Chapter 32

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Translator: Vine
Chapter: 32
Chapter Title: The Angelic Baby Strategy
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How can I leave a good impression on the childcare show?

‘Well, babies are cute, so just moving around gives me a bit of an advantage…’

But leaving a good impression was another story entirely.

‘It’s harder than I thought.’

There were quite a few potential problems.

‘Let’s think this through, Ma Gongja.’

First, I needed to decide on my image.

‘What kind of child do I want the public to see?’

My brow furrowed on its own. I sank into deep thought while eating my baby food.

‘Mom set me up with a good image by donating to the orphanage on my behalf.’

So I should probably play along with that.

‘Alright.’

I clenched my fists.

‘My image will be ‘the angelic baby’!’

I wasn't just saying that because Mom always calls me an angel. When I thought about it, this face and a kind image were a good match.

‘And since there’s that photo of me feeding the paparazzi puffed rice, it’s even plausible.’

I poked my cheeks.

‘Besides, I’m pretty handsome. It would be a shame to have a bad image.’

It was the image I chose, but truth be told, I didn't have much of a choice.

‘The producer must have decided to cast me after seeing the video and DVD from the premiere, right?’

In that case, ‘angel’ was the only way to go.

‘It’s a little embarrassing, but I have to try.’

I went back to munching on the baby food Ansan-daek was feeding me and moved on to the next topic.

‘Second. The coins.’

*Phew.*

A sigh escaped me. I first checked my coin count.

‘Total coins!’

A caption appeared before my eyes.

I hung my head low.

‘They’re barely going up.’

I acted as cute as I could during my first birthday party, but this was the limit.

‘The system is stricter than I thought.’

Well, I wasn't the main focus on the entertainment news show or at the premiere.

‘But this childcare program is different.’

I didn't know how many minutes of screen time I'd get, but there would definitely be a portion dedicated to me.

‘I will definitely raise the count!’

I lifted my head again. My eyes met Ansan-daek's.

“Gongja. Does the baby food not taste good?”

I shook my head.

“It’s yummy!”

“But you keep sighing today.”

Ah, crap.

Is it because a baby’s facial muscles are just different?

‘My emotions show right on my face.’

I smiled brightly and chose my words carefully, like a child would.

“Lotsa stuff!”

Ansan-daek immediately nodded.

“That’s right. It is a bit cluttered, isn’t it?”

It was two days before filming the childcare show.

Staff members had come to the house and set up all sorts of equipment. Unmanned cameras and tents for the cameramen were placed throughout the house.

‘So they’re filming the living room, the kitchen, and my room?’

Seeing the cute tents, it was clear this was a show for a child.

‘Good. In that case…’

I said to Ansan-daek.

“Pwease give me snacks tomorrow.”

“Hm? You finished your baby food, but you want snacks already?”

“Not for Gongja!”

I grinned sheepishly.

“For the guests!”

I said it like gibberish, but Ansan-daek understood immediately.

“You want to prepare snacks because guests are coming? My, oh my.”

Ansan-daek smiled and shook her head.

“Our Gongja is so kind!”

“Hehehe!”

“Oh, how cute. How did you know someone was coming to ask for snacks!”

Ah, now that you mention it.

“Who’s coming?”

I couldn’t be filming a childcare show all by myself.

‘The usual format for these shows is for someone to take care of the child in place of the busy mother.’

Mom and Ansan-daek obviously knew, but they hadn't told me.

‘Well, I guess that’s natural.’

They probably thought I wouldn't understand even if they told me.

‘But this is important.’

If some weirdo shows up, it'll be hard to maintain my angel image.

‘The right kind of person needs to come for the chemistry to work.’

I looked at Ansan-daek with anxious eyes. She scraped the last of the baby food and said.

“I heard some hyungs are coming.”

Wow.

‘Not just one hyung, but multiple hyungs.’

The answer was pretty much clear.

‘An idol group.’

A boy band, at that.

How should I put it?

‘This is a classic childcare show setup.’

Ansan-daek put the silicone spoon in my mouth and said.

“Who was it again? Sorry, Gongja. I can’t quite remember.”

That was understandable. There were so many idols out there.

‘But if they’re weird, it’s going to be a headache for me.’

There were definitely some bad apples in idol groups.

‘If guys like that show up, it’ll be hard to build my angel image.’

*Sigh.*

A sigh escaped me. I shrugged, hoping the producer had cast some good idols.

* * *

When I woke up in the morning, my surroundings were quiet. I sat up and rubbed my eyes.

‘Aha.’

I knew without looking. An unmanned camera was dangling from a pole.

‘Ah, today’s the filming day.’

I tilted my head and looked around. Mom was still asleep.

‘She must be tired.’

She wasn't even waking up with all the filming going on.

I carefully crawled to one side of the bed and lay down again.

‘Even if it’s just for a few more minutes, please get some rest, Mom.’

Just as I was about to close my eyes again, I heard laughter from somewhere.

‘It’s coming from outside the door.’

The film crew?

-Wow, did you see that?

-We’re getting some good footage.

-The baby’s an angel.

-The framing is killer.

Dammit.

‘I appreciate the compliments.’

You’ll wake Mom up. Be quiet.

Was that why? Despite my efforts, Mom's eyes fluttered open.

‘Ah, she’s awake.’

Mom blinked her drowsy eyes, then noticed me and said in a sleepy voice.

“Gongja, did you sleep well?”

“Yes!”

Mom smiled and hugged me.

“Mommy slept well, too.”

I see. You could have slept more, but you must have woken up because of the noise.

“Gongja. Mommy is very busy today. And your auntie isn't here either.”

She meant Ansan-daek was gone.

“Instead, some hyungs will play with our Gongja.”

“Hyungs?”

“Yes. Some cool hyungs are coming. You can play nicely with them, right?”

I replied with a bright smile.

“Yes!”

“Aigoo. My angel. You’re so good at answering.”

Mom stretched and got up. Then she picked me up and opened the bedroom door.

‘They’re all gathered here.’

Mom exchanged glances with the producer and writer. Then she walked forward naturally.

I pointed at the film crew and said.

“Hyungs?”

“Ahahaha!”

Mom patted me on the back and threw her head back with a laugh.

“No. Ah, now that I think about it, Gongja has never seen a ‘hyung’ before.”

Ah, so that was how it was.

‘I guess it’s possible he wouldn’t know what a ‘hyung’ is.’

Of course, there was Noah, my savior, but that was months ago.

“I’ll show you later. Gongja. Let’s have some formula.”

“Okay!”

Mom sat me in my high chair and prepared the formula. I kicked my legs, then stared intently at the camera on the pole.

‘I should say hello.’

Please watch over me, dear viewers.

I bowed my head.

“Hewwo!”

I heard sounds of admiration from a corner of the living room.

“He’s looking at the camera and greeting it.”

“Aww. So cute.”

“Ah, let’s use this.”

Was their volume loud, or was my hearing just good?

Mom shook my formula bottle and said.

“Gongja. Did you just say hello?”

“Yes!”

“Why?”

“Um, it’s shiny and it moves!”

I shifted my shoulder to the right. The camera on the pole moved slightly.

“So cute!”

Mom handed me the formula, covering her mouth as she laughed.

Mom smiled as she took a bottle of water from the fridge and drank. It was just her daily routine, but she looked as cool as if she were in a commercial.

I had just finished my formula when I heard signs of someone at the elevator.

“Oh, they must be here.”

Mom picked me up and walked to the end of the living room. There stood the idols who were supposed to take care of me today.

‘Huh? Wait a second.’

Honestly, I had just been praying it wasn't a group with bad personalities. But this group was unexpected.

‘H-Halo?’

Isn't that the group that hits it big later and even makes it in North America!

My eyes went wide. The idols bowed to my mother.

“Faintly!”

“Shining!”

“For you!”

They bowed their heads in unison.

“Hello, we are Halo!”

Wow. So that was an idol greeting.

‘This is the first time I’ve seen one in person.’

Mom adjusted her hold on me and smiled.

“Hello. I’m Ma Sujeong. Please take good care of our Gongja today.”

“Ah, so this baby is Gongja.”

They already seemed to know my name. The tallest member approached me.

“Whoa. He’s so cute.”

“He’s even cuter than in the photos.”

“Hi. I’m the leader, Hyeonjin.”

I raised my hand and greeted him.

“Hewwo! I’m Gongja!”

“Gasp!”

The five members, clearly surprised, frantically asked my mom.

“H-he can talk!”

“But he’s still so young!”

“How! I thought he couldn’t talk! This is a big deal!”

It wasn't *that* big of a deal.

Mom stroked my cheek and replied.

“I think our Gongja is just an early talker.”

“Wow, he must be smart.”

“Are early talkers smart?”

“That’s what they say.”

The audio filled with a flurry of voices. The tallest member spoke.

“Um, can I try holding him?”

“Of course.”

Mom handed me over. The member held me very carefully.

‘He’s nice.’

I could tell just by his attitude toward a child.

‘I did hear that Halo had good personalities.’

The rumor that their success was due to that had even reached the ears of a supporting actor like me.

‘It seems their reputation was real.’

The boy was fidgeting, worried I might be uncomfortable. I smiled brightly and said.

“I like it!”

In that moment, the tense members all laughed together.

“Hyung, he says he likes us!”

“Gongja. I’m Huiseong!”

“He’s so cute. I was worried he’d start crying!”

These guys were really innocent and kind. Is this why they succeeded?

‘Anyway, to think that Halo is holding me.’

I giggled and kicked my legs.

‘Life is full of surprises.’

Mom took my hand and gave it a little shake.

“I was worried our Gongja might be shy around strangers, but he seems fine.”

“Ah, we were worried too.”

“Well, I’ll be leaving now. Gongja. Have fun with your hyungs today!”

“Mama, going?”

I turned my head, looking for Mom. She let out a small sigh and nodded.

‘Hey, why are you feeling guilty?’

You're at the peak of your career, you have to work.

“Mama! See you later!”

“Okay, Gongja. Mommy’s going now!”

Mom turned and walked away. I watched her back as she left.

Then the idol member holding me asked.

“Gongja. Even if you’re sad, let’s have fun with us today.”

I lifted my head. I saw the camera lens inside the tent.

‘Allow me to take the lead.’

Keep filming.

I asked with a smile.

“What we gonna play?”

“Huh? Hey, what were we supposed to play with the baby?”

“A shoulder ride?”

“Airplane?”

“Kicking a ball?”

“Can he even kick a ball at his age? Oh, there’s a ball over there!”

They were quick.

But did I have a ball? Come to think of it, I think I heard Ansan-daek say she'd bought one yesterday.

A member hurried to get the ball. Then he placed me on the carpet.

“Gongja, let’s play ball with hyung!”

“Okay, here comes the ball!”

One of the members gently rolled the ball toward me.

‘Halo guys. Do you know this is my first time playing with a ball?’

Anyway, can I even kick a ball?

I gave it a try. But it must have been too much for me, as I fell right on my butt.

‘Ah, crap.’

It seemed it was still hard for me to keep my balance.

As I was getting up again, one of the members burst out laughing.

“Pwahahahaha! So cute!”

Hey.

‘A normal baby would have cried.’

Though it didn't seem like he meant any harm.

Sure enough, another member scolded him.

“Hey, you’ll hurt the baby’s feelings.”

“Oh, really?”

The member approached me with an apologetic look.

In that instant, I realized.

‘The time has come.’

The time to show off the special move I've been polishing for this very moment.