In This Life, The Greatest Star In The Universe

I scrolled the fan café posts in reverse to see what had happened.

At first our Soufflé fans were enjoying watching the live quiz show, but at a certain point their mood shifted.

“What is this.”

What the fans were angry about was an online article.

About me.

I clicked the link and the article title popped up. My siblings watched my face.

– NewBlack Woo-joo, ‘Father’s Inheritance Controversy?’... Netizens ‘Is He Playing Poor Folk?’

It was from an unfamiliar entertainment outlet.

I calmly read through it.

There was really nothing substantial—just a repost of a message from some online community.

– That kid Woo-joo from NewBlack, didn’t he say on Music Café that his father was Sun Myeong-ju? At that time someone of Sun Myeong-ju’s stature was a world-famous figure, and even the inheritance alone would support three generations. He’s pretending to be poor on TV.

There was back-and-forth in the comments, but apparently the entertainment reporter thought it a juicy story and copied it right away.

Minki hyung pulled his hands-free earpiece from his ear and said,

“I just hung up with the director. The PR team is talking to that trash outlet. The article will be taken down soon.”

“Thanks, hyung.”

I hit refresh a few more times and saw a message that the article had been deleted.

It had happened just thirty minutes after it was posted.

To handle PR this quickly on Chuseok day—I have to hand it to our PR team.

But the abusive articles had already gone up everywhere, and the piece had briefly shown on the main page.

Of course it hadn’t garnered sympathy.

The original community’s reputation wasn’t good among the public, and the reporter hadn’t fact-checked before writing.

Most comments sided with me.

And my closest allies were worried.

“Hyung.”

“Ah, it’s okay. Don’t worry about it.”

I waved to the worried faces. Jung-hyun slid his hand around my shoulder from behind and gave it a rub.

“Why are you rubbing my shoulder all of a sudden?”

“It looked tense.”

“In that case I’ll rub your arm.”

“Ji-ho.”

“Yes?”

“Right arm, not left. My right arm must’ve tensed up from pressing buttons.”

“...Okay.”

The two energetic ones exchanged looks and continued to massage me, which somehow made me smile.

The other two snorted at the article, glanced at me with concern, then widened their eyes at the internet again.

I’m fine though......

“Moon Byeong-hak—that reporter’s name, I’m going to remember it.”

“I’ve taken notes.”

Unlike my angry siblings, I was calm.

To be honest, I’d expected questions ever since my dad was mentioned on TV.

They’d ask where all the inheritance had gone.

There were complicated circumstances and I’d deliberately stayed silent, but someone must have dug into it.

Well, I thought, you can’t please everyone when you succeed.

I considered it a minor incident born of the attention we’d drawn.

Besides, something happened that actually made me feel better.

“Hyung, look at this.”

Bijoo showed me a post on a site for housewives.

‘Seeing that article made me so furious (acquaintance of NewBlack)’

[I’m not saying they’re destitute;; Of course they’re not dirt poor, but that member’s family isn’t exactly rich They run the gamjatang place diagonally across from my grandma’s restaurant I know because I worked there with my grandma when I first opened my shop......]

I recognized them immediately. It was the gamjatang restaurant across from my grandmother’s diner.

It was Hye-yeon’s mom.

I heard her warm voice in my mind.

[Grandma is such a kind person. At first I thought she was really scary;; There’s no one else like her. Whenever something bad happened she’d say “Why are you putting up with that!” and step in. When I first faced hostility she was the first to come and hold my hand. And of course she adores her grandson Woo-joo. When my daughter was little she’d always say she’d marry Woo-joo oppa haha. The grandma-and-grandson bond is so sweet..]

I read all the good things I’d forgotten. Watching that happily, Ji-ho exclaimed.

“Woo-joo hyung, turns out you’re a good person after all.”

“You’ll never get any red ginseng jelly.”

“It’s fine. I don’t like ginseng anyway.”

“Good. I’ll eat it all and grow taller.”

Between silly banter with the maknae, Ri-hyuk tilted his head.

“But I heard Street Boys fans came to our defense?”

“Street Boys?”

I wondered what he meant, and learned that some people who attacked us online using that article had come from the Street Boys fandom.

So much had happened in such a short time, I thought as I listened to the overview.

Our Soufflés’ mood had soured partly because of that article and partly because another fandom used it to insult us.

They were mainly die-hard Daydream fans.

“Daydream? Ah......”

They’d been a senior idol group competing with us for the show with Juse-han.

Famous for their visuals as MOP from the Big Four, their fandom was incredibly united.

I had no idea how news about casting had reached them.

Reading their logic that “our oppas would’ve done better than NewBlack,” I just marveled at its originality.

Anyway, when our fans were about to shed tears, the Street Boys fans jumped in to help.

Seeing that fandom name made me flinch.

“...Concrete?”

“It means they strongly support Street Boys.”

“Was that company-mandated like with Scarlet?”

“No, they say they decided themselves.”

In any case, as their name implied, they’d been a fierce force.

Honestly, I didn’t fully understand.

There were too many terms on social media I didn’t know, so I couldn’t be sure what was what.

But one thing was clear: help had come from unexpected quarters.

“Why did they help....”

“Let’s see... I heard they edited Juse-han so that you seemed really close with Street Boys.”

“Me?”

That conversation had been edited that way.

We’d talked in the car about Hyeshian and Street Boys, but it came out like we were idol friends.

“And yesterday, someone named Hanjo? said in the fan café chat that among rookie boy groups you seemed the closest.”

“....”

“Hyung, you’ve made a friend.”

It had just been polite greetings, but suddenly I had a friend out of nowhere.

Well, good is good.

As I laughed at how absurd it all was, I looked at the café posts.

Countless Soufflés worried about me.

I’m fine though.

I wanted to reassure them, but how to calm everyone?

After thinking for a while I called the manager driving.

“Minki hyung.”

“Yeah?”

“Can I post something on the fan café?”

[Hello, this is Woo-joo]

(picture)

Hello, Soufflés~ It’s Woo-joo.

This is the red ginseng jelly I won today on the quiz show, and I’m planning to eat it all myself. (whisper)

Well... I actually came to write because I want to thank you.

Thank you, our Soufflés.

Every moment we’re active, it’s because you exist that we can be happy.

...(omitted)...

As much as you love us, we’ll repay you with even greater love.

See you soon. Us.

ps1. Ri-hyuk says if I add BGM it’ll look more touching. I’ll just put the link since I don’t really know.

ps2. The link has a typoㅠㅠ this is the correct one

ps3. No... please listen to U Raise Up instead

ps4. Anyone who reposts the link or continues the lyrics in comments will be banned

ps5. No... not Space Fantasy lyrics, react to my post...

ps6. I’ll never come back to the fan café

Damn.

One wrong link and I became a laughingstock.

Just one character off in the URL, and it led to an old song.

“You should’ve checked before posting.”

“Ri-hyuk.”

“What?”

“Don’t you think that’s not something you should say?”

“...I had a cold and made a mistake.”

Compared to the person who confused a reading café with the fan café and created a cringeworthy moment, I was way better.

Ri-hyuk grumbled and lay on the studio sofa, opening an intermediate Japanese textbook.

Wasn’t he just on beginner level?

I looked around at my siblings on the sofa.

Jung-hyun and Ji-ho were playing phone games together, and Bijoo, resting her head on Ri-hyuk’s arm, continued knitting.

Her dexterous skill never ceased to amaze me.

Originally they’d planned to send us back to the dorm and I’d go to the company to work, but suddenly everyone decided to come along.

They said they were bored, but I think they’d been worried by the article.

I popped a piece of red ginseng jelly, chewed it, and stared at my phone.

Ever since I posted, the fan café atmosphere had definitely improved.

Though I hadn’t mentioned the article, the fans seemed relieved.

Only then did I feel at ease enough to focus on my work.

“Where did it go~ where did it go~”

I hummed as I set up the mini-cam for reality footage on the table.

The main shoot was scheduled after Chuseok, so this was just daily life.

Seeing myself on camera I fixed my hair.

“What is this, you turned on the camera? Tell me if you’re going to.”

“It’s fine, Ri-hyuk. You’re not visible at that angle.”

“That’s true, we can’t see you, Ri-hyuk... ah!”

When the maknae bolted outside the studio, Ri-hyuk chased after him.

We all watched with astonishing calm.

Bijoo glanced once and resumed knitting, and after Ji-ho left, Jung-hyun beamed at the “Win” popping on his phone, then used Ji-ho’s phone to rematch.

“Oh, I won again.”

Against the backdrop of my everyday siblings, I turned on my computer and began working.

This was the final stage.

I’d talked a lot with the maknae who would be the song’s protagonist, then smoothly completed the demo version.

For about an hour I clicked the mouse, fixing awkward verses, rearranging parts.

When the final version was done, I closed my eyes and played the audio file.

It was good.

That was my first thought.

Having heard it so many times it was hard to be objective, but I didn’t think it’d be panned once released.

It felt a bit artistic, but that could be solved in arrangement with the A&R team’s help.

Only the title remained, and I naturally decided to use the scene I’d dreamed of.

“Masque,” the English for masked play.

I’d considered “Masquerade” but it felt too cumbersome.

After changing the title, I listened again.

“Hyung, is this the finished version?”

“Yes. How is it?”

“I love it.”

Bijoo nodded.

“As I listen I can already picture the choreography, the song is serious but pretty.”

“I think so too. The rap section is great.”

As I calmly absorbed their praise, a good idea popped into my head.

“Come to think of it, we haven’t done a guide recording. Aren’t you bored?”

“Huh?”

“Come on into the booth.”

“......”

After the guide recording with my siblings’ help, I sent the finished file to A&R.

In the empty company lounge, we sat on the soft sofa and turned on the TV.

While ads played, the maknae eating chips burst out laughing at our haggard faces.

“Pfft! Why do you two look so pale?”

Bijoo and Jung-hyun silently nodded, clutching cushions and lying across the sofa.

I felt a twinge of guilt.

“Want a piece of red ginseng jelly?” 𝙛𝒓𝒆𝙚𝒘𝒆𝓫𝙣𝓸𝙫𝓮𝒍.𝒄𝒐𝓶

“Noooo......”

“Jung-hyun, do you want some?”

“No thanks.”

“Really?”

“Nods.”

Everyone laughed at the maknae’s sulky imitation.

But soon my order of spicy jokbal bossam arrived, and the two recovered cheerful smiles.

After all, money and meat move the world.

“Oh, it’s starting.”

We propped a tablet PC showing live comments on the table to monitor as we watched Juse-han’s Chuseok Special Part 2.

Unlike last time at the barbecue place, it was pure fun.

Then, if PD Gwe Jae-young hadn’t edited demonically, there’d have been no bad cuts.

After showing other teams on the second mission, our airtime was brief until the third mission.

“Oh, now it’s our turn.”

From the third mission the focus shifted to us.

Specifically when three large shovels appeared on screen introducing the treasure box hunt mission.

“Puhahaha!”

“Hyung, you look so happy.”

My proud face digging with the shovel was close-up. I was so embarrassed I covered my eyes with a lettuce leaf.

To think I looked that gleeful.

Unlike my shame, my siblings and the online viewers burst out laughing.

Then a flashback of my car conversation played.

About practicing shoveling.

– The smile of truthㅋㅋㅋㅋ

– So that was foreshadowing... no wonder they showed so much shoveling

–ㅋㅋㅋ Looking forward to the shoveling later

On the fan café Soufflés were making GIFs in real time and enjoying them.

I decided not to check for a while. Maybe tomorrow afternoon.

Meanwhile the third mission continued, but this time it was my turn to laugh.

“Ah geez, the group chat is full of teasing. They say I’m ignorant.”

We laughed as Gil Chae-gyeong and Ji-ho battled on ignorance, and at Ri-hyuk’s defeated expression losing the nonsense quiz to Bae Young-hoon.

“I never make that face. Do I always look like that?”

“Yep.”

All together. Ri-hyuk lowered his chopsticks in dismay.

Next, Bijoo’s got lost on the mountain in a dramatic clip.

“Couldn’t you edit that out?”

Shaking, she called “Hellooo?” “Anyone there?” until she spotted the VJ and ran to him like someone rescued from the Himalayas.

The live comment window exploded with laughter.

But today’s highlight was elsewhere.

–ㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋ

– This is insaneㅋㅋㅋㅋ Who thought of using a garden shovelㅋㅋㅋㅋ

– Garden trowelㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋ

The contestants, serious as could be, dug with small gardening trowels as if tending a home plot. It looked hilarious.

A tragedy up close ◆ Nоvеlіgһt ◆ (Only on Nоvеlіgһt) became a comedy from afar.

Each team had one person using a large shovel, while the rest swung trowels with all their might.

As Teams A and C dug voraciously and Team B watched in awe—

“Oh, here comes hyung.”

On screen I ran with Maxi to grab the shovel from Ye Hee-yeon and began digging.

– Oh..

– He’s really good.

– I’m watching with my cousin and he asked if he served in the engineering corps... that shoveling looked so familiar

–ㅋㅋㅋㅋ He’s really good at shoveling

– You can tell they practiced, impressive

– Having shoveled myself, watch the thigh movement. Beginners mess up and strain their back...

More than laughter, comments were amazed.

My siblings watching beside me held bossam and had similar reactions—it reminded me of making a perfect basketball shot.

My thoughts and others’ reactions seemed to diverge.

– NewBlack Woo-joo, ‘This Is a Military Idol’s Shoveling’

... appeared in an article screenshot, while someone in the live comments wrote:

– He’d do well on a military variety showㅋㅋㅋ

– Something like “Going as a Man” on TBC? The producers must be eyeing himㅋㅋㅋㅋ

A foreboding chill struck me as I watched. Then a message from Seok-hwan hyung popped up.

Devil [Woo-joo]

Me [Nn]

Devil [It’s a good opportunity]

Me [Nnn]

Determined never to do a military show, I set that boundary and stared at the TV.

...Well, nothing bad will happen, right?

I sipped the cola in my paper cup.

Bijoo was staring seriously at her phone, so I asked,

“Bijoo, what are you doing?”

“Oh.”

Her gentle smile returned.

“It’s nothing.”