In This Life, The Greatest Star In The Universe

The veteran singer tilted his head at the PD’s awkward expression.

“Is there a problem?”

“Um...”

“You said to show a grandfather-and-grandson moment. Isn’t this friendship that transcends age?”

“Uh...”

What should he say?

No matter how you looked at a heated debate scene, it didn’t fit a human documentary.

“Could we use another member? Someone who feels as comfortable after Ri-hyuk...”

“If it’s that, it’s Non-alcoholic-kun.”

“Oh, Woo-ju-ssi. Please connect to that line then.”

“Understood.”

No Jae-hyun placed the video call.

Soon Woo-ju’s face filled the screen.

While the writers gasped and twitched their cheeks, trot music “Deok-soon-ah~~” played like background music.

“What’s that?”

– Ah, I got stuck on OST work, so I’m healing while listening to Deok-soon-ah.

At Woo-ju reaching out both hands rhythmically to “Deok-soon-ah~,” the veteran singer burst into a hearty laugh.

“You’re as lively as ever.”

– Haha.

Woo-ju smiled and asked.

– But Teacher, is there something you «N.o.v.e.l.i.g.h.t» wanted? You always contact Ri-hyuk first.

When I joked that public sentiment must be odd because of that, No Jae-hyun cleared his throat.

“Ahem, I just thought of you for a moment, so...”

– Ahaha.

Woo-ju’s eyes narrowed slightly before he asked.

– Is this going to air?

“Uh.”

– I can tell from the tone of your voice, Teacher.

The singer’s eyes opened wide.

“Is it that obvious?”

– No, I just saw your toe socks at the edge of the frame. I noticed staff at the station wore them a lot.

The cameraman, whose lens had unintentionally focused on his feet, looked embarrassed while the singer marveled.

“What an impressive eye for detail, Non-alcoholic-kun. I’ve learned something from you today.”

– Oh, sir... I have much to learn.

Woo-ju said earnestly.

– As it happens, I need your help.

“Oh, you do?”

The PD looked on with interest.

Unlike the sharp book discussion earlier, this warm scene of Teacher No Jae-hyun helping and Woo-ju expressing gratitude was promising.

– As I said, I’m working on the OST. Uh...? Assistant Seo, where are you going? You should stay here.

Woo-ju, smiling at someone nearby, turned his head.

– And I’d like your thoughts too, Teacher...

“Oops, my hand slipped!”

With awkward overacting, No Jae-hyun hastily pressed the end-call button.

He sighed as if he’d averted impending hardship, puzzling the production team.

‘He’s making a bomb instead of a song?’

Even mentioning composition seemed to have put the veteran singer off.

No Jae-hyun turned to them.

“What shall we do? Call the other lackeys too?”

“Um, I think we can just add narration at our discretion. The expression is more important. This footage is enough.”

“Good, that’s a relief. Then...”

Just as he was about to speak, his phone buzzed at the name “Kim Bi-ju-kun.”

“Oh ho.”

The old man’s face brightened.

“I’ll have this fellow answer. Bi-ju has a gentle touch. Ha ha ha.”

Beep.

– It’s me, Teacher.

A startled shriek made the production team burst into laughter and sit down.

Human Docu – My Life, My Path

Jeju Island Home

Except for some dialogue, most scenes are overlaid with narration. The warm expressions of NewBlack members and Teacher No Jae-hyun.

Narration: These days he has found a new joy—conversations with the grandson-like, adorable NewBlack members.

Ri-hyuk: How have you been? How is your health?

No Jae-hyun: I’ve been well, Ri-hyuk-kun. I received the letter you sent by email.

Narration: Bound by the program “Masterpiece Discovery Team,” he and NewBlack—members always worry first about Teacher’s health.

Woo-ju: Oh, sir... I still have much to learn. As it happens, I have something I need your help with.

Narration: A musical dialogue transcending age difference fills him with joy. They say he makes these calls every day. The veteran singer cheerfully pressing the end-call button—this is happiness itself.

Air date.

Entertainment news “PBS Human Docu ‘No Jae-hyun’ episode features surprise NewBlack cameo...” comment section.

– Pure warmth itself

– Teacher looked so happy during the video call. Live long!

– Aww... this made me want to call my mom

– The NewBlack members must be so good—they call their parents every day like that, not easy

– Healing video ㅠ watching it warms my heart

– Teacher lol, he looked a bit tired and his hands trembled though, right?

– Some people are twisted. Isn’t it obviously a heartwarming scene???

Time truly flies.

Not long ago I was in Taiwan making bread as my alter ego Zenmin, and now it’s March.

“Time really flies.”

“Right. In just nine more months you’ll be in your mid-twenties... aaah! Save me hyung!”

Twenty-four isn’t mid-twenties. Nonsense.

“I heard from hyung that if the number has an ‘s’ at the bottom like four, five, six, it’s mid. But three?”

“Uh...?”

Why are you more shocked than me?

“That was a loophole.”

“It’s not a loophole, it’s nonsense. Junghyun, if you’re going to keep talking nonsense, finish your kids’ drink first.”

“It’s tasty. This.”

I clicked my tongue at the bottle with a yellow-helmeted penguin striking a pose like “poyoyo.”

“Is it really tasty?”

“Yes.” 𝒇𝙧𝙚𝓮𝔀𝓮𝒃𝙣𝓸𝒗𝒆𝒍.𝙘𝒐𝒎

“Then one sip.”

I poured from the tumbler Bi-ju gifted and slurped. I’d underestimated the kids’ beverage, but it was surprisingly good. It tasted nostalgic.

Watching the desolate morning fields whiz by, I smiled. Perhaps because it was early March? It was still cold, I couldn’t tell much difference from winter.

– Deok-soon-ah~~

I hummed along in my earphones.

Today is Friday.

The third round won by Cha Woo-hyun has passed, and this morning we head to Paju for the fourth round song draw.

I feel at ease.

Last week’s OST work is nearly done, and preparations for the third album are almost complete.

While practicing the competition stage, we’ve been recording tracks in between.

After meetings with A&R, we agreed on the third album’s title. Instead of “Dark Matter,” we chose a wildflower name.

“I saw a pretty flower in the apartment garden. I didn’t even know it was there until it caught my eye...”

Thanks to Bi-ju’s suggestion.

“Even if someone feels lonely, someone unseen watches over them. Wildflowers are in a similar position, right?”

Everyone agreed.

At first we considered keywords like stars or space, but then realized “starlight” exists too. Having covered big themes like sea and stars, the fresh idea of a flower title won praise.

Of course one stalwart dissenter remained.

“How about satellite? We’re hardly aware of it, yet it circles the planet alone.”

“A fresh title, but our music is pretty, so it feels off.”

A&R’s reaction was simple.

“I narrowed the list recently, and the CEO liked Satellite and Dark Matter.”

“...Wildflower. Any wildflower is fine.”

The CEO’s foresight in naming Scarlet’s fandom “Curtain” convinced Ri-hyuk immediately.

“....”

Junghyun’s soft breathing made me look back. He’d dozed off, swaying with the moving car.

Next to him Bi-ju nodded off, and the two leaning heads made me smile.

Finally I glanced at Ji-ho, engrossed in flipping the script pages.

Hmm.

He scratched his cheek, furrowed his brows, and his ever-present pout appeared. His deep black hair framed his pale face.

He’d dyed and styled his hair for today’s cameo and upcoming third-album concept shots.

I looked at the lines Ji-ho read. Below scribbled notes and Post-its, only a line or two of dialogue appeared.

His role was a “police trainee.”

That small role asked the protagonist, “Isn’t this a chipped stone tool?”

Though only a few lines, our maknae researched the character thoroughly.

– Hyung, can I ask about military stuff?

He used to flee with “Eek!” at any mention of the military, so it was amazing he approached first.

He even sneaked out at dawn to practice lines in the living room.

Because of that, Bi-ju recently gave him two extra sausages in the morning. I had five.

“Hyung.”

Setting the script aside, Ji-ho asked me.

“Do you think I’ll do well?”

“Nervous?”

“A bit...? I’m not usually nervous, but today I feel like Ri-hyuk hyung. I keep thinking, what if I make a mistake...”

“That’s serious trouble.”

I joked.

“But you’re a natural in real situations. Even if you slip now, you’ll nail it when it counts. Just like at EverDream.”

While Ji-ho nodded, I continued.

“Didn’t you act all dramatic then too? Eating tteokbokki on the stairs, ‘I’m an actor...’”

“Junghyun hyung, jelly! Feed me jelly!”

“Mmm!”

Sweet-sour jelly poked into my mouth and I laughed.

The distant set grew closer.

Police station set.

“Hello, we’re NewBlack!”

“Hello...”

The staff looked haggard.

Their faces were so worn you could film a zombie police drama with just a bit of makeup.

“We shot all night last night.”

“Ah.”

“With the broadcast imminent, the schedule got tight. The director shoots more meticulously than ever.”

Chief Manager Jo explained to us and our road managers.

The drama-savvy Manager Jo from the actors’ team was helping us today.

Following his guidance, after greeting the executive director, staff, and extras, we moved to the waiting room to take a photo with the Lemon Ent actor.

Knock knock.

“We’re coming in, Noel.”

A faint reply came from inside.

Opening the door, a zombie lay on the sofa.

Cool gel sheets on the forehead, delicate features.

Seo Noel, roasting on an electric blanket, sat up.

“Ugh...”

Her slender face croaked “Oh dear...” then she greeted us.

“Hello...”

“Hi.”

Seo Noel managed a faint half-smile, neither laughing nor crying clearly.

“Hyun-woo.”

She reached out and the road manager on the couch instantly offered jujube juice.

Slurp.

Like a vampire drinking blood, she guzzled jujube juice to survive.

Then she groaned, struggling off the sofa, and I almost said “Please sit back down.”

“Not used to it, right?”

Manager Jo choked on laughter as I only smiled.

Seo Noel, playing Kim Min-ju—an economic crimes detective contrasted with Park Cheol-jin of the violent crimes unit in Slip.

She’d recently gained popularity as a bubbly supporting lead in a rom-com.

Every article photo showed her cheerful smile, but now she looked utterly exhausted.

I blurted out in embarrassment.

“You’re drinking jujube juice? I’m having red ginseng.”

“Oh, my mom sent this for me... cough oh dear.”

“Are you okay?”

We hardly spoke more. Feeling sorry to disturb someone so tired, we decided to snap the SNS shot quickly and leave.

“One, two...”

“Three.”

When we checked the photo, we were stunned.

“What, what is that?”

Although she’d looked like a zombie, in the shot the beauty in the middle beamed a bright smile.

She must’ve changed expression for half a second at the shutter click.

“Ah, that’s so warm.”

Watching Seo Noel return to the electric blanket to warm up, we blinked silently.

Drama work must be incredibly tough, I thought.

“Shall we get ready?”

“Yes.”

As Ji-ho headed to makeup, Manager Jo said.

“You all get ready together too.”

“Huh?”

We tilted our heads.

“But we have no roles. We’re just here to cheer Ji-ho on...”

“Oh, initially that was the plan. But Lee Kang-jin strongly insisted that for promotion, all NewBlack members cameo.”

“Really?”

Such generous news...!

Our eyes lit up as we asked.

“What are our cameo roles, Manager?”

“Oh, well...”

“Petty criminals, please sit there.”

“Yes...”

Somehow sad-looking, the NewBlack members in school uniforms lined up on police station chairs.

Pfft.

The maknae laughed into his hands. Managers further back leaned on the wall, stifling laughs too.

Zap.

The four handsome uniformed youths glared, and the production team whispered.

“They seem really close. I watched Girls on Top before—those girls didn’t say a word.”

“Maybe because they’re rookies.”

“They are good-looking. Even with light makeup their features pop.”

When talking looks, someone asked.

“Why did their costumes change to uniforms? What’s going on?”

“Originally they were to be a four-member delinquent gang. But the director changed it immediately.”

“Why?”

“When we had them act delinquent, it didn’t suit them—not threatening, too trivial...”

“....”

“So the setting was downgraded one offense level.”

“What offense?”

“They were supposed to order tteokbokki on credit at an internet cafe, skip without paying, and get caught.”

‘That setting was proposed by the maknae,’ someone added, and all eyes turned to NewBlack’s youngest.

In beige top and black bottoms, the trainee policeman fit the uniform like a model, chatting with Lee Kang-jin with a bright smile.

“He looks playful. I hope he can act properly. If he causes NG takes, that’s bad.”

“They said he trained in acting for a long time.”

“Well, idols these days learn acting. Can’t they handle a few lines for a cameo?”

Though the unexpected cameos sparked chatter, most soon lost interest. The trending Masterpiece Discovery Team didn’t matter much to exhausted staff—they just hoped no viral “idol cameo acting lol” memes would harm the drama.

“Did you prepare well?”

“Yes!”

Watching Wang Ji-ho nod earnestly, the executive director gave basic instructions.

“Let’s briefly match blocking and then go in. During rehearsal and the real shoot, stay natural. Don’t overact, don’t underplay.”

The director said.

“You can improvise. Just keep it natural and comfortable.”

“Yes, Director.”

The director called the assistant director to prepare.

‘I’m not sure this is okay.’

Promotion-wise it was good, but I wondered if an idol cameo was necessary in such a serious drama. The agency said not to worry about acting skills, though.

Rubbing his stiff shoulders, the director sat and watched as the assistant director explained the movements. Then rehearsal began immediately.

And...

“Hmm...?”

The director narrowed his eyes at the sight of the idol members matching scenes with the lead actor.

Interesting things began to catch his eye.