In This Life, The Greatest Star In The Universe

What rotten luck. Seriously.

If there’s a Supplé newspaper, tomorrow’s front page will definitely read, “Leader Sunmo, is it okay to stay this hopeless?”

As I wore the look of someone who’d lost their country, laughter drifted around me.

Normally I’d be laughing along by now, but I couldn’t. This wasn’t right...

The recording starts at 7:30 p.m. With time for instrument setup and panel comments, our final performance won’t begin until well past 10 p.m.

Could I keep everyone’s condition in check until then? What was I going to do? I hadn’t meant to make this mistake, but I felt so guilty toward the juniors. I should’ve drawn better.

Staring at the scoreboard reading [5th – NewBlack “Life”], I wore only a broadcast smile.

“Yes, NewBlack drew first. Let’s continue drawing in order.”

Each subsequent singer drew a stick, was interviewed about their expected spot, and reacted to the actual order. When the draw ended, the board displayed:

[1] Lisa

[2] Cha Woo-hyun

[3] Jo Yuri Band

[4] Song Bo-hyung

[5] NewBlack

Because Lisa, who had drawn first last time, hadn’t gotten number one, she ended up with it this time. Jo Yuri Band, performing right after top-tier vocalist Cha Woo-hyun, looked suddenly ashen. Song Bo-hyung grinned, relieved he’d done well. Cha Woo-hyun simply said, “Second,” in a flat tone.

“Well done, everyone!”

After the draw, we left the stage. We each took drinks from our managers and began chatting about the order. Noticing my slump, Managers Min-gi and Won-seok patted my shoulder while handing me a drink.

On the way back to the waiting room, I scratched my head and said to the juniors, “I’m really sorry I drew last...”

If it were a solo performance, I wouldn’t mind. I could just show exactly as much as we’d practiced. But as leader, I kept feeling guilty.

“It’s okay, hyung.”

Bi-ju smiled. “You didn’t choose it. It’s luck. There are advantages to going last.”

“Right.”

The maknae’s eyes widened. “The hero always appears last. My dad always goes in last at meetings.”

“Hyung, lean into my shoulder. Here.”

As Jung-hyeon rubbed my shoulder, the two cheered me on, “Cheer up! You’ve got this!”

“Well, in a way it’s good.”

Ri-hyuk said, “It’s not strategic to go first. You promised Mr. Noh you’d win first place. Going first, you might be in good shape, but you’re easy to forget.”

“That’s true.”

“Even top contender Cha Woo-hyun is relatively early, and if we’re last... it could work in our favor.”

He spoke earnestly. “There are variables: condition, the quality of other stages... but drawing last could turn into a blessing.”

It made sense, so I nodded. Ri-hyuk poked my side. “Stop hanging your head like you’ve committed a sin. Old men doing that don’t look good.”

“....”

“And what’s with acting like you’re the only professional here? We can manage our condition just fine.”

“Right. We’re adults now.”

...as they drank chocolate milk like full-grown adults. Slurp... At that moment, Jung-hyeon was noisily scraping the bottom of his chocolate milk with his straw. Silence. We looked at each other, then burst into laughter. After a while, I tapped their shoulders.

“All right.”

I shook off thoughts of the draw and smiled.

“Let’s go get ready for rehearsal.”

New-Building Public Hall.

Rehearsal was in full swing under kaleidoscopic lights, the fixtures moving at the lighting director’s command.

“Okay, let’s start rehearsal.”

At the main PD’s call, a singer ascended the stage. After a quick check of movements, the music began. As the singer’s mellow voice filled the hall, cameras captured every angle. Below, managers filmed their artists’ performances on smartphones.

“Well done.”

A curt greeting and polite applause repeated as singers rotated on and offstage. The atmosphere was solemn, far from the cursing and shouting of the morning’s set teardown.

Challenge: Masterpiece Discovery was PBS Variety’s ambitious program with top staff and budget. The weight of high expectations and, above all, today’s first competition recording made every mistake unacceptable.

“Whew...”

Crew members took deep breaths or swallowed nervously. Their faces held tension and anxiety. Yet as the rehearsal progressed, their expressions began to change.

“Everyone...”

A writer clicked his tongue, pointing at the stage. “They’re incredible.”

“Right?”

“They’re way better than we thought.”

Everyone nodded. As the rehearsal went on, the crew’s nerves eased. Though the excitement of a live studio audience remained, their fear faded. No matter how good the planning and editing, what mattered was how the performers seized the audience’s attention. Today’s stages went far beyond passing grade.

Lisa, Cha Woo-hyun, Jo Yuri Band, Song Bo-hyung—all delivered brilliant shows, thanks to tight arrangements and outstanding skill.

“Wow...”

As Song Bo-hyung returned backstage with a jovial smile, the assistant director gushed, “Even in rehearsal, this level is insane. They’re not even at 100 percent.”

He tapped the cue sheet beside the main PD and asked cautiously, “PD-nim, what do you think?”

“I like it.”

For the first time, PD Baek Seong-hyeon’s stern face softened. “They’ve really prepared. If they bring this to the main stage, the audience reaction will be solid.”

“I feel like I already hear the crowd cheering.”

As they spoke, the final rehearsal approached.

“Next is NewBlack.”

The crew glanced at the cue sheet, expression nuanced. ‘They just had to go last.’ Though famous among rookie idols for their skill, NewBlack’s placement was tricky. The first four were highly experienced, top-tier vocalists. Now the relatively weakest rookie would do the finale—an odd feeling.

‘I’d be happy with even a practice video.’

We’d received their rehearsal footage to plan camera moves—that was a rehearsal clip, after all, shot until it was perfect. Who knew how they’d perform live?

“Hello!”

NewBlack respectfully greeted and stepped onto the stage. A line of handsome faces in varied styles caught the crew’s attention. PD Baek raised his mic.

“Let’s begin rehearsal.”

As he signaled, the performance began. The hall was dark, then lights came up one by one as NewBlack’s voices softly resonated.

“...?”

Startled, every crew member blinked. ‘They’re good.’ Contrary to expectations of basic competence, NewBlack fully captured the song’s mood on stage. Their main and lead vocals were on par with the seniors.

“They’re this good? It sounds amazing...”

“They must’ve practiced like crazy.”

Amid the crew’s surprise stood the most astonished: PD Baek Seong-hyeon, who’d personally scouted NewBlack.

‘What’s going on?’

He knew they were skilled—he’d seen them on PBS Music Cafe with Jang Sa-won and their radio “Wonderful Night” night-sea live—but this exceeded expectations.

‘They’re way better than I thought...’

To quell his doubts, PD Baek asked NewBlack’s managers nearby, “They must’ve practiced this song a lot, right?”

“Well...”

The manager looked uneasy. “There wasn’t much preparation time, PD-nim. Of course the members worked hard, but...”

“Really? They look great.”

“That’s....”

Seo Min-gi smiled gently. “They practice like their lives depend on it. Since debut, they practically live in the practice room.”

PD Baek realized his oversight: ‘Their material was a year or six months old. They’re a growing rookie idol group, not a finished act.’ He hadn’t considered their development.

‘I didn’t expect such ✧ NоvеIight ✧ (Original source) quality.’

Relief and excitement filled him: a finale-worthy show. It wasn’t just the vocals; the assistant director whispered, “The arrangement and performance are great.”

“Yeah. They nailed it.”

He marveled at the 2010s–vibe arrangement of the original. ‘He did this?’ PD Baek glanced between Woo-joo on stage and the arranger credit. Impressive. He’d thought the practice video was good, but the live energy was different.

He reflected: ‘An unexpected twist stage by a rookie idol... a great way to draw attention.’

He sketched editing ideas in his mind. Originally, they’d decide based on live reaction, but now, surveying the captivated crew, he was sure.

All around, the busy staff moved, but those standing still stared at the stage. A show that naturally draws eyes in rehearsal would surely thrill the studio audience.

‘I can’t wait.’

He smiled faintly, raised his mic, and said, “Good job, NewBlack. We look forward to the main stage.”

“Thank you!”

As NewBlack bowed and left the stage, a group of managers who’d been watching the rehearsal from the top rows began moving swiftly.

These were the managers calling the performers now.