Chapter 837: Is This the Land of the New Black? (13)

Rian.

As the main vocalist of Daylight, a group famous for strong singing, she possessed overwhelming vocal power and even outstanding dance skills—practically the team’s mascot.

"Hi."

While Rian waved to the TNT members in greeting, the younger ones and I stared blankly.

This is unreal.

The top star we had only ever seen through music shows and stage videos since our trainee days was standing right in front of us.

After greeting everyone familiarly, Rian stopped in front of us.

"Huh!"

She muttered with a surprised look.

"A celebrity...."

"Yes?"

"I really feel like I’m seeing actual celebrities."

Th-that sounds like something we should be saying.

While we bowed politely with flustered faces saying, "Hello!", Rian examined us up and down with a fascinated expression.

"Wow. This is so cool. We’ve never met before, right?"

"It’s our first time."

"Seeing you in person, your aura is no joke. You’re somehow... more than I imagined... how do I put it? Cooler."

"No, you’re even cooler, Senior."

As we waved our hands modestly at each other, TNT members watched quietly.

Shin Juyeong asked,

"Noona. What about us?"

"How am I supposed to feel your aura when I’ve been seeing you since you were babies?"

"Wow. No mercy at all."

Soft laughter spread.

Rian gestured.

"Why are you all standing awkwardly? Sit."

"How can we sit when you’re standing, Noona?"

"What do you mean? There’s no hierarchy like that in this industry~ Why are we nitpicking among ourselves?"

"Then can we speak casually?"

"Seonwoong, go kneel in the corner."

Loud laughter erupted as we naturally gathered around her.

We looked at her with equally fascinated expressions.

Her high nose bridge and Western features were striking. Her eyes sparkled as if holding starlight.

"So? I look pretty today, right?"

"You are beautiful."

"I went all out for a photoshoot today. It’s been a while since I tried this hard."

As Rian relaxed the mood casually, we asked,

"Senior, when are the other seniors coming?"

"In a bit?"

As if something funny came to mind, Rian snorted and clicked her tongue.

"No, the kids said they couldn’t come up. They’re scared of practicing with intense young kids. Even if they don’t look like it, our girls are super shy."

"Do you call that shyness...?"

"Seonwoong, down."

"I’ll be quiet."

"Anyway, they’re shy, so I came first as the advance unit. I told them I’d intimidate you all first. So when they come up later, pretend to be intimidated, okay?"

We nodded.

"Don’t worry."

"Ri Hyuk is always intimidated anyway."

When Ri Hyuk, suddenly the center of attention, turned red in the ears and face and jabbed my side hard—

Rian, giggling, said,

"It’s chaotic, right? I get awkward with people I meet for the first time, so I talk a lot. Take care of me."

"We look forward to working with you."

"And...."

Her long hand rummaged through her bag before pulling out a stack of A4 papers.

She grinned at us, who were sitting there confused.

"Give me your autographs."

"Autographs?"

"Yeah. My niece is seven, and she asked if her aunt is famous."

At the words of the singer known as a symbol of second-generation girl groups, TNT and we burst into laughter.

"When I asked why, she said if I’m famous, then bring back NewBlack autographs."

"What did you say?"

"What else? I looked her straight in the eyes and warned her. Be prepared. I’ll get one from each member...."

We laughed again at the image of an aunt shrinking before her niece.

Rian winked.

"Write ‘To beloved Yaeun’ and sign it, okay? Biju, can you write two lines? You’re her favorite."

"I’ll write three."

Perhaps amused by that answer, she made a fond expression.

At that moment, TNT members also snapped to their senses and hurriedly pulled autograph sheets from their bags.

I blinked.

"And what are you two doing?"

"We’d like autographs as well, Your Majesty Wooju."

"I’m too tired to do yours too. My shoulders are a bit stiff...."

I ended up holding an autograph session while receiving free massages from TNT members.

As we wrote messages and signatures for uncles, grandfathers, aunts, nieces—

Jang Hanbyeol said,

"Ah, do you know something, Noona?"

"What?"

"Wooju hyung is actually in the exact same position as you. The role he plays in the group is really similar."

"Similar?"

"If Wooju hyung ages ten years, I think he’ll be like you."

"...Are you saying I look old?"

"Th-that’s not what I meant. I mean you look experienced. Hehe."

While Hanbyeol narrowly escaped death and ran away, Rian and I made eye contact.

"Hey... are you similar to me?"

"It’s the first time I’ve heard that."

Then TNT members chimed in.

"No, there’s something similar about your vibe."

"You really are similar."

"Even your relationships with your members are kind of alike."

We were signing while listening to this confusing talk when—

Knock knock.

A knock sounded, and Jiho ran to open the door.

Hesitant.

Six members entered timidly.

The younger ones and I froze.

We’ve seen this setup before.

What is this.

As TNT members and we stood up, a three-way standoff formed.

As the youngest group here, we greeted first.

"It’s our first time meeting you, Senior. We’re NewBlack."

"Huhhh!"

"They’re celebrities...!"

The beautiful women laughed heartily, perhaps a little shy.

Unlike TNT, who knew both groups well, Daylight and we introduced ourselves to each other.

"Ah."

Ji Hanbin said as if he had discovered something.

"Now I get what’s similar."

"What?"

"It’s the dictator and henchmen dynamic."

Our eyes met instantly.

Daylight standing in henchman formation behind their leader, and my henchmen by my side.

"Oh?"

Daylight members asked the younger ones,

"Do you also... hold back your complaints and just swallow your tears when you get scolded and nagged all the time?"

"Yes...! Senior, you too...?"

"Yeah!"

"Huhhhhh...."

A look of shared sorrow swept across both sides.

Soon, Daylight members spread their arms wide.

"Kids!"

"Senior!"

"It’s so nice to meet you!"

"Us too...!"

They high-fived each other like Koreans who had run into fellow countrymen abroad after a month.

While the shy ones laughed brightly, Rian and I smiled warmly.

"So that’s why you’re called the male Daylight."

"We look forward to working with you, Senior."

We shook hands firmly and laughed.

I had wondered how we’d become close... but that problem seemed solved.

After the small commotion ended,

we took time to introduce ourselves properly.

"Hello. I’m Cha Hyeonjeong, the eldest of Daylight."

"I’m Seona."

"I’m Sujeon. My stage name is Sujeon because I have hand tremors, you know? Hahaha!"

"I’m Dabom."

After the youngest line, Yesul and Harang, finished introducing themselves, we introduced ourselves too.

Each time they said it was exactly like seeing us on TV, and we felt the same, so we couldn’t help but laugh.

Anyone who had been a student in the mid-to-late 2000s couldn’t not know Daylight.

It wasn’t “Which girl group do you like?” It was “Which member of Daylight do you like?”

They dominated commercials and were the first idol group before us to achieve a double Grand Prize win.

They held Japanese dome tours, Asia tours, and marked a milestone in girl group history.

Beloved as a national girl group thanks to their outstanding variety sense, they had risen to fame in a unique way—just like us.

"Hello! We’re Daylight! Please take care of us!"

At debut, Daylight had been a girl group from a small agency and struggled to succeed.

In 2006, the gap in planning power between major and minor agencies was like heaven and earth.

After a year of activities, they were about to effectively halt promotions—

when a variety show proposal arrived and changed their fate.

[Countryside Farming]

...a legendary show.

A unique concept where a girl group farmed in the countryside over the course of a year.

They appeared thinking, “We’re failing anyway, whatever happens,” but it became a nationally beloved program.

Countryside Farming surpasses 30.8% ratings... “Farm well, don’t you?”

Countryside Farming Chuseok special, “Harvest season has returned...” Breaks all-time ratings

Riding the well-being wave, farming craze? PD Shin Murok interview on Countryside Farming

The debut work of PD Shin Murok, who would later produce the national variety show Mister Producer.

The synergy between the genius PD’s planning and the members’ variety sense was enormous.

If I remember correctly, it aired for about a year, but it was truly one of the most popular shows.

That unique atmosphere.

A member in a straw hat riding an old bicycle through the countryside. All of them sitting barefoot on a wooden veranda, watching the sunset. Casting nets by the riverside.

Scenes that sparked a temporary farming boom.

With that stroke of luck combined with their own skill, Daylight rose as a national girl group.

"Senior. Countryside Farming was my favorite variety show."

At Junhyun’s words, Daylight members laughed.

"Really? Thank you."

"I thought Junhyun would like that kind of thing."

"A lot of people must have watched it. When I go to the countryside, elders still talk about it. These days they’ve moved on to talking about you guys though...."

While we exchanged stories, TNT clapped.

"Wow. So heartwarming."

"It’s really a meeting of national icons."

"National idol, national girl group... and national."

At Ji Hanbin’s words, we burst into laughter.

"Hey, TNT, what are you saying."

"We’ve done well too, but standing before these two groups makes us feel small."

We just laughed at their deliberate modesty.

After joking among people who had all reached the top—

"Alright. Shall we talk about practice?"

"Yes~"

The screen slid down the wall of the practice room, and Ri Hyuk, our PPT lead, stood before it.

[2018 Pyeongchang Winter Olympics Closing Ceremony Final Rehearsal Check]

The relaxed veteran singers focused their gaze.

Receiving their sharp stares, Ri Hyuk nodded and flipped through the slides.

"The goal of this Olympic closing ceremony stage is the Olympic spirit—‘harmony.’"

Phrases about harmony and the Olympic spirit appeared.

"We plan to present a stage that combines that theme with K-pop. But there may be questions. Does the keyword K-pop really match ‘harmony’? When people think of K-pop, the image that comes to mind is ‘infinite competition.’ Foreign audiences imagine that too."

"True."

"I don’t think that’s entirely wrong either."

Everyone nodded.

Groups that had climbed to the top through fierce competition understood more than anyone.

Ri Hyuk continued,

"But I’d like to offer a counterargument. Is there anywhere in the global music industry without competition?"

"Not really."

"We’ve recently experienced the American music market too... and if anything, it’s even harsher than Korea."

Both groups showed interest as we explained.

"In the U.S., the market runs by positions. If you compare it to Korea, it’s like two idol groups. Three ballad singers. Each position has a set quota."

"And the singers who don’t make the quota?"

"They practically disappear. They still promote, but...."

"...."

Murmurs of “That’s brutal” spread.

I smiled.

"It’s like musical chairs. There’s a fixed number of chairs. If you don’t sit, you don’t survive."

"Ugh. I couldn’t handle that."

"Compared to that, we’re like a blue ocean."

"Agreed...."

Even though 100 to 200 idol groups debut each year, at least it’s not a system where everyone who misses one or two chairs dies.

Our competition is intense too, but compared to that madness, it’s almost warm.

While the singers nodded, Ri Hyuk continued.

"Western media often portrays K-pop negatively. They sensationalize keywords like ‘infinite competition.’ You’ve probably seen a Billboard article or two like that."

"I’ve seen a lot of that in Southeast Asia."

"Taiwanese outlets are bad too."

Every country’s entertainment industry has its oddities.

But when foreign articles criticize only K-pop as ‘infinite competition,’ sometimes I think, Huh?

I’ve never seen headlines like “Anglo-American music industry—competition too intense, abnormal.”

Ri Hyuk said,

"Strictly speaking, ‘infinite competition’ isn’t entirely wrong. But alongside competition, I think ‘harmony’ is just as important."

Teamwork within a group is essential to winning competition.

And while we call it infinite competition, it’s not structured like the U.S., where idols eliminate each other until only one team exists.

It’s a system where we need each other.

Each idol group has distinct characteristics.

In the American market, the boy band or girl group position is fairly standardized. There’s a specific desired image—cute white boys, or sexy early-twenties women performing.

But K-pop has much more diverse demand, and each group has its own identity.

If one group monopolized everything alone, they couldn’t satisfy all demand, and the market would shrink.

Just like Olympic events—medals exist, but if only one athlete participates, it’s meaningless.

"We thought maybe the Olympics and K-pop share similarities. Like Olympic competitions, we compete for medals... but teamwork is crucial, and alone, you mean nothing."

After finishing the explanation of the closing ceremony’s intent,

we introduced the overall stage concept once more.

After answering questions Daylight and TNT members had long been curious about—

"Alright. Let’s start practice."

"Waaaa!"

"Main vocalists with main vocalists! Main dancers with main dancers! Gather by positions across groups!"

Practice began in a charged atmosphere.

In one corner of the practice room where the main dancers gathered,

Daylight’s main dancer Sujeon took a sip of Americano, her hands trembling slightly.

This will be fun.

She had experienced everything possible as an idol.

These days, she released one album a year for fans and did personal activities leisurely.

The Pyeongchang Olympics....

When they heard they would stand on the Olympic closing stage, none of them could sleep.

That’s why she looked at NewBlack warmly.

I heard NewBlack strongly recommended us to Director Kim Ikhwan.

Really?

That’s what he said.

A new stage had come to veteran singers who had done it all.

She smiled fondly at the NewBlack members who had planned it.

They’re babies. Babies.

Maybe a ten-year age gap.

She smiled with satisfaction at Baek Seungje, Han Taehyeon, and Kim Biju stretching beside her.

"Let’s do well. We’re all good dancers."

"Go easy on us, Noona."

When Han Taehyeon joked like that, knowing Daylight’s practice intensity—

Biju, smiling like a country noble attending his first party, widened his bright eyes.

"I’m so excited."

"Yeah?"

"Yes. To practice with seniors I’ve always respected...."

Seeing Biju almost tear up, the two senior singers pressed their lips together to suppress laughter.

He’s my favorite after Wooju.

So cute.

Practice began.

The round, smiling faces of the main dancers changed instantly as they dove into choreography.

Even though it was their first time syncing together, it clicked.

Han Taehyeon and Kim Biju crossed hands while Sujeon slipped beneath them, riding a wave with her hips. Then the two backed her up as an intense, sensual dance flowed.

After her fluid waist movements, Baek Seungje executed sharp choreography, drawing admiration.

"Wow...."

"The main dance team could go straight on stage like that."

"So being a rapper was easy mode."

But after finishing the first run-through, the main dance team’s expressions were far from satisfied.

The dejected young lady spoke.

"This... isn’t it."

"No."

"This really wasn’t it."

Onlookers blinked.

What wasn’t it.

Here he goes again. Han Taehyeon.

Kim Biju has been cloned....

Even normally quiet Baek Seungje shook his head.

From the outside it looked perfect, but they held serious meetings about what dissatisfied them.

Practice repeated over and over.

Similar temperaments. That’s nice.

Sujeon smiled in satisfaction at the gathering of relentless practice ghosts.

But why did Ran unnie warn me so strongly?

Ran from Twinkle, whom she was close with, had once warned her about Biju after a past dance competition.

He practices way too much.

But looking now, there was nothing to worry about.

Just a cute, handsome, refreshing main dancer.

What is there to worry about.

...Or so she thought.

As time passed, Sujeon began noticing something strange.

"Hm?"

Han Taehyeon and Baek Seungje were squatting, shaking off sweat. She drank her Americano.

Biju was still dancing in front of the mirror.

An endless well of stamina.

"He must just have really good stamina...."

At first she thought that.

But even after hours passed, Biju looked the same.

Still smiling with shining eyes.

She began to feel afraid.

"You’re tired, right?"

He offered snacks he had brought himself... and they were delicious.

The problem was—

There’s something not normal about that look in his eyes....

From the outside it was a shy, fresh smile... but why did it feel so scheming?

When Han Taehyeon felt a strange chill and chewed on a homemade cookie—

"Oh?"

Wang Jiho, passing by, noticed.

"Hyung, are you eating that?"

"Hm?"

"The snack Biju hyung gave you."

"Yeah... Biju gave it to me."

"Ah...."

Jiho looked deeply regretful. The main dancers blinked.

"What’s wrong?"

"Well... Biju hyung... where is he? Oh, practicing."

He whispered.

"You know when you practice and collapse because you’re too exhausted to continue?"

"Yeah."

"He feeds people high-calorie food so they can’t collapse."

"...."

"Judging by the calories, he brought enough to keep people up for two days straight."

They stared at the high-calorie Nutella homemade cookies and energy boost drinks in their hands.

"...."

"...."

Only then did Kim Biju’s unsettling smile feel familiar.

A fairy tale surfaced in their minds.

Hansel and Gretel...!

The main dancers realized they had stepped into the candy house of a dance fairy made of sweets.