In This Life, The Greatest Star In The Universe

“Thank you.”

I stepped out of the taxi laden with shopping bags in both hands.

Watching the taxi pull away, Grandma grumbled.

“Seoul taxis drive so roughly. I thought I was going to die from motion sickness. And my stomach’s still queasy from that last bite.”

“I’ve told you all along that you wouldn’t like the cheese tiramisu cake.”

“Sure, you’re so clever.”

“Could you listen when your grandson speaks?”

“Oh dear, my digestion’s terrible and you keep nagging me so much it’s killing me. Ah, my poor life.”

“......”

I really had no way to win this.

I shifted the bags into my left hand and rubbed Grandma’s hand with my right.

She must be indigested. She immediately let out a burp-like sound.

“Can you even eat meat after that?”

“Of course. It’s free.”

Her solemn determination made me laugh.

Turning into the alley, the signboard for the butcher restaurant greeted me.

Inside, the other families waved.

Junghyun came out to meet me and took my bags.

“Ah, thanks.”

Grandma proudly placed her new shoes in the shoe rack and I stepped into the room.

Long tables were set with appetizing side dishes and TBC played on the TV.

Seok-hwan hyung sat beside me with a tablet and two phones displaying online communities and live comments.

I wanted to speak to him but his focused face stopped me.

He’d been ferried here and there himself.

“Woo-joo!”

“Dear, kids these days hate being spoken to like that.”

“Mr. Woo-joo! Come here.”

Junghyun’s father pulled out a large ceramic jar.

For a moment I thought it was Genuine Treasure but he laughed heartily.

“This is rare liquor. Junghyun always says he owes you, so I brought you a gift. Shall we have a drink?”

“Well, Father...”

“Dad, Woo-joo hyung can’t drink.”

“Oh? Why not?”

“He lacks that alcohol... what do you call it—enzyme that breaks it down.”

We nearly said “alcohol eunuch” by habit but Bijoo jabbed me to stop.

The enzyme bit was Riheok’s tip.

Everyone laughed and Junghyun’s father clicked his tongue.

“Shame you can’t drink... that’s losing half your life. I suppose I’ll have to drink it myself.”

He hummed as he popped the jar open.

Jiho’s father, eyeing the liquor earlier, approached. Bijoo’s mother held out a glass, looking as excited as a girl on a picnic.

As glasses passed back and forth, I chatted with everyone but kept my gaze on one person.

Our Deoksun.

My grandmother, whom it was hard even to joke about being nice, had no social grace.

Left alone, she’d sip water awkwardly, so I worried and watched her—

“Grandma, try this marinated crab. The shell’s a bit hard but it’s really good.”

“Can you hear the TV okay? If not I’ll turn up the volume. Yes, louder? One moment.”

“That cushion looks uncomfortable. Let me add another under it.”

These were things I, as her grandson, should have done, but the other families jumped in to help.

They chatted kindly, offered her tasty dishes, and checked if she was comfortable.

In response, Grandma kept smiling.

I was bewildered.

Everyone looked at her with fondness and gratitude.

What was going on?

Had she secretly learned a spell to charm everyone?

Seok-hwan hyung asked me,

“What’s up?”

“It feels like everyone’s being so nice to Grandma.”

“Oh. That.”

He smiled as if recalling something, then told me the story.

Five hours earlier.

In Lemon Entertainment’s large conference room, families gathered while Manager Yoon Seok-hwan began a presentation.

Each time his PPT slides detailed the company’s finances or its artists, the families studied the handouts closely.

Since it concerned their sons and siblings, the atmosphere was serious.

Yoon said,

“So far I’ve covered what we explained at the year-end review. Now I’ll address your most pressing questions—our children’s activities and their settlements.”

The slide changed.

It listed NewBlack’s achievements since February: four music show wins for the collaboration track ‘Something,’ various awards, and four weeks at number one on the digital charts.

Then it showed the first album’s sales far exceeding expectations and the chart performance of ‘Fireworks’ and ‘Night Sea.’

Also included were the favorite moments on the basketball challenge show and our SNS ad traction.

“Any questions?” he asked.

Hands shot up.

Each question drew an answer.

“Since Woo-joo, our leader, composed ‘Something,’ we had bargaining power in promotions. Otherwise the fame gap would’ve severely limited us...”

“‘Between’? Woo-joo conceived it, and our A&R team supported to complete the song.”

“The reason the members’ names appear in ‘Fireworks’ lyrics is because Woo-joo wanted to compose it together with the juniors. I believe he’s also working with Jiho on the second album’s tracks.”

“Yes, the basketball challenge wasn’t edited; it really happened. Woo-joo successfully made the shot.”

The families blinked in surprise.

They’d never imagined one member’s influence could be so great in NewBlack’s successful debut.

Chairman Wang Hyuntak laughed.

“I always thought when our son called saying, ‘I’d have been lost without him,’ he was exaggerating. But he really has carried you all.”

“Oh, my son said the same.”

“At first, I thought this gentleman was my son’s girlfriend. Every Skype he’d say, ‘Woo-joo, Woo-joo.’”

“Our children owe him a great deal. Truly.”

As someone thanked Grandma, she waved it off.

“Oh, they’ve done nothing special. They’re all kind by nature and worked hard to get here.”

Even as she spoke, her mouth twitched in joy.

The other families laughed.

It was a warm atmosphere.

They’d witnessed their sons’ slump for nearly two years after three members left the planned seven-member debut.

They’d even urged their sons to quit idols altogether.

But everything changed after last year’s year-end review.

Their once despondent sons were smiling broadly, calling happily every day to boast of their activities.

It was clear to all whose efforts made that possible.

Yoon smiled.

“Now about financial settlements: we pay semiannually, not quarterly. We’ll send you detailed statements later, but here’s the current status.”

The families stared, surprised at the amounts shown.

Junghyun’s father cocked his head.

“I’ve heard industry norms, but is this right? Usually artists wait two or three years to see anything.”

“That’s typical. They recoup production and training costs as debt. But our finances are strong, and the CEO’s philosophy is, ‘These are company expenses; artists should earn as they work.’”

“I see...”

“On financial settlements, we outdo even the Big Four.”

Although not their own artists, the families’ affection for Lemon Entertainment grew.

At the same time, I felt gratitude toward Sun Woo-joo in a new way.

As the families again showered someone’s grandmother with warm looks, Yoon Seok-hwan quietly smiled.

...That was hyung Seok-hwan’s story.

“As expected.”

I nodded.

“Money’s king.”

“...Did you actually listen to what I said?”

Without a word, I picked up a well-done piece of meat.

Dipping it in the oil sauce, the charcoal and savory aroma hit my nose.

The rare marbled sirloin tasted like pure bliss.

“Wow, that’s insanely delicious!”

From afar, the maknae flashed a thumbs-up and wobbled, making everyone laugh.

“Hey, Kim CEO. Soon our kid will be on TV. Yes, the basketball challenge. Please watch.”

“Yes, ma’am. Just turn on the TV now. No, TBC—T! B! C! The show with Woo Jae-yong.”

“Oh, how have you been, Representative? My son is on TV.”

Among rows of soju and beer bottles, the families buzzed about the upcoming broadcast.

Parents were making calls, siblings texting furiously.

...I’m nervous.

When Jiho’s logo appeared in the top right corner of the screen, my heart pounded.

Even watching alone would’ve been nerve-wracking; with family it was doubly so.

Not knowing where to place my hands, I took Grandma’s.

“Hold with your left. Eat with your right.”

“...I’m too stingy to let go.”

I set my chopsticks down and approached the screen.

Then someone draped an arm around my neck from behind.

“Hyung, I’m so nervous. I boasted to the sisters and Mom and Dad that we’d be all over the show. What if the PD cut it calling NewBlack boring?”

“Don’t worry. That won’t happen. But Jiho.”

“Yesss?”

“Wipe the chili powder off your lips.”

“...Ah.”

His pale face made the smudge stand out. Bijoo tore off a sheet of tissue and cleaned Jiho’s lips.

“Jiho, why is your face so messy?”

“It was too delicious; I lost my dignity.”

“Hyung, don’t clean me like that. It spoils my manners.”

“Riheok, scrunching your face makes your brother look odd.”

We giggled at Riheok’s sudden grin. Junghyun marveled.

“This is pure hypocrisy.”

“Exactly, hypocrisy bug.”

“Quiet, everyone. I haven’t forgotten what you said. I’ll get my revenge later.”

“You and Jiho say that at every chance.”

I clicked my tongue and the juniors blinked.

Bijoo laughed, “Actually, you do it the most.”

“Me?”

“Yes. Every time we tease you for being old, you say you’ll cut our singing parts.”

“Hmm... but it’s about action, not words. I mean it, but I never really follow through.”

Bijoo quirked his head. “Then what about Senior Seo Ji-hyeong...”

“Oh dear, the show’s starting. Let’s turn up the volume.”

The maknae used the remote app to raise it.

As the slurp from Ye Hee-chan siblings’ ramen ad filled the room, I realized something odd.

“When did you all come back here?”

We’d all been with our families, yet when I looked properly, they surrounded me.

Bijoo whispered, “It was too embarrassing to watch with your parents.”

“That’s not why for me, but... a study from England says being together like this brings psychological comfort.”

“Is that so? So my ears are red because I’m comfortable?”

“I swear, I’m only smiling because of Yein. When we get home, they won’t let me off.”

“Home?” said Riheok.

We laughed and chatted, and the families peered in like meerkats, smiling.

Bijoo’s mother took a photo, calling us cute, then left. We teasingly bickered.

Now the live broadcast was imminent.

—Doki doki... I’m watching live on TV. Ah!! They’re on screen but why am I shaking?

—Heart, don’t act up

—It’ll be good, right? The preview showed lots of coverage

—Ah... even if it’s boring, please show their faces a lot

—Agreed. Welfare policy isn’t far away—the producers, our kids’ faces are welfare

In the fan café chatroom, our soufflés huddled nervously. Online communities buzzed with chatter about the special guests. Team C’s group chat also erupted with Yeo Hee-chan, Max, and Yeo Hee-yeon sending excited messages.

And then the live show began.

I thought it would jump straight to the opening, but it started with the guests arriving.

Han Yeoreum and Bae Young-hoon arrived first, followed by NewBlack, and more guests poured in.

They chatted to ease nerves.

Since there were so many guests, our segment was brief, but midway we played the 3–6–9 game.

A few real-time portal comments popped up: “What are those guys doing? lol”

Then the opening started.

Each introduced themselves, and when we greeted on screen, our families applauded.

It felt strange.

Embarrassing yet proud.

Grandma propped her chin and watched me, then frowned when I winked at the screen.

Such a scowl.

—Wow... they’re all handsome

—Their visuals are top-notch

—Are their songs good?

Next came Riheok and me singing ‘Night Sea.’

On TV, the hosts applauded, and our families went wild, cheers and all.

It felt like a football cheering section.

The show flowed smoothly.

With thirty people, I expected chaotic editing, but not at all.

It transitioned scenes as naturally as a movie.

No wonder it’s called a top-tier variety show.

Conversations from each vehicle connected seamlessly.

For us, the story of Jiho’s blunder came up.

Online reaction wasn’t great.

—Ugh... lol they’re on a lot

—I could ignore it last time but... kinda boring lol

—Feels like they’re being given airtime??

Then the first mission began and complaints vanished.

Watching Riheok and me cleaning was pretty funny, and the highlight was gathering ingredients.

—lololol black goat

—lolololol

—What is that lol

It was Junghyun’s episode with Daegil the goat.

As humans chased the goat, comments like “ㅋ” flooded every community, SNS, and comment section.

When Junghyun rescued Daegil from being hit by a car with a wrestling chokehold, people lost it.

Our offline families laughed holding their bellies.

—Seriously lol today’s best scene

—Lol I spat beer everywhere

—I laughed until I cried

The responses were overwhelmingly positive.

And because of that, people’s views of us softened.

—These guys are really funny lol from the goat lover to the goat rescue

—[Breaking] Daegil the goat’s anger management is top-notch

—Daegil carried it hard lol

Our subsequent airtime also drew good reactions.

The maknae’s antics delighted viewers, and Riheok’s cleaning-obsessed side got attention.

Especially when Bijoo cooked—it was praised.

People said he seemed experienced in cooking, and he became a topic alongside Team A’s Seo Ji-hyeong ◆ Nоvеlіgһt ◆ (Only on Nоvеlіgһt) and Han Yeoreum.

Our parents beamed and so did I.

I’d been saddened our kids hadn’t shone before, but now people noticed.

I wanted to broadcast from every rooftop, “Our kids are amazing!” and it felt liberating.

My own airtime was brief, but I didn’t care.

As I thought that—

During the cooking mission, as guests entered the community center, a close-up of my worried face appeared on TV.

—Hyung, what’s wrong?

—I met one grandfather earlier and he said he’d definitely come. He’s not here yet...

Had I looked that dejected?

There I was, chin on hand, gloomily staring into the camera.

...Why focus on me?

Then scenes of several cars pulling up outside the center played, and the guests hurried out.

At that moment—

When Grandpa Kang Moon-sik stepped out of the car, my face lit up with genuine joy.

“Wow, look at hyung’s expression...”

Had I really looked like that?

Seeing how happy I was—enough to warm viewers’ hearts—made me embarrassed.

But online reaction was ecstatic.

Fans did shoulder dances and asked in comments, “What’s his name?” with captured screenshots.

As I felt dazed, the broadcast continued.

The energy drained from me.

That scene felt like the finale; it wrapped up the show nicely.

Perhaps it was just my feeling, but—

The adults who’d been glued to the screen looked at their phones as if confirming something, and even Grandma Kim Deok-soon resumed eating.

Their expressions were subtle.

Probably, like me, they felt certainty after watching the broadcast.

As the second mission rolled and the preview for tomorrow’s Part 2 appeared—

In the quiet grilling restaurant, only the sizzle of charcoal could be heard.

Bzzz—

Everyone’s phones at the table began to ring simultaneously.