Charming the Neighborhood Ajummas
As they safely wrapped up filming for Urban Fisherman and headed back from Tongyeong to Seoul in the car, the manager spoke up.
"Suhyeon, you're really something else."
"Pardon?"
"No matter how much I peel back the layers, it feels like there's always something new and surprising inside."
"What, am I a matryoshka doll or something? But hyung, you've gotten really good at flattery lately. Guess promotions are a big deal for company men, huh."
"I'm not kidding. I was shocked when you arm-wrestled Kim Jeongguk on Rush Man, but seeing you rattle off all those languages on Abnormal Summit really blew my mind. I've never once seen you study a foreign language in all these years... And you said you'd never been sea fishing before—how the hell did you snag first place and that golden badge? These past few days, you've got me completely off-balance."
"The arm-wrestling? That's just from doing martial arts since I was a kid. Languages? I study at home, so you wouldn't catch me at it. And fishing was pure beginner's luck—you know, that thing where newbies hit it big. I never imagined reeling in a grouper that size myself."
"And now you've gotta go back on Urban Fisherman in two weeks because of it."
"Hey, that's great. Got to blow off some steam, and riding out on that boat felt refreshing—stress gone, good vibes all around."
The sea's less polluted than land, so the qi feels way more abundant... If I went further out, it'd be perfect for building neigong. Maybe I should live on Jeju like Lee Hyori someday.
"Where we heading for fishing in two weeks? You got the badge, so you pick the spot for the outing."
"What do I know about fishing? Pick somewhere you like, hyung. Just tell the production team."
"Alright. There's a spot near Bijin Island where the fish are biting like crazy..."
"Perfect—notify the team about that. Seongcheol hyung, what's the schedule like after we hit Seoul?"
"Nothing major. They said you can ease off variety shows for a bit. This much is plenty—too many gigs could backfire. Park Siljang wants to see your face when we arrive."
"We'll get to Seoul around dinner time... Hyung, does your wife like fish dishes? Sashimi or spicy stew?"
"Loves 'em. Didn't I mention? Her family's from Incheon... Can't eat it otherwise."
At the manager's enthusiastic reply, Suhyeon thought to himself.
This guy's someone I gotta bring along when I go independent someday. Hmm. Might as well rack up some points now.
Finishing his thoughts, Suhyeon said brightly, as if it were the best idea.
"Hyung, we've got a ton of unprocessed fish in the cooler... Let's swing by your place, say hi to your wife, maybe ask her to whip up some spicy stew for dinner. I can see the baby too..."
"You think? My wife's been nagging me to bring you over. She's a decent cook."
"Yeah. If I take it home, it'll just rot in the freezer anyway. Give it all to her, score a meal, see the kid... Dinner then off to meet Park Siljang."
"OK. Sounds good... You must be beat—sleep on the way to Seoul."
Time passed, and Suhyeon woke up.
"Awake?"
"Yeah. Feels like we're in Seoul... Almost at your place?"
"Yep. Thirty minutes out."
"Nice. Weather like this—think it's okay for the baby to get a little fresh air?"
"Not even winter—should be fine. But why?"
"Aigoo, hyung... No sense at all. First time at your place—I gotta give your wife some face. Meet at the apartment entrance so neighbors see, go 'wow,' get jealous. Sneak straight in, and no one knows who's visiting."
"That'll just make it a hassle for you... Want me to call home?"
"Yeah. Tell her to bundle the baby warm against colds, get ready, and you'll call again before we arrive. Time it to come down then. Alert any close neighborhood friends too..."
"Got it. Thanks."
After the call, Suhyeon asked the manager.
"What's the baby's name?"
“‘In’ from benevolence, and ‘Cheon’ from heaven.”
"Incheon... Matches your wife's hometown pronunciation. Guess that makes me Uncle Incheon."
"Heh."
"Cool name. Feels like... he'll be a baseball star. Baek Incheon..."
They pulled into the apartment complex, and a dozen or so ajummas gathered with kids in tow caught the eye.
"Hyung, that's them?"
"Yeah, our building entrance."
"Hyung, park here. I gotta walk up from afar so people notice. That one in the middle with glasses and white dress—she your wife?"
The manager pulled over. "Yeah, that's her."
"She's way prettier in person than photos. I'll go first, snap pics and signs with the ajummas—you park and stroll up slow. Gotta properly boost her face."
"...You've changed a lot. Old you would've bitched about the hassle and bailed."
"No matter how much I change, I wouldn't do this for anyone paying. You're that precious to me."
"...Thanks, Suhyeon."
No problem. Gotta lay the groundwork now for my future ease. But... hyung's more touched than I expected.
"I'll carry the cooler. Can't show up empty-handed in front of everyone."
Suhyeon got out and strolled toward the ajummas. His celebrity aura—handsome, tall—drew stares from passersby. He flashed a brighter-than-usual, fresh smile as he approached. The murmurs grew louder the closer he got.
Suhyeon beamed innocently and bowed deeply to the woman in the white dress holding the newborn.
"Sister-in-law, it's me."
"Suhyeon! Come on in. Showing up out of the blue like this... I'm still shocked."
Suhyeon peered at the baby's face, bundled in a blanket and swaddled, gently stroking its head with a finger and soft voice.
"This must be Incheon. Hey, Incheon... Uncle's here. Hi. Sleeping, huh?"
"Yeah, tummy full—super sleepy."
"Got it. And these ladies next to you are your friends?"
"Yes, close ones from the building."
Suhyeon turned his most charming smile ever to the ajummas staring dreamily.
"Anyone need a photo or autograph?"
A bit later, after politely excusing himself from the encircled ajummas, Suhyeon headed up with the parking manager. He set the baby down in the living room, grabbed the cooler as his sister-in-law rushed to the kitchen for dinner prep, then plopped on the sofa with the manager and called out loudly.
"Wow, sister-in-law! Place is spotless and nice. You must be neat and a whiz at housework."
Baek Seongcheol muttered low. "Look at you, buttering up smooth. You've gotten good at it, Suhyeon."
Suhyeon whispered back. "Hyung, basic manners at someone's home. Manners... gets you extra food."
"True... Anyway, thanks today. You saw—wife's grin ear-to-ear. Selfish guy like me changing this much... I'll milk the respect at home awhile."
"If you're precious, so's your wife. Seongcheol hyung, let's stick together long-term."
Baek Seongcheol replied, voice thick with emotion.
"...Yeah, Suhyeon. Let's go all the way."
Mission to win him over: success. In this era, idols are powerhouses. Compared to Wu Qi sucking pus from a subordinate's wound on the battlefield, this is nothing. Such loyalty for pocket change.
"But why's Park Siljang waiting past quitting time to see me?"
"Dunno details, but BJ sent a timeline. Blockbuster movie stuff... Probably wants to discuss it with you."
"Already? That's fast..."
"Jeong Mi-yeong herself's on it—underlings hustle. Plenty manpower, their wheelhouse—progress flying."
"Hmm. Still quick... We'll hear it straight from him."
Suhyeon stood. "Where's the bathroom? Gotta wash up to hold the baby..."
After scrubbing, he sat by the baby, carefully unfolding the blanket. Stroking the softly breathing, swaddled head, he asked.
"Hyung, boy, right?"
"Yeah, lad. Kid's packing general-level gear. Balls huge... Thinking military academy later."
"Hyung... Hundred days old and you're planning that? Total baby fool... But balls that big?"
"Yep."
No way?
Suhyeon cautiously lifted the swaddle to check the testicles.
"Hmm. This... Hyung, phone?"
His tense tone as he examined made Baek Seongcheol leap up. "What? Problem?"
"Probably nothing. Gimme the phone."
He handed it over frantically. Suhyeon turned on the light, slid it carefully under the testicles.
Knowing Suhyeon's medical and TCM knowledge, Baek trembled. "Something wrong with the baby?"
The kitchen wife rushed in at the living room commotion.
"Suhyeon! What's scary? Nothing wrong with our baby, right? Hospital said zilch..."
Suhyeon shone the light through carefully.
Hmm. Just as I thought.