Chapter 25

    Chapter 25

    Seo Eun-hye turned on the television and connected it to YouTube. She entered the channel [JUN] with the ID and password that Seo Eun-chan had given her.

    He had been uploading the edited videos for her.

    The video appeared on the screen. Lee Min-joon, who had been playing with Seo-jun, picked him up and sat on the sofa. Seo-jun was holding his bottle tightly. Sip, sip.

    This is the last episode.

    I know. You can tell how much fun Seo-jun had.

    It was already the last episode of the video series that had started in early December.

    She had watched the videos that Seo Eun-chan had sent her whenever she had time, but it was different to watch the edited version with subtitles.

    A month had passed and Seo-jun was nine months old.

    Seo-jun is cuter and stronger at nine months.

    Were used to being his parents now. When we first heard him, we thought our hearts would break.

    It felt like yesterday when Seo-jun opened his mouth and said mom and dad while looking at the Christmas tree.

    The moment when he first called them mom and dad was clearly captured by the camera that Seo Eun-chan had left behind. Seo Eun-hye and Lee Min-joon had saved the video on their laptop, three external hard drives, and the cloud.

    The Christmas tree that Seo-jun and Brown Black had decorated was still in the living room, even after Christmas was over.

    Shall we watch it now?

    Seo Eun-hye and Lee Min-joon watched the last episode on the television.

    Seo-jun, who was sitting on his dads lap, handed him the empty bottle and looked at his two palms. His hands had grown a little bit in a month.

    The baton symbol on his right palm had faded slightly, while the baton symbol on his left palm had become a bit darker.

    As Seo-jun grew older, the [Orchestra Conductors Link] symbol would remain only on his left palm.

    He can give his left palm to his brothers, right?

    The couple had become quite close with Brown Black, who would contact them during their practice breaks. They felt like their younger siblings now. Seo-jun giggled.

    [Lets send a video letter to Joon for the last time!]

    The subtitle appeared and the couples eyes moved to a frame on the cabinet. There was a letter and a signed poster from Brown Black.

    They said they would become famous idols, and the second sign was for Seo-jun. It was from Hwang Ye-joon.

    If Seo-juns sign is the second one, whats the first one?

    It didnt show up in the video.

    It was probably the man who had asked for their autograph at the playground. Come to think of it, the video of the playground and the video of them singing a lullaby at night hadnt appeared either.

    Well, uncle will take care of it.

    Seo-jun looked at the screen. He saw his brothers sending him a video letter with their faces flushed. He knew what the letter said because his dad had read it to him, but it was better to hear it from his brothers themselves.

    The last episode ended and Seo Eun-hye turned off the television. She picked up her phone and checked the views. Hmm. She sighed.

    People who watch from the first episode seem to watch all the way

    There arent many viewers.

    Eun-chan said he was very satisfied with this much

    Lee Min-joon also lifted his head and looked at the phone screen. He couldnt help but compare it to the channel [JUN] that he was running. He had gotten used to having over five million subscribers.

    -Thats because its Seo-juns channel! This is amazing enough! They havent even debuted yet. They dont have a fan cafe. If half of half of the views become fans, its a hit!

    Seo Eun-hyes words mixed with regret made Seo Eun-chan, who was on the phone, pound his chest in frustration.

    ****

    Hello. We are Brown Black.

    We hope you enjoyed [48 Hours with Brown Black and Jun].

    Tomorrow at 6 p.m. We will have our debut stage on WNETs The Music Show.

    If you have time, please watch our debut stage of Brown Black.

    We want to be idols who touch your hearts.

    Thank you for your support.

    Sincerely, Brown Black.

    ***

    The day dawned. It was the debut day of Brown Black.

    Seo Eun-hye and Lee Min-joon sat on the sofa. Seo-jun also sat on his dads lap with an oak doll in his arms.

    Theyre finally debuting.

    Seo-jun, in a little while, your brothers will sing on TV.

    Ing-ah?

    He seemed to speak quite well now.

    Yes. Brothers.

    Ing-ah. Eo-ong-ong!

    Seo-jun hit his phone. Brother, I miss you! Seo Eun-hye noticed his gesture and sent a message to Seo Eun-chan. A message came back without a second of waiting.

    The rookie idol group that had gone up on stage came down with their shoulders slumped. Lee Sang-cheon PDs eyes followed their backs.

    If hes the youngest son of Kings Market, he could just play for the rest of his life, you know.

    Kings Market.

    It was one of the top three Korean markets that operated in various places in the US, centered on LAs Koreatown.

    It was a very large market that had not only Korean food ingredients, but also food ingredients from various Asian countries, and many people liked to visit it.

    Lately, there were rumors that it might overtake the other markets and take the lead with its aggressive operation.

    It must be fierce there too.

    Kim Min-hyuk spoke up after hearing what PD Lee Sang-cheon said.

    Why did you give them the empty slot? Even if they had a cancellation, you still had a month left. You could have put anyone famous for their special stages. Unless, senior

    Kim Min-hyuk made a circle with his thumb and index finger. Lee Sang-cheon hit him on the back of his head. Ouch!

    Senior! I was joking! Joking!

    That really hurt! Kim Min-hyuk rubbed the back of his head.

    Were going to do more music shows overseas from next year, right?

    Yes. What was it, global hallyu? The higher-ups think they can do anything they want. How much do foreigners know about Korean idol groups

    So we need to gather more audience where there are a lot of Koreans. Like LA or something

    Kim Min-hyuk exclaimed.

    LA means Kings Market!

    Yeah. This is a good opportunity to give them a stage that had a cancellation and create a good image. If it goes well, they might become sponsors. And even if they dont, well, it doesnt matter.

    Then you dont have to greet them? Dont you have to at least shake hands and see their faces, so they can say, Oh, this PD is the one who gave me a chance?

    Kim Min-hyuk shrank under Lee Sang-cheons gaze.

    Youre the only one who can express how pathetic you are with your whole body.

    How long have you been here

    Yes, yes. Im sorry.

    -Its blinding!

    One of the singers who came up one by one shouted into the microphone. The music stopped and the lights dimmed.

    Kim Min-hyuk and Lee Sang-cheon looked at the monitor screen.

    They saw the face of the owner of the voice. Kim Min-hyuk sighed deeply, and Lee Sang-cheon rubbed his forehead.

    It was the leader of West Wing, a five-year-old boy group. Yeah, he wondered why he was so quiet.

    Ah, that jerk again

    Watch your mouth.

    Yes, yes.

    Lee Sang-cheon gave instructions through the microphone and the lights came back on. The rehearsal started again.

    West Wing moved half-heartedly and finished the rehearsal and went down.

    Kim Min-hyuk, who was watching the screen with a displeased eye, gulped down the remaining coffee and lifted his head.

    Ah, where were we?

    Not greeting them?

    Yes. Why dont you?

    A man and a woman came up on the next stage. They were a unit made up of one member from a boy group and one member from a girl group, with a couple concept.

    As soon as the meeting to make this unit was held, rumors started that they were dating. The two people and their agencies denied it, but after that, the relationship between the two groups fans got worse and it didnt even become a topic of conversation.

    The entertainment industry is a place where rumors of dating and marriage fly around. If they brush shoulders, theyre on bad terms, theyre enemies. If theyre a little cold, theyre ostracized.

    Lee Sang-cheon crumpled up the paper cup.

    But go to the waiting room of the kids who havent even debuted and say, Im the PD here. How do you think that will go?

    Ah

    Theyll usually think you gave them money.

    Lee Sang-cheon swallowed the remaining coffee.

    Then their image will be bad and mine will be bad too. They just have to think that the More Music Show PD gave them a stage.

    Then its good for the new PD if you go somewhere else, right?

    They must know the PDs name by now.

    But Brown Black had no mind to think about the PDs name. Six groups were crammed together in a large waiting room.

    Four of them were sitting in a corner, holding their phones in their hands. Seo Eun-chan spoke quietly.

    Guys, snap out of it.

    They were staring at their phones. Kevins phone had rap lyrics, Choi Si-yoons phone had a dance video, Park Seo-jin and Hwang Ye-jun were listening to songs with earphones.

    They had all made mistakes on the rehearsal stage and were out of their minds. Seo Eun-chan sighed at their murmuring in fear.

    He had been talking to them for a while, but there was no answer. Did they even hear his voice?

    Their eyes were red. They didnt cry because he told them not to ruin their makeup, but they were holding back a lot. Seo Eun-chans phone rang as he was about to sigh again.

    It was a lifesaver!