Chapter 67
Chapter 67
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Translator: uly
Chapter: 67
Chapter Title: This Life is Space Star 67
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I’d heard they were busy with some China fan meeting or whatever.
And it was a video call, no less.
The kids swallowed hard as they stared at the vibrating phone.
“You gonna pick up, hyung?”
“Of course.”
It’d be ridiculous to ask if he was busy and then not answer.
I pressed the call button, and the screen lit up brightly.
A sunny sky in the background, with a swimming pool coming into view.
Parasols, tables, sunbeds—a luxurious scene.
A handsome guy in a robe grinned from within it.
Soon, a cheerful voice rang out.
“Hey, army boy.”
Damn it.
“How’d you know that?”
“My schedule’s free this afternoon. Too lazy to go out, so I was just chilling and surfing the net when your face kept popping up.”
“……You saw it?”
“Yep. Shared it with the kids too.”
Shit.
Just then, voices cut through the background noise: “Yo, who’s Han Tae-hyun?” “Who?” “A girl?” “Is it a girl?”
“It’s Woojoo hyung. Say hi.”
I turned the screen, and three guys by the pool waved and laughed cheerfully.
“What’s up, Woojoo hyung? Long time!”
“Whoa, how’d you age so much in a few months?”
“Hyung, take care of yourself!”
Jokes and cackling laughter poured from the phone—and live from right beside me.
“…….”
Han Tae-hyun laughed at my expression.
“Don’t mind them. They spew dogshit the second they open their mouths.”
The guy, who’d been elegantly downing fresh fruit juice, stretched languidly.
“So, you called to hang out with me?”
“Didn’t you call me?”
“Oh, right. Haven’t been sleeping well lately—my brain’s all fuzzy.”
He shrugged, then narrowed his eyes like he’d caught on to something.
“I thought you were just bored and reaching out. But you look like you need a favor.”
“Spot on.”
“What is it?”
“Hang on. Wanna say hi to my kids first?”
I swung the camera lens from just me to the members.
The ones who’d been going “Huh?” scrambled up to greet him.
“Hello, sunbaenim!”
“Oh man, no need for that. Makes me feel awkward.”
He got up from his sunbed and bowed back politely.
Laughter erupted from both sides.
The mood lightened instantly.
Calling this guy for fan signing tips had definitely been the right move.
As an A-lister idol, he knew exactly how to get people to like him.
I explained the situation.
“Hmm, fan signing pro tips, huh.”
“You look beat. Should I hit you up later?”
“Nah.”
His eyes sparkled as he waved it off.
“But if I help, what do I get? Food?”
“I can treat you to a meal, sure, but you’re loaded—don’t tell me you’re after a flea’s liver.”
“Fine, don’t then.”
“Alright. Hanging up.”
“Aaaah! I’ll tell you, I will!”
Then he asked cautiously.
“But you’re still buying me food, right?”
“It’s been fun. Taehyun-ah.”
“I’ll tell you, seriously—that cheapskate.”
Ri-hyeok whipped out his phone at “cheapskate” and started typing notes.
Why’s he jotting that down?
Of course, it was just banter—I promised to buy him a meal soon.
An expensive one, factoring in that SNS photo incident too.
“I don’t share this with just anyone. I’m only telling you ‘cause hyung’s footing the bill. This is real gold.”
He puffed up proudly.
“First fan sign, right? Just remember three things.”
The kids leaned in with “Oohs” as his lecture kicked off.
Super useful stuff.
Like a cheat sheet titled ‘Three Ways to Survive a Fan Signing.txt’.
Way more practical than the company’s warnings.
As I was etching the tips into my brain—
“Actually, forget everything I said. Just remember one thing.”
“What’s that?”
“If you get stuck midway—”
Midway?
“Watch what that hyung does. I’ve seen it since trainee days—copy him and you’ll make it through.”
“Yeah, it’s true.”
Bi-ju clapped, nodding vigorously in agreement.
“Right? Totally.”
Even our resident complainer nodded, and the other two chimed in excitedly.
Good that we got along, but it felt weird—they were bonding over something odd.
What the hell did they think of me?
Anyway, pre-recording time was approaching, so I wrapped up.
“…Thanks a ton today, Taehyun-ah. Text me when you’re back in Korea. Not sure we’ll have time to meet, though.”
“Sure, hyung, later…#%&^!”
“Why’s it so noisy?”
I frowned at the racket; he motioned to wait and got up.
Slippered feet shuffled into view.
Then he aimed the phone beyond the pool fence.
“……What the hell.”
Hotel grounds.
Hundreds of fans milling about noisily down there.
He waved, and deafening cheers exploded back.
“Got an event nearby tonight.”
We all stared, dumbfounded at the K-pop star’s casual smile.
* * *
“Huh? Delay?”
Broadcast station staff dropped the delay news right before pre-recording.
Could’ve said something sooner.
We were all dressed and about to head out.
“How long we gotta wait?”
“No clue.”
Min-gi hyung replied.
“Rain outside’s slowing set changes. Plus, Street Boys’ pre-rec had an accident just now.”
“Accident?”
“Singer and camera collided onstage.”
“No one hurt, right?”
“Heard something got smashed.”
“Oh no…….”
We pictured someone collapsed, bleeding out.
Min-gi hyung clarified.
“The camera smashed.”
“Huh?”
“Person’s fine, camera’s toast.”
“Oh no…….”
Guess that group had a tough one too.
As we glanced over, Jung-hyun grinned sheepishly, rubbing his nose.
No idea why he looked so smug.
“Bummer. Was in peak form.”
I nodded at Ji-ho’s mutter.
We’d charged up to meet fans, but now it felt like flat soda.
“Fans okay in this rain?”
Bi-ju peered out the window.
Torrential rain pelted the glass.
Everything blurred in the gale; only car headlights scattered light.
Wiping the fogged window chilled my palm.
“Nice weather forecast—probably no umbrellas. They must’ve ducked somewhere.”
“Yeah, probably.”
Ri-hyeok scratched his cheek.
“Sangam-dong’s got tons nearby. Burgers, cafes. They’re in one for sure.”
“Should I buy umbrellas out of pocket for them?”
“Good kid, our maknae.”
I went to ruffle his hair but patted his shoulder instead—hair and makeup.
Sweet thought, but impossible.
Who’d go buy them? Company staff, but I couldn’t ask Min-gi hyung.
-Hyung, we’ll pay—get umbrellas for fans?
No way.
All we could do was pray the downpour stopped soon.
“But.”
Jung-hyun gazed outside.
“Fans showing up in this are amazing. I couldn’t.”
We all nodded.
For real.
Not something you’d do.
Schedules varied daily.
Music show viewers must’ve wondered sometime.
It’s live broadcast, right?
How do stages connect seamlessly?
Shouldn’t there be delays for performers entering/exiting?
Pre-recording solves that.
Film ahead.
Live: A does verse 1, swaps with B; verse 2 airs from pre-rec.
Used to be a popularity perk; now rookies do it too with all the segments.
Issue: timings change every time.
Lucky? Morning wrap-up. Unlucky? Dawn. No pattern.
Jung-hyun said.
“We have schedules, but fans don’t.”
“Yeah. No reason to go this far.”
Only one reason.
Just ‘cause they like us.
That pure reason brings them every time.
“I couldn’t either.”
Like, wake at dawn to watch? Nah.
“Me neither.”
Bi-ju agreed.
“Same.”
“Can’t even wait for rocket delivery—definitely not this.”
Other groups’ fans dotted the view.
Colorful umbrellas like a mushroom patch.
Han Tae-hyun’s sea of fans flashed in my mind.
China or Korea.
Fans everywhere just wait.
Maybe fans’ time is waiting time.
That’s when it hit me.
“……Ah.”
The kids turned at my sudden sound.
“What’s up, hyung?”
“Weird idea face again. What now?”
I gathered my thoughts and spoke.
“Guys.”
Good idea.
“I know what to give at the fan sign.”
* * *
July 13, Sunday.
Yeouido multiplex theater.
[New Black 1st Single Album ‘The New Black: First Chapter’ Fan Signing]
The small screening room’s seats filled gradually.
100 lucky album buyers for this private event.
Quiet vibe.
Air thick with anxiety, excitement, tension, anticipation—like netting words from it.
Finally face-to-face with their distant fave.
Any fan would tremble.
Ways to calm nerves varied.
Some checked fan cafes or texted friends, fiddled cameras, chatted neighbors.
“Um, hi.”
“Oh… hi.”
Awkward hellos faded fast.
Shared love bonded them quick.
“What you watching?”
“Wonderful Night’s Night Sea live.”
“Oh, listened on the way—those tones are so pretty, right?”
“Yeah. Hooks deeper each listen.”
“Our boys’ songs are killer. Fan cafe exploded after showcase a cappella.”
One spoke, another echoed—chat flowed.
Someone sighed.
“So much to catch up on. Weekly practices, debut reality, endless vids—love it, but overwhelming.”
“Forum joke: New Black’s got so much lore, need vitamins to keep up.”
Light laughs, casual talk.
Lights dimmed for fan sign start.
‘What?’
Projector whirred; video played.
‘VCR at a fan sign?’
Doubt vanished fast.
Screen filled with a face.
Close-up of Seon Wooju peering into camera, someone gasped.
-Got it?
Checks camera, turns.
-Looks good?
-Yeah.
-We on? We good?
-Guys, gather here.
Warm voices drew smiles.
Dorm greys, cramped living room—New Black members.
Frowns at mess brief; Kim Jung-hyun stone-still with ‘D-5’ sketchbook sparked laughs.
-Jung-hyun hyung, you’re Mafia Statue.
-Mafia?
-Moai, hyung. Wang Ji-ho, what do you even know.
-Wow, this hyung’s savage……
-Guys, filming fan message. Quiet. Woojoo hyung, go.
Wooju eyed cute dongsaengs, faced camera.
Different expression from with members.
-Hi, fans. Confused, right? Huh? Why these guys suddenly?
Wooju continued.
-Why this vid: We made a gift. Better show how, to you who came. Ready?
-……
-No cue?
-Hyung, who’s cueing?
-Right.
-Wang Ji-ho? Forget, it’s him or Jung-hyun hyung.
-Why drag me? I’m this cute……
-Nergy?
-Yeah, me……
Tussling dongsaengs; Wooju laughed, grabbed camera, moved.
-Hyung! Where?
-Secret fan talk. Dummy.
Grinned at camera.
-Forget dongsaengs’ ugly sides. Join me in making film? Ta-da~
Posed 3 secs.
Then sheepish down-look: ‘Recording? Probably~’—vid started.
Dorm again.
Clustered drawing.
Crude fave animal caricatures, combined into one.
Forest animals.
Cute ‘The New Black’ below.
Two letters each; fought over last K.
-K, so Kim?
-Yup.
-No, K for King—Wang.
-Debating this? Anyone.
-Then skip Ri-hyeok.
-Hey, my handwriting’s best.
-Guys.
Wooju sighed.
-Add ‘from’ upfront?
-……!
Small talk, but fans smiled.
Design to company.
D-4, D-3.
Waiting: peeking fans outside, signing practice, reading letters happily.
Finally D-1.
Joy at result.
Eco bags with crude prints.
Members stuff snacks, photocard.
Short reality like company vids—but huge gift to fans.
Not just here, online too.
Like members saying:
-We’re waiting too.
As much as you wait, we wait for you.
VCR conveyed it crystal clear.
Eco bag mere vessel; process the real present.
Now music show waiting room.
-Evening, we meet. While this plays, we’re at door. We enter—you cheer?
Fans glanced at entrance.
-Let’s meet smiling.
-Meet!
End.
Afterglow clouds everywhere; door opened to fireworks intro.
Five members entered.
New Black and fans’ second official meet.