Wasn't It Supposed to Be Sealed?
“Wasn't it supposed to be sealed away?”
'I thought she'd used it to beat Lee Yu-kyeong and then put it back!'
When on earth had she taken it out and started swinging it again, Mother?
“Huh? I heard she swung it around yesterday. Apparently she smashed a few pieces of the second son's furniture.”
Oh dear.
“Maybe because she's gotten so strong now, it apparently sits in her hand beautifully.”
Ah. Right. I had used that coin after all.
“The second son's side didn't even get touched, but they dodged it, fell over, and had to call a doctor. Thanks to that, it even made the papers.”
That had nothing to do with me.
'Oh no—Mom can't go to the detention center!'
What should I do?
“Will my mommy be okay?”
“Her ankle broke. No, how do you even fall hard enough to snap an ankle like that?”
“No, my mommy.”
“Huh? Of course Soo-jung is fine.”
“Then, not to jail?”
“Why would Soo-jung go there?”
Ah. So she wasn't going.
“Then it's fine. I'm just worried her hand might hurt.”
She must have been exhausted, swinging something that huge around.
CEO Seo went quiet. I tilted my head.
“Why?”
“No, I think I just figured out where your courage comes from. Gongja, you really are Soo-jung's son.”
Why was he suddenly praising me?
“Thank you!”
“Wow, seriously. I'm losing it. That mother-son pair is no joke. Gongja, aren't you scared that your mom swings a bat around?”
Not at all. She was swinging it because of Gongja.
I was just worried Mother would be tired after doing all that for me.
CEO Seo scratched his head and laughed.
“Hah. Really now. Hahahaha.”
I grinned back at him, and just then a staff member came in.
“Gongja, please get ready.”
Ah. Time to work.
I climbed down from the chair and took Deok-su's hand. In the hallway, the people I was already familiar with had already arrived.
“Gongja, hi!”
“Hello!”
Nice to meet you, Jung Yu-jin.
“You dressed cute again today.”
Oh? Is that so?
I looked down. Sure enough, there was still a ribbon tied around my neck today.
'CEO Seo said it looks like an English boarding school uniform.'
Maybe it was because my face was so refined and pretty. Honestly, even I had to admit it suited me.
'I do look like some precious little rich kid.'
Which, in fact, I was.
'A precious little rich kid whose mom swings a bat for him.'
Ah, Mother. I'll be a good son.
Jung Yu-jin held out her hand. I let go of Deok-su's hand and trotted over to take it.
“Gongja, did you sleep well yesterday?”
“Yep.”
“I was a little restless. I was too happy to sleep.”
Well, that made sense. Very possible.
“You probably don't realize it, but this is a huge audience count. It's the first time this has ever happened in my filmography.”
I know. Why would I not know?
'But for a child actor, not knowing would be the normal thing.'
Jung Yu-jin smiled.
“I guess Gongja really is my lucky four-leaf clover.”
Ah.
“It wasn't luck.”
I looked up at Jung Yu-jin and whispered, “It was just that your acting was unbelievably, unbelievably amazing, senior.”
Honestly, the mother role was incredibly important.
'You were so good you practically chewed up The Basement and swallowed it whole.'
The version I'd seen before was erased from my memory.
“Oh?”
“Gongja's acting only followed after yours, senior.”
Well, it was the backbone of the story, but the kid's emotions weren't all that extreme.
'So it wasn't a very difficult performance.'
Of course, that only applied if you ignored how hard it would be for most child actors. But I was in my second life, wasn't I?
'Still, honestly, I got away with a lot.'
Even if I had worked my hardest, if Jung Yu-jin's acting had been off, this work would have sunk.
“Oh, I didn't expect to hear that from Gongja...”
Jung Yu-jin laughed and went on, “Wow. My life is pretty good, Gongja.”
“Yep.”
“Thank you.”
I beamed at her.
“For what?”
“Seriously, you're too cute. Honestly, anyone who hates you can't be normal. Who could hate you? You only say such sweet things.”
Well, it was true. And besides, there were quite a few people who did hate me, Jung Yu-jin.
I walked forward slowly, still holding her hand. Jung Yu-jin muttered, “Shouldn't every family get one Gongja?”
Huh?
“Senior Soo-jung is lucky.”
There was also Director Rhy-lac and the other cast members in the hallway. After we greeted each other, the staff waved us inside.
I squared my shoulders.
'Honestly, this audience Q&A is going to be a bit of a war.'
And yet, for some reason, I felt incredibly reassured.
“Hello, and welcome to the audience Q&A for The Basement, the film that has surpassed 8 million viewers and is now heading toward 9 million.”
Clap, clap, clap—
I clapped along with the other actors around me. The host smiled and said, “Director, you must be pleased.”
Director Rhy-lac lowered the microphone on the table and said, “Ah, very pleased.”
“You knew this would happen, didn't you?”
In an instant, laughter filled the auditorium.
'Audience members really are different from reporters.'
The atmosphere was so warm.
'Well, there may be a reporter sitting among them, but still.'
Even so, anyone who came to an audience Q&A probably loved this film.
'I can tell just by looking at their eyes.'
Unlike reporters, they were unbelievably kind.
Director Rhy-lac laughed as he answered, “Hah! When I said it would do well, I was really just bragging, but now it's reality.”
The audience laughed again. The host shook his head and said, “Ah, Director. You're the same as ever. This audience Q&A is being streamed live on YouTube, by the way. Please bear with us. It's my first time in a situation like this, so I'm pretty nervous too.”
It's all right, host. Soon it'll be just another day at the office.
“All right, The Basement, one of the most anticipated releases of the second half of the year. It's already pushing toward 9 million viewers, and some are even predicting it won't have any trouble crossing 10 million. We gathered here today to answer any questions you may have about The Basement. Ask away. Yes, the person in the checkered shirt.”
The host smoothly picked the first questioner.
“Hello. I've seen The Basement twice.”
Looks like you enjoyed it.
“I have a question for Jung Yu-jin. I'm a huge fan, by the way. There were a lot of difficult scenes—were you okay?”
Jung Yu-jin brought the microphone close and answered, “I was fine. I actually have more stamina than you'd expect.”
Once again, laughter rippled through the hall.
“The scenes were difficult, though. There were almost no cheerful moments. But playing the mother made me happy. I'd been waiting for a role like that, and I really wanted to do it. And besides...”
Jung Yu-jin reached out and patted my hair as she said, “The chemistry with my son was good.”
Oh, now she was lifting me up like this in front of everyone.
I smiled bashfully and looked at Jung Yu-jin. When our eyes met, she gave me a tiny wink.
The host picked back up, “That's right. The leads in The Basement really did have wonderful chemistry. Gongja's acting has drawn quite a bit of attention this time. Our Gongja is a gem in the film industry. Yes, the person in the blue shirt. Go ahead.”
“Yes, I've seen it three times. I want to ask Gongja something. Gongja, I really loved your acting. But when you act, what are you thinking about?”
That was a simple question, but a difficult one.
'This is why audience Q&As are so tricky.'
Unexpected questions really did come flying at you.
'Anything I say should be fine, but I should probably answer seriously.'
I looked at the person who had asked and smiled brightly.
“It changes scene by scene. When it's sad, I think sad thoughts, and when it's happy, I think of good things.”
I think most actors are probably the same.
The audience member hurriedly asked again, “Then what kind of sad thoughts?”
That... was what they were curious about? I should probably answer seriously.
“I think about Mama being sick.”
Well, she was healthy now, since I'd spent coins on her.
“Just thinking about it makes me sad.”
I'd never once seen her bedridden, though.
The host said, “Oh, so that's how it is for Gongja.”
“Yep. It makes me worried and scared.”
It suddenly took me back to when I was little. There had definitely been a time when I collected 30,000 coins just to make Mom healthy.
'If it hadn't been for the coins, I couldn't have guaranteed Mom's health.'
The audience member who'd asked the question looked pained.
'I'm glad she's okay now.'
I grinned and moved the microphone away from my mouth.
“Kids are scared when their parents are sick. Parents all over the country, please stay healthy. All right, next question. You there, with your hair tied back.”
“I want to ask Director Rhy-lac about the ending. Is it happy?”
The director smiled and replied, “I left a little room for an open ending, but I think it's happy. It'll be happy. That mother and son pair, anyway.”
I let out a breath. So far, the audience Q&A had been going really well.
'Sooner or later, the troublemakers ought to show up.'
If even CEO Seo had been worried enough to come looking for me, the situation was obvious enough.
'People are passive when they express approval, but active when they show dislike.'
Well, I had come prepared for this.
“Yes, next question. The person in the gold-rimmed glasses.”
“Yes. I have something else I'd like to ask. I heard Han Su-yoon was originally being considered for the son's role. Even though Gongja has had some controversy around him, was there a special reason you cast him in this role?”
The left side of Director Rhy-lac's forehead twitched.
'Wow. That's more direct than a reporter.'
It was basically, Why did you cast me when there was all that accounting fraud noise?
The director's breathing came through the microphone.
“A special reason, huh. Hmm. Come to think of it, everyone involved probably assumed we cast Gongja because he's a hot topic. Well, since this is an audience Q&A, you've all seen the film, right?”
The audience answered with a unanimous “Yes!”
“The answer is in the film. Gongja acted well. Of course, his angelic face helped too. But I honestly can't imagine any other route for the son's role besides Gongja. Right now, this is the best of the best.”
Wow, that was praise indeed.
'I'd already known they thought I did well, but hearing it right in front of me feels different.'
They really were looking at me fondly.
'Still, I should probably look a little scared.'
Normally, in an audience Q&A, they wouldn't ask a child actor a question like that.
'If I want to set up a foundation later, I need to build up some controversy first...'
I glanced around first. I needed to calm Deok-su down before anything else.
Deok-su was in the front row. I met his eyes and blinked twice. He nodded, understanding.
'Ah, here we go.'
I deliberately hunched my shoulders a little more.
People murmured softly. I gave a faint smile. Jung Yu-jin rested a hand on my shoulder.
'Hmm. Is this where it ends?'
Would there be one more?
I was in the middle of those thoughts when the host hurriedly spoke up.
“Ah, um. Please refrain from questions like that. Gongja is still very young, so he probably doesn't know yet. All right, next question. You there, next to him?”
The audience member took the microphone.
“Ah, I think kids know more than adults give them credit for. Gongja, do you know what accounting fraud is?”
Wow. That was a sharp one.
Deok-su flinched. I blinked again. It was my signal that I was okay.
'This is being streamed live on YouTube, too.'
Would this end up archived as footage?
A murmur spread through the audience. The host looked at a loss. I answered honestly.
“I don't really know.”
Then something utterly unbelievable happened.
What?
An empty 500-milliliter plastic bottle arced through the air and came flying toward me.
I blinked. For some reason, a laugh almost escaped me.
'Wow. This is really going to be a massive headline.'
What an honor. Truly.
I twisted my body slightly. The bottle grazed my cheek and fell away.
Tap.
The bottle rolled away across the floor. And then every single person in the cast shot to their feet.