Chapter 36

The broadcast began with a wide shot of the PBS Open Hall.

At the center of the brightly lit studio.

The MC, dressed in a tuxedo and wearing glasses, appeared.

- Welcome, everyone. Thank you for joining us at Ha Seung-ju's Music Cafe.

The camera panned to the audience.

Young men and women clapping and cheering.

After the opening remarks, the broadcast proceeded as recorded.

From the recent hot indie band in Hongdae to Jo Yuri's band, the performances of the four groups that preceded us passed by in a flash.

"Ugh, it's my turn now."

The youngest member, Jang Soo-won, stomped his feet and muttered, "I'm so nervous."

- Now, let's welcome a new group. These days, if you don't know them, you might be called a spy. They are the collaboration team that's currently having a crush with all the citizens of the Republic of Korea.

The prelude of "Something," which was played at the event this morning, gently flowed from the laptop monitor.

"Wow."

Our first reaction was one of amazement.

The stage, which we thought was decent at the venue, had become incredibly impressive after editing.

From the angles at which the singers were filmed to the scene transitions between the audience and the stage, the production was meticulous, as if to show that we were the main attraction.

"Ah."

Every time the youngest member's face was close-up, he covered his eyes with a sweet potato chip.

His ears were red, contrasting with his pale skin.

"Why are you doing that?"

"Because my face keeps showing up on TV."

"Hey, if you're embarrassed about being in the spotlight, how can you be an entertainer?"

While I found it absurd, I could somewhat understand his feelings.

After all, seeing our faces on TV was strange and exciting.

We had monitored our performances every day for a month, but this felt different.

It felt like we were real entertainers.

The same went for when we performed at the event.

When college students sang along to the chorus of "Something," we were amazed by the song's popularity, but we never thought of ourselves as entertainers.

Our minds were still stuck in the long years of training.

However, seeing our faces on TV made it feel real that we had become real entertainers.

The sudden realization made me feel like I was floating.

"…We really are entertainers now."

Everyone nodded.

I didn't need to look in a mirror to know what kind of expression I was making.

We all had the same look on our faces.

Soon, the talk segment began after the first performance.

Our appearance on screen was impressive.

Despite being nervous for our first variety show, the PD's editing made us look fresh and charming.

Of course, there was another reason I was satisfied.

"Bro, you really look good."

Biju smiled contentedly.

I don't know why he was so pleased, but he kept pressing the capture button on the laptop, seemingly satisfied with his appearance.

Jung-hyun, agreeing, took a swig of beer.

"Jung-hyun does look good."

"But what's the point of looking good if you don't dress up?"

"Hey, I do dress up when I need to."

"I've never seen you do that."

"Who dresses up to go to the practice room?"

…At that, all the members turned to look at me.

To be precise, they looked at me in my tracksuit.

"We always dress up…"

"You look good, but leave it alone, Biju. People usually just rely on their faces and then get burned."

"Bro, didn't you just say we were entertainers?"

"Yeah, but you should also dress up. Buy some clothes. Get some skincare. Put on some BB cream."

What? Why did the atmosphere suddenly turn into a criticism of Seonwoo's style?

Though I was taken aback, I couldn't really argue.

It was true.

Compared to what the others did, I barely dressed up. I just showered, washed my face, and applied sunscreen, just like I did in the military.

In contrast, the kids spent at least an hour on their basic preparations.

Even Ri-hyuk, who was sensitive about cleanliness like a cat, and the most laid-back Jung-hyun, who spent at least five minutes deciding which snapback to wear.

I surrendered to the nagging of my younger members.

"Alright, I'll dress up more from now on."

Only then did the nagging about moisturizers and facial packs stop.

But when it was over, I felt a bit wronged.

"Guys, at least I wear different colored tracksuits every day…"

Seeing the signs of another round of teasing, I stopped my weak protest.

Meanwhile, the talk segment in the Music Cafe was in full swing.

Laughter from the audience echoed through the low-resolution speakers.

Perhaps because the boring parts were edited out, our members looked more witty and charming on screen than usual.

It was about time for us to appear.

- But, did you inherit this musical talent? Of course, personal effort is important, but talent is also crucial in the arts, right?

I then began to talk seriously about our father.

The footage showed our father performing at Carnegie Hall, a photo with the then U.S. President, and a press conference at the airport with our mother.

It was a chance to revisit our father's face, which I barely remembered.

The younger members, who had been laughing and chatting until just a moment ago, were now quiet.

They pretended not to look but kept glancing at me.

"It's okay, you don't have to worry."

Even so, they cautiously watched my reaction.

The tense atmosphere continued until the microphone was passed to senior Jang Soo-won.

Fortunately, as the talk changed, the kids' expressions changed too.

From unsure to relaxed.

Jung-hyun started drinking his beer again, Biju began peeling an apple, and Ri-hyuk took out a sweet potato chip from the bag.

This time, the youngest member was extremely nervous.

"What's he muttering?"

"He's saying, 'I'm not going to appear, I'm not going to appear.' Hey, Wang Ji-ho. Just because you're praying doesn't mean you won't appear."

"Be quiet. He's praying."

Seeing the youngest member muttering like a primitive performing a rain dance, everyone laughed.

Finally, the scene everyone was waiting for appeared.

As the story of Jang Soo-won's sad life unfolded, the youngest member on screen started to cry.

If it was just tears, it would have been fine, but the two streams of snot were the highlight.

His youthful face, still with baby fat, combined with the redness and snot, made him look like a country dog.

Or a rice cake soaked in tears.

"Don't blow your nose. Don't blow your nose…"

Despite his desperate prayers, the sound of the youngest member blowing his nose with a tissue echoed through the PBS Open Hall.

The MC and the audience on screen were all laughing uncontrollably.

"Ha-ha-ha!"

The youngest member, covering his face with his hands, collapsed onto my lap while the older members were in hysterics.

"Ah, what is this?"

The youngest member, lying on my lap, was pulling his hair in distress.

Regardless, my mood was at its peak.

Thinking about the ridicule he had faced after our music show debut, it felt like I had downed a whole can of soda.

I pressed the capture button and laughed.

I'll have to live off this for the next month.

* * *

Thanks to the story of being the son of a genius pianist, our talk segment was one of the longest among the guests.

But the talk was just a side element; the main focus of the Music Cafe was the stage.

So, we focused on the upcoming performance.

The title "Jang Soo-won X New Black - Between" appeared on the screen.

The prelude with piano melodies.

The song started with Jung-hyun's rap.

Just like the first performance, this stage was well-edited.

Meanwhile, my heart sank calmly.

Seeing the title "Between" reminded me of "Untitled."

How could we show our unique style?

What defined New Black's identity? And what kind of music should we express to be truly New Black?

We needed to figure that out to give "Untitled" a title.

While seriously monitoring the "Between" performance, I checked the charm points of our members.

Biju's dance lines, Ri-hyuk's voice, Ji-ho's expressions, and Jung-hyun's rhythm.

These were things I already knew.

I had considered them every time I planned a performance since the end-of-year evaluation.

If I had to consider myself, I would say stability?

Maybe I'm the group's balance.

My dancing is second to Biju, my singing is second to Ri-hyuk, my acting is second to Ji-ho, and my rhythm is second to Jung-hyun, but I was still competent in all areas.

Unlike Biju, who is full of intricate techniques in every move, I am tall and dance by the book, making it comfortable for the audience.

It feels a bit embarrassing to say it myself.

Of course, this is a summary of the younger members' opinions.

Alright, let's say I'm stability.

If I combine all of this, will I come to a conclusion about what New Black's music should be?

I thought deeply, but no conclusion came.

Maybe I should conduct a survey among the members, like the 200-character Q&A we used to do on mini homepages.

While watching the "Between" performance with my eyes and thinking about our debut album in my head, I suddenly noticed the younger members.

They were focused, trying to imprint their performance in their minds.

But they weren't concentrating in the usual way, with their mouths open or eyes wide.

They were all enjoying the music with smiles.

At that moment, a thought flashed through my mind.

Isn't good music something that makes you feel good when you listen to it, something you want to hum along to?

Taste is one of the elements that define who a person is.

So, could the music we like be related to our identity as singers?

Thinking about it, my mind started to race.

Several ideas came to mind, and a few of them seemed immediately actionable.

Finally, when the "Between" performance ended and our segment was over, I called the younger members.

"Guys."

"…Yes?"

But I couldn't bring myself to speak.

Their faces, still smiling, made me hesitate to ruin the moment by bringing up work.

I shook my head at the kids waiting for my answer.

"It's nothing. Let's clear the table and head back to the dorm."

The younger members, who had been lying around, got up and started clearing the table.

I approached the youngest member, who was frowning at his phone, and put my arm around him.

"What are you looking at?"

"I'm checking if there are any reactions to us online."

"Are there?"

"Not yet. The broadcast is still airing, so no news or anything has come up yet."

"…Well, what's the big deal? My name was briefly mentioned in a community post on the day of the college entrance exam."

"That's not the issue."

I didn't need an explanation.

New messages kept popping up on his smartphone.

Most were laughter like "hahaha" or boys' messages like "Wang Ji-ho is a b*tch" and girls' messages like "Ji-ho, hahaha."

Ah, right. He's still in school.

Judging by the reactions, he was going to be teased a lot tomorrow.

I smiled and patted his shoulder.

"Now you understand how I feel."

Ignoring Ji-ho's narrowed eyes, I checked the message from my grandmother.

King God Kim Deok-soon [You did well]

King God Kim Deok-soon [You did well]

I smiled as I read through them.

King God Kim Deok-soon [The kids looked great]

King God Kim Deok-soon [You took good care of them]

King God Kim Deok-soon [Sent an emoji]

I laughed at the cute bear emoji waving pom-poms with both hands.

Don't worry, Grandma.

I'll take good care of them, just like you took care of me.

* * *

The next morning, when I woke up in the dorm, I was literally shocked.

A few missed calls, dozens of texts, and hundreds of messages.

What is this?

Did the New Black recording leak without my knowledge? Or did a war break out while I was asleep?

I couldn't even remember where I put my uniform.

While having such absurd thoughts, I entered the messenger and realized what the problem was.

The Music Cafe broadcast from yesterday was the issue.

"Hey, what's going on?"

The kids, who had just woken up, were also clutching their phones with frowns.

Judging by their expressions, they were in similar situations.

To understand the situation, I went online and blinked at the portal's homepage.

[Real-time Search Rankings]

10th place. New Black Universe

Perhaps people were searching during their morning commute. My name was briefly on the real-time search rankings.

"Bro, our article is on the main page of the entertainment news!"

"What? Really?"

"It's even a solo article about us."

We had never been on the main page of a portal, except for the occasional music show win.

If we were mentioned, it was usually a brief note after Jang Soo-won's name.

The kids' excited shouts made my heart race.

I finally turned to the entertainment news page with trembling fingers.

…Really?

Our group name was prominently featured three times.

One at the top, one in the middle with a Music Cafe clip, and one at the bottom.

- New Black Universe: "My Father is the Pianist Seon Myung-ju"

-[Music Cafe] What's the relationship between us? 'Jang Soo-won X New Black - Between'

-Jang Soo-won and New Black present a sweet collaboration stage

What's happening here?

Just like when we tracked the success of "Something" on Ji-ho's graduation day, we traced this path as well.

It started with the article posted after the broadcast ended, revealing who our father was.

Of course, we had expected this much.

Our father's story was a hot topic.

However, what I had overlooked was the influence of "Seon Myung-ju" as a pianist.

A genius jazz pianist who was a pride of Korea during the IMF crisis, and the tragic plane crash in 1999.

Thinking about it, it was impossible for people not to remember him.

The article yesterday brought back those memories and sparked curiosity.

"Is the new idol group the son of Seon Myung-ju?"

On a regular Friday morning before the weekend.

People, with no other topics to discuss, naturally clicked over to the Music Cafe clip while checking the entertainment news during their quiet morning commute.

The views proved it.

The clip, which usually only a few people watched, had nearly doubled in views compared to other days.

And the most important thing was the quality of our "Between" performance.

People who had come without any expectations gave positive reactions after seeing our performance.

- Wow, the live harmony is amazing.

- The guy with the brown hair is Seon Myung-ju's son?

- These guys aren't idols; they look like a vocal training team.

- There are really a lot of good singers in Korea. So cool.

- The vocals are really beautiful :(

Seeing the comments that made me feel good and the number of likes, I couldn't help but smile.

An unintended event had become a huge topic.

This is why famous people's children reveal who their parents are, I guess.

It's all quite surprising.

But what was most surprising was the voice calling me.

"Bro."

Turning my head, I saw Ri-hyuk looking at me with a dazed expression.

I remembered that look.

It was the same expression he had when "Something" hit number one.

"Why are you looking like that?"

"Look at this."

On his phone screen was a music site.

And when I saw the ranking of "Between," I, like Ri-hyuk, opened my eyes wide.

1st place. Jang Soo-won X New Black - Between

The song, released that morning, was at the top of the real-time chart.