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Translator: Vine
Chapter: 14
Chapter Title: An Unfair Reputation
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I looked up at the ceiling. Colorful mobiles swayed back and forth.
*Ugh, this is driving me crazy.*
Well, I guess they’re made for babies to look at. But my body was already accustomed to YouTube.
*There’s no way this could be entertaining.*
The stimulation is severely lacking.
I took a quiet, deep breath.
*Time just keeps passing.*
Three days since I decided to walk the path of a celebrity.
*I thought things would move quickly once I made up my mind…*
But there was nothing major happening.
I sighed. I needed to reassess. First, I checked the coins I’d collected.
“Poo-ah-woo!”
Total coins!
A caption appeared immediately.
That was a lot.
*It’s still an ambiguous amount.*
Not enough coins to make my mother healthy. Honestly, at this point, it was unclear whether I should save them or spend them.
*This is so frustrating.*
Whatever.
*Normally, someone in this situation would just space out.*
But I was a top-tier supporting actor. I knew exactly what to do in times like these.
*When you’re frustrated, exercise is the answer.*
Move, and the answer will come.
I lifted my round bottom. Then, I grabbed the crib railing with my small hands and put strength into my legs. Maybe because I’d been at it for a few days, I moved more easily than before.
*At this rate, when will I ever walk upright?*
Maybe I should just use the coins to enhance my body.
*No, that’s inefficient.*
Just because I can move my body doesn’t mean a camera will be aimed right at me.
*Let’s think. Lee Hanjo… no, Ma Gongja.*
How can I become a celebrity?
*In Korea, it’s usually through Starstagram.*
They go viral and end up on TV.
But it didn’t seem like my mother would use Starstagram.
*My mother is a top star, but she seems to hate public attention.*
Well, maybe it was more because she suffered due to her divorce.
*Is she being cautious because I’m adopted?*
But, Mother. Hiding this face is a waste… no, isn’t it a crime?
*Being famous for being famous is a good thing, you know.*
I want it. Attention.
Of course, fame at a young age can be poison. But I’m not really a child.
And it’s not like I can shout, “Mother, let’s get on Starstagram!”
All that came out of my mouth now was a parade of babbles.
*Let’s give up on Starstagram.*
Someone who never used social media isn’t likely to start after adopting a child.
*Ah, come to think of it, does Starstagram even exist right now?*
Ah, it’s 2010. So it’s a time when not many people use it.
Crap.
*Then the way for me to get famous is probably…*
I made a square with my fingers. Maybe because I’d been practicing a lot lately, it came out as a neat shape.
It was adorable, of course.
“Bba-bboo! Bba-bboo!”
Click, click.
Paparazzi.
*It’s a bit of a Hollywood style, but it’s the only way.*
Funnily enough, it suited my mother, the actress Ma Sujeong’s, image better.
*Hmm, this has more potential than I thought.*
Korea had paparazzi too, the so-called “True-patches.”
*They were the guys who made money off celebrities’ private lives, right?*
A lot of celebrities suffered because of them, but that was beside the point.
*My mother is famous. The ‘patches’ will definitely take her picture.*
I shook my hips. Maybe because my thigh muscles were weak, I immediately fell on my butt.
*I just need to get photographed once.*
That’s how I’ll collect coins! Become a celebrity! And make my mother healthy!
*But for that to happen, the fact that I was adopted has to be known first.*
Isn’t that going to be difficult?
Mother will probably hide it for my sake, right?
*It’s one obstacle after another.*
It would be great if someone leaked that I was adopted.
Just as I was having these thoughts, Ansan-daek came into the room with a bottle of formula.
“Gongja, were you playing well?”
“Ba-woo!”
*Yes.*
Ansan-daek shook the mobile once.
“Aigoo. How pretty. Gongja, isn’t the mobile pretty?”
The clear sound of a bell rang out. I gave an awkward smile.
No, how am I supposed to play with that? The stimulation is severely lacking.
*I want to watch YouTube.*
My online pets.
*Ah, but if Starstagram isn’t a thing yet, does YouTube even exist?*
As I was tilting my head in thought, Ansan-daek handed me a formula bottle at just the right temperature.
*Thank you for my daily bread today.*
I held the bottle myself and drank the milk. This was the result of my diligent exercise.
“Gongja is such a good boy. You’re so low-maintenance, I can’t tell you how precious you are.”
*It’s nothing.*
*My goodness, being praised just for eating.*
How very embarrassing.
Ansan-daek gently stroked my head and pulled a storybook from the bookshelf.
“They say watching things like this is good for development.”
Oh, a storybook.
*I’d prefer Shakespeare, if possible.*
I craned my neck to see the title and furrowed my brow.
*Ansan-daek! While I’m eating!*
The title of the colorful storybook was ‘Dung Dog’.
Why are you talking about poop while I’m eating!
Ansan-daek smiled and opened the book.
*Is she going to read it to me?*
But Ansan-daek pressed a button at the top of the book. A voice immediately came out.
*Wow.*
New technology. The world has advanced so much.
*Even though Starstagram isn’t popular yet.*
Just then, a voice actor’s voice flowed out.
-Long ago, in the countryside, lived a dung dog. The dung dog felt it was unfair. “I don’t eat dung, so why do they call me a dung dog?”
It was more philosophical than I expected. Just as I was starting to focus, the door suddenly opened.
“Gongja! Mommy’s home!”
You’re home from work, Mother!
I babbled with a bright smile.
“Bba-ah-bba-ah-woo!”
*You worked hard.*
“Please wash your hands, miss.”
“I already washed up and changed. I can’t let my angel catch a cold.”
“Of course.”
My mother smiled brightly as she watched me drink my milk.
“Ah, seeing my angel’s face makes me feel alive. Gongja, did you have a good day?”
I tapped the milk bottle and smiled brightly.
*They say parents feel happy when they come home from work and their child smiles at them.*
Now, melt, Mother.
My mother swept me into a hug.
“Ah, this feels so good.”
“Miss! Gongja needs to drink his milk.”
“Yeah, I know. Gongja, Mommy had a tough day today!”
*What? Why?*
*Who’s been bothering my mother?*
Mother placed me in the crib. I listened intently while finishing my milk.
“They found out I adopted you, Gongja.”
Whoa.
I paused my drinking for a moment.
I couldn’t believe it.
*Wh-who did such a magnificent deed?*
My mother crossed her arms, lost in thought.
“It’s strange. It was top secret. The lawyer is a very tight-lipped person. Was it one of his staff?”
Mother gently stroked my cheek.
“I called him about suing and other things, and he said it was the first he’d heard of it. Well, if it wasn’t his office staff, then who? His office wouldn’t have known either, so it’s probably…”
Mother glanced behind her.
“It must be someone from the main house. There is one likely suspect.”
Who is it? Who is this person who did such a great thing?
“I’m pretty sure it’s Lee Yugyeong.”
“Oh my, miss.”
“It couldn’t be anyone else, right?”
Ansan-daek nodded.
“That does seem likely.”
Aha.
It was someone I knew.
*The one who spoke so rudely to my mother.*
I gulped down my milk.
*Well, I suppose I should give her a reward.*
Ms. Lee Yugyeong, how about three years of canker sores this time?
The result was advantageous for me, but she surely didn’t do it with good intentions.
That’s that, and this is this.
“So, the news about adopting Gongja is out?”
“Yes. It’s a mess. President Seo is having a hard time too. I kept it top secret because I thought this might happen…”
Mother let out a deep sigh.
“I’m fine.”
“Miss.”
“I’m really fine. My marriage and divorce were both huge scandals. Getting cursed at is just part of my daily life.”
Oh dear.
*Well, she might say that, but…*
She doesn’t mean it.
*I’ve never seen a celebrity say that and actually mean it.*
Mother caressed my cheek again.
“They’re saying I went ‘baby shopping’.”
Wow. That’s harsh.
“Ansan-daek. I guess that’s how people see me.”
“Miss!”
“Just because they have mouths, I don’t know why they’re spouting such bullshit.”
My mother quickly covered her mouth.
“Ah, my mistake. I shouldn’t say things like that in front of Gongja.”
Mother sighed once more. I put the formula bottle down on the floor.
*She seems really worried.*
And here I was, happy that it was revealed!
My conscience pricked me a little.
*But Mother, this is an opportunity!*
What crime have you committed! There are plenty of celebrities who’ve committed actual crimes and still appear on television!
*Why should my mother have to suffer!*
Is adoption a crime! Huh?
Mother touched her forehead and said.
“Adoption isn’t a crime.”
Huh, did my thoughts get through?
“So why are they making such a fuss!”
“What should we do, miss?”
“What do you mean, what should we do? I told them to sue.”
Wow.
“First, we catch the one who leaked the adoption, then we take them down one by one. The lawyer said he’d find a way to make it stick. Holding back on things like this will only make you sick.”
That was excellent. I clapped my hands quietly.
Clap, clap, clap—
My mother looked at me and beamed.
“Oh, Gongja. Don’t you worry. Your mother is stronger than she looks.”
I smiled brightly.
*Well, just because you’re strong doesn’t mean you don’t feel pain.*
I should give Ms. Lee Yugyeong three months of canker sores.
*But Mother, have you no thoughts of fighting back?*
Let’s get caught by the paparazzi just once!
*All we need is one photo that makes it look like you’re truly sincere with me!*
Though a video would be even better!
*Actress Ma Sujeong… her image was definitely not good.*
Separate from her acting skills and box-office success, my mother had many enemies.
*Part of it was her personality, but it was also because she was a third-generation chaebol and had unrivaled beauty.*
Of course, those things also made her popular. But those advantages were a double-edged sword.
*Because wherever she went, there were people who brought up her divorce first.*
In other words, they’d found a flaw to pick at.
My mother reached out to me.
“My Gongja shouldn’t get hurt. Does this mean I can’t even go out with him anymore?”
I immediately shook my head.
*Hurt? What nonsense! And not go out? Did we commit a crime?!*
The formula bottle rolled on the floor. My mother placed it in front of me again, but I didn’t grab it.
Instead, I clenched my fists tightly.
*This is not the time to be drinking milk!*
It’s the perfect time to become a celebrity, Mother!
I steadied my breath.
*Let’s use it.*
It was time to use a wish of epic proportions.
“Poo-ah, ah-woo! Poo-ah-bboo-bboo, ah-bboo-ah-bboo!”
Use coins! Get a paparazzi photo taken with Mother!
<200 coins are required for a paparazzi photo of actress Ma Sujeong and her son, Ma Gongja.>
Well, that was manageable. I shouted immediately.
“Poo-ya-woo!”
*Execute!*
Huh.
*What is this?*
The price was too strange. I looked down at my hands.
*Does this mean I just have to not grab anything for three minutes?*
Just as I was tilting my head, Ansan-daek placed the milk bottle in my hand.
Thwack!
I reflexively threw the formula bottle without thinking.
*Aah! I’m not supposed to play with my food!*
The formula bottle hit the storybook with a thud. Just then, the voice actor’s voice came on.
-Long ago, in the countryside, lived a dung dog. The dung dog felt it was unfair. “I don’t eat dung, so why do they call me a dung dog?”
Did it hit the button?
My mother blinked. Then she pressed the button again.
-Long ago, in the countryside, lived a dung dog. The dung dog felt it was unfair. “I don’t eat dung, so why do they call me a dung dog?”
Mother muttered.
“That’s right.”
“Miss?”
“Why should I be criticized for bringing Gongja home?”
Mother swept her hair back.
For some reason, there was a strange look in her eyes.
