In This Life, The Greatest Star In The Universe

Same time.

Viewers who were watching the Korea Arts Awards on TV nodded.

“NewBlack deserve it.”

Since this wasn’t a year-end broadcast network awards show but a film-leaning ceremony, the audience skewed to high-engagement viewers who care a lot about film, drama, and variety.

To them, the win felt obvious.

NewBlack’s variety show run last year was massive.

The highest-rated long specials on both Mister Producer and Jusehan were the ones that collaborated with NewBlack.

Especially the episode at Hellpyeong Service Area where the NewBlack instant noodles went on sale—it was picked as the “best one minute” of all variety shows last year. 𝙛𝓻𝒆𝓮𝒘𝙚𝙗𝒏𝙤𝙫𝓮𝒍.𝓬𝒐𝙢

Not just their broadcast-network variety wins—there was their work on My Hometown Right Now and on MeTube, too.

Whichever variety awards show you picked, NewBlack were worthy of a big prize.

“Good for them.”

Variety diehards smiled with satisfaction.

They were idols people genuinely hoped would pick up “at least one” variety-related award—and they finally did.

Right after NewBlack’s name popped up for “Best Male Variety Performance,” the portal comment sections started buzzing.

┕ Not “excessively” but “truly.” Ri Hyuk says the wording is irritating.

┕ Jiho: “If you’re irritated, fix your posture.”

┕ Wow, that was a whole episode of NewBlack TV lol

It turned into a strange scene where regular users were cracking jokes like they were possessed by the members.

Souffles lurking in stealth, filling the box with “grats grats,” smiled.

“Hmmm...”

Like someone holding a can of bug spray while watching the spot a roach might crawl out of, Souffles kept refreshing the comment feed—but nothing special popped up.

Sorted by newest, any personal attacks or sneers were simply ignored.

Even the top comment was clean.

Just as Souffles were about to hop to other communities after looking at a comment section that had become a playground with zero controversy—

Like spies infiltrating a muggle village, they were on inspection when...

[Controversy: NewBlack win Best Male Variety Performance]

Gulp.

“What... what is this.”

The moment they clicked, a short clip sprang to mind.

A screen divided into five.

NewBlack’s five-person screen expands as one, and like table cells shrinking in a word processor, the other four nominee screens all get small at once.

“Huh?”

[Controversy: NewBlack win Best Male Variety Performance]

(A situation where five screens grow while the other four shrink.gif)

There are claims they won by outnumbering the others

Souffles monitoring a muggle humor forum checked the flow of replies and burst out laughing.

“This needs to be shared. Time to promote~”

They shyly pressed “Post.”

Within moments, dozens of identical threads were posted across idol communities.

“!”

Like tapping the wall with a cute little fist, except then thousands of tiny fists went tap-tap-tap-tap! and the wall crumbled.

“......”

All but the very first original post disappeared again.

Playing it off like organic chatter, acting like they knew nothing, Souffles clapped their hands in private and rejoiced.

Their main job is singing, not variety.

But even at a grade-school field day, if your team wins they hand out little candies or rice cakes, right?

Souffles had watched their boys grind on variety with no special trophy in sight; this felt like rain in a drought.

“This year, let’s definitely break past #7. Guys!”

“Now the goal is #6.”

“Until the day we’re #1... forever...!”

It was a fandom running a little strangely.

Following Best Male and Best Female Variety, the Variety Program Award went to Mister Producer.

Chief director PD Shin Murok went up, gave his trademark downcast-face acceptance speech—

The ceremony moved straight into Culture/Education.

Compared to film and drama—which get split into a ton of sub-awards—this side was decidedly simple.

A male and female actor came out as presenters; the nominees for Best Culture/Education Program were revealed right away.

“Oh. We’re up first.”

We appeared first.

Junhyun and I lifted and heaved a stone “No Foreigners Allowed” stele upright; then clips rolled of us introducing royal ritual music.

“Rrrroaaaar!”

Souffles greeted it with cheers while the narration came in.

Everyone on MeTube calls the content “History Expedition,” but its actual title is Exploring Korean History with NewBlack.

It originally started at HBS as Soak It Up! History Expedition, so we had to change the name.

After relations soured, HBS made such a fuss—saying if the words “history” or “expedition” appeared anywhere they’d sue.

We’ve mended fences completely now, of course.

...and we all moved on nicely.

Anyway, after weathering all that, our history series still gets played by history teachers in elementary and middle schools every class.

Like a national-history version of movies such as Core or Tomorrow that make students’ eyes sparkle in science period.

Clips of a current-affairs exposé show, I’ll Live in Nature, a special docu, and other ✪ Nоvеlіgһt ✪ (Official version) culture/education programs flashed by in quick sequence.

The male presenter hurriedly corrected the title as he read it.

“Waaaaaa!”

With Souffles and the audience answering in applause, PD Sung—who’d been sitting far back in the staff section—shuffled up in little steps.

Since we co-plan the series, we followed.

“PD, we won.”

“Huh...”

PD Sung looked a bit spaced out, like he couldn’t believe this was real.

He’s the PD who’s worked with us since Season 1 of the original kids’ program Soak It Up! History Expedition, and now on NewBlack TV.

I guess winning at such a big ceremony didn’t feel real.

He rattled off thanks—Lemon Entertainment folks, the studio LM under it, and so on—and wrapped up, voice quivering.

As we patted the director on the back and stepped to the standing mic, a soft laugh went through the hall.

While Jiho behind us kept going “Director, stop!” “Tsk!”, we closed cleanly by thanking viewers and subscribers.

“You’ve worked so hard, Director.”

“Snfff.”

“Now you’ll be working even harder.”

“Stop.”

The tears shut off like a haunting spirit had fled.

Back to his senses, the director came down holding the trophy; we set our hands on his shoulders and smiled.

“Let’s keep going together.”

“Forever...”

When good talent lands in your hands, you don’t let go.

“Hic!”

We burst out laughing at the director’s sudden hiccup.

After the grand prizes in TV and film were awarded, the Korea Arts Awards finally came to a close.

“Congrats on the triple crown! Blackies!”

“Thank you.”

“NewBlack! Congrats!”

We were shaking hands with seniors and juniors when an announcement came over the speakers.

As men and women in tuxes and dresses found their spots, we headed for the edge and took our place.

In the center stood writer Oh Jeonghee, who won the TV Grand Prize, and director Gyeong Hyuntaek, who won the Film Grand Prize.

On the riser behind them were writer Hwang Jeongyeon and director Hwang Jeonggu, whose Our Family Is an Alien took the TV Program Award. People near the middle looked around, then beckoned to us.

“Why are you standing off to the side like that?”

Veteran actress Ms. Yang Okbun waved.

“Kids, come over here!”

“We can’t!”

“What do you mean, you can’t?”

“We can’t stand in the middle...!”

We insisted on the corner.

There are thirty-year directors here, twenty-year actors. Standing up there by tenure felt off.

Even if they said it was fine, it was a basic case of knowing when to step in and when to step back.

“Spots like this are actually the best.”

The maknae smiled.

“In high school, the cool kids sit in the back row by the windows. You know that, right?”

“Not sure. I only went for a year...”

“There he goes again. I’m the only trash. Always.”

While Jiho grumbled, I rested my hand on the younger ones’ shoulders and flashed a bright smile on the photographer’s count.

Click! Click-click-click-click!

After the winners’ group photo, we bowed to the people around us and started getting ready to head out.

“Hyung, we’ll go to the green room first.”

“Okay.”

“Take your time saying hi.”

Biju led the younger ones away...

Huh?

“Biju?”

“Yeah?”

“Why are you at the front?”

“Uh...”

Shaken out of their award-drunk daze, the younger ones snapped to and closed ranks around Biju as they moved; I headed over to the people waiting backstage.

“We won a prize~!”

“We won a prieeeze!”

With arms around the shoulders of senior Seo Noeul and Ara—both in dresses—and bouncing with the directors and writers, we did a merry circle dance.

The elegant sculpted trophy read “TV Program Award.”

Writer Hwang Jeongyeon smiled, radiant.

“We hit thirty percent ratings and still got dismissed as ‘just a sitcom’ all over. Ten years of indigestion just melted away.”

“You really worked so hard.”

“Like it was only us! Everyone worked so hard. Teacher Song Hoon, Ms. Yang Okbun, our Noeul...”

The actors and staff turned their attention to me.

“In a way, Kim Wooju was the beginning and the end of our drama—he worked hard, too!”

“Waaaaah!”

“Wooju! Wooju!”

I felt a little shy in the cheers, but it wasn’t bad.

No.

It felt great.

The shoot wasn’t especially long, but there was a sense of camaraderie that came from filming together.

“Juseon worked hard.”

Teacher Song Hoon pulled me in, patting my back, and my chest warmed.

Like a grandfather.

“Look at him getting misty again. Such a crybaby.”

Ms. Yang Okbun clicked her tongue fondly and tapped me like a grandson; I exchanged light hugs with the others.

We took a group photo, then the air was lively and noisy.

“After-party!”

“We have to go celebrate tonight! Everyone’s free, right?”

“I know a place with killer traditional liquor... call?”

Sadly, I was flying out the day after tomorrow, so I had to skip. I don’t drink anyway, so I’m awkward at those gatherings.

With several folks skipping too—including senior Seo Noeul, who’s in the middle of a drama shoot—I slipped out with them.

“Are you skipping too, noona?”

“Yeah.”

Ara, stretching like she wanted to shed that teal dress, said:

“We’re about to start filming a survival show.”

“A survival?”

“There’s a program where girl groups compete. We haven’t started recording yet, but... we’ve been busy prepping.”

“Oh ho.”

Sounded like she’d be on the girl-group competition show at TBC.

Established girl groups would go head-to-head on stage; just hearing the format, I could already see how the internet would look.

“Yikes...”

I asked my senior labelmate singer:

“It’s going to be loud.”

“Well, it’s not bad for us either... If we do well, ride the buzz, and climb again—that’s great.”

They’re still counted as a first-tier girl group, but lately, juniors have been surging and they’ve stalled a bit.

Curious, I asked:

“Who’s in it?”

“La Rose and NYX are in, and I heard Autumn Girl and Girls On Top are in talks.”

That’s a stacked lineup.

“Ratings will pop for sure.”

“Probably, yeah?”

“TBC must be going all-in on this. What’s the first-place prize to pull a lineup like that...?”

“Just the winner’s purse is like a billion won.”

“Can men not apply?”

Ara started to shake her head, then went “hm.”

“Someone like Ri Hyuk could pass if you dolled him up right.”

“If they decide to recruit a sixth member who’s a killer main vocal, please tell me. Noona. I’ll send Ri Hyuk.”

“Hahaha!”

“I’m serious.”

We traded silly lines walking down the corridor.

Maybe jealous of HBS hitting it big with On the Stage, TBC seemed to be spending a fortune.

“But where did they get a billion...?”

“What was it...? With your NewBlack stuff blowing up this year plus Jusehan, I hear they made a ton.”

“Ah.”

So we funded it.

We shared warm smiles; Ara waved to me.

“I’m off~”

“Get home safe, noona.”

“Oh—”

“Yeah?”

“These days we’re looking for good opportunities on the variety side and elsewhere. If anything comes up...”

To the senior singer who broached it carefully, I nodded and smiled.

“I’ll definitely put your name in.”

“Thanks.”

“Take care, noona.”

We waved and went our separate ways, smiling.

Maybe it’s the same-company senior-junior thing.

I found myself hoping they’d get a break as I walked—thinking about the composing gig Director Cho had mentioned earlier—when I spotted a familiar face at a distance.

“Hello, PD.”

“Oh! Wooju!”

I smiled at the warmly greeting PD.

It was PD Yeo Hoseok, the lead director on From Now On, We Are. We traded a few words—congrats on the prize today; how’s the edit going.

“We’re pouring our souls into the edit so our ladies look stunning.”

“You don’t have to pour that much...”

“What are you saying! The entire nation must witness it. Hahaha!”

Humiliating memories flickered before my eyes; then PD Yeo seized the moment.

“Wooju, you have a lot of colleagues, right?”

“Yeah, somehow all my acquaintances ended up doing well...”

“Perfect. For our next special—any talent you could recommend?”

“What kind of special is it?”

PD Yeo grinned.

“Something so bizarre and terrifying your knees will go weak.”

“Oh?”

“Got anyone good?”

People who can wring funny moments out of scary situations...

“How about Taehyun and Eunseong? Or Hanjo from Street Boys...”

“Is this your personal enemies list?”

“No way.”

“I’m subscribed to NewBlack TV. I know all about your love-hate with Eunseong.”

He wasn’t fooled.

For a second, the pretty neighbor boys who didn’t buy that first-week album popped into my head—but they’re out, no question.

This program demands real reactions. And they’d jump at shadows?

...That would blow up.

In the wrong way.

I was thinking that when a just-right set of names came to mind. People who wouldn’t flinch at fear and would show a storm of spirit and guts.

“How about these folks?”

Bzzzt.

In the car, rubbing the feet her heels had tortured, Ara looked at her phone and her eyes went wide.

[Hello. Ms. Ara. I’m Yeo Hoseok, the main PD of HBS’s From Now On, We Are. I got this number from Wooju’s referral....]

HBS’s hottest observational variety, From Now On, We Are.

The PD was asking to meet when she had time. Scarlett’s leader burst into tears.

“Wooju!”

Of course, once she learns the truth about this special... she may grab me by the collar...

For now, everyone was happy.