In This Life, The Greatest Star In The Universe

Chapter 390

The discussion about the song concluded smoothly.

Both composers expressed immense satisfaction with the track we had created.

“It’s the kind of song you never tire of listening to. Yeah.”

“It’s good.”

Director Cho smiled.

“It’s well-structured overall. It’s perfect as it is; there’s nothing to add.”

“Is it really okay? Since it’s a combination of three songs, I thought…”

“No.”

The two composers cut off my question sharply.

Ha Seung-ju said, placing his hand on my left shoulder.

“You don’t need to ask. It’s perfect as it is.”

“I agree. Woojoo.”

Director Cho’s hand rested on my right shoulder.

Both wore bright smiles, yet the atmosphere suggested that asking further would be unwelcome.

Most of the feedback focused on sound quality and minor technicalities, indicating no disagreement on the song’s completeness.

“Thank you. With your help, I feel like I’ve found the direction to complete it.”

“You’re welcome. You did all the work.”

“Ahem.”

Ha Seung-ju corrected the younger members who were coughing awkwardly.

“Ah. We all did it together.”

“Thank you so much. We might seem insignificant, but we hold a 40% stake in this, Producer.”

“And how much of that is Jiho’s?”

“Thank you! I’ll work even harder~”

Their playful banter was met with comfortable laughter.

Director Jo Gyuhwan glanced at the calendar and asked.

“The meeting to select the title track is next week. Can you prepare by then?”

“Yes.”

“I have a feeling that your song will be chosen again.”

His eyes curved like crescents.

“It’s as if a ghost blessed the song.”

“Eek!”

“Why dislike it? It’s a great promotional point.”

While others fabricate ghost stories, you actually have one, he said with a sly smile.

“A ghost?”

Ha, the producer, tilted his head in confusion until he heard the backstory and laughed heartily.

“Come on. There are no ghosts in this world.”

“Shall I tell you about it?”

“No.”

His refusal was firm.

“Can’t you put away these earphones? How dare you offer them to your senior.”

“Shall I switch them for headphones?”

“No!”

“Just try the ghost ASMR experience, Producer. Try it. Try it.”

He sipped his coffee elegantly while Ha Seung-ju shook his head in horror.

Then, as if struck by a thought, he said, “Ah.”

“What’s wrong?”

“There’s something bothering me…”

“What’s bothering you?”

Director Cho looked slightly pitiful.

“The production team and external composers were quite enthusiastic.”

“?”

“It seems rumors spread that you hit a block writing the song, and they considered the title track spot open. Everyone’s hoping their song might be chosen.”

“Ah…”

“I’m curious about their reaction when they hear this song.”

That explains it.

That’s why the production team’s faces were so bright.

Producer Na Sang-yoon’s beaming smile came to mind.

“I’ve written a song this time, and it’s good. Really good.”

“Really?”

“You’ll be surprised.”

“Don’t worry too much if you’re stuck. We’ve written a good song this time.”

The younger members looked genuinely sympathetic.

I think I know the feeling. The feeling of being deceived…

“I had prepared a solo act because you said you weren’t feeling well today and needed us to step up, but then you suddenly started juggling.”

“Ah, that was really too much back then.”

The two composers began to laugh.

Rihyuk spoke up.

“Moreover, you’ve been going around the neighborhood complaining about how the song isn’t coming together, pouring out your woes to the production team staff.”

“Didn’t you get a lot of sweets to cheer up from being too down?”

“…”

Just when I was starting to feel the pangs of conscience, the youngest delivered the final blow.

“This time, even if the production team staff grab you by the collar, it’s justified.”

While everyone burst into laughter, I rolled my eyes at Jiho, who was giggling annoyingly.

After the meeting, we were officially given a holiday.

Three days.

It was supposed to be during the Lunar New Year, but it had been postponed due to concerts and advertisements.

Coming home after such a long time made my heart feel warm and pure.

“Grandma, oh my grandmamaaaa—!”

“Good grief. You’re pooping, aren’t you?”

It was a warm reunion.

As usual, Madam Kim Deoksoon welcomed me, and I presented her with a bundle of gifts.

“Ta-da~!”

“Oh my. Why did you buy so much? You’ll die before you use all this.”

“Grandma. Let’s soften our words a bit, shall we?”

“You’ll go to paradise before you use all this. Happy now?”

Her earthy wit brought a smile to my face.

We unpacked the gifts together and discussed what to do during the holiday, deciding to stay home in the end.

According to grandma, my face had become too well-known.

If I were at the white rice restaurant, onlookers would create such a commotion that business would be impossible.

“The rumors have spread so much that every time I pass by, they say, ‘That’s the grandma.’ It’s unbearably noisy.”

“But didn’t sales skyrocket?”

“That’s beside the point. Would I be a burden if I said they were your fans?”

Madam Kim Deoksoon mimicked the Seoul accent.

“Grandma, I’m a fan of our Woojoo oppa,” they’d say, ordering food with such trembling excitement.

“Why would that make you nervous?”

“If I slip up in my words! Imagine the finger-pointing I’d get for ruining my grandchild’s future.”

“Don’t worry about such things.”

I comforted her, sensing her anxiety about possibly causing me trouble.

The first day was spent mostly preparing meals with grandma.

And just like that, the three days flew by in the blink of an eye.

I felt so happy, as if I had recharged all my energy for the upcoming album preparation.

“Heeheehee!”

“Good grief…”

“Hahaha! Grandma, did you hear our song playing on the radio just now? Nine~ Nine~!”

“Oh my! My ears! When are you going back to Seoul-!”

It was too good.

Perhaps this is why the company insisted I spend as much time as possible with my family for this holiday.

The three days passed by cruelly fast.

“Here.”

On the last morning.

I dusted off my hands and pointed to the new large TV we had just bought.

I handed the remote to Madam Kim Deoksoon and we pressed the buttons together.

“Press this button.”

“Press it.”

“Then scroll down to the third slot… Do you see the triangle marked ‘External Device’?”

“Like Rihyuk’s sharp chin?”

“Yes. If Rihyuk presses it, a list like this will appear.”

A list with dates from the 1990s appeared, about thirty entries long.

Thumbnails filled with images of mom and dad.

It was the list of old videotapes given to us by Producer Ha Seung-ju.

“So, if you press it like this…”

With a light press of the remote, mom’s brightly smiling face appeared on the large screen.

I could see Madam Kim Deoksoon swallowing hard.

-What’s up, bro? Is it time to write a video letter?

Mom, holding little me in her arms, beamed at the camera.

For a moment, I thought the phrase ‘refreshing smile’ must have been created just for my mom.

In that moment, my mother, who laughed like a mother, briefly became a daughter.

“I love you, Mom~”

As the video played, Grandma reached out to caress my mother’s cheek on the large TV screen. She stepped back after a moment and continued to watch.

Grandma, who had been watching my mother move on the screen for a while, wiped the corners of her eyes. She struggled to speak, her mouth moving silently for a long time before she finally said,

“…Technology really is amazing these days. To think we can see each other on TV.”

“Right?”

“Before you go, teach me how to use this thing one more time.”

After showing her a few times how to use the remote, I wrote down the instructions and drew pictures on an A4 paper for her. Grandma repeatedly went over the paper.

Having taught her how to see Mom’s face on the TV, I said,

“Grandma, I should get going now.”

“Aren’t you going to have lunch?”

I tied my shoelaces as I replied,

“I have work. I need to catch a flight to the U.S. soon.”

“Taking another flight?”

“Yes.”

“Alright. Just be careful.”

Grandma, more subdued than usual, held my hand as she saw me off.

“Don’t worry too much. I’ll be back soon.”

She looked at me silently, then nodded.

At that moment, when I realized what her eyes were trying to say, I felt a warm embrace.

I hugged her tightly and waved at the butterfly behind her.

“See you at Chuseok, Butterfly.”

Cheese Cat meowed briefly.

Captivated by those round eyes for a moment, I blinked and said,

“Grandma.”

“Yes?”

“About that one.”

I pointed at Butterfly.

“…I bought a fancy cat tower, but why does it prefer the cardboard box?”

Despite assembling the luxurious cat tower with Grandma, Butterfly never gave it a glance, preferring to squeeze itself into a small cardboard box instead.

We exchanged a resigned look, united in our bewilderment.

Cats truly are unfathomable creatures.

“You’re quite similar to me. Cute and mysterious.”

“How are you and Butterfly alike? Butterfly is a million times cuter than you.”

“Hmph…”

“Butterfly is the cutest creature in the world.”

I showed Jiho, who was pouting, about 200 pictures.

Even the youngest, who had been mocking my doting ways, glanced over and then asked with a coy expression,

“…Send me that one, will you?”

“Just this one?”

“And the ones after it.”

As soon as I uploaded the photos to our group chat, Bijoo and Junghyun started saving them eagerly, saying, “I’m taking these~”

Meanwhile,

I waved to the people who were filming with their phones or watching from a distance.

“Hello!”

Here we were on the third floor of Incheon Airport.

We were in the middle of check-in at counter A of the departure hall.

I thought I had disguised myself well enough with sunglasses and a mask, but being together in a group of four, we were easily recognized.

“That’s New Black.”

“It’s New Black.”

“You can tell it’s New Black just by the silhouette.”

So, I gave up halfway and showed my bare face.

Rihyuk, on the other hand, was telling those who asked where he was that he was already in the U.S.

“Let’s go, guys.”

“Yes!”

Following Director Jo and the managers, we boarded the plane.

Our destination was New York, U.S.A.

It was because of the meeting I had promised with Director John Edwards.

I was originally scheduled to meet in LA last year, but the person who was supposed to introduce us couldn’t make it, so the meeting was postponed to March this year.

Turning to my younger siblings, I said, “You didn’t have to come. In fact, it was a trip I could have made alone, and the jet lag is tough enough…”

“But isn’t it better to be together?” they asked.

“Well, yes, but…”

The youngest, sitting next to me, chimed in, “You know how important numbers are in such meetings. Dad always said, ‘Contracts are won by numbers.’”

“…You’ve learned something valuable, I see.”

“And if we’re in Seoul without you, we have to practice with Bijou,” they continued.

In other words, they were avoiding practice by running away with me.

I turned to look at Junhyeon, who made an ‘O’ with his hands, signaling ‘OK.’

Meanwhile, Bijou had been busy searching for New York travel destinations.

Bijou exclaimed, “[Let’s go here!! Here!!]”

He had found a famous restaurant in New York and insisted we go there.

“A Michelin guide five-star place, or so he thought.”

But Michelin stars only go up to three; it seemed he’d been fooled by a blogger again.

After takeoff, fiddling with a chicken doll as usual, I had two in-flight meals and watched about three movies before we arrived at JFK Airport in New York.

There, we found the person who had flown in from LA to meet us first.

“Rihyukaaaa!”

“Ugh, stop it! Not here too!”

“Rihyukaaa!”

Amidst the stares of blinking Americans, we surrounded Rihyuk and danced in a circle.

The youngest, with teary eyes, said, “I really missed you.”

“Well, I… the scenery of New York.”

“…”

While we burst into laughter, someone else’s face turned as red as a persimmon.

Grinding his teeth, he pushed his luggage cart and I asked him, “Did you have a good time with mom?”

“Yes, well, she was busy, so I mostly played with Yein. Went shopping.”

Rihyuk had spent his vacation at our mother’s place in LA.

From what he told us, it seemed like he had a great time, which lifted my spirits too.

“Why are you smiling?”

“Just because I’m happy.”

With that, we got into the car.

During the drive from JFK Airport in Queens to Manhattan, we eagerly took in the sights outside the car window.

“Wow…”

The bustling streets I’d seen in movies passed by right before my eyes.

Especially near Times Square, we pressed our noses against the car window to get a better look.

Even after getting out of the car, we kept looking around, repeating “Wow, this is amazing.”

It was just like the place I’d seen in the movies.

The billboards of buildings famous for their expensive advertising caught my eye.

People were pouring in from all directions, and if you didn’t pay attention, you could easily get swept away by the crowd.

The youngest looked around and said, “This is where they do the New Year’s performance in New York.”

“Really?”

It was the very place where popular singers gathered every year-end for the New Year countdown.

It was surreal to be at a place I’d only seen in videos and photos.

But as they say, humans are creatures of adaptation, and within about ten minutes, the excitement had faded.

After taking a few selfies for SNS to show our fans.

“Guys, let’s head up now.”

“Okay!”

We followed Director Jo into a nearby building.

On the third floor.

Entering an office decorated like a cozy library, a burly man greeted us.

“Hey!”

We warmly greeted Director John Edwards, who approached us with open arms.

“You must be Mr. Jo. I’ve heard about you from Woojoo.”

“Pleased to meet you. I hope it’s all good things.”

While the adults exchanged smiles and handshakes.

A plump man with the air of a friendly chef walked in from the back of the office, accompanied by his secretary.

“We finally meet!”

As an Asian American approached me with a quick stride, he extended his hand.

“Pleased to meet you. I’m Frank Chau.”

Francis Chau.

A second-generation American born to Cambodian immigrant parents, he was a globally renowned composer of considerable repute.

He had worked on famous movie soundtracks.

Above all, he was celebrated as the producer of well-known musicals, including ‘Nostalgia.’

He had won the Tony Award, often referred to as the Academy Award of the theater world, several times, and this time at the Academy, he won the Best Original Song for the movie number ‘Falling Stars.’

He was a person with an incredibly impressive career.

“It’s an honor to meet you. I’ve always wanted to meet you.”

“Me?”

“I’m a big fan. I’ve listened to every movie soundtrack you’ve been involved in.”

When I offered my hand again, he laughed.

“It’s the first time I’ve seen someone so happy to meet a composer, not a singer or an actor.”

Frank Chau said as he sat down in the office chair.

“I’ve heard about New Black from John. They say you’re an exceptionally talented singer.”

Director Edwards, who had been playing with a globe at the back table, gave a thumbs up.

Chau smiled and said.

“I’ve personally wanted to meet you.”

“…?”

“I was puzzled when John mentioned adding a song called ‘Thousand Dreams’ to the number.”

His eyes sparkled as he leaned forward.

“It was more than I could have imagined. I wanted to crack open the creator’s head to see inside.”

The office erupted into laughter as Jun-hyeon reflexively protected my head with his hands.

The musical producer, still smiling at Jun-hyeon’s awkward ‘sorry,’ said.

“There was something missing when I wrote ‘Falling Stars.’ It’s a song about descent, but among the other numbers in ‘Nostalgia,’ there wasn’t one that ascended in contrast.”

“I focused on that aspect when working. The pleasure of descent varies depending on how much you ascend.”

“After listening to ‘Thousand Dreams,’ I immediately clapped my hands and thought, ‘Aha!’ It was a brilliant idea.”

That’s how I received praise for the song.

Mostly, Frank Chau would say, “You’re quite something for your young age,” and I would just laugh it off with a ‘haha.’

Jun-hyeon and I explained the parts that the younger ones had come up with.

“Well, shall we get to the main point now?” the musical producer said.

“We’re planning to bring ‘Nostalgia’ back to the theater around the end of this year or early next year.”

“Yes, I’ve heard about it.”

“I’d like to include ‘Thousand Dreams’ in the newly launched musical ‘Nostalgia.’”

It was as expected.

The musical, which had lost its popularity since the early 2000s, had been perfectly revived with the movie version.

It was only natural to plan a musical before the hype completely died down.

And it was also natural that ‘Thousand Dreams,’ popular with the audience, was needed for the new musical.

Frank Chau leaned forward and asked.

“How about it?”

“How would you like me to participate?”

“I’d like you to handle the arrangement and directing of ‘Thousand Dreams’ for the cast album that the musical actors will sing.”

It was a request to arrange the song according to the producer’s needs and direct the actor who would sing it.

An opportunity to participate in a famous Broadway musical album.

My siblings sent me a look that said, ‘Do it! Go for it, human!’ and inside, I was jumping up and down on the sofa.

I was definitely okay with it, but I kept a calm expression.

“…”

I signaled to Director Jo, who was sitting cross-legged next to me.

This was a part where expert assistance was needed.

And our director had survived long in the Korean music industry, notorious for stealing copyrights even with closed eyes.

Director Jo smiled.

“Alright. Shall we proceed with the contract then?”

Five minutes later.

We had encountered the god of eloquence.

In the end, the contract went well.

Both sides had a verbal tug-of-war for nearly three hours, filtering out toxic clauses and reaching an agreement.

There were still a few procedures left.

Frank Chau, who had tried to take advantage of us, ended up sending a look to Director Jo that said, ‘Man 1 is envious of Man 2,’ it was that successful.

“Then, let’s toast to everyone’s success!”

After a celebratory dinner at a famous steakhouse on Broadway, I boarded the flight home with a fluttering heart.

And then…

“Hmm…?”

A vibrating buzz prompted me to check my phone, where a notification from MyTube had popped up.

NewBlack World channel.

“Huh…?”

“It must have just been uploaded.”

There it was, an uploaded video featuring an interview with Mr. Maeda and other segments shot in a Japanese variety show style.

I’ll watch it later, I thought, about to put my phone away when suddenly…

“I’m getting divorced! Definitely!”

Startled by the sudden outcry, I grabbed my phone in a rush.

This, I had to see.