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Translator: Vine
Chapter: 31
Chapter Title: A Mother's Plan
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Ansan-daek said with a small smile.

“I'm not sure. When I came in, it was already in Gongja's cradle.”

Ma Sujeong furrowed her brow.

“Someone in this house gave it to him? There's no one like that. Didn't you get it, Ansan-daek?”

Ansan-daek immediately shook her head.

“I can't afford something this luxurious. Look, Miss.”

Ma Sujeong examined the first-birthday ring carefully. The gold band certainly looked thick.

“This is a pretty expensive first-birthday ring.”

“Who on earth could have given it to him?”

“There's only one person it could be.”

Ma Sujeong touched her forehead.

“Don't tell me... the 'landlord'?”

“Miss! You can't keep calling the Madam that.”

“But why? What is she plotting this time?”

“Gongja is your son, Miss. Maybe she was just showing she cares.”

*No way.*

Ma Sujeong immediately shook her head.

“Ansan-daek, I know the 'landlord' well. I'd be lucky if she wasn't trying to kick us out.”

“Ah, well then…”

Ansan-daek said cautiously.

“Because Gongja is cute?”

Ma Sujeong slowly lowered her head to look at her son.

*'That might be it.'*

The peacefully sleeping baby looked especially adorable today.

“Our Gongja was so cute today, you know?”

“Oh my, what did Gongja do now?”

“I really couldn't take my eyes off him. You have to watch the DVD later, Ansan-daek.”

“Of course. I will. Wasn't it hard for you? Even with a manager, taking care of a baby all day is tough.”

Ma Sujeong shook her head.

“You know our Gongja.”

“That's true. Gongja is so gentle and easy to care for.”

“Besides, um…”

Ma Sujeong brushed her young son's hair aside. The sound of his soft breathing was incredibly endearing.

“There was something I'd been worrying about.”

“Oh, really?”

“I wasn't sure if exposing him to the public was a good idea. If Gongja were to live a normal life, it would be better not to. Of course, since he's my son, it's already too late for that.”

Ansan-daek nodded.

“The paparazzi are always taking pictures. He's been exposed for a while now.”

“Yeah. And on top of that, our Gongja loves it whenever a camera is on him.”

“That's true.”

“I wondered if I should stop it, but I don't think so anymore. I made up my mind at the first-birthday party. I think it's better to be proactive, especially if Gongja's dream is to become an actor.”

Ansan-daek blinked. Seeing this, Ma Sujeong let out a long sigh.

*Everyone is probably confused.*

“You must be wondering how I can be so sure, right?”

“Yes.”

“Let's just call it a mother's intuition. He picked the mask at his birthday party. I can't just ignore a sign like that.”

Gongja stirred in his cradle. The sight was so lovely that Ma Sujeong smiled brightly.

“Miss, you've made up your mind.”

“Yes. You must wonder what I'll do if it doesn't work out.”

“No. Your intuition is usually right, Miss. Besides, Gongja is still young. When he can express himself clearly, if he says he doesn't like the exposure, you can just stop.”

Ma Sujeong nodded.

“A child's face changes as they grow up.”

“That's true. But, Miss.”

Ansan-daek said, looking at Gongja intently.

“He's just so handsome. I think even if his features change, he'll still be beautiful.”

“You think so too, Ansan-daek?”

Ma Sujeong strongly agreed with that.

“Well, as a celebrity, I know a thing or two about faces. And I've never seen a baby as pretty as Gongja.”

“If you decide to put Gongja in the public eye, I bet the phone calls will start pouring in.”

“Oh, come on.”

Ma Sujeong suddenly remembered the business cards she had received.

“Or maybe not. Come to think of it, a lot of people asked for the DVD of Gongja's birthday party today.”

“Really?”

“They even gave me their addresses. And it wasn't just one or two business cards, was it?”

Ma Sujeong tilted her head.

“I feel like Gongja did a better job networking than his CEO.”

“What?”

“It's nothing. Haha. Well. If this is how things are going, I should help him out.”

Ma Sujeong said, stroking Gongja's hair.

“Gongja, sweetie. Just trust your mom.”

The baby shifted his arms. It was so cute that Ansan-daek and Ma Sujeong covered their mouths and laughed.

* * *

*'My mom doesn't waste any time.'*

To be honest, when I asked for the mask, I thought Mom had figured out my intentions. But I never imagined she'd move this quickly.

“Hello, Ms. Ma Sujeong.”

“Yes, hello. This is our Gongja. Gongja, say hello.”

“Hewo!”

The people covered their mouths and laughed.

“Wow, he's so cute. He looks just like his pictures.”

“Isn't he cuter than his pictures?”

“Ah, you're right. He's much cuter in person. Hi, Gongja. I'm the head writer, Lee Gajin.”

*Oh, a head writer!*

*'What show is she a writer for?'*

I beamed and held out my hand.

“Hewo, noona!”

“Oh my! Me, a noona? I'm already in my forties.”

“Noona!”

“Oh my!”

The head writer turned her head and laughed.

“This kid knows how to charm the ladies.”

“Haha! You think so?”

“Let me introduce myself again. I'm Lee Gajin, the head writer for the weekend variety show 'Baby and Me'.”

“I'm the assistant director, Jo Byeongcheol.”

“And I'm the sub-writer, Seo Yura.”

*Oh, a parenting show.*

A grin spread across my face. Now I understood why these people were here.

*'They came to interview us for a parenting show.'*

*Wow.*

*'This is great.'*

There was nothing better than a variety show for building public recognition.

*'Well, there is the downside of overexposing your image.'*

*Is it a long-running show?*

My question was answered soon enough.

“It's planned as a one-off special. I strongly recommended your son, Ms. Ma Sujeong.”

“If it's our Gongja, he'll certainly generate some buzz.”

“Yes, of course, we considered that as well. As I mentioned on the phone, we're aiming for a calm, healing type of variety show.”

Mom smiled a little.

“I know. That's why I agreed to it.”

“Giving a baby a script and making them follow it is just cruel.”

“But won't you have trouble getting enough footage that way?”

The head writer answered calmly.

“That's why we're being very careful with our casting.”

*Aha.*

*'So they don't want to force anything.'*

*A rare concept these days.*

*'It's a pretty open secret that even parenting shows have scripts.'*

I found myself looking at the assistant director and head writer in a new light.

The head writer said brightly.

“So, to be honest, the show might just flop.”

*Oh dear.*

Mom smiled a little.

“Yes, I understand. Well, it's just my personal opinion, but I hope to see more wholesome variety shows.”

“Yes. I know what you mean.”

*Ah, right.*

*'My mom has been torn apart by those entertainment news programs.'*

There were plenty of shows that gossiped about every little detail of celebrities' private lives. And for them, the "Ma Sujeong" brand was the perfect target to chew up and spit out.

*'I don't know the details, but I'm sure there was a huge fuss about the adoption, too.'*

Mom was a strong person. But that didn't mean she couldn't get hurt.

That same mom asked with a smile.

“You said you found out about our Gongja through his first-birthday party DVD?”

“Yes. We were looking for a rather unusual child. And then word of him reached us.”

“Oh my. Just how far did it circulate?”

“It was a very unique first-birthday party.”

The head writer stared at me intently.

“Gongja seems like an extraordinary child in every way. What do you think of our show?”

Mom stroked my hair.

“We'll be in your care. But in return, I'll be monitoring everything closely. Please don't do any strange editing.”

The head writer let out a sigh of relief.

“Of course! Thank you so much. Honestly, I was worried about what we'd do if you didn't agree. Without Gongja, a lot of things would be up in the air.”

“I'm not unaware of the circumstances. Still, the phrase 'wholesome variety show' moved me.”

“I know it wasn't an easy decision. Many people are reluctant to expose their private lives, like their homes, to the media...”

*Huh.*

*'They're showing the house too?'*

Come to think of it, that was only natural.

*'Wow. Our house is going to be on TV.'*

I looked around. I wondered where they would set up the cameras.

*'It won't just be unmanned cameras, right?'*

*Ah, filming.* My heart pounded.

*'Good, this is very good.'*

*A chance to show all the viewers how cute I am!*

I turned towards Mom. And I gave her a huge smile.

*'Thank you, Mom.'*

*I'll make the most of this opportunity you've given me. I'll work hard to make the entire nation know who I am.*

Still, one question remained.

*'Why start with a variety show?'*

*I don't know much about it, but couldn't we have gone the acting route?*

Mom said, stroking my curly hair.

“The hardest thing for me during my acting career was being told I lacked relatability.”

*Huh.*

*'Mom?'*

I could kind of see it.

*'It's true, my mom is so perfect that it's hard for the public to relate to her.'*

She was someone who had it all—looks, wealth, everything.

Mom smiled a little.

“That's why I still seem like I lack a human touch, right? I'd hate for that weakness of mine to be passed on to Gongja.”

*Huh.*

*'I think I get it.'*

I clenched my fists.

*'I'm not an expert, but if I'm on a variety show, more people will feel a connection to me.'*

Then the number of people who can relate to me will grow.

*'Becoming famous from such a young age means I'll need to change my image later, but it definitely builds relatability.'*

*Wow, Mom.*

*'I respect you.'*

*We're really thinking long-term.*

“Oh, and you're going to release an article anyway, right?”

“Yes, of course.”

“Then please state that Gongja's appearance fee will be donated in full.”

*Huh.*

I blinked at Mom.

“Oh, you are?”

“Yes. I'm planning to donate it. That should quiet down some of the nonsense about me using my child to make money.”

*Are people still saying things like that?*

“It's died down a lot recently, but I still want to do it. It's not like we're struggling financially, anyway.”

“Yes, I understand. Should we disclose the charity as well?”

“Yes. It will be donated to the orphanage Gongja was at.”

The head writer nodded, impressed.

“I see.”

“It's the place that allowed me to meet our Gongja.”

“Understood.”

The head writer stood up and bowed.

“Then we'll see you on the day of the shoot.”

“Yes. Please keep us updated on the schedule.”

“Okay. See you later, Gongja!”

I raised my hand high and said.

“Goo-bye!”

“Aww, so cute.”

Mom and I stood up to see them off. After the production team left, Ansan-daek spoke.

“Miss, you worked hard.”

“It was just an interview. How could that be hard work?”

“But you have to go out right away.”

“Ah, that's true. I've been a bit busy lately.”

I stared at Mom.

“Um, Gongja. Is there something you want to say?”

“Mama! I wuv you. I wuv you so, so much!”

*I respect you so much, Mom.*

*'You're really thinking about so many things.'*

Suddenly, a hot feeling surged within me.

*'Come to think of it, when I was an actor, I had no one to help me.'*

I may have been praised as a brilliant supporting actor, but the truth is, my agency wasn't a good one. To be honest, my managers were all untrustworthy, and they were constantly being replaced.

*'Having someone to help you... it's an amazing thing.'*

*To think she would do all this for me.*

I took a sharp breath. But perhaps because I was a baby, tears came out first.

“Oh my, Gongja, why are you crying?”

Fat tears rolled down my cheeks.

Honestly, I surprised myself.

*'Why am I crying! Stop crying!'*

Unaware of anything, Mom took my hand. I could feel its warmth.

The tears wouldn't stop.

*'Damn it! I'll be a good son to you.'*

*Thank you for working so hard to pave the way for me.*

“Mama, I weally wuv you!”

Mom blinked, then quietly pulled me into a hug.