In This Life, The Greatest Star In The Universe

Grandfather’s name was Kang Mun-sik.

“Oh my, you didn’t come for so long I thought you weren’t coming to my house. Oh dear, you...”

He rolled his eyes as he looked at the three of us, as if wanting to tell his celebrity visitors who he was.

But there was no way he could know.

One of us was a broadcaster famous on social media, and the other two were rookie idols who had debuted not long ago.

“You handsome and beautiful folks have come! Ha ha ha!”

...That’s how it ended up.

“Come on in! Come on in!”

We followed the excited elder into his home.

“I heard people from the TV station were coming, so I cleaned up the whole house since morning. It’s nice and clean, right?”

“This house is amazing.”

Maxi admired the living room as she looked around.

The neat interior made the living room spacious and lovely.

The lighting was great and the sunlight felt so warm, probably thanks to the powerful air conditioner blasting out cold air.

Ah. It’s so cool.

The chilly sensation on my skin was very welcome.

“Can I get you something to drink?”

“No, we...”

“Do you have milk?”

“......”

At Maxi’s words, three glasses of milk flew over immediately.

While everyone settled in the living room, Ri-hyuk jumped up and took the tray from the elder.

“I’ll drink well.”

Like tilting a soju glass, Ri-hyuk turned and drank the milk, making me laugh briefly.

“So, what are °• N 𝑜 v 𝑒 l i g h t •° all your names?”

A brief introduction session followed.

Of course, he showed no sign of recognizing who we were.

He even asked what SNS was.

When I said, “We’ve appeared on PBS’s Midnight Music Concert,” he finally said, “Oh, so you’re famous singers.”

Actually, it seemed it didn’t matter who we were.

What mattered was that we were people on TV, and Kang Mun-sik grandfather laughed heartily.

“They said people from the TV station were coming, so I couldn’t sleep last night. I even took out my best clothes.”

No wonder the clothes were ones he didn’t normally wear.

I was startled by the luxury belt logo and polo shirt so prominently displayed.

“I’ve done all sorts of things in my life, but I’ve never been on TV... Well, on that hometown program last time, they aired every other house, but they said my place looked too rural and refused to show it.”

“There are some bad people in this world.”

“Right? They’re just mean. Always pointing at me, the old man, saying I talk too much.”

But I understood why his house hadn’t aired.

It was ultra-modern.

It wouldn’t fit the image for a rural program.

Everyone else lived in houses with slate roofs, but here even the doghouse was tiled.

Maybe that’s why they’d assigned turmeric to him?

So he wouldn’t have to go...?

If that was their intent, it was mean. No matter how nice the house, it was lonely for an elder living alone.

I asked,

“Um... so you live alone?”

“That’s right. My kids built this house, but they don’t visit anymore. They built it and that’s it.”

“Oh...”

“Oh dear... it must be lonely.”

I wondered how to react, but our celebrity did it for me.

I quietly listened to his story.

As if removing a dam’s floodgate, grandfather unleashed all the chatter he’d held back.

Stories of catching crayfish in ditches as a child, jungles in Vietnam, the love story with his late wife, the labor he did to raise his children—truly the tumultuous history of modern Korea.

But this was bad...

Sleepiness washed over me.

Maybe because I’d been up half the night and running since morning.

My whole body was weary.

I kept my eyes open, smiling and reacting to each story, but my eyelids kept drooping heavily.

Even the VJ filming us was half-asleep.

The other two looked no different.

Ri-hyuk and Maxi had that eerie expression like people in horror movies who die with their eyes open and only their mouths smiling.

I must have looked the same.

Finally, when his story ended with coming back to his hometown in the 2010s,

“Oh dear, I’ve talked too much.”

“...No, it was so interesting.”

I clapped my hands, and Ri-hyuk did the same.

“That’s right. It was so instructive.”

“Oh dear... sorry you had to listen so long.”

Grandfather looked at his watch and asked,

“It must be about time to go. You have a mission or something to do, right?”

“Yes, grandfather.”

“Then can we play a game together?”

“A game?”

Immediately he pulled something from a drawer.

...It was a set of hwatu cards.

Ri-hyuk and I, being minors, were shocked, and Maxi’s eyes sparkled, but the VJ shook his head.

He looked like he was saying it couldn’t air.

Kang Mun-sik grandfather looked truly regretful.

“Oh dear, that’s too bad. I was so jealous every time the elders at the senior center played.”

“You don’t play with them?”

“They won’t include me because I’m a man. They say I talk too much, but what exactly do I say too much... huh.”

I stifled the smile that threatened to escape.

“Well, that’s settled then.”

Grandfather said shyly,

“Just shake my hand once each before you go.”

“We’ll give you a hug.”

“That’s enough, no need for that much...”

...but when the three of us hugged him one after another, grandfather’s mouth stretched into a grin.

Waving goodbye outside with his retriever, he called out,

“When I have a meal later, I’ll definitely come to your place! With lots of people!”

We laughed and bowed to his boastful promise.

With the mission time nearly up, we walked back to the village hall.

Not even a few hours had passed, and I already missed him.

Eager to see the members, my steps quickened.

I was especially curious about Jung-hyun.

What happened after he was chased by the black goat?

“...Is all this sweet potato?”

Looking at two boxes of sweet potatoes, Haesheon clicked his tongue. The elder couple asked seriously,

“Is it not enough?”

“No, no.”

“Well, it could be. Bring out one more box.”

“Why am I the one doing everything....”

Grumbling, grandfather brought another box of sweet potatoes into the yard. Haesheon asked,

“It seems like you’re giving too much......”

“Don’t worry, it’s for Daegil. Don’t feel burdened.”

“We’ll gratefully accept.”

Grandfather waved his hand.

“No need for thanks. We should be the ones thanking you. I was so worried since he wouldn’t eat, but now I’m so glad.”

“We thought he was sick. Like that goat at the Hong Sun-yi house, we wondered if he had a cyst. But the veterinarian said he’s perfectly healthy.”

“Because he eats a lot of ginseng.”

“Right, eating so much ginseng must’ve fried his brain.”

“We didn’t expect him to turn out like that....”

As the couple started bickering again, Haesheon cleared his throat.

Then they both looked at the camera and made up. They then looked at the idol member squatting in front of the doghouse.

“How thoughtful of him. What trick did he use to make Daegil so calm?”

There was no way to tell them that he’d nearly been hit by a truck and then used a wrestling move on the goat.

“......”

Kim Jung-hyun was squatting in front of the doghouse, gently scratching the goat’s chin.

A pure, rural boy’s innocence emanated from him.

The goat must have enjoyed it too, closing its eyes and bleating happily as it ate.

Of course, if the goat bit down on the cabbage and spat it out, Jung-hyun would whisper something into its ear.

Then the goat would obediently chew.

The goat with anger management issues now managed its anger well.

He still shot Haesheon and the VJ a defiant glance of “What are you looking at?” but with the one who had subdued him, he was obedient.

“Grandfather, grandmother. I just fed Daegil all his food.”

“Well done, well done. How thoughtful.”

The couple came down to the goat.

When grandfather reached to pat him, Daegil jerked his head away.

“...Because he’s been fed ginseng.”

They all burst out laughing.

At last, as we left the house, we carried boxes of sweet potatoes in our arms.

Carrying two boxes, Kim Jung-hyun walked cheerfully, a happy smile on his face.

He looked like an elementary school student coming home with a perfect test paper.

Haesheon asked,

“So happy?”

“One of our members loves sweet potatoes and always eats dried ones. I thought he’d like these.”

And he said the cooking member would like them too, smiling.

His smile lit up the surroundings.

At the village hall.

The team in charge of cooking bustled around their tables with cooking utensils.

From time to time, the crew announced updates.

“Team A acquired fish!”

“Oh!”

Comedian Seo Ji-hyung and actress Han Yeoreum high-fived in joy.

Then good news came for other teams.

“Team B acquired beef!”

“Team A, here are the seasonings you earned from missions!”

“Team A just got gochujang!”

Each time, the crew took refrigerated ingredients and presented them.

But news of Team C was scarce.

Kim Bijoo and Yeo Heeyeon, leading the cooking team, tapped their feet anxiously as they checked the time.

“Sunbaenim, why haven’t we heard from our members?”

“I mean, Yeo Hee-chan... are you thinking? You gotta finish missions quickly, like the other teams!”

“...Should we send messages to them?”

“No. Let’s wait.”

Just then, murmurs rose from the crew side.

“Black goat? Did anyone film black goat footage? Doyoung...”

“What black goat?”

“One of Team C members, Haesheon and that tall Newblack guy, had a chase with a black goat, but they missed filming that part.”

“A chase? With a black goat?”

Yeo Heeyeon saw the person next to her clutching his forehead. Kim Bijoo muttered, “Kim Jung-hyun...”

“They’re wondering what Jung-hyun did.”

“...When he returns, I’ll definitely ask him.”

They laughed at the handsome boy’s sly eyes. Then from the neighboring Team A, Seo Ji-hyung teased,

“Your team could switch the menu to black goat stew.”

“Seo Ji-hyung.”

“What?”

“Mind your own pan over there. It’s on fire.”

“Ohhh...!”

He was such an irritating fellow, Yeo Heeyeon thought.

Why O Hyungsuk fussed over this junior every special episode, she didn’t know.

But today she understood.

“He’s good.”

She’d only heard he ran a gopchang restaurant in Hongdae, not that he was such a cook.

Except for the way he flirted with the actress Han Yeoreum, his skill was perfect.

“Isn’t he good?”

A-team’s veteran actress Yang Ok-bun, peeling a tangerine, came over to Team C.

Yeo Heeyeon asked,

“Teacher, you don’t cook?”

“I don’t get my hands dirty even in dramas—how could I cook? They work so well together, they hate it when I join.”

“Like Seo Ji-hyung, but that actor over there is great.”

“Not ordinary. His knife skills are something else. I’ve never seen anyone handle a knife so well.”

Indeed, Han Yeoreum, who graduated from an American culinary school, cooked flawlessly.

She was a bit clumsy at first, but like muscle memory, she cooked one dish after another seamlessly.

Yang Ok-bun shed tangerine peels and pointed to Team B.

“They look like they’re having a tough time.”

“Jinwoo hyung might cook a bit? He sometimes posts cooking photos on SNS.”

“That’s for show.”

From afar, Song Jinwoo sliced ingredients on a cutting board.

“These days, because of that delivery app you and Hee-chan endorse, I have no time to cook.”

“That’s right, it’s convenient, right?”

“The delivery samgyeopsal is so tasty.”

“Is it really?”

Yang Ok-bun moved to Team B to lead a talk with Song Jinwoo and Girls On Top’s Joo Hana.

The veteran actress admired the girl group member’s hands.

“Your hands are so delicate, your arms so thin. Can you muster the strength to cook?”

“I’m doing my best, teacher.”

“But doing your best and doing well are different.”

“Oh, teacher.”

Song Jinwoo burst out laughing.

“Stop teasing others and help your team. You’ve eaten tangerines all day.”

“I was just about to.”

...and returned to Team C.

This time her attention fell on Kim Bijoo.

“But you’re an idol too, right?”

“Yes, teacher.”

“Have you cooked much?”

“As a hobby, a bit....”

“Then I guess we’ll have to win.”

“What do you mean by that?”

Yeo Heeyeon snapped.

“You never know until the end. Remember the 2002 golden goal, teacher?”

“Oh dear, you get scary when you talk about competition.”

And then.

“Team C! We’ve acquired soy sauce!”

“Team C! Here’s your glass noodles!”

Ingredients started arriving one after another.

After a slight gap after the first mission, things moved rapidly.

Watching that speed, Yeo Heeyeon blinked, and Kim Bijoo looked at the map and said,

“Looks like Woo-joo hyung is on the move.”

“...He is.”

Like a super-fast typhoon, Sun Woo-joo was completing missions.

Same for the teams with Wang Ji-ho or Kim Jung-hyun.

With so many ingredients in hand, they first organized their cooking supplies and got to work.

“I’ll start chopping carrots.”

“Okay, be careful. If you get hurt......”

Chop-chop-chop—

“......?”

Yeo Heeyeon blinked.

The carrots were chopped in an instant.

Kim Bijoo was moving the chef’s knife with focused eyes.

It looked like more than a year or two of practice.

“Bijoo.”

“Yes?”

I asked Kim Bijoo, who was looking at the ingredients.

“You said cooking was a hobby?”

“Yes, it is.”

“You’re really good......”

“I have my reasons. I’ve been cooking since elementary school. About ten years.”

“...At that point it’s more than a hobby.”

With a smile, Kim Bijoo began handling the remaining ingredients. As Yeo Heeyeon stared, her hands moved deftly.

Only then did the calluses on her hands become noticeable.

She habitually unwrapped packaging to sort ingredients.

Watched them wash swiftly.

Boiled water to blanch ingredients.

Like a cooking class scene, Song Jinwoo and Joo Hana from Team B stared in awe.

Team A was expected to dominate, but Team C seemed on par with them.

“Oh my, look at her.”

Yang Ok-bun admired,

“She’s like a daughter-in-law. You can relax, Heeyeon.”

“That’s right.”

Yeo Heeyeon, watching her prepare ingredients, collected herself.

Then she stuck by her side like an assistant.

Originally thinking she should lead since neither of them were skilled, her mind changed.

“Bijoo, what should I do?”

“Then could you trim the spinach?”

“All right!”

“...Sunbaenim, trimming spinach isn’t fiddling with it. You need to remove the stems and dirt, ah! Holding the knife like that is dangerous... you could just use scissors.”

Meanwhile the camera director captured the scene.

It was rare to see strong-willed Yeo Heeyeon being scolded by someone.

Of course, the one speaking was gently smiling.

“Sunbaenim, spinach leaves have wrinkles like lettuce, so you need to wash thoroughly between each leaf.”

“...Yes. Okay.”

Yeo Heeyeon vowed she’d get a cooking certificate after this.

Meanwhile, as cooking began in earnest, a delicious aroma wafted from Team C’s table.

Perhaps aware of this new dark horse, Team A also began cooking fervently.

Between them, Team B’s Song Jinwoo and Joo Hana were on fire.

Cooking.

“Ah, this looks like it’s burning!”

“Hey, water cup! Paper cup! Paper cup!”

“The paper cup is burning! Sunbaenim!”

Watching this, Yeo Heeyeon thought it wouldn’t feel strange if it were someone else.

If Kim Bijoo couldn’t cook, she’d be in the same boat.

‘They’re odd kids.’

One making shots from the end of a basketball court, another cooking for ten years.

Do all the others have some talent like that?

Meanwhile, as the cooking progressed smoothly, Yeo Heeyeon began to notice a strange phenomenon.

Whenever Kim Bijoo frowned in thought, she’d ask permission,

“Sunbaenim, may I step outside for a moment?”

“Outside?”

“Yes, I have a cooking question, but that person can’t appear on TV.”

“Go quickly.”

She’d return looking refreshed, and each time her cooking skills would jump.

It happened more than twice.

Unable to contain her curiosity, Yeo Heeyeon asked,

“But who is this person you consult? Some chef or culinary researcher?”

“No, not that.”

Kim Bijoo smiled and said,

“He’s the most famous restaurant owner in the village.”

At a local Korean set-menu restaurant in Gunsan.

“Grandma, it’s me again...”

On the video call screen, a boy with a fresh look smiled shyly.

Madam Kim Duk-soon laughed.

“Oh my, our Bijoo. What problem do you have this time?”

“I have a question about heat control.”

“Mmm, ask away comfortably.”

She rested her chin on her hand and smiled fondly.

How could her lashes be so long?

Unlike the handsome grandson who teased her, this one’s delicate, pale face was so cute.

His manner of speaking was so earnest and polite.

Completely different from the grandson who always teased, “Grandma, you have to love me more.”

She liked him dearly.

So Madam Kim Duk-soon imparted fifty years of know-how.

“Okay. But where are you calling from? Somewhere dark? A shed?”

“It’s a place I can’t disclose...”

“I see. Well, then it can’t be helped.”

“Thank you, Grandma.”

The phone’s camera wobbled as he bowed his head.

And then.

“Grandma, I just... ahhh! A moth! A moth flew into the bathroom...” 𝙛𝓻𝒆𝓮𝒘𝙚𝙗𝒏𝙤𝙫𝓮𝒍.𝓬𝒐𝙢

Click.

The video call ended with his scream, and Madam Kim Duk-soon wore a tender smile.

Indeed.

There was no normal person around that grandson.