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Translator: Vine
Chapter: 25
Chapter Title: The Stage is Set
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“What should I dress him in?”
I lay in the cradle, smiling awkwardly. Ansan-daek was seriously holding a honeybee costume up to my body.
“He got flowers, so maybe a honeybee would be nice?”
Excuse me, Ansan-daek.
“Still, maybe the frog outfit is a safer choice?”
Oh, no.
Ansan-daek diligently held up different outfits to my body. I rolled over halfway, fiddling with my feet. A sigh escaped me on its own.
‘Ansan-daek is a good person.’
She was excellent at her job. Cleaning was a given, but more importantly, she took great care of me.
‘And her baby food is delicious.’
She was an incredibly sincere person. I could see why Mom trusted her.
‘However.’
I had discovered an unexpected flaw.
Ansan-daek muttered to herself as she looked at me.
“Would the praying mantis costume be good?”
No.
‘Her sense of style is atrocious.’
What are you trying to do to this perfect face?
‘Simple is best!’
A praying mantis costume! No, why does a praying mantis costume even exist in the first place!
“It’s hard to decide.”
Ah, this is driving me crazy.
‘Ansan-daek, you may not know it, but I have a plan for today.’
I kicked my legs.
‘A plan to raise my public recognition through this premiere!’
I want to hurry up and become a celebrity, but a praying mantis costume!
Ansan-daek deliberated, muttering.
“Maybe the cricket is better after all?”
No!
I shook my head emphatically.
“Buh-buh!”
“Hm? You like it?”
I do not!
I put a hand to my forehead. This was the stage where I would unveil my grand plan. I couldn't go dressed as a cricket.
“Pwaa pwaa!”
Use coin!
‘Let me wear the polar bear costume!’
I saw it the other day, and it was the best of the lot.
I glanced to the side. I could see a white backpack.
‘That must be the backpack I’m supposed to wear at the premiere.’
The company that planned the event brought it over themselves.
I peeked at Ansan-daek. She was still agonizing over the cricket and the praying mantis.
‘Seriously, why is it one of those two?’
To bring out my cuteness, a solid color is obviously better!
Just then, the text changed.
<500 coins are required to wear the polar bear costume. Would you like to proceed?>
Wow, that’s expensive.
‘But I have no choice.’
I didn't want to grace the pages of a newspaper wearing a praying mantis costume.
“Buh!”
Proceed!
The text changed again.
A very strange price. But I had no time to think. I sneezed uncontrollably.
“Achoo! Achoo!”
Ansan-daek held an outfit against me and tilted her head.
“Oh my?”
“Achoo!”
“Why is our Gongja suddenly sneezing? Could it be an allergy?”
“Achoo!”
I sneezed so much that tears welled up in my eyes. Ansan-daek wiped my eyes with a towel and put the cricket costume away for the time being.
“Is the fabric strange? The one he wore last time was fine. Ah, here it is!”
Ansan-daek took out the polar bear costume from the closet and held it up to me. As if by magic, the sneezing stopped.
“Oh, this one’s fine.”
Hahaha. Is that so?
Ansan-daek sighed and said.
“I wanted to dress you in something pretty, but a polar bear… This is so common.”
The common choice is often the best, Ansan-daek.
“I guess it can’t be helped.”
Ansan-daek said as she changed my clothes.
“Gongja, the place we’re going today is the premiere for your mother’s movie.”
I’m well aware.
“It’ll be loud there because of the movie. Hmm, since it’ll be loud, I should bring ear warmers too.”
I doubt it. I don’t need anything like that.
‘I’ll love it.’
Even the noise will sound like music to me.
It’s been so long since I’ve been to a movie theater.
‘I miss it. The silver screen.’
Before I was an actor, I was a cinephile.
‘Well, if it’s a good production, I don’t care if it’s on the small screen or the big screen.’
A masterpiece transcends its medium, after all.
‘What’s important is the work itself. But still, this is great.’
I probably wouldn’t get to watch the movie itself, but I was happy just to be going to a theater after so long.
I flapped the fluffy sleeves of my polar bear costume and smiled.
‘Alright, it’s showtime.’
I smiled, running through the plan in my head.
Today was the day.
‘Final check, Ma Gongja.’
I quietly brought up the text.
“Pwa-oo!”
Total coins!
Even after using 500 coins, I still had plenty left.
‘I’m close to thirty thousand.’
The reason for this was simple.
‘The paparazzi and the magazines did a great job.’
They trickled in, and now I was here.
‘It’s risen quite a bit since the release.’
The movie must have been a success, as this was already the second premiere. I gazed at the text with satisfaction.
A smile spread across my face.
‘Looks like everyone was moved by my appearance.’
It felt like reaping what I had sown.
‘At this rate, I’ll pass thirty thousand coins in no time.’
I was thrilled. I tapped the soles of my feet together and kicked my legs.
‘This is exactly what I was aiming for.’
I laughed out loud.
“Byaah!”
Time for a spectacular harvest today.
Ansan-daek said as she packed various things into a bag.
“Oh my, Gongja. You’re smiling so much today. It’s time for your nap. Why aren’t you sleeping today?”
Because I’m excited.
Ansan-daek gave my hand a little shake and went back to her work. I tapped my legs together again. I was too worked up to fall asleep.
* * *
“Ma’am!”
At Ansan-daek’s call, Mom turned and smiled. Seeing her in a pantsuit, I reached out my hands.
“Mama!”
“Gongja! My angel!”
Mom held me and patted my back.
“Oh, Gongja’s here?”
“Gongja, do you remember your noona?”
Of course I didn’t. But fan service was important.
I made eye contact with people and smiled.
“Byaaaah!”
“Gasp, Gongja looked at me and smiled.”
“Wow, he’s still unreal, even after all this time.”
“How can he be so pretty? I’ve never seen a baby that looks like this.”
Mom gently caressed my cheek and said.
“My little angel is quite pretty, isn’t he?”
“This is more than ‘quite’!”
“He’s cuter than the movie.”
Everyone was smoothly marveling at my looks.
‘Ah, this is nice.’
Please, praise me more.
Compliments on my appearance were always welcome.
‘Always fresh and new.’
Just then, the director came in. Mom, still holding me, stood before Director Heo Bongpal.
“Ah, our so-hot celeb!”
Ooh, what a killer assessment. I giggled and clapped my hands.
“Baa!”
“Wow.”
Heo Bongpal shrugged and looked me over.
Was it just my imagination? Director Heo Bongpal’s small, beady eyes seemed quite sharp.
“I thought this last time too, but Sujeong’s son really seems different.”
Of course. What other baby is this pretty?
Mom smiled and asked.
“In what way? That he’s an angel?”
“Well, he’s as cute as an angel, sure. But that’s not all. How should I put it?”
Director Heo Bongpal met my eyes.
“Sujeong, this baby…”
“Yes.”
“Doesn’t he seem rather bold?”
Mom blinked.
“Really? Our Gongja?”
“Sujeong, most babies cry when I approach them.”
A staff member standing nearby answered.
“Ah, I think I know why.”
“Huh?”
The staff member looked the director up and down.
“You’re a bit scary, Director. Your face, your build, and that skull outfit.”
“Yujeong. That’s harsh. You just killed me three times!”
“It’s true. Just admit it. It’s the undeniable reality. It’s the premiere today, and you wore that again.”
The director hung his head low.
Oh dear.
I smiled and gently patted the director’s head.
“Gyaa!”
The director muttered under his breath.
“Rock is alive. Metal is eternal.”
Good grief.
I continued to pat him. Director Heo Bongpal took my hand and said.
“The only one who comforts me is a baby.”
Mom smiled and said.
“Our Gongja is a good boy, isn’t he? He’s an angel.”
“I admit it, Sujeong. But still, it’s not just that Gongja is a good boy, it’s strange, you know?”
Mom asked as she soothed me.
“What part is?”
“I felt it during filming too, but for one, the kid likes the camera.”
Mom nodded.
“I think that might be true.”
“After the release, another director asked me. How did you shoot that scene? How did the baby not cry and just smile so brightly?”
Hmm, I see what he’s getting at.
‘The film set can be a bit grim.’
It certainly wasn’t a place where a baby would naturally smile. Besides, it was a room full of green screens for the CG.
‘A normal baby would be lucky not to cry.’
Though I suppose some babies might smile occasionally.
“Really?”
“Everyone’s jealous of me. Every congratulatory call I get, the baby comes up at least once!”
Mom looked down at me and said.
“The scene with Gongja is very memorable.”
“To be honest, it wasn't a very important scene. But this baby is so pretty that it became an incredibly dense scene.”
“They said it hits you all of a sudden.”
The director scratched his chin and nodded.
“Right. The reality of a zombie-infested world suddenly hits you hard.”
“People say Gongja’s scene feels particularly long, even though it’s short.”
Director Heo Bongpal stared at me. I beamed and held out my hand.
“The more I look, the stranger it is.”
The director held out his finger. I grabbed it and gave it a little shake.
“So, you’re saying our Gongja has some kind of talent?”
“Yeah, that’s right. He was just so innocent in that scene. If that’s just how the baby normally looks, I wouldn’t think much of it, but…”
Uh oh.
‘Director Heo Bongpal is surprisingly sharp.’
Did he figure me out a little?
“Looking at him now, that’s not it. What should I say? It’s like he was deliberately acting.”
“Really?”
“Hahaha! Well, that’s ridiculous. There’s no way this baby acted out an innocent scene, right? Hahahaha!”
That’s exactly right.
I shook Director Heo Bongpal’s finger.
“If that were true, this baby would be a genius.”
Wow.
‘What an assessment.’
More, please, Director.
Director Heo Bongpal scratched his chin and said.
“Anyway, as a scene-stealer, he was a perfect ten. He was brilliant.”
I grinned.
‘Hmm, feels like my secret’s been found out.’
I had, of course, just acted according to the situation, but I seemed to have momentarily forgotten that I was far too young to be putting on a performance.
Well, as long as the results are good.
‘It was a success.’
I kicked my legs and laughed.
“Baaaah!”
Director Heo Bongpal looked at me and said.
“Did I overdo it? Ah, it’s time. Let’s go!”
“Ah, yes!”
Director Heo Bongpal let go of my hand, and Mom quickly handed me over to Ansan-daek.
“Ansan-daek, I’m counting on you.”
“Yes, ma’am.”
The makeup artist hurried over to Mom. Ansan-daek held me, turned, and walked out.
“Gongja. Let’s go.”
I smiled brightly and swung my legs.
‘Ah, I wanted to hear a few more compliments, but…’
I clenched and unclenched my fists. The stage I had been waiting for was being prepared.
A grin spread across my face.
* * *
The movie must have ended, as the area grew busy. A staff member led me and Ansan-daek to the closest audience seats.
The staff member said to Ansan-daek.
“You’ve already seen the event plan, but I’ll explain it one more time. When the host says they’ve prepared a gift for Ms. Ma Sujeong, please hand the baby to me. I’ll then take the baby to Ms. Ma Sujeong.”
Ansan-daek nodded.
“Got it.”
I shrugged. A toy flower dangled from my white backpack.
‘So this is supposed to be the bouquet for Mom.’
It wasn’t a bad plan.
‘But it’s not enough.’
The moment I saw the plan, I thought.
‘It needs some MSG.’
Bringing me out was fine. But this plan alone wouldn't get me the level of attention I wanted.
‘I thought hard about how to make it more effective.’
And I prepared.
I muttered softly.
“Pwa-poo!”
Use coin!
Soon, text appeared.
‘Make the staff member place me on the premiere stage floor.’
<300 coins are required for the unusually tired staff member to place Ma Gongja on the floor. Would you like to proceed?>
Well, this seems like a fair price.
I grinned and said.
“Buh!”
Proceed!
The price wasn’t bad. A baby can sleep that long.
Nestled in Ansan-daek’s arms, I bent and straightened my legs. I needed to warm up beforehand.
The host continued with the event.
‘It’s almost time.’
Sure enough, the staff member called out right then.
“The baby, please!”
“Here you go.”
At that moment, the host shouted.
“A gift for Ms. Ma Sujeong!”
The moment I had prepared for had come.
