Chapter 359: Chapter 360

Flapping in the wind, Jiho’s test paper escaped his grasp.

“Ta-da!”

Dressed in a hanbok against the backdrop of a Hanok village, he looked like a young nobleman returning from a private school.

Our eyes widened in disbelief as we followed the fluttering pages of the test paper presented by our youngest brother.

“Wow…”

We couldn’t help but be astonished.

Bijoo took the test paper, swallowing hard.

“Did you score an 89?”

“What? How is that possible? This is the first time I’ve seen Wang Jiho bring home a score over 70 since I was born.”

“He’s never been one to score over 75, no matter how easy the test.”

Amidst this unprecedented event, the older brothers murmured among themselves, and laughter erupted from those around us.

Jiho, puzzled, asked, “An 89?”

“Huh?”

“You guys are holding it upside down.”

“Oh…!”

So shocked by the number 89, we hadn’t even realized we were holding the test paper upside down.

At that moment, seeing the number 89 was like a dramatic close-up in a movie when fate brings two people together.

It was as surprising as hearing that our band’s album had sold over 220,000 copies.

“Just a minute.”

Bijoo turned the test paper right side up.

“…”

Staring at the bold ‘68’ underscored in red, our eyes went wide.

“68 points?”

Ri Hyeok scowled as if to say, ‘Is this some kind of joke?’

From a distance, it seemed as though curses were rising to the tip of our tongues before being swallowed back down.

Ears reddening like a warning siren.

“But seriously…”

Jiho flinched at the three words that Koreans utter when truly infuriated.

Ri Hyeok’s eyes trembled.

“I stayed up all night…! I made a summary booklet for you to do well on the test… and you really…”

“Huh? Didn’t you say you threw it together in an hour?”

“Ah, well, yes. That was something else. This one took an hour to make.”

As Ri Hyeok fumbled with his words, we smiled warmly.

‘He stayed up all night.’

‘I wondered what he was doing, and it was this.’

The moment the secret behind the high quality of the casually offered summary booklet was revealed.

As we looked at our youngest brother, who was giggling away, our eyes narrowed.

“First off, don’t look at me with those pitying eyes as if I’m hopeless. There’s a story behind this.”

“What story?”

“I may have scored 68, but it’s not just a 68.”

Was it like a whale shark that’s attached but not a whale?

The youngest, making bizarre claims, beamed as if he had some great news.

“So, at first, I got a 68 and came back crying.”

“I didn’t cry.”

At Won Seok’s words, we all nodded in agreement.

The youngest cleared his throat and continued.

“Anyway! I thought you guys would tease me for scoring 68 again, and I was feeling really down.”

“I was happily telling my friends over the phone, ‘I got a 68 again~!’”

“…Then, while trying to search online about the difficulty of the test.”

“You searched for ‘Korean History New Black Jiho Real-life Review.’”

Each time the youngest spun his tale, our manager revealed the truth, and we burst into laughter.

Now that it had come to this, we were curious.

“So, what happened?”

“I checked the test community, and there was a controversy over question 21. They were submitting objections for multiple correct answers, and even the Korean history teachers agreed it was definitely a case of multiple correct answers.”

“…”

“And as it turns out, the very question I marked wrong was…”

As we watched with a mix of pity and intrigue, the youngest showed us question 21.

The cross mark he had boldly drawn was now a triangle.

“Because it’s worth 3 points!”

“…”

“I’m now at 71 points because my answer was accepted as a multiple correct answer!”

The youngest, dressed in a hanbok, triumphantly held up the test paper as if he had topped the civil service exam.

“…”

It’s a matter of pride. A real pride.

My cheeks were flushed like a baby’s, and although it was cute, I couldn’t help but feel a bit pathetic.

“Why are you all acting like this? It’s a cause for celebration. Grade 1!”

“Well, it is Grade 1, but…”

“Come on~”

The youngest waved his hands dismissively, blushing with a shy smile.

“Life is all about luck, isn’t it?”

“You should study. Study…”

In the end, it was Grade 1, but what was this uneasy feeling?

Jun-hyeon also laughed, then paused, tilting his head in confusion repeatedly.

Bijoo was deep in thought, hands clenched, wondering, “Is this something to celebrate…?” when I said,

“Well, you did well anyway. You worked hard for the exam.”

As I patted his shoulder, Jiho burst into a happy laugh.

It wasn’t entirely satisfying, but it was still good news.

I had been worrying about how to console him if he had scored in the 60s.

The other members must have thought the same, patting his back and shoulders, saying, “You’ve worked hard.”

“Ha ha ha!”

When Jiho received the snack from Bijoo and showed a joyful smile,

“…”

My gaze turned to the unusually quiet one among the five.

Lee-hyuk was staring intently at question number 21, which had multiple correct answers, his hand…

Shaking?

“…Lee-hyuk, what’s wrong?”

He looked like a king holding a petition from scholars saying, ‘Your governance is terrible.’

Lee-hyuk took a deep breath and loosened his topknot.

“No.”

The youngest flinched at the sight of Lee-hyuk’s eyes flickering wildly.

Lee-hyuk spoke to us.

“The problem he got wrong, worth three points, was about the Great Famine of Kyungshin.”

“The one you explained to him recently?”

“I spent a good ten minutes explaining it at the spicy fish stew restaurant, and look at this. He got it wrong again.”

“Oh. If he had listened then, he would have scored 71.”

At Jun-hyeon’s words, Jiho averted his eyes.

Then, with a pitiful look, he tried to act cute, which wouldn’t work on us, and said,

“Ah, actually, at that time.”

The youngest smiled sheepishly.

“I didn’t listen because it was too bothersome.”

“Hey!”

“Ahhh! A Korean history monster!”

“Stop right there!”

The scholar who left his hat with us began frantically chasing the young student who was running away.

We also successfully completed a small theater tour centered in Jeonbuk.

The only regret was that we couldn’t meet our dear Mrs. Kim Deoksoon, even when passing nearby.

“I miss you. Grandma…”

“We miss you too. Grandma…”

On the smartphone screen, Mrs. Kim Deoksoon was smiling contentedly with her wrinkled face.

-You brats are at it again.

Her hearty curse made my heart warm.

-Do you have to look at me like I’m about to die any minute? I’m not seriously ill, and we see each other’s faces every day on the phone.

“We miss you, that’s why.”

“Right! Right!”

-I’m sick of you kids. Every time I turn on the TV, there you are, and when I switch channels, there you are again, no escape.

We exchanged broad grins.

“Wow~ Our grandma is so trendy!”

-Hmm.

Grandma asked with a coy smile.

-How’s that? Makes me look younger, doesn’t it?

“Yes! You look at least 50 years younger, Grandma.”

-That’s my Bijoo. Among us, you always know the sweetest things to say. You’re my favorite.

I popped my face into view.

“What about me?”

-Oh dear.

With a single phrase laden with many implications, my siblings burst into raucous laughter.

As we traveled to another region, the grandmother who had been chatting with us said with a smile, “Is touring the country exhausting?”

“Yes.”

“It’s incredibly tough!”

“…Indeed.”

“Ha ha ha!”

“You’ve become a master at driving people crazy. These darn kids…”

The grandmother’s prepared retort, “Even if you say it’s not hard, it will be,” got tangled on her tongue.

“Anyway, even if it’s tough, keep your wits about you! Eyes bright and focused.”

“I miss you, Grandma.”

“Yes, I miss you too.”

“After I finish the tour in Japan next month, I’ll head straight to Gunsan. Let’s have fun then.”

“Sure. Take good care of yourself.”

“Now that it’s winter, how about a fur coat~?”

Madam Kim Deoksoon drew an ‘OK’ sign with her fingers, smiling coyly on the screen.

Amidst my siblings’ laughter, I ended the call.

Meanwhile, a signboard swiftly passed by.

While reading the words “Gwangju Metropolitan City,” I turned my gaze towards the direction of Gunsan.

…It’s a pity.

I had planned to briefly shout “Grandma~!” during the small theater tour, but that was not possible.

Will the first ‘National Idol’ since the first generation emerge? New Black’s new move

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From local news to small theater tours, New Black’s five members capture the nation with their charm

Thanks to the critical acclaim of the special album and the buzz around “My Hometown Now,” every step we took became a topic of conversation.

It wasn’t like this when we were touring the Gyeonggi region.

After “My Hometown” aired, suddenly, wherever we went, village chiefs and mayors would come out and ask to take photos with us.

People followed us like clouds whenever we went to taste local specialties or sightsee.

It seemed to be thanks to the popularity of our regional exploration YouTube content.

Reviews of visiting famous bakeries in Daejeon or how the walnut cookies tasted in Cheonan.

We visited many famous places, but also hidden gems, and the officials there were always thrilled to see us.

One even exclaimed, “We’re saved!”

It seemed that a hidden gem we featured on YouTube had suddenly transformed into a hotspot for young tourists.

Our content appeared to influence college students planning their winter travels.

Jiho analyzed the reason, saying, “Honestly, it’s because Junghyun hyung eats so deliciously.”

“Agreed.”

“I saw a comment quoting what I said last time: ‘When Junghyun hyung breathes, even the air looks tasty.’”

“Ha ha ha!”

Certainly, Junghyun’s happy laughter while eating at these hidden spots contributed to their charm.

Then Jiho slapped his hand against the window and exclaimed, “Wow! I just saw something like a gravestone pass by!”

“That’s a utility pole.”

“Oh. It’s a utility pole.”

Our reactions to everything, not just the food broadcasts, also played a part.

The sights were breathtaking, but being cooped up in the practice room or company all the time made anything outside seem wonderful.

Anyway.

Because of this increased attention, we sadly couldn’t make it to Gunsan.

“But still, we’re living the best life.”

“Exactly. We see soufflés and eat delicious food.”

“I wish it was like this every time we went on a music broadcast tour.”

It seemed less tiring than the music broadcast season.

Thinking back to waking up at 5 AM after sleeping at 2 AM and stumbling around like a zombie, this felt like heaven.

Rihyuk said, “Do you know why we’re comfortable now?”

“Because there’s no choreography?”

“…How did you know?”

“You’ve been talking about that almost five hundred times now, Rihyuk.”

Rihyuk snorted and turned his gaze to the window.

Indeed, it was the lack of choreography that made this blissful schedule possible.

If there had been choreography, performing across the country with an hour of talk every day would have been impossible.

And it wasn’t that there was no choreography at all.

After checking into the hotel in Gwangju, we convened in the practice room. “Let’s also discuss the choreography,” I suggested.

“Okay,” they replied.

From mid-February, we had planned about six or seven concerts in Japan over a fortnight, so there was no room for lax practice.

And then, there was the gradual preparation for our next purple album.

I had to discuss this year’s performance and variety show schedules with the management team.

Not to mention the duty-free shop advertisement preparations.

Oh, right. There was also talk about making a special album an annual tradition.

“Busy times indeed,” I mused.

“Very busy,” they echoed.

Looking at the packed schedule I had laid out, I exchanged warm smiles with my younger colleagues.

Honestly, to say there was no pressure would be a lie. But isn’t this pressure what life is all about?n/o/vel/b//in dot c//om

‘Life?’

‘Life is tough…’

‘No, I mean, is it really about life?’

As if responding to the keyword ‘life,’ my brain suddenly played back ‘related embarrassing history content.’

Ignoring it, I smiled at my younger colleagues.

“Let’s tackle one thing at a time.”

“Let’s start with preparing the script for tomorrow’s performance.”

“Ah, right. That’s important.”

We were scheduled to appear as the opening act for a broadcast program in the northern district of Gwangju Metropolitan City.

A very important program.

It was a program that not only Junghyun but all of us had always wanted to be on, so my heart was pounding with excitement.

“I can’t believe we’re going to be on that show…”

“Exactly. I still can’t believe it either.”

Imagining tomorrow’s recording, we shared a happy laugh among ourselves.

The next day.

The Suples immediately discovered New Black’s fancam as a recommended video on Mitube, tagged with the name of the northern district of Gwangju.

‘Huh? Did they go out for a recording?’

That thought crossed my mind as I clicked on the thumbnail showcasing New Black’s glamorous visuals.

♪Ding-dong-dang-

With the familiar sound of a xylophone.

Jeonguuuuuk!

The Suples nodded along to the cheerful and familiar BGM.

People wearing sun caps waved their cheering tools in the outdoor plaza seats.

Skipping the MC’s commentary, the Suples played New Black’s stage.

“The first act is a guest singer! Not only do they have stunning looks, but they are also a treasure that brings vitality to life! A tightly-knit quintet! Who could it be~ Coming up now~ New Black!”

As the crowd cheered ‘Wowww!’, New Black appeared.

It was ‘Companion,’ a song originally a trot, transformed into a winter-themed atmosphere.

Among the special album tracks, it was a song that was both exciting and gave off a warm impression.

“Hello, everyone!”

The audience responded enthusiastically to New Black’s lively greeting.

Trot singer Baek Sang-gyo also joyfully sang along with New Black’s remake of his song.

‘They’re doing incredibly well amidst all this.’

I was impressed by how skillfully they engaged the audience.

-Ahhh~

Where the chorus singers usually stood with their scores, New Black added their harmonies with an ‘Ahhh~,’ bringing smiles to everyone’s faces.

‘Nice.’

I smiled contentedly at the sight of the idols singing so vibrantly.

“Whoa!”

The Suples hastily closed the window as an unicycle video started playing automatically.

Busan Metropolitan City.

After touring around Chungnam, Jeonbuk, and Jeonnam, New Black finally performed in Busan.

At the Busan Cultural Center Grand Theater in Nam-gu.

When the Suples from Busan and Ulsan, including the surrounding areas, filled all 1,400 seats.

‘It’s going to be really fun…’

Their hearts fluttered with excitement, just like people going to see an entertaining movie.

The feeling was too good.

Was it because my favorite singers had come to where I lived?

It felt like we had become closer, sharing something in common.

And then.

‘I hope I win a prize.’

It might have been a bit greedy, but I couldn’t help desiring the prizes. I recalled the posts from other fans who had won refrigerators and washing machines, and the atmosphere was thick with everyone’s hopes of winning.

The singer would read my story, sing a song for me, and perhaps I’d even win a prize. Friends who came together whispered among themselves.

“Ah, I’m so nervous.”

“Me too.”

“Is it 1400 to 5? So, that’s 300 to 1.”

They all wished to be the first winner, as the first story called would have the chance to draw a prize first.

As I anxiously hoped it would be my story,

“Hey, what’s with that person?”

“Right?”

A middle-aged man wearing a hat in a secluded seat caught my eye. He looked incredibly suspicious, holding a ticket while wearing a mask. Male fans were rare in the boy band scene, almost as rare as a thousand-year-old ginseng, but a middle-aged male fan was unheard of.

‘…What’s going on?’

The audience looked uneasily at his suspicious behavior when suddenly,

Thump.

The sound of the concert hall being checked redirected everyone’s attention to the stage.

“Woahhhhhhh…!”

The mysterious man was forgotten in an instant as cheers erupted for New Black’s appearance on stage.

‘I love this. Really.’

The members shone brightly, and the energy in the lightsticks held by the fans grew stronger.

Then the song continued.

The intro flowed just as I had seen countless times on the Y app, but it was still thrilling.

‘This album is really a hit.’

There wasn’t a single song you could skip. Usually, tracks like intros or outros are overlooked, but the quality of each song was remarkable.

No wonder several songs from the album were still dominating the charts.

“…Huh.”

After the winter hibernation.

Someone’s sobbing caught the nearby fans off guard.

‘Is that gentleman particularly sensitive…?’

The middle-aged man dabbed his eyes with a handkerchief, seemingly moved by the song.

“Hello!”

The New Black members on stage greeted everyone with bright smiles.

“Nice to see you, fans.”

“Woahhhhh—!”

“We’re truly grateful you’ve come to our small theater tour ‘Encounter.’”

Uju picked up the microphone.

“The distance from Seoul to Busan is about 388 kilometers, quite a journey. We’ve met fans at signings who’ve traveled from Busan, but only now do I truly feel how far you’ve come.”

He smiled warmly.

“Whether you’ve seen us on TV or came to see us in person, we’re always thankful you come to us. The title of our performance is ‘Encounter,’ right? An encounter isn’t just one-sided; it happens when both sides come together.”

It felt like he was saying, “That’s why we’re here,” even though he didn’t say it out loud.

“It’s really nice to meet you, fans.”

After each member finished their remarks with a smile,

“Shall we sing together and have fun today?”

“Yes!”

The calm atmosphere from the winter lull shifted as the concert moved to another track from the special album, and the excitement grew.

Meanwhile,

“Now, the moment everyone has been waiting for.”

As the fans held their breath,

The first story was drawn against the backdrop of panels displaying refrigerators and air conditioners on stage.

“We chose this story because the nickname stood out. It’s from ‘Eunseo’s Dad.’”

“Thanks to New Black, my life has become so happy these days. Every morning was a struggle, and I dreaded going to work, but now my commute is filled with joy.”

The fans smiled in agreement.

After the story about how much happier New Black had made someone’s life, the members asked with bright smiles,

“Eunseo’s father~? Are you here?”

“Ah! There he is!”

Their eyes followed the gaze of NewBlack, landing on a figure in the distance.

“Uh…?”

That’s the person from before, I realized, as a man wearing a hat raised his trembling hands.

He looked utterly flustered.

“If it’s alright with you, may we see your face…?”

A flicker of hesitation crossed his features before the middle-aged man cautiously removed his hat and mask.

And in that moment.

“…!”

“Good heavens…!”

Both NewBlack and Soufflé were taken aback by the sight of the middle-aged man now revealed.

A kind face emerged beneath the hair that sparkled under the stage lights.

“Shine the spotlight! Our creator, our founder, our god!”

The audience erupted into laughter at Jiho’s stammering, unable to utter the word ‘CEO.’

As CEO Park Gyu-ho awkwardly grabbed the microphone with an embarrassed expression,

The members of NewBlack, including me, wore stunned looks on their faces.

A Soufflé in the surrounding seats unconsciously murmured ‘Gyu, Gyu-ho…!’ and covered her mouth as if to stifle her words, prompting more laughter from the crowd.

“CEO?”

“Why are you there, CEO?”

CEO Park Gyu-ho touched his cheek awkwardly.

“Well, it seems my story was selected…”

While the Soufflés were chaining thoughts in their heads, wondering ‘What’s this situation?’

“Is it a prize?”

“It must be a prize.”

“It’s a prize.”

A unanimous thought flowed through everyone’s minds.

Amidst the blinking members, Jiho’s eyes sparkled as he took the microphone.

“But really, did you not want to come to work?”

“No, it’s just that…”

The unexpected question set off a wave of laughter throughout the venue.