Free Web NovelAfter smoothly picking up the pieces, we continued the broadcast.
Since it was educational content, we adopted a calmer tone than usual.
“As you can see from the picture, Paleolithic people lived in caves.”
“Why?” Ji-ho asked.
“Because caves are great for sheltering from rain. Ji-ho, you hardly know anything—do you think you could build a house yourself?”
“Oh, that’s true. It really is best to live in a home nature made.”
As each illustration was placed on the table for the camera, we explained every little detail instead of just saying “remember this.” Kids unfamiliar with history would naturally wonder why things were the way they were.
Whenever a new image appeared, we invited guesses or comments, guiding the flow of the broadcast. The writers standing behind the camera smiled in satisfaction each time we simplified the script’s explanations. The director gave us a thumbs-up and mouthed “Yes! Exactly!”
“Uh, but... this is really hard to remember,” Jung-hyeon admitted, scratching his cheek. “I get the explanations, but this is that, and that is this. Isn’t there an easier way to remember?”
“Hm... you have a point.”
At that moment, Biju suggested, “How about turning it into a simple song?”
“A song?”
“Yeah—using what we’ve just learned, let’s make a little tune....”
I agreed right away. “Then let’s give it a try.”
After a brief pause, we harmonized and sang:
“Paleolithic, Paleolithic—
Built rough huts and lived there!
Neolithic, Neolithic—
Floors dug out, those called pit houses!”
To fill airtime, we sang it a cappella with rough harmonies. Our performance experience shone through—even such a simple jingle came out with perfect stage manners and harmonies, perhaps thanks to the impact of our Master Song Discovery first round performance.
“Stone Age—
Not yours but ours!
Bronze Age—
Now mine and yours, we tell apart!
Ooh—private property!” freewёbnoνel.com
At “Ooh—private property,” the production staff winced; a writer shut her eyes or trembled. We couldn’t help bursting into laughter, thinking the atmosphere was just right. I didn’t know how the first broadcast would turn out, but I felt good about how it was going.
“Ssok-ssok! History Exploration Squad” airs for about thirty minutes, and our nearly two-hour recording was drawing ✧ NоvеIight ✧ (Original source) to a close. The production team looked dazed—like they’d unleashed five little hellhounds.
Watching it was exhausting.
“Ha-ha! That’s wrong, that’s wrong!”
“Kyah-ha-ha!”
“No, I—I made a mistake! I just got confused. I’m not the kind to mess up like this!”
During the final quiz summarizing today’s content, the five idols went absolutely wild. Even allowing for TV energy, it was hard to believe these were the same calm five we’d met earlier.
They worked so hard I wondered if they were enjoying themselves more than anything else.
“Nyea-ah!” Ri-hyuk, stuck ringing the bell last, was clearly distressed.
“Nooo! I knew it!”
“You should’ve hit it faster, Ri-hyuk. What good is speed if you lack quick reflexes?”
“Don’t tease me!”
“Oh dear. I wanted to wear the primitive outfit, but looks like I won’t get to!”
The members laughed and teased him; his ears turned bright red. Everyone was giving their all to avoid finishing last—and wearing the punishment outfit. Their dedication impressed even the producers.
“Wow... they’re really throwing themselves into this for the kids, huh?”
“Look at the energy. Even the kids watching must be vibrating in their seats.”
Famous for their diligence, New Black’s performance far exceeded any industry expectations.
“Wearing that costume can’t be a big deal, Ri-hyuk. We’d love you even as a Stone Age person.”
“Right—who cares if we’re primitives? Heh-ha!”
The head writer, watching them laugh through the quiz, admitted to PD Seong, “At this point, I can’t tell if they’re working hard or just having fun.”
“Well, exactly.”
To the Kiwoom Production staff—accustomed only to children’s programs—New Black’s energy was an entirely new experience.
“Do all idols do this?”
“Seems so.”
The head writer lamented, “It’s such a shame about the broadcast time. We’ll have to cut so many fun bits for a thirty-minute slot.”
“Exactly. Such a waste...”
From the Stone Age to Gojoseon, we’d covered so many entertaining moments. It pained us to know much would be left on the cutting room floor.
“And we’ll have to remove jokes kids wouldn’t understand.”
“There were so many funny bits...”
Because it was aimed at children, network review would demand cutting some things—even harmless ones. Though it still promised to be a richly worthwhile show, it was bittersweet.
“A thirty-minute slot is unavoidable...”
As PD Seong pondered making today’s content even better, inspiration struck.
“Ah.”
“Yes, PD-nim?”
“Writer Su-yeong—HBS has been uploading a lot of MyTube content lately, right?”
“Yes—they’ve been making various clips in-house and adding subtitles to drama highlights.”
PD Seong proposed, “How about posting our first edit to MyTube? So not only kids, but anyone can watch.”
“MyTube?”
The head writer considered, “You mean split it in two? The on-air broadcast stays the thirty-minute kids’ version, and we post an extended cut on MyTube?”
“Exactly. What do you think?”
“Sounds great. The public-education department will love it. The question is...”
“Will general viewers find it entertaining?”
“Considering it’s an educational show... haha!”
When Ri-hyuk in his animal fur costume chased a member with a flint tool and they scrambled away, everyone laughed. With that, they decided to release a separate online cut of “History Exploration Squad.”
Our first recording wrapped up successfully. PD Seong even walked me out himself— the atmosphere was warm and friendly, like “Aww, our New Black” vibes. It was our first time receiving VIP treatment on set; we all “hee-hee”ed with delight. When PD Seong suggested posting it on MyTube to reach a broader audience, we all eagerly agreed. After all, our reason for doing variety shows is to gain public recognition.
Following the history show, the second week of February flew by. We visited original songwriters for Master Song Discovery Round 2 prep, rearranged our competition songs with A&R, fine-tuned our third-album b-sides, studied languages, and continued Round 2 preparation day and night—working, sleeping a few hours, then back to work like worker ants.
Thankfully my vocal condition had fully recovered, but fatigue crept in.
“Hyung, wake up. We’ve arrived.”
“Just a bit more....”
Half-asleep, Biju kept shaking my arm. Too exhausted to move, Jung-hyeon gently pried my eyelids open, and the parking-lot scene forced itself into focus.
“...”
I snapped fully awake.
Jung-hyeon smiled warmly. “Time to get up, hyung.”
“Oh... okay....”
Blinking, I sat up. It was such an inventive wake-up call I was at a loss for words. As my siblings giggled and clapped, I couldn’t help smiling.
Dragging my tired body, we left the lot. In the green room, I revived myself with red-ginseng lozenges and scrolling through Grandma Kim Deok-soon’s profile pictures.
Friday afternoon. Today’s schedule: the production showcase for PBS’s “Challenge, Master Song Discovery!” airing Sunday at 5 PM.
Our maknae’s face lit up. “I’m so excited. Feels like I’m an actor again.”
“For the press showcase?”
“Yep. I’ve dreamed of this moment.”
He’d always gushed over actors saying the same.
Press showcases happen just before a premiere—sometimes the same day, sometimes days earlier. Ours was two days ahead, Friday. It’s the final promotion: gathering reporters, serving refreshments, and shyly saying, “Please give us your support.”
“Hey, everyone.”
“Hello!”
In the Sancham-dong hotel lobby, we greeted the cast and crew. As the episode-one highlight trailer played, we warmed up. Then staff waved us in.
“Now, the 2014 rising rookies who shook the idol world—please welcome New Black!”
Following the MC’s intro, we entered the hall. Cameras on tripods and flashbulbs popped. On the photo wall for “Challenge, Master Song Discovery!” we all smiled brightly and posed.
“One, two, three—”
“Hello, we’re New Black!”
We turned sideways, draping arms over each other’s shoulders, pumped fists, and shouted “Fighting!” Early in our debut, I might have prompted them, but now they struck perfect poses in sync.
“Shall we do a group shot?”
After group photos, we did individual shots by tenure, then joined senior singers for a final cheer.
“Next is Q&A. Please raise your hand to ask a question.”
Twelve cast members, plus the CP and main PD, sat in a circle. When I sat politely, hands on my knees, the members immediately mirrored me—spot on.
Photos kept flashing, so I smiled until my cheeks ached. I half-expected my face to freeze Hahoe-mask style afterward.
Most questions on concept went to the CP and main PD; senior singers answered theirs. We got a few too:
“Song Bo-hyung is trot, Lisa is a musical actress, and New Black represents idols competing alongside seniors—how does that feel?”
(Translation: If you don’t deny it, I’ll headine ‘New Black excited as idol representatives.’)
I took the mic with a gentle smile. “We don’t see ourselves as representative idols. We’re honored to compete as juniors alongside these senior singers.”
PD Baek Seong-hyeon nodded in approval.
Biju took the mic. “Through this competition, we’ve learned so much from the senior stages. There have been many amazing performances.”
Well said, our second member.
He finished shyly, “So if it’s okay... please watch the live broadcast...?”
Reporters laughed at his shy but cute request.
When a question arose about our vocals—
“There are doubts comparing your singing to other singers since you’re idols.”
(Translation: If you don’t deny it, I’ll run ‘Idol overcomes idol limitations’ as a clickbait headline.)
Ri-hyuk, perceptive as ever, smoothly intervened. “We think those doubts come not from who we are, but because we haven’t had many chances to show our best yet. That’s why we ask you to watch the live broadcast....”
“Don’t miss it live!”
We all echoed “watch live,” and the atmosphere warmed. Given how many questions about our skills arose, it was clear some resented our presence. Hyung Seok-hwan told us not to read comments, so we didn’t—but hearing the questions painted a picture. Honestly, it wasn’t always pleasant, but we smiled and answered kindly. After all, once round one airs, the talk will vanish. The PD even held back our performance from the teaser as a surprise, so skepticism was inevitable until then. Knowing the outcome, we could just laugh it off.
“Don’t worry about earlier questions,” Seok-hwan hyung said with a smile on the ride back to the dorms. “Just wait until next Sunday. Then headlines will change tone overnight. It’s all part of the buildup. Once the show airs, reactions will be completely different.”
We all nodded. Ji-ho, daydreaming, said, “That’s right. Let’s imagine it—just one more week, then ‘New Black rocks the world!’ will be everywhere.”
“Hey, ‘rocks the world’ sounds better than ‘causes an accident.’” I teased.
“Ri-hyuk, you even prepped your interview line—‘We are the prepared rookies.’”
“What? Hyung, how did you see that?”
We laughed together, all thinking the same thing: let’s hold on for one more week. Since we were already first, current reactions didn’t matter much.
With that resolve, we thought of Master Song Discovery’s premiere on Sunday.
“...Huh? Manager.”
Min-gi hyung in the passenger seat looked serious, drawing our attention. “Look at this, Manager.”
He showed his phone. At the red-light stop, we all leaned in.
“...?”
It was a “Best” post in an idol community: “New Black live controversy...?”
Confused, we stared. The embedded video was a fancam from our Saturday and Sunday events.
