sense, those New ck guys are like imaginary creatures. Their visuals alone would make the sales 10 times higher with their faces¡­ And they also work really well. Especially Jenmin was the best. He looked really smart. He separated the order of the tasks that had to be done quickly, organized the other part-timers, and looked for things to do¡­ You might think that¡¯s not a big deal, but it¡¯s really hard. If you look at the details, this is what it is.] The post continued with an analysis of how a self-employed person would see a part-timer¡¯s strengths. There were dozens ofments that agreed. -I agree. I¡¯m self-employed too, and I would be willing to give them a share of the cafe if they did that much for me with that face. -At first, I thought they looked like parasites, but I liked them. -Me too, I liked them when I saw them?? -Jenmin is more friendly because he¡¯s a veteran. Thosements were everywhere, regardless of themunity or SNS. -Last time when the actor came out, I was frustrated because he was just showing off to the customers and couldn¡¯t work, but I felt relieved. -(Relieved image) -They did really well today. All the part-timers so far were like flower vases¡­ But they did their work properly and I liked them. -I liked them when I saw them today. -The part-timers must have been more impressed when they saw them¡­ Wow, I never thought I would see such a smart thing from an idol??? Their kids were making a fuss as they read thements. ¡°Hyung, you¡¯re popr!¡± ¡°Cool, Jenmin is better than ten Rihyuk¡¯s.¡± ¡°Hey.¡± ¡°Wow. Hyung, you¡¯re so popr. It feels like I¡¯m seeing you on a lucky day.¡± Woojoo couldn¡¯t help but smile as he saw the younger ones making racing car noises. At first, he was depressed because he thought it was a dark history, but the part-time part in the second half got a better response. Of course, Jenmin¡¯s meme was still being posted everywhere¡­ But since it was a popr program among the public, both the inte and reality were reacting. Ring- Woojoo¡¯s phone was ringing non-stop. He didn¡¯t have time to switch it to silent mode, and it kept ringing. It was because there were people who contacted him after seeing him on the broadcast. It wasn¡¯t just him, but the other younger ones too, so they all turned off their phones for a while. They only talked to thepany people who were excited on the public phone. They spent time checking the reactions of the people to them today while surfing the web with the members. *** And the next day. There was a thumbnail with Woojoo¡¯s face on the popr video list on YouTube. Chapter 212: Chapter 212: Trantor: MarcTempest Editor: Rxel Chapter 212 ¡°A video?¡± ¡°Yup.¡± The youngest one handed Woojoo his phone at the shop where they stopped by to prepare for the event. ¡°My friends sent me a link on chat. Your leader oppa is on the popr list on Youtube.¡± ¡°Me?¡± ¡°Look.¡± ¡°¡­Really.¡±Woojoo saw a thumbnail with his face in it. But the content was unexpected. Woojoo thought it would be about Jenmin or Jeppang, or maybe the part-time job, which were the hot topics yesterday, but he saw something irrelevant. [Asking Taiwanese friends about the foreignnguage skills of a Korean idol feat. New ck Woojoo] ¡­was the title, and his face was faintly blended on the top of the scene where the Youtuber and his friend were sitting at the table. What was this? It looked like a fairy saying ¡®Wake up, hero¡¯. ¡°Pfft-!¡± Bijoo, who was sticking his head out next to Woojoo, burst outughing at the thumbnail and was dragged away by the makeup teacher. ¡°What is this?¡± Woojoo asked the youngest. ¡°Do you know what this is about?¡± ¡°No. I haven¡¯t watched it yet because I wanted to watch it with you.¡± ¡°Then let¡¯s watch it together.¡± Rihyuk quietly handed Woojoo an earphone and told him to watch it, so he shared one with the youngest and watched the video. [Hello, subscribers.] After a brief introduction, he moved on to the main point. [You saw the scene where New ck¡¯s Woojoo was mistaken for a local on ¡®Patisserie Korea¡¯ yesterday, right? He spoke Chinese so well that he even made it to the local news under the name ¡®Woo Jenmin¡¯¡­ But suddenly! I got curious.] He said he would verify Woojoo¡¯s foreignnguage skills himself as today¡¯s curiosity solution. Looking at the rmended video list, he seemed to be a Youtuber who usually made content like ¡®foreign friends¡¯ reactions to Korea¡¯. He then said he would call his friends who hadn¡¯t seen the broadcast yet. Soon, the Taiwanese students who were sitting at the table put on their earphones and watched the news clip where Woo Jenmin appeared. [Wow. Who was that just now? He¡¯s so handsome¡­?] [Is he a celebrity? He looks like an actor or a singer.] [Can I get a link for this? I need to capture it and show it to my friends.] For a few seconds, there was a mention of Woojoo¡¯s face, which made him feel good and embarrassed. The scene of them watching the video quickly passed and it was reaction time. The Youtuber asked his friend. [There is one Korean in the interview video you just watched.] [¡­?] The students wondered and said. [Is it that Woo Jenmin?] [Oh. How did you know?] [Because he¡¯s handsome¡­?] [¡­] The Youtuber and his friend looked at each other andughed at the absurdity of the remark. The Youtuber pushed him and said ¡®Are you saying Taiwanese people are ugly?¡¯ and his friend said ¡®No!¡¯ and waved his hands to exin. He said he thought that person was the main character because he looked so out of ce. [He¡¯s an idol from our country called ¡®New ck¡¯ Woojoo.] The Youtuber briefly introduced them. When he yed ¡®Masquerade¡¯ for his friends who were tilting their heads, they said ¡®Oh! This is the one that ys at the cafe.¡¯ Then the part where Woojoo spoke Chinese on Patisserie Korea was yed. [How did you find his speaking skills?] They all said ¡®Uh¡­¡¯ and answered with strange faces. [To be honest, if I close my eyes and listen, I can¡¯t tell at all. He sounds like a Taiwanese.] [I could nitpick if I wanted to, but that¡¯s only because I think of him as a Korean. If I didn¡¯t know, I would have said ¡®Oh? He¡¯s an idol from Taiwan¡¯.] [He has the details right. This part. He must have either Taiwanese parents or lived in Taiwan for a while.] Simr conclusions were drawn from everywhere. They said this was not something he could learn in Korea. They smiled and told them about Woojoo¡¯s history. [He took a ne for the first time when he went to Taiwan.] [¡­?] [And this is his usual Chinese video.] When the scene where he spoke Chinese on their own reality show came out, they all looked doubtful. [This one looks like a Chinese person again¡­] [Give it back to Jenmin.] [It sounds like he lived in China or something. What is he?] Everyone reacted with disbelief and said he had a ¡®natural talent fornguages¡¯. Thest one to appear was a professor with a warm impression, who asked with surprised eyes. [Oh, who is this kid? We could hire him as a native speaker teacher.] The professor, who was gossiping, spoke into the microphone. [Wow, he¡¯s so good. I don¡¯t know how long he¡¯s been learning¡­ He really has a natural talent fornguages. The details of the difference between the alver and vr sounds are also amazing¡­ It seems like he practiced on purpose for the local fans. He¡¯s awesome.] [Really?] [If I were those fans, I would be touched.] With that, the professor¡¯s praise and the YouTuber¡¯s summary of ¡®We learned a lot today¡¯ ended. ¡°Wow¡­ Hyung, you¡¯re better than I thought.¡± ¡°Ugh, man. This is embarrassing.¡± ¡°Don¡¯t be ashamed. You said it yourself. You have to take thepliments when you can.¡± Woojoo felt awkward by the reaction in the video. It was probably exaggerated because it was a provocative YouTube content. He felt good but also a bit awkward, as if someone had gilded his face. ¡°Puhaha!¡± The youngest and Woojooughed as they looked at thements. Bijoo, who was getting his makeup done, also joined in theughter. It was because of the people¡¯s reactions. -I thought it was an idol content and clicked on it, but I feel a mysterious sense of national pride [Rmend 298] -Peul-reuk -He did the foreignnguage, but why do I feel proud? -Did you see that, Taiwan? This is K-Chinese -K-Chinese ?? ????? -I think it¡¯s more unbelievable that there is such a unique existence¡­ -Every time the Taiwanese students are surprised, my shoulders rise like Hasan and Baekdusan on both sides [Rmend 126] -Wow¡­ I thought he was good when I saw him yesterday, but he was really good¡­ -Anguage genius?? I wish he would upload a video with his secret It was the first time Woojoo appeared in a so-called national pride content, so the people¡¯s reactions felt fresh. Bijoo and Jiho were excited and pressed the like button. ¡°Wow, there¡¯s really everything. Hyung.¡± A shadow cast over Woojoo and he turned to see Junghyun looking at him with curiosity. ¡°But what is this? Is this Jiho?¡± ¡°Me?¡± ¡°No. Jiho junior.¡± ¡°¡­?¡± Woojoo followed Bijoo¡¯s finger and saw a video from the ¡®Jiho Dance¡¯ ount at the end of the rmended videos. It was a video uploaded by Kim Jiho, who performed at the event with them yesterday. [I met New ck Hyungs at the event today] Woojooughed as he clicked on the title. A boy with cheeks as red as a breadman was drinking c in the practice room and talking. [I was so happy yesterday. Everyone kept saying ¡®baby baby¡¯ but I¡¯m not a baby. I¡¯m 10 years old and I practice a lot. But Woojoo Hyung introduced me and instead of calling me a kid YouTuber like the others, he acknowledged me as a dancer and I was so happy¡­] He said the Hyungs were so nice and he liked this and that about them as he watched the video. ¡°Wow, this is amazing. We¡¯re on YouTube and everything.¡± ¡°I know, right?¡± Most of the videos that came out so far were either fancams or content uploaded by theirpany. When they searched, they started to see videos about them here and there. It felt like there was a wind of change. *** While the New ck members were happy watching YouTube. The Souffl¨¦s were happy for a different reason. -It¡¯sing~ It¡¯sing~ The influx ising~~ -Let¡¯s dance dongsil dongsil -Let¡¯s put away all the ck history we¡¯ve seen so far and act like normal people -Newbies, hurry up ande in!! The fan cafe, SNS, and various intemunities¡¯ subcategories were seeing an increase in iing members. Patisserie Korea¡¯s special was not as popr as Around the World With Dice¡¯s Chuseok Special, but it felt like a bigger response than then. Before, they were nobodies and people would just nce at them and say ¡®Who are they?¡¯ or ¡®Are they idols?¡¯ but this time was different. Unlike the debut, which started from scratch, they had a slight public recognition. ¡®New ck? Are they the ones from Around the World With Dice¡¯s?¡¯ Most of them listened to Masquerade and said ¡®Oh! This song.¡¯ Now they felt like they had heard their name somewhere. Meanwhile, as the name New ck started to spread among the public, the idol fandom had a huge reaction. -I¡¯m a multi-fan¡­ Can Ie and y for a while¡­?? -I saw Patisserie Korea yesterday and I liked them so much that I came to say this ¨CSouffl¨¦s, I¡¯m also a newbie fan from today~ -The atmosphere here is so nice¡­! It looks so harmonious -I only knew them as rookies who were good at their main job, but they were so cute¡­ These were the people who had only seen New ck through year-end stage videos, funny reality shows, or amazing promotional posts. Among them, the ones who liked various idols indiscriminately and were called ¡®multi-fans¡¯ showed interest. The situation where those who had only felt a vague liking until now came to visit the ce where the Souffl¨¦s gathered. It was obviously a cause for celebration. -???????? -People are¡­ swarming¡­! -I love this crowded atmosphere? -Newbie fans,e here, this granny has some gifs for you¨C -Just look at this picture and go, I won¡¯t hurt you -Isn¡¯t this really going to make our kids rise to the top when they release their third album??? -New fans, hurry up and join us -Sob sob?? -Call them crybabies??? sob sob sounds like we¡¯re perverts -We¡¯re not weird. We just have strange tastes It was uncertain whether this was a temporary situation or whether it would continue in the future, but the things that New ck had built up over time were creating synergy and increasing the meaningful influx. And the existing Souffl¨¦s, encouraged by this fact, were weing the new fans with sincerity. -But I don¡¯t know anything about New ck¡¯s hints¡­ Is there any video or something you can rmend?? The Souffl¨¦s started to row the boat while the water was flowing. ¡º A guide to New ck¡¯s hints for Souffl¨¦s ¡ª (1) How did Seon Woojoo, an ordinary young man from Gunsan, be a ¡®ck history maker¡¯? ¡» ¡º (2) Bijoo? Why are you killing our kid¡¯s spirit. He did everything well except for finding his way ¡» ¡º (3) ¡®I dream of being a farmer.¡¯ A report on our kid who is too early for humanity to understand ¡» ¡º (4) ¡ù Warning! This post will make Rihyuk angry ¡» ¡º (5) Jiho, Jiho, your brothers have something to say, our youngest is so cute in his growth period ¡» ¡­¡­Most of them were promotional posts that would make the parties involved grab their necks. *** It was clear that terrestrial broadcasting was different. ¡°Two, three, hello! We are New ck!¡± ¡°Woah-!¡± People who recognized them and were amazed by them were popping up at the department store event. It was a different reaction from yesterday¡¯s shopping mall. Woojoo knew this wouldn¡¯tst more than a week or so, but he still felt very good. His throat was still bad, so he couldn¡¯t perform as well as usual, but the response was good enough to make up for it. It was an experience of being a popr celebrity for a while. ¡°That¡¯s Jenmin from yesterday. Jenmin.¡± ¡°Oh, really.¡± ¡­¡­Woojoo didn¡¯t know why they called him Jenmin out of the blue, but he was grateful for all the attention. He hoped they could keep up this momentum until the Challenge, Legendary Song Discovery Team. There were already articlesing out. -¡®New ck, who shot the legend of Patisserie Korea, to appear on PBS¡¯s newpetition show¡¯ -¡®Challenge, Legendary Song Discovery Tean!¡¯ PD Baek Sunghyun, ¡°They are friends who are full of entertainment skills from the start, please look forward to our show¡± -¡®Home run every time they appear on entertainment, rising rookie ¡®New ck¡¯ to be an entertainment blue chip¡­?¡¯ There were PBS logos and PD Baek Sunghyun¡¯s face all over the articles. PD Baek, who checked the reaction of Patisserie Korea yesterday, called their manager and expressed his satisfaction. He said it would be a great promotion. ¡°It feels like we¡¯re finally getting on track.¡± Woojoo nodded at Bijoo¡¯s words. They were slowly catching the flow. With the fixed appearance on Legendary Song Discovery, they could stamp our faces on the public and sessfully promote our third album¡­ Woojoo thought of the uing events and felt that this was an important time. He felt proud in a way. Jiho said, ¡°Until now, it felt like we were building a sandcastle that would be swept away by the waves every time they hit, but now it feels like it won¡¯t copse even if it shakes a little.¡± ¡°Right. It¡¯s like a slightly sturdy sandcastle.¡± ¡°We really have to do well with the rest. We.¡± The sandcastle joke was something they often said. Working in the entertainment industry was like building a sandcastle on the beach where the waves never stopped. That was the idea behind the joke. Sand was poprity. Even if you piled up the sand castle diligently, it was swept away by the waves. The poprity that was built up by appearing on a broadcast once quickly eroded over time. It was the same for pros like Around the World With Dice who had a lot of buzz. After a certain period of time, only the remains were left. This Patisserie Korea would also unfold simrly. It was hot for the first week and got some entertainment offers, but after a week or so, the power gradually faded. But what remained there was important. Like the saying that even a thousand-mile journey starts with a single step, it was about stacking up things like this. Add the remaining sand of Around the World With Dice to the remaining sand of Patisserie Korea. Add the incidental poprity gained from other activities and more and more. The most important thing, wouldn¡¯t something that wouldn¡¯t budge even by the waves remain if you piled up the poprity gained from their main job? After the Patisserie Korea broadcast, the outline seemed to gradually emerge. Something that became stronger with what they had umted over time, not the poprity that they gained in a sh. ¡°¡­That¡¯s why we have to do well on the remaining broadcasts. We.¡± After returning to thepany. Rihyuk and Woojoo told the younger ones. ¡°No matter how trivial it is, you can¡¯t take it lightly. Honestly, we were the first ones to be a topic as a part-timer on Patisserie Korea.¡± ¡°That¡¯s a rare right thing to say.¡± Rihyuk agreed and said, ¡°Other daily part-timers were only popr for their looks, they wouldn¡¯t have expected to be known like this.¡± ording to what Seokhwan Hyung said, he said that ¡®the atmosphere of the daily part-timer on Patisserie Korea will change a bit after you guys¡¯. If it used to be like a folding screen, appealing with their looks while saying ¡®Shlang~¡¯, now they would all work really hard. He meant that celebrities who were aiming for the second New ck woulde out one after another. Rihyuk said, ¡°So we have to work hard on everything as this old man said.¡± ¡°Right. Right.¡± But even with their words, the younger ones sitting in thepany conference room had dumbfounded, sad, or painful faces. Junghyun said, ¡°Hyung.¡± ¡°Junghyun. You have to raise your hand. It¡¯s ss right now.¡± ¡°Here¡¯s my hand.¡± Junghyun raised his hand and said, ¡°Do we have to do this¡­?¡± ¡°Yes.¡± ¡°Can¡¯t I do it with my body?¡± ¡°No.¡± ¡°I got it¡­¡± This time, Jiho raised his hand. ¡°I have a question for the two of you.¡± ¡°I don¡¯t want to hear it.¡± ¡°Woojoo Hyung always said this. No matter how well we do in entertainment and whatnot, the most important thing is our main job. Our fans like us going on entertainment, but they like us doing well in our main job the most~~.¡± ¡°That¡¯s right.¡± At Woojoo¡¯s words, Jiho showed him the workbook and said, ¡°Then why do we have to learn this? Wouldn¡¯t it be better to practice singing one more time instead of this time?¡± ¡°Hmm¡­ You have a point.¡± Woojoo stroked his chin and asked Jiho, ¡°Jiho.¡± ¡°Yes.¡± ¡°Then shall we go to the studio with Hyung and work on the third album songs together?¡± ¡°I like studying. Hyung.¡± He earnestly expressed his face as if he liked studying the most in the world. Woojoo passed Jiho and looked at Bijoo. Before he could say anything, Bijoo quickly raised his pen and shouted, ¡°Me, I¡¯ll study!¡± ¡°¡­¡± There was no need to shout¡­ No. Anyone who saw it would think he was a bad person. ¡®Bad person.¡¯ ¡®Evilposing monster.¡¯ ¡®I like it when Hyung doesn¡¯tpose¡­¡¯ He appealed with his eyes. Woojoo snorted and winked at Rihyuk. ¡°Okay, then everyone has no objection, right? Open the book.¡± As soon as they opened the book they were holding. They all sighed deeply as they looked at the page that said ¡®The Life of the Prehistoric Age, The Establishment of Gojoseon¡¯. On the other hand, their Rihyuk was full of energy and he was spreading it all over the ce. ¡°I¡¯m not doing this because I want to. But we have a History Discovery Team broadcast ahead of us. Don¡¯t we have to know first if we want to teach the children the right knowledge?¡± As Rihyuk spoke with a flushed face, the rest of the siblings looked gloomy. What they were doing now was preparing for HBS¡¯s children¡¯s program ¡®Sok Sok! History Discovery Team¡¯ which was scheduled to be recorded next week. The beginning was when Junghyun said ¡®I forgot everything, history.¡¯ and Rihyuk¡¯s answer ¡®Then shall I teach you a little bit?¡¯ made everyone agree. As soon as the conversation ended, the siblings were anxious when they bought the workbook from the inte, but Woojoo didn¡¯t care because he was going to be the teacher role as he already knew Korean history well. As long as it wasn¡¯t him. Hehe. ¡°¡­¡± Zzzt. Woojoo coughed and managed his expression at the siblings¡¯ re. Meanwhile, Rihyuk pped his hands with a thrilled face. ¡°Just trust me.¡± ¡°¡­¡± ¡°By the time this broadcast is over, I¡¯ll make you all pass the Korean history 1st grade.¡± ¡°¡­¡± A dark shadow began to fall on the members¡¯ faces. Chapter 213: Chapter 213: Trantor: MarcTempest Editor: Rxel Chapter 213 Lemon Entertainment. It was when the A&R Team members came back with iced americanos after lunch. They stopped in their tracks at the sight of the lighting out of the conference room. ¡°¡­Huh?¡± Someone pointed at the light with their finger. ¡°Is someone in there?¡± ¡°Didn¡¯t Gyuhwan Hyunge to have a meeting with Scarlet? There¡¯s no way there¡¯s anyone in the conference room at this time on Sunday¡­¡±As they said that, someone who was looking at the ss window of the conference room gasped. ¡°Woojoo¡­?¡± ¡°¡­!¡± They all backed away in horror. They looked like herb pickers who had stumbled upon a sleeping tiger. ¡°¡­Wow. That was close.¡± ¡°They didn¡¯t see us, right?¡± ¡°They shouldn¡¯t. Woojoo wouldn¡¯t be able to see us from this angle, but maybe Junghyun can.¡± They took a moment to catch their breath. As they exchanged nces with each other, an awkward silence ensued. ¡°¡­¡± They cleared their throats and regained theirposure. ¡°We¡¯ve been suffering so much that our bodies react first now.¡± ¡°Tell me about it.¡± They all smiled sadly. Woojoo, who would sh a bright smile and say ¡®I want to talk to you about music!¡¯ whenever he met their eyes in the hallway. Woojoo, who would blindfold them and when they opened their eyes, they would see the ceiling of the studio. Woojoo, who would shower them with praise and delicious snacks, and by the time they came to their senses, they would be working like ves. Those memories surfaced in their minds. ¡°Ah.¡± Then someone said, ¡°Come to think of it, we¡¯re fine now. We finished the second half of the title track for the third album a while ago.¡± ¡°Ah! That¡¯s right.¡± ¡°We don¡¯t have to suffer from Woojoo anymore.¡± They looked relieved, as if they had found out that the tiger they had encountered in the mountain had just eaten a full meal. As their fear subsided, curiosity arose. ¡°What are they doing here? They¡¯re always in the studio, like it¡¯s their hideout.¡± ¡°Maybe they¡¯re studying something.¡± ¡°Foreignnguage?¡± At first, they thought it was foreignnguage. New ck had been taking intensive foreignnguage lessonstely, as part of their n to expand their reach from East Asia to the rest of the world. They even had native speakerse to thepany and teach them. So they naturally assumed it was either Chinese or Japanese. -Let¡¯s do it together. Following Rihyuk¡¯s call, the others said. -Comb-patterned pottery. -Neolithic period. -Banana-patterned pottery. -Bronze Age. The sharp-faced member pped his hands and said again. -Now, let¡¯s say it together:b-banana-banana-bronze. -Comb-banana-banana-bronze. -Who¡¯s the friend of banana-patterned pottery? -Misong-ri style pottery. -So, what¡¯s the answer to question 4? That¡¯s right, 5. Correct. As Rihyuk turned his head and said ¡®please¡¯ to the leader, Woojoo handed out silver choctes to those who got the answer right. The members who were eagerly unwrapping and munching on them caught the eyes of the A&R Team members. ¡°¡­¡± For some reason, New ck members were studying Korean history diligently. They would listen and learn whatever Rihyuk taught them. Next to them, Woojoo was tapping on hisptop and smiling contentedly like a teacher. The A&R Team membersughed at the absurd sight. ¡°They¡¯re really something else.¡± ¡°They¡¯re so weird.¡± But they also looked at the scene in the conference room with affection. ¡°Wow, but Rihyuk is a good teacher. His father is a professor¡­? I think I heard that before.¡± ¡°That¡¯s right.¡± Someone nodded and agreed. Junghyun, who was perking up his ears as if he sensed a sound outside, said something to Woojoo. Swish. As Woojoo turned his head, everyone hid. ¡°¡­You said we didn¡¯t have to hide.¡± Woojoo sighed as he saw the A&R Team members who had unknowingly used stealth skills. He heard footsteps from inside. ¡°Oh, he¡¯sing out. He¡¯sing out!¡± ¡°Let¡¯s go to the office!¡± Some people quickly went into the office, some went to the bathroom. Someone stuck to the wall where the hallway turned. They thought they shouldn¡¯t be noticed for afortable day, when they heard the sound of the door opening. ¡°¡­No one.¡± They heard Woojoo¡¯s muttering. ¡°Did Junghyun hear it wrong?¡± And then the sound of the door closing. The people who were hiding breathed a sigh of relief, but¡­ Bzzz- As the phone rang without any tact, Seo Pilgeun, who was startled, tried to turn his phone to silent. He felt a gaze as he saw ¡®Don¡¯t answer¡¯ on the screen. ¡°Oh. You were there.¡± As Woojoo smiled brightly, rain poured down in Seo Pilgeun¡¯s heart. ¡°I had something to ask you. Are you alone?¡± ¡°No. Oh Daeri went to the bathroom.¡± Someone¡¯s scream came from the bathroom. Soon after, pushing and shoving followed, and the employees with sad faces were dragged out one by one. Woojoo smiled. ¡°I wanted to get your opinion on the album. Oh, not the title track for the third album, don¡¯t worry.¡± ¡°Oh, really?¡± Was it about the album concept, not the song? That wasn¡¯t something to suffer over. ¡°Yes.¡± Woojoo smiled and opened hisptop. ¡°This time, it¡¯s the B-side tracks!¡± ¡°¡­¡± ¡°About 23 after narrowing it down?¡± The employees¡¯ faces turned pale as they saw the work files filling theptop folder. ¡°It¡¯s not a joke, we might as well just handle thetter part of the work at this rate. There¡¯s nothing to touch.¡± ¡°No, I still need your help. I¡¯m not making this alone, you know.¡± ¡°¡­¡± Why did they look so sad? Woojoo gave them some sweet snacks when he saw them wanting to run away, and they soon smiled happily. He wanted to ask more, but they looked so tired, so he decided to let them go. Woojoo couldn¡¯t help but smile bitterly at the sight of the staff who were happy with just one snack. ¡°By the way.¡± One of the staff said, ¡°Do you know who¡¯s name is on the list for the pre-contest of the third album¡¯s tracks?¡± ¡°Who?¡± ¡°JCM.¡± ¡°Oh¡­ him?¡± They all answered with ¡®yeah, he has no shame¡¯ to Woojoo¡¯s remark. JCM. The person who would have been theposer of their first album¡¯s title track if he hadn¡¯t made Fireworksst year. He was rejected and joined DNS, and they gave them a lot of trouble together. ¡°That¡¯s how this industry is.¡± The A&R staff said, ¡°He thinks you¡¯re doing well, so he tries to sneak back in. The album sales are rising, too. Anyone can see that the third album will do well, too.¡± ¡°What should we do, Woojoo? Should we reject him right away?¡± ¡°No, no. We can¡¯t do that. It¡¯s best to just leave him alone and make him desperate.¡± Woojoo smiled at the A&R Team who looked at him with hopeful eyes. ¡°I want to hear it first. I don¡¯t want to reject him, but if it¡¯s a really good song, we might be doing him a favor.¡± ¡°Well. We thought the same, so we listened to it. Do you want to hear it, too?¡± They yed the song with the guide recording. Woojoo listened to it from start to finish and said urgently, ¡°I¡¯ll reject it.¡± The A&R staff pped andughed. Woojoo listened to it all because he shouldn¡¯t let emotions interfere with business, but objectively speaking, the song was not good. He had high expectations because the Street Boys¡¯ debut song ¡®Hunger¡¯ was of good quality, but it was a song that made him wonder if it was just luck. It was almost like a Trojan horse sent to ruin them. As an album producer, he couldn¡¯t ept such a song. One of the staff stretched and got up. ¡°We should go back to work, too.¡± ¡°Thank you for your hard work.¡± As they were leaving, someone asked Woojoo, ¡°By the way, what¡¯s your schedule? When should we set up the internal meeting?¡± ¡°I have a lot of recordings this week. I think it will be possible around Thursday. I¡¯ll contact you separately.¡± ¡°Okay. Then¡­¡± ¡°By the way, can I bring the members with me when we have the meeting? The title is coposed by Bijoo, and Rihyuk wrote the lyrics. Junghyun also decided to put in one or two mixtapes this time.¡± ¡°What about Jiho?¡± ¡°Wouldn¡¯t he feel left out if he¡¯s alone?¡± ¡°I guess so.¡± Laughter came from everywhere. Usually, Woojoo only had the internal meeting with the A&R Team before the official meeting, but this time he wanted to bring his brothers with him. The A&R staff said to Woojoo, ¡°You¡¯re the producer, why are you asking for permission? Just bring themfortably.¡± ¡°Yes, thank you.¡± Woojoo felt grateful for their trusting eyes and said goodbye. At the same time, his brothers came from the other side of the hallway. They greeted the staff with ¡®hello¡­¡¯ with difficulty and walked over. Woojoo smiled warmly at the door. ¡°Did you learn well?¡± ¡°It was a useful and satisfying time.¡± Rihyuk was the only one who had a bright glow on his face, while the others looked gloomy. ¡°¡­Guys?¡± Junghyun looked at Woojoo with a sharp eye. Then he pointed his finger and said, ¡°ve.¡± Jiho continued. ¡°Whoever steals another¡¯s property shall be made a ve, and to be forgiven, he must pay 500,000 coins.¡± ¡°The Eight Laws of Gojoseon.¡± Junghyun took over the speech, and this time, Bijoo said nkly, ¡°It is a historical source that shows that Gojoseon was a ss society and that money was used.¡± They stared nkly. ¡°You¡¯re good. You would have done well as a teacher. But because of your personality, the students would have quit soon¡­¡± ¡°They would have done well even if they didn¡¯t be idols.¡± They were joking around like that. *** While Rihyuk was teaching Korean history in the conference room, Woojoo went down to the second floor with the staff and worked. The title track for the third album was almost finished and there was nothing to fix. The only thing left was the B-side tracks. ¡°How is it?¡± ¡°The tone is a bit high, don¡¯t you think? It should match the title, but this one stands out too much.¡± ¡°What if we change it like this?¡± ¡°It got much better.¡± They gave him a thumbs up, but he wasn¡¯t satisfied. ¡°Hmm¡­ I still feel like it doesn¡¯t fit quite well. How about this?¡± ¡°¡­Well, it was fine just now.¡± ¡°How about this?¡± ¡°¡­¡± ¡°How about this one? Or should we add some drums at the beginning?¡± ¡°¡­¡± After dozens of revisions for each song, hepressed them to about six candidates. Of course, not all of them would be on the third album. After deciding on the direction of the third album concept at the producing meeting with the A&R Team, Jo Gyuhwan, the production director, and Woojoo. They would start choosing the right ones from the songs they received from otherposers and his own songs. On the other hand, most of the staff praised the songs he made. ¡°Wow, how do you get better as the days go by? I think some of the ones we heard today could go on the next album if they don¡¯t make it this time.¡± ¡°You¡¯ve improved. Did you study a lot?¡± Woojoo smiled at thepliments. Actually, he had been neglectingposition theory a bit because of other things, but he was motivated by seeing Bijoo studying recently. He bought some new books and dug deep, and luckily the results were well received. He turned his gaze to the guys who were rushing into the room with pale faces. ¡°What did you do? What did you do in ss that made the kids look like wilted spinach?¡± ¡°I just used various teaching methods.¡± He was making excuses as if he interpreted Woojoo¡¯s question as a reproach. But Woojoo shook his head and put his arm around Rihyuk. ¡°Rihyuk.¡± ¡°What.¡± ¡°Tell me your secret.¡± ¡°¡­¡± ¡°Can you make the kids work better with that method?¡± ¡°Don¡¯t even dream about it. Seriously.¡± *** A studio in Yangcheon-gu, Seoul. HBS ¡®Sok Sok! History Discovery Team¡¯ was busy preparing for the first recording. A set with a mild wood tone and green that reminded of a mushroom vige. A table that looked like a tree trunk was set in the middle, and equipment including lighting was set up. The budget was low, so the size of the field staff and the recording studio was small. That was how the ce that used to be the recording site for the ¡®Children¡¯s Quiz Tour!¡¯ program was surprisingly quickly renovated. ¡°Hey, hey, where¡¯s the snack for the cast? Put that down.¡± ¡°I¡¯ll get it ready!¡± One of the preparations was to make the cast, New ck,fortable. ¡®I have to treat them well.¡¯ The field manager, PD Sung, nodded his head. Low budget and bad time slot. Although they had the advantage of being regrs, New ck was not the level of celebrities to appear on this program. History Discovery Team was less influential than the other entertainment shows they were currently appearing on and making an issue. ¡®Why are theying?¡¯ He was grateful that they agreed to appear, but he was still curious. He heard that one of the members was a history geek, but it was still a business. He wondered what they wanted to get out of this program. -At first, Rihyuk Hyung was like, let¡¯s do it, but after reading the proposal that the writers sent us, Woojoo Hyung said, let¡¯s do this. He asked the person in question, Woojoo, what he liked about it when he heard the story at the first meeting. -It was a children¡¯s program, but it seemed to have a lot of room for expansion. It looked like it would be fun for parents to watch together. Really? He thought, but it was a hard-to-understand story. It was a children¡¯s program. What else was there? Anyway, the important thing was that the rising rookie idol group was appearing on their program. ¡°Hello!¡± New ck came in and everyone greeted them warmly. ¡°Come here. Sit here and rest.¡± ¡°Drinks! Hey, bring some drinks!¡± The staff moved busily as if they were hosting a precious guest, and the partiesughed. They chatted with the production team for a while, and then the New ck members took out the script from their bags and started reading it seriously. Even as the stylists trimmed the ends of their hair, their eyes were nailed to the paper. PD Sung watched them when the main writer came up to him. ¡°You¡¯ve memorized the script, right?¡± ¡°Look at their atmosphere.¡± ¡°I wonder if they¡¯re focusing on it now because they don¡¯t have time. They said their schedule was busy too¡­¡± It was as if he was saying that they came unprepared for their program. That was when it happened. When the production team handed over the props they prepared on site, the youngest one said, ¡°Hmm?¡± He immediately called the staff. ¡°What¡¯s wrong?¡± ¡°Writer. This. The order of the bipa-shaped bronze sword and the se-shaped bronze sword is reversed. Bipa is first, right?¡± ¡°Oh. Wait a minute.¡± He checked it right away and the staff corrected the order. It was a close call that could have resulted in incorrect information. The member with a pale face gave the youngest a chocte with a satisfied face. PD Sung said with a satisfied face, ¡°As expected, Rihyuk knows history well¡­ Wait, isn¡¯t that Rihyuk?¡± ¡°Yes, that was Jiho just now.¡± The voice of the idol member who said ¡®I don¡¯t know much about history¡­¡¯ at the first meeting passed through his head. The PD and the writer looked at each other. ¡°¡­¡± ¡°¡­¡± ¡°Who was the one who knew history well? Wasn¡¯t it Rihyuk?¡± PD Sung asked. ¡°I, I think so.¡± In the midst of that, he heard voices talking. ¡°When we exin the founding of Gojoseon, we can say that it involved the bear tribe and the tiger tribe, right?¡± ¡°Isn¡¯t that the best way?¡± ¡°Didn¡¯t they say this was a whale on the petroglyphs of the hemisphere? I need to mark it.¡± The PD and the writer blinked their eyes at the sight of them discussing the content of today¡¯s broadcast seriously among themselves. ¡®Did they prepare too hard for this¡­?¡¯ They were pleasantly surprised. *** ¡°Hello, children.¡± They all smiled brightly in front of the camera that turned red. ¡°Starting today, we will explore the interesting events in history with New ck¡¯s Woojoo.¡± ¡°I¡¯m Bijoo.¡± They each introduced themselves. Sok Sok! History Discovery Team was a program with various formats. They were going to dress up like Hwarang and show the life of the Si period, and sometimes they would visit museums. There were various ns, but the most important thing was that it was an entertainment program for children. -These days, children don¡¯t like childish things. The first n was to chase the viin who shook the timeline and restore the events in history to their original state, but Woojoo heard that it was changed to the current form after several meetings. Woojoo remembered that the PD said that he wanted this program to be a fun history entertainment for children. That was why he told them to follow the script but proceed freely with the broadcast content. ¡°Today, let¡¯s learn about the prehistoric era, before history. Let¡¯s look at these pictures¡­¡± It was when Woojoo was saying the lines. Junghyun, who was holding a collection of panels depicting prehistoric life, scratched his ticklish nose and dropped them all. tter. Woojoo saw the siblings picking up the panels with a nk expression. ¡°¡­¡± Was this okay? He decided to just go with it instead of reshooting. He smiled brightly and said to the camera, ¡°Now, shall we all make this scattered history into one?¡± Chapter 214: Chapter 214: Trantor: MarcTempest Editor: Rxel Chapter 214 They naturally resumed the broadcast after cleaning up. Since they were covering educational content, they proceeded with a calmer tone than usual. ¡°As you can see from the picture, people lived in caves in the Stone Age.¡± ¡°Why?¡± ¡°Because caves are good for avoiding rain. Jiho, do you have the confidence to build a house when you don¡¯t know anything?¡± ¡°Ah. That¡¯s true. It¡¯s best to live in a house that nature made.¡±They exined as they ced one picture at a time on the table so that it was visible to the camera. Rather than giving a rough overview of ¡®this is how it goes, remember!¡¯, they exined why each little thing was like that. This part would be the most curious for children who didn¡¯t know much about history. As each picture came out, they each made inferences or talked about them, leading the flow of the broadcast. Every time they exined the descriptions written in the script in an easy way, the writers standing behind the camera smiled with satisfaction. The PD raised his thumb with a look that said, ¡®That¡¯s it! That¡¯s the one!¡¯ ¡°Uh, but¡­ this is really hard to remember.¡± Junghyun asked, scratching his cheek, ¡°I listened to the exnation well, but this is like this. And that is like that. Is there an easy way to remember it?¡± ¡°Um¡­ yeah.¡± That was when Bijoo spoke. ¡°How about making a simple song out of it?¡± ¡°A song?¡± ¡°Yes, let¡¯s try to make a song with what you just taught me¡­¡± Woojoo agreed to the proposal that came out on the spot. ¡°Shall we give it a try then?¡± They all thought for a moment and then sang in harmony. Stone Age Stone Age We built huts and lived in them New Stone Age New Stone Age The floor was sunken and it was a pit house They sang casually like an a cappe to fill the broadcast time. It was clear that having stage experience was important. Thanks to the influence of the first round of Legendary Song Discovery, their kids were able to perform this trivial song with perfect stage manners and harmonies. Stone Age It¡¯s not yours, it¡¯s ours Bronze Age Now we distinguish between mine and yours Ooh- Private Property The production team of ¡®Ooh- Private Property¡¯ faced a crisis for a moment, as they closed their eyes tightly or shook their cheeks. They couldn¡¯t help butugh. Woojoo didn¡¯t know how the first broadcast would go, but he thought the atmosphere was good. *** Sok Sok! History Discovery Team, a 30-minute show. The recording, whichsted for almost two hours, was slowlying to an end. And the production staff had a nk expression on their faces. ¡®This is crazy¡­¡¯ It felt like they had unleashed five hellhounds like beagles. They couldn¡¯t believe what they were seeing. ¡°Ha ha! He got it wrong, he got it wrong!¡± ¡°Kyahaha!¡± ¡°This is just a mistake, okay? I got confused for a moment. There¡¯s no way I would lose at this!¡± The five idols were going crazy as they took the final quiz that summarized today¡¯s content. Even considering that this was a broadcast, they wondered if they were really the same people who had a calm impression when they first met them. They were working hard, but at this point, it seemed like they were having fun. ¡°Nooo!¡± Rihyuk was in agony as he kept getting pushed back by the other members in the order of ringing the bell and answering the quiz. ¡°No¡­! I knew it!¡± ¡°You should have rung faster, Mr. Rihyuk. What does it matter if you¡¯re fast at running? You need to be quick-witted.¡± ¡°Ee¡­ Don¡¯t tease me!¡± ¡°Oh my. I wanted to wear the primitive costume, but I can¡¯t!¡± One member¡¯s ears turned red as the othersughed and teased him. They were all trying their best to avoid the primitive costume, the penalty for thest ce in the quiz show. The production staff watching them were amazed at how hard they were working. ¡°Wow ¡­ This is almost like grinding bones for children?¡± ¡°Look at the tension. The children watching will also feel the bones.¡± He was an idol famous for his sincerity in the industry, so he expected it, but it was a great feat that surpassed that prediction. ¡°What¡¯s the big deal about wearing that costume, Mr. Rihyuk? We love you even if you¡¯re from the Stone Age.¡± ¡°Yeah, who cares if you¡¯re a primitive man? Hahaha!¡± The main writer, who was watching the membersughing among themselves, said to PD Sung, ¡°¡­At this point, I don¡¯t know if they¡¯re working hard or having fun.¡± ¡°Y-yeah.¡± For the staff of Kiwoom Production, who had only handled children¡¯s programs until then, New ck¡¯s energy was a kind of vibe they had never experienced before. ¡°Are all idols like this?¡± ¡°I guess so.¡± They had a strange misunderstanding. The main writer, who was watching them have fun with their own quiz show, expressed his regret. ¡°It¡¯s such a shame about the broadcast time. We have to cut out a lot of things to fit this in 30 minutes.¡± ¡°I know, right? Time is precious¡­¡± From the Stone Age to Gojoseon. They were sorry to have to remove many of the interesting things that New ck had produced. And then. ¡°I had to cut out some jokes that the kids wouldn¡¯t understand.¡± ¡°It was so funny, though¡­¡± Since the program was aimed at a young audience, they had to take into ount the broadcasting station¡¯s prior censorship, and there were cases where they had to edit out some obscure references. Things that had to be deleted, not because they were offensive, but because of the nature of the program. Of course, even with that in mind, they thought a very informative and valuable history program would be born, but¡­ They still felt a bit regretful. ¡®Well, there¡¯s nothing I can do since the time slot is only 30 minutes¡­¡¯ As he was wondering how to make today¡¯s content more interesting, something suddenly popped into his head. ¡°Ah.¡± ¡°What is it, PD-nim?¡± ¡°Writer Sooyoung. You know how HBS has been uploading a lot of YouTube contenttely?¡± ¡°Yeah, they¡¯ve been making all kinds of stuff. They even add subtitles to the drama highlight videos.¡± He said, ¡°What if we upload this first edited version to YouTube? So that not only kids, but also other people can watch it.¡± ¡°YouTube?¡± The main writer, who had been thinking hard, said, ¡°So you want to split it into two parts? One for the broadcast, which is 30 minutes long and suitable for children. And another one for YouTube, right?¡± ¡°That¡¯s right. How do you like it?¡± ¡°It sounds good. The Culture Department will love it. The key point is¡­¡± The main writer asked, ¡°Will other people find this interesting?¡± ¡°Considering it¡¯s an educational program¡­ Pfft!¡± As Rihyuk, who was wearing a fur coat, chased them with a snowball, the members dodged in panic, and everyone burst intoughter. That was how New ck¡¯s appearance on ¡®Sok Sok! History Discovery Team¡¯ was decided to be released online as a separate edition. *** The first recording of ¡®Sok Sok! History Discovery Team¡¯ ended sessfully. The atmosphere was warm and pleasant as the PD came out to see them off personally. It felt like they were being pampered as ¡®our New ck¡¯. It was the first time they received such a precious treatment at the filming site, so they all smiled and enjoyed it. He suggested that they upload it separately on YouTube so that other people could see it too, and they all agreed enthusiastically. After all, the reason they went on the show was to gain public recognition. The second week of February passed by busily, starting with the recording of the History Discovery Team. They visited the original singers to prepare for the second round of the Song Discovery Team and talked about the songs. They arranged thepetition songs with the A&R Team. They also worked on the songs for the third album. In their spare time, they continued with their foreignnguage studies and the preparation for the second round. They lived like worker ants, working and working, sleeping for a few hours, then working and sleeping again. Fortunately, Woojoo¡¯s throat condition was fully recovered, but fatigue followed. ¡°Hyung, wake up. We¡¯re almost there.¡± ¡°I¡¯ll eat a little more¡­¡± Bijoo kept shaking Woojoo¡¯s arm as he was in a daze. He was too tired to budge, so Junghyun stepped in. He gently opened Woojoo¡¯s eyes with his fingers. The scenery inside the car forced itself into his sight. ¡°¡­¡± He woke up with a jolt. Junghyun smiled warmly and said, ¡°Wake up, Hyung.¡± ¡°Yeah, okay¡­¡± Woojoo blinked and got up. It was such a novel way of waking him up that he was speechless. The younger ones pped and giggled, and Woojoo also chuckled. He dragged his exhausted body out of the parking lot. ¡°Ugh, I¡¯m drained.¡± In the waiting room, he regained his energy by drinking ginseng and looking at the profile pictures of their Lady Kim Deoksoon. Friday afternoon. Today¡¯s schedule was the production presentation of PBS¡¯s ¡®Challenge, Legendary Song Discovery Team!¡¯, which was to air on Sunday at 5 p.m. Their youngest had a happy expression on his face. ¡°I¡¯m so excited. I feel like I¡¯ve be an actor.¡± ¡°Because of the production presentation?¡± ¡°Yes. I¡¯ve been dreaming of this moment.¡± He said he had always dreamed of doing a production presentation like the actors, and he was happy to have fulfilled his wish. A production presentation was amon event that preceded the first broadcast of a drama or a variety show. Sometimes it was done on the day of the broadcast, and sometimes a few days before. In their case, it was on Friday, two days before the first episode. It was usually a final promotion where they invited reporters, served snacks, and said ¡®please watch us well (shy)¡¯. ¡°Hi, guys.¡± ¡°Hello!¡± Woojoo greeted the cast members warmly in front of the hall of the Sangam-dong Hotel. They all loosened up while the trailer with the highlights of the first episode yed on the scene. Then the staff on the scene gestured for them to enter. -They are the hottest rookies of 2014, who have swept the idol scene. They are New ck! They entered the hall following the MC¡¯s introduction. Behind them, cameras on tripods shed, and in front of them, photographers with cameras snapped away. They all smiled brightly and posed in front of the photo wall prepared on the stage for ¡®Challenge, Legendary Song Discovery Team!¡¯. ¡°One, two, three.¡± ¡°Hello, we are New ck!¡± They turned their bodies sideways and put their hands on each other¡¯s shoulders for a group photo. They also clenched their fists and shouted ¡°Fighting!¡± together. When they first debuted, he used to wink or whisper to them ¡°Let¡¯s wrap this up, V-sign¡± whenever they had this photo time. But now they didn¡¯t need that. They all knew what to do. Every 2-3 seconds, when Woojoo struck a pose, the members followed him perfectly. -Yes, shall we proceed with the group photo time? After the individual photo time from the lowest seniority, they gathered with the senior singers and cheered together. -Now we will have a Q&A session. If you have any questions, please raise your hand. The twelve cast members and the CP and main PD of the program sat on makeshift chairs in a circle. Woojoo politely bowed and sat down on the floor, and their members quickly followed his posture. Good. His kids were doing well. Woojoo smiled so much that his cheeks hurt, as the cameras kept shing throughout the Q&A session. He wondered if he would look like a mask dancer after this was over. Most of the questions about the program¡¯s nning and concept were handled by the CP and the main PD, and the other senior singers also answered quite a few questions. They also got called by their names from time to time. -Song Bohyung is a trot singer. Lisa is a musical actress. New ck is an idol representative. How do you feel aboutpeting with the senior singers? Interpretation: If you don¡¯t deny it, I¡¯ll write an article with the title ¡®New ck, the idols who are excited and thrilled to represent the industry¡¯. Woojoo held the microphone and smiled softly. ¡°We don¡¯t think we are the representatives of the idols. We are just honored topete with other senior singers as junior singers.¡± Baek Sunghyun, the PD, nodded his head with a satisfied expression next to Woojoo. Bijoo took the microphone next. ¡°We learned a lot from the seniors¡¯ stages while participating in thispetition. There were so many amazing stages.¡± Well done. Their second. Bijoo finished with a shy smile. ¡°So, I have a favor to ask you¡­ Can you please watch the show live¡­?¡± The reportersughed at the timid and cute request of their second youngest. The members gave them a cold stare every time they asked weird questions, as if they learned from what he did at thest showcase. -Well, since you are an idol singer, there are some reactions that question your vocal skillspared to other singers. Interpretation: If you don¡¯t deny it, I want to attract some attention with a headline like ¡®Oveing the limits of an idol singer¡¯. When Woojoo was about to step in for the sensitive question, Rihyuk intervened with a good sense. He had a business smile on his cold face. ¡°I think those reactions are not because of what kind of singers we are, but because we haven¡¯t had a chance to show you our good side yet.¡± He said with a serious face, ¡°So please watch the live broadcast for that reason¡­¡± ¡°Live broadcast!¡± They all shouted ¡°live broadcast¡± together andughter erupted from everywhere. The CP of the program smiled with a pleased face and covered his mouth with his hand. The other cast members also looked at them with a cute expression. But even after Rihyuk gave a sufficient answer, the questions about their skills continued. He kept giving standard answers every time, but there was no sign of an end. When someone asked if he could sing a verse of a song here, Cha Woohyun, their senior, stepped in. -These kids are good. I know. He said briefly and firmly. -I don¡¯t think what kind of music you do is an important issue in a ce where youpete with your skills. Cha Woohyun, who had the strongest voice in this ce, blocked the question and smiled softly. -So if you¡¯re really curious, watch the live broadcast with us. When they all shouted ¡°live broadcast¡± together, the atmosphere that was about to get stiff softened. Woojoo guessed that there were quite a few people who were dissatisfied with them being here, judging by how many questions rted to their skills came up. Seokhwan Hyung told him not to read thements, so he didn¡¯t, but he could imagine what kind ofments they were just by listening to the reporters¡¯ questions. Honestly, he wasn¡¯t very happy every time he got a question, but he answered them kindly with a bright smile. This was a problem that time would solve anyway. When the first round of thepetition came out, the talk about their skills would disappear. Besides, the PD said he would show them a reversal during thepetition, so he left out their song scene in the highlight preview, so there was no way to avoid the questions mixed with doubt. That was why they just smiled leisurely, knowing the result of the first round. ¡°Don¡¯t worry about the questions earlier.¡± After the press conference. On the way back to the dorm, Seokhwan Hyung said with a smile, ¡°You just have to wait until next Sunday. By then, the articles will suddenly change their tone and pour out. It¡¯s a process of making them wait. These reactions will changepletely when the broadcast goes out.¡± They all nodded. Jiho smiled brightly as if he was imagining something happy. ¡°Right. Let¡¯s all imagine. If we wait for a week, they¡¯ll say ¡®New ck caused a sensation¡¯.¡± ¡°Hey. That¡¯s a bit of a weird expression. Let¡¯s just say ¡®we did a good job¡¯.¡± ¡°Rihyuk has prepared ament for the interview on his smartphone. ¡®We are prepared rookies¡¯¡­¡± ¡°What? Hyung, how did you see that?¡± Woojoo had a pleasant conversation with his younger brothers. They all had the same thoughts in their heads. Let¡¯s wait for a week. Since they already won first ce, it didn¡¯t matter what the reaction was now. That was how he thought about the first episode of the Song Discovery Team on Sunday. ¡°¡­Hm? Director.¡± Their eyes turned when Minki Hyung, who was in the passenger seat, made a serious expression. ¡°Look at this, Director.¡± ¡°What is this?¡± The car stopped briefly at a red light. They all approached and peeked their heads at Minki Hyung¡¯s smartphone screen. ¡°¡­?¡± It was a best post on an idolmunity. ¡°New ck Live Controversy¡­?¡± Woojoo didn¡¯t understand what it meant, so he focused his eyes. The video in the post was their event fancam that took ce on Saturday and Sunday. Chapter 215: Chapter 215: Trantor: MarcTempest Editor: Rxel Chapter 215 Lemon Entertainment PR Team. As the first broadcast of PBS¡¯s Challenge, Legendary Song Discovery Team! was approaching, Assistant Manager Hong Seoyoung, who was monitoring the inte, frowned. ¡®What the hell.¡¯ It was because of the posts that popped up on the idolmunity. -New ck, who is scheduled to appear on thepetition show, recent live.youtube -New ck¡¯s vocal skills that are being criticized now-Newbie idol who is used of cking off on practice There were negative posts everywhere. She was incredulous. ¡®How dare they question our kids¡¯ live performance?¡¯ There was no way they could say they couldn¡¯t do it, even as a joke. But the inte atmosphere was different. -Wow¡­ Didn¡¯t they promote themselves with their singing skills at first? -They used too much AR -Their skills are exposed in the live performance -I thought they were good at singing because they were in apetition this time¡­? They sound like they would crack if that was their usual level? It was as if they were saying that they had cked off in practice and lost their skills. Or they were doubting if they had the talent topete in the first ce. It was a ridiculous story. But it was the video of the event on Saturday, when the members had bad throat conditions and had to rely on a lot of AR. And because the sound system was uneven, they ended up doing a live performance on Sunday, and it looked usible when they posted the fancam as evidence. ¡°What are you looking at?¡± Nam Seokwoo, the deputy, stuck his head out from behind the partition. Assistant Manager Hong answered briefly. ¡°Someone¡¯s writing a bad article about our kids.¡± ¡°What¡¯s there to criticize about New ck? I might understand if it¡¯s about giarism. But there¡¯s really nothing.¡± ¡°Look at this.¡± ¡°Oh, it¡¯s really about giarism.¡± Deputy Nam chuckled. ¡°A controversy over their singing skills. That¡¯s the most absurd and funny thing I¡¯ve heard recently.¡± Deputy Nam spoke admiringly as he skimmed through the article and thements. ¡°The Souffl¨¦s are really something else. Look at them fighting back with theirments. But¡­¡± ¡°The other side is too strong.¡± In the real-time controversy posts, the fans of New ck were showing their fighting spirit. -They¡¯ve been famous for their vocal skills since their debut, what nonsense are they talking about -Don¡¯t they see how the other idols are in bad condition after the Dolympics? They keep trying to rig it -((((New ck)))) -Why do I have to waste my precious weekend on this kind of forced controversy¡­ I¡¯m so angry I¡¯m rolling back and forth Souffl¨¦ was the rookie group with thergest scale and much more fans than any third-year idol group. But it was not enough to stop all those who had been looking down on New ck until now. It was because the other side was stubborn and ignorant. No matter how much they exined and uploaded the fancams, the other fans acted like they didn¡¯t know and leftments as if they were ordinary people. Deputy Nam bit his tongue. ¡°New ck is really hot. When they entered the top tier with Scarlet, the Girls on Top fans went crazy. Most of the rumors about them came out then.¡± ¡°But back then, the fight was more even. Now we¡¯re losing too much.¡± ¡°That means there were a lot of people who had been waiting for them all this time.¡± Assistant Manager Hong nodded silently. The purpose of the post that was circting in the idolmunity was to check New ck. The Rookie Award grand m. The rookie idol group that beat the top boy group TNT and won first ce in thest week of the month. They became a hot topic every time they appeared on major variety shows, and now they were about to be regrs on a weekend terrestrial broadcastpetition program. It was the result of what they had achieved in less than nine months since their debutst June. But as the light was brighter, the shadows were bigger. Those who had been jealous of them all along were hiding here and there, and slowlying out one by one. Just like now. Deputy Nam asked, ¡°Who do you think is writing thosements right now? TNT? Or other rookie idol fans?¡± ¡°I think it¡¯s both.¡± TNT fans had a stake in it, too, after losing the first ce to New ck and hearing the decline rant. But they were joined by those who had been sending jealous nces at them. It was a festive atmosphere, more than the truth of the matter, because they had something to tease them about. Honestly, among those who wrote thements, there was no one who really thought New ck was bad. They were a group that made headlines with their skills atst year¡¯s awards and year-end stages. ¡°Well, it¡¯s not necessarily a bad thing to see it¡­¡± ¡°Right. It¡¯s proof that our kids have entered the mainstream for real.¡± The truth was, they could always make something to tease them. Just one capture of their expression can cause a controversy in nanoseconds. But until now, there was no need for that. New ck¡¯s recognition and poprity were rather low. The reason why it came out at this time was because New ck is on the rise and bing mainstream. Meanwhile, unlike the Souffl¨¦s who were fighting in thements, the promotion team staff wereughing. ¡°I don¡¯t get it¡­¡± Assistant Manager Hong snorted. ¡°Why are they promoting us?¡± ¡°Exactly. This is free publicity.¡± The more they provoke them like this, the more other idol fans would watch the show to see how good they were. And when the first round resultse out, all the work they were doing in the idolmunity would backfire. They were genuinely curious about the expressions of those who were writingments with excitement when New ck beat Cha Woohyun and Jo Yuri Band and became first. ¡°Well, I get it.¡± Deputy Nam chuckled. ¡°They write these posts because they don¡¯t think New ck will do well in thepetition. If they knew we would be first, they would never write them.¡± They were known as talented rookie idols, but their skills were not as highly rated as their performance in the Song Discovery Team. This would change their image once and for all. ¡°How¡¯s the general public¡¯s reaction?¡± ¡°It seems like only the idolmunity is talking. It¡¯s a storm in a teacup, you know. The public doesn¡¯t have any expectations anyway.¡± The general public was quiet, contrary to the idolmunity where the bashing was going on. It was because they had no expectations for their skills. Of course, there were some who were unhappy with the fact that idols were appearing, but that would change after the first round. Nam smiled and said, ¡°You should prepare too. It¡¯s going to be busy when the kids go on air.¡± ¡°Of course.¡± She smiled and said, ¡°The problem is time¡­¡± The first broadcast this Sunday was the story of New ck members finding Teacher Noh Jaehyun and discovering a masterpiece. The first round broadcast was the next Sunday. It was a pity that they had to wait a week until then. ¡®I¡¯m worried about the kids¡¯ mental state.¡¯ She heard that the members saw the post and wondered if they were okay. Click. The office door opened and Director Yoon Seokhwan came in. The man with his usual calm face came straight to them. ¡°I got a call. Nothing happened, right?¡± ¡°Yes, we¡¯re being polite, but it doesn¡¯t seem like a problem that needs a special response. Just a day or two of noise.¡± She asked, ¡°By the way, how are the kids? Are they okay?¡± ¡°Yes.¡± Director Yoon smiled and said, ¡°They were a bit dumbfounded, but they didn¡¯t seem to care much. They were only worried about the fans.¡± ¡°I¡¯m d. I was worried.¡± ¡°But¡­¡± But? ¡°After that, the kids seemed to be a bit feverish¡­¡± ¡°Why? What¡¯s wrong?¡± ¡°They worked harder¡­¡± ¡°More than usual?¡± She was momentarily stunned by the words that they worked harder than usual, when they already gave their all to every schedule. ¡°¡­¡± ¡°¡­¡± She flipped through the calendar and asked, ¡°Today is that, right? The emoticon shooting.¡± ¡°Yes, the shooting site atmosphere was no joke until a while ago.¡± ¡°¡­¡± She had a vague idea of what the shooting site was like. *** ¡°Shall we go one more time, Director?¡± ¡°Uh, that¡­¡± ¡°Shall we try a different pose this time? Like this.¡± ¡°Uh¡­ um¡­ haven¡¯t we taken more than ten shots already?¡± Woojoo voiced his opinion as he monitored the video with the director. At first, the director was pleased with their enthusiasm, saying ¡®You¡¯re so passionate!¡¯ But now, he looked at them with a slightly bored eye. Woojoo turned his head to the four minions. ¡°What do you guys think?¡± His siblings answered right away. ¡°Hyung, you need to put more soul into it when you say ¡®I love you¡¯. Think of the camera as your lover.¡± ¡°Hyung, you have to remember the size of the emoticon. Your movements should be smaller to look prettier. How about narrowing your arm angle a bit when you do the hand kiss?¡± Woojoo listened to their opinions once and then looked at the director. ¡°How about this?¡± ¡°Uh, sure¡­¡± The director agreed, thinking that most of the feedback was eptable, and then they did a retake. Today¡¯s shooting was for making messenger emoticons. They posed without hesitation in front of the green screen set up in the center of the studio, prepared for the emoticons. ¡°Woojoo Hyung, your heart is thumping!¡± ¡°Thump!¡± As his siblings cheered, he posed in front of the camera, pretending that his heart was thumping¡­ no, pounding. ording to the script, the text ¡®My heart is racing¡­!¡¯ would be added to this emoticon. They nned to release their emoticons in two ways. First, they would release the ones with poses like this. Then, they would edit and release the funny scenes that happened in the reality show. The second one was nned to be released around this summer, but he wasn¡¯t sure exactly. They just did their best for the given task. ¡°Rihyuk!¡± ¡°Our red-eared chief is doing great!¡± As Woojoo reminded him of the time when he wore the Stone Age costume, Rihyuk gave them a tingling look. He would alsoe out as an emoticon with a ¡®tingle¡¯ and a wink. The rest of the siblings also did their shooting. Junghyun took a shot of him pping with a stern face, and Bijoo made a ¡®sob¡¯ face. Whenever one of them took a shot, the other four gathered and monitored it diligently. Woojoo stretched with a satisfied smile. ¡°Ah, it feels good to work and relieve some stress.¡± ¡°Right? Now, let¡¯s go eat some spicy rice cakes or something after we finish. Spicy food, anyone?¡± ¡°No.¡± Woojoo shook his head. ¡°Let¡¯s eat spicy rice cakes after we finish our schedule in Shanghai tomorrow. If you want something spicy, I¡¯ll buy you hot pot.¡± ¡°Hot pot¡­!¡± Their youngest spread his wings of happy imagination in his head. Then he put his hand on Woojoo¡¯s shoulder and rubbed it. ¡°Ah¡­¡± ¡°Hyung. How about we eat spicy rice cakes today and hot pot tomorrow?¡± ¡°No. ¡­Hey, are you trying to cheat me with your rubbing?¡± Woojoo frowned as the youngest started to squeeze him hard. But what could he do? His shoulders were already as tense as Kim Deoksoon¡¯s. He wanted to brag to his grandmother¡­ No, she would scold him if he told her. Woojoo was stressed too, and he craved something spicy, but they had to leave the country early tomorrow morning. They couldn¡¯t go to the airport with a swollen face like a steamed bun. The guy who failed to get his permission shed his eyes at Bijoo. ¡°Bijoo Hyung, can I have just one piece of tteokbokki¡­?¡± ¡°Do you want me to make you royal court tteokbokki for dinner?¡± ¡°¡­¡± Woojooughed at the sight of their youngest closing his mouth. Meanwhile, in the center of the studio, Junghyun was doing a great job with the emoticons. He was good. Their beetle. ¡°Puhaha!¡± They all burst intoughter at Junghyun¡¯s ¡®serious¡¯ expression as he made a V sign. The weekend schedule was an overseas showcase. It was the second time they presented our New ck to the foreign audience, following Taiwan. This time, the stage was Shanghai. ¡°Wow!¡± They took a ne at dawn and arrived in the morning, and hundreds of people were waiting for them at Pudong International Airport. ¡°Hello!¡± They greeted the overseas Souffl¨¦s with joy. ¡°Ah!¡± ¡°Be careful!¡± ¡­It was hard. Some people suddenly grabbed their bags or luggage. Woojoo almost had his arm caught by someone too. Like in Taiwan, they were distracted by the hands that flew from everywhere as they greeted them. Thankfully, they were able to get out safely with the help of the local security. ¡°Wow¡­¡± Woojoo was amazed by the heat that he felt from the airport. Taiwan was like that too. And here, they had more fans than they thought. It wasn¡¯t strange to have hundreds of people gather considering the poption, but it was nice to get such a response even without any special overseas activities. With that in mind, they busily went through the schedule on Saturday and Sunday. They did a photo shoot and an interview for a fashion magazine. They met with an entertainment news program from Shanghai TV and did an interview, and on another regional broadcast, they went around and ate the famous foods here with the guests. There were quite a few appearances and events that were usually possible only with Chinese members, but they were possible because of Woojoo¡¯s fluent Chinese. ¡°Did you live in China, Woojoo? You¡¯re so good at it¡­?¡± ¡°You look like a Chinese, too.¡± ¡°Why did you learn Chinese?¡± Woojoo said he had learned Chinese because he wanted to work in the world, and they nodded, saying, ¡®Chinese is essential after all.¡¯ Woojoo just smiled silently. His younger brothers were also able to have simple conversations, so they were able to get a lot of content from the local broadcast. After finishing the busy events on Saturday, they had a showcase with the Chinese fans at a fairlyrge concert hall on Sunday afternoon. It was simr to the one in Taiwan. They had a Q&A time and an event, and after Junghyun¡¯s prepared rap performance and Bijoo¡¯s solo dance, Woojoo sang Starlight, arranged in the local version, as the finale. ¡°¡­Wow.¡± In the hotel room, Woojoo was busy working on the songs with hisptop or practicing thepetition songs with his brothers. ¡°When did we get here?¡± Woojoo came to his senses and he was on the ne. He shared a strange feeling with his brothers. ¡°I feel like my sense of time is really weird, Hyung.¡± Bijoo said, ¡°It feels like it was yesterday. But it¡¯s today.¡± ¡°And when we open our eyes, it¡¯ll be tomorrow, right?¡± ¡°¡­That¡¯s why, you know. I feel like my head is all messed up.¡± But on the other hand, he felt good. It was the life that most celebrities dreamed of, spending the day in a rush with the schedules that piled up. They were the kind of people who got sad when they had nothing to do. -Ladies and gentlemen, hello. Thank you for using Cloud Air today¡­ Woojoo clenched his armrest as he listened to the captain¡¯s pre-takeoff announcement. He couldn¡¯t get used to this damn ne no matter how many times he experienced it. It was fine once they took off, but every time theynded or took off, his chest was anxious and cold sweat ran down. Woojoo could still see the scene of the ne crash that his parents were on. Considering that most of the ne crashes happened during takeoff ornding¡­ No. He shouldn¡¯t think about that. He closed his eyes slightly and took a deep breath. This life¡­ ¡°Hyung, we¡¯ve arrived.¡± ¡°¡­?¡± What, what was this? ¡°And Rihyuk Hyung said you should wipe your mouth. You look horrible.¡± ¡°Shh¡­ okay.¡± Woojoo must have been so tired that he drooled in his sleep. He wiped his mouth with a blurry vision and looked at the scenery of Incheon Airport under the gloomy evening sky. ¡­They really arrived. It was a chance to experience how powerful the sleepiness was. This was not bad¡­ Bijoo put a sunflower pillow around his neck as he got up and said, ¡°Hyung.¡± ¡°Hmm?¡± ¡°You¡¯re not going to stay up for days before taking a ne from now on, right?¡± He must have read Woojoo¡¯s expression. He felt embarrassed by Bijoo¡¯s words, but he pretended to ignore them and managed his expression. ¡°Yawn¡­¡± Everyone looked fresh after sleeping well, but Woojoo couldn¡¯t help wearing a mask with a face like a boiled cabbage. Now, if they went to the immigration hall, as usual¡­ ¡°Huh?¡± They stopped walking as we passed through the immigration gate. Something different caught their eye. ¡°Reporters¡­?¡± There were several times more reporters with cameras than they usually saw. Woojoo didn¡¯t understand at first. Why did there look like there were so many¡­? They just came back from their overseas schedule as usual. Woojoo wondered if there was anything special to report. ¡°¡­?¡± Something shed in his mind. It was Sunday evening. It was the day of the first broadcast of ¡®Challenge, Legendary Song Discovery Team!¡¯. Chapter 216: Chapter 216: Trantor: MarcTempest Editor: Rxel Chapter 216 Woojoo was d he was wearing a mask. Otherwise, his stunned face would have been stered on the inte news article photos. ¡®What¡¯s going on?¡¯ ¡®What is it, Hyung?¡¯ His kids stuck to him with confused eyes, so he whispered ¡®Song Discovery Team¡¯ to them. Soon, they had ¡®Ah¡­!¡¯ expressions on their faces.As Woojoo expected, the reporters gathered here seemed to be because of the Song Discovery Team. ¡°Did you watch the show?¡± ¡°How was it today after watching the show?¡± ¡°Hey, buddy. You have to answer when someone talks to you.¡± Unknown reporters approached them. They were mostly from small media outlets, and they just bowed their heads and said ¡®Thank you¡¯ to their questions. They had nothing special to say. They hadn¡¯t seen it yet. They kept shouting ¡®Watch the original broadcast!¡¯ at the press conference, but they couldn¡¯t say ¡®We haven¡¯t seen it yet because of our schedule¡¯. It might be different if it was arge media outlet like Entertainment IN, which they often met with. Small media outlets were the ones to be most careful of in the industry. The big ones would coordinate their articles with the agency¡¯s PR team unless it was a scoop or a serious scandal. The small ones didn¡¯t care. They wrote whatever they heard, whether it was a rumor or not. The reporter who wrote a ridiculous article about Woojoost Chuseok was also from a small media outlet. ¡°Thank you!¡± They finished greeting them and quickly went outside to the first floor and got into the parked vehicle. ¡°Whew¡­¡± They were only serious for a moment when they got into the car. As soon as the door closed, they all took off their masks and made a fuss. ¡°What is this? What is this? What is this?¡± ¡°Hyung, the reporters¡­¡± ¡°Seriously. Why are they all gathered here?¡± They smiled smugly, like attention seekers. At first, Woojoo was going to ask the manager Hyungs, but they were on the phone with the PR Team, so he searched online. While the cool breeze came in through the window as they drove across the Yeongjong Bridge, five smartphones shed in the dark. And then. Ziiing- The phones vibrated like crazy, as if the five-member rock band was headbanging. When they turned off the airne mode, the messages and notifications that had been piled up until now popped up. ¡°Wow¡­¡± There must have been something. It was simr to when they appeared on Patissiere Korea, no, even more messages were piled up. They nced at the messages and looked at each other. ¡°Hey, this is getting a lot of good feedback, isn¡¯t it?¡± ¡°I wasn¡¯t expecting much from today¡¯s first broadcast. Thepetition is next week anyway¡­¡± Rihyuk showed his phone and said, ¡°But look at this. It¡¯s a lot.¡± It was enough that the guy who was famous for having a narrow social circle among them kept getting messages on his phone. Well. But their kid had so many acquaintances¡­ ¡°What is this? Why do they keep talking to me when we¡¯re not close?¡± ¡°¡­¡± ¡°I can¡¯t do this. I have to add them to the block list.¡± Well, that was that. Woojoo looked at him with half-giving up eyes and turned on the inte. Meanwhile, Woojoo kept hearing Minki Hyung¡¯s voice in the passenger seat. ¡°Really? Really? ¡­Oh, really? Yes, yes.¡± He was talking to Seokhwan Hyung, who was in another car, and Woojoo was curious what they were talking about. But the question was soon answered. As soon as he entered the entertainment section of the portal, the title caught his eye. -Today¡¯s first broadcast ¡®PBS Challenge, Legendary Song Discovery Team!¡¯ ¡­ No. 1 in the same time slot When Woojoo clicked on the article, the first thing he saw was ¡®With a rating of 11.6%, it beat HBS¡¯speting program and ranked first in the same time slot¡­¡¯. ¡°Wow¡­¡± ¡­This was crazy. His heart thumped. Nationwide rating of 11.6 percent. That was a lot. It was only because Around the World With Dice maintained a crazy average rating of 20% that the second-ranked variety show, PBS¡¯s ¡®Mr. Producer¡¯, was still hovering around 15%. But the new and less-known variety show had 11%. It was a great result for the first episode, considering how much PBS had poured out promotional materials. ¡°Wow¡­¡± ¡°Are you looking at the same article as me? It says it got 11% from the first episode.¡± ¡°That¡¯s amazing, isn¡¯t it?¡± Woojoo felt unreal for a moment. He pressed down on his trembling fingers and scrolled down. He focused on the part that started with ¡®The highlight of today was the meeting between New ck and the veteran singer Noh Jaehyun.¡¯ [ ¡­The awkward meeting between the rookie singers and the veteran singer quickly turned into a warm and friendly atmosphere. They looked like a family as they did chores together, and they had serious conversations about music that transcended age. It left a deep impression¡­ ] The praise continued on and on. Woojoo felt strangely embarrassed. They were just doing their job, but there were all kinds ofpliments attached to it. There were stories about other singers in the middle, but the focus of the broadcast and the article was on them. Woojoo could hear his heart pounding in his ears. ¡°¡­¡± He swallowed his dry saliva and scrolled down the article with the broadcast captures to thement section. He gulped again at the number of 683ments. Should he look or not? He was worried that there might be some hatefulments. He fiddled with the ck goat soup AI ad between the article and thements, and made a decision. Let¡¯s see. The reporter wrote the article with a ¡®?they did well today!¡¯ tone, so there wouldn¡¯t be any insults below, right? The best-rankedments came into view. -It was unfair how I had a prejudice against them because they were idol singers. They worked hard and it was nice to see. ¡­That was apliment. Woojoo swept his chest and skimmed the rest. -Don¡¯t know about their skills, but the kids looked kind. -It was decent for the first episode. -My mother is a fan of Noh Jaehyun and she really liked today¡¯s broadcast. It might be a healing show for her. -The editing style seemed to appeal to the adults. My father watched TV for the first time in a while??. -Looking forward to next week¡¯spetition. -I liked the way they gave the story before thepetition. It was my taste. They did a good job of capturing the charm of the show, where the viewers can see the intention of the song and the meeting between the original singer and the performer. Woojoo understood what it meant when the article said that the ratings of thepetitive show didn¡¯t drop much. Unlike HBS¡¯spetitive show, which was full of 2030¡¯s tastes and inte memes, this show seemed to attract the attention of the parents¡¯ generation who didn¡¯t watch TV much at the same time. Something that the whole family could watch, something that the adults could enjoy. Thements were better than Woojoo expected, too good. There were positive reviews about the program in general, but more than anything, there were goodments about them, the performers. ¡°Hyung, why do you look like that?¡± ¡°¡­¡± But there was a reason why Woojoo couldn¡¯t smile at thesepliments. It was because of thements that took up half of the best. ¨C??, Non-Alcoholic Drinks? -Today I watched it with my family andughed so hard at the Non-Alcoholic Drinks, haha ¨C??, the Non-Alcoholic guy and the sleepyheads -I teared up because of the background music and grabbed a tissue, but I wiped the saliva that came out fromughing -I was watching it seriously and then burst outughing ?? -Today, it was Jenmin who carried the show Woojoo looked at the ceiling. ¡°¡­¡± Why was he like this? He should be happy, but this burning feeling in his throat. The feeling of bing ¡®the idol who thought he was drunk after drinking non-alcoholic drinks.jpg¡¯ in front of the whole nation¡­ It was fresh. It was thrilling. It was not good. The night view and the neon sign boards that came in from outside looked blurry. ¡°Hyung, cheer up.¡± Bijooforted Woojoo from the side. ¡°Thanks to you, Hyung, we made a ck history and got on the real-time search.¡± ¡°We got on the real-time search?¡± Junghyun handed Woojoo his phone. The search terms that had fallen out of the ranking after the broadcast ended and some time had passed came into his view. ¡®New ck Woojoo¡¯ ¡®Patissiere Korea Jenmin¡¯ ¡®Non-Alcoholic¡¯ ¡®New ck¡¯ Some people must have forgotten his name and searched for ¡®Patissiere Korea Jenmin¡¯. Woojoo swallowed his tears as he saw ¡®Woo Jenmin¡¯ on the rted search terms on the portal profile. ¡°But why Non-Alcoholic¡­?¡± ¡°People posted a lot of questions on the knowledge board after the broadcast.¡± ¡°¡­?¡± This time, Rihyuk showed Woojoo. [Q. Can you get drunk from non-alcoholic drinks???] Hello. I¡¯m a fifth-grader. I saw a scene where someone got drunk from non-alcoholic drinks on a show today. Is that possible? (Can I use this as a topic for my school science project?) Wow. Even elementary students were interested in¡­ No, that wasn¡¯t it. Then he found one answer that caught his eye. [A. No, you can¡¯t. There are some weird people out there.] Woojoo asked. ¡°Why is this the only answer with a different background color?¡± ¡°That¡¯s because, Hyung. When you log in, the posts you write have a different color, right?¡± ¡°Oh, really? This¡­¡± Woojoo narrowed his eyes as he saw the answer time five minutes ago. ¡°Hey, Seo Rihyuk.¡± ¡°Me, I just satisfied the curiosity of a curious elementary student. It¡¯s not a lie.¡± ¡°You were ndering me on the inte, huh? Come here.¡± As Woojoo stretched out his hand, Rihyuk hid behind Junghyun. Then he whispered to Junghyun quickly, ¡°Junghyun Hyung. Take that old man away.¡± ¡°¡­¡± ¡°No?¡± ¡°Sorry. I only listen to Woojoo Hyung.¡± ¡°¡­¡± Woojoo smiled contentedly. ¡°Junghyun.¡± ¡°Yes.¡± ¡°Bring me that rude crane.¡± ¡°Yes, Hyung.¡± The crane that was caught by the bear pped its wings as it came to him. And he gave it a p. ¡°Ouch!¡± *** At the same time. A Souffl¨¦ in the back seat of a taxi looked at his phone and smiled. ¡®I love it.¡¯ It was because of the reaction of the idolmunity. After PBS¡¯s Legendary Song Discovery aired, the Souffl¨¦s were more confident and posted more sales posts. It was because public opinion had turned around to some extent. The actualpetition hadn¡¯t started yet, but when they introduced themselves in front of the singers, there was a scene where New ck sang a song. Right then, other singers, including Cha Woohyun, praised them, saying, ¡°They have talent, they are really good.¡± Along with the sincere endorsement of the other singers, the song that aired on the actual broadcast was also very excellent. They had good enough skills to make no one question why they were cast. -I can tell it¡¯s a live performance by the sound of their breathing in between;;; -The harmony is awesome -What¡­ Didn¡¯t they say they regressed in their live performance yesterday? -Looks like they deleted it? -Where are those who were biting and bashing them?? -I didn¡¯t read the posts because they were annoyingly fighting with the haters, but they are good -They are good ?? -It¡¯s nonsense to bash them with their skills¡­ Weren¡¯t they famous for their skills here in the first ce? -But there¡¯s nothing to bash them with -They only have ck history -I wasining about their flow being weird yesterday¡­ But they had a lot of diseases too -The ridicule turned into admiration -My parents asked me what their names were, I wish my hometown came out while watching, I also thought the PD edited it well Those who had raised controversy about New ck had disappeared. They erased their posts as if nothing had happened. But thinking of their expressions when they deleted them, unlike when they wrote them with excitement, it made Souffl¨¦¡¯s cheeks twitch. It felt like carbonation was running through his veins. He could still see thements that were shaking their fingers and cursing in thement section, but the impact was zero. ¡®It¡¯s a hit.¡¯ They still introduced the singers, so the production team did their best, they said they would burst when they entered thepetition and stood in front of the audience. He couldn¡¯t help butugh at their ims. He didn¡¯t feel like they would fail in thepetition either. And the public reaction was so good that the antis couldn¡¯t do anything. The sight of Woojoo exining the songs like a genius with sparkling eyes from the song selection. The chemistry of the Non-Alcoholic group, including Rihyuk and Noh Jaehyun. They also highlighted their professional aspects, such as arranging songs and doing housework, including organizing books. -I watched it with my dad for the first time in a long time and the reaction was good -It¡¯s a singerpetition program, but each song has a story, so it¡¯s good, I think it¡¯ll be easier to get into it when I watch the livepetition -My dad¡¯s favorite entertainment show in one episode -It seems like a good show to watch with family, the tone is calm¡­ It was fun anyway. The cast¡¯s chemistry was good too -I¡¯m looking forward to next week?? -I¡¯m thinking of getting my parents a ticket to watch it, but this show will be sopetitive when it airs¡­??? Souffl¨¦s felt proud. Unlike the previous broadcasts where they appeared as guests, this was the first terrestrial entertainment show where New ck became the main character. And it was 11 percent ratings from the first broadcast. And. ¡®There¡¯s something.¡¯ New ck and Noh Jaehyun had good chemistry, but the other singers¡¯ parts were also fun. But looking at the editing direction, it seemed to amplify the anticipation. Every time Woojoo¡¯s arranging scene came out, they skipped it and made him curious, saying, ¡®What is it?¡¯ In the preview, New ck¡¯s appearance was very short. As if hiding the highlight. ¡®I¡¯m looking forward to it¡­¡¯ He had a strong feeling that something was going to explode. When he felt anticipation and happiness that New ck¡¯s public recognition, which had beencking until now, was building up. ¡°Cough-!¡± He was startled by the sound that the taxi driver made from the driver¡¯s seat. The Souffl¨¦ asked the driver, who was coughing as if something had gotten into his throat while drinking water. ¡°Are you okay?¡± ¡°Ah, yes. Well¡­ Cough!¡± He was a taxi driver who let out a hollowugh. ¡°Why are you like that?¡± ¡°The car that was parked next to me just now. I turned my head and the window was open, and there were some weird faces¡­¡± He said that he saw some pale faces in the dark,ughing and dancing a funny dance with their smartphones. It was like a dance of fools. ¡°But they danced well. The young ones were handsome¡­¡± ¡°Really?¡± As he watched the van¡¯s tail lights fade into the distance, the Souffl¨¦ shrugged his shoulders. ¡°What a bunch of weirdos.¡± He finished his sentence and looked at the gif of New ck on his phone with a satisfied smile. *** Wednesday, February 18th. The first day of the Lunar New Year holiday and the day of the second round of ¡®Challenge, Legendary Song Discovery Team!¡¯. ¡°Wow-!¡± It was a hotter atmosphere than the first round. The broadcast had definitely made an impact. It was apletely different vibe from when they came to the public hallst time. -Please wee, New ck! As soon as they entered, a louder cheer greeted them. Every time they grabbed the microphone, curious eyes lingered on them. And sure enough. They also got a great response when they performed first. Every time they danced and sang in bow ties and tuxedos, apuse and cheers flowed from everywhere. Unlike the serious and focusedst time, this time they lightened up the mood of the audience with a fun and cheerful performance, and the reaction was good. The stage quality was also high, but they felt that their poprity had increased. Reflecting that atmosphere, the celebrity panelists also seemed to want to give them morements. The production team also seemed to want to promote them. ording to Seokhwan Hyung, the PD received the ratings chart and it seemed that the ratings had risen slightly when New ck and Teacher Noh Jaehyun came out. The only one who wasn¡¯t happy was Jo Yuri Band, but that was understandable. ¡°¡­¡± Woojoo was a bit embarrassed too. He noticed that one of the cameras that was in charge of Jo Yuri Band had moved to their side this time. Since the rehearsal, Jo Yuri had bitten his lips with an angry face, but they didn¡¯t talk to each other. It was another opportunity to experience the saying that the entertainment industry was cold. After the fiercepetition, a new winner was born today. -The singer who won 37.7 percent of the total votes is¡­ Lisa! Congrattions! The petite musical actress wrapped herself in a red Roman cloak and smiled happily. It was a stage that she had prepared with determination to make up for thest time when the children¡¯s song ¡®Ttolong Ttolong¡¯ was yed. They were also amazed by the stage that involved dozens of dancers when they saw it in the dressing room. ¡°Congrattions, Sunbae-nim.¡± ¡°Thank you. ¡­Oh, thank you, LisaLover.¡± Lisa smiled and looked happy as Minki Hyung handed her a ribboned cookie. ¡°Good job.¡± ¡°Good work, guys!¡± They exchanged greetings after the broadcast ended. The staff had bright expressions unlike the previous ones that were filled with anxiety and nervousness about the ratings. As the saying goes, generosityes from a spacious barn, and the production team¡¯s generosity came from the generous ratings. They were saying goodbye with happy faces when it happened. ¡°Hey, guys.¡± A pleasant voice called them as they walked down the hallway with enthusiasm. They turned their heads and saw a giant man in their eyes. ¡°Oh, Sunbae-nim.¡± It was Cha Woohyun. The senior singer who came in second today approached them with big strides and said bluntly, ¡°I have something to ask you.¡± Chapter 217: Chapter 217: Trantor: MarcTempest Editor: Rxel Chapter 217 As they looked up with wide eyes, Cha Woohyun asked them, ¡°Are you guys interested in OST?¡± ¡°Huh?¡± ¡°OST, I mean. The background music for dramas.¡± No. Woojoo knew that¡­ He was flustered by the sudden question of the senior singer who asked if they were interested in OST. Then he exined. ¡°I¡¯m going to be in the PBS drama OST, and the music director asked me to rmend some singers. I was thinking of rmending New ck if you guys are okay with it. What do you think?¡±¡°¡­Us?¡± They all stared at each other nkly. ¡®What?¡¯ ¡®Us?¡¯ ¡®Why¡­?¡¯ Cha Woohyun was a top-notch singer in the drama OST scene. That was important. These singers carefully chose the dramas they participated in for OST work. They checked the music director lineup. They read the synopsis. They only joined the OST of dramas that thepany staff thought ¡®this will do well¡¯. In other words, the offer they received was ¡®do you want to join the OST of a sessful drama?¡¯ Of course¡­ ¡°Yes, we want to.¡± They sent him a look that said they would do anything if he asked them. Cha Woohyun nodded. ¡°Okay, then I¡¯ll¡­¡± ¡°Excuse me, Sunbae-nim.¡± ¡°Yeah, what is it?¡± Woojoo cautiously spoke to the senior singer who told him to say it. ¡°We really want to, but it¡¯s a difficult decision for us to make on our own. Can we talk to thepany people first?¡± They wanted to do it 500 percent. It was a good opportunity to be on the same album as Cha Woohyun¡¯s drama OST. But there could beplicated interests or behind-the-scenes stories that he didn¡¯t know about. It was difficult to say ¡®Yes¡¯ rashly without knowing the situation properly. ¡°Oh, right. That makes sense.¡± Cha Woohyun agreed and called his manager, saying ¡®I don¡¯t think much about things other than music¡¯. Their side also had Minki Hyung and Dowon Hyung arrive and talk. While the managers were talking business, Bijoo asked, ¡°By the way¡­ why did you rmend us, Sunbae-nim?¡± ¡°You¡¯re good.¡± He looked at them as if it was obvious and said ¡®why¡­?¡¯ as if he was puzzled. ¡°I said it because they asked me to rmend some talented young singers.¡± ¡°Oh¡­¡± ¡°If you¡¯re curious about the specific reason, well.¡± He pointed at them one by one and said, ¡°You have a good bnce of voices as a group. The lead vocal has a wide and solid range. The sub vocal also captures the emotion well. The rap doesn¡¯t stick out of the song and has a good rhythm. The dancer also has a voice that catches the eye.¡± They were embarrassingpliments, but they were said in an objective tone like a robot. As his praise reached them, they all felt their faces heat up. ¡®Good.¡¯ ¡®So good. Sweet. Awesome.¡¯ ¡®I likepliments¡­¡¯ They suppressed their cheeks that wanted to rise to the ceiling. Finally, his thick finger pointed at the pale face. ¡°Isn¡¯t Rihyuk one of the best in his age group? I haven¡¯t seen anyone who sings better than him at neen.¡± ¡°Gasp¡­ Th-thank you.¡± Their kid twisted his body at the praise of the respected singer. His face turned red like tomato juice filling a ss bottle. They all swallowed theirughter. ¡°Then, good luck.¡± After the managers finished talking, Cha Woohyun waved his hand and left, saying good luck. Minki Hyung, who turned his head to them, asked, ¡°¡­Did you like thepliments that much?¡± ¡°No.¡± ¡°Then why are you shrugging your shoulders?¡± They looked at each other and then smiled with a ¡®ahem¡¯ face, shrugging their shoulders. As they passed the busy hallway, Jiho rubbed his stomach. ¡°Ah, I¡¯m hungry. What should we eat forte night snack? How about tteokbokki and sundae for Lunar New Year?¡± ¡°How about chicken?¡± ¡°We had chickenst time, remember? I ate chicken that day because the guys said it would be fine, but my stomach was totally messed-up.¡± It was when they were deciding what to eat to celebrate the end of thepetition with the youngest of the chicken restaurant, who was shouting ¡®no chicken¡¯. They ran into the Jo Yuri Band as they came out of the waiting room. As soon as their eyes met in the air, a feeling of disgust flowed from the eyes of the leader, Jo Yuri. The other band members were simr. Woojoo smiled brightly and greeted them. ¡°Hello.¡± ¡°¡­Hello.¡± The word ¡®hello¡¯ came out as a mushy shape, as if they were chewing their mouths. Whatever. New ck politely greeted as the younger ones and left. Rather, the other side seemed to be more heated by the wless response. From behind, Woojoo heard Jo Yuri¡¯s muttering from afar. ¡°¡­Nothing ever works out.¡± Junghyun shrugged his shoulders and asked, ¡°Why are they so low-pressure than usual? There. ¡­Oh, this is a good rhyme. Low-pressure there.¡± Whileughing at their third one who turned on his phone and took notes, Woojoo agreed with Junghyun¡¯s words. Well, things might not work out. Woojoo wondered if they epted the feedback that the original color was gonest time. This time, they arranged the original song, but they were criticized by the judges for ¡®the singer¡¯s color is too faint¡¯. It was natural to be sensitive to that part, as they became famous as a talented band with lyrics andposition. And they even lost the camera that they originally upied. But Woojoo didn¡¯t understand why they reacted so sensitively when he thought about it. ¡°It¡¯s because of Cha Woohyun.¡± Minki Hyung whispered before they left the broadcasting station. ¡°I heard a rumor from other managers that the Jo Yuri Band had been trying to get into ces like OSTs with their connections since a long time ago.¡± ¡°Ah¡­¡± So that was why they were so nice to Cha Woohyun, when they were rude to other singers at the first meeting. What they wanted came to New ck, who were just sitting still. After hearing the back story, Woojoo guessed the situation. ¡°Well. Let¡¯s leave that story here and¡­ let¡¯s go.¡± Minki Hyung, who was looking outside, pushed the ss door of the public hall with a serious face. A determined back, as if to withstand all the storms that woulde. As in the firstpetition, they saw the fans waiting for us outside. ¡°Hello!¡± They greeted the fans and went out. They were not the only ones who made a name for themselves by appearing on the Legendary Song Discovery. As someone¡¯s face was stained with embarrassment by the people¡¯s eyes,ughter burst out right away. ¡°It¡¯s Manager LisaLover!¡± ¡°Manager-nim! I enjoyed the show!¡± ¡°LisaLover!¡± They were their fans. ¡°¡­¡± Theyughed as they watched the manager almost start running with the key in his hand. *** Lunar New Year holiday. The red part on the February calendar this year was Thursday, Friday, and Saturday. With Sunday and Monday added, it was a five-day break, so the word ¡®golden holiday¡¯ came out before the Lunar New Year holiday. If you took leave on Monday and Tuesday before the holiday, you could rest for as long as nine days. But it was not a holiday for them. It was because of the recording of PBS¡¯s Legendary Song Discovery on the day before and the day after the New Year. There was no holiday concept at the broadcasting station. Once the recording schedule was fixed, it seemed to go as it was unless there was a serious ident. For that reason, they filmed the secondpetition yesterday, and tomorrow, Friday, they were scheduled to record the thirdpetition song draw. Woojoo wanted to go down to Gunsan for the holiday, but the vacation given by thepany was unfortunately the weekend. Woojoo just talked to their Lady Deoksoon on video call and relieved the regret. ¡°Grandma, I miss you.¡± -Yeah. ¡°You know, I was on thepetition yesterday¡­¡± Woojoo was excited to talk, but grandma on the video call just listened casually with a nk expression. Eventually Woojooined. ¡°Hey, Deoksoon. Your grandson is talking.¡± -Hey! Grandma shouted. -Grandson or grandson, you look like you¡¯re not tired of yourself. What are you talking about all morning and falling asleep? ¡°No, I have a lot to say.¡± -Wait until Saturday ande. Saturday. ¡°That¡¯s for then. Now, I have something else I want to say. Why don¡¯t you understand me. Grandma.¡± -Ah, that burn¡­ Woojoo said seriously to his grandma, who was pounding her chest and getting annoyed. ¡°I¡¯ll buy another fur coat this time and bring it with me.¡± -¡­Fur? ¡°Luxury.¡± -Oh, yes. What do you want to talk about, my grandson? The nearby siblings chuckled at the sight of Kim Deoksoon, who was born of capitalism. But as Woojoo continued the story that had been pushed back by saying ¡®listen to me¡¯, he soon had to stop talking. ¡°Ah, where are you going!¡± -I¡¯m going to feed the cat. Bye! ¡°Wow¡­¡± He felt sorry as he looked at the cut-off call. She left him for the cat food. Woojoo really had to talk seriously with that Nabi when he went down this time. ¡°Why do you read that, Hyung? Cat¡¯s inner thoughts.¡± ¡°It¡¯s always a hundred victories if you know your opponent. Junghyun. You have to know your opponent to win.¡± ¡°Oh¡­ Can I see one too?¡± ¡°Here you go.¡± He handed him a book on how to raise a cat and Junghyun started reading. As they read the cat book diligently, Rihyuk, who was turning the cube around on the sofa, licked his tongue. ¡°Magpie, magpie, New Year¡¯s Day~~¡± Their youngest, who had been sitting on the veranda, was looking out the window and singing a sad song. ¡°¡­Why is he doing that again?¡± ¡°Why are you asking me?¡± Rihyuk answered right away. ¡°He¡¯s frustrated because he can¡¯t go out.¡± He was the only extrovert in the team, and he seemed frustrated to stay at home on holidays. Besides, the parking lot on the first floor of the apartment was empty, and wherever you turned on the TV or anything, people in hanbok came out, so it was understandable that their youngest was frustrated. ¡°I want to go home!¡± Jiho made a ¡®nya-ah-ah¡¯ sound on the veranda and the dogs started barking happily on the other veranda. ¡°¡­¡± The youngest pretended nothing had happened with a sheepish face. Soon hey down on the veranda floor and yed a phone game, rolling left and right. He turned on the music and sang a self-made rap, ¡®Everyone in the world is bad, bad, everyone except me is ying¡¯. He took selfies almost five hundred times. He talked to his friends on the phone and said, ¡®I¡¯m with my Hyungs¡­¡¯ and imitated a princess trapped in a tower. ¡°He must be really bored.¡± ¡°Leave him alone.¡± Rihyuk looked at the neatly matched cube and handed it to Junghyun. He was the one who reassembled the messed up cube right away. The morning air was free in the dorm. They all looked very bored. Today, they were supposed to rest and not talk about work or anything, ording to thepany¡¯s order. But they didn¡¯t know what to do because they didn¡¯t rest well. Just lie down and rest? Woojoo read the cat book roughly and turned the TV channels around. Simr holiday programs came into his eyes. ¡°There¡¯s nothing to watch.¡± ¡°When was thest time you watched TV, Hyung? Except for when we were on TV.¡± ¡°I don¡¯t know. When was that.¡± They chatted with Junghyun and turned the channels. They were going to appear on TBC¡¯s Dolympic, which was scheduled to air tonight, and they were going to meet with Bijoo and Jiho¡¯s parents in Seoul and have dinner. But there was nothing to do until then¡­ ¡°What should we do? Should I teach you how topose?¡± ¡°Yeah, what should we do¡­¡± ¡°Did you hear what Hyung said?¡± ¡°I didn¡¯t hear it because it sounded like something I didn¡¯t want to hear.¡± ¡°I see. You did well.¡± After a while of thinking, they looked at Bijoo, who was preparing something in the kitchen. They nodded their heads right away. ¡°That¡¯s it.¡± ¡°That¡¯s them.¡± *** Lunar New Year. A movie theater in Yongsan District. ¡°Excuse me!¡± Yoon Seokhwan made his way through the crowd, holding a box full of popcorn, buttered squid, and c. The theater was bustling with people who came to watch a movie on Lunar New Year. ¡°Wow, there are so many people.¡± He rubbed his sore shoulders and looked for his family. His parents and sister, who seemed distracted, spotted him and asked, ¡°We have to go in now, where are our tickets? Do you have them?¡± ¡°Just a sec.¡± He rummaged through his pocket and pulled out the tickets. He handed out the snacks to his family and joined the ticket inspection line. ¡®Nice.¡¯ He smiled constantly, despite the chaos. How long had it been since he spent time with his family? He had parted ways with the road managersst night, vowing not to contact each other unless one of their idols got into a dating scandal. ¡®I¡¯m not going to think about work today.¡¯ He had deliberately chosen a foreign spy movie, since Lemon Entertainment¡¯s actors were always in domestic movies. He was enjoying his smile when. ¡°Hmm? Seokhwan, aren¡¯t those the kids you¡¯re in charge of?¡± ¡°Oh, you¡¯re right.¡± He saw a sign for a Lunar New Year ginseng event in the distance. There, New ck, wearing hanbok, smiled brightly on the panel and said, ¡®Happy New Year!¡¯ ¡°¡­¡± He was startled for a moment. As he looked at Woojoo¡¯s smile, he felt like he heard a hallucination saying, ¡®Hyung¡­ you have to work¡­ work¡­¡¯ He shook his head and brushed it off. His parents, who seemed unaware of his inner turmoil, spoke fondly. ¡°Those kids don¡¯t seem like the kids these days, they have such good manners. Are they always like that? Do they respect their elders?¡± ¡°Isn¡¯t that Woojoo in the middle? The one you¡¯ve been taking care of since your previouspany. I saw him on TV, he speaks so well. I think Junghyun is the most handsome, though¡­¡± Yoon Seokhwan felt the poprity of Legendary Song Discovery. Especially among the older generation. The program had only aired once, but his parents, who had no interest in idols, were showing curiosity about New ck. Before, they only asked him perfunctorily, ¡®Are you taking good care of them?¡¯ This was the first time they asked him personal questions about the members. Of course, they might feel close to them because they had heard stories about New ck from him, but he thought that other people would have simr reactions if the show continued. ¡®Our kids are making a name for themselves.¡¯ His sister, who was a tutor, also chimed in. ¡°A lot of my students are fans of New ck. They¡¯ve been noticeable sincest winter.¡± ¡°Oh, really? Are New ck kids famous among students?¡± His mother¡¯s tone sounded like she would call them ¡®our New ck¡¯ after a few more weeks of the show. ¡°Ha ha, those kids are also rising up.¡± His father also looked pleased for some reason. As the three of them talked about New ck, rain fell in Yoon Seokhwan¡¯s heart. ¡®Enough with the work talk¡­¡¯ That was when it happened. His phone vibrated briefly. It was a notification from an SNS app that someone he followed had started a live broadcast. It could only be New ck if he followed them. He pressed his finger on the screen with a question mark, and he saw New ck smiling brightly on the screen. -Hi, Souffl¨¦s! They were gathered on the newspaper-covered living room floor, with the ingredients for the pancakes on a te. They started chatting with the fans, saying they had missed them because they couldn¡¯t do a live broadcast for a while. -We need to rest, so we¡¯re resting with you guys. Yoon Seokhwan couldn¡¯t help butugh bitterly. ¡®Guys.¡¯ Tears fell in his heart. ¡®Please, just rest¡­¡¯ **** The Lunar New Year special live with the Souffl¨¦s ended sessfully. They sang the requested songs while making the pancakes. They also offered to counsel the fans who had troubles, and listened to the stories of the student Souffl¨¦s. They had a fun time ying games with penalties. ¡°Bon app¨¦tit!¡± In the evening, they met up with Jiho¡¯s and Bijoo¡¯s families at a barbecue restaurant. The atmosphere was cheerful. Minjun¡¯s eyes sparkled as he said he was going to school this year. Woojoo asked him to promote their History Discovery Team when he went to school. ¡°Tell me if anyone bothers you or bullies you. We¡¯ll send Junghyun to help you.¡± ¡°Okay.¡± Meanwhile, the adults were interested in Legendary Song Discovery and asked questions about the show, including the first round of thepetition. ¡°Woojoo, do you really get drunk on non-alcoholic drinks?¡± ¡°How is Noh Jaehyun in real life? Does he get angry and yell like he did on TV before?¡± ¡°I don¡¯t like that Jo Yuri or whoever he is. He looks weird when he looks at you guys. He doesn¡¯t seem like a good person.¡± They were having such a conversation when it happened. ¡°Oh, look. There they are. There they are.¡± Jiho¡¯s second sister pointed with her finger and we followed her gaze. They were on the TV at the barbecue restaurant. It was the first round of the preliminaries where they faced TNT, the favorite to win this year. The family¡¯s eyes shifted from Woojoo to the screen as they saw him stepping up as the first contestant. The archery range was shown in a full shot. ¡°Wow, that¡¯s farther than I thought.¡± ¡°Woojoo, how many points did you score there? Did you get 10 points? Haha!¡± ¡°Well, that¡­¡± Jiho¡¯s fatherughed mockingly. -10 points! 10 points! -He smashed the camera lens! Hisughter turned into a ¡®¡­?¡¯ expression as he blinked his eyes. Chapter 218 Chapter 218 Trantor: MarcTempest Editor: Rxel Chapter 218 A quiet barbecue restaurant. Jiho¡¯s father had rented the whole ce for them to eatfortably, but there was silence in the barbecue restaurant. ¡°¡­¡± The only sounds were the sizzling of the meat scraps on the grill, the bubbling of the carbonated drinks, and the crackling of the charcoal fire. ¡°¡­¡± When Woojoo shot three consecutive 10s, the family members who were staring nkly at him had a stunned expression on their faces.If it was just a 10, they would have said ¡®oh¡¯ andughed, but it was because his posture was too perfect. Bijoo¡¯s father asked Woojoo, ¡°Are you good at that kind of thing?¡± ¡°I was lucky.¡± Just then, the archery gold medalist on TV raised her voice in excitement. -That guy is not supposed to be here, you know? Look at him. His stance is perfect for his body type. His grip is urate. He¡¯s wless! The family members in the barbecue restaurant looked at Woojoo with awe in their eyes as they praised him. Bijoo¡¯s mother chuckled and asked him, ¡°Woojoo, you¡¯re good at everything except drinking, aren¡¯t you?¡± ¡°Ha ha ha!¡± Woojoo burst outughing. Then heughed again at the gold medalist¡¯s words. -But Woojoo¡¯s expression looks like someone I know. -Who? -There¡¯s a senior among the male gold medalists, Oh Youngjoon. He has that exact expression when he releases, like a trademark. He looks so much like him. Thementator searched on his phone and soonughed. The screen split into two. On the left was Woojoo¡¯s expression after the release, and on the right was the gold medalist Oh Youngjoon¡¯s face. His face was greasier than the sirloin they were eating. ¡°Pff-!¡± Jiho¡¯s sistersughed as if they were spitting out their drinks, and the members and family allughed together. Woojoo alsoughed along, but he felt embarrassed. She was sharp. Oh Youngjoon was the one he referred to the most when he watched archery videos on YouTube. He was the one who won the most Olympic medals among the national representatives of their country. As Woojoo recalled the memory, the game continued. ¡°Oh my, look at our son.¡± Bijoo¡¯s mother held up her smartphone with a happy face and took a picture of her son on TV. Then Jiho¡¯s father also held up his phone. ¡°He¡¯s handsome! He¡¯s so handsome, I don¡¯t know who he looks like, but he¡¯s really handsome. Our son.¡± ¡°He¡¯s handsome because he looks like Mom, Dad.¡± ¡°¡­¡± ¡°Right. Our Jiho is so pretty because he looks like Mom.¡± ¡°Mom, high five~¡± ¡°Zing~¡± Mom and Jiho pped their hands andughed gleefully at dad. Dad, who had a sad expression on his face, quickly melted at the youngest¡¯s aegyo, saying ¡®our dad is the best¡¯. It was like a school sports day. The parents pped and cheered every time Bijoo and Jiho released their arrows and the scores came out. Jiho¡¯s sisters also enjoyed it and fed the youngest meat, and Bijoo¡¯s sister and Minjun searched for inte news with sparkling eyes. Of course, they had a simr reaction to Woojoo. Bijoo¡¯s mother waved a peri leaf and shouted, ¡°Woojoo, fighting!¡± ¡°Honey. Woojoo is here, why are you cheering on TV?¡± ¡°I¡¯m cheering for the past Woojoo. Geez, you¡¯re no fun. Honey, have some sense.¡± ¡°¡­Woo, Woojoo fighting.¡± Bijoo¡¯s father shook the lettuce he was about to wrap and eat, and a loudughter erupted. Woojoo was grateful for their happiness as if they had done it themselves. ¡°Wow, this is really fun. That.¡± Jiho¡¯s father, who was murmuring a scary story like ¡®should I try that at thepany outing?¡¯, asked Woojoo, ¡°Is that something you do twice a year?¡± ¡°Yes. On New Year¡¯s and Chuseok.¡± ¡°I wish you did it more often. It¡¯s so fun.¡± The parents¡¯ eyes saw the Dolympics they were in as a pic. If you only saw the edited version on TV, it would look like a ¡®festival of fans and idols! Wow!¡¯ But in reality, it was a recording where the staff cursed and yelled, and the idols and fans gradually dried up like wet tissues with the lid open. After it was over, they agreed with the members to keep the hard part to themselves and told the family that they had fun recording, and Woojoo was d. Woojoo smiled as he met Jiho¡¯s eyes, who was watching their family p like seals. They nodded at each other. Seeing their excited faces warmed his heart. ¡°Oh, my goodness. I forgot to order more meat. Boss! Can you bring us ten more servings of flower sirloin? The good stuff!¡± ¡°Yes!¡± The boss and his wife brought them the meat with kind smiles. They must have been watching the TV too, as they said: ¡°You¡¯re really good at archery. Are they all your kids?¡± ¡°Yes, these two are our sons. And these are their friends, like our sons.¡± ¡°What handsome boys!¡± They bowed their heads andughed at the boss¡¯spliment. Then, an unexpected remark came out. ¡°I saw you on the rerun of the Legendary Song Discovery show. That was you, right?¡± ¡°Uh¡­ yes. That¡¯s right.¡± ¡°I thought so. I¡¯ve been wondering whether to ask you or not¡­ How about, when you leave, can I ask for your autograph?¡± ¡°Of course. Sure thing.¡± The boss disappeared with a giddy smile, saying he would bring some paperter. When they were left alone, their parents opened their mouths with delight. ¡°Our kids are giving out autographs¡­!¡± ¡°What are we going to do with our son being so tired¡­? Heehee. Mom is worried because our son is famous.¡± ¡°I should have recorded the autograph request on video. Where can I brag about this?¡± Jiho¡¯s dad also burst into a heartyugh. ¡°He¡¯s a celebrity. A celebrity! Hahaha! Our son is going to be more famous than his dad, isn¡¯t he?¡± ¡°Huh?¡± Jiho tilted his head as if he didn¡¯t understand. ¡°I¡¯m already more famous than Dad. Has Dad ever been on the trending list? I¡¯ve been there several times.¡± ¡°Hey, Dad can be on the trending list if he wants to!¡± ¡°How?¡± ¡°Well¡­¡± When his dad was at a loss for words, Jiho¡¯s eldest sister calmly said: ¡°Jiho. Dad shouldn¡¯t be on the trending list.¡± ¡°Why?¡± ¡°Because if he does something that makes him on the trending list¡­¡± ¡°Aah¡­¡± Everyone¡¯s minds shed with unpleasant things, or sensational headlines like ¡°A chicken with four bones in its neck found in one piece¡±. A brief silence. Then, they shared a bigugh for a while and the topic turned to the Dolympics. ¡°What events did you participate in?¡± ¡°Junghyun did futsal¡­? Goalkeeper? Oh, you poor thing. Did they make you the goalkeeper because you¡¯re a freshman?¡± ¡°They just wanted to get the spotlight and made Junghyun do the boring stuff.¡± Junghyun¡¯s futsal story came up. ¡°Woojoo did basketball, huh.¡± ¡°He does everything. Basketball too.¡± ¡°Haha! Did he do anything amazing there? Did he make a three-pointer?¡± Jiho tilted his head and said, ¡°Is my dad a prophet¡­?¡± ¡°Rihyuk is running¡­?¡± ¡°Wow, how can they make a kid with such skinny legs run? Isn¡¯t thepany too harsh?¡± ¡°Exactly. He looks like he has trouble holding chopsticks.¡± Rihyuk said, ¡°No, I¡¯m good at chopsticks!¡± and showed off a bunch of chopsticks, only to drop them on the floor and make a mess. But unlike the family whoughed happily, they just scratched their cheeks with awkward faces. A goalkeeper who doesn¡¯t get attention. ¡®Junghyun scored a goal with a goal kick¡­¡¯ Basketball three-pointer. ¡®He made a three-pointer¡­¡¯ Rihyuk¡¯s running. ¡®He won a silver medal¡­¡¯ They didn¡¯t know what to say, so they just kept quiet. To the parents, a 10-point archery shot was a big deal. It was like there was no other highlight after the movie highlight, or after the archery gold medal climax, what else could there be? ¡°Hahaha¡­¡± They waited for the uing event with an awkward smile. At the same time. The entertainment section of the portal site was uploading news about the Dolympics in real time. -TBC special ¡®Idol Sports Day¡¯¡­ Idol stars gather -¡®Dolympics¡¯ The birth of the next generation archery idol, New ck hits the camera in the archery match -¡®Dolympics¡¯ Rising power vs Next generation dark horse The Dolympics, which boasted 15% to 19% in the early days, recorded 8~10% this Lunar New Year. As the second-generation idols, who had high public awareness, gradually disappeared, the public interest was definitely fading. But the idol fans were still interested. -Please fail¡­ fail -I have a good idea. Let¡¯s get all the TBC executives and PDs together and do the Dolympics. Then they¡¯ll know it¡¯s not right -Don¡¯t the executives like it¡­? -Stop making the idols suffer and cancel it -Why??? Why??? There were more than six idols who were injured this time. There was a girl group member who fell while doing a ry race, and a boy group member who was diagnosed with a sprain after getting a wrong tackle while ying futsal. It was something that happened every year since it started in 2010. That was how bad the public opinion was about the broadcast. But as the broadcast started, the idolmunity was talking about the Dolympics. They each talked about their own idols, but asionally they also talked about other idols. Among them, New ck had a lot of share. -He looks so handsome every time he catches the ball???? -Johnny -My rtives are amazed every time hees on TV -[Breaking] Little mom ¡°My son is as handsome as him¡± ¡­ Family sentiment swaying -[Comprehensive] Cousin oppa ¡°Mom, stop it¡±, Big dad ¡°Even a hedgehog thinks his baby is pretty¡­¡± Controversy raised -?????? Why do the members next to him look more proud every time -I kind of understand that feeling of your nose getting higher ??? -Me too ???? -He¡¯s really handsome in real life¡­ My male fans in my fandom were amazed when they saw him -Ew ?????? What¡¯s with the face synthesis on the gold medal -I crack up every time the fans shake the slogan -It¡¯s like a golden cring -???????????? -But what¡¯s with them giving so much footage¡­? Aren¡¯t they rookies?? The posts kepting up whenever New ck was on the screen. Taking advantage of this, the Souffl¨¦s, who posted ¡®Woojoo Real Experience Pics¡¯ and other things to promote them, and those who protested ¡®Why so much footage¡¯ got tangled up. On the other hand, the footage thing was not forced controversy. It was hard to secure footage for a special holiday program unless you were a big agency rookie, but New ck kept showing their faces. The Scarlet fandom, Curtain, was also dumbfounded. -How can Kyuho have such sales power¡­?? -Kyuho, why did you do that to Scarlet -Does it make sense for the fandom name of a 1st tier girl group to be Curtain¡­ Ugh, I get nervous every time I see his face -Mom: What¡¯s the name of the girl group fan club you like? Me:(awkward) -Kyuho, don¡¯t show your gums One shiny head was enough for them. What else could he do besides buying beef tenderloin? When the fans of the girl group from the same agency were wondering about thepany¡¯s marketing power. The question was soon answered. The leader of New ck, who scored 10 points every time in archery without a single mistake, as if Jumong had descended. The invincible one who shot shells instead of balls. The crazy paper doll in the running preliminaries. And on top of that, Jenmin, who shoot three-pointers in basketball. Thements soon followed. -That¡¯s enough for the airtime. I would agree if I were the PD. -How can they not give them this? -Why are they idols? -I¡¯m praying for them not to get hurt. Please make my wishe true and don¡¯t let my oppa from New ck get hit by the ball. -Did he score a goal with a bicycle kick? -Thementators¡¯ reactions are hrious. -How does he make three-pointers like a vending machine? -Are TNT Taehyun and Jenmin close? They look friendly. -Yeah, he was from TJ too. -Oh, nice. -Why does the white one from New ck run so desperately? He looks like he¡¯s being chased by a robber. ¨C??he looks like the paper man from that anime. -p p! p p! -Wow, he¡¯s really skinny. That training suit is loose on him. As the women¡¯s wrestling began, Scarlet¡¯s overwhelming physicality came out and people¡¯s reactions shifted to the other side. -Is there something in the Lemon Tower at this point? -Baesanimsoo -Who made the joke that he¡¯s watching the sergeant jump at the end of the month evaluation? I keep thinking of it. -Kyuho, you raised a human weapon instead of an idol. -What¡¯s going on in the basement of Lemon Entertainment? -Did they improve the trainees¡¯ breeds or something? -The weak can¡¯t debut in Lemon Entertainment. -Debut (physical) ¨C??what the hell. -He¡¯s the leader there. Ararang¡¯s cosmic fist must be pretty spicy. -If the Lemon Entertainment sign falls off, the hidden ¡®T¡¯ of ¡®Taeryung¡¯ will show behind it. ¨C??are you guys kidding? The final results came out the next day in the second part of the broadcast, but the reaction was already ¡®Lemon will win anyway¡¯. Along with Scarlet, who was famous for being a ¡®sports idol¡¯, New ck also left a big impression as a rising power. And¡­ -How did this happen? -I heard they did well, but the text and the reality are too different. -Other fans: Wow, New ck is good! Souffl¨¦: Of course¡­ (shocked) What is this? -I missed the timing to promote them while watching with my mouth open. -After making a dark history, you¡¯re making history now¡­ This granny is so happy?? -Should we be happy first¡­? -Kyaa (nervous) The fans of New ck were nervous every time the other group fans said ¡®Wow¡­!¡¯. Until the end of the second part of the Dolympic, New ck made headlines several times in the entertainment news. Even their closest family and fans were surprised, let alone the other fandoms. Every time Woojoo looked at the idol-rted websites, he saw reactions like seeing a strange creature with all kinds of jokes. ¡°Son.¡± After the first part aired, Jiho¡¯s father was serious enough to say that. ¡°Don¡¯t ever mess with your brothers and live. Got it?¡± That was how impressive their performance was. Lately, their goal was to get more attention from the public, but they were satisfied with the response from the idol fandom. They came back with a lot of side dishes that Bijoo¡¯s mother brought them and finished the rest of the schedule. After the third round song selection recording on Friday, finally the long-awaited weekend. Woojoo caught a bus from the express bus terminal early in the morning and arrived at Gunsan, which he had been waiting for. ¡°Hehehe¡­¡± He couldn¡¯t help but smile. ¡°Hehehehe¡­¡± As he keptughing, the taxi driver¡¯s eyes turned to the rearview mirror. ¡°What¡¯s the good news?¡± ¡°Yes, I came to see my grandmother.¡± Woojoo said that and used his smartphone as a mirror. He dressed up and his skin looked nice. His siblings said they couldn¡¯t let me go in those clothes and even dressed him up. ¡®Think about it. You already have a noticeable face, but you can¡¯t wear clothes? Then you¡¯ll stand out even more.¡¯ ¡®What¡¯s wrong with these clothes?¡¯ ¡®Hyung. Please throw away that red jumper¡­¡¯ That was why the most expensive clothes he bought were locked in the closet, and the youngest with a good fashion sense put him in a neat gray knit and navy coat. ¡®Isn¡¯t it too boring? How about a scarf?¡¯ ¡®Where did you get that Gryffindor scarf¡­? Ugh! Please, don¡¯t do anything. Nothing!¡¯ ¡®¡­¡¯ After that, the other siblings joined in and set everything from shoes to scarves. Woojoo was grumbling at the time, but when he saw the result¡­ It wasn¡¯t bad. The taxi driver smiled as he put down his smartphone. ¡°Your clothes are nice. And you look like a celebrity with a mask on.¡± ¡°Oh, I¡¯m a singer.¡± ¡°¡­?¡± Woojoo pulled down his mask and promoted himself. Woojoo also asked him to watch PBS¡¯s Legendary Song Discovery tomorrow and jokingly asked him to promote it to his daughter, who was a middle school student. Before Woojoo got off, the taxi driver smiled. ¡°Then have a goodte holiday.¡± ¡°Yes, take care.¡± Woojoo got off the car with a happy smile. His heart was pounding. He felt like he knew how the Souffl¨¦ felt when they came to see them. ¡®Just a little. If I stay here a little longer, I can finally meet Kim Deoksoon in person¡­!¡¯ ¡®In person!¡¯ ¡°Puhaha¡­¡± Woojoo stopped for a moment and covered his mouth with both hands. Despite the cold in mid-February, his cheeks were hot. ¡®Ah. I¡¯m so happy. What should I do?¡¯ Woojoo swallowed the saliva that kept leaking out because of the excitement. He walked with a skip, carrying the luggage in both hands. The sound of his footsteps seemed to sound like Deoksoon Deoksoon. The winter wind also sounded like Deoksoon Deoksoon. The conversation of the customers in the nearby shops also sounded like Deoksoon Deoksoon. As Woojoo passed the street where the restaurants were, he saw the sign of a famous restaurant for white rice in Gunsan. His heart raced as he saw the old sign that said [Soon¡¯s Famous Restaurant]. Woojoo sped up his pace. ¡°¡­!¡± The figure of someone far away zoomed in as if it was a close-up. It was his grandmother. She came out for a while and talked to the people in the nearby shops, and when she felt his presence, Mrs. Kim Deoksoon¡¯s eyes turned to him. Woojoo waved his hand with a bright smile. ¡°Grandma! It¡¯s me!¡± Woojoo ran towards her with a loud cheer. He hugged Kim Deoksoon, who had a bag in each hand and a wide grin on her face. ¡°Grandmaaa!¡± Woojoo rocked his body back and forth, holding his grandma, who was a head shorter than him, in his arms. ¡°Oh my, I can¡¯t breathe.¡± ¡°Just a moment. I want to stay like this for a while.¡± ¡°You¡¯ve grown so big¡­ Anyway¡­¡± She grumbled, but she also patted his back. As Woojoo smelled her familiar scent and felt happy, he turned his head to the stares around him. They were thedies from the nearby shops. Woojoo took off his mask and greeted them. ¡°Hello!¡± ¡°Oh¡­ is that Woojoo? My goodness, you get prettier every time I see you.¡± ¡°You¡¯ve grown up. You¡¯ve grown up so much. It feels like yesterday when you were a baby.¡± Woojoo smiled and said hello to the friendly people from the neighboring shops. They chatted for a bit, but it didn¡¯t seem like anything important. Grandma pped his back and said, ¡°Let¡¯s go inside. It¡¯s cold out here.¡± ¡°Yeah, let¡¯s do that.¡± Woojoo put his arm around Grandma¡¯s shoulder and entered the restaurant. He was happy. He didn¡¯t expect his hometown to be so nice after a year of being away. *** After the grandson went inside the shop with his grandma. One of the restaurant owners nearby widened her eyes. ¡°Who is that? Is he¡­ a celebrity?¡± ¡°That¡¯s their grandson. He¡¯s been famous in this neighborhood since he was young.¡± ¡°Really?¡± The neer, who had just arrived, looked at them with surprised eyes. Someoneughed and said, ¡°Wow, our boss looks so happy. I haven¡¯t seen her like that in a long time.¡± ¡°That¡¯s right. She¡¯s been going in and out since this morning, saying Woojoo wasing.¡± They joked around, and she asked again, ¡°What do you mean? The boss looks happy?¡± ¡°Ah. You must be new here. That¡¯s the expression our boss makes when she¡¯s the happiest.¡± ¡°That expression?¡± She nodded along with everyone else, blinking her eyes and recalling her gloomy face from before. ¡®¡­Was she happy?¡¯ Chapter 219: Chapter 219: Trantor: MarcTempest Editor: Rxel Chapter 219 ¡°Auntie, please take this.¡± ¡°Oh my!¡± As soon as Woojoo entered the store, he handed a gift package to Auntie Sukja, who was in charge of the kitchen. Grandma red at him. ¡°Hey, you just got here and you¡¯re giving her a gift first?¡± ¡°Oh, Deoksoon~¡±Woojoo grabbed Grandma¡¯s shoulder and smiled happily. ¡°Are you jealous right now¡­ Aaah!¡± ¡°You¡¯re sick. You crazy bastard.¡± ¡°Aaah!¡± Woojoo screamed as she pinched his side. The customers turned their heads and nced at them. Woojoo gave them an awkward smile and said, ¡®Hello¡­¡¯ They also greeted him with a sheepish ¡®Oh, hi¡­¡¯ Woojoo said to Auntie Sukja, who was holding the gift package and smiling, ¡°You must have had a hard time dealing with Grandma¡¯s temper while I was gone. It was tough, right?¡± ¡°Your sister¡¯s personality is not normal.¡± ¡°What¡¯s wrong with me, you guys!¡± Woojooughed wickedly and high-fived her. He left the store with Grandma, who had finished preparing. ¡°Hey, Sukja! We¡¯ll leave the store to you!¡± ¡°Sure. Have fun, you two!¡± The cold winter wind ofte February whistled by. Woojoo fixed Grandma¡¯s fluttering hair and wrapped a scarf around her. ¡°Oh, my Grandma is the most beautiful woman.¡± ¡°You¡¯re saying empty words that you don¡¯t mean.¡± ¡°Empty words? They¡¯re words filled with love. Our Kim Deoksoon is the most gorgeous woman on earth.¡± Woojoo patted her back and joked, ¡®Where did your angel wings go?¡¯ Sheughed and called him a madman. Woojoo reached out his hand and said, ¡°Shall we go then~?¡± ¡°Yes. Let¡¯s go together.¡± Their Lady Kim Deoksoon took his hand. The warmth flowed between their wrinkled hands, and the winter wind felt like a warm breeze. They chatted as they went out to the street to catch a taxi. ¡°How¡¯s the store? Is it okay with just Auntie?¡± ¡°Everyone¡¯s gone out to have fun because of the golden holiday. There are no customers. Just a few regrse by.¡± ¡°I see.¡± Woojoo nodded and then Grandma changed the topic. ¡°What about the kids?¡± ¡°The kids?¡± ¡°How are your siblings doing?¡± ¡°They all went to see their families. Like me.¡± Woojoo remembered. Jiho and his family went to their vi for the weekend to roast ms and have fun. He heard that Bijoo and Junghyun were spending time with their families. Grandma asked Woojoo when he told her that. ¡°What about Rihyuk?¡± ¡°Ah.¡± She seemed to be worried about Rihyuk, who lived away from his family. ¡°He packed his suitcase with books and went to a hotel.¡± ¡°Is he spending it alone?¡± ¡°I guess so. He said he didn¡¯t want to go anywhere and told me not to look for him.¡± ¡°That¡¯s too bad.¡± Grandma clicked her tongue. ¡°It¡¯s not good to be alone. Next time youe down for Chuseok, bring him along.¡± ¡°Sure, sure.¡± Well, Woojoo was going to try to talk to him this time, but he dered it first. ¡®Holidays are just social conventions. I don¡¯t care about them.¡¯ When Woojoo ryed his words that he would rather cultivate his mind than be bound by foolish customs, Grandmaughed and said he was sick. ¡°Anyway, Grandma. Today is Deoksoon¡¯s Day. Don¡¯t worry about the other siblings or me. Just think about yourself.¡± ¡°Sure, then where are we going now?¡± ¡°Just a moment.¡± Woojoo took out an A4 paper rolled up like a scroll and tied with a ribbon from inside his coat. He unfolded it and smiled proudly. ¡°Ta-da!¡± It had the title ¡®Filial Master n ¨C Deoksoon is Happy¡î¡¯ and the date course they were going to visit today. It was a n he prepared with Bijoo all night yesterday. Woojoo showed an ambitious smile and asked, ¡°How is it?¡± Soon, a smile burst out of her sullen face. *** It was a perfect day. Moving from one ce to another was as natural as water flowing, and the content was rich. ¡°¡­Can I really buy all this?¡± ¡°Your grandson is young and rich now, Grandma. You can really buy everything from there to here.¡± His grandmother bought the shoes she couldn¡¯t afford because she always saved money. She also splurged at the cosmetics shop. He spent the royalties he earned from Something, Fireworks, Masquerade, and so on without hesitation. At first, his grandmother was skeptical. ¡°Didn¡¯t you overdo itst Chuseok? Are you really okay?¡± ¡°I made a lot of money, you know. Grandma, unless you ask me to buy this department store, I don¡¯t care.¡± That was true. Except for when he did something for the members or thepany people, he had no ce to spend the money he had saved up. That was the money he saved up for this purpose. ¡°So buy whatever you want, Grandma.¡± They collected the things they wanted to buy at the department store one by one. They also stopped by the salon and got an expensive haircut. At first, his grandmother said, ¡°Oh my, I feel like I¡¯m stealing from my grandson¡­¡± and looked around. But soon she hid her happy expression and grumbled. Then they enjoyed the cultural life by watching a movie, and they ate the most expensive steak and pasta. ¡°Oh, it¡¯s greasy. My stomach is so heavy that I¡¯m going to die. I need to go and eat some kimchi and rice.¡± ¡°¡­¡± ¡°Don¡¯t you feel greasy?¡± Woojoo fed her what she wanted to eat sincest time, but she said, ¡°Koreans need kimchi after all.¡± She was their cheekydy. ¡°¡­¡± They moved their lips slightly and walked. The luggage they left at the restaurant and the new stuff they bought were piled up like a mountain, but it was manageable when he shared it with his grandmother. They got off the taxi and walked to the house on a quiet street. Soon, the house appeared. There was a wall stretched out and a slightly rusty iron gate. Creak. The sound of memories that made the hair on his arms stand up. He passed it and saw a simple and cozy two-story house. Woojoo remembered this scenery as he approached the front door. ¡­It was pretty old. It was the newest house in Gunsan 15 years ago, but after time passed, it was an old house without fail. It was the house his dad gave to his mother-inw when Woojoo was seven. While his grandmother opened the door, Woojoo took a deep breath and smelled the winter wind. Time was a strange thing, he thought. The wind he smelled when he was seven was the same, but he had changed. ¡°What are you doing? Aren¡¯t youing in?¡± ¡°¡­Huh? Oh, yeah.¡± It was when he entered the house with his hands full of luggage. Suddenly, he heard a strange sound. Woof! It sounded like a huge dog running fast, and before he could say ¡®huh?¡¯, a slender figure ran on four legs and stopped in front of the entrance. ¡°¡­A cat?¡± Oh. Right. Woojoo was ying with his grandmother and forgot about the creature he had locked eyes with. Its head and back were cheese-colored. Its four legs were like white cotton balls, standing upright. Its tail was sticking up, and its movement was like saying ¡®what, what is it?¡¯ ¡°¡­¡± The cat that was about to pop up in front of Mrs. Kim Deoksoon froze when it saw Woojoo. Woojoo couldn¡¯t tell what the animal was thinking, but he could tell it was flustered. It appealed to his grandmother with its whole body, saying ¡®what is that? what is it?¡¯ ¡°So you¡¯re Nabi?¡± Woojoo felt like he knew how the queen felt when they looked at the concubine that caught the king¡¯s eye. ¡°You¡¯re pretty, I¡¯ll give you that.¡± Woojoo didn¡¯t know how beauty was determined in the cat world, but it was definitely cute in human eyes. But his gaze was cold. The sight of the Nabi that he always saw on Mrs. Kim Deoksoon¡¯s profile. The way it snuggled up in his grandmother¡¯s arms and showed its belly every time they video called. The way Mrs. Kim Deoksoon disappeared in a hurry, saying she had to feed the cat every time they called. ¡°Kim Deoksoon is mine.¡± Woojoo dered confidently and hooked his arm around Mrs. Kim Deoksoon¡¯s. One of the bags he was holding fell to the floor with a ¡®thud!¡¯ and Nabi ran away in a panic at the sound. ¡®I won¡¯ Woojoo smiled triumphantly. Mrs. Kim Deoksoon, who was watching from the side, gave him a look of pity. ¡°You must be so proud of beating a cat.¡± Today, he had time to unpack the gifts he brought from Seoul along with the things they bought at the department store. ¡°Oh my¡­ What is all this?¡± ¡°These are the gifts the kids bought for you, Grandma. This is the clothes that Junghyun and Jiho went out and bought,¡± Woojoo said as he unpacked them one by one. ¡°This is the side dish that Bijoo made for you to eat. He was sweating for days making soy sauce braised beef.¡± ¡°Oh my, how can I thank them enough. Those guys¡¯ families already sent me gifts.¡± ¡°Really?¡± ¡°Yourpany also sent me a gift.¡± Woojoo guessed there was a lot of exchange they didn¡¯t know about. There were boxes of agricultural products sent by Junghyun¡¯s father, and the refrigerator was full of food sent by Bijoo¡¯s mother. And there was a clock gift with the old-fashioned handwriting of ¡®President Wang Hyuntak¡¯. There was also a holiday gift box with a handwritten letter from their President and Director Jo. It said ¡®Thank you for your child. We¡¯ll take good care of him.¡¯ ¡°Our grandma is so popr and nice¡­¡± ¡°Did they give me these because I¡¯m popr? They gave me these because you make money and they¡¯re all saying thank you to me.¡± Woojooughed at his grandmother¡¯s cynical remark. As he unpacked the gifts one by one, his grandmother¡¯s smile exploded. ¡°This is the autographs of the singers you like, Grandma. I got them from the trot singers every time I went to the Night of Music. This is the autograph of Teacher Noh Jaehyun¡­¡± As Woojoo handed over the collection of autographs full of messages like ¡®To Deoksoon, with love¡¯, something fell out of the package. Two neat blue envelopes. The handwriting was neat and tidy. ¡®To Grandma Kim Deoksoon¡¯ and ¡®To New ck Leader Woojoo¡¯ were written on the envelopes, and the sender¡¯s name was visible below. ¡°Rihyuk¡­?¡± ¡°What is that?¡± ¡°I don¡¯t know. Maybe he wrote a letter or something.¡± He must have slipped it in while he was packing. Woojoo opened the letter envelope and a neatly folded paper came out. Grandma and Woojoo unfolded their letters. ¡°To Woojoo Hyung(?)¡± [I¡¯m calling you Hyung(?) because you always sing so much and asked me to call you that. I¡¯m only calling you Hyung in this letter. (Remember that) Seol. It¡¯s a celebration of the first day of the Lunar New Year and a holiday widely epted in East Asia. Honestly, I think it¡¯s a waste to have both the sr and lunar calendars. Anyway, have a good one. Thank you. Hyung. I don¡¯t express it, but I hope you know that all of our members are grateful.] After that, the letter continued with ¡®I¡¯m not usually like this, but I¡¯m telling you this specially because it¡¯s a holiday.¡¯ Woojoo couldn¡¯t help but smile softly. [PS. I wrote a letter to each of the members. So let¡¯s pretend we don¡¯t know. I won¡¯t let you off if you talk about this in the group chat, Seon Woojoo] Woojoo burst outughing at thest postscript that was suddenly urgent. His grandmother, who was slow at reading letters, was still calmly reading the letter. Woojoo didn¡¯t know what it was, but he could tell she liked it. His grandmother was letting out a sly smile. ¡°What a strange thing.¡± Their Seo Rihyuk wrote a letter to thank them. Was itst night when Woojoo went to the bathroom? He was sitting on the sofa, writing something diligently with a light pen. Woojoo thought he was writing a death note, but it turned out to be a letter for the members. It was admirable and heartwarming. As he was thinking that. ¡°¡­?¡± Woojoo felt a persistent gaze and turned to see a pair of round eyes staring at him from between the narrow furniture. ¡®What are you. What are you?¡¯ It looked at him warily. As their eyes met, Nabi stiffened its body. It looked like it was ready to run away at any moment. ¡°Let me see.¡± Woojoo rummaged through the envelope. Woojoo was going to bring it anyway, but where was it? ¡°Ah, I found it.¡± There was a can under the bag of Essential Light cat food that he got after shooting an ad for the feedpany. Pop- Woojoo opened it and put it in a ce that was far enough from him. It stared at him as if it was watching his every move, and Woojoo backed away. ¡°Grandma, did you finish reading the letter?¡± ¡°I did.¡± She had a wistful expression on her face, but he didn¡¯t know what it was about. What did he write? What? Woojoo was curious as he unpacked the rest of the luggage. A presence. No, a meow. Woojoo felt a meow and turned to see the cat cautiously approaching him. It looked at his face curiously. ¡°¡­?¡± It didn¡¯t like it when Woojoo looked back, so he quietly did his work. It circled around him, looking at him. Then, about an hourter. ¡°¡­¡± Woojoo¡¯s body froze and his eyes blinked as Nabi rubbed its head against his thigh. What was this? ¡¾ The Five Misfits (5) ¡¿ [Notice] Rihyuk wrote a letter!!! [Notice] Wang Jiho is behind Rihyuk [You guys are so pathetic] Rihyuk [I wrote a letter with a big heart and you¡¯re making fun of it?] Rihyuk [Just wait and see] Jiho [Eudeu deugeu beu~~~~~] Jiho [(A gif of mocking him.gif)] Bijoo [You did well!_] Bijoo [I¡¯m writing a reply, so I¡¯ll give you a letter when I go back to the dorm] Junghyun [Rihyuk wrote a letter?] Junghyun [Oh, there it is] Junghyun [Is this the one that ends with ¡®Thank you for being my Hyung¡¯?] [Rihyuk left the chat room] [Jiho invited Rihyuk] Jiho [Hyung, the outside world is not easy] Jiho [Do you think you can live on your own if you leave?] Rihyuk [Shut up] Rihyuk [You¡¯re like the representative of the greenhouse nts] Jiho [????????] Bijoo [But why is Woojoo Hyung not answering?] Bijoo [Hyung, what are you doing? I¡¯m curious] Woojoo [Sigh¡­] Woojoo [Guys¡­] Woojoo [I think cats are really strange creatures¡­] [Woojoo sent 37 photos.] Woojoo [Cats¡­] Woojoo [How can they be cats?] Woojoo [They are cute even when upside down.] Bijoo [Hyung?;;;] Jiho [What is this concept?] Jiho [It''s normal for Woojoo Hyung to go crazy once in a while¡­] Rihyuk [Leave him alone, he''ll get tired eventually.] Junghyun [Woojoo Hyung is talking nonsense.] Junghyun [I''m going to eat.] Woojoo [Nanannana] Woojoo [I forgive Nabi and ept it as a Souffl¨¦.] Woojoo [Nabi-ya, Oppa will work hard to earn food~~~!] Woojoo [Meow!] Woojoo [Baa!] [Rihyuk has left the chat room.] Woojoo [Uh¡­] Jiho [????????l] 3 minutester. Jiho [??????????] Jiho [Why can¡¯t I invite Rihyuk Hyung? He cursed me in a private chat] Jiho [Screenshot.jpg] Bijoo [?.] Bijoo [I¡¯ll invite him] ¡°Nabi, do you like me?¡± Meow. ¡°This is a picture of our kids. How do you like it?¡± Meow. ¡°Yeah, they¡¯re not as good as me, but they¡¯re all nice, right? You¡¯re a Souffl¨¦ too, I see.¡± ¡°¡­You¡¯re really sick and tired.¡± Grandma clicked her tongue as she saw Woojoo cuddling the cat while feeding it churu. ¡°I should have bought some cat toys if I knew this¡­¡± Woojoo smiled sheepishly at the sight of the cat wagging its tail in hisp. He liked cats. He felt happy every time this cute and fluffy ball of fur meowed and tapped his body. Should he say it was like a very cute baby? ¡°Ha ha¡­¡± Woojoo caught himselfughing like Jiho¡¯s father and restrained himself. Grandma made a disgusted face, so Woojoo quickly went over and gave her a massage. ¡°Ouch, that feels good.¡± ¡°Right? You have no idea how much I practiced to do this.¡± "I used all the massage techniques I learned from YouTube to loosen up Mrs. Kim Deoksoon¡¯s stiff body. ¡°Ouch¡­¡± As hey down with his eyes closed, he felt someone tapping and massaging his body. Meanwhile, the TV was still on, broadcasting the news. Sunday, 5 p.m. The second episode of PBS¡¯s Challenge, Legendary Song Discovery Team. The second half of the meeting between the original singers and the singers was briefly edited and aired, followingst week. As soon as they entered the public hall, Grandma clicked her tongue at the sight of the crowd. ¡°Wow, why are there so many people here? How many are they?¡± ¡°Probably more than six hundred.¡± ¡°Are they all here to see your face?¡± ¡°No, of course not. Most of them are just here to watch the live broadcast.¡± Woojoo told Grandma some behind-the-scenes stories and interesting facts about the show, as she asked him various questions about it. When thepetition began, Grandma sat up straight and focused her eyes on the TV. She looked so serious, as if she wanted to check out who his rivals were with her own eyes, that he couldn¡¯t help but smile. ¡°How do you like it, Grandma?¡± ¡°You¡¯re really good at this. Are you sure you did well out there?¡± ¡°You¡¯ll see.¡± They were going to be the best out there soon. Woojoo swallowed those words and watched the TV with his grandmother. As Lisa, Yuri Band, Cha Woohyun, Song Bohyung and others performed on stage, the singer who would decorate the finale with the VCR finally appeared. A gentle piano BGM. The caption ¡°South Korea¡¯s No.1 Music Site Mango¡± appeared on the screen, announcing the song. Along with the caption ¡°Life | New ck¡±, the words ¡°Lyrics and Composition: Noh Jaehyun¡± and ¡°Arrangement: Woojoo¡± followed. ¡°¡­¡± Woojoo felt strange. It was the first time he saw himself on TV with his grandmother. His siblings, who were excitedly sending messages a while ago, were quiet. They must be watching this with their families, right? Woojoo followed the slowly moving camera work. A full shot of the public hall. As the intro yed, the camera gradually moved closer, drawing attention. A live band hidden in the dark yed, and beams of light leaked out like shes, tangled messily. Five of them were standing below. Then their faces as they sang the intro. They closed their eyes or smiled softly as they held the microphones. Lisa¡¯s reaction cut was captured as she sped her mouth and said ¡°Oh¡­¡± with a faint voice mixed with breathing. The celebrities sitting in the seats also looked at each other with ¡°¡­!¡± expressions. Their hair colors changed as the blue and green lights switched. The sunset colored the background, as if they were singing in an unreal atmosphere. The harmonies added up one by one. Woojoo also held the microphone with a serious face, devoid ofughter, and controlled his emotions on TV. As he faded away, the screen crossed with Junghyun. Their rapper¡¯s static face as he calmly told the story with his song, looking at the camera. As Junghyun put down the microphone, the focus shifted to Jihoo. The youngest¡¯s face as he nodded his head and sang with emotion. The main vocal¡¯s face as he sang with his hand on his chest ovepped. The original songwriter, teacher Noh Jaehyun, closed his eyes and nodded his head, adding a reaction cut. The bad song that flowed like water. The atmosphere heightened as Bijoo opened his lips with a gentle gesture, soaked in the lights. And then. As they all held the microphones for the chorus, the cheers from the audience burst out on TV. At that moment, something moved wildly on the screen and caught his eye. ¡°¡­?¡± Thement section of the live chat on his smartphone was exploding. Chapter 220: Chapter 220: Trantor: MarcTempest Editor: Rxel Chapter 220 Thement section was shaking like an erupting volcano. -Wow, crazy -Hwayeom, you¡¯re insane -I got goosebumps for a moment Thements were pouring in faster than Woojoo could read. ¡®Are they really rookies?¡¯, ¡®They¡¯re amazing¡¯, ¡®This is the first time I¡¯ve seen idols who are this good¡¯Themunities had simr reactions. -Is anyone watching PBS right now? It¡¯s insane -[Song Master] It¡¯s been a while since I felt chills watching apetition show -They¡¯ll definitely be on the trending search after this ??? -I¡¯m curious about New ck, does anyone know more about them¡­? Woojoo refreshed the page and saw it change every time. They did really well. Woojoo was hoping for it, but he didn¡¯t expect the response to be this good. His siblings were also excited and sending messages. Jiho [Ahhhhhh] Jiho [Our dad is crying] Bijoo [It¡¯s so good] Bijoo [I¡¯m so happy that our hard work paid off¡­] Bijoo [You all did a great job ?] Bijoo [Especially Rihyuk, our family said the part you sang was the best] Rihyuk [What] Rihyuk [Well, that¡¯s obvious¡­ Please thank them for me] Me [Rihyuk, you worked really hard] Me [Our precious main vocal¡­¡î] Woojoo spared Rihyuk the talk about their families, but he could guess the atmosphere in each house. The participants had proud expressions, and the families were looking at the screen with fervent faces. He could vividly imagine the members¡¯ families who were enjoying every cheer on TV. Junghyun [Video] Junghyun [It¡¯s a festival here] Woojoo watched the video of the vigers who were shouting ¡®Wow!¡¯ at themunity hall and burst intoughter. Then Woojoo turned his gaze. This time, to his family. Woojoo looked at Mrs. Kim Deoksoon, who was staring at the TV as if she was going to pierce through it. Woojoo wondered. What would his grandmother think of that stage? How would she feel when she saw him singing there? ¡®Idol?¡¯ Woojoo suddenly remembered a long time ago. ¡®What are you trying to do with idol¡­?¡¯ ¡®No, Grandma will support you whatever you do. But won¡¯t it be hard? Your body too. The industry is a hellhole.¡¯ ¡®If you¡¯re going to do it, don¡¯t feel pressured. If it doesn¡¯t work out, juste back after eating a bowl of curses.¡¯ When Woojoo said he wanted to try being an idol, his grandmother sent him her support and worries. Woojoo also smiled and answered. ¡°Grandma, please wait a little longer. I¡¯lle back sessful.¡± But he never achieved any meaningful results after that. Being a trainee in the country was not easy. The dance trainers would sigh whenever they saw him. Thepany would ssify him as a burden whenever the debut group discussion came up. The staff members of the Rookie Development Team would persuade him to be an actor instead, saying that he didn¡¯t have the idol material. He felt hopeless. Every time he called Gunsan, he would say things like ¡°I¡¯m doing well¡±, ¡°I ate this and practiced that today¡±, ¡°The kids are so nice¡±, but he couldn¡¯t say the most important thing: ¡°When will I debut?¡± Even in that situation, Grandma always supported him. She never asked him how things were going, but always worried about him andforted him, saying that he should do what he wanted. He was so sorry and grateful. Waiting for his uncertain trainee life and supporting him behind the scenes was something that only family could do. For almost 10 years, until Woojoo debuted as New ck, Grandma was his lighthouse and his refuge. The most precious person to him, and the one he had to treat well. That was why he felt regretful. He was doing well as an idol, but he didn¡¯t have many chances to show Grandma his true profession. This was the first time he showed her his pure singing skills without any favors. ¡­That was why he was nervous. The stage on TV was the result of what her grandson had been doing, while she cheered and backed him up. What would Mrs. Kim Deoksoon think after seeing this? As Woojoo nced at Grandma¡¯s side profile, Nabinded on his belly. Meow. He gently scratched the cat¡¯s chin. Kim Deoksoon didn¡¯t have any special thoughts when her grandson first said he was going on a broadcast. ¡°Well, he¡¯ll do fine.¡± He did weird basketball shots on variety shows. He went to the countryside and massaged the shoulders of olddies he didn¡¯t know. He went on cable and wrote video letters to cats. She just thought he had another new hobby this time. But then. ¡°Boss, did you see Woojoo on TV this time? I was shocked when I saw himst night.¡± ¡°I watched the Legendary Song Discovery. Boss, was that your grandson?¡± ¡°Unnie, look at this. Woojoo¡¯sments are crazy¡­!¡± The reactions of the people she knew were different from usual. It was a hotter atmosphere than when he became a star in Taiwan. It was the biggest response since he debuted. ¡°Did a lot of old folks like me watch it?¡± Sukja said the ratings were number one, but not that high. Looking at the age groups of the regrs at the store and the nearby merchants, it seemed like he became popr among the adults. She was too busy to watch the first episode, so she watched it again. ¡®Ugh, I¡¯m sick of being happy. That.¡¯ She watched the first broadcast over and over again with the tablet her grandson gave her. Bijoo, Junghyun, Rihyuk, Jiho. The members were all good, but she was happy every time her grandson¡¯s face came out big. She watched hard and wrote in a notebook to understand the broadcast content. She also wrote notes like ¡®Jo Yuri ¨C the eyes of the kids looking at them are unpleasant¡¯. As she watched, it was apetition. A broadcast where theypete for the first ce with singing skills. That was why she didn¡¯t expect much. Other singers were like guppies, but New ck looked innocent like a butterfly in the house. ¡®This is the meaning of participating.¡¯ They were singers who are popr in Korea, but it would be hard to be the first objectively. She was thinking like that, but¡­ ¡°¡­¡± As the song started, Mrs. Kim Deoksoon had the same expression as the audience. ¡®What is this?¡¯ It was the most pleasant and splendid stage among the things that came out today. She was the one who clicked on the link of Bijoo¡¯s mother who came up on the talk every time New ck came out on TV. While watching, she smiled happily every time, saying ¡®But he¡¯s worth the face¡­¡¯. She didn¡¯t know he could sing so well for the first time. ¡®Wasn¡¯t it Woojoo then?¡¯ It was a skill that had risen more than when he sang Something on TV or at the end of the year evaluation. The appearance of the grandson and the members who grew up more. And she could see the part that she could know because she was family. He was covering it with makeup and acting, but his eyes drooped slightly when he was tired. The tremor in his hand holding the microphone. She had been watching him for a lifetime, so she could see the clues of fatigue one by one. ¡®You worked hard.¡¯ She couldn¡¯t imagine how hard he worked to show this much skill with that tired body. It wasn¡¯t a few days and nights, but at least a few years. ¡®What is broadcasting¡­¡¯ It was something he did because he liked it, but as a parent, she felt proud. Finally, her grandson was recognized as a singer. Thepetitors who put their hands in their mouths and said ¡®Wow¡¯ every time the scene changed, the panels who jumped up and waved, the smiling judges. The audience who waved their hands like waves or poked their eyes. She felt like going in there right away and saying ¡®He¡¯s my grandson!¡¯ ¡®You worked hard. You worked hard.¡¯ She always felt more moved than anyone else by the sight of her grandson doing well on TV. ¡°Uh-huh.¡± She coughed because tears were about toe out. It was embarrassing to cry here. She thought she would cry while watching the rerun tomorrow and continued watching TV. The appearance of New ck who was breathing heavily with a full face in the midst of apuse. She couldn¡¯t stand it when she saw the moist eyes of her grandson. ¡°Oh, you did well. You did well!¡± She pped like a seal andughed without knowing. ¡°¡­¡± She felt the gaze and turned her head, and her grandson and the cat were looking at her with round eyes. Soon Woojoo came up to her like a wriggling caterpir and hugged her. ¡°Grandma. How was I~?¡± Sparkling eyes. ¡°Well, you did well. Watch TV. They all say you did well, so I don¡¯t know what to say.¡± ¡°No. Grandma was moved. Your eyes are moist.¡± ¡°Your eyes must be swollen.¡± ¡°Really?¡± But he also said that, Woojoo was also slightly teary-eyed by her reaction. She counterattacked. ¡°Aren¡¯t you the one who has tears and snoting out like a twisted doughnut?¡± ¡°No, no¡­ What are you talking about? I didn¡¯t cry. My tear nds are dry.¡± ¡°You¡¯re lying and sitting down. Are you bing like Rihyuk?¡± ¡°What a harsh thing to say¡­ If you¡¯re going to say I look like someone, I look more like Grandma.¡± They poured out to each other not to cry, and only Nabi stuck in the middle tilted its head. The cat sat down between them as if to say not to fight. They stopped talking andughed at the sight. It was a short silence, but they felt like a few words had passed between them. ¡°¡­You finally won. Are you going to sing that song as a prize if you win?¡± ¡°Yes, yes. I¡¯m going to sing ¡®Deoksoon-ah¡¯ at the final stage.¡± ¡°I¡¯m already ringing the bell.¡± ¡°Why? Don¡¯t you like it, Grandma? I already have the arrangement in mind.¡± He sang a verse of an old-fashioned trot song, calling out ¡®Deoksoon~~¡¯. His grandmother couldn¡¯t help butugh at his antics. He giggled and snuggled closer to her. As hey his head on the couch and told her to look forward to ¡®Deoksoon-ah¡¯, he was so excited. She brushed his hair back and said, ¡°You worked hard.¡± ¡°¡­¡± ¡°You did your best to show me.¡± ¡°Oh, well¡­¡± He squirmed as if he was embarrassed. Kim Deoksoon smiled silently at him. She looked proudly at her grandson on TV. Meow. The cat seemed jealous of them being so close and leaving it alone. It gave them a look that said ¡®What about me? What about me?¡¯ ¡°Nabi,e here too.¡± ¡°Come on. Let¡¯s be together.¡± At that, the cat cuddled up in the arms of the grandson and grandmother. ¡°Oh my. Look at our son. He won first ce there. Oh, I¡¯m tearing up.¡± ¡°Honey, wipe it with this tissue.¡± At Bijoo¡¯s house, the parents were overjoyed and hugged their son tightly, screaming. The sister and brother looked at the inte reactions and widened their eyes. ¡°Everyone~! Who is the pride of our vige?¡± ¡°Kim Junghyun! Kim Junghyun!¡± The vigers, who had drunk a lot, gathered and shouted ¡®First ce!¡¯ And in between them, Kim Junghyun, surrounded by his parents and brother, smiled happily. ¡°Son!¡± ¡°Dad!¡± At a vi in Gangwon-do. Jiho¡¯s father, who was bragging about his son, started sending long messages to his business partners. His mother and sisters stroked the youngest son¡¯s head,ughing. -Hey. Tell me honestly. Who do you look more like, me or Grandma? It¡¯s not me, right? ¡°Do you have to say such weird things on this precious weekend?¡± Hotel cafe. As he drank his beverage and took in the cityscape, Rihyuk hid a smile that rose slightly when he received a video call from his nephew. -Did you see the inte? Now? -Hyung! Look at the inte! We have so many articles now! -Guys! The inte was hot after Legendary Song Discovery ended. The performance of ¡®Life¡¯ by New ck was a legendary one that deserved the adjective. The intro performance that naturally hinted at what kind of song ¡®Life¡¯ was. The sound and arrangement that stuck to the ears. The excellent singing skills that no onecked. The emotion that was well expressed, enough to make the original singer, Noh Jaehyun, tear up. -¡®Song Team¡¯ Noh Jaehyun, New ck ¡®Life¡¯ stage with tears ¡­ ¡°They did really well¡± -[Legendary Song Discovery] New ck ¡®Life¡¯ with goosebumps-inducing singing skills, praised by all judges -[Entertainment Report] Who said they were rookies? ¡­ The reason for the ¡®reversal¡¯ of the trendy rookie New ck Simr articles reflecting the poprity poured out without a break. As the broadcast ended and the live chat stopped, the people who watched it in real time moved to portal news and clips. -Awesome¡­ I came back to watch it again -I regret thinking they would best because they were idols¡­ They were really good -You guys are the best -These days idols have no ws in their skills??? They did great -They are all main-level ^^7 -Isn¡¯t it a legend that a rookie among idols won this lineup ???? Crazy -Why did I watch HBS instead of this¡­ Then there were alsoments from people who were moved by today¡¯s performance. -I¡¯m not the type toment on the inte, but; the stage was so good. Isn¡¯t this the magic of music? It brought back old memories and ah¡­ It was a good stage -It was touching and good. I hope you show us more stages like this. -It was really ¡®Life¡¯. I know they are all around twenty years old, but I don¡¯t know how they got this emotion. I support you. It was a much bigger reaction than the first episode. The number of views of the clip uploaded on the portal went up steeply without a sound. Soon, ¡®New ck¡¯, ¡®Noh Jaehyun¡¯, ¡®Life¡¯ and other terms rose to the real-time search terms. The real-time search term on the music site was also ¡®Noh Jaehyun¡¯s Life¡¯. ¡°We did it¡­!¡± The manager, Yoon Seokhwan, who was monitoring at home, clenched his fist. ¡®They did it.¡¯ New ck had sessfully stepped on the first tform to be a popr idol group. Already, the event staff were sending them congrattory messages, and friendly reporters were contacting them. Yoon Seokhwan smiled broadly. ¡°LisaLover. You¡¯re in charge of them, right?¡± ¡°They¡¯re awesome.¡± ¡°Hey, can you get me a signed albumter? I need to collect it before they get more famous.¡± Seo Minki, who was meeting with his friends, shrugged off his drooping shoulders and grinned, thanks to ¡®LisaLover¡¯. Another road manager, Seok Dowon, also smiled silently as he gulped down a can of beer. There was one more person who was the happiest in the world right now. ¡°¡­What did you say?¡± Baek Sunghyun, the main PD who had been nning and casting for the program ¡®Challenge, Legendary Song Discovery Team!¡¯ for six months, held his phone with trembling hands. It was a call from the assistant director who was in the main control room. ¡°Say that again. What was the rating?¡± He swallowed his saliva. Soon, the other side told him the record. The exact figure would be known tomorrow, but the voice excitedly told him how much the estimated figure was. ¡°¡­.¡± Then he quietly hung up the phone. Baek Sunghyun felt his teeth chatter without realizing it. His throat was dry, so he drank some beer. The CP of the program, who was flipping the intestines with tongs, asked him eagerly. He had been waiting until the end of the broadcast, so his face was at its limit of patience. ¡°What did you say? How many percent?¡± ¡°Ten¡­.¡± ¡°Ten?¡± ¡°Sixteen point eight¡­ came out.¡± At the figure of 16.8%, the CP dropped the tongs without knowing it. He didn¡¯t care about the precious intestines falling on the table, and opened his mouth wide. ¡°Si¡­ sixteen point eight?¡± ¡°Yes.¡± ¡°¡­Hey, Sunghyun. Did we hit the jackpot?¡± ¡°I think so, Sunbae-nim.¡± Then the two men screamed ¡®Wow!¡¯ and hugged each other, not caring about the others¡¯ stares. And meanwhile. -When will this song be uploaded??? -I want to listen to it soon¡­ Not the clip, but the official recording. -Mango, do your job. -Oh¡­! I got it! It¡¯s up! The viewers who had watched the live broadcast were eagerly waiting for the performance song to be uploaded on the music site. It was ¡®Life¡¯ sung by New ck. Chapter 221: Chapter 221: Trantor: MarcTempest Editor: Rxel Chapter 221 Riding the Flowing Rapids After the Legendary Song Discovery show ended, the Souffl¨¦s were ecstatic. -Waaahhhhh?????Waaahhh?? -I¡¯m crying for real??? -Our kids are so amazing¡­ -Also so lovely-How can this make me tear up¡­ It¡¯s not even a music show win, but I was so touched when Woojoo gave hisment -Grandma, Woojoo stole Deoksoon¡¯s heart!!! The fans posted their real-time reactions on themunity. -Here are some screenshots of the inte newsments! -Wow, our kids are on the trending search??????? -Today¡¯s Junghyun wearing a Roman cape.gif -I analyzed Woojoo¡¯s expression when he stole Deoksoon and it says happiness 100??? -I think mine would be 100 too if I took it now The Souffl¨¦s couldn¡¯t help but smile at their own grins every time their smartphone screens turned off. They deserved it. -Oh¡­ Oh my god! It¡¯s New ck everywhere! I need to lie down Every article that came out had ¡®New ck¡¯ in the title. The performance clip video views were skyrocketing. And the trending search keywords ¡®New ck¡¯, ¡®Noh Jaehyun¡¯, and ¡®Life¡¯ proved their poprity. Even those who missed the broadcast were curious and kept clicking on the links. And the hot response was the same in reality. ¡°What was the name of that red-haired guy? He looks sly.¡± ¡°Rihyuk? He sings like a nightingale. His song is good. Hey, this is going to be online, right?¡± ¡°Do idols usually sing that well?¡± The Souffl¨¦s felt dizzy as they watched TV with their families. ¡®What is this. I can¡¯t get used to it.¡¯ Before, their families would just say ¡®Oh, how cute¡¯ and pass by when they saw them on TV. But now they were mentioning the members¡¯ names. It was a strange situation where their mom was saying their bias¡¯ name. ¡®It¡¯s a hit.¡¯ They didn¡¯t know what the ratings were. But one thing was certain: the name ¡®New ck¡¯ was now firmly stuck in the adults¡¯ minds. The recognition that had been flimsy like post-its from their appearances on Around the World With Dice and other variety shows was now sticky like glue. -My mom asked me who my favorite singer was when she talked about New ck and I panicked and said Jenmin¡­ What do I do -My parents thought this was a live vote??? They asked me how many times I had to press -Dad. It¡¯s not No ck. Why do you keep saying No ck? The reviews that kepting up made them smile. But the thing that the Souffl¨¦s were most happy about was something else. -This is awesome¡­ They are -I totally get why the Legendary Song Discovery PD cast New ck???? -I watched it and it was good, right? New ck are the ones who got bashed, right? -Maybe it¡¯s because I watched it with low expectations? I liked it -The response is hot wow -I watched it with my eyes wide open -The Charcoal fans are lucky. I was so jealous when my dad talked about New ck -To be honest, the controversy back then was weird?? The atmosphere in themunities changed 180 degrees as if they were asking when they had bashed New ck. The goodwill was higher than usual because of the vocal skills controversyst time. Of course, there were still some who refused to ept it. But those people didn¡¯t need the Souffl¨¦s to deal with them. They were getting scolded by other fandoms. ¡®It feels so good.¡¯ It was like a toothache that had been bothering them was gone. It was a refreshing feeling like drinking a whole bottle of soda and feeling the bubbles pop in their veins. They were surfing the web with that feeling when they heard some unbelievable news. -Look at the Mango real-time chart! Those who clicked on the link saw the main page of the music site and stopped thinking. Then they stared nkly. ¡®What is this¡­¡¯ The name of New ck that was stuck in the real-time chart rankings. Everyone who saw it opened their mouths wide. ¡®This is crazy.¡¯ [2nd] New ck ¨C Life (PBS Challenge, Legendary Song Discovery) It was a huge hit. ¡°Are you done with the signatures? Do you need anything else?¡± ¡°Just a minute. Just a minute.¡± ¡°Yes?¡± ¡°There are more people in line. Wait a little bit!¡± The flower shop owner, who had been showing his palm, rushed out and kicked the door open. ¡°Don¡¯t go anywhere! Stay here!¡± ¡°Take your time! I can¡¯t go anywhere right now.¡± The people aroundughed at the sight of him running to his own shop. Monday morning. Woojoo was having an unexpected fan meeting at the restaurant. ¡°To. Who did you say you are? His dad?¡± ¡°My son Seungmin.¡± ¡°Oh, Seungmin. How is he? He¡¯s in middle school now, right?¡± ¡°You remember?¡± Woojoo smiled at him, who looked happy. Then he looked at the shop owners who were lined up next to him. The broadcast reaction yesterday was hot. Woojoo was about to leave after having some breakfast at the restaurant, when the snack bar owner who spotted him made a fuss. That was the beginning. One person came to get a signature, then another one came. And then someone else brought someone else. It was like a sugar cube that fell into an ant hole. ¡°Hyeyeon! Come over here and say hello. Do you remember Woojoo Oppa?¡± ¡°Hi.¡± ¡°Uh¡­ hello¡­¡± Woojoo took a picture with the mother and daughter of the pork bone soup shop. He also answered a phone call request to let his family hear his voice. And most importantly¡­ ¡°Woojoo, let me take a picture with you too.¡± ¡°You¡¯re a big star in Gunsan. You won¡¯t be able to see your face anymore, will you?¡± ¡°Your song was amazing yesterday. How is it to see Noh Jaehyun-ssi in person?¡± The adults loved it the most. ording to Seokhwan Hyung, the song ¡®Life¡¯ was getting a great response from people over 40. It seemed to be true. Even the old customers who didn¡¯t seem to know the idol names looked at Woojoo and said ¡®oh¡¯ and asked for a picture. ¡°Did you go on the show yesterday?¡± ¡°Yes, I did.¡± ¡°Wow, you¡¯re my grandson. You look exactly like you did on TV. Your skin is so nice.¡± Signature, picture, signature, signature. Customer, flower shop, customer, snack bar. When he felt like his soul was being sucked out, the grandmother who brought the rice bowl shouted, ¡°Hey, eat some food, you guys!¡± Mrs. Kim Deok-soon pushed the people¡¯s backs. As they left, the shop owners couldn¡¯t take their eyes off Woojoo. They looked interested in the fact that a celebrity was born in this neighborhood. It seemed like Woojoo was getting treated like a real celebrity, unlike the time when they were just amazed that he was on TV. After all, from the adults¡¯ perspective, even if he was a singer, they would wonder what he sang, but yesterday he was properly shown singing on terrestrial TV. ¡°Phew¡­¡± Woojoo ate in a corner seat. ¡°What¡¯s wrong with them? They have nothing to do. Do they just live with the TV on?¡± ¡°How is it, Grandson? Are you happy to be famous?¡± ¡°Yeah. I¡¯m happy, Grandma.¡± Woojoo smiled and picked up some soy sauce beans. They were sweet. ¡°But I don¡¯t know much.¡± Grandma seemed a bit bored even though she was happy. ¡°They¡¯re alreadying to see you, your fans. And now those people too¡­ Hey! Don¡¯t you go!¡± The shop owners who were posing with binocrs outside the window ran away from Grandma¡¯s scolding. Meanwhile, Woojoo stopped his spoon and asked, ¡°Fans?¡± ¡°Yeah, your fans came and said they would help with the shop work. I don¡¯t know how they found out.¡± ¡°What did you do?¡± ¡°Of course I told them to go away. Do you think I run a business once or twice?¡± Woojooughed bitterly. ¡°I¡¯m sorry for the trouble. Grandma.¡± ¡°What¡¯s there to be sorry about? It¡¯s your job, and the better you do, the better it is.¡± ¡°Oh, I¡¯m touched.¡± Woojoo winked and threw a hand heart. ¡°Next time Ie, I¡¯ll bring another fur coat?¡± ¡°Deal.¡± His grandma, who shyly drew an ¡®OK¡¯ with her finger, made him p andugh. Woojoo finished his meal happily and packed his stuff. Grandma gave him food, nkets, pillows, and some unidentified charms. ¡°Grandma, then I¡¯ll go.¡± ¡°Yeah.¡± The cold wind greeted them. Woojoo approached Grandma, who was hesitating in the freezing morning weather, and hugged her tightly. ¡°Grandma, I¡¯ll be back soon.¡± ¡°¡­Yeah.¡± Grandma¡¯s nagging came into his ear as he hugged her. ¡°Make sure you eat every meal. You have to take care of your body before you get sick from making songs. If Bijooes to me again and says, ¡®Grandma, Woojoo Oppa doesn¡¯t eat¡­¡¯ you¡¯ll die by my hand. Got it?¡± That Bijoo. Woojoo pursed his lips and let go of the hug. ¡°I got it. Grandma, I love¡­¡± ¡°Oh, it¡¯s cold. I¡¯m going in!¡± ¡°You¡­¡± What? She said her back hurt, but she was so fast. Woojoo justughed at the sight of Grandma running into the shop. She waved her hand shyly from behind the window, and he drew a big heart to show her and moved his feet. It was time to go back to Seoul. *** ¡°Hello, Hyung.¡± Woojoo got in the car of Dowon Hyung, who came to pick him up at the terminal. He looked at Woojoo¡¯s face and smiled. ¡°You look like you rested well. You look good.¡± ¡°Yeah? Maybe it¡¯s because I came back after being with Grandma. This must be the effect of filial piety.¡± He smiled at Woojoo¡¯s words. ¡°My parents are in the countryside, but they contacted me for a while. They said they liked the singer you¡¯re in charge of.¡± ¡°Yeah? How did they like us?¡± ¡°They said they want me to get a signature when Ie down next time. They became fans.¡± Woojooughed, remembering that his father was a fan of Teacher Noh Jaehyun. He was d they left a good impression. Woojoo turned on the radio channel to listen to some music. " ¡­This is how the American poet Robert Frostpared life to a road in his poem ¡®The Road Not Taken¡¯. It means how important choice is in life. What choice will you make today, listeners?" The DJ gave the closing remark. "As thest song, it was a big topic yesterday, right? We¡¯ll end today¡¯s broadcast with New ck¡¯s ¡®Life¡¯. Have a happy day. This was Chae Jieun." Woojoo checked the channel and it was PBS. He didn¡¯t expect the song they performed yesterday to be on the ylist right away, even though it was the same broadcaster. It feels surreal that the intro he arranged was ying on the terrestrial radio. ¡°This is ying here.¡± ¡°I know, right?¡± They both felt the same way. ¡°What was the exact rating yesterday?¡± ¡°Average rating of 17.1 percent.¡± Wow. ¡°They said there¡¯s a dinner party at the Entertainment Department today. The PD jokingly said you guys cane if you want. But I think he was half-serious.¡± They didn¡¯t have time to go even if he invited them, but it was nice that the production team was showing them some favor. Woojoo felt a surge of reality that he didn¡¯t feel when he was in Gunsan. Third ce on the real-time music chart during rush hour. The highest clip views among yesterday¡¯s performance stages. First ce on the real-time search. From the New ck analysis article on the entertainment main page to the performance song on the radio. Woojoo checked them one by one since this morning, but when he put them together, it felt unreal. ¡­Was this for real? ¡°¡­¡± He smiled and drove the car as he thought and made an ¡®oh my¡¯ expression. Woojoo looked out the window. The busy Gangnam street. Buses and cars spewing white smoke from their exhaust pipes. People with earphones crossing the street. Thest chorus of Life came to his ears from the radio. Of course, not all the cars and pedestrians here were listening to PBS radio, but if he expanded the range nationwide, there would be a lot of people listening to this song. And quite a few of them will think, ¡®Oh, that¡¯s the song from yesterday.¡¯ As he expanded and expanded his thoughts, at some point his head stopped as the scope got bigger. ¡°Wow¡­¡± ¡°What¡¯s up?¡± ¡°Yesterday was really amazing.¡± ¡°¡­You¡¯re a bit slow to react. Yeah, it was amazing,¡± he said. ¡°But you haven¡¯t seen anything yet.¡± ¡°Huh?¡± He smiled slyly and said to Woojoo¡¯s question, ¡°The manager will tell you when we get to thepany. What happened sincest night.¡± *** When Woojoo got off at the front of Lemon Entertainment, he ran into the youngest who was getting out of a nearby luxury car. His snow-white face wrapped in padding shone with joy. ¡°Woojoo Hyuuuung~!¡± ¡°Jiho-yaaa!¡± They hugged and danced around. Tey went into thepany avoiding the fans from afar, took off their masks and cheered again. ¡°Jiho-yaaa~!¡± ¡°Woojoo Hyung!¡± They held hands and made a fuss. ¡°Hey, we made it, we made it.¡± ¡°Hyung-Hyung, this is awesome. Do you know that I got contacted by my friends from elementary school yesterday? And my dad¡¯s business partners also saw it and sent him a greeting text, it¡¯s totally amazing, amazing, super amazing¡­¡± ¡°That¡¯s right, I also signed a lot for my grandmother¡¯s acquaintances.¡± Theyughed and talked about what had happened, when the sound of a card reader and a beanie-wearing durumi entered. ¡°What is this?¡± His bumpy face turned to them. ¡°¡­What are you two doing at thepany entrance?¡± They ran to him right away. ¡°Rihyuk-ah~!¡± ¡°Rihyuk-ie hyuuung!¡± ¡°Let¡¯s dance, we made it, we made it~!¡± ¡°¡­Embarrassing, really. I don¡¯t do this kind of thing.¡± Jiho and Woojoo sulked and said ¡®Yeah¡­¡¯ and slumped their bodies, and he stepped on them a couple of times. ¡°Yay!¡± He snickered as if he couldn¡¯t believe their excited faces. ¡°Let¡¯s go up. Thepany said they have something to tell us.¡± ¡°Let¡¯s go. But before that, let¡¯s ask one thing.¡± Woojoo asked with his finger, ¡°What do we take to go up?¡± ¡°Elevator!¡± ¡°¡­I really don¡¯t want to get involved.¡± They used to insist on taking the stairs only because they were conscious of being trainees, but they enjoyed the taste of sess once again. Rihyuk also said ¡®Hmph¡¯ but his expression was secretly fluttering. Ding. The door opened and they got on the elevator with a happy face and went up to the third floor. ¡°Oh, right.¡± As they entered the iron box with nowhere to run, Woojoo remembered something to do. Woojoo opened his bag and rummaged through his stuff. ¡°What is that? That floral bag?¡± ¡°I bought it new when I went shopping with my grandmother. Isn¡¯t it pretty?¡± ¡°¡­One more thing to put in the warehouse.¡± ¡°My grandmother picked it out for me.¡± ¡°That means it¡¯s precious and you have to keep it well.¡± Their youngest, who had avoided the crisis, told him to go shopping with him sometime. Meanwhile, the door opened and Woojoo took out the problem item and handed it to Rihyuk. Two envelopes with flowers drawn on them. ¡°What is this, all of a sudden¡­?¡± ¡°You wrote me a letter, didn¡¯t you?¡± His face turned pale. He visibly flinched as if he had erased the memory of giving him a letter full of his inner feelings. Woojoo smiled and handed it to him. ¡°Here, take it. It¡¯s a reply from me and my grandmother.¡± ¡°¡­Wha, what are you talking about. I don¡¯t remember writing a letter.¡± ¡°Right. Me too.¡± He took out a postcard that said ¡®Happy New Year!¡¯ from his padding pocket. The youngest said with a serious face, ¡°It ys a song when you open it.¡± ¡°Noooh¡­!¡± They giggled as they watched their mayfly disappear like the wind. Anyway, he was fast at running. He ran into the conference room first. ¡°Noooh¡­!¡± This time, he ran out again. Then the door opened and two figures popped out. Bijoo reached out desperately. ¡°Rihyuk-ah! Why don¡¯t you take the letter I wrote you! Then I¡¯ll be sad!¡± ¡°Go away!¡± Junghyun followed him like a terminator. ¡°Text came. Text came.¡± ¡°Ugh!¡± Jiho and Woojooy down on the floor and sobbed at the sight of the two peers chasing Rihyuk. He was going crazy. Kim Junghyun, really. He was caught on the spot, his face all red, and they ended the story by handing him the letter. ¡°¡­I shouldn¡¯t have written it.¡± Woojoo exchanged greetings with the two guys, ncing at the one who was spinning his chair in the corner of the meeting room, trying to soothe his embarrassment. ¡°Did you enjoy your vacation?¡± ¡°Yes, I was so happy, Hyung. Mom was in a good mood and wanted to go to karaoke, so we all went there and yed the tambourine¡­ Oh, right, Hyung. I made a tambourine dance, do you want to see it?¡± ¡°I ate a little meat, but you told me to eat less. I was so upset¡­¡± Woojoo calmly listened to the stories of his siblings, who were spitting out their own trivial tales. From yesterday¡¯s broadcast to their achievements. They were upying the meeting room and chatting away, when the door opened and two people came in. It was Seokhwan Hyung and Assistant Manager Hong Seoyoung. ¡°Hello!¡± They were momentarily startled by their overflowing tension, then smiled. Seokhwan Hyung, who sat across from Woojoo, spoke with his fingers crossed. ¡°I called you here to tell you a few things. I don¡¯t think you know what happened after the broadcast ended yesterday.¡± Woojoo nodded. They were wide-eyed, waiting for what they had to say. ¡°Oh, right.¡± Seokhwan Hyung seemed to remember something he had forgotten and took out a letter from his pocket. ¡°Rihyuk, I got your letter. You asked me to act like I didn¡¯t know, but that¡¯s not my personality. Here¡¯s my reply.¡± ¡°Me too.¡± Assistant Manager Hong also took out a neatly folded letter from her file. They handed him the letters. ¡°¡­¡± Someone covered their face with both hands and their ears glowed like light bulbs, making themugh. Chapter 222: Chapter 222: Trantor: MarcTempest Editor: Rxel Chapter 222 Woojoo turned his head and asked, ¡°How many letters did you write?¡± ¡°I don¡¯t know. Don¡¯t ask me.¡± He covered his eyes like a cat, thinking that it would be okay if he didn¡¯t see it. Woojooughed at his sight. Seokhwan Hyung, who wasughing with him, got to the point. ¡°It was crazy after you guys went on the show yesterday. Really.¡± ¡°Really?¡±¡°I can¡¯t even call anywhere.¡± Seokhwan showed Woojoo his phone. The phone was still ringing. ¡°Do you know how amazing it was to get 17 percent yesterday? You guys were third in the weekend entertainment show with the Legendary Song Discovery.¡± ¡°¡­The ones above are Around the World With Dice and Mr. Producer?¡± It was the story right after TBC¡¯s ¡®Around the World with Dice¡¯ and PBS¡¯s ¡®Mr. Producer¡¯, which were called the two national entertainment shows. In other words, it was the best-rated show among the weekend entertainment shows, except for the two insurmountable ones. ¡°It feels real when you say that.¡± ¡°The production team was also flustered. They thought it would be less than 15 percent no matter how well they did, but it was more than that.¡± Woojoo could imagine. They were so excited and ran around the room when they got 11 percentst time, but 17 percent¡­ But they were just as flustered. ¡°The PR Team did some public opinion analysis. More than 90 percent of them are showing positive feelings.¡± Assistant Manager Hong showed Woojoo the tablet PC. His brothers gathered around him and stretched their necks. ¡°Wow¡­¡± Woojoo onlyughed at the situation where themunity was showing friendly reactions to them without hiding anything. Woojoo pointed to one of them. ¡°But what is this among the SNS?¡± ¡°Oh, that¡¯s where the TNT fans are staying. You don¡¯t have to worry about their reactions. It¡¯s a structure where a few people write a lot of posts¡­¡± ¡°Ah.¡± Woojoo understood and moved on. He said with a smile, ¡°You just have to pay attention to the public reaction now. Most of the idol fans are also showing good reactions to you. The reactions are good online and offline.¡± They nodded their heads. They had experienced the offline reactions ourselves. Seokhwan Hyung said, ¡°I¡¯ve been getting calls from event agencies since this morning. I think there are at least seven of them. I brought this¡­¡± The letters were so dense that Woojoo thought it was a phone book, but it wasn¡¯t. He looked closely. One by one, they came into his eyes. ¡®Sweet potato festival¡¯, ¡®Winter festival¡¯, ¡®University OT event¡¯, etc. It seemed like they listed all the events that would take ce in the next three months. ¡°Hyung, what is this?¡± ¡°It¡¯s the event booking that came to you in a day after the broadcast.¡± ¡°Which one is ours? I don¡¯t see any highlighted ones¡­¡± ¡°What are you talking about?¡± He snorted and said, ¡°That¡¯s all yours.¡± ¡°¡­!¡± What would it feel like to be hit by lightning? Woojoo felt the hair on his body stand up and the back of his neck stiffen. He couldn¡¯t speak and his mouth was just ¡®wow¡­¡¯ and he felt goosebumps. ¡°Are you crazy¡­¡± They all muttered the same thing. The impatient youngest one rummaged through the paper. The dense event booking list continued to page 4. He lifted his head nkly without looking. ¡°Hyung, so this is all¡­¡± ¡°Yeah. They¡¯re all ces that want you toe.¡± At that, they finally realized and looked at each other. ¡°Guys¡­¡± ¡°Hyung¡­¡± Woojoo nodded his head. ¡°Let¡¯s take it out.¡± ¡°Go go.¡± They all took out their phones and snapped the paper with the event list on their smartphones. Assistant Manager Hong asked, ¡°Why¡­?¡± ¡°We want to keep it.¡± Then, with the serious words of their youngest brother, ¡®This is a collector¡¯s item¡¯, the two of them pped their hands andughed. They kept admiring the paper. ¡°Wow, this is amazing. Rihyuk, can we make copies of this? Let¡¯s keep them.¡± ¡°I¡¯ll go to the officeter and bring five copies.¡± ¡°Please use colored paper, Secretary Seo. You know how to make it red, right?¡± Their main vocal stepped on the youngest¡¯s foot when Seokhwan Hyung said, ¡°Of course, you have to take into ount that half of them are fake.¡± What does that mean? ¡°The broadcast was yesterday, so the price hasn¡¯t been reflected yet. It¡¯s based on the Masquerade standard, which is not cheap, but considering the poprity from yesterday¡¯s broadcast, and the future situation, it¡¯s low.¡± ¡°¡­¡± ¡°Your appearance fee will go up.¡± He, who usually said ¡®I don¡¯t know¡¯, ¡®We¡¯ll see¡¯, and spoke cautiously, said with confidence, ¡°This is not just a lucky break. As the Legendary Song Discovery show continues, the price will only go up. That means the poprity will increase.¡± In other words, what they had been doing so far was shining with public recognition. ¡°More than half of those events are going to hire you at your current pay. That¡¯s why we¡¯re not going. For now, we¡¯re thinking of focusing on big venues or college events.¡± He said they should coordinate on that part. They had to prepare for the third album, and there were a lot of things to do. He wondered if they would have any free time by June. ¡°Terrestrial broadcasting is good. This is the first time we¡¯ve been invited to so many events since Something. It¡¯s fun to raise the price of the agencies that used to bully us¡­¡± Woojoo thought he shouldn¡¯t mess with Seokhwan Hyung, who smiled coldly. He pulled out another pile of papers. ¡°This is the entertainment list I got from the broadcast writers this morning.¡± ¡°¡­¡± ¡°By the way, we have to go to the radio and talk show on PBS. The entertainment director and our head talked and said they wanted to get some poprity from PBS¡¯s other entertainment shows.¡± When a show had good ratings, the cast appeared as guests on radio, talk shows, and follow-up shows. They were in the repertoire of sucking the bones dry. They looked surprised as they scanned the list. ¡°Oh, this is it, right? Street busking.¡± ¡°There¡¯s also something like an escape room. That sounds fun.¡± It was a different feeling from when they chose the History Discovery Team. Unlike the previous cable shows with strong B-grade emotions and dating shows, this time it was a professional show that they had seen in the entertainment field. It was hard to decide what to choose. Meanwhile, it seemed that they were not only noticed for their entertainment skills and singing skills yesterday. ¡°By the way, Woojoo.¡± Woojoo looked away from the entertainment list at the manager¡¯s call. ¡°¡­Huh?¡± ¡°It¡¯s about the OST that Cha Woohyun rmended. There¡¯s some change and I wanted to ask your opinion.¡± ¡°What is it?¡± ¡°The music director must have liked your arrangement. He looked at other materials after the broadcast.¡± The younger ones also looked at Woojoo. ¡°They originally nned to just sing, but they asked through the productionpany if you had any thoughts on making the song yourself.¡± ¡°Really?¡± ¡°I said I¡¯d talk to you, but what do you think? You¡¯re producing the third album and your schedule is¡­¡± ¡°I¡¯ll do it. I have to do this.¡± Bijoo whispered in Woojoo¡¯s ear, ¡°Hyung, are you okay? Your schedule is tight.¡± ¡°Bijoo, you can¡¯t say no when moneyes in.¡± There was a chance to add another line to his career, so of course he had to take it. OST work was something he always wanted to do since he changed his career to aposer. Events, entertainment, OST. He felt excited when he thought he would be busier than ever. Assistant Manager Hong came out. ¡°Are you done with the director¡¯s talk?¡± ¡°Yes, go ahead.¡± They turned their eyes to the PR team staff. They had finished talking with the management team, and wondered what the PR Team had to say. ¡°Your fandom is growing so fast, we¡¯re thinking of moving up the fan club recruitment for the second generation.¡± Usually, when an idol fan club name was decided, the agency recruited members in the first generation. They paid an annual fee and got pre-booking rights for ticketing for fan meetings and other events, along with goods. They listened quietly to the news that they were moving up the recruitment for the second generation. ¡°By then, we¡¯re thinking of opening your solo concert.¡± ¡°¡­Yes?¡± They all opened their eyes wide at the unexpected news. *** Woojoo had dreamed of a concert since he was a trainee. His grand dream was to start small and gradually increase the scale until he finally reached the gymnastics stadium. During TJ, the staff of the Rookie Development Team often took the trainees to the senior idol¡¯s concert for motivation. The waves of light sticks that rippled like the Milky Way. Gorgeous lighting. Senior singers shining on stage. The sound of music that shook the heart and the fans who screamed so loud that they made your ears ache. They greeted them warmly in the dressing room just before, but they looked like people from another world on stage, so mysterious and envious. How excited he was to see it. After bing a debut group, Woojoo came back from the field trip and talked about the future concert with TNT all night. Well. Then he was discharged a few weekster¡­ Anyway, that was how much a solo concert was for him, a dream and a wish for all idols. But not everyone could do it. Basically, it was apany¡¯s job, so it had to make a profit. In other words, the singer must have mobilization power. Not a minority elite who bought 10 albums per fan, but really only had a little scale. That was why thepany¡¯s n to hold a solo concert this summer meant that they had that much ticket power. ¡°Concert.¡± The next day after hearing the story from Assistant Manager Hong. Seoul Yongsan-gu. They were waiting for the production team of HBS Sok Sok! History Discovery Team near the National Museum of Korea. The topic of conversation was definitely a concert. ¡°If we do it in August, we¡¯ll be doing it in a year and two months after our debut, right, Hyung?¡± ¡°That¡¯s right.¡± ¡°Wow¡­¡± Considering that there were many groups that took two to three years, it was a pretty short time. Woojoo was thrilled and excited. He felt like he had the whole world when he heard the concert story yesterday. Oh my God, they would perform alone with the Souffl¨¦s. Woojoo rolled his feet and bragged to his grandmother and Nabi for almost an hour. ¡°Well, don¡¯t get too excited.¡± Rihyuk said calmly, ¡°What we do is more important, right?¡± ¡°Of course, you¡¯re the best in the world at burning, Hyung.¡± ¡°Rihyuk is really good at spraying. He¡¯s a master of spraying.¡± ¡°If you go to the spraying championship, you¡¯ll get a gold medal, right?¡± He was shaking as Woojoo joined in. ¡°¡­I have to shut up. These people. Huh? You think I¡¯m easy now, because I write you a letter and stuff?¡± ¡°Yes.¡± ¡°Yiyi¡­!¡± They teased him, but they all agreed inside. ¡®We¡¯re definitely going to have a concert. But the size of the venue will be decided after looking at the 3rd album activity.¡¯ Simply put, it was a foregone conclusion that they would have a concert, but how many seats the venue would have depended on the 3rd album toe. ¡®First of all, there¡¯s a problem with your three lists.¡¯ Even if they mobilized Something, the song list to perform was insufficient. It was a solo concert, but it was weird to cover someone else¡¯s song or y a game like a fan meeting. For that reason, they decided to expand the 3rd album track list. A mini album with 10 songs, which was practically equivalent to a regr album. Fortunately, there were many songs that went up on the chart, such as ¡®Fireworks¡¯, ¡®Masquerade¡¯, ¡®Night Sea¡¯, and they also expanded theirwork of singers to invite as guests while doing the masterpiece excavation team. So the important thing was the 3rd album. It was the key to whether they could sessfully perform until the 3rd album in this flow where everything was going well. If they went to a boy group that the general public knew, but the 3rd album song, which was the main job, didn¡¯t work well¡­ Uh. He didn¡¯t even want to imagine that. He had to make it work. ¡°3rd album preparation is also like that. Just do your best as given¡­¡± As he was talking to his younger brothers, a stranger suddenly came up and talked to him. ¡°Hmm? New ck! Right?¡± ¡°Ah, yes.¡± They, who were saying ¡®Concert!¡¯, ¡®Yo! Concert!¡¯ with five people until just before, showed a calm smile. Woojoo was sweating inside. ¡°Wow, I was watching it on the bus with YouTube¡­¡± They also thanked and took pictures with the passerby who greeted them and said they enjoyed the stage. ¡°Fighting!¡± ¡°Thank you! Have a nice day!¡± They waved back calmly, but as soon as the passerby disappeared from their sight, they quickly huddled together. ¡°Hyung, people recognize us.¡± ¡°People are greeting us on the street¡­ This must be a sign of good luck for the whole day, right?¡± ¡°How do I look? Does my face look swollen?¡± ¡°Let¡¯s have a strategy meeting, guys. How should we react when people notice us?¡± They each made suggestions from number one to five. They rejected Rihyuk¡¯s arrogant expression and Junghyun¡¯s terrifying stone face, and decided to go with Bijoo¡¯s friendly expression. ¡°What about mine?¡± ¡°It¡¯s too suggestive.¡± ¡°¡­¡± As soon as they reached a conclusion, they had to use it right away. ¡°Oh my¡­ Is that right?¡± ¡°New ck! It¡¯s them! It¡¯s New ck.¡± Most people passed by without knowing, but the percentage of those who recognized them was higher than he expected. Woojoo was curious and asked them, ¡°How did you know?¡± ¡°You were easy to spot because you were all together.¡± ¡°I see¡­¡± They watched the back of the olddy who just took a picture with them and left, and soon burst intoughter. ¡°Hey. We¡¯re Shus, Shus.¡± ¡°Woah!¡± ¡°Bijoo Hyung, what are you searching for? Pfft! He¡¯s searching for the meaning of Shus!¡± ¡°No, it¡¯s not me. I just checked. Just checked.¡± He was caught because his search was too slow. Theyughed again at Bijoo¡¯s gloomy expression. As they waited, it didn¡¯t take long for the production team of ¡®Sok Sok! History Discovery Team¡¯ to arrive. ¡°Oh, our New ck-nims were waiting!¡± ¡°No, how can youe to such a humble ce¡­¡± Theyughed for a while because of the writers¡¯ jokes. They told them that they were anxious after seeing the reaction reportst week, wondering if they wouldn¡¯t appear on the show anymore. ¡°Our first broadcast will probably be next week, and we agreed with the broadcastingpany to upload it on YouTube as well.¡± They originally said that it would cost more to edit separately, and why they would spend the budget to make a children¡¯s program for adults. But suddenly their attitude changed on Monday morning. ¡®Proceed.¡¯ ¡®What?¡¯ ¡®New ck, proceed. That.¡¯ They justughed at the story that the PD told them. Maybe because it was a small production, ¡®Sok Sok! History Exploration Team¡¯ had afortable atmosphere from the production team. Woojoo was reading the script carefully, about today¡¯s topic, ¡®Exploring the relics of the Three Kingdoms period¡¯. ¡°The guests are here!¡± Woojoo turned his head at the noisy sound. A group of elementary school students were walking towards them. They were a club of elementary school students who were interested in history, and they were going to visit the museum and y games with them today. ¡°Hello!¡± They greeted the shy elementary school students warmly. There weren¡¯t many who recognized them. ¡°Uh!¡± A fifth-grade boy pointed at them and said, ¡°I saw you on TVst week. Hyung¡­ ahjussis?¡± ¡°Ahjussis?¡± They all got angry. ¡°Why can¡¯t you call us Hyung? I¡¯m a sophomore in high school.¡± The elementary school studentsughed at Jiho¡¯s yful re. He was the closest to their age, so he quickly showed his friendliness. While they were doing that, there was another one who recognized them. ¡°Uh!¡± A girl who was searching on her smartphone pointed at Woojoo and¡­ ¡°Bam! You¡¯re Jenmin-bbang, right?¡± ¡°No. Jenmin-bbang¡­¡± The managers and the brothers pped and flipped over. They chatted in the rxed atmosphere. Jiho raised his hand and shouted, ¡°Who knows the striped pottery here? If you don¡¯t, I won¡¯t bow to you!¡± ¡°We know that stuff too, okay?¡± ¡°Then which tomb of the Baekje kings was made of bricks?¡± ¡°Muryeongwangneung!¡± Jiho looked nkly with his eyes wide open. ¡°How do you know that?¡± Woojoo put his hand on his shoulder and said, ¡°They¡¯re in the history club. They probably know more than us.¡± ¡°These kids only study these days. When I was young, I used to go to karaoke and PC rooms¡­¡± The managersughed at the sight of an 18-year-old saying ¡®when I was young~¡¯. While Junghyun was ying a weird game with the kids, where the loser of rock-paper-scissors had to be the piggyback, Woojoo looked over the guests. Would this get a reaction from the young ones when it aired? Legendary Song Discovery was possible because of the good ratings, but Woojoo wasn¡¯t sure if this would have the same impact. It was fun by his standards, though¡­ Let¡¯s just do our best with what we¡¯re given. Woojoo pped his hands and said, ¡°Shall we go in then?¡± He smiled at the elementary school students who looked up at him. ¡°Hey, don¡¯t think too hard and just call me Hyung or Oppa. We¡¯re not that far apart in age.¡± ¡°Wow. Where did your conscience go? Seriously.¡± As soon as Rihyuk finished his sentence, the youngest shouted, ¡°That guy is 23 years old!¡± Everyone burst intoughter. Haha. These guys. ¡°Junghyun.¡± ¡°Yes, Hyung.¡± ¡°Take them both.¡± ¡°Yes.¡± ¡°Let me go!¡± ¡°Noooo! Bijoo Hyung, please save me!¡± Bijoo waved his hand faintly as he watched the two disappear, caught by the monster. He smiled brightly at the children who had been staring nkly. ¡°Well, shall we have some fun with today¡¯s field trip?¡± ¡°Yes!¡± The elementary school students nodded their heads eagerly. *** The recording that day ended sessfully. They talked about the relics of the Three Kingdoms period, and also did a history quiz at the end. Rihyuk and Woojoo carried the show, but as the difficulty level increased, the elementary history club¡¯s performance eventually¡­ ¡°I¡¯m so embarrassed, really. What¡¯s the point of me doing well alone? We lost to elementary schoolers.¡± They all worried. ¡°Do we have a badpatibility with elementary schoolers?¡± ¡°I guess so. Our record against middle schoolers is not good either. We also lost a game to Guryong Elementary.¡± ¡°We also lost the reality debate¡­¡± ¡°From now on, we have to do our best when we face elementary schoolers.¡± At Bijoo¡¯s words, Junghyun muttered, ¡°That was my best¡­¡± Dragging their sore bodies, they went to the management team¡¯s office, where Seokhwan Hyung greeted them with a strange expression. ¡°Hey, Hyung. Why did you call us?¡± ¡°It¡¯s about the OST work. They said they would send us the script and synopsis, so I got them¡­¡± Woojoo blinked his eyes as he took the script from Seokhwan Hyung. The younger ones also looked puzzled. ¡°¡­?¡± There were two different drama scripts there. Chapter 223: Chapter 223: Trantor: MarcTempest Editor: Rxel Chapter 223 Why were there two scripts? Cha Woohyun, their senior, rmended them to a ce that wasunching a Thursday-Friday drama on PBS. Woojoo split the two scripts in both hands. One had the PBS logo and the title ¡®Fox Bead¡¯, and the other had ¡®Slip¡¯ written on it. ¡°The scripts are so good¡­¡± While Jiho was ecstatically flipping through the script, Woojoo asked, ¡°There¡¯s only one OST, why are there two scripts?¡±¡°It just happened that way.¡± Seokhwan Hyung exined, ¡°They¡¯re both jobs that came to you. One is an OST job that came from PBS through Cha Woohyun¡¯s introduction, and the other is a job that came through aposer.¡± ¡°Composer?¡± ¡°Do you remember the producer named P-snoop, who worked on the B-side songs with you and Woojoo for the second album?¡± ¡°I remember.¡± Woojoo remembered the red snapback and the round colored sses that were his signature. He had a good chemistry with him when he worked on the B-side songs for the second album. But Woojoo wondered why his name came up, since he had no contact with him except for the producing meeting and the recording. ¡°He¡¯s making an OST for a drama, and he rmended you to the production. He said you¡¯d suit the color of the drama. And the music director there also had a connection with Cha Woohyun, and he heard good things about you guys.¡± ¡°Wait a minute, Manager.¡± Junghyun blinked his eyes and moved his fingers back and forth. ¡°So, both here and there, Cha Woohyun rmended us? I don¡¯t understand.¡± ¡°Simply put, ¡®Fox Bead¡¯ is where Cha Woohyun directly rmended you to the drama music director.¡± They nodded their heads and looked at the script for PBS¡¯s Thursday-Friday drama ¡®Fox Bead¡¯. This time, it was a script for a drama called ¡®Slip¡¯ that wasunching on cable GTV. ¡°Here, the music director heard good things about you from Cha Woohyun, and then aposer rmendation came in through the OST productionpany.¡± ¡°I see.¡± ¡°If you look at it, it¡¯s no different from bothing in through Cha Woohyun.¡± ¡°Ah¡­¡± They stared nkly at each other. He must have been saying good things about them everywhere. Woojoo never thought of it because he always greeted them with an indifferent face. Jiho whispered in a subtle voice, ¡°Rihyuk, should we write a letter of gratitude to him?¡± ¡°¡­Shut up.¡± Bijooforted the flushed Rihyuk and said, ¡°But we should give him something when the work is over.¡± ¡°Yeah, we¡¯re so grateful, right?¡± There were a lot of people who were struggling without work, but thanks to one senior who liked them, they had a lot of working in. The person himself said, ¡°It¡¯s because you have skills that I rmended you,¡± but they were grateful. They decided to give him something when they met him at the broadcasting station, and then turned their eyes to the script. ¡°We have to choose one of these two, right?¡± ¡°That¡¯s right.¡± Woojoo was worried even before he looked at the content properly. ¡°Oh, there¡¯s one more thing.¡± Seokhwan Hyung added another synopsis. ¡°¡­?¡± This time, it was a HBS Monday-Tuesday drama called ¡®Pinwheel¡¯. Woojoo blinked his eyes and Seokhwan pointed to Rihyuk and said, ¡°This is an OST request that came to Rihyuk. The guide recording is done, and they¡¯re just looking for a singer. The OST productionpany asked me to tell you, ¡®We were impressed by Legendary Song Discovery. Your voice color will suit it.¡¯¡± ¡°Wow¡­¡± As they turned around with ¡®heat¡¯, one face started to heat up in an instant. The youngest joined the work. ¡°Hyung, hurry up and hug Rihyuk with the script.¡± ¡°Let¡¯s do that.¡± They were all excited and surrounded Rihyuk. Junghyun grabbed Rihyuk¡¯s arm, and Bijoo opened the other¡¯s hand like a tyrannosaurus¡¯s front paw. He put the script on his hand and pped his hands. ¡°I¡¯m touched that Rihyuk got an OST request.¡± ¡°You guys worked hard to raise him.¡± ¡°No¡­ you guys.¡± Before he could even protest, the four of them gathered. ¡°Let¡¯s take amemorative photo with the script.¡± ¡°Ah, don¡¯t do that.¡± He gestured with his finger as if to warn them. Theyughed and tried to take a selfie, and Seokhwan Hyung said, ¡°Hey, guys.¡± Seokhwan Hyung said to Rihyuk, who looked flushed, expecting the manager to say something. ¡°Let me join you in the picture.¡± ¡°Oh, Manager!¡± Everyoneughed at the sight of him spitting fire from his mouth, as if saying ¡®why are you doing this to me these days¡¯. *** Woojoo returned to the studio with the script he got from Seokhwan Hyung. He spread out three synopsis on the table and pondered. He rested his chin on his hand and sighed. ¡°Which one of these would make me famous~¡± ¡®Wow, you sound like a grandpa¡­¡¯ the youngest teased him as he nced at him and continued to think. ¡°Huh.¡± The bear, who was gulping down a protein shake, hit his foot. Then he looked at Woojoo with wide eyes. ¡°Hyung. I have an idea.¡± ¡°What is it?¡± ¡°What if we do all three?¡± ¡°Wow¡­¡± Woojoo pped and eximed, ¡°Junghyun, you were listening when I exined earlier, right?¡± ¡°Yes.¡± ¡°I knew it. Let¡¯s see. Can our genius exin it to us?¡± Rihyuk nodded and exined, ¡°Look at the first broadcast dates of the dramas. March 9th, 18th, etc. This means they ovep in airing time.¡± ¡°Yeah.¡± ¡°They¡¯re all airing in March and April, so they¡¯llpete fiercely. Who will be number one in ratings. That means we can only do one of the three for the SBS Awards. The production team would be upset otherwise.¡± It was the rule of the OST industry. If you took on one drama, you couldn¡¯t do the OST for apeting drama while it was airing. Junghyun tilted his head. ¡°Is that really upsetting?¡± ¡°Imagine if we did the ads for all threepeting chicken brands.¡± ¡°Oh, I get it.¡± Everyoneughed at Junghyun¡¯s gesture of OK with his finger and started to look at the synopses. It was not only the first OST, but also the work that would go into their career, so the atmosphere was serious. Usually, mini-series aired for about eight weeks. Even if they sang OSTs non-stop, they could only do six times a year at most. That was why A-list singers like Cha Woohyun and Yoon Chanhyuk carefully reviewed the requests that came in. If you did one, you couldn¡¯t do another. To avoid the situation where you picked the wrong one and thepeting drama exploded and the OST dominated the chart, thepany executives also listened to and selected the songs that famous singers would sing. So choosing well was important. ¡°How about we just do the drama that Cha Woohyun Sunbae-nim picked for us? He rmended us.¡± ¡°That¡¯s good too, but it¡¯s our career,¡± Woojoo said. He had to review everything that came in. Even if he chose a different drama, Cha Woohyun sunbae wouldn¡¯t get angry or anything like that. Of course, it would be nice to choose the drama he rmended, but he couldn¡¯t miss a better opportunity. Besides, Woojoo told him that he had to consult with thepany instead of giving him a definite answer. But the most important thing right now was¡­ ¡°What should I choose?¡± Woojoo groaned for a long time while looking at the synopsis, and finally used a friend¡¯s chance. He contacted a singer-songwriter who was close to him and had a lot of experience with OSTs. -A drama? A cool voice came through. Jang Sowon Sunbae, who was on the video call, looked at Woojoo and smiled. -Our little cuties are going to be on the OST of a terrestrial drama? I¡¯m so touched. Really¡­ -Sowon, who is that? Woojoo heard a gentle voice. Jang Sowon, who was sitting on the sofa, turned her head and said. -Our little ck cuties. Do you want to say hello to them? -Hey! I¡¯m bare-faced! She quickly turned her phone away and ran off in her tracksuit. Woojoo saw Lisa¡¯s back as she fled. She had no schedule and was bored, so she decided to tease her homebody cat. ¡°Hello, New ck kids!¡± Woojoo heard Lisa¡¯s greeting from afar. She had a powerful voice, like a musical actress. They asked her to say hello to the timid greeting that was shouted from the bedroom. Meanwhile, when they talked more about the drama OST, Jang Sowon Sunbae brushed her hair back with a ¡®hmm¡¯. -OST¡­ Usually, you listen to the songs and choose. Did you decide to make a song, Woojoo? ¡°Yes.¡± -Then let¡¯s skip listening to the songs. What about the director or the writer? Drama is a game of senses, so that¡¯s the most important. Woojoo answered. ¡°Both of you are new to drama, right? One of you won a contest from PBS, and the other wrote movie scripts for GTV. I heard the director is good for both of you.¡± That was what he heard from Seokhwan Hyung. He said they were ¡®decent¡¯. The actor management team told Woojoo it was abination of promising rookie writers and decent directors. -Then there¡¯s only one answer. Jang Sowon Sunbae said. -If the productionpany sent you a synopsis or a script, take a look at those first. Sometimes they fit better than anything else. Maybe¡­ Unnie! What are you doing? Why are you cooking? I told you we¡¯re going out today. -No, why do you always want to go out? It¡¯s a holiday. -Hold on, guys. How about the barbecue ce in front of us then¡­ The call ended with the sound of their voices fading away. It was a hasty goodbye, but luckily Woojoo had heard everything he needed to hear. He smiled as he looked at the screen that went dark. ¡°Those two seem to get along well.¡± ¡°That¡¯s right.¡± ¡°I wish we were like that too. Maybe for another 30 years in this dorm¡­¡± As Bijoo muttered a scary sound, everyone hurriedly opened their scripts. ¡°Script. Script.¡± ¡°Wow, the script is so fun.¡± ¡°Let¡¯s see~ What should we start with~¡± Woojoo followed the advice of his senior singer and read through the scripts one by one. The first one was ¡®Fox Bead¡¯, a drama that Cha Woohyun personally rmended to him. It was written by a writer who had worked as an assistant to a star writer and had recently debuted through a contest. The title was self-exnatory. It was based on a legend of a nine-tailed fox. ¡º The protagonist, who had lived her whole life in a fox tribe, runs away and lives in hiding. She reunites with her high school friend and falls in love with someone. But a hunter from her tribe, who has a crush on her, chases after them. ¡» The setting was modern. The background was a world where the beings of folk tales hide their identities and mingle with modern South Korea. The protagonist was a member of the fox tribe. She was a high school student who heard from her tribe one day that she had to undergo a rite of passage. ¡®Take the life of your target.¡¯ The target was her best friend at school. She struggled between her tribe and her friend, and agonized over and over again until the day of the rite. The day of the rite. She called her friend to a dark ce, saying she had something to say, and revealed her true self and threatened her friend. But she eventually chose friendship and gave up her adulthood ceremony at the sight of her monstrous self reflected in the other¡¯s eyes. Just then. ¡®It¡¯s a headache.¡¯ The elder of the tribe who was watching the adulthood ceremony appear and take the life of her best friend. He tried to kill the protagonist who failed ording to thew, but the protagonist who showed her wits barely seeded in escaping. Meanwhile. ¡®¡­¡­!¡¯ The male lead, who was returning homete at night, witnessed the female lead, who was a gumiho, or in her transformed state, standing in front of a girl from the same ss. Scared out of his wits, he ran away hastily, but gathered his courage and went back, only to find a cold sword. That was the start of his trauma. ¡®¡­¡­.¡¯ The male lead, who was tormented by shock and guilt, joined a group that hunted down the beings of folk mythology as time passed. The female lead became a fugitive, changing her name and living a hard life. The son of the elder who killed her best friend, the secondary male lead, received an order to execute the traitor, and chased after the female lead, who was his childhood friend and crush since he was young, and their rtionship becameplicated. ¡°It¡¯s interesting¡­¡­.¡± ¡°What, there¡¯s no more content.¡± It was definitely interesting. Woojoo skimmed through the synopsis, but it was amazing how the rtionships were intertwined. ¡°This is the drama that Cha Woohyun Sunbae-nim chose. Should we do this?¡± ¡°Let¡¯s see the other ones.¡± They all gathered and read the second script. This one was GTV¡¯s Slip. It was a new work prepared by GTV, which broke through the 10% viewership rating for the first time on cable with a well-made drama recently. The title, Slip, seemed to be derived from ¡®time slip¡¯, meaning time travel. It was a genre piece by a movie scenario writer, about a detective who chased after a mysterious and bizarre case. ¡º A mountain in Seoul. A mysterious corpse is found. The murder weapon found was a stone tool from the Paleolithic era. ¡» ¡°Paleolithic?¡± ¡°Rihyuk-ah, calm down.¡± ¡º The protagonist, Park Chuljin, gets deeper into the maze as he investigates. What on earth is going on? ¡» The synopsis was intriguing, so Woojoo opened the script right away. The protagonist, Park Chuljin, who worked at the Seoul Metropolitan Police Agency, was demoted to a lower position due to corruption allegations. He was a protagonist with a gray identity, who was doubtful whether he reallymitted corruption or not. He was transferred to the ¡®Oseong Police Station¡¯ as a detective, and was branded as a troublemaker, and was alienated from his colleagues. A life that was dull and boring. Then, he got a call that a corpse was found and went to the scene. A mountain with a police line. A horrible scene with blood sttered inside. ¡®The murder weapon was found. It¡¯s¡­¡­.¡¯ ¡®What is it.¡¯ ¡®A stone.¡¯ ¡®A stone¡­¡­?¡¯ He thought it was a strange-shaped stone, but he heard from the police station¡¯s auxiliary police officer, ¡®Isn¡¯t this a Paleolithic tool?¡¯ It really looked like a Paleolithic tool. But he heard from the expert that this stone tool seemed to have been made not long ago. The part where the stone was chipped off was worn out recently. ¡®What is this.¡¯ It was a strange scene he had never seen before. There were strange animal fur clothes lying around. There were fingerprints left as if to show him the scene. The corpse was bitten. It was like a monster had done it. At that moment. ¡®We got a report! A weirdo is bleeding and walking around¡­¡­.¡¯ In the residential area of Oseong-gu, there were reports of a ¡®weirdo wearing fur clothes¡¯ dripping blood and walking around. He checked the video with the strange sound recorded, but there was nothing on the CCTV. The protagonist, who was chasing after the case, was thinking more and more, ¡®Did a real Paleolithic personmit a murder?¡¯ when. ¡®There¡¯s another case in the district!¡¯ This time, a corpse killed by an arrow from the Joseon Era was found, and the case escted. And then¡­¡­. ¡°What, is this the end?¡± ¡°I feel like the people who watched Everdream.¡± ¡°I have to watch this live.¡± After Slip, following Fox Bead. They looked at each other with excited faces after reading the interesting script. ¡°Let¡¯s see thest one.¡± They looked at thest one, HBS¡¯s Monday-Tuesday drama ¡®Pinwheel¡¯, but soon made a ¡®hmm¡­¡¯ sound. ¡°It looks like something I¡¯ve seen a lot.¡± A romance drama about the work and love of Korean prosecutors. There was a simr drama where the protagonist changed his job to awyer on TBC right now. Woojoo heard from the TNT members that the youngest, Seok Jihun, was ying the role of aw firm clerk. Woojoo heard the ratings were low. Of course, they had to know something about the drama scripts, but they decided to put them aside for now because they had a vague feeling about them. ¡°So, we have to choose the one that seems more promising¡­¡± Woojoo asked the youngest, ¡°Jiho, what do you think? Any opinions?¡± ¡°Me?¡± ¡°Yeah.¡± ¡°Um¡­ I feel pressured. Can¡¯t you decide, Hyung? I like being the youngest who ps from behind.¡± He made a gesture of pping his hands in advance while saying ¡®Wow!¡¯ and Woojoo looked at him with a fond smile. Bijoo spoke kindly. ¡°Jiho. You¡¯re the best actor among us. I was sure you would do well in Everdream too.¡± ¡°Hmph¡­¡± ¡°Can you take a look and tell us?¡± He made a face that said ¡®I like the praise, but not the responsibility¡­¡¯ and snorted. ¡°Just a moment.¡± Then he fell into thought for a while. Woojoo handed him the scripts again, but he refused them. ¡°I remembered most of it.¡± ¡°Really?¡± ¡°I always remember the things I like.¡± ¡°I see. That¡¯s why you always forget our birthdays.¡± ¡°Ouch¡­¡± He nced at the mean Hyungs who teased him and got lost in thought. He moved his head this way and that, looking at the scripts. He didn¡¯t have his usual yful expression, but a serious one. He looked like a different person. If you look closely, their kid was really handsome, if he didn¡¯t make those weird noises like ¡®Ehehe~¡¯. The difference between when he closed and opened his mouth was huge. Woojoo thought he saw a post written by Souffl¨¦, who became a fan of Jiho¡¯s concept photo. ¡®I turned on the first episode of Reality and Jiho was rolling around in a nket, pretending to be a log. Haha¡­ Why am I crying?¡¯ There were many simr testimonies. They looked for more information because he was cool, but they found out he was a ck goat wrestler or something. Or an alien who appeared on the news of another country. Woojoo suddenly wondered if their image was okay as it was, but the younger ones relieved him. ¡°We gave up.¡± ¡°Yeah? Me too.¡± They allughed together. The pale face that had been immersed in thought finally lifted his head. ¡°Hyungs, I made a decision.¡± ¡°Yeah? Which one was better?¡± ¡°This one.¡± Jiho¡¯s finger moved swiftly and picked out one script. Chapter 224: Chapter 224: Trantor: MarcTempest Editor: Rxel Chapter 224 The script that was picked up like a doll was ¡®Slip¡¯. ¡°Slip?¡± ¡°Yeah.¡± The youngest answered. ¡°I think I would choose this if I were an actor. It¡¯s my taste and it feels better written.¡± He then threw a regretful look at the script.¡°Ah, really. This would be fun even if I went as an extra. It also captures the character¡¯s emotions well in between.¡± He whetted his appetite like a person who had gold in front of him. It was a tempting thing, but he couldn¡¯t have it, so he fidgeted with his fingers. He was cute, bouncing his feet excitedly, even though it wasn¡¯t the drama he was starring in. ¡°Uh, this¡­¡± Everyone held back theirughter at the sight of the youngest making a sad face while rummaging through the script. Woojoo asked him, ¡°What did you like about it?¡± ¡°It was short.¡± ¡°Short?¡± Jiho pointed to the phrase ¡®10 episodes¡¯ with his fingertip. ¡°These kinds of stories tend to copse in thetter half. They said everything they had to say, but they still have to write more. Most dramas are like that, but this genre also tends to stretch more.¡± The youngest exined seriously, ¡°But if it¡¯s 10 episodes, the density of the story will be much higher, and the script will be less likely to fall apart. And¡­ if you look at the synopsis here, can¡¯t you see that the writer has already nned the ending?¡± He started to interpret the meaning hidden in the lines written in the synopsis. They nodded with a nervous expression. ¡°Oh, I see.¡± ¡°Wow. Our youngest is smart.¡± ¡°Do you see this?¡± He was amazed by his reaction and shook his head. ¡°The teacher who taught me acting a long time ago told me to analyze things like movies or dramas. I think I see a little bit after watching a lot.¡± He continued to exin. Woojoo pretended to understand, but honestly, he didn¡¯t know what he was talking about. Was it strange to see the youngest calmly exining? He used to be their baby who always said ¡®ebbebe¡¯ to his brothers. ¡°So, do you think this drama is good for OST?¡± ¡°But I don¡¯t know about that.¡± ¡°Why?¡± ¡°I don¡¯t know if there¡¯s a ce for OST to fit in this script yet.¡± That was true. You couldn¡¯t put ¡®cause you are my love~¡¯ in there when there was an unidentified primitive man killing people. Jiho said, ¡°I just judged by the script. If I only think about the drama OST, I think Fox Bead might be better. I prefer Slip more, but I enjoyed this too.¡± ¡°That makes sense.¡± Rihyuk took over the baton. ¡°If you only think about OST, wouldn¡¯t Fox Bead be better? The song has more weight, after all.¡± ¡°But didn¡¯t we say our weight is higher in Slip?¡± Junghyun pointed to Slip and asked, ¡°There aren¡¯t many OST songs here, so our weight will be a bit more.¡± ¡°Well¡­ that¡¯s true. After all, the other seniors take the songs with more weight in Fox Bead.¡± It was a dilemma. They both enjoyed it, but there were pros and cons. Woojoo wouldn¡¯t know about the story or the direction until the drama came out, but the choices themselves were subtle. Assuming that both had a high chance of sess, would you go for the tail end of a romance drama OST? Or would you go for a genre piece with a lot of weight in OST? ¡°We¡¯re not even starring in it, why is it soplicated?¡± Everyone agreed with Woojoo¡¯s words. They weren¡¯t actors choosing their next work, they were just making OST, but they couldn¡¯t decide what to choose. They used to just do whatever they were given, but this kind of fork in the road. Of course, there wouldn¡¯t be a big hit with one OST, but¡­ As their Mrs. Deoksoon said, the first step was a bad step, and since it was their first choice, they should choose well. But the discussion didn¡¯te to a conclusion easily. Woojoo had a headache and unconsciously thought, ¡®I wish someone would do it for me¡¯, but he thought it was right for them to make the final decision about their career. Ask someone else¡­ Woojoo thought of Director Jo, who was famous for his good sense, but he thought of a better candidate. No, he saw him. ¡°¡­!¡± He turned his head and looked at Junghyun, who was rummaging through the jelly worms. He flinched when Woojoo stared at him with a ¡®this is it!¡¯ look in his eyes. ¡°No way.¡± ¡°What do you mean, no way?¡± ¡°I¡¯m too tired today. I don¡¯t think I can work with you.¡± ¡°Hey. Anyone would think you do this every day¡­¡± Woojoo was about to say ¡®you know you do¡¯, but the other siblings looked at him with wide eyes. ¡®You did it every day.¡¯ ¡®Excuse me? Where is your conscience?¡¯ Woojoo coughed and opened his mouth. ¡°Let¡¯s let Junghyun choose. He¡¯ll pick based on his intuition.¡± ¡°Ah¡­!¡± Everyone agreed as if it was a brilliant idea, while the person in question blinked his eyes. They quickly flipped and shuffled two scripts. Jiho eximed. ¡°Wow, you¡¯re mixing them so well. You look like those guys who shuffle cups with balls on the streets of Europe.¡± ¡°I practiced by watching YouTube,¡± he said proudly with a smile to Bijoo, ¡°Bijoo, cover Junghyun¡¯s eyes for me.¡± ¡°Okay.¡± ¡°Why do you have to cover his eyes just to shuffle them?¡± Woojoo answered while shuffling the script in response to Rihyuk''s question. "I don''t have the confidence to beat his dynamic vision." "¡­¡­I admit that my thinking was short." Woojoo smiled at Rihyuk, who agreed. After shuffling the script, he handed it over to Junghyun. "Now, Junghyun." "Yes." "Do you know what''s in here?" Woojoo wondered if he could tell by the slight difference in thickness, but as expected, he didn''t pay attention and returned a response that he didn''t know. Woojoo rubbed his palms and smiled. ¡°Okay, you have to choose one here. Which drama OST should we do to make us more-¡± ¡°Better?¡± ¡°No, worse. Pick one script that you think, oh, this is a bit ominous.¡± ¡°¡­I¡¯m not that unlucky. Hyung. I¡¯m a symbol of luck, you know.¡± No one agreed with the self-proimed ¡®symbol of luck¡¯. Junghyun made a yful expression and reached out his hand to touch the back of the two scripts once without hesitation. Woojoo quickly pulled out one of the scripts. ¡°That fast?¡± ¡°This one.¡± ¡°Did you have a bad feeling about it?¡± ¡°No. I just didn¡¯t like the rough texture of the paper.¡± Woojoo swallowed the words that almost came out of his mouth, questioning his choice based on such a trivial thing. But then he saw the script in front of him. Jiho smiled happily. ¡°Wow. It finally happened.¡± The script that their rhinoceros beetle chose was none other than ¡®Slip¡¯. *** Woojoo told Seokhwan Hyung about their decision regarding the OST. -Slip? Got it. I¡¯ll contact the productionpany. He seemed surprised, as if he expected them to choose Fox Bead. -Did you have a special reason for choosing it? Hmm¡­ Yeah, Jiho liked the script. What¡­? Junghyun said he had a bad feeling about it? Okay. I got it. I¡¯ll proceed right away. Woojoo smiled as he heard his excited voice. After deciding to work on the OST for Slip, Woojoo decided to wait for the response from the productionpany. In the meantime, Woojoo continued working on their third album. ¡°Oooh, my babies. Were you waiting for daddy?¡± Woojoo heard his siblings¡¯ whispers in his ear as he fiddled with the device. ¡°¡­I really hate this. Don¡¯t you agree, Hyung?¡± ¡°Keep those thoughts to yourself, Rihyuk.¡± ¡°Be careful. I can see his ears perking up. He¡¯s pretending to focus, but he¡¯s actually spying on us. If we stand out even a little bit, we¡¯ll be his ves right away.¡± They quickly turned their heads and saw that he was right. They were panicking, muttering ¡®ni hao¡¯ as they wrote on their Japanese textbooks with the sharp end of their pencils. Woojoo could see their awkward posture, as if they were reciting the national anthem. His eyes narrowed as he watched them, biting their tongues. ¡°Stupid fools¡­¡± The youngest one whispered that he could hear multiplemas in their speech. Woojoo ignored him and looked back at his device. ¡°Ha ha ha!¡± He couldn¡¯t help butugh like the boss. He couldn¡¯t help it. Every time he saw the new equipment in the studio, he felt so happy that he wanted to jump around. His face reflected in the ss of the recording booth looked like that. The sofa jump meme on the inte. But, looking at these devices, he had no choice. The sound that distinguished even the slightest difference in tone. The soft sound. The sensitivity that responded sensitively with a little adjustment. It was awesome. It was thrilling. He thought of the boss as he looked at the round light bulb decoration on the wall. ¡°Thank you, President¡­!¡± The equipment that the President promised as a winning pledge at the Olympics. Thetest devices that he handled in Director Jo¡¯s studio. Honestly, he thought it was okay not to buy them, but when he came back after the holiday, the equipment was ready as a New Year¡¯s gift. It was touching. It was touching again. ¡°Shall we have fun working with you now? Hahaha!¡± ¡°¡­¡± ¡°Oh, don¡¯t be nervous. It¡¯s not for you.¡± As Woojoo reached out his hand, the stiff kids rxed. ¡°Phew¡­¡± ¡°Yoo-hoo¡­¡± ¡°Who¡¯s yoo-hoo? Come out.¡± ¡°I¡¯m sorry. I won¡¯t bother you.¡± Woojoo looked back at theptop. There were five songs to work on in the [3rd Album Tracks] folder. There were a total of 11 tracks to go into the 3rd album. The intro and outro that showed the beginning and end of the album were nned to be Junghyun¡¯s original songs. The intro was a self-written rap, and the outro was a solo by Bijoo. Of the remaining nine songs, five were Woojoo¡¯s original songs, including the title ¡®Dark Matter (tentative)¡¯. The other four songs were to be filled byposers who were outsourced by the A&R Team. ¡°Hey, can you listen to this?¡± Junghyun, who was working on hisptop next to Woojoo, handed him his headphones. ¡°The drums sound a bit vague and I need your opinion. It seems a bit twisted in the middle.¡± As Woojoo put on the headphones, Junghyun yed the intro for him. He closed his eyes and listened quietly. Tock. Tock. Woojoo thought he knew what he wa stalking about. How should he put it, the feeling that some parts were annoyingly offbeat. ¡°I think it would be better to change the melody a bit rather than focusing on one kick or snare.¡± ¡°Yeah.¡± ¡°Wouldn¡¯t a softer feel match the title better?¡± Woojoo gave him a rough guideline on how to proceed, listening intently. He thought he could fix it with a few tweaks, but he thought it would be better for him to do it himself to improve his skills. They sat down and worked on the songs all night. Of course, it wasn¡¯t just the two of them. They all shared their opinions when they were deciding on the overall concept. ¡°What kind of image would be good for this concept?¡± ¡°A meadow? Or the sea? How about something soft and poetic?¡± ¡°Isn¡¯t that too drastic of a concept change for us? We were going hard at the Masquerade, and suddenly they hear birds chirping¡­¡± ¡°That¡¯s right. The acting too. If we try to change our image too much, it might backfire on us.¡± ¡°Then let¡¯s add another song here¡­¡± They sketched out the outline of our third album as they each voiced their thoughts. Woojoo was busy preparing for their third albumeback, which was scheduled for early April. Woojoo shared his ideas with the A&R Team and they gave him their feedback. It was after the final performance of the Legendary Song Discovery project. Their second album hade outst November, so it had been a long gap. Among their peers who debuted with them, they were probably thetest to make aeback in 2015. Woojoo felt sorry for their fans, Souffl¨¦, who were waiting for their album. The only constion was that the Legendary Song Discovery project was a sess and it gave them more opportunities to show their faces here and there. -Will PBS¡¯s Legendary Song continue their soaring ratings? ¡®The rising star of Sunday entertainment¡¯ -New ck, guest appearance on PBS FM¡¯s ¡®Radio More Than Flowers¡¯ -Woojoo reveals, ¡°I mistook a passerby who greeted me after my previous entertainment appearance for an acquaintance and greeted them warmly¡± Woojoo also appeared on PBS radio and went out with the cast of Legendary Song for ate-night talk show. ¡°Their performance nning skills were not to be underestimated. I met these guys when they were more of rookies at an event in Icheon¡­ No, wait. This is something that New ck should tell you. Why don¡¯t you share some behind-the-scenes stories from then?¡± Woojoo took Mr. Song¡¯s cue and told them what happened that day. Instead of mentioning Teen Spirit¡¯s tardiness, he vaguely exined that it was a dy due to the situation at the scene, and they all showed interest. Thanks to that, the views of the live cam of the event that went on the screen also soared. Of course, it didn¡¯t take long for the fan who filmed the video to suddenly turn it private and bury it. ¡°You guys have a new ad too.¡± Woojoo could tell that they were on the rise, as Seokhwan Hyung also told him that they got an ad frequently. Unlike the early days when they only got low-quality products like silver ions or jade tes, they had many goodpanies to work with. Because they were popr among the middle-aged and older people, they also received a lot of filial piety products that targeted them. Some of thepanies that they had been a model for before suggested that they participate in on-site events. And then¡­ ¡°Two, three, hello! We are New ck!¡± The number of people who recognized them when they appeared at the events increased a lot. They used to be nobodies, except for the idol fans who would ask ¡®Who are they?¡¯ But now, more and more people recognize them and cheer ¡®New ck!¡¯ when they saw them. The first day they got a proper response from the crowd at an event, Woojoo felt teary-eyed for a long time after he got off the stage with his siblings. He didn¡¯t know why. It wasn¡¯t such a big deal, but they were strangely moved by it. ¡°Actually, the adults recognize us more. Haha.¡± Woojoo thought one of the event staff said something like that. ¡°Usually, the audience doesn¡¯t respond well to trot singers or rookies. Especially idols, they can¡¯t tell who is who and they all look the same to them.¡± Woojoo thanked them for thepliment as he heard that they were gaining a favorable image among the middle-aged and older demographic. It was different from the original n, but Woojoo felt like they had made their name more known to that group by participating in Legendary Song Discovery, which received a lot of love from them. Someone said in an onlinement that they didn¡¯t know who New ck was until their parents told them. Woojoo was so happy that they announced their name, even if it was slightly biased. It was when Woojoo was busier and happier than ever, continuing their activities, that he finally got the news he had been waiting for. ¡°I heard from the OST productionpany that the music director wants to have a meeting with you.¡± They said that the music PD of GTV¡¯s Friday drama ¡®Slip¡¯ wanted him toe to the filming site for a meeting. And. ¡°This is a story that the production team of Sok Sok! History Discovery asked me to tell you. They said that a separate edited version of History Discovery will be uploaded to the HBS YouTube ount this afternoon.¡± ¡°Wow¡­¡± ¡°I edited it in a fun way, so look forward to it.¡± They looked at each other with happy faces. ¡°It¡¯s finally out.¡± ¡°I¡¯m excited. It didn¡¯te out weird, did it?¡± ¡°We broadcasted normally, so where would there be anything strange?¡± ¡°Yes, yes.¡± Woojoo said that, but he felt a slight anxiety somewhere. Still, he waited for the broadcast of History Discovery with an excited heart. *** The next morning. On the subway to work. ¡®I¡¯m totally out of it.¡¯ As a third-year office worker who had been struggling among the crowded people, he finally found a seat after passing through the busy station. "Ugh¡­" His whole body felt like it was screaming from exhaustion. Maybe he shouldn''t have drank beerst night. He plugged in his earphones and picked up his smartphone. "Korean History Lecture ¨C A Summary of the Three Kingdoms Period" He listened attentively to the free Korean history lecture provided by YouTube. It was a recent hobby he started because he felt like he had neglected his self-development since joining thepany. "Yawn¡­" Was it because of the fatigue from workingte yesterday? He couldn''t catch anything the instructor was exining. He was delivering it clearly, but what should he say? It was just tiring to think of it as studying. "¡­." How long had it been like that? "Squeak." He woke up from a sound while he was dozing off with his earphones on. Laughter? Where did that suddenughtere from? He soon realized that the sound wasing from his earphones. ¡®Idols?'' He had turned on the YouTube auto-y feature, but everything on the list was history lectures. Out of nowhere, a boy group appeared. -Today we''re going to learn about the prehistoric era- -Yo. -Don''t rap yo, Mr. Junghyun. You''re interrupting the progress. -Okay, yo. He blinked his eyes and looked at the title of the YouTube video. ¡®Sok Sok! History Discovery Team?'' On a boring morningmute. Something that sparked his curiosity appeared. Chapter 225: Chapter 225: Trantor: MarcTempest Editor: Rxel Chapter 225 ¡®What is this?¡¯ The man dragged the yback bar to the beginning after watching for about two minutes. A studio that looked like a mushroom vige. Five handsome men greeted with bright smiles. -Hello, kids! The man almostughed.It was because they had their names written in white calligraphy on ck t-shirts, as if to imprint their names on the viewers. ¡®Woojoo¡¯ held up a progress card and smiled brightly. -Starting today, we will explore the fun historical events with you, New ck¡¯s Woojoo. -I¡¯m Bijoo. -Junghyun. -I¡¯m Seo Rihyuk. -Hello. I¡¯m Wang Jiho, a descendant of King Sejong. He turned his t-shirt and there was a surname ¡®Wang¡¯ written on his back. The man watched him with a twitching smile. ¡®Jiho¡¯ said with a smug face. -Do you know? My ancestor was King Geon. He was immediately scolded. -Jiho, please refrain from making jokes that we didn¡¯t discuss beforehand. -Stop being impulsive. Wang Jiho. -Tsk. ¡®Junghyun¡¯ nodded and said. -Right. Jiho. If you¡¯re a descendant of King Wang, then I¡¯m a descendant of Kim Suro. -Huh? ¡®Rihyuk¡¯ looked up with a subtle expression. -Hyung. The founder of Kimhae Kim n is Kim Suro. -¡­Really? The other members pped and chuckled at the surprised look of Junghyun. Junghyun asked again. -Since when? -Well, since 2,000 years ago from now¡­? -Oh. So that senior was the founder of our family. The New ck members teased him for calling him ¡®senior¡¯ 2,000 years ago and heughed. At first, he thought he had a scary impression, but his speech and behavior were gentle like a bear. The man also smiled as he heard theughter of the staff on his earphones. ¡®What are they?¡¯ He thought they would be cute and act coy when they came out as idols, but they were surprisingly funny. But he wondered if this was okay. It was a children¡¯s program, but it seemed more suitable for adults. There might be some parts that didn¡¯t match the children¡¯s emotions, he thought, but his question was soon answered. The direction of the broadcast flow and editing was clear. They cut out the parts that only fit the children¡¯s eye level and left the parts that targeted the adults. The address was still kids, but that didn¡¯t matter much. The important thing was that it was fun. They were so in sync that they made jokes non-stop, as if they were aspiringedians. He was so excited that he woke up from his morning sleep. The production team also added captions full of entertainment, as if they were going to vent their anger from doing a children''s program. ¡®This is good.'' It was fun and informative. There was useful information in the jokes that filled the audio without a break. -I have a question here. As the member with a cool expression opened his lips, the other members sped their hands and listened attentively. Bijoo smiled and joked. -Yes, doctor. Please tell us. -Wow. The eldest brother immediately pped and intervened. -Our quick-witted doctor''s question timing is so amazing! -I got goosebumps! -Hehe. -¡­¡­ He snickered at the sight of them teasing him like hyenas tearing apart their prey. Then he looked at one ce and tilted his head. Is it a special effect? He noticed that Rihyuk''s ears and face turned red, so he took a closer look, but surprisingly, it was not a special effect. Rihyuk coughed and said. -¡­The wave-shaped bronze sword changed into a three-edged bronze sword. What does this mean? -Jiho! Jiho! -Hey, it''s not a quiz, just tell us¡­¡­ -The three-edged bronze sword is muchter and more cunning than the wave-shaped one. This means that the material price has gone up. -¡­That''s creative. Woojoo admired, and Rihyuk almost persuaded him, but opened his lips. -That, that''s not it. The wave-shaped bronze sword is a form found in Liaoning Province and the Korean Penins. On the other hand, the three-edged bronze sword is a form mainly found in the Korean Penins. That means that a unique form of bronze sword appeared. -They domesticated it. -Oh. K-bronze sword. As Rihyuk exined, Woojoo summarized it in a simple way, and the rest of the members took care of the reaction. Fun and useful information. He was concentrating on the content that contained both without knowing it. ¡®This is good. Should I subscribe to the channel¡­?'' It was definitely less dense in information than the one conducted by a professional instructor, and it focused on fun. But it was rare to have a fun and informative lecture. Especially just now¡­¡­ "Pfft!" He almost burst intoughter at the scene of Rihyuk chasing after someone with a stick he had taken off as a penalty. After the 17-minute video ended, [Behind Cut] came out. A kind of NG scene. A mini log was lying on the floor and Junghyun was sitting with a serious face holding a stick. Next to him, Rihyuk with sses exined. The discovery of fire was a revolutionary change for the early humans. But making fire was very difficult. As you can see, even rubbing sticks to ignite a fire like this¡­ -Rub it, please. Mr. Junghyun. -Yes, Mr. Woojoo. Swish swish. Soon, smoke rose up, and Rihyuk, who was about to exin how hard it was to make fire, was flustered. -What? Why is there smoke? Whoosh! -Di, did we seed? -What? Why, why is there fire over there¡­ -Awesome! Fire! -Oh. It works¡­ The members of New ck were stunned and the staff couldn''t help but burst intoughter. The man alsoughed unknowingly on the subway. "Phew¡­!" Fortunately, no one around paid much attention, but once heughed, he kept leaking out and covered his mouth. On the screen, Woojoo stepped forward. -Let me do it. I''ll just pretend to do it. -Why do I feel uneasy? Wouldn''t it be better if Bijoo or Rihyuk did it? -They''re too skinny. I have to show them that even strong people can''t do it. -I''m not skinny, Hyung. This is lean muscle¡­ -Bijoo, stay out of it. -Yes¡­ Rihyuk resumed his exnation and Woojoo rubbed the sticks. Woojoo was acting gently. -As you can see, the early humans made fire¡­ What? Whoosh! The staffughed again, and the man who was watching also had to endure another peak ofughter. Junghyun pped like a seal. -Awesome. You''re faster than me. -I think that Hyung would have lived well in the prehistoric era¡­ -He would have been a tribal chief. If he was born then, we would be learning about Jenmin Joseon instead of Wiman Joseon. The staff turned off the fire that was slightly attached to the log and took it away. Finally, the video ended. Thest thing that came out was the New ck members standing in the hallway with neat clothes. Woojoo smiled brightly and said. -Sok Sok! History Discovery! Please like and subscribe! -Yo. -Hey. Kim Junghyun. Come to work! -I won''t get caught yo. The video ended with Woojoo chasing him like a bear hunter and the gang following him with ¡®Waaah!'' sounds. The cameraman and the writer''sughter were heard, and the man''s cheeks trembled. It was the third peak. He barely held back hisughter and pressed the subscribe button. ¡®It would have been fun to watch it all at once. Too bad.'' The smiling office worker lifted his head. It was the station he had to get off at. He buttoned his coat and thought. By the way, he felt like he had heard of New ck somewhere. He was not interested in TV in the first ce, so he didn''t know anyone but the top stars. He thought he had heard their name recently, but he shook his head. Well, there were more than one or two idols, and it wasn''t important anyway. But he had a feeling that he would remember their names from now on. He couldn''t help it if he looked at the names on the T-shirts for more than 15 minutes. He thought he would search for themter. -Hello. He got up from his seat and heard a familiar voice in his earphones. There was a video titled ¡®Why Rihyuk Became a Genius (feat. Hyung Jorong)'' ying. ¡®What is this crazy algorithm¡­'' It was either a video edited by a fan of New ck or a live broadcast with subtitles. -Why do we call Rihyuk Hyung a doctor? Hehehe¡­! There are people who don''t know. Can I tell you this? Oh, surprise. Rihyuk Hyung is sending a message. He says ¡®I''ll kill you if you tell''. The youngest smiled and said. -It''s okay! I''m only living today! He locked the door, and soon ¡®Bang! Bang! Bang! ¡®Hey! Open the door!'' sounded. At that moment, the man put his phone in his pocket. It was time to get off. ¡®Genius Doctor¡­¡¯ Come to think of it, he called him doctor earlier. He wondered why? Another curiosity lingered in his mind for a moment. ¡®I should check it outter.¡¯ With that thought, the man stepped out of the open screen door. He climbed the stairs among the people who were going to work, feeling his steps a little lighter than usual. He thought it was because he had been smiling since morning. The same day. People who were led by an unknown algorithm watched the video and pressed the subscribe button. ¡®I was watching history¡­¡¯ He was browsing through some educational YouTube content to study history, but when he came to his senses, he saw a fire burning. And when he came to his senses again, he had pressed subscribe and like. -What? Why am I here? [Like 37] -Adults? Is there anyone here who is an adult? [Like 17] -Why did I watch this? -Time flies. -I was watching a video of the legendary group, why am I here¡­? 0_0 -But why is it fun??? -??????????I burst outughing when I saw the fire [Like 10] -Fire???????? -?????You won¡¯t get caught yo?? -Why are they idols???? -They¡¯ve been living so hard. They¡¯re everywhere. -I just watched a video of their life story and now it¡¯s a mess. -I came here to watch a drama clip and I¡¯m watching this ????? The people who had subscribed to HBS¡¯s ount also watched the video and the views andments started to increase. And. ¡°What is this¡­?¡± The new Media Department employee who was in charge of HBS¡¯s YouTube ount tilted his head as he saw the higher-than-usual increase in subscribers. ¡°Oh.¡± The teacher who taught history at the middle school watched the video and thought, ¡®This would be good to use when the kids are bored.¡¯ Meanwhile, there were people who showed the biggest reaction. -??? -Guys?? ????? Why are you in a weird ce again? -Fire??????? -Rihyuk¡¯s chasing the thief.gif -I¡¯m going crazy???? I¡¯ll go and promote themunity with that fire gif -Fun??? There was a bigger picture behind why they went out. -How can a sparrow know the meaning of a rhinoceros beetle? The Souffl¨¦ fans who saw the broadcast content were explosive. -Our kids make even children¡¯s programs into entertainment! (Proud) -My bias is a YouTuber?! Amazing and mysterious Souffl¨¦ TV -????I was shocked when I saw random content pop up in the morning. -Is this fangirling or studying? -Can someone please give me the random box quote gif that a Souffl¨¦ fan left? -There¡¯s a site where Rihyuk has organized the materials. It¡¯s in pdf format. -Is that goods? -It¡¯s kind of goods, but it doesn¡¯t feel like goods. -????I never thought I¡¯d download study materials while fangirling. -Mom! My bias made goods, but it¡¯s a history summary book! As fresh reactions dominated, suggestions also came up. -???? Fun, it would be fun if they make YouTube lectures using their skills by member. -Kim Rhinoceros Beetle¡¯s fitness PT.youtube -Oh, good ????? -But there¡¯s one thing you guys are overlooking. -??? -? -Woojoo won¡¯t do aposition lesson. -! -Well¡­I didn¡¯t think of that. -Despair -What if you go to Woojoo¡¯s YouTube and the screen is locked and you can¡¯t get out? -What if you¡¯re imprisoned by Woojoo¡¯s beauty? -Who said that just now? Come out. -Woojoo? While the Souffl¨¦s were trembling in fear, there was someone who was smiling while looking at themunity where the fans gathered. ¡°Wow.¡± Hong Seoyoung, an assistant manager of the PR Team, had a mysterious smile on her face. ¡°Achoo!¡± When Woojoo was about to wipe his nose after sneezing, a tissue was handed to him. ¡°Hyung, here you go.¡± ¡°Thanks. You¡¯re the best, our second youngest.¡± Woojoo wiped his nose and looked at the back seat of the car. ¡°Unlike someone who looks at Hyung as a virus blob, you know.¡± ¡°¡­¡± Rihyuk, who was wearing a mask and looking at him with a biting eye, was the germ blob. Ding dong. A message notification rang. Rihyuk [You¡¯re not afraid of catching a cold, right?] Rihyuk [I¡¯m different from you guys] Rihyuk [If I get a cold, it¡¯s three weeks] Woojoo [It¡¯s not a cold, it¡¯s a sneeze, you jerk,] Woojoo [Rihyuk caveman meme.jpg] When Rihyuk turned his eyes into triangles, Junghyun sent an emoticon. Junghyun [Emoticon] It was an emoticon of Junghyun pping his hands on the screen. The other siblings also sent emoticons in response. Bijoo [Emoticon] Jiho [Emoticon] Woojoo [Emoticon] They were emoticons saying ¡®It¡¯s okay. It happens.¡¯, ¡®Kyarururu!¡¯, and ¡®Love Yourself¡¯. ¡°Wow, these damn people¡­!¡± Everyone burst intoughter at the sight of Rihyuk exploding in the back seat. ¡°These emoticons are awesome.¡± ¡°I know, right? I hope they release the second version soon.¡± The emoticons they weremunicating with were new products titled ¡®New ck Ver.1¡¯. Seeing the images they took in the studio move, he felt nostalgic. It hadn¡¯t been long since they came out, but they were enjoying them. Kim Deoksoon [Hee Han Ta] Kim Deoksoon [Howe you have a new disease every time?] Woojoo sent one to each of his grandmother and acquaintances. Han Taehyun [Oh? Are you bragging about your emoticon?] Han Taehyun [Emoticon] Han Taehyun [Talk to me after you release six more versions ^^] Woojoo sent him a ck history meme of his opponent while he was bragging with his own emoticon with a caption saying ¡®Try it¡¯. There was no more reply. Woojoo didn¡¯t answer Daisy, who replied with her own emoticon saying ¡®Huh? Is that all?¡¯ Woojoo still remembered vividly how she lifted up her opponent andughed during the wrestling match. Only the Street Boys reacted with ¡®Wow¡­!¡¯ He didn¡¯t know why there were only weird people around him. ¡°Oh, we¡¯re here. We¡¯re here!¡± Woojoo turned his eyes to the youngest¡¯s excited voice. Paju City, Gyeonggi Province. They were dragging their tired bodies to the filming site of GTV drama ¡®Slip¡¯. ¡°Oh. Here it is.¡± They parked in front of a nondescript three-story building. In the parking lot, there were equipment vehicles and vans of celebrities with the words ¡®Firefly Production¡¯ on them. When they contacted them that they had arrived, an FD came out from inside. ¡°Are you here to meet the music director? Follow me.¡± ¡°Thank you.¡± As soon as they entered, they eximed involuntarily. The manager Hyungs also looked around with curious eyes. A huge set that looked exactly like a real police station. If the detective office they filmed at the idol show was the quality that would appear in a reenactment drama, this was like a scene from a real movie. ¡°Wow¡­¡± When they admired, the FD with the inte smiled and said, ¡°Amazing, right?¡± ¡°Yes, maybe because this is the second police station. Thest ce we went to only had a detention center.¡± ¡°¡­¡± The FD was startled for a moment, but when they exined with a wave of their hands, heughed and understood. ¡°Hello, we are New ck!¡± They greeted the staff members who passed by in the hallway with a slight bow. Some of them said ¡®wow¡¯ and some of them smiled and returned their greeting. Being on a terrestrial broadcast was nice. The busy staff who were exhausted from filming were smiling, or even acknowledging them. The person who was guiding them also said, ¡°I saw your clip on Legendary Song Discovery. It was life-changing.¡± ¡°Really? How was it?¡± ¡°It was great. You did it with coloring.¡± They all raised their thumbs and praised themselves, making the other personugh. Then he said discreetly, ¡°If you don¡¯t mind, can I get your autograph or a picture when you leave?¡± He also told them that his parents recently watched New ck and liked it, so they dly agreed. ¡°Here it is.¡± They walked past the filming equipment that was set up, careful of the wires, and approached the office that was located in a quiet ce. It was when Woojoo was about to knock on the door before entering. ¡°Hey, New ck!¡± Woojoo turned his head at the sound of a cheerful greeting. They widened their eyes as they saw an actor dressed as a detective walking briskly down the hallway. ¡°Uh¡­?¡± It was someone they had met once before. Chapter 226: Chapter 226: Trantor: MarcTempest Editor: Rxel Chapter 226 Actor Lee Kangjin. The protagonist of GTV¡¯s ¡®Slip¡¯ walked towards them with confident strides. The power of makeup was amazing. He was a famous actor in his thirties, known for his handsome appearance. But now, he looked like nothing but a sharp-featured detective. His hair was messy and his beard was scruffy. He wore an old leather jacket. If Woojoo hadn¡¯t searched for information about Slip before he came, he wouldn¡¯t have recognized him.¡°It¡¯s good to see you here!¡± ¡°Hello, Sunbae-nim!¡± He said with a smile, ¡°This is our second meeting, right?¡± ¡°Um, I think this is the third time.¡± ¡°Really?¡± ¡°I saw you once on the Around the World With Dice Chuseok Special, and you also came out as a Rookie Award winner at the HBS Awards.¡± ¡°Oh, right. Oops. Now that I think about it, we have a connection!¡± Woojooughed along with the person who was smiling. Meanwhile, his siblings secretly sent Woojoo an SOS. ¡®What¡¯s going on?¡¯ ¡®Why is he greeting us like this¡­?¡¯ Woojoo wanted to answer them, but he didn¡¯t know either. He hugged Woojoo like a friend of ten years, but the total time he spent with him wouldn¡¯t even amount to ten seconds. He didn¡¯t have any meaningful conversation with him at the Around the World With Dice either. The only thing Woojoo did was give him some advice as a fellow failure of the Daegil raid, when he handed him the trophy at the year-end music awards and said ¡®congrattions¡¯. He wasn¡¯t the type to be sociable with just anyone. He didn¡¯t even spare Woojoo a nce when they were all gathered at the grand opening. There was one thing Woojoo could guess, though¡­ ¡°Hahaha!¡± ¡°Hehehe!¡± ¡°Kyahaha!¡± But since he acted so friendly towards Woojoo, Woojoo also joined in the lively conversation. At some point, he asked Woojoo casually, after they had rxed their speech. ¡°What are you doing here? Are you, like, making a cameo or something?¡± ¡°I came to meet our music director. I agreed to work on the OST.¡± ¡°That¡¯s great. Since you¡¯re joining our OST, pick some good songs for us.¡± He smiled and took out his phone when Woojoo said he would do his best. ¡°How about we take a picture tomemorate meeting at the shooting site?¡± ¡°Sure.¡± ¡°Okay, then let¡¯s all pose like we¡¯re sleeping.¡± Woojoo asked him why they had to pose like that, and he replied, ¡®Isn¡¯t it ¡®sleep¡¯?¡¯ Rihyuk hid his shocked expression and cautiously exined, but Lee Kangjin burst intoughter. ¡°Oh, really? I¡¯m d you figured it out. I almost made a fool of myself at the press conference.¡± Woojoo quickly took a selfie with the lead actor and exchanged phone numbers before parting ways. When he asked Woojoo if he could post the picture on his SNS, his managers answered yes for him. Woojoo admired his back as he disappeared, swinging his leather jacket. ¡°Wow¡­¡± He was definitely an actor. He walked with a clumsy detective vibe, as if he had practiced his gait a lot. The nd protagonist ¡®Park Chuljin¡¯ seemed to have popped out of the real script. Woojoo was admiring his cool disappearance, like the hero of a hard-boiled novel. ¡°Awesome¡­¡± ¡°Oh, Director! You¡¯re here!¡± The sight of Lee Kangjin running towards the director, rubbing his hands vigorously, as if the director had appeared on the scene. ¡°¡­¡± Woojoo saw the actor smiling brightly and saying to the director, ¡°You must have had a good day today, sir. You¡¯re glowing like a million fluorescent lights!¡± The directorughed heartily in response. Junghyun nodded his head. ¡°There¡¯s a reason why he¡¯s survived for so long in this industry.¡± ¡°It sounds disrespectful to say this to a senior, but, um¡­¡± Rihyuk trailed off, but Woojoo could guess what he was going to say next. He expected him to have a serious image, since he was a famous actor with outstanding acting skills. But he felt a bit¡­ On the other hand, it was surprising to see him cozying up to the director and ttering him, when he used to act friendly with them. Bijoo sneered. ¡°I remember the opening of Around the World With Dice.¡± ¡°Me too.¡± They were only two months into their debut. They were gathered in front of the TBC Broadcasting Station, but no one talked to them except for the other cast members who were in the same situation. They must have thought they had no connections. Well, at least Woojoo was d that the situation was different now. Woojoo felt a strange feeling for a moment as he looked at the contact name ¡®Senior Lee Kangjin¡¯ saved on each of their phones. (A photo of the New ck members and Actor Lee Kangjin doing a sunflower pose with their chins on their hands) ? Promis.Jang, Real_HanTH and 387 others like this LeeKang Thank you to my New ck friends who visited the set of Slip! #WishingDramaSess #GTVSlip #FlowerFlowerFlowerUncleFlowerFlower ¡°One, two.¡± ¡°Hello¡­¡± ¡°Please, have a seat.¡± Woojoo muttered ¡®New ck¡¯ under his breath, trying to harmonize with the others as he sat down. The office was set up in a corner of the shooting site. The music director was a middle-aged man with a calm expression and sses. He offered them a cup of warm green tea from the kettle. ¡°Nice to meet you. I¡¯m Kang Manseok.¡± They introduced ourselves again. He told them to speakfortably, but he refused when they said ¡®this isfortable¡¯. Woojoo cautiously eyed the person who was scanning them with a calm face. -PD Kang Manseok? -A good person, right? Woojoo had already asked around the A&R Team about the music director they were going to work with. -A good person, indeed. -Ah, that¡¯s a good level. Director Kang is not a fairy, but a jade emperor among music directors. -That¡¯s true. There were many music directors who tried to insert their daughters as lyricists or take some of the royalties when others made a song. That was why he stood out more in this industry. -The only problem is that he¡¯s very picky. -He¡¯s really good at choosing OSTs, but I almost got cut off once in the process. -If you¡¯re a 1, he¡¯s a 3 Woojoo.
    • SeonWoojoo and ThreeWoojoo?
The story of the A&R Team echoed in his ears. By the way, who was the ThreeWoojoo drip? Who made that up? Woojoo should go back and work on the song with them. ¡°Did you watch the drama synopsis?¡± ¡°Yes, I enjoyed it.¡± Woojoo added, ¡°And I also listened to the OST that the director worked on. I¡¯m not in a position to judge, but¡­ it was really good.¡± ¡°Really?¡± ¡°The score from the mystery drama was amazing too. It started with a loud p¡­ and then the strings yed a tense tightrope walk¡­¡± It was a popr mystery drama from the past. There was a peculiar habit of the serial killer who targeted high-ranking officials in the Joseon Era. He would p his hands before killing. Whenever the terrified victim looked around, two hands would suddenly reach out from the pitch-ck darkness and p loudly. It was kind of funny and there were many parodies of it, but the OST also became popr because of the chilling direction. As Woojoo talked about these and other good points, the other person smiled softly. ¡°You¡¯ve done a lot of preparation. I just listened to the songposed by Woojoo. I heard that it matches well with our drama, and it was really good.¡± As he said that, everyone¡¯s faces brightened up when heplimented their voice color. After exchanging stories about their work, he brought up the main point. ¡°Well, of course, what I¡¯m asking for this time is not a score, but a song.¡± OSTs weremonly ssified into scores and songs. A score was something without lyrics, like the ¡®bam bam ba ba bam!¡¯ that cames out in a drama where doctors fought politically. A song was something that contained lyrics. ¡°You must have been curious after watching it. There¡¯s no ce for a song in the script.¡± ¡°Yes, that¡¯s right.¡± ¡°So, here¡¯s the thing. I¡¯ll tell you in advance what scene you¡¯ll be working on.¡± He then gave Woojoo a brief overview of how the story would unfold. He was so good at storytelling that Woojoo couldn¡¯t help but react with ¡®Wow¡¯, ¡®Awesome, so what happens next?¡¯ as he listened. Director Kang said, ¡°¡­So, you need topose a song for this part. A song that will y when the protagonist walks through the reed field.¡± ¡°Yes, I understand.¡± ¡°I called you separately without going through the productionpany because of this. You need to understand the context of that scene to make it easier to choose a song.¡± Everyone nodded their heads at the request to be careful of spoilers. Woojoo, who was taking notes, asked, ¡°Director, do you know our song called ¡®Night Sea¡¯?¡± ¡°I¡¯ve heard it.¡± ¡°How about we go for a simr vibe? The theme is different, but it should be more mncholic and calm.¡± ¡°Hmm¡­ that sounds good.¡± He asked Woojoo calmly, after thinking for a while, ¡°Then what about the strings?¡± ¡°Maybe we can mix in some guitar¡­ How old is the protagonist in the story? We can blend in some instruments that were popr when he was younger¡­¡± ¡°That¡¯s a good idea.¡± His partner smiled in approval. Woojoo¡¯s siblings started to look at Woojoo and the music director with uneasy eyes. ¡°And from here, we continue with humming. With a calm voice like Junghyun¡¯s, who has a low-pitched tone¡­¡± ¡°So you want to go without any explosive parts. More like sorting out your emotions. Yeah. Maybe that would be better.¡± ¡°Yes, that¡¯s right. On the same line as the original score¡­¡± ¡°Oh.¡± ¡°Here, we do it like this¡­¡± ¡°Then how about this¡­?¡± ¡°Oh, I like it. I like it.¡± After a few words of conversation, Woojoo pped his hands and eximed, ¡°Director, how did you know exactly what I wanted to say¡­?¡± ¡°Woojoo, did you read my mind?¡± They smiled at each other with satisfaction. They were on the same wavelength. Woojoo¡¯s heart was pounding. This was the first time he met someone who shared his musical vision so well. Whenever he said something after listening to his exnation, he understood Woojoo perfectly and suggested alternatives. Woojoo¡¯s siblings had been looking at them with bored eyes for a while. They exchanged nces among themselves, but Woojoo didn¡¯t care about that. Woojoo was too busy having a soulful conversation with the director. And then, an hourter. ¡°Woojoo!¡± ¡°Director!¡± ¡°Where have you been all this time?¡± ¡°I admire you, Director!¡± They grabbed each other¡¯s hands and spoke with excited voices. ¡°Haha!¡± ¡°Hahaha!¡± Woojoo heard the youngest whisper in his ear as they waited, ¡°Are we doomed¡­?¡± ¡°Hmm hmm.¡± Woojoo was so happy that he started humming a tune. Woojoo had met someone who shared his musical taste so well. He wanted to share his joy with them, so he turned to look. ¡°¡­¡± His siblings had fallen asleep in the span of an hour. ¡°What do I do? There are two of them. Two¡­¡± ¡°Can you hear that?¡± ¡°What sound? Wang Jiho.¡± ¡°It¡¯s the sound of us splitting up.¡± ¡°¡­¡± As Junghyun was saying ¡°Oh, really?¡± and listening carefully, Jiho called Woojoo. ¡°Hyung, I just remembered something.¡± ¡°What is it?¡± ¡°OST is all about consistency, right? It sounds better if one singer sings with the same voice, don¡¯t you think? If the voice keeps changing, it would be unnatural. In that sense, maybe the main vocal Rihyuk should sing solo¡­¡± ¡°Hey, we should all do it together.¡± Woojoo smiled and nodded in agreement with Bijoo, who was looking at him, and then spoke to Jiho again. ¡°Don¡¯t worry about the voice tone. We can adjust it.¡± ¡°¡­¡± ¡°We can do anything if we try.¡± ¡°¡­¡± ¡°Bijoo, what¡¯s wrong? Did something get in your eye?¡± ¡°No. Hyung¡­ I¡¯m just happy¡­¡± Woojoo smiled as he saw Bijoo¡¯s moist eyes. Meanwhile, they approached the set where the filming was taking ce. ¡°Helloooo¨C¡± They greeted the staff with a mosquito-like voice and took their seats. -One of the reasons why we were called to the set was to feel the atmosphere of the scene. The songs in the OST are actually the characters¡¯ dialogue or inner thoughts converted into lyrics. He said he wanted Woojoo to see the character that the lead actor was ying. And then. ¡°Hyung, Jiho¡¯s eyes are on fire.¡± ¡°I know, right?¡± As soon as they arrived at the filming site, there was someone who was watching the scene with more curiosity than anyone else. It was none other than their youngest. His eyes sparkled as if he wanted to capture everything he saw here, and his ears perked up. He looked as excited as a dog who had arrived at the best walking trail in the country. He even took off his shoes and climbed on top of Junghyun¡¯s feet, because he couldn¡¯t see well due to the staff¡¯s height. He looked at his siblings with a serious face, as if to say ¡®move aside, I¡¯m totally focused¡¯. New ck and the managers swallowed theirughter at his sight. Woojoo also threw his gaze to the middle of the set. Lee Kangjin was standing in the middle of the detective team¡¯s office, holding some documents. The background was dusk. The sunset light that split the office like a sh. On the bright side, there were the detectives from the same team, and the protagonist was rummaging through the documents in a rtively dark ce. The detectives who were casually discussing the dinner menu in the gentle light. The protagonist who red like a hawk in the dark. Flip, flip. With each paper he turned, the protagonist¡¯s eyes settled calmly. Then he grabbed his coat. ¡°I¡¯ll be back in a bit.¡± ¡°Sure.¡± The team leader, who was looking at the documents on the desk, spoke indifferently, and the protagonist put on his coat. Thud. The key fell to the ground at the same time. The team members looked at him, but no one told him that he dropped his car key. It was a scene that showed how the protagonist, who was branded as a troublemaker in the west, was treated. Soon, he rummaged through his empty pocket and came back to pick up the key. A nd reaction. A calm expression that made you wonder if he had any emotions. As Woojoo watch such a character, he refined the feeling of the OST that he had to make in his head. Junghyun asked Woojoo, seeing him nod. ¡°Why are you like that, Hyung? Do you have a good feeling?¡± ¡°Ah. You startled me.¡± Woojoo asked him again, ¡°Junghyun, was that a question or a statement?¡± ¡°A question.¡± ¡°That¡¯s a relief. I almost messed up.¡± ¡°¡­¡± Woojoo smiled and tell him, who was snorting. ¡°Yeah. I have a good feeling.¡± *** From the next day, Woojoo started working on the OST right away. He didn¡¯t need to rush the work since the song woulde out in the middle of the drama, but he had a sense of it after visiting the set. He quickly built the skeleton of the song. The music director also called Woojoo from time to time to exchange opinions, but he didn¡¯t make any specialments on his work. He seemed to trust that that Woojoo would make a good result no matter what he made. And. ¡°Wow-!¡± A red-haired creature came up to Woojoo, who was clicking the mouse, and kept shouting ¡®wow!¡¯ ¡°Jiho, I¡¯m working, you know.¡± ¡°I¡¯m happy, that¡¯s why. Wow-!¡± ¡°I get that, but. Are you happy all day¡­? It¡¯s time to be not happy, you know.¡± ¡°Wow! A cameo!¡± The reason why the youngest kept doing this since morning was because the cameo appearance was confirmed. Because of the SNS post that Mr. Lee Kangjin uploaded, the reporters kept asking the production and theirpany, ¡®Is New ck appearing as a cameo?¡¯ Coincidentally, an actor from Lemon Entertainment was also appearing in the drama. They decided that it would be good for the drama promotion on both sides. The problem was the youngest¡¯s reaction when he heard the news of the cameo from Seokhwan Hyung. Of course, they were also excited at first and cheered together, saying ¡®Our youngest is acting! Acting!¡¯ But who would have known that he would be high-tension for more than six hours. ¡°Wow-!¡± ¡°¡­¡± ¡°Why did you change the wallpaper all of a sudden?¡± Woojoo set the youngest¡¯s Music Cafe gif as the wallpaper. As the white rice cake spewed out snot, the youngest who was hovering around Woojoo ran away, shouting ¡®wow!¡¯ Woojooughed, watching him. ¡°Whew¡­¡± Woojoo looked at the ceiling and took a deep breath. Everything was going smoothly. Thanks to the sess of Legendary Song Discovery, the budget for their third album had increased, and they nned to spend a lot of money on the music video and the concept photos. They also got into the main OST of a new cable drama that was generating a lot of hype. The views of their Sok Sok! History Discovery Team was also good. Among the happy news, there was also the fact that their teacher, Noh Jaehyun, who had appeared on the show with them, had be a hot topic. PBS was also nning to make a special human documentary about him. They heard that they had requested an interview with New ck too. Bijoo said, ¡°Hyung, let¡¯s go with a serious concept this time.¡± ¡°Yeah. Let¡¯s do that.¡± They made a firm decision. Lately, people had been seeing them as either funny or weird kids. They decided to show a more serious side of themselves in the documentary that featured Teacher Noh. *** Jeju Ind. The residence of the veteran singer, Noh Jaehyun. ¡°So, I just have to talk to them. Is that it?¡± ¡°Yes, please show us how you and the New ck members naturally bond with each other. Like a grandfather and his grandson.¡± ¡°Well, then I have one person in mind.¡± He cheerfully picked up his smartphone. Soon, a pale face appeared on the video call. ¡®Please don¡¯t let them know that this is for a broadcast. Just be natural.¡¯ The veteran singer chatted casually while the camera captured his image from a distance. -How have you been? How¡¯s your health? ¡°I¡¯ve been well, Rihyuk. I received your letter by email.¡± -Uh, um¡­ I got your reply too. The one that started with ¡®To Rihyuk¡¯. ¡°Ahem, ahem.¡± They both looked embarrassed and didn¡¯t know what to do. The production staff smiled at their sight. It was the heartwarming scene they wanted. They waited for the next story with a pleased smile. Suddenly, the two men started talking about a book. ¡°No, no. You see, this person. That¡¯s a wrong interpretation.¡± -What you¡¯re saying is a revisionist perspective. This part should follow the established theory. ¡°I can¡¯t agree with you. If it¡¯s a new era, we need a new interpretation.¡± They argued about history in a sharp tone, their faces turning red. ¡°I can¡¯t ept that.¡± -Me neither. I can¡¯t agree. They snorted for a while, and at the end of the call, they suddenly smiled brightly. ¡°It was a fruitful and enjoyable discussion today.¡± -Me too. Teacher. Let¡¯s do it again tomorrow. ¡°I¡¯m looking forward to it. Haha.¡± He ended the call with a farewell message, ¡®Say hello to the Non-Alcoholic and the puppies, Rihyuk¡¯. Then he asked the silent production staff, ¡°How was that?¡± ¡°¡­¡± ¡°Was that enough to show a warm and everyday conversation?¡± The PD¡¯s hand holding the proposal trembled. Chapter 227: Chapter 227: Trantor: MarcTempest Editor: Rxel Chapter 227 The singer tilted his head at the PD¡¯s awkward expression. ¡°Is there a problem?¡± ¡°Um¡­¡± ¡°You told me to show the grandfather and grandson-like rtionship. I think this is beyond the age gap friendship.¡± ¡°Uh¡­¡± What should he say?The scene of them arguing with blood in their throats did not fit the human documentary at all. ¡°Can we use another member? Someone you feelfortable with after Rihyuk¡­¡± ¡°Then it would be the Non-Alcoholic guy.¡± ¡°Ah, Woojoo. Then I¡¯ll ask you to connect the phone call to him.¡± ¡°Got it.¡± Noh Jaehyun made a video call. Soon, Woojoo¡¯s face filled the screen. While the writers were saying ¡®oh my¡¯ and pinching their cheeks, a trot song saying ¡®Deoksoon-ah~~¡¯ flowed out of the screen like a BGM. ¡°What is that?¡± -Ah. I was working on the OST and got a little stuck. I¡¯m healing while listening to Deoksoon-ah. Woojoo stretched out both hands and sang ¡®Deoksoon-ah~¡¯ cheerfully, making the veteran singerugh. ¡°You¡¯re still the same.¡± -Haha. Woojoo smiled and asked. -But, Teacher, what¡¯s up? You always contact Rihyuk first when you call. When he joked that he was unhappy because of that, Noh Jaehyun coughed. ¡°Ahem, I just thought of you and wanted to say hello.¡± -Aha. The eyes of Woojoo on the other side narrowed slightly and he asked. -Is this a broadcast? ¡°Huh.¡± -I can tell by the tone of your voice, Teacher. The singer widened his eyes. ¡°Do I give that much of a hint?¡± -No. I can see the toe socks at the corner of the screen. The staff at the broadcasting station wear them a lot. While the cameraman, who had his feet focused on, made a sheepish expression, the singer eximed, ¡°What a remarkable observation. Non-Alcoholic guy. You taught me a lesson today.¡± -What are you talking about¡­ I have a lot to learn. Woojoo said seriously. -Actually, I have something that I need your help with. ¡°Oh, what is it?¡± The PD sent an interested look. Unlike the sharp criticism that came from the reading discussion, he expected a warm scene where Noh Jaehyun helped and Woojoo thanked him. -As I told you, I¡¯m working on the OST. Uh¡­? Mr. Seo, where are you going? You have to stay here. Woojoo, who was smiling brightly at someone nearby, turned his head quickly. -And I also want to hear your opinion, Teacher¡­ ¡°Oops. My hand slipped!¡± With awkward acting, Teacher Noh Jaehyun hastily pressed the end button. He sighed as if he had escaped an impending disaster, making the production staff wonder. ¡®Did he make a bomb instead of a song?¡¯ He looked bored even when they brought up the topic ofposing. Noh Jaehyun turned to them. ¡°What should I do? Should I call the other ckers?¡± ¡°Um, I think we can just add narration as we see fit. The expression is more important anyway. This is enough.¡± ¡°Good, that¡¯s a relief. Then¡­¡± As he was about to say something, his phone vibrated with the name ¡®Kim Bijoo¡¯ on the screen. ¡°Oh ho.¡± The old man¡¯s face brightened. ¡°I¡¯ll take this call. Bijoo is so sweet, you know. Hahaha.¡± Beep. -It¡¯s me. Teacher. ¡°Ahhhh!¡± He screamed in horror, making the production staff burst intoughter. *** ¡°Human Documentary ¨C My Life, My Way¡± Jeju Ind Home Most of the scenes had narration, except for some dialogues. The warm expressions of the New ck members and Teacher Noh Jaehyun. [Narration] He has a new joy these days. It¡¯s the conversation with the cute New ck members, who are like his grandchildren. (Rihyuk) How have you been? How¡¯s your health? (Noh Jaehyun) I¡¯ve been well. Rihyuk. I received your letter by email. [Narration] He and New ck became acquainted through the program called Legendary Song Discovery Team. The members always worry about his health first. (Woojoo) What are you talking about¡­ I have a lot to learn. I need your help with something that came up. [Narration] He is happy to have a conversation with musicians across the age gap. He says he makes these calls every day. The veteran singer presses the end button cheerfully. Isn¡¯t this happiness? Broadcast date. Entertainment news ¡®PBS Human Documentary ¡®Noh Jaehyun¡¯ episode featuring ¡®New ck¡¯ surprise appearance¡­¡¯ment section. -So heartwarming -He looked so happy when he was video calling. Live long! -Ugh¡­ This makes me want to call my mom -New ck members are really nice. It¡¯s not easy to call your parents every day like that. -Healing video? It makes me feel warm inside -Teacher??? He looked like he was annoyed and his hand was shaking. Is it just me? -The person above is totally twisted. Who wouldn¡¯t see this as a heartwarming scene??? *** Woojoo felt the time passing so fast. It wasn¡¯t long ago that he was making bread in Taiwan as his alter ego Jenmin, but when he came to his senses, it was March. ¡°Time flies.¡± ¡°Right. In nine more months here, you¡¯ll be in your mid-twenties¡­ Aaaaah! Save me!¡± What kind of middle schooler was 24 years old? He was talking nonsense. ¡°I heard it from my brother. If there¡¯s an ¡®s¡¯ at the end of four, five, six, then it means you¡¯re in middle school.¡± ¡°Then what about three?¡± ¡°Uh¡­?¡± Why are you more surprised than me? ¡°That¡¯s a loophole.¡± ¡°It¡¯s not a loophole, it¡¯s absurd. Junghyun, if you¡¯re going to keep making up weird stories, just finish your kid¡¯s drink.¡± ¡°It¡¯s delicious. This.¡± He licked his tongue as he looked at the drink bottle with a yellow-helmeted penguin posing like a bubble. ¡°Is it really good?¡± ¡°Yes.¡± ¡°Then just one sip.¡± He poured it into the tumbler that Bijoo gave him as a gift and gulped it down. Woojoo underestimated it because it was for kids, but it was surprisingly tasty. It had a nostalgic vor. He smiled as he looked at the barren fields passing by the car window in the morning. Was it because it was early March? It was still cold, so he couldn¡¯t tell the difference from winter. -Deoksoon-ah~~ He hummed along to the song ying in his earphones. Today was Friday. The third round of thepetition, where Cha Woohyun won, was over, and it was the morning before the fourth round song draw in the afternoon. They were on their way to Paju for a cameo appearance on GTV¡¯s ¡®Slip¡¯. Woojoo felt somewhat rxed. The OST work that startedst week was almost over, and the preparation for the third album was almost done. Woojoo recorded songs while practicing for thepetition stage. He also agreed on the title of the third album with the A&R Team. Instead of ¡®Dark Matter¡¯, they decided to go with one of the names of wildflowers. ¡®I saw a pretty flower in the garden of our dorm apartment. I didn¡¯t even know it existed until it caught my eye¡­¡¯ It was thanks to Bijoo¡¯s suggestion. ¡®Someone might feel lonely and alone, but there is someone who watches you from somewhere unseen. Don¡¯t you think wildflowers are in a simr situation?¡¯ Everyone agreed with that opinion. At first, they thought about going with keywords rted to stars or space, but then they realized they already had ¡®Starlight¡¯. Since they had dealt with big keywords like ¡®sea¡¯ and ¡®star¡¯ so far, the idea of going with something cute like flowers was well received by everyone. Of course, there was one who couldn¡¯t ept it. ¡®How about Artificial Satellite? We don¡¯t even know it exists, but it¡¯s working hard to orbit the by itself.¡¯ ¡®It¡¯s a fresh title, but the song has a pretty vibe, so it doesn¡¯t quite match.¡¯ The A&R Team¡¯s reaction was simple. ¡®I recently narrowed down the list and posted it, and the President said he liked Artificial Satellite and Dark Matter.¡¯ ¡®¡­Wildflower. Any wildflower is fine.¡¯ Rihyuk immediately gave in at the President¡¯s suggestion, who had decided to name Scarlet¡¯s fandom ¡®Curtain¡¯. ¡°¡­¡± He turned his head back at the sound of a faint snoring. Rihyuk, who had fallen asleep, was leaning on the shaking car. Next to Woojoo, Bijoo was dozing off, and he couldn¡¯t help butugh at the sight of them sleeping with their heads together. Woojoo turned his gaze to his side, after naming each passing tree and rummaging through the jelly with the bear. Swoosh. Jiho¡¯s eyes were serious as he silently flipped through the script. ¡°¡­Hmm.¡± He scratched his cheek and narrowed his eyes. Woojoo could see his pouty lips that he always made when he was focused. His jet-ck hair, drained of its red hue, got in his eyes. He had dyed his hair and trimmed it for the cameo role he was ying today, not just for the concept photos of their third album that they would shoot soon. Woojoo¡¯s eyes were drawn to the script that Jiho was reading. Underneath the crooked handwriting and the post-it notes full of memos, there was a line or two of dialogue. The role that their maknae had taken was ¡®Eugyeong¡¯. He was the one who asked the protagonist in ¡®Slip¡¯, ¡®Isn¡¯t this a slip ring?¡¯ It was only a few lines of dialogue, but he had done character research for this. That was their maknae. -Hyung, can I ask you something about the army? He used to run away with a ¡®bleh!¡¯ whenever the army topic came up, but now he came to Woojoo and asked him this and that. It was surprising, to say the least. As soon as it was dawn, he would quietly sneak out and practice in the living room. Because of that, Bijoo had been giving him two more sausages for breakfasttely. Woojoo had five, though. ¡°Hyung.¡± Jiho, who had put down the script, asked him, ¡°Can I do well?¡± ¡°Are you nervous?¡± ¡°A little¡­? I¡¯m usually not the type to get nervous, but today I feel like my mental state is like Rihyuk¡¯s. I keep thinking, what if I make a mistake¡­ It¡¯s swirling in my head.¡± ¡°That¡¯s a big problem. That.¡± Woojoo said, teasing him, ¡°But you¡¯re good at live performances. Even if you¡¯re shaking now, you¡¯ll do great once you go on stage. Just like you did at Everdream.¡± As Jiho nodded, Woojoo continued, ¡°Weren¡¯t you acting cocky back then? Eating spicy rice cakes on the stairs and saying, ¡®Heh, I can act too¡­¡¯¡± ¡°Junghyun, jelly! Put some jelly in his mouth!¡± ¡°Ugh!¡± Sour and sweet jelly came into his mouth one after another, and heughed. The set that had looked so far away was getting closer and closer. Police station set. ¡°Hello, this is New ck!¡± ¡°Hi¡­¡± The staff looked miserable. Their faces were so pale that they could pass for zombies in a police station horror movie with just a little makeup. ¡°We had an all-night shoot yesterday.¡± ¡°Oh.¡± ¡°The shooting schedule got a bit tight before the broadcast. The director is also more meticulous than usual for this work.¡± Director Jo exined to them and the road managers. He was the head of the actor team, who was well-versed in drama production, and he was here to assist them today. Following his guidance, they greeted everyone from the chief director to the staff and the extras. Then, they moved to the waiting room to take a photo with the actor from Lemon Entertainment. Knock, knock. ¡°We¡¯reing in, Noeul.¡± They heard a faint response from inside. When they opened the door and entered, they saw a zombie lying on the sofa. He had a cooling sheet on his forehead and delicate features. Seo Noeul, who had been resting on the electric nket, got up. ¡°Ugh¡­¡± He muttered in a hoarse voice, ¡®Oh my¡­¡¯ His face was pale. He looked at us and said, ¡°Hi¡­¡± ¡°Hello.¡± Seo Noeul gave us a faint smile-like expression. It was hard to tell if he wasughing or crying. ¡°¡­Hyunwoo.¡± He reached out his hand and the road manager who was sitting in the waiting room handed him a jujube juice. Slurp, slurp. He drank the jujube juice like a vampire drinking blood to survive. Then he groaned and barely got up from the sofa. Woojoo almost said, ¡®Please sit down.¡¯ ¡°Can¡¯t you adapt?¡± Director Jo swallowed hisughter and asked. He just smiled without saying anything. Seo Noeul. He yed the role of ¡®Kim Minjoo¡¯, who investigated economic crimes, unlike ¡®Park Chuljin¡¯, the violent crime detective in GTV¡¯s ¡®Slip¡¯. He had gained poprity as a cheerful second male lead in a rom drama recently. The articles Woojoo searched showed him always smiling brightly, but he looked so tired now. Woojoo blurted out something. ¡°Do you drink jujube juice? I drink ginseng.¡± ¡°Ah. My mom sent me this and told me to drink it¡­ Cough! Ouch.¡± ¡°¡­Are you okay?¡± They didn¡¯t have much conversation. Woojoo felt sorry for disturbing his rest, so he decided to take a quick SNS photo and leave. ¡°Okay, then one, two¡­¡± ¡°Three.¡± And when they checked the photo, they were surprised. ¡°What, what is this?¡± He had been looking like a zombie all along, but the photo showed a beautiful person smiling brightly in the middle. He had changed his expression for a split second when he heard the shutter sound. ¡°¡­Ah, this is warm.¡± They blinked their eyes silently as they watched Seo Noeul go back to the electric nket and warm up his body. Drama production must be really hard, Woojoo thought. ¡°Well, let¡¯s go get ready.¡± ¡°Okay.¡± It was when they followed Jiho to get his makeup done for the shooting. Director Jo said to them, ¡°You guys should get ready too.¡± ¡°Huh?¡± They tilted their heads in confusion. ¡°Don¡¯t we have no roles? We were just here to cheer for Jiho¡­¡± ¡°Well, that was the original n. But Lee Kangjin insisted that it would be better if all the members of New ck made a cameo appearance since we¡¯re promoting anyway.¡± ¡°Really?¡± What a grateful thing¡­! They asked with sparkling eyes, ¡°What are our cameo roles, Director?¡± ¡°Uh, that is¡­¡± ¡°Sit over there, you criminals.¡± ¡°Yes¡­¡± The New ck members looked somewhat sad as they sat in a row on the police station chairs in their school uniforms. ¡°Pfft.¡± The youngest covered his mouth with both hands andughed for a while as he watched them. The managers also leaned against the wall and tried to hold back theirughter from afar. Zing. The production staff whispered as they saw the four handsome men in uniforms ring at them, ¡°They seem to get along really well. I saw Girls on Top before and they didn¡¯t say a word to each other.¡± ¡°Well, maybe they were just shy as rookies.¡± ¡°They are good-looking. Their facial features are alive even with light makeup.¡± When the conversation turned to their appearance, someone asked, ¡°What¡¯s up with their outfits? Why did they change to school uniforms? What happened?¡± ¡°We originally wanted to make them a four-member gang of delinquents. But the director saw them and changed it right away.¡± ¡°Why?¡± ¡°We tried to make them act like bad boys, but none of them suited the masks. They were not threatening at all and too pathetic¡­¡± ¡°¡­¡± ¡°So the setting changed. We downgraded their crimes from delinquent teenagers to¡­¡± ¡°What did they do?¡± ¡°They ordered tteokbokki on credit at a PC room, ran away without paying, and got caught.¡± ¡®That was the youngest¡¯s suggestion, by the way.¡¯ As they said that, everyone looked at the youngest of New ck. He wore a beige top and ck pants. He pulled off the police uniform like a model and smiled brightly as he talked to Lee Kangjin. ¡°He looks a bit mischievous, doesn¡¯t he? I wonder if he can act properly. It would be bad if he causes NGs because of him.¡± ¡°I heard he learned acting for a long time over there.¡± ¡°Well, these days idols learn acting before they debut. How hard can it be to say a few lines as a cameo?¡± Most of them lost interest in the unfamiliar cameo soon after they appeared on the set. The staff were too tired to care much about the famous vocal group. They just hoped they wouldn¡¯t ruin the drama with their funny ¡®idol cameo acting??¡¯ memes. ¡°Are you well prepared?¡± ¡°Yes!¡± The director gave a brief exnation as he watched Wang Jiho nod his head eagerly. ¡°Let¡¯s keep the movements simple and get ready. Be natural, both during the rehearsal and the actual shooting. Natural. Don¡¯t overdo it, but don¡¯t be passive either.¡± The Director said, ¡°It¡¯s okay to ad-lib, as long as you¡¯re natural andfortable.¡± ¡°Yes, I understand. Director.¡± The Director called the assistant director and told him to prepare. ¡®I wonder if this is okay.¡¯ It was good for the drama promotion, but he wondered if it was necessary to put an idol as a cameo in such a serious drama. Well, the agency said he didn¡¯t have to worry about his acting skills. The Director massaged his tired shoulders and sat on a chair to watch. The assistant director exined for a while how they should move, and then the rehearsal began. And then. ¡°Hmm¡­?¡± The Director narrowed his eyes slightly at the sight of the idol member and the lead actor syncing in front of him. Interesting things started to catch his eye. Chapter 228: Chapter 228: Trantor: MarcTempest Editor: Rxel Chapter 228 The Director picked up the script. ¡º #23. Police Station (Day) Cheoljin examines the crime scene photos of the murder weapon. A close-up of the photo in the document. It¡¯s a stone with a familiar shape. He feels like he has seen it somewhere before, but he can¡¯t remember and looks frustrated. Officer: Hello.A cheerful officer greets the people at the police station. The officer, who was handing over the documents to the staff, shows interest in the document that Cheoljin is reading. Officer: Huh? Cheoljin: (Turns his head without saying anything) Officer: Do you study Korean history, sir? (With a friendly look) Cheoljin: What? Officer: Isn¡¯t that a hand axe in the photo you are looking at? Cheoljin: Hand axe¡­? Officer: You know, the stone tool that was used in the Paleolithic era. The one that the primitive people used¡­ Cheoljin doesn¡¯t show any reaction. The officer walks away with an awkward face. Cheoljin turns on hisptop and searches for ¡®hand axe¡¯. The same shape of the stone tool appears on the screen as the one he is looking at. ¡» He looked away from the script and at the scene. The rehearsal was going on as the script said. Lee Kangjin, who yed the main character, read the document with dry eyes, and the cheerful officer pretended to know him as he passed by. But the Director noticed a small detail in his eyes. ¡°Sukyung.¡± The way he politely handed over the documents to the police staff and saluted them. His rxed walk. His bright smile as he swung the stone tool and exined the Paleolithic era. The director felt that the actor had put a lot of effort into the details, and he became curious and interested as a director. More than anything, he liked his acting skills. Usually, non-actors who appeared as cameos would overact to emphasize that they were cameos. Of course, it would depend on the mood of the drama, but GTV¡¯s ¡®Slip¡¯ was a genre piece based on seriousness. In that respect, he liked Jiho¡¯s cameo performance, which was natural and suited his role. Not too much, not too little. ¡°You¡¯re good!¡± Lee Kangjin also patted Wang Jiho¡¯s back and cheered him up after the rehearsal. The atmosphere maker made the air on the scene morefortable with his tone. At the same time, the staff¡¯s faces softened, who were worried that they would have to shoot multiple times. The New ck members, who yed the role of the thugs, also pped their hands like seals and whispered to each other that they liked it. ¡°Director, how is he? He¡¯s good, right?¡± ¡°He¡¯s been working hard.¡± ¡°Thank you!¡± The Director asked Jiho a question, who nodded his head. ¡°By the way, there¡¯s something I¡¯m curious about.¡± ¡°Yes, Director.¡± ¡°Why did you call him ¡®Sukyung¡¯ when you handed it over?¡± ¡°Ah.¡± Jiho answered in a matter-of-fact tone, ¡°I heard it from a veteran on the same team. He said that if you address the rank when you give something, it adds more detail. So I searched it up and found out that Sukyung corresponds to a staff sergeant. I heard that they don¡¯t care much about the rank at that point.¡± ¡°A veteran? You mean that stern-looking guy?¡± ¡°No. The leader of the thugs over there.¡± He was referring to Woojoo. As their eyes met with the Director, the thugs who were eating lemon candies in the distance got up and bowed their heads. He swallowed augh that almost escaped. This time, Lee Kangjin showed some curiosity. ¡°But why did you make him a staff sergeant? Because it¡¯s the highest?¡± ¡°Well, I didn¡¯t know what kind of character he was, so I made up a setting. I heard that if you live in the military, you get to know how the power dynamics work in that organization,¡± Jiho said, looking at the script full of notes. ¡°The protagonist is isted in the police station. Everyone shuns him. If he had a lot of time left in the military, he wouldn¡¯t dare to approach the protagonist first, but if he was about to be discharged, maybe he could.¡± ¡°Oh.¡± The Director¡¯s eyes lit up, and Lee Kangjin looked at the idol member with interest. ¡°You did a character analysis?¡± ¡°Yes, I had to figure it out myself because there were hardly any clues, but I don¡¯t know if it fits.¡± ¡°How did you set it up?¡± ¡°He¡¯s ate-term military policeman preparing for the civil service exam.¡± ¡°Civil service exam?¡± ¡°There¡¯s a line that says ¡®dly¡¯ when the protagonist looks at the picture, right? I was going to make him a history lover at first, but it felt unnatural, so I thought maybe it was a subject he was studying for the police exam.¡± ¡°Oh¡­¡± Ate-term soldier preparing for the civil service exam to enter society soon. The two men nodded unconsciously at the fitting background description. As Jiho was called to the supporting actor to hear the movement exnation, Lee Kangjin opened his lips. ¡°Director, he¡¯s something else, isn¡¯t he?¡± ¡°I know. It¡¯s not easy for someone his age to have that kind of analytical skill, unless they¡¯ve been acting since they were kids. How old is he?¡± ¡°He¡¯s a sophomore in high school and it¡¯s his first time acting in a drama.¡± ¡°That¡¯s strange. He could go as a supporting actor with that acting skill and that mask, you know.¡± It was too early to judge, since they only did the rehearsal, but Jiho¡¯s acting was a pass in every aspect. He had a solid voice and breath, like a singer. He delivered his lines clearly and matched his expressions to the situation. And he even had the passion to do a character analysis for an extra. On the other hand, the reason they were interested in the cameo actor was not just because he was good at acting. It was because they felt sorry for the character he had analyzed. ¡®How can we use him?¡¯ He looked like a in extra 1 on the script, but he was too good to be seen with the naked eye. He had a good character and a solid acting skill. It seemed like a waste to use him as a one-time character¡­ He thought of various ideas in his head as he looked at the youngest member of New ck, who was surrounded by his members and giggling. The youngest came back with a proud expression after talking to the Director. He looked like a confident sparrow. ¡°Guys¡­!¡± ¡°Did you seed?¡± Jiho whispered to Woojoo with an excited face at his question. ¡°I finally talked like an adult actor.¡± ¡°Wow¡­!¡± ¡°Hey, I didn¡¯t use it. Right?¡± They nodded and pped their hands with a satisfied face. Junghyun patted his back as if he did well. He practiced since morning, saying that it would not look serious if he said ¡®yeah~¡¯ at the shooting site. He seemed to have seeded. They made a fuss as Bijoo put a lemon candy in his mouth. ¡°How was it? Was your acting good?¡± ¡°Yes. I was totally immersed in it. Did I do well? Because I think I did well too.¡± Jiho bragged. ¡°I don¡¯t usually treat the thugs well in my role, but I did it for you guys.¡± They immediately protested. ¡°Jiho. Don¡¯t ignore them because they are thugs.¡± ¡°Look, he¡¯s being bossy because he used the honorifics.¡± ¡°We ate tteokbokki and ran away. We¡¯re not just thugs.¡± Woojoo added to Junghyun¡¯s words, ¡°Right. And Junghyun was under them for a year. Be careful.¡± ¡°Jiho. I¡¯m short of attendance days. Be careful.¡± The extra actor who yed the detective role near them almost spat out the water from his nose at their jokes. ¡°These stupid people.¡± Rihyuk sighed. ¡°Is that the only bad thing you can imagine?¡± ¡°When did you ever act bad¡­¡± ¡°Right. He even follows the traffic lights when monsters are chasing him in the game.¡± ¡°¡­¡± They allughed as they saw him turn red from being teased. Bijoo cooled his heated face with a fan while Jiho left. ¡°Uh, they¡¯re calling me. I¡¯ll go! See youter!¡± They waved their hands. When the youngest approached the assistant director in the distance, Bijoo tilted his head and whispered to Woojoo, ¡°He seems to have rxed a bit, right?¡± ¡°Yeah, he¡¯s much better than before.¡± They tried to make him rx by joking around before the main shooting. It seemed to have worked. Woojoo felt relieved to see him excited and saying ¡®Wow! Acting!¡¯ instead of worrying about messing up. Woojoo felt happy to see him acting with such joy, something he had always wished for. He smiled as he fiddled with his school uniform tie. ¡°It¡¯s nice. Seeing him enjoy it so much makes me feel full.¡± ¡°Me too. Hyung.¡± Theyughed. Gurgle. Their stomachs protested loudly, as if to say ¡®not me¡¯, making them feel embarrassed. Junghyun rubbed his belly. ¡°Our stomachs don¡¯t agree with us.¡± ¡°Let¡¯s soothe themter.¡± An extra actor sitting across from them smiled slyly. While Lee Kangjin and Jiho coordinated with each other, the Director came over to them and gave them some brief directions. ¡°Jiho will walk down the police station corridor, and he will nce at you guys once. Then one of you will say ¡®what are you looking at¡¯¡­¡± Their eyes all turned to one person. ¡°Oh, you already decided who will do it. Anyway, say that line and then improvise the rest. Except for a few lines, it will be mostly murmuring.¡± ¡°Yes, understood.¡± They sat in a row on the metal chairs and made a ¡®fighting¡¯ pose to Jiho. He returned a bright smile. Meanwhile, as the filming was being prepared, Woojoo secretly smoothed out his school uniform. A cozy feeling. He felt happy as he touched the uniform, and he sensed the gazes of his siblings. ¡°Ahem.¡± Woojoo coughed and changed the topic. ¡°Let¡¯s check our expressions before we start filming. Everyone, lower your eyes slightly. And tuck in your chin a bit.¡± ¡°Yes.¡± ¡°Look straight ahead. And lift one cheek slightly. Oh, look at Rihyuk. That¡¯s the exact expression we need.¡± ¡°Be quiet.¡± Afterpleting their delinquent expressions, they waited for the filming to start. ¡°Ready, action!¡± The filming began with the Director¡¯s shout. Jiho started walking towards them. ¡®Let¡¯s do well.¡¯ ¡®Let¡¯s do our best. We.¡¯ Jiho was the main character today, but they decided to do their best as well. Bijoo looked at Woojoo before the camera reached them. ¡®Hyung.¡¯ ¡®You can do it. Bijoo.¡¯ ¡º GTV Friday Drama ¡®Slip¡¯ ¡ª Episode 1, ¡®New ck Cameo Scene¡¯ ¡» Police station. In a busy atmosphere, a police officer walks with some documents. Four handsome boys are wearing school uniforms and arguing with a detective. ¡°Come on. It¡¯s not even expensive, it¡¯s just a tteokbokki¡­¡± ¡°It only tasted like capsaicin.¡± ¡°We really tried to go back with the money.¡± They seem to want to look like delinquents among themselves, but they had a strangely shabby vibe. As expected. ¡°Hey, hey!¡± The police officer mmed the file down. Bang! The blond-haired student screamed and clung to the leader. But the leader was also scared stiff. Among the four of them, only the one who looked like the leader of the group was silently humming. The police officer asked him, ¡°Why are you hanging out with these guys? Your face value is¡­¡± ¡°I¡¯ve been bullied for a year.¡± ¡°Did you cause any trouble?¡± ¡°I¡¯m in the sports club, but I don¡¯t have enough attendance days¡­¡± The detective lost his words at the too wholesome reason and turned his gaze to the member with golden hair. ¡°You even dyed your hair yellow. Are you dissatisfied with society?¡± ¡°Um¡­ No.¡± The chick-like student stuttered in Korean, and the leader of the delinquents whispered with his mouth covered, ¡°He¡¯s a friend from LA.¡± ¡°Yes, sir.¡± The police officer blinked his eyes at the sight of him nodding with his eyes wide open. Then he asked another police officer who was passing by, ¡°¡­What¡¯s with them?¡± ¡°They were caught stealing money from a PC room.¡± ¡°¡­¡± The delinquents red at the detective¡¯s pitying gaze. ¡°What are you looking at? Have you never seen a criminal before?¡± ¡°Don¡¯t talk like a criminal. You guys are just petty offenders!¡± Bang! Bang! ¡°Ooh, I¡¯m so scared.¡± ¡°Calm down. James.¡± The blond-haired student shrank his body with a timid face saying ¡®Korean police are so scary¡¯. Behind them, the other delinquents were serious, but listening to them, there were some funny lines faintly connected. ¡°There are all kinds of weird people.¡± While variousmotions were happening, the detective shook his head. It was the moment when the ¡®delinquents¡¯ who were called the scene stealers of the first episode of GTV¡¯s ¡®Slip¡¯ left. The cameo scene of the New ck members was over in one shot. The director nodded his head satisfactorily. It was decent. He had asked them to do it seriously instead of funny, and they did it well. Now all that was left was Jiho. Just like before, the ¡®detective¡¯ approached Park Cheoljin and said the same lines. The difference was¡­ ¡®He¡¯s doing better.¡¯ He seemed to be better at the real thing than the rehearsal. The staff also exchanged opinions. ¡°It¡¯s not bad, right?¡± ¡°It¡¯s surprising. He¡¯s good.¡± ¡°He said he learned acting, but it seems true. He looked like a pure maknae over there, but he looks more mature here, doesn¡¯t he?¡± ¡°He has a kind of upright young man vibe that I like.¡± Seo Noeul, who was wrapped in a nket and whining, also watched Jiho¡¯s acting. ¡®He learned well. There¡¯s no w.¡¯ He was also curious. ¡®Who did he model after?¡¯ The walk of ate sergeant, or the way he greeted people politely, or the cheerful smile. He looked like he had diligently copied someone around him. Manager Cho, who was standing next to him, also watched Jiho¡¯s acting with a strange expression. Meanwhile, the Director called the assistant director. ¡°What do you think? The idea I just told you.¡± ¡°It sounds good.¡± ¡°Right?¡± He looked at the monitor. He didn¡¯t know if it was because of the visual, but it felt bright. A person with a bright energy who showed interest when everyone pushed away and distanced themselves from the protagonist. A small light that came to the gloomy protagonist. He felt sorry to waste that feeling, even though he was an extra. ¡°Call hispanyter. Let¡¯s talk.¡± ¡°Yes.¡± ¡°And also tell Writer Park.¡± ¡°¡­You¡¯re not going to ask for a script revision, are you?¡± ¡°Of course not.¡± He thought it would spice up the drama if he put that police officer in the scene where another extra appeared. That was how the director¡¯s n slowly formed in his head. After about an hour of filming, their cameo scene was over. ¡°Good job, everyone!¡± They greeted the staff who praised and encouraged them. Especially the Director, he liked Jiho¡¯s acting and asked if he could film one or two more scenes if hispany schedule was okay. Their youngest made a dragon sound without realizing it and he was momentarily flustered. ¡°One, two, three!¡± ¡°Fighting!¡± They took a photo with the main production team for SNS. They also took selfies with the staff who had requested photos in advance. They were short on time, but they didn¡¯t want to leave abruptly and cause rumors that they became arrogant as they started to rise. ¡°Here you go. Did I write your father¡¯s name correctly?¡± ¡°Yeah. Thank you.¡± Woojoo thought he heard the most requests to write their parents¡¯ names nicely on the signs that they would give to their parents. When the time was tight for the next schedule. The manager stepped in and refused to send the sign to Minki Hyung at the right timing. ¡°I¡¯m sorry. We have to go now. We have a recording in Yeouido right away¡­¡± ¡°Oh, okay. Then just one photo.¡± ¡°Sure, I¡¯ll take it quickly.¡± They created a situation where they could leave on good terms. Honestly, Woojoo wanted to do it for everyone, but the filming was dyed more than expected and they had to go to Seoul right away. As they finished the fan service and headed to the parking lot, he put his arms around his brothers. ¡°Let¡¯s go, James.¡± ¡°Hyung¡­¡± Bijoo said with a sad face. ¡°I must have been crazy. What if Minjun gets teased at school for being James¡¯s brother?¡± Woojooughed at the sight of Bijoo covering his face with both hands. They allforted him as he was embarrassed and said ¡®eueu¡¯. But he still looked sad when they told him he would be like licorice in the drama. ¡°Anyway, you all did great.¡± ¡°What about me?¡± ¡°Our youngest is the best. Hey, Seo. Give us ament.¡± Rihyuk said calmly, ¡°Personally, I don¡¯t want to admit it, but it was an acting that would have looked good to most viewers.¡± It was the highest praise. Woojoo patted his shoulder and said ¡®did you hear that?¡¯, and Jiho ran to Rihyuk. ¡°Ogugu, our Rihyuk Hyung!¡± ¡°Aah! Get him off me!¡± In the warm atmosphere. They talked about eating tornado potatoes at the rest areater if the road wasn¡¯t blocked and got in the car. ¡°¡­Hm?¡± Bijoo looked at his phone and tilted his head. They, who were buckling their seat belts, gave him a look. ¡°What¡¯s wrong?¡± ¡°Minjun sent me a weird text.¡± A weird text? Junghyun narrowed his eyes and said ¡®what is it?¡¯, and they also showed interest and said ¡®what¡¯s going on?¡¯ Bijoo held up his phone and showed them the text. ¡°We were on TV during school hours.¡± ¡°¡­?¡± Chapter 229: Chapter 229: Trantor: MarcTempest Editor: Rxel Kim Minjun was having a really happy time since the new semester started. ¡°Hello!¡± He greeted every adult he met in the hallway with a bright smile. ¡°Hi!¡± He also said hello to his ssmates on his way to school. ¡®Smile and greet everyone. That¡¯s the most important thing, remember!¡¯ That was what his brother told him.During the vacation. Kim Minjun was so excited to go to school, but as the opening day approached, he became more and more worried. What if he couldn¡¯t adapt well? What if he got bullied because he was small? He sent a text message to his brother, asking for advice. He thought he would reply muchter because he was busy. But in less than five minutes, he called him. His brother listened to his concerns calmly and said, ¡®You¡¯ll be fine. You¡¯re handsome and cute, so you¡¯ll make friends easily if you just greet them well.¡¯ ¡®Really?¡¯ ¡®Yeah. So don¡¯t worry too much.¡¯ His brother was right. He only greeted them diligently, but he already made a lot of friends. Maybe it was because his hair grew longer. His friends praised him for being handsome! The girl next to him even told him he was pretty. ¡®You look like a celebrity, don¡¯t you?¡¯ ¡­He heard that once, but Kim Minjun just said ¡®Do I?¡¯ and didn¡¯t react much. He felt a tingling in his mouth, but he held it back. He didn¡¯t want to cause trouble for his brother. He couldn¡¯t help but perk up his ears whenever he heard a celebrity talk around him. Unfortunately, there was no talk about New ck. He heard a lot of inte broadcast talk. And most of the idol talk was about Teen Spirit or TNT. But then¡­ ¡°Today, I¡¯m going to show you a fun video.¡± Social studies ss. The teacher was talking about the vige and the natural environment, and he said he would show them how people lived in the old days when they used stone axes. He turned on a YouTube video. ¡°History Discovery?¡± ¡°¡­What is this? Another educational program?¡± Then they saw the YouTube title ¡®Sok Sok! History Discovery!¡¯ and they all said ¡®Ugh¡¯. They were fourth graders, and they didn¡¯t want to watch something that only kindergarteners would watch. ¡°Hmm? But isn¡¯t that a celebrity?¡± ¡°Who?¡± ¡°An idol. New ck.¡± Kim Minjun was shocked by the whispers among them. ¡®Why are they there¡­?¡¯ He saw New ck on the ssroom screen. Rihyuk, his brother, exined the history and the other members acted out the scenes. At first, they were resistant to the childish program. But soon they burst intoughter. ¡°Puhaha!¡± The dark ssroom with the lights off. The faces of the students reflected the light from the screen, andughter filled the air. Kim Minjun felt his heart pounding. His brother was there too. Bijoo, who was pretending to cook with a toy stone in a hut-like ce. Junghyun came in with a stone axe and said sternly. -Give me food. -You do it. -Okay. When someone with a thin face red at him, the big guy crouched down and said ¡®Yes¡¯ with augh. Then the screen froze. -Did you see? Rihyuk came out like a narrator and said ¡®The Stone Age was an egalitarian society.¡¯ Then theyughed at various skits and jokes. When the teacher tried to turn off the video, they heard a loud ¡®Aww¡¯. ¡°Then I¡¯ll show you one more minute.¡± And at the end, they flipped overughing at the behind-the-scenes scene of making fire. The highlight was the chase between Woojoo and Junghyun at the end. -Stop there yo! -No yo! After a longugh, the ss returned to its original atmosphere. The atmosphere was boring again, but the students still had smiles on their faces afterughing so hard. Kim Minjun could see his friend secretly searching for ¡®New ck¡¯ on his phone nearby. He was curious too. ¡®What is this?¡¯ Wasn¡¯t his brother an idol? Why was he appearing in such a ce? It was funny that Woojoo said he was good at it. But he had no idea what the five of them were doing there. He decided to ask his brother right after the ss was over. But when the break time came, he was shocked again. ¡°That was hrious.¡± ¡°Hey, let¡¯s watch it again. What was it called? The History Discovery?¡± ¡­His friends were talking about New ck. They must have found it very funny. Some of the boys were already gathered around a smartphone and giggling. Some of the girls were having a discussion about their looks. ¡°He¡¯s so handsome, really.¡± ¡°Who¡¯s the blond one? I want to marry him.¡± Kim Minjun couldn¡¯t help but hear the gossip. He coughed for a while and quickly texted his brother. [Hyung. It¡¯s me. Your History Discovery Team came out during ss.] [But Hyung, this is so funny. Is this it??] His brother, who always replied kindly, didn¡¯t answer today. Teachermunity. Title: I yed a YouTube video during ss and the reaction was good Author: tnvmffp94 ¡º I was searching for some audiovisual materials to use, and I stumbled upon a video called ¡®History Discovery Team¡¯ on YouTube. It was fun and quite informative, so I yed a part of it and the kids liked it. P.S. Here¡¯s the link in case you¡¯re curious. ¡» -Oh? There was something like this?? -????? They made it well. -They must be really interested in history, judging by their jokes. -Too bad. It¡¯s still the Stone Age, so there aren¡¯t many episodes. -??????????????What is this? I burst outughing without thinking. -I also yed it briefly at school and the kids wereughing like crazy. They have the same sense of humor. -Are they the ones from the hit song group?? -Oho, I¡¯ll try it too. -So this is what the reviews were about ???I¡¯ll challenge them when they¡¯re sleepy. With the word of mouth that it was effective during ss, New ck¡¯s ¡®History Discovery Team¡¯ was exported to each school. A girls¡¯ high school. ¡°Pfft-!¡± The high school student who was drinking barley tea from her thermos spat out the water. She quickly grabbed a tissue and wiped her desk, ignoring the stares around her. But her mind was in a mess. ¡®What, what is this.¡¯ The sight of New ck members on therge screen. Laughter from everywhere. If this was an offline meeting that the fans rented a cafe for, it would be a fitting scene. But this was school. Her favorite idol appeared as teaching material during history ss¡­ ¡®Now I understand how the Taiwanese fans felt.¡¯ How shocked they must have been when their favorite idol appeared on their morning news. But you know what. It¡¯s appearing during ss, foreign fans¡­ ¡®Hahaha.¡¯ She watched the video with an awkward smile. The response from the others was good. And more than anything, the teacher who yed it was also covering his mouth andughing. He seemed to like it more than the students. Every time New ck members made a history joke, he reacted like it was the funniest thing in the world, unlike some students who just smirked. It was like he was saying ¡®Stone Age hahaha! Stone Age!¡¯ And she wasn¡¯t the only one in this situation. -[Shock] New ck came out during ss¡­ School meal fans ¡®Is this real?¡¯ -????????? Why do theye out during ss? -Why is it educational? -I¡¯m jealous¡­ School meal fans are just envious. -Every time I see our kids, I feel the limit of my sales skills. No matter how hard I try to promote them, you guys are always one step ahead (proud). -They¡¯re like cacti. They grow so fast even without much water. -Almost like Jack and the Beanstalk level. -I never thought of this kind of scenario to make their name known. What is this??. -I¡¯m going to study history from today. -I tried to act like I didn¡¯t know them and sell them to my friends, but I failed because the portal¡¯s recent search terms were all about them haha. -What were the search terms? -Woojoo Lip Balm. -Ah¡­ -Now we¡¯re making our own dark history. Meanwhile, some videos of New ck¡¯s ¡®History Discovery¡¯ were also uploaded to SNS humor pages, as if they were going to row when the tide came in. -Idols who light fires (warning:ughter) -This is the Stone Age chase. -Idols who are funny even if you¡¯re not a fan.jpg Thanks to that, they became a hot topic on various sites, and the subscribers of HBS YouTube and New ck¡¯s solo ount also increased. ¡°Oh¡­¡± Assistant Manager Hong watched the slightly rising subscriber count with interest. And at the same time, there was amotion at the new media department of HBS Headquarters in Mokdong. ¡°What¡¯s going on, why are the subscriber numbers like this? Is there an error? They went up a lot!¡± ¡°How did this happen?¡± The person in charge was also confused and couldn¡¯t figure out the situation at first. Soon, someone presented an analysis at the convened meeting. ¡°I looked at the inte, and it seems that History Discovery suddenly became a hot topic through SNS and such.¡± ¡°Why did they be a hot topic on SNS? Did their agency spread some viral marketing?¡± ¡°Well¡­¡± The employee who was doing the analysis coughed and said, ¡°It¡¯s because school started¡­¡± ¡°¡­¡± ¡°It seems that the teachers yed it a lot for the teenage kids. And then it spread everywhere.¡± The person who heard the report blinked. ¡®How do I exin this to the higher-ups.¡¯ He imagined it in his head. Our YouTube ount has a surge of subscribers! Oh. Good! You guys did it! What¡¯s the reason? We didn¡¯t do it. It¡¯s because of the children¡¯s educational program that the rookie boy group appeared in! ¡°¡­¡± He was happy that it was a hit, but he had a headache about how to exin it to the upper management. And at the same time. The ones who were most surprised by the reaction of History Discovery were the production team who made the program. -The response is amazing. ¡°Us?¡± -Yes. ¡°Why?¡± -Well, that¡¯s a good question. ¡­Anyway, good job. The broadcasting station¡¯s nning PD said that he would push hard for the budget with the sponsor, so don¡¯t worry and spend it. ¡°What the hell is going on.¡± The production staff looked at each other with a bewildered feeling. Then they looked at New ck, who was drawn on the real poster of ¡®History Discovery¡¯ inside thepany. ¡®What is this?¡¯ They were sure that what they made was a children¡¯s program, but somehow it was a hit in a strange ce. Title: I really don¡¯t get Korean history Author: I have to take a Korean history test this time, but I don¡¯t know anything about history. So I can¡¯t focus on the lectures. Someone told me to follow the historical drama curriculum, but I¡¯m crazy. Yongui Nunmul (Tears of the Dragon) has 159 episodes. I¡¯ll be bald by the time I finish. I just want to get a big picture, what¡¯s good? A summary or something. [Comments: 3] -Watch New ck on YouTube, it¡¯s funny ©»Oh thanks thanks but what is New ck, a teaching team? ©»They¡¯re idols Was it because the times had changed? Ever since he was young, he had a rough scenario of how he would seed. Something like this: ¡®Performing with all my heart on a music show -> Bing famous -> Hitting the jackpot!¡¯ Yeah, something like that. He had this kind of childish fantasy when he was in elementary school. As he grew up, it didn¡¯t change much, but he still imagined how he would make a name for himself. But¡­ ¡°This was totally unexpected.¡± ¡°What do you think of this¡­?¡± An outdoor garden with rows of flowers. They gathered around and looked at the smartphone. There was a graph of the subscriber count of the HBS YouTube ount. The recent increase was steep. If it went on like this until the end of March, the curve would rise even more sharply. It was wishful thinking, but it seemed possible. ¡°¡­¡± They would make themselves known to adults. And to people who had no interest in idols. Their name would spread. It was an unbelievably good situation, but they felt awkward. Nearby, Dowon Hyung, who was filming them with a reality cam, asked, ¡°How do you feel, guys?¡± ¡°Shall we express it with our bodies?¡± They all did a crow-tit dance and bent their bodies to make a ¡®?¡¯ shape. Dowon Hyung burst intoughter. Then he went after Rihyuk, who was trying to shrug his shoulders alone. ¡°Rihyuk. Have some sense.¡± ¡°No, anyone can see that I¡¯m the normal one here¡­¡± ¡°You should behave yourself. How old are you to act like that?¡± ¡°Hey!¡± Jiho ran away to the flower bed. Rihyuk chased after him. But he was fast at running, but he lost to the youngest in a fight. He looked like a paper detective who chased a criminal hard, but got hit and fainted. The youngest held Rihyuk from behind with both arms. ¡°Surrender?¡± ¡°Do I look like someone who would do that?¡± Squeak. ¡°Nooo!¡± While they were putting on a show, the rest of them took the reality cam. ¡°Hi, Souffl¨¦!¡± ¡°Where are we right now? We¡¯re in Singapore! Ta-da-da-dan!¡± ¡°Woohoo!¡± They sang along to the BGM that yed when they entered the house and showed the nearby flower bed to the camera. Looking at their faces filling the screen, Junghyun said, ¡°Wow. Flowers next to flowers.¡± Woojoo waved his hand. ¡°Hey, Junghyun. Don¡¯t say that. You¡¯re making me blush.¡± ¡°Huh?¡± ¡°Hmm?¡± ¡°Here, next to the roses, there are buttercups¡­¡± Bijoo burst intoughter at Woojoo¡¯s awkward expression. He quickly smiled at the camera. ¡°Anyway, the reason we came here today is to take concept photos for our third album.¡± ¡°And to meet the people of Singapore!¡± Their main purpose was toe here for an overseas showcase, but they also took the opportunity to shoot some concept shots for their third album. The equator was a great backdrop for our theme of ¡®flowers¡¯, since the weather was always the same throughout the year. They nned to shoot some here and the rest in Korea. ¡°As you can see, the weather is so nice.¡± ¡°The sun is too strong, though.¡± ¡°That¡¯s why I brought an umbre in my bag. Let me see. Ah, here it is¡­ Where did everyone go?¡± They all ran away when Woojoo opened his flower-patterned umbre. It was so pretty, though. He didn¡¯t know why the managers and staff were pping andughing. ¡°Haha, Hyung! It looks like an umbre that grandmas use.¡± ¡°I got it from my grandma.¡± ¡°So that¡¯s why it looked so ssy and pretty.¡± ¡°She said she didn¡¯t like it and wanted to throw it away.¡± ¡°Hyung, why are you doing this to me?¡± Woojoo calmed down the youngest who was trying to tease him. ¡°Guys, let¡¯s get ready!¡± ¡°Yes!¡± The photographer had been setting up the camera all this time. Hwang Taeseon, the photographer who worked on their debut album, greeted them with a bright smile. ¡°Wow, you all look radiant today! You¡¯re having fun, too. The shooting atmosphere is perfect.¡± ¡°Yes.¡± Woojoo remembered he used to curse at them when they didn¡¯t know how to pose or just chatted and sat around during their debut album shoot. Well, good was good, Woojoo thought and moved on. ¡°Junghyun, try a free pose! Hahaha! A stone statue pose? Wow, you have a sense of humor. But let¡¯s try something else.¡± He also scolded Junghyun a lot when he did a weird free pose back then. Woojoo guessed fame changed things, he thought. They followed the directing in a low voice and posed in the garden. They wore clothes that looked like ¡®children of the reed field¡¯, as suggested by the frence designer, and each held a birth flower. ¡°Fighting!¡± They cheered each other on from the shade. Now they were all skilled at posing. They followed the photographer¡¯s directing smoothly. ¡°Give it a bit of a destructive vibe!¡± ¡°One moment.¡± Rihyuk searched for the meaning of ¡®destructive¡¯ on his smartphone dictionary and then posed. They allughed. The weather was nice and the mood was cheerful. Woojoo fiddled with the mallow flower in his hand. This was the birth flower for November 9th. He gazed at the purple flower and got lost in thought. Everything was going so well that he felt more pressure. The final stage of this activity, which started from the Legendary Song Discovery to the History Discovery, was their third album. ¡°Hyung, we¡¯re taking a group shot!¡± ¡°Okay, let¡¯s go.¡± Woojoo walked over to his siblings, each holding a flower in their hand. It was a day in March. Theeback that seemed so far away was now right around the corner. He felt both excited and nervous to be on a music show again sincest November. Would their new song win the hearts of their fans once more? Would they receive good reviews from the public? They had never taken any album lightly, but this one was especially important. It was a turning point for them. Would they ride the wave of sess and rise higher, or would they stay where they were? That was why thepany spared no expense on their third album. It was bigger than their first and second albumsbined. Even back then, people said it was too much, so this album was beyond words. Thepany staff around them smiled nervously at them, unable to hide their tension. They were the same. They allughed together, but their eyes were full of anxiety. ¡°Okay, let¡¯s take a group pose.¡± They held the flowers to their chests and smiled softly. They sweated profusely in the hot weather, but they kept shooting until they got the best cut. They had to make the most of the huge investment their president made. By the way. Woojoo heard that the person who would help them with their choreography for their third album was arriving in Korea soon. They exchanged happy smiles with each other. ¡°Hyung. I¡¯m so excited.¡± ¡°Me too.¡± Woojoo thought they should suck him dry too. Incheon International Airport. A foreigner dragging a suitcase entered the immigration hall and sighed. ¡°Phew¡­¡± He couldn¡¯t believe he was here again. y Tyler swallowed his dry saliva as he saw the banner that said ¡®Wee to Korea, y¡¯. He had vowed not toe back for a while after being drained by New ck, but he had no choice. Because. ¡­It was too much money to refuse. Chapter 230: Chapter 230: Trantor: MarcTempest Editor: Rxel Chapter 230 The sea passed by the car window. y Tyler was watching a choreography video in the car heading to Seoul. ¡°Hmm¡­¡± He switched between 1.2x and 0.5x speed. His finger moved the yback bar on the tablet PC. He let out a silent exmation. ¡®Perfect.¡¯The choreography he created was perfectly reproduced by New ck¡¯s fingertips. y Tyler smiled. ¡®This time, it will be much easier.¡¯ He remembered how he felt like a human handkerchiefst time. The New ck members, who had innocent faces and giggled, squeezed him until thest drop came out. Because of that, he had nightmares for a few days after returning to LA. Every time he fell asleep, he heard ¡®Hey, y¡¯ in different tones. Well. This time, unlike the Masquerade, there was nothing to point out, so that wouldn¡¯t happen. ¡®¡­But is that really the case?¡¯ He had a feeling in his heart that it wouldn¡¯t be, but y Tyler shook his head. No. Not today. Besides, he had insurance this time. ¡°Dad?¡± ¡°¡­Hmm?¡± ¡°Why are you looking at me like you pity me?¡± His daughter, Joy Tyler, who was sitting next to him, stopped taking selfies with her phone and narrowed her eyes. y coughed. ¡°Uh, it¡¯s nothing.¡± Joy started taking selfies again. She was neen this year and one of the best dancers in the studio. She was his assistant for this choreography coaching, who would help him divert the questions from New ck. The assistant who came with himst time¡­ -Hey, Garcia. You¡¯re going to Korea with New Bl¡­ -I¡¯m going to church that day. y. -You¡¯re an atheist, aren¡¯t you? The assistant who came with himst time refused to go, and the other dancers who heard the terrible rumor avoided him. He and his assistant became green after visiting Korea, and as a joke, a new word ¡®New-cked¡¯ was coined. It meant toe back as y. For that reason, he had to persuade his daughter, who was interested in K-pop, hard. -It¡¯s a K-pop idol choreography job. -Hmm¡­ Okay. I¡¯ll go. I¡¯m sorry. Daughter. When he was apologizing for the future in his chest, Joy, who was looking around, asked, ¡°I¡¯m curious about something. How big is New ck in Korea? Hailey Blue? Logan Smith? Or higher than that? They must be around there if they hired you.¡± y stroked his chin at his daughter¡¯s mention of the popr singers in America. ¡°I don¡¯t know. You know more about K-pop than I do, don¡¯t you?¡± ¡°I only watch music videos and performance videos. I don¡¯t hear much about New ck.¡± ¡°They¡¯re not that famous yet. They have a lot of potential, though¡­¡± y Tyler recalled hisst visit. Were they filming a reality show on MTV? New ck was not a well-known team in Korea. He thought he heard they won some award like ¡®Rookie of the Year¡¯ or something. Then Joy narrowed her eyes. ¡°Huh? Dad. Isn¡¯t that New ck?¡± ¡°Where?¡± ¡°There.¡± The car stopped for a moment, and a banner of a clothing brand with New ck as the models caught his eye. It was as if they were shouting ¡®They¡¯re our models!!¡¯ ¡°¡­?¡± Not long after, a simr thing happened again. A banner of ¡®Everdream¡¯ with New ck members in school uniforms was fluttering outside. Here too, they were shouting ¡®They¡¯re our models!!!¡¯ Joy asked with a strange look, ¡°You said they¡¯re not famous?¡± ¡°¡­¡± He couldn¡¯t figure out why. It hadn¡¯t been six months since hest saw them, but something had changed. Then the driver of Lemon Entertainment asked hesitantly, ¡°Mr. Tyler. Shall I take you straight to the hotel?¡± ¡°That sounds good.¡± He asked, ¡°Didn¡¯t New ck say they wereing back today? We already agreed to have lunch together, so it would be better to meet them before going to the hotel.¡± ¡°They came back this morning. They¡¯re doing an event in Myeongdong right now.¡± ¡°An event?¡± ¡°Um¡­ TV show Late Sess?¡± The other person muttered something in Korean like ¡®Ah, what¡¯s the word for ratings in English¡¯, but y didn¡¯t understand what it meant. ¡°Can we go there right away? I¡¯d rather see them as soon as possible. Can you take me there?¡± ¡°Sure. Let¡¯s go.¡± The car headed towards Myeongdong Street. Soon after they got out of the car, the father and daughter were shocked by the crowd that filled the street. ¡°What¡¯s going on? Why are there so many people¡­¡± It felt like they were swept away by the crowd. It reminded them of Disnend, which they had visited once. The Tyler father and daughter, who were squeezed in between people like crumpled bills, followed the staff and made their way through the crowd. They didn¡¯t have to go far to see the people who caused this congestion. -Yes, I¡¯m really happy that Legendary Song Discovery is getting so much love. Woojoo was holding a microphone on the other side of the fence, which prevented people from getting closer. Next to him, the members of New ck were smiling brightly and waving their hands to the pedestrians. There were also singers with unfamiliar faces. There was a band with a somewhat chubby expression, and men and women who looked like regr singers. A broadcast camera with PBS written on it was filming them. Then, one of the staff whispered something in Woojoo¡¯s ear and he grabbed the microphone again. -We have a lot of people here from overseas, so the producers asked me to give you some information in English. He then exined in English that they were holding a guerri concert in Myeongdong to repay the high ratings. The admiration doubled as he continued with fluent Chinese. His daughter also mouthed ¡®Wow¡¯ and muttered, ¡°I can barely speak English.¡± ¡°¡­¡± Following him, Rihyuk also took the microphone and said something in Japanese. A tourist shouted ¡®Kawaii!¡¯ and his ears turned red, making the peopleugh. ¡°Woah!¡± The audience cheered as the performers sang duets or solo songs. More than a hundred smartphones captured the scene. People gasped and nodded their heads to the rhythm as the songs continued. ¡°¡­Huh?¡± y looked bewildered for two reasons. The first was New ck¡¯s skill. The big guy over there, and the singers here, they all sang with extraordinary talent. But New ck was not falling behind. They were almost equal. He had only known them as ¡®the team that dances well¡¯ until now, but it felt like that image was crumbling down. And there was another surprising thing. People were talking about ¡®New ck¡¯. He couldn¡¯t understand them well because they were speaking Korean, but he heard them murmuring ¡®New ck¡¯. Some people were evenughing just by mentioning their name. What was more surprising was that their eyes were full of goodwill when they talked about them. As if they were looking at a familiar person. ¡®¡­Did the K-pop scene change while I wasn¡¯t paying attention?¡¯ But as far as he knew, this was New ck¡¯s third album. They hadn¡¯t done any new music activities since their second album. Joy looked up at him and asked, ¡°You said they weren¡¯t famous?¡± ¡°¡­Uh, well.¡± ¡°If they¡¯re not famous, then the famous ones must be performing at the Super Bowl or something.¡± He ignored his daughter who was hitting his bones hard and spoke to the young couple next to him, ¡°Excuse me,¡± he asked. ¡°What¡¯s the name of that group?¡± ¡°Oh. They¡¯re New ck.¡± ¡°Are they famous?¡± The couple looked at each other for a moment and then answered, ¡°We think they¡¯re famous. We do.¡± ¡°Selfie? Just a moment!¡± He was out of his mind. He didn¡¯t know if it was because of the stress from the flight he took at dawn, or because he hadn¡¯t recovered from the Singapore hangover. Hands reached out and people spoke to him from everywhere. His vision was blurry, but he smiled broadly and responded. ¡°Oh, really? Did you see us on History Discovery?¡± ¡°So funny! Laugh bomb!¡± ¡°Did you subscribe yo?¡± He gave fan service to the college students whoughed. Older people recognized them from Legendary Song Discovery, but young people showed interest in them as stars who were popr on SNS and the inte these days. The impact of History Discovery must have been bigger than he thought. On the other hand, people flocked to them more than other senior singers. Jo Yuri, who smiled brightly thinking they wereing to them, fell for the fake of the passerby and made a meerkat-like expression. Of course, there were people who enjoyed it with them. ¡°Do you know that? I¡¯m friends with New ck!¡± Mr. Song Bohyung threw a yfulment and passed by. ¡°Me too!¡± ¡­and Lisa said timidly and passed by, making themugh. Dowon Hyung saved them from being surrounded by people. ¡°We have another schedule. Excuse me.¡± While the manager took them to a quiet ce, Minki Hyung sensibly consoled the ones who were cut off at the end and secretly handed them the autographs he had written in advance. They sweated profusely in a corner between the shooting equipment vehicles, drinking water with their siblings. The youngest spoke with a face full of sweat. ¡°I thought it was a dream. People were asking me to sign and recognize me. It¡¯s not a dream, right?¡± He pped his arm and said ¡®ow!¡¯ and red at them. He looked like a cat that hit its head on the corner and vented its anger. ¡°What did we do to deserve this?¡± ¡°I red at him without thinking because it hurt so much. It really hurts, you know.¡± ¡°Does it hurt like a p?¡± Junghyun flicked a bottle cap at the water bottle he was drinking from. Bang! The staff who were packing up the equipment nearby were startled for a moment. ¡°¡­¡± Glug, glug, glug. Water leaked out of the hole in the stic bottle. Why did it look like blood to him? Rihyuk came to a conclusion. ¡°I think I¡¯d die before it even hurts.¡± ¡°¡­¡± They allughed and swallowed hard, while Woojoo paid attention to the two who were struggling. ¡°¡­¡± ¡°Ouch¡­¡± Rihyuk closed his eyes and swept his sweaty hair back, and Bijoo was sitting down and resting. Woojoo sat down with them and matched their eye level. ¡°Bijoo, are you okay?¡± ¡°Yes, I¡¯m fine¡­¡± It was strange. He was one of the best in terms of stamina among them, but he seems to be more exhaustedtely. Maybe it was because he danced more energetically than usual in front of people earlier. Woojoo was sweating buckets himself, let alone him. Of course, the guerri concert they did to celebrate the 15% ratings for four consecutive episodes of PBS¡¯s Legendary Song Discovery was not a tough schedule. It was just that their physical condition itself was at a low point. Preparing for thepetition. Overseas promotion. Recording for History Discovery. OST work. Album visual work and choreography practice. And when they added up the misceneous events, radio, and entertainment schedules, they had no time to breathe. On top of that, History Discovery unexpectedly became a hit, and their schedule became even tighter. Thepany told them to take it easy, but they insisted that they had to work hard when the water was flowing. But when they actually did it, it was not easy at all, so Woojoo thought they had to coordinate with Seokhwan Hyung soon. Bijoo smiled and waved his hand. ¡°I¡¯m fine, Hyung. I just felt a little dizzy.¡± ¡°Are you sure you¡¯re okay?¡± ¡°Yes.¡± Bijoo smiled brightly and got up. ¡°Please take care of Rihyuk first, Hyung.¡± ¡°The others are taking good care of him.¡± ¡°¡­Really?¡± They were whispering ¡®Hang¡¯ ¡®in¡¯ ¡®there¡¯, ¡®Our¡¯ ¡®Ri¡¯ ¡®hyuk¡¯ alternately in his ears, leaning on the wall on both sides of Rihyuk. Soon, Rihyuk kicked them away, and Jiho and Junghyun were flustered. ¡°Wow¡­ It doesn¡¯t hurt at all.¡± ¡°Rihyuk, you look like you have no strength.¡± ¡°Noooo¡­¡± Rihyuk looked like he wanted to cry at the worried hands on both sides. They were taking a break and walking like zombies. ¡°Guys!¡± They turned their heads at Minki Hyung¡¯s voice and burst intoughter. No¡­ Dobby had arrived. ¡°y!¡± ¡°Hey, guys.¡± They greeted him warmly, shaking hands and patting shoulders. Junghyun leaned his shoulder on him, and he was surprised and said to just shake hands, making them allugh. He said he had just watched the performance. ¡°You guys are stars now.¡± ¡°Not yet.¡± Woojoo said, ¡°We still have a long way to go. We have a new albuming up. Right now, we¡¯ve just taken a sessful first step.¡± ¡°But you guys were amazing.¡± He said he was impressed by their singing and looked at Bijoo. He called him by his nickname, ¡®B¡¯, and said, ¡°B, I didn¡¯t know you could sing so well. I was honestly impressed.¡± ¡°Thank you, y.¡± Bijoo smiled sweetly at him. They teased y for his expression, as if he was looking at his favorite person. ¡°y, do you know that Bijoo has an English name now?¡± ¡°Do you know James?¡± ¡°James! James!¡± ¡°¡­James?¡± yughed at the old-fashioned name. Bijoo red at them with resentment. They promised to tell him the behind-the-scenes storyter, when they were having fun teasing him. ¡°Oh, this is my daughter, Joy. She¡¯s going to be my partner in choreographing this time.¡± ¡°Hi, nice to meet you.¡± Woojoo politely greeted the woman who looked like she was in herte twenties, but it turned out she was two years younger than him. She was the one who looked surprised when she heard their ages and made a ¡®?!¡¯ face. Especially when she saw Bijoo and Woojoo, she narrowed her eyes and said ¡®¡­?¡¯, and then she widened her eyes and looked at Junghyun with a different meaning and said ¡®¡­!¡¯. It reminded Woojoo of a meme he saw on the inte. A famous foreign actor with his eyes wide open and saying ¡®???¡¯. Woojoo smiled smugly at her gaze. Look at that, Deoksoon. I¡¯m so young-looking. He suggested they have lunch together at a famous barbecue restaurant in Gangnam, and Joy asked them a question. ¡°By the way, what does Jenmin mean in Korean? I¡¯ve been hearing people say Jenmin, Jenmin since earlier.¡± ¡°¡­!¡± Woojoo¡¯s face turned gloomy as his siblings¡¯ faces brightened up. They finished their meal and went back to thepany right away. They gave a brief briefing on the new album concept and exined the album promotion n. ¡°The title is ¡®Windflower¡¯.¡± There was a lot of debate over the name of the wildflower that grows in Korea, but it was decided by a vote to be Windflower. It was to give a connection to the intro ¡®wind¡¯ that Junghyun made. y eximed in admiration. ¡°B alsoposed?¡± ¡°James!¡± Bijoo lowered his head every time they teased him to call him James Then he said to y, ¡°I only danced. The one who made it into a song was Woojoo Hyung.¡± ¡°Expressing the melody with dance on the spot. The leader is amazing, but B, all I can say is that your talent is amazing.¡± Wow. Woojoo couldn¡¯t believe that could be connected like that. Woojoo continued to exin. ¡°¡­And as you can see, the title track of the third album is pursuing a trendy pop feel. After that, we are considering a follow-up song activity with a more dance-heavy concept.¡± Strictly speaking, it was more like a double title than a definite follow-up song activity. It was a measure that thepany came up with because it was burdensome to put all the capital into one song, as it was the album with thergest capital among the singers produced by Lemon Entertainment. The n was to go out with two songs when they came back and adjust the activities ording to the response. The follow-up song was also one that Woojoo hadposed. ¡°What I want y to see today is that part. I hope you feel that the two songs are on the same line in terms of performance. As if one song has two parts.¡± The A&R staff next to Woojoo added some words, but most of the things he had to ask for were said by ihm, the producer. The Tyler family nodded their heads as they took meticulous notes on their tablet PCs. They were world-ss choreographers and their disciples, and they understood whatever they asked them. ¡°I think that¡¯s enough for the story.¡± When the meeting was nearing its end, y Tyler pped his hands and said, ¡°Well, shall we go practice?¡± ¡°Wow¡­¡± Joy Tyler eximed. It was different from what she had seen on video. ¡®They¡¯re good.¡¯ They were a team of singers, not dancers, but they had no gaps in their performance. She saw no point to criticize, just as her dad had said. Even Rihyuk, who was said to be the weakest in dancing, had wless movements. ¡°Didn¡¯t you say Rihyuk wascking?¡± ¡°He improved.¡± y licked his tongue at her whisper. ¡°He must have practiced a lot. He¡¯s not the same as hisst dance skills. You saw the Masquerade choreography practice video, right?¡± ¡°Yeah.¡± ¡°He came from there to here. He did.¡± She couldn¡¯t imagine how much effort he had put in to improve his dancing in such a short time. And she was amazed that not only the member who had the weakest skills, but also the one who had reached a certain level and had difficulty improving, had shown a step further. It was Bijoo. ¡°Wow¡­¡± Bijoo, whom her dad called ¡®B¡¯, seemed to dance better than her. Every time he made a graceful gesture or swept his hair back, it was like a flower that withered and bloomed, ording to the concept of the album. He looked like a beautiful creature, not a human, every time. She wondered why her dad always showed his videos to other dancers and lectured them. ¡°¡­¡± y, who was standing next to her, nodded his head with a satisfied face. As expected, they had nothing special toment on. They just touched on a few technical aspects. But even so, the New ck members didn¡¯t stop asking questions. ¡°y, which one do you prefer between this and this?¡± Bijoo brought six versions of one hand gesture and asked for their opinions. The leader also asked about the overall movement and the dance moves that matched the lyrics. But Joy Tyler didn¡¯t feel anything strange. ¡®What¡¯s the big deal?¡¯ It wasn¡¯t hard to answer their questions, unlike what he had said when New ck asked them. y smiled awkwardly. "This can''t be happening¡­" "What?" "Last time, it wasn''t like this. They wouldn''t let me go anywhere and surrounded me." "Really? It''s a totally different vibe now?" "Well, whatever. It worked out fine." He thought maybe they had less questions because their skills had improved. She smiled as she ate snacks from the snack bar set up in a corner of the practice room. They had asked her questions from time to time. She suddenly asked, "Hey, what time is it, Dad?" "Just a sec." Then Dad blinked his eyes as he looked around. "What''s wrong?" "It''s weird¡­" y muttered and pointed at the wall. There was only a white circle with a nail left, as if something had been hanging there. "There was a clock there, you know." "Oh, really?" "Just a sec." y raised his hand and blinked his eyes. Joy, who was munching on a snack, asked, "Why again?" "Since when was there a snack bar here?" "¡­¡­?" The father and daughter looked at the snack collection on the table behind them. They hadn''t felt anything strange until now, but now that they looked closely, they were all American snacks. There were American drinks in the fridge next to them. Their eyes met Kim Junghyun, who was sitting like a lighthouse nearby and watching them. He smiled warmly as their eyes met. "¡­¡­" The things that had been blurry started to be clear. And then. "Would you like a cup of tea?" Bijoo came over with a friendly smile and a note with questions on it. "¡­¡­" The father and daughter looked at each other. ¡®Daughter?'' ¡®Dad?'' ¡­Were we trapped? Chapter 231: Chapter 231: Trantor: MarcTempest Editor: Rxel Chapter 231 ¡¾TheNewck.Official has started a live broadcast. Watch it now!¡¿ Hello, everyone. (Hello!) (Hi!) (Hey, Wang Jiho, lower your voice. You¡¯re hurting my ears.) (Ebebebe¡­ Aaah!) (Guys, let Woojoo Hyung talk¡­) (Do you want some jelly, Bijoo? This is from America.) Guys, how many words do you need to say hello? (How many words did we say, Rihyuk Hyung?) (About twenty-three. I¡¯m not sure.) (Wow, we talk a lot.) (I agree. We should have been Soodaz instead of New ck.) (Murmur murmur.) Who¡¯s murmur murmur? Junghyun, do you want to leave the practice room? (Yes.)No. (Yes.) Geez, this is chaotic. Let¡¯s look at somements. Do you love New ck? You expressed your love with a question mark. We love you! With three exmation marks! (That means we give you two hearts~!) (Ta-da!) (Let¡¯s make a giant heart! Mega heart!) (Like this?) (¡­It¡¯s been a long time since I felt sorry for that old man.) Guys! Let me talk-! (Kyahaha!) Phew. Are you frowning? No, I¡¯m not. I have an eye twitch because I¡¯m low on magnesium. There are a lot ofments. It feels nostalgic that we did our first live broadcast on this SNS¡­ (Hyung, you¡¯re going to say something cheesy again.) (Leave him alone. It¡¯s his dark past.) (That was when you did the school uniform prank, Bijoo.) (Shut up. Enjoy your jelly.) (Thanks.) (Yeah. Oops¡­ Hyung, I won¡¯t say anything more.) ¡­ (Is Woojoo Hyung upset?) (I saw a survey that said someone gets more upset if you say they¡¯re upset. So are you upset?) (Are you angry?) (Why is Woojoo Hyung upset?) I¡¯m hap¡­ Ahem. Excuse me. Minki Hyung, how do I end this¡­ ¡¾ Live broadcast ended ¡¿ ¡¾TheNewck.Official has started a live broadcast. Watch it now!¡¿ Hello, Souffl¨¦! Why did I end the broadcast just now? Um. No way. This is our first live broadcast today. There was no live broadcast just now. Right? (No.) (Nuh.) (Yes, Hyung.) (Yesss¡­) What happened in five minutes? Nothing happened. Who¡¯s Woojoo grandpa¡¯s droopy pants. (Correct! Correct!) Is there no ban function? Why are the younger ones so polite? They¡¯re always nice and polite. They¡¯re good kids. (Heh) (Haha) Ignore the breathing sounds you hear. Where are you look¡­ Hm? Jiho is showing some words with a smartphone billboard app? If you don¡¯t listen, you¡¯ll go to the studio¡­ Jiho, put that down. Hurry. Ahem. Anyway, we came to see our Souffl¨¦s because we missed you. Our third album release ising up, right? We thought you might be bored waiting for us, so we came! (¡­) Cheer up. Guys. (Wow!) (Can we talk now?) Stay still. (Yes¡­) Let¡¯s see. ¡®You guys work hard to take care of them. I feel you.¡¯ You said. You¡¯re a Souffl¨¦ who¡¯s raising a child. That¡¯s really hard¡­ What? You¡¯ve only raised a Tamagotchi? (Hahaha!) Ahem. Anyway, let¡¯s get to the point. We¡¯re practicing our choreography right now. Today, we invited a special guest to show you our third album choreography. He¡¯s a world-ss dancer who has choreographed Logan Smith¡¯s ¡®Control¡¯ and many other pop stars, as well as advised on countless musical movies¡­ He came from LA, USA, and his disciple. y Taylor and Joy Taylor! (Wow!) Please understand. y and Joy are tired because they haven¡¯t adjusted to the time difference yet. It¡¯s not because of us. (That¡¯s right.) Well, then, y. Please say hello. He says he¡¯s d to meet you. By the way, y. Our Souffl¨¦s have some questions for you. I¡¯ll ask you in English. After you went on the broadcast, this meme went viral. It¡¯s a facial expression analyzer¡­ It said you had a 100 percent happy expression after coaching our choreography. Oh, sad face, you say you were sad. The misunderstanding is cleared! (Wow!) How about now? Are you happy? (Are you happy?) (Yes¡­) Wow. He says he¡¯s happy. (He says he¡¯s happy!) (Music! Music!) -New ck, world-ss choreographer ¡®y Taylor¡¯ with SNS live broadcast -New ck previews third album with live broadcast¡­ Who is the choreographer ¡®y Taylor¡¯? -New ck SNS live, choreographer y Taylor ¡°Working with New ck, I¡¯m so happy I could go crazy.¡± There¡¯s one more question. How do you rate New ck¡¯s overall dance, y? Yes. The overall dance line is very beautiful and pretty. If the lead dancer Woojoo holds the center axis, the main dancer B will upgrade the team¡¯s dance to the next level¡­ Yes. Bijoo¡­ And also Bijoo. (Are you praising Bijoo for the fifth minute now?) Yes. Bijoo¡¯s¡­ I¡¯ll skip Bijoo when I interpret. Everyone. (You¡¯ve passed 10 minutes.) Yes. Yes. Yes¡­ (It¡¯s been 15 minutes. 15 minutes.) y, let¡¯s stop here for time¡¯s sake. (Seon, please. let me finish my¡­) Do you have anything to say, Joy? (Yeah.) Is it praise for Bijoo? (Yes.) Please do it in 3 minutes¡­ Yes, I¡¯ll give you time to summarize. The choreography coaching was carried out for 4 days as contracted. It was a short time, but it was enough for them to learn from the other¡¯s know-how. In fact, there was nothing special to criticize about the choreography, and their skills had improved a lot. The questions also decreased. ¡°Tell me honestly. Do you have a factory hidden somewhere that makes questions?¡± ¡°Their questions are so diverse and endless. Dad.¡± They looked morefortable thanks to the better environment they provided themst time. ¡°It¡¯s too hard.¡± ¡°I want to go back to LA.¡± It was a beneficial time for both of them. They also epted the feedback from the choreographers and modified the choreography of the title and the follow-up songs more naturally. And they also had something to gain. ¡°B, can I take your practice video if you have one?¡± ¡°My practice video?¡± ¡°I want to use it as a teaching material. Sometimes there are students who think that they can¡¯t improve anymore when they reach a certain level.¡± Bijoo dly agreed. ¡°Of course.¡± ¡°Oh.¡± ¡°But I¡¯ll ask you a few more questions.¡± ¡°¡­¡± The faces of the Tyler father and daughter wilted like boiled cabbage. Instead, Bijoo filmed the solo videos of the two choreographies they wanted. As the camera was set up, and Bijoo moved his body gracefully in the center of the practice room, the two dancers smiled with satisfaction. After all, Woojoo didn¡¯t know much about dance, but he felt like it was so nice to watch. How would the experts feel? They also praised their main dancer a lot during the live broadcast. And their reaction to them was¡­ ¡°Good¡­¡± ¡°Oh, did you see y twitch his nose when Bijoo gestured?¡± ¡°Look at Joy sping his hands.¡± ¡°That¡¯s why foreigners watch reaction videos. It¡¯s interesting.¡± Woojoo was happy. Woojoo thought he knew why foreign pros who praised Korea on TV were popr. He was not the one being praised, but he felt so good. Every time Bijoo was praised, their shoulders became Hasan and Baekdusan. As Woojoo watched Bijoo dancing solo, Rihyuk stuck out his tongue. ¡°But when did he get like that? He didn¡¯t have much personal practice time either.¡± ¡°That¡¯s right. Just when I thought I was catching up a little bit, he¡¯s already one step ahead.¡± Bijoo was showing off his dance skills that had gone further ahead. Did he practice so much after Masquerade that Woojoo can¡¯t even dare to follow that dance line? Woojoo could follow the movements exactly, but he wondered if he could reproduce that expression that he felt from his face to his whole body. If the shadow looked nice, was it his mood? When he tilted his head slightly to the rhythm, he felt like his hair was dancing too. ¡°He¡¯s amazing. That Hyung too.¡± Rihyuk smiled bitterly. ¡°If I could dance like that, I would keep a decent level. He practiced like that because he wanted to do better.¡± ¡°Hmm?¡± Junghyun tilted his head. ¡°It¡¯s strange.¡± ¡°Why?¡± ¡°He increased his practice time because he saw you practicing the song from the hit song group. He¡¯s already good at it, but he works harder. His specialty is dancing, but he wants to do well at that too.¡± ¡°Are you talking about that guy?¡± ¡°Yeah. I also practiced my facial expressions more for the stage after seeing him practice.¡± Come to think of it, Woojoo also had the same thought when he saw Jiho practicing his cameo. The youngest one was working so hard, was he being too rxed as the oldest one? So he increased his workload. While Bijoo was filming the choreography video, they looked at each other and said, ¡®You too?¡¯ and chatted. Jihoughed. ¡°That¡¯s us. You know, from the folk tale, the brothers who became the sun and the moon¡­? They threw more rice cakes at each other and killed the tiger.¡± ¡°Don¡¯t you mean the loving brothers? The other ones had a sad ending.¡± ¡°Oh, right. The loving five brothers.¡± They smiled at each other. Woojoo felt a bit relieved from the worry he had recently, ¡®Am I the only one cking off while the others are working hard?¡¯ It was when they were huddled together like a group of penguins and cheered each other up. ¡°Hmm? What are you guys doing?¡± It was their second one, who was dabbing his face with a towel after finishing the video. ¡°We¡¯re just having a friendly chat for a moment.¡± ¡°Yeah. Bijoo,e on in.¡± ¡°Okay.¡± He seemed to like being with them, so he joined them quickly. Soon after, they all said, ¡®Wow, we¡¯re living hard, aren¡¯t we?¡¯ and Woojoo also said with a smile, ¡°Then I¡¯ll work harder and do more song production¡­¡± Woojoo got some harsh reactions. ¡°Please. Don¡¯t do anything.¡± ¡°What are you going to do more there? Seriously¡­¡± ¡°No way.¡± ¡°Take a break. Hyung. Please.¡± They were saying that they would die if Woojoo increased the song production more when they were already exhausted. Did Woojoo do that much? ¡°Uh, Hyung, if you¡¯re worried, I¡¯ll just reduce my dance practice.¡± Bijoo was so anxious that he even stuttered. Everyoneughed. Rihyuk smirked and said, ¡°Think about who made our practice load like this in the first ce.¡± ¡°Thanks to your letter?¡± ¡°Hey!¡± They said goodbye to the two dancers after dinner. ¡°Hahaha! Joy!¡± ¡°Dad, hehehe!¡± Was it because the marinated ribs were delicious? Or was it because they were freed from them? It was half and half, but the father and daughterughed and joked throughout the meal. So they joked along. ¡°See you again for the fourth album.¡± ¡°¡­¡± If there was a scale for pupil dtion, what Woojoo was seeing now would be about 8.0. Their brains seemed to be sending out signals like ¡®It¡¯s an earthquake! Evacuate!¡¯ over and over. They said with a smile, ¡°Just kidding.¡± The father and daughter who had their eyes wide open burst intoughter. ¡°Hahaha! Joy!¡± ¡°Dad, hehehe!¡± It depended on the results of the third album, but if the budget allowed, they wanted to call them again for the fourth album. Not just because they had a reputation as world-ss choreographers, but because they really hit the nail on the head. They were like a crab tutor who picked out and filled in the parts they needed. But their opinion was different. ¡°It¡¯s possible because you have that much ability.¡± No matter how passionate they were to teach them something, there was a time limit. They said they were able to fill in the remaining 1 in a short period of time because they had raised thepletion level to 99. ¡°Not only B, but all of you have improved.¡± ¡°Yeah. I agree with dad.¡± ¡°So next time, you won¡¯t need us.¡± ¡°Dad is making sense today.¡± Joy Tyler agreed with him, hitting the beat. Woojoo thought he should invite them again next time. He made money from the royalties, so why not spend some on them? Would that make them his ves? ¡°Call me when youe to America. Let¡¯s have a meal at a nice restaurant.¡± With those words, y gave each of them a gift. He said it was a return for the cookies they gave himst time. By their standards, they were expensive gifts, but judging by their reactions, they had more wealth than that. Only their youngest was impressed and said, ¡°Oh, you prepared something modest.¡± ¡°Wow¡­¡± It was a pair of shoes from a famous American sports brand. He said it was a limited edition that he got through his connections. Junghyun¡¯s eyes widened and he asked, ¡°Is this what I think it is?¡± It seemed like a very valuable item. The members were happy as they unwrapped their gifts. ¡°And this is for you, Seon. I considered your taste.¡± ¡°Oh¡­¡± Woojoo was momentarily dazzled by the limited edition floral tracksuit that even famous pop stars wore. There were hundreds of roses embroidered all over it. While he was moved, the others froze as if they had found a bomb. ¡°We¡¯re doomed. What do we do?¡± ¡°This is crazy. We can¡¯t even take it away from him since it¡¯s a gift¡­¡± ¡°I think I can hear the stylistsing this way.¡± Woojoo thanked him with a happy face, regardless of their murmurs. He was d when Woojoo said he would wear it for the rest of his life. ¡°Wow, I really love it¡­¡± It was the best gift he had received recently. If it was possible to buy it, he would get another one and wear it as a couple with his grandmother. She would love it if he showed it to her. Woojoo would also buy a cat outfit. And make it floral with butterflies¡­ And there was a floral essory that he could put on the cat¡¯s head. He would take a picture with that too. Even after he said goodbye to y, he kept imagining things. ¡°Woojoo.¡± Until the next day, when Woojoo faced Kim, the head stylist. ¡°Are you really going to wear that?¡± ¡°Isn¡¯t it pretty? I heard a Hollywood star wore this.¡± ¡°¡­Hold on. I need some sugar.¡± He opened a grape candy and popped it in his mouth. He took a deep breath and calmed his chest while wiping his sweaty forehead with both hands. Then he came to a conclusion. ¡°Just wear it in the dorm.¡± ¡°Yes¡­¡± Woojoo agreed to wear it only in the dorm or the studio. It was a shame. Woojoo wanted to wear it for the music video shooting. ¡°If you wear that, we¡¯ll lose all the sponsorships we have. Hyung.¡± ¡°¡­¡± In the end, Woojoo wore the clothes that the members picked for him and went to shoot the music video. The location for their third album¡¯s music video was Suncheon. It was a tnd where yellow reeds swayed in the wind. It seemed like a popr tourist spot, as there were people who came to take pictures in the reed fields. They recognized them too. Pop! A college student who knew them from History Discovery was amazed to see them. ¡°Wow, are you shooting a music video? You look like singers!¡± ¡°We are singers.¡± ¡°¡­?¡± ¡°¡­?¡± He said he thought they were actors. He said he had no interest in the entertainment news and didn¡¯t know. He thought the name New ck was a concept like ¡®F4¡¯ in History Discovery. ¡°Wow. You¡¯re singers, huh? I thought you were in a drama or something.¡± ¡°Well, we¡¯re in a drama too.¡± ¡°¡­?¡± They also promoted ¡®Slip¡¯, the drama they cameoed in. Meanwhile, as they shot the music video outdoors in Suncheon and in the studio, their youngest was twice as busy. His cameo role as a ¡®police officer¡¯ in Slip had increased in importance, so he had a few more scenes to shoot. The actual amount was not long, but the drama was such a time-consuming work that half a day would pass by when he came back from shooting. At first, he was happy to act, but when his album practice time was reduced, he was upset. ¡°When Ie back, you guys are better. And I¡¯m the only one who¡¯scking¡­¡± He kept whining to them, ¡°I don¡¯t know! I¡¯m not going back to the dorm today! I have to practice!¡± and tried to practice the choreography while sobbing. Woojoo had to calm him down. Woojoo even bought him some tteokbokki behind the managers¡¯ backs. He only let him have one bite, though, since they were preparing for theireback. After filming the music video, they continued to juggle their broadcast activities and album rehearsals. And then, the day they had been eagerly waiting for arrived. It was the first episode of GTV¡¯s ¡®Slip¡¯, where New ck made a cameo appearance. Chapter 232: Chapter 232: Trantor: MarcTempest Editor: Rxel Chapter 232 ¡°Popcorn.¡± ¡°Ready.¡± ¡°Coke.¡± ¡°Ready.¡± ¡°Zero?¡± ¡°Yes.¡±Woojoo pped his hands. ¡°Good job, guys. We¡¯re finally ready.¡± ¡°Let me turn on the TV, Hyung.¡± Bijoo turned on the GTV channel with a serious face. While Junghuyn and Woojoo opened the live chat and variousmunities on their tablet PCs, Rihyuk set up a handy cam on the table. It was to capture the youngest¡¯s reaction. ¡°Ugh¡­¡± Jiho put his hands on his cheeks and looked miserable. ¡°Hyungs, can¡¯t you just act like nothing¡¯s happening? I¡¯m really nervous.¡± ¡°Hey, how can we do that?¡± They smiled brightly. ¡°Our maknae is finally on a drama, we can¡¯t miss that.¡± ¡°Right. We have to watch it live.¡± ¡°Ugh, I want to be alone.¡± Jiho rolled around on the sofa as they chuckled. It was fun to tease him. It felt good to be on the opposite side of being teased. Bijoo asked while slicing an apple, ¡°Are you that embarrassed?¡± ¡°Yes¡­¡± Jiho stopped rolling and stared at the ceiling. ¡°I feel like I want to astral project. You know, like bing a light bulb on the ceiling? I wish no one would see me. Ugh, I don¡¯t know. Anyway, ah¡­ ugh! Ah!¡± He screamed like a tyrannosaurus and clenched his fists. He was making a lot of noise by himself. If there was an art of making noise, their maknae would be an intangible cultural heritage. He looked calm an hour ago, but as the broadcast approached, he seemed to explode with anxiety. ¡°I did so badly. The staff at the set were nice to me because I was young and said I did well, but¡­¡± ¡°How was it for you?¡± ¡°Bad¡­¡± They just smiled quietly at his gloomy face. He didn¡¯t know anything. Even though they were gaining poprity, it wasn¡¯t easy to make the tired drama staff cheer for them. They praised him so much that it was obvious that he did really well. If he did poorly, they would have given him cold res. And they would have to reshoot the simple scenes several times because of the cameo. Woojoo thought about reassuring him by telling him that, but¡­ ¡°Wahh, Noona¡­ What should I do, I¡¯m going to be humiliated at school?¡± He called his eldest sister and sobbed. ¡°Noona, Noona! I¡¯m on a drama and I¡¯m so nervous! Talk to me.¡± ¡°Noona, did you tell your boyfriend to watch it too? Why did you do that? Fine. I don¡¯t want to talk to you. No, I don¡¯t mean I really don¡¯t want to talk to you. I¡¯m just expressing my feelings.¡± He also called his second and third sisters and chatted nervously. ¡°I¡¯m not answering dad¡¯s call.¡± He said he was sure Dad would pressure him and ignored the call, but soon he called him and said ¡°Dad, Dad!¡± He was so cute that Woojoo let him be. To be honest, it was too fun. Rihyuk, who was studying for the Chinese character level 1 test, wrote ¡®joy and sorrow¡¯ on his notebook and looked at Jiho to memorize it. ¡°¡­¡± He met Woojoo¡¯s eyes and wrote ¡®deceiving the world and the people¡¯. It was an idiom meaning to deceive and mislead the people of the world. ¡°Hey, what¡¯s deceiving the world and the people? You should write ¡®learning from the chicken¡¯.¡± He snickered and wrote ¡®delusion¡¯. He was really¡­ To prevent stress, Woojoo carefully ate one popcorn that he measured in a paper cup. Then he picked up his phone. There were articles about the GTV Friday drama ¡®Slip¡¯ that was airing today. As a genre drama that had attracted attention before the broadcast, thements were full. -How long has it been since we had a genre piece?Seriously???12345 -The fans are crying?? -The cast lineup is good. I personally preferred another actress for the female lead role, but Seo Noeul also looks good with a mask. -I¡¯ve been waiting for the first episode since I saw the trailer -A murdermitted by a primitive man who time-slipped into the modern setting? This is bound to attract attention. -Am I the only one who¡¯s worried about the writer being a rookie? I heard this is their first drama. -There¡¯s the Fox Bead writer. That person is also a rookie. Don¡¯t be prejudiced. There were some concerns among the drama fans about the writer¡¯s ability to lead the story, but not too many. It was because the PBS drama ¡®Fox Bead¡¯ that aired first was getting a sessful response. Fox Bead, the debut work of the rookie writer, received good reviews from the beginning. The acting skills of the 20s leads were criticized on the inte, but thanks to the good CG and direction, Fox Bead pushed aside the existing Wednesday-Thursday dramas and imed the throne. There were already discussions about overseas rights. And the main OST of the second episode, which ended with the male and female leads¡¯ eyes meeting after picking up the Fox Bead in the downtown, had already entered the chart. It was a song by Cha Woohyun Sunbae-nim. Woojoo wondered if he made the wrong choice, since Fox Bead was one of the options, but anyway, the OST they were going to sing was scheduled toe out after the 10th episode. At least Woojoo was d he didn¡¯t do the Windmill OST. -HBS ¡®Windmill¡¯, the ratings flew away like the wind¡­ What was the problem? ¡®Windmill¡¯, which dealt with the work and love of prosecutors, saw its ratings evaporate like the wind. They hired popr actors and famous directors, but the script was the main problem. The old-fashioned narrative and dialogue, the excessive PPL from the first episode. The scene where the chief prosecutor sat on the massage chair in the prosecutor¡¯s office and sighed ¡®Hoo¡­¡¯ while getting a massage, and the scene where the prosecutors met at a sandwich shop every time they had a strategy meeting, were already circting as meme images. As a result, the ratings hit the all-time low. It would have been a disaster if they did that. Luckily, they dropped it from their priority list from the beginning. ¡®This drama OST is weird,¡¯ Rihyuk said that. ¡®The drama is airing soon. The song that was recorded until the guide version was drifting until it came to me.¡¯ Woojoo agreed with him. The song itself was not bad, and the drama looked good on the surface. But the fact that the OST of that drama came to them after a long time meant that there was some problem that they didn¡¯t know. The manager thought the same. Seokhwan Hyung asked the Actor Team, and sure enough, the main actor and the writer were constantly fighting over the future development. Woojoo felt like the seniors in the music industry avoided it for a reason. Woojoo heard that Jo Yuri Band took their ce, and he wondered what their expression was like. Anyway. HBS Windmill, which was writing a new legend of ratings decline and worsening atmosphere on the set. PBS Fox Bead, which was showing its poprity by having talks about overseas rights. And GTV channel, which was famous for its quality dramas, wasunching a new genre piece ¡®Slip¡¯. Woojoo wondered what kind of reaction Slip would get. He hoped the drama quality was good so that their OST could get more attention. Especially since their kid stayed up for several nights and practiced the cameo. Woojoo sped his hands with the feeling of a grandmother waiting for the school y. Please let their youngest look pretty today, Deoksoon. ¡°I think that¡¯s thestmercial.¡± As Bijoo said that, Woojoo looked at the TV and saw Han Taehyun wearing a snapback and dancing and shouting ¡®This is it¡¯ as the clothing brand¡¯s ad line. Woojoo couldn¡¯t help butugh. Woojoo sent the YouTube video link to the person, and he replied that he would block him from today. Woojoo asked him if he would buy him a meal, and he answered right away, so he didn¡¯t really block him. Meanwhile, the youngest asked Woojoo while melting the popcorn in his mouth. ¡°But, I¡¯ve been curious about something since earlier. Why are you guys so rxed?¡± ¡°What?¡± ¡°No. There, Bijoo Hyung was like ¡®Jjeimseu!¡¯ and Junghyun Hyung was making jokes about attendance. You know.¡± They snickered. ¡°You can tell from the script that it¡¯s a serious atmosphere. Do you think those lines will go out as they are?¡± ¡°Right. Hyung. The Director said to say anything since it¡¯s going to be noisy anyway.¡± ¡°You have a good memory. Our Jaim¡­¡± ¡°Eat an apple. Hyung.¡± The youngest pouted his lips and leaned his chin on the pillow, saying ¡®Hmph, you guys don¡¯te out well.¡¯ ¡°Uh, it¡¯s starting!¡± The screen went dark and the caption ¡®This drama is based on real people¡­¡¯ came out. Slowly, white letters rose from the left to the right on the ck screen, ¡®S L I P¡¯, one letter at a time, and Jiho exined that it was a homage to an alien movie. Then, with a sinister flute sound that would fit in the jungle, the camera captured a dark reed field. Early evening. The swaying reed field under the dark blue sky. A full-body shot standing like a tombstone, and a streetmp that was sprinkling crimson light on the road. It was like watching a movie. The ¡®slip¡¯ began with the rough breathing of the fugitive. Slip proceeded exactly as the script. Woojoo thought he could see a movie in his head when he read the script, but the Slip on the screen was even more. Woojoo was amazed by the beautiful cinematography like a movie. -Are you watching Slip right now?? The visuals are amazing ??? -I¡¯m watching the first episode of Slip and it¡¯s so immersive -The quality is awesome -First of all, the opening is legendary, but I¡¯ll have to wait and see -Is this a one-top or a two-top? I looked at the drama introduction, but the weight is ambiguous -I don¡¯t know what top it is, but it¡¯s fun; I feel like I found a masterpiece after a long time When Woojoo watched the weekend drama with his grandmother, he said, ¡°Who should I curse there?¡±, ¡°What? Is the father-inw the grandfather?¡± That was all he could do, but he saw that all the sites he saw were praising it. There was not a single scene to throw away. ¡°Wow¡­¡± At some point, they forgot to monitor and melted popcorn every five minutes. Until the carbonated bubbles were all gone, they did that for a long time. When the protagonist Park Cheoljin was deeply immersed in his thoughts with a murderous weapon that resembled a flint from the Stone Age. ¡°Here ites. Here ites.¡± ¡°Ugh¡­¡± While the youngest covered his eyes with a sweet potato snack that he snatched from Rihyuk, the precious person¡¯s back finally appeared. ¡°Wow!¡± They cheered like a ser team scored a goal, and Jiho bowed his head like a foreign fan caught among Korean supporters. ¡°Wow, our youngest is handsome from behind.¡± ¡°I have to capture this.¡± ¡°Oh. Jiho. That uniform fits you well.¡± A police officer with a document on his side appeared. He wasn¡¯t very tall, but his legs were so long that he looked proportional. Their youngest smiled brightly and greeted him in a police uniform that looked like a stage costume. ¡°He has more lines than I thought?¡± Woojoo thought he would just pass by, but their youngest¡¯s upper body came out in front of the police station. He showed his face, which meant he had some weight. As soon as the handsome policeman appeared, various boards started to buzz with ¡°Who is that?¡± Meanwhile, the policeman¡¯s eyes turned to the lowly high school gang. And then they froze. -You¡¯re worth¡­ Why are you hanging out with them? -I¡¯ve been kneeling for a year. Woojoo thought it was okay when he read the script, but the ad-libs they made were alsoing out. ¡°What?¡± Woojoo jumped up. The younger ones also got up and buzzed, and the youngest widened his eyes. ¡°Hey, why¡­ Why is thating out?¡± ¡°Didn¡¯t the Director say the sound wouldn¡¯te out? How did this happen¡­?¡± Woojoo¡¯s heart sank. Especially Bijoo, who became James, was so desperate that he sent a message to Minjun, ¡°Turn off the TV power strip!¡± ¡®Are you telling me to turn it off or turn it on?¡¯ While waiting for the reply, James appeared on the screen. -Calm down, James. Bijoo grabbed his face and made a strange sound, ¡°Ahui ahui¡­¡± while Rihyuk and Woojoo sighed deeply. The only peaceful one was Pungdeng, who muttered, ¡°Is the left side of his face better looking?¡± ¡°Puhahaha! Hahaha!¡± The youngest, who had been quiet until now, ran around and said, ¡°Look at that~¡± Woojoo wanted to hit him with a chestnut. Really. There was a wave of ¡®???¡¯ in thements. Some praised it for loosening the mood in a drama that could have been gloomy, but most of them were just ¡®?????¡¯. -Are they New ck????????12345 -They got caught off guard James???? -????????Scene stealer award at the end of the year -Calm down James????From today, you¡¯re myughter bell -It¡¯s a setting error that the American kid is scared of the Korean police. -????????I¡¯ve never seen anyone who can¡¯t act like a bully. That¡¯s why I like them. -I don¡¯t think they¡¯ll get robbed. -I think they¡¯ll pay back within a week. -LOL, my friend graduated from a foreignnguage high school, but he acts like a delinquent when he talks about his high school days. Everyone was mocking their insignificance. ¡°Come on, we acted so threateningly.¡± ¡°Didn¡¯t you feel it during the regr trade? We don¡¯t match with them from the start.¡± ¡°We were no match for elementary school kids. Us.¡± Their eyes drooped and briefly nced at themunity where the Souffl¨¦s gathered, but they decided to ignore it. They needed a break. Besides, they couldn¡¯t miss the youngest¡¯s acting. ¡°¡­Eek.¡± The momentum that was teasing them disappeared and he hid behind Junghyun¡¯s back, peeking his head out and hiding it again when he saw his face. ¡°I messed up my expression there, and the dialogue didn¡¯t match well.¡± They reacted to his timid voice. ¡°What are you talking about? You did great.¡± ¡°¡­Really?¡± ¡°People on the inte were asking who the actor was. They didn¡¯t think you were a singer.¡± ¡°Oh. Really?¡± ¡°See for yourself.¡± The youngest¡¯s eyes sparkled as he saw the screen full of praise. They smiled at the smile that appeared on his white face. It wasn¡¯t talk to cheer him up, but because he really did well. He seemed unsatisfied because his standards were high, but to them, he was amazing. Bijoo whispered that it was worth feeding him a lot of sausages in the morning. ¡°You¡¯re really good, Jiho.¡± ¡°Exactly. I don¡¯t understand why you say you can¡¯t act whenever the topices up.¡± Jiho on the screen looked like an actor from the way he delivered his lines. It felt more like they brought a real police officer from the station than his acting skills. They pped as the cameo scene ended. ¡®I wasn¡¯t bad, right? Really?¡¯ he asked several times and showed a happy expression. ¡°But what¡¯s the next scene you¡¯re in? You said it was added to the script.¡± ¡°Oh. That?¡± Jiho smiled brightly at their question. ¡°You¡¯ll see. It¡¯s a very fun scene.¡± Officer Heo walked shakily under the power pole. This was Oseong District. Every time he walked, the radio crackled and spat out noisy radio calls. -This is the situation room. -We¡¯re patrolling the Naeseong-dong area, but nothing unusual¡­ -We have the guardian with us¡­ -The situation room reminds you of the missing child¡¯s appearance. About 10 years old, ck hair, wearing blue clothes¡­ He turned down the volume with his hand as the radio noise vibrated on his shoulder without a break. His junior who was walking with him said, ¡°I don¡¯t know if we¡¯ll be up all night. If we find her at the yground or something, wouldn¡¯t it be a waste?¡± ¡°It¡¯s not a waste, it¡¯s a relief.¡± Officer Heo smiled softly and let out a long breath. His breath flowed out in the cold weather. ¡®It¡¯s cold.¡¯ If he was cold, how much colder would that little girl be? The reason they were patrolling was to find the missing 9-year-old girl. Normally, one or two patrol cars would have been enough. But today was different. A violent murder urred in the area. And the child disappeared in the neighborhood where an unknown scream was heard. The media and the upper echelons were already on alert, and the result was a patrol that mobilized all the police and police officers in Oseong District. The sun had set and it was already three hours. But everyone was skeptical that they could find her. ¡®But we have to try.¡¯ His junior asked, ¡°Do you think we¡¯ll get amendation or a day off if we find her?¡± ¡°I don¡¯t know. Maybe.¡± Officer Heo answered vaguely and turned up the volume. A patrol car passing by reported that there was nothing unusual. His eyes went to the packaged food in the car. His junior licked his tongue as he watched the car leave. ¡°Isn¡¯t that like they have no intention of finding the kid if they drive at that speed?¡± He agreed silently. ¡®Let¡¯s think they¡¯re tired.¡¯ He felt his steps slowing down, but he thought of the child who was shivering in the dark. ¡°¡­¡± As they passed by a shop that sold warm tteokbokki and fish cake soup, his junior hesitated. Officer Heo thought that he would secretly buy some for himter if they had time when they returned. Then, he saw Park Cheoljin, the team leader of the Violent Crimes Unit, who was searching alone nearby. Officer Heo greeted him cheerfully with a salute. ¡°Thank you for your hard work, sir.¡± ¡°¡­Oh, you. Yeah. Sejun. Good job.¡± But the other didn¡¯t know his name. He nced at the name on the jacket, but that was just a jacket he borrowed from another colleague. Officer Heo smiled bitterly. ¡®I thought he would at least know my name.¡¯ Well. He must be busy. He brightened his slightly drooping face and continued patrolling, saying ¡®Let¡¯s do this, let¡¯s go¡¯. And then a clue appeared. ¡°A young girl? I saw her going that way.¡± ¡°Really?¡± They moved their steps with excited faces. The outskirts that divided Gyeonggi-do and Seoul. It was beyond the patrol area, but he thought it was right to go and see. He wondered if he should report it to the upper line, but if it was wrong information, he would surely get scolded for wasting time because of him. He decided to check it out more and report itter. His junior opened his police jacket and shivered. ¡°But isn¡¯t this area close to where the murder happened? I heard the mountain nearby was the scene.¡± ¡°It probably is. Why, are you scared?¡± ¡°Aren¡¯t you scared?¡± ¡°I¡¯m scared. A lot. If somethinges out, I¡¯ll run away without looking back, so you better remember that.¡± He joked as they moved on. The dark night. The reed field swayed eerily, and he slowly felt like someone was watching them. ¡°¡­Should we go back?¡± As he said that. ¡°Sniff¡­ Sob¡­¡± Under the road that crossed the reed field, he heard the sound of a girl crying from the sewer. ¡°No!¡± ¡°Hey, hey, hey! You idiot! Don¡¯t go near there. Why are you going? It¡¯s dangerous!¡± ¡°Hyung, what do we do? Our youngest.¡± ¡°Jiho. Why do you want to go to a dangerous ce?¡± He was shaken by the members who were everywhere like reeds, but Jiho justughed. ¡®Hyungs.¡¯ Why were they so immersed¡­ Chapter 233: Chapter 233: Trantor: MarcTempest Editor: Rxel Chapter 233 ¡°You heard it too, right?¡± ¡°Yes.¡± The police officers descended the hill and reached the reed field. ¡°Hic¡­ Sob¡­¡± A sobbing sound came from inside the drainage tunnel. Heo, one of the officers, shed a light inside.A young child in blue clothes was far away. The girl flinched at the light and covered her eyes with a grimace. ¡®Oh my God.¡¯ Her clothes were covered in mud. Her face was also smeared and mud dripped from her hair. Her limbs were trembling and her eyes were terrified. There were ss shards stuck in her bare feet. They looked so painful that the officers unconsciously gasped. Heo asked carefully, ¡°Hey, are you okay?¡± She still had a fearful look. ¡°I¡¯ll go in.¡± His junior officer walked into the tunnel. His wet shoes made a sshing sound. ¡°Uh¡­ Ah¡­!¡± The girl ran further inside, startled by his approach. Heo grabbed his junior. ¡°I¡¯ll go.¡± He handed him the shlight. ¡°Can you shine it for me? Diagonally, so that she can see my face without the backlight.¡± ¡°Yes.¡± Heo walked slowly and crouched down to match her eye level. Then he spoke softly. ¡°Hi.¡± She was a girl who was scared of people bigger than her. And she was in an irrational state. He made himself as small as possible. ¡°Can you hear me?¡± ¡°¡­¡± ¡°If you can, nod your head slightly.¡± Nod. ¡°Thank you.¡± A sinister sound of water echoed in the darkness. It felt like something was watching him. His neck was stiff, but he calmed himself and smiled gently. ¡°Seoyoon, right?¡± Startled. ¡°Seoyoon¡¯s mom asked us to find Seoyoon. See this badge? I¡¯m a police officer.¡± It wasn¡¯t a suitable tone for a 9-year-old, but it was appropriate for someone who was regressing. ¡°It¡¯s really scary here. You¡¯re scared too, right?¡± Nod. ¡°But you¡¯re also scared of me getting closer, right?¡± Nod. ¡°Let¡¯s do this. I¡¯ll take a step back and you take a step forward. One, two, one, two. Like that, we¡¯ll alle out and ta-da. How about that? Can you do it?¡± Nod, nod. It was a positive sign. He gestured to his junior, who walked back. Heo adjusted his pace to the child¡¯s speed. ¡®Damn¡­¡¯ She was crawling more than walking because of the ss shards in her feet. She should cry if it hurt, but the child in shock seemed to have no sense of pain. ¡°You can do it.¡± Finally, they got out of the tunnel. They breathed in the fresh air and kept their distance so that the girl coulde out. She hesitated for a moment and then moved her feet. She looked around the reed field and the night sky and burst into tears, running to Heo. ¡°It¡¯s okay. It¡¯s okay.¡± He hugged the muddy child warmly and smiled reassuringly. ¡°Uh¡­ Ah¡­!¡± She cried for a while and then pointed her finger. She still couldn¡¯t speak, but she seemed to want to get out of here as soon as possible. They agreed. ¡°Let¡¯s radio the headquarters.¡± ¡°Yes.¡± Heo pressed the radio button while removing the mud from the child¡¯s hair. Thud. Something fell into the water from the tunnel. A small animal¡¯s bone, like a dog or a cat. ¡°Uh¡­ uh! Uh!¡± When he saw the child screaming at the sight of the bone, Officer Heo decided to get rid of it. ¡°Ugh.¡± It was a leg bone with bloody flesh hanging from it. He threw it deep into the drain. But the other person didn¡¯t stop glowing, so he asked his junior to take care of him. ¡°Let me radio in, you take him up quickly.¡± The child didn¡¯t show any reaction and rather tried to go up first. She kept looking back at him. Officer Heo calmly radioed in. The control room praised him for his work and ordered him to wait at his current location. When the news of the situation¡¯s end came through the radio, cheerful voices were heard from here and there. Judging by the atmosphere, he would get a lot ofpliments when he went back to the office. Officer Heo smiled slightly. It was all over. ¡°Uh¡­ uh!¡± Except for the girl who was rolling her feet on the road. ¡°Don¡¯t worry. We¡¯ll go up.¡± Officer Heo waved his hand with a smile. Thud. Something flew out of the drain and fell. It was the bone from before. ¡°¡­?¡± Did the water level rise? But the water that flowed like a stream couldn¡¯t have that much force. Officer Heo picked up the bone again and threw it inside. He turned his back then. As if to reply, the bone flew out andnded at his feet. His body stiffened. ¡°¡­¡± There was something inside. Officer Heo shone a shlight inside and felt his body freeze. Someone was twitching in the depths, looking at him. As if smiling¡­ Or as if catching his breath before hunting. At that moment, everything shed through Officer Heo¡¯s mind. The reason why the girl was here. A bait to catch bigger prey. ¡°¡­¡± His junior asked as he backed away stiffly, ¡°What¡¯s wrong, sir?¡± ¡°Haeseong, take her and get out of here.¡± ¡°Yes? But the control room said¡­¡± ¡°Shut up and run!¡± ¡°Yes, yes!¡± He ran frantically, as if he had seen a bomb. Officer Heo, who had been smiling to reassure the startled girl, also ran up the hill to get to the road. A scream echoed from the tunnel. He ran desperately, as if his breath would run out, but unfortunately, the other was several times faster than him. ¡°Ugh¡­!¡± Something grabbed his ankle and pulled him down hard. He was thrown into the reed field. Officer Heo saw something that was human but not human. That was hisst memory. An hourter. Patrol cars lined up on the road adjacent to the reed field. The blue and red warning lights that spread ominously in the dark. The protagonist, Park Cheoljin, got out of the car. He crossed the police line set up in the reed field and approached the detectives who looked grim. ¡°This sucks.¡± ¡°Why¡­ Why did it have to be¡­¡± Park Cheoljin asked the senior detective, ¡°I heard the victim was one of our agents.¡± ¡°Yoonsoo.¡± ¡°¡­?¡± ¡°Heo Yoonsoo. You know, the kid who always greets us brightly at the office.¡± Who was that? The only one who came to mind when he said a bright kid was Sejun, the one he met earlier. Unlike the other detectives who were sighing heavily, Park Cheoljin was calm. He didn¡¯t show any emotion even though someone he saw every day died. The other detectives showed their contempt. One of them spat and muttered, ¡°Heaven is merciless¡­¡± Park Cheoljin walked with a nk expression on his face. A corpse covered with a white cloth. As he tried to lift the cloth, a senior detective grabbed his arm. "Just look at the face. That''s the only part that''s intact." "¡­¡­" Park Cheoljin swiftly pulled the cloth. But unlike his light movement, the face of the corpse was revealed in slow motion before his eyes. A peaceful face with no expression in another sense. There were faint traces of blood on the hair and face. "¡­¡­" A crack appeared on his face, which had been expressionless until now. His mind froze and his pupils shook. For a few seconds. The scene of a man who craved an answer and a corpse that gave none. The two-shot was captured and the screen froze as if time had stopped. A calm BGM. The first episode of Slip came to an end. Unlike the first time, this time the letters ¡®S L I P'' appeared one by one from the right side of the darkened screen. * * * "Sob! Sniff¡­ Sniffle." "Save Officer Heo, you wicked people¡­!" "Why did you go there when I told you not to? You should avoid it when a bad OSTes on." "Rihyuk Hyung, how can the characters hear the OST?" "¡­¡­I, I don''t know! I!" "Hyung, are you crying?" "I''m not crying." But Rihyuk''s eyes were already swollen. Bijoo dabbed his eyes with a tissue while sniffling, and Junghyun, who would have said ¡®Oh, the drama is awesome'' if it were normal, also looked quite immersed as he made a face that said he wanted a beer. Woojoo sighed. "That''s too much. Just spare him a little." "Right. Hyung. I''m so sad that I keep wanting to cry." "You already cried." "I did? Sob¡­¡­" At the words of the Hyungs who asked if he had to die there, Jiho answered brightly. "Oh, that? Actually, I died because of me." "¡­¡­?" "The director and the writer said they would let me appear more. Like joining the investigation team." "Then?" "I insisted that I had to prepare for the album and focus on the group activities, so it changed to a one-episode exit. I did well, right?" "¡­¡­" Soon, the Hyungs looked at each other with nk faces. Then they rushed to the youngest and shook his cor. "Ack!" "Save Officer Heo, you devil!" "Save him!" "Hey, Hyungs! Why are you doing this, I''m Officer Heo who appears there!" * * * At the same time. The first episode of GTV''s ¡®Slip'' was getting an explosive response. -¡®Slip'' Lee Kangjin-Seo Noeul "The worst first impression"¡­New ck cameo surprise appearance -¡®Slip'' Murder weapon from the Stone Age? Netizens start deducing -[Drama Fan''s Exploration] ¡®Slip'' Actors, Writers, Directors¡­ A perfect harmony of three beats The director who showed off the outstanding visual beauty that earned him the praise of hitting his career high. The rookie writer who polished and honed this drama for 10 years. The actors who had no acting holes even in the extras. -I became a fan after just one episode.. Wow, the aftertaste of the first episode.. -I was so sad when he lifted the white cloth -The main character''s pupil dtion at the end was amazing. Lee Kangjin''s acting skills have risen as much as the water. -But what does slip mean backwards? Is it a time travel clue? Is this a thing where he goes back in time and revives the victims? -I hope so.. -I interpreted it as a device that shows the main character''s inner desire to turn back time. And the way they keep showing the clock props in each scene. Cheoljin is such a dry character. -Did Officer Heo have to die? I mean, he''s just a tool character to awaken the main character, right? -If you mess up, you''re a tool character. -I can tell it''s a hot topic by the way you''re fighting already -Is Slip that fun? There are only three pages of Slip talk ??? -You have to watch it. This is the first perfect drama in three years -Everyone, stop fighting and watch episode 2 next week ?? The first episode of the Friday drama ¡®Slipp¡¯, which received praise for being well-made, recorded an average viewership rating of 5.7%. It was a huge hit. The highest rating for the first episode of a cable hit drama was 3.3%, and ¡®Slip¡¯ was the first GTV drama to surpass 5% in the first episode. The GTV Drama Department and Firefly Production were in a festive mood. ¡°Wow¡­!¡± Especially the production staff and actors who rented a pub to watch the first episode screamed with excitement at the hit prediction. ¡°Officer Heo! Call Officer Heo and the thugs too!¡± ¡°Just a moment!¡± The people in the pub cheered when they saw Jiho and the thugs on the video call on Lee Kangjin¡¯s phone. -Congrattions! ¡°We should be thankful!¡± The excited people shouted. ¡°Give us a toast! Toast!¡± -What should we do, guys? ¡°What should we do, guys!¡± They clinked their beer sses and enjoyed themselves, and the thugs on the screen alsoughed and smiled. Lee Kangjin said with a flushed face, ¡°Jiho, you have to be an actor.¡± -Me? ¡°You did so well when I watched the first episode again. It was amazing. The thugs looked like thugs, and the officer looked like an officer.¡± ¡°New ck did a great job!¡± A veteran actor who had a drink praised New ck, and their faces brightened. The production staff looked at them warmly. It was because New ck did their role well. They eased the tense atmosphere of the drama as scene stealers, and Wang Jiho also made the viewers immerse themselves in the drama with his excellent acting skills, along with the main character. It was themon thought of everyone. -Who is Officer Heo, who appeared in ¡®Slip¡¯? Jiho, the youngest member of ¡®New ck¡¯ -GTV ¡®Slip¡¯ appearance ¡®New ck¡¯ ¡­ ¡®Thug Quartet¡¯, ¡®Officer Heo¡¯ with ¡°crazy presence¡± -[Drama Talk] ¡°Calm down, James¡±, about the desirable cameo acting The reaction was the same on the intemunity. -Wow¡­ ¡®Slip¡¯ is really an acting party even for the cameos -Officer Heo ?????? -Officer Heo my muse ??? -I was really surprised. The quartet was so good that I thought they were actors at first, but their faces matched well so I thought they were idols, but Officer Heo??? Same group?? The youngest?? -Oppa ?? I¡¯m so proud -He¡¯s underage -I don¡¯t care. I already know. -??????????? That¡¯s myugh bomb from today -Our kids have so manyugh bombs, it¡¯s a minefield ¡®Calm down, James¡¯ was hot for a while. The Souffl¨¦s were excited by Jiho¡¯s acting skills. -He can act too¡­? -Jiho was an acting member??? -Other fans: Hey, fans, your youngest is good at acting. Souffl¨¦: Yeah. Good¡­ What? (Shocked) -Good ?? (Inner thoughts) What are you talking about¡­ I didn¡¯t know¡­ -?????? I was really confused today. Other fans asked me if he was good at acting, but I couldn¡¯t answer -Random box quote image please -It¡¯s so funny that everyone is amazed by his acting and then faints when they see his real appearance ???? -Agree ????? -TV Officer Heo nibbling on snacks and rolling around in his brothers¡¯ arms -But if it were real, Jiho would have said, ¡°Hyungs, you can¡¯t go in there?¡± ¡°Why?¡± ¡°My shoes will get wet.¡± ?? -I vote for Woojoo sighing and going in. -If it were Junghyun, the monster would have grabbed him. The reporters would have written, ¡°Is it okay to be so monstrous and powerful?¡± -Perfect casting?? -But is this a one-time thing? It would be troublesome if the drama ratings skyrocketed because of the regr appearance. -Don¡¯t worry, Souffl¨¦. ¨C?????????? Everywhere the Souffl¨¦s gathered was festive. The drama reaction was amazing yesterday. As soon as Woojoo came to thepany, Assistant Manager Hong said, ¡°You guys are really¡­!¡± and praised them, ¡°You¡¯re a master of publicity!¡± The reporters who used to be indifferent or rude when they sent out press releases also changed their attitude. Woojoo heard that there were many inquiries about Jiho since this morning, and they all congratted their youngest. ¡°Let¡¯s all sing together.¡± Jiho, Jiho How can you act so well ¡°¡­Stop it!¡± Our Jiho is so cute You can do whatever you want But promise me Don¡¯t leave any vegetables ¡°Huhuhu, I was wrong, so stop it!¡± Experiment sessful. It turned out that Jiho could blush as much as Rihyuk if he had the right stimulus. ¡°Great actor! Please sign for me!¡± ¡°LOL!¡± ¡°King actor, when did you start dreaming of acting?¡± ¡°Actor. Please ept my letter!¡± ¡°Hey, Wang Jiho, what about normally¡­ Wait a minute. Who¡¯s the letter drip? I won¡¯t let you go!¡± Woojoo felt refreshed after teasing the youngest all day. Should he call it a pleasant feeling? Because they teased him without a break, the youngest who had learned his lesson ran away, saying, ¡°Go away!¡± ¡°What? He¡¯s gone. Junghyun, I¡¯m bored, let¡¯s tease someone else.¡± ¡°How old are you? Both of you. Grow up.¡± ¡°How about Rihyuk?¡± ¡°¡­Let¡¯s do it with Bijoo Hyung. Bijoo Hyung.¡± ¡°Good idea.¡± But it wasn¡¯t easy to tease James. When we looked at him, he gave us a kind smile. ¡°You can tease me. But I won¡¯t put an egg on your kimchi fried rice.¡± ¡°¡­!¡± ¡°And I won¡¯t give you a knife when I give you Vienna sausages.¡± ¡°¡­Well, that¡¯s.¡± They gave up on attacking James and looked for the youngest, but he was hiding somewhere in thepany and didn¡¯t show up. Anyway, Woojoo was happy to get attention for the cameo. Along with his grandmother¡¯s reaction, ¡°It¡¯s always a new disease,¡± his friends also sent him a message saying it was fun. And the management team said they wanted to cast their youngest, and other productionpanies also contacted them. Woojoo was happy that good things happened before theeback. Thanks to that, Woojoo felt a little relieved of the fatigue and stress that had umted. ¡°But where did Jiho go?¡± Woojoo couldn¡¯t find their youngest after lunch. Junghyun said, ¡°Earlier, Director Jo from the Actor Team called him for a moment. He said the conversation would be long and told us to eat first.¡± ¡°Really?¡± What was going on? Their youngest even refused to eat. Woojoo wondered what he had to talk about with Director Jo for so long, but he decided to ask him when he came back. For now, the mental care of his brothers was the priority. ¡°Okay, then let¡¯s go.¡± ¡°Hehehe.¡± When Woojoo showed them the chocte from his pocket, they all smiled happily. ¡°Let¡¯s go. Where to?¡± ¡°Rain.¡± ¡°I don¡¯t want to do this. ¡­Fine. Up.¡± ¡°Woo.¡± Right now, before theeback, he was taking care of his brothers¡¯ mental health. Sometimes, when he felt too stressed, he needed to find a way to rx. Usually, that meant sneaking off to the emergency exit after lunch and melting a piece of chocte in his mouth. At first, Woojoo ate them one by one, but soon he noticed a change in his weight and had to adjust the amount. Woojoo followed his younger siblings and sent a message to their manager. Woojoo [Hyung. I¡¯m taking the kids to eat some chocte.] Dowon Hyung [Okay.] Dowon Hyung [But do you have to eat it secretly? It¡¯s not a big deal.] Woojoo [It¡¯s more delicious when you eat it secretly.] Woojoo remembered when he was little, his dad would sometimes skip kindergarten and take him to the amusement park. ¡®It¡¯s a secret from Mom, son.¡¯ ¡®Okay!¡¯ Woojoo thought Mom really didn¡¯t know, butter Grandma told him that everyone knew. Mom said it was more fun to pretend not to know. Dowon Hyung [Let me know if you need me.] Dowon Hyung [I¡¯ll create some tension with a fake cough or something at the emergency exit.] Woojoo [I¡¯ll ask you soon. Hyung.] Woojooughed at the sight of his excited siblings moving their feet quietly as they said ¡®chocte¡¯. It was when they all hid in the emergency exit. ¡°¡­Huh?¡± Junghyun narrowed his eyes and grabbed them. ¡°What¡¯s going on?¡± ¡°I heard Jiho¡¯s voice inside.¡± Chapter 234: Chapter 234: Trantor: MarcTempest Editor: Rxel Chapter 234 ¡°Jiho is talking inside?¡± ¡°Yes.¡± Woojoo tried to listen carefully, but he couldn¡¯t hear anything. The closed iron door seemed to ask them, ¡®What are you talking about? Do you hear any sound from me?¡¯ Junghyun pointed to the emergency exit. ¡°I can hear Manager Jo¡¯s and Jiho¡¯s voices from inside.¡±¡°Really?¡± Woojoo pressed his ear to the door. Along with the cold touch of the metal, he heard a faint voice. -Please give me some more time to think¡­ It was the voice of Manager Jo, the manager of the Actor Team. ¡°Wow, really?¡± ¡°¡­Are they really in there?¡± ¡°Come on, you guys listen too.¡± They shook their heads at Woojoo¡¯s words. ¡°I think we should respect their privacy, since it seems like a personal conversation. It¡¯s a bit rude to eavesdrop¡­¡± ¡°Why do we have to listen to that? Let¡¯se backter.¡± Woojoo was curious. Various factsbined in his head. Jiho, who showed a remarkable performance in the first episode of Slip yesterday. The good response from the other drama production team, who asked him to cast him for a role as soon as Saturday morning. The viewers who wanted him to save Officer Heo by time traveling or something. In such a situation, the manager of the Actor Team came to see their youngest, not on any other day, but the day after the first episode aired? And the ce was the emergency exit. There were many empty offices, but why here? It was suspicious. If they had something to say secretly where no one could hear, the content was obvious. Woojoo was curious. Should he go in and shout, ¡®I¡¯m going to tell everyone about this conversation¡¯? He gave up on that idea soon. Jiho must have his own thoughts, and he wasn¡¯t a young child who needed him to step in for everything. Like Bijoo said, Woojoo should respect his privacy. Yeah. Let¡¯s just ask himter what happened. ¡°Let¡¯s go for now.¡± Woojoo said to the other members, ¡°Let¡¯s ask himter what they¡¯re talking about in there.¡± ¡°What do you mean?¡± ¡°It¡¯s a golden opportunity that you can¡¯t miss, that¡¯s what I mean.¡± Manager Jo of the Actor Team, said, ¡°Did you see the inte reaction after the broadcast yesterday?¡± ¡°Yes.¡± ¡°Noeul was searching the inte to monitor her acting, and she found a forum page full of Officer Heo posts.¡± He handed Jiho a tablet PC. ¡°Take a look.¡± ¡°Wow¡­¡± This was a site Jiho had never seen before. There were a lot of stories about Officer Heo. Someone even uploaded a corrected gif, saying that he was too salty yesterday. Jiho widened his eyes as Manager Jo smiled. ¡°You were on screen for eight minutes. You captivated so many people with your acting in just 10 percent of the total time. Of course, there are also such reactions when top stars with good acting skills appear as cameos, but you did it with your first acting, when no one knew you.¡± Jiho lifted his head nkly and he said seriously, ¡°You have talent, Jiho.¡± ¡°I know.¡± ¡°¡­Oh, you know?¡± Jiho was confused by his reaction and said, ¡°I know I¡¯m good at acting.¡± ¡°Really? You always looked so sad on the set, saying you couldn¡¯t do it.¡± ¡°Oh. That¡¯s different. I know I¡¯m good, but that¡¯s not the same as satisfying myself.¡± Jiho knew he was good since he was young. Was it the kindergarten y he did in the Sun ss? He made the parents cry with his role as the Little Match Girl. That day, Jiho realized that he had talent. Acting was so fun that his dad even paid for an academy for him. Every time he acted, he receivedpliments from the teachers and envious looks from the others. He knew he had talent. But satisfaction was another story. Just like Woojoo, who made a perfect song but cried, ¡®I can¡¯t show this garbage to the Souffl¨¦s!¡¯ and yed a gloomy harmonica. Or maybe it was Bijoo Hyung who looked gloomy and wondered why his dancing skills didn¡¯t improve, or Rihyuk Hyung who tore his hair out while listening to his own voice and saying, ¡°Ha, what is this¡­¡± Junghyun Hyung was always satisfied with saying ¡°My rap, nice rap¡±, though. ¡°I don¡¯t think I¡¯ve ever been satisfied with myself. Actually, I felt a bit proud yesterday when I heard that I did well. But it was different from feeling good. When I tried to review it again, it was so painful.¡± Jiho could have made a more natural expression there. That felt more like Woojoo Hyung than Officer Heo. He should have done it differently. The subtle things bothered him. Others called it a gem, but when he saw it, it was full of scratches¡­ A diamond. No. He didn¡¯t like diamonds. He should go for a ruby. Jiho quickly stopped his wandering thoughts and shook his head. ¡°That dissatisfaction is a good thing.¡± Manager Jo smiled. ¡°It means you have a desire to improve yourself. It¡¯s also proof that you can be a good actor.¡± Manager Jo keptmenting on his acting. Meanwhile, Jiho tilted his head. ¡®Did he like my acting that much?¡¯ The other person came after lunch. He said he had something serious to talk about. He said it was something important and he didn¡¯t want anyone else to know, so he moved to a quiet emergency exit. Jiho had a hunch since he called him separately after Slip episode 1, and sure enough. As soon as he arrived at the emergency exit, he made a proposal. ¡®Do you want to try acting separately?¡¯ At Lemon Entertainment, managers varied depending on the field. For example, if an actor sang, the Singer Team staff would oversee the whole scene, and if a singer went to a drama set, the Actor Team staff would manage it. That was because each environment is different. What Manager Jo proposed was that he wanted to grow him as an actor. He talked for a long time about how impressed he was by his acting yesterday, and what possibilities he saw for the future. ¡°These are the contacts of the directors I know. I casually asked them and some of them said, ¡®Who is that guy from Slip yesterday? He¡¯s really good.¡¯ Do you see Director Song¡¯s text? Do you know the movie ck Flower?¡± ¡°Oh, yes. I know.¡± ck Flower was the ten million movie that Director Jo Gyuhwan wanted to cast thepany¡¯s actors. ¡°Director Song said he¡¯s having a famine of new actors, and he¡¯s looking for a good sprout. He said to bring him a suitable actor for the supporting role audition.¡± ¡°Oh.¡± ¡°If you want, I can tell him.¡± ¡°Wow, thank you.¡± He smiled at the gratitude. Then he tucked the tablet PC under his arm and looked down at Jiho. ¡°What do you think?¡± He looked at him as if he had done enough and Jiho smiled brightly, ¡°Well.¡± ¡°Well?¡± Manager Jo narrowed his eyes at the calm answer. ¡°Do you remember what I just said? It¡¯s an opportunity you can¡¯t miss. Timing is everything in the entertainment industry. Even top stars can fall if they miss a good opportunity, and no one knows if you¡¯ll get another chance like this when you act again.¡± He told him his experience. ¡°I¡¯ll tell you about an actor I used to manage. After he hit it big as a supporting male in a drama, scripts poured in. But he turned down every opportunity to improve his acting skills, and even though thepany tried to stop him, he went into an indie film. You know what happened? The movie flopped. After he came back, there was no room for him. He¡¯s running a shaved ice shop now.¡± He meant to say that he shouldn¡¯t think he could hit another home run next time. So you should grab the opportunities thate your way when you get some attention as Officer Heo. Jiho listened quietly and opened his lips. ¡°What if I say yes?¡± ¡°Hmm. Okay.¡± ¡°How about my album activities?¡± ¡°You¡¯re funny. Did you think I¡¯d tell you to quit singing and just act? Of course I have to consider that part.¡± Heughed confidently and Jiho thought for a moment and smiled. ¡°I¡¯ve thought about it carefully, and I think it¡¯s better not to do it.¡± ¡°What?¡± ¡°I don¡¯t want to do the acting activity you just suggested.¡± ¡°¡­You came to thispany saying you wanted to be an actor. I heard that from Manager Yoon.¡± ¡°It¡¯s true that I came in wanting to be an actor, and I still want to act. And I¡¯m not saying I won¡¯t act in the future. But I don¡¯t think it¡¯s the right time now.¡± The other person looked frustrated. He had a look that said, ¡®He doesn¡¯t get what I¡¯m saying.¡¯ ¡°Because of the group activities?¡± ¡°Yes.¡± ¡°Jiho. Think long-term. The New ck members are great, and you¡¯re doing well now, but you have to think about the future. The other members are all making their own paths. Woojoo has a producer, Junghyun has rap, Bijoo has solo, Rihyuk has OST and various songs, they¡¯re all making their own paths. You have to do something too.¡± ¡°I will,¡± he said. ¡°But not now.¡± ¡°Why?¡± ¡°Everyone is cheering for us to seed together, but suddenly I¡¯m the only one who has to act. I don¡¯t want to do that.¡± ¡°¡­They¡¯ll understand.¡± ¡°Of course they¡¯ll support me if I say I want to do it. I know their personalities.¡± They were like that. ¡°But it¡¯s not the time for me to think about my own path. We haven¡¯t even secured our ce as a group yet.¡± He didn¡¯t have any ambition for acting. He just didn¡¯t like the idea of starting an acting career like this. ¡°You told me to think about your future, and I am. I¡¯m practicing acting too. I even asked the manager to look for some web drama scripts for me. I¡¯m thinking about the future too,¡± Jiho said calmly. ¡°I want to focus on the group first, and then do some actingter.¡± ¡°Jiho, you know that idols who act can raise the group¡¯s poprity by appearing in dramas¡­¡± ¡°Really?¡± Jiho tilted his head. ¡°Hmm?¡± ¡°I¡¯ve seen some idol seniors on the way to music shows, and there were only their names on the cards. The fans were also divided and standing separately.¡± ¡°¡­¡± ¡°And sometimes the seniors didn¡¯t even look at each other.¡± Jiho hadn¡¯t seen a case where a group became popr because one member acted. Maybe if the acting member was already sessful. ¡°I like singing too. I¡¯m not as good as the others, but I¡¯m doing my best as an idol.¡± ¡°¡­¡± ¡°And I love the fans too. But they¡¯re not cheering for me to do well alone.¡± Most of all. ¡°I don¡¯t know about anything else, but I can¡¯t do it right now just by looking at Woojoo Hyung¡¯s face. Even in the early days of our debut, he was the only one who got attention, right? He had a lot of opportunities to do solo activities too.¡± Every time he went to the Management Team¡¯s office, he saw a lot of messages asking for the member ¡®Woojoo¡¯ to be cast separately. Some of them were epted for promotional purposes, but. ¡°He refused most of them. He said it was a bad sign to get attention alone.¡± And now was a crucial time. They couldn¡¯t sleep at night because they were worried about the next album. They were all wondering ¡®what should we do¡­?¡¯ and Jiho felt too selfish to think about acting. If the next album was sessful and the group made a leap forward, it would be the same. As much as possible. Jiho wanted to go up together. He didn¡¯t want to break this atmosphere where they and the fans were cheering for each other. If Jiho had received this offer at the beginning of their debut, he might have been tempted, but not anymore. ¡°Hmm¡­ I feel a bit frustrated.¡± The other person smiled awkwardly. ¡°Well, I guess it¡¯s fine for now since you¡¯re all close and friendly, but¡­¡± He looked at Jiho with a pitying gaze, as if he was giving him a chance and he wasn¡¯t taking it. Jiho listened quietly to his rambling. There was another reason why Jiho couldn¡¯t ept his offer. Jiho asked softly, ¡°By the way, I¡¯ve been wondering since earlier.¡± ¡°First of all, you¡­¡± ¡°Hmm?¡± ¡°Did you talk to our manager about this?¡± There was a brief pause. It was very short, but Jiho didn¡¯t miss it. The other person smiled gently. ¡°Well, I haven¡¯t talked to him yet, but I had to ask you first. I can¡¯t proceed without knowing your opinion.¡± He smoothly dodged the question. Anyone could see that he was trying to lure Jiho out, but Jiho didn¡¯t bother to mention it. ¡°Next time, please talk to our manager first. He knows more about the entertainment industry than I do.¡± ¡°¡­Well, I¡¯ll do that.¡± ¡°I¡¯ll follow the manager¡¯s opinion on my acting activities too. If you don¡¯t have a problem with that, I¡¯ll tell him right now.¡± The other person¡¯s face showed a hint of embarrassment. He must have thought that Jiho was a young kid who would fall for his persuasion. He rubbed his neck awkwardly. ¡°Then it¡¯ll be awkward for me. There¡¯s no need to cause trouble between the teams, right?¡± ¡°¡­Hmm?¡± He said something strange. ¡°It sounds like I¡¯m causing trouble. We¡¯ve always been reporting everything to the manager regarding our work,¡± Jiho said. The sound of a sigh came from Manager Jo, who seemed to have nothing to say. He looked at Jiho with a disdainful gaze, as if he was annoyed by his childishness. ¡°¡­You¡¯re not ordinary either.¡± Jiho didn¡¯t understand why adults always did that. They treated Jiho lightly at first, saying ¡°You¡¯re young¡±, but when he act differently from their expectations, they say ¡°You¡¯re not like a child¡± and did that. ¡°Well, I¡¯ll take it as a rejection for now, but think about it on your own. In case you change your mind¡­¡± ¡°Yes, I¡¯ll let you know if I do.¡± ¡°¡­Okay.¡± Manager Jo walked away with an irritated expression. He seemed to be worried about what to say to Yoon Seokhwan, the director, who would ask him about it. ¡°Bye.¡± Jiho hoped this would be thest time he saw him. He didn¡¯t want him to be in charge of his acting activities. Jiho rummaged through the pockets of his windbreaker and took out his phone. [Recordingpleted.] He did as Woojoo, his Hyung, told him. ¡°Always record when someone suddenly calls you out and wants to talk to you. I got screwed over by people changing their words when I was at TJ.¡± Wow, he recorded it too. He was an adult now. He smiled smugly and heard the sound of the emergency exit door mming shut. He must have gone outside. ¡°Huah¡­¡± Jiho finally rxed and sat down on the stairs. Then he recalled what had just happened. ¡®Didn¡¯t I look pretty cool just now? Hehe.¡¯ Jiho should have acted a little more cool, like an acting tone. It was the first time he had rejected someone from thepany so firmly, and his heart was pounding. But he was pleased. He was the one who kicked away the pumpkin that rolled in for the group activities. He was the one who cared about his brothers. He was fascinated by himself and chuckled. What would his Hyungs think if they saw this? Jesus, Deoksoon, their youngest was so cool¡­ That was bullshit. ¡°Hey, look at him trying to act cool. Puhaha.¡± ¡°Uh¡­ You had something like that? Our Jiho has grown up. Do you want me to make you a chocte shake? You¡¯re not a baby? Yeah, yeah. I¡¯ll make you a banana shake.¡± ¡°Oh. John-cool. You look like a stag beetle.¡± ¡°Do you like it when you act cool? Do you? Puhup.¡± Ugh. He should have stopped thinking about them. They would tease Jiho again by saying ¡°Our great actor!¡± when he got back. Bad Hyungs. He opened his mouth in surprise as he thought of that. ¡°Wait a minute. Did I do the right thing by rejecting it?¡± What if this was a great opportunity and he missed it? His mom said she heard from a fortune teller that a good opportunity woulde to her son this year. What if this was it and he kicked away his luck? A scene came to his mind. In the distant future. A handsome old man with a cane and the drama staff who were looking at him in a filming set. ¡°Who¡¯s that extra grandpa?¡± ¡°He got some attention for appearing in a drama cameo once, but he never seeded in anything after that, so he had a grudge.¡± ¡°So he¡¯s still hanging around the drama set.¡± Ugh. No. No! ¡°I should have said yes.¡± But he rejected him too bluntly, didn¡¯t he? Jiho wondered if he had done the right thing. His thoughts went here and there. Jiho was wandering around the emergency exit,ughing and crying, and showing all kinds of emotions. ¡°Ah, whatever.¡± Jiho shook his head. Whatever. It was already done. He thought of his dad¡¯s teaching, ¡°If you spill a cup of water, pretend it was someone else.¡± The water cup was already spilled. Jiho felt sorry for himself for missing the opportunity. He sighed. ¡°I did well.¡± His brothers might not know, but he thought he did well. He would talk to Director Yoon about his acting activities and build up his career slowly. He would have more fans and be a group that everyone knew when they heard New ck. And then, when his brothers start their own personal projects, he would think about acting. ¡®Then I should get some group benefits too.¡¯ Jiho, who was giggling happily, turned the emergency exit handle. It was time to go back. ¡°I¡¯m going to eat some chocte with the Hyungs¡­¡± He hummed a tune and pulled the emergency exit door open, only to be shocked. nk. Something poured out from the gap of the opened door. ¡°Ahhhh!¡± ¡°Oof!¡± ¡°rgh!¡± Jiho stared nkly. ¡°¡­?¡± He felt a moment of daze as he saw his four Hyungs piled up like a sandwich on the floor. ¡°Kim Junghyun! Kim Junghyun! I can¡¯t breathe¡­!¡± ¡°Sorry.¡± ¡°Who¡¯s hand is on my leg! Get it off!¡± ¡°Hey, I¡¯m being squashed by Junghyun right now, how can I move my hand from your leg? Ouch, my back¡­¡± ¡°Just a second. I¡¯ll get up.¡± ¡°Ack! Stay still! Stay still! Nobody move from now on!¡± Jiho blinked rapidly at the novel mess of tangled limbs and grimaces. ¡®What is this?¡¯ He opened the door and the Hyungs spilled out. Chapter 235: Chapter 235: Trantor: MarcTempest Editor: Rxel Chapter 235 Beat New ck He could barely breathe. Someone was pushing him from above, someone else was iling their arm next to him, and his legs were trapped between someone else¡¯s legs. What a mess¡­ ¡°Hey! Hey! Hey! Junghyun! Don¡¯t move!¡± ¡°Ah, who is it? Let go of my arm! My arm!¡±¡°Does it hurt?¡± If he had to describe their situation right now, well¡­ They look like a hairball coughed up by a cat. They got tangled up and fell over while eavesdropping. Their arms and legs are restraining each other. ¡°Calm down! Calm down!¡± ¡°You calm down! Don¡¯t yell in my ear!¡± ¡°Let¡¯s just rx. Guys. When I count to three, we¡¯ll be quiet. One, two, three!¡± Silence. ¡°Okay. Now let¡¯s talk calmly. Junghyun, pull your left arm back, and Bijoo, twist your body slightly.¡± ¡°Like this?¡± ¡°Right. Rihyuk, you¡¯re useless, so just stay still.¡± ¡°What?¡± ¡°If I pull my leg out like this¡­¡± Ta-da. ¡°Phew, we¡¯re free!¡± ¡°Wow¡­¡± ¡°Hoo.¡± They finally managed to get out. They looked at each other with happy faces. This was teamwork. Woojoo nodded with satisfaction, but then he heard a voice from above. ¡°¡­Guys?¡± They froze. They realized something that they had forgotten in their confusion. They exchanged uneasy nces at the shadow looming over them. ¡°What are you doing here?¡± They were screwed. ¡°So you got caught, huh?¡± ¡°Hey, we didn¡¯t get caught. We¡­¡± They were about to protest, but they looked at Rihyuk with embarrassed faces. ¡°Rihyuk. Do you have a fancy word to sugarcoat this situation? Something with a Chinese character feel.¡± ¡°Uh, give me a second¡­¡± Meanwhile, Junghyun chimed in. ¡°Eavesdropping?¡± ¡°Junghyun, don¡¯t make things worse. Have some jelly.¡± ¡°I¡¯ll give you one too.¡± A sugar-free konjac jelly popped into his mouth. The four sat on the stairs in pairs. ¡°Hmm¡­¡± Jiho was pacing in front of them with a devilish face, wondering what to do with them. They had brought this upon themselves, so they all avoided his eyes. ¡°I have one question.¡± ¡°Yes. Ask away.¡± ¡°When did you start listening?¡± ¡°Not for long. Just about 20 minutes from the middle¡­¡± ¡°Ah,e on. You heard almost everything. You said you didn¡¯t listen much, you liars.¡± ¡°We¡¯re sorry¡­¡± They hung their heads as the youngest sighed. Then he turned to Rihyuk. ¡°Rihyuk Hyung.¡± ¡°Uh, yes?¡± ¡°You always talk about respecting privacy and stuff, but whenever I go to your room to hang out, you scold me¡­ Is this different?¡± ¡°¡­¡± This was the first time he saw the youngest win an argument with Rihyuk. ¡®Uh, well¡­¡¯ Rihyuk was flustered, and Jiho moved on to Bijoo. ¡°Bijoo Hyung.¡± ¡°Y-yes¡­¡± ¡°I¡¯m really disappointed in you. The other loser Hyungs-¡± Hey, they were about to snap, but they shut their eyes at his cold gaze. ¡°The other Hyungs are one thing, but I didn¡¯t expect you to join them in eavesdropping.¡± ¡°I¡¯m sorry, Jiho,¡± Bijoo apologized sincerely. ¡°I did it because I was worried. At first, I was going to leave, but Junghyun said he was worried about what he heard inside. He said that guy was talking to you a lot and then pretending he didn¡¯t know anything.¡± ¡°Right.¡± Woojoo agreed with him. ¡°I thought we should be witnesses in that case.¡± ¡°You don¡¯t have to do that.¡± The youngest one softened a bit, but still spoke in a grumbling voice. ¡°I recorded it as you told me to.¡± ¡°Good job. Our Jiho.¡± ¡°Really? I did well¡­ oh, that¡¯s not it.¡± Woojooughed at the youngest one who coughed awkwardly. The one who told him not tough at first also chuckled soon. Jiho, who was licking his lips, sat down in his ce. ¡°Ugh, whatever.¡± He was annoyed, but he also wanted to whine. He had aplicated expression. He must have scolded them for listening in because of that feeling. He said they heard everything he said. He was embarrassed and awkward. ¡°So you heard almost everything?¡± ¡°Yeah.¡± ¡°Even when I was talking to myself?¡± ¡°¡­That too.¡± ¡°No, no¡­ ah, ah, ah!¡± Woojoo gestured to him as he tore his hair out by himself. ¡°Come here. Let¡¯s sit together first.¡± ¡°¡­¡± ¡°Let¡¯s have some chocte.¡± ¡°¡­¡± A fresh face came closer. Everyone moved aside on both sides of the stairs and made room in the middle. Woojoo rummaged through his pocket and took out the chocte. He thought it would be broken, but it was fine in the meantime. He unwrapped the chocte and handed it over to the youngest one. ¡°Eat.¡± ¡°By myself¡­?¡± ¡°Hmm.¡± It wasn¡¯t agreed upon, but looking at the other brothers¡¯ expressions, it seemed okay. Jiho rolled his eyes as he looked at the chocte and decided to break it into five pieces and share it. He grew up. Their kid. They sat there silently, melting the chocte for a few minutes. ¡°But.¡± Jiho spoke softly. ¡°Did I do well?¡± ¡°What?¡± Jiho, who leaned on Bijoo¡¯s back, said, ¡°Rejecting the manager¡¯s offer.¡± ¡°Hmm. Well.¡± Woojoo wondered how to tell him, but he decided to tell him the truth. ¡°It¡¯s a good thing from the team¡¯s perspective. But it might not be if you only think about yourself.¡± ¡°Really?¡± ¡°What he said wasn¡¯t wrong. We think you can seed as an actor.¡± Even Woojoo, who knew nothing, could see that Jiho had potential as an actor. It wasn¡¯t for nothing that Manager Jo came to offer him an acting career. ¡°But we¡¯re grateful and happy from our perspective. What you said too.¡± ¡°It¡¯s not a big deal.¡± Jiho shook his head. ¡°I just did what I had to do. Like you guys.¡± ¡°Then why are you smiling like that?¡± ¡°¡­The chocte made my blood sugar go up.¡± Woojooughed at him coughing. Bijoo stroked Jiho¡¯s hair. Junghyun snapped the chocte in half and handed it to Jiho. Rihyuk gave him his share that he wasn¡¯t eating at all. Jiho enjoyed the attention and touch of his brothers like a smug fat cat. He was cute. And impressive in a way. He was sorry to say this to Jiho, but he didn¡¯t know he was taking the group activity so seriously. He always practiced hard, but he seemed tock a sense of purpose. If everyone else started out with the dream of bing idols, he was the case who drifted into this side after trying to be an actor. So Woojoo secretly thought that if he ever had to choose one of the two, he would probably go for acting. That was why Woojoo wondered what he should say if he ever told him he wanted to try acting seriously after the third album was over. That was why the story he heard today was a twist for them. Woojoo thought he would be at least a little tempted by Manager Jo¡¯s offer. Woojoo didn¡¯t expect him to cut it off so decisively. He was d he didn¡¯t see the expressions they were making outside when he said group activities came first. Bijoo raised both hands to his cheeks and almost burst into tears. ¡°Anyway, I¡­ well, well.¡± ¡°Yeah?¡± ¡°I¡¯m promising too, right? Junghyun Hyung.¡± ¡°Anyway, I gave up my promising acting career and decided to roll with you guys, so you guys have to take responsibility for me.¡± They looked at each other. ¡°We do?¡± ¡°¡­¡± ¡°Jiho. What are you talking about? You have to take responsibility for us.¡± Each of them said that they wouldter get a job as Jiho¡¯s personal butler, cook, cleaner, or vi keeper, and he made a dumbfounded expression. He grumbled as he nibbled on the chocte, joking that they should agree on a sry of 10 billion won. ¡°Wow. I should record this and show it to the Souffl¨¦s. They need to see this wicked side of you guys.¡± ¡°And no one knew.¡± Theyughed as Junghyun narrated grandly. He cheered up quickly when they cooed at him, sulking. They chatted about nonsense for a while. Jiho said as he ate the chocte, ¡°Ah. It¡¯s delicious. Why are you so delicious?¡± ¡°Hmm.¡± Junghyun tilted his head and asked. ¡°But don¡¯t you think it¡¯s terrifying from the chocte¡¯s perspective? A huge person is saying you¡¯re delicious.¡± ¡°That¡¯s true. Poor chocte¡­¡± ¡°Well. What emotion would an inanimate object have?¡± ¡°My grandfather told me not to take anything in nature for granted. He said to cherish even the pebbles on the road.¡± ¡°¡­Why do I always end up being trash?¡± They pped andughed. The conversation soon shifted to the topic of ¡®Why is chocte so delicious?¡¯ It was when they smiled quietly at the remark that it was delicious because they ate it secretly. ¡°But is it just me? Doesn¡¯t this seem weird? At this time of day, thepany staff usually go in and out of the emergency exit a lot.¡± As Souffl¨¦ gasped, Rihyuk continued. ¡°It¡¯s strange that no onees in when we secretly eat chocte.¡± ¡°Why? I¡¯m fine with it.¡± ¡°Right.¡± ¡°Huh. Rihyuk is right. Now that I think about it, people really don¡¯te. Why is that?¡± In front of the emergency exit on the fourth floor. Arge man stood in front of the door. An employee who was about to go up to the roof through the emergency exit hesitated. ¡°Dowon?¡± ¡°Hello.¡± The polite greeting of the Singer Team manager. Thepany employee nodded as if he understood. Then he made a conspiratorial expression. ¡°New ck kids are secretly eating something again, right?¡± ¡°Yes.¡± ¡°It¡¯s fun, isn¡¯t it? The wholepany knows except for them.¡± He waved his hand and told him to work hard. He bowed to the employee. Then an A&R Team employee who came out of the office saw him and asked, ¡°Is Woojoo inside¡­?¡± ¡°Yes.¡± ¡°Eek.¡± He smiled as he watched the A&R Team employee quickly move away. Woojoo [Hyung, please create a sense of crisis] Woojoo [This is the moment] Dowon pressed the keypad. Dowon [Moment?] Woojoo [The perfect timing] Dowon [Ah, I see] He opened the emergency exit door and cleared his throat. He changed his tone of voice. ¡°Ahem¨C¡± A response came right away. ¡°Ahh!¡± ¡°Hey, hey!¡± He heard the sound of lizards screeching and whimpering, along with the thumping of stairs as they ran down. Seok Dowon smiled quietly. After practice that day, Woojoo told Seokhwan Hyung about what happened with Manager Jo. The youngest was scared to talk to the director alone, so Woojoo went with him. The reaction of the person who heard the whole story in the office was. ¡°Hmm.¡± It was a smile that Woojoo couldn¡¯t understand. ¡°Did that happen today?¡± ¡°Yeah.¡± ¡°They say the bottom of themp is dark. He was doing such a trick under the water.¡± His voice tone was soft, but Woojoo didn¡¯t know why it was so scary. The math genius who had been spinning his pen for a while came to a conclusion. ¡°For now, you guys just stay put. Send me the recording file, and I¡¯ll take care of the rest.¡± Woojoo didn¡¯t know what happened after that. ¡°Hello.¡± ¡°¡­¡± Manager Jo, whom they ran into at thepany, avoided their eyes and left without saying a word to their greeting. It seemed like things went well. When Woojoo asked Seokhwan Hyung, he only said it was resolved. Woojoo didn¡¯t bother to ask what kind of conversation they had. Sometimes, ignorance was bliss. Time flew by. Comeback preparation, broadcast, broadcast, and broadcast. Woojoo went on the radio and did a live with his brothers, and he also threw jokes on talk shows. The main purpose was mostly to promote the third album. ¡°Hello, we are New ck!¡± There was also an event rted to the History Discovery Team. As the poprity rose on SNS, HBS suggested a signing event. It was a public signing event for the general public, and there were a lot of funny situations. ¡°My child is a fan.¡± Woojoo looked at the child as the mother said. The baby who was sucking his fingers looked at him briefly. He ignored him. The mother was flustered. ¡°This, this can¡¯t be, my child is a fan¡­¡± She handed Woojoo the autograph paper. ¡°To. Please write Hyesun.¡± ¡°Okay.¡± Woojoo waved his hand at the baby who was hiding behind his mom and watching him. ¡°Hi, Hyesun~¡± ¡°I¡¯m Hyesun.¡± ¡°Ah, oh¡­¡± The mother¡¯s whispering made the other people who were getting autographs from his brothers next to him lower their heads and make a snorting sound. There were a lot of simr things. The mothers who brought their children said ¡®my child is a fan¡¯, but the kids were too young to even know what history was. There was one, though. ¡°Caveman ahjusshi!¡± The boy who pointed his finger at Rihyuk. Rihyuk covered his face with both hands. On the other hand, the most popr one was none other than Jiho. Thanks to the drama¡¯s buff, there were quite a few people who recognized him. Woojoo heard the line ¡®Hey, isn¡¯t that Slip guy¡¯ at least ten times as he passed by the event hall. ¡°Hello there.¡± ¡­Most of them had a nk expression when they saw his real appearance, but Woojoo guessed he would too. James and the thugs, who were so messy, turned out to be calm guys. And the polite 20-something young man Officer Heo was pping andughing ¡®kyahaha¡¯. ¡°Hello.¡± Woojoo also saw some familiar faces in between. There was a Souffl¨¦, who was dressed in a normal office worker¡¯s outfit, probably stopped by after going out for work. She smiled at them. ¡°Oh, you look so handsome in real life.¡± He seemed to want to give off a general public vibe, so Woojoo raised his hand with a warm smile. ¡°Your bag charm is pretty.¡± ¡°Oops.¡± The other person gave an embarrassedugh at the sight of her bag with a New ck keyring. Then they took the Korean history summary that Rihyuk made and got his autograph, looking happy the whole time. Woojoo always found it amazing. The fact that he could be someone¡¯s happiness. While the person in front of them was clearing out, Woojoo waved and smiled at the smartphone cameras that were taking pictures around him. ¡°Our History Discovery Team uploads twice a week on the HBS YouTube ount, so please subscribe and like.¡± ¡°Please do!¡± ¡°Thank you!¡± They put Jiho in the middle and made a giant heart with one arm each, drawingughter from everywhere. When Woojoo searched onler, he saw that it was the most bizarre heart he had ever seen. Just like that, their History Discovery Team became popr on SNS and they were invited to various events. Meanwhile, the two pirs of our preeback activities, PBS Challenge, Legendary Song Discovery Team!, were alsoing to an end. -Congrattions! Mr. Song Bohyung! On thest Wednesday of March. The fifth round of the Legendary Song Discovery, which was held in front of six hundred spectators, ended with the victory of trot singer Song Bohyung. This meant that Cha Woohyun had won twice, New ck once, Lisa once, and Song Bohyung once. To put it bluntly, the Jo Yuri Band had nothing to sing on the final stage of the first season of Legendary Song Discovery. At first, Woojoo thought it was a warm-hearted program that didn¡¯t announce any losers or lower ranks, but when he thought about it again, it seemed like the most cruel format. Even at the farewell party after the show, the Jo Yuri Band silently packed their instruments and left in a gloomy mood, looking like the Rocket Team that had lost and run away. ¡°Good job, everyone. Good job!¡± They would see them again at the bonus stage, but they exchanged words of appreciation with Lisa and Song Bohyung for their hard work. Lisa was noticeably happy with the gift they and LisaLover gave her. Song Bohyung also said he liked the gift they prepared and offered to give them some of his glittery outfits. ¡°Thank you so mu¡­¡± Someone covered Woojoo¡¯s mouth. ¡°It¡¯s okay, it¡¯s okay!¡± ¡°We¡¯re fine with the glitter, really!¡± ¡°Please wear them a lot!¡± Those rascals. They always made him wear ugly clothes. Anyway, after saying goodbye to the senior singers, Woojoo faced the person whom they had put the most effort into preparing the gift for. Woojoo had rehearsed in the dressing room with Junghyun as a stand-in to give this to him. ¡°Hmm.¡± Cha Woohyun took the gift box and asked with an indifferent expression, ¡°What is this?¡± ¡°It¡¯s a gift we prepared.¡± ¡°A gift? Why?¡± They answered. ¡°You rmended us for the OST and the cameo appearance, so we¡¯re very grateful and wanted to give you something.¡± ¡°It¡¯s tea that¡¯s good for your throat.¡± ¡°Rihyuk prepared it.¡± They pushed Rihyuk forward, like parents urging their shy children in front of a celebrity. ¡®You wanted to greet him, right? Hurry up and say hello.¡¯ ¡®Don¡¯t be nervous.¡¯ The other person¡¯s eyes turned to Rihyuk. Rihyuk hesitantly stammered a greeting. ¡°I, I prepared it.¡± ¡°I see. Thank you.¡± He patted Rihyuk¡¯s shoulder and walked away. Then he came back and tapped their shoulders once each. ¡°¡­He must be happy, right?¡± He was so quiet that Woojoo couldn¡¯t tell how he felt about the gift from his face. He said he would post it on SNS, so Woojoo guessed he liked it. In the car. Hisrge hand picked up the tea bag in the gift box, while the manager sitting in the passenger seat spoke to him. ¡°Hyung-nim.¡± He had the picture of him and New ck on the SNS upload screen and called him. ¡°What should I write?¡± ¡°Do I have to write this? It¡¯s a personal gift, if you think about it.¡± ¡°You have to. New ck kids are doing really well these days. You have to get in on the action, too, Hyung-nim. At least a spoon, if not a spoon.¡± ¡°Hmm. Then¡­¡± He leaned back on the chair and said, ¡°I got a gift from New ck.¡± ¡°Yeah.¡± His manager typed away on the SNS post. ¡°I¡¯m feeling good.¡± Tap, tap, tap, tap. ¡°Um, I¡¯ll enjoy it well. Thank you.¡± Tap, tap, tap, tap. ¡°Do you want to check it?¡± ¡°It¡¯s fine. You must have written it well. Just post it.¡± @cha_cow (A photo of Kim Junghyun and Cha Woohyun standing solemnly like two heavy statues. The members of New ck are scattered around them like weeds.) A special gift from our New ckies! I¡¯m so happy >< A tea that¡¯s good for the throat~ Thank you. I¡¯ll drink it well!! #SongDiscoveryTeam #Good_Juniors #Newck ¡°¡­¡± The members of New ck who were looking at the SNS in the practice room had stunned expressions on their faces. Chapter 236: Chapter 236: Trantor: MarcTempest Editor: Rxel Chapter 236 What is this mysterious SNS? ¡°¡­¡± Woojoo clicked on another SNS post by Cha Woohyun with his siblings. @cha_cow (A photo of Cha Woohyun wearing a cape for winning the first ce in Legendary Song Discovery.) I won first ce >?<#LegendarySongDiscovery_first_ce #Vocal_quality It was dizzying. What was this post that did not match his stern face at all? And everyone wasmenting as if they were familiar with him, saying things like ¡°Oppa, you¡¯re so cute???¡±, ¡°You¡¯re a cutie today too¡±. When Woojoo searched, he found out that he was nicknamed Muscle Fairy, Muscle Cutie. It was written on Wikipedia that he got those nicknames because of his contrast between his usual appearance and his SNS persona. No. This was too different. For people who only saw him briefly on TV, this might be cute, but for them who knew his real self, it was very confusing. Was this the same senior they saw earlier¡­? Woojoo swallowed dryly as he stared nkly. ¡°Maybe his manager wrote it for him?¡± ¡°I think so too. I want to believe that. This is¡­ something I can¡¯t ept,¡± Rihyuk said in a tone that implied it had to be that way. Woojoo decided to think that his manager wrote it for him. Unless he had multiple personalities or was possessed, he wouldn¡¯t write it himself. ¡°Let¡¯s write a reply too.¡± Woojoo logged in to their official ount and wrote a briefment under his post, saying ¡°We¡¯re more thankful!¡± Spring came. Rihyuk tore off the March calendar in the dorm and did a happy spring cleaning. ¡°Ugh, please let me rest¡­¡± ¡°What did you do to skip work? Hurry up and throw away the trash. If you don¡¯t, I¡¯ll make you clean the bathroom.¡± ¡°Uwaaah.¡± ¡°Ha¡­ I love cleaning. I love it so much.¡± ¡­That kind of spring cleaning. Not only cleaning, but they felt the spring everywhere. The clothes became lighter, and in the daytime, the forsythias and azaleas that bloomed here and there swayed in the spring breeze. This timest year, they were busy with events for Something. Time flew, Woojoo thought. Speaking of which, Jang Sowon sent Woojoo a screenshot on KakaoTalk. Something came back like a phoenix and re-entered the daily chart. It was a real-time chart before, but now it was on the lower ranks of the daily chart. Woojoo joked that they would retire with Something if this continued, but it was bing a reality. -¡®I¡¯m here¡¯¡­ ¡®Something¡¯ re-enters the chart -¡®Swaying in the spring breeze~¡¯ Want to listen to some spring songs? ¡®Something¡¯ and 3 other songs enter the chart -New ck X Jang Sowon ¡®Something¡¯ a new ¡®spring carol¡¯? It was strange that a song that came outst February was doing a reverse run on the daily chart after a year. On the other hand, the general public was surprised for a different reason. -What is this New ck song??? -I felt something weird when I saw the name Something -I thought it was Jang Sowon¡¯s song whenever I heard it at a cafe -I didn¡¯t know it was New ck ???? so funny -I heard the voice and it was New ck ???? wow what is this they are them It seemed to be because of the gap between the recognition and the sess of the song at the time. The song was popr nationwide, but Jang Sowon¡¯s impact was much bigger. They were just rookies who hadn¡¯t debuted properly, so there weren¡¯t many people who paid attention to them. As a bacsh, their appearances on the shows at that time were being reevaluated. ¡°Woojoo, congrattions.¡± Every time he met them at thepany, the A&R Team staff congratted him. ¡°It looks like the song is going to be a hit again. At this rate, you¡¯ll be living off Something every spring.¡± ¡°I¡¯m jealous. I wish I had a piece of the arrangement.¡± ¡°Woojoo, do you need aposer ve? I¡¯m free these days.¡± They looked at Woojoo with envy. Woojoo avoided them shyly, and they thought it was funny and chased him. But the reason Woojoo reacted like that was not just shyness or modesty. He was worried. Of course, it was a good thing that Something was on the chart. Their clips from Music Cafe and other shows were getting attention again. And the royalties were piling up, so he could buy some delicious food or gifts for their Lady Deoksoon or the members. But he was concerned about the 3rd album. What if Something, which came out a year ago, was still making noise, but the 3rd album title was forgotten? Woojoo felt like his worries were umting, so he decided to go see his mentor and ask for a consultation. ¡°Sure.¡± Jo Gyuhwan, the Director, smiled brightly. ¡°Can you tell me exactly what part you are worried about?¡± ¡°We are putting all our resources into the third album right now.¡± Woojoo continued to talk to the Director who was listening calmly. ¡°The managers have already booked the broadcast schedules for the third album promotion, and we spent a fortune on the album jacket and the music video. Everyone in thepany is working hard for us.¡± When Woojoo was practicing, he saw something glittering and turned his head to see the President watching them from outside the door. He ran away as soon as their eyes met. He probably didn¡¯t want to put pressure on them, but Woojoo understood. Woojoo would be nervous too if he invested such a huge amount of money and wanted to know the progress. The other staff members didn¡¯t show it either, but he could feel that they were anxious about the third album preparation. ¡°We want to live up to their expectations and do something, but I¡¯m worried that we might not be able to.¡± To be precise, he was afraid that the third album would do worse than the previous one, Something. When he finished, the younger ones also said a word. ¡°When I go to school, the kids who debuted as idols with me ask me how the next album is and subtly brag about it.¡± ¡°I don¡¯t know if our songs are good anymore, because I listen to them hundreds of times a day.¡± ¡°I don¡¯t have any worries, but I¡¯m worried that everyone else is worried.¡± ¡°We all put so much effort into making this album, so I think it should do better, but I don¡¯t know the result, so I¡¯m worried every day.¡± The Director who had been listening quietly sipped his coffee. ¡°You must be feeling a lot of pressure.¡± ¡°Um, no. No.¡± Woojoo waved his hand in case he misunderstood. ¡°It¡¯s not that thepany is putting pressure on us, it¡¯s just that we feel that way for various reasons.¡± ¡°This is the time when the pressure increases a lot.¡± The Director said calmly, ¡°It¡¯s natural to feel that way. Anyone would. Especially in this business. You feel it too, right?¡± ¡°Yes.¡± ¡°You know what I mean. Everyone you meet shakes your hand and says ¡®I¡¯m looking forward to your next activity¡¯. And some people look at you with a hint of envy.¡± It was true. At the broadcasting station, everyone they met smiled and said they were looking forward to their third album. Sometimes they said, ¡®I really enjoy History Discovery!¡¯ but they didn¡¯t hide their displeasure. Whether it was good or bad, the number of people who were interested in their moves increased iparably to the second album. And so did the number of Souffl¨¦s who were eagerly waiting for their next album. ¡°This is normal. Everyone goes through this. Especially in this business. I did, and so did Scarlet.¡± They nodded their heads. This was why they asked for a meeting with the Director. He was aposer who had a lot of hit songs, and he had been sessful in almost every project. He might not be able to rte to their trivial anxiety, but he might understand it to some extent. The Director smiled. ¡°By the way, I hear a lot of talk around here. And your eyes have grown a lot, haven¡¯t they?¡± ¡°Yes.¡± ¡°Do you know what I mean? When you¡¯re in the military, you have ranks instead of grades, and the treatment is different depending on that.¡± But unlike the military, where your rank was maintained once you got promoted, your rank changed every day in the entertainment industry. Yesterday¡¯s private could be tomorrow¡¯s sergeant, and today¡¯s sergeant could be tomorrow¡¯s private tomorrow. There was a story that a top star revealed on a talk show. The director who always called him ¡®Mr. Who¡¯ kindly at the shooting site, called him ¡®Hey¡¯ after a scandal broke out a few dayster. In other words, the people who said ¡®Oh, who¡¯s the sergeant¡¯ yesterday would say ¡®Hey, you¡¯ tomorrow if you made a mistake. It was no wonder that celebrities suffered from anxiety. They were the same. They had a sessful second album,peting with TNT, the top group, and during the break, they had a hit with Legendary Song Discovery and History Discovery. The staff and the associates who used to treat them with profanity before their debut were now warm as spring sun. Just look at the attitude change of Hwang Taeseon, the photographer who took the jacket photo. But if the third album fails or got a bad result here¡­ Ugh. Woojoo didn¡¯t even want to imagine it. ¡°The more sessful you are, the more pressure you feel.¡± The Director handed them a drink each. Woojoo grabbed a cup of cocoa that was steaming. ¡°Because yourpetitors are not others, but your past selves. You have to do better thanst time to be sessful.¡± The others agreed with him. The Director looked thoughtful. ¡°Um, I don¡¯t have any special advice for this part¡­¡± he answered with a troubled face. ¡°I wish I could give you a clear answer, but I still feel this pressure too.¡± ¡°Even you, Director?¡± ¡°Of course, I¡¯m only human. These two¡­ Woojoo.¡± It sounded like he mixed something up. Director Jo spoke with his nails on. ¡°There¡¯s no special way to deal with this worry. Even if there was, it¡¯s not something you can reduce since it¡¯s rted to your career.¡± ¡°Then¡­¡± ¡°You have no choice but to adapt. The higher you climb, the bigger it will get.¡± Woojoo suddenly thought of the TNT members. How did they ovee this pressure? Should he admire them? The younger line of kids who used tough and run around when they were a trainee must have gone through this too. ¡°I think that¡¯s all I have to say,¡± Director Jo said. ¡°The sure thing is that this is a problem that you can¡¯t get rid of as long as you¡¯re active. Me too, and the Scarlet kids too. It¡¯s unresolved. But let¡¯s look at it positively. It¡¯s a great situation to be in, to have this kind of worry¡­¡± People always thought from their own perspective. Woojoo felt like he heard an omitted sentence. They nodded quietly. ¡°Thank you. Director, I think I have some rity thanks to you.¡± ¡°I guess I have to get used to it.¡± ¡°It turns out that practicing more is the only way.¡± The Director smiled and said, ¡°One more thing, from what I see, you guys need to have some hobbies. When your body is resting, you keep thinking about work. Preferably something that can clear your mind.¡± ¡°Ah, hobbies¡­¡± ¡°Don¡¯t you each have a hobby?¡± Woojoo nodded. ¡°Ipose.¡± ¡°Woojoo. Not something rted to work.¡± Woojoo wanted to say Kim Deoksoon fanboying, but he swallowed it because it was a bit embarrassing. Director Jo Gyuhwan¡¯s gaze turned to Bijoo. ¡°I cook.¡± ¡°I exercise.¡± ¡°I like ying games.¡± But that seemed to trigger something, and the Director¡¯s hand holding the coffee trembled. ¡°Cough!¡± He coughed as he drank the coffee and wiped his mouth with a handkerchief. ¡°What¡­ Don¡¯t you have something you can do together? Like how the Scarlet kids go hiking.¡± ¡°All of us?¡± They looked at each other. ¡°How about traveling? Traveling. It¡¯s the most harmless.¡± ¡°I don¡¯t like it.¡± Rihyuk shook his head. ¡°If we go on a trip, it¡¯s obvious that only me and Bijoo Hyung will prepare. The other three will just stare nkly, and say one thing about this and that at every destination¡­¡± ¡°Hyung. nning a trip is half done when you pack and buy tickets.¡± ¡°Didn¡¯t you hear?¡± ¡°But I like traveling together¡­¡± Bijoo muttered regretfully, and Junghyun, who was eating konjac jelly, said, ¡°How about a package?¡± ¡°No way. Traveling is backpacking.¡± ¡°Agreed.¡± Jiho and Woojoo high-fived. Woojoo continued, ¡°Junghyun. If we go on a package, we¡¯ll be on the inte as ¡®idols who went on a package trip together¡¯.¡± ¡°Street Boys and other idol seniors will tease us.¡± ¡°Hmm, is that so.¡± They were talking about hobbies that they could do together. Traveling came up as a harmless topic. There was also a debate by Rihyuk about ¡®whether traveling can be considered a hobby¡¯, but the conversation ended simply. ¡°Just.¡± The youngest snapped his fingers. ¡°Hyungs, juste. I¡¯ll treat you to a luxurious meal while we¡¯re traveling. The amodation is a suite, the food is a restaurant, the clothes are from a local department store.¡± ¡°Wow¡­¡± ¡°Traveling can be a hobby if you have enough money¡­ Hyungs?¡± ¡°Jiho, Jiho.¡± ¡°Ah, stop it!¡± They all got up for a moment and praised their youngest for being so hardworking and kind. But Woojoo doubted they would have enough time to go on a trip until the second half of the year. They had many opinions, but in the end they decided to get a ping-pong table for thepany. Outdoor walks were nice, but the fans were getting more and more these days. Meanwhile, the entertainment industry was rolling on without a break. -GTV¡¯s Friday drama ¡®Slip¡¯ hit the jackpot¡­ soaring ratings -Fox Bead vs Slip, which is the most talked-about drama of the first half of the year? -Slip, will the prehistoric secret be revealed atst? Explosive interest in the next episode preview The drama scene was booming with the second and third episodes of Slip, and Fox Bead was also increasing its ratings. Reed, the drama that Rihyuk almost sang the OST for, disappeared like the wind. Instead, it was gaining a cult-like poprity on the inte. Looking at the PPL memes, this time even the prosecutor who came to the chief prosecutor¡¯s office was lying on the massage chair. Some people wondered if the attorney general would also lie on the massage chair, and the inte went wild when the next episode preview showed the attorney general lying on the massage chair. And in the music scene, spring songs like Something and others were staying in the top ranks of the charts. They had Street Boys for their first album, and TNT for their second album, but this time it seemed like their past selves were waving their hands and weing them. But there was also good news. -New ck¡¯seback after five months¡­ continuing the ¡®trendy rookie¡¯ wave -[Interview] New ck¡¯s mini 2nd albumeback, ¡°Windflower will be a warm song¡± -New ck, reveals promotion map ahead ofeback Before, their PR Team had to work hard to send out press releases, but this time the reporters were covering theireback with high interest. And they got to perform two songs for their firsteback stage on a music show. Considering that they had been cut off for a few seconds on their first album, it was a huge difference. The best thing was the reaction of their Souffl¨¦s. The concept photos for the 3rd album. The photos of them smiling brightly with their birth flowers in a flower garden, and the photos of them in a background that looked like post-apocalyptic contrasted with each other and got a good response. Junghyun sitting on an abandoned car hood. Jiho hanging his coat on the reeds. Ryuk touching his bloody lips and wounds. Woojoo looking at the distance. The most popr one was the photo of Bijoo lying in the reed field, turning his head and looking at his birth flower with a lonely expression. Jiho admired him. ¡°Your expression came out really well. What were you thinking when you took that picture, Hyung?¡± ¡°¡­I was thinking about food.¡± ¡°Ah¡­¡± ¡°I was so hungry and sad then.¡± Woojoo thought he should never reveal the behind-the-scenes to the fans. As soon as it was uploaded, the likes andments were pouring in. He would have read them one by one and enjoyed them, but this time he decided to postpone it. He decided not to look at the inte until theeback. He felt more anxious every time he looked. He decided to just practice quietly. Wednesday, a week before theeback. ¡°Hahaha.¡± Finally, the day came. ¡°Hahaha!¡± Some murmurs reached Woojoo as heughed out loud in the waiting room of the Song Discovery Team. ¡°Woojoo Hyung, you¡¯re weirder than usual today.¡± ¡°Hey. That guy was always weird.¡± ¡°Agreed.¡± ¡°Hyung, are you okay?¡± Woojoo listened to the song in his earphones and cleared his throat. ¡°Ah, Deoksoon-ah~~!¡± ¡°¡­¡± ¡°Deoksoon-ah, why do you trample on this old man¡¯s heart~¡± ¡°¡­¡± Today was the special stage of the Song Discovery Tean that he had been looking forward to, ¡®Deoksoon-ah¡¯. Woojoo listened to the instrumental part in the middle and got excited before the rehearsal. ¡°Dunggiduk, kung, Deoksoon Deoksoon~¡± Knock, knock. Someone knocked on the door. It was probably the FD¡¯s rehearsal call. Woojoo finished his shoulder dance and then. ¡°Excuse me¡­¡± As Woojoo opened the door and peeked out, his eyes met with theirs. They were dancing with their shoulders. Uh. What was this? "¡­¡­?" Woojoo was as stunned as Ryan, TNT''s younger brother, who had a bewildered expression on his face. "Why are you guys there¡­?" "What are you doing¡­¡­" They blinked at each other. "¡­¡­" "¡­¡­" Woojoo didn''t know about them, but for him, it was a moment when he desperately needed a time machine. Chapter 237: Chapter 237: Trantor: MarcTempest Editor: Rxel Chapter 237 The first ones to burst intoughter were the ones on the other side. ¡°Pffft-¡± Starting with Seok Jihoon, Ji Hanbin and Han Taehyun cracked up. The two guys even held their stomachs andughed. ¡°Hahaha!¡± They were having a st, grabbing each other¡¯s shoulders and giggling. Woojoo couldn¡¯t help butugh too, seeing them. Soon, theughter spread to the younger ones as well. Grandma. Are you watching?Your grandson is bringing joy to everyone. Not that I¡¯m happy, though¡­ It took five minutes for theughter to subside. The guys who had been joking around for a while greeted their staff. ¡°Hello.¡± ¡°Oh, hello.¡± The makeup artists who came on the trip greeted them back with curious faces. The guys who greeted them nicely asked, ¡°We came to hang out for a bit, is it okay if we stay here?¡± Of course, they got permission. The guys who were about to take a seat on the sofa in the waiting room were waved off by their members who got up hastily. ¡°Ugh, why are you trying to greet us so seriously? Just sit down. Sit.¡± ¡°Yeah. We don¡¯t like that stuff.¡± ¡°Only Woojoo Hyung likes getting greeted, we don¡¯t care about that.¡± ¡°¡­¡± The younger ones sat down,ughing. ¡°Wow, this waiting room is spacious. Is it bigger than the one we used?¡± ¡°It¡¯s a different room. That one is bigger.¡± Woojoo snorted at the sight of them checking the sofa cushions. They were the owners of this room, but they acted so natural. They were like Dooly¡¯s gang who came into Go Gil-dong¡¯s house. ¡°Hey, this is our Daegil¡¯s waiting room.¡± Woojoo almost made a slip of the tongue, but he managed to cover it up. ¡°Huh? Daegil?¡± Han Taehyun startedughing again, holding his stomach. ¡°Daegil!¡± ¡°Oh my! Hehehe!¡± ¡­Woojoo should just shut up. These guys. The guys who had been teasing Woojoo started talking to the younger ones. Woojoo looked at them with a warm smile as they chatted in afortable atmosphere. Woojoo turned his head to Han Taehyun, who was eating the candy on the table next to him. ¡°What are you guys doing here?¡± ¡°Oh, we¡¯re on the panel today.¡± ¡°Panel?¡± ¡°Ourpany¡¯s girl group is appearing as an idol guest on Legendary Song Discovery 2. They¡¯re called NYX.¡± ¡°Oh.¡± Today, on the Legendary Song Discover¡¯s special stage, they would introduce the new members who would appear in the second season, along with the performances of the first season members. Woojoo heard that a girl group would take their ce, but he didn¡¯t know they were from TJ Entertainment. NYX. They were senior singers who debuted at the end of 2013, a performance-type girl group that TJ ambitiouslyunched. Each member was so talented that they were considered as skillful as Scarlet among the girl groups. But they hadn¡¯t made it big yet. They were the only group that Producer Park Taejoon, the chairman, couldn¡¯t make sessful. ¡°So NYX ising in this time.¡± ¡°They had a hard time getting in. They even auditioned.¡± ¡°Audition?¡± Han Taehyun lowered his voice and whispered to Woojoo, ¡°They said it was really tough topete for your spot. They wanted to be the next New ck, so every decent girl group tried to get in.¡± It was a valuable spot, after all. It was a rare opportunity for idols to gain recognition by appearing regrly on a program that ranked in the top five in ratings. It was hard enough to appear as a guest on a terrestrial entertainment show, let alone this¡­ They would have wanted to appear for a few more months if it wasn¡¯t for their third album activities. They had to give up one of them because it was hard to juggle thepetition preparation and music shows. But apart from that, it felt strange to hear the behind-the-scenes story of how other people fought fiercely for their spot. ¡°I feel like I¡¯ve be a mysterious popr idol.¡± ¡°You are a popr idol, right? Our Hyung-nim¡¯s group is doing really well these days.¡± The guy who put his arm around Woojoo smiled. ¡°I was shocked, you know. I was watching my fancam and suddenly Daegil¡¯s friend was lighting a fire.¡± Woojoo burst outughing without realizing it. Junghyun raised his palm like a bear greeting them, as if he heard their conversation. Han Taehyun bowed in response to his Buddha-like gesture. ¡°Why are you so cautious around Junghyun?¡± ¡°Didn¡¯t you get traumatized when you yed ser with the boss and Seonwoong Hyung? You flinched at the sight of him. That day, at the dinner, you got so drunk¡­¡± He mimicked someone¡¯s aggrieved expression. -How do you feel when a cannonball passes between your legs? I thought I was going to die. My liver was freezing. ¡°Wow. That¡¯s exactly the same.¡± Woojoo pped like a seal and admired him. He smirked and looked proud. Then he shook his head. ¡°Anyway, after getting drunk that day, he was so scared that he never yed ser again. Ugh.¡± ¡°Why, I understand. If I have to face Junghyun physically, I¡¯ll surrender first.¡± ¡°Oh. Are you happy?¡± ¡°Surrender. Junghyun. Surrender.¡± They burst intoughter at Junghyun¡¯s random remark. They hadn¡¯t seen each other for two months since the Dolympics, so they chatted happily. Seok Jihun, the youngest of TNT, entered his number on Jiho¡¯s phone. ¡°Next time we meet, just call me Hyung.¡± ¡°Okay.¡± ¡°No, I mean¡­ use honorifics.¡± ¡°Yes, Hyung-nim.¡± Their youngest smiled and answered. It was a warm scene, but the faces of Woojoo and the TNT ragamuffins were only awkward. Han Taehyun asked me, ¡°Did you hear that? He called him Hyung-nim.¡± ¡°It¡¯s a bit surprising.¡± Ji Hanbin opened his eyes wide and opened his mouth. ¡°You¡¯re Hyung? Hyeong?¡± ¡°¡­¡± ¡°Guys. What happened when I didn¡¯t know? Where is he going to be called Hyung-nim now?¡± ¡°Wow, these oldies¡­!¡± He was the same age as Bijoo and Junghyun, but he was treated like the youngest. He looked resentful. While everyone was pping andughing, Ji Hanbin whispered to Woojoo, ¡°He¡¯s been saying since he came, he¡¯s going to be friends with Officer Heo today. He¡¯s going to exchange phone numbers.¡± ¡°No¡­¡± He hesitated and said, ¡°I watched Slip, and you acted so well¡­¡± ¡°Really? Did I do that well?¡± ¡°Oh, that.¡± Seok Jihun was flustered by their youngest who came forward without backing down. Rihyuk grabbed Jiho¡¯s neck and pulled him away. He started to talk with a slight relief. He asked where he went to school and mainly talked about acting. ¡°How did you control your emotions when you yed Officer Heo?¡± ¡°Oh, that.¡± The youngest exined with a ¡®It¡¯s so easy!¡¯ ¡°You just have to change one by one. You imagine it in your head. I adjust to the role I¡¯m going to y. For example, if I take Officer Heo, I change my shoes from my self-image in my head to old sneakers¡­¡± ¡°¡­?¡± ¡°¡­like that, you change your appearance in your imagination to suit the character, and then, ta-da, you be someone else.¡± ¡°Is, is that so?¡± Eukyung was strangely satisfied to see Seok Jihun confused. That was right. That was their kid. Eukyung held back hisughter at his dumbfounded expression. It was like someone who came to hear the secret of getting a perfect score on the college entrance exam and heard the top scorer whisper ¡®Just get them all right.¡¯ ¡°Can we talk about acting on KakaoTalkter?¡± ¡°Yes, I like that.¡± He was excited to have an acting friend. Eukyung smiled and calmed the atmosphere. The guests stayed for a long time, and the brothers seemed a little ufortable. Especially Rihyuk. The other brothers were talkingfortably, but it was different from Woojoo who yed with them like ssmates. If they were simr in age like the Street Boys, it might be different. Even if Junghyun¡¯s friends, who were in their 40s, came to y and said ¡®Make yourselffortable, haha!¡¯, Woojoo didn¡¯t think the difort would go away. If there was no connection like Woojoo, they would just be seniors and juniors. It was fun to see them after a long time, but it was time to take care of the kids¡¯ condition for the performance. "We should get going soon." Han Taehyun quickly took the lead, and the others followed suit, stuffing their pockets with candy from the table. Woojoo escorted them to the outside of the waiting room after they finished getting ready to leave. "Hey, when are we going to eat?" "Yeah, you promised to buy us food." "You promised to buy food? I want some too." It was supposed to be just one person, but suddenly it became three. "I''ll buy you some when I have time. When I have time." "Ooh." Woojoo smiled as he watched them get excited about mooching off him. After exchanging some nonsense, Han Taehyun said with a grin, "It''s nice that New ck is getting some attention. Before, we felt awkward when we came to visit." "Yeah, me too." It was when they were joking about going to a joint space concert on Mars after their third album hit big. A question popped into Woojoo¡¯s head. The pressure of the album. Woojoo had asked Director Jo about it, but these guys had been on the same path as them for four years longer. "Can I ask you something?" "What is it?" Woojoo asked them with a curious face, "Lately, when I''m working on the album, I wonder, how do you deal with the pressure?" Before Woojoo even finished his question, they froze like stones. What was with this reaction? They looked at each other with weird expressions, and silence hung in the air for a while. "Ahh!" They all started rubbing their arms at the same time. "Ahh, I can''t get used to it." "Wow. Look at my goosebumps." "Why are you asking us for advice? It''s so awkward." "Ah! Don''t do that!" They kept saying ¡®ahh'' and ran away when Woojoo tried to ask them again. They said they didn''t want to hear it. "¡­¡­" No matter how he thought about it, they didn''t seem to realize that they were the senior group. * * * A few minutes after the brats of TNT ran away, Woojoo heard a polite knock on the door. Knock. Knock. Knock. A person who introduced himself as NYX''s manager came in and asked if they could greet them and take a picture with them. He was very courteous. "¡­Could I ask you for that favor?" "Sure. That''s fine." Soon after, a six-member girl group in sophisticated stage outfits followed the manager in. They were about to get up and greet them when they came in. The big-name group quickly bowed to them. "The nightes! Hello, we are NYX!" "Uh, why are you bowing first¡­" They were flustered by the senior girl group''s humble greeting, and they bowed back at 90 degrees. "Hellooo! We are New ck!" "Oh, hello." "Yes. Nice to meet you¡­" "That''s right. Yes." Their staff startedughing as they did a seesaw-like bowing battle. The bowing battle that started with who would bow lower ended with their victory. No one could beat Bijoo''s flexible 130-degree bow. "Ouch!" His mic pack slid down his waist and almost fell on the back of his head. It would have been cool if that didn''t happen. "Bijoo, are you okay?" "Uh, I''m fine¡­" "Phew." "Don''t blow on his wound, Kim Junghyun." "Did you get a hole? A hole? Our Hyung''s head is too pretty to get a hole." While they were doing that, the other side was hesitating whether tough or not. They had debuted six months earlier. Woojoo didn''t know what they had gone through, but all the members looked very intimidated. They even asked them for a picture with a cautious attitude. Woojoo could guess what kind of treatment they had received from the people around them. Woojoo saw some familiar faces in the crowd. He had entered thepany two yearster than the leader, Muri, and most of the faces he encountered on the way were familiar. He had never spoken to them because of TJ Entertainment¡¯s strict rule of no interaction between male and female trainees, but they were all people he knew. They seemed to be more awkward because they recognized his face too. While the members of NYX were standing stiffly, Muri spoke in a friendly tone. ¡°We are the idol contestants who will go after you, New ck.¡± ¡°Yes, I heard from TNT Sunbae-nims earlier.¡± Woojoo smiled back and said, ¡°I didn¡¯t know who woulde, but I¡¯m d to see the seniors who sing really well.¡± Theyughed at Woojoo¡¯s politepliment, as if they thought it was insincere. ¡°I like ¡®Harsh Mistress¡¯ among NYX¡¯s songs.¡± ¡°Really?¡± ¡°I love the bridge part where you go woo-woo-woo.¡± Muri looked confused, and another member asked with her mouth wide open, ¡°How do you know that? That¡¯s one of thest tracks in the album¡­¡± ¡°Yes. I listened to it right after it was released.¡± ¡°Are you a fan of ours¡­ Oh, that can¡¯t be.¡± Then Woojoo heard a snarky voice from behind the door. ¡°He¡¯s a music geek who listens to all kinds of idol songs.¡± Han Taehyun stuck his head out and spat out the line. Why didn¡¯t he leave? Woojoo red at him and he ran away with a squeak. But everyone nodded at the term music geek. ¡­Music geek? That sounded so different. Even their staff were like, ¡°Yeah, that¡¯s right.¡± Woojoo was going to give them some drinks for their hard work, but he thought he would change it to water. ¡°Wow, you know our songs. We love New ck¡¯s songs too.¡± ¡°Masquerade!¡± ¡°Oh, we love Masquerade too.¡± Somehow, the conversation about music and their younger siblings¡¯ cozy attitude made the atmosphere lively. The way they looked at them also changed from cautious to favorable. They seemed to rx and talk morefortably after getting out of the tense attitude of not knowing what to say. ¡°Shall we take a picture then?¡± The photographer was a top star, Mr. Mo, who was wandering around the area because he was bored. He took a picture of them as a proof shot. As they walked back, the other team thanked them over and over. ¡°Thank you so much.¡± Muri gave Woojoo a signed CD as a final farewell. ¡°¡­¡± They gathered around and stared at the CD for a long time. Woojoo thought he would feel good if he was treated well, but he felt rather bitter. The kindness that they took for granted from others might not be somon for someone else. Woojoo couldn¡¯t get rid of the thought that their level of gratitude was in their heads. Finally, the final episode of ¡®Legendary Song Discovery¡¯ season 1. It was time to show the special stage. ¡°Phew¡­¡± Woojoo called his siblings together. ¡°We have to do well. We.¡± Nod nod. ¡°This is a song that honors me and Kim Deoksoon.¡± Nod¡­ ¡°If we do well today ande down, I¡¯ll buy you ate-night snackter.¡± Nod! Nod! Nod, nod, nod! The nutcrackers who lost their reason cked as Minki Hyung calmly reminded them. ¡°Guys, you¡¯re on a diet.¡± ¡°Ah. Right.¡± They looked at each other with lost expressions andughed. It was thest recording, and they didn¡¯t have to worry about the ranking, so everyone was rxed. All the participants were like that. The production team wanted them to have a fun performance like a concert encore, rather than a seriouspetition. For example, like Song Bohyung, who changed his rock music to a trot dance. The audience pped along to the cheerful arrangement. After the stage, the celebrity panel and the judgesmented, and Song Bohyung and the dancers came down. ¡°Good job!¡± ¡°Good luck!¡± Song Bohyung gave them high-fives as he rhythmically walked down the stairs. ¡°New ck, you should get ready too.¡± Woojoo stretched out his hand, and several hands piled on top of it. ¡°Alright, let¡¯s each say one food we want to eat after oureback. I want charcoal-grilled pork belly.¡± ¡°I want dumplings in soup and cucumber kimchi.¡± ¡°Fiverge orders of jokbal and bossam.¡± ¡°Dried sweet potatoes.¡± ¡°Tteokbokki.¡± They shouted ¡°Let¡¯s eat for sure!¡± and cheered before going on stage. PBS Public Hall. MC Baek Sangjung, under the spotlight, stirred up the excitement. -Next up is the team you¡¯ve all been waiting for. He smiled at the camera until the cheers of ¡®Wow!¡¯ died down. The three members of TNT, who were already pping like seals, appeared on the screen. -I¡¯m so looking forward to this, they said in a conversation that came from the panel seats. Yoo Myeongdeok, the original singer of ¡®Deoksoon-ah¡¯, chuckled and looked on. -They are the gem-like rookie idols that the Legendary Song Discovrey Team discovered. Please wee New ck¡¯s ¡®Deoksoon-ah!¡¯ with apuse! New ck members came up leisurely amid apuse and cheers. As the lights brightened and the five members appeared, another round of cheering erupted. After greeting the audience, the leader Woojoo took the microphone as the representative. -Thank you foring today. We were really sad that this is ourst stage, but we¡¯re d that we can perform in front of so many people. We hope this will ease our regret and sorrow. Woojoo smiled and exined the song. -The song we¡¯re going to sing now is ¡®Deoksoon-ah¡¯, a masterpiece by Singer Yoo Myeongdeok. Let me tell you a little bit about this song¡­ His gentle voice told the audience the details of the song they should pay attention to. -Now, if we sing it like this¡­ Their voices melted into the audience¡¯s ears, asking them to respond in a certain way and chatting with them in a friendly tone. Yoo Myeongdeok smiled contentedly. ¡®How cute.¡¯ Everyone, including the original singer, was looking forward to what kind of stage they would show. The public hall began to darken. Woojoo¡¯s serious narration. -This is a song for all the Deoksoons in the world. If someone had a keen eye, they would have noticed that New ck members almost pped their cheeks when the lights went out. The lights came on and the intro started. The straightforward lyrics were somewhat modified, and the audience raised their eyebrows in surprise at New ck¡¯s singing skills. As the intro ended and the song began in earnest. The live band yed vigorously. Deoksoon-ah-ah-ah-ah- ¡­along with the members¡¯ chorus. The members were serious, the audience was amazed, and the managers below the stage were biting their lips with all their might. The audience pped along to the upbeat melody. Among them, the people who saw New ck¡¯s stage for the first time today couldn¡¯t help but exim. ¡®They really enjoy the stage.¡¯ Among them, one member shone especially. Woojoo, who sang each verse of ¡®Deoksoon-ah¡¯ as if he regretted the time passing by, put his all into it. He smiled happily every time he spat out the lyrics, as if he really loved the stage. And there was someone who watched this whole process more impressively than anyone else. ¡®Oh, no¡­¡¯ Yoo Myeongdeok¡¯s eyes trembled. ¡®The arrangement, the adaptation, the voice¡­¡¯ Everything was perfectly reborn in a modern way. ¡®Deoksoon-ah¡¯. It was a song that he had put a lot of effort into, but had never seen the light of day. It had changed perfectly. It was a quality that would have been impossible if he hadn¡¯t put a lot of effort into this song. His heart was heavy. He was so touched that someone had put so much effort into a song by a singer he had never met. ¡°This, this¡­¡± He never thought this day woulde. As soon as the highlight of ¡®Deoksoon-ah¡¯ was heard, Yoo Myeongdeok jumped up from his seat and pped. He had to p. ¡°Ah¡­!¡± The middle-aged singer¡¯s face, soaked in emotion, was captured by the camera. Chapter 238: Chapter 238: Trantor: MarcTempest Editor: Rxel Chapter 238 Woojoo swallowed his regret and sang thest verse of ¡®Deoksoon-ah¡¯. Deoksoon-ah- His voice echoed softly along with the fading drum sound. ¡®Deoksoon-ah¡¯ drifted away through the public hall. Woojoo felt a pang of sadness as he lowered the microphone. He wanted to sing more.If this was a real concert encore stage, he would have sung a ¡®Deoksoon-ah¡¯ medley for over 30 minutes. He had prepared many versions in advance. He even had a death metal version of ¡®Deoksoon-ah¡¯ on his workptop. ¡°Thank you!¡± A loud apuse and cheer erupted. Woojoo exchanged smiles and nces with his members. ¡®Well done.¡¯ It was a good stage that was worthy of a grand finale, even though he still felt some regret. The panels stood up and pped, making a fuss, and the judges smiled with satisfaction. Next to Jo Yuri Band, who was awkwardly smiling with their mouths only, the TNT gang was covering their mouths and going ¡®wow¡¯. The followingments were all praises. -I¡¯m really sorry that today is not apetition day. Composer Pyo Hyungwon¡¯sment was impressive. -It was the most perfect performance among the special stages today. If this was apetition, New ck would have won the first ce. I was looking for the remote control while watching. I wanted to vote. The audience agreed with the judge¡¯s joke. They thanked them with a proud smile, and aedian chimed in. -You said you wanted to vote for Cha Woohyun¡¯s stage earlier! -That¡¯s right. -Choose one. You always say that. The judge who always said he wanted to vote whenever a good stage came out casually replied. -My opinion is consistent. One person, two votes. I always say that when I meet the PD. Theedians¡¯ banter continued for a while, and the panels¡¯ments were also mixed in between. MC Baek Sangjung changed the topic. -Today we have some idol guests as panels. Shall we ask them too? How was it, TNT and NYX? The faces of the TNT trio appeared on the big screen first. They all grabbed the microphone at the same time and said ¡®I¡¯ in unison. The peopleughed. They yed a game of wits again and red at each other, saying ¡®I¡­!¡¯ This time, even New ckughed. Han Taehyun, who won among the three, took the microphone. -Uh, that ¡®Deoksoon-ah¡¯, ahem, it was¡­ huff. He was barely holding back hisughter. The TNT kids knew about Woojoo¡¯s love for his grandmother, so they had no choice. Their members also suppressed their cheeks whenever they heard the keyword ¡®Deoksoon-ah¡¯. -It was the most perfect song I¡¯ve heard recently. In my opinion, New ck is one of the top five vocal teams among idols. -Who are the other four? -We¡¯re in for sure. The witty remark of the six-year-old top idol drew a sympatheticugh from the audience. Ji Hanbin and Seok Jihun also gave theirments. They all had one thing inmon. -I¡¯m a fan of ¡®Deoksoon-ah¡¯, huh! -It¡¯s a hidden gem, but today¡¯s ¡®Deoksoon-ah¡¯, cough! They twitched their bodies whenever they said the title ¡®Deoksoon-ah¡¯. The people seemed to think that they were justughing a lot today. ¡°Thank you, Sunbae-nims.¡± Woojoo said with a slight emphasis on the word Sunbae-nims, and they all lowered their hands that they raised to their foreheads at the same time. This was kind of fun. Then NYX also gave theirments. There was not enough time for all six of them, so the leader Muri spoke on behalf of them. -I feel like my shoulders are getting heavier already. You all did so well, we have to work hard to fit in that spot. ¡°Thank you,¡± Woojoo replied with a smile. After another round ofments from theedians, the microphone went to the original singer. -Maybe he¡¯s the most important guest today. How did you feel, Mr. Yoo Myeongdeok, who wrote andposed the original song ¡®Deoksoon-ah¡¯? -¡­ -Sir? The MC paused with his neck slightly stretched, and the face of the middle-aged singer appeared on the screen. -Huh, huh¡­ The original singer, Yoo Myeongdeok pushed his sses up to his forehead and dabbed his eyes with a handkerchief. Everyone was stunned. He was just pursing his lips and looking up at the ceiling until a moment ago, but now he was crying. ¡®Uh uh uh-¡¯ A don¡¯t cry reaction flowed from the audience, and the middle-aged singer swallowed his tears and took the microphone. -Yes, New ck. Thank you so much. Teacher Yoo Myeongdeok looked at each of them. -Woojoo, Bijoong, Junghyuk, Rihyun, Jihoo. He got all the names wrong except mine. It was a scene where the close-up shots of Woojoo¡¯s siblings¡¯ shocked faces were interspersed every time he called their names on the live broadcast. Along with the buzzer sound of the quiz being wrong, the subtitles below the flustered faces said [Bijoong(X) ¡ú Bijoo(O)]. When the MC told him the truth, the middle-aged singer was embarrassed. -Oh, I¡¯m sorry. I searched on my smartphone in a hurry¡­ I have presbyopia. Everyone smiled at the round face of the senior singer who prepared to call each of their names. Teacher Yoo Myeongdeok, who was speaking with a tearful voice at first, spoke with his characteristic hoarse voice. -I was really moved. Moved, and moved again. How can these young kids sing so well? This was the best song I wanted to give a thumbs-up to among the songs I heard in the fifth act of my life. I was moved to tears by the code progression that showed how much effort you put into the arrangement. There was nothing missing in singing, and this perfect performance¡­ The middle-aged singer, who had the nickname of talk machine gun in entertainment, kept on praising us without a break. -Teacher, I¡¯m now¡­ -Just wait a bit. MC teacher. Let me talk some more. Everyone burst intoughter as he spewed outpliments for almost five minutes, and New ck dly epted them. But the more they heard thepliments, the less they couldugh. ¡®Teacher seems to have misunderstood something.¡¯ ¡®He was really moved.¡¯ As Woojoo and his siblings shook their eyes, Teacher Yoo Myeongdeok, who wasughing heartily, said. -These days, they call it the volcano of emotion, right? I was really a volcano. How can the respect and mission for the song burn so fiercely in the hearts of these young friends? If I talk about that part¡­ He wrapped up the arrangement andpletion of ¡®Deoksoon-ah¡¯ with his love for the old song. The TNT group sitting behind them was trying their best to control their expressions, and Woojoo smiled while hiding his embarrassment. -Anyway, you¡¯re the best, the best! Always be victorious! New ck! ¡°Thank you!¡± The audience also pped together. As the middle-aged singer said, they all reacted like ¡®How can they have so much love for the song!¡¯. Except for a few people in the public hall, no one knew the truth and sent apuse mixed with emotion. Woojoo should never talk about Kim Deoksoon¡¯s buff. Never. When the MC saw the writer¡¯sment that came out on the prompter screen, he asked a follow-up question. -I heard from the writers that Woojoo¡¯s grandmother¡¯s name is Kim, Deok-ja Soon-ja, the same as ¡®Deoksoon-ah¡¯? ¡°Yes, that¡¯s right.¡± -It must have been very hard to immerse yourself. ¡®Deoksoon-ah¡¯ is about the love and passion for the lover, but your grandmother¡¯s name is the same. Woojoo grabbed the microphone and smiled. ¡°It was a bit difficult in some aspects.¡± At that moment, the eyes of the panelists and the ones next to him flew in. ¡®Look at him lying.¡¯ ¡®He was full of love and passion more than anyone¡­¡¯ ¡®It wasn¡¯t immersion, it was oneness.¡¯ Woojoo ignored them and talked about immersion. It wasn¡¯t a lie to say that immersion was hard in some ways. Teacher Yoo Myeongdeok¡¯s ¡®Deoksoon-ah¡¯ was a fresh and lively spring girl, while his grandmother was a tough and fierce woman who said ¡®fresh and what, damn it¡¯. The MC made a suggestion. -When the broadcast goes out, your grandmother will see it too, so can you say a word of greeting to your grandmother as thestment? Woojoo nodded and smiled at the front camera. ¡°Grandma-¡± The elderly audienceughed at the friendly voice. ¡°I¡¯m sorry I called your name a bit rudely. But you know I love you, right?¡± -We do too. Hehe! -I love you too! -Ahem, I, I also a little¡­ Woojoo frowned and turned his head. ¡°Guys, she¡¯s my grandma. My grand-ma.¡± Was ¡®my grand-ma¡¯ that funny? The audience who were watching the video letter seriously burst intoughter, but Woojoo expressed his affection to the camera. ¡°Anyway, the most lovely and beautiful grandmother in the world. I¡¯ll call you right after the recording is over. I love you. Deok-¡± When Woojoo winked at his siblings, they all sensibly picked up the microphone and harmonized. Deoksoon-ah-ah- The audience pped andughed. At the MC¡¯s request to say goodbye, they finished promoting the third album and went down the stage. The apuse didn¡¯t stop until they all went down. They made a resolution together at thepany after they came back from the special stage of the hit song group. ¡°Okay, from today on, we¡¯re not going to look at the inte.¡± ¡°Sounds good.¡± They concluded that it was better not to see people¡¯s reactions to cope with theeback anxiety. There was nothing they could do anyway. They felt like they wouldn¡¯t be able to do anything if they saw how people reacted every time aeback promotion was released. They didn¡¯t have much time to look at it in the first ce. The preparation for the ¡®Deoksoon-ah¡¯ stage took up a lot of time, and they didn¡¯t have enough time to work on the quality of the title stage. It was a time when every minute and second was precious. ¡°We¡¯ll see how people react after the song is released. For now, let¡¯s delete the inte apps from our smartphones.¡± ¡°I can¡¯t delete them. They¡¯re basic apps, Hyung.¡± ¡°Oh.¡± Then they agreed to erase them from their minds. They told the managers that they wanted to practice without any outside news for a while, and they agreed. Instead, every time Minki Hyung and Dowon Hyung came to give them chicken breast lunch boxes, they handed them post-its with the headlines of ¡®Today¡¯s Major News¡¯. That was how they prepared for the showcase with the determination to either sleep or practice until the day of theeback. D-4 They helped Junhyun with his solo stage preparation while the tracklist was opened. D-3 When the music video teaser was opened, they suggested giving Rihyuk, who had choked on his food, a hand and foot massage, but he said he didn¡¯t believe in such pseudoscience. In the end, they all took care of one arm and leg each and rubbed them hard to make sure his blood cirction was good. D-2 When the second music video teaser was released, Bijoo didn¡¯t eat anything and practiced the choreography until he vomited. Woojoo took the younger ones to the emergency exit. D-1 They were so anxious that they allid down nkets in the living room and slept. And finally, D-Day arrived. April 15, 2015. The reporters started to take their seats at the showcase venue. Each of them opened theirptops and wrote articles in various versions, and they chatted with the people they knew. ¡°Wow.¡± Someone eximed with admiration, ¡°There are so many people today.¡± ¡°I know. Last time they released their second album, it wasn¡¯t like this.¡± ¡°Wow¡­¡± It looked like twice as many people as the media showcase that took cest November. It was no exaggeration to say that almost every entertainment department of the media came out. ¡°I think we need to give them a little more Q&A time than usual. Can we handle all these people?¡± Some of them looked at the big screen with a sour taste in their mouths. The concept photos and teasers of the mini second album were ying. ¡°By the way, did you listen to the album preview that came out yesterday? And the music video?¡± ¡°I saw them all.¡± ¡°I wrote the articles in advance, dividing them into ¡®hit¡¯ and ¡®medium¡¯ versions, and then I watched the music video. As soon as I saw it, I uploaded the ¡®hit¡¯ version.¡± Theyughed. ¡°The visuals were amazing. It was like a movie.¡± ¡°They said they were working on a worldview, and I wondered what they were doing at first, but I think they built it quite sessfully.¡± ¡°But I still don¡¯t know what the story is about.¡± Just like the mini first album Masquerade, this time they also released a story film along with the music video. The story film was titled ¡®Prologue: Before the Story Begins¡¯. A huge library appeared, and five books of different colors, red, yellow, etc., were lit up one by one. A red book fell off, and an illustration of people wearing masks standing in a gloomy city flowed out. Suddenly, a fire broke out by someone who lit a fire. That was how the library, which had turned into ashes, copsed, and Scarlet¡¯s Daisy picked up five books in her hand. That was thest scene. ¡°Their fans posted an analysis, and they said that they are characters from different genres of books. And every time one of them goes back to their own book, the other four save them.¡± ¡°Oh, so that¡¯s why this time too.¡± If the mini first album was a story of saving Red from a masked ball-like world, this time the music video was a story of meeting Yellow, who was the only survivor on a that seemed to have been destroyed. ¡°What about the song?¡± ¡°Well.¡± One reporter answered. ¡°Their songs are always good, aren¡¯t they?¡± ¡°Honestly, whether they hit or not is more important, the quality of New ck¡¯s songs has always been consistent.¡± ¡°One thing is for sure, unless something goes wrong, we¡¯ll never fail.¡± Everyone nodded in agreement, while a reporter who came to New ck¡¯s showcase for the first time asked a question. ¡°Why do you say that?¡± ¡°Well, look at the views of their music video yesterday, and the size of their fandom. They¡¯re huge, so they won¡¯t fail. And¡­¡± The reporter who answered trailed off and said, ¡°Besides, even we are talking about their music video content. That shows how much buzz they have.¡± ¡°Oh¡­¡± The reporters who came to the showcase only skimmed through the press release and wrote their articles were the entertainment reporters. But even they were discussing how their music video was, how their singing group activities were, and so on. That was proof of how much interest they had in New ck. ¡°The quality of their songs is always good. The only thing left is whether they¡¯ll rise or not.¡± ¡°But that¡¯s the most important thing, isn¡¯t it?¡± Someone said, ¡°They¡¯re one of the most popr boy groups in terms of public recognition, but their album sales and achievements are far behind.¡± ¡°Right. That¡¯s why the idolmunities were on fire for the past week. They were arguing about where New ck stands.¡± ¡°They¡¯re the ones who fight over whether they like sauce or not.¡± ¡°Anyway, for New ck, this is a turning point. Whether they go up or stay as a boy group with high public recognition but low performance.¡± Meanwhile, the reporters who had been following New ck since their debut single shrugged. ¡°Wow, I can¡¯t get used to this atmosphere. Everything was so smallst June, but now they¡¯re doing better than the rookies from the big four agencies.¡± ¡°Even for their second album, the reporters here barely knew their names.¡± ¡°It feels like yesterday when they fixed the sound mistake at the showcase. Time is¡­¡± ¡°That¡¯s right. It¡¯s like when you go to the countryside and see the dogs. They were babies at New Year¡¯s, but they¡¯re big when you go back at Chuseok.¡± New ck had achieved amazing results in just over a year since their debut. ¡°They really made it. Look at the questions the other reporters prepared.¡± ¡°But look at that reporter over there. She¡¯s so rxed.¡± Oh Sohee, a reporter from Entertainment IN, was clicking her mouse with a smile. She was watching New ck¡¯s music video. ¡°She¡¯s been almost a fan of them since the beginning.¡± ¡°That¡¯s why she¡¯s close with Lemon. She got a lot of exclusive interviews¡­¡± She was met with envious eyes. Someone¡¯s murmur summed up everyone¡¯s feelings. ¡°I should have been nicer to them when they were rookies.¡± The day they had been waiting for, theireback. Before they went on stage, they were surprised by the number of reporters who gathered. ¡°Wow¡­¡± ¡°There are more people in the back.¡± ¡°Eek.¡± The media showcase was held in a heated atmosphere, much more than their second album. Even while they were performing, they thought, ¡®What is this? There are so many people¡­¡¯ They were nervous. They didn¡¯t know there were so many people who were interested in their album. The Q&A session was over before they knew it. The strange thing was, the number of reporters increased, but the number of weird questions decreased. ¡°That¡¯s because they don¡¯t need to use you as bait to get views anymore.¡± Seokhwan Hyung exined, ¡°Before, they had to write provocative titles to get more views, but now people just click when they see ¡®New ck¡¯. So the content is more important.¡± It was a change that was hard to adapt to. Of course, there were still some people who asked weird questions. They mostly asked Jiho about his acting in ¡®Slip¡¯, and his ns for solo activities. And then they asked them how they felt about their youngest doing acting. It seemed like they wanted to create some discord among them. Thankfully, theedian, Kim Chul, who was hosting the showcase cut them all off, so they didn¡¯t have to answer. ¡°Good job, everyone!¡± ¡°Thank you for your hard work!¡± After the media showcase, they only had the fan showcase left at 8 p.m. ¡°Guys.¡± ¡°Hyung.¡± Woojoo exchanged serious looks with his brothers. 6 p.m. It was time to check the release of their mini third album, including the title song ¡®Windflower¡¯, on the music sites. Chapter 239: Chapter 239: Trantor: MarcTempest Editor: Rxel Chapter 239 Wow. He was nervous. Usually, it took an hour for the songs to show up on the real-time chart after they were released. That meant they wouldn¡¯t know if their song made it to the chart until 7 o¡¯clock. Even though the ranking didn¡¯te out right away, Woojoo¡¯s heart was pounding and his stomach was churning. ¡°Huff¡­¡± His deep breath sounded like thunder. He turned his head and met the eyes of his brothers.All five of them were breathing heavily. They looked at each other andughed. It felt like the tension was easing a bit. ¡°I wish it was released already. I¡¯m really, really, really nervous. I can¡¯t do anything right now.¡± Woojoo felt the same way. He wiped the sweat off his palm and started counting down from 5:55. As he sat on the sofa in the waiting room and opened hisptop, the staff gathered around. Seokhwan Hyung. Minki Hyung, Dowon Hyung. Manager Kim and the stylists. Hong Seoyoung from the PR Team and the intern. The fan manager. The dance and vocal trainers. They were Team New ck, who worked hard to make the third album happen. Everyone had a tense face. Seokhwan Hyung put his hand on Woojoo¡¯s shoulder and calmlyforted them. ¡°Oh, it¡¯sing, it¡¯sing.¡± At Junghyun¡¯s words, they all counted down 10 seconds. Rihyuk, who was holding the mouse, kept refreshing the page. At 6 o¡¯clock sharp. An album art appeared on the artist ¡®New ck¡¯ introduction page. ¡°Wow!¡± They all pped and congratted the birth of the new album. While Woojoo was telling the staff ¡®You guys worked so hard¡¯ as a producer. ¡°Download, let¡¯s download it quickly. Hyung,¡± Bijoo said with an excited face. At his words, everyone started saying ¡®Download! Download it quickly!¡¯ They all took out their phones and downloaded the whole album. Eleven songs were added to their phones. The trendy album art that captured the sun in color, titled [Yellow, the Color of Sunshine]. A flower shaped like a pictogram was dotted in the middle. It was a picture that Bijoo drew himself. ¡°Wow¡­¡± Woojoo smiled as he watched Bijoo look at the album art on his phone from various angles. He looked like a child who saw a 3D picture for the first time. ¡°Hyung, I¡¯m so amazed,¡± Bijoo said with wide eyes. ¡°We worked on this and it came out as a product. Junghyun and I participated inposing songs too¡­¡± ¡°Isn¡¯t it amazing?¡± ¡°Yes. Hyung, you¡¯ve been feeling this way all this time.¡± They were amazed by the songs they produced and participated in. Everyone was talking excitedly. ¡°Dinner is here!¡± The managers came with lunch boxes. Steak sets from a family restaurant. Seokhwan Hyung pped his hands and gathered everyone¡¯s attention. ¡°This is a lunch box that our members bought for the staff. Thank you for your hard work. Enjoy your meal.¡± ¡°Oh my.¡± ¡°Thank you! Guys, let¡¯s eat well!¡± There was a cheerful sound of cutting everywhere, and they ate the steak as if they were starving. ¡°Wow, this taste¡­ I guess I was dieting for a month for today. It¡¯s so delicious.¡± ¡°I feel like crying because it¡¯s so delicious¡­¡± ¡°I already shed some tears.¡± Junghyun stopped eating his steak and dabbed his eyes with a tissue. No one was surprised. ¡°Did you yawn?¡± ¡°Yes.¡± Well, that was that. On the other hand, the reason they ate the steak quickly was also to avoid a certain topic. No one was talking about it, and the staff didn¡¯t say it for them either. ¡°Will our song make it to the chart?¡± ¡­their bear asked warmly. As soon as the ranking talk came up, Woojoo¡¯s stomach tightened. Rihyuk coughed and looked for water. He drank so roughly that the tint on his straw came off. And silence ensued. ¡°¡­¡± ¡°¡­¡± Expected ranking. The fact that they made it into the top 100 was amazing enough, so Woojoo thought he would be happy with any chart position. In his head. Buttely, their songs from Legendary Song Discovery had been entering the charts one after another, and Something was also doing well in the top 10. Their previous album, Masquerade, had also reached the 10th ce. Woojoo couldn¡¯t help but have some expectations. But nothing was certain in the music industry. Even the strongest artists could slip if they made a mistake. That was why he was scared. What if they had high hopes, but the results fell short of their expectations? What if their songs didn¡¯t receive enough love? Woojoo could say ¡®We worked hard, so that¡¯s enough¡¯, but the human heart was not so easy to change. Especially since this album was a project that they led from the front. Director Jo Gyuhwan had overseen the whole production, but they had more input in the practical aspects, from Woojoo as the producer to the other members. From the album art to the smallest details. They had to show some results. Thepany people wouldn¡¯t me them if they didn¡¯t do well, but they had pride too. They said ¡®Let us try!¡¯ and stepped up, but if the oue was disappointing¡­ No. Let¡¯s not think too pessimistically. That was something to think about after the results came out. Besides, right now, his kids are looking at him closely, like sailors looking at apass in the middle of the sea. ¡°Let¡¯s wait and see. There¡¯s no point in guessing right now.¡± ¡°That¡¯s right.¡± Bijoo chimed in, ¡°Anyway, there¡¯s no use in talking about whether we¡¯re on the chart or not until the resultse out. We might get disappointed if we get our hopes up too much.¡± ¡°I agree.¡± ¡°I¡¯ll just imagine things by myself.¡± They all said that, but they swallowed their saliva, blinked their eyes, or put their hands on their chests and took deep breaths. They looked nervous. Except for their third youngest, who was poking his fork at the broli and saying ¡®This is delicious¡¯. As the kids looked at him, Woojoo looked for someone to look at and met Seokhwan Hyung¡¯s eyes. Bijoo whispered softly, ¡°Hyung, don¡¯t you think the manager¡¯s expression is a bit¡­ off?¡± ¡°Really, it is.¡± Their manager, who was looking at his phone and frowning. The road managers were also whispering to each other. Assistant Manager Hong from the PR Team also went outside with a serious face and a phone. Woojoo thought he had some skill in reading people¡¯s expressions, but they all looked a bit grim. What was going on¡­ ¡°¡­¡± Then, Seokhwan Hyung smiled at Woojoo. But that expression made him feel more uneasy. The kids¡¯ eyes turned back to Woojoo. ¡°Let¡¯s not worry too much,¡± Woojoo said with a smile. ¡°I don¡¯t have a bad feeling, so¡­¡± That was when it happened. As Woojoo was talking, as Bijoo was sping his hands, as Junghyun was cutting a piece of steak and feeding it to Rihyuk, as Rihyuk was drinking water with a pale face. As the youngest was taking a selfie in front of the screen with the album art. Boom- With a thunderous sound, everyone¡¯s eyes turned to the window. Outside the concert hall. Dark clouds covered the sky and poured down rain. ¡°¡­¡± Rihyuk tilted his head. ¡°I think I just had a bad feeling, what were you going to say?¡± ¡°¡­Nothing.¡± Woojoo cut the steak silently. Fan showcase rehearsal. They moved around the stage busily, trying to digest the steak. ¡°I¡¯ll be in the center with the spotlight, so Junghyun and Hyung cane in a half beat faster.¡± ¡°Got it. Should wee in at the ¡®you¡¯ part?¡± ¡°Yes. That part. And Rihyuk¡­¡± Woojoo nodded and listened to the performance director¡¯s suggestions on how to decorate the stage. ¡°Ah, five hundred won, five hundred won¡­¡± They all cleared their throats. Woojoo felt uneasy the whole time they were rehearsing on stage, following the director¡¯s instructions. ¡°What do we do? It¡¯s raining right now¡­¡± The problem was the Souffl¨¦s waiting outside. In their minds, they already saw the Souffl¨¦s soaked in rainwater, sagging and struggling. ¡°Minki Hyung, are the fans outside okay?¡± ¡°They all brought umbres. The rain has let up a bit since earlier, and they¡¯ll start letting them in soon, so don¡¯t worry.¡± ¡°Ah, thank goodness¡­¡± They were all relieved. They were happy when they heard they wereing back in spring, thinking it wouldn¡¯t be too cold or hot, but then a shower showed up. ¡°Come on, let¡¯s get our timing right again.¡± They quickly checked their movements for thest time. As they were getting off the stage, Jiho asked curiously, ¡°But why did they remove all the chairs?¡± ¡°Huh, yeah?¡± The chairs were gone from the first floor of the hall, which was divided into two floors. That was where the reporters were sitting during the media showcase. Rihyuk asked, ¡°Wait a minute, how many people areing?¡± ¡°A thousand, right?¡± ¡°But they made the seats standing now.¡± ¡°¡­Yeah.¡± They had missed one more thing because they had cut off all the outside news. The fan showcase attendance. It wasn¡¯t that they weren¡¯t curious, but they just assumed it would be around a thousand people when they heard the venue. That was the size of the fan meeting they had before. But something seemed strange now. ¡°Let¡¯s askter.¡± But as soon as they got back to the waiting room, they forgot all about the showcase attendance. It was almost seven o¡¯clock. ¡°¡­¡± Woojoo massaged his stiff neck. How did he calm down? He hadn¡¯t been this nervous since after their debut. It felt like they had run a hundred meters, and everyone was out of breath. Rihyuk pped his chest. ¡°I, I¡¯ll be satisfied with whatever the result is.¡± Jiho nodded his head. ¡°I¡¯ve already let go¡­ let go¡­¡± ¡°Let go.¡± ¡°I¡¯ve let go. What we¡¯ve done so far is what matters. Um¡­ Ah, I don¡¯t know what to say. Ugh! Rihyuk Hyung!¡± ¡°Don¡¯t expect anything! I¡¯m nervous too!¡± While the two of them were making a fuss, they smiled calmly. Inside, their organs were doing a dance break. Rihyuk¡¯s hand holding the mouse was shaking. ¡°Uh, I closed the window again.¡± He kept making mistakes, so Bijoo took the mouse from him. Bijoo¡¯s fingertips were steady. But his eyshes were trembling like crazy. Five minutes before seven. As everyone in the waiting room was tense, they looked at Seokhwan Hyung. He was the same as before. His expression was not good as he looked at his phone. Woojoo wanted to grab him and ask him what was going on, but he held back. ¡°Oh, the sky cleared up.¡± The rain had stopped and the sky had opened up. It was dark, but the clear evening sky was visible. A good sign! They all nodded and started the countdown. ¡°Ten.¡± Nine, eight, seven¡­ As the numbers decreased, their hearts pounded as if they would burst. God, Deoksoon. Please make our songs do well. I¡¯m going to make myst wish, well, not thest one, but a wish. ¡°Seven o¡¯clock!¡± The youngest grabbed their arms excitedly. It was when Bijoo was about to click the mouse. Waaah-! A sound like a scream faintly reached them. It was a distant sound, but a scream that shook the entire concert hall. Bijoo closed the window with a flick of his finger. Woojoo¡¯s hand trembled as he typed Mango in the address bar. His heart was pounding with excitement. Could this be¡­ There were times like this. When there¡¯s a national ser game, but the opponent was too strong, so you didn¡¯t bother watching. You hear a ¡®Ahh!¡¯ from somewhere and think ¡®They scored on us¡¯ and then a ¡®Woohoo!¡¯ and wonder ¡®Did we score?¡¯ The sound they just heard was thetter. ¡°It¡¯s in!¡± And it was when Woojoo was about to click on the chart details. ¡°Huh?¡± Bijoo grabbed Woojoo¡¯s arm and shouted. ¡°Huh! Huh!¡± The other siblings were the same. Before they even checked the detailed rankings on the real-time chart, they all gasped for breath. ¡°¡­!¡± Woojoo felt goosebumps all over his body. With an electric sensation, his arms, then his cheeks, and then his neck muscles tightened. His mouth was dry as he swallowed saliva. His mind was frozen. Real-time music chart at 19:00. There was only one album art disyed on the real-time rankings from first to tenth ce. It was the first ce song. Next to that first ce song, there was a yellow album art. First ce. New ck ¨C Windflower The whole world stopped. Everyone in the waiting room screamed. ¡°Woah-!¡± At 7 p.m. Real-time chart first ce. It was a record-breaking ranking that they had never imagined before. It felt like a hole had been punched in a sack of rice. Their energy drained out. ¡°Huh¡­¡± They all turned into squids and slid down the sofa. Woojoo¡¯s back was damp from leaning on it. He must have sweated without knowing it. ¡°Haha, wow¡­¡± They looked at each other andughed emptily. They couldn¡¯t speak and just made wind noises with their mouths open. ¡°Congrattions!¡± ¡°Guys, congrattions!¡± The staff ran over and patted their shoulders or shook their hands with excited faces. Then the tension was released. The reality that Woojoo didn¡¯t feel at first hit him hard. On the monitor, the words ¡®First ce. New ck ¨C Windflower¡¯ were waving at him. ¡°Congrattions, you all worked hard.¡± As Woojoo saw Seokhwan Hyung¡¯s face patting his shoulder, he asked the question he had been holding back. ¡°Hyung, why did you look like that from before? I was really nervous.¡± ¡°Oh, that.¡± Their manager smiled and said, ¡°I was managing my expression. I wanted to surprise you guys.¡± ¡°¡­?¡± They tilted their heads. Bijoo asked, ¡°What do you mean, Manager? Did you know the result beforehand?¡± When a strange thought crossed Woojoo¡¯s mind, Seokhwan Hyung and the staff burst intoughter. ¡°Idiots. Five-minute chart.¡± ¡°¡­?¡± What was that? ¡°It¡¯s a chart that shows the expected first, second, and third ce for the next time slot.¡± ¡°¡­!¡± ¡°I was so surprised when I saw that, I thought I was going to die trying to manage my expression. Really. I barely held it in with a frown.¡± So they were all deliberately squinting their eyes like that. Now that they let out theughter they had been holding back, the staff looked relieved and they made a ¡®Wow, you bad people¡¯ expression. Then New ck soonughed. ¡°Let¡¯s look at the chart some more. We.¡± At Bijoo¡¯s urging, Woojoo clicked the mouse. When he clicked on ¡®Details¡¯, the rankings from first to tenth ce popped up. ¡°Wow.¡± As the screen changed, he eximed once again at the sight of Windflower at the top spot. They gasped every time he scrolled down the mouse. ¡°There are also B-side tracks¡­!¡± ¡°What?¡± This felt unreal. Their B-side tracks were ranked at 23rd, 27th, 38th, and so on. There was Flower Dance, which they nned to promote as a follow-up song, and Intro: Wind, which Junghyun made himself. ¡°¡­This is crazy.¡± They checked the top 100 and then looked at Windflower again. It felt like all the screws that had been tightened were loosened. They buried themselves in the sofa, leaving the screen with the number one spot on, as if it might disappear. ¡°¡­¡± They made it. That was the first thought that came to them. Windflower waved at them, as if to greet them after they had been trembling with tension and anxiety. ¡­They really made it. Woojoo closed his eyes slightly and a tear rolled down. A lump rose in his chest and something hot welled up. As he took a deep breath, his teeth shed with the trembling muscles in his throat. When he let out a hot breath and another tear fell, it happened. ¡°Sniff¡­¡± Woojoo opened his eyes wide at the sound of sobbing. All of his brothers were crying. Jiho was looking at the floor with his hands on his cheeks, and Rihyuk was swallowing his tears with his head tilted back. Even Junghyun, who looked calm, was wiping his eyes with his hand. But the one who was crying the hardest was someone Woojoo never expected. ¡°Bijoo?¡± It was Bijoo, who was covering his face with both hands and crying. He was shaking his body as if he was letting out a sorrowful cry. Woojoo¡¯s tears dried up. ¡°Bijoo Hyung, are you okay?¡± ¡°Hyung.¡± ¡°Bijoo.¡± He only cried when we spoke to him. He didn¡¯t answer, so they just stared at him for a while as he sobbed and shook. After a few minutes, Bijoo waved his hand with his eyes wide open. ¡°I, I¡¯m fine¡­ Don¡¯t worry about me. Guys.¡± ¡°You don¡¯t look fine. Don¡¯t cry. Our makeup will be ruined.¡± At Woojoo¡¯s words, Bijoo cried andughed, held back andughed, and blew his nose. ¡°I, I guess I was too nervous,¡± Bijoo said with a forced smile. ¡°This album was centered around me. I made Windflower with Hyung¡­¡± As he spoke, Bijoo took several deep breaths, then shuddered and started crying again. ¡°Wh, what if¡­ what if we failed because of me¡­¡± He couldn¡¯t hold back and burst into tears again. Bijoo¡¯s pitiful crying made Woojoo feel both flustered and sad. You should have told us earlier. Don¡¯t keep it to yourself. As Jiho quickly handed him a tissue, Woojoo wrapped his arm around his thin shoulder andforted him. ¡°What do you mean, failed? Even if we did, how is that your fault?¡± ¡°But¡­ I, I had that thought.¡± ¡°Hey, don¡¯t cry. If you cry, I¡¯ll cry too.¡± Woojoo calmed him down for a while, and Bijoo finally settled down. It must have been a few minutes. Woojoo asked him carefully, ¡°Are you feeling better now?¡± ¡°¡­Yes. I feel much better.¡± Bijoo sniffed and smiled. ¡°I¡¯m so happy that it went well. We.¡± They all nodded silently. It felt like they had lifted a heavy burden off our shoulders. They could tell how each other felt without saying anything. They hugged each other and quietly breathed for a moment. ¡°¡­You all worked hard.¡± ¡°You too, Hyung.¡± They smiled and looked at each other. The first thought that came to Woojoo when he saw the number one spot on the music chart was relief. They made it. The second thought was. ¡°Our Souffl¨¦s really gathered pearls.¡± It was gratitude for their Souffl¨¦s. They made the song, but the fans were the ones who brought it up. To be honest, he was still nervous. Maybe the Souffl¨¦s felt the same way. Woojoo wondered if this was really happening. ¡°How did you do this¡­?¡± Of course, the ranking was not permanent, since the general public had to listen to the song to maintain it. It was not umon for a song to enter at 1st or 2nd ce and then drop down the next day. But this was precious to them. 8 p.m. They had finished all the preparations for the fan showcase. Their eyes were slightly red, but the makeup artists did their best to hide the traces of their tears. When they were about to go on stage, they remembered a question that they had forgotten. ¡°By the way, Seokhwan Hyung. You cleared all the chairs. Are we doing it standing today?¡± ¡°Huh? Oh. Of course.¡± Of course? ¡°There¡¯s no room for chairs with 2,000 peopleing. We have to do it standing.¡± ¡°Oh, right¡­ What?¡± ¡°I¡¯m talking about your showcase. 2,000 people areing.¡± He narrowed his eyes at them. ¡°You didn¡¯t know, did you?¡± ¡°¡­¡± ¡°They said 2,000 people wereing this time¡­ You really didn¡¯t know. You guys.¡± When they opened their mouths in shock, Seokhwan Hyung chuckled. ¡°You¡¯re not rookies anymore. Guys.¡± ¡°¡­¡± ¡°My goodness, singers who don¡¯t even know how many people areing to their fan showcase.¡± He muttered that he would use this as a promotional story and they stared at him nkly. After a while, they looked at each other andughed nervously. My God. 2,000 people. ¡°Guys, let¡¯s go on stage.¡± Woojoo walked quietly down the hallway with the members. They were still nervous about the 2,000 people, but as time passed, they felt more excited than anxious. Soon, their steps became lighter. They were going to meet their Souffl¨¦s again, who they had been waiting for so long. Their hearts were fluttering. 8 p.m. Their ¡®Windflower¡¯, which had entered at 1st ce earlier, was still swaying its petals at the top. Chapter 240: Chapter 240: Trantor: MarcTempest Editor: Rxel Chapter 240 ¡°Look at this.¡± ¡°Wow. They¡¯re really too much.¡± Before Windflower was uploaded to the music site, the Souffl¨¦s frowned as they looked at their phone screens. There was a lot of talk in the idolmunity about the pre-released music video of New ck. -New ck¡¯s music video is kind of weird?? -The song sucks-It¡¯s vague. Fireworks and Masquerade were different genres, but I felt like they were going to explode when I listened to them -Yeah, there¡¯s no punch -They went from strong songs to weak ones, so um¡­ haha -They must have made the song in a hurry for the Muggles after they got their faces known to them? -It needs to be addictive for the Muggles. This is not enough The Souffl¨¦s who were looking at the screen were furious. ¡°Wow. What is this? The music critics are here.¡± ¡°How many pages are there on this thread? What is this?¡± There were posts that tantly criticized the song, but there were also posts that subtly pretended to be the majority opinion. [New ck¡¯s music video that is getting a bad reaction from people right now.youtube] [The song that New ck produced themselves for this album] [The rookie idol group that is not getting as much response as they expected from their MV] There were more than a few posts that made them angry just by looking at them. ¡®The song for this album is not that good, huh? Did New ck produce it?¡¯ That was the reaction that they saw everywhere. In thement section, the Souffl¨¦s were at war with them, but the ones who kept saying ¡®It¡¯s bad! It¡¯s bad!¡¯ like parrots were persistent. -What? Just because they got some poprity, they think they¡¯re saints? If it¡¯s bad, we can say it¡¯s bad -The fans are so mean -They¡¯re going to get sued. No nder in thements -Is it because theyposed it themselves? Their fans are too proud of their song;; It makes me frown when I see it -I work in the music industry and I¡¯ll give you an objective evaluation. The otherposers said the same thing. It should have exploded at Savi¡¯s part, but here¡­ The Souffl¨¦s who had a lot of experience in idol fandom were calm and thought ¡®This too shall pass¡¯, but most of them looked surprised. ¡®Why are there so many posts?¡¯ There was a lot more talk about the music video and the song than when they did Masquerade. It was not the kind of reaction that woulde out for a rookie idol group from a small agency. Maybe if it was a famous rookie from a big agency. It was the first time the Souffl¨¦s experienced this. ¡°Just let it go.¡± A Souffl¨¦ who had a lot of fandom experience said to someone who was shaking their phone, ¡°Anyway, the more these parrots make a fuss, the more buzz it will create. When the resultse out, they¡¯ll change their tune.¡± ¡°Really?¡± ¡°Yes.¡± ¡°¡­Wow, you¡¯re so calm. I envy you.¡± ¡°Well. It¡¯s not the first or second time that this happens in this field. Look at the flow of the posts.¡± Their finger pointed at the screen. ¡°There¡¯s only a lot of talk about the song. There¡¯s nothing about the quality of the music video.¡± ¡°Oh, right?¡± There was no mention of the music video quality being bad, even though they said this and that about the song. It was because the quality was good even at a nce. It felt like they were only focused on the song, which was the only thing that could be subjectively evaluated. ¡®What are these people doing?¡¯ They wanted to see their faces, who were biting at New ck as if they had taken money from them. Did they have some grudge or something? But as one of the Souffl¨¦s said, it was true that the interest also increased as the bad reviews increased. There were also those who came out after crossing the line and getting disgusted. -Isn¡¯t this too hasty? It¡¯s not toote to talk after the resultse out;; -The song is good¡­? Is there something wrong with my ears? -Isn¡¯t this the same for any idol? When the second albumes out, they say the first one was good, and when the third onees out, they say the second one was good. What do they want?? -Didn¡¯t they also have a live singing controversyst time? -They¡¯re just hitting them again when they see the opportunity That was how theeback of the rookie boy group became an issue in the idolmunity. ¡°6 o¡¯clock!¡± ¡°It¡¯s 6 o¡¯clock¡­!¡± The Souffl¨¦s who were gathered at the showcase site moved their hands like lightning. There were hands that quickly tapped the phone screens everywhere. They started to leave positive reviews on the album review section along with streaming the main music sites. It was a tense atmosphere. ¡®I hope it goes well.¡¯ It was the wish that they all shared. It was all because of their singer. They could guess to some extent by watching their live broadcasts and such. The singers might think they were hiding it well, but the fans could see things that only they noticed. Like how they looked anxious as they prepared for their third albumeback. Or how they threw themselves more than usual in other shows to promote their album. They knew how much effort they put into their third album, so they just wished them the best. That was what was on the minds of the Souffl¨¦s who were at the scene. ¡®How high will it rank?¡¯ The fans had increased since the Masquerade, so it would be higher than that, right? But it would be nice if it was higher than Something. Beat New ck. That was when someone who checked the five-minute chart widened their eyes. ¡°What¡­?¡± The other fans also checked the five-minute chart and started to open their eyes wide. Soon, a scream-like sound burst out. Rumble- If it hadn¡¯t been drowned out by the thunder, it would have been a moment when New ck, who were huddled together in the waiting room, would have noticed something strange. ¡°¡­¡± The people who were sitting together in silence looked at each other. At first, they were stunned. They didn¡¯t even think of opening their umbres as the raindrops fell one by one, and they had nk expressions on their faces. Then, another scream-like sound burst out with the thunder. Soon, the raindrops started to fall one by one. They hurriedly opened their umbres in the sudden rain, but they couldn¡¯t hide the joy that was bursting out everywhere. ¡°¡­!¡± In the eyes of the Souffl¨¦s who were sitting there, it was as if every raindrop that was falling was a golden number ¡®1¡¯ shining. Number one on the music chart. Souffl¨¦s were in a festive mood, whether they were on the scene or online. -Guys????????? -Let the music y!!! ?????? -Aww, I¡¯m crying¡­ -Eek, I think of the kids when I hear Jiho¡¯s way of speaking???? -I¡¯ve loved them until now¡­ -We¡­ we did it. -Is this where I¡¯m supposed to lie down? -??????Why are you suddenly saying you¡¯re leaving? Don¡¯t go!! The Souffl¨¦s who were scattered everywhere were dancing with their shoulders. Everyone was holding a toast. It wasn¡¯t just the Souffl¨¦s who were excited about New ck¡¯s number one entry. -They got number one¡­??? -The fans are crazy????? -I thought the song was good, but I didn¡¯t expect it to be number one -When did New ck get so big?? -I thought they had some poprity, but what¡¯s with their firepower¡­? It¡¯s amazing -They made it, huh At the same time, the praises that had been hidden by the harsh criticism started to surface. The public opinion changed in an instant. -The song is really good¡­ The lyrics are poetic too -The genre feels a bit unique, but I like it??? I can¡¯t exin what kind of genre it is, but I like it -I really like it. It sticks to my ears -It feels like they bnced well between the public pick and the critic pick ?? -There were a lot of obsessive conceptstely, like breaking and smashing, but this is healing and nice -But why were they criticized so much until now??? I can¡¯t tell if it¡¯s bad even if I listen to it -Hey. Where did the self-proimedposers go? The critics disappeared as if they had never been there. There were still some who stayed and imed that ¡®you have to wait and see if this is really a public pick¡¯, but they didn¡¯t get any response. Of course, no matter what reaction came out, the Souffl¨¦s were no longer upset. -Wow! We¡¯re fans of a number one singer! -¡îCongrattions, New ck enters the Mango Chart Contest¡ï -???????? -But I¡¯m suddenly curious, what does it feel like to be number two¡­? -Hmm¡­ -Scratch scratch¡­ Number two¡­ -I don¡¯t know what it feels like to breathe number two air, do you? -Spe) I¡¯ve never breathed number two air before -Stop it, guys. You¡¯re making me feel embarrassed for you?? -Aww, how embarrassing? -You were all so nervous before the show, and now you¡¯re suddenly acting like rich bosses?? -I¡¯m eight years old, and I¡¯m high on New ck. Wow ¨C?????? While they wereughing at the hrious jokes on the inte, the fans in reality were no different. ¡°Pwahaha!¡± ¡°Look at that, look at that.¡± What they wereughing at were the wreaths disyed at the concert hall. ? Jang Sowon & Lisa ¨C Wishing you a huge sess for your mini 2nd album!! (You guys are awesome!) ? PBS Music Discovery Team ¨C We support New ck¡¯seback! ? PBS Music Discovery Team ¨C Come on, guys¡­ It¡¯s not toote. Come back now ? Cha Woohyun, the vocal master ¨C New ck fighting (>?<) ? THE Maxi ¨C Aww¡­ It¡¯s already their 3rd album¡­ ? GTV ¡®Slip¡¯ crew ¨C We cheer for theeback of the thugs and Officer Heo ?? Besides these, there were many other wreaths with funny messages that made the fansugh. They held up their smartphones to take pictures of them. Among them, there was one that had the most poprity. ? TBC ¡®Men Go¡¯ ¨C We sincerely wish New ck¡¯seback and sess. ? TBC ¡®Men Go¡¯ ¨C You¡¯re noting even if we do this? Even if we do this? We can¡¯t give up on the reserve idol ? TBC ¡®Men Go¡¯ ¨C Woojoo¡­ Are you sleeping¡­? They wrote warm messages and next to them were the military variety show staff who were sticky with sweat. The fans smirked as they imagined their pale faces. That was how the fans who brought their goods and photos entered the concert hall. ¡®Wow¡­¡¯ The fans who attended the fan meetingst year stuck out their tongues as they saw the crowd gathered in standing. When did they grow so much? They said they deliberately increased the size of the event because it was theireback after almost half a year, but it felt more than that in reality. ¡®They¡¯ve grown. Our kids.¡¯ They expected it to some extent. They made their name known in apetition program that had very high ratings, and they were also rising as SNS stars recently. New ck was a name that no one could ever not know if they used SNS even a little bit. Recently, Bijoo¡¯s ¡®The Princess of the Jade Empire¡¯ and Junghyun¡¯s ¡®The Son-inw of Goguryeo¡¯ memes also became famous. The scene where the youngest one bossed around his six brothers was titled ¡®The Common Temper of a Noble Aristocrat¡¯. Because of that, Rihyuk¡¯s scene where he went to Tang Dynasty wearing Choi Chiwon¡¯s cosy also became a meme. That was how the History Discovery Team caused a big sensation along with the issue. They expected the result to some extent. But it was the first time they felt the poprity on their skin. It was the same with the entrance 1st ce. There were always familiar faces when they came to the broadcast, but now there were more new faces. They looked at them with a warm smile and squeezed through the people who were pushing from all sides. ¡®Haha, Kyuho¡­¡¯ It was when they barely pulled out their arms that were stuck like bean sprouts. The lights got darker and the music sound from therge screen got louder. 8 p.m. The music heightened the atmosphere as they faced New ck¡¯s intro stage. The vibration from therge amp made their eardrums tremble, and their hearts started to beat. The singers they had been waiting and waiting for. Finally, five agile figures appeared on the stage and a scream-like cheer burst out. When the five members¡¯ faces were revealed under the bright lights. ¡°¡­?¡± The fans who were close to the audience or had good eyesight couldn¡¯t help but hold back theirughter. ¡®They cried.¡¯ They had very serious expressions on their faces, but they had a tearful vibe from crying a lot. It was New ck. The crisis came twice. After the intro stage was over, they almost cried again. They were really happy. They had done a lot of broadcasting activities, but they had never met the fans directly with the purpose of ¡®meeting¡¯. It felt like they had finally met after making promises. How should he put it? Their hearts had already run over and were jumping among the fans who were standing there. Woojoo¡¯s younger brothers also waved their hands with excited faces. ¡°Thank you.¡± The staff who ran onto the stage handed them a hand microphone one by one and left. Woojoo smiled and winked. ¡°Two, three.¡± ¡°Hello, we are New ck!¡± Then, a huge cheer that made their ears ring followed. It was the biggest cheer among the ones that were directed at them so far. ¡°¡­¡± Woojoo opened his eyes wide and looked at his siblings. Even if they stayed still,ughter leaked out. There were 2,000 people. Not only the people standing on the first floor, but also those waving light sticks on the second floor were packed. It was like a small concert, where both the singers and the fans were excited. Woojoo felt that it was a little more real now. He was still nervous, though. ¡°Yes, uh¡­¡± Woojoo¡¯s voice trembled without him knowing. -Hyung, are you nervous? -Woojoo Hyung is shaking. Shiver, shiver. -Why are you shaking so much? These hyenas wouldn¡¯t miss it. Woojoo nced at his siblings and smiled with the microphone. ¡°Thank you so much foring to see us. It was raining outside, and you must have had a hard time waiting¡­ Thank you foring to see us!¡± -Thank you! -I¡¯m the most grateful! Woojoo looked around the audience and made eye contact with them as he took a breath. ¡°Have you been waiting a long time? We finally! With our second mini album, ¡®Yellow, the Color of Sunshine¡¯¡­¡± -We¡¯re back! The cheers and the waves of light sticks burst out. It was time for Woojoo to say the main words, after greeting each of the fans and having some time to talk to them. ¡°Um¡­¡± How should he say this? He wondered if he should mention the number one entry on the chart, but he decided to avoid it. It was different when the fans mentioned the performance and when the singer mentioned it themselves. More than anything, Woojoo wanted to tell them that their feelings for them wouldn¡¯t change even if the song didn¡¯t do well. It was a happy thing, but. No matter what the result was, their gratitude wouldn¡¯t change. ¡°I want to thank the Souffl¨¦s, including the fans who came here and those who support us.¡± Woojoo saw excited faces everywhere. It was fun to make the third album, but sometimes it was hard, too. But he felt like he was rewarded for everything at this moment. It was nice to meet the fans. He didn¡¯t know how much his heart would reach them, but. ¡°Have you listened to our second mini album?¡± ¡®Yes!¡¯ The answer came back. With that one answer, a smile appeared on the lips of Woojoo and his siblings. ¡°How was the song?¡± As he heard the answers that they liked it, Woojoo picked up the microphone and continued, ¡°You might be curious, but there is no MC for this fan showcase. We asked thepany to let us do it ourselves.¡± Bijoo took over the baton. -We produced the whole album, and we also participated in the production. -We wanted to have a time to introduce the album to you as singers and producers. No one knew their songs better than them. The purpose of this fan showcase was to have a time to introduce the songs directly to the fans. So they tried to talk, but the personalments that had been passing by since a while ago came to his ears. Rihyuk grabbed the microphone as if he had been stabbed. -You keep asking us if we cried, but I. Did. Not. Cry. -That¡¯s right. Jiho replied with a naive face to the fans whoughed. -We don¡¯t have tears. I didn¡¯t cry even when Officer Heo died. I¡¯m cold. Bijoo grabbed the microphone. -I¡­ I didn¡¯t cry either. -I cried a little bit. ¡­As they said so, the fansughed. Woojoo almost joined them. They all had swollen eyes like goldfish. Woojoo saw a fan waving a card that said ¡®Calm down, New ck¡¯ and he almostughed. Woojoo pped and smiled. ¡°Shall we start the introduction of our second mini album with our crybabies?¡± Woojoo ignored the strong protests of the crybabies and proceeded with the showcase. As the fan showcase progressed, the members of New ck began to exin the overall aspects of the album. They were definitely used to broadcasting, and the awkwardness that remained until the second album was gone. Now they were skillfully leading the fans¡¯ reactions and flowing smoothly. -The background of the music video was the reed field in Suncheon, but Bijoo got lost. -We barely found him with the Find My Child app. -That was good. When I pressed the emergency button, it kept ringing ¡®Mom! I¡¯m here!¡¯ without a break. They joked around with each other or talked about the behind-the-scenes stories of the album. Woojoo was the one who produced the whole album, and the others also participated in the production. They wanted to have a time to introduce the album to them as singers and producers. And finally, it was time to perform the title song of the mini 2nd album, ¡®Windflower¡¯. ¡°Windflower is a song that I participated inposing. It¡¯s about feeling like someone is watching you when you sometimes feel lonely. I hope it can be a song that gives strength to someone.¡± Bijoo smiled and briefly introduced the song. After the members went down to change their outfits, a calm music yed along with the curtain rising after a while. The one who stood on the stage was the rapper of New ck. It was the stage of ¡®Intro: Wind¡¯ that preceded ¡®Windflower¡¯. The music was calm like jazz, but trendy, and it wrapped around the audience. The rap started with the sound of drums. The lyrics flowed in the flow that skipped between the offbeat and the onbeat. It was about the wind finding a seed in a corner of the street and struggling to move it to the soil. It was an easy task for the big wind, but a hard one for the small wind. The lyrics were about how hard it was to nt a seed of a wildflower that bloomed on the roadside. The stage of ¡®Wind¡¯ ended and the music changed right away. The members came up next to Junghyun, who was standing still on the stage. The members of New ck, who flowed softly like the seeds swaying in the wind, started to take their ces one by one. And as the outfits that were brightly decorated like the boys of spring sparkled under the lights. The stage of ¡®Windflower¡¯ began. Chapter 241: Chapter 241: Trantor: MarcTempest Editor: Rxel Chapter 241 As the soft prelude filled the air, New ck changed their formation. The members surrounded the main dancer in a circle. In between them, Bijoo¡¯s body sank slowly. Like a seed blown by the wind, falling to the ground. At the same time, the members bent their bodies and covered the main dancer like an umbre, as if the soil was embracing the seed. When the prelude ended, the members moved to the side as if their role was over.The main dancer, who was sitting alone, got up lightly. It was a simple movement, but the fans¡¯ eyes were fixed on his graceful gesture. His hands stretched like branches as he rose, as if he was a real seed sprouting a flower. ¡°¡­¡± For a moment, they forgot the cheer they had prepared. As the Souffl¨¦s regained their senses and started cheering, Bijoo closed his eyes and grabbed the microphone. When the wind stopped That winter also stopped As the first verse ended, the members joined in. They took turns whispering the lyrics of Windflower softly. The beginning felt like a cold winter, but as time passed, it gradually resembled the warm color of spring. The fans¡¯ lips curved into a smile. ¡®It¡¯s beautiful.¡¯ The song gave a feeling of beauty, from the melody to the choreography. But it wasn¡¯t a song that was too sentimental or boring. As the song became familiar to the ears, the sound underneath changed unpredictably, stimting the ears. If they heard it by chance in a cafe, they would stop their hands on theptop and say ¡®hmm?¡¯ and listen carefully. It was a song that was gentle but powerful. It felt like there was a pulse of life in the song. ¡®¡­It¡¯s really good.¡¯ The story of the song was also easy to rte to. If Junhyun¡¯s ¡®Wind¡¯ was the story of the wind that held the seed in its arms, Windflower was the story of the wildflower that the seed bloomed. Woojoo grabbed the microphone. Where I am Is your beginning and end As they watched the performance, the story of the song naturally drew in their minds. A wildflower blooming in the apartment garden. A wildflower that watched someone who walked with a limp in the morning and returned with a drained look at night. A flower that said it was with you from the beginning and end of your day. But even if they looked at it, the person didn¡¯t give their eyes to the flower in the garden. The rap part followed. What catches your eye Is a hopeless cell The cold night sky Presses you down heavily Someone who looked at their phone with no contact on their way home or at the night sky and felt lonely. There was no answer anywhere. The wildflower told them that the starry night sky was not afort to them. The night sky was only cold and dark. It was so vast that it made you smaller and lonelier. The main vocal grabbed the microphone, and the sub vocal added harmony. You don¡¯t need to look up Or turn away You just need to look Instead of the cold night sky, if you lower your eyes, you¡¯ll see the wildflower swaying in the garden. It was a message that you were not alone. As the chorus came, the scattered members gathered again. Bijoo, who leaned his back against Woojoo, appeared in the front again, and each member moved like petals in the dance. The Souffl¨¦s who watched them had a warm smile on their lips. When the stage ended, a louder cheer than ever erupted. ¡°Woah-!¡± As they saw the members standing on the stage with flushed faces, the fans had the same thought in their minds. This song would be remembered for a long time. ¡°How was it, did you like Windflower?¡± The answer that came out at the same time made their ears sting. It was supposed to be ¡®yes¡¯, but it sounded like ¡®nuahak!¡¯. Woojoo exchanged smiles with his eyes sparkling with his siblings. ¡®They must have liked the song.¡¯ ¡®Did you all like it¡­?¡¯ Woojoo was secretly nervous. Their song¡¯s primary listeners are not the public, but the fans. That was why he was tense about their reaction. Woojoo could see pleasant emotions on the faces of the people waving their light sticks. They were like this during the first round of Legendary Song Discovery. That was when he could rx and show a happy smile. ¡°I¡¯m so relieved. I didn¡¯t know if you would like Windflower or not, so I was really nervous.¡± Woojoo added an exnation. ¡°When we prepare an album, we can¡¯t really tell if the song is good or not.¡± -That¡¯s right. We listen to it dozens of times a day. From the first draft of theposition to the repeated revisions, they listened to it hundreds of times. When they start preparing for the performance, they listened to the title song hundreds of times a day for a month, and their senses disappear. They were used to it and liked it, but they didn¡¯t know how it sounded to other people¡¯s ears. So Woojoo was anxious about what kind of reaction woulde, but he was d to get a sincere reaction. The younger ones looked relieved. Especially Bijoo, who cried while worrying about the album, had sparkling eyes. Woojoo grabbed the microphone. ¡°Wasn¡¯t the choreography beautiful?¡± There was no need to say anything else, the answer was good. ¡°I¡¯m revealing a behind-the-scenes story, but the person who made this choreography is Bijoo.¡± ¡°Oh, no. No.¡± Bijoo waved his hands and said, ¡°I didn¡¯t make it all, Choreographer y¡­¡± ¡°Yes. Choreographer y refined the overall choreography, but the start was Bijoo¡¯s choreography.¡± The dance he showed in the living room of Director Jo¡¯s house in early January was the basis of the choreography for ¡®Windflower¡¯. Woojoo calmly exined how much Bijoo contributed to making this title. ¡°No, really. He said he wanted to talk to me aboutposing, so he studiedposition theory every break time.¡± Woojoo bragged about his younger brother for five minutes, and Bijoo pulled his clothes. ¡°Hyung, stop it. I¡¯m so embarrassed.¡± ¡°Of course. Our kid is humble and amazing, right? Bijoo, you know what bolmae means, right?¡± ¡°Bolmae¡­?¡± Everyoneughed at the timid logic that went from ¡®bolmae¡­ bolme¡­ bolmakeup¡­ boltouch?¡¯ ¡°It means attractive the more you see.¡± ¡°Ah. I see. I¡¯ll remember.¡± ¡°Bijoo is someone who suits the word bolmae. Me, me. Last time¡­¡± Woojoo was excited and bragged about how diligent and good he was, but somehow everyoneughed. Why were they like that? Rihyuk grabbed the microphone and said, ¡°You¡¯re like an octopus.¡± ¡°¡­No, an octopus. I¡¯m just cherishing my younger brother¡­¡± ¡°Praise us too. Us too. You always love Bijoo the most. We¡¯re not your favorites, are we?¡± ¡°What are you talking about? My favorite is Kim Deoksoon.¡± Jiho and Woojoo bickered, and Rihyuk shook his head. ¡°¡­Well, the age difference is five years, but when you look at them, they¡¯re at the same level.¡± ¡°Hey, everyone. Don¡¯t fight because of me.¡± On the other hand, the voices of envy and jealousy exploded over the praise of Bijoo. Junghyun, who nced at Woojoo, grabbed the microphone and uttered a low-pitched ¡®humph¡¯, and the hall was covered withughter. Even their staff who were backstage copsed,ughing and leaning on the wall. Rihyuk grabbed the microphone again. ¡°And it¡¯s been beautifully packaged since a while ago, but I¡¯m one of the victims of this album.¡± ¡°A victim, Rihyuk? You¡¯ve never been a victim.¡± ¡°That¡¯s right! That¡¯s right!¡± ¡°No, these people¡­¡± Rihyuk grabbed the microphone and said, ¡°I¡¯ll tell you here. When I heard the concept of Windflower, the brothers said, ¡®Rihyuk, this song is vocal-centric.¡¯ I was looking forward to it. Oh, this time it¡¯s a song.¡± The main vocal had a look of tears in his eyes. ¡°But Bijoo came with a ¡®ta-da¡¯ and brought the choreography. You know that kind smile, right? ¡®Rihyuk. This is our choreography.¡¯ He said¡­¡± Laughter erupted everywhere. The choreography of Windflower was not easy to look at. ¡°I was surprised and said, ¡®Hyung, is this the choreography of a vocal song? This difficulty¡­?¡¯ He looked at me like he didn¡¯t understand and said, ¡®Huh? Is this hard?¡¯¡± ¡°There.¡± Bijoo said in a soft voice, ¡°Rihyuk.¡± ¡°Yes.¡± ¡°I¡¯m sorry¡­¡± They all pped andughed at Bijoo¡¯s apology. Rihyuk also chuckled and epted his apology. Woojoo revealed the behind-the-scenes stories of their title song. Woojoo wanted to shout, ¡®Everyone! Our kids are the best in the world!¡¯ but he restrained himself. He didn¡¯t want to sound like he was bragging to the fans. Besides, he couldn¡¯t reveal everything. Woojoo left out the ¡®Dark Matter¡¯ story for Rihyuk¡¯s human rights and the fans¡¯ mental health. Bijoo kept saying he wanted to tell them that Woojooposed the song after watching his choreography, but he stopped him with a look. He acted like, ¡®Why, they need to know this¡¯, butposing after seeing the choreography was a bit too much, even for him. As the fans went ¡®Wow¡¯ at Woojoo¡¯s exnation, his younger siblings who participated in this album production smiled proudly. Woojoo felt good seeing them. This was what he wanted to show them. When the fans liked the song they made themselves, he wanted to share this good feeling he had been having. ¡°Thank you for waiting for us to finally show you this album that we¡¯ve been preparing for a long time. We¡¯re really happy to share it with you.¡± Woojoo swallowed the words, ¡®We¡¯lle back sooner next time¡¯, but he thought they got the message. Woojoo made eye contact with the fans in the heated concert hall. ¡°Well, this is thest song.¡± They received a cheer full of regret and performed theirst stage. The performance of ¡®Flower Dance¡¯, which was scheduled as the follow-up song. They sat on the stage covered with petals that exploded from the stage effects and took a photo with the fans to end the fan showcase. And at the same time. Their title song ¡®Windflower¡¯ was still at number one. Idol fans who attended offline events usually felt two kinds of emotions. Sometimes they felt a strange emptiness after waiting for a long time but ending up with a short event. And sometimes they felt a sense of fulfillment and went home. On ate night. The mood of those who came out of the concert hall was mostly thetter. ¡°Did you see Bijoo¡¯s eyshes fluttering earlier? That was awesome!¡± ¡°Look at this. They¡¯re so pretty.¡± ¡°The song is really good. It¡¯s going to stay at number one like this, right? The Muggles are picking it online, too.¡± Some were chatting with people they befriended on SNS, making a fuss. Some were walking quietly to the subway station, looking at their phones. They all looked different, but they were happy. -New ck ¡®Windflower¡¯ hits it, ¡®all-kill¡¯ on 7 music charts -From trendy to top? ¡®New ck¡¯ debut 10-month idol¡¯s power -New ck¡¯s momentum is not normal¡­ Will they be the main character of the ¡®April¡¯ music chart? The entertainment media was buzzing with the Windflower that didn¡¯t seem toe down from the number one spot on the music chart. The idolmunity was also buzzing. -These days, it¡¯s hard for any male idol to enter at number one¡­ Crazy -The song is really good?? -It feels good to listen to it on the way home from work -It¡¯s not just the entry, but the feeling is big. It¡¯s amazing that the Muggles around me are asking if New ck¡¯s song came out -Weren¡¯t they rookies? When did this happen??? -They got their faces known with thebo of Legendary Song Discovery Team + History Discovery Team ¨C??where did the people who said the public only knows their name and their fandom is a handful go? There was a lot of interest in New ck, who achieved a performance that neither they nor their fans had imagined. An undeniable sess. The atmosphere was different from usual, with articles analyzing the reasons for this album¡¯s sess alreadying up. The fans instinctively felt that the sess New ck had achieved would put their idols in a different position from now on. Things would change from today. When they thought that, some of the fans who had been watching New ck since their debut felt a subtle feeling. The feeling of a small star in their arms shining brightly and quickly moving away. When they thought that, the smartphones of the fans scattered around started to vibrate. ¡¾TheNewck.Official has started a live broadcast. Watch it now!¡¿ It was a notification from the SNS app. When they pressed watch, the faces of the New ck members appeared on the screen. -We¡¯re bored, so we came back! Theyughed and chatted among themselves. They said they were bored, but anyone could tell why they came. They had been preparing for the press showcase and the fan showcase all day, and they had to get up early the next morning. There was no way they woulde just because they were bored in their exhausted state. -Let¡¯s see~ Are we looking good? Woojoo checked the angle to make sure all five members were in the frame, humming a tune and smiling brightly. -How are you, Souffl¨¦s all over the country? What are you doing right now? -Why are you asking them that? Of course they are watching this right now. -Oh, Rihyuk~ You have a point¡­ ¡®Yes!¡¯ They all shouted andughed together, making Ryeok¡¯s cheeks tremble. Woojoo scrolled through thements and said. -There are a lot ofments saying they want to grow up quickly. But that¡¯s impossible, you know. -That¡¯s right. We¡¯ll be here until you can rest at home. Junghyun read some of thements. -There¡¯s someone who says they¡¯re working overnight at apany. They¡¯re going to sleep in the dormitory. Oh, they came to the showcase but their home is in Gwangju¡­ -From California LA¡­ Oh, they want to live there? -There¡¯s someone who lives in Hawaii? Soon, the joke of ¡®Bo-gok Hawaii¡¯ made Woojoo p andugh. The puzzled looks of the other members. -What¡¯s Bo-gok Hawaii, Hyung? -Huh? You don¡¯t know? Nod. -¡­Well, it¡¯s a thing. -Someone says they¡¯re the same age as you. Who are you? ¡­How did you know that? As soon as he heard the familiar keyword, the Hyung line was happy. -I¡¯ve tried the blow pen too! I drew a rabbit with it. -I drank it upside down. -You can¡¯t do that, Junghyun. -I did. -¡­? -¡­? Theyughed at each other for a while. After chatting for a while, they pped their hands and smiled at the phone. -Actually, we wanted to say thank you again, so we came here live. Thank you so much. -Thank you! -We always say thank you, but I don¡¯t know how much it means to you. So I try to say it whenever I have time. Everyone. Thank you very much. I love you. As if writing with a pen, they carefully said each word with a gentle voice. The image of them looking at the screen was engraved in their eyes. The other members also thanked them carefully. The Souffl¨¦s scattered in many ces looked at them quietly. As they were about to say goodbye, they cleared their throats. -How about we sing a song before we go? Our songs are amazing to listen to at night. -They¡¯re the best. Soon, the gentle voices sang ¡®Windflower¡¯ softly. In the house or somewhere else. Or the people who were going home after the showcase had the gentle melody of ¡®Windflower¡¯ in their earphones. And, a quiet smile appeared on the lips of those who looked at the screen. Woojoo was sure he went to sleep happily, saying that he was a hot singer and that he shouldugh ¡®hot hot hot!¡¯ now. ¡°Ugh¡­¡± When he woke up at 3 a.m. the next day, he was a zombie. Zombies who went to the music site as soon as they woke up in the morning. People who wore baseball caps and smiled shyly as they got in the car with swollen eyes in the morning. The hair stylists also congratted them as soon as they met. ¡°Congrattions on being number one.¡± ¡°Thank you¡­ Ugh, ugh, ugh.¡± Woojoo answered with a hoarse voice and they justughed and told him to sleep. Woojoo almost burned himself with a curling iron, fell asleep with a ss of water in his hand, and went to the music site every time he nodded off. ¡°Ugh¡­¡± ¡°Ugh¡­¡± Dowon Hyung looked at them with a worried expression. ¡°Are you guys okay?¡± They nodded off, woke up and groaned, and nodded off again. ¡°We¡¯re here, guys.¡± The huge building of K in Sangam-dong came into view. The cool dawn. The recording schedule was early today, so the standby was fast. As they saw the dark broadcast station, they felt like they hade back. K. This was the first ce that idols usually appeared when they debuted or came back on Thursday¡¯s music show. Maybe it was a program that was obsessed with the first public title. They had a lot of bad blood with the agencies that didn''t debut on their show, and they would retaliate by blocking their appearances. They even had a huge fight with TJ not long ago. Woojoo heard they didn''t get along with Lemon Entertainment either, but he didn''t know the exact reason. That was why they mostly did reality and idol-rted shows with their rival, HBS MTV. "It''s amazing that we get to do twoeback stages here." Everyone nodded at Bijoo''s whisper. They must have made a name for themselves, because today they were doing twoeback stages, unlike the Masquerade where they were cut off after a few seconds. Windflower and Flower Dance. They weren''t expecting much from this show, but they were surprised to get some special treatment. Ah, this was why they had to do well¡­ "Hey, Hyung!" They screamed as they entered the broadcasting station. "Uh! Uh!" "Hey. It''s Bang!" "Is it Bang?" "It''s Bang!" Oh my god. They all looked at the name on the waiting room door with wide eyes. ¡º New ck ¡» Everyone''s mouth let out a sigh. "Bang¡­" "Bang¡­" Their waiting room was Bang. Bang! Chapter 242: Chapter 242: Trantor: MarcTempest Editor: Rxel Chapter 242 ¡°Wow¡­¡± They stared at the white A4 paper on the waiting room door until the managers dragged them in half-forcibly. ¡°It¡¯s a room!¡± ¡°It¡¯s a room!¡± It wasn¡¯t a very spacious room, but the fact that it was a room was important. They got a room on their first week ofeback!They were so excited that they ran around the room like dogs who had moved to a new house. ¡°Room!¡± ¡°Room!¡± ¡°It¡¯s a room!¡± Minki Hyungughed incredulously and called them. ¡°Come and have some bread.¡± They looked at each other. ¡°Bread!¡± ¡°Bread!¡± They munched on the toast that the manager Hyungs had bought for them and looked around the room. The staff were unpacking. The stylists were hanging clothes on the hangers, and the hair stylists were plugging in their devices. ¡°A room¡­¡± Woojoo couldn¡¯t believe it and kept looking around. Bijoo said with a determined face, ¡°Hyung. Let¡¯s take the paper on the doorter.¡± ¡°Yeah, let¡¯s keep it as a souvenir.¡± Anyone who saw them would think they were people who had a grudge against rooms, but it meant a lot to them. Usually, there are 13 to 17 teams on a music show. But they couldn¡¯t amodate them all. There was a limit to the number of waiting rooms at the broadcasting station. To begin with, there was no program that had a dozen teams of performers except for music shows. Even if there were a lot of people, it was usually about six teams like Legendary Song Discovery. So no matter how many rooms were left, it was hard to amodate the overflowing singers on the day of the music show. In this situation, the performers who had low seniority or low recognition were put in one space. They gave them a partition, but it wasn¡¯t veryfortable. It was like an open level of privacy. You could hear everything everyone said. They had to sleep together while they waited. Minki Hyung, who was eating toast, said, ¡°It¡¯s amazing that we got a room on the first day ofeback.¡± ¡°Hyung, you¡¯re not used to it either, right?¡± ¡°Well, I guess you guys did well. It¡¯s nice to say goodbye to sleeping in the corner.¡± He smiled happily. Not only the managers, but also the other staff had expressions that they wanted to live on the sofa. It meant a lot to both the staff and them. Getting the right to restfortably on a music show means either having high seniority or achieving sess. It was one of the two. Of course, this wasn¡¯t the first time they stayed in a room like this. They got a room at a broadcasting station that had a lot of spare waiting rooms, and sometimes they shared it with other senior groups. But this was the first time they had a proper room. Especially, if K, which didn¡¯t get along well with Lemon, gave them a room on the first day, the reactions of other broadcasting stations were obvious. Woojoo looked at the waiting room again, looking at ¡®Windflower¡¯, which had been at the top of the chart from the time they came to work until now. ¡°¡­¡± Woojoo thought quietly andughed. The words of a poet who said he woke up and became famous. Woojoo felt like he understood what it meant a little bit. They felt their changed position as they appeared on Legendary Song Discovery and History Discovery Team. But there was no day that suited the word ¡®sense of the times¡¯ more than today. ¡°¡­?¡± They all blinked their eyes as they faced the pre-recording stage for theireback. ¡°¡­Am I seeing something wrong?¡± ¡°Right? I¡¯m not the only one who¡¯s surprised, right?¡± ¡°Check the recording location. You might have seen it wrong.¡± They peeked through the open door, and the number of Souffl¨¦s gathered was not normal. At first, they thought it was their fans, but when they saw the cards like ¡®Jenmin, James, Daegil¡­¡¯, they knew they were their fans. ¡°Wow-!¡± As soon as they entered, they greeted them warmly with cheers. New ck was thrilled, but they kept a casual expression as they went up to the stage. A bit of silence. It was when they got on the stage and made a rxed expression. ¡°¡­Sigh.¡± Woojoo almost drooled without realizing it and swallowed it, but the sound spread softly and faintly in the silence. His brothers pped andughed, and the Souffl¨¦s also burst intoughter. Woojoo muttered to himself, ¡°Ah, I was trying to act like ¡®I¡¯m not surprised by this, it¡¯s no big deal¡¯ but I failed.¡± ¡°You were shaking your pupils since you came up, Hyung. Right?¡± The Souffl¨¦s agreed withughter. While the shooting staff were preparing for the recording, they had a pleasant conversation with the fans, but Woojoo felt a strange feeling. Woojoo felt uneasy and rxed talking to so many fans in front of him, and so did his brothers. He wasn¡¯t used to this crowd either. And most of all, the situation where they could casually talk about the nearby restaurants in the pre-recording space where they used to be busy watching the eyes of the broadcasting station staff. ¡°Wow!¡± Every time Woojoo heard the fans¡¯ tremendous cheers during the pre-recording, he felt a chill down his neck. Was this real? He should be jumping with joy, but it felt so unreal that he kept staring nkly. ¡°Guys. Is this real?¡± ¡°Do you want me to pinch you?¡± ¡°Do it yourself and tell me the result.¡± Jiho and Bijoo pinched each other¡¯s arms carefully and nodded seriously. ¡°It¡¯s real.¡± ¡°It¡¯s real.¡± Rihyuk put down his Japanese textbook and looked at them with a pitiful expression. That was when Junghyun argued that it would be nice if it was a dream. ¡°Why?¡± ¡°Food in dreams is zero calories, you know.¡± ¡°Oh.¡± That wasn¡¯t bad at all. But he still couldn¡¯t get used to it until the end. A careful knock and the door of the waiting room opened. ¡°Fly, fly, fly to the dream! Hello! We are Dream Ticket!¡± A boy group that debuted earlier this month came to greet them and New ck was flustered. They gave them CDs and said, ¡°New ck Sunbae-nims, Sunbae-nims¡± and Woojoo felt his limbs shrivel. They casually said, ¡°Oh, hello¡± but as soon as they left, they screamed. ¡°I¡¯m not a senior¡­!¡± ¡°I don¡¯t want to be!¡± ¡°Ugh, ugh, ugh¡­ My stomach is churning.¡± Woojoo could imagine the TNT kids mocking them with their fingers and saying, ¡°Look at that.¡± Oof. The toast he had for breakfast was all queasy. Woojoo didn¡¯t know why they couldn¡¯t get used to the senior title. Woojoo heard from Hanjo that there was an unofficial agreement among idols to count New ck¡¯s debut date as March to avoid messing up the hierarchy. So the title itself was not a problem, but. ¡°Ugh¡­¡± His limbs. His limbs¡­! When he became a private in the army, he liked the private title so much that he giggled in his sleep, but why couldn¡¯t he get used to this? Maybe they haven¡¯t epted it themselves yet. There was another girl group that debuted this month and came to greet them. ¡°Yes, hello¡­ Yo.¡± The youngest said ¡°Hello. I¡¯m Wang Jiho.¡± in a tone and they held back theirughter. After they left, they teased him for a while, saying ¡°Youngest, yo?¡± On the other hand, what Woojoo couldn¡¯t get used to more than the senior title was the reaction of the senior singers. They were looking for other waiting rooms to distribute their CDs. ¡°Oh, New ck. You have a new album. Your song has a good vibe~¡± The solo singer who used to say ¡°CD? Why did you bring that? Hey. You take it instead.¡± and gave it to the manager with a sour face greeted them with a friendly expression. ¡°Congrattions on being number one on the chart this time.¡± ¡°Oh, there¡¯s the cameo from that drama.¡± The boy group that used to look at them like ¡®Get out of here¡¯ even when they talked to them first spoke to them warmly. ¡°I really thought you would do well every time I saw you.¡± How did they know what they didn¡¯t expect? ¡°Can I get your phone number? I think I lost your contact before.¡± They never exchanged contacts. ¡°Oh, can I get yours too while you¡¯re at it?¡± ¡°Me too.¡± ¡°We see each other often, so it¡¯s okay to contact you sometimes, right?¡± Especially, more people started to approach Woojoo. Woojoo thought it was what Daisy said before. They wanted to be friends with him because they thought he would do well as aposer. In the music industry, nothing mattered more than the song. ¡°¡­You¡¯re amazing.¡± When they were alone, Rihyuk spoke as if he was impressed. ¡°I thought you were someone else.¡± It wasn¡¯t like this when their second album did well. Woojoo knew this industry was influenced by poprity, but he didn¡¯t expect people¡¯s attitudes to change so drastically. He felt more embarrassed than ever. He wondered how they could change their attitudes so easily. Not only the celebrities around them, but also the music show staff treated them differently. ¡°Hey, can you guys sign this for me? My niece is a fan.¡± ¡°Sure, of course!¡± When they were rookies, they were pushed around with luggage and someone grumbled, ¡®Hey, you¡¯re in the way in the hallway.¡¯ Woojoo was shocked when he asked them to sign for his niece. Every time Woojoo rested while waiting, he saw people¡¯s faces in his head. On the left, there were people who frowned and cursed at them, and on the right, there were people who smiled and greeted them today. Woojoo thought about it for a while and then let it go. All he could think of was that he missed Kim Deoksoon and the Souffl¨¦s. -Yes, the number one on the K chart is! -Congrattions, Serenity! The group that won the first ce on today¡¯s music show was MOP Entertainment¡¯s girl group Serenity, which debutedst year. They won the first ce for two consecutive weeks. Woojoo heard this week was theirst broadcast. They were the group that had the best results among the groups that debutedst year after them. It was clear that Serenity was the first ce¡­ ¡°Hyung, people keep looking at us.¡± ¡°Really¡­?¡± When the music show was over and all the performers were lined up in the hallway waiting for the PD to greet them, there were many nces at them. Somehow, there were more eyes on New ck than on Serenity or other famous senior idols who won the first ce. What was going on? The song hadn¡¯t been released for 24 hours yet. They were a little surprised by the reaction. ¡°It makes sense.¡± Seokhwan Hyung calmly exined to New ck who were sitting in the Management Team Office. ¡°There¡¯s usually a trend of how the song will do. Your Windflower response is not normal.¡± ¡°Really?¡± ¡°Did you see the music video views?¡± ¡°No¡­?¡± Woojoo stopped looking at the inte during theeback preparation period and it became a habit. He only peeked at the chart or the fan cafe. ¡°3 million.¡± ¡°Huh¡­?¡± ¡°It got that view in 48 hours. 3 million.¡± They were startled to see the number 3,034,612 on YouTube. Heughed. ¡°The promotion team analyzed that it will definitely be the first ce on the weekly chart. It¡¯s too early to judge, but it might be as good as Something. Of course, this time it¡¯s only with your song.¡± ¡°Oh¡­¡± ¡°So the insiders smelled it too. Why do you think they did that?¡± When Woojoo opened his eyes nkly, the manager scolded him for being slow in this area. He said Woojoo would be shocked if he heard the album sales that were selling now, and Woojoo asked him to tell himter. ¡°It¡¯s definitely doing well. It¡¯s the first time it¡¯s been so easy to schedule you guys.¡± Their Director said with a happy face, ¡°The college events in May are pouring in like a flood. If this trend continues, we¡¯ll be able to choose the variety shows for a while.¡± He smiled as he looked at the papers piled up on his desk. Those were all rted to them. He was happy that the luck had exploded, but it had been a long time since Woojoo saw him so excited and happy. ¡°By the way, I¡¯ll give you the schedule, so check this month¡¯s schedule. ¡­There are some things I need to exin separately. Important schedules.¡± When they straightened their posture and listened, he pulled out a script and handed it to Rihyuk. ¡°PBS Music On¡­?¡± ¡°Is there a script for the music show? Oh? It¡¯s for MC?¡± He looked confused with a pale face as he took the script. ¡°Director, why are you giving this to me?¡± ¡°Next week, you¡¯re going to be a special MC on Music On.¡± ¡°Me?¡± ¡°The PD liked you in Legendary Song Discovery. You can do it, right?¡± Rihyuk nodded his head earnestly. Then he started to flip through the script seriously, but his ears began to burn during the break. ¡°Rihyuk, what¡¯s wrong?¡± ¡°This¡­ this. What, what is this. What is this.¡± He stuttered as he spoke, and they nced at the script andughed. It was a line that said, ¡®Who are you, I¡¯m the ice prince!¡¯ He was excited when he heard that he would be a special MC, but he also gave them a jealous look. ¡°Wow, this is awesome. I have to keep this when it airs, guys!¡± ¡°Yeah, yeah.¡± They nodded their heads and someone gave them a resentful look. ¡°Wow, I¡¯m so jealous of our youngest. I really wanted to try those lines too.¡± ¡°Me too, Hyung. I wanted to try them too.¡± ¡°Me too.¡± They all agreed and teased them, and he gave them a look that said he hated them. They were having fun teasing them when. ¡°Oh, by the way, it says Jiho here?¡± ¡°¡­?¡± Jiho, who wasughing, quickly turned serious and looked at the script. He soon became serious. Rihyuk¡¯s face started to turn pale. The youngest backed away. ¡°No, no way. This is not it. Manager, this is not Jiho, right? Kim Jiho or Shin Jiho.¡± ¡°You have to work hard too, Jiho.¡± Seokhwan Hyung took out another script and handed it to Jiho. He looked like he was enjoying it. Of course, they were enjoying it too. ¡°Pfft.¡± They pped for the two guys who were making sad faces while looking at the script full of lines that transcended time and space. ¡°Wow, our youngest. I¡¯m so jealous of you. I wanted to try those lines too.¡± ¡°Right? Hyung. Me too.¡± ¡°Me too.¡± They all agreed and teased them, and they gave them a look that said they hated them. They was having fun teasing them when. ¡°By the way, Woojoo, you have two personal offers from terrestrial variety shows. They are both from TBC.¡± ¡°Wow. What are they?¡± Did you see? Woojoo smiled at the two younger ones. ¡°One is Men Go¡­¡± ¡°No.¡± Woojoo¡¯s rectus abdominis muscle tensed up. He sat up straight and asked seriously, ¡°What do you mean, Manager, Men Go?¡± ¡°They have a PD who is famous for being persistent. His name is Do, but they call him PD Axe because he doesn¡¯t let go once he sets his eyes on someone.¡± ¡°¡­¡± ¡°You¡¯re on his radar.¡± Woojoo felt like he was being stared at by a mysterious old man. It was chilly. Chilly. ¡°Well, your opinion is the most important, but¡­ I think the recording will start after the album promotion is over. It¡¯s a risky show.¡± ¡°What do you mean, I¡¯m going? Why is it a foregone conclusion?¡± ¡°The fans want it?¡± ¡°What are you talking about? Our fans wouldn¡¯t¡­¡± Woojoo was about to say no, but something shed through his mind. ¨C??! I love it! -Woojoo! Woojoo! Do you want to go to the army again~~? -Kyaa! -I¡¯m worried about the risk of injury¡­ -Let go of your hand over your mouth. You¡¯re smiling. -Busted ? Why did he think of the samements? Seokhwan Hyung tapped his tablet PC and showed Woojoo an SNS post from one of their fans. It was a picture of a wreath with a sticky message from the Men Go team at their fan showcase. -Oh. Is New ck going to Men Go? -Men Go appearance?? -Men Go is going -Hul¡­ Why are they going¡­ -I don¡¯t think they have to go, but hmm¡­ -When are they going? Woojoo wanted to shout as he read thements. He wasn¡¯t not going! He wasn¡¯t going! He swiped the SNS screen to the side, and articles popped up. -New ck Woojoo, ¡®Men Go¡¯ appearance? Production team ¡°We can¡¯t tell you yet¡± The younger ones covered their mouths and held back theirughter. Woojoo took a deep breath and said calmly, ¡°What¡¯s going on, Director? Exin it to me.¡± ¡°Calm down, Woojoo.¡± ¡°Do I look calm? I mean, the army¡­ the army¡­¡± He tried to suppress hisughter as he saw Woojoo getting agitated. ¡°Well¡­ it¡¯s not my doing. You know, you have fans, right? They saw the SNS post that the Souffl¨¦s uploaded and it spread like wildfire. Should I go? It turned into I¡¯m going!¡± ¡°That sounds like a nursery rhyme.¡± ¡°Exactly.¡± He nced at Rihyuk, who made a joke about the nursery rhyme, and he quickly looked away. While the others were having fun, Seokhwan Hyung spoke. ¡°The PD said he felt it was your destiny to appear on the show after seeing you messing around in Around the World With Dice. He asked me to tell you that.¡± ¡°¡­Ugh.¡± ¡°Do you want to think about it more?¡± Woojoo nodded earnestly. ¡°I¡¯ll think about the army variety show.¡± ¡°Hyung.¡± The youngest poked Woojoo in the ribs. ¡°Just go. Show them your dignity as a veteran. You viewers! The army of Korea, like that.¡± ¡°Close your eyes and go. It sounds fun.¡± Woojoo looked at Seokhwan Hyung as the two of them cheered him on. ¡°Can I go on the condition that all the members of New ck join me?¡± ¡°Oh, that¡¯s a good idea.¡± ¡°¡­Director?¡± ¡°Director. What are you talking about?¡± But it was toote to stop him. He was already writing down a memo. Woojoo smiled warmly at the pale-faced siblings. ¡°I won¡¯t die alone.¡± ¡°¡­¡± ¡°I¡¯ll drag you all down with me if I drown. I will.¡± ¡°¡­¡± The siblings looked at each other. That was when the chorus of ¡®Director, please don¡¯t send our Hyung to the army.¡¯ began. Woojoo watched them plead desperately and moved on to the main point. ¡°By the way, what about the other TBC variety show? I¡¯ll definitely go on that one.¡± ¡°Do I need to ask what it is?¡± ¡°Just go. We have to promote the third album, and it doesn¡¯t matter what the format is. I just have to do my best.¡± It was a terrestrial variety show, so it wouldn¡¯t be as weird as cable. ¡°I see.¡± He smiled and agreed. But why did that smile feel ominous? He pulled out a separate proposal from his drawer, as if he had prepared it beforehand. ¡°¡­¡± The title read . Woojoo knew the show. The siblings gasped when they saw it. ¡°Oh, this.¡± ¡°This is the one. The show that exposes your weaknesses.¡± ¡°Huh, right. Why didn¡¯t we think of sending Woojoo Hyung on this before?¡± The so-called ¡®Shintoki¡¯ was a TBC talk show that invited guests and talked about their past. What they were like, their school days, testimonies from people from the past¡­ Woojoo asked, ¡°This is the show where you reveal your dark history, right?¡± ¡°That¡¯s right.¡± As Woojoo looked ufortable, the siblings chattered like nutcracker dolls. You can¡¯t refuse to go on it, because it has very high ratings. It¡¯s a popr show, so they don¡¯t invite just anyone. Woojoo looked at the proposal that said ¡®Boy Group Leader Special¡¯ and Seokhwan Hyung gave him a warm smile. ¡°At first, we were wondering who to send, but it took less than a second to reach a conclusion.¡± ¡°¡­¡± ¡°There¡¯s no one better suited than you.¡± The siblings sang ¡®Congrattions~ Congrattions~ We celebrate your dark history~¡¯ with bright smiles. Seokhwan Hyung also pped and smiled happily. ¡°¡­¡± Woojoo never felt more annoyed by the people around him than at this moment. Chapter 243: Chapter 243: Trantor: MarcTempest Editor: Rxel Chapter 243 By the way, was it okay to go out like this? He meant, what could possibly happen in his past¡­ There was kindergarten, elementary school. And from middle school, TJ Entertainment was his whole world. So there were only his trainee days and the army. Woojoo counted on his fingers the possible things that coulde out of there, and his heart started to pound. ¡­This was bad.There were plenty of things from TJ Entertainment alone. Woojoo knew dozens of people who were in front of his eyes right now. ¡°Hyung.¡± He ignored his siblings who were still singing ¡®Happy ck History Day~¡¯ and called the manager. He looked at Woojoo. ¡°Why?¡± ¡°Did you already agree to appear on the show?¡± ¡°Of course. Do you know how high the ratings are for it? There¡¯s no other program that has such high buzz and impact.¡± That was true. The format of ¡®New Concept Talk Show: Find Your Memory¡¯ was simple. Someone who knew the guest¡¯s ck history would expose it with a voice changer, and the show would make fun of the guest¡¯s reaction and talk. It was a show where the movie stars who always looked cool would get up with a red face and the cold celebrities would crumble cutely. It was a popr format. It would make the real-time search list whenever someone appeared on the show. The ratings were good, and the buzz was even better. It was a beneficial show for the guests. A veteran actor who was famous for being disliked by the public seeded in changing his image with a friendly and humane editing. It was the show that the celebrities who caused controversy wanted to go on the most. And it was important that it was a terrestrial entertainment show. A chance to promote their third album. ¡°We have to go.¡± He resigned himself to the situation and his siblings started a new song. I smiled warmly. ¡°From now on, anyone who says a word will work with me on the fourth album title song.¡± There was a silence so quiet that Woojoo could hear their breathing, and he looked over the proposal and asked, ¡°So who¡¯s on the show?¡± ¡°Oh, that.¡± Seokhwan Hyung immediately showed him the list of guests on his phone. It was a special episode for ¡®boy group leaders¡¯. ¡°I know them all.¡± Street Boys, Wild, TNT, Teen Spirit. The faces of the leaders came to mind one by one. Woojoo had a rough idea of how the show would go. There were some people he was still awkward with, but he wasn¡¯t lonely because there was a friend among them. Time flew by quickly. On the weekend of theeback week, they had a public fan signing event at a shopping mall in Yeouido. ¡°Wow-!¡± There were more people than he expected. There were a lot of our fans, but the people who were passing by didn¡¯t just pass by. There were couples who stopped and whispered with their mouths covered, college students who held their smartphones above their heads and took pictures, and families who watched with their children around their necks. There were people lined up on the upper floor railing who watched their faces throughout the fan signing event. ¡°New ck¡­¡± ¡°¡­New ck¡­¡± ¡°¡­It¡¯s No ck. Huff huff.¡± It sounded like Voldemort¡¯s voice, but Woojoo could hear them talking about them even through the loud music. Woojoo could feel that Windflower was popr with the public. The fan signing event ended and Woojoo heard their song ying at a beauty shop. Woojoo met with Reporter Oh, from Entertainment IN, and the song yed at the cafe where they had the interview. It also yed at the convenience store. If Woojoo searched for Windflower stages on YouTube, there were already dozens of cover songs sung as solo songs. ¡°Windflower~ Oh my flower~ Money money money~¡± Even their President sang Windflower with his own lyrics. He looked at them like treasure goblins since the third album was released. Thepany staff were the same. They were happy to see them whenever they came with coffee boxes. ¡°Ah, New ck? Just a moment, I have to check our schedule¡­ We¡¯re fully booked until June.¡± ¡°Yes, yes, I understand. I¡¯ll pass it on to the manager in charge of New ck.¡± ¡°The sponsorship is¡­¡± ¡°Oh, you guys are here?¡± They greeted them without any hesitation. Time passed quickly. They filmed the music video outdoors in Suncheon, as well as in the studio. ¡°Wow-!¡± The scenery was beautiful. The yellow reeds swayed in the wind on the tnd. There were a lot of tourists, and some of them recognized them. ¡°Wow, are you filming a music video? You look like singers!¡± ¡°We are singers.¡± ¡°¡­?¡± ¡°¡­?¡± There was a funny moment when a college student who thought they were actors was surprised. He said he didn¡¯t know anything about the entertainment industry. He thought New ck was a name for the ¡®F4¡¯ concept in History Explorers. ¡°Wow. You¡¯re singers, huh? I thought you were in a drama or something.¡± ¡°Oh. We¡¯re also in a drama.¡± ¡°¡­?¡± They also promoted the drama ¡®Slip¡¯ that they cameoed in. While they were filming the music video and practicing for the album, the day they had been waiting for came. It was the first broadcast of GTV¡¯s ¡®Slip¡¯ where New ck made a cameo appearance. Maybe it was because they had released their third album and treated thepany staff to a meal. When Woojoo asked if their work had increased because of them, Assistant Manager Hong waved her hand and said she was happy. ¡°It¡¯s okay to have more work like this. It¡¯s hard to deal with controversies or idents, but this kind of work is enjoyable.¡± ¡°I agree with that. Ugh, dealing with crap¡­ I mean, idents is really¡­¡± She said she was relieved whenpared to the time when a child actor from theirpany posted on SNS, ¡°I¡¯m an adult now, so I can download 19+ movies from torrent! Heehee.¡± The A&R Team was also happy that they would get a hefty bonus thanks to them. Their third album¡¯s sess had brought a warm breeze to thepany building. ¡®Windflower¡¯, which was making everyone happy, didn¡¯t seem to want toe down from the chart¡¯s first ce. Sometimes it would drop to second or third ce in real-time due to the release of popr singers¡¯ songs, but it would stubbornly hold on to the daily first ce. Rather, it felt like it was getting more momentum as more general public joined in. And the album market was also responding. ¡°Hey, do you know that your name is on the overseas album chart too?¡± ¡°Ours?¡± ¡°Yeah, from Taiwan and Singapore, you¡¯re in the chart ranking.¡± It was the news that they were on the main overseas album chart, including the ces where they had done overseas promotions. They were staying between first and tenth ce on the album charts of Hong Kong, Taiwan, Vietnam, Indonesia, and so on. The overseas response seemed to be quite good. Well, the music video views were also going up by three million, four million, and so on. Even their family, who were usually distant from idols, talked about the poprity of our album. Kim Deoksoon [Hey] Kim Deoksoon [When is that albuming? I can¡¯t get it] Kim Deoksoon [Bijoo¡¯s mom went to five ces] Kim Deoksoon [This is today¡¯s Nabi picture] Woojoo told his grandmother, who was urging him to send her the new album. Woojoo [I¡¯ll send it soon] Woojoo [Our Nabi is so pretty >?<] Woojoo [But what are you talking about, Grandma??] Woojoo [You can¡¯t get our album?] The record store in the bookstore. The store manager told Bijoo¡¯s family, who were full of anticipation. ¡°New ck¡¯s album? The recent one is out of stock right now¡­ Maybe it¡¯lle in tomorrow.¡± ¡°¡­Really?¡± The family was excited by the news of it being out of stock. Bijoo¡¯s mom asked with sparkling eyes, ¡°Does it sell that fast?¡± ¡°Yes, these days, it¡¯s strange. The supply is quickly running out. There¡¯s not much supply, but there are a lot of people who want it¡­ I guess theirpany didn¡¯t expect it to sell this much.¡± It was a story that would have made the fans say ¡®Gyuho-ya!¡¯ automatically, but they smiled happily at the news that the demand was higher than the supply. Of course, they had the mini second album. Their son had sent it to them as soon as it was released. At first, they wanted to buy the album to help with the sales, but now they were having fun. They left the bookstore with a cheerful face. ¡°Our son is doing really well.¡± ¡°Honey, our child has seeded in farming.¡± ¡°It¡¯s not sess.¡± ¡°Then what?¡± ¡°It¡¯s a big sess¡­!¡± ¡°Big sess¡­!¡± They hugged each other tightly andughed. The eldest daughter and the second son shook their heads. Minjun, who was eating ice cream, said to his sister, ¡°But these days, the school is talking a lot about New ck.¡± ¡°Really?¡± ¡°Yeah, yeah, the kids who used to talk about other idols are talking about New ck and saying how they are different and stuff¡­¡± ¡°Is there something that bothers you?¡± The brother answered with a sullen face to his sister¡¯s question. ¡°There are a lot of things that make me feel bad. I wish they wouldn¡¯t say that¡­¡± ¡°What? Who cursed Bijoo?¡± She was about to get angry at whoever hurt her brother, but she spit out the coffee she was drinking at the next words. ¡°They say they¡¯re going to marry our brother.¡± ¡°Pff-!¡± ¡°They keep saying they¡¯re going to date New ck every day of the week, and especially our brother is their husband on Friday, Saturday, and Sunday.¡± ¡°I¡¯m going crazy. Really.¡± Bijoo¡¯s poprity seemed to be rising because he was the main character of this album. Biyun smiled as she looked at her brother who was telling her the New ck episode that happened at the school. She suddenly had that thought. ¡®It¡¯s good.¡¯ She liked seeing her parents smile so brightly like young boys and girls, and her younger sibling chatter away about school with a healthy face. Even this scene of them going out for a weekend trip, everything was good. As her mind reached that point, she remembered the face of the New ck member who made all this possible. ¡®Thank you.¡¯ What would their family be like now if it weren¡¯t for him? She shook her head as she imagined it in her head. Biyun parted her lips. ¡°Mom, Dad.¡± ¡°Hmm?¡± ¡°Should we buy some gifts? The members worked hard, starting from Woojoo.¡± ¡°Yeah! Let¡¯s buy! Buy!¡± Soon, they started to pick out thoughtful gifts for the members. And finally, the most important person. ¡°What should we get for Woojoo¡­?¡± ¡°What did he say he liked? Grandma?¡± ¡°Pork belly? He said he often dreams of pigs.¡± ¡°Uh, well, we have that. Bijoo sent it before.¡± Biyun checked the message her sibling sent on his smartphone. It took her a while to scroll through the long letters he sent every day. Then, Kim Biyun¡¯s eyes sparkled. ¡°I found it¡­!¡± ¡°What is it?¡± The family gathered around the phone. She lowered the phone for her sibling who was on tiptoes. Soon, the family eximed, ¡®Oh, right!¡¯ ¡°¡­!¡± At the same time, their eyes turned to the men¡¯s clothing store nearby. ¡°Hahaha! Hahaha!¡± Woojoo¡¯sughter echoed from dawn, and his siblings made disgusted faces. ¡°What should I wear? What?¡± Woojoo asked the siblings who were sitting in the living room, holding up several hangers to his body. They were Hawaiian shirts that Bijoo¡¯s family sent. ¡°This is the lovely Hawaiian shirt that our Bijoo¡¯s family sent, this is. Look. The blue color with colorful flowers embroidered on it, right? Hahat!¡± Woojoo loved it. All his floral prints had been confiscated, but now he had clothes that wouldn¡¯t be taken away. ¡°¡­¡± Everyone¡¯s eyes turned to Bijoo, and he made a repentant expression, saying, ¡®My sin is great¡­¡¯ In the end, Woojoo wore the blue floral shirt that the siblings rated the best. ¡°How is it?¡± Woojoo asked Jiho for his opinion on the way to the shop. ¡°Um, you look like a young heir who inherited an organization. You know, in movies, there¡¯s a role where you get betrayed by an old man with scars on his face and right arm and leave early.¡± ¡°¡­¡± ¡°Or maybe a handsome fish restaurant owner in a weekend drama¡­?¡± Woojoo didn¡¯t ask any more. But it seemed like the best reaction he got from the floral prints he wore so far. The shop staff also looked surprised and sent him proud nces, saying that a decent floral print had finally appeared. And they kept asking Woojoo if he was going to the stage, so he told them not to worry. Today was an important day. ¡°Hoo¡­¡± Woojoo smiled as he watched the members rub their hands and gulp down saliva in the car heading to the broadcast station. ¡°Nervous?¡± ¡°I thought I cried everything out at the showcase, but¡­ I guess I can¡¯t help being nervous,¡± Bijoo said. ¡°Will we be number one today?¡± A week after the firsteback broadcast. It was a monumental day when they became the first candidate for number one with Windflower. ¡°I think we¡¯ll be number one.¡± They were showing record-breaking results like Something. It was undeniable that they were sure to be number one. It was just that they weren¡¯t used to going to get the trophy so naturally. ¡°Is this really not a dream?¡± Junghyun looked at the cars passing by the window and said, ¡°Recently, I feel like it¡¯s not real at all.¡± ¡°Me too. I wake up in the middle of the night to check the chart and go back to sleep. I wish I didn¡¯t wake up if it was a dream.¡± ¡°Me too.¡± Woojoo felt the same way. He thought it would take at least a few years for this day toe, but it happened in their second year. No one called them rookies anymore, nor did they see any articles that said so. They were the hottest group in the scene, and everyone mentioned their name when asked. Their songs yed on TV, and just now, Windflower came on the radio. The youngest asked with a worried face, ¡°But what if we don¡¯t feel anything when we win first ce? That would be a disaster.¡± The day flew by in a blur. As soon as they arrived, they filmed a VCR for a special corner inside the music show. It was something like introducing today¡¯s performers as the first-ce candidates. Everyone they met congratted them on being the first-ce candidates, and they thanked them. Their Souffl¨¦s were also soaked in a strange heat throughout the pre-recording. The manager Hyungs were wondering what kind of cake to prepare, and their director, who usually didn¡¯t follow them to the music show schedule, came specially. Everyone looked excited. Except for New ck. ¡°Why are you so calm?¡± ¡°Me too. Me too. I should be nervous, but I¡¯m very calm.¡± Woojoo¡¯s heart rate didn¡¯t go above a certain level during the rehearsal or the live stage. He was calm. It seemed like the boy group Fantanis, who were the first-ce candidates with them, were more nervous. Just like they had made it to the first-ce candidates by chance when Autumn Girl left the music show, they had also risen to the candidates after the first-ce singers leftst week. Woojoo saw themselves fromst year in them. ¡°Let¡¯s go up!¡± As the pre-recorded footage of thest stage yed, the singers rushed up to the stage. New ck and Fantanis stood on either side of the MCs. As Woojoo stood in the front row, he saw their Souffl¨¦s waving disposable glow sticks all over the audience. He smiled and waved back. -Yes, we only have time for the first ce announcement left. -Well, shall we check the score? Along with the MCs¡¯ments, the score started to appear on the screen above the stage. -Yes, the first ce on the K chart is! -Congrattions, New ck! With a bang, gold confetti fell from the sky. And at the moment when the first ce was confirmed. ¡°Wow!¡± ¡°Wow!¡± They did it! They did it! The ones who shouted were not their Souffl¨¦s, but them. They clenched their fists and screamed, then met each other¡¯s eyes and coughed. The MCs handed them a bouquet and trophy. ¡°Thank you.¡± ¡°Congrattions. First ce.¡± Woojoo handed the trophy to the younger ones, who touched them one by one with strange expressions. Woojoo handed the microphone to Junghyun for a moment. ¡°Yes, thank you to President Park Kyuho, Director Jo Kyuwhan, Director Yoon Seokhwan¡­¡± He finished his fast rap-like greeting and Woojoo took the microphone back. Oh, why was he suddenly nervous. Again. He was fine until the first ce announcement, but suddenly his whole body started to shake like a pine tree. ¡°Uh, we¡­¡± Why was his voice trembling? ¡°We won first ce. Yes, first ce. Really first ce.¡± What was he saying? Woojoo had thought of hundreds of feelings, but he couldn¡¯t remember any of them. He thought about handing the microphone to the younger ones to avoid the crisis. ¡­They were crying. They were crying. These guys. The sound of them sobbing and holding the trophies made the people around themugh. Especially Jiho, who was already spilling his nose. Woojoo was embarrassed. What did he say? He forgot everything. In the end, he said what came to his mind. ¡°Sometimes I think I don¡¯t want to wake up from a dream, and that¡¯s how I feel right now.¡± Woojoo smiled at the audience and the camera. ¡°Thank you for giving us this dreamlike time, Souffl¨¦s. We will work hard to make our New ck¡¯s time a dream for you too. We love you!¡± -Wow! Woojoo handed the microphone to the younger ones. The guys who had turned into a sea of tears started to sob and sniffle as they shared their feelings. ¡°Th-thank¡­ sniff!¡± Woojoo wrapped his arm around Bijoo¡¯s neck, who was holding the microphone and saying ¡®thank¡­sniff¡­you¡¯ and smiled. The others were the same. Junghyun spoke with moist eyes, and Jiho showed a bizarre sight of crying andughing, saying ¡®sniff¡­haha¡¯ in the middle of his speech. Woojoo couldn¡¯t believe the guys who had imed to be calm just a moment ago. While they were thanking the other people who were getting off the stage, Rihyuk grabbed the microphone. -T-thank you. Thank you so much. Really, I never thought this moment woulde while preparing for our third album¡­ Rihyuk wiped his tears with his sleeve. A happy smile appeared on his tearful white face. -Thank you so much. Thank you. Souffl¨¦. And our members¡­ When they opened their eyes wide and looked at him, Rihyuk continued. -I always appreciate and love you. I do. Junghyun dropped the trophy. Woojoo¡¯s body moved reflexively. He grabbed the trophy that hadnded on his bent legs like a kick. But unlike his calm reaction, his mouth was wide open. ¡°¡­¡± They looked at each other and had a nk expression. ¡®What did he just¡­¡¯ ¡®What did he just say?¡¯ After a second of processing what had just happened, they ran to Rihyuk without any hesitation. ¡°Rihyuk-aaa!¡± ¡°Yeah! I knew that¡¯s how you felt!¡± ¡°I love you too, Hyung!¡± While the intro of Windflower yed for the encore, they hugged someone who was struggling in their arms for a while. At the same time. Someone smiled contentedly as they watched New ck¡¯s first ce on TV. ¡°Hahaha!¡± A middle-aged man who was practicing putting with a golf club burst intoughter. ¡°Hahaha!¡± His body, which had been trembling with excitement when he bought theposing equipment, was now shaking for a different reason. The man¡¯s head and eyes sparkled with excitement. ¡®Money out, money in¡­!¡¯ He was Park Kyuho, the president of Lemon Entertainment, who felt happy as he anticipated the money storm that wasing soon. Chapter 244: Chapter 244: Trantor: MarcTempest Editor: Rxel Chapter 244 @The_New_ck_Official (A photo of Rihyuk holding the trophy in the middle and smiling happily with the members) [ ¡®Windflower¡¯ first ce! Thank you and love you so much, Souffl¨¦s!!! #Love_you_so_much #It¡¯s_me ] Inside the moving car. Tey were chatting away, sharing the joy of winning first ce, when we teased the youngest. ¡°Jiho, Jiho. Do that thing. That thing.¡±¡°Hold on. Ahem¡­¡± ¡°No, don¡¯t do it! Don¡¯t do it! I won¡¯t let you off the hook if you do!¡± Rihyuk reached out his hand to cover his mouth, but Jiho, who was hiding behind Junghyun, mimicked someone in a mean way. ¡°Everyone~ I love you so much~¡± ¡°Who?¡± ¡°It¡¯s me~!¡± ¡°Pwahaha!¡± They burst intoughter, clutching their stomachs. ¡°Oh my! Our Rihyuk is so~ cute! Hehehe!¡± ¡°Hahaha! This is so funny, hyung!¡± ¡°Oh. Rihyuk¡¯s ears are hot pink.¡± Rihyuk¡¯s face turned red like a steam engine that was overloaded. ¡°Really, you useless humans, just because I said one word of love, now I¡¯m funny to you? Funny?¡± ¡°Hey. Rihyuk. That hurts, you know. Are you saying we¡¯reughing at you?¡± They made a hurt expression, and Rihyuk hesitated. ¡°Well¡­¡± ¡°¡­¡± ¡°That¡¯s right~!¡± They got excited again and made a racket. ¡°Hehehe!¡± ¡°Kyaa!¡± ¡°¡­Sigh.¡± Ah. This was so fun. He had to tease him for a year with this. ¡ºToday¡¯s music show first ce winner New ck¡¯s eptance speech¡» [I brought this because it¡¯s such a creative mess ?????? (Attached video)
    • Exnation for non-fans
    1. The white and sharp-chinned one is Rihyuk. He¡¯s famous for not expressing his affection to the members, but he confessed ¡®I love you¡¯
    1. The members are shocked and horrified
    1. Junghyun (the friend of Daegil, right?) drops the trophy in surprise
    1. Woojoo catches it like a kick-off
    1. Meanwhile, Woojoo, who should have said ¡®a dream-like time for the Souffl¨¦s¡¯, made a slip of the tongue and said ¡®a dream-like time for New ck¡¯ ]
-??????????What is this????? -????They¡¯re so funny -This is a real mess????? Crying, hugging, dropping, dancing??? -They did well on the encore stage though -The expressions of the girl groups next to them when they caught the trophy are hrious -Pupil dtion??? -??? : They¡¯re catching that¡­? (Whispering) -Trophy : Wow. They saved me -Floor : Wow, it didn¡¯t fall -They dance really well too¡­ They use their whole body well. Is he the Olympic Jumong? -?? There was a lot of buzz about the secret weapon that Kyuho wrote -As expected of Lemon Enter¡­ -First ce (physical) -?? ?????? -But it¡¯s a good thing they¡¯re New ck. If it was Scarlet, the trophy would have been smashed in one hit -Daisy : Here¡¯s your trophy, boss. (Fine powder) -They have great athletic skills. Do they always catch things like that so well? -We don¡¯t know either¡­ -But it¡¯s not surprising anymore -?? Every moment of fangirling is just a series of surprises¡­ -The speech mistake is funny too???? You dered to the fans that you¡¯ll be happy??? -New ck : We¡¯ll work hard and make ourselves happy! -????????? They received a lot of congrattions for getting first ce. Celebrities that Woojoo knew personally left congrattory messages on SNS, and he also got messages and calls from his friends and acquaintances. It was the same at thepany. When they came back from the music show, their friendly staff members were waiting for them with a cake. ¡°Congrattions on New ck¡¯s first ce.¡± ¡°Who?¡± They all shouted. ¡°We did!¡± ¡°Puhaha!¡± ¡°Rihyuk! Rihyuk, where are you going? You have to blow out the candles!¡± Junghyun grabbed Rihyuk¡¯s arm and dragged him back. Rihyuk covered his face as if he was annoyed. ¡°¡­Why are you all doing this to me?¡± ¡°Rihyuk! Hurry up and blow!¡± He seemed to like it though, since they let him blow out the cake candles by himself. He blew hard on the lit candles, but his breath was weak like a grandfather blowing on a straw. ¡°Rihyuk. You have to blow them out in one go. How can you be the main vocal with such weak lung capacity?¡± ¡°I don¡¯t want to spit on it. Swoo- Huh! Huh!¡± The candles kept flickering. Junghyun stepped in, seeing that he couldn¡¯t do it. ¡°I¡¯ll do it.¡± He pped his hands and the candles went out like falling leaves. They all groaned and sat down on the floor. They sincerely thanked the people who congratted them in the joyful atmosphere. When the event was almost over, the President came down personally to buy them dinner. ¡°Hahaha! Oh, kids! You worked hard!¡± The President, who wasughing happily, took them to a nearby barbecue restaurant. The smell of grilled meat and the cheerfulughter from everywhere. Wraps kept flowing into their mouth. ¡°Our Woojoo. Chew well.¡± The President kept handing Woojoo wraps and smiled warmly, as if he was looking at a grade 1++ beef. ¡°Our Woojoo, do you need anything? Do you have any problems withposing?¡± ¡°Uh¡­ no.¡± ¡°Tell me if you need anything. I¡¯ll have a card ready for you. Hahaha!¡± The President looked so happy for the first time. But thanks to his ¡®hahaha!¡¯ughter throughout the dinner, the atmosphere was great. ¡°Hyung, have some wrap here.¡± ¡°Thanks.¡± As Woojoo ate the wrap that Bijoo gave him, he wondered if there was anything he needed. What he learned from social life. If someone offered you something, you had to take it right away. But he didn¡¯t need anything. The studio environment was great, the dorm was nice. The food was delicious. The only thing that bothered him was the Souffl¨¦s¡­ Something came to his mind. He vividly remembered the Souffl¨¦s waving their light sticks in the audience when they got first ce today. It wouldn¡¯t hurt to ask at this point. ¡°President.¡± ¡°Yeah, yeah. Tell me everything, Woojoo.¡± ¡°Well, I was wondering how the n for our light sticks is going¡­¡± Woojoo was cautious because this kind of project would cost a lot of money. Especially when they made the mini 2nd album this time, they spent money like crazy. It was so bad that there was a sad joke that the President sold one of thepany¡¯s pirs. The money that others used to make light sticks went all into their album. ¡°Light sticks?¡± The President tilted his head. Then he called Director Jo, who was drinking a beer. ¡°Director Jo, the light sticks we madest time¡­¡± ¡°That was for Scarlet¡¯s light sticks.¡± ¡°I see. New ck doesn¡¯t have one yet.¡± Director Jo started to talk as if the topic came up well, and the younger ones perked up their ears. ¡°We have a solo concert in the summer. We¡¯re nning to release it then.¡± ¡°Just tell me the cost. I¡¯ll approve it.¡± The President shouted loudly and Woojoo winked at the younger ones. ¡®p.¡¯ ¡®Yes.¡¯ ¡®Cheer too.¡¯ The younger ones pped and cheered ¡®Wow!¡¯ ¡°Thank you, President!¡± ¡°You¡¯re so awesome!¡± ¡°You¡¯re the best, President!¡± ¡°Haha! Well, there¡¯s no need to go that far.¡± Junghyun raised his thumb and said, ¡°President.¡± Then he raised his other hand and made a double thumbs-up, making the Presidentugh with a big smile. Director Jo just smiled and sipped his beer. ¡°Haha! If you need anything for the light stick, just tell me, anything! If we¡¯re going to make it, we have to make it with the best performance.¡± ¡°Yes, we¡¯ll tell you everything!¡± They were happily giving the Presient a hug when he pped his hands as if he had a good idea. ¡°How about we name it Rackbong, Rackbong? Hahahaha!¡± ¡°¡­!¡± Director Jo spat out his beer, and the staffs¡¯ chopsticks froze for a moment. The road managers also dropped their tongs. Meanwhile, their Director Yoon filled the President¡¯s ss with a look of admiration. The President waved his hand and said it was a joke. ¡°It¡¯s a joke. Who would name it Rackbong?¡± ¡°Haha. Hahaha!¡± Everyoneughed with relief. ¡°How about we go fresh and name it Bongbong, Bongbong?¡± ¡°¡­¡± ¡°Or how about we shorten it to Ppyong? Ppyong hammer? Or Newppyong¡­ Numpyong? Isn¡¯t that a trendy word among friends these days? How about we go bright and cheerful like that name?¡± ¡°¡­¡± The staff started to drink one soju shot after another. Director Jo just filled the empty sses. As someone who had seen the group name candidates Lemon Boys and Flying Angels, Woojoo understood their reaction. Woojoo smiled and cheered the President. ¡°President.¡± ¡°Yes, Woojoo. Do you have something to say?¡± ¡°Can we have our memberse up with ideas and stuff? Like, we can make the design ourselves.¡± The President looked interested and the staff clenched their fists and gave me a look of support. It was like cheering for a ser yer who was dribbling to the goal. Woojoo added, ¡°I think it would be better for the fans to see us taking the lead, and even if it¡¯s the same design, the satisfaction would be higher.¡± ¡°Hmm. That¡¯s true. If you guys made it, there would be lessints¡­¡± The President nodded halfway and the staff gave Woojoo a look of ¡®Go for it! Hurry!¡¯ Woojoo said the decisive words, ¡°I heard a rumor from the Street Boys side that DNS Media is making their own design¡­¡± The staff started to drink cider instead of soju and made a face of ¡®That¡¯s it.¡¯ ¡°DNS is doing that¡­?¡± The President muttered ¡®That Hyunsik bastard¡­¡¯ and grabbed Woojoo¡¯s hand. ¡°Woojoo.¡± ¡°Yes, President.¡± ¡°Do whatever you want. I¡¯ll push you hard. Do you want me to make the light stick shoot fire?¡± ¡°The light stick¡­?¡± A magic methrower that made the person in front disappear when you cheered. A New ck concert where two people went in and one came out alive, that kind of slogan came to mind. The President¡¯s eyes sparkled like fire. The remark about thepetitor worked and the President agreed to let them take the lead in the production. He chewed the beef tenderloin like a bitter herb and snorted. ¡°I know that Im guy. He¡¯s not being proactive, he¡¯s just telling them to make the design and then doing what he wants.¡± The staff closed their mouths and looked at the President. The President looked at Woojoo. ¡°If you have any ideas, tell our staff.¡± ¡°What about the budget¡­?¡± ¡°Budget? Why do you guys have to worry about that? You have to do everything you want. Hahahaha!¡± ¡°President¡­!¡± They allughed with emotion and Woojoo winked at his brothers. ¡®p.¡¯ ¡®Yes.¡¯ ¡®This time, fortissimo.¡¯ They pped like crazy like monkeys with cymbals. ¡°President¡­¡± ¡°Guys¡­¡± ¡°Hot hot hot!¡± ¡°Hahaha!¡± The barbecue restaurant was filled with a warm and friendly atmosphere. But the President didn¡¯t know. He didn¡¯t know that his subordinates were searching for keywords like ser sword¡¯, ¡®maximum output¡¯, and ¡®wind power¡¯ after he said there was no budget limit. Back at the office, they gathered in the studio. They were busy preparing their schedules. ¡°Mmm~ smell~¡± The youngest one uttered a cheerful line. ¡°Rihyuk, do you smell that~?¡± ¡°Smell? What smell?¡± ¡°The smell of spring. The smell of spring getting more ripe~ Ah, it¡¯s so refreshing!¡± ¡°Oh no, spring is getting more ripe.¡± Woojoo didn¡¯t know why it sounds like ¡®damn, spring¡¯. ¡°Huh? What¡¯s wrong? Rihyuk, don¡¯t you like spring?¡± Someone who had red ears sighed deeply and muttered a line shyly. ¡°Jiho, you know, I¡¯m an ice prince. Of course I prefer winter over spring.¡± ¡°Pfft!¡± ¡°Ah, don¡¯tugh!¡± As Bijoo, Junghyun, and Woojoo giggled while munching on popcorn, Rihyuk got annoyed. Jiho called him in a stern voice. ¡°How can you break the immersion like that? Do it properly. You¡¯re good at singing, but you don¡¯t have the spirit of a pro.¡± ¡°Ah, yes.¡± ¡°Answer me properly. Pretend I¡¯m your vocal teacher. Would you talk back to me like that?¡± ¡°Yes¡­¡± Rihyuk couldn¡¯t deny the acting coaching that was full of valid points, and he just twitched his lips. ¡°Okay, then let¡¯s go back to the part where you¡¯re the ice prince. Rihyuk, do you not like spring?¡± Their youngest was really good. Rihyuk wasn¡¯t bad either, but Jiho delivered that embarrassing line more naturally than anyone. ¡°Look, Hyung. ¡®Spring is blooming even more! Today¡¯s stage is the return of the bad singer! Son Bomi¡¯s ¡®Love, Breakup, Spring¡¯!¡¯ Try it like this.¡± ¡°Um¡­¡± ¡°Don¡¯t be shy. The members like it! Just do it while remembering how you felt when you said that. No one will care about you. They mightugh, though.¡± ¡°Hey.¡± ¡°Hey, what do you mean by ¡®hey¡¯ to your teacher?¡± Woojoo turned his gaze away from the bickering coaching. Junghyun was working on the mixtape, and Bijoo was helping Woojoo with the preparation for the recording of Shinto Rabbitter tonight. ¡°The concept is better to stick to what we¡¯ve been doing, right?¡± ¡°Yes, and I think it would be better to be with Hanjo than TNT or Teen Spirit.¡± ¡°I think so too. He¡¯s the closest one among them. ¡­The others might make a mistake and get caught by the fans.¡± Woojoo had already done the research on the people he was going to appear with. He had studied by asking for advice from senior entertainers who had experience in appearing or watching popr clips, so the only thing left was the final check. Bijoo smiled as he checked the parts Woojoo might miss with him. ¡°Don¡¯t worry and just do it as usual. Hyung.¡± Woojoo felt grateful to him for cheering him up by saying ¡®You always do well¡¯. When Woojoo checked the script again, Jiho called him impatiently. ¡°Woojoo Hyung!¡± ¡°What?¡± ¡°Hyung,e and try this. Rihyuk Hyung keeps asking me how to do this.¡± ¡°Hey! It¡¯s because you¡¯re asking too much!¡± ¡°It¡¯s not hard.¡± Woojoo rolled around on the wheel chair. It was like kindergarten kids saying ¡®He¡¯s a bad kid!¡¯ and looking for the teacher. ¡°Stop fighting. What¡¯s the problem?¡± ¡°Look. The concept here is ¡®cold and soft¡¯, right? If I¡¯m bright and cheerful, you have to be calm, but you¡¯re twisting your body like a pretzel. Hyung, you try it. Is it really hard?¡± ¡°I¡¯m not very confident either¡­¡± Woojoo skimmed through the script that Rihyuk was holding. It was a cold but soft feeling. Woojoo thought of an expression that would suit it and recited the line. ¡°Jiho, you¡¯re something else. I¡¯m the ice prince, you know. Of course, I prefer winter to spring.¡± As soon as he finished, he looked up and saw the two of them staring at him with strange eyes. ¡°Hey, Wang Jiho. He¡¯s better than you?¡± ¡°Why, why are you so good at this? Did you lose all your shame or something?¡± ¡°Hey.¡± Woojooughed incredulously and gave some advice to Rihyuk. ¡°Don¡¯t feel pressured by being the MC. Just rx and imagine. Don¡¯t think about the people who are judging you, but the Souffl¨¦s in front of you.¡± ¡°I¡¯ll give it a try.¡± He improved quickly. When Rihyuk looked at Woojoo with surprise and said ¡®oh¡¯, Jiho narrowed his eyes and avoided him. ¡°Hyung, you should get ready for the recording. I¡¯ll teach Rihyuk Hyung. Acting teacher is my role, you know.¡± Woojoo smiled as he saw him being wary of him, whose skills had improved a lot since he taught Woojoo. ¡°Sure, you two have a happy marriage.¡± Woojoo stretched and looked around. The kids seemed to be in good condition. Nothing special. Woojoo felt relieved that he could leave them alone for a few hours and go out. As he buttoned up his pink Hawaiian shirt, Bijoo asked him, ¡°Are you leaving already?¡± ¡°Yeah, I have to stop by the shop and change clothes.¡± ¡°Phew, thank goodness¡­¡± ¡°What?¡± ¡°Nothing. Nothing at all.¡± As Woojoo said ¡®I¡¯m going¡¯ and tried to leave, the four of them came to the door to see him off. What was this? This unusually friendly atmosphere. Woojoo had a feeling that something was off and asked them, ¡°What¡¯s this? Why are you seeing me off?¡± ¡°What are you talking about? We always see you off.¡± They nodded their heads as Woojoo squinted his eyes. ¡°Don¡¯t tell me you¡¯re going to confess something on Shinto Rabbitter. I have something to confess~ like that.¡± Jiho turned pale and shook his head. ¡°No way.¡± ¡°That¡¯s right. No way.¡± ¡°Do you think we would do that? You¡¯re. Too. Much.¡± ¡°That¡¯s too much.¡± Ah. This was really awkward. Woojoo tried to be nice to them for a few days before the show, but he didn¡¯t know if it worked. His siblings had betrayal as their basic passive. ¡°Hurry up and go! Hurry!¡± ¡°Hyung, hurry up and go!¡± As Woojoo went out half-pushed, he felt a vague sense of uneasiness. ¡­It would be fine, right? Today¡¯s broadcast? Sangam-dong TBC building. The set of the new concept talk show ¡®Find Your Memory¡¯ was busy preparing for the recording. ¡°Yawn¡­¡± The hosts of the talk show greeted each other while suppressing their yawns. ¡°Oh, Hyung, you¡¯re here?¡± ¡°The traffic was terrible.¡± The one who just arrivedined. ¡°Is it because it¡¯s Friday? Why is the road so congested? It¡¯s been a while since we recorded at this time.¡± ¡°The guest is an idol, you know,¡± someone said while flipping through the script. ¡°They barely managed to fit this in their schedule. There are some top-tier ones and one who¡¯s just starting to get popr.¡± ¡°New ck? I was listening to their song on the radio on my way here.¡± The host who came in every night on Wonderful Night said as he took off his coat, ¡°Since the recording is at this time, it would be nice if they gave us plenty of content.¡± ¡°Just get enough as usual. Have we ever had fun with an idol on our show?¡± ¡°If they¡¯re popr¡­ they¡¯ll probably be stingy.¡± It was rare to have fun with an idol on a special episode. They would only mention episodes that would make them look good, pretending to reveal their weaknesses. How could that be fun? The hosts also said ¡®wow, amazing!¡¯ but inside they were like ¡®uh, hmm¡­ is that all?¡¯ Everyone was worried about the broadcast content when the senior host called the PD. ¡°PD Kim!¡± The man who was the oldest among the hosts asked the PD who turned his head, ¡°How¡¯s the water today, good? Did you prepare anything fun?¡± ¡°It¡¯s average, Sunbae-nim.¡± PD Kim chuckled as he recalled something. ¡°But there is one gem among them.¡± ¡°A gem?¡± ¡°How should I put it? The more you dig, the more crazy stuffes out. You don¡¯t have to worry about the length because of him.¡± ¡°Oh¡­ There¡¯s someone like that? Who is he?¡± ¡°New ck Woojoo.¡± ¡°Him?¡± Everyone looked puzzled. ¡°Isn¡¯t he the one who looks very diligent?¡± ¡°He looked the least interesting among the cast¡­¡± As they were talking, their eyes shifted to the host who came back from the bathroom. ¡°Hey, Changhyun.¡± ¡°Yes?¡± ¡°Didn¡¯t you go to Taiwan with New ck at Patisserie Korea? How was Woojoo there?¡± ¡°¡­Woojoo?¡± ¡°PD Kim said there¡¯s something crazy about him, but he looks far from dynamic by his face.¡± Yoo Changhyun hesitated. Words like ¡®bread dough¡¯, ¡®Woo Jenmin¡¯, and ¡®Maasai walking¡¯ started to float in his head. ¡°Uh¡­¡± He coughed and said to the curious people, ¡°Well, you¡¯ll see for yourselfter.¡± He couldn¡¯t exin it in one word. Chapter 245: Chapter 245: Trantor: MarcTempest Editor: Rxel Chapter 245 Woojoo walked past the dark lobby on the first floor of the TBC building in Sangam-dong and got on the elevator to the third floor studio. ¡°Hmm hmm.¡± The hit song ¡®Breeze¡¯ that Lisa Sunbae sang in thest performance was ying behind him. Minki Hyung was humming along with the song. Their eyes met and he raised his voice. He hummed louder, as if to say hmm hmm! Woojoo sighed deeply.¡°Minki Hyung.¡± ¡°Hmm¡­ yes?¡± ¡°I¡¯m sorry.¡± Woojoo said to him, who wasughing, ¡°I don¡¯t know what I did wrong, but I¡¯ll apologize first. Hyung, if you¡¯re upset, I¡¯ll buy you something delicious¡­¡± ¡°Hey, don¡¯t be silly. What could I be upset about with you?¡± He had a lot of grievances. This guy. Ding. They got out of the elevator and walked down the hallway. He smiled brightly, looking at Woojoo¡¯s flustered expression. At this rate, he might say ¡®Hello, this is the New ck manager~¡¯ in a voice changerter. ¡°What could I be upset about? Well, maybe when you said you just wanted to listen to a song you worked on and kept me there for three hours¡­¡± ¡°I bought you meat that day.¡± ¡°Oh, right.¡± They both burst intoughter. They each carried a box of coffee and the managerughed. ¡°I¡¯m kidding. Nana and Dowon don¡¯t have anything to be upset about either. You guys are so good to us. Of course, I know a lot of your ck history for criticism¡­¡± ¡°Ah. Hyung.¡± ¡°We¡¯re not on the phone call lineup today, so don¡¯t worry.¡± Whew. Thank goodness. Then he said seriously, ¡°Of course, I don¡¯t know how the Director will be.¡± He chuckled and Woojoo rolled his eyes. He changed his expression and asked Woojoo, ¡°Are you feeling less nervous?¡± ¡°Yes, thanks to you.¡± ¡°What if you can¡¯t do it? Rx. I can see the pressure on your shoulders.¡± ¡°Is it obvious?¡± ¡°You talk less when you¡¯re stressed.¡± It was his first time going on a terrestrial broadcast show alone. Woojoo was worried about getting some airtime. Heforted Woojoo with a smile. ¡°Just do your best ande back. It¡¯s not like it¡¯s a big deal if you don¡¯t get enough airtime right now. You¡¯ll be fine as long as you act like yourself.¡± ¡°I guess so.¡± ¡°Take it easy. You guys sometimes seem like you¡¯re still in your debut days.¡± Woojoo smiled gratefully and Minki Hhyun looked into his eyes and said, ¡°And this is a serious advice, but you can¡¯t have no airtime on Shinto Rabbit.¡± ¡°¡­Don¡¯t say things like that seriously. Hyung.¡± They walked together with friendly smiles, and soon they reached their destination, the C studio. ¡°Is Hanjo the only one in the waiting room right now?¡± ¡°Well, their manager said they¡¯re the only ones there, so probably? There¡¯s still a lot of time before the recording starts.¡± They had contacted each other beforehand to split the cost of coffee for the staff. Hanjo must be in that waiting room. Woojoo felt excited to see him after a while, and opened the door and entered. ¡°Hello¡­¡± Woojoo¡¯s eyes met with the two men sitting at the table. And he was stunned. ¡°¡­?¡± One of them had the same face as the road manager of Street Boys that he had seen before. But the person who was supposed to be Hanjo¡­ ¡°Hello, Woojoo.¡± A stranger with thick muscles under his short-sleeved shirt called him. Woojoo greeted the staff of Shinto Rabbit and handed out coffee with the managers. Since the hosts hadn¡¯t arrived yet, he went back to the waiting room and sat down with the other person. ¡°What, what happened?¡± ¡°My body got better, right?¡± Hanjo smiled sheepishly, and Woojoo nodded. ¡°It¡¯s not just better, it¡¯s like when you eat a mushroom in Super Mario and your body grows.¡± He burst outughing, and his muscles twitched. Wow. Wow. Thest time Woojoo saw him was at the end of January at the awards show. But he had changed so much in just three months. His appearance, which used to be like a handsome and diligent college student, was now like a firefighter calendar. His skin was also slightly tanned. ¡°Are you not used to it?¡± ¡°Yes. Really.¡± ¡°We sometimes get scared too. When we¡¯re in the dark, we look like scary guys in the alley.¡± Woojooughed at the image. Heughed again at the joke that ¡®the tree became a real log¡¯. Hanjo calmly exined the situation to Woojoo. ¡°Last year¡¯s rookie candidates all did well, and they each found their positions. Blink is a skillful group, Serenity is a visual¡­¡± Blink and Serenity, who didn¡¯t stand out much in their debut, were showing the power of the four major agencies this year. MOP¡¯s Serenity was attracting fandom as a visual girl group, and KM Entertainment¡¯s Blink was showing their performance as a group in the music market. Among them, Street Boys was rtively floating among the rookie candidates, except for New ck who did overwhelmingly well. Of course, they were doing well, butpared to the other rookie candidates, they were¡­ ¡°The Director and the nning team staff had a long discussion. Hip hop has been a bit sluggish in the music markettely. They thought it would be difficult to continue like this¡­¡± So they decided to go with the concept of ¡®hip hop + beast idol¡¯. It was a position that no one had among the third generation idols like them. They seemed to have a n to fill the empty seat of the second generation beast idol seniors. ¡°Of course, if it doesn¡¯t work, they¡¯ll take it back¡­¡± Hanjo was drinking his protein shake with tears in his eyes, saying he almost died from building muscles. ¡°When is your nexteback?¡± ¡°Maybe at the end of May¡­? It¡¯s not really confirmed yet.¡± ¡°So you¡¯ll be out around the same time as our follow-up song.¡± ¡°You¡¯re doing a follow-up song too? ¡­We¡¯re in trouble.¡± Woojooughed at his sincere worry. Anyone would think they were TNT or something. As he drank his protein shake, Hanjo asked Woojoo, ¡°By the way, do you know what¡¯s going to be on the show today?¡± ¡°No, I don¡¯t. But I¡¯m curious.¡± The show was so focused on reality that even the cast members didn¡¯t know what to expect. ¡°Well, at least you don¡¯t have to worry about your screen time, Woojoo. I¡¯m jealous.¡± ¡°What¡¯s there to be jealous of¡­¡± ¡°My siblings told me to stick with you when I went to the station today. They said I¡¯m boring and would get edited out if I¡¯m alone¡­ How mean of them.¡± ¡°I¡¯m also getting bombarded with messages right now.¡± Woojoo briefly showed him the screen of his phone. Jiho [I¡¯m sorry] Junghyun [p] Rihyuk [I¡¯m sorry] Junghyun [p] Bijoo [Fighting, Woojoo Hyung who is like an apple] Junghyun [sigh] Woojoo red at Hanjo, who was grinning like a fool. He looked like he was enjoying watching someone else¡¯s house burn down. Jiho [Is Hanjo Hyung there too??] Jiho [The SB brothers sent a message on theputer. They want me to pass it on to you.] Jiho [¡®Apologize¡¯] Jiho [¡®If you don¡¯t apologize for what you¡¯ve done, you¡¯ll face hell in the recording studio.¡¯] Jiho [¡°Stay still, tree.¡± ¡°Why me again?¡±] Woojoo pped his hands andughed. While the older brothers were trembling and whining ¡®grrr, you guys¡­¡¯ to the younger ones, the guests arrived one after another. ¡°Hi.¡± A heavy and clear voice, it was Gu Seonwoong, the leader of TNT. He waved his hand lightly at Hanjo, who was bowing in greeting, and then reached out his hand to Woojoo. ¡°Hey, number one singer.¡± ¡°Seonwoong Hyung, long time no see.¡± He bumped his shoulder against Woojoo¡¯s as they shook hands, then pulled out a chair and sat next to him. ¡°How long has it been since the awards? Keep in touch, man.¡± ¡°I need to know your number first.¡± ¡°Oh, did I not tell you I changed it? I have to switch my phone number regrly because of the fans.¡± Theyughed along with the other guests who were saying how lucky they were to have each other as friends in this cold industry. They had seen each other¡¯s faces a lot, but the truth was, they weren¡¯t that close. Even when they were in TNT¡¯s debut group, the older and younger lines didn¡¯t get along well. They would joke around andugh together when they were in a group, but they would be quiet when they were alone. That was the kind of rtionship they had. The funny thing was, they weren¡¯t even that close among themselves. Woojoo was actually closer to the four guys below him. He didn¡¯t know how they were now, but as someone who was kicked out a long time ago, Woojoo wasn¡¯t that friendly with them. They would just greet each other with ¡°Hey, buddy!¡± and have a pleasant conversation when they met. "How are we going to fill the airtime? I''m so boring. Did you prepare anything in advance? If you did, let''s coordinate." "I didn''t prepare anything like that, but I think a lot of people around me did¡­" "Oh, right. You''re the rich guy in this line of work." "¡­." "If we run out of content, I''ll have to stick to you." As Hanjo chuckled next to Woojoo, Gu Seonwoong''s gaze turned to him. "Who''s that?" "Oh, that''s Hanjo, the leader of the Street Boys. He''s my senior." "Ah, nice to meet you." He seemed to have no idea what Woojoo was talking about. ¡®Is there such a group?¡¯ he looked puzzled. But he liked Hanjo, who was polite and called him ¡®senior¡¯. They started to chat amiably. That guy enjoyed being treated like this. ¡°Hello!¡± Wild¡¯s Woosan also arrived. They had yed on the same team at the Dolympic basketball tournament before. Woojoo had searched beforehand and found out that he looked like a ¡®handsome Doberman¡¯, so his nickname was Doberman. But every time he smiled, Woojoo couldn¡¯t help but think of that nickname. He greeted the person who pretended to know him and Hanjo, saying ¡°Our aces!¡± with a smile. Gu Seonwoong also got up from his seat. ¡°Hey, Woosan.¡± ¡°Seonwoong Hyung? Long time no see. Why don¡¯t you keep in touch?¡± ¡°I need to know your number first.¡± ¡°I had to change my number often because of the sasaengs¡­¡± Hanjo and Woojoo swallowed theirughter from behind. They were not close. As the four of them were talking in an awkward and unfamiliar atmosphere, the door opened abruptly and thest person appeared. ¡°Hey.¡± A handsome boy in a rider jacket murmured in a pleasant voice. ¡°The traffic was hell.¡± The manager behind him smiled wryly, earning him sour looks from the other managers. He was always like that. Gu Seonwoong got up from his seat again. ¡°Uh, Hwiyeon¡­¡± ¡°Don¡¯t contact me. I¡¯m annoyed. I¡¯m busy as hell. How do you expect me to keep in touch?¡± ¡°¡­¡± ¡°Change your greetings and life stories a bit. They¡¯re boring.¡± At his blunt words, Gu Seonwoong¡¯s face crumpled and he timidly changed his tone. ¡°Uh, okay¡­¡± Hwiyeon casually slumped on a chair. Every time Woojoo saw him, he felt like he wanted to live like that for once. Saying whatever he wanted without hesitation¡­ The slogan ¡®Life is like Teen Spirit¡¯ popped into his head. ¡°¡­¡± The atmosphere became even more awkward after Hwiyeon¡¯s appearance. How was he supposed to deal with this? Would the broadcast go well today? That was his worry as an amateur. As soon as the camera started rolling, the young men who were oozing idol charm smiled warmly and mingled with each other. ¡°Hello!¡± Hwiyeon, who was muttering ¡®The lights are so damn hot¡­¡¯ just a moment ago, sat next to Woojoo and greeted the camera. ¡°I¡¯m the fresh and lively leader of Teen Spirit! Hwiyeon! Please take good care of me~¡± ¡°¡­¡± Woojoo tried to keep aposed expression, while ncing around the studio with the corner of his eye. Dozens of cameras captured the guests¡¯ faces and reactions, while the writers below them scribbled on their sketchbooks. Among the crowd of managers standing behind Woojoo, Minki Hyung mouthed ¡®Fighting!¡¯ and cheered him on. The set looked like a bar. It had colorful lights and wood-toned interior, like the trendy bars on SNS. Under the neon sign of a rabbit biting a carrot, it said ¡®New Concept Talk Show: Find Your Memory¡¯. The guests and hosts sat facing each other at arge round table. ¡°Next up is someone who¡¯s hot these days, right? Not only did he top the weekly chart with his recenteback, but he¡¯s also famous on SNS as ¡®the idol who¡¯s funnier thanedians¡¯! He¡¯s the leader of the group!¡± One of the MCs introduced Woojoo. ¡°New ck¡¯s leader, Woojoo!¡± ¡°Yes, hello!¡± Woojoo smiled at the camera and greeted them. ¡°I¡¯m Woojoo, the leader of New ck, who came back with our mini second album, Windflower! Thank you for having me!¡± As the guests pped, the hosts reacted. ¡°Wow, you¡¯re handsome.¡± ¡°Oh, I love Windflower. Your voice is amazing.¡± ¡°Look at our writers¡¯ gums. They¡¯re smiling so hard. It¡¯s been a long time since I saw them like that. Woojoo, can you wave your hand to them?¡± Woojoo waved his hand, and the camera captured the scene of the writers waving their sketchbooks like light sticks. Then he had some time to promote their third album. When Woojoo sang Windflower, the broadcasters and idols showed their enthusiastic reactions, saying things like ¡°Oh my, what a song¡­!¡± ¡°Such a great song. Did you write the lyrics andpose the music yourself?¡± ¡°I see that youposed all the title songs so far. And you produced this album too.¡± ¡°Wow, you¡¯re so talented.¡± Wild¡¯s Woosan and Teen Spirit¡¯s Hwiyeon looked at Woojoo with interest. Woojoo shook his hand and answered. ¡°The lyrics were written by our main vocal, Rihyuk. And I had a lot of help from the other members for theposition.¡± The MCs teased him. ¡°You¡¯re too polite. We don¡¯t like that!¡± ¡°Don¡¯t be so modest.¡± ¡°Tell us the truth. You did everything, you made everything, and the members just added a spoonful.¡± ¡°No, not at all. I never thought that¡­¡± ¡®Hehe!¡¯ The hosts cheered as the lie detector came out. Woojoo hadn¡¯t seen this in a long time. This was a show famous for guests denying reality, so they often introduced them with a lie detector. ¡°Put your hand on the detector. This is how it works.¡± Oh. The detector. Woojoo was flustered as the entertainer Yoo Changhyun wrapped his hand tightly on the detector. ¡°No. Why are you using the detector for this kind of thing¡­¡± ¡°Don¡¯t worry. Don¡¯t worry. The other guests will have to do it too.¡± ¡°Answer the question quickly. Come on, Woojoo, do you think you did all theposing yourself?¡± ¡°Not at all.¡± The detector immediately gave the answer of truth. ¡°Hey, what¡¯s this? That¡¯s no fun.¡± ¡°This is too obvious¡­¡± ¡°Then let¡¯s change the question. I want to keep all the royalties for myself. Answer me. One, two, three.¡± ¡°Uh¡­ No? Of course we share them¡­ Ouch!¡± Ow. That hurts. But Woojoo was more embarrassed than hurt. He looked away as they allughed uproariously. ¡°The machine must have malfunctioned.¡± The MCs didn¡¯t listen at all. ¡°It¡¯s okay. It¡¯s okay.¡± ¡°I admit that you deserve the royalties. Money is not something you share even with family.¡± Before Woojoo could even answer, the barrage of questions made him feel like he was losing his soul. When he came to his senses, he was writing a video letter to exin to his siblings. ¡°My Souffl¨¦ fans, and my kids. Don¡¯t misunderstand. The machine had an error.¡± ¡°Should we do it again?¡± ¡°This machine seems broken. If there¡¯s another machine, I¡¯ll do it.¡± ¡°We have a spare. Bring it!¡± ¡°Aaaah¡­! I¡¯m sorry. I was blinded by money¡­!¡± As Woojoo grabbed the wrist of an MC who was trying to bring a new machine, everyone burst intoughter. Then they had time to introduce the other guests, who were also grilled like him. ¡°The TNT brother line was honestly too big. In the past, I was the leader and the eldest, so they couldn¡¯t even look me in the eye. Is that right or not?¡± ¡°Not at all¡­ Ouch!¡± Gu Seonwoong also ruined his stern image. ¡°Street Boys, when I first heard the group name, I wondered what the CEO was thinking when he named it.¡± ¡°Im Hyunsik, I love¡­ Aaack!¡± Those who said things like ¡®I don¡¯t regret using the stage name Woosan¡¯ or ¡®I don¡¯t think I¡¯m cool myself¡¯ were also defeated one by one. It was the usual introduction time at this show. It was a way to disarm the guests¡¯ defenses with a talk that would reveal their true feelings. Thanks to that, the guests became more rxed and carefree as the show went on. They spent almost 30 minutes on self-introductions, and then they had time to explore the individual guests. ¡°¡­And the person who is attracting the most attention today is Woojoo. The production team found this article on the inte. ¡®There is no idol more handsome than New ck!¡¯ It says.¡± The title was already shocking. Woojoo thought it was a title that would get a lot of hate, when one of the MCs said, ¡°The content is like this. I¡¯m sorry. I pulled this up to show you. New ck¡¯s dark history is the best in the world¡­! It says.¡± It was a normal promotion article for their Souffl¨¦. ¡°There¡¯s a lot of stuff. Starting from the fan club name, which was also derived from a slip of the tongue, and wow¡­ How many are there? A video letter where you get jealous of a cat. A workbook ad. Taiwan¡¯s Woo Jenmin¡­¡± ¡°This is crazy. This is the talent we wanted!¡± ¡°If Shintoki was a college, this kid would be the top student.¡± As each one was revealed, Woojoo was surprised that he had so many. Hanjo, who only knew about the cat video letter, also looked at Woojoo with amazed eyes. The other guests also sped their hands and listened attentively, while the MCs had the expression of miners who had found a gold mine. ¡°I¡¯m looking forward to it. Woojoo.¡± ¡°At that age, he recorded all the dark history that a person would take ten years to make. It¡¯s a talent given by heaven.¡± ¡°Oh my. Where have you been until now?¡± The PD gave the OK sign, indicating that the phone call was ready. ¡°It¡¯s finally the first call. It¡¯s a call to New ck¡¯s Woojoo.¡± ¡°Shall we~ take it?¡± Woojoo wondered who it was. One of the MCs asked him, ¡°How about it? Do you think you¡¯ll know by the voice?¡± ¡°Yes, I think I¡¯ll know if it¡¯s someone I know. I¡¯m good at remembering features¡­¡± ¡°It won¡¯t be easy. We¡¯ve changed the voice a lot. Last time, Lee Gyeonwoo didn¡¯t even recognize his father¡¯s voice.¡± A voice with a thick and cheesy voice changer came out. -Hello~ ¡°Hi, can you introduce yourself?¡± -Yes. I¡¯m one of the people who are closest to New ck~~. A slow and thick voice. While Woojoo was listening quietly, one of the MCs asked with interest. ¡°Are you a member?¡± -It could be~ or~~ not. ¡°Sounds like a member.¡± One of the guests muttered, and the MC asked Woojoo, ¡°What do you think, do you know who it is?¡± ¡°Yes.¡± -There¡¯s no way you would~? Hehe. Woojoo nodded. ¡°We have a manager named Dowon. It¡¯s his voice.¡± -¡­ ¡°Dowon Hyung.¡± ¡°Hello, Dowon Hyung?¡± As he suddenly went silent, the people on the scene pped andughed. -It¡¯s not¡­ It¡¯s not him~~ ¡°It seems right. His voice is slow, and he puts a slight ent on the first syble.¡± -¡­ ¡°But he¡¯s not the type to call in for something like this.¡± They all looked at Woojoo with interest, as if listening to a detective¡¯s deduction. ¡°From what I see, our members are coaching him from the side, and he¡¯s rying what they say.¡± -¡­ ¡°The kids are making X signs with their hands, and Rihyuk and Jiho are typing like crazy. Right, Hyung?¡± -Uh¡­ ¡°Bijoo is covering his mouth with his hand. Junghyun is eating snacks.¡± They all pped and said ¡®You¡¯re amazing¡¯ as theyughed, and voices started toe out from the other side of the phone. They were slow voices with voice changers, but Woojoo could tell who they were. -Hang up! Just hang up~! -How can you hang up on a broadcast~~ -Just give us the phone. We¡¯ll¡­ Suddenly, a ¡®beep¡¯ sound was heard, and the call was over. They must have hung up while holding the phone desperately. They allughed at the unexpected situation. The MCs eximed, ¡°Wow, you¡¯re so sharp. Woojoo.¡± ¡°Do you know them all like that?¡± ¡°Yes, if I catch the characteristics, I can¡­¡± ¡°That¡¯s awesome. Are we finally going to have a real-name verification broadcast?¡± It was also thanks to the fact that he met them often. Meanwhile, Woojoo¡¯s friends and others agreed to call each other againter and handed the baton over to Hanjo, one of the Street Boys. Woojoo heard voices that sounded like they had inhaled helium gas. -Hi there! -We are the members of Street Boys! ¡°Oh, are you sure it¡¯s okay to reveal your identities like this? We, the Shinto Rabbit, always tell you that we¡¯re not responsible for what happens afterwards.¡± -It doesn¡¯t matter! They answered in unison. -Because we are eight people! No one can ever tell who is who when we say it like this~ -Right, right. -Wow, this is so exciting! Kyakya! -Hanjo Hyung, who are we? ¡­As they chatted excitedly among themselves, the MCs asked Hanjo. ¡°What do you think, can you tell who is who?¡± ¡°No, I really don¡¯t know. This is really hard to understand. They all sound simr.¡± At that, the distorted voices on the other sideughed, ¡®See? Kyakya!¡¯ The MCs and the guests looked at Woojoo. One of the MCs asked Woojoo with an expectant look, ¡°You said Street Boys and New ck were close earlier. Can you tell who these voices are?¡± ¡°Um¡­¡± Woojoo hesitated for a moment and answered. ¡°It seems difficult, but I¡¯ll give it a try.¡± Chapter 246: Chapter 246: Trantor: MarcTempest Editor: Rxel Chapter 246 Woojoo heard some reactions to his voice. -Who is this~? -It¡¯s our leader, our leader! We miss you! The distorted voices wereughing and making a racket, and the scene was filled withughter. Hanjo briefly exined the history of ¡®Mint Choco-dan¡¯ to the curious people who asked about the title of ¡®leader¡¯. The Street Boys members who were listening cheered.-Ah. But you¡¯re not our leader anymore! -Right! -We thought you were our leader, but you ditched us and ran away~! -Right! That was so~ heartbreaking! -You won several gold medals at the Idol Sports Festival and then you left us! Happiness is not based on grades! The eight of them were making a fuss, and Woojoo couldn¡¯t focus at all. When the MCs finally calmed them down, Woojoo spoke calmly. ¡°You are, in order, Yugeon, Giwon, Rex, and LB.¡± There was a sudden silence. And then¡­ -Mom? Everyone burst intoughter at LB¡¯s exmation in a distorted voice. -What is this? -What is this? Is the filter not working? Is that it? Was this a real-name verification broadcast all along? -What do we do? What do we do? We must have been scammed! The MC, Yoo Changhyeon, exined the situation. ¡°It¡¯s not that the filter is not applied to the Street Boys right now. Woojoo guessed your voices.¡± -Wow! -As expected, you¡¯re our leader. -Hanjo Hyung sometimes gets confused about us, but our leader is different! Hanjo looked incredulous. ¡°When did I ever mix you up¡­¡± -Look at him. He lies every time he opens his mouth! -Don¡¯t you remember leaving us at the wooden rest areast time? You checked the headcount wrong! As their mistakes were exposed, someone asked curiously. ¡°But how did you know, Woojoo? Even if you¡¯re close, you wouldn¡¯t have met often enough to guess them right away.¡± ¡°That¡¯s right.¡± Hanjo agreed with a nod. ¡°I see them every day, but I don¡¯t know either.¡± ¡°Well, that¡¯s because.¡± Woojoo exined, ¡°We had a joint stage at the TBC year-end music festival.¡± ¡°Yes. ¡­But why did you stop talking?¡± ¡°It seemed like the time to show the data on the screen.¡± The MCsughed and told him to just talk, they would edit itter. ¡°I had to arrange Trend Sunbae-nim¡¯s song, so I had to figure out the voice colors of the Street Boys. I guess I remembered the work I did hard at the time.¡± But this was really fun. ¡°Oh, that¡¯s amazing. You have a good memory.¡± ¡°That, and you all have distinctive and nice voices.¡± Street Boys made a ¡®kkyo-yot!¡¯ sound. -We have personality! -Tree, stay still. Woojoo swallowed hisughter and talked about the voice colors of each member. ¡°Kiwon has a flowing voice like he¡¯s singing. Even when he speaks, his ¡®r¡¯ sounds very soft. On the other hand, LB has a rap-like voice that taps and beats.¡± ¡°Wow.¡± Someone eximed, ¡°I have no idea what you¡¯re talking about, but it¡¯s fascinating.¡± ¡°I find it more amazing that you can guess like this. Do you really analyze and know these things?¡± It turned into a mystery time. Woojoo asked Street Boys to talk again, and the people who remembered his exnation tried to guess. ¡°I couldn¡¯t get any right. I have no clue.¡± ¡°When this airs, Street Boys fans will be surprised.¡± ¡°Our Concrete, don¡¯t misunderstand. It¡¯s not that I can¡¯t guess, it¡¯s that Woojoo is really special.¡± They all looked at Woojoo with mysterious faces, ¡®¡­?¡¯ Only Yoo Changhyun, who recorded with him at Patisserie Korea, smiled smugly. On the other hand, it was natural that they had a hard time guessing. It was analysis, but actually he just knew by listening. Just as there were colors in sound, each person had a unique color and image in their voice. For example, when he heard Hanjo¡¯s voice, he saw a soft pastel tone of green with swaying bushes. ¡­But if he said that, he would look like a weird person, so he only thought it to himself. Street Boys also reacted excitedly. -It should be amazing, but it¡¯s not. -Yeah, yeah. -He has a lot of special abilities! It¡¯s not for nothing that we chose him as our leader! -Wait, wait. I have a lot of questions now, can I ask you one? When the MCs told them to go ahead, the members asked. -Can we talk about him after dissing Hanjo Hyung? As Woojoo¡¯s face became anxious, Hanjo smiled happily. The MCs also smiled warmly. ¡°Of course.¡± ¡°That¡¯s always wee.¡± ¡­Damn. ¡®Senior, how is Shinto Rabbit?¡¯ Woojoo asked Jang Sowon Sunbae on chat after he got cast. When they were active as Something, she also appeared on Shinto Rabbit. She replied to his question about the atmosphere. ¡®It¡¯s rare for the guests to have fun recording, but this one was surprisingly fun.¡¯ Woojoo was curious. Around the World With Dice was fun to watch on TV, but not so much when filming. ¨C -You have such a bad case of chuunibyou! They all chuckled at Hwiyeon¡¯s shivering figure in real time. The members of Teen Spirit kept exposing him like fish in water. -When he was eating pork belly, some oil sshed on his forehead. Where the Buddha spot is. But instead of just putting a small band-aid on it, he bought arge one and stuck it on his forehead horizontally. -He loves it when the fansment ¡®Oh! Hwiyeon hurt his forehead??¡¯. -He also wore an eye patch for a while when he had an eye infection, even though the doctor said he was fine. The set turned upside down when his true self, obsessed with the concept of a wounded and frail pretty boy, was revealed. With a face that seemed to say ¡®These bastards¡­¡¯, Hwiyeon asked Woojoo, ¡°Is that possible? Voice analysis?¡± ¡°I don¡¯t think so. I don¡¯t know how to¡­¡± ¡°Why not? Why can¡¯t you do mine?¡± He grabbed Woojoo¡¯s sleeve and wailed, and Gu Seonwoong pped his hands with a smug expression next to him. The other guests also fell one by one, starting with Woojoo and Hanjo, who were exposed by the members of Street Boys. At first, it was mostly the members who appeared, but as time went by, third parties also started to show up. -Hello. I¡¯m a 30-something office worker working in Seoul. I have a story about Wild¡¯s Woosan. For the strangers, they just revealed their identities. Woosan¡¯s face became tense. The members could at least guess what kind of stories they would tell, but the strangers were really unpredictable. Wild¡¯s Woosan asked, ¡°Where did you see me?¡± -The bathhouse. The bathhouse. ¡°The bathhouse?¡± -I was in the tub at dawn, thinking there was no one else. But then suddenly, bubbles started to form in front of me, and a human head popped up! Everyone flipped over andughed. -I was so surprised that I gasped ¡®Huh!¡¯ But I guess you misunderstood. You said with a slightly awkward face ¡®Yes. I¡¯m Wild¡¯s Woosan.¡¯ That¡¯s when I never forgot the team name Wild. ¡°I don¡¯t remember that¡­¡± -I also took amemorative photo that day. Everyone couldn¡¯t help butugh at the photo that the production team showed on the screen. It was a picture of an idol and an office worker making a V sign in front of the bathhouse counter. Ah. That was hrious. That was why their Souffles loved it when they were embarrassed and made a kyohot sound. It was so fun to think of it as someone else¡¯s business. The round ended with Gu Seonwoong, who was exposed by his actor friend of the same age, for his ¡®cat ck history¡¯. The MCsughed hard. ¡°Today¡¯s water is good. I like it.¡± ¡°If we keep this atmosphere, we can aim for the second part, right?¡± ¡°Oh, are we going for the second part? Let¡¯s go? PD Kim?¡± They all looked excited, thinking they had enough content. Then they turned their eyes to Woojoo. ¡°But Woojoo is a bit weak.¡± ¡°Exactly. He was a promising candidate, but what is this? The members also hung up on him earlier.¡± Woojoo smiled. ¡°Maybe it¡¯s because they don¡¯t have much to say about me.¡± As soon as Woojoo said that, everyone reacted with a ¡®yeah right¡¯ and said that was nonsense. Especially Yoo Changhyun, who had recorded Patisserie Korea with Woojoo, was shaking his head vigorously. The main MC spoke. ¡°Speaking of which, the production team just told me that they have a phone call for you, Woojoo.¡± ¡°Is that why the members got cut off earlier?¡± That was when the conversation was going on. -Hello~ An unfamiliar voice. Woojoo tried to recall whose voice it was, but he had no idea. ¡°Please introduce yourself.¡± -Hello. I¡¯m someone who went to elementary school with Woojoo. ¡°What¡­!¡± Woojoo jumped up and made an X sign. ¡°No way. Please hang up!¡± The people gathered at the scene felt a thrill. What had happened in elementary school that made him react so sensitively? While Woojoo was panicking and saying ¡®no way!¡¯, the voice-changed voiceughed and said. -I was so happy to see New ck Woojoo on the broadcast preview. I¡¯ve been waiting for this day. When will Woojoo be on Shintoki! Oh, I¡¯m so happy! ¡°Please calm down first.¡± -Oh, yes. I got a little excited¡­ The MC turned to Woojoo. ¡°Do you have any idea who it is?¡± ¡°A friend from elementary school¡­ I have no clue with this voice. What do I do?¡± The camera zoomed in on Woojoo¡¯s feet tapping nervously. ¡°Seriously, what happened in elementary school?¡± ¡°Well¡­¡± He made an awkward expression, and the voice-changed voice chuckled. -Let me tell you. Woojoo, this guy had a huge pride in his appearance when he was in lower grades of elementary school. ¡°Not that much¡­¡± -You admit it, right? ¡°Yes¡­¡± While Woojoo was sighing deeply, the people who were curious about the story heard the testimony of his old ssmate. -Woojoo was very handsome even when he was a kid. He was prettier than girls. Every time he went to school, the high school girls around him would run into him and say ¡®Woojoo! Woojoo!¡¯ and adore him. The people at the scene nodded silently. They could see why they would say that, looking at the person sitting in front of them. He had a face that would make anyone stare nkly at him on the street. When they saw the curve that ran from his forehead to his nose and chin, they would marvel at such a line. He slightly frowned as if he was embarrassed, and the writers¡¯ noses twitched as his eyshes fluttered. If they turned back the time by about 15 years from there¡­ When he was in elementary school, they believed the testimonies that said he could get free tteokbokki and snacks from strangers if they just stuck to Woojoo¡¯s side. After various anecdotes, the ssmate came to a conclusion. -So I think this kid went a little crazy for a while. ¡°Puhaha!¡± The guests and the MCsughed at the sudden diss that came in. Woojoo coughed and asked, ¡°I don¡¯t remember very well, but what was so weird about me?¡± -Well, who was the one who wrote a poem saying ¡®I¡¯m so pretty¡¯ in the ss anthology? ¡°¡­¡± The voice that was slightly distorted sounded excited and continued. -This kid¡¯s face pride was no joke. Even in elementary school, he would go around saying things like ¡®Why don¡¯t people look at my inner self~?¡¯ He was so obsessed with his own face! ¡°Excuse me.¡± -Once, there was a friend who came back from vacation after losing a lot of weight. He became handsome and popr. Since then, he became wary of him. Even when they exchanged choctes on anniversaries, he would go up to him and say¡­ ¡°¡­¡± -¡®We¡¯re rivals from today on, right?¡¯ He said that! Kyakkyakya! It was awesome. Really! Everyone fell over the table andughed. Gu Seonwoong almost fell off his chairughing. The staff who were watching with a business-like face also burst intoughter. Woojoo exined as if to justify himself. ¡°It was when I was in second grade. That¡¯s normal for that age.¡± -No way. The ssmate immediately refuted. -Woojoo was really that much! It was not! A joke! ¡°It¡¯s so funny.¡± ¡°Tell me more! More!¡± As the MCs urged, the testimonies continued. -When they yed Secret Santa, they had to hide who they were, right? But when Woojoo did it, everyone knew. At the end, he would say ¡®Who¡¯s the most handsome one~?¡¯ Who wouldn¡¯t know? ¡°Puhaha!¡± -But he was so popr that even when he did those cringy things, everyone liked him! I really didn¡¯t get it! The story of how he was so popr that he couldn¡¯t ept it went on. When school was over, everyone would go to Woojoo and ask him to y with them. -He was so popr that even when they had a ss bazaar, they would do it. Usually, they would bring things from their homes and exchange them, right? ¡°That¡¯s right.¡± -But he brought paper. I was curious and looked at it, and it was his autograph. He sat at the table and spread out his autographs by version. It was then that a cute scene of a little boy spreading out his autographs was drawn. -He sat there and yed the Titanic OST on a recorder. Like background music while choosing an autograph. Bang! The scene that was drawn in their heads broke and they allughed as if they were sobbing. The person in question let out a detachedugh as if to let it be. The person who was telling the story also made a snickering sound that he found it funny. -The funny thing is, the kids bought it. I don¡¯t know why I have it, but I have one at home. It¡¯s the Taegeukgi edition. Then, arge sketchbook with ¡®Seon Woojoo¡¯ written in bold in Gulim font appeared on the data screen. The ¡®?¡¯ was marked with a taeguk symbol. They couldn¡¯t stopughing for a long time when they heard that everyone customized their ¡®?¡¯ differently at the scene. While they wereughing, the story ended and the MC asked, ¡°Can you introduce yourself, please?¡± -Yes. I¡¯m Lee Junghoon, a 23-year-old man who is living a normal college life. ¡°Oh, you!¡± When Woojoo widened his eyes, the voice that had been distortedughed. -It¡¯s me, the friend who lost weight and became popr. ¡°Ah.¡± As everyone looked amazed, the other person continued. -Actually, I¡¯ve been friends with Woojoo since before. I used to go to his grandmother¡¯s store every day and eat. I gained weight from eating tteokbokki next to him. ¡°No, you keep saying things that make people misunderstand, but that friend ate mine too, so I had nothing to eat.¡± -You told me to eat a lot! ¡°No. That¡¯s what you say, but do you really mean it?¡± After a brief childish quarrel, the other person said. -But he¡¯s a good friend. ¡°Suddenly?¡± -Yes. That¡¯s what I say. He¡¯s a really good memory for me. When I was in lower grades, he was the only one who came to me when I was bullied. He also wrote me a letter when no one wanted to do the Secret Santa thing. A heartwarming anecdote followed. -He was also the happiest when I lost weight and became popr. Um¡­ Now that I think about it, maybe it would have been really hard for me without him. ¡°Hey, Junghoon.¡± -Yeah? ¡°Thanks, but this heartwarming anecdote is no help to me after you cursed me out.¡± -Anyone else curious about Woojoo¡¯s story? Everyone raised their hands and a tense moment ensued between the elementary school ssmates. But it was a warm atmosphere. It was a contact that reached after 10 years, so they agreed to have a meal together soon. -I have a lot of things I want to talk about, but I¡¯ll stop here. The other person left a closing remark. -Was it when we were about to go up to fifth grade? You said your dream was to be an idol, and I¡¯m so happy to see you doing so well now. I hope New ck does well, and I hope you get a lot of love in the future. And¡­ Hey. What kind of flower is that? ¡°Windflower.¡± -Windflower! Please love it! The call ended with the apuse of the guests. The MCs who wereughing in the warm atmosphere shrank their bodies. ¡°Wow, it¡¯s heartwarming, but I can¡¯t adapt.¡± ¡°Suddenly, the atmosphere became like TV is Riding on Love.¡± ¡°I guess we¡¯re suited for trashy shows. Woojoo,e here. Let¡¯s talk about our elementary school days.¡± As everyone ¡®naaa¡¯ and tormented Woojoo, the production staff behind the camera smiled contentedly. ¡®We got a lot of footage.¡¯ The PD smiled with a full grin. Of course, that was partly because he got a lot of footage, but also because he saw the list of guests waiting for him. ¡®I have some juicy stories to share.¡¯ They were waiting for the calls from the TNT members. The one who took up most of the conversation time was Woojoo. They thought they could go for the second part after a long time. The idol special that they were worried about was nothingpared to the guests who had a lot of interesting stories. That was when he saw it. ¡°Hmm?¡± He noticed a familiar face in the corner of the studio. A man who was looking at Woojoo with a nce, with his arms crossed. The PD called the assistant director. ¡°What is he doing here?¡± ¡°He said he¡¯s waiting for the break time.¡± ¡°Why? ¡­Oh.¡± He had a feeling what he wanted, so he justughed. The PD gave instructions to the assistant director. ¡°Don¡¯t y with the camera during the break time. Keep one or two on.¡± He smiled at the corner of his mouth. ¡°I think there will be an interesting scene.¡± ¡°Take a break for a moment!¡± The first half of the recording was over. They only finished half, but Woojoo didn¡¯t know why his body was so sore. ¡°Ugh¡­¡± He stretched out and loosened up his stiff body. Hanjo said to Woojoo, ¡°Ugh, this is harder than I thought.¡± ¡°I know. I¡¯m sore just from sitting.¡± One of the MCs who was leaving with a cigarette pack hit Woojoo¡¯s shoulder and said, ¡°Hey, you did well earlier.¡± ¡°Thank you!¡± ¡°Just do the sameter.¡± Woojoo nodded with a smile. ¡°Hmm?¡± He felt a gaze on him. A man standing in the corner of the studio. At first he thought he was a manager, but he was a broadcaster with an ID card around his neck. ¡°¡­?¡± When their eyes met, he smiled and waved his hand. Hanjo asked, ¡°Do you know him? Is he a PD or something?¡± ¡°No. I¡¯ve never seen him before.¡± As soon as Woojoo finished speaking, the man who was standing in the corner came closer. Gu Seonwoong, who was looking at his phone near Woojoo, quietly got up and went to the bathroom. Soon the man came up and greeted him with a big smile. ¡°Nice to meet you, Woojoo.¡± ¡°Yes. Hello.¡± ¡°I stopped by and saw your broadcast. You¡¯re doing great!¡± He praised Woojoo as if he liked what he saw. ¡°You have a way with words. And the mask adds to your charm. You just have to stand still and the viewers will love you.¡± ¡°Thank you.¡± Woojoo thought it was a polite thing to say, even if it was empty. But then the other person waved his hand and looked at him seriously. ¡°I want to invite you to our show too.¡± ¡°Thank you. I would be very grateful if you did.¡± ¡°Hello. Mr. PD.¡± Hanjo, who was next to Woojoo, bowed his head and greeted him. The other person nodded his head with a satisfied smile. ¡°There¡¯s another talent here.¡± ¡°Uh, thank you.¡± Hanjo was happy, thinking ¡®The PD likes me¡­!¡¯. Meanwhile, the two idol seniors who were nearby swallowed their saliva. Their reaction was so subtle that Woojoo started to get a bad feeling. ¡°¡­¡± No way. Woojoo was about to ask the other person¡¯s identity while gulping down his saliva. ¡°By the way, I haven¡¯t introduced myself yet. I¡¯m a PD from the Entertainment Department here.¡± ¡°PD-nim.¡± ¡°Yes?¡± ¡°What program are you in charge of right now¡­¡± ¡°Oh. Our show.¡± Hanjo and Woojoo, who were smiling brightly until then, turned pale with shock and horror at the next words. ¡°It¡¯s called ¡®Men Go¡¯, the one that airs on weekends.¡± ¡°¡­¡± ¡°Are you both okay? You suddenly look pale.¡± ¡°¡­¡± Chapter 247: Chapter 247: Trantor: MarcTempest Editor: Rxel Chapter 247 Woojoo¡¯s mind froze for a moment. He turned his head and looked around, but everyone was gone. ¡°¡­¡± The seats where the leaders of Teen Spirit and Wild were sitting just a moment ago were empty. It felt like Woojoo could hear the sound of the wind whistling. ¡°Do you know me, Woojoo?¡± ¡°Yes. I received the wreath you sent me at the fan meeting and the showcase. Thank you very much.¡±To be precise, the message on the wreath was a warning that said ¡®I will catch you¡¯. The PD of ¡®The Man Goes¡¯ Do Joongi smiled awkwardly. ¡°I¡¯m sorry. The message on the wreath was not written by me¡­ The writers wrote it without my permission.¡± ¡°Oh.¡± ¡°Actually, I wanted to write ¡®Pleasee out once, Woojoo. It¡¯s my wish. Okay?¡¯ But the writers changed it because they said it was too burdensome.¡± Of course it was burdensome, Woojoo thought, but swallowed the words. Woojoo threw a nce at Hanjo, who was standing next to him with a faint smile. Hanjo¡­? Hanjo. Hey. Hey, Hanjo. He had no focus in his eyes. He was rolling his eyes, as if he was trying to figure out how to avoid this situation. PD Do¡¯s eyes met Hanjo¡¯s. ¡°Are you okay? You look pale.¡± ¡°I-I¡¯m fine.¡± PD Do smiled. ¡°Don¡¯t be so nervous. All the idols are like that. Do you think I came here to eat you? I just wanted to talk to you a little.¡± ¡­That was what the PD who came to the filming set said. Men Go. It was a program on TBC that had a pretty good rating. If Around the World With Dice was the prime minister of the TBC ratings, then Shintoki and Men Go were the left and right ministers. Men Go was a program that many celebrities wanted to appear on. There were quite a few cases of people who became famous after appearing on this show, so maybe if you shouted ¡®Who wants to go on Men Go?¡¯, it would be crowded like a snack bar during break time. But there was a reason why senior idols avoided it, and that was because the main PD was notorious for being vicious. The PD who was right in front of Woojoo, Do Joongi. He himself had a career as a Special Forces sergeant, and he was so obsessed with the military that he would have stayed in the army if it wasn¡¯t for his injury. He was a person who was famous for being able to handle the cast well, because he had rolled around a lot himself. He said that he could estimate the budget by filming. Whether the cast was acting spoiled or not. ¡­Woojoo had seen an interview like that. Woojoo was crazy. He should have at least searched for his photo. He didn¡¯t know his face, so he couldn¡¯t avoid him in time. He was still smiling brightly, but Woojoo felt like he was burning inside. How could he escape from this? Woojoo wanted to connect his brain with Hanjo¡¯s and make it work 1+1. ¡°I don¡¯t know what you heard from others, but most of it is a misunderstanding. You¡¯re close with Taehyun, right? I saw you two video chatting while editing the broadcast.¡± ¡°Yes. That¡¯s right.¡± ¡°What did Taehyun say? He said it was okay, right?¡± Woojoo remembered. [?Pleasee out. Come out. Come out now~?] He sent Woojoo a foreign song instead of answering when he asked him how he felt. It was a song that kept saying ¡®Come out~!¡¯. Woojoo smiled and replied. ¡°Yes, he said it was a very good memory.¡± Trantion: He said he would never go out. ¡°Right? Actually, I liked Woojoo since he messed up at the audition. But I started to pursue him seriously because of Taehyun. He said he had a rookie idol he wanted to rmend.¡± Trantion: He is my pick, but also someone else¡¯s pick. PD Do smiled and asked, ¡°I heard a positive answer from yourpany¡¯s Director in advance. How do you feel about appearing on the show? I saw on SNS that the fans are already expecting Woojoo¡¯s appearance.¡± Trantion: The camera is rolling. Let¡¯s get a promise. ¡°Well, I want to go out too. But I can¡¯t make a hasty decision without consulting with mypany.¡± Trantion: No, no. "Right. There must be some things to consider from thepany¡¯s perspective. It¡¯s hard to confirm here. Is there anything you are worried about regarding our program? Trantion: Tell me if there is anything that bothers you. ¡°No. Of course not.¡± Trantion: How can I say that. Then Woojoo asked the question I was curious about. ¡°Is there a reason why you want me? Why are you so interested in a rookie like me¡­¡± Trantion: Why me? PD? ¡°Does experience matter? I felt it the moment I saw you.¡± Trantion: I want you. At that time, Hanjo, who was watching the warm ping-pong between Woojoo and PD Do, cautiously pulled out. ¡°Then you two can talk¡­¡± Woojoo grabbed his arm. ¡°It¡¯s awkward to be alone. Stay with us. Haha.¡± Trantion: Where are you going? We die together. ¡°¡­Now that I look at it, this one is also eye-catching. Are you Hanjo from Street Boys? You have a nice body.¡± Trantion: I want you too. Hanjo was sad, thinking ¡®This is not why I built these muscles¡¯. Soon, the camera was shining on them, and Woojoo, Hanjo, and PD Do hugged each other. ¡°Hey! Let¡¯s all smile in advance to celebrate the appearance. Smile.¡± ¡°Hahaha.¡± And the idol seniors who opened the studio door stepped back as a group at PD Do¡¯sughter. ¡°Puhaha!¡± ¡°Didn¡¯t you just say it was really funny? You missed a rare sight.¡± ¡°How is PD Do? Persistent, right? His motto is ¡®Make it happen if it doesn¡¯t¡¯.¡± The MCs teased them and Hanjo waved his hand. ¡°Oh no, not at all. He is very kind.¡± ¡°I¡¯m so grateful that he even called me, a rookie. It¡¯s not an easy show to go out on¡­¡± Hanjo¡¯s eyes were moist. Don¡¯t cry. If you cry, I¡¯ll cry too. They said ¡°The PD is so kind!¡± but they looked sad for some reason. Everyoneughed at their pitiful state. Especially Gu Seonwoong, who wasughing so hard that he almost fell off his chair. ¡°Now, this call is from the members of TNT.¡± ¡°Here ites.¡± As Gu Seonwoong swallowed his saliva, the MC turned to Woojoo and asked as if he had remembered something. ¡°By the way, you said earlier in your introduction, right? That you and Woojoo were trainees at TJ Entertainment and knew each other from before.¡± ¡°Yes, that¡¯s right.¡± Gu Seonwoong scratched the back of his head and continued, ¡°As far as I know, that kid joined as a trainee since elementary school. He¡¯s actually my senior if you count the years. I joinedte, so¡­¡± ¡°He was the boss back then.¡± ¡°Woojoo had the upper hand, huh?¡± Everyone burst intoughter at the MC¡¯s remark, who was a former athlete. ¡°Then you must have known the TNT members for a long time, too?¡± ¡°Uh, well¡­¡± ¡°Yes. We¡¯ve known each other for a long time.¡± Gu Seonwoong stepped in for Woojoo, who was slightly embarrassed. Woojoo was relieved that he did. It was a tricky part for him to answer. Everything got sensitive when it came to TNT. Broadcasting was a public ce, unlike their personal friendship. It was hard to get involved with a top idol group with a huge fandom. There were countless rookie groups who got buried after offending the big fandoms. Just look at the hatements New ck got. Eighty percent of them came from when theypeted with TNT for the first ce. The TNT members also kept their distance from Woojoo when they were on air. They thought they were doing him a favor, but it could backfire on them. Fortunately, now they had grown enough to get away with saying ¡°We were very close¡± like this. ¡°Can we expect some differentiation here, too?¡± ¡°Yes. You can look forward to it.¡± Woojoo smiled brightly, and soon the call was connected. -Hello. Can you hear me? -Hello. -Is this working? It was Taehyun, Jihoon, and Hanbin, in that order. He recognized them as soon as he heard their voice-changed voices. Gu Seonwoong seemed to understand who was who, but he was a little nervous. -Hello. Hello! And there was one more. The one with the most perfect Korean pronunciation among the four. Hanbyeol. Jang Hanbyeol. The only Chinese member of TNT. His surname was Jang, but he had a five-letter Chinese name, so he made up a stage name of Hanbyeol, meaning he would use three letters too. He made that name because he wanted to settle in Korea, but he was always in China. He must have entered the country. Meanwhile, everyone noticed that the four youngest members of TNT were together. The onlybination of four people who could get together privately on TNT was them. ¡°Wow, look who¡¯s here.¡± -Hi! ¡°Are you all together right now?¡± They chatted briefly about how they came out to eat pasta and their recent activities, and then moved on to the topic of Gu Seonwoong¡¯s ¡®deer ck history¡¯. The members teased the leader mercilessly as he looked miserable. -You should have treated us better. -Yeah. Karma! -It¡¯s all the bad karma you umted that¡¯sing back to bite you. Hahaha! As the distorted voices mocked him cheerfully, Gu Seonwoong shivered and threatened them. ¡°I know who you are, so don¡¯t mess with me.¡± -What are you going to do if we don¡¯t~? As Gu Seonwoong turned his gaze, Woojoo whispered ¡®Seok Jihun¡¯ to him. ¡°Hey, Seok Ji?¡­¡± -Wait, wait. Hold on. Hyung. I think I just heard a very familiar voice. -Is that Woojoo? Is that Woojoo? -Is that Woojoo Hyung? What? Why is Woojoo Hyung there? -It¡¯s an idol leader special! Idiot! At the harsh remark of ¡®idiot¡¯, everyone in the studio burst intoughter, and Woojoo greeted them politely. ¡°Hello, Sunbae-nims. I¡¯m Woojoo from New ck.¡± -¡­ A three-second silence. Then, a deafening roar erupted from the speakers of the studio. -Ahhhh¡­! -I hate this! -I can¡¯t get used to it. From now on, calling us seniors is forbidden. Forbidden. One of the MCs asked, ¡°Do you feel ufortable with the senior title?¡± -Yes. No¡­ It was Han Taehyun. -We¡¯re not just acquaintances for a day or two. We¡¯ve known each other for a long time~ on TJ. But on official asions, you¡¯re so formal. -Right. I feel hurt! -We were close-! -You should say it in the present tense. That¡¯s the past tense. -Ah, we¡¯re still a little close¡­ Jang Hanbyeol, who hadn¡¯t been in Korea much, said hesitantly, and they startedughing again. ¡®Look how timid he is!¡¯ They teased each other and then called Woojoo. -Woojoo. The card with the names of the four of them that Woojoo had suggested beforehand came out. -Woojoo, do you know who I am? Woojoo showed him the one that said ¡®Han Taehyun Sunbae-nim¡¯, and the people in the studio covered their mouths and chuckled. -Hi there. -Why do you greet like that? You look so nd. -That¡¯s how I have to be. -Wow. You¡¯re totally anonymous then? As the names ¡®Seok Jihun¡¯, ¡®Ji Hanbin¡¯, ¡®Seok Jihun¡¯, and ¡®Jang Hanbyeol¡¯ alternated on the screen, everyone startedughing and holding their stomachs. Especially Gu Seonwoong wasughing so hard he almost died. During the conversation, MC whispered, ¡®Who prepared those cards?¡¯ and Yoo Changhyun pointed at Woojoo with his chin. When MC nodded at Woojoo with a pleased face, Yoo Changhyun asked, ¡°Since we¡¯re on the topic, do you have anything to say to Woojoo? Or any embarrassing stories?¡± -Um¡­ I have a lot, actually. -But I can¡¯t reveal them because the person over there has a lot of cards in his hand. -It¡¯s like a gold mine! As the TNT members chatted, Woojoo smiled quietly. Actually, they had a lot to talk about from their perspective. There were not enough episodes to talk about all day about being clumsy. But they didn¡¯t bother to touch on the part that was hisplex at the time, just to make the show more fun. Woojoo felt grateful for their consideration¡­ -Ah! But there¡¯s one interesting episode! It¡¯s not an embarrassing story, but a fascinating one. He guessed not. Well, then. ¡°Oh. What is it? What is it?¡± -People who didn¡¯t live in Seoul stayed at the trainee dorm. I lived there with them at the time, and there was one weird thing that happened. ¡°Ooh.¡± -Everyone was tired and sleeping, but as soon as it was dawn, that person would go out to the living room with a strange stick. Oh. That was fine. As he listened with a smile, the others looked curious. ¡°A stick?¡± -It was a light stick that the seniors who debuted earlier gave us as a gift. It was very bright. -It blinds you. Blinds you. -But he would go out to the living room every night, turn on the shing function, and stare at it. Hanjo whispered to Woojoo, ¡®What is it?¡¯ -It was really scary. As soon as it was night, he would look at the light stick like a crazy person and mutter. ¡°Why did he do that?¡± -I found outter that he had weak eyes. He said he couldn¡¯t do celebrity activities if his eyes squinted reflexively when the camera sh went off. He said he was trying to adapt his eyes to the light. ¡°Wow¡­¡± As they looked at Woojoo with admiration, he felt a bit embarrassed and nostalgic. He did work hard back then. But he didn¡¯t work that hard. He felt ashamed when it came out so wrapped up. -He was a hard worker. He made me think I should work hard too. -We all learned a lot from each other. -Every time I saw him, I thought, ¡®He¡¯s going to make it.¡¯ I thought the same thing when his song did well this time. As Woojoo smiled at the warm story, Han Taehyun wrapped it up. -By the way, his nickname was Tinkerbell back then. He would sparkle every night. Everyone burst intoughter. The situation that was about to end in a boring way because of the warmth was wrapped up with a sense of humor. After that, the MC made a closing remark. ¡°You guys have known each other for a long time.¡± -Yes! I¡¯m d it worked out! -Awesome! -I wish you would do better and buy us some food-! -Right! When are you going to buy us food~! -Food, food, food! -Dubi duba! Woojoo smiled gently at the talk that went on without a break. ¡°Well, then I¡¯ll work harder to buy food for my Sunbae-nims¡­¡± -Ahhh! -He said it. I got pasta on my nose. -Pfft! -Excuse me! Can I have a handkerchief please!! The guestsughed at the mess that happened on the other side. Woojoo had been quietly smiling all this time. He thought it would either be a low-level dark history or pass by without a mention, but he didn¡¯t expect this warmment toe back. It felt like they hadid the groundwork for him to talk morefortably about himself on the show in the future. Woojoo was happy to read their intention. It was when he smiled, remembering the kids who were bouncing around back then. On the opposite side where themotion was settled, the excited voices called out their leader. -Well, let¡¯s end the warm talk here. -Gu Seonwoong-! -Gu Seonwoong,e back out! Gu Seonwoong made a bewildered expression. ¡°Hey. Come on. You guys are so sweet to Woojoo. But to me¡­¡± -You¡¯re a different case. Kyak kyak kyak! -Let¡¯s finish him off today! Gu-ssi! After that, someone¡¯s agonizing scream didn¡¯t stop. The recording atmosphere got more and more ripe. As the motto of the show said, ¡®Your embarrassment is our pleasure¡¯, everyone was having fun. The recording was long and tiring, but the mood was good. There was amon saying that editing was everything in entertainment. The same content could be more or less funny depending on the PD¡¯s ability. But the content that came out now was impossible to be boring even with bad editing. The idea of going to the second part seemed to be more than a joke, as the production staff, including the PD, looked tired but bright. ¡°Today¡¯s atmosphere is good.¡± The eldest MC said in a seasoned tone, ¡°Usually, when the recording is long, I yawn a lot. It should be boring, but today it¡¯s worth watching.¡± ¡°Our guests are working hard. They¡¯re burning their bodies for the show.¡± The idol guestsughed. But unlike the production staff and MCs who were rejuvenated by the pouring broadcast volume, the guests had dark circles under their eyes. Especially TNT, Teen Spirit, and Woojoo, who are famous for being busy and running around music shows these days. Everyone wasughing, but they must be dying with only two or three hours of sleep. If the recording continued at this pace, they might have to go straight to the broadcasting station without sleeping. Well. The volume came first. He could just take a nap on the sofa in the waiting roomter. ¡°Woojoo, you look a bit tired?¡± ¡°Yeah, I lost my energy because of the testimony from my elementary school ssmates.¡± ¡°No, I¡¯m not. I¡¯m very energetic.¡± Woojoo deliberately opened his eyes wide and denied it, and the writers pped andughed. Did he make a funny face? One of the MCs said with a mischievous smile, ¡°Since you look sleepy, we¡¯re going to move on to your corner now.¡± ¡°You don¡¯t have to. I¡¯m very sin¡­ energetic.¡± He must be tired. He unconsciously almost said the three forms of ¡®sing¡¯ that he learned when he studied English: sing-sang-sung. He shook his head and appealed ¡®I¡¯m energetic!¡¯ and the MCs connected the phone. -Hello. A male voice. Who was it? It was a very familiar voice, unlike Junghyun. Yoo Changhyun, who was ncing at the MC script, asked, ¡°First of all, I¡¯m sorry to call you at thiste hour.¡± -It¡¯s okay! The writer said that theter the call, the more generous the gift card¡­ Cough cough! Everyone chuckled at the happyugh that stemmed from capitalism. But he couldn¡¯tugh. The moment he heard theughter, he recognized who it was. And then he woke uppletely. ¡°¡­!¡± He sat up with a startled face. A person who should never appear had appeared. Chapter 248: Chapter 248: Trantor: MarcTempest Editor: Rxel Chapter 248 Woojoo¡¯s voice trembled. ¡°Eunsung? Is that you?¡± -¡­No, it¡¯s not? I¡¯m not Eunsung. ¡°The voice changer is not working yet.¡± -Really, Hyung? Oh. The writer said it would definitely work. The other person fell for Woojoo¡¯s bait right away. The peopleughed at his gullible reaction. The MC asked Woojoo, seeing his anxious expression, ¡°What¡¯s your rtionship with him?¡±¡°He¡¯s my junior from the army.¡± Woojoo briefly exined that he was his junior when he was an administrative soldier. -What? The voice changer was on? Aww. I got fooled again. I got fooled again! His voice sounded even more talkative because of the voice changer. His cheerful tone almost made him smile. ¡°Long time no see. How have you been?¡± -Don¡¯t do that. Don¡¯t try to shake my heart with your friendliness. ¡°What do you mean shake your heart?¡± -Your tricks to make me weak and speechless, I know them all. Sergeant. I¡¯ve been through them more than once or twice. He said in his voice-changed voice. -But is it okay for you to keep talking to me like this? I can¡¯t speakfortably if you do this! His voice that made Woojoough even when he just listened to it, coupled with the voice changer, made Teen Spirit Hwiyeon and Wild¡¯s Woosan cover their mouths andugh. The MC said, ¡°Calm down. We¡¯ll block him, so you can just speak freely. We guaranteeplete anonymity.¡± -You didn¡¯t guarantee anonymity. ¡°Uh, well¡­¡± -Ugh, whatever. I lost interest. The MCs and the staff started tough at the appearance of the uncontroble character. He spoke as he pleased. -Anyway, let¡¯s start. I¡¯m Ha Eunsung, who was the junior administrative soldier of Sergeant Seon Woojoo. Apuse! ¡°Wow!¡± ¡°Why are we pping, by the way?¡± He was going crazy because of him. Really. ¡°Why did youe here today?¡± -Yes. I came here today to expose the misdeeds of Sergeant Seon! ¡°His misdeeds?¡± -Yes. I suffered a lot from him. I had so much resentment piled up in my chest that it became a lump¡­ those cruel acts¡­ As Woojoo looked at the distant mountain, the MCs asked in an interested voice, ¡°What exactly happened that made you feel that way?¡± -Really. There¡¯s no end to it. No end! Woojoo cut him off. ¡°Eunsung.¡± -Yes?? ¡°Can you take off the phone for a moment, and see the red button there?¡± -Yes. I see it. ¡°Can you press it?¡± -Just a moment. The call ended with a ¡®beep¡¯. There was a second of silence, and then everyone at the table copsed withughter. Theyughed for almost five minutes until the call was reconnected. -Look at this! I got scammed again! Again! Again!! He sounded angry, but his pathetic voice made themugh again. ¡®I can see why they always teased him¡¯, someonemented, and Woojoo nodded. -I really suffered because of him! I was happy before I joined the army, but he messed everything up for me¡­ Ugh! The MC asked the voice, ¡°What was so hard?¡± -He was the weirdest person in the world, and I was the only one who knew it. When I transferred as a new recruit, he was the administrative soldier who took my photo. The one on my discharge certificate. ¡°And then?¡± -He was strange from the start. He kept telling me to pose in the ¡®best angle¡¯ when he took the photo. Woojoo interrupted him. ¡°Didn¡¯t your photo turn out really well?¡± -Well, yes, but that¡¯s not the point! Ah, can you please make him be quiet? I¡¯m scared of him. One of the members who was sitting next to Woojoo burst outughing. -Anyway, I was soon assigned as an administrative soldier too. The other seniors told me I was lucky. They said Seon Woojoo was well-liked. He was handsome and nice. ¡°Wasn¡¯t he?¡± -He was crazy¡­! He said it so bluntly that the MCs pped their hands and screamed with joy. Woojoo just scratched his head awkwardly. -As soon as I moved into the barracks, I saw him. You know the floor, right? He was jumping on it by himself, with his arms stretched out. Like a hopping vampire. He turned his head and looked at me¡­ It was so scary! Woojoo lowered his head silently, and the studio erupted inughter. -Then he asked me, ¡®Who are you?¡¯ I stuttered an answer, and he said, ¡®I¡¯m Hong Kong Grandma¡¯ and kept jumping. I was so confused that I blurted out, ¡®Aren¡¯t you a vampire?¡¯ I think that¡¯s when things went wrong. ¡°Why?¡± -He said he liked my way of speaking. Woojoo exined, ¡°I was under a lot of stress at that time, and I had no outlet for it.¡± -That was his excuse too. He said he was stressed from studying for the college entrance exam andposing music. He tormented me while buying me delicious food, and he scanned me with his eyes. Then heplimented me, ¡®You have a nice voice.¡¯ ¡°Was that a bad sign?¡± -Yes. He suddenly said his dream was to be a producer, and he didn¡¯t ask for my opinion. He said, ¡®I¡¯ll make you a singer.¡¯ ¡°Puhaha!¡± They all thought they had no moreughter left, but his army junior made it possible. -It was hell from then on. I had to do my work, and after that, I had to take vocal training. I! Didn¡¯t! Want! To! Be! A singer! ¡°Did your skills improve?¡± -Yeah¡­ A gloomy voice answered. -He taught me really well. He had a keen sense of things, and his eyes would widen whenever I cked off a bit. Thanks to him, I learned how to sing in a month. Woojoo nodded. ¡°He was an amazing friend, with a great voice and talent.¡± -Really? His voice brightened up and everyone chuckled. He coughed and continued. -Anyway, that¡¯s not the important part! It was such a hard military life. Vocal training was exhausting enough, but he would drag me along and talk aboutposing all day long, even during meals! This song is like this, that song is like that. I couldn¡¯t do anything because he was my senior. Woojoo interrupted. ¡°But you learned how to use MIDI, right?¡± -Yes. Thanks to him, I couldpose a bit¡­ No! That¡¯s not the point. He sighed andined. -I was so miserable, really¡­ I couldn¡¯t tell anyone about this. ¡°Why?¡± -He was a master of politics. He was so good at socializing! He said he was a trainee before, but I¡¯m sure he was doing politics. The writersughed at Woojoo¡¯s expression, which had earned him a weird nickname. They were already excited about what to put in the subtitles. -His image was too good! Themander also said, ¡®If I had a son like him, I¡¯d have no regrets.¡¯ He was handsome and nice, and everyone said so! I was going crazy¡­! ¡°You must have felt like an odd one out there.¡± -Yes, once I muttered, ¡®Sergeant Seon Woojoo is a bit strange.¡¯ But no one! No one! Agreed with me. That made me crazier. He was diligent and warm to others, but not to me. Once, he spent a whole week asking me what to buy for his mother¡¯s birthday. I almost choked on kimchi every time! He suddenly frowned. -But singing was fun, and I improved a lot. I felt so inferior. I didn¡¯t know anything about music, but I got a reward vacation for singing in the army! ¡°Pffft!¡± -Huh? But now that I think about it, it wasn¡¯t that bad¡­? ¡°Right?¡± He snapped back as Woojoo joined in. -No way! ¡°¡­¡± -I contacted this show because his image was too! Good! I thought I had to reveal his true self to the world. ¡°Eunsung.¡± -Yes. Woojoo apologized to the voice that sounded dumbfounded. ¡°I¡¯m sorry.¡± -No. It¡¯s fine. Actually, he helped me a lot¡­ His tone changed again. -But he¡¯s a good person! Everyoneughed as he said ¡®He¡¯s a good kid!¡¯ after badmouthing him like an old schoolmate. As the story came to an end, the MC asked, ¡°Did you two meet for the first time after you were discharged from the military?¡± -No, we kept in touch often! But we were so close that we promised to see each other frequently after we got out. Woojoo nodded in agreement. ¡°Unfortunately, we couldn¡¯t meet. We didn¡¯t have time.¡± -Yeah. It was my vacation when he finished his college entrance exam, but when I tried to meet him, he suddenly became a hero. And then he said he became a trainee, and two monthster, he sent me a picture of the Something chart saying ¡®Hyung¡¯s song is a hit¡¯. ¡°Wait, wait a minute. How did this happen?¡± someone asked in disbelief. Woojoo briefly summarized what happened before New ck debuted and the MCs were shocked. ¡°What, you had so many episodes before you debuted?¡± ¡°Oh? I remember that day, it was my daughter¡¯s college entrance exam day! So that hero was Woojoo? Oh my god¡­¡± The person on the phone agreed. -Everyone was so surprised. By the time I was discharged, he was on TV saying ¡®Thank you, Souffl¨¦¡¯. The ones who came inter than me must have been more shocked. He was on Around the World as Dice as a discharged soldier. It was amazing. Woojoo would be surprised too if Minki Hyung quit his job and debuted as a singer with the stage name ¡®LisaLover¡¯. The conversation about their military days ended and the MC asked about his current situation. ¡°What are you doing these days?¡± -Me? He said. -I¡¯m preparing to debut as a singer. ¡°What¡­?¡± Everyone blinked in disbelief. Woojoo was the same. What was he? Woojoo couldn¡¯t help but ask. ¡°What do you mean? A singer?¡± -Hyung kept telling me to be a singer, so I thought I¡¯d give it a try for fun, but I passed the first round of the audition! He said proudly. -Did you think I only sang for two years? The trainer praised me as a finished vocal. I¡¯m the main vocal in the team. Except for the production staff who knew in advance, everyoneughed with incredulous faces. Woojoo wondered how this could happen. His military junior suddenly debuting as a singer¡­ One of the excited MCs asked, ¡°Whichpany and which team are you in?¡± -I can¡¯t tell you that. It¡¯s a secret. One of the MCs said to Woojoo, ¡°Woojoo, you seem very surprised. How do you feel? Your military junior became your idol junior.¡± ¡°But you didn¡¯t know this news?¡± ¡°Yeah, we talk often, but he doesn¡¯t tell me much about himself.¡± The MC asked him, ¡°Why didn¡¯t you tell him?¡± -Ugh. It¡¯s obvious, isn¡¯t it? If I say I¡¯m preparing to be a singer, he¡¯ll bombard me with nagging texts, telling me how to have the right mindset, how important it is to keep my original intention, and sending me links to useful vocal lessons. He¡¯ll grill me for sure! Then he said in a childish voice. -I feel so connected to New ck whenever I watch them on TV! Yeah! ¡°No, they said our kids are great.¡± -Really? Do you really think so? The main MC showed a grin as he said they were the best characters ever. ¡°When you debut, you have toe to our Shinto Rabbit too. Then it¡¯ll be your turn, Woojoo.¡± ¡°Yes, I¡¯ll do my best with all my bones.¡± -You really mean it? I recorded this! A warmughter flowed out. He congratted his junior who dered his debut out of the blue and ended the call. A brief silence. He was so talkative that it felt quiet even though it wasn¡¯t. ¡°It¡¯s suddenly quiet, isn¡¯t it?¡± Someone¡¯s snicker followed by immediate attention to Woojoo. ¡°Woojoo, what kind of life have you lived?¡± ¡°This is almost a minefield level. It feels like something pops out every step I take.¡± ¡°It¡¯s amazing. There¡¯s a case where ck history and anecdotes coexist.¡± They all nodded in agreement with thest remark. Woojoo just smiled with a detached face. As the broadcast went on, he saw the guests saying ¡®let it be, ehehe¡¯ and he understood why. His mind was fuzzy. ¡°This is a new concept talk show: Find Your Memory!¡± ¡°Dear viewers, you are watching a human cultural asset that has both ck history and anecdotes.¡± If there was anything good, it was that the production staff loved it like the most excited people in the world. Especially the PD had a face like he had a cold beer. The MCs who were having fun teasing him didn¡¯t need to say anything. It was the first time Woojoo saw people who looked at him as lovingly as their president. Like a talent sent from heaven¡­! That was how it felt. ¡°Look at our PD¡¯s face.¡± ¡°He¡¯s happier than when he had the octopus episode with Lee Yeonwoo. Look at that.¡± ¡°PD Kim? Happy?¡± The PD nodded and gave Woojoo a thumbs up, which was caught on camera. And¡­ ¡°Yes, and we just got some news from our PD Kim! This special will be the first two-part broadcast in eight months!¡± ¡°Wow!¡± As they all pped like seals, Woojoo also pped with a sad face. ¡°Apuse for Woojoo!¡± ¡°Why are you doing this! Don¡¯t do it to me¡­!¡± ¡°Wow!¡± Everyone was in a festive mood. Except him. As the clock approached midnight. The members of New ck were gathered in the dorm. They all had their phones in front of them. The youngest rolled around in the living room and asked, ¡°Hyungs, when do you think they¡¯ll contact us?¡± ¡°Hmm, I think we have to wait for the ordinary people first. We are probably at the end¡­?¡± Bijoo answered as he peeled an apple. Junghyun, who was nibbling on an apple next to him, asked, ¡°Do you think Woojoo is doing well?¡± ¡°¡­¡± A brief silence followed. ¡®There¡¯s no way he¡¯s not.¡¯ ¡®He must be having a st.¡¯ Everyone looked at the ceiling and smiled contentedly. Rihyuk lowered his head and said, ¡°He can¡¯t do badly. That¡¯s his specialty.¡± ¡°I think this is the time when the PDs would burst intoughter. Usually, after the recording starts, around this time, the PDs look at Woojoo like a treasure goblin.¡± Theyughed as they recalled the previous recordings. ¡°But what are they doing on the scene? Did anything newe up?¡± ¡°I don¡¯t know. What coulde up¡­¡±Jiho, who had been thinking hard, said, ¡°Well, we haven¡¯t debuted in the entertainment industry for long yet. How much can there be? There¡¯d be much more after he debuts.¡± ¡°That¡¯s true.¡± Bijoo looked out the window and said, ¡°But I hope it ends soon. At this rate, Woojoo Hyung will have to go straight from Sangam-dong to the salon¡­¡± They sat around the living room with their phones and yawned as they waited. In the meantime, Jiho and Rihyuk flipped through the scripts for the music show MCs, and Junghyun rummaged through a bag of jelly. Bijoo stared at his phone and muttered earnestly, ¡°Call us. Call us¡­¡± When. ¡°Oh! It¡¯s here!¡± Everyone woke up and gathered around the phone with excited faces. ¡°Hello!¡± Maybe a distorted voice wasing out of the recording studio? It didn¡¯t matter anyway, since their leader would know who they were. -Are you sure you¡¯re okay? Our show doesn¡¯t cover your back. ¡°We¡¯re fine! We¡¯ll just go with real names for the back talk!¡± Soon, the New ck members happily told the stories that Woojoo had been embarrassed about. ¡°Hahaha!¡± It was funny just to think about it, but the reaction on the other side of the phone was dull. -Ah, I see? -That happened! They tried to react, but they sounded indifferent. They seemed to be smiling and saying, ¡®Oh, really?¡¯ The four members soon became gloomy. Bijoo asked, ¡°Is our story not fun¡­¡± -No, that¡¯s not it. Guys. Their leader exined with augh. -It¡¯s because there were so many impactful things happening. Ah! They got a lot of airtime. They smiled contentedly at the thought of being OK. The MCs also murmured among themselves. -Right. I would haveughed my ass off if this was normal, but the previous ones were too stimting. -Hang in there! New ck! You did your best¡­! -Are you having a hard time? Anything hard? As they asked, ¡°Are you guys struggling?¡± The New ck members just tilted their heads. ¡°Huh? Why are they pitying us?¡± And as they reacted like that, they started to get curious. What on earth had happened at the filming site? ¡°Good job, everyone!¡± They said goodbye to each other after working hard. They exchanged numbers with the leaders of TNT, Teen Spirit, and Wild, and gathered with the guests to take a proof shot. They also greeted the MCs who were grabbing their coats. ¡°Oh. Right. Give me your phone. I¡¯ll give you my number.¡± The MCs of Shintoki quickly saved their contacts in Woojoo¡¯s phone book. Yoo Changhyun, who he already knew, patted his shoulder and said he did well today. ¡°Good job, everyone!¡± ¡°Wow, Woojoo, you really worked hard today!¡± Woojoo thanked the staff, thank you, thank you, as he walked around. He wrote a sign saying ¡®To whoever¡¯ at the request of the writers who had prepared the paper in advance. And took amemorative photo. He also got a request from the PD to appear on the show again. ¡°We only revealed half of the tips we got today. Pleasee to our show again. Please.¡± ¡°¡­Okay, I will.¡± ¡°Oh. And take this too.¡± He handed Woojoo something like a gift card for five people. It could be exchanged for cafe cakes or coffee drinks. ¡°Oh, thank you¡­¡± ¡°PD Do Joongi gave it to me earlier and asked me to deliver it as a celebration of your appearance.¡± ¡°Thank you¡­¡± Tears streamed down his face in his heart. It really became an impossible thing to avoid. But he thought he wouldn¡¯t die alone. ¡°Why are you staring at me¡­?¡± ¡°No, nothing. Hanjo.¡± Hanjo flinched at the ghostly gaze. ¡°I hope you¡¯ll be number one tomorrow too.¡± ¡°Thank you, Street Boys too. I hope your next album will be a hit!¡± He parted with Hanjo after exchanging promises to hang out together when they went back. Woojoo got into the car that had been waiting for him in the parking lot. Minki Hyung handed him a convenience store bag full of snacks and patted his shoulder. ¡°Good job, man.¡± ¡°Hyung, you too. Thanks for waiting.¡± It was past 2 a.m. The car started to drive on the empty road lit by streetlights. Woojoo looked at the night view passing by the window and asked, ¡°Do we have to go straight to the shop?¡± ¡°Right. The timing was a bit awkward¡­ The recording took much longer than expected.¡± ¡°But it was still faster than when we filmed for 11 hours to do part two.¡± The production team was very happy that they managed to get two weeks¡¯ worth of content in a short time. ¡°Ugh¡­¡± Woojoo drank a can of chocte drink and felt a bit more alive. His throat was sore from reacting throughout the recording. He was tired, but he felt good thinking that he did something worth broadcasting. He turned on his smartphone that he had turned off and saw the messages. He chuckled at the message from the youngest, who said he wouldn¡¯t sleep until he got home, and then went to bed five minutester. There were also the TNT kids who kept saying food, food, food. He also noticed the messages from Lee Junghoon, his elementary school ssmate, and Ha Eunsung, his junior in the army. He felt strange as he looked at them. It seemed like the people he had met along the way remembered him well. He had a lot of good people around him. He felt rxed as he thought that. ¡°Hyung, I¡¯m going to take a nap.¡± ¡°Okay. I¡¯ll wake you upter.¡± It was toote to reply, so he decided to send them tomorrow. He put away his phone after leaving a message to his siblings that he would see them soon. Beep. A new text message appeared. [This is the PD of Men Go. Did you receive the gift?] ¡°Whaaat!¡± Woojoo woke up with a start. Chapter 249: Chapter 249: Trantor: MarcTempest Editor: Rxel Chapter 249 ¡°Hyung? What¡¯s wrong with your face? Did you not sleep at all on the way here?¡± ¡°I had a reason to.¡± As soon as they arrived at the shop, Bijoo looked at Woojoo with a worried expression. Woojoo felt like he had be a cameraman in an Antarctic documentary. The penguins that had been lying on the sofa got up and followed him. ¡°Hyung, did you do well?¡± ¡°You look so stressed, Hyung. Who annoyed you there? I¡¯ll curse them with you.¡±¡°Here, eat this, Hyung.¡± Woojoo took the jelly that Junghyun gave him and sat on the sofa, chewing slowly. Considering that he had been recording until dawn, the atmosphere was more cheerful and weing than usual. His shoulders, which had been tense, gradually rxed. Woojoo remembered that a senior who had debuted from TJ Entertainment once said that the members who had debuted with him were the best. He understood what he meant. It felt like he had returned to his family. ¡°Guys¡­¡± They looked at Woojoo with worried eyes when he spoke with a gloomy tone. Woojoo sighed deeply and told them what had happened with PD Do Joongi from ¡®Men Go¡¯. ¡°I have to go to the army again.¡± ¡°Hahaha!¡± They really were his family. Some of them were so sad that they were about to cry, while others wereughing so hard that they had tears in their eyes. Only Bijoo had a different reaction. ¡°Oh my, really? What should I do¡­¡± ¡°Bijoo, put down your hand from your mouth.¡± ¡°Hey, stop it. Kim Junghyun.¡± When Junghyun grabbed Bijoo¡¯s hand and pulled it down, Woojoo saw his lips curling up in a smile. ¡°I knew it.¡± But instead of ring at him, Woojoo smiled warmly. He grinned at the members who were ecstatic, saying ¡®He¡¯s going to the army~¡¯. ¡°I knew this would happen, so I told the PD that I would take one person with me.¡± They all looked anxious. ¡°What a weird person!¡± ¡°Why! Why! Why do you have to take our Woojoo Hyung! Huh? This is really uneptable!¡± ¡°Really, why do you take such a good person? I can¡¯t ept it. Don¡¯t go, just stay.¡± ¡°The army is a bit¡­¡± Even Junghyun, who had no preference, expressed his dislike for the notorious program. Woojoo put his hand on his shoulder. ¡°Ouch, it¡¯s sore.¡± ¡°Yes.¡± ¡°My legs are aching.¡± ¡°What are you doing? Hurry up and massage them.¡± Woojoo made his younger siblings massage him as he felt his tense muscles rx. He told them what had happened at Shintoki. ¡°Hanjo became a muscle monster.¡± ¡°¡­?¡± ¡°I was resting during the break, when the producer of Men Go came and asked me to take a selfie with him.¡± ¡°¡­?¡± ¡°My army junior called me and said he was going to expose my dark past, but he was actually trying to debut as an idol.¡± ¡°¡­?!¡± His siblings¡¯ expressions changed strangely every time he told them a story. Yeouido. PBS Broadcasting Station. From dawn to themute, he had no mind for anything but the live broadcast rehearsal. He felt a peculiar drowsiness when he was tired, and everything seemed to whizz by. He had no energy to care about his facial expression, so he wore a mask. He searched for photos of hismute and saw a headline that subtly mocked him, saying ¡®Covered with a mask! Protecting the bare face¡¯. Woojoo wondered if it was the reporter who shouted at him to lower his mask earlier. He shrugged it off. Fortunately, he was able to get back to normal quickly after sleeping a bit while waiting. ¡°Hello!¡± ¡°Hello.¡± A girl group member with a ponytail greeted them. Jeon Yubin. She was the MC of Music On, and a member of ¡®La Vie en Rose¡¯, since they were active as Something. Woojoo nodded and greeted her. ¡°Please take good care of our youngest ones.¡± ¡°We will, thank you.¡± Rihyuk, who was next to Woojoo, nudged his side as if he was whispering. Jiho red at him. Today¡¯s MCs were Jeon Yubin, the original MC, and Rihyuk and Jiho, who joined as special MCs. It was supposed to be Actor Kang Hyunmin, but he had to quit because of a drunk driving incident a while ago. He said he was depressed by the low ratings of the drama he was starring in. ¡°We didn¡¯t hear if you had a meal or not, so we brought some food for you.¡± ¡°Wow, thank you. I love pizza, I¡¯ll enjoy it.¡± Jeon Yubin¡¯s round eyes sparkled with gratitude. As Woojoo handed over the box containing the homemade pizza, the manager on the other side took it instead. ¡°I prepared zero c for you,¡± Woojoo said as he handed over the PET bottle, and they bothughed for some reason. ¡°Please take good care of Jiho and Rihyuk. They¡¯ve never done MC before.¡± ¡°Brother Woojoo¡­ That¡¯s not true.¡± Jiho smiled brightly with his mouth, but red at Woojoo with his eyes. Whether he did or not, Bijoo, Junghyun, and Woojoo begged them earnestly. ¡°Rihyuk gets very nervous¡­¡± ¡°Jiho is also quite shy. I was worried about him, so I wanted to ask you to take good care of him.¡± Jiho and Rihyuk looked at them with ¡®Oh, please!¡¯ eyes. It was like the eyes of a student looking at their parents who greeted their homeroom teacher with ¡®My child is weak.¡¯ ¡°Ah! Hyungs! I¡¯m not a baby!¡± ¡°Go and rest! Hurry up!¡± In the end, Jiho and Rihyuk, who couldn¡¯t stand it, kicked them out of the MC waiting room. As they were pushed out, they bowed to Jeon Yubin and her manager. ¡°Please take good care of our kids¡­!¡± ¡°They are good kids¡­!¡± ¡°Ugh, really!¡± Rihyuk, who turned red as a beet, pushed their backs. As soon as they got out, Jiho grabbed the door handle. They made fists and cheered ¡®Fighting!¡¯ until the door closed. ¡°Jiho, Rihyuk! Don¡¯t feel pressured! We trust our siblings!¡± ¡°You have to chew the pizza well.¡± ¡°Let us know how it was after you eat it.¡± Rihyuk shivered and whispered, ¡°¡­Don¡¯t pretend to know us from now on. All three of you.¡± The door mmed shut. They heard the two men and women insideughing like crazy. They needed popcorn. They all huddled together in front of the TV screen in the waiting room while themercials were ying. The manager, the staff, and the three of them. Everyone had an excited look on their face. As soon as themercials ended and the stage of the rookie boy group was over. -Phantasis¡¯ ¡®Lord¡¯, New ck¡¯s ¡®Windflower.¡¯ -Who will be the winner of this week¡¯s MusicON? They all startedughing at the familiar voices spitting out the lines. ¡°This is crazy.¡± ¡°Look at them trying to act serious.¡± ¡°Jiho¡¯s voice sounds different, right? Is he acting?¡± Soon, the two youngest members appeared on the screen. They were smiling, with Jeon Yubin in the middle. -Hello! We are the center of K-pop that unites fans all over the world! -Live music show, Music~ -ON! Then, the talk show that made their limbs curl up involuntarily began. -Ah, I want to go see the flowers. -No. Yubin-ssi. Jiho said. -Why do you need to go see the flowers? We are here. -Look. Isn¡¯t this a flower garden? Everyone on the waiting room floor burst intoughter at Rihyuk¡¯s ¡®Isn¡¯t this a flower garden?¡¯ remark. Woojoo would haveughed out loud too, but Jeon Yubin was truly a pro. She barely twitched her lips, but she didn¡¯t show any reaction and continued the talk. -You¡¯re right. There¡¯s no need to go anywhere to see the flowers, right? Then, shall we all do the flower pose together? -One, two, three~ Woo woo~ Bijoo almost started crying. They all held up their smartphones and took pictures of the three men and women who were doing the flower pose with both hands on the TV screen. Woojoo watched the screen as the corner introducing today¡¯s order continued. They were good. They didn¡¯t look inferior next to the girl group member who had been an MC for over a year. And their youngest had a different tone of voice than usual, making him look like a different person. Junghyun smiled briefly. ¡°What¡¯s wrong?¡± ¡°Jiho is imitating Hyung.¡± ¡°Really?¡± Bijoo also giggled and said, ¡°I guess Hyung was Jiho¡¯s model of maturity.¡± ¡°Do I sound like that?¡± Woojoo wouldn¡¯tugh like that. But the staff also saw it and said, ¡®Oh, it¡¯s Woojoo. Mini Woojoo.¡¯ and Woojoo was flustered. The managers also confirmed it and Woojoo tilted his head for a moment. That couldn¡¯t be¡­ -Yes, on this week¡¯s live music show, Music ON¡­ Their youngest was smoothly delivering his lines on the screen. He was good. His pronunciation and vocalization were so good that his voice sounded clear and crisp. Like an audiobook. ¡°Rihyuk is good too.¡± ¡°Yeah. He¡¯s good too.¡± ¡°He practiced a lot yesterday. While Hyung was recording, they wrestled with the script for a long time.¡± He looked stiff at the first rehearsal, but Rihyuk also looked skillful. But there was one thing that wasn¡¯t solved. His ears that looked red. And there was one more noticeable part. Woojoo asked the makeup artist, ¡°Teacher, didn¡¯t you put too much makeup on Rihyuk today?¡± ¡°Huh. Yeah¡­?¡± As he spoke, his face turned red with embarrassment. That was why he asked the makeup artists to apply a thicker foundation than usual on Rihyuk today. Thanks to that, hisplexion looked the same as always. A cool face with a rxed smile. His ears were slightly red, but it was hard to notice unless you looked closely. He also applied some BB cream on his ears. But¡­ ¡°Hyung, look at Rihyuk¡¯s neck.¡± Bijoo pointed with his finger. As he said, Rihyuk¡¯s neck was zing red, unlike his pale face. The inte forums were going crazy. ¨C???????????? -Is anyone watching Music On right now? ¨C??????I thought my phone had burn-in and kept rubbing it -Look at his neck color -I thought he drank alcohol ???????? -Is he from New ck? Charcoal, exin please -Passing by charcoal) He¡¯s known for being very shy and can¡¯t stand those kind ofments. ¨C????He seems to be the only one who doesn¡¯t know Sure enough. They startedughing as they saw Rihyuk smiling leisurely and snorting. They were so excited. He felt like he was ying with their Souffl¨¦s who were making screenshots and gifs in real time on the fanmunity. The scenes of his neck turning red and then white again with everyment were everywhere. Woojoo should send this to Teacher Noh Jaehyun too. Woojoo had a really good time until thest stage of Music On. When they were backstage for the ending stage, their kids who came down from the MC seat ran to them. ¡°How was it? Did I do well?¡± ¡°You imitated me well.¡± ¡°¡­No. That was me imitating someone else.¡± The youngest, who was consistent in ying dumb, received praise from them. And then they moved their eyes to the crane who was coughing softly and looking forpliments. ¡°How about me? I did well too, right?¡± He seemed to be excited and craving for praise. They just answered him with a warm smile. On Friday, they won first ce on PBS Music On. It was the same on Saturday and Sunday. Next week, they were fixed as the first-ce candidates for all the music shows we appeared on. They clearly felt that they had seeded. The keyword ¡®rookie¡¯ that was in the article titles was gone. They were treated like popr singers wherever they went. The number of people who gathered for their mini fan meetings near the broadcast station or for their events was different. -New ck ¡®Windflower¡¯, top of the music chart -¡®Windflower¡¯, still number one on the weekly chart after two weeks¡­ -¡®Windflower¡¯, ¡®Something¡¯ is unstoppable. New ck, the new music powerhouse? Windflower, which didn¡¯t budge from the daily chart and the weekly chart even after two weeks. And Something, which revived as a spring song like a miracle. It felt like the world had changed. ¡°Oh, hello. You¡¯re New ck¡¯s manager, right?¡± Maybe it was because they had more ces to go. Their managers also looked better. Woojoo used to feel sorry for their manager Hyungs who only got dirty looks, but now the event organizers and advertisers called them ¡®manager-nim¡¯ and treated them well. As they sorted out the pile of event lists, they hummed and sang. Woojoo felt good every time he heard them. ¡°Oh my, I hope I didn¡¯te to a busy person.¡± ¡°No, not at all. Director-nim.¡± And Woojoo was with the music director of the drama ¡®Slip¡¯. He looked around the studio and eximed. ¡°The president is a very nice person. These are the things I couldn¡¯t afford to touch¡­¡± ¡°Right? Do you want to try them?¡± ¡°Wow¡­¡± As the Director and Woojoo fiddled with the equipment and said ¡®hahaha!¡¯, the A&R Team staff nearby shivered. ¡°Well, shall we finish the work?¡± While thepany engineers were finishing up their work, Director Kang and Woojoo exchangedments. The song was already done, but it needed some fine-tuning. That was because it contained the voices of the five members of New ck, the popr idol group. Since each of them had a different voice, they had to adjust the minor details to give it a stable feel. ¡°Wow,¡± Director Kang eximed as he listened to the final version. ¡°Isn¡¯t it great? I think this is the best OST I¡¯ve ever heard.¡± ¡°Really?¡± ¡°The song itself has power,¡± Director Kang said seriously. ¡°Usually, OSTs are more fun when they arebined with the drama, but this one is amazing on its own. It has a force that you can feel.¡± ¡°Do you think it will get a good response?¡± ¡°I think you can expect a lot.¡± He receivedpliments that it was a song that made them want to join the lyrics orposition. Woojoo even heard jokes that the OST would climb the charts. ¡°So, it will be on air next Friday?¡± ¡°Yes. It will probably be inserted in a very important part of episode 7. I have to talk to the chief director, but¡­¡± Slip, the drama that had aired six episodes this week, was already in its second half. As the episodes went on, the ratings went up, and there was talk that it would soon break the record of GTV, the cable channel. Their OST was scheduled to be yed for the first time in episode 7. Woojoo was excited for the long-awaited moment. Maybe he could hope for the charts. He hadn¡¯t seen many cases of OSTs from genre dramas bing popr, but he couldn¡¯t help being thrilled. The music director himself certified that it was a good song. ¡°Then let¡¯s contact again next week.¡± ¡°Yes, thank you for your hard work, Director.¡± It was when he was seeing off Director Kang, who was leaving with his coat, along with the A&R Team staff. Director Kang, who was looking at his phone, tilted his head. ¡°One of the songs sung by New ck entered the chart again?¡± ¡°What?¡± What was he talking about? As Woojoo opened his eyes wide, he handed Woojoo his phone. There was an article on the entertainment section of the portal site. ¡°¡­?¡± The A&R Team staff next to Woojoo took the phone and checked the Mango real-time chart. ¡°¡­¡± And Woojoo made a dumbfounded expression. That was right. There was this. Woojoo had turned off his phone and focused on the work for the past few hours, so he hadpletely forgotten about it. The new song that topped the chart by clicking on the Windflower. When he was looking forward to the results of the OST for ¡®Slip¡¯, something unexpected popped up. 1st. New ck ¨C Deoksoon-ah (PBS Challenge, Legendary Song Discovery Team) Woojoo blinked his eyes as he looked at the chart. What was going on? Gunsan. Under the bright spring sky, there was one person who walked around with a sour face all day long. -Deoksoon-ah! ¡°Damn it.¡± While a doll danced in the phone shop, a cheerful trot-style song ¡®Deoksoon-ah¡¯ yed from the speaker. -Deoksoon-ah-ah-ah! Deoksoon-ah~ ¡°Damn it, it¡¯s everywhere.¡± When she went to the mart to buy groceries, ¡®Deoksoon-ah¡¯ sang merrily while the staff announced the discount sale. On the street, a car selling cassette tapes sted ¡®Deoksoon-ah-ah-ah!¡¯ with a loud voice. The song was catchy and addictive, making her feel excited every time she heard it. On the inte, ¡®Deoksoon-ah¡¯ was so popr that it was nicknamed ¡®thebor song¡¯. But she didn¡¯t care about it at all. ¡°Eek!¡± Mrs. Kim Deoksoon suppressed her rising anger. ¡°Why is it Deoksoon everywhere I go?¡± ¡®Deoksoon-ah¡¯ was ying from every corner of the world. And it was her grandson¡¯s voice, as if he was winking at her. As she was about to explode. A song came out from a cafe in front of her. -Don¡¯t frown your face~ Deoksoon~ Mrs. Kim Deoksoon sincerely wanted to throw away the bag of groceries she had bought. Chapter 250: Chapter 250: Trantor: MarcTempest Editor: Rxel Chapter 250 PBS¡¯s ¡°Challenge, Legendary Song Discovery Team!¡± recorded its highest viewership rating of 16.6% for its 11th episode. The news of the existing cast¡¯s farewell stage and the joining of new singers made the entertainment media pour out articles every day, and the channel of the weekend TV was fixed to the public broadcasting. The inte was also buzzing before the broadcast. -Is today thest episode of the first season??? -The silhouettes of the new ones look like a girl group¡­ If it¡¯s a 5-member girl group, who could it be? -I heard a rumor that it¡¯s NYX-Who are they -But no one can have the same impact as New ck anyway??? The first performance was too awesome -????12345 -You never know??? When New ck came out, they were hated so much, but now they are¡­ -They say they don¡¯t want to do boy groups for the recement this time?? They don¡¯t want to show their skills and bepared -New ck is unbeatable in vocals among their peers -?? top ss -Why are there so many people who entrust their ego to New ck;; Why do the old men boast about New ck???? -They became popr in the Legendary Song Discovery Team. I feel like I raised them The bulletin board that was full of curses for having idols on thepetition show was now full of goodwill for New ck. Regret for their departure, saying that no one could rece them, andments that felt resentment against them were mixed together. A hot te that was boiling in real time. -Oh. New ck¡¯s stage is starting -Expecting -Deoksoon-ah? Did the singer have a song like that??? -I just listened to it on Mango and it was so-so;; They need to arrange it well to save it -To be honest, it¡¯s not a legendary tier song. It feels like a tinum stuck between a diamond and a gold After Woojoo¡¯s narration saying ¡°This song is dedicated to all the Deoksoons in the world¡± passed quietly. [Deoksoon-aaaaa¡­¡­!] With the exciting live band performance, New ck members started to rock the stage. If it was usual, they would have shown the reaction cuts of the audience one after another and emphasized that ¡°It was a great performance!¡±, but ¡°Deoksoon-ah¡± didn¡¯t have that. Rather, it seemed like a waste to have such cuts, and the stage just flowed continuously. It was worth it. -Wow¡­ -???????? They¡¯re so good -What¡¯s their range of song covers -The arrangement is so good -?? I just listened to the song and came back¡­ It¡¯s apletely different song -They made it when they were told to arrange it -I understand why the original singer was teary-eyed from the first verse -Respectable. This is almost like demolishing and rebuilding the building;; Even I, who have bad ears, can tell that they put a lot of effort into it -God Woojoo¡­ How does he¡­ Praises for Woojoo, who almost recreated the lyrics and melody line of the original song, began to rise. It was the most different song before and after the arrangement among New ck¡¯s performances so far. No one criticized them. Their song ¡®Deoksoon-ah¡¯ had transformed into a trendy trot song that was popr these days. Even the original singer was moved to tears by how good it was on TV. -They are so likable. I love how they enjoy their stage every time. -I liked them since I saw them on the documentary of Noh Jaehyun. They are so close with the one who sings well. -I just turned on the TV. Is that the one who is shining right now Woojoo? -Yeah, he is on fire today. Among the members of New ck who were singing cheerfully, Woojoo was the most outstanding. He was literally glowing with happiness, as if the viewers could hear him chanting ¡®Deoksoon! Deoksoon! Deoksoon!¡¯. A smile that sparkled with joy. To the strangers, it looked like he was having the time of his life on hisst stage. He looked so reluctant to leave the stage that it made the viewers feel sorry for him. -He is about to cry¡­ -I would feel the same. They became famous thanks to the legendary song¡­ It must be a mixed feeling. -I feel sad too. -The other members look relieved, but Woojoo looks a bit off. He seems to have some regrets after the stage. -He must have suffered a lot as a leader. The adults who were watching TV said such things, while there were some people who had a bewildered expression. ¡®No, that¡¯s not it¡­¡¯ The Souffl¨¦s who gathered on the inte shared this confusing situation. -Everyone is having a big misunderstanding?? -No??He is not the type to cry over something like that¡­ ¨C?The viewers are collectively hallucinating -This¡­ this is not it¡­ But the reactions are good though -At first I thought we should exin this, but they are misunderstanding it in a good way so I¡¯m keeping my mouth shut -Mom and Dad, don¡¯t tear up¡­ Woojoo is just sad that the song is over -Look at him lying in the middle of that??He can¡¯t immerse himself -He was in perfect sync with the song? -Did you see the 0.1 second of contempt from Rihyuk?????You?? You??? That kind of feeling -I saw Junghyun turning his head and sighing They were enjoying the broadcast while hiding the truth. After New ck finished their promotion for their third album and left the stage, a preview of the next singers came on. The impact of ¡®Deoksoon-ah¡¯ was still there. -¡®Deoksoon-ah¡¯ keeps ying in my head -Thump thump Deoksoon-ahaaaa -Thump thump thump -Deoksoon-ahaaaa ¨C??You guys are crazy? It was as if they had stamped ¡®Deoksoon!¡¯ on their brains, leaving asting impression. The chorus of ¡®Deoksoon-ah¡¯ echoed in their ears like a hook song. It was already so popr that people were searching for ¡®Deoksoon-ah¡¯ on YouTtube and music sites. When it finally reached the top of the real-time music chart. The singers themselves didn¡¯t expect it at all, and while they were each focused on their personal practice, the inte was buzzing with stories about ¡®Deoksoon-ah¡¯. -Deoksoon-ah is awesome lol -But do they get royalties for the arrangement??? I wonder how much royalties Woojoo has collected so far -The song is so addictive hahaha -The ending is epic. No one can match that crazy force wow As thesements flooded the inte, some people started to appear with resentment, saying ¡®I can do better than that¡¯. ¡®Who are they to have so much shield?¡¯ A man with a disgruntled face posted ament on the inte, saying ¡®New ck is not that great. The song is just so-so¡¯. He fought with otherizens who disagreed with him, breathing heavily and snorting. ¡®It¡¯s just trot. What¡¯s so good about it?¡¯ But even as he thought that, the voice of ¡®Deoksoon-ah¡­!¡¯ kept ringing in his head. When he was sleeping. When he woke up the next morning and got in the car to go to work. When he turned on the radio as usual while driving. -Deoksoon-ah¡­! On the morning radio, ¡®Deoksoon-ah¡¯ came out as the ending song, saying ¡®I hope you have a wonderful Monday¡¯. ¡°Hmm¡­¡± The song made his shoulders twitch slightly for some reason. As he listened to the addictive melody, he found himself pressing the repeat button without knowing it. The man was timidly shaking his shoulders and following the rhythm, but he couldn¡¯t stand it as the song continued. Eventually, he gave up his belief. ¡°Deoksoon-ah~¡± The sound of ¡®Deoksoon-ah¡¯ filled the streets on the way to work. As a result, ¡®Deoksoon-ah¡¯ failed to maintain the first ce on the chart. It dropped to around 13th ce in a few days. But it didn¡¯t fall any further and kept its rank. It was even slowly climbing up. On the daily chart, there was New ck¡¯s ¡®Windflower¡¯ at the first ce, ¡®Deoksoon-ah¡¯ at the seventh ce, and Something at the 17th ce. It was an unprecedented situation that made the entertainment reporters rush to report the news. -New ck, now they are not just ¡®strong¡¯ in music, but ¡®bullies¡¯ -¡°This area¡¯s music idol is me¡±, New ck¡¯s chart domination -Famous fan ¡°New ck¡¯s arranged ¡®Deoksoon-ah¡¯ first ce. I was so moved that I cried. I sent a 1500-character thank you text¡­¡± The phone of Lemon Entertainment¡¯s PR Team was on fire. ¡°What¡¯s the members¡¯ reaction to ¡®Deoksoon-ah¡¯? We¡¯re preparing a press release¡­¡± ¡°Who¡¯s the trot singer? They¡¯re coborating with New ck? Where¡¯s the source?¡± ¡°It¡¯s not confirmed yet.¡± It was as hot as when Windflower got its first win. Some people were trying to ride on the poprity of the variety show that had almost 17% ratings, and wrote articles with baseless stories. It was confusing. Meanwhile, the management team¡¯s office was also busy. ¡°¡­¡± Director Yoon Seokhwan looked at his smartphone with a bored face. Ring. As soon as he answered one call, another one came in. And if he hung up, another one came in again. Most of them were event agencies. ¡°¡­Yes, yes, I would really appreciate it if you could add ¡®Deoksoon-ah¡¯ to the event repertoire.¡± ¡°Yes. Yes. Deoksoon-ah?¡± ¡°¡­Are you calling to ask me to add Deoksoon-ah? Yes, I¡¯m already working on it¡­¡± Whether it was a confirmed event or a new one, they all requested that ¡®Windflower¡¯ and ¡®Deoksoon-ah¡¯ be included. ¡°What¡¯s going on?¡± Woojoo had poured his soul into arranging the song, but it had been a hit in an unexpected situation. There was even a remix titled ¡®Deoksoon-ah 4-hour version (Work Song)¡¯ on YouTube. ¡°¡­¡± He couldn¡¯t help butugh when he checked the event schedule marked on the calendar. There was no ce that didn¡¯t want Deoksoon-ah. ¡°Oh, there¡¯s one ce¡­¡± Ring. ¡°Hello. Oh, yes. Team Leader Kim.¡± -The organizers asked me to please add Deoksoon-ah to the repertoire¡­ ¡°Ah, yes.¡± That one ce was gone too. Yoon Seokhwan let out a hollowugh. If New ck was a trot group, they could have done a nationwide tour with this one song. Deoksoon-ah was ranked high on the charts regardless of age or gender, especially among those over 50. ¡®It¡¯s a hit.¡¯ If ¡®Windflower¡¯ was the first song that made New ck a big sess among the public, ¡®Deoksoon-ah¡¯ was an unprecedented event song that exploded unexpectedly. -Damn it. ¡°Grandma¡­ I¡¯m sorry.¡± He bowed his head to Kim Deoksoon, who was making a chubby face on the screen. Zap. He avoided her piercing gaze and said, ¡°No, I didn¡¯t know it would go this well either. I just sang it with all my heart¡­¡± -I can¡¯t live because of you! Wherever I go, Deoksoon-ah, Deoksoon-ah. I¡¯m not some dog¡¯s son. ¡°Grandma, what dog¡¯s son, the kids are listening.¡± -So what! Humph. They only think about themselves and don¡¯t care about the old folks. You¡¯re all guilty! Who sings so well like that! He showed his siblings, who were hanging their heads like sinners, to his grandmother on his phone. ¡°Sorry for singing well¡­¡± As soon as he left the screen, a roar erupted. -Hey! Where are you trying to go out of the screen? Come back right now!! ¡°Yes. I¡¯m sorry¡­¡± -I¡¯m going crazy. You only say filial piety with your mouth. You¡¯re like a sweet pastry. I go to the mart and they say Deoksoon-ah, I go to the phone store and they say Deoksoon-ah! And at the rice soup restaurant, the customers ring Deoksoon-ah! I hate listening to it so much I could die. ¡°Uh, well¡­¡± -I¡¯ll make a song with your names too, so you know how it feels! ¡°Do you know how to make one?¡± -Hey!!! He thought his eardrums were falling off. Jiho covered his ears with both hands, and Rihyuk muttered, ¡°He made a 5-minute scolding into a 10-minute one¡­¡± It took a lot of effort to calm down the furious Kim Deoksoon. ¡°Should I buy you a fur coat?¡± -Don¡¯t you daree down! I¡¯m an environmentalist, what are you going to do now? I don¡¯t want to see any fur or anything! ¡°Should I buy you a car?¡± -¡­ ¡°There¡¯s a rival grandmother at the temple who recently got a car from her son. Our grandmother should ride a better one.¡± -¡­ ¡°Don¡¯t you want to try that too? You used to run a shabby rice soup restaurant, but now you can leave work with sunsses on like the bosses.¡± Kim Deoksoon¡¯s anger melted away. He liked the feeling of the cier melting and turning into a green meadow, but he got a tackle. ¡°That¡¯s not a good thing. It¡¯s global warming.¡± ¡°¡­¡± He put the phone down for a moment and made a throat-cutting gesture at Junghyun. ¡°Take him away.¡± ¡°Yes, Hyung.¡± Woojoo heard a scream as he calmed down his grandmother¡¯s anger. Woojoo said that all the money he made from ¡°Deoksoon-ah¡± would go to their Deoksoon, and then she coughed and said ¡°yeah, right¡±. Woojoo secretly pressed the capture button. She was so cute, lovely, adorable, pretty, cool, nice, and everything else. ¡°Sigh¡­¡± After soothing her for a long time, Woojoo finally hung up. ¡°I¡¯m d I got through to her.¡± As Woojoo rubbed his chest, Bijoo smiled and said, ¡°I¡¯m d your grandmother calmed down quickly.¡± ¡°They say money heals a wounded heart.¡± Jiho agreed with Woojoo and sympathized. When ¡°Deoksoon-ah¡± topped the real-time chart and appeared on TV, his grandmother¡¯s reaction was just ¡°are you sick again?¡± But after seeing it over and over for a few days, she seemed to explode with rage. Well, Woojoo would lose his patience too if he heard his granddaughter¡¯s song ¡°Jenmin-ah! Why Jenmin-ah!¡± all day long. ¡°Oh, I just came up with a good idea! How about we all make an idol group with our sons and daughterster?¡± Someone who liked the idea sparkled their eyes and choked on their water. Let¡¯s live in the dorm for life! It felt like that kind of atmosphere, so Woojoo quickly got out of the car. -Wow! It was Wednesday. They finished the music show early and visited a college event hall in Chungcheong-do. It was their first college event. Bright lights shone in the distance, and the cheers for Girls on Top¡¯s song echoed everywhere. They waited backstage and exchanged greetings with the glittering girl group that came down from the stage. -In April and May, they are the hottest people in the music industry. No one doesn¡¯t know their songs! The original of the spring song that smells of love, and Windflower and Deoksoon-ah! The MC¡¯s loud voice rang through the speakers. And then¡­ -New ck! At that moment, a burst of cheers made us stop and be surprised as they were going up. At least three or four times louder than before. The Girls on Top members who were walking away flinched and looked at them. New ck was also shocked. ¡°¡­¡± Woojoo snapped out of it when the event staff gestured to him. -Wow! The breath of the people felt like a hot wave crashing over them. It felt like the heat from the people overwhelmed them. The audience was packed. Hundreds of pairs of eyes were directed at them. Expectant expressions and people holding their phones over their heads. New ck grabbed the mic and greeted them. ¡°Two, three!¡± ¡°Hello, we are New ck!¡± They flinched again at the huge cheer. Of course, it wasn¡¯t the first time they heard such a cheer. When they debuted with Something, it was like this when they went to events with Jang Sowon Sunbae. But the cheers were not for them. Most of the time, when Jang Sowon Sunbae greeted them, they went wow! And New ck was just the extras. But now, everyone knew them, and the cheers were much louder than before. Woojoo got goosebumps. ¡°¡­¡± Woojoo smiled casually and chatted with the members to lighten the mood. When they sang Windflower, there were many people humming along, and Woojoo couldn¡¯t hide his surprised expression. But they did a bone-breaking stage so that the event fee wouldn¡¯t be wasted, and the organizers smiled happily. And then¡­ -Now, let¡¯s start ¡®Deoksoon-ah¡¯¡­ -Kyaa! The reaction to ¡®Deoksoon-ah¡¯, which they sang at the hit song stage, was almost like a sing-along. ¡°Everyone, together!¡± -Deoksoon-ah¡­! ¡°One more time!¡± -Deoksoon-ah¡­! It was a rare and precious sight to see hundreds of people shouting ¡®Deoksoon-ah¡¯ with passion. Woojoo felt it as he jumped around on the stage with his siblings. -Deoksoon-ahhh¡­! This was the best event song ever. Song Bohyung Sunbae-nim [Can I sing Deoksoon-ah too?] Song Bohyung Sunbae-nim [Deoksoon-ah is the trend of the events!] Song Bohyung Sunbae-nim [I wanted to ask you before I contact yourpany] Mr. Song Bohyung asked them if he could use ¡®Deoksoon-ah¡¯ as his event repertoire. He was a popr trot singer who wanted to sing ¡®Deoksoon-ah¡¯ instead of his own songs. That was how Woojoo realized how popr it was. Actually, New ck felt it the most. During the day, they topped the music shows with ¡®Windflower¡¯, and at night, they appeared as the owners of the event venues with ¡®Deoksoon-ah¡¯. They were like the gods of the sun and the moon in the myths. Windflower ruled the day, and Deoksoon-ah ruled the night. When they went to a cafe for an interview with a reporter during the day, Windflower was ying. When they wandered around the rest areate at night to buy some food, they heard Deoksoon-ahing from the store. ¡°Did we use up our luck for a lifetime here¡­¡± ¡°Maybe.¡± They all agreed with the youngest¡¯s worried joke. It was the peak of their lives. They won the first ce for two consecutive weeks on Thursday and Friday music shows. They were admiring the trophies that filled their dorm. Today was a holiday. Thepany was worried that they would be exhausted from too many schedules, so they told them to rest for today. To be exact, Seokhwan Hyung locked thepany studio and practice room, so they had no choice. So, on Friday night, they ordered some food and rxed in the dorm. ¡°It¡¯s finally out today.¡± The TV in the dorm was tuned to the GTV channel. On the top right corner, there was a silver letter ¡®Slip¡¯ glittering. The 7th episode of the 10-part Friday drama Slip. It was the episode where their OST that they worked on for a long time would appear. ¡°Do you guys know how the story has progressed so far?¡± ¡°No.¡± ¡°When did we have time to watch the drama?¡± They had no idea how Slip had unfolded because they were too busy with their schedules. They needed time to watch it. The only thing they saw was the spoiler-filled headlines on the portal entertainment section. They were watching it in a rather peaceful atmosphere. If it was before Windflower, they would have been anxious and wished ¡®Please, let it go well¡¯. But now they were calm. They felt like they had used up their luck for almost a lifetime with Windflower and Deoksoon-ah. It felt like it would be rude to ask for more. ¡°Oh, it¡¯s starting. It¡¯s starting!¡± The ads ended while they were happily devouring the jokbal-bossam. On the ck screen, a message saying ¡®This drama is fictional, so don¡¯t pick a fight¡¯ appeared. Finally, the drama began. Chapter 251: Chapter 251: Trantor: MarcTempest Editor: Rxel Chapter 251 The main scenes from the previous episode shed by along with the ¡®Last time on¡­¡¯ narration. It was a considerate gesture for those who couldn¡¯t remember what happened in the weekly drama. Not that they could understand it anyway. ¡°What¡¯s going on there¡­?¡± ¡°Hmm. Maybe they somehow time-traveled, something like that.¡± ¡°Jiho, is there a summary of the plot online?¡±¡°Nope.¡± Thest thing they saw was a caveman attacking Officer Heo. They stared nkly at the screen as Lee Kangjin spoke with a serious expression in the ¡®Last time on¡­¡¯ segment. Junghyun said solemnly, ¡°It looks like a dire situation.¡± ¡°Yeah. Let¡¯s just eat some pork feet.¡± ¡°And some boiled pork too.¡± Theyughed and enjoyed their food. Meanwhile, the drama had officially started on TV. There were mysterious tunnels that could take you to the past. And there was a story about chasing a cult that had discovered and used them. The protagonist was up against a cult that had such a huge influence that they even captured a congressman. Finally, the protagonist entered the time tunnel, the source of all the trouble. Swoosh- The reeds swayed in the wind. Before entering the tunnel, the protagonist looked back at the reed field with a calm eye. There was a spot where the grass was ttened as if something had pressed on it. There was no shback scene, but they knew what it was. ¡°Hey! Hey! That¡¯s where I died!¡± ¡°¡­¡± ¡°Wow. I must be an important character to the protagonist.¡± He broke the immersion with his loud voice. The faces of Jiho, who was babbling excitedly, and Officer Heo, who was diligent and polite, ovepped and then dispersed. Bijoo wiped the sauce off his mouth with a tissue and quietly shut him up. ¡°Mmph! I¡­¡± They turned their eyes back to the TV screen. The same scenery appeared to the protagonist who hade out of the tunnel. A reed field. The only differences were that it was noon and the reeds were growing taller. And there was no paved road nearby. The screen was filled with a yellowish hue that looked like it came from a photo of Korea in the 1960s or 70s. Atst, the protagonist had traveled to the past in the seventh episode. It was probably the prehistoric era where an unknown monster hade from. ¡°Would there be dinosaurs in the prehistoric era? Dinosaurs.¡± ¡°¡­¡± Bijoo stuffed two lettuce leaves into Junghyun¡¯s mouth, who was making an excited expression. While someone was chewing on the lettuce like a bull, they turned their eyes back to the TV screen. Swoosh- The sound of reeds. As they ate jokbal in silence, feeling the tense atmosphere of the drama, Rihyuk lowered his head and turned up the volume. Swoosh- The protagonist looked around. He raised his hand to make a shade in the scorching sun. He had a clueless expression, not knowing what to do aftering to the past. His face looked like a lost child, on top of the bleak face of a man. ¡°He¡¯s really good at acting.¡± ¡°Right. His eyes¡­¡± Lee Kangjin, who had been ttering the director as an extra, was alive as Detective Park Cheoljin. Jiho asked in wonder, ¡°I¡¯ve never seen anyone who¡¯s so different in acting and reality. If the viewers knew, they would lose their immersion.¡± ¡°¡­¡± ¡°Why are you guys like that?¡± ¡°¡­¡± There was no background music, only the sound of wind and reeds swaying. Meanwhile, the detective who was wandering aimlessly started to notice some strange things. ¡®This ce used to be all hills! But the government bulldozed them all to make roads.¡¯ Someone¡¯s voice ovepped. It was supposed to be a hill if it was the past, but it was the same in as now. ¡®The reeds cameter. There was nothing before.¡¯ There was a reed field. The protagonist got a bad clue, and the viewers were getting closer to the truth. Park Cheoljin stumbled. -¡­ He was walking aimlessly and stepped on a pebble. He almost fell and tried to tie his loose shoce. There was something hard exposed. It looked like a steel column with a metal structure. The protagonist tilted his head and brushed off the dirt on it. As if denying something. ¡®We weren¡¯t a cult before. We were normal.¡¯ ¡®I don¡¯t know why he went crazy. He lost his mind saying ¡®I can¡¯t change it.¡¯ ¡®He was desperate to revive his daughter¡­¡¯ A green steel te appeared. When the protagonist brushed off all the dirt, all the sound stopped for a moment. There was a word on the rusty steel te. With a familiar arrow, it said ¡®Oseong District Office¡¯. All the clues that had been there so far, the primitive people, the Joseon arrows, etc., were revealed where they came from. They were not tunnels to the past, but to the future. It was not the Stone Age or the Joseon Era. What looked like a Joseon arrow was the civilization that the future humans had achieved after the destruction. ¡®Slip¡¯ was not about going back to the past, but about the post-apocalyptic humans who had ¡®time slipped¡¯ to the Stone Age. And judging by the rust on the sign, the moment of destruction was not far from the present. The voice of the scientist ovepped. -In theory, it¡¯s possible to go to the future, but the past¡­ It¡¯s impossible to go back to the past. The protagonist copsed. -¡­ They dropped the jokbal. Then Park Cheoljin cried endlessly. It was the first time the protagonist showed his emotions in the drama. There was no shback scene, but Jiho told them the story he searched on the inte. The protagonist had a hope that he could change the past with the clue of time travel. His parents who died in a fire when he was young, his orphanage friends who died tragically, his young son who died of medical expenses and his wife who followed him. And the police officer whose name he barely knew. The drama told the protagonist. He couldn¡¯t go back to the past. The guilt that he tried to escape from choked him more. ¡°¡­¡± Woojoo felt a strange feeling. He used to think like that a lot when he was young. ¡°But our song isn¡¯t ying?¡± ¡°Is this really the end? What is this?¡± The words ¡®S L I P¡¯ appeared in reverse as usual, as the siblings said, ¡°¡­What?¡± Woojoo tilted his head. ¡°The Director said he would be on today, so watch it¡­ Huh?¡± ¡°What? Our song is ying?¡± Their song, which had never been shown in the seventh episode, was ying after the drama ended. Normally, the staff roll would havee out and ended here. Woojoo heard a gentle acoustic guitar riff. ¡°¡­?¡± And then the screen that had been cked out started to change as if it was rewinding. It started with the title that had just ended, ¡®S L I P¡¯, flowing out again. It was really rewinding? As the intro yed, Park Cheoljin, who was heading back to the tunnel, moved as if he was backpedaling. The speed gradually increased, and the content of episode 7 was skipped in a few seconds, and time flowed back to the past, and further back. During that time, their song was ying as the background music. Can we leave a little slower Before today fades away as a sunset Rihyuk¡¯s voice softly moistened the ears. The lyrics that said he wanted to stay in the past while time was heading to the futurebined with the shback scenes. Park Cheoljin, who had been expressionless like a stone throughout episode 7, smiled and lived in the past. ¡°Wow¡­¡± The natural transition to the past and the subtle change of colors each time. The lyrics they wrote and the past scenes fit together like a puzzle. Director Kang¡¯s voice, who said ¡®It seems like the Director got a kick out of your song¡¯, passed through Woojoo¡¯s brain. Finally, with a picture of the young protagonist and his parents smiling brightly in front of the photographer, episode 7 of S L I P came to an end. ¡°¡­¡± They looked at each other with wide-eyed faces. ¡°I didn¡¯t expect it to be this impactful¡­¡± It was a time to be surprised, as they only heard that it would be in an important scene. ¡°Hey, Hyung¡­¡± Jiho looked at his smartphone and said to them with a surprised face, ¡°Our song is going crazy.¡± With 13.3 percent, it set a new record for its own ratings. With the evaluation that it had achieved a ¡®huge hit¡¯ as a genre piece, and even created arge number of maniacs, episode 7 of S L I P received tremendous praise. -[YesterdayTV] ¡®S L I P¡¯, soaring ratings with bigger scale -¡®S L I P¡¯, shocking twist that the caveman turned out to be ¡®humanity after the apocalypse¡¯ -¡®S L I P¡¯ surprises viewers with a stunning twist Episode 7 was over, but its impact was enormous. Portalment sections and variousmunities were talking about S L I P for more than three hours after the broadcast. -The twist was awesome, I never thought of it ?? -I got goosebumps when the sign came out???? It felt like I got hit in the back of the head;; -Goosebumps; -But it¡¯s not a special twist?? It¡¯s amon twist in movies like Mids or of the Apes, so it¡¯s not surprising -Go live in America then -Goosebumps are all you have, what -Slip fans are already making a fuss??? I¡¯ve never seen a drama with so many extreme fans -The drama is subtly clich¨¦. It¡¯s also using Officer Heo as a tool character As the drama became a huge sess, fans and antis fought every episode, but there was amon opinion. It was thest ending. -Thest production was awesome -I hope the clipes up soon -The production of disappearing one by one like acting was awesome -I cried while watching????? Cheoljin-nim???? -I was just watching along with the trend, but this ending was awesome ??? -But the song was good, who¡¯s song is it?? It sounded familiar -Me too curious??? -I thought it would be awesome from the first verse As the legendary ending of episode 7 became a topic, interest in the song also increased. The keyword S L I P OST started to appear on the popr search terms of music sites, and entertainment reporters also wrote articles in a hurry. The idolmunity also had a simr reaction. -Hey, I found the article! I found it!!! It¡¯s New ck¡¯s ¡®A Poem About Yesterday¡¯. -New ck? -Again New ck? -Again ck;; -???? I thought it was their voice as soon as I heard it, awesome -They do everything¡­ They might take over the chart -Are they the bullfrogs of the music industry The heat of ¡®Deoksoon-ah¡¯ was still on the music chart. It was not surprising that a hit drama with a 13 percent viewership rating would have its OST added to the chart. The OST of Fox Bead, the most popr drama right now, was also staying within the top 10. But it had been a long time since an OST of a genre piece entered the chart. Genre pieces, which relied on story, acting, and directing, had different appeal points for the public. It was an unusual situation in many ways. ¡®It will drop in a few days.¡¯ Most people thought that. The OST of a genre piece that was briefly hot would soon fall off. But ¡®A Poem About Yesterday¡¯ did not decline. Rather, it climbed up from the rank it first entered as the days went by. At first, it was the streaming and downloads of the drama fans that worked, but it was a proof that the song was also catching on with the general public who heard it. -The song is so good -It has a subtle sad vibe, but it¡¯s addictive like a bad??? -But there are three songs by New ck in the top 10????? This is legendary -And behind that, there¡¯s one more track by Something and Flower Something?? A boy group that was called a ¡®rookie idol¡¯ a few months ago had five songs in the top 100. The insiders were also stunned by the unprecedented situation. ¡°Hey, have you heard that song about yesterdaytely?¡± ¡°A Poem About Yesterday? How can you not know that?¡± "You really made a great song¡­" It was a gathering ofposers. "New ck is all the rage these days. How many of their songs are on the chart? At least five, right?" "I saw them lining up the top-tier artists with their streaming, but filling the chart with public picks¡­" "I''ve never seen anything like this in my 10 years ofposing. Really." "I''m going to produce a rookie boy group this time, and they told me to avoid New ck''s schedule and set theeback date ordingly." The conversation flowed from here and there. "I should have sent something for the next New ck song contest. Maybe I could have made some connections." "What''s the point of being friendly now? They only work with famous people these days." "But overall, Woojoo caused a lot of false hopes for the agencies. They had too many requests for songwriting lessons for the trainees." Others started to share their simr stories. "But does that mean they can grow from that?" "They don''t understand no matter how much I exin that he''s special." "I know. I''ve been in this business for 10 years, but I''ve never seen anyone like him. He hits the jackpot every time, while others barely do it once in a few years." "I''d love to meet him once. I''m curious what kind of person he is." "Me too. I wonder how he works. I wish I could watch and learn from him." They all agreed that they would participate in the next New ck song contest. Someone called out to the one who was silently drinking. "Right. Pilgeun, you went to Lemon, right? You''re close with New ck''s Woojoo, right?" "Uh¡­" Everyone looked expectantly at Seo Pilgeun, the deputy of the A&R Team, who had a sad face for some reason. "How is he? How does he work normally?" "He''s amazing." Seo Pilgeun looked at the air with a sad expression. "When I work with him, I feel amazed, but also crazy and like jumping around, and I want to leave, and I''m hungry¡­" He muttered to himself like a drunkard, making the otherposers tilt their heads. "Is he okay?" "He doesn''t look good." "Someone must be giving him a lot of stress at work. But I envy him. I wish I could work with someone like that¡­" Theposers fantasized about the leader of New ck, unaware of someone''s bursting speed. When Seo Pilgeun was silent and only drinking. Someone who was looking at his phone asked the otherposers. "Hey. What about this ¡®A Poem About Yesterday''? The trend is a bit weird, isn''t it?" * * * "You''re the first-ce candidate on Music On." "¡­¡­" The inevitable happened as he said it was weird. That was the first thing he heard when he visited the Management Team''s office. "¡­¡­" Silence. After staring nkly for a while, Bijoo raised his hand and asked, "Manager, you mean we''repeting with ourselves?" "Yes." Woojoo asked in confusion, ¡°Hyung, you¡¯re not going to say something like ¡®life is a fight with yourself¡¯, are you?¡± ¡°You know me better than that. I wouldn¡¯t say such a cheesy thing.¡± ¡°¡­¡± Woojoo coughed awkwardly as he felt the sting of his words, and their younger siblingsughed and said he was the best manager ever. Seokhwan Hyung exined, ¡°Your OST ¡®A Poem About Yesterday¡¯ is a candidate for number one next week. Along with Windflower.¡± ¡°¡­!¡± Woojoo had a rough idea, but he was still surprised to hear it. The song, nicknamed ¡®A Poem About Yesterday¡¯, was currently at number two on the chart. And the gap with number one wasn¡¯t that big. If Windflower was like Rihyuk, who ran away screaming, then A Poem About Yesterday was like Junghyun, who tried to catch up with him. Oh, this way, he would be caught for sure. Woojoo had to think the opposite. Junghyun, who broke the vacuum cleaner and ran away, and Rihyuk, who chased him with a broom. ¡°What a strange situation. Ourpetitor is ourselves¡­ It really is a fight with ourselves.¡± Jiho looked bewildered, and so did they. Bijoo asked, ¡°Hyung, what should we say?¡± ¡°First, let¡¯s decide this, guys. What kind of reaction should we show when we get number one?¡± ¡°Do we have to stand separately on stage too?¡± ¡°Then, since Woojoo Hyungposed the song, he should stand in the center, and the rest of us should split into two groups on each side. How about that?¡± As Seokhwan Hyung smiled and looked at them, the younger ones talked excitedly. Woojoo was both happy and confused. They were candidates for number one on the music show, and no matter who won, they would be number one. And both songs wereposed by Woojoo. It was a situation that Woojoo couldn¡¯t help but be happy about, but somehow he couldn¡¯t shake off the confusion. It wasplicated, as the younger ones said. Should he be happy or sorry when they get number one? How should they stand when they were on stage? As they continued to worry with serious expressions, Jiho asked the most important question. ¡°First, let¡¯s decide what to do at the broadcasting station.¡± Yeouido. PBS Broadcasting Station. ¡°Wow!¡± Today, Friday, the boy group ¡®Iris¡¯ who debuted with ¡®Music On¡¯ looked at the entrance with wide eyes. Cameras everywhere beyond the long fence like a red carpet. Fans all around. ¡°Hello! We are Iris!¡± As they greeted them loudly here and there, the cameras that clicked with a ¡®who are they?¡¯ expression stopped. ¡°Wow!¡± A rookie idol group that was amazed by everything. ¡°It¡¯s amazing!¡± They were standing on the Music On entrance! They admired themselves as they posed awkwardly at the photo zone. ¡°Kyaaa!¡± The crowd grew louder with a scream. As the camera shutter sound became busy and the reporters turned their heads, they stopped and made a fuss. ¡°Heh, it¡¯s New ck. New ck.¡± ¡°Wow, they¡¯re New ck seniors.¡± They were a senior group that was rumored to be the trend idol these days. As the five men with picture-like beauty walked, screams erupted everywhere. Unlike them, who were clumsy, they waved their hands skillfully and made them admire them. How can they look so cool even in casual clothes? ¡°Woojoo Sunbae-nim is so handsome in real life¡­?¡± ¡°It¡¯s amazing.¡± ¡°That floral shirt is so pretty¡­ Should I buy one too?¡± Woojoo¡¯s Hawaiian shirt looked usible even for a rookie idol. The Hawaiian shirt with red flowers was a strong color item that was hard to dare, but his face was winning. ¡°Guys, let¡¯s go.¡± After staring at New ck for a while, they followed the manager inside. ¡°Hyung, I need to go to the bathroom.¡± ¡°Do you know where it is?¡± ¡°Yes. I saw it earlier.¡± ¡°Don¡¯t go alone and go with the others.¡± As someone who was nervous before the dry rehearsal said he was going to the bathroom, all seven members followed him. Iris walked timidly, their hair dyed in the seven colors of the rainbow. ¡®I¡¯m scared¡­¡¯ The staff members they met in the hallway looked so tense, their expressions were frightening. ¡°Hello!¡± They greeted them loudly, but they only frowned and didn¡¯t respond. They swallowed their difort and headed to the bathroom. ¡°Hey, hey! Move!¡± A male staff carrying a full box pushed them aside as he walked by. Thud! One of their members fell down. ¡°Hey, you. Don¡¯t you look where you¡¯re going?¡± The staff walked away, annoyed, while they apologized to him. ¡®Sorry.¡¯ The fallen member looked startled at first, then his face crumpled. ¡°Are you okay?¡± A white hand reached out to him. He turned his head to see who was offering him a hand with a gentle voice. ¡°Gasp!¡± It was Jiho from New ck, smiling calmly at him. Chapter 252: Chapter 252: Trantor: MarcTempest Editor: Rxel Chapter 252 The members of Iris widened their eyes. ¡®Wow.¡¯ He was really handsome. They had been too distracted by Woojoo¡¯s face on their way to work, but the senior singer in front of them also looked unreal. A sharp nose. Soft lips.If they didn¡¯t know who he was, they would have eximed ¡®He¡¯s an actor!¡¯ at his stunning appearance. ¡°Are you okay?¡± Jiho reached out his hand and helped the fallen member up. ¡°What happened? You¡¯re covered in dust.¡± ¡°Th-thank you.¡± Jiho, who had been quietly watching the staff who had already left, gave them a cheerful smile. ¡°I haven¡¯t seen you before, did you debut today?¡± ¡°Yes, we¡­ oh right! Greetings! Hey, greetings!¡± The seven of them quickly lined up and bowed at a 90-degree angle. ¡°One, two, three! Hello, we are Iris!¡± ¡°Ah, don¡¯t greet me. I¡¯m embarrassed.¡± Jiho waved his hand with a shy expression. Somehow, even that gesture looked elegant to Iris. ¡°Why are you being so formal¡­?¡± Formal? ¡°Ahem, you don¡¯t have to be so stiff and polite. We¡¯ve only been active for a little over a year¡­¡± ¡°No, you¡¯re our seniors.¡± New ck had officially debuted about 11 months ago. Even if they counted the time since Something, it was only about a year and three months. It wasn¡¯t that long. But to them, it felt like a distant dream. To the eyes of a first-year student who had just entered middle school, the third-years looked like seniors. To the perspective of a rookie boy group who had just debuted, every flyer on the hallway seemed impressive. So New ck was beyond their reach. Poprity was everything in the entertainment industry. As of May 2015, New ck was one of the most sessful boy groups. Out of the daily chart of 100 songs, five were New ck¡¯s songs. They only wished to enter the chart, but New ck seemed far away. -Today¡¯s two candidates for first ce are both New ck¡¯s songs. They remembered their manager¡¯s words. The songs were so popr that they all made it to the first-ce candidates. They had also talked about ¡®A Poem About Yesterday¡¯ while listening to it. ¡®Wow. The song is really good. How did they make this?¡¯ The member who hadposing skills tried to analyze the song, but soon he started to groan and clutch his head. As a group with the reputation of being skilled, each member of New ck was also talented. ¡®Hey, do you want to try this for our monthly evaluation?¡¯ They had first encountered New ck when they were gaining poprity among overseas fans with ¡®Masquerade¡¯. They had found the song while searching for knife-like choreography. ¡®You want me to do this?¡¯ The trainee who was in charge of the main dancer position scoffed at the sight of Bijoo dancing in the air as if he was spinning. The result was a bunch of patches on his waist and the trainer¡¯s advice to train his core muscles. The more they watched, the more they felt intimidated by his graceful moves. The other members were the same. ¡®How can they sing this high while doing this choreography?¡¯ Rihyuk, who sang high notes while dancing intensely in Masquerade. The trainee who was the main vocalined ¡®Just give me one! One! Either dance or sing!¡¯ as he expressed his frustration. ¡®This is weird. This rap didn¡¯t look that hard¡­ Don¡¯t mumble? No! He¡¯s just good!¡¯ Junhyun¡¯s rap part was also not easy. And¡­ ¡®Who wants to try acting with changing expressions in the bridge part?¡¯ ¡®¡­¡¯ ¡®No one?¡¯ ¡®¡­¡¯ There was no need to mention the part of the person who was standing in front of them. Acting with expressions was easier said than done. It was not amon level to make it look natural without making the viewers ufortable. They had the same thought as they looked at the handsome man who swept his hair back. ¡®He looks like a real celebrity¡­¡¯ When they practiced Masquerade, they felt like ¡®a sessful rookie group who debuted with seniors¡¯ at best. But now, the gap was huge. The media had a lot to do with it. Before, they had to search on YouTube and such to see their faces, but now they saw them every time they turned on the TV or used SNS. They had all kinds of variety shows in their minds: Legendary Song Discovery, History Discovery, and more. As they thought about it, something popped into their heads. ¡®Hmm? Why does he sound different?¡¯ They remembered Jiho¡¯s way of speaking from the shows. It was somewhere between ¡®yeo¡¯ and ¡®yo¡¯. He smiled like a mischievous kid and said, ¡®Really? For real?¡¯ That was his vibe. ¡®Ah!¡¯ They brightened up and came to a conclusion. ¡®That must be his broadcast concept!¡¯ No wonder. How could such a nice person be so cruel to his seniors, saying ¡®Hehehe! Destroy them all!¡¯ while tormenting them. They erased the scene of Jiho dressed like a magistrate and Woojoo next to him shouting ¡®Yay!¡¯ from their minds. The prisoners and the lowly Junghyun who were dragged away by ropes. Jiho asked with a smile, ¡°Don¡¯t take what just happened to heart. The people at the station are very busy, so that¡¯s why¡­¡± He whispered with a thoughtful face, ¡°That kind of thing happens a lot when you debut. It¡¯s too hard to care about everything.¡± ¡°Yes¡­¡± ¡°We had a lot of that too when we released our first album. Shoulder bumps or curses¡­¡± They felt a moment offort as he nodded his head as if to cheer them up. Then one of the station staff passed by and Jiho bowed his head. ¡°Hello!¡± ¡°Oh, hi Jiho.¡± The staff ignored the Iris members who greeted him and only smiled at Jiho before leaving. Jiho turned his gaze awkwardly. ¡°The dry rehearsal is starting soon. You¡¯re Iris, right?¡± ¡°Yes!¡± ¡°Congrattions on your debut, and I hope to see you more often.¡± ¡°Thank you!¡± He was a sophomore in high school, but he didn¡¯t look like it at all. They looked at him with moist eyes and said ¡®Thank you!¡¯ as he exuded a senior-like aura. ¡°Hey!¡± A sharp and clear voice rang in their ears. As Jiho made a ¡®eek¡¯ expression, a person who showed the end of coldness walked over. ¡°What are you doing here, bi¡­¡± ¡°I was looking for you, and I ran into them.¡± ¡°Yo?¡± Rihyuk asked and Jiho quickly nodded his head three times. ¡°Yo.¡± ¡°Ah¡­ yo.¡± Their eyes went back and forth as they exchanged words like a code. ¡°Hello!¡± Another loud greeting. Rihyuk calmed down and smiled after hearing the situation. ¡°I see. Congrattions on your debut.¡± Their eyes widened. They thought he looked very cold on TV, but he was actually warm in person. ¡®So broadcasting is all about concepts!¡¯ As they chatted. Hmm hmm. They heard someone humming a song somewhere. ¡®¡­This is it. Deoksoon.¡¯ As the song got closer like a wrestler¡¯s entrance music, two tall figures appeared. Woojoo and Junghyun. All the members gasped again. ¡°Wow¡­¡± They almost said ¡®They¡¯re so handsome.¡¯ Their faces were shining like they could draw light instead of faces in a portrait. The New ck members smiled at their admiration. ¡°What are you doing here¡­ hmm?¡± Woojoo¡¯s eyes turned to the rookie boy group. He smiled and greeted them. ¡°Oh, you¡¯re Iris, right?¡± ¡°Yes?¡± They were shocked. ¡°How did you¡­¡± ¡°I always listen to idol songs when theye out. I liked your title track ¡®I Rise¡¯. Red participated in theposition, right? It was experimental and good. Moombahton is not very popr in Korea yet, but¡­¡± He meant to say ¡®Good song, fighting¡¯, but the Iris members couldn¡¯t snap out of it. ¡®Wow. They know our song¡­¡¯ They were greeted withpliments on their music video, which was surprising for them. It wasn¡¯t like he had 25 hours a day. How did he find time to listen to a junior idol¡¯s song? As they were touched by the wave of emotion, Woojoo said ¡®Ah¡¯. ¡°Am I crazy? Hey, where¡¯s Bijoo?¡± ¡°He¡¯s not there?¡± ¡°I didn¡¯t see him.¡± ¡°Didn¡¯t you guys look for him?¡± Woojoo made a strange expression. ¡°Huh?¡± ¡°Huh.¡± ¡°Oh¡­ huh.¡± While they were murmuring to themselves, Junghyun gave them each a jelly. A rainbow-colored bear that matched their hair color was ced on their palm. As he silently handed them out, they felt themselves shrink, and Junghyun smiled warmly. ¡°Do you want more?¡± He was so nice! They were smiling happily when it happened. The four members of New ck whispered urgently, and someone walked out of the bathroom slowly. ¡°¡­What?¡± Everyone¡¯s eyes turned to the bright brown-haired boy. ¡°Bijoo!¡± ¡°Bijoo Hyung.¡± Then they started to worry, saying they thought they lost something. ¡°Oh, I forgot to tell you where I was going. I found my way today. Do you know? If you keep touching the right wall from our waiting room, you¡¯ll find the bathroom.¡± Fortunately, the members of Iris didn¡¯t hear the whisper. ¡°Hyung, I was really worried.¡± ¡°Huh?¡± ¡°Huh.¡± ¡°Aha. It¡¯s a ¡®huh¡¯ situation.¡± Then Bijoo, who was smiling brightly, looked at them. After a brief conversation, the members of New ck waved at them. ¡°See you at the dry rehearsal.¡± ¡°Yes!¡± They watched the backs of New ck, who walked away in harmony, and their faces went nk. ¡®Amazing¡­¡¯ And their impression of New ck got even better. ¡°That¡¯s our seat.¡± ¡°Oh, yes¡­¡± As they sat in the public hall seats before the dry rehearsal, there was a boy group who told them to move, saying it was their seat. When they greeted them, a solo singer nodded his head with his ears plugged. As time passed, the members of New ck felt more and more like angels. ¡°Good job!¡± When the dry rehearsal was over and they returned to the waiting room. Iris, who was about to return to the waiting room with only a partition, greeted Dream Ticket, who debuted a few weeks ago. Thanks to some members who were friends since their trainee days, they soon started to chat. Soon, their topic moved to New ck, who was nominated for first ce today. ¡°New ck Sunbae-nims are so calm and nice! They¡¯re amazing!¡± ¡°They¡¯re great, right?¡± Dream Ticket, who agreed, tilted their head. ¡°But calm?¡± ¡°Yes?¡± The members of Dream Ticket made a face that said ¡®they were a million light-years away from calm¡­¡¯ Then they started to talk to each other. ¡°When we went to greet them in the waiting room, they were singing The Rose of Sharon Has Bloomed¡­¡± ¡°Jiho Sunbae-nim smiled at us so calmly¡­¡± As the story went on, the gap between the two rookie groups¡¯ perception of ¡®New ck¡¯ grew wider. ¡°¡­?¡± ¡°¡­?¡± As they stared at each other nkly, one of the Dream Ticket members muttered, ¡°What¡¯s going on? They weren¡¯t like that yesterday¡­ Hey, are we talking about the same people we met?¡± Woojoo imitated someone and greeted them. ¡°Hello. I¡¯m Jiho from New ck.¡± ¡°Puhahaha!¡± ¡°Ah, stop teasing me, Hyungs! I did my best. And when did I ever make a cheesy face?¡± Jiho red at Woojoo, but he just smiled. ¡°Hmm, our littlemb¡­ Do you want this senior to help you?¡± ¡°Yes. Please hold my hand.¡± ¡°Then let¡¯s get up by holding this senior¡¯s hand.¡± Bijoo offered his hand and yed along with the act. Their staff burst intoughter. ¡°Ah, seriously! So annoying!¡± Jiho shook his head in frustration on the sofa and hit the back of his head on the wall. He cried out in pain. They pped andughed. ¡°Hahaha!¡± ¡°Hehehe!¡± ¡°Ah, seriously annoying. You¡¯ll see. I¡¯ll¡­¡± ¡°What can our maknae do?¡± Woojoo copied the expression of Jiho¡¯s eldest sister and smiled. He flinched and stopped talking. ¡°¡­¡± Then he seemed to have no idea how to get back at Woojoo and grumbled with a ¡®humph¡¯. While Bijoo calmlyforted him, Rihyuk snickered. ¡°I thought there were five Woojoo Hyungs earlier. You all had the same smile.¡± ¡°I didn¡¯t have the confidence to imitate him, so I kept quiet,¡± Junghyun said proudly. Woojoo chuckled. So that was who they were copying. He wanted to protest that he didn¡¯t smile like that, but he decided to give up. ¡°Well, the original is different. He has a force that can¡¯t be copied. It¡¯s not cheesy, it¡¯s more harmful and provocative.¡± Woojoo decided not to ask any more. Instead. ¡°Jiho, Jiho.¡± ¡°Huh?¡± ¡°Hyung has something to say~¡± ¡°Aaaaah!¡± He ran out of the waiting room like a sh. Woojoo grinned. He remembered the rookie boy group they met in the morning and shuddered. They were their seniors. They looked at them with starry eyes as if they had done something amazing. There was even someone older than Woojoo. It was fine when they called other people senior, but it felt weird when he heard it. Was it just him? Should he try it on Rihyuk? ¡°Sunbae-nim.¡± ¡°Aaah!¡± ¡°Why are you so surprised?¡± ¡°Geez, you scared me. Why are you doing that?¡± ¡°You¡¯re also ufortable when you hear Sunbae-nim, right?¡± ¡°Is there anyone who¡¯s not?¡± Junghyun started writing rap lyrics on his notebook, saying ¡®Your words are awkward, awkward, awkward. If you¡¯re awkward, you¡¯re a turtle¡¯. That made Woojoo lose his train of thought. What was he thinking? He watched the rainbow-haired idol¡¯s debut stage on TV and suddenly remembered something. Woojoo [Right] Woojoo [Eunsung, when are you debuting?] Five minutester, he replied with an emoji that seemed reluctant. Kkobong [Hyung] Kkobong [That] Kkobong [Know] Kkobong [Ing] Woojoo [One more letter and you¡¯re blocked] Kkobong [I can¡¯t tell you. Sergeant Seon Woojoo.] What was with his secrets? Woojoo knew whichpany he went to. He just didn¡¯t know when. Sigh Entertainment. It was a small-scale agency, but it was known as a hidden gem in the industry. The trainees had good benefits, thepany people were nice. They had two sessful solo singers with good nning skills. When Woojoo was in the army, he brainwashed him by saying ¡®If you join apany, there are these ces¡¯. Luckily, it seemed to work. But when was he debuting? He had to create some sense of urgency for him, even if he couldn¡¯t take him to ¡®Men Go¡¯. ¡°No. First of all, among our kids¡­¡± They all pretended to be busy when Woojoo looked at them. The PD told Woojoo to pick someone to go with him, but he had no idea who to choose. Just as he was about to choose the genius, the savior of his siblings showed up. ¡°New ck! We¡¯ll get ready!¡± ¡°Yes!¡± They ran away like the wind, wearing their mic packs. Woojoo yelled at them. ¡°Hey, guys! Where are you going? You have to go to the army with your brother.¡± Their staff burst intoughter. Minki Hyung, who was checking Woojoo¡¯s mic pack with a smile, asked him, ¡°Do you want to go out as a regr guest?¡± ¡°You¡¯re such a joker¡­¡± ¡°The PD said he¡¯s taking rmendations from the public. You just need to have a sense of humor.¡± ¡°¡­¡± The color drained from Woojoo¡¯s face. Friday evening. As the live broadcast of PBS¡¯s music show ¡®Music On¡¯ was about to end, more people turned on their TVs. ¨C????I¡¯m curious -Gotta watch this live -Is it New ck vs New ck???????? -Their fans must be happy¡­ so lucky It was a hot topic in the recent idol scene that New ck had their names on both sides of the first-ce candidates. [Yes, New ck, pleasee forward.] MC Jeon Yubin and the girl group members who were the daily MCs made room for New ck. New ck members looked slightly nervous. The Souffl¨¦s who were watching the show chatted like they were throwing bread crumbs. -Our babies are a mess -How are they supposed to stand? They look like lost sheep -Sigh¡­ I¡¯m eight years old¡­ I¡¯m drunk on their beauty -Don¡¯t make them weird??? -Grandma cries just looking at your faces crycrycry -Today is a real beauty legend update¡­ -Someone develop a skill to make gifs and photocards On the screen, New ck members were seen biting their lips slightly, or taking deep breaths to calm their nerves. Soon, the scores were revealed one by one. The thumbnails of New ck¡¯s ¡®Windflower¡¯ and ¡®A Poem About Yesterday¡¯ were on both sides. [Who is the first ce today?] [Yes! Congrattions! New ck!] Sparkles poured down with a bang. They shouted their group name as usual, but the members still blinked their eyes. Then, the MC realized his mistake and shouted again. [Yes! Windflower!] [Woww!] New ck members hugged each other and said ¡®woww!¡¯ but soon paused and said ¡®¡­?¡¯ They had a strange expression that said ¡®I won, but did I really win¡­?¡¯ They looked awkwardly happy, as if they were thinking ¡®I won, but I didn¡¯t really win, did I?¡¯ Their reaction made both the offline and online audiencesugh. ¨C???I think I know what they¡¯re feeling and it¡¯s even funnier -I feel you????I won but I lost -I won but I lost??? ¨C???????? -But then, did they win? Did they lose? Was it a tie? -My head hurts -They won, right? It¡¯s their album song¡­ or not? -A tie?? -Shouldn¡¯t we look at it like gold and silver medals? -That logic is weird¡­ Can you win both gold and silver medals at the Olympics? Did they use shadow clones or something? While the inte was debating whether they won, lost, or tied for a long time. On TV, New ck members were showing their bread dance for the Souffl¨¦s as a first ce celebration. ¡°Wow, first ce!¡± ¡°First ce!¡± ¡°Second ce?¡± ¡°Second ce!¡± They were confused for a while whether they won or lost, but they decided to just enjoy the situation. ¡°Two, three, hello! We are New ck!¡± Tomemorate having two songs as first-ce candidates, they did a live broadcast with the Souffl¨¦s for an hour. They had a really fun timeughing and talking. They were ecstatic to hear that they ranked first and second, and they chatted excitedly with each other. When they arrived at thepany, they received congrattions from their close colleagues. ¡°Guys! Congrattions!¡± The President also appeared like a genie from amp, handing them a card and saying, ¡®Eat whatever you want¡­¡¯ with a sparkle. They decided to reply to the texts and messagester, and they were about to choose their dinner menu. That was when they heard another news that was waiting for them. ¡°What? Our concert venue?¡± It was the news that their first solo concert venue had been booked. Chapter 253: Chapter 253: Trantor: MarcTempest Editor: Rxel Chapter 253 ¡°So, where is our concert going to be held?¡± Woojoo asked impatiently to Seokhwan Hyung and Assistant Manager Hong, who were sipping coffee across the table in thepany lounge. The manager handed him a tablet PC. ¡°Here.¡± Woojoo¡¯s heart raced at the keyword ¡®Olympic Park¡¯ disyed on the top of the homepage. Olympic? Olympic Hall?Their eyes stopped at the name of the venue as they moved from top to bottom. ¡°Huh¡­¡± ¡°Handball?¡± ¡°Handball stadium? Isn¡¯t this ce huge?¡± Olympic Park Handball Stadium. It was a ce that used to be a fencing stadium, but arge corporation spent hundreds of billions of won to turn it into a handball stadium. Woojoo didn¡¯t know how many spectators could fit in, but it was a ce that couldn¡¯t be easily filled unless it was arge fandom. He widened his eyes at the introduction that said ¡®Capacity: about 5,000 people¡¯. ¡°¡­?¡± Bijoo looked at Woojoo with a face that seemed like his eyes would pop out, and so did the other guys. The big-eyed guys mouthed ¡®Wow¡¯ at the same time, andughter came from across the table. ¡°I¡­¡± Woojoo asked. ¡°I have a question, Assistant Manager.¡± ¡°Yeah. Ask away.¡± ¡°Do you really think 5,000 people wille to see us?¡± The younger ones nodded their heads and said ¡®Yeah, yeah¡¯. 5,000 people. Woojoo couldn¡¯t imagine it. If he set the total number of students in a middle school grade at 800, 5,000 people would be six middle schools. Wasn¡¯t that six times the morning assembly? It felt weird to think that the number of students gathered in six school fields and the number of people who would gather in the concert hall were the same. Of course, it wasn¡¯t impossible. Even at the showcase they did recently, nearly 2,000 Souffl¨¦s gathered. But a concert was a different dimension. The ticket price started from at least 100,000 won. That was why people often say that a concert was a true indicator of how much fandom a singer could mobilize. Unlike an album that one person could buy 100 copies of, a concert required at least a few thousand people who were willing to pay tens of thousands of won to see their singer. ¡°No matter how I calcte it, I can¡¯t imagine it,¡± Rihyuk said after doing some mental arithmetic. ¡°People who want to see us, 5,000 of them¡­¡± ¡°What are you talking about?¡± Assistant Manager Hong tilted her head. ¡°It¡¯s not 5,000 people.¡± ¡°Ah.¡± Woojoo thought he meant they would reduce the number of seats from the original venue, and he was about to ept it. ¡°You have to think of it as 15,000 people. We¡¯re doing it for three days.¡± ¡°¡­Yes?¡± ¡°Five thousand times three is fifteen thousand, right?¡± ¡°Well, yes.¡± Junghyun multiplied five by three and opened his eyes wide. While they were making flustered faces, the exnation continued. The concert, which would be held in the summer three monthster, would be held at the handball stadium for about three days, and they also nned to book small venues in some foreign countries where the response was good and perform there. ¡°Are we really going to perform overseas?¡± ¡°Yeah. Overseas.¡± ¡°¡­?¡± ¡°Of course, it¡¯s not as big as in Korea. A little bigger than the showcase. We analyzed it, and considering your album sales, it¡¯s obvious¡­¡± ¡°Album sales?¡± Assistant Manager Hong exined as if it was obvious, and they kept repeating the same scene of not understanding her. She half-closed her eyes and turned her head. ¡°Manager.¡± ¡°Yes.¡± ¡°It seems like the kids don¡¯t understand what I¡¯m saying. Did you not tell them about the initial sales yet?¡± ¡°Uh¡­ yes. I didn¡¯t. Not yet.¡± The other person paused at Seokhwan Hyung¡¯s awkward smile and said ¡®Ah¡­¡¯ as if she understood. Jiho said, ¡°Right. You promised to tell us about the initial sales, but you never did.¡± Jiho reminded Assistant Manager Hong with a pout. ¡°That¡¯s true. I haven¡¯t told you yet.¡± Assistant Manager Hong admitted, rubbing her chin. ¡°How did our initial sales go?¡± Woojoo asked eagerly, leaning forward. Initial sales were an indicator of how many albums were sold in the first week of release. They were a report card that showed how strong the fandom¡¯s firepower was in the music industry. Usually, the total sales took a long time to calcte, so the first week¡¯s sales were often used as aparison measure. It was a bit different from concerts, but still very important for them. That was why half of the top 20 spots were taken by TNT, Teen Spirit, and Sixty Seconds, who had disbanded now. And the top seven spots were all TNT¡¯s records. ¡°That¡¯s amazing.¡± Assistant Manager Hong said, ¡°Even if we didn¡¯t tell you, I thought you would have searched and found out beforehand.¡± ¡°We cut off the inte.¡± The younger ones nodded. ¡°We only y games. Just games.¡± ¡°I only use messenger sometimes¡­¡± ¡°Lately, I only use the e-book reader a little. I don¡¯t have time to watch anything.¡± The two employees gave a bitter smile, as if they understood the reason. It was because they were so busy that they had to sleep in shifts, but also to avoid the hatements. The hatements had increased a lot. The brighter the light, the darker the shadow, as if the hatements increased in proportion to the poprity. When Woojoo was a trainee, he imagined his future self who would coolly ignore the hatements, but he realized that it was impossible these days. When he saw the unspeakable hatements, his mind got torn apart. What kind of gallery was it? Woojoo went there because they said there was a lot of talk about him, and he clicked on a title that said ¡®Pictures of Woojoo¡¯ out of curiosity. ¡­A picture of a ne wreck came up. Woojoo probably lost his appetite for the whole day. It was enough to make Bijoo, who saw it by chance next to him, sob. He couldn¡¯t sleep that night. He realized why the seniors in the entertainment industry got depressed. That was why he followed the advice of Jang Sowon Sunbae and top idol Han Taehyun and ¡®just cut off the inte altogether¡¯. Gulp- As he was thinking that and drinking iced chocte, Seokhwan Hyung said with a smile, ¡°Your initial sales were a hit this time.¡± ¡°Wow.¡± Jiho¡¯s eyes sparkled as he asked, ¡°It must have sold a lot. How much? 30,000 copies? 40,000 copies¡­? Don¡¯t tell me 50,000¡­¡± ¡°70,000 copies.¡± ¡°Pfft-!¡± They all spat out the drinks they were drinking, spraying the table and each other with liquid. Some of them choked and gasped, while others covered their mouths in disbelief. Woojoo handed a tissue to Rihyuk, who was coughing with a red face, and patted his chest. He should ask them to leave out the chocte chips next time. His throat was scratchy. ¡°Cough¡­!¡± But the surprise was bigger. They all stared at Seokhwan Hyung¡¯s face while coughing. Bijoo raised his hand and asked with a cough, ¡°Manager, I have a question¡­ Cough¡­ 70,000 copies?¡± ¡°To be exact, it¡¯s about 69,000 copies, but it¡¯s about 70,000 if you round it up.¡± ¡°¡­¡± ¡°Don¡¯t you believe me?¡± Rihyuk asked Woojoo with a nk face, ¡°Isn¡¯t Daylight Sunbae-nim¡¯s highest record 60,000 copies?¡± ¡°That¡¯s right.¡± Woojoo wasn¡¯t sure either. He was so confused that he couldn¡¯t remember what they had. Of course, boy groups sold at least several times more than girl groups in the same ss, but this was¡­ The other personughed. ¡°Congrattions. Your initial sales are the second highest this year as of May.¡± It seemed that it ranked second right below Teen Spirit, who came back earlier this year with 160,000 copies. ¡°TNT or Teen Spirit might drop you every time they release an album, but if you keep up this trend, you¡¯ll definitely make it into the top 10 in annual sales.¡± ¡°There aren¡¯t many groups that can catch up with you.¡± ¡°¡­¡± Assistant Manager Hong showed them the initial sales ofst year. Daydream. Wild. These were the names of the second-generation senior idols who debuted from other major agencies. Among them, Woojoo saw the name of TJ, the group that debuted when he was a trainee. Woojoo was speechless. ¡°Are you telling me that we¡­ sold more than them?¡± ¡°Yes.¡± ¡°¡­¡± Did they really join the ranks of those formidable senior groups right after TNT and Teen Spirit? His mind went nk. Just six months ago, Woojoo was amazed by the seniors who made it to the TOP 10 at the awards ceremony. And now they were there. When he opened his eyes, he felt like a young promising athlete who became a national representative. Gulp. The sound of five people swallowing their saliva echoed in the lounge. Junghyun asked with a puzzled look, ¡°Why didn¡¯t you tell us, Manager? This is such great news.¡± ¡°There were someplications.¡± Seokhwan Hyung gave a bitter smile. ¡°After the tally was over, there was a huge fuss about bulk buying. We got calls threatening to sue us, posts demanding evidence for the suspicion, and so on.¡± It was good that they didn¡¯t go online. But Woojoo felt uneasy thinking about how their fans must have suffered from those rumors. ¡°Anyway, it was hard to tell you because of the mess.¡± Compared to Masquerade, it was an unbelievable exaggeration. If someone asked Woojoo toe up with a usible story for this situation, the only thing he could think of was an Arab tycoon saying ¡®Wow, New ck¡¯ and disying thousands of albums in his house. ¡°It was unbelievable. Really. The inte was going crazy every day¡­ How could they sell 70,000 copies in just a year after their debut? How could New ck rank higher than those second-generation groups?¡± Their manager remembered every detail of the ordeal. Assistant Manager Hong also groaned. ¡°It was no joke. They sent us faxes asking for an exnation¡­¡± ¡°¡­You really worked hard.¡± Woojoo felt grateful to the two of them. They didn¡¯t even know that something like this was happening. They must have kept quiet so that their activities wouldn¡¯t be affected, even managing their expressions. Woojoo felt a pang in his heart. He should prepare some nice gifts for them. ¡°So, is everything okay now?¡± ¡°It¡¯s calmer than before. We¡¯ve been number one on the weekly chart for three weeks in a row¡­ And our digital sales are also amazing. Well. There are still some people who make a fuss in thements, but there¡¯s nothing we can do about that.¡± Assistant Manager Hong added from the side, ¡°You did well by not looking at the inte. From now on, all kinds of weirdos will be after you¡­¡± ¡°I hope you only see the good things. You¡¯ll encounter enough bad things anyway.¡± They agreed with their manager¡¯s words. While they sipped their drinks, the conversation turned to the main topic. ¡°We chose the concert venue based on the sales analysis. In theory, we could even aim for the gymnastics stadium, but¡­¡± ¡°Gymnastics is too risky.¡± Woojoo nodded at Assistant Manager Hong¡¯s words. Concerts were not cheap projects. It would be a disaster if they booked a big venue and it turned out to be empty. They discussed the domestic and overseas schedules seriously and went over the details. ¡°¡­Well, let¡¯s end the discussion here for now. Let¡¯s meet again and have another meetingter.¡± ¡°Yes. Thank you for your hard work.¡± ¡°Congrattions on your solo concert. We¡¯re really happy that you¡¯re doing well.¡± Although they had more work to do, Assistant Manager Hong got up with a cheerful tone and picked up her documents. She suggested meeting at the dinnerter and Seokhwan Hyung also left the lounge. ¡°See youter!¡± They said goodbye and the door closed for thest time. Three secondster. New ck, who were sitting with solemn and rxed faces, quickly exchanged nces. ¡°Are they gone?¡± ¡°They seem to be gone. Junghyun Hyung. Can you check?¡± ¡°Hmm¡­ They both took the elevator, I think.¡± ¡°They¡¯re gone.¡± They confirmed that no one was there and took a deep breath. Then they jumped up. ¡°Guys!¡± ¡°Hyung!¡± ¡°Hahaha! Hey, we have a solo concert! A solo concert!¡± ¡°Solo concert!¡± They danced with their shoulders, saying ¡®congrattions¡¯ like the monkeys around the bonfire. ¡°Hyung, what should I do? I feel like crying.¡± ¡°Go ahead. You can cry on a day like this.¡± ¡°But I don¡¯t think I can.¡± Woojooughed at Bijoo¡¯s words. He felt so good. It must be a great day if even Rihyuk was smiling. They had a lot of things to prepare for the future, and it seemed like summer was still far away, but he was happy. Ever since Woojoo dreamed of being an idol, having a solo concert was his lifelong wish. ¡°I have no regrets now¡­¡± Woojoo closed his eyes with a wistful face, and his brothers shook him, saying ¡®don¡¯t die!¡¯ They always cared about him¡­ Jiho answered with a disbelieving face, ¡°Hyung, if you¡¯re gone, we have to rearrange our schedule.¡± ¡°Right. And the song parts too.¡± ¡°Geez¡­¡± Theyughed at Woojoo, licking his tongue. After the concert schedule was confirmed, they decided to tell their families, and then they went back to their original n. They also thought about the design of the light stick that would match the concert. And they also nned ahead for the important schedule of this week. Rihyuk, who was looking at the calendar, asked, ¡°By the way, did you all study for the exam?¡± Everyone nodded. They had an important exam on Saturday. Saturday. The test takers who entered the school to take the Korean history proficiency test were stunned. ¡®What is this?¡¯ They entered different exam rooms, but their expressions were simr. ¡°¡­?¡± An idol member who was quietly reading a book in a Hawaiian shirt. Another one who was eating jelly quietly, or reading a notebook with neat notes, or eating an apple in the morning. Or even one who was watching a historical drama on his phone. ¡®Aren¡¯t they New ck?¡¯ ¡®I think I saw them on Masterpiece.¡¯ ¡®Oh. They are the Khitan from History Explorer.¡¯ Most of them recognized their faces. The popr idol group that created all kinds of memes rted to Korean history. They were more puzzled after they recognized them. ¡®Why are they here¡­?¡¯ They came to take the Korean history test, but there were singers who were called the trend these days sitting as test takers. People tapped their phone keyboards. [I came to take the Korean history test, but what is this¡­ there are idols here] It¡¯s New ck I took a proof shot by ident
    1. He¡¯s the one who was rude to the Hyungs
¨C????why did you take it so timidly -What¡¯s that in your hand? -[Writer] I didn¡¯t bring aputer, so he gave me one¡­ -Why did hee? -[Writer] He said he came to take the test ¨C????that¡¯s obvious, but it¡¯s weird -Did they film History Discovery or something??? -You¡¯re a legend for writing this before the exam -Maybe they came to film for YouTube -But it¡¯s kind ofme¡­ They just show their faces and then act like know-it-alls and get bad reviews -What about the score¡­??did they have time to study The people who were offline were the same. They just thought that the idols came to take the test for YouTube content. The test takers were curious at first, but then they lowered their heads and opened their summaries. ¡®They just came.¡¯ But few of them knew the meaning of ¡®made by SLH¡¯ written on the edge of the summary they were holding. They just thought it was an inte username. They learned the truth after the test was over. And then¡­ ¡®What is this?¡¯ Souffl¨¦, who was hiding her identity in the exam hall where Bijoo entered, swallowed her saliva. She came to take the Korean history test, but her idol was there. While she was thinking of telling the other fans after the test, she held back herughter. Afraid of being a nuisance to the people, Bijoo was discreetly melting and eating an apple. The Korean history proficiency test was a n that had been prepared beforehand. They thought it would be a good idea to take the test themselves when they finished History Discovery Team. The PR Team also agreed that it would be good for image making. Of course, they had to study from time to time, because they wouldn¡¯t save face if they just took it lightly. ¡®Everyone, memorize. The kings of Goryeo. Tae Hyejeonggwang Gyeongseongmok¡­ If you can¡¯t memorize, you have topose with that old man.¡¯ ¡®Tae Hyejeonggwang Gyeongseongmooook¡­!¡¯ Someone¡¯s brainwashing yed the biggest role. ¡°Ugh, it¡¯s so hard.¡± ¡°Good job, everyone.¡± They returned to the TBC building in Sangam-dong after the test. Rihyuk asked, ¡°Do you think you did well on the test? I had a few vague ones.¡± ¡°Me too¡­ It was harder than I thought.¡± Junghyun nodded at Bijoo¡¯s words. ¡°I didn¡¯t know a lot of things, so I just guessed a lot.¡± ¡°Are we just going to get scolded for this? Us?¡± While everyone was anxious, Jiho was happy. ¡°I got everything I studied right. I think I might get a first grade.¡± ¡°Wow.¡± Their youngest was their hope, and everyone was pleased. Two o¡¯clock in the afternoon. The answer to the test was finally revealed. Everyone held a red pen with a tense face. Minki Hyung filmed with a handy cam while the grading was going on. And the first passer appeared. ¡°Oh¡­ Oh! Hyung! Hyung! I got 71 points!¡± ¡°Awesome. Then you¡¯re first grade?¡± ¡°Yes!¡± ¡°Huh¡­ Our Bijoo is awesome!¡± Bijoo and Woojoo high-fived and said ¡®Our second best!¡¯ while the others finished their grading. ¡°Ah. I got three 3-pointers wrong, so I got 91 points.¡± Rihyuk grumbled. He was the one whoined that they gave a choice that was still controversial in academia. When Woojoo searched for the difficulty, it was really the easiest test ever, and everyone was happy. The pass rate seemed to be very high. ¡°Hyung, how many points did you get?¡± ¡°I got 87 points. I guess I forgot everything I studied.¡± He still had some leftover from studying for the college entrance exam, and he got a good score. ¡°Junghyun, what about you?¡± ¡°I got 70 points. I got the ones I solved wrong, and the ones I guessed right.¡± Everyoneughed, saying it was a typical Junghyun score. Everyone got first grade so far. ¡®We¡¯re now Korean history first grade idols¡¯ and they were celebrating, but the youngest was unusually quiet. Their heads turned at the same time. ¡°What¡¯s wrong with you?¡± ¡°Ah, no. Nothing¡­¡± ¡°What¡¯s your score?¡± ¡°No, it¡¯s not that I didn¡¯t see it. It¡¯s just, that¡­¡± Woojoo winked at Junghyun. He grabbed the youngest while Rihyuk quickly snatched the test paper. Soon, their faces gathered in front of the test paper. ¡°¡­¡± When the youngest said ¡®Ha¡­¡¯, ¡°Ha ha ha!¡± ¡°Hey! What the heck is this!¡± On the youngest¡¯s test paper, there was a timid ¡®69¡¯ written. The first grade standard was 70 points. He was the only one who got second ss. -New ck, bragging about Korean history proficiency test first grade on SNS ¡°Jiho is second grade¡± -New ck, achieving first grade in Korean history for everyone ¡®Brainy men¡¯¡­ ¡°But the youngest is second grade¡± -New ck uploaded their Korean history test on SNS: ¡°Jiho got a second-ss score because he didn¡¯t study enough¡± -New ck expressed their regret: ¡°We could have all gotten first-ss scores. The youngest got 69 points, so he got a second-ss score¡± ¡°Ugh! Stop it, seriously!¡± ¡°Ha ha ha!¡± ¡°Come on, it¡¯s only a one-point difference! Junghyun Hyung got 70 points and I was only one point short!¡± ¡°What are you talking about? In the Olympics, even a 0.1-second difference is a silver medal. Jiho.¡± ¡°If you feel wronged, get a first-ss score~¡± ¡°Ha ha!¡± ¡°Ugh, I hate you all!¡± The youngest ran away in agony, followed by the members who turned on the app with ¡®69 points¡¯ on the disy board and chased him with malicious expressions on their faces in the broadcasting station hallway. And there were rookie idols watching them. ¡°¡­¡± As the Iris members blinked their eyes in confusion, Dream Ticket looked at them with a smug expression, as if to say, ¡®Did you see that?¡¯ Chapter 254: Chapter 254: Trantor: MarcTempest Editor: Rxel Chapter 254 The news of New ck members passing the Korean History Level 1 exam spread quickly. The idolmunity was no exception. ¡°Idols who passed the Korean History First-ss exam today.jpg¡± (A photo of New ck members holding their test papers together) The subject is New ck They said they passed the Korean History exam today-What; isn¡¯t that the music show waiting room? -Yeah, they said they took the exam after the recording -??? ¨C???they took the exam while doing the music show?? -Aren¡¯t they rookies? Do they have time to study¡­? -They¡¯re amazing -Wow¡­ I need to reflect. Why am I second-ss when I don¡¯t even do music shows -And what¡¯s with 91 points???87 points. I barely passed with 70 points before -The leader¡¯s friend is surprising 70 points -But why are there only four of them??? Soon, another photo was attached. The youngest turned his back and ignored them, while the four of themughed energetically. Their bodies were so animated that there were afterimages. -What¡¯s going on? -The youngest got 69 points (70 points is first-ss) ¨C??????what¡¯s the file name Second-ss Idol?? -He¡¯s the only one who¡¯s second-ss????????? -Omg???? -You can¡¯t help but tease him if he got 69 points -His back turn is so cute?? Thements said he was cute, like a puppy who avoids eye contact when he was angry. But as soon as the initialments ended, the haters started toment like ghosts. ¡®Yeah, right¡¯, ¡®Exin the maniption¡¯ and otherments lined up, turning thement section into a battlefield, and the fans said ¡®Ah. Thements are ruined¡­¡¯ and pressed the delete button. The news of New ck¡¯s Korean History First-ss achievement also spread to other ces. [All New ck members pass ¡®Korean History First-ss¡¯ ¡­ ¡°The youngest Jiho is second-ss¡±] -I like them more every time I see them^^* -It¡¯s hard for ordinary people to find time to study and get a certificate¡­ I want to learn from them -They make a sound every time I see them? -They look like my nephews because I see them often??It¡¯s good to see good news. Fighting! -I¡¯m ny years old and I listen to New ck songs these days As a boy group with a high level of public intimacy among the rookies who were currently active, there were many friendlyments. Meanwhile, the news that appeared on the main entertainment section also spread to themunity where the Korean history exam takers gathered. -There was an idol among the people who took the Korean History exam today. New ck passed the Korean history exam with first-ss (one of them got 69 points) -69 points????I don¡¯t know who it is but it must be really unfair -I wouldn¡¯t be able to sleep if I were him??omg?? -I saw a lot of reviews saying they saw an idol earlier, so it was them -I scoffed at how much they would get when the results came out¡­ but they scored higher than me -Huh??? Meanwhile, some people who saw the SNS capture screen realized a surprising fact. -Wait a minute. In the content of that post, wait a minute¡­ Was the summary that was circting on the inte made by New ck¡­??? -Yeah -It was made by the schr from the History Discovery Team -Which schr? The serious schr or the blond schr? -Isn¡¯t it the fan monk? -The fan monk is the Khitan leader -Wtf why do they have so many sub-characters????I¡¯m more amazed that I can understand that¡­ -The serious schr made it -What;; Did I not know until now? -You¡¯re the only one who didn¡¯t know stfu -I just found out too I¡¯m shocked -So you guys were mocking them while looking at the material they made¡­?? -What was mocked was my score -The legend was my life -Fact) They¡¯ve only been studying Korean history for about three months It had been two months since the History Discovery Team started uploading on YouTube. It was the moment when the unconsciousness of ¡®history+idol=New ck¡¯ was engraved in people¡¯s minds. And then. ¡®I guess Jiho got 69 points. Bijoo did well too. Woojoo and Rihyuk have very high scores. Oh. Junghyun is unexpected¡­ Hmm?¡¯ People who saw the SNS photo attached to the article paused and tilted their heads. ¡®What? When did I start to know all their names?¡¯ Maybe it was because they always wore costumes with huge letters like ¡®Woojoo¡¯ or ¡®Bijoo¡¯ on them whenever they appeared on History Discovery Team. The names of the members were stored in the minds of hundreds of thousands of subscribers who watched History Discovery Team regrly, and the people who saw the memes on SNS. ¡®What is this.¡¯ When did that happen? They were justughing at the idols dressed like schrs reciting diss poems on YouTube, but when they came to their senses, they remembered their names as if they were familiar. They felt like they were the neighborhood kids or nephews. The public who were reading the article of New ck blinked their eyes. ¡®That¡¯s amazing.¡¯ Since when? They used to know all the names of the idols on TV. But at some point, they didn¡¯t know any of them. Maybe it was since the so-called ¡®third generation idols appeared¡¯. The girl groups who valued poprity were better off, but the boy groups were silent. Even the top idols like TNT or Teen Spirit were only famous in name. But now¡­ They remembered the names of the rookie idols who appeared likeets on YouTube and SNS. As their thoughts reached that far, they moved their fingers. Tap, tap, tap. People scattered around typed ¡®New ck¡¯ on their phones. The situation where familiarity led to curiosity, and curiosity led to New ck¡¯s performance videos and variety shows. It was not that big yet, and there were not many people who noticed it. But it was a quiet change that was happening under the surface. It had been a month since they came back with ¡®Windflower¡¯. Time flew by quickly. New ck, who got the first-ss (Jiho got the second-ss) in the Korean history exam, were finishing up their activities with Windflower in the fifth week. -Yes! And the first ce this week is? -Congrattions, New ck¡¯s ¡®Windflower!¡¯ The situation of ¡®New ck vs New ck¡¯ ended with aplete victory for Windflower. Windflower was achieving an unbelievable record. Five consecutive weeks of Mango Weekly Chart No. 1. There were already rumors that Windflower would be the best song or the digital music category at this year¡¯s awards ceremony. If this trend continued, it wouldl definitely be in the top five of the year. It was unprecedented in many ways. ¡°You have to see it as an exceptional situation. Objectively speaking, it¡¯s hard to hit this kind of jackpot again¡­¡± Everyone agreed with Director Jo Gyuhwan¡¯s words. The album sales could increase as much as they wanted, but it was hard to achieve this kind of record purely with digital music. But the positive point was that thanks to the digital music sess this time, they could start from a much more advantageous position for the next album. Woojoo heard from the A&R Team that theposers were eager to work with him. ¡°They all want to work with you, Woojoo.¡± Deputy Seo Pilgeun of the A&R Team said with a wicked face every time he met Woojoo, ¡°Please work with them. Woojoo. Please.¡± ¡°Why do you seem so excited?¡± ¡°No, they all say they want to work with you.¡± ¡°Really?¡± The other person told Woojoo the situation of theposing world. ¡°They ask me to introduce you to them every time I meet them, and they ask me if they can have your email address. They look at me like I¡¯m a lucky guy because I did some arrangement for this album¡­¡± ¡°Wasn¡¯t it?¡± ¡°Uh¡­?¡± ¡°Did you not like working with me¡­¡± ¡°No, no, no! Who said that! I love working with you the most!¡± ¡°Really? Then let¡¯s go do it now.¡± ¡°¡­¡± ¡°We have to prepare for the fourth album too.¡± It might be too early to say, but if they didn¡¯t start preparing now, they wouldn¡¯t have enough time. They nned toe back with a repackaged album after the solo concert. There was no way to make another mini album in such a short time. They said that the ¡®rising¡¯ period when anything they did got a hot response was the busiest, and it was true. They didn¡¯t miss anything. They went to a cooking show and pped hard, they went to a radio show and told stories about History Discovery Team behind the scenes and Jiho¡¯s 69 points. They did some interviews with reporters in between the music shows. ¡°¡­Are you guys okay?¡± The reporter from Entertainment IN, Ms. Oh Sohee, looked shocked to see them with dark circles under our eyes. ¡°We¡¯re fine¡­¡± ¡°We can handle it¨J¡­yeah.¡± ¡°Haha. Rihyuk Hyung is out of tune¡­¡± ¡°Hey. How can the main vocal be out of tune¨K¡± ¡°Woojoo Hyung¡­¡± ¡°Ah, ah¡­¡± They were fine until the third and fourth week, but by the time they started their follow-up song activities, they were all losing their edge. Their Souffl¨¦s were shouting ¡®Kyuho¡¯s conscience = root¡¯ at their President, but it was a bit of a gray area. They had some schedules that they agreed to do even though thepany tried to stop them. Usually, rising meant the process of an idol bing aplete trend. A time when everything got a reaction. That was why most idols grabbed all the schedules that came their way when they reached this point. The entertainment industry was a reallypetitive ce, and there was no guarantee that the next album would do as well as this one. ¡°¡­Guys. Wake up. We¡¯re here.¡± Dowon Hyung gently woke them up. The noisy sound from outside the car window. This was the festival site of a university in Sinchon. May was the month of festivals, so there were a lot of events. ¡°I didn¡¯t know there were so many events in our country.¡± ¡°Me neither.¡± ¡°Ahh, Hyungs. Let¡¯s have tteokbokki after we finish today. Tteokbokki.¡± ¡°Yeah. Let¡¯s do that.¡± Woojoo asked with a smile, ¡°Should we eat six servings or nine servings?¡± ¡°How about 69 servings? Hahahat!¡± ¡°¡­¡± ¡°Jiho. Jiho. Look at this.¡± Woojoo raised his arms and bent them to make a big heart, and Jiho looked at Woojoo with curiosity. Then he lifted his arms over his head to make a 6, and Junghyun crossed his legs to make a 9, and Jiho shivered. Bijoo joined in, finding it fun. ¡°Hey. Junghyun. Let¡¯s do it together.¡± ¡°You¡¯re too short to do it.¡± ¡°¡­¡± Woojoo walked around the event hall, listening to the sound of someone being pinched in the ribs and groaning. They were the highlight of the event. -Wow! They appeared in the cheers and finished the stage of ¡®Windflower¡¯. Junghyun skillfully shouted the name of the university and handed the microphone, and the cheers came back as a response. Then it was Woojoo¡¯s turn. ¡°Two, three¡­!¡± ¡°Hello! We are New ck!¡± Now they were used to people saying ¡®wow¡¯ to them and calmly smiled. They say people who had eaten meat ate well, and since they had been training since Something, the eventments flowed smoothly. ¡°This was one of the events we really wanted toe to. We heard from our senior idols that there¡¯s no ce that reacts as well as this one. But the heat is¡­ it¡¯s different when you experience it yourself.¡± The cheers came back as an answer. Woojoo saw the expressions of his younger brothers flickering next to him, and he could see them teasing him after the event, saying ¡®the heat is different when you experience it yourself~¡¯. Woojoo exchanged jokes with his brothers and lifted the mood. ¡°It¡¯s hot today. Already.¡± ¡°We need a cool song for this, right?¡± They promoted ¡®Fireworks¡¯ from time to time, and as with every event, they wrapped it up with ¡®Deoksoon-ah¡¯. It wasn¡¯t smooth as an outdoor event with many variables, but. -Kyaa¡­ Ah? Click. The MR stopped in the middle of thest stage. When this happened in the beginning of their debut, they were so nervous that they thought their heart would burst. But Bijoo smiled and continued singing, and the audience cheered. They held the microphone and added their voices so that the sound wouldn¡¯t be empty, and Junghyun stepped up. He pped his hands over his head and encouraged the apuse, and Jiho walked over and took over Bijoo¡¯s part. ¡°Come on, everyone!¡± And Woojoo smiled and handed the microphone. The audience joined in the chorus of the song, and the sound that was empty was filled with apuse and singing. The five of them worked together like that, and the event atmosphere came back to life surprisingly quickly. For 10 seconds. They danced joyfully while the sound returned to normal, boosting the mood of the event. That day, their reaction to the sound ident was uploaded as a fancam on YouTube. As they prepared for the follow-up song ¡®Flower Dance¡¯, things Woojoo didn¡¯t want started to approach one by one. -¡®New ck¡¯s Woojoo confirmed to appear on ¡®Men Go¡¯¡­ ¡°The rest of the members are undecided¡± -¡®Reserve Idol¡¯ New ck¡¯s leader Woojoo, joins ¡®Men Go¡¯ The recording date was not set yet, but as soon as Woojoo¡¯s appearance was confirmed, PD Do Joongi quickly released an article. ¡°¡­Hyung, are you okay? Are you crying?¡± ¡°No. Something got in my eye¡­¡± It was just a 2-night 3-day trip, but why did he feel like he was re-enlisting. They wouldn¡¯t make him do guerri training or anything like that, right? Woojoo wished their music show promotions would never end. It was like the feeling he had when the trainee before him was dancing at the monthly evaluation. Their Souffl¨¦s had a simr reaction. -Why are you going?????? -Doesn¡¯t Kyuho have a brain? What if they get hurt? -Didn¡¯t Sagan get injuredst time? -Yeah¡­ He didn¡¯t get injured¡­ That show is weirdly hard but no one gets injured¡­ -Ah -No, that¡¯s not the point, Woojoo??????? Their Souffl¨¦s didn¡¯t know. They teased Woojoo until recently, saying ¡®Are you going to Men Go~?¡¯, but when he actually said he was going, they worried about him getting hurt. He still couldn¡¯t fully understand the fans¡¯ hearts. Meanwhile, as the first part of Shintoki¡¯s broadcast approached, Woojoo was more than worried. He worked hard on his image management, so the public would remember him as a diligent and cool idol. Wouldn¡¯t they suddenly look at him like a weirdo? ¡°You¡¯re already weird.¡± ¡°Junghyun.¡± ¡°Hyung will drag you away.¡± He shouted ¡®Nooo!¡¯ as Woojoo drew a picture on the A4 paper. Thepany lounge. Late at night, after finishing their schedule and practice. They each had a drink and doodled the design of their light stick. ¡°Woojoo Hyung. Woojoo Hyung.¡± Bijoo smiled and showed Woojoo the A4 paper. He asked with an excited face, ¡°How is it? The star shape is pretty, right?¡± ¡°Bijoo.¡± ¡°Do you like it? Hyung?¡± ¡°If you swing that around, the person in front of you will lose their head.¡± ¡°Ah¡­¡± It was better than the apple shape he drew earlier. Except for the fact that it was very shiny and pretty, the star stick that Bijoo drew looked like a mace from a historical drama. ¡°Jiho.¡± ¡°Yes?¡± ¡°Don¡¯t you want to eat tteokbokki?¡± ¡°Wow. How did you know?¡± ¡°¡­That¡¯s because you drew tteokbokki?¡± Anyone could tell it was a tteokbokki stick. If it had some red color, it would look like a glow-in-the-dark tteokbokki. Junghyun asked, ¡°Is it rice cake or wheat cake?¡± ¡°Rice cake.¡± ¡°Oh. I see.¡± ¡­He said ¡®I see¡¯ like that. Woojoo always thought this, but if he left New ck to these guys, this group would be doomed. At least the design that Rihyuk drew was decent. ¡°Isn¡¯t the spec too excessive?¡± ¡°Excessive?¡± ¡°To put in the features you want, you need at least one nuclear reactor inside.¡± ¡°¡­Oh.¡± As theymented on each other¡¯s designs, Jiho pouted and said, ¡°Then how well did you make it, Hyung? Let me see.¡± ¡°Here.¡± As Woojoo handed it to Jiho, the other guys leaned in. Woojoo asked with an expectant face, ¡°How is it¡­?¡± ¡°¡­¡± ¡°¡­¡± Why was there no answer? Bijoo pointed at the center of his light stick design. ¡°Hyung, what is this in the middle of the petals?¡± ¡°It¡¯s a Souffl¨¦. A bread.¡± Pause. Rihyuk asked Woojoo, ¡°So, right now, the center part of the light stick is a Souffl¨¦, and the outside is surrounded by five petals, right?¡± ¡°That¡¯s right.¡± ¡°What are the letters on the five petals?¡± ¡°They are color instructions. Red, yellow, green, blue, purple.¡± ¡°¡­¡± Woojoo exined eagerly. ¡°Look. There is a Souffl¨¦ in the middle, and we five members are the petals that protect it.¡± ¡°¡­Five petals of different colors?¡± ¡°Yeah. And if you press the ¡®Air¡¯ button, the petals will spin like a fan.¡± ¡°¡­¡± ¡°When it¡¯s hot in the summer, you can press the button and the petals will blow a cool breeze. You can also detach and rece them.¡± The more Woojoo talked, the more the expressions of his brothers disappeared. Jiho looked like he had lost his appetite that he had just a moment ago. Rihyuk was swallowing his saliva while brushing his hair back, and Bijoo was frozen in a state of ¡°Uh¡­¡±. Junghyun made a face that said ¡°This is too much for me¡±. ¡°Why are you like that? Is it that bad?¡± ¡°Is it that bad?¡± Rihyuk gave a hollowugh, and Jiho grabbed Woojoo¡¯s arm and pleaded earnestly. ¡°Hyung.¡± ¡°Yeah?¡± ¡°Hyung, just make songs¡­¡± Everyone nodded seriously. No. Was it that bad? Woojoo asked several times, but every time he got the same reaction. Lemon Entertainment. In the conference room where the staff gathered, dozens of light stick designs sent by the members of New ck were disyed. ¡°Wow.¡± As they passed by one by one, some said ¡°Wow¡± and some said ¡°Uh¡­¡±. They marveled at how human imagination could be expressed in such a way. Then, Woojoo¡¯s design appeared. ¡°¡­¡± They felt a chill in their guts at the five-colored petals fan painted in different colors. ¡°¡­Who is this?¡± ¡°Is it a spy sent by a rivalpany?¡± ¡°It says Woojoo¡­ here.¡± ¡°¡­¡± Yoon Seokhwan, the manager, looked at the ceiling silently, and the PR Team staff were shocked by the friendly exnation that said ¡°It spins when you press it¡±. For a while, there was silence. ¡°Let¡¯s scrap it. Scrap it.¡± ¡°If the President sees that, he¡¯ll pick it right away.¡± ¡°Whew, that was close¡­¡± They unanimously decided to put it away. The petal fan design that was pushed aside. Meanwhile, the staff felt a familiar scent from the picture drawn by the leader of New ck. ¡®President¡­?¡¯ They wondered if the President had secretly slipped it in. Chapter 255: Chapter 255: Trantor: MarcTempest Editor: Rxel Chapter 255 At the end of spring As a result, all of their lightstick designs were rejected in the internal review. ¡°¡­Really?¡± ¡°Yeah.¡± They made sad faces at the news delivered by the promotion team manager. Woojoo muttered gloomily, ¡°Why did this happen¡­¡±¡°That¡¯s what we should be asking. Not the ones who submitted the flower fans.¡± Rihyuk clicked his tongue. The cheeky thing. Woojoo waved his hand to shoo him away, but Junghyun took care of the troublemaker for him. Bijoo asked, ¡°So are our ideas all scrapped¡­¡± ¡°No, no, that¡¯s not it.¡± The promotion team manager hurriedly waved his hand, as if he was flustered by their sullen looks. ¡°It¡¯s not like we¡¯re going to pretend that all the ideas you submitted never existed, we¡¯re going to take some parts from each one. Like one from Bijoo¡¯s idea, one from Rihyuk¡¯s idea, and so on.¡± ¡°What about me, Manager?¡± ¡°What about me?¡± ¡°Of course, we¡¯ll also reflect Junghyun and Jiho¡¯s ideas.¡± He smiled and their eyes met. Hmm. ¡­Hmm? He swallowed and Woojoo asked him, ¡°What¡¯s wrong?¡± ¡°Ah, no¡­ nothing.¡± ¡°Is my idea also reflected?¡± ¡°Uh, let me see. First, we¡¯ll collect all the lightstick designs¡­¡± He quickly changed the subject and Woojoo narrowed his eyes. Was the flower fan that bad? Woojoo even changed the color of the second draft after his siblings criticized that the color was too colorful. The petals were ck like New ck, and the center was brown like Souffl¨¦. He changed it like this, but everyone was shocked instead of admiring it. -It looks like a sunflower that got exposed to radiation. -Oh. A flower that came back from hell. -There¡¯s a monster that looks like that in a game. It appears a lot in the low-level hunting grounds. They were all mean. Woojoo looked at his siblings and then turned his head to the staff. ¡°Did you not like the flower fan¡­?¡± ¡°Uh, well¡­ the design is¡­ depending on the perspective, it could be very pretty¡­ pretty.¡± ¡°Thank you, Manager. But my feelings are already hurt.¡± ¡°Haha.¡± Woojoo pretended to be sullen and he chuckled. The atmosphere lightened up a bit. It was a shame, but there was nothing he could do. It would be worse if they released a weird design and got a name like ck History Stick. Their fans would have to hide it deep in their bags when they came to their concerts and carefully take it out right before the stage. It would be better to have a pretty one than to have other fans sneer at them and say, ¡®Ew, they¡¯re New ck fans.¡¯ ¡°So what¡¯s going to happen to our lightstick?¡± ¡°We decided to use an external designer. He¡¯ll collect the lightstick ideas you submitted and make them well.¡± ¡°Oh¡­¡± ¡°Expect him toe up with something nice.¡± ¡°Thank you.¡± They bowed their heads and the promotion team manager said, ¡°By the way, we got a big budget, so we¡¯re going to produce a lot of lightsticks. The specs will be high-end as Rihyuk requested.¡± ¡°Huh¡­¡± Rihyuk, who had opened his eyes wide for a moment, coughed and pretended to be calm. Of course, he didn¡¯t look calm at all with his fists clenched. ¡°Then, does it have sr power?¡± ¡°That¡¯s out.¡± ¡°What about a hand-cranked generator? So we can use it in emergencies.¡± ¡°Uh¡­ that too.¡± ¡°Ah, okay¡­¡± Woojoo held back hisughter as Rihyuk sulked. He imagined the scene in his head. Thebor scene where the Souffl¨¦s would diligently turn the handle to turn on the lightstick whenever there was a concert. The sound of the mechanical handle ¡®whirring¡¯ along with the staff of the broadcasting station gaping in astonishment. Woojooughed and said, ¡°Rihyuk. Why are you using a light stick in an emergency situation? A flower fan would be better.¡± ¡°¡­¡± ¡°Doesn¡¯t anyone agree with me?¡± ¡°¡­¡± They all shook their heads in unison. While Woojoo was thinking about who to take to the army, the manager said with a smile, ¡°Anyway, we¡¯ll pick them well, so look forward to it.¡± ¡°Thank you!¡± ¡°Sure. Then, good luck.¡± The other person smiled and turned away. They were about to walk back to thepany hallway, when the manager stopped and asked, ¡°By the way, Woojoo.¡± ¡°Yes?¡± ¡°Did you do well in art sses when you were in school?¡± ¡°Uh, no¡­?¡± Woojoo recalled his past memories. ¡°I was alwaysst.¡± ¡°I see.¡± ¡°I was only good at music among the arts¡­¡± When he was in elementary school, he always got ¡®F¡¯ in art and physical education, and his grandmotherughed when she saw it. ¡°Why did you ask?¡± ¡°No reason. I was just curious.¡± The other person finally made a bright expression as if the mystery was solved, and turned around and walked away. Why did he ask him that? Woojoo¡¯s siblings also made a ¡®ah¡¯ expression as if they finally understood the secret. They looked very convinced. When he was about to ask them what it meant, the four of them stopped and turned their heads. Jiho looked puzzled. ¡°Hyung, you were bad at physical education?¡± ¡°I can¡¯t believe it.¡± Rihyuk also narrowed his eyes and Junghyun tilted his head. Bijoo also asked with a doubtful look, ¡°Hyung¡­ physical education? Was it not a joke, but you really couldn¡¯t do it?¡± ¡°Yes.¡± ¡°Then, did your physical education teacher hate you or something¡­¡± ¡°No. He liked me. It¡¯s not that.¡± Woojoo smiled. ¡°I just wasn¡¯t good at it back then.¡± Those guys couldn¡¯t even imagine. He never missed a spot when he yed ser. He tried hard to join the kids, but how could it go well? When he came back from ying ser, his grandmother would say ¡®Did you y dodgeball today?¡¯ and nod her head. Woojoo still remembered vividly when he tried to practice shooting by himself, and he kicked his left leg with his right leg. Compared to those days, he was now at a level of heaven and earth. He was thinking about the past, and the eyes looking at him were incredulous. ¡°What¡¯s wrong?¡± ¡°Hyung, I can¡¯t believe you were bad at physical education.¡± ¡°Why.¡± Woojoo asked with a smile, ¡°Is it very different from my usual image?¡± ¡°Yes.¡± They all nodded. Well. Woojoo did well in the Olympics. He was now called a good athlete. He looked at his siblings with a fluttering feeling. ¡°What was my usual image like?¡± ¡°Hyung?¡± Jiho smiled brightly. ¡°You¡¯re like the final boss in a game.¡± ¡°¡­¡± ¡°The one who wears weird clothes but is very strong¡­ Aaah!¡± ¡°¡­¡± The youngest who was grabbed by Woojoo screamed ¡®Aaah, it¡¯s a floral monster!¡¯ and his siblings burst intoughter. The filming site of GTV drama ¡®Slip¡¯. ¡°Okay, rehearsal starts. Ready¡­ Rehearsal cue!¡± A quiet street. Following the director¡¯s sign, Jiho, dressed in a police uniform, walked calmly. Next to him was an actor who yed his junior role, whom he had worked with before. Across from him was actor Lee Kangjin, who had just said to them, ¡°New ck! You shine today!¡± He was now ying detective Park Cheoljin. ¡°Wow¡­¡± They were watching from a distance. They couldn¡¯t hear what they were saying, but it seemed serious. Today, they were reshooting some of Jiho¡¯s cameo scenes for the 10th episode of Slip. Rihyuk asked, flipping through the script, ¡°So, this is the changed present, right?¡± ¡°That¡¯s right.¡± The script with Jiho¡¯s scribbled notes. It was the sequence where Officer Heo reappeared in the final episode of Slip. The protagonist, Lee Kangjin, after the shocking twist in episode 7, searched for a way to change the given future. He lived for several years in the future after the apocalypse, and found the first tunnel that connected to the 1980s. That was the story. Somehow, he seeded in going back to the past, but only had one chance to stop everything. In the process, he realized that the notes that helped him in his investigation were written by his past self. He realized that he was in a kind of loop. He couldn¡¯t afford to make any mistakes. He struggled between saving the people he loved in the past and the path for everyone, and eventually chose thetter. He just watched as the people he cared about died. The protagonist, who had be an old man after time passed from the 1980s. That was the story of him going to see Officer Heo, who was hisst burden. Officer Heo¡¯s point of view after meeting Lee Kangjin in the 2010s. Lee Kangjin, who had special makeup on, approached Jiho, and Jiho kindly responded to the old man¡¯s conversation. The point was the old Park Cheoljin¡¯s regretful face looking at Officer Heo, and Officer Heo¡¯s bright smile without knowing the situation. ¡°Isn¡¯t there a bit of a time paradox here? They said they couldn¡¯t go back to the past in the previous episodes, but now they¡¯re in the same time¡­¡± Rihyuk¡¯s words cut off the emotion. ¡°Rihyuk, eat an apple. An apple.¡± ¡°Uh-huh.¡± Woojoo gave him a grateful look for taking care of him. Junghyun said regretfully, ¡°But Officer Heo still can¡¯t live, right?¡± ¡°That¡¯s right. It¡¯s really unfortunate¡­¡± ¡­as Woojoo was saying. ¡°Hyuuuung¡­!¡± Jiho, who had finished rehearsing, ran towards them with a ¡®woah¡¯. ¡­Give me back my Officer Heo. Officer Heo, who looked mature until a moment ago, was now back to being their youngest. ¡°Ugh, look at the sweat. I thought I was going to die of heat!¡± New ck and the managers cooled him down with fans and mini fans. He was full of sweat inside because he was wearing a thick jacket. It was chilly when he first shot Officer Heo¡¯s scene, but now it was the end of spring. The weather at the end of May, when summer was approaching. Heughed with steaming out of him, ¡°Do you know? I gotplimented again today. The director and Lee Kangjin Sunbae-nim said I was a born actor. They said I should definitelye back for season 2.¡± ¡°Season 2 ising out?¡± ¡°Yeah. Ie back to life.¡± ¡°Come back to life?¡± ¡°There¡¯s a scene where I go ¡®ugh!¡¯ ande back to life at the end. They said they¡¯re going to put something in the jacket pocket that the grandfather gave me. Something like that. I already have a scene that I filmed.¡± It was a scene that he had originally filmed assuming that Officer Heo woulde back to life, but it was deleted because Jiho said ¡®please kill me¡¯. ¡°You know, there¡¯s always a scene that hints at season 2.¡± ¡°Oh.¡± ¡°Ites out after the scene where Lee Kangjin Sunbae-nim¡¯s old version and Seo Noeul Sunbae-nim reunite at a tea house.¡± Woojoo didn¡¯t know that. Season 2, huh¡­ A thought shed through his mind, and the same words came out of Jiho¡¯s mouth. ¡°But judging by the fact that they put in this scene, the chances of season 2ing out are slim.¡± ¡°Why?¡± ¡°I¡¯m not even confirmed to appear, but they¡¯re putting in a cliffhanger like this.¡± Woojoo smiled silently. Sharp. It seemed like they only wanted to give the viewers a sense of anticipation for season 2 by saying ¡®what, what¡¯ at the end. In reality, the chances of season 2 being made were probably low. Woojoo said, ¡°But you never know. Season 2 mighte out in a few years.¡± ¡°It would be nice if I could still be in it then.¡± Jiho cheered and smiled, saying ¡®yay!¡¯. He looked twice as excited as usual, maybe because they were at the drama set. He made Woojoo happy just by looking at him. He was so hyper that he had to be calmed down by the makeup artist every time he got his makeup fixed. But was acting that fun? Woojoo thought of the time when they filmed the magic school CF. Woojoo heard that he did well, but he didn¡¯t feel that acting was that enjoyable. Maybe it was because he was too nervous since it was only two months after their debut. Junghyun helped Jiho with his lines and acted with him before the main shoot. ¡°¡­It does look fun.¡± Woojoo felt like he wanted to try it once. ¡°I¡¯ll get ready for the shoot!¡± ¡°Oh, I¡¯ll go! Hyungs!¡± Officer Heo¡¯s and his own tone of voice mixed together. Jiho zipped up his jumper and walked away. His steps changed from trotting to walking calmly. His posture changed slightly too. Woojoo admired the youngest who had sessfully transformed himself before the main shoot. ¡°Okay, let¡¯s go. One, two, three¡­! Officer Heo walks in!¡± The director¡¯s cheerful shout matched the actors¡¯ performance. As Woojoo watched their colorful and delicate facial expressions closely, the cameo shoot ended sessfully. ¡°Good job, everyone!¡± They greeted the busy staff. They were done, but the production team seemed to have a tight schedule and had to move on to the next scene right away. The Director, who hade out to see them off, tapped Woojoo¡¯s shoulder. ¡°You worked hard too, ourposer.¡± ¡°No, not at all.¡± ¡°If it wasn¡¯t for your song yesterday, that scene wouldn¡¯t have been possible. You did a great job.¡± The Director held Woojoo¡¯s arm with a pleased face. ¡°Next time, I don¡¯t know where you¡¯ll be doing the OST, but you have to work with me. Got it?¡± ¡°Yes, I will.¡± ¡°Don¡¯t smile. I¡¯m serious.¡± Woojoo answered with a light smile, but he kept insisting that he was serious. ¡°The song was so good. I mostly shoot genre films, so that might be why, but this is the first time I¡¯ve heard such a good song among OSTs.¡± He kept saying ¡®you¡¯re mine, you¡¯re mine¡¯ for almost five minutes, so Woojoo finally smiled and said, ¡°Yes, I understand.¡± Woojoo was about to leave after finishing the conversation, but the Director said ¡®ah¡¯ as if he remembered his original purpose, ¡°By the way, do you have any interest in acting, Woojoo?¡± ¡°Me?¡± ¡°Every time I praised you, Jiho said ¡®Woojoo Hyung is better than me¡¯ andplimented you a lot. He said you¡¯re good at acting.¡± Woojoo heard that he did the best among the extras. ¡°No, not really. Jiho exaggerated. That much is¡­¡± ¡°Do you have any thoughts of doing it if you get a chance? I think it¡¯s a waste to hide such a good face¡­¡± ¡°Um¡­¡± Woojoo thought of various things in his head. He didn¡¯t have any serious ns to do it, but he wanted to try it once if he ever got a chance. That was, assuming that their group would be more established than now. It was the same opinion as Jiho had said before. But saying ¡®I have no interest¡¯ here would be a bit funny. Woojoo answered with a smile for now. ¡°Yes, if I get a chance.¡± ¡°Hmm, okay. I got it.¡± He said that and then asked Woojoo to confirm, ¡°Jiho said you¡¯re good at using your body?¡± ¡°¡­¡± ¡°He said it would be really good if I asked you to do some physical acting.¡± Woojoo started to feel uneasy. The long-awaited May 21st. They started their follow-up activities with ¡®Flower Dance¡¯. If Windflower was a song that focused on vocals, Flower Dance was a song that focused on dance, as the title suggested. ¡°3rd album is vocal-centered, they said¡­ 3rd album is vocal¡­¡± That was what Rihyuk muttered with a nk face every time he came back to the dressing room. The choreography was that hard. If the song Windflower had gentle petals, then the song Flower Dance was more like fierce! petals! The melody was also much stronger than Windflower. It was a song that could be seen as an extension of Masquerade in many ways. Of course, the public¡¯s response was exploding with Windflower, but the Souffl¨¦s seemed to prefer Flower Dance more. -Windflower is good, but I like Flower Dance more????? -Bijoo is amazingggggg -Bijoo center is crazy?? -Crazy crazy he caught that thing at the bridge -Neck¡­? -Heart, heart -Why does Junghyun look better with neck? -I like intense songs¡­ intense songs¡­ -I heard that Masquerade was very popr at the overseas cover dance contest this year; I think this will be very popr next year During the break time, Woojoo browsed themunity where the fans gathered and checked the reaction of ¡®Flower Dance¡¯. Woojoo already expected it after seeing the response of the Souffl¨¦s on stage, but they really liked it. Especially the chorus. The choreography where the Bijoo, who was in the center, exploded his body powerfully received explosive reviews. Woojoo probably saw hundreds of gifs on the fan cafe. Some of them he even saved while watching them in awe. Every time he saw them, he felt like saying ¡®Our kid is this good!¡¯ and bragging to his friends. Of course, if he really bragged to his friends, he would be treated as a weird person, so they decided to unify their profile pictures with Bijoo¡¯s stage photos. And. That was how four Bijoo profile pictures gathered in the ¡®Bijoo-less Visual Room¡¯. ¡¾Notice¡¿Birthday meeting Woojoo [Hey, what are we doing this time?] Junghyun [What are we doing?] Woojoo [¡­] Woojoo [Junghyun¡­] Woojoo [Look at the notice. Notice. Bijoo¡¯s birthday] Junghyun [Oh] Junghyun [It¡¯s been a year already?] Woojoo [Yeah. Amazing, right?] May 25th. They were having a serious meeting ahead of Bijoo¡¯s birthday, which wasing back next Monday. Jiho [Let¡¯s do a hidden camera!!] Woojoo [Good] Woojoo [Do you have a n?] Jiho [Rihyuk Hyung will tell us] Jiho [Rihyuk Hyung?] Jiho [He¡¯s not here] Jiho [I have to use a summoning spell] Jiho [ (Breaking News) US NASA,unches Jupiter probe ¡®Piraruku¡¯ ¡­ as early as next month ] The 1 that was floating in front of the message disappeared like a ghost. Their main vocal, who ran over with excitement, spat out curses for a while as theyughed. Woojoo should use that too. That. Then, Bijoo, who was sitting next to him, stuck his head out. ¡°What¡¯s so funny?¡± ¡°Nothing. There was something funny on the inte.¡± ¡°Show meter if it¡¯s funny. Hyung.¡± While the person in question was smiling brightly without knowing anything, they continued the meeting on the talk about what to do on his birthday. Whatever they did, he liked it, and the one who said they should do this without a n, and the one who wrote dozens of ns in long texts, they decided on a rough n while mediating between them. The gift was already prepared. Meanwhile, as they were having a serious meeting, the moment they didn¡¯t want to happen was approaching. The first part of Shintoki. As they sat in the living room and tapped their phones, the logo on the TV disappeared. The eyes of the younger ones sparkled on the dark screen. They looked like they were expecting something, so Woojoo sighed. ¡°Guys. Don¡¯t expect too much. Five of us came out, and it¡¯s not realistic that my part is that much¡­¡± At that moment, with a caption that said ¡®There has never been an idol like this!¡¯, the narration flowed. [There has never been an idol like this! The rising trend of ck history idols!] Woojoo¡¯s face shed on the screen. The name ¡®New ck Woojoo¡¯ was stamped like a seal. ¡°¡­¡± Woojoo¡¯s siblings blinked and looked at him. On TV, scenes of Woojoo closing his eyes in agony or brushing his hair back in horror yed. Voices distorted by sound effects. -It¡¯s Sergeant-niiim! -I¡¯m your elementary school ssmate. Haha! The narration was as crazy as the show¡¯s theme of madness. [The first-ever reserve idol¡¯s weakness revealed!] A scene of Woojoo jumping up followed. [Who is the mysterious person who came to the set?!] The face of the PD of Men Go was covered by a smiley emoticon, while Hanjo and Woojoo looked terrified. There were other idol guests in today¡¯s preview, but half of them were Woojoo. ¡°¡­¡± As Woojoo stared nkly, Rihyuk spoke with a satisfied expression. ¡°As expected. I knew this would happen.¡± Chapter 256: Chapter 256: Trantor: MarcTempest Editor: Rxel Chapter 256 Five minutes before the broadcast. As expected of a popr variety show on Thursday, the inte was aze with heated discussions. -Oh, today¡¯s guests are idols? -Idols are boring. I remember thest time they had an idol special, it was a disaster. -I feel like idols always ruin the vibe somehow. ¨C?, well, that¡¯s obvious. You only remember the cases where you liked the idols, but there were many cases where you didn¡¯t.-Why idols again? Are the ratings droppingtely? The atmosphere was generally low on expectations. And it was understandable. Thest idol special was a legendary flop, filled with the MCs¡¯ blunders and the guests¡¯ stiff reactions. After the broadcast, there were a series of critical articles asking, ¡®What¡¯s wrong with Shintoki these days?¡¯ The loyal viewers were not happy with that. -Who are the guests today? -It¡¯s an idol leader special. -Here¡¯s the list. ¡°On this day, Shintoki (nickname) will feature TNT¡¯s Seonwoong, Teen Spirit¡¯s Hwiyeon, Wild¡¯s Woosan, Street Boys¡¯ Hanjo, New ck¡¯s Woojoo, and more.¡± -Oh, that¡¯s a pretty major lineup, isn¡¯t it? -I think I¡¯ve heard of all those group names. Even the Shintoki viewers who were not interested in idols recognized the lineup. TNT and Teen Spirit were names that anyone with a school-age acquaintance would know. Wild was also known as a sporty idol who often appeared on athletic variety shows. New ck was¡­ -New ck??. Aren¡¯t they the funny ones? -Somehow I feel happy?. I just watched something on YouTube. -Is the one who cosyed as Cheok Jungyeonging today? He was the funniest. -He¡¯s not the leader. -He¡¯s Junghyun and this is Woojoo. Wait¡­ how do I know the names of male idols¡­? -I sang along to their song Deoksoon-ah at the karaoke yesterday. Nice to see them??. When the viewers who initially reacted negatively to the idol keyword showed interest in the word ¡®New ck¡¯. The broadcast finally began. Meanwhile, a hrious preview that seemed to have overdosed on drugs flowed out, sweeping away the negative predictions. ¨C????. Today¡¯s gonna be epic. ¨C???????? -There¡¯s never been a time when the preview was this good and the show was boring????. The opening of Shintoki started with the MCs¡¯ments. The guests appeared and introduced themselves, and the MCs added theirments. New ck¡¯s Woojoo appeared with a bright smile. -He¡¯s so handsome¡­ -He must have spent a lot of money on customizing his face. -I¡¯m so annoyed that my face keeps reflecting on the monitor. -Look at the writers¡¯ reactions. The camera showed the writers pping and cheering for themselves behind the scenes, and Woojoo¡¯s smiling face. [Hello, I¡¯m New ck¡¯s Woojoo.] After a nd introduction, the MCs¡¯ments were added. At the same time, the flower CG in the bright background started to wither one by one, revealing the twist. Scenes of his past mistakes flowed for almost a minute. Like the opening of a movie where the world news scenes flow, his ck history was shown one after another. The problem of hisment on the fan club name being Souffl¨¦. Thement he made when he won first ce, saying ¡®Oh, really?¡¯ The scene where he thought he was drunk on a non-alcoholic drink on a music variety show. The idol variety show where he shouted ¡®Deoksoon is mine¡¯ to a cat. And finally, the legendary Woo Jenmin that appeared on Taiwanese news. A calligraphic caption appeared under Woojoo¡¯s face, like a human documentary. ¡¸Seon Woojoo (23 years old, ck history master)¡¹ While the guests opened their mouths in shock and the person in question looked at the ceiling, the viewers burst intoughter. -You passed. ¨C????. Passed. -An idol born for Shintoki?????? -This ce is a ck history paradise. -Ordered one serving, got five servings. -What are the PDs doing? Go and get him some more cushions. -They had to bring him???? -The funniest thing is that all this happened in less than a year?????. The Shintoki viewers apuded and admired his achievements in just one year of his debut. Next, a simple talk corner with a lie detector. While the male-dominatedmunity of Shintoki had a lukewarm response, the idolmunity was hot. -Hwiyeon is so cute???? -Sigh¡­ He¡¯s the treasure and truth of the world. That smile is everything. -Hwiyeon probably never swore in his life, right?? -Woosan looks like the sports club guy that everyone had a crush on in school. -Seonwoong drinking water is like a bear. The fans of each group were happy andmented whenever their idols¡¯ faces appeared on the screen. In between, there were posts like ¡®Did New ck exin their maniption?¡¯, ¡®The rigged idols are cosying as popr ones¡¯, but they were pushed away by the tearful efforts of the Souffl¨¦ fans who posted things like ¡®My love, you¡¯re the universe¡¯, ¡®Gyuho brushing his hair.jpg¡¯. In this atmosphere where everyone wasughing and enjoying their idols¡¯ weaknesses being revealed. A scene that caught the attention of the idol fans began to appear. [Let me try to guess.] It was a scene where New ck¡¯s Woojoo guessed the voices of the Street Boys and TNT members. A shoddy Sherlock Holmes costume was superimposed on Woojoo and the background music of a detective movie yed. -How can he guess that?? -I listen to my kids¡¯ voices more than my own blood, but;; -They distorted the voices so annoyingly, how can he tell?? -Even the same group members are puzzled right now? Everyone was making negative predictions, but Woojoo started to guess the voices of each group member urately. Not only that, but he also exined the characteristics of each voice. [Try it with the viewers!] The production team alsoid out a board and challenged them to try it with a caption. But there were few people who got the answer right.
    • I have no idea
    • I¡¯m a concert king, but I only know one or two of our Stbo kids¡¯ voices
    • I¡¯m a Together¡­ I thought it was Taehyun, but it was Jihun f***
    • All wrong????
    • If you listen, that voice sounds like that voice¡­
    • Let¡¯s reflect on ourselves
    • ??????
    • How does he¡­ no, how does he guess?
    • What is this
    • Is he beating the fans in guessing his own group members¡¯ voices right now? ????????
The reaction was quiet when it was Street Boys, but the board started to boil when TNT appeared. The fans who had dered themselves as the real fans of the scene also failed to guess them all. The more they failed, the more mystery piled up. ¡®How does he know?¡¯ TNT¡¯s fans had already reyed the video that spread on SNS, but they just shook their heads every time. They guessed the voices of some members who were easy to distinguish, but as soon as the difficulty level went up a bit, they got it wrong. They thought it was this member, but it was that member. They thought it was that member, but it was this member. Some members had their voices distorted so much that they said ¡®I have no idea¡¯ when they heard them. After trying 10 times, they finally grasped the clue and said ¡®Ah¡­¡¯. TNT and Street Boys¡¯ fans looked at the screen with nk faces. Every time Woojoo, who was sitting on the TV, smiled faintly, it seemed like he was saying ¡®You can¡¯t do this, can you?¡¯ ¡®Wow¡­¡¯ The eyes of the fans who had not paid attention to the other idols on the screen began to move. Meanwhile, there was another reason why TNT¡¯s fans were amazed. [We¡¯re close!] It was because TNT¡¯s younger line mentioned that they were close to New ck¡¯s Woojoo first. Unlike the older line, who was known for having a widework and being called a yardstick, the younger line was famous for being shy. They had an interview answer that said it took a long time to get close to someone, but once they did, they were informal. So it was surprising that they said ¡®Eek, don¡¯t do that, Sunbae-nim!¡¯ and said they were close first.
    • Our kids are not the ones who say they¡¯re close to someone
    • They must be really close? Amazing
    • I¡¯ve seen others say they¡¯re close to someone to get attention, but I¡¯ve never seen our kids say they¡¯re close to someone first??
    • Yeah, kind of likeable
    • If I was close to TNT, I would brag about it every time I went on a show
    • My mouth is itching
Along with thement that they hoped they would do well since they were trainees, the testimonies of TNT members were briefly edited and aired. [Don¡¯t act like you don¡¯t know us because we¡¯re rookies!] [Yeah!] [Please act friendly on the official seats! You¡¯re too formal!] While TNT members testified that Woojoo deliberately didn¡¯t talk about their friendship in case they would get hurt. Woojoo smiled awkwardly on the screen. The fans of TNT started to look at the members of New ck with softer eyes. ¨C??so that¡¯s why they were startled every time he called him Sunbae-nim in Legendary Song Discovery -Mystery solved -What¡¯s his name? Woojoo? -But if he¡¯s TJ¡¯s younger brother, he must have had a lot of fans. Why didn¡¯t I know his name? When stories about Woojoo started to circte on idolmunities and SNS, and a voice challenge game where people had to guess the members¡¯ voices was popr. Finally, Woojoo¡¯s elementary school ssmate appeared. The story of his prince syndrome in his elementary school days made everyoneugh on and off the screen. -He¡¯s so cute¡­ ¨C??I don¡¯t know much about idols, but I think I¡¯ll remember him -Wasn¡¯t he the one who blew up the board at the awards showst year? The nose-scrunch guy -Yeah, that¡¯s him ¨C????prince syndrome -Why do I rte to this ???? -But it¡¯s funny¡­ but kind of unlucky?? When his past activities and fan sign episodes came out, there wereughs but also some reactions like ¡®he¡¯s kind of unlucky¡­¡¯. [What did you look like when you were young that made you act like that?] One of the MCs asked, and the production team showed a prepared photo. [¡­Wow.] The MCs widened their eyes in surprise. The young Woojoo sitting in a flower bed and smiling brightly. He looked like a child actor¡¯s pictorial. His eyes were rounder and shinier than foreign child models. His skin was snow-white. His nose was sharp even when he was young. -This is like the children¡¯s hope edition -I was the despair edition The people watching on their phones tried to save the image without knowing, and the people who pressed the capture screen were sad to see the ck screenshot due to the prevention function. Variousmunities started to explode with posts. -I epted it in one second -Well¡­ with that level of looks, he had to have prince syndrome -That¡¯s why the kids pped for everything he did -Kids love handsome and pretty things -The ones who said he was unlucky,e out and apologize -Apologize -I¡­ wrote something without knowing. I¡¯m sorry¡­ -p! p! Novice crime! Novice crime¡­! ¨C????? -But he¡¯s really handsome, super handsome¡­ -He¡¯s not a millennium stone, he¡¯s a millennium baby -You¡¯re my wallpaper from today -If the agency has any sense, they¡¯ll release his baby photos In a short time, the young Woojoo¡¯s photo spread everywhere. And the production team of Shintoki, who was monitoring this reaction, blinked their eyes. ¡°PD-nim. The reaction ising from an unexpected ce.¡± ¡°¡­¡± ¡°They¡¯re only talking about the photo¡­¡± The reaction was exploding from a different ce than the parts they had spent over 10 hours editing. From onemunity to another. From Koreanmunity to K-popmunity. From K-popmunity to other foreign inte sites. A photo of an unknown child was spreading everywhere. Han Taehyun [Hey Korean baby] Han Taehyun [??Korean baby??] Woojoo [It¡¯s child] Woojoo [You¡¯re blocked for today] Han Taehyun [No, I] Woojoo pressed the block button and the messages stopped. How many times had he done this? Woojoo had probably blocked at least five people so far. ¡°Phew¡­¡± The part where Woojoo appeared on Shintoki yesterday was a huge topic. ¡°Woojoo, Woojoo. You¡¯re a hit!¡± As soon as he visited the promotion team, they greeted him with ¡®Oh, our fairy¡¯. They said Woojoo got a good response from the main viewers of Shintoki, the 2030 men and women. The men liked the expression of Woojoo and Hanjo being dragged by the PD of Men Go¡­ No. Why did they like that kind of thing? Every time he saw an article that said ¡®Woojoo, confirmed to star in Men Go¡¯, he felt like exploding with rage and tearing off his clothes. ¡°Do you want to see thements? They¡¯re positive.¡± ¡°I don¡¯t want to.¡± The situation of an idol who had to go to the army again afterpleting his reserve dutyst year. They said that the veterans were sympathetic, but to Woojoo, they all looked like they wereughing behind their hands. It was a relief that the part where Eunsung ruined everything was postponed to the second half of next week. But the point where the most heated reactions wereing from was really unexpected. ¡°The cutest child in the world¡­?¡± Why was his picture circting on some South American site? A photo titled ¡®New ck Woojoo¡¯s Childhood¡¯ that started from an overseas K-popmunity was spreading everywhere. ¡°Where is this?¡± ¡°Ennd.¡± ¡°And this?¡± ¡°It¡¯s a personal SNS, but they say it¡¯s South Africa?¡± Some foreign news sites also posted gossip articles asking ¡®Who is this child?¡¯ with a screenshot of a Taiwanese broadcast that wrote his name as ¡®Woo Jenmin¡¯. ¡°Ha¡­¡± Woojoo chuckled bitterly as he watched the fake news that was spreading around. There was also someone who posted a picture of Actor Lee Gyeonwoo in response to a question asking who the Korean celebrity was. Woojoo clicked the mouse next to Assistant Manager Hong¡¯sptop and asked, ¡°What¡¯s this about the skin color?¡± ¡°They say it¡¯s too pale¡­¡± They said that Koreans don¡¯t have skin that pale, and wondered if the photo was overly edited. Love yourself, huh¡­ ¡°And this¡­?¡± ¡°Oh, this is because the Japanese people are spreading it around as a Japanese baby¡­¡± How many nationalities did he have? The Chinese people said it was a Chinese baby, the Japanese people said it was a Japanese baby. As the scale grew, the scale of the fake information also grew. Wouldn¡¯t there be a conspiracy theory in the Americanmunity that there was a virus hidden in the photo of the Korean child that was spreading now? Woojoo rolled his tongue as he looked at the reactions to the photo. It really spread everywhere. He had only heard of the global era, but this was the first time he experienced it like this. Would his childhood photo be more famous than him¡­? Woojoo sighed deeply as he looked at the photo that was spread on various inte sites around the world. ¡°Why, are you unhappy?¡± ¡°No. I just wish I had debuted as a kid.¡± The PR staff allughed at Woojoo¡¯s words. They joked that they should time travel and gather the members of their group when they were in elementary school and debut as ¡®Kids ck¡¯. ¡°Right, Woojoo. You were on the real-time search several times yesterday.¡± ¡°Oh. Really?¡± The screen they showed Woojoo had search terms like ¡®New ck Woojoo army¡¯, ¡®Woojoo goes to be a man¡¯ and so on. ¡°I won¡¯t buy you coffee next time.¡± The PR staffughed among themselves. They talked about the new ads that came in thanks to this rabbit for a while, when someone asked Woojoo, ¡°By the way, Woojoo.¡± ¡°Yes?¡± ¡°There¡¯s someone who ims to be your elementary school ssmate and is spreading a rumor. Do you want us to take action from thepany?¡± ¡°A rumor?¡± One of the staff asked cautiously, ¡°Yeah. They say you were really bad at dancing when you were in elementary school and they¡¯re spreading some ridiculous rumors.¡± ¡°¡­¡± ¡°Our fans took screenshots and reported it to us, but we need to check the facts first.¡± ¡°No, no. It¡¯s true. I was really bad at dancing when I was in elementary school.¡± ¡°¡­Really?¡± ¡°Yes. I really was.¡± Woojoo exined to the people who asked him several times that ¡®I had such a time¡¯ and left the office. And his phone screen shed. Ha Eunsung [Boss] Ha Eunsung [By any chance¡­] Ha Eunseong [Are you a famous Korean baby???????] ¡°¡­¡± Woojoo tapped my finger on the screen. Woojoo [Your zipper is open] Ha Eunseong [Really?] Ha Eunseong [Where are you watching me from?] Ha Eunseong [No, it¡¯s not. No way] Woojoo [??] Woojoo [Be nice to people] He replied with a barrage of messages, but Woojoo just blocked him with a smile. This was the sixth time. ¡°Sigh¡­¡± But sadly, the ones he wanted to block the most were impossible to block. The studio on the second floor. As soon as Woojoo opened the door and entered, a pack of hyenas greeted him. ¡°Baby Jenmin!¡± ¡°Kekeke!¡± ¡°Did our millennium babye? Kyakyakya!¡± Junghyun, who was holding a handy cam, narrated ¡®Today, the mood of Woojoo Hyung is not good¡¯ as his brothers pped andughed. Woojoo ignored them and opened hisptop to work on the song. He even put on headphones and was editing the song, when Bijoo poked his back. ¡°Ah, right. Hyung.¡± ¡°Hmm?¡± ¡°I got a message from Street Boys, and they said to deliver this to you.¡± Bijoo handed Woojoo a printed A4 paper. At first, Woojoo thought it was some kind of certificate, but he couldn¡¯t helpughing when he saw it. [Honorary Concrete Member: Seon Woojoo] was written on it. ¡°They said they were really impressed by how you guessed the voices of Street Boys members yesterday. Their fans made this for you.¡± Woojooughed as he saw the phrase ¡®We support the friendship of the Mint Choco-dan¡¯ on it. Woojoo asked as he looked at the appointment letter, ¡°Are there any benefits?¡± ¡°You can enter the broadcast. They said this came from thepany.¡± Soon, Junghyun showed Woojoo the screen and heughed. DNS Media announced theeback showcase of Street Boys and wrote ¡®Honorary Concrete Member, New ck¡¯s Woojoo can also enter¡¯. The people in the PR Team over there were good at business. Woojoo smiled and turned his eyes back to theptop, when he suddenly remembered something he had been meaning to ask. ¡°By the way, Bijoo.¡± ¡°Yes?¡± ¡°Do you have anything you want to do next Monday?¡± They would prepare some events separately, but it would be right to do what the birthday boy wanted as well. Bijoo thought for a moment and opened his lips. ¡°I want to go there.¡± ¡°Where?¡± ¡°Family restaurant.¡± ¡°Family restaurant?¡± ¡°When I was young, my parents used to take me there on my birthday.¡± He seemed to have not been able to go there since Minjun got sick. Even when Junghyun suggested going together after bing a trainee, he said he felt guilty about having fun by himself while thinking of his brother. Woojoo nodded as he saw Bijoo¡¯s expression, which hinted at his story. ¡°Okay. Let¡¯s go.¡± There was no music show on Monday. Thepany also left the day empty and told them to just rest and do nothing. They had plenty of time. ¡°Then I¡¯ll make a reservation in advance.¡± Family restaurant. The staff at the counter received a phone call. A pleasant voice in his ear wanted to make a reservation. ¡°Oh, a reservation. Monday?¡± -Yes. ¡°Your name is¡­?¡± -Seo Woojoo. Then the other person asked. -By the way, do you have any menu items that kids can eat there? Something sweet and sticky. I¡¯ve never been to a family restaurant before¡­ ¡°Yes. We do. We have a separate children¡¯s menu.¡± -Ah, I mean from the regr menu, not the kids¡¯ menu. Our kids only order the kids¡¯ menu when they want to get those toy goodies¡­ The staff member noticed something. ¡®Our kids?¡¯ He imagined elementary school kids saying ¡®I¡¯m not a kid!¡¯ in his head. He smiled and exined the various menu options. ¡®Is he bringing his nieces or siblings?¡¯ She told him in a pleasant voice. ¡°Do you need a separate chair?¡± -A chair? ¡°Yes, to make it morefortable to sit¡­¡± -Oh, I didn¡¯t know you had such chairs. He showed a curious reaction and she nodded. -Is itfortable? Then please prepare one. The staff member wrote ¡®kids¡¯ chair¡¯ on her note and checked it with a v. -And what else do you have? Uh¡­ uh, ah¡­ You said there¡¯s a birthday celebration event at the family restaurant, right? ¡°Yes, we do.¡± He took out a form and put his pen on the part that said ¡®child¡¯s name: ???¡¯. ¡°What¡¯s the name?¡± -Kim Bijoo. ¡°Okay, Kim¡­ Bijoo.¡± -Do you also give balloons? What? You want one too¡­? Wait a minute. Our kid is asking if¡­ ¡°Yes, that¡¯s fine.¡± It seemed like someone was nagging him from the side. ¡°Then we¡¯ll prepare it for you.¡± -Thank you, I appreciate it. They hung up the phone with a smile. But they had no idea that they were talking aboutpletely different things. Chapter 257: Chapter 257: Trantor: MarcTempest Editor: Rxel Chapter 257 Monday morning. The staff member sitting at the counter of the family restaurant nced over the reservation book. ¡®Let¡¯s see. Three groups for lunch. Five groups for dinner. And¡­¡¯ There was one group in the morning. The group of guests marked as ¡®Seon Woojoo and 15 others¡¯ were the ones she had personally taken the reservation from. They said they woulde with four children along with the adults.Keeping an eye on the outside as the reservation time approached, the staff member spotted two men approaching the store. ¡®Are those the people?¡¯ She felt a visual shock at the moment she looked closely. ¡°Watermelon?¡± The green and red were so intense that she mistook the fashion for a watermelon at first. A Hawaiian shirt with red and green roses intertwined and white pants. Plus a mask and sunsses. He looked like a businessman who would pull a ferry at a port somewhere, with a perfect outfit for that. But the proportions were¡­ The outfit was middle-aged, but the body was model-like. She felt a moment of awe at the extreme contrast. Ding. The two men opened the door and came in. ¡°Hello.¡± The man with the sunsses greeted her with a smile. ¡°I made a reservation. The name is Seon Woojoo¡­¡± ¡°Oh, yes¡­ I remember your reservation, sir. Are yourpanions on their way?¡± ¡°Yes, they¡¯re alling.¡± She asked with a friendly smile, ¡°Are the kids still on their way?¡± ¡°Yes, they¡¯re on their way. One of them is here.¡± ¡°¡­?¡± At that moment, the staff member gasped. She had been distracted by the Hawaiian shirt and didn¡¯t notice the shadow behind him. A navy blue shirt and ck pants. He looked like a bodyguard with sunsses and a taciturn expression. He was even chewing gum like a rock. ¡°Did you say our kids before¡­¡± ¡°Yes. This is our kid.¡± The Hawaiian shirt wrapped his arm around him and showed him off like a ¡®ta-da¡¯. He offered him a jelly with a warm smile and said, ¡®Do you want some jelly?¡¯ She unknowingly ate it as if she was bewitched. When her head was getting tangled up, fortunately, he took off his mask and sunsses and the question was solved. ¡°Ah¡­ It¡¯s hot. Junghyun.¡± ¡°Yeah. Hyung. Should we just go inside?¡± ¡°No, let¡¯s wait for the kids and go together. But why aren¡¯t theying? Bijoo said he got lost again?¡± ¡°No. On the way, Jihyo found a doll machine.¡± ¡°What about the others?¡± ¡°¡­They¡¯re doing it too.¡± ¡°How old are they? All of them. Junghyun, can you change the jelly to a different color for me?¡± The staff member widened her eyes. ¡®Wow!¡¯ He was a celebrity. The face of the idol leader who had generously released his dark history on Shintokist week came to her mind. What was his name? But¡­ ¡°Yes.¡± He chuckled at her surprised expression. ¡°We¡¯re New ck. Woojoo.¡± ¡°I¡¯m Junghyun.¡± When she came to her senses, she was taking a selfie with them, and soon the rest of the guests poured in. ¡°We¡¯re here!¡± ¡°It¡¯s not even hot, why did you take off your mask? Ah¡­ You were acting like a celebrity again.¡± ¡°The road is reallyplicated. Here.¡± The idol members who came in chattering with the managers and staff. She calmly guided them to their seats and ran to the kitchen as soon as she turned around. ¡°Wow! Do you know that a celebrity came in?¡± ¡°A celebrity? Who?¡± ¡°New ck. Idol.¡± ¡°Oh! Them?¡± ¡°Wow. Can I get an autographter¡­?¡± The kitchen staff wereughing happily at first. But theirughter stopped abruptly after three seconds. ¡°Wait a minute.¡± ¡°That wasn¡¯t a kid¡­?¡± Everyone¡¯s eyes shifted to the cake that was carefully decorated. ¡°Can we erase that?¡± ¡°If we erase it, it will look like a mess.¡± ¡°¡­¡± ¡°¡­¡± There was a phrase written inrge chocte letters on it: ¡®Kim Bijoo, child! Happy birthday!¡¯ ¡°¡­¡± ¡°¡­¡± They were stunned as they approached their reserved table. Colorful balloons. Four colorful children¡¯s chairs. ¡°¡­¡± When they stood still at the table, Minki Hyung, who was filming with a handycam, burst intoughter. The other staff also rolled around withughter. Rihyuk¡¯s cheeks trembled and he turned his head sharply. ¡°How did you make the reservation?¡± ¡°No, I¡¯m sure I did it right¡­¡± ¡°You did it right and these chairs came out?¡± ¡°Well, at least they¡¯re not for babies.¡± ¡°¡­¡± Rihyuk made a sour face, Junghyun said ¡®interesting¡¯, and Jihyo wrapped the balloon string around his finger and liked it. ¡°Hahaha!¡± The birthday boy, whoseughter barrier was 1cm today, startedughing. ¡°¡­Sorry. Bijoo.¡± ¡°No, Hyung.¡± Bijoo waved his hand and said, ¡°I think it¡¯s going to be a memorable birthday.¡± The staff member that Dowon Hyung called ran over and apologized, saying he would change the chairs. Woojoo smiled awkwardly and said, ¡°We can just sit, but our kids have short upper bodies.¡± ¡°That¡¯s usually what people say when they have long legs. You, sir.¡± The staff member turned his head slightly and bit his lip. They weren¡¯t small, but if they just sat down, their legs would be too long. Jihyo said, ¡°No one can sit on this. Junghyun Hyung needs two chairs.¡± ¡°Two is reasonable.¡± True. Bijoo barely fits. ¡°Isn¡¯t it weird to begin with that adults want to sit on children¡¯s chairs?¡± ¡­When they heard that voice, their heads turned at the same time. Then, something shed in the minds of the four of them, like a light bulb turning on. ¡°Uh¡­¡± ¡°Uh¡­¡± ¡°This is it.¡± They asked the staff member who was taking away the chairs for permission. ¡°Wait, please.¡± ¡°Wait, please. We¡¯ll take care of thest one.¡± When their eyes turned to him, Rihyuk shuddered and shook his head vigorously. ¡°No, I really won¡¯t sit. No way. Don¡¯t do this!¡± ¡°Rihyuk.¡± Woojoo said seriously, ¡°Just sit once. It¡¯s my wish.¡± ¡°Please, don¡¯t waste your wish on something like this.¡± ¡°Rihyuk. You have to manage your expression. There are other people nearby. Don¡¯t you care about your image?¡± ¡°Rihyuk Hyung hasn¡¯t seen the bitter taste of celebrity sightings yet.¡± ¡°You haven¡¯t seen it either. The bitter taste.¡± When Rihyuk tried to stick to his ¡®I can¡¯t sit¡¯ stance, Bijoo¡¯s eyes met his. Sparkling. ¡°¡­¡± ¡°Hyung, it¡¯s my wish. Rihyuk.¡± ¡°¡­¡± ¡°Right? If you sit on that, maybe our next album will be a hit?¡± ¡°Ah, stop doing that!¡± He finally gave in to the words that the next album would be a hit. Rihyuk closed his eyes tightly and sighed deeply as he looked at the blue children¡¯s chair. He took a deep breath. Then he slowly sat down on the chair. And¡­ Swoosh! If there was a sound effect, it would be something like that. He fit perfectly into the chair, like a piece of Tetris. ¡°Puhahaha!¡± They all burst intoughter and pped like seals. ¡°Hey, really! I knew you would do this!¡± One of the customers who was eating pasta nearby started coughing as he heard themotion. Meanwhile, the person in question was ring at them with a red face. ¡°¡­You better be prepared when I write my autobiography. I¡¯ll only leave your names in thest footnote, in 4-point font size.¡± He looked so petty as he plotted his timid revenge that they just smiled. ¡°Ah, today is already fun.¡± Bijoo, who was sitting in the front seat, pped his hands softly and looked happy. He seemed very d that they all went out together today. His eyes sparkled as Woojoo handed him a hat. ¡°Bijoo, here¡¯s a cone hat.¡± ¡°Wow¡­ This is so pretty. I don¡¯t think I should wear it.¡± He put on the colorful cone hat and they took amemorative photo for his birthday. Then they all ordered their menus. ¡°Oh¡­ This is delicious.¡± ¡°Mm-hmm. Hehe.¡± It was his first time at a family restaurant and it was better than he expected. If he had known it was like this, he would havee sooner. Woojoo didn¡¯te here much because someone told him in elementary school that this was a ce where people usually went with their parents. The steak was savory and melted in his mouth as he cut a piece and put it in. Woojoo turned his head and looked at Bijoo, who was slurping spaghetti. ¡°Is it good?¡± ¡°Yes, it¡¯s very good.¡± ¡°Tell me if you have anything you want to do or wish for today. I¡¯ll do anything for you, except for not wearing floral prints.¡± ¡°Oh¡­ Oh! I want to try thatter too.¡± He talked about things he wanted to try, like sticker photos or arcades, and Woojoo smiled. He must have had a lot of things he wanted to do. It seemed like they would have to run around all day to do all of this. Not only Bijoo, but the other siblings also nodded their heads eagerly at Woojoo¡¯s suggestion. They must have had a lot of pent-up desire to y, since the music show was longer than expected. Well. It was okay for today. Woojoo decided to take a break today and put aside the thoughts of future activities that kept popping up in his head. Tat- The lights where they were sitting went out. Bijoo stopped eating spaghetti and opened his eyes wide at the sudden ckout. ¡°¡­?¡± As he dropped the noodles from his mouth, Woojoo winked at the siblings. ¡®Let¡¯s start.¡¯ Junghyun raised his voice. ¡°Huh, what¡­?¡± ¡°Wh. What¡¯s going on?¡± Kim and Seo. Don¡¯t ever act¡­ Thud- Jiho dropped the fork from his hand and made a sound like he was choking. ¡°Wh, what is this? Why did the lights go out all of a sudden?¡± ¡­Don¡¯t do it too well. Woojoo rubbed his temples as he saw the youngest making a grim expression like he was in a disaster movie. The restaurant staff came over with a cake with a candle on it. ¡°Wow¡­¡± Bijoo put his hand on his cheek and made a squeaky sound as they quietly got up from their seats. They sang the birthday song together. ¡°One, two, hot two, three four!¡± A staff member with a guitar and another with a tambourine. And the other staff members joined in to sing the song. ¡°Happy happy happy day! A happy day, a good day¡­¡± It was easy to sing along since they memorized the lyrics beforehand. But as they sang, the staff raised their voices more and more. They seemed to enjoy singing very much. ¡°Congrattions¡­!¡± They seemed to be having fun as they raised their voices along with them. They were all getting more excited. Jiho was dancing with napkins in both hands, and Junghyun was adding rap ad-libs in between. Woojoo saw the staff singing and sweating. They looked like they were having a st. It was like apetition to see who could have more fun. Whenever one side raised the mood, the other side raised it even more. ¡°Bijoo, happy birthday!¡± When the song ended, it was time to blow out the candles. ¡°Make a wish!¡± one of the staff said. Bijoo smiled after thinking for a moment. ¡°I wish everyone would stay by my side like this.¡± The candles went out softly. ¡°Congrattions!¡± As they gave Bijoo the gifts they prepared together, Woojoo thanked the staff who were wiping their sweat. ¡°Thank you. Our kid really likes it.¡± ¡°Haha¡­ yes.¡± But they allughed awkwardly at Woojoo¡¯s gratitude. They also seemed to look at him with a strange expression. Why were they acting like that? Woojoo wondered, but soon he heard someone calling him and went to Bijoo. ¡¸I¡¯m going to spill the tea about the celebrity who came to my part-time job¡­¡¹ I work part-time at Olive House This morning, we had a group of customers who were New ck I thought they couldn¡¯t be as crazy as they are on the History Discovery show, but they were for real¡­ for real¡­ It was one of the members¡¯ birthday, but their leader made a mistake with the reservation and we prepared for a children¡¯s event Anyway, we finished with a twist¡­ and I went there with the cake Oh, by the way, our store is that one The one that won the first ce in the birthday celebration contest among all the stores. We were all confident in having fun and doing these events, but today we met our match¡­ They said they wanted to sing along, so our manager said, sure, go ahead! But that was a wrong choice They harmonized and hummed among themselves, and our voices were drowned out They danced and sang, and they were amazing The rapper added a rap in the middle, and it was so awesome that I almost pped The youngest, who said he was the worst, had more volume than all of our voicesbined¡­ crazy But you know how it is, you getpetitive We tried not to lose and sang hard, but they were having more fun and stepped up their game. It reminded me of that story There was a bear and a martial artist, and the martial artist who trained his whole life threw a punch with all his might, but the bear thought he was ying and enjoyed it Today will be remembered as the day our store¡¯s pride was tarnished ¨C??????you got owned ¨C????why do the staff look so exhausted in the proof shot -Look at the sweat; did you do crossfit or something -But how can they sing so well? -[OP] I understood why they were famous as soon as I heard them. I will never underestimate singers again -Nice? -[OP] They were nice, but I felt some distance. They had an aura that made them hard to approach as celebrities. You guys would freeze too if you saw them in person -Huh they seemed friendly -[OP] They look friendly, but they are different in real life -What¡¯s the children¡¯s event? -Go to ourpany¡¯s sns and see. Our manager asked me to upload a video separately Around the time the inte was buzzing with the news of The New ck¡¯s visit to a family restaurant, a video was also posted on Olive House¡¯s official SNS. @Olive_House_Korea (A video of New ck members singing in a space with children¡¯s balloons) Who are the special guests who visited Olive House? #The_family_restaurant_that_even_the_trendy_idols_visit #New_ck As the video of the idol¡¯s birthday party that made you excited just by watching it spread silently. A few hourster. Olive House¡¯s US headquarters SNS ount retweeted and posted a picture that looked like a meme. @Olive_House_Official (On the left, there is a calm children¡¯s Woojoo picture with ¡®Before¡¯ written on it, and on the right, there was a picture of adults dancing happily with ¡®After¡¯ written on the space picture.) Trante: This Korean kid grew up and dances and sings at Olive House. Our restaurant makes customers happy. Good response. Thank you. Like New ck. Like K-pop. Meanwhile, the news of that day¡¯s video and SNS also reached the idolmunity. Along with a captioned capture of the live video where Woojoo said with a sad expression to the Souffl¨¦s, ¡°I made a mistake with the reservation¡­¡± [The idol who made a buzz with their birthday party today.youknowho] -I only clicked on the article because of the headline ¡°Birthday Party is Now a Hot Topic¡± -So, what¡¯s the news about New ck today? -ck again; -You little coals, hurry up and give me the information ¨C??????Do you just ept it as science now? -The bed is science-grade -Is that a floral lecturer? Is he from outer space? -That¡¯s why he posts close-up shots of his home often¡­ ¨C????But he did a really fun birthday event -Olive House is famous for doing good events???But I didn¡¯t know they would do it with such high tension -He¡¯ll get promoted to branch manager??He did a good job of promoting Bijoo¡¯s birthday ended happily. They spent the whole day running around, taking sticker photos, and going to arcades. They also ate shaved ice that he always wanted to eat. They yed almost ten days¡¯ worth of fun in one day. They almost had trouble when some fans barged in, but luckily, Dowon Hyung handled it well. They finished by going to the subway ad their our Souffl¨¦s gave to Bijoo and taking a proof shot. ¡°Wow¡­¡± One of the golden-handed Souffl¨¦s made a beautiful ad out of a scene from the History Discovery Team. Bijoo, with his fine golden hair, wearing a coat and a hat. He looked like a young schr who passed the civil service exam in the ad, and they all marveled at him with wide eyes. They went to several ces like a tour from there. They stuck post-its everywhere they went, but¡­ They made it so that if they put one letter on each post-it, it would make a sentence of gratitude, but someone took it off in the middle, so when they put it together, it became a weird sentence like ¡°Offer a sacrifice to the Souffl¨¦s¡± and they were flustered. It was a satisfying day overall. ¡°I really enjoyed today¡­¡± They all felt proud of the grateful face of the person who said this. Well. Until then, Woojoo thought they had a normal birthday. -Woojoo¡­ A few dayster, Seokhwan Hyung asked Woojoo with a dumbfounded face on the video call. -You guys went to have a birthday party, right? ¡°Yes.¡± -But why did a TV ade in¡­? ¡°Uh, well¡­¡± -You guys didn¡¯t go to the headquarters and do business after saying you were having a birthday party, did you? ¡°No. It¡¯s not like that.¡± They exined earnestly to him who looked at them suspiciously. The promotion on the inte was so good that they got a request to be the TV ad model for the family restaurant ¡®Olive House¡¯. Junghyun said, ¡°It¡¯s amazing. We went to sing a song and got an ad.¡± ¡°I have a good idea, Hyungs,¡± Jiho said with his eyes wide open. ¡°How about we go to a cell phone store and y next time? We might get a tel ad.¡± ¡°Yeah. Let¡¯s go and dance with balloons.¡± While they were exchanging nonsense withughter, the manager just smiled. After talking about this absurd but good situation for a while. They heard about the schedule. -You guys are done with the music show next week, right? I¡¯ve sorted out the ad requests that came in during that time, so you can just shoot those first. They were finally going to shoot the ads that they had postponed because of the music show activities. They heard that there were about six ces in total, including this Olive House. There were also a couple of TV ads. They admired the names of the major brands while we heard other requests. -There¡¯s a K overseas concert next week, remember? You guys pack your bags in advance. Don¡¯t pack your bags while doingundry all night like you did in Singapore. ¡°Yesss¡­¡± -Who packs their bags while running the washing machine all night? They were invited as performers to the K overseas concert that will be held in Osaka, Japan next week. They had to pack their bags in advance this time. They made a firm resolution while they heard about their personal schedule. -By the way, Woojoo, you have a pre-meeting with the ¡®Men Go¡¯ team in a few days, so go and do well. ¡°Yesss¡­¡± -The shooting schedule is roughly aroundte June to July. It could be moved up. ¡°¡­¡± Woojoo was happy to hear about the ads, but he was gloomy at the news after that. This year, he had to go to the reserve forces and the military variety show. Woojoo was so excited when he heard that they got a TVmercial deal with a lenspany, but his mood quickly deted. His siblings noticed his gloomy expression and tried to cheer him up. Woojoo said it didn¡¯t matter if they weren¡¯t chosen, and that he would take one of them anyway, but they all turned their heads away with a snort. ¡°Guys, let¡¯s go to rehearsal!¡± The manager¡¯s call interrupted Woojoo¡¯s phone call with Seokhwan Hyung. Woojoo walked with a heavy step. He checked the mic pack on his waist and adjusted the head mic angle to fit his lips. As he walked, loosening his throat, he saw the members of the rookie boy group Iris nearby. They bowed their waists to greet him. ¡°Hello! Sunbae-nim!¡± ¡°Hi, hello.¡± They nodded their heads and smiled brightly. ¡°¡­¡± But their reaction was awkward. Woojoo thought they had a good senior image, but why did it seem like it didn¡¯t work? They had worked hard on their image management. Woojoo walked past the Iris members, who looked at him with confused eyes, with a gentle smile. ¡°Street Boys are making aeback today, right?¡± ¡°Yes. That¡¯s right. They said they woulde to our waiting roomter. They want to see our room too.¡± It was Thursday, the second week of their Flower Dance promotion and the seventh week of their music show. Street Boys had made aeback with a new album. They had charted yesterday, and Woojoo heard they were doing well. He hoped they would seed. He saw their concept photos and music video, and they all had a lot of muscles. He wondered what they would look like in person. ¡­Speaking of which, there was also someone who debuted today, someone Woojoo didn¡¯t want to run into. Woojoo shook his head as he got on the elevator to the first floor. They say if you talk about the tiger, ites. At the corner of the hallway, he saw the eyes of a five-member idol group turn to them as they got on the elevator. ¡°¡­¡± And before anyone could react, the tallest one among them saw Woojoo and widened his eyes. ¡°Uh¡­!¡± Woojoo quickly got on the elevator, seeing his eyes flicker with madness. Don¡¯t call me weirdly. Don¡¯t call me weirdly. ¡°Sergeant!¡± ¡°¡­¡± ¡°It¡¯s me, Sergeant!¡± Woojoo¡¯s siblings looked stunned as someone ran towards them, and he pressed the close button on the elevator. ¡°Who is that?¡± ¡°Someone I don¡¯t want to run into¡­¡± From below the rising elevator, Woojoo heard a thud and a scream. Chapter 258: Chapter 258: Trantor: MarcTempest Editor: Rxel Chapter 258 They say you meet your enemy on a narrow bridge. Right after they finished the pre-recording, a rookie boy group came to greet them in their waiting room. They entered timidly, a group of five. ¡°¡­¡± They looked awkward with each other, and tried to sync their steps. They somehow reminded Woojoo of new soldiers. ¡­Except for one who was giggling nervously.He mouthed ¡®Sergeant!¡¯ to Woojoo, making his brothersugh. The leader of the other group red at Eunsung. ¡°One, two, three, hello! We are APLB!¡± ¡°Hello, we are New ck.¡± They greeted the rookie group back. Woojoo felt sorry for the other leader who looked like he didn¡¯t know what to say. ¡°That¡¯s an unusual name. APLB.¡± ¡°Yes, we were divided into A team and B team when we were trainees, and wepeted with each other. Now we are one and working together, so we are A plus B, or APLB. Please take care of¡­ ugh¡­ us.¡± He was so nervous that his voice cracked in the middle of his prepared speech. Junghyun handed him a bottle of water, and he took it gratefully. ¡°Th-thank you.¡± ¡°Drink a lot.¡± Woojoo turned his eyes to Junghyun, who smiled warmly. ¡°Junghyun.¡± ¡°Yes, Hyung.¡± ¡°Who gives 2 liters of water to someone who looks thirsty?¡± He held arge stic bottle and wondered how to drink it. Woojooughed at his sight. Bijoo handed out paper cups to each of them. Glug, glug, glug. Junghyun poured water for them, but something looked off. It wasn¡¯t an initiation ceremony for a gang. A rookie boy group holding paper cups, and Junghyun acting like a boss pouring alcohol¡­ water for them. At this point, someone should say ¡®Cheers!¡¯. Jiho joined in with a mischievous expression. ¡°By the way, you said you were Woojoo Hyung¡¯s junior, right?¡± ¡°Here!¡± Eunsung raised his hand happily. Their kids loved him so much that they didn¡¯t know what to do. Rihyuk asked him with a suppressed excitement, ¡°I have so many questions to ask.¡± ¡°Oh, ask me anything. I can tell you everything, even if I have to stay up all night.¡± They both sat down with sparkling eyes. Woojoo sighed deeply and said, ¡°Let¡¯s chatter. I don¡¯t think I¡¯ve heard your names before. Shall we introduce ourselves properly?¡± ¡°Ah, yes! I¡¯m Haru, the leader.¡± They told them their stage names one by one, but Woojoo couldn¡¯t help but snort when it was Eunsung¡¯s turn. ¡°I¡¯m Kevin.¡± ¡°Kuh.¡± Woojoo bit his lips to stopughing, and his eyes narrowed. Jiho asked him curiously. ¡°Oh, that¡¯s the same name as the protagonist of Home Alone.¡± ¡°Huh?¡± Eunsung widened his eyes. ¡°Wow. How did you know? That¡¯s where I got it from.¡± ¡°¡­?¡± ¡°Wow, you¡¯re the first person to guess that.¡± Jiho looked confused. Then he turned his head to Woojoo, with an expression like a cat who found a new creature. ¡®What is this? What is this?¡¯ he looked at Woojoo, and he nodded with amusement. You¡¯ve never seen it before. A life form that lived so casually. They also introduced themselves and exchanged warm words. ¡°This is our CD. Sunbae-nim.¡± ¡°Thank you. We don¡¯t have a CD yet since it¡¯s our seventh week¡­¡± ¡°This is my photo card~¡± ¡°¡­¡± How many people have had the rare experience of receiving a photo card from an idol album from their junior in the army? He smiled brightly and handed Woojoo the photo card. Woojoo was slightly stunned, and the leader Haru scowled at him. Kevin, who became crumpled, went to the corner. He kept appealing to Woojoo to ¡®talk to us¡¯. They finished greeting the rookie boy group APLB, and Woojoo called him out separately after leaving the waiting room. ¡°Eunsung.¡± ¡°Sergeant-nim¡­!¡± ¡°Sunbae-nim, you¡¯re so cool¡­¡± ¡°Sunbae-nim!¡± Heughed at Woojoo as he clenched his teeth. He was about to continue the conversation when the door of the waiting room opened and four faces peeked in. ¡°Can we join you guys?¡± Bijoo asked with an excited expression. He looked like he had found a treasure trove, and Woojoo could see right through his intentions. ¡°No.¡± ¡°I haven¡¯t used my birthday wish yet¡­¡± Woojoo politely closed the door. Then he took the smiling guy to the vending machine and bought him a drink. ¡°How does it feel to debut? Is it fun?¡± ¡°It felt good for 3 seconds. Just 3 seconds. It¡¯s already hard.¡± Woojoo chuckled at his honest answer. He looked familiar. They had been saying they should meet after they were discharged from the military, but this was the first time he saw his face. ¡°Oh, right.¡± He widened his eyes and turned his head to Woojoo. ¡°Do you know how scared I was in the elevator earlier? Look at this. This, the buttons on the costume.¡± ¡°How is that my fault?¡± ¡°I¡¯m disappointed.¡± ¡°Eunsung. I¡¯ve told you many times, but your disappointment is none of my concern.¡± He stuck out his tongue. ¡°Wow. Look at your personality. You¡¯ll see.¡± ¡°What will I see?¡± ¡°I¡¯ll¡­¡± ¡°You¡¯ll¡­?¡± ¡°I¡¯ll be friends with other senior idols and be on par with them.¡± Woojoo was speechless. ¡°Eunsung.¡± ¡°Yes.¡± ¡°Stop dreaming, please¡­¡± Woojoo felt ridiculous at his ambitious n to befriend the top stars instead of aiming for sess. ¡°You¡¯re really something, you know. Your leader must be having a hard time.¡± ¡°Haru? No¡­ What does he have to worry about? He¡¯s the best in everything.¡± ¡°Is he younger than you?¡± ¡°He¡¯s the youngest.¡± That was an interesting rtionship. ¡°The youngest is the leader?¡± ¡°The President looked at the debut lineup and said ¡®I¡¯m screwed¡¯ and gave him the leader position. He¡¯s the smartest one, but he always annoys his Hyungs.¡± ¡°You should be a little jealous.¡± ¡°¡­Ugh, why did I have to join the idol industry as a junior! I want to bully my juniors for once!¡± ¡°If you¡¯re unhappy, you should have gone to the military first.¡± He made a face as Woojooughed. Then he changed the subject. ¡°By the way, the President came by this morning and gave me this. He said to give it to you.¡± ¡°What is it?¡± ¡°A gift card? Something like that.¡± He handed Woojoo a crumpled envelope. Inside, there was a gift card and a note. It was a message from Cho Dongwan, the CEO of Plus Entertainment. He said he was happy for his sess and asked him to look after his kids who they sometimes ran into. ¡°Do you know the President?¡± ¡°Yeah. We had a connection for a while.¡± The reason Woojoo rmended Plus Enter to this guy was not only because they had a good reputation in the industry, but also because of his personal rtionship. When he first became a trainee, he was the director at TJ. He talked to Woojoo at the first interview and suggested that he tryposing. He remembered the names of each trainee and was popr among them, but he left soon after to start his ownpany, Plus Enter. Now that Woojoo thought about it, it was probably the kind of kindness that people showed before they started their own business¡­ ¡°Tell him I appreciate it.¡± ¡°Okay.¡± He nodded. ¡°He always shows us New ck videos and lectures us. Look at that. That¡¯s dancing. Look at that. That¡¯s singing. He even analyzes the videos during meetings.¡± ¡°Really?¡± ¡°They say it¡¯s a miracle of a small agency, and we should study what we can benchmark from them.¡± The members who came in earlier also said ¡®Wow, amazing¡­¡¯ after they came out of the waiting room. A miracle of a small agency. It was a somewhat embarrassing nickname, so Woojoo just smiled awkwardly. As he was thinking that, his eyes went to the guy who was smiling brightly. ¡°Don¡¯tugh too much. It¡¯s simr to the army here, and there are people who don¡¯t like rookies whough a lot.¡± Was it during Fireworks? He wasughing with Jiho in the hallway, and one of the boy group members came over to them and said ¡®Hey. Can. You. Turn. It. Down?¡¯ Woojoo still remember his expression vividly. Now they were like ¡®New ck!¡¯ and act friendly to them. He shook his head. ¡°I¡¯m quick-witted, so I¡¯m fine.¡± ¡°I know. You¡¯re very quick-witted. But you don¡¯t care.¡± ¡°That¡¯s right.¡± ¡°¡­¡± To others, he might seem like a clueless kid, but he was actually very quick-witted. But he didn¡¯t care. ¡°¡­¡± Woojoo briefly remembered the time when he was frustrated in the army, and then let it go. Well. He would take care of himself. He wasn¡¯t his junior anymore, and he was in a different group. He was busy taking care of his own kids, and he didn¡¯t have time to worry about him. Woojoo just thought he should take good care of him whenever he met him. ¡°Hey!¡± ¡°What¡¯s wrong?¡± ¡°I thought of a good way to take care of you.¡± ¡°Oh?¡± ¡°Hey. Do you know Men Go by any chance¡­¡± He ran away. That guy. Oh. He was fast. It was a shame. Eunsung would be perfect for the army show. The problem was that he was from a small agency, and he was a rookie who just debuted. Men Go was a program that basically required some level of recognition. It was a program where theyughed at celebrities they knew rolling around, not a program where a rookie idol gained recognition. ¡°Yikes!¡± Woojoo wasn¡¯t a viin or anything. Every time he ran into him, he ran away like there was a devil. He seemed to have a lot of misunderstandings, but Woojoo didn¡¯t correct them. It was fun to watch him run away. ¡°What¡¯s so funny?¡± ¡°Yes. There is something funny.¡± Woojoo swallowed hisughter and looked at Hanjo, who was sitting nearby. ¡°Ha ha ha!¡± ¡°Kyaa kyaa!¡± ¡°Kee kee!¡± ¡°¡­¡± The monkeys who were watching a movie and screaming were the younger ones on both sides. They were so excited to see each other after a long time that they were making a lot of noise. Before, it was a partitioned waiting room, so if they raised their voices a little, the other group¡¯s manager would give them a look and say ¡®Geez¡¯. But now it was their room, so they don¡¯t have to worry about that. ¡°The room is so nice¡­¡± ¡°Is this the taste of sess?¡± ¡°Remember this. I¡¯m changing my future dream to New ck from today.¡± The Street Boys members looked around the room and spouted jokes, and their younger ones pped their flippers and were very satisfied. The Street Boys, who came back with a new album, had apletely different look from before. They were still slim because they were idols and had a limit to bulking up, but their muscles were very clear overall. Their skin was slightly burnt, as if they had gone to their grandmother¡¯s house for summer vacation and yed hard with their elementary school friends. ¡°Our wish this time is to win first ce once.¡± The Street Boys members said that and wished them well. Woojoo didn¡¯t know why they treated him like a Buddha. He heard them say that they wanted to win first ce at least once, even if they weren¡¯t like them. Their eyes were burning, as if they were thirsty for sess¡­ ¡°I need a phone!¡± ¡°Out of all the Rookie Award nomineesst year, we¡¯re the only ones without phones!¡± ¡­The members were thirsty for phones. They kept asking Woojoo how their new song was. They wanted an objective opinion, so Woojoo said it was good. They were happy, as if his words were a guarantee. While the younger siblings on both sides sang ¡®Seon Woojoo Oo, the Grandfather of Music¡¯, Woojoo had a conversation with Hanjo, covering one ear. ¡°When are Street Boys going to stop promoting?¡± ¡°Maybe four or five weeks?¡± ¡°Oh¡­ That¡¯s awkward.¡± ¡°Why?¡± ¡°Because then we can go to the army together.¡± ¡°¡­¡± Hanjo, who was eating a Choco Pie, froze. Woojoo gave him a kind smile and handed him a bottle of water. ¡°Hanjo.¡± ¡°¡­¡± ¡°Let¡¯s go together. Us.¡± ¡°¡­¡± ¡°I¡¯m not going to die alone.¡± Woojoo patted his back, which was making choking noises, and smiled happily. On the other hand, when Woojoo answered his question about when the shooting date was, his face started to brighten up. ¡°Oh, then I won¡¯t go. It oveps with our promotion period.¡± ¡°Why don¡¯t you go? Even if we don¡¯t go together, we¡¯ll go separatelyter.¡± ¡°There¡¯s a difference in poprity, you know. I was the one in Two Plus One when I was a rookie, so I probably won¡¯t be called alone.¡± ¡°Oh, that¡¯s too bad¡­¡± Woojoo smiled awkwardly. He didn¡¯t know whether tough or cry at his words, which assured him that he wouldn¡¯t be called alone because he was less famous than him. There was one thing for sure. ¡°Hanjo.¡± ¡°Yes?¡± ¡°Please seed and make this album a hit.¡± ¡°Oh, thank you¡­¡± ¡°Because then we¡¯ll go to the army together.¡± He had a look on his face that said ¡®what kind of devil is this¡¯. Six weeks of music show wins. ¡®Windflower¡¯ earned the title of the best digital song of the first half of 2015. It was the first time since the second-generation idols set the record. Even while promoting ¡®Flower Dance¡¯, Windflower continued to take the first ce. -New ck, 7 weeks of unbelievable record, the true ¡®third-generation representative group¡¯ -[New ck Exploration Life 1] Woojoo ¡°Thank you for the nickname ofposer idol, I didn¡¯t do it by myself¡± ¡­ A&R Team, ¡°No, Woojoo can do it alone¡± -It started with Windflower and ended with Windflower, 7 weeks of weekly chart ¡°first ce¡± After seven weeks of music shows, the nickname they got was the third-generation representative idol group. TNT, a 2.5-generation group, was at the top, and other second-generation senior singers dominated the album market. The third-generation idols were not able to show their presence. Among them, they, New ck, were the only ones who grew to the same level as the second-generation among the third-generation idol groups. Especially for this third album, the total sales volume was expected to exceed 200,000 copies, and some said that they would definitely be in the top 10 of the year. All this happened before their debut anniversary, so it was natural that other agencies would pay attention to them, as Eunsung said¡­ but Woojoo still felt awkward and embarrassed. And, Windflower stayed at the top of the weekly chart. Woojoo heard the estimated digital revenue from the Management Support Team, and he couldn¡¯t help but smile at the thought that he could buy a nice car for his grandmother. Everything was smooth sailing. Windflower, A Poem About Yesterday, Something, Deoksoon¡­ At the end of spring, the spring song Something was gradually pushed out of the chart, and the refreshing songs that aimed for summer wereing up one by one. It was the time when summer wasing along with the hot weather. ¡°Wow, look at the people.¡± Gimpo Airport. Their kids stuck out their tongues at the outside scene where idol fans and reporters were mixed. Jiho stuck to the car window and opened his eyes wide. ¡°There are so many people. Oh, what¡¯s that. Look over there. Someone fell.¡± ¡°Are they okay?¡± ¡°There are so many people. How many are there? There. One, two¡­¡± Junghyun started counting the heads with his fingers. They were at Gimpo Airport, ready to leave the country. They were going to perform at K¡¯s K-pop concert. K-pop concert. It was a show that K¡¯s parentpany, a conglomerate, held every year to introduce Korean idols to overseas K-pop fans. They didn¡¯t think they would get invited because they weren¡¯t on good terms with theirpany, but money won over bad blood. It was a win-win for both of them. Thepany also agreed enthusiastically because they had nned to do some promotion in Japan for a few days, and Rihyuk was happy to finally have a chance to use his Japanese. The problem was¡­ ¡°I didn¡¯t expect there to be so many people¡­¡± ¡°Just wait a bit. Guys.¡± Minki Hyung said, ¡°The securitypany people are securing the ce, so let¡¯s go down when everything is ready.¡± ¡°Okay.¡± They all nodded. Meanwhile, Woojoo¡¯s phone screen shed briefly and turned off, but he didn¡¯t pay attention. It must have been a sasaeng. They had achieved tremendous results with their third album activities, but there were also some bad points that came with it. The most obvious one was sasaengs. There was a saying that ¡®sasaengs breed sasaengs¡¯. For example, when they reacted a little to a fan who was waiting in front of thepany, the rumor spread like wildfire and more people showed up in no time. From the singer¡¯s perspective, they weren¡¯t stalking them, they were just gathering in front of thepany, so they talked to them, but in the end, it often turned out badly. If they were careless, it could lead to an ident where the fandom copsed due to a close rtionship between certain fans and the singer. To prevent such things from happening, they had a principle of not responding to anything on unofficial schedules. That was why they had fewer sasaengs than other male idols. But as the scale grew too big to ignore, they couldn¡¯t help but have more sasaengs. Especially, Woojoo¡¯s younger brothers had a bad memory of someone trying to break into their dorm four months ago. ¡°What should we eat in Japan?¡± Woojoo smiled and changed the topic to the younger brothers who were a bit anxious. ¡°We have some free time this time, so let¡¯s eat a lot of delicious food.¡± ¡°I want to eat that. Pizza.¡± ¡°Who eats pizza in Japan?¡± ¡°That¡¯s the point. I want to try something that no one else has eaten.¡± ¡°Eighty-nine, ny¡­¡± Junghyun was still counting. Bijoo tapped Woojoo¡¯s arm. ¡°Hyung, are you feeling okay?¡± ¡°Yeah. I¡¯m fine.¡± ¡°Today¡¯s weather is cloudy and windy, so I¡¯m a bit worried.¡± Woojoo smiled at Bijoo, who looked worried because of the ne. ¡°Guys, let¡¯s get off.¡± ¡°Okay.¡± They got off the car in front of the airport. As soon as they got off, a scream-like sound erupted. People gathered in front of them in no time. ¡°Wait a minute! Wait a minute!¡± The security staff surrounded them while people around them clung to them. The reporters shed their cameras. They were talking to them from everywhere, and Woojoo had no idea what was going on. Woojoo nodded his head as he passed by, but the people who followed them to the departure gate and to the ne were still there. ¡°Uh¡­¡± This was unexpected. It was apletely different situation from thest time they went to Singapore, and the younger brothers were noticeably flustered. How far were they going to follow them, Woojoo wondered. ¡°They¡¯re not going to follow us into the ne, are they?¡± Woojoo heard Rihyuk¡¯s whisper as they showed their tickets and boarded the ne, and Woojoo swallowed his saliva as he saw what was reflected in the ss of the boarding gate. ¡­Sasaengs were following them into the ne. Chapter 259: Chapter 259: Trantor: MarcTempest Editor: Rxel Chapter 259 Woojoo couldn¡¯t believe they followed them all the way to the ne. And somehow they knew their seats too. They sat around them casually, like natural fans. Woojoo was stunned for a moment. What the hell. Woojoo could understand how they found out which ne they were taking, but how did they know where they were sitting? The questions piled up one after another, but Woojoo stopped there. He was too sleep-deprived to think any further.Ouch. Woojoo frowned at the throbbing headache that started to bother him. He was already stressed out by the flight and theck of sleep, and now this unexpected problem added to it¡­ Woojoo wanted to massage his temples, but he was afraid it would stimte the fans who were watching them nearby, so he just brushed his hair back without a word. ¡°Woojoo.¡± ¡°Hey, guys. We¡¯re here.¡± Woojoo ignored the voices calling their names or the camera shutters clicking and turned his gaze to the window. The managers tried to stop them, but it was no use. They wouldn¡¯t listen. Sometimes they encountered rude people who asked them to do things, like saying ¡®Hey, make meugh¡¯ because they saw them on TV. They usually backed off when Dowon Hyung red at them with his shoulders stiff. But Woojoo doubted that a grim expression would have any effect on these people who followed them to the same ne. The only constion was that he was sitting by the window, and the members and the staff were surrounding him. Woojoo tried to soothe his bitter feelings and nced at his siblings. He wondered if they were okay. Woojoo covered his mouth and whispered to Bijoo, who was sitting next to him, ¡°Bijoo, are you okay?¡¯ He smiled and answered, ¡°Yes, I¡¯m fine.¡± The others were simr. They were so calm that it made Woojoo feel silly for worrying. At first, he was puzzled by their behavior, but then he realized why. ¡°Woojoo, do you want some water?¡± Minki Hyung, who was sitting in front of Woojoo, handed him a water bottle. ¡°Hyung, look at this. I found one good thing among the floral patterns.¡± The youngest showed him a new floral item on the online shopping mall and diverted his attention. ¡­was the text message from the fan that popped up on the screen. ¡°¡­¡± ¡°¡­¡± Jiho quietly switched his phone to airne mode. He didn¡¯t look disgusted or anything, and his expression didn¡¯t change at all. Woojoo thought their maknae had grown up a lot. Swoosh. Junghyun, who was sitting next to Woojoo and Bijoo, used hisrge body to block them like a shield. Rihyuk also joined in, but it didn¡¯t help much. It felt like a paper doll pping its arms. Woojoo felt grateful for their silent consideration. They weren¡¯t surprised, were they? This was the first time the fans followed them all the way to the ne. But since there was someone who was afraid of flying, they seemed to have decided to stay calm themselves. It was like when children say, ¡°We have to protect Mom¡± when an adult panicked in a crisis situation. Woojoo would have waved them off and said it was enough if it was any other day, but today he dly epted their help. ¡°Hoo¡­¡± Woojoo took a deep breath and looked at the view of Gimpo Airport. He felt a small coziness from the people around him. When he was young, he used to pull the nket up to his chin when something scary happened, and it was a simr feeling of security. But even so, he ignored the fans who kept trying to get a reaction from him and plugged in his earphones. ¡­This was so stressful. He prided himself on having more patience than anyone else, but when so many problems came at once, it felt like he was overloaded. Of course, 80% of it was because of the ne. Vroom. Woojoo almost jumped when the engine started to vibrate. The headache got worse as the ne vibrated while slowly moving to the runway. He grabbed the handle as the ne sped up. His heart was pounding like he had caffeine, even though he didn¡¯t, and the sound of it started to echo in his ears. When a few seconds felt like hours, he felt a slight sense of relief along with the feeling of floating. ¡­It was over. Bijoo leaned his body and whispered, ¡°Hyung, are you okay?¡± ¡°I¡¯m fine. Don¡¯t worry.¡± Woojoo reached out to Bijoo, who looked at him with concern, but his hand was sweaty. He only noticed it now, but his back was already soaked with cold sweat. He smiled and shook his head. ¡°It¡¯s really okay. We¡¯ve taken off, right?¡± The stress was definitely less after taking off. There would be another challenge when theynded, though. Woojoo told the members not to worry about him and closed his eyes. He felt sleepy as the tension eased. He stayed up all night because of the flight, but it seemed to work. He would be fine after a nap. Woojoo rxed his stiff body and left the rest to sleep. ¡°I did it¡­!¡± ¡°What did you do? You crazy person.¡± ¡°I feel much better after sleeping. Hey.¡± Rihyuk narrowed his eyes and stared at Woojoo as he stretched. ¡°Are you really okay? You always say you¡¯re okay.¡± ¡°Of course.¡± Woojoo patted his shoulder and smiled. ¡°Your concern for me is very touching. Don¡¯t forget that and do well in the future.¡± ¡°You¡¯re fine, really fine.¡± Woojoo smiled as he watched Rihyuk shake his head vigorously. Meanwhile, he was serious. Woojoo had slept like a log for almost two hours after getting off the ne, and he felt refreshed. He was the type who could easily shake off stress with a little sleep. Of course, the fans were still there, just like before. The same ne, the same airport. They followed them and took pictures as he walked with their siblings. ¡°Should we just run away, Hyung?¡± Junghyun asked him, and Woojoo shook his head. ¡°What about Bijoo? He may have more stamina than Rihyuk, but he¡¯s only one battery level ahead. He¡¯ll run out soon.¡± ¡°I can carry him and run.¡± ¡°Ho-ho. That¡¯s an option¡­¡± Woojoo admired the friendship that treated a friend like a dumbbell, but he gave up because it would be a disaster if they fell while running. An idol who got corned at the airport, they couldn¡¯t be known like that. Woojoo decided to ignore the fans. This was one of the penalties that he had to ept as they became more sessful as an idol. Woojoo could try to deal with them if they followed them to the taxi or if they were clearly stalking them, but it was impossible to handle them at this level. The good thing was,pared to the past TNT or Teen Spirit, who had simr poprity to them, they were only one-tenth as bad. Woojoo thought the reason why TNT moved their dorm for the first time was because a Chinese fan bought the next door. Teen Spirit was not even worth mentioning. They used to say ¡®fucking¡¯ to the fans as usual, but the fans were stimted by that and increased. Anyway, you couldn¡¯t enjoy only the good things. ¡°Ah.¡± Woojoo had a good idea. While the staff were taking care of the luggage and the managers were surrounding them, Woojoo told the members. ¡°I came up with a good solution.¡± ¡°What is it?¡± ¡°Let¡¯s buy our own ne when we seed.¡± ¡°¡­¡± Woojoo couldn¡¯t see their expressions because they were wearing masks, but their eyes were dull. They looked at each other and widened their eyes. ¡°Honestly, it¡¯s tempting.¡± ¡°If you shorten it, it¡¯s sol-sol.¡± ¡°Wait a minute. I¡¯ll search for the ne prices.¡± Jiho scolded Bijoo, who was holding his phone. ¡°Hyung, what are you going to do if you search for a ne on a priceparison site?¡± ¡°Oh¡­ That¡¯s why only toys came out.¡± ¡°Leave it to me.¡± The youngest, who was frustrated by the slow search of the Hyungs, moved his fingers quickly. ¡°I found a cheap model. It¡¯s owned by a famous Chinese star, and it¡¯s 30 billion won, which is pretty cheap.¡± ¡°¡­¡± ¡°This is a Gulfstream that Hollywood stars ride. It¡¯s about 80 billion won. If you take out the options and get a discount, it¡¯s about 75 billion won¡­?¡± ¡°¡­¡± Woojoo asked seriously, ¡°Can we do a joint purchase? With Street Boys or other idols, one Nth of it.¡± ¡°Aha.¡± Rihyuk asked me kindly, ¡°Are you all going to give up your entire fortune?¡± ¡°¡­¡± ¡°Be realistic. What Jiho just said is the price of the aircraft without operating costs. If you think about maintenance and fuel costs, it will cost several hundred million won a year.¡± ¡°It¡¯s not several hundred million won.¡± ¡°Really?¡± Themoners were happy, thinking it was cheap. The youngest smiled brightly. ¡°It¡¯s about 5 billion won.¡± ¡°¡­¡± They gave up on the private jet right away. So they decided to try renting a ne, a charter ne, when they seededter. TJ Entertainment also rode a charter ne when they had their concert. But the charter ne was also unrealistic as they talked about it, and they all had gloomy faces. ¡°You never know,¡± Junghyun said. ¡°We might hit it bigter and fly around in a private jet.¡± ¡°That¡¯s right. One Billboard No. 1 would do it.¡± ¡°I¡¯m going for an Academy Award.¡± They were so excited. It was hard to imagine themselves sitting on a private jet, sipping chocte milk, because it seemed so far-fetched. Only Junghyun had a serious expression, saying ¡°I¡¯m not joking.¡± Woojoo said with a smile, ¡°Okay, let¡¯s buy a private jet when we hit it big. Assuming we keep doing well at this rate¡­¡± Woojoo asked Rihyuk to do the math. His eyes lifted up as he muttered like a magic spell, then he held up five fingers. ¡°Five years?¡± ¡°Fifty years.¡± They all burst intoughter. ¡°We can take it when we go to our 70th birthday party.¡± ¡°Wow. We can do a world tour for our 50th debut anniversary. Let¡¯s take our grandsons and granddaughters too.¡± ¡°Subtitle: Searching for Youth.¡± ¡°Hahaha!¡± They imagined themselves on stage, wrinkled and old, and their Souffl¨¦s waving their light sticks slowly with patches on their wrists. The concert hall where they looked at each other with affection, saying ¡°Oppa, you¡¯re still alive¡­!¡± and ¡°You¡¯ve aged a lot too¡­!¡± Suddenly, Woojoo remembered the old fan meeting joke, when they said they would go to the Daejeon Expo where all the Souffl¨¦s from around the world would gather. Maybe they could rent a whole ne if they became world-famous. Theyughed as they imagined the global scale. Maybe because of that conversation, Woojoo felt less anxious about the fans. ¡°Guys, let¡¯s go.¡± They followed the staff who had packed their bags. Seokhwan Hyung, who had finished talking to the local coordinator, said, ¡°There are quite a lot of Japanese fans waiting for you, so be careful.¡± ¡°Really?¡± ¡°More than you think.¡± They looked at each other and smiled. It seemed like there were fans waiting for them here, just like when they went to Taiwan or Shanghai. Woojoo took off his mask, and Rihyuk asked me with a surprised face. ¡°Why did you suddenly take off your mask?¡± ¡°The Japanese Souffl¨¦s have never seen our faces before. We have to show them our bare faces.¡± ¡°¡­¡± The kids looked at Woojoo with a strange expression. Was his answer that impressive? Woojoo chuckled to himself, and Rihyuk said with a pitying look, ¡°Hey.¡± ¡°What, I was cool, right?¡± ¡°Wipe off the saliva mark on your mouth first. It shows.¡± ¡°Oops¡­¡± While Woojoo used his phone as a mirror to make his face look human, the kids walked with excited faces. Especially Rihyuk, he seemed to be floating on air. He was mumbling with a slightly flushed white face, as if he was preparing a Japanese greeting. ¡°Are you going to greet them in Japanese?¡± ¡°Yes.¡± Rihyuk smiled. ¡°You don¡¯t know how long I¡¯ve been waiting for this day. Finally, I can use it in real life.¡± ¡°¡­They won¡¯t hear you, though.¡± Usually, when they visited overseas, they felt this way, but their voices were almost drowned out by the screams of the Souffl¨¦s. Sure enough. ¡°Kyaaaah!¡± They were startled by the sound of the fans who were waiting for them. As they waved their hands and greeted the Japanese Souffl¨¦s, Rihyuk took a deep breath. Then he greeted them¡­ ¡°Mina-san¡­!¡± ¡°Waaaaah!¡± ¡°Mina¡­¡± ¡°Aaaaaah!¡± Theyughed as they watched Rihyuk desperately trying to use his Japanese. The same day. A Japanese entertainment news program. [Here is today¡¯s show business news.] A humorous narration came on. [A K-pop concert at Saitama Super Arena. Here is the scene of the popr Korean idols arriving in Japan this morning.] The background screen that said ¡®K-Pop Concert¡¯ disappeared, and a brief scene of the idols arriving in Japan was shown. A circle in the bottom right corner showed the faces of the Japanese panelists. The faces of the idols waving at the airport sh on the screen. [New ck, the shining number one on the Korean music chart, has arrived. A boy group of five with prince-like beauty that makes girls go crazy!] The scene of the fans flocking to greet New ck makes the panelists widen their eyes. They seemed to wonder who they were to receive such a frenzy. The bald male panelist smiled broadly at the picture-like beauty of Seon Woojoo, who was waving his hand. And then. [Mina-san! Konnichiwa!] The Japanese words were marked in bold white captions. The member with a snow-white face tried hard to say ¡°Konnichiwa!¡± but his voice was drowned out by the fans¡¯ cheers. He raised his tone, but he was still buried. The sight of Seo Rihyuk, who was sadly saying ¡°Konnichiwa!¡± The female panelist murmured ¡°Kawaii¡­¡± with her eyes wide open, and the news about the K-pop concert began in earnest. Their debut in Japan was sessful. They had so many fans without doing anything¡­ It wasn¡¯t a huge crowd, but considering the nature of the Japanese entertainment industry, where they had to start from scratch and grow with separate promotions, this amount of fans was very encouraging. The news of their arrival was delivered to the PR Team by their managers, and they were so excited that they sent out press releases to the reporters like crazy. Even after they got into the car driven by the local coordinator, Woojoo could see the fans waving cards with ¡®Woo Jenmin¡¯ or ¡®James¡¯ outside the window. ¡­Howe they were all the same, even though they had different nationalities? They didn¡¯t have to be the same. Seokhwan Hyung exined to them while they were leaving Haneda Airport. ¡°You know your reality show, right? ¡®It¡¯s The New ck.¡¯ The one that aired on HBS MTV. It was broadcasted on MTV Japan.¡± ¡°Ah¡­¡± Woojoo should bow to the reality show PDter. They also got a lot of reactions in Taiwan thanks to their reality show, and Japan seemed to be simr. Woojoo tilted his head. ¡°But is that enough to have fans?¡± ¡°Well, it seems like there are quite a few ways to get to know you guys. First of all, if you watch Korean variety shows, you can¡¯t miss you guys.¡± ¡°We did appear a lot¡­¡± The idol fans jokingly called them ¡®Double ck¡¯. They said you couldn¡¯t avoid New ck if you turned on the TV, look at the music charts, or browsed SNS or YouTube. One idol fan went to a temple stay and found a ginseng with a New ck photo on it, and that was where the joke started. ¡°They¡¯re everywhere¡­¡± ¡°That¡¯s awesome¡­¡± ¡°Right? Hyung. We must have rolled a lot.¡± Woojoo smiled contentedly and said, ¡°We¡¯ll roll more.¡± They were getting good results for their hard work. They had cut down on sleep and activities for theireback. Seokhwan Hyung shrugged his shoulders. ¡°Well, it¡¯s hard to pinpoint the exact reason why fans were created. Thepany did a survey on your overseas fans, asking them why they became fans and stuff like that.¡± ¡°Oh, what was the reason?¡± ¡°Because you¡¯re handsome.¡± ¡°¡­¡± ¡°Because you¡¯re handsome.¡± ¡°¡­¡± Woojooughed and asked, ¡°What about being good on stage, or being funny?¡± ¡°¡­Oh, that was also a reason. Being good on stage was second. Being funny was third.¡± ¡°Oh, really. As expected.¡± ¡°About 13 percent.¡± ¡°¡­¡± ¡°First ce was 80 percent. If you include the fun of looking at your faces, it¡¯s about 84 percent.¡± Woojoo wondered for a moment whether he should be happy or not, and then he decided to cheer and have fun. He looked around the window and tried to find the differences from Korea. He was amazed to see that the driver¡¯s seat was on the right. He did various things to pass the time, but there was one thing that took up most of the time. ¡°Jiho, Jiho. Do that. Do that.¡± ¡°Wait a minute.¡± He made a holy expression and said, ¡°Mina-san~ Seo Rihyuk-desu~¡± and they pped and giggled. Rihyuk patted Jiho¡¯s back. ¡°Are you trying to kill me? When did I ever do that?¡± ¡°Hey, what¡¯s wrong with that? It¡¯s exactly the same.¡± ¡°I didn¡¯t do that, okay?¡± ¡°Really?¡± Woojoo imitated Rihyuk¡¯s expression perfectly and raised one hand to shout. ¡°Mina-san¡­!¡± His greeting was drowned out by the fans¡¯ screams as he made a faint and sad face. ¡°Konnichiwa¡­!¡± ¡°Hahaha!¡± ¡°Wow, amazing. They say the original is the best, and it¡¯s true. How can you express Rihyuk¡¯s insignificance with just one expression, Hyung?¡± Everyone was pping like seals, except for someone who was sighing with a red face and telling them to get out. They felt happy as they sacrificed Rihyuk¡¯s pride. Then they heard about the schedule. ¡°After checking in at the hotel, we¡¯ll go to the venue where there¡¯s a separate booth. We¡¯ll also have some events there.¡± Seokhwan Hyung smiled at Rihyuk as he looked at the dense schedule written on the A4 paper. ¡°There are also some talk segments, so I¡¯ll ask you to speak Japanese well, Rihyuk.¡± ¡°Why are you doing this to me, Manager?¡± ¡°Because it¡¯s fun,¡± Seokhwan Hyung said with a benevolent smile. ¡°Rihyuk is the special MC for the K-pop concert tomorrow, right?¡± ¡°Yes¡­¡± ¡°I¡¯ll ask you to do well on that too. Just like before.¡± ¡°¡­¡± Theyughed and snickered. ¡°After the concert, we¡¯ll have a separate promotion in Tokyo. We¡¯ll probably have some free time on thest day.¡± ¡°Wait a minute, Manager.¡± The stylist manager interrupted. ¡°Woojoo, no floral clothes during your free time!¡± ¡°Absolutely not! They look like yakuza clothes.¡± ¡°Don¡¯t even buy them! No floral pajamas either.¡± The stylists shouted in unison, ¡®No floral clothes for casual wear!¡¯, and the younger ones also shouted, ¡®No!¡¯ Tears blurred Woojoo¡¯s vision. He brought three sets¡­ As they listened to the exnation about the photoshoot and magazine interview schedule, Seokhwan Hyung asked Woojoo something as if he remembered something. He looked a bit uneasy. ¡°By the way, Woojoo.¡± ¡°Yes?¡± ¡°There¡¯s a personal schedule that came in for you¡­ I think I need to ask you about your intention for this.¡± ¡°A personal schedule?¡± ¡°Yeah. It¡¯s a casting request from a Japanese terrestrial TV show.¡± ¡°Me?¡± That was nonsense. It was such a ridiculous story. Woojoo got a casting request from a terrestrial TV program in a country where he set foot for the first time today? He looked puzzled and the manager exined. Chapter 260: Trantor: MarcTempest Editor: Rxel Chapter 260 ¡°It¡¯s a show called ¡®Strange Talk Show¡¯ in Korean, and it¡¯s a pretty majoredy show in Japan.¡± ¡°How famous is it?¡± Woojoo was curious about Seokhwan Hyung¡¯s expression, which couldn¡¯t hide his difort. What kind of program was it that made him feel the merit of risking his uneasiness? ¡°It was one of the top-ranked programs in the Japaneseedy ratingsst year. I think it was fifth.¡± ¡°Huh¡­¡±They gasped. Their hearts were pounding. It wasn¡¯t just a major level, was it? A program that ranked in the top five among the Japanese terrestrialedy shows. Woojoo understood why he was tempted. ¡°Wow¡­¡± The staff who got in the car also widened their eyes. Everyone had a simr reaction. It was understandable. They used to go around everywhere for Windflower, but before that, Seokhwan Hyung had to rub his fingers until they wore out to get on a terrestrialedy show once. He must have spent hundreds on coffee for the broadcasting station staff. But they got aedy offer from a foreign country where they weren¡¯t even famous. And from a program that popr. It was too good to be true. But maybe that was why his mind settled down. ¡°It¡¯s quite unsettling.¡± Rihyuk spoke for Woojoo. Woojoo could understand if it was Korea, but they invited him to a Japanese terrestrial TV show? Nobody knew about New ck except their fans. Was there something fishy going on, or was the format weird? "Yeah, I know. I''ve seen pictures of our seniors suffering on Japanese shows before." They were talking about the stories of how the second-generation idols got into trouble on some strange shows. Woojoo remembered there was a senior who yed tag with a dolphin on a Japanese show. The manager shook his head. "The format is normal. It''s one of the gentler shows among the variety shows. It''s a bit more stimting than ours, though." "Really?" "It''s somewhere between a variety show and a talk show. It''s a program where they invite guests and do some talk or games. The MCs are a famous trio ofedians." "¡­¡­That sounds okay." It was a major show with a normal format. Woojoo thought for a while and asked, "Then the only problem is why they called me alone, leaving the others behind. That''s the issue, right, Hyung?" "Yeah. That''s it." "Why did they cast me?" "It has something to do with your father." "¡­¡­My father?" Woojoo didn''t expect to hear about Dad here. He exined, "Your father must have been very popr in Japan. People still remember his name. It''s also a country that''s very interested in this kind of field." Dad was popr in Japan. Woojoo didn¡¯t know much about it, since most of the photos on the inte were from America or Europe. He heard that his dad, Seon Myungjoo, was as popr as the current Korean wave in Japan in the 90s. He started his career in Korea, then moved to Japan, and eventually expanded his activities to the world. Here, he was treated like a national artist. In Japan, he was called a ¡®genius musician nurtured by Asia¡¯. ¡­The nuance was a bit annoying, but he had to let it go. ¡°They were quite interested in you when you debuted as an idol here. Of course, not many people know that yet.¡± ¡°So they want me to appear as the son of a famous pianist.¡± ¡°Well, yeah.¡± Woojoo was convinced by the reason for appearing. It was a story of a foreign artist¡¯s son who became an idol and started his activities in Japan. But Seokhwan Hyung wouldn¡¯t be bothered by this reason. It wasn¡¯t bad objectively, as far as he could see. If he didn¡¯t consider his personal preferences, this was an opportunity to make New ck¡¯s name known to the Japanese public in one go. Then what was the problem? Thanks to the years of umted eye candy, his mind quickly rolled. ¡°It¡¯s the guest, isn¡¯t it?¡± ¡°¡­How did you know?¡± Seokhwan Hyung flinched and Woojoo¡¯s younger siblings blinked their eyes, wondering what he was talking about. ¡°It¡¯s obvious that there won¡¯t be only one foreigner on that kind of show. There must be another guest who will appear with me.¡± If the ratings were good, the format was decent, and the reason for casting was usible, there was only one problem left. The guest. They must have had a reason to call him out, leaving out the other members. Seokhwan Hyung nodded. ¡°Yeah. That guest is a bit suspicious.¡± ¡°Who is it?¡± ¡°His name is Hashimoto Kenta, a promising pianist in Japan.¡± ¡°¡­?¡± ¡°His father was in a rival-like rtionship with your father in Japan back then.¡± ¡°Really¡­?¡± Woojoo tried to recall. Woojoo thought of the lineup of people who were his dad¡¯s friends when he was a kid, but none of them matched the name. And there was something strange. ¡°My dad didn¡¯t have any rivals.¡± Seon Myungjoo was the overwhelming number one in the industry. That was why he was able to receive apuse from ces like America and Europe at that time. If he had a rival, Woojoo, his son, would have known. ¡°Are they mistaken over there?¡± ¡°They say he¡¯s famous here. As a rival.¡± ¡°¡­What?¡± Was his memory wrong? If he was such a person, his dad would have mentioned him at least once. He seemed like someone who had little presence in his dad¡¯s mind. ¡°So¡­ they want you to appear with the son of his rival?¡± ¡°Yes.¡± Bijoo narrowed his eyes at Seokhwan¡¯s words. ¡°I think it¡¯s suspicious. Aren¡¯t they trying to promote their own pianist by calling you, Woojoo?¡± ¡°That¡¯s right. They might suddenly challenge you to a piano duel.¡± ¡°I¡¯m uneasy. This is really uneasy.¡± ¡°I don¡¯t have a bad feeling, but something is a bit¡­¡± The siblings¡¯ weight shifted to the opposite side. Seokhwan also looked a bit relieved at their reaction. He must have been reluctant inside. Objectively, it was a golden opportunity to raise their poprity, but on the other hand, it was also uneasy. But it was awkward to refuse without asking the artist¡¯s opinion. And there should have been at least one person who would say, ¡®This is a chance, why don¡¯t you go for it?¡¯ But the staff joined in and they all said, ¡®Woojoo, this is too risky¡¯ and dissuaded him in unison. Finally, Woojoo opened his lips. ¡°I appreciate the opportunity, but I¡¯ll decline.¡± Woojoo didn¡¯t know if the poprity would be a plus or a minus at this point. They would gain poprity, of course. But if they edited it maliciously, he could be branded with a bad impression before they even started their activities. And there was a realistic problem. ¡°If I go on the show, I have to talk about the rival rtionship they want. But I don¡¯t know anything about it. It would be weird to lie.¡± ¡°Should I tell the agency to reject it?¡± ¡°Yeah. Please do.¡± The siblings and the staff seemed worried that Woojoo might regret it, so they told him he did well. ¡°You did well, Hyung.¡± Junghyun smiled warmly. ¡°You shouldn¡¯t follow someone who offers you something delicious, right?¡± ¡°¡­Thanks, Junghyun.¡± ¡°Do you want some jelly?¡± He praised Woojoo like a good child and handed me a jelly. Woojoo ate it diligently with a subtle feeling. The hotel they had booked in Tokyo came into view. ¡°They will appear.¡± In the meeting room of Japan¡¯s NTN broadcasting station, a man spoke with confidence. ¡°It¡¯s a win-win for both sides. There¡¯s no reason not to appear.¡± ¡°Do you really think they will appear?¡± ¡°100 percent.¡± The PD said, ¡°The other side is an idol who wants to start his activities in Japan. You know how hard it is for Korean idols to make a ce here.¡± Even the popr idols from the big agencies in Korea had to invest several years from the bottom to gain poprity in the Japanese market. New ck was a rookie group from a small agency that had just debuted. They couldn¡¯t afford to refuse the offer from a famous terrestrial TV show. ¡°It¡¯s a win-win situation. They can gain recognition, and Kenta-kun can spread his image as a genius pianist even more.¡± ¡°I¡¯m looking forward to it.¡± The middle-aged man sitting across from him, Hashimoto Genji, smiled contentedly. Next to the smiling representative pianist of Japan was a handsome young man drinking tea. Hashimoto Kenta. He was a rising star in the Japanese ssical music scene, and a promising talent who had won several awards in variouspetitions. He smiled brightly and asked, ¡°What should I prepare for the broadcast, PD-nim?¡± ¡°Just rx. Kenta-kun, you¡¯re a picture just by sitting still.¡± ¡°You¡¯re too kind. I think the PD-nim is the one who creates that broadcast image for me.¡± ¡°Hahaha.¡± Kenta-kun was always polite, he thought as heughed out loud. Then he said to the two men, ¡°We¡¯ll do a talk and a game as well. I think they¡¯ll have a limit inmunication because they¡¯ll use an interpreter, so they¡¯ll take a moderate amount of time. The focus is clearly on Kenta-kun.¡± ¡°Hmm¡­¡± Hashimoto Genji stroked his chin. ¡°What about a game, like a piano duel? How about adding something like that?¡± ¡°Indeed. You know the point that the viewers will find interesting, sensei. I¡¯ll actively consider it.¡± ¡°You¡¯re working hard.¡± Hashimoto Genji replied with a smile. Then he thought of a man. Seon Myungjoo. A Korean jazz pianist who appeared like aet when Hashimoto was making his ce in Japan. He was called his rival, who had reached a mature level at a young age, but soon he grew to a global level, shedding the title of rival. ¡®¡­I¡¯m still bitter.¡¯ The bitter memory of defeat still lingered in a corner of his heart. Hashimoto¡¯s gaze turned to his youngest son. That kid was a Korean idol, right? K-pop or whatever, but he couldn¡¯tpare with his son, who was a promising star in the ssical music scene. ¡®My son will be the one who bes known worldwide.¡¯ His son, who was a hopeful in the ssical music scene, was going to make his face more widely known through the broadcast. This talk show appearance would be the opportunity for that. A special episode where the sons of the two pianists who were rivals in the past met. He would use this as a stepping stone to go higher. Of course, this was not only beneficial for him. It wasn¡¯t bad for them either. As the PD said, they also needed recognition in Japan. ¡°How should we set the keywords? The fathers of the princes are the rivals of the century? Or the rivals of fate?¡± ¡°How about the rivals of destiny?¡± ¡°That¡¯s good too.¡± The PD smiled brightly, and everyone around the table drank tea in a friendly atmosphere. ¡°PD-nim!¡± The door of the meeting room opened and the production staff came in. ¡°What¡¯s going on?¡± ¡°It¡¯s about the appearance of New ck¡¯s Woojoo.¡± ¡°Oh, it¡¯s finally happening.¡± The PD smiled and asked with anticipation, ¡°Really? What did they say? They agreed to appear?¡± ¡°They said no.¡± ¡°¡­What?¡± The PD straightened his posture and asked, ¡°Who said no?¡± ¡°New ck¡¯s Woojoo.¡± ¡°¡­.¡± The PD paused and looked puzzled. ¡°Why?¡± ¡°They said it¡¯s their principle to only appear as a group.¡± ¡°I see.¡± As he regained hisposure, Hashimoto Genji asked with a worried face, ¡°Is this going to mess up the n?¡± ¡°Absolutely not.¡± The PD said, ¡°They¡¯re being picky for rookies. They must be trying to negotiate for a group appearance. In this case, we have to be firm.¡± He told the staff, ¡°Tell them they don¡¯t have to appear if they don¡¯t want to.¡± ¡°Yes, PD-nim.¡± ¡°Emphasize that five is too much. Be decisive.¡± He expected them to beg for at least one appearance. ¡®They¡¯ll change their tune soon.¡¯ The PD smiled and sipped his tea. 10 minutester. ¡°They said no.¡± ¡°¡­.¡± ¡°They rejected right away, but there was nothing we could do.¡± ¡°¡­.¡± As the pianist family turned their heads, the PD¡¯s face became anxious. In the car heading to the K-pop concert venue. ¡°They invited us as a group this time?¡± ¡°Yeah.¡± ¡°Didn¡¯t they say no just a while ago? Didn¡¯t they tell us not to appear if we didn¡¯t want to?¡± ¡°They did. I don¡¯t know what¡¯s going on either.¡± They refused to appear unless it was as a group, and then they told them not to appear as if they were waiting. They thought it was over when they agreed, but then they came back with a proposal to agree on a group appearance. It was more suspicious. And then¡­. ¡°Why are you so hesitant? Tell them we¡¯re not going, Hyung.¡± ¡°He says he¡¯s noting.¡± ¡°¡­¡± ¡°He says one of the members, Junghyun, is not feeling welltely and it¡¯s going to be hard¡­¡± ¡°¡­¡± The PD blinked his eyes. He suddenly remembered a scene from a famous Korean variety show that he had found while doing research. ¡®He even caught a goat-like monster¡­?¡¯ The production staff spoke. ¡°PD-nim, what should we do with the props we bought for the shooting? Should we get a refund?¡± ¡°¡­¡± ¡°We have to write a new script now¡­¡± ¡°¡­¡± ¡°PD-nim?¡± ¡°¡­¡± The PD had a nk expression on his face. His hand that was holding a cup of tea trembled slightly. Drip- ¡°PD-nim. Are you okay? The tea spilled on your clothes¡­¡± The production staff hurriedly handed him a tissue. As the tea stained the PD¡¯s clothes, the faces of the three men turned dark as mud. It was the moment when their n went wrong from the first step. He couldn¡¯t understand. ¡®The n was perfect¡­¡¯ He thought who would refuse such an opportunity, but an unexpected variable urred. The n was supposed to bepleted when New ck¡¯s Woojoo appeared on the TV variety show. It had to be that way¡­ But New ck didn¡¯te. ¡®He¡¯s noting.¡¯ ¡®Is he really noting?¡¯ Their n was perfect. It was just that New ck didn¡¯t show up¡­ He thought there was no one as persistent as the PD of Men Go. But the ranking changed after the visit to Japan. To the production team of the bizarre talk show. He made an excuse that Junghyun¡¯s condition was not good, and then asked when he would get better. He said they could adjust the shooting schedule as much as they wanted. It was like asking someone who refused by saying ¡®I¡¯m going to the temple on Saturday¡¯, ¡®I¡¯m going to church on Sunday¡¯, if they had no empty schedule for a year. ¡°Interview?¡± ¡°Hashimoto¡¯s side suggested doing a joint interview.¡± ¡°¡­They¡¯re really persistent.¡± ¡°They have a past connection, and they want to get closer with this opportunity.¡± Woojooughed when he heard they offeredvish meals. At first, he couldn¡¯t guess their intention, but by now it was clear what they wanted. Some might wonder who would fall for this, but they proposed all kinds of tempting things. Maybe it was an offer they would have sumbed to if they were in a precarious situation. But they were not in a hurry. The Japanese market was important for the overseas K-pop scene, but they were not so desperate that they had to grab at straws. They were doing well in Korea, and more importantly, they had good signs in Japan. ¡°Kyaaaaa!¡± The event hall was specially prepared at the convention center. They were at the fan booth, doing the pre-concert event. There were so many Souffl¨¦s. Every time they waved their hands, screams erupted, and camera shutters sounded loudly. Woojoo saw some Korean fans¡¯ faces here and there. ¡°So cute. So cute.¡± ¡°Woojoo!¡± ¡°Jenmin-¡± Who was that? Thest one. Woojoo rolled his eyes at the younger ones who giggled at Jenmin¡¯s name. Bijoo, who wasughing, stopped and looked at the sky when he heard ¡®James!¡¯. This time Woojoo pped andughed. Bijoo¡¯s eyes narrowed, and their youngest cheered him on, pping hard. ¡°Fight. Fight. Break up.¡± ¡°Why are you like that?¡± ¡°Well, of course¡­¡± ¡°Of course?¡± ¡°If you two fight, you¡¯ll both try to impress me.¡± ¡°Wow. Our youngest has amazing thoughts.¡± Woojoo shook his head as he apuded. ¡°That¡¯s not it. If you fight with me and Bijoo, you¡¯ll get a shuttle talk. Jiho, tell Bijoo to calm down. Like this.¡± Bijoo joined in with a smile. ¡°Yeah. Jiho. Tell Woojoo Hyung to eat.¡± ¡°Jiho. Tell Bijoo I got it.¡± ¡°Jiho. Jiho.¡± ¡°Jiho~ Jiho~¡± ¡°¡­Just don¡¯t fight and live happily ever after. Please.¡± They chuckled at the youngest who covered his ears. It was a fun atmosphere. Woojoo felt uplifted every time he talked to the fans at the noisy booth. It seemed like life was simr everywhere, even though they were abroad. Just like in Korea, there were people who tried to use them, and on the other hand, there were fans who looked at them with love-filled eyes. Taiwan, Shanghai, Singapore, Japan¡­ Wherever they went, Souffl¨¦s¡¯ expressions were the same as ever. Maybe Woojoo could say their eyes sparkled like pebbles in the clear stream. He tried to memorize their eyes as if he was holding pretty stones in his hand. ¡°Will youe to the concert tomorrow?¡± ¡°Yes!¡± While Rihyukmunicated with them in Japanese and they pped like seals, thepany staff smiled at the sold-out goods. On the other hand, the Japanese fans looked sad. Woojoo wondered if they would soon learn the name of their boss. Maybe they would say ¡®Kyuho Jjang¡­¡¯ or something like that. ¡°I¡¯m so happy to meet you all!¡± And then, the most excited person today was Rihyuk. He grinned widely, and Woojoo hadn¡¯t seen him smile like that since he opened the box of a robot vacuum cleaner. Even after the event was over, his face was flushed. ¡°Isn¡¯t it great to be able to use what you learned? I¡¯m going to use Japanese without any hesitation.¡± He said that and added ¡®Wait for me, Spain¡­! South America¡­!¡¯ as a preview, making Woojoough. ¡°By the way, why don¡¯t you guys use Japanese? You can speak more than basic conversation, right?¡± When they smiled quietly, he noticed. ¡°Don¡¯t tell me you¡¯re holding back for me. You don¡¯t have to do that.¡± ¡°Why?¡± ¡°Well, even if you don¡¯t, I¡¯m the best at it. I don¡¯t feel threatened or anything when someone else speaks Japanese. Never.¡± He emphasized ¡®never¡¯. He smiled confidently, saying that no one studied as hard as he did. They said they knew. That was when Woojoo smiled quietly. ¡°Guys, let¡¯s go to the next event!¡± ¡°Yes!¡± Thest event of the day was a talk concert where they had a simple talk and yed games with the fans. The talk concert venue was set up in the center of the hall. The Souffl¨¦s screamed with joy as the five handsome men came up on the stage. ¡®It¡¯s New ck!¡¯ The five members greeted the MC and sat down. Their legs stretched out like cranes. Their eyes were drawn to the sky-blue shirts that suited each of them well. ¡°Then, please introduce yourselves.¡± As the interpreter tranted the MC¡¯s remark, the youngest started to introduce himself. ¡°Hello. I¡¯m Jiho¡­! This is a heart of joy!¡± The fans cheered as he drew a big heart with both hands. Then, a pale face that cleared his throat grabbed the microphone. ¡°Hello. I¡¯m Seo Rihyuk, the main vocal of New ck. I¡¯m so happy to meet you, fans. Let¡¯s have fun today.¡± The fans screamed at his fluent Japanese. He was also proud of his Japanese skills, showing a petty look. ¡®He¡¯s so cute¡­¡¯ ¡®I love him so much.¡¯ ¡®He¡¯s really good at Japanese. He must have studied a lot.¡¯ Then, New ck¡¯s rapper and main dancer continued to introduce themselves. ¡°Rap rap, I¡¯m Junghyun. I love you.¡± ¡°Hello, I¡¯m Bi, Bijoo¡­! I¡¯m in charge of dancing in New ck!¡± The leader grabbed the mic and shed a smile like a flower. ¡°Hello, I¡¯m Woojoo. Thank you foring today, Souffl¨¦.¡± A moment of admiration flowed among the Japanese Souffl¨¦s. ¡®What the hell.¡¯ ¡®I thought he was Japanese¡­¡¯ If Rihyuk spoke with sophisticated vocabry like a local, this one had amazing pronunciation even with basic vocabry. The fans looked amazed by his natural pronunciation, as if he could be called a local. ¡°¡­!¡± Rihyuk¡¯s face, sitting nearby, began to be colored with a sense of crisis. Chapter 261: Chapter 261: Trantor: MarcTempest Editor: Rxel Chapter 261 It was when Woojoo smiled at the flustered Rihyuk. ¡°Uh¡­?¡± The MC, who was looking at the progress card, lifted his head. ¡°Woojoo, your pronunciation is amazing. You sound like a real Japanese.¡± ¡°Thank you.¡± ¡°I heard that Rihyuk was the best at it, but there was an unexpected talent here!¡±The Souffl¨¦s showed a curious reaction. They looked at Woojoo as if he was a legendary Pokemon. ¡°You sound like a local. I wouldn¡¯t know you¡¯re Korean if I closed my eyes and listened.¡± At that remark, Junghyun closed his eyes slightly, and the MC and the Souffl¨¦sughed. After a brief conversation about Woojoo¡¯s Japanese skills, they proceeded to the Q&A about the K-pop concert. How did they feel about performing with the seniors, how excited were they for tomorrow¡¯s concert, what was their impression of Japan. Woojoo answered without hesitation, as most of the questions were expected. There weren¡¯t many questions about his Japanese skills, and they didn¡¯t seem to be that amazed. It wasn¡¯t enough to surprise them. Compared to the Chinese that he studied to the native level to survive in TJ, Japanese was a level where he had to recall the vocabry in his head while speaking. ¡°ording to our prior research, Woojoo is called a nguage genius¡¯. You were mistaken for a local in Taiwan, right?¡± ¡°That¡¯s right.¡± ¡°A lot of people, including me, are curious. What¡¯s your secret?¡± The members¡¯ ears perked up at the same time. Woojoo gave an awkward smile to the Souffl¨¦s who looked at him like a TOEIC teacher. ¡°I just studied hard, rather than having a secret.¡± ¡°It feels like a Tokyo University student¡¯s entrance interview. I see.¡± Woojoo had no choice. Everyone. He saved a grandfather who was driving a rear car, and after that, he could imitate anyone by looking at their lip movements or vocal cord muscles. Ta-da! Haha! ¡­If he said that, he would wake up in some researchb the next day. Where his grandmother couldn¡¯t even visit. It was a terrible thing. As the attention kept on him, he decided to change the topic. ¡°Actually, I¡¯m only good at pronunciation. The realnguage master is Rihyuk. He¡¯s an amazing friend.¡± ¡°That¡¯s right. Rihyuk seems to be very good at it too.¡± Everyone looked at Rihyuk. His cheeks, which had been tense with a sense of crisis, quickly turned red. ¡°Ahem¡­¡± A faint blush rose over his pale face. Rihyuk, who grabbed the microphone, pressed his cheek that was about to burst into mes. ¡°Thank you for thepliment. I wanted to talk to you, so I studied Japanese hard. It was rewarding.¡± When he said, ¡°Let¡¯s discuss together,¡± the Souffl¨¦s waved their hands and said, ¡°Wow,¡± and his nose got higher. Woojoo grabbed the microphone and lifted the mood. ¡°How about it, everyone! Rihyuk is great at Japanese, right?¡± ¡°Wow¡­¡± ¡­That was not the reaction he wanted. The fans¡¯ eyes that were directed at Rihyuk quickly turned to him. Oops. This was not right. As Woojoo waved his hands frantically, embarrassed, the audience burst intoughter at the sight of him gesturing to look at Rihyuk. ¡°¡­¡± He looked annoyed among them. Rihyuk felt a pang of resentment. ¡®How did I end up on the same team as this guy¡­?¡¯ He had studied so hard all this time¡­! Even in the busy schedule, he memorized foreignnguages that he would need abroad. When Bijoo Hyung was cutting rice cakes, he wrote Japanese sentences in his notebook. When Jiho was online shopping, he practiced pronunciation in front of the mirror. Even when Junghyun Hyung lost his appetite watching a lion running in the savanna on TV, he memorized Japanese words. Was it thanks to that? The native teacher praised him every time we met. -Rihyuk! You got 100 points on this quiz too. You¡¯re really excellent. How do you never make a mistake? -I did once. 99 points. -Wow. You¡¯re 30 points higher than Jiho. -¡­Ah! Woojoo Hyung, really! Why are youughing with the teacher? It was a pleasant memory. The native teacher said that at his level, he wouldn¡¯t be pushed back by the locals in a debate. But. ¡®I forgot who I was on the same team with.¡¯ He had forgotten that there was an alien on the team. There was someone above the one who ran, and it was Seon Woojoo, who spoke with perfect pronunciation that made the locals gasp. ¡°¡­Hahaha. Yes. That¡¯s right. Shall I say that there was such an episode?¡± Rihyuk hated the sight of him sitting next to him and talking cheekily. He always said ¡®hoee, my vocabry is short~¡¯ when he was praised, and it made him boil inside. He said his vocabry was short, but Rihyuk didn¡¯t even know what was short. He wanted to shake his clothes. That was short? That was short, huh? You, huh? If that was short, then a 2-meter ruler would be dental floss. ¡®¡­But how did he do it? Really?¡¯ He practiced in front of the mirror every day, but he couldn¡¯t even reach the native level. How did he do it? ¡®Where did he get the time?¡¯ Even if Rihyuk gave him a hundred times the benefit of the doubt and covered it with talent for his pronunciation. To be able to have a free conversation with the Japanese without an interpreter like now, he needed a lot of effort. No matter how smart he was, he needed a lot of study time, but Rihyuk wondered how he did it in the current schedule. New ck¡¯s domestic schedule was nned by the minute. And after finishing the busy schedule without a break, the vocal lesson and choreography practice started at midnight. And Woojoo Hyung had more preparations for the fourth album. And all that was left was sleep time. The conclusion was simple. He had cut into his sleeping time and studied Japanese. ¡®¡­He¡¯s crazy.¡¯ Rihyuk couldn¡¯t help butugh when he imagined him studying every day by cutting his sleep. On one hand, he sighed. ¡®This means that my Japanese studies were pointless.¡¯ He started studying with the intention of taking on some responsibility when they went abroad, since he had so many burdensome tasks to do by himself. He looked so exhausted, so Rihyuk wanted to ease his stress from foreign activities. But what was the use of this now? ¡®At least he waszy at the dorm before debut.¡¯ He would wiggle his toes when Rihyuk told him to get his clothes, and he would roll around on the living room floor when he told him to eat. But after debut, his eyes lit up and he started working at the dorm too, saying ¡®Sess! Deoksoon! Sess!¡¯ Every time Rihyuk went to the bathroom at night, he was always doing something in the living room. ¡®But isn¡¯t he shortening his life like this? He needs to live long¡­¡¯ His favorite person, King Sejong, also suffered from overwork, didn¡¯t he? Rihyuk felt worried about his health as he watched him sparkle at the foreign fans. He couldn¡¯t have any idents like this. If he had a wish-granting stone in his free time, he decided to wish for Woojoo Hyung¡¯s longevity. He was annoying 95% of the time, but Rihyuk was grateful to him for working hard for the group¡­ ¡°Do you have any cute stories? Oh! I do. Rihyuk tried to prove his strength by lifting the water dispenser bottle and he staggered! He lifted it with a sh, but his whole body trembled.¡± ¡°Hahaha! Right! Right!¡± ¡°¡­Hm? Is this a situation tough at?¡± ¡°Right! He was so cute then! Yeah,ugh, Junghyun.¡± ¡°Hahaha!¡± ¡°Hahaha!¡± ¡­They really didn¡¯t give him a chance to be thankful. These people. His ears and cheeks were burning from the fans¡¯ughter. Rihyuk, who was pping andughing ¡®Hahahat!¡¯ with the members, grabbed the mic. ¡°I also know a funny story.¡± ¡°Oh. What is it?¡± ¡°Woojoo loves floral prints. Really, he loves them so much that his room is full of flowers.¡± Jiho joined in with a grandmother-like voice, saying ¡®Obasang, obasang¡¯, and the Souffl¨¦sughed louder. Woojoo alsoughed cheerfully. ¡°But he only likes floral prints that don¡¯t suit him, so we confiscated them in arge-scale raid. We agreed to let him wear only the floral prints that Bijoo¡¯s family gave him as a gift, and we sealed the rest.¡± ¡°Wasn¡¯t it?¡± ¡°Not long ago, I went to the bathroom at dawn and I saw him sneaking into Junghyun¡¯s room.¡± ¡°¡­Huh.¡± Woojoo¡¯s face lost its smile and he said urgently, ¡°Rihyuk, let¡¯s stop there. Let¡¯s be polite.¡± ¡°It¡¯s okay. Everyone will enjoy it.¡± Woojoo¡¯s eyes red at him as he smiled with his mouth. ¡°He opened the closet drawer in Junghyun¡¯s room and carefully took out a floral print.¡± ¡°No¡­¡± ¡°¡­What¡¯s going on? Woojoo Hyung went into my room? Why?¡± ¡°That¡¯s what we¡¯re trying to hear. Junghyun.¡± ¡°Okay. How exciting.¡± Everyone looked on with excitement. ¡°As it turns out, some of the clothes we thought were sent by Bijoo¡¯s family were actually the ones I hid.¡± ¡°Wow¡­! No wonder!¡± Bijoo pped and said, ¡®There¡¯s no way my sister would pick those clothes!¡¯ The MC showed interest. ¡°You sneaked them out at night.¡± ¡°Yes. That¡¯s what I did.¡± The members nodded and murmured. ¡°I knew something was weird. New clothes kepting out no matter how many times he wore them.¡± ¡°¡­So all those clothes were hidden in Junghyun¡¯s closet all this time. Right, Hyung?¡± ¡°Wow. I had no idea I had those in my closet.¡± The trantors tranted the members¡¯ conversation cheerfully, and the fans started tough. Then the MC asked, ¡°Did you not know about this, Junghyun?¡± ¡°Yes!¡± Junghyun nodded confidently. ¡°I don¡¯t even know what¡¯s in my closet.¡± ¡°¡­You have a strange charm, Junghyun.¡± The MC smiled as if amused, and everyone¡¯s eyes turned to Woojoo. He smiled bitterly, thinking ¡®I¡¯m doomed.¡¯ Then Woojoo shivered when he saw the members looking at him with menacing eyes. ¡°¡­¡± He avoided their gaze and rolled his eyes, then shrunk like a criminal. ¡°Everyone.¡± His miserable voice echoed in the convention hall. ¡°I¡¯m sorry.¡± The members started to roar. As if they had caught their prey, they rushed towards him like a pack of hyenas. Woojoo kept saying ¡®I¡¯m sorry, I¡¯m sorry.¡¯ In the end, he made a pinky promise with Bijoo in front of the fans. ¡°Since I¡¯m promising in front of the fans, I won¡¯t wear them anymore.¡± ¡°From today¡­?¡± ¡°Yes.¡± He looked gloomy like a wilted flower. When Rihyuk smiled as if to tempt him, Woojoo pointed at him with his finger. ¡°Ah¡­! I remember! I remember why you went to the bathroom that day, Rihyuk. It just came to me.¡± ¡°¡­Wait a minute.¡± ¡°You cleaned the bathroom that dawn, right?¡± ¡°Uh. That.¡± ¡°You were scrubbing the floor with your phone shlight on. Andughing.¡± ¡°I was a bit stressed¡­¡± Rihyuk intervened hastily. ¡°Woojoo Hyung, calm down. If you do this, we¡¯ll die together.¡± ¡°I¡¯m already dead.¡± ¡°¡­I! I have another cute story!¡± ¡°Let me go first!¡± And then the expose began. ¡°He was so cute! Isn¡¯t Rihyuk adorable?¡± ¡°Woojoo is cuter!¡± ¡°No way! You¡¯re cuter!¡± ¡°No, you are! You¡¯re the best!¡± The members smiled warmly as they shoutedpliments at each other. They thought they were exposing each other, but they looked like kindergarten kids bickering. It felt more like watching red pandas rolling around than a life-or-death showdown. While the MC was hyping up the crowd and the fans were recording the scene, there were some people who were quietly staring nkly. ¡®What is this?¡¯ The Korean fans who were watching blinked their eyes. ¡®Why are they speaking Japanese?¡¯ ¡®I need subtitles.¡¯ ¡®It sounds like they¡¯re saying they¡¯re cute.¡¯ The Koreans were amazed by the rare sight of their idols having a verbal fight in Japanese in Japan. And then. ¡®¡­Why am I here?¡¯ The interpreter smiled warmly as he watched the two idol members babbling in Japanese. He couldn¡¯t help but admire. ¡®They¡¯re using advanced Japanese for a childish argument¡­¡¯ The expose ended in a draw, leaving only wounds for both sides. ¡®Not bad.¡¯ ¡®You too.¡¯ As they shook hands, Jiho looked at them with disdain. After the questions about the funny stories were over, they also did an OX corner. ¡®I think I¡¯m cute.¡¯ While everyone held up an X, the youngest held up an O and made everyoneugh. There was also a New ck dance tutorial corner led by Bijoo. He said it was easy to ride the wave, but the fans¡¯ eyes were dripping with raindrops. They also had an event where they gave a small gift to the fans who won rock-paper-scissors with them, but Woojoo had to try not to win. Woojoo sometimes won unconsciously. ¡®He¡¯s the god of rock-paper-scissors.¡¯ The younger ones praised him, and he shook hands and yed rock-paper-scissors with an elementary school fan who came up on stage. Woojoo said with a smile, ¡°I do my best no matter who I face.¡± Woojoo nned to lose, but he unknowingly beat him¡­ Oh. ¡®Did I lose?¡¯ ¡®You lost.¡¯ ¡®You lost.¡¯ Woojoo thought he won, but the elementary school Souffl¨¦ who shyly threw a rock was jumping with joy. ¡°¡­¡± What did elementary school kids have to offer? Woojoo always felt that their record against elementary schoolers was not good. He wrote his name in Korean on the sign that he made himself and handed it to Souffl¨¦. ¡°You should definitely enter the rock-paper-scissors tournament.¡± ¡°Huh?¡± ¡°You have a lot of talent in that area. Like quick thinking.¡± ¡®Talent for me¡­?¡¯ He widened his eyes as Woojoo smiled at the promising rock-paper-scissors yer. Woojoo shook hands with him lightly and waved to the fan who was leaving the stage. After finishing the talk concert in a cheerful atmosphere, they ended with theirtest song, Flower Dance. ¡°SeonWoojoo KimBijoo KimJunghyun¡­!¡± They even chanted their names in between, and Woojoo was surprised that the overseas fans knew this much. Thanks to that, they felt more pumped up than usual and performed well on stage. As the heat of the stage gradually subsided, they went down and had a high-five session with the fans who attended the event. ¡°Thank you! Did you have fun today?¡± ¡°Yes, it was great.¡± ¡°We had a great time too. Really¡­ Oh, do we have to go already?¡± There were so many fans that they didn¡¯t have enough time to talk, so they spoke quickly to each one as they came. Woojoo looked into their eyes and touched their palms, and the nervous Souffl¨¦s looked so cute that heughed. They calmly smiled and eased the fans¡¯ tension. Of course, there were moments when he was startled by some people who suddenly put on rings and wouldn¡¯t let go, or kept touching his hand¡­ But overall, it was a very happy time for us. ¡°Thank you foring!¡± ¡°See you tomorrow!¡± That was the end of the day¡¯s schedule, which started with a booth tour. After a simple dinner. They finished the concert rehearsal at the practice room they had rented in advance and the sky was dark. And then they arrived at the hotel. ¡°It¡¯s a hotel!¡± ¡°It¡¯s a room!¡± ¡°Wow-! You can see the swimming pool from here!¡± The hotel they checked in was the best one they had visited so far. They were so excited that they chatted loudly until they suddenly stopped, and Minki Hyung tilted his head. ¡°What are you guys doing? Do you smell something?¡± ¡°We¡¯re smelling the scent of sess.¡± The managers chuckled. They decided the room assignment by drawing straws, and the three two-person rooms were divided into Bijoo and Junghyun, Woojoo and Rihyuk, and the youngest who got a single room. As soon as Woojoo arrived, hey down on the bed and felt a bit less tired. In the dark night. After washing up, he saw Rihyuk sitting on the bed next to him, browsing his tablet PC. ¡°What are you doing?¡± ¡°I¡¯m reading the reviews.¡± ¡°Reviews?¡± ¡°Reviews that the fans wrote on the inte. Do you want to see them?¡± ¡°You read them to me.¡± ¡°¡­And Woojoo was amazing! He was snow-white, tall, and dazzling. His hands were warm! There¡¯s an emoticon at the end.¡± As Woojoo listened to the five-star reviews like those from a delivery app, he sat on the bed and turned on hisptop. ¡°Are you working again?¡± ¡°Yeah.¡± ¡°How do you not rest for a day?¡± ¡°I sometimes want to rest, but usually if I don¡¯t do it today, I won¡¯t do it tomorrow either.¡± Woojoo answered that he would do a little and then sleep, and the other person looked at him with curiosity. As he clicked the mouse and focused on the lines on the screen. ¡°Um, you know.¡± ¡°What. Is the mouse sound too loud?¡± ¡°What do you think of me¡­ No, that¡¯s not it. Um¡­¡± ¡°Um¡­?¡± ¡°Take it easy.¡± What was he talking about? Woojoo turned his head and saw Rihyuk rummaging through the sweet potato chips on the table by the window. ¡°I had a thought earlier. You used to roll around in the dorm, right?¡± ¡°I did.¡± ¡°But these days, it seems like you¡¯re working all day long. You should take it easy. You might copse¡­ What are you doing?¡± ¡°I might as well have some ginseng.¡± Woojoo took out a ginseng from the carrier and sucked it. Ah. This was the taste. He finished two in one sitting andughed. ¡°Okay, now I¡¯m recovered¡­!¡± ¡°What are you talking about recovery? What is that potion?¡± The guy said with annoyance, ¡°No, don¡¯t split your time studying Japanese and stuff. Just rest a little in your spare time. Like you used to. Others have a problem with losing their initial passion, but you gained it after your debut.¡± ¡°Initial passion¡­¡± Come to think of it, he stopped rolling around in the dorm at some point. He was a bit of an extreme case, but so were the younger ones. But there was no helping it. People usually thought that trainees worked harder, but in reality, professional singers practiced more. No matter howzy you were, once you debuted, you snapped out of it. Oh, if I don¡¯t do well here, I¡¯ll be pushed out right away. That was why he was running non-stop. Woojoo hadn¡¯t had any big problems so far, but he definitely could have overdone it considering their recent schedule. Even now, his eyelids were heavy, and his body was screaming for some rest. ¡°That makes sense. Initial passion.¡± ¡°Yeah. Initial passion.¡± ¡°With the same mind as then¡­¡± Rihyuk smiled as he saw Woojoo closing hisptop. Woojoo nodded andy down on the bed. The initial passion of then¡­ ¡°Rihyuk.¡± ¡°Yes.¡± ¡°I¡¯m thirsty. Bring me some water.¡± ¡°¡­¡± ¡°Find your initial passion.¡± He quivered his lips as he saw Woojoo pointing at the water bottle with his chin and smiling. Knock, knock. Woojoo heard a soft footsteps inside the hotel room. -Who is it? ¡°It¡¯s me.¡± -Oh, it¡¯s you, Hyung. I¡¯ll open it¡­ ¡°Wait.¡± -Yes? ¡°Bijoo. What if this is a fan who recorded my voice? You have to shout the password.¡± -Oh, yes! ¡­Korean history? ¡°69 points.¡± He opened the door with augh. Bijoo, who stuck out his smiling face through the gap, gasped when he saw the luggage behind Woojoo, ¡°Huh? Why did you bring your carrier, Hyung?¡± ¡°Rihyuk kicked me out.¡± ¡°¡­¡± ¡°He told me to leave after I mooched off him a little. He¡¯s so stingy¡­¡± When Woojoo told him what happened, Bijoo burst outughing and snorted. Then he gestured for him toe in. ¡°Woojoo Hyung is here.¡± He said that to the empty room. Squirm! Something that was wrapped up like a caterpir in the nket on the right bed poked its head out. ¡°Wow, you scared me!¡± ¡°Hello, Hyung.¡± ¡°¡­Yeah, yeah. Junghyun.¡± ¡°Hyung. Bijoo teased me for looking like a goblin. Is that true?¡± ¡°More like a beetlerva.¡± ¡°That¡¯s a relief.¡± The satisfied caterpir wriggled back in and disappeared. And then Woojoo remembered what he had forgotten. ¡°I came here without thinking. I should have gone to Jiho¡¯s room, not the one you two share¡­¡± ¡°Oh, no, no. Don¡¯t go, Hyung.¡± Bijoo waved his hand and smiled. ¡°I have a good idea.¡± ¡°Korean history?¡± -69 points. As Rihyuk opened the door, someone holding a suitcase handle greeted him with a warm smile. ¡°Hi.¡± ¡°¡­Wh, why are you here, Hyung?¡± ¡°I switched rooms with Woojoo Hyung.¡± ¡°¡­¡± ¡°I¡¯ll take the left one.¡± ¡°No, wait¡­¡± Rihyuk¡¯s eyes widened at the sight of Junghyun rolling around in bed. Sure enough. An hourter. Drrrrrrrrrrrr! Waaaaah! Drrrrrrrrrrr! He was tormented by the outrageous snoring. Rihyuk pressed his phone desperately. Rihyuk [Come back right now] Rihyuk [I can¡¯t sleep like this] He got a reply. Woojoo [Go to Jiho¡¯s room] Woojoo [What will Junghyun Hyung be if you leave] Woojoo [Junghyun] He quickly sent some harsh words, but the other side just chuckled. Woojoo [Let¡¯s go back to the beginning, Rihyuk-ah] Woojoo [Do you remember when we used to sleep together in one room¡­?] Woojoo [This is the beginning] In the darkness, a message rang out annoyingly, making Rihyuk¡¯s hand tremble. ¡®¡­I fell for it again.¡¯ He lowered his hand, which was pping like a paper-folding doll, and covered his ears. ¡°Nooo¡­¡± Growl. ¡°Noooo¡­¡± Grrrr! His groaning and Junghyun¡¯s snoring formed a duet that echoed in the room. Chapter 262: Chapter 262: Trantor: MarcTempest Editor: Rxel Chapter 262 Woojoo had a dream for the first time in a while. It was a dream about going to school, and he was in the same ss as the President. He had a strange way of speaking, saying ¡®Kyuho is kyu¡¯ all the time, and he was ostracized by his peers. The homeroom teacher, Bijoo, told him to take care of him since he was the ss president, and he did his best to do so. Especially from the gang of bullies led by Rihyuk, who would torment him by saying ¡®show me your attitude, posture, and paragraph¡¯. -Kyu, kyu¡­!When the President was grabbed by the cor by Jiho, Woojoo showed up. -That¡¯s enough. The President cried ¡®kyu!¡¯ and shed tears at Woojoo¡¯s appearance. But unlike the easy fight with Jiho, Woojoo had a hard time with the mid-boss, Junghyun. As they were rolling around on the floor¡­ ¡°Hyung.¡± A mouth appeared on the ssroom floor and started to speak. ¡°Hyung, wake up.¡± ¡°Huh¡­!¡± Woojoo was startled by the face of the youngest, who was looming over him. ¡°Ack!¡± When Woojoo came to his senses, he saw the youngest being held down with a jiu-jitsu technique. Jiho was pounding the bed as if to surrender, coughing and choking. ¡°Hey, let go of me!¡± ¡°Uh, sorry! I¡¯m sorry!¡± Woojoo apologized profusely to the youngest, who was pouting his lips, as he scolded him for treating him so rudely. Wow. That was a shock. Woojoo guessed he needed to take a break, as Rihyuk said. It felt like a dream caused by stress. When he regained his sense of reality from the cool air conditioner breeze and the cold touch of the nket. Bijoo, who had finished brushing his teeth, asked Woojoo, ¡°What happened?¡± ¡°Well¡­¡± Woojoo exined the dream to him, and they bothughed like crazy. Woojoo told them to keep it a secret from the President, but he doubted that Jiho¡¯s mouth, which was as light as helium, would stay quiet. When they went back to Korea, he bet that half of thepany staff would know about his dream. Woojoo turned his gaze to the youngest, who was lying on his bed and idling. ¡°By the way, what¡¯s up with our youngest? Why are you up so early?¡± ¡°Well, I was bored, so I got up early. They say the early bird sings well, right? And I wanted to film some videos, too.¡± ¡°Videos?¡± ¡°Assistant Manager Hong gave me a camera and told me to film a lot of daily vlogs in Japan. For our YouTube content.¡± ¡°I see.¡± The youngest had a small camera in his hand. ¡°I was going to go with the concept of a diligent youngest waking up thezy brothers, but I think I already failed. Bijoo is awake, and you are¡­¡± ¡°¡­¡± ¡°I think you came out really weird just now.¡± Woojoo checked the video on the camcorder and saw himself blinking awake from a light sleep, then the camera shook violently. It looked like a scene from an ident where a beast attacked. ¡°¡­¡± ¡°Let¡¯s do it again. Jiho.¡± Bijoo and Woojooy down and posed as if they were sleeping, and the youngest came over and woke them up. They both smiled and pretended to wake up, but it was so unnatural that they all gave upughing. They changed their n and got dressed and left the room. ¡°Well, shall we go and wake up Junghyun and Rihyuk?¡± ¡°Let¡¯s go!¡± They walked on the soft hotel carpet and entered the room nearby. They giggled and stood in front of the door. ¡°¡­¡± Woojoo realized something important. ¡°Hey, how do we get in?¡± ¡°¡­Oops, this is a w.¡± ¡°Jiho. How did you get into our room?¡± ¡°Bijoo Hyung opened it for me.¡± ¡°¡­¡± They blinked and looked at each other, then nodded seriously. Then. Knock, knock. -Korean history? ¡°69 points.¡± As Jiho trembled, the door opened and the bear greeted them with a toothbrush in his mouth. ¡°Oh, wee.¡± ¡°You were up.¡± ¡°Yes, Rihyuk is still sleeping¡­¡± ¡°Really?¡± It was when they sneaked into the hotel room. They went to the bed and lifted the nket, but there was nothing there. It was there, but it wasn¡¯t. What was that? As Bijoo cautiously felt the empty bed to check for Rihyuk¡¯s presence, Junghyun raised his finger. ¡°He¡¯s over there.¡± ¡°Where?¡± They turned their heads following his finger and saw Rihyuk indeed. But his position was a bit odd. ¡°¡­Why is he sleeping there?¡± ¡°I saw that at school. You know, the earthquake evacuation method.¡± Rihyuk curled up under the corner table with a nket rolled up. He looked like a picture from a drama, where the protagonist was humiliated because of a lottery and sat miserably with his face buried in his hands. He must have snored quite loudly, because he made a hat out of the nket like an Eskimo. ¡°He¡¯s alive, right?¡± ¡°He¡¯s only weak in physical strength. He¡¯s actually quite tough, so he¡¯ll be fine.¡± Bijoo bent down and tapped Rihyuk on the shoulder. ¡°Rihyuk.¡± ¡°¡­¡± ¡°Rihyuk. It¡¯s me, your brother.¡± ¡°¡­Huh?¡± Rihyuk, who was shivering like a fish that had just woken up from a deep sleep, opened his eyes with a bewildered expression. Bijoo asked him, ¡°Why are you here like this?¡± ¡°I tried to sleep, but the snoring was too loud¡­ This was the quietest ce.¡± ¡°I see¡­¡± ¡°I guess I shouldn¡¯t have slept here. I¡¯m so cold¡­¡± As Bijooforted him with a pitying look, Rihyuk¡¯s gaze turned to Woojoo. He looked wide awake. ¡°You¡­!¡± ¡°Good morning.¡± ¡°You¡­ I¡¯ll get back at you¡­!¡± ¡°Want some red ginseng?¡± Woojoo took out some red ginseng from his pocket and offered it to him. Rihyuk reached out his trembling hand. ¡°Give me, give me.¡± ¡°What about revenge?¡± ¡°I¡¯ll do it after I eat, so be quiet.¡± Woojoo smiled as he watched him suck on the red ginseng for survival. Rihyuk red back at him. Rihyuk finished the red ginseng and started toin to Bijoo, who was patting him gently. Bijoo smiled and listened to him calmly. Stupid Rihyuk. It was his idea to switch rooms. They were originally going to have breakfast at the hotel buffet. But the hotel staff asked them if they could serve them breakfast in their room, so they couldn¡¯t go. They said it would bother the other guests if they came in while the fans were crowding around. It was something that had never happened before, so it was a bit embarrassing, but it was a better deal in many ways. The room service that the hotel provided with an apology was of good quality. ¡°Wow¡­!¡± Omelets and bread, grilled fish and rice, etc. They ate like pigs in the morning with a variety of mixed dishes. Maybe it was because they had a good meal and slept until the morning was bright for the first time in months. Their condition was the best as they headed to the concert venue. The destination was north of Tokyo. It was a concert hall called Super Arena in Saitama Prefecture. Rihyuk told them what he had searched on his tablet PC. ¡°The capacity is up to 40,000 people, but this K-pop concert is between 15,000 and 20,000 people.¡± ¡°Wow¡­¡± ¡°It must be simr to the gymnastics stadium we went tost year.¡± It was simr to the Mango Chart Awards, where they won the Rookie Award. Woojoo¡¯s heart thumped at the number of 15,000. It was half excitement and half nervousness to perform without mistakes. They had be more rxed with their fan service and attitude towards the fans thanks to their umted experience, but their tension for the stage had not changed muchpared to their debut. Should he say it was always new? The tension that used to make his mouth dry and dizzy had now changed to his heart pounding hard. The tension before the stage was always the same. ¡°15,000 people is three times our concert.¡± ¡°That¡¯s right.¡± ¡°Ugh, I¡¯m nervous. How did we do it at the gymnasticsst year? I¡¯m more nervous than then.¡± They all agreed with the youngest. They thought they had improved after performing at a few big ces, but they were back to square one. They all rolled their feet and muttered, ¡®We have to do well today¡­¡¯ The concert didn¡¯t start until half a dayter, but they didn¡¯t know why they were so nervous and shaky from the morning. They each tried different ways to rx while Rihyuk read the script for the special MC. Junghyun and Jiho ate snacks, and Bijoo and Woojoo shared earphones and listened to YouTube¡¯s ¡®Music Collection to Calm Your Mind¡¯. -Are you nervous? You look very nervous. Woojoo was trying to listen with his eyes closed, but he opened them at the sound of someone¡¯s familiar voice. It was a YouTubead in the middle. Han Taehyun from TNT smiled smugly and looked at the screen. It was a phone ad. Woojoo was startled by the ad that seemed to promote a camera¡¯s anti-shake feature. Of course, he immediately pressed skip. ¡°TNT Sunbae-nims seem to have no ads that they don¡¯t appear in.¡± ¡°I know, right. They just pop out without any warning.¡± As he was talking to Bijoo, a new ad came on. This time, it was them. ¡°¡­?¡± Scenes of different boy groups and girl groups performing, including New ck who sang Windflower, appeared on the screen. Then a narration followed.
    • K-pop is reaching out to the world. Do you know how much its market value is?
It was a public service ad from the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism. An ad that exined the economic value of the so-called Korean Wave, such as webtoons and K-pop. Woojoo pressed skip on the ad that said ¡®These kids are earning dors! Hot!¡¯ and the original calm piano music came back on. The music that calmed him down. But after seeing the ad that said ¡®Are you nervous? ?nervous?¡¯ and the ad that said ¡®Hey, guys! You are the national representatives of K-pop!¡¯ Woojoo was not calm at all. ¡°I might really buy the ad blocking feature if ites out.¡± ¡°Me too.¡± As he listened to the song again and tried to soothe his anxious heart, a fewrge buildings appeared. Then the concert hall revealed itself. ¡°Wow¡­¡± Woojoo opened his eyes wide and looked at it. The phrase ¡®2015 K-Pop Concert in Japan¡¯ was hung on the wall of the concert hall. It was the biggest concert they had ever done overseas. Woojoo spoke seriously to the members who swallowed their saliva. ¡°¡­Let¡¯s do our best today.¡± Junghyun nodded. ¡°We have to.¡± ¡°Let¡¯s do so well that when the fans are asked why they like New ck, they say it¡¯s because we perform well 90 percent of the time. We.¡± ¡°If we do that well, people will only talk about us after the concert.¡± Theyughed at Rihyuk¡¯s words. They joked with each other that they would stamp their faces on the Japanese K-pop fans. After they arrived at the waiting room, other singers arrived one after another. Most of them were people they had met at the convention hall yesterday, but there were also many who had arrived today. ¡°Hello, we are New ck!¡± ¡°Yeah, hi.¡± There was also Jo Aena, a solo singer who was a candidate for first ce with them at the Fireworks show and whom they had met at Around the World With Dice. ¡°Oh, it¡¯s New ck! Nice to see you! It¡¯s been a long time since the Dolympics.¡± ¡°Have you been well?¡± They also greeted Ace, a second-generation senior group that was famous for their poprity in Japan. The rehearsal was done in the order of the main stage, and they were right before Ace and Jo Aena, who were thest. They had to wait for hours for the rehearsal, as they were almost at the end of the cue sheet. Waiting, waiting, and more waiting. No matter how much they greeted the performers today, walking around the waiting room or other waiting rooms, time didn¡¯t pass. ¡°I¡¯m bored.¡± ¡°Me too. It would have been nice if Street Boys were here too.¡± This Japanese K-pop concert had a lot of idols who ovepped with the music show activities. It would have been nice if Street Boys were here too. Woojoo heard that they were originally nning toe, but DNS Media pushed back theireback date to avoid them on the music shows, and their schedule got messed up. They said they were doing well with this album, and they might get first ce soon. Woojoo was looking forward to it, as they said they would text them as soon as they got a phone. Woojoo should give Hanjo¡¯s talk ID to the PD of Men Go. ¡°New ck, we¡¯re going to do the rehearsal!¡± ¡°Yes!¡± They did the rehearsal in the empty concert hall. At the same time, they checked the two most important things. The first was the floor material and the movement. ¡°The floor material is simr to the music show, fortunately¡­ Guys, be careful here. It¡¯s a bit shaky.¡± ¡°Yes.¡± Their main dancer checked the protruding stage for the choreography. ¡°I¡¯ll adjust the gap a little bit.¡± ¡°Okay.¡± ¡°You guys have toe in a little tighter than the original choreography. If you do it as usual, you might trip on that light.¡± After matching the timing a few times, it was done. As Woojoo memorized the rough key points with his eyes, the sound check was up to him and Rihyuk. ¡°Doesn¡¯t the mic sound¡­ a bit muffled?¡± ¡°I think so.¡± ¡°Let¡¯s ask them to adjust itter.¡± The sound quality varied depending on the floor material and size of each venue. They carefully conveyed some requests to the managers, and the site director dly agreed. Meanwhile, there was also something very exciting. ¡°It¡¯s the lift!¡± ¡°The lift¡­!¡± ¡°What do we do? I¡¯m so nervous. We¡¯re finally using the lift¡­!¡± The lift that they nned to use for their stage entrance was something they had never tried before. It was amazing. Woojoo wanted to keep riding it like a slide at the yground. ¡®Awesome.¡¯ ¡®We¡¯re going up. Up.¡¯ As they slowly ascended, they made the expressions that they had practiced for the stage. Woojoo had seen the senior idols appear from below with a cool swoosh on TV, and he really wanted to try it. This time, he finally fulfilled his wish. ¡°I want to ride it too¡­¡± Bijoo, who had no chance to use the lift for the stage direction, looked envious. Junghyun grabbed Bijoo and lifted him up with a ¡®Here, lift¡¯ and ended with a back p. ¡°Junghyun. Don¡¯t do that to Bijoo¡­¡± ¡°Ah. Do you want me to do it to you too, Hyung?¡± ¡°Hey! Hey¡­! Heyyy!¡± Woojoo became the second victim of ¡®Here, lift¡¯ while Dowon Hyung, who was holding a handycam,ughed. Woojoo had to ask him to edit that out. He couldn¡¯t show the fans his dignity-less legs iling in the air. After finishing the rehearsal, they had to wait again. 5 p.m. They fixed their makeup and changed their outfits for the red carpet event before the concert. ¡°Woojoo! Look here! Here!¡± ¡°Jiho! Here!¡± ¡°Rihyuk! Rihyuk!¡± They posed with their hands on each other¡¯s shoulders in front of the reporters on the photo wall. ¡°Two, three, hello. We are New ck!¡± They also had a short interview with the two MCs who hosted the red carpet event, and shared their feelings about today. They greeted the fans who were watching them and announced, ¡°We prepared some special stages for today. Please look forward to them. And until now¡­¡± ¡°We are New ck!¡± They waved their hands to the live camera and the Souffl¨¦s, and returned to the waiting room with nervous faces. The only thing left was the main stage. When the empty seats were filled with more than 15,000 spectators, and the air conditioner was running non-stop to cool down the heat they emitted. ¡°Woahhh-!¡± After the opening VCR ended, all the performers appeared in front of the audience and greeted them. Woojoo was very nervous because there were more people than he expected. He felt overwhelmed by the crowd. As he watched Rihyuk, the special MC, skillfully lead the show with the other MCs from backstage, time flew by. And when the performances of nearly ten idol groups were over, it was finally their turn. Woojoo turned on his in-ear monitor and widened his eyes. The screams of the people at the scene were clearly heard. -Wow! ¡°¡­¡± They nodded at each other without saying a word, because the microphone was on, and the lift started to work. It was time to go up. Saitama Super Arena. Nearly 18,000 spectators shouted from their seats. The heat left by the previous performance of La Vi en Rose was heating up the venue. ¡®It¡¯s so fun¡­!¡¯ A spectator who came to the K-pop concert with her friend, who was a fan of the boy group Ace, waved her light stick. ¡®I like all the songs thate out.¡¯ She thought it would be a boring show, because most of the singers were unknown to her, except for a few. But it got more and more fun as time went on. At first, she just watched with a nk expression, but gradually she straightened her back, which had been buried in the chair, and soon she was jumping and humming along with the chorus. Everything was a new world to her, because she rarely went to concerts. The lights. The music. The cheers. And as the show went on, she heard some familiar Korean songs. She asked her friend. ¡°Who¡¯s next?¡± ¡°What?¡± The screams of the people in the venue were too loud. ¡°Who¡¯s next?¡± ¡°New ck!¡± She didn¡¯t know the name. She wondered if they were a famous group in Korea, when the lights in the venue went dark again. Perfect darkness. Then, a golden light spun around counterclockwise, and a strong drum sound apanied the BGM. When the fog, which covered the floor like a cloud, soaked in the light. The door behind the stage opened and someone appeared. ¡®¡­Solo? Is his name New ck?¡¯ A handsome boy with fine brown hair and a soft line behind his headset microphone came into view. The cheers grew louder at the singer¡¯s face, which filled the screen. He bowed his head slightly and walked down the stairs, drawing everyone¡¯s attention. Every movement was elegant, and if it was a video, she would have pressed the rewind button over and over. ¡°Wow¡­¡± She couldn¡¯t take her eyes off him, even though he hadn¡¯t done anything yet. The fog and the backlight on the stage made his hair, face, and clothes look like they were surrounded by a golden glow. As he reached the center of the stage, the music changed, and he lifted his head and stared straight ahead. ¡°Wow-!¡± His dance was smooth yet rough. He leaned his body as if he was about to copse, but he rose up gracefully. His hair and clothes swayed with his movements as he waved his hands or did a wave. When his solo dance ended and he stretched his hand towards the sky, the background music naturally intensified and the lights started to sh and flicker. And then, he turned around and walked away, shaking off his clothes. In the background, four people on a lift were slowly rising. As their faces appeared on the screen one by one, the audience¡¯s screams grew louder and louder. The singer who walked leisurely towards the lift and the speed of the rising lift matched perfectly. When the five of them became one, the dancer of New ck twisted his body elegantly. ¡®Wow¡­¡¯ In front of her wide-eyed gaze, the members of New ck began to move their hands. It was the stage of Flower Dance. Chapter 263: Chapter 263: Trantor: MarcTempest Editor: Rxel Chapter 263 Five of them reached out their hands towards the sky. As the calm prelude yed, their wrists spun once, then twice, and their arms slowly came down. Like dandelion seeds swaying in the wind. Then, the main dancer of New ck stretched out his hand to the front. The music stopped for a moment. And as the melody changed, his lips parted.Remember Our starlight The tranquil introduction quickly turned into fast-paced dance music, and the main dancer withdrew his hand. At the same time, the members scattered around him. Like petals, four members surrounded the main dancer as the dance break continued. In a few seconds, the faces dripping with sweat were captured on the screen. It was an intense choreography. It felt light rather than heavy. Every gesture and step they made was smooth and refreshing. A loud cheer erupted from the audience. ¡°Wow¡­!¡± The addictive melody and the dazzling performance made them feel excited. ¡®They¡¯re good.¡¯ Each of them had great dancing skills, but together they were the best. When one moved and created a space, another member¡¯s hand filled it. Even without a dancer, the five of them filled the stage. ¡®It looks like the shadows are dancing too.¡¯ Maybe it was because of the lighting effect, but it seemed like even the shadows were dancing along. ¡®Is it an illusion?¡¯ Of course, it was not. Flower Dance had many hidden details in its choreography. The lines of the dance seen from behind, the overallposition seen from above, the movements considering the lighting. New ck had squeezed, twisted, and wrung out a world-ss choreographer to create this choreography. The Korean Souffl¨¦s joked that if Flower Dance choreography could talk, it would cry like Emile Z¡¯s y, y. That was how beautiful the dance lines were. With one gesture, y¡¯s tears flowed, and with one step, y¡¯s daughter Joy¡¯s tears flowed. ¡®Wow¡­¡¯ As they admired the amazing dance, the main vocal appeared for the chorus. While the other members sat down on the floor and reached out to him, the main vocal extended his hand and hit a high note. Don¡¯t turn around Stop right there Stay It¡¯s our time to bloom Let¡¯s bloom together The main choreography changed with the lyrics. That was how the dance continued without a break until the third verse, and finally the stage of Flower Dance ended. The faces of New ck members who were breathing heavily shed on the screen. ¡°Wow¡­!¡± They smiled brightly as they wiped their sweat at the cheers of the Japanese fans. The leader lightly adjusted the position of his crooked headset and lined up the members. -Let¡¯s say hello, shall we? One, two, three! -Hello. We are New ck! The faces that were powerful on stage were now cute and innocent. After a round of self-introductions, Woojoo spoke as the representative. -Did you have fun? He held out his hand like a microphone, even though he had nothing in it, and the excited audience responded. Some of them couldn¡¯t hide their curiosity. ¡®Did he live in Japan for a long time? His pronunciation is so¡­¡¯ Some of the audience cautiously took out their phones and searched. ¡®Oh¡­? He was from Taiwan?¡¯ ¡®He was from Taiwan and got street-casted by the news. He speaks Korean and Japanese very well.¡¯ ¡®World ss baby. What is this¡­?¡¯ When people had strange misunderstandings because of the wrong information and pictures on the Japanese web. The leader smiled. -It¡¯s so exciting. I still can¡¯t believe we¡¯re performing at such a big event, and overseas too. At that, the broad-shouldered member tilted his head. -Still? -¡­I feel it now. Mr. Junghyun. -Aha. The audienceughed at the innocent expression on Junghyun¡¯s face. Just a moment ago, he had a fierce vibe like someone holding a whip, saying ¡®Do you want to taste my rap?¡¯ But now, he looked like a warm sessor of a farm in some region. Then, Bijoo, who had been quietly standing back, stepped forward. As soon as his face was recognized, cheers erupted. He had shown the most impressive performance in Flower Dance. The audience¡¯s eyes lit up. ¡®He¡¯s different from when he was on stage.¡¯ Where did the charisma that he had on stage, saying ¡®This is dance, you mortals¡¯ go? His voice was nothing but gentle. -I think I won¡¯t forget today¡¯s stage for a while. Thank you for giving us such a good memory! He was followed by the main vocal who spoke a long Japanese speech, and the youngest who sent small hearts, big hearts, and medium hearts. Now it was time to end the talk and move on to the next stage. Woojoo, who had been smiling at the members around him, looked at the audience again. -I¡¯m so happy to meet so many of you today. We five will receive this good energy and work harder on the stage. Thank you! As the audience waved the cards that said ¡®You are our flowers¡¯, and the members waved their hands. -Wait. Woojoo stopped as if he had something to say. A cheerful smile spread over his face. -I almost forgot to introduce the next song. It¡¯s a song called Windflower, which is getting a good response in Korea. The audience screamed with excitement. -Before we start the stage, I want to tell you one interesting fact. As the leader winked, the main dancer came out and reenacted thest move of Flower Dance. -This was thest move. Windflower starts from here and the choreography goes backwards. He yed it backwards like an instructor and showed the choreography of Windflower. As the audience was curious, the leader said with a smile. -It¡¯s because the melody of Windflower is the reverse of Flower Dance. If you pay attention to this part, you will enjoy it more. Then, New ck gathered on the stage. The pitch-ck darkness covered the stage. When the afterimage of the bright lights remained in the audience¡¯s eyes like a stain, a yellow light shed in. And. ¡®Uh¡­? This song¡­!¡¯ As soon as Windflower came out, the audience¡¯s eyes widened. ¡®I¡¯ve heard this before!¡¯ They didn¡¯t know whose song it was, but it was a song that always came out when they went to a record store or a ce rted to K-pop. It was a song that had a catchy melody that made them hum along. Then, they remembered the title of the ylist like ¡®Windflower ¨C New ck¡¯. ¡®Oh. They are the ones who became famous in Korea.¡¯ They solved the mystery of why the rookie group they didn¡¯t know well was in the back. The fans scattered around the seats waved their glow sticks vigorously, and the audience felt a slight thrill at the thought of listening to the song they had only heard through the sound source. Unlike the powerful atmosphere before, the soft stage of Windflower. Meanwhile, a Korean fan who was cheering in the corner of the stage had a ¡®?¡¯ expression on his face. ¡®He said it was reversed¡­?¡¯ It was a fact that had not been revealed yet that the melody of Windflower was the reverse of Flower Dance. He was cheering inwardly, thinking ¡®This is a jackpot information!¡¯ But no matter how hard he listened, he couldn¡¯t understand anything. Woojoo said it was clearly yed backwards, but he couldn¡¯t tell. The other audience members who were groaning and listening with him soon gave up with a look of frustration. ¡®I don¡¯t know. Let¡¯s just look at their faces.¡¯ Backwards or not, their kids were in front of them, so what did it matter? Souffl¨¦, who was shaking his worn-out mini light stick, chanted the name of Park Kyuho, the President, in his heart. ¡°Woww!¡± The stage that followed the spicy taste with a mild taste was pretty good. When the stage of Windflower ended and the members of New ck smiled. As thest song began, dancers started to swarm onto the stage. ¡°¡­?¡± The music that started then was the king of intense and fierce choreography that the audience had never seen today. It was Masquerade. ¡®Are they flying¡­?¡¯ ¡®They¡¯re really flying.¡¯ ¡®Won¡¯t they faint doing that?¡¯ For almost four minutes, the knife-like choreography made by dozens of dancers and New ck members continued without a break. The dancers who supported the choreography with them also stood with exhausted faces when the stage ended. The New ck members who stood in front of the main camera for shooting breathed heavily but smiled brightly as they posed for the ending. As the stage of Masqueradepletely ended and the New ck members staggered like drunkards for a moment. ¡°Woww!¡± The loudest cheer of the day, which even surprised the other performers who were staying in the waiting room, came out. Yoon Seokhwan, the manager who watched from the backstage, and the staff of New ck smiled happily. ¡°The reaction is really good!¡± ¡°What?!¡± ¡°Really! They love it!¡± ¡°What?!¡± The staff shouted ¡®Our kids are the best!¡¯ with their voices. Seok Dowon smiled contentedly, looking at the audience and saying ¡®This is our kids¡¯. ¡°Wow, New ck¡¯s response is amazing.¡± ¡°¡­Is it because of the sound? It sounds like a circus show.¡± ¡°Masquerade, huh? They must have some spare knees for that.¡± The other singers who attended the K-pop concert stuck out their tongues as they heard the scream in the waiting room. There were only people who were worried and touched their foreheads. ¡®Just do it moderately.¡¯ ¡®Have some manners¡­¡¯ ¡®What are we supposed to do if you do everything?¡¯ It was Jo Ana and the boy group Ace, who were ced right after them. ¡°Ah, I¡¯m dying¡­!¡± ¡°Hey! Can you give me some water here! Rihyuk Hyung has be a dried squid!¡± ¡°Water! Watering!¡± It was a mess. Until they came down from the backstage, they barely endured and waved their hands leisurely to the audience. As soon as they got out of the audience¡¯s sight, they all copsed on the floor. Rihyuk, who was slumped against the wall of the hallway, leaned his body against the wall and shook his head. ¡°Hey.¡± ¡°Don¡¯t hit me. My bones are ringing¡­¡± ¡°Are you okay?¡± ¡°No. It¡¯s like riding a roller coaster¡­ Ugh!¡± He turned his head at the sight of him gagging on an empty bag. Only Junghyun was fine, wiping his sweat and rummaging through the jelly bags to recharge his sugar, while the rest were all in a state of copse. They looked like a seaweed group, not a handsome group. Bijoo closed his eyes and swept his hair with both hands, and Jihoy down on the floor half-way, looking worried about Rihyuk. ¡°¡­Hello, we are New ck¡­!¡± ¡°Oops. Don¡¯t greet them.¡± ¡°We are New ck!¡± ¡°Manager. Are these singers okay?¡± ¡°Yes. Our kids are always like this.¡± The concert staff who passed by every time they greeted them with difficulty looked rather annoyed by them. Bijoo said with a dizzy face, ¡°Ah¡­ I¡¯m d there was a mid-talk. If it wasn¡¯t for that, I would have fainted while dancing Masquerade.¡± ¡°¡­Hey, that¡¯s why I told you to go for a vocal song.¡± Rihyuk stopped gagging and red at them. ¡°This time, it was supposed to be a weak dance, so I was looking forward to it, but what came out was Flower Dance. Where is such a fierce vocal song like Windflower? Next time, I want real vocals¡­ Uuuuuk!¡± ¡°Calm down. Our Piruruku.¡± ¡°Uuuuuk!¡± ¡°Yeah. Yeah. me it all you want.¡± He gave Woojoo a dagger look as he patted his back. Sure enough, as Rihyuk said, the physical exhaustion was really severe. It felt like he ran dozens ofps around the track without stopping. It took Woojoo a while to drink water and breathe deeply before he returned to normal. And he finally did the high-five that he couldn¡¯t do because he was tired. ¡°Good job, everyone!¡± ¡°Thank you for your hard work!¡± They still had showcases and other events to do with the Japanese fans, but the K-pop concert was the stage they worked the hardest on recently. Woojoo was very nervous, but luckily it was perfect without a single mistake. If Woojoo had to point out a w, it was that he used a few inappropriate words when he spoke in Japanese earlier. But the stage was perfect without a need to say anything, and the reaction on the spot was better than expected. -Wow! A huge cheer from the fans who were cheering for Ace outside. They said, ¡®If you do so well, it¡¯s a burden for us¡¯, but the cheer was different from the appearance of a popr group in Japan. It was like a solo concert. Then Jiho smiled and said, ¡°Today we really broke our bones, so the reaction must be great, right? Now, if you mention New ck, you¡¯ll hear that they¡¯re performance masters. The Japanese fans will say that it¡¯s not the face, but the performance! Don¡¯t you think so?¡± ¡°Wouldn¡¯t they? We put our souls into this¡­ Huhuhu.¡± ¡°Huhuhaha!¡± They decided to open a new business, ¡®The Stage Delicacy New ck¡¯, andughed together. ¡ºMy review after attending the Japan K-pop con (stream of consciousness warning)¡» I live in Japan I went with my Japanese friend who is a fan of Ace??? I¡¯ve been out of the fandom for a while, so there were a lot of groups I didn¡¯t know, but they all did great on stage Both male and female idols were pretty and cute The organizers seemed to have prepared a lot of VCRs and stuff, but I can¡¯t remember them now;; The event was honestly crappy Anyway, the overall response to today¡¯s stage was good. I had fun watching it too The most responsive one was probably thest three teams, and among them, the New ck kids were really impactful They danced so hard??? They were soaked in sweat, and I understood why they got a reaction in Korea?? But the visuals were amazing I only saw their faces, not their dance or anything. Their hair was almost gone, but their features were like bam! bam! bam!!! ?? me!!! They came in at that level????? My friend also expanded her nose bridge while watching??? I could see their noses even from far away Anyway, the conclusion is New ck¡¯s face -????????? This is the real stream of consciousness -Aren¡¯t you going to write a review for Ace and Joana¡­? -Stream of consciousness????? -Oh, my idol??? Thank you for looking at them nicely??? -New ck kids always have good reviews for their looks; are they that handsome? -[Author] Aaaaaah -Trantion: Yes -???????????? -I¡¯m curious??? Everyone¡¯s reviews are about their own idols and then they mention New ck at the end A few days after the concert. When K provided the K-pop concert and the fancams, New ck¡¯s fans were restless. -Guys??????? -Our kids took a legendary beauty shot??? -That choker-like band is so pretty¡­?? -Do you know? New ck¡¯s dorm is my left heart room and right heart room¡­¡î -I¡¯m suddenly pissed off¡­ Why do you guys only see good things, Japanese kids?? -Kyuho¡­ You should do this in Korea -If anyone asks about the future of K-pop, raise your head and show them New ck -This grandma¡¯s eyes became 2.0 after seeing New ck -Jiho is now an adult???? -Everyone. How about talking about the stage. The kids prepared so hard for the stage, but you only talk about their faces¡­ -Guys ?????? -Rain Alcohol, just look at our faces -No. I¡­ -Woojoo also took a legendary shot this time. Do you want me to give you more photo links?" Lemon Entertainment¡¯s President Office. ¡°Mr. Park.¡± ¡°Yes, Mr. Jo.¡± President Park Kyuho smiled warmly. ¡°Did you spend billions on the stage again?¡± ¡°Yes.¡± ¡°Hahaha! That¡¯s right, that¡¯s right. Money is not important when our kids are performing. We should spend as much as we can! Haha!¡± Heughed heartily and picked up the frame on the table. The album jacket photo of five boys smiling brightly in the picture. He blew on it. ¡°Hooo¡­ hooooooo¡­¡± President Park diligently blew his breath on the ss of the frame and hummed as he wiped it with a sses cloth, ¡°Our kids. Moneybags. Our kids.¡± ¡°¡­¡± ¡°But Mr. Jo, why do you look like that?¡± ¡°Oh, I think you misunderstood. It¡¯s¡­ the billions.¡± ¡°Huh?¡± President Park turned his gaze and saw Director Jo Gyuhwan sitting on the sofa, coughing and saying. ¡°The billions.¡± ¡°Yeah.¡± ¡°The billions are not those billions¡­¡± ¡°What do you mean? How much is it?¡± Then, Director Jo¡¯s mouth spilled out the total cost of the stage equipment, VCR, and variousbor costs. ¡°¡­You spent that much alone?¡± ¡°Yes.¡± ¡°Is that possible?¡± ¡°Yes.¡± Director Jo nodded and added, ¡°Our kids¡¯ specialty is making the impossible possible.¡± ¡°¡­¡± His heart sank. He told them to spend as much as they wanted, but they really spent it all. They spent it all. They spent it all. ¡°Maybe it¡¯s because we spent a lot on the special effects this time. And we had to procure a lot of things locally, so thebor costs were also high.¡± ¡°¡­¡± ¡°But thanks to that, the response to New ck is good in the local area¡­ Mr. Park?¡± Thud. The frame slipped out of President Park¡¯s trembling hand and fell on the table. The New ck members were smiling brightly in the picture. But for some reason, he heard themughing ¡®money money money money¡¯ in his ears. And then¡­ Beep- At that moment, a text message popped up on President Park¡¯s phone with a vibration. Woojoo [Thank you, Mr. Park! We¡¯ll enjoy the food you bought us!] Woojoo and the other New ck members were drawing hearts and saying ¡®Mr. Park love¡¯ at the sushi restaurant. ¡°¡­¡± Director Jo peeked his head and said, ¡°Huh? That¡¯s the expensive ce that¡¯s famous. How did they find out?¡± ¡°I told them to go.¡± ¡°Ah¡­¡± ¡°I didn¡¯t know the stage cost then¡­¡± President Park made a face like Goofy and Director Jo sympathized with him, saying ¡®Dooly would do that¡¯. President Park still heard theughter of ¡®money money money money¡¯ in his ears. Chapter 264: Chapter 264: Trantor: MarcTempest Editor: Rxel Chapter 264 ¡°Hahaha!¡± The day after the K-pop concert. As they were having breakfast in the hotel room, the youngest one shoved his smartphone in front of Woojoo. ¡°Look at this. Jiho¡¯s face changed so fast, it was awesome, yuyu. Yuyu!¡± ¡°Do you want more milk?¡± ¡°Yes! Oops¡­ no, Hyung. I was so cool, you know. They¡¯re saying I rocked the stage.¡±¡°Wow, our maknae is amazing.¡± ¡°¡­Please put some soul into your words. Hyung.¡± Jiho was excitedly talking, but Woojoo wasn¡¯t paying much attention. His eyes were fixed on the tablet PC. He enjoyed the sweet taste of cocoa and took a bite of the bagel. He hadn¡¯t been looking at the inte reactionstely, except for the fan cafe, but when he searched for them, they were so fun. It wasn¡¯t just him, the other members were also eating and browsing, sticking their noses to the screen. ¡°Hooh¡­¡± ¡°Oh, this is a save.¡± ¡°Hoohoo.¡± The words ¡®oh¡¯ and ¡®hooh¡¯ kepting out, and Jiho shouted, ¡°Hyungs! Hyungdeul!¡± calling them. Woojoo winked at him. ¡®Pat.¡¯ ¡®Laser.¡¯ Bijoo and Junghyun, who were sitting on either side of the youngest, stretched out their hands and stroked Jiho from both sides, keeping their eyes on the smart devices. He seemed to calm down quickly, so it must have worked. Rihyuk, who was elegantly sipping his coffee, asked Woojoo, ¡°Are you still looking for that?¡± ¡°Yeah.¡± ¡°They said it¡¯s hard to notice even if you tell them. You hid it so well.¡± ¡°Is that so¡­?¡± What Woojoo was searching for was the connection between Flower Dance and Windflower, which he revealed during the concert yesterday. The thing that if you yed the two songs backwards, you got the melody of the other song. Jiho chuckled. ¡°When you said that yesterday, your expression was so funny. This song has a secret. Huhuhu.¡± The manager Hyungs who were eating with themughed at his imitation of Woojoo. The other guys joined in. ¡°I still think that expression was so cute.¡± ¡°Woojoo Hyung, when you said that, your nose was twitching so much. And your eyes were huge.¡± ¡°Look at this. Junghyun Hyung noticed it, that says it all.¡± ¡°That¡¯s right. I have a keen eye. Hyung.¡± ¡°Pfft-!¡± The manager Hyungs were nowughing out loud at their proud dung beetle. ¡°Did I look that excited yesterday?¡± Everyone nodded. Well, he was really thrilled when he told them the secret of Flower Dance. He understood why the tailor in The Emperor¡¯s New Clothes was so restless. He wanted to tell them so badly, he was itching since before the concert. Because¡­ ¡°Come on, no one noticed.¡± It had been a week since they released Flower Dance. Two weeks, three weeks passed, but nothing happened. Woojoo hoped that a fan with good ears would post on the inte, ¡®Wow! Our kid is a genius! What a trick!¡¯ But until yesterday¡¯s concert, not a single Souffl¨¦ came out. Even when they performed the follow-up song! No one! No one noticed. As a show-off who enjoyed recognition and attention, he couldn¡¯t stand it any longer, so he finally opened it at this K-pop concert. ¡°Let¡¯s see.¡± Woojoo searched for the Souffl¨¦s¡¯ reactions. [The secret of Flower Dance and Windflower that Woojoo revealed yesterday] Oh. There it was. The full trantion of the Japanesement Woojoo made at the concert yesterday was posted on the Souffl¨¦munity. Woojoo focused and read it carefully. -Wow, amazing;; -I never knew while listening -Does it really y Flower Dance backwards??? -I love these kinds of bread crumbs -They tried this yesterday and it¡¯s actually not Flower Dance backwards =/= Windflower. There¡¯s a slight difference -??? What difference? -Well, this is¡­ ah¡­ what do I say, Woojoo twisted it soplicatedly -It¡¯s almost a high difficulty level -To put it simply, the main melody is perfectly symmetrical when yed backwards, but the side melodies have variations in each of them. It¡¯s like I did a decaania, but the universe drew different andplex backgrounds on both sides. -? -Exin again please -I drew a big picture, but the fans didn¡¯t know, so Woojoo was sad -Ah, I see -I don¡¯t know what it is, but it gives me goosebumps The reaction was more like ¡®Wow¡­ Woojoo had a big meaning¡¯ than Woojoo expected. ¡°¡­Did I make it tooplicated?¡± ¡°When you were making it, the A&R Team told you to go easy. They said no one would understand it.¡± ¡°They did say that.¡± Woojoo nodded at Rihyuk¡¯s words. When he felt a bit gloomy, Rihyuk put a piece of bread with butter on his te. ¡°Thank you.¡± Woojoo looked at his siblings with a sullen expression. ¡°I think I¡¯ll try to put this kind of design a bit easier next time. I¡¯ll also take the A&R Team¡¯s advice more actively.¡± ¡°Yeah. And if possible, let¡¯s have a suitable song for the choreography¡­¡± ¡°Right.¡± Bijoo answered as he neatly sliced the fish. ¡°This time, the Windflower was too easy for the choreography. We have to make it fun for the fans to watch the stage.¡± ¡°¡­¡± ¡°Bijoo Hyung. Rihyuk Hyung is crying now.¡± ¡°Ah¡­ Rihyuk. It¡¯s okay. We just have to work hard together. Do you want a ginger cookie?¡± They talked about the next album for a while. The fourth album. They hadn¡¯t nned it exactly yet, but they were having meetings about theeback schedule. They needed at least 25 to 30 songs to have a solo concert. Woojoo had been making well-made songs, putting their blood and sweat into each one, so the number of album songs was low. Thanks to that, they got great reviews from the critics. But the problem was that if they went on like this, they would have to fill a lot of the setlist with cover songs. Fortunately, they had a lot of good songs besides the album, like Night Sea, Slip¡¯s OST, or A Poem from Yesterday. But still, album songs suited solo concerts better. So Woojoo suggested that they should advance theeback, riding on the momentum of Windflower. The next album would be much easier to work on. The person who was the best atmunicating and had the stamina of a bull when working was the main character. ¡°Junghyun.¡± ¡°Yes. Hyung.¡± ¡°Let¡¯s work hard together when we go to Korea.¡± ¡°¡­¡± Junghyun gasped and dropped the morning bread he was holding on the te. Jiho eximed, ¡°Wow. I¡¯ve never seen Junghyun Hyung make such a heart-sinking expression.¡± Woojoo smiled warmly. ¡°Junghyun.¡± ¡°¡­¡± ¡°Look at me.¡± He lifted his head with a squeak, and Woojoo gave him a warm smile. ¡°Let¡¯s exchange our souls again, like we did at Fireworks. We¡¯re going to make our soul song, you and me.¡± ¡°¡­¡± ¡°Let¡¯s go with hip-hop, which you like, for the theme. Come on. Let¡¯s cheer with hip and hop. Hip.¡± ¡°¡­Please save me. Hyung.¡± ¡°Hop! Wow! This is exciting!¡± Woojoo pped and celebrated. As they danced along, not caring about their own work, Junghyun looked at his morning bread with a lost appetite. While they were having fun. ¡°Oh?¡± Dowon Hyung, who was browsing through YouTube, blinked his eyes as if he had found something. They showed interest. ¡°What¡¯s up, Hyung?¡± ¡°I was watching your stage video. It seems like thements have increased more than yesterday.¡± ¡°Hmm? Thements have been increasing all the time, right?¡± ¡°It¡¯s Japanesements.¡± ¡°¡­!¡± They leaned in to look. There were newments in Japanese on the YouTube video. ¡°Are they the ones who came after watching the concert yesterday?¡± ¡°Who knows. It could be a coincidence.¡± ¡°But it feels good.¡± They giggled among ourselves. It felt like something good was growing in an invisible ce. The day after the K-pop concert. The first item on the official schedule was a magazine interview. It was the top-selling Hallyu magazine in Japan, and they also did a photo shoot. ¡°Great! Good!¡± The photographer smiled brightly, saying that everything they did looked good. They must have learned some tricks for taking pictures, because they already had a bunch of A-cuts that they could use. After the photo shoot, they had an interview with a friendly-looking editor. After some simple small talk, the editor turned to Woojoo with a sparkle in her eyes. ¡°Woojoo, you must have a lot of feelings.¡± ¡°What do you mean¡­?¡± ¡°Your father was very famous in Japan. Anyone who remembers the 90s would know the name ¡®Seon Myungjoo¡¯.¡± Seokhwan Hyung, who was standing nearby, narrowed his eyes as he heard a whisper from the local coordinator. Was it Hashimoto Genji? He seemed to be bothered by the famous Japanese pianist who had been contacting himtely. He was worried that the questions might go in that direction. The managers watched to see if they should intervene or not, depending on the direction of the questions. Woojoo thought for a moment and answered. ¡°Well¡­ I was too young when my father was famous, so I don¡¯t know much about that time.¡± ¡°Oh. I see. How old are you¡­?¡± ¡°Twenty-one.¡± ¡°Heh¡­ You must have been very young in the 90s.¡± The younger ones gave Woojoo a look as if to say, ¡®Where is your conscience?¡¯ But it wasn¡¯t a lie. In Korea, they use the age of the year. The editor nodded. ¡°That makes sense. You were too young then.¡± ¡°I guess I feel more happy than nostalgic. Even though I didn¡¯t know much, I¡¯m d that many people remember and love my father. As a son, I feel proud.¡± After that answer, there were no more questions like that. The questions were generally good, and the younger ones made the atmosphere soft with their cheerful answers. ¡°Thank you for your hard work!¡± They took a group photo with the editor after the interview, but she called Woojoo separately as they were about to say goodbye. ¡°Excuse me¡­¡± ¡°Yes?¡± ¡°Can I take a picture with you alone?¡± ¡°Sure. What pose do you want to do?¡± ¡°Maybe this one.¡± She made a V sign with her fingers, and Woojoo immediately followed suit. She took the picture right away. Then she whispered to Woojoo as if she was telling him a secret, ¡°Actually, I was a huge fan of Seon Myungjoo when I was young. I even begged my parents to take me to his concerts when I was in middle school. Oh, of course I¡¯m still a fan now.¡± ¡°Really?¡± ¡°Yes. I was so excited when I heard you wereing. I insisted to the editor-in-chief that I had to do this interview.¡± No wonder she looked so bright when she talked about his dad. She was a fan of his. Even after 15 years, the face of the 30-something editor who spoke with enthusiasm reminded Woojoo of his 10-year-old self. ¡°He was amazing. He had so many instruments at his concerts, but he only yed the piano. Every time he moved his hands, my mood went up and down like a roller coaster.¡± Then she whispered to Woojoo as if it were a secret, ¡°Honestly, in Japan, they say that Hashimoto Genji is Seon Myungjoo¡¯s rival, but I don¡¯t think so at all.¡± ¡°¡­Haha.¡± Woojoo smiled awkwardly. On the other hand, Woojoo felt warmth as he listened to her talk about his dad¡¯s concert. He had left his mark on the world as a musician, but Woojoo had never felt it in his skin. Sometimes people who remembered that era would say, ¡°Seon Myungjoo¡¯s son!¡± and share their memories, but this was the first time Woojoo met a passionate fan overseas. And that was 15 yearster. It was heartwarming to find the traces of his family in others. ¡°You know a lot about my father.¡± ¡°Of course! I¡¯m his number one fan.¡± The editor said, ¡°He was really kind-hearted. After the concert, I happened to meet him, and when I told him it was my birthday tomorrow, he took out an instrument and sang me a happy birthday song on the spot.¡± ¡°That must have been a nice memory.¡± Woojoo had a simr experience when he was a kid. His dad and his friends yed instruments and sang for him. While Woojoo was lost in thought, the other person spoke. ¡°By the way, I took a picture back then, and it was the same pose as today.¡± She took out her wallet and showed Woojoo the picture. In the blurry photo, his cheerful dad and the nervous teenage fan were making a V sign together. Then she said as if she remembered something, ¡°Come to think of it, it was the same back then.¡± ¡°What do you mean?¡± ¡°I made a V sign like this, bending my fingers, and he matched me just like you, Woojoo.¡± ¡°Oh¡­ you¡¯re right.¡± ¡°He was so considerate. I guess it runs in the family.¡± Woojoo smiled quietly. She seemed to really want to share those memories, and she kept saying nice things to Woojoo for a long time. When she finished her story, she said sincerely, ¡°I hope you and New ck do really well.¡± ¡°Thank you.¡± ¡°In that sense, can I also get the signatures of the New ck members?¡± Woojoo nodded dly, as she said she had forgotten to get them because she was too excited. Woojoo said to his brothers, ¡°Sign!¡± They took out their marker pens with serious faces, like magic wands, and exchanged nces. Then they opened the caps with a pop, making the editorugh. The paper with their five signatures on it made the other person smile happily. The second schedule was a recording. It wasn¡¯t a terrestrial or cable entertainment show. Those ces required a certain level of recognition in Japan to appear. Just like a foreign rookie singer couldn¡¯t appear on a terrestrial entertainment show as soon as they came to Korea. They shouldn¡¯t have fallen for the offer from our self-proimed rival pianist. In the waiting room, the makeup artist was brushing Woojoo¡¯s eyebrows with a brush, when Seokhwan Hyung brought him some news. ¡°Again¡­?¡± It seemed that Hashimoto¡¯s side had asked to meet them again. ¡°This time, they just want to have a meal.¡± ¡°Tell them we¡¯re not feeling well.¡± ¡°I already did. The agency is taking care of it, so don¡¯t worry.¡± ¡°What if they really show up in front of us?¡± The makeup artist stopped her hand with the brush and made a sad face. ¡°Woojoo, calm down your eyebrows.¡± ¡°Okay.¡± Woojoo kept his eyebrows t and only opened his mouth, making the makeup artistugh as if she was crying. Seokhwan Hyung said to Woojoo, ¡°Don¡¯t worry about what to do if they show up unexpectedly. I¡¯ve taken care of it.¡± ¡°How did you¡­ Never mind. I don¡¯t want to know.¡± ¡°Good. That¡¯s a good attitude.¡± It wasn¡¯t a topic to talk about in front of the makeup artist. It must have been one of the 101 ways to politely tell someone to buzz off. Whatever. Woojooughed, thinking of Hashimoto and his group waiting for them with their hands held, saying, ¡®Come on, New ck.¡¯ They finished their makeup and left the waiting room. ¡°Hello!¡± The handsome male MC who was waiting for them in the studio greeted them. This was one of the broadcasting stations in Japan that streamed programs through the inte. It was like a middle ground between YouTube and TV. It was a channel that only came out on smartphones¡¯ DMB and such. That was why they had a variety of content, including programs that introduced Korean idols like now. They sat around the soft leather sofa that was lined up on the white background, like in the movie Matrix. They finished their self-introduction and went straight into the talk. ¡°Who is the one who takes care of the members the most in New ck?¡± Tey all pointed at Bijoo. Rihyuk, who was the most fluent in Japanese, exined, ¡°Bijoo is really caring and attentive to the people around him.¡± ¡°Bijoo Hyung is the best.¡± ¡°But he also nags a lot. ¡­ He¡¯s good at sneaking a nce at the camera from an angle where it doesn¡¯t show, like now.¡± The MC asked with a smile, ¡°That¡¯s surprising. I thought you, Woojoo, would take on that role since you¡¯re the leader.¡± ¡°Absolutely not. He¡¯s as far from being considerate as the earth is from the end of the universe.¡± ¡°He¡¯s just a grandpa. A grandpa who¡¯s good at music.¡± ¡°¡­ You guys will see after this is over.¡± Woojoo threatened them with a kind smile, and his siblings looked at each other¡¯s faces. ¡°Huh¡­¡± ¡°I think we¡¯re in trouble.¡± ¡°Since we¡¯ve already messed up. Let¡¯s go.¡± ¡°No¡­ guys¡­¡± ¡°Let¡¯s go!¡± ¡°Kyarruk!¡± Seeing his siblings act like bouncing balls and go kyarrur! with excitement, the MC¡¯s spirit was sucked out in real time. ¡°Well¡­ I see.¡± ¡°Say more!¡± ¡°Me too!¡± ¡°This recording is so fun! Let¡¯s do this forever!¡± After calming down the jumping siblings, the talk corner ended and a simple game corner came up. ¡°It¡¯s a famous game in Korea, right? It¡¯s the ¡®Guess What I¡¯m Saying With My Body!¡¯ game.¡± The MC took the card that the production team handed him and said, ¡°For example, if the word is ¡®giraffe¡¯, one person has to describe a giraffe and the team members have to guess it.¡± ¡°Yes!¡± They were confident because it was a familiar game. And their eyes widened at the next words. ¡°By the way, there¡¯s also a prize to boost your challenge spirit. There¡¯s a promotion opportunity if you seed. And if you seed perfectly! There¡¯s also a prize. A whopping 500,000 yen!¡± ¡°What?!¡± ¡°Moneyes out?¡± They all stood up as the MC chuckled. ¡°Yes. That¡¯s right.¡± ¡°Is it true that you get a prize if you guess all the questions in ¡®Guess What I¡¯m Saying With My Body¡¯?¡± ¡°Of course.¡± They looked at each other. ¡°It seems too easy¡­¡± ¡°Right. We¡¯re bad at thinking but good at moving.¡± They were seriously worried about the production team¡¯s well-being, thinking that they were getting the prize for free. But they wereughing over there. ¡°It may seem easy, but none of the Korean idols who have appeared so far have won the prize. There are words like ¡®amoeba¡¯ too.¡± Looking at the words, they were definitely hard. It would be hard to tell what they were if you expressed them with your body. Maybe it was a prize for an event. Like ¡®Throw a dart and win 100 million!¡¯ but the roulette¡¯s mark was a nanometer. But the word prize made them eager. ¡°500,000 yen¡­¡± ¡°How much is that in Korean money. Rihyuk Hyung?¡± ¡°Unfortunately, it¡¯s yen now¡­ It¡¯s probably about 4.56 million won at the current exchange rate.¡± ¡°Wow. Hey. That¡¯s 400 king pork cutlets.¡± ¡°Wow. If you go to a 100 yen shop, you can get 5,000 socks.¡± Rihyuk swept his hair back and said, ¡°¡­ I really hope this conversation wasn¡¯t tranted into Japanese. No, the Souffl¨¦s in Korea shouldn¡¯t know either.¡± They had a strategy meeting among themselves. Especially who would go out as the representative and exin the motion. ¡°Woojoo Hyung should go out.¡± ¡°I think it would be better if Hyung goes out.¡± ¡°He¡¯s the most suitable.¡± Woojoo¡¯s siblings chose him as the person to exin the words. Actually, he was talented in that area, so he was going to volunteer. Then Rihyuk raised a question. ¡°But if this guy goes out, who will guess the problem? I¡¯m not good at guessing this kind of thing quickly.¡± ¡°That¡¯s true.¡± ¡°Right. We¡¯re a mess among ourselves.¡± ¡°Is there a way for Woojoo Hyung to give the problem and guess it¡­¡± They were nning to use Woojoo without thinking about what they would do. ¡°First of all, guessing is more important. Let¡¯s try having Junghyun Hyung give the problem.¡± ¡°Hmm, but isn¡¯t it better for Woojoo Hyung to give the problem?¡± ¡°We have to choose the side that can eat more. Hyungs.¡± ¡°Then¡­¡± They turned their heads after a brief moment of hesitation and discussion. ¡°Can we do a practice game or two before we start?¡± ¡°Sure. Whatever you want.¡± MC Kunimura smiled. ¡®How cute.¡¯ They were New ck, a Korean idol group that had the same fire in their eyes as the other Korean idols who had appeared so far, wanting to win the prize money. ¡®¡­They won¡¯t seed anyway.¡¯ This game had a sess rate of 0%. You could tell from the prize money of 500,000 yen. The difficulty was so hard that it would be worth giving that much money if someone actually seeded. But how easy was it to express and guess a word like ¡®encyclopedia¡¯ with your body within the time limit? ¡°You can¡¯t say or express the word directly. You have to do it with your body only.¡± ¡°Yes!¡± But for some reason, the idol group called ¡®New ck¡¯ who was answering now had a confident face. As if they had a hidden secret weapon. ¡®What do they have?¡¯ As he wondered, a tall and handsome man stood where the problem was given. They cheered each other with ¡®Fighting!¡¯ and then the practice game started. The first word given by the production team behind New ck was ¡®power.¡¯ Junghyun pondered for a moment and then took a pose. And at that moment. The production team, MC, and New ck members were all startled at the same time. Junghyun, who had been thinking for a while, soon took a pose with an ¡®Ah¡¯. A slightly rxed pose. With a nk face between sternness and arrogance, Junghyun started to p his hands. ¡°¡­?¡± And at that moment. They all gasped. That¡­? Bijoo looked at Woojoo. ¡®No, right? Hyung?¡¯ That kind of feeling. Rihyuk, who was next to him, also gasped. That expression and apuse. It was like he was looking down at a parade from somewhere high and pping his hands. If apass saw that, it would shake its N-pole and point to the north. ¡°¡­!¡± As MC¡¯s pupils shook and he wondered what to do with this. The youngest, who had been looking at him with narrow eyes, hummed and then got up with an ¡®Ah¡¯. Jiho pointed at Junghyun with his finger and smiled brightly. ¡°I know who that is! Kim¡­!¡± Woojoo shouted urgently. ¡°Hey! Stop him!¡± ¡°I¡¯ll stop him!¡± ¡°That¡¯s Kim¡­!¡± ¡°Yayayayayaya!¡± As Woojoo made a noise with ¡®yayayayaya¡¯ to erase the youngest¡¯s voice, the brothers blocked Jiho¡¯s mouth. ¡°Uhuh¡­!¡± Meanwhile. ¡°Puhahaha!¡± The MC and the Japanese production team, who had been staring with a dumbfounded expression, started tough out loud. Their staff, who had been watching from afar, were lying down and sobbing. Chapter 265: Chapter 265: Trantor: MarcTempest Editor: Rxel Chapter 265 ¡°¡­So you shouldn¡¯t say that, Jiho.¡± ¡°Wow.¡± The youngest one covered his mouth with his hand. ¡°Wow. Did I almost cause a controversy?¡± ¡°Well, not a controversy, but it¡¯s something you shouldn¡¯t mention. It¡¯s kind of¡­¡± ¡°Got it. I¡¯ll only call him by his name in private from now on.¡±Woojoo nodded at their youngest and looked around. ¡°Sniff!¡± ¡°Hahaha!¡± ¡°Snort! Snort!¡± The program staff and their crew were rolling on the floor like they had been attacked byughing gas. The MC, who looked like a handsome guy, was nowughing like aic character, and the manager Hyungs were holding each other and sobbing. The stylists were almost crying too. Unlike them, who were freaking out in real time, they seemed to have fun. Woojoo wiped the sweat on the back of his neck, and a bear came walking over from the other side. ¡°I¡¯m here, guys.¡± ¡°Junghyun.¡± ¡°Yes. What is it?¡± ¡°¡­Never mind.¡± He looked at Woojoo with a calm face. Junghyun asked them, who had suddenly be flustered, ¡°What was so funny?¡± ¡°Well¡­¡± Woojoo wondered where to start exining. First, he decided to check the word they gave them. Woojoo saw a word card that said ¡®??¡¯ in Korean. ¡°¡­Was that power?¡± ¡°Yes. That¡¯s right. Power.¡± ¡°It¡¯s not wrong¡­ Pfft! Hahaha!¡± They burst intoughter again when Junghyun showed them that pose once more. He was taken aback. ¡°¡­Is this funny?¡± He frowned and wondered what the funny point was. Woojoo waved his hand at him. Jiho whispered to Junghyun, ¡°Hyung, you almost caused an international problem.¡± ¡°Really? Me?¡± ¡°The other Hyungs said so.¡± ¡­When did they say that? Woojoo wanted to smack his funnel-like mouth. He was the youngest who distorted everything and spread it around. Bijoo said. ¡°For now, I think Junghyun shouldn¡¯t do it, Hyung.¡± ¡°Yeah. Hyung, you should just match with us.¡± ¡°Okay, okay.¡± Junghyun agreed cheerfully and Woojoo decided to go to the te. Woojoo nodded at the siblings who looked at him with a ¡®can you do it?¡¯ expression and stretched his body. Rihyuk called the MC. ¡°Let¡¯s change the person who gives the word.¡± ¡°Yes¡­ Yes. Please do.¡± The MC answered with a voice full ofughter. He keptughing whenever he saw Junghyun¡¯s face. ¡°Alright! Then who wille out?¡± ¡°Me.¡± Woojoo raised his hand with a smile. Kunimura, the MC, looked at Woojoo with interest. ¡®What is it?¡¯ The atmosphere of the studio changed as soon as Woojoo raised his hand. It was like a scene from a ser game. It seemed like the team and the audience were confident when the coach sent out the team¡¯s ace. ¡®¡­Why do I feel like I¡¯m seeing the Four Heavenly Kings from a manga?¡¯ The four behind him wereughing like themanders of the Demon King¡¯s castle. They looked like they were predicting that this guy would sweep the game. It wasn¡¯t just the members. The New ck staff who were watching from outside the camera also had eyes full of anticipation. ¡®Do they know something I don¡¯t?¡¯ He heard he was an idol who was good at using his body. He had good reflexes and showed off his skills by kicking trophies on music shows. But he couldn¡¯t understand how ¡®Say It With Your Body¡¯ was rted to him. It was apletely different matter to express words with your body and to have good physical skills. ¡®But¡­¡¯ The members and the staff were smiling as if they had already won. While New ck was having a strategy meeting, Kunimura, who had stepped back, approached the PD with his arms crossed. ¡°What about our prize?¡± ¡°Prize¡­?¡± ¡°This game of Saying It With Your Body, you said you¡¯d give us 500,000 yen if we get them all right. Will you really give it to them if they seed?¡± ¡°What are you talking about, Kunimura?¡± The PD asked with an incredulous expression, ¡°How are they going to get them all right? The questions are hard. They won¡¯t be able to exin them all within the time limit. The prize was just for fun.¡± ¡°So it¡¯s impossible. I see.¡± ¡°Their chance of sess is zero percent. Just try to seed first. I¡¯ll give you whatever they want, prize or not.¡± Kunimura felt a bad feeling as he saw the PDughing heartily. He then exined the rules to the New ck members who had finished preparing. ¡°The time limit is five minutes. You have to get at least 15 out of 30 right to seed! You have to express everything with your body. You can¡¯t use your fingers to show numbers or anything. And, if you get all 30 perfectly right, you¡¯ll get a whopping 500,000 yen prize!¡± ¡°Prize! Prize!¡± ¡°Well, then, shall we hear your ambition before the challenge?¡± Woojoo stepped forward as the representative. He looked at the shooting lights with a faint expression, then smiled at the camera. ¡°To our beloved President Park Kyuho.¡± ¡°President-sama!¡± ¡°We¡¯ll earn our meal money.¡± ¡°We¡¯ll earn it!¡± The leader and the members were in perfect sync. When Woojoo shouted ¡®As much as we ate!¡¯, the members replied ¡®Let¡¯s earn it!¡¯ and the MC smiled. ¡®These guys are full of energy.¡¯ Many Korean idols had been on this program before, but it had been a long time since he saw a group with such a unique teamwork. He felt good as he watched them. He understood why they were popr in Korea. ¡°Well, then, are you ready?¡± ¡°Yes.¡± Woojoo stretched his body and bent his waist slightly, and the members also took their positions and looked serious. Kunimura mmed the progress card. ¡°Then, start!¡± The first word was given. MC swallowed hisughter at the word ¡®gold medal¡¯. ¡®It¡¯s hard from the start.¡¯ It would be easy if it was just a medal. It was difficult to guess exactly what a gold medal was without using numbers. Usually, in this situation, the fun point was to see them go crazy for almost 30 seconds. ¡°Hmm?¡± Something strange happened. Woojoo took a pose like a short track skater for the first two seconds. It felt like he was watching a real game. He felt the speed from the posture of leaning back to the start. Then he raised both hands and cheered as if he had crossed the finish line. He moved his legs as if he was climbing stairs. Once. Twice. He pretended to go up to the podium and then kissed something around his neck. ¡°Gold medal!¡± The New ck members shouted at the same time and Woojoo smiled. ¡°¡­¡± Kunimura had a nk expression. What had just happened? Woojoo had described the word in less than eight seconds and the New ck members had guessed it in the remaining two seconds. It was unprecedented. Usually, when a word like gold medal came up, they would say ¡®Medal?¡¯ and then ¡®Medal!¡¯, and then another member would go crazy and draw an X with his hand and then express the medal again for a long time, wasting 30 seconds. But now, the first question was over in less than 10 seconds. ¡®What the hell is this?¡¯ As he stared nkly, the second word came out. Roller coaster. Woojoo leaned his body back and pretended to hold the safety bar with both hands. It was a pirarucu. A word that he had no idea how to exin. It seemed like an animal, but he didn¡¯t know what kind of animal it was. He hoped that when a difficult word came up, he would just spell it out one letter at a time, like P, I, R, and so on, and waste some time. But then, a bright smile appeared on Woojoo¡¯s face. ¡®He¡¯s smiling?¡¯ ¡®Why is he smiling?¡¯ ¡®¡­What¡¯s going on? This is ominous.¡¯ Woojoo, who had been mimicking a fish swimming in the water with his body, pointed at Rihyuk with his finger. ¡°Eek¡­!¡± Someone with a face that was stretched to the forehead stumbled, but the other three shouted seriously. ¡°Pirarucu!¡± The staff of New ck burst intoughter, and the program producers looked stunned. ¡®What the heck is a pirarucu?¡¯ ¡®It¡¯s a fish from the Amazon River.¡¯ ¡®¡­?¡¯ What did Rihyuk and the unidentified Amazon River fish have to do with each other? ¡®¡­Telepathy?¡¯ Along with someone¡¯s mumbling, the producers fell into a maze. Only the staff who was in charge of the research realized his mistake and quietly backed away. Then he made a realistic movement caused by gravity, exhaling loudly. ¡°Roller coaster!¡± Next was the wedding dress. Woojoo walked carefully with a bouquet in his hand, as if he was wearing a real wedding dress. ¡®What is this? Has he ever been married?¡¯ As Kunimura stared nkly, the New ck members asked with skepticism. ¡°Marriage?¡± ¡°Dress?¡± Woojoo drew a ¡®+¡¯ sign as if tobine the two, and Bijoo pped his hands and eximed. ¡°Wedding dress!¡± The leader made a gesture of high-fiving in the air, and the excited main dancer caught it and pped from afar. That was how the seven words ended in less than a minute. Kunimura looked at the production team, who had done it in a sh. ¡°¡­500,000 yen?¡± the PD muttered with a nk face. The assistant director nodded and said, ¡®It¡¯s 500,000 yen,¡¯ then flinched at the PD¡¯s gaze. The sound of the production team swallowing their saliva was heard. ¡°But can we prepare 500,000 yen?¡± someone asked with a serious face. ¡°¡­We have to hope.¡± ¡°Hope?¡± ¡°The hope that New ck will fail.¡± ¡°Really¡­¡± ¡°Really, we¡¯re saying the same thing. We¡¯re screwed.¡± Meanwhile, there were some people in the production team who had the same question as him. ¡°What is his identity?¡± ¡°¡­What is that? Did you see him doing the b-boying move? That¡¯s a hard move to do even if you know it.¡± ¡°Oh. But there¡¯s one hard thing that came out.¡± The production team had high hopes for the keyword ¡®bacteria¡¯. ¡®That¡¯s hard.¡¯ ¡­That was what everyone thought, when Woojoo sneezed and mimicked someone¡¯s disgusted expression. The membersughed brightly at the same time. ¡°Seo Rihyuk!¡± ¡°No! That¡¯s not me!¡± ¡°It¡¯s Rihyuk!¡± New ck made a fuss, and the leader shook his head and pretended to hold a handkerchief with snot on it. ¡°Cold?¡± The leader showed the imaginary handkerchief and rubbed his hand, then brought it to his eye. This time, he looked like a scientist studying particles with a microscope. ¡°Germs!¡± ¡°Bacteria!¡± Even the slightly difficult ¡®bacteria¡¯ took just over 10 seconds. As they started to solve one problem every eight seconds, 15 out of 30 problems were over in less than two minutes. The PD smiled with a detached look. On the other hand, Kunimura watched with interest as if he was watching a fire. After all, the prize money was the production team¡¯s problem. ¡®What did he do to be a singer?¡¯ He was amazed every time he saw him. As soon as he saw the word, he processed it in his head in one second and went straight to the action description. It usually took a few seconds to think in your head, but he didn¡¯t hesitate at all. Fast brain rotation. And his action description was excellent. As he watched, he wondered if he could make a YouTube video in a snap. A y button flickered like a hallucination above Woojoo¡¯s head. ¡®¡­He wasn¡¯t bluffing.¡¯ He understood why New ck¡¯s manager and stylist were so confident. They were still smiling happily. ¡°500,000 yen. 500,000 yen.¡± ¡°Woojoo. Hang in there¡­!¡± ¡°Oh, are we having a party today? Woojoooo!¡± It was a good thing that he didn¡¯t understand Korean. And then. ¡°Oh¡­!¡± ¡°We made it!¡± The faces of the production team, who had been deted, began to brighten. The 26th word. Now, thest question. With a generous one minute left for the time limit, the 30th word came up. Thest word was ¡®army.¡¯ Woojoo flinched for a moment when he saw the word ¡®army¡¯ written in bold marker. How did he describe the army? Woojoo sighed softly and tried to describe the action, but the kids shouted at the same time. ¡°Army!¡± ¡°That¡¯s the army!¡± ¡°Army! Army!¡± Nearby, one of the producers muttered in a serious tone, ¡®Is this telepathy¡­?¡¯ When he made a dumbfounded expression. The MC said, ¡®Perfect! You did it!¡¯ and the kids ran towards him. ¡°Woojoo, you¡¯re awesome!¡± ¡°Ugh¡­!¡± Who body-mmed him? Was it Kim Junghyun? As Woojoo gasped for air, the kids¡¯ hands flew at him like puppy paws. ¡°Hyung! You did great!¡± ¡°Let¡¯s eat something delicious today! We!¡± ¡°Pirarucu is nasty, but I¡¯ll give you lots ofpliments for today.¡± Woojoo barely calmed down the kids who were surrounding him and screaming. ¡°Hey, how did you guess thest one?¡± ¡°Oh. The army? You described it really well, Hyung. You always sigh like that when the topic of men going to the armyes up.¡± ¡°Oh¡­¡± ¡°I knew it as soon as I saw it, too! Hyung!¡± Bijoo smiled brightly and said, ¡®Your description was awesome!¡¯ It was like catching a mouse after stumbling backwards, but Woojoo decided to be happy since he seeded. ¡°Woohoo!¡± ¡°Praise me, you little ones!¡± ¡°Seon Woojoo! Seon Woojoo!¡± ¡°Milky Seon Woojoo! I love you, Seon Woojoo!¡± As the kids lifted Woojoo up and bowed to him like a Buddha statue, he also stretched out his arms and enjoyed the cheers. Their staff also pped or gave thumbs up like the audience who saw their team¡¯s home run. Woojoo went up to the camera with the kids hanging on him and did a ceremony with a bright smile. ¡®Manager! I won the prize money!¡¯ ¡®Yo!¡¯ The kids all danced the dance of affection, or rather, victory, and bounced around. ¡°Yay~! Yayayaya~!¡± ¡°Yayayaya yayaya!¡± As the MC covered his mouth with the cue card andughed, the producers looked at them with gloomy faces. It would have been perfect if they added a CG of rain falling in the background. It was a moment of contrast between them bouncing around and the producers drooping. After a while, Woojoo asked cautiously, ¡®By the way¡­ can we really get the prize money?¡¯ ¡®Yes, we promised.¡¯ The MC nced at the PD, who nodded his head with a sad face. Woojoo was worried that they might not get the prize money because it was a special event, but he was relieved. Tonight, Woojoo had to go out and eat something delicious with his siblings and staff. ¡°Are we doing any promotion? We are doing promotion, right?¡± ¡°Of course you have to.¡± Then they each took a microphone and sang Windflower without any choreography, just the vocal version. They were serious about building the harmony, but the production team¡¯s reaction was strange. They gasped every time the harmony was added or dispersed, then they looked at their faces and shook their heads. Then they listened to the song again and smiled with a sigh. They repeated this cycle of surprise and admiration. They looked like they lost their immersion every time they saw their faces. ¡°Thank you!¡± Woojoo finished the song and lined up with his siblings. At the end of the two-hour recording, they said goodbye to the viewers of the program. ¡°Good job!¡± ¡°Thank you for your hard work!¡± The shooting ended in a warm atmosphere. The PD who shook hands with them one by one said with a smile, ¡°This is the first time someone really takes away 500,000 yen.¡± ¡°Hahaha.¡± ¡°I¡¯m sad that I have to report this to the higher-ups, but since it¡¯s already done, I might as well do some proper promotion.¡± ¡°Promotion?¡± ¡°The first idol group to achieve 500,000 yen! That¡¯s the kind of teaser we need!¡± He was definitely a pro. Woojoo was impressed by his exnation of how to use the broadcast for promotion. ¡°Lately, the ratings have been stagnant. I hope this appearance of New ck will be a turning point. There were so many epic scenes today¡­¡± ¡°Really?¡± They looked at each other and asked, ¡°Did we get that much footage? We just did as usual.¡± ¡°¡­Is that usual? You¡¯re not in a particrly good condition today?¡± ¡°Today is normal¡­¡± Woojoo¡¯s siblings nodded at his words. The PD grabbed Woojoo¡¯s hand with a serious face and asked them toe back again. He sent them off outside the studio and told them to look forward to it. ¡°Look forward to it. The response to today¡¯s broadcast will be really good.¡± Woojoo was afraid they wouldn¡¯t give they the prize money because it was an event, but they paid right away. ¡°Everyone! What day is today!¡± ¡°Dinner!¡± ¡°Who¡¯s paying?¡± ¡°Woojoo! Woojoo!¡± They went to a nice restaurant with the staff and spent money generously. ¡°Woojoo, I¡¯ll fill your ss.¡± ¡°Okay.¡± The staff filled his ss with zero c every time he said thank you for your hard work. They filled their stomachs withvish food for two days in a row and finished the remaining schedule with momentum. ¡°Thank you for your cooperation!¡± Most of the promotion was interviews with magazines. If it were in their country, they would have interviewed with entertainment reporters, but he heard that magazines were more important here. There were over 3,600 types and over 100 categories of ssification. Woojoo got the impression that the environment was different in many ways. And thest and most anticipated schedule was the showcase. ¡°Hello, everyone! Is this our first time meeting?¡± They had a meeting with a thousand fans at a concert hall in Shibuya, Tokyo. They performed on stage and held a lottery event. At the end, they sang Starlight with the Souffl¨¦s in Japanese, and it felt different from the K-pop concert. Something warm and cozy came into their hearts. Something that was not filled at the K-pop concert, it restored their energy as if it was charging. It was a happy thing that there were fans who looked at them with such sparkling eyes in a foreign country with differentnguage and culture. This was also the reason why singers could never let go of this job. They finished the showcase and had a brief interview with a cable TV entertainment information program. ¡°That¡¯s amazing.¡± The reporter said, ¡°You have such a fan base even before you start your full-scale activities in Japan¡­¡± ording to the agency, the number of applicants for the showcase also exceeded 10,000. They had a smooth sailing in Japan. A normal agency would have thought, ¡®The response is good, right? Should we stay in Japan for a few months?¡¯. But their domestic activities were doing so well that they couldn¡¯t afford to do that. They finished their promotion schedule neatly and got on the ne back home right away. ¡°Ah, I¡¯m tired¡­¡± Their Japan trip was over with thest free time they had wandering around the bustling streets of Tokyo with his younger siblings. Woojoo boarded the ne with gifts for his grandmother, the A&R Team, and thepany staff. ¡°¡­¡± ¡°¡­¡± They still had fans following them, but this time they just put on their sun caps andy down. Let them take pictures if they want. Look at his floral glossy sun cap. ¡°We¡¯re in Korea!¡± ¡°Ah, this smell of Korea is so good. The scent of violets.¡± ¡°That¡¯s the smell of my shampoo, bro.¡± ¡°The smell of Korean shampoo is good¡­!¡± They shouted with joy as they got off at Gimpo Airport. This time, they had a K-pop concert schedule as well, so they stayed abroad for the longest time ever. Even though it was the same East Asian culture, it couldn¡¯tpare to Korea. It definitely gave them mental stability. The fact that Kim Deoksoon and Woojoo were on the samend. ¡°You worked hard, guys.¡± ¡°You worked hard too-!¡± They exchanged tired smiles with the managers. They did their own stage rehearsals and performances, and these people also went around with the local agency and had meeting after meeting after meeting. It was a forced march for everyone. ¡°To the amodation?¡± ¡°Amodation!¡± As Dowon Hyung took the wheel, Woojoo turned his gaze to Seokhwan Hyung. ¡°Hyung, are you going to thepany?¡± ¡°I have some things to finish up there.¡± ¡°Take a break¡­¡± ¡°That¡¯s what I should say to you. In-ma. You guys go to the amodation and rest well. Don¡¯t think about anything today.¡± ¡°Yes!¡± As Incheon Airport quickly faded away, Woojoo and his younger siblings started to nod off. ¡°By the way, Woojoo.¡± ¡°Zzzz. Yes.¡± ¡°The promotion team told you toe to thepany tomorrow morning.¡± ¡°Why?¡± ¡°Your lig¡­¡± Whoosh. At that moment, they all sat up straight like vampires who woke up in the coffin. ¡°Who is it? Who made the sound of the stick?¡± ¡°Light stick, right? Manager. Light stick?¡± ¡°Uh¡­ yeah, yeah. The light stick prototype came out, soe tomorrow morning¡­¡± ¡°We can¡¯t do that.¡± They shook their heads firmly. ¡°Turn the car around, Dowon Hyung.¡± ¡°We¡¯re going to thepany.¡± Their faces brightened up at the news of the light stick prototype. ¡°Finally¡­!¡± ¡°We¡¯ve been waiting for this day.¡± They pped their hands together with a fresh expression. ¡°Guys, the light stick is out¡­!¡± ¡°I think I¡¯m going to cry, Hyung.¡± ¡°Do you want a tissue?¡± ¡°This is not the time for that! We should celebrate!¡± Jiho turned on the music and they danced happily to the celebration song, and Seokhwan Hyung looked at them with a nk face. He looked like he was watching a retriever that was still running around after a three-hour walk. ¡°Don¡¯t you guys rest¡­?¡± ¡°Yeah!¡± They were so excited that they danced, and Junghyun scratched his nose and asked, ¡°But, Hyung.¡± ¡°Yeah?¡± ¡°I feel like I left something behind. There¡¯s something I¡¯m forgetting, but¡­¡± ¡°Me too. It feels like we forgot something¡­¡± Woojoo tried to remember, but nothing came to mind. There was something they were missing, but what? Woojoo racked his brain, but eventually give up. It didn¡¯t matter anyway. He couldn¡¯t even remember it. ¡°Yay!¡± He danced again with joy. Japan. Three men drank tea with serious faces. ¡°When will New cke?¡± ¡°Let¡¯s wait and see. We prepared an irresistible offer for them¡­¡± ¡°True. They must have noticed our presence by now.¡± Hashimoto and hispanions sipped their tea, hoping for New ck to arrive soon. ¡®New ck,e on¡­¡¯ ¡®Why aren¡¯t theying?¡¯ ¡®They have toe. They will, right?¡¯ But while they were praying fervently, New ck was in Korea, singing yodel songs and dancing. Chapter 266: Chapter 266: Trantor: MarcTempest Editor: Rxel Chapter 266 ¡°Wee back!¡± As soon as they arrived at the PR Team¡¯s office, the staff greeted them warmly. ¡°How was Japan?¡± ¡°Great!¡± ¡°I heard from Director Yoon that you guys hit it big there. What did Woojoo do on the show?¡± ¡°¡­That¡¯s a secret.¡±They did all kinds of things for 500,000 yen. They handed out gifts to the PR Team staff, and they all received them with happy expressions. When the staff returned to their work, they followed Assistant Manager Hong to the meeting room. ¡°Deputy Manager, please take this.¡± ¡°Hmm? What is it?¡± ¡°We couldn¡¯t give you a proper gift earlier because there were too many people. We brought you something extra.¡± They had prepared more gifts for her, since she was in charge of New ck in the PR Team. ¡°Oh, thank you.¡± She smiled as she took the wrapped gift box. She looked down at the box and fiddled with it, then lifted her head and looked at them. A genuine smile shed across her business-like smile. She muttered that she felt motivated to work and left the meeting room. ¡°Can you wait a moment? I¡¯ll bring the light sticks soon!¡± ¡°Okay!¡± They bounced on their feet and imagined the possibilities, while she came back with an intern carrying a huge box. What? Why was it so big? It was the size of an air purifier. ¡°¡­It¡¯s huge.¡± ¡°The box is really big.¡± It looked like a Gulliver¡¯s Travels edition. They were momentarily stunned, but then they focused on the small box that she took out of the big box. A ck box. The ck color faded as it went down, creating a gradient effect. On the front, there was New ck¡¯s logo in silver, and on the back, their names were written in English. They were moved by the sight of the ¡®Official Fanlight¡¯, which meant the official light stick. ¡°Wow¡­¡± The light stick they had been waiting for finally appeared before their eyes. They felt warm in their chests just by looking at the packaging. ¡°A real light stick¡­¡± The younger ones had simr reactions. They smiled as they looked at the light stick case in the middle of the table. Bijoo raised his hand to his mouth as if he liked what he saw, and Jiho took pictures with his phone from all angles. Junghyun also grinned with his chin propped up. Tap, tap, tap, tap. Woojoo turned his head and saw Rihyuk tapping his phone hard. ¡°What are you doing?¡± ¡°I¡¯m recording how I feel at this moment. It¡¯s a moment I want to remember.¡± They nodded. It was a moment they wanted to remember, as Rihyuk said. Was it when they debuted? They used to imagine what they would be like a yearter. Whether they would be sessful, or just getting by, or even struggling to release an album. There was a time when everything was uncertain. But now, they were feeling so happy, and they were celebrating the birth of their light stick around their first anniversary. They exchanged nces and smiled with each other. The youngest, who was taking pictures with shes, tilted his head. ¡°Huh? But the box size is a bit odd.¡± ¡°Yeah,¡± Woojoo said. ¡°I¡¯ve seen a lot of light stick boxes from other seniors, but they were much smaller than this.¡± ¡°It looks like a birthday cake box. Hyung.¡± The usual light stick boxes were slim, but this one was a bit wide. Assistant Manager Hong smiled quietly, and Woojoo noticed the secret as he looked closely at the box. ¡°Oh, I get it! You matched it with our album size, right?¡± ¡°Yes.¡± ¡°Ah¡­!¡± Then the younger ones realized it too. The height of the light stick box was the same as their album. Lemon Entertainment was the most praised in the field of idol fandoms for its standardization. All the goods were arranged neatly on the bookshelf with the same specifications. Whenever a post titled ¡®Goods disy that makes you feelfortable as you look at it¡¯ came up on the inte, it was 99% theirpany. Woojoo didn¡¯t even know they would match the specifications for the light stick boxes. ¡°Standardization! I love it¡­!¡± Woojoo smiled quietly as he saw someone on their team blush with joy. After letting them examine the box for a while, she nodded her head and asked, ¡°Shall I show you now?¡± ¡°Yes!¡± Woojoo sped his hands and prayed, ¡®Please be pretty!¡¯ while he did the unboxing. Soon, the stick that came out of his hand. ¡°Wow!¡± ¡°Wow! Wow!¡± ¡°Wow¡­¡± It felt like a heavenly background music and a glitter filter were applied to his eyes. The luxurious handle that was designed to fit in the hand. The round sphere on top of it. It looked like a new ck ice cream cone that the Creator had carefully crafted. And there was something very pretty inside. ¡°Wow¡­!¡± They all stretched their necks at the same time at the light stick on the table. There was a round moon inside. At first, Woojoo thought it was a cute sunflower or a sun, but now he saw it was a moon and stars around it. There was a star on each of the rings that surrounded the moon like sunflower petals. ¡°It looks a bit like a flower from a distance, right? The designer reflected the opinion of Woojoo.¡± ¡°That¡¯s why it¡¯s so pretty! Our light stick is so cute.¡± ¡°¡­¡± ¡°¡­I¡¯m sorry.¡± Woojoo bowed his head at the contemptuous gaze of his younger siblings. Heughed. ¡°Remember, Woojoo said the reason why the petals are five is because of the five of you who surround the Souffl¨¦.¡± ¡°Yes. That¡¯s right.¡± ¡°That¡¯s why there are five stars.¡± ¡°Ah.¡± Then, Rihyuk raised his voice as if he had found something. ¡°But the circle doesn¡¯t seem to be a perfect circle. The curve is a bit¡­¡± ¡°Right.¡± ¡°¡­?¡± ¡°It looks like a moon from the front, but if you look at it sideways, it will look like a Souffl¨¦ pancake.¡± ¡°Oh. Really?¡± ¡°Yes. The designer reflected the idea of Bijoo.¡± They all stuck their chins to the table like dogs sniffing. ¡°It¡¯s true!¡± ¡°Really?¡± It really looked like a doubleyered Souffl¨¦ pancake when they looked at it sideways. The concept was that the five stars were spinning around the Souffl¨¦. ¡°It¡¯s pretty¡­¡± ¡°How did thise out of our horrible design?¡± ¡°Right. Did they really make it based on the design we gave them?¡± ¡°Yes,¡± Assistant Manager Hong answered. ¡°He gathered all the ideas you gave him and made it.¡± ¡°Wow¡­ He¡¯s not a pro for nothing.¡± They gave him ideas like the people who participated in the world¡¯s most useless item contest. This was¡­ It was like a flower that bloomed from rotten soil. Woojoo praised the designer who sprouted the bud. ¡°We have to pay a lot of design fees to the designer, right?¡± ¡°¡­We paid a lot.¡± ¡°This is what my dad always said, the power of money.¡± The light stick was really luxurious. It was the prettiest after their Lady Deoksoon. Woojoo admired the light stick that had the touch of the designer everywhere, and Junghyun looked at the surface of the sphere. ¡°Manager. But what are these dots on the surface?¡± ¡°Huh? Really! There¡¯s something like a stain here!¡± ¡°Is it defective?¡± ¡°Kim Junghyun. Stop scratching it with your fingernails. It¡¯s not yours.¡± ¡°Yes¡­¡± As Woojoo looked at the round sphere with specks embedded in it, wondering if it was dust or crystals, Assistant Manager Hong smiled meaningfully and called the intern. ¡°Turn off the lights for a moment.¡± ¡°¡­?¡± ¡°Assistant Manager. Why are you suddenly turning off the lights¡­¡± The exnation came after the lights went off. ¡°You need to turn on the light stick to exin this part.¡± ¡°Oh.¡± ¡°Rihyuk contributed a lot of ideas for the performance. You can adjust the brightness in several levels.¡± Thud- The light stick turned on. ¡°Wow!¡± ¡°I just turned it on. Guys.¡± ¡°Wow!¡± ¡°¡­¡± Assistant Manager Hong, holding the light stick, chuckled. As they admired the glowing light stick, saying ¡®awesome¡­¡¯, she lifted the light stick like a torch. ¡°Do you see these specks on it?¡± Then he shone the light stick on the wall. The weakest brightness. As she adjusted the angle, the specks on the surface of the light stick created a picture of light and shadow on the wall. Like a constetionmp. ¡°Huh¡­?¡± A round moon. And around the moon, small stars were scattered. It looked like a night sky made of shadows. It looked like stains at first nce, but it became a night sky when she adjusted the angle. ¡°Wow¡­¡± As they marveled at it, Bijoo raised his hand. ¡°It¡¯s pretty. But what does it mean?¡± ¡°The designer came up with the idea. He thought it would be nice to have a night sky with the moon and stars. It has a special meaning for you guys.¡± ¡°It does?¡± They tilted their heads. Then they looked at the shadowy night sky on the wall and narrowed their eyes. Assistant Manager Hong smiled. ¡°June 19th, 2014. The night sky of the day you debuted.¡± Silence fell. Their breathless eyes turned to the picture on the wall. ¡°How is it?¡± ¡°¡­¡± ¡°Do you like it?¡± ¡°It¡¯s not just that we like it¡­¡± They answered with a smile. ¡°It¡¯s the best.¡± ¡°We love it. Really.¡± They stared endlessly at the shadow on the wall with the keyword June 19th. As they stored the scenery in their memory for a long time, Rihyuk asked, ¡°But isn¡¯t the brightness too weak? I don¡¯t think we can use it as a bookmp.¡± ¡°Ah. Of course. This is the weakest brightness.¡± ¡°What¡¯s the normal brightness?¡± ¡°Uh, wait a minute¡­ Junsung. How do you adjust this?¡± The intern showed Assistant Manager Hong something on his smartphone and told her. Ah, she said with a smile, ¡°That was the weakest brightness, and the normal brightness is¡­¡± And at that moment. Whooooosh! Assistant Manager Hong¡¯s face, smiling brightly, disappeared in white. Before they could dodge, a wave of light attacked them. It was like in a movie, when a bomb exploded, the characters disappeared with a sh. That was them. They all covered their eyes. ¡°Aaaaaah!¡± ¡°My eyes! My eyes!¡± ¡°Ahh, it feels like I got hit by a shbang!¡± ¡°Sorry, guys! Ouch! My eyes¡­! Junsung!¡± ¡°I can¡¯t see either! Assistant Manager¡­!¡± That was how ¡®eye-popping¡¯ became one of the candidates for their light stick name. The meeting room lights came back on. ¡°¡­¡± ¡°¡­¡± Everyone was sitting with a stunned expression. Rihyuk was rubbing his eyelids with his eyes closed, and Woojoo was blinking constantly. Spots were flickering. ¡°The afterimage won¡¯t go away.¡± ¡°Me too. Hyung. Something is floating in front of my eyes.¡± Bijoo reached out his hand to the air, as if trying to catch something. Junghyun said that if they stared at each spot, they could erase them, but it didn¡¯t seem to work for them. Woojoo opened his eyes wide and turned his head. ¡°Are you okay? Both of you?¡± ¡°Uh, yeah¡­¡± The two employees nodded nkly. The intern was looking for the switch while leaning on the wall earlier. His siblings were mumbling with a dazed face. ¡°What kind of brightness is that¡­¡± ¡°I thought my eyes were going to pop out. I was waiting for the normal brightness, but then suddenly, whoosh!¡± ¡°Seriously. If Junghyun¡¯s cornea got damaged, that says it all.¡± ¡°But why is it so bright?¡± ¡°Wait a minute. The performance was as Rihyuk Hyung requested¡­¡± At the youngest¡¯s words, their heads turned at the same time. Rihyuk, who was rubbing his eyes, looked up sheepishly and frowned. ¡°What?¡± ¡°You did it.¡± ¡°Rihyuk Hyung influenced the performance decision, right? This is your work, Hyung?¡± ¡°No, I¡­¡± They started to scold Rihyuk. ¡°Rihyuk. We asked you to make a light stick, not an industrial light.¡± ¡°We can¡¯t do our concert like this.¡± ¡°I don¡¯t think I can do music shows either.¡± It was true. If they cheered with this brightness, it would be a disaster. After the pre-recording, the fan manager would say, ¡®Okay, our Souffl¨¦s, close your eyes and calm down. When you¡¯re ready, we¡¯ll let you out one by one from thest row!¡¯ The concert reviews would be ¡®Our kids are the light¡­ I only saw the light.¡¯ Junghyun nodded. ¡°When I was young, I went to the harbor with my dad. The lighthouse I saw there felt like this.¡± ¡°Come on, guys. Calm down. This can¡¯t be¡­¡± As Rihyuk was denying it, Assistant Manager Hong came back to her senses and added, ¡°Rihyuk is right. That was the maximum brightness.¡± ¡°Oh¡­¡± ¡°I meant to do the normal brightness, but I pressed the wrong button and got the maximum brightness.¡± ¡°See? Maximum brightness.¡± He looked at them with an ¡®apologize now¡¯ look in his eyes. ¡°It¡¯s the same with maximum brightness.¡± ¡°Yeah. Why does the maximum brightness have to be that high in the first ce?¡± ¡°It could be useful in case of unexpected disasters or emergencies. I hope it never happens, butter this light stick might¡­¡± ¡°Light stick?¡± ¡°It might save someone¡¯s life.¡± Woojoo was almost convinced for a moment. ¡°But still, why does it have to be a light stick?¡± ¡°There¡¯s now that says it can¡¯t be.¡± ¡°¡­¡± Woojoo was speechless for a moment. It sounded weird no matter how he heard it, but it had some persuasiveness, so he decided to let it go. In the meantime, they heard the exnation of the rest of the specifications. It was mostly about the technical aspects, and Rihyuk seemed to be satisfied with his smile. ¡°We¡¯ll start production soon. We¡¯ve gathered internal opinions, and we¡¯llunch it after we hear from you what needs to be improved.¡± ¡°Oh, I have a few things.¡± They gave feedback on what they felt while looking at the light stick. As they talked about the size of the hand strap and the brightness of the light, the other person took notes diligently. ¡°Got it. I¡¯ll talk to the manufacturer more about that part. Anything else you want to say?¡± ¡°When will it be released?¡± ¡°Soon. We¡¯re nning tounch it when we recruit the second batch of Souffl¨¦.¡± ¡°I can hear them. I can hear the fansing in.¡± They allughed at the youngest¡¯s joke. It was when they smiled with the boxes of light sticks that they each received. Assistant Manager Hong was struggling to pull something out. ¡°Assistant Manager?¡± ¡°¡­Just a moment. Ugh, this won¡¯te out.¡± Something was popping out of the huge air purifier box that they had wondered about at first. Seeing the two of them grunting, Woojoo winked at Junghyun. Their strongman walked over and plucked something out like a cabbage. ¡°Wow¡­!¡± It was like a giant sweet potato. ¡°Wow¡­?¡± It felt like the Lion King soundtrack was ying. They were shocked by the sight of Junghyun holding something in both hands like Simba. ¡°No, that is¡­¡± They were speechless. Assistant Manager Hong, who had prepared the thing, also burst outughing. ¡°This¡­¡± ¡°Is that a light stick?¡± ¡°It looks like a light stick no matter how I look at it.¡± It was almost identical to the light stick we had just seen. Except for the size. It was about a meter long. It was like a torch that the Olympic torchbearers carry. It was the size that Junghyun had to hold with both hands. Junghyun looked at what he was holding and said, ¡°Wow.¡± That one word summed up their feelings. What the hell was this? They were looking for someone to exin because it was so unreal. ¡°What, what is this?¡± ¡°Snort. Snicker.¡± Assistant Manager Hong snickered for a while and then said, ¡°This is¡­ When I tried to reflect the performance that Rihyuk asked for at first, it had to be this size to be possible. It was a mock-up that I made as a joke at the nning meeting¡­¡± ¡°The President saw it.¡± ¡°Yeah.¡± Woojoo imagined the scene behind it. ¡°The President said it would be fun to make this version too, so I made two.¡± One was in the President¡¯s office, and the other was given to them. ¡°This is the real one and only light stick.¡± ¡°So this is the thing that I¡­ mentioned at first.¡± ¡°Right.¡± Woojoo said to Rihyuk, who had a blissful expression, ¡°Rihyuk. Can you lift this?¡± ¡°I can lift this¡­ Aaargh!¡± ¡°Pfft! Hahaha!¡± It turned out he couldn¡¯t. Theyughed for a long time. The thing in front of them was too absurd. It was like a siege weapon, not a light stick. If a picture of it went online, people would react like ¡®How is this real¡­?¡¯ Woojoo decided to show it to the Souffl¨¦ fans when they did the light stick reviewter. ¡°It can generate its own power.¡± ¡°Wow¡­!¡± As they turned the small handle at the end, the light stick flickered. ¡°Hahaha!¡± Everyoneughed except for Rihyuk, who was moved to tears. It was a light stick that condensed the romance of men, no, of all children. Every time they tested the performance, Assistant Manager Hong and the intern also watched with curiosity. After testing for almost 30 minutes, the meeting finally ended. ¡°Okay. Then let¡¯s see each other again when we film the light stick review video.¡± ¡°Yes!¡± ¡°Don¡¯t mess around with that big¡­ stick.¡± They nodded at the Assistant Manager¡¯s words. ¡°Hey, Assistant Manager. Do you think we¡¯re kids?¡± ¡°Yeah. The fans said I looked mature on stage.¡± ¡°Okay. See youter.¡± They shook hands with Assistant Manager Hong and the intern bowed as they left the room. They smiled politely as they saw them off. One. Two. Three¡­ After counting calmly to ten, Junghyun peeked his head out and gave them an OK sign. ¡°Are they gone?¡± ¡°They¡¯re gone.¡± They jumped up with excited faces. ¡°Hey, let¡¯s do it. Let¡¯s do it.¡± ¡°Okay. Let¡¯s go.¡± ¡°Come on, gather up.¡± Deputy Seo Pilgeun of the A&R Team walked down the hallway, loosening his stiff shoulders. ¡°Is it because Woojoo came to Korea? Why are my shoulders so tense¡­¡± He walked cautiously, hoping not to run into anyone. -Hahaha! ¡°Ah!¡± Woojoo¡¯sughter sounded like a devil¡¯s howl. Deputy Seo Pilgeun, who had unknowingly stuck to the wall, turned his head around, looking for the source of theughter. ¡®The conference room?¡¯ The voices of the New ck members wereing out of the conference room. -Let¡¯s try again. Junghyun. Again! -Lumos! At that moment, a sh of light that seemed to brighten the whole world burst out of the conference room. Along with the frivolousughter. -Hahahaha! -Kyaa! -Hehehe! The bright hallway darkened again. -Let¡¯s try the Statue of Liberty this time! The Statue of Liberty! -The Statue of Liberty? Um¡­ not Junghyun. Hyung! Woojoo Hyung, do it for us. -Just a sec. Then, with Woojoo¡¯s voice saying ¡®Wee to New York¡¯, the conference room lit up again. The sound of pping like seals and the gigglingughter leaked out. ¡°¡­¡± He had no idea what they were doing. He wanted to open the door and ask, but Deputy Seo Pilgeun shook his head. ¡®I can¡¯t get involved. It¡¯s work if I do.¡¯ He ran away desperately. ¡¾TheNewck.Official has started a live broadcast. Watch it now!¡¿ As the SNS notification popped up on the phones scattered across the country, the Souffl¨¦s opened their eyes wide. ¡®It¡¯s them¡­!¡¯ Lemon Entertainment had announced that the members would introduce their light sticks live today. The Souffl¨¦s turned on the live broadcast with a pounding heart. ¡®Huh?¡¯ It was pitch ck. A dark screen. The live broadcast had started, but all they could see was darkness. The Souffl¨¦s tilted their heads. -Is there a broadcast error? -Guys??? -??? -What is this -Say hello to brazil! -Why is it ck And as they were thinking that, someone grabbed the camera and the camera angle spun around. Slowly to the right in the darkness. It was like a horror movie. As the Souffl¨¦s looked on with ¡®¡­?¡¯, someone appeared with a sh of light in the distance. Five people showed their faces. ¡®What, what is this.¡¯ They followed Woojoo, who was clutching a giant torch, as the other members of New ck walked behind them. They were walking like models, but the lighting was terrible. The torchlight only illuminated the bottom of their faces, making them look like they were ying ghost pranks with shlights. Or rather¡­ -They¡¯re monsters -Monsters, huh -They must be from the legendary homnd -Is it Halloween in Korea?? -The kids are crying. Guys¡­ -I¡¯m a film student. That¡¯s a cinematic way of showing the duality of human nature. -They look like monsters; They thought they were making cool expressions, but they looked like five monsters in a strange scenery. Chapter 267: Chapter 267: Trantor: MarcTempest Editor: Rxel Chapter 267 The members of New ck walked up to the camera and stopped. -There has never been a light stick like this before. -Bong bong. -Pfft, hey. Kim Junghyun. You made me forget. Bijoo said with augh. Soon, all five of them giggled. -Turn on the light, Hyung.The conference room light came on and the Souffl¨¦s regained theirposure. -Ah¡­ finally ????? -Guys, that light was not real??? -Let¡¯s say goodbye to the monster from our memory -Phew¡­ The fans felt relieved to see their bright faces. The members leaned in closer to read thements, and their eyes, noses, and mouths filled the screen. They spent some time chatting andughing with the fans. Then, Woojoo smiled brightly. -Yes. We¡¯re going to introduce our light stick to you now. How do you feel? Are you excited? -Yes! -No, not you guys, the fans¡­ -Wow! The Souffl¨¦sughed at the sight of them cheering more than the fans. The members sat around the table and chatted, while the manager handed them a box of light sticks. -Well, then, let¡¯s get to today¡¯s product! Shall we? Woojoo lifted the box with a show host vibe. -This is the official~! -Light stick! -Yes. Everyone. It¡¯s a must-have item when you cheer for us on music shows or concerts, right? -That¡¯s right. It¡¯s an essential item to support my singers. Bijoo and Woojoo had great chemistry. They matched each other¡¯s lines like a show host duo. One would say something, and the other would respond with a witty remark. The other members also joined in the light stick introduction. From the box to the actual light stick. As they listened, they felt like they had to pick up the phone and ask, ¡®Is it still avable?¡¯ -So exciting????? -I turned it on to see their faces and now I¡¯m hooked -Why is it so fun?????? -Our kids should go on home shopping, they¡¯ll sell out -I¡¯m watching it with my mom next to me, peeling oranges?????? She said she¡¯ll buy one too -It feels like I¡¯m watching home shopping; -So where do I call now??? Soon, the Souffl¨¦s also asked, ¡®What¡¯s the free gift?¡¯ and yed along with the concept. -Free gift? -Oh, the free gift is very important. Don¡¯t you get a bonus when you buy something at the market? It¡¯s disappointing if you buy a sd and there¡¯s no dressing. That¡¯s why we, Lemon Home Shopping, prepared this. -Ta-da! The New ck members pulled out photo cards from their pockets. The fans¡¯ desire to buy was ignited by the pictures of them holding the light stick in different poses. -Kyuho is doing his job¡­ -Kyuho???? I trusted you -The light stick is so pretty¡­ ??? -Wow¡­ The night sky design is crazy?? -What did the designer study?? -They know our fandom ?? -Are they a Souffl¨¦? Especially when they exined the night sky of June 19th, their debut date, the Souffl¨¦s smiled warmly. Everything was perfect. And that was not the end. -Oh, there¡¯s one thing I forgot to tell you. There¡¯s a system that¡¯s applied for the first time to our light stick. Woojoo showed his phone screen. It was a sleek ck application called ¡®Fireworks¡¯. -You can adjust the brightness and color of the light stick with this app. It¡¯s a Bluetooth feature, and the staff said it¡¯s this IoT? Right, Rihyuk? Yes. We¡¯re the first ones to apply the Inte of Things. -You just have to adjust it like this. The Souffl¨¦s also stoppedmenting and eximed, ¡®Wow¡­¡¯ Some people were already searching and downloading the Fireworks app from the app store. -Fireworks means fireworks in Korean. We suggested naming our debut single title after it. The fans bombarded them with questions. -Uh, the name? We haven''t decided yet. We don''t even have a consistent name among ourselves. -I''m Dalbong! Bijoo''s smile sparkled brightly. -You know how Souffl¨¦ has a moon shape in the night sky? That''s why I call myself Dalbong. Hyung said he''s Wonbong, right? -Yeah. Wonbong. -I''m simply Souffl¨¦bong. As they each had different opinions, ¡®Dalbong'' gained overwhelming support from the fans. They thought it was cute. -Then, shall we go with Dalbong for now? Woojoo suggested that they should have an official vote, since the opinions of the absent fans were also important. They all agreed. While Bijoo was enjoying himself with his hands on his cheeks, the youngest proposed. -While we''re at it, let''s add a surname too. A surname. In a few minutes, with the fantastic teamwork of the members and the Souffl¨¦s, ¡®Kim Dalbong, the 32nd descendant of the Kim n who cheers for us'' was born. They allughed and joked together. Then, Woojoo blinked at someone''s question. -Do you think it''s too bright? Oh, others agree too. Many people said it was good, but too bright. But the New ck members justughed as if they found something funny. ¡®Why are they like that?'' They opened their mouths. -Actually, this is very dimmed. The original brightness was about twice as much as this, but I lowered it a lot. -You¡¯re surprised that this is dimmed? Yes. It¡¯s really dimmed. -Ah! I¡¯ll show you the King Bong. King Bong? Woojoo got up from his seat and disappeared off the screen, then came back with something in his hands. ¡®¡­?¡¯ At that moment. All the Souffl¨¦s¡¯ minds stopped at once. ¡®What is that¡­?¡¯ He was holding a one-meter-long torch. Come to think of it, Woojoo had brought something in his arms earlier, and it seemed to be that giant light stick. Both the person exining the production background and the listenersughed out loud at the absurdity. Woojoo said he would show them how bright it was before. -I¡¯ll show you the maximum level. Please be careful with your eyes, especially the elderly. The leader of New ck held the light stick with both hands and made a serious expression, as if praying. -Lord. Please allow me to be a righteous thief today. Everyoneughed at the line from a magical girl anime that the 90s kids used to watch. Then, light burst out from the screen. Whaaaaa! The screen turned white as the light that seemed to benefit the whole world spewed out. -Aaah! The manager¡¯s hand holding the camera shook and trembled. -What the hell¡­;;; -Is this real? It¡¯s not painted white? -Are you guys okay? -I can hear the sound but my eyes are blinded ¨C????no way????what is this???? ¨C????????I¡¯m spinning I¡¯m real -Are you kidding me?????? -The light is insane -What is this?????????? -Did I¡­ kill them? Then, click, the light went off and Woojoo, who was standing in the center, opened his eyes slightly and asked. -Does anyone still think the light stick is too bright? No one answered. [The idol who captured legendary beauty in today¡¯s light stick review video.gif] (An animated image of Woojoo turning on the giant light stick and the screen turning white in an instant) My boy is so beautiful Because all I see is light ¨C??????I¡¯m dying ¨C????kidding -What¡¯s going on there????????? I have no clue ¨C????I¡¯m crazy I haven¡¯tughed like this in a while -I want to see the original charcoal give me the link ¨C?when he brightens up and the screen shakes like he¡¯s screaming, that¡¯s a spoiler? -The dialogue is even funnier, you have to listen ¨C??if you watch it as a gif, his expression looks serious but the dialogue is hrious New ck¡¯s lightstick review became one of the best posts on the idolmunity in no time. At the same time, the lightstick¡¯s visual and function received rave reviews. -Awesome¡­ there¡¯s an app too??? -I saw overseas that they changed the colors of the concert seats, is that possible? -No no, it only has basic functions, they said the technology is not there yet -Crazy, why does Lemon work so hard -It¡¯s not why do they work so hard, it¡¯s why do they work?? -My eyesight is going to get worse?? -New ck¡¯s staff should get paid a lot, seriously -The design is so pretty????? -What is the night sky, it¡¯s a legend, it¡¯s a heart attack But the most talked-about thing among them was the legendary giant lightstick. -It¡¯s like a cartoon? -How is this true; -It looks like a photoshop?? -Today on the live broadcast, they dered that they would bring it out for every important event? -I¡¯m really curious about the real thing???? -But if you have that, it would really set the mood -If you¡¯re a fan of them, you have to watch from afar?? -Guys, you have to see the gif of our kids making the lightstick self-generate. It¡¯s my cure for Monday blues -But that¡¯s not for sale, even if they sell it, it would be pretty expensive??? -No no, it¡¯s so good that the production cost is expensive; they said it wouldn¡¯t make a profit at a reasonable price While New ck¡¯s lightstick was a hot topic in the idolmunity. The giant lightstick gif and the monster-like appearance scene were exported to variousmunities. It also appeared on SNS¡¯s ¡®Today¡¯s Laugh Page¡¯. Even people who were not interested in idols noticed New ck and soonughed and called them ¡®Again ck¡¯. Meanwhile. ¡°Huh¡­?¡± Some people tilted their heads at the app ¡®Fireworks¡¯ that appeared on the app store¡¯s real-time poprity ranking. ¡®Lightstick app¡­?¡¯ An application rted to a boy group was on the real-time poprity ranking. It was because the Souffl¨¦s had downloaded it in advance. ¡®How many fans do they have to have the lightstick app on the ranking?¡¯ At the point of recruiting the second Souffl¨¦s. New ck¡¯s fandom, whose exact size had not been known until now, was gradually revealing its bulk. ¡°This is unexpected. This.¡± ¡°¡­Shouldn¡¯t they have just done the concert at the gymnasium?¡± Lemon Entertainment¡¯s PR Team was flustered by the statistics. On the table, there was raw data that had not been processed yet. ¡°And, this is also weird.¡± ¡°What?¡± ¡°The data from overseas. There¡¯s this much demand for lightsticks overseas? This is¡­¡± ¡°It¡¯s ten times our estimated forecast.¡± They thought there was some reaction from overseas, but they never imagined there would be this much actual demand. And not only in China, Japan, Southeast Asia, but also in various countries. ¡°Should we send out a press release?¡± ¡°No. They¡¯ll just bash us for being arrogant. They¡¯re just a handful of overseas fans, and you¡¯re bragging about that.¡± ¡°First of all, we need to review these numbers. We need to investigate when our kids started getting reactions.¡± ¡°Yeah.¡± The PR Team members moved busily with a feeling that was not ordinary. Among them, Hong Seoyoung, the assistant manager, tapped the paper with a pen. ¡®There¡¯s something.¡¯ When she nned New ck¡¯s first live broadcast. She felt something again that she had felt since she added foreignnguage subtitles to YouTube. She reached for the snacks as she thought and thought. Then she looked at the snack in her hand. ¡®I have to work hard.¡¯ She smiled and put the snack that New ck members gave her as a gift in her mouth. The domestic schedule was still busy. They split the time by minutes and went to events, then went to the advertising shooting site and repeated. Especially, there were a lot of things to do because the advertising shooting that had only been requested had been dyed. ¡°New ck is very popr in the advertising industry these days.¡± TJ New Media. Two employees who worked with them on the Magic School CFst summer were gossiping. ¡°Every time we have a meeting with the clients, they mention New ck at least sixteen times. They say they are the celebrities that appeal to the 2030 generation who use SNS. We even got a phone call about them yesterday.¡± ¡°Wow¡­ That¡¯s amazing.¡± They didn¡¯t even realize that they had be hot blue chips in the advertising world. It was less than a year since they had to decide whether to do the electric nket ad or not. Meanwhile, the attitude of the advertising agency staff had changed. They asked them cautiously if there was anything ufortable for them, but it was somewhat burdensome. The friendliness they had shown before was gone, and now they treated them like popr stars. They were the same as before, but the people around them had changed. The on-site staff also treated them like princes. They brought them whatever they needed. They could have caught the celebrity disease. Rihyuk whispered to Woojoo, ¡°It¡¯s a good thing that we¡¯re a group.¡± ¡°Why?¡± ¡°We don¡¯t have to worry about getting the celebrity disease. We treat each other so poorly.¡± That was a wise saying. It was burdensome, but they decided to be happy that they were working in afortable atmosphere. Of course, not all the ad shoots were good. ¡°Oh, my, our New ck folks. You all have such good luck. Haha!¡± It was a director of somepany that came out as the advertiser. He praised them for a while and then casually asked, ¡°How about a drink after this¡­ Oh, there are minors too. You must be hungry after a long day. How about having dinner with us? The director will join us, and our president said he woulde too.¡± ¡°What should we do? We¡¯re really sorry, but¡­ We have another schedule right after this.¡± ¡°Come on, you can have a meal if you¡¯re not too busy.¡± ¡°Sorry. Haha.¡± Seokhwan Hyung kept refusing, and the other person frowned. ¡°You¡¯re so stiff. Tsk.¡± He turned his body and disappeared, and their manager politely saw him off. ¡°What¡¯s going on?¡± ¡°The president that the advertiser is talking about is the granddaughter of that chairman.¡± ¡°Oh¡­¡± ¡°It¡¯s just a meal, but, well¡­ It¡¯s not going to be good.¡± ¡°Hyung did well to refuse.¡± Woojoo thought it was better not to know. Woojoo nodded at the story that the girl group Scarlet had many more requests like this. He always felt that there were too many people in this business who were not mature enough for their age. Good people close, bad people far. Woojoo kept his usual resolution with his siblings and went through each schedule. Among them, there was the first TV ad shoot. ¡°Wow¡­!¡± They visited a real university to shoot a lens ad that would be broadcast on the three terrestrial channels. ¡°Geez¡­ These are all people¡­¡± ¡°They seem to be filming us all the time, right?¡± ¡°I don¡¯t know if we can get out of here.¡± Even if they just stood still, sweat dripped down in the middle of the day, and the college students who came out to watch were bubbling. They hid in the shade and cooled themselves with a mini fan, their eyes wide open. There were only a few smartphone cameras. While they were wandering around the campus, the director came with a script. ¡°The concept is the same as I told you before, college freshmen.¡± ¡°Yes!¡± ¡°You just have to give the feeling that you¡¯re enjoying the campus life together. Most importantly, thefortable feeling! Thefortable feeling should be strong. Because¡­¡± ¡°The catchphrase is that the lenses arefortable even if you wear them all day long.¡± ¡°The directors I know praised New ck, and there was a reason for that.¡± The director asked with a smile, ¡°Are you ready? I heard you don¡¯t have any group life experience other than high school, let alone college life.¡± ¡°I have military experience.¡± ¡°Yes. Military experience¡­ What? Military?¡± He looked at him with a ¡®you?¡¯ expression, and Woojoo answered with a ¡®yes¡¯ expression. They smiled at him as if to reassure him. ¡°Don¡¯t worry. We prepared a lot.¡± They had prepared hard by watching movies, dramas, and American high-teen movies that featured college students. And their preparation paid off in the field. ¡°Okay! That¡¯s it! That¡¯s it!¡± As they walked with refreshing expressions in their campus look, the director looked very satisfied. A staff member who checked the footage joked that it looked like a collection of everyone¡¯s first love, andughter filled the scene. After the group shot, it was time for Woojoo¡¯s solo shot that would decorate the ending. It was a scene where Woojoo sat on a bench in the middle of the sunbeams that leaked through the leaves and smiled at the sky. He was lucky to get the OK sign on the third try. ¡°Good job.¡± ¡°Thank you.¡± The staff¡¯s faces were bright because they finished the shooting faster than expected. After bowing to each one of them. ¡°Hello, we are New ck!¡± They approached the college students who had been watching them and had some fan service time. ¡°History Discovery! Are you having fun watching it? Will there be a season 2?¡± ¡°Did you enjoy it? I¡¯m d.¡± ¡°Photo! Can I take a photo with you?¡± ¡°Yes. Of course. What pose should we do? V? Oh, both hands? Then, let¡¯s do it.¡± Unlike the elders who said ¡®New ck of the Legendary Song!¡¯, the college students seemed to be impressed by History Discovery. The crazy concept seemed to hit the taste of the 20s. But the most popr among their shows was not the variety show, but the drama. ¡°Officer Heo!¡± ¡°Wow, I¡¯m a huge fan of Slip. Really. A maniac.¡± ¡°I heard season 2 rumors areing out. Will you really be in season 2 as a supporting or a main role?¡± It was like their youngest¡¯s personal fan meeting. Officer Heo, Officer Heo, the sound of his name made his mouth reach his ears. He looked like a puppy who arrived in heaven full of snacks. The teaser video of Officer Heo waking up in the reed field with a ¡®huh!¡¯ in Slip episode 10 was still a hot topic. Even after the broadcast, the hints for ¡®season 2¡¯ were still warm. In reality, the chances of it happening were low due to the busy schedules of the actors and theck of material for the sequel, but the production team¡¯s trick to attract the viewers seemed to work well. ¡°¡­You guys really made it big.¡± Minki Hyung, who rescued them from the crowd, wiped his sweat and spoke. Someone said ¡®Huh? That Legendary Song! LisaLover!¡¯ and Minki Hyung¡¯s steps hastened as theyughed. He said, ¡°Let¡¯s move quickly. We have to go to the next schedule.¡± ¡°Can¡¯t we go slowly, Hyung.¡± Woojoo begged him to let him see the college, but the younger ones dragged him away as if it was impossible. ¡°Nooo¡­¡± ¡°Don¡¯t copy my voice.¡± ¡°Naaa¡­¡± They were dragged into the car by the younger ones and the managers. Unlike the younger ones who had a cheerful expression, rain fell in Woojoo¡¯s heart. It was because of his personal schedule. Twinkle- A new message notification popped up on his phone screen. [User not registered as a friend.] Do Joongi [Woojoo] Do Joongi [I¡¯m waiting for you. Take your time^^*] Woojoo¡¯s schedule for today was a pre-meeting with the production team of ¡®Men on the Go¡¯. Do Joongi [Do Joongi sent you a gifticon.] Do Joongi [It¡¯s hot today, so have a cup of coffee with the members.] He couldn¡¯t drink coffee, he thought. Do Joongi [You like chocofine, right? rgrg] Do Joongi [This is an iced chocte gifticon ?.?] ¡°¡­¡± Well, Woojoo should enjoy what he gave him. ¡°Dowon Hyung.¡± ¡°Yeah?¡± ¡°Can I buy some coffee on the way? I got a gifticon from the PD, so I¡¯ll treat the managers too.¡± ¡°Sure.¡± The manager smiled as he held the steering wheel. ¡°There might be a crowd when you guys go in. I¡¯ll get it for you.¡± ¡°Okay. I¡¯ll order then.¡± ¡°¡®Kim Deoksoon¡¯s Man¡¯ who ordered through Siren Order! Your drink is ready!¡± ¡°¡­¡± ¡°¡®Kim Deoksoon¡¯s Man¡¯! Your drink is ready!¡± ¡°¡­¡± As the cafe customers started to look for ¡®Kim Deoksoon¡¯s Man¡¯, Seok Dowon closed his eyes slightly. Chapter 268: Chapter 268: Trantor: MarcTempest Editor: Rxel Chapter 268 The manager who went to get the coffee came back with a stunned look on his face. ¡°Hyung, what¡¯s wrong? What happened inside?¡± ¡°Woojoo.¡± ¡°Yes.¡± ¡°Your nickname is Kim Deoksoon¡¯s Man¡­?¡± That was when he realized what had happened.While Woojoo¡¯s younger siblings and Minki Hyung were having a st, the pr bear handed out the drinks with a pitiful face. ¡°I¡¯m sorry, Hyung.¡± Woojoo apologized with a smile. ¡°I made itst year and forgot about it. I made it as a couple nickname with my grandma.¡± ¡°Couple?¡± ¡°My grandma is ¡®Woojoo¡¯s Granny¡¯.¡± Dowon Hyungughed. Soon, everyone burst intoughter as he told them what had happened. People were staring. He went to get the drinks nervously and the part-timer whispered, ¡®Are you Kim Deoksoon¡¯s Man by any chance?¡¯ He ran out half-crying, he said. They chatted away while sipping their drinks. Minki Hyung checked his wristwatch and said, ¡°It¡¯s almost time for our appointment. Should we go now?¡± ¡°¡­Yes.¡± The sound of the straw sucking the ice from the empty drink sounded like the wind. Woojoo¡¯s siblings gave him a bright smile as he got up with a sad face. ¡°Hyung.¡± Jiho smiled brightly. ¡°Have fun and be sweet with the PD-nim~!¡± ¡°Awesome.¡± ¡°Ah, I wish I could see you two together.¡± Woojoo asked Bijoo, who was shining his eyes, ¡°Bijoo, do you want toe with me?¡± ¡°No. Then I might have to go to the army too.¡± ¡°¡­¡± There was no one he could trust. Woojoo waved goodbye to the teasing guys and shook his head. He turned to Rihyuk, who was the only one still. ¡°You¡¯re the only one, Rihyuk. I¡¯m going¡­ What are you looking at?¡± ¡°The weather forecast. I was checking when would be the best time to go to the army.¡± ¡°¡­¡± ¡°You said I¡¯m the only one? Pfft.¡± The siblings giggled and sang, ¡®Rihyuk is the only one~¡¯. ¡°Wait and see. I¡¯ll take one of you with me. For real.¡± ¡°Uh¡­¡± ¡°Minki Hyung. Let¡¯s go.¡± The siblings grabbed Woojoo desperately, but he left coolly. Minki Hyung also got out of the passenger seat. Bijoo called Woojoo urgently. ¡°Hyung!¡± ¡°What.¡± ¡°You left your phone!¡± ¡°¡­¡± Woojoo rolled his eyes at Minki Hyung, who was biting his lips, and ran back to get his phone. Laughter erupted from behind him. Sangam TBC Broadcasting Station. ¡°Wee!¡± A handsome man with a staff badge around his neck, Do Joongi PD, greeted them. ¡°Woojoo, your face is still shining.¡± ¡°Haha.¡± ¡°Don¡¯t you feel excited to film our program? Haha!¡± ¡°¡­¡± Woojoo needed to control his expression. Control his expression. This was social life. They entered the meeting room and the writers weed them. ¡°Hi!¡± ¡°Wow¡­ Oh my, you¡¯re handsome. I¡¯ve been watching the video for research, but the camera doesn¡¯t capture you well.¡± ¡°I thought Taehyun was lying.¡± Woojoo tilted his head at the sudden name. ¡°Taehyun Sunbae-nim?¡± He had been saying that ever since the pre-meeting. He said he had a friend who had served in the military and that he had toe. He said he would attract viewers with his visuals. He said his face sparkled like a club light. ¡°Yeah. He kept rmending you. We¡¯ve been paying attention to you since then.¡± ¡°¡­Th, thank you.¡± It looked like a touching true story of a top friend in the industry who worked hard for a nameless idol, but well. He probably just wanted to see him suffer. Woojoo asked the writer in a subtle voice, ¡°How about Han Taehyun Sunbae-nim¡¯s reappearance? He¡¯s like an onion, you know, he has charm no matter how much you peel him. I heard he went to the navyst time. He¡¯s good at swimming too.¡± ¡°Navy?¡± ¡°Yes. Navy.¡± ¡°Air force?¡± ¡°Oh. That Sunbae is good at flying nes too.¡± The writers burst intoughter. It seemed like Woojoo had seeded in getting close to them even though it had been less than five minutes since they met. While Minki Hyung and Woojoo sat down and drank water, a camera was set up on a tripod. ¡°I¡¯m going to shoot a little bit for the data screen.¡± ¡°Okay, I understand.¡± Woojoo used his phone as a mirror and showed his teeth. ¡°Huh¡­ You¡¯re so pretty when you smile.¡± ¡°Oh, thank you¡­¡± Woojoo was just checking if he had chocte chips. He brushed his hair once, checked the camera angle, and the pre-meeting started. The PD asked, ¡°First of all, have you seen our program?¡± ¡°Yes. I binge-watched it after I confirmed my appearance.¡± Woojoo briefly summarized what episodes impressed him and what he should do here. The production team smiled with their gums. ¡°As expected. You¡¯re well-prepared. The conversation will be much easier.¡± He continued, ¡°You know our program is divided into regr guests and one-time guests, right?¡± ¡°Yes.¡± ¡®Men Go¡¯ was a format where six regr guests and one to three guests were filmed together. ¡°You also know that guests usually receive basic military training from the army, right?¡± ¡°Yes¡­¡± Most of the celebrity guests who appeared on ¡®Men Go¡¯ were either discharged from the military a long time ago or non-serving people. Unlike the regr guests who were already ustomed to military life, they had no choice but to stutter and fumble when they were thrown in right away. That was why the guests often received short basic military training. Woojoo had been discharged less than two years ago, and he had to go back and receive formal training with loud noises. It was time to paint a gloomy future. ¡°Woojoo, we¡¯re going to skip that part.¡± ¡°Really?¡± ¡°Well, you¡¯ve just been discharged not long ago. And you have reserve duty soon.¡± ¡°Yes, that¡¯s right!¡± ¡°We thought it wouldn¡¯t be necessary, so we¡¯re going to use that. We¡¯ll just take a short scene of you entering and leaving the reserve duty.¡± ¡°Wow¡­¡± The production teamughed when Woojoo opened his eyes wide. ¡°We¡¯re not cruel enough to make someone who¡¯s just been discharged go again. We¡¯re not.¡± ¡°Wow¡­¡± ¡°If you want, we can send you¡­¡± ¡°No! I¡¯m fine! I remember everything! My body is part of the military!¡± He was going to take over the military YouTube videos from today. For real. Their eyes narrowed and they smiled. ¡°Then Woojoo will do that. What about the other guests?¡± The expected topic came up. ¡°What about the members? Do you have any friends you can rmend? Someone you want to take with you.¡± ¡°Um¡­¡± Woojoo looked like he was thinking in front of them, but he had already made up his mind. ¡°I don¡¯t think there¡¯s anyone I can rmend or want to take with me.¡± ¡°Really?¡± ¡°Yes. PD-nim.¡± Woojoo always warned his brothers, ¡®I¡¯ll take you guys, I¡¯ll take you for sure¡¯, but he didn¡¯t really mean to take them. Even if he had to go, he would go alone. Even if it was in the realm of entertainment, the military was the military. It was a ce where things that were epted asmon sense in society were reversed, and situations that felt unreasonable were frequent. He didn¡¯t want to make their kids go through something they would have to face someday anyway. It wasn¡¯t a good experience. But it wasn¡¯t something he could say in front of the production team of the program supported by the Ministry of National Defense. ¡°First of all, two of them are minors.¡± ¡°Oh, right.¡± ¡°Bijoo has a bad knee. The doctor told him to reduce his practicest time because his cartge is wearing out. So I don¡¯t think he can do something like marching¡­¡± ¡°It¡¯s better to avoid it if there¡¯s a risk of injury.¡± It wasn¡¯t that serious, but Woojoo was grateful that they understood. ¡°Junghyun is perfect, but he has a my-way personality. He needs someone to take care of him quickly.¡± ¡°That¡¯s hard in the army.¡± ¡°Yes. The viewers of ¡®Men Go¡¯ like things to be fast and snappy.¡± ¡°Well, if he¡¯s my-way, we have some ovepping characters. Maybe we should find someone else¡­¡± As the production team pondered, Woojoo asked the question he had been curious about. ¡°Where are you going this time?¡± ¡°We usually tailor the special to the guest. We thought about what kind of picture to put you in, and we decided to go somewhere other than the army this time.¡± ¡°Oh, really¡­ yes?¡± Woojoo blinked. ¡°It¡¯s a military entertainment show¡­ and you¡¯re not going to the army?¡± ¡°We¡¯re trying something new.¡± PD Do leaned back in his chair and said, ¡°Entertainment has a lifespan, you know? Today¡¯s program that everyone is crazy about might be abandoned by the viewers tomorrow. ¡®Men Go¡¯ can¡¯t avoid that truth either.¡± That was true. Unlikest year, when every episode was a hot topic, the ratings of ¡®Men Go¡¯ were slowly declining. ¡°So we¡¯re thinking of expanding ¡®Men Go¡¯ to areas like police and fire. To extend the program¡¯s life. They¡¯re also people who protect the nation.¡± It seemed like they were trying to catch a glimpse of the viewers who were starting to get tired of the barracks entertainment. ¡°Wow¡­ that¡¯s a deep meaning!¡± Woojoo¡¯s face lit up as he listened to the exnation. He felt it himself. The joy in his heart overflowed and radiated out of his body. ¡°So I¡¯m not going to the army?¡± The writers burst outughing at Woojoo¡¯s urgent question. He was serious. ¡°Well, technically, yes.¡± ¡°I¡¯ll work harder, really!¡± He wasn¡¯t not going to the army! It had been a long time since he was so happy after the sess of Windflower. ¡°Where are we going then? Police station? Fire station?¡± ¡°That¡¯s a secret.¡± ¡°A secret?¡± ¡°Anyway, I¡¯ll let you know that it¡¯s an area that requires some basic military training.¡± ¡°Yes! Yes!¡± Woojoo smiled brightly, and PD Do turned his head and smiled. The writers too. Why were they like that? It seemed like they had something up their sleeves, but Woojoo decided to let it go for now. As they talked with the guests again, Woojoo¡¯s head was busy. It was different if it wasn¡¯t the army. Woojoo came up with a n in less than a second on how to drag his kids into the water with me. ¡°PD-nim.¡± ¡°Hmm?¡± ¡°What about this?¡± As Woojoo exined the idea he hade up with, the production team also sparkled their eyes and apuded the good idea. ¡°Hehehe.¡± ¡°Huhuhuhu.¡± They nodded their heads with a satisfied smile. Only Minki Hyung made a ¡®what a devil¡­¡¯ expression next to him. That was how he finished the pre-meeting with the production team of ¡®Men Go¡¯ in a pleasant atmosphere. ¡°Okay. See you then.¡± ¡°Yes, thank you for your hard work.¡± They said goodbye in a friendly mood. Twinkle- Woojoo was about to save the writers¡¯ contacts, but his phone screen twinkled. Lee Hyunjo [Woojoo-ssi ?(¨@?¨A*)?] Lee Hyunjo [It¡¯s me, Hanjo!] Lee Hyunjo [I finally got a phone!] Woojoo lifted his head after staring nkly at the screen. He met eyes with the PD who was looking at his screen with him. ¡°¡­¡± This shouldn¡¯t happen. Without realizing it, his cheeks and lips curled up slightly. Company workroom. The phone next to hisptop kept shing without a break. Hanjo [No way] Hanjo [How could you do that???] Woojoo [I had no choice] Woojoo [The PD was watching, how could I say you¡¯re a stranger] Woojoo ignored the long message that med him for a moment. Woojoo [But congrats on getting a phone] Woojoo [Wow! I¡¯m so excited!] Hanjo [F*** you] Hanjo [My hand slipped] Woojoo [If you slip one more time, we¡¯re done] Woojoo [Got it?] Hanjo [Got it¡­] Hanjo [I guess I have to go then¡­] Woojoo chuckled at the sight of Hanjo sending a sullen emoticon. But he couldn¡¯t help it. Of all times, the message came when the PD was watching. Of all times. It was such a bad situation. ¡°Hehehe.¡± As Woojoo smiled contentedly, the speakerphone voice got louder nearby. The younger ones were on the phone while the leaders were chatting. -Who was thatughing just now? Sounded like an old man. ¡°It¡¯s Woojoo Hyung!¡± -I knew it would be Hyung! Who else has such an oldugh! ¡°Kyaruruk!¡± -Geez! Gakgak! Woojoo rolled his eyes, but the younger ones were excited. Today was a historic day when Street Boys won first ce on the music show. ¡°Congrats on the first ce!¡± They shouted ¡®Yay!¡¯ in response to Woojoo¡¯s greeting. -Well! When there¡¯s no tiger in the cave, the fox is king, right? -If there¡¯s no New ck, we¡¯re the king! -We¡¯re the number one boy group Street Boys. Hot! -Namu, can¡¯t you read the mood? Who asked you to go that far? Namu was still being roasted as usual. Woojoo smiled as he watched the younger ones chatting. He also teased Hanjo, who was going to appear on Men Go with them. ¡°Wow! A group chat!¡± After the call ended, a group chat called Mint Choco-dan was created. They went crazy when Woojoo greeted them with a New ck emoticon, saying ¡®Nice to meet you¡¯. They bought it one by one and said, ¡®Our money will flow into New ck¡¯s bank ount!¡¯ Woojoo smiled at their words. While chatting, he also asked casually about his military junior. Woojoo [Is Eunsung doing well?] Unlike the sessful Street Boys, APLB, a rookie from a small agency, was quietly buried. What if he was disappointed because it was different from his expectations¡­ Rex [Eunsung Hyung? We¡¯re best friends now!] LB [Eunsung Hyung is so funny??] LB [Picture] Kiwon [Hyung, you¡¯re not close with him] Rex [Kiwon, don¡¯t hit him too hard, Namu¡¯s bones are melting] He wouldn¡¯t be sullen. He wasughing and having a st in the picture. He even talked back to the senior group, they said. Well, good for him. Woojoo smiled warmly. He was like a capybara. Woojoo nodded as he heard the overall atmosphere of the music industry. He was d they were all doing well. He also finished almost all of his work on theptop. ¡°Are you ready, Hyung?¡± ¡°Yeah.¡± ¡°The A&R Team said they¡¯ll be here soon.¡± Woojoo looked at the document on hisptop, where the cursor was blinking. [4th Album n] Now that things were going well for them and everyone around them, it was time for them to run again. ¡°Phew¡­¡± Deputy Seo Pilgeun of the A&R Team took a deep breath and entered the meeting room. He greeted Woojoo and the other members who were sitting at the head of the table. ¡°Deputy! Wee!¡± ¡°Hi.¡± ¡°Please take a printout and a gift when youe in.¡± He swallowed augh as he took the PPT handout and the gift package. It seemed like a gift from Japan. Today was the preliminary meeting for the album production with the A&R Team and the members. After the staff came in with sad faces, thinking, ¡®It¡¯s time to split up again.¡¯ ¡°Shall we start then?¡± The members stood up one by one and exined their direction for the 4th album. The overall concept, choreography, design, etc. The theme was hip-hop. The A&R staff, who were either rolling their pens or folding their arms, listened quietly and rolled their tongues inward. ¡®They¡¯ve really broadened their horizons.¡¯ Their progress was amazing. They were so lost at the first meeting, but now they were sharp enough to not be ignored. They snorted at Rihyuk¡¯s skill, who had neatly arranged the rough budget. And Woojoo, who was already good at it, looked like a real producer now. ¡°Our goal is to release the album in mid orte August.¡± ¡°Will you pre-release it at the concert, and then do the music shows?¡± ¡°Yes.¡± ¡°How about your stamina¡­? Can you do it?¡± ¡°We can do it.¡± As he said that, Woojoo turned his eyes to the staff. ¡°Are you okay with that?¡± ¡°We have to make it possible. It¡¯s what our producer said.¡± ¡°Thank you always.¡± The A&R Team leader smiled at Woojoo¡¯s words. The staff also smiled faintly. ¡®It¡¯s time to run again.¡¯ ¡®It¡¯s hell of work.¡¯ ¡®If I see a ghost, I¡¯ll grab it and ask what¡¯s trending in the underworld these days.¡¯ As they made a sadugh, good news came out of Woojoo¡¯s mouth. ¡°And, this time, I¡¯m thinking of hiring some external help.¡± ¡°External help?¡± ¡°Yes, we¡¯ve been working with only the people in thepany for a while. ording to our analysis, if we go on like this, the color of the 4th album won¡¯t be much different from the previous albums.¡± ¡°Then¡­¡± ¡°Since the theme is hip-hop, we¡¯ll contact some external producers¡­¡± Their faces brightened as they exchanged nces. ¡®Are we not going to split up?¡¯ ¡®Is this liberation? Are we liberated?¡¯ ¡®Oh God. We¡¯re alive.¡¯ The A&R staff, who had anticipated the Emile Bell, began to feel energized. ¡°That¡¯s right! That¡¯s a good idea. Let¡¯s go for a new vibe this time.¡± ¡°Okay. Okay.¡± ¡°Oh, it¡¯s going to be busy! We have to find the people to work with before we start the song contest, right?¡± ¡°Right. Let¡¯s narrow down the candidates first.¡± ¡°There are already a lot of people whoe to mind.¡± ¡°Me too! Me too! There are people I really want to bring and work with.¡± ¡°Let¡¯s spread the news quickly through theposermunity.¡± The staff spewed out words like a machine gun. The New ck members blinked their eyes at their passionate appearance. Woojoo smiled awkwardly and said, ¡°Um¡­¡± ¡°Um, you don¡¯t have to rush¡­¡± ¡°Launch it today! Launch it today!¡± ¡°We¡¯ll get ready right away!¡± The A&R staff shouted in unison at Woojoo¡¯s words to proceed slowly. ¡°Slowly? What are you talking about? Woojoo? Your work is my work.¡± ¡°We can¡¯t dy the work!¡± ¡°Yeah, whatever.¡± ¡°We have a tight schedule! We need to do it right now! Right now!¡± While the A&R Team members were busy tapping on theirptops, Woojoo, who was sitting on the upper seat, quietly sipped his banana milk. A deep smile yed on his lips as he lowered his head slightly. ¡°Did you hear? New ck is looking for people to work on their new album.¡± ¡°What? Really?¡± ¡°That¡¯s awesome.¡± ¡°Is there any announcement? If that¡¯s true, I want to apply too.¡± ¡°If I pass this, can I really work with him, New ck¡¯s Woojoo? I¡¯ve always wanted to do that.¡± ¡°Wow¡­ I could be a royalty millionaire.¡± At a bar in Seoul. The topic of theposers was none other than New ck¡¯s new album. They were buzzing with excitement, saying that sess was guaranteed if they got in. Soon, their eyes turned to the person who was silently drinking. ¡°Hey, Pilgeun. Is this for real? Yourpany is doing this? Working with him, New ck¡¯s Woojoo?¡± ¡°You told me everything is true, right? They don¡¯t care about experience this time.¡± ¡°Yeah.¡± Seo Pilgeun smiled smugly. ¡°Apply a lot. Ourpany is fair, regardless of experience.¡± The boss can go to hell. Haha. But theposers who didn¡¯t hear hisst words started to chatter with eager faces. Seo Pilgeun smiled contentedly at the sight of his industry colleagues who were dreaming of heaven and paradise. ¡®Come on. You noobs.¡¯ Then he raised his ss as if to say ¡®cheers¡¯ to their future. Chapter 269: Chapter 269: Trantor: MarcTempest Editor: Rxel Chapter 269 Lemon Entertainment Building. A man who was dragging an old suitcase stopped and wiped his sweat. ¡®This is Lemon Entertainment.¡¯ His eyes were full of excitement and nervousness as he looked at the sign with a lemon on a ck background. ¡®Really, I¡¯m going to work here¡­¡¯ He got a callst night while he was eating cup noodles.They asked him to join the fourth album project of New ck. He calmly said ¡®yes¡¯, but after he hung up the phone, he was so happy that he jumped on the bed. ¡®Finally, a chance to do some real work!¡¯ The hardships he had gone through for eight years as aposer shed before his eyes. At the same time, he made up his mind. ¡®I have to do my best.¡¯ He called the A&R Team to let them know he had arrived. Deputy Seo Pilgeun came down to meet him. He smiled and spoke kindly to him. Na Sangyoon responded with an awkward smile. He had a habit of being wary of anyone who approached him nicely, because of his past experiences. While they were waiting for the elevator, he fiddled with the handle of his suitcase. ¡°Excuse me¡­¡± ¡°Yes?¡± ¡°Is that story true?¡± ¡°What story?¡± He wanted to check the truth of the rumor that was circting in theposermunity. ¡°I heard that Woojoo makes almost one song a day. He just closes his eyes and mixes the colors of sounds.¡± ¡°No.¡± ¡°I see¡­¡± ¡°When he¡¯s in good condition, he makes two songs a day.¡± ¡°¡­Really?¡± Na Sangyoon blinked his eyes, and the other personughed. ¡°He even sent me three songs a day by email when he went to Japan, saying he got inspired.¡± ¡°¡­¡± ¡°We joked among ourselves about how to disable the wifi at the Japanese hotel. Haha.¡± Deputy Seo told him some trivial episodes. He heard some stories that matched the rumors he had heard, and some that he had never known. As he listened, he realized that Woojoo¡¯s musical talent was real. ¡®It¡¯s a good opportunity. I have to learn his secret.¡¯ The other person seemed to notice his thought and smiled. ¡°You must have applied to work with Woojoo and see what he does, not just for the money. Right?¡± ¡°Yes, haha¡­¡± ¡°I think it¡¯s a good opportunity. I learned a lot from watching Woojoo work. For example, people don¡¯t die so easily¡­¡± ¡°Really?¡± ¡°Haha. Just kidding.¡± He felt something suspicious when Deputy Seo burst intoughter. A sign that said ¡®New ck Territory¡¯ with a dandelion picture greeted them. Knock, knock. -Come in. As he opened the door and entered the room, Na Sangyoon was surprised. The most handsome person he had ever seen was sitting on a chair. He had seen quite a few celebrities, but this was the first time he saw someone like this. There was some light on his face¡­ ¡°Junghyun. Turn off the magic wand.¡± ¡°Yes. Hyung.¡± With a click, the light disappeared. He turned around and saw a handsome man with a sharp face sitting on the sofa. He was holding a one-meter-long fairy princess wand in his arms. He smiled like a cozy bear, and Na Sangyoon blinked his eyes. ¡°¡­¡± Deputy Seo introduced him. ¡°This is Na Sangyoon, theposer who will help us with the work. Say hello.¡± Woojoo got up from his seat and came over to shake his hand politely. ¡°Hello. I¡¯m Woojoo, theposer. Nice to meet you.¡± ¡°I¡¯m Junghyun. Lee Hadong¡­? Lee Hadong¡­¡± He seemed to forget the name of his school, and he fumbled for a while. Na Sangyoon smiled awkwardly. After Deputy Seo left, Woojoo offered him a seat. ¡°First of all, thank you for joining our album project.¡± ¡°Oh, no! I¡¯m the one who should thank you.¡± ¡°I¡¯m meeting you for the first time, but I¡¯ve been secretly watching you for a long time.¡± ¡°Me?¡± ¡°Yes, you participated in one of the songs on the Girls on Top album, right?¡± ¡°How did you know that¡­¡± ¡°Song analysis is my hobby, so I listen to all the new songs. Especially idol songs.¡± Woojoo smiled brightly. ¡°One of the songs on the album that Girls on Top released with a hip-hop concept stuck in my ear. The song ¡®All or Nothing¡¯.¡± ¡°That¡¯s right. I participated in the arrangement.¡± ¡°The arrangement was really good. You made it so cool that I wanted to work with you since then.¡± ¡°¡­Th, thank you.¡± ¡°All the works you¡¯ve participated in so far were really my taste.¡± Woojoo added with a smile, ¡°If you hadn¡¯t applied, I would have gone to ask you if you wanted to work together.¡± Junghyun, who was sitting on the sofa, was startled, but Na Sangyoon was happy. ¡®I¡¯ve been recognized for my music.¡¯ Usually, when they praised him like that, they were trying to pay him less. His heart warmed up by the sincerepliment. ¡°I¡¯m so happy to work with you this time. I¡¯ll be counting on you for the next two months.¡± ¡°Yes, I¡¯ll do my best.¡± ¡°Me too.¡± Then Woojoo said he would show him around the studio and showed him the equipment. ¡°Wow¡­!¡± His timid attitude disappeared in an instant and his face was filled with innocence. It was a new world. All the expensive and high-performance devices were gathered in one ce. ¡°This, this¡­¡± ¡°Our President bought them for us to work hard on the songs.¡± ¡°Wow, your President is a nice person.¡± Woojoo smiled as if he understood his astonishment. ¡°Do you want to try the keyboard?¡± ¡°Yes. Yes!¡± He remembered his cousin¡¯s house where he used to go when he was young. His cousin asked him if he wanted to y a game with this console, and he felt the same joy. He shivered every time he pressed a device. ¡®This is heaven.¡¯ When he turned his head, he saw a smile like an angel. ¡°Shall we talk about the work seriously now?¡± ¡°Yes, yes!¡± ¡°We¡¯re going to put a lot of songs on the fourth album. This is what Junghyun and I worked on recently¡­ Do you want to listen?¡± Then, instrumental music flowed from the high-quality speakers. They were hip-hop songs with impressive drum beats. ¡°How is it? Please tell me without hesitation.¡± ¡°Well, the intro seems toe in a bit too strong. The space for the lyrics is also a bit tight¡­¡± ¡°Then, how about we do this?¡± Every time he gave feedback, Woojoo clicked the mouse. He was so good at epting feedback that he soon changed from being timid to being talkative. He understood everything he said and agreed with him. Sometimes he even suggested better ideas. They had a good musical conversation. ¡®It¡¯s fun.¡¯ When was thest time he was so excited while working? It was a happy work. After about three hours. ¡®I¡¯m a little tired.¡¯ His eyes were dry. But he thought he had done enough work for today. ¡°Are you warmed up?¡± ¡°¡­Yes?¡± Did he hear wrong? ¡°Now that you¡¯re warmed up, let¡¯s work seriously.¡± ¡°¡­Didn¡¯t we just do that?¡± ¡°Yes, we just warmed up. Now we have to work properly. Shall we cheer up?¡± He gave a high-five to Woojoo¡¯s hand, but his head was nk. Then he slowly realized the mystery. The message from the A&R Team that told him to bring extra clothes, the smile of the staff who saw him. He also saw Junghyun¡¯s face, which looked somewhat crazy. ¡°¡­¡± He felt that something was going wrong. At the same time. In the A&R Team office, a worried voice came out. ¡°Did you see the newposer? He looked so frail, is he okay?¡± ¡°I know. I wonder if he can handle it.¡± ¡°How did a young person end up in a wheelchair¡­¡± ¡°I¡¯m so worried. What should we do?¡± ¡°Seriously, oh dear, this is bad.¡± They said they were worried, saying ¡®what should we do¡­¡¯ but the cheeks of the employees holding the teacups were constantly smirking. ¡°Pffft¡­¡± Someone¡¯sughter started and a burst ofughter came out. ¡°Hahaha!¡± ¡°Hot hot! Haha hot!¡± ¡°Uhahahaha!¡± The office, which had a midday tea time for the first time in a long time, was cheerful and fun like a dwarf vige. While everyone was happily preparing for the next album, the day they had been waiting for finally came. ¡°Congrattions on New ck¡¯s debut anniversary!¡± ¡°Woohoo!¡± They pped their hands like seals and cheered. To celebrate their debut anniversary, they held an event with their fans. They chatted with the Souffl¨¦s on live broadcast while making a self-lettering cake. ¡°Wow, everyone! Look at this. Our Bijoo Hyung¡¯s hands are really golden. Hyung, do you know what golden hands are?¡± ¡°Yeah. Someone told me at the fan signing in Daejeonst year.¡± ¡°Do you remember that?¡± ¡°When the fans tell me something, ites in here and doesn¡¯t go out.¡± Bijoo pointed to his ear and smiled. He smiled happily when they pped and said wow to him, who was saying ¡®I did well, right?¡¯ In thement window, the Souffl¨¦s were moved, saying ¡®Bijoo knows the new words!¡¯ ¡°But it¡¯s really pretty. How do you draw that?¡± ¡°I¡¯m good at it, right, Hyung?¡± ¡°Yeah. It¡¯s amazing.¡± Was it when they appeared on Patisserie Korea and baked? Souffl¨¦ felt it then, too, when he saw his skill in decorating, but it was really amazing. It was like seeing beautiful flowers drawn on the canvas every time he decorated the cake. ¡°How can Bijoo do everything well?¡± ¡°Everyone. Did you see that? He only favors Bijoo Hyung.¡± ¡°How can our Rihyuk be so cute?¡± ¡°¡­¡± Jiho chuckled and patted Rihyuk¡¯s back. ¡°Aigoo. Our Rihyuk, baby. Baby. Were you jealous?¡± ¡°¡­¡± ¡°Where are you going? Let¡¯s y together!¡± Rihyuk, who turned red and ran away from the camera angle, was caught and dragged by Jiho and Junghyun, andughter erupted. The teacher who was coaching them next to them looked at Bijoo¡¯s decoration endlessly and asked Woojoo, ¡°Woojoo, do you want to try it once? You seem to be good at art and stuff.¡± ¡°Yes. Then I won¡¯t refuse¡­¡± Bijoo¡¯s pupils started to shake and the brothers shouted in unison, ¡°No way!¡± and he couldn¡¯t do it. ¡°What¡¯s wrong with me¡­¡± ¡°Then, draw one of the flowers that Bijoo Hyung is drawing on this te.¡± ¡°Okay.¡± Woojoo boldly drew a flower with chocte, but. ¡°Oh, this, this is not it¡­¡± ¡°See?¡± ¡°Is that a flower, Hyung?¡± Junghyun tilted his head. The teacher who advised Bijoo came to Woojoo and smiled. ¡°Oh, you drew it well. Is it a fly?¡± ¡°¡­¡± ¡°No? Then¡­ an insect? A dragonfly?¡± ¡°¡­¡± The brothersughed. Bijoo decorated the cake and they stuck macarons here and there, and they had events with the fans in between. ¡°We have some exciting news for you. Our official light stick has a name now. Let''s hear from our reporter, Wang Jiho.¡± ¡°Yes, it''s decided.¡± ¡°Our Dalbong~¡± It was when Bijoo called out the nickname with a bright smile. ¡°The winner of the total votes is ¡®Kim Dalbong''!¡± ¡°Wow¡­ Huh? What?¡± They, who were cheering, looked at each other. Kim Dalbong? Was that for real? Oh, no¡­ ¡°Jiho, where is Dalbong, Dalbong?¡± ¡°Dalbong is second ce, Hyung.¡± ¡°No way, Kim Dalbong is really first ce? Is there something wrong with the vote count?¡± The managers who were standing next to the camera shook their heads. When they introduced the light stick, they joked about adding a surname, but they didn''t expect it to be the official name. ¡°Well, it''s cute, but¡­¡± ¡°First of all, isn''t Kim Dalbong confusing? The stick looks like Kim Seondal.¡± ¡°Hmm, I''m confused too.¡± It was a confusing name to call every time. The Souffl¨¦s seemed to feel the same. Comments popped up on the screen. -Confused.. Confused.. -Kim Bongdal or Kim Seondal -Bongdada Bongdal -Should have been Dalbong; ¨C??why so confusing Kim Bangdol Geumbangdol -Bongbongdal -Schrodinger''s cat is copsing now ¨C??isn''t that Gestalt -Everything is falling apart Bongborobong Like the Souffl¨¦s, they also hesitated every time they talked about Dalbong. ¡°Our Kim Bang, Kim Dol, Kim¡­ Kim Dalbong!¡± ¡°Is this really confusing? Bongseon¡­ Uh, I''m confused.¡± ¡°Then how about we drop the surname and just call it Dalbong?¡± Everyone nodded at Woojoo¡¯s suggestion. ¡°Our Dalbong will be released soon, so please look forward to it~!¡± Junghyun said ¡®Wow'' and shook the glittering giant light stick with augh. Since they were talking about it, they tried to name the giant lightstick too, but they soon gave up. -[Unique] Kyuho''s Heart (+7) -Torch -Ear pick..? -Giant Baby -Daebong -Three sticks size, so Sambong for Jeong Dojeon At thest joke, Rihyukughed so hard that he shed tears. They said you resembled each other when you liked each other, and their hearts were warmed by the Souffl¨¦s'' excellent naming sense. Only the cake teacher next to them had his pupils shaking. "It''s done!" They put candles and lit them, and gathered around the cake. Woojoo decided to do the speech as the representative. "Yes, New ck has finally turned one year old." They pped and smiled. "Thank you all for spending this time with us. I''m sure the time we spent with you is different for each of you, but we will cherish every moment of it." "Hyung." "Let''s add up your time one by one¡­ Huh?" Bijoo said urgently, "Hyung¡­ The candles are burning. Hyung." "Uh-oh!" "Turn off the air conditioner, please! The candles are burning like crazy!" The candles were shrinking like bomb fuses. They were freaking out and thement section wasughing and going crazy. "How many seconds are left?" "About 10 seconds!" Woojoo quickly drew a heart with both arms. "Everyone! We love you! Stay with us until we put 100 candles here!" "Cheers to the 100-year era!" "Let''s live long and healthy!" The cake teacher started crying when he heard the news. They ignored the murmurs of ¡®Can¡¯t we just put in new candles?¡¯ and quickly blew out the candles. ¡°Wow, good job.¡± ¡°Great work, everyone! Let¡¯s go for 100 years!¡± ¡°¡­I, I love you. Souffl¨¦.¡± ¡°That was Rihyuk Oppa! Rihyuk Oppa, he said! Hehe!¡± ¡°Hey! Did you think I wouldn¡¯t notice if you whispered in the dark?¡± Woojoo wiped the sweat off his face as chaos ensued in the darkness. ¡°Man, this is crazy. Junghyun, turn on the light.¡± ¡°Okay.¡± Woojoo regretted saying that. As soon as the switch clicked, the whole world burst into mes. Aaaah! ¡°Aaah!¡± ¡°My eyes!¡± ¡°Hey! Who turned on the spotlight!¡± It was a memorable anniversary in many ways. They happily wrapped up their debut anniversary. In the evening, they went to the anniversary ad that the Souffl¨¦s had prepared for them and took a proof shot. They finished celebrating their first anniversary by writing posts on their official fan cafe. In the meantime, the number of visits to the fan cafe became a hot topic on other sites. Everyone seemed amazed that Woojoo visited every day for a year. Was that so surprising¡­? On the other hand, their debut anniversary was also the day when their K-pop concert was finally aired. Thepany said that they were getting a lot of feedback from overseas fans after the broadcast. The PR Team showed me the Englishments on the YouTube clip, and they were all very positive. Onement that impressed Woojoo the most was that they couldn¡¯t pick a favorite (biased) member because their performance was so good. At the same time, their short activity in Japan was also showing results. ¡°Do you want to see this, Woojoo? The response is good.¡± ¡°What is it?¡± It was a YouTube video titled [Speak with Your Body Legend.swf]. It was the thing Woojoo did all kinds of moves to get 500,000 yen, which was broadcasted on Japanese online TV and then imported to their country. ¨C???????? -I came to see the popr video of the day and it¡¯s ck Again;????? -ck Again, huh -What is ck Again? Is it Tora¡­? ©¸No, it¡¯s not thatLOL ©¸They¡¯re called ck Again when they do something funny -They¡¯re funny inside and outside the bag. Awesome New ck -I¡¯ve seen all kinds of videos of Speak with Your Body, but nothing beats this one -How did he do that??? -He should get at least 500,000 yen without tax for that. -Pirarucu? I got everything right except for that and thest military one.??. Assistant Manager Hong said with a satisfied smile, ¡°This is the most popr video today.¡± ¡°¡­¡± ¡°It also went viral on foreign tweets. Do you see the Englishments below? LOL. That meansugh out loud. Hrious.¡± ¡°But is that image okay? What if I go abroad and they call me aedian from Korea¡­¡± Sheughed at Woojoo¡¯s serious expression. Meanwhile, as the Speak With Your Body video spread in Korea, Woojoo got some offers from some variety shows. One of them was even The Legend of Chess, which made him stunned for a moment. ¡°You¡¯ll face the national champion team.¡± ¡°I¡¯ll think about it.¡± ¡°Right? We think you can win too. Then the master will be embarrassed.¡± Woojoo was worried about the image, but the PR Team members had different concerns. As they were busy with album preparation, events, and broadcasts, they finally got a day off. ¡°Congrattions on Woojoo Hyung¡¯s reserve duty!¡± ¡°Congrattions~ Congrattions~ We congratte you on your reserve duty~!¡± ¡°Shall we do a three-line poem for the reserve duty, Junghyun Hyung? Seriously this time.¡± ¡°Okay.¡± Junghyun nodded after thinking for a while. ¡°Ye!¡± ¡°Whether it¡¯s then or now.¡± ¡°Rain!¡± ¡°On rainy days.¡± ¡°Army.¡± ¡°Army dumplings and fried udon.¡± ¡°Wow, you would have been a top schr in the Joseon era.¡± What was a top schr? Woojoo would have exiled him if he were the king. The summer rain drizzled on the car window. The vehicle was heading to the reserve training camp near thepany. The production crew of ¡®Men Go¡¯ who had been waiting for them greeted them. The assistant director and the VJ with the camera, and the writer followed Woojoo and filmed his entrance scene. Woojoo answered their various questions lightly and checked his military uniform as he walked. ¡°Hyung, take care.¡± ¡°Our Hyung, you shouldn¡¯t suffer so much¡­¡± ¡°Hyeeong, don¡¯t go! If you go now¡­ when will youe back?¡± ¡°Three days.¡± ¡°Three days-!¡± ¡°¡­¡± They teased Woojoo in the car, but when the camera was on, they acted like they were managing their image for the national viewers. But they still teased Woojoo with their eyes, but unlike usual, he didn¡¯t care at all. Rather, he felt a surge of joy in his chest every time they approached the main gate of the reserve training camp. It was about time. As Woojoo took out the beret from the bread pocket and shook off the raindrops, the one he had been waiting for finally appeared. ¡°Huh¡­?¡± When their kids were holding umbres and making sullen faces. A handsome man with an umbre appeared from the alley near the reserve training camp. He walked briskly like the male lead of a romance drama, and the kids were shocked when they realized who he was. ¡°Hanjo Hyung¡­?¡± ¡°Why is he here¡­?¡± ¡°Uh, isn¡¯t that the PD next to him?¡± The kids¡¯ eyes met Hanjo¡¯s, who waved his hand cheerfully. The PD of ¡®Men Go¡¯ came with a big roulette board, smiling like a traitor. And the moment they saw it. The kids¡¯ pupils started to shake and Woojoo burst intoughter. ¡°¡­!¡± The roulette board with the thumbs-up of the Ministry of National Defense mascot. Each of the densely divided lines had their kids¡¯ names written cutely. It was the n that the PD and Woojoo had prepared ambitiously. ¡°Guys.¡± Woojoo smiled warmly at the kids who looked nkly. ¡°Let¡¯s go to the army with your Hyung.¡± Chapter 270: Trantor: MarcTempest Editor: Rxel Chapter 270 Men Go At the entrance of the training ground, where drizzle was falling. The reservists who were walking leisurely stopped when they saw the camera. ¡®What are they filming?¡¯ There were celebrities standing there. Most of them moved on with a bored look, but some of them recognized their faces and looked amazed.¡®It¡¯s New ck.¡¯ They sent photos to their friends or acquaintances along with a message saying ¡®Hey, I¡¯m here for the mobilization training and I saw New ck.¡¯ They hesitated when they got a reply telling them to go and talk to them. ¡®The atmosphere is not good.¡¯ The New ck members had a lost look on their faces. It seemed like they could see imaginary dark clouds hovering over their heads. Only Woojoo was smiling brightly in his uniform. ¡®Uniform? Is he here for the reservist training too?¡¯ They remembered the legendary story of how he raised a rookie idol as his junior in the army on Shintoki. That was why they weren¡¯t surprised that Woojoo was a veteran. But they didn¡¯t understand the situation. ¡®Why is he the only one who¡¯s happy to go to the mobilization training?¡¯ While someone was tilting their head, the onlookers started to increase. When colorful umbres gathered to form a mushroom cluster, strangers started to chat with each other. ¡°What are they doing?¡± ¡°I don¡¯t know. Maybe filming a show. It looks like TBC¡­¡± ¡°Oh? That person is that person, the PD of Men Go.¡± ¡°Men Go?¡± ¡°Yeah. That¡¯s right. Men Go, the crazy PD.¡± Then they saw a familiar face. The person who the cast of Men Go always shouted ¡®PD!¡¯ and rebelled against. Someone said, ¡°Now that I think about it¡­ Didn¡¯t they say on Shintoki that he¡¯s going to the army with Woojoo and some other guy?¡± ¡°Oh. Yeah! That¡¯s right.¡± ¡°Hey, look. There¡¯s a roulette wheel too.¡± Woojoo, who was ecstatic. The members, who had a gloomy look on their faces. And the roulette wheel with their names on it. The puzzle was naturally solved. The reservists¡¯ eyes lit up. ¡®I came here for the reservist training, not to see some guys¡­¡¯ They were about to leave with an annoyed look, but they stopped. ¡®I have to see this.¡¯ On the morning of the reservist mobilization training. Hrious content appeared. ¡®We got tricked again¡­¡¯ The New ck members looked around, but there was no way out. ¡°Where are you going, guys?¡± ¡°Are you getting wet? I¡¯ll put another umbre over you.¡± Woojoo blocked their way, and Hanjo held a big umbre over their heads. They looked like reliable older brothers on the outside, but they had a mischievous expression like water ghosts. While they were backing away, the PD of Men Go approached them with a brisk walk. ¡°Hello, everyone!¡± ¡°¡­¡± ¡°Good morning, right?¡± Maybe the rain that was falling now was from their hearts. ¡°Thank you for appearing on the special episode of Men Go.¡± ¡°Us?¡± ¡°Yes.¡± PD Do Joongi smiled warmly. ¡°You know that Woojoo and Hanjo are appearing this time, right? We¡¯ve invited one more member of New ck here!¡± ¡°Wow¡­¡± The two leaders pped their hands together. ¡°As you can see, we¡¯re going to draw randomly. The lucky winner here will receive basic military training with Hanjo tomorrow. And then you¡¯ll participate in the recording of the main show.¡± ¡°Wow¡­¡± Woojoo and Hanjo shook their umbres up and down as if they were cheering. When Rihyuk got sshed with raindrops on his face, he closed his eyes slightly and took a deep breath. Jiho raised his hand. ¡°How do you do the draw, sir? Roulette? Or lottery? I don¡¯t know what it is, but I¡¯m confident that I can sell those guys well.¡± ¡°Jiho. How can you sell your brothers¡­¡± Bijoo, who had a hurt expression, said to the PD, ¡°PD-nim, Jiho¡¯s parents wanted to send him to Cheonghak-dong before. Maybe the army would be a good experience for him?¡± ¡°Bijoo Hyung is good at cooking. How about taking him as a cook?¡± ¡°Junghyun Hyung is the one who uses his body well.¡± ¡°Rihyuk Hyung knows a lot about war history. Doesn¡¯t he have the qualities of a true soldier?¡± ¡°¡­Wha, what are you talking about? I don¡¯t like history.¡± The PD smiled at the sight of them trying to sell each other out without any loyalty. ¡°What a nice friendship. But the lottery is purely based on luck. Through this roulette board.¡± ¡°So it¡¯s roulette?¡± ¡°I was nning to do that, but the instation wasplicated. It¡¯s raining and I have to set up a stand too.¡± As the members listened with focused faces, the assistant director handed something to Woojoo. Soon, Woojoo smiled brightly at them. ¡°Everyone~¡± The four of them narrowed their eyes. ¡®I want to smack him with a honey bomb.¡¯ ¡®So mean.¡¯ ¡®If I can¡¯t trust Woojoo Hyung, who can I trust now¡­.¡¯ Regardless, Woojoo¡¯s face was radiating with light. ¡°Your fate is up to me.¡± ¡°¡­.¡± ¡°It¡¯s up to my darts.¡± Woojoo showed them the three darts he held in his hand with a snap. After a brief silence, Rihyuk asked, ¡°Wait a minute. You¡¯re going to entrust this important thing to dart throwing?¡± ¡°Do you have anyints?¡± ¡°¡­Uh, no! Oh, what a brilliant choice¡­!¡± Woojoo grinned at Rihyuk¡¯s hasty recovery. ¡°The rule is simple. I¡¯ll throw three darts at that board. I¡¯ll send the member who gets hit by two or more of them.¡± Then he asked with an innocent face, ¡°Look at this. It¡¯s totally random, right?¡± ¡°¡­.¡± ¡°It¡¯s really up to luck~¡± As he shook the three darts mockingly, the voices of the reservists who were watching from around came to their ears. ¡°That¡¯s really random.¡± ¡°I guess the one who gets hit by two shots is out.¡± ¡°They¡¯re all kids. Kids. Sigh, they¡¯ll have a hard time there.¡± ¡°I hope they¡¯re lucky. That thing. If they get caught¡­.¡± They said they were worried, but their voices were full ofughter. But what really annoyed and frustrated the New ck members was something else. ¡®This is not luck!¡¯ This was something only people who didn¡¯t know Woojoo could say. He was someone who could fit in any corner like ¡®Today¡¯s Master¡¯. There was nothing he couldn¡¯t do with his body. Archery, basketball, jiu-jitsu, martial arts, even dice maniption. They suddenly remembered Woojoo watching a YouTube video called ¡®Dart Championship World Championship¡¯ a while ago. ¡°Well, shall we start the lottery?¡± Woojoo loosened his body by rotating his right shoulder, and the production team moved away with the roulette board. He blew his breath on the darts and turned his head to the members. ¡°Do you have anything to say to me?¡± Jiho stepped forward urgently. ¡°Woojoo Hyung, who I always admired.¡± ¡°How much did you lose? Jiho-ssi. How much do you admire me?¡± ¡°Ha, as much as the sky and the earth¡­.¡± ¡°Wrong. I¡¯m Woojoo, but isn¡¯t it unnatural to use adjectives like sky and earth?¡± As Jiho trembled, Rihyuk smiled awkwardly and said, ¡°I didn¡¯t express it much, but I always¡­.¡± ¡°Then you should have expressed it better, shouldn¡¯t you?¡± ¡°¡­.¡± ¡°Hahaha!¡± Jiho gestured for Rihyuk toe over. The youngest line under the same umbre shivered together. ¡°Bijoo-ssi?¡± ¡°Wo, Woojoo Hyung! If you don¡¯t take me, I¡¯ll give you more meat side dishes every day!¡± ¡°Wow. That¡¯s tempting¡­.¡± Woojoo¡¯s face showed a sincere concern as he teased his brothers and made the broadcast content. A happy expression appeared on Bijoo¡¯s lips. Ahem, Woojoo¡¯s eyes, who was coughing, turned to Junghyun. ¡°Junghyun?¡± He grinned. ¡°¡­Did you just wink at me?¡± ¡°Is that weird?¡± ¡°You look like you need some magnesium.¡± He grinned again. The writer couldn¡¯t help butugh behind the script as he saw the bear winking left and right. Junghyun smiled warmly. ¡°You know how I feel, right? Hyung?¡± ¡°I don¡¯t want to know, but I¡¯ll listen for now.¡± ¡°It¡¯s hard to express in words¡­¡± ¡°You¡¯re not thinking about anything right now, are you?¡± ¡°Yes.¡± Woojoo, who was caught up in someone¡¯s rxed pace, shook his head and came to his senses. ¡°I heard thest word well. Now I¡¯ll throw it!¡± The yful look on Woojoo¡¯s face, who had taken his stance, faded away like the ebb tide. He had an expression like a yer in a dart tournament. Even a stranger would say, ¡®Wow, he knows how to throw darts.¡¯ Whizz. The first dart flew in a weak parab. Thud! ¡°Ouch!¡± The youngest screamed as the dart hit ¡®Wang Jiho¡¯. ¡°No, no, no! Mom, Noona!¡± ¡°It¡¯s only one shot. Jiho. Don¡¯t worry. Let¡¯s cry when it¡¯s two shots.¡± As Bijooforted him with a smile, Woojoo threw the second dart. This time, it was Rihyuk. ¡°¡­Sigh.¡± Fortunately, the third dart hit Junghyun and the military service was avoided. The spectators looked interested. Meanwhile, Woojoo whispered to the PD, ¡°This is harder than I thought. PD-nim.¡± ¡°Do you want to shorten the distance?¡± ¡°No. I¡¯ll try it like this.¡± Woojoo, who had been joking around, smiled at them. Hanjo thought it was hard to hit, but the members knew that Woojoo was having fun. He also got some airtime. ¡°Then I¡¯ll throw better this time! Fighting!¡± ¡°¡­¡± As Woojoo turned his head after cheering alone, the members shouted ¡®fighting¡¯ desperately. The first dart flew again. ¡°Oh, that¡¯s me.¡± Junghyun stroked his chin. Then the second dart whizzed by. ¡°Ugh, why are you doing this to me?¡± ¡°Calm down, pirarucu.¡± Rihyuk howled. Finally, the third dart left Woojoo¡¯s hand and flew fast. Shriek! The reservists, the members, the production staff and Hanjo¡¯s heads followed the dart at the same time. Thud! ¡°No, no, no¡­!¡± Someone copsed, wailing, as the dart hit ¡®Seo Rihyuk¡¯. He started to cry out loud, looking at the sky like a servant who was exiled overnight. As the reservists chuckled. ¡°Hey, but it¡¯s hanging on the edge.¡± ¡°Is it Junghyun? Or Rihyuk?¡± ¡°It looks like Rihyuk Hyung, but that¡¯s really hanging on the edge.¡± At first, it seemed to be stuck in ¡®Seo Rihyuk¡¯, but when they looked closer, it was the boundary line between ¡®Kim Junghyun¡¯ and ¡®Seo Rihyuk¡¯. PD Do Joongi approached and made a judgment. ¡°Hmm¡­¡± Then he turned his head with a smile. ¡°Yes, this is decided! The member of New ck who will participate in the Man Goes special is¡­¡± He shouted, ¡°It¡¯s Junghyun-ssi!¡± As Woojoo and Hanjo sang ¡°Wee to Army¡±, Junghyun smiled warmly and scratched his head. ¡°Hmm, I got caught.¡± The PD was slightly taken aback by his rxed reaction. So were the reservists. Usually, people would scream and freak out, but he looked calm as if he had just heard the lunch menu. ¡°When do I have to go?¡± ¡°Oh, that¡­ well, we¡¯ll let you knowter.¡± The PD was rather flustered. ¡®This won¡¯t make a good scene¡­¡¯ He thought he wouldn¡¯t get the footage he needed, but soon his worry subsided. Someone else was making up for the content. ¡°Oh, no¡­¡± ¡°Rihyuk Hyung. Rihyuk Hyung.¡± ¡°How did I end up on a military variety show¡­ in the army¡­¡± Rihyuk, who had been depressed and couldn¡¯t hear anything during the evaluation, was sitting on the floor and wailing. Jiho shook his shoulder. ¡°Rihyuk Hyung, Rihyuk Hyung.¡± ¡°Why¡­¡± ¡®Why do I look like I¡¯m going to the army now!¡¯ He red at Jiho, who cautiously said to him, ¡°You¡¯re not going, Hyung.¡± ¡°¡­What? Huh? Oh¡­?¡± A round and silly expression appeared on his face, which had always been sharp and cold. ¡°I¡¯m not going?¡± ¡°No.¡± ¡°Wow¡­¡± Rihyuk, who was happy and clenched his fists by himself. But soon he noticed the quiet surroundings and felt the eyes looking down at him. The reservists who bit their lips, Woojoo who wasughing out loud holding Hanjo¡¯s shoulder, and the members who were giggling. ¡°¡­!¡± Rihyuk lowered his head in the same posture as he was sitting. He looked like a turtle hiding in its shell, and everyone burst intoughter. After seeing off the ¡®Men Go¡¯ production team. The youngest said with a sly face, ¡°Did you n to take Junghyun Hyung from the beginning?¡± ¡°Huh? I don¡¯t know what you¡¯re talking about.¡± ¡°I know everything. They say a dog learns music in three years, but I¡¯ve been your ve for a year and I know.¡± Jiho¡¯s words only made him smile. It was true that he had nned to take Junghyun from the start. First of all, Rihyuk and Bijoo were out of the physical test. Their kids who weighed as light as paper airnes didn¡¯t have the stamina to train. Jiho passed the physical test, but Woojoo didn¡¯t like it. He wanted their youngest to stay as a cute maknae. Just like Jiho¡¯s mother and sisters had raised him so far, he wanted him to see and hear only good things. So the only one left was Junghyun. Their kid who was strong in body and mind. ¡°Oh, I¡¯m going to the army again. I wanted to try it once because our Hyung always talks about the army.¡± ¡°Your Hyung is a soldier, right?¡± ¡°Yes. He¡¯s a professional soldier. Right now.¡± He smiled at Junghyun, who was looking forward to a new experience. ¡°Let¡¯s do well with Hyung this time. Daegil Season Two, go go?¡± ¡°Go go.¡± The only thing hecked was tact. He was worried about that part, so he asked Hanjo for a favor before entering the training camp. ¡°Hanjo.¡± ¡°Yes?¡± ¡°Please take care of Junghyun. He¡¯s good at everything, but sometimes he misses the mood¡­¡± ¡°Don¡¯t worry. I¡¯m good at taking care of my younger brothers.¡± ¡°Oh. Right. You are.¡± He had caught a wrinkle in front of the worm. He smiled at the leader of the group who had eight younger brothers below him, and asked him again, ¡°Then I¡¯ll trust you and leave it to you.¡± Time flew by at the training camp. It was different fromst year, which felt like a room of time and space. It was a legitimate break. Woojoo always felt guilty when he cked off at work, but having the excuse of being a reservist made him feel more rxed when he rested. The country told him to rest, so he rested. Whatever. More than anything, he was happy to sleep for almost seven hours for three days in a row, escaping from the schedule that chased him by the minute and the nap. ¡°I¡¯m happy¡­¡± Woojoo walked around with a drowsy smile, and people avoided him at first. Whatever. He always felt that human happiness came from carbohydrates and sleep. Someone asked him as he ate a sausage with a happy face in the cafeteria, ¡°So, are you confirmed to appear on Real Men?¡± ¡°Yes.¡± ¡°I hate it. Really.¡± ¡°Ugh. I get goosebumps just thinking about it.¡± Woojoo chatted with other reservists who became close. Woojoo thought they would keep their distance because he was a celebrity, but they treated himfortably. That was why this reservist training was the epitome offort. On the other hand, Woojoo also fulfilled one of the things he had written on his bucket list. ¡°Excuse me.¡± Woojoo spoke to the active duty assistant who had be friendly over the past few days, and he greeted him with a smile. ¡°Yes, Sunbae-nim.¡± ¡°I have a favor to ask you¡­¡± ¡°Yes, please tell me.¡± ¡°Can I call you assistant?¡± ¡°Uh, sure.¡± ¡°Assistant~¡± ¡°¡­Did you want to try that?¡± Woojoo nodded at him, who blinked his eyes for a moment. He really wanted to try it. Last year, he saw other guys wearing their uniforms crookedly and saying ¡®assistant~¡¯ and he wanted to try it. He had a personality that couldn¡¯t say ¡®hey¡¯ to strangers, so he fulfilled his wish through this opportunity. As a reward, Woojoo bought him some snacks at the PX and had a brief conversation. Mainly about how the military life was these days. ¡°What¡¯s the trend these days¡­ No, what should I say. Is there anything different in the military life these days?¡± ¡°The military life is always the same, I think.¡± Woojoo was relieved. Woojoo gave him a memo of the precautions for the training to refer to Junghyun. It would be troublesome if it changed from his time. He looked at Woojoo as if to ask why he was asking such a thing, and he exined. ¡°Oh, my kid went to the army.¡± ¡°Kid¡­ you mean?¡± The assistant who nced at Woojoo¡¯s face looked at the sky. His eyes blinked. He muttered to himself with his mouth, calcting something, and then asked Woojoo with a cautious expression, ¡°¡­Is that possible?¡± Woojoo burst intoughter. He had to fix this habit of saying ¡®my kid, my kid¡¯ in front of others. ¡°I made a mistake. He¡¯s not my kid, he¡¯s my brother.¡± ¡°Oh. Your younger brother went to the army?¡± He had to fix this too. ¡°He¡¯s a member. A member.¡± ¡°Oh, I see.¡± He understood right away when Woojoo told him the behind story of appearing on Men Go. But when he heard that their group name was ¡®New ck¡¯, he tilted his head. ¡°Huh?¡± ¡°What¡¯s wrong?¡± ¡°Your group name is New ck, Sunbae-nim?¡± What¡¯s wrong with that? ¡°I have a friend who is an assistant, and he said that a celebrity came in through the fan mail. A New ck member came to train.¡± ¡°Really?¡± Woojoo asked with wide eyes, ¡°How is he? Is he doing well? Is he not getting hurt by bumping into someone or something?¡± ¡°Yes?¡± ¡°I¡¯m a little worried about him.¡± He looked at Woojoo as if he was talking nonsense. ¡°He said he¡¯s aplete S-ss trainee, and he¡¯s never seen anyone like that before.¡± ¡°Wow!¡± Chapter 271: Trantor: MarcTempest Editor: Rxel Chapter 271 After the three-day mobilization training, Woojoo returned to reality. He said goodbye to the people who were in the same squad as him and took a group photo. Then he looked for the people who were waiting for him. ¡°Long time no see, everyone!¡± Their reaction to Woojoo¡¯s return was strange. The production staff with cameras and the siblings holding a card that said ¡®Looking for Jenmin¡¯ widened their eyes. Bijoo pointed at Woojoo¡¯s face with his finger.¡°Hyung, your face¡­¡± ¡°My face? What¡¯s wrong with my face?¡± ¡°No, your face¡­¡± Bijoo said with a surprised face, ¡°It got much better in three days. Your skin looks soft and shiny.¡± ¡°Wow. The dermatologists couldn¡¯t do what the reserve army did.¡± ¡°You were shocked for a moment, right? I changed so much.¡± Woojooughed cheerfully at the siblings¡¯ words. He was happy to receivepliments, as a narcissist, but it was also thanks to eating well and sleeping well for three days. He felt vitality in his body. ¡°Do you want to join the army if you¡¯re jealous? PD-nim, there¡¯s still room, right?¡± ¡°Of course.¡± When Woojoo turned around and asked ¡®How about it?¡¯ the three of them waved their hands with disgusted faces. Then they allughed. Woojoo was in a good mood, and the siblings seemed to be in a good mood too. The sky was clear without a single cloud. After the ¡®Men Go¡¯ production staff filmed the necessary scenes, Woojoo picked up his phone and checked the weekly schedule. ¡°I feel really good. What should I do now? First, I¡¯ll check the work status of the A&R Team and theposers¡­¡± ¡°You won¡¯t be able to meet the A&R Team members. They all took a leave of absence from today.¡± ¡°Why did they take it today of all days? That¡¯s too bad.¡± Then he would just meet theposers. Whatever. Woojoo gave them the studio and asked them to do some supplementary work while he was away. He was excited to see the results. ¡°I¡¯m having fun! Ha ha!¡± ¡°Are you okay? You didn¡¯t hit your head or anything, did you?¡± ¡°I¡¯ll take a look.¡± The guys who examined Woojoo¡¯s head came to a conclusion. ¡°But your head is really pretty.¡± ¡°Woojoo Hyung¡¯s head is always round¡­¡± ¡°What do you mean by head? His head is the size of a pea.¡± Woojoo smiled happily at Rihyuk¡¯s crookedpliment. The siblings also looked good after sleeping enough for three days. Everyone had a refreshing expression. There was only one thing he regretted¡­ ¡°This¡­ It¡¯s a bit weird without Junghyun.¡± ¡°Yeah. It feels a bit empty without him, right?¡± ¡°Well. We¡¯re going to see him soon, right?¡± They nodded their heads. The schedule was packed. The first schedule was to go and pick up Junghyun. A certain unit in Gyeonggi-do. They stood with their hands on their chests, along with the ¡®Men Go¡¯ production staff. ¡°He should be out by now, why isn¡¯t heing out?¡± ¡°There¡¯s nothing wrong, right?¡± ¡°But did he do well in the training? I¡¯m worried.¡± It was like waiting for a child in front of the college entrance exam site. But they weren¡¯t worried about Junghyun. ¡°Hanjo-ssi is secretly weak, the members said.¡± ¡°Yeah. He has a flea-like stamina.¡± ¡°It doesn¡¯t seem like someone else¡¯s business.¡± ¡°I¡¯m worried. Namu Hyung said Hanjo-ssi¡¯s muscles are balloon muscles. He shrinks if he doesn¡¯t drink enough water.¡± They whispered to each other, conscious of the production staff. ¡°When are theying?¡± ¡°They said they might bete. The new manager put the wrong navigation,¡± Jiho whispered as he looked at his phone. The writerughed at their anxious appearance. ¡°Are you worried about Junghyun?¡± ¡°No, we¡¯re worried about Hanjo-ssi right now.¡± The writer looked at them with a ¡®Oh, you¡¯re taking care of the other group too?¡¯ expression. ¡®I think you¡¯re misunderstanding something.¡¯ ¡®You don¡¯t know Junghyun Hyung yet, do you?¡¯ ¡®He¡¯s the kind of person who would knock down a power pole if he bumped into it¡­¡¯ They exchanged nces with each other. Soon, they heard a buzzing sound from inside the camp beyond the infirmary. Their main vocal, who had sensitive ears, picked up the voice. ¡°It sounds like a bear talking in a cave.¡± ¡°It¡¯s Junghyun!¡± They were getting ready to shake the card that said ¡®Junghyun & Hanjo, good job¡¯. The production crew with the camera surrounded the two trainees and the instructor who came out. ¡°Junghyun-ah!¡± ¡°Hanjo-ssi!¡± They turned their heads. They expected them to wave back at them, but they only greeted them with their eyes. They looked stiff, like fresh recruits who had just left the training center. Of course, there was a difference between them. Unlike Hanjo, who was tense, Junghyun looked rxed. He had the vibe of a newlymissioned officer or a nonmissioned officer, rather than a recruit. He smiled leisurely whenever the instructor said something. Finally, they ran to them as they came out of the main gate. ¡°Junghyun-ah!¡± ¡°Hanjo-ssi!¡± They surrounded them at the same time, feeling sorry for Hanjo who had no members, and yed rock-paper-scissors while saying ¡®Ya-ya~ Ya-ya-ya-ya!¡¯. The instructor who was watching them said goodbye. ¡°You guys did a great job.¡± ¡°Yes!¡± ¡°You did really well. And¡­ I hope you show a good image on ¡®Men Go¡¯ in the future. And Junghyun-ssi.¡± ¡°Yes.¡± The instructor raised his thumb. ¡°You¡¯re the best soldier I¡¯ve ever seen. If you weren¡¯t a celebrity, I would have asked you to join our unit.¡± ¡°Thank you.¡± ¡°You¡¯re the first perfect soldier I¡¯ve ever seen. Everything you do is wless. You have a great military spirit. Oh, what a waste¡­¡± He looked at Junghyun with a greedy expression, saying ¡®You have a military aptitude¡¯. They looked at each other, wondering if they heard wrong. Woojoo was less surprised because he had heard some rumors during the mobilization training, but their kids were making ¡®What¡­ what are you talking about?¡¯ faces in real time. Forget about the angle. He was armed with a military spirit. It was absurd. The person who suited the word ¡®free lunch¡¯ more than ¡®mental armament¡¯ was their kid. They were all confused when Junghyun introduced Woojoo as ¡®This is Woojoo Hyung¡¯. ¡°Woojoo?¡± The instructor muttered. Whack! Woojoo was startled by his head turning like a tank turret at 90 degrees. He came close to Woojoo and blinked his eyes. ¡°Woojoo?¡± ¡°Yes, I¡¯m Woojoo¡­¡± ¡°The famous Woojoo-ssi!¡± He grabbed Woojoo and praised him, saying that it would have been nice if he had lived in his unit during his active duty, and talked for a long time. What was going on? As Woojoo stood there nkly, the instructor turned his head from him and looked at the two trainees. ¡°Then I hope to see you again if I can. You worked hard for a few days.¡± ¡°Salute!¡± When Hanjo and Junghyun saluted, the instructor lightly returned it and walked away. Then Hanjo breathed a sigh of relief and they weed him warmly. ¡°You did a great job!¡± ¡°You worked hard. It must have been tough, right?¡± ¡°How was it, the army? Tell us some army stories.¡± Hanjo opened his lips first, curious about their growing children. He had a smile that seemed detached. It seemed like his soul was leaving anding back every time he breathed. ¡°Woojoo-ssi¡­¡± He called Woojoo with a voice that clenched his teeth. Eek. Woojoo tried to dodge quickly, but failed. His siblings pushed him from behind, as if they wanted me to be eaten. Woojoo faced him reluctantly. ¡°Ha, Hanjo-ssi¡­¡± ¡°Woojoo-ssi.¡± ¡°Le-let¡¯s calm down first. Let¡¯s speak in ournguage.¡± ¡°Can I grab your cor?¡± Woojoo nodded at his calm request. Hanjo grabbed his shoulder and shook him lightly. ¡°Ahhhh. Seriously, I won¡¯t let you off easy.¡± ¡°I¡¯m sorry¡­¡± Their siblings looked deted by his gentle revenge. Hanjo said with a sad face, ¡°I came here thinking it was a training camp. I was in that mood¡­¡± ¡°No?¡± ¡°Not at all. This¡­¡± He didn¡¯t say anything, conscious of the production team, but his eyes said it all. While they were chatting loudly for lonely Hanjo, the two cars they had been waiting for arrived. Rattle. The car doors opened at the same time. A mischievous face popped out. ¡°Na-nim is here¡­!¡± The rough faces that followed him shouted. ¡°Aww, how embarrassing! Go back in, persimmon!¡± ¡°Persimmon goes in.¡± ¡°Don¡¯t misunderstand! We don¡¯t know them!¡± Someone was pushed back in and the muscle men started to get off. ¡°Lee Hyunjo!¡± ¡°Hyunjo! Are you okay?¡± ¡°Oh no! Oh no! Our Lee Hyunjo¡¯s face is all shaved!¡± Hanjo muttered with a detached face, ¡°¡­They don¡¯t even call me Hyung anymore.¡± Eight people ran up and hugged Hanjo. While the camera covered their aftermath, they exchanged nces and left with Junghyun. ¡°Junghyun, eat this jelly.¡± ¡°Oh. Thank you.¡± Junghyun¡¯s face warmed up with a smile as he took the jelly bags they handed him by type. With one hand gesture, the bear opened the bags at the same time and slurped the jelly. ¡°How was it? Was it okay?¡± ¡°Hmm¡­¡± Junghyun recalled the past and nodded. ¡°Yes, it was better than I thought.¡± ¡°¡­Better?¡± ¡°They said they gave me sausages on purpose because they were filming. The production team liked it every time I reacted to eating.¡± ¡°No, not the food. The training¡­¡± ¡°Oh.¡± Junghyun thought hard. ¡°It was doable. Every time I did something, the instructor praised me with sparkling eyes. He said he wanted to do pile-driving with me.¡± ¡°He meant pile-driving, right?¡± ¡°That¡¯s not pile-driving?¡± ¡°¡­No, it¡¯s not. I¡¯ll exin it to you when we get home.¡± ¡°No.¡± This time, the crane intervened with a p. ¡°It¡¯s not home, it¡¯s the dorm.¡± ¡°Rihyuk is in the car with Namu.¡± Rihyuk pouted his lips unhappily. As they were going back to the car with someone who was slurping jelly, Woojoo remembered something he had forgotten. ¡°Hey, wait a minute. Junghyun.¡± ¡°Yes?¡± ¡°I was wondering because his reaction was weird earlier, what did you say to him there?¡± ¡°I didn¡¯t say much. Just mentioned you once or twice during the training.¡± That didn¡¯t seem like the reason for his reaction. Woojoo gave up on asking more because their kid was notorious for being bad at exining. Woojoo just squinted his eyes as he watched Junghyun calmly say ¡®jelly is good¡¯. ¡°You didn¡¯t say anything that would make my image weird, did you?¡± ¡°Of course not.¡± Junghyun made his eyes round as if to ask Woojoo to trust him. ¡°I have a lot of good stories to tell you.¡± ? [Men Go ¨C Junghyun and Hanjo Basic Training Tape #1] #1. [Junghyun, who performed the required PT movement perfectly, stands firmly in front of the instructor.] Instructor: Well done, Trainee. Junghyun: Thank you. Instructor: Your movement was wless. Is it something you practiced often? Junghyun: Yes, I learned it from Woojoo Hyung, who is in the same group as me! Instructor: Woojoo¡­? #2. [During the shooting skills pre-training (PRI), the instructor pauses when he sees Junghyun lying down and shooting.] Instructor: Did you learn this movement beforehand? Junghyun: Yes, I learned it from watching Woojoo Hyung shoot for prizes. Instructor: ¡­Did you lie down and shoot just to get a doll? Junghyun: Yes! I held it horizontally for him! Instructor: ¡­ #3. [After the training, the instructor, who was instilling military spirit in the absent-minded Hanjo, looked at Junghyun standing at attention.] Instructor: Trainee. What were you thinking earlier? Junghyun: I wasn¡¯t thinking anything. Instructor: You weren¡¯t thinking anything? Junghyun: Yes! I thought I should do whatever the instructor tells me to do. Instructor: ¡­Excellent. Where did you learn such a spirit? Is this also from Woojoo Hyung? Junghyun: Yes. That¡¯s right. Instructor: (Satisfied) As those scenes shed by on the monitor, silence fell over the editing room. The assistant director blinked his eyes. ¡®What the hell is going on in New ck?¡¯ He somehow imagined Woojoo whipping the members and saying, ¡®Ha ha! Obey mymand!¡¯ Of course, that wasn¡¯t true, but it wasn¡¯tpletely wrong either. For someone. ¡°Huuuuuuu¡­¡± ¡°Are you tired?¡± ¡°Huui, nohohohoho¡­¡± A dazedughter rang in his ears. ¡°Have some red ginseng. Red ginseng.¡± Theposer, Na Sangyoon, teared up at the red ginseng Woojoo handed him. He looked good when they met after finishing the mobilization training. His cheeks had hollowed out in no time since they met. Now he looked like a dried worm in the sun. ¡°Is it hard to work with me?¡± ¡°Um, no? That¡¯s not it. I¡¯m really happy to work with you, Woojoo.¡± Theposer, who was inhaling the red ginseng little by little, gave a faint smile. ¡°People like me who have no connections and no skills in the industry, it¡¯s rare to have a chance to work while being treated like a human being. I really like that part. It feels like I¡¯m really making music when I work with you, Woojoo.¡± ¡°I¡¯m d. I was a little worried. I¡¯m d you¡¯re not tired.¡± ¡°¡­Yes?¡± ¡°Good.¡± Woojoo rubbed his palms and reached out for a high-five. ¡°Shall we sprint then~?¡± ¡°¡­¡± ¡°Fighting?¡± ¡°Yeees¡­¡± Woojoo recharged him with delicious drinks and coffee while preparing for the album. It was fast because he used external manpower. At this rate, if Junghyun joined them¡­ If they worked together, it would be over by the middle of next month. Woojoo checked the progress of the album while stopping by thepany from time to time. He went to a local specialty event and sang trot with the elders. He visited the pediatric ward where Bijoo¡¯s younger brother Minjun was hospitalized and performed for the children there. It was thanks to Professor Choi, who contacted him after a long time. -Could you please do a short performance for the children if you have time or if it¡¯s possible? Woojoo agreed to do it as a goodwill ambassador for a good campaign proposed by the hospital. The performance format was improvisational theater. Junghyun was the tin woodman, Jihyo was Dorothy. Ryuk was the stepmother. Bijoo was the goblin and Woojoo was the talking goblin stick. ¡°Hi, I¡¯m a talking goblin club.¡± ¡°How can a club talk?¡± ¡°Your words hurt my heart, Madam. I have human rights too.¡± The theme was human rights. They improvised most of the performance, but the kidsughed and the parents joined them. It seemed like they had captured their interest. After the show, they also had some time to do fan service for the kids. ¡°Who are you guys?¡± ¡°History Discovery, right?¡± ¡°I don¡¯t know!¡± ¡°¡­You don¡¯t?¡± It was an educational program made for kids, but somehow the adults seemed to know it better. Woojoo figured they wouldn¡¯t know even if he told them, so he just imitated some famous characters and yed with them. Because of that, by the end of the event, all the kids were following them around like chicks. It was a fun experience in many ways. ¡°Here, take this. My father asked me to deliver it to you.¡± Woojoo also received a gift from Professor Choi Yongjae. It was meat that Grandpa Choi Ikhyun, whom he had saved, had sent to their members. He also said that he was working hard to promote New ck at the nursing home, which made them smile. After taking the beef set, Woojoo¡¯s steps were very light. ¡°That¡¯s how the world works. Good deeds bring good results, and bad deeds bring bad ones.¡± ¡°We¡¯re in trouble.¡± ¡°Why?¡± ¡°You did a lot of bad things to the A&R Team, didn¡¯t you?¡± ¡°Jiho, you just eat soup or soy sauce braised here.¡± ¡°Then you don¡¯t eat the spicy chicken ribs that my dad sent.¡± They had a friendly conversation and crossed off one big schedule after another from the list. Thest one was PBS¡¯s ¡®Music On ¨C 2015 Mid-Year Review.¡¯ It was a time to invite the singers who ranked first in the first half of the year and show their stages, and they recorded it in advance on a separate stage with a fancy stage device. ¡°Wow¡­!¡± The waving light sticks in the dark were so bright, beautiful, and dazzling. ¡°Guys, guys, I¡¯m crying.¡± ¡°Me too.¡± ¡°It¡¯s so bright¡­¡± The moonlight was so bright. The singers cried, the fans cried, and the staff nearby cried. After a few trials and errors, they concluded that the third level out of ten was appropriate. On the other hand, the mid-year review was a meaningful time for both the Souffl¨¦ and all of them. They showed their changed position to other fandoms. As the singers changed, titles like ¡®1st ce in the 1st week of February¡¯ or ¡®1st ce in the 2nd and 3rd week of March¡¯ popped up above the song titles, but their Windflower made the other singers and fandoms pause. ¡¾1st ce in the 4th week of April & 1st, 2nd, 3rd, 4th, 5th week of May¡¿ ? New ck ¨C Windflower They had three lines when others had one. It was like the title of a king who was ¡®the dignified king of the kingdom, the guardian of thend of something, and thewful something¡¯. It was the first time Woojoo felt like a king of the end as they walked around. He felt the taste of sess. But the best part of the mid-year review was not that sess, but the time they spent with Souffl¨¦ at the mini fan meeting. There was no happier moment in the world than when the singer and the fan looked into each other¡¯s eyes and felt connected. ¡°Okay, let¡¯s try it when I count to three!¡± ¡°Yes!¡± ¡°Here we go. One, two, three!¡± The singer and the fan shouted together. ¡°Souffl¨¦!¡± ¡°New ck!¡± They held their light sticks like a ¡®cross¡¯. ¡°Yap!¡± ¡°Yap!¡± sh- They closed their eyes and shook their king sticks, and Souffl¨¦ also closed their eyes and shook their Kim Bongdal enthusiastically. Oh, the moonlight. Well. The pedestrians walking on the street stopped and looked at them with a bewildered expression. There was someone who was filming in the middle, so maybe they would see a title like ¡®The Frenzy of Idol sh Mob¡¯ on YouTube. And then it was so funny. Theyughed and talked with hundreds of fans for a long time and decorated the end of the first half. All the major schedules had passed and the heat of Windflower that sang of spring was slowly fading away. The days were getting more humid and hot. People¡¯s clothes were getting lighter, and the news was talking about the heat wave and monsoon for this summer. Finally, the recording of ¡®Men Go¡¯ was approaching. But¡­ ¡°What? Where?¡± ¡°Where, sir?¡± The meeting ce that the production team had told Seokhwan Hyung was somewhere Woojoo never expected. ¡°¡­Airport?¡± Junghyun blinked at the following story. "They told us to bring our passports too? ¡°Passports? Why?¡± ¡°You guys take a look.¡± Seokhwan Hyung showed them the message from the production team and Junghyun and Woojoo blinked. Airport. The ce where they would shoot the opening of the recording was Incheon Airport. Chapter 272: Trantor: MarcTempest Editor: Rxel Chapter 272 When Woojoo told his brothers about the opening shoot location, they had simr reactions. ¡°Hyung, are you going overseas to film? Wow¡­¡± ¡°Airport?¡± ¡°Am I the only one who¡¯s suspicious? Why the airport all of a sudden?¡± Unlike the youngest who was envious, the other two looked doubtful. Bijoo asked, ¡°Did they tell you to bring your passport?¡±¡°Yeah.¡± ¡°Did they tell you where you¡¯re going?¡± ¡°Not at all. The preparation list just said ¡®Don¡¯t forget your passport¡¯.¡± ¡°Huh, what¡¯s going on¡­?¡± Rihyuk took off his sses after searching diligently on his tablet PC. ¡°Is it an overseas deployment? Last year, ¡®Men Go¡¯ went to Indonesia to help with the flood recovery.¡± ¡°Oh, right. There was that special episode.¡± ¡°What special episode?¡± Rihyuk showed the screen to Junghyun who was curious. The overseas deployment special of ¡®Men Go¡¯. It was an episode where they built houses with the locals on an ind in Indonesia that was ruined by a tsunami. Bijoo looked worried. ¡°What if you end up going somewhere dangerous?¡± ¡°Me too. I don¡¯t like it when you guys go to dangerous ces.¡± ¡°You don¡¯t have to worry about that.¡± As they turned their heads, Rihyuk spoke confidently. ¡°I¡¯m looking at the list of countries where they¡¯ve deployed troops, and most of the dangerous ces require preventive vinations. It usually takes a month for the antibodies to form, but they didn¡¯t mention anything like that, right?¡± ¡°No. Nothing.¡± ¡°Then it won¡¯t be a dangerous ce.¡± At his words, the other brothers cheered and praised their pirarucu. Soon after, they started to guess what kind of military-rted things they would do overseas, when something popped into Woojoo¡¯s head. ¡°Ah¡­!¡± They all turned their eyes. ¡°What¡¯s wrong, Hyung?¡± ¡°I forgot about that.¡± ¡°¡­?¡± ¡°We¡¯re not going to the army this time. The PD said we¡¯re going to try a new challenge instead of the army.¡± Woojoo was so absorbed in the passport thing that hepletely forgot what he heard at the pre-meeting. Rihyuk narrowed his eyes. ¡°When did you know that?¡± ¡°Since the pre-meeting¡­¡± ¡°The pre-meeting before the dart throwing?¡± ¡°Yeah. Of course before that.¡± Suddenly, there was silence. As he was trying to figure out what it was if not the army, the surroundings became quiet. When he looked up, their expressions were not good. ¡°What¡¯s wrong with you guys?¡± ¡°No¡­¡± Rihyuk trembled. ¡°So you knew all along that we weren¡¯t going to the army and you were teasing us?¡± ¡°Uh¡­¡± Woojoo didn¡¯t think about that. He was in a mental breakdown thinking about getting on the ne. Jiho rolled his eyes. ¡°Wow. That¡¯s really something. Do you guys want to go to the army? You were bullying us like that. And hiding the fact that you¡¯re not going to the army¡­¡± ¡°I¡¯m disappointed, Hyung.¡± The brothers who found out the truth attacked him. They called him a scoundrel, how could he do that, did heugh when they were nervous, and so on. He got scolded for a long time. Come on. Was this something to be scolded for? ¡°Hey, guys.¡± ¡°What?¡± ¡°Why?¡± They looked at Woojoo with displeased eyes. He gave them an apologetic smile. ¡°I¡¯m sorry.¡± ¡°Do you think that¡¯s enough?¡± ¡°I¡¯ll buy you meat today. How about the beef ce over there?¡± After a moment of silence. The guys who were looking at each other gave him a gentle smile. ¡°Yes. That¡¯s the right attitude.¡± ¡°¡­Well, I¡¯m still a bit upset, but I¡¯ll ept it.¡± ¡°I feel like your words healed my heart.¡± Woojoo was able to appease them with a quick apology and a promise of meat. Only Junghyun looked slightly gloomy, saying ¡®Aren¡¯t we going to the army¡­?¡¯, but fortunately, the others brightened up quickly. ¡°But it¡¯s really good news!¡± Bijoo opened his eyes wide and was happy. ¡°I haven¡¯t been sleeping welltely. I was worried and troubled because you said you were going to the army again, but I¡¯m really d.¡± ¡°Me too. I don¡¯t want to hear you talk about the army again when youe back.¡± ¡°Same here. No matter how annoying you are, I don¡¯t like the idea of you crawling around in the army.¡± They didn¡¯t say it, but they seemed to be worried about ¡®Men Go¡¯ (a reality show about the army). The Souffl¨¦s would be happy to know this. They weren¡¯t going to the army this time. The most upset people after the confirmation of my appearance on ¡®Men Go¡¯ were the Souffl¨¦s. Woojoo didn¡¯t notice it before he left, when they wereughing at the flower wreath messages, but the atmosphere changed 180 degrees when the appearance was confirmed. There werements asking how he would do if he got hurt, and asking about the well-being of the ¡®Men Go¡¯ PD and the representative at night. There were also manyments wondering what they would do if he got injured like the Dolympics (a sports variety show). They had toe back safely. Woojoo nodded his head and turned his eyes back to his siblings. ¡°By the way, where are we going if it¡¯s not the army?¡± They all thought about Woojoo¡¯s question. ¡°Doctors Without Borders? They do a lot of good things there.¡± ¡°Maybe a foreign volunteer organization? Or environmental protection? I saw a documentary at school a while ago, and they tied themselves to a ship¡¯s mast.¡± ¡°How about the Antarctic King Sejong Science Station? There are also people who contribute to the country with scientific research there.¡± Where did they want to send them? They all mentioned ces that were either dangerous or famous for extreme situations, so Woojoo blinked his eyes for a moment. He ate with his siblings for a while, wondering where they were going, but he couldn¡¯t find the answer. He really didn¡¯t know. What were they trying to do this time? ¡°But hey, at least it¡¯s not the army.¡± Woojoo thought, what did it matter, and they allughed. First floor of the dorm apartment. They said goodbye in front of the car that stopped at the flower bed. ¡°I¡¯m going¡­¡± ¡°I¡¯ll be back, guys.¡± As Junghyun and Woojoo, dressed in military uniforms, waved their hands, they all waved back with sad faces. ¡°Guys¡­¡± ¡°Hyung¡­¡± They got in the car, but then they turned back and hugged each other, crying. The manager Hyungsughed. ¡°We¡¯ll miss you so much.¡± ¡°So will we.¡± ¡°Then I¡¯ll go¡­¡± ¡°Come back safely¡­¡± As Rihyuk bowed his head under the gaze of the apartment residents, Bijoo handed Woojoo an old mp3 yer. ¡°What¡¯s this?¡± ¡°I put some soothing songs for you to listen to on your way to the airport.¡± ¡°Thank you.¡± They seemed to be worried about him taking the ne. The other two also looked a bit anxious. ¡°Anyone would think you¡¯re really going to the army, man.¡± ¡°¡­¡± ¡°I¡¯ll have fun filming ande back.¡± Woojoo smiled at his siblings who looked like meerkats. They got in the car, opened the window, and stuck out his head with Junghyun, waving their hands hard. As the car started and they quickly moved away from each other. ¡°Guys!¡± ¡°Guys, I¡¯ll be back¡­ oh?¡± Whoosh. The beret that Junghyun was wearing flew off and fell to the ground. ¡°¡­¡± Their eyes met, and Jiho startedughing. ¡°Dowon Hyung.¡± ¡°Yeah?¡± ¡°Can you stop the car for a moment¡­?¡± Dowon Hyung parked the car. Rihyuk, who had been sighing deeply, picked up his beret and ran to the car to hand it over. Then they waved at each other until they became dots in the distance. After saying goodbye, Woojoo leaned back on the car seat for a moment and checked his preparations one by one. ¡°What¡¯s that, Hyung?¡± ¡°It¡¯s a talisman.¡± Junghyun looked curious as he saw the talisman in his hand. Their Mrs. Deoksoon said it was a powerful talisman written by a monk. Woojoo doubted its effectiveness, but¡­ Well, it was the thought that counted. He also plugged in the earphones of the mp3 yer that Bijoo gave him. The old mp3 screen shed and automatically switched to the folder named ¡®Woojoo Hyung¡¯s army¡¯. As Woojoo closed his eyes to enjoy the song. ? Leave your home and take the train~ He turned it off right away. ¡°Ahhhh¡­!¡± He was startled by the song that triggered his trauma and took off his earphones. He exined the situation to the managers who turned their heads and the two veterans burst intoughter. Woojoo didn¡¯t know the exact details, but it was obvious that Bijoo had fallen for the fake information on the blog, such as ¡®songs that veterans like¡¯. Minki Hyung, who had beenughing for a while, turned on the morning radio. Woojoo carefully put away Bijoo¡¯s mp3 yer and picked up his smartphone to start searching. -TBC Men Go, ¡°This week¡¯s guest is an idol¡± -PD Sagan ¡°A new special that you¡¯ve never experienced before, you¡¯ll be surprised¡± -The crisis of ¡®Men Go¡¯, can they stop the ¡®ratings decline¡¯? There was a lot of talk about whether ¡®Men Go¡¯, which was in a downward trend in ratings, could bounce back with this special. Woojoo could feel that vibe from the production team. They seemed to want to turn the situation around with this special. He could feel how much effort they put into this special when they had pre-meetings or mid-shootings. That was why he prepared thoroughly. He was matching the faces of the cast with the precautions in his head and imagining various situations. ¡°I always feel this way,¡± Junghyun said as he rummaged through the snacks. ¡°Hyung, you seem to work hard on everything you do.¡± ¡°Yeah?¡± ¡°Yes, you study when you eat, and you study when you don¡¯t eat.¡± Woojooughed at the line that sounded like a rhyme. ¡°I have to do well. It¡¯s not someone else¡¯s job, it¡¯s ours.¡± ¡°That¡¯s right.¡± He said with a determined look, ¡°This time, I have to work really hard too. I¡¯m ready to have my bones slip.¡± ¡°What¡¯s going on? Our Kim Junghyun.¡± ¡°It¡¯s just you and me today, Hyung. I¡¯m not very funny.¡± What are you talking about? You¡¯re the funniest. ¡°If you want to do as well as the other kids.¡± ¡°Share, Junghyun. Share.¡± ¡°Yes, so I think I have to do better than usual. I made up my mind when I had breakfast.¡± ¡°Don¡¯t worry too much. You¡¯ll be fine as long as you do what you normally do.¡± He was said to be an S-ss trainee when he received basic training, but Woojoo didn¡¯t know the details. He seemed to do well. Woojoo said to him, who kept saying ¡®I have to do well¡¯, ¡°Then let¡¯s look at this together. It¡¯s the precautions for the cast members who areing today.¡± ¡°Okay, sure.¡± ¡°First of all, this person had a controversy over betting on golf, so don¡¯t talk about golf in front of him¡­¡± As Woojoo exined and he nodded, the scenery of Yeongjongdo began to appear faintly from afar. Incheon Airport, 3rd floor, departure hall. As they got off at the elevator, the promised ce, the production crew who had been waiting for them followed them. ¡°It¡¯s chilly in the morning, thank you for your hard work. Director.¡± Woojoo asked the cameraman who smiled at him, ¡°I¡¯m nervous because we¡¯re going abroad. There¡¯s a lot to prepare. By the way, did they collect your passports, staff?¡± ¡°¡­?¡± The cameraman paused for a moment and then nodded his head btedly. Woojoo smiled slyly at his reaction. As the crosswalk signal changed, they also said goodbye to the managers. The two managers waved their hands as if to wish them a safe trip. Inside the 10th gate, the promised ce, there were seven men in military uniforms. ¡°Wow! You¡¯re here! You made it!¡± ¡°New ck is here!¡± Joon and Junghyun bowed with a smile. ¡°Hello, seniors! We are New ck, Woojoo!¡± ¡°And Junghyun!¡± They also greeted Hanjo, who had arrived first, with their eyes. He expressed his joy with his whole body. He must have had a hard time being the guest alone. ¡°Here, here, stand with us.¡± ¡°Okay.¡± Theyughed at his intense look of relief. The cast of Men on a Mission divided into three groups on each side and surrounded them in the middle. They looked around for a while. It was early in the morning, but the airport was full of noisy crowds. Travelers, business people, students, athletes, foreigners, etc. All kinds of people were busy passing by. Some people stopped in the middle. ¡°Hey, what¡¯s that? Filming?¡± ¡°They¡¯re filming a show! Oh! That¡¯s Men on a Mission.¡± ¡°Men Go?¡± Some of them recognized Woojoo and Junghyun. ¡°Hey, hey! They¡¯re New ck, New ck.¡± ¡°Wow, they¡¯re all handsome¡­¡± ¡°Is that guy standing there a member too? He looks so calm.¡± Hanjo, who had lost his group, smiled sadly. The regr cast members also waved to the people. ¡°Hello, everyone!¡± ¡°Is this your first time seeing celebrities?¡± They chatted with the people around them with a friendly tone, but someone soon tackled them. ¡°Ugh, how embarrassing. Stop it. We¡¯re not here to see you, we¡¯re here to see the idols.¡± Park Hobeom made a face of shame. He had a sharp look and lean muscle, and he was ying the role of an A-ss soldier character among the Sagan members. Maybe he was like Rihyuk, who was good at sports. The Sagan members pretended not to hear him, and they felt a sense of rivalry. ¡°Should we wave our hands too?¡± ¡°Yes, sure!¡± ¡°Don¡¯t be so picky like Hobeom. We should ride on their poprity too!¡± It was a natural flow like a gag. As they had been working together for a long time, they each had their own positions. Here was the attack, here was the defense, here was the gag. They quickly grasped the atmosphere of the scene and we also joined in creating the situation. ¡°Thank you. Our members are big fans of Men on a Mission. Thest episode with the dolphins and the navy was very popr.¡± Hanjo reacted to the cast members. ¡°We actually prepared a few things to show to the viewers.¡± Woojoo did the promotion of New ck and Street Boys¡¯ albums. ¡°Give me a beat.¡± Junghyun took care of the personal skills and the unusual things. They didn¡¯t divide the roles beforehand, but they roughly gave and took cues and finished introducing themselves in front of the spectators. The man with a round face and sses, Lee Pilseung, threw the closing remark with a smile. ¡°These guys, they have so much charm.¡± ¡°Thank you.¡± ¡°Can we expect you to show your charm as guests today?¡± ¡°Yes! We¡¯ll do our best!¡± Lee Pilseung, who had a gentle older brother image, turned his eyes to the production team with a smile. ¡°Our PD Do.¡± ¡°Yes.¡± ¡°Where are we going this time? You said it¡¯s not the army. But you told us to bring our passports, so we came prepared.¡± PD Do Joongi, who was standing between the cameras, smiled. ¡°You¡¯ll find out when you get there.¡± The cast members got up together. ¡°Where are we going that you won¡¯t tell us? It¡¯s not some weird overseas deployment, is it?¡± ¡°Exactly. Where are we going?¡± ¡°Are we going overseas?¡± The cast members gave him a look of distrust, and PD Do smiled silently. It was an expression that seemed to challenge them to guess. While they were all wondering whether they were going overseas or not, Lee Pilseung took care of Woojoo. ¡°Where do you think we¡¯re going today, Woojoo?¡± ¡°I don¡¯t know where we¡¯re going, but¡­ somewhere abroad that could be a good experience! I want to go overseas at least once!¡± As Woojoo said that with a fist pump, Hanjo and Junghyun joined in. ¡°We want to go overseas too! Director!¡± ¡°We want to go yo.¡± They cheered up the atmosphere, and the cast members agreed with them. ¡°Look at them. They all want to go overseas too! PD Do, let¡¯s go somewhere nice for our guests.¡± ¡°Around the World With Dice is going to Hawaii this time. Are we going to lose to them?¡± ¡°Well, we have some conscience as a ratings hit, so let¡¯spromise with Bali. Bali or Cebu at least.¡± They reacted enthusiastically in the midst of that. But Woojoo knew they weren¡¯t going overseas. Usually, when they went for overseas filming, the staff collected their passports. But when Woojoo asked the camera director earlier, he hesitated for three seconds. That was the evidence that they didn¡¯t collect them. The regr cast members were also people who lived by their instincts, so they probably sensed something from the production team¡¯s vibe. When they were hyping up the mood for the variety show, PD Do opened his lips. ¡°Unfortunately, we¡¯re not going overseas.¡± ¡°Ahhh¡­!¡± He said to the screaming people, ¡°Let me give you a hint. It¡¯s a ce rted to security work at the airport.¡± ¡°Security work?¡± ¡°We told you to bring your passports in case somethinges up in the middle.¡± What kind of security work was there at the airport? Everyone had a ¡®?¡¯ expression on their faces and thought of various words in their heads. Then, the PD pped his hands. ¡°Well, then, shall we move first?¡± ¡°Move¡­?¡± ¡°Yes, the ce we¡¯re going to is nearby. You just need to get on the bus that¡¯s waiting outside.¡± When everyone turned their heads, they saw a bus waiting at the outside tform. Someone muttered, ¡°Where the hell are they taking us?¡± There was tension in the bus. The vehicle that left the airport was gradually moving into the ind. They passed the golf course, the coastal road where the sea was visible, and went deeper into Yeongjong Ind. Hanjo swallowed his saliva and asked, ¡°Where are we going?¡± ¡°I wonder.¡± ¡°We have no idea either¡­¡± They had no way to find information since they turned in their phones before boarding the car. ¡°What¡¯s on Yeongjong Ind?¡± ¡°What else is there besides the airport? Sohyung, aren¡¯t you from Incheon?¡± ¡°Just because I¡¯m from Incheon doesn¡¯t mean I know the geography of Yeongjong Ind.¡± ¡°Are we going to take a boat? Maybe we have to go overseas and that¡¯s why they told us to bring our passports.¡± ¡°You heard it earlier. It¡¯s rted to the airport. And if we take a boat from here to go overseas, we won¡¯t have enough time to film.¡± There wasughter at someone¡¯s joke that they would have to take a ne back as soon as they arrived overseas. Junghyun asked, ¡°But maybe it¡¯s not a hard job, right?¡± Everyone said ¡®no¡¯ with a scoff at that. Yoon Jongwoo, a timid-looking man who was in charge of anxiety and worry in the show, grumbled, ¡°That¡¯s because you don¡¯t know our production team¡­¡± ¡°We¡¯ve never had an easy time. PD Do always avoids the shortcuts and sees themter.¡± ¡°But what kind of security work is rted to the airport? Are we going to handle drug-sniffing dogs or something?¡± ¡°I remember the military dog training unit. That was tough.¡± ¡°Let¡¯s just rx. We.¡± Min Taewon, a bald man with a Buddha-like face, smiled gently. ¡°It doesn¡¯t matter where we go, as long as we do our best. Everything depends on how we feel.¡± ¡°There he goes again. That guy.¡± ¡°You¡¯re the problem. You are.¡± ¡°Heh, we¡¯ll see about that.¡± He was aid-back character who was always treated as a burden in the show. As they were talking like that. Park Hobeom¡¯s sharp gaze turned to Woojoo. ¡°Where do you think we¡¯re going today, Woojoo?¡± Woojoo hesitated and said, ¡°Don¡¯t you think there¡¯s a reason why they filmed the opening scene at the airport? Maybe we have toe back hereter and do something.¡± ¡°That¡¯s possible.¡± ¡°Going somewhere else means we¡¯ll get some special training there and thene back to the airport for practice¡­¡± Woojoo crossed out the choices one by one. ¡°First of all, excluding the military, most of the jobs rted to airport security are inside, right? Like customs. Or the police.¡± ¡°Yeah. I once went to the police station inside the airport to find a lost item.¡± ¡°By the way, we¡¯re almost there, aren¡¯t we?¡± The bus that had been speeding along slowed down as it approached the destination. Woojoo continued to talk in front of the camera, while the others listened to my story. ¡°It seems like it¡¯s not a job that requires us to directly approach the citizens, but rather something that might be needed in some special situation nearby¡­ Oh.¡± And then something shed through his mind. It seemed like everyone else had the same thought. ¡°Ah, I think I know what it is.¡± ¡°No way?¡± ¡°It can¡¯t be¡­¡± They all denied the reality with warm smiles. ¡°There¡¯s no way.¡± ¡°That¡¯s right. It can¡¯t be there.¡± ¡°Hahaha. What if it¡¯s there?¡± As they thought about it, they saw a sign that said ¡®Marine Police¡¯ along with a helicopter hangar in front of them. ¡°¡­¡­.¡± ¡°¡­¡­.¡± And as they passed by, the buildings started to appear. ¡°Ah¡­¡± ¡°Oh, please.¡± ¡°Where¡¯s the PD? That car in front? We have to ram into it now¡­!¡± They heard the sound of everyone¡¯s mental breakdown in real time. Finally, the vehicle stopped in front of some entrance. A spacious yground. The buildings surrounding it. Various models and temporary buildings that looked like training grounds came into view. ¡°¡­¡­.¡± ¡°¡­¡­.¡± Everyone was speechless and looked at the biggest building among them. A in brick building. On top of it, the words ¡®Incheon Police Special Forces¡¯ glittered in the morning sun as if to say ¡®wee¡¯. 4 Fantasy, Modern, 3 Comments 4.8 / 12 Holyshit Report Police Special Forces lol 2023.03.11 19:400 AbbyAbby Report Wow Police Special Forces lol 2023.03.25 15:440 AddGanana Report I heard Special Forces are harder than Airborne lol 2023.09.20 03:060 Only logged-in members canment. Chapter 273: Trantor: MarcTempest Editor: Rxel Chapter 273 Two Special Forces teams with different affiliations were divided on the left and right sides of the same site. It was hell no matter where you went. The left side was the coast guard¡¯s Special Forces team. The right side was the building of the police¡¯s Special Forces team. The bus stopped on the right side. ¡°Wow¡­¡± Everyone who stared nkly at the letters on the building burst into a hollowugh.¡°I knew it. I should have guessed when they suddenly told us to bring our passports.¡± ¡°There¡¯s no easy way to go.¡± ¡°Look, look, the PD isughing outside.¡± PD Do Joongi waved his hand with a bright smile. The cast members who had been denying reality for a while started to get off one by one. ¡°Wee, everyone.¡± The cast members narrowed their eyes at PD Do¡¯s cheerful greeting. Even the eldest brother, Lee Pilseung, who had been smiling gently since the opening, trembled his cheeks. ¡°Joongi, this time¡­ you said it would be easy. You said it had nothing to do with the army.¡± ¡°It¡¯s not the army, it¡¯s the police.¡± ¡°You said it had something to do with airport security?¡± ¡°Yes. This Police Special Forces Team is the first to respond when there¡¯s a terrorist situation at the airport.¡± ¡°¡­Terrorist?¡± ¡°Oh! Of course, they also get involved in other major incidents like hostage situations or shootings.¡± As the exnation continued, everyone¡¯s faces turned pale. ¡°Is this for real?¡± ¡°I thought I was going to diest time when we trained with the Special Task Force¡­¡± ¡°I brought a lot of new clothes thinking I was going abroad.¡± As everyone was frustrated, Hanjo whispered to Woojoo, ¡°Woojoo-ssi, what do we do?¡± ¡°Don¡¯t worry too much.¡± ¡°You have a n, don¡¯t you?¡± he said, brightening up. ¡°We¡¯re all doomed together anyway.¡± ¡°¡­¡± ¡°That¡¯s the charm of the army.¡± Hanjo closed his eyes slightly at Woojoo¡¯s warm smile. Then the cast members next to themughed. ¡°As expected, you know the taste of the army, Woojoo.¡± ¡°It¡¯s fun to be doomed together. Hahaha!¡± ¡°Hahahaha¡­ Huhuhu¡­¡± ¡°Huhuhu¡­ Haha!¡± They made noises that Woojoo couldn¡¯t tell if they were crying orughing. After the production team took away the mic packs, the cast members loosened their bodies and took deep breaths to relieve their tension. Woojoo whispered to Hanjo, who was sad, ¡°Hanjo-ssi.¡± ¡°Yes¡­?¡± ¡°Don¡¯t worry too much. I¡¯ll help you a lot with Junghyun. Let¡¯s show ourradeship.¡± ¡°You¡¯re talking aboutradeship, Woojoo-ssi. I¡¯m here because of you.¡± Woojoo pretended not to hear and cheered him up. Inside the unit, Woojoo checked the signs that the camera was about to start rolling again and quickly whispered to the two of them, ¡°From now on, it¡¯s a game of wits. You have to try not to stand out in every action. If you get caught in the beginning, you¡¯ll keep getting caught until the recording is over.¡± ¡°I¡¯ll be careful.¡± Hanjo nodded, and when Woojoo turned around, Junghyun also nodded seriously. Then he asked Woojoo cautiously, ¡°Hyung.¡± ¡°What.¡± ¡°How do I watch out?¡± Right. He was Junghyun. ¡°Just follow what I do.¡± ¡°I¡¯m confident in that.¡± After taking care of the fellow guests, they stood in a ready position ording to the recording preparation. The eldest brother of ¡®Men Go¡¯, Lee Pilseung, gave a pep talk to the team members as the leader. ¡°Our Woojoo just said a wise saying. We¡¯re all doomed together.¡± Woojoo almost choked when he heard the joke. ¡°That¡¯s a wise saying.¡± ¡°It¡¯s not lonely if we die together.¡± Lee Pilseung continued. ¡°We¡¯re all doomed together. In other words, we¡¯re all doing well together. Let¡¯s do our best with that mindset. Fighting.¡± ¡°Fighting!¡± After they all shouted ¡°Fighting!¡± with high spirits, they passed through the main gate with trembling steps. The ce surrounded by arge L-shaped building was a in sand training ground, like a school yground. And on the podium in the center, five instructors were standing. ¡°¡­¡± A chilly atmosphere. The Special Forces members, who wore ck clothes, sunsses, and skull-patterned scarves to cover their faces, stood still. They looked incredibly strong at a nce. Without anyone saying anything first, they all ran quickly to the front of the instructors, feeling the ominous vibe. A man in a ck T-shirt frowned. ¡°What time is it now?¡± ¡°¡­¡± The instructor growled, looking at his wristwatch. ¡°What have you been doing for eight minutes since you arrived? Did you resist because you didn¡¯t want to train?¡± ¡°They said the filming wasn¡¯t ready inside¡­¡± ¡°Who are you right now?¡± The face of Jo Sohyung, a member of Men Go, turned pale. They all tensed up at the instructor¡¯s momentum. When they expected the first intimidation to start, the instructor said as if he was convinced, ¡°That makes sense.¡± ¡°¡­¡± What was this? He looked strong but felt flimsy. ¡°I am Go Kwangsoon, a sergeant of the Tactical Team 1, who will be guiding you from today. Nice to meet you.¡± He smiled contentedly as they pped. Then the members of the Tactical Team 1 introduced themselves. There were five in total, four men and one woman. ¡°From now on, you will receive the same training as the Special Forces members. Rappelling, infiltration, emergency response, closebat. And you will also observe and learn various sses. Do you understand?¡± ¡°Yes!¡± ¡°It won¡¯t be easy, of course,¡± Sergeant Go said. ¡°The members here are from the 707th Special Mission Battalion and UDT. Because you can get injured if you train with the same intensity as them, this training will be much weaker.¡± They all expressed joy in their eyes. At that, Sergeant Go smiled. ¡°And if you feel tired, anytime! Tell the instructors. This is not the army. It¡¯s a loss if you hurt yourself by enduring. Not getting injured. That¡¯s the top priority. What¡¯s the top priority?¡± ¡°Not getting injured!¡± ¡°Good.¡± They all melted at his gentle smile. ¡°You must have expected this training to be very solemn and suffocating.¡± Sergeant Go smiled brightly. ¡°This training will be conducted in a fun atmosphere. You canugh. You can cry.¡± ¡°Oh¡­! Oh?¡± It seemed like there was a strange remark at the end. ¡°My Special Forces junior, PD Do Joongi, asked me before the training, ¡®You don¡¯t know what you¡¯re dragged into, so please do well, make it fun.¡¯¡± They rxed a bit at the sight of PD Do waving his hand. ¡°Honestly, I don¡¯t like frowning and yelling either. It¡¯s not my personality. Do you feel good when you hear loud noises?¡± ¡°No!¡± ¡°People are all the same. So when we train, we do it properly! And in a fun atmosphere. Do you understand?¡± ¡°Yes!¡± They all felt relieved. They thought they were dead when they were dragged into the Special Forces. But it was a healing atmosphere. And with the words that they could tell them anytime if they were hurt or tired. ¡®Do you feel hard? Do you really want to quit? Really? You might cause trouble for everyone because of you, but do it if you want.¡¯ It was the opposite of the army. This was a healing world wheremon sense worked. ¡°You canughfortably. There¡¯s no need to suddenly say ¡®Laugh?¡¯ and ruin the mood.¡± ¡°Hahaha¡­!¡± ¡°Hahahaha!¡± Min Taewon¡¯s rxedughter spread to everyone. Theyughed and the instructorsughed with them. When the atmosphere calmed down, Sergeant Go said, ¡°Now, we said not getting injured is number one. But what do you have to do before exercising to avoid getting injured? You, trainee.¡± Hanjo answered loudly. ¡°Warm-up exercise!¡± ¡°That¡¯s right. If you use your muscles suddenly without warming up, you can get hurt.¡± ¡°That¡¯s right!¡± ¡°So, before we start the training, let¡¯s do some warm-up exercises with kubo and PT exercises!¡± ¡°Haha¡­ Huh?¡± At that moment, everyone realized the truth that they had forgotten in the mood. The rule that wherever you were, if your body wasfortable, your mind was troubled, and if your mind wasfortable, your body was tormented. The instructor shouted with a face that he was excited, ¡°Okay, let¡¯s fire a scream for three seconds toward the front!¡± ¡°Wooaaahhh¡­?!¡± ¡°Good! Let¡¯s do kubo with this momentum! Start with 20ps lightly! Go!¡± It was the moment when dark clouds loomed over everyone¡¯s future. After the cast of ¡®Men on a Mission¡¯, including Woojoo, ran out of breath with intense running. PT exercises followed immediately. ¡°Aaaahhh!¡± ¡°Uh uh¡­¡±
    1. Physical Training.
As the name suggested, the movements to strengthen the body stimted the whole body of the cast. ¡®I said I would do it in a fun atmosphere¡­!¡¯ Everyone screamed and cursed while twisting their bodies. At first, theyughed and did it, but as time went by, it became painful. Even if they stayed still, their whole body trembled, and sweat dripped in the summer heat. The cast¡¯s sweat dripped onto the sand of the yground. ¡®I¡¯m going crazy. Really!¡¯ Above all, the subtle intensity was a st. They really couldn¡¯t do it and felt like they were going to die, but their bodies were doing it. Every time they felt too hard to bear, they changed their movements, which was amazing. The feeling of rolling as if they knew how far they had to go without falling. But what bothered the cast the most was that the Special Forces were really kind. ¡°Good job! Good job! Right! One more!¡± ¡°One more!¡± ¡°This is the rest. If everyone¡¯s legs go up to this height, you get a five-minute break!¡± The soldiers who walked around and checked their posture while doing PT exercises looked happy. It meant that they were happy when they said they were happy. ¡°Everyone! Are you having fun?¡± ¡°Yes!¡± ¡°Your voice is small! More cheerful and fun! Are you having fun?¡± ¡°Yeees¡­!¡± ¡°Haha, I¡¯m so happy with this enthusiastic response. Add 10 more!¡± Everyone screamed and moved their bodies. ¡°Ugh.¡± Cho Sohyung, who was famous for his poor physical strength, copsed like a sick scarecrow, and Lee Jungah, a captain who was nearby, ran to him. ¡°Are you okay? Are you in a lot of pain?¡± ¡°My, my, my arm is so numb that I lost my strength!¡± ¡°Oh¡­¡± She looked at him with concern, and Cho Sohyung hoped desperately. ¡®I¡¯m really going to die. Please, just let me out¡­¡¯ Sure enough. The other person asked carefully, ¡°Can you walk?¡± ¡°Yes, yes! I can walk!¡± ¡°Do you see the pole with the g over there?¡± ¡°Yes! I see it!¡± Hope appeared in front of him. ¡°Go there and run lightly.¡± ¡°¡­Yes?¡± ¡°Run back and forth while massaging your arm until the muscles loosen up. Do your legs hurt too?¡± ¡°¡­¡± ¡°If your legs hurt too, I¡¯ll do stretching with the instructor.¡± She smiled kindly as if she had given him a great kindness. While Cho Sohyung ran on the sand yground desperately, the cast shed tears inside. ¡®It¡¯s better not to be exempted.¡¯ ¡®This is hell¡­!¡¯ ¡®Joongi. Wait. I¡¯ll send you to the underworld express.¡¯ Meanwhile, the guests were also suffering. ¡®Seon Woojoo. I¡¯ll kill you¡­¡¯ Hanjo clenched his teeth as he twisted his leg to the left. ¡®No. I can¡¯t kill him anyway.¡¯ This time, it was the right side. ¡®Can I hit him? No.¡¯ He was Hanjo, who repeated ¡®grab his neck, don¡¯t grab his neck¡¯ like plucking a petal every time he twisted his legs. And next to him, Junghyun was doing PT exercises with a calm face. ¡°Trainee number 9, your posture is good.¡± ¡°Thank you.¡± ¡°Are you having fun?¡± ¡°It¡¯s fun.¡± The Special Forces gave him a thumbs-up as if they agreed with Junghyun¡¯s warm smile, and it was caught on camera. As the cast members thought, the Special Forces were in a good mood. ¡®It¡¯s fun.¡¯ The sergeant, Go Kwangsoon, smiled with his gums as he watched them rolling around on the sand floor. ¡°How long has it been since this happened?¡± ¡°Exactly. We were so bored because we only had each other until now, but new people came.¡± ¡°We used to see the same faces every day. It¡¯s fun to have celebritiese too.¡± ¡°How nice would it be. We don¡¯t have anybody to get stronger. Those people are born with new bodies.¡± Sergeant Go Kwangsoon called the PD who was watching from the side. ¡°Joongi, how is it? Are we having fun?¡± ¡°Of course. Sir. You¡¯re very gentle and nice.¡± ¡°Right?¡± The former Special Forces PD and the Special Forcesughed amicably. Then, Lieutenant Jeongah bragged. ¡°I told someone who said his arm hurt earlier to go and tag that pole over there. Take a break.¡± ¡°Wow, you¡¯re so kind, youngest.¡± ¡°Really. When we were in pain, we rolled until we vomited on the floor. If you think about that, you¡¯re an angel, an angel.¡± As theyughed andughed, the faces of the supporting actors and staff standing nearby turned pale. PD Do Joongi asked, ¡°How do you see them? Our cast members?¡± ¡°They¡¯re generally weak and frail. Some are serious.¡± ¡°Well, they¡¯re all old.¡± ¡°But the young ones are doing well, right? Who are they? Those three are fine. Their posture is not bad either.¡± ¡°That number 9? He¡¯s good.¡± After praising Junghyun¡¯s posture, their eyes changed as they looked at the side. ¡°But if I have to choose the most noticeable trainee¡­¡± ¡°I want him. I want to choose him.¡± ¡°Me too, I want to teach him a thing or two.¡± They looked at where Seon Woojoo was struggling to ¡®grunt¡¯ and doing PT movements. A textbook posture that made them drool. They felt like running over and teaching him something good right away. ¡°Wow, his expression is alive. When I saw the American kids doing PT, they had such serious expressions.¡± ¡°I wasn¡¯t the only one who thought of that. Doesn¡¯t he look like a US Marine or a Special Forces kid?¡± ¡°It¡¯s healing just to look at him.¡± They didn¡¯t know that Woojoo was unconsciously following the YouTube video. ¡°He looks like a real Special Forces soldier.¡± ¡°Right? He¡¯s sweating and working hard. It feels like we got a new recruit.¡± Then, when they did a new PT movement. ¡°Oh my, look at his posture. He¡¯s so pretty¡­¡± ¡°He¡¯s got angles. He¡¯s alive.¡± ¡°Ah, I can¡¯t stand it. I¡¯m going to go and check his movements.¡± ¡°Let¡¯s go together!¡± The Special Forces who were sparkling in their eyes approached someone. ¡°Ugh¡­¡± His legs were tingling. But his body was moving automatically. Woojoo was sweating profusely, but he was doing the movements while breathing deeply. ¡°Trainee. Your posture is good.¡± ¡°Thank you!¡± Some of the Special Forces came near him. They praised Woojoo, so he thought they would leave, but they squatted next to him. Then they assisted his posture. ¡°One, two, one, two. Right!¡± ¡­Right? ¡°Wow, your posture is perfect! Perfect. Perfect.¡± ¡°I can see you¡¯re working hard on your abs. You¡¯re using your muscles well. Wow¡­ How do you use your muscles like that?¡± ¡°That movement is correct, but it doesn¡¯t suit the Korean body type. Try bending your legs slightly like this.¡± Were these people fitness trainers¡­? The PT exercise was turning into personal PT. Woojoo did as they told him, and they nodded with satisfied faces. ¡°That¡¯s it! That¡¯s it!¡± ¡°Huh¡­ You did it perfectly after one lesson.¡± ¡°Team leader! Come and see this!¡± Now they even used the colleague summoning spell. It was torture. The best part of the PT exercise was when the instructor wasn¡¯t looking, he could secretly change his posture and restfortably. But every time he did a movement, they came and looked at him closely and liked it. It was driving him crazy. And there were dark shadows around him, giggling like backlighting. It was scary. And, his hardship didn¡¯t end there. ¡°Trainee number eight.¡± Woojoo quickly raised and lowered his right hand and shouted, ¡°Trainee number eight, Seon Woojoo!¡± ¡°I¡¯ming forward.¡± ¡°¡­?¡± When he stood in front of the cast, the high-ranking officer smiled kindly and said, ¡°Do the same movement as before.¡± ¡°Execute!¡± The PT exercise where he made an arch with his waist and lifted his body like an exorcist ghost. As he did it, he saw the faces of the other cast members upside down. ¡°That¡¯s right, this is it!¡± The high-ranking officer, who seemed to have a lot of ulterior motives, coughed and said, ¡°Do you see? This perfect arch?¡± He pointed at Woojoo¡¯s waist with a stick. ¡°When you do the posture, do it right! Just like trainee number eight. Do you understand?¡± ¡°Yes!¡± ¡°Number eight, good job. Get up. Everyone, give a round of apuse to trainee number eight who worked hard.¡± ¡°Woahhh-!¡± Everyone pped their hands with bright smiles. Woojoo thought those guys liked that they could rest while he showed them the demonstration. It was the same for Hanjo. Only Junghyun had a proud face, as if saying ¡®that¡¯s my Hyung¡¯. Woojoo wiped the sweat off his face and tried to go back to the line, but the high-ranking officer stopped him. ¡°Trainee. Where are you going?¡± ¡°¡­Yes?¡± ¡°Trainee, from now on, you will show the posture to the other trainees as an example.¡± ¡°¡­¡± Woojoo¡¯s face, which was being filmed by the camera, must have turned pale. That was when hell started. ¡°Trainee number eight! Right!¡± ¡°Number eight~!¡± ¡°Trainee number eight, well done. Show it one more time.¡± The officers kept summoning him whenever they liked his posture. Every time, the cast members pped. ¡°Woahhh-!¡± ¡°You¡¯re so good at it!¡± ¡°I want to see it again!¡± Whenever he looked at them with a sad face, they all turned away, saying ¡®we have to survive first¡¯. That was how Woojoo had an unwilling assistant experience under the scorching sun. ¡°Attention.¡± The high-ranking officer, Go Kwangsoon, raised his hand to his waist and said, ¡°Since there¡¯s not much time left until lunch, we¡¯ll do something else instead of PT training for the remaining time.¡± ¡°Woahhh-!¡± ¡°Trainee number eight.¡± ¡°Yes?¡± ¡°The instructors have been brainstorming, and they¡¯ve been wondering what to reward trainee number eight who worked hard.¡± ¡°Ohhh-!¡± Was it a break in the afternoon? A break angle? They all had expressions of ¡®you deserve it¡¯, and Woojoo looked at them with hopeful eyes. The high-ranking officer smiled warmly, as if he had just the thing. ¡°So, I want to give a special benefit to only the eighth trainee.¡± ¡°Wow¡­!¡± ¡°An experience that not anyone can have!¡± ¡°Wow¡­!¡± ¡°It¡¯s tightrope walking!¡± ¡°Wow¡­?¡± As everyone stared nkly, Instructor Go Kwangsoon stepped aside as if to show them something. There was a tightrope walking course in the distance. The rope was slightly swaying in the wind, looking like a gallows. Was it just his imagination? ¡°¡­Is this a re, reward?¡± Woojoo stuttered without realizing it, and the Special Forces nodded shyly. They looked like they were saying ¡®We prepared this for you¡¯. ¡°¡­¡± Woojoo lost his words and stood there dumbfounded, while the cast started to giggle. Hanjo, wearing a ck Special Forces uniform, sat in the studio and burst intoughter. Heughed for a long time, finding it funny. Writer: Was it that fun? Hanjo: Yes. No. Because Woojoo said with a serious face before entering the base. He imitated someone¡¯s expression. Hanjo: From now on, it¡¯s a game of wits. You have to try not to stand out with every action. If you get caught at the beginning, you¡¯ll be caught until the end of the recording. Writer: (Laughter) Hanjo: But he got caught. (Laughing out loud) The screen switched as theyughed. Woojoo was standing in front of the tightrope walking course with a lost expression. Chapter 274: Trantor: MarcTempest Editor: Rxel Chapter 274 There was a rope in front of him. It was as thick as Woojoo¡¯s arm, the kind that would be used to anchor a ship at the harbor. Whoosh- The warm summer wind blew the sand on the yground. Was his eye moist because of the sand? Or because of the rope in front of him? ¡°How do you feel, trainee?¡±¡°¡­¡± ¡°Doesn¡¯t it look fun? It¡¯s a privilege only for excellent trainees like number eight.¡± ¡°Th-thank you.¡± The Special Forces members looked proud. ¡°Trainees, aren¡¯t you jealous?¡± ¡°Very jealous!¡± The cast members answered loudly. They looked happy that it wasn¡¯t their turn. The cameramen filmed Woojoo as he measured the height. It must be about seven meters. It felt like almost a three-story building. How was he supposed to climb up to that distant top? Officer Go Kwangsoon scratched his nose. ¡°Who wants to demonstrate? Jeong-ah? Or Kyung-joon?¡± ¡°I¡¯ll do it.¡± Officer Park Kyung-joon, who was wearing a jungle hat, stepped forward. He grabbed the rope with one hand, as if to show the others. ¡°It may look hard, but it¡¯s actually not. Anyone can do it if they learn the trick.¡± He put his right foot on the rope and his left foot under it. Then he lifted his right foot up like climbing a stair, and used the other foot as a support to go up. It took him only three seconds to reach the halfway point. ¡°Wow¡­!¡± Everyone gasped with their eyes wide open. Officer Park, who came down with a smirk, turned his head to Woojoo. ¡°How about you? Can you do it?¡± ¡°Yes!¡± ¡°Are you okay? Do you need me to show you one more time?¡± ¡°I¡¯m good.¡± He smiled brightly at Woojoo¡¯s answer, as if he knew he would say that. Officer Lee Jeongah came over and handed Woojoo gloves that the Special Forces used. ¡°Take off the cotton glove and wear this.¡± ¡°Thank you.¡± Woojoo took off the PT glove and put on the one she gave him. It felt much better. He felt a bit uneasy, as if she was saying, ¡®If you take this, you¡¯re one of us for today.¡¯ He heard whispers from behind. ¡°He only saw it once, can he do it?¡± ¡°Did you see how he did it? It¡¯s confusing. No, you lift your foot and put one under it. Is that it?¡± ¡°Shh, he can do it. He can do it.¡± Woojoo grabbed the rope and swallowed his saliva. He reyed the movement he just saw in his head and lifted his right foot on the rope. Then he moved his body. Swoosh- ¡°Oh?¡± It really worked. It wasn¡¯t as hard as he thought. He just held the rope firmly and pushed himself up. Every time he did, he heard an ¡®oh¡¯ sound. In no time, he reached the top of the seven-meter rope and the admiration sound faded. ¡°Wow¡­¡± The air was different. Instead of the humid wind, the cool breeze cooled the sweat on his face. His eyes were delighted by the icy blue sky. He enjoyed the view of the Special Forces for a moment, then quickly came down as instructed by the instructor. ¡°Your postureing down was perfect. Well done.¡± ¡°Thank you!¡± ¡°Everyone, let¡¯s give a round of apuse to number eight who climbed up and down the rope!¡± ¡°Woohoo!¡± The Special Forces officer who had been smiling sternly turned his head. ¡°How do you feel? Is it fun?¡± ¡°Yes! It¡¯s very fun!¡± ¡°That¡¯s why we don¡¯t let anyone do it.¡± He and Woojoo lured the cast members with their perfect sync. As they showed their curiosity one by one, a smile appeared on the instructor¡¯s gruff face. ¡°Do you trainees want to try it too?¡± ¡°Yes!¡± ¡°Oh, this is not good. I was only going to let number eight do it, but¡­ I¡¯ll be flexible and ept applicants.¡± They all raised their hands. The instructor¡¯s gaze asked who he should choose. ¡°Number nine! I want to try.¡± ¡°Okay. Number nine!¡± Junghyun stood up with a happy expression. He walked briskly to the rope and stopped in front of it, making an ¡®ah¡¯ face. Woojoo whispered to him, ¡°You didn¡¯t understand, did you?¡± ¡°Yes.¡± He wanted to try it, but he didn¡¯t seem to get the demonstration he saw earlier. The instructor intervened. ¡°Let¡¯s try it once. I¡¯ll check your posture afterwards.¡± ¡°Yes, I understand!¡± Junghyun grabbed the rope with his gloved hand. Then he stretched his arms up and pulled the rope. The Special Forces soldier shook his head. ¡°That¡¯s the worst posture. If you try to go up with just your arm strength, you¡¯ll fall off in no time. Look.¡± ¡°Kyungjun.¡± ¡°Yes?¡± The senior officer, Go Kwangsoon, pointed somewhere with his finger. ¡°¡­Is he going up?¡± ¡°Yes?¡± Chupchapchap. ¡°¡­?¡± ¡°¡­?¡± Junghyun was climbing up the rope at a fast speed, grabbing it chupchapchap. He was much faster than Woojoo. ¡°How did he do that?¡± Everyone¡¯s eyes turned to the Special Forces soldier who had pointed out his bad posture. He coughed. ¡°This is an exception. He¡¯s going up with just his arm strength¡­ No, how did he do that?¡± Woojoo could read his bewildered expression behind his sunsses. He just smiled and said, ¡®Our kid is strong, right?¡¯ The Men Go members and the production staff had their mouths wide open. ¡°¡­Is that possible?¡± ¡°He¡¯s faster than a cockroach climbing a wall.¡± ¡°And he¡¯s not even using any tricks like in space¡­ He¡¯s doing it with his strength.¡± Even the Special Forces soldiers were whispering to each other. Shururuk! He was their kid, who came down the rope like Tarzan. It seemed like a jaguar or a gori would roar ¡®King of the Jungle¡¯ behind him. When Woojoo was making background music that suited the scene in his head. ¡°Trainee,e here for a moment.¡± ¡°No, we¡¯ll go. Don¡¯t move.¡± The Special Forces soldiers stuck to Junghyun and grabbed his arm. They looked like scientists who had discovered a new species. ¡°No, he¡¯s so skinny¡­¡± ¡°How can he have this much strength in this body? It doesn¡¯t make sense.¡± ¡°His bones are thick, but how? He shouldn¡¯t be able to do this with this amount of muscle mass.¡± They seemed interested in how he could have such strength in a skinny idol¡¯s body. It was a mystery that Woojoo had been curious about since before. ¡°Trainee.¡± The senior officer grabbed Junghyun¡¯s shoulder. ¡°Trainee number nine, Kim Junghyun.¡± ¡°You¡¯re going to the hospital for a thorough examination.¡± ¡°¡­Hospital?¡± Junghyun¡¯s pupils shook. ¡°Did I¡­ do something wrong?¡± The Special Forces soldiers trembled their cheeks at his worried expression. They held back theirughter and said. They said he should check it out because his muscle fibers or muscle quality seemed to be outstanding. ¡°If his muscle quality is this good, he should be an athlete¡­¡± ¡°The sports world lost a talent.¡± That was their reaction when they saw Junghyun¡¯s body. ¡°Thank you.¡± He smiled happily as he received thepliment, then quickly came over and sat down next to Woojoo. ¡°Did you have fun?¡± ¡°Yes. I want to do it again.¡± Woojoo smiled at his sincere expression of enjoyment. He felt it every time he saw him, but their kid was really blessed by the god of entertainment. He could get so much airtime with just one rope-climbing. ¡°Any more applicants?¡± One sess after another. It must have looked easy and fun, because even Jo Sohyung, who was sweating coldly with a pale face, raised his hand. ¡°Number seven,e out.¡± ¡°Yes!¡± ¡°You have a good body. Your muscles are well-developed.¡± ¡°Thank you!¡± Hanjo stood calmly in front of the rope. ¡°Okay, climb up here. Trainee.¡± Hanjo grabbed the rope and climbed up. He had watched the demonstration carefully, and his movement was quite urate. ¡°Stay still in that position.¡± ¡°¡­?¡± ¡°Okay, I¡¯ll show you a sample case.¡± The instructor pointed out the points of his posture as he touched Hanjo¡¯s body. Woojoo held back hisughter all the while. Hanjo, who was still on the rope, started to twitch as time passed. ¡°Okay, then, trainee! Keep going up like this!¡± ¡°Go!¡± With a spirited shout, Hanjo grabbed the rope and climbed up¡­ Slurp. ¡°¡­?¡± Thud. Hanjonded on the floor and blinked his eyes, and everyone burst intoughter. He was flustered and climbed up again. He slid down the rope like a drop of water following a straw. Slurp. Everyoneughed at his ¡®huh?¡¯ expression. ¡°¡­You had balloon muscles.¡± ¡°Here, it¡¯s the opposite of efficiency.¡± The Special Forces murmured, and theughter grew louder. ¡°Number seven.¡± ¡°Yes?¡± ¡°You did well. Go back in.¡± ¡°I can¡­¡± ¡°Okay, next applicant, please!¡± Hanjo came back with tears in his eyes. Then he coughed and said to Woojoo, who was giggling, ¡°At least I got some airtime.¡± But as soon as he said that, the cast of Men Go started to show their true entertainment skills. ¡°Aaaah!¡± ¡°The rope is too slippery!¡± ¡°There¡¯s something wrong with this rope!¡± They made themugh with their bodies. Pro broadcasters were different indeed. Only Park Hobum, who had the concept of an A-ss soldier, climbed up to the top gracefully, while the rest couldn¡¯t even make it halfway. Even Jo Sohyung, who had poor stamina, had acrophobia on top of that, and he was tormenting the instructors. ¡°I can¡¯te down!¡± ¡°Are you kidding me? Why can¡¯t youe down?¡± ¡°I don¡¯t know! How do I do this!¡± He panicked and spoke in his real ent, and the Special Forces rubbed their foreheads. ¡°Why are you scared of a three-meter height?¡± ¡°I don¡¯t know! I¡¯m scared!¡± Finally, Junghyun and Woojoo stepped forward and said they would catch him from below, and he came down trembling. Then he started to run around the field under the scorching eyes of the instructors. Meanwhile, Hanjo had a nk expression on his face. ¡°¡­I guess I¡¯ll be edited out.¡± ¡°It¡¯s okay. You can do it.¡± Junghyun and Woojooforted him, saying that he would have more embarrassing opportunities ahead. Lunchtime. ¡°Food¡¯s ready!¡± ¡°Food!¡± ¡°Thank you, we¡¯ll eat well!¡± The cast members gathered in the cafeteria had the happiest expressions in the world. Kimchi fried rice and crispy fried eggs. It was delicious, not only because the training was hard, but also objectively. ¡°It¡¯s really good.¡± ¡°Maybe it¡¯s because we worked hard in the morning. The rice goes down so smoothly.¡± ¡°It¡¯s the taste of society that you can¡¯t feel in the army.¡± It was a warm and friendly atmosphere. ¡°Our guests are eating well too.¡± They looked at them with a friendly gaze, perhaps because of the sense of camaraderie from rolling together. The eldest brother, Lee Pilseung, smiled kindly. ¡°Junghyun, is it good?¡± ¡°Uh, yeah, hahoho. Ahahaha.¡± ¡°He¡¯s so happy. Because it¡¯s delicious.¡± The cast membersughed at Woojoo¡¯s interpretation. Then they turned the topic of conversation to them. ¡°Woojoo, you¡¯re really good. How do you do everything well?¡± ¡°Are you an administrative soldier? You¡¯re good at showing PT demonstrations. And when you climbed the rope, you made it look easy.¡± ¡°It was harder than it looked.¡± ¡°Really. How did you do that, Junghyun?¡± ¡°Let¡¯s go to the hospital after the recording. I¡¯m so curious. How do you have such strength in an idol body?¡± The members who were interested in Junghyun called the PD who was eating nearby. ¡°PD Do!¡± ¡°Yes?¡± ¡°After this special recording, take Junghyun to get a check-up.¡± ¡°Yes, I¡¯ll consider it.¡± Junghyun looked worried and said, ¡®The hospital is scary.¡¯ While the old men wereughing and teasing him about his ck history with the arrow target. The schedule for the training was distributed. ¡°They¡¯ll give us ck uniforms for dinner.¡± ¡°ck uniforms?¡± ¡°The ck clothes that the Special Forces wear. They¡¯ll distribute them ording to your size.¡± ¡°Wow¡­¡± The faces of all the men sitting down sparkled with romance. They could wear the clothes that they only saw in Jiho¡¯s shooting games or in movies and dramas. As they were excited, Park Hobum narrowed his eyes and looked at the schedule. ¡°Did you see that there¡¯s a rappelling training this afternoon?¡± ¡°Ah¡­¡± ¡°Hobum, you¡¯re good at breaking the mood.¡± At his words, they all looked at the schedule and sighed. A series of tough schedules that looked hard at a nce. Then they all nced at Woojoo at the same time, as if they had the same thought. Woojoo put down the spoon he was eating egg soup with and asked, ¡°Why are you looking at me?¡± ¡°You¡¯ll have a hard time. Woojoo.¡± ¡°Me?¡± They all nodded. ¡°When I saw the Special Forces earlier, their eyes were dripping with honey. They said they¡¯d make you do it eight times if there was only a demonstration.¡± ¡°Eight times, eight times, they sang it so much that my ears got scabs.¡± ¡°Woojoo, hang in there.¡± Woojoo shook his head and smiled. ¡°No, they¡¯re just being nice to me, it¡¯s not that much¡­¡± As he was answering, he stopped talking and quickly wiped his mouth and got up, seeing the opposite side. When they turned their bodies, the Special Forces wereing. Maybe it was because they took off their sunsses and scarves. They all had gentle and clear faces, except for their lean bodies and rough skin. ¡°Sit down. Sit.¡± At the words of the middle-aged Go Kwangsoon, they sat down one by one. ¡°How is it? Is the food good?¡± ¡°Yes!¡± ¡°This is the best cafeteria in Incheon among the police cafeterias. Haha!¡± ¡°Hahaha!¡± They exchanged warmughter. ¡°Did you see the rappelling training in the afternoon?¡± ¡°Yes!¡± ¡°Be careful not to get injured. If you have acrophobia¡­ You can sit this one out, Trainee Jo. I saw you earlier.¡± ¡°Y-yes¡­¡± ¡°Then I¡¯ll assume there¡¯s no one else. Oh, number eight?¡± ¡°Yes?¡± A thick hand tapped Woojoo¡¯s shoulder. ¡°Let¡¯s see you againter. We¡¯ll teach you a lot of fun things.¡± ¡°¡­¡± ¡°We have a lot to show you.¡± The other agents also smiled contentedly at him and moved to get their tes. ¡°¡­¡± Woojoo¡¯s face reflected in the egg soup looked very sad. The members of Men Go gave him their share of yogurt, saying he looked pitiful. ¡°Eat this and cheer up.¡± ¡°Thank you¡­¡± Junghyun, who was looking around, also offered him a yogurt. ¡°Hyung.¡± ¡°Thanks, Junghyun.¡± ¡°Yes¡­?¡± ¡°¡­?¡± Their eyes met in midair. ¡°¡­You weren¡¯t giving it to me?¡± ¡°No. I asked you to peel it for me because I cut my nails too short.¡± ¡°¡­¡± Everyone burst intoughter, and Hanjo, who was sitting on Woojoo¡¯s left, handed him a yogurt. ¡°Here you go.¡± ¡°Thank you. You¡¯re the best, Hanjo¡­¡± ¡°Peel mine too, please.¡± ¡°¡­¡± Hanjo grinned mischievously. The camera director and the castughed as Woojoo closed his eyes slightly. The scene showed the cast moving to the rappelling training site after lunch. The building next to the barracks they finally arrived at. As they all crouched on the ground, the instructor began to exin. Instructor: Rappelling training is when you descend from a building wall or a cliff with a single rope, like this. The video showed a detailed exnation. Footage of descending from a helicopter or infiltrating a balcony from a high-rise apartment wall. They all nodded at the exnation that it was a necessary skill for entering in case of a terrorist holding a hostage or a fire. Instructor: Now, let¡¯s watch the assistant¡¯s demonstration. Lee Jeongah, a senior officer who was on the roof, jumped off the building with a shout of ¡®Descent!¡¯. They all apuded as she descended with a precise posture. At the same time, the faces of the regr members who looked anxious as if saying ¡®Do we have to do that?¡¯ passed by. A screen of an interview with a man with a shaved head and a gentle expression. Min Taewon: I always say that everything depends on your mindset. Writer: You did. Min Taewon: Rappelling is an exception. Writer: (Laughter) Scenes of the members struggling with rappelling training in the past army episode. Lee Pilseung: It was pitch ck in front of me. Except for Hobeom, we were all scared of rappelling¡­ That¡¯s about 15 meters, right? It¡¯s no joke. Your legs will shake even if you don¡¯t have acrophobia. Writer: They say it¡¯s the height that humans feel the most fear. Lee Pilseung: Yes. So I was really worried about rappelling¡­ Fortunately. He smiled happily. Lee Pilseung: We had Trainee Woojoo. The screen switched again. The cast screamed as they descended from a four-story building with a rope. Some were praised and some were scolded for their dangerous posture. There was a person who caught the attention of the instructors. -Number eight! -Trainee number eight! Come here! -Number eight! The scene of the Special Forces agents calling Woojoo eagerly was edited and flowed. Woojoo came down the rope with a perfect posture. He was clearly scared of the height before descending, screaming ¡®Ahh!¡¯, but as soon as he jumped off, his posture became wless. Every time he came down the rope, the corners of the Special Forces¡¯ mouths twitched under their sunsses. The voice of Sergeant Go Kwangsoon sounded like a narration. Sergeant Go: Well, he didn¡¯t show it at the time¡­ but our Woojoo is an honorary member of the Tactical Team 1. PD: Honorary member? Sergeant Go: His posture was really pretty. Aww. He said it was his first time, but I couldn¡¯t do that when I was in the Special Forces. PD: That¡¯s amazing. Sergeant Go: Amazing, right? So I got excited and wanted to teach him one more thing. Hahaha! Then the scene of Woojoo suffering followed. He was clearly being adored by the Special Forces, but every time he learned a new move, he looked like he was dying. He reproduced the beginning and the end of rappelling with his body. At the end, he came down upside down holding the rope like Spider-Man, and everyone stuck out their tongues and admired him. Woojoo: Was it hard? On the interview screen, Woojoo smiled in a ck suit. With somewhat moist eyes. Woojoo: Well, it was great. They were trying to teach me one more thing. When can I have this kind of experience? Hahaha¡­ When theizens ran the facial analyzerter, it was a miserable smile with 99 percent sadness. Woojoo: Thanks to them, I had a chance to reflect on myself. Writer: Reflect on yourself? A break time during rappelling training. ¡°Good job.¡± ¡°Woojoo had a hard time.¡± ¡°Aww, this makes us feel so bad. But thanks to him, we had a good rest¡­¡± They were all smiling. These people. But he thanked them for giving him a brief massage. ¡°Ahh¡­¡± Woojooy down on the sand and looked at the sky that was slowly turning red. Why did it look so different from the sky he saw yesterday? He wanted to hear the voices of his grandmother and siblings. ¡°Ugh, I¡¯m dying¡­¡± It wasn¡¯t that his body was terribly tired. He could handle it physically, but the problem was that the Special Forces poured their attention on him. ¡®Number 8! Let¡¯s try this one more time.¡¯ ¡®Just this one more time.¡¯ ¡®Good job. Right!¡¯ They weed him like a new member who had been waiting for a long time in the club, and he was miserable. ¡°¡­Are you okay?¡± Woojoo¡¯s calm face was dark in the backlight. Hanjo looked down at him with a worried voice. ¡°Ouch¡­ You look so tired.¡± ¡°You¡¯re wrong if you think I can¡¯t see you smiling because of the backlight.¡± ¡°You caught me.¡± Hanjo grinned and reached out to lift Woojoo up. Nearby, Junghyun, who was carrying the luggage with the staff, came over and dusted off the sand on his uniform. While the production team was preparing for the night shooting, the three of them headed to the bathroom, shivering. ¡°I¡¯m so miserable.¡± Woojoo whispered as ifining, ¡°I don¡¯t think I can do it, but they keep smiling and asking if it¡¯s fun. I think this is enough, but they say it¡¯s just the beginning. Even the concert encore wouldn¡¯t be like this.¡± ¡°¡­¡± ¡°Why are you looking at me like that?¡± The two of them ¡®hmm¡¯ and looked at each other. ¡°He doesn¡¯t seem to know, does he?¡± ¡°It seems so.¡± ¡°¡­Is this karma?¡± ¡°You have to be pushed to the edge to know, they say.¡± ¡°Isn¡¯t that empathy?¡± ¡°No, it¡¯s not? Jiho told me that for sure.¡± Woojoo interrupted the conversation they were having. ¡°What don¡¯t I know?¡± ¡°Nothing.¡± They mumbled. They pushed him to go to the bathroom when he kept digging. Woojoo turned on the faucet and looked at the mirror. An aged face that had aged a day stared back at him. ¡°Hahaha.¡± Tears blurred his vision. You¡¯ve worked so hard today, Woojoo. Heforted himself. Wait a minute. ¡°¡­Huh?¡± Something was off, so he wiped the foggy mirror with water. A haggard face appeared in the clear mirror. Where had he seen this expression before? Slumped shoulders, dark circles that reached his chin, lips that looked parched and listless. Someone¡¯s face came to mind. ¡®¡­Composer Na Sangyoon?¡¯ No. It was an expression he had seen for much longer. ¡°Huhhh¡­!¡± Woojoo opened his eyes wide and covered his mouth with his hand. ¡®A&R Team!?¡¯ Every time he worked in the studio, the A&R Team members¡¯ faces were reflected on theptop screen. They looked just like this. They would nod off and then look at his face with the same expression and say, ¡®Woojoo, are you done?¡¯ Woojoo thought they were tired because they were office workers. ¡°¡­!¡± As the realization hit him like a tsunami, he saw another face behind the A&R Team¡¯s faces that passed over the mirror. It was a handsome man with a Goofy-like expression. ¡®¡­Director Jo?¡¯ In January this year. When they stayed at Director Jo¡¯s house, Woojoo saw that expression on his face. And now it was on his. ¡®What the hell.¡¯ ¡­Was he the Dooly that Director Jo was talking about? As he stared nkly at the mirror in shock, he heard Junghyun snoring loudly. Chapter 275: Trantor: MarcTempest Editor: Rxel Chapter 275 Lemon Entertainment. In the basement practice room, three idols were sitting anxiously. ¡°When will they call?¡± ¡°I know, right? It¡¯s about time they should.¡± Bijoo looked at his phone. He was expecting a video call from Woojoo and Junghyun soon. He had heard that the production team would give them some time to talk. ¡°They¡¯ll call, right? They have to¡­¡±Five minutes. Ten minutes. As time passed, their faces grew more worried. ¡®Well, they¡¯ll call eventually,¡¯ thought Rihyuk, swallowing his dry saliva. ¡°What¡¯s going on? Why haven¡¯t they called yet? It¡¯s been ten minutes past the promised time.¡± ¡°I wonder¡­ Is something wrong?¡± ¡°Should we check if there¡¯s anything wrong at the airport?¡± He quickly grabbed his tablet PC and searched diligently, but all he could find was news rted to vacationers. ¡®Did something happen during the filming?¡¯ ¡®I¡¯m worried.¡¯ ¡®Woojoo Hyung¡­¡¯ All kinds of imaginations shed through their minds. Woojoo arriving at the Antarctic Sejong Science Station and curling up in the cold. Woojoo copsing after working hard with the medical team to eradicate mria. Woojoo losing a fight against some foreign elementary school kids. But those grim imaginations were soon shattered. ¡®Woohoo!¡¯ ¡­by Kim Junghyun, who barged into their imaginations. No matter what they imagined, no matter what crisis they drew, Junghyun came and crushed them all. Bijoo, who realized who Woojoo was with, smiled brightly. ¡°I suddenly feel less worried. Guys.¡± ¡°Me too.¡± ¡°Me too. I feel relieved. Since we¡¯re talking about it, should we have some steak for dinner?¡± Theyughed and said, ¡®The filming must be dyed,¡¯ in a cheerful atmosphere. Ziiing- The phone vibrated and the words ¡®Woojoo Hyung¡î¡¯ popped up. ¡°Woah!¡± ¡°They¡¯re calling! They¡¯re calling! Hurry up and answer.¡± ¡°Wait, wait! We need to get our cards.¡± They quickly grabbed their cards and set the phone on a stand, then pressed the call button. ¡°Ta-da!¡± They waved their cards, saying ¡®Wow!¡¯ -¡­ But there was no answer from the other side of the screen. They even danced enthusiastically, but there was hardly any reaction. They looked at the phone. ¡°Mommy¡­?¡± Jiho covered his mouth with his hand. ¡°Woojoo Hyung? Is that you?¡± -¡­He-hello. A slightly breathless voice. There was a person who looked very old on the screen. He looked like he had aged a day in a day. Bijoo quickly picked up the phone and brought it close to his face. ¡°Hyung! What¡¯s wrong? What happened?¡± ¡°Me too! Me too! Are you okay? Who are you? Who did this to you?¡± -Well. Guys. Woojoo smiled, rubbing his cheekbones. -Your voices are too loud¡­ ¡°Huh.¡± They whispered. ¡°Did we do it?¡± -Just talk normally. ¡°Where¡¯s Junghyun, Hyung?¡± -Junghyun¡¯s here. The phone screen turned and showed Junghyun massaging Woojoo¡¯s legs on the floor of the inner room. Junghyun waved his hand with a warm smile. -Hi. He looked very healthy. Well, of course, they thought, and looked at Woojoo¡¯s face that filled the screen again. ¡°What¡¯s going on? Where are you, Hyung?¡± -Police Special Forces. ¡°¡­¡± -It wasn¡¯t really like the army. In many ways. Woojoo continued to exin what had happened to him since he transferred to the Special Forces unit. ¡°Wow¡­¡± ¡°I know. I told you not to stand out. If you do too much, Junghyun Hyung will get noticed and they will make it harder for him.¡± ¡°Stop nagging, Hyung. Don¡¯t you see the wrinkles on your forehead? You aged more in one day!¡± -Are you on my side or not? You hit me and then¡­ Jiho¡­ ¡°I¡¯m always on your side, Hyung.¡± -Yeah, right. You¡¯re more like a useless brother than a helpful one. ¡°Ah. Hyung!¡± He chuckled. They were worried when they saw his tired face, but he looked good when he smiled. They could tell the difference between his fake smile when he was really struggling and his genuine smile when he was feeling better. Woojoo¡¯s face, which had been stiff, also bloomed with a smile. They chatted excitedly. ¡°Yeah, yeah, Hanjo-ssi fell down while climbing the rope. Tell the Street Boyster. Ask them to make fun of him.¡± ¡°Just trust me.¡± ¡°And Junghyun-ah. Tell me about your muscles.¡± They allughed at the ¡®get a thorough check-up¡¯ joke that happened during the rope climbing. ¡®He really got a lot of attention.¡¯ As expected, he had been in the spotlight since the first day. And there was something that made the youngest¡¯s eyes sparkle. ¡°¡­What? Clothes? You get to wear the Special Forces uniform?¡± -Yeah, they¡¯ll give us someter. Jealous? ¡°Woah!¡± -Jealous? ¡°Woah! Of course! That¡¯s so cool¡­ You mean the ck uniform, right?¡± The youngest begged Woojoo to let him try it on when they got back to the dorm. Woojoo told him to listen to the Hyungs who were there. ¡°I¡¯ll listen well.¡± -I know you won¡¯t, but it¡¯s nice to hear. -Yeah. Woojoo and Junghyun smiled at the youngest. They alsoughed happily, and Junghyun gave Woojoo a massage from behind. -By the way, guys. I realized something important today. ¡°Something important?¡± -I¡¯m sorry¡­ Sorry? ¡°What are you sorry for? Which one?¡± -Junghyun-ah. Drag him¡­ Oh, I can¡¯t drag him. His handler is here. Woojoo said seriously. -I realized something important today. I didn¡¯t appreciate how hard you guys worked. The A&R Team, Composer Na Sangyoon-nim, our Director Jo¡­ Who was Director Jo? -I really had a big epiphany. It wasn¡¯t enough for me to have fun. Everyone should have fun. They kind of understood what he meant, but they had no idea why he suddenly said that. -Bear with my mistakes. Beep. ¡°¡­?¡± The call ended. ¡°Bear with his mistakes?¡± ¡°Bear? Repent?¡± ¡°Bearbearbear?¡± They tried calling again, but they only heard a message that the phone was off. The scheduled call time was over. They looked at their phones with regret. ¡°What¡¯s going on in there?¡± ¡°It¡¯s weird. He apologized out of nowhere.¡± ¡°Woojoo Hyung apologizes all the time.¡± ¡°But it¡¯s always a soulless apology. He was sincere this time.¡± ¡°Oh¡­ You¡¯re right. Wow. Our Rihyuk is sharp~¡± Bijoo looked at his brothers bickering with a worried expression. ¡®What is it?¡¯ He thought hard, but he only remembered him rambling with a sad face. Something about Dooly. He couldn¡¯t figure it out, so he decided to go back to his usual routine. ¡°Guys. Let¡¯s practice.¡± ¡°Ugh¡­¡± He dragged his reluctant siblings up and made a resolution in his mind. ¡®Woojoo Hyung and Junghyun are having a hard time¡­ I can¡¯t just rx here.¡¯ He thought they should all suffer equally if it was hard, and Bijoo smiled brightly. Woojoo would have admired his military mindset. Woojoo ended the call with regret. He wanted to wrap things up, but the recording time was dyed and the schedule was tight. After the rappel training. He entered the dormitory where the police officers of the Special Forces lived and unpacked his luggage. ¡°Ugh¡­¡± Then he showered with warm water and felt like nothing could be sweeter. Maybe it was the refreshing feeling after intense exercise. The expressions on their faces as they dried their hair were all simr. ¡°I feel alive after washing.¡± ¡°Wow, you guys looked like dust monsters before, but now you look like humans.¡± ¡°I want to drink some sweet rice drink at the bathhouse.¡± They sat on the wooden tforms on both sides of the dormitory, facing each other and chatting. The atmosphere was friendly andfortable thanks to the end of today¡¯s training. Except for a few main cameras, most of them were observation cameras, so there was less pressure. They were sitting in short-sleeved shirts and pants with police marks on them. ¡°Hello.¡± Two men in ck suits entered the dormitory with a deep voice. They had rough and awkward faces. They were police officers of the Special Forces. ¡°Oh¡­¡± ¡°Are you the senior police officers here? Wow, hello.¡± As in the military entertainment shows, they all got up and greeted them, but they looked embarrassed. Well, it would be ufortable for the 20s to say ¡®hello¡¯ to the 30s and 40s. Usually in the shows, when the seniors came in, they would say ¡®Don¡¯t you greet properly when the seniorse in?¡¯ and then they would stare at each other with frozen eyes. Maybe it was because they were police officers, but the atmosphere was different. ¡°You don¡¯t have to be so stiff. This is not a ce where you have to be so strict.¡± ¡°Oh. Is that so?¡± Lee Pilseung, the eldest brother who was 49 years old, smiled. ¡°But what about the others besides you two?¡± ¡°Oh, we¡¯re the only ones here.¡± ¡°¡­?¡± ¡°There¡¯s not much for the police officers to do in the Special Forces. We¡¯re the only ones using this dormitory.¡± Oh. That was interesting. As they listened attentively, the other members started to ask questions. ¡°What do you do here?¡± ¡°Oh, we¡¯re handlers.¡± ¡°Handlers?¡± ¡°There are explosive detection dogs in the kennel, and we¡¯re in charge of managing those dogs.¡± ¡°That¡¯s a special job!¡± They all nodded and listened. At first, the police officers were nervous in front of the camera, but they soon started to talkfortably with the veteran broadcasters. They both majored in something rted to dogs and had certificates. No wonder their clothes were covered with dog hair. ¡°Handler, that¡¯s amazing.¡± ¡°Wow. I¡¯ve been to the dog training unit before, and you¡¯re doing the same thing?¡± ¡°¡­Wait a minute. Don¡¯t we have handler training the day after tomorrow?¡± They nodded. ¡°Yes, you¡¯ll be doing it with us.¡± ¡°Oh¡­¡± ¡°Yes, thank you¡­in advance.¡± The police officers smiled awkwardly at the expectant eyes of the older men. Then Park Hobeom asked, ¡°Do you know any celebrities among these?¡± ¡°Well, we don¡¯t watch much TV¡­¡± The senior among the two police officers nced at Woojoo. Following his gaze, everyone¡¯s heads turned to Woojoo and Junghyun. ¡°Do you know our Woojoo?¡± ¡°My sister likes the group New ck.¡± ¡°Nice siblings. You know each other¡¯s hobbies.¡± As someone said, everyoneughed and Woojoo stepped forward. ¡°Thank you. How can I video call your sisterter¡­?¡± ¡°That¡¯s up to her. I¡¯ll ask her for you.¡± The military police officer joked, ¡°We¡¯re siblings in business,¡± and everyone burst intoughter. Min Taewon asked, ¡°So, our private¡­¡± ¡°Private first ss.¡± ¡°Do you also like New ck?¡± ¡°I like girl groups.¡± They pped andughed at his firm answer, as if it was obvious. He shyly smiled and said, ¡°I like them all,¡± when asked which group he liked. They bonded with the military police officer from the Special Forces while making content for the broadcast. ck. The door opened and the members of the Tactical Team 1 came in, making them all stand up. ¡°Oh, you¡¯ve been waiting for a long time.¡± Sergeant Go Kwangsoon came in with arge box in his arms. When he revealed the contents, we all gasped. ¡°ck uniforms¡­!¡± ¡°ck uniforms!¡± There were two sets of ck uniforms wrapped in stic, each with their names on them. ¡°Wow¡­¡± Under ¡®Seon Woojoo¡¯, there was ¡®Seon¡¯ written as his surname. While they were excited about the new clothes, Sergeant Go said, ¡°From the moment you put on these clothes, you be a member of the Special Forces.¡± ¡°Yes!¡± ¡°Are the clothes pretty?¡± They answered, ¡°Yes!¡± They were so thrilled that it sounded like ¡°Yay!¡± He told them to take out the clothes and try them on. When they tore the stic packaging. ¡°Huh¡­?¡± They all tilted their heads. ck. They were supposed to be slightly faded, looking like they would give them +100bat power just by wearing them. But the color was slightly different. The ck uniforms worn by the military police and the Special Forces members had a more faded look. Of course, they would get lighter with each wash, but they felt different somehow. Hanjo raised his hand. ¡°Um, the color seems a bit different.¡± ¡°Right?¡± Sergeant Go smiled. ¡°Don¡¯t worry. They¡¯ll look like ours after rolling around for a few days.¡± ¡°¡­¡± ¡°Just like a swan is beautiful because it paddles its legs under the water, a ck uniform is beautiful because of rolling.¡± They were speechless at his wise words. The two military police officers next to him nodded as if they agreed. They all teared up and started to try on the clothes. Meanwhile, Sergeant Go came up to Woojoo. ¡°Oh, Number 8. I¡¯ll see you on thest day.¡± ¡°Thest day?¡± ¡°We rotate the training. Today is Team 1, tomorrow is Team 2. And so on until Team 3¡­¡± That meant they wouldn¡¯t see them again until thest day of the four-day trip. They all brightened up when they heard that the hellish time with Team 1 was over. The Special Forces members murmured. ¡°This is bad.¡± ¡°Team 2 people are really tough. There¡¯s a guy there whose nickname is ¡®Viper¡¯.¡± ¡°Viper¡­?¡± They all flinched. ¡°He got bitten by a viper at the pic.¡± ¡°That¡¯s when he got weird.¡± They heard their relentless jokes. They said funny things with serious faces, making it hard to hold back theirughter. ¡°Anyway, Team 2 will take over the training tomorrow. I¡¯ve talked to them nicely, so don¡¯t worry too much.¡± ¡°Let¡¯s see each other on thest day.¡± They apuded each other for their hard work. When it got noisy again, Sergeant Go came up to Woojoo. ¡°Oh. I have to teach Number 8 more¡­¡± ¡°No, I learned a lot.¡± ¡°Number 8 is one of the best rookies I¡¯ve ever seen.¡± Rookie? When did he be one? ¡°You look like a nephew every time I see you. How about a hug?¡± ¡°Ye¡­yes¡­¡± Woojoo grumbled inwardly, wondering who would treat their nephew like that. But he guessed he had a soft spot for him. The instructor¡¯s embrace felt warm. Then something rustled in his pocket. It felt like a chocte wrapped in stic. ¡°Eat it by yourself~¡± He winked at him with a smug smile. Woojoo saluted him. Thank you. Uncle. As he was thinking of secretly eating it with Junghyun and Hanjoter, the Special Forces left the barracks. ¡°Come on! Let¡¯s change our clothes!¡± ¡°Woohoo!¡± Everyone was excited and changed into ck suits. They had a fashion show runway with the uncles who transformed into special agents, and posed in front of the camera. They had fun making content until bedtime, when Hanjo said with a smile, ¡°I¡¯m d.¡± ¡°What are you d about?¡± ¡°Don¡¯t you think it¡¯ll be better than today when Team 1 changes?¡± ¡°I guess so.¡± Woojooughed at Hanjo¡¯s words. It was really liberating. The next morning. Unlike the cheerful Team 1, the ¡®Viper¡¯ instructor red at the cast who gathered in the barracks with a prickly and stern atmosphere. ¡°Who¡¯s breathing loudly right now?!¡± Squeak. ¡°¡­Gasp.¡± ¡°I can¡¯t see your teeth!¡± Don¡¯tugh. Don¡¯tugh. ¡°Team 1 might have made you happy, but I won¡¯t. I¡¯m the Viper! I¡¯ll make you¡­ Who¡¯sughing right now? Go hit that pole ande back!¡± He was trying to scare them, but they all had a hard time holding back theirughter because they heard the origin of ¡®Viper¡¯ yesterday. But Woojoo soon got rid of hisughter. ¡°By the way.¡± The instructor with sunsses looked around. ¡°Who¡¯s Number 8 here?¡± ¡°¡­¡± ¡°I heard Number 8 is a PT hotspot. The trainee that Team 1 was talking about, who is it?¡± ¡°¡­Trainee Number 8, Seon Woojoo!¡± Woojoo¡¯s hand stretched out into the air trembled. ¡°I¡¯ll call youter to show how good you are.¡± ¡°¡­¡± Woojoo sighed, looking at the sky. He thought he was free, but it was a nightmare. The second day¡¯s morning started with Kubo and PT as usual. ¡°Sing a military song! A military song is arade!¡± ¡°Comrade!¡± ¡°Only the first verse!¡± ¡°The strong spirit of the nation¡­ Huh! Huh!¡± The running was so hard that the breakfast came up. But PT or whatever, the overall training intensity was much lower than Team 1¡¯s. It was really doable today. As most of the training was, the first day was the hardest and most painful and annoying and tearful and angry, but from the second day on, it was at a human level. The training content was also interesting. ¡°Now, everyone. Let¡¯s talk about the possibility and threat of terrorism that could happen in Korea.¡± Woojoo listened carefully to the lecture of the Bomb Disposal Team with a good sense of humor. After lunch, they watched the actual training of the Special Forces. ¡°Wow¡­¡± Maybe because they were filming for a terrestrial broadcasting station, they seemed to be promoting it properly. The Special Forcesmander came and watched the actual EOD (Bomb Disposal Team) training unfold in front of them. The Special Forces in protective suits carefully dismantled the explosives. Arge machine carefully picked up the explosives like a doll and put them in a round barrel. It was a container that safely detonated the explosives. Boom-! They were mesmerized by the realistic scene of sparks and smoke and the smell of gunpowder, and pped their hands. ¡°Wow¡­¡± The Instructor Viper turned his head to them. ¡°Did you hear that sound?¡± ¡°Yes!¡± ¡°What did you think when you heard it? Number 9, you.¡± He seemed to be asking about their alertness to terrorism or something like that, but their guy was different from the others. ¡°It sounded like the ratings were going up.¡± ¡°Pfft!¡± ¡°Who¡¯sughing right now? I¡¯ming for you with a stick!¡± They all ran out of breath and couldn¡¯t helpughing. It was a true statement, no matter how you thought about it. The ratings would go up. They really did. It had only been the second day, but the amount of broadcast footage and the clues that came out were not normal. Everyone felt it, even if they didn¡¯t say it out loud. ¡®This is it.¡¯ They couldn¡¯t judge hastily, but they could guess from the reactions of the Men Go members who were happy even though they were under pressure. And from the faces of the production staff that brightened up in just one day. The greatest happiness for a broadcaster was the rise of ratings. ¡°Okay, this training is CQB. Closebat training.¡± The gym used by the Special Forces. Instructor Viper boasted his muscr arms and said, ¡°When you encounter terrorists or hostage-takers in real life, you may face situations where it is difficult to use weapons due to the circumstances.¡± ¡°That¡¯s right!¡± ¡°Then what do you do in that case? Of course, you have to suppress them with hand-to-handbat.¡± ¡°Wow¡­¡± Everyone¡¯s eyes lit up as Instructor Viper showed his moves in the air. ¡°Seeing is believing, right? I¡¯ll show you a demonstration before we practice. Number 8!¡± ¡°Yes!¡± ¡°Come out and show us a demonstration with me.¡± Woojoo stood in front of him with a tense face, and the Instructor Viper smiled leisurely and said, ¡°Don¡¯t be afraid, Trainee. I will never hurt you.¡± ¡°Yes!¡± ¡°You don¡¯t have to be scared!¡± ¡°Yes.¡± ¡°From now on, you are the criminal. If you see a cop in front of you like this, what do you do?¡± ¡°I¡¯ll run away and hope for a better future!¡± ¡°Yeah. Run¡­ No!¡± Instructor Viper, who had been convinced, yelled out and everyone held back theirughter. It looked like he was going to hit them with a stick again, but there was only an iron bar in the room. Junghyun gave Woojoo a look that said, ¡®You are my brother.¡¯ Hanjo looked at them as if to say, ¡®They are brothers.¡¯ Instructor Viper bent his posture and pped his thigh and said, ¡°Okay, I¡¯m going to suppress you. Run at me with the determination of a criminal.¡± ¡°¡­Are you sure?¡± ¡°I won¡¯t hurt you.¡± ¡°¡­Yes.¡± Woojoo opened his eyes slightly as he saw his intention to show him the suppression technique. What if he ended up suppressing him? No. He was a veteran Special Forces soldier. He was on a different level from Woojoo, who had only watched YouTube videos. He would suppress him if he wanted to. ¡°What are you doing?! Are you scared?¡± ¡°No!¡± ¡°Run at me. Come on¡­!¡± Before he finished his sentence, Woojoo ran at him. He smiled with joy and said, ¡®That¡¯s it!¡¯ And that was thest smile of Instructor Viper that Woojoo remembered. Chapter 276: Trantor: MarcTempest Editor: Rxel Chapter 276 Han Byungchul, the man who became ¡®Viper¡¯ after being bitten by a snake on a pic day, smiled. ¡®Come on! Come at me!¡¯ Trainee Number 8 rushed in. His movements seemed slow, as if in slow motion, due to the adrenaline. ¡®How efficient.¡¯ He was running fast, bending his upper body like a wrestler trying to tackle.He would have been quite threatening if he didn¡¯t have the body of a thin idol. But he looked like he had a limit to his strength. Hecked muscle mass, so he thought he wouldn¡¯t hurt him even if they collided. It would feel like being hit by a ping-pong ball. He felt like it would hurt more if he were hit by Lee Jeongah, the weakest in strength among Team 1. ¡®What should I show him?¡¯ It was time to show him how to subdue a terrorist while minimizing his damage. Before he could think, his body reacted. He grabbed him and gently prepared to m him on the mat. ¡°Huahaaap!¡± He grabbed his arm, twisted it slightly, and lifted him up. ¡®He¡¯s light.¡¯ Did he weigh more than 60 kilograms? He felt amazed that a person could be so light, even with a height close to 180. He felt lighter than a six-pack of water. ¡®I did it¡­!¡¯ It was a perfect technique. He was about to smile with satisfaction. But something felt off. It was like he missed something. ¡®Oops¡­!¡¯ He looked down at his arm and saw that it was still tangled with his. ¡°¡­¡± His back had just touched the floor when his body floated in the air. He moved his center of gravity as he mmed him, but it was like he used it as a lever. Bang! His body didn¡¯t hurt at all, but his head felt numb as if he was hit by a hammer. ¡®What the hell?¡¯ It all happened in less than a second. When he came to his senses, he saw that his head was stuck between his legs. ¡°¡­?¡± He looked at him with a bewildered face, and he looked just as confused. ¡®Hey! You¡¯re not supposed to be confused!¡¯ He felt ridiculous. He felt a strange gaze. The cast of ¡®Men Go¡¯ was looking at him with a fish-eyed expression. The cameraman with a nk face. The ¡®Men Go¡¯ PD who was hugging the assistant director and screaming silently, ¡®Ratings!¡¯ from behind. ¡°¡­¡± He started to feel embarrassed. He heard someone muttering among the cast. ¡°Wow. The criminal won.¡± ¡°¡­¡± He shivered. ¡°Who are you right noooow!¡± ¡°¡­¡± ¡°Right now¡­ oh, wait. Trainee Number 8.¡± ¡°¡­¡± ¡°Trainee Number 8!¡± ¡°Yes!¡± He nced up at Woojoo, who was still choking him with his legs. He spoke to him as kindly and softly as possible. ¡°Please let go of my neck, Trainee.¡± ¡°Trainee Number 8, Seon Woojoo!¡± ¡°Have you ever learned any martial arts?¡± ¡®Please! Please say yes!¡¯ The instructor¡¯s eyes pleaded with Woojoo as he avoided his gaze and shook his head. ¡°No, I haven¡¯t.¡± ¡°Are you sure?¡± He gave Woojoo a look that said ¡®This is yourst chance. Please!¡¯ He smiled at him. ¡°Sometimes I watch YouTube and learn from there.¡± ¡°I knew it, I knew it.¡± He coughed, but his authority was shattered. The other cast members snorted and gave him doubtful looks, wondering if they could trust him. ¡°Ahem, so what kind of technique is this?¡± ¡°Well, I don¡¯t remember very well.¡± Strictly speaking, it wasn¡¯t martial arts, but a stunt. It was a scene from an action movie where the hero subdued the final boss who was much bigger than him. ¡­But it actually worked. Woojoo couldn¡¯t imitate things that were impossible in reality, like stunts that required wires or superpowers. He thought this wouldn¡¯t work either. But the action director must have done a good job of verifying the reality. ¡°Uh, um, anyway, Trainee Number 8! You can go in!¡± ¡°Yes!¡± ¡°I¡¯ll show you another demonstration.¡± Woojoo was feeling yful and tried to go back, but the instructor stopped him urgently. ¡°Not you, Trainee! I¡¯ll call someone else!¡± ¡°Yes!¡± The PD and the assistant director behind the camera chuckled and gave Woojoo a thumbs up. The instructor took a deep breath and looked around the cast. Woojoo could see his train of thought. He excluded the ones who were too old and might get hurt, and there were three young ones left. He skipped Woojoo and nced at Junghyun for a moment. Then he looked back and forth between Woojoo and Junghyun and quickly turned away. He must be a Special Forces agent. He knew that Woojoo and Junghyun were on the same team. He pointed at Hanjo. ¡°Number 7.¡± ¡°Trainee Number 7, Lee Hanjo!¡± ¡°You jump in just like Number 8 did.¡± ¡°Yes!¡± Hanjo jumped in and the instructor smoothly and swiftlyid him down on the floor. ¡°Wow¡­!¡± They pped. The instructor smiled as if to say ¡®That¡¯s how it¡¯s done!¡¯ ¡°How was that? Wasn¡¯t the instructor cool?¡± ¡°Very cool!¡± ¡°From now on, we¡¯ll do a simple self-defense and restraint technique practice in pairs of two.¡± They paired up and practiced. Hanjo was paired with the instructor because they were an odd number, and Woojoo practiced with Junghyun. ¡°Junghyun, I¡¯m going to use the technique.¡± ¡°Okay. Go ahead.¡± ¡°Here I go. Hiiiiyak¡­!¡± ¡°¡­?¡± He was supposed to fall, but he didn¡¯t. ¡°Fall down!¡± ¡°Hyung. Did you use your strength?¡± Woojoo felt a surge of emotion. ¡°¡­Not everyone can be as strong as you, Junghyun.¡± ¡°You¡¯re surprisingly weak, Hyung.¡± ¡°You¡¯re the strong one.¡± They continued the closebat training. The instructor walked around and gave them guidance. He seemed to being their way, so he tried to sync up with Junghyun. Swoosh. He slid past them like a snake. ¡°Why did he pass us?¡± ¡°I know, right?¡± ¡°Oh, he¡¯sing this time. He¡¯sing.¡± ¡°I¡¯ll get ready, Hyung.¡± They tried to match their closebat moves again. Swish. This time, he passed by faster and went to another ce, saying ¡®That¡¯s right!¡¯ Seeing him avoid them in every way, their eldest brother Lee Pilseung smiled from nearby. ¡°Instructor!¡± ¡°What is it, Trainee?¡± ¡°I¡¯m good at the basics, but I want to learn some more advanced skills.¡± ¡°Hmm¡­ That¡¯s not a bad idea.¡± The instructor said he would show them a new skill and everyone gathered around. The broadcasters quickly set the mood and whispered ¡®Take him, take him¡¯ when it was time. Instructor Viper chuckled as if he had figured out the situation. ¡°I know what you trainees are up to.¡± ¡°¡­?¡± Instructor Viper raised his hand to his waist and said to the uncle and idols with innocent expressions, ¡°Don¡¯t you want to see me fight with Trainee Number 8 again?¡± ¡°No!¡± ¡°I can tell by your eyes.¡± Everyoneughed slyly and said ¡®Yeah¡¯. Instructor Viper nodded. ¡°Good. Let¡¯s try it one more time.¡± ¡°Wow¡­!¡± ¡°Number 8,e out.¡± ¡°Yes!¡± ¡°Well, you don¡¯t have to be nervous in front of the instructor. You have a lot of experience, and you won¡¯t lose unless you suddenly use some weird skills like in an action movie.¡± What did they call this in the movies? It was like watching a scene in a war movie where someone looked at a picture of their lover and said ¡®I¡¯m going to marry you when I get back¡¯. As Woojoo warmed up, Min Taewon suggested with a rxed expression. ¡°How about a bet while we¡¯re at it¡­¡± ¡°Do you think it¡¯s funny because the instructor is smiling?¡± ¡°No!¡± ¡°Get a grip.¡± Everyone swallowed their saliva and stood still. He rxed his stern expression and looked at the camera. Of course, it would have been impossible to make such a joke if it had been real training. He took into ount that it was for the fun of the show and asked Instructor Viper, ¡°Good. But that¡¯s only if you win. What are you going to do if Trainee Number 8 loses here?¡± ¡°¡­¡± ¡°PT one hour extra.¡± ¡°Ah¡­¡± ¡°Who ¡®ah¡¯ed? It just became an hour and ten minutes.¡± ¡®How about this!¡¯ Instructor Viper, who was hot, looked at the members with a gloomy face and turned his eyes to Woojoo. ¡°Trainee.¡± ¡°Trainee Number 8, Seon Woojoo.¡± ¡°Trainee, if by any chance, you achieve some results in the confrontation with the instructor, I will judge that you won the bet.¡± ¡°Yes!¡± ¡°Well¡­ Do you want anything?¡± Woojoo nced at the members around him. He quickly thought of what they would like. ¡°Then a little break¡­¡± ¡°No break. You came here to train, didn¡¯t you?¡± ¡°Then I want to eat some cool ice cream.¡± Everyone said ¡®Oh¡¯ and reacted as if that was it. It was probably because they had been rolling around in the hot weather, and they didn¡¯t have much chance to eat something sweet and cool. Instructor Viper snickered. ¡°That¡¯s not too hard. Well, if the trainee wins the bet¡­ I¡¯ll buy the production staff ice cream too.¡± ¡°¡­!¡± The production staff behind the camera started cheering ¡®Seon Woojoo! Seon Woojoo!¡¯ ¡°Well, no need for long talk.¡± Instructor Viper, who had distanced himself from Woojoo, scratched the floor with his foot. Then he snapped his fingers with a scary expression as if he was going to overpower him. ¡°Let¡¯s try to overpower the instructor. Trainee.¡± Police Special Forces cafeteria. Han Byungchul, aka Instructor ¡®Viper¡¯, was looking at his wallet with a sullen face. Viper: Sigh¡­ Meanwhile, the trainees were busy rummaging through the ice cream section of the cafeteria. Faces full of enthusiasm. The drill instructor yelled at the top of his lungs. Instructor: Who bought this 2,500 won ice cream? Put it down! Junghyun: (Sulking) Instructor: Why can¡¯t you just buy one Twin Bar each and share it, huh? Everyone: ughing) He screamed desperately, but no one was afraid of him. His fierceness during training was gone, and the trainees ignored him as he became gloomy in a corner. His expression after returning to society from the Special Forces. Production team: Are you short of money? Instructor: (tears) Production Team: Then we¡¯ll get you something cheap. Now even the production team joined them in rummaging through the ice cream. The drill instructor shivered as he looked at the sky. While everyone was distracted and raiding the freezer, Woojoo quietly approached him. Instructor: What is it? Woojoo: (Mouthing ¡°be quiet¡±) Instructor: ? Woojoo carefully took out his card from his pocket and handed it to the drill instructor. Instructor: This¡­? Woojoo: Let¡¯s split it half and half. Sir. Instructor: (touched) As if nothing had happened, Woojoo went back to picking ice cream diligently, while the drill instructor felt a lump in his throat as he held the card. He forgot who made him this way. A momentter. Lee Pilseung: Woojoo, thanks! Park Hobeom: I¡¯ll enjoy it. Woojoo: Bon appetit! The scene of the members leisurely savoring their ice cream was like an homage to the movie where the prisoners drank cold beer on the roof. And then. The screen changed and the drill instructor in ck suit smiled in the studio. Instructor: I joined New ck¡¯s fan club that day. Writer: ughter) Instructor: Why are youughing? It¡¯s true. He showed his phone screen with the ¡®regr member¡¯ mark, which he had upgraded himself, and the production team burst intoughter. His nickname was ¡®Choe Kangincheon Drill Instructor¡¯. After the second day of training with ice cream. They started the real practice on the third day. It was time to test what they had learned so far. The Tactical Team 3 guided them. ¡°¡­¡± A door that opened like in a ssroom, with a handle on both sides. In front of it, they wore ck suits with bulletproof vests, and empty guns. Everyone wore masks and helmets, so they couldn¡¯t see their faces, but they were tense. It was time to check the results of their training. -Bring me the money! The role of the hostage-taker was the drill instructor from Team 2, who had nothing to do. He shouted and caused a ruckus in the ssroom. The setting was that he had taken the students hostage, but instead of students, there were drawing boards. The squad leader, the eldest Lee Pilseung, spoke into the radio. ¡°One hostage-taker confirmed inside the ssroom. He seems mentally unstable. Infiltration team on standby.¡± Soon the radio came back. -Enter. With the permission of the Special Forcesmander, Lee Pilseung looked at them, and they all nodded. Then he raised his hand with a ck glove. He spread his five fingers and folded them one by one, like a countdown. ¡°¡­Police!¡± It was a bit clumsy because they were amateurs, but they sessfully subdued the hostage-taker. ¡°Clear!¡± ¡°Clear!¡± The scene of them securing their positions and shouting ¡®clear¡¯ after taking over the main points was captured by the camera. The Special Forces member from the Tactical Team 3, who was the supervisor, gave them the score. ¡°Infiltration team. Well done.¡± ¡°Thank you!¡± ¡°There are a few things that need improvement. If you enter like you just did, you¡¯re practically asking the hostage-taker to shoot you. When you enter, the most important thing is¡­¡± He gave them some feedback, but not too harshly. He seemed to be impressed by how much they had changed in just three days. ¡°Phew¡­¡± They all took off their helmets and masks, and their hair was soaked as if they had dipped it in water. Min Taewon proudly showed off his red head andughed. ¡°Wow, the Special Forces are not called special for nothing.¡± Woojoo said as he went down the stairs with his helmet on his side, ¡°At first, I was happy to wear cool equipment. But running with this on is really¡­¡± ¡°Me too. I felt like I couldn¡¯t breathe.¡± Everyone nodded at Hanjo¡¯s words. They wore bulletproof vests that weighed over 6kg on top of their ck uniforms, and masks and helmets on top of that. It was hard to breathe even if they moved one step. Fortunately, the guns they carried were lighter than the K2 rifles used by the military. The magazines were empty, but¡­ Even Junghyun wiped the sweat from his neck. ¡°I asked earlier, and they said the equipment weighs almost 20kg when they go out for real incidents.¡± ¡°Phew¡­¡± ¡°20kg? This is already killing me. How do they run with that?¡± Everyone stuck out their tongues. It was a unit where Special Forces veterans came in, so the training was hellish. And if real equipment and variables like terrorists or hostage situations were added¡­ ¡°¡­¡± They had a moment of gratitude for the Special Forces who worked hard every night so they could sleep peacefully. After finishing the morning training. In the afternoon, they had a training that they could enjoy watching. ¡°Hello.¡± The police officers greeted them in front of the training ground. ¡°Wow¡­!¡± ¡°Wow. They look so majestic.¡± ¡°Look at their eyes. They¡¯re so bright.¡± They admired the animals that the police officers held by the leash. Fluffy fur. Pointy snout. A huge body as big as an elementary school student. Two German shepherds were sticking out their tongues and panting. Everyone showed great interest in their cute appearance. ¡°What¡¯s your name?¡± ¡°What do you mean, what¡¯s your name, Hyung? He might have a higher rank than you.¡± ¡°Is that so? Sir?¡± Someone¡¯s joke made themugh for a moment. They didn¡¯t touch the police dogs directly, but just admired them and said ¡®cute¡¯. When a burly man in his 40s appeared, they all stood up straight. He was the head of the Detection Unit that handled the explosive detection dogs. ¡°These guys are first of all.¡± His sharp eyes scanned us all. ¡°They are not dogs.¡± No? ¡°Then¡­¡± ¡°They are canines.¡± ¡°¡­¡± ¡°They are canines, not dogs.¡± Someone who muttered ¡®dog canine?¡¯ ran to get a stick. The head of the Detection Unit said, ¡°They are not dogs, because they have a special purpose. These guys are explosive detection canines, and they perform missions at major facilities like airports or important events.¡± ¡°Canines¡­?¡± ¡°That¡¯s right.¡± He had a strangely addictive way of speaking. He introduced the canines. ¡°These two are both males, and the one on the left is Jeongbok.¡± ¡°Jeongbok.¡± ¡°The one on the right is Jigu.¡± ¡°Jigu.¡± Everyone nodded and reacted that their names were cute. The head of the Detection Unit said with a grim face. ¡°There used to be Manse too, but he went ahead.¡± They all stopped breathing. ¡°I adopted him after I retired.¡± ¡°¡­¡± ¡°He eats so well that his food costs more than my daughter¡¯s tuition.¡± They were shocked. As everyone sighed in relief, the police officers behind the leader nodded as if they were familiar with his way of speaking. ¡°Basically, detecting explosives is a job for humans, but it¡¯s a game for them.¡± He exined the basic principle of the detection dogs. There were several cans, and one of them contained explosives. If they found the explosives, they were trained to sit there. Then the person would reward them for doing a good job. ¡°That¡¯s why it¡¯s important to y with them well while training. It¡¯s like ying with a person for them.¡± He called the officers to show a demonstration. Soon, the training began. When the detection dog found the explosives in the can and sat there panting, the person said, ¡®Good job! Good job! Kiyahoo!¡¯ ¡°They don¡¯t understand human words. That¡¯s why you have to raise your voice tone like that so they know it¡¯s apliment.¡± The shepherd was excited by the officer¡¯s shout of ¡®Kiyahoo!¡¯ and ran around. ¡°Don¡¯tugh. You¡¯ll do itter too.¡± ¡°¡­¡± After they apuded the officers for their hot performance. They decided to try a simple disc throwing first. When he said to bring out the person who was best at physical activities, Woojoo was automatically pushed forward. The shepherd ¡®Jeongbok¡¯ looked at the disc in Woojoo¡¯s hand with sparkling eyes. ¡°Throw it. He likes it.¡± ¡°Yes!¡± Woojoo took a stance and threw the disc with a whoosh! The leader, who had been grumpy, had a glint in his eyes as he watched the disc fly smoothly. Woof! The shepherd ran like crazy and everyone said ¡®Wow¡¯ as they followed the disc¡¯s trajectory. Screech! The disc rotated counterclockwise and the shepherd stopped abruptly. ¡°It¡¯sing back¡­¡± ¡°What? Is it a boomerang?¡± ¡°The dog is flustered, right?¡± The disc Woojoo threw wasing back to him. Without knowing what to do, he reached out his hand to the disc that wasing back with a whoosh! and it wrapped around his right hand. As he stopped with his hand outstretched, the air around him also stopped. ¡°¡­¡± As Woojoo rolled his eyes to look around, everyone burst intoughter. Only the shepherd in front of him looked up at him and tilted his head. It was like he was saying ¡®What? What is it?¡¯ As everyoneughed uproariously, the leader smiled kindly and patted Woojoo¡¯s shoulder. ¡°Let¡¯s go.¡± Theughter of the people grew louder. Chapter 277: Trantor: MarcTempest Editor: Rxel Chapter 277 After Woojoo came back awkwardly, the others also tried their hand at disc throwing. ¡°Wow¡­!¡± Every time they threw a disc, the dogs ran after it and came back with it in their mouths. ¡®I¡¯m pretty good at disc throwing, huh?¡¯ The cast members were pleased with themselves, but the search team leader said to them, ¡°Don¡¯t be so proud.¡± ¡°¡­¡± ¡°It¡¯s not you who are good, it¡¯s the dogs. They catch everything, no matter how badly you throw it.¡±Then he looked at Woojoo and shook his head. ¡°As long as it¡¯s not a boomerang.¡± ¡°¡­¡± The others chuckled at his diss. Especially Hanjo, who looked ecstatic. When Woojoo rolled his eyes, the Detection Team leader called out to Junghyun. ¡°Try throwing Number 9.¡± ¡°Yes!¡± ¡°You don¡¯t need to be so serious. Just throw it casually.¡± ¡°Casually, you say?¡± ¡°It won¡¯t go far anyway.¡± The cast members showed a ¡®huh¡­¡¯ reaction. ¡®I don¡¯t think you know what his casually means,¡¯ Woojoo wanted to say, but he couldn¡¯t bring himself to speak in this atmosphere. He just looked forward to the Detection Team leader¡¯s reaction, as he coolly said ¡®Go ahead.¡¯ Junghyun flicked his wrist a few times with the disc in his hand, and looked at the search dog Jigu who was sitting in front of him. ¡°I¡¯m throwing it.¡± ¡°Just throw it. The dog can¡¯t understand what you¡¯re saying anyway.¡± Woof! ¡°¡­Sometimes they do answer.¡± Everyone held back theirughter. It was as if Junghyun was asking ¡®Are you ready?¡¯ and the dog was saying ¡®Yes, yes.¡¯ Soon, Junghyun threw the disc quickly. ¡°Ooh¡­!¡± It was very fast. The search dog also seemed to get excited and started running. It was like a predator who had been catching mice for fun and finally met a worthy prey. Right before the dog reached the end of the field and jumped. Whoosh! The disc flew over the fence and disappeared like a dot. ¡°¡­¡± The dog, who had been running happily, stared nkly at the other side of the fence. Then it looked back at them. While everyone was holding back theirughter, Junghyun made a sheepish expression. The Detection Team leader stroked his chin and looked at Junghyun. ¡°What¡¯s your rtionship with Number 8?¡± ¡°We¡¯re in the same group!¡± ¡°I thought so.¡± Then he gave Woojoo and Junghyun a warm smile. ¡°I¡¯ll give you three minutes.¡± ¡°¡­?¡± ¡°Run and get that disc.¡± Why him? ¡°I¡¯ll add 10 PTs for every second you¡¯rete. 180. 179.¡± ¡°Aaaaah!¡± Junghyun and Woojoo started running. And when he said that the person who came backte would have to do push-ups as a penalty, Junghyun sped up. Plop! ¡°Hey! Kim Junghyun! You¡­!¡± ¡°Sorryyo!¡± ¡°Yaaah!¡± The camera director who was running with themughed out loud. ¡°Neen, twenty¡­¡± Woojoo got up after doing 20 push-ups as a penalty. His muscles had adapted in a few days, so it wasn¡¯t too bad. He didn¡¯t know why he had to join him in the penalty, though. It felt like he had been marked by the instructor from the beginning. ¡°Now, the person who will demonstrate¡­ Stop pushing Number 8.¡± ¡°But Number 8 is our ace.¡± The instructor shook his head at Park Hobeom¡¯s words. ¡°Don¡¯t say that. It¡¯s scary.¡± ¡°It¡¯s true.¡± He was the Bomb Detection Team leader, who gave Woojoo a look of disbelief. Just because Woojoo threw a boomerang, or rather a discus, wrong, he had to receive such a distrustful gaze. Fortunately, his evaluation of Woojoo and Junghyun soon changed. ¡°Good boy, good boy¡­ Aaaah!¡± The bomb detection dog, who had sessfully detected the explosive, dragged Jo Sohyung, who was ying with him, by the leash. The squad leader rubbed his forehead as he alternated his gaze between the sand-covered Jo and the excited dog. ¡°¡­¡± Soon, Jo Sohyung started to scream ¡®Watch out for the leash! Watch out for the leash!¡¯ as he ran around the field. ¡°That¡¯s why we choose handlers who are stronger than dogs.¡± Everyone agreed with that. Woojoo hadn¡¯t experienced it properly, but the dogs¡¯ strength was formidable. Even an average adult would be immobilized if they made a slight mistake. No wonder the squad leader and the police officers had muscr arms. ¡°Let¡¯s see some other trainees.¡± He called them, thinking they would be better, but most of them were no different from Jo Sohyung. They either got pushed back by the dog in a tug-of-war, or confused the dog with a wrongmand. Every time, his eyes softened as he looked at Woojoo and Junghyun. ¡°Number 8,e out and try again.¡± ¡°Yes!¡± The training was simple. They ced a barrel with C4 explosives and let the dogs sniff one by one. When the dog found the right one and sat down, they said ¡®Good boy!¡¯ and yed with a toy. ¡°Good boy! Well done!¡± With an excited expression and voice, Woojoo handed the training toy to the dog, who quickly bit it. Woojoo felt a terrible force in his hand holding the toy. ¡°Well done. Don¡¯t let go of it, and have a little tug-of-war with the dog. Let go when it¡¯s appropriate.¡± ¡°Yes!¡± He was sweating from his back as he felt how strong he was. When Woojoo let go of his hand, the shepherd shook his body with the toy in his mouth. Woojoo asked the squad leader, who approached him, ¡°What do I do now?¡± ¡°You have to lure him gently with another toy.¡± ¡°Like this?¡± Woojoo remembered what the police handler did and copied him. He took out a new toy and shook it in front of the dog, then hid it behind his back. ¡°¡­?¡± The curious dog followed his butt. Every time, he moved it around with his hand skills, and the shepherd¡¯s eyes began to change. Soon, the new toy was in the shepherd¡¯s mouth. ¡°Well done.¡± ¡°Thank you¡­?¡± Thud. He grabbed Woojoo¡¯s hand. ¡°You were a fairy after all.¡± The squad leader¡¯s eyes turned gentle. The other officers also showed a curious reaction to Woojoo, who copied their hand movements. ¡°Did you see that? Do it like Number 8.¡± ¡°Yes!¡± ¡°Number 8, let¡¯s try something else.¡± Woojoo went from being an interesting soldier to an A-ss in an instant, and he did various trainings under the instructor¡¯s orders. The most praised part was thepliment. ¡°That¡¯s right! Well done, good boy! Well done!¡± Every time he praised him with a voice that said ¡®You¡¯re the best in the world!¡¯, the dog got excited and jumped around. ¡°If you praise him like that, the dog will go crazy with joy. Learn from him.¡± The squad leader¡¯s words were followed by murmurs. ¡°I want to get thatpliment too.¡± ¡°My mom never did that to me either¡­¡± ¡°That would make anyone happy.¡± Thepliment Woojoo used to cheer up his depressed ssmates during training also worked on the dog. He didn¡¯t know why Junghyun liked thatpliment, though. On the other hand, he also got some criticism. ¡°Look.¡± When Jigu sat down in front of the wrong barrel, he came up to Woojoo. ¡°Large dogs are smart and cunning. Sometimes they sit anywhere they want, thinking that humans like it when they sit in front of the barrel. But here, you have to firmly say no.¡± As instructed, Woojoo pulled the leash and said ¡®no!¡¯, but it had little effect. He didn¡¯t seem very scared. ¡°Number 8 is good at everything, but he can¡¯t scold the dog. To manage a dog, you have to be strict sometimes.¡± He still praised Woojoo for doing well. The next one toe out was Junghyun, who also received the instructor¡¯s praise. ¡°Number 9 did well too.¡± He did the handler training faithfully, as befitting their guy who didn¡¯t lose to anyone physically. However¡­ ¡°What¡¯s this? The dog lost his doll.¡± ¡°Did he panic again?¡± ¡°Wow, he took it by force.¡± It was Junghyun who overpowered therge dog that pulled hard. When the dog looked up with a disappointed expression after losing his toy, the Detection Team leader and the police officers gasped and approached Junghyun. They all held back theirughter. As the first day¡¯s Team 1 members did, the three men touched Junghyun¡¯s arm and showed a curious reaction. The two police officers nodded and the team leader said, ¡°Number 9.¡± ¡°Yes!¡± ¡°Go to the hospital.¡± Everyoneughed at the same joke as the first day. The team leader who heard the backstory also smirked. Then he gave aprehensive evaluation of Junghyun. ¡°Not bad, but unsuitable. Everything from his attitude towards the dog is good, but¡­¡± Good? ¡°Right now, the dog is looking at you as the alpha dog.¡± ¡°¡­¡± ¡°You have to be human. You can¡¯t be a dog.¡± Maybe because he overpowered Jigu, the top dog, the other dogs also looked very polite. Everyoneughed as Junghyun came back. Woojoo smiled as the dogs¡¯ eyes followed Junghyun. That was how Park Hobeom, Junghyun, and Woojoo got a decent evaluation, while the team leader praised someone. ¡°If I had to pick a handler out of the nine, I¡¯d pick Number 7.¡± It was Hanjo. ¡°No!¡± He said firmly to the dog when it was wrong. He wasn¡¯t too harsh like the others, or too weak like Woojoo. The dog felt ¡®Ah! No!¡¯ and epted it. ¡°Good! Good boy!¡± He also praised well, and his skill in handling the dog was impressive. The team leader asked Hanjo, who was ying with Jeonguk, ¡°Have you ever raised a dog, Number 7?¡± ¡°Yes, I have two retrievers at home.¡± ¡°I thought so.¡± Thanks to his experience of raising arge dog, Hanjo was flying in the handler training. His shoulders rose like Everest as the instructor¡¯s praise continued. It felt like he was healing from the praise. Hanjo was anxious as Junghyun and Woojoo took all kinds of bizarre scenes. It was good to train well, but this was entertainment after all. He had a full smile on his face, feeling ¡®Finally, finally I got some scenes!¡¯. ¡°It worked out. Right?¡± ¡°Yeah.¡± Junghyun and Woojoo whispered as they watched Hanjo run happily with the dogs. ¡°You did well. Kkyo-o-o-ot! Kkyot!¡± The members and the production staff started to giggle at Hanjo¡¯s praise. Only the team leader and the handlers were like ¡®That guy is something else¡¯. He would probably not be happy when he watched the broadcastter, but the important thing was his happiness now. He was happy like that. What. ¡°Kkyo-o-ot! Kkyat-ho!¡± Woojoo had to capture that scer. In the evening, after the afternoon training. The Tactical Team 3 members pped. ¡°You worked hard today for the training.¡± ¡°Thank you for your hard work!¡± They all smiled brightly. It was the moment when the hellish PT and training sessions were over. ¡°Tomorrow morning, you will patrol the airport with the members of Team 1.¡± Woojoo felt a thrill in his chest at the thought of wearing a ck suit and a vest and walking around the airport. ¡°Please also keep in mind that there is a joint anti-terror training at the airport in the evening.¡± It was a schedule that they already knew, but everyone was shedding tears. They hoped they didn¡¯t have to run with gas masks on. It was a training that involved all the agencies rted to airport security, such as airport police, aviation security, customs, and fire department. The leader of Team 3 pped his hands and said, ¡°I wish you good luck for tomorrow¡¯s training. That¡¯s all.¡± ¡°Thank you!¡± With a warm farewell to the members of Team 3, all the training was finished. Everyone looked at each other and smiled. ¡°Wow, look at our ck suits.¡± ¡°Really. Wow¡­¡± ¡°They look simr to what the Special Forces wear, right?¡± After rolling and rolling for three days, the color of the ck suits had really changed. ¡°We are veterans now. Haha!¡± ¡°Look at Woojoo¡¯s ck suit. He¡¯s the most veteran.¡± ¡°Puhaha!¡± The cast membersughed at Woojoo¡¯s clothes. He wondered what was so funny and looked at the mirror. It wasughable. ¡°Wow.¡± He looked like a real Special Forces member by the color alone, since he rolled the most in three days. He felt like he heard theughter of Team 1 members in his ears like a hallucination. He smiled bitterly and the cast members of Men Go patted his shoulder. ¡°Woojoo, you really worked hard.¡± ¡°You rolled enough for 30 years of reserve duty. You can be proud of yourself anywhere you go.¡± ¡°Thanks to Woojoo, we were reallyfortable.¡± Junghyun and Hanjo nodded their heads. ¡°That¡¯s right. We enjoyed the ice cream too.¡± ¡°And we werefortable when we showed the demonstration.¡± Woojoo felt good when they thanked him warmly. Yes. They got a huge amount of broadcast time for their hard work. Woojoo, Junghyun, and Hanjo. -Kiyahhoo! When Woojoo looked at him, Hanjo blinked his eyes. ¡°What¡¯s wrong?¡± ¡°Nothing. I was just happy that Hanjo got some screen time.¡± ¡°Thank you.¡± Woojoo smiled warmly at him, who was smiling happily. After finishing the dinner in a friendly atmosphere. At night, they watched a Hollywood movie that depicted the fight between a terrorist organization and the police Special Forces. And finally, Woojoo had a video call with Bae Sangkyung¡¯s younger sibling. They said they recognized them from the Souffl¨¦ when they first met. The camera was watching them when the call was connected. ¡°Hey. What are you doing now?¡± -Ah, you scared me. She greeted them enthusiastically and Junghyun and Woojoo, who were hiding behind him, smiled. Bae Sangkyung said with a chubby face, ¡°Didn¡¯t you say you like New ck?¡± -Hey, don¡¯t mention our Oppas¡¯ names with that mouth. Junghyun and Woojoo burst into silentughter at his firm remark. Bae Sangkyung just said ¡®whatever¡¯. -But, what is this? What is this? Wait, how did you make the call? You¡¯re in the base right now, did you take out your phone? Are you crazy?! He moved the screen away from his excited voice and said, ¡°I took it out because of the broadcast shooting.¡± -Broadcast? ¡°I came here for the shooting of ¡®Men Go¡¯, look.¡± Then he handed them his phone. Junghyun and Woojoo made a heart with both hands and shouted. ¡°Hello!¡± -¡­ On the screen, a person who was eating a sweet potato with a roll on her bangs appeared. ¡°Hello.¡± When they greeted her again with a smile, she opened her mouth nkly. Thud. The phone camera spun 360 degrees and fell to the floor, turning dark. ¡°Hey, are you okay¡­¡± -Aaaaaah! Junghyun and Woojoo both moved away from the phone at the sound of a piercing scream. As they heard a voice saying ¡®What do I do, what do I do!¡¯ at almost 1.8 times the normal speed, Baek Sangkyung took the phone back. After the conversation between the siblings continued with some distance from the camera. ¡°Please wait for a minute.¡± ¡°¡­?¡± ¡°I¡¯m going to wash my face.¡± They burst outughing. Three minutester. A person in proper clothes appeared on the screen. Baek Sangkyung snorted at the sight of her transformed into a different person like a fairy tale princess, and they smiled. -Hi there! They chuckled as she waved a wand from the other side. ¡°Nice to meet you, Souffl¨¦!¡± -Oh, it¡¯s really you guys. Awesome¡­ ¡°Why are you crying?¡± She put her hand on her mouth and cried, and theyforted her with a smile. They didn¡¯t have much time, so they had to make the call short. They knew she was preparing for the art school entrance exam, so they gave her words of encouragement for the tough exam. As a former trainee for a long time, Woojoo was an expert on how it felt to prepare for something without any promise. She shouted with a smile that reached her ears. -I¡¯m going to keep this video as a treasure! ¡°Well, maybe not until the end¡­¡± -No way. I have to see your faces for generations. The siblings were both funny, and theyughed at everything they said. As they finished the call, Woojoo added, ¡°It was hard to make a video call because of the recording schedule, but your brother asked us a favor, so we could do it.¡± -Really? They said goodbye and handed the phone to Baek Sangkyung. She immediately said ¡®Oppa¡­ I¡¯ll do well.¡¯ and they allughed. He seemed to find it funny too, as he hung up and said, ¡°It¡¯s the first time I¡¯ve heard the word ¡®Oppa¡¯ since I enlisted.¡± Then he bowed to them. ¡°Thank you. For everything.¡± ¡°¡­?¡± ¡°My sister was depressed every day because of the art school entrance exam, but she brightened up after seeing New ck. She loves your songs and says they¡¯re like her story.¡± ¡°Really?¡± He nodded. ¡°She used to look like a corpse every time she went out. I was worried about her. But thanks to you, she seems much better. Thank you.¡± ¡°No, thank you. We¡¯re more grateful.¡± They smiled at his words. This was the most rewarding time as a singer. The fact that their songs could bring a little joy orfort to someone else. The fact that they could make someone¡¯s mood better. That was the bestpliment they could get. ¡°I feel good.¡± ¡°Me too. Hyung.¡± ¡°Let¡¯s make our fourth album well today, since we got a blessing from Souffl¨¦.¡± Woojoo walked andughed in the garden with Junghyun. Thanks to the video call with Souffl¨¦, Woojoo had plenty of ideas for the fourth album. ¡°It feels like I have extra energy, doesn¡¯t it?¡± ¡°Me too.¡± Then Joonhyun asked Woojoo with a puzzled face, ¡°But Hyung.¡± ¡°Hmm?¡± ¡°Don¡¯t you think it¡¯s less hard than you thought?¡± ¡°What are you talking about, Junghyun? Unlike you, a cyborg, I¡¯m¡­¡± Woojoo stopped as he was about to say it was hard. He had a point. The training was tough, but strangely, he didn¡¯t feel exhausted or drained. It was a strange thing. Hanjo, who had bulging muscles, copsed, and Park Hobeom, the ace of Men Go, threw up. But they two were fine. They had heard the praise for their stamina almost dozens of times here, but he had never heard such apliment before. ¡°That¡¯s weird. Did my stamina improve?¡± "What could be the reason?" "I wonder¡­" Woojoo racked his brain for a long time to figure out why his stamina had improved, but he couldn''t find an answer. * * * Lemon Enter. In the basement practice room, two idols were sprawled out, gasping for air. "Ughhh¡­" "Uhhh, I miss our Hyungs¡­" Rihyuk and Jiho were snuggling like two worms, whining. ¡®I''m dying.'' ¡®It''s too hard¡­'' Then, someone''s shadow loomed over their heads like an octopus''s tentacles. "Hey, kids~" They flinched at the sweet voice. "No. Is the break time over already?" "Yup. Let''s practice." "Whaaaaa¡­" Bijoo reached out his hand and helped the two younger ones up, smiling. "The more we''re alone, the more we have to do." "¡­." "Woojoo Hyung and Junghyun must be having a hard time in the Special Forces. Compared to that training, our dance practice is nothing." They nodded silently. ¡®Well, if I think about the military training¡­ there''s no way the practice is that hard.'' ¡®Yeah. Our Hyungs are suffering¡­'' They nodded and started their dance practice. But none of them knew the truth. How Woojoo''s stamina had be good enough to endure the Special Forces training. ¡®I have to practice more!'' That was thanks to the burning practice desire of someone who was diligent but easily lost his way. Chapter 278: Trantor: MarcTempest Editor: Rxel Chapter 278 TBC ¡®Men on a Mission ¨C Special Forces Team Part 3¡¯ It was a dark dawn. The screen fast-forwarded as the clouds moved, and the morning sun rose over the base. The cheerful narration of the broadcaster. Narration: Finally, thest day at the Special Forces Team. Oh, you all look so tired. The men got up from their beds, groaning.As the eldest brother, Lee Pilseung, turned on the light, they all squinted. Their sleepy faces soon started to smile at each other. Min Taewon: Isn¡¯t this ourst day? Jo Sohyung: Yeah, this is the end of the Special Forces Team. Park Hobeom: It¡¯s not over until it¡¯s over. We can¡¯t rx until we get to the airport. Jo Sohyung: Hobeom, you¡¯re such a mood killer. The cast members¡¯ eyes soon turned to Hanjo. To be precise, the two empty spaces next to him. The nkets were neatly folded. Narration: But there¡¯s no sign of the two trainees. Oh, where did they go so early in the morning? The cast members murmured. Lee Pilseung: Hanjo, where did they go? Hanjo: (Fish eyes) I don¡¯t know¡­ Min Taewon: They folded the nkets and left. Maybe they got up early and prepared for the morning ceremony. Cho Sohyung: They¡¯re really diligent. Is it because they have good stamina? The cast members, who were sitting on the bed and moaning ¡®Oh, my back¡­¡¯, admired New ck¡¯s stamina. Soon, as the eldest brother said ¡®Let¡¯s get ready!¡¯, they folded their nkets. As the door opened, the two idols came in. Woojoo: Good morning. Did you all sleep well? Junghyun: Good morning. The two idols, who had showered and washed up, changed into ck suits. The cast members¡¯ eyes widened. Jo Sohyung: Where did you go? Woojoo: We went out for a roll call¡­ Jo Sohyung: Roll call? Why? They all looked curious at his slightly gloomy expression. Woojoo: I woke up early and went for a morning walk with Junghyun. They said it was okay. But¡­ Park Hobeom: But? Woojoo: We ran into the Tactical Team 1 members while walking. They asked us if we were going for a roll call, and told us to join them¡­ They allughed at the Team 1¡¯s consistent love for Number 8. Soon, the screen rippled and switched to a shback. 30 minutes ago. Woojoo and Junghyun¡¯s walking under the dawn sky was caught by the observation camera. They were having a serious discussion about what they would eat for the rest of their lives, cold noodles or water noodles. Woojoo spotted the Team 1 members who were on their way to work and gasped. Woojoo: Oops¡­! He hid in the bushes and camouged himself at the speed of lightning. Junghyun followed him. As they held their breath and hid, the Team 1 members who were passing by the flower bed stopped. Go Kwangsoon: Our Number 8. What are you doing there? Woojoo: ¡­ Go Kwangsoon: Even if you hide, this instructor can see everything. Who taught you that? Woojoo: Hello¡­ Woojoo came out of the bushes and leaves fell from his body. The Special Forces team members smiled and said ¡®Wow, he learns ten things when we teach him one¡¯, ¡®Our rookie is so cute¡¯. Then, Woojoo and Junghyun, who were held by the Special Forces team members, did the roll call with them, along with the narration. Narration: Another lively morning of the Special Forces Team! Shall we start the day for real? Thest day¡¯s morning started with the Special Forces Team leader¡¯s speech. He told the members who gathered in the barracks that they had worked hard and asked them not to forget the efforts of the Special Forces Team members when they went back to society. They all nodded seriously. After the speech, Lee Pilseung shouted with a loud cheer, ¡°Salute to the team leader!¡± ¡°Special Forces!¡± The Special Forces Team leader, who received the salute, came down from the podium and shook hands with each member and left. ¡°Everyone, move!¡± ¡°Move!¡± They immediately started preparing for patrol, but their expressions became strange as they wore the equipment they received. They wore vests with ¡®Special Forces¡¯ marks on top of their ck suits, and finally put on red berets. They felt like they had be real Special Forces Team members. At the same time, they felt a sense of responsibility. ¡°I feel like I have to do well on this.¡± ¡°Me too.¡± ¡°This is why clothes are important. I didn¡¯t realize it when I only wore ck suits, but this makes me feel some pressure¡­¡± Everyone agreed with that. When they put empty guns around their necks, they looked like perfect Special Forces agents. The cast members who had slightly protruding bellies also looked like veterans who had been through many battles with the Special Forces uniforms. ¡°Wow¡­¡± In the midst of that, there was one person who received everyone¡¯s admiration. ¡°Junghyun has really broad shoulders.¡± ¡°You could be a Special Forces promotional model. Hey.¡± ¡°Wow¡­¡± Junghyun smiled proudly at thepliments. He gave Woojoo a bright smile when he gave him a thumbs up as if asking how he was. His wide shoulders and tall height. With the Special Forces equipment added, he looked like a movie hero. ¡°Our Number 9 has a great fit. He looks like a real Special Forces agent.¡± The Tactical Team members who were waiting in front of the vehicle also looked impressed. Sergeant Go Kwangsoon, who was equipped with patrol equipment, looked around at everyone. ¡°We have arge number of people, so we¡¯ll split up and move. Some of you will ride with us in the armored vehicle that says Special Forces. The rest will take the bus. For now, number eight,e this way.¡± ¡°Yes!¡± Woojoo was happy to be favored this time. The other members looked envious as he boarded the armored vehicle that said ¡®Special Forces¡¯. Soon after, Park Hobeom, who won the fierce rock-paper-scissors, boarded as well. As they moved, sitting face to face with each other like in a movie, Sergeant Go said, ¡°Well, you don¡¯t need to think too much about patrolling. It¡¯s just a quick round and back.¡± ¡°It¡¯s called power patrol. We¡¯re showing a message that we¡¯re protecting the airport from anyone who might threaten it.¡± They nodded at Sergeant Park Kyungjun¡¯s addition. Captain Lee Jeongah spoke softly, seeing that they were nervous. ¡°You don¡¯t have to be too tense. You can use ¡®yo¡¯fortably from now on.¡± ¡°Yes!¡± ¡°Don¡¯t worry, there¡¯s no emergency situation. Except for the asional people whoe up to us.¡± ¡°Approach?¡± She nodded at Woojoo¡¯s question. ¡°They juste up to us because we¡¯re police. They ask where the currency exchange is, or if that gun is real.¡± ¡°They really ask that?¡± ¡°Surprisingly, a lot.¡± Woojoo thought they wouldn¡¯t be able to approach someone with a gun, but there seemed to be all kinds of people in the world. Sergeant Go chuckled and joined in. ¡°And remember, you have to be kind to all the citizens. You can do that, right?¡± ¡°Yes!¡± ¡°From now on, you are the face of the Special Forces.¡± Meanwhile, as they got closer to Incheon Airport, Park Hobeom and Woojoo wore separate equipment. They had to hide their identity because it would interfere with the filming if it was known that celebrities were walking around. They wore sunsses and masks, and their faces werepletely covered. The broadcast camera would follow them, but others would guess they were filming a documentary. ¡°Looks convincing, right?¡± Woojoo asked Park Hobeom as he looked in the mirror. ¡°What do you think? Don¡¯t you think no one would know who we are like this?¡± ¡°Uh, yeah, sure.¡± ¡°¡­?¡± Woojoo blinked at his awkward answer. Incheon Airport, 3rd floor, Departure Hall. It was a busy morning time. The airline counters were endless with waiting lines, and the noise of the people echoed on the round ceiling. Some people were filled with excitement for their trip, but most of them just yawned at the boring boarding procedures. In the free air, people¡¯s eyes were drawn to one ce. ¡°Hey, look over there. There.¡± ¡°Siwoo, look. There are guns. Look at those guys with guns. There¡¯s a dog too!¡± ¡°Is that a real gun?¡± Red beret-wearing Special Forces agents were patrolling in groups of four. One of them was holding a shepherd¡¯s leash, and the rest were walking with guns. There was also a cameraman following them. ¡®Is it a documentary?¡¯ The people who thought that¡­ changed their minds soon enough. ¡®It¡¯s aedy.¡¯ ¡®It¡¯s a joke.¡¯ It was because of one person among the four-person team. While the other Special Forces members were easygoing, there was one who stood out like a sore thumb with his proportions. His walk and posture were like a Special Forces member, but no matter how you looked at him¡­ ¡®He¡¯s a celebrity.¡¯ ¡®He¡¯s a model or an actor.¡¯ ¡®He¡¯s doing a celebrity experience program.¡¯ He covered his face so no one could tell who he was, but even if you looked at him from a distance, he was a celebrity. Only the patrol members were oblivious,ughing and having fun. ¡®No one knows me!¡¯ He said, enjoying himself. The Special Forces members and Park Hobeom suppressed theirughter. Park Hobeom stuck out his tongue. ¡°There are so many people.¡± ¡°This time slot is always a hit. It¡¯ll get less crowded soon.¡± People were everywhere. Thankfully, they moved aside whenever they passed by, but it was so hectic that they felt drained. Even with the cool air conditioning, they were sweating from the heat of the crowd. ¡®But it¡¯s fun.¡¯ Park Hobeom looked around and smiled. How many times would he get to patrol the airport with a gun in his life? Sometimes, he would catch the eyes of people who said ¡®wow¡¯ as they passed by, and he would shrug his shoulders. And as the Special Forces members had said, there were hardly any emergencies. Except for the time when a boy ran up to pet the detection dog and was dragged away by his parents, it was just patrolling the airport. All they heard were the constant radio calls and the chatter of the travelers. As they walked slowly, someone approached them. ¡®Police! Police!¡¯ It was a Chinese woman who called ¡®police¡¯ in Chinese. The Special Forces members blinked and looked at each other. ¡°Is she calling us?¡± ¡°Do you understand her?¡± ¡°No. I have no idea what she¡¯s saying. Should we hand her over to the airport police? None of us can speak Chinese, right?¡± ¡­As they were talking, Woojoo raised his hand. ¡°Oh, Woojoo. You know how to?¡± ¡°Yes. I can do it.¡± ¡°Then go and listen to what she¡¯s saying.¡± Woojoo confidently stepped forward and spoke to the Chinese woman. ¡®Oh¡­¡¯ ¡®He¡¯s good.¡¯ ¡®He¡¯s our team¡¯s rookie.¡¯ His Chinese was short, but it had a local vibe. Not only their impressions, but the Chinese woman who had spoken to him also looked amazed. Park Hobeom gestured to the cameraman to film him properly, and the cameraman made an OK sign with his hand. Woojoo exined the situation. ¡°She says her family is having a dispute with another traveler, what should we do?¡± ¡°Let¡¯s go and see. We have plenty of time for the shift change.¡± ¡°Yes.¡± They went to where the Chinese family was gathered. There was another traveler¡¯s family on the opposite side, with a suitcase between them, looking hostile. They also brightened up when they saw the Special Forces members. ¡®Police! The police are here.¡¯ And at that, the Special Forces members and Park Hobeom blinked. ¡®What?¡¯ ¡®They¡¯re Japanese.¡¯ It seemed like a situation where the Chinese and the Japanese were arguing. When they had no clue how to resolve this, Woojoo smiled and started speaking Japanese. It was very fluent Japanese. ¡°¡­?¡± The people behind Woojoo all looked at each other. ¡®The Chinese and the Japanese were fighting¡­¡¯ ¡®And the Korean is mediating.¡¯ Woojoo seemed to have dealt with them before, listening to both sides of the story. It looked convincing. Like a diplomat who came to mediate. He smiled and ryed their words, calmly mediating. They were impressed by his demeanor. ¡°What did they say?!¡± As the Chinese family started to scream, Woojoo swallowed his saliva. This time, the Japanese family across from them began to get angry. ¡°Tell them exactly what I said. No, this is too much!¡± ¡°What are you saying now? Just as it is! Tell them as it is!¡± ¡°Are they cursing at us now?¡± As Chinese and Japanese crossed and the scene became noisy, the police Special Forces blinked their eyes. ¡°¡­They¡¯re still fighting?¡± ¡°They¡¯re fighting more because they understand each other.¡± ¡°Look at Woojoo. He¡¯s burning like firewood.¡± In less than five minutes, Woojoo had changedpletely. He turned his head and looked at them with a pitiful expression, as if saying ¡®please save me¡¯. Meanwhile, the foreign families held on to Woojoo. ¡°Where are you going! Tell them what I said!¡± ¡°I told you to tell them my words first!¡± Woojoo had tried to mediate nicely, but he ended up adding fuel to the fire. They held back theirughter at the sight of Woojoo. The Special Forces chuckled at the sight of Woojoo walking in a daze. ¡°¡­¡± Park Hobeom also nced at Woojoo and held back hisughter. No. He had left out anything that would make them feel bad from what they were saying on both sides. But as soon as they understood each other, the fight got bigger. Fortunately, he was able to get out of theplicated situation by handing them over to the airport police who arrived at the scene. ¡°¡­¡± He would have been better off staying still. He realized the truth of the army, that it was a loss to step up, while the camera director reported to PD Do Joongi what had happened. They seemed to be happy that they had picked up the broadcast volume, as Woojoo heard themughing on the other side. They continued to patrol. ¡°But the crowd isn¡¯t getting smaller.¡± ¡°That¡¯s right.¡± Woojoo answered Park Hobeom¡¯s words. ¡°It seems to be getting bigger.¡± They said that by this time, the people at the Departure Hall would be gone, but they were growing more and more. Soon they realized the reason. ¡°It must be the day the idols are leaving.¡± ¡°Oh, that¡¯s it.¡± ¡°Of course, the experienced ones know well.¡± It was the sight of the idol fans they saw when we left. Some were wearing masks, some had portabledders. There were cameras with huge lenses everywhere. The number was so huge that Woojoo thought it might be TNT or Teen Spirit at first, but it wasn¡¯t. They were both busy with overseas activities right now. It seemed like there was a joint overseas concert or a music show, as he saw various fandoms mixed together. ¡°Heehee¡­¡± Woojoo¡¯sughter leaked out of the mask. It was fun. It was so fun to pass by in a Special Forces outfit where the idol fans were gathered. ¡°¡­¡± Woojoo held his breath because of the fans who were puzzled by the broadcast camera in the middle, but fortunately they didn¡¯t recognize him. Who would know that he was doing this here? That was how they passed through the 3-4 gate area full of idol fans and turned to the quiet west side of the Departure Hall. ¡°Huh¡­?¡± Woojoo spotted a familiar face among the sparse people. A tall woman. She had a unique fashion with her arms and legs stretched out, and she was standing with her manager. Park Hobeom seemed to recognize her too. ¡°Oh, that person?¡± The Special Forces asked, ¡°Why are you like that?¡± ¡°I saw someone I know for a moment.¡± ¡°Really? Do you want me to say hello?¡± ¡°Can I do that¡­?¡± They gave Woojoo permission to rx, as it was time to change shifts soon. Woojoo approached her and lowered his mask slightly. ¡°Hello.¡± She jumped in surprise. ¡°Eggmoney!¡± The loud exmation made the people next to Woojoough. She quickly recognized his face and took off her sunsses, revealing her round eyes. The famous SNS celebrity, Maxi, spoke softly. ¡°Hey¡­ you scared me.¡± Woojoo chuckled at her familiar tone. Was it a year ago? They kept in touch asionally, but this was the first time they met in person since they worked together on Team C in Around the World With Dice. Maxi asked Woojoo with a happy face. ¡°Woojoo, did you be a soldier?¡± ¡°Yes.¡± ¡°Why?¡± ¡°The PD called me.¡± ¡°Wow. Ddoruru¡­¡± The unique sound of admiration made the Special Forces members flinch and then burst intoughter. As he talked about his appearance on Men Go, Woojoo turned his eyes to the man who was standing awkwardly next to him. ¡°Who is this person¡­?¡± ¡°My secretary.¡± ¡°Her younger brother.¡± Everyoneughed at his firm answer. They turned their heads to see Maxi smiling at the sniffer dog and saying, ¡®Hello, sweetie. What¡¯s your name?¡¯ Her brother answered with a look that said it must be a tough job. ¡°My sister pays me a lot of money.¡± It was a wise saying. Maxi looked disappointed and said, ¡®I like cats.¡¯ as the sniffer dog ignored her attempts to lure him. Woojoo asked her then. ¡°Where are you going?¡± ¡°Oh. There¡¯s a K-pop concert in LA. I was invited to be the MC there.¡± ¡°Oh¡­¡± Woojoo realized then why there were fans gathered earlier. The K-pop concert they participated in Saitama, Japan was going to be held in the US this summer. She looked excited as she said she was going to visit her parents¡¯ house for a while. Woojoo smiled and nodded at her. ¡°Our shift time is almost over. See youter.¡± ¡°Okay. Take care of the country. Cheer up!¡± She gave a friendly smile to the Special Forces members as well and walked briskly towards the camera director. ¡°Everyone! Hello, this is Maxi! M.a.x.i!¡± ¡°¡­¡± ¡°Please remember me~!¡± She blew a kiss to the camera and was dragged away by her brother who sighed deeply. Woojoo waved his hand slightly. Park Hobeom muttered, ¡°¡­I thought it was a broadcast concept, but it was real.¡± ¡°Yes.¡± ¡°I wanted to say hello, but I forgot.¡± Woojoo empathized with how he felt. He was also very flustered when he first recorded with her. ¡°Let¡¯s go change shifts.¡± As they moved to change shifts at the captain¡¯s words, Park Kyungjun tapped Woojoo¡¯s shoulder and said, ¡°Woojoo, they look like idols. Do you know them?¡± ¡°Who¡­? Oh!¡± Woojoo smiled and answered as he saw the seven-member boy group looking bewildered. ¡°Yes. I know them well.¡± ¡°Wow¡­¡± The members of Iris looked around the airport. It wasn¡¯t their first time here, but it was their first time traveling abroad as idols, so their hearts were pounding. ¡®We¡¯re K-pop con performers¡­!¡¯ They felt ted by the fact that they were invited as performers for an overseas concert. But they soon felt gloomy. ¡°But we don¡¯t have any fans.¡± ¡°Maybe we booked the wrong airline. If we went over there, there would have been fans of other groups¡­¡± ¡°Maybe someday we¡¯ll have some?¡± Other idol seniors had fans waiting for them at the airport, and homemasters taking pictures of them. They felt empty as the surroundings were quiet. ¡°Hey, it¡¯s Iris.¡± ¡°Wow!¡± Someone recognized them! They all turned their heads at the same time with bright smiles. ¡°Hello~¡± They stopped as if they were frozen. It was because of the face of someone who had pulled down his mask from the four-member Special Forces police. ¡°¡­Sunbae-nim?¡± ¡°It¡¯s been a while, hasn¡¯t it?¡± ¡°Why are you there¡­¡± ¡°Have a safe trip and see you againter~ Iris fighting!¡± ¡°Th, thank you!¡± They bowed awkwardly as Woojoo gave them a fist bump and left. They had a stunned expression on their faces as they watched him walk away with his mask back on. ¡°¡­What was that?¡± ¡°Why is Sunbae-nim there?¡± ¡°What kind of situation is this? Seriously.¡± The Iris members looked dumbfounded. ¡®What the hell.¡¯ This situation where the senior singer was a Special Forces member at the airport. Chapter 279: Trantor: MarcTempest Editor: Rxel Chapter 279 When the cast of ¡®Men Go¡¯ were patrolling the airport. The east side of the Departure Hall was bustling with idols leaving for LA. ¡°Miss Nahyun! Miss Nahyun!¡± ¡°Please look here. Here! Yes! Here!¡± ¡°Please lower your hands!¡± The photo time that started from the crosswalk ended when the idols went to check in with the airline.¡°Hello!¡± The members of Autumn Girls, who greeted politely, lined up at the airline counter with their fans, and the photojournalists gathered in a corner and caught their breath. ¡°Phew, I thought I was going to suffocate.¡± ¡°Did you get good pictures? I think mine got shaky when someone pushed me earlier.¡± ¡°Hmm, it¡¯s a bit tricky¡­¡± The journalists who were sorting out the photos that were worth publishing had a conversation. ¡°The departure road is almost over, right? It¡¯ll be pretty quiet once the Autumn Girls fans are gone.¡± ¡°There¡¯s one more left. NYX.¡± ¡°Oh. We have to shoot them too.¡± NYX. The girl group of TJ Entertainment that joined Legendary Song Discovery as the sessor of New ck was on the rise recently. Fortunately, the journalists were able to leave work when NYX arrived. They were packing their camera bags when. ¡°Ah¡­¡± someone eximed and the journalists turned their heads. ¡°What¡¯s wrong?¡± ¡°I got a bunch of bad pictures.¡± ¡°Let me see.¡± The picture was supposed to be of Andrew of Daydream, who was the MC of the K-pop concert. But Andrew was on the edge, and instead, a third person was in the center. A Special Forces soldier who covered his face under a red beret. Everyone saw the picture andughed in agreement. ¡°It¡¯s an easy mistake.¡± ¡°Me too, when I saw this person passing by, my eyes were drawn to him.¡± ¡°Me too, me too. My camera lens moved like this without me knowing. Following his walk.¡± It wasn¡¯t just them. The idol fans who were standing in front of the gate also turned their heads as the impact was strong. ¡®There was a camera too. What kind of documentary are they filming?¡¯ The journalists who thought of something like the anniversary special ¡®Police Special Forces Edition¡¯ of the station soon gave words of constion to the person who had a gloomy face. ¡°Oh, man. You can¡¯t use any of those pictures.¡± ¡°I know¡­¡± ¡°But you never know. Maybe that was a real celebrity. A police Special Forces experience program like this.¡± The journalist said ¡®I hope so¡¯ and smiled weakly, and they all left with their bags. ¡°Huh¡­?¡± Someone looked at his phone and widened his eyes. ¡°What, did you get a scoop?¡± ¡°Did you see the tip that was posted on SNS just now? The cast of ¡®Men Go¡¯ are patrolling the airport with a guest.¡± ¡°When, where?¡± The journalists who were hastily opening the zipper of their camera bag stopped their actions at the following words. ¡°They must have left already. Around the time Autumn Girls departed.¡± ¡°Ah¡­¡± ¡°But the pictures that were taken, their outfits¡­¡± ¡°Outfits?¡± ¡°See for yourself.¡± The journalists who looked at the SNS app blinked their eyes. The cast of ¡®Men Go¡¯ wearing Special Forces uniforms and patrolling the airport were seen. There was also a picture of Min Taewon and Hanjo of Street Boys, who had revealed their identity, waving their hands with their masks down. ¡°That¡¯s him, right? Street Boys guy? Wait, then the cast this time¡­¡± ¡°Guest! That! Them!¡± ¡°New ck! Oh, man! I missed them right in front of me! They¡¯re the ones you can¡¯t miss!¡± The journalists who were sighing at the sky felt something pass through their heads. ¡®Wait a minute¡­¡¯ Everyone¡¯s heads turned at the same time. Where their eyes were headed, the journalist who had a depressed expression until a while ago was saying ¡®Oh!¡¯. ¡°That person who passed by earlier, that was New ck¡¯s Woojoo, right?¡± ¡°Wait, wait. Then me too.¡± ¡°I have to check too.¡± The idol fans who were getting up from their seats paused one by one, hearing the noise of the reporters. ¡°New ck Woojoo?¡± ¡°Woojoo? Didn¡¯t he pass by earlier?¡± ¡°Wow, was that him hiding like a Conan viin?¡± While the reporters and the idol fans were on the same page, looking for the hidden Woojoo. ¡°Ah, I found him¡­!¡± The reporters and the fans blinked their eyes, happy to have found something to post on the inte. ¡°¡­¡± ¡°¡­¡± Someone¡¯s words summed up everyone¡¯s feelings. ¡°What should I title this?¡± 30 minutester. Along with the articles about the idols leaving for LA, there were also articles about ¡®Men Go¡¯ on the inte. They had patrolled the airport with the police Special Forces, and the photo news that came along with the news. -[Photo] ¡®Find the hidden Woojoo¡¯¡­ Can you spot Woojoo in the picture? -[PhotoK] ¡®Today he¡¯s a Special Forces member¡¯, New ck Woojoo concealed his beauty at the airport -This reporter couldn¡¯t think of a suitable title (feat. New ck Woojoo) -[Photo News] Special Forces in the airport, ¡®If you look hard enough, you¡¯ll see Woojoo¡¯ -¡°He passed by like a secret agent¡± New ck Woojoo, not showing off his beauty -[Video] The ¡®red circle¡¯ is the universe Idol fans burst intoughter at the hrious titles. In every photo of the idols leaving the country, a ck monster appeared in the background like a ghost. -??????????????????? -I tried to salvage the blurred parts somehow, but it made it even funnier. I thought he was an idol¡¯s spirit. -Why is he so wistful? -Woojoo: Yes¡­ You¡¯ve grown well¡­ (disappears) -What a terrible morning. LOL -The idol hid his face. LOL Who is this reporter? -They made him look like a criminal. T_T LOL -The video is even funnier. ??It looks like a crime scene.?? There was also a video that circled the space station in red, like a news clip of an ident or a disaster. The homemade photos that followed made everyoneugh. Behind the idols who were smiling brightly, there was a sunss-wearing weirdo who stared at the camera faintly, like a hidden picture puzzle. -He must have seen every camera he passed by¡­ -A pro idol, huh??? -But seriously, I can¡¯t tell if he¡¯s an alien or not. -I agree. He¡¯s like the Little Prince who drew a box and said there were three sheep inside. ROFL -But if you look closely, you can see it. -Everyone has a Woojoo in their heart, right? -You have to look with the eyes of your mind. -Hey, who¡¯s the one who said you can see Woojoo¡¯s face with a magic eye? Come out! -Charcoal, how do you feel about this treat? The Souffl¨¦s were obviously shocked. -I¡¯ve been a fan for 10 years. I can say this for sure. Our kids are really unpredictable. -??????222 true that -333333333 -I can''t predict what will happen next, but it''s always good. Our fandom is like a random box. Wise words.jpg Other fans: Hey coals, your idol is patrolling at the airport / Me: If I told my past self, they would think I''m crazy. Your bias is doing undercover work at the airport a yearter. My friend is a fan of SB, and Iughed so hard when they saw Hanjo''s picture and said, "This is how you guys feel." But the Special Forces fit is too OP..
    • Junghyun, you¡¯re crazy! You look like a Special Forces agent!
    • Our third son¡¯s physique is amazing, thrilling, and blissful to look at!
    • Junghyun, who took your picture? Give them a reward right away!
    • Fatal wound
-????faint???? -?????????? -Why hasn¡¯t anyone discovered Woojoo yet? It¡¯s so beautiful¡­ I want to show it to you, but all I see is ck¡­ -A picture popped up, but it had no eyes, nose, or mouth. -It¡¯s truly the New ck. A ck that never existed before. -When the Souffl¨¦s received the new clue, they wondered, ¡®Is this edible?¡¯ The PR Team of Lemon Entertainment was in a state of panic. ¡°Did you say that Woojoo is patrolling the airport?¡± ¡°With the Special Forces? Oh¡­ that¡¯s news to us too.¡± ¡°Please contact the Production Team for anything rted to the entertainment show. We were asked to keep it a secret.¡± The staff blinked their eyes every time they answered the phone calls from the reporters. They knew that the idols had gone to the Special Forces through the manager. But they had no idea that their departure photos would be a hot topic. ¡®What is he doing?¡¯ ¡®Woojoo, where are you and what are you doing?¡¯ ¡®He¡¯s a promotional fairy. Our kid.¡¯ Meanwhile, as photos like ¡®Find Woojoo¡¯ were uploaded inrge numbers, naturally, the attention was also focused on ¡®Men Go¡¯. They wondered what they were going to do in the next special episode that these photos came out. Of course, the broadcasting station was happy about it. ¡°Ratings! Ratings!¡± ¡°Hahaha!¡± The PD and the Production Team of ¡®Men Go¡¯ high-fived and cheered, ¡®It¡¯s a sess! It¡¯s a sess!¡¯ ¡°¡­¡± ¡°¡­¡± The members of New ck, who gathered in the practice room, blinked their eyes as they looked at the photos of Woojoo and Junghyun. ¡°¡­Woojoo Hyung?¡± Why was Hyung there? The bus was noisy with the cast members. ¡°Look at this! The news is huge!¡± ¡°Oh, really. Really.¡± ¡°Puhaha! Look at the headline of Woojoo¡¯s news! It¡¯s awesome!¡± They were checking the outside news on the tablet PC that the PD gave them while they were moving to another ce after finishing the patrol. ¡°There are so many photos, right?¡± ¡°Yeah. 90 percent of them are Woojoo¡¯s photos.¡± ¡°Woojoo, you did well.¡± Woojoo let out a sheepishugh at the photo of the monster who seemed to stare at the camera. Woojoo didn¡¯t know he was photographed so much. He guessed it was because of his upational disease that he smiled and looked at the camera lens whenever he saw it, but he didn¡¯t expect it to be this much. On the other hand, there were quite a few photos of the other cast members. ¡°What? Why did I get photographed with my belly out?¡± ¡°Because your belly is out?¡± ¡°Hey! Jo Sohyung! Pffft¡­!¡± The cast members teased each other, but their expressions were bright. ¡°They did a great job with the promotion. Really.¡± ¡°Right? People will be curious and have to watch the show.¡± ¡°It¡¯s good. Really. How much we¡¯ve been worried about promoting it. We.¡± They all hid their identities, but they secretly hoped that people would recognize them. If they walked around in a busy time saying ¡®We¡¯re celebrities¡¯, they could get scolded. The purpose was to experience one of the actual tasks of the Special Forces, which was patrol, but they could be misunderstood in other ways. Everyone was trying to hide it, but they also wanted to be recognized. Junghyun and Woojoo, and Hanjo didn¡¯t notice, but it seemed like many people recognized the cast of Men Go, a popr program. Thanks to that, the shoulders of the Men Go cast were raised. ¡°Ahem. Did you see that, kids?¡± ¡°This is us.¡± ¡°Wherever we go, celebrities stand out. How do they recognize us even when we¡¯re all wrapped up¡­¡± They chuckled and theyughed too. They looked at the photos they were in andmented on them one by one, while looking at the sky outside the window. Woojoo wondered what kind of reaction his kids were having. Jiho was probably searching ¡®where to buy that outfit¡¯, and Rihyuk was zooming in on the photos to check if the guns had safety locks on. Bijoo was¡­ ¡°What¡¯s wrong, Hyung?¡± ¡°Do you think Bijoo is saving our photos? Or not?¡± ¡°Maybe he¡¯s making video gifs too.¡± ¡°What? He knows how to make gifs now?¡± ¡°I can imagine him doing it, but I don¡¯t think he can actually do it.¡± ¡°¡­?¡± Woojoo gave up trying to understand what he meant. ¡°I¡¯m jealous.¡± Hanjo, who was sitting next to him, said, ¡°¡­By now, our members are probably trying to roast me with all kinds of ideas.¡± ¡°They care about you that much, that¡¯s why.¡± ¡°That must be it, right?¡± ¡°Besides, it¡¯s fun to tease each other¡­¡± He red at Woojoo and he smiled and looked away. They continued filming after cooling off on the bus. They agreed to meet again with the Special Forces in the evening and parted ways, and they toured the airport with the production staff. It was to show the viewers the people who keep the airport safe on a regr basis. The airport police, who handled various criminal cases at the airport. The aviation security staff of the airport corporation. The external personnel and EOD who patrol regrly. The customs who monitored the smuggling of drugs or dangerous goods. And finally, the 119 Emergency Team who responded when a patient urred. They visited various ces and interviewed the people there, and every time they made a scene, Woojoo was amazed. ¡°Wow¡­¡± ¡°There were so many hidden ces in the airport.¡± ¡°I¡¯ve never heard of most of the ces today. I thought there would only be a police station.¡± Woojoo didn¡¯t know the secrets of the airport when he only came for immigration because of overseas activities. Some agencies like the National Intelligence Service and the prosecution couldn¡¯t film because of security, but this was enough to surprise him. Junghyun and Woojoo whispered in the back. ¡°It¡¯s amazing.¡± ¡°It feels like we¡¯re exploring secret ces.¡± ¡°Right? Let¡¯s brag to the kids when we go back. We saw ces that no one can go to at the airport.¡± ¡°I¡¯m going to brag so much to Bijoo.¡± As they giggled and cheered each other on, PD Do Joongi spoke to the cast. ¡°This is thest ce for today. It¡¯s far from here, so we have to take a bus to get there.¡± ¡°What? We have to take a bus again?¡± ¡°Yes.¡± ¡°Ugh¡­ Where are you taking us now?¡± PD Do smiled slyly. ¡°You remember I told you to bring your passports, right?¡± ¡°Oh, right.¡± ¡°You¡¯ll need them for where we¡¯re going next.¡± ¡°What? Where is it?¡± The cast was buzzing with curiosity, but he didn¡¯t answer. ¡°We¡¯re not going to some weird ce again, are we?¡± ¡°Hey, don¡¯t be so nervous.¡± ¡°Is it the coast guard Special Forces this time? Are we taking a boat?¡± The mood turned cold at Jo Sohyung¡¯s joke. ¡°¡­¡± ¡°I¡¯m sorry.¡± ¡°¡­¡± Everyone nodded silently. But judging by the atmosphere, it didn¡¯t seem like they were going to a strange ce. The bus they boarded soon circled around the airport and entered a certain entrance. After checking their passports at the checkpoint, they let them through to a ce they never expected. ¡°Wow¡­!¡± It was the apron. The space where the nes were lined up outside the terminal. Even the cast members who often took flights were amazed as they got farther away from the airport terminal. They also moved through an underground tunnel that looked like something out of a hero movie. And when they passed by a ce where tow trucks were lined up, Lee Pilseung said, ¡°I just heard from PD Do that you need an ID to get in here.¡± ¡°Oh, so that¡¯s why he told us to bring our passports¡­¡± ¡°Why didn¡¯t he just tell us to bring our IDs?¡± ¡°Then he couldn¡¯t fish us.¡± ¡°Well, that¡¯s true. Was this Joongi¡¯s big n?¡± ¡°¡­But where are we going?¡± As soon as he said that, the bus slowed down. The huge tower that we always saw from afar through the ss at the airport was towering in front of them. It was the control tower. Everyone opened their mouths wide at the sight of the tower that could swallow up an average apartment. ¡°It¡¯s huge¡­¡± ¡°I thought it was small, but it¡¯s huge.¡± As they got off the vehicle, PD Do gave them a word of caution. ¡°This ce is a very important security facility, so the filming will be limited. We¡¯ll only watch from afar outside so we don¡¯t interfere with their work.¡± ¡°Yes!¡± ¡°Shall we go then?¡± They went through another identity check and took a tour of the control tower. The control room behind the ss door on the top floor of the elevator was filled withplex devices and people operating them. The camera filmed their reactions from the other side. After finishing the filming in a solemn atmosphere, they found the observatory prepared for outside visitors. ¡°Wow¡­¡± It was a ce where they could see the airport at a nce under the blue sky. It was as high as the 35th floor of an apartment. The airport looked like a model house model and the nes looked like toys. Woojoo always gasped when he saw a ne, but it looked different from here. How should he put it? It felt better. Every time he tried to take a ne, he was intimidated by its huge size or swallowed his saliva as he looked up. But the ne he saw from above was very small. It was funny how much he was afraid of it. It was like the feeling of seeing a big puppy that he was scared of when he was in kindergarten, and it looked small when he grew up. He smiled faintly at the thought that what he was afraid of was this small. He pressed his face close enough to touch his nose to the window. The cool air conditioner wind cooled the sweat on his back, and the heat from outside was transmitted through the ss that he pressed his face close to. It was amazing. The scenery of the nes going up and down in the cloudless weather was peaceful. It made him feel calm. Woojoo turned his head at the sight of someone staring at him, and Junghyun, who had been ncing sideways, only moved his eyes in that state. ¡°What¡¯s wrong?¡± ¡°Nothing.¡± Woojoo smiled. ¡°From here, the nes look really small, don¡¯t they?¡± ¡°Yeah, they do. They¡¯re small.¡± ¡°I didn¡¯t notice it when I saw them up close. But from afar, they look kind of cute.¡± It was like a vige where nes lived together. There were small and chubby nes, and nes with a mean look, and huge passenger nes. As Woojoo observed the nes with their own personalities, he chatted with Junghyun. ¡°How do you like it, everyone?¡± PD Do Joongi asked with a smile. ¡°This is the ce I wanted to go since I nned the special episode on the Special Forces Team. I really wanted to show this to you guys. It was worth asking the airport construction site for permission to film, right?¡± Among the smiling people, Woojoo nodded his head. It was definitely a sight worth seeing. At the same time, he felt grateful to the PD of Men Go for the first time since the recording started. The joint anti-terror training scheduled for the evening ended sessfully. ¡°Clear!¡± ¡°Clear!¡± ¡°Situation room, we have secured the base.¡± The training was very easy thanks to the three days of hard training. It was a scenario where a bomb threat was made to the airport. The Special Forces Team was in charge of subduing the terrorists, and they were in charge of carrying the bomb-proof bags or providing support fire for the Special Forces members. The training ended with the capture of the terrorists and the sessful dismantling of the explosives by the EOD. -Ah, this is the situation room broadcasting. Thank you all for participating in today¡¯s training. The radio from the situation room went on for a long time. -Also, we would like to thank the cast of ¡®Men on a Mission¡¯ for participating in today¡¯s training. The Special Forces members and they, who had been listening to the radio, smiled and gasped for breath. ¡°It¡¯s over!¡± ¡°Good job, everyone!¡± They all patted each other¡¯s shoulders and said they did a good job. Officer Go Kwangsoon and the Special Forces members hugged the cast with a smile, wiping off the sweat that had umted. Among the Tactical Team 1 members who lined up in a row. In a ce where the dark evening sky was visible, they stood in front of the camera in the same line as the opening. Lee Pilseung pped his hands and smiled. ¡°Yes, finally, the recording of Men on a Mission, the Special Forces Team special episode, is over-¡± ¡°It¡¯s over!¡± ¡°Woohoo¡­!¡± Sergeant Goughed with a wheeze at the sight of everyone hugging and rejoicing. Along with Lee Pilseung¡¯sment as the MC, they each had a time to share their thoughts on this training. As Woojoo fixed his hair that was messed up by the sweat, he received the microphone from the production team. ¡°How was it, Woojoo?¡± ¡°I think I felt a lot of things in many ways.¡± Woojoo said with a smile, ¡°To be honest, when I saw the ¡®Special Forces Team¡¯ sign, I thought, oh, this is really bad.¡± ¡°But it was fun when you actually came, right?¡± Woojoo pretended not to hear Sergeant Go Kwangsoon¡¯s words. ¡°The training was harder than I thought, and I felt my own limits in many ways. But fortunately, thanks to the help of the Special Forces Team, I think it was a time to upgrade myself by one level.¡± ¡°Woojoo¡­¡± ¡°I¡¯m sorry, but I can¡¯t talk because I¡¯m scared of Sergeant Go.¡± The Team 1 members dragged Sergeant Go, who was trying to approach him. As everyoneughed, Woojoo continued. ¡°I sincerely thank everyone who gave me this good experience¡­¡± The cast of Men Go broke the emotional atmosphere by saying ¡®Hey!¡¯ ¡°It doesn¡¯t sound sincere.¡± ¡°It can¡¯t be sincere.¡± ¡°There¡¯s only one way to check. Woojoo! Can you rmend this to someone else?¡± Woojoo smiled brightly at that. ¡°Of course.¡± ¡°Oh, who? Tell us if you have anyone.¡± The cast, who knew how to make content by looking at Woojoo¡¯s expression, was teasing him. He smiled brightly at their malicious expression. There was one thing he had agreed with the PD beforehand. ¡°I have a friend who debuted as an idol among my military juniors.¡± ¡°Oh, really?¡± ¡°He¡¯s a friend of mine named Kevin from APLB. He¡¯s a very adventurous guy, so I wanted to rmend him to try this experience.¡± The universe never died alone. ¡°Wow, what a water ghost¡­¡± ¡°He says that with a smile.¡± While the cast added theirments, Woojoo looked at the camera and recorded a video letter for Eunsung in the future. ¡°Kevin, or Eunsung. When you see this letter, you have toe out. Promise me.¡± ¡°Promise~!¡± ¡°You have to go to the army twice! Army again!¡± ¡°Army again!¡± They allughed and said ¡®Come on!¡¯ Woojoo couldn¡¯t help butugh too. Then, Hanjo said, ¡®We have a great friend on our team, Namu, Namu.¡¯ Everyoneughed. After Junghyun finished his shortment, the guests decided to p the te for the ending. They three pped their hands like scissors in harmony, and PD Do shouted, ¡°You¡¯ve worked really hard for three nights and four days!¡± ¡°Thank you!¡± ¡°You know there¡¯s a pork belly dinner nearby, right? If you don¡¯te, you¡¯ll go to the marines next time!¡± ¡°Hahaha! ¡­Wait a minute. Marines? Hey, Joongi.¡± The air was warm after the recording ended. They all walked to their managers andined, and they smiled brightly at Minki Hyung and Dowon Hyung. ¡°Minki Hyung! Dowon Hyung!¡± ¡°We¡¯re here yo.¡± They both burst intoughter. ¡°You did well. Ouch.¡± ¡°Both of your faces are half gone.¡± The managers gave them snacks andforted them as the soup ran down their faces. Ah. Why was he crying? It was only three nights and four days, but it felt so long. Woojoo saw Mrs. Kim Deoksoon and his siblings in front of him, and he didn¡¯t know what to do because he missed them so much. ¡°Kids, are you all doing well?¡± ¡°Uh, well¡­¡± When Dowon Hyung hesitated, three faces behind his big back popped out one by one. It was like a Russian matryoshka doll, popping out one after another. ¡°Ta-da!¡± ¡°We came to pick you up.¡± ¡°We¡¯re here!¡± Junghyun and Woojoo blinked their eyes for a moment and ran to their siblings. ¡°Kids!¡± ¡°Hyung!¡± ¡°I missed you!¡± ¡°Me too!¡± The staffughed at them as they hugged and cried like they hadn¡¯t seen each other in ten years. They all gathered in a circle like penguins and cried out loud. Squirm. ¡°Ugh, the smell of sweat¡­¡± ¡°Where are you going!¡± They grabbed Rihyuk, who tried to run away in the middle, and brought him back and jumped around. ¡°Hanjo-ssi! Come here!¡± ¡°Can I join you?¡± Hanjo, who was waiting for his manager to pick him up, came over and joined their group. After they were happy for a minute. PD said that the members could alsoe to the meat restaurant, and the siblings were happy and ran. ¡°Let¡¯s all go. If we count how much Woojoo earned for us this time, we wouldn¡¯t have enough to buy beef.¡± The cast of Men Go cheered. ¡°Joongi. Yeah! Let¡¯s eat beef.¡± ¡°Do you want to go to the marines after eating beef? Do you want to go to the army after eating pork?¡± ¡°¡­Can¡¯t I just not eat? If I don¡¯t eat.¡± Bijoo was envious of this united atmosphere and liked it. The cast of Men Go left first, and they moved to the meat restaurant in Yeongjongdo. Ah. Finally, the long recording of three nights and four days was over. It was liberation. Woojoo rubbed his shoulders with the fatigue that piled up on his body and chatted with his siblings. Ding dong- Woojoo looked at the sparkling phone screen. [Go Kwangsoon has invited Seon Woojoo to the ¡®Tactical Team 1¡¯ chat room] ¡¾Notice¡¿ Today is the day we invite Woojoo // We have a rock climbing meetup on the weekend ¡°¡­¡± Woojoo turned his head and saw the members of Tactical Team 1. They met Woojoo¡¯s eyes and gave him a cheerful smile and a thumbs-up as a group. ¡°¡­¡± What was this? Why did he feel like it wasn¡¯t over yet? Chapter 280: Trantor: MarcTempest Editor: Rxel Chapter 280 The Excitement Explodes @TheNewck.Official (The Special Forces members and the idol guests are standing at the airport. Hanjo and Woojoo are smiling faintly, and Junghyun looks like a satisfied rock.) We love you!! #Recording_Done #Special_Forces_Love_You #Sadness_of_Farewell #See_You_Someday #Someday #Next_Time #Time_to_Part #Goodbye_Airport Woojoo had a dream.He was standing at a bus stop in the countryside, when he saw a person whose back looked very familiar. It was their Deoksoondy, wearing a floral dress. ¡®Grandma!¡¯ Woojoo ran towards her, shouting, and grabbed her shoulder. As soon as he did, the person turned their head sharply. It was Sergeant Go Kwangsoon from Tactical Team 1. ¡®I¡¯m not Deoksoon, I¡¯m Kwangsoon.¡¯ ¡®Argh!¡¯ ¡®This is the Special Forces¡¯ disguise technique. Number 8.¡¯ Then he said he would teach Woojoo and started chasing him. As with all dreams, it was nonsense when he thought about it after waking up, but it was really horror when he was dreaming. But his fear was someone else¡¯s joy. ¡°Pwahaha!¡± When Woojoo told them about his dream at breakfast, his siblings burst intoughter. Woojoo gave them a serious look as theyy on the table, sobbing. ¡°Don¡¯tugh. I¡¯m serious.¡± ¡°Pwuhuh! Pwahaha!¡± ¡°Wow. Look at these brats. If you knew how tough and scary the Special Forces people are¡­¡± ¡°Ehehehe!¡± Wow. They were so mean. Woojoo remembered what happenedst night, as he watched them giggle. ¡®Call me! Woojoo!¡¯ ¡®Where are you going? Let¡¯s take a picture with the Hyungs!¡¯ ¡®Do you want to do something fun with us on the weekend?¡¯ After taking a group photo at the airport. Woojoo had a hard time getting away from the Tactical Team 1 members who asked him shyly, ¡®Do you want to be friends with us?¡¯ Their eyes were so round and bright, they looked like gym ahjusshis who wanted to recruit new members. Luckily, Woojoo managed to dodge them by saying, ¡®I only sleep 3 hours a day¡­¡¯ Woojoo said he would see them when he had time during the break, but he doubt they would remember that. ¡°They looked like they would never let you go yesterday.¡± ¡°¡­¡± Woojoo plugged his ears and muted them. Then, Durumi, who was sitting across from him, continued talking excitedly. That was when Bijoo intervened with a gentle smile. ¡°I think you made some good connections this time, Hyung.¡± ¡°Do you want me to introduce you?¡± ¡°Uh¡­ Where¡¯s the ketchup?¡± Woojooughed as he watched him avoid the topic. He wasn¡¯t wrong. He told the Special Forces people that yesterday. Idols were the busiest when they were rising, and they had more free time when they settled down. They started sending him messages fromst night. -Sessfully sold to nephew -Sessfully sold to father -Total 2 sesses. Let¡¯s work harder. Everyone. They were like they were carrying out some orders, saying ¡®Sales attempt¡­ Operation failed. He¡¯s a TNT fan.¡¯ Woojooughed as he read the messages. This was definitely a chance to get to know some good people¡­ ¡°Junghyun Hyung, do that. That. The thing where Woojoo Hyung threw a boomerang in training.¡± ¡°Hold on.¡± Junghyun grabbed a te and made a ¡®chop¡¯ sound with his mouth, pretending to catch a disc. Then he rolled his eyes around, mimicking Woojoo¡¯s expression of looking around. Woojoo¡¯s siblings startedughing, holding their stomachs. ¡°Pwahaha!¡± ¡°Hey, Kim Junghyun.¡± Bijoo made a bleak face. Still. Bijoo was the best¡­ ¡°I didn¡¯t see it. Do it again.¡± ¡°Wait. ¡­Chop!¡± ¡°Ha ha ha ha!¡± Woojoo smiled warmly as he watched his kidugh and p like a seal. What could you do when you met new good people? The people around them were so jealous. Woojoo licked his tongue as he looked at the guys who were furious at teasing him. ¡°I thought you would realize how precious I am while we were apart, but you¡¯re such ungrateful¡­¡± ¡°No, no. I realized how precious you are, Hyung.¡± ¡°Really?¡± ¡°It was boring without anyone to tease¡­ Ow!¡± The youngest, who got a flick on the forehead from Woojoo, made a sad face. Then, Rihyuk, who was next to him, tapped his phone. ¡°But we¡¯re finepared to them.¡± ¡°What do you mean?¡± ¡°It¡¯s from the Street Boys yesterday.¡± It was a 2-minute 45-second video file. When Woojoo pressed the y button on the messenger, the Street Boys were ying tag around Hanjo, who was lying on the bed tired. -Jeonguk! Kiyahhoo! -Hey! Stop it! -Kiyahhoo! The Street Boys members were pecking at their leader like a flock of pigeons, as if they had heard the handler episode that Junghyun and Woojoo had spread. Woojoo looked back and forth between the mess on the screen and the siblings who were elegantly teasing him over breakfast. Then he agreed right away. ¡°We¡¯re fine.¡± ¡°Right?¡± As theyughed happily, Woojoo heard Hanjo say ¡®Seon Woojoo, you¡¯re dead!¡¯ from the screen. After taking a sweet rest at the dorm in the morning. Woojoo went to work with a refreshed condition. When he visited the Management Team¡¯s office, Seokhwan Hyung looked incredulous. ¡°Did you rest at all?¡± ¡°I slept well, so don¡¯t worry.¡± ¡°You¡¯ll wear out your bones. Man. You should rest when you can. You¡¯re not a machine.¡± He scolded Woojoo, but he seemed to be d that he came. It was because the schedule was busy. It was already early July. Each department of thepany was working hard to prepare for their fourth album and solo concert. ¡°There¡¯s so much to do. Really.¡± The manager swept his hair back as he organized the papers and notes on the table. ¡°Your solo concert, it¡¯s such a big scale that there are more than one or two things to worry about. The sound, too.¡± It seemed to be the biggest performance they had prepared at thepany so far. The previous biggest concert was the encore concert of the bad singer Yoon Chanhyuk Sunbae at Jangchung Gymnasium. Scarlet¡¯s first solo concertst year was a bit smaller than that, at Olympic Hall. On the other hand, the ce where they would have their first concert was the handball stadium, which was bigger than the two ces he mentioned before. ¡°¡­¡± They looked at each other with strange eyes. ¡°I still can¡¯t believe it.¡± ¡°Me too. I feel like our manager is secretly filming us.¡± ¡°Did we really secure the venue for our concert?¡± Seokhwan Hyung showed them the official confirmation letter that said ¡®Handball Stadium¡¯. He said to them as they took a proof shot, ¡°It¡¯s hard to believe, isn¡¯t it? I¡¯m still nervous even while working, wondering if this is real.¡± ¡°Are you nervous too, Manager?¡± ¡°It took Scarlet, who was one of the fastest to have a solo concert, two years. Compared to them, you guys¡­¡± It was decided in less than a year. Usually, boy groups had concerts earlier and bigger than girl groups, but even considering that, it was exceptional. Of course, there were some groups like TNT who had their first concert in a 10,000-seat gymnastics stadium, but that was only possible for the really lucky rookies from big agencies. ¡°The concert theme, sound and lighting settings are all in progress as we discussed with youst time.¡± They listened carefully to the progress report from their manager. ¡°We¡¯ve scheduled the VCR shooting and photo shooting for next week. The goods are being prepared by the promotion team.¡± ¡°What about the session?¡± ¡°Woojoo, I got you the band session you wanted.¡± ¡°Oh, that¡¯s great.¡± Woojoo pped his hands with joy. He asked him to find a band session to perform live with them at the concert, and the list he showed him had some famous and talented people. He was really their manager. He did his job well. ¡°And this is the concert poster draft that the Promotion Team made. Do you want to see it?¡± ¡°Wow¡­¡± They smiled at each other as they heard one by one about the concert. ¡°We¡¯re really having a concert.¡± ¡°Hyung. I¡¯m already excited.¡± ¡°I¡¯ve always wanted to have a solo concert¡­¡± Even Junghyun, who would normally say ¡®Well, everyone is excited, so I¡¯m happy¡¯, was smiling happily. They danced with excitement, and Seokhwan Hyung said to them, ¡°Don¡¯t rx too much just because you¡¯re happy. This is when you have to tighten up more, you know?¡± ¡°Don¡¯t worry, Hyung.¡± ¡°That¡¯s right. We¡¯re pros.¡± Theyughed at the youngest¡¯s unconvincing tone. He pointed his index finger in the air and said ¡®It¡¯s a feeling~¡¯, and Seokhwan Hyung looked like he couldn¡¯t stop him. ¡°Well, that¡¯s the concert situation¡­ Oh, by the way, the production team of Men Go contacted me.¡± ¡°Hey, contact?! Why? What? Why?¡± ¡°Calm down, Jenmin.¡± The others calmed Woojoo down as he got excited, and Seokhwan Hyung said, ¡°I got a direct call from the PD, and he said you did a really good job. He asked me to pass on his thanks.¡± ¡°Ah¡­¡± ¡°I thought you saved a country or something.¡± Woojoo remembered the face of PD Do Joongi, who wasughing and saying ¡®Ratings!¡¯ while they were filming at the Special Forces. Their manager looked uneasy at Woojoo¡¯s smiling face. ¡°You didn¡¯t do anything weird or unusual this time, did you?¡± ¡°What¡¯s the standard for weirdness¡­?¡± ¡°Something that would make me grab your neck.¡± ¡°There are a few things that would make your back itch. Wait a minute.¡± Woojoo asked Junghyun, ¡°How bad is it to rub your earlobes?¡± ¡°Um, about half an earlobe.¡± ¡°He says half an earlobe, Hyung.¡± ¡°¡­¡± Seokhwan Hyungughed resignedly and rubbed his earlobes in advance. Then he got back to the point. ¡°They want to take Junghyun for a checkup or something. They said they¡¯ll insert it as a bonus scene. I¡¯ve already scheduled it.¡± ¡°Oh, that.¡± They told him to go for a checkup because his muscles were abnormal at the Special Forces. He exined to the curious people. ¡°My body is weird.¡± ¡°¡­?¡± ¡°I have to go to the hospital.¡± ¡°¡­?¡± It was a perfect exnation. The people who were staring at him with their eyes wide open moved their eyes to Woojoo. It was Woojoo¡¯s turn to rub his earlobes. ¡°That¡¯s not it¡­¡± When Woojoo exined it clearly, they all looked relieved and said ¡°Oh, I see¡±. Seokhwan Hyung eximed, ¡°But I¡¯m curious about this too. The schedule for that day¡­ let me see. If the schedule is empty, I¡¯ll go with you and watch.¡± Woojoo smiled at the manager who was checking the calendar. Well, he wouldn¡¯t miss this kind of opportunity either. His siblings also said they had to see it no matter what. Junghyun, who was slightly worried about the hospital, soon chuckled. ¡°Then, let¡¯s talk to the PR Team about the goods¡­¡± ¡°Yes.¡± When they thought the conversation was over and tried to get up. ¡°Where are you going? There¡¯s one more important thing to talk about.¡± ¡°Important thing?¡± ¡°Manager. What¡¯s more important than the concert?¡± ¡°Agreed.¡± As they said that while standing up, Seokhwan Hyung said, ¡°Your settlement.¡± When Woojoo came to his senses, they all looked like they had just woken up and were glued to their chairs with sparkling eyes. The settlement day of New ck. It was a time to reward the hard work of the New ck members who had been running non-stop from January to June. Five consecutive weeks of music show wins. Seven consecutive weeks of chart-topping. Slip¡¯s OST ¡®A Poem About Yesterday¡¯, ¡®Life¡¯, and ¡®Deoksoon-ah¡¯, Legendary Song Discovery. Themercials aired on terrestrial TV. It was hard to describe how much they had ¡®made it¡¯ except for that word, and even without the royalties, it was a huge amount of money. And unlike Woojoo, who had made money through royalties, it was the first big money for the members. ¡°Wow¡­¡± ¡°So that¡¯s why Woojoo Hyung kept saying bank treatment, bank treatment.¡± ¡°What do I do, Hyungs. I¡¯m so proud of myself right now and I don¡¯t know what to do.¡± The members who had received their bankbooks smiled happily. They each checked their settlement amount and spent time with their families. ¡°Son¡­?¡± ¡°Hyung?¡± ¡°Brother?¡± Department store. In a ce full of luxurious stores, Bijoo¡¯s family blinked their eyes, unable to find a ce to look. As their eyes met, Bijoo smiled brightly and held up his wallet. ¡°I¡¯m rich! Anything you want¡­¡± ng, ng. As they saw the 100 won and 50 won coins falling from the wallet, the family burst intoughter. Bijoo, who was squatting down and picking up the coins, smiled brightly. ¡°Really, buy whatever you want.¡± It was a happy time for everyone. ¡°I, I wanted to try this too. Woojoo Hyung said he did this for his grandma. I¡¯ll buy everything from here to here¡­¡± As Bijoo went from one end of the hanger to the other, he suddenly disappeared. ¡°¡­Son, where did you go?¡± ¡°Bijoo!¡± ¡°Hyung, why do you get lost even here¡­?¡± That day, the department store celebrity sighting post had ¡®New ck Bijoo not a concept lost child ??¡¯. Meanwhile, the other families were also having a good time. Expensive meat restaurant. Junghyun, who had put on an apron, looked at his father with a meat tongs and said, ¡°Dad. What is the meat that your son buys for you?¡± ¡°Love?¡± ¡°Of course it¡¯s meat. What are you talking about, Dad?¡± ¡°Hey. You bastard!¡± The meat restaurant owner politely sped his hands and took orders as much as Junghyun¡¯s family ate meat by the kg. ¡°Jiho, are you upset?¡± ¡°¡­¡± ¡°My youngest~¡± ¡°No, I¡¯m not really hurt. I bought these expensive gifts and everything, but they only talk about the letter. No, I¡¯m not hurt¡­ I¡¯m really not hurt. Anyway, if they like the letter so much, I¡¯ll only write letters from now on.¡± He was upset to see his family only moved by the handwritten letter, even though he had bought them expensive gifts. ¡°Ah, it¡¯s so quiet¡­ I feel like I¡¯m alive¡­ Oof!¡± Someone had turned the hotel bathroom into a water park after slipping in the jacuzzi while trying to read a book. And then. ¡¾Farming Children = Huge Sess¡¿ Stepmom [My son bought me a gift hehehe] Stepmom [I¡¯m so happy~~~] Junghyun¡¯s Dad [(Picture)] Junghyun¡¯s Dad [There¡¯s more food than we can eat, good, good] Junghyun¡¯s Dad [We ate until we couldn¡¯t breathe, today was our best effort] Jiho¡¯s Dad [The heart is what matters most] Jiho¡¯s Dad [(Picture)] Jiho¡¯s Dad [But the son of a gun only wrote two lines in his letter] Jiho¡¯s Dad [Even kimbap has more than two lines] The group chat was filled with reviews saying ¡®I¡¯m so happy~¡¯. And among them, there was someone who showed a rxed attitude while looking at the messages that kepting up. It was Mrs. Kim Deoksoon, who had a smile of satisfaction on her face. Gunsan City. A couple who hade for a trip was wandering around the city to find some good restaurants. ¡°It should be around here¡­¡± ¡°Is it really that good?¡± ¡°It alwayses up when you search for the best Korean meal. A senior I know went there and he always talks about their crab dish whenever he mentions Gunsan.¡± ¡°Really?¡± The couple turned into a side street as they said ¡®the owner is grumpy but he gives a lot of side dishes¡¯. But unfortunately, when they arrived, the store shutter was already down. As they were about to leave, looking at the shabby sign that said ¡®Soon¡¯s Korean Meal¡¯. ng, a sound came along with the store door opening and someone came out. ¡°Whoa¡­? Who¡¯s that?¡± ¡°Maybe that¡¯s the owner. Let¡¯s ask¡­¡± They stopped in their tracks as they saw the person¡¯s outfit who came out of the store. Anyone could tell that it was an attire for going home after finishing the business. As they were feeling disappointed and hoping for the next time, a sound caught their attention. Beep, beep- A fire lit up in a luxury foreign car that was parked nearby. The grandmother who owned the Korean meal ce lightly brushed her hair that was fluttering in the wind and wrapped a scarf elegantly. ¡®Could it be that she¡¯s the owner of that car¡­?¡¯ ¡®Is she the car owner¡­?¡¯ As they blinked and stared, the car swiftly passed by them. They thought they heard a familiar song from inside the car. It was Deoksoon-ah sung by some idol. As the car zoomed by, they blinked their eyes. ¡°Wow. I only heard stories that famous restaurant owners drive Benz when they close the shutter. It must be a really famous Korean meal ce. The owner¡¯s car is¡­¡± ¡°It must be doing really well?¡± The couple, who seemed to have stopped thinking at the same point, turned their heads and looked at each other. The man said seriously, ¡°Should wee back here tomorrow?¡± ¡°Let¡¯s do that.¡± It was the moment when a wrong misunderstanding was arising among the tourists who visited Gunsan. Lemon Entertainment. The A&R Team staff, who had documents tucked under their arms, entered the conference room with yawns. ¡°Hello!¡± ¡°Hi~¡± The staff smiled at the cheerful greetings of the New ck members. They looked much brighter than before, thanks to the recent hiring of external staff. After exchanging stories about the airport masked viin meme that had been a hot topic a while ago. ¡°You all got your settlement, right? Congrattions.¡± ¡°Thank you.¡± ¡°What did you do?¡± ¡°I bought gifts for my family or used it for personal purposes.¡± Someone said with a hint of envy, ¡°You have to be careful. You¡¯re not the only ones who get scammed. Seriously.¡± ¡°I know. The President personally contacted us on the settlement day. He said to be careful of these and those scammers¡­¡± ¡°Well. The President is very thorough about that.¡± As they were talking, Director Jo Gyuhwan, the chief producer, walked into the conference room with a coffee in his hand. ¡°Good morning, everyone~¡± He pulled out a chair and sat down across from the head seat, and the meeting began with Woojoo sitting in the middle of the table. ¡°Uh¡­¡± But Woojoo¡¯s reaction was strange today. He seemed to have something to say, but he hesitated. Instead of his usual cheerful smile, he had a somewhat awkward grin on his face. ¡®Why is he acting like this?¡¯ ¡®Is he suddenly shy?¡¯ ¡®You are free, everyone. Shout it out. Woojoo.¡¯ As they watched him with different thoughts, a soft voice came out. ¡°Um, I have something I want to tell the staff.¡± ¡°Something you want to tell?¡± Director Jo tilted his head. ¡°What is it?¡± ¡°¡­I realized something important while filming ¡®Men Go¡¯ this time. I wanted to tell you before the meeting started.¡± ¡°Tell us.¡± ¡°First, I have a question.¡± ¡°Yeah.¡± It was when Director Jo and the A&R Team members nodded and sipped their iced americanos. Woojoo asked, ¡°Um, was I the Dooly that everyone was talking about at thepany?¡± ¡°Pfft-!¡± Coffee fountains erupted all over the conference room. Chapter 281: Chapter 281: Trantor: MarcTempest Editor: Rxel Chapter 281 The A&R Team members quickly regained theirposure after a brief moment of panic. ¡°Wow, this coffee is bitter¡­¡± ¡°I didn¡¯t expect that, so I spat it out.¡± ¡°How can you suddenly bring up Dooly when we¡¯re eating? Woojoo, you made meugh so hard that I spit out my coffee.¡± The best thing to do in this situation was to act innocent. They were amazed by their own improvisational acting skills, which came from years of working as professionals.The youngest member, who was scanning the room, whispered to the leader of New ck with a sly expression, ¡°Jiho said you guys are all acting right now.¡± ¡°¡­¡± ¡°He said your eye contact and voice are awkward.¡± ¡°¡­¡± Their acting, which they had put all their effort into, was instantly exposed by the youngest actor. They exchanged nces. ¡®What do we do? Director Jo?¡¯ ¡®Why are you looking at me? Look somewhere else.¡¯ Director Jo Gyuhwan pretended not to notice the gazes of his juniorposers and sipped his coffee. Meanwhile, Woojoo narrowed his eyes even more. The staff members rolled their eyes, seeing that he had already figured out the situation. ¡®Does he know everything? Is this how a criminal feels when being interrogated by the police?¡¯ ¡®Who leaked Dooly? Come out.¡¯ ¡®No, we never mentioned it in front of the kids¡­¡¯ It was a mystery. They had only joked about ¡®Woojoo¡¯s Dooly theory¡¯ as a prank. As they threw suspicious looks at each other, wondering who had made their kid worry about such things. ¡°Junghyun heard it a while ago.¡± Woojoo said seriously, ¡°Rihyuk hears well during the day, and Junghyun hears well at night.¡± ¡°That¡¯s right.¡± Junghyun answered happily, and Rihyuk covered his face with both hands, feeling embarrassed. The staff members epted his exnation. It was possible for Junghyun. They didn¡¯t know exactly why, but it was natural for Junghyun to eavesdrop on the conversations on the third floor from the basement, with his ear against the wall. As the situation reached this point, they smiled awkwardly. They had teased him as ¡®our music nerd¡¯ as a joke, but it felt like they had said something behind his back. Someone tried tough it off. ¡°That, that¡¯s because you¡¯re cute, Woojoo. That¡¯s why you got that nickname.¡± ¡°¡­¡± Only Bijoo nodded his head with a convinced expression, while the others looked dumbfounded. As Junghyun rubbed his ears vigorously. Woojoo smiled and said, ¡°You don¡¯t have to exin. I didn¡¯t ask to verify the truth. I just wanted to say something that I felt while I was in the Special Forces.¡± ¡°What did you want to say?¡± ¡°Yes. I experienced a lot of things in the Special Forces¡­¡± Then Woojoo told them the episode that happened in ¡®Men Go¡¯ with a sad expression. How the Tactical Team 1 followed him to the end of hell. How he saw the faces of the A&R Team members and Director Jo in the mirror when he went to wash his face. ¡°Pwahaha!¡± The listeners burst intoughter, while the speaker was serious. Jiho asked Rihyuk something, then pointed at Woojoo and cackled, saying ¡®Karma! Karma!¡¯ Woojoo sent him a cold look, and Junghyun took care of them. ¡°Anyway, that¡¯s why I didn¡¯t know how hard you guys worked until now.¡± ¡°I see. You usually would have checked the songs as soon as you came back, but you didn¡¯te today.¡± ¡°Yes. I was a bit embarrassed¡­¡± Woojoo smiled sheepishly and said, ¡°I¡¯m sorry if I was negligent in any way.¡± ¡°What are you sorry for?¡± They waved their hands. ¡°Hey, do you know how muchte-night food we got from you¡­¡± ¡°We should work hard, considering how much we ate. You don¡¯t have to apologize for anything.¡± ¡°I gain 10 kilograms every time you prepare an album.¡± They always joked, saying ¡®Woojoo ising! Run away!¡¯ but it was just a yful remark. They were always grateful for his generosity. ¡®Are you hungry? What do you want to eat for thete-night snack~ Chicken feet go go?¡¯ ¡°I brought some gifts from Taiwan! You said Yeeun started elementary school, right? Tell her it¡¯s from Uncle Woojoo.¡± ¡°Boss, this is thetest trendy floral shirt.¡± Woojoo was always taking care of them, no matter what happened. At first, the employees were skeptical, saying ¡°We¡¯re not even getting paid for this¡­¡± But gradually, they changed their views, thinking ¡°He¡¯s such a nice guy.¡± And thanks to the sess of the album, the employees who participated in the arrangement orposition also earned extra ie from royalties. ¡°We don¡¯t like it either, but we¡¯re not forcing you to help us. Don¡¯t think like that. Woojoo.¡± ¡°Yeah. Why are you apologizing?¡± ¡°¡­Thank you.¡± Woojoo smiled awkwardly and scratched his cheek at theforting words of the employees. ¡°I¡¯m so sorry, so I bought some gifts for you with the settlement I received.¡± ¡°No, what gifts. It¡¯s fine¡­¡± Their words changed when Woojoo pulled out the gifts. ¡°Woojoooo¡­!¡± ¡°I picked some of them, but these are also what we bought together to celebrate the settlement.¡± ¡°Guys!¡± The people who saw the gifts that Woojoo prepared were moved by the wave of emotion. ¡°The letter was sponsored by Rihyuk.¡± ¡°Rihyuk!¡± ¡°¡­Please treat me like I¡¯m not here.¡± Rihyuk covered his face with both hands and groaned. While the New ck members and the A&R Team employees were taking a friendly brotherhood photo, saying ¡°Wow!¡± and ¡°You¡¯re the best, bro!¡± ¡°¡­¡± Director Jo Gyuhwan, who was sitting in the seat of honor, blinked his eyes. ¡°Something seems weird¡­¡± They were exchangingpliments with each other, saying ¡°You worked hard¡± and ¡°What hard work¡±, in a warm atmosphere. But he felt a sense of difort. It was like a ¡°scary picture if you look closely¡± type of inte horror story, where there was something missing in the cheerful picture. As Director Jo was thinking deeply, a messenger notification popped up on the bottom of hisptop screen. Na Sangyoon [Hello¡­ Director¡­] Na Sangyoon [The work is done] Na Sangyoon [I sent the song] ¡°¡­d?¡± Director Jo blinked his eyes. The reply of the person who spoke like he had burned everything in white had been cut off for more than 30 minutes. It felt like he was nodding off while typing. ¡°Come to think of it¡­¡± Theplexion of the A&R Team employees had improved a lot. After the external staff were brought in, their faces that had been dripping with sweat became soft and smooth. Then he realized what was missing. It was the externalposers who were still losing their souls from their mouths, saying ¡°Ugh¡­¡± at this hour. ¡°Well, at least they get royalties there.¡± He thought that Woojoo, who took good care of even the passing people, would treat them well too. Of course, it would be a little, very little bit hard. But when the album did well, they would get rewarded as well. ¡°Still, it¡¯s kind of pitiful¡­¡± Director Jo expressed his condolences to them, looking at someone who was smiling brightly among the employees. He sincerely felt sorry for them for three seconds. ¡°Wow¡­¡± Director Jo Gyuhwan¡¯s eyes softened as he saw the beautiful tea cup set in the gift box. ¡°Oh, this is exactly my taste¡­¡± He stroked the tea cup set and smiled contentedly. The album work progressed smoothly. After checking the main points of the album in the producing meeting, they moved on to the confirmation of the tracks. The songs were mostlypleted. The A&R Team employees gave OK signs every time they heard the songs that Woojoo and theposers coborated on. ¡°You did a good job, didn¡¯t you?¡± The team leader stroked his beard as he reviewed each song. ¡°I was a bit worried when you and Junghyun said you wanted to add some hip-hop color. It¡¯s a genre that can be neither here nor there if you touch it poorly. It¡¯s funny like kids saying yo! yo!¡± He praised the songs. ¡°But you really pulled it off. The hip-hop color is there, but it¡¯s notpletely hip-hop, which is good for starters.¡± ¡°I was careful about that part. I didn¡¯t want to cause any trouble.¡± ¡°Yeah. Rappers are a bit picky, aren¡¯t they?¡± Unlike other music genres, hip hop has a strong sentiment of clearly distinguishing what was real hip hop and what was not. So instead of trying hip hoppletely, they went for a direction of adopting elements of hip hop into their music. First of all, Woojoo knew a bit about various genres, but he was ignorant of the details of specific genres. So he filled in the gaps of what he didn¡¯t know about hip hop with the help of industry seniors like rapper Junghyun or Heysion. The other staff members also praised the songs on the album. ¡°Who came up with the idea of adding electronic sounds in the middle? It¡¯s really good.¡± ¡°This is good. I got a feeling from the guide. Did you write the lyrics? If you write good lyrics, I think your fans will like it.¡± ¡°It¡¯s faster than the trend¡­ But it¡¯s not unfamiliar and it¡¯s good.¡± Every time the word ¡®good¡¯ came out, a smile naturally formed on Woojoo¡¯s lips. Theposers who stayed up all night with them and worried about the sound also smiled and patted their chests. ¡°If we only look at the songs, ny out of a hundred? The fans will love it when the albumes out.¡± ¡°We talked a lot about that too.¡± ¡°It¡¯s apletely different concept from before.¡± They nodded their heads. This album was a different concept from before, so he guessed they would change their hair color from what they had until now. The clothes would also be simr to street fashion, even if not as much as Street Boys. They had a lot of worries because they were trying to change their image in many ways. Like the coolness of the deep house in Fireworks, or the sensuality of Masquerade. Or a different texture from the warm pop feeling of Windflower. They wondered every day if the Souffl¨¦s and the public would like it. Meanwhile, apart from that worry, another problem popped up during the meeting. ¡°The problem is the title song¡­¡± The A&R Team, theposers, and New ck looked at each other with subtle expressions as they looked at theptop screen. ¡°Honestly, among the songs, there¡¯s nothing that can be a title¡­¡± ¡°We think so too. It¡¯s a shame.¡± Theposers confirmed the vague words of thepany staff. The problem was the title. There was no song that could be the main attraction of this album. They originally nned to choose one of the songs, but they couldn¡¯t find any edge. Usually, a title song was a song that shone alone among the songs. In other words, it was like Jiho, who lived in the vige with Rihyuk. But looking at the current state of the songs, it felt like a dozen Rihyuks were hustling. It was harmonious, but there was no punch. The A&R Team leader, who was scratching his head due to the unexpected trouble, asked, ¡°What kind of feeling did you want for the title song?¡± ¡°A feeling of bursting with excitement.¡± Junghyun answered, ¡°Masquerade was addictive, but it wasn¡¯t something that made your body sway just by listening. I¡¯m of the opinion that songs should always be exciting¡­ I wish it was a song that made you sway just by listening.¡± ¡°An unexpected taste. Junghyun.¡± ¡°Junghyun Hyung is always unexpected.¡± Everyoneughed at the youngest¡¯s words. But they soon fell into deep thought because of the title song. There were several alternatives, but none of them were satisfactory, so they quickly made a decision. ¡°We¡¯ll try to make something new ourselves.¡± ¡°Will you make it in time?¡± ¡°Yes, as long as ites to mind, writing is fast.¡± It always took time to fine-tune, but writing a title song always ended in a short time. That was how they agreed as the meeting continued. The A&R Team looked through the songs that came from outside, theposers also tried to challenge the title song. And they went their own way, trying all three routes. ¡°Let¡¯s prepare exciting songs for now.¡± The team leader said as the meeting ended, ¡°Like Junghyun said, something that makes anyone explode with excitement.¡± ¡°Yes.¡± ¡°Oh, Woojoo.¡± ¡°Yes?¡± ¡°Don¡¯t prepare something like trot. With saxophone sounds and stuff.¡± ¡°Team leader.¡± He treated Woojoo like a trot fan because of the way he sang ¡®Deoksoon-ah¡¯ cheerfully. He smiled and said to him, ¡°I¡¯m twenty-three years old.¡± Ding, ding, ding. Woojoo stopped tapping the piano app keys on the tablet PC and turned his head to his brothers. ¡°How is it?¡± ¡°Uh¡­¡± Bijoo fidgeted with his hands. ¡°Um, Hyung, uh¡­¡± ¡°Just say it. Hyung. I¡¯m old, right?¡± ¡°Ah, no, that¡¯s not what I meant. You¡¯re not old, Hyung. You just have a¡­ mature vibe, I guess¡­¡± ¡°Like the old songs that grandpas like, Hyung.¡± Their youngest was not one to hold back. ¡°When you ride a bike by the Han River, there are grandpas who st their radios and pedal like crazy. They y those old songs, with titles like Han River Bad.¡± ¡°Wait a minute. How about this one?¡± ¡°Ugh, ugh, ugh!¡± Their youngest expressed his rejection with a three-part falsetto. Their Mrs. Deoksoon loved this song and said it was so fun and nice. ¡°Think of something that the general public would like, Hyung.¡± ¡°Like this?¡± Woojoo gently moved his fingers. ¡°Wow. Hyung. That¡¯s much better!¡± ¡°I think this is good too?¡± He felt a slight pang of disappointment at their sudden improvement. Maybe his taste was not for them. He secretly mixed in some of his preferences, but they were pros who could catch any sound like ghosts. ¡°Hey, where did you hide that¡­!¡± ¡°You¡¯ll get a chicken head if you lie, Hyung. You have to eat only the bones when you eat chicken.¡± They didn¡¯t fall for it. Woojoo swallowed his regret and closed the piano app on his tablet PC. Then he looked out the window. Early July. It was a hot summer day before the rainy season started. The cool air conditioner breeze was nice, but he felt the heat every time the sun touched his skin. They were on their way to the Olive House branch near Hapjeong Station. It was for the TV ad they got thanks to Bijoo¡¯s birthday party. ¡°The more you share, the more fun you have~!¡± ¡°Come to Olive House!¡± They practiced the ad script while also discussing the title song for their fourth album. A song that would make them explode with excitement. It seemed like an easy thing to say, but the problem was that they were not easy kids, but difficult ones. When Woojoo asked each other what they liked, they said: ¡°EDM. EDM.¡± ¡°Is it just me? I don¡¯t get excited when I sing bads. I love the feeling of bursting when I hit the high notes.¡± ¡°If you¡¯re excited, it¡¯s rapid-fire rap.¡± ¡°I feel like I explode with excitement when the choreography is fun.¡± It was like an expo with all kinds of tastes on disy. Rihyuk, who was in charge of taking notes for the meeting, summarized it. ¡°So, to satisfy all of us, we need a retro EDM with a bad chorus, a rap part that¡¯s rapid-fire, and a choreography that makes us gasp for breath.¡± ¡°¡­¡± ¡°It feels like sprinkling sugar on kimchi.¡± In the end, the first meeting about the exciting song failed due to differences in opinions. They epted it with a warm smile and a ¡®well, that¡¯s that¡¯ attitude, and got out of the car when the manager said they arrived. ¡°Hello! We are New ck!¡± They greeted the ad shooting staff one by one as they entered the Olive House store. They smiled at the sight of them wearing the Olive House t-shirts they matched. The empty store was filled with expensive shooting equipment and food. ¡°Wow¡­¡± There were steaks, soups, and other dishes lined up on the table. They all looked freshly cooked, with steam rising from them, and there were several of each kind prepared for the shooting. As Woojoo drooled with his siblings, he asked a passing staff member with a serious expression, ¡°Are we supposed to eat this?¡± ¡°Uh¡­ yes.¡± The other person¡¯s reaction was somewhat cautious. ¡°Do you need a bowl or something?¡± ¡°A bowl?¡± ¡°A bowl to spit out what you chew.¡± ¡°Do we have to spit it out¡­?¡± ¡°Sometimes idols or actors who manage their weight chew and spit it out right away¡­¡± ¡°Oh, we¡¯re on a break right now, so it¡¯s fine.¡± He smiled with relief as Woojoo nodded his head, saying ¡®We eat very well.¡¯ He must have been worried that they would throw a fit on the set, saying ¡®We¡¯re on a diet and we¡¯re annoyed, do we have to eat this?!¡¯ It was the same at thestmercial shoot, but Woojoo felt like the staff were treating them more and more like princes. Maybe they thought ¡®We can¡¯t let them get upset!¡¯ It was a good thing that they promised to be blunt with each other, to avoid getting a celebrityplex. ¡°Let¡¯s go, kids.¡± ¡°Yes, boss.¡± They changed into their costumes and got their makeup done in the dressing room. Today¡¯s concept was a casual vibe, with a birthday party at a restaurant. As they came out of the staff dressing room, the director greeted them with a bright smile. ¡°Wee.¡± ¡°Hello. Thank you for having us today!¡± ¡°I should be the one thanking you. You always prepare so hard for everymercial shoot, it makes me worry less.¡± He praised them and lifted their spirits. ¡°Today¡¯s concept is basically fun explosion! That¡¯s the vibe we¡¯re going for. We¡¯ll y some upbeat songs for you. Just have fun and enjoy yourselves. Like you¡¯re having a real birthday party.¡± ¡°Leave it to us. We¡¯re good at that kind of thing.¡± ¡°Haha, are you?¡± ¡°Yes. And we also eat very well.¡± ¡°Eat?¡± he asked Woojoo in response. ¡°Yes, there¡¯s a scene where you eat in the script.¡± ¡°Oh. That changed a bit.¡± ¡°What?¡± ¡°We nned a scene where you all eat together, but when we rehearsed it, it looked too messy.¡± ¡°¡­¡± Everyone¡¯s faces fell as Bijoo asked, ¡°Then who¡¯s going to eat that food?¡± ¡°We changed it to the kids.¡± Just then, five little kids came out of the dressing room. They looked about kindergarten age. They had bright eyes and clear features, and they were wearing the same clothes as them. Normally, they would have said ¡®Aw, how cute.¡¯ But they looked at them with envy in their eyes, and the kids shrank back. ¡°Then¡­¡± Junghyun asked with a sullen face, ¡°Can¡¯t we eat?¡± ¡°No. We changed it to one person eating. We¡¯re going to get a solo shot of the person who eats the best.¡± ¡°¡­¡± ¡°Is there anyone who¡¯s confident in eating or facial expressions?¡± ¡°¡­¡± At that moment, Woojoo¡¯s eyes met with Junghyun¡¯s and Jihoo¡¯s. And then they all raised their hands. ¡®Firste, first served.¡¯ ¡®There¡¯s no order here, Hyung.¡¯ ¡®I¡¯m the best at eating.¡¯ It was a fierce battle that no one could give up. And in the midst of that, Rihyuk, who was licking his tongue at them, raised his hand with Bijoo, looking innocent. Chapter 282: Trantor: MarcTempest Editor: Rxel Chapter 282 After asking the director for some time to discuss, they gathered around. Rihyuk showed them the storyboard and said, ¡°Let¡¯s go over the concept of the ad first.¡± ¡°Okay.¡± ¡°We¡¯re having a birthday party here, and we smell the steak and reminisce about the old days, right?¡± The ad content was simple. Friends who had been close since childhood gathered at Olive House for a birthday party.They wore cone hats and sang happily, until someone smelled the steak. ¡®No way. This scent of memories¡­!¡¯ They said, ¡®We used toe to Olive House when we were young. It was so nice back then.¡¯ and remembered the past. They danced and shouted ¡®Olive House rocks!¡¯ after finding the joy of their childhood. Rihyuk exined, ¡°You see, there¡¯s a poetic phrase at the beginning of the ad. It says, ¡®Scent revives memories.¡¯¡± ¡°Yeah.¡± ¡°When I see this phrase, I think of Marcel Proust¡¯s novel ¡®In Search of Lost Time¡¯. There, the protagonist recalls his memories from the smell of madeleines¡­¡± ¡°Hyung.¡± Jiho cut him off with his hand. ¡°Summarize it in three sentences, Hyung.¡± ¡°Fair enough.¡± ¡°Rihyuk, we¡¯re all starving here. Are you giving us a literature lecture?¡± Rihyuk blushed and grumbled at their protest. ¡°Anyway, I¡¯m the one who understands the intention of this ad the best.¡± ¡°So you want to taste it?¡± He didn¡¯t say it, but he seemed to want to. Woojoo smiled at his siblings and said, ¡°Let¡¯s exclude him.¡± ¡°Agreed.¡± ¡°I¡¯m in.¡± Rihyuk tried to resist, saying ¡®No¡¯, but he was pushed out by their backs. He came back and cried, ¡®Let me in! Please!¡¯ but they firmly blocked him with a scrum. ¡°Rihyuk, you have to win by eating, not by talking.¡± ¡°Right. You shoot an ad with your body, not your head. How can you eat it all by yourself?¡± ¡°No way~¡± They all said ¡®No way~¡¯ and snapped their fingers, making the crane p his wings in anger. ¡°Wow. You guys are so mean. I¡¯ll remember this and get revenge in 10 years.¡± ¡°Rihyuk, eat something sweet. Something sweet.¡± Dowon Hyung gave him a protein bar and calmed him down. The rest of them had a serious discussion. ¡°Let¡¯s leave it to fate. Rock-paper-scissors.¡± ¡°Eh-heh.¡± The siblings red at Woojoo with their eyes wide open. ¡°Come on, rock-paper-scissors is random. Didn¡¯t you see me lose to an elementary school kid Souffl¨¦ in Japan?¡± ¡°That¡¯s because he was an elementary school kid, Hyung.¡± ¡°True.¡± They didn¡¯t buy it. Ever since Woojoo threw a dart to pick who to take to Men Go, no one believed in random anymore. Jiho suggested, ¡°Then how about this? We each act like we¡¯re eating, and the one who does it best gets the meat.¡± ¡°Sounds good.¡± ¡°Um, then I¡¯ll give it a try¡­¡± They asked the director to pick the best eater, and he dly agreed. Then the president of Olive House Korea, the advertiser, chimed in. ¡°How about we make it a contest?¡± ¡°A contest?¡± ¡°We have plenty of time for shooting, so why don¡¯t we try a contest format? We can also film the behind-the-scenes.¡± He was a businessman indeed. He seemed to have in mind not only the TV ad, but also the behind-the-scenes video to promote. Of course, they agreed. The advertiser smiled and nodded. He was clearly the boss of this ce, and everyone felt morefortable with him. ¡°Alright, then let¡¯s do it.¡± They each sat at a table and pretended to eat with an empty te. The assistant director filmed the behind-the-scenes while the staff gathered around. The Olive House Headquarters employees who were making food in the kitchen also came out and watched with their aprons on. Woojoo wondered if they should hang a banner that said ¡®The First Eating Contest¡¯. ¡°That¡¯s because you¡¯re a kid, Hyung.¡± ¡°Yeah.¡± ¡°Number 1, Kim Junghyun.¡± Junghyun stretched out his hands in the air and said, ¡°Come on, everyone p, p.¡± He prompted apuse like a stage performer and the Olive House advertiser and employees pped andughed. Then Junghyun sat in front of the camera and started to eat with a fork and knife. Someone muttered. ¡°Oh¡­¡­ That looks delicious.¡± ¡°What¡¯s delicious? You can¡¯t see anything.¡± ¡°It¡¯s the vibe?¡± The staff eximed ¡®wow¡¯ as Junghyun sucked in the imaginary steak. The advertiser stroked his chin with satisfaction at his serious eating performance. But he wasn¡¯t chosen. ¡°Hmm¡­¡­.¡± ¡°He eats well, but¡­¡­.¡± ¡°He looks like he¡¯s eating rice soup.¡± It was because of the old-fashioned vibe. He was eating steak, but somehow he looked like he was eating a warm bone broth soup, which was unsuitable for a family restaurant. Junghyun came back with a sullen face after finishing his act. ¡°I look sad, right? Hyung.¡± ¡°Yeah.¡± ¡°Will this expression arouse sympathy?¡± ¡°I¡¯ll just buy you a steakter.¡± ¡°Really?¡± ¡°Yeah.¡± He quickly cheered up and turned back into a cuddly bear. Woojoo smiled at him. Okay. Onepetitor eliminated. Meanwhile, their second one walked out quietly. ¡°Hello. I¡¯m Kim Bijoo, 21 years old, from Dongjak-gu, Seoul.¡± They burst outughing. Why was he auditioning? He looked nervous like an audition participant who was taking a camera test and did his eating performance. His warm smile was praised, but. ¡°Wow¡­¡­.¡± Unfortunately, he was overshadowed by the youngest who came next. ¡°Sebin, look at that. That Hyung is pretending to eat.¡± ¡°Wow¡­¡­.¡± ¡°Watch how he does it and try itter.¡± The mothers who were holding their arms behind the child actors pointed at our youngest and whispered. It was understandable. As expected, Jiho had no match when it came to facial expressions. He nailed the concept of the advertisement. He was almost like a human Olive House, doing method acting. He joked andughed with the person next to him while cutting the steak, and everyone admired ¡®oh¡­¡­.¡¯ ¡°Director, please remember me¡­ Ahh!¡± The youngest member, who was winking and appealing to the director, walked over and bumped his face into Junghyun¡¯s back. Then he whispered to Woojoo, who was next in line, ¡°Hoo¡­¡± ¡°Jiho.¡± ¡°Yes.¡± ¡°Do you think you can shake my mental by blowing some wind in my ear?¡± ¡°Hey.¡± The youngest member made a disappointed expression as his foul y failed. Woojoo stretched and walked to the table as thest one. Then he said to the director who was looking at him, ¡°I haven¡¯t eaten sincest night, Director.¡± ¡°Huh¡­¡± ¡°I only drank two sses of water this morning.¡± The other brothers hit the ground and regretted that they should have done that. ¡°Hoo¡­¡± Woojoo controlled his emotions and acted. He thought of meeting his old friends for 10 years and cut the steak with a nostalgic feeling. He improvised and yed background music that would suit the scene in his head. While the piggy pig yed a song like ¡®Auld Lang Syne¡¯ with a recorder, he cut the imaginary steak. ¡°Wow¡­¡± ¡°You¡¯re good. There are two good actors here.¡± ¡°It feels like a memory trip.¡± After finishing the short improvisation, Woojoo reminded the director again that he hadn¡¯t eaten sincest night. While Junghyun smiled as if he couldn¡¯t help it, and Rihyuk cursed and muttered ¡®let them all fail¡¯. Ignoring the managers¡¯ voices thatughed and said ¡®what is steak¡­¡¯, Woojoo stood in front of the director. Jiho asked with a bright eye, ¡°How is it, Director? I¡¯m better, right?¡± ¡°No way. If you want to go on a memory trip, I think I¡¯m more suitable as the oldest. Jiho is still making memories in real time. He¡¯s only 17 years old.¡± ¡°Shouldn¡¯t we consider the brand image and choose a younger person?¡± ¡°Uh¡­ that¡¯s too arbitrary¡­¡± The director made an awkward face and said ¡®hmm¡¯, and the advertiser next to him looked at them alternately and pondered, The final winner came from an unexpected ce. ¡°Director, I have a question.¡± Woojoo turned his head and saw Bijoo holding a script. ¡°The concept of the ad is a birthday party, but isn¡¯t it weird that someone other than the birthday person eats it?¡± ¡°Uh¡­?¡± ¡°Oh, right¡­!¡± ¡°Wow.¡± Everyone agreed and the advertiser and the director nodded to Bijoo and said ¡®right!¡¯. ¡°Then let¡¯s go with Bijoo! Hahaha!¡± Everyoneughed and said ¡®it¡¯s decided!¡¯ in a moment, and Jiho and Woojoo looked at each other nkly. They felt like two dogs who chased a chicken. ¡°¡­¡± When they copsed in a daze, the chicken came to them quietly. They heard a kind voice to them who were depressed. ¡°Hyung, I asked the advertiser, and he said he would give us steak for lunchter.¡± ¡°Huh¡­¡± ¡°Really?¡± Jiho and Woojoo brightened up. ¡°Jiho!¡± ¡°Hyung!¡± ¡°Steak¡­!¡± They shared their joy and said ¡®koo¡¯. Then they thanked Bijoo who spoke for them. ¡°No problem. We should all eat together.¡± Bijoo answered with a bright smile. ? ¡®Olive House¡¯ TV ad: ¡®About Memory¡¯ A poetic phrase appeared on the ck screen. [Scent revives memory.] At a point where people who were changing channels in a static flow would stop for a moment and wonder ¡®what is this?¡¯, the screen changed. Inside Olive House. Handsome men in casual outfits are sitting around a table. They chatted with each other along with the BGM that came out when one walked in a healing variety show. They were saying something with their mouths, but they looked very happy. The star of the birthday party, a handsome boy in a striped shirt and a top hat, picked up a piece of steak. Bijoo closed his eyes at the smell of the food. When he opened them again, there were little kids in the same clothes sitting where they were. -Wow! As if expressing their return to childhood, the child versions of New ck and the adult New ck ran around andughed. It was an advertisement that lived up to Olive House¡¯s motto of ¡®the taste that always makes you happy¡¯. At the end, the New ck members smiled brightly in the Olive House staff uniforms. -The taste that grows as you share! -Let¡¯s do it together at Olive House! It was an advertisement that gave the impression that there were such staff members if you came to the store. Meanwhile, a small caption saying ¡®the above image may differ from reality¡¯ ran across the bottom of the screen. Thanks to the thought of having steak for lunch, they maintained a cheerful atmosphere throughout the shooting. ¡°Hahaha! Steak!¡± ¡°Steak is steak in English!¡± ¡°When steak dies, it bes steak!¡± ¡°Wow~ Woojoo Hyung. Hahaha! So cute.¡± ¡°Hahahaha! I love this kind of thing!¡± Since the sound didn¡¯t matter, they chatted happily among themselves as they were told to have any conversation. The method was simple. They shot the scenes they needed and then the child actors came in and shot them simrly. After finishing the morning shoot, they sat around an empty table and enjoyed the steak. Tears welled up in their eyes at the savory smell and the juicy meat. ¡°Wow, I think I¡¯m going to cry. It¡¯s so delicious.¡± ¡°Good¡­¡± ¡°Now that we¡¯re going to start preparing for the fourth album, this might be thest time we have proper meat, so let¡¯s remember this taste.¡± ¡°We¡¯ll remember~!¡± They held up the meat they stabbed with a fork to the behind-the-scenes camera and shouted, ¡®Olive House, let¡¯s be together forever¡¯. The advertiser who was watching from afar smiled with his gums. They signed a one-year contract as advertising models this time, but somehow it felt like it would be extended next year. ¡°Excuse me¡­¡± Woojoo turned his head and saw the mothers bringing the child actors. ¡°Can our kids join you? There¡¯s no ce to sit over there because of the equipment.¡± ¡°Yes. Of course.¡± ¡°Thank you.¡± The children, who were dragged by the mothers¡¯ hands, looked at them nervously. Woojoo gestured with his hand and tapped the chair next to him. ¡°Little Woojoo. Come here. Sit next to your Hyung.¡± ¡°Our Jiho,e on.¡± ¡°Junghyun Junior. Come here.¡± They looked like their mini-mes because they were cast to look simr and wore the same clothes. They were so cute. They talked to the children as they ate steak next to them. ¡°What¡¯s your name?¡± ¡°Who¡¯s the most handsome among these? By the way, there¡¯s a right answer!¡± ¡°Ah. You¡¯re going to choke if you eat like that. Everyone, please restrain yourselves. Do you like meat?¡± Theyughed at the sight of Rihyuk, who made a fat face at them and then smiled brightly at the children. Because the space was cramped, the mothers chatted at another table while they yed with the children. They were probably in the lower grades of elementary school. Fortunately, they had simr mental ages and became friends quickly. It wasn¡¯t that they were young, but that they were mature. ¡°You¡¯ve been acting for three years?¡± ¡°Yes.¡± ¡°That¡¯s amazing. Jiho. Junhyuk is your senior.¡± Jiho bowed his belly at Woojoo¡¯s words. ¡°Hello. Sunbae-nim.¡± ¡°Hello.¡± ¡°Even your speech is more polite than Jiho¡¯s.¡± ¡°Agreed.¡± Junghyun agreed and they all giggled, and Jiho red at them with his axe eyes. But he soon smiled with delight. ¡°I saw Slip!¡± ¡°Me too!¡± ¡°Yeah? Is that something kids can watch?¡± ¡°Yes. I watched it to study acting.¡± Jiho¡¯s eyes sparkled non-stop as he receivedpliments from the child actors who were good at acting. They looked like best friends already, high-fiving and taking selfies together. Meanwhile, Woojoo expressed his own interest. He sipped the iced chocte that came out as dessert and asked the kids, ¡°What kind of songs are popr these days?¡± ¡°Wow. Your speech is like a textbook.¡± As Woojoo nced at Jiho, the kids answered. ¡°We listen to that.¡± ¡°What is that?¡± ¡°Mango Chart 100.¡± Woojoo thought they would say something like nursery rhymes or cartoon theme songs. But the kids¡¯ expressions were serious. ¡°¡­Oh, I see.¡± ¡°It¡¯s nice to hear the trending songs when you press it.¡± Woojoo was slightly taken aback. When he was their age, he used to sing cartoon songs like ¡®I am Uzumon~!¡¯ and run around with hel-le-le pa-le-le. But these days, with things like YouTube or smartphones, it seemed different from his time. Bijoo smiled and said, ¡°Then you must know our song too?¡± ¡°Yes! Totally!¡± ¡°We know it very well. Your songes out all the time when we press the chart.¡± ¡°We like Windflower.¡± They exchanged nces and smiled. ¡®Elementary school students know us!¡¯ ¡®New ck, sessful.¡¯ It felt strange but good to meet listeners in an unexpected ce. Woojoo didn¡¯t think they would know them until the lower grades of elementary school. It was when Woojoo asked them what song they liked among their songs while doing market research. ¡°Huh¡­?¡± The thought that was going on in his head stopped abruptly in an unintended ce. Rihyuk, who was sipping coffee, asked, ¡°What¡¯s wrong?¡± ¡°I¡¯m thinking about doing something exciting. Don¡¯t you think we should ask these kids?¡± ¡°You actually made a decent idea?¡± Woojoo smiled contentedly at Rihyuk¡¯s bestpliment. The other brothers also agreed that it was a good idea. ¡°It¡¯s not bad.¡± ¡°Really. They might have a better sense of what the public likes than we do.¡± ¡°Good idea. Let¡¯s ask them.¡± While the staff were preparing for the next scene, they gathered the kids around them. They gave them each a snack and turned on the piano app on the tablet PC. ¡°We want to get a general feel for the song. We have different opinions on what kind of song is exciting.¡± ¡°Ah¡­¡± ¡°Can you tell us if you feel good when you listen to it?¡± Woojoo moved his fingers gently. ¡°Wow!¡± The kids opened their eyes wide and looked amazed. ¡°Hmm¡­¡± Why did he feel so proud? It felt like his nephews saying ¡®Uncle, you¡¯re awesome!¡¯ for something trivial. They looked like spectators watching a magician as he yed variations on the virtual piano keyboard. ¡°Wow¡­¡± ¡°¡­¡± ¡°Please do it again. Hyung. Again.¡± Why are you guys admiring too? On top of the faces that were full of curiosity, the small faces were making the same expressions as the elementary school students. Woojoo couldn¡¯t help butugh. He yed somemon melodies with variations to get a rough idea. ¡°Oh¡­¡± He moved a little bit towards the direction that got a good reaction. Like a person walking in a dark cave, he turned the direction one by one to the side where a good sound came out. As if looking for the light that came in from the exit. ¡°Oh!¡± ¡°Oh oh!¡± ¡°Oh oh oh oh!¡± When he finally reached the end, the little ones nodded their heads at the sound heposed. The big kids were also bouncing their shoulders. ¡®This is it.¡¯ ¡®Here it is. Hyung!¡¯ They exchanged excited nces among the elementary school kids. They had finally found what they wanted. Of course, this wasn¡¯t everything. They only had the feeling, so they still had to make the melody separately, but the important thing was that they had caught the feeling. Once they had that, everything would go smoothly from now on. ¡°Hey, kids.¡± ¡°Yes?¡± ¡°What do you want us to buy you after this?¡± They asked them with happy faces, ¡®What do you want us to buy you?¡¯ The child actors blinked their eyes and said ¡®Yes!¡¯ with bright smiles. Woojoo smiled at them and asked them what he was curious about. ¡°By the way, how old are you guys?¡± ¡°Nine?¡± Lemon entered the conference room. The A&R manager looked at Woojoo and the members sitting in front of him and asked, ¡°That¡¯s an unusual title. And you¡¯ve already finished it?¡± ¡°It¡¯s not finished, it¡¯s a test version. I just wanted to hear your opinion first.¡± ¡°Oh¡­¡± The manager stroked his beard and asked, ¡°But why is the title Nine?¡± ¡°Nine is 9 in English, right?¡± ¡°Ah, that Nine.¡± Woojoo smiled softly and said, ¡°Nine is thest number among 1 to 9, right? It¡¯s also thest number before entering a new age group for people. Neen. Twenty-nine. Like that. The theme is to have fun together in thest moment before moving on to a new year, a new day.¡± ¡°Wow¡­¡± He thought it was just a light test song, but it looked like something. ¡°That¡¯s a good idea. How did youe up with it?¡± ¡°That¡¯s a secret.¡± Woojoo and the members smiled mysteriously somewhere. While the A&R manager and the staff sent out exmations of admiration and stroked their chins, the members exchanged nces. ¡®We can¡¯t tell.¡¯ ¡®It¡¯s a song that a kid made for us.¡¯ ¡®This secret is going to our graves.¡¯ It was a secret that they could never tell. Chapter 283: Trantor: MarcTempest Editor: Rxel Chapter 283 While the staff continued their conversation with New ck, some other people entered the conference room. They were theposers who participated in the fourth album. Yoo Changseok, who used the stage name ¡®Saltman¡¯, sat down with a salty expression on his face. ¡°I heard the news and came up. Is the title song finished?¡± ¡°Not quite.¡± Woojoo exined with a smile, ¡°Our concept is explosive fun, right? I wrote the song with a rough idea of what kind of vibe we should go for.¡± ¡°Already?¡±¡°Yes. I happened to record it and the quality was much better than I expected. So I wanted to hear your opinions.¡± ¡°Ah¡­¡± He nodded at Woojoo¡¯s words. But he still had doubts in his mind. ¡®He already made it¡­?¡¯ It hadn¡¯t been long since they were told to prepare their own title songs, and he had alreadypleted it. But he was more curious than suspicious. He knew how high the other¡¯s musical standards were. -Woojoo, this is good enough. There aren¡¯t many albums with this quality even in big agencies. It¡¯s really well-made. -Really? I feel like the sound is a bit empty here. -That¡¯s, that¡¯s enough¡­ -No, it¡¯s not. I have to fix this. Woojoo was never satisfied with anything less than perfect. He usuallyughed and joked, but when it came to music, he changedpletely. He looked like a madman obsessed with music. He paid attention to the details as if he was looking through a microscope, even while keeping an eye on the flow of the song. It was like he cared about the shape of the elevator buttons when building a building. Theposers who applied for the project soon realized what the secret of New ck¡¯s sess was. ¡­It was perseverance. -Aren¡¯t you going home? It¡¯s 1 a.m. -I¡¯ll do a little more and go. You go ahead. The next day, when they came to work, they saw someone staring at the monitor and mumbling in the same position as yesterday. It was scary. At the same time, they thought, ¡®Well, he has to seed if he does that much.¡¯ And they were convinced without knowing it. That was why theposers¡¯ ears perked up when they heard Woojoo¡¯s words. ¡®How well did he do?¡¯ As Yoo Changseok watched the puppies behind Woojoo puffing up their chests, Na Sangyoon spoke. ¡°Can we listen to it?¡± ¡°Yes. Just a moment.¡± Woojoo connected hisptop to the conference room speaker. Meanwhile, Junghyun walked up to the wall and pressed his ear against it, then made a serious face and gave an OK sign. The members nodded their heads confidently at the sign that the security was perfect. ¡°The title is Nine, meaning the number nine.¡± Woojoo exined the meaning of the song to theposers again. ¡°Oh¡­¡± ¡°That¡¯s a good meaning. It suits the explosive concept.¡± ¡°What¡¯s the genre?¡± Woojoo clicked the mouse and answered, ¡°I went for trap.¡± ¡°Ah. Trap.¡± It was a genre that wasn¡¯t very popr in Korea yet, but it was gaining poprity overseas, recing dubstep. Theposers exchanged nces. ¡®That¡¯s tricky¡­¡¯ Trap wasn¡¯t a major genre in Korean idol music yet. But New ck¡¯s position in the music market was ¡®the only boy group with mass appeal in the third generation.¡¯ Most of their previous title songs were chosen by the public, so they wanted to continue that trend in their fourth album. The problem was that the public didn¡¯t like unfamiliar genres. ¡°You¡¯ll find it hard to define the genre when you listen to it. I also added some futuristic sounds.¡± ¡°¡­¡± ¡°There¡¯s a feeling of woo-woo-woo in the background, you know.¡± The more he exined, the more it felt like he mixed everything together, and theposers couldn¡¯t hide their dubious feelings. ¡°Then, here¡¯s the first version of ¡®Nine¡¯.¡± The song finally yed. ¡°¡­Wow.¡± As the sound of a roaring engine filled the background, an impactful intro started from the beginning. Soon, the main lyrics flowed out. Meat meat meat I can¡¯t eat meat anymore I¡¯m on a diet (so sad) Jiho sang the first verse with a deep voice. His tone was cool. ¡®But what¡¯s with the lyrics¡­?¡¯ Theposers and the A&R Team gasped as the youngest member mouthed ¡®I just pped some lyrics on¡¯ with a bright smile. They all felt a pang in their chests. After Jiho, Rihyuk took over the part. I can¡¯t lose meat Do you have meat? I¡¯m here I dream of (meat?) We meat again (meat!) On the opposite side, someone was covering their face with both hands and spitting fire from their ears. The other members said ¡®This time, we wrote the lyrics¡¯ and smiled proudly. The A&R staff smiled warmly. ¡®Never write lyrics again. You guys.¡¯ ¡®If they write lyrics one more time, we¡¯ll be ruined.¡¯ ¡®Thank goodness it¡¯s just a guide¡­¡¯ Then, Woojoo¡¯s part came out. It was a dance-like part that had a stylish vibe. As they listened, they could imagine Woojoo dancing energetically in the center with the members¡¯ backup. It¡¯s 9AM right now Morning pork belly I¡¯m eating five servings by myself Don¡¯t mind the other customers¡¯ eyes Don¡¯t care (don¡¯t care) The owner is happy Next, Bijoo¡¯s part came out. He sang softly and then scratched his voice a bit to create a strong atmosphere before the chorus. The important thing is meat You must remember Meat That¡¯s all we¡¯ve got While the song was ying, Bijoo, who was sitting across from Woojoo, shook his upper body with an improvised dance. It was unnecessarily high-quality. Then, in the explosive part of the chorus, Junghyun¡¯s voice held the chorus firmly. ¡®Trap is all about the tone, and he nailed it.¡¯ Even though it was the first version, the members¡¯ voices and the parts that matched their performance characteristics were perfect. It felt like they were seeing the best answer to their constant dilemma of ¡®Who should do this part?¡¯ when they worked on the songs. As a listener, they started listening lightly and the first verse ended, and the eyes of the A&R Team and theposers deepened. One thing was certain. ¡®They did a good job.¡¯ There was no disagreement on that. The quality was good enough for a test version, even though Woojoo, who was a perfectionist in music, willingly let them listen to it. If they just fixed the lyrics, they could release it right away. It was a draft, so there were parts that needed to be fixed, but that was a problem that could be solved slowly. ¡°Wow¡­¡± On the other hand, what they admired was the point of the song. It was a style that adjusted the strength and weakness and burst into the chorus, and it made them excited. It was literally a st of fun. As they listened, they felt their inner dance sense twitching. It also matched well with the musical characteristics that New ck had made so far. They didn¡¯t know if it was for people who liked calm things, but it seemed to fit well with the general public¡¯s taste. ¡°Meat, meat¡­¡± Before they knew it, theposers and the A&R staff who were humming meat and tapping their chins looked at each other. ¡®It¡¯s a hit.¡¯ ¡®It¡¯s a hit¡­!¡¯ As soon as they heard the unfamiliar song, they hummed along, which was a sign of a hit. The A&R staff nced outside the conference room, worried that someone might take the song away. Theposers praised their own choice, saying ¡®I¡¯m d I participated in the New ck album.¡¯ ¡°Wow¡­!¡± ¡°Dance break. Dance break.¡± The third verse that blew everything up. The atmosphere that had been gradually building up from the first and second verses exploded. The dance break part. Just listening to the song, they could imagine the fireworks going off on the stage and the members of New ck moving their bodies like crazy. Even theposers who had been listening with serious faces lifted their heads and said ¡°Ah¡± as New ck smiled brightly. Except for someone who smiled sadly, thinking about the future where they would have to dance intensely. After the song ended. ¡°¡­¡± Theposers and the A&R Team looked at each other. They exchanged awkward smiles that said ¡®You too?¡¯ ¡®Yeah¡¯ and lightly pped their hands. Woojoo asked, ¡°How is it?¡± ¡°Well.¡± ¡°Well¡­?¡± ¡°Let¡¯s not write lyrics anymore, except for Rihyuk. Guys.¡± At the A&R Team leader¡¯s words, everyone burst intoughter. In the rxed atmosphere, the team leader smiled, showing his gums. ¡°Isn¡¯t it really good? Hey, where did you get this from?¡± ¡°I had some help from young friends.¡± ¡°Well, Jihoo has a bit of a new generation vibe, so he has that kind of sensibility.¡± ¡°Hahaha¡­¡± Woojoo and the members who avoided his gazeughed shyly and embarrassedly. ¡°Anyway, we¡¯re less worried about the title song now. Let¡¯s proceed with this right away.¡± ¡°Really?¡± ¡°We¡¯ll have to hear the opinions of theposers, but we are¡­¡± The other staff members, including Seo Pilgeun, looked like they didn¡¯t need to say anything. ¡°I can¡¯t imagine any other title than this. Now.¡± ¡°That¡¯s right. Meat. Meat. Meat.¡± ¡°What about theposers?¡± Theposers also answered in unison. ¡°We like it too.¡± ¡°When I first heard the exnation, it felt like all kinds of genres were mixed, but after listening to it, I think it was really well chosen.¡± ¡°What was the title? I was so excited that I forgot. Ah¡­ Nine.¡± Then, Na Sangyoon, theposer, said in a faint voice, ¡°There¡¯s a part in the middle that feels like EDM that elementary school students would like, which bothers me a bit¡­¡± When the New ck members flinched, he said with a smile, ¡°It¡¯s okay, I¡¯ll adjust the tone. I really like it. Honestly, I want to get involved in any song.¡± All theposers in the room agreed andughed. The meeting atmosphere was very upbeat because of the excitement about the song. The A&R Team was busy unpacking their stuff in the conference room, exploding with ideas for the album production and concept. Theposers were also excited and talking about the improvements for the song. When the meeting atmosphere that had been heated up gradually calmed down, Woojoo asked, ¡°By the way, you said you were looking for other songs, right?¡± ¡°Yeah. But you made the song so fast that we didn¡¯t have time to look at the other songs.¡± ¡°Oh¡­¡± ¡°Now that we have a good title, I don¡¯t think we need to bother looking at anything else.¡± At the A&R Team¡¯s words, Woojoo nodded and looked at theposers as if to say ¡®What about you?¡¯ They also shook their heads. ¡°We didn¡¯t really do anything either.¡± ¡°With this speed and quality, we need to be like Director Jo¡­¡± ¡°Anyway, we can¡¯t beat this no matter what we do. Haha.¡± At that, Woojooughed modestly. Then he finished preparing to leave the conference room with the members. ¡°See you tomorrow. We¡¯re going to go down and fix the parts you just told us.¡± ¡°Okay. Go ahead.¡± ¡°Thank you for your hard work.¡± They waved their hands to the members who bowed politely and smiled. They left with light steps, but only for a moment. -Kyarruruk! -Junghyun Hyung. King bong. Bring the king bong. We have to celebrate this. Hurry up and do the firefly dance¡­ -I¡¯m a dung beetle~ I¡¯m good atposing~ Theyughed at the various ttery that came from outside. One of the staff members asked curiously, ¡°Why do they try to manage their image in front of us? They can¡¯tst for 3 seconds.¡± ¡°That¡¯s what I¡¯m saying.¡± As theughter outside gradually subsided, the A&R Team and theposers turned on theirptops with a bitter smile. ¡°We did look for some songs, but¡­¡± ¡°We did make some songs, but¡­¡± The two groups spoke at the same time and looked at each other. They soon realized what was going on and smiled sympathetically. ¡°We were preparing to surprise you. We had found some good songs¡­¡± ¡°We had a little dream too.¡± ¡°What dream?¡± ¡°The dream of bing the title track of New ck¡¯s album.¡± ¡°Oh¡­¡± The A&R staff said. ¡°It was the same with their debut album. We had everything ready, but then Woojoo showed up¡­¡± ¡°Really?¡± ¡°We had a nice snack party, but Woojoo brought a song like a hotel buffet.¡± They hadn¡¯t experienced it, but they could imagine. It felt like they had lost even though they were on the same side. But on the other hand, they were also happy. It was like boarding a ship to the new world. If they did well here, they could leave a mark on their career. Theposers¡¯ eyes sparkled with enthusiasm. ¡®I have to do my best.¡¯ And while they were immersed in hope, The A&R Team, who had been waiting for the right timing, sprinkled some work like ice cream toppings. ¡°Come on, one, two! One, two!¡± ¡°Okay! Wow. You¡¯re so cool! Right on!¡± A studio in Gangnam. The excited photographer was taking pictures of them. ¡°Be more graceful!¡± Bijoo, who was sitting on the car hood, raised his hand to his mouth and crossed his legs. Then he smiled at the camera. ¡°Bijoo, you look like that right now.¡± ¡°What?¡± ¡°Like a queen mother in a historical drama.¡± ¡°What¡­¡± Jiho added, ¡°You look like you¡¯re looking down on us. Rx your lips a bit and your eyes¡­ Oh, yes, like that.¡± Bijoo changed his expression ording to their feedback and took the shot. Today¡¯s shooting goal was the concert poster and the concept photo for the event. The studio was full of primary-colored props, such as a red sports car, or yellow or blue. They posed in clothes like teenagers in a high-teen movie. They said they would use some effects or synthesis. Woojoo heard it would look like a retro movie poster when it was finished. The theme of their first concert poster was an amusement park. ¡°I want to go there every time I see the set.¡± Woojoo agreed with Junghyun¡¯s words. It was a set of an amusement park that looked like it would appear in an American movie. It was dark as if it was open at night, and the lights were twinkling. When they filmed the VCR, there was Junghyun, who was holding popcorn and smiling brightly in front of a green popcorn machine car. Or Jiho, who was walking with a strawberry shake. The background was unfamiliar but colorful and pretty. It felt like memories that didn¡¯t exist were created. ¡°It would be nice if this was a real amusement park. Right?¡± ¡°Yeah. It would have been nice if we could all y together¡­¡± Bijoo said with a face full of regret. ¡°Let¡¯s go to the amusement parkter. Hyung.¡± ¡°Hmm? Hyung. You have a fear of heights, don¡¯t you?¡± Bijoo smiled at Rihyuk¡¯s question. ¡°You can go to the house of mirrors.¡± ¡°¡­Can you find the way?¡± ¡°Oh. Right.¡± Woojooughed at the second¡¯s story that he always yed with the teacher¡¯s hand on the elementary school trip. Rihyuk looked around the set and said, ¡°Well, I guess it wouldn¡¯t be bad to go togetherter.¡± ¡°Yeah. Let¡¯s go when we have time.¡± They smiled warmly and imagined the future of going to the amusement park together in their heads. -Wow! -Hey! Hey! Is that New ck? New ck! -Awesome! Did you take a picture? Let¡¯s take one! Their beautiful future shattered in their minds. They got off the carousel and found themselves surrounded by a crowd of people. ¡°¡­We, we¡¯re too sessful.¡± ¡°I forgot about that. We¡¯re doomed because we¡¯re too sessful¡­¡± ¡°What about abroad? Can¡¯t we go to a foreign amusement park?¡± Maybe by then, the foreign Souffl¨¦s won¡¯t be shouting ¡®New ck! Photo! Photo!¡¯ at them. For now, they don¡¯t have time to y, whether it was an amusement park or anything else. It just felt like a faint dream. Rihyuk said something as if he remembered something, ¡°Do you remember when we filmed our debut music video? We said we¡¯d go on a trip to Eulwangri then.¡± ¡°Did we say that?¡± ¡°Hey, Wang Jiho. You were the most excited then.¡± ¡°I always say anything when I¡¯m in a good mood. I¡¯m sure you guys heard it right.¡± ¡°Don¡¯t you remember what you said then?¡± ¡°Nope.¡± They looked at each other and immediately reached out to Jiho. ¡°Jiho. Where¡¯s the 1 billion won you said you¡¯d give me?¡± ¡°You said you¡¯d give me a gold bar.¡± ¡°Hmm~ Where¡¯s my car key~?¡± ¡°Ah, really! I said¡­ no, I did. Really?¡± Theyughed at the youngest who looked suspicious because he couldn¡¯t remember. Soon he realized they were teasing him and made a sly expression. Woojoo smiled and put his arms around his brothers. ¡°Let¡¯s go on a trip together when we have time after this album promotion.¡± ¡°Yeah. Let¡¯s grill some ms too.¡± ¡°We can also do mudt experience. Right, Hyung?¡± ¡°Let¡¯s do whatever we want. Everything.¡± ¡°Will we have time?¡± ¡°Hey. We won¡¯t have no time to y.¡± They talked about travel and other things during our break. They were already excited and running around, even though they hadn¡¯t made any ns yet. Jiho asked with a sparkle in his eyes, ¡°How long should we go? 4 nights 5 days?¡± ¡°Hmm, if we go for 4 nights 5 days, won¡¯t we lose the feel for practice? I feel a bit guilty whenever I take a break from practice¡­¡± ¡°Then let¡¯s reflect Bijoo Hyung¡¯s opinion and make it 3 nights 4 days~?¡± Rihyuk checked the schedule and said, ¡°There¡¯s no empty slot for 3 nights 4 days in a row until the end of this year.¡± ¡°Then 2 nights 3 days!¡± ¡°Oh, that¡¯s reasonable. 2 nights 3 days.¡± While they wereughing and getting along, Rihyuk, who was checking the schedule, swallowed his dry saliva. ¡°None?¡± ¡°¡­¡± He nodded and said, ¡°None. There are three consecutive empty slots.¡± ¡°¡­¡± ¡°Wait a minute. I¡¯ll look for 1 night 2 days too.¡± But as he flipped his fingers, Rihyuk¡¯s expression gradually became hollow. ¡°¡­None of that either?¡± ¡°No. There is, but. The days before and after those are pretty important schedules.¡± They all checked the schedule. There were a lot of days with one slot empty, but there were no days with more than two slots empty. There was always a small schedule or a feeling that a new schedule woulde in around that time. Considering the concert and the Asian tour schedule, the schedule was practically set until the end of this year. And there were also those unknown small schedules. ¡°Who said we should be the judges for this event?¡± ¡°Me.¡± ¡°What about this game event?¡± ¡°Me¡­¡± ¡°Sweet potato eating contest panel? Junghyun.¡± ¡°It¡¯s sweet potato, Hyung.¡± ¡°What about this meeting with foreignposers¡­ It¡¯s me. Me.¡± Woojoo remembered the times when Seokhwan Hyung said ¡®Are you guys okay? Are you really doing this?¡¯ and they boasted. ¡°¡­¡± ¡°¡­¡± While they all realized that they were screwed in real time, Bijoo asked, ¡°Hyung. Can we y?¡± "No." "No?" "No¡­ it''s not possible¡­" They stared at each other nkly. It was their own fault. They hadughed and crammed their schedules with things they wanted to do. "I guess we''re meant to work, not y." "Work is all we have left." "Right. When will we ever have time to have fun?" While the others were busy picking grapes, their youngest said with a bright smile, "They say you get your foot chopped by someone else''s axe, but we chopped our own feet with our own axes." It was a fitting proverb for their situation. Chapter 284: Chapter 284: Trantor: MarcTempest Editor: Rxel Chapter 284 They decided to postpone their trip or amusement park visit forter. Their schedule was too tight. It wasn¡¯t that there were no gaps, but after subtracting dance and vocal practice, song production, personal training, and foreignnguage study, they barely had any time to sleep. The only ce they could go was dreand. But they weren¡¯t unhappy with the current situation. Rather¡­¡°I wish we had one more schedule.¡± ¡°Is there nothing else?¡± ¡°There¡¯s a water park event near here, can¡¯t we stop by one more ce on our way back?¡± They were thirsty for more schedules. They wanted to do more of anything. It was because they were growing continuously. Why was that important? Because when their growth slowed down and the position of their group ¡®New ck¡¯ was fixed in the idol world, it would be hard to make any changes no matter what they did. It was all about timing. Simply put, they were riding an esctor to the top right now. They were going up and doing well no matter what they did, so they had to go up one more step while they could. When the esctor stopped, they would have to walk up from then on. That was why they devoted themselves to schedules, practice, and work more and more as time passed after their debut. And of course, the most important thing was the album. ¡°So we have to pour our body and soul into our new title ¡®Nine¡¯, you get me?¡± ¡°¡­¡± ¡°Hey, kids. Are you listening?¡± ¡°Y-yes¡­¡± Woojoo clicked his tongue as he looked at the kids sprawled on the sofa in the studio. ¡°Geez. You guys are so weak. You¡¯re like this after just a few hours.¡± ¡°We did 11 hours, you crazy person. Who else works on production right after dance practice?¡± ¡°Me.¡± ¡°¡­¡± They narrowed their eyes as Woojoo smirked. ¡°¡­Hyung, I¡¯ll give you 500 won if you punch him for me.¡± ¡°No.¡± ¡°I¡¯ll give you 500 million.¡± ¡°¡­¡± Junghyun¡¯s pupils shook as hey down. He nced at Woojoo and whispered to Rihyuk, ¡°I¡¯ll do it if you pay in advance.¡± ¡°¡­Junghyun, is that all our brotherhood is worth?¡± ¡°I¡¯ll split it with you.¡± ¡°Yeah, we¡¯re brothers forever.¡± The kids giggled and Woojooughed too. Then Woojoo walked over to the sofa and reached out his hand. ¡°Come on, get up. We have to finish ¡®Nine¡¯.¡± ¡°Ugh¡­¡± ¡°Quick.¡± They got up quickly as Woojoo mimicked the stern expression that Bijoo made when he nagged. They were struggling because of their drained energy, but they soon joined the work seriously. Junghyun already knew how topose, and Bijoo, who had studied on his own, helped out, so it was much easier. The youngest line worked on the lyrics. They divided the work like a cottage industry andpleted their new title song ¡®Nine¡¯. When they finished, they sent version 1 to theposers, and when version 1.1 came back, Woojoo sent 1.1.1. Every time a reply came, the version number went up to 2, 3, and so on, so Woojoo also raised the version to 33, and then the answer came back as 33.1. Woojoo felt they were getting closer topletion. ¡°It¡¯s a good song.¡± Director Jo, who came down to the studio from time to time to check on their progress, also praised the song. ¡°The verse changed nicely. If you just trim a little bit of the excess here, it¡¯ll be perfect.¡± He pointed to a part of the song and said, ¡°I like this part. I think it¡¯ll get a good reaction when we reveal it at the concert.¡± ¡°I think so too. The members were saying that too.¡± ¡°It¡¯s a nice surprise.¡± Woojoo smiled. Then he asked their director, who was famous for his nickname ¡®fortune teller¡¯. ¡°What do you think? Will our song do well?¡± ¡°Well, you never know until the songes out. But¡­¡± ¡°The release date for our song is aroundte August or early September. And looking at the current situation in the music industry, there won¡¯t be any famous groups or popr singers making aeback then. Unless TNT or Teen Spirit suddenlye back¡­¡± Come back? ¡°Well, I think we can easily get the first ce.¡± ¡°Wow¡­¡± ¡°That¡¯s considering your fandom¡¯s mobilization power. Of course, this is just an assumption, so there might be some deviations depending on the situation¡­ Why are they so happy?¡± Director Jo chuckled at the sight of their younger members who were already moved by saying ¡®Thank you for the first ce!¡¯ while sitting on the sofa. They then talked about the final version of ¡®Nine¡¯, the music video, and the concept photos, which Director Jo gave them the OK sign. ¡°By the way, what about the budget this time?¡± ¡°Just use it as much as you want. I¡¯ll talk to the President.¡± ¡°Thank you!¡± They smiled brightly and greeted him, and Director Jo smiled back. Rihyuk took out his notebook and immediately circled puter graphics cost¡¯, ¡®special location rental fee¡¯, and so on. Woojoo silently apologized to the President, who would tear his hair out, no, stroke his hair, in advance. ¡°Right.¡± Director Jo said to them as he came out to see them off, ¡°The Promotion Team was looking for you. Do you want to go and talk to them?¡± ¡°Talk?¡± ¡°They¡¯re preparing a new project, and they seem to have written a lot of proposals. They said they¡¯ll decide what to do after hearing your opinions.¡± They tilted their heads and asked, ¡°A new project?¡± Promotion Team¡¯s internal meeting room. Deputy Nam and Assistant Manager Hong handed them the proposals like a pair of partners. ¡°It¡¯s the summer of 2015.¡± ¡°The season of reality has returned.¡± They pped andughed, and the other side gave them an awkward smile. Nam Seokwoo, who was in charge of Scarlet,ughed. ¡°Hey, why are youughing? Do you know how hard we prepared this?¡± ¡°Aw, embarrassing.¡± Assistant Manager Hong Seoyoung fanned herself, and Rihyuk brought a paper cup of water and handed it to her. ¡®Your face will cool down if you drink cold water,¡¯ he advised, their expert in embarrassment. They immediately sat around the table and looked over the proposals that the Promotion Team had made. ¡°Wow, there¡¯s a lot of stuff here?¡± ¡°Do we have to do all of this?¡± There were almost dozens of different activities and games. Assistant Manager Hong shook her head. ¡°No, of course not. You just have to choose a few that suit your taste.¡± ¡°You must have worked really hard to write this. Coming up with ideas and all that.¡± ¡°No, it was actually easy.¡± ¡°¡­?¡± ¡°Other idols have to consider their concept or image when nning, but you don¡¯t have that¡­ No, I don¡¯t mean your image is weird or anything.¡± ¡°No, it¡¯s not. We have a cool image¡­¡± ¡°¡­Uh, yeah, sure!¡± At first, they were a little sulky, but soon they epted it after recalling their past behavior. They smiled warmly and sent each other a teasing look, saying ¡®It¡¯s because of you that our image is like this.¡¯ They told them as they looked over the proposals, ¡°You¡¯ve finished History Discovery Team, right?¡± ¡°Yes.¡± ¡°It¡¯s time to prepare something new.¡± The behind-the-scenes were stilling up, but they had finished the History Discovery Team with the ¡®March 1st Movement and the Provisional Government¡¯ episode a while ago. The program that raised their recognition to the first ce. The direct reason why they recently got the praise from the advertising industry as ¡®the first third-generation boy group with good poprity among the 2030s¡¯. ¡°These are the ns we prepared for the people who want to see your content after History Discovery Team.¡± ¡°Our content?¡± ¡°Yeah, there¡¯s a habit in variety shows or TV programs. At first, people watch them for fun, butter they get used to them and keep watching them.¡± ¡°Do people really want to keep watching us?¡± ¡°Trust me. That¡¯s for sure.¡± They seemed to have some solid evidence. By the way, a new content for New ck that could appeal to the public after History Discovery Team¡­ Woojoo asked while the younger ones were looking over the proposals, ¡°How¡¯s it going with HBS?¡± ¡°HBS?¡± ¡°I heard they¡¯re investing a lot in their YouTube channel. Did they not react when we said we¡¯re making our own content?¡± ¡°Uh¡­¡± The two employees exchanged nces. It was as if they were thinking, ¡®We didn¡¯t want to tell you that¡­¡¯ But it was an obvious thing to consider. Since their History Discovery Team had attracted all the subscribers in the situation where HBS was actively jumping into MeeTube content. There was no way they would say ¡®Bye! Hahaha!¡¯ when they were leaving now. It bothered Woojoo that the other party was a terrestrial broadcasting station. Assistant Manager Hong smiled awkwardly and answered, ¡°Well, there is some discord from that side.¡± ¡°They said they wanted to coborate with us if we¡¯re making a reality show. And they would take all the clips and copyrights.¡± Nam, the other assistant manager, added, ¡°There were various conditions, but we refused them because they were all favorable to them or weird.¡± ¡°Are you okay? What if it affects our appearance on music shows or something¡­¡± ¡°You don¡¯t have to worry about that at all. It¡¯s only the New Media Department that handles SNS that¡¯s making a fuss.¡± It meant that there was no problem with the rtionship with the field departments like Drama or Variety. He said it was possible because theirpany was in the top 3 among the actor management agencies. If it was K, a music channel, it might be different, but he said they could go to other ces and say ¡®Don¡¯t you need our actors?¡¯ ¡°That¡¯s good.¡± ¡°You don¡¯t have to worry about this part either, as I¡¯ve told you many times.¡± ¡°But it¡¯s good to know these things.¡± While the two employees were quietly smiling, the youngest one who was looking at the proposal widened his eyes. ¡°But what is this, assistant manager?¡± ¡°What?¡± ¡°This thing that says ¡®Y app¡¯ here.¡± He turned his eyes to the proposal at that remark. It was true. There were phrases that said ¡®Y app Side Support¡¯ on every major reality proposal. ¡°Y app?¡± ¡°What is that?¡± They all gathered around Rihyuk¡¯s smartphone, which he tapped quickly with his finger. ¡°Don¡¯t blow your nose on my ear.¡± ¡°¡­¡± They all put their hands in front of their faces to block the nose breath. As they were gathered like roons with their hands up, Rihyuk clicked on an article. [Star and fan¡¯s two-waymunication, ¡®Star Live¡¯ Y appunched] In the poster that said ¡®Ask the star what you¡¯re curious about. whY app!¡¯, Teen Spirit showed a bright smile and a wink. ¡°¡­¡± The tiny text that said ¡®Curious?¡¯ kept reading as ¡®Fucking curious?¡¯ ¡°¡­But what is Star Live app?¡± The staff exined to them, who were curious about the new project. It was a live app that connected stars and fans, developed by thergest portal site in the country. It would beunched on the app store in early August, next month. ¡°We¡¯ve been hearing about it for a while, and we finally decided to join in.¡± ¡°So it¡¯s simr to what we¡¯ve been doing individually on live broadcasts, right?¡± ¡°Yeah. It¡¯s the same. Only the tform is different.¡± They looked at the Y app poster with subtle eyes. Was it okay to join this? It would be different if they were rookies, but they already had followers on the existing SNS. They were a bit worried about moving to a new tform. There was a simr app made by a bigpany that failed in no time. ¡°Don¡¯t worry, it¡¯s not a weird ce.¡± ¡°We were also worried about going in with Scarlet and you guys. We were ready to back out if things went wrong¡­¡± ¡°But the conditions were too good.¡± They said, ¡°They need to promote the new app, and they chose Teen Spirit and you guys as the main models.¡± ¡°¡­Us?¡± ¡°Yeah. They divided it into two tracks, one for a group with a lot of fandom and one for a group with a lot of poprity.¡± Assistant Manager Hong said, ¡°They said they wanted to attract your content.¡± ¡°So that¡¯s what the Y app support meant.¡± ¡°Yeah. They said they would support the budget for whatever you do, whether it¡¯s a reality show or something else. And the conditions were the best.¡± ¡°Wow¡­¡± Budget guaranteed for whatever they did. They looked at the list of reality show ideas with shining eyes. And something caught their eye right away. ¡°Travel!¡± ¡°Travel! There¡¯s travel!¡± ¡°Awesome, there¡¯s a trip to Jeju Ind!¡± It was a domestic travel reality show n. The content was to travel to Jeju Ind for three nights and four days and upload the footage in short segments. Assistant Manager Hong smiled and answered, ¡°I was thinking of that as the first priority.¡± ¡°Really?¡± ¡°When I surveyed your fans about what kind of reality show they wanted to see, travel came out as the first ce. They said they wanted to see you guys resting.¡± ¡°Wow¡­¡± They smiled happily at each other. It was touching. They joked among themselves that next time they should ask their fans to write a luxury cruise trip. ¡°At first, I considered going abroad, but the image of overseas travel is¡­¡± ¡°Yeah. It¡¯s not very good.¡± Overseas travel reality shows had the image of groups who had umted years of experience and were going to take a break for once. In fact, rookies rarely did travel reality shows because of their image. By the way, this was awesome. Woojoo had almost given up on the idea of traveling, but then this opportunity to take a break legally came to them. He could already see the stone statues saying ¡®Wee¡¯ in his mind. ¡°I can see theva cave with my own eyes¡­!¡± ¡°Lava cave!¡± They shouted in excitement at Rihyuk¡¯s words, and the staffughed. They alsoughed at Junghyun¡¯s joke of ¡®Diving experience, anyone?¡¯ ¡°But we won¡¯t be able to film the travel reality show until fall, right?¡± ¡°Yeah. We¡¯re busy with the concert and the album right now¡­¡± ¡°I think we should just n what we can do in the current situation. We¡¯ll think about the travelter.¡± ¡°Yes!¡± They immediately got excited and started looking at the reality show and program proposals. They prepared the content for YouTube as usual. And they were looking for something that would suit the new live app that wasunching soon. And before long, they found something that appealed to their taste. New ck¡¯s rest period while preparing for the album. It was when the Souffl¨¦s were wandering around the fan cafe and themunity, feeling unsatisfied with theck of breadcrumbs. -I miss them¡­ -Kyuho-ya¡­ We? miss you guys -I heard from Kyuho¡¯s barber that we¡¯ll get some breadcrumbs soon -Kyuho sees them every day -I want Kyuho¡¯s eye -Are they busy with the album preparation these days¡­? -I wish they would do a V Live soon; I want to capture Woojoo and Junghyun in ck suits Of course, the members visited the fan cafe regrly and posted things like ¡®Do you think I¡¯m cute, do you think Woojoo Hyung is cute. There¡¯s a correct answer [3 points]¡¯. But the fans always wanted to see more. Then someone came and asked for news like a reporter. -Awesome! They¡¯re on Star Live!!! -Calm down, Souffl¨¦. -Awesome!!! Souffl¨¦, no, wait a minute -???????????Calm down first -They¡¯re on Star Live!!! It seemed like they were on the inte live show that was hosted by thergest portal site in the country for the stars. They were recently calling famous stars to promote theunch of the Y app. The Souffl¨¦s gathered and buzzed at the rare breadcrumb. The live broadcast started at 8 pm. Yoo Changhyun, aedian, sat on a cozy sofa in a cafe decorated with soft lighting and spoke to the camera. [Yes, this is Real Time Star Live! Today¡¯s guests are the ones who are making the music scene hot these days. They are New ck!] New ck members came in from outside the screen. They followed Woojoo like chicks following their mother hen, and their careful steps made themugh already. [Two, three. Hello, we are New ck!] New ck members sat on the plush sofa and rxed. Woojoo pointed to the side of the camera with his finger and said. [That¡¯s thement window, right?] [Yes. You canmunicate with the viewers there.] [Can you make the font a little bigger? Like the size that adults use when they look at their phones. Oh, thank you¡­ Who was that who said Woojoo=grandma just now?] [There¡¯s a visual face below that says mysterious visual too.] [Hehehe!] It was a live show that started with a baseless joke. Yoo Changhyun threw witty remarks as an MC, and New ck also responded skillfully and lifted the mood. They continued the live talk show like that. [New ck, I heard you¡¯re also preparing for the Y app content.] [Yes, we are.] Woojoo pped his hands and looked at the camera. [The Y app is where you ask why about what you¡¯re curious about, right? So we prepared something. The name is¡­!] [Ask us anything! ¡®ck List!¡¯] They all stretched out their palms at the same time and made a ¡®Bam!¡¯ sound. While the fans looked curious, Woojoo said. [Anything is fine. If you have something you¡¯ve been wondering about, feel free to ask us.] As soon as he finished speaking, the Souffl¨¦s started to buzz. -Does God exist? -I¡¯m a 7-year-old child. I want to know about the future of quantum mechanics!! -Who made the first fried egg in Korea? -What are the chances of survival if you sleep with a fan on? By the way, I survived. -Who would win if a squid and an octopus fought? -They say you can survive if you enter a tiger¡¯s den and regain your senses, but do tigers really live in caves? There are tiger dens in games too. As the jokes and questions continued, the members of New ck made stunned faces and then burst intoughter. The MC also shook his body while covering his mouth with a cue card. The main dancer with good flexibility almost fell backwards whileughing, but luckily he was saved by the rapper¡¯s help. Woojoo spoke with a voice full ofughter. [You guys are really witty. Those questions are good, but we would appreciate it if you asked us something you are curious about us.] Soon, ament from a Souffl¨¦ sparkled. -Anything? The members answered with a smile. [Anything.] [We like everything. We are nning to prepare some content based on the questions you sent us. You can ask us anything.] [We trust you. Our Souffl¨¦s.] [Who can hold their breath the longest? This is not allowed.] After the exnation of the Y app content. The members of New ck smiled brightly and said to the screen. [Then, on August 1st, the day of the Y appunch, we will see you with new content~] [We will!] [Please give us a lot of love and watch!] As the members smiled brightly and raised their hands to the camera, the Souffl¨¦s behind the screen also smiled like a picture. It was a smile that resembled their favorite singers. With that warm smile, the fingers in various ces started to move right away. Chapter 285: Trantor: MarcTempest Editor: Rxel Chapter 285 ¡º Ask Us Anything! ¨C ck List Teaser ¡» A ck screen. The intro of Junghyun¡¯s mixtape, which was included in the album, yed. Along with the low voice saying ¡®It¡¯s The New ck¡¯, the performance videos of New ck appeared. The refreshing Fireworks, sung in a light shirt. The dazzling Masquerade stage, dancing in a red suit at the Mango Chart Awards.And the Flower Dance stage, following Windflower at the Japan K-pop Concert. The idols in morous makeup performing looked like people from a different world. The members¡¯ voices were narrated. [Don¡¯t be scared.] [We¡¯re nothing special.] With a loud crash and the sound of ss breaking, the New ck members in the narration startughing. Woojoo chuckled and snapped. [Hey! Who was that just now? Wang Jiho?] [That¡¯s right. No, are you stupid? How does ¡®We won¡¯t hurt you¡¯ be ¡®We¡¯re nothing special¡¯?] [I was too immersed in the role.] The screen froze on Bijoo, who was powerfully shrugging his shoulders, and a noisy uproar was heard. The youngest¡¯s annoyed voice. [Ah. People who don¡¯t even know the meaning of acting¡­ Do you think I can make a better line with ad-lib?] [Manager! We¡¯ll stop and do it again!] [Jiho. Why is our image so low? We¡¯re elegant. And graceful. And cool.] [Isn¡¯t that redundant?] [Rihyuk. That¡¯s why you have no friends but us.] [Hahaha! Look at Rihyuk Hyung¡¯s face turning red because he likes being called a friend.] The Souffl¨¦s smile warmly, thinking ¡®As expected of our kids¡­ They can¡¯t be serious for a second.¡¯ [Alright, let¡¯s do it one more time!] [Manager. You¡¯ll edit this, right?] As if to answer him, the voices of the members re-shooting the lines faintly disappeared. Instead, Woojoo¡¯s line from before fills the audio. [Elegant.] On the top right corner, TBC was blurred out, and Junghyun rolling on the dirt road with a ck goat. [Graceful.] Woojoo, who drank a non-alcoholic cocktail and fainted, thinking he was drunk. [Cool.] Bijoo and Rihyuk, whose faces are covered with exploded kimchi soup from opening the kimchi pot. And the youngest, who became Yeon Sangun and forced Bijoo and Woojoo, who were pcedies, to do a dance break. Lastly, loyal Rihyuk, who was dragged away by Junghyun while posting a rumor. The opposite of the cool stage. Scenes that felt more friendly than anyone else. After the scenes ended, a text appeared on the ck screen. ¡¸With afortable mind, ask us anything¡­¡¹ Along with the text in a somewhat detached font, the address of the site to post questions also appeared. The video, which came out before theunch of the Y app, became a small topic in the idolmunity. ¨C????what is this -What kind of drugs did they take??? -Lemon staff need a doping test -If you¡¯re curious, go there? -But it seems fun¡­? ??can I also write a question -Coals, can I also write a question as a casual fan (shy) -Yeah, they said anyone can write a question rted to the kids when they¡¯re promoting! -Wait. I¡¯m rolling up my sleeves right now That was the reason why not only the Souffl¨¦s, but also other people who liked them, participated in New ck¡¯s first Y app content. ¡°How many, how many?¡± ¡°About 80,000.¡± They looked at each other with stunned faces at Assistant Manager Hong¡¯s answer. Rihyuk calcted in his head and gave the answer. ¡°It¡¯s 16,000 per person. An hour is 3,600 seconds. If we look at one per second, it¡¯ll take about five hours.¡± ¡°¡­¡± Woojooughed dryly at the absurd number. It felt like the worry of what if the questions were low was meaningless when they filmed the teaser. ¡°We were more popr idols than we thought.¡± ¡°Maybe it¡¯s because we¡¯re so mysterious that the questions exploded. Who are those suspicious guys?¡± ¡°There¡¯s a point. Junghyun.¡± As they nodded in agreement, Jiho said, ¡°I asked my dad to help me out in case there were no questions. If you see a nickname ¡®Jiho¡¯s Dad¡¯, that¡¯s him.¡± ¡°Really?¡± Assistant Manager Hong searched for ¡®Jiho¡¯s Dad¡¯ on the list using Ctrl+F and found zero questions. They burst intoughter while the youngest one blocked his father¡¯s contact with a snort. When theughter died down, Woojoo scratched his chin and said, ¡°But what do we do with this¡­¡± ¡°I know, right.¡± They came down to check the questions one by one after the deadline was over, but there were 80,000 of them. It was too much to handle with their busy schedule, no matter how much time they squeezed. That was when Bijoo said, ¡°Oh! Come to think of it, there might be some nastyments in there. If we filter those out¡­¡± ¡°Ah, that¡¯s true.¡± There would be quite a few hatements about them, like the ones using them of album maniption. If they got rid of those too¡­ Assistant Manager Hong smiled and said, ¡°I already did that.¡± ¡°¡­¡± ¡°I filtered out about 10,000ments that were reported by your fans or that matched the keywords we set.¡± They pped and marveled among themselves. Even the hatements were at this level. Assistant Manager Hong said with a smile, ¡°There are also a lot ofments from other fans or non-fans besides yours. It seems like the promotion was sessful. Y app even called us to show their interest.¡± ¡°Wow¡­¡± ¡°This is too much for you guys to review by yourselves, so we¡¯ll take a look at it.¡± Come to think of it, the PR Team¡¯s office was quiet. It was usually a busy ce with phone calls, outings, andputer typing sounds. Everyone was sitting in one ce, marking the A4 paper list with highlighters. ¡°So what are you guys looking at now¡­¡± ¡°Yeah.¡± ¡°¡­¡± The PR Team members lifted their heads and gave them a bitter smile. ¡°We¡¯ve been looking at your questions all morning¡­¡± ¡°Bijoo, do you know that a kiss in French is bisou? Your fan wants to see you introduce your name to a French person.¡± ¡°Junghyun, how many burgers can you eat at most? I saw this 300 times.¡± ¡°Rihyuk, do you remember the foundation maker you used when you were an MCst time? There were a lot of questions about how good the coverage was.¡± ¡°Woojoo, what would you choose between 100 million and 10 billion while you¡¯re in the military? They want you to choose carefully.¡± ¡°Jiho, I want to see your night time.¡± They chuckled at the precious list of questions until they got to thest one and answered sternly that they couldn¡¯t do that. Only Jiho was sparkling and saying, ¡°Why! It¡¯s fun!¡± ¡°Right now, all the staff are working on your Y app and YouTube content.¡± They said ¡®oh¡¯ at the word ¡®all¡¯ and noticed some empty seats. They asked, ¡°Where are Manager Bae and Assistant Ha?¡± ¡°They went to shoot with Scarlet.¡± That was right, there was their senior girl group in the Y app this time. ¡°What are they shooting?¡± ¡°Mukbang.¡± ¡°¡­¡± ¡°They¡¯re eating beef. 1.2 million won worth of special parts¡­¡± They heard theughter of Scarlet members pping and squealing as they piled up a mountain of raw meat. They loved meat. Woojoo automatically imagined them wiping their tears and saying, ¡®Unnie, I¡¯m so happy¡¯, ¡®The world is full of meat!¡¯ He felt a bit jealous. ¡°We should have done a mukbang too¡­¡± ¡°But do you think you can beat them in eating? Scarlet Noonas eat all day long.¡± Woojoo thought about it and realized he had no confidence. Then Woojoo handed out coffee to the PR Team members who were hitting the highlighters with a sour face. The PR Team members thanked them and smiled as they took the coffee and cake slices and continued their work. ¡°Well, at least this is manageable.¡± Someoneughed. ¡°It¡¯s not like we have to deal with a bad situation or a big problem. You guys don¡¯t have anything major to worry about for a while, right?¡± ¡°Yeah. Right. Our album and concert are not until the end of next month¡­¡± They smiled along with the PR Team members who seemed relieved that they didn¡¯t have much to do right now. But none of them knew that they had forgotten something. If Woojoo had to put a percentage on the progress of the album, it would be about 80 percent done. After finishing the mixing and mastering of the title song, which was the result of countlessposers¡¯ tears and the souls of Woojoo and his brothers. The album design concept was also out, and practically everything was ready for the physical album to be released. It was a much faster pace than the previous album. It was partly because of the tight schedule, but also because the President invested a huge amount of money in this album. Now they were not behind any of the big agency idols. They had enough money to install a swing in the air and bring an elephant to theeback stage. Most of that money went into hiring people. They asked the best designer in the industry to do the album design, and y introduced them to a famous choreographer from South America for the dance. The result was amazing. At this point, Woojoo started to think that they couldn¡¯t fail even if they wanted to. He didn¡¯t know if they would hit the jackpot, but he had a feeling that they wouldn¡¯t flop at least. Of course, someone was flopping. ¡°This was supposed to be an easy choreography. An easy choreography!¡± ¡°Calm down. Pirarucu.¡± ¡°Do I look calm to you? Is this easy? Bijoo Hyung! You said we would go easy this time!¡± ¡°Hmm? Isn¡¯t it easy?¡± ¡°Easy? Come here! I¡¯m going to kill you today!¡± It was Rihyuk who was suffering from the unprecedented choreography. While they showed him his favorite idol with a ten thousand won bill to calm him down, Bijoo checked the choreography with a sincere look of confusion. He twisted his body like a pretzel and asked softly, ¡®Is it hard?¡¯ Rihyuk flew around like a fly. ¡°But this is hard, Bijoo Hyung.¡± ¡°Really?¡± ¡°It¡¯s harder than Masquerade. By 1.5 times.¡± ¡°Is it?¡± Their main dancer looked like he didn¡¯t understand. ¡°Woojoo Hyung is doing well, right?¡± ¡°Well, Bijoo. I¡¯m doing well, but¡­¡± He was exhausted. This choreography was very fast and had a lot of footwork, so he felt drained after doing it once. The sweat literally dripped on the floor. He didn¡¯t mind if it was always strong-strong-strong, but the choreography had changes in intensity ording to the tempo, so it was harder to control the strength. And on top of that, they started dieting again recently. ¡°Ugh¡­¡± He copsed and got up again and repeated the practice. Then, every time they had a break, Woojoo admired Bijoo who checked his moves in front of the mirror. ¡°He¡¯s improved more, right?¡± ¡°Exactly. He¡¯s crazy about dancing¡­¡± ¡°What did he do during his personal practice? That Hyung.¡± Each of them practiced their own specialties during their personal practice, and he seemed to have leveled up even more by practicing dancing like crazy. The President who came to watch their performance practice couldn¡¯t take his eyes off Bijoo. As Woojoo watched him, he thought he wasn¡¯t dancing, but just moving his body naturally. He was in a state where he moved his body naturally to the music. ¡°Let¡¯s work hard. Our Rihyuk.¡± ¡°¡­Wait for the vocal practice. I won¡¯t let you go.¡± Woojoo smirked at his bluff, but he really got scolded during the vocal practice. ¡°Who told you to make that sound? You¡¯ll hurt your throat if you sing the low notes like that.¡± ¡°¡­¡± ¡°You have to answer.¡± ¡°I¡¯m sorry¡­¡± Woojoo practiced hard for the vocals, but the cut line was heavenly. While he was working on the songs, everyone else¡¯s skills had improved. It felt like they climbed up step by step with each album. At first, he didn¡¯t notice the change, but as he prepared for the fourth album, he realized how much they had changed. Junghyun¡¯s rap had improved, and the youngest was bing a master of facial expressions on stage. The people who saw them knew the changes, even if they didn¡¯t. Junghyun shook his head. ¡°Hyung, you¡¯ve improved too.¡± ¡°Really?¡± ¡°Yes, you¡¯re like a worm that¡¯s slowly crawling up to Kim Bijoo¡¯s chin.¡± ¡°Is that apliment or an insult?¡± While Woojoo was writing songs in his personal time, it was hard to catch up with his younger siblings who had upgraded their skills in their own fields, but thanks to his diligent practice, he managed to rank second in each category. His siblings were amazed and wondered when he had time to practice. When he told them he had to work harder, they immediately tried to stop him. ¡°Please, take a break, Hyung.¡± ¡°No, why do you keep trying to catch up?¡± ¡°It feels like a ghost is stuck to the car window and won¡¯t let go, even when I speed up to 70 km/h.¡± Junghyun kept contaminating Woojoo¡¯s mind with his weird metaphors. The other siblings also gave simr testimonies. They said they wanted to restfortably, but they were scared to run away because Woojoo kept chasing them. He couldn¡¯t help butugh. ¡°What a joke.¡± ¡°¡­¡± ¡°Right¡­?¡± They all nodded. ¡°Please, just rest.¡± ¡°The fans always call us the hexagon idols. Just be satisfied with that hexagon and rest.¡± ¡°¡­You mean hexagon, right?¡± They warmlyforted each other to rest, saying ¡®you first¡¯, ¡®no, you first¡¯. After a long time of bickering, they finally agreed to work hard together. Then they poked the choreographer, Juye Hyung, who was lying in the corner of the practice room. ¡°Get up. Juye Hyung.¡± ¡°Hyung, you have to get up.¡± ¡°¡­¡± He looked at them with a terrified face, and they gave him a bright smile. ¡°You have to watch us practice.¡± While they were preparing for various projects in a hectic manner, the broadcast of ¡®Men on a Mission¡¯ also approached. -¡®Men on a Mission¡¯ first outdoor special¡­ ¡°Police Special Forces Team¡± attractsizens¡¯ attention -¡®Police Special Forces Team¡¯ teaser sparks interest ¡®Will it make up for the low ratings?¡¯ -From bomb terror training to police dogs, PD Men Go says ¡°Look forward to it¡± The teaser that came out for about a minute at the end of the most recent army special seemed to have drawn attention. With the majestic BGM, bombs exploded, Special Forces in uniforms entered, and scenes of them rappelling down were irresistible. The reaction was good, as the scenes from the army or navy specials were getting stale. -Wow, Police Special Forces Team????? interesting -I think I¡¯ll watch it next week -Lately, the army has been boring with the same stuff, I hope this time it¡¯s different. -They finally do something fun when the ratings drop? -Still not boring¡­? I didn¡¯t watch the teaser, but it seems obvious. -The guest is New ck -Oh, then it¡¯s different -It¡¯s different, I agree????? Watch the change of attitude -New ck is not an idol. They are something else. -I¡¯m looking forward to it, myughter bell Woojoo was monitoring thements from the articles that the PR Team had sent him, and he wondered how their image had been formed. Meanwhile, on the inte, there was a buzz about the new special of Men Go. They met with the ¡®Men on a Mission¡¯ Production Team in person. ¡°Hello!¡± ¡°Here you are. Our ratings boosters.¡± ¡°We haven¡¯t even aired yet, we¡¯re feeling pressured, PD-nim.¡± Junghyun and Woojoo smiled at PD Do Joongi, who was shining his eyes at them. PD-nim smiled as if to say, ¡®What¡¯s the matter?¡¯ Then he nced at Bijoo, Jihoo, and Rihyuk, as if to check their value. Yes, PD-nim. They too¡­ ¡°¡­?¡± He shook his head. He gave Woojoo a look that said they seemed unsuitable for the military variety show, then nodded at Junghyun and Woojoo again. Woojoo decided. After today¡¯s recording, he was going to block that person¡¯s contact. ¡°Haha, well, shall we start the recording? Who¡¯s going to p the te? Junghyun?¡± ¡°Yes. I¡¯ll do it.¡± Junghyun pped his hands in front of the camera, and the recording began. People looked at them in the quiet hospital lobby. The purpose of today was to find out about Junghyun¡¯s strength, which the Police Special Forces Team had seen and told him to ¡®get a checkup¡¯. Originally, Hanjo was supposed toe with them, but he couldn¡¯t because of the Street Boys¡¯ busy schedule. While the camera was rolling, they made jokes and filled the airtime. ¡°How do you feel, Junghyun?¡± ¡°I¡¯m nervous.¡± ¡°What are you nervous about?¡± ¡°I have to show my body to the whole nation¡­¡± ¡°Junghyun!¡± They scolded him for using such a misleading expression, but the PD wasughing behind them. ¡°Um, I¡¯ll be back then.¡± They couldn¡¯t help butugh at the sight of their kid disappearing in a backward step, wearing a gown with a grim face. Then they waited with the managers while Junghyun underwent the test. In the meantime, they took pictures with or answered some people who recognized them. An old man wearing a hardtack hat greeted Woojoo warmly. ¡°No ck! Juni!¡± ¡°Hello, I¡¯m No ck.¡± ¡°Oh, nice to meet you. You¡¯re Seon Woojoo. I¡¯m also Seonwoo. Haha.¡± He nced at the camera and asked curiously, ¡°But what are you doing here?¡± ¡°We came here for our kid¡¯s test.¡± The old man¡¯s pupils shook and he flicked his eyes at the camera. ¡°Oh, you have a child¡­¡± ¡°No, not that child, but a big one.¡± ¡°A big one¡­¡± ¡°No, bigger than that¡­¡± Woojoo and his siblings gestured like a giant baby to show how big he was. The old man nodded his head and said, ¡®He¡¯s very big¡­¡¯ The more they talked, the more they seemed to sink into a swamp. The production staff burst intoughter. Only after they showed him Junghyun¡¯s photo did he ept it and say, ¡®Oh, the bear cub young man.¡¯ Their managers smirked and held their stomachs. ¡°Phew¡­¡± Just when they could catch their breath, they heard that Junghyun¡¯s test was over. They waited for a while with Junghyun, who changed back into his casual clothes, and then entered the room to hear the test results. ¡°Hello!¡± ¡°Yes, hello.¡± The doctor was clicking the mouse while looking at the monitor, and they sat nervously on two swivel chairs. Gulp. They swallowed their saliva and waited for the test results toe out. ¡°You said your job is an idol singer, right?¡± ¡°Yes.¡± ¡°Hmm¡­¡± He made a serious expression, and they also followed suit with a serious expression, waiting for what he would say next. The doctor said cautiously, ¡°I¡¯m sorry to say this, but I think you chose the wrong job¡­¡± Chapter 286: Trantor: MarcTempest Editor: Rxel Chapter 286 ¡°What¡¯s your job?¡± ¡°Well, I thought you might be someone who works in a field that requires some strength¡­ like sports, for example.¡± The doctor asked, ¡°Have you ever done any sports?¡± ¡°I was in the baseball club in elementary school.¡± ¡°Why did you quit?¡± ¡°I liked doing things on my own, so I didn¡¯t fit well with the group life. The coach tried to stop me from leaving, though.¡± ¡°Ah¡­¡±The doctor sighed deeply. Woojoo asked him, ¡°Why are you like that?¡± ¡°If you had yed baseball, you would have been on TV wearing a uniform by now. Considering your physical condition, you might have been the first pick in the draft¡­¡± ¡°What about farming?¡± The doctor shook his head at Junghyun¡¯s serious question. ¡°It might sound like I¡¯m belittling farming, but¡­ isn¡¯t it a national waste to devote this body to farming only?¡± ¡°Is it that much?¡± ¡°It would have been the same for any sport. You would have been on TV wherever you went. Even if you farmed, you would have appeared on the same show as the world¡¯s wonders.¡± In Woojoo¡¯s head, a special episode titled ¡®The Mysterious Secret of Young Farmer Kim¡¯ was automaticallypleted. The mysterious rocks piled up in the rural vacant lot. While Rihyuk went there and eximed, ¡®This is¡­ Baekje style!¡¯, the hidden camera revealed the secret. The handsome farmer in a straw hat, ¡®Kim Junghyun, ¡á, 21 years old¡¯, moving rocks around the vacant lot every night as a hobby. It really suited him well. They all agreed with the doctor¡¯s words. ¡°We always say that among ourselves. Junghyun should have gone to Taereung.¡± ¡°This guy breaks stic bottles with acorns, and the fans don¡¯t believe us when we tell them. They say we¡¯re overdoing it.¡± ¡°He¡¯s the kind of person who lifts the bookshelf if something gets under it.¡± The doctor nodded as if he understood, listening to their testimonies. Then he started to exin. ¡°As you can see here¡­¡± ¡°Uh, where? Wait a minute.¡± They pushed their legs to move the wheels, sitting on two chairs stacked together. Drrr. Drr. The five pairs of legs moved like spiders, approaching him. The doctor calmly waited. ¡°We¡¯re ready.¡± ¡°Yes. As you can see, Kim Junghyun¡¯s muscles are much better than the average person¡¯s.¡± ¡°Wow¡­¡± They didn¡¯t know anything. ¡°Simply put, his muscle quality is much better than others¡¯. It¡¯s a case that might ur once in ten thousand people, maybe. By the way¡­ how much do you weigh now?¡± ¡°I¡¯m 66, but I¡¯m losing weight, so I¡¯ll reduce it to 64.¡± ¡°64? At that height?¡± He looked at them with a look that said, ¡®Can you live normally?¡¯ for a moment. The nurse behind him widened her eyes and looked at them when they said the average weight was 60. Somehow, it felt like they were more curious about their weight than Junghyun¡¯s unusual physique. They said calmly to them, ¡°I got used to living as I lived.¡± ¡°Oh¡­¡± The doctor, who was impressed by his words of wisdom, coughed and continued his exnation. ¡°Anyway, you can see that he can exert the maximum amount of strength that he can at his current weight. Of course, he wouldn¡¯t be able to beat the athletes who have trained and trained, but he would be the strongest person in the same weight ss.¡± ¡°As expected¡­¡± They nodded, convinced, when Rihyuk asked a question. ¡°I have a question.¡± ¡°Yes.¡± ¡°I¡¯ve looked through some sports medicine books. They said that the qualitative difference in muscles is negligible, and that the strength is determined by the cross-sectional area or the neural memory.¡± ¡°That¡¯s right.¡± ¡°Aren¡¯t all muscles the same? Why is his muscle only¡­¡± They didn¡¯t know what he was talking about, but they cheered him on, saying, ¡®Good job, good job.¡¯ The doctor was stimted by his words and adjusted his sses with his index finger. Then he asked with a serious expression, ¡°Hmm¡­ I can exin that part too, but it might be difficult to go on air.¡± ¡°I still want to hear it.¡± They also nodded and said, ¡°We want to hear it too.¡± ¡°Challenge!¡± ¡°We love science.¡± The doctor smiled warmly at their enthusiasm and opened his mouth. ¡°Well then¡­¡± ¡°TBC ¡®Men on a Mission¡¯ Part 3 ¨C Cookie Video¡± Five of them were piled up on two round wheelchairs, listening to the doctor¡¯s passionate exnation. Doctor: First of all, I need to talk to you about hormones. You know what hormones are, right? Jiho: Environmental hormones¡­? Bijoo: Secondary sexual characteristics¡­? Doctor: (helpless) Soon, the doctor¡¯s exnation focused on Rihyuk, who seemed to understand what he was saying. ¡®This guy is better off¡¯ he thought. [?? 3x speed] The caption indicated fast-forwarding, and the screen showed the doctor¡¯s exnation and Rihyuk nodding earnestly. They looked like a student and a professor. The doctor was excited by Rihyuk¡¯s diligent note-taking and continued to exin quickly. Meanwhile, the camera caught the other members¡¯ expressions. New ck: (blinking) At first, they smiled brightly and listened to the exnation, but after a minute, they only smiled with their mouths. After another minute, they started to p their cheeks. And after three more minutes, the New ck members tried to keep their eyes open while sitting. Brahms¡¯ ¡®Luby¡¯ yed as the BGM. The sound of a music box ying the luby filled the background, and the New ck members widened their eyes andughed. All this time, Rihyuk and the doctor were having a soulful conversation. Doctor: Lastly¡­ The New ck members, who had beenughing with all their strength, pped their hands, thinking it was thest exnation. Woojoo: Wow~ Amazing. So cool. Jiho: So that¡¯s what Junghyun Hyung¡¯s body was made of! Bijoo: I see! But the exnation was not over. The doctor coughed and continued his exnation like a principal¡¯s lecture, saying stly¡¯. The New ck members listened with a sad smile. Doctor: There¡¯s a person named Dennis Rogers in the US, and I think he and Junghyun might have a simr case. New ck: Oh. Rogers Sunbae-nim. The New ck members, who had been listening with enthusiasm, widened their eyes and stopped as the doctor continued with his medical exnation. A 70s hit song yed over Bijoo¡¯s nk face. I don¡¯t know anything~ I don¡¯t know anything~ The sleepy faces of the New ck members were cross-edited, and finally, Junghyun, who was just staring nkly, appeared. The exnation was over, and Rihyuk and the doctor shook hands, while the others pped like seals. The camera approached their faces as they left the room. ¡®Q. How was it?¡¯ The New ck members shook their bodies and smiled brightly at the question. Woojoo: It was the information I really wanted to know! It was a useful time. Right? The others: Yeah! Rihyuk: Did you really listen? The others: Yeah! Ignoring him, they all shouted ¡®Junghyun¡¯s body is the best!¡¯ and cheered, ending the cookie video. After revealing the secret of Junghyun¡¯s body. They visited the hair shop they usually went to, to get the styling that suited their new album. And they also heard the news they had been waiting for. ¡°Wow¡­¡± They rolled around on the sofa in the hair shop and got excited when they saw the link the promotion team sent them. The concert opening announcement posted on the official SNS. They pped their hands and rejoiced as they saw the poster that filled the tablet PC screen. ¡°Awesome, right?¡± ¡°Isn¡¯t the poster really pretty from the start? Wow, there are already so many likes. I have to like it quickly too.¡± ¡°Hyung. How about we hang one of these in the studio, the practice room, the dorm, and thepany lounge when the real thinges out?¡± The poster on the screen was so pretty that Bijoo said that. It was an American-style retro poster. A colorful amusement park filled with primary colors shone brightly behind them. And they were standing in front of it as if they hade to y. ¡°Wow¡­¡± Even though they just saw the poster on the screen, their hearts were already pounding. Maybe more than when they were nervous and excited before their debut. Maybe it was because of the number of audience per show, which was about 5,000. He still couldn¡¯t imagine it. That 5,000 Souffl¨¦s would gather like a festival at Olympic Park to see them. They all had a Kim Bong-dal in their hands, receiving goods and wrapping paper bracelets around their wrists. ¡°Can¡¯t you imagine? Just multiply 2,000 by 2.5, which you saw at the showcase.¡± ¡°You fish don¡¯t know. This warm feeling.¡± ¡°I know.¡± Of course he knew. The reason why the tablet PC was shaking was because someone who had it was shaking their legs. When Woojoo looked at him with a nk stare, he made an excuse that it was because of the air conditioner. ¡°It¡¯s not on~?¡± ¡°¡­¡± ¡°It¡¯s not onnn~?¡± ¡°¡­!¡± A war broke out at the youngest¡¯s provocation, who even stuck his face in. The Hyungs smiled warmly at the sight of them swinging cotton punches at each other. ¡°How can they look like they have no impact at all?¡± ¡°They don¡¯t even dodge, but they don¡¯t even touch each other. Hyung.¡± ¡°I know. It would hurt more to get cut by paper than to get hit by them.¡± As Woojoo shook his head at the younger ones, he diligently monitored the reactions of the Souffl¨¦s on the screen. ¡°Hmm¡­ but the reaction is half and half.¡± ¡°I know. I thought they would like it.¡± ¡°I guess it¡¯s different from what we think.¡± Woojoo thought the Souffl¨¦s would be happy and jumping around, but they weren¡¯t. Most of the reactions were positive, though. There were quite a few responses that said thepany was overworking them. With the busy schedule, the concert, and the album preparation on top of that, they seemed to worry about their health. Woojoo thought it was a reasonable concern. It was almost as busy as the end ofst year¡¯s stage. He felt sorry for the fans who were full of worry. ¡°We¡¯re fine¡­¡± ¡°Then, how about a selfie as a sign of our well-being?¡± They smiled brightly with the younger ones and took a selfie together, saying ¡®Ppi!¡¯ and uploaded it. Then ament came up. -If Kyuho is watching, please shake a carrot -If you don¡¯t have a carrot, then Rihyuk¡­ Theyughed as they matched thement with their carrot-colored kid next to them. As they talked about the first concert, the younger ones who were ready one by one started to sit on the shop chairs. They all had excited expressions. This time, they decided to add some color, so each of them had different colors. Bijoo had wine color, Junghyun had dark brown, Rihyuk had blue ck. The youngest went with blond, which Bijoo had done before. Woojoo¡­ ¡°Teacher.¡± ¡°Hmm?¡± Woojoo asked the hair shop teacher who was carefully trimming my hair while sitting on the chair, ¡°Does this hurt a lot?¡± ¡°Yes.¡± ¡°Then I can¡¯t do it.¡± ¡°Woojoo, you have a very hard-to-remove hair color. You have to bleach it three times when others do it once or twice.¡± ¡°¡­¡± Was it ash gray? He wanted to go with a colorful flower pattern hair color, but he had to give up because of the fierce opposition from the A&R Team staff. They said it was like sprinkling ashes on his own path after picking out such a good song. It was ironic to think of the hair color he was trying to do now as ash. Honestly, a bright pink color like a flower would be prettier. ¡°Right, Teacher?¡± ¡°¡­¡± The hair teacher pretended not to hear and hummed a tune. The shop was ying famous songs on the chart, and Windflower was ying. Even at this moment when they were preparing for the next album, Windflower was still staying at the 5th ce on the chart. Woojoo felt a little anxious when he thought that he had picked out the title of the previous album too well. ¡°Woojoo, how do you feel?¡± ¡°I feel good.¡± Woojoo showed off his shoulder dance to Minki Hyung, who was holding a camcorder, wearing a gown. ¡°But where are you going to upload that?¡± ¡°This is our YouTube album making video.¡± ¡°Aha. Hello, YouTube viewers! Nice to meet you!¡± ¡°Woojoo¡­¡± Woojoo sat down politely under the earnest gaze of the hairstylist. Minki Hyung asked him with a smile, ¡°How is it? Does it hurt?¡± ¡°No. Well, this much is¡­¡± As he was acting arrogant, the hairstylist said with a smile, ¡°I haven¡¯t applied the bleach to your scalp yet.¡± ¡°¡­¡± Soon, the real pain began. As several rounds of bleaching continued, he was shivering all over, but he didn¡¯t care about the siblings who were mocking him. It felt like his head was stuck in a frozen river for a long time in the middle of winter. ¡°Ughhh¡­¡± ¡°Does it hurt? You wereughing at me when I dyed my hair, saying that you could dye it without bleaching.¡± ¡°Ughhh! Ugh!¡± Woojoo reached out his hand under the gown and shook it, but the youngestughed. Bijoo smiled brightly. ¡°Endure it for the fans, Hyung.¡± ¡°Ughhh!¡± ¡°Hmm? You can do anything for the fans, right?¡± ¡°Ughhh! Don¡¯t talk to me!¡± He was dying of pain! Music video set. Props were set up in front of a gloomy concrete-colored city background and a green screen for CG. As he stretched his tense body, he gathered around the phone with the siblings. ¡°Ta-da!¡± -Oh, my, what a surprise! His grandmother¡¯s eyes widened in the video call. -How did your hair turn into blond overnight? ¡°Cool, right?¡± -Well, any color would suit you, but¡­ Move your face a little. Let me see the other members. ¡°Hmph.¡± Woojoo moved his head to the side, making his face half of the screen, and then captured the other siblings. -More. ¡°¡­¡± As he stepped aside, the siblings shouted ¡°Ta-da!¡± ¡°Grandma, hello!¡± ¡°How do we look?¡± -Oh, my! You¡¯re so colorful and restless. His grandmother chuckled at the sight of the siblings¡¯ colorful hair. Jiho said with a confident face, ¡°How is it? Don¡¯t we look like delinquents? That¡¯s the concept for this time.¡± -When did delinquents be defined by hair color? ¡°No?¡± The siblings who argued for the ¡®dyeing=delinquent¡¯ theory widened their eyes. ¡°Don¡¯t we look more yful now?¡± ¡°It feels like we¡¯ll bounce out of the club if we shake it like a bag.¡± ¡°Our hair color really stands out.¡± Woojoo¡¯s grandmother narrowed her eyes and made a face that said ¡®how do I exin this to you¡¯. -You guys are just¡­ ¡°Yes?¡± -Just give up¡­ They shed tears at the words that sounded like ¡®you¡¯re like a 7-year-old rebelling¡¯. No. It wasn¡¯t like that. They tried to persuade his grandmother throughout the call, but she didn¡¯t agree at all. -Grow up. It¡¯s better to look gentle than like a lettuce. ¡°¡­Is that so.¡± -Yes. ¡°Yes?¡± Woojoo nodded with a regretful face. She changed the topic and told them about the concert at the end of August and the tickets for the family, and she was very happy. Her cheeks were already flushed and she was excited, saying ¡®can I just wear something nice?¡¯. Woojoo smiled at the sight of his Lady Kim Deoksoon. ¡°Grandma, but you know, we really look like this¡­¡± -Oh, my, the stew is burning! Burn! Click¨C ¡°¡­¡± ¡°She hung up pretty quickly.¡± ¡°We must have annoyed her¡­¡± They looked at each other nkly, then at their reflections in the mirror in the corner of the set. ¡°We have leather jackets.¡± ¡°And hoodies that look rebellious.¡± ¡°Even our pants are slightly ripped.¡± No matter how they looked at it, they were the perfect image of delinquent teenagers from one to five. Seokhwan Hyung passed by and hit them with a bone. ¡°Your basic expressions are too innocent.¡± ¡°¡­¡± ¡°With those faces, even elementary school kids wouldn¡¯t be scared. You have to cover it up with makeup and stage acting.¡± That was why they put more effort into their makeup than usual. They sat on the chairs in the dressing room and told the makeup artists with determined faces, ¡°I¡¯m definitely a troublemaker. Please make me look like that.¡± They nodded at each other as the artists agreed. Thanks to their hard work, they were able to transform into somewhat decent-looking faces. They asked Dowon Hyung, who was holding the camera, ¡°How is it? Do we¡­ look like we know how to have fun?¡± ¡°Um. Yeah.¡± ¡°What do you mean, um yeah? Hyung. Tell us exactly.¡± He rolled his eyes and hesitantly answered. ¡°You look like the top students who go wild after the college entrance exam¡­¡± ¡°No. Why are you all like that?¡± They protested loudly, and the managers and staffughed. They smiled as if they were joking. They rolled their eyes at them and went into the music video shooting. The main shooting went much smoother than they expected. ¡°Okay. Good expressions!¡± They were worried that they wouldn¡¯t match their usual image, but the footage showed that their worries were unfounded. They smiled when they looked at them for their opinion. ¡°¡­You all knew and teased us.¡± They seemed to have made fun of them for worrying unnecessarily. On the other hand, thebination of their prepared facial expressions and choreography looked convincing. They flinched and shivered every time their faces were close-up on the monitor. ¡°Wow, Junghyun Hyung¡¯s expression just now was so scary.¡± ¡°Me too, I¡¯m scared of myself.¡± ¡°I was startled when Woojoo Hyung reached out his hand.¡± Their dancing under the cold gray background and the shining neon sign looked really rough, and they liked it. The music video director agreed. ¡°You all did well with the concept. You really looked like fugitives.¡± ¡°Yes.¡± They nodded. The concept of this music video was them running away in a cyberpunk setting. The background was dystopia from SF, suggested by Rihyuk. The scenes where they hid under the dazzling neon signs or danced in the back alleys and rooftops were the main ones. There was green neon everywhere. They brainstormed with the A&R Team on how to make the most of the green color of this album. It seemed like a good choice that matched the futuristic sound. ¡°But¡­ Woojoo really nailed his expression.¡± One of the staff pointed at Woojoo, who was dancing in the center of the screen. Woojoo¡¯s dynamic expression under the hairband. ¡°He really captured the vibe of the music video.¡± ¡°Right? I was thinking that too. When did Woojoo Hyung¡¯s expression acting improve so much?¡± ¡°Hyung. Did you practice this by watching YouTube?¡± Woojoo shook his head with a smile at their questions. ¡°No.¡± ¡°Then¡­¡± Woojoo awkwardlyughed it off, and they looked at him again, who was smiling arrogantly in the music video. For three seconds. ¡°Ah¡­!¡± ¡°Ah¡­!¡± A simultaneous exmation of ¡®ah!¡¯ came out of the members¡¯ mouths. They looked at him as if to say ¡®right?¡¯ Their eyes were asking questions. ¡°Them?¡± ¡°Them.¡± As the others looked puzzled, Woojoo¡¯s siblings eximed again as they watched the screen. They had realized who he had used as references for his facial expressions. It was the group whose usual expressions and vibes were simr to Woojoo¡¯s. They lookedpletely different on the outside, but they gave off a simr feeling. ¡°Hyung, there¡¯s something behind you.¡± ¡°Oh, really?¡± ¡°It looks like a huge letter. Jon¡­¡± Woojoo burst intoughter when they said that every time he gestured, ¡®Jon¡¯ shed behind him. Chapter 287: Trantor: MarcTempest Editor: Rxel Chapter 287 ¡°Okay, good job everyone!¡± ¡°Thank you for your hard work!¡± They finished shooting the music video for Nine smoothly. Of course, it wasn¡¯tpletely over. They still had to shoot on location in Busan to create a cyberpunk vibe with neon signs, and they also had some scenes left to film in an empty subway and station. What they shot today was the set shooting for the CG effects.They would have to wait for the post-production to see the actual results, but Woojoo had a very good feeling about it. ¡°Hmm, this music video¡­¡± Junghyun said with a serious expression, ¡°I have no idea how it¡¯s going to turn out.¡± ¡°It¡¯s going to be a hit!¡± ¡°Junghyun Hyung said he doesn¡¯t know. Our music video is going to be a huge sess this time.¡± The viin of intuition said, and they forgot their fatigue and jumped around. The music video production team asked them why that was a good sign, and they exined the situation to them. ¡°Oh, it¡¯s a total flop then?¡± ¡°No, it¡¯s not. I have a good feeling about it.¡± Junghyun tried to protest with his eyes wide open, but they shook their heads. Then they asked him. ¡°Junghyun, what do you think the weather is like outside right now? Tell us your intuition.¡± ¡°It feels like it¡¯s going to be very nice.¡± ¡°¡­¡± Woojoo turned his head and asked, ¡°Did we bring umbres?¡± ¡°No, we didn¡¯t. It was sunny when we came. The weather forecast said it was going to be nice today.¡± While they were murmuring, the assistant directorughed and said that didn¡¯t make sense. Then he went outside the building to check the weather and came back. He looked like a piece of wood that had been drowned and rescued. ¡°Huff¡­ Huff¡­¡± The staff who was soaked in water said, ¡°It¡¯s raining like crazy. I didn¡¯t even go out, but I got wet like this by the wind.¡± ¡°¡­¡± ¡°What kind of shower is this¡­¡± At that, the music video director opened his eyes wide and said, ¡°Oh¡­¡± He was from the US and he said he didn¡¯t believe in superstitions. As they said ¡®See?¡¯, the music video production team started to take out their wallets. ¡°I bought this lottery ticket, can you take a look?¡± ¡°This guy is the one who wants to marry my sister, what do you think of his face? I don¡¯t have a good feeling about it.¡± ¡°I bought this today, do you think it will go up to the limit?¡± They looked like people who were in front of a shaman, asking with reverence. Theyughed and said, ¡°We tried it too, but we shouldn¡¯t be greedy.¡± ¡°We lost 20 lottery tickets.¡± They had a bad intention of ¡®Let¡¯s move to a new ce with the lottery winnings!¡¯ and tried it before, but they failed. They all chuckled andughed when they told them their stories. While the rain was pounding the building outside, they were all stuck in the set because of the sudden shower. The director said to watch the footage again. ¡°Junghyun said this music video is going to be good, right?¡± ¡°Yes.¡± ¡°But we think so too. There¡¯s something about this.¡± The footage yed again. Every time Woojoo danced, something shed behind him, and the younger ones pped their cheeks at that part. The director pointed to the green screen for the CG and said, ¡°This part will have the city background synthesized. It will look something like this with the references.¡± Various images popped up on the screen. Blue and purple neon lights made the city look somewhat mysterious. They opened their eyes wide and eximed, ¡°It¡¯s going to be really pretty when it¡¯s synthesized.¡± ¡°It¡¯s not just pretty, it¡¯s amazing.¡± The director smiled. ¡°It¡¯s going to be a great shot. Your dance and song also match the near-future atmosphere very well.¡± ¡°Really?¡± ¡°Trust me. I¡¯ve been shooting music videos for 10 years.¡± They exchanged excited nces with each other at the expert¡¯s affirmation. Thepany people behind them also nodded their heads as they looked at them standing in front of the green screen and the cyberpunk background. The directorughed and asked, ¡°Do you have fans abroad too?¡± ¡°Yes, we do.¡± ¡°They¡¯ll love this music video. North America and Europe really like this kind of image.¡± ¡°¡­Really?¡± They all looked at each other, but they were all Koreans who had lived in Korea. They watched the footage and said ¡®wow¡¯ at the expected quality, but they weren¡¯t sure if there was anything special that would appeal more to the foreign fans. They just took his word for it, since he had lived abroad. ¡°We appreciate the foreign fans, but we¡¯d prefer it if you could make it feel more like something the Korean fans would like, Director.¡± ¡°That¡¯s my top priority, of course.¡± Seokhwan Hyung smiled and said that, and they smiled and replied. As they continued the conversation about the music video, they kept watching it over and over. They were looking for any areas that needed improvement. They followed the video along, drawing the content in their heads andparing it to what was written in the script. ¡°Hmm¡­¡± It looked like it would be really cool when the images were added, as the director said. But it felt a bit nd. It was shy from start to finish, like a hundred out of a hundred. It would be stimting at first and make them go ¡®ooh¡¯, but they had some doubts about whether it would have enough momentum to explode until the third verse. It wasn¡¯t bad to leave it as it was, but it felt shy and yet nd. Maybe it was because the same background was repeated. It would be nice if something else was added. They were chatting with each other for a while, discussing that part. Then they heard the rain outside. ¡®This is it!¡¯ ¡®That¡¯s it.¡¯ They all smiled brightly as if a light bulb had turned on. They quickly agreed on their opinion and approached the director to cautiously suggest it. ¡°Director.¡± ¡°¡­Yeah?¡± ¡°Here, what if we get wet in the rain?¡± ¡°Oh.¡± The director clicked his mouse a few times with a curious look on his face and asked them which point they meant. They pointed to a part of the script. The director, who had been tapping the table, opened his eyes wide. ¡°¡­That¡¯s not bad?¡± ¡°That¡¯s good, right?¡± ¡°No, that¡¯s not just good, that¡¯s a great idea.¡± They smiled brightly at the director¡¯s answer. Then they smiled at each other, as if to praise each other foring up with such an idea. It was a brilliant idea, even if they said so themselves. Busan. A water truck was spraying rain in a quiet alley with neon signs. Swoosh. As the scene was controlled, passers-by stopped and watched with curiosity. ¡®Are they filming a movie? There are so many cameras.¡¯ ¡®It looks like it¡¯s really raining when they do that.¡¯ ¡®Who is it? Which celebrity is here?¡¯ They wanted to watch, but the filming was taking ce deep in the alley, and the staff were blocking the outside. They could only see the busy movement of the jib camera from afar. ¡®Who is it?¡¯ ¡®Oh, they¡¯reing out.¡¯ The water from the truck stopped and they saw something moving between the staff. ¡®nkets¡­?¡¯ They saw a group of five moving in a trot with nkets over their heads. They only showed their faces, wrapped from head to toe inrge nkets, but they saw their small faces. ¡®Wow¡­!¡¯ Their beauty was dazzling even from afar¡­. ¡°Ha ha ha choo!¡± ¡°Choo choo!¡± ¡­They were the sneezing fairies. They felt likeughing at the sight of their cute faces, sneezing on and off. The people who saw the nket monsters with different looks soon realized who they were. Under the bright shooting lights, their wet faces shone. ¡®It¡¯s New ck.¡¯ ¡®Wow, it¡¯s New ck. How amazing.¡¯ The people they had seen on TV were alive in front of them¡­ ¡°Achoo!¡± Woojoo sneezed. While they were watching them, a sturdy nket monster turned its body around. A stern face revealed under the ck nket. It seemed to notice the people far away and approached the other four to say something. ¡°¡­¡± The four changed their expressions and took off their nkets and draped them over their shoulders. Then they shook their heads and elegantly started to sip tea from their thermoses. The pedestrians admired them. ¡®They¡¯re managing their image.¡¯ ¡®It seems like they already failed¡­¡¯ The New ck members lifted their heads with a ¡®huh?¡¯ expression and looked at the pedestrians. They tried to act like they had just discovered them by chance, but they moved so mechanically that it didn¡¯t look like that at all. They looked like meerkats who had found their predators. The New ck members smiled brightly and waved their hands at the pedestrians, who also waved back with a ¡®wow¡¯. ¡®They¡¯re handsome.¡¯ Their features stood out even though they were wet, with their colorful hair. Especially the member with gray hair who was drinking a hot canned drink and tapping his feet in the middle drew their attention. The nket he loosely wore looked like a cape. One of the people who were watching the scene tapped their phone on top of their smartphone. [I¡¯m a current Busan resident and I¡¯m watching an idol right now] I¡¯m watching the New ck kids filming a music video¡­ They¡¯re so handsome I don¡¯t know who the gray-haired one is, but¡­ I keep looking at him He looks like a sparkling grandpa -Sparkling grandpa??????? -???????Isn¡¯t he Woojoo -New ck members always getments about their looks when it¡¯s Woojoo -What¡­ Am I the only one who doesn¡¯t know New ck? Why do you all know their names; -You can¡¯t not know them if you listen to their songs these days -But where did the sparkling grandpae from;; -[Author] It¡¯s hard to express, but he has wet gray hair and his eyes are sparkling The author tried hard to express their feelings, but the people were already focused on the sparkling grandpa. Soon, the post was captured and spread to the idolmunity and the site where the New ck fans gathered. The Souffl¨¦s alsoughed. -??????What is a sparkling grandpa -Is it apliment or an insult -I want to see the sparkling grandpa too -Woojoo dyed his hair gray, good for him -Ah I¡¯m from Busan too??? Why can¡¯t I see them -I¡¯m curious from the eyewitness ounts¡­ What is the concept of this music video -They even used a water truck to film¡­ Wow, Kyuho is really putting his all into this -The man who is the most sincere about New ck, King Kyuho -Kyuho is sincere about New ck. It¡¯s just that his sincerity is not always pleasing¡­ -But there¡¯s also the Olympics and the concert is not far away, isn¡¯t filming a scene in the rain overdoing it?? -Yeah, I agree Meanwhile, the people who had the most passionate reaction to the rain scene were none other than. New ck, who were howling in the rain while filming. ¡°What a brilliant idea, my ass!¡± ¡°Ughhhhh!¡± ¡°Who suggested getting rained on in the first ce! Ahh! I got water in my nose!¡± ¡°Kamdok-nim! Water truck, water truck! Turn it down please!¡± New ck members, who didn¡¯t learn their lesson from the water tank filming, were wailing and iling in the rain. While they were suffering, the director who was watching the monitor burst intoughter. ¡®This is awesome. This is a hit!¡¯ The more New ck suffered, the more cool scenes were created. A scene from ¡ºNew ck ¡®Nine¡¯ (Official MV)¡». A rainy alley in the city. The misty moisture reflected the bright neon signs, creating a strange and mysterious sight. A picture drawn with light. Four young men, exhausted from running away, gasped for breath and silently screamed at the sky. The music faded for a moment, as if muted. Someone¡¯s footsteps were close-up. The back of a rapper from New ck, walking in a hoodie. The four tired eyes followed him, and he quietly walked over and took off his hood. At the same time, a hand reached out. The music that had been quiet turned up the volume again, and the rapper¡¯s part flowed out in a fierce trap beat. Following his movement, the heavy rain that had been pouring down stopped in that state and then started to rise up one drop at a time. Meanwhile, the members¡¯ harmonies were added one by one and the atmosphere was heightened. The screen switched from the story part of the music video to the dance part, and the highlight choreography of the third verse came out. Forget the rain you¡¯ve already been hit by The important thing is now Let¡¯s regret itter New ck members, with their faces full of anger, performed the dance. They regretted it. ¡°Why did we decide to shoot a scene of running around in the rain?¡± ¡°Why do we always repeat such stupid things?¡± ¡°Why did we all make the suggestion together so that we can¡¯t me anyone?¡± As the nket monsters discussed seriously, a white-faced ghost opened his mouth. ¡°People learn from their past experiences, but why didn¡¯t we learn anything from the underwater shooting?¡± ¡°Learn?¡± ¡°Learn. Learn¡­¡± Woojoo handed a tissue to Rihyuk, who was about to sneeze. Jiho teased Rihyuk next to him, saying ¡°Learn, learn, learn, Gangnam style¡­¡± and got hit by Rihyuk¡¯s sneeze. Bijoo and Woojoo shivered as they watched their younger brothers rolling around in nkets. ¡°Ah, it¡¯s really cold.¡± ¡°I feel like water has gotten into my bones. Hyung.¡± Then Woojoo turned his eyes to Junghyun, who was eating jelly next to him. ¡°Are you okay?¡± ¡°Yes.¡± ¡°You look like it.¡± While the rest were shivering and saying ¡°It¡¯s cold, it¡¯s cold¡±, he was the only one munching on jelly. ¡®Pain? What is that?¡¯ kind of feeling. The only thing that could hurt Junghyun was spoiled food like old kimbap. Bijoo said, ¡°It has to be really spoiled, though. Hyung.¡± ¡°Really?¡± ¡°You can¡¯t knock him down with anything. At school, when everyone else was suffering from food poisoning, he was alone at the cafeteria, singingl.¡± ¡°Notl.¡± Junghyun objected. ¡°L.¡± ¡°No. It was closer tol.¡± ¡°L.¡± ¡°Lla.¡± Woojoo didn¡¯t know what the difference was between the two, but he felt them sh with each other in body and words andy down in the middle of the sofa. Woojoo pushed away the two youngest nket monsters and they rolled on the floor. Today was Sunday. They finished the Busan location shooting yesterday and had a day off. Maybe it was because they got a lot of rain, but they felt a slight fever in their bodies. They all put a cooling sheet on their foreheads and went to work, saying they were fine, but the trainer who saw their condition told them to go back. They were supposed to rest for the day, so they ended up rolling around in the dorm. Woojoo fixed the TV channel to TBC and fiddled with his phone. -Continuing the trend? ¡°New ck¡±eback in early September, concert at the end of August -New ck, first solo concert at the handball stadium -New ck returns with mini album ¡®Neon ck¡¯¡­ ¡°Expectations high¡± Woojoo didn¡¯t know if it was because thepany¡¯s PR Team had sprinkled a lot of press releases, or because their poprity had increased. There were a lot of articles. It felt like hundreds of them with almost the same title. The articles about their fourth album, and their third mini album, ¡®Neon ck¡¯, were copied and pasted. Neon was an element that was named after the Greek word ¡®neos¡¯, which meant ¡®new¡¯ in English. In other words, it was New ck. Woojoo smiled as he saw the Souffl¨¦s leavingments like ¡®New ck fighting!¡¯ on every article with high views. He was about to open the camera app to take a selfie for the fan cafeter. ¡°¡­¡± He turned it off. His hair was a mess. It looked great when the hair stylists did their magic, but in its natural state, it was like a bunch of gray straw. Woojoo let out a sadugh as he touched his dry and gray hair. ¡°What are you looking at?¡± ¡°Our article.¡± ¡°Oh.¡± The youngest one leaned in and started tapping on the article as if it was his own phone. ¡°Hey, we have a Men Go article too.¡± ¡°Yeah.¡± It was an article that said ¡®New ck, who appeared on Men Go, will make aeback soon¡¯. There were a lot ofments, but Woojoo didn¡¯t click on them. Sometimes he got hurt by reading thements on entertainment-rted articles. ¡°Let¡¯s watch thister after the broadcast.¡± ¡°Okay.¡± It was almost time for the broadcast to start anyway. Today was the day when the first episode of ¡®Men on a Mission ¨C Police Special Forces Special¡¯ that Woojoo and Junghyun appeared on was aired. He hoped that he wouldn¡¯t look too weird on the screen. The screen shed. Han Taehyun [I¡¯m on Happy Together, can¡¯t watch the broadcast] Han Taehyun [I¡¯ll watch it on vod??] Woojoo [Go on tour] Han Taehyun [I can¡¯t miss you rolling around ~.~] Han Taehyun [I¡¯m going to watch it with Hanbin] Woojoo [Go abroad forever like a ghost ship] Woojoo sent him a picture of a ghost ship and a squid captain from a pirate movie and said ¡®You¡¯, and he replied with a fierce message. Woojoo [By the way] Woojoo [I strongly rmended you to the PD to call you again] Han Taehyun [Hey] He started to send Woojoo angry messages with the newly released New ck emoticons. They chatted while the opening of ¡®Men on a Mission¡¯ with a chaotic army vibe was ying. He got a lot of messages from his acquaintances because he had a Men Go broadcast ahead of him. Eunsung [Sergeant~] Eunsung [??I heard you¡¯re on the army show again] Eunsung [Is that true~?] Woojoo [You should practice more instead of wasting time] Woojoo [Your mind is not right] Eunsung [I have no schedule because of the rumors?] Woojoo paused his finger. What should he reply to him? ¡­Then he had a good idea. Woojoo [You¡¯ll have one soon] Eunsung [?] Woojoo [Soon¡­ a schedule for you wille] Woojoo [Only for you¡­] He omitted the part where he said the PD would cast a spell on him, and he went crazy asking Woojoo what it was. He didn¡¯t bother to answer. He would find out when he watched the broadcast. Whatever. Woojoo put away his phone after briefly replying to the messages from here and there. He grabbed a boiled sweet potato each with his brothers and looked at the TV. ¡°Ah, I¡¯m hungry.¡± ¡°Why are there so many foodmercials? I get angry every time I see people eating delicious food.¡± ¡°This is not a sweet potato. It¡¯s a potato.¡± They shivered as they watched the chicken and pizzamercials on TV. ¡°¡­Huh?¡± Something unexpected came on. ¡°It¡¯s us.¡± ¡°It¡¯s us.¡± An Olive Housemercial was ying. The mouth-watering visual of the steak. It was a scene where Bijoo stabbed the steak with a fork and took a bite, enjoying the aroma. As Bijoo on the screen went ¡®Mmm~¡¯, their eyes narrowed. ¡°¡­¡± ¡°¡­¡± Bijoo, who was unfairly med, said with a resentful expression, ¡°It¡¯s not my fault. That¡¯s me on TV.¡± ¡°¡­¡± Soon, the scene of the New ck mini-mes eating cutely while saying ¡®Meat!¡¯ came on. Finally, New ck, wearing uniforms and lifting pills, said ¡®Come to Olive House!¡¯. ¡°Really mean.¡± ¡°I want to hit them.¡± ¡°It¡¯s not toote. Jiho, raise your hand and hit them.¡± While they were looking at their past selves with resentment, another ad came on. ¡°¡­It¡¯s us again?¡± There were two in one time slot. It seemed like the advertiser had picked this time because New ck was in it, but this time it was a lens ad. The contrast between the campus life with bright smiles and the nket ghosts eating sweet potatoes on TV. ¡°This time they¡¯re eating cafeteria food.¡± ¡°That looks delicious. Cafeteria food¡­¡± ¡°That was good.¡± They were eating the boiled sweet potatoes gloomily while watching the five college students concept of them eating the cafeteria food heartily. ¡°Oh, it¡¯s starting. It¡¯s starting.¡± The screen went off and the main broadcast of ¡®Men Go¡¯ began. Chapter 288: Trantor: MarcTempest Editor: Rxel Chapter 288 It started from where thest episode ended. The members of ¡®Men on a Mission¡¯ were standing at the gate of the military base with their backpacks on. They had justpleted their training at the frontline battalion. They hugged each other with tears in their eyes. ¡°Look at their moist eyes. Didn¡¯t Woojoo Hyung do the same thing at the airportst time?¡± ¡°Yeah, he did.¡± Of course, the meaning was very different.The tears they shed there were tears of regret, but mine were tears of joy from liberation. Woojoo was still ignoring the messages from the Special Forces members in the team chat room, saying ¡°Woojoo, are you watching?¡± ¡°I want to eat chicken.¡± ¡°I want fried udon.¡± Woojoo wondered when the topic changed from his tears to food. They were his younger siblings who were talking about food. He looked at the tablet PC that Rihyuk was holding. It was showing the real-time reactions of the viewers, but it was still very quiet. ¡°There¡¯s not much response.¡± ¡°They say the ratings have dropped a lottely. They keep going for emotional codes or deep meanings in the production.¡± ¡°Ah¡­¡± Well, the broadcast content looked a bit depressed right now. They yed a touching BGM and hugged, and the memories of the past four days shed by. It felt nd from the perspective of the viewers. Usually, variety shows were not something you watched on purpose, but something you watched when you had time. Woojoo thought it would make sense for the ratings to drop a bit if they did that. Rihyuk said, ¡°But it doesn¡¯t ovep with the time slot of Myeong-gok-dan, so it¡¯s not that bad.¡± ¡°Well, if it ovepped with Myeong-gok-dan¡­¡± Myeong-gok-dan was still doing well. Even though it didn¡¯t have the same hot topic as when they appeared, it was still maintaining the third ce in the ratings. On the other hand, the current ¡®Men Go¡¯ was on a downward trend. In other variety shows, dozens ofments were posted every second in the real-time chat, but Men Go was slow. -When will it end -Do you have to drag it for 5 minutes to say goodbye??? -5 minutes of farewell in an hour and a half show?????? -When will New cke out New ck -I turned it on to see New ck ~.~ -I turned it on because they said the guest was New ck, but this is a sign of leaving PD -?? It takes me 3 minutes to say goodbye when I go home with my boyfriend -Joongi, you¡¯re getting scolded for this kind of production, why are you so stubborn? -The production is so old¡­ Is this a Joseon Era production? If you¡¯re going to do this, change your name to Geojung-gi -[Breaking] My dad starts to sigh ¡­ ¡®Why does it drag on like this¡¯ The public sentiment was not good. The broadcast content was not so much boring as it was a bit of a burst of what had been umted. The viewers who were tired of Men Go¡¯s usual serious and emotional production were angry and said ¡®Joongi, get out of here¡¯. ¡°It¡¯s brutal¡­¡± And in the middle, there was a scene where they said ¡®Give us New ck already¡¯, which made them feel nervous. They felt like they had to run out and dance or something to calm the viewers down. After the long 7 minutes were over. -Oh, the new special starts The preview of today¡¯s episode was briefly shown on the screen. There was a scene where Hanjo and Woojoo screamed as they received PT, and Junghyun smiled as if he was enjoying it. Explosives went off, and the cast members in Special Forces uniforms entered the ssroom. Someone came down from the police Special Forces with a rappel, looking cool. ¡°Oh, that¡¯s Woojoo Hyung¡¯s back. Woojoo Hyung. I have to capture it¡­¡± ¡°That¡¯s me.¡± Bijoo¡¯s eyes widened at Junghyun¡¯s answer, but he soon rxed when their bear said ¡®It¡¯s a lie¡¯. ¡°Wow, the chat room has suddenly be mild.¡± The preview of today¡¯s episode seemed to have an effect, and the chat room atmosphere changed to a calm one. On the screen, there was a sound of a keyboard typing and a text saying where and when TBC was doing, along with an office. It was the scene where they interviewed the guest of the day. Woojoo sat down in a sponsored T-shirt, and Jihoughed as he looked at his phone. ¡°Why are youughing?¡± ¡°The Souffl¨¦s said they knew it was a sponsorship as soon as they saw you wearing normal clothes.¡± ¡°¡­¡± ¡°They said you look good in white T-shirts. They want you to wear sponsored clothes for the rest of your life.¡± Then his introduction came out. [The leader of New ck, the rising star of K-pop and the driving force of the Korean Wave!] [Woojoo!] Please don¡¯t. Please. Aaah. Every time the subtitles shed, his limbs under the nket curled up like a tyrannosaurus¡¯s front legs. ¡°Ugh, how embarrassing.¡± ¡°When did we be the stars of the Korean wave?¡± ¡°So awkward.¡± His siblings were groaning under the nket they had flipped over their heads. On the screen, there was a contrast between the stage performance where they were dancing and them reaching under the nket for sweet potatoes. Rihyuk was so ashamed that he pulled the nket over his head like Demeter and stuffed a sweet potato through the gap. Meanwhile, the pre-interview was ying. ¡°Hyung, you look so gloomy.¡± ¡°Looking at it again, I feel sorry for him. Our Hyung¡­ his eyes are so moist because he doesn¡¯t want to go to the army.¡± Woojoo was smiling on the screen, but he couldn¡¯t fool the eyes of his siblings who had lived together with him for over a year and a half. And when they asked Woojoo if there was anyone he wanted to take with him, his siblings¡¯ eyes changed slightly as he calmly refused. They looked at him with eyes that said they were touched by him. [You¡¯re not going to the army?] Woojoo started to smile sincerely on the screen. ¡°¡­¡± He started to show his true self, saying that he would take them all with him somehow, and he was in sync with the PD. ¡°That¡¯s a misunderstanding.¡± ¡°¡­¡± ¡°It was just for fun, for the sake of the show. I really don¡¯t want to take you all¡­¡± Woojoo said on the screen: [I want to take you all with me! Hahaha!] The faces that came out of the nket had a dumbfounded expression. Woojoo exined to his siblings, waving his hands. He was so flustered that he didn¡¯t remember what he said then. ¡°You don¡¯t think I really want to take you all with me, do you? That was sincere¡­¡± [It was more sincere than ever. I am.] ¡°The PD kept telling me to do it.¡± [PD. How about doing it this way instead?] ¡°It¡¯s a show, so of course I have to add MSG¡­¡± [Please edit this out. It¡¯s a secret from our kids.] ¡°Aaah!¡± Woojoo exploded with anger at his past self. ¡°¡­Hey! You be quiet!¡± [I talk a lot when I¡¯m excited. Hehe.] His siblings giggled as he sank deeper into the swamp with every word. On the TV screen, the Production Team was teasing him with a caption that said ¡®Sorry, Woojoo, for spilling your secret~¡¯. On the other hand, the viewers¡¯ reactions were getting better and better. They seemed to admire their lovey-dovey affection, and more and more people wereughing in thement section. And when the PD and Woojoo said goodbye, the phone started to vibrate and zoom in. [PD.] [Woojoo.] The scene where the PD and Woojoo smiled brightly at each other. The phone screen started to sh like crazy. Hanjo was sending Woojoo a polite curse. He sent him a picture of a garbage bag and told him to get in there. The BGM that sounded like fate was ying as the PD and Woojoo looked into each other¡¯s eyes. [Is this fate?] [It is.] [Fate of¡­] [Destiny?] They high-fived each other, saying ¡®Great, well done¡¯, and Woojoo answered the phone on the screen. And then. The scene where Hanjo was sitting with a lost expression on his face, and thement section started to speed up. On an intemunity. ¡¸Found 50,000 won under the sofa while cleaning.gif¡¹ People who were drawn by the unusual title clicked and burst intoughter. It was a gif that seemed to have juste out. The familiar faces of the New ck members and a young man turned their eyes to the vibrating phone. [The fateful call thates right then!] Along with the caption, the two men smiled like they had found 50,000 won. ¨C??????what a title -Title: A Top Student in an Academy? LOL -Why does he look so sinister? ?? -What¡¯s going on there? -It¡¯s Men on a Mission. He¡¯s deciding who to take to the army with him, but another idol calls him at the same time. ¨C??, that expression says it all. -This is hrious. -The army is fun for men. -I¡¯m curious about his reaction. What happens next? Any reviews? -It¡¯s airing right now. -Ugh, I hate army shows, but this looks like a st. -They say it¡¯s a special episode with the Special Forces Team today. No army. -The guests are New ck. -Oh, I trust them. -I trust them too.???? A screenshot from an idolmunity was exported to anothermunity with a weird title, and interest in Men on a Mission was growing. -But it doesn¡¯t look that great with just one screenshot. -The roulette is on now. -Roulette? -They¡¯re choosing the guest to go to the army with a roulette. -Are they crazy? Choosing the army with a roulette? I¡¯m going to watch it right now. ¨C???. As more and more viewers joined in, the ones who were already watching were very satisfied. -The roulette is epic. -Who came up with the roulette idea? ?? -It¡¯s not even a roulette, it¡¯s a dart. -But the reservists behind him are awesome. ??. They¡¯re smiling brightly under the umbre. -They shake the umbre like a light stick every time he hits one. -The old men are having fun. The reservists behind him cheered and shook their umbres up and down every time Woojoo threw a dart. The viewers were alreadyughing from the introduction of the guests. -But no one would believe me if I told them. -This situation is hrious.?? -A popr idol who¡¯s a veteran goes to reservist training, but he throws a dart at a roulette board in front of the base to choose the guest to go to the army with him. It sounded like something people would look at with strange eyes if they told them. But there were people who epted this situation more calmly than anyone else. -That¡¯s our kids. -They say it¡¯s random, but no one believes it. ??. There¡¯s no such thing as random when Woojoo does it. -Woojoo: I¡¯m going to choose randomly now -> (Trantion) I¡¯m going to kill the one I don¡¯t like. ¨C??, why are you making him a bad guy? -Woojoo¡­ He¡¯s still the same as when he sent his brothers back to Korea as Sukjong in History Discovery Team. -Rihyuk¡¯s expression right now is simr to when he was Song Siyeol and ate the canary poison?. -But they¡¯re all so cute right now. -Woojoo changing into a raincoat to get serious is so cute. -The captions for the younger ones are hrious.?? -If you want to appreciate their beauty, I rmend muting it. You can focus better if you only see their faces. -Thanks for the tip. The Souffl¨¦ fans were making gifs and capturing their faces every time they appeared,ughing along the way. They were talking about their faces with almost nano-level captures. When the guest was finally chosen, people burst intoughter at the sight of Rihyuk crying, thinking it was him. His face was pale with redness all over, and he sobbed like a little kid. -New ck¡¯s Rihyuk, cries thinking he was chosen for ¡®Men on a Mission¡¯ army lottery. -¡®Men on a Mission¡¯¡­ ¡®Rihyuk is scared of the army!¡¯ -[Behind the scenes] How did New ck¡¯s main vocal be known as Pirarucu? (More) The scene of him lifting his shirt and hiding his head under the hole was captured and posted as a photo in every article. ¡°¡­¡± Yoon Seokhwan, the director who was watching ¡®Men on a Mission¡¯ at home, started rubbing his temples. The ratings graph of ¡®Men on a Mission¡¯ had been gradually curving. People seemed to flock to the show, hearing the rumors, and enjoying the different atmosphere from the usual seriousness. The broadcast content naturally moved on to Woojoo entering the reservist training camp and Hanjo and Junghyun receiving basic military training. Hanjo¡¯s image of rolling around and screaming was vividly drawn. -? -Did I just see something wrong? -Is this his second time in the army? And that was the same for Woojoo. As he stood on the rooftop railing, holding the rope, his legs trembling and his face pale with fear, the viewers eximed ¡®Oh¡¯. -He¡¯s not good at everything after all -That height is scary?? -The instructors look worried too -But whether it¡¯s rappelling or anything else, when you train in the military, you usually get a lot of idents if you¡¯re that nervous Right then. Woojoo, who was screaming ¡®Aaah!¡¯, suddenly slid down with a perfect posture. The Special Forces and the Men Go cast who were watching from the rooftop had a ¡®?¡¯ expression on their faces. And so did the viewers. -? -?? -Come out, the one who just talked about idents. Let¡¯s hear your opinion again -He¡¯s scared but he¡¯s good; -It¡¯s like watching a gymnasticspetition where the athlete goes ¡®Aaah! I¡¯m scared¡¯ and thennds perfectly There was a moment of silence on and off the screen. Then everyone burst intoughter at the scene of the Special Forces cheering happily. It was as if they were saying ¡®Yeah! Our kid wouldn¡¯t do that¡¯ with a trusting expression. Woojoo¡¯s face, sitting on the floor and saying ¡®I¡¯m scared¡­¡¯, was shadowed by the Special Forces. While Woojoo dug his own grave once again and suffered. ¡°Hahaha!¡± Near the TBC control room, PD Do Joongi, who was fidgeting, had a big smile on his face. The ratings were going up. And while he wasughing, there were people who were the happiest to see Woojoo rolling around. ¡°Ah, I feel healed.¡± ¡°Men Go was a healing variety show?¡± ¡°I have to save this and watch it again and again. Aww, poor Woojoo rolling around¡­¡± ¡°Oh, poor thing¡­ Hehe.¡± It was the A&R Team of Lemon Entertainment. They were working on the album, but they also smiled brightly while watching Woojoo roll around for healing. ¡°Oh, our Woojoo is pitiful.¡± ¡°Woojoo is having a hard time~¡± ¡°Ouch¡­¡± They said that, but they couldn¡¯t hide their satisfiedughter whenever Woojoo screamed ¡®Aaah!¡¯ while rappelling. Meanwhile, the broadcast continued. After the training full of highlights, they received ck suits and had a conversation with the Special Forces. As the broadcast time filled with small things passed, the preview for the second day started. -Oh????police dogs?? -Explosives are exploding¡­ -Is that instructor the one who¡¯s angry? In the next week¡¯s preview, Instructor Viper, who was angry and shouted ¡®What the hell!¡¯, drew attention. It was more exciting than the rtively boring first part, full of scenes full of thrill. And there was the most eye-catching scene there. -??? -What is that -Hey, what just passed by It was only a few seconds, but it was Woojoo using someone¡¯s center of gravity to perform a strange technique. It was so fast that some people looked for the VOD as soon as the broadcast ended. But the afterimage was strong. A scene where he subdued someone very oddly, like a scene from an action movie. -What is that?? How did he do that? -Watch next week, they¡¯re teasing us -It¡¯s amazing even if I y it slowly¡­ How did he do that??? ¨C????????what is that -I was going to turn off my mind after the broadcast, but the preview impact is too strong -What is that?? As everyone wondered, someone who noticed something appeared. -But isn¡¯t that¡­ simr to what was in the movie Codename? USA, LA. A Hollywood movie that adapted a famous musical was being filmed on the set. In front of the green screen, the actors and dancers were getting directions on their movements, while the director, John Edwards, was holding his phone. ¡°Hmm¡­¡± ¡°What¡¯s wrong?¡±
    • Daegil¡¯s friend is doing well in the army.
    • Is that Hanjo? He¡¯s so cute, lol. Look at his expression of despair when Daegil¡¯s best friend flies around, lol.
    • They¡¯re like the king¡¯s favorite concubine and the queen, lol.
Junghyun was flying high during the basic military training. He was serious and solemn as he participated in the training, but he always made the instructors smile with whatever he did. He dismantled the gun like a craftsman, and he aced the shooting.
    • But he¡¯s handsome.
    • He¡¯s more of a bear than a flower boy.
    • If he just fixed his hairstyle a bit, he¡¯d look like a movie star soldier, lol.
    • I didn¡¯t notice him when he was with Woojoo earlier, but he¡¯s handsome when he¡¯s alone.
    • Daegil¡¯s friend was a visual member. But every time I see his face, I hear a goat¡¯s bleat.
    • If they edited the screen a bit, he¡¯d look like a model.
    • Why is he in a different genre by himself? The others are like a mud festival.
    • I still like Hanjo more. He¡¯d be handsome too if he shook off that dirt.
His face was sharp and angr under the helmet. As Junghyun lightly brushed off the dirt on his cheek and chin, ¡®New ck Junghyun¡¯ rose on the real-time search. He was very pleased with that fact. ¡°Wow. I¡¯m on the search. Hyung.¡± ¡°¡­¡± ¡°I should send this to my parents.¡± While the New ck members were inhaling sweet potatoes with nervous faces at the dorm, the footage that Woojoo, Hanjo, and Junghyun made as guests was quickly passing by. The viewers were puzzled by that. ¡®This is fun, but they¡¯re skipping it fast.¡¯ There were no scenes to waste. Unlike the usual guest introductions, these scenes were funny or amazing just by looking at them. But they were passing by fast. If they were going to do this, they should have edited out the farewell scene earlier. What was behind this? The viewers¡¯ curiosity was amplified by the confident editing that seemed to imply there was a lot to show. Soon, the scene where the Men Go cast and guests met at the airport. They chatted at the opening and then moved to the Police Special Forces from Incheon Airport. The faces of those who were excited when they were told to bring their passports were gradually filled with anxiety. The viewers who already knew where they were going justughed. Then, a sign that said ¡®Police Special Forces¡¯ and a video exnation of what this unit was with a powerful BGM. PT that started with Kubo. Woojoo¡¯s interview was inserted in the middle. [If I learned anything from the army, it¡¯s that you shouldn¡¯t do too well or too poorly¡­ I think it¡¯s important to do your best at a reasonable level.] Woojoo doing PT movements while sweating. And the instructors¡¯ eyes were focused on him. ¨C????The eyes of a hawk looking for prey -You shouldn¡¯t stand out (serious) -But he stands out right away,??? -Why are the instructors¡¯ expressions so cute? This is not right. -They look like fitness trainers looking at new members,??. -What happens when a newbie enters a veteran¡¯s territory -A strange-smelling newbie from the wild appeared Contrary to their fearsome first impression, the Special Forces members were cutely saying ¡®Oh, oh, Number 8¡¯s posture!¡¯ They even had shy expressions when they offered rope climbing as a reward. Tactical Team 1 was getting as much attention as the guests. But the one who got the most attention in this first episode was a new recruit who monopolized the love of those Special Forces members. [Number 8. Are you happy?] [Aaaah!] [Are you screaming with happiness?] [Huaaah!] It was the Number 8 trainee who was suffering as if he was rebelling. Left roll, right roll. Every time he rolled, the Special Forces members¡¯ughter bloomed, and the others who got to rest were the same. But it was worth it. He was expressing ¡®I¡¯m suffering¡¯ with his whole body, but he was doing all the movements perfectly in the meantime. It was the same in the rappelling training in the afternoon. Training toe down the outside of the building with one rope. The Men Go cast members were screaming as they did the training at the height where humans feel the most fear. John showed his phone to the stunt director in response to his question. ¡°This is what I¡¯m talking about.¡± ¡°What¡­?¡± ¡°I saw online that this is simr to the action sequence we did in our movie.¡± ¡°Really?¡± The screen showed a very short scene. A handsome man dressed like a Special Forces agent used his opponent¡¯s force to subdue his neck. It was the skill that the protagonist used to overpower the giant viin in the movie ¡®Codename 17¡¯ that they had filmed together before. The director narrowed his eyes and asked, ¡°How did he do that? We used wires to shoot that scene¡­¡± ¡°I know, right? I thought it was only possible in theory¡­ What show is this?¡± ¡°It¡¯s from Korea.¡± ¡°Is he a stunt actor¡­?¡± As the two men watched the strange scene from a foreign variety show with curiosity, the choreographer who was directing the dancers approached them. He smiled cheerfully and asked, ¡°What are you looking at¡­ Aaah!¡± ¡°¡­y?¡± The choreographer, y Tyler, recoiled and backed away as soon as he saw the screen. The two men blinked at him. ¡®What¡¯s going on?¡¯ ¡®He looks like he saw something terrifying¡­¡¯ They didn¡¯t have time to wonder. John Edwards caught sight of someone on the screen who was performing the bizarre move. Chapter 289: Trantor: MarcTempest Editor: Rxel Chapter 289 The first part of ¡®Men on a Mission¡¯, the show they appeared on, was a huge hit. -[Oh! Focus] Why ¡®Men on a Mission¡¯ Police Special Forces Special is Anticipated -¡®Men on a Mission¡¯ Next Week Preview Sparks Netizens¡¯ Curiosity¡­ ¡®The Mystery of Space¡¯ -Netizens¡¯ Interest Explodes for Special Forces Special, Ratings Rise As soon as the broadcast ended, articles started to pop up like crazy. It felt like every entertainment reporter in the country was writing about ¡®Men on a Mission¡¯.The top five of the real-time ranking on the portal entertainment section were all articles about ¡®Men on a Mission¡¯. In no time, thements grew by hundreds and two hundreds. As soon as Woojoo liked one of thetestments, it was pushed back to the third page in an instant. ¡°What did you say?¡± Even Seokhwan Hyung, who rarely got excited, called Woojoo and spouted some iprehensible words. ¡°Junghyun ate a squid? No, you¡¯re just babbling right now. I didn¡¯t hear it wrong.¡± -Junghyun¡­! ¡°Hold on.¡± Woojoo handed the phone to his younger brothers. The youngest, who was listening intently, showed his amazing hearing ability. ¡°Earth¡¯s four seasons, Armageddon rolling, soft.¡± ¡°Ah.¡± Woojoo understood right away. ¡°Don¡¯t post anything on SNS right now.¡± Rihyuk blinked his eyes. ¡°How did you understand that?¡± ¡°I¡¯ve been listening to his voice for over five years.¡± Seokhwan Hyung soon calmed down and told them to ¡®be careful with SNS, there are a lot of eyes and ears¡¯. He meant not to act rashly since they were getting national attention. There was an actor who became a hot topic with a variety show before, and he got drunk with the attention and posted something that broke the mood on SNS. It was a half-joking post, but the reporters made it into a documentary and buried him. Woojoo saw that actor on ¡®New Star¡¯ and he said he got and lost 10 billion won worth of ads in one day, making a joke of ¡®the day of 10 billion¡¯. Attention was a double-edged sword. He epted that the huge positive attention that was drawn to them could turn into the same size of negative emotion in a moment. Their youngest also turned off his phone. ¡°Why did you turn off your phone?¡± ¡°I feel like I might make a mistake if I talk or text. I¡¯m preventing it in advance.¡± ¡°As expected of our youngest. You know yourself so well.¡± Woojoo proudly smiled and patted the head of the nket monster. They also joined the phone-off club, leaving only the public phone that they used to contact thepany and post on the official SNS. Then they monitored the inte reaction. ¡°The response is really good.¡± ¡°Hyung practically made all the content. The ¡®Men on a Mission¡¯ viewers called you a content alchemist.¡± Woojooughed at the youngest¡¯s words. The ¡®Men on a Mission¡¯ cast and other guests also contributed to the content, but most of the scenes that became the talk of the town were mine. -¡®New ck Woojoo¡¯, the MVP of the Special Forces Special? -¡®Woojoo¡¯, the ultimate athletic genius¡­ Why he was called ¡®Jumong¡¯ at the Dolympics? -[Entertainment in Inside] The secret of Woojoo, who captivated the ¡®Men on a Mission¡¯ viewers with his bright energy and positivity Thest one was written by Reporter Oh Sohee. Their fans called her a Souffl¨¦. Woojoo felt his limbs go numb at the praise-like article titles, but the response was good. ¨C??????Iughed so hard today -The chemistry with the Special Forces team was amazing. In that sense, one more time¡­? ©¹You¡¯re Satan. Satan -Instructor: Trainee Number 8. Descend! ©¹Woojoo: Aaaah!!! Hueruedulkkuup!! (Perfect posture) ©¹Lmao ©¹Thisment is the best no matter how many times I see it ©¹Humanity explosion -As a critic, I give it five stars. ¡°A delicate bncing act between humanity and silliness.¡± ¨C?????The army is best in the middle^^ A great saying, but you couldn¡¯t practice it yourself haha -I¡¯ve felt this since he was on a variety show before, but I feel good when I watch Woojoo -Yeah, he has that kind of bright energy The nket monsters who were resting their faces on Woojoo¡¯s shoulder stopped at thestment and looked at him. Their eyes were barely open, as if they were wondering ¡®Bright energy? Is there such a thing?¡¯ ¡°Capture this. And this. And this too.¡± The most excited main dancer among them was capturing the articles andments without a break. Rihyuk asked him, ¡°Why do you need to take screenshots of all thesepliments? They¡¯re all the same.¡± ¡°No, these are proud moments that I have to keep.¡± ¡°Are you that happy?¡± ¡°Yeah. I love it when someone praises our members.¡± Bijoo smiled happily as he captured thements on Woojoo¡¯s article. Junghyun pointed at onement and said, ¡°Junghyun looks great in his uniform. Here¡¯s mypliment. Are you going to capture it?¡± ¡°No.¡± He rejected him tly, and Junghyun pouted. ¡°I¡¯m hurt.¡± ¡°I¡¯ll give you one more sweet potato.¡± ¡°Thank you.¡± The bear who was happily munching on his sweet potato soon pointed at the screen. ¡°There¡¯s no end to these articles. It feels like I¡¯m reading a biography of you from volume one to twenty.¡± ¡°Seriously. There¡¯s no end to them.¡± The articles kepting up. When they went to the second page, the articles they saw earlier were pushed to the first page, making it hard to skim through them. And 90% of them were about Woojoo. ¡°But didn¡¯t you say that the weird stuff you did was focused on part two?¡± ¡°I did.¡± ¡°You threw a boomerang and hit the instructor with an ice cream, right?¡± ¡°It was a bet. A bet.¡± He twisted the truth. But as Jiho said, if the reaction was this good for part one, there was no need to talk about part two. ¡°I¡¯m speechless¡­¡± Woojoo was stunned by the endless articles. It was a good thing that they had finished filming the show. If not, he would have stayed up all night with the pressure. It felt like people were expecting him to blow something up in the next episode. He felt overwhelmed by the attention for the first time. He was usually the type to enjoy it to a certain extent, but it had gone way beyond his limit, so he calmed himself down and took a deep breath. ¡°¡­¡± This must be how entertainers felt when they got noticed. He felt a moment of respect. They had an album preparation period, but the entertainment industry had to keep up the buzz in real time. ¡°I¡¯m d I¡¯m a singer.¡± ¡°What are you talking about all of a sudden?¡± ¡°I think I would have messed up if I was an entertainer¡­¡± The younger ones looked at each other and shook their heads. ¡°No way.¡± ¡°You would have done great.¡± ¡°You would have been the top of the ss if there was an entertainment school.¡± Woojoo sometimes wondered what they thought of him. He tried to suppress the pressure he felt in his heart and smiled. ¡°Well, it¡¯s only for today. It¡¯ll die down tomorrow.¡± That was his mistake. The reaction to the show was unprecedented. He could tell just by looking at his phone. There were so many messages that it was impossible to reply to them all. He got 900 on the day of the broadcast and just as many the next day. ¡°¡­¡± Woojoo wondered if he should write an automatic message like ¡®Thank you for your support, I will always work hard with my original intention. Goodbye.¡¯. Especially since it was a military show, he got a lot of contacts from his friends in the army. Most of them were like ¡®What¡¯s with your body¡­?¡¯ and he couldn¡¯t me them. He was treated like a pretty trash or a fine dust particle whenever he had to use his body because of his terrible athletic skills. Eunsung [Demanding an exnation from Seon Woojoo] Eunsung [Exin] He called out to his army friends, about ten of them, in a group chat and sang ¡®Exin¡¯ in chorus. They used Woojoo of deceiving them all this time. They conspired and posted a notice saying [We demand a feast, not the truth]. ¡°¡­¡± Woojoo sent Eunsung a picture of the trash bag he got from Hanjo in a private chat and told him to get in there. Woojoo ignored his reply. He barely appeased his army friends by buying them food, but then another enemy appeared. Your Deoksoon [Who are you?] Your Deoksoon [I didn¡¯t raise a grandson like that] Woojoo [Whatever] Woojoo [I grew up well by myself¡­!] Woojoo [?????] Your Deoksoon [You¡¯re a disaster] Woojoo [That¡¯s too much] He decided to change her nickname to Your Deoksoon for a day. Meanwhile, Woojoo was experiencing the poprity of Men Go not only online but also offline. ¡°Number 8!¡± ¡°It¡¯s Number 8, Number 8!¡± ¡°Can you take a picture with me in the repel pose?¡± There were quite a few people who recognized him on the street. They all called him ¡®Number 8!¡¯ instead of his name, but he was happy with the sh of fame after the show. Woojoo had made a name for himself again, with the album and concert preparations ahead. ¡°Wow, it¡¯s a celebrity.¡± ¡°It¡¯s a celebrity.¡± ¡°¡­I¡¯m embarrassed. Guys.¡± The band rehearsal studio in Hongdae. The band members who were participating in their concert as a session teased them, saying ¡®You¡¯re a star!¡¯ Junghyun and Jiho became a duo and acted out ¡®Number 8 down!¡¯, ¡®Ahhhh!¡¯ and everyoneughed holding their stomachs. The drummer chuckled and said, ¡°It was really amazing. You did a great job.¡± ¡°People around us were talking about you guys.¡± ¡°Remember thest time we went to the tripe restaurant? There was a table next to us talking about New ck.¡± They were happy to hear the band members¡¯ testimonies. They didn¡¯t know what was going on because they didn¡¯t have time to go out during the album preparation period. They enjoyed it for a moment, but then they snapped out of it and suppressed the floating feeling. They had to be more nervous at times like this. ¡°Shall we start the rehearsal then?¡± Woojoo looked at the sheet music and listened to the band¡¯s performance. In their first concert, the band session yed 80 percent of the songs, and they yed MR for 20 percent. They used MR for songs with a strong electro vibe or unreleased songs like Nine, and they filled the rest with a live sound. ¡°Wouldn¡¯t it be better if the drums came in a little faster here?¡± ¡°Yes, half a beat faster.¡± ¡°Like this?¡± ¡°Yes, that¡¯s it. And Jiho wille in from the other side of the stage at that part, so it would be nice if you could match his movements.¡± Every time they gave feedback on the sound, they changed it perfectly and yed it for them. They definitely had the vibe of experienced performers, having done several big shows with other singers. They also told them in advance how the sound would sound depending on the characteristics of the venue. They were a great help to them, who were nervous about the concert. As they worked hard on the concert preparations, the PR Team called them. ¡°There¡¯s good news and bad news.¡± ¡°I want to hear the bad news first.¡± Assistant Manager Hong smiled awkwardly and said, ¡°The recording date for the Dolympics this year is August 10th.¡± ¡°Oh no¡­¡± ¡°The Production Team picked you guys out and said you have toe. They said they would give you a lot of airtime since you made a hit with ¡®Men Go¡¯.¡± The broadcasting station promised to give them a lot of airtime, but they were not happy at all. Rihyuk asked, ¡°Isn¡¯t Chuseok at the end of September this year? It will air on the 28th or 29th, but why are they recording from mid-August¡­¡± ¡°I guess they set the schedule a bit early this year.¡± ¡°It¡¯s two weeks before the concert on the 10th¡­¡± They had to give up a whole day for the schedule of TBC¡¯s Dolympic. They didn¡¯t mind it at other times, but they wanted to avoid schedules that could cause injuries before the concert. It was also a problem for their condition to be locked up in one ce for almost 24 hours. But they couldn¡¯t refuse to appear because TBC was holding the year-end music festival and music shows hostage. ¡°Of all things, the concert is in the way¡­¡± ¡°But didn¡¯t they say we could skip it?¡± They hoped that they would let them skip the Dolympic because they recognized their contribution to raising the ratings with ¡®Men Go¡¯. But their naive thoughts were revealed. ¡°Even though we expressed our reluctance to attend because of the concert, they said they would give us a lot of airtime and we had toe.¡± ¡°¡­¡± ¡°The PD who directs the show is also the music show PD.¡± The broadcasting station had a different way of thinking from ordinary people. (When we put New ck in the show, the ratings went up.) ¡ú (But they are hesitating to join the Chuseok Olympics because they are preparing for a concert.) ¡ú (We¡¯ll give them less airtime, so they¡¯ll agree if we ask them!) Woojoo was amazed by their logic. They smiled awkwardly at Assistant Manager Hong, who was smiling sheepishly, and said, ¡°¡­We need to be more sessful.¡± They had to grow bigger so that even if they said ¡®we¡¯re not going this time¡¯ like TNT, the broadcasting station would say ¡®it¡¯s okay¡­¡¯ and move on. As Woojoo reaffirmed their goal, he found an alternative for now. ¡°It¡¯s okay to move our bodies as little as possible, right? We¡¯ll only do archery. No futsal, basketball, or running.¡± ¡°That sounds doable.¡± ¡°We want to do as few events as possible.¡± As they were finding amon ground. The youngest, who had been thinking about something, said in wonder, ¡°But it¡¯s amazing.¡± ¡°What is?¡± ¡°We were trying so hard to do one more event when it was New Year¡¯s.¡± ¡°Oh, right¡­?¡± It was amazing when they thought about it. Just six months ago, they were trying to do one more event, but now they were big enough to not care about the Dolympics. They looked at each other and smiled faintly. ¡®We¡¯ve grown up¡­¡¯ ¡®We¡¯ve be great singers.¡¯ And the fan seats assigned to them had almost doubled in six months. They didn¡¯t feel it because they always felt insignificant, but when they saw this, they realized how much they had grown. They wrapped up the Dolympics talk around then. ¡°What¡¯s the good news?¡± ¡°There are two things¡­ First, you got this much advertising.¡± ¡°Wow¡­!¡± Thanks to the poprity of the show, they got a lot of advertising. The list was full of famous brands that they knew by name, and their eyes sparkled. ¡°They want to sign a contract quickly before the second season airs. They think it will be more popr then.¡± ¡°Oh¡­¡± ¡°Of course, the modeling fee is big now.¡± Woojoo had a nk expression for a moment as the numbers flowed out of her mouth. It was like juice that he had left half-eaten, the numbers tried to enter his ears but flowed down. ¡°Uh, how much?¡± ¡°What do you mean? Assistant Manager Hong?¡± They gasped as they heard the sound of billionsing and going. Assistant Manager Hong said, ¡°Strictly speaking, it¡¯s because your recognition has exploded.¡± ¡°But isn¡¯t it better to use TNT or Teen Spirit for this money?¡± ¡°Not at all. You have a better advertising effect.¡± ¡°¡­?¡± ¡°You¡¯re the top boy group in terms of advertising effect, you know?¡± Woojoo almost said, ¡®What, what top?¡¯ They stared nkly as she spoke. ¡°They did a survey on the recognition and likability of boy groups in the advertising industry a while ago, and you were the overall first ce.¡± ¡°¡­¡± ¡°Your position is very rare. There are many girl groups with mass appeal, but even the top boy groups are not well known by people. They know TNT, but unless it¡¯s a popr member like Han Taehyun, they don¡¯t know. But¡­¡± ¡°They know all of our faces?¡± ¡°Adults know you from Legendary Song Discovery, and 2030s know you from the History Discovery Team and various variety shows.¡± Even though there were groups with more overwhelming fandoms, they were the most popr among the current boy groups. What should he say? His heart was pounding and fluffy. ¡°So what do you think about the advertising contact?¡± ¡°Um¡­¡± Woojoo looked over the list and said, ¡°Most of them are personal ads for me or Junghyun.¡± ¡°That¡¯s how it is.¡± ¡°I¡¯d rather do something that we can all do together. I¡¯m still notfortable with personal ads.¡± He would definitely benefit from personal activities since he had a contract to take the ie individually. But that wasn¡¯t his goal. He was already making money from the royalties of the songs, and for now, he wanted their New ck to be higher than now¡­ ¡°Do it, Hyung.¡± ¡°You have to do this. Why aren¡¯t you doing it?¡± ¡°If you feel guilty about taking all the money, just shoot it and give us one-nth of it.¡± ¡°Huh, then what about our money cushion¡­?¡± Woojoo could only smile at the faces of his siblings who were soaked in capitalism. They pretended to be tempted by Jiho¡¯s one-nth joke, but they seemed to tell him not to feel burdened and do whatever he wanted. Woojoo lowered his head and said, ¡°I don¡¯t know if I¡¯ll have time to shoot, but if there¡¯s an ad that we can all do together, I¡¯ll try to ask for that one.¡± ¡°You guys are busy too. I¡¯ll just look at the schedule and see what I can do.¡± ¡°Thank you. ¡­Oh, by the way, you said there were two good news earlier, what¡¯s the other one?¡± ¡°Oh, that?¡± The other person tapped on theptop and turned the screen to Woojoo. ¡°This.¡± ¡°¡­?¡± He saw an SNS screen on the screen. There was a tweet in English under the logo of a blue bird chirping. ¡°John Edwards¡­?¡± ¡°Who is this?¡± It started with a tweet from a famous Hollywood director. @John_Edwards ? (A 17-second video thatbines a scene from the movie ¡®Codename 17¡¯ with someone in a ck suit subduing a Special Forces agent with a strange technique.) [Trante] Wow. That¡¯s possible. There was a tweet below that said, ¡®We shot it with wires, how did he do it with his bare body?¡¯ There was a familiar ount among the retweets. @Olive_House_Official (A picture of New ck, the Korean model for Olive House.) [Trante] He¡¯s our promotional model. It was a perfect niche promotion. Anyway, the tweet from John Edwards, who directed many famous movies, spread quickly in the English-speaking world. It also spread in Korea when Hanmo from TNT retweeted it. ¡°¡­What is this.¡± ¡°What¡¯s going on here.¡± The situation turned really awkward. At first, John Edwards, who was in LA, asked his agent, ¡®Who is he? He¡¯s amazing, find out more about him.¡¯ Soon, the answer came back, ¡®He¡¯s Woojoo, a member of a K-pop group.¡¯ ¡°The director seems to be curious and watched some of the performances of New ck and stuff like that.¡± ¡°Ah¡­¡± ¡°So he asked me to arrange a meeting.¡± The conference room of the movie distributor ¡®Forest¡¯. As Woojoo sat with Seokhwan Hyung, the distributor¡¯s staff exined how they got to have the meeting. They whispered to each other while eating the snacks they were served. ¡°Why did he suddenly call us? Maybe a cameo appearance in the movie¡­?¡± ¡°The shooting is over, right?¡± ¡°Oh, right.¡± The youngest, who was dreaming of a sudden Hollywood debut, looked a little sullen. Theptop was ready for the video call in the conference room. As the distributor¡¯s staff and theirpany¡¯s people sat down, the video call was finally connected. ¡¸How¡¯s the connection¡­ Oh, it¡¯s connected.¡¹ A middle-aged man sitting on a folding chair with his legs crossed appeared in what looked like a shooting site. He was a Viking-like man with brown hair and a sturdy physique, just like in the photos. John Edwards smiled and said. ¡¸Nice to meet you.¡¹ ¡¸Hello! We are New ck!¡¹ Ouch. His ears. Their youngest shouted loudly with his eyes sparkling, as if saying ¡®Look at me! Look at me!¡¯ The other sideughed. It was amazing to talk face to face with someone on the other side of the earth. They had a conversation one by one, slowly, because of the slightly interrupted call. After a brief exchange of ¡®Nice to meet you¡¯ with each other, the other side brought up the main topic. ¡¸I¡¯m shooting a musical movie right now, and the reason I wanted to see New ck is because I want to do a rted project.¡¹ Project? They were about to ask him about it. Then, a familiar figure came into view between the moving staff behind him. A dancer with a lean and muscr body walked along to the beat with his daughter. ¡°Huh¡­?¡± ¡°Isn¡¯t that y and Joy?¡± ¡°y?¡± They must have heard them, because they looked up and shouted, ¡®y! There¡¯s New ck here!¡¯ Whoosh! In an instant, the Tyler mother and daughter disappeared like the wind. ¡®They sure know how to run.¡¯ ¡®Look at the afterimage on the screen.¡¯ Woojoo wanted to say hello, since he was happy to see them, but they seemed busy. Well. Too bad, but he would greet themter. For now, their work came first. ¡°So.¡± Woojoo asked the director, who was smiling leisurely, ¡°What is the project that you want to do with us?¡± Chapter 290: It was the question I wanted to ask as soon as I heard his words. The project. What kind of project would a famous Hollywood director do with a foreign singer on the other side of the earth? ¡°Do you know about the movie I¡¯m making?¡± ¡°I watched your interview, sir.¡± Actually, I didn¡¯t have enough time to do proper research because I was called right after I heard the meeting request. There was no information in Korean, so I only read the articles in English. I didn¡¯t know much, but I wanted to show what we had studied. ¡°I was really impressed by the musical ¡®Nostalgia¡¯ that was popr on Broadway in the early 2000s. I saw an interview where you said you wanted to make it into a movie someday.¡±¡°Do you also know about the original work?¡± ¡°Yes.¡± Rihyuk, who took over the baton, spoke in fluent English. ¡°A man who was tired of all kinds of misfortune wandered around, and one day he got a job as a library security guard¡­¡± But the library was under a spell. It was what happened when the protagonist, who was on night patrol, opened a book called ¡®Nostalgia¡¯ that he found in an old bookcase. His body shrank and the library became a huge maze, and the books that had been quiet until then began to breathe. Things that were only in books poured out. The desert spread out, and mountains and seas appeared. The protagonist, who was chased by terrifying monsters, decided to find the ¡®Nostalgia¡¯ that had disappeared to get the answer to this situation. Along the way, he met the characters he liked when he was young and became friends and went on adventures. At the same time, he contemted the meaning of life, which was the content of the original work. ¡°That¡¯s right.¡± John Edwards, the director, smiled. He seemed to like the synopsis that Rihyuk summarized. The distribution staff who sat next to him also showed a satisfied smile. The younger siblings who didn¡¯t know English and smiled brightly also said ¡®oh¡¯ and pped their hands with joy at the story that the interpreter told them. ¡°The content has changed quite a bit as I adapted it into a movie, but for now, knowing that much will make the story easier.¡± The middle-aged man on the screen unfolded his legs and brought up the main point. ¡°The project I want to propose to New ck is a cover video of the main OST.¡± ¡°Cover?¡± ¡°I made an original song that wasn¡¯t in the original musical when I adapted it into a movie. As part of the marketing, I n to release it as a video before the release.¡± Then I understood what he wanted to do. It seemed to be the same promotional method as the animation that was a huge hit in our countryst year. Releasing the OST in advance to stimte the curiosity of the audience. ¡°I want to go one step further and have cover songs tranted into thenguage of that country when the original songes up.¡± John Edwards, the director, said. ¡°Language has magic. No matter how good the song is, if you don¡¯t know the lyrics, it¡¯s only half. I want people to listen to this song sung in thenguage of each country and be curious about my movie.¡± ¡°I understand what you mean.¡± ¡°Please understand that I take this project seriously.¡± We also became serious at his serious expression. ¡°Especially in a country like Korea, it¡¯s a ce that can¡¯t be left out of marketing, so I¡¯ve been working hard to select a singer to cover. At first, the distribution side rmended Cha Woo Hyun? Someone like that.¡± ¡°He¡¯s a very famous vocalist in Korea. He¡¯s also great at singing.¡± He nodded his head with a smile. ¡°I heard that too. I saw his performance video on Mitube and he was really energetic. But he¡¯s not the voice color we want¡­¡± ¡°You want a younger voice.¡± ¡°Right. The age of the protagonist became younger when I adapted it.¡± He seemed to think that the heavy voice of Cha Woo Hyun, the senior, didn¡¯t match. ¡°Uh-huh.¡± As soon as he heard the reply, Rihyuk started to turn into a mushy tomato in an instant. He covered his mouth with his hand and said, ¡®Me¡­ me¡­¡¯ The staffughed at his expression. Director Edwards added sarcastically. ¡°By the way, I forgot to tell you this. He said he¡¯s shy aboutpliments, so he¡¯ll be embarrassed if you ry them to him.¡± ¡°Uh, um¡­¡± Rihyuk pped his hands like a penguin, trying to cool down his flushed face with a hand fan. We helped him by fanning him too, but Jiho made him blush again by giving him a thumbs up and saying, ¡®Number one teenage vocal.¡¯ I felt proud as I looked at Rihyuk, who didn¡¯t know what to do with his embarrassment. He was really good. Even in dance-oriented songs that were hard to show off his vocal skills, he was the one who got praised by other fans for having ¡®three lungs as the main vocal of New ck.¡¯ Whenever he grabbed the microphone in the Song Discovery Squad, he created the highlight of our performance that day. ¡°Yes. Rihyuk is good.¡± ¡°Hmm¡­¡± ¡°He is our main vocal.¡± Rihyuk looked incredulous at our faces, which were smiling proudly. Then, the tomato that had been crying with embarrassment started tough. While Rihyuk was returning to normal, I thought of Cha Woo Hyun, who was not in his seat. He was amazing. He tly refused the song offered by the Hollywood filmpany, saying it didn¡¯t suit his voice. It was not something a normal person could do. I would have clung to their legs and said, ¡®I¡¯ll change my voice for you!¡¯ I felt grateful to the senior singer who gave us the opportunity, along with human respect. ¡°Have you calmed down a bit?¡± ¡°Yes.¡± Director Edwards said with a smile. ¡°Mr. Cha¡¯s rmendation was there, but it wasn¡¯t just because of that. After hearing the story about the universe, I got curious and searched on YouTube.¡± ¡°Did you watch our videos?¡± ¡°There were a lot of interesting things.¡± Interesting? ¡°Did you really light this fire?¡± ¡°Pfft!¡± I almost spat out the water I was drinking. It was because of the scene from the ¡®History Exploration Squad¡¯ that Director Edwards showed us on his smartphone screen. The scene where Junghyun and I lit a fire with a stick made the distributionpany staff burst intoughter, and we choked on the sound. ¡°I didn¡¯t even notice the time passing because there were subtitles. I¡¯m interested in the history of other countries. Is this something that really happened?¡± ¡°Yes, it¡¯s called the Military Coup¡­¡± It was the content where the youngest of the military officers, holding a hammer, harassed the tattooed seniors, saying, ¡®Are you the only ones who can talk?¡¯ Every time Jiho hit Bi Ju¡¯s back with a thud, I felt dizzy. ¡®Why is that there?¡¯ ¡®Why is the History Exploration Squad on the phone of a strange Hollywood director?¡¯ ¡®Very pleased.¡¯ Except for the dung beetle, who had no shame at all, we all had a bewildered expression on our faces. No. Why¡­ no, no. No. I was confused. It felt like someone had found a diary that didn¡¯t exist and read it in front of me. When we talked among ourselves, we would say, ¡®Wow, history!¡¯ ¡®Exploration squad!¡¯ and p andugh, but what should I say? It felt embarrassing to hear a foreigner talk about it. Our goal was to keep the lid on it. ¡°It¡¯s really fun. My daughter is majoring in East Asian history at college, so I rmended it to her.¡± ¡°¡­¡± ¡°Our staff also enjoyed it.¡± One thing was proven here. The History Exploration Squad, which was made for domestic use, also appealed to Americans. Director Edwards smiled and said to us, who were embarrassed. ¡°Anyway, there were a lot of videos about New ck. I also liked the fact that you¡¯re a famous singer in Korea. ¡®Best of Best?¡¯ I don¡¯t know if that¡¯s the correct trantion, but I saw a clip from the TV show¡­¡± The Song Discovery Squad was tranted as BoB. He looked at Rihyuk and said. ¡°As soon as I heard your voice, I felt that you were the right person. It was like the feeling I get when I audition, when the right person walks in through the door.¡± ¡°Wow¡­¡± We brightened up at his sincere words, which were not typical of American lip service. Then, when he told Rihyuk to ¡®hurry up and say yes¡¯, he asked with a slightly worried face. ¡°Do I¡­ have to do it alone?¡± ¡°Of course. It¡¯s a solo song.¡± ¡°Uh¡­¡± I could read his mind clearly. He wanted to do it, but we were in his way. He was hesitant because he had never done anything personal before. While the director was waiting for his answer, we four spoke at the same time. ¡°Let him do it.¡± ¡°He¡¯ll do it.¡± ¡°He¡¯ll definitely do it.¡± Then we all gave him a subtle pressure with our eyes. ¡®What are you hesitating for? Just say yes.¡¯ ¡®Bro, say yes while he¡¯s being nice. It¡¯s a rare opportunity.¡¯ ¡®You¡¯ll regret it if you don¡¯t.¡¯ Rihyuk finally said ¡®Okay¡¯ reluctantly. John Edwards, the director, said ¡®Great¡¯ and was pleased. We also cheered and patted Rihyuk¡¯s back, who was still smiling awkwardly. We pped our hands lightly to celebrate the sessful end of the first meeting. The other side blinked. ¡°Hmm? It¡¯s not over yet.¡± ¡°¡­?¡± ¡°There¡¯s a reason why I wanted to see you all together.¡± Wasn¡¯t offering Rihyuk a cover song the end? We stuck our butts to the chairs that we had just moved and looked curious. ¡°Is there anything else?¡± ¡°There¡¯s one more thing we¡¯re preparing as part of the global marketing.¡± ¡°¡­?¡± ¡°There¡¯s a scene in the movie where the protagonist goes to the foreign book corner. We left the sound nk there.¡± It seemed like a scene where the foreign books sang in their ownnguages and made the protagonist dizzy. ¡°We¡¯re receiving songs from the singers who will sing the cover songs. To increase the promotional effect for each country.¡± ¡°Oh¡­¡± ¡°You don¡¯t need to make a whole song, just a few lines briefly. Are you interested?¡± ¡°Yes. Of course.¡± My chest was burning with a spirit of challenge. The director smiled and said to me with my determined expression. ¡°Of course, this only applies to the Korean version. You might be left out in other versions. We¡¯re going to choose the best songs for the version that will be released in the US¡­ So there¡¯s no guarantee that you¡¯ll be selected. Just keep that in mind.¡± ¡°Yes. I understand.¡± Following my answer, my brothers who were looking at me answered the director with confident faces. ¡°Leave it to us!¡± ¡°We¡¯re confident!¡± They were more confident than me. I wasn¡¯t even sure, but I wondered where their confidence came from. Their heads turned at the same time. ¡°¡­?¡± ¡®Me?¡¯ They nodded at my gaze. Then they looked at me with their sparkling eyes. ¡®You can do it, right?¡¯ ¡®Work hard, Dobby.¡¯ ¡®Work, Nobby.¡¯ I smiled warmly at thezy dogs who were dreaming of a free ride. We got a new project. Our schedule was already tight due to the album preparation and concert, but we were fairly positive. ¡°What if we don¡¯t have enough time?¡± ¡°We use people!¡± ¡°What kind of people?¡± ¡°We use experts!¡± It was a lesson we learned from our experience. To produce a good quality product within a given time, we needed to get help from experts in the field. [I¡¯ll buy you meat. Meet in front of ourpany! >_<] I told the A&R team and theposers toe out because I would buy them meat, but no one replied. So I changed the strategy and went to them directly. ¡°Direct service~!¡± ¡°¡­Huh.¡± ¡°I came directly because you seemed busy!¡± ¡°I¡¯m, I¡¯m not hungry¡­¡± I told the people I met about the new musical movie that needed a short OST to be inserted. They all looked amazed. ¡°A movie from the US¡­? If it goes well, your voices could be in the international version too?¡± ¡°Yes.¡± ¡°That¡¯s a great opportunity. What song are you going to cover?¡± ¡°I haven¡¯t received it yet. They said they¡¯ll give it to me soon.¡± As I exined the project in detail, the A&R team, theposers, and everyone else looked eager. But no one easily said, ¡®I want to do it!¡¯ ¡°Even if there are lyrics, that kind of OST is different from popr music in terms of nuance and atmosphere. It would be better to find someone who is well-versed in that field.¡± ¡°An expert?¡± ¡°Yeah, like¡­¡± The people who were nibbling on the snacks we brought up mentioned one person who was suitable. It was Director Kang Beom-seok, who worked with me on the OST of Slip, ¡®A Poem About Yesterday¡¯. He was one of the most experienced people in the OST field. -Of course! When I cautiously brought up the need for advice onposition, he readily agreed on the spot. -Why didn¡¯t you tell me right away when you had such a fun thing? ¡°I thought you¡¯d be tired if I asked you this and that on the phone.¡± -Come on. ¡°Director, I thought you¡¯d be busy¡­¡± At that point, everyone, from the A&R staff, theposers, to my siblings, red at me. -I¡¯m working on a new OST, but, well, I can also ask you for your opinion. ¡°I¡¯m fine with that. If I can help even a little¡­¡± -Haha. Wow, don¡¯t you feel excited just thinking about the song? Hahaha! ¡°I¡¯m so excited too!¡± We got along well because we had simr musical tastes. Everyone looked bored, though. We postponed the detailed schedule discussion and made a rough n with thepany people. The movie was scheduled to be released in Korea at the end of September and abroad in early October. We had plenty of time and the part we had to prepare was very short, so we weren¡¯t too worried. ¡°What about my cover song?¡± ¡°Oh, right.¡± ¡°Oh right? Oh nooo?¡± We looked at each other with our ears twitching. ¡°Well. Rihyuk will do well on his own¡­¡± ¡°He will.¡± ¡°Ri-hwa. Rihyuk fighting.¡± ¡°Ah! Seriously¡­¡± Weughed at the sight of him getting annoyed and saying ¡®Ah! Ah!¡¯ as we responded indifferently. He seemed to feel a bit pressured because he had to sing alone. I understood. The burden of going solo was iparable to that of sharing the stage with everyone. ¡°You¡¯ll do well. No, do well, you.¡± ¡°Is that an imperative or a derative?¡± ¡°Derative.¡± ¡°¡­Hmm, well, okay.¡± But we couldn¡¯t reassure him for more than 10 seconds. ¡°Ah. What do I do? It¡¯s supposed to be a musical-like song, but isn¡¯t it weird for an idol to sing it? Won¡¯t there be 500 hatements?¡± ¡°The hatements are very detailed. You must have written them.¡± ¡°Rihyuk doesn¡¯t write hatements because he curses in front of them.¡± Everyone agreed with my words. Only the person in question shouted, ¡®What do you mean?¡¯ Seeing his voice shaking enough to make my body vibrate, I wasn¡¯t worried about the quality of the cover song. As he made one worry after another in real time, we ended up finding an adviser for the cover song as well. It was Lisa sunbae, who participated in thepetition with us in the Hall of Fame. Thanks to the musical actor who gave advice on vocalization and how to make the musical number shine, Rihyuk was able to regain his stability. -But it¡¯s strange. Lisa sunbae tilted her head as she heard the exnation from us. ¡°What part, sunbae?¡± -I know Nostalgia. It wasn¡¯t performed in Korea, but it¡¯s a very famous musical in the English-speaking world. There are many famous songs, but it¡¯s strange that they made the main theme original. ¡°That is strange.¡± It was a thought I had been harboring since I first heard the story. If it was a famous musical, there would be fans who liked it before. I was taking a risk by choosing an original song for the main title of the movie adaptation, instead of using one of the famous songs that people loved from the original work. Not that the original numbers were bad, but the musical songs I heard on MTube were mostly of high quality, worthy of being called masterpieces. When I searched online, I saw a lot of critical views from the Western world, questioning why we made an original song. "If this is the reaction, I wonder if the song will even break even¡­" "It''s exactly as you say. It will break even at best." It wasn''t like we made the song ourselves, we just sang a cover song as part of the promotion and marketing. But I was still worried. I hoped the project would go well, since I participated in it. Bijoo said, "But what if you think about it differently? Maybe the song is so good that it became the title. Right?" That made sense too. But every time I yed the existing numbers on MTube, I wondered, ¡®Is there a better song than this?'' Theposer had made billions from Nostalgia. With that doubt in mind, I was busy preparing for the concert and the new project, when I finally heard the news that the song had arrived. And we visited the office of the movie distributor ¡®Forest'' once again. "Thank you foring, even though it''s a hassle." "Not at all." "The director wanted to make sure the security was tight." It seemed like it was for the sake of security. As our managers and some staff members sat in the meeting room, a nning team member exined the song to us. "The song title is ¡®Falling Stars''." "Oh, Falling Stars." "He said you would like it as soon as you heard it. We did too." As we looked with anticipation, the nning team member yed the audio file. Somewhere, a calm intro was ying. As I listened to the pleasant melody, the first verse of the song began. And then. "¡­¡­!" As soon as I heard the first verse, I realized why the movie director had pushed aside the formidable numbers and adopted the original song. Chapter 291: Trantor: MarcTempest Editor: Rxel Chapter 291 It was amazing. As soon as they heard the song, Jiho eximed. ¡°Wow¡­¡± Rihyuk covered Jiho¡¯s mouth before he could say anything. The youngest member expressed his feelings with his eyes. ¡®It¡¯s awesome, right?¡¯ The song had such a splendid atmosphere that Woojoo could picture images in his head as he listened.It felt like he was riding a boat on ake where the Milky Way was reflected, and under the water, fantastical fish were swimming by and creating waves of light. Every time the sound reached his ears, colorful sshes of water rose. ¡®It¡¯s good.¡¯ ¡®It¡¯s good, Hyung.¡¯ They looked at each other with admiring expressions. It was a masterpiece that surpassed the original numbers from the source material. It deserved to be the main title. Soon, curiosity gave way to anticipation. It would be a hit. Woojoo had a feeling that it would be a hundred percent sess. His heart was pounding. One of the strings snapped and he quickly grabbed it, but it felt like Jiho was holding a gold bar at the end and saying ¡®Hurry up!¡¯ When the male vocalist hit the high notes in the chorus, they cheered and enjoyed it. But there was one person who was getting more and more nervous as the song yed. ¡°¡­¡± It was Rihyuk, who was turning pale in real time. He couldn¡¯t muster the courage to sing the song that was ying right now, ¡®Falling Stars¡¯. ¡°¡­¡± They patted his back as he brushed his hair once every second. When the song ended, the distributionpany staff asked them, ¡°How is it?¡± They smiled brightly. ¡°It¡¯s awesome. I got goosebumps listening to it.¡± ¡°I was worried at first because it was an original number that wasn¡¯t in the source material, but this is good enough to be the main title.¡± ¡°I can see why the director chose Rihyuk. He fits the age and the tone.¡± The staff agreed with theirstment. The distributionpany¡¯s nning PD smiled and said, ¡°We were surprised too. The director specifically mentioned Rihyuk, so we were curious, but as soon as we heard it, we thought ¡®Ah, the Korean version has to be sung by Rihyuk.¡¯¡± ¡°That¡¯s right. His tone is really simr to Rihyuk¡¯s. He sounds like the American Rihyuk.¡± Peopleughed at Junghyun¡¯s American Rihyuk joke. Rihyuk smiled awkwardly at thepliments, but he asked with a worried expression, ¡°Who sang the original song?¡± ¡°The main actor, Rupert Dean, recorded it himself in the studio.¡± ¡°Rupert Dean?¡± Rupert Dean was a rising star in Hollywood in his twenties. Woojoo knew his face well enough. But his singing skills were too professional for an actor, so they wondered, and the nning PD told them, ¡°His mother¡¯s side is a famous opera family in Italy. The actor himself started his career from minor roles in Broadway since he was six.¡± That exined why the song had some techniques and details that were quite professional. They nodded as their questions were answered, and the distributionpany started to talk about the work. ¡°The cover video will be overseen by us, but the final confirmation will be done by the US side.¡± ¡°Is there any talk about releasing the Korean version of the song?¡± They perked up their ears at Seokhwan Hyung¡¯s question. They nodded slightly. ¡°Yes, we had a consensus on that. The revenue distribution will be tight, but there won¡¯t be any problem with the song release.¡± ¡°That¡¯s good.¡± They had one more reason to do well on this job. If they made a good cover video and created demand for the Korean version, it would benefit them too. Their manager chatted with the distributionpany staff in a friendly atmosphere, discussing the procedures and the profits. They were light-hearted conversations, but they were full of money. Theyughed and said things like ¡®How much?¡¯, ¡®You go first¡¯, ¡®No, you first¡¯, like a tug-of-war. ¡°The mood is good.¡± Woojoo smiled at Junghyun, who was smiling happily. While their manager was getting good conditions from the distributionpany staff, they had a casual meeting at a corner of the table. They were looking for things to improve among the questions they had prepared beforeing. ¡°Then we¡¯ll prepare ordingly. Manager.¡± ¡°Thank you.¡± ¡°I heard you¡¯re in charge of the singers. You seem to know a lot about this industry.¡± ¡°I¡¯ve heard a few things from the people who handle the actors at ourpany.¡± The nning PD gave a calm answer to Seokhwan Hyung, who threw him a curious nce. ¡°Can we ask you a few things too?¡± ¡°Sure.¡± Woojoo talked about what they needed. Woojoo asked for a detailed description of the scene and the length of the section where the song would go, in order to write a simple song. They also discussed the arrangement of ¡®Falling Stars¡¯, the cover video they were going to shoot. ¡°You can arrange it?¡± ¡°Yes. The productionpany said we can arrange it as long as we stay within a certain limit. As long as we don¡¯t change the songpletely.¡± ¡°Oh, that¡¯s great.¡± Woojoo nodded with a smile at his words. He had assumed they wouldn¡¯t allow any arrangement, but he was d he could change it to a tailor-made song for Rihyuk. The nning PD said, ¡°By the way, I heard that most of the songs like Windflower and New ck were written by you, Woojoo. I saw you arranging them on Legendary Song Discovery.¡± His kids nodded proudly. ¡°That¡¯s right. Woojoo Hyung wrote them all.¡± ¡°We¡¯re nning to tag along this time too.¡± Woojoo made up his mind again. He was going to make these guys work hard no matter what. The nning team staffughed and said, ¡°It¡¯s a short phrase, but I¡¯m looking forward to it. I wonder what it will be like.¡± ¡°I¡¯m looking forward to it too. I really like Windflower. I listen to it on my way to work.¡± ¡°I also liked Path, the one you arranged and sang on Legendary Song Discovery.¡± Woojoo felt good listening to the people talking about their songs. It felt real that their songs had received a popr response. People who worked in an industry far from the music industry knew New ck¡¯s songs. ¡°By the way, how much time do you need for the work? Two weeks?¡± ¡°I think a week will do.¡± ¡°¡­?¡± ¡°I already have the main melody.¡± ¡°Already?¡± ¡°Yes. I think it goes well with the main title, Falling Stars.¡± Woojoo¡¯s siblings looked at him with a surprised expression, then smiled as if they understood. Woojoo awkwardly smiled at the staff who admired him, saying ¡®You made it before you came¡¯. He didn¡¯t prepare it beforehand. It was a melody that came to his mind when he listened to Falling Stars, but he didn¡¯t bother to correct it. The staff showed curiosity. ¡°I¡¯m looking forward to it.¡± ¡°Yes, I think you¡¯ll like it.¡± Woojoo answered with a smile. It was a melody that he liked too. It suited the scene they wanted, a lively feeling of sparkling fairies bouncing around. As soon as Woojoo went back to thepany, he made the song. He was nning to make only one or two phrases as nned, but ideas sprouted one by one like leaves from a branch. So. ¡°You wrote a whole song?¡± ¡°Yeah.¡± His siblings looked stunned. ¡°Which part should I cut and send? Can you tell me after listening to it?¡± ¡°Um¡­¡± They tilted their heads as they listened to the song. Bijoo answered Woojoo with a puzzled look. ¡°They¡¯re all good, I don¡¯t know which part to cut.¡± ¡°Really?¡± ¡°Yes, I feel like this part would suit, but then I feel like that part would suit better.¡± The other siblings had simr reactions. ¡°Um¡­ it¡¯s like a pizza cut into eight pieces. I think any piece would be delicious. Oh, I want pizza.¡± ¡°I¡¯ll buy you pizza jelly.¡± On the other hand, everyone agreed with Junghyun¡¯s analogy. The A&R Team, as well as Director Kang, stroked their chins and frowned. -It¡¯s not easy to cut anything out from here. ¡°Is that so?¡± -Why don¡¯t you just finish it as it is and send it to see what they think? I think that would be better. When I¡¯m in a tricky situation as a sound engineer, I just leave it to the productionpany¡¯s judgment. So they decided to finish it first and then decide. Since it was a matter of security, the A&R Team joined them instead of the externalposers for the final work. ¡°I need you to do some arrangement for this part.¡± ¡°Which part?¡± ¡°From here to here.¡± ¡°¡­Oh, from the beginning to the end. Woojoo.¡± They were the staff who put their hands on Woojoo¡¯s shoulder and trembled their lips. ¡°I¡¯ll buy you meat when the work is done.¡± ¡°Beef? Pork?¡± ¡°Of course, hanwoo.¡± Woojoo lured them with meat and entrusted them with the work. ¡°But why are you working with ¡®Men Go¡¯ Part 1 on?¡± ¡°It¡¯s healing to watch this. It warms my heart when I listen to it like a rainy ASMR.¡± ¡°¡­¡± ¡°Wow, this is great.¡± They were the A&R Teamposers who liked to see Woojoo ¡®hurk!¡¯ and roll down from the rappel or roll on the floor. Well. It was good that they were happy¡­ While the staff were making the songs in a snap, they focused on their main job. OST was important, but it was clearly a low-priority project. It wasn¡¯t like it would suddenly be a miracle and ¡®Wow! Hollywood and Billboard entry! Bang!¡¯ if they got a good response. It would be different if they had nned to enter the US market seriously. For them, who had not yet reached the top in Korea, it was not the most urgent project. It was just a matter of doing well or not. The important thing was their main job, so they left thetter part of the OST work to the staff and devoted themselves to preparing for the uing concert and album. ¡°Huh¡­ Huh¡­¡± ¡°Oof, I¡¯m dying.¡± ¡°Why is the human body so tough? I want to copse, but why can¡¯t I¡­¡± The hellish choreography practice under the guidance of their main dancer continued. No one could refute Rihyuk¡¯s cry of why all the choreographies were like this. There were points to watch out for in each choreography. ¡°This one, be careful with your waist. This one, your knees, this one, your neck¡­¡± ¡°What about you, Bijoo?¡± ¡°Um¡­ whole body?¡± ¡°¡­¡± The choreographies of the main title songs that would be the center of the concert were all tough. ¡°We have to do all this in a day¡­¡± Plus, memorizing the lyrics of the album tracks that were on the set list. It was literally a mountain of difficulties. Woojoo couldn¡¯t even get up from the nightmare, he just groaned. He felt more and more exhausted as time went by. ¡°What were we thinking when we did this in the past?¡± ¡°I know, right.¡± Concert, album, contents to be uploaded on YouTube and Y app, and OST that they epted with a smile. ¡°There¡¯s also the Dolympics.¡± ¡°¡­¡± Woojoo decided to do it with a rxed mind whileining about their past selves with his younger siblings. ¡°Hehehehe! It¡¯s practice!¡± ¡°Hehehe! Dance!¡± ¡°We¡¯re not ourselves! So even if I¡¯m tired, it¡¯s not me who¡¯s tired.¡± ¡°That¡¯s right! Wow!¡± They were them who ran around thepany hallway cheerfully whenever they took a break. The President rubbed his head with a worried expression as he watched them. They focused on their work again after venting their fatigue and stress. It was hard, but they could endure it. It was simr to the feeling of climbing Everest and almost reaching the end. It seemed like a shining summit was waiting for them if they just pierced through this blizzard that was tormenting them and took a few more steps. ¡°But when you climb a mountain, you have toe down afterwards.¡± ¡°¡­¡± ¡°Isn¡¯t that logically invalid?¡± Anyway, that feeling captivated them all, so they were able to do their work smoothly. They had a lot of worries about thest album, like ¡®Oh, what should we do with this album?¡¯ But this time, they had less worries. They were confident in themselves now. That was why they were less emotionally shaken. ¡°Guys! Guys! Look at this.¡± ¡°What is it?¡± ¡°Teen Spirit is making aeback with a repackaged album around the same time as us.¡± ¡°Ugh¡­¡± They were all shocked by the news that Teen Spirit¡¯seback, which was originally expected in early October, had been moved up to the end of August. In other words¨C ¡°Teen Spirit Sunbaes are crazy with their schedule.¡± ¡°They¡¯reing back right after their world tour. How?¡± ¡°I saw thements saying they¡¯re recording for Dolympic the next day after they arrive in Korea.¡± It seemed like Woojoo could see a speech bubble saying ¡®This is so hard¡­¡¯ behind Teen Spirit¡¯s bright smiles in the article photo. Theirst concert was in LA. They had to appear on Dolympics without adjusting to the time difference. Woojooughed at the fact that even a boy group of that level couldn¡¯t escape the clutches of Dolympics, while feeling grateful for their situation. ¡°We¡¯re pretty rxedpared to them¡­¡± Woojoo thought they weren¡¯t doing too bad. But strangely enough, it was different from when he felt his heart sink at the news of TNT¡¯seback dyst November. He was calm even when he heard that theireback ovepped with Teen Spirit¡¯s. It wasn¡¯t about who would win or lose if they met. Teen Spirit was Teen Spirit and New ck was New ck. They wouldn¡¯t be buried in any case. Woojoo was confident in their song, but more than anything, it was possible thanks to the Souffl¨¦s who supported them from behind. -A gif of Woojoo¡¯s nose bleeding because of the special agents in the space station. -So cute¡­ Why do I like this¡­ -Lol -The ck history never ends~~ -Papa ck -Let¡¯s walk the ck path for life, Woojoo!! (fists x2) ¡­Sometimes Woojoo felt like they were the enemy within, but it was true that the fans diluted a lot of his anxiety. It was simr to the feeling of relief when he was in the same team with a good student for the end-of-month evaluation. And for those teammates of theirs, they brought out what they had prepared so far. ¡°Hey, hey, who took out the king bong. Put it back.¡± ¡°¡­¡± Junhyun sulkily put the king bong in the corner and picked up the snail. ¡°It¡¯s dalbong. You dummy.¡± ¡°Oh. Right.¡± Woojoo cleared his throat and looked around at his brothers. ¡°Are you ready?¡± The members nodded. Today was August 1st. It was time for their first live broadcast on Y app, which they had been preparing for. 7 p.m. The rattling subway, the library where people started to leave one by one, the bus window seat with a night view, etc. The eyes of the Souffl¨¦s all over the country sparkled. [whY-App] Surprise live start! A radio show with New ck on your way home~! They pressed the notification that rang with the vibration. They felt a bit unfamiliar with the interface, as they had only done live broadcasts on SNS until now. New ck members appeared on the screen. ¡®Wow, it¡¯s a real radio¡­!¡¯ Lemon Entertainment must have paid attention, as the set where the members were sitting was the same as a radio studio. Woojoo, who was wearing headphones, spoke into the mic. His eyes were drawn to his half-neatlybed gray hair, and his pleasant voice flowed into the earphones of the fans scattered around. [One of the youngest ones overslept and missed the morning practice and made an excuse.] [I was looking at the night skyst night and it was so beautiful, so I stayed upte watching it.] He smiled and imitated Bijoo¡¯s lines, and Jiho next to him red at him. Woojoo continued. [What a sentimental story, right? Hearing that, I thought maybe I had been living too rationally andcked the emotional side. But¡­] [Practicees first.] [Yes. Practicees before emotion. Right, Jiho?] [Yes¡­] While the youngest one said ¡®yes¡­¡¯ sulkily, the older ones pped andughed. Woojoo turned on the mic again. [Of course, this is a fictional story. It¡¯s not what happened this morning. Anyway, it means that working is important.] Then he paused. [We¡¯re here with New ck for you who worked hard today. The first song. You did well today.] When it was time for the song toe out and the Souffl¨¦s were listening. Woojoo moved his hand and tapped the mini keyboard on the table. At the same time, Rihyuk sang. The Souffl¨¦s wrotements withughter. -Handmade??????? -You are watching an idol who is doing radio like a cottage industry -Rihyuk¡¯s song is good????? -Oh???? you¡¯re reading thements Rihyuk your ears are red -Ears ears ears ears babe babe babe -As expected, it¡¯s Threehyuk¡­ He¡¯s amazing at controlling his voice even in difficult situations. That¡¯s why we need a dome practice room for our New ck, I can tell you that The other members pushed the tablet to Rihyuk, who had temporarily turned off the real-timements. After the song ended, the New ck members greeted the camera. [Two~ Three!] [Hello! We are New ck! Wow!] The Souffl¨¦s, who unknowingly waved their hands at the screen, lowered their hands and covered them with the surrounding eyes. [Some of you are embarrassed by waving your hands. It¡¯s okay. Everyone. You¡¯ll forget that soon. I know it well.] [I agree with that. If someone asks you about embarrassment, look up at Woojoo Hyung, there¡¯s a saying like that.] The Souffl¨¦sughed. After that, the live broadcast proceeded in a simr way to the actual radio. [Woojoo Oppa let¡¯s go on a pic, we¡¯re renting a radio studio right now. There are manager Hyungs behind the camera. Yes, have a good trip. I can¡¯t go because of work¡­] [You¡¯re S, right? Thank you for congratting us on the radio opening.] [Ear bright bright, wow. I like your name.] That was how the radio corner ¡®Ask New ck. Recent Talk!¡¯ continued. As the questions poured in, Bijoo, who was reading the screen, found something. [Oh! There are a lot of questions about the new song. New song spoiler?] [Do you know what a spoiler is? Hyung? Spoiler?] [Spoiler! Right?] Then he smiled proudly at the camera. ¡®I¡¯m this kind of person¡¯ and he was proud of himself. The other members pped andughed at Bijoo¡¯s appearance. Woojoo, who was sitting at the DJ seat, said, [Um¡­ New song spoiler¡­ it¡¯s not supposed to be.] [How about one second?] [Oh. One second is good. Then our Bijoo will do a one-second dance spoiler for you.] Soon, the manager behind the screen seemed to give an ¡®OK¡¯ sign. Then Bijoo came out to do a one-second dance spoiler. When the members were looking forward to the one-second spoiler with anticipation, Bijoo made a quick move. [No.] [Bijoo Hyung! That part¡­!] [Hey! Hey! Stop it! That!] The members¡¯ hips twitched as if it was an important part. Woojoo called Junghyun urgently. When Bijoo was about to dance. Junghyun flew with a nimble body. His eyebrows fluttered as fast as the speed. While the Souffl¨¦s admired. Then everyone blinked at the situation that followed. [¡­?] New ck in the screen. ¡®¡­?¡¯ The Souffl¨¦ outside the screen opened their eyes wide. Junghyun lifted Bijoo up to the sky and pushed him out of the camera angle. ¡®Oh, he¡¯s gone.¡¯ When everyone looked at him with stunned eyes, ament from someone popped up on the chat window, which was silent. It was because of a scene that reminded them of the angle. -The Lion King¡­? Thenughter burst out inside and outside the screen. Chapter 292: Trantor: MarcTempest Editor: Rxel Chapter 292 The managers sitting behind the camera were the first to flip over. ¡°Hahaha!¡± Minki and Dowon Hyung became a lump ofughter, and the PR Team staff clutched their stomachs. Like a waterfall going backwards, ¡®????¡¯ kept popping up in the chat window. They also burst intoughter as if they were out of breath. ¡°¡­¡±In the midst of that, their main dancer hanging in the air was waving his legs. Somehow, even the swaying felt elegant. But the person in question was embarrassed and covered his face with both hands. ¡°Uh¡­¡± Woojoo could feel his embarrassment just by looking at the back of his head. Their bear just said ¡®I sessfullypleted the mission¡¯ with a serious expression. ¡°Hey. Let me down.¡± ¡°Just a moment.¡± Junghyun looked at Woojoo and nodded. ¡°Hey, hey! Kim Junghyun!¡± He didn¡¯t just let him down, he lifted him up and put him down on the chair. ¡°Hahaha!¡± Rihyuk fanned the script as if he sympathized with Bijoo, who was sitting in his seat and embarrassed. Thement window sparkled in the meantime. -???????Bijoo???? -Ah, Bijoo is embarrassed -(Whispering) Oh my¡­ Bijoo is embarrassed¡­ (Whispering) But the lion was funny just now. -The managers are like that too, and everyone isughing so meanly??????? I¡¯mughing too, of course. -??????How do you stand this They denied it. ¡°Laughing meanly¡­ Pfft¡­ No way.¡± ¡°We¡¯re notughing¡­ Hehe¡­ At all!¡± ¡°Why are you all doing this to Bijoo Hyung? Right?¡± But even Rihyuk, who was scolding them, was dancing with his mouth twitching. Their faces were full ofughter on the tablet. When Bijoo opened his eyes and looked at them, Woojoo wrapped up thement as a DJ. ¡°This will be extracted and uploaded as a highlight. Minki?¡± ¡°Yes.¡± ¡°Please insert the movie OST there.¡± The younger ones pped andughed. Bijoo, the person in question, also imagined it andughed. Then he took out a light stick from under the table. ¡°Why are you taking that out?¡± ¡°There¡¯s a scene from a famous movie. A machine that erases memories with a shing light. Now you all have to look at this light and forget.¡± Woojooughed at the somewhat cute idea. sh! The sh of the light stick swept the screen for a moment, and the Souffl¨¦s and New ck tried hard to forget. -I¡­ I don¡¯t remember -Who are these people¡­?? Why am I crying? -Where is Hanyang? -??????I¡¯m so embarrassed¡­ But where is this? -I can feel the acting from thements for the first time¡­ -Let¡¯s not act -They¡¯reughing meanly again???? Actually, it was a warm-heartedugh. Woojoo wondered if it was a sense of kinship that a singer and the fan had. If you wanted to erase your memory, it would be better to hit the back of your head with a light stick once. Bijoo fiddled with the light stick at thement. ??????§¦? They all agreed and told him to put his hand down. ¡°Well, let¡¯s move on from memory erasing. Wow, time has passed so quickly. I didn¡¯t even do Q&A properly.¡± ¡°Let¡¯s do it in part 2. Part 2.¡± ¡°Then let¡¯s move on to part 2¡­ Rihyuk, have you finished searching for the lyrics?¡± ¡°Yes.¡± ¡°Then I¡¯ll listen to the song request.¡± Except for Bijoo, who didn¡¯t know English, the other younger ones exchanged serious eyes. ¡°It¡¯s the OST of a masterpiece animation.¡± ¡°¡­¡± ¡°Shall we sing it together~?¡± As Woojoo tapped the piano keys, the younger ones stretched out their hands in the air and sang ¡®Naju in~¡¯. As theyughed at thements, they finished the ¡®Jibaba¡¯ challenge. By then, Bijoo was chasing after them as they ran away. From 7 p.m. to 9 p.m. After the first Y app live broadcast of New ck with the fans. The Souffl¨¦s were screaming with joy. ¡®New content¡­!¡¯ When the live broadcast ended, they saw that new content had been uploaded. ¡®Wow. There¡¯s so much.¡¯ It seemed like they had prepared a lot of content in advance. The first thing that came up was a video titled ¡®New ck: When I was a boy¡¯. There was one for each member. The main character sat in the middle and the other members sat around him, looking at photo albums and talking. The video introduced how they grew up and how they came to dream of bing singers. At the bottom of the screen, photos and old yearbooks were disyed, along with the members¡¯ments. [What¡¯s this, Rihyuk Hyung?] [It¡¯s a photo of me singing at a kindergarten festival. The kid holding my hand is my brother.] A photo of a little Rihyuk dancing with a girl wearing a flower ne and a crown. [So cute. You looked like a nice kid back then.] [¡­] After watching the video of each member exining why they wanted to be singers along with their childhood, the first episode of New ck¡¯s Y app content ¡®ck List¡¯ came up on the watch next. [Kim Junghyun vs the rest. We got a question asking what would happen if they yed tug-of-war. Are you curious?] [If he had navigation, would Bijoo still get lost?] [How many floral outfits does Woojoo have? Can he get rid of them¡­ We¡¯ll only verify the first part. There¡¯s a trap.] [Is it true that Rihyuk¡¯s favorite is King Sejong?] [If the youngest became the oldest¡­ Ooooh¡­ I¡¯m curious about the youngest¡¯s reverse world.] They were excited just by the preview of what they would do. Two episodes came out every week, and it seemed like they would verify one thing per episode. In addition to that, there were behind-the-scenes videos of the ones that had been uploaded on YouTube. The Souffl¨¦s sparkled their eyes at the sincere ns. -Kyu¡­ Kyuho Oppa???? -Sorry for doubting you Kyuho¡­ I¡¯ll give you a coupon -Reduced from 999 to 998 things to tease -???????But I¡¯m so happy??? It¡¯s a feast¡­ -There¡¯s so much, when will I digest this; It feels like watching a mountain of food piled up in the feeder -(A gif of a cat panicking at the endless pouring of food) -Lemon: I¡¯ll give you content, eat it fast! / Souffl¨¦: Wow! New feast¡­ (100 servings)¡­ Wow¡­ Ouch¡­ Ouch¡­ -Is there an idol fan who has to take a leave from work to watch all the content? Puff puff Meanwhile, the highlight video of ¡®New ck Radio¡¯ was also uploaded. Because of the copyright issue, instead of the animation OST, a majestic BGM yed, and Bijoo¡¯s body was lifted into the air with a solemn golden halo shining on him. There was also a caption saying ¡®Our proud shining child¡¯. Soon, the fans edited the short video with the animation OST and spread it on SNS and idolmunities. The idol who made a bigugh on the live broadcast today¡¹ As some photos of Bijoo brushing his hair back with the highlight scene came up. -??????????That¡¯s so funny, is that real? -Is the CG crazy???? -They¡¯re myughter bell these days????? -I envy New ck fans¡­ I want to do that kind of dynamic fangirling too -Amazingly, that¡¯s official from the agency -The photos are too edited; ©ºThey¡¯re original! ©º????????? -But what¡¯s Y app?? My idol didn¡¯t talk about that -What kind of app is that?? -New ck is doing well, why did they go there;; Those apps shine at first and then fail soon ©º?? Why bother when they have YouTube? ©º100% fail ©ºThere¡¯s a reason why TNT or TJ idols don¡¯t go there As most of thements were saying ¡®Why did they go to that weird app¡¯ along with the ones that gently dissuaded them with worried words. The Souffl¨¦s were smiling. -Don¡¯t worry. They have YouTube content too?? ©º?? ©ºThere are multiple contents. Some are uploaded on YouTube There were contents for the general public on YouTube, not just on Y app. The members were wearing long sleeves, unlike now in midsummer. They must have prepared in advance since the History Discovery Team was popr. The content was about getting tips from famous masters of dance, song, and other skills to be a great idol. For example, learning breathing techniques from Cha Woohyun for 10 minutes. Or learning meditation from y Taylor, which is popr among Hollywood actors and made worries and questions disappear. Contents for the non-fans. -How many did they upload today¡­??? -They would sell out faster than a mart closing down;; -?? The foreign charcoal grills are making jokes that Lemon is having a garage sale -Can you digest all that¡­? ©¹No¡­ ©¹I¡¯m getting overwhelmed by the breadcrumbs -???? Did they film this since the History Discovery Team was doing well? -They have to work hard online, not just offline -I¡¯m jealous¡­ Are you watching, MOP? -TJ should learn from Kyuho. How is it true that TNT, who are six years old, has only two reality shows?? -I¡¯m more curious about their lives than the amount of content. Is this possible with the Rising schedule?? -22222 -3333 Do they sleep at all? -It¡¯s like taking 52 credits in college -New ck Hermione theory; -The twin hypothesis is popr among the fans¡­ One does the activities and the other does the filming. When they go to space, Woojooes out -222 That¡¯s right -What¡¯s right????? It was New ck¡¯s content that flowed abundantly, making them wonder how they did all this work. Woojooughed every time he saw the fan cafe. The skinny Souffl¨¦s became fluffy and rolled around in the New ck World. They were happy with the amount of content, and they felt like they were feeding them, saying ¡®Eat more. More¡­¡¯. Woojoo didn¡¯t know how much heughed when he saw a post on the inte from the PR Team saying ¡®The singers who are expanding their fans right now¡¯. He was proud at the same time. The content that they had made in between since the Legendary Song Discovery Team and the History Discovery Team had paid off. ¡°The general public¡¯s reaction is good too. The number of subscribers to New ck 2TV is increasing fast.¡± ¡°Wow.¡± They created a channel called New ck 2TV, separate from their YouTube ount, New ck TV. It was because they considered the general public who didn¡¯t want to see dance videos or content for fans after they got to know them through the History Discovery Team. If there was someone who liked them and wanted to see more, they designed a system that would naturally connect them to New ck TV. If they expected content like the History Discovery Team, but kept getting subscriber notifications like ¡®Do you want to see the dance video? Do you want to see our kids¡¯ fan points?'', it could cause aversion. Thanks to that, subscribers to New ck 2TV channel increased at a fast pace. ¡°Wow! Guys, look at this. The unit number of subscribers changes every time I refresh.¡± ¡°Wow¡­¡± Every time they checked, they could see the number of subscribers increasing in real time. It was the moment when the recognition on YouTube that they had built up with the History Discovery Team shone. Thements on the video also looked satisfying. Of course, not everything was positive. ¡°Um¡­ it¡¯s good, but I think we should refrain frommenting now.¡± ¡°YouTube was fine until now¡­ but this ce is no longer a ce to stay.¡± Woojoo didn¡¯t know how to express it, but there were morements that gave him a feeling that he didn¡¯t want to deal with. There were alsoments that asked if they had permission to film, even though they did. As the fame increased, so did the weird people. It was something he had to ept as a job that dealt with the public, but he didn¡¯t think he needed to see it with his own eyes. Besides, they were busy. ¡°Okay, let¡¯s check it again!¡± ¡°A little faster!¡± ¡°Here, when we spread out like a wave, you guys walk in between. OK?¡± They met with the dance team that would help with the concert and checked the movement on the stage. The coboration with the live band session was almost done. The only things left were the Dolympics and the concert. As time passed, they all felt that theeback was getting closer and closer. And then. From November 2013, when Woojoo became a hero in Galhyeon-dong, to August 2015, something happened almost every month. ¡°¡­¡± ¡°Why are you all staring at me like that? You¡¯re also New cks, just like me.¡± Woojoo¡¯s siblings backed away from him as if he were the eye of a storm that caused idents and incidents. He demanded them to change their reactions. ¡°Don¡¯t look at me with awe.¡± ¡°Wow¡­¡± ¡°Don¡¯t admire me either.¡± ¡°Oh¡­¡± They looked at him with ¡®oh¡¯s as if they were witnessing a great natural phenomenon. Woojoo felt a headacheing on. The things that had caught people¡¯s attention one by one werebined into one by someone¡¯s summary, and he was transformed into a person who caused strange things to happen. Even the employees of the management support team, who Woojoo rarely ran into, would pass by and say ¡®oh¡¯ and look at him with curiosity. Their Lady Deoksoon also said something had stuck to him and offered to write him a talisman, making a big fuss. ¡°¡­I have to think positively.¡± It was actually a positive thing. Woojoo¡¯s name and the word ¡®New ck¡¯ had spread all over the inte, and it felt like they were imprinted on people¡¯s brains. Woojoo¡¯s name was on the real-time search for more than a day. He already had a lot of people who knew him, but for the next few months, he felt like anyone who asked him his name on the street would know. That was why he had a lot of advertising requestsing in after the second part aired. ¡°A tel ad?¡± ¡°From tel to everything else, all kinds of ads areing in. You guys might even get a phone ad if you do well.¡± ¡°¡­Wow.¡± ¡°The new product¡¯s name is Boomerang, by the way.¡± ¡°¡­¡± Woojoo could guess what kind of ads they were. After one episode of the variety show aired, everything unfolded so fast that it felt like his soul was sucked out. While he was sitting in the practice room, practicing choreography and vocals, all kinds of chaos were happening outside. It was a bit of a heated atmosphere, so he nned to calm down and properly review the results he had gained this time. ¡°Let¡¯s not get too excited for now, and practice calmly. Bijoo, stop saving those memes.¡± ¡°Yes¡­¡± It was a good thing, but he felt like he had to keep his bnce at times like this. Woojoo had engraved his name, but he had to be more careful with this kind of sh poprity. Heforted his siblings who were more excited than him and continued with the concert practice. And when the shower of variety show poprity subsided a bit. They got a call from Seokhwan Hyung and were slightly surprised by the story that followed. ¡°Yes?¡± ¡°What event?¡± While they were immersed in practice, they had an unexpected schedule that they had never anticipated. Chapter 293: Trantor: MarcTempest Editor: Rxel Chapter 293 ¡°Public Rtions Ambassador for Incheon Police Agency?¡± ¡°Yeah.¡± Seokhwan Hyung told them about the event they were invited to. ¡°They said you guys raised the external prestige of Incheon Police by performing a counter-terrorism training with the Special Forces at Incheon Airport.¡± Junghyun and Woojoo looked at each other. ¡°Did we?¡±¡°I don¡¯t think we did that much.¡± It wasn¡¯t like they had any cool scenes. They just ran around like goblins, screaming ¡®Kieeek!¡¯ Seokhwan Hyungughed and said, ¡°You have to think about the buzz. You have no idea how much publicity they got from this broadcast.¡± ¡°So we did a good job¡­?¡± ¡°Oh,e on.¡± As their manager smiled as if he couldn¡¯t stop them, they felt their hearts flutter and looked at each other. ¡°That¡¯s nice. I always wanted to be a public rtions ambassador.¡± ¡°Me too. I was so jealous of kids like Gilchaekyung at school who said ¡®I¡¯m a public rtions ambassador for Busan~¡¯¡± ¡°We finally get to be public rtions ambassadors.¡± They had done a lot ofmercial ads, but they had never been proper public rtions ambassadors for public institutions like the police or the city or county. ???????s? They had a lot of requests, but it was because of the principles New ck and theirpany had set. The institution had to match their image and there had to be a clear reason for them to be public rtions ambassadors. So they were disappointed. Now they had a ¡®friendly boy next door¡¯ vibe, but when they debuted, they pursued an image like ¡®mysterious handsome man¡¯¡­ ¡°If we had this image back then, we could have been public rtions ambassadors for the fruit market.¡± ¡°But our image was fixed toote.¡± ¡°¡­Don¡¯t you think you guys changed that image?¡± Anyway, they felt warm and happy at the thought of being public rtions ambassadors. ¡°If it¡¯s the police agency, do we get to wear uniforms like honorary police officers? Is that it?¡± ¡°Calm down, Number 8.¡± At first, his siblings teased Woojoo for being excited, but soon they searched for the uniforms that the police wore at the event and looked even more excited than him. Meanwhile, Rihyuk, who had been reading the email, broke the news. ¡°But we¡¯re the only ones who got the request for public rtions ambassador.¡± ¡°What about Street Boys?¡± ¡°No.¡± The email said ¡®Popr idol group New ck appointed ¨C Seon Woojoo and four others¡¯. Seokhwan Hyung smiled and said, ¡°I was going to ask you about that part.¡± ¡°Why are we the only ones who got in?¡± ¡°Well, of course, it¡¯s because you guys are more popr. Well, the biggest reason is that the person in charge over there has no sense.¡± ¡°¡­This makes it awkward to do it even if we want to.¡± Woojoo guessed why they chose New ck. Woojoo had made most of the content in Men Go, and coincidentally, the group he belonged to had risen sharply after Windflower. It was the best choice for the publicity person to hire them. But the problem was that their job category was idol. There was another idol who appeared in Men Go besides them. It was Hanjo of Street Boys. Hanjo also got a lot of attention from Men Go. He yed with the dogs in the second part handler training and shouted ¡®Kiyathou! Kiyaat!¡¯ and that scene became a hot topic. He also got on the real-time search and got the nickname ¡®Men Go Kiyathou guy¡¯. Street Boys was a rookie group that was doing well enough to win first ce on music shows within a year of their debut. It was just that New ck did too well. All the idols who were nominated for the Rookie Award in 2014 were doing well. But when they were riding horses and trotting along, New ck rode a sports car and disappeared like a dot. It was understandable that the publicity person chose New ck. But. ¡°It might cause some trouble.¡± ¡°I think so too.¡± Bijoo nodded as if he agreed. ¡°Hanjo Hyung also made content with us. It would be better if he, Hyung, and Kim Junghyun were the public rtions ambassadors. If he¡¯s left out and we¡¯re the only ones who are popr¡­¡± ¡°It¡¯s asking for trouble.¡± Jiho grinned at Junghyun¡¯s words. ¡°Would we get hate for this?¡± ¡°Men Go¡¯s response was so good that it¡¯ll be quiet for a while, but right now we¡¯re in a position where we get hate for breathing.¡± ¡°There were people spreading rumors about album maniption in thements of the article we saw yesterday.¡± There were plenty of people who wanted to make a mountain out of a molehill as a bacsh to their sess. Of course, it wouldn¡¯t cause a big fuss if they were the only ones who became public rtions ambassadors, but it didn¡¯t look good. As Bijoo said, it would be fine if it was just Woojoo, Hanjo, and Junghyun. But Woojoo decided that it was best to avoid any situation that could lead to gossip as much as possible. ¡°I hope you can tell the police that. We appreciate them inviting us, but if we¡¯re going to do this, shouldn¡¯t the Street Boys join us too?¡± ¡°I¡¯ll talk to the person in charge.¡± ¡°Thanks, Hyung.¡± Woojoo exchanged a look of regret with his siblings. Fourteen people, including the nine members of the Street Boys. There was no organization that would appoint that many ambassadors at once. So they thought that they shouldn¡¯t do this kind of thing that wouldn¡¯t benefit them much¡­ But then. ¡°It actually happened.¡± ¡°Ta-da!¡± ¡°Here we are.¡± The Street Boys members got out of the car, took off their sunsses, and made a V sign. LB, who had a mischievous face, ran up to Woojoo. ¡°Boss.¡± ¡°Yes.¡± ¡°I decided to join your line from today.¡± ¡°What line?¡± Woojooughed and asked, and he answered seriously. ¡°I want to repay this favor, so I¡¯ll be your loyal follower from today.¡± ¡°Sorry. I only ept loyal subjects.¡± ¡°Then I can¡¯t. I¡¯m a person who can¡¯t speak properly ording to the aptitude test¡­¡± When Woojoo asked him what his suitable job was, he said ¡®politician¡¯. Theyughed at LB¡¯s witty answer. Incheon, Namdong-gu. New ck and the Street Boys walked together in the parking lot of the Incheon Police Station. Rex, who had neat red hair and a puppy-like impression, said to Woojoo, ¡°We weren¡¯t supposed to join, but you said something, right?¡± ¡°If the Street Boys don¡¯t go, we don¡¯t go either!¡± LB, who was pretending to be a fictional character, pped his hands at Woojoo. Woojoo waved his hand and replied, ¡°It wasn¡¯t like that. I just thought it wouldn¡¯t be fair if we were the only ones¡­¡± As soon as he said that, they immediately said ¡®OK!¡¯ and the Street Boys were also hired. He didn¡¯t expect it to be so easy. It must have been because Men Go was so popr. They asked them to keep it a secret, considering that the Street Boys might feel bad, but they already knew everything. They made fun of them with a cheerful joke. ¡°Of course, we were annoying to you. Boss, we were annoying to you, right?¡± ¡°But actually, this was our n all along.¡± ¡°You think we only eat triangle kimbap? While New ck eats chicken breast, we eat frozen pizza.¡± ¡°Hey. Frozen pizza sounds too pitiful.¡± Woojoo smiledfortably at the sight of them talking nonsense. His siblings also started to chat with their friends, who they hadn¡¯t seen for a while, in a friendly way. While they were heading to the police building. ¡°¡­¡± ¡°¡­¡± There was a suffocating silence between Woojoo and Hanjo. ¡°Uh¡­¡± ¡°¡­¡± He nced at Woojoo. Woojoo smiled brightly and said, ¡°The broadcast response was good, right?¡± ¡°¡­¡± ¡°You even ranked on the real-time search. Wow, our Hanjo is on fire.¡± ¡°¡­I didn¡¯t want to get famous like this.¡± Hanjo brushed his hair as he saw their siblings and the Street Boys shouting ¡®Kiyat-ho!¡¯ together. Then he started toin. ¡°It was crazy after the second part aired. My family sent me screenshotsughing, my neighborhood friends¡¯ group chat was on fire. When I went online, they called me ¡®the Kiyat-ho guy¡¯.¡± ¡°I know how you feel.¡± Woojoo gave him a sympathetic look. He was in the first stage of denial after creating a dark history. That¡¯s not me, that¡¯s not Hanjo, that¡¯s Haenjo. That was what he was thinking. Woojoo knew it well as an expert. Hanjo, who had beenining so much, suddenly blinked his eyes. ¡°If you hadn¡¯t dragged me here, this wouldn¡¯t have happened. Or at least, you could have told me when I was screaming there¡­¡± ¡°I couldn¡¯t stop you as a friend. You were getting a lot of screen time with your friend on the show. I couldn¡¯t ruin that for you.¡± ¡°Friend? Don¡¯t try to appease me with such touching words.¡± He caught him. Woojoo coughed and avoided his gaze, and Hanjo smiled as if he was pretending to be hurt. ¡°But I decided to think positively. After all, thanks to that, more people got to know Street Boys.¡± ¡°That¡¯s right. You have to have that mindset. Infamy is fame too.¡± ¡°¡­¡± As Woojoo avoided his gaze like a sinner, Hanjo continued, ¡°It wasn¡¯t that bad. I got some personal ads with animals too.¡± ¡°Really?¡± ¡°The lines were not to my liking, though¡­¡± Woojoo was d that he seemed to be moving from the stage of denial to the stage of rationalization. Then, the younger ones on both sides mimicked the two leaders¡¯ expressions and shouted ¡®Huaaak!¡¯ and ¡®Kiyaho!¡¯ every time. Hanjo, who was watching the twelve noisy kids, said as if he had thought of something, ¡°By the way, shouldn¡¯t we drop the formalities by now?¡± ¡°Yeah.¡± ¡°So¡­¡± They looked at each other¡¯s faces and came to a conclusion. ¡°Next time.¡± ¡°Let¡¯s use informal speech when we meet next time.¡± Well. He could use it when he saw himter. He would see him soon on a radio show or something. Woojoo made that calction and smiled warmly with him. ¡°Oh,e on in!¡± As they entered the police building, a middle-aged man in uniform greeted them. He was the Public Rtions Officer of the Incheon Police Agency. They followed him and took a brief tour of the building, including the paintings on the lobby wall. Then they headed to the dressing room with the clothes they received. ¡°Wow¡­¡± ¡°Ooh¡­¡± They had to change into uniforms for the public rtions ambassador appointment ceremony. It was a ck uniform top with a tie over a white shirt, with gold buttons and epaulets on the shoulders. It was the uniform that the police wore in movies or dramas when they were promoted. Everyone changed into their clothes with excited faces. ¡°Uh¡­¡± There was one hup in the middle. ¡°These pants are too loose.¡± ¡°Didn¡¯t they say that was the smallest size? It looks like trumpet pants on Rihyuk.¡± ¡°¡­Sigh, look at how skinny he is. What¡¯s your secret?¡± Rihyuk shouted, ¡°Don¡¯t look at me!¡± like a drill instructor. But it wasn¡¯t just Rihyuk. The pants provided by the police agency were too big for them. They seemed to be normal sizes, but they were all too skinny. ¡°Can we get a smaller size here¡­?¡± ¡°Yes.¡± The staff member was amazed by New ck and Street Boys. He was also shocked to see Rihyuk, who got a size smaller than them. They changed into their clothes happily and looked at each other. ¡°Wow, New ck looks awesome in uniforms¡­¡± ¡°Let¡¯s choose uniforms for the next stage outfit, Boss. The fit is amazing.¡± ¡°Right? I think so too.¡± Woojoo was proud of Street Boys¡¯pliments. The fit was indeed good. Woojoo went to wash his hands and looked at himself in the bathroom mirror. He felt proud of himself in the uniform. Rihyuk looked like an elite police officer who did forensic investigations. Junghyun looked like a detective who caught criminals and got rewarded. Bijoo and Jiho looked like friendly police officers who weed others at the police station. ¡°But they look great in their uniforms, but we look like frauds.¡± ¡°We look like gangsters who infiltrated the police.¡± ¡°Street Boys, please raise your heads. It¡¯s night time.¡± They joked cheerfully that they didn¡¯t suit the uniforms because of their bad looks, but they looked good too. They all had broad shoulders from working out, so the fit was good. ¡°Come on, let¡¯s get together!¡± They took selfies and souvenir photos for SNS with the help of the youngest professional selfie-taker. ¡­After taking the picture, it felt like 14 faces were stacked on top of each other. ¡°Hello, we are New ck!¡± ¡°We are Street Boys!¡± As they walked around the broadcasting station hallway and greeted people, the police officers smiled. They followed the PR officer to visit the chief¡¯s office, where they had tea with him and took a picture of ¡®us having a chat¡¯. They gathered in the auditorium on the first floor and held a modest ceremony to appoint them as crime prevention ambassadors. The first part was a simple performance of the representative songs of New ck and Street Boys. After ¡®Windflower¡¯, a songposed of vocals only, received apuse. Street Boys performed their title song ¡®Stronger¡¯. Broken window Over the broken window Running from the siren It was a song with the atmosphere of a city on fire and ss shattering. The intention was to convey a message to the society from the teenagers, but it sounded like a challenge to the authority. ¡°¡­¡± As the performance continued, the police officers looked at each other with a doubtful expression. They pped hard while Hanjo¡¯s rap of ¡®break the shackles and bars that imprison you¡¯ passed by. ¡°Wow!¡± Their enthusiastic apuse made the police officers say ¡®oh, that¡¯s a good song¡¯ and p along. Then they took pictures. They went up to the first and second levels and took a group photo, and the chief and Woojoo each held half of the que. ¡®Good!¡¯ The photographer said as he took the shots. ¡°Please do a funny pose too!¡± ¡°A funny pose?¡± ¡°It¡¯s too static right now, so it would be nice if you could do a dynamic pose.¡± A dynamic pose. As everyone had different opinions, Woojoo came up with an idea. ¡°How about showing your palms like this?¡± ¡°Palms?¡± Woojoo said to the curious chief, ¡°Like this, say ¡®stop it, crime!¡¯¡± ¡°Hahaha! Our Woojoo, your idea is a thumbs up!¡± The chief, whoughed heartily and raised his thumb, agreed, and they decided to do it together. ¡°Stop it, crime!¡± ¡°Stop it!¡± They all raised their palms and shouted. Woojoo thought it was just a picture. -Incheon Police Agency, appoints ¡®New ck¡¯ and ¡®Street Boys¡¯ as crime prevention ambassadors -New ck, bes crime prevention ambassador for Incheon Police Agency -¡°We became ambassadors! Yay!¡±¡­New ck, shows off their friendship with Street Boys on SNS That afternoon. As PR articles were posted on the inte, rted posts also appeared on the idolmunity. ¡®Today, New ck & Street Boys appointed as police ambassadors.jpg¡¯ (Article photo and SNS selfie photo) -Look at the temperature difference??????? -It feels like thieves and police are mixed???? -Street Boys???? they are cute too -I think there is one thief among us -Thief (9 people) -Isn¡¯t it the opposite? / Thief: I think there is a police among us¡­ -New ck, why do they look so gentle????? -????? Oh, our kids are bagels. There is a video too! -(Video) -Crime~~ The tone is hrious????????????? Why do they call it so friendly -Crime~~! -It sounds like artificial intelligence. Hello, crime? ¡°Crime!¡± ¡°Stop it.¡± ¡°Crime~¡± ¡°Hey, who told you to call me in Deoksoon¡¯s tone!¡± The youngest ran awayughing as Woojoo red at him. He held back the urge to shoot an arrow. ¡°Hyung. Your posture is shaking.¡± ¡°I¡¯ll catch it again.¡± At Bijoo¡¯s words, Woojoo picked up the bow and aimed at the target. The arrow hit the center of the 10-point target, and he high-fived Bijoo with a bright smile. Indoor archery range. They were practicing archery for the Dolympic that would take ce on Tuesday. They originally nned to participate in only one event, but the broadcasting station insisted that they had to do at least two. They chose archery and 60-meter sprint. Junghyun was the runner for the sprint, and Rihyuk, who had a fragile body, decided to stay out of anything physical. If he made a mistake and got hurt, the concert schedule that they had been working on for over a month would copse. ¡°Do you see me as fragile as ss? I can run without getting injured, you know.¡± ¡°Jiho, bring out the evidence video.¡± ¡°Yes.¡± They showed a video of someone copsing like a dead cicada after finishing the sprint in this year¡¯s New Year¡¯s special. ¡°¡­But it¡¯s embarrassing to do nothing while the fanse and watch.¡± ¡°It¡¯s okay. The fans don¡¯t want you to hurt yourself either.¡± ¡°But I feel like I should do something. I want to do my part too.¡± The youngest, who was holding a bow, opened his mouth. ¡°Ah! Then do that. The thing where you pick up the arrows like a ball boy. What do you call that? Arrow caddy? Arrow picker?¡± There was a scary one in the middle. As they bickered, Woojoo picked up the bow and aimed at the target. It was 10 points again. He smiled proudly and took a picture of the target to show off to his grandmother. When he looked at the phone screen, it shed with an iing call. ¡°¡­?¡± Woojoo tried to answer, but the call was cut off. He blinked at the 30 missed calls from the same name on the call log, and then remembered something. ¡°Ah.¡± Woojoo asked his brothers, ¡°Is the Men Go broadcast on right now?¡± ¡°Yes. Probably?¡± The youngest said, ¡°But it should be over by now.¡± ¡°So that¡¯s why.¡± Woojoo decided to watch the rerunter, and continued practicing archery. They asked him, ¡°Why?¡± ¡°There¡¯s someone who keeps calling me.¡± Theyughed at the name that kept shing on the silent phone screen. Sum Entertainment¡¯s practice room. Ha Eunsung, who was engrossed in choreography practice, was caught off guard by the hug from the President who suddenly barged in. The members were flustered, and so was he. ¡®What does he see in that troublemaker?¡¯ ¡®What¡¯s so pretty about me¡­?¡¯ Ha Eunsung asked with a bewildered expression, ¡°President?¡± ¡°Eunsung!¡± The President of Sum Entertainment grabbed his shoulder with an excited face. ¡°You did well. Really, you got something that I couldn¡¯t get even if I ran around doing sales.¡± ¡°Yes?¡± ¡°You¡¯re going on Men Go. You did well. You must have begged Woojoo to let you go, right?¡± ¡°¡­Yes?¡± Ha Eunsung and the members of APLB didn¡¯t know what was going on. What happened at the end of Men Go¡¯s third part. As he spoke, Ha Eunsung¡¯s breathing became rough. ¡°Eunsung! Congrattions!¡± ¡°Huh¡­¡± ¡°Uh¡­ Don¡¯t faint even if you¡¯re happy, Hyung!¡± Among the voices that sounded everywhere, Ha Eunsung copsed like a rotten straw mat. Chapter 294: Trantor: MarcTempest Editor: Rxel Chapter 294 Rustle, rustle. Woojoo saw the faces of the others changing their clothes in the car with grim expressions. They all looked sleepy as they put on and took off their clothes repeatedly. Jihoy down on the seat with his hand on the zipper button of his top. "Ugh¡­" "Ouch, my back." Woojoo rubbed his back too."I''m so exhausted. Let''s take a break and change our pantster." "Okay¡­" The younger ones smiled warmly at his words. They curled up like worms in the front seat, wearing only the athletic clothes for the Olympics. They didn''t want to ruin their hair and makeup that had been set. Then they passed out. "Hey, guys." "Hmm¡­ pork belly¡­" "Guys, wake up." "Huh. I didn''t sleep¡­ Huh¡­ Hyung." Wiping the saliva from the corner of my mouth, I saw Wonseok Hyungughing. The manager Hyung who had been shaking us to wake us up handed us some chocte with a sour look. We munched on the chocte with sullen faces, then made blissful expressions at the sweet taste. "When did you go to bed yesterday? We told you to sleep early, at least yesterday." "We slept at one thirty¡­" "That''s early?" "Maybe we''re more tired because we slept early." It was a mistake to sleep early the day before the Olympics, thinking we would make our condition better. Fatigue is a strange thing. If you''re constantly tired, you can manage. But if you rx once in a while, you get more tired. It felt like I had turned a 1.5-liter bottle of water upside down. Once the cap was opened, it poured out like crazy. My whole body was stiff. "Wonseok Hyung, I learned an important lesson this time." "Hmm, what is it?" "I''ll never do a concert and an album preparation at the same time again." He smirked. Then he said he would buy some snacks and got out of the car. Meanwhile, we held our pants in our hands with worried expressions. "Ah, I don''t want to change my pants." "Me neither¡­" "Should we just go in like this? I don''t think anyone will notice." "¡­." The youngest one said that, wearing red shorts. We all changed into purple athletic pants. Our leg muscles were sore from the recent concert choreography practice. "Ugh¡­" "Ugh¡­" "Yoo-hoo." We all burst intoughter because of the trap that came in between. Unlike us who were screaming, the owner of the top 0.1% body who had been officially recognized by the hospital was fine. Afterughing for a while, I felt my body loosen up a bit. We changed our clothes and fixed ourselves, then picked up the self-cam. Five faces with makeup on appeared on the screen. The younger ones sparkled their eyes next to my face with a gray hair and a hairband. "We''re at the Olympics." "That''s right." Junghyun said with a majestic expression. "We''re getting out of the car now." "We''re going to shoot arrows and run." "Rihyuk Hyung won''t do anything." "69 points should be quiet." The younger ones said one thing each and then it was my turn again. I said seriously. "We''re going to win the archery today." "Good." "Then we''ll tag along." The expressions on the screen looked like they had already decided to eat me alive. As I looked at the younger ones who seemed to be full of greed in their hearts, I narrowed my eyes. Rihyuk, who had been fixing his hair with ab, asked. "Why are we talking like this, by the way? Seriously?" "That''s true." I waved my hand at the self-cam. ¡°Yes, we have arrived at the parking lot in front of the indoor gymnasium in Goyang City. We are about to enter the filming site.¡± ¡°I will do my best and not get hurt.¡± ¡°Shall we all cheer together?¡± After a vigorous cheer, we handed over the self-cam to the manager Hyungs and got out of the car. The air was crisp in the morning. We practiced smiling at each other a few times, and then gave each other the OK sign that our expressions were good. ¡°Two, three!¡± ¡°Hello, we are New ck!¡± We greeted the cameraman holding the ENG camera outside the stadium and shouted our group name. As we headed to the waiting room assigned to us, we exchanged greetings with the idols we met along the way. ¡°I heard that Sagan was a hit, so I watched it, and it was really fun.¡± ¡°I enjoyed Sagan. Number 8, fighting!¡± ¡°Do you still keep in touch with the members of Team 1?¡± Everyone was mentioning Sagan, and I eximed ¡®Wow¡¯ in admiration. I guess I didn¡¯t feel the impact of it, since I mostly stayed in the practice room and thepany. ¡°Oh!¡± Baekgyeong, a member of Wild with a tall stature, spotted us and walked over to us. ¡°I really enjoyed Sagan this time. I watched it during the holidays, but it¡¯s amazing to see it again.¡± ¡°Oh! It¡¯s New ck!¡± The other members of Wild, Usan and Jeonggun, also joined us and looked at us with a curious expression. Even Usan, who had recorded with me on Shintoki, looked at me as if I was some kind of strange creature. I heard an episode that they almost debuted with the team name ¡®Big Dog¡¯ because of the members¡¯ unique appearance. I felt like I was surrounded byrge dogs, including Usan, who resembled a Doberman. ¡°How did you do that, that, the boomerang with the disc?¡± ¡°I didn¡¯t do it on purpose, either. You just have to snap it well. Instead of swoosh, it¡¯s more like swish-swish.¡± ¡°Wow, swish-swish¡­¡± The three of them imitated my pose at the same time, and Iughed. Sagan was really popr. Even the same idols knew the contents of the broadcast well. As I chatted andughed with the Wild members, who asked me questions with a fascinated face. Usan suddenly reached out his hand. ¡°Hey, can I shake your hand for a moment¡­¡± I wondered why he suddenly asked for a handshake, but it was for Junghyeon. Junghyeon grabbed his hand with a warm face. Usan experienced Junghyeon¡¯s grip andughed with a ¡®Wow, as expected¡¯ expression. We said goodbye after saying that we would talk againter when we recorded. ¡°People are curious about me. Hyung.¡± ¡°That makes sense.¡± I agreed. ¡°We, who live together, are also curious about you.¡± ¡°Junghyeon is one of the five mysteries of New ck, along with Woojoo Hyung¡¯s dancing rumor.¡± Our reaction made Junghyeon happy. The staffs were also curious about us, maybe because of the aftermath of the ¡®Men Go¡¯ part 3 on Sunday. Especially Junghyeon, who attracted attention with the examination at the hospital at the end of part 3. Yeonhoo of Teenspirit, who had agreed to do a brotherhood with Junghyeon at thest Dollympics, came to the waiting room and felt our kid¡¯s arm and left a famous quote, ¡®Wow, it¡¯s so amazing¡¯. ¡°Our kid is so amazing.¡± ¡°Yes. Hyung.¡± I said to the bear, who was stretching in the waiting room before the 60-meter sprint. ¡°The most important thing this time is not to get hurt. Don¡¯t run with all your might, that¡¯s not good.¡± ¡°Yes. I will.¡± Rihyuk, who was diligently tying his shoces so that they were symmetrical on both sides, lifted his head and said. ¡°Ahem, I won the silver medal in thest sprint, so don¡¯t feel pressured. Hyung. Well, just runfortably ande back.¡± ¡°Okay. I got it.¡± He was our kid who seemed like he would roll down the mountain even if he was on a mountain bike, but I couldn¡¯t help but worry. While Bijoo and Rihyuk were nagging at him, we were fixing our clothes before entering. Knock knock. We, the manager, and the stylists turned our heads at the knock. ¡°Excuse me for a moment.¡± A middle-aged man in a casual suit entered with the manager and a five-member boy group. It was a face I hadn¡¯t seen in a long time, but I knew who it was as soon as I saw it. ¡°Huh, Director?¡± ¡°It¡¯s been a while. Woojoo.¡± He was the director when I joined TJ, and now he was the CEO of Soom Entertainment. He greeted our staff politely and handed out his business cards. And then. ¡°Hello, we are APLB!¡± The five-member idol group also greeted us cheerfully. Among their four happy faces, I saw a self-portrait-like figure that looked somewhat sad. His mouth was smiling, but his eyes were moist. He was my junior from the army. I barely held back myughter when I saw him. ¡°I thought it would be polite to greet you in person.¡± Jo Dong-wan, the CEO, said to me with a smile. ¡°Our Eun-sung is going to ¡®Men on a Mission¡¯.¡± ¡°Really?¡± Kiyaho. ¡°I talked to Do Jun-ki, the PD of ¡®Men on a Mission¡¯, and he said you worked really hard to promote Eun-sung. It must not have been easy, even if he¡¯s your close junior.¡± ¡°No, it¡¯s because Eun-sung is such a good friend with a great sense of entertainment. I could rmend him with confidence.¡± ¡°Right? Eun-sung is a troublemaker, but he has a good sense of entertainment. Haha!¡± ¡°Hahaha!¡± ¡°Hot hot hot!¡± Jo Dong-wan and Iughed together, looking at the sky. My younger siblings looked at me with their eyes, saying, ¡®He¡¯s misunderstanding.¡¯ ¡®Woojoo Hyung just wanted him to go to the army.¡¯ I asked with an excited expression. ¡°So, is Eun-sung going to the army? The army?¡± ¡°I think I heard he¡¯s either going to the marines or the coast guard.¡± ¡°Wow¡­ Ouch, he¡¯s going to have a hard time.¡± I almost clenched my fist and said ¡®Yes!¡¯ Jo Dong-wan waved his hand at my words. ¡°Hard time? It¡¯s hard for a rookie idol to get on one entertainment show, let alone be grateful. Right, Eun-sung?¡± Eun-sung, who was acting like a child dragged by his mother, turned his head to me. He took a deep breath and shook his lips. ¡°Thank you¡­ Sunbaenim¡­¡± ¡°Huh? I can¡¯t hear you.¡± ¡°Oh, I¡¯m really really grateful!¡± Everyone burst intoughter at his intense thank-you. Jo Dong-wan alsoughed as if he couldn¡¯t stop. ¡°¡®Men on a Mission¡¯ is really hot right now, and everyone is trying to get in when he got in well.¡± ¡°I¡¯m d it worked out.¡± I meant it. I understood how Tae-hyun felt when he rmended me to the ¡®Men on a Mission¡¯ production team. I knew how hard it was to get a chance in this industry. I knew how precious it was to get one entertainment show when I was a rookie. He knew that, and he looked at me with his eyes changing every second. ¡®Thank you.¡¯ ¡®No, I¡¯m not thankful for this!¡¯ ¡®Thank you, Hyung¡­¡¯ ¡®No!¡¯ I just smiled warmly at his colorful eyes. Good luck. Marines. He left his junior alone, who was shaking and thanking him, and then confused about his identity. Jo Dong-wan looked at his wristwatch and said. ¡°Oh, I took too much of your time.¡± ¡°Oh, no.¡± ¡°Anyway, I came to thank you and give you a little gift.¡± The manager of APLB handed out boxes to our members and staff. ¡°Wow¡­¡± The boxes contained snacks and drinks for the staff to eat, and nkets to use during the waiting time. Everyone thanked him for the sensibly prepared gift boxes, and Jo Dong-wan came to me separately and said with a smile. ¡°Thank you very much.¡± ¡°No, thank you.¡± ¡°I don¡¯t know what I can do for you, but if you need anythingter, let me know.¡± ¡°Okay. I¡¯ll let you know if anythinges up.¡± He smiled like a genie who gave me a wish and left with a polite greeting. I felt it since TJ Enter, but he was really good at business. ¡°Well, we¡¯ll be going too. Sunbaenim.¡± The members of APLB also bowed to us and followed him. At the end of the hall, Eunsung greeted us cheerfully. ¡°See youter, seniors!¡± ¡°Yes, see you!¡± ¡°I¡¯ll tell you a very interesting storyter. Promise?¡± ¡°Promise!¡± Eunsung, who winked at our kids, turned his head to me and said in a businesslike tone. ¡°¡­I¡¯ll see youter.¡± He seemed to greet me like that to show a clear difference in temperature, but I justughed. ¡°Eunsung.¡± ¡°Yes?¡± ¡°You¡¯re not scary at all when you say that in a fluorescent uniform.¡± ¡°Hey!¡± Then he closed the door more carefully than anyone else, and our staff burst intoughter. This year¡¯s Chuseok Olympics was divided into eight teams. They were divided into eight colors like a rainbow, and we were the eighth team, the ¡®Look at Us¡¯ team, in purple uniforms. The same team members included DNS Media¡¯s girl group Lavi En Rose, rookie boy group Iris, and others. ¡°This time we¡¯re on a different team.¡± In the dark corridor. While preparing to enter, a four-member girl group in a crimson uniform dressed up stylishly and spoke to us with a regretful expression. ¡°We wanted to be on the same team.¡± Scarlet¡¯s leader, Ara, said with a regretful expression. ¡°We have to win and get meat from the boss¡­¡± ¡°But we only have two events this time, sis.¡± I answered with a smile. ¡°We won¡¯t be much help anyway.¡± ¡°Oh, right. You¡¯re having a concert. Congrattions!¡± ¡°Congrattions!¡± We replied with a shoulder dance to thepany senior group who congratted us on the concert while dancing cheerfully. When people around usughed and said, ¡®The Lemon kids are so energetic¡­¡¯, Scarlet¡¯s Rina, who had been cracking her neck, whispered. ¡°Originally, we and you were supposed to be on the L team this time.¡± ¡°But why¡­?¡± ¡°They said the bnce was off.¡± ¡°¡­¡± I thought it was strange. Most of the other agencies were grouped together by their agency, but somepanies and we were separated. We were separated because of the bnce issue. The Scarlet members who said that exchanged determined nces before entering. ¡°Then, since it¡¯s like this, we¡¯ll win.¡± ¡°Let¡¯s go, sis.¡± Scarlet, who was burning with desire for meat, started to enter as the leading group. We cheered them on, saying, ¡®Eat meat, eat a lot.¡¯ Meanwhile, a boy group that had been on the same team as Scarlet, the ¡®Red Strongest¡¯ team, passed by us. They were Street Boys. As the younger onesughed, Hanjo and I avoided eye contact. We coughed at each other. ¡°Uh¡­ hi.¡± ¡°Hi.¡± The Street Boys side made a ¡®kyaa!¡¯ sound like a dragon, and our younger ones rubbed their arms as if they had goosebumps. ¡°Ugh, so awkward!¡± ¡°Seriously, why did you say we should talk informally next time?¡± ¡°¡­¡± I forgot then. ¡°I didn¡¯t know we¡¯d meet right at the Olympics¡­¡± ¡°You¡¯re kind of stupid, you know. These guys.¡± ¡°I don¡¯t want to hear you call me stupid, Jiho.¡± By the way, it¡¯s really awkward. I got along well with Scarlet¡¯s Rina, who was the same age as me, and Daisy, who was younger than me. But it was awkward to talk informally with Hanjo, who I had interacted with a lot. ¡°Uh, hi. Woojoo.¡± ¡°Ha, Hanjo.¡± ¡°Uh, should we talk informally?¡± I ignored the younger ones who followed us andughed. I watched as Teen Spirit, who was part of the ¡®Let¡¯s Make a Ssh¡¯ team with APLB, walked away with a bad gait. ¡°¡­¡± Everyone stepped aside at the sight of the rough teenagers walking with a ¡®don¡¯t block my way, you bastards¡¯ expression. They had just returned from an overseas tour yesterday. They must have been exhausted, since they were called in right after the concert ended. Three secondster. Teen Spirit¡¯s disgruntled walk became smooth, and his bent back straightened up. It felt like watching the end of a twist movie, where theme guy walks away slowly. And his expression changed to that of an innocent boy. ¡°¡­¡± It was a miraculous sight every time I saw it. After the seventh team in navy uniforms entered, it was our turn. The senior group went ahead with the g, and we followed them into the stadium. ¡°Wow!¡± Our faces were close-up on the huge screen in the center. The voices of the MCs who were in charge of the broadcast rang out. -Yes, the eighth team is entering. It¡¯s the ¡®Look at Us¡¯ team. La Vie En Rose, and New ck areing in. -They are a team with powerful dark horses. -Woojoo, please wave your hand to the broadcast booth! I waved my hand to the broadcast booth. Then I waved my hand to the seats where the Souffl¨¦s were sitting. Compared to thest time during the New Year, the section had expanded almost twice, and the Souffl¨¦s were shaking their light sticks. I felt proud and waved my hand hard. As we smiled brightly and waved our hands, the Souffl¨¦s changed their light sticks to a sparkling red. The pose looked like they were expressing their pounding hearts. As the camera captured that scene on the screen, I smiled at the fans who were doing the wave. After we finished entering, the 60-meter dash, the pre-opening event, began right away. ¡°I¡¯ll be back soon.¡± Junghyun got up as the men¡¯s preliminaries were about to start. We cheered him on and said ¡®fighting¡¯. As Junghyun stood on the starting line, Rihyuk looked worried and said. ¡°I think it would have been better if I ran.¡± ¡°Huh?¡± ¡°You know I¡¯m faster at short distances. Junghyun Hyung is not a short distance style¡­¡± That was true. Rihyuk was the expert at running fast and recklessly, while Junghyun had an image that suited more endurance. While everyone else was tensing up and swallowing their saliva, Junghyun kept waving his hand to us with a gentle face. As I looked at LB who was breathing heavily next to him, the Street Boys next to me told me. ¡°Since Rihyuk is not running this time, Namu is very confident.¡± ¡°Yeah.¡± ¡°He said he would win this time for sure.¡± I looked at LB who was shining with determination. Well, he was pretty fast too. But next to him was Caleb from Soul Six, who won first cest year. As LB and Caleb nced at each other and took their positions, Junghyun also casually took his stance. And then. The sound of the whistle signaled the start of the race. ¡°Wow¡­!¡± As the fans in the stadium seats screamed and shook their cheering tools, we stared nkly. ¡°¡­¡± ¡°¡­¡± We rubbed our eyes. ¡°He¡¯s fast.¡± ¡°He¡¯s the fastest.¡± While everyone else was running with all their might, there was one guy who was running with a peaceful face. His legs were so stic that it seemed like he had springs on them. Every time he bounced, it looked like he was jumping several meters. While everyone else was gasping, Junghyun crossed the finish line first with a calm face. Bijoo stared nkly at the screen and said. ¡°He broke the Dolympic record.¡± ¡°Uh¡­¡± As we blinked our eyes at the screen, Junghyun waved his hand to us with a warm smile. We burst intoughter at his sight. Rihyuk stared at the record with a frustrated face, saying ¡°That¡¯s impossible.¡± He looked exactly like LB and Caleb right now. ¡°How could this happen¡­¡± And then Jiho approached him with a bright smile and said, ¡°Hyung, you lost both Japanese and running.¡± ¡°¡­¡± We burst intoughter at the sight of Rihyuk trembling. Chapter 295: ¡°I¡¯m back.¡± We ran to greet Junghyun, who had returned after the men¡¯s preliminaries. ¡°Wow, our first-ce runner is here.¡± ¡°Kim Junghyun. Well done.¡± ¡°Junghyun hyung, you did really well. Do you want me to massage your legs? Iid a nket on the floor for you.¡± Junghyun, who was pleased with thepliments, soon looked puzzled. ¡°But why are you praising me while looking at Rihyuk?¡± ¡°There¡¯s a reason for that.¡± Rihyuk was still shivering. He covered his mouth so the fans wouldn¡¯t see him and said,¡°Seriously, these people. How did I end up on the same team with them¡­¡± ¡°Do you want to go to the other team then?¡± ¡°I¡¯d rather go there¡­¡± As Rihyuk turned his head. ¡°Ahh!¡± LB was rolling on the floor. ¡®I came in third! Third!¡¯ He was shouting, but the team members were rolling him around like a log. ¡°Let¡¯s burn it! Burn this!¡± Even Hanjo was crazed and his eyes were wide. Rihyuk lost his words for a moment at the sight of the other team showing their intense affection for their member. ¡°Isn¡¯t it better here?¡± ¡°¡­¡± ¡°Right. At least we only tease you with words.¡± ¡°We¡¯re so proud of you. Wangji¡­ ah, Bijoo hyung! Stop whispering that I¡¯ll be fine! I¡¯m fine, okay!¡± I wondered what Bijoo was whispering in Rihyuk¡¯s ear as he crouched next to him. Bijoo smiled gently andforted him. ¡°It¡¯s okay if you can¡¯t run. Rihyuk. You can find something else to do.¡± ¡°Ugh, I hate you the most¡­¡± ¡°Huh? Why¡­¡± As Rihyuk groaned and copsed, Bijoo put his hands to his mouth and whispered ¡®It¡¯s okay~~¡¯. A grumbling sound came back as if he had no energy to answer. ¡°I¡¯ll never forget my sumo today.¡± The fallen crane pped his lips. ¡°Someday, when it¡¯s snowing and cold in winter, and youe to me and say, Rihyuk, I¡¯m sorry for teasing you back then, I won¡¯t forgive you and I¡¯ll m the door right away.¡± ¡°Then poor Jiho died on the street¡­¡± ¡°Hey, then I¡¯ll be trash!¡± We chuckled as Rihyuk said ¡®Ow¡¯. Then we started to console him a little. And the topic soon moved to something else. ¡°Wow¡­¡± We examined the slogan we received from Minki hyung. It was a cheering tool prepared by the Souffl¨¦s, with ¡®Well done¡¯ written in bold white calligraphy on a ck background and ¡®It¡¯s okay¡¯ on the other side. ¡°Wow. What a great idea.¡± ¡°It¡¯s versatile. I think we can use it anywhere.¡± ¡°Let¡¯s try it now. Hyung.¡± Following Bijoo¡¯s words, we turned our bodies. We shook ¡®Well done¡¯ towards the fan seats, and the Souffl¨¦sughed and shook ¡®Well done¡¯ back at us. Meanwhile, as we exchanged telepathy with the Souffl¨¦s, the men¡¯s 60-meter dash preliminaries continued. ¡°Look over there. Eunsung nim is running too.¡± ¡°¡­Eunsung?¡± I turned my head and saw Eunsung standing in the thirdne, stretching his legs like a crane with a rxed face. Then he immediately felt pain. ¡°That¡¯s unexpected.¡± ¡°Why? He can¡¯t exercise?¡± ¡°No. He¡¯s good at it, but he hates using his body.¡± ¡°¡­¡± ¡°I still find it amazing that he became an idol.¡± He was quick-witted but didn¡¯t care about others, and he was good at using his body but hated it. That was him. When the guy who had a name tag that said ¡®Kevin¡¯ on the screen winked. The camera zoomed in on me. It seemed to be conscious of the rtionship that was linked by the nickname ¡®Armyz¡¯ in the second part of thest Shintoki broadcast. I changed my expression right away. I smiled brightly and said ¡®Fighting¡¯ in 0.1 seconds after making a nervous expression at the aegyo of my army junior, andughter came from the audience. Even the MCs in the ry booth wereughing, so it seemed like they were making a joke. When I smiled awkwardly, Jiho, who was watching Eunsung from afar, whispered to me. ¡°But he¡¯s handsome too.¡± ¡°Right?¡± Almeng was weird, but he had a good personality. ¡°He was so handsome that he probably would have passed the audition even if he didn¡¯t practice singing hard.¡± ¡°¡­¡± ¡°I don¡¯t know. Him?¡± ¡°Yeah. He wouldn¡¯t know.¡± I said we should let him live as a happy main vocal who knows nothing, and Jiho nodded and demanded 100 ice creams as a tribute. I threw it to Junghyun and watched the running preliminaries. ¡°Wow¡­!¡± The boy group members ran at the same time as the starting sound. But the first ce was not Eunsung. There was a rookie who had a height of about 170 and a very fast speed. He was a member of the boy group ¡®Enoti¡¯ that SNH Entertainmentunched this year. ¡°So they are Enoti.¡± ¡°I know them too. Hyung?¡± I nodded at Bijoo¡¯s question. ¡°Yeah. Wasn¡¯t it apetitive audition program? The song ¡®V¡¯ that came out from there was on the chart.¡± ¡°Ah¡­¡± ¡°The concept and the song were good.¡± The purple-haired member with the name tag ¡®Dodo¡¯ was jumping around with his teammates and high-fiving. Meanwhile, Eunsung, who was saying ¡®ah¡­¡¯, walked over with a ¡®hehe second ce¡¯ and gave a V to the members. The members started to pat his back with warm faces. I looked at the scene where joy and sorrow were mixed and said calmly. ¡°But¡­ there are a lot of people I see for the first time.¡± ¡°That¡¯s right.¡± There were a lot of faces I hadn¡¯t seen before. If only some of the groups that debuted in 2014 participated in thest Lunar New Year, this time, many rookie groups participated. Especially, it was strange to see the groups that hadn¡¯t debuted yet wearing uniforms and sitting nervously. It was a simr feeling to when I realized I was in second grade when I saw the new first graders. ¡°By the way¡­¡± Those rookie groups were ncing at us. We gathered our heads and whispered to each other as we felt the eyes from everywhere. ¡°They seem to be looking at us, don¡¯t they?¡± ¡°I thought so too. They¡¯ve been peeking since a while ago.¡± ¡°It¡¯s a bit ufortable.¡± The eyes that peeked at us followed us every time we moved. It was like the eyes of an expedition that discovered the Gpagos turtles for the first time, looking at a strange creature. ¡®They are New ck¡­!¡¯ That feeling. They looked at us like they were amazing seniors! We unknowingly put strength into our shoulders as we looked at their eyes. We couldn¡¯t disappoint their expectations. ¡°¡­¡± I was the first to straighten my waist. We straightened our waists and postures as we had been giggling in a crooked posture, and Street Boys snickered. We looked at each other and hugged our shoulders. ¡°Hahaha.¡± As we smiled warmly, Iris, who was wearing the same color uniform as us, made an awkward expression. We also waved our hands to the Souffl¨¦s with a hot-hot. ¡°¡­¡± I turned my head at the feeling of a gaze somewhere. The boys who were smiling brightly. The Teen Spirit members gave us a sympathetic look. The leader Hwiyun, who was holding a water bottle like a cheer, said with his mouth. ¡®I know.¡¯ We also raised Rihyuk¡¯s hand and replied. ¡°Why are you raising my hand?¡± ¡°Because it¡¯s wine-colored.¡± ¡°¡­¡± If Rihyuk was a cat, we would have been scratched all over by his imaginary ws. In reality, we only got hit by his gym clothes sleeve. Bang bang bang- As he was saying ¡®oof¡¯ in reverse to the dust that was rising from all sides, the women¡¯s 60-meter final also ended. The announcer held the microphone connected to the stadium speaker. -The video judgment result is out! Blink¡¯s Darum beat Laviang Rose¡¯s Joo Hyun and took first ce. ¡°Wow¡­!¡± It seemed that Blink, from KM Entertainment, who debuted with us, had won the 60-meter sprint. As he was being interviewed with a happy expression and a gold medal around his neck, the production staff gestured to him. As the male sprinters for the final round got up, Junghyun also brushed off his butt and stood up. ¡°I¡¯ll be back soon.¡± We all sent him supportive looks. And we vigorously shook the slogan that said ¡®Well done¡¯ with the ¡®?¡¯ covered by our hands to make it ¡®Do well¡¯. ¡°Yes, this is the final for the men¡¯s 60-meter sprint.¡± ¡°Inne one, we have Ace¡¯s Pail, and inne two, Daydream¡¯s Jun.¡± The announcers called out the names of the idol members as they appeared on the screen. The idols, wearing various colors of uniforms, shed V-signs or winked at the camera, showing off their charms. The fans¡¯ cheers grew louder and quieter in turns, and then someone appeared on the screen inne six. ¡°Yes, inne six, we have New ck¡¯s Junghyun.¡± The person, who looked like a handsome athlete, showed his index finger upside down with a serious expression. The fans, who were startled by his gesture, soon shook the slogan that said ¡®Do well¡¯. The announcers, who were also taken aback, chuckled. ¡°¡­Wow, that scared me. I thought he was swearing.¡± ¡°It wasn¡¯t the middle finger, but the index finger. Maybe he¡¯s showing his determination to win?¡± ¡°It looks like he¡¯s saying, even if I can¡¯t be first, I¡¯ll take someone down with me.¡± As the broadcast jokes went back and forth in the booth, the main MC, announcer Baek Sang-jung, asked thementator next to him. ¡°Commentator, how do you see this men¡¯s final?¡± ¡°Hmm¡­¡± The middle-aged man answered. ¡°I think there¡¯s a high chance that New ck¡¯s Junghyun will be first.¡± ¡°Why do you think so?¡± ¡°Usually in sports, if the weight ss is the same, the skill and experience determine the oue. In other words, in running, the one who has run more times does better, and the one who knows how to run well does even better.¡± ¡°Does Junghyun fall into either of those categories?¡± ¡°Not at all.¡± Thementator shook his head. ¡°Junghyun¡¯s movements are more suited for middle or long distance. When the others are running 100 meters, he¡¯s running a marathon by himself. It¡¯s a bit inefficient.¡± ¡°Then why¡­?¡± ¡°Junghyun has one advantage that surpasses skill and experience.¡± ¡°¡­?¡± Thementator raised his fist. ¡°He¡¯s incredibly strong.¡± ¡°Commentator, please don¡¯t use such non-standard words on the broadcast¡­¡± ¡°There¡¯s no other way to say it.¡± Thementator¡¯s eyes sparkled with passion as he looked at Junghyun, who was warming up below. ¡°He¡¯s insanely strong. When others jump one meter, wait and see, he¡¯ll jump three meters by himself. Look. Even when he¡¯s bouncing in ce to loosen up his body, he¡¯s jumping like Inspector Gadget, isn¡¯t he?¡± ¡°Oh, I see.¡± ¡°I was so sorry to see him on Men on a Mission. Oh, if I had met him 20 years ago, I would have taken him and raised him as a promising wrestler. With that face and that body¡­¡± The MCs burst intoughter at thementator¡¯s words, who was a former wrestler with a lot of affection. Soon, the shooting equipment was set up and the runners took a deep breath. ¡°Hoo¡­¡± The idol members swallowed their saliva. They felt the cold sweat on their palms and the eyes of the fans who were watching them from the stands. ¡®I have to do well.¡¯ ¡®If only I could be second somehow¡­¡¯ But no one dreamed of being first. It was because of the existence inne six. ¡®How can I beat him.¡¯ When the others were breathing hard with tense faces, he was the friend who was fiddling with his ears. A peaceful face that showed no sign of nervousness. They all nodded their heads at the memory of him performing a victory dance with that gentle face of a monk. ¡®My dream is second ce.¡¯ The fans who were cheering for them also had the same thought. ¡®Just don¡¯t get hurt.¡¯ ¡®Just don¡¯t collide with that friend.¡¯ ¡®Please, please be safe.¡¯ Although there were idols who were bigger in size, Junghyun looked like a truck squeezed between motorcycles, because of his image as a tough guy. Then the starting signal rang. As everyone ran with their teeth clenched, there was someone who ran with a calm face, making a pat-pat-pat sound, and the fans eximed at the sight. ¡°Wow¡­¡± He zoomed past me like an F1 car, making a whooshing sound. I felt a gust of wind as if he had created it. One of the idol fans who was turning his neck to follow his speed eximed. ¡°He¡¯s so fast¡­¡± ¡°He should have gone to the hospital from the special forces.¡± ¡°He¡¯s the talent that left Taeryung¡­¡± While the second and third ce runners were neck and neck, Junghyun wasfortably widening the gap. He was so fast that he even passed the camera that was filming along the rail. The camera director was like ¡°¡­?¡± when Junghyun had already crossed the finish line as the first ce. He waved his index finger like a ser yer who scored a goal and did a ceremony. The members of New ck and the Souffl¨¦s screamed ¡°Wow!¡± The idol members who came in second and third ce were panting and holding their thighs. They gave Junghyun a thumbs up as if to show respect. Junghyun and the other runners exchanged shoulder taps and greetings as if to say they did a good job. And then the interview followed. -How do you feel about winning the first ce? -First of all, I want to dedicate this honor to my team member, Rihyuk. -To Rihyuk? -Yes. Rihyuk showed a touched expression and the members of New ck behind him shouted ¡°Good job!¡± Behind them, nine members of Street Boys were backing them up as dancers. -Did you get a lot of help from Rihyuk? -No. Rihyuk didn¡¯t do anything for me, but¡­ The audience burst intoughter at his somewhat absurd answer. -For some reason, I feel like I have to give the honor to Rihyuk. He won a silver medal in the short distancest Lunar New Year. -Ah, I see. You achieved the goal on behalf of your member. -Oh, that¡¯s right. Junghyun nodded as if he hadn¡¯t thought that far. He smiled warmly and held up his gold medal. Then he spoke to the camera. -Rihyuk, I have a gold medal. The idol fans in the audience chuckled at his teasing tone. The screen on the scoreboard changed. Seori Hyuk was sitting on the floor with his hand on his forehead and the members of New ck were surrounding him and shaking ¡°It¡¯s okay¡± slogans. And behind them, the members of Street Boys were dancing cheerfully. After the 60-meter dash, the opening ceremony was held. -Oath. The second-generation idol seniors stood on the podium and recited the oath. The representative members of each group came out and said ¡°We will make a fun broadcast without getting hurt today.¡± -This concludes the oath. As soon as I wished the oath wouldn¡¯t end, the senior singers came down from the podium. The production staff gestured me toe up. ¡°¡­¡± I looked at my brothers. ¡®Fighting.¡¯ ¡®Come on, hurry up.¡¯ Rihyuk smiled mischievously and said ¡®Hurry up¡¯ and winked at me. Hanjo sped his hands and smiled happily. While the Street Boys were giggling, Eunsung¡¯s head, which was towering like an ostrich, was mocking me. -Next is the warm-up time. You have to do the exercises correctly to avoid getting hurt, right? As a demonstration, New ck¡¯s Woojoo will join us! ¡°Wow!¡± The people around me pped their hands and said ¡®Woo woo~¡¯. They were all happy that it wasn¡¯t their job. I denied reality for a moment and walked up to the podium with a smile. The broadcasting station said ¡®New ck, we¡¯ll give you a lot of airtime. Come!¡¯ and it wasn¡¯t a lie. The problem was that it wasn¡¯t what I wanted. ¡°Ahem.¡± I got on the podium and looked around. They wanted to squeeze out the poprity of Sagan, so I was assigned to be the assistant for the warm-up today. I was d to get some airtime, but it was kind of embarrassing. Below me, the fellow idols in eight different colors of uniforms looked up at me and sparkled their eyes. And in the audience, the Souffl¨¦s waved ¡®It¡¯s okay¡¯ slogans. Two dancers came up behind me while I held the microphone and smiled cheerfully. ¡°Yes, we will start the warm-up now!¡± I might as well do it well. I felt the eyes of the whole stadium and the camera as I yed the national gymnastics medley. The dancers followed me every time I showed a move. ¡°Alright, neck exercise~¡± As I changed my movements, the idol members standing below the stage stretched their bodies with groans. I could feel my muscles loosening up every time I did the stretching. I had to hold back the ¡®ouch¡­¡¯ sound that almost leaked out of my microphone. ¡°Good job, everyone!¡± ¡°Good job.¡± I bowed to the dancers who had joined me for the five-minute exercise, and quickly got off the stage. The other idols pped their hands and smiled. As I returned to my original seat, my younger siblings greeted me. ¡°You did well, hyung.¡± ¡°Hyung, but your expression was so funny. You looked the most relieved every time you stretched¡­¡± ¡°Did I?¡± ¡°You looked like a sparkling grandpa.¡± I smiled warmly, thinking that was true. Well. I wasn¡¯t embarrassed or anything by that anymore. I just thought I would go on the broadcast anyway. I didn¡¯t have to worry about the people who knew me teasing me until muchter. As I was thinking that. -Next, we have a congrattory performance. I remembered the slot on the cue sheet that simply said ¡®congrattory performance¡¯. I wondered who woulde. Since the participating singers were not written, everyone looked around with curiosity. Meanwhile, the MC¡¯s voice echoed in the stadium. -Although they did not attend the ¡®Idol Sports Festival¡¯ today, they came a long way to support their junior singers. Please wee them with a big round of apuse~! As the fans and singers apuded, the stadium lights dimmed slightly and the intro music started. It was ¡®Hand in Hand¡¯, the theme song of the 1988 Olympics. Soon, a man wearing sunsses walked out of the stadium entrance. ¡°Oh, him¡­¡± He was The Moon, a bad singer. He sang the first verse of ¡®Hand in Hand¡¯ with his unique vocal style, and then the other singers appeared to take over the next verses. They were mostly people I had only seen on TV screens. There were also some retired first-generation idol seniors in the middle, and it was amazing to see them in person. When the seven singers who came for the congrattory performance gathered in one ce. A loud cheer of ¡®wow¡¯ came from the fan seats. I turned my head with a bad feeling and saw two people who came out of the west entrance. ¡°Ah.¡± It was TNT, who had missed this Olympics due to their schedule. Han Taehyun and Jang Han-byul of TNT were singing a duet as they walked out. ¡°¡­¡± They both squinted their eyes as they met mine. Chapter 296: The opening ceremony ended with the performances of the invited singers. While the production team was busy setting up the wrestling stage, the idol members headed to their respective waiting rooms. And then. ¡°Ha ha ha!¡± ¡°Where do you think you¡¯re going, Sunwooju?¡± ¡°¡­¡± ¡°You¡¯re in our palm~!¡± I was running away in the waiting room hallway, but I was soon caught by the two guys from TNT. I couldn¡¯t move any further because of the guys hanging on both of my shoulders.¡°My little brothers!¡± ¡°Us?¡± ¡°Not you. These seniors.¡± As the two guys covered their ears at the sound of ¡®seniors¡¯, I desperately reached out my hand. ¡°My little brothers. Please save me from these evil monsters!¡± ¡°Me? Why me?¡± ¡°¡­¡± As I lost my words at the sight of the youngest one being cheeky, Hantae-hyun smiled slyly and asked for a high-five. Jiho and he pped their hands together. ¡°Right? No, why should Jiho save you? Just leave him. This hyung.¡± ¡°Yeah. That¡¯s what I¡¯m going to do.¡± ¡°You¡¯re all hungry, right? You must be on a strict diet during the album preparation period¡­¡± Hantae-hyun and Jang-hanbyul rummaged through their pockets and took out some choctes or candies. Our little brothers fell for their generous bribes. Even Junghyun was mesmerized by the sweets and said, ¡®Seniors, you¡¯re such good people¡­¡¯ while being touched. ¡°¡­¡± I felt betrayed as I saw our kids stuffing their pockets with snacks without being noticed by the managers. ¡°Have a nice chat ande back~¡± ¡°¡­¡± My cheeks trembled with betrayal. The two members of TNT who were giggling grabbed me and dragged me away. We attracted attention from everywhere. The people from other groups who were walking around the hallway looked at us with curiosity. They seemed to wonder what kind of rtionship we had. In the middle of the hallway, we ran into the members of ACE and exchanged greetings with Jang-hanbyul. When they asked me what kind of rtionship I had with him, the Chinese guy answered. ?? ¡°We¡¯re childhood friends.¡± ¡°Hey, Hanbyul.¡± I felt like I knew how Rihyuk felt when he rubbed his temples every time Junghyun said something weird. The Chinese guy, Jang-mo, looked puzzled asughter broke out at his childhood friend joke. ¡°Did I say something wrong?¡± ¡°Exin it to him. Taehyun.¡± My loyal sidekick nodded and exined the meaning of the word to him. ¡°Oh.¡± He was TNT¡¯s foreign member who learned a new word today. As we walked along the hallway and greeted the people we met, we finally arrived at a quiet lounge. We got a drink each from the vending machine and handed them over. The cheerful faces opened their mouths. ¡°Everyone, let¡¯s do the national exercise now. Ha!¡± ¡°Ho ho ho!¡± ¡°Ha ha ha!¡± Theyughed as they imitated someone. ¡°Hey. I didn¡¯t do that.¡± They shook their heads with round eyes. ¡°No. It¡¯s exactly the same. I almost spit out my water when I saw you doing it backstage.¡± ¡°Yeah. Me too. I thought I was going to choke.¡± I remembered how theyughed at me doing the national exercise while waiting. I smiled as I watched the two of them gulp down their drinks. They were like kids who had only grown in size. They looked so serious when they were with other singers, as if they were saying ¡®I¡¯m a senior¡¯. But now they were just like elementary school kids. ¡°How are the other guys? Are they doing well?¡± ¡°They¡¯re always the same. Nothing much.¡± I heard they were busy with their individual schedules after the overseas tour. We chatted for a while about how things were going. Jihun had joined a new drama as a supporting role, and Sunwoong hyung was working on his mixtape. Seungje was also preparing to debut as a solo artist. It was a light conversation about their lives. ¡°What about you guys? Are you preparing for a concert?¡± ¡°Yeah, we don¡¯t have much time left.¡± I had a little over two weeks left. The two guys pped their hands and bowed their heads in congrattions. ¡°Wow, congrats on the concert, boss.¡± ¡°Thank you, seniors.¡± We nodded and congratted each other. Taehyun and Hanbyul stuck out their tongues and looked at the sky. ¡°New ck is already having a concert¡­¡± ¡°Didn¡¯t they debutst summer? They¡¯re really fast.¡± ¡°Why are you guys so bitter?¡± Iughed at their sour faces and they retorted. ¡°You were the most excited about concerts since you were a trainee.¡± ¡°Whenever someone mentioned concerts, you almost shouted ¡®Who is it, who¡¯s talking about concerts?¡¯¡± ¡°Hey, it wasn¡¯t that bad.¡± Taehyun said as if I was talking nonsense. ¡°There must be some evidence videos in thepany¡¯s archive, right? I¡¯m a child from Gunsan¡­ Pfft!¡± ¡°Oh, you look thirsty. Have a drink. Drink a lot.¡± ¡°Pffft!¡± He lifted the bottom of the can with his finger and poured the drink into Hanmo¡¯s mouth. Hanbyul raised his hand. ¡°I have some evidence videos too! Here!¡± ¡°You drink a lot too.¡± ¡°Pffft!¡± I snatched the phone that was ying the video. It was a video of 17-year-old Sunwooju wearing a cone hat and yelling ¡®Hurry up and make a wish for the 100th anniversary Silver Town concert before the candles go out!¡¯ at a birthday party. I was embarrassed. The two guys watched the video together and burst intoughter. ¡°Wow, this is really nostalgic. Back then.¡± ¡°Yay~! 100th anniversary Silver Town concert~ Pfft!¡± The two members of TNT were giggling and I rolled my eyes. It didn¡¯t seem that bad, but I had to admit that I always sparkled when someone talked about concerts. It was because of what the other person said about having more evidence. ¡°Honestly, what singer doesn¡¯t like concerts?¡± They shook their heads. ¡°No, it¡¯s just that you had a stronger passion for concerts.¡± ¡°Yeah, it was no joke.¡± ¡°That¡¯s why I sometimes think of the trainee days when I prepare for concerts.¡± ¡°I also think of you when I see foreign grandmas wearing floral dresses overseas.¡± I think I knew what he meant. I also often thought of those days when I was preparing for concerts these days. I had painted a rosy future with ¡®concerts!¡¯ when I was a trainee, and those memories asionally shed through my mind. Was it because of those thoughts? Behind the smiling face that was looking at me, I saw the old innocent face pass by. ¡°Come to think of it¡­¡± I nodded and smiled warmly. ¡°You guys have aged a lot too.¡± ¡°¡­¡± ¡°Time is fair after all.¡± They screamed as if I was saying something absurd. We talked about the old days for a while and got up when we finished our drinks. We had a busy schedule ahead of us. There was an archery preliminaries soon. And the two guys who were preparing for a special album, I sent them words of encouragement and they replied. ¡°You do well on the concert too.¡± ¡°You guys do well on the album too.¡± ¡°Thanks. We¡¯re really happy that New ck is having a concert. We hope you do even better.¡± Taehyun said jokingly. ¡°Of course, don¡¯t ovep with oureback.¡± ¡°Comeback?¡± ¡°It¡¯s over if your group oveps with oureback. How can we win when your songs are always popr picks?¡± Hanbyul also chimed in, saying that Teen Spirit, who ovepped with oureback, must be nervous too. Iughed and let it go, knowing they were just teasing me. ¡°Bye. See you next time.¡± As they left, they kept congratting me on the concert and I waved my hand with gratitude. In the morning, women¡¯s wrestling was held. While a four-member girl group who were starving for meat swept the wrestling ring, we devoted ourselves to practice in a corner of the indoor gym. ¡°Bijoo, lower your chin a bit.¡± ¡°Like this?¡± ¡°Yeah, like that. And when you release, do it softly¡­¡± I stuck to Bijoo and Jiho every time they pulled their bows and checked their posture. Thanks to the experience of archery we hadst winter, they both had improved their skills. Every time they shot an arrow, it hit the 8 or 9 point zone. And then. ¡°Wow¡­¡± ¡°I hate to admit it, but you¡¯re really good at shooting.¡± Every time I flicked my wrist, the arrows hit the 10 point target. The members of Teen Spirit who were shooting arrows nearby pped their hands and said ¡®ooh¡¯. When thest arrownded on the 10 point target, my siblings opened their eyes wide and cheered. ¡°Do you think we¡¯ll win this time too?¡± ¡°We shouldn¡¯t get too excited, but I have a good feeling.¡± ¡°Junghyun.¡± ¡°Ah, sorry.¡± When we teased him, Junghyun scratched the back of his head. But it was true that we had a good feeling, not just because Junghyun said so. I turned around and looked at the arrows that were densely clustered in the 10 point zone. ¡°Do you see it, my fellow beings?¡± ¡°We see it!¡± The members who answered with their hands together pointed to the target with their fingertips. ¡°What do you see?¡± ¡°We see victory.¡± ¡°That¡¯s right. It¡¯s our destiny to win.¡± ¡°That¡¯s how it is~¡± Weughed together with our siblings and sang a shabby cheer song, ¡®New! ck~ Newbl! Ack~ Newck~!¡¯ Every time we pped, the Teen Spirit members who were attacked by our spirit shook their hands. We decided to be quiet for the other teams and approached Wonseok hyung who was filming with a camera. ¡°Our Souffl¨¦ fans.¡± ¡°Please look forward to it.¡± ¡°We¡¯re going to challenge for the gold medal in archery again this time.¡± ¡°Challenge~!¡± We all clenched our fists and showed a bright smile. After filming the video that would go up on YouTube as a behind-the-scenes of the Dolympics, we stretched lightly and rxed our bodies. Wow- The cheers of the audience faintly reached our ears. The women¡¯s archery preliminaries were in full swing after the wrestling was over, and judging by the cheers, the match was fiercely unfolding. And right after the women¡¯s preliminaries, the men¡¯s archery preliminaries round one was our match. Junghyun, who was making his arms like pretzels, asked. ¡°Hyung, who¡¯s our first opponent in archery?¡± ¡°Who are we up against¡­¡± I scanned the bracket on the wall. Then I tapped the name of the rookie boy group right next to the ¡®Newck¡¯ slot. ¡°Uh-hum~ Do you feel this air?¡± We were standing at the entrance waiting for the women¡¯s match to end, when Eunsung suddenly appeared behind us. ¡°What air?¡± ¡°The air of victory.¡± Eunsung took a breath and smiled brightly. ¡°This humidity, this warmth, everything is pointing to my victory. Sergeant, I¡¯m sorry, but I think I¡¯m going to win.¡± ¡°Your confidence is always admirable, junior.¡± ¡°It¡¯s confidence based on evidence~¡± I looked around as I saw Eunsung holding his bow and saying ¡®I¡¯ll win for you¡¯. ¡°What are you looking for?¡± ¡°I was wondering where your fans are.¡± ¡°Over there.¡± ¡°Where?¡± ¡°No. Over there.¡± ¡°Ah.¡± It was the top fan seat that was so far away that you had to look through a microscope. There were people holding cards and huddled together. ¡°You have a lot of fans.¡± ¡°That¡¯s not all APLB fans. They just crammed all the fans of the group that debuted this year over there.¡± ¡°I see.¡± ¡°But why did you look for them? The fans?¡± I turned my head and smiled. ¡°Be nice to your fans, Eunsung.¡± ¡°Huh?¡± ¡°They are the ones who like you for who you are.¡± I chuckled as I watched him tremble. But he only trembled for three seconds, and soon he muttered as if he had thought of something. ¡°Right. Do you want to say hello to our fans when we go outter?¡± ¡°¡­Me?¡± ¡°You¡¯re quite famous among APLB fans, hyung. They call you Ubeoji.¡± ¡°Ubeoji?¡± ¡°It¡¯s a word thatbines universe and father. It¡¯s a nickname that fans use to refer to the person who brought me into this world.¡± Is that a good thing? The person who brought Eunsung into this world. By my standards, it felt like I had sprayed something harmful, but I was surprised to hear that he was grateful. It felt like I had released a kraken into the Pacific and received a thank you. ¡°New ck, APLB. Let¡¯s go.¡± After thest match ended, we and APLB entered the stadium following FD¡¯s instructions. We waved our hands to the Souffl¨¦s who were shaking ¡®Well done¡¯ slogans. And we greeted Eunsung¡¯s fans. We burst intoughter at the sight of the APLB fans who got up and bowed their bellies. But theughter was short-lived. We nodded seriously to Junghyun and Rihyuk, who were shaking ¡®Well done¡¯ and ¡®Well¡¯ slogans from afar, along with Bijoo and Jiho. ¡°The match will begin!¡± At the announcer¡¯s words, one person from each side got up. On the next seat, APLB¡¯s youngest and leader Haru got up, and on our side, I got up. ¡°¡­.¡± It was my turn to start. I took a deep breath and breathed in the cool air of the indoor gymnasium. I calmed my chest with a few deep breaths and picked up the bow. I felt the tense sensation at the end of the bowstring and looked at the target, then gently let go of my hand. Thud! I turned my head and smiled at the arrow that stuck in the center of the 10-point target. ¡°Wow¡­!¡± The Souffl¨¦s and my siblings shook the ¡®Well done¡¯ slogan hard. Iughed and high-fived Bijoo and Jiho. I saw the camera director¡¯s detached smile from afar and it seemed like I had hit it right in the center. Meanwhile, Haru, who had swallowed his saliva while looking at my 10-point target, shot an arrow that scored 8 points. New ck [10 10] APLB [8 9] That¡¯s how it ended twice and we were ahead by 3 points. Then it was my turn again. And then, something unbelievable happened. ¡°Yes, this is the 2015 Chuseok special idol sports festival, the men¡¯s archery preliminaries have begun.¡± ¡°Both leaders and aces came out from both sides.¡± The announcer Baek Sang-jung, who was sitting in the middle of thementary booth, said. ¡°This is the first time for the rookie boy group to participate. APLB. I heard they practiced a lot.¡± ¡°Yes, I heard they rented an archery range and practiced hard for a few days.¡± ¡°Their eyes are full of determination.¡± The three faces sitting on the left with tense expressions were shown. As they said, they had practiced hard, and the leader Haru scored 8 and 9 points. ¡°They¡¯re good.¡± ¡°But¡­ the opponent was too bad. They met New ck, the winner ofst year, from the preliminaries.¡± ¡°The team that eliminated TNT, the favorite to winst year.¡± The three members of New ck, who had a serious but somewhat rxed atmosphere, were shown on the right. Yang Hee-seon, the archerymentator and former gold medalist, said. ¡°Especially Woojoo, he was the member I paid the most attention to in thest Lunar New Year special. His posture was so good. I secretly watched him practice earlier¡­ His posture has be more stable thanst time.¡± ¡°That¡¯s amazing. I wonder if he will not miss 10 points this time, too. That¡¯s also a point to watch.¡± The visual member of New ck, who had made a Jumong joke at thest Dollympics, was pulling the bowstring. He closed one eye to pull the bowstring, and his long eyshes cast a shadow. The bowstring that he had raised on one cheek went forward with a whoosh. The third arrow that Woojoo shot caused a miracle. ¡°Wow¡­!¡± ¡°Wow? Wow!¡± Exmations of surprise erupted from all over the indoor gymnasium. The person who did it was also like ¡®What? What is this?¡¯. Thementators buzzed. ¡°Did the arrow hit another arrow?¡± ¡°What? How did he do that?¡± The third arrow he shot ovepped with the second arrow he shot. It was what they called ¡®splitting the arrow¡¯. Because of the angle, the two arrows looked like a broken branch joined together. ¡°Wow, what is going on here?¡± ¡°Commentator, what is this situation?¡± Thementator, a former archer, said ¡®Wow¡¯ with a tone of wonder. ¡°That¡¯s called a Robin Hood arrow. It¡¯s a rare situation, I didn¡¯t expect to see it here.¡± ¡°Oh, is it very umon?¡± ¡°It happens sometimes when you practice in the athlete vige. I also did it once in the Olympics.¡± ¡°¡­¡± Thementator smiled warmly and reminisced about the past, while thementators looked stunned. ¡®What? Then it¡¯s super hard.¡¯ Soon, the microphone in the stadium announced the situation to the audience, and that the score was also the same 10 points. The fans of APLB shouted ¡®Wow!¡¯ and waved their slogans. The members of APLB looked disappointed. While Woojoo of New ck looked at his hands and said ¡®It worked¡¯ with a bewildered expression. The camera captured the other idol members and fans who were smiling and amazed. ¡°I searched it and it¡¯s a very rare thing, right? It¡¯s less than 0.001 percent.¡± ¡°Wow. He did it.¡± ¡°Look at the expressions of New ck and APLB members. They are all close and curious.¡± The members of New ck and APLB approached the target and widened their eyes at the sight of the two arrows joined together. ¡°Uh, what are they doing?¡± ¡°They are putting their hands together.¡± ¡°They are making a wish. This is irresistible.¡± Theyughed at the sight of the two groups making a wish with their hands together while looking at the arrow. Then they murmured their wishes one by one. While the indoor gymnasium became a ce of faith, the MC Baeksangjung continued hisment with a pleasant smile. ¡°Three consecutive 10 points! New ck has the momentum.¡± ¡°Right. At this rate, even if the team members behind them don¡¯t shoot well, New ck will win for sure.¡± Thementators¡¯ words didn¡¯t reach the stadium, but the members of New ck on the screen also seemed to sense the victory and smiled rxedly. Outside the stadium. ¡°¡­Huh?¡± The manager Seominki, who was eating a hot dog at the snack bar, blinked his eyes at the sight of the six people walking shakily. It was Dowonseok and New ck. ¡°What? Why? No, how did youe out at this time?¡± ¡°¡­¡± ¡°What happened? What is that weird stick?¡± ¡°¡­¡± Woojoo, who was holding the stick that looked like a broken branch, answered nkly. ¡°I seeded in splitting the arrow.¡± ¡°What? You did that?¡± ¡°Yes. But¡­ we lost.¡± ¡°Lost? Why?¡± The members of New ck swallowed their tears and said. ¡°The arrows that Jiho and I shot¡­¡± ¡°The arrows¡­!¡± They couldn¡¯t finish their words, and Rihyuk stepped in. ¡°I¡¯ll just say it for them. The two arrows they shot hit that lucky arrow and stuck to the white part.¡± ¡°¡­¡± ¡°The white part next to the target.¡± Seominki, who lost his words, heard Dowonseok¡¯s exnation. ¡°The other team was more shocked.¡± ¡°¡­¡± ¡°They won without doing anything¡­¡± ¡°¡­¡± The members¡¯ eyes became moist as they grabbed the lucky arrows and started to sob, saying ¡°Oh my!¡±. In the midst of that, Seo Minki blinked his eyes. ¡®Should I be happy about this? Or should I not?¡¯ He had achieved the best oue of leaving work early before the concert, but the situation was too delicate to celebrate. Chapter 297: Chapter 297: Lemon Entertainment¡¯s headquarters. The A&R team members, who had been busy working in the office and the studio, stretched their stiff bodies and rxed. ¡°Ugh¡­ I¡¯m so sore.¡± ¡°Ouch, I need to eat some red ginseng that Woojoo gave me. I¡¯m dying.¡± ¡°I don¡¯t know if I can get up tomorrow¡­¡± The A&R team members, who had dark circles under their eyes, took out a stick of red ginseng each and sucked on it. They gave each other bitter smiles as they desperately inhaled the red ginseng to survive. The A&R team was in charge of album production. Scarlet was slowly wrapping up their music show activities, and New ck was about to release their album. In other words, they should have been rxed for a while since they didn¡¯t have to produce any albums.But the A&R team¡¯s office was filled with music. ¡°Wow, this is really hard.¡± ¡°It¡¯s like when Ryuk cleans up. As soon as Ryuk finishes cleaning, Jiho and Junghyun turn it into a mess in three seconds.¡± ¡°I know, right? Just when I think I¡¯ve tidied everything up, I notice something that sounds off.¡± They were talking about Woojoo¡¯s new song. It was a song that would be featured in John Edwards¡¯ movie ¡®Nostalgia¡¯, which would be released at the end of September. Originally, it was supposed to be only a part of the movie, and more importantly, it wasn¡¯t an album track, so they started working on it with a light heart. But the song was too good. ¡°It¡¯s amazing¡­¡± The A&R team member who was wearing headphones closed his eyes. The rhythm was lively like twinkling stars. The melody sounded like fairies dancing in the forest at night, and he couldn¡¯t help but hum along. ¡°Pilgeun is humming.¡± ¡°He must be listening to that.¡± ¡°That song makes me feel like I¡¯m a princess in a cartoon. I want to fly with the birds and talk to them.¡± The more they listened to the song, the more they eximed. Woojoo said he came up with it on the spot, but they wondered how he made it. That quality was the reason why they valued this song so much. ¡®The problem is¡­¡¯ It was too good to be true. It was like when they tasted the legendary sauce that was reborn as fireworks. The sketch was so perfect that they felt like they shouldn¡¯t make the final version. But they couldn¡¯t just send the sketch and say ¡®Take that, you Hollywood bastards!¡¯ either, so the A&R team members were doing their best in the given situation. They repeated putting and taking out pieces like a puzzle. As they did so, their bodies were the ones that suffered. ¡°Ugh¡­¡± ¡°Ah, I don¡¯t have the strength to go home. I¡¯ll have to sleep in the dormitoryter.¡± ¡°We have to eat dinner.¡± The zombie-like employees who were wobbling in their chairs were wondering what food to order when they heard ¡®jajangmyeon?¡¯ Then, they heard a rumbling sound. ¡°What¡¯s that? What¡¯s that cart sound?¡± ¡°Did we get a delivery?¡± New ck members came in pushing a cart. ¡°We¡¯re here!¡± ¡°We¡¯re here~ Fresh New ck is here~!¡± ¡°You didn¡¯t expect us at this time, did you?¡± For some reason, the cart sound sounded like a chariot that the devils of hell were dragging to the A&R team¡¯s ears. ¡°Ugh!¡± The A&R team members quickly got up and formed a scrum to prevent them from entering. ¡°What¡¯s going on? Why are you here all of a sudden?¡± ¡°Huh?¡± ¡°Didn¡¯t you have to record for the idol sports festival? Why are you here¡­¡± ¡°Ah.¡± Woojoo, who was in the middle, answered. ¡°Actually, we¡­¡± ¡°¡­?¡± The five of them suddenly looked gloomy. ¡°What¡¯s wrong? What happened?¡± ¡°We got eliminated in the first round of archery.¡± ¡°Eliminated¡­?¡± They couldn¡¯t believe it. Woojoo was the best at anything physical. They remembered how Park Kyuho, the CEO, cried tears of joy when New ck won the gold medal in archeryst Lunar New Year. ¡®Woojoo got eliminated¡­?¡¯ ¡®What happened? Did the other team bite their ears off?¡¯ ¡®He wouldn¡¯t have lost unless he hit the referee with an arrow.¡¯ The staffughed as they heard the story of the lucky arrow and what happened afterwards. ¡°So you lost.¡± ¡°No, we didn¡¯t!¡± The youngest member denied strongly, and the others nodded. ¡°It¡¯s like taking three steps back for one step forward.¡± ¡°It¡¯s a strategic retreat for a great leap at the next Olympics.¡± ¡°¡­And since we got off work early, we¡¯re actually the real winners. When others are getting first ce and gold medals, we¡¯re going home.¡± The office workers sympathized with Woojoo¡¯sst words, as he clenched his fists and pleaded desperately. The members also agreed, saying ¡®Right! Right!¡¯ The lucky arrow that Woojoo brought caught their attention for a moment, and then the A&R team staff asked. ¡°What¡¯s that on the cart? I¡¯ve been smelling food since earlier.¡± ¡°This? It¡¯s a lunch box.¡± ¡°A lunch box?¡± ¡°It¡¯s a lunch box prepared by Olive House, where we¡¯re models.¡± When Rihyuk opened the paper box, lunch boxes piled up high revealed themselves. Junghyun spread the meat smell widely with his hand fan. ¡°Wow, the smell¡­¡± ¡°Nice, right?¡± It seemed to be a dinner lunch box prepared for the fans. But the unexpected early departure left the dinner supply floating. ¡°So we¡¯re returning it to thepany ourselves.¡± ¡°Wow¡­¡± ¡®We came to the A&R team first, of course~¡¯ Woojoo smiled sweetly, and theyughed. ¡°Thank you. We¡¯ll enjoy it.¡± They smiled as they took the lunch boxes. Soon, they screamed with joy as they saw the lunch boxes filled with steak and lobster. ¡°Wow, it¡¯s been a long time since I had steak.¡± ¡°It looks delicious.¡± ¡°Your fans must be disappointed. They couldn¡¯t eat the lunch boxes.¡± ¡°Yeah. What did you do with your fans?¡± At that question, the members answered with embarrassed faces. ¡°We met them personally before we left and gave them post-its.¡± ¡°Post-its?¡± ¡°They¡¯re short notes we wrote with the fans¡¯ names, but we originally nned to stick them on the dinner lunch boxes.¡± ¡°¡­So they only got post-its?¡± ¡°Yes. And they said ¡®Enjoy your dinner¡¯¡­¡± They burst intoughter at Woojoo¡¯s answer, who looked at the distant mountain. They imagined the faces of the members who handed out post-its that said ¡®Enjoy this for dinner¡¯ without the dinner lunch boxes. And the faces of the fans who received them. ¡°But the fans liked it.¡± ¡°Right. Even a hedgehog thinks its own children are cute.¡± ¡°It felt like we were serving school meals, but we only gave them the sauce without the pork cutlet.¡± Theyughed at Bijoo¡¯s words, which trailed off at the end. While they opened and ate the lunch boxes one by one, the A&R team leader called Woojoo, who was about to leave the office. ¡°By the way, Woojoo.¡± ¡°Yes?¡± ¡°The song you gave us will be finished soon. The work speed is pretty good right now.¡± ¡°¡­Thank you!¡± His face brightened. He looked like he wanted to ask, but couldn¡¯t because of the mood. Woojoo bowed his head. The staff got up as if they remembered something. ¡°Wait.¡± ¡°¡­?¡± ¡°Before you go, just a moment¡­ That lucky early departure arrow.¡± Woojoo handed over the arrow folded into one with a puzzled expression. ¡°¡­¡± The team leader took the arrow with both hands as if it were sacred. The staff exchanged serious looks. In the solemn atmosphere, the New ck members blinked their eyes. ¡°Please let us get off work early too.¡± ¡°We wish for regr hours.¡± The members of New ckughed at the sight of the office workers who were fiddling with the arrows and wishing for an early leave. The ¡®lucky arrows¡¯ we brought from the Dolympics were ced in our studio. We smiled happily as we looked at the two connected arrows that were on the stand that Rihyuk had ordered. ¡°But why are we disying this here?¡± I answered the main vocal¡¯s question simply. ¡°Because we have no ce to put it in our dorm?¡± ¡°Just throw it away. It seems like it¡¯s just taking up space.¡± ¡°Why would you throw away a souvenir?¡± I shook my head. ¡°And someday, when there¡¯s a New ck museum or something, we¡¯ll exhibit this.¡± ¡°¡­Do you really think that will happen?¡± ¡°Rihyuk hyung. You never know what will happen. Later, there might be a ck-and-white photo of Woojoo hyung shooting an arrow with this arrow hanging below it.¡± ¡°Yeah. Rihyuk¡­ Hey, wait a minute. Jiho. Why is the photo ck-and-white?¡± The youngest started to run away and I chased him and caught him and punished him. Anyway, our Chuseok Dolympics, which was decorated with a record-breaking speed elimination, ended like that. After it was over, we heard the reviews from the SBO members and they said that the red team with Scarlet won the championship. They said they came in first in thest women¡¯s ry and their eyes were zing. We also heard that some members of other groups got injured in basketball or ry and the atmosphere in the audience was very tense. We agreed that leaving early was a smart move. Meanwhile, after the Dolympics, the concert andeback were approaching and the promotion team also poured out promotional materials. -¡®Trendy group¡¯ New ck, countdown toeback ¡°Will they sweep the charts again in the second half of the year?¡± -New ck, mini 3rd album ¡®Neon ck¡¯ promotion schedule revealed -¡°This time it¡¯s hip-hop¡±, New ck reveals their ambition for a new challenge I didn¡¯t read thements and just skimmed the titles and contents. They seemed to focus on the point of how well our new title song would do. There were also articles predicting a fierce battle for the first ce between us and Teen Spirit, who we would meet on the music shows in September. They put us and Teen Spirit on the same level. And most of them predicted that we would be much more dominant. The fandom was needless to say, Teen Spirit was bigger, but could they beat New ck, the powerhouse of the music industry¡­ ¡°Ugh, I¡¯m embarrassed.¡± ¡°2030¡¯s favorite of the music industry¡­ Ugh! Hyungs, can you see? My fingers won¡¯t straighten.¡± ¡°Oh. We got praised. Satisfied, satisfied, very satisfied.¡± I felt embarrassed for some reason. It wasn¡¯t a wrong statement since we came in first in the music industry settlement in the first half of the year with ¡®Wind Flower¡¯, but it felt awkward. It felt like hearing the first ce of the person you admire as a elementary school student. But regardless of our embarrassment, our image seemed to be established in that direction. Although we were idols, we were recognized as ¡®powerhouses of the music industry¡¯ who made the music industry shake whenever we came back, like bad singers or indie bands. The nuance of the articles was mostly like that. ¡°The pre-order volume of the album is also very good.¡± Sometimes when I went to the management team¡¯s office, Seokhwan hyung tried to tell me about the album. ¡°Ahhhh! I can¡¯t hear, I can¡¯t hear!¡± ¡°¡­You¡¯re elementary school students. You guys.¡± ¡°Ahh! I don¡¯t want to hear!¡± We turned away from him, pressing our ears with our fingers, whenever he tried to tell us something about the album. We only heard that the pre-order trend was good. Usually, the record stores would say ¡®this group would sell this much¡¯ and order from the distributor based on the fans¡¯ pre-order trend or the previous sales. He said that the number was very good. But we decided not to hear the exact number either. ¡°Don¡¯t listen and get your hopes up for nothing.¡± ¡°You should have some hopes. You¡¯re still living with a rookie mindset even though you¡¯ve made it.¡± ¡°I¡¯ll see when the first week salese out. I have to practice now.¡± Since we had an important performance ahead of us, we didn¡¯t want to be happy or sad about these various performance indicators. We could sing happily at the main performance, and until then, we wanted to prepare with a cool mind. We wanted to do well and we had to do well. ¡°What¡¯s the first step?¡± ¡°It¡¯s a bad step!¡± We prepared for the concert, remembering the famous saying of our Kim Deoksoondy, that the first step is the most important. Until the D-day, Friday, August 28th, we crossed out one date on the calendar. We also kept in touch with our families every day. When our heads were throbbing from preparing for the concert, we would call our families. -It¡¯s me. ¡°It¡¯s your grandson.¡± -You¡¯re a pain in the neck. You cheeky brat. ¡°Hehehe!¡± Ah, this feels good. My mind settled down as I listened to the salty curses. Talking to my grandmother was like soaking in a warm bath. Well, sometimes it was too hot and I would scream ¡®ouch!¡¯ from the spicy taste, but I still liked it. When I was feeling tired, a word from my family was more precious and effective than a hundred medicines. -But are you okay? Your voice sounds off¡­ ¡°I¡¯m fine~ Why wouldn¡¯t I be?¡± -Don¡¯t lie to me. Sigh. I heard her nagging with a worried voice, telling me to eat this and that. ¡°So, are you ready? You have to dress up nicely for your grandson¡¯s concert.¡± -I already picked out what I¡¯m going to wear. But when are the ticketsing? ¡°They¡¯ll give them to us on the first day at thepany. Probably.¡± My grandmother and the other members¡¯ families were alling to the first day of the concert. I didn¡¯t want to know where they were sitting, because it might distract me, but I guessed they would all sit together. -But I don¡¯t know if I should go. What if the young ones say, ¡®Oh, look at that old hag. She¡¯s gone senile.¡¯ I¡¯ll be embarrassed and ashamed. ¡°Don¡¯t worry, Grandma. They¡¯ll all think you¡¯re our grandmother.¡± -How would they know that? ¡°Maybe because you¡¯re the only one in your seventies at the venue¡­?¡± -Why am I the only one? I¡¯m bringing Sookja with me. ¡°Oh, then you¡¯ll be the only 60-70¡­ Aaah!¡± I quickly covered my ears from the rapid-fire swearing. She was joking, of course. She calmed down when I told her that the other families were also bringing their grandparents. We chatted about the concert for a while, until Mrs. Kim Deoksoon asked me softly. -Are you alone right now? ¡°Why?¡± -Well, ahem¡­ Take good care of Rihyuk. ¡°Rihyuk?¡± She said. -He only came with his sisterst time. He doesn¡¯t talk much, you know. How do you think he feels when you and your parents areughing and having fun? ¡°I got it. I¡¯ll take good care of him.¡± That¡¯s why I always made these short calls from the rooftop. Taking care of your body was important, but so was taking care of your heart. I nodded at her words, emphasizing that. The day before the concert. The car was noisy as we headed to the Olympic Park for rehearsal. ¡°Rihyuk hyung. Do. You. Want. To. Eat. This?¡± ¡°¡­¡± ¡°Rihyuk. You look pale today. Your eyes are twitching. Is it because youck magnesium? Should I buy you some magnesium supplements?¡± ¡°¡­¡± ¡°Rihyuk. Use this pillow.¡± ¡°¡­¡± When Jun-hyun put a neck pillow around Rihyuk¡¯s neck with a pop. Rihyuk spat fire and said, ¡®Grrr!¡¯ ¡°Hey, what are you doing? All of a sudden?¡± ¡°¡­¡± We looked at each other. ¡°Hmm¡­ The aesthetics of caring?¡± ¡°Consideration?¡± ¡°Maybe brotherly love?¡± As the car rattled, Rihyuk¡¯s ears rose and fell like red lights. Our main vocal looked incredulous. ¡°I thought you guys were filming a public service announcement or something.¡± ¡°Was it that awkward?¡± ¡°If you want to care for him, do it consistently. Look at yourselves in the mirror. You look like politicians during election season.¡± ¡°Hey, it¡¯s not that bad¡­¡± The other person handed him a smartphone in selfie mode. As soon as we saw our expressions in it, we admitted defeat. ¡°¡­¡± Rihyuk put the neck pillow back on and nibbled on the yanggaeng that Jiho gave him. ¡°Well, it¡¯s nice to care for him¡­¡± His sharp eyes softened. ¡°It¡¯s because of the familying tomorrow, right?¡± ¡°¡­Absolutely not! It¡¯s just that you look pathetic and pitiful, that¡¯s all!¡± ¡°Jiho¡­¡± ¡°Hey!¡± He was the youngest, who had shattered our lies with his desperate excuses, and at the same time, delivered a one-hit knockout with his diss. We scratched the back of our heads with awkward expressions. ¡°No, it¡¯s not like that¡­¡± ¡°Just¡­¡± As we answered vaguely, Rihyuk coughed. ¡°Well, I appreciate your consideration. But you don¡¯t have to worry about me.¡± ¡°¡­¡± ¡°My family mighte too.¡± ¡°They¡¯reing?¡± I couldn¡¯t ask properly every time I tried to bring it up, because it seemed like he wasn¡¯t sure. Rihyuk nodded. ¡°My mom mighte with Ye In from the US. And my dad said he would stop by for a bit.¡± ¡°That¡¯s good.¡± ¡°They might note, though.¡± He replied calmly. ¡°Well, I heard they might note if they¡¯re too busy. They¡¯lle if they have time.¡± ¡°¡­¡± ¡°So, Bi Ju hyung, don¡¯t start tearing up already. Save it for tomorrow¡¯s concert.¡± ¡°Okay.¡± Bi Ju, whose eyes were moist, nodded. When the silence filled the car, only interrupted by the sound of the air conditioner, the youngest looked at the sign and said. ¡°Oh, we¡¯re almost at the Olympic Park.¡± ¡°Yeah.¡± ¡°When we get inside, there will be gs for our concert along the way to the stadium, right?¡± We exchanged excited nces. Minki hyung, who was holding the steering wheel, said we would probably arrive in less than five minutes. Just then. ¡°Thank you.¡± It wasn¡¯t a special sentence, but we were startled by the speaker. When we turned our heads to the left and right, Rihyuk was looking at the sky and said. ¡°Thank you.¡± ¡°Is there someone up there?¡± ¡°Hey. Seriously.¡± He red at us and looked into our eyes. ¡°Thank you. For caring about me.¡± ¡°¡­¡± ¡°You¡¯ve been sneaking around to call me and check on me while preparing for the concert. And you didn¡¯t bring up your families on purpose, thinking of me.¡± ¡°¡­¡± ¡°Well, I don¡¯t know if my family wille tomorrow or not, but I think it¡¯s okay even if they don¡¯t.¡± Rihyuk said with a smile. ¡°I think it would be nice to be with you guys tomorrow.¡± ¡°¡­¡± ¡°Bi Ju hyung, this is not the time to hug me. Hold back.¡± ¡°Okay.¡± Bi Ju fluttered his arms like a butterfly and gave up. On the other hand, we smiled at Rihyuk¡¯s words. It felt like the air was warm with his words that he would like to be with us. It was amazing that he said something like that, not someone else. That mean kid still thought of us as his people inside his fence, and we were touched. ¡®A wave of emotion¡­¡¯ ¡®It¡¯s a spectacle.¡¯ ¡®Rihyuk¡­¡¯ We also smiled warmly. Everything was good. But¡­ ¡°Rihyuk.¡± ¡°What?¡± ¡°Everything is good, but you should have said this when we get off the car. We¡¯ll scatter like cockroaches as soon as we jump out.¡± ¡°Ah.¡± Embarrassing. In movies, they usually cut to the next scene right after the confession scene, but we were in reality where the scene didn¡¯t change. The five of us looked at the ceiling of the car at the same time. ¡°¡­¡± ¡°¡­¡± That¡¯s when Minki, who was holding the steering wheel, nced at the rearview mirror and said calmly. ¡°Guys.¡± ¡°¡­Yes?¡± ¡°We were supposed to arrive in five minutes.¡± But? ¡°There¡¯s a traffic jam.¡± ¡°¡­¡± ¡°The navigation says it will take about 15 minutes.¡± At that moment, everyone screamed and waved their clenched fists, as ifpeting to be the first. It was the longest 15 minutes of our lives. Chapter 298: Chapter 298: It¡¯s huge. ¡°It¡¯s bigger than I thought, right?¡± ¡°Really? I saw a lot of posts on the inte saying it was small, but I don¡¯t know.¡± ¡°Wow¡­¡± We were looking around the empty handball stadium from the stage. It was cool inside, unlike the hot weather outside. We felt the cool air conditioner breeze and turned around. ¡°The VCRes out from here.¡± There was a huge screen in the middle of the stage, and another screen on each side.And in front of us, there was an extended stage. ¡°So from here to there, it¡¯s all standing, right?¡± ¡°Yeah.¡± There was a fence installed below the stage. ¡°¡­And there¡¯s the second floor.¡± Somewhere there, our fan club president and our members¡¯ families would be sitting. We stuck together in a lump and turned our bodies left and right repeatedly. ¡°So from here to there, it¡¯s all filled up, right?¡± ¡°It¡¯s sold out, you know.¡± Rihyuk answered. ¡°It¡¯s empty now, but tomorrow, there will be 5,000 people here.¡± ¡°Wow¡­¡± ¡°Well, I don¡¯t feel it either.¡± We huddled together again and looked around the stadium, saying ¡®wow¡¯. It was big and majestic. It felt bigger than the gymnastics stadium we visitedst year for the awards. ¡°Is this really going to be filled up?¡± ¡°Yeah.¡± ¡°Don¡¯t you believe it either?¡± ¡°Yes¡­¡± Our first concert, with 15,000 people in three days. We heard that it was sold out in a sh as soon as the ticketing started. But I don¡¯t think I¡¯ll feel it until I see it with my own eyes. We had performed in front of 1,000 fans at the fan meeting, and 2,000 fans at the showcase, but 5,000 was a different level of feeling. We scanned the seats with our siblings. Filling up one seat with one person, and imagining the cheers at the same time. The performance hadn¡¯t even started yet, but I already had goosebumps on my arms. I started to feel it as if the waves wereing and wetting my toes. ¡°We¡¯re really doing a concert.¡± ¡°Actually,pared to other debut peers, we¡¯re doing it fast, but it feels like we¡¯ve been waiting for a long time.¡± I nodded at Bi Ju¡¯s words. Of course, we¡¯ve been waiting for this since before our debut. It was nice to be a singer and appear on music shows, and perform on big stages, but the concert was what we¡¯ve been looking forward to the most. ¡°It feels like a package that¡¯s been spinning around in the Bermuda Triangle for years has finally arrived at home.¡± ¡°Bermuda HUB?¡± ¡°So the box opening is tomorrow?¡± We joked with each other, trying to ease the tense atmosphere, as we practiced opening the box today. ¡°Ah! Five hundred won, five hundred won~¡± ¡°Ahhhh~ Ahhhhhh!¡± We loosened our stiff necks and stretched our bodies, while Seok Hwan hyung and the concert staff came into the stadium. The staff with intes checked around and started the lights andsers for testing. We held the mic and stood in the middle of the stage and greeted them. ¡°Two, three-¡± ¡°Hello! We are New ck!¡± We bowed and smiled at the staff who were looking at us. ¡°Please take good care of us for our first concert rehearsal!¡± The day of the concert. -This stop is Olympic Park, Korea National Sport University Station. The exit is on the right. This stop is¡­ The door opened, and the footsteps of the people getting off the subway on line 5 echoed in the station. ¡®A concert.¡¯ From the second basement floor to the Meeting za in Olympic Park, there was a line of people dragging their feet. There was a clear pink air swirling in the air. It was like the air had aponent that made people¡¯s mood flutter. Every time I breathed, my heart fluttered. The cafes and restaurants around me were bustling with people. Friends and acquaintances were chatting happily everywhere, having made ns to meet up. ¡°Hey, can you take a picture of me here?¡± ¡°Oops, I need to take it again. The wind blew the poster of Junghyun and it looks like he¡¯s picking his nose.¡± ¡°Ahh¡­¡± On the way to the concert hall, there were concert gs hanging on every pir. They had the concert title ¡®The New ck: In Wondend¡¯ and individual poses of each member. Photo zones were formed here and there. As they walked through the heat that made them sweat profusely, they saw the handball stadium in front of them. There were people taking pictures in front of the huge concert poster on the stadium. It was like a festival site, with tents lined up on the open space. The staff of Lemon Entertainment were busy running around the goods and event booths, and the fans were waiting in line or resting in the shade. Their voices echoed from all directions. Someone who was reading the real-time reviews on the inte said to their friend. ¡°It¡¯s awesome. They say they have enough stock this time.¡± ¡°Really?¡± ¡°They took online reservations, so I guess the goods are okay.¡± ¡°¡­!¡± Lemon Entertainment was notorious for drawing the goods quantity as thin as an ant¡¯s leg hair, but this time they had prepared a lot. The fans¡¯ wallets became lighter as they bought the goods with the New ck logo, such as eco bags, t-shirts, postcard sets, key rings, and light stick pouches. The fans who got the goods blinked their eyes as they looked at the event booth. ¡°But why is the line so long there?¡± ¡°Excuse me, what are they doing there?¡± The fans who came out of the event booth answered. ¡°They¡¯re ying a mini game.¡± ¡°Oh.¡± ¡°It¡¯s called ¡®Beat Junghyun¡¯¡­ It¡¯s really hard. The staff said ¡®Difficulty: Space¡¯ earlier.¡± Theyughed. It felt like they were doing rock climbing or something in that tent. Soon, they heard that the prize was a limited edition photocard, and they ran to join the line. ¡®Oh, my back¡­¡¯ ¡®Oh, man. Am I getting old now¡­¡¯ ¡®I want to ride a moving walkway to get in.¡¯ Of course, most of them quickly ran out of energy and justughed in the shade. Fortunately, the entrance soon began. ¡°Wow¡­¡± The standing A and B sections were the first to fill up with people who had bracelets on their wrists. The seats started to get crowded like water filling up a cup. Gradually, the heat of the people overpowered the wind from the air conditioner. ¡®Wow!¡¯ ¡®That person! That person!¡¯ ¡®They¡¯re real.¡¯ There was someone who caught the attention of the Souffl¨¦s in the second floor seats. It was an olddy who wore a summer floral dress under her hat. Her pretty face and chubby expression contrasted. ¡®That¡¯s the King Deoksoon¡­¡¯ ¡®The one and only.¡¯ ¡®It feels like seeing a celebrity. Amazing.¡¯ Next to her was ady who looked simr to Bijoo, whispering nonstop. Kim Deoksoon smiled and answered every time. ¡®They¡¯re all family.¡¯ It seemed like the members¡¯ families were gathered in one ce. They hesitated to approach them and talk, feeling the atmosphere. They soon followed Kim Deoksoon, who went to the bathroom. ¡°Excuse me¡­!¡± ¡°¡­?¡± ¡°We¡¯re fans, ma¡¯am!¡± She blinked at the random words they said. ¡°Th-thank you. But how do you know me?¡± ¡°Uh. Well.¡± The Souffl¨¦s answered sincerely. But as the conversation continued, her cheeks started to tremble. ¡®Did I say too much?¡¯ She grinned her teeth at someone who was in the waiting room. They coughed at Kim Deoksoon¡¯s expression. And then they decided. I decided to pretend I didn¡¯t know him if Woojoo ever asked me on a live broadcast, ¡®Who was that at the concert? Who?¡¯ ¡°Of course. I¡¯m more grateful that you like my grandson.¡± As he said that, he disappeared gracefully, muttering ¡®You ck sheep, you¡¯ll see¡­¡¯ The Souffl¨¦sughed as they watched him go. After everyone had taken their seats. The Souffl¨¦s who had been waiting for the main show killed time eagerly. ¡°Seon Woojoo! Kim Bijoo! Kim Junghyun!¡± ¡°Woohoo!¡± They chanted along with the music video that yed on the giant screen and waved their light sticks. ¡°Look over there. There are foreigners too.¡± ¡°Really?¡± ¡°That¡¯s amazing. Are they exchange students?¡± They were amazed by the sight of people with exotic looks holding pamphlets. Meanwhile, the sound had gradually changed to the concert sound. As the lights shed in all directions for the pre-show test, the fans¡¯ hearts raced. And the distinctive smell of the concert hall. Every minute, every second, they held their light sticks tightly as if counting down. Then. As soon as the clock struck, all the lights in the concert hall went out at once. ¡°Wow¡­¡± The excitement that had built up exploded at once. As their bodies floated and their hearts felt like bursting from the screams of the audience in the dark hall. In that hot atmosphere, a VCR appeared on the screen. ¡°Come on, everyone!¡± As I reached out my hand in the hallway, the younger ones put their hands on mine first. And around us, dozens of hands gathered. ¡°You guys worked really hard for a month, our session hyungs.¡± ¡°You too.¡± The band members nodded. The drummer hyung spun his drum stick and smiled. ¡°And the dancers, you guys worked hard to match our picky main dancer.¡± ¡°I admit, he¡¯s picky.¡± ¡°It was like going to the army again. It was hellish practice.¡± The dancers who had practiced the choreography with us agreed, and Bijoo tapped them and grinned. ¡°And our staff.¡± I looked at Seokhwan hyung and the managers near me, as well as the stylists who took care of the costumes, and the publicity team staff. They smiled back. ¡°Thank you all for working hard to prepare for today¡¯s show. When we say concert, you all say fighting, okay?¡± We shouted together with the younger ones. ¡°Concert!¡± ¡°Fighting!¡± We all pped and cheered for each other. ¡°Let¡¯s go!¡± ¡°Yes!¡± We walked briskly after checking our outfits. As the securitypany staff guided us, the steel structure finally came into view. ¡°Don¡¯t be nervous! Don¡¯t be nervous! Rx!¡± Seokhwan hyung followed us and told us not to be nervous with a more nervous face than anyone. ¡°New ck! You can do it! Fighting!¡± The staff pped and cheered us on, and the manager hyungs handed us water bottles and clenched their fists. ¡°Don¡¯t be scared, fighting!¡± ¡°Fighting!¡± As we heard the staff say ¡®Watch your head! Watch your head!¡¯ we quickly moved under the steel structure. The sound of the walkie-talkies vibrated everywhere. With the VCR audioing through the in-ear, the screams of five thousand Souffl¨¦s shook our bodies. Gulp. Weughed at the sound of Rihyuk swallowing his saliva and looked at each other. ¡®Fighting!¡¯ The five of us huddled together on the lift. I was nervous. I didn¡¯t know how to calm my trembling heart. The sound of the amp from the concert hall seemed to turn my body upside down. ¡°¡­¡± As I reached out my hand, one by one they reached out theirs. And then we held each other¡¯s arms. We calmed our breathing and swallowed our dry mouths in the cold air conditioner wind. Wow! It seemed like the VCR had reached its end, and one by one, our faces appeared on the screen. Each time, the screams of the Souffl¨¦s grew and subsided like thunder. When the countdown was over. Wow! The lift went up and the curtain in front of us lifted. And at that moment. Wow! With a tremendous roar, thousands of stars twinkling in the darkness poured down on us. In the thrilling sensation, the waves of light sticks caught my eye. We were so stunned by the sight that we almost missed the first beat of our mini album¡¯s ¡®Look at Me¡¯. Open your eyes- As Rihyuk¡¯s clear voice stretched out the sound, the audience cheered. In the midst of that, we held the microphones and took in the scene in front of us with a slight daze. It was beautiful. Some might say that the stars in the sky are the most beautiful, but the stars on the ground were no less beautiful. From the vocal song ¡®Look at Me¡¯ to the dance stage ¡®Flower Dance¡¯. I didn¡¯t know what kind of spirit I had to finish the opening stage. It felt like I had amnesia like the protagonist in some movie, and my memory was reset every 10 seconds. All I remembered was the deafening apuse and the bright lights that burned my eyes. I think I sang the lyrics with my mouth. But I wasn¡¯t sure if I sang them right. ¡°Ugh, huh¡­¡± Even when the lights went out after each song, we just gasped for breath and stared at each other nkly. No, we didn¡¯t even have time to stare nkly. We had to move quickly to different ces after singing one song because of the various movements. My stomach was empty. I don¡¯t think I was this nervous even when I faced a bigger audience at a joint concert or an end-of-year stage. Now, I felt so dizzy and numb that I could vomit if someone pressed my sr plexus. ¡°Wow!¡± Thankfully, I was able to rx a bit after finishing thest choreography of ¡®Flower Dance¡¯. ¡°Ugh, huh¡­¡± We looked at each other in the same pose as we held hands. Then we let go and looked at the audience. ¡°Wow!¡± Our screen was on the big screen. I wiped the sweat off my face with a handkerchief and looked at the audience. The audience with thousands of starlights. When I sweated a lot, the tension finally ebbed away like a low tide. What filled its ce was excitement. We exchanged nces and smiled at the sight of the Souffl¨¦s who were still cheering and weing us. ¡®Did you see?¡¯ ¡®Did you see?¡¯ I casually threw away the handkerchief soaked with sweat and grabbed the microphone and shouted happily. ¡°Everyone! How have you been?¡± The stadium echoed with a ¡®yes¡¯ scream. Our youngest grabbed the microphone and looked at the audience. ¡°Did you miss us?¡± ¡°We missed you so much too.¡± Weughed at the sight of our siblings who were sweating and smiling. I did the summary before the individualments. ¡°Shall we say hello first? Two, three.¡± ¡°Hello! We are New ck!¡± We bowed and greeted them, and another loud cheer came to us. ¡°Yes, Souffl¨¦s who came to our first concert ¡®The New ck: In Wondend¡¯! Sincerely-¡± ¡°Wee!¡± ¡°We¡¯re so d to see you. Really. We¡¯ve been waiting for this day so much.¡± I didn¡¯t know how well our feelings of joy were conveyed, but when I heard the rumbling cheers, it seemed to be well conveyed. ¡°Yes, I¡¯m Woo Joo, the leader and lead vocal of New ck.¡± ¡°I¡¯m Bi Joo, the main dancer!¡± ¡°Rap rap rap, I¡¯m Junghyun, the rapper.¡± ¡°I¡¯m Seo Rihyuk, the vocal.¡± ¡°Yes, and I¡¯m Jiho, the cutest maknae and the visual of New ck!¡± Weughed at his grand finale. He even took off one earpiece and closed his eyes and said ¡®My poprity¡­!¡¯ and the cheers exploded. They even cheered for this. Today, it seemed like the fans would p for anything we did. Of course, we didn¡¯t intend to take it for granted. ¡°Everyone. Do you know that? Jiho practiced that since the rehearsal.¡± ¡°That¡¯s right. It¡¯s pretty clumsy, right? He really wanted to do what the senior singers do.¡± ¡°Actually, Woojoo hyung does it better.¡± When he told me to show him an example, I took off one earphone and closed my eyes, imitating the video of the senior singer I saw on Mitube. Cheers erupted. It was a bit embarrassing, but I liked it. Our youngest looked at me like I was a big corporation that harassed the alley market. I briefly introduced the session members and gave a short opening remark about today¡¯s concert. Then I made a closing remark to the stars that surrounded us in a semi-circle. ¡°Thank you so much for joining us for our first concert. I heard the ticket price was about 100,000 won. Is that right?¡± ¡°That¡¯s right.¡± ¡°That¡¯s a lot of money. There¡¯s so much you can do with 100,000 won. You can take the vige bus seven times¡­¡± Rihyuk whispered to me, ¡°It¡¯s 900 won now.¡± It went up. ¡°You can take it more than 110 times. There are so many things you can enjoy with 100,000 won, like movies. But you skipped all that and came to see us.¡± It might be a realistic story, but 100,000 won is a lot of money. I wanted to tell them how much they did for us. And I said I would do my best in the performance so that they wouldn¡¯t regret spending the money. ¡°Then we have to have fun, right?¡± ¡°That¡¯s right!¡± ¡°Let¡¯s have fun.¡± I smiled brightly with my brothers as I heard the cheers in response. ¡°Well, then, shall we go to the next song with excitement?¡± I had already adapted to the first concert. The performance went by quickly. ¡°Wow¡­!¡± The souffles screamed and waved their light sticks as each stage passed by. ¡®It¡¯s so good.¡¯ The people who came from far away also felt that they made a good choice. It was a quality concert. Above all, the songs were so good. ¡®There were so many famous songs by New ck.¡¯ The duet of Woojoo and Rihyuk, ¡®Night Sea¡¯, that came out on the radio. The gems like ¡®Life¡¯ that they did on the hit song stage. The songs that swept the charts for a while with the OST of Slip, ¡®A Poem About Yesterday¡¯, and ¡®Something¡¯ that was arranged in a five-member version. They were rookies in terms of years, but their set list was veteran. In addition, there were various stages of the album tracks that they had only essed through sound sources. ¡®Good¡­¡¯ They also jumped around as the members sparkled on the stage. And. The stage that both the singer and the fan had been waiting for came in thetter part of the concert, which was slowly approaching the encore. -Yes, now it¡¯s time to reveal the stage of our next album title! ¡®Nine¡¯. -Do you¡­ do you feel nervous? -We¡¯re the most nervous. The members who were nervous fiddled with their microphones, making everyoneugh. The members who participated in the producing briefly exined the concept of the album. After the VCR came out. The lights went out and turned green, and the members appeared in street concept outfits. ¡®Oh, cool¡­¡¯ It was a hip-hop style song that came in strong from the beginning. The outfits were also jackets or hoodies. It was a fresh feeling to listen to the song because it was a concept that New ck had never tried before. ¡°Huh¡­?¡± After the intense first parts passed by, the members moved to the side. The spotlight was on the leader in a ck jacket with a microphone. And the souffles stared nkly at the individual part that followed and burst into cheers. It was a rap part. Chapter 299: Chapter 299: ¡®Woojoo is rapping¡­?¡¯ Wasn¡¯t he the one who shook his head shyly whenever the other members said ¡®rap for us, rap¡¯? -Everyone, I¡¯m a vocalist, how do I rap? He also ignored those requests when the fans said ¡®we want to hear you rap¡¯ during live broadcasts. That¡¯s why they naturally thought ¡®he can¡¯t do it, that¡¯s why¡¯. But now, he was rapping in front of their eyes. If it weren¡¯t for his lips moving lively under his gray hair, they would have thought that Junghyun was singing for him. It was an unexpected and novel sight. ¡°Woww¨C!¡±Their hands waving the light sticks became more intense. Like the rap line members of other groups, Woojoo showed hand gestures that matched the lyrics. He was alone on the huge stage, but his eye contact and movements were so natural that they couldn¡¯t tell. ¡®He¡¯s really good.¡¯ ¡®I feel like I¡¯ve been deceived, but I like it¡­¡¯ ¡®Woojoo, just walk the rap path.¡¯ Even if they took off the ¡®our kid is the best¡¯ filter that made them see their idol as good at everything, he did well. At the same time, they could see the difference between Junghyun and Woojoo¡¯s rap styles. If New ck¡¯s rapper was the type to tap rhythmically with his mid-low voice, the leader was the type to bang once with his lower voice. His rap voice waspletely different from his vocal voice, and it was unfamiliar, but the fact that he was good didn¡¯t change. They smiled as they watched Woojoo sweeping the stage with his solo spotlight. ¡®That¡¯s why the kids are annoyed by him.¡¯ They remembered the members who were on guard and said ¡®sir, sir, the grandpa is trying to take it away again¡¯ during reality shows or lives. Woojoo smiled and winked on the screen. Out of time, out of luck It might not be solved Climbing on the repeating time It must have gotten heavier by now Ay As he muttered ¡®Ay¡¯ softly, Woojoo passed the baton to the youngest who came back to the stage. As the leader turned around with his back to him, the sub-vocalist appeared like a revolver¡¯s magazine. The blond boy in a vintage jumper swept his body with one hand and rode the wave, and a happy scream poured out. It¡¯s time to let go now Throw away what¡¯s in your hand Set you free Until you block everything For a moment He was New ck¡¯s sub-vocalist who freely switched between notes and smiled charmingly. ¡®Nine¡¯ was a somewhat different song from New ck¡¯s previous title songs. It was a song that made them jump around, unlike the refreshing, seductive, or warm titles they had before. They felt like they were in a club when they heard the futuristic electronic sound. The rhythm that stimted their inner dance sense made the Souffl¨¦s standing in line shake their light sticks and jump around. It felt like their stress was relieved. The members who were on the side smiled happily as they saw the standing seats sway like popping water droplets. ¡®This title song is really awesome.¡¯ ¡®I love it.¡¯ It was a melody that stuck in their ears even though they heard it for the first time. They thought they could add their own cheering method if they heard it one more time. And more than anything, they liked that New ck¡¯s color was alive. Was it a warm message to the listeners? If Baramkkot was a song thatforted them by saying ¡®are you having a hard time? I¡¯m watching you¡¯, Nine was a song that said ¡®are you having a hard time? Let¡¯s go out and have fun today!¡¯. There were days when they had no luck and were bullied by their enemies in their repeated daily lives. On those days, they wanted to shake off their bad memories and have fun. In line with that intention, the Souffl¨¦s also emptied their minds and cheered for the song. ¡°Woww¨C!¡± Woojoo and Jeeho widened the distance on the stage. At the same time, the main dancer entered gracefully and took the center, and the dance line came alive. Bijoo, who smiled mysteriously as he fluttered his wine-colored hair. The audience was thrilled by his movement of taking off his glittering jacket halfway and putting it back on while bouncing his body flexibly. Meanwhile, the choreography changed as the main dancer led the two members out. As Rihyuk and Junghyun joined the side of the three who were standing like a triangle formation. The dancers in ck hoodies stuck together and became 3, 5, 7, and finally 9. The song exploded in the chorus with the main vocal¡¯s high note. ¡°Woww¨C!¡± As the stage fireworks shot up, the dance unfolded under the blue lights. The members performed a fierce choreography, as if they were striking the air with their hands, centered around the rapper in the middle. Using the strong recoil, Junghyun grabbed the mic and sang the chorus. The fans also shouted along with the repeated ¡®Nine Nine Nine¡¯, releasing the stress they had umted. As the first verse ended and the beginning of the second verse came out, the fans held their breath. ¡®The song is crazy, really.¡¯ ¡®The choreography is well-made. Who did it? It¡¯s a different vibe from y.¡¯ ¡®They all stand out.¡¯ It was the result of the main dancer, Bijoo, who choreographed it with the touch of a famous Latin American choreographer. They marveled at the dance that seemed to have the sweat of the choreographer, like coffee that is made by dropping one drop at a time. Some of the fans felt a different sensation. ¡®Something is different¡­¡¯ ¡®It feels slightly different. In a good way.¡¯ ¡®What is it?¡¯ They felt differently watching New ck¡¯s performance than usual. Theposition was simr, but the style seemed to have changed. It was like seeing thete works of the same painter after seeing only the early works. Soon they realized the reason and eximed. ¡®Ah¡­!¡¯ Their eyes were drawn to the main vocal who was performing the choreography with a cool expression. Rihyuk was the main cause. The choreography line that he was involved in was much more organic and tightly connected than before. Before, there was a fixed line to amodate the main vocal who was rtivelycking in dance. While the other members or dancers backed him up from behind, he would walk slowly and sing the high note before the chorus, or use mostly upper body movements to prepare for the close-up shot. He wasn¡¯t bad at anything, but it was because of his rtively poor dance skillspared to the other members. If he moved the same way, he would stand out. But now, there was nothing like that. The main vocal blended in naturally. He confidently took one axis of the organic connection movement, like a lump of y. They were captivated by his sharp shoulder turn. ¡®He improved.¡¯ ¡®He improved more than when he was in Wind Flower.¡¯ Their eyes followed Rihyuk as he moved to the side of the stage. The main vocal, who wore a zip-up hoodie over his dark blue hair, pped his hands over his head and urged the audience to apud. They felt a lump in their throat, wondering how much effort he had put in to reach this level. -Now, let¡¯s all do it together! They heard Woojoo¡¯s voice before the second chorus. On the other hand, Rihyuk wasn¡¯t the only one who changed. They noticed something different in each member who was shaking their body with sweat. They improved their skills in expression, rap, dance, and other specialties, but they alsoplemented the parts that were rtivelycking. Woojoo, who used to dance only in a standard way, added some extra movements that made his dance line prettier. Junghyun, who didn¡¯t do much vocal, also did vocal. The youngest, who had a better physique than when he was in Wind Flower, changed his dance line to be more powerful. And among them, there was a person who showed a noticeable change along with the main vocal. Burn hotter Shine brightly today- It was the main dancer of New ck, who showed a vocal skill that could threaten the lead vocal, Woojoo. They gasped at his sight of effortlessly raising his high notes while shaking his body wildly. Along with his dance that showed a different realm. At the introduction of the third verse, the main dancer bent his waist back softly and sang a high note, then stood in the center. At the same time, the music that had been stacking up gradually exploded. Boom-! As the gold leaf that the stage device shot up scattered around, screams erupted everywhere. The members and dozens of dancers jumped and rolled their feet. The main dancer and the members and dancers who backed him up moved like a strong wave, shaking their bodies with the wave. ¡°Waaaaah-!¡± The fans screamed as if there was no tomorrow. The first stage of ¡®Nine¡¯, which was pre-released at the first concert, was a huge sess. My ears are ringing. Even though I have in-ears on, the fans¡¯ cheers pierced through them. We gasped for breath in the midst of that. ¡°Huh¡­ Hoo¡­¡± ¡°Hoo¡­¡± ¡°Hoo¡­ Hoo, hoo.¡± I could hear how loud my breathing was, even as I lowered my hand holding the mic. We looked at each other on the stage, as the dancers retreated like a low tide. ¡®Well done.¡¯ ¡®You did well.¡¯ We had given our all for this song, which was our first public release. We weren¡¯t supposed to have a talk time, but the choreography was so intense that we had to say something. The problem was, we were too out of breath to say anything. My hand holding the mic was damp with sweat, even as I stood still. I gulped down a bottle of water and gave a chin gesture to my younger brothers who were panting and clutching their thighs. ¡°Uh uh heh heh heh heh (Hurry up and say something.)¡± The youngest wiped his sweat and raised his hand. ¡°Heh heh heh heh (You do it. You.)¡± ¡°Ha ho heh heh. Ho heh (I can¡¯t do it. I can¡¯t.)¡± Ryeok was trying to die. But luckily, the fans filled the audio with their cheers. ¡°Wooooooah!¡± Finally, Junhyeon, who had some stamina left, grabbed the mic. ¡°How was it, everyone? Did you like it?¡± ¡°Yes!¡± ¡°How much?¡± A vague ¡®A lot!¡¯ came back as a roar. Our rapper smiled happily. ¡°We stayed up all night making this song. Woojoo hyung and I spent days and nights worrying over one sound that goes woong-woong. We wanted to make a perfect song.¡± He said with augh. ¡°I¡¯m so d you liked it.¡± ¡°Yes. I¡¯m really d.¡± I took the mic and spoke to the sparkling lights. ¡°I was so nervous. I had no idea if you would like it or not.¡± ¡°You liked it, right?¡± The youngest¡¯s words made the light sticks shake again. As we talked with the fans, the lighting director kindly brightened the lights a bit. The faces of the people in the standing and the seats came into view. They all looked exhrated. They still couldn¡¯t get out of the afterglow of ¡®Nine¡¯ and had excited eyes and expressions. I smiled as I saw them. That¡¯s it. I was sure we seeded. If a song that hasn¡¯t been released yet, not even the music video or the audio, got this kind of reaction, we had said it all. We exchanged rxed smiles with our younger brothers, seeing the faces of the fans who were more than satisfied. ¡®You worked hard. Guys.¡¯ ¡®You did really well. Hyung.¡¯ We exchanged some more words with the fans and went down after performing some pre-released songs. Now all that was left was the encore stage. ¡°Makeup! Makeup!¡± ¡°Excuse me!¡± There was no peace among the people running around. While the fans in the seats watched a graceful show like swans on ake, the stage below was no different from hell. As the VCR prepared for the encore yed, the fansughed at various scenes. Meanwhile, we were frantically changing clothes. We had no time to care about our dignity. The staff wiped our sweat and fixed our makeup as we changed clothes in a hurry. When we changed into loose ck t-shirts that were well ventted. ¡°Let¡¯s go!¡± ¡°Yes!¡± We nodded and high-fived Seokhwan hyung and the managers who cheered us on. The VCR ended and the stage went pitch ck. When only the moving light sticks were visible in the darkness, we started singing ¡®Flower Fire¡¯, the first song of the encore from our mini album. ¡°¡­?¡± It was the moment when the lights came on. As Jiho controlled his emotions and sang the first verse, the audience swayed like a wave. From the standing to the second floor seats. The fluttering slogans caught my eye. ¡°¡­¡± The event slogan that said ¡®Together at the start of spring and the end of winter¡¯ was spread out. I felt strange as I looked at the thousands of slogans fluttering in the sky blue. It was supposed to be a serious song. But I couldn¡¯t help butugh. I quickly regained myposure, but the fans responded to our momentaryughter. As we sang the encore songs, I heard the voices of the fans singing along from the shaking light sticks. I felt bitter every time I heard the voices singing the songs we made. I felt like I could do more, I could have done better. The regret floated in my head. I held the microphone with a mix of pride and sadness with my brothers. ¡°Yes, how¡­¡± I opened my mouth with a smile. ¡°Did you enjoy the show today?¡± ¡°Yes!¡± ¡°We had a lot of fun today too.¡± My brothers nodded. ¡°It¡¯s our first time performing in front of so many fans. We were so excited yesterday.¡± ¡°He¡¯s my roommate. He was so restless that he kept talking to me all night.¡± ¡°Jiho, you don¡¯t have to tell them that.¡± ¡°The fans have the right to know.¡± The fansughed at Jiho¡¯s words. Meanwhile, Bijoo grabbed the microphone. ¡°Uh¡­¡± I smiled as I saw his hand shaking wildly. It had been a long time since I saw Bijoo so nervous. His gentle eyes were already moist. ¡°I don¡¯t know how to thank you. Really, we are so¡­ oh, oh, don¡¯t do that. I¡¯ll cry.¡± Bijoo waved his hand urgently as the fans went ¡®oh-¡¯. Theyughed loudly. ¡°We were really frozen because it was our first concert. But you responded so well today that we could do itfortably. Thank you for always making usfortable when we are nervous.¡± We agreed. We were trembling along with the machine vibration when the lift went up, but now we were much better. It was thanks to the people who pped for everything we did. ¡°I wondered if we would ever have a concert. Time is¡­¡± The older ones looked at him and Jiho changed his words to ¡°time is¡­¡± The youngest smiled and said. ¡°I had so much fun today, did you have fun too?¡± ¡°Yes!¡± ¡°I knew it.¡± The youngest smiled brightly at the audience and then held the microphone seriously. ¡°And there were so many people who worked hard for us this time. The managers, the stylists, the PR team. The band session, the dancers¡­ so many people worked hard for the concert.¡± We looked at him with admiration as he bowed and said. ¡°Thank you. Really.¡± ¡°Thank you!¡± We bowed and thanked the staff who were scattered around. Junghyun grabbed the microphone. ¡°And our parents came today.¡± ¡°Our family too!¡± We waved our hands or said ¡®hello!¡¯ to the air and the lighting director turned on the lights sensibly. As the fans cheered at the keyword ¡®our parents¡¯, we saw the people waving from the second floor. ¡°Wow!¡± Jiho¡¯s parents and sisters, who were waving their light sticks and saying ¡®Jiho, I love you!¡¯, were also there. There was also Junghyun¡¯s family, who showed the example of a ¡®big family¡¯ that we only saw in textbooks among the nuclear families. Bijoo¡¯s mother and family who were waving their hands. And Kim Deoksoon, who looked at me with a fresh face and mouthed ¡®well done¡¯. We also waved our hands to our families. And then. ¡°We have our family too.¡± I turned my head at Rihyuk¡¯s words and there they were, Rihyuk¡¯s family. A boy and a girl with cold expressions as if they were drawn in a picture, and a younger sibling who smiled and waved. They were Rihyuk¡¯s parents. Rihyuk smiled calmly and waved his hand, and they also waved their hand awkwardly. After greeting our families for a while, the lights went off. We could talk to our familiester, but for now, this ce was important to be with the fans. ¡°We have our families, and we have our fans.¡± Junghyun said with a smile. ¡°I practiced really hard because the people I wanted to impress the most wereing. I wanted to be a singer, a son, a grandson, a nephew, and a cousin that everyone here could be proud of.¡± We and Souffl¨¦ughed and pped at theplicated family tree. And then, our main vocal picked up the microphone. ¡°I have so much to say to you that I prepared like this.¡± We chuckled at the sight of Rihyuk taking out a paper from his pocket. ¡°I checked off thank yous, family, and everything else on these notes to prepare for my speech, but¡­¡± ¡°We took them all away, didn¡¯t we?¡± ¡°Yes. You stole them all.¡± He looked deted because we had said everything he wanted to say. Rihyuk, who had a slightly sullen expression, soon smiled awkwardly at the audience. ¡°So¡­ instead of talking long, I¡¯ll just say one thing and pass it on to Woo Joo. To our members, and to all of you.¡± ¡°¡­?¡± ¡°I really cherish and lo, lo¡­ love you.¡± Our Pirarucu got the biggest response of the night. It was nice, but somehow embarrassing. We avoided each other¡¯s eyes and looked at the distant mountains, then each of us shared our feelings once more. I also expressed my gratitude. ¡°Thank you so much for spending time with us today. I was really happy because of you.¡± I said with a smile. ¡°It feels like it took a really long time to get to our first concert. Of course, it was only a couple of months of preparation time, but¡­ we¡¯ve been dreaming of this concert for a long time before that.¡± I asked my siblings, who nodded their heads. ¡°How long have you been training?¡± ¡°Three years.¡± ¡°Four years.¡± As each of us answered, I added up my six years of trainee time. Then I looked at the slowly swaying stars. ¡°Yes, it took us 20 years to get here. I feel like we walked that long for this moment.¡± The stars were silent for a moment, then exploded with noise. I smiled along with the sound. ¡°And just as we walked that long, I want to go further. I hope you¡¯ll stay with us for that time, too.¡± ¡°Thank you!¡± ¡°You¡¯ll stay with us until we grow more and be bigger, right?¡± I want to see how far we can go. As if answering me, I heard countless voices in my ears andughed with my siblings. ¡°Next is our favorite song.¡± It was a song that everyone knew, so we didn¡¯t need to introduce it. Through the concert hall, the acoustic guitar sound and the intro of a song flowed out. It was our debut song ¡®Fireworks¡¯, arranged in a sing along version. Chapter 300: Chapter 300: It was thest track of their debut single, and a song that was arranged to be easy to follow along with Firework. ¡®That¡¯s it.¡¯ A smile spread on the lips of the Souffl¨¦s. The sing along version was a song with many meanings. It was the song they sang when the sound ident happened at their debut showcase. It was also one of the reasons that New ck was recognized as a ¡®talented rookie¡¯ with Ha Seung-ju¡¯s music cafe appearance. ¡®Good¡­¡¯ The Souffl¨¦s, who had been with them since Something and their debut, felt a lump in their throats. Especially the audience who participated in the debut fan showcase.They remembered the members who were trembling and wide-eyed at the keyword of 200 people. Wo¡ª A huge cheer made them feel thrilled. The audience, who once were 200 people, were now waving their light sticks as 5,000 people. ¡®They¡¯ve grown.¡¯ They didn¡¯t know how to express it, but New ck was bigger than ever. It felt like seeing the faint and small stars turn into bright and shining stars. The light that came out of the light sticks and the bright stage lights. The smiles of the members in the waves of light were imprinted in the eyes of the Souffl¨¦s who had been watching them since the beginning. Everyone who had watched New ck from the start felt the same way. Among them were the staff. ¡°Manager, are you crying?¡± ¡°Why would I cry? Why are you asking me that?¡± Yoon Seokhwan, the manager who was dabbing his eyes with a handkerchief after taking off his sses, shook his head. ¡°I just like seeing our kids perform at the concert. Especially¡­¡± ¡°You¡¯ve been watching Woojoo for a long time, right?¡± The manager nodded. He had been with him for a long time since the TJ Enter era. He was the one who personally saw Woojoo off when he was eliminated from the debut group. He couldn¡¯t help but feel special when he looked at the leader of New ck who was standing in the center of the stage. ¡°It¡¯s the same for everyone. I¡¯ve been watching Woojoo for a long time, but also Bijoo, Jung-hyun, Rihyuk, Jiho since they were trainees.¡± Scarlet, who came inte, had debuted first. He remembered visiting the practice room tofort the male trainees. He said with a smile. ¡°Why do I feel like my heart is floating when they are the ones singing?¡± ¡°Me too, manager.¡± ¡°Me, me too¡­¡± The staffughed at the sight of Do Won-seok, who came in thetest but shed the most tears. Meanwhile, the staff who were running around the hallway stopped and watched thest stage. The PR team staff, the stylists, the vocal and dance trainers who came with the venue, they all had the same expression. ¡°Our snifflers are doing concerts too.¡± ¡°Yeah.¡± ¡°Look at them smiling. They look so happy in the world.¡± The white faces on the screen were smiling brighter and happier than anyone else. They knew how hard they had prepared for today¡¯s performance since two months ago, losing sleep. They felt proud and honored to have prepared with them. And that was the same for the people who had spent the longest time with the members. ¡®Oh my¡­¡¯ Kim Deoksoon, the grandmother who was singing along with the members with ¡®firework-¡¯, smiled. It was the first time she saw her grandson¡¯s performance with her own eyes since the end-of-year evaluation or whatever it was. She had only heard his songs on TV until now. ¡®It¡¯s definitely different from watching it on TV.¡¯ She didn¡¯t know when was thest time she heard such a good song that made her skin tingle. Maybe it was when her daughter and son-inw performed in Seoul. Her grandson did well. She pped her cheeks every time she heard Woojoo¡¯s voice or when the audience cheered. ¡®He¡¯s amazing.¡¯ The world was a strange ce. She remembered how her grandson came back to Gunsan and said, ¡®I¡¯m done with being an idol. I¡¯m going to be the sessor of the rice bowl restaurant~¡¯ with a smile, and how her pride was shattered. He was a grandson who couldn¡¯t take his eyes off the music shows on TV even when he was helping out at the restaurant. She felt sad for her grandson who gave up his dream for a day or two. And now he was performing in front of so many people. He said he was going to do this for three days. Her stubborn mouth loosened a little. She felt her worries and anxieties about her grandson¡¯s entertainment career gradually fade away. ¡®Yes. Things will go well from now on.¡¯ She nodded as she watched Woo Joo smile and make eye contact with each seat in the audience. Meanwhile, the other family members also had simr reactions. ¡®Our youngest was never the type to work hard, but he did so well¡­¡¯ One family discovered a new side of their youngest son, who used to say ¡®I don¡¯t care! Everything is annoying~¡¯. ¡®Oh my. I thought he was too weak to do any farming¡­ But he has a talent for singing.¡¯ Arge family proudly smiled at the sight of their weakest member getting cheers for his rap. ¡®Bro, you look really happy.¡¯ A family felt warmth at the sight of their usually mature person smiling innocently. ¡°¡­¡± And there were also those who silently looked at someone with a strange expression. ¡®What do I do? My brother sings so well¡­¡¯ Someone¡¯s younger sister had hearts in her eyes as she waved her hands at the main vocal. ¡®But Woo Joo is the most handsome.¡¯ She also waved her hands at the leader of New ck. While the staff and family members reminisced about New ck¡¯s pre-debut days and the long-time fans felt touched. The sing along stage of Fireworks continued. The audience naturally sang along as the song was arranged in a more rxed tempo than the original Fireworks. Look at our fireworks (Firework) The way we light up the night sky The song of thousands of people in the dark, along with the gentle guitar sound, echoed. Under the blue light like the sea, the New ck members held their hand microphones and sang softly. The screams erupted here and there at the main vocal¡¯s clear and smooth high notes. Like a firework We¡¯re showing it Like a firework Our colors The members walked around the protruding stage and smiled as they made eye contact with the standing and second-floor audiences. During the second verse¡¯s intro, the harmonica sound from the band session¡¯s guitarist mixed in. When the members slowly waved their hands, the fans finally got what they had been waiting for. It was a one-meter-long giant light stick. There wereughter and cheers everywhere at the sight of Junghyun waving the king stick like a club. And then the second verse¡¯s chorus. The members who had been singing to the standing and audience stretched their microphones to the air. Look at our fireworks- The fans¡¯ chorus filled the empty concert hall. Jiho smiled with his eyes and raised his hand to his ear as if asking them to sing louder. Bi Ju smiled brightly and shouted ¡®All together!¡¯. Woo Joo and Rihyuk pped their hands and encouraged the audience. Junghyun, who held the king stick high, also sang along with the rhythm. As the fans¡¯ chorus reached the chorus, the members grabbed their microphones again. The fans¡¯ chorus and the singers¡¯ song became one. Like a firework We¡¯re showing it- The members who had been scattered around the stage started to gather in the center of the protruding stage. One by one, as the lyrics continued. The members gathered around Woo Joo in the center, keeping the beat. Some of them gasped as they realized the meaning of the order. ¡®It¡¯s the order they joined thepany.¡¯ It was a performance that showed the order from the first member to thest one, Woo Joo. And they showed it in reverse. It wasn¡¯t that Woo Joo joinedst, but rather that the members came to him. As they gathered, the members took a step forward. Like a firework Our colors- During the third verse, the members said ¡®Thank you!¡¯ or waved their hands. ¡°Woahhhhh!¡± The Souffl¨¦s shouted, shaking the slogan ¡®Together at the beginning of spring and the end of winter¡¯. ¡®I¡¯m so d I came.¡¯ The Souffl¨¦s smiled brightly with a feeling of fulfillment in their chests. Then, colorful paper dust started to fall like fireflies from the stage device. The sweaty members smiled brightly and shouted. -Thank you! -L, love¡­ I cherish you! The members startedughing at Rihyuk¡¯s expression, who said ¡®I cherish you!¡¯ instead of ¡®I love you!¡¯ as if he couldn¡¯t say it twice. Woo Joo grabbed the microphone and shouted. -Two, three. -Thank you! As the instrumental of Fireworks softly flowed, the members held hands and bowed to the audience. -We¡¯ll work harder~! -I¡¯ll work harder than him! -Then I¡¯ll work harder than Junghyun! Theughter was brief. The fans also responded loudly to the following farewell greetings. It was the moment when New ck¡¯s first concert after their debut wasing to an end. ¡°Good job!¡± ¡°Well done!¡± We nodded and greeted the staff who pped for us. Then weughed together. ¡°Hey, we did well! We did great!¡± ¡°Hyung, you worked really hard too. Arranging the songs and everything¡­¡± ¡°Let¡¯s take a picture! A picture!¡± We gathered together and held up our index fingers, meaning ¡®first day of the concert¡¯, and smiled brightly. We felt refreshed. Maybe it was fulfillment. The fatigue and worries that had umted over time had all flown away. We felt like we had everything in the world. Just like that. Our chests throbbed with excitement, like we had just finished exercising. We all seemed to be able to bounce around for a few more hours. ¡°Junghyun, turn it on. That thing.¡± ¡°Just a moment.¡± Junghyun made the light stick sh. In the blinking light, we ran around with our arms around each other, making peopleugh. ¡°Come on, we have another concert tomorrow. Calm down, guys.¡± We nodded at Seok Hwan hyung¡¯s words. As we were drinking from our two-liter water bottles, excited, a group of people came in, making amotion outside. ¡°Mommy-! Sis-sis-sisters¨C!¡± ¡°Dad¡¯s here too. Jiho.¡± The youngest, soaked in sweat, ran to his sisters and mom like a happy puppy and hugged them. His father tried to join in, but was pushed away and looked sad. ¡°Dad!¡± ¡°Mom, you came?¡± ¡°Grandmaaaaaa¨C!¡± As everyone was meeting their families, I ran to Deok Soon, oh my Deok Soon, at the speed of light. My heart started to beat as grandma¡¯s face got closer and closer. ¡°Grandma!¡± ¡°Oh, dear. Oh, dear. You smell like sweat!¡± Oh. Right. I stepped back and grabbed grandma¡¯s shoulders with both hands. ¡°How did I do?¡± ¡°You did great. You were so good, why did you always call me and say, grandma, grandma, my heart feels weird, huh?¡± ¡°Hehe.¡± Grandma praised me. ¡°I thought my ears were bleeding. Every time you flipped your hair, your fans screamed like crazy birds, like aaaaah aaaaah.¡± ¡°I deserved that, right?¡± ¡°Sure.¡± Grandma looked excited too, maybe because it was a concert. She was proud of me, and liked me, and thought I was pretty. Grandma and I reminisced about the concert, saying ¡®remember, that time, that time¡¯, ¡®oh, that time?¡¯ Something caught my eye. ¡°But grandma.¡± ¡°What?¡± ¡°What¡¯s all that in your hand¡­? Why did you bring so much stuff?¡± Grandma was holding a bundle full of something. ¡°Your fans gave me this.¡± ¡°Our fans¡­?¡± ¡°I was sitting still and they came over and said, grandma, your back must hurt, and gave me this cushion and stuff.¡± ¡°Wow-¡± ¡°Be good, everyone. And be nice to your fans.¡± The sasaengs must have been considerate of my grandmother¡¯s old age, because they seemed to have shared their tickets with us. Thanks to them, we had a veryfortable viewing experience. I felt grateful to the nameless sasaengs¡­ ¡°But your fans all know me, they say I¡¯m famous, grandma.¡± ¡°¡­¡± ¡°Let¡¯s talk about that for a moment, shall we?¡± My gratitude flew away. My grandmother started to nag at me, asking how much I had sold my name around until now. ¡°Ugh¡­¡± I apologized in my mind. ¡®I¡¯m sorry. I¡¯m sorry.¡¯ And I made a resolution. I would find the duo of ck and yellow T-shirts from section 38, who had told the truth to my grandmother today, and give them a piece of my mind. Fortunately, a relief pitcher appeared just as my grandmother¡¯s nagging got longer. ¡°I¡¯m here too.¡± ¡°Wee, auntie!¡± I approached Sookja auntie, who worked at my grandmother¡¯s restaurant, and hooked my arm around hers, greeting her warmly. Sookja auntie smiled and said. ¡°My granddaughters were so jealous when I told them I was going to the New ck concert.¡± ¡°Really?¡± ¡°Yeah, they said they¡¯re famous singers at school. They told me to take a lot of pictures.¡± So we took some pictures together. And we also took amemorative photo with my grandmother. ¡°Hello, sir.¡± ¡°Hahaha! Long time no see, Woojoo.¡± As I met the other family members after a long time, we exchanged greetings and took a group photo. Meanwhile, Bijoo stuck to me. ¡°How is it?¡± ¡°Well, the atmosphere doesn¡¯t seem too bad, but¡­¡± I whispered. ¡°I don¡¯t know what they¡¯re talking about exactly.¡± ¡°Hmm¡­¡± We looked at where Rihyuk was having a conversation with his parents. We could read their lips if we wanted to, but this was a matter of privacy. Then, Jeeho stuck his head between me and Bijoo. ¡°As an actor with experience, I think they all look cold, but they¡¯re actually shy.¡± ¡°I can tell that. Dad¡¯s ears are red.¡± Dad¡¯s ears had turned bright red as he talked calmly with Rihyuk. Junghyun put his head on top of Jeeho¡¯s. ¡°I can hear everything.¡± ¡°Really?¡± ¡°I put on earphones because I didn¡¯t want to hear Rihyuk¡¯s personal life.¡± ¡°Good job. Our Dungie.¡± I patted the shoulders of Pungdungi, who was proud of his earphones on both ears. As we four chatted, the heads of Rihyuk¡¯s family, who were talking from afar, turned to us. Shh- They all showed amazing evasion skills. They lined up behind me. ¡°¡­¡± ¡°¡­¡± As I bowed my head awkwardly and smiled, Rihyuk gestured for me toe over. ¡®Me?¡¯ Nod nod. The guys behind me stuck their heads out and pointed at themselves with their fingers, as if to say ¡®me too?¡¯ Nod! Nod nod nod! We walked over, annoyed by the nodding. ¡°Two, three!¡± ¡°Hello, we are New ck¡­? Oops, that¡¯s not it. Hello, sir, ma¡¯am. I¡¯m Woojoo.¡± I fumbled with the greeting that came out like a reflex. Dad and mom smiled at me. They looked like they had split Rihyuk in half and made their faces. Mom was dressed like apany CEO, and dad had a schrly face. They were quite contrasting. ¡°You do business in America?¡± ¡°Yes.¡± I was amazed that they really did business in America. Dad was a professor at a university in Gyeongnam, and mom lived with her daughter in America. But what was their rtionship? They were standing together, but the one foot between them seemed incredibly far. ¡°You look good.¡± ¡°Thank you. So do you, Dad.¡± My father, who had been awkwardly smiling at Rihyuk, spoke to us. ¡°I think I heard from Rihyuk in an emailst time. Nice to meet you.¡± ¡°Ah, yes. We are honored¡­ too.¡± ¡°Right. You are Woo Joo, whose nickname is Dae Gil, right?¡± He called our names, but he seemed to have studied them in a hurry. He knew well that his son was active in a group called New ck, but he didn¡¯t seem to know much about us. Or maybe he wasn¡¯t very interested. As my father finished the awkward conversation, my mother intervened. ¡°I¡¯ve only heard from Rihyuk on the phone, but you all look so pretty.¡± ¡°Thank you.¡± Our youngest, who was full of self-love, said, ¡®I¡¯m also lovely.¡¯ My motherughed. ¡°I was worried about Rihyuk living alone in Korea, but I couldn¡¯te because I didn¡¯t have time.¡± My mother showed a cold smile that resembled her son. ¡°I have a lot of things I want to talk to you about, but I have to go to the airport right away. I prepared this because I didn¡¯t have time.¡± She took out four letters from her handbag that said ¡®To. Woo Joo of New ck.¡¯ Rihyuk coughed and avoided eye contact, and weughed as we received the letters. My mother looked bewildered. ¡°I¡¯ve been living in the US for a long time, so I don¡¯t know much about Korean etiquette. Is it too old-fashioned to give letters?¡± ¡°No, it¡¯s not because of that.¡± We exined the letter viin to her, waving our hands, and she finally said, ¡®Oh.¡¯ She nodded and handed a letter to Rihyuk. ¡°Here.¡± ¡°Uh, thank you. Me too.¡± It was a sight to see them awkwardly exchanging letters. ¡°¡­Uh, me too.¡± My father also handed a letter to Rihyuk, and I swallowed augh. We stepped back to let them talk as a family, and we looked at each other and asked. ¡°I don¡¯t know what the situation is, but it seems okay, right?¡± ¡°It seems so.¡± I didn¡¯t know exactly what their rtionship was. But I thought maybe I would hear the story from Rihyuk someday. And, for now, he was smiling and happy. ¡°Okay, let¡¯s take a picture!¡± ¡°Yes!¡± We each stood in front of the camera with our families. It was to take a group family photo tomemorate the first concert. As the photographer pressed the camera shutter, I hugged Mrs. Kim Deok Soon from behind and smiled. And the members gathered in the center, surrounded by their families. ¡°¡­It¡¯s so nice.¡± Rihyuk whispered in a flushed face while taking pictures. ¡°I hope tomorrow is like today.¡± ¡°Me too.¡± We also hoped so and smiled. In many ways. -Yesterday at the concert, Rihyuk said he loves me and I¡¯m still touched??????? -Our kitty is so sweet????? -Rihyuk said he loves me on the first day, so I¡¯m up and washing my ears -Me too, I¡¯m going to wash my ears -He¡¯ll say he loves me today too, right? -One day, one love addiction -Hey??? don¡¯t tell me Rihyuk only said he loves the first day audience and not us~? -It could happen¡­? -[Breaking] N Group Concert Fairness Controversy, Member Seo Mo Says ¡®Only Loves First Day Fans¡¯¡­ Woo Mo Flees to Taiwan -Move over, I¡¯m going to get some love too -I want to get the love I didn¡¯t get from my puppy from Rihyuk (fist) The waiting room before the second day rehearsal. ¡°¡­¡± The youngest imitated someone who was covering their face with both hands after looking at the tablet. ¡°I hope tomorrow is like today~ Oh hong hong~¡± ¡°¡­¡± Woojoo also joined in with a pleased smile. ¡°Rihyuk. Remember this.¡± ¡°¡­¡± ¡°The concert is in three days.¡± While someone was saying ¡®What do I do, ugh¡¯, the other threeughed and sang in chorus ¡®The concert is in three days~¡¯. Woojoo snapped his fingers and hummed the lyrics of ¡®Duksoon-ah¡¯. ¡°Love is also three times~¡± ¡°Hey, be quiet!¡± Chapter 301: Chapter 301: The three-day concert came to a sessful close. -New ck, wraps up their first concert after debut¡­ ¡°They only have to soar from now on.¡± -¡°We were happy for three days¡± New ck thanks fans ahead of new album -New ck Rihyuk, reveals his shy love for Souffl¨¦ on SNS with ¡®I love you¡­ Souffl¨¦¡¯ ¡°Nobody say anything. Seriously.¡± ¡°Pfft¡­¡± ¡°Aaaah!¡± Iughed and held my stomach as I looked at someone who had made a ¡®squeak¡¯ face to the fans for three days in a row. ¡°Who confesses their love so boldly from the first day and creates this situation?¡±¡°I don¡¯t know.¡± ¡°Crushed by the disaster you brought upon yourself~¡± ¡°Shut up, Wang Jiho!¡± ¡°Puhaha!¡± Bi Ju and I giggled and rolled around the living room of our amodation. It was Sunday night. We had finished ourst concert at the handball stadium and were lounging around in our room. The youngest, who was yawning, asked. ¡°Didn¡¯t they say the music video will be released at midnight?¡± ¡°Yeah.¡± ¡°Ah, I¡¯m sleepy¡­ I want to see it, but I¡¯m so tired.¡± I looked at the youngest who said he was sleepy to death and turned my head to Junghyun. ¡°Junghyun.¡± ¡°Yes, hyung.¡± Junghyun immediately gave Jiho a piggyback ride. I smiled enviously as I watched the youngest who was flying on a ne and screaming ¡®woooo¡¯ at the age of eighteen. Bi Ju, who was peeling an apple, bit an apple into Jiho¡¯s mouth. ¡°Jiho, be quiet a little.¡± ¡°Yes, wooo¡­¡± The youngest nodded obediently to the housewife¡¯s words to be quiet for the neighbors on the weekend night. While Rihyuk and Bi Ju sat quietly on the sofa, the rest of us rolled around on the floor. The lights that I looked at while lying t on the wooden floor turned into a hazy cluster of light. ¡°Are you guys spacing out too?¡± ¡°Yes.¡± The lights felt like stage lights because of the aftermath of the concert. -Wow! It sounded like the sound of waves when I listened to the conch shell. The sight of the Souffl¨¦s singing along to the fireworks was also vivid in my eyes. The concert ended a few hours ago, but the lingering feeling was still there. Is this why the seniors and TNT scumbags said you have to do a concert to feel it? The youngest who was rolling around next to me said. ¡°But I¡¯m a little sad too. It feels more and more as the days go by, but the previous day¡¯s performance was so regrettable.¡± ¡°Right. Me too.¡± ¡°Really? There¡¯s this thing. I could have done better, but I regret it¡­¡± I sympathized. It seemed that you had to umte real experience in the field of performance. We had shown our skills that we had honed throughpetitions, year-end stages, college events, etc., but a solo concert had its own know-how, from the ment to the small gestures. It felt regrettable when it became familiar to my body on the third day. Of course, our fans were happy, but from the perspective of an artist who strives for perfection in performance, it felt that way. ¡°Well, it¡¯s still our first concert. We¡¯ll do better next time.¡± ¡°Right.¡± Bi Ju smiled and handed me an apple with a fork. ¡°Let¡¯s do better at the gymnastics next time.¡± ¡°Yeah. Let¡¯s do that.¡± Weughed with our siblings and said we would do a concert at a bigger gymnastics stadium than a handball stadium next year. Then Bi Ju, who was looking at the wall clock, said. ¡°Oh, it¡¯s 11:09.¡± ¡°Space time~¡± ¡°Space time~ Please make our album do well.¡± They waved their hands and said ¡®space time~¡¯ at the same time as my birthday. I burst intoughter as I watched my siblings. The Souffl¨¦s who were waiting for the music video of ¡®Nine¡¯ were the same. -Space time~~~ -Zen Min time~ -Space, be happy? -Sparkling grandpa time -Woojoo, may your album be a hit They were Souffl¨¦s who wished us sess for our album, even though there were some traps along the way. ¡°By the way, what about our song?¡± Rihyuk tapped the tablet with his finger. ¡°Do you think the general public will like it too?¡± ¡°Why not? This time, not only the Souffl¨¦s, but also our families said they liked the song.¡± Jiho nodded. ¡°That¡¯s right. My sisters only listen to the songs they know, but this time they said they would download Nine.¡± ¡°My father said he would rmend it to the people in the neighborhood as a work song.¡± ¡°Minjun also said he liked the song.¡± It might have been because of the ¡®a hedgehog thinks its child is soft¡¯ filter, but our families¡¯ reviews were very good. Yein, who lives in the US, also liked it because it was trendy. ¡°Then maybe we can rx a little¡­?¡± It was the question that came up every time we released an album: ¡®Will this sell?¡¯ Fortunately, this time we had already checked the fans¡¯ reactions by revealing it at the concert. It was amazing. -What is Nine? I want to listen to it too??????? -What did Bijoo do in Nine¡¯s dance break¡­?? Why can¡¯t I see it¡­??? -They say it¡¯s a banger, why can¡¯t I see it? -Every time I see the reviews, I feel like na na na na Nine in in in in -I want to see Woojoo¡¯s low rap¡­ I want to hear the cave rap The Souffl¨¦s who came back from the concert said ¡®Everyone, Nine is really a masterpiece??¡¯, which made the curiosity explode. ¡°Yeah. With such a good response¡­¡± Surely the general public wouldn¡¯t say ¡®What is this?¡¯ We smiled warmly at each other, saying ¡®Hey, no way¡¯. ¡°¡­¡± ¡°¡­¡± Then we rushed to Junghyun like crazy. ¡°Deng-ah. Our Deng-ah.¡± ¡°The magic conch shell.¡± ¡°Tell us. Deng-ah. How do you feel about this album? Is it ominous? Is it bad and fiery?¡± He was the one who always caused trouble whenever he said he had a good feeling. When we debuted, Street Boys suddenly came out with a selfposed song concept, and at the showcase, there was a sound ident. ¡°Mister, I thought you didn¡¯t believe in superstitions.¡± ¡°What are you talking about? I love superstitions.¡± ¡°¡­¡± I hoped nothing bad would happen, and Rihyuk shook his head at me. Meanwhile, Junghyun, who had been stroking his chin and saying ¡®Hmm¡¯, spoke. When he was about to open his mouth. ¡°Ahh!¡± We both raised our hands and warned him in advance. ¡°No! Good feelings are forbidden.¡± ¡°Deng! No. Kim Junghyun.¡± Weughed for a moment at Bijoo¡¯s baby-like ¡®Deng!¡¯. Junghyun tilted his head. ¡°I don¡¯t know. Half positive, half ambiguous.¡± ¡°Ah¡­¡± ¡°We¡¯re in trouble. Junghyun hyung said he feels positive. Now a huge incident is going to happen.¡± We were the ones who checked the social and entertainment news to see if there was anything wrong. I hope there¡¯s no bad news rted to ¡®9¡¯. ¡°But it¡¯s okay.¡± ¡°Why?¡± ¡°Because Woojoo hyung will cover it up.¡± ¡°Me?¡± Since when did I agree to cover it up¡­? The youngest looked at me with disbelief and said confidently. ¡°It¡¯s the rule of New ck that if Junghyun hyung makes a bad prophecy, hyung will turn it around. Like when you fixed the sound ident at the showcase and said ¡®We¡¯re so talented~¡¯.¡± ¡°That¡¯s right. We have Woojoo hyung.¡± Bijoo also looked relieved. ¡®I trust you¡¯ he said, opening his eyes wide. I felt pressured when I saw the two of them. Rihyuk said. ¡°Just because Junghyun hyung has a good feeling doesn¡¯t mean something bad will happen.¡± ¡°Yeah. Listen to Rihyuk, guys.¡± ¡°It¡¯s just that the scale is huge.¡± ¡°¡­¡± As I put on my earphones and listened to ¡®Duksoon-ah¡¯, I saw Durumi, who was excited and chattering away. The youngest one turned on the app for the electronic billboard and shed the words ¡®The youngest trusts the leader¡¯ with a star. ¡°¡­¡± The othersughed at my indifferent expression. As we killed time like that. The moment when it passed 11:59 p.m. and became midnight on August 31st. ¡°It¡¯s out¡­!¡± The music video was uploaded to the official MTube ount ¡®New ck TV¡¯. While New ck clicked on it, the fingers of the Souffl¨¦s who were scattered all over the country also moved quickly. ¡¸New ck ¨C ¡®Nine¡¯ Official MV (4:33) ¡¹ Soon, the music video flowed on the screen. The background was the subway. ¡®Hmm¡­?¡¯ As the subway stopped and people got on and off, they were illuminated by the lights, sitting with their hoods pulled over their heads. Under the hood, Bijoo¡¯s fingers, which were tidying up the wine-colored hair that had fallen out, were full of essories. Including Jiho, who was blonde, Rihyuk, who was blue-ck, and Junghyun, who was brown. And Woojoo, who was wearing a mask under his gray hair and closing his eyes. ¡®That¡¯s why they said they were unhealthy grandpas.¡¯ The Souffl¨¦s agreed. When they spoiled the album on the live broadcast, they said, ¡®Woojoo hyung looks a bit sick at the beginning of the music video.¡¯ He actually looked fine, but after hearing the members¡¯ words, he somehow looked like that. ¡°Hmm¡­¡± I shook my head and shook off that thought. The subway, which was busy with peopleing and going, started to empty out. Along with the members who were sitting sparsely, the subway lights began to flicker. As the subway made a clunking sound in the darkness. The lights came on with a whoosh. ¡®Wow¡­¡¯ They hade out of a bridge somewhere, and a dazzling night view unfolded outside the window. A CG-synthesized background. It looked like Seoul, but it was a city with a strange impression. The cyberpunk city with colorful neon signs was the ce where the music video would unfold. -The music video is awesome¡­ -The intro hasn¡¯t even started yet and my heart is pounding ???? -Is Kyuho¡¯s wallet okay?? I¡¯m worried about him at this point -Kyuho seems more sincere than us -The rainy background has a nice vibe In the drizzling rain, the neon signs of fluorescent colors glowed dimly in the alley. It was a background that suited the title of the mini-album ¡®Neon ck¡¯. The members, who were walking leisurely, changed their outfits and started singing as they took off their masks or hoods. The reaction to ¡®Nine¡¯ was unanimously positive. -Finally a sexy concept???? Grandma cries -The song is really good¡­ I think I know why the people who went to the concert were raving about Nine ?? -The addiction is crazy¡­ Nine Nine Nine -I like how they look rough -I sincerely respect all the people who were in charge of Nine¡¯s outfits and makeup -Our kids who came down from heaven to do a world tour?? -New ck : Please make us three / Stylist : Various scenes of the music video followed. Jiho smiled and sprayed paint on the CCTV screen. The members dancing on the rooftop where the power was cut off, with the background painted with fluorescent paint. Especially, the highlight scene where Junghyun stopped the heavy rain at once received great praise. As the views rose rapidly, New ck¡¯s new song MV also went up on the idolmunity. [The New ckeback MV that is exploding among fans right now.metube] As a hot singer who had a lot of interest from other idol fans, the music video soon became a hot topic. -What¡¯s wrong with the styling -It¡¯s a bit tacky¡­ Is it just me -They¡¯re suffering a lot for an unttering sexy concept??? -The song is good. I hope theypete fairly with their skills this time, not likest time ^^ After the people who followed thew of earlyments and wrote maliciousments on New ck¡¯s posts passed by. The praises of other fans who watched the music video continued. -What¡¯s with the initial flow; -But basically, they¡¯re all handsome even if they do a sexy concept??? I couldn¡¯t help but admire the way he yed with a fierce expression on his face for almost 30 seconds. ¡®How can he have such good lung capacity?¡¯ Soon, a character with the English subtitle ¡®The Goat¡¯s Friend¡¯ appeared and sang even longer, and Woojoo started to blow his whistle like a cobra for a minute. Iughed at the sight of Blueguy shaking nervously. ¡®What is this? It¡¯s weird but funny¡­¡¯ The people who entered the ount called NewckTV clicked on the video list to kill time. There were hundreds of videos there. They were the videos that Newck had umted one by one since their debut, including reality shows. And the highlight among them was. ¡®What the hell is this?¡¯ They were the strange things that appeared on the rmended video list. A video with a thumbnail of a scene where someone lit a fire with a branch. Below that, someone with a haughty face wearing a royal robe was causing trouble at a feast. ¡®Historical adventurers?¡¯ And below that, there were more weird things. ¡®¡­They subdued SWAT?¡¯ A video of someone in a ck suit tormenting a special forces officer, along with a rappelling training video. And even a scene of baking. ¡®What is this? Do they have to do more than just singing to survive in Korea?¡¯ As the foreign fans wondered about the bizarre things, the people in various ces clicked on the mouse. ¡°¡­!¡± And then, a new world unfolded before them. 11 a.m. ¡°Ugh, I¡¯m dying.¡± ¡°They say your mouth will twist if you sleep on the floor, but luckily it didn¡¯t.¡± ¡°Ugh¡­¡± We smiled warmly at each other, showing off our faces that looked like swollen toads. Monday, August 31st. ¡°Today is Newck¡¯seback day.¡± ¡°Woohoo-¡± ¡°Our crazy kids, you worked hard.¡± ¡°My useless brother, you worked hard too.¡± We exchangedpliments to celebrate oureback day, and then we sat around the table to prepare for breakfast. While Bijoo was rummaging through the fridge with an apron on, I yawned and asked. ¡°Hey, how many views did our music video get yesterday?¡± ¡°Just a sec.¡± Rihyuk took out his tablet PC and started tapping his fingers. Click. Then he suddenly stopped. He looked frozen like a statue, and we asked him. ¡°What¡¯s wrong? Did someone make a spelling mistake in thements?¡± ¡°Or did you see ament that distorted history?¡± ¡°¡­¡± Rihyuk stared nkly at the screen and stayed still. We snatched the tablet PC from him, puzzled by his petrified look. And then. ¡°Ten hundred thousand¡­ hundred thousand¡­ times¡­¡± ¡°¡­What is this?¡± ¡°Wait, let me see again. Ten hundred thousand¡­ Wait. They¡¯re saying congrattions on 1m, what does that mean?¡± ¡°One million. That¡¯s a million, right?¡± Bijoo stopped his hand that was searching the fridge. ¡°¡­¡± ¡°¡­¡± While we were silent, the fridge beeped as if to say ¡®Close me! Close me!¡¯ I swallowed my saliva and asked. ¡°How long has it been?¡± ¡°About 11 hours.¡± ¡°But the views are¡­¡± The number ¡®1,036,825¡¯ that was stamped on our music video caught our eyes. One million views in 11 hours. We woke up to find that we had hit the jackpot. -Wow, did you see what came out today? -This is going to blow up for sure. The song is good and the music video is the best they¡¯ve ever done. Seriously, this is the best music video I¡¯ve seen recently. -The quality is amazing. It¡¯s like a movie. -After Scarlet, Yeonseok hit a home run too. Was it true that Kyuho wrote the music video with his hair? He¡¯s a genius. -New ck always seemed like soft tofu, I didn¡¯t think they could pull this off. But they nailed it. As they reacted to the quality of the music video, they also started to talk about each member individually. -That red guy is Bijoo, right? He looked quiet, but he¡¯s got charisma. -Danbe is cool. He¡¯s got style. -I felt butterflies when Daegil¡¯s friend walked in. -Woojoo? Wasn¡¯t he a vocal member? He can rap too. Charcoal, did you guys know this? -No, we were shocked too when they pre-released it. -Really? Then let¡¯s be shocked together. -His rap voice is so sexy. I¡¯m drunk. -It¡¯s so satisfying when it explodes after the bridge. -The beat is insane. It¡¯s been a while since I¡¯ve been this excited listening to a song. And there were some who gave their predictions about the music video. -Looking at the views, it seems like it¡¯s going to explode. -The music video concept and everything is full of points that the fans will go crazy for. -They won¡¯t be able to sleep after seeing this. -Considering the time difference, it¡¯s not their usual sleeping time anyway. At the same time. In various parts of the world, people who were browsing K-pop rted content saw an interesting video pop up as a rmendation. It was New ck¡¯s ¡®Nine¡¯ music video. ¡°Wow¡­¡± And their reactions were not much different from the Koreans¡¯. ¡®What is this? What is this?¡¯ Something dazzling was unfolding before their eyes. A city with rain falling down. The five members dancing their bones off in the dreamy neon signs. Their beauty that made them swallow their saliva every time they saw them, and their explosive dance moves that made their hearts pound. ¡®¡­New ck?¡¯ If they knew anything about K-pop, they would all know the name. They had already seen them once through the music video of Masquerade, which had a good response from overseas fans. They were one of the most popr boy groups in Korea right now. Whether they were in East Asia or Southeast Asia, or in North America or South America, if they were interested in K-pop, they had to know. Usually, the poprity in Korea was reflected in the poprity overseas as well. But even if they knew about New ck, the music video they were watching now felt unfamiliar. ¡®They¡¯re so cool.¡¯ ¡®Who¡¯s that guy rapping?¡¯ It didn¡¯t take long for the stories rted to them to start popping up on themunity and SNS where overseas K-pop fans gathered. The YouTubement section also started to buzz in no time. -If anyone knows the name of that red guy, please tell me who he is. ©¹His name is Bijoo ?? ©¹Got it. He¡¯s my husband from today. -I¡¯m repeating this song <3 -Can someone please add subtitles? I¡¯m too old to learn Korean now. ©¹By the way, why do the Korean fans here call themselves ¡®souffle¡¯ and ¡®charcoal¡¯? Is there a reason they¡¯re food and inanimate objects? ©¹I¡¯m Korean! I¡¯ll give you a link for the reason why they¡¯re souffle. There¡¯s a sad legend of Woojoo here. -How can anyone dislike this song? -The surname of the gray-haired guy is Sun? I agree. -I¡¯m d I got life insurance a while ago. I almost had a heart attack three times while watching this. -I still can¡¯t decide who to marry out of the five. This music video is too short. -Korea goes to the army, right? These guys must have gone to the air force. They dropped a hot bomb in my heart. As all kinds of jokes flew around, the people who watched ¡®Nine¡¯ music video started to spread it as if they couldn¡¯t keep it to themselves. As posts started to pop up on SNS one after another. In the early morning of Korean time, when the five members who were lying around the living room like empty snack bags were tossing and turning in their sleep. The views of New ck¡¯s ¡®Nine¡¯ started to rise rapidly. While YouTube was freezing the views after detecting a sudden change. ¡®I¡¯m curious.¡¯ The people who had watched Nine music video started to click on the content of New ck that popped up as a rmended video. ¡°¡­?¡± A content where they asked Q&A to New ck. ¡®How is the lung capacity of Rihyuk, the main vocal?¡¯ As the question was asked, the blue guy took a deep breath and started to y the recorder. The Novel will be updated first on this website. Come back and continue reading tomorrow, everyone! Chapter 302: The first stage was denial. ¡°No way.¡± ¡°This can¡¯t be happening¡­ It¡¯s weird.¡± ¡°There¡¯s no way it could rise this fast.¡± But it was inevitable. The previouseback song, Wind Flower, had done much better than expected. And then. ¡°Didn¡¯t they make a big fussst year when Marker hit 500,000 views in 24 hours?¡± ¡°I think so.¡±When I searched online, I saw articles with headlines like ¡®A million views in just 48 hours, what a remarkable rookie you are?''1 That was four times faster than before. ¡°¡­¡± The most viewed MV of the first half of this year, TNT¡¯s ¡®Kingdom¡¯, had reached 1.5 million views in seven hours, right? Taehyun and his gang had sent me the link on KakaoTalk. They urged me to admire it quickly. ¡°We got a million views in 11 hours¡­¡± We looked at each other with dazed faces. We didn¡¯t know how it happened, but we felt good. Rihyuk looked prettier and more special than usual. And even the ck sheep of the family, the youngest one, looked cute. We were happy to see that we got a million views in such a short time. ¡°Wow, there are so manyments.¡± We gathered around the tablet PC at Bi Ju¡¯s words. ¡°There¡¯s a lot of English.¡± ¡°It¡¯s all English. Hyung, can you trante this?¡± ¡°Press trante, Junghyun.¡± Junghyun pressed ¡®trante¡¯ and read it. ¡°Woojoo is an arsonist, he set my heart on fire.¡± ¡°Pfft!¡± The younger onesughed and I smiled awkwardly. Then I pressed another ¡®trante¡¯ and asked Junghyun to y the voice. ¡°Look at that blue guy¡¯s legs. His legs are longer than my life.¡± ¡°Puhaha!¡± ¡°And his face is brighter than my future, by the way.¡± While Rihyuk was embarrassed, we read thements that the foreigners left. There were a lot of funny ones. ¡®There I slept (1987-2015)¡¯ was there, and ¡®Pigeons, go away. From now on, the symbol of peace is New ck¡¯ was a wittyment. ¡®Woojoo¡¯s dance is more stable than our country¡¯s economy.¡¯ was anotherment. Weughed for a while with the younger ones. ¡°¡­¡± Until we saw somements. -I¡¯m getting confused. I watched the New ck video that YouTube rmended. What is their main job? Koreanedians? Singers? Actors? I can¡¯t figure it out. ©ºOf course they¡¯re singers. What are you talking about? ©ºGo and watch the weird things in the rmended videos. ©ºI did. Sorry. I was short-sighted. I agree with youpletely. We quickly switched to the rmended videos. -¡®Deoksoon-ah¡¯ National Singing Contest remix. 3 hours -How to store apples for a long time (It¡¯s not hard~) -Growing cacti day 10 -Three unknown facts about King Sejong -[Souffl¨¦ TV] Why Wang Jiho is a lovely maknae We smiled warmly at each other¡¯s tastes on the shared tablet. Then we looked at the bottom of the rmended list and realized what thatment meant. ¡°Why is the History Exploration Team here¡­?¡± ¡°Wow. Look at the dynamic thumbnail. Junghyun-hyung and Daegil are fighting with a lot of tension.¡± ¡°Wow. Really.¡± ¡°¡­Wow or not, this seems like a big deal.¡± Rihyuk said seriously. ¡°People all over the world are watching our¡­ this stuff.¡± ¡°¡­¡± At the moment when Nine¡¯s MV surpassed 1.1 million views, we were screaming in our dorm. By the time it was 5 p.m., the views had gone up even more. -New ck¡¯s ¡®Nine¡¯ MV hits it big¡­ ¡®2 million views¡¯ in 17 hours -¡®Nine¡¯ breaks 2 million views, ¡°New ck is hot¡± -New ck posts a proof shot on their official SNS ¡°We never expected this¡­ Thank you so much¡± It was a staggering increase in views. ¡°We might hit 10 million views before the end of this week at this rate.¡± ¡°Wow¡­¡± ¡°Congrattions in advance, guys. Your music video is a huge hit.¡± The other staff members of the promotion team, including Mr. Hong, greeted us with ¡®congrattions¡¯. I swallowed hard. ¡°Are we really that sessful right now?¡± ¡°No.¡± ¡°I knew it¡­¡± ¡°It¡¯s more than that.¡± Mr. Hong nced over the Excel data and said. ¡°If this trend continues, you¡¯ll definitely make it to the top 10 most viewed K-pop music videos of the year.¡± ¡°Wow¡­¡± ¡°My guess is that you¡¯ll be at least fourth.¡± ¡°Us?¡± He nodded. ¡°And you might even go higher. The word of mouth is spreading fast, and there¡¯s a lot of influx from overseas fans.¡± ¡°Like when we did Masquerade?¡± ¡°More than that. Back then, it was like a spoonful or two, but now it¡¯s¡­ like a sack of rice exploded?¡± I remembered the breakfast scene of Rihyuk and Junghyun. If Masquerade was like scooping out some cereal, Nine was like pouring out a whole box. The trend was rming. We became global superstars with one music video! Well, not really, but it was still exciting. It was the first time we got such a big response from across the ocean. ¡°Wow¡­¡± I still felt nervous when I returned to the practice room. I couldn¡¯t imagine it. It was a sess at an unexpected point, and I was rather flustered. ¡°Hmm¡­¡± I opened the world map on myptop and looked at it. ¡°So, people are watching our music video here, and there, and everywhere.¡± ¡°That¡¯s right.¡± ¡°It feels like a souffl¨¦ spreading over the world.¡± I had a vision of a red graphic covering the world map like in the beginning of an apocalypse movie. Breads popping up all over the map, saying ¡®Hi!¡¯ and bouncing around. I picked up my phone. ¡°What are you doing?¡± ¡°I have to send a thank you message to the music video director.¡± The youngest joined me as I wrote a long text. ¡°I want to send one too.¡± ¡°Let¡¯s wait a bit and send them separately. It¡¯s weird if we all send them at once.¡± ¡°Okay.¡± I sent the text and soon got a reply from the director, congratting me and saying he was happy for me. There were other messages piled up as well. It was quiet until we hit a million views, but after we hit two million, the news spread and I got a lot of contacts from people I knew. Jang Sowon, my senior, called me to congratte me, and Taehyun sent me a gift card along with a congrattory message. Do Jun Ki [Woo Joo] Do Jun Ki [Are you ready for our hot and real overseas deployment¡­?] I decided to answer the PD of ¡®Men Go¡¯ter. Eun Sung [Congrattions on bing a global superstar] Eun Sung [Are you going overseas now?] Me [Yeah] Me [You go, I¡¯ll stay] He sent me a rude message back, saying how could I say that to him when he was in the army. Han Jo [Haha congrats] I replied with a shy emoticon to Han Jo, who congratted me awkwardly. The younger ones were also busy replying to their acquaintances. ¡°Are you all done with your replies?¡± ¡°Yes.¡± I smiled and said to the younger ones who nodded. ¡°Let¡¯s practice more until we release the song.¡± We practiced the choreography of ¡®Nine¡¯ in a serious atmosphere, preparing for theeback stage on Thursday. The music video views were one thing, and the music shows were another. Especially this time, the music shows were only two weeks long, considering the fatigue of the concert and the overseas tour schedule. I wanted to pay more attention to the details of each stage, since there were only a few of them. ¡°I tried changing my hand gestures slightly at the concert, and I got a better reaction when I did it this way.¡± Under the guidance of the main dancer, I tweaked the minor movements of my hands and feet in the choreography. It was a subtle difference that anyone would ask, ¡®What changed?¡¯ but it was a big difference for us. ¡°Huff¡­ Huff!¡± After repeating the high-intensity moves dozens of times, Durumi, whose energy was already drained, copsed on the floor. His tearful eyes looked at me. ¡°I have one wish.¡± ¡°What is it?¡± His pitiful face came into my crouched eyes. ¡°Now that Junghyun hyung is done, the next album is mine, right? Blue.¡± ¡°Yeah.¡± ¡°¡­Please, let me go in the direction I want for the next album concept.¡± I tilted my head. ¡°Well. If we went in the direction you wanted, our third album title would have been Dark Matter instead of Wind Flower.¡± ¡°I¡¯ll give up the right to the title.¡± ¡°Is it because the dance is hard?¡± ¡°¡­¡± ¡°Yeah. I know, even if you don¡¯t say it. I know how you feel.¡± It was a word offort from me, but he snapped at me, saying, ¡®What do you know, you dance monster?¡¯ and I had to calm him down for a moment. Bijoo, who was practicing the dance break in the corner, came over and squatted down. ¡°Hmm? Hyung. What¡¯s wrong with Rihyuk?¡± ¡°He says the dance is hard.¡± ¡°Rihyuk. Is the dance hard?¡± Bijoo opened his eyes wide and patted Rihyuk, who was lying on the floor. ¡°It¡¯s okay if you can¡¯t do it. You just have to practice.¡± ¡°¡­¡± ¡°Look at me. I thought I couldn¡¯t do it at first, but now I¡¯m doing great. Everything is solved by practice.¡± ¡°Aaaah!¡± He rolled on the floor as if he had a trauma, and Bijoo blinked his eyes. I smirked. ¡°Come on, it¡¯s the final stretch. Rihyuk. Let¡¯s cheer up.¡± ¡°Hoooh¡­¡± ¡°When we finish this activity well, let¡¯s go for a vocal song that you want next time.¡± ¡°Really?¡± I nodded, and Jiho said, ¡®Oh.¡¯ ¡°That¡¯s the thing, when Woojoo hyung said he would buy me pork cutlet and went to the dentist, that was his expression.¡± ¡°¡­¡± ¡°Uh, I had stir-fried pork.¡± Rihyuk narrowed his eyes at the testimony of the two clueless guys, and I coughed and turned away. Then I practiced again. He said he couldn¡¯t do it with his mouth, but when he actually started practicing, he lit a fire in his eyes. It was admirable to see him shaking and practicing with no strength to stand. One of the most dramatic changes in this Nine was Rihyuk. His dance improved a lot. He must have done a lot of research on his own, and instead of trying to dance well vaguely, he was now bringing out his own characteristics. He found a way to stand out between me, who showed a heavy and orthodox dance, and Bijoo, who showed a shy and flexible dance. He changed his stiff dance moves to pop dance-like moves with angles in his body, and filled in the gaps with facial expressions he learned from the youngest. ¡°¡­Hoooh.¡± Well. His stamina was weak, but that was a w. I smiled as I watched the other members loosen their bodies or nod their heads. Not only Rihyuk, but everyone¡¯s skills had improved. With the addition of the concert, a real experience, there was confidence in every move they practiced. I could see that each of their colors, which had not been noticeable until now, were reflected in their performances. I smiled as I watched the younger ones build their own domains. I was always worried about them as if they were fish on the market, but now I felt like I could worry less. When Jiho, who was standing in front of the mirror, waved softly with a serious face, I felt proud. The youngest turned his body and smiled at me. ¡°How is it, hyung? Pirarucu dance. It¡¯s like a fish, right?¡± ¡°¡­¡± ¡°Hahaha! Junghyun hyung, don¡¯t do it separately, do it together!¡± I smiled warmly as I watched the younger ones dance the Amazon freshwater fish dance around Rihyuk, who had copsed. Maybe¡­ Maybe it was too soon¡­ Before 6 p.m. People started to gather in the lounge of Lemon Entertainment. ¡°Hello!¡± ¡°Hi.¡± The ones who smiled at New ck¡¯s friendly greeting were theposers who participated in ¡®Neon ck¡¯. ¡°Come and eat.¡± ¡°Oh?¡± When they arrived at the lounge, they saw various kinds of food spread out. The A&R team staff who were eating with wooden chopsticks seemed to urge them toe closer. ¡°Our kids ordered this for you.¡± When they turned their heads, the New ck members smiled and said, ¡®Enjoy~¡¯. Na Sang-yoon asked. ¡°Aren¡¯t you eating?¡± ¡°We¡¯re on a diet right now¡­ We¡¯ll eat anything after theeback. You go ahead.¡± ¡°Thanks.¡± They felt grateful to see them smiling and offering food, even though they must be annoyed by the smell of food while on a diet. ¡°Come on!¡± The A&R team smiled pleasantly and handed them wooden chopsticks. Why were they in such a good mood? The New ck and Lemon Entertainment staff looked at each other and smiled happily. ¡®Is it because the song is about to be released?¡¯ As they thought of the title and tracks of ¡®Neon ck¡¯ that would be released soon, their thoughts stopped at a certain point. ¡°Oh, right. The music video was a hit.¡± Yu Chang-seok, aposer who used the alias Saltman, said while munching on food. ¡°Congrattions. Guys.¡± ¡°Thank you!¡± ¡°Right. The reaction to Nine was no joke. I saw an article on my way up that said it might get over 10 million views this week. Is that true?¡± ¡°Yes.¡± They all said ¡®wow¡¯ as they saw the members smiling happily. They didn¡¯t know how well the song would do, but the music video views were a huge sess. New ck, who had not been very popr overseas until now, was getting a hot response. It was worth it. ¡®They really did a great job.¡¯ The neon signs and night view, and the dance that unfolded in them, looked like a scene from a sci-fi movie. The ones who worked on ¡®Nine¡¯ felt proud. They chatted about the music video and theposers busily moved their chopsticks. ¡®It¡¯s so good.¡¯ ¡®Where is this bossam ce? I need to know the name.¡¯ ¡®I was going to eat cup noodles.¡¯ Then, Seo Pil-geun, the deputy of the A&R team who was next to them, said. ¡°Don¡¯t eat too much. Woojoo said he¡¯s going to treat you to a beef ce in front of hereter.¡± ¡°Huh¡­¡± The youngposers¡¯ eyes became hazy at the word beef. They moved their chopsticks slowly with happy smiles, and the staff nodded and smiled. Soon. Before 6 p.m., theposers and staff gathered around the members who were sitting in front of theirptops. ¡°Here ites! Here ites!¡± ¡°It¡¯s¡­ I The staff tapped the shoulders of the members who were swallowing their dry saliva, trying to ease their tension. Rihyuk closed the window with his trembling fingers. Woojoo opened a new window with a stable tremor. ¡°Wow!¡± They all pped to celebrate the release of the new album. The album cover had a green neon sign that said ¡®N¡¯, and the tracks were listed. ¡®¡­I Theposers who were sandwiched between the congratting people felt a bit dazed. It was their first time to participate in a proper album work. Before they applied for the project, most of theposers here had not been able to get a decent job. They often had their names dropped at thest minute, or had their work taken by seniorposers. That¡¯s why working with New ck was meaningful. They could work well in a good environment, get recognition for their work, and the process¡­ ¡®Are you tired? I brought a mattress to the studio.¡¯ ¡°Are you having fun? I learned something when I went to the special forces. I can¡¯t be the only one who¡¯s happy. How about you? Isn¡¯t this melody exciting?¡± ¡°I love working more than anything in the world~ As much as the sky and the earth~¡± There were hardships, of course¡­ But somehow, I overcame them all and finally released my album. I smiled proudly every time I saw my name on the credits for position, lyrics, arrangement¡¯ for each track. The members came up to me and said. ¡°You¡¯ve worked really hard.¡± ¡°Well, it¡¯s not like we¡¯ve made it to the charts yet¡­¡± ¡°The process is more important than the result. We¡¯re really grateful that you worked with us this time.¡± ¡°¡­¡± I felt a strange feeling as I saw the members thanking me one by one. Soon after. ¡°We¡¯ve entered the 5-minute chart at number one!¡± ¡°Wow!¡± ¡°Guys!¡± Everyone hugged and celebrated. Above Teen Spirit¡¯s ¡®Feel So Good¡¯ at number three and Cha Woo-hyun¡¯s ¡®Heavy Rain Warning¡¯ at number two, there was New ck¡¯s ¡®Nine¡¯ at number one. Theposers also rejoiced with them. ¡®Nice¡­¡¯ Was this the right word to describe this exhrating atmosphere? With this performance, we were expected to stay at number one until the 7 o¡¯clock chart. As we prepared to head to a barbecue ce together, Woojoo approached us. ¡°By the way, can I ask you something?¡± ¡°Hmm¡­?¡± ¡°Do you have any new projects after this album?¡± Theposers looked at each other. Their toes twitched. ¡®No.¡¯ ¡®It feels like they¡¯re asking if we got a job during the holidays¡­¡¯ ¡®As if.¡¯ They had skills, but they were still rtively new and inexperienced. There weren¡¯t many ces that would hire them. As they wondered how to answer. ¡°Would you like to keep working with us?¡± ¡°Here?¡± ¡°Yes, I talked to the boss a while ago. He said he liked your work and wanted to keep working with you¡­¡± Woojoo asked cautiously. ¡°He said it would be nice to create a producing team.¡± It was tempting. ¡°The A&R team also thinks positively. But I can¡¯t tell you without asking your opinion first. So I wanted to ask you in advance. Are you interested?¡± ¡°As a producing team member¡­?¡± ¡°Yes, you¡¯ll have to talk to the team leader for more details.¡± Theposers looked at each other. They didn¡¯t hesitate for long. Woojoo nodded his head with a bright smile as he heard their opinions. As he left, theposers revealed their excitement. ¡°So we¡¯re going to work here more? More?¡± ¡°I think it would be good enough to work under these conditions, but it sounds even better after hearing Woojoo¡¯s words.¡± ¡°I¡¯m d we applied. Really.¡± But theposers didn¡¯t know. That behind them, the A&R staff and the members were high-fiving. ¡®We got them. Nobi.¡¯ ¡®Good job. Dobi.¡¯ It was the moment when the producing team was created under the A&R team of Lemon Entertainment. At the same time. A street in Gangnam was filled with loudughter. On the top floor of a nearby building, a bald middle-aged man was shedding tears of joy. Souffl¨¦s from all over the ce were cheering, ¡®We did it!¡¯ There were only those who couldn¡¯t smile. ¡°Damn it¡­¡± The pretty boys who were checking the charts on their phones looked at each other. ¡°Hey. What are we going to do? We¡¯re screwed.¡± ¡°These guys were freaking strong.¡± ¡°How do they always top the charts like this?¡± ¡°I know, right? We¡¯re on fire too.¡± ¡°¡­But how do we beat them, huh? They¡¯re the public¡¯s favorite whenever theye out.¡± The members of Teen Spirit were worried as they faced thepetition for the first ce with New ck. The Novel will be updated first on this website. Come back and continue reading tomorrow, everyone! Chapter 303: ¡°Wow!¡± ¡°Wee to Lemon Entertainment!¡± We sang ¡®Congrattions¡¯ and danced cheerfully, making everyoneugh. The A&R team pped and giggled. Theposers smiled nostalgically at the sign that said ¡®Producing Team¡¯. ¡°Wee to ourpany.¡± President Park Kyuho greeted theposers with a kind smile. We gave them bouquets of flowers as they shook hands and thanked him. He suggested having a meal together sometime.After he finished talking to theposers, he walked towards me quickly. ¡°¡­!¡± Oh. What a surprise. He walked so fast, like a ghost from a horror movie. His face got closer and closer. At the same time, his kind smile turned into a capitalist grin. He looked like he was so happy to see my face that he didn¡¯t know what to do. ¡°Woojoo!¡± He grabbed my hand tightly. ¡°¡­Yes?¡± ¡°You worked really hard on this album. Look at you. Your face is half gone. You need some medicine.¡± ¡°I¡¯m fine, President. I¡¯m taking ginseng¡­¡± ¡°Ginseng? That¡¯s not enough. I just got some deer antler at home. I should make you some.¡± He said that to the other members too. He was like ¡®You¡¯re half gone!¡¯ as he pressed Jiho¡¯s face with both hands and sighed. Then he looked at Jung-hyun. ¡°Right. Jung-hyun is also half¡­¡± ¡°¡­¡± His pupils shook at the sight of his warm and rock-like face. ¡°Your face¡­¡± ¡°Yes.¡± ¡°It¡¯s about¡­ eighty-three percent gone.¡± ¡°That¡¯s right. President.¡± He paused for a moment in front of our healthy kid. He grabbed our hands and teared up. ¡°You all worked hard preparing for the concert. It must have been hard taking pictures for the goods too¡­¡± We exchanged nces. ¡®The concert was a huge sess.¡¯ ¡®The goods sold like crazy.¡¯ He wiped his tears with a handkerchief and then his forehead. While Director Jo cleared his throat behind him, we desperately thought of something else. ¡°You all participated in producing, right? You did a great job. There are quite a few selfposed songs in the album.¡± ¡°Yes, Jung-hyun and Bijoo¡¯s selfposed songs are in it.¡± ¡°You all worked hard¡­¡± We exchanged nces again. ¡®The album is selling really well right now.¡¯ ¡®The digital sales are good too.¡¯ He grabbed my hand again as a tear rolled down his cheek. ¡°I feel like Woojoo is always working hardposing¡­ That¡¯s why I created this producing team.¡± ¡°Yes. I know.¡± I answered with a smile. Scarlet also had Daisy who could write andpose songs, but she only had a small part in the mixtape or the bonus tracks. So the A&R team staff could help her out. But I had so many songs that Iposed myself, starting from the title track, that I needed a lot of help. The biggest reason why the producing team was created was to help me with my song work. ¡°So, what I¡¯m trying to say is¡­¡± He asked me seriously. ¡°Is there anything else you need?¡± ¡°Need?¡± ¡°Anything that bothers you when you practice or work. Just tell me. We can remodel the practice room too¡­¡± He seemed to have already decided on spending money. His hand was trembling. He looked like he was breaking millions in his head. ¡°Um, need¡­¡± We looked at each other, and his hand started to shake. ¡°We don¡¯t need anything right now.¡± ¡°Phew¡­¡± My hands finally stopped shaking. ¡°Ha ha. I see.¡± ¡°Thank you for your concern.¡± They had spent a fortune on the music video. And the president had spared no expense on making our album, as if we were from one of the top four agencies. What more could we ask for? We were getting paid well, too. The TNT members would be shocked by our earnings. I felt grateful to the president, who asked us if we needed anything else. ¡°If you need anything, just let me know. Anytime.¡± Then he disappeared, heading towards the director and the manager who were talking to theposers. I muttered to myself as I watched him go. ¡°¡­We¡¯ve made it.¡± ¡°It¡¯s not just that we¡¯ve made it. We¡¯ve hit the jackpot.¡± ¡°And a huge one at that.¡± I could feel how our status had changed in thepany. The president was a nice person, but he was also a businessman who valued profits above all. He had decided to create a new producing team for one of our members, and had invested millions in one music video. That was only possible because we were bringing in revenue. If we had been doing poorly, that would have been unthinkable. ¡°Well. We just have to work harder.¡± ¡°Right.¡± I felt a bit strange, but I thought positively. If he had decided to support us like this, we should be thankful and work harder. We smiled and approached theposers. ¡°We look forward to working with you. PDs.¡± ¡°Same here.¡± Theposers smiled and replied. The staff of the new producing team were called PDs, short for producers. ¡°I¡¯m happy, but it¡¯s a bit weird.¡± Na Sang-yoon PD scratched the back of his head. ¡°We got the position, but we don¡¯t have much work to do for a while. It feels a bit awkward.¡± ¡°I know. I thought we¡¯d start working right away.¡± ¡°We don¡¯t have a chance to earn our keep.¡± Scarlet and I felt awkward, too. We didn¡¯t have a new album for a while. Of course, they would work on some projects from outside, but there wasn¡¯t much to do in thepany. Except for the solo album of our senior Yoon Chan-hyuk, which woulde out in winter. Weughed and replied. ¡°Honestly, you haven¡¯t slept properly for over a month. You¡¯ve worked hard, so you should take it easy.¡± ¡°Is that so?¡± ¡°Yes, of course.¡± Na Sang-yoon PD smiled and replied. ¡°But if you need anything, just let me know.¡± ¡°Okay.¡± I smiled brightly and replied. ¡°But there won¡¯t be anything for a while.¡± ¡°Ha ha, really?¡± ¡°Yes, because I¡¯ve finished everything I needed to do. Unless something newes up¡­¡± Theposers who had be the staff of the producing teamughed happily. They said that, but they were happy and excited to think that they could rx for a while. ¡°Ha ha ha!¡± ¡°Hot hot!¡± We all burst intoughter. Hollywood, LA, USA. A few people were sitting in a studio filled with a huge mixing console and recording equipment. ¡°Hmm¡­¡± John Edwards, the director of the musical movie ¡®Nostalgia¡¯, listened to the song and stroked his chin. ¡°Stop it.¡± The audio staff pressed pause, and Edwards asked the person next to him. ¡°Sarah, what do you think? About this song.¡± ¡°It¡¯s not bad, but it¡¯s not good for the global version.¡± ¡°I agree.¡± Edwards crossed out the name of the pianist Hashimoto Kenji on the list, following Sarah Bloom¡¯s opinion. ¡°Rupert, you too?¡± ¡°Yes.¡± The brown-haired, blue-eyed young man, the lead actor Rupert Dean, answered. ¡°The intro seems too grandiose for nothing. The content is nothing special, but it¡¯s all dressed up.¡± ¡°Okay.¡± The song was dropped from the list by the unanimous opinion of the three. ¡°Then let¡¯s use this one only for the theatrical version that will be released in Japan¡­ and let¡¯s listen to the rest.¡± The work of selecting songs was underway, with the general director, the music director, and the lead actor sitting together. What they were doing now was choosing a song that would be inserted into a scene in the movie. A library where bookse alive by magic and run wild, and a song that appeared in the foreign books corner. -Who are you? -Why are you here? -Did youe to see something exotic? If that¡¯s the case, you¡¯vee to the right ce! The books that circled around the protagonist like fairies sang in foreignnguages. The song would be sung in differentnguages in each country that had arge share of the global movie market. It was a kind of fan service. On the other hand, there was a n to send out a separate version called ¡®international version¡¯ to the United States and other countries. And choosing the song that would be included in that version was exactly what they were doing now. ¡°Hmm¡­¡± But their expressions were not bright. They wanted to find a song that would suit the atmosphere of various countries, including the United States, but there was not much that fit. Most of them had a strong color of that country. It might not seem so important to have a song for one short scene, but as a musical movie, the production team of Nostalgia put a lot of effort into every sound. ¡®What should I do¡­¡¯ The list of remaining songs was getting smaller and smaller, but there was no suitable candidate. Without saying anything else, they drank water or beverages and waited for thest song. ¡°This is thest song. It¡¯s from Korea.¡± ¡°Korea?¡± ¡°It¡¯s from a singer called The New ck.¡± ¡°Oh.¡± Director Edwards nodded. He had seen the face of the K-pop singerst month when he had a video meeting. ¡°Korea is one of the major countries, right? Why did you put this off until the end?¡± ¡°It¡¯s a bit long.¡± ¡°Long?¡± ¡°Yes, they sent two versions¡­ one is the highlight part, and the other is the full version that¡¯s over three minutes.¡± ¡°¡­?¡± ¡°They said to pick the part you like.¡± The lead actor and the music director frowned at the words that they sent a full version that was over three minutes. But soon they nodded. It was strange, but not a bad thing. They could cut it and use it as they pleased. ¡°Let¡¯s listen to it.¡± At the words of Director Edwards, the song was yed. And then. ¡°¡­¡± ¡°¡­¡± Exactly three seconds. Their backs, which had been slouching, straightened up, and their eyes, which had been dull, opened wide. They looked at each other and smiled brightly. ¡®This is it¡­!¡¯ Director Edwards swallowed his saliva. A song that would be included in the Korean version, but also worthy of being included in the international version, had appeared. A perfect song that matched the overall atmosphere of the movie. ¡®It feels like the fairies are popping out.¡¯ It was a lovely song, as if the books that surrounded the protagonist sang like fairies. It also matched the scene that they had watched dozens of times. ¡®Amazing.¡¯ Rupert Dean admired. ¡®How did they make it so perfectly fit, when they only heard the description of the movie scene?¡¯ A person across the Pacific Ocean made a song that matched so well with just imagination. It was a song like a tree where fairies danced under the star-filled Milky Way. ¡®I¡¯m curious. Who is this person?¡¯ The lead actor showed curiosity. ¡®I don¡¯t know who made this song, but they must be great. I should search for themter.¡¯ Rupert imagined a beautiful artist with a noble character in his head. Of course, the price he was talking about was ying with the members and eating dumplings in Korea at the same time. ¡°How do you all like it?¡± After the song ended, the director asked for their opinions, and they all agreed unanimously. ¡°Let¡¯s go with this one.¡± ¡°It took us until the very end to find a song like this. I can¡¯t imagine any other song that would fit better.¡± ¡°I agree.¡± The three of them smiled brightly and nodded. They had finally found the right candidate after listening to dozens of songs. But they soon faced a new dilemma. ¡°It¡¯s not hard to cut and use it.¡± Director Edwards said. ¡°We just need to trim the parts we need and use them. But after listening to the full version¡­¡± ¡°It¡¯s too good to waste, isn¡¯t it?¡± ¡°Exactly. I was wondering why they sent us a song that¡¯s over three minutes long, but this one had to be like that.¡± Music director Sarah Bloom also nodded. ¡°The sound is amazing. The engineers must have worked their hardest to polish it. They must have hired quite a few people.¡± That was true. ¡°Anyway, I agree with the idea of keeping the full version, John.¡± ¡°So do I.¡± After they reached a consensus. They soon started a meeting on how to best utilize the full version. When the meeting was over after several hours. ¡°What about this?¡± The idea that John Edwards came up with made the other two nod their heads repeatedly. It was a good idea. After they made a concrete n, John Edwards smiled and pped his hands. ¡°Well, then, shall we contact Korea?¡± The producing team staff were bewildered by the sudden situation. ¡°A Hollywood musical movie¡­?¡± ¡°Yes.¡± ¡°Woojoo, your song is going to be used almost in its full version?¡± ¡°Yes. Isn¡¯t that great?¡± Woojoo nodded with a flushed face. The producing team staff also cheered with happy expressions. ¡°Congrattions!¡± ¡°Wow, that¡¯s awesome. Way to go, Woojoo!¡± ¡°Thank you.¡± Woojoo smiled awkwardly at the praise. Then he coughed. ¡°Ahem¡­¡± As the atmosphere calmed down, Woojoo opened his mouth. ¡°But there are a few things we need to change.¡± ¡°Like what?¡± ¡°They asked us to change the lyrics to English. Not the Korean version, but the international version.¡± ¡°Oh, I see.¡± ¡°But if we change the lyrics, the tone will change too, so we need to adjust it again.¡± ¡°¡­¡± They felt it. This was work. Unconsciously, they looked at the door that was opening, and Junghyun, who came in with his arms crossed, looked like the gatekeeper of hell. And the three miserable dogs sitting in front of him looked like a three-headed Cerberus. ¡°Let me briefly exin¡­¡± Woojoo smiled brightly. ¡°I thought we had no work.¡± ¡°¡­¡± ¡°We did.¡± It was a splendid summary. On an afternoon when the album work and concert arrangement work had just finished. ¡®We hit the jackpot.¡¯ ¡®Hahaha!¡¯ ¡®I¡¯m happy. It¡¯s a happy thing.¡¯ The PDs of the producing team looked at the ceiling and smiled brightly. After they gave the new work to the producing team. ¡°Phew¡­¡± The music video of ¡®Nine¡¯ had surpassed 7 million views on Thursday morning, the fourth day. Freezing, they called it. When the views suddenly skyrocketed, YouTube would temporarily freeze the views and wonder, ¡®What¡¯s up with this kid?¡¯ I heard that our music video for Nine had been frozen several times. It was because of the word-of-mouth among the overseas fans, who made the views skyrocket repeatedly. That¡¯s why the views that were clearly four million a few hours ago suddenly became five million. ¡°I still can¡¯t believe it.¡± ¡°Do you think the director is doing this?¡± The youngest raised the conspiracy theory of Yoon Seokhwan. ¡°Maybe this screen is fake. Maybe the director is typing numbers in his office to make us happy.¡± ¡°Then what about the freezing?¡± ¡°The director needs a break too.¡± The manager hyungs burst intoughter at Jiho¡¯s hypothesis, which had some persuasive power despite being absurd. We alsoughed along, while Junghyun looked excited. ¡°Alright, let¡¯s get ready to get off.¡± At my words, the brothers unbuckled their seat belts one by one. Rumble- The door opened and Wonseok hyung got off, followed by us with bright smiles on our faces. ¡°Hello!¡± We waved our hands at the dozens of camera lenses that were aimed at us. We shook hands with some people who took off their masks, and greeted them with smiles, as well as the phone cameras. ¡°Bijoo!¡± When our kid almost ran off to a different direction by himself, I grabbed him and dragged him like a parent, which made everyoneugh. We had a hard time at the handball court too, whether it was Junghyun, me, or the other kids. Bijoo still didn¡¯t know why his hair turned red before the concert, because it was easy to find out. We passed through the ss door andughed like fools with the brothers. ¡°Why does it seem like there are more cameras every time we go?¡± ¡°Right?¡± This ce was the K-Net building in Sangam-dong. We were walking down the hallway with light steps, looking forward to our firsteback on the music show. ¡°Hello!¡± Every time we bowed to the people passing by, the tired staffs of the broadcasting station greeted us with a smile for a moment. And there was something unexpected. ¡®That person is smiling¡­¡¯ ¡®They can smile too.¡¯ The staff who usually greeted us with a frown when we came to K smiled and said ¡®hello¡¯ as they passed by. They were the same person who greeted us with a ¡®what do you want¡¯ expression when we came for Baramkkot. It must have been because of the home run we hit this time. The digital song for Nine, which was released on Monday, was currently maintaining the first ce on the daily chart for three consecutive days. It was also staying at the top of the real-time chart. We didn¡¯t know how our song sounded in the outside world, but we heard Nine on the radio on the way here. -This is a refreshing song that will clear your stuffy chest. The new song of New ck, Nine! As we recalled thement we heard on the radio, we unpacked our luggage with the staffs in therge waiting room. ¡°Wow, it¡¯s bigger.¡± ¡°We can practice our choreography here, right?¡± ¡°It¡¯s nice to have more space. Hey.¡± We smiled contentedly as we watched the staffs joking and unpacking in the spacious waiting room. The stylists hung the stage costumes on the hanger, while we fixed our clothes. We had a pre-recording for the stageter, but we had a content shooting before that. The music show on K-Net had a lot of mini games and other contents besides the stage. Today¡¯s content was a corner where we exchanged songs with other singers and learned about each other¡¯s songs. ¡°Ahem¡­¡± I cleared my throat and asked the brothers. ¡°Shall we go?¡± ¡°Yes.¡± ¡°Let¡¯s not be nervous.¡± They all nodded seriously. My heart was pounding as I thought of the scary people we would meet in a few minutes. Thewless teenagers of Jilpoongnodo, who made us feel scared with their intimidating words and actions. We passed a few doors and looked at the paper that said ¡®Teen Spirit¡¯ on the front of another waiting room. Knock knock. -Who is it? I whispered in a stern expression at the rough voice. ¡°It¡¯s us¡­ New ck¡­¡± The brothers behind me started tough silently. Soon the door opened wide, and chubby-faced boys appeared. They had expressions full ofints about the authority, school, society, and so on, which made us shrink a little. ¡°¡­¡± There was a moment of silence. ¡°Wee.¡± ¡°¡­¡± ¡°We¡¯ve been waiting for you.¡± Twinkle twinkle. The chubby faces smiled at the same time, showing their white teeth. Chapter 304: A boy group that debuted in 2012, in their fourth year. They are singers who boast outstanding visuals even in MOP, which has ¡®visuals only¡¯ as its motto. As they say, they are a group of pretty boys with different vibes. There¡¯s the leader Hwiyeon, who looks like an inte novel protagonist, and Yeonhu, who has a refined impression that makes him seem good at art. There were various faces gathered there. And then¡­ ¡°Hey, we need to make room for the guests. Who spilled potato chips on the sofa? I¡¯ll give you 10 seconds. Confess.¡± ¡°It¡¯s not me. It¡¯s Yeonhu.¡± ¡°Clean it up if you ate it. Are you a kid?¡±¡°It¡¯s not me!¡± They all had rough mouths. We awkwardlyughed at the sight of them exchanging harsh words while looking for the culprit who spilled the potato chips. At that moment, when we were trembling while listening to them swearing left and right. ¡°Do you want this?¡± Woo-bin, who looked like he could write ¡®100 ways to skip school¡¯, offered us candy. ¡°It¡¯s glucose candy.¡± ¡°Oh.¡± ¡°It¡¯s blueberry vor, just like that. Apollo. You looked like you were having a hard time with the choreography. This will hit the spot.¡± He smiled slyly with his rough face. I momentarily wondered if that hit the spot meant it would go straight to the goal. ¡®It¡¯s delicious.¡¯ ¡®It¡¯s actually good in this situation.¡¯ We said ¡®oh¡¯ while feeling the candy melt in our mouths, and the chaos continued. ¡°Ugh¡­¡± Woo-bin clicked his tongue while looking at his hyungs who were asking ¡®who spilled the potato chips!¡¯. Unlike our youngest, who looked well-behaved but was the most troublemaker, the youngest of Teenspirit, who had a rough impression, was the most well-behaved. When I looked back at Jiho, the youngest who was hiding behind my back stuck out his head. ¡°What?¡± ¡°Nothing¡­¡± ¡°Why are you looking at me with such a pitiful eye?¡± I nodded my head with a warm smile, and on the other side, Yeonhu was protesting his innocence. ¡°It¡¯s not me. I¡¯m so wronged. Why don¡¯t you guys understand me?¡± ¡°¡­Really?¡± ¡°It¡¯s not!¡± The Teenspirit members who were briefly ncing at him soon started to say ¡®hey, sorry. Calm down¡­¡¯. While they were warmly reconciling and saying ¡®sorry for misunderstanding you¡¯, the Wonseok hyung who was standing next to us looked at the pretty boys with a culture-shocked face. ¡°¡­¡± My siblings and I nodded our heads with a pleased smile. Meanwhile, the Teenspirit managers greeted us with expressions that looked like they were about to die. One of the road managers spoke to us with a resigned face. ¡°They¡¯re not usually like this, bickering in front of the guests¡­ I hope you understand. They¡¯re all very sensitive these days.¡± ¡°¡­?¡± ¡°They¡¯re going through puberty¡­¡± I barely held back theughter that was about to burst out. ¡°They¡¯re at the age when their emotions are very delicate¡­¡± He pointed at the members who were hugging each other with moist eyes and saying ¡®I¡¯m so sorry!¡¯, ¡®I¡¯m more sorry!¡¯. We looked away and held back ourughter. They were a senior group that debuted two years earlier than us, but they were going through puberty now. But on the other hand, it made sense. Except for Hwiyeon, who was twenty, all the other members were high school students. They must have been middle school students when they debuted. I remembered the article I saw when I was in the army, ¡®Average age 15.4, crazy youngest idol appeared¡¯. It was an article that said that MOP Entertainment hastily sent out young trainees to prevent the stock price from falling, as the senior group Daydream had poor results. I muttered. ¡°It¡¯s amazing.¡± ¡°What is?¡± ¡°That we¡¯re meeting like this here.¡± ¡°¡­?¡± I smiled at Bijoo, who tilted his head. When I was in the army, Iughed and said, ¡®Oh, these kids are already debuting¡­¡¯. It was strange to meet those kids who had grown up as our juniors and seniors. ¡°I¡¯ll clean up.¡± ¡°No, I¡¯ll do it.¡± The Teen Spirit members, who had quickly made up and were happily tidying up, waved at us toe over. Hwiyeon gestured to us. ¡°Have a seat.¡± ¡°Uh, okay.¡± We sat awkwardly on the sofa surrounded by Teen Spirit. Hwiyeon opened his mouth. ¡°We were so excited to meet New ck, but when we saw the potato chips on the sofa, we suddenly got angry¡­¡± ¡°That¡¯s understandable.¡± It¡¯s puberty. We nodded our heads. ¡°Ah, what was it?¡± Hwiyeon scratched the back of his head. ¡°K-Net is sending a camera crew. I just heard that they¡¯re running about 30 minuteste.¡± ¡°¡­Really?¡± ¡°What do you want to do?¡± ¡°What should we do?¡± We answered politely with our legs crossed, while our younger siblings tried to hold back theirughter. ¡°Yeah, what should we do?¡± ¡°Do you want to y board games?¡± ¡°¡­Board games?¡± One of the other Teen Spirit members showed us his backpack. What the hell. Why is there a Halli Galli in there? ¡°We also have Jenga.¡± ¡°¡­Oh.¡± We wondered how to kill the 30 minutes until the production team arrived, and decided to just chat for a while. ¡°Oh, right. We watched your Nine music video.¡± ¡°It was so cool, guys.¡± ¡°It was awesome. We¡¯re jealous. We haven¡¯t done anything like that since Gunflower.¡± They looked at us with sparkling eyes and said, ¡®You guys are amazing!¡¯ The youngest, who quickly became friends with his peers, asked. ¡°Why? Why don¡¯t you do a strong concept?¡± ¡°Ah. We were going to, but the executives saw the choreography and immediately rejected it.¡± ¡°¡­Why?¡± ¡°They said the fans like us fresh. We look too bad. They said we should wait until we get older if we want to do something strong.¡± ¡°Ouch¡­¡± It was apletely different reason from ours. We couldn¡¯t do it because we were like flowers in a greenhouse, but they couldn¡¯t do it because they were too perfect for it. ¡°We could totally smash a police car.¡± ¡°Yeah. And protest too.¡± Weughed as we watched the teenage dreamers who dreamed of challenging the authority. The atmosphere gradually became morefortable. We thought it would be the most awkward group to be left alone with, but surprisingly, we got along well. We smiled when we saw Yeonhu, who had been eyeing Junghyun since the ser match at the Dollympics. ¡°¡­?¡± I felt something had changed. At first, I thought we were doing well and now we werefortable with the senior group, but that wasn¡¯t it. It wasn¡¯t us, but them who felt a bit different. ¡°Wow. That¡¯s crazy. So all your title songs are selfposed? Both Windflower and Nine?¡± ¡°How did you subdue the snake instructor in the special forces? That was amazing.¡± ¡°What do you do for exercise, hyung?¡± The Teen Spirit members poured questions at me with shining eyes, and I blinked. And it wasn¡¯t just me. ¡°How did you do the choreography in Dance? Your flexibility was amazing.¡± ¡°Hyung, what protein do you take?¡± They looked at Bijoo and Junghyun. The Teen Spirit¡¯s eyes were gentle and round as they looked at Rihyuk and Jiho, who were simr in age. It was like middle school students listening to high school stories and saying, ¡®Wow¡­¡¯ ¡°¡­¡± What¡¯s going on? When we first met, they seemed to say, ¡®Who the hell are you guys¡¯, but now they changed to ¡®You guys are awesome¡¯. ¡°Hello! We are Teen Spirit!¡± ¡°Two, three~ Hello! We are New ck!¡± ¡°Wow!¡± The members of Teen Spirit, who had returned as refreshing pretty boys, started pping and smiling brightly. The members of New ck also smiled and apuded. ¡°Wow, the atmosphere is so good!¡± ¡°It¡¯s visual versus visual. It feels like we¡¯re in a flower garden, doesn¡¯t it?¡± The two members of Wild, who were in charge of the intern MC, exchangedments like ¡®the atmosphere is great¡¯ and lifted the mood. ¡°Today, we have Teen Spirit and New ck as our special guests!¡± ¡°Now, please introduce yourselves to each other!¡± New ck started the introduction time. ¡°Hello. I¡¯m Jiho, the cute maknae and sub-vocal of New ck! Please take good care of me~!¡± ¡°Wow!¡± The members of Teen Spirit pped and cheered ¡®wow¡¯. They looked at New ck with ¡®oh¡¯ eyes as they introduced themselves. Something like a halo seemed to be felt behind the members of New ck. ¡°Hehehe!¡± ¡°Hehe!¡± Teen Spirit admired New ck, who wereughing like fools and exchanging jokes. ¡®Those guys are so cool even though they look like that¡­¡¯ They were amazing people every time they saw them. ¡°Hehe!¡± ¡°Kyahaha!¡± New ck. They were a five-member idol group from Lemon Entertainment that debutedst June. If they counted their previous career as Something, they were rookies who had debuted for about a year and seven months. Teen Spirit¡¯s first memory of them was the music showst year. ¡®Our album was totally buried then.¡¯ They coincided with TNT, and because of theet-like appearance of ¡®Something¡¯, they couldn¡¯t even get second ce, let alone third ce. -Hey! Hey! I heard that a rookie who hasn¡¯t debuted yet is on the list of candidates for first ce tomorrow. -That¡¯s nonsense again. The cooldown is over. -It¡¯s true. Look at this. It says New ck¡­! -Lemon? Aren¡¯t there Scarlet unnies here? They only remembered that they were from apany with scary unnies. When they went to greet them in the waiting room, they saw a group of five who were all over the ce with Jang Sowon and thought ¡®ah, those rookies¡¯. They vaguely remembered that TNT¡¯s hyungs were shouting ¡®Awesome! Sunwooju is here! Sunwooju!¡¯ and making a fuss¡­ But that was it. They only rememberedughing because of someone who said ¡®Please love our souffle¡­¡¯. That¡¯s where the memory ended. The next time they met was the day of the event where New ck filled in for them. -Who¡¯s the ck that¡¯s filling in? Who is it? -What¡¯s that, that souffle nim? They only remembered the group name properly after they arrived at the venue and saw their faces. -Thank you so much. -No, it¡¯s nothing. What. They still remembered the smile of the New ck members who were soaked in the rain and pale. They started to enter their sight from then on. And after that, it was really amazing. -Did you see this? Someone¡¯s figure chasing a ck goat in Jusehan¡¯s Chuseok special clip. -Did you see the chart? It¡¯s crazy. TNT lost in the music score this time. The new song ¡®Masquerade¡¯ that the rookie group released waspeting with the top idols in the music score. They even won first ce at the end. They admired ¡®awesome¡­¡¯ even when they swept the rookie awards, but that wasn¡¯t the end. -That white triangle, that person is so fast¡­ -You should have seen Daegil hyung ying futsal. He looked like a Buddha statue with eight hundred arms. -What? Do you only shoot arrows after eating? -Are you from the basketball club¡­? What is it? They were the ones who gave shock and horror to the idols at the Seol Olympics. And this spring, they set a new record with ¡®Wind Flower¡¯. -Hey. What song is this that doesn¡¯t go down from first ce¡­? -It¡¯s worth it. The song is so good. -Wow. The public is streaming here. -That¡¯s the public¡¯s pick. You idiot. The undisputed chart-topper of the first half of 2015. It was Windflower, who was considered 100% sure to win the grand prize in the music category at this year¡¯s year-end awards. Along with them, New ck¡¯s image was gradually changing from ¡®rookie¡¯ to ¡®popr idol¡¯. It was amazing to see their every move. They had taken three years to reach just below TNT after their debut. New ck was catching up with them in just a year. ¡®¡­How did they do it?¡¯ After ¡®Nine¡¯ was another sess, Teen Spirit searched for them on their own. And every time they looked, they felt awe. ¡®How can they beat this goat?¡¯ ¡®They act so well.¡¯ ¡®Their dance lines are crazy. They can¡¯t do this even if they only eat and dance.¡¯ ¡®What¡¯s wrong with their lung capacity? Do they have gills for singing?¡¯ Each member had high skills. And the biggest thing that surprised them was. ¡®All of that was selfposed¡­?¡¯ It was New ck¡¯s leader whoposed them. No matter how perfect the conditions were, if the song wasn¡¯t good, they couldn¡¯t make it. A good song was the most important thing for a singer. And New ck had someone who supplied them with such songs. ¡°Woojoo, I heard youposed Nine with your members. What¡¯s the meaning behind the title?¡± Woojoo smiled and answered the MC¡¯s question. ¡°9 is thest number, right? I wanted to convey the meaning of having fun as if burning thest, you know.¡± Teen Spirit members widened their eyes. ¡°Oh, that¡¯s what it means¡­¡± ¡°Wow. That¡¯s really deep.¡± ¡°I thought it was Nine because of the nine-year-old¡¯s mind.¡± The youngest Woobin¡¯s remark made Woojoo and the members gasp for a moment and thenugh out loud. ¡°That¡¯s right. Actually, that was also the meaning.¡± New ck members saved the joke that could have been cheap. They were really good at the entertainment field. In a soft atmosphere, the corner of ¡®singing each other¡¯s songs¡¯ began. And then. ¡°It¡¯s easy, right?¡± A New ck member who smiled kindly showed a high-level choreography that anyone could see. Then they remembered. ¡®That¡¯s the one that y teacher is afraid of¡­¡¯ They remembered y Tyler¡¯s warning, ¡®You¡¯re New ck, right? Be careful of B among them.¡¯ He looked strong for sure. He smiled kindly, but if he made a mistake, he would say, ¡®What are you trying to do with me?¡¯ with a smile. Soon, Teen Spirit members learned the choreography of Nine and performed it. ¡°Wow¡­!¡± ¡°It¡¯s amazing. It¡¯s exactly the same as the original feeling of ¡®Nine¡¯ that we imagined!¡± ¡°It suits them so well¡­¡± New ck members praised them exaggeratedly and lifted them up. Their eyes sparkled. Then they started to dance ¡®Feel So Good¡¯ that they learned from Teen Spirit members. ¡°¡­¡± They showed their skills by perfectly expressing the feeling. It wasn¡¯t a skill that coulde out in a few minutes of learning. ¡®Wow¡­¡¯ ¡®They practiced it.¡¯ ¡®Did you practice our song choreography from the day before?¡¯ The waves of emotion passed through their eyes as they looked at New ck. ¡®They¡¯re such nice brothers¡­¡¯ The first week of theeback was sessfully finished. The pre-recorded stages with Souffl¨¦s also ended in a warm and cozy atmosphere. Everyone was in a festive mood because of the sessful atmosphere of this album. On Monday of the next week, after going through K-Net and the three major music broadcasts. We looked around YouTube and smiled proudly. ¡°Wow¡­¡± We had a dazed expression as we looked at the music video views that exceeded 10 million in seven days. The stage videos that came back this week also boasted high views. And one of the most talked about things among them was the content that we did with Teen Spirit on K-Net. -Awesome¡­ Pros are different; look at how Teen Spirit and New ck change their expressions -?????Teen Spirit is perfect for them -22222 I didn¡¯t feel any awkwardness -They both switched parts and it was so funny. Neon ck suited the refreshing concept well, and Teen Spirit was amazing. -Teen Spirit¡¯s facial expressions were so good -I was impressed by Hwiyeon¡¯s face every time he was caught on camera -That¡¯s why they are pros. Our teens must have had a hard time doing the strong concept, but they pulled it off well. -Exactly. Our sweeties???? I want to hug them -Both groups are so cute???? They seem to be in awe of each other -You can tell Neon ck practiced a lot???? They are adorable The content we did with Teen Spirit seemed to get a good response from the idol fans. ¡°Thank goodness.¡± ¡°Right? We were so scared that we might mess up and get criticized, so we practiced a lot.¡± ¡°Do you think Teen Spirit seniors were satisfied too?¡± It was worth it to practice with the choreography analysis beforehand. It was a win-win for both sides. Our sincere effort to prepare the seniors¡¯ choreography seemed to be well received. If we had bragged about how much we practiced, they would have said ¡®Who do you think you are?¡¯, but it was effective to learn quietly from the start. And thanks to that, Teen Spirit gave us their contact information after the recording. I don¡¯t know the exact reason, but they seemed to like us. ¡°By the way, is that going up now?¡± ¡°What?¡± ¡°Yeah, that.¡± We had prepared a special video to express our gratitude for the 10 million views. It was a video of us dancing to the original song ¡®Meat Song¡¯ by Nine, with the average 9-year-old kids who participated in the Olive House ad. ¡­I wonder how the Souffl¨¦s would react to that video. ¡®They won¡¯t notice, right?¡¯ ¡®Nah, no way.¡¯ We smiled and nodded at each other. They would think it was a video we prepared separately. With that thought, we looked around the MewTube content. ¡°Shall we go up then?¡± Today was Monday. It was time to go and hear from our manager how ¡®Neon ck¡¯ album did. As we nodded and got up from the floor. ¡°Hmm¡­?¡± Our youngest widened his eyes as he found something unusual on the inte. ¡°Hyungs, did you see this?¡± Chapter 305: ¡°And?¡± ¡°There were tons of these.¡± We squinted our eyes at the smartphone that the youngest handed to us. There were some weird and wacky thumbnails. There were pictures of foreigners we had never seen before, with their mouths wide open and expressions of ¡®Aaah!¡¯ on their faces. I tilted my head. ¡°Who are these people? Do you know them?¡± ¡°No. We¡¯ve never seen them before.¡± ¡°What¡¯s going on? They don¡¯t know our song, but there are so many of them.¡±As we all put our heads together and pondered, we found amon keyword in the list. It was ¡®Reaction¡¯. ¡°Oh. Reaction videos.¡± It was one of themon contents on Mityube. It was the content of foreigners who recorded their own reactions of ¡®Wow, wow¡¯ while watching a specific video. We knew about it because we had seen some reaction videos of our music videos since the fireworks. The problem was¡­ ¡°Why are there so many?¡± The number was no joke. It didn¡¯t seem like this much even when the overseas K-pop fans showed interest in Masquerade. As we scrolled down the list, there were various faces with their mouths open. ¡°Let¡¯s just click on one of them.¡± We clicked on the reaction video with the highest views. Click. Then, Rihyuk lowered his head and said. ¡°Why do you want to check it out?¡± ¡°I¡¯m curious.¡± ¡°What if there¡¯s something bad in there? We¡¯re all ss mental, you know¡­¡± I blinked my eyes for a moment and looked at my siblings. ¡°Isn¡¯t he the most ss?¡± ¡°He¡¯s like a movie prop. He¡¯s made of sugar, so he breaks even with a p.¡± ¡°Maybe a matchstick.¡± We were met with a shout of ¡®I¡¯m not ss!¡¯ from our joke. Meanwhile, the outdoor ad of Scarlet skiing andughing ¡®Kyahat! Kyahahat!¡¯ ended and the video yed. A group of foreigners were sitting on a sofa in a living room of a house. The youngest squinted his eyes. ¡°Ah, what. It¡¯s in English. There are no subtitles?¡± ¡°It doesn¡¯t look like it.¡± ¡°Let¡¯s add er. Kor sub plz.¡± As we chuckled with our siblings, the conversation continued in the video. It seemed like a gathering of American college students from different countries. The man sitting in the middle set up the camera and looked around at his friends. -We¡¯re going to watch a video of a K-pop singer, following thest time. The friends started to say one by one. -I remember the Teen Spirit kids we sawst time. They were also a K-pop group, right? -They were so cute, like baby angels! -Yeah. They were really pretty, like babies! We smiled warmly as we watched the women hug the cushions and giggle. ¡°They don¡¯t know, do they?¡± ¡°I feel like it might be better if they don¡¯t¡­¡± ¡°Anyway, I think they won¡¯t react like this if they know Jonna.¡± As we exchanged conversations, one of them asked a question. -So, who are we watching today? Lucas? The Mityuber answered ¡®New ck¡¯ and they all blinked or tilted their heads. -Who? There was a singer like that in K-pop? -Is the group name ¡®The Trend (the new ck)¡¯? That¡¯s unique. -They sound like famous singers¡­ Would I remember if I see their faces? What are they known for? At that moment, when they started to show curiosity and search on their smartphones. The Mityuber yed the music video of ¡®Nine¡¯. On the bottom right, there was a mini screen with New ck¡¯s logo and the subway scene started. -The subway is so clean. One of the college students from New York eximed as he sipped his coffee, and they allughed for a moment. -Wow¡­ -Is that all graphics? That? -Cyberpunk, huh. It¡¯s like a scene from a SF movie. They started to open their mouths in awe at the night view of the virtual city filled with neon signs. Even we, the ones who made it, were amazed by how realistic the CG looked. And so were the people who watched it. As the song started, various reactions came out. -They¡¯re a group of five, huh? -They¡¯re so pretty, but I don¡¯t like pretty boys that much¡­ Wait, who¡¯s that red-haired guy who just appeared? -Calm down¡­ Ugh! I like him too! We admired the elegant walk of Bijoo, who wore a zip-up hoodie and nced back at us while walking through the alley. We giggled at Bijoo¡¯s proud face as he said, ¡®That¡¯s me!¡¯ Meanwhile. As the main choreography of the chorus came on, the noisy reactions suddenly quieted down. -How can their feet be so fast? -This is insane. This is the first time I¡¯ve seen a K-pop music video with such perfect synchronization. -How much practice do they need to pull this off? -I know, right? Ugh¡­ I don¡¯t even want to imagine. It was hard enough to match the cheerleading in school. We smiled warmly as we saw the kind people who appreciated our hard work. ¡°It feels good. It seems like even the people on the other side of the world can see how hard we worked.¡± ¡°They¡¯re giving us recognition.¡± ¡°Rihyuk, did you hear thement? They said you dance well¡­¡± I stopped talking. Rihyuk was like a cat staring at a fly, with his arms crossed and picking up every singlement from the people. He said he didn¡¯t want to watch this, but he was more focused than anyone else. I held back myughter. The music video entered the highlight of the third verse. -Yes! Yes! -That¡¯s right! This is it. -I have to add this to my ylist after this. There was a fierce reaction to our choreography, which involved rolling and jumping like crazy. That¡¯s when it ended. ¡°What? Why did you turn it off? It¡¯s not over yet¡­!¡± ¡°I think we¡¯ve seen enough. Was there anything else to see?¡± ¡°No. I haven¡¯t seen it all yet. I was just voting for who I liked the most¡­¡± We decided to click on some thumbnails here and there, seeing someone¡¯s disappointed face. There were so many different kinds of reaction videos. There was one where someone was drinking wine and eximed, ¡®Wow!¡¯ There was also one where they showed it to non-K-pop fans and filmed their awkward reactions. Of course, not all of them were positive. There were some that had nastyments, so we turned them off right away. The video we saw first was one of the most enthusiastic ones. ¡°But it¡¯s fun.¡± ¡°I feel like I didn¡¯t notice the time passing. It was so fun.¡± ¡°They really praise us a lot. I don¡¯t think my mom ever praised me this much.¡± We looked at each other with slightly flushed faces. We had been checking the reactions to our song by looking at the music charts, album sales, and intements. But this was a new and different way to see it. The only thing that bothered me was¡­ ¡°Do people actually watch this?¡± ¡°I know, right? We had fun watching it, but¡­¡± We, the ones who made it, could enjoy seeing the reactions to our work, but we wondered if other people would too. I didn¡¯t care much about the reactions to other singers¡¯ music videos. ¡°Well, there must be a reason why the YouTubers jumped in.¡± Rihyuk pointed at the screen. ¡°Look at the thumbnails. They used to be mostly videos uploaded by ordinary people, but now it¡¯s different.¡± ¡°Hmm¡­ Oh? Really?¡± It was true. Unlike the fireworks or masquerade videos, this time there was a smell of professionalism. From the eye-catching photos to the bold titles. Most of the people who uploaded the videos were YouTubers who specialized in reacting to K-pop and such. ¡°I guess there are quite a few people who watch them.¡± We nodded, concluding that there would be supply if there was demand. Anyway, it wasn¡¯t a bad thing. If these videos made people curious about us, even a little bit, it would be a great thing. It was like free publicity for us. ¡°Alright.¡± I pped my hands and said. ¡°Let¡¯s stop watching the videos for now. Let¡¯s go. Seokhwan hyung wants to talk about work.¡± ¡°Yes.¡± My younger siblings also got up from their seats and started packing their stuff. As we all left the practice room, the youngest one who had been thinking about something by himself spoke up. ¡°By the way.¡± ¡°Yeah?¡± ¡°You know those videos we saw earlier. Don¡¯t you think there might be people who are curious about us and look for our videos now?¡± ¡°Oh. You mean they¡¯ll be our fans after watching those?¡± ¡°It¡¯s not impossible.¡± Jiho said. ¡°They might watch our music videos or those videos and wonder ¡®Who¡¯s that cute blonde?¡¯ and then be my fans.¡± ¡°We¡¯re really jealous of your confidence, maknae.¡± ¡°Hyungs, you have to dream big.¡± The youngest one wrapped his arms around us and whispered ¡®Dreamse true¡¯ in our ears. I chuckled and replied. ¡°Yeah. That would be nice.¡± Mexico City. A city of 9 million people located at an altitude of 2,200 meters. In a house there, a teenage girl was staring nkly at herptop screen. ¡®Wow¡­¡¯ On the YouTube screen, a five-member boy group was dancing. New ck. A K-pop idol group that she had discovered through a reaction video that was uploaded by a channel she subscribed to a few days ago. ¡°Est¨¢ padre(Awesome)¡­!¡± On the music show stage under the logo of K-Net, a member with gray hair was rapping. She couldn¡¯t understand Korean, but it sounded good. ¡®How can all five of them be so eye-catching?¡¯ She had watched the reaction video a few days ago. When she came to her senses, she was watching the five-member group dancing in a neon-lit alley over and over again. And now she was looking for their music show performance. ¡®I¡¯ll just watch one or two more and turn it off.¡¯ But New ck¡¯s content was endless. When she watched a performance, a new one woulde up, and when the performance ended, New ck¡¯s YouTube content would appear. From their own YouTube reality show to Q&A. ¡°Hmm.¡± Marie didn¡¯t really want to watch it, but she had no choice. They kindly provided English subtitles, so she thought she should at least watch it once. What could she do? Soon, the YouTube content that showed in detail what the boy group from across the Pacific thought and lived like captivated her eyes. In the blink of an eye, a few hours passed. The teenage girl came to a conclusion. ¡®I have to tell someone.¡¯ She wasn¡¯t really a fan of New ck or anything, but it was too precious to keep it to herself. She needed someone to talk to about New ck. She immediately thought of her sister Elena who lived in the US. ¡®¡­She probably won¡¯t be interested in their performances.¡¯ She was sure that her sister, who had no interest in K-pop, wouldn¡¯t have much of a reaction if she showed her their performances. She pondered for a long time what to send her and finally chose a video link. Then she sent it through a messaging app. [Video (?) ¨C 16:46 PM] [Look at this, isn¡¯t it funny? ¨C 16:47 PM] And the message reached a restaurant in Phdelphia, Pennsylvania. ¡°Pfft-!¡± Elena Lopez, who was drinking a shake, choked and her college friends looked at her with puzzled faces. ¡°What¡¯s wrong?¡± ¡°¡­Look at this.¡± They alsoughed when they looked at the phone she handed them. It was a short video. Someone with gray hair was riding a unicycle with a wistful expression on his face and spinning around the studio. Then he caught a flying pickle with chopsticks. ¡°Puahaha!¡± The gray-haired guy smiled at the camera and disappeared with his unicycle. Until then, the four-member group who had been holding hands and wishing for the mission to seed ran after the unicycle, shouting ¡®Wow!¡¯ It was a scene like a ser ceremony andughter erupted in the restaurant. ¡°Let¡¯s watch it again, one more time.¡± And then." ¡°Ha ha ha!¡± I couldn¡¯t helpughing every time I watched the scene. After a while ofughter. Someone who was eating macaroni asked. ¡°Who are those people in the video?¡± ¡°I don¡¯t know either. My brother in Mexico sent it to me. Just a sec¡­¡± As everyone was curious, Elena sent a message to her brother asking ¡®who are the main characters in the video¡¯. The answer came back right away. [They¡¯re New ck! ¨C 18:02 PM] Meanwhile, her brother who was about 4,000 kilometers away was celebrating the sess of his sales. ¡°They¡¯re New ck.¡± ¡°New ck?¡± ¡°I wonder if there¡¯s more like that. It¡¯s really fun.¡± New ck¡¯s name was slowly spreading in a foreignnd. When I visited the management team¡¯s office, Seokhwan hyung immediately brought up his business. ¡°The overseas tour schedule has changed a bit.¡± ¡°How?¡± ¡°We¡¯re going to add some countries that weren¡¯t on the original schedule.¡± It was about the overseas tour schedule that would start after Chuseok. New countries were added to the lineup that originally included Hong Kong, Taiwan, Singapore, Thand, Australia, and so on. ¡°Chile and Brazil¡­?¡± ¡°USA is in there too.¡± They were mostly countries in South America or North America. I tilted my head at the unexpected names and the manager exined. ¡°These are the regions where the music video response was hot. Especially in South America.¡± ¡°Oh. So that¡¯s why you booked them.¡± ¡°It wouldn¡¯t be bad to go there once for promotion purposes.¡± Seokhwan hyung adjusted his sses. ¡°Of course, it¡¯s a concert in name, but the venue size is small. We¡¯re nning it at a showcase level, so you don¡¯t have to worry too much. Just think of it as a one-time promotion like we did in Japan.¡± ? ¡°Yes, I understand.¡± I nodded at the words that the schedule was newly added because of the music video response. Then I sat on the office sofa and glowed my eyes. The other person chuckled. ¡°Before I tell you about the album¡¯s initial sales that you¡¯re curious about right now¡­¡± He paused and asked. ¡°You all know to some extent, right?¡± ¡°Yeah.¡± ¡°Yes, we know.¡± How could we not? I could tell just by looking around the ce where the Souffl¨¦s were gathered. But it didn¡¯t feel real. ¡°I¡¯m still nervous. My heart pounds every time I go online.¡± ¡°Honestly, I don¡¯t believe it.¡± ¡°We were talking about ten million for almost half an hour. Manager.¡± It couldn¡¯t be helped. It was a hard-to-believe number. The mini album 2 that came back with ¡®Wind Flower¡¯ had recorded 70,000 copies in the initial sales and ranked sixth this year. But this time¡­ ¡°That¡¯s right.¡± Seokhwan hyung confirmed it officially. ¡°This mini album 3 sold about 117,000 copies in total. In a week.¡± ¡°This was real¡­¡± ¡°First of all, congrattions.¡± The other person said with augh that it was unbelievable. ¡°We¡¯ll have to see the total sales, but you¡¯ll be the fifth among the albums sold this year.¡± ¡°Wow¡­¡± We looked at each other andughed awkwardly. ¡°It was real.¡± ¡°I thought we were being pranked by a hidden camera.¡± ¡°We really sold over 100,000 copies.¡± We keptughing because we still couldn¡¯t believe it. Maybe it was because the tension was gone. I felt a tear in my eye for a moment. I couldn¡¯t rx even after the concert because of the album worries, but now I felt a little more rxed. A drop or two of tears seeped out of my tear ducts, moistening my eyes. ¡°¡­¡± ¡°¡­¡± As I lifted my head, a hazy veil formed in front of my siblings¡¯ eyes. ¡°Just a moment.¡± I pulled out some tissues and handed them one by one. While we dabbed our eyes, Junghyun, who was staring nkly at the tissue in his hand, sniffed. The youngestughed with a sniffle. ¡°It was real. We couldn¡¯t believe it even after seeing it.¡± ¡°The album did so well.¡± ¡°I¡¯ll sleep soundly tonight. Really.¡± It was an unbelievable record. Among the singers who released albums this year, only two groups sold more than 100,000 copies in the first week. TNT. Teenspirit. And right below them, our name was there. I was dumbfounded. I thought I was prepared in advance, but I felt dizzy. ¡°So we¡­¡± ¡°Our mini albums 2 and 3 will rank 5th and 6th respectively for the year.¡± ¡°¡­¡± ¡°If you only count singers, we¡¯re 3rd.¡± We were right below the regr and repackaged albums of TNT and Teenspirit, who dominated the top four spots. ¡°So¡­¡± ¡°You guys are the 3rd best-selling idol group of the year.¡± Seokhwan hyung, who exined the situation, also seemed nervous. ¡°I¡¯ve never seen anything like this before. Really.¡± The other side smirked. ¡°It¡¯s rare for a group to explode like this in their second year, unless they¡¯re from a big agency like TNT or Sixty. This is¡­¡± ¡°We can¡¯t believe it either. To think that¡­¡± We couldn¡¯t finish our sentences and closed our mouths at the same time. Silence engulfed us. It was an amazing thing. To achieve such a sessful result in our second year. ¡°¡­¡± I sat there nkly for a while. Even when Seokhwan hyung talked about this week¡¯s schedule and other matters, I felt drowsy. The words barely entered my ears and slipped out like sand. ¡°¡­Sunwooju. Are you listening?¡± ¡°Yeah. I¡¯m eating.¡± ¡°You guys don¡¯t seem to be in your right mind.¡± Seokhwan hyung took drastic measures at the sight of Bijoo, who was sitting still and smiling like a fool. ¡°Let¡¯s take a break and talkter.¡± ¡°What? Eh¡­¡± ¡°Jiho¡¯s nose is running. Wipe that off. I¡¯ll give you some vodka. Ask Wonseok to buy you whatever you want and eat it.¡± As he waved his hand as if to tell us to take a break, we got up awkwardly. Then the other side said with a smile. ¡°Don¡¯t cry again when you go.¡± ¡°Cry?¡± I shook my head and answered. ¡°We don¡¯t cry over things like this.¡± Lemon Enter. The employees who were about to go up to the rooftop were startled by a strange sound. -Uhhuhuhu! The sound of sobbing echoed in the dark emergency stairs. It sounded like several ghosts were crying at the same time. -Uhhuhu! As the confused employees looked at each other, a strange sound mixed in with the crying. -Hororok. It sounded like someone was drinking something. And then. -Uhhuhu! The duet of weird and ghostly sounds. When one of the employees bravely turned on the smartphone light towards the direction of the sound. ¡°Uhhuhuhuhu!¡± ¡°Huhuhu!¡± The five silhouettes that were faintly illuminated by the light made the employees blink. ¡®New ck¡­?¡¯ ¡®What are they doing there?¡¯ ¡®What the hell is that sound?¡¯ Soon they found out the source of the sound. The New ck members, who noticed the light, looked at them with their faces covered in tears like sticky rice cakes. The youngest, whose eyes were swollen, held a bowl of tteokbokki and said. ¡°Ah, hello¡­¡± ¡°¡­¡± ¡°We¡¯re not crying.¡± The following excuse was unconvincing to anyone. ¡°Ma, it¡¯s too spicy¡­ Huhuhu!¡± ¡°Uhhuhu!¡± The employees could only blink at the sight of New ck members sobbing while eating tteokbokki. Chapter 306: ¡°I didn¡¯t cry.¡± Seokhwan hyung narrowed his eyes at my answer. Then he pointed at us with his finger and said, ¡°Hmm.¡± ¡°You guys look like you¡¯ve been crying, no matter how I look at you.¡± ¡°Crying?¡± I asked my siblings. ¡°We didn¡¯t cry, right?¡± ¡°¡­We didn¡¯t cry, sir.¡± ¡°It¡¯s because the tteokbokki was too spicy. I wanted to order mild, but I identally ordered nuclear.¡± ¡°You know I don¡¯t cry.¡±One by one, the answers of the puffy-eyed Dancing Fish, the youngest Fish, and the Pirarucu followed. I smiled and said to Seokhwan hyung, who was looking at the fishes. ¡°Look at Junghyun. You can tell we didn¡¯t cry by looking at Junghyun.¡± ¡°Junghyun¡­?¡± Our manager, who turned his head, looked speechless. ¡°¡­¡± ¡°What¡¯s wrong, sir?¡± ¡°You came back healthier in an hour, Junghyun.¡± Adequate tears are good for eye health, they say. Junghyun¡¯s eyes were clearer and brighter than usual. Seokhwan hyung coughed and turned his gaze back to us, then chuckled. ¡°We have a scheduleter, what are you going to do with your eyes so swollen?¡± ¡°It¡¯s okay, it¡¯s radio.¡± ¡°Wasn¡¯t it a radio that you can see?¡± ¡°You just have to adjust the angle well. Like this, it looks like you barely cried on camera.¡± I smirked and fixed the angle, and the managers and staff looked at me. ¡°Anyone can see that you came back sobbing.¡± ¡°You look really sad.¡± ¡°Can I take a picture of this and save it, hyung?¡± ¡°¡­¡± Since it came to this, I gave a pose with a tearful expression to the staff who held the phone camera. ¡°Give me a line too. A sad line.¡± I made a wistful expression as if looking at the sea, and uttered a word. ¡°110,000 copies.¡± The eyes of the siblings moistened, and Seokhwan hyung burst intoughter. Afterughing together for a while, Seokhwan hyung spoke. ¡°I also got a call yesterday and felt a pang of tears. I¡¯m like this, how must you feel?¡± The other person looked at theptop and said. ¡°You know this is not the end, right? ording to our estimate, we expect to sell three times the amount of the initial sales this year.¡± ¡°Huh¡­¡± We looked at each other. ¡°That¡¯s over 300,000 copies if it¡¯s three times.¡± ¡°That¡¯s just an estimate for now.¡± ¡°Oh my, what is this.¡± The siblings nodded and agreed. ¡°Why are you so surprised? The mini album 2 that came out this spring already sold over 200,000 copies.¡± ¡°Already?¡± ¡°This one will probably record around 200,000 copies too.¡± It was an estimate that thepany had set internally, but considering the sales so far, it was likely to be urate. Even if we set the minimum, it¡¯s 500,000 copies. ¡°That¡¯s amazing. If you add them up, there¡¯s quite a gap between us and Hyper below.¡± Hyper was the boy group that debuted from KM Entertainment around 09 when I was a trainee. They won several awards too. They were a famous boy group for their powerful, intense, and sexy choreography. And we sold more albums than those seniors¡­ ¡°It¡¯s good, but it feels like I¡¯m not sure if this is okay.¡± ¡°Me too. I feel like I¡¯ve been watching Hyper seniors since elementary school¡­¡± I know that sess and debut years are not determined by lottery like seniority. But it feels awkward to have our name above the seniors we looked up to since we were trainees. Ace, Daydream, Daylight, etc. They were singers we did for monthly evaluations, or had in our phone ylists. We were happy with the fast sess, but we couldn¡¯t help feeling nervous when we thought we sold more albums than them. ¡°I suddenly had this thought.¡± ¡°What thought?¡± Bijoo said seriously. ¡°Maybe we have a kingdom somewhere in an unknown world. The Souffl¨¦ King there tells his people to buy New ck¡¯s album.¡± We pped andughed at Bijoo¡¯s rational hypothesis. But the daze still didn¡¯t go away. I wish someone would hit me and wake me up. Except for Junghyun. I felt like I had be the protagonist of a drama titled ¡®When I Came To, I Was a Popr Idol¡¯. ¡°Anyway, it¡¯s a good thing. We¡¯re right after Teen Spirit in the overall indicators.¡± Seokhwan hyung continued. ¡°The problem is what will happen until next year.¡± ¡°I guess we¡¯ll have to unplug the inte again.¡± ¡°The idolmunity and SNS will be a mess until the end of the year. There are already a lot of people spreading baseless rumors.¡± The director said he was preparing legal action with awyer. ¡°You guys are the ones who got hurt. It doesn¡¯t make sense to care about others. You can¡¯t even beat elementary school students.¡± Was this apliment or an insult? ¡°Be careful for a while.¡± ¡°Yes.¡± ¡°It¡¯s the way of the world that people are jealous when others do well. The better you do, the more weird things will get tangled up. I¡¯m sure you¡¯ll do well, but don¡¯t give any room for error in your behavior or demeanor.¡± ¡°Yes. I understand.¡± He asked us several times. ¡°By the way, are you okay with Teen Spirit?¡± ¡°Teen Spirit?¡± ¡°It¡¯s the TNT fans. They¡¯ve calmed down a lot since you appeared on that show, Space Rabbit.¡± Some of the TNT fans who had been spamming us with hatements since the Masquerade had quieted down a bit. It was probably because of the way I looked with the TNT members. ¡°Right now, the Teen Spirit fans are the most furious. How can they be right after Teen Spirit, does that make sense? Something like that.¡± ¡°Oh.¡± ¡°They¡¯re young, so they¡¯re really¡­ How do I exin it. Theirments and stuff are generally¡­ rough.¡± ¡°I know that. But why Teen Spirit all of a sudden?¡± ¡°I was wondering if you¡¯re okay with their members. TNT is lucky that you guys get along well in private¡­¡± He seemed worried that one of the Teen Spirit members might say something weird about us. We looked at each other and said. ¡°That¡¯s nothing to worry about.¡± ¡°¡­?¡± ¡°We might be mistaken, but it seems like they like us a bit.¡± ¡°Really¡­?¡± His eyes narrowed as if he didn¡¯t believe it. ¡°That¡¯s strange. They¡¯re not the type to like anyone¡­ Well. If that¡¯s true, then that¡¯s good.¡± ¡°Did you solve some of your worries?¡± ¡°Somewhat.¡± He nodded and said. ¡°Then let¡¯s end the album talk here.¡± The proposals flew at us. ¡°Let¡¯s talk about your broadcast and advertising schedule this time.¡± ¡°Huh?¡± We looked at the pile of documents and tilted our heads. ¡°Why?¡± ¡°The proposals seem to have decreased.¡± If before Junghyun had to hold them with both hands, now Rihyuk could hold them with one hand. The album was definitely doing better than ever, but the amount of proposals was inversely proportional. ¡°Why would they be thinner?¡± The manager smiled and said. ¡°From now on, we have to go to bigger ces, that¡¯s why.¡± As the manager said, the album was sailing smoothly. A week after the release, it was also on the charts in various countries. And. -New ck, US Billboard Album Chart ¡®Fourth Entry Among Boy Groups¡¯ -New ck, Billboard 200 Chart ¡®118th ce¡¯ Record ¡®TNT Followed Up to the Chin¡¯ -First Week ¡®120,000 Copies¡¯ New ck, Emerging Album Powerhouse Threatening TNT and Teen Spirit I heard that our album had entered the Billboard 200 chart, which meant that we had a lot of sales in the US. I thought it was the World Album Chart that usually came out when people said ¡®We made it to Billboard!¡¯ My name made it to the Billboard 200 chart, which I only heard about a few times a year as a K-pop singer. Han Taehyun [(emoji)] Han Taehyun [Congrats to our popr idol ???? I can¡¯t believe our old man has grown so much] Han Taehyun [I¡¯m crying] Jang Han-byul [He¡¯s right next to me and he¡¯sughing so hard] The snifflers sent me a group message to congratte me. Ji Han-bin [I raised Sunwoo-ju for real] Seok Jihon [No, no, I raised him] Jang Han-byul [What are you talking about? I¡¯m the space mom of this area] Han Taehyun [I raised him actually. He¡¯s not Sunwoo-ju, he¡¯s Hanwoo-ju] Han Taehyun [In that sense, Hanwoo?] Me [Where did you guys leave your conscience?] Iughed at their im that they raised me. They were my trainee ssmates who sincerely congratted me on my sessful album. But on the opposite side of such a singer¡­ ¡°Did you unplug the phone line again today?¡± ¡°¡­Yeah.¡± Every time I went to the PR team, the staff either touched their foreheads or turned off the fax machine with a frustrated face. The problem was the articles that came out as the album did well. The reporters inserted the keywords TNT and Teen Spirit in every article to increase the views¡­ The inte was exploding. And so was the PR team. They seemed to be saying, why are you making us feel bad by dragging in someone else¡¯s singer? ¡°Just think of it as getting measles once. Whatever.¡± Hong, the team leader, said. ¡°Fortunately, there doesn¡¯t seem to be much reaction from the public, so you don¡¯t have to worry too much.¡± ¡°Okay, I¡¯ll do that.¡± I suddenly got a mouthful of curses, but the general public seemed to say, ¡®What¡¯s the fuss about?¡¯ and move on. I wasn¡¯t too worried. I was only worried about the Suples who were suffering. ¡°It¡¯s really awkward at times like this.¡± ¡°What is?¡± Rihyuk, who was looking at the fan cafe, said. ¡°Right now, it¡¯s just a passing happening, but¡­ when something bigger happens in the future, I don¡¯t know if I should post a bright smiling picture and say we¡¯re fine! or if I should be quiet and different from usual.¡± ¡°Yeah. I don¡¯t know that either.¡± ¡°If weugh and act without thinking, it seems like we have no tact. But if we¡¯re quiet, it might make them worry.¡± As the activities got longer and longer after the debut, various worries were increasing one by one. Especially since the fans were growing exponentially in size. If we used to have fun with the breads in a small club, now it felt like the breads were screaming in the Colosseum. It wasn¡¯t an easy question to answer how to build a new rtionship. I guess I¡¯ll learn one by one as I gain experience. ¡°Guys, guys, look at this.¡± ¡°What is it?¡± ¡°You know the video we uploaded to celebrate the 10 million views.¡± The youngest yed the video. ¡°Oh, this is up.¡± ¡°We¡¯re really out of our minds. We forgot about this too.¡± We and the 9-year-olds in the same outfit were dancing together. -Let¡¯s try it! Meat meat meat! -Meat meat meat! The 9-year-olds and the 20-year-olds were dancing to the Meat Song. Rihyuk, wearing baggy pants, sang ¡®Meat~~~¡¯ in a high-pitched voice with a red face. Then he joined the knife dance. ¡°This is one of the most watched videos by kids in Korea today.¡± ¡°Puhaha!¡± Weughed as we looked at thements on the MeeTube. -Lololol Why are the kids more mature lololol Look at their expressions -9-year-old: (serious) / 20-year-old: (lively) -Hey, the adults are more excited -But Nine is really addictive lololol Meat meat meat I think I¡¯ll keep thinking about it for a while -It would be good to sing it at karaoke to raise the tension -They said they were shy kids lololol -You are now watching the first 5-member idol group to do a knife dance -Look at how they practiced perfectly with the lyrics changed. They¡¯re really sincere in everything lololol -I thought this was the original -It¡¯s a mess, but there¡¯s a flow to it. I thought it was my own room ¡°Hahaha!¡± We scrolled down and up thements and stoppedughing at one point. My heart sank at onement that seemed to be from a souffl¨¦. -Guys, this is the original, right? ©¹I agree, it¡¯s a reasonable doubt ©¹Yeah, me too. This sounds more like the original lol ©¹Hey lol, don¡¯t tell me the original is this¡­ I was just saying that and then I saw the video of New ck riding a unicycle. ©¹The sound is strangely different. It feels like a different song rather than an arrangement We looked serious at thement with the most likes. ¡°They¡¯re really quick to notice.¡± ¡°What should we do, hyung?¡± ¡°Joonhyun, rx your fist and talk. Are you going to punch thements or what?¡± That¡¯s when the maknae stepped in. ¡°Should we report them smartly?¡± ¡°For what reason?¡± ¡°Harassment or bullying¡­?¡± ¡°Who are you harassing?¡± ¡°My heart?¡± He winked and said ¡®You know?¡¯ The maknae¡¯s expression made me smile at Joonhyun. ¡°Joonhyun, take him away.¡± ¡°Yes, hyung.¡± I smiled warmly as I watched Joonhyun tickle the maknae and the maknaeugh. We felt embarrassed for a moment as we looked at thements full of souffl¨¦s¡¯ deductions. ¡°We¡¯re here, guys.¡± The location of today¡¯s schedule came into view. It was the K-Net building in Sangam-dong. Today¡¯s recording was ¡®Show Show Show! Idol High School¡¯, an idol program by K-Net. They invited one idol group every episode and introduced them and yed games. It was a program that targeted idol fans, like ¡®Idol Show¡¯ by HBS that we appeared on before. ¡°Our New ck is here! Wahahaha!¡± The entertainer Bang Moonsoo, who had a chubby roon-like face, greeted us with a heartyugh as we arrived at the set. ¡°Oh, nice to see you! How about a hug?¡± ¡°Sure. How do you want to do it?¡± He burst intoughter at our sight of preparing a group hug like Hak Ikjin. He asked us as we smiled broadly with him. ¡°How long has it been since west saw each other? Was itst March?¡± ¡°About five months? I think so.¡± ¡°You were shining on stage then and I thought you¡¯d make it big, and you really did.¡± We had a close rtionship with him from Myeonggokdan. He was a panelist on Myeonggokdan and gave us a standing ovation, saying ¡®New ck! My God! Jesus!¡¯ He also said ¡®Come on our show!¡¯ back then. ¡°New ck fans are already waiting for you downstairs. They¡¯re making a fuss, asking me to take good care of you.¡± ¡°Yes, thank you very much.¡± ¡°Look forward to it.¡± He smiled and went to the production team. Meanwhile, we looked around the studio that was simr to a school ssroom. ¡°It feels like when we filmed the school uniform CF.¡± ¡°I really wanted toe here.¡± ¡®Idol High¡¯, the nickname for ¡®Show Show Show! Idol High School¡¯, was a quite famous program. It waspeting with ¡®Idol Show¡¯, which wasunchedst year, but it was the original of idol introduction programs. It was popr not only in Korea but also among overseas viewers. It was one of the shows we wanted to go on at least once after debuting with music shows. ¡°Hello!¡± ¡°Hello!¡± We greeted the two men and women who rushed in. They were Woojin and Songsong, the male and female MCs who led the program with the main MC. Soon after the recording preparation was over. ¡°Recording starts!¡± The FD pped the te and left, and the MCs faced the ten cameras and chatted in the ssroom. It was a review corner that briefly went over what happened in the music industry for a week. ¡°And, in album news, New ck¡¯s third mini album entered the Billboard 200 chart this time!¡± ¡°That¡¯s great news. And a while ago, Teen Spirit¡¯s stray dog volunteer work became a hot topic. Do you want to watch the video?¡± ¡°Wow, is that Hwiyeon on the floor surrounded by small dogs? He¡¯s smiling.¡± But his smile didn¡¯t seem genuine. The camera was capturing us awkwardly smiling in the corner of the set. Bang Munsoo nced at the cue card and said cheekily. ¡°Well, it¡¯s time to introduce today¡¯s special freshmen.¡± ¡°They¡¯re one of the hottest stars right now.¡± ¡°Munsoo teacher is a real fan, he always asked the PD to cast them.¡± Bang Munsoo waved his hand at us and shouted. ¡°ording to our own survey, the idol group that elementary students admire the most is New ck!¡± The elementary school entrance song yed as the BGM. We entered the stage with a ¡®Lla!¡¯ and jumping up and down amid the apuse of the entertainers. ¡°Two, three!¡± ¡°Hello, we are New ck!¡± After bowing to the camera, we looked at the three entertainers who were smiling at us. ¡°Your song was really good. This time. Nine nine nine~¡± ¡°Nine~¡± We danced along with the MCs who sang our song in a rustic way. ¡°Last week, Yoo from Daylight said he loved the Nine choreography, and he danced it once before he left.¡± ¡°Wow. That¡¯s an honor.¡± ¡°I¡¯m on a diet, and Nine is the best for losing weight. He said he would lose 9 kilograms in a week.¡± We pped andughed. The MCs smiled warmly at us, whoughed at even the trivial jokes. ¡°Your reactions are so rich. New ck.¡± ¡°We have a lot ofughter¡­¡± ¡°Of course. It¡¯s not for nothing that you¡¯re the idol group that the broadcast station PDs like. Youugh even when the wind blows. You¡¯re giving the production team reaction cuts like an unlimited buffet.¡± As he said, the PD nodded his head with a pleased smile. After a brief time of lying about the origin of our group name. ¡°There¡¯s a time that can¡¯t be missed in Idol High. The first period physical education! It¡¯s the random y dance.¡± ¡°Oh wow¡­ I really wanted to do this!¡± We allughed at the line of our main dancer, who raised his voice in excitement. We also had sparkling eyes. ¡°You¡¯re so excited.¡± ¡°It¡¯s strange. You should be worried at this point. You know there¡¯s a penalty if you fail, right?¡± ¡°We¡¯re not going to let you off easy.¡± The MCs smirked at us, and the youngest spoke up with confidence. ¡°It¡¯s okay. We just have to not fail, right?¡± ¡°Right.¡± ¡°We have no fear of failure.¡± We proudly said, and Bang Munsoo asked. ¡°You have great confidence.¡± ¡°Yes. We may not know about other things, but we¡¯re proud of our practice time, so we¡¯re confident no matter what songes out.¡± ¡°The song is ingrained in your body?¡± ¡°Our body moves almost automatically when we hear the song.¡± My siblings nodded and added a word to my statement. Bang Munsoo chuckled and said. ¡°They all say that. I¡¯m different from other idols.¡± ¡°Really. We are.¡± ¡°Let¡¯s see if that¡¯s true. We¡¯ll try a practice game first.¡± We exaggerated for the broadcast, but we were actually confident. We practiced so much, how hard and difficult could it be? ¡°Let¡¯s move as we discussed, with Riyeok as the center.¡± ¡°Okay.¡± We agreed to use Riyeok as the reference point, since the movement could be chaotic. We all put our hands together. ¡°One, two, three, meat!¡± We lined up on therge stage and exchanged serious nces. ¡®Let¡¯s do well.¡¯ ¡®Let¡¯s get a lot of footage this time.¡¯ We waited for the production team to start, taking a deep breath. The second part of Masquerade, our first song, came out. ¡°Oh.¡± ¡°They¡¯re wless.¡± We moved quickly, following Rihyuk¡¯s lead. We smiled proudly when we nailed the first song without any trouble. ¡°Huh¡­?¡± ¡°Uh-oh.¡± The songs kept changing, causing confusion. My body reacted to the parts, but it was hard to adjust to the new stage directions. Far away, y seemed to smile mockingly and say, ¡°Hard, isn¡¯t it?¡± ¡°Hey! Move!¡± ¡°Ahh!¡± We bumped into each other and made a mess. I shouted to my siblings. ¡°Guys, calm down¡­ Aaah!¡± Something huge came crashing in and flung me away. I felt like I flew almost a meter. In slow motion, Junghyun blinked and reached out his hand, as if asking, ¡°Why are you flying?¡± Jiho screamed like a drama hero, ¡°Nooo!¡± Rihyuk tried to catch me but fell, and Bi Ju said, ¡°Don¡¯t do this!¡± Thud. Huh? I came to and saw that I hadnded on the floor after bouncing off Junghyun. Iy on the floor and met the eyes of the production staff, the MCs, and the cameras. ¡°¡­¡± At that moment, everyone blinked and Ban Mun Su, the entertainer, said in admiration. ¡°Wow. You guys are definitely different from the other groups.¡± Then, the production staff burst intoughter. The Novel will be updated first on this website. Come back and continue reading tomorrow, everyone! Chapter 307: ¡°Ha ha ha ha!¡± I jumped up amid theughter and reached out to the camera. ¡°Did you see that, everyone? That¡¯s how you fall!¡± The writers behind the camera burst intoughter. I asked the MCs and my siblings, who wereughing like they were crying. ¡°What¡¯s wrong with you guys? I just showed you how to fall.¡± ¡°No.¡± The main MC Bang Moon-soo fanned his face with a cue card and asked. ¡°Why did you fall while doing the random y dance?¡±¡°Because it¡¯s boring to just dance, we practiced a routine beforehand.¡± ¡°Oh, so you agreed to fly and fall when Jung-hyun pushed you?¡± ¡°That¡¯s right.¡± I winked and the assistant MCs turned their eyes to my siblings. ¡°Is that true?¡± Jung-hyun opened his eyes wide and answered. ¡°Yes?¡± Everyoneughed at his expression, which clearly showed he had no clue. Meanwhile, Bijoo whispered to me. ¡®Hyung, are you okay?¡¯ ¡®I¡¯m fine.¡¯ ¡®Let me see your hand.¡¯ He grabbed my wrist and looked at it carefully, as if he was worried I might have hurt it when I touched the floor. After checking my condition. ¡°Ha ha ha!¡± He joined theughter. He smiledfortably and giggled, forgetting his worries. Yeah. You¡¯re a New ck too. The assistant MC Song-song caught that and asked. ¡°Wow, but you guys are really close.¡± ¡°Yeah?¡± ¡°I just saw Bijoo holding Woojoo¡¯s wrist and worrying about him.¡± ¡°Oh.¡± Bang Moon-soo asked. ¡°So Bijoo is like the mom of New ck?¡± ¡°Yeah.¡± ¡°Why did you check Woojoo¡¯s wrist? Because you were worried?¡± ¡°Yes.¡± Bijoo answered with a gentle smile. ¡°He can¡¯t practice if he gets hurt.¡± ¡°¡­¡± ¡°Practice is so important that you lose your touch if you skip a day¡­¡± I made a nk face, expecting a touching remark, and my siblings giggled. The MCs eximed. ¡°That worry was not that kind of worry. Such a profound meaning¡­¡± ¡°He¡¯s worried about his worker.¡± ¡°It seems like you guys practice a lot, especially Bijoo.¡± I nodded. ¡°He never stops practicing. Even when he¡¯s having fun. He goes to the arcade and ys Pump, and when hees home, he ys dance games. You know, the ones with the remote control.¡± ¡°Yeah. I love those.¡± ¡°But he hates doing it alone, so we have to p for him or join him.¡± My siblings all agreed and Bijoo waved his hand at the MCs. ¡°Hey, no. You guys said it was fun too!¡± ¡°Hmm.¡± Bang Moon-soo stroked his chin and looked at us. ¡°The members¡¯ faces don¡¯t seem to agree.¡± ¡°That¡¯s right.¡± The youngest said with a sad face. ¡°Last time, he said he would do it alone and we cheered, but he danced with a gloomy face in the living room, so we had no choice.¡± ¡°It¡¯s like when Woojoo talks about the army.¡± ¡°Wait, what?¡± ¡°I¡¯m the strongest person here, but I get weak when I see him.¡± Bijoo and I made sad faces at the merciless exposure of our siblings, and the MCs teased us. ¡°New ck is known for their sharp choreography, and there¡¯s a form in the music industry that says that, but the leader was Bijoo.¡± ¡°But why do you hate doing it alone?¡± Bijoo smiled awkwardly and hesitated to answer. ¡°Well, it¡¯s just that I get lonely when I¡¯m alone¡­¡± ¡°Is it less lonely when you¡¯re with someone?¡± ¡°Yes. I guess so. It feels good and fun to do anything together, and I get more excited.¡± He smiled brightly. Song-song, the co-MC, was convinced by the sight of our kid, who smiled warmly like a spring flower with his eyes shining. ¡°I can see why you guys fall for him.¡± ¡°I¡¯m falling for him right now too.¡± ¡°PD-nim, please add flower CG and touching BGM when Bijoo smiles here.¡± We protested. ¡°No, we¡¯re the ones who suffer, but what if the MCs get moved?¡± ¡°That¡¯s right!¡± ¡°The MCs get the emotion and we get the pain.¡± The MC Bang-mun-soo calmed down the angry public opinion with a ¡®wow wow¡¯. He asked Bijoo, who was still smiling. ¡°The members are very resentful, do you have any intention to change in the future?¡± ¡°Yes, then I¡¯ll consult with the members¡­¡± ¡°Hyung. It¡¯s agreement. Agreement.¡± The adults around himughed at Rihyuk¡¯s words. Bijoo nodded and said. ¡°Oh, then I¡¯ll agree and¡­ decide.¡± We cheered near Bijoo. ¡°Woah!¡± ¡°It¡¯s liberation!¡± ¡°We¡¯re free!¡± Everyoneughed at the sight of Jung-hyun, who spread his arms and closed his eyes, expressing ¡®freedom¡¯. The MCs who wereughing together stopped. ¡°Wait, how did we get here?¡± ¡°The members¡¯ resentment, the practice amount before that, and before that, the cosmic wrist¡­ random y dance!¡± ¡°Oh. It was our random y dance time.¡± ¡°That¡¯s right.¡± We also said ¡®that¡¯s right¡¯ and looked at each other nkly andughed. Bang-mun-soo chuckled. ¡°PD-nim, is our recording time okay? It might be longer than we thought.¡± ¡°It¡¯s already gone a lot.¡± ¡°Oh, really.¡± He looked at his wristwatch and made a ridiculous expression. ¡°No, really, time flies like crazy.¡± ¡°We feel the same way.¡± ¡°Hey. It¡¯s because of you guys! You catch the wind every time you say something.¡± ¡°Hehehe!¡± We giggled andughed at the MC¡¯s reaction for entertainment. Bang-mun-soo quickly cleared the traffic. ¡°Well, then we have to proceed again. The time is very tight right now. It could be a two-part extension.¡± ¡°Woah!¡± ¡°Don¡¯t woah! Only the PD is happy, we¡¯re going to bete for work!¡± ¡°Oh my.¡± The two MCs turned their heads and snorted at the different reactions every time. Bang-mun-soo stuck out his tongue. ¡°Wow, it¡¯s crazy, really. As you can see, we became close in 30 minutes. I regret it already.¡± We gave a thumbs up and smiled ¡®yoo-hoo¡¯ to the camera. Then the two MCs said. ¡°But I feel like I¡¯ve seen this somewhere, this recording time that makes you go crazy¡­ ah!¡± ¡°¡­?¡± ¡°New ck is from Lemon Enter, right? Scarlet¡¯s junior group.¡± ¡°No wonder. That¡¯s why. It¡¯s amazing. Is this the vibe that passes on from generation to generation?¡± They heard that our senior group, who appeared earlier this year, turned the studio upside down. Theyughed when they heard Lemon Enter. ¡°Well, let¡¯s go back to random y dance!¡± Bang-mun-soo exined the rules. ¡°It¡¯s simple. You just have to dance to the title song thates out randomly. There are five songs in total, including the double title Flower Dance, right?¡± ¡°Yes, that¡¯s right.¡± ¡°You have three chances. If you fail, there¡¯s a penalty waiting for you.¡± The MCs smirked. ¡°Shall we show you today¡¯s product first?¡± A staff member wearing a mask brought a box and ripped off the wrapping cloth. At that moment, a dazzling light poured out. ¡°Wow¡­¡± We were mesmerized by the sight of the meat, and the MCs¡¯ chatter reached our ears. ¡°Yes, it¡¯s here~ It¡¯s here~ The beef with full of marbling is here~¡± ¡°This is a assorted set of special parts of Hwaseong Hanwoo grade 1++, sponsored by the National Hanwoo Association. Let¡¯s all shout together.¡± ¡°Thank you! Hanwoo Association!¡± Even as we stretched out our hands and said thest words together, our eyes never left the meat. Jiho¡¯s face was already drooling. ¡°Slurp¡­ So, that¡¯s the prize?¡± ¡°Yes? That, that¡¯s right.¡± ¡°Jiho, there¡¯s fire in your eyes.¡± ¡°We get fired up when we see something delicious.¡± Joonhyun, who was staring at the Hanwoo as if he wanted to pierce through it, nodded his head next to me. Then, Rihyuk asked. ¡°Wait a minute. So, today¡¯s punishment is¡­¡± ¡°That¡¯s right. If you seed in the random y dance within three tries, our staff will grill the beef for you.¡± He grinned. ¡°But if you fail, then we¡¯ll eat it.¡± ¡°You can just watch from the side~¡± Joonhyun dropped his arms, which were crossed, with a disappointed expression. We had a simr reaction. The smell of meat was wafting from the side, and the MCs were waving their chopsticks, but we were in a helpless situation where we could only watch. We didn¡¯t even want to imagine how frustrated we felt. Gulp. Jiho swallowed his saliva and looked at us, and we responded with serious eyes. ¡®Sess.¡¯ ¡®Must seed.¡¯ ¡®100 percent sess.¡¯ Rihyuk said. ¡°But what if you don¡¯t seed in the three chances¡­¡± We waved our hands as he tried to say ¡®fail¡¯. ¡°Hey, hey, hey! Don¡¯t jinx it.¡± ¡°We¡¯ll definitely seed. Rihyuk.¡± ¡°That¡¯s right. If we fail, Joonhyun will throw a tantrum. He¡¯ll die in one fit.¡± Rihyuk¡¯s face turned pale at the sight of Joonhyun, whose eyes turned into triangles with the desire for meat. We loosened our bodies and the MCs asked us. ¡°Are you all ready?¡± ¡°I¡¯d like to request a practice game first.¡± ¡°We¡¯ll give you three times.¡± As soon as the song started ying, we began our practice. ¡°Ouch!¡± ¡°Woojoo, Rihyuk, roll over there!¡± ¡°Joonhyun, did you bounce again!¡± Rihyuk, who collided with Joonhyun on the first try, rolled over. ¡°Does it hurt?¡± ¡°If it hurts, it¡¯s youth.¡± ¡°Ahh¡­ Don¡¯t make meugh and help me up!¡± As we helped Rihyuk up, the MCs asked with a smile. ¡°Hard, right?¡± ¡°Yes, it¡¯s really harder than I thought.¡± It really was. Whenever we saw the rehearsal stage at the broadcasting station, we would admire the teams that practiced hard. Even those teams would bump into each other when they did the random y dance. Now I understood why. ¡°It¡¯s easy to do my own moves, but it¡¯s hard to match the lines for each verse.¡± ¡°That¡¯s right. It¡¯s easy to stand still and do my own thing, but everyone moves in different directions.¡± For example, in Flower Dance, there¡¯s a choreography where we all gather in the center. In my case, I move from the right to the left with Joonhyun, that is, towards the center. The problem was that when I did the random y for the fireworks in front, I moved to the left because I was on the left. Bangmunsoo waved the cue card and said to the camera. ¡°Most idols find this random y dance hard. Why? Because I don¡¯t know, my body moves automatically ording to the line.¡± We agreed. ¡°It¡¯s really harder than I thought.¡± ¡°That¡¯s right. I practiced so much that I thought it would be easy, but it¡¯s actually harder because I practiced.¡± ¡°But what are we going to do?¡± My siblings and I looked at each other and Bijou. ¡°Um¡­ The movements are all perfect, so there¡¯s no problem.¡± ¡°The problem is the line.¡± ¡°The problem is that the line gets tangled.¡± Bijou and I quickly changed our strategy after a brief consultation. ¡°Do you all remember the center for each choreography?¡± ¡°Yes.¡± ¡°Let¡¯s gather around the person who is the center when they give a signal.¡± We agreed and went straight to the second practice. It was a much better strategy than fixing Rihyuk and gathering around him. The problem was. p p p! Junghyun, who pped three times solemnly as he went to the center. The MCs intervened. ¡°Puhahaha!¡± ¡°Why are you pping? I told you before, this kind of signal doesn¡¯t work in random y dance.¡± He asked me to send a subtle signal, but it was a reaction like shouting from the top of a mountain. ¡°Our kids!¡± When I snapped my fingers to gather, their faces gathered in a circle. The MCs made a joke saying ¡®Are you serious about meat?¡¯ ¡°Let¡¯s do it with our eyes. With our eyes.¡± ¡°Yes.¡± It wasn¡¯t a difficult thing tomunicate with each other on stage with a slight eye contact, as we had experience of solving microphone problems or othermunication issues with our eyes. The more we repeated the practice, the better we got. ¡°You two were a littlete at Rihyuk¡¯s part earlier. Please do it a little faster, half a beat.¡± ¡°Yes.¡± ¡°And Kim Junghyun, you¡¯re weak on your footwork. The floor here is weak.¡± Thanks to our main dancer who coached us on the choreography considering the studio floor, our skills improved quickly. MC Bangmunsoo, who was looking at us, made a serious expression. ¡°This is trouble. You¡¯re doing too well.¡± ¡°That¡¯s right. Last time, TNT said that New ck¡¯s dance was the hardest among the rookies. So we gave you a lot of chances¡­¡± ¡°Then we need some adjustment.¡± We shouted out loud as we wiped off the sweat that came out slightly. ¡°Adjustment? It¡¯s unfair to penalize us for doing well!¡± ¡°We¡¯ll just do it as it is!¡± But they didn¡¯t let us go easily, saying that we had too many practice opportunities. They seemed to want to make the show fun, as it would be boring if we went on like this. We immediately set up a ssroom desk and started negotiating. ¡°You¡¯re too perfect right now, let¡¯s add a speed dance.¡± ¡°Then let¡¯s choose one song instead of random¡­ How about only Bijou does it?¡± ¡°Hey.¡± Bangmunsoo narrowed his eyes. ¡°I just saw Bijou dancing. He¡¯s more flexible than a squid, I can¡¯t ept this.¡± ¡°Then I¡¯ll give you me and Bijou as a set. It¡¯s boring to have just a hamburger. I¡¯ll do it with you like french fries.¡± ¡°¡­¡± ¡°Instead, I don¡¯t care if it¡¯s 0.5x or 1.4x.¡± ¡°What?¡± Bangmunsoo scratched his head and said. ¡°If it was another team, I would say okay to 0.5x or something like that, but New ck makes me nervous. I feel like they can do it.¡± ¡°No. We¡¯re nervous.¡± We smiled brightly and answered. Bangmunsoo opened his mouth with a look of ¡®I don¡¯t think so¡¯. ¡°Ah, I¡¯m nervous. They¡¯re too good.¡± The other MCs said. ¡°Me too.¡± ¡°Don¡¯t you think they¡¯ll seed in three times? Then we can¡¯t monopolize the meat.¡± While the New ck members were cheering ¡®Aja aja fighting!¡¯, they stood in front of the camera and raised the mood. ¡°It was no joke when they practiced!¡± Woojin, the assistant MC, tapped the cue card on the hem and said. It was true. ¡®The choreography is like that¡­ They¡¯re really good.¡¯ It was New ck¡¯s title song, full of dizzying choreography. Even the songs with stronger vocal colors, ¡®Fireworks¡¯ and ¡®Wind Flower¡¯, were not easy songs to say. Even as they sang, their hands moved without a pause. He had watched the video beforehand, but he didn¡¯t realize there were so many detailed movements. -Is that all choreography? -Yes. -Do you do all of that? -Yes. They looked so natural as they started the random y dance right away. He was amazed by their performance. ¡®They must practice a lot here too.¡¯ There was a lot of talk that they would make it to the top 3 boy groups by the end of the year. He felt the source of their strength as he watched them. ¡°Okay, let¡¯s begin!¡± ¡°Fighting!¡± The members of New ck pped and cheered for each other. ¡®Go!¡¯ ¡®Ki!¡¯ ¡®Sa!¡¯ ¡®Rang!¡¯ ¡®Hae¡­¡¯ They shouted their slogan. Then the song began. ¡°Oh, nice start.¡± ¡°It¡¯s like fireworks.¡± They moved like water, as if their bodies were on autopilot. Jiho, who took the center, winked and sang in a refreshing voice. He sang along with the random y dance, as if he was humming. ¡°It changed.¡± ¡°Masquerade!¡± They focused their eyes, looking for any gaps. But there was nothing to fault. They moved like a mass game, all five of them. And the one who led the movement was the main dancer. ¡°Wow¡­¡± The staff who watched the scene captured by the overhead camera eximed. It was impressive how the five scattered and gathered again. But from above, there was one person who stood out with his movement. The main dancer, Bijoo, walked gracefully from his original position to the assigned one. ¡°It¡¯s almost like the original choreography.¡± Every move was connected without a break, as if it was aplete choreography itself. And then the lead dancer, Woojoo, stepped up. ¡°This is where these two take the lead.¡± ¡°They¡¯re good¡­¡± The main and the lead acted like pirs, and as soon as the song changed, they snapped into position. Then the other members followed suit. The PD behind the staff smiled with satisfaction. ¡°Do we have a fancam of this?¡± ¡°Yes.¡± ¡°Make sure to record it well. This will be another legend.¡± He smiled contentedly as he saw the gray-haired member smile at the camera on the screen. Meanwhile, as the random y dance continued. ¡°Ahhh!¡± ¡°No!¡± ¡°It was almost a sess!¡± The MCs reacted with ¡®Ahh!¡¯ while the staff rxed their shoulders without knowing. ¡®It feelsfortable.¡¯ ¡®It¡¯s surprisingly easy to watch.¡¯ Usually, when they did this kind of mission, they would tense up and watch with ¡®Uh¡¯ and ¡®Oh¡¯. But today was different. They looked rxed and expressive even as they changed their moves quickly. The audience could enjoy it more because the performers were not nervous. After the dance ended, with them singing along to the lyrics. ¡°It¡¯s not a sess yet!¡± ¡°That¡¯s right! There¡¯s still the speed dance for Bijoo and Woojoo.¡± They smiled and danced freely, switching between 0.5x and 1.5x speed. The MCs blinked their eyes. The writers were also impressed. ¡°They were good on the video, but they¡¯re even better in person.¡± ¡°I know. They¡¯re amazing.¡± ¡°But how are they so good?¡± ¡°When we did the research, we found out that they practice a lot with 0.5x speed. They said they wanted to see the details of their moves.¡± As if to prove it, they showed off to the others who said ¡®They¡¯re too good. They cheated!¡¯. The other members also backed them up from behind. One of the writers said. ¡°But they look like different people when they¡¯re on stage¡­¡± And at that moment. The members of New ck, who had seeded in everything in one go, smiled at the camera for the ending. ¡°Meat! Meat!¡± ¡°Jeehee! Meat! Give us meat!¡± ¡°Hanwoo! Where¡¯s my hanwoo?¡± They ran to the MCs like woodpeckers pecking their beaks and bombarded them with questions. Their faces, which had been like fairies until three seconds ago, turned into monsters as if they revealed their true selves. ¡°¡­They suddenly became so endearing.¡± ¡°They remind me of my nephew. He¡¯s seven years old.¡± ¡°I thought they were my daughters.¡± The ones who wereughing heartily turned their eyes to the sounding from the side. ¡°Audio director?¡± ¡°Ugh¡­¡± The audio director was suffering from listening to the endlessly rising decibels of New ck through his headphones. Chapter 308: The sound of meat cooking was so sweet. I felt happy. Just looking at it made me feel like I had everything in the world. A smile escaped my lips without me noticing. ¡°Hehe.¡± ¡°Heehee.¡± The youngest sent us a finger heart, saying ¡®I love you guys¡¯. We also sent him a heart, saying ¡®We love you too¡¯. Then we sent a big heart with both hands to Junghyun, who was grilling the meat. ¡°Please make it delicious~¡± ¡°Roger.¡±Junghyun drew an OK sign and smiled sternly. It was his request to grill the meat, since he had a strong pride in his meat skills. The staff was supposed to do it for us. Bangmunsoo asked with anticipation in his eyes. ¡°Does Junghyun grill meat that well?¡± ¡°Yes.¡± I answered. ¡°He¡¯s the best meat griller I¡¯ve ever seen. If there was a meat grilling contest, he would be the winner.¡± ¡°That¡¯s right. He¡¯s almost Mozart-level when ites to grilling Korean beef.¡± The MCs chuckled, saying ¡®Mozart, huh¡¯. Soon, the meat that Junghyun grilled was ced on a te, and there were exmations everywhere. ¡°Wow¡­!¡± The MCs opened their eyes wide. ¡°The meat is good, but it¡¯s grilled so well. The juice bursts out as soon as you bite it.¡± ¡°Really, he would win if he entered a contest, right?¡± We had a simr reaction. ¡°Really. How long has it been since we had Korean beef?¡± ¡°Two days?¡± ¡°It¡¯s been a while. Oh, I¡¯m crying.¡± The youngest¡¯s eyes were moist from the deliciousness, and we allughed. Bangmunsoo said. ¡°Don¡¯t do that, ande and have a bite. He grilled it so well.¡± ¡°Managers,e too!¡± Soon, the camera directors came and took a bite each, saying ¡®Oh¡¯ and giving thumbs up. The managers also had a bite that we picked up with chopsticks and put in their mouths. While I was feeding Wonseok hyung a wrap, Minki hyung also got some meat from our youngest. After a brief tasting corner. ¡°Now. It¡¯s time to move on to the next corner.¡± Bangmunsoo held up a cue card and said. ¡°New ck has a new nickname these days, right?¡± ¡°Us? Huh, what is it?¡± As we looked at each other with ¡®What did you do wrong again¡¯ eyes, the MC said. ¡°It¡¯s Chotongryeong.¡± ¡°Chotongryeong?¡± MC Songsong exined. ¡°It¡¯s elementary school + president, meaning Chotongryeong. It means that you¡¯re very popr among elementary school students.¡± ¡°Oh, my goodness¡­¡± ¡°Look at that. They¡¯re up again.¡± We got up and shouted at the camera. ¡°Thank you! Elementary school friends!¡± ¡°You guys are so cute, right?¡± ¡°We may look different, but our mental age is probably simr!¡± The MCs smiled at our sight of trying hard to sell ourselves to the elementary school fans beyond the camera. Bangmunsoo said. ¡°Wherever you go to elementary school these days, New ck¡¯s Nine is so popr.¡± A data screen came up. Somewhere in the school, some elementary students were cheering and dancing ¡®Nine, nine, nine¡¯. And the kids who were running around cheerfully, saying ¡®Nine nine~¡¯ as they left school. We were surprised and asked. ¡°Is this real?¡± ¡°Yes, of course.¡± We were touched. The elementary students, who used to be a fearful existence, were running around singing our song. The future of Korea was bright. ¡°A while ago, in a poprity survey of 400 elementary students nationwide, our New ck¡¯s¡­¡± Everyone¡¯s ears perked up. As we focused, Bangmunsoo¡¯s mouth opened. ¡°They said Woojoo came in second ce.¡± ¡°Yay!¡± I waved my hand happily while my siblings pped and said ¡®respect¡¯. ¡°The reason for that was ¡®like our big brother/sister¡¯ with 34 percent of the votes.¡± ¡°Yay?¡± I stopped waving and asked. ¡°Our big brother, sister?¡± ¡°It says here. A fifth-grader from Shinseo Elementary School wrote ¡®super cool on stage but just like a neighborhood oppa (older brother) off stage.¡¯¡± ¡°¡­¡± ¡°A sixth-grader from Guryong Elementary School wrote ¡®I want to take care of him because he¡¯s like my seven-year-old little brother.¡¯¡± ¡°Puhaha!¡± My siblings burst intoughter. At first, they were jealous of me foring in second ce, but now they seemed relieved that they didn¡¯t get picked. Bijoo chuckled and pped his hands. ¡°I¡¯m so jealous that you¡¯re popr with elementary school students. Hyung (older brother).¡± ¡°Woah. I¡¯m really jealous~¡± ¡°Next up is. Woojoo, the winner, is a humble and easygoing charmer for the president of elementary school students¡­¡± As we watched our kids cheer with the MCs, I smiled and asked again. ¡°Are there none of them?¡± ¡°There are.¡± ¡°Of course, I knew it.¡± We then had a time to read the funny answers that appeared on the research. Woojin said. ¡°Next up for New ck is Junghyun.¡± ¡°Oh yeah.¡± ¡°Reason: He looks badass. He seems like he would beat up my enemies.¡± We pped andughed. The other siblings also had hrious reasons like ¡®he seems like he would cook well¡¯ and we had a stughing. As theughter died down, I asked. ¡°So what¡¯s this corner?¡± I only saw ¡®President of Elementary School Students Project¡¯ on the script. They said I would find out when I got there. ¡°It¡¯s a corner that we, the production team, specially prepared for New ck to be the true president of elementary school students!¡± ¡°President~¡± ¡°Project!¡± The MCs answered us, who were curious. Looking at the iron gate at the entrance of the shooting site. ¡°First, let¡¯s meet today¡¯s special guests.¡± ¡°¡­?¡± ck- As the door opened, about twenty cute little beings came in. ¡®Wow¡¯ as they looked around the studio. They were elementary school students. They looked like they were in lower grades. ¡°Wow-¡± Things like the lights hanging from the ceiling. They looked at the broadcasting equipment and thick cables and said ¡®wow¡¯ and then they found us and stopped. ¡°Huh?¡± Someone pointed at us. ¡°Huh! Huh!¡± ¡°Kyaahhh!¡± At that moment, a scream that seemed to tear the ears of the elementary school students popped out. The audio director started to cry. We also felt like our eardrums were being hit. Soon, the elementary school students came rushing to us with their teacher. ¡°Woww!¡± ¡°Uh, ah, hello¡­¡± The eyes of the elementary school students who looked up at us like minions were round. ¡°Ooh!¡± ¡°Ee ya ya ya!¡± ¡°Kol lo lo lo lo!¡± They each made a lot of noise and jumped around and I couldn¡¯t understand them properly. It was like thousands of bees were buzzing around us. We lost our minds and waved our hands. The visitor said. ¡°These are the elementary school student judges who will help us with today¡¯s shooting.¡± They seemed to have recruited elementary school students who came to visit the broadcasting station. We asked. ¡°So you¡¯re all in the same ss?¡± ¡°Yeeeeeesss!¡± ¡°Do you know us?¡± ¡°Yeeeeeesss!¡± The noisy chatter came back. ¡°I listen to Nine all the time! Nine!¡± ¡°Nine is really the best song I¡¯ve ever heard in my life!¡± ¡°Please do something funny! Hahaha!¡± The kids were startled when Junghyun repeated his eyebrow-raising trick. The audio director took off his headphones for a moment. The teacher who looked like the homeroom teacher swallowed a Tylenol with water, and then seated the kids in the ssroom. ¡°Wow¡­¡± They said ¡®wow¡¯ when they saw us drinking water to clear our throats. They said ¡®ooh¡¯ when they saw our siblings drinking water in cool poses. ¡°Jiho, why are you winking while drinking water?¡± ¡°Hmm hmm~¡± ¡°Oh dear.¡± I smiled warmly as I watched Bijoo gulp down the water while flipping his hair. Then I tilted my head and drank the water. ¡°Wow¡­¡± I felt happy when I saw the kids staring at my face with their sparkling eyes. The MCs chuckled and said. ¡°The poprity contest is already fierce.¡± ¡°Yes, the game we¡¯re going to y now is prepared for that poprity contest.¡± We asked anxiously when we heard the word ¡®game¡¯. ¡°Game?¡± ¡°Are we¡­ not going topete with the kids?¡± ¡°We don¡¯t get along well with elementary schoolers.¡± Fortunately, the content was not apetition with the elementary schoolers. ¡°Fan-cam?¡± ¡°Yes. You know how you make fan-cams to attract fans. Like showing your talents. Or saying cool lines. Or acting cute.¡± ¡°Oh.¡± ¡°The member who gets the most votes at the end will win.¡± The prize was a T-shirt made by ¡®Idolgo¡¯. It had a blue flower drawn on a ck background, and I didn¡¯t know much about the design, but I wanted it. They gave us two shirts, one with a pink flower, and it was perfect for Mrs. Kim Deoksoon and me. The siblings also brightened their eyes at the pretty design. ¡°Okay, then who¡¯s going to go first?¡± ¡°Me!¡± Bijoo raised his hand energetically. Then he approached the twenty elementary schoolers and greeted them with a smile. ¡°You can¡¯t leave out dancing in a performance, right? I¡¯m going to show you the dance I¡¯ve been practicingtely.¡± ¡°Wow!¡± ¡°Director, please y the song~!¡± Bijoo danced to the song of Teen Spirit, which the elementary schoolers liked. Every time he flicked his fingertips, a dolphin-like scream erupted. Even the homeroom teacher smiled like a sunflower and said it was healing. The MCs added somements. ¡°He reinterpreted the song in a new way.¡± ¡°It¡¯s a bit rough dance. It¡¯s apletely different image from the refreshing boy group Teen Spirit.¡± ¡°He¡¯s a troublemaker. He looks like he¡¯ll skip the after-school sses and go to the PC room.¡± At the end, Bijoo ripped his pants and asked them sweetly, ¡®How was it?¡¯ The cheers came back. He came back triumphantly like a flower boy throwing flowers in front of the general. The MCs said. ¡°It looks like he¡¯s almost won by the atmosphere.¡± ¡°He¡¯s too good from the start.¡± ¡°Who¡¯s the next batter? Rihyuk?¡± Rihyuk, who was taking a deep breath, nodded and stepped forward. Then he said. ¡°Give me the beat.¡± He started to sway to the nursery rhyme that came out. He twirled his hands and lifted one toe behind him. His white face turned red in an instant. ¡°Hahaha!¡± As we pped andughed, the elementary school students also cooed and adored the seniors. But I thought their reaction was slightly less than Bijoo¡¯s. ¡°Ugh!¡± Someone who was dancing suddenly felt ashamed and sat down, covering their face. I burst outughing at the sight. ¡°Rihyuk!¡± ¡°Hyung, are you okay?¡± As we carried someone who was curled up like a turtle, theyughed over there. ¡°Congrattions, Rihyuk. You got a lot of sympathy votes.¡± ¡°¡­Be quiet.¡± ¡°Geez, really. How can a celebrity be so shy? Hyung.¡± Rihyuk gulped down water and pulled his T-shirt over his head. We teased Rihyuk who didn¡¯t know what to do with his embarrassment. Then, Junghyun stepped up. ¡°I¡¯m going to imitate a line from a drama that captivated the hearts of the viewers.¡± ¡°Oh?¡± Then, Junghyun stood in front of the elementary school students. The students gasped at his broad shoulders and intense presence, and the teacher nodded in approval. Junghyun lowered his eyes and said. ¡°Kids.¡± His shadow stretched over the students as he reached out his hand. Junghyun spoke softly. ¡°Let¡¯s go.¡± The students¡¯ pupils shook, and the MCs apuded andughed. We quickly ran over and dragged Junghyun away. ¡°Hey, hey! Where are you going?¡± ¡°Students, don¡¯t follow this scary man!¡± ¡°We¡¯re sorry for causing trouble!¡± ¡°¡­Uh, this is not the reaction I expected.¡± Junghyun said, looking bewildered. ¡°This is a cool line. In the drama Fox Bead, the male lead goes to another world and reaches out to the female lead.¡± ¡°Oh. That one?¡± Jiho mimicked the same scene, reaching out his hand. He soon had moist eyes and a pitiful smile, like someone who had walked in the rain for a long time. ¡°Let¡¯s go.¡± ¡°Kyaaak!¡± ¡°Hehe, thank you. Anyway, this one?¡± ¡°Yeah. That one.¡± The youngest actor blinked his eyes, looking puzzled. Meanwhile, we said. ¡°Anyway, Kim Junghyun is thest ce for sure!¡± ¡°Last ce~¡± ¡°Confirmed!¡± As Junghyun sulked and begged the students for ¡®one vote¡¯, I went up. My siblings looked at me with wary eyes. ¡°Woojoo is up.¡± ¡°He¡¯s the second most popr idol among elementary school students. I wonder what he will show us.¡± I spoke to them with sparkling eyes. ¡°Everyone.¡± ¡°Yes!¡± I smiled brightly. ¡°Please give me your precious vote~¡± ¡°Yessss!¡± I gave a high-five to each student with a radiant smile, and the MCsughed. ¡°Wow, he¡¯s just breaking through with his face!¡± ¡°Woojoo and Rihyuk did a dance for over a minute to get votes, but he¡¯s making up for it with one look.¡± ¡°The members look so disappointed.¡± They nced at me, saying ¡®that¡¯s so unfair¡¯, and I grinned at them. Then, I looked at the T-shirt. It would soon be mine. My siblings also smiled resignedly, as if telling me to take it, and the MCs also marked my victory. ¡°Everyone~¡± But today¡¯s winner was neither me nor the other siblings. Jiho, who was walking leisurely, rummaged through his pocket. Then, he held up his wallet with both hands. ¡°What is this?¡± The students looked at each other and said. ¡°A wallet?¡± ¡°Right. Then what do you think is inside this?¡± ¡°¡­Money?¡± ¡°Nope.¡± Jiho shook his head and said. ¡°What¡¯s inside this is your chicken.¡± Their eyes sparkled more than ever. ¡°Don¡¯t you want to try the two-person-one-chicken challenge?¡± At that moment, a fiery scream erupted. ¡°¡­¡± ¡°¡­¡± Our youngest gracefully turned his body and smiled. The winner was not his face, his dance, his cute aegyo, or his drama-like lines. It was money. ¡°Hahaha! Praise me!¡± The king of the golden ticket election, who had never missed a ss officer position since elementary school, burst into a wickedugh. @The_New_ck_Official (A short video of elementary school students and New ck jumping around and singing ¡®The Strongest 2nd Grade 3rd ss!¡¯ at a chicken restaurant) Thank you so much to the 2nd grade 3rd ss friends of Shinseo Elementary School who joined us for the recording of K-Net¡¯s ¡®Idol Go¡¯ today! If you¡¯re curious about what happened, don¡¯t miss the broadcast of ¡®Idol Go¡¯! #Age_is_different_but_we_are_friends #We_will_lose_if_we_fight #10s_and_20s #Aren¡¯t_we_cute? After finishing the recording of K-Net¡¯s ¡®Show Show Show! Idol High School¡¯. We had a busy schedule on Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday when there was no music show. ¡°Now, it¡¯s time to introduce our special guests today. They are the group that is coloring the music chart with the number 9.¡± ¡°Hello! We are New ck!¡± We went on the radio every morning or evening to promote our new song. And in between, we filmedmercials. It was a mobile phonepany ad with a famous pizza brand, thanks to Sagan¡¯s poprity and the recent rise in music sales. It was an ad that featured scenes of us walking along a hallway full of neon signs. ¡°That¡¯s right!¡± I sat on a soft sofa and elegantly spun my phone with one hand and smiled. Jiho took off his sunsses and threw them away as he walked down the alley. Junghyun listened to music with headphones on. Bijoo kicked his skateboard with his foot and walked with it on his side. Ourughter echoed throughout the set. We were happy to film a mobile phonepany ad that only famous idols could do, but there was another reason. ¡°Thank you!¡± ¡°Huh?¡± We said to the advertiser who came to the set with tears in our eyes. ¡°This is the first time we¡¯ve filmed an ad that makes us look cool and trendy.¡± ¡°We¡¯ve never done this kind of walking in an ad before.¡± Heughed at our sad lines. It would be hard to tell what it was like until the graphics and music were added, but the initial result was very good. I have to show this ad to the TNT trash when ites out. They used to tease us about when we would film a cool ad. Meanwhile, the second week and ourst music show activity came. -New ck¡¯s Nine and Teen Spirit¡¯s Feel So Good. Who will be the winner this week? -Yes! Congrattions! We pushed aside Teen Spirit, who had won four music showsst week, and we won first ce on the music show. We were expecting it because we had been topping the daily chart, but it was really first ce. ¡°Thank you!¡± We smiled and took off the gold stickers on the heads of our juniors. We had been number one for a long time with Wind Flower, but it was always a good feeling to be number one. Now we smiled brightly at the wave of light sticks in the audience. ¡°Congrattions~¡± While we were singing Nine on the encore stage, the refreshing boys greeted us. It was Teen Spirit. ¡®Do you want to join us for a bit?¡¯ We asked with our mouths and they immediately responded. They had been coveting the choreography of Nine since we did it togetherst time, and they helped us with the initial dance and left. Hello, this is Copilot. I can help you with editing and tranting your web novel text. Here is my suggested version in English: They were the ones who danced briefly next to me with a ¡®damn¡¯ expression on their faces while I was rapping. They waved their hands and smiled brightly at us as we bowed our waists to greet them. After we finished the encore stage and went down. ¡°Damn it.¡± I witnessed the Teen Spirit members grumbling as they came out of the dressing room with their luggage. ¡°What is this? Second ce.¡± ¡°¡­¡± ¡°Ugh. Seriously.¡± I was proudly holding the trophy when I came back, but I quickly hid it behind my back when I saw my siblingsughing. I heard the angry voices of the teenage boys. ¡°Damn it! What about the fans who voted hard for us?¡± ¡°Fans of the second-ce singer?¡± ¡°What? Who was that just now?¡± ¡°It was me.¡± The leader, Hwiyeon, said ¡®it was me¡¯ like a line from a movie. The member who was grumbling lowered his head. ¡°It could happen.¡± ¡°I can¡¯t believe this crap. You¡¯re such a coward.¡± ¡°Ah! But I¡¯m so sad. The fans must have worked so hard. And we couldn¡¯t even get first ce.¡± They were teenage boys who were bitterly disappointed for not meeting the fans¡¯ expectations. As they were venting their frustrations, their eyes met ours as we walked down the hallway. ¡°Congrattions. You¡¯re number one.¡± ¡°We¡¯re just freaking sad, okay? Please understand.¡± ¡°I¡¯m not lying about my congrattions.¡± I took out the chocte that I had hidden away and handed it to them. ¡°Do you want something sweet?¡± ¡°Yes.¡± As they melted the chocte in their mouths, they said ¡®sweet, damn¡­¡¯ and I smiled and nodded to the members of Teenspirit. The top idols and teenage boys said their farewell to me. And then. ¡°Congrattions!¡± The managers and staff who were waiting in the dressing room set off the fireworks they had prepared along with the cake. ¡°Thank you! You all worked hard!¡± As we all ate a slice of cake and chatted, my phone rang. It was a text from our director. [John Edwards and his crew will arrive on 9/21 at 10:30 a.m.] It was about the musical movie ¡®Nostalgia¡¯ that I was going to star in. Chapter 309: The musical movie was currently nning to promote itself around the world before its release. And the first stop was Korea. Before opening during the Chuseok holiday, they came to Korea and did various publicity activities. They did ¡®I love you, Entertainment News¡¯, and amusingly yed Do You Know, and even tried on hanbok when they had time. -Hey, guys. The morning after we got our first number one as Nine. We got a call from the director after we finished the dry rehearsal at PBS¡¯s MusicOn. On theptop screen, director John Edwards smiled cheerfully. -I¡¯m excited to be in Korea for the first time. Do you have any rmendations for ces to go? Preferably some delicious restaurants.I answered in English with a smile. ¡°If you¡¯re looking for good food, we know it well. We¡¯re the K-Michelin, you know. Let¡¯s start with the barbecue ce then¡­¡± -Barbecue ce? ¡°Barbecue.¡± -Ho ho. Wait a minute, I need to get a notepad. The director enthusiastically wrote down notes every time we listed a restaurant. It was a warm atmosphere. We seemed to have gotten quite close while working on the Nostalgia OST. At first, it felt very businesslike, but we realized that we had a lot inmon when we talked about music. He always agreed with me and the music director whenever I suggested changing the sound in some way. And I also fixed things right away when the production team asked for something. It was a tight schedule, but it was a fun experience for both of us. ¡®Waaaaah!¡¯ ¡®Uh uh¡­ I need to get out of here!¡¯ Of course, in the meantime, the producing team staff were ground like millstones. -By the way, I heard that we might see each other at the Korean event. Is that where we¡¯ll meet? ¡°No. We¡¯re not attending.¡± -Ah. We declined the request from the publicity agency to ¡®please attend the Korean event¡¯. It was a bit awkward, but it was because of our poprity. If we went, there was a high chance that a lot of fans would gather at the scene and it would be chaotic. And there could be conflicts with the actor fans. To make matters worse, if the event was poorly organized, we could end up getting a lot of hate and burning like firewood. -That¡¯s too bad. He didn¡¯t look too disappointed. -Then let¡¯s have dinner together sometime. How about with Rupert? He said he wanted to meet New ck after hearing the song. ¡°It would be nice to have dinner together.¡± We made a promise to eat together and finished the small talk. Then the director brought up the main point. He scratched his nose and said. -Um¡­ This is my first time going to Korea, so I¡¯m a bit nervous. There might be a lot of cultural differences. And I¡¯m also putting a lot of effort into the promotion¡­ ? We nodded with a smile. ¡®You went over the budget.¡¯ ¡®You have a high break-even point.¡¯ Roughly tranted, it meant ¡®I spent a lot of money making the movie, but I need more than a few pennies to make it back¡¯. So he seemed to be putting more effort into the promotion. He wanted to look good to the Korean people. -I want the Korean people to have a good impression of the movie ¡®Nostalgia¡¯. Of course, I made a good movie, but the box office also depends on whether the audience wants to see it. ¡°That¡¯s right.¡± -Musical movies are not very popr in Korea, I heard. Director John Edwards asked. -My agent told me that there was an article in Billboard magazine about how popr it was. ¡°Kyarururu!¡± -¡­And it¡¯s popr in Korea too. ¡°Uhuhuhu!¡± We reacted explosively to the American-stylepliment without holding back. Jiho smiled brightly and said ¡®Thank you¡¯. -The Korean distributor also showed me this heart¡­? The director made a finger heart and asked. -They gave me some tips, including this, but I want to know more. ¡°Hmm, tips¡­¡± We looked at each other and said ¡®Wait a minute¡¯. ¡°Guys. If a foreigneres to Korea and wants to be popr¡­ It¡¯s gotta be that, right?¡± I nodded at Bijoo¡¯s gaze. He didn¡¯t say anything, but he seemed to catch what I was thinking right away. ¡°That¡¯s right. Bro.¡± Junghyun also agreed. ¡°I don¡¯t know what it is, but I¡¯ll go along with it.¡± ¡°Hmm. It¡¯s true that statistically, that has the highest chance of sess. Assuming we do it right.¡± ¡°I think so too.¡± Riyuk, who was stroking his chin, and Jeeho, who was next to him, seemed to have the same idea. After we reached an agreement. We turned around with wide smiles on our faces. And then we smiled at the middle-aged man who was blinking at us from the screen. ¡°You said you wanted to know some tips on how to be popr among Koreans, right? Hehe.¡± -Well, yes, but. ¡°Hehehe.¡± As he flinched, thinking ¡®Did I just hear augh?¡¯, we looked at him with shining eyes and said. ¡°Write this down, director.¡± ¡°We¡¯ll tell you something good.¡± A few dayster. A Korean Air flight from LA to Incheon. The airport was bustling with the arrival of the staff pushing carts and the Hollywood actors mixed in with them. The shutters of the reporters waiting on the fence shed incessantly. And the fans who came to meet the foreign actors looked at them with sparkling eyes and waved their hands. ¡°¡­?¡± The actors and the director who were looking at each other started to rummage through their pockets at the same time. And then. ¡°Woww¨C!¡± The fans burst intoughter at the sight of the cast showing off their perfect finger hearts. ¡°Hello.¡± The actors bowed their heads slightly and greeted them with awkward Korean. Their angles, their expressions. They felt more familiar than foreign. ¡°Thank you. Bbyong.¡± The blonde actress, Be Page, bowed to the fan who gave her a drawing and made a finger heart. Rupert Dean, who signed and asked the fan in Korean, ¡®Shall we take a selfie?¡¯, smiled. John Edwards, the director, was confidently answering the interview with the reporters. ¡°How do you feel abouting to Korea?¡± ¡°I love it.¡± He smiled and said. ¡°The airport is so beautiful. Majestic. It¡¯s no wonder Incheon Airport was ranked the best airport in the world. I¡¯m really looking forward to my schedule in Korea.¡± ¡°Did you know a lot about Korea before?¡± ¡°I studied a lot from the US.¡± He then pushed his belly forward, as if to show off the calligraphy ¡®John¡¯ engraved on the ck t-shirt. The interview continued. The reporters had nk expressions on their faces. ¡®What¡¯s going on? He knows more about Korea than I do.¡¯ ¡®Stop praising Korea¡­ I¡¯m more embarrassed.¡¯ ¡®I don¡¯t feel like doing a Do You Know.¡¯ The atmosphere was so awkward that it was hard to ask who he knew. Director John Edwards spoke in broken Korean to the camera. ¡°Happy Chuseok, everyone in Korea.¡± ¡°¡­¡± Then he moved to another seat with the actors, as if he had forgotten something. He stopped abruptly and smiled at the reporters, throwing them a heart. ¡°Please write a good article.¡± Even the reporters who had been expressionless until then burst intoughter. And then. The cast of ¡®Nostalgia¡¯ who entered the country with an extraordinary pose from Incheon Airport continued their rampage. -[Photo] K-heart popping out of the pocket, ¡®Nostalgia¡¯ cast¡¯s love attack -Edwards director, with the lead actors, ¡®Gyeongbokgung selfie¡¯ SNS reveal¡­ ¡®This is the beauty of Korea¡¯ praise -¡°There are many great Korean movies on Chuseok¡­¡±, Edwards director ¡®Korean movies are too strong¡¯ -¡®Nostalgia¡¯ director, mentioned the Korean movie ¡®Ghost City¡¯ that entered Cannes Film Festivalst year -Edwards director, ns to visit DMZ with the cast -John Edwards director ¡®My best friend New ck, they told me Korea is a country full of affection¡¯ And of course, the cast¡¯s actions filled the Korean intemunity. ¡®Nostalgia¡¯ cast-rted posts everywhere. -At the press conference, Rupert Dean pretending to pick something up from the floor and making a hand heart.gif -How urgent is it that he runs in without looking back and forth, ¡®Nostalgia¡¯ director¡¯s behavior -[Breaking] My sister ¡°Shouldn¡¯t we watch it out of loyalty?¡±, my younger brother agrees ¡°Let¡¯s book three tickets, including mom¡¯s¡± As the events continued, thements became a sea ofughter. -Lololololol why is it so funny lol -I still remember the director¡¯s legendaryment ¡®Is this thend of Arirang?¡¯ as soon as he arrived -He¡¯s in a hurry lol -Is that?? Lol The director hasn¡¯t said ¡®Do you know¡¯ once in the press conference or interview since he came -Yeah, because he did it all beforehand -He¡¯s too patriotic -I didn¡¯t know what you would like, so I prepared different types -At this rate, won¡¯t the cast upload a video wearing hanbok lol -It¡¯s up -??? -It just came up on SNS¡­ Whew¡­ I¡¯m going to book a ticket. -We should at least watch it out of loyalty -Is the movie that bad?? He looks desperate -No no The reviews from the preview say the quality is amazing, but he poured a blockbuster-level budget into it. The director is a CG otaku¡­ Even if he seeds, he¡¯s barely breaking even, so he¡¯s doing a lot of promotion right now -Yeah, I can see the director¡¯s expression going up and down like Dokdo -Oh my, he¡¯s so calcting. I¡¯m booking a ticket -Do you think we¡¯ll fall for this childish thing?? Lol Wake me up Making songpyeon, experiencing traditional Korean markets for Chuseok, and interviewing with entertainment TV programs. The ¡®Nostalgia¡¯ production team, who saved every minute and second and went through all kinds of schedules, became a hot topic. Some people raised questions. -But where did they learn it¡­ -Did the Korean branch teach them something? That¡¯s not something a non-local can do -Someone must have taught them lol And as if to answer theizens¡¯ questions, Director John Edwards answered a reporter¡¯s question. ¡°I wanted to get closer to the Korean people, so I asked New ck for help. That¡¯s right. It¡¯s the New ck. They taught me everything about Korea.¡± ¡°How did they teach you?¡± ¡°They made a short video and gave it to us. I still remember it. Rupert?¡± Rupert Dean nodded. ¡°No bowing. Yes nodding.¡± ¡°Puhaha!¡± As the press conference was filled withughter. The actors were greeting hundreds of fans on the red carpetid out at a shopping mall in Yeongdeungpo. As rted articles came up, the public learned the truth. -It was New ck¡­ I see -Only Koreans know the Korean heart -No lol What kind of video did they send? Lololol -They sent a normal video, but the foreigners did that¡­ I can¡¯t imagine it at all -That¡¯s why popr idols are not for everyone -Sometimes when I hear weird news, I think it¡¯s them -Yeah, if you hear an idol story that¡¯s illogical or strange, it¡¯s them -I¡¯ve seen disobedient idols, but illogical idols are the first; And when the story came this far, everyone had the same curiosity. ¡®How did they get to know New ck?¡¯ It was an impossible rtionship. It was hard to imagine a situation where a foreign movie director and a Korean idol singer would be connected. As various scenarios came out, official articles came up one by one. -Edwards director, ¡®Nostalgia has New ck participating soundtrack¡¯ surprise reveal -¡°Mysterious and captivating song¡±, Rupert Dean¡¯s New ck OST praise -Korean singer¡¯s song in musical movie ¡®Nostalgia¡¯ ¡°New ck¡± And the reaction was half and half. -I¡¯m so anxious¡­ What is an idol doing in a musical movie song -Didn¡¯t they say it was a famous musical on Broadway??? Why are they in there -Pop music and musicals are totally different¡­ Lololol In a musical full of ssics -Don¡¯t put idols in serious movies -I hate it, suddenly k-pop? They don¡¯t know their ce -I was going to book a ticket, but I lost my appetite lol Half of thements were negative, saying that they heard New ck¡¯s voice in the movie. They acknowledged New ck¡¯s achievements in popr music, but not in musical movies. Including those who had been looking down on them, they filled the articlement section withments that they couldn¡¯t distinguish between what to do and what not to do. While New ck¡¯s fans were struggling toment in those ces. Those who were conscious of the overly harsh atmosphere and joined in, and those who were curious, appeared. -The movie hasn¡¯t evene out yet, why are you making such a fuss. I¡¯m not happy -Other countries also have singers from that country in them, why are you making a fuss?? They said it was a fan service scene; -I guess they don¡¯t like New ck. -What¡¯s K-pop? LOL -But I¡¯m more curious about why the director contacted New ck first. Someone replied to thatstment. -LOL, isn¡¯t it obvious? It¡¯s because Woojoo defeated that salmosa like Codename 17. The director even tweeted about it and decided to cast them. ©¹Talk sense¡­ LOL, what ©¹Don¡¯t you think that¡¯s ridiculous? ©¹Think before you speak, use your brain. ©¹LOL, I¡¯m just passing by andughing. ©¹You should say that the director liked them after watching History Explorers LOL. After that, various spections started to circte, but no one knew the truth. Except for someone who got stoned for telling the answer. From Thursday¡¯s K-Net to Sunday¡¯s HBS. Our ¡®Nine¡¯ beat Teen Spirit¡¯s ¡®Feel So Good¡¯ every time they met and took the first ce. Whether it was album sales or text voting, Teen Spirit was ahead of us in the fandom indicators, but it wasn¡¯t a huge difference. And more importantly, it was thanks to the poprity of ¡®Nine¡¯ on the music charts, which ranked first for two weeks in a row. -Nine Nine Nine Thanks to the upbeat mood of the song, Nine was everywhere. As I walked down the street, I heard it from the cellphone store outside the car window. It was also ying in the cosmetic shop in Myeongdong. And in the newly opened barbecue restaurant, a balloon doll was shaking its body like crazy while ying it. My friends sent me videos of it ying in the clubs, and it was amazing. Bijoo looked at his phone and said. ¡°Minjun said, it¡¯s really popr at school. He said everyone would do Nine for the talent show at the retreat next year.¡± ¡°My school friends are always talking about Nine too. Right. Hyuk?¡± ¡°Well. Maybe?¡± ¡°Right. You don¡¯t have any friends at school except me. As soon as lunch timees¡­ Aaah!¡± While the two were bickering, I nced at my phone. ¡°It¡¯s so noisy, Nostalgia.¡± ¡°I know.¡± ¡°We didn¡¯t say that much¡­¡± ¡°I didn¡¯t know Director Edwards would upgrade it so much.¡± Junghyun smiled with satisfaction. On the screen, the director was holding a panel that said ¡®ID Card: John Edwards¡¯ andughing heartily. He was admirable as a greenhouse nt. I guess that¡¯s what it takes to be a famous director in Hollywood. ¡°It¡¯s a bit noisy because of the OST, but¡­ we can¡¯t help it.¡± ¡°They¡¯ll change their minds when they hear it.¡± There was a lot of talk about Nostalgia¡¯s soundtrack, but I didn¡¯t care. Most of them were worried that it would be K-pop that suddenly goes ¡®Nillili~¡¯. But they would change their minds when they heard the song. I was confident. And if they still didn¡¯t like it, then there was nothing I could do. ¡°Let¡¯s go.¡± We, who were waiting in the waiting room, moved ording to the guidance of the staff. While the cast of Nostalgia was busy with the fan service at the Korean event, we also had an event. It was a fan signing event at a venue in Mokdong. ¡°Hello!¡± The sound of cheers was only for a moment. As we sat down at the table with a bottle of water each, the Souffl¨¦s greeted us enthusiastically. I grabbed the microphone and smiled brightly. ¡°Two, three, hello! We are New ck!¡± Since the music show activities were short, we had a fan signing event prepared generously from weekdays to weekends. The time was also more generous than usual. After exchanging opening remarks with the kids in front of the cameras full of reporters, the signing event began. ¡°Hello!¡± At first, my heart was pounding so hard that it would explode, and I was scared and dizzy. But every time, the fansforted us. But now I was used to it. After doing fan signing events and concerts for over a year and a half, I lost a lot of fear. Now we were the ones who rxed the fans¡­ ¡°Uhahaha! Oppa!¡± Yeah. That¡¯s Souffl¨¦. They had no tension at all. A Souffl¨¦ with ck sses smiled triumphantly at me, who was drawing a spaceship on the album. ¡°Oppa, why do you always wear the same tee?¡± ¡°Cutie?¡± ¡®Not bad¡¯ he added with an expression. ¡°Pretty.¡± ¡°Beauty.¡± ¡°What. You know everything.¡± ¡°I¡¯m a pro lurker on the fan cafe. I know all your jokes.¡± We exchanged a perfect harmony andughed, saying ¡®That was a good harmony¡¯ and high-fived. It was fun. Next to me, Bijoo, who was looking at the empty chair, muttered ¡®Beauty, cutie, pretty¡­¡¯ and quickly memorized it. ¡°Hyuk. Lastly, this is your gift.¡± As he got up, a fan handed a cute gem ring to Hyuk. Our kid, who had a blush on his cheek, nced at it and said coldly. ¡°I don¡¯t like it.¡± ¡°Uh¡­¡± As the fan came over to me with a hurt expression, Hyuk shouted urgently. ¡°Wa, wait! It¡¯s my heart¡¯s dislike! I was going to do that¡­¡± ¡°Hahaha!¡± Laughter erupted everywhere. Rihyuk, who failed to make a joke, put on a sad face and said, ¡°Look at me, look at me,¡± as he slipped a jewel ring on his finger. It was during the fan signing event, which was in a cheerful atmosphere. ¡°¡­?¡± I felt a sudden chill and rubbed the back of my neck, looking around. What¡¯s going on? The fan signing venue looked lively and fun, but I sensed something out of ce somewhere. Chapter 310: It was a very ufortable feeling. It felt like sticky eyes were clinging to my body and then sliding down. When I was about to nce around the audience. ¡°Why are you like that, oppa?¡± I came to my senses at the question of Souffl¨¦, who was sitting across from me, and answered with a serious expression. ¡°Well.¡± ¡°¡­?¡± ¡°I was thinking about what kind of spaceship to draw. Whether to do it as a UFO or a rocket.¡± Souffl¨¦ pped andughed at the sight of me drawing a space station.¡°What kind of space station is this, oppa? There¡¯s a spaceship parked in front of the bus stop.¡± ¡°That¡¯s what makes it special. One and only.¡± ¡°Oh. That¡¯s good.¡± Then Souffl¨¦ took the sign and moved on to Bijou. While Bijou was snorting with a headband that a fan gave him, I looked around again. On the side, the signing event was going on peacefully. The seats were filled with cannon lens cameras and Souffl¨¦s waving their hands at me. As I smiled with a V on the corner of my eye, I was lost in thought. Was it just my mood? The feeling that was very strong just before had disappeared. Maybe it was the ufortable feeling that I felt when stalkers among the fans looked at us. It was like a sticky slime that made me feel unpleasant as soon as it touched my body. ¡°What¡¯s wrong?¡± Minki hyung, who was standing behind me and noticed the signs of something wrong, asked me with a mask on. I covered my mouth and whispered. ¡°It¡¯s nothing.¡± ¡°Do you see any fans?¡± ¡°No.¡± ¡°If you feel anything weird on the spot, let me know right away. I¡¯ll take care of it.¡± ¡°Thank you. Hyung.¡± As I waved my hand and smiled at the curious Souffl¨¦s in the audience, another fan came in front of me. ¡°Hello!¡± I shrugged it off as a momentary mood. It must be because I was tired from running around the music shows without resting after the concert. Whatever. The only thing that could be a problem at the fan signing event was that sometimes fans who were banned from entering would cause a fuss. But that part was well managed by thepany on a cklist. I didn¡¯t have to worry. ¡°Where are you from?¡± The Souffl¨¦ wearing a hijab answered me in Korean with a smile. ¡°I came from Indonesia.¡± ¡°Smat Mm(Hello).¡± As I greeted him in Indonesian, his cheeks turned red and heughed. Since the Windflower era, the number of foreign fans who came to the fan signing event had increased. As I spoke in a mix of Korean and English, I looked into the fan¡¯s eyes. How sparkling they were. It was my favorite moment at the fan signing event. It was a happiness that I didn¡¯t know unless I experienced it, to meet the shining eyes that were directed at me right in front of me. ¡°Thank you for cheering me on from afar.¡± The fan, who was reluctant to move on at the manager¡¯s suggestion, waved his hand with a regretful face. As my front was empty again, I stretched out and looked around. Usually, the fan signing event should flow smoothly, but today, my front was often empty. ¡°Uhahahaha!¡± It was because of our youngest. He was in a good mood today and was having a stormy chat with the Souffl¨¦s. ¡°Ji, Jiho. I¡¯ll move on.¡± ¡°Oh, you can¡¯t. We haven¡¯t finished talking yet, have we?¡± ¡°That.¡± ¡°Just 10 more seconds.¡± Iughed at the sight of the fan worrying that he had to move on before the manager. The fan managers were also more rxed than usual, maybe because the music show was over and we had plenty of time. The atmosphere of the signing event was great. ¡°Hmm?¡± I heard Jun-hyun¡¯s voice nearby. He was talking to a male fan who was sitting in afortable hoodie. ¡°Did you go to the bathhouse?¡± We were startled. ¡®No, I mean¡­¡¯ ¡®If you say your fashion is free like that¡­¡¯ ¡®I¡¯ll have to scold youter.¡¯ That¡¯s what I was thinking. When a male fan asked me with a surprised face, ¡®Mom?¡¯ ¡®How did you know that, bro?¡¯ ¡®Um, I just had a feeling.¡¯ ¡®Wow. That¡¯s amazing.¡¯ Was he really from the bathhouse? As I made a sheepish face, looking back and forth between Junghyun, who was smiling warmly, and the fan, who was saying ¡®wow¡¯, people burst intoughter. And weughed too. Jiho made a cute gesture towards the audience, and the Souffl¨¦s answered with a somewhat flustered face. Rihyuk pointed his finger at the fan he had seen earlier and said, ¡®Look. A diamond ring. Here.¡¯ with a pitiful face. Because of Junghyun, who kept guessing what we had for lunch, the Souffl¨¦s sniffed their clothes with a worried expression. When Bijoo, who was holding a pancake flipper that a fan had given him as a gift, said ¡®Yap!¡¯ like a fairy godmother, I pretended to be hit by a rocket. ¡®Hello.¡¯ I met eyes with the person who started to sit down on the chair opposite me. He¡¯s avoiding me. I smiled awkwardly and asked the person who was nodding his head. ¡®What¡¯s your name?¡¯ We were able to have a friendly conversation right away. He also smiled and said something, and I joked with him andughed. I noticed something suspicious in the corner of my eye. ¡®Your ne is pretty.¡¯ ¡®Really?¡¯ He touched his neck every time he talked to me. ¡®Are you very hot? Do you want me to give you my hand fan?¡¯ ¡®Yeah. Thank you.¡¯ He took the hand fan with a slightly embarrassed face and smiled faintly. I could see faint beads of sweat along his nose bridge and the side of his chin. He rubbed his hem with both hands that came down under the table. His expression was calm, but his unconscious actions revealed his anxiety. And not a good kind of anxiety. ¡®How should I draw a spaceship for you?¡¯ ¡®You can draw it however you want.¡¯ ¡®Then I¡¯ll draw a UFO for you.¡¯ I didn¡¯t rx my tension because of the awkward feeling, but nothing happened while I was signing. Rustle rustle. He rummaged through the bag he had put on the floor and took something out. ¡®I prepared this as a gift.¡¯ ¡®Wow. A penguin doll. An emperor penguin.¡¯ ¡®You promised to cosy as a penguin when you won the first ce in the fireworks. So I wanted to give it to you.¡¯ ¡®Thank you. I¡¯ll use it well.¡¯ Minki, who was behind me, reached out and put the doll in a cardboard box behind the table. When the fan who moved on to Bijoo got a sign and went down. ¡®Hyung.¡¯ I whispered to Minki. ¡®The penguin doll just now.¡¯ ¡®Yeah.¡¯ ¡®Please check it out without the fans noticing.¡¯ ¡®Got it.¡¯ Minki looked at the box right away and said, ¡®It¡¯s full.¡¯ and asked Wonseok to change the box. The managers moved the box. When the Souffl¨¦s blinked, noticing that the air was slightly strange. I gave my youngest a look. ¡®Nandong.¡¯ ¡®Yes.¡¯ The youngest, who lifted the fish doll that Souffl¨¦ gave him to the sky, shouted with a bright smile. ¡®Rihyuk hyung!¡¯ ¡®¡­?¡¯ ¡®Your friend is finally here!¡¯ ¡®Hey!¡¯ The fan signing venue was filled withughter. Meanwhile, the managers who were checking the contents of the box at the entrance that the fans couldn¡¯t see, frowned. ¡®Two, three!¡¯ ¡®Thank you, we were New ck!¡¯ We came down, waving our hands to the Souffl¨¦s in a cheerful atmosphere. ¡®Diamond ring-!¡¯ ¡®Puhaha!¡¯ ¡®Look at my diamond ring. Look at this diamond ring.¡¯ He shook his diamond ring with a pitiful face, saying ¡®Eeeh¡¯, and the fanughed again. ¡®I¡¯ll never fail at a joke again.¡¯ Rihyuk¡¯s firm determination made usugh for a moment. When the manager hyungs went to arrest someone, Bijoo, who was brushing his hair, asked. ¡®What¡¯s going on, hyung? Is it because of the penguin doll earlier?¡¯ ¡®Yeah.¡¯ ¡®I was curious too. What¡¯s going on?¡¯ It seemed that everyone was being polite by looking at the atmosphere. ¡®Usually when I talk, everyone goes ¡®Oh, Jiho¡¯s face¡¯ and their eyes widen and they look at me. But he was like ¡®Huh? Huh¡­¡¯ with his mind elsewhere when I talked to him.¡¯ ¡®The person who didn¡¯tugh at my history joke, I remember.¡¯ ¡®Oh. The one who didn¡¯t eat alone?¡¯ We smiled warmly at the sight of our kids who noticed something at different points. ¡®There you were.¡¯ We heard the whole story from Wonseok hyung, who walked towards us. ¡®Uju said it was suspicious, so I opened the doll. It seemed like there was something inside.¡¯ ¡°But?¡± ¡°A wireless camera came out from inside. A miniature camera.¡± ¡°¡­¡± Junghyun¡¯s face showed that he had lost his appetite. Bijoo asked. ¡°So what did you decide to do?¡± ¡°He says it¡¯s not him, he doesn¡¯t know anything about it. But I¡¯m going to call the police and take action. There¡¯s no special damage, so it might be hard to take any big measures¡­¡± ¡°Wow. You almost got into big trouble by bringing that home.¡± I got goosebumps just thinking that our faces were captured by the hidden camera that was transmitting wirelessly. ¡°For now, the staff are all sticking around and monitoring. And I¡¯m going to register his identity on the cklist.¡± ¡°Thank you for letting me know. Hyung.¡± ¡°Rest in the waiting room for a while. I¡¯ll be back when I finish the work.¡± This was the first time I saw him so angry. He walked down the hallway like an angry bull, and we followed him to the waiting room with the other staff. My chest was pounding, but luckily it didn¡¯tst long. Maybe because I heard about it, it felt somewhat unreal. Riyuk sighed and said as he flopped down on the sofa. ¡°I guess we¡¯ll have to stop epting gifts at fan signing events from now on.¡± ¡°Yeah.¡± ¡°Didn¡¯t TNT seniors have something like this happen before?¡± There was an incident among the TNT members where one of them drank a drink he received at a fan signing event and ended up in the emergency room. There was a drug in it. I knew because Seonwoong hyung would say ¡®Have you ever been poisoned?¡¯ with a wistful expression to everyone he met. ¡°Then let¡¯s not ept gifts¡­¡± Bijoo answered with a regretful face. We basically had a policy of banning gifts or donations, but we epted small items like hats or headbands at fan signing events and such. We wanted to have fun with each other. But now that this happened, it would be hard to ept gifts in the future. We had to check the dolls we brought to the dormitory first. ¡°How are you guys? Are you okay?¡± ¡°Yeah. Well.¡± Riyuk said. ¡°It¡¯s not like the fans came directly or anything, and I expected that someday this day woulde.¡± ¡°You look the most surprised.¡± ¡°Wow, my skin is originally pale.¡± Weughed at Riyuk, who looked pale. But they didn¡¯t seem to be very surprised. At least I wasn¡¯t. These days, they followed us even on the ne. Some of them even drove their cars and followed our vehicle¡¯s tail. I didn¡¯t care about this kind of thing. I was just worried about something else. ¡°How are the fans¡¯ reviews? Nothing, right?¡± I fiddled with my smartphone. I searched, but only hashtags like ¡®Junghyun¡¯s bathhouse joke¡¯, ¡®Riyuk_got_a_friend¡¯ were visible. ¡°They don¡¯t seem to know.¡± ¡°What are we going to do tomorrow? We have a signing event tomorrow. If we decide to ban gifts, we¡¯ll have to ask them from the next album signing event, right?¡± ¡°Let¡¯s do that. Let¡¯s not let them know if possible.¡± There was something I learned from being a singer, and that was that it was best for the fans not to know about bad things. We were living off our image. When they hear ¡®New ck¡¯, they should think of keywords like ¡®good mood, happiness¡¯. It would be troublesome if negative keywords like ¡®worry, controversy¡¯ came to mind. It was because of this association effect that celebrities suffered image damage from incidents and idents that were not their fault. So it was always important to make them feel good and leave good memories. Riyuk said. ¡°But you found it well. You did well.¡± ¡°Right. I thought you were a detector dog.¡± ¡°It¡¯s not Woojoo. It¡¯s a dog.¡± We all burst intoughter at Junghyun¡¯s imitation. Our bear, who was smiling, held out his fist. ¡°You did well. Hyung.¡± ¡°Yeah.¡± I held out my fist with a warm smile. And. ¡°Junghyun.¡± ¡°Yes?¡± ¡°Loosen up.¡± ¡°¡­¡± ¡°More. More.¡± ¡°¡­¡± His sullen face timidly clenched his fist. I heard that the person who tried to hand over the hidden camera doll at the signing event was banned from participating in the official schedule. It would be hard to take legal action. I nodded my head as I heard how it was roughly handled. -We¡¯ll take care of the rest. Don¡¯t worry and finish your dinner schedule well. ¡°Yes.¡± -Make sure you take a good proof shot. I answered that I knew to Seokhwan hyung¡¯s request. The ce we came to was a famous restaurant near Hapjeong Station. ¡°Hi!¡± As we arrived on the second floor, passing the restaurant stairs, the ones who arrived first waved their hands at us. They were the main staff of Nostalgia, including John Edwards, the director, and the lead actors, Rupert Dean and Be Page. The faces that could be seen through the open door made the nearby customers whisper in wonder. ¡°Isn¡¯t that the director of that patriotic movie that came out today?¡± ¡°Oh, the one who sang Arirang?¡± And soon we heard theughter of the guests who found us. ¡°Nock!¡± ¡°Yes, hello. I¡¯m Nock~¡± I bowed to the grandfather who greeted us. A middle-aged man whose face was flushed from drinking recognized us. ¡°Nine nine?¡± ¡°That¡¯s right. Nine! Nine, nine~¡± We sang a variation of Nine¡¯s chorus, ¡®Eat meat, meat, meat deliciously¡¯, andughter erupted. As we slid the door shut and entered, John Edwards, the director of Nostalgia, said. ¡°You look like superstars.¡± ¡°Oh, no.¡± As we waved our hands, Be Page pointed to the other side of the door with her chopsticks. ¡°Who are those people?¡± ¡°Who?¡± ¡°The people who followed you. The ones wearing masks and carrying cameras.¡± ¡°Um¡­¡± I was at a loss for words to exin ¡®paparazzi¡¯, so I used that term and the actors looked at us with warmer eyes. ¡®You go through it too?¡¯ I guess. ¡°Nice to meet you. I¡¯m Woojoo.¡± As we shook hands and greeted the people we met for the first time, we smiled proudly. ¡®It works. It works.¡¯ ¡®We canmunicate¡­!¡¯ I worked hard on y, or rather, I had an enthusiastic conversation with y, and the English I studied paid off. Sometimes I couldn¡¯t understand some sentences, but the interpreter helped me, but most of the conversations went smoothly. ¡°y said he was sorry he couldn¡¯te and asked me to say hello for him. He really emphasized that he was sorry.¡± ¡°I can imagine.¡± Weughed at the director¡¯s words, which he quoted with both hands. The director turned to Rupert Dean, who was sitting next to him. ¡°Rupert, why are you so quiet? You said you wanted to meet Newck once.¡± ¡°Um, yes¡­¡± The other person greeted us with a shy face, ¡®Hi¡¯. Be Page picked up the white kimchi with a look of ¡®what¡¯s wrong with him?¡¯ ¡°Didn¡¯t you say you were going to talk a lot about music?¡± ¡°I will.¡± ¡°He said he loved the song so much, he wanted to meet theposer and sang the song.¡± ¡°When did I?¡± We nodded our heads as we watched the two bicker like siblings, who seemed to have be close while filming the movie. Rupert Dean nced at me and cleared his throat and greeted me. ¡°Your song was good.¡± ¡°Thank you.¡± ¡°I really listened to the song and thought, oh, this person knows about music¡­¡± ¡°I saw your movie before and you really acted well¡­¡± ¡°Ah¡­¡± ¡°Um¡­¡± Peopleughed as weplimented each other and felt embarrassed. It felt awkward to talkfortably when people around us were talking like this. And our staff, who were standing around us, filmed us with 6mm cameras. The director asked. ¡°This is going on YouTube, right?¡± ¡°Yes, that¡¯s right.¡± Today¡¯s meeting was not only to treat the guests who visited Korea, but also to promote the movie. We used our channel, which had over 2 million subscribers, to promote the movie. We did our own thing, filming new content with foreign stars, and they enjoyed the promotional effect. It was a win-win. ¡°This is called ¡®flower sirloin¡¯ in Korean. This is a special part¡­¡± ¡°Oh. Flower sirloin.¡± ¡°When you eat it, wrap it in this lettuce¡­¡± As Rihyuk exined the food, they nodded and showed interest. They were surprisingly good at using chopsticks. John Edwards, the director, quickly picked up a piece of cooked meat and asked. ¡°But who else was supposed toe¡­?¡± ¡°Excuse me?¡± ¡°No. There seems to be too much meat¡­¡± ¡°Oh, we¡¯re going to eat it!¡± We smiled confidently at the westerners who were disgusted by the amount of meat. We nodded our heads in agreement to his expression of ¡®this one?¡¯ Junghyun said. ¡°We¡¯ll show you.¡± ¡°Don¡¯t show me. This kind of thing.¡± Iughed at the sight of Rihyuk trying to stop us. While the meat was being grilled, I asked Director John Edwards. ¡°Did you finish the premiere well?¡± ¡°It was a hot atmosphere. I bowed deeply on the red carpet.¡± ¡°¡­¡± ¡°I only did the stage greeting at the theater and came back. They¡¯re probably watching the movie right now.¡± The director, who seemed to recall something, said with a cheerful smile. ¡°It¡¯s about that time now.¡± ¡°What time?¡± ¡°The time when ¡®Thousand Dreams¡¯, the movie you made, will be shown.¡± The 6th floor of a shopping mall in Yeongdeungpo. The premiere of Nostalgia was in full swing, with nearly 500 seats filled with audience. ¡®Wow¡­¡¯ They marveled at the movie¡¯s visual beauty, filled with dreamy backgrounds and fantastical colors. ¡®It¡¯s amazing.¡¯ And the splendidly arranged numbers from the original musical. It was a fun first half that made them feel anxious and regretful as time passed. -Thud thud. On the giant screen, the protagonist with a tired face stopped walking when he found a huge bookshelf. -¡­ Along with the rusty letters on the sky-high namete, a caption saying ¡®Foreign Language Books Corner¡¯ came out. Some of the audience¡¯s eyes sparkled. ¡®Oh, this is where¡­¡¯ ¡®Did they say New ck¡¯s song will y for a bit?¡¯ ¡®It doesn¡¯t seem to fit.¡¯ It was a topic that had been buzzing on the inte along with the visit of the Nostalgia production team. The audience, who were satisfied with the movie so far, repeated ¡®Please don¡¯t ruin the mood¡¯ in their minds. Then, the piles of books on the floor of the screen began to move. Chapter 311: -Swish. The protagonist turned his head with a wary expression. [¡­?] But there was nothing there. Only a pile of books that had fallen from the shelves. -Flutter. Flutter. The pages of the open books fluttered in the wind that came from somewhere. Only then did the protagonist rx his face and pat his chest. [Phew, I¡¯m getting paranoid.]Some of the audience snorted as they saw the caption that cleverly mistranted ¡®Did I see something?¡¯ into English. -Swish. As the protagonist looked around the foreignnguage book corner, the pile of books behind him started to move again. [It¡¯s quiet here.] As the protagonist muttered to himself, the books on top of him began to float in the air one by one. Books that pped their covers like stingrays. Unaware of that, the protagonist walked with amp in his hand. ¡®What is this. What is this.¡¯ ¡®What are those books?¡¯ ¡®Hey! Look behind you, you jerk!¡¯ The audience clenched their hands with anxious expressions. They had watched for the past 50 minutes how the protagonist had suffered because of the books. He almost suffocated from the sand that poured out of the books. He was chased by venomous snakes that came out of the reptile as. He sided with Captain Hook and got beaten up by Peter Pan and Wendy. ¡®Behind! Behind!¡¯ As the audience shouted, the books that flew threateningly reached the protagonist¡¯s back. They buzzed behind his back as if they were estimating their prey. And then. As if he felt a subtle feeling, the protagonist stopped his steps and swallowed his saliva. He then turned his body sharply. [¡­?] At that moment, the books flew up to his head at a very fast speed. All he could see was the pile of books from before. But. [The books are empty¡­?] The books had shrunk a lot. And the books that glowed eerily in themp light began to surround the protagonist ominously. He moved towards the pile of books¡­ [No.] ¡­when he turned his body again. The books that followed him like stalkers and his face met. After a second of silence. [Aaaaaaah!] [Aaaaah!] The human and the books screamed from both sides. The protagonist swung his sword that he got from Captain Hook like crazy, and the startled books ran away and hid. The murmurs of the books hidden in the dark echoed in the theater. [Scary!] [See. The rumor was true. There¡¯s a scary human wandering around the library.] [Look at the ink on the tip of that sword. Is that our blood? Aaaaaah!] The protagonist retrieved his sword with an awkward expression and asked the books hidden in the dark. [What are you talking about? Scary human?] [Aaaaaaah!] [¡­] The protagonist snorted and showed his annoyance at the sight of the Spanish book that screamed first and then looked. He raised his hand to his waist and said. [Come out. I won¡¯t hurt you.] [Can you promise?] [I promise.] [Okay¡­ then I¡¯lle out¡­!] [Wait.] The German book said in a husky voice. [We have the upper hand. If you move even a little when wee out¡­] [Come out now.] [Yes.] Hello, this is Copilot. I¡¯m here to help you with your web novel editing task. ?? First, I¡¯ll trante your text from Korean to English using one of my internal tools. Then, I¡¯ll edit and correct the sentence structures, words, and paragraphs as needed. I¡¯ll also provide some feedback and suggestions on how to improve your writing. ? Here is the trantion of your text: The audienceughed at the sight of the German book that suddenly changed its attitude. Soon, the books that were rustling showed themselves. When the book was opened, something like a breathing hole between the cover and the paper moved like a mouth. [Who are you?] [I¡¯m a German book! Guten Tag!] They each greeted him enthusiastically in foreignnguages. Soon, the conversation between the protagonist and the foreign books continued. [Why are you hiding here?] [There¡¯s a rumor that a scary human is roaming around.] [A scary human?] It was a story that the books in the library were in a panic because of the news that a human called ¡®book killer¡¯ was wandering around. The protagonist¡¯s expression became serious. He was tired of being misunderstood, and he realized that the stories he heard were not directed at him. [There¡¯s one more person in the library.] The first day of his job as a security guard. Everything started when he opened a mysterious book called . The protagonist¡¯s height, which was 5 feet 9, shrank to the size of a hardcover book like Alice in Wondend. Suddenly, the characters and monsters from the book came out. He wasn¡¯t surprised by the talking books, but he was worried that there was one more person in the library. ¡®Who the hell are you?¡¯ ¡®The old librarian looked suspicious. Is it him?¡¯ ¡®Is it a twist that the protagonist has a split personality?¡¯ The audience started to make guesses. Meanwhile, the keyword ¡®New ck¡¯ hadpletely disappeared from their minds. They only immersed themselves in the movie. [But why do you look like books?] [Huh?] [The characters from Peter Pan or The Emperor¡¯s New Clothes came out and moved around.] [Oh. That exhibitionist author?] A snicker ofughter escaped from the audience. They remembered the visual of the king who marched with his important parts cleverly covered, saying ¡®Look at Jim¡¯s clothes!¡¯ The foreign booksughed and said. [We are books without stories. All we have is¡­] [Grammar, words.] [We don¡¯t have much to show.] The OST that was ying in the background changed slightly. As the tone of the conversation between the protagonist and the books gradually changed, the audience noticed that it was ¡®musical time¡¯. [But we have words. Various words.] Like an animated movie, the books leaned their heads one by one to the protagonist and greeted him in differentnguages. [And we have songs too.] Soon, the books started to sing a line each. They sang a French chanson, a Mexican-style song that sounded like a man with a poncho. And then, the song started in English. We don¡¯t have a story to show Or a protagonist But we have plenty of dreams As the lyrics of ¡®Thousand Dreams¡¯ continued, the books surrounded the protagonist and sang. They put sunsses on the book and asked ¡®Do you want to travel?¡¯ The protagonist was dazzled by the colorful performance of the books. They grabbed his hand at the end of the paper and danced a waltz. It was a cheerful and uplifting song. ¡®Nice.¡¯ ¡®I have to download this when ites out.¡¯ ¡®I have to find out the title. It sounds like Thousand Dreams from the lyrics.¡¯ The five books sang to the protagonist. [¡­] The protagonist stared nkly at them. Unlike the original musical, the protagonist of the movie was a teenage genius pianist. But one day, he lost his parents and siblings in an ident caused by a drunk driver. He barely recovered, but his hands were broken and his dreams were taken away. What we have is Hundreds of words And thousands of dreams And a shabby bookshelf The audience burst intoughter at the sudden change of attitude from the German book. Other books began to rustle and reveal themselves. When he opened one, something like a breathing hole between the cover and the pages moved like a mouth. [Who are you?] [I¡¯m a German book! Guten Tag!] They greeted him cheerfully in differentnguages. He soon struck up a conversation with the foreign books. [Why are you hiding here?] [We heard there¡¯s a scary human roaming around.] [A scary human?] They told him that the library books were panicking because of a ¡®book killer¡¯ on the loose. His face turned serious. He was fed up with being misunderstood, and he realized that the rumors were not about him. [There¡¯s someone else in the library.] It was his first day as a security guard. Everything started when he opened a mysterious book called . He shrank to the size of a hardcover book, like Alice in Wondend. Characters and monsters from the books came to life. He wasn¡¯t fazed by the talking books, but he was concerned about the other person in the library. ¡®Who the hell are you?¡¯ ¡®The old librarian looked fishy. Is it him?¡¯ ¡®Or is it a twist that he has a split personality?¡¯ The audience tried to figure it out. They had forgotten all about the ¡®New ck¡¯ keyword. They were fully absorbed in the movie. [But why do you look like books?] [Huh?] [The characters from Peter Pan or The Emperor¡¯s New Clothes came out and moved around.] [Oh. That exhibitionist author?] A snort ofughter came from the audience. They recalled the image of the king who paraded with his privates cleverly hidden, saying ¡®Look at Jim¡¯s clothes!¡¯ The foreign books chuckled and said. [We are books without stories. All we have is¡­] [Grammar, words.] [We don¡¯t have much to show.] The background music changed subtly. The tone of the conversation between him and the books shifted, and the audience realized it was ¡®musical time¡¯. [But we have words. Various words.] Like in an animated movie, the books tilted their heads one by one and greeted him in differentnguages. [And we have songs too.] Then, the books began to sing a line each. They sang a French chanson, a Mexican-style song that sounded like a man with a poncho. And then, the song started in English. We don¡¯t have a story to show Or a protagonist But we have plenty of dreams As the lyrics of ¡®Thousand Dreams¡¯ went on, the books surrounded him and sang. They put sunsses on the book and asked ¡®Do you want to travel?¡¯ He was dazzled by the colorful performance of the books. They held his hand at the edge of the paper and danced a waltz. It was a cheerful and uplifting song. ¡®Nice.¡¯ ¡®I have to download this when ites out.¡¯ ¡®I have to find out the title. It sounds like Thousand Dreams from the lyrics.¡¯ The five books sang to him. [¡­] He stared nkly at them. Unlike the original musical, he was a teenage genius pianist in the movie. But one day, he lost his parents and siblings in an ident caused by a drunk driver. He barely recovered, but his hands were ruined and his dreams were shattered. What we have is Hundreds of words And thousands of dreams And a shabby bookshelf Meanwhile, unlike the protagonist who was born with a genius talent, the books that each had a dream of ¡®wanting to give joy to the reader!¡¯ but could not achieve it because of their innate limits. They were singing about their dreams. ¡®Dreams are good, and achieving them is good, but don¡¯t match your dreams and yourself,¡¯ theyforted the protagonist. The audience¡¯s faces smiled. ¡®I didn¡¯t see the lyrics well¡­ but it¡¯s good.¡¯ It was hard to grasp properly because of the subtitles that quickly passed by, but they had a rough idea of the nuance. But it was a good song anyway. It was a heavy topic, but it was thanks to the books that sang like fairies. The melody was also fun and I wanted to hear it again. ¡®I have to find this when I go home.¡¯ ¡®When is the OST release? It¡¯s really good.¡¯ ¡®Isn¡¯t this a number that wasn¡¯t in the original? Whoposed it?¡¯ As they nodded their heads, thinking ¡®I have to remember this part¡¯, in their heads. ¡®But where does the New ck songe from?¡¯ While some of the audience had that question. In most of their heads, the keyword ¡®New ck¡¯ was gone. The time when the preview of ¡®Nostalgia¡¯ ended. As the ending credits rolled, the audience began to walk out with a shaky step. The part-timer who was standing next to the trash bin was curious. ¡®Is it fun?¡¯ There is a face that the audience makes when the movie ends. They look slightly dazed as theye out of the movie and back to reality. But this time, it was more. There were quite a few audience members sitting with a wistful expression, looking at the credits. ¡°Hey, look at this. I didn¡¯t eat any popcorn.¡± ¡°Uh, the c is nd.¡± If it was another time, they would have thrown away the empty cans and left, but the audience came out with cans full of popcorn. ¡®It must have been really fun.¡¯ The part-timer nodded. Sometimes there were such things with really fun movies. Then, the conversation of the people reached her ears. ¡°From today, this is my life work.¡± ¡°It¡¯s so fun. Really. I¡¯m going to the second round.¡± ¡°I¡¯m going to bring my parents and watch it again on Chuseok. I have to book it for sure.¡± ¡°¡­This much, the word of mouth will be great, right?¡± As the hallway was noisy with the talk about the movie, the distributionpany staff with the ENG camera asked for an interview. ¡°Can I ask you something?¡± ¡°Oh, awesome!¡± The people shouted with their thumbs up. ¡°The song is really good. I highly rmend it.¡± ¡°I saw the original musical in the US, and I think they did a really good reinterpretation for the movie version.¡± ¡°I¡¯m going to see this with my boyfriend!¡± Mostly, there were high praises for the song, and the conversation of the people who left the theater continued. A group of friends chatted. ¡°The song was really good. Nothing came out yet?¡± ¡°Well, it¡¯s the first release in Korea, so I guess not. There¡¯s nothing on YouTube either. It¡¯ll probablye out after the release.¡± ¡°It¡¯s a shame when you see it first. Really.¡± ¡°Falling Stars was really good¡­¡± As everyone¡¯s eyes became hazy, someone said. ¡°I liked that, the song of the foreignnguage books.¡± ¡°That was awesome. I think people¡¯s tastes will vary, but I liked that one after Falling.¡± ¡°But didn¡¯t they say that New ck¡¯s song came out there? It didn¡¯te out until the end, so I was surprised.¡± ¡°That¡¯s right.¡± As they nodded their heads, someone said. ¡°Are you stupid? That¡¯s New ck¡¯s song.¡± ¡°¡­?¡± ¡°You can tell by the voice, even if they sang it in English.¡± ¡°¡­!¡± There was a moment of silence. ¡°That was New ck¡¯s song? I thought an idol song would suddenlye out.¡± ¡°Me too. Me too.¡± It was a problem of recognition. There was no mention of ¡®New ck¡¯s song in the movie is K-pop¡¯ in the article or the interview, but people automatically fit it in with keywords like ¡®national pride, foreign director¡¯. Someone said. ¡°Then they got cursed for nothing.¡± ¡°But is it really true? Is that dream song New ck¡¯s?¡± As they typed ¡®New ck Nostalgia¡¯ in the search bar, an interview with the director called ¡®Thousand Dreams¡¯ came out. ¡°Was it real¡­?¡± ¡°I didn¡¯t notice because there was no dissonance with the movie. The director¡¯s words earlier weren¡¯t lip service.¡± ¡°And New ck¡¯s kidposed it?¡± Their eyes were wide open. It was strange to feel that a Korean singer, and an idol at that, had a song inserted in the movie version of a famous Broadway musical. That¡¯s why they thought an idol song woulde out, saying ¡®This is K-pop¡¯. But there was no dissonance at all, and it was a number that could have been in the original. And theposition was also by a New ck member. ¡°He¡¯s famous forposing, right?¡± ¡°But this is¡­¡± Of course, ¡®Composer Idol Universe¡¯ was not unknown. He made a name for himself byposing Wind Flower, which swept the first half of the year, and Nine, which was popr these days. And onlinemunities often talked about how much he made from royalties. But a musical number was a different matter. ¡°It¡¯s amazing.¡± ¡°Did he really do all of this by himself?¡± That was the question that shook the minds of those who had thought he was just a music nerd who got help from others. But they were not the only ones who reacted that way. ¡°Was that a New ck song?¡± ¡°I knew I recognized that voice. It was New ck.¡± People who were heading home or entering restaurants held their smartphones and widened their eyes. And then. Bloggers who made a living out of movie reviews, as well as those who were interested in movies, posted their articles. Title: [Preview] I went to see Nostalgia (spoiler alert) Author: Movieismylife Many of you are curious about John Edwards¡¯ new film, Nostalgia. I went to the red carpet and the preview. (Skipping) They said there would be an idol song, and it was noisy all day long??? You will all be surprised when ites out. I was. When ¡®that scene¡¯ came out, I was like ¡®huh? huh? huh?¡¯ Even after the preview, everyone was like ¡®that was a New ck song?¡¯ It was a song of such quality that it shocked me. Especially the visuals were crazy, and I felt that Edwards was really a master when I saw that scene. Personally, I thought the original musical songs were a bit boring, but I think New ck¡¯s song and Falling Stars gave the movie a unique vor. Some of you may be worried about the idol song, but you don¡¯t have to worry about that. +_+ [Comments] -Thanks for the quick review! -That¡¯s awesome!! -I want to see it so bad??????? Why are you all talking about falling stars -But I¡¯m curious about New ck¡¯s song too. What is it that makes it so hot? ©¹[Author] I think the song was really good, but it was also a twist. I never imagined it was a New ck song. -Be Page seemed to be stressed out by her recent film slump¡­ I¡¯m d. How much do you think it will make? ©¹[Author] If the word of mouth spreads well¡­ I think it will do well. Meanwhile, as more and more reviews saying ¡®Falling stars and New ck¡¯s song are amazing¡¯ came up, people¡¯s curiosity increased. -The reviews are the best ever; -It will sell well during the holidays?? Director¡¯s patriotism+good movie quality=? I¡¯m looking forward to it -I want to know falling stars -I¡¯m more curious about New ck¡¯s song. Why is it so full of praise??? -Didn¡¯t they get cursed at in the articlements earlier? -They got cursed, so their agency is doing some media y?? -I don¡¯t know if it¡¯s media y, but I have to see it As the curiosity increased due to the preview reviews, the reservation rate of Nostalgia gradually increased. And this news spread to the idolmunity as well. -I¡¯m curious about New ck¡¯s song -2222 Me too¡­ What is it that makes it so praised -?????????It¡¯s just media y, right? They¡¯ve done it before, right?????? Their agency¡¯s media y is 100% -How can the reviews be all good?? That doesn¡¯t make sense -After buying tickets, now they¡¯re doing media y¡­ They¡¯re too much? -Didn¡¯t they do media y with Lemon¡¯s first week sales and grab Tenty and Tins by the hair? -?? The reviews are all copy-pasted ¡®New ck¡¯s song is good too¡¯ -Kyuho must have worked h -New ck fans, cheer up. Your kids have a lot of enemies¡­ But negativements swept the atmosphere. When Souffl¨¦s posted onement, ten rebuttals and ridicules followed. The post was deleted by the administrator because of the flood of hatements. -Huh? -It looks like something came up -They said falling stars came out -The director is really good at stirring things up, is he a sailor? Official distributor channels and New ck TV, as well as the whole world, simultaneously uploaded the video of ¡®Falling Stars¡¯. Along with the official English version sung by ¡®Rupert Dean¡¯. [Rehyuk ¨C Falling Stars (from ¡®Nostalgia¡¯)] In Korea, there was a cover video sung by New ck¡¯s Rehyuk. They had drawn attention with their patriotic marketing all day long, and the reviews were also full of praise for the song. People started to click on the link with curiosity. Click- As the views started to rise slowly. New ck¡¯s members were in Hongdae with the cast of Nostalgia. I opened my mouth. ¡°Director.¡± ¡°Hmm?¡± ¡°People from other countries who visited Korea in the past left this review. They were surprised that we ate a lot.¡± Junghyun smiled warmly and said ¡®that¡¯s right¡¯. ¡°¡­¡± ¡°So please don¡¯t look at us like that¡­¡± The director and the other actorsughed. They were happy to see us at first, but their reaction changed when they saw us eating meat endlessly. They looked at us like we were amazing creatures. ¡®We eat this much in Korea normally¡¯ we said, and the interpreter told the cast ¡®this is not a normal phenomenon¡¯. Theyughed. ¡°You ate a lot too, interpreter.¡± We said ¡®woo woo¡¯ in Korean, and she smiled and said. ¡°I ate about two servings¡­¡± ¡°Ourst digit ends with 2 too!¡± ¡°The first digit was 2 too. 22 servings.¡± We decided to change the topic with a cough. We looked around the neon signs and buildings that filled the surroundings and said. ¡°This is Hongdae.¡± ¡°Hong-dae.¡± They nodded their heads as if practicing the pronunciation like foreigners. ¡°Yes. It¡¯s a ce called Hongdae, where a lot of young people in Korea go. Rihyuk. Where is that ce in LA?¡± ¡°Melrose Avenue.¡± ¡°It¡¯s like Melrose Avenue.¡± The content we were doing right now, after finishing our meal, was to introduce the famous streets of Korea. ¡°Wow!¡± And as you can see, it was crowded with people. ¡°So pretty! So pretty!¡± ¡°New ck¡­¡± ¡°Hey! This is awesome. I¡¯m in Hongdae right now¡­¡± A camera for filming, some lights, and security personnel. Every time we moved, dozens of people screamed or took pictures with their phones. The sound of someone making a phone call, the sound of people saying you¡¯re pretty and handsome, the sound of people¡¯s conversations, etc. It was noisy. It was twice as noisy as I expected. ¡°Be unnie! You¡¯re so pretty!¡± I tranted for Be Page, who was curious when she heard her name. She flicked her blonde hair behind her ears and smiled with her eyes. ¡°Thank you~¡± The college student who held her hand looked like he was going to faint, andughter erupted from everywhere. The actors responded as if they were doing fan service, and we couldn¡¯t focus on the names we heard. ¡°Shall we move to the ce we booked in advance? It¡¯s nearby¡­¡± It was when we were about to move to the ce where we decided to shoot the content. ¡°Excuse me!¡± I saw a person running through the crowd. My siblings and I blinked our eyes and looked at each other in surprise. ¡®It¡¯s Eunsung.¡¯ ¡®It¡¯s Mr. Eunsung.¡¯ ¡®Why is he here?¡¯ Our Ha Eunsung, who was wearing a stage costume, was running towards us cheerfully as if he was d to see us. He smiled brightly at me, not seeing the camera. Why is he here? But that wasn¡¯t the important thing right now. ¡°Eunsung! If you don¡¯t stop¡­¡± ¡°Ahh!¡± Thud. ¡°He got caught by the security guard¡­¡± The security guard grabbed Eunsung and pinned him to his side. He rolled around like a rolled-up mat, screaming ¡®Ahh!¡¯ andughter burst out from everywhere. Chapter 312: Chapter 312: As people took pictures with their phone cameras, Eunsung made a V sign with his fingers. ¡°Hello, everyone! I¡¯m Kevin, a member of the rookie boy group, APLB! Nice to meet you!¡± Iughed as I watched him trying to promote himself while clinging to me. The bodyguard looked at Eunsung, who was stuck to his side, with a bewildered expression. He had never seen such a crazy kid before. Then he looked at me. ¡°¡­Do you know him?¡± ¡°Yes, he¡¯s a junior singer.¡± ¡°Oh.¡± Eunsung freed himself from the bodyguard and bowed apologetically. He said, ¡®I¡¯m sorry.¡¯ Then he gave me a bright smile.¡°Our serg¡­ Oops, camera!¡± ¡°Hey, Eunsung. If he¡¯s a sergeant, you should call him sergeant, and finish your sentence.¡± ¡°Hello, seniors.¡± He noticed the camera that was filming us and greeted us with a bow. He said, ¡®senior.¡¯ ¡°Who is this person?¡± I heard a voice from behind me. It was Rupert Dean, who was scared by the psycho who was smiling crazily while clinging to me. ¡°He¡¯s a K-pop singer. He was my subordinate when I was in the military.¡± ¡°Military¡­?¡± ¡°It¡¯s a long story.¡± I shrugged and made a vague expression. The other person nodded. Meanwhile, Eunsung¡¯s eyes were darting around. He quickly guessed the situation and grinned. ¡°I was so happy to see you passing by, so I ran over to you!¡± ¡°I see.¡± ¡°You¡¯re giving a tour of Korea to people from other countries. I¡¯m sorry for interrupting! I¡¯ll be going then~¡± As Eunsung tried to slip away, Bizu asked him. ¡°Where are you going?¡± ¡°We¡¯re around here¡­¡± At that moment, a shout came from across the crowd. ¡°Hey!¡± The people moved aside and four idol members ran over with frantic expressions. ¡°Hey! Eun-Kevin!¡± ¡°This bastard, where did he¡­¡± ¡°Huh?¡± They saw us and their faces turned nk. ¡°Oh, hello!¡± ¡°Hello.¡± Haru, the youngest and the leader, had a crossed expression on his face. He wondered what nonsense Eunsung had said to us, and worried about the future. I smirked as I felt the tension of a rookie group facing a group with a big fandom like TNT or Teen Spirit. ¡°Come over here.¡± Jiho called them with a wide smile. The APLB members approached hesitantly. ¡°Huh? These people¡­¡± One or two of them widened their eyes as they saw Be Page and Rupert Dean. Then they started to panic. They were afraid that they would be scolded for ¡®promoting themselves¡¯ in this situation. But there was a reason why I called them. I knew what they were doing here as soon as I connected the keywords of stage outfits and Hongdae. I asked John Edwards and his party. ¡°Do you want to see a street performance?¡± ¡°Performance?¡± ¡°There are people who sing or dance on the streets of Hongdae.¡± The purpose of today¡¯s content was to introduce them to Korean food, nightlife, and street snacks. They readily gave me an OK sign. ¡°Hey.¡± As we moved, Haru asked me. ¡°How many subscribers does your channel have?¡± ¡°Oh. It¡¯s about 2.3 million now.¡± ¡°¡­¡± I witnessed someone¡¯s face turn from white to brown. His expression seemed to say ¡®2.3 million curses¡­¡¯ and was stained with worry and anxiety. I tapped him and whispered. ¡°Don¡¯t worry. It¡¯s our own content, so thepany staff will edit it. I¡¯ll let you know in advance.¡± ¡°Thank you.¡± ¡°But why did Eunsung do that?¡± Eunsung was making friends with the foreigners in two minutes and teaching them a new way to express their hearts. Haru asked. ¡°Why him?¡± ¡°He looks like he¡¯s been discolored a bit.¡± ¡°That¡¯s because he went to the army and came back from the navy¡­¡± ¡°So you¡¯ve been to the military. How are you feeling?¡± ¡°I haven¡¯t recovered yet. Still.¡± ¡°I see.¡± Eunsung¡¯s skin was burnt and blistered from the sun. He looked like a toasted bread. It would probably take a while for him to return to his original skin tone. I felt sorry for him. ¡°Hehehe¡­¡± ¡°Yes?¡± ¡°No, I¡¯m just sorry for him, hehe.¡± Haru smiled awkwardly and moved away from me as I covered my mouth andughed. Soon, the members of APLB stood on the empty lot where the amp was installed. The audience was so excited that they ran closer and followed the choreography of their song ¡®A/B¡¯. ¡°Wow.¡± Be Page sped her hands to her mouth and cheered ¡®Ooooh¡¯. Rupert Dean nodded and admired, and John Edwards, the director, danced the karaoke shoulder dance he learned from us. And the people nearby also joined in the cheering along with them. Rupert asked. ¡°Does New ck have songs like that too?¡± ¡°Yes. We have a few¡­¡± Then, the intro of ¡®Nine¡¯ started to y, which they prepared as a cover song. I stopped talking and smiled at him, who tilted his head in confusion. ¡°This is our song.¡± ¡°Oh¡­¡± ¡°The title is ¡®Nine¡¯.¡± I thought we made Nine really well. ¡°Woohoo!¡± The choreography was done by the members of APLB, but the song made the atmosphere like a street club. Our members alsoughed and pped their hands. I felt ufortable when Eunsung danced seductively in my part. ¡®Come on, sergeant!¡¯ He gestured for me to join him, and the people around us shouted ¡®Wow!¡¯ in response. I hesitated for a moment and gave up. It was hard to join in the five-person choreography, because I had to calcte the movements well, and I didn¡¯t have the talent to do that in one go, even though I practiced a lot. Fortunately, there was someone with that talent next to me, who pped his hands and said ¡®Wow!¡¯. ¡°Bijoo.¡± ¡°Yes?¡± ¡°Eunsung wants to dance with you.¡± ¡°Me? Not you¡­¡± ¡°Go ahead and dance with him! It¡¯s a dance. Bijoo. Dance.¡± He jumped in with a determined expression, like a puppy who heard the word ¡®snack¡¯ when he heard the word ¡®dance¡¯. ¡°Woohoo!¡± I smiled and pped for Eunsung, and the other younger ones looked at me with admiration. ¡®That¡¯s so mean.¡¯ ¡®He¡¯s evil.¡¯ ¡®He¡¯s sending Bijoo even though he¡¯s leaving.¡¯ Bijoo ran into the stage with a big smile, and a scream of ¡®Wow!¡¯ burst out from the surroundings. Our guy in the blue jacket was moving so fast that his eyebrows fluttered. Eunsung, who was happy to see him at first, saying ¡®Wee! Senior!¡¯, turned from a toasted bread to a cocoa powder. ¡°I always feel this way.¡± I said to Rihyuk. ¡°It¡¯s the hardest when I dance with Bijoo.¡± ¡°Me too.¡± The other two also agreed. It wasn¡¯t a technical problem, like the speed of dancing or catching up with his flexibility. It was just hard to dance with Bijoo. It felt like he was holding a bronze age tool and saying ¡®Isn¡¯t this fun?¡¯ when we were making stone tools with hard work. If we didn¡¯t practice hard enough, we would be easilypared to his unrivaled dance line. When we did a joint stage before, the Street Boys also yed rock-paper-scissors to decide who would stand next to Bijoo. ¡°Ugh¡­¡± I smiled warmly at the sight of Bijoo, who was following me diligently and dancing with me. Their expressions were opposite of each other. ¡®It¡¯s fun!¡¯ ¡®Ughhh¡­!¡¯ I could see Eunsung¡¯s eyes fluttering as he smiled. He was having a hard time and I was having a st. When the chorus of ¡®Nine¡¯ ended, Iughed at the sight of Eunsung, who copsed on the floor and gasped for air. ¡°Wow! You¡¯re awesome!¡± I pped vigorously and patted Bijoo¡¯s back as he came back with light steps. The Nostalgia team, who was filming with us, also smiled and said. ¡°You have amazing energy.¡± ¡°So that¡¯s why you ate so much meat¡­¡± ¡°Can I post this on SNS?¡± We nodded andughed at Be Page¡¯s words, who said she filmed it with her phone. ¡°See youter!¡± ¡°Thank you! Have a nice day!¡± Due to time constraints, we quickly said goodbye to the APLB team. I made a phone gesture with my hand and said I would contact them, and Eunsung nodded with an OK and a ¡®hmph¡¯. He posed like a Buddha greeting. ¡°That was fun. Can we watch some other performances?¡± I answered John Edwards¡¯ cheerful smile. ¡°Yes. There are some dance teams around here¡­¡± ¡°Huh? They¡¯re all packing up now?¡± ¡°At this time?¡± I had asked the manager for information on the street performers around here before we parted. I heard there were one or two more dance teams. Lately, ¡®Nine¡¯ covers were popr, so most of them were showing Nine. ¡°Let¡¯s go.¡± Every time we tried to move, the teams were busy packing up. ¡°¡­¡± ¡°¡­¡± And we soon realized the reason. ¡°Are you leaving?¡± ¡°Huh? Yes¡­! We¡¯re leaving!¡± ¡°Are you going?¡± ¡°Yes!¡± It was because of our main dancer, who was shining his eyes like jewels, having fun with the stage we did with APLB. Like a school of fish scattering when a predator approaches in the sea, they all left. Or they suddenly changed the song from Nine to something else. ¡°I guess it¡¯s not our day today.¡± I said to the musical movie team with a smile. ¡°I¡¯m feeling a bit hungry, too. How about we go to Yeonnam-dong street nearby? There are a lot of street food there.¡± We watched some street performances and explored some snacks. After a simple tour of Seoul¡¯s night streets, we arrived at the ce we had booked in advance. ¡°Ahh.¡± I grabbed the microphone and smiled. ¡°This is the karaoke you all know.¡± ¡°Woohoo!¡± ¡°Wee!¡± Be Page giggled at the sight of our bear holding two tambourines and saying ¡®yo yo yo¡¯. Then she took one and shook it herself. Our youngest grabbed the microphone and stood in the middle to sing the first song. When everyone was curious about his innocent expression. Bang bang bang! They were all stunned by the sight of him dancing wildly with the intense intro. Then he leaned his body and shouted ¡®nyaaaah¡¯. ¡°Puhaha!¡± Jiho, who had a fierce expression and held the microphone, pointed at Ryuk. -Crushed by the disaster you brought upon yourself~~ ¡°What. Why me again.¡± Weughed and I briefly exined the lyrics to those who were curious. ¡°Wow wow wow!¡± ¡°Wow!¡± The youngest bowed as if he was greeting the stage after finishing the song, and the apuse continued. Then Ryuk grabbed the microphone and started singing a famous foreign bad. Jiho licked his tongue and whispered. ¡°Really. He always sings bads when I set the mood.¡± ¡°But he sings well.¡± I answered, waving my hands slowly in the air. It was a bad song that could easily be depressing, but it was of a different quality because our kid sang it. Rupert Dean smiled with satisfaction and said to me. ¡°I remember a movie I saw when I was young.¡± ¡°What movie?¡± ¡°It was a sci-fi movie where an alien diva with six tentacles on her head sang really well.¡± ¡°¡­¡± ¡°That¡¯s touching.¡± I paused for a moment at the sight of him looking at the sky with his blue eyes soaked in tears. ¡°Ah.¡± Then I asked the youngest if the movie really existed, and he whispered back that it was true. ¡°An alien. That¡¯s convincing.¡± ¡°Is it?¡± John Edwards, who was listening to the conversation next to me, sneezed andughed. ¡°Bless you!¡± The words came out of my mouth and Rupert¡¯s at the same time. When I used the expression I learned from my English teacher, saying it was a rule to say when you sneeze. Rupert said with a smile. ¡°Jinx.¡± ¡°¡­What is that?¡± ¡°Don¡¯t you know? I thought you would know it since you¡¯re so good at English¡­¡± Soon, the other person¡¯s exnation came back. It seemed to be an expression used in the United States when you say the same thing. I quickly understood the exnation and told him. ¡°In Korea, we say ¡®jiji-bong¡¯.¡± ¡°Chichi-bong.¡± ¡°Good job. Shall we try again?¡± ¡°Chichi-bong.¡± Then he asked me what ¡®reflection¡¯ was, and I told him it was ¡®rainbow reflection¡¯. ¡°Thank you.¡± ¡°You¡¯re wee.¡± And then the conversation was cut off again. It¡¯s been a few hours since we met, but it¡¯s still awkward. Maybe it¡¯s because he said he wanted to meet the person whoposed this song before he came to Korea. It was fine when I talked to the other members, but when I talked to him, there was an awkward air. ¡°¡­¡± I looked at the other person who swept his brown hair. He looked like a character from a Greek-Roman mythologyic I used to read when I was young. When he asked me what I wanted to drink at the restaurant, I wondered if he would say ¡®a ss of nectar as usual¡¯. He seemed to have apletely different taste from me, who liked floral patterns. While Junghyun was singing along to the English rap ¡®I was filled with iron, I lived in prison¡¯ and smiling warmly. ¡°Do you want to sing a song together?¡± ¡°A song?¡± ¡°I heard you sing well.¡± ¡°Oh, but¡­¡± The other person answered with a shy expression. ¡°I like a little childish songs.¡± ¡°Childish songs?¡± I suddenly became interested. ¡°What kind of songs are they?¡± 5 minutester. @John_Edwards (A video of New ck singing ¡®Under the Sea¡¯ and Rupert Dean singing shyly. Junghyun is imitating a crab with his ws.) This is the fun of Korea. I feel a lot. An hourter. @Rupert_Thomas_DEAN (Now they are all shouting passionately and screaming ¡®Kiyaaaaaaa!¡¯. The camera is shaking crazily and there are snickeringughter everywhere.) [Trantion] New friends. I¡¯m d I came to Korea. The karaoke tour for an hour and a half ended in a cheerful atmosphere. And when the song was over. ¡°It was so much fun!¡± ¡°Us too!¡± I became the closest with the one who was the most awkward. Rupert Dean, who left with a bright face, left a reply saying to contact him when he came to America. I nodded my head happily, smiling at the offer to buy me a meal. ¡°Wait. America.¡± ¡°We¡¯re going to eat.¡± ¡°Don¡¯t say that so dramatically¡­¡± Anyway, it was a fun day for us. The incident at the fan signing event yesterday seemed to have flown away. While Nostalgia went back to the hotel and prepared for the DMZ visit the next day. We also arrived at the dorm and packed all the dolls on the bed in a box and sent them back to the manager¡¯s side and copsed. And the next day, the manager brothers came back with serious expressions. ¡°Guys.¡± ¡°Why, why? What¡¯s wrong with the dolls?¡± ¡°Hong Daeri left the room in the middle.¡± ¡°What? Why?¡± Was it Scarlet¡¯s gift? If Hong Daeri, who was calm even when a dead mouse came in a box, left the room¡­ When we made a serious expression, Minki hyung returned the fluffy dolls and said. ¡°Every time I touch the dolls, dust pops out. The air purifier was going crazy.¡± ¡°¡­¡± ¡°Wash the dolls. Guys¡­¡± ¡°Ah.¡± We took the dolls with a sad face. We had no space in the old dorm, so we stored them in one room, and it seemed that they were full of dust. Rihyuk was saying ¡®I told you so¡­¡¯ next to me, and we all closed our ears. The special schedule with foreigners was also temporarily over, and we returned to our usual activities of practicing in the practice room. Eun-sung [I got on the real-time search thanks to you, hyung] Eun-sung [Video link] Someone had filmed what happened in Hongdae and uploaded it, and it seemed to have risen on the real-time search. He smiled, looking at the guy who was happy that he was on the 10th ce for 30 seconds. In the evening, the fan signing event continued as yesterday. Thepany decided to ban gifts at the signing event, but the application was from the next album. If we suddenly said ¡®no gifts¡¯ from the next day, the Souffl¨¦s would notice what the problem was like ghosts. Fortunately, no one noticed what happened yesterday. ¡°Oppa. I love that song! Falling Stars cover.¡± ¡°Really?¡± The Souffl¨¦s¡¯ interest had shifted from ¡®Nine¡¯ to ¡®Nostalgia¡¯. The main OST of Nostalgia, ¡®Falling Stars¡¯, which was uploaded right after the Korean preview, was getting a huge response. The movie hadn¡¯t been released yet, so it was still spreading by word of mouth, but the reaction was getting hotter and hotter. I heard that the version sung by the lead actor Rupert Dean had already reached 20 million views. And then there was this. ¡°Ahem. Ahem.¡± It was the cover song of our main vocal, who was making a haughty cough with a pale face. Maybe because of the national pride marketing in Korea, the views had already reached millions. We didn¡¯t look at thements because of the suddenly arrogant haters who were provoked by the OST we participated in, but we were nning to skim through them once they were sorted out. ¡°Hello.¡± The fan who sat in front of me smiled and said. ¡°I went to see the preview of Nostalgia.¡± ¡°Really? You must have heard our song too. How was it?¡± ¡°Um¡­¡± ¡°Express it with your body~¡± I pretended to cry with emotion at the sight of him showing his thumb solemnly. We exchangedughter. I drew a giant UFO with a sign and asked. ¡°How was it? Did you like it?¡± ¡°It¡¯s going to be a riot when it¡¯s released. It feels like a huge hit. Falling Stars is no joke right now, but I really liked Thousand Dreams too.¡± Maybe because they were our fans, but most of them expressed high satisfaction with Thousand Dreams. ¡°Thank you.¡± I heard that they were being cursed by other idol fans on the inte right now. I just wanted to say thank you to the Souffl¨¦s who might be suffering. But there was nothing I could do about it. I just had to wait for the movie to be released and the evaluation to change. As I waited for the movie to be released with the uing Chuseok. ¡°Hyung.¡± ¡°Hmm?¡± ¡°They mentioned our name on an American talk show?¡± ¡°Really?¡± I clicked on the link that arrived on the maknae¡¯s messenger with a strange news. Rupert Dean was sitting cross-legged on the talk show set with a blue city painting as the background. The show host asked. -So Rupert, you¡¯ve been into K-poptely. -Yes, I¡¯ve been listening to New ck¡¯s ¡®Nine¡¯ a lot. It¡¯s really addictive. -What are the lyrics like? -It¡¯s a mix of Korean and English¡­ As he hummed Nine and promoted it, we smiled warmly. -Your visit to Korea was quite impressive, wasn¡¯t it? -Yes. It was really fun. It was really fun at the karaoke too. -You were so excited that you jumped around, right? -Not at all. I was sitting politely. As he denied it, a video of Rupert jumping around on the karaoke sofa came out. The show host said, ¡®You¡¯re really polite¡¯, and the audience burst intoughter. -Did you learn some Korean too? Do you have any expressions to teach us? -Well, most of them are like ¡®hello¡¯, ¡®thank you¡¯¡­ Oh, there¡¯s one interesting thing. Rupert Dean tapped the sofa armrest with a confident expression and answered. -Chichipong. -Chichipong? What is that? As something rushed in, I covered my face with both hands and said nothing. Here is the edited version of your text: The Souffl¨¦s were hooked on ¡®Nostalgia¡¯ after ¡®Nine¡¯. ¡®Falling Stars¡¯, the main OST of Nostalgia, had gone viral since it was uploaded right after the Korean preview. The movie hadn¡¯t hit the theaters yet, but the buzz was growing hotter by the day. I heard that the version sung by the lead actor Rupert Dean had already reached 20 million views. And then there was this. ¡°Ahem. Ahem.¡± Our main vocal made a haughty cough with a pale face. It was his cover song. Maybe it was because of the national pride marketing in Korea, but his views had soared to millions. We ignored thements section, which was flooded with haters who were jealous of our OST. But we nned to check them out once they calmed down. ¡°Hello.¡± The fan sitting in front of me greeted me with a smile. ¡°I saw the preview of Nostalgia.¡± ¡°Really? You must have heard our song too. How did you like it?¡± ¡°Um¡­¡± ¡°Show me with your body~¡± He gave me a thumbs up solemnly. I pretended to cry with emotion. We shared augh. I drew a giant UFO with a sign and asked. ¡°How was it? Did it meet your expectations?¡± ¡°It¡¯s going to be a sensation when ites out. It felt like a blockbuster. Falling Stars is amazing, but I also loved Thousand Dreams.¡± Maybe they were biased because they were our fans, but most of them were highly satisfied with Thousand Dreams. ¡°Thank you.¡± I knew they were getting bashed by other idol fans online. I felt grateful to the Souffl¨¦s who might be hurting. But there was nothing I could do about it. I just had to wait for the movie toe out and change the critics¡¯ minds. As I waited for the movie release with the uing Chuseok. ¡°Hyung.¡± ¡°Hmm?¡± ¡°They mentioned us on an American talk show?¡± ¡°Really?¡± I clicked on the link that the maknae sent me with a curious news. Rupert Dean was sitting cross-legged on the talk show set with a blue city painting in the background. The show host asked. -So Rupert, you¡¯re into K-pop these days. -Yes, I can¡¯t stop listening to New ck¡¯s ¡®Nine¡¯. It¡¯s so addictive. -What are the lyrics like? -They¡¯re a mix of Korean and English¡­ He hummed Nine and plugged it. We smiled warmly. -You had a memorable visit to Korea, didn¡¯t you? -Yes. It was a st. I had a lot of fun at the karaoke too. -You were so hyped that you jumped around, right? -Not at all. I was sitting politely. He denied it, but a video of him bouncing on the karaoke sofa appeared. The show host said, ¡®You¡¯re very polite¡¯, and the audience cracked up. -Did you learn some Korean too? Do you have any expressions to teach us? -Well, most of them are like ¡®hello¡¯, ¡®thank you¡¯¡­ Oh, there¡¯s one funny thing. Rupert Dean tapped the sofa armrest with a confident expression and said. -Chichipong. -Chichipong? What is that? Something hit me hard. I covered my face with both hands and kept quiet. Chapter 313: I sneered at the sight of Rupert Dean, who confidently exined the origin of ¡®Chichipong¡¯ on the screen. ¡°Seriously, he could have chosen a better word¡­¡± ¡°Maybe Chichipong was that impressive to him.¡± While Junghyun answered like that, the talk show host was practicing the pronunciation of ¡®Chichipong¡¯ on the screen. -It¡¯s a fun word to say. Chichipong. -Right? I heard it¡¯s addictive these days. Rupert Dean smiled and showed his white teeth. -I¡¯ve been spreading it to my agent and the people around metely. ¡°Don¡¯t do that.¡±-Please remember, everyone. Chichipong. ¡°Ah!¡± The audienceughed as he said ¡®Chichipong¡¯ with a sly smile. But we couldn¡¯tugh. It was a sight of Korea¡¯s ¡®Chichipong¡¯ spreading like wildfire across North America through a live broadcast of a talk show. Rihyuk said. ¡°It¡¯s okay. Rupert hasn¡¯t said who he learned it from yet.¡± ¡°Really? But we¡¯ll be busted as soon as we say something like that.¡± And then. -By the way, ¡®Chichipong¡¯? Who did you learn that from? -New ck. -New ck? -They¡¯re my new friends from Korea. They¡¯re the band I mentioned earlier. I learned it from a friend named ¡®Woojoo¡¯. We were screwed. Totally screwed. It felt like people were pointing fingers at us and mocking us, saying ¡®You¡¯re the one who spread Chichipong, huh?¡¯ I didn¡¯t care about any other word, but Chichipong. It was embarrassing. ¡°Ah. What do we do?¡± I ran my hand through my hair. ¡°I think I¡¯m ruined.¡± ¡°Is that what the seniors from Tinspirit would call ¡®losing¡¯?¡± ¡°Junghyun.¡± ¡°I¡¯ll be quiet. Hyung.¡± He made a gesture of closing a lock-and-lock lid on his mouth. I shook my head and turned my eyes to the screen. It was a video clip that the talk show channel uploaded for promotion. ¡°The views are still low.¡± My siblings grinned at me and I raised my palm. ¡°Calm down. Guys.¡± ¡°Hm?¡± Bijoo blinked and smiled. ¡°We¡¯re more calm than ever. Hyung.¡± ¡°The views are low. It could be buried like this.¡± ¡°Really?¡± As I tried to console myself, the youngest pushed his face in like a baby. I was about to snap my fingers, and he was ready to take the hit. Click- ¡­The door of the practice room opened. ¡°Hi!¡± A four-member girl group, Scarlet, popped their faces in as if they came to visit. They had hot dogs in their hands. Their faces were like white rice cakes. They looked around and found me. They smiled brightly. ¡°There he is!¡± ¡°Nayuna. Let¡¯s do it. That.¡± ¡°Wait, unnie. Let me calm down.¡± Daisy pointed a hot dog at me with a serious expression. Then she said like a magic spell. ¡°Chichipong.¡± ¡°¡­¡± ¡°Kyahaha!¡± The rest of themughed and said ¡®Bye!¡¯ and closed the door. All that was left was the faint smell of hot dogs. ¡°Puhahaha!¡± And my siblings who were rolling on the floor andughing. I couldn¡¯t help butugh too. I muttered. ¡°What¡¯s with them? How did they know?¡± ¡°Well, of course they know. I sent it to them.¡± ¡°¡­¡± I paused and thenughed and turned my head. ¡°Who did you send it to?¡± ¡°Um, not many.¡± The youngest raised his eyes and remembered the list. ¡°The director and the manager hyungs, those noonas and school friends, the A&R team, the producing team, maybe?¡± ¡°¡­¡± ¡°And some acquaintances and the PR team¡­ Aaaah!¡± ¡°Hey! That¡¯s everyone!¡± That evening. -Rupert Dean, a passionate K-pop fan, confesses ¡°I like New ck¡¯s Nine¡± -Rupert Dean shows off his Korean skills on a US talk show, ¡°Chichipong¡± ¡°Have you heard of Chichipong?¡±¡­ The actor of ¡®Nostalgia¡¯ loves Korean The video of the American actor humming ¡®Nine¡¯ and ¡®Chichipong¡¯ on a talk show became a hot topic in Korea. The video with Korean subtitles was uploaded in droves. People¡¯s fingers started to move as it appeared on the popr video list. -Lolololololololololol I¡¯m going crazy for real -00:47 00:58 My face gets hot every time he says Chichipong lol Aww -What did New ck teach him lololol -You are witnessing the scene of Chichipong bing known all over the US. -What is this¡­ Should I be ttered? -Main character: (Wondering if I should start a business) -I was so proud when a famous foreign actor said he liked Korean songs, but it all flew away with one Chichipong -We need a word that¡¯s the opposite of national pride for the Chichipong part., It feels like the opposite of pride is rising -Chinese or Japanese people usually im Korean stuff as theirs when it¡¯s introduced abroad, but they¡¯re so quiet lolololololol -I wouldn¡¯t take Chichipong either¡­ Soon, the captured images of the video were stitched together and spread everywhere. They were posted on humor pages on SNS and variousmunities. Most of them had simr reactions to the YouTubements. When Rupert Dean, New ck, Nine, and ¡®Chichipong¡¯ rose to the real-time search terms. There were people who smiled innocently at all this. -I felt a thud in my chest when I liked the older brothers, but why is my heart sofortable now? -This unshakable calmness even when it¡¯s on the real-time search terms -This is like¡­ New ck -Now I think I¡¯ll only be surprised if I hear that our kids donated their hair to Kyuho lololol -Our kids who fly and fall when others do ry da -That sounds so scary lolololololololololol -When other stones are smashed, Junghyun smashes the stone -But how do I promote this¡­ -A year ago, if you told me that your favorite¡¯s promotion would include a Hollywood actor¡¯s Chichipong, I would have asked if you were crazy Soon, the Souffl¨¦s who were pondering this and that with Rupert Dean¡¯s SNS certification and Bijoo¡¯s Hongdae fancam. Meanwhile. As they were wondering what to watch for the holiday movie before Chuseok, ¡®Chichipong¡¯ threw them a solution. -I¡¯ll have to watch Nostalgia -I hated the national pride marketing so much, but if they do that much after-service lolololol -I¡¯ll only watch until the break-even point -I don¡¯t like musical movies, but I¡¯ll watch it out of loyalty lololol The moment when the reservation rate, which had risen steadily since the director¡¯s visit to Korea, rose again. Reservation rate 38.6% The Chuseok theater where the big Korean movies were waiting. It was unusual for a musical movie that was not well known in Korea to take the first ce in the reservation rate. ¡°¡­¡± The productionpanies, distributors, and PR agencies of the other movies that were about to be released had to be nervous. There was silence in the office of the distributor of one of the movies. ¡°¡­It¡¯s not a normal thing. What is that, the movie quality is good too?¡± ¡°The momentum is no joke. It¡¯s because of the New ck talk show story that came up again.¡± ¡°Oh my¡­¡± Someone said. ¡°We should have used New ck for the promotion side earlier. They had a good word of mouth for the animationst year.¡± ¡°Well. I don¡¯t know about six months ago¡­¡± ¡°Team leader, they¡¯re the ones who are doing the tel ads right now. We can¡¯t afford them with our budget.¡± ¡°How expensive can it be, ugh¡­¡± Soon, the employees were shocked by the idol pay they found in the database. ¡°It has to be expensive. Among the male idols, they¡¯re the best in terms of poprity, right? Their image is also likable.¡± ¡°Our parents knew them too.¡± They were convinced by the pay that the boy group had a poprity like a famous girl group. When the musical movie that was slowly approaching the movie industry like a storm made the officials nervous. ¡°It¡¯s a hit¡­!¡± ¡°It¡¯ll be a great response if the word of mouth is good too, right?¡± The moviepany ¡®Forest¡¯ that was in charge of the distribution of ¡®Nostalgia¡¯ was already in the mood to toast. It was a movie that had enough attention to attract attention from abroad before its release, but it was a movie that had no expectations in Korea because no one was interested. ?¨¢ When they heard the news that Nostalgia suddenly became the first in the reservation rate, their hearts couldn¡¯t help but beat. ¡°First of all, contact the PR agency now. If you know any reporters, use your connections.¡± The distributors who were working with excited faces. Everything was perfect. There was only one problem¡­ ¡°Hey, by the way.¡± ¡°Hmm?¡± ¡°What do we write if we send out a press release. Do we have to write ¡®The Power of Chichipong¡¯?¡± ¡°¡­¡± Their minds were troubled by the word choice for the article title. ¡°Please bow~!¡± We allughed and bowed deeply towards the phone camera. Snap. Jiho¡¯s noble hat fell off his head, and Bijoo¡¯s schr hat dropped to the floor, making us burst intoughter. We got up from the floor, where we were wriggling like cockroaches. ¡°Do we have to edit and go again?¡± ¡°Just go.¡± ¡°They might feel sad if we look too perfect.¡± Hong, the director who was filming behind the camera, gave us an OK sign with his hand. I smiled and said. ¡°The national holiday of Chuseok~¡± ¡°Ising soon!¡± ¡°It¡¯s getting colder, right? Please dress warmly and have a happy holiday.¡± We all danced the Chuseok version of ¡®Nine¡¯ that we had prepared in advance, saying ¡®Have a bountiful harvest moon festival!¡¯. It was our own Chuseok celebration stage. We danced and added some ad-libs in between. ¡°Hey, where is Hanyang yo.¡± Junghyun, who was wearing a Joseon-era doctor¡¯s outfit, waved a medicine envelope, making usugh. Rihyuk, who was wearing a traditional percussionist¡¯s outfit, swung his head and attacked the youngest with a rope. I, who was wearing a silk outfit of a yboy schr, shook my fan like a lizard¡¯s frill and danced, making my brothers giggle. ¡°Woah~!¡± At the end, we all bowed and said ¡®Have a great Chuseok!¡¯. ¡°Ugh, I¡¯m tired.¡± ¡°I should have just said hello.¡± We sat on the floor with our brothers for a while. ¡°Good job!¡± ¡°You too.¡± We said goodbye to Hong, the director who left with the camera, and changed our costumes back to training clothes andy on the floor. ¡°Tomorrow is Chuseok already.¡± ¡°Yeah.¡± ¡°Time flies so fast. I feel likest Chuseok was just yesterday.¡± I nodded at Junghyun¡¯s words. ¡°What did we dost year?¡± ¡°Didn¡¯t we watch Jusehan with our families? It was so fun then.¡± I remembered that time vividly. Jiho¡¯s father rented a whole meat restaurant, and we ate there while watching the first part of Jusehan. ¡°¡­Is it just me? I feel so nostalgic.¡± ¡°Me too.¡± ¡°Every time we sawments like ¡®Who is that?¡¯ on the inte, we all pped and cheered.¡± It was amazing to contrast it with the situation now, where everyone recognizes our faces and says ¡®It¡¯s New ck!¡¯. This happened in a year. Wey down for a while and smiled at each other. ¡°Ah¡­!¡± ¡°Ah, I have a sore throat.¡± We all grimaced because of the sore throat from dancing hard, and thenughed. Rihyuk said. ¡°I just like the situation itself.¡± It was true. We had concerts. People listened to our songs like this, and we were happy that we had recognition. We still had a long way to go, but what we were achieving now was something we couldn¡¯t even imagine at this timest year. The only downside was. ¡°I miss my grandmother¡­¡± ¡°You talked to her for an hourst night.¡± ¡°No. I have to see her in person.¡± The brothersughed. The only downside of this Chuseok was that we couldn¡¯t meet our families. We were supposed to go abroad for a tour, and each of us nned to go home and spend some time, but there were a lot of variables. As the Souffl¨¦s increased, so did the sasaengs, and thepany was worried about it. Lately, there were even cars that jumped in front of us or followed us to the highway. It was the first time thepany had experienced this situation. So we decided to stay in Seoul to prevent any idents that might happen when we scattered for the holiday. TNT, who had a lot of incidents during the holiday after they became popr in their second year, was an example. We agreed to that, as we witnessed unfamiliar faces growing near our dorm every day. It was better to avoid them until things stabilized. And. ¡°Let¡¯s get ready for the schedule.¡± I pped my hands and got the brothers up. ¡°Nooo¡­¡± I showed the main vocal, who was struggling with his poor stamina, a ten thousand won bill with King Sejong on it and got him up. I took care of the droopy brothers and moved from thepany to the salon. One of the reasons why we couldn¡¯t visit our hometown this time was because of the busy schedule of Chuseok. ¡°Hello, Future Economy Newspaper subscribers.¡± "Chichipong! We are New ck! We also filmed greeting videos to send to variouspanies that asked us to greet them for Chuseok. We also visited the radio and had a talk for about an hour. And we also agreed to appear as panelists on various programs and special episodes for Chuseok. -It¡¯s time to meet some really hot people. The auditorium of Taehwa High School, where we had our final evaluation two years ago. We waited in the backstage, wearing our stage costumes. It was a quiz show with a total prize of 20 million won, selected from high school students who had a knack for quizzes. ¡°I should have been out there¡­¡± Rihyuk looked envious of the students outside the backstage. The cheers outside grew louder. -Let me give you a hint about them: the number 9¡­ Wow. The cheers are amazing! -Then let¡¯s not waste any more time and bring them out right away! The FD with the inte gestured for us to go up. -It¡¯s New ck! As we, dressed in stage costumes, went up on the stage, cheers poured out from the 200 students sitting on the floor of the auditorium. The same expression came to their faces, wearing various uniforms. ¡°Woahhh!¡± Every time we sang ¡®Nine¡¯ excitedly on the stage, the students responded by singing ¡®Nine¡¯ along with us in the chorus. ¡®Hyung.¡¯ ¡®Okay.¡¯ We exchanged nces with the manager hyungs. As we came down from the stage to the floor of the auditorium as agreed with the broadcasting station beforehand, screams erupted. While singing in front of the students who were surrounded by fences, we snatched the phones that were taking pictures of us. Then we took selfies together while singing. ¡°Woahhh!¡± After doing such a selfie event, we went back up on the stage and sang the chorus of Nine. ¡°Huff, hello!¡± I took a deep breath and greeted the audience on the stage with a microphone. ¡°Hello, we are New ck!¡± ¡°Woahhh!¡± ¡°I really didn¡¯t expect you to respond so well, thank you so much. Did you enjoy the show?¡± ¡°Yes!¡± Jiho picked up the microphone. ¡°Before we came up here, Rihyuk hyung said he was so jealous of the ¡®High School Quiz King¡¯ contestants, and he wanted to be on a quiz show like this too.¡± ¡°That¡¯s right. I¡¯m really jealous.¡± Rihyuk said. ¡°I really love these kinds of quizzes.¡± ¡°So we prepared something.¡± Bi Ju continued. On the TV show ¡®High School Quiz King¡¯, there was a corner where celebrities would give quizzes along with a congrattory performance for each episode. Sometimes they prepared nonsense, and sometimes they gave difficult questions. When the students sat down with tense faces and held their markers, Rihyuk smiled and said. ¡°I prepared a really fun quiz.¡± Junghyun grabbed the microphone and read the cue card. ¡°The category is ¡®Korean¡¯. The following is the first line of a poem by the poet No Cheon Myeong. ¡®You are a sad beast with a long head.¡¯¡± ¡°¡®You are always polite and have no words.¡¯¡± ¡°Which of the following is the title of this poem?¡± I read the answer. ¡°1. Elephant, 2. Giraffe, 3. Deer, 4. Dragon.¡± A brief hesitation passed by. But I thought this was pretty easy. ¡°The answer is 3. Deer!¡± ¡°¡­¡± ¡°Wow¡­?¡± I thought only a few people would get it wrong, but 86 people were blinking their eyes with the number two in their hands. Their eyes seemed to say something. ¡®You said it was easy?¡¯ ¡®Giraffe? Why is it not a giraffe?¡¯ ¡®Am I eliminated?¡¯ I felt like a duck watching the freshmen who were facing the final test. The PD who agreed to our quiz saying it would be fun also looked flustered by the number of losers. I smiled and said to the writer who wrote on the sketchbook. ¡°Yes, this was a practice question.¡± ¡°Ah¡­¡± ¡°Did you really think I would give such a confusing question?¡± The ears of the culprit who gave the question turned red. My siblings looked impressed by my smooth handling of the situation. The students alsoughed as if they were relieved. ¡°Now that you¡¯re warmed up with the Korean quiz, shall we move on to the real question? The real question is about deer.¡± After giving another question that most people could answer. ¡°Hey. I told you it was hard.¡± ¡°The PD also said it would be fun. You¡¯re all quiz kings, so this should be easy.¡± ¡°I was so nervous earlier.¡± They scolded the one who gave the hard quiz as they moved to the next schedule location. The day before Chuseok. Thest schedule of the day was a promotional event where we watched the newly released ¡®Nostalgia¡¯ with the Souffl¨¦s at a small theater. ¡°Oh, there they are!¡± ¡°It looks like there are fans over there!¡± As we drove, we saw the Souffl¨¦s gathered outside the theater. They had different outfits, but we could guess their identity by the moon sticks they held in their hands. ¡°Should we say hello?¡± And when we asked the manager hyungs for permission to lower the car window. ¡°¡­¡± ¡°¡­¡± We saw the Souffl¨¦s dancing a weird dance andughing with their moon sticks. We quickly looked away. I saw Minki hyung¡¯s smiling eyes in the rearview mirror. ¡°You said you would say hello?¡± ¡°¡­Later,ter we¡¯ll say hello.¡± The sight of the Souffl¨¦s dancing away faded. ¡°It feels like we did something wrong.¡± ¡°¡­¡± It was a time for us to reflect on our actions. Chapter 314: As we entered, a wave of light sticks shook like crazy, along with screams of excitement. ¡°Did you alle well?¡± The Souffl¨¦s answered ¡®Yes!¡¯ in unison. ¡°Thank you so much foring.¡± ¡°Really.¡± ¡°Bijoo hyung couldn¡¯t sleepst night because he was so nervous. He said he was going to watch a movie with more than 100 people.¡± The ¡®Ooooh¡¯ reaction made Bijoo smile shyly and grab the microphone. ¡°Thank you so much foring. Let¡¯s have a lot of fun today!¡± ¡°Woohoo-!¡±Then, Junghyun looked around the seats and asked. ¡°How are the popcorn and c? Are they good?¡± ¡°Yes!¡± ¡°That¡¯s good.¡± The Souffl¨¦s who held the popcorn and c that we bought with our own moneyughed and waved their hands. Then, Junghyun proudly took out something from the basket. ¡°Ta-da.¡± Something that was steaming hot revealed itself. Thick legs. It was butter-grilled squid that smelled delicious. ¡°Ahhhh-!¡± ¡°You guys have popcorn, right?¡± At Junghyun¡¯s words, we each took one out and held it like a secret agent¡¯s badge. ¡°We have butter-grilled squid!¡± The manager hyungs burst intoughter. ¡°Wow, that¡¯s so mean-!¡± As the youngest and I waved our fans to spread the smell, the Souffl¨¦s boiled like they were going to explode. I raised both hands and said. ¡°Calm down. We knew this would happen, so we brought five extra butter-grilled squids.¡± ¡°¡­!¡± ¡°You filled out a survey before you came in, right? We¡¯ll pick five of them at random and draw them.¡± As I waved my hands like magic, the Souffl¨¦s¡¯ eyes were fixed on my hands. ¡°Zing!¡± Then, I picked one paper. ¡°Souffl¨¦ sitting in seat K11! Congrattions!¡± ¡°Ah, surprise!¡± The Souffl¨¦ sitting at the very end was startled and shook the popcorn bucket, making the popcorn explode. At the same time,ughter also exploded. ¡°You wrote ¡®New ck, so mean. Awe. Some.¡¯ in thement section for us.¡± ¡°Hahaha! We really love this kind of thing!¡± The Souffl¨¦ in K11 waved his hands and said ¡®Yay¡¯. ¡°Yes. We¡¯ll deliver the prize quickly with a quick service. If you have a preferred member and a message, please let us know and we¡¯ll deliver it as soon as possible. By the way, Junghyun is the fastest and Rihyuk is the slowest.¡± ? ¡°Hey,e on.¡± ¡°Who do you want to send?¡± The Souffl¨¦ in K11 shyly pointed at ¡®Rihyuk¡­¡¯. Rihyuk¡¯s smile exploded right away. ¡°Me, me?¡± The guy with red cheeks on his white face walked up lightly and everyoneughed. The Souffl¨¦ rubbed his hands as if he was receiving a precious item, and Rihyuk also rubbed his hands. Weughed at the sight of them bowing and exchanging the butter-grilled squid. Rihyuk came back and gave the youngest a smug look. ¡°The next person is definitely me! No exceptions!¡± As the youngest was jealous, the Souffl¨¦sughed while I continued the drawing. The survey that the fans filled out before they came in was about the YouTube content. What they wanted to see, what they liked, feedback, etc. I smiled as I looked at the survey papers that were filled with writing. After the drawing, there was a brief etiquette guide from Rihyuk. ¡°Oh. Right.¡± I said with a smile. ¡°We saw it before we came up from the car. The fans gathered outside on the first floor.¡± ¡°¡­?¡± ¡°What were you dancing to?¡± ¡°Ahh!¡± Weughed at their embarrassed expressions. But the teasing was short-lived and we were soon counterattacked. ¡°What! Why didn¡¯t you say hello!¡± ¡°Are you ashamed of us?¡± He said, lowering his head. ¡°Of course not. It was just an awkward situation. If we greeted them, they might feel more embarrassed.¡± While the souffles were thinking, ¡®He¡¯s avoiding them so well¡­¡¯ ¡°Woojoo hyung was the first one to roll up the window!¡± ¡°Jiho.¡± ¡°Puhahaha!¡± While the other brothers were pushing him, saying, ¡®He¡¯s such a bad guy!¡¯, I changed the topic and asked. ¡°But there¡¯s something I¡¯m really curious about. What was that dance you did with Bongdal¡­ I mean, Dalbong?¡± Soon, a grumbling answer came from everywhere. ¡°What?¡± ¡°It¡¯s the Ku dance!¡± ¡°What¡¯s Ku?¡± Then someone answered loudly. ¡°It¡¯s the Pirarucu dance!¡± ¡°Puhaha!¡± We startedughing, holding our stomachs, as we saw him demonstrate the dance, shaking Dalbong up and down. ¡°K11! Why are youughing!¡± Rihyuk shouted with a red face. ¡°Don¡¯tugh! I¡¯m going to take away the butter toast from anyone whoughs now! For real!¡± ¡°Huhahaha!¡± Soon, the movie screening began. ¡°Huaaa¡­¡± As the lights in the theater went off, Bijoo covered his mouth with both hands and made a sound like a squeak. Then he whispered to me. ¡°Hyung, I love this so much.¡± ¡°Me too, I¡¯m excited.¡± ¡°There are almost 100 fans here with us right now. I haven¡¯t done this group viewing since middle school.¡± ¡°Oh, really?¡± Bijoo¡¯s point of excitement was like a elementary school kid who said, ¡®So many people came to my birthday party!¡¯. The other brothers had simr expressions. Junghyun was happily smiling, munching on butter toast squid. Rihyuk and Jiho were also happilyughing, fighting over who would get the c slot. And I was happy too. It had been a long time since I came to the theater and watched a movie, let alone with my friends. Thest time I went to the theater was when I watched Harry Potter with Taehyun, Jihun, and Hanbin. ¡°Oh. It¡¯s starting. It¡¯s starting.¡± Our movie buff lit up his eyes with excitement. As he said, the logos of the movie distributor and producer appeared on the screen of the small theater. Bam bam- A huge earth spun around, saying, ¡®Hello, are you excited to see me?¡¯ and sted a majestic BGM. And then, the lightning background that went ku-kwang-kwang. ¡°Oh. The movie is fun.¡± ¡°That¡¯s the productionpany logo, Junghyun hyung.¡± ¡°Oh.¡± ¡°And no talking, please.¡± Rihyuk said, reminding him of the manners, and Junghyun nodded. As Junghyun said, ¡®Oh, is this the movie?¡¯ every time, various logos that teased him, saying, ¡®This is the productionpany~¡¯, ¡®This is the graphicpany~¡¯, passed by. Finally, the main movie started. The screen went dark and then bright, and my eyes were momentarily blinded by the white light. -Square square. A white snowfield spread out in a park. There was a statue of a pianist. A little boy with a hat with alcohol on it and a thick jumper sat on a bench and scribbled something in a notebook. It was a rather crude drawing. A close-up of the face of the boy who was drawing a picture simr to Zman and a trophy. The boy smiled and took off one glove and reached out his bare hand. ¡°¡­?¡± Then he flipped the notebook from the first page. The Zman drawing came to life like an animation. A child who had received his parents¡¯ happy care since he was a baby, he grew up and sat in front of the piano. He showed amazing talent and swept trophies and hugged his parents and siblings in a warm scene. And then one day, they went out to eat together and got in a car. -Kigigigik! Kwang! Rihyuk was startled by the sudden loud noise. ¡°Ah, that scared me.¡± Jiho offered him a c straw as if to calm him down, and Rihyuk was more surprised. Meanwhile, thest page of the notebook had been fluttering. The wreckage of the broken car. And between them, limbs that sprouted like dead branches. ¡°¡­¡± As silence fell over the audience, the notebook closed with a close-up on the screen. Then, the leather cover appeared. The movie title, ¡®The Nostalgia¡¯, shed for a moment. The notebook opened again. -Swish swish. A hospital record with the name ¡®Jayden Miller¡¯ written on it. [Jayden Miller] The caption and the chart with the names of the injuries were briefly introduced. At the same time, the sound of a phone ringing and people murmuring were inserted in the background. The nurse who was writing the chart stopped and looked. The face of a young man, wrapped in bandages all over his body, visible through the ss window. [Damn.] Inside the room. The middle-aged man who was looking at the protagonist who had fallen asleep wiped his tears with one hand and washed his face. Then he asked the approaching doctor. [What¡¯s going to happen to him?] [I have to check the signs first¡­ but it¡¯s not good.] [Your hand? Can you use your hand?] [¡­I won¡¯t be able to y the piano like before anymore.] [¡­] The middle-aged man seemed to be the piano teacher of the protagonist, Jaden. [I¡¯m sorry. Kid. I¡¯m sorry.] The teacher, who had been crying for a long time holding the protagonist¡¯s hand, left the hospital room for a moment. He, who had fallen asleep, slightly opened his eyes. He started to cry like a whimper, making a groaning sound with his body that was hard to move properly. It was the tears of a person who had lost his family, his dream, and everything. Soon after, the protagonist¡¯s time of rehabilitation training was quickly skipped through a few scenes. The protagonist, who had received the introduction of the teacher, visited a library in a nearby county. An unmanaged garden. A huge brick building surrounded by ivy vines that looked like ghosts woulde out. The protagonist opened the door of the library and entered in a creepy atmosphere. [Hello. Is anyone there?] A voice that echoed like a cave. The statues and ancient books in the library passed by in the ominous background music. -Bang! He screamed as a book fell in front of him. [Kyaaak!] The protagonist, who had a gloomy atmosphere, let out a girlish scream and for the first time, something likeughter came out of the theater. [Who are you?] And the old man who was hanging on thedder near the bookshelf slid down and stood up. The protagonist said. [I came with the introduction of Brett, Thomas Brett.] [Ah.] White eyebrows and white hair. The old man looked at the memo with his magnifying ss and nodded his head. Then he smiled, showing his white teeth. [Wee. I¡¯m Tom Sawyer, the librarian.] [Tom Sawyer?] [It¡¯s an interesting name, isn¡¯t it? Come this way.] The librarian, who spoke in a gentle voice, introduced the library and the movie Nostalgia began in earnest. The movie viewing ended in a pleasant atmosphere. ¡°It¡¯s really fun¡­¡± ¡°I think it¡¯s the most fun movie I¡¯ve seen recently. The actors¡¯ acting is really amazing.¡± ¡°It was so much fun. Really.¡± We, who were in the car going back to the hostel, started to chat about the movie with a slightly flushed face. ¡°I thought the librarian was a bad person¡­¡± ¡°Was that a crocodile? It must have been the graphics.¡± ¡°I still see the naked king in front of me. A pervert who doesn¡¯t even wear clothes chases like a terminator.¡± ¡°Puhaha!¡± I didn¡¯t know how time passed during the running time of an hour and 40 minutes. At first, I wondered why they promoted it so hard when it was so fun. But then I saw the graphics used in our ¡®Thousand Dreams¡¯ and Rupert Dean¡¯s ¡®Falling Stars¡¯ in the second half and I was convinced. ¡°It was so fun. Let¡¯s watch it again when the vodes out.¡± ¡°Yes. Let¡¯s watch it again.¡± Bijoo nodded his head at my words. It was that fun. It was also very nice that the meaning of ¡®Nostalgia¡¯ was revealed at the end. I also liked that I found out what context the notebook scene at the beginning came from. It was also nice that the protagonist left to find a new path. I¡¯ve never experienced that kind of hardship, but there were a lot of things that I could empathize with from my personal experience. ¡°We should call him by now.¡± Rihyuk cleared his throat and drove. ¡°Falling- falling stars~¡± ¡°And I¡¯m not scared~~¡± We sang the lyrics of ¡®Falling Stars¡¯ and shook our bodies happily in the car. The transparent seawater shone brightly in blue. And the moment the protagonist, who was on a boat, stopped rowing. The scene where thousands of shooting stars fell, implemented with CG, was a masterpiece even when I thought about it again. When Rihyuk sang the cover video, I thought it was ¡®awesome¡¯, but it was more awesome when I saw the video. The souffles who were watching quietly also let out a realistic exmation of ¡®wow¡¯ at that scene. And. ¡°A thousand dreams~~¡± ¡°Our song~~¡± ¡°Million dreams~~~¡± We sang the lyrics of Thousand Dreams and danced excitedly. Minki, who was sitting in the passenger seat, said. ¡°It was really touching when that came out in the theater. I heard it beforehand, but it was different when I saw it on the screen.¡± ¡°It felt weird, right?¡± Won Seok said. ¡°Our voices came out in a foreign movie.¡± ¡°Right? We felt the same way.¡± I felt strange when I thought that our voices were recorded in a movie that was released all over the world. The souffles who watched it in the theater also had a passionate reaction. We heard that our song woulde out, but we didn¡¯t expect it to have such a big weight. ¡°Thousand stars~ thousand dreams~¡± We sang ¡®Thousand Dreams¡¯ together for a long time before we parted with the souffles. It was a noisy and fun atmosphere. But there was a separate reason why everyone was so excited and thrilled. Bijoo said. ¡°Do you think this song will do well when it¡¯s released? I know I shouldn¡¯t get my hopes up, but still¡­¡± ¡°It will do well.¡± ¡°Really?¡± Junghyun interrupted. ¡°Yeah. I¡­¡± ¡°If you make a prediction joke right now, I¡¯ll open the door and kick you out. Junghyun.¡± Iughed at the sight of him munching on popcorn with a ¡®hmph¡¯. But no matter what Junghyun said about his hunch, our feeling wouldn¡¯t change. We had a certainty that this would get a 100 percent response. Even if it wasn¡¯t as widespread as Falling Stars, which was spreading all over the world, we felt like we would have a steady ie. Of course, it could be just our wishful thinking, but one thing was clear. ¡°Let¡¯s go check thements for the first time in a while!¡± ¡°Let¡¯s go!¡± The fact that those who had cursed us for participating in the OST before the release, saying ¡®What are idols doing here!¡¯, wouldn¡¯t be able to curse us anymore. ¡°Thump thump.¡± As Junghyunid down a rap of his heartbeat as a background music, we entered the entertainment section of the portal. And then we searched for New ck. -¡®Nostalgia¡¯ New ck¡¯s surprise participation in OST¡­ ¡®Audience praise¡¯ -Music and film, the fantastic harmony¡­ ¡®Nostalgia¡¯ exploded from the opening day -¡°I want to listen to it after watching the movie¡±, when will ¡®Nostalgia¡¯ OST be released? Most of the articles listed by poprity had our name in their titles and contents. And in a very good way. After the movie was released. Ratings apps and various sites started to register reviews about Nostalgia. ¡¸ Nostalgia, 2015 ¡¹ -[4.5] Apuse for the director¡¯s passion to tell everything about life in an hour and 40 minutes. -[4.5] I was amazed by the visuals throughout the movie and then cried a storm by the OST??? -[4.0] The duet stage of Rupert Dean and Be Page. That alone was perfect for me. -[4.0] Rupert Dean was really good at acting. The OST was good too. -[3.5] Average for me. The song is 5 points. -[4.0] The biggest twist of this movie was the OST that New ck participated in. The aftertaste of Thousand Dreams still moistens my ears. Among the stories about the actors¡¯ performances and the OST, the mentions of New ck began to increase. -The song was really -There was no OST to throw away. The original work was good too, but the original two songs were really good -The biggest twist was that New ck made and sang Thousand Dreams themselves. -Why did they get cursed so much??? -They¡¯re doing well, so that¡¯s why??? But after watching the movie, I felt like they were unfairly cursed. -They seemed to be crazyst week?? -They never said they were K-pop, but they assumed they were K-pop and cursed them to death. The negative trend that had been saying ¡®What are you doing in a musical movie number?¡¯ had turned 180 degrees. The idolmunity, which had the strongest negative atmosphere, was the same. -I went to see it with my dad today and the song was really good??? -Why did the director of Nostalgia go nationalistic¡­ I thought this was a boring movie and made a mistake -New ck¡¯s song was awesome -22222¡­ I don¡¯t know why they got cursed -333 The atmosphere was weird then? The haters were ganging up and cursing them to death -It was too much. I¡¯m not their fan, but I wanted to capture some and send them to their agency -22 I was so annoyed these days that I didn¡¯t click on New ck¡¯s title -???Rising was grabbing their hair and beating them up for a day or two -They¡¯re not big or small rookies, but they rose to the top in two years, so the haters exploded -They¡¯re still predicting their performance -Ugh¡­ Those who had left negativements about New ck¡¯s OST participation quickly changed the topic. When the inte boards were full of regret for not being able to get the ¡®Thousand Dreams¡¯ song, which was not avable. -New ck looked a bit different this time????? -?? Me too -I had a prejudice that they couldn¡¯tpose themselves, but it disappeared this time, I felt like they were real -I had cognitive dissonance. The special forces who made a song; As he looked at the atmosphere of thosements, he made a ¡®This is it!¡¯ expression. The broadcast writer who was looking at the monitor called the person sitting on one side of the office. ¡°PD!¡± Nostalgia, which was released during the Chuseok season, hit the jackpot. The audience increased as it was well promoted and word of mouth spread. Soon, the news of 1 million came. Edwards, the director in the US, sent us an email saying ¡®What should I say to the Korean people to get the most poprity?¡¯ And then. ¡°Guys!¡± When we were busy preparing for the overseas tour, the practice room door opened and our manager came in with a proud smile. ¡°We have an opportunity!¡± ¡°What opportunity?¡± Seokhwan hyung smiled happily. ¡°We have an opportunity to wash away our crazy image.¡± ¡°What image?¡± ¡°Crazy.¡± ¡°¡­¡± Isn¡¯t that too blunt? We showed our difort and then epted it with a ¡®That¡¯s right¡¯. ¡°What opportunity is it?¡± The Novel will be updated first on this website. Come back and continue reading tomorrow, everyone! Chapter 315: ¡°Muca?¡± ¡°Yeah. Ha Seung-ju¡¯s music cafe.¡± Our manager said, ¡®This is your chance to clean up your image!¡¯ and brought us an opportunity that was a familiar broadcast. ¡°I haven¡¯t heard the name Muca in a long time.¡± ¡°Me neither. Didn¡¯t you go there with Jang Sowon sunbaest spring? Wow, but it feels like it was a long time ago.¡± I agreed with the youngest¡¯s words. It felt like a distant memory when I went there to sing as Something in the beginning ofst year. I asked. ¡°What do you mean by cleaning up our image with this?¡±¡°You guys have a strong¡­ that kind of image, right?¡± ¡°Honestly, it¡¯s not that bad.¡± My brothers agreed with me. ¡°That¡¯s right. Manager. It¡¯s not that bad.¡± ¡°I agree with Wang Jiho too.¡± ¡°Yeah. Yeah.¡± ¡°We¡¯re hurt by the manager¡¯s words.¡± As the resentment grew louder, Seokhwan hyung raised his hands to calm us down. ¡°Of course, it¡¯s not that bad, I know. I just used that expression because it¡¯s hard to express it differently.¡± ¡°We got it. We¡¯re not angry anymore~¡± The person who was giggling coughed. ¡°Ahem, anyway, Muca contacted us urgently. They seemed to be very interested in the Nostalgia OST.¡± ¡°Oh.¡± ¡°They said they would treat us as the main characters of that special episode, and asked if we wanted toe.¡± ¡°Main characters?¡± ¡°Wasn¡¯t it about 10 minutes when you went with Jang Sowon? This time, it¡¯s more than that.¡± It was a good deal. But there were a few things to check before that. Everyone seemed to have the same thoughts, and Rihyuk opened his mouth first. ¡°If it¡¯s about Nostalgia, they might ask us to sing the OST, but did you talk to the moviepany about this?¡± ¡°They said OK. The movie was released after that, and by the time the broadcast airs, the OST album will be out too.¡± The most important issue was solved. We asked questions about the rough stage and talk content they wanted, and settled the details. Bijoo asked. ¡°But you said you wanted to try image transformation, what do you mean by that?¡± ¡°Ah.¡± Seokhwan hyung looked around us and answered. ¡°You guys might not know if you¡¯re idol fans, but to the general public, you have a strong variety show image.¡± ¡°We have a strong variety show image?¡± I looked around my brothers for a moment. The innocent and cute eyes and our gentle appearance that lost to elementary school students. We didn¡¯t look much different from ordinary people. Then my eyes stopped at Jung-hyun. ¡°¡­¡± Suddenly, I understood what ¡®variety show image¡¯ meant. And Jung-hyun also looked around his brothers and said ¡®variety show image?¡¯ and his eyes stopped at my face. ¡°¡­¡± Nod. I nodded my head and said. ¡°I ept.¡± Nod nod. Jung-hyun also looked relieved and said. ¡°I ept too.¡± ¡°Honestly, those two are the culprits who made our image weird. If you draw a graph, it would be about 90 percent.¡± ¡°You know that 9 percent is hyung, right?¡± ¡°¡­¡± The youngest, who was staring at Rihyuk with his mouth shut, threw his gaze at Bijoo. ¡° Bijoo hyung~¡± ¡°Yeah. We¡¯re normal people-¡± As they made a big heart with their arms, Rihyuk said, ¡®The plural of people is people.¡¯ Iughed as I watched the two who liked to call themselves normal people. If there was a caption, I would have put an arrow above them saying ¡®self-proimed normal people¡¯. ¡°Well. I can¡¯t feel any meaningful difference between the five of you¡­¡± Our manager, who was amazed that we made a 5-minute story into 15 minutes, started to exin. ¡°Anyway, your variety show image is a bit of a poison. It¡¯s good to be friendly to the public, but.¡± ¡°Is that bad?¡± ¡°You¡¯re too¡­ over-friendly.¡± ¡°¡­¡± ¡°Well, it¡¯s not a bad thing, so don¡¯t be so gloomy.¡± ¡°Yes¡­¡± The person smiled and adjusted his sses. ¡°It¡¯s a good thing to be friendly and likable to the public as a celebrity. That¡¯s why you get so many ads.¡± ¡°Wow.¡± ¡°You guys have a lot of poprity that other groups really want.¡± I knew we were a group that was popr with the public. Sometimes, when news of surveys like ¡®Which idol do you like?¡¯ came up, I saw our name there. And these days, when we went out on the street, people recognized us. Not only idol fans, but even old people and kindergarten kids pointed at us and were surprised. ¡°But this is not always a good thing for your artistic side.¡± ¡°That¡¯s right.¡± We agreed with that part. ¡°Korea is a ce where the more mysterious you are, the more artistic you are. The performances of popr singers and actors are often underrated.¡± ¡°That¡¯s right. We¡¯ve been worried about thattely.¡± We had to be cool and mysterious when we performed, but the more we appeared on TV, the more that mystery disappeared. That was a fact. Actors who appear frequently in variety shows may have a hard time acting because of that. Their variety show image is so strong that people can¡¯t immerse themselves in their roles. We were also worried that our image as singers might be overshadowed by our recent variety show image. ¡°So we¡¯re going to try to dilute that image a bit by appearing on Music Cafe this time.¡± ¡°Do you think it¡¯s possible?¡± ¡°It doesn¡¯t hurt to try.¡± Our manager said confidently. ¡°Now is the best opportunity. You know how well Nostalgia is doing with word-of-mouth, right?¡± People were already saying it might reach ten million, that¡¯s how good Nostalgia¡¯s domestic opening performance was. The domestic distributor was already nning to hold additional events. ¡°By the time the broadcast airs, it¡¯ll be the second or third week of release. If the movie does well until then, it¡¯ll be the best situation for the broadcast.¡± ? ¡°Oh. That¡¯s true.¡± The youngest looked at his calendar on his phone and said. ¡°We¡¯ll be abroad when the broadcast airs, right? When we¡¯re not on any other shows.¡± ¡°Yeah. That¡¯s the n.¡± Our manager¡¯s n was simple. When Nostalgia was at its peak of poprity with word-of-mouth. When people were well aware of the OST. That¡¯s when the broadcast with ¡®Our OST Production Behind-the-Scenes¡¯ and such would air. ¡°Especially, Woojoo, you can appeal your image as aposer as much as possible. And the musical number is different from idol songs in terms of image.¡± He was right. No matter how much we told people ¡®I wrote this song!¡¯ through reality shows and other shows, they didn¡¯t believe us. They probably thought ¡®Yeah, right, someone else did it for them¡¯ because of that perception. But it would be a different story if the music was of a different genre from popr music. ¡°It¡¯s really a good opportunity.¡± ¡°Isn¡¯t it?¡± ¡°Yeah. If it goes well¡­¡± If it went well, it would be the perfect situation. After watching the show, the viewers might think ¡®Oh, the New ck kids can do music too¡¯ and lean that way. The problem was. ¡°Wouldn¡¯t that dilute the tower we¡¯ve built so far with our hard work?¡± ¡°¡­¡± The younger ones agreed with me wholeheartedly. ¡°I honestly think it¡¯s hard.¡± ¡°Hmm¡­ It doesn¡¯t seem easy.¡± ¡°You said it was imageundering, right? I think the washing machine will go round and round and then explode.¡± ¡°Woojoo hyung and I might have to do something else too.¡± Our manager started to deny reality while looking at the sky. Our appearance on Music Cafe was soon confirmed. The production team seemed to be eagerly waiting for us, as the news came out as soon as the appearance was finalized. It was when we were heading to the airport for our first overseas tour. -¡®OST Buzz¡¯ New ck to appear on Music Cafe ¡°They will sing Thousand Dreams¡± -[Exclusive] New ck, Jo Yuri Band, to appear on ¡®Music Cafe¡¯ Musician Special -New ck to appear on ¡®Music Cafe¡¯¡­They will reveal the production story of ¡®Nostalgia OST¡¯ It was apletely different situation fromst year, and I felt amazed. Before, Jo director had to beg Ha Seungju, the MC, ¡®Please, let our kids appear¡­¡¯ and barely got us on. But this time, they asked us toe. Of course, we had risen a lotpared tost year, but it was also thanks to the interest from the movie OST. ¡°We¡¯ll meet Jo Yuri Band again.¡± I smiled and said to Rihyuk, who was tapping his tablet. ¡°Don¡¯t worry.¡± ¡°I¡¯m not worried. I¡¯m just awkward.¡± ¡°They¡¯ll be more awkward than us.¡± ¡°That¡¯s true.¡± They were such weak-strong-weak people that I wasn¡¯t worried. We were almost at Incheon Airport, ording to the navigation. Third floor of Incheon Airport. Across the crosswalk, I could see the reporters and fans crowded behind the car window. ¡°¡­¡± I felt suffocated just by looking. There seemed to be no peaceful way to get through. There were dozens of cannon cameras. And at least a hundred people, including those who were curious about who wasing. ¡°Wait a minute, guys. We¡¯re in contact with the securitypany, so let¡¯s get off after the situation is under control.¡± After the securitypany staff secured the route to pass through. We finally got out of the car. Swoosh- The door of the new car that thepany had changed for us a while ago opened automatically. I felt a sense of pride and put my foot on the ground. Before I did. ¡°Wow!¡± A scream-like sound erupted among the crowd. It was lucky that I wore sunsses, or I would have squinted my eyes from the sh. I smiled softly and waved my hand. But that was only for a moment. As soon as I crossed the crosswalk, a chaotic situation unfolded. ¡°Ah! Ah!¡± I felt like crying as the crowd pushed against my shoulders. Even though Joon-hyun was shielding me and Bijoo from behind like a giant statue, it was still overwhelming. ¡°Excuse me! Excuse me!¡± ¡°¡­!¡± I was startled when someone suddenly lunged at me and tried to grab me. A security guard quickly pulled them away, but I flinched reflexively. I waspletely out of it. I couldn¡¯t tell if I was being shoved by people or walking on my own. Cold sweat ran down my back under my shirt. It was worse than when we left for Japan. ¡°¡­.¡± At first, I took off my sunsses and walked around with my bare face, but soon I had to wear a mask as well. I didn¡¯t have the confidence to manage my expression in this situation. Cameras everywhere I looked, left and right. Thankfully, I had turned my phone to silent mode. Otherwise, the fans would have called me non-stop. When we passed the immigration gate, themotion finally subsided a bit. ¡°Jiho, take your phone.¡± ¡°Huh?¡± Jiho fumbled in his pocket and widened his eyes in surprise when Won-seok handed him his phone. ¡°It fell when the fans rushed at us earlier.¡± ¡°Wow. That was scary. Thanks, hyung.¡± ¡°Are you okay?¡± He smiled with a sweaty face, but he looked exhausted. His hand was red from being stepped on when he picked up the phone. ¡°Are you okay, hyung?¡± ¡°Yeah, I¡¯m fine.¡± ¡°Ouch. Ouch¡­.¡± The other personughed when we held hands and cried. We checked him over, but luckily he didn¡¯t seem to be hurt. He said he had strong bones and told us not to worry, but we felt sorry for him. ¡°We¡¯ll make enough money to buy a ne, hyung.¡± ¡°Sure.¡± Thankfully, it was much quieter after we left the departure hall. Only the usual fans were there. We ignored the ones who shouted or talked to us and walked leisurely. I was scared at first, but I gradually got used to it and became numb, as Han-mo from TNT advised. ¡°You¡¯re shaking like a leaf, hyung.¡± ¡°I¡¯m nervous because of the ne.¡± I nced at Joon-hyun. I quickly checked the news articles that were being uploaded in real time and boarded the ne. We sat together, surrounded by our manager hyungs, stylists, and other staff. I took a deep breath as I sat in the middle seat by the window. Then I started to count the ces we were going to visit, and Rihyuk became curious. ¡°What are you doing? Counting numbers?¡± ¡°No. The ces we¡¯re going to.¡± ¡°Oh.¡± I folded my fingers and said. ¡°Hong Kong, Taiwan, Singapore, Philippines, Thand, Mysia, Indonesia¡­.¡± They were the countries we were going to visit for our first overseas tour from October to the end of the year. Including East Asia and Southeast Asia, as well as Australia, America, Brazil, Chile, and so on. We were going to Japan separately next year. ¡°I¡¯ll have to take at least fifteen flights¡­.¡± ¡°No.¡± ¡°Oh, really?¡± He said as I smiled, thinking I would take fewer flights. ¡°You have to multiply by 2. It¡¯s round-trip.¡± ¡°¡­.¡± ¡°Why are you looking at me like that? You counted wrong.¡± ¡°¡­.¡± ¡°I¡¯ll give you some chocte. Let¡¯s make up.¡± I agreed right away. The youngest stuck his face out from behind my seat. ¡°I want some too. Wow¡­ look at the silver foil.¡± ¡°Hehehe!¡± They were chattering near me, as if trying to ease my tension. I appreciated it, even though I didn¡¯t need it. Joon-hyun pressed my arm to calm me down, and I looked out the window. I saw the control tower. I remembered the time when I looked down at the nes from there during the Sagan recording. They were not big and noisy machines like now, but cute little nes. I thought of that as I looked at my face reflected in the window. Then Joon-hyun¡¯s face rose behind me like a moon. He asked me with a warm face. ¡°Hyung, don¡¯t I look like the sun when I do this?¡± ¡°¡­.¡± ¡°This is sunlight.¡± ¡°¡­.¡± I was dumbfounded by his gesture of holding his hand next to his face and sparkling. Rihyuk was the same. He said ¡®Uh-uh¡¯ when I turned around, as if to say I shouldn¡¯t. ¡°You can¡¯t look at the sun with your bare eyes, hyung.¡± ¡°Joon-hyun.¡± ¡°Yes.¡± ¡°Go down.¡± ¡°Yes¡­.¡± He lowered his face and buckled his seat belt with a sullen look. I chuckled at him. But thanks to him, I felt less afraid than usual when the ne took off. Instead of the scenery from the control tower that I had intended to recall. I remembered someone covering their face with their hand and saying ¡®This is an eclipse¡¯. That was the problem, but¡­. Our overseas tour. Our first destination was Mysia. We had a few simple schedules besides the concert, since this tour was also a promotion abroad. We extended our stay by a day to do some small recordings with local TV stations. Or some magazine interviews. We were nning to make our name known overseas. ¡°What¡¯s going on?¡± As soon as we arrived at Ku Lumpur International Airport, the airport staff guided us to the VIP passage. Seokhwan hyung said. ¡°They said there¡¯s a crowd outside.¡± ¡°Oh.¡± ¡°They said this is the first time they¡¯ve seen so many people here.¡± It was amazing to use the VIP facilities for the first time in my life. When we got out and got on the waiting car, the screams erupted as soon as we showed our faces behind the ss. ¡°Waaaaah!¡± The glittering cards shook like crazy. ¡°Why are there so many Bongdalis?¡± ¡°Snails. Snails.¡± There was a wave of Dalbongs waiting for us, enough to make us speechless. From afar, we saw Mysian fans greeting us with ¡®New ck!¡¯ while being guarded by security guards. They screamed louder when we smiled and waved our hands. It was as if there was a switch on our hands that turned up the volume. ¡°Wow, I got goosebumps.¡± ¡°Me too.¡± ¡°I was confused for a moment. It¡¯s our first time here.¡± We chatted with excited faces after getting on the car. Then we muttered as we watched the airport fade away. ¡°We came to make our name known, but they already know us¡­¡± ¡°How do they know us?¡± ¡°Yeah.¡± The Souffl¨¦s greeted us as if they had been waiting for us in a strange country we had never been to before. ¡°It¡¯s because the videos you made on MeeTube are quite famous in Mysia.¡± ¡°MeeTube videos?¡± ¡°You know. Those ones.¡± When we asked with disbelief, he nodded seriously. ¡°I see.¡± ¡°So that¡¯s what it was.¡± Seokhwan hyung tranted what the local agent said. ¡°Maybe because they¡¯re from a differentnguage country, they found it more funny to see us doing physicaledy than verbaledy. That was the important selling point, he said.¡± ¡°That makes sense. Honestly, if I saw a singer riding a unicycle on the thumbnail, I would click it too.¡± I smiled warmly and looked out the window. ¡°Can we wash our image?¡± ¡°Yeah¡­¡± ¡°Our image wasn¡¯t limited to our country¡­¡± We wondered how to change the image that was formed globally while the car was heading to the hotel. ¡°So what¡¯s the schedule between the rehearsals?¡± ¡°We¡¯re going to visit a dance team and teach them some moves.¡± ¡°Today?¡± The Mysian cover dance team that was participating in the ¡®K-pop Festival¡¯ finals in Changwon at the end of October. We were going to visit them and give them some tips on the choreography. Seokhwan hyung smiled after finishing the phone call with the local agent. ¡°They said the atmosphere there is no joke. They¡¯re thrilled to dance with New ck.¡± ¡°Really?¡± ¡°They¡¯re all your fans, so they must be excited. They¡¯re jumping around.¡± ¡°I see.¡± We looked at each other with smiles. Bijoo smiled happily. ¡°It sounds so fun. They¡¯ll love it if we practice with them, right?¡± ¡°Yeah. I¡¯m really looking forward to it.¡± We smiled happily as we thought of the Souffl¨¦s waiting for us. And there was someone who was staring at us. ¡°¡­¡± ¡°What¡¯s wrong, hyung?¡± ¡°Nothing. Nothing¡­¡± He looked away. I faintly heard him muttering, ¡®They might lose their fandom¡­¡¯ Chapter 316: Trantor: MarcTempest Editor: Rxel Episode 316 A small practice room. Members of the Mysian female cover dance team, ¡®one hit,'' were gathered around their leader. "They¡¯reing? Are they reallying?" "Yes." JJ, the leader, put down her phone and grinned. "New ck ising.""Waaah!" In an instant, the practice room heated up with a festive atmosphere. "New ck is reallying here!" Just the thought of it made their hearts race. The famous K-pop idols they had only ever seen in dance videos were actuallying here. "They¡¯re going to teach us the choreography too? Is that for real?" "Yes, they¡¯ll watch our choreography and even give us tips." "Oooooh!" For them, who were in the middle of intense practice for the K-pop Festival finals in October, it was a golden opportunity. Sandra, one of the members, spoke with an excited expression. "We can''t waste any time. Let¡¯s practice right now." "Right. We¡¯re not good enough yet." The dance team immediately threw themselves into practice. Their skills, which had seemed "pretty good" when they were just among themselves, suddenly felt woefully inadequate with the original artistsing. While they were practicing fervently as if cramming, New ck¡¯s local agent arrived with a small filming camera. "We¡¯d like to do a brief interview before New ck arrives." "Yes!" The dance team members sat in front of the camera, set up on a tripod, ready for the interview. "Do you know a lot about New ck?" "Of course! They¡¯re the original artists of ¡®Masquerade,¡¯ the song we¡¯re covering." They answered eagerly. "If you¡¯re into K-pop, you can''t not know them. They¡¯re on the charts these days, you know." "I even bought their album. I¡¯m going to get it signedter." "I¡¯m going to their concert tomorrow." Hearing someone mention they had seeded in getting concert tickets, the others looked at her enviously. JJ, the leader, spoke up. "I was so jealous when they went to Singaporest time. We¡¯ve been waiting for New ck toe to Mysia." "Exactly." "We kept writing in the livements, asking them toe here." "That was you?" Their answers continued, showing just how popr K-pop was among fans in Southeast Asia, and the interview progressed in a friendly atmosphere. Finally, thest question came. "Then, is there a member of New ck you like the most?" "Hmm." The dance team members looked at each other. After about three seconds, they answered in unison, as if on cue. "Bijoo!" The interviewer responded with an "Oh," and asked, "Is there a reason you like Bijoo?" Each of them gave a simr response. "I like him because he dances so well." "We chose ¡®Masquerade'' because we watched Bijoo''s fancam. At that time, it was just¡­ wow." "Yeah, we were really blown away." They recalled the shock they had felt then. The video titled ¡°2014 Mango Chart Awards ¨C New ck Bijoo fancam¡± uploaded on Meetube. The moment they saw someone moving fast and gracefully under the intense red lighting, they felt, "We have to do this." "So we looked up more videos, and those were amazing too. He seemed so fierce on stage." "But in reality, he has apletely different personality, and we love that." "Exactly. We like all the New ck members for that reason." Just looking at their stage performances, they seemed quite intense, edgy, and cool. But when they searched on Meetube, they found videos of someone getting lost in Taiwan, whining, "Waaaah." One of the members said, "Being dancers ourselves, Bijoo is definitely our favorite, but honestly, we¡¯d like to see all of them in person at least once." "We want to see them all. We¡¯re curious about everyone¡¯s face." "Oh no, I think I¡¯m going to cry already." After filming their message to New ck, the interview ended. And then, thirty minutester. "Have they arrived?" "Looks like they¡¯re here." As they quickly checked their outfits and waited, they began to hear footsteps descending the basement stairs. Soon, the door opened. "Apa khabar (Hello)?" For a moment, they were taken aback by the perfectly local-sounding greeting. "Heuhhh¡­!" At the sight of New ck''s leader entering with a gentle smile, everyone in the room froze stiff. His features were arranged so perfectly, clearer than the resolution of a disy TV in a shopping mall. The soft curve of his lips formed a gentle smile. ¡®What is this? What is this?'' As he gave a light wave, they felt something melting inside them. ¡®People in Korea get to live seeing something this good?'' ¡®So dazzling!'' ¡®What kind of halo¡­?'' As they marveled at the shimmering light, which felt almost like an optical illusion, Woojoo softly said something to the manager, who then dimmed the following lights. And as the halo faded away, "Wow¡­" the other members who had followed him into the room revealed themselves. From the main dancer, who smiled as he gently swept his hair back, to the youngest of New ck, who was grinning cheerfully. The members of ¡®one hit,'' admiring the beauty that brightened up the practice room, returned their gaze to Woojoo. "Wooo¡ª" All they could do was let out exmations. Even after seeing the stunning looks of the other members, they couldn¡¯t stop admiring Woojoo''s face. And then. Step. Step. The members, lined up behind their leader like toy soldiers, twitched their cheeks with pride. ¡®Hmm? What¡¯s going on?'' ¡®They look really proud.'' ¡®They''re showing off.'' New ck puffed out their chests confidently, like children showing off an older brother who goes to middle school. * * * "Two, three!" "Hello, we¡¯re New ck!" As they bowed and greeted, the others responded with enthusiastic apuse. They introduced themselves in Korean, but switched to English for the rest of the conversation. They¡¯d heard that most of the members were attending music schools and were familiar with English. "Ohhh!" Unfortunately, the conversation couldn¡¯t even begin. The team members, who had been staring intently at their faces, suddenly burst into tears. "Oh, please don''t cry." "Don''t cry. If you keep crying, we''ll start crying too." It was the kind of tears that came when emotions overflowed beyond their limit. They handed out tissues and tried to soothe them with gentle voices, which only made them cry harder. After about five minutes of crying, they finally calmed down, and New ck burst intoughter as they looked at the dance team, whose eyes were now red like rabbit eyes. "Feeling a bit better now?" "¡­Yes." Hoarse voices answered. As Rihyuk handed them more tissues, their trembling hands epted them, and they carefully folded the tissues to ce them on their chairs. "Why keep the tissues¡­?" "To keep them. Sniff!" Watching the dance team carefully save the tissues they received and wipe away tears with their sleeves brought smiles to their faces. It was both touching and heartwarming. It was New ck¡¯s first visit to Mysia, and they felt thating here was truly worth it. "I heard you qualified for the K-pop Festival finals in Changwon." "Yes." "First of all, congrattions!" They sang the English version of a popr song in Mysia, adding congrattory lyrics. As they danced like celebratory dolls, the members who had just been sobbing burst intoughter. Theyughed and praised them. "Didn¡¯t you say your choreography is for ¡®Masquerade¡¯? That¡¯s such a difficult routine. Making it to the finals with that is really impressive." "Ohhh¡­" "You all must have jobs, but you¡¯ve been practicing so hard¡­ oh, oh no, please don¡¯t start crying again!" "Oooooh¡­" As they hastily tried to stop them from crying again after praising their hard work, Bijoo quickly changed the subject. "Could we see your choreography first?" "Yes!" "Just dancefortably. We didn¡¯te here to judge you; we¡¯re just here to share a few tips." Bijoo smiled kindly as he spoke. "Rx. You can do it, right?" "Yes!" As New ck stepped aside to the other end of the practice room, the five members stood in front of the mirror with determined expressions and nodded. ?? Then they began performing the choreography for "Masquerade." * * * When they finished thest move, the hearts of ¡®one hit'' members began to pound. ¡®So this is what it feels like to have your nerves on edge.'' ¡®This is even more nerve-wracking than the finals.'' New ck had been watching them dance while pressed up against the wall like cicadas. Their lips were smiling brightly, but their eyes were carefully observing the choreography. As they finished, New ck pped and cheered. "Wo!" "You did so well. Really." "You must be tired from dancing, right? Great job." New ck handed them tissues to wipe their sweat and praised them warmly. As they anxiously waited for feedback, "You did an amazing job." Bijoo pped his hands enthusiastically, looking genuinely impressed. "The choreography for ¡®Masquerade'' is extremely challenging. You have to keep moving and stopping, which is exhausting physically." "Yes, that¡¯s right." "It also requires a lot of muscle strength, so it was a tough song for us too. But you all captured the power beautifully at key moments, especially during the part where you spin and enter from the air." Hearing the main dancerpliment specific parts of their performance filled them with a deep sense of pride. ¡®This feels amazing.¡¯ ¡®The original artists said we did well¡­¡¯ ¡®All the practice was worth it.¡¯ The other members of New ck agreed with Bijoo. Judging by the atmosphere, it seemed they had entrusted him with today¡¯s brief choreography coaching session. ¡°Then, before I share a few tips with you.¡± The main dancer approached gracefully and began stretching. As they marveled at his flexibility, extending his legs to a full 180 degrees, a question came their way. ¡°What kind of song do you think ¡®Masquerade¡¯ is?¡± ¡°Hmm.¡± ¡°Understanding that makes it easier to convey.¡± After a moment of thought, they answered. ¡°Seduction? Temptation?¡± ¡°Like something from a masquerade ball¡­?¡± ¡°It felt a bit unsettling.¡± At those words, Bijoo smiled. ¡°That¡¯s all correct. But there¡¯s an even more important point.¡± ¡°A key point?¡± ¡°Yes. A brilliantposer I know once said, ¡®Whatever the listener feels is the right answer.¡¯¡± At that, Woojoo, who was drinking water, coughed, and the other members chuckled. Unfazed, Bijoo continued with sparkling eyes. ¡°Still, in terms of choreography, it¡¯s essential to grasp the song¡¯s intended meaning.¡± ¡°Oooh¡­¡± ¡°In ¡®Masquerade,¡¯ it¡¯s all about ¡®attraction.¡¯¡± ¡°Attraction?¡± ¡°Let¡¯s say it¡¯s the pull between two people. Like, in a world where everyone wears masks, two people without masks lock eyes¡­ that kind of pull?¡± Just as they were beginning to understand his meaning, Bijoo said he¡¯d demonstrate and called Woojoo, the lead dancer, over to join hands with him. ¡°It feels something like this.¡± Bijoo spun lightly to one side, and Woojoo, who had been close, took a slight step back. They watched with their mouths slightly open. ¡°Wow¡­¡± Their bodies moved as if connected by a single thread. The other members joined in with amused expressions, replicating the choreography of ¡®Masquerade.¡¯ They moved as if invisibly bound to one another. In that moment, they understood exactly what Bijoo meant by ¡®attraction.¡¯ ¡°Now, I¡¯ll share a few tips with you.¡± Bijoo offered advice, pointing out specific moves from each member¡¯s part, suggesting adjustments. Even though he had only seen it once, he seemed to recall every move as if watching a recorded video in his mind. He even replicated the dance team members¡¯ movements precisely as he demonstrated. ¡°Alright, how about we go over each part together?¡± The lesson proceeded in a cheerful atmosphere. Even in parts they often messed up, New ck taught them with empathy, saying things like, ¡°That part¡¯s tricky, right?¡± ¡°Don¡¯t worry too much. I mess up that part sometimes too.¡± ¡°No, he messes it up a lot~!¡± There was yful bickering from the younger members. Junghyun stood nearby, demonstrating with a serious look like a statue, then gave a thumbs-up with a grin. And Woojoo, who pinpointed technically challenging parts. ¡®It¡¯s amazing.¡¯ ¡®Most people who dance well don¡¯t understand these things.¡¯ ¡®He points it out exactly.¡¯ Usually, talented dancers say, ¡°Why can¡¯t you get this?¡± But here was the lead dancer of New ck, with his overflowing talent, still mindful of the struggles of non-professionals. They felt grateful to the New ck members who encouraged them, saying, ¡°You¡¯ll be even more perfect if you do it this way.¡± ¡°Hmm.¡± At some point, they began to feel something strange. After they finished each corrected part, Bijoo asked with a friendly smile, ¡°Did you have a reason for doing it like this?¡± ¡°Uh¡­¡± ¡°Oh, I¡¯m not criticizing!¡± Heughed brightly and waved his hands. ¡°I¡¯m just curious, wondering if there was a reason for it.¡± ¡°Well, um¡­¡± Though his voice was gentle, there was something intimidating about him. His eyes had a fierce intensity when it came to dance. ¡®Did we do something wrong?¡¯ ¡®Why does this feel so familiar?¡¯ It was an oddly familiar sensation. Though his face was the same as the Bijoo they had seen in dance videos, he was giving off an unexpectedly familiar vibe. He spoke calmly, but there was something terrifying about it. As they pondered, they simultaneously widened their eyes. ¡°¡­!¡± A tingling sensation shot through their minds as other faces ovepped with Bijoo¡¯s. ¡®Pro¡­ Professor?¡¯ ¡®Why am I seeing our lesson teacher¡¯s face here?¡¯ To students attending music colleges, it was an extremely familiar feeling. The way he asked, ¡°Why did you do it like that?¡± was just like the professors they were used to, and they gulped. They almost answered reflexively, ¡°Yes, teacher.¡± ¡°Alright, let¡¯s all have fun together~!¡± That was when it truly began to feel scary. ¡°Let¡¯s practice the parts together! Hahaha!¡± ¡°This is going to be so fun!¡± Like professors and their devoted grad students, New ckughed gleefully, thoroughly confusing them. And then. ¡°Ah, hahh¡­¡± ¡°Isn¡¯t this fun? Now, let¡¯s try connecting all of that together.¡± ¡°Connect all of it?¡± ¡°Yes!¡± New ck smiled happily. ¡°It¡¯s not difficult at all. You¡¯ll find it much easier doing it with us.¡± ¡°¡­¡± Seeing how energized they looked, the dance team began to feel a growing sense of dread. It was like they were having fun as a herd of zebras while a herd of giant elephants stomped over, saying, ¡°Come yyyy!¡± Danny, one of the members, swallowed hard. ¡°Uh, aren¡¯t you busy?¡± ¡°Hm?¡± ¡°You must have a packed schedule in Mysia¡­¡± ¡°Oh, we do have other schedules¡­¡± Jiho, the youngest, shed a bright smile. ¡°But we made extra time so we could spend it with all of you!¡± Their pupils shook. ¡°Um, how long?¡± ¡°About two hours?¡± ¡°¡­¡± Normally, they would have been moved to tears, thinking, ¡®They¡¯re giving us two whole hours!¡¯ but now it was only filling them with dread. Of course, they weren¡¯t unhappy about it. It was a dreame true to breathe the same air as their idols in the same space. And every time they received coaching, the moves became noticeably easier. But¡­ ¡®They¡¯re not leaving¡­¡¯ They were thrilled to meet their idols, but their idols showed no signs of leaving anytime soon. All to continue practicing with them. ¡°Oh no!¡± ¡°You can do it! Haha!¡± ¡°Aagh!¡± ¡°This is fun! Fighting!¡± Their gratitude for New ck¡¯s sincere effort to teach them better choreography. Their mixed feelings as their skills noticeably improved. And somewhere in between, a vague sense of fear left the five-member team wobbling like sad reeds. ¡°Hahaha!¡± As the choreography practice continued, a determined glint appeared in the ¡®one hit¡¯ members¡¯ eyes. ¡®If finishing this will get us out of this, then we¡¯re going to make it happen.¡¯ ¡®I¡¯m doing this out of sheer spite now.¡¯ ¡®I won¡¯t mess up a single hand movement.¡¯ Once deemed the weakest contender in the finals due to their casual preparation, ¡®one hit¡¯ was now evolving into a dark horse in thepetition. * * * @thenewck.official (A photo showing the ¡®one hit¡¯ members standing with intense, determined eyes like special forces, with New ckughing heartily in the background like drill instructors.) Had a wonderful time in Mysia! It was so much fun. * * * On the best board of the country¡¯srgest idolmunity. [The idol that¡¯s now touching the hearts of art school enthusiasts (feat. New ck)] (Meetube video link.) Start watching from 3:46. Subtitles are avable. This is New ck teaching choreography tips to a cover dance team during their recent visit to Mysia for an overseas tour lol But Bijoo¡¯s lines in the video are triggering the trauma of all the arts students. ¨C Haha, I feel exhausted just hearing it. ¨C ¡°Is there a reason you did it like this?¡± LOL it¡¯s real. -¡°Did you have a reason for adding that move there?¡± ¨C Hearing it is bringing up my trauma. ¨C A familiar vibe from an unfamiliar idol¡­ ¨C And he¡¯s even being kind. ¨C That ¡°let¡¯s connect it together¡± line is the pinnacle lol ¨C He¡¯s cute, though. ¨C It¡¯s funny because they¡¯re genuinely trying to be considerate. ¨C The video is hrious; just look at the expressions on the dancers¡¯ faces. ¨C They start out all cheerful, then get dazed, and by the end, they look fierce. ¨C Even foreign fans in the Meetubements are in distress in English, seems like people are the same everywhere lol ¨C I¡¯m amazed seeing their improvement, though. ¨C Yes, seriously, you can see the difference between the early andter parts of the choreography. ¨C If they win thepetition, wouldn¡¯t that be epic? lol ¨C No way lol * * * The first week of the overseas tour wrapped up smoothly. After a fan signing event at a shopping mall in Mysia and a radio appearance, they held a concert the next day. It was heartwarming to see the crowd of ¡®Dalbongs¡¯ waving in the darkness. ¡°Thank you!¡± They bowed in gratitude to the fans who sang along to the final song, ¡®Fireworks.¡¯ They took amemorative photo with the national g in the background. The next day, they headed to Singapore for their concert. After a busy schedule, they returned to Korea. They were back to film ¡®Ha Seungjoo¡¯s Music Caf¨¦.¡¯ ¡°We absolutely will.¡± During the drive to the PBS broadcasting station, they ced their hands together and firmly resolved. ¡°We will return with a fresh image.¡± They exchanged determined looks, and the managers encouraged them with fist pumps, saying, ¡°Yes, good luck.¡± ¡°Huh.¡± Suddenly, the hour and minute hands on a wristwatch caught their eyes. 5:25. They exchanged nces and smiled gently. ¡°Bijoo-si~¡± ¡°Bijoo-si~¡± As Bijoo ced his hands on his cheeks in delight, the managers began to look worried. Chapter 317: The music director, who was flipping through the cue sheet, picked up the microphone. -New ck. Let¡¯s do onest rehearsal. ¡°Yes!¡± With an enthusiastic answer, the members of New ck took the stage. The rehearsal began shortly after. While they were singing, the writers were holding notebooks under the stage. They were writing down things to improve before recording the broadcast, such as eye contact with the camera. But. ¡°¡­¡±No one was moving their pen at this moment. The writers looked at each other nkly. ¡°What did you write?¡± ¡°No, I don¡¯t think there¡¯s anything to give feedback on¡­¡± ¡°Me too. There¡¯s nothing to pick on.¡± Someone said, looking at the wless stage. ¡°When they first came out, I remember we had a lot of things to point out. Was thatst spring?¡± ¡°They¡¯ve grown so much.¡± ¡°Don¡¯t they look like country puppies? They were baby white dogs at New Year¡¯s, but when we went back at Chuseok, they were adults.¡± The writersughed at the joke. Thanks to the boy group that was perfect in everything from eye contact to stage manners, their work was much easier. ¡°They¡¯re really good. But.¡± They saw Rihyuk, who was smiling softly and making eye contact with the audience and the camera. The main writer said. ¡°Maybe it¡¯s because they had a concert? When idol groups have a solo concert, their stage skills improve a lot.¡± ¡°They were famous for being good since the Legendary Songs era.¡± ¡°Actually, they were good from the first time they came out. I¡¯m not saying this now.¡± They saw the youngest member, who was making a yful gesture with his index finger at the camera, and rememberedst year. It wasn¡¯t that they expected it after they did well, but they really had that thought back then. ¡®They¡¯re going to make it.¡¯ When they saw the singers who werepeting every week, they developed an eye for performance. That¡¯s why they always thought, ¡®That team is something else¡¯, and they always came back and made it. New ck was one of them. ¡°But I didn¡¯t expect them to rise so fast. Did you see it when you came in? Their fans were waiting outside in huge numbers.¡± ¡°I thought it was another show that was recording TNT or something. That was their fans?¡± ¡°Yes.¡± ¡°Amazing¡­¡± They clicked their tongues. They were looking at the chicks and thinking, ¡®Next time, they¡¯ll be chickens, right?¡¯ But they felt like a huge ostrich came back and said ¡®Hi¡¯. It was an incredible growth. And recently, they caused a big buzz with the musical movie OST ¡®Thousand Dreams¡¯. -Let¡¯s try the next song one more time. A Thousand Dreams. ¡°Yes!¡± As New ck rehearsed the OST of Nostalgia, the writers melted with a look on their faces. ¡°It¡¯s so good.¡± Their ears were healed by the faint voice of Woo Joo that filled the public hall. ¡°Look at the MC. He¡¯s closing his eyes.¡± They saw a man with horn-rimmed sses sitting in the audience, closing his eyes. The pianist andposer who was famous for being picky on stage, Ha Seung Joo, closed his eyes and nodded his head. There was a smile of satisfaction on his lips that anyone could see. ¡°This song is amazing. I wonder if the movie is good too.¡± ¡°My friend saw it and said it was awesome. He told me to watch it. I¡¯m going to see it on the weekend if I have time.¡± ¡°There weren¡¯t many tickets left. It¡¯s word of mouth.¡± After talking about the musical movie that was about to hit 3 million viewers. Their eyes changed as they looked at Bi Joo and Junghyun, who were singing to each other, and the members of New ck. ¡®There¡¯s a distance now.¡¯ Was it because of their external growth and their improved skills? When they felt a strange distance from the New ck members who looked cute in the pre-interview. ¡°Good job!¡± The five who came down from the stage calmly looked at each other with serious expressions. There was a tense atmosphere. The members stared at the leader¡¯s face. They wondered if there was something that bothered them on stage, when Woo Joo took a deep breath. Then he quickly took his hand out of his pocket. ¡°Chocte ding!¡± ¡°Ding!¡± ¡°Ding!¡± The writers blinked their eyes. Woo Joo, who broke off pieces of chocte and handed them out, said in a logical tone. ¡°I¡¯ll tell you the origin of ding, so give me some too.¡± ¡°I already know~¡± ¡°Rihyuk gets itst.¡± ¡°Hehehe!¡± Then they said, ¡®Let¡¯s go get feedback from the writers~¡¯ and walked over cheerfully. Woo Joo, who received a box from the manager, whispered to the writers like a smuggler. ¡°Is there anyone who wants a sugar boost?¡± The writers burst outughing and raised their hands. ¡°Try this. I bought it from Mysia.¡± ¡°Oh, thank you.¡± ¡°You¡¯ll see, but there are twin towers engraved on the surface. Isn¡¯t it amazing?¡± They soon chatted with each other and looked excited. The writers smiled warmly. They were still the same New ck. I felt good to be on a music program after a long time. ¡°Wow! New ck is hot~ Hot!¡± ¡°Hot! Hot!¡± I had fun dancing and ying with Kim Chul, aedian who came to visit our waiting room. He was a pre-show MC for PBS¡¯s ssic Songs, and we became quite close when we recorded together back then. He made usugh with his colorful jokes and handed us a sheet of paper. ¡°Please sign this for me, our popr idols.¡± ¡°Sure!¡± We gathered around the paper and picked up the markers. ¡°Uju, your spaceship signature is getting better every day. By next year, you¡¯ll have a rocketunch base, huh?¡± ¡°Right? I can draw a spaceship in three seconds now.¡± ¡°Three seconds?¡± ¡°Want to see?¡± He gave me a thumbs up with a respectful expression as I finished drawing a spaceship in three seconds. Kim Chul took the paper with a fist and smiled cheerfully. ¡°Well, then, have a great show today! Fighting!¡± ¡°Thank you!¡± ¡°See youter~¡± He left with the paper. As a pre-show MC, he had to stir up the audience¡¯s excitement before the recording, and he seemed to use our signatures as quiz prizes. The youngest looked at the clock, which said 6:40. ¡°The audience must have finished entering by now.¡± ¡°Yeah.¡± I nodded and turned my eyes to the TV. I didn¡¯t know how things worked before, but after appearing on apetition show with a simr recording time for almost a month, I got a rough idea of the timeline. At this time, I could guess what the production team was doing and what the scene was like. -Well, this is a very rare item. A rare item. The pre-show MC, who sounded like a quack selling snake oil, said, ¡°This doesn¡¯te every day,¡± and stirred up the excitement. His face appeared on the TV in the broadcasting station. It was a live feed from the camera capturing the scene. -A super-limited edition, New ck signature! Why is this a limited edition? There¡¯s a story behind this. Bijoo eximed. ¡°Hyung, I really want to buy our signature.¡± ¡°Me too.¡± ¡°Why do I want to buy what I wrote?¡± I was so captivated by his words that I almost called him like a home shopping customer and asked, ¡°Do you have any stock?¡± Meanwhile, there was a ttering noise from the next room. From the sound of the footsteps, it seemed like Yuri Jo Band was moving to the public hall for the recording. Soon, the main recording began. -Today, we have guests who are perfect for the music special. The MC, Ha Seung-ju, introduced them. -They are a band that has recently risen to the top of the music charts. I heard that if you didn¡¯t know them in Hongdae before, you were a spy. This is their second visit to Music Cafe. He said, ¡°Let me introduce you! Yuri Jo Band!¡± and the audience apuded. Yuri Jo Band¡¯s performance continued on the TV. ¡°Wow, the bass sound¡­ the song is good.¡± ¡°They were good when we were on ssic Songs, too. They¡¯re still amazing.¡± ¡°It feels like it¡¯s been a long time since I saw them.¡± They were still impressive as a famous indie band. When we were on ssic Songs, we had a bad first impression and an awkward rtionship, but I didn¡¯t care much about it anymore. Rather, they were more ufortable there. I went to greet the guests earlier, and they greeted us with a very awkward smile. -Wow! The audience response was good, too. They said we became more popr after various activities on ssic Songs Season 2, and it seemed true. I hummed along to the song on the TV and smiled. ¡°Five hundred won~ Five hundred won~¡± I cleared my throat from time to time and moistened it with water. The recording time was about three hours. And today¡¯s guests were us, Yuri Jo Band, and a bad singer, The Moon. If I calcted it mechanically, it would be about an hour each. That¡¯s why I had to wait for at least two hours until 9 o¡¯clock. I watched the TV with my eyes and thought about what I should say and what would be good to say on the music show. ¡°Let¡¯s harmonize well. I¡¯ll give you a signal.¡± ¡°Got it.¡± ¡°And, in this part, you guys sing a little bit faster. Don¡¯t speed up the song just because you move your body faster.¡± I also listened to the main vocal¡¯s earnest advice on sound processing. While I was killing time like that. ¡°New ck!¡± The FD came to find us when The Moon¡¯s talk was almost over. ¡°We¡¯ll get ready!¡± ¡°Yes!¡± I got up from my seat with a full of excitement. We moved to the back stage with the manager hyungs and held hands with each other. ¡°No more ck history.¡± ¡°Today, no funny stuff. Forbidden.¡± ¡°Coolness spewing.¡± We made a firm resolution again, but this time the manager hyungsughed and stopped us. ¡°Just go and do it.¡± ¡°¡­¡± ¡°You guys are already done.¡± ¡°Don¡¯t say that. Hyung.¡± I shook my head and dered. ¡°Today, I¡¯ll do it without anyughter.¡± ¡°Ha Seung-ju¡¯s Music Cafe ¨C Episode 335¡± After the bad singer The Moon¡¯s stage. The middle-aged MC, Ha Seung-ju, who was dressed in a gentlemanly suit, grabbed the microphone. [The next person we¡¯re going to introduce is someone we had a really hard time booking. They¡¯re famous for being busy these days.] The camera turns to the audience. Some people are tilting their heads, wondering who it is, and some couples are whispering to each other. [If I were to talk about this group, they¡¯re a team with really distinct personalities for each member. They¡¯re famous for their visuals, but they have more than that. They¡¯re a ¡®boy group¡¯ who sweeps the music charts whenever theye out.] After the young audience members cheered and pped their hands to their mouths, knowing who it was. The middle-aged audience members nodded their heads at their children¡¯s whispers, saying ¡®Who? Oh¡¯. Ha Seung-ju, who was looking at his wristwatch, asked with a smile. [What time is it now, everyone?] [9 o¡¯clock!] [It¡¯s a perfect song to listen to at 9 o¡¯clock, right? Let¡¯s enjoy the stage of New ck¡¯s ¡®Nine¡¯!] Amidst the cheers and apuse, the focus shifted to the stage. The darkened stage lit up. The audience pped and cheered. ¡°Woah-!¡± Wine-colored lights poured onto the stage. New ck, dressed in casual suits, sat near the piano. The main vocalist, wearing a vest like a bartender, was in the middle, and the members sat next to him. And the leader, sitting in front of the piano. The audience¡¯s eyes were drawn to his long, slender, and white hands that stretched out. ¡®What?¡¯ The young audience members tilted their heads. They had heard that the first stage was ¡®Nine¡¯, but it was a different atmosphere from what they had imagined. Soon, a slow and calm piano performance began. ¡®Hmm?¡¯ It was like a performance that woulde out of a jazz cafe on a rainy day. As his fingers moved on the keyboard, the melody of ¡®Nine¡¯ changed into a sentimental jazz. At that moment. The main vocalist, who had swept his hair back behind his ears, closed his eyes and started humming ¡®Woah¡¯. A smile spread across the audience¡¯s lips. ¡®Nice.¡¯ A melody that was perfect for this time. As the piano performance intensified, the members added harmonies one by one. As the audience pped along to the beat, the main vocalist¡¯s voice deepened. And then. ¡°Oh¡­¡± One of the audience members made an ¡®O¡¯ shape with his mouth at the ad-lib that went up to a high note with a loud volume. Click. Woojoo took his hands off the grand piano. And at the same time, the stage atmosphere changed 180 degrees. Tsk tsk tsk tsk- The drum sound followed by a cheerful jazz melody. The tension that had filled the hall until then disappeared, and a lively apuse sound filled the ce. Woojoo, who took the microphone out of the standing microphone, got up from his seat, and the other members also got up with bright smiles. -Hello, everyone! -We are New ck! As the live band yed the jazz version of ¡®Nine¡¯, the members pped their hands above their heads and raised their spirits. -Come on! Let¡¯s all! New ck¡¯s sub-vocalist squinted his eyes. The middle-aged audience members smiled like mothers and pped their hands, and their faces were captured by the camera. Meanwhile, the young audience members felt a strange feeling. ¡®It¡¯s weird. It feels different¡­¡¯ The song that had a strong hip-hop color changedpletely into a different atmosphere. But it still felt like Nine. They listened with curiosity as the faces of the audience members who tilted their ears were caught by the camera. A person who had moved to the side to watch New ck¡¯s stage smiled. ¡®They did a good job with the arrangement.¡¯ Ha Seung-ju, the MC, looked at Woojoo, who was waving his hand to the audience with a microphone in the middle, and said. ¡®They arranged it cleverly.¡¯ Most of the audience members were young, but there were quite a few middle-aged people mixed in. They would have a hard time getting a big response if they sang a song like Nine, which had a strong electronic sound. They would p their hands, but with a feeling of ¡®What is this¡¯. And the young audience members would not prefer idol songs because of the nature of the program. Usually, they would bring a calm song or a cover song for that reason. He smiled at the sincerity of the idol group who had arranged their title song into a different version for a one-time appearance. ¡®But I wonder if they¡¯re okay.¡¯ As he listened to the song, he felt worried about the unexpected people. They hadid out the framework of the arrangement very well, but they couldn¡¯t have done it all by themselves. They must have asked for help from the people around them for the practical part. Ha Seung-ju muttered. ¡°They must have worked really hard¡­¡± He took a moment of mourning for the producing team of Lemon Entertainment, who would be copsed by now. ¡°Wee to Music Cafe. We are New ck.¡± ¡°Thank you.¡± As they greeted the audience with ¡®two, three¡¯, the apuse that shook the hall came back. The MC, wearing horn-rimmed sses, looked at the audience and said. ¡°You¡¯re really popr. That was a really amazing stage just now.¡± ¡°Oh, no, it wasn¡¯t.¡± ¡°I was expecting an electro style when I heard ¡®Nine¡¯. I was surprised when jazz came out.¡± I grabbed the microphone and said to the MC, who pretended to be surprised. ¡°This is a special stage we prepared for Music Cafe today.¡± ¡°I heard you did the arrangement yourself.¡± ¡°Yes, that¡¯s right.¡± I smiled awkwardly at the sound of the audience¡¯s admiration. Ha Seung-ju smiled and said. ¡°You may see us as a group of handsome young men, but in fact, New ck has a lot of stories to tell musically.¡± ¡°That¡¯s right!¡± ¡°We have so much to say with our music!¡± The younger members spread their hands wide and said ¡®very big¡¯, making the peopleugh. The MC asked us. ¡°Before that, I should ask you how you feel. How is it toe out second?¡± ¡°Uh, I¡¯m very nervous.¡± I grabbed the microphone and looked at the audience. ¡°We debuted before we first came out.¡± ¡°Right.¡± ¡°Maybe because I remember that time, today my head feels like a nk sheet. I can¡¯t think of what to say.¡± ¡°So is that why your hair is ash-colored now?¡± ¡°Yes. It got whiter, right?¡± I tapped my gray hair and the audienceughed loudly. Seeing that I took his joke well, the MC¡¯s eyes showed kindness and satisfaction. I continued. ¡°Yes, anyway, we really wanted toe back to this show, so we¡¯ll do our best.¡± ¡°Yes. It looks like it. You even brought a guitar.¡± ¡°That¡¯s right.¡± I nced at the guitar case behind the chair and said. ¡°We¡¯ve been hearing things like ¡®too friendly¡¯, ¡®funny when singing¡¯ for a while, but today we¡¯ll change our image for good.¡± ¡°Look forward to it~¡± ¡°Please!¡± The audienceughed along with Ha Seung-ju, who smiled softly and pped. ¡°Where in the world is there a group that announces they¡¯re going to change their image?¡± ¡°So we¡¯re going to be the first to try¡­¡± The manager hyungs showed their thumbs up from below the stage, while the younger members nodded. The audienceughed for a moment because of Jung-hyun, who nodded his head like a warm rock next to me. We finished the small talk and moved on to the first stage. ¡°The first stage was really intense. It was jazz style, right?¡± ¡°Yes. That¡¯s right.¡± ¡°The arrangement was great, but the vocal skills of the members were amazing. Especially when Rihyuk started with an ad-lib and his high note went ¡®ah-ah-ah~¡¯. You all felt that, right?¡± The audience said ¡®yes¡¯. He spoke as if he was very happy as a musician. ¡°It was so powerful and cool. That voice.¡± ¡°Oh¡­¡± ¡°You¡¯re still shy when you¡¯re praised.¡± We agreed. ¡°He¡¯s very sensitive topliments.¡± ¡°He¡¯s like a crayfish that lives in first-ss water. He can¡¯t stand it when a drop of praise falls¡­¡± ¡°No, no. That¡¯s not it.¡± His face turned red and he answered. ¡°It¡¯s because the lights are hot. I¡¯m not the kind of person who gets red ears and face from onepliment.¡± ¡°You look like a ripe persimmon.¡± ¡°¡­¡± Rihyuk covered his face like a bean worm and the people burst intoughter. Ha Seung-ju stopped teasing him and asked. ¡°Since we¡¯re on the topic, can we hear that part again?¡± ¡°Which part?¡± ¡°The part where you go ¡®hoo-ah-ah-ah¡¯ and Nine¡¯s chorus.¡± ¡°Yes.¡± ¡°Everyone, please cheer with apuse!¡± Rihyuk got up with a slightly embarrassed face and shook his head slightly. Then he immediatelyposed himself and started singing without apaniment. His hair sparkled on the vest under the lights, and when Rihyuk took a deep breath. ¡°Hmm?¡± Jung-hyun made a sound of ¡®oh¡¯ next to me and looked at Rihyuk. And. When Rihyuk sang the chorus of ¡®Nine¡¯ that he did before. Bang- bang- The vest buttons that were locked by our main vocal¡¯s powerful diaphragm popped out with a ping! ping! It exploded. It was like a scene where the screws of a submarine door that couldn¡¯t withstand the water pressure exploded. ¡°¡­¡± Rihyuk looked at the buttons that fell to the floor with a stunned expression. The public hall exploded with the buttons. The MC and the audience fell to the floor with a bang, making a huge fuss. We looked nkly in the midst of that. We came to blow up the ratings, but what actually blew up was the buttons. Chapter 318: ¡°Haha, hahaha!¡± Ha Seung-ju, the MC, fanned himself with a cue card. He was supposed to say his lines, but he couldn¡¯t stopughing. Everyone around him wasughing too. The audience members who were wiping their tears fromughing so hard. The managers and the music cafe staff who were covering their mouths from below. ¡°¡­¡± Rihyuk¡¯s face turned red as a beet. His face was so flushed that it looked like steam woulde out of his ears. We fanned him vigorously with our hands. ¡°Ouch, my stomach.¡±Just when Ha Seung-ju¡¯sughter subsided and he was about to say his lines, Bijoo crouched down and picked up the buttons that had fallen off. ¡°Huh? Bijoo, why are you picking up the buttons?¡± ¡°They¡¯re sponsored.¡± He said with a shy smile, ¡®Not ours¡­¡¯ and the audienceughed again. The MC said with a voice full ofughter. ¡°It¡¯s amazing. I thought you were really cool just a moment ago, but now you seem so friendly.¡± ¡°Oh, that¡¯s not good.¡± I grabbed the microphone. ¡°We came out today to look cool¡­¡± ¡°It looks like you¡¯re having a hard time¡­¡± ¡°No, it¡¯s not over yet. Everyone.¡± ¡°Yeah! We¡¯re cool!¡± The youngest, who had no sense of coolness, made everyoneugh louder. All eyes were on Rihyuk, who had taken off his vest that had lost its buttons. The MC asked. ¡°Are you okay inside? Did it not burst?¡± ¡°Yes.¡± Rihyuk brushed his hair back and answered. ¡°It only burst on the outside. The inside is fine.¡± ¡°That¡¯s good. If your shirt had burst too, the broadcast rating would have changed today.¡± After the FD came up and took the vest, Rihyuk, who was now in a shirt, pped his clothes and said. ¡°I guess it¡¯s because I wore the vest too tight.¡± ¡°It looked like it.¡± The MC asked. ¡°But how strong is your diaphragmatic breathing that you can do that? I¡¯ve seen people who burst their stage costume belts, but¡­¡± I answered instead. ¡°He has a great lung capacity.¡± ¡°Yeah. Rihyuk hyung, he¡¯s really good at that too. He can make his stomach bulge like a basin by filling it with air.¡± ¡°Please edit that part out.¡± I smiled as if to say ¡®please¡¯ to the PD who was in the control room. Ha Seung-ju asked. ¡°Why? It¡¯s funny.¡± ¡°If we go that far, we won¡¯t be able to fix our image¡­¡± ¡°Well, if we go a little further, we¡¯ll have to pay the membership fee to theedy club.¡± ¡°That¡¯s right. We are-¡± We all held out our palms and shouted. ¡°Singers!¡± ¡°Hahaha!¡± As the audience burst intoughter, Ha Seung-ju scolded us in a realistic tone. ¡°Hey, don¡¯t do that. Every time youe out and say ¡®We are~ singers!¡¯ peopleugh at you.¡± ¡°I¡¯m sorry. It¡¯s a habit.¡± ¡°You¡¯re really unstoppable. I¡¯ve heard the words ¡®entertainment idol, entertainment idol¡¯ a lot. But now I can see what it feels like.¡± The audience made noises as if they agreed. The MC looked at the cue card andughed. ¡°I almost forgot what to say because Iughed so much. Shall we get back to the main point?¡± He moved on from the button explosion incident to the main topic. Ha Seung-ju looked at the audience and said. ¡°Every time a guestes out, our writers do research. They research what people are curious about the music of this singer¡­¡± This time, he turned his gaze to us. ¡°For New ck, there are overwhelmingly many questions like this. ¡®Do they really produce their own music?¡¯¡± ¡°Yes, a lot of people are curious about that.¡± ¡°They¡¯re very curious, right? Whether Woojoo reallyposes, and whether the other members participate in the song work.¡± Ha Seung-ju asked me. ¡°How do you feel when you hear that?¡± ¡°Hmm.¡± I didn¡¯t think for long. ¡°I think, ¡®They might think that way?¡¯ I think. It¡¯s hard for people outside to know about the song work. And nowadays,posing is like a coboration.¡± ? ¡°That¡¯s right.¡± ¡°And I think we didn¡¯t have many opportunities to introduce our music.¡± The younger ones nodded their heads seriously, and Ha Seung-ju smiled as if he agreed. Then he joked. ¡°So you came out on the music cafe? To show that we are the musicians of this area.¡± ¡°Yes. We came out to show off our musicality.¡± The slightly serious atmosphere was loosened by the joke. Ha Seung-ju skillfully led the corner that was already written in the script. ¡°Then, shall we introduce the songs of New ck here?¡± ¡°Yes!¡± ¡°Not you, but the audience.¡± The audience said ¡®Yes!¡¯ with augh. I said with a smile. ¡°We prepared a medley of our title songs. If we just do it-¡± ¡°Because I was bored!¡± ¡°I also prepared some lyrics.¡± It was a song that I made by cutting out some parts of each song to make them flow smoothly as a medley. As I put my hands on the keyboard, my siblings behind me picked up the microphones. ¡°Ah, ah, ah-¡± They were just testing the volume, but peopleughed. ¡®Should we start?¡¯ I turned around and saw my siblings wink at me. I immediately started ying and began to sing the title song medley softly. Fireworks- Fire- works- As I yed, I repeated ¡®fireworks¡¯ as if to brainwash them, and then moved on to Masquerade. The people sitting in the audience closed their mouths and squirmed. Masque- rade- Mas- querade- As we sang in harmony with our eyes closed, Ha Seung-ju burst intoughter. Theughter spread like paint in the auditorium. ¡°Hey! You said you came out to change your image!¡± We nodded and brought our mouths close to the microphone as we moved on to Wind Flower. Image change- We¡¯ll change and show you- The hall erupted inughter again. The audience sitting in the seatsughed like crazy. ¡°Cough! Cough!¡± Some of them choked on theirughter. As peopleughed and whispered ¡®this is crazy¡¯, Ha Seung-ju under the spotlight gave a wry smile. ¡°Come on, you said you came out to manage your image, but you sing like this.¡± ¡°We wanted to inject some of our songs into you.¡± As Woojoo yed the piano with a bang, the four of us answered in a fantastic harmony, ¡®Fireworks-¡¯ Ha Seung-ju gave a snort. ¡°This perfect harmony¡­ I¡¯ve never seen an idol use it like this.¡± ¡°But you remember, right?¡± ¡°It definitely leaves an impression. At first I was like ¡®what is this?¡¯ but I don¡¯t think I¡¯ll forget the fireworks I heard just now.¡± The audience agreed. ¡®I think I¡¯ll remember itter.¡¯ ¡®Fireworks-¡¯ ¡®I have to cut and save this part when it airs. I¡¯ll watch it when I¡¯m depressed.¡¯ It was funny, but it definitely stuck in my memory. Whenever I heard the melody, I remembered the sweet harmony of ¡®Masquerade-¡¯ ¡°Can we do it again?¡± Woojoo smiled and yed the keyboard. Including the follow-up song ¡®Flower Dance¡¯, New ck¡¯s five title songs came out as sweet melodies. And the harmony that melted the eardrums. Nine- Remember- this is Nine- With the sweet whisper of ¡®Nine, Nine, Nine¡¯ at the end, the New ck members put down their microphones. The audience apuded and they smiled shyly. After returning to their seats, Ha Seung-ju asked. ¡°That¡¯s nice. I had that thought while listening to the song. ¡®Oh? Is this all connected?¡¯¡± ¡°I deliberately arranged it that way.¡± ¡°Is there something consistent?¡± Woojoo grabbed the microphone and answered. ¡°We wanted to show you the change of the message in our songs.¡± ¡°Message?¡± ¡°Yes, first of all, Fireworks¡­¡± As Woojoo winked, they all picked up the microphones and harmonized. It was the same part as before. It was a song that made you feel good and want to go out. ¡°Fireworks is our debut song and also the first song we showed to the listeners.¡± The members continued. ¡°So it¡¯s a song that says ¡®let¡¯s have fun with us for the first time¡¯.¡± ¡°It¡¯s about bing friends with strangers on the beach and watching fireworks together at night.¡± The audience, including Ha Seung-ju, understood with an ¡®ah¡¯. New ck¡¯s leader said. ¡°But just because we had fun for the first time, the distance between us and the listeners didn¡¯t close perfectly, did it?¡± ¡°That¡¯s right.¡± ¡°The next song, ¡®Masquerade¡¯, is about looking at each other properly, approaching more seriously.¡± They exined that they considered the feeling of the two people who met eyes without wearing masks at the masquerade. Looking at each other¡¯s true feelings in a ce decorated with pretense. As Woojoo winked, the youngest of New ck sang a serious verse of the song. The song introduction continued like that. ¡°When ites to Wind Flower, we approach more actively and say ¡®I¡¯m here¡¯ and look at you¡­¡± ¡°Aforting song?¡± ¡°That¡¯s right.¡± As Bijoo, who made the choreography himself, showed a soft dance, the people were captivated by his dance line. ¡°Nine is a bit different, it¡¯s aboutforting someone who is having a hard time and saying ¡®let¡¯s shake it off and have fun today!¡¯¡± The audience smiled at the sight of Woojoo, who was excitedly exining the song with his eyes shining. Ha Seung-ju also smiled with a simr expression. ¡°There¡¯s a flow. We have fun and get close for the first time, and then we open our hearts and approach. Andfort each other.¡± ¡°That¡¯s right.¡± ¡°There¡¯s a title protagonist for each member in reverse age order, right? And there¡¯s a symbol color too?¡± They introduced themselves like Power Rangers, saying ¡®I¡¯m red!¡¯ ¡°Why did you choose the color?¡± ¡°Oh. Thepany decided that for us.¡± The audienceughed at the honest answer. Because of that answer, New ck¡¯s story sounded more sincere. Whenever they heard the background exnation of the song, they would say ¡®ah¡¯ and easily understand it. The MC also pointed out that context. ¡°Since you participated in the producing, the song exnation is not difficult at all.¡± ¡°Right. Everyone. Our song is easy, right?¡± ¡°That¡¯s the advantage of New ck¡¯s song. It¡¯s easy to listen to and understand.¡± The members smiled brightly at the sincerepliment. Ha Seung-ju looked at the cute juniors with a fond expression and then teased them. ¡°You must have been suffocated until now. You wanted to talk about this.¡± ¡°My mouth was itching.¡± Jung-hyun expressed his itchiness with his finger and Ha Seung-juughed. ¡°By the way, you have a lot to talk about music¡­ Do you have any troubles whenposing, Woojoo?¡± ¡°Hmm? In what way?¡± ¡°Well, idol songs have some formality, right? There¡¯s a boundary between the music you want to do and the music you have to do.¡± Woojoo thought for a moment and answered. ¡°I don¡¯t think I have that problem. Not yet. I don¡¯t even know if there¡¯s an idol-like distinction¡­ Even if there is such a frame, I still have a lot of things I haven¡¯t done.¡± ¡°Oh. That¡¯s too bad.¡± Woojoo blinked his eyes at the MC¡¯s expression of losing his appetite. ¡°What?¡± ¡°If New ck wanted to do a different kind of song, I would have quickly grabbed it. Let¡¯s do it with me.¡± ¡°Oh.¡± ¡°I don¡¯t have any talent for idol songs.¡± The audience burst intoughter. The New ck members alsoughed and then said as if they liked it. ¡°It would be an honor to work with you.¡± ¡°Pleasee soon. Hurry. Our producing team staffs admire you a lot.¡± ¡°Pleasee for sure.¡± The members weed the famous producer. But it was like a ¡®pleasee for sure¡¯ atmosphere. It was as if they were dragging him into something bad, and their smiles looked sinister. Woojoo also smiled warmly and said. ¡°If we try new music, I¡¯ll contact you for sure.¡± ¡°You¡¯re promising, Woojoo.¡± ¡°Of course.¡± ¡°Kim PD, are you filming this? Please send it. It¡¯s a promise between senior and juniorposers.¡± The audienceughed at the sight of the two men making a pinky promise and taking a picture in front of the camera. At the same time, the eyes looking at New ck became softer. They were already a popr boy group that people knew, but they became more friendly as they talked about music. If the former was lightly ¡®they are fun¡¯, thetter was ¡®they have these worries¡¯. It was the bond that they experienced when they talked seriously with a friend who only joked around. ¡®They are all nice and diligent.¡¯ ¡®It would be fun to be friends with them.¡¯ ¡®The button boy still likes red bean. How cute.¡¯ As they each had different thoughts and sent their eyes with affection. The MC asked a question. ¡°We don¡¯t have much talk left. Soon we¡¯ll have the second stage, ¡®Thousand Dreams¡¯.¡± The people cheered as the OST of the famous movie was mentioned. ¡°A lot of people are interested in this song too. A Korean singer participated in a Hollywood movie project. Can you tell us the behind story?¡± ¡°Yes. Of course.¡± Then they exined how they participated in the OST of Nostalgia. How the full version of the song they just sent was adopted as the OST, and how the movie scene changed. The audience was amazed by the story that the New ck members told. ¡°We signed a confidentiality agreement.¡± ¡°Do you write that too?¡± They exined how they worked in a tight security to protect the Hollywood movie. After that, everyone asked a curious question. ¡°By the way, how did youe up with this ¡®Thousand Dreams¡¯?¡± ¡°Oh. This?¡± ¡°Is it a secret?¡± ¡°No, it¡¯s just¡­¡± Woojoo said with a sheepish expression. ¡°I told you in the pre-interview too¡­ I just thought of it.¡± ¡°Really?¡± ¡°Rihyuk listened to Falling Stars for the cover. When I heard it and heard the scene description where the songes out¡­ I thought I should do it like this and imagined it in my head.¡± ¡°Is that possible?¡± ¡°So, to tell you¡­¡± Woojoo sat down at the keyboard again and yed the melody of ¡®Falling Stars¡¯, which is now famous worldwide. Then he repeated a certain part and said. ¡°Falling Stars has a falling atmosphere overall. Just like the stars are falling.¡± ¡°Hmm.¡± ¡°The sound goes down softly, right?¡± Then he yed the chorus of ¡®Thousand Dreams¡¯. ¡°So I thought it would be better to lift it up softly before that songes out.¡± ¡°To make the emotion more when it falls?¡± ¡°Yes, that¡¯s why I conceived the song. The dreams go up.¡± As if a thousand dreams were floating in the sky like balloons, a cheerful melody flowed. ¡°And the dreams be stars and fall.¡± As the melody of the stars pouring down continued, the audience unknowingly eximed ¡®wow¡¯. Ha Seung-ju, who already knew the content to some extent, also opened his mouth for a moment. Woojoo yed the melody of Falling Stars and said. ¡°The person whoposed this is really a genius. How did you think of this, I get goosebumps every time I listen to it.¡± But the audience just blinked their eyes. ¡®No. You¡¯re more like a genius¡­¡¯ They felt a subtle feeling at the sight of Woojoo admiring and praising ¡®this song is awesome¡¯. They were very friendly until a while ago, but now they felt a huge distance. After exining the behind story of the song. We performed ¡®Thousand Dreams¡¯ in front of the audience. As I yed the guitar, I sang cheerfully with my siblings, exchanging lines like we were in a movie. ¡°Wow!¡± I smiled at the audience who apuded us after the song. Their eyes sparkled every time I looked at them. They had looked tired when we first appeared, since it waste, but now they wereughing happily. Usually, some people would leave around this time during the music festival, but the seats were full. My siblings grinned. ¡®Sess.¡¯ ¡®Well done, ckers.¡¯ I put down the guitar with a satisfied face. Ha Seung-ju spoke. ¡°You listened to Thousand Dreams very well. The song will be released tomorrow, right?¡± ¡°Yes. It¡¯s a worldwide simultaneous release.¡± ¡°I was disappointed that only Falling Stars was on MeeTube, but this is great. Don¡¯t you want to listen to it soon?¡± The audience answered ¡®Yes!¡¯ in unison. Meanwhile, Ha Seung-ju held the microphone and said. ¡°Unfortunately, it¡¯s time to say goodbye to New ck.¡± ¡°Aww¡­¡± ¡°Hey, usually the audience does that, New ck. Not the ones who are leaving.¡± We made a sad expression and the audienceughed and pped. ¡°It¡¯s too bad to let you go like this. Can we see something before you go?¡± ¡°What kind of¡­?¡± ¡°You talked aboutposing, but you didn¡¯t really show us anyposing. How about improvising?¡± Ha Seung-ju asked. ¡°Can you do it?¡± ¡°Yes. Of course.¡± I sat down at the keyboard and my siblings moved. ¡°Huh? Are we doing it together?¡± ¡°Yup.¡± Our youngest answered. ¡°We¡¯ve been ying music for about two years, so we all know how topose to some extent. We¡¯ve been doing it togethertely.¡± ¡°Oh.¡± He seemed interested and I asked him. ¡°What do you want us to show you?¡± ¡°Um, how about a theme¡­¡± Ha Seung-ju was thinking. The hall was silent. Then, a phone ringtone started to ring. People murmured and looked around, and a young couple turned off their phone with a panicked expression. And at that moment, I thought, ¡®That¡¯s it¡¯ andughed. ¡°Let¡¯s do it with that ringtone.¡± ¡°The default ringtone of the Apple phone?¡± ¡°Yes.¡± I pressed the keys and reproduced the ringtone, then started to vary it, and my siblings joined the rhythm. After repeating it a few times, we made the main theme. I smiled at the couple and brought my mouth to the microphone. This is for you My siblings added a chorus of ¡®Ooh-¡¯ and the couple bowed their heads, and Ha Seung-ju and the audience chuckled. Rihyuk was the first to open his mouth to the improvised melody. The ringtone that rings In the dark When everyone said ¡®Oh¡¯, Junghyun recited. You forgot to turn on silent mode Our chorus of ¡®You forgot!¡¯ made the hall explode withughter. Chapter 319: The audienceughed every time we sang a verse. I spoke into the microphone. Thank you Thanks to you, Iposed This song Then I passed the next verse to Rihyuk. I¡¯ll remember Today¡¯s ringtone I¡¯ll look forward toTomorrow¡¯s silent mode The song that became an etiquette song made the hall burst intoughter. As I yed the keyboard, I turned my head slightly and saw the couple covering their faces with both hands in the middle of theughing audience. Then they soon startedughing hard as if they found it funny too. Bijoo, who held the microphone, sang as if humming. Are you a couple Or a family I¡¯m asking just in case The man mouthed ¡®couple¡¯ as an answer. Then our youngest got excited and grabbed the microphone. Have a beautiful love (beautiful love-) And remember The three letters New. Bl. Ack. As I tapped the keyboard stato-like, the siblings added harmony by saying ¡®New¡¯, ¡®Bl¡¯, ¡®Ack¡¯. Then I finished the song by sliding my fingers on the keyboard. -Wow-! As we stood up and bowed like a stage greeting, the decibel of the cheers from the audience rose even more. It was an atmosphere that acknowledged our impromptuposition. Ha Seung-ju, who was watching from one side of the stage, came over with a smile full ofughter. ¡°That¡¯s awesome, right? Right, everyone?¡± -Yes! ¡°Actually, until just now, when New ck said they wereposing on the spot, your eyes were like this.¡± Ha Seung-ju crossed his arms and made a ¡®hmm¡¯ gesture. ¡°They¡¯re broadcasting anyway, so they¡¯re probably just ying it. Some of you might have thought that. But this is¡­¡± He looked at me with a happy face. ¡°It¡¯s been a while since a memorable scene came out.¡± ¡°Thank you.¡± ¡°It was so nice because it was an unexpected moment. Impromptuposition with a ringtone. Where are those people from earlier?¡± The couple raised their hands with shy faces. The MC smiled and said. ¡°Thanks to your ringtone, a fun scene came out on Muka for a long time. Don¡¯t just goter. Come over here and get a gift from the production team.¡± As the two opened their eyes wide and rejoiced, the people pped and said ¡®oh¡¯. The MC, who was considerate of the audience couple, winked at me. I immediately picked up the microphone. ¡°That¡¯s right. This is also a fate, so let¡¯s take a proof shot with uster.¡± ¡°Thanks to you, we made a song!¡± ¡°We¡¯ll give you some chocte we bought from Mysia.¡± The couple nodded their heads and smiled at us, who expressed our gratitude by waving our hands. Looking at their expressions, it seemed like they would cherish today¡¯s event for a long time. As Junghyun sent them a stern finger heart, the audienceughed. The MC nced at the clock in the hall and said. ¡°Now it¡¯s time to send New ck off.¡± ¡°It¡¯s time to go.¡± We agreed. The audience, who didn¡¯t know anything and sparkled their eyes saying ¡®wow¡¯ because of our constantughter, was quitete. A middle-aged man with his arms crossed was nodding off. ¡°Before we go, how about Woojoo say a few words as the representative?¡± ¡°I want to sincerely thank all of you who made this wonderful time today.¡± I asked. ¡°We came out to change our image.¡± ¡°Woojoo, give up on that.¡± ¡°¡­How do you feel? Our image has changed a lot from the beginning, right?¡± The audience unanimously said ¡®yes!¡¯. The manager hyungs in the backstage nodded their heads with a warm smile. The siblings smiled contentedly, and I smiled too. ¡°Yes. Please tell a lot of people around you about the changed image you witnessed today!¡± ¡°Please!¡± ¡°We were really nervous when we came out, but thank you for giving us a lot of response.¡± The audience, who were cheering, stopped and made a ¡®what do you mean?¡¯ expression at Bijoo¡¯s words. The MC also wiped his sses and put them back on. He smiled at the souffl¨¦s that appeared in the middle of the audience along with the words of gratitude. ¡®Thank you.¡¯ I hoped the meaning would be conveyed and looked into their eyes. The fans who held the New ck slogan and the others who pretended to be ordinary people flinched and opened their eyes wide. At first they were surprised, but soon they smiled brightly. ¡°Well, shall we hear about thest stage?¡± ¡°Yes.¡± I grabbed the microphone and said. ¡°I heard that the 90s songs are popr again these days. For thest song, we prepared a medley of the 80s and 90s hit songs.¡± ¡°I¡¯m looking forward to it.¡± After Ha Seung-ju said goodbye to the audience with ¡®This was Music Cafe¡¯. ¡°Thank you!¡± As we greeted, the intro flowed. The exciting saxophone sound and the cheerful drum sound. It was a song selection that considered the most tired age group at this time. The eyes of the middle-aged man who was nodding off to the modernly arranged melody of the 80s hit song opened wide. p- p- The sound of rhythmic apuse. The middle-aged audience, who had been watching the stage with a somewhat nd expression, began to shake their shoulders. We danced to the sound. Jiho, who was cheering up the audience with a ¡®up up¡¯ gesture toward the audience, walked to the protruding part of the stage. Neon burning street- 10 p.m. The audience responded with a thrilling cheer in the blinking green light. It was a sessful finish. Yeouido PBS Broadcasting Station. The audience wrapped their coats in the chilly autumn night weather. ¡°Is there a ce to call a taxi?¡± ¡°Hey, how many buses do we have to take?¡± ¡°I¡¯m hungry. Should I go home and eat chicken?¡± People who frowned at the map app or nced at the passing taxis in front of the trees. After getting on the vehicle to go home. They started talking about the program they watched today. ¡°Wasn¡¯t it really funny today?¡± ¡°Puhaha! I still remember. That button.¡± ¡°They were called separately after the ringtone couple ended. Did you take a picture? I was totally into it.¡± Subway, bus, taxi. The people who were talking about ¡®Music Cafe¡¯ had a search window with ¡®New ck¡¯ written on their phones. ¡®It¡¯s amazing.¡¯ It was a face I knew, but it felt different when I looked at the profile again. It felt like a popr idol these days. ¡°It looks different after seeing it.¡± ¡°That¡¯s right.¡± ¡°They are all real-life bombs. Did you get famous because you were handsome?¡± ¡°Maybe he did something weird with that face and got famous.¡± ¡°It¡¯s convincing.¡± ¡°But it really looks like a different person.¡± It was hard to say exactly what it was¡­ ¡°Is it different from what I imagined?¡± ¡°My words.¡± Every time New ck talked about music or showed their skills, they felt very unfamiliar. Especially, the part where Woojoo improvised andposed with a ringtone was a very fresh shock. ¡®He¡¯s quick-witted, and how does he deal with it like that?¡¯ ¡®He¡¯s reallyposing properly.¡¯ ¡®They are really kids who do music¡¯ and the perception that changed slightly changed to improvisation. An improvised song that anyone would listen to. The people who looked at the broadcast as a show and looked at it cynically also thought that this was real. Meanwhile, some of them clicked on the rted search term ¡®Seon Myung-ju¡¯ and epted it. ¡°He was very famous.¡± ¡°Really?¡± ¡°He went to the US in the 90s and yed the piano. He was always on the news. Oh, then he¡¯s the son of that person?¡± While some of them heard such stories from their parents. In the minds of the audience who remembered the scenes they saw during the recording today, the lump of ¡®New ck¡¯ began to change. Between idol groups, singer-songwriters, and entertainers. New ck began to take its ce as a third category that was hard to ssify either way. It was like being in the middle of three vertices. If the New ck members knew that, they would have been happy saying ¡®Image transformation sess!¡¯. ¡®Why do I only think of buttons.¡¯ ¡®Was the one who picked up the sponsorship Bijoo?¡¯ ¡®Button missile¡­¡¯ The most impactful thing was none other than the button. Along with that, all kinds ofughter bombs that I witnessed today began to swirl in my head. ¡®¡­If I had to ssify it, it would be close to an entertainer.¡¯ The word ¡®idol¡¯ was about to change its word order with ¡®stone¡¯ing to the front. A boy group that I don¡¯t know how to ssify. But one thing was certain. ¡°It was really fun today.¡± People who came without thinking because they won also sincerely enjoyed it. Ambitious night. Fingers all over the ce were raising the number of views on articles and videos about New ck. The day after the Music Cafe recording. ¡°Yay!¡± Good news came to us. ¡°Guys!¡± ¡°PD!¡± ¡°It¡¯s number one!¡± The producing team PDs who hugged us and ran around had cell phones in their hands. Mango real-time chart window. It was the same screen as we were looking at on our phones. 1st. New ck ¨C Thousand Dreams (Movie ¡®Nostalgia¡¯ OST) Two OSTs that entered the real-time chart 100 with Falling Stars in second ce. Now, thanks to the souffles, the ranking was good, so maybe Falling Stars would go up more as time passed. It¡¯s a song that¡¯s popr worldwide. But that doesn¡¯t mean ¡®Thousand Dreams¡¯ was pushed back a lot. A little difference. Besides, Nostalgia was a hit all over the world, so the expected trend of overseas performance was good. ¡°Are you going to hit 4 million in Korea soon? They say the poprity overseas is no joke.¡± ¡°Yes. That¡¯s right.¡± I answered with a smile. ¡°I had a video call with Rupert a while ago, and he said Nostalgia was a hit in the US right now.¡± ¡°Ah, that cheeky bastard?¡± ¡°¡­Please forget the painful memories.¡± He spoke faintly, looking at the distance, and the production team staffughed and said. ¡°Hey, have you seen this? There are some English sites going around, and there are a lot of reviews for Nostalgia OST.¡± ¡°Really?¡± ¡°Look at the ones with five stars on top.¡± PD Nasangyoon handed me his phone. The screen was shaking up and down, probably because he was so excited. ¡°Here.¡± ¡°Wow.¡± Junghyun moved his head up and down as he read the text and said. ¡°I don¡¯t understand any of it.¡± He then read the praises for ¡®Thousand Dreams¡¯ from the foreign critics and smiled. The production team staff said enthusiastically, ¡®How is it?¡¯ ¡°It seems like the reaction is really good, right?¡± I wondered why they were so excited, and then I heard PD Saltman¡¯s exnation. ¡°They say this might get into the Billboard chart.¡± ¡°Really?¡± ¡°It¡¯s too early to judge, but it¡¯s the most popr after Falling Stars. That¡¯s what they¡¯re saying.¡± ¡°Wow¡­!¡± Maybe it was because of the possibility that the song they participated in could enter the famous chart overseas. They all seemed very excited. We also exchanged a brief smile of excitement. ¡°It¡¯s awesome. It¡¯s thanks to the movie, but it¡¯s still good.¡± ¡°Yeah. The mango chart of the US¡­¡± ¡°Shall we congratte in advance? Fried chicken with cheese powder today?¡± ¡°Cheese powder sounds good.¡± The staffughed at our conversation. ¡°You¡¯re surprisingly calm. I thought you¡¯d be jumping around.¡± ¡°Well, this is enough for now?¡± We bounced around with our feet and they burst intoughter. We were showing a calm reaction. We were happy, but it felt simr to when we released the song ¡®Something¡¯ before. If it was our album, we would have screamed and cried. It seemed to be because of the nature of the American movie OST. The movie had a dot on it. Of course, in Korea, they were showing interest, saying, ¡®New ck¡¯s song was on the Hollywood movie OST!¡¯ But even if the OST was a big sess, it wouldn¡¯t all be converted into interest in the singer. We knew that well from our experience with the coboration song. ? PD Nasangyoon agreed. ¡°That¡¯s true. It¡¯s not like the singer gets a big break just because the movie OST did well.¡± ¡°Right.¡± Of course, it would be a great thing if it went well, but it was best to ept it calmly. ¡°So we¡¯re trying to take it easy.¡± ¡°That¡¯s a good idea.¡± ¡°Yes. If it goes well this time, we¡¯ll think of it as a way to make our name known overseas.¡± The production team staff also agreed and said. ¡°We were too excited. Instead of getting carried away by the movie OST, we should think calmly like you.¡± ¡°Hehe.¡± ¡°Woojoo?¡± ¡°Ah, no. Nothing¡­hehe!¡± I couldn¡¯t help butugh and covered my mouth. The production team staff narrowed their eyes. ¡°You¡¯reughing right now. Sun Woojoo.¡± ¡°No?¡± ¡°Come on. Put your hand down.¡± As I shook my head with my hand on my mouth, the siblings looked at me with pity. ¡°You said you¡¯d be calm, but why do you seem the most excited?¡± ¡°Right. You just said you¡¯d take it calmly as a way to make your name known overseas.¡± ¡°Oh, look at you liking it.¡± ¡­the trio with their hands on their mouths red at me. Next to them, a bear with round eyes asked, ¡®Who¡¯s paying for the cheese powder?¡¯ The production team staff said. ¡°Put your hands down, all of you.¡± ¡°¡­¡± ¡°Thest one to put it down pays for the chicken. One, two, three!¡± At the moment they all put their hands down. Sparkle sparkle. The faces of the five of them with bright smiles were revealed. ¡°Oh, you guys are so dishonest.¡± ¡°Haha!¡± I nodded and answered. ¡°It¡¯s actually good. Amazing¡­hehe!¡± ¡°Hahaha!¡± As I looked at the siblings with a ¡®hehe¡¯, they also nodded and replied with a ¡®hehehe¡¯. Soon, we all startedughing like fools. ¡°Hahaha!¡± After all, a good thing is a good thing. We were united in that mindset. And. ¡°Shall we order the cheese powder?¡± Junghyun held his phone and asked with an excited face. As we expected, ¡®Thousand Dreams¡¯ dropped to second ce soon. And then it stayed in the rank. It was a moment to feel the poprity of Nostalgia, which was said to be the first musical movie to surpass ten million. Meanwhile, the poprity of the OST was not limited to Korea. -Nostalgia, movie and OST both popr -New ck ¡®Thousand Dreams¡¯, a hit overseas ¡®entered 15 countries¡¯ music charts¡¯ With four songs on the weekly chart, ¡®New ck¡¯ is now beyond ¡®music gangsters¡¯ and at the level of ¡®music bosses¡¯. We heard the news that ¡®Thousand Dreams¡¯ was doing well on the music charts in Australia, Belgium, Canada, the Nethends, and other countries. They were mostly ces where nostalgia was very popr. It felt strange to think that our voices were spreading to countries we never expected. Anyway, the foreign praise seemed to attract the attention of the domestic media and the press. But we didn¡¯t have much time to feel it. ¡°Good evening, Hong Kong!¡± ¡°????? We had concerts in Hong Kong, Taiwan, and Thand one after another. Time flew by quickly. Especially in Thand, where we visited for the first time, we stayed for a few days and had a busy schedule for promotion. We went to music shows and had fan signings. The most memorable thing was the local TV recording we did with the cooperation of the Thai Tourism Authority. It was about meeting animals at Thai tourist attractions. We skewered chickens on sticks and fed them to the crocodiles in theke. ¡°Ahhhh!¡± ¡°Rihyuk, calm down! That crocodile is not interested in you!¡± ¡°I don¡¯t know! It bit my chicken!¡± We got plenty of airtime thanks to the screaming bird who was terrified of crocodiles. ¡°Geez. Why is Rihyuk so scared of that?¡± ¡°Right? He¡¯s such a coward.¡± ¡°Rihyuk~ Were you that scared of the crocodile?¡± It was a fun time. Until the next corner. ¡°But what¡¯s next¡­ What, what?¡± ¡°The interpreter said, we have to take a two-shot with a tiger.¡± ¡°¡­¡± ¡°Look at that tiger¡¯s arm. It looks like we¡¯re going to die in one shot, not two. Us.¡± In the end, only Junghyun agreed to do it. While our rapper was taking a friendly photo with the tiger, we all huddled together and shivered. ¡°But it doesn¡¯t look that scary from a distance, does it?¡± ¡°Yeah. It won¡¯t eat us if we give it a rice cake~ Something like that¡­¡± Grrrr- ¡°Ahhhh!¡± ¡°¡­¡± When we saw it in the movies, we said ¡®Ha ha ha, a tiger!¡¯ But when we heard it for real, we got goosebumps. The local guide smiled warmly as he saw the three guys hiding behind me. If we kept this up, we would be known as ¡®the New ck guys, the cowards¡¯ to the Thai people, so I observed the gestures and expressions of the trainer. Then I pretended to be bold and followed him. Grrrr- The giant feline animal started to get hungry again. ¡°Oh, Woo Joo. The trainer said the tiger friend is showing interest in you.¡± ¡°¡­¡± ¡°He said it¡¯s a close to a friendly reaction, and he¡¯s amazed?¡± The younger ones pushed me to take a picture quickly. The bad guys. They were the ones who would y sky bounce on the back of a person hanging on a cliff. The picture came out decently. Me sitting upright with my hand on the tiger¡¯s head and the tiger rubbing its face on my back. After it was posted on the official SNS. It spread to variousmunities with the title ¡®Sergeant Ho and Private Sun.jpg¡¯ and I suffered in many ways. Anyway, we finished the second schedule of the overseas tour in three countries and boarded the ne to Incheon. ¡°Woo Joo.¡± ¡°Hmm?¡± Seok Hwan, who was writing a work report titled ¡®Woo Joo ¨C Fun with Animals¡¯, asked me. ¡°Are you okay when you go back to Korea?¡± ¡°What do you mean?¡± ¡°The Music Cafe live broadcast.¡± ¡°Oh.¡± The manager asked me with a worried expression. ¡°I heard the gist of it from Minki and Won Seok, but I¡¯m not sure.¡± ¡°Don¡¯t worry too much.¡± ¡°¡­¡± ¡°I¡¯ve changed my image for real this time.¡± Seok Hwan¡¯s eyes were filled with countless words that disappeared. ¡°Well, no¡­¡± ¡°What is it?¡± He smiled kindly like a person who transcended everything. The youngest popped his head out. ¡°But how will the live broadcast turn out?¡± ¡°Right? How will the button explode?¡± ¡°Will it go bang- and have graphics?¡± Rihyuk, who was conscious of the passengers around us, handed us a note one by one. They were notes with ¡®?¡¯ drawn on them. Maybe it was because it was a music program we appeared on after a long time. We were curious about the reaction of the viewers, when the ne arrived at Incheon. ¡°¡­Huh?¡± Seok Hwan, who was looking at the text message, told us. ¡°Guys.¡± ¡°Yeah?¡± ¡°They said you have toe and get your award.¡± ¡°Award¡­?¡± We blinked our eyes at the unexpected news. The Novel will be updated first on this website. Come back and continue reading tomorrow, everyone!