In This Life, The Greatest Star In The Universe Chapter 27:

Chapter 27

How can I show the singing skills of our mbers?

How can I create that opportunity?

That was the problem I had to worry about as the leader of the team.

After appearing on the music show for three weeks, the feedback I summarized was roughly like this:

-The visuals are top-notch. They have their own personalities and could be actors.

-Why does only the main vocal sing?

-What are the rest of them doing? Cant they sing?

-Is this a group push?

It was a problem that started from an ambiguous situation.

The composition of Sothing was practically done by and Jang So-won.

But when we went into recording, a problem occurred.

It was weird to deal with Sothing with one girl and several boys.

Thats why we unified the vocal and it was Ri-hyuk.

But then, when we decided to na it Jang So-won X Ri-hyuk Sothing, it was a bit subtle.

They all contributed.

To be honest, it was sothing that happened because I didnt know the song would do so well.

When the first music show appearance was confird, the two agencies were thinking of sending only Ri-hyuk.

But then they t with Jang So-wons strong opposition, saying I wont do it if you do that, and we ended up going together.

It was good in the end, but on the other hand, it left a question of Why do so many guys co out and just put in harmony and go back? Cant they sing?

It was a tricky situation.

Our kids can sing well.

The problem is that there is no chance to prove it.

I cant change the music show repertoire to show off their skills.

When I was lost in my own worries, the road manager Seo Min-ki glanced at sitting in the passenger seat.

Are you tired?

No.

Was the interview hard?

The atmosphere was okay.

It was a solo schedule after the music show ended.

It was an interview with Jang So-won sunbae, the co-composer of Sothing, and there was nothing special.

There were a few awkward questions, but I guess I got used to the interview. I was less nervous than the first ti. And even if a difficult question ca up, Jang So-won sunbae supported from the side.

So-won did that when she was in Sugarfish. She helped her juniors.

And the reporter was very responsive to whatever I said. I thought they would be harsh because Im a rookie, but they were very kind.

I think I know why.

What do you an?

The reporter was a woman.

I made a face that I didnt understand, and Seo Minki chuckled as if it was enough.

Never mind, kid. I just asked because you looked tired. I wondered if it was because of the interview.

Thats not it.

I was about to talk about my recent worries about showing off New Blacks skills, and I looked at him.

He was soone I hadnt t for even a month.

I smiled as I looked at the passing trees.

I guess Im less tense.

You should be. Youre number one for three weeks in a row, so what.

But Im still a rookie. I have to be nervous.

I looked at his face and rembered sothing I had forgotten, and rummaged through my pocket.

Hyung, Jang So-won sunbae asked to give you a gift today. She said its from her fan.

Really? Where is it?

Here.

Min-ki hyung blinked his eyes at my empty palm.

He had a what-is-this expression.

When I folded and unfolded my palm, a chocolate appeared.

Ta-da.

Hey, what was that?

Its magic.

You can do that too?

I learned it from watching Youtube a while ago. But I had nowhere to use it.

I learned magic by imitating the movents.

Honestly, except for dancing, I had nothing to use it for in my daily life, so I played with it as a hobby.

He smiled brightly as I handed him the chocolate.

It looked like his fatigue for the day lted away.

The site manager said you looked low on sugar because you were busy with the schedule these days, so he asked to give you chocolate. Belgium? He said he got it from a friend who lives there.

Belgium? That must be Lisa.

Really?

Sugarfish Lisa, you know, the musical actress who quit and went to Belgium.

Right, Min-ki hyungs favorite was Sugarfish Lisa.

I laughed incredulously.

Dont you have to switch to Hwai Entertainnt?

Hmm, maybe I should have.

Hey, where are you going? You have to keep working with us.

Min-ki hyung smiled at my playful retort and focused on driving.

The street lights flashed by as the car sped along.

10 p.m.

We were on our way to the company.

Cant you go straight to the dorm? You have a music show early tomorrow.

I have a eting with Director Jo today.

At this hour?

Yes, were both busy, so this was the only day we could find.

The purpose was obviously to show off my skills that Ive been worrying about lately.

Maybe he would give so answers to my questions.

Bzzz-

As I was lost in thought, my phone rang.

-A-Yo. Souffle man~

The cheerful laughter of the youngest ca from the other side of the phone.

-Did the interview go well?

It went well.

-What a lack of enthusiasm. Your cute maknae called you and you answer with such a cold tone?

Cute maknae? I dont have a maknae like that.

-Why not? Im right here.

Im hanging up.

-Wow, Im so hurt. I raised you so well.

I burst out laughing at his ridiculous words.

Hey, when did you raise ?

-I fed you, I put you to sleep. Hyung, dont you rember anything?

I think I do.

-Right?

Yeah, I rember. Was it two weeks ago? You ca to and said Ha please lend one. because you had no underwear?

-Why do you have such a good mory?

Its a family trait. My grandmother is even better.

Who are you talking to? Ji-ho?

Min-ki asked .

I nodded.

His voice on the other side of the phone beca gloomy.

-Did the manager hear it too?

Yeah.

-Please tell him this is a secret. If the hyungs find out, theyll boil like a bone soup until I die. Especially Seo Ri-hyuk, that venomous bastard

Youre asking for it.

-Aww.

Who should I text first? Ri-hyuk?

-Stop! Stop! Have so manners, Woojoo hyung

I chuckled as I heard the youngest mbers voice of surrender.

What a cute kid.

I felt a bit less tired thanks to the conversation with Jihoo.

Why did you call ? Did we agree to have a late-night snack today?

-No, we decided not to eat today.

Why?

-Ri-hyuk hyung said he thinks hes going to get pimples if he eats.

You guys can eat without him.

-Bi-ju hyung said thats not polite. He said we shouldnt eat without soone when we have food.

I roughly guessed what he wanted from his words.

You want a snack, dont you?

-Yes.

Send the nu on KakaoTalk. Ill buy it for you when I go to the company.

-I love you, boss~

As soon as the call ended, a ssage ca on KakaoTalk.

It was a list of nus like instant tteokbokki, sausages, and snacks that are sold at convenience stores.

I glanced at them and tilted my head.

Thats strange.

The nu is a bit simpler than usual.

It doesnt seem like it would cost more than 10,000 won in total.

Usually, they spend almost 30,000 won on snacks every ti. Whats going on?

***

Lemon Entertainnt.

It was past 10 p.m., the ti when most employees had left, but the lights in the practice room would still be on at this ti.

There was no ti to rest.

Music shows took up the whole day, from dawn rehearsals to evening broadcasts.

And they couldnt relax in the remaining ti either.

They had to keep practicing.

They couldnt slack off on their usual dance or vocal practice just because they perford Sothing live.

They would know if they tried.

The dance line would get rough if they skipped stretching for a day.

In that sense, we, New Black, were always devoted to practice after returning to the company from music shows.

Well.

Thats how it used to be.

Why are the lights off?

Sothing was weird today.

The stairs leading down to the basent were also dark, except for the green ergency lights, and I couldnt see anything.

I stumbled down the stairs and wondered.

Did the lights go out?

I had been going up and down these stairs since last December, so I didnt fall.

Maybe it was because of my imitation ability.

Sotis, when my senses beca sharper, I would automatically perform the actions needed for the situation.

The hallway was dark too. Where are they?

There were several practice room doors, but today all the lights were off.

Thats odd.

If they werent in the practice room, they would have told .

Ssssh-

I heard sothing as I was about to turn on the phone light.

It sounded like a cockroach scurrying fast.

What the?

Ssssh-

This ti it was behind .

Fear crept up on .

Sothing was wrong.

I was about to take a step back when sothing jumped on my shoulder.

Aaah!

Before I could scream, my body reacted again.

It was the sa as when I awakened my ability on the day of the college entrance exam and tackled the policeman.

The sa movent flowed out of my body.

Thud-!

I heard sothing fall to the floor.

This ti, sothing reached out to grab from the darkness.

Again, my body reacted naturally.

The martial arts moves that I had watched on YouTube when I was bored ca out automatically.

Slipping.

It was a boxing technique that involved swaying the upper body from side to side to dodge the opponents attacks.

But that wasnt enough for my adrenaline-fueled body. I grabbed the opponents arm and threw him like a judo player.

Ugh!

Ugh?

Hey, hey! Turn on the lights! Lights!

Why?

Hey! Wang Jiho! Turn on the lights if I tell you to!

Are, are you okay, boss?

Along with the familiar voices, the hallway lights turned on with a bang.

And then, my vision blurred.

A middle-aged man with a bald head and a gentle face was groaning on the floor, clutching his waist.

Manager Yoon Seok-hwan was in the sa state.

Director Jo Gyuwhan was stuck to the wall like a magnet from a chicken shop, looking shocked.

And then.

What is this?

The New Black kids, wearing bewildered expressions.

The guys with straw hats were holding a cake, standing awkwardly as they watched the scene unfold.

They were so surprised that their eyes were wide open like rabbits.

What was going on?

I was just as confused.

No.

What was this situation without any warning?

I looked for the culprit who had sent downstairs on an errand.

Wang Ji-ho, where are you?

Yes?

Explain whats going on.

Only after I helped the two n up, I was able to hear the details.

I didnt need to hear the explanation.

The kids were holding a cream cake.

On top of it, it said Congratulations on 3 weeks in a row at number one!.

Surprise party.

It was a plan to throw a surprise celebration for the 3-week streak of number one on the music show.

I frowned and asked.

Who ca up with this plan?

The boss did.

Oh, great plan.

It was a bit chaotic, but luckily no one was hurt.

After the songs and congratulations were exchanged, the adults handed us the late-night snacks they had ordered in advance and left.

I felt a pang of sadness as I saw Manager Yoon Seok-hwan and the boss walking away, arm in arm.

As the kids were wiping off the cream on my face, soone handed a tissue.

Here you go.

Thanks.

Ri-hyuk asked .

Why do you look so flustered?

I was surprised.

We should be the ones surprised. The boss almost slled the incense behind the folding screen.

Soone grabbed from behind all of a sudden

Ri-hyuks expression was like a personification of tsk tsk as he saw scratching my head, feeling embarrassed.

Anyway, I was surprised. They said they were celebrating for .

Why do you think?

Our main vocal said sarcastically.

Since you composed the song, they wanted to thank you with a celebration

Really? Were you grateful to ?

Do I have to say it out loud?

You have to say it, not be grumpy. Since you brought it up, let hear it. Co on, say thank you.

Tha

As he was about to say it, Ri-hyuk picked up a convenience store bag that had fallen on the floor.

I bought so sweet potato chips. Ill enjoy them.

Hey.

He ran away with the bag of sweet potato chips.

I couldnt help but laugh at his ridiculousness.

Bi-ju ca over and smiled as if it was a curious thing.

Ri-hyuk is a bit clumsy at expressing his emotions.

That guys personality is really weird.

Still, the more I look at him, the more kind he seems.

Bi-ju said to with a smile.

Hurry up, hyung. Theres a lot of bossam and jokbal. The CEO said not to worry about the amount and bought a lot for us today.

I saw Jung-hyun and Ji-ho setting up the bossam and jokbal set on the newspaper on the practice room floor.

It was a perfect combination with kimchi and bibim noodles.

Bi-ju hyung, can I eat now?

Not yet. We have to eat together.

Wow, hyung is totally a communist!

Bi-ju smiled at as if to tell to hurry up.

Uh, Bi-ju

Yes?

I dont think I can eat with you guys. I have a eting soon

I had to change my words when I saw his expression turn gloomy.

Maybe its better to eat a little and go?

Good thinking, hyung.

His bright smile returned.

As I was led by Bi-jus hand, I thought to myself.

Sothing is weird about everyone.

One who cant be satisfied unless he does everything with everyone, one who cant sleep outside unless he takes off his shoes, one who has trouble expressing his emotions.

And the youngest one is sigh.

Im the only normal one in this group.