Chapter 49
Chapter 49
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Translator: uly
Chapter: 49
Chapter Title: This Life is Space Star 49
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Daisy left, and we wrapped up the remaining music video shoot.
As the staff began packing up.
We gazed endlessly at the sunset over the sea.
“Wow.”
Just looking at the peaceful scene was healing.
The sound of waves lingered in our ears, and the reddened seawater rippled far out.
It was right then, as I felt a sense of old memories resurfacing.
“Hyung.”
The maknae’s low voice called out. With my gaze still fixed on the distant horizon, I replied.
“What?”
“If we go solo later, who’re you giving your songs to?”
“Good question, who indeed.”
“I know it’s me, hyung. You’re not saying it outright ‘cause you don’t wanna hurt the other hyungs’ feelings.”
I flashed a grin at the fidgeting maknae beside me.
“Absolutely not giving it to you.”
“Wow, that’s cold.”
“Yeah, Wang Ji-ho, you should’ve listened better. A song’s best digested by the main vocal, right?”
“You’re out too.”
The face of the guy sipping kimchi soup soured.
“Hyung, I can write raps, so it’s less work.”
“You’re out too…….”
The rapper, who’d been pitching hard, turned sulky like a rock, and the last one left flashed a prim smile.
“I knew it, hyung.”
“Nooo… everyone’s out… why are you guys doing this to me.”
The kids laughed at my agonized expression.
“It’s ‘cause of what Na-yoon noona said earlier. She said the song’s gonna do well, so other groups are eyeing you. What if someone comes with sweet talk and steals you away?”
“What am I, an object?”
“Nah, not that. You’re like… what was it? In my dad’s words, a golden goose?”
“I’m really not giving my songs to you.”
Ji-ho pretended to pout, and we all burst out laughing.
Of course, it was just a joke.
It was a topic that could turn heavy fast, so we were all deliberately keeping it light.
“Well, I get the worry—plenty of people change after blowing up. But I’ve hated that stuff since way back.”
TJ Entertainment was full of such experiences.
Kids with good monthly eval scores, on the fast track to debut, suddenly sucking up and fawning.
I despised that.
Why waste time on that when you could practice one more time?
“Pointless anyway. In the end, you gotta work hard yourself to make it. I just don’t get people who climb by using others. And at my old company, I saw all kinds of ugly shit.”
Even the ones checking on me daily when I made the TNT debut lineup cut contact the day I got cut.
“Come to think of it.”
Bi-ju spoke up as if remembering something.
“That thing you said back then comes to mind. In the Hwayi Entertainment hallway, when we ran into Girls on Top.”
“Oh, when they dissed us as trainees?”
“That pissed me off for real.”
“Yeah, especially Gil Chae-kyung.”
“You said it then too, hyung. Let’s never be like that.”
I just smiled silently. Bi-ju was saying exactly what I’d planned to.
To reassure them, I spoke up.
“Yeah, no changing after we blow up, so don’t worry. Hell, I can barely take care of our family—got no bandwidth for outsiders.”
“Whoa, did you hear? Woojoo hyung called us family.”
“Hey, Ji-ho.”
I placed a hand on the maknae’s head as he grinned innocently.
“Can’t you see the forest for the trees when people talk? You only hear what you wanna hear… hold up, why are you all making those faces?”
Did the word “family” hit that good?
Seeing my dongsaengs look like they were holding steaming baked potatoes in winter, I was baffled.
Just moments ago, they were like, ‘What if you ditch us after making it?’
Now they’re all beaming.
“Ri-hyuk hyung, look at Bi-ju hyung. Totally moved.”
“Didn’t you unfan bikini girls back then?”
“True fans don’t unfan, though.”
As I listened to the dongsaeng line’s nonsense, Min-gi hyung called from afar.
“Kids! Time to head back!”
“Yeah-!”
I looked around at the members.
“Shall we go?”
Heading to the parking lot, we kept glancing back wistfully at the beach.
“Couldn’t even dip our feet, such a shame.”
“Well, let’s come back to play at the beach when we have time.”
“Ooh, nice. Then for our family milestone, let’s pinky swear on a trip?”
The maknae went on tiptoes, dangling off me.
“Hyung, hyung. What should we do if we all go play later?”
“Good question, what indeed.”
Jung-hyun piped up as if struck by an idea.
“Grill some meat. And shellfish too.”
“Kim Jung-hyun, is food all you think about?”
“Oh yeah, forgot drinks. A beer sounds good. Woojoo hyung can’t drink, so cola with us.”
“Then who’s driving? None of us have licenses.”
“I do.”
“We’ll pretend Jung-hyun hyung doesn’t.”
“Why me?”
The maknae, still hanging off my neck on tiptoes, answered.
“You’re super strong and break stuff, hyung. If you drive, bet you’d yank the wheel off. Yank it and then…? Stare at us like this.”
Everyone cracked up at the maknae’s Oscar-worthy impression.
Even Jung-hyun himself.
With the MV shoot fully done, we felt a rare leisure as we entered the parking lot.
Behind us, the sunset glowed.
* * *
The MV marked the end of visual work for the debut album.
Albums typically have three stages.
First: Production based on A&R Team planning.
Second: Visuals like photos and videos matching the concept.
Third: Promotion.
We’d reached the third stage.
In other words, nothing left for us to do.
Not that we did absolutely nothing.
“Here’s what you need to prep.”
The day after MV wrap, Yoon Seok-hwan showed up with stacks of paper.
“Hyung, what’s this?”
“Showcase prep time. Practice is on you, but media responses? Gotta train you. Summarized it short.”
We shuddered at the manager’s wicked grin.
“Showcase is crucial. You’re up against Street Boys right now. Public decides on the music, but initial buzz matters.”
Yoon Seok-hwan explained via comparison.
“You know the movie [Black Flower] with our actor?”
“Yeah, the one Executive Director Jo pushed.”
“Right. [Black Flower] started slow, then word-of-mouth made it a 10-million hit. Not a direct music parallel, but early press reactions are key here.”
He stressed.
“You’ve done music shows and Music Cafe for a month, but most Koreans still don’t know you. No prior info means press write-ups decide win or lose.”
“Don’t they just favor whoever pays more promo?”
“Sometimes, yeah. But you can tell—articles copied from PR releases or genuine reporter passion.”
To gain edge over Street Boys, we needed to impress at showcase.
No mistakes, in other words.
“With the rival setup, one slip dissing them and you’re done. Koreans hate rookies trash-talking each other—not like America.”
“So what do we do?”
“Practice hard. I’ll drill Q&A personally for a bit.”
Thus, alongside performance practice, we intensely trained on reporter questions.
How to answer tricky ones.
What expressions to use.
Perfect timing—we’d struggled with interviews during Something promos.
We had no clue then what to say or avoid.
Music shows felt less scary than interview notices.
So we perked up ears for Yoon Seok-hwan’s sessions.
Overall, satisfying.
“Was worried, but glad the company’s teaching us.”
Bi-ju trailed off, face darkening.
“But these sample questions from the manager… they really ask stuff like this? Some are too much.”
“Hyung, not everyone’s as nice as you.”
“Yeah. My dad says reporters are one of the jobs you can’t deal with.”
“Hey, your dad’s…….”
“What?”
“Never mind.”
Ri-hyuk clammed up, recalling Ji-ho’s infamous dad’s franchise.
“Still…….”
To worried Bi-ju, I said.
“Don’t stress. We practiced tons. Can smile through face-to-face insults now. Seok-hwan hyung threw every trash question to toughen us.”
“Yeah. Manager’s got hater vibes.”
Bi-ju laughed, not that.
“No, I’m worried you’ll get hurt.”
“Who worries that much.”
Same-age pal Jung-hyun chuckled casually.
“Just roll with it. We’ve nearly cracked from debut fails before—not once or twice. Compared to that, this is cold porridge. Album’s solid, jacket and MV turned out great.”
“Ugh, Jung-hyun hyung’s gonna say it again.”
“Everything feels good.”
Whenever Jung-hyun claimed good vibes, bad luck followed—kids freaked.
Our team rapper frowned, indignant.
“Said ‘feeling’ not ‘premonition’ this time.”
“Doesn’t matter.”
“Yeah. Adding ‘feeling’ to the forbidden list too.”
I chuckled inwardly at their fuss.
Just like Grandma.
No eggs on the first of the month, no this at temple days—superstitions I knew well.
But these kids being young made it cute.
“Don’t laugh like it’s someone else’s problem.”
Ri-hyuk pouted.
“You’ve been through it—how’re you not scared?”
“Don’t believe in superstitions.”
“…….”
“Why that look?”
“Reminds me of old you. Used to be all logic, no myths.”
Still logical, Ri-hyuk muttered, and I kept laughing.
Nonsense.
Even when Jung-hyun’s good premonition led straight to Street Boys news, I shrugged.
Coincidence.
Jinxes are jinxes—no power.
Ridiculous.
I shook my head.
What could go wrong?
And soon after.
Ridiculously, it did.
* * *
June 11th, a week before our showcase.
DNS Media’s 9-member boy group Street Boys held their debut showcase.
Live on K-Net online.
We huddled around a laptop in the practice room to monitor the rivals.
“Wow, K-Net’s doing a live? We got nothing like that.”
“DNS and that station are tight.”
“Na-yoon said Scarlett got cold shoulder there at debut too.”
Music channel K-Net airs Thursdays, pre-terrestrial Friday shows.
For idols, sometimes bigger impact than TV.
Heard their chief and DNS CEO are besties.
Lemon? Tense, bad blood for some reason.
Truth unknown, but K-Net pushes Street Boys—pre-debut reality, now live stream.
“Oh? They’re coming.”
“Damn, way slimmer than last year.”
Amid flashing shutters, Street Boys appeared on the low-res feed.
Hip-hop vibe outfits.
“Ooh, got style.”
“Swag. Should we try hip-hop later?”
“Shh, quiet. Song’s starting.”
Lights out, first stage began.
We watched eagerly—curious as fellow musicians, rivals or not.
What song?
Intense guitar riff hit, 9 members started choreo from the edges.
When leader in center synced moves.
Lights blazed, song kicked in proper.
“Ooh, pretty good?”
Mid-positive vibes, our smiles faded fast.
Leader Han Jo’s rap in verse one.
People say
You don’t have Something cool
Something nice
“But I see it differently (differently).”
What’s so special about that to us?
There is nothing lacking.
There’s hunger and poison.
We all have a hunger
Then group choreo looped “We all have a hunger” through Hunger stage.
But we froze stiff.
Han Jo’s rap nuance on “Something.” Subtle, but no idiot misses it.
“That just now…….”
I finished Ri-hyuk’s stunned words.
“Yeah. They just dissed us.”