From 0 to Superstar Episode 24
Seo Eun-hye turned on the TV and connected to the channel [JUN].
She had given Seo Eunchan her ID and password, so he was uploading the edited videos.
The video appeared on the TV. Minjun, who was playing with Seo Jun, sat on the sofa holding Seo Jun. Seo Jun was tightly gripping a baby bottle. Suck, suck.
"Already the last episode."
"Yeah. I could tell how excited Seo Jun was playing."
The first video, which was uploaded in early December, was now the last episode.
She had watched the videos Eunchan gave her whenever she had time, but watching the edited videos with subtitles was different.
It had already been a month, and Seo Jun was now nine months old.
"Seo Jun at nine months is cuter and stronger."
"Mom and Dad are also getting used to it. When we first heard it, it felt like our hearts were being torn apart."
It seemed like just yesterday when Seo Jun spoke his first words of "Mom" and "Dad" in front of the camera Eunchan left behind. Seo Eun-hye and Minjun saved that video on their laptop, three external hard drives, and in the cloud.
The Christmas tree decorated by Seo Jun and BrownBlack was still in the living room even after Christmas.
"Okay, shall we watch it now?"
Seo Eun-hye and Minjun watched the last episode on TV.
Seo Jun, sitting on his father's lap, handed the empty baby bottle to his father and looked at his palms. His hands had grown a little in a month.
The baton pattern on his right palm became slightly blurry, while the one on his left palm became a bit clearer.
As Seo Jun grew, the pattern of the [Orchestra Conductor's Connection] would eventually remain only on his left palm.
'Giving the left palm to my brothers should be fine.'
The couple had become quite close with BrownBlack, who contacted them whenever they had time during practice. They felt like close younger siblings. Seo Jun laughed.
[Let's send a final video message to Jun!]
The subtitle appeared, and the couple's gaze turned to a frame on the display cabinet. It contained a letter and an autograph from BrownBlack.
"Since Seo Jun's autograph is number 2, what is number 1?"
"It doesn't show in the video."
It was probably the uncle who took the autograph at the playground. Come to think of it, the video from the playground and the one where he sang lullabies at night hadn't appeared during this time.
'Well, Uncle will take care of it.'
Seo Jun looked at the screen. His brothers were sending a video message with red faces and stammering.
Although his father read the letter, it was better to hear it directly from his brothers.
After the last episode ended, Seo Eun-hye turned off the TV and checked the view count on her phone. She sighed.
"Those who start from the first episode keep watching..."
"There aren't many viewers."
"Seo Chan said he's very satisfied with this much..."
Minjun also looked at the phone screen. Because he was running [JUN], he couldn't help but compare it with the channel [JUN]. He was already used to having over 5 million subscribers.
-It's because it's Seo Jun's channel! It's amazing to have this much! They haven't even debuted yet. They don't even have a fan cafe. If even half of the viewers become fans, it would be a hit!
Seo Eun-hye's regretful words made Seo Eunchan, who was on the call, frustrated.
* * *
Hello, this is BrownBlack.
...
We hope you enjoyed [48 Hours with BrownBlack and Jun].
Tomorrow at 6 PM, our debut stage will be on WNET's The Music Show.
If you can, please watch our debut stage.
...
We want to be idols who can move you.
Thank you.
Sincerely,
BrownBlack
* * *
The day dawned. It was the day of BrownBlack's debut.
Seo Eun-hye and Minjun sat on the sofa. Seo Jun, holding an oak doll, sat on his father's lap.
"Finally, the kids are debuting."
"Seo Jun, your brothers will be on TV singing soon."
He seemed to be speaking more clearly now.
"Yeah, your brothers."
"Ah. Ah!"
Seo Jun tapped the phone. "Brother, I miss you!" Eun-hye, recognizing the gesture, sent a message to Eunchan. A message came back instantly.
>Seo Jun misses the kids. Can we call?
<Great! They're nervous about the debut!
Eunchan called.
"Seo Jun, it's your brothers."
"Ah!"
- Seo Jun!
- Hold on! Don't push!
- Hwang Ye-jun! Calm down!
- Ah! Seo Jun!
The screen was full of BrownBlack's faces. Despite the heavy makeup, their expressions were not good. They were biting their lips, looking nervous and anxious. Seo Jun tilted his head.
The conductor's connection was fine. It was high considering the distance. But.
'Why is the connector's connection so low?'
The high number seemed to be a lie, dropping to 20. Seo Jun was confused.
"Ah? Eee?"
- Seo Jun, can we do well?
Amidst the noisy chatter of BrownBlack, one voice was heard.
The phone-holding Seo Eunchan, the couple, and Seo Jun all stopped.
The chaotic BrownBlack also fell silent.
Yes, can we do well? The others will do well, but I. I? He lacked confidence in himself, which affected the connection.
Seeing the gloomy BrownBlack, Seo Jun clenched his fists and raised them high.
"Hi!"
'Fight!'
What if the 'connector's connection' is low? Just raise the 'conductor's connection.' I've never used it this way, so I don't know if it will work, but hang in there!
Seeing Seo Jun raise his arms, Seo Eun-hye and Minjun quickly said,
"Look, Seo Jun is saying 'fight'! Hang in there, you can do it!"
"You've practiced hard and re-recorded!"
-That's right. How much have you practiced day and night! Your skills have improved a lot while filming with Seo Jun!
Seo Jun kept shouting "fight." As he raised his arms and moved around,
-Ahaha.
Hwang Ye-jun's stiff face relaxed. His laughter was followed by the laughter of the other members.
That small baby, that innocent baby, was cheering them on.
- Seo Jun is cheering for us like this!
- We can't just complain.
- Watch the TV well!
- Seo Jun, thank you!
"Kahaha!"
Seo Jun saw the 'connector's connection' gradually rise. Phew. He sighed and laughed.
After the video call ended, a message came from Seo Eunchan.
>Thanks. The kids are feeling better!
<We'll watch with Seo Jun! Hang in there!
Putting down her phone, Seo Eun-hye looked at the TV where commercials were playing.
The channel was WNET. Seo Eun-hye took a deep breath and spoke.
"Should we tell them about our trip to the US today?"
"Hmm. We're having dinner tonight, so let's tell them then."
Minjun patted Seo Jun's stomach and said.
* * *
The last Thursday of December. At WNET, rehearsals were in full swing.
PD Lee Sang-cheon was watching the new idol group on the stage through the monitor.
"Their singing is good, but they look nervous, as expected of a new group from a new entertainment company."
His junior, Kim Min-hyuk, handed him a cup of coffee. Lee Sang-cheon shrugged and took it.
"Is that him?"
"Yeah."
Kim Min-hyuk was a good junior who made good coffee, which PD Lee Sang-cheon liked. Being able to make good coffee in a place where coffee was consumed like air was a small but significant advantage.
Kim Min-hyuk knew his coffee-making skills were top-notch and was actively serving his superiors.
"He's the son of a rich family."
"Well, there are quite a few children of wealthy people, right?"
"But they usually become actors or join large entertainment companies."
The new idol group that had just finished their stage performance left the stage with their shoulders slumped. PD Lee Sang-cheon's gaze followed them.
"If he's the youngest son of King's Market, he could just play around for the rest of his life."
King's Market.
One of the top three Korean markets in the US, centered in LA's Koreatown, it was a huge market that many people frequented, offering not only Korean ingredients but also ingredients from various Asian countries.
There were speculations that it might surpass other markets and take the lead due to its aggressive operations.
"It must be competitive there too."
PD Lee Sang-cheon's words made Kim Min-hyuk respond.
"But why did you give them the slot? If there was a cancellation, you could have put in any famous idol for a special stage, right? Or, senior..."
Kim Min-hyuk made a circle with his thumb and index finger. PD Lee Sang-cheon hit the back of his head. Ouch!
"Senior! I was joking! Joking!"
He really hit hard! Kim Min-hyuk rubbed the back of his head.
"We're starting The Music Show overseas next year, right?"
"Yes. Something about global Hallyu? The higher-ups think that if they say it, it will happen. How many foreigners even know about Korean idol groups..."
"So, to attract more audience, we need to go where there are many Koreans, like LA..."
Kim Min-hyuk exclaimed.
"LA means King's Market!"
"Right. This is a good opportunity to give them a slot and create a good image. If it goes well, they might become sponsors, and even if not, it's fine."
"Then, do we not need to visit? At least to shake hands and say, 'Ah, this is the PD who gave me the slot'?"
PD Lee Sang-cheon's expression made Kim Min-hyuk shrink.
"Only you can express such disappointment with your whole body."
"How many years have you been here..."
"Yes, yes. Sorry."
-It's dazzling!
One of the singers who had been taking turns on stage shouted into the microphone. The music stopped, and the lights dimmed.
Kim Min-hyuk and PD Lee Sang-cheon looked at the monitor.
Seeing the face of the person who shouted, Kim Min-hyuk sighed deeply, and PD Lee Sang-cheon rubbed his forehead.
The leader of the 5-year-old boy group, West Wing. Ah, that's why it was so quiet.
"Ah, that troublemaker again..."
"Watch your mouth."
"Yes, yes."
PD Lee Sang-cheon gave instructions through the microphone, and the lights came back on. The rehearsal resumed.
West Wing moved carelessly and left the stage.
Kim Min-hyuk, who had been watching the screen with a disapproving look, finished his coffee and looked up.
"Where were we?"
"About not visiting?"
"Yes, why not visit?"
The next performers, a man and a woman, stepped onto the stage. They were a unit formed by a member of a boy group and a member of a girl group, with a couple concept.
Rumors of them dating started right after the meeting to form the unit. Although they and their agency denied it, the tension between the two groups' fans was not even a topic of conversation.
"The entertainment industry is a place where rumors of dating and marriage spread just by looking at each other. A slight coldness can lead to rumors of being ostracized."
PD Lee Sang-cheon crumpled the paper cup.
"Imagine going to the waiting room of a group that hasn't even debuted and introducing yourself as a PD. How would that go?"
"Ah..."
"Most likely, they would think you're offering them money."
PD Lee Sang-cheon finished his coffee.
"If that happens, their image and mine would both suffer. They just need to think that a PD from The Music Show gave them a stage."
"Then, wouldn't it be good for the new PD if the current one leaves?"
"They probably know the PD's name by now."
But BrownBlack didn't have the presence of mind to think about the PD's name. In the large waiting room, six groups were huddled together.
The four of them, cramped in a corner, were holding their phones. Seo Eunchan quietly said,
"Kids, snap out of it."
They were all staring at their phones. Kevin had rap lyrics, Choi Si-yoon had a dance video, and Park Seo-jin and Hwang Ye-jun were listening to songs with earphones.
They were all in a daze after making mistakes during the rehearsal. Seo Eunchan sighed at their mumbling.
He had been trying to talk to them for a while, but they didn't respond. He wasn't sure if they could even hear his voice.
Their eyes were red. He told them not to cry because of the makeup, so they were holding back. Seo Eunchan was about to sigh again when his phone rang.
A savior!
#