In This Life, The Greatest Star In The Universe

Using the Master Cheat Sheet for In This Life, The Greatest Star In The Universe (updated 2025-11-28). All pronouns/names/style rules locked. Literal KR→EN translation begins.

[dun dun dun dun dun!]

With thrilling BGM playing, NewBlack members strode forward in solemn poses.

Like an action scene in a historical drama, their robes fluttered as the other four struck poses.

[flutter–!]

In the center, Wooju unfurled a scroll in his hand, and it rolled down like a memorial petition.

In elegant calligraphy:

[!! NEWBULBAEK !!]

[ddun ddun ddun ddun.]

The intense BGM continued, but for some reason it felt trivial, and the show host in the corner covered her mouth, turning her eyes away.

“ㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋ”

“Crazy entrance lol”

“What is this lololol”

“The show host is in danger of a broadcast accident from the start”

“I bet the directors and staff behind the camera are all laughing lol”

And indeed they were.

Behind the cameras at the site, those standing held their lips tightly sealed as the music died down.

The show host approached NewBlack and smiled.

“Alright, everyone! As you can see, KG Home Shopping has invited the greatest guests ever. Could you please introduce yourselves?”

“Yes!”

NewBlack smiled brightly and looked straight ahead.

“Then shall we greet them? One, two, three—”

“Hello! We are NewBlack~! Waaaaah!”

Clapping their own hands, NewBlack took turns introducing themselves.

Meanwhile viewers on the internet were buzzing.

“The most pointless time in the world”

“My grandma: What are they introducing again...”

“(A photo of a Pomeranian staring at the home shopping channel.jpg) Even my dog seems to recognize NewBlack”

“My older sister uses NewBlack’s ‘Wind Flower’ for prenatal music”

“ㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋ Grandma go off”

“But that grandma caricature in the background is so distracting lol she’s blurry but has huge presence”

“Agreed lol”

In the background, the overwhelming presence of Mrs. Kim Deoksun’s caricature spreading her hands like a demon lord was undeniable.

The show host continued.

“First, we’ll show a brief introduction video of the product we’ll be selling today!”

With the caption ‘Footage provided by TBC,’ scenes from Jusehan began to play.

From the moment the menu was created at Jusehan to the legendary Hellpyung rest stop.

Viewers buzzed again.

“The most pointless time ever 222”

“222222”

“ㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋ That’s accurate”

“When will they sell it? I’m dizzy”

“Please let me buy itㅠㅠㅠ”

Back at the site, the introduction of NewBulbaek continued.

“Hello, everyone. I’m Ri Hyuk, today’s guest show host.”

His pale face shone unusually bright.

Next to him, the handsome youths teased him.

“He’s been singing nonstop for days saying he wanted to host. He even sang a song begging to be the host.”

“But he sang well.”

“Yeah, he did.”

While the members quickly delivered their lines and averted their gaze, Ri Hyuk continued with a calm voice.

Yet somehow his excited tone made viewers laugh.

“Cute lol”

“He’s thrilled to be host”

“Usually Wooju does this, but he seems to love it”

“Why is Jiho looking at him so proudly lol”

“Jiho (19): He’s grown well...”

Ri Hyuk looked at the camera and said:

“So, for that reason, we’ve decided to sell the NewBulbaek set on home shopping along with the convenience store version NewBulbaek lunchbox.”

“Oh my, I see.” 𝕗𝐫𝐞𝕖𝕨𝐞𝗯𝚗𝕠𝘃𝐞𝚕.𝐜𝗼𝚖

The show host nodded, and the members smiled as they spoke.

“And we’ll also make NewBulbaek on site today and let you watch us taste it, so please look forward to it!”

“On today’s NewBulbaek Show, we’ll also perform a track from our full album~!”

After their lines, they moved across the set to begin cooking for home shopping.

The camera refocused on the show host.

“Everyone! This is a very special opportunity you don’t get often! NewBulbaek combines over forty years of the original bulbaek recipe with NewBlack’s special sauce! I’ve been so curious about the taste while watching TV.”

As her fluent words continued, viewers sensed that sales would start soon.

While viewers across the country moved their fingers,

“I must have it. The bulbaek and that container.”

The soufflé fans’ eyes burned with determination.

The food was one thing, but the NewBulbaek container itself was so pretty. Even selling just the container would be a hit.

They all took a deep breath.

“I’m strong at ticketing. I’m not weak.”

Trained by fandom, they mastered every first-come-first-served system. They broke standing room with perfect timing and always secured limited goods.

Friends and relatives teased them about ticketing skills.

The soufflé fans chuckled.

“What does it feel like to fail ticketing...?”

“In my dictionary, failure doesn’t exist”

“How would it feel to miss registration for mandatory courses?”

“I’ll get NewBulbaek”

“Guys, we need to call soon”

Every household had someone clutching a phone.

Soufflé fans prepared to access the internet order page or call as sales began.

But then.

“...Uh?”

Soufflé fans connecting online were bewildered.

“This crazy...!”

They said the servers were expanded, right?

But no.

They said they increased capacity?

KG Home Shopping had announced server expansion, but the screen in front of them stuttered white.

“Wh...what the heck!”

As fans panicked and tried their phones instead,

“My goodness!”

The show host let out a high-pitched scream.

“Orders are flooding in like crazy right now!”

“A-amazing!”

The displayed order count surged wildly, and the waiting time shown below plunged the fans into despair.

“Waiting time ten minutes...?”

Speed was critical, and ten minutes seemed impossible.

The hold message with classic music and NewBlack’s guide echoed over the phone, but it only made them more desperate.

“No...!”

They really need to buy this.

When five minutes after sales started had just passed,

[ding dong!]

Ding dong?

On TV the show host and NewBlack blinked.

As if to confirm, with a stamp sound effect the red [SOLD OUT] slammed on screen.

“So...sold out!”

“...Sold out?”

NewBlack’s stunned expressions left no room for laughter.

All viewers were frozen.

Immediately the internet exploded.

“Anyone succeed in ordering NewBulbaek?????”

“Any winners?”

“Who bought it? No one I know got it.”

“How many did they prepare? Home shopping guys must have tiny stock, right????”

“Agh...my NewBulbaek”

“Screw”

“My dream from today: become NewBlack’s manager”

“Honestly, getting a job at NewBlack’s company seems faster than eating it”

Soufflé fans felt similarly.

“What does it feel like to eat bulbaek?”

“The failure-less person is revising the dictionary”

“I can’t believe I lost”

“There was more to learn...the world isn’t easy”

While they stared blankly at the TV,

Fans looking up from their phones noticed people around them quietly smiling.

“Mom...?”

“Yes?”

“Did you succeed?”

“Yes.”

“Waaaaah!”

“Is she crazy hugging her like that?”

Mothers hugging their soufflé daughters.

Across the country, mothers who always kept the home shopping channel on displayed their power.

As chaos reigned around them,

Silence fell in the TV and on-site studio.

“Um...”

NewBlack, preparing the cooking, asked hesitantly.

“So do we go home now?”

“We prepared the cooking but...”

Having ended before it began, NewBlack asked with moist eyes.

Viewers, who had looked defeated, burst into laughter again.

“An empty tasting party”

“The promotional corner instantly became a scheme to taunt those who couldn’t buy it lol”

“NewBlack: You can’t have it? Then we will eat it!”

“From national idols to traitorous idols”

“If Junhyun eats it deliciously over there, a million haters guaranteed”

“I think KG Home Shopping should let NewBlack keep cooking and sell it on the spot if they don’t want hate lolol”

“Right lol”

“NewBlack just came to sell food lol”

“Well, since it’s come to this, I’ll enjoy NewBlack’s home shopping variety show”

The four underlings looked to Wooju wondering what to do, and Wooju locked eyes with the show host.

A brief silence.

As the host listened to direction in her earpiece, NewBlack carried on the skit.

“Yes! Once you draw your sword, don’t you first cut the radish? Let’s make NewBulbaek!”

“We’ll make it and send it to you~!”

“Not bad. Is there an extra pass for this?”

At Junhyun’s remark, the members laughed.

Leading the show with playful ease, NewBlack began demonstrating the process of making NewBulbaek.

“Junhyun, taste this seasoning sauce.”

“Yes, hyung.”

“How is it?”

“The seasoning is just right and I taste the hand flavor.”

“Well, we’ve been found out.”

If his glove ripped, Wooju’s fingertips were smeared with sauce.

Viewers burst into laughter.

“Lololol”

“They’re great at variety shows, really”

“No, I think Junhyun actually tasted the hand flavor”

“Hand flavor (literal)”

“They lead so ➤ NоvеⅠight ➤ (Read more on our source) playfully, maybe from lots of variety experience”

“My parents watching TV are like, ‘They’re good’ lol”

While NewBlack bought time by cooking bulbaek, the show host beamed and spoke.

“Yes! You must have been so surprised?”

She raised her hand.

“I didn’t introduce it properly earlier. What just happened was the first-round sale.”

“Of course! It was the first round~!”

NewBlack raised their fists and cheered.

The host, pleased by their response, winked and continued.

“That’s right~! Today’s NewBulbaek sales include second and third rounds! Each will run for twenty minutes.”

“Twenty minutes each!”

“Yes, ahem, yes! But please understand that delivery dates may be later than the first round.”

All viewers realized.

“So they’re making it right now!”

The internet buzzed again.

“Home shopping: Boss. / Factory boss: Yes? / Home shopping: Make it”

“At this moment the NewBulbaek factory: da da da da ra ra ra”

“ㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋ”

“Idols creating real jobs”

“K-pop’s added value: bulbaek, bread”

“Does anyone know where the factory is...?”

“No idea. Must hire Oompa Loompas”

With a countdown to the second-round sale on screen,

Viewers, eased by knowing there were more rounds, refocused on the broadcast.

[Interact with NewBlack via live text messages!]

Though a marketing ploy, the fervent Koreans were in full spirit.

As texts flowed in, NewBlack members, adept at engaging live, continued speaking.

“By the way, we haven’t introduced our album yet.”

While Wooju kneaded the meat vigorously, the others began talking about the album.

Soon the host beside them leaned in like an MC.

“You’re returning with a full album, right?”

“Yes, that’s right! It’s our first full album!”

“Waaaaah!”

While kneading, the host asked:

“What difference does this album have compared to the previous ones?”

“Hmm, I think it has a rather serious mood. It’s a bit more serious than ‘Falling Flower.’”

“With the color black as inspiration, we wanted to give it an overall weight.”

While Wooju prepared bulbaek in the background, members and host continued the album talk.

“ㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋ”

“Hey, look at Wooju in the back lol”

“(A screenshot of Wooju’s eerie face in real time.jpg) The leader hates the members”

“But the sound of kneading overlapping voices is so funny”

“Feels like a music cafe”

Then Wooju, who had been making NewBulbaek, laughed and said:

“No one is helping me at all.”

“We were promoting our album, hyung~”

Still kneading with trembling hands, Wooju resumed and album talk continued.

Viewers laughed anew for another reason.

The handsome young man’s eyes sparkled like jewels, then he looked sullen in the back—

“It’s exactly the same.”

Because it resembled the grandma caricature behind him.

“Literally identical lolol”

“What is that? Some genetic inheritance or something”

“ㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋ Like a Russian doll popping out”

“A scene from a comic: Great Demon Lord > Demon Lord > underlings”

Especially soufflé fans who vaguely knew what Wooju’s grandmother looked like laughed hardest.

“Bijoo-ya.”

“Yes!”

After Biju helped Wooju make NewBulbaek,

the official tasting time began.

Like a happy family at a home shopping tasting, the four NewBlack members sat around a table and tried it.

“Now, second-round sale time is approaching!”

Ri Hyuk and the host held cue cards and talked.

As NewBlack’s lively ‘Fireworks’ played as BGM, viewers nationwide laughed.

“Ha ha ha!”

“This is crazy, really.”

“What are they doing back there?”

Behind them, Biju and Junhyun tasted the food and then elegantly clinked their soda-filled glasses like toasting with wine.

Jiho and Wooju took a bite of bulbaek, their eyes shining, then transparent tears streamed down.

As if tasting food not of this world, their eyes were filled with affection.

“ㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋ”

“Stop wasting talent, seriously lol”

“Are those two variety-show members??”

“How do tears pop out like that?”

“That grandma caricature and those four underlings in the background make it impossible to focus on the people talking in front lol”

“I almost misdialed from laughing”

Soufflé fans captured screenshots with sad expressions.

“No, such pretty faces on a show like this...”

They wanted to keep it as a legendary meme, full of flashy captions like ‘NewBulbaek special sale,’ ‘Is this real?!’

Meanwhile,

As the director approached with a camera, NewBlack members at the table gave thumbs-up.

Simultaneously, the second-round sale began immediately.

“Yes! Second-round sale has also ended!”

Amid countless cheers and screams nationwide,

as the home shopping broadcast moved into its middle, various corners began: thank-you events, NewBulbaek Q&A, and more.

Though it brought laughter, NewBlack themselves gained another benefit beyond positive public image.

“What song is playing underneath? It’s good.”

“The song is good.”

Songs from NewBlack’s past albums played as background music for home shopping: debut singles, mini albums, special albums.

Some songs they heard in cafes—“Oh? This one?”—others were instantly catchy.

“Nice...”

On portal Q&A and communities, posts like “Who knows the song playing now?” shot up.

Idol communities likewise.

“Whoa.. what song is this??? It’s good, who knows the title? Traditional vibe kill”

“It’s ‘Flower Play’ from the ‘Falling Flower’ album!”

“The mood is great... It’s from the tour album, right? Title plzㅠㅠㅠ”

“It’s ‘Intro : Nineteen’ from the special album, sung by Ri Hyuk”

“NewBlack is a hit song party”

“Even the 2014 songs are really good”

“I got into them in 2016... we were all missing out on this greatness”

Fans, pleased that song titles were shared, smiled.

And with their tracks gaining public exposure, another effect followed...

“For viewers waiting for the third sale, we’ve prepared special stages today.”

“For you we perform ‘It’s OK.’”

Wooju strummed an acoustic guitar and sang, and the others joined with sweet voices.

Elderly viewers at community centers said:

“They sing well.”

“They’re good, those kids.”

“What was his name from Jeju Island who sang for old men?”

“Oh, No Jaehyun?”

Viewers everywhere enjoyed the album tracks with no choreography, unlike the comeback showcase.

Lyrics flowed on screen with introductions like ‘About conflicts between people...’ under the song titles.

Next to them were ‘Unprecedented benefits!’ captions.

“It feels odd but... I like it.”

As this broadcast was setting home shopping’s highest ratings ever, its impact surpassed music shows.

That immediately showed in metrics.

On real-time charts, streams of the songs performed on home shopping fluctuated wildly.

“What’s this? The chart behavior is weird?”

Antis, staring at the live graph, thought they caught something and started posting.

“NewBlack’s tracks are charting strangely”

“Yeah, it’s odd”

But reactions shifted.

“??? I said it’s odd”

“Of course, they’re performing on home shopping”

“What are you saying? Performing on home shopping?”

“Turn on TV~”

Saying that, they switched to KG Home Shopping channel and saw NewBlack harmonizing energetically.

“What is this?”

It was confusing to see an idol performing while making bulbaek.

As NewBlack’s home shopping appearance successfully promoted their album tracks,

the third sale began and emotions swung again.

“Waaaaah!”

“Aah! Couldn’t get it again!”

As those who secured the famous NewBulbaek and those who didn’t swallowed their regret,

“Thank you!”

“Thank you so much!”

NewBlack beamed, but the brightest smiles belonged to someone else.

Even more delighted than excited KG Home Shopping staff or pleased agency reps was...

“Ohoho~”

A clear, resonant laugh.

“Yes indeed~ It’s Deoksun’s world now~”

Dressed in silk robes with a cat on her lap, Mrs. Kim Deoksun flipped through a sports car catalog.