Chapter 939: I’m going to buy New Black at the supermarket (10)

There’s a fairy right in front of me.

I hate to admit it, but there’s an eyelash goblin—praised by fans for his pure, delicate looks.

“A goblin?”

“Sorry, that slipped. I meant fairy. Please keep cleaning, Ri Hyuk.”

“Hmph.”

With a crooked expression, the 22-year-old swung a feather duster.

Wearing a towel-like cap and a hygiene mask, Ri Hyuk was checking various cleaning tools.

So why exactly was he cleaning my studio?

I’m going on Mission Singer. Can I use a nickname?

State your offer.

When I told him to use the magical negotiation phrase Jiho had taught him, Ri Hyuk made his proposal.

Meat...?

You think meat alone will heal your older brother’s wounded heart? At least treat me to a barbecue place.

That’s right. To heal Wooju hyung’s heart, you should at least buy a whole meat building.

......I’ll clean your studio.

And just like that, we set the terms.

Then I’ll have you clean until your broadcast appearances are over.

You’re planning to make me clean for months!?

So you’re planning to win for months? That’s quite an ambitious dream.

It’d be weird if I got eliminated right away with my skills.

True... but then are you going to do King Jiho?

And so the deal was sealed.

I’d lend him the nickname “King Wooju,” and Ri Hyuk would clean my studio.

Honestly, cleaning doesn’t sound like much—but if you saw Ri Hyuk clean, that thought would disappear.

He’s genuinely as good as a professional cleaning service.

“Boss Seo.”

“Yes, yes.”

“From what I can see, you’ve got a good eye for interior design too. So maybe while you’re at it, you could also redo the studio interior—”

“KYAAAA!”

I nearly lost my life over a single joke.

Watching Ri Hyuk immediately return to cleaning, I smiled in satisfaction.

“I’m so happy~”

For me, this deal was pure profit.

Our kid might go out there and defeat people with his singing, but there was no way he’d come back defeated.

And if that glory came somewhere—

‘Mission Singer’... Netizens react to “King Wooju” appearance: “Unbelievable”

“King Wooju” advances to the final round with shocking skill!

Netizens burst into laughter at “King Wooju”

On top of that, it was great variety-wise.

Anyone would recognize Ri Hyuk after just a few lines anyway—“Oh, that’s Seo Ri Hyuk.”

So if that’s the case, it’s better to lean into it and stir up buzz like this.

Either way, I win.

“Hyuksoe.”

“Yes, ma’am.”

“This spot isn’t clean enough.”

“......”

“Tsk tsk, how can you call this cleaning with such poor work ethic! Even our cat would do a better job!”

I burst into laughter watching Ri Hyuk mutter curses under his breath.

That’s right.

At the end of the day, as long as I get to tease him, that’s enough.

“.......”

Stare.

Ri Hyuk shot me a sharp look, and I blinked innocently.

“Then are you going to do King Jiho?”

“......I’ll do my best.”

“Kyaaa-ha-ha!”

“Even if it’s filthy, I have to endure it. Seriously. Damn it!”

I laughed as Ri Hyuk vented his frustration on the dust and turned my attention back to my laptop.

Thanks to the A&R team, Uncle Rabbit was almost finished.

“How’s the song coming along?”

“Good. Want to hear it?”

“I’m the first to hear the final version?”

“Yeah.”

He suddenly looked really happy.

With his arms crossed, Ri Hyuk tilted his chin like he was telling me to play it.

“Hmm......”

He closed his eyes and hummed along—and even that humming alone sounded heavenly.

I guess I really do like Ri Hyuk’s voice.

“So? Do you like it?”

“It turned out even better than I expected. When it was just ukulele, the children’s song vibe was a bit weak, but now it really feels like a proper kids’ song. I think kids will love it—and I like it too.”

“That’s a relief.”

Ri Hyuk continued.

“From what I heard, the TF team is preparing this pretty seriously.”

“Yeah.”

“I heard the director even contacted a company that makes rabbit dolls.”

“Already...?”

That was fast.

Just like Ri Hyuk said, the company was moving quickly.

Even though the song had turned out quite well, I still didn’t fully understand the director’s moves.

“Will it really do that well?”

“I’m curious too.”

It seemed like businesspeople could see something we couldn’t.

All I knew was that the song had turned out well—and that Director Jo Gyuhwan saw huge potential in Uncle Rabbit.

“Aren’t you feeling pressured?”

“Not yet. What the director is doing is still just groundwork.”

“Ah, so if the kids’ song takes off, you can support it immediately?”

“Exactly.”

Rather than assuming success, it was more about preparing in case it blew up.

Like building the oars before the tide comes in.

“If it does well, great. If not, at least we’ve made a good song for kids. Either way, it’s fine.”

Even now, Hye Won—Yeoul’s mom—was messaging me.

Hye Won: The kids are going crazy asking for Uncle Rabbitㅠㅠㅠ

Hye Won: I’m singing it for them, but they’re saying it’s not it... not that dance... rejecting their mom

Hye Won: I gave birth to a dance tyrant

Other kids were probably the same.

If it could bring joy to the children waiting eagerly for Uncle Rabbit, that was enough.

“Though... it’d be nice if it succeeded a little. Or a lot...”

Ri Hyuk snorted at my lingering attachment.

I spun my chair and asked,

“Anyway, enough about me. Anything I can help you with?”

“Cleaning? I prefer doing that alone.”

“Not that—Mission Singer. You’re going with my concept this time, right? I can help refine it.”

“Ah.”

Ri Hyuk shook his head.

“It’s fine. I’ve already mastered it perfectly.”

“Oh?”

Confidently claiming you’ve mastered my character—in front of me?

I looked at him the way a Nobel Prize-winning professor might look at an undergrad.

“Then show me, Ri Hyuk.”

“Sure. It’s not hard.”

He set down the cleaning tools and stood up.

After clearing his throat, he staggered slightly like he’d tripped over something.

“Ah—almost fell.”

“?”

“Ekung, dark history~☆”

He flicked his fingers against his forehead with a sparkle effect.

Then he glanced around.

“.......”

“.......”

Seeing me smile brightly, Ri Hyuk crab-walked to the door, opened it—

—and ran.

“Hey! Get back here!”

“No! What did I do wrong!?”

The chase ended in my victory.

I’d lose in a sprint, but Ri Hyuk is like a phone stuck at 15% battery—he crashes fast.

Still, no matter how it ended, it was a hollow victory.

“Ekung, dark history~☆”

“Hahaha!”

“Kyaaa!”

Ignoring the noise beside me, I kept reviewing the script.

Even the staff had joined in clapping for Ri Hyuk.

It felt like my dignity was crumbling along with their laughter.

“Hyung.”

Junghyun held up a jelly “scripture” like he was comforting me.

[Those who laugh in hard times are first-class]

“Tha—”

Then he flipped it.

[But it’s still hard, right?]

...Lonely.

Doesn’t anyone understand the pain of being mocked by these natural-born hyung-teasers?

I thought things would calm down after Ri Hyuk’s Wooju show ended—

“Me! Me! I can do it too!”

“Oooooh.”

“King Jiho! King Jiho!”

Jiho stepped forward and placed both hands on his chest.

“Latitude 36. Longitude 127.”

“?”

“That is the hometown of my heart—Gunsan, where Kim Deoksun lives.”

Everyone burst out laughing.

I laughed too.

“That’s actually pretty good.”

“Right?”

It was a line worth remembering.

I should save it and use it on Mrs. Deoksun when I visit Gunsan.

After laughing along, I returned to the script.

Q. What are the members’ thoughts on New Universe?

Q. What makes it different from existing variety shows?

A list of expected press questions from the company.

As I ran simulations in my head, my eyes drifted to the bouquet and banner in the waiting room.

Today was the production press conference for the upcoming variety show New Universe Project.

Like dramas, variety shows also hold press conferences.

Two days before broadcast, journalists are invited to a hotel—“We’re launching our show!”

Until now, we’d only appeared as guests, but this time, it was our own show.

“Ah... I’m kind of nervous.”

“Me too.”

Biju groaned and leaned his head back.

“This feels different.”

“Yeah. Like the difference between a supporting actor and a lead actor.”

Jiho nailed it.

We’d always been guests—comfortable.

Now, we were the leads responsible for success.

And just like lead actors and directors carry a film—

our director today was just as nervous.

“PD, are you okay? You’ve been quiet...”

“I’m fine.”

Gu Jaeyoung PD—big and burly like a bandit—laughed.

“I’ve been a PD for over ten years. I’m used to this. Hahaha! Hahaha!”

“How many calming pills did you take?”

“Two...”

“I see.”

“Is it obvious?”

“You’ve got marks around your mouth. Like concentric circles...”

He wiped his face with a wet tissue.

“I’m basically a rookie when it comes to press conferences. This is only my second one.”

“You’ll do great.”

“No. A PD shouldn’t be comforted by his cast.”

He cracked his joints.

“I really hope this does well. Ratings hit big... so we promote hard today.”

“We should do everything we can.”

Before, we boosted ratings as guests.

Now this was a new show on a small channel, NBS.

Even with our recognition, it wasn’t safe to be complacent.

“Let’s give it everything.”

“I even prepared a dance.”

We smiled warmly at that.

Then—

“Phew.”

Seokhwan entered, drenched in sweat.

“What happened?”

“There are... so many people outside...”

We stepped out.

A buzzing crowd—like thousands of bees.

We peeked past the curtain.

“!”

“!!”

It looked like a massive wedding press conference.

We exchanged stunned looks—

then—

‘Nice.’

‘Nice.’

The tension melted into satisfaction.

Among entertainment reporters, there’s a saying:

“If you want news, go to a NewBlack showcase.”

Because every outlet sends someone.

“Hello!”

“Long time no see!”

A reunion-like atmosphere.

“Where’s Reporter Oh from Entertainment IN?”

“She doesn’t come personally anymore.”

Oh Sohee—once the fastest with NewBlack news—was absent.

Now she only showed up for exclusives.

‘Lucky.’

‘I should’ve treated them better back then.’

The so-called “NewBlack coin” paid off.

“Can we still get close to them?”

“Think that’s possible?”

They glanced at Team Leader Yoon Seokhwan of the NewBlack TF team—welcoming reporters with a smile.

“No opening.”

“He’s scary too.”

A powerful figure.

“So many people...”

“Every outlet is here. This is hot.”

Everyone agreed.

National idol NewBlack + star PD Gu Jaeyoung.

“This will succeed.”

“5% ratings minimum.”

“More than that.”

“Maybe even 10%?”

But—

“This isn’t about ratings. It’s about secondary revenue.”

“Right.”

Overseas sales, MyTube views, PPL.

“Still... maybe ratings too?”

Then—

[The press conference will begin shortly.]

Journalists took their seats.

Cameras ready.

‘Gu Jaeyoung!’

He stepped out.

Hello, I’m Gu Jaeyoung, director of New Universe Project.

Confident, smooth.

Today’s showcase will also be streamed globally.

Then—

Let’s meet today’s stars!

Music.

NewBlack entered.

Posed.

Sat.

First, the highlight video.

Lights dimmed.

A bus rolled in.

[Wow! A bus!]

It stopped.

The door opened—

Junghyun smiled.

“Bus”

Then—

“New Universe”

Laughter exploded.

Typing frenzy.

One reporter blinked.

‘...Wait.’

‘This might actually hit big.’