Superstar From Age 0

Chapter 43

Seo-jun, who was playing alone with blocks until his mom came to pick him up, perked up his ears and jumped up from his seat.

The teacher, who was finishing up some work, asked him.

“Why, seo-jun?”

“I think mom is here!”

“Really? Shall we go out?”

Seo-jun held the teacher’s hand and went outside.

As he had said, his mom was there.

The teacher, who had thought it was just a tantrum of the child, was surprised to see Seo-jun, but Seo-jun had already run to his mom and hugged her.

“I’m sorry for being late. You must have to go back to work.”

“It’s okay. I still have some work left.”

Seo Eun-hye handed a paper bag to the teacher. It was a snack she bought at the airport.

“Please have this. There were a lot of delicious things at the airport.”

“Thank you. I’ll enjoy it.”

“Yes. Thank you. Seo-jun, say thank you too.”

“Thank you!”

“Well, I’ll be going then.”

“Oh, wait a minute. Seo-jun’s mom.”

The teacher took out a flyer from Seo-jun’s bag and showed it to her. The flyer was brightly decorated and looked like a kindergarten.

It was full of pictures of Santa Claus in a red suit smiling brightly and Rudolph with a red nose.

***

“A festival?”

Lee Min-jun, who was putting some crab meat on Seo-jun’s spoon, tilted his head. Seo Eun-hye recalled the contents of the flyer.

“It’s a children’s festival on Christmas Eve. They sell food, toys, and have playgrounds.”

“That sounds fun. Seo-jun, do you want to go?”

Seo-jun, who had chewed and swallowed the sweet and salty soy sauce crab and the white rice, nodded his head.

“Yes!”

“No, no. Wait. You can’t. Seo-jun!”

Seo-eun-chan, who had come by unexpectedly in the evening and brought soy sauce crab and spicy crab, put his hand down as he listened to the conversation of the couple and Seo-jun.

Seo-jun and the couple tilted their heads. Seo Eun-chan tapped his forehead.

“Even if Seo-jun is young, brother-in-law and sister don’t know how famous Seo-jun is?”

Seo Eun-hye and Lee Min-jun’s eyes met at Seo Eun-chan’s words.

Seo Eun-hye shrugged her shoulders and answered.

“I know. It was a mess on the first day of kindergarten. The teachers were speechless, the parents didn’t know what to do, and the kids were crying and screaming at the sight of their mom and dad.”

Seo Eun-hye put down the crab shell and shook her head. Seo-jun nodded and ate the crab meat that his dad gave him. It was his first time eating soy sauce crab, and it was delicious.

“The news was huge too. The Evil Spirit had over 6 million viewers. There was also news that Seo-jun might play William in the US, and it’s quiet now, but until a few months ago, seo-jun’s story was on TV every few days.”

Lee Min-jun asked if he wanted some spicy crab. Seo-jun nodded. What would spicy crab taste like?

The [Slime’s Digestive Ability] that he couldn’t use for three days because of making talismans moved vigorously.

“But you want to go to the children’s festival with Seo-jun?”

“Isn’t it quiet now? The kindergarten teachers seem to be used to it, and they treat him the same as the other kids. The parents of the kids just say hello and leave, right?”

Seo Eun-chan drank some water in frustration.

“That’s because they’ve seen him all the time. At the children’s festival, everyone will be people Seo-jun has never seen before. That means, it will be like the first day of kindergarten.”

The first day.

Seo-jun and his parents’ faces hardened instantly as they were enjoying the seasoned crab.

They could laugh about it now, but they wouldn’t do it again.

Seo Eun-chan shook his head.

“No, it’s worse. It’s a children’s festival, but won’t there be kids like Seo-jun? Relatives will come, and so will grandparents. The stores are looking forward to it, right? There will be lots of advertising. Then students will come, and college students… In the end, it’ll just become a Christmas Eve festival.”

Seo-jun and his parents swallowed hard.

“Just imagine if Seo-jun, brother-in-law, and you sister were in the middle of that. It’s like a family of mice fallen into a pit of snakes.”

Numerous snake eyes gleamed sharply, and long tongues flickered.

The mouse family huddled together, trembling.

Seo-jun quietly put down his spoon at the image that came to mind.

“…I don’t want to go.”

“Dad agrees.”

“Mom too.”

Seo-jun and his parents raised their hands. It was just Seo Eun-chan’s thought, but it seemed likely.

A zombie movie they had seen days ago came to mind. It wouldn’t be that bad. But if the already famous Seo-jun went to such a festival without any precautions, an accident could happen.

‘Maybe I need [The Firefly’s Brush with Misfortune]?’

Seo-jun considered drawing a talisman for himself.

Seo Eun-hye sighed.

“So Seo-jun can’t go to such festivals anymore? That’s a shame. You should go to such places, make memories, and take pictures.”

“Should I wear a mask?”

“Since it’s winter, maybe a hat and scarf could cover it?”

Still, the couple felt regretful that they couldn’t go and started discussing various ideas. Seo Eun-chan cleared his throat.

“I have a good suggestion…”

“I knew it. You bought soy sauce crab and seasoned crab, and I thought it was a bribe?”

“Why doesn’t Eun-chan’s repertoire ever change?”

“Exactly!”

Seo-jun and his parents nodded as if they expected it, and Seo Eun-chan laughed awkwardly.

Everyone was too sharp.

“There’s an outdoor music broadcast on Christmas Eve. How about coming as a guest? A special appearance!”

“With the hyungs?”

“Yeah. With the Brown Black guys. You can sing or just come out and greet. The kids’ dance is too intense, so dancing is out.”

“Hmm.”

Seo-jun pondered. Seo Eun-chan smiled slyly and tempted Seo-jun.

“You’ve never been on a live broadcast, right? This is a nationwide live broadcast on terrestrial TV. Plus, there will be a huge audience.”

“I’ll do it!”

Live broadcast!

When else would I get to be on a live broadcast!

Seo Eun-chan silently cheered. He could handle the Brown Black kids who kept clamoring to see Seo-jun and the broadcast station PDs who begged for Seo-jun’s appearance, saying just once, only once.

“Do you want to sing? Or just greet?”

“I’ll sing!”

Everyone nodded at Seo-jun’s words, then twisted their heads. Even Seo Eun-chan, who suggested singing, suddenly wondered. Had Seo-jun ever sung before?

The next day.

Seo-jun followed his uncle Seo Eun-chan to Cocoa Entertainment.

He looked at the three-story building. This was the agency of Brown Black, the best idol group in the industry? Seo-jun frowned.

“It’s small.”

“Ahahaha.”

He was right. Brown Black had debuted five years ago.

They had been number one for five years straight.

Their agency was too small for such a successful idol group.

Seo-jun tried to think positively.

Maybe the building was bigger inside.

Maybe it had nice facilities.

But contrary to his expectations, the first floor of the building was a restaurant, and the second floor was a taekwondo academy.

One! Two!

The sound of shouting echoed through the stairs.

Seo-jun’s expression got worse.

Cocoa Entertainment only occupied the third floor.

What? Why? Seo-jun’s eyes widened.

Seo Eun-chan sighed inwardly.

He knew he shouldn’t judge by appearances, but…

As they reached the front door of Cocoa Entertainment, seo-jun cautiously opened his mouth.

“Uncle, do you get paid well?”

“Yeah. I’m doing fine.”

“What about the hyungs?”

“They get paid according to their contracts.”

Was it his imagination, or did the word ‘contracts’ sound louder than usual?

Seo-jun’s questions made Seo Eun-chan sigh out loud.

“Seo-jun, do you remember hearing about the new idol group that our company was launching?”

“Yeah. Ye-jun hyung was so happy that he would have juniors.”

It was two or three years ago. Hwang Ye-jun had called him with an excited voice and yelled for the whole conversation. Seo-jun had hung up after a while because his ears hurt.

“They invested a lot in that idol group, but it failed soon after.”

It was because of the criminal records of two of the five members.

When that came to light, the president had cursed at Brown Black, the only source of income for Cocoa Entertainment, and quickly disbanded the group.

He had planned to keep them for a few more years if it was a matter of talent.

“And then, a year later, they tried to make another idol group, but sigh.”

This time, one of the members had plagiarized a song that he claimed to be his own.

They had filmed a music video, released a song, and were about to debut, when the plagiarism accusation came up.

It was a song by an unknown indie group from overseas, but the group had become popular on YouTube and reached Korea.

Since Brown Black was also active with self-composed songs by Hwang Ye-jun and Park Seo-jin, they had disbanded the group before getting involved.

After that, the president and the staff were reluctant to make a new idol group.

Seo Eun-chan was unhappy about that. They had to keep investing. They couldn’t rely on Brown Black forever.

“That’s why the company is like this. They keep spending the money they earned.”

“Where do the hyungs practice?”

“There is a practice room here, but it’s the one they used before debut. The facilities are not good, so they used their own money to find a place near their dorm.”

Seo Eun-chan shook his head.

He felt sorry for the singers who had to pay for their own practice room.

The company’s situation made him sigh.

“Then, why did we come here?”

Seo-jun tilted his head.

Wouldn’t it be better to go to their practice room?

“To get a camera. The camera they use for practice is broken. They need to buy a new one, and they’re looking for a good one online.”

“Are they going to upload their practice videos on YouTube?”

“Okay. After the music show ends. If I upload it now, there won’t be any surprises!”

Seo-jun nodded. A new video would be uploaded on his channel [JUN].

“Seo-jun!”

“It’s been a long time since I saw you in person!”

“You’ve grown so much.”

In the clean practice room of the 10-story building, there was Brown Black.

Seo-jun ran to them and hugged them.

Kevin lifted him up high and swung him around. Seo-jun laughed out loud.

And then the other members also took turns lifting Seo-jun up.

After the lively greetings, they got down to business.

“What song do you like, seo-jun?”

“Maybe a calm song would be good if Seo-jun wants to sing too?”

“Fast songs would be too hard for sure.”

Seo-jun and Brown Black listened to the songs that they had uploaded on YouTube and eliminated them one by one.

Finally, they found a song. The second mini album. TODAY.

“It’s calm and good for listening at Christmas.”

“The lyrics are not too hard either.”

“Shall we start practicing then?”

Park Seo-jin, the lead vocalist, taught Seo-jun the song one by one. Seo-jun sang along diligently.

“Higher here.”

“Slower here.”

“Pronounce the lyrics more clearly.”

Seo-jun sang as Park Seo-jin told him. He raised his voice and sang along with the flowing MR.

How is it? Did I do well?

His face was full of pride and Park Seo-jin’s eyes shook.

Pfft.

Seo-jun turned his head and saw his uncle Chan in the corner of the practice room, shivering and crouching.

He looked around and saw that the other hyungs were the same.

They covered their mouths, but their eyes were squinted.

That’s. Seo-jun’s eyes narrowed.

“Pwahaha!”

Seo Eun-chan burst out laughing first.

And then Brown Black also started laughing one after another. Seo-jun stomped his feet with his face turned red.

“Don’t laugh! Uncle! It’s my first time!”

“Hahaha. I have to show this to your sister!”

“Yeah. Seo-jun. It’s your first time. It’ll be okay if you practice. You guys stop laughing too!”

Park Seo-jin tried to comfort Seo-jun, but Seo-jun didn’t hear him.

He tried to hold back his laughter, but it wasn’t easy.

He saw his uncle and hyungs snorting and glared at them with his eyes sharp.

He was going to be a superstar. Singing? What can’t he do?

“Seo-jin hyung. Play the music.”

Seo-jun said with a determined face.

He had a week left until the live broadcast on Christmas Eve.