Chapter 1150: The Warmest Season, Winter (22)

Recently, Souffle’s daily lives had become fairly similar.

"Kyahaha!"

When they woke up in the morning, they gave one Sun Wooju style smile.

"Kyahaha!"

They smiled once more while brushing their teeth.

Then, on their way to work or school, they buried their faces in their phones and burst into laughter inside their minds.

Kyahahahaha!

They had no choice.

Just like the saying that all roads lead to Rome, every hot topic online in Korea currently led back to NewBlack.

Strictly speaking, it was not entirely a NewBlack-only topic, though.

- surpasses 8 million... Cast members: "Thank you so much"

, which was creating a sensation in the Korean film industry by surpassing 8 million viewers in an instant.

-Congratulations

-The box office trend is insane lol

-Shortest time ever to hit 8 millionㅋㅋㅋㅋ This is seriously crazy

-I watched it yesterday and it was so goodㅠㅠㅠㅠ Let Line 4 rise even more

-It seriously needs to do well

The movie was soaring higher and higher.

Someone might wonder what this had to do with NewBlack, but for Souffle, there were plenty of reasons to celebrate.

First of all, their favorite member's father was the protagonist, and Wooju himself had worked as the producer and music director of the film.

Especially because Wooju was not just a producer in name only.

He had been involved in every part of the production process.

[The role Wooju took as producer for this film]

As interviews with the director and behind-the-scenes articles revealed how Wooju had secured funding for the film and brought in the necessary personnel, everyone stared in surprise.

-Wow, Wooju really prepared this while grinding his teeth

-I thought he just put his name down as a producer, but he actually participated from beginning to end.. No, but how did he even find the time???

-Frank Chow was brought in by Wooju tooㅋㅋㅋㅋ

-Personally, I think bringing in Director Kim Bora was the best decision

-For real, behold the incredible sun

-What did Silver Screen even do lolㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋ They didn't help at all

And what about the music?

The song currently sitting at number one on the real-time music charts was not Kim Junghyun's "Potato Friend," nor was it a NewBlack song.

It was .

-It's the best

-The movie was great, but the music was insane

-Everyone, you have to watch this in theaters!!! It really overwhelms you

-I love itㅠㅠㅠ

-A movie that made my heart ache several times and left me smiling throughout. Honestly, it's the best musical of my life

-A movie where everyone cried when the ending credits rolled even though there wasn't a single sad scene... Personally, I think Sun Myeongju's greatest legacy is the son who made the music for this film

-Sun Wooju is seriously insane.. How did he even make this?

Even now, every time people refreshed the page, new comments continued piling up in the album review section of music sites.

Everyone knew who had created the music for the film, and everyone was showering him with praise.

For Souffle, these were happy days.

Kyahahaha!

On the music charts, the hip-hop potato was thriving.

In theaters, Line 4 was going wild.

Then what about television?

-NewBlack's "chaotic" Alaska travel story... "Ratings exploded from episode one"

<NewBlack's Travel Diary III>, which began airing on NBS as the follow-up to New Universe.

Thanks to word of mouth from their Alaska earthquake relief activities, it was a travel show that exploded in ratings from the very first episode.

Souffle were slightly confused.

What?

Why are regular people watching this??

They were happy, of course, but <NewBlack's Travel Diary> had always been content watched only by fans.

Isn't this an idol's own content?

Apparently, ordinary viewers saw it differently.

"Didn't NewBlack release a new travel show?"

"Ah, the Alaska one?"

Rather than viewing it as idol reality content, ordinary viewers saw it simply as a travel variety show filmed by entertainers in Alaska.

Combined with the fact that it was considered the follow-up to the popular variety show New Universe, nobody thought of it as idol content.

Seeing that, Souffle became anxious.

The Travel Diary series has always been kind of mild.

Unlike other content designed to appeal to casual viewers or anti-fans by being more provocative, it had a gentle flavor.

The appeal was simply watching NewBlack go on a healing trip.

So when Souffle saw their parents sitting on the living room sofa with sparkling eyes, they hurriedly explained.

"Dad, Mom."

"Hm?"

"This isn't really super funny or anything.... It's just about NewBlack going on a trip and relaxing."

"......While dressed like that?"

"What?"

The Souffle who turned toward the television felt their faces heat up.

Because of the opening.

[From this moment on, NewBlack will be switching roles.]

Kim Biju, in charge of navigation.

Wang Jiho, in charge of finances.

Seo Ri Hyuk, leader.

Kim Junghyun, in charge of planning.

And the worst one.

Sun Wooju, head of fashion.

[HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!!!!]

As Sun Wooju laughed heartily while clutching his stomach, viewers burst into laughter with him.

On the screen, 4Black, dressed like colorful fairies, were gritting their teeth while staring into empty space.

Souffle quietly closed their eyes.

-Please stop...

-Sun Wooju, don't laugh

-Why is that laugh so annoyingㅋㅋㅋㅋ

-I told my parents this wasn't a variety show and then this happensㅋㅋㅋㅋ Everyone can see it's obviously a hilarious variety show

-A mess from the beginning

-Leadership Seo Ri Hyukㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋ Navigation Kim Bijuㅋㅋㅋㅋ

-Is this Lu Bu's intelligence and Zhuge Liang's strength..? My heart is already swelling from this team chemistry

Watching the Travel Diary begin in complete chaos, Souffle smiled at their families and said.

"That's right."

"?"

"This is a variety show."

And so, the Alaska episode began its successful run.

The ratings for episode one were solid.

But while Souffle were stroking their chins, thinking it was a little disappointing that there had not been any particularly special episodes for a premiere...

[In this Travel Diary...]

The preview after episode one began giving off an unusual energy.

"Hey! Moonlight! Welcome to Alaska! Hahaha!"

You're Korean too.

Guys. They're Americans.

Korean handsome men proudly smiling in front of a scruffy-looking Moonlight.

[Th-the gold!!!]

"Gold?"

"Why is there gold?"

[NewBlack has introduced a gold standard system.]

Huh?

Building a civilization...?

[Breaking news. An earthquake has occurred in Anchorage, Alaska...]

[To help with recovery efforts, NewBlack...]

Along with CNN footage, scenes of NewBlack participating in volunteer work appeared.

Then, with emotional background music, Souffle from across America gathered in one place, helping restore the city and singing together with NewBlack.

It was a preview that already showed how moving the episode would be.

Almost as if it were saying:

Now that you've seen this, start watching from the beginning.

[From this moment on, NewBlack's Travel Diary begins...!]

So naturally, the ratings exploded.

Watching the passionate reactions on their phones, Souffle smiled.

"But why did NewBlack go to Alaska?"

Because they went there to film Travel Diary~

While answering in their minds, Souffle heard a dangerous conversation among ordinary viewers.

"It's Antarctica."

"Ah. Antarctica."

"They probably went somewhere cold first before going to Antarctica."

"That makes sense. The members are so thorough when preparing."

Somehow, it had become treated like a preliminary stage before Antarctica.

As if confirming their own words, nearby ordinary viewers turned to the Souffle.

"Right? They went there before Antarctica, didn't they?"

Souffle answered honestly.

"Yeah, that's right..."

To be fair, even they found it difficult to say otherwise.

After all, the New Universe promise had included both the Alaska and Antarctica challenges in stages.

Either way.

Th-the important thing is that everything is going well!

Junghyun's solo album was doing well, Overcooked had achieved worldwide success, and was becoming a hit Christmas song in Western countries.

On top of that, there was the biographical film about his father, which Sun Wooju had participated in producing.

If they had to point out one disappointing thing...

There seem to be people subtly putting Wooju down.

The film's massive domestic success had temporarily expanded Sun Myeongju's fandom.

Strictly speaking, there were simply more people who had become obsessed with Sun Myeongju.

At first glance, it seemed like a good thing.

But the problem was that it did not always work in a positive way.

[Honestly, if you compare Wooju's talent with his father's, isn't it obviously his father??]

-A complete mismatch

-His father is on another level

-Honestly, Wooju is more popular because he does popular music, but if we're only talking talent, Sun Myeongju is above himㅎㅎㅎ

-In my opinion, Wooju is just a gifted person... I don't think he's a heaven-sent genius like Sun Myeongju

-If Sun Myeongju is Zhuge Liang, Wooju is Gan Sun Mi lol

-I don't know. Fans supporting him is nice, but I wonder if Sun Myeongju would actually like seeing posts like this

People who became fans of Sun Myeongju after watching the film were subtly putting down his son, Wooju.

Almost as if they were trying to compare them.

Souffle could only shake their heads.

Just leave them alone.

They knew all too well that once the film's craze died down, people like that would disappear as well.

There was no reason to create unnecessary conflict.

So Souffle laughed once more and enjoyed their happy fan life.

New topics appeared every day, leaving them with plenty to enjoy.

[The Stern Duchy screening has been added to the box office results]

Total attendance: 15 people

-ㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋ

-So cute

-Our baby princessㅠㅠㅠㅠㅠㅠ

-Why is Princess Sophie being happy so adorable.. It's a genuine baby smile

-Shocking) A fantasy romance baby noble lady actually exists

-Why does the final picture look like a baby mastermindㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋ

Watching the adorable Stern Duchy screening, Souffle burst into laughter.

Everything was going smoothly.

Everything is perfect.

Thinking that, Souffle turned their attention elsewhere.

The new point of interest was across the ocean.

America.

The country where was about to be released.

-Cloud Squad!

-Yes! Unnies!

-How is it there? The box office performance?

-......

But the news that came from the Cloud Squad was something that not a single Souffle had expected.

After finishing the screening in the Duchy of Stern and returning to Korea, I enjoyed a short rest.

"I hate it! I want to work, Wooju!"

"Sun Wooju."

"Why!"

Our math ghost smiled while gritting his teeth.

"Go outside and rest right now."

"Yes."

"You're really going to break."

At Seokhwan hyung's insistence that I absolutely had to take at least one day off, I decided to rest.

"Okay, Biju. Then while we rest together, should we talk about work?"

"Sounds good, hyung."

"No gathering of two or more NewBlack members."

Even trying to lie down together and talk about work was prohibited.

So...

"I'm supposed to play with you?"

"Yeah."

"Am I someone who has to come every time you call me? Do I look that easy?"

"If you don't want to, then don't."

"Aaaaaah!"

Jang Hanbyeol grabbed my arm, insisting that wasn't what he meant.

That's right.

After being banned from gathering with my underlings, I went to find my (former) underling and current friend from the same industry, Jang Hanbyeol.

Hanbyeol's eyes beneath his cap and mask looked dissatisfied.

"No, but honestly, isn't this not really resting? If you want to rest properly, you should rent out a nice restaurant and eat or something."

"This is rest. Does rest have to be something special?"

"No, but still..."

Hanbyeol pointed at the billboard and complained.

"Han Taehyun's concert isn't exactly resting, is it?"

A poster of Taehyun with a red thread wrapped around his finger, smiling seductively.

That's right.

The place I visited for rest was my close friend's concert venue.

"Mother, hello~"

"Hello, ma'am."

I greeted Taehyun's family sitting near the guest seats.

We talked about whether they had been well, whether his grandmother was doing okay, and so on.

We had been quite close during our trainee days, but the distance between us was definitely different now.

Rather...

"Mom~ Dad!"

"Oh my, Hanbyeol is here too?"

Although they had not interacted much during trainee days, Hanbyeol, who had debuted and promoted together with Taehyun in TNT, seemed much closer with them now.

While Hanbyeol talked with them, I looked around.

"It changed a lot."

The place where today's concert was being held was KSPO Dome, the venue that had previously been called the Gymnastics Arena.

Well, I still called it the Gymnasium myself...

"What are you looking at?"

"The renovations. How it's different from before."

Nearby, I heard audience members saying things like, "I don't know what's changed," but from my perspective as a performer, there were many differences.

It really felt like the renovations had been worth taking over a year.

"The ceiling changed too."

"Oh, right. The lighting and speaker rigging... and the third floor is black now."

The changed ceiling made equipment installation easier, and unlike before, when the original colors reflected too much light, the third floor was now black, meaning the lighting would appear exactly as intended.

It also seemed like there would be no need to install separate lighting towers around the extended stage like before.

While we were discussing things like that, the concert finally began.

"Han Taehyun! Han Taehyun!"

"Taehyuuuun!"

Watching Taehyun passionately move around the stage, I smiled proudly.

A solo concert at the Gymnasium.

I felt proud of my former younger brother for accomplishing something difficult even for a group alone.

Even though I was fully aware that he was technically a senior singer compared to me.

"It's because hyung succeeded too much. We don't feel like seniors anymore. These days, when I look at you, you actually feel like the senior."

"What does that even mean? Me being a senior?"

"There's just that feeling."

I tilted my head at Hanbyeol's words.

Anyway, after Taehyun finished the encore and even the encore after that with the passionate support of his fans, we went to the waiting room with bouquets to congratulate him.

"Oh, what? You came?"

Even though we had made eye contact during the concert, he casually asked if we had arrived as I handed him the flowers.

"I picked this up on the way."

"You have no romantic sense."

"I picked mine up on the way too."

When Hanbyeol also handed him flowers, Taehyun burst into happy laughter.

I gave him a light hug and said.

"Congratulations on your concert. I'm proud of you."

"Right? I actually cried during my first concert today. The pressure feels completely different from doing it as a group."

Taehyun joked that it had been terrifying.

Not long after, other acquaintances arrived, so we stepped aside and waved goodbye to Taehyun, who kept smiling happily.

As we returned to the car to head back to the company...

"......"

I suddenly realized I was walking alone and turned around.

Hanbyeol was following behind me with a thoughtful expression.

A smile formed on my lips.

I knew why.

Actually, that was why I had intentionally brought him here.

"What's wrong?"

"No, it's just... seeing Han Tae do a concert."

The handsome man with a refined

°• N 𝑜 v 𝑒 l i g h t •°

appearance scratched his cheek.

"I feel weird. I don't really know what this feeling is. It's not jealousy, but what should I call it?"

"Envy?"

"Honestly, I don't think you can call it envy. I had larger concerts in China, and I had more fans too..."

But it was not the Korean popularity he had wanted so desperately since his debut.

I quietly smiled as if telling him to continue.

Hanbyeol waved his hand in annoyance.

"Don't look at me like that."

"What am I doing?"

"You're basically telling me to just say it honestly. That I'm jealous."

I shrugged, saying I hadn't said anything, but he only shook his head.

"Honestly, I am jealous. Just seeing this many people gather at the Gymnasium to cheer for him... that's something I can't do."

"Why can't you?"

"Because I still don't have anything."

"That's true. For now."

I smiled and lightly nudged him.

"So just start from now."

"...Is that so?"

The reason I had asked him to come to Taehyun's concert today was exactly this.

To encourage the singer whose album release was coming soon, and whose production I had participated in.

Normally, this was the season when a singer's confidence would break through the mantle and sink into the Earth's core.

They would think nobody would listen to their songs, their results would be terrible, and no matter how much they prepared, it would never feel enough.

"......Will it work?"

"It will."

After thinking quietly for a moment, Hanbyeol asked.

"Do you think I could hold a Gymnasium concert too someday?"

"You can."

"......"

"Chinese fans will come."

I burst out laughing at my younger brother glaring at me.

Hanbyeol followed behind me, muttering complaints, but I ignored him with a smile.

Because the important thing was the flame that had appeared in his eyes.

The eyes of someone filled with motivation.

And when I returned home feeling happy after boosting the morale of my assigned artist and close friend...

"......What?"

I heard news from America that felt like a bolt from the blue.

"...The movie failed?"