In This Life, The Greatest Star In The Universe

There are two kinds of winter in the world.

One is just winter.

The other is the winter of Gangwon Province.

“Achoo!”

“Heh-heh, hah-hah…!”

“Ah! Don’t start your weird sneezing right next to my ear, Wang Jiho!”

“It’s so… so cold!”

Near the seaside parking lot.

Amidst my siblings’ bickering, Bijoo and I shivered as we huddled into the padding that Junhyeon had spread out.

“Ah, why is it so cold? Seriously.”

“Today, I feel like I’m tasting a whole new world of winter, hyung.”

I laughed at Bijoo’s reddened nose tip and looked up at Junhyeon, still bent at the waist.

“Junhyeon.”

“Yes, hyung.”

“Aren’t you cold?”

“I’m quite resistant to the cold.”

Junhyeon’s hair fluttered in the winter wind as he flashed a warm smile.

“That’s a relief.”

Comforted, we decided to squat down.

Bijoo and I squatted, fiddling with the hot packs handed to us by the managers, while Junhyeon covered us with the spread padding.

Nearby, shaking from the cold, Manager Wonseok exclaimed.

“Look at this, everyone. Junhyeon is embracing Woojoo and Bijoo.”

“Ha-ha-ha!”

“Ah, Manager Wonseok…”

The staff carrying equipment burst into laughter at our trembling figures.

Our pouting lips soon turned into laughter when the manager showed us the photo he had taken.

It was a picture of a giant chicken hugging two white eggs.

“Oh. Got a new background picture.”

Someone contentedly saved the image as their wallpaper, while Bijoo and I managed our expressions and looked at the manager.

“Please take it again.”

“Right, this time let’s make more egg-like faces.”

Bijoo and I ducked back into Junhyeon’s padding, hiding our hair and only revealing our faces.

Just as we were about to smile like gentle eggs.

“What’s this? Trying to imitate the boss?”

The youngest’s natural comment made everyone around burst into laughter.

Ah. I shouldn’t be laughing at this.

The youngest, who had been tilting his head in confusion, spoke to us.

“It looks really warm there. I’m coming in too.”

“Ah. Don’t come.”

While I was pushing away the youngest who was trying to squeeze in, Ri Hyeok also came over, hunched up.

“Bijoo hyung. I’m going to move next to you, so make some room, please.”

“Sure. Come in.”

The youngest whipped his head around.

“Woojoo hyung should learn from Bijoo hyung’s mindset. You’re old enough to be… Ouch!”

Despite a little commotion, the new tenants settled in successfully.

While we were crouching inside Junhyeon’s giant long padding, Manager Minki asked.

“Why don’t you just stay in the car instead? It’s even colder out here.”

“No, it doesn’t feel right. The staff are working hard, and we’d feel guilty just sitting inside with the heater on…”

Many of the locations for this music video shoot were chosen by us.

This place in Gangwon Province, known for its beautiful sea, was one of them.

We had said, “Let’s shoot here!” But then, feeling sorry for the staff shivering outside while we laughed and joked in the car.

“Thank you all so much for enduring the cold!”

“Director, love you.”

“Thank you! We’ll treat you to a nice hot spicy fish stew after we’re done!”

The staff, exhaling white breaths and shivering, gave an awkward smile and a thumbs-up at the last remark.

Their faces looked frozen, making it hard to even smile.

As we huddled together to express our gratitude, we checked the situation with the managers.

“Did everyone get their hot packs?”

“Yes.”

“And the ones you stick on your stomach…”

“Don’t worry about us. We’ve already used the ones you gave us. Go warm up in the car.”

Manager Minki said with a smile.

“You take care of the staff like this, but if you guys get sick, it’s all for nothing, you know?”

“Don’t worry, hyung. We hardly get sick during album preparations.”

Ri Hyeok nodded in agreement.

“Really, we push ourselves during album prep, but we hardly ever get sick. Maybe it’s the constant tension.”

“Right. It’s only after the music shows end that we start feeling a bit ill.”

“You don’t have to worry too much.”

The younger ones were right.

As the comeback approached, any chronic illnesses seemed to fly away.

Perhaps it was because we were in such a state of extreme tension, even minor ailments like colds seemed to avoid us, thinking, ‘These guys are crazy.’ ŘάɴO͍𝔟Ε§

“Just a moment.”

Manager Wonseok, who had been looking at us with a mix of pity and concern, strode towards the car.

“I’ll see if there’s any warm drink.”

“Thanks, hyung.”

While we were all smiling brightly, Manager Minki, who had initially looked at us with pity, narrowed his eyes.

Then he approached us, still smiling warmly.

“Why?”

“Something’s off. You guys aren’t the type to refuse kindness. If we tell you to come drink tea, you’re the ones who’d stay for a meal…”

Oops.

“Can I just put my hand in there for a second?”

“No!”

The person who slipped their hand into Junhyeon’s padding burst into laughter, as if they couldn’t believe what they found.

Steam rose from my hands as I stepped outside.

“Hey! How many hand warmers did you stuff in there?”

“Aw, it was such a nostalgic and nice atmosphere…”

My counterpart, who had been laughing as if he couldn’t be stopped, naturally slipped his hands into the padding of his coat. His expression melted into one of contentment.

“Ah…”

“Warm, isn’t it?”

“Heaven isn’t some far-off place. It’s right here.”

As we nodded in warm agreement, Wonseok, holding a can of drink, blinked in surprise.

He gestured for us to come closer.

Following Minki’s lead, Wonseok let out a deep sigh of appreciation.

“Wow…”

“Feels warm, right?”

“It’s like my hands have turned into ice cream.”

We nodded in agreement, saying, “Exactly, exactly.”

The sight of five idols and two managers tangled up together, smiling happily, made the staff passing by give us curious looks.

“Alright, we’re going for the shot! Ready! Action!”

With the director’s spirited call, the filming began.

Ssshhh…

The winter beach was alive with the rush of waves.

Wrapped in a coat and scarf, I left footprints in the sand with each step.

The camera director matched my pace stride for stride.

“Hoo…”

I exhaled a white breath, turning my gaze towards the sea.

Remembering the script’s note for ‘lonely acting,’ I relaxed my eyebrows slightly.

I gazed into the distance, imagining a barren tree without a single bird or leaf in sight.

Whoooosh—

Suddenly, a wild gust of wind lifted my scarf, plastering it against my face.

“…”

It felt like standing in front of a powerful air conditioner with a tissue stuck to my face.

The wind ceased, and the scarf slid down smoothly.

“Pffft!”

I tried to continue acting, but laughter erupted from around me, and I couldn’t help but join in.

Next to my chuckling younger brothers, the director laughed while monitoring the scene.

“Someone fix Woojoo’s scarf! If we leave it like that, it’ll keep flying off!”

“Right away!”

While the costume team secured the scarf, I looked around with a slight smile.

The staff, amused by the recent mishap, were also laughing.

The mood was good.

Especially since our laughter seemed to improve the atmosphere on set.

“…So this is how the quartermaster felt.”

I recalled the quartermaster’s face, laughing heartily as he gazed at the distant eastern sky.

Meanwhile, the director approached me.

“That expression was perfect!”

“Thank you.”

“Just like that, no more, no less. Let’s go for the same scene again. Okay?”

“Yes, I understand.”

We successfully completed the same scene in one take.

As we prepared for the next scene, my younger brothers gave me thumbs up, all except for the youngest, who sighed softly.

“Jiho, what’s wrong? Wasn’t it good just now?”

“Brother.”

“Yes?”

“The acting is mine. As if stealing Rihyuk’s singing and Bijoo’s dancing wasn’t enough…”

“Junghyun, take him away.”

The troublemaker was swiftly removed, and the two who were about to speak of dance and song hesitated.

Bijoo said with a smile,

“Your acting has improved, brother.”

“Really? I thought the director was just comforting me.”

“No, you’ve really gotten better. Even more than when you filmed the magic school CF.”

Bijoo’s eyes widened with genuine excitement.

Turning to Rihyuk, he gestured with his fingers how much I had improved.

Seeing my bright smile, the gap between us narrowed.

“I really have improved.”

The experience from various variety shows and broadcasts, learning which angles looked best on camera, seemed to pay off.

The practice I put into facial expressions during my spare time must have been effective.

I had a vague sense that my acting had improved since the start of filming, but now it was confirmed.

But…

“I didn’t notice because the mood was too good.”

“That’s true.”

With that, Rihyuk also looked around.

“The atmosphere on set is a bit…”

After the success of our album and the broadcast of ‘Myeonggokdan’ and ‘Saga,’ the treatment on set had improved, but never as generously as this time.

It felt like becoming the top star I’d seen in dramas.

Just as Eunsung and I used to decide the decibel level of our breathing based on the quartermaster’s expressions, it felt like we now had a firm grip on the atmosphere of the set.

My brothers and I exchanged glances.

“Good…”

“Now let’s use this to create a fantastic atmosphere. Minions.”

“Yes, yes.”

The days when a single word from the directors or producers could dampen the mood were gone.

We decided the atmosphere.

I had always wished that once we made it big, we could create a great environment where everyone enjoyed their work.

I was pleased to see that wish come true.

“Hahaha!”

Gathered on the beach, we etched the word ‘Happiness’ into the sand with sticks, our joy infectious as laughter spread among us.

We then scribbled down ‘NewBlack’ and ‘Soufflé’ to check our name compatibility, only to erase it hastily when the result showed a mere 12%.

While capturing the phrase ‘NewBlack+Soufflé=☆’ for an upcoming social media post,

“Sky lanterns!” exclaimed the youngest member.

Turning our heads, we saw several lanterns prepared for filming.

It was to be one of the final scenes of our title track’s music video.

Together, the five of us made wishes, sending the lanterns soaring over the sea.

The video was set to end with our silhouettes watching the lanterns drift away.

“Wow…”

“Let’s make wishes on any leftover lanterns later. For us.”

“Sounds good.”

After wrapping up the lantern scene,

we scribbled various wishes on them while the crew prepared to leave.

“Next album, big hit. Let’s write that.”

As we were about to release the most important wish, Junhyeon hesitated, saying,

“What if the Dragon King finds this too challenging to grant?”

“You’re right. The Dragon King might not have influence in the entertainment industry.”

“Maybe if we write several, one will be granted.”

We all agreed it was a good idea.

“I hope Madam Kim Deoksoon becomes the oldest person in the Guinness Book of World Records.”

“May all members and our families be happy and healthy.”

“I wish to eat without gaining weight.”

“I hope the secrets of the universe are revealed in my lifetime… the real universe, not the pre-universe.”

“Make me a better son to my parents, a better brother to my sisters.”

We paused at the last wish, then burst into laughter.

“Hey, that’s something you have to work on.”

“I don’t know. I want to have it easy.”

As we smiled at our written wishes, we added ‘lottery win’ to the list at our managers’ request.

“Let’s release them.”

The moment we lit the lanterns, they floated up, carried by the warm air.

We clapped and cheered,

when suddenly,

Whoosh!

The lanterns caught fire in the sky, burning brightly.

A passing crew member admired, “They burn well.”

“Of course.”

“We sent up lanterns, but they returned as flaming arrows.”

“We should have expected this,” said Ri-hyeok, smiling warmly as we waved at the falling lanterns.

While NewBlack roamed around filming the music video,

the Soufflés were speechless at the numbers on the scale.

Tears erupted everywhere.

The weight… the weight… 😭

Gained 4kg since the Soufflé bread launch…

(GIF of parents turning into pigs eating food in an animation)

I’m supposed to collect stickers, why does the bread have to be so tasty… 😭

Were we bread enthusiasts rather than fans all along?

My grandmother, who worried about my thinness, glanced at me yesterday and scooped less rice onto my plate. 😂n/ô/vel/b//jn dot c//om

Amidst the weight gain complaints,

stories of sold-out convenience stores were shared.

The media dubbed it the ‘NewBlack Bread Craze.’

Some places limited purchases to one bread per person, yet the demand was overwhelming.

Even the 9 PM news covered the phenomenon with the headline, “K-pop Industry Now Entering the Food Market.”

Footage of NewBlack members rappelling and being chased by a black goat was shown, comparing them to their character seals.

“The expansion of the K-pop industry using idol characters shows new possibilities,” concluded the reporter with a grand statement.

The Soufflés smiled warmly.

‘That’s not quite right…’

The bread, initially a fan service, had been released through word of mouth, but the news portrayed it as a well-planned project.

“Is that bread really that good?”

“Let’s pick one up from the market later if they have it. If they’re the models, it must be delicious.”

“I saw them eating samgyetang on TV; they really enjoyed it.”

Families watching the news at home reacted positively, and I couldn’t help but smile quietly.

‘Today’s fandom is as dynamic as ever.’

With that thought, I browsed the internet with a calm smile.

Everything was going smoothly.

The hate comments that were common before our award win had now become rare.

NewBlack’s songs were heard everywhere I went.

The OST ‘Thousand Dreams’ from Nostalgia was still on the Billboard Hot 100.

‘I hope they make a comeback soon.’

The last news about the album was that Ha Seung-ju, the music cafe MC, was involved in its production.

It was rumored to be a special album.

While Y-app live and Mitube content continued to be released, I was curious about any other news regarding the album.

“Hmm…?”

A new announcement from Lemon Entertainment caught my eye.

“NewBlack’s Letter to You: A Special Performance Awaits!”

Scanned pastel-toned handwritten letters from the members were displayed, followed by the same message.

The announcement asked how we were doing and hinted at an upcoming special performance, making our hearts flutter.

The request was simple:

Could you reply to us, and if you have any winter-related stories, would you share them? Anything is fine! 🙂

It was similar to a TV show offering tickets through a story submission lottery.

The unusual part was the request for an exact address to send the tickets to.

‘What’s this?’

Curiosity bubbled within me, but winning was what mattered most.

With the same reverence I had as a child entering an essay contest for a cultural gift voucher, I solemnly tapped away at the keyboard.

Then, as I pondered the practical issues, a headache began to form.

‘What if I win? Do I have to travel all the way to Seoul?’

Memories of struggling with the express bus during concerts flooded my mind.

“…But why do they need to know where I live?”

My doubts deepened at the company’s peculiar request to specify my residential area.

A hunch struck me.

‘Could it be a performance in a metropolitan city? Or are they coming to my region?’

I envisioned New Black enjoying local delicacies, announcing, “We’re here!”

The mere thought was a delightful fantasy, but I soon shook my head and chuckled at the absurdity.

The music video shoot for the special album had wrapped up.

“Great work, everyone!”

“Thank you for your hard work!”

All tasks, except for graphics and editing, were complete.

The photo shoot was done, the tracks mastered, and the album design turned out beautifully.

The title of this album was Blue Winter.

Comprising nine tracks, including the title song ‘Winter Sleep,’ it seemed like a lot. But removing one remake and the intro/outro, it was essentially six songs.

It wasn’t a small number, but it had been a while since stage rehearsals felt this smooth.

“Do you know why?” Rihyuk exclaimed with the happiest expression I’d ever seen on him.

“There’s no dance! No dance!”

“Calm down, Pirarucu.”

“Look how great this is. Instead of practicing dance, we get to focus more on singing, improving the quality of our performances, and nobody faints…”

I whispered to the youngest, who was fidgeting with excitement, as we anticipated the rigorous choreography for the next album.

“Let him be happy.”

“But if that brother suffers, I’m happy,” he retorted.

“…”

Regardless, the lack of dance in this special album made our year-end schedule much more manageable.

“Hello! We’re New Black, aspiring to be as synonymous with winter as roasted chestnuts and sweet potatoes!”

We vigorously promoted our special album on the year-end radio special.

“Shall I sign over the character seal? Oh, I absolutely can’t? Right, my mistake.”

We also held a mini fan meeting at the mall to celebrate the official release of the soufflé bread.

In addition to performing at corporate year-end parties.

Amidst a whirlwind December schedule, just before Christmas, unexpected news arrived.

“The HBS Music Awards told us to prepare two stages, ‘Wind Flower’ and ‘Nine.’”

“Right.”

“Now they say we might only have time for one.”

“…What?”

It was a bewildering turn of events.

Seok Hwan hyung looked incredulous as we stared at the cue sheet that had just arrived.

“Two minutes and thirty seconds?”

We blinked at the meager time allotted, barely enough to showcase even one song properly.