Chapter 95

While the laptop was being set up on the studio table, I moved my fingers.

I [Grandma]

I [Grandson, you know you're appearing today, right?]

I [Emoticon]

The white tteok (rice cake) sent an emoticon of fingers tapping, as if to say, “I have something to say..” and a reply quickly came.

Kim Deoksoon [I set it up]

Kim Deoksoon [But how long are you going to appear?]

I [About 5 minutes?]

I [3 minutes is better than curry, hehe]

Kim Deoksoon [Call me when you appear]

Kim Deoksoon [I have a lot of customers]

Maybe a group of customers from the hiking club came.

As I imagined the restaurant bustling with customers, I smiled contentedly. Just then, Bijoo handed me the snacks he had bought from the convenience store.

Our faces were filled with excitement as we held the snack bags and drinks.

"Wow, how long has it been since we watched a broadcast?"

"Indeed."

Jung-hyun popped open a non-alcoholic beer and said,

"It feels like it's been a long time since we watched Music Cafe. How long has it been? Three months? Four months? It's really been a while."

"I'm already getting fuzzy about it."

"What's fuzzy?"

Lee Hyuk sneered.

"I still vividly remember you with a runny nose."

"I can do that again."

Jung-hyun mimicked the youngest member's sniffling face, and we burst into laughter.

Ji-ho pouted.

"How is that the same?"

"......"

There was a moment of silence, and then we all said at the same time,

"It was exactly the same."

"It's almost a perfect sync."

We laughed and clinked our drinks, while the youngest member made a sour face. Then, he seemed to remember something and smiled mischievously.

"Lee Hyuk, you shouldn't be laughing now. Soon, your ridiculous basketball shot will be on TV."

"Ah."

"That's the face of someone who just remembered."

Our main vocalist's ears started to turn red.

Well, I thought it was funny too.

Not just me, but the others also turned their heads slightly and laughed.

"Oh, this is bad."

Lee Hyuk, with a serious face, asked me,

"Do you think this will be shown?"

"I think you'll give everyone a good laugh by sacrificing yourself. What's the big deal? We won't tease you all day."

"...You mean for half a day."

"Exactly."

We laughed and ate the snacks.

While the main vocalist, who looked upset, received a comforting slice of apple from our team's housewife, the Jusehan logo finally appeared on the TV.

The opening scene showed the members moving comically, like a large family in a sitcom.

Then, endless sponsor messages followed.

They weren't ordinary ads.

Mr. Woo Jae-yong, the oldest member of Jusehan, was tapping his waist, saying, "Oh, I can't go any further!" while the other members shouted, "Teacher! We'll carry you!" in a commercial for a mobile carrier.

Yeo Hee-chan and Yeo Hee-yeon, after bickering and reconciling, boiled noodles together, and in the last scene, they both sipped the broth and exclaimed, "Mmm!" in a ramen commercial.

"The feeling is different from Music Cafe."

I spoke.

"Back then, it felt like we were on a popular music show, but this... I don't know how to describe it."

"Exactly. I'm really nervous."

The youngest member shivered and rubbed his palms.

The others felt the same way.

They looked like actors watching their own movie for the first time, hearts pounding and nervous about how they would appear.

I swallowed hard and asked,

"Did everyone tell their families?"

"I just got a text."

Bijoo showed his phone.

"My sister sent a message. She's watching with a plate of pork belly at a restaurant in front of our house. She even sent a picture..."

In the photo, Bijoo's sister, mother, and father were smiling widely and making V signs, along with his brother Min-joon, who was also smiling brightly.

They were familiar faces I had seen at the hospital.

But there were changes. Min-joon, who had been pale and sickly, now looked much healthier, and his parents' faces, which had been full of shadows, were now bright like a sunny day.

Especially his mother, who looked like a girl on a picnic, her face flushed.

"Your mother looks really happy. She even has a flush."

"That's from a glass of soju..."

"Ah."

We exchanged embarrassed smiles.

"Everyone looks good."

"This was a show my mom and Min-joon used to watch when they went to the hospital. They laughed every Sunday."

"It must mean a lot to them."

"My parents were really excited. When I told them I was on Jusehan, they called all the relatives..."

Being on Jusehan wasn't just meaningful to us.

When your children say, "The album is selling well," or "We're going to an event," parents might not know if things are really going well.

No matter how well you tell them, seeing it on TV is a different story.

And when they realize the show you're on is Jusehan, the feeling they'll have is indescribable.

At that moment, Jung-hyun suddenly showed his phone.

"My dad sent me something."

I thought it was a low-resolution photo, but when Jung-hyun pressed a button, a video played.

A village community center filled with elderly and middle-aged people.

-Okay, let's clap!

When Jung-hyun's father shouted, enthusiastic applause followed.

-Residents, today our Jung-hyun is appearing on a very special TV show!

The residents clapped and shouted, "TV!"

-Okay, let's do the wave! Hoo~

Why are they doing the wave?

"...What is this?"

"My dad sent it. They're going to watch and cheer together."

"Did you tell them we're only on for about 5 minutes at the end?"

"I told them, but this is what happened."

Jung-hyun sighed.

"From what I can see, they're using this as an excuse to slaughter a cow and drink soju today."

"True. When else would they have a party? You've been filial."

"I like it too."

After comforting the upset youngest member, I remembered someone who had been silent during the family talk.

Lee Hyuk.

I remembered he had said, when composing "Night Sea," that he didn't often contact his family except his sister.

...I guess I made a mistake.

We should have been more careful about family talk. I must have forgotten in the heat of the moment.

Bijoo also seemed to notice and was fidgeting.

I glanced at him, and the guy who met my eyes narrowed his.

Then he smiled slyly.

"Don't worry about it."

He said with a smile,

"Well, we can just watch it among ourselves."

* * *

Finally, the broadcast started.

It continued from the previous episode, showing the members performing a mission in Gapyeong French Village.

The members, acting like street artists in Europe, drew portraits for visitors.

The bizarre quality of the drawings and the visitors' shock, along with the banter with passersby, were the highlights of today's show.

At the end, the members gathered in one place.

-Okay, let's pick the next travel destination!

They rolled a dice to decide the next travel destination, and the episode ended there.

Of course, that wasn't the end.

The screen transitioned with a logo saying [2014 Chuseok Special].

We swallowed hard as the introduction video started to play.

The first team introduced guests, comedian Seo Ji-hyeong and model Han So-ra.

The video seemed to focus on Seo Ji-hyeong's continuous jokes and Han So-ra's elegant walk in front of the members.

...But something felt off.

Maybe it was because non-professional entertainers were included, but it felt like their segments were a bit shorter.

Then, the second team's guests appeared.

The headquarters of Hwaie Entertainment were shown, and the members of New Black, who were checking their choreography in the practice room, nervously greeted the camera.

-Oh, hello!

The innocent expressions of the members made the Jusehan members laugh heartily.

After a brief appearance for New Black's new song promotion, the mission with nearby pedestrians began.

It was quite interesting.

The mission was to increase someone's heart rate through words or actions, targeting people of the same gender.

It looked fun at first glance.

But it wasn't.

Maybe New Black was holding back.

This kind of mission requires you to be willing to look silly, but they all seemed to be putting on a cute act, making it uninteresting.

I thought it would be over soon, and it was.

"..."

"Is it over?"

"Is this it?"

It seemed like they had shown enough, even though they could have shown more.

Our faces turned serious.

"This is bad. If Girls on Top only got this much, we might not appear at all."

"Come on, that won't happen."

"Jung-hyun, how much time is left?"

I looked at my watch.

"Still 15 minutes left?"

"What? It's strange. The only ones left in the introduction are Senior Haezion and us."

"Maybe there's a preview for the Chuseok special at the end."

"Jung-hyun, we didn't do a recording, how can there be a preview?"

It was a mystery.

The previous segments had also ended abruptly, even though they could have shown more.

It felt like they were squeezing out a wet mop, not wringing it out completely but putting it in a basket.

Are we only going to get 2 minutes?

I was worried.

Kim Deoksoon and the families of the others were surely sitting in front of the TV.

If we only got 2 minutes, it would be a huge embarrassment.

That's why we couldn't laugh at the scene where the Yeo siblings and rapper Haezion were dancing.

Then,

"Wow... we're on."

Lee Hyuk covered his eyes with a sweet potato chip. I would have done the same if I had any shrimp crackers.

Jung-hyun, pretending to be calm, was secretly crumpling his can.

Finally, New Black appeared on the screen.

"We're on...!"

But surprisingly, I felt calm.

It was like the feeling of finally facing the actual exam paper after being nervous with the mock test.

And it wasn't as bad as I thought.

We were clumsy and awkward, but our appearance on TV was quite decent.

Actually, there was something strange.

When the introduction with Jusehan members and New Black ended, we looked at each other in disbelief.

Even Jung-hyun looked surprised.

"Brother."

Jung-hyun pointed at the clock at the bottom of the laptop.

"...We've already used 2 minutes just for the introduction."

* * *

As always, when a high-rated variety show airs, various communities are filled with people watching the live broadcast.

The free board of one community was no different from a live chat.

-Oh, the kid cried at the painting kekkek

-Jusehan) Yeo Hee-chan is crazy kekkek

-Jusehan is really good today

-When they put three people together like that, the show feels empty

-Is the French Village going to be crowded now? My wife and I were planning to go...

-Let's keep the topic

Finally, the live broadcast ended, and the introduction segment began.

-Jusehan) Today's lineup is a bit weak

-Seo Ji-hyeong is really boring...

-To be honest, the problem is that they keep accepting it

-Oh, it's not over?

-Oh, Han So-ra ddd

-Jusehan) Wow, models aren't just anyone

-Let's keep the topic

-Here's Han So-ra's runway walk.gif

As the posts piled up, Girls on Top appeared.

-Girls on Top is here

-Oh, Joo Hana ddd

-Let's keep the topic

-Jusehan) Joo Hana, isn't that the dating rumor?

-Today's mission looks really fun

Given their popularity, posts about Girls on Top quickly appeared.

But the initial admiration of their visuals quickly turned to disappointment.

-Jusehan) They're pretty, but not funny

-Just enjoying the visuals...

-Didn't they say it's been a while since they did a variety show? They don't seem desperate

-Jusehan) What kekkek They're a 4th-year group

-Let's keep the topic

-The PD's sense is off lately

Then, Haezion, who came next, completely turned the situation around.

The rapper with dreadlocks, dancing in the street to EDM music, brought a lot of laughter. The two members also joined the dance without holding back.

-kekkekkek What is this?

-All three are really into it kekkek

-Jusehan) Let's keep the topic

-They were relaxed and then burst out kekkekkek

-Today's MVP should be Haezion kekkekkek

Meanwhile, in the midst of the laughter, some posts began to express doubts.

-It feels really short today?

-Something feels rushed, is there something at the end?

-There's more introduction left

-Are the remaining ones unknown rookies?

No one expected the entire time to be dedicated to introducing New Black.

So, when New Black appeared, complaints started pouring in.

-What kind of unknowns get 3 minutes... Damn

-If this is the level of boredom, it's safe to say Goo Jae-young is taking money

-Where are they from?

-3 minutes of this boredom kekkekkek

-Girls on Top must feel wronged after being called boring

There was a noticeable difference.

While other guests' segments were rushed, New Black's segment was building up slowly and steadily.

It was clear that they were getting special treatment.

Some even posted that it was unfair for a small agency to get so much airtime on Jusehan.

Fortunately, the hostile atmosphere dissipated when the mission was revealed.

-Jusehan) Wow, look at the difficulty

-You want us to do that??? It's almost a full-court shot

-That's an exaggeration kekkekkek The gym looks small

-While reciting the Heart Sutra...??

-kekkek If I succeed, I'll buy chicken

-Jusehan) That's not hard. I did it when I was in the basketball club

There was a debate about whether they could succeed.

Some said it was possible, others said it was impossible with such skinny members, and a few predicted success.

As the debate continued, long-time Jusehan viewers noticed something.

-It looks like they're going to succeed, given the emphasis on the segment

-This?

-If they succeed, it will be a big deal kekkekkek

-Jusehan) Goo Jae-young doesn't waste time on useless segments, except when he's obsessed with something

With a mix of anticipation, New Black members started their attempts one by one.

Starting with Yeo Hee-yeon's kick.

-Whoa...kekkekkek Almost a cross delivery

-The soccer player's class is still there

-But it looks like New Black really practiced a lot kekkekkek It's not just a concept, the dance is real

-They're all failing...

-Only one left

Finally, the last member came up.

A tense BGM played as New Black's Woo-ju took the ball.

The camera zoomed in on his calm face.

Woo-ju, who had been dribbling skillfully, wrapped his hand around the ball and snapped it towards the air.

The drum sound in the BGM heightened the tension.

Woo-ju's shot was completely unexpected.

It wasn't a kick like Yeo Hee-yeon's, nor a one-handed or two-handed shot.

He extended his right arm far back and threw it with force, like a baseball pitcher.

A full shot was immediately captured.

As the ball drew a perfect parabola, the board entered a temporary lull.

The expressions of the Jusehan siblings, New Black members, and the staff watching were captured in slow motion.

They soon opened their eyes wide, as if they had seen something unbelievable.

But it was hard to tell if it was disappointment for a miss or surprise for a success.

Another full shot.

The ball flew in a beautiful trajectory and landed in the hoop.

It didn't bounce off the rim and go in; it went in smoothly, like a successful dunk.

Thud-

The sound of the ball swishing through the net was captured by the audio.

The scene was accompanied by the audience's involuntary gasps, and a bold "!!!" appeared on the screen.

The team members immediately rushed to Woo-ju.

-Whoa kekkekkekkek

-It went in

-While Yeo Hee-yeon is showing her true gum smile kekkek

-Where's the person who said they'd buy chicken?? Did they delete their post?

-It was possible after all???

The complaints about the segment length were long gone.

Finally, Woo-ju, holding the golden key, was surrounded by the members and gave his closing remarks.

"Thank you. I'll do my best!"

He wiped the cold sweat from his forehead, which made the people in the TV laugh.

A scene from after the recording showed the siblings saying, "Hey, you really sweated a lot," as they approached Woo-ju.

"I really wanted to do well..." was caught by the microphone.

Woo-ju, thinking the recording was over, licked his dry lips. His earnest effort, typical of a rookie, was warmly edited.

The preview for the next episode followed, but the image lingered in the viewers' minds.

People watching at home, on the subway and bus with DMB, and in the train station waiting room, all searched for "New Black" on their smartphones out of curiosity.

As befitting a top-rated variety show with an average viewership of 23%, the search rankings started to rise rapidly.

Of course, the happiest people were a different group.