Chapter 818: Winning or Losing Doesn’t Matter (6)

The Grammy Awards.

Among American music award ceremonies, it held an untouchable status.

We had attended Billboard, the VMA, the AMA—those were all prestigious in their own right.

But the Grammys felt like something a level above.

Like a temple of Olympus floating above the clouds.

Because it was so difficult to reach, American artists desperately wanted to win there.

2018 Grammy Awards Nominee.

That was one of the reasons “Grammy Awards Nominee” had been listed on the Idolympics profile of our underlings this time.

Not even a winner. Just a nominee.

An award show where being nominated alone became part of your career—that was the Grammys.

In some ways, it was similar to the Academy Awards.

You’ve probably seen it before. Movie posters proudly stamped with “Academy Award Best Picture Nominee,” even if they didn’t win.

“The Grammys are a big deal.”

Seokhwan hyung’s voice drifted over.

“But don’t feel too pressured. You don’t even have the kind of career that should feel pressured yet. You haven’t been active in the U.S. that long.”

“That’s true...”

“And Blue Moon doesn’t have that high of a winning probability either.”

Objectively, he was right.

Based on metrics, maybe we had a sixty percent chance.

But that didn’t mean the other nominees were weak.

They were all formidable.

And there was also Haley’s history of publicly calling the organizers “senile old fools” over alleged discrimination against a Hispanic pop star.

“Still, I can’t help wanting it.”

I said quietly.

“How many times in my life will I get to attend the Grammys? Since I’m here, I want to be a little greedy.”

Isn’t that the modern human condition—doing nothing while secretly hoping money falls from the sky?

Seokhwan hyung laughed at my wish to somehow snag an award for free.

“I get the feeling. But I really hope you don’t feel burdened. No one’s telling you to bring home a trophy. If anything... more people are telling you not to.”

“The PR team probably got flooded with calls again.”

“Don’t even start.”

Apparently elderly fans had called, saying as long as we returned safe and sound, that was enough. Don’t chase awards.

That was the nice thing about being called a “national idol.”

Whenever we came overseas, it felt like the entire country was backing us.

“Anyway.”

Seokhwan hyung pushed my back lightly.

“Until the ceremony, don’t think about the award at all. Seriously. Don’t even imagine it. Just take it easy.”

“Got it.”

“Now go hang out with the others.”

I had been deep in thought about the ceremony.

When I finally looked up, I took in the space around me.

Clean, minimalist interior.

It didn’t feel like a company—it felt like an ultra-luxury shopping mall, like we were visiting a global IT giant.

A massive screen stood in the lobby, as if it belonged in a commercial.

-The New Black : Making Waves

The company logo, a large “N,” hovered over the space.

Our documentary logo flowed across the screen.

“Wooooah.”

I joined the underlings staring in awe.

Scenes from the documentary played as if welcoming NewBlack’s visit.

Then—

“Whoa! Whoa!”

Jiho smacked our arms and started jumping.

“Hyungs! Hyungs! It’s Sin’s teaser!”

“Sin’s teaser?”

“Yes! I’m seeing it for the first time too—wow!”

The Netplus drama starring our maknae began to play.

[Beep— Beep—]

[Wail!]

Alarms and sirens echoed in a dark research facility.

Red warning lights flickered.

Something escaped the lab and slaughtered researchers—but the creature itself wasn’t shown.

[Ahhh!]

A grotesque, insect-like fluttering sound.

A close-up of a researcher’s face contorted in terror.

“Damn... the directing is insane.”

Jiho stared, eyes shining.

Junhyun and I gently covered one of Ri Hyuk’s eyes each.

[Netplus Presents]

Footsteps echoed.

[Step. Step.]

The protagonist, Shin Ihan, stood in a suit as Korean briefing voices played like a news report.

[Due to last night’s incident, Test Subject 007...]

[Test Subject 007, capable of leaping through time and space, is believed to have fled to ten possible locations...]

[Time travel is required...]

The zipper pulled up.

Jiho, now in a jumpsuit, stepped onto a machine as blue light enveloped him.

“Woooah...”

“The CG team must have been ground to dust.”

Flash!

Rapid shots followed.

The protagonist vaulting over palace walls in Joseon-era attire, daggers flying toward guards.

Facing a Goguryeo general who commanded hordes of zombies.

A ghost ship kidnapping and devouring people, emerging like a Western vessel with eerie force.

Blood and bones erupting upside down from a well.

“Woooah...”

Each scene made you want to pause and stare.

As the intense BGM reached its peak—

The final scene appeared.

The protagonist infiltrated a villain’s base.

A hidden ally whispered,

[To assassinate the boss, we need to distract them without being noticed—]

Whoosh!

Before he could finish, the protagonist openly hurled a dagger and eliminated the guards.

The ally turned sharply as Shin Ihan adjusted his gat.

[Weren’t we here to assassinate him?]

[If there are no witnesses, it’s an assassination.]

Laughter erupted.

The teaser ended on a slightly comedic note.

“Coming this March!”

Fade to black.

“Woooah...”

We clapped alongside Jiho.

“Our maknae acts really well.”

“Just from the teaser, the quality looks insane.”

“Seriously.”

Even someone uninterested would probably want to watch the full show after that.

A Goguryeo general raising zombies.

How did that even unfold?

“Wow...”

Jiho’s eyes were glossy.

“I’m seriously seeing this teaser for the first time... I didn’t know it would turn out this good...”

“You did great, maknae.”

“I’m so happy right now.”

He had been carrying the weight of a production with a massive budget.

It looked like that weight had finally eased.

Of course, you can’t judge the full show from a teaser.

There’s no such thing as a bad teaser.

But sometimes, you can feel quality bursting through the preview.

Sin felt like one of those.

“What do you think?”

A Korean American employee with a Netplus badge smiled.

“We prepared this specially upon hearing NewBlack would visit. First time seeing the teaser?”

“It’s amazing. I love it.”

Jiho fired off enthusiastic thumbs-up.

Warm laughter spread.

We were at Netplus headquarters.

Our documentary’s global performance had earned us a special invitation.

“They really went all out.”

Biju whispered.

The lobby was decorated for us.

Even assigning a Korean American guide felt thoughtful.

“Now, this way please. This is our employee welfare facility.”

We toured the world’s leading OTT company.

“Wow.”

“At this level, I could live at the office.”

“So this is how you say ‘Don’t go home’ in a classy way.”

It was a masterclass in “how to efficiently grind employees.”

When the cameras for NewBlack TV briefly turned off—

I leaned toward our guide, Sophia Yoon.

“The benefits are incredible. It must feel great to work here.”

“It’s amazing. I loved it at first... but now my dream is winning the Powerball.”

Even with great facilities, a company was still a company.

Still.

We took notes like students.

“Should we design our new company building like this?”

“I’m messaging the CEO.”

Biju started tapping away suggestions.

Filming resumed.

Sophia’s eyes sparkled again.

“You’ve seen the theater—now let’s visit the cafeteria!”

Theater.

Cafeteria.

Meditation room.

Gym.

After touring, we had a short meeting with executives.

The gist?

Let’s do a second documentary. Or maybe a concert film!

They seemed encouraged by the first film’s success.

There was also talk of my father’s film.

We can offer 60 million dollars.

About 70 billion won.

With no interference.

It made my heart race.

But we effectively declined.

“We’ll review it seriously with the team.”

“Yes, please take your time.”

We decided to keep Netplus as a final option.

Because we wanted my father’s film in theaters.

And signing with Netplus would make that difficult.

In the U.S., OTT and traditional cinema were in fierce conflict.

You idiots! You’ll kill theaters!

Mad? What are you gonna do about it?

You want to die?

Can’t hear you!

More or less that relationship.

Netplus films could be screened theatrically—but often faced backlash.

Major directors had films ignored at awards simply because they were Netplus-backed.

It was funny to think about awards this early.

But it didn’t hurt to plan.

Seokhwan hyung wrapped it up smoothly.

“We’ll keep all possibilities open and stay in close contact.”

Friendly and polite.

You never knew when paths would cross again.

After finishing at Netplus—

Instead of heading to our hotel before the Grammys—

We drove to a mansion outside LA.

“Oppas! Hello!”

“Long time no see, Yein.”

Ri Hyuk’s younger sister greeted us.

She looked so much like him she could’ve passed for him with long hair.

We handed her flowers and gifts.

“Congratulations on getting into college.”

“Thank you.”

Brown University, she said.

An Ivy League acceptance.

Over lunch, we teased Ri Hyuk.

“Your oppa attends an online university and you’re Ivy League?”

“So impressive!”

“Ri Hyuk, learn from your sister.”

When is life most enjoyable?

When you can tease someone who can’t retaliate.

Ri Hyuk shot us a glare.

‘I won’t let you off later.’

But in front of his sister, he maintained the gentle older brother persona.

Junhyun asked,

“Where’s your mom?”

“She’s busy at work. We’re going out for dinner later.”

After chatting—

I asked Ri Hyuk as we went upstairs,

“Why insist on staying here today?”

He usually preferred hotels.

He lowered his voice.

“There’s something I need to find.”

“Find what?”

“Either in my room or storage. It’s... important.”

“How important?”

“Value-wise? Tens to hundreds of billions, probably.”

“...?”

“What exactly are we looking for?”

“Something that looks like a computer hard drive.”

“Just bring a square box?”

Biju asked.

“Junhyun, can you sniff it out?”

“Am I a dog?”

“Can you or not?”

“Possible.”

Soon Junhyun and Biju searched.

Jiho, Ri Hyuk, and I combed the rooms.

His childhood items were meticulously stored.

It took a while.

“Found it. Hard drive.”

Junhyun held it up proudly.

We connected it to a laptop.

“What’s on it?”

Ri Hyuk swallowed.

“This is Bitcoin.”

“Wait.”

I froze.

“Bitcoin?”

“Back in 2008, when I was in elementary school, it first appeared.”

“...2008?”

“Yeah. Early days. It was noisy online. Next-generation currency and all. I mined some out of curiosity.”

My mind flashed with headlines.

Bitcoin mined for the price of pizza now worth billions.

Our hearts pounded.

“I forgot about it until recently.”

He calculated.

“At current value...”

He said the number.

We went blank.

“How much...?”

Thank goodness we were sitting.

“Wow.”

Jiho said.

“So the private jet was with us all along.”

“Ri Hyuk, why did you become a singer?”

“You had this all planned?”

We could fund the film with ease.

Ri Hyuk smiled.

“But money doesn’t mean much to me. I’ve earned enough. What matters more to me is people.”

His gaze shifted to me.

“I didn’t look for this just for fun.”

He removed the drive and handed it to me.

“You said you’d create the Eunmyeong Foundation—named after your parents. To support people who want to pursue music.”

“...Yeah.”

“I want to be the first contributor.”

“...?”

His smile etched into my mind.

“Don’t feel burdened. Just accept it.”

I didn’t know what to say.

Emotion surged.

Gratitude.

Friendship.

Family.

My throat tightened.

“Ri Hyuk... thank you. This... how much is it...”

Jiho checked the price.

“It just dropped five thousand won.”

“...What?”

“Wait—it went up ten thousand!”

“....”

“Oh—it dropped again.”

The real-time Bitcoin fluctuation.

“....”

“....”

Ri Hyuk and I glared at Jiho.

He had completely shattered the emotional atmosphere.