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Translator: Vine
Chapter: 4
Chapter Title: A Change of Heart
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An irritable voice rang out.

“I told you I hate this kind of thing!”

The Sister gently covered my ears, but she couldn't muffle the sharp voice.

“Mari hated it when I even came near her. I can't stand children.”

“Ms. Ma Sujeong. It'll only take a moment.”

“Even the child I gave birth to hates me, so there's no way some other kid would like me!”

I moved my heavy head and peeked at her.

‘Ma Sujeong, was it?’

Hidden by the Sister's shoulder, I could only catch a glimpse of brown hair.

I thought the name sounded familiar, and now I finally remembered!

‘The third daughter of Seongjin Group?’

It was someone I knew.

Ma Sujeong. An actress by trade. She was stunningly beautiful, and her acting was decent enough.

‘She was a pretty successful actress.’

Her fiery temper led to a lot of scandals, but she had a respectable filmography.

‘We worked on quite a few projects together. Well, our filming schedules never overlapped.’

That's because I was just a supporting actor with no scenes with the female lead.

‘Usually, I was something like Villain's Henchman 1 or Main Character's Friend 2.’

So I never even saw her on set. The only times we crossed paths were at award ceremonies.

‘Ah, wait a minute!’

My eyes widened in an instant.

‘Ma Sujeong... she's dead, isn't she?’

Five years ago, Ma Sujeong passed away in a car accident.

The reason was never officially disclosed. I just remember a lot of wild rumors flying around.

‘But... she's alive right now?’

A groan of disbelief escaped my lips.

“Puaaa...”

The Sister soothed me.

“Our little Gongja must have been startled by the loud noise. It's okay.”

No, Sister. That's not it.

“Puppa!”

What is this?

‘Did Ma Sujeong not die, or...’

A hypothesis came to mind.

‘Wait, what year is it?’

A calendar was hanging on the wall over the Sister's shoulder. I hadn't been able to see it before because I couldn't turn my neck.

Oh, damn it!

2010?

‘It's the past?’

A full twenty years before the year I died.

‘I thought I was just reincarnated, I didn't realize I'd traveled back in time.’

I let out a deep sigh.

“Puhya...”

‘So that's why Ma Sujeong is alive.’

I rested my face on Sister Teresa's shoulder and watched the twenty-years-younger version of her. She looked young, beautiful, and healthy.

‘Her complexion looks good.’

Judging by her booming, irritable voice, she didn't seem like someone who was about to die.

‘Why did someone like that make such a terrible choice?’

Oblivious to my thoughts, Ma Sujeong continued to shout.

“Get someone else! I don't want to do this!”

“Ms. Ma Sujeong, we just need one shot.”

So Ma Sujeong is the model for the promotional photo.

I flailed my arms and legs as I fell into thought.

‘Well, that's her problem, not mine.’

I had no bad blood with Ma Sujeong. I didn't care about her scandals either.

I just need to get this promotional photo taken quickly.

‘I don't know who'll see it, but they're sure to give me some Love & Peace Coins when they see this handsome face.’

As a bonus, this home will get some publicity.

‘Corporate sponsorships are important. The kids here deserve to eat and wear nice things.’

I looked up at Ma Sujeong again. Unhelpfully, she was still screaming her head off.

“I said I don't want to!”

Excuse me, Actress Ma. This is getting difficult.

“I said no!”

Watching her scream like that, I started to think we might not get the photo taken at all.

‘Isn't there some way?’

Just then, a good idea popped into my head.

‘Ah, it said it would grant any wish.’

Then surely I can use it here, right?

“Puuu! Puppaaa, pyaaaa!”

Use Love & Peace Coin!

Contrary to my intentions, a cute babble came out, but I didn't care.

I quickly said.

‘Do the photoshoot with Ma Sujeong!’

“Pyuuuu! Paang!”

This is the only way to fill this orphanage's coffers!

A caption appeared.

<3 Coins are required for a photoshoot with Ma Sujeong. Proceed?>

Oh, it's working, it's working!

And it's cheap, too!

‘Proceed!’

A red dot? Does that mean I'll get a scar? It was a little unsettling, but it didn't matter.

‘No one's going to be looking at the sole of my foot anyway.’

If it really bothers me, I can get it removed when I'm older.

‘The problem is the burning sensation, I guess?’

How bad is it going to burn?

Just then, as if on cue, the soles of my feet began to sting.

‘Whoa, this is no joke!’

“Puuuhhh!”

Held in the Sister's arms, I clapped my feet together like a seal.

‘My f-feet, they're on f-fire!’

I wanted to rub them, but my short arms couldn't reach.

“Gongja, what's wrong?”

“Puuuhhh!”

It burns!

Because I was flailing so much, the film crew turned to look at me.

‘Oh, right, I have an audience!’

It's now or never. For the sake of the coins, I endured the pain and broke into a wide smile.

“Paaaa...!”

‘Please take good care of me. And give me lots of coins.’

I'm going to use them to make our Sister healthy.

At that, the expressions of the film crew changed.

It was also then that Ma Sujeong, who had been screaming her head off, suddenly started staring intently at me.

‘Did it work?’

From now on, I had one job.

‘Coins and money!’

Then I have no choice.

Come now, Actress Ma. Look at my smile. It's going to be the cutest thing in the world.

Even in pain, I kept flailing and smiling nonstop.

“Puapyapya...!”

I smiled with my eyes, laughing desperately.

I wonder how long I kept that up.

The burning in my feet faded away. But I was waiting for something else.

‘It should be about time for the coins to show up...’

But.

“...”

“...”

No one moved. They were all just staring intently at my face.

I grabbed the Sister's habit and shook it.

‘Um, hello?’

“Puaang?”

Just then, the man holding the camera with a dazed look on his face exclaimed.

“S-So cute...”

Following that, the other staff members around him let out quiet gasps of admiration.

“Oh my gosh... I've never seen such a beautiful baby before.”

“Wow... how can a baby... Look at those dark eyes and that high nose!”

‘Yes, this is it. This is it!’

I knew I needed a big audience. Then I shouldn't forget the after-service.

I waved my feet and babbled my thanks.

“Puppaaa!”

One of the PR employees quickly came over to me.

“Woooow... he's so cute. Sister, what's his name?”

“His name is Gongja.”

“Gongja? What's his last name?”

“He hasn't been given one yet. I'm sure he will be soon.”

The camera staffer, finally remembering his job, said.

“Excuse me, could you step back a bit? I need to take some pictures.”

“Oh, yes.”

“Wow, I've photographed child actors before, but this baby is just so, so cute. How can a baby be this adorable?”

The Sister, who had looked uncomfortable the whole time, finally smiled faintly and held me properly.

“Our Gongja is really pretty, isn't he?”

“He's so pretty. Um, how did this child end up here?”

“A few days ago, he was abandoned in front of the orphanage.”

“Oh my!”

The PR employee covered her mouth.

“But it's so cold these days!”

“Yes. It could have been very bad. He's a child with a pitiful story.”

Suddenly, the mood became somber.

I grinned inwardly. This kind of atmosphere was actually advantageous for me.

‘In times like this, it's better for me to act even brighter!’

That way, the tragedy is amplified.

I smiled as brightly as I possibly could.

“Puppababa!”

A look of pity washed over the faces of the staff and employees. The Sister silently patted my back.

No one said a word, but I could feel it all. Everyone's eyes were getting moist.

‘Ah, if this were a human interest documentary, it would already be a sea of tears even without sad background music. What a shame.’

Heh heh. It's rising smoothly.

‘Sister Jeong Teresa, I'll earn lots of coins and make sure you become healthy!’

I was excitedly flapping my arms and legs when it happened.

“His name is Gongja, you said?”

Ma Sujeong reached out and pushed the camera aside. Just then, the Sister walked over to her, holding me.

“Yes. His name is Gongja.”

“Oh, uh, wait a minute. He'll, he'll cry if he sees me...”

She looked at me with fearful eyes.

‘Actress Ma, why would I cry?’

For the sake of publicity, I'm going to smile brightly.

I stretched my short arm out toward her. Then, with a clear coo, I beamed.

“Payaa!”

Startled, Ma Sujeong took a step back. I kept reaching for her.

“Puyaang! Pyaa!”

What do you think, Actress Ma? Of my cute babbling.

‘Hurry up and give me some coins!’

But unlike with the others, they didn't come easily.

‘Is my charm not enough?’

Sister Teresa said with a smile.

“It seems Gongja likes you, Sujeong.”

“What? Oh, that can't be... All babies hate me. Mari would throw a fit, crying and screaming, just to avoid being held by me...”

“But Gongja is smiling and reaching for you, see?”

“Uh...”

The Sister passed me to her.

“Try holding him.”

“Oh, I, I can't...”

With hesitant hands, Ma Sujeong took Gongja as if she were being forced.

I let her hold me docilely. She supported my back with one hand, holding me skillfully.

‘She's staring right through me.’

I met Ma Sujeong's gaze. Her pupils were trembling.

‘Don't be scared, Actress Ma.’

I'm not going to cry.

‘In fact, I'm going to smile even more brightly.’

I looked into her eyes and slowly smiled.

“Pukkyaa!”

I did every cute thing a baby could possibly do.

“Oh my? Gongja?”

I kicked my legs and shook my head. Ma Sujeong couldn't take her eyes off me.

“I, I...”

She was speechless for a long moment before finally managing to say a word.

“W-Wait! Please put some sanitizer on my hands.”

“Pardon?”

“Quickly.”

The Sister immediately squeezed some hand sanitizer onto her hands. She rubbed them together at lightning speed and then supported my back again.

‘Why is she sanitizing her hands?’

Just then, she grabbed my tiny fist and suddenly exclaimed in a rapid-fire burst.

“Oh my god! Oh my god! He's adorable! How can such a cute baby exist? What's his name again?”

The words tumbled out as if she had become a completely different person.

‘If I were a normal baby, I would have cried from all the noise.’

But I'm different! I kept smiling as if I was having the time of my life.

“Pyaaaa!”

“He's pretty, isn't he? His name is Gongja.”

“Oh my gosh, what do I do! Even his name is pretty!”

Um, what?

That's not quite right, is it, Actress Ma?

Even if you're just spouting nonsense because you find me pretty, in what world is the name Gongja considered beautiful? It's the kind of name that's begging to be made fun of.

“Somehow, it suits this baby! If it were any other kid, I'd think their parents had strange taste. But for some reason, it's a perfect fit for him!”

Basically, my face makes it work, is that it?

I flapped my arms and legs.

‘Then I'll accept it.’

A handsome face changes everything, after all.

With a proud expression, I wriggled freely in her arms. At that, Ma Sujeong began to stroke my round shoulders, my arms, and my legs.

“So warm and soft.”

All babies are soft, not just me, Actress Ma.

“But... it's strange. Why isn't he crying? Even the child I gave birth to would cry like that whenever she saw me...”

“Gongja is a very gentle baby.”

“Mari was gentle in front of other people, too. She only ever cried in front of me... That's why...”

She sighed. As if to reassure her, I patted her with my small hand.

“I thought all children hated me...”

Now I could see her circumstances were quite pitiful.

“Pyuuuu, pappa!”

Cheer up, Actress Ma.

There's no way a child hates their mother. It must have just been a phase.

As if my pats had reached her heart, Ma Sujeong looked at me and gave a small, bashful smile.

“Gongja. Are you trying to comfort me right now?”

“Pua-ya!”

Of course!

Ma Sujeong stared intently at me.

Ah, if those eyes were a camera lens, this would be a soul-baring close-up.

‘A camera one-shot? In times like these, I have to give it my all...’

I used all my might to give a brilliant smile.

But then, suddenly, a teardrop rolled from Ma Sujeong's eye.

‘Huh?’

Hey, why is she crying?

I flailed my whole body in a panic.

“Pyuppappaa, puppapya!”

You're supposed to smile when you see a cute baby, not cry!

The Sister, also flustered, quickly asked.

“...Sujeong?”

“I... I always thought I only ever made people frown...”

Ma Sujeong wiped at her eyes, her voice thick with tears.

“I never thought I could make someone smile. Even if it's just a small child...”

The Sister hurriedly brought her a tissue.

But Ma Sujeong refused the kind gesture. She didn't even wipe her tears. She just stared intently at my smiling face.

It was then.

*Click-*

The sound of a camera shutter was heard. As if waking from a spell, Ma Sujeong stared at the camera.