Music Thru
"Whoa. This is wild."
KPOP Center Studio on the way to work. It was a broadcasting station he'd practically lived at every day, but it felt so different depending on the time slot. Moo-young peered out the car window nonstop, taking it all in.
The entrance was swarming with people.
"Aaaah!"
"Oppa!"
"Move! Get out of the way!"
"Filane! I love you! Lane!"
Idols arriving one after another. Most of them were strangers to him. Part of it was his lack of interest, but mostly because they were all newbie groups, and there were way more unknown idols than he'd realized.
"All set?"
"Yeah. Hang on. Jun-ho said—"
Moo-young rummaged through the paper bags in the back seat. Today was the day for the Music Thru event stage at KPOP Center. Or more accurately, the Music Thru ad shoot.
"He said wear this going in, that coming out. Make sure you pack 'em."
"Got it. Let's see how sharp our Moo-young looks."
"Haha. What're you talking about."
And so, he ended up doing an idol music show arrival like everyone else. The heat was intense even in the morning. Reporters, of course, plus fans braving the cold wind to cheer.
"Over here, just once—!"
Each one clutching a massive cannon camera, bodies plastered with hot packs, mini ladders essential for getting height. From a distance, it looked like a war zone.
"Should I head out now?"
"Ah. Wait. The rest are coming later, so we just sync with Ro Min. Huh? That his van? 3526?"
Go Kyung-min spotted Ro Min's van and eased the car forward. Ro Min stuck his face out the window, waving at Moo-young's car in greeting.
"Alright. Out you go. Careful."
Screech!
Moo-young and Ro Min hopped out at the same time, exchanging hellos. True to his merman prince role, Ro Min usually sported a simple look on set. Unlike Do Ha's intense daily styling, he stuck to shirts and jeans. But today...
"Whoa. What the hell, Ro Min? Insane."
"Hyung's full idol mode today too, right?"
"Looking sharp. Epic."
The golden maknae of top group Zero Team lived up to the hype. Smoky eye makeup, sleek and sexy. And the outfit? Dripping in top-tier luxury from C Company, G Company, you name it.
"This isn't mine. Sponsorship. Sponsorship."
"Oh? For real? Me too."
Moo-young pointed to his own tee and pants. Full outfit, shoes included, courtesy of Bontoori. With Moo-young blowing up, the agency was in full festival mode—Jun-ho had snagged the priciest line.
"Bontoori? Oh right. Hyung modeled for them, yeah?"
"Just SNS. Enbin did the real one."
"Pretty good stuff. Nice clothes. Great value too."
Value? Hmm. Well. A single tee costing hundreds of thousands of won? Debatable. Moo-young just chuckled and ran a hand through his hair.
"Never thought I'd live to see the day, huh?"
"Why not? Good experience. Standing on a real stage like this? It'll help my acting too."
Tasting the real stage vibe would add layers to his expressions. Moo-young nodded, buying into the anticipation. Time to actually clock in. The two guys checked each other out and grinned in approval.
"Damn, hyung—looking fine!"
"Sponsor's gonna love this. Right?"
The photo line arrival was the advertiser's idea. Maximize buzz and attention. The clothing sponsor had jumped right on it.
"Heading in. Follow close."
"Yep. Let's roll!"
Moo-young trailed the security guard. The pair gradually entered the crowd's view. A sudden hush fell.
"Huh...?"
"Ro..."
"Ro Min! Roooo Miiiin!"
"Aaaah! Ro Min! Ro Min!"
Storm before the calm, apparently. The fans' thunderous roar pierced his ears, drilling straight into his brain. People surged in an instant, forcing the two to weave and push forward.
"Wh-whoa."
Ro Min was something else! He bowed familiarly and strode toward the photo line. Moo-young just staggered around, dazed.
"Moo-young! Moo-young!"
"Ha Moo-young!"
"Wha—?"
And then his name from somewhere in the crowd. It snapped him alert, bursting into laughter.
"Ha Moo-young? Where?"
"Behind him! That's Ha Moo-young! No way!"
"What? MC today? Holy crap, what's he like in person?!"
"Kyaaaaah!"
Moo-young paused to wave, but Go Kyung-min grabbed his arm, stopping him. No endless autographs and greetings like at the premiere.
"Nope. Busy today."
"Aww. Bummer."
"Moo-young!"
Fans and Moo-young parting like the Milky Way lovers. He smiled, waving till the end as he hit the photo line—which was really just bare ground, reporters kneeling with cameras.
"Left, front, right."
"Got it."
Moo-young followed Ro Min's cues, turning his face. Flash! Flash! Boom! Pop! Flashes exploded wildly. Not just reporters—cannon camera shutters crashed like waves. No metaphor; it was like standing seaside, tiny clicks battering his ears.
"Ha Moo-young-ssi!"
"Yes?"
A reporter calling him. Boom! She snapped fiercely the second their eyes met.
"First time cracking the top 10 in monthly brand reputation—how's it feel?"
"Wait, me? Really?"
"You didn't know?"
Of course not. It was breaking news. Big agencies might track feeds hourly, but not them. Go Kyung-min flinched at the words.
'Whoa!'
He wanted to cheer, but too many mics and lenses staring.
Moo-young struck a natural pose, smiling. "Huge honor. Thank you so much."
He had no clue what influenced brand rankings—just pure gratitude. He bowed repeatedly. Main goal was the Music Thru ad, so wrap quick and go. But...
"Hang on! Ha Moo-young-ssi! You Are a Star, I Am a Star hit weekly #1—thoughts?"
"Congrats on Plague at 4 million!"
"Any promises if ratings top 30%?"
Reporters barraging questions, holding him back. Makes sense—no official solo interviews for the drama team, just group stuff.
"Promises?"
He'd gotten burned once before, no time anyway, and no real need. Good ratings meant stations pumped out articles themselves.
"Moo-young! Cross-dress for us!"
A voice booming clear as if mic'd solo. Everyone chuckled at the random shout.
"Cross-dressing? Sounds good. Fan meet too?"
"Moo-young. Time to go. Thank you!"
"Great work! Thanks!"
Playful comeback from Moo-young. Total joke. Endgame two weeks out, about four eps left at 23%. Trajectory suggested high 20s finale.
"Kyaaaaah!"
"Do Ha! Do Ha!"
Moo-young kept waving to fans as he entered the station. The escorting managers finally exhaled in relief.
"Extra fierce today. For real."
"You okay, Ro Min? You look pale."
Moo-young glanced back at the manager's words. For real. Ro Min's face was stiff, majorly rattled. He clutched it, sighing.
"Inner Organ Soup Soup got me."
"Huh? Inner Organ Soup Soup? What's that?"
Moo-young and Go Kyung-min clueless. But Ro Min's manager froze.
"Inner Organ Soup Soup? That's a thing?"
"Hardcore fan photog, guy's a dude. But... posts super raw shots."
Home-ma snaps every celeb on arrival. Fine. But no edits, no selects—straight-up unfiltered reality dumps.
"Haa."
"It's fine. Fine."
"Not fine, hyung. Pores, wrinkles, even skin fuzz—all crystal clear. Ugh."
His pics topped "Who's ugly irl?" searches. Worse than real life. But what to do? Already snapped.
"C'mon, no more moping. Inside."
"Bet you got shot too, hyung."
"Yeah? Probably."
But no sweat. Stepping in front of cameras meant accepting it. He'd seen his own weird drama screencaps before.
"Good shots come with bad ones!"
"Always so positive."
Moo-young shoved his back toward the recording studio. The KPOP Center studio was dimmer than expected. Stage crammed with glittery props.
"We go first, right?"
"Yeah. Cleared with Music Thru for convenience—shoot quick and bounce."
Just like drama sets. Truckloads of idols waiting. Hours to full days killing time in green rooms.
"Ha Moo-young-ssi, Ro Min-ssi—up here."
"Song A and Pyo Rai heading up too."
"Come say hi. Music Thru promo team lead."
"Hello!"
PDs to sponsors—endless greetings.
"Three songs, right?"
"Yep. Lead with one main, gauge reactions, drop more. Personal cams on everyone—eye contact heavy."
Music Thru members double-checked setups and hit the stage. Instruments up, killer poses—like always!
"Shooting now!"
"Ready—action!"
AR overlays, track kicks in—lip-sync frenzy. Visuals over vocals anyway; they nailed the looks.
"Song A's wink game strong. How's one eye that perfect?"
"Great faces all around."
"Told ya Moo-young's actor-only vibe. Haha. Killing it."
"Totally idol-like. Born performer."
"Nice! Next track!"
Fake-singing flew by with easy cuts. Hour total? Even personal shots flawless.
"Great work—!"
"Yeah. Just MC greetings left."
"Get Seol-a and Kyung-soo!"
MC greetings like real debut, done! Moo-young smacked his lips at the anticlimax. Arrival shoot tougher than the ad.
"Hyung, this is how much?"
"Two, dang, a thousand."
Not his solo gig—S Network x Music Thru collab, lower rate. Ro Min and crew basically free promo for drama hype.
"Whoa. Thousand for an hour?"
Moo-young shook his head in awe. No wonder top stars skip dramas for CFs. Their world ran in hundreds of millions.
"Moo-young hyung!"
"Leader! Hurry!"
Members calling the dazed guy. Group intro? Leader's job!
Moo-young grabbed the mic at MC desk.
"One, two, three! You fall for me—Music Thru!"
Idol greeting on point! Go Kyung-min watched warmly from below. Kid thing? Or acting skill? Zero idol disconnect.
'Would've crushed debut... nah. Vocals raw though.'
Forget how spot-on his fakes were. Real singing? Disaster.
Then Na Geum-dong's call hit Go Kyung-min.
"Yes, boss. Shooting Music Thru ad now. Yeah. Where? Cheongryong Snacks? Huh? Furniture from what company? Hold on."
Ads pouring in. Na Geum-dong getting Moo-young's okay—time to field 'em?