In This Life, The Greatest Star In The Universe

A chill ran down my spine.

“I’m sure I saw that person by the well…”

“Didn’t Jung-hyun say he saw them twice?”

“Yes.”

Jung-hyun counted on his fingers.

“Once when we got to the well, and again after you guys arrived. Just like that.”

“Was it the same person both times? Not someone else?”

“No, they had the look of an older security guard.”

Jung-hyun, deep in thought, suddenly exclaimed, “Ah!”

“Vanished?”

“Just disappeared into thin air.”

Silence fell as one by one, strange occurrences began to surface.

That’s when Jiho’s eyes widened.

“That’s right! I experienced something weird too.”

“But you didn’t see them.”

“No, it’s not that. When I was alone, suddenly the insects stopped their loud chirping abruptly. It felt eerie, so I shone my flashlight into the distance and… our eyes met, something in the shape of a person…”

“Aaaah!”

“Aaaah! Now that I think about it, it’s scary! Could it be the same person?”

While the siblings were making a fuss over the creepiness.

I realized something strange too.

Usually, after seeing someone, their movements catch your eye, and you can mimic them.

…But this time, I couldn’t.

“Was it not a person?”

“Aaaah! Why are you bringing up such a creepy story now!”

As we were discussing this.

The PD, with a serious look, asked us.

“So, what you’re saying is, there was someone here other than the actors and staff?”

“Yes…”

“Not a fan or a stalker?”

“We know all the fans by face.”

“Hold on.”

The atmosphere among the staff and managers turned grave.

If an outsider had infiltrated the lodging site, it was a serious matter.

It could be someone who came to steal or vandalize.

While we were feeling an unsettling sensation, the PD rushed over with the camera directors.

“Let’s check. Where was it?”

“On the map, it was by the well… here, in this area.”

“Director, please rewind the recording tape.”

As everyone sat tensely in front of the monitor, we moved to the problematic spot.

“Here… Yes! Right here.”

Soon, the footage showed a group of five gathered by the well on a green screen.

The quality was slightly blurry, but the surrounding landscape and figures were clearly visible.

We appeared, pointing into the distance at something.

But.

“There’s nothing there?”

“What?”

“Right there. Where you’re pointing. No one’s passing by.”

“…What?”

At first, I thought it was too far to see, but it wasn’t a distance that the camera couldn’t capture.

Yet, the screen showed no one.

Only the bushes rustling in an empty space.

“…This is strange.”

The camera director, who had been standing with his arms crossed, voiced his opinion.

“Look at the position of the grass. The wind is blowing left, but the grass is moving to the right.”

“…”

“We’ll have to check the other cameras to be sure.”

As the camera director said, something was off.

The atmosphere grew chilling as the production team, with a haunted look, pulled out other tapes.

It was the footage of Jung-hyun and Jiho.

“…They’re not showing up here either.”

Jung-hyun, standing by the well, seemed to be waving at empty space.

And when Jiho dropped his flashlight in shock, nothing was caught on the nearby cameras.

Everyone remained silent, but all felt an eerie sensation.

“Wait, hold on.”

The director raised his hand again.

“Stop both parts there, will you?”

“Here?”

“Yes, right there… Oh dear.”

Oh dear?

“I know this might sound strange, but it was the same time when Junghyun was waving his hand and Jiho was falling over.”

“Yes.”

“The same time. 10:39 AM.”

Ssshhh…

A chilling silence enveloped the open space in front of the dormitory, and the bushes rustled with the wind blowing from somewhere.

While the writers next to me were holding their breath.

“Did we just see a ghost?”

“…”

“There’s no other explanation.”

During the silence that followed Jiho’s remark, Ri Hyeok spoke up, pressing his forehead.

“I guess I’m fully awake now.”

After a bit of commotion.

We, who had filmed a vlog while enjoying the night market snacks, rested in the dormitory.

In the living room bathed in cozy lighting.

Junghyun, now in sweatpants, reached for the lamp.

“Should we turn off the lights since it’s about bedtime?”

“No!”

Everyone answered at once.

“Let’s just sleep with the lights on tonight.”

“I was thinking the same.”

“Right. If we turn off the lights, I really won’t be able to sleep tonight.”

We were startled by the sound of the wind whistling outside.

So startled that…

We abandoned the rooms we had chosen after much effort and games, spreading blankets in the living room to lie down.

Bizu, lying to my right, asked me.

“Hyung.”

“Hmm?”

“Can I…?”

He hesitated before asking.

“If I need to go to the bathroom in the middle of the night, can I wake you up?”

“You can wake me up.”

“Can I join in too? Is it okay to wake you guys up when going to the bathroom?”

Like forming a complex diplomatic treaty, bathroom groups were established here and there.

While we were discussing this.

Junghyun, who was searching for ‘Jeju Island ghost stories,’ asked.

“But what was that really? A ghost?”

“Ahh! Don’t even bring up the word ‘ghost,’ hyung! And why do you keep watching ghost videos next to me?”

“I’m searching for Jeju Island ghosts, but nothing’s coming up.”

“Ahhh!”

“Your screams scare me more, Ri Hyeok.”

“Be quiet! What’s wrong with my screams?”

The identity of the mysterious man we saw remained unknown.

The production team scoured other tapes, but aside from the actors and us, there was no one else.

We even called the place we rented to ask about the security guards, but there was no one over the age of 40.

Just in case, the managers were sleeping on the second floor of the dormitory…

“What a strange experience to have in a lifetime.”

“Exactly. We can’t even talk about this if it goes on air. Who would believe it?”

“Ah, I’m tired, but I can’t fall asleep…”

“Me neither.”

Even though we tried to sleep, our eyes were wide open.

All five of us lay there, staring blankly at the chandelier on the ceiling.

Ri Hyeok, lying in the middle, turned to me.

“Mister, can we switch places?”

“Why?”

“I keep worrying about that chandelier falling. If it falls, I’ll die instantly.”

“No way. If we switch, I’ll be the one in danger.”

“I’m scared, but you’re not, so it should be fine.”

Ignoring his nonsensical rambling, I yawned.

“Really, Junghyun…”

“Yes, brother.”

“What was that key card you gave to Bizu earlier?”

“Oh, that. I asked the writer, and it turns out it was originally intended for pocket money.”

It seems they planned to give a certain amount per card.

“But out of the 30, we only managed to keep five.”

“Hahaha!”

“He thought we’d take at least ten. He didn’t realize how cowardly we were.”

So it became a non-issue.

Even the production team seemed flustered.

They had designed a course that should have taken 30 minutes, but we wandered and cried for nearly 90.

Perhaps thinking of that, the youngest one tossed and turned before asking.

“Will editing this be difficult?”

“It will be.”

“Sigh…”

“Why sigh over such things? We’re living well, even after rolling around with goats.”

“You brothers don’t go to school. I’m in the same vocal class as Gil Chaekyung. And then there’s the group chat…”

“Is she doing well?”

“Don’t ask about someone else’s youngest. Just look at us.”

The logic was strange, but I let it slide.

As we chatted away, Bizu suddenly thought of something and said.

“I once bought a dream interpretation book, brother.”

“Oh, that? The Encyclopedia of Dream Interpretation?”

“Yes, every time you dreamt of pigs, I was curious about the meaning, so I read it…”

Bizu said.

“This is different, but usually, seeing ghosts is considered a sign of great fortune, right?”

“Ah…!”

“Didn’t the senior TNT members have an episode like that? They saw a ghost in the recording studio and then hit it big.”

“Really?”

Curious, I messaged Han Taehyun, and he replied immediately.

Han Taehyun [It’s a lie.]

Han Taehyun [The recording went so smoothly that the company made it into a variety show episode.]

To protect Bizu’s innocence, I quietly put down my phone.

Meanwhile, the younger ones excitedly shared other singers’ ghost stories.

There was a strange voice in the recording, and that song shook South Korea, they said.

Our gloomy faces brightened instantly.

“Wow…”

“Thinking about it that way, it’s a good ghost.”

“Right.”

Junghyun said.

“Come to think of it, my grandfather once told me that singers and shamans have similar fates. They both attract spirits through rituals or songs…”

“Aaaaah!”

“So that’s why singers often see ghosts.”

As we shivered under the blankets, hiding from Junghyun’s eerie ghost story.

A cool voice interjected.

“But in reality, there’s a more likely possibility.”

“Huh…?”

“Usually, when preparing an album, it’s the most psychologically and physically demanding time. There are days when you sleep for only an hour or two and endure nearly 19 hours in the recording studio.” RἈ𝐍ŏ𐌱Ё𝐬

“…”

“The extreme stress causes you to see things that aren’t there. Logically, this makes sense.”

“…”

“…”

Sensing the chilly atmosphere, Riyuk hid his face in the blanket like a hermit crab.

The youngest sighed and recited a line trending on the internet.

“You’ve ruined the mood, so take responsibility.”

“If you have a conscience, sing a lullaby, Riyuk.”

Unable to withstand our teasing, Riyuk began to hum softly, lulling us into a winter sleep.

And with that, we all drifted off to dreamland.

The next morning.

After covering my haggard face with BB cream, I stood in the living room of our dorm, dressed in a hoodie.

Just like yesterday, cameras were set up in the living room.

“Did you sleep well?”

“Yes!”

We cheerfully chanted ‘slept like a baby’ as the staff behind the cameras laughed.

It seemed everyone had bags under their eyes, not just us, hinting at a night of restless sleep.

“Day 2 of New Black’s travel diary. Today is the day we fulfill Mr. Rihyuk’s wish.”

“Wow!”

“Why aren’t you worried today?”

“Even if Rihyuk tries, there’s a limit. He absolutely can’t handle anything scary or dangerous.”

We replied, “We’re anticipating an exploratory activity to learn about the formation process of Jeju Island’s lava coast and columnar joints.”

“Or maybe studying Jeju Island’s horse culture.”

“Or perhaps the Jeju Island uprising by the Sambyeolcho during the Mongol invasions.”

While Rihyuk was feeling a bit embarrassed, the producer handed over a laptop.

“Today’s theme is a picnic.”

“A picnic?”

“Let’s watch the video for details.”

On the screen, Rihyuk sipped his coffee with poise.

“I want to… go on a spring picnic with the members.”

“A picnic?”

“Yes, I went to elementary school in the US, and I was a bit envious when I heard stories about spring picnics during kindergarten or elementary school.”

“Ah, I see. That’s why you brought kimbap on the college entrance exam day, right?”

“…”

Rihyuk averted his gaze, embarrassed by the memory.

The conversation continued with the members expressing a desire to go on a picnic for a day.

“So, our first mission for today is to make kimbap for lunch!”

“Wow!”

It was a mission where each of us would wrap our own kimbap.

We were to create customized kimbap using ingredients provided by the production team.

Gathered around the kitchen island, we hand-made our kimbap.

“Bijoo, which side of the seaweed goes up when wrapping kimbap?”

“Ha! Brother, since when does seaweed have a top or bottom?”

“The smooth side should face out, and you spread the rice on the rough side.”

Amidst Rihyuk’s laughter…

The youngest member pleaded with the director to reshoot, playfully saying, “The rough side~” and acting out the scene.

Judging by the producer’s expression, it seemed likely to make the cut.

As we were joyfully making kimbap, one particular roll captured everyone’s attention…

“How did you wrap that?”

Our third member had stuffed so much meat and ham into his kimbap that the staff were amazed.

Bijoo and I asked him.

“Junghyun.”

“Yes?”

“Can you… actually roll that?”

“Yes.”

“It looks impossible to roll.”

Junghyun began rolling the kimbap as if to prove us wrong.

Squish.

The kimbap was completed, pressed flat as if by a machine, yet perfectly shaped.

“It seems our strength was indeed lacking.”

“If the body suffers, the mind works harder… that’s what this is.”

“It’s a talent, really.”

The production team burst into laughter at our admiration.

Meanwhile, the rest of us wrapped kimbap following Bijoo’s cooking class.

“The rice should be about this size.”

“Okay.”

“Keep the thickness even. Remember the see-through outfit we wore for the marker? Spread the seaweed so it’s faintly visible, just like that.”

“Just do the opposite of what Junghyun does.”

Bijoo continued lecturing about ingredient compatibility.

The writers and staff diligently took notes on their phones.

As each of us had our kimbap inspected…@@novelbin@@

“Wow, Woojoo, you rolled it so well! Director, please get a close-up of Woojoo’s kimbap.”

“Oh, really.”

“What? Did the kimbap watch YouTube too?”

I proudly smiled and flashed a ‘V’ sign at my wide-eyed younger members.

“It’s natural talent. After all, I am the grandson of a white rice restaurant owner, aren’t I?”

“Wow.”

“I’m pretty good at most dishes, haha.”

“But, hey, bro.”

Bijoo tilted his head and asked.

“Didn’t you say you didn’t know how to make kimbap when I asked you last time?”

“…”

“That you have no talent for kimbap…”

“…”

After the camera was turned off, I had to have a brief meeting with Bijoo.

As we headed to the harbor to board the ship to Udo.

The PD turned to us, huddled together on the swaying bus.

“I’ve just received some great news from the agency. There’s something to celebrate for New Black!”

Something to celebrate?

The PD said, looking at his tablet PC.

“As of 3:45 AM yesterday.”

“…?”

“The music video for your dance song ‘Nine,’ released at the end of last August, has…”

He grinned at us, all ears.

“Surpassed 100 million views!”

“What?”

“Look here. Your MV has 100,450,000 views.”

“…!”

Everyone frantically pulled out their phones.

The view count displayed under the title ‘The New Black – Nine.’

The New Black – ‘Nine’ Official MV

[104,507,003 views · 6 months ago]

…When did it reach 100 million?

I could hear my heart pounding in my ears.

Surprised, I turned my head and locked eyes with my wide-eyed siblings.

After a moment of silence.

“Waaaaah!”

We hugged each other so tightly, almost indistinguishable, and screamed for nearly five minutes.

“Wow… wow…”

“Does anyone have a capture? It would be great if someone captured it when it hit 100 million views.”

“Ah, here it is. A Soufflé captured a screenshot right when it hit 100 million.”

After saving the photo shared in our group chat by the youngest.

I searched for ‘New Black’ on the main portal page, trying to calm my racing heart.

-New Black’s ‘Nine’ MV surpasses 100 million views on Mitube

-‘Nine’ MV by New Black creates a sensation, surpassing 100 million views in just 199 days

-New Black’s ‘Nine’, the fastest to reach 100 million views on Mitube

Articles with similar content were sprouting up like mushrooms, likely circulated by our company’s press release.

The content was more or less the same.

It was our tenth music video and the fifth for a K-pop group.

Among boy groups, we were third, following Sixty Seconds and TNT.

But the most notable point was the time it took.

“This is insane. Wow, was this even possible?”

“It’s incredible… really…”

“Have you seen this?”

The previous record was one year and six months by Daylight.

We didn’t mention other idols’ names because of the camera, but six months for 100 million views was a record-breaking feat.

…Even as I saw the numbers on the screen, I felt dazed.

“Amazing.”

In the sudden stroke of good fortune, we kept exchanging ‘amazing’ with each other.

Later, when we return to the dorm, I’ll have to have a long chat with the Soufflés on the Y app.

“Ugh…”

My heart’s trembling. For real.

My hand holding the smartphone was shaking with tension and excitement.

After drafting a post to celebrate 100 million views for SNS and sending it to Manager Hong Seo-young.

I called the first person I should talk to among my contacts.

“Hello?”

A very cheerful voice.

It was the director who had worked on the Nine MV.

“Director!”

-Oh! Kids! You saw the news too?

“Yes, thank you so much.”

I couldn’t sleep a wink, waiting up until dawn. But it was worth it; I’ve just hit a milestone in my career, truly.

The voice on the other end was incredibly cheerful, perhaps because they too realized the significance of this career-defining moment.

We were exchanging pleasantries, each of us deflecting credit to the other, when I called out, “Director~”

“Yes, what is it?”

“How about you join us for our title track’s music video this time?”

There was a choked silence on the line.

“Why do you sound like that?”

“…It’s tough.”

“What is?”

“To be honest, working with you all…”

Our candid response had us all bursting into laughter.

Then I told the person on the other end, “We’re in the middle of filming, Director.”

“…It’s just… quite challenging. I mean, me? Really, I…”

We clapped like seals, laughing.

“Can I, of all people, satisfy the Soufflés with the messy quality I produce? It keeps me up at night.”

“Your ability to handle situations is… truly admirable, Director.”

“Hey, you should’ve told me we were filming. I could’ve been pelted with a million stones for speaking out of turn.”

Even then, the Director seemed nervous, proclaiming, ‘The greatest fandom in the world, the Soufflés!’

“Director, so will you join us for the project?”

“Ah…”

“Millions of Soufflés will watch this scene.”

“I’ll do it. Yes, I’ll do it…”

“Wow!”

We had successfully recruited the music video director.

After ‘Nine’ skyrocketed his stock, it was tough to pin him down for a schedule, but we managed to catch him at just the right time.

After ending the call with a ‘See you later,’ I couldn’t contain my excitement. “This is just too good. We get to travel, the music video’s going well, and now… we’ve got the Director on board.”

“It seems like today’s the day when anything can happen.”

With those words, I waved to my siblings from a distance, heading back to our lodging.

‘Thank you, ghost!’

‘Ghost, thanks!’

Perhaps the ghost wandering around our lodging yesterday was a blessing for our album’s success.

We were coming to this surprise conclusion when Rihyuk sent a message.

Drama Breaker: [But the company said it would take at least nine months, right?]

Drama Breaker: [It’s been cut down by three months ahead of schedule.]

I had heard that ‘Nine’ was trending like crazy, but I thought it would take at least nine months to hit a hundred million views.

The message indicated that a sudden surge in views from North America was the reason for the shortened timeframe.

What could have drawn international fans to ‘Nine’s music video?

“…Huh?”

As ‘Nine’s music video ended on my tablet PC, the next video started playing automatically.

I watched as American news anchors burst into laughter while listening to a cow’s moo imitation.

And at that moment, it hit me.

How we managed to shorten the journey to a hundred million views by three whole months.

[Funniest K-pop Singers (a.k.a The New Black)]

I frantically hit the home button as a compilation video titled ‘The World’s Funniest K-pop Singers’ played.

“…”

As everyone hung their heads in embarrassment, our team’s rapper gave a comforting smile and confidently raised a thumbs up.