Chapter 47
Chapter 47
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Translator: uly
Chapter: 47
Chapter Title: This Life is Space Star 47
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A few days after DNS Media's surprise promotional offensive.
Lemon Entertainment launched a massive counterattack.
The PR team, allocated twice the original budget, began flooding the media with press releases like mad.
- Something box office hit 'New Black' returns with self-composed songs
-"This time it's a summer season song," New Black debut album tracklist revealed
-New Black to storm the music scene next month with new album title track 'Fireworks'
They must have poured an insane amount into promotions, as some articles even made it to the front pages.
Thanks to that, our group name even climbed into the real-time search trends.
Was it because our name had spread more through music shows and Music Cafes?
It was something that never happened when DNS Media promoted Street Boys.
And it seemed to have provoked our rivals.
As if refusing to take Lemon's counterattack lying down, DNS Media unleashed another wave of promotions.
-Raviang Rose cheers on junior group on SNS... Who's "Street Boys"?
-Rapper Heysion raves about Street Boys leader Han Jo's rap storm
-"Street Boys" tops real-time search before debut, already hot
The two companies' nerve war was playing out everywhere.
By now, it was so obvious that no one could miss it, and posts started popping up, centered around idol communities.
-Lemon and DNS beefing? They're going hard at each other
-Kyu-ho and Hyun-sik at it again?
-Didn't feel this intense even during Scarlett and Raviang Rose
-DNS threw the first punch, right? Street whatever changed their April title track and this debut song, obviously shading Lemon
-What interview? lol They said debut schedule was tight so it was originally for album 2 but they had time now
-What are you talking about? Anyone can see they copied New Black
-The handful of fans already fighting lol
-Why do these no-names already have fans?? New Black maybe from Something, but Street Boys too?
-Their debut reality on K-Net got decent buzz yeah
-Lmao already fighting this early, exciting af
-Some comments are straight trash
-Newbies, everyone talks shit
-Reminds me of TNT vs Sixty Seconds fandom wars. Won't be boring anytime soon
Excluding the tiny hardcore fandoms, most idol fans were just munching popcorn with glee.
Maybe that's why.
Entertainment reporters, smelling blood, swarmed in like hyenas.
-The impending June boy group showdown, who will win?
-'Composer Idols vs Composer Idols,' key points for June boy group battle
-June music scene: Rookies throw down the gauntlet
The reporters dubbed the two groups' rivalry the grandiose "June Boy Group Showdown."
Sure, other groups got mentions, but they were just for show.
The real focus was the rival matchup between us and Street Boys.
Who would have the more successful promotions? Whose song would be better?
The general public was still indifferent, but idol fans were starting to buzz.
There hadn't been a proper rivalry fight in the idol scene since Sixty Seconds fell off.
Plus, with major artists teasing July and August comebacks, the rookies' clash was prime entertainment for a dull June.
Reflecting that, tangible changes emerged.
Fan cafe memberships swelled, and views on our YouTube videos skyrocketed.
The stakes for both companies grew clearer with every surge.
Opportunity.
No matter who won, the victor would hog all the spotlight.
A battle they had to win.
As both groups and agencies sharpened their blades, summer crept closer.
* * *
May, a studio in Gangnam-gu.
"Wow."
New Black members let out gasps of awe in the studio for the album jacket shoot.
"Hyung, sit down. This sofa's as good as the one at home."
"For real. Amazing, this."
Wang Ji-ho and Kim Jung-hyun were grinning ear to ear on the luxury sofa.
"Doesn't this look super expensive?"
"Yeah. Looks just like an Egyptian vase. Be cool in the dorm if we had one."
"Why put it in the dorm? Jung-hyun hyung and Wang Ji-ho would smash it for sure."
Seo Ri-hyuk and Kim Bi-ju were critiquing a bizarre craft piece.
An urn that screamed money at first glance.
Everything in the waiting room was like that. The vibe screamed, "You really belong here?"
"They said it's the hottest artist in Gangnam. Waiting room's straight lavish."
"Look at the posters on the wall. All top-star seniors."
"Wow. Huh? Not many idols though. That TN... Ahh, why?"
"No sense?"
Seo Ri-hyuk nodded toward the corner of the sofa, where someone sat with legs crossed.
Only then did Wang Ji-ho realize.
He'd forgotten the guy who flunked TNT debut training.
But the guy seemed oblivious to their chatter, staring intently at his smartphone with a serious face.
Super focused.
Seo Ri-hyuk mouthed a question.
'What the hell's that dude watching?'
'Jung-hyun hyung, what’s Woojoo hyung looking at?'
Kim Jung-hyun blinked at Wang Ji-ho.
His bear-like face screamed utter confusion.
Before that booming voice could cluelessly blurt "What's up?", Wang Ji-ho flashed his fingers.
Then he opened the messenger.
[Space-less Space Team (4)]
A secret chat made around when Seon Wooju started composing Fireworks.
A worry group for the leader, basically.
Kim Bi-ju started it, fed up with how their leader dove headfirst into things, forgetting to eat or sleep.
Jiho [Woojoo hyung what u watching?]
Only then did Kim Jung-hyun peek at Seon Wooju's phone next to him, getting an "aha."
But his reaction was wild.
Shaking pupils.
Bobbing Adam's apple.
The members tilted their heads at Kim Jung-hyun gulping.
Ri-hyuk [Hyung what's up]
Ri-hyuk [What could shock you like that?]
Junghyun [Uh..]
His thick fingers hesitated.
Junghyun [Looking at girl pics]
Junghyun [Bikini]
Bikini?
Incomprehension washed over the members' faces.
Ri-hyuk [The guy who stared at girls like stone statues, why pics now?]
Jiho [Spring's hit Woojoo hyung♥]
Ri-hyuk [What's wrong with this dude fr]
Jiho [Keep talking and I'll text my dad's company legal team]
Ri-hyuk [pdf dumbass]
As the maknaes tussled, Kim Jung-hyun, spying on Seon Wooju, typed again.
Junghyun [Guys]
Junghyun [Now it's videos]
Bi-ju [?]
Bi-ju [Nah Woojoo hyung wouldn't]
Jiho [lolll Bi-ju hyung melting down]
The others were just as flustered.
Over the past six months, their leader was obsessed with idol success.
Like a racehorse laser-focused on the finish line.
Even lately, he'd nag, "Look at the company staff. We gotta grind till our bones break."
And now, right before a key shoot, instead of practice, he's watching bikini girls' pics and vids?
Super intently too.
Bi-ju [There's a reason]
Junghyun [Now he's straight up smiling??]
Sure enough, Seon Wooju was beaming at his phone.
Jiho [Bi-ju hyung]
Jiho [Woojoo hyung defect and come to my arms plz]
Bi-ju [No]
Bi-ju [Woojoo hyung's been composing a ton lately.. working hard.. stressed.. he's human too]
Bi-ju [Emoji (sob)]
Ri-hyuk [Hyung looks hit hard by reality]
Jiho [lollllll]
As they swapped theories on their leader's weirdness, Seo Ri-hyuk smirked and typed.
Ri-hyuk [Watch]
Ri-hyuk [Bet he's got some scheme again]
* * *
I've seen enough.
I pocketed my smartphone, memorizing the models' expressions.
Then I slowly flexed my facial muscles.
A perfect expression for today's shoot emerged on the black screen.
Perfect.
From the moment I heard the album concept was summer freshness, I'd prepped using my Motion Mimicry Ability.
Referenced anything summery.
Learned soda ad models' smiles, studied eye muscle twitches in summer magazine pictorials, and like now, YouTube models' casual grins.
Combined it all.
My Motion Mimicry practice made it possible.
Before, I could only copy single motions exactly.
Now, I could blend muscle movements naturally.
Like a chemist tweaking formulas, I'd spent days perfecting a pictorial-optimized expression.
Efficiency spiked since then.
Since that hospital encounter with Professor Choi Yong-jae.
Flashback overload, reliving the past—that moment upgraded my ability.
No clue why, though.
Not the priority now.
Key is nailing this album.
"But......"
I asked the members staring weirdly.
"Why you all looking like that?"
No answers.
As I cocked my head, the managers entered.
"Photographer's here. Let's greet him."
Yoon Seok-hwan's voice trailed us out.
"You know the artist shooting today is huge? He doesn't work with rookies, we barely convinced him. So greet properly. Like your music show debut."
"Yes."
"Shoot hard too. Company's uploading these online."
Everyone nodded eagerly, but Ji-ho asked.
"Manager-nim."
"Yeah?"
"Why no rookies usually?"
"Rookies mess up a lot. Tons of expression/pose fixes. Inevitable with no experience, but annoying for the photographer if subject's clueless."
Entering the studio depths, our eyes widened.
"What, why so many people?"
"What'd you expect."
Yoon Seok-hwan grinned at the crowd.
"Company staff here to help your shoot."
"Wow......"
At least 20 people.
Freelance makeup and our management team dispatched.
All for us.
Hit home now.
Felt surreal when they said the company dumped budget to push New Black, but seeing it...
I steeled myself for the dongsaengs.
"We grind till bones break, yeah."
Huh? Why the laughs?
I was dead serious, but they snickered.
* * *
Shooting in full swing.
"......"
New Black members blinked at one spot.
"Yes! That's it!"
The photographer—gold glasses, beanie—grinned wildly, snapping away.
"Exactly. Yeah, like watching fireworks in the night sky. Perfect! Good job. You."
Members exchanged silent glances.
"Did we hear right? When he shot me, he was pissed. Said quit if that's how I'd do it."
"Same. 'Why so awkward?' First time dissed on expressions."
"Got chewed out bad."
"I got shaded for being huge. 'Biggest idol subject ever, Sphinx poses.'"
"Hyung, that's......"
"Hey, Kim Jung-hyun. He says relax your pose, you flop down, of course he yells."
Before Seon Wooju's turn, they'd eaten shit from the pro per Yoon Seok-hwan—as expected.
His critiques were brutal, legs shaking.
But the strict-as-hell guy was now all smiles.
"Feels unfair, but that ajusshi now......"
"He's too good."
"Yeah. Nailing it."
They watched Seon Wooju in the studio.
White tee, jeans.
Sky-blue shirt draped loosely, smiling into poses.
Perfectly balanced.
Like showing what refreshment means, dead serious.
"Did Woojoo hyung act expressions that well?"
Not just them.
Company staff assisting stared, mesmerized.
Not just looks.
His expression hooked eyes.
Like staring endlessly at a sunset or night sea.
"......Huh?"
Members turned at Kim Jung-hyun's noise.
"What's up?"
"That expression... matches the models in the vid Woojoo hyung watched earlier."
They eyed each other.
"So... that was expression practice?"
"Seems so."
"Does that even work?"
"Looking now... yeah it does......"
They shared wry chuckles.
Realized what their leader was up to.
Anyone else? "No way." But Seon Wooju? Believable.
Guy defies common sense anyway.
"Damn guy's insane. For real."
Seo Ri-hyuk sighed in exasperation.
"Good he's on our side."
"Street Boys got screwed. Of all rivals, this maniac joins."
Maknae’s words drew laughs from the hyungs.
"Wait, didn't they say jackets drop same time as ours?"
"Oh yeah."
"Reactions gonna be fire."
What buzz would Seon Wooju's field-approved shots get online?
Everyone hyped.
A few days later, concept photos hit both companies' SNS.