In This Life, The Greatest Star In The Universe

Chapter 337:

The album’s track work progressed smoothly.

An astonishing pace.

It was so swift that I wondered if it was even possible for album production to be this effortless.

“Wow.”

The youngest member’s mouth hung open in surprise.

“I’ve never seen an album production go this smoothly, without anyone crying, suffering, or cursing.”

“Hold on.”

I paused.

“Did you just say ‘cursing’? What are you talking about?”

“Huh?”

“...”

“Must’ve been your imagination, hyung?”

Watching the youngest member awkwardly change the subject, I narrowed my eyes.

But his words were true.

“It really is the smoothest project I’ve ever worked on.”

“Is that so?”

“Yeah, must be because we’re working with the producer.”

The man with the intellectual look smiled.

Without realizing it, my address for him shifted from ‘senior’ to ‘producer,’ and it couldn’t be helped.

It was admirable.

“This part feels like a deep blue spreading out, but I’d prefer it to be a bit lighter.”

“You mean you don’t like the harmony.”

It was amazing how well he understood my unique way of expressing music.

He offered alternatives that were spot on, a whole new world to me.

Tears welled up in my eyes without my knowing.

“Thank you so much for coming.”

“Crying?”

“Not crying, just overwhelmed with emotion.”

I was overjoyed as if I had found a companion in music.

If I were to rate my fondness for the person before me, it would exceed the maximum.

With a fluttering heart, I spoke.

“I’ve always struggled to explain myself to others because I’m weak in theory.”

“It must have been tough. Talking about colors when no one understands what you mean.”

“...”

Following Rihyuk’s lead, the younger members mimicked my expression.

Junghyun snapped his fingers.

“Don’t you feel the rhythm is slightly off? Focus, Junghyun. Stop eating jelly and pay attention. Hey, focus.”

“Anyway, I don’t like it, so we’ll do it again. You don’t know why I’m not satisfied?”

“What’s wrong with it? Tell me exactly.”

Ha Seung Ju burst into laughter at the surprisingly realistic acting.

“Most groups are terrified of their composing members, and you guys are no different.”

“Yeah. We all live like puppets under Woo Joo hyung.”

“Jiho, puppets?”

I couldn’t help but let out a disbelieving chuckle.

Then, with a few words, I gestured for the younger members to stop talking.

Ha Seung Ju exclaimed in admiration, “You really are like puppets.”

“Ah.”

Ha Seung Ju laughed joyfully.

“Just kidding. Just kidding. I said it because your team’s atmosphere is so relaxed and nice.”

“That’s a relief.”

“It’s been a long time since I’ve felt such a good vibe.”

The producer seemed elated, perhaps reminiscing about his past musical activities.

Then Bi Ju said with a smile,

“It’s really amazing. Even after living with Woo Joo hyung for two years, we still don’t fully connect on everything about music.”

That was true.

We had adapted to each other’s musical tastes, inclinations, and styles. It wasn’t a 100% smooth communication.

“But with the producer, it’s like we’ve been working together for a long time...”

“Oh, that.”

He looked at me, scratched his chin, and smiled.

“I’ve worked on an album with Myung Ju hyung before, that is, with Woo Joo’s father.”

“Oh.”

“I was called over not just for official work. Sometimes he’d come to my house... or call me in the middle of the night... or invite me out for a meal, and it turned out to be a hotel restaurant with a piano...” R

“Ah, I see...”

“But it’s a good memory.”

Our eyes blinked in surprise at the sight of the other’s tearful face.

He smiled gently.

“Anyway, your working style was similar to the universe now.”

“That’s fascinating.”

Was it when I was very young?

Except for the times when Dad played the piano and sang from a children’s songbook, I hadn’t really learned anything about music.

Yet, to hear that my working style resembled his was intriguing.

It made me wonder if music was also a kind of inheritance.

Curiosity arose, but with no one to resolve my questions, I organized my thoughts and moved on.

“That’s all for the tracks included in the album.”

I swirled the mouse and entered the folder set aside for the title track.

“I’m going to play you the song prepared as the title track.”

“It’s finally coming out.”

“Yes. In the past, Rihyuk and I created a song called ‘Night Sea.’”

“I’ve heard it. The melody was beautiful.”

Night Sea.

A duet based on memories of falling asleep on my grandmother’s lap as a child.

A song filled with gratitude and longing, singing of those times.

“One of the melodies derived while creating ‘Night Sea’ didn’t fit the theme, so we couldn’t use it.”

I hovered the cursor over the file and turned to Rihyuk.

Then, the main vocalist who would take the lead in the next album, Ha Seung-ju, was briefed.

“Our album theme we’re aiming for this time is ‘Journey.’ A trip taken during the winter season.”

The image we decided on was a train journey in winter.

Railroads covered in heavy snow.

The atmosphere was like embarking on a journey by train.

The initial title track had the ambiance of visiting a small village with soft snow falling.

“In such a place, we want to reminisce about things that have passed or been lost.”

“Ah. I understand the feeling.”

“For example, a hometown now submerged underwater due to dam construction, inaccessible. Or places of memories that have vanished. Or a point in the past you wish to return to but cannot.”

The goal was a song that sang the theme gently and then exploded in the chorus.

Ha Seung-ju nodded as he listened to Rihyuk’s explanation.

“I like the theme.”

“This actually came to mind when Rihyuk got emotional about his teens ending and wrote an essay.”

“...You don’t have to tell the producer everything, you know.”

While Rihyuk playfully stepped on the youngest member’s foot, the other let out a small laugh.

Then he spoke.

“Considering the album’s tracks, the composition is quite good. It starts calmly and ends with a festive atmosphere.”

“Yes. Like meeting people at a travel destination and gradually increasing the party, we aim for a progressively cheerful mood.”

Initially, it felt like a solo journey, but by the return, it was a lively chatter with companions on the train.

Or a joyful song that could resonate through a city filled with Christmas spirit.

Thus, the last track of the album was planned to be a song with a Christmas carol vibe.

It was the song we were currently putting the most effort into, along with the title track before us.

“Let me play it for you.”

“Is the title ‘Piraruku Song’? Like the name of some instrument, like a ukulele?”

“Ah. It’s just a temporary name.”

As a slight blush rose on Rihyuk’s cheeks, ‘Piraruku Song_ver 6.3-52’ was played.

“...”

The producer closed his eyes and listened intently.

The song began with a piano performance.

Each note left an echo as it faded away.

Like the sound of white snow gently falling from a dark night sky.

We sent a teaser to our fans during the live broadcast.

“If you’re curious, check the major subway stations in three days.”

On the day promised by NewBlack.

As someone descended the subway stairs, their footsteps were light and cheerful.

‘I wonder what the kids have prepared.’

There was speculation on fan cafes and social media, most guessing it was probably an advertisement.

‘An advertisement prepared by the kids...!’

I thought it might contain a message for the fans.

My heart raced.

A Soufflé, wandering around the subway station, swiped their card and passed through the gate.

‘It doesn’t seem to be upstairs.’

It was while roaming around the subway station lined with screen doors.

“Pfft.”

“What’s this?”

Hearing ‘What’s this?’, a Soufflé moved, guided by the intuition that it was our kids.

Passersby were smiling at some advertisement.

When Soufflé saw the ad amidst the crowd, they couldn’t help but pause.

Soufflé, thank you for being with us for 500 days

Below was the touching phrase ‘Forever onwards,’ but the problem was the image.

NewBlack, dressed like little chefs.

With their hands stretched high as if in praise.

“What’s that? ...Bread?”

“It seems to be bread.”

Indeed, where NewBlack reached, there was bread emitting a brilliant, multicolored light.

It was bread shaped like a cute emoticon version of Soufflé.

Soufflé, with a benevolent expression and arms wide open, floated in the sky.

‘Separately, they look fine...’

But together, they made a poster that was oddly amusing.

Fans, pretending not to notice, flitted around the ad, laughing among themselves.

Only after the crowd dispersed did they take a photo in front of the ad, grinning.

‘Of course, our kids wouldn’t make an ordinary ad.’

Sure enough.

Ads of NewBlack in various poses shouting ‘Soufflé!’ popped up on followed social media accounts.

While chuckling at this,

‘Ah. The smell of bread is nice.’

The tempting scent of fresh bread wafted by, but I resisted.

I had to hurry home to catch NewBlack’s announced live broadcast.

With that thought, Soufflé, face buried in their phone, hurried past the subway bakery.

At the subway bakery.

Past the morning rush, the station had quieted down.

“Hehe.”

“Hehehehe...”

We laughed, bodies shaking, masks on.

“The day of reckoning is here, minions.”

“Yes, yes.”

“Let’s show the Soufflés the true taste of bread...”

Pastry chef Myeong Se-jin, who had been watching us, spoke up.

“Come here.”

“Yes!”

“Let’s go over the checklist one more time.”

She too wore a mask.

Myeong Se-jin, winner of ‘Pâtissier Korea,’ who had run a one-day dessert cafe with us in Taiwan.

This was one of her bakery branches.

“Thank you for helping us today.”

“Don’t mention it. With NewBlack’s help, it’s a win-win.”

“We’ll make sure you benefit greatly.”

The other party smiled at our words.

“Shall we start the business then?”

Today, we were launching a special event for Soufflé Week.

We were selling ‘Soufflé Bread.’

After pondering what to do for the fans, our second, who had a hobby in baking, came up with the idea.

‘How about making a special bread for the Soufflés?’

Thus, with a recipe created by Bijoo and the help of a professional pâtissier, ‘Soufflé Bread’ was born.

Not a soufflé, but bread shaped like one.

A bread easy to make with simple equipment.

“Now, recognize us.”

“Please recognize us.”

At first, we went about business as usual, but soon, a fan wandering the subway station spread the word that ‘NewBlack is doing a day’s work at the subway.’

On a weekday morning.

According to the pâtissier, this branch was the quietest, making it the perfect spot for the event.

“Oh my. That smells good.”

A lady approached, looking at us.

“I had to stop because of the smell of the bread.”

“Oh, yes.”

“Can I buy one?”

“Yes, of course.”

We had enough ingredients to last till the afternoon.

The lady took a Soufflé Bread and walked away, humming happily.

And five minutes later.

“Wow, I thought it was some deluxe manju. How much is this?”

“500 won.”

“Only 500 won? Wow.”

An office worker, apparently out on business, picked up a Soufflé Bread.

We had hoped to be recognized, but it seemed the enticing smell of the bread had captivated them, and they only had eyes for the bread.

Then, two minutes later.

“The people at the office said it’s delicious and asked me to buy more.”

“Ah, yes.”

That’s when it all began.

“How much is this bread?”

“Soufflé bread? That sounds delicious.”

“The part-timer is really tall and handsome. Give me five of those bread, please.”

Customers were coming in, but not the fans we were expecting.

“No...”

I huddled with my siblings for a moment in the back.

“Why is our business doing so well all of a sudden?”

“What’s this?”

“Brother, this isn’t the time. That lady over there is asking if we have more bread. We need to bake more.”

While my siblings were bustling about, I decided it was time to reveal my identity, or we wouldn’t be able to meet the fans and hold the event.

I approached the customers and casually lowered my mask.

“Hello.”

The customers, who were picking up bread, looked up in surprise.

“Oh my.”

“Wait, the special forces’ son? Is that really you?”

“Yes, that’s right.”

I was about to say more with a smile when suddenly...

“Ah!”

The lady who was picking up bread finally seemed to understand everything.

“So that’s what it was!”

“Excuse me?”

“They’ve been advertising the new bread release in the subway like crazy!”

“Really?”

“Yes, that’s right. I was wondering what that advertisement was all about.”

“...Really?”

Even the college student next to us nodded in realization, and both my siblings and I were taken aback.

But that’s not it. It’s not about that.