Chapter 321: Chapter 322:

He had a reason to do so.

‘They’re really bad at throwing flowers.’

‘They’re throwing them so generously.’

‘As if they’re salt.’

New Black members were tossing flowers on their way like they were salting kimchi.

Soon, the five of them stood under the banner of the event.

New Black waved their hands with a handsome smile towards the cameras that flashed.

“Wow…”

The spectators who came to watch exclaimed.

“They’re amazing in real life.”

“Wow… What’s that? What’s that?”

“Honey. What if you look at me after seeing them?”

They smiled when they saw them from afar and said, ‘Oh! It’s New Black!’ But they felt a bit embarrassed when they saw them up close.

It was an unexpected visual.

They had regarded them as friendly younger siblings, but the real thing they saw up close was far from friendly.

TV never captured the real thing, they thought.

-Hello!

New Black’s youngest greeted them with a big dog-like smile and made them feel a bit friendly.

But soon, his expression changed to a calm one and they felt unfamiliar again.

-One, two.

Especially, Uju, who grabbed the microphone, made them stare at his face without knowing it.

-Hello. We are New Black!

-We are here today as the promotional models for the cosmetic launch event, and we hope you’ll support us!

-Please welcome us with applause~!

With a light laugh, the people who were filming with their phones tapped their wrists and made applause.

Meanwhile, the crowd had grown.

‘Is that New Black? New Black?’ The people who stopped as they said that started to follow them like a tail.

“Do they do beauty ads these days?”

“Yeah. Why do they do that?”

There was a murmur here and there.

The ads that New Black had done so far were mostly lenses, telecoms, family restaurants, and the like.

They were curious about the beauty ad that was a bit different from that.

-How do you feel?

At the MC’s question, the member with a cool expression picked up the microphone.

-It feels new. I’ve been using it well, but it was a product that the stylist always bought from abroad.

-You also made a buzz with the video recently, right?

-Yes.

Then, the people’s eyes lit up.

‘That’s it!’

Some of them remembered the video that showed the amazing coverage of the red ears.

Uju grabbed the microphone.

-I heard that a lot of people showed interest. If you type Rihyuk’s name, the first latest related search term is ‘Rihyuk foundation’.

-The second is ‘foundation Rihyuk’.n/ô/vel/b//in dot c//om

-Rihyuk is a friend who gets very embarrassed…

Bi Ju said with a shy smile.

-Our kid gained confidence after meeting this product.

-Right. Right.

As Junghyun nodded and agreed, the people who were watching laughed.

They looked like parents and son somehow.

Rihyuk shook his face with a slight blush and expressed ‘this much’ with his thumb and index finger.

-Yes. I get a little embarrassed.

The five heads moved at the same time.

A little.

The fingers spread a bit more.

-A bit.

A little more.

Rihyuk closed his mouth and made it about 10cm.

-I’m a bit shy, but… I think I got a lot of help from this product.

Then, New Black members nodded their heads with a relieved face.

A comfortable laugh flowed.

The people who were surprised by the shocking real-life visual were getting used to the usual New Black.

After a light conversation with the MC and New Black members.

The demonstration began.

-Mr. Rihyuk, please sit here.

-Yes.

New Black’s main vocal sat gently on the chair in the center of the stage.

His face appeared on the screen.

The cool and sharp feeling became a clear line and pierced through the screen.

Soon, the makeup artist started cleansing.

Swoosh-

As the makeup was removed, some people gasped.

‘What. Can they remove that?’

‘Why did their company agree to this?’

It was a bit daring to do this in a place where there were a lot of cameras and eyes.

Even if it wasn’t a perfect bare face, the result after the makeup was removed would circulate on the internet.

They weren’t fans, but they were worried without knowing it.

“Hmm…?”

The people tilted their heads at the sight on the screen.

And then.

“…!”

They blinked their eyes at the scene they never expected.

‘What is that.’

As the makeup was removed, Rihyuk’s impression changed gradually.

His sharp eyes became a little softer.

He still had a sharp impression, but the line that was sharp and straight became softer.

‘Why is his skin so good.’

My skin was porcelain, so fair it seemed to beckon for a playful poke.

As I gazed upon my reflection, the sharp contours of my face, once like pen strokes, softened into the gentle curves of a traditional Eastern painting.

“…!” I gasped.

The transformation revealed a visage of pure, untouched beauty.

Was it the heat of the spotlight or something else that caused the fine beads of sweat to form at the tips of my hair? The staff, ever attentive, dabbed them away as I closed my eyes.

When I reopened them, I caught the makeup artist’s eye. My trembling eyebrows and the slight upturn of my lips drew involuntary sighs of admiration from all around.

“Wow…”

Even the announcer and the crew peeked out to watch, their heads tilting in curiosity.

The members and managers of New Black nodded with satisfied smiles.

“He doesn’t even need makeup.”

“He’s so beautiful. Really…”

“Is that really Dancho? I can’t get used to this.”

“Bro, why do you look at me when you see him? Explain.”

“Huh? You’re blushing.”

Was it the murmurs that made my ears burn and the flush spread?

The blush that rose on my alabaster cheeks…

And then…

Pat-pat-pat-

With each professional touch of the makeup artist’s puff, the redness vanished.

“Oooh…!”

Eyes sparkled with wonder.

At a cosmetic launch event, the exclamations of awe were reminiscent of a magic show.

“This is amazing.”

“I’m definitely buying this today.”

Those who usually struggled with rosacea were captivated by the product name.

And when half of the demonstration was complete…

“Ha-ha-ha!”

The members of New Black bobbed their heads and laughed, and the crowd joined in.

The reason was clear on the big screen: one half red, the other white.

“He looks like Two-Face.”

“That’s the Asura Count I remember from childhood…”

“He looks so sad. Adorable.”

The members patted Rihyuk’s back, suppressing their laughter, and the crowd found it endearing.

Somehow, it was a pleasant sight.

The visual harmony of the group was pleasing to the eye, and their camaraderie seemed genuine.

Tap-tap-tap.

Photos and live updates of New Black spread across social media, messaging apps, and online communities.

That day.

Posts about New Black’s beauty event flooded idol communities.

[Idol who trended in four countries with today’s look.jpg]

New Black’s Rihyuk.

P.S. They launched that famous foundation.

“Wow, that’s awesome.”

“I saw it in person, and these photos don’t do it justice… The reveal was spectacular.”

“He’s unrealistically handsome.”

“New Black always works hard on their looks.”

“LOL, but there’s a newfound handsomeness about him. Like when comedians shoot for magazines.”

“I’d forgotten… they are handsome.”

“My brain can’t decide between Dancho and this pure visual.”

“Wow, his bare face is so white.”

“Especially him in New Black, they say he does toned-down makeup. If the lights are too strong, his face disappears.”

“Yeah, I heard the lighting crew gets nervous around Rihyuk during live broadcasts LOL.”

(Wonderful Night Ghost Egg meme.gif)

The conversation about New Black’s main vocalist’s looks, which hadn’t been highlighted much until now, grew alongside interest in the cosmetics.

“But the artist’s skill seems more important… Ordinary people can’t achieve that look with just concealer.”

“Wasn’t it sold only overseas?? It’s launched in Korea now.”

“The Jekyll and Hyde meme is still fascinating.”

“I want to buy it too…”

“LOL, his face is so tempting… It’s like buying clothes after seeing them on a model.”

“But the prerequisite was the face.”

“I wondered why they chose him for a cosmetic ad, but there’s always a reason with Kyuho.”

“Kyuho: Me? (Rub-rub)”

“Why rub instead of scratch? LOL.”

Philippines. Indonesia.

After completing our overseas tour and promotional schedule, we returned to Korea to find gifts waiting for us.

“There’s this cosmetic company, you know. Their local office sent these.”

“Ooh.”

“The foundation must be doing really well.”

Rihyuk nodded proudly and turned to us.

As we applauded with ‘wow’s and turned our attention to the gifts…

“What’s this? What arrived?”

“Hey! Isn’t this that? Wine?”

“Alcohol? Wine?”

A bottle of wine from a famously expensive brand lay beside a thank-you note from the local office president.

Bijoo touched the gift with a longing expression.

“But Uju can’t drink it.”

“No, Bijoo. I may not know about soju, but a drop of wine is fine.”

“When we drink with wine glasses, Uju will have to use a dropper… Aaack!”

While punishing the youngest, Rihyuk took the opportunity to jab Jiho’s ribs.

Then, Minki said with a sigh.

“Even there, Uju, you’re known for alcohol tolerance…”

“Huh?”

“…I wonder if you know how to get drunk like a fish. I’ve even sent a special gift just for you.”

As Junghyun tilted his head in confusion at the word ‘huh?’, Bijoo whispered something to him. Junghyun seemed convinced.

“What’s the gift?”

“This.”

With a flourish, a luxurious envelope containing a box appeared. It was a set of grape juice in sturdy glass bottles.

“Wow, glass bottle juice!”

I accepted the gift with joy.

“It’s really nice. My grandmother loves these glass bottles. She says they’re great for storing sesame oil.”

The thought of showing off the glass bottles to our dear Mrs. Deok-soon filled me with excitement.

In addition to that, I smiled contentedly at the samples sent by the cosmetics company, the skin lotion, and more.

It seems things are going really well.

The cosmetics event I participated in had been planned for quite some time.

It all started when Lee-hyuk and Jiho became the talk of the town as music show MCs. After that, several meetings were held to schedule the event, leading up to its recent launch.

It was a win-win for everyone involved.

The cosmetics company had a successful product launch.

And Bijoo, who hadn’t received much attention lately, got a chance to shine once more.

But above all.

“Hmm, why would they send something like this? Is it because I worked hard at the event that day~?”

We chuckled among ourselves as the main vocalist rummaged through the gifts with an innocent face.

“Look how excited he is.”

“He’s thrilled from all the compliments online.”

After receiving a flood of compliments on his looks, he had been putting even more effort into his appearance.

He’d often post selfies on the official SNS.

And when we pretended to be asleep, he’d secretly check his phone for comments on the event fancams, clearly delighted.

It seemed to have made him a bit kinder lately.

“Hmm-hmm~”

As Lee-hyuk tried to take a selfie in front of the gift box, Jiho slid over and posed with a V-sign.

“Cheers?”

“Cheers~”

Surprisingly, he was in a good mood and agreed.

When the two, looking like visual brothers, took a two-shot photo and laughed brightly, I sneakily joined in with my own V-sign.

“Me too~”

Sparks flew from their eyes.

“Where do you think you’re going, shamelessly barging in! Get out of this picture!”

“You can’t join in, hyung!”

The youngest members teamed up to push me out of the frame with their palms, and I tumbled away for a moment.

“…”

When did I become such a third wheel?

I could feel winter approaching.

Every time the cold wind swept through, I shivered, and the clothes I wore gradually became thicker.

It was the day before the last two days of October.

“Yes, the Minister of Culture, Sports and Tourism award goes to New Black.”

As the announcer’s voice echoed through the speakers, we stood in front of the photo wall labeled ‘Popular Culture and Arts Award.’

“Please look to the left!”

“Yes!”

The sound of hundreds of moths fluttering their wings filled the air as flashes popped.

One of the reporters instructed.

“Stand slightly diagonally…!”

Click.

“You’ve stood… now, uncross your arms…!”

Click.

“You’ve uncrossed them… there.”

A brief chuckle escaped among the press at the ‘uncrossed them…’ comment.

We skillfully turned to face the semi-circular press, waving and greeting them.

“Thank you!”

As actor Seo No-eul entered the photo zone right after us, we headed inside the theater.

A small hall with a stage appeared immediately.

This was a national theater in Jung-gu, Seoul.

We were here to receive the Minister’s commendation.

“Hello!”

We bowed to those who had arrived before us.

Actors, singers, and entertainers scheduled to receive awards today greeted us with smiles in return.

Some faces were familiar, others not, but they were all people we had seen on TV at least once.

“Is this our line?”

“It seems so.”

We were behind those receiving the President’s commendation, followed by the Prime Minister’s commendation line.

As we sat down and looked around, a greeting reached our ears.

“Hello.”

“Hello!”

It was actor Seo No-eul, from our agency.

It had been a while since we met during the cameo shooting for ‘Slip.’ I remembered he looked incredibly tired back then.

The elegantly coated figure sat next to us and sighed with an ‘oh dear.’

…He must be suffering from chronic fatigue.

“I heard you’re on an international tour with the company. Isn’t it exhausting?”

“Yes.”

“You always seem so full of energy. Do you eat something special?”

As we briefly discussed the benefits of ginseng with the interested party.

“Hi hi hi~”

Taehyun waved cheerfully, accompanied by the members of TNT.

As we bowed deeply in greeting, they giggled and returned the gesture.

“Hello, senior.”

“Hello, junior.”

After exchanging polite greetings, laughter erupted.

The seated TNT members turned their heads and looked at me curiously.

“Why?”

“Ha.”

Taehyun clapped his hands.

“Our composer, you’re shining bright today.”

“A genius composer…!”

“The one who pulls melodies out like noodles.”

“Ah, stop it.”

I felt embarrassed as the elders around us murmured ‘Genius composer?’ and everyone chuckled.

Taehyun said, “Congratulations on Billboard, hyung.”

“Yea… Thank you so much.”

I smiled awkwardly, and then everyone turned to me with serious expressions.

“Hyung, I’m going solo next year.”

“Me too.”

“If you haven’t emptied your trash bin, could you pass me some of those tunes?”

I smiled at their joking pleas for songs.

From their conversations, it seemed like they were planning solo or unit activities for their seventh year.

While the other members and our kids were chatting, Taehyun whispered to me.

“After that broadcast, our big uncle mentioned something.”

“Director Han Young-joon?”

“Yeah.”

Taehyun continued, “The planning team’s getting an earful. Why didn’t they hold onto someone so talented?”

“Well, I was still learning back then.”

“Anyway, it’s a bit of sweet revenge, so…”

He cupped his hand to his mouth and whispered as if saying ‘I’m on your side.’

“Song…”

“Huh?”

“Give me a soooong…”

He was like a subwoofer, quietly begging for a song, aware of the fans entering.

Then he grinned as if to say ‘You know, right?’ and turned away.

The venue became noisy as we approached the main event. Esteemed artists receiving medals appeared.

“Hello!”

I bowed slightly each time someone arrived.

Faces that seemed like they should be in the annals of Korean art history made me nervous without realizing it.

Luckily, there was one familiar face among them.

“It’s been a while.”

The veteran singer, walking with a cane, greeted us.

It was Master Noh Jae-hyun.

“Hello, sir.”

“What are you looking at? Surprised I’m not in a wheelchair?”

“Yes, you look great.”

We both gave thumbs up and said ‘Awesome,’ and the old singer chuckled with a cough.

“See you later.”

“Yes.”

He was led by the staff to the front row seat.

As the ceremony neared, Taehyun whispered again.

“Is your group performing today?”

“In a bit.”

“Prepare yourself; it might be awkward.”

He whispered to our puzzled faces.

“With so many seniors and a certain age group, idol songs might get a… mixed reaction.”

“Ah.”

“The atmosphere is a bit solemn. Even clapping feels awkward.”

He was a senior idol giving advice about performing in such a solemn atmosphere.

Then he gestured for me to lean in as if to share a tip.

“Song…”

“If I can, I’ll prioritize you.”

“Song, song, song.”

Taehyun chuckled ‘song, song’ and turned away.

As everyone took their seats, the VCR played on the screen, followed by the MCs’ remarks.

“Now, the 2015 Popular Culture and Arts Awards…”

After a brief opening, the staff approached us to prepare for the stage.

‘Fighting!’

I bowed to the TNT members, who looked sympathetic about us performing in such a solemn atmosphere.

Then we headed backstage with the younger members.

“Taehyun told me, since the stage might not get much response, to be mentally prepared.”

“It might be a bit embarrassing.”

“I thought so when everyone looked so expressionless during the opening stage.”

We were mentally prepared when we took the stage.

Clap, clap!

As soon as Nine’s performance started, lively applause flew from the audience.

‘What’s going on?’

‘Wasn’t it supposed to be solemn?’

We exchanged puzzled glances while dancing.

The audience’s response was fantastic.

Right in front of the stage.

Master Noh Jae-hyun, sitting in the center, laughed heartily and applauded.

“Ah, this is great. Love it. Ha ha.”

“…”

“Don’t you like it?”

“Ye-yes, sir. It’s great.”

The middle-aged trot singer next to him nodded.

‘Master Noh Jae-hyun is applauding…’

Soon, those sitting behind also raised their hands.

As Senior Baeksang-gyo began to applaud, I…

Thus, those seated in the back started clapping rhythmically.

Clap, clap-

The applause spread gradually, cascading down in order of seniority.

“…”

While clapping, the members of TNT felt an inexplicable sense of injustice.