In This Life, The Greatest Star In The Universe

Seo Ji-hyung ran with his heart swelling.

‘A broadcast...!’

His chest pounded.

The moment his younger sibling working in the restaurant said “Hyung, celebrities are here. Idols,” his heart began to race.

He even clenched his fist and cheered “Yes!” in excitement.

No wonder—recently the gopchang restaurant’s sales had dwindled day by day.

At first business boomed on the celebrity name value, but then similar gopchang restaurants popped up around like mushrooms, and sales plunged.

Most were run by landlords.

To overcome this crisis he even came in on weekends to serve himself, and tried plastering famous signatures on the walls, but it was to no avail.

That was why, when a cooking mission came up on Joo Se-han’s Chuseok special, he had rejoiced.

“—You cook really well?”

“Yes, I run a gopchang restaurant in Hongdae.”

“Ji-hyung your knife skills are like a chef’s.”

“I cook often anyway. Oh, did I not mention I run a gopchang restaurant?”

...He used the chance for endless promotion, but PD Koo Jae-young sensed it like a ghost and edited it all out.

So when he heard there were broadcast cameras he felt the utmost excitement.

‘But who could it be?’

A boy group, a girl group?

A variety show? Or a food program?

He spun wild fantasies in his head, all equally delightful.

Just being on broadcast was so thrilling.

With that pounding heart he swung the door wide.

“Hahaha!”

A refreshing laugh burst from deep in his chest.

“Oh dear I heard you were filming... huh?”

As his eyes adjusted to the dim interior, his past shame smiled back at him.

“Hello, sunbae.”

The idol group stood and greeted him energetically—they were people he’d met once on air.

New Black.

His gaze landed on the one shining the brightest.

“......”

Scenes flashed through his mind.

The pathetic moment he’d tried to steal screen time for more coverage and got shoved aside, the moment he tried to punch a hyung’s shoulder in revenge but punched thin air and fell, the moment he confidently challenged someone to a chicken fight only to hug the floor.

The last was the clearest.

-ㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋ

-Ji-hyung welcome The ground must be new to you right?

-Before that in a flashback you said “Hyungseok hyung! Wasn’t I the top chicken fighter in Majang-dong back then!” and it was epic kkkkk

-Ah... kkkk if it were me I’d be so embarrassed I’d faint

-You look like a dirty sweet potato

-kekekek

-That expression of losing your country kkk

Close comedian friends had sent boxes of sweet potatoes teasing him, and relatives he met at Chuseok laughed uproariously when they saw the broadcast.

That humiliating memory danced across his retina as Sun Woo-joo’s face.

But business came first.

Yes.

The customer is king.

“Oh dear our New Black friends are here! Hot hot! Long time no see”

He signaled his sibling to set up quickly then greeted the broadcast staff.

“So which show are you from...?”

“Oh, actually we just came for a meal.”

“I see. But you are filming?”

“Yes, it’s a reality program, so I think we’ll get some airtime.”

“Reality? A reality show...?”

“An idol reality show.”

He blinked at the camera marked HBS MTV.

“......”

Right.

After all, appearing on broadcast was what mattered.

With that thought, Seo Ji-hyung picked up tongs and began grilling gopchang.

A savory aroma filled the air and chopsticks sprang into action.

“Sunbae, please try one.”

A tall, well-built member picked up a piece and offered it with a broadcast-ready smile, but he shook his head.

“No, I’m not hungry.”

Kind, at least on the surface.

Yet soon his attitude subtly shifted.

Kim Jung-hyeon called to Sun Woo-joo.

“Woo-joo hyung, can we order more?”

“Sure, order more. I’ll pay today. Order whatever you want.”

“Yay.”

As they cheered, the handsome maknae eagerly leaned toward Sun Woo-joo.

“Hyung, and me?”

“You’re growing so you need to eat well too.”

“Hyung, what about me then?”

“Of course, Bi-ju you work hard cooking too, eat plenty.”

“......”

“......”

“Um, you’re not calling me?”

“Let’s see, should we order a cider?”

As Sun Woo-joo got up to fetch the cider, Seo Ji-hyung motioned for him to stay seated.

Sun Woo-joo leaned close to him and whispered, “Sunbae, our kids eat a lot right? I’ll cover the bill later.”

“Well, just eat for free.”

“No. We really didn’t come just to freeload.”

“Hm?”

“Last time during the ending you said if we came to Hongdae we must visit your restaurant, so I thought I’d stop by.”

“......”

His heart tightened for a moment.

Ah. He shouldn’t feel this way.

“...Okay. Enjoy your meal.”

Seo Ji-hyung looked at him with a strange expression.

Then the orders began to surge.

“One more gopchang please!”

“We’ll order another.”

“Please give us more abomasum and liver. Ri-hyeok hyung, trust me, try the liver once. It’s sweet.”

Watching the five idols devour gopchang like vacuum cleaners, the production crew and he shared the same stunned look.

And as the bill climbed—

Without realizing he stood with his hands clasped respectfully.

Then he carefully raised the menu to show Sun Woo-joo.

“Want to try this? It’s a new cut and it’s delicious.”

“Yes. We’ll order that too.”

His heart pounded.

“Then this one...?”

“Yes, that too.”

His heart thundered.

They were record-breaking customers.

As he brought out ingredients, Sun Woo-joo’s voice rang in his ear.

“Hey Jung-hyeon Did you eat well? What’s that? You want more? Aren’t you full yet?”

Whenever such conversation happened, orders tended to multiply.

Gazing at the sales slip, he grilled gopchang with all his might.

Kim Jung-hyeon, in turn, ate with equal gusto.

And the cameras captured that duel-like scene.

Two weeks later.

On an idol community board.

[My rough stomach, the grill’s gopchang, and the leader watching.gif]

Right now the New Black reality show episode 1 is getting good reactions kkkkk

The kimchi jar explosion got buried by this but it’s one of the highlights of episode 1 kkk

Behind the scenes: Because of how much they ate that day they skipped meals and did hellish PT with the trainer the next day

-ㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋ

-They really eat heartily

-They’re Daegil’s friends the way they eat

-What’s Daegil’s friend kkkk

-That’s too much. His name is Jung-hyeon kkk

-Daegil’s friend kkk perfect fit

-The pupil shake is the kill point

-(add) According to Jung-hyeon on live: It must be my imagination right? That day whenever hyung called me he said “Jung-hyeom”

-ㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋ

-But it looks like a real contest Where he grills for you vs Don’t underestimate my stomach

-Wow.. I really want gopchang

Meanwhile GIFs of the gopchang mukbang scene began to spread on other community sites along with the kimchi jar explosion.

That evening, at the fitness center.

“Hyung, look at this.”

“What is it?”

“I forgot to mention earlier. Sun Ji-hyung sunbae gave me four ten-stamp point cards telling me to come again. He’s really a good person.”

“Um Jung-hyeon.”

“Yes.”

“Giving you four point cards means—”

“Yes.”

“That the amount of gopchang you ate that day corresponds to that?”

“Aha.”

He muttered “Aha” but Ji-hyung scolded him playfully. He wanted to headlock him but knew he couldn’t win against that sturdy head.

“Phew. Phew.”

He lay calmly on the Smith machine doing bench presses.

Yes. I’ve earned plenty composing so what do I spend it on? I spend it on Grandma Kim Deok-soon and my siblings.

...but it stung a bit.

“Hyung, your form slipped.”

“Right. Why is that?”

“I think you’re using the wrong muscles Don’t push with your shoulders but here How’s that feel? Do you feel it?”

“Jung-hyeon. You don’t just grope someone’s chest.”

“Can I touch?”

“Let me not speak further....”

Recalling the trainer’s posture he mirrored it, and Jung-hyeon assisted his exercise.

“Yes. You have to hold it there Hyung.”

“Ugh... I’m losing strength.”

“No. Hold it. Hold. Clench your molars Hyung.”

“Nghaaa!”

He ended up thoroughly worked until his upper-body muscles were sore.

As he cracked his neck to release exhaustion, Jung-hyeon tilted his head curiously.

“It’s really strange.”

“What is?”

“When you executed that perfect shot during Basic Training—normally doing that requires muscle strength....”

“Requires?”

“You’re too weak Hyung.”

“You’re just strong.”

“Thanks hyung.”

“......”

He shook his head and peeled sweat-soaked hair from his forehead.

While quenching his thirst with cool ginseng, he saw his siblings rolling around in the PT room beyond the glass.

Unlike him and Jung-hyeon who maintained strong fitness, the weaker line was being tenderly coached by the trainer.

Usually Bi-ju and Ri-hyeok were regulars, but today the maknae joined for goofing off.

Just then the three, adjusting their form, caught his eye.

They waved and mouthed, ‘Fighting!’

He returned the rough gestures.

Well.

It’s pitiful but what can you do.

They weren’t doing it just to torture their bodies.

A producing meeting for the second album’s title track discussed raising the choreography difficulty.

If the first album’s fireworks emphasized vocals, this album would increase the dance portion.

They leaned toward outsourcing choreography to a foreign choreographer, but the sample videos showed they’d need more core strength like waist power.

Thus the conclusion: “First, let’s make their bodies stronger.”

Soon three sweat-drenched siblings opened the door and collapsed before him.

“Ah, I feel like I’m going to die.”

He squatted before the prostrate Ri-hyeok and offered a water bottle.

“Want some?”

“You already put your mouth on it?”

“Yes.”

“Then I won’t drink it.”

“Don’t if you don’t want to.”

At that moment a question popped into his mind.

“Ri-hyeok, I’ve wondered for a long time, if you were stranded in a desert.”

“Pointless hypothetical. I hate sand.”

“If you were there, stranded.”

“Wow, that sounds awesome. Just imagining it is great.”

The two lying there swung their sleeves at each other like cat punches.

A trivial scene.

Ri-hyeok soon asked, looking exhausted.

“So what’s the point? If stranded someone offered you a water bottle, would you drink it?”

“Yes.”

“No need. I’d find an oasis.”

“But that oasis is a mirage.”

“Stop adding details.”

He excitedly explained how he’d distill water, but he didn’t listen.

“Woo-joo hyung, can I drink that water?”

“Yes. Drink up.”

“Ugh, why is there ginseng in it?”

“Sorry. I got mixed up.”

He handed him a bottle of water and the maknae guzzled it.

Meanwhile Bi-ju, sitting dazed, accepted the bottle and said,

“Lately I feel the training level suddenly increased. It feels tougher than before....”

“Because the company ordered it.”

Ri-hyeok continued,

“The trainer said management told him to put you through a hard program.”

“......”

“That’s right you need strength to dance! So when I asked if he knew dance he said I was provoking him and gave me one more set.”

As he winced at the self-criticism, Jung-hyeon shifted the topic aptly.

“But since we’ve been training hard these days it seems effective. Everyone’s body improved.”

That was true.

No change in build but bodies had become firmer.

Strength improved too, making choreography practice noticeably different.

Even the same moves had more power in steps and limb extensions.

Especially the main dancer’s change stood out.

His graceful lines in the white T-shirt had become more dynamic, weighty.

Watching our kids stretching and splitting their legs, he briefly thought of the album.

He recalled videos of sample choreographers.

That choreography that was okay last time seemed a bit tough because of jumps, but if this continues it might work....

Smiling unconsciously at that thought, Ri-hyeok suddenly shuddered.

“What’s that look in your eye?”

“What?”

“You just laughed at us in a bad way.”

“That’s right.”

Ji-ho said,

“It’s like that cartoon from childhood where the wolf blows down the pig’s house.”

“The Three Little Pigs?”

“Oh, right.”

“But we’re four.”

“Let’s make it five. Include Woo-joo hyung too.”

After pointless chat sitting down, they got caught by the trainer and began the cool-down.

He was massive yet controlled intensity perfectly, pushing ✧ NоvеIight ✧ (Original source) them until they thought they’d die.

But today he couldn’t focus.

Not because of the upcoming album but because of Jung-hyeon’s comment last time.

—Our PT trainer, isn’t his body amazing? His biceps are as big as Bi-ju and Ri-hyeok’s.

He said his left looked like Bi-ju’s and right like Ri-hyeok’s, and that kept bothering him.

Damn it.

Not the only one remembering, Bi-ju also pursed his lips.

Don’t laugh.

One laugh and it’s an extra set.

Of course, such efforts were useless.

“Trainer, um. If we train until our muscles get too bulky won’t our fans be sad?”

After the trainer’s hearty laugh, two more sets were added.

During reservist training a day felt like ten days, but afterward those ten days flew by like a single day.

It was like the elementary school relay race.

Before he knew it the next day came barreling in with the baton shouting “I’m here!” then three seconds later “Hyung, I’m here again!”—that kind of feeling.

Probably because he was so busy.

Lessons, dermatology, workouts, foreign languages....

He’d heard from the company that overseas reactions were good, so after the second album they were considering activities in Japan or Southeast Asia.

To prepare he studied Japanese and English.

A foreign soufflé fanbase.

He still couldn’t feel it.

Colorful-decorated bread kept popping into his mind, probably from dieting?

Before full title practice for the second album, they prepared body and mind thoroughly.

And he had producing meetings too.

Every day he and Director Jo Gyu-hwan sat together brainstorming.

Concepts for the second album, each member’s personal color, intro/outro structure, and so on.

Meanwhile he picked up by sight how lyric submissions worked, how tracks got approved, and how to communicate with designers.

The director, pleased by his ambition to become not just a composer idol but a producer idol, eagerly shared tips.

Time passed and finally—

Friday at 5 p.m.

“Ugh, I’m nervous.”

“Hey Wang Ji-ho. Why are you so over the top? It’s still an hour until the reality starts.”

“I’m nervous too....”

Ahead of the broadcast of episode one of HBS MTV’s idol reality It’s the New Black we huddled in the studio rubbing our hands together.

On a laptop screen a talk show with MCs cracking jokes at our expense played, and I laughed.

“It’s been a while since I’ve seen you this nervous.”

“Maybe because it’s reality. It’s our first reality airing on TV.”

“Now that you mention it remember at the year-end evaluation you were so jealous watching Street Boys. Remember? Right in front of the cameras....”

“Hyung, eat an apple. Apple.”

Bi-ju placed a neatly cut apple in my mouth.

While chewing, my phone buzzed. It was Deputy Hong from PR.

“-Quickly bring the members to the office”