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.

Wang Jiho tilted his head.

‘What’s with them?’

The older members looking at him had eyes full of worry and concern. Were they worried he might get hurt on stage.

To show he was healthy, he grinned and said,

“Didn’t I seem really mature?”

“You did.”

Biju hyung smiled gently and patted his back.

“Good job. It must have been hard to put the stage together in a short time, but you led your teammates well. You were the most eye-catching on stage too.”

“Hehehee.”

As expected of Biju hyung.

He grinned goofily at the praise that pinpointed the parts he’d cared about in the performance, then turned his gaze.

“How was I?”

Praise me. Praise me!

When he looked at them with those eyes, the other hyungs started giving compliments. The sight of Seo Ri Hyuk praising him reluctantly was his favorite.

—Jiho. Do you know what the happiest kind of bow is? It’s the one where you lie flat and receive it.

Dad was right, as always.

‘I somehow didn’t fight with Gil Chaegyeong either. I didn’t lose to Ha Hyeon in dance, and I didn’t really lose to Yun Giwon in vocals.’

It was a stage he was proud of in many ways.

As soon as he came down from the stage, he monitored with the phone Wonseok hyung handed him, and even in the video he stood out the most.

‘It’s because I’m with hyungs like these. I’m good too.’

It was always unfair getting shoved around among monster-like hyungs.

Every time antis said he was obsessed with acting and neglected practice, that he didn’t even stand out on stage, it made him so frustrated.

Anyone who saw this stage would definitely shut up about that.

He was thinking that while watching the stage VCR.

“Jiho.”

Wooju called him softly.

“Yup?”

“There’s one hundred billion here and there’s me. Which will you choose?”

“Out of nowhere?”

“Yeah. Out of nowhere a mountain spirit appears and holds a hostage situation, thrusting out a golden axe worth one hundred billion at market price.”

Wang Jiho lifted his head a little. In the fluffy cloud floating in his mind, Sun Wooju was trapped in the mountain spirit’s lair.

No.

It didn’t match the imagination.

—Jiho! I’m fine!

In his imagination, Wooju hyung started moonwalking on the pond, making a fool of the mountain spirit.

“Mm.”

Returning to reality, Wang Jiho looked around.

At the question of whether he’d pick one hundred billion or Sun Wooju, the other three were also staring at him with sparkling eyes.

‘What is this.’

It felt like one of those personality tests on the internet.

“Can I be honest?”

“Yeah.”

“Of course! You can be honest.”

After thinking, Wang Jiho gave his answer. Wasn’t it the most obvious conclusion.

“Wooju hyung.”

“Right?”

When his hyungs’ faces brightened, he replied,

“Wooju hyung has higher potential. One hundred billion is one hundred billion, but Wooju hyung is a chicken that lays infinite gold.”

“......”

The hyungs’ complexions began to darken.

“?”

“......”

“?”

The maknae had no idea why his hyungs had been acting like that since earlier.

With the joint stage by Twinkle’s 98-line, which Jiho was part of, Act 1, [Mission 1], came to a close.

[pam pam pam pam~!]

With a noisy fanfare, “Mission success!” popped up.

“Wow. Needlessly high quality......”

Sounds of admiration rose from the singers’ section, and the next VCR came up immediately.

MiF members were saying, “We succeeded! The water is slowly rising!” and that they would try doing something extra.

The second part of Part 1 that followed right away was a hip-hop-related corner.

“It’s my turn to step in.”

As Junghyun rolled his shoulders, cracking sounds echoed. When he clenched his fist, there was even a tight cracking sound.

“Junghyun.”

“Yes, hyung.”

“You’re going to do a stage, right?”

“Yes.”

“Okay. Do well.”

Junghyun grinned and stepped down from the singers’ section.

Act 2 was the hip-hop corner.

A joint stage by rappers who had risen to the top of the charts as this year’s audition programs boomed followed. Over an intense beat, raps poured out like a machine gun.

Even though they were speaking fast, the lyrics coming across clearly was always amazing, somehow.

When the rap went, If my fingertips just brush it, it hits the lower limit, Ri Hyuk told me.

“I saw that in an article. He lost all his money on stocks and made that rap.”

“No wonder it’s full of soul.”

I applauded the rapper who was pouring out a rap of resentment with damp eyes.

Next came a song by an idol rapper with a ballad singer, and the next in line was Junghyun’s stage.

—Next up is a joint performance by rappers.

After GirlsOnTop’s Ju Hana, who was MC for the music festival, Eunseong spoke in a fresh, lively voice.

—The rapper line of Street Boys, who heated up this year! And Killer Bee, the winner of “Rapper School”!

“Waaahhh!”

—NewBlack’s Junghyun!

“Grrrrrr!”

While other singers around us chuckled, I stared at the lights for no reason or turned my gaze off into the distance.

It definitely wasn’t because I was embarrassed.

—They’ve gathered under the name “Corner Kids”! Please enjoy their stage now!

—Don’t change the channel! Go go go~!

The VCR rolled right away.

The rapper line of Street Boys composed of Hanjoh, LB, Rex, and a famous rapper rumored to resemble our CEO.

And Junghyun were all in one place.

“My gosh......”

Biju exclaimed.

“Junghyun looks gentle, hyung.”

“Amazing, isn’t it.”

Among us, Junghyun is the one who looks the fiercest, but standing among those guys he gave off a holy aura.

Soon the VCR showed them having a meeting and choosing a leader.

—Oh.

Like drawing Excalibur, Junghyun raised a spoon he’d pulled, and CG light gathered around him, drawing laughter.

With the bent spoon, Junghyun was automatically acclaimed as leader of “Corner Kids.”

Ri Hyuk burst out laughing.

“What’s so funny?”

“No, hehe, it’s a pun with the Stone Age. You know, ‘guseokgi’.”

“......”

At the sight of Ri Hyuk giggling to himself, saying Stone Age, I focused back on the VCR.

It ended with them preparing their rap performance seriously, and then a loud siren blared on stage.

Red lights swung here and there as if an alarm had gone off.

“Oh......”

LB, who was on the protruding stage holding a money bag, set the bag down, and thick smoke began to spread.

As the siren gradually died down—

On the stage filled with thick smoke, six silhouettes appeared. Soon Hanjoh in sunglasses appeared with an intense beat.

English rap poured out like a machine gun.

Money I love money so much

Money money money money money

Was the original song Money by the American rapper Big Morgan.

It seemed like a song that might be borderline to pass PBS standards, but since it was in English it must have slipped through.

LB jumped out right after and shouted that he wanted money, too.

“He’s good.”

“Street Boys are all from the underground.”

True to the word that most of the rap line were underground, their solid rapping skills stood out.

They showcased an intense rap they couldn’t usually show because of idol performances, and it felt like a one-two punch delivered by rap.

After about thirty seconds of money money money, the Street Boys rap line went “Yo!” and introduced Junghyun.

—Waaahhh!

Our rapper was sitting on a prop trash heap in an area on one side of the stage set up like an alley.

In contrast to Street Boys’ intense rap, a smooth mid-low voice rap flowed out.

With one hand covering one eye, Junghyun, face shadowed, delivered his rap with a languid vibe.

When the Street Boys sitting nearby gave a thumbs-up, I smiled and nodded.

‘He’s good.’

‘Junghyun hyung is good at his main job.’

His image with the general public is unique, but when it comes to his main job, our kid is insanely good.

“Is the concept kids of the street?”

“Seems like it.”

After Street Boys looking like they were on the run somewhere, and Junghyun rapping calmly in an alley—

The rapper Killer Bee appeared.

The Street Boys rap line, who had been going arrr, introduced him, and the rappers branching in three directions gathered in one place.

The image of Junghyun sweeping the stage with a mic under the lights pouring down stuck in my head.

“Junghyun was a rapper too.”

“He was a rapper. Junghyun hyung.”

Watching Junghyun naturally blend in among the other rappers, I felt strangely moved.

He looked kind of cool too.

By some twist of fate we all became number 7 Entertainers of the Year, but......

“That kid’s improved a lot. Hyung.”

“Looks like it.”

It felt different from when I listened to the rap part of the song I composed.

I did feel he was good on the mixtape he released under the alias Sweet Potato this time. Hearing it live, it really hits.

Since we all take dance and vocal lessons every day together, you don’t really feel the improvement there.

This performance showed how much Junghyun, who practiced rap separately, had leveled up, and a smile spread on my face.

‘Dobby levels himself up on his own.’

‘Nice!’

For the finale, Junghyun tossed the mic up to the sky, then turned around to exit and snatched the mic cleanly.

As his hand was close-upped, the lights went out.

—Waaahhh!

Laughter flowed at an ending move only Junghyun could do.

Right after, Part 1 ended and it was commercial time.

During the break between Parts 1 and 2, we returned to the waiting room corridor.

While the other joint performance members wiped sweat with towels, I went to find Junghyun, who was chewing jelly.

“Hyung.”

Junghyun smiled and asked,

“I did well, right?”

“Insane. Did you do the arrangement too?”

“Yeah.”

Junghyun scratched the back of his head and smiled sheepishly.

“I did a bit.”

“Wow. We’ll have to increase your share when we work next time. Doing this well......”

“......”

Junghyun silently stared at the jelly.

“This well......”

“......”

As if seriously pondering whether a whack with this would knock a person out, I trailed off.

When Junghyun smiled warmly again, the other three hopped and went wooaang.

Junghyun looked happy today too.

“Ah. There you are.”

Maybe he’d been walking around looking for me for a while, Taehyun approached with a grin.

“Time for us to get ready to go on stage.”

“Already?”

“Only about ten minutes left. We should match the moves a bit more.”

Considering the time to change outfits and check makeup, it was time to start getting ready.

A corridor crowded with singers.

I waved to the kids and shouted,

“Hey! I’m heading out!”

And in that moment—

The Wonder Child members standing nearby went oh and bent at a right angle.

“Please go and come back!”

Like dominoes, the rookie group Trickster from TJ Entertainment hastily shouted too.

“Please go and come back, sunbae!”

Maybe they found that funny. The Scarlet members in the back of Trickster giggled and waved.

“Come back~”

“Have a good trip through space.”

Seeing our company colleagues clutch their stomachs laughing, with signs that TeenSpirit and TNT were about to join in too, I hurriedly left.

“......”

I fanned my face with my hand that felt hot.

“Hyung, slow down a bit!”

“......”

“We should go together!”

Ignoring a certain Mr. Han who burst out laughing and followed, I hurried my steps.

The back of my head burned hot with the laughter behind me.

“Ah. I’m dying of embarrassment.”

“Why.”

Taehyun grinned slyly.

“I’m just jealous.”

“What are you jealous of.”

“You need to have lots of friendly groups for that to be possible. It’s way better than letting the mood get awkward......”

“You caused a lot of trouble when you debuted, didn’t you.”

Taehyun, who had been talking like he was telling a story from experience, scratched his cheek.

“Really, everyone’s become nicer these days.”

“Yeah?”

“When I debuted, the vibe was no joke. That was around the end of that era... a senior at the music show even called everyone to assemble once.”

“Goodness.”

It felt like seniors in the army saying, “There used to be bad practices before you came,” smiling warmly.

“These days it’s also because you and the members make the atmosphere good.”

“Is that so?”

“To be honest, in a position like NewBlack’s now, as long as you don’t act cranky, you’re good seniors and juniors.”

I chuckled quietly at Taehyun’s words.

Soon, as he put on the head mic for the stage and chatted, Taehyun spoke less.

Because recently at the HBS Music Awards there’d been a problem with audio output and the singers’ random conversations went out instead.

“Let’s go.”

We waited for our turn among the steel frames backstage.

Right above us, GirlsOnTop were performing a group dance to a hook song they released in the summer.

Maybe because they were around the same debut year. Taehyun’s eyes deepened for a moment.

“Well......”

Then he smiled bright.

“Still, we’re doing a stage together once.”

“Ah. True.”

I remembered when the debut team had been formed and we all huddled together every night in the living room to talk.

We debuted.

We tried for number one on music shows, won a grand prize, went on a world tour. Those were times filled with hopeful stories.

We used to talk about year-end stages then too.

The situation turned out completely different, but I liked the fact we were standing on a stage together.

“Let’s do well.”

When he bumped his fist against mine—

A staffer wearing an intercom shouted.

“We’re going up now!”

“Yes.”

We greeted the GirlsOnTop members coming down and stepped onto the dark stage.

Right away, a VCR rolled from behind us.

—Okay, next is a surprise collaboration performance by two singers famous for performance~

Even before Kevin, the MC, finished his line, a cheer rang out.

It was the cheer of fans who had been waiting for a collaboration between a popular member of TNT and Spaceship.

There was a similar reaction online.

—Heol they’re doing it now

—Is it Han Taehyun and Spaceship collab?? omg omg

—I’m a Ta fan but I was definitely going to watch this

—Huh but why is it Spaceship+Han Taehyun? If it’s performance from NewBlack isn’t it Biju??? Honestly in dance it’s Han Taehyun>>>>>Sun Wooju tho

—The comparison brigade is here already sheesh..

—Judging from what trended last time the topicality is insane

—Looking at the collab quality today it seems safe to get your hopes up lol this is so good

—Gonna be sick lol

There were malicious comments in the middle comparing dance skills or mentioning popularity and position.

‘Let’s crush them.’

‘Let’s crush them.’

Without even needing to say it, the fandoms of Soufflé and Han Taehyun buried them with far more comments.

The overall response was mostly favorable.

They had been trainee peers early on, and both sides had the image of working like oxen three hundred sixty-five days a year.

To show that, the practice volume in the video looked brutal.

—If I go there I’m seriously confident I’d wither away and die

—What do you even call that?? Grinding each other down..? It feels like mutual sharpening

—Oh but their dance styles are really different

—Spaceship dances cleanly with perfect balance using core strength and Han Taehyun is the type who crams in heavy technique

—When did Han Taehyun’s hair color change? Is his hair okay

People marveled at the sight of the two idol members practicing with wild eyes, then laughter followed.

[Taehyun, this is a gift.]

[Ah......]

When a junior singer shyly handed over a tracksuit prepared for practice, the senior singer snapped.

[You want me to wear this?]

[Are you rejecting a junior’s gift right now?]

[Ha......]

At the tracksuit full of tacky Rudolph-style colors, the comment window exploded.

—This is why you have to pick your friends well

—Public opinion turning cold instantly lol

—lolololololololol

—Look at those colors lol if there’s a Santa Association they’d sue for defamation

—Spaceship’s character controversy added

—His blood relative is a designer but surprisingly the review says it’s okay.. it’s just the matching that’s bad, they say he has sense

—Where do you even buy clothes like that

—Shop owner please shake the carrot. We will go sell it out

After a moment of laughter at Spaceship forcing the senior singer who was practicing with a gloomy face to smile—

[Our collaboration stage!]

[Please look forward to it a lot~!]

With that interview scene of the two, the VCR ended.

Right away, the dark stage of ✧ NоvеIight ✧ (Original source) the Ilsan KINTEX venue was shown on screen.

At both ends of the T-shaped stage, Han Taehyun and Sun Wooju stood separately.

‘Oh.’

The lights on Han Taehyun’s side came on immediately.

A tall, handsome man in a black suit.

He wore a gentleman’s hat low, and the corner of his mouth smiling was caught in close-up.

He held a cane with both hands and spun it, and the choreography unfolded.

‘He’s really flexible......’

In time with the rhythm of a heavy bass riff, his shoulders traced smooth circles.

From the footwork to the legs, waist, upper body, and up to the nape.

It wasn’t separate moves, but a movement as if his whole body was connected into one.

Meanwhile, graphics moved on the screen at the back. Every time he flicked the cane, a popping VCR effect appeared.

‘How do you match timing on something like that?’

After Han Taehyun’s solo ended, freely moving the magic cane, there was a cheer, and this time the right-side lights turned on.

Likewise, only the red lips were visible under the hat brim on Sun Wooju’s face.

NewBlack’s leader, who spun the cane with one hand, unfolded choreography full of smooth curves.

A solo that held a perfect balance between technique and cleanliness.

Even ordinary viewers watching the stage on TV were startled.

“Oh my, he dances well.”

“NewBlack is famous for all of them dancing well. Dad.”

“He really is a singer. And what was it. Junghyun was rapping earlier too!”

“Yeah. Because he’s a rapper......”

“Wow, but how do they hit that exactly.”

Every time the cane cut through the air, appropriate CG effects flowed on the screen behind.

It was while we were marveling at that.

“Huh......?”

—Huh?

The same reaction came from both online and offline.

Because Wooju did a turn and suddenly floated the cane in midair.

Viewers who had set their remotes down rubbed their eyes.

“......?”

Everyone’s eyes went round at the sight of a cane dancing in the air.

—What is that????

—Huh

—Spaceship is using evil magic!!

—What is the Ministry of Magic doing, he’s using magic at a year-end stage right now

—Don’t cheer, say wow what is that lolol

—Idol fans becoming muggles in real time lolololololol

—Muggle: Now which of us is the muggle??

—No but how did he do that

As Spaceship smiled and controlled the cane, all the viewers gaped with their mouths open.

Right after, the minute-by-minute ratings exploded.

On real-time search, “Spaceship cane how much” and “Spaceship cane where to buy” started climbing.