In This Life, The Greatest Star In The Universe

Next day.

I heard that Our Family Is Aliens had broken its own highest viewership rating.

“Our Alien Family breaks its own highest viewership record... ‘Agent Wooju Kim’s past uncovered’”

“Our Alien Family Episode 7 sets a new personal best at 25.7%... ‘All-time great sitcom’”

“‘Our Family Is Aliens’ ranks first in TV drama buzz”

On the ratings graph, it had been climbing steadily and this time hit its peak.

The reactions were equally positive.

“Seriously amazing. Kim Wooju’s acting was so good”

“TBC, get smart and prepare Season 2”

“Yesterday’s episode was so fun ㄷㄷㄷ Is the story moving towards Wooju finding his family now??”

“There’s no drama like this these days, seriously”

“It’s such a shame there are only five episodes left...”

Seeing all the praise in the article comments finally let me exhale.

“Phew......”

“How’s the reaction? Pretty good, right?”

“Yeah, the viewers’ responses seem fine.”

“I told you it’d be fine~ Why didn’t you trust me?”

It wasn’t that I didn’t believe it, but everyone—production staff and actors alike—had been anxiously waiting for that episode.

It was time to handle the main story’s foreshadowing properly, and that part was just as important as the sitcom fun.

Moreover, I felt a bit of pressure since, as a rookie actor, I had to carry that crucial part with my performance.

“Wooju, you did well.”

As soon as I heard the ratings news, I exchanged sighs of relief with the director over the phone.

“Reaction was good, right?”

“Yes, it was so much better than I thought—I was surprised.”

“It was possible because you did so well. Yesterday’s episode deserved all the praise. You really worked hard.”

“Thank you, director.”

Then the lead actors playing the alien family also sent messages saying great job and thanks for your hard work.

Teacher Song Hun, who appears only as the Maltese narration, also sent an encouraging message.

Song Hun [Our little Junseon’s acting was amazing! And you sleep so well, how do you do that!]

Wooju [Thank you, teacher]

There was no way I could admit I truly fell asleep.

Online, fans complimented me on how convincingly I acted drowsy, and I kept quiet about the truth.

Of course, it didn’t all stay buried.

@OKBOON_YANG

(A photo of someone fast asleep in bed surrounded by the alien family making V signs)

Our alien family’s maknae fell asleep.

Such a pretty, admirable friend.

I laughed at the alien family smiling all around me, wondering when they even took that picture.

I’d felt they were wonderful people since we first met.

It was sad that filming would end next month—I’d grown very fond of them already.

“Why do good people part so quickly?”

“I don’t know.”

Ri Hyuk closed the novel titled “I Blew Up My In-laws,” then said,

“Well, that’s why you make families, right? So you can stay with good people forever.”

“Oh......”

“There are some ~Nоvеl𝕚ght~ relationships where you end up together even if they aren’t perfect.”

He gave me, Jiho, and Junhyun a sideways glance.

“What’s that look for? What are you staring at?”

“Why are you looking at me? I do nothing except eat......”

I laughed at the two of them snickering at the maknae, then looked at Biju busy capturing screenshots on his phone.

“What are you doing?”

“I’m saving the clips that fans posted. Want to see?”

The second oldest was saving shots of my scenes from yesterday’s special.

I smiled warmly at his earnest faith as a follower, then asked Biju,

“Why don’t you just watch me live?”

“Hmm......”

Biju looked up at me, then, with a subtle expression, looked back at his screen.

“No. This is different.”

“......”

“There’s an ineffable difference, hyung.”

I wasn’t exactly sure what that difference was, but if he said so, it must be true.

Watching the photos Biju was saving, I picked up my phone and checked yesterday’s news.

“Jusehan reclaims Sunday variety No 1... ‘On-the-S live contest edge effect’”

It said that Jusehan had regained first place in Sunday variety shows after falling to second when On-the-S began live contests.

Although On-the-S set its own record, more viewers switched to Jusehan, resulting in the change.

With great drama reactions yesterday as well, it felt like a double celebration—I was in a wonderful mood.

It was as if a tailwind was blowing.

“Hello!”

At the cool end-of-September weather, fully into autumn, we arrived at a studio in Gyeonggi Province.

“Welcome. The roads weren’t blocked, right?”

“No.”

“What a shame. I wish they were.”

“Why~?”

“Imagine someone coming to the studio six hours before filming to spy on us......”

“Ha-ha-hat!”

The Nine music video, which surpassed 100 million views, and the director of the Flowerfall music video greeted us with moist eyes.

Today was the first day shooting the music video for the title track Empire from our first full album.

And—

“Biju, could you bring Junhyun for a moment?”

“Sure thing.”

Today was also Junhyun’s birthday.

I saw Biju lead Junhyun to an unknown flower in the studio yard and nodded at Wonseok hyung.

“Hyung.”

“Just a sec, I’ll bring it soon.”

Wonseok hyung sprinted off, and the music video director and staff asked,

“What’s up? Celebrating Junhyun’s birthday?”

“Yes!”

We laughed and asked,

“Shall we share a cake?”

“No~ Who would you stick it on?”

“No, it’s plenty, I think!”

At the maknae’s words, the staff laughed in thanks, when—

Clatter.

From outside the studio, company staff pushed in a cart with a three-tiered wedding cake on it.

It read [Congratulations on Your Birth!] and on the top tier was a model of Junhyun and me living happily ever after.

The staff covered their mouths with raised hands, and the music video director’s jaw dropped.

“Wow, this is what you see at weddings.”

“How’s it look? Enough, right?”

“You really celebrate birthdays on a grand scale.”

“Actually, we just wanted to eat it.”

Soon the staff decided to join the celebration, too.

When we turned on a live broadcast on W-App so fans could join,

“They’re coming in! They’re coming in!”

At first Junhyun walked in blankly, but then he spotted the cake and lit up.

His pure joy made the staff smile.

“Whose birthday is today?”

“Yours.”

“Oh, mine? September... twenty-sixth. Oh, that’s right.”

Counting the date, Junhyun smiled brightly, clasped his hands to his chest, and said to everyone around,

“Can you hear it? My heart pounding.”

Everyone burst out laughing.

While Biju placed a bear-patterned party hat on Junhyun’s head, the maknae smiled and said,

“All right, shall we sing? Ah, one two, ah one two three four!”

“Happy birthday~ to you~!”

Everyone clapped and sang.

“Let’s go.”

“Let’s do it.”

Ri Hyuk and I exchanged looks and turned the birthday song into an R&B harmony, and Junhyun clapped in delight.

“Now blow, hyung! Blow!”

“Okay.”

Junhyun blew and all the candles went out at once.

The breeze was so strong the candles bent like fallen utility poles, and everyone wore impressed expressions.

Then Biju exclaimed,

“You didn’t make a wish!”

“Oh, right.”

As Junhyun clasped his hands to make a wish—

Boom-boom-boom.

A faint thunder-like rumble drifted from outside, followed by the sound of heavy rain.

“What’s that?”

“A shower... maybe?”

Someone blinked and said,

“What, a rain ritual?”

“It’s raining.”

“It must be a coincidence. These things are.”

But even the staff saying that didn’t seem to believe it.

They had experienced Junhyun during Flowerfall, so they looked at him with clasped hands and swallowed.

Smiling, they said,

“Junhyun, this time wish for world peace.”

“World peace depends on you.”

Junhyun laughed broadly, then clasped his hands tightly and muttered earnestly like someone devout.

When he opened his eyes again, we asked,

“What did you wish for?”

“I asked for our full album to do well.”

And at that moment—

Perhaps the rain clouds passed, because a bright shaft of sunlight began streaming in through the window.

“...!”

That golden light felt like it needed a sacred BGM.

The music video director said,

“It’s got to be a coincidence.”

“It probably is.”

We smiled warmly as the crew returned to preparing for the music video shoot while we continued rehearsing in the waiting room.

As producers, we also checked the video treatment and shooting plans.

“This part has two options—tell me your opinions.”

“I think the second one is better. Since the concept emphasizes black and white overall.”

“And there’s also costume checks...”

We listened as the director explained, step by step, how the shoot would proceed and reached agreement.

And meanwhile—

The special guests who would open our music video arrived.

“Oh, you’re here. Hello!”

“Hi.”

We warmly greeted actor Lee Gyeonwoo, whose unreal beauty entered the studio cautiously.

He had appeared with us on the Jusehan special, and when we asked Producer Park Gyuh o to invite him as a cameo, he agreed immediately.

He handed us the script boards prepared by his manager.

“It’s my first time shooting a music video too... I thought I’d give it a try.”

He showed us several versions.

“Which concept do you prefer?”

“Number three.”

We chose the version that felt like an indifferent deity.

And then—

“Huh—!”

Screams erupted as another top star entered the studio.

She wore a flowy blouse and sunglasses, flaunting an elegant look.

“Wow, it’s really Kwak Sihyun...”

“It’s incredible...”

Just as Lee Gyeonwoo was the male top star, Kwak Sihyun was the female counterpart—earning 15 billion won a year just from endorsements.

As she removed her sunglasses, we approached and greeted her.

“Hello!”

“Oh, hi. We meet again.”

We’d met at last year’s year-end broadcasting awards.

She’s also under Lemon Entertainment.

When we invited Lee Gyeonwoo, we asked for someone to play his counterpart, and—

“She said yes, but on one condition.”

I heard it came straight from Lemon’s marquee actress.

“Thank you for appearing as a cameo today.”

“My pleasure.”

Kwak Sihyun pinched her nose and smiled, then waved at Lee Gyeonwoo as he approached.

“Gyeonwoo~ How have you been?”

“I’ve been well, sunbae. Hello.”

“You’ve gotten more confident, haven’t you?”

“I actually signed up for a speech academy recently.”

“The instructor must be very capable.”

Their banter felt like a skit, and I pursed my lips in amusement.

While the two actors—who’d already worked together on another drama—discussed the scene they’d shoot today,

I approached the music video director huddled in the corner, clutching her chest.

“Director? Are you okay?”

“...I feel like my heart is going to burst.”

Junhyun put his hand to my ear and signaled, “Heartbeat is normal.”

The director gasped as she watched the two stars, then asked us,

“How much more successful have you gotten since then?”

“We’re not sure ourselves.”

The director said this lineup was the best in her filmography—she almost fainted when the two actors arrived.

Even while the staff moved equipment and set pieces, they stared at the stars in a daze.

And after all that—

“Thank you for today!”

The two stars, changed into their costumes, sat opposite each other at a chessboard.

Dressed like Greco-Roman gods, they silently moved black and white pieces.

Though the scene had no dialogue, you could feel the fierce strategic battle between the two deities.

After the opening, we would film the scene where we appear in front of that chessboard.

Filming went smoothly.

“Cut!”

Because they were such master actors, the cameo shoot—including setup—took only thirty minutes.

“Thank you for your hard work!”

After wrapping, the two actors approached us about today’s appearance fees.

They were friendly to us, but there was another reason they agreed to appear.

“You said you like puzzles and drawings.”

“Yes.”

“Here, these are our goods.”

We gave Lee Gyeonwoo a NewBlack drawing book and a NewBlack World puzzle, which he liked.

We also gave Kwak Sihyun some—she seemed pleased.

Then their eyes turned to what we had beside us.

“...”

When they saw it, they looked to us, and we nodded seriously.

Smiles spread across their faces.

A few hours later.

Fans browsing the web nearly spat out their drinks.

“...What is this?”

News about NewBlack’s MV shoot had been posted.

“Kwak Sihyun · Lee Gyeonwoo to co-star in NewBlack’s new MV... ‘Unprecedented scale’”

“NewBlack full album MV to feature cameo appearances by Kwak Sihyun and Lee Gyeonwoo”

“New Black’s new song promises all-time cameo lineup”

Despite the confirmed appearances, the drama world buzzed that two top stars would appear in an idol’s MV.

‘What is this impossible lineup...?’

At first it was unbelievable, but it seemed the cameos were really happening.

My heart fluttered as a fan.

‘What are they planning?’

I marveled, wondering what song could afford such cameos.

Like the fans, the general public reacted in astonishment.

“OMGㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋ”

“Look at that classㅋㅋㅋㅋ”

“Next month’s comebacks will all get postponed”

“This is insane... even one cameo would be huge, right??? Kwak Sihyun and Lee Gyeonwoo in an idol’s MV”

“Black Boys, what are you up to”

Another question arose.

‘Why did they appear?’

And what about their fees? Maybe they did it as a favor?

Then the mystery was quickly solved.

“Lemon Entertainment replaces Kwak Sihyun and Lee Gyeonwoo’s fees with 2 kg of NewBlack”

At that headline, everyone understood.

“NewBlack is king”

“ㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋ 2 kg of NewBlack”

“Aren’t those actors’ endorsement fees at least 1 billion won each??”

“From now on, 1 kg of NewBlack = 500 million won”

“Isn’t gold about 700 thousand won per gram???ㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋ”

“Shocking: NewBlack seven times more expensive than gold”

“Ahㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋ”

“It’s nice being a top star—one cameo and you get NewBlack”

“My dream is to be a top star from now on”

“Do you think the actors came just for the NewBlack??ㅋㅋㅋㅋ”

Soon “Which of these is more expensive than the same weight of gold?” jokes appeared online.

[Hmm? Is this your entire fortune?]

(A still of Wooju smiling at the camera holding a spoonful of NewBlack.jpg)

“ㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅁㅊ”

“We’ve entered the NewBlack standard era, not gold standard”

“People who ate at Hell Pizza for 5 thousand won are the real winners—they were geniuses”

“2 thousand times increaseㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋ”

“The legendary food you have to be MV-level to eat”

“People who went to Hell Pizza, why did I ever look down on them? They were sages”

“Seriously wishing for its release soon”

Seeing the hot online reactions again, the company staff speeding up NewBlack production redoubled their efforts.

“Damn......”

A certain alley in Gunsan was paralyzed by customers, when another astonishing piece of news reached NewBlack’s fans.

“Huh...?”

It concerned an American top star.

“Hailey Blue secretly arrives in Japan... ‘I’m here in hanbok~!’”

“Hailey Blue: ‘I just stopped over to buy souvenirs I couldn’t get last time; destination is Korea’”

“Hailey Blue: ‘They complained about my clothes before, so I wore them again... I’m petty’”

The top star who’d shaken Japan in hanbok had come to buy a few souvenirs and was headed to Korea.

Reporters rushed to Incheon Airport, and in a brief interview Hailey Blue said,

“I came to meet NewBlack.”

The Supples widened their eyes.

‘What’s this? Is it that song from before?’

Another mystery was unfolding they didn’t yet know.

Watching the TV screen, NewBlack members stared blankly.

“Huh...?”

Watching Hailey Blue’s arrival, they looked at each other.

“What is this?”

“When she said she’d come soon, I guess she meant today.”

“...!”

They were startled by a development they hadn’t even been aware of themselves.