Chapter 24
Chapter 24
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Translator: uly
Chapter: 24
Chapter Title: This Life is Space Star 24
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Boy group TNT.
An eight-member group ambitiously planned by TJ Entertainment, known as an idol powerhouse.
Since debuting in 2010, every album they've released has been a massive hit, making them the top boy group.
Sixty Seconds, which had formed one of the two major peaks, collapsed due to an absurd blunder, allowing TNT to naturally claim the throne. But even before that, TNT had dominated in public popularity, album sales, and every other metric.
Han Tae-hyun.
Among such TNT members, Han Tae-hyun was one running in the upper ranks of popularity.
Even though their seniority was similar, in terms of fame, Girls on Top was like a firefly before the sun.
“Huh? Uh…….”
She had nearly been caught badmouthing TNT, and on top of that, I seemed close to Tae-hyun, so Gil Chae-kyung couldn't help but be flustered.
“Woojoo hyung?”
“You doing well?”
“It's been forever.”
As the guy hugged me tightly, Gil Chae-kyung's face turned pale.
I'd seen this in dramas.
The expression of a department head who realizes the subordinate they were bullying is from the owner's family.
“Uh…….”
Gil Chae-kyung stammered.
“What's your relationship, Tae-hyun oppa?”
“What do you mean, relationship.”
Han Tae-hyun spoke with a completely different expression from when he talked to her.
“Can't you tell? We're close.”
“Oh.”
“And right now, I'm not in the mood to talk to you much. Mind giving us some space?”
Gil Chae-kyung shrank back at the blatant rebuke.
As expected in this industry, popularity is everything.
Gil Chae-kyung, flustered enough to drop her soda can clumsily, fled like she was running away. Watching her go, I asked.
“Not on good terms?”
“Nothing good or bad. Meh, whatever. Honestly, she was just badmouthing us when I overheard, so no way she'd look cute.”
“You heard.”
“Nah, just TNT part. The rest I pieced together.”
Tae-hyun said.
“From how she was squirming, it was definitely trash-talking us, but the vibe wasn't close enough to gossip with someone else. New Black and TNT are both No. 1 contenders, so probably something like 'the No. 1 rivalry is intense.'”
“Your instincts have sharpened a lot.”
“It's not like I've eaten celebrity rice once or twice. Fifth year already.”
Back in trainee days, the guy who followed me around calling me hyung with zero awareness like Ji-ho had grown tremendously.
Now he was a member of the top popularity boy group.
Proud.
Felt like watching a kid you raised turn out well.
“We shouldn't just stand here, hyung. Come to our waiting room. The guys will be thrilled to see you.”
“Hmm, your staff are there too, so...”
“You haven't seen how much Ji-hoon grew, right? Come on.”
It was when Han Tae-hyun grabbed my arm tightly to drag me along.
Kim Bi-ju [Woojoo hyung]
Kim Bi-ju [I think I got lost. Help]
Reading the KakaoTalk, I pried off Tae-hyun's hand and said.
“Sorry. Not now—let's catch up next time.”
“Why?”
“Our kid says he got lost. Gotta go pick him up.”
“Oh, your kid......”
For a split second, bewilderment flashed across Tae-hyun's face.
No, was it? His expression seemed to stiffen a bit.
Tae-hyun quickly pulled out his smartphone with a bright smile.
“Then let's at least take a selfie. That cool?”
“He's super directionally challenged. I should hurry.”
“Just one shot. By the time you're done talking, it'll be snapped already.”
After roughly taking a few, he showed them to me for approval with a grin.
“Congrats on first place.”
“Results aren't even out yet.”
“Trust me, hyung.”
Han Tae-hyun flashed a grin.
“I've eaten more broadcasting station rice than you think.”
* * *
When I brought back Bi-ju, who was standing around blankly like a deer that wandered into a military base, everyone was awake.
“Soda's here.”
As I passed them out amid 'Thanks, I'll enjoy it' and similar greetings, Ri-hyuk grabbed a cola can and made a sour face.
“Eww, it's lukewarm. What took so damn long?”
“Sorry.”
Bi-ju said timidly.
“I went to the bathroom and got lost.”
“Call me next time. Not that hyung.”
The maknae, overhearing, lit up like he found teasing material.
“Ri-hyuk hyung, you jealous he didn't call you?”
“What're you on about. Just drink your soda.”
“Jealousy suits Seo Ri-hyuk perfectly.”
Ri-hyuk punched Ji-ho's shoulder, and Ji-ho started acting like it was the world's worst pain.
Jang So-won laughed as if it was cute.
“You guys always play around like this?”
“Just those two.”
Watching her dongsaengs bicker, the wang noona's lips kept curving into a mom smile.
“Nervous with live broadcast coming up?”
“Couldn't even sleep three hours last night.”
“Me too.”
“You too, sunbae-nim?”
“First time solo No. 1. All my previous wins were with the group.”
Jang So-won said.
“After that incident, I thought I'd never do music shows again. Who could've imagined? Pushing all other songs aside for ours to take No. 1.”
“Yeah.”
“Wild, right? Just a month ago, we were all crammed in a tiny studio.”
Memories from back then bloomed vividly, already feeling nostalgic.
That was fun.
Snacking on treats and drinks, pulling all-nighters in the recording studio.
“Feels like a dream.”
She smiled softly.
“Like if someone pokes me with a needle, I'll wake up. Even if it's a dream, I don't wanna wake. Stuff I never imagined is happening. Calls flooding in for shows and events... I thought I'd never stand again.”
An idol singer who tumbled from the peak due to member scandals.
In an industry where attitudes flip with popularity, I could easily imagine the scorn and disdain she faced.
Solo activities, starting over from scratch.
Then Jang So-won hit No. 1 on charts with a self-composed song, bathed in spotlights, now back on terrestrial stages as a music show No. 1 contender.
A full-blown second heyday.
“I thought it over carefully......”
Seeing her eyes moisten slightly, I quietly pulled out a tissue and handed it over.
She dabbed her eyes, mouthing 'thanks.'
Emotions must've welled up mid-sentence.
“Without you guys, none of this would've happened. Thanks, kids. Really.”
“Us too.”
I replied.
“Without you, sunbae-nim, we wouldn't get even a tenth of this attention. Honestly, we're the ones freeloading off your popularity......”
“Nonsense. Leader, without you, this song wouldn't even be finished.”
“No.”
“Don't be modest.”
“You made the melody—I just added a few things. We're the grateful ones. Couldn't reach here on our own.”
The vibe was thick enough for a toast.
Yoon the manager and Jang So-won's staff were listening intently, smiling warmly.
Usually, someone bursts into tears here.
But the tears came from an unexpected source.
“Min-gi, why're you crying?”
Our road manager who brought us was sniffling.
Why's he crying?
The red-eyed guy mumbled something, and Yoon Seok-hwan laughed as he relayed it to others.
“Says he's an original Sugarfish fan. What? Huh?”
“I was Black Sugar.”
“Fan club?”
“Yeah, first gen...... Sniff......”
People burst into laughter at his sobbing.
Our road manager was in Sugarfish's fan club.
Overwhelmed seeing his fave who hit rock bottom rise again.
“You were a fan? Should've said earlier.”
Jang So-won brightened and stood.
“Come here. Who's your fave?”
“Ri-sa......”
“Wanted a hug, but I'll hold your hand.”
Still, Jang So-won hugged the road manager.
Pat pat.
Touching, but what is this.
Like giving rice cake to the wrong person.
* * *
Lemon Entertainment PR Team.
The PR team had been breathless since morning, scattering articles and promotions for the music show featuring New Black.
But it wasn't tough.
Dealing with scandals or accidents is draining; good news like this makes everything fun.
Soon it was 5:30.
As Music ON started, PR staff caught their breath and gathered by the TV.
“Man, I'm nervous too.”
“Right? They're the ones on stage, but we're on edge.”
“Who gets No. 1?”
“Who knows. Our kids are top contenders, but TNT's album points make it iffy.”
“They invited them to broadcast, so probably banking on them winning, no?”
“We'll see. Broadcasters screwing mid/small agencies ain't new. Last year-end, we went on PD's word and Scarlett stole all the airtime.”
“That was brutal.”
“Still gives me chills. Prioritizing no-name big agency kids over ours......”
“Oh! It's starting.”
The 'Music ON' logo faded from the top, live broadcast began.
Actor Kang Hyun-min and Raviang Rose member Jeon Yu-bin held mics, beaming.
-Hot K-POP heating up! At its center, live Music~ON!
Introductions followed.
-Hi, I'm Kang Hyun-min.
-Hi, I'm Jeon Yu-bin. Whoa! Hyun-min oppa, something on your face!
-Yeah? What?
“Handsome. Handsomeness.”
“You too, Yu-bin~”
After cringey banter warping space-time, the MCs introduced today's stages.
-Jang So-won X New Black collab Something stage too.
-Shall we see the March 2nd week chart rankings?
Staff chatted as rankings climbed in reverse.
“Girls on Top's flopping.”
“Didn't they get No. 1 last time?”
“Yeah.”
“Joo Hana controversy slowed them.”
“What's her fault?”
“That's showbiz. Date a turd, become one.”
“Look! Something's No. 1.”
Something hit No. 1 amid cheers.
Less than No. 2 TNT's Blink, but solid public appeal.
Post-intro, screen cut to stage.
During an obscure girl group's opening, PR staff gossiped.
“Been ages since I watched a music show.”
“Historic moment. Idol forced onto music shows after collab tops charts pre-debut. Great article fodder.”
“Oh, what about that personal interview request for So-won and Woojoo?”
“Do it.”
“Makes sense. Joint composing builds composer idol image.”
“Jealous.”
“Even splitting with So-won, Woojoo's royalties monthly buy a car. By year-end, a Seoul house.”
As all smacked lips at that, someone asked.
“Anyone got Woojoo's contact?”
“Why?”
“No, check this.”
A staff held up their smartphone.
“TNT Tae-hyun just posted on personal Twitter.”
[TNT_Taehyun]
@RealHanTH
Good hyung I met after ages
#7YearBros
#CongratsNo1Contender
#HandsomeOnFace
Photo: Seon Wooju and Han Tae-hyun arm-in-arm.
“Woojoo's handsome alright. Holds up next to Tae-hyun.”
“We see him daily. Kids say convenience store clerks ask for his number every shift change.”
“Oh, that time a guy asked for his digits?”
“Puhaha!”
“C'mon, love is sublime.”
“Quit yapping. Spread SNS articles.”
Those watching TV grabbed laptops for work.
“K-wave star's a K-wave star. Look at RTs.”
“How do they know each other?”
“Met at TJ?”
“Wanna ask. If not live, I'd call. Perfect scoop.”
“Aren't you jealous?”
“Of what?”
“TNT's golden connections.”
Others nodded.
“Good he posted knowing. Thanks.”
“What?”
“TNT fandom's notoriously fierce. They've been flooding communities calling Something sound manipulated.”
“Hate us no-names stealing their singer's No. 1.”
“But Tae-hyun tweeting this? They'll quiet. TNT member certifies bestie with New Black, congrats on No. 1 contender.”
“Sweet. Probably not intentional.”
If Seon Wooju were here, he'd think 'knew and did it,' but PR just felt grateful.
As they worked, the stage finally started.
“It's on.”
“Unmute and crank volume.”
Gentle intro played, stage appeared.
PR staff watched TV with eager faces.
The moment Something's stage debuted for the first time.