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Translator: Vine
Chapter: 29
Chapter Title: A Spectacular Debut
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Of course. I certainly have a good eye.
“Hmph. Well then, have a good first birthday party.”
What’s there for me to do well? I’ll just be carried around in Mom’s arms.
“Yes!”
“I’ll be on my way now.”
“Bye-bye, sister!”
My grandmother slowly disappeared from my room. The moment she left, I placed a hand on my cheek and let out a sigh.
‘She’s a really difficult person.’
But I won’t give up! One day, I’ll make her call me her grandson!
‘By the way, I called her ‘sister’ half on impulse.’
It’s more effective than I thought.
Anyway, the first birthday party was just a week away. A grin spread across my face.
‘I can't wait.’
This feels like a spectacular debut Mom is throwing just for me.
‘Then I’ll have to repay her.’
I flopped onto my back in the cradle and started exercising, lifting and lowering my legs. Plans began to form in my mind, one by one.
‘If they see me in person and are moved, the coins will go up.’
On that day, I want to secure both coins and connections at the same time.
‘Ugh, why isn’t time moving faster?’
I kept lifting and lowering my legs, waiting for the week to pass.
* * *
To be honest, I’d never seen such a lavish first birthday party.
‘I guess a first birthday party isn't just about the fortune-telling game and a meal.’
I never thought I’d live to see the day I’d be doing a pre-party photoshoot for a first birthday.
‘Has the world changed? But wait, I’ve regressed.’
It must have changed a long time ago. I just didn’t know.
Mom said as she carried me.
“Oh, Gongja. Look at that. So many flowers, right?”
You're right.
‘Oh, Mom.’
When she said she was going all out, I didn’t realize what she meant.
‘This is seriously no joke.’
I’d been to plenty of colleagues’ first birthday parties, but this was my first time at a hotel for one.
‘You could tell it was high-class at a glance.’
Plus, there was a small photo book at every seat.
‘That must have all cost a fortune.’
Mom really is trying to make this a spectacular event.
‘Well, I guess I can think of it as her handing out my profile.’
Just then, one of the event staff approached us.
“Hello, Ms. Ma Sujeong. It's nice to see you again. Ah, is this Gongja?”
“Yes. We're in your hands today.”
“Wow. I thought he was really cute when I saw his pictures online, but…”
The coordinator said, looking me over.
“I've seen a lot of babies at these parties, but he's the cutest one I've ever seen. My goodness.”
Ah, that’s a given. It’s your first time seeing a face genius, isn’t it?
“How can he be so pretty?”
The coordinator looked at me, then seemed to catch herself and looked up again.
“I'm sorry. You must be tired of hearing that, right? You must hear it all the time.”
No.
‘Why would I get tired of being called handsome!’
It's always new, always thrilling.
‘Please, say more.’
Mom smiled and said.
“Not at all. I'm a doting mother, after all. How could I ever get tired of hearing my child is pretty?”
“Oh, is that so?”
I smiled and flapped my hands.
“Hewo!”
“Oh my!”
The coordinator’s eyes widened.
“He speaks so well, too?”
“Yes. I don't think our Gongja's cuteness is only skin deep.”
“They say children who speak early are smart.”
“I'm sure he's smart.”
Mom said, brushing my bangs from my forehead.
“My Gongja, why do you make your mom so happy?”
Wow, Mom.
‘You haven't seen anything yet.’
I still have a lot more to show you.
I beamed and said.
“Mama! Wuv!”
Mom smiled as she stroked my forehead.
“My Gongja, you're in a good mood today, aren't you?”
“Gwood!”
“Really? Mommy's happy too. A lot of people are coming today, Gongja. Will you be okay?”
Okay? I've been waiting for this very day.
“Gwood! Gwood!”
Mom readjusted her hold on me and said to the coordinator.
“He probably doesn't know what he's saying yet.”
Yes, I do.
“Ahahaha. Still, he's so cute. Gongja, let's have a great day today!”
“Okay!”
“Ma'am, please go get changed first. Ah, you said you brought your own outfit, right?”
“Yes. I just need to dress Gongja. Gongja, let's put on your hanbok.”
“Okay!”
“It might be a little uncomfortable, but bear with it!”
I nodded. Mom kissed my cheek.
Soon, I was changed into my new clothes. To be honest, I was surprised when I saw them.
‘Whoa…’
I don't know anything about baby clothes, but the color combination was incredible.
‘This is a pretty rare color.’
The indigo-colored outfit looked high-quality at a glance.
“Wow, it suits him so well.”
“I know, right?”
Mom smiled as she attached the norigae ornament.
“I chose this baby hanbok because they said it was naturally dyed, and it looks perfect on him.”
Is that so?
‘Anything with the word 'natural' in it is expensive.’
And if it's dyed, too, it must be doubly expensive.
I lifted my short arm to inspect the clothes.
“Gongja, are you curious? Do you want to take a look?”
Mom carried me over to the wall mirror. For a moment, I flinched slightly.
‘Man, this face is no joke.’
When a baby with a doll-like face wears a luxurious hanbok, the synergy is off the charts.
‘I can guarantee you, there are few children on Earth this cute.’
I'm intoxicated. By my own face.
It was a truly perfect face. To think I get to have this face for life!
“Gongja. What do you think?”
“Gwood!”
“Really? Mommy likes it too. Well then, Coordinator, could you please look after Gongja for a moment?”
“Of course. Go ahead and get changed.”
I was handed over to the coordinator. Mom disappeared, and I stared intently at the coordinator.
When our eyes met, she patted my bottom and said.
“Oh my, you’re so cute.”
Well, yes. I understand. It’s not every day you see a face like this.
I giggled and clapped my hands. A subtitle then appeared before my eyes.
Wow. A harvest right from the start. Not bad.
‘Alright, today’s the day.’
The day I let myself be swept away by a downpour of coins.
Mom soon returned after changing her clothes.
‘Wow. My mom!’
I thought she’d be in a hanbok, but she was in a relatively simple, white pantsuit. But on her, it looked like an outfit for an awards ceremony.
“Mama!”
“Yes, Gongja.”
Mom took me back from the coordinator. Just then, a family walked in.
“President Seo! Ria!”
“Sujeong, it's been a while.”
Oh, the president of Top Line?
‘He had a reputation in the industry for being a real gem.’
I’d heard he was very good at his job.
‘I’d heard of him, but this is my first time seeing him in person.’
I looked President Seo up and down. He seemed like a nice person.
“Ria, thank you for coming.”
“Don't mention it. It's nice to get some fresh air. You haven't met our kids before, have you?”
Two little girls bowed their heads and shouted in unison.
“Hello!”
Their voices were a little loud.
‘They seem energetic.’
Their mother immediately chided them.
“Girls. Your voices are too loud.”
“Sorry.”
“Sorry.”
“Oh, it wasn't that loud. No one else is here yet. Hello. Have fun today. And eat lots of delicious food!”
“Okay!”
Though the girls said that, they didn’t take their eyes off me. I smiled brightly and said.
“Hewo!”
“Wow, he can talk.”
“But he's so young!”
Mom covered her mouth and laughed.
“Our Gongja started talking early.”
“He's so cute.”
“He looks like a doll.”
The one who seemed to be the younger sister took my hand. When she shook it, she smiled bashfully.
“It's so small!”
You’re small too, kid.
“He's so cute! Mom, let's take Gongja home with us!”
Oh, dear.
The older sister immediately stopped her.
“Hey, how can we take a baby home with us! That's kidnapping!”
“But how can you just pass by something this cute!”
“That's true.”
Excuse me?
“Mom! Let's take that baby! He's the cutest thing I've ever seen in the whole world!”
It was even somewhat logical.
Their mother immediately yelled.
“What are you talking about? No!”
Mom smiled and said.
“Girls, you can't. Gongja is my son.”
“We'll take good care of him. I'll give him my room!”
“I'll give him all my favorite chocolates, too!”
They were kind kids, at least. Mom crossed her arms and said.
“Hmm, you can't, because I brought him home first.”
“Aww!”
“Awww!”
The girls hung their heads at the same time.
“So we can't.”
“But why?”
Mom clutched her stomach, laughing. The president hung his head and said.
“Ah, I'm so embarrassed.”
“Why? They're cute.”
“Actress Ma. Be honest. You think they take after me, don't you?”
Mom wiped away a tear of laughter and said.
“They do resemble you, President Seo.”
“Ugh! They should have taken after the missus.”
His wife, standing beside him, muttered.
“So you do know.”
At that, Mom burst out laughing again. As Mom sobbed against a nearby pillar, the president scratched his head.
Catching her breath, Mom said.
“Anyway, thank you again. For helping prepare everything.”
“Don't mention it. I did it because there was something in it for me. By the way, are these our seats? Isn't this for direct family?”
Mom shrugged.
“You know my direct family wouldn't come to Gongja's first birthday party.”
“Ah…”
“Since it's come to this, why don't you be my relative, President Seo?”
“Alright. Okay. I'll be your relative. Hello, you ridiculously cute baby. Starting today, I'm your uncle.”
I giggled and held out my hand.
“Unca?”
“That's right. Uncle. Wow. His voice is cute, too. You know, I don't think photos do his face justice.”
“Right?”
“He's even cuter in motion. Hmm, looking at him now, the premiere videos didn't capture him properly either. Wow.”
I see. As expected of the president of Top Line. He knows talent when he sees it.
“Unca! Unca!”
I reached out my hands. The president took my hand and muttered under his breath.
“Unca!”
“Yeah. My, he's not shy with strangers at all, is he?”
Wow.
‘That's a lot of coins.’
The president of Top Line was genuinely impressed.
“Actress Ma. Honestly, when you talked about him, I thought you were exaggerating a bit, but now that I see him in person, I know what you mean.”
“Right?”
It was then that other guests began to arrive.
Mom walked over slowly, holding me.
“Oh my, you've arrived, Ms. Jeong.”
Huh? Ms. Jeong?
‘Could it be the designer, Jeong Riri?’
I turned my head. My eyes met with a woman dressed in black lace and a red coat.
‘Wow, it's really Jeong Riri.’
The representative fashion designer of South Korea. Jeong Riri.
She was an exceptionally talented fashion designer who would later capture both Eastern design and practicality, earning worldwide acclaim.
“You invited me, darling, how could I not come?”
“But you must be busy.”
“You said it was a casual event, so I came. Oh my, darling, your outfit is fabulous today.”
Mom immediately did a little spin.
“I just wore something comfortable. How is it?”
“That's my darling. Your face is so striking that simple clothes suit you. Oh, my! Is that the baby?”
Hah. The moment I’d been waiting for had finally arrived.
I looked up at Jeong Riri.
‘Wow. A normal baby would have cried.’
Never mind the intense combination of black and red, every single item she wore was studded with jewels.
‘Wow, even her glasses frames are sparkling.’
It was my first time seeing her in person, and honestly, I was a little taken aback.
‘But not me.’
I smiled brightly and said.
“Sparkle, sparkle!”
“Oh my!”
The look in Jeong Riri's eyes changed.
