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Translator: Vine
Chapter: 20
Chapter Title: A Fateful Offer
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Ma Sujeong readily admitted it.

‘Children hate me.’

She didn't know why. It was just that every baby she'd ever met had burst into tears upon seeing her.

‘Mari was the worst, wasn't she?’

The moment she thought of the child her ex-husband was raising, it felt like an awl piercing her chest. Ma Sujeong clenched her fists.

Lee Mijin looked at her hands and asked,

“Sujeong?”

“Oh. It's nothing.”

Ma Sujeong took a sharp breath. Then, forcing a small smile, she looked at the director.

“I've never gotten along well with children. They just start crying the moment they see me.”

“Hmm? But isn't our dear actress Ma the talk of the town because of a child these days?”

“I'm always the talk of the town.”

The director adjusted his hat.

“That's true. You're always hot, Sujeong. Still, I never thought you'd become famous for adopting a child.”

“I didn't expect it either. To meet an angel in my lifetime.”

“Hahaha. Anyway. What should we do about the child actor problem? You know what I'm worried about, right?”

Ma Sujeong let out a sigh.

“I know. I'm supposed to return a baby to its mother in the movie.”

The movie she was currently filming was a zombie flick.

In the film, Ma Sujeong played a female warrior. The scene where she snipes zombies with a rifle while taking a newborn back to its mother was a pretty important one.

‘Setting aside the character's narrative, the problem is that the baby keeps crying.’

She rested her chin on her hand, lost in thought. But thinking about it wasn't going to produce an answer.

“Ma Sujeong. So, about that…”

Director Heo trailed off with an awkward smile.

“There's someone who's really hot right now.”

“Me? I already told you I'm always hot.”

“Ah, of course, actress Ma Sujeong is always hot. But the one who's *so* hot right now is your adopted son.”

Ma Sujeong’s eyes narrowed.

“My baby angel?”

“Mm, right. That angel. You know. To generate some buzz, why don't we give the role to your adopted son?”

Ma Sujeong stared intently at the director's face.

‘It's true that I brought our Gongja in as my son…’

Still, it was deeply upsetting to hear him called her 'adopted son' instead of just her 'son'.

Ma Sujeong said nothing. Director Heo knew what that meant. When Ma Sujeong went silent, it meant she was displeased about something.

“Sujeong. The baby cast for the role just keeps crying. We're out of options.”

“Yes. I know.”

“If it's your adopted son, he won't cry when he sees you, right?”

“My angel smiles when he sees me.”

She pictured Gongja's smile. A faint smile touched her own lips.

“Can't we? Please.”

A sigh escaped her lips.

“Gongja… he hasn't cried so far, but a film set might be different.”

“Ahaha. That could be true.”

“If Gongja seems okay with it, I'll do it.”

“Oh, really? Thank you. Wow. You saved me. I didn't think the baby would cry that much.”

The director discussed a few more things about the shoot before returning to his seat. Ma Sujeong clenched and unclenched her fists again.

Lee Mijin asked softly,

“Unni, are you okay?”

“Yeah. What's not to be okay about?”

“But you look a little pale.”

“I guess it's because I miss our Gongja so much.”

Ma Sujeong smiled bitterly.

Images of the daughter her ex-husband was raising and her lovely Gongja overlapped and faded.

Perhaps that was why. Her chest ached with a slight sting.

* * *

Total Coins!

Hehe. It's rising smoothly.

‘The reaction must be good, huh?’

Ah, there must be comments popping up somewhere.

‘I want to see the comments.’

I rubbed my cheek with my hand.

‘I wonder how much praise this face is getting.’

It was devastating not to have a smartphone.

‘Can I consider myself a celebrity now?’

I couldn't hide my grin.

Will paparazzi start following me everywhere I go now?

‘Kyah, this is great.’

I couldn't help but do a little shoulder dance.

‘Everything's going smoothly. But it's not enough.’

Honestly, a face like this needs to be seen in action.

‘If only YouTube were a bigger thing, this would be solved in one shot!’

Why did I have to regress to a time when YouTube wasn't popular!

‘Ah, I need more exposure.’

Isn't there anything good?

Just then, the door flew open. It was a welcome face. I immediately smiled and reached out my hands.

“Mama!”

“Gongja!”

It felt like forever since I’d seen my mother. The moment she held me, she spun around in a circle. Then she kissed every inch of my face.

“Ah, my angel.”

“Mama!”

“Yes. Gongja. Mama's here. Have you been well, our Gongja?”

Yes!

When I raised my hand and answered, my mother beamed.

“You missed your mama, didn't you? I'm sorry. I guess the magazine we shot sold really well. I've been getting calls from all over the place.”

Better to strike while the iron is hot.

My mother hugged me tightly and swayed.

“I think it's because of you, Gongja. This is the best my public image has ever been in my entire career as an actress.”

My mother was still holding me when Ansan-daek came in with a milk bottle.

“Gongja, are you awake? Time for your bottle!”

Thank you!

My mother handed me the formula bottle. With a now-familiar grip, I held it tight.

“Our Gongja, you're eating so well.”

My mother stroked my head and asked,

“Gongja wasn't sick or anything, was he?”

“I would have called you if he was. Gongja's been eating well and growing so fast. I think we should start trying some baby food soon.”

“Ah, it's already that time.”

“Gongja is very healthy. Babies his age can suddenly get fevers, you know. But Gongja hasn't had anything like that. He eats well and plays well.”

Watching me drink my formula, my mother smiled brightly.

“I'm so glad you're healthy. Our Gongja.”

“Is everything alright with you, Ma’am?”

“Well…”

My mother took a long breath and looked down at me.

“The director wants Gongja.”

I looked up from my bottle.

“Bbooa?”

Me?

My mother nodded.

“Yes. Director Heo is desperate for our Gongja. There needs to be a baby in the scene.”

I paused my drinking and tilted my head.

‘Director Heo?’

It was an uncommon surname, so I knew it.

‘Is she talking about Heo Bongpal?’

Of course, Bongpal was his real name; he later changed it to ‘Heo Gihyeok’.

But once a Heo Bongpal, always a Heo Bongpal.

‘Wait, if it's a movie Heo Bongpal filmed with my mom around this time…’

I remembered what movie it was.

‘It was the film that kicked off the zombie movie genre in Korea, wasn't it?’

The title was ‘City of the Dead.’

I blinked. I even knew what role my mother played.

‘She was a warrior.’

In the movie, my mother was a soldier. A strong survivor who made it through hordes of zombies and people who had turned.

‘She protected the children and the elderly.’

She taught the children how to use guns and looked after the survivors. In that abandoned place, she was the only one who helped the protagonist.

‘But was there actually a baby in that movie?’

I was a fan of that film. I still remembered every single scene.

‘My favorite scene was when Mom was shooting her gun, going to rescue the children.’

I recalled the movie. Come to think of it, for a role as significant as my mother's, her character's backstory was a bit thin.

My mother stroked my cheek with her finger.

“Our Gongja, you finished your bottle so well.”

After handing the empty bottle to Ansan-daek, my mother rubbed my back. A burp soon followed.

“That's it. That's it.”

I flapped my hands and said,

“Mama!”

“Yes, Gongja. I'm your mama.”

My mother hugged me tight. I couldn't see it, but I could feel it. I heard the sound of a long sigh.

“Mama?”

“It must be because our Gongja is just too cute.”

Ansan-daek asked,

“Why is Director Heo suddenly looking for Gongja?”

“He keeps asking for the two of us to appear together.”

“Goodness. After all the trash he talked. And so?”

“Tell me about it. I can turn down everything else, but it's hard to refuse Director Heo's request for our Gongja.”

I reached out and patted my mother's cheek. She kissed my small hand again.

“Then can't you just say no?”

“That's not easy either… because this involves me.”

“Why?”

“There's a scene we have to shoot with a baby, and the baby keeps crying.”

My mother gave a bitter smile.

“You know. How children hate me.”

“Oh, come on. Gongja’s not like that.”

“Gongja is the first and last baby who hasn't cried at the sight of me.”

My mother stroked my hair.

“Is it an important scene?”

“Yes. It's where my character's narrative is completed.”

Oh boy. It was an important scene.

“But still, taking Gongja there is a bit much.”

What are you talking about!

‘I have to be in this!’

City of the Dead was a mega-hit film that easily surpassed ten million viewers. No, actually, the box office numbers weren't the real issue.

‘This one was popular overseas, too!’

And above all, I was a fan. In my past life, I had even bought the premium DVD.

‘If only I could be in it!’

I flailed my limbs wildly. My mother stared at me and said,

“Ansan-daek. Doesn't Gongja seem excited?”

“He does. It's strange. He's usually such a calm baby.”

“Gongja. What should we do about the movie?”

“Boobaboo babooba!”

We have to do it, of course!

But my intentions didn't get through to my mother.

“A film set isn't a great place for a baby.”

“That is true.”

“What if our Gongja gets sick there?”

I shook my head desperately.

‘We absolutely have to do this!’

I had no choice. When I couldn't express my will, this was the only way. I immediately cried out.

“Booa booboo!”

Use coin!

“Change Mom's mind to agree to the filming!”

“Booba!”

Proceed!

It was a bizarre penalty, but it arrived right on schedule.

I blinked. Suddenly, my eyes were incredibly itchy.

‘Wow, this is driving me crazy.’

It’s itchy, but I probably shouldn't scratch.

I clenched my fists and kept blinking.

My mother looked down at me.

“That's strange.”

“What is it, Ma’am?”

“Our Gongja's eyes are sparkling.”

My mother lifted me into her arms. Our eyes met.

“It's strange. Our Gongja… he did so well at the magazine shoot, didn't he?”

“I think he has a knack for it. During the magazine shoot, he was like a fish in water.”

“You felt that too, Ansan-daek?”

“Of course! Mm, and he definitely loves the camera.”

My mother's eyes widened.

“Really?”

“Yes. Whenever I point my smartphone at him to take a picture for you, he loves it.”

“Come to think of it, our Gongja is really good at making eye contact with the camera lens.”

I beamed.

‘That's it exactly.’

My eyes were so itchy that I blinked desperately.

Put me in the movie! I want to be famous!

My mother held my gaze for a long moment.

“Gongja. I know this is a pretty important decision.”

Yes. Say it!

“In times like these, Mama follows her instincts. And my instincts are telling me it's okay for our Gongja to be in the movie.”

Wow. My mom. You're amazing.

I kept blinking. My mother looked down at me for a while longer before saying,

“Alright!”

“Ma’am?”

“Let's go, Gongja.”

Ah, my decisive mother.

“Wait, Ma’am! But Gongja is… he's still just a baby.”

“He's been blinking nonstop. It's like he's desperate to be in it with me. When he looks at me with such sparkling eyes, how can I say no?”