In This Life, The Greatest Star In The Universe

Lunch was from the meal truck.

They said the meal-of-meals would be the catering at an ad shoot. That turned out to be true.

“Wow.”

We cheered at the feast served on disposable plates.

“Spicy pork stir-fry, smoked duck, beef bulgogi.”

I regretted not taking the crab stew because of my swollen face, but it had been ages since I’d had something this delicious.

“Ugh, it’s so good.”

“Eat up first, Wang Ji-ho. You’re flicking rice grains.”

“How can I eat when it’s so good.”

Laughing at Ri-hyeok’s grimace, I looked around.

Under the makeshift tent on the field, the staff were chatting loudly around the tables.

Bi-joo smiled.

“The staff look so relaxed.”

“That’s because you and Ji-ho did well. When we were shooting earlier, everyone was like that.”

Mid-hyun imitated them with his eyebrows forming a V and we burst out laughing.

“Wow, it’s exactly the same.”

“Right?”

“You’re good. Jung-hyun, shouldn’t you be acting too?”

“I can’t. It’s not my personality. I can’t even lie.”

Glancing at Jung-hyun waving his hands, I eyed the maknae.

He’d been proud of his acting after the praise earlier, so I thought he’d still say, “Acting isn’t lying,” but he was distracted.

“Ji-ho, look over there.”

“......”

“Hey, Wang.”

I snapped my fingers but he still feigned ignorance.

Ri-hyeok saw me and clapped his hands in front of Ji-ho.

The maknae jumped like a cat.

“Ah, you scared me! What is it?”

“You’re not eating and you’re looking over here, that man said.”

“Oh... I was looking over there.”

It was a table set off some distance.

The director, assistant director, advertiser, ad agency staff, and Seok-hwan hyung were deep in discussion.

“They must be arguing about changing the ad storyboard, right?”

“Probably.”

“I hope it becomes something fun.”

“Fun is fine, but I hope it’s not too difficult.”

“Me too.”

“Well, there’s not much for the three of us to do anyway. It looks like it’ll be set up focusing on those two.”

Ri-hyeok handed me a banana from the props.

“You’ll have a bit of work.”

“Why didn’t you give me one?”

“Get yours from the other hyung.”

Bi-joo smiled and handed his banana to Ji-ho.

Seeing that, Jung-hyun split his banana in two and gave half to me and half to Ji-ho.

No need for King Solomon.

“By the way, when is the Ju-se-han team coming?”

“I’m nervous.”

“Me too. I’ve only seen them on TV... They’ll look the same in person, right?”

They were supposed to arrive around the end of lunch.

The filming was scheduled for about thirty minutes.

It was just a simple intro video, but somehow I felt nervous.

Not just me, everyone looked half worried, half tense.

After today’s shoot there would be an article.

Judging from the comments about a rookie appearing on the Chuseok special last time, the reaction wasn’t very favorable.

If it gets confirmed, who knows what they’ll say.

I hoped we’d get some usable footage today.

Suddenly sensing someone, I turned and saw a man standing with a plate.

“......Who?”

He was dressed unusually.

A gray tee and jeans, with a baseball cap and mask over them.

Slim but athletic build.

Was he a crew member?

“Uh......”

He suddenly plopped down at our table.

Startled by the abrupt move, Ji-ho and Ri-hyeok slid their chairs closer to me.

I too lifted my lips with a wary gaze.

“Excuse me......”

But before I finished, he pulled his mask down under his chin.

“Hi.”

“......”

“I had time so I came to have lunch.”

“......”

“Oh, sorry if this is too sudden since we’re meeting for the first time.”

My mouth hung open because the pleasantly smiling handsome man in front of me was someone we all knew.

Yuh Hee-chan.

One of Ju-se-han’s fixed members filming with us today.

I tried to greet him in a fluster but he waved his hand.

“Don’t make it troublesome.”

“Oh, okay.”

“Sit comfortably. Make yourself at home.”

I just nodded stiffly.

He who was about to pick up side dishes with chopsticks looked at the five idols frozen like statues and asked.

“You’re not eating?”

“Oh, we will.”

“Good, you all look young. You should eat a lot.”

Hee-chan, picking up side dishes as he spoke so casually, couldn’t hide his admiration.

“They said the best meal is the ad shoot’s catering. Worth coming early for.”

“...Did you come just to eat?”

“Yeah, I was going to grab some gopchang nearby but didn’t want the smell. Since it was lunch time, I thought I’d come get some free food.”

He looked so laid-back.

“This was the only table with empty seats.”

“Nobody recognized you?”

“No, they thought I was staff. No one knew.”

Far away, Seok-hwan hyung mouthed ‘Ju-se-han?’ and I nodded.

“Well, aside from the meal, I wanted to get familiar faces before filming.”

Then he pointed at us with his finger.

“By age you’re Woo-joo, Bi-joo, Jung-hyun, Ri-hyeok, Ji-ho. Right?”

“Th, thanks hyung.”

“No?”

“Sorry, that’s all wrong......”

Embarrassed, he burst out laughing.

My heart pounded.

At the sound, the staff at other tables blinked. They looked vaguely familiar.

“Sorry, sorry.”

Hee-chan smiled.

“I’m bad at remembering faces. When you said by age I thought Jung-hyun was Woo-joo since he looked like the eldest.”

“I’m actually the eldest.”

“I heard you did military service, wow, you look way younger.”

“He really does.”

The younger ones openly scoffed.

Ri-hyeok even choked and guzzled water.

When I glared at them, Hee-chan laughed picking up beef bulgogi.

“You guys seem close with your group.”

“Yes, we’re close.”

“Good. Sometimes when idols appear they fight among themselves and it’s exhausting. I won’t have to worry with you guys.”

Hee-chan surveyed his juniors.

“By the way, I got everything else right, and I even wrote a song. Listen. Sun Woo-joo, the composing idol, Fireworks by the sea at night, Twenty-two, military veteran, New Black leader......”

He began singing a melody adapted to “Dokdo is our land” and we burst out laughing.

Hee-chan laughed too.

“What do you think, is it accurate?”

He playfully laughed and then started eating again. He was eating so deliciously he could star in a food commercial.

Ah, he already has.

Ramen, burgers, all food CFs.

Yuh Hee-chan.

He’s in his late twenties, the youngest line of ‘Around the World with Dice’ cast of four men and three women like a big family.

He had a unique background.

He became famous as a handsome tutor on a variety show, then debuted as an actor.

After years in bit parts, he gained attention by appearing on Ju-se-han by chance.

He parlayed a relaxed, easygoing persona, and his catchphrase was famous.

“Let’s live comfortably in this complicated world.”

I thought it was just a show concept, but seeing him here it must be his true personality.

Bzzz—

His phone vibrated. He glanced at it and declined the call without hesitation.

“This is the member filming today.”

“Oh.”

So natural.

The phone rang again. He accepted from a different name.

“Hey hyung, where are you? I’m at the set. Uh-huh, yeah. Come inside quickly.”

Have they all arrived?

Before I could ask, shouts erupted from everywhere.

The staff jumped up from the tables.

“What’s going on, who’s here?”

“Ju-se-han! It looks like Ju-se-han is filming today.”

“That was what they were filming today?”

“Yeah, I saw him! I just saw him!”

“He’s the same as on TV.”

“Paper, paper? I need his autograph.”

It was chaos.

The staff and extras who had stared at us like stones now bounced with excitement.

Like a bustling market scene.

Cameramen and production crew waded into the crowd as if familiar, and what remained in the center was a model-like woman and a big manager.

We awkwardly stood by watching the senior celebrity warmly greeting people.

“...Should we go greet them too?”

“Do you think we can push through? I don’t have the confidence.”

“They’ll come to us, sit.”

Hee-chan gestured calmly for us to stay, but we remained stuck.

Eventually the time to meet came.

As managers and crew exchanged greetings, another member of Ju-se-han reached us.

“Hello, we’re New Black!”

“Hi.”

She greeted us calmly then narrowed her eyes.

She must have recognized someone from behind.

Just then Hee-chan also turned his head.

“You’re here.”

In a tone completely different from when talking to us, he looked her up and down with displeasure.

And she did the same to him.

“What’s this.”

Her curt tone returned the question.

“I thought you were somewhere else since you didn’t pick up the phone, but here you are enjoying a feast.”

“Come eat. The food’s good here.”

“I’m not eating with you.”

“Then don’t.”

They evidently didn’t get along.

We could only watch in wonder.

I thought they only fought on the show, but it was the same in real life.

“Ugh.”

Hee-chan teasingly teased her and stood up.

From the crowd watchers someone exclaimed “Wow”.

He seemed to enjoy the gaze as if familiar. Hearing “pretty” he cast a glance at the woman beside him. Then narrowed his eyes.

“Hey, your face today......”

“What’s wrong. Do I look different?”

“Why are you tensing your face. Because you’re filming with idols...... ah ah!”

“Is this real.”

As Hee-chan gleefully got smacked, people burst out laughing.

Because it was the same as on TV.

Hee-chan and Yuh Hee-yeon.

They were the youngest line of Ju-se-han, siblings one year apart.

“Have you guys prepared a lot?”

“Yes.”

“You have to do well.”

Despite looking alike, the siblings had opposite personalities.

The brother was easygoing while the sister burned with passion.

As a former athlete, she warmed up with exceptional skill.

Yuh Hee-yeon looked around at us and asked.

“Woo-joo, Bi-joo, Jung-hyun, Ri-hyeok, Ji-ho. Right?”

“Yes.”

“There are three who know how to use their body. Bi-joo dances, Jung-hyun does athletics, and Woo-joo can mimic anything?”

“Yes, hyung.”

“You two are singing and acting then.”

She accurately grasped personal details and moved her neck as she spoke.

“Later, at the end of the intro video {N•o•v•e•l•i•g•h•t} we’ll have a mission. You get a golden key or something. Right now our team is in last place on the score. Today you have to do well on that, at least.”

“Hey, Hee-yeon.”

Hee-chan jumped in.

“From the moment we met, you’re already scolding them.”

“Of course. Considering the situation, if we fail I’ll be stuck eating lettuce instead of samgyeopsal for dinner.”

“...We’re only eating lettuce?”

Jung-hyun asked in shock.

Hee-yeon, who was about to speak seriously, couldn’t help laughing and explained the situation.

Each time they introduce a team member they do the mission, and if they succeed they get a “golden key.”

It was supposed to be an important clue for the Chuseok special.

The siblings predicted it might decide dinner menu or sleeping arrangements.

Hearing there might be beef, our guys fired up.

“Hyung, let’s do our best.”

“We have to get the meat.”

“Right. I’ll give it everything I’ve got, even if my spine breaks.”

“If your spine breaks you’re dead, guys.”

The makeup artists setting mics on us pursed their lips.

While they checked mics, the surroundings got busy.

People were watching from the edges as if at a movie theater holding popcorn. Although mostly staff without phones out, many seemed messaging.

We huddled to calm nerves when we heard a clattering and saw the basketball hoop for today’s mission rolling in.

Under the gaze of all the staff, the corner introducing Ju-se-han’s youngest line Hee-chan, Hee-yeon, and New Black ended smoothly.

Yuh Hee-yeon spoke energetically.

“So! Now we’ll do one mission and then wrap up. How do you feel, New Black? Nervous?”

“Yes, my heart is pounding.”

“Hyung Tae-jun, did you see how nervous they are? Let’s go with something easy today.”

“Really.”

Hee-yeon continued.

“If they made us do pole dancing like yesterday with Mr. Hector, I’d revolt!”

“That was really hard.”

Both siblings made the same pained expression and people laughed.

“Don’t worry.”

Producer Oh Tae-jun, script in his armpit, smiled.

“To reward your support, we’ll go easy today.”

The PD took a basketball and handed it over.

“You know free throws in basketball?”

“Yes.”

“It’s simple. Wear the headphones that play music and make a free throw. Any method works—kick it, underhand—so long as you use your body.”

“That’s it?”

“But there’s a required number of successes for each distance. If the dice shows 1, it’s the shortest distance but all seven must succeed. If it’s a 6, only one success counts, but the distance will be far.”

Production brought out a fuzzy blue cushion-like dice the size of a shipping box.

We looked at the curious prop, and the siblings looked at us seriously.

“Hey, we need to roll this well.”

“Who is good at sports? Good at basketball?”

“Yes, I am.”

“Then Jung-hyun, do you want to roll?”

“Oh, no!”

The four of us stepped forward at once, the siblings looking surprised.

“Why?”

“Because he’s our icon of misfortune.”

“Icon of bad luck.”

“It’s like our superstition: whenever Jung-hyun feels good, something happens.”

“...That’s not true.”

Hee-chan looked at us and asked.

“Then who among you has the best luck here?”

At that, the juniors all looked at me.

I was confused.

The siblings handed me the dice, looking expectant.

“I’m unlucky enough on my own though......”

“It’s okay. It’s okay.”

“Yeah! Roll it without pressure. Even if it goes wrong we won’t— Hey!”

With a thunderous shout the onlookers laughed. Six white circles appeared.

Suddenly I felt judged like a criminal, and I could only glare unfairly.

But didn’t they say to roll comfortably?

“No wonder. Jung-hyun cursed Woo-joo in the car earlier, saying he felt good today.”

“Hey. Jung-hyun isn’t some black magician.”

“But there’s something to it. Woo-joo is pretty lucky.”

During practice, when Kim Jung-hyun and two Ju-se-han members stood in the center and the others whispered.

“Isn’t that distance too far?”

“I feel like I need to throw it with a weightlifting pose.”

“Even then it probably won’t go in.”

It was almost from one end of the court to the other.

Only one needed to succeed, but would they?

Plus the headphones.

“What is this? Why is the Heart Sutra playing?”

Everyone laughed. Then Jung-hyun wavered trying to shoot and everyone’s expressions hardened.

“Jung-hyun, what’s wrong?”

“I got fireworks stuck in my head so I can’t move properly.”

“Fireworks?”

PD Oh answered.

“The New Black members said in pre-survey that they practiced so much they’d break into dance in their sleep, so we prepared this penalty. Seems to work well.”

“....”

“They’re like demons.”

Silent agreement ensued, and the juniors trembled.

Wang Ji-ho asked.

“It looks too hard. Do you think you can do it hyung?”

“It’s iffy. Bi-joo hyung, what do you think?”

“I don’t think it’s easy. The distance and the penalty.”

They looked anxious, and Ji-ho turned to me, still silent.

“Hyung what about you, possible?”

I thought he’d say he couldn’t either, but then:

“Wait a moment.”

“Hmm?”

Sun Woo-joo began surveying the surroundings meticulously.

Like an athlete on the court he scrutinized the distance to the hoop, its position, the trajectory, moving his head intensely.

Since I thought it was impossible, I asked to ease the tension, but he seemed serious.

The members looked at each other asking “What’s he up to?” and Woo-joo calmly said

“I think I can do it.”