A Very Good Plan to Get Famous
I slowly replayed the situation in my head. Back then, Mom had been deeply moved because of me.
Could it be that?
Did I have to move her deeply?
This is hard, seriously.
Being moving wasn’t something that just happened that easily, you know.
I know that better than anyone, since I’m an actor.
Go ask people on the street to name something moving.
Probably not many.
Countless works came pouring out every day by the hundreds, but the ones called “moving works” were so rare you could count them on your fingers one by one.
This is tough. Tough.
I shook my head and sank back into thought.
Let’s sort this out!
Who am I?
Ma Gongja. A baby.
Where is this?
The house of actress Ma Soo-jung, third-generation chaebol.
But there was something even more important.
What’s left on my plate?
I folded down one tiny finger.
One, Mom’s health.
I would never let her die!
I would make sure she stayed healthy, no matter what!
All right, so how did I do that?
I need to gather coins.
I had to collect an enormous number: 30,000.
Let’s set that aside for now and move on.
I took a deep breath and grabbed another finger. My fine motor skills still weren’t fully developed or something, because my middle finger folded too.
Two. My dream.
Acting, film. A top star.
I flailed my arms and legs.
I’ll make it. I’ll absolutely make it. I’ll get big and slam my name right into the movie industry.
I could do this!
With this face, it was possible! Who wouldn’t give me a script?
Any project, any role—I could do it all!
I remembered all the time I’d spent waiting on set. No matter how hard I’d tried, I couldn’t become the lead. Even when I stole sideways glances, that spot was still completely out of reach.
If I’d done it through skill, of course I could’ve made it.
If someone had simply cast me as the lead, I could’ve paid them back with my acting.
I had a few chances like that, too.
But whenever people saw this face, the investors who had come running would turn and flee.
But not anymore.
Because with this face, I can do it!
Even the investors who used to run away would cling to me once they saw my face.
My excitement made heat rise to my face. I fanned myself with a tiny palm.
I have to get famous.
But how? When? Right now?
Thud—
An arm dropped. I frowned and looked down at my hand.
Small. Immature.
My middle finger showed no intention of straightening. I really was still just a tiny baby.
I still need time, just like this finger.
Someday I’d act, all right.
But still.
I don’t want to wait anymore.
It had been too long already, too long to keep enduring.
Besides, the situation was good.
If I’m going to do it anyway, can’t I just move fast?
I thought of my past life. Even among child actors, there were quite a few whose parents were entertainers.
Well, people do say entertainers are all nepotism and inheritance and complain about it, but…
It was true that they had an easier starting line than ordinary people.
I’m Ma Soo-jung’s son now.
From a recognition standpoint, wasn’t this hugely advantageous?
A grin spread across my face.
Besides, I’ve got coins.
The answer came to me at once.
“Wah-oo-yaah!”
I’m going to be famous!
Right now.
To do that, I need to spend coins.
Just like back when I used it to do a photo shoot with actress Ma Soo-jung at the orphanage, if I used this now, I could seize a better opportunity.
Of course, there’s a price.
At that thought, a sigh slipped out of me.
“Bwaaah.”
Damn it.
The price aside, I can’t just burn coins like crazy.
I needed to save 30,000 of them to make Mom healthy.
I need to use this to get famous, but then I’ve still got to earn more afterward.
Then it happened.
Suddenly, captions started rising before my eyes.
<Person 1 who saw your adorable face likes it.>
<Love & Peace Coin increases by 1.>
<Person 2 who saw your adorable face likes it.>
<Love & Peace Coin increases by 1.>
<Person 1 who saw your cute face likes it.>
<Love & Peace Coin increases by 1.>
<Person 1 inspired by your adorable face likes it.>
<Love & Peace Coin increases by 1.>
<Person 1 from the supplier side who saw your adorable face likes it.>
<Love & Peace Coin increases by 1.>
<Person 1 from the PR team who saw your adorable face likes it.>
<Love & Peace Coin increases by 1.>
The text shot upward like it had gone insane. I blinked.
What the heck, why is this happening?
I didn’t even have time to read it. The captions blocked everything from view. Dizzy, I shouted,
“Bwaa, b-bbu, bwoo-bbu!”
Hide the captions for a second!
<Ma Soo-jung fan 2: Haaah, haaah likes your cute face.>
<Love & Peace Coin increases by 1.>
With that last caption, the world before my eyes gradually cleared. I tilted my head, looking at my now-clean field of vision.
What, so this kind of function existed too?
Why hadn’t I known? No, that wasn’t the important part.
“Bwa-i, bwooo!”
The coins increased!
That means a lot of people suddenly saw me?
Was there some kind of exposure to the general public I’d forgotten about?
Ah, right.
The photo shoot.
They said it was a Sungjin Group charity in-house promotional photo shoot.
Ah.
A grin spread across my face.
Why didn’t I think of that?
Mom’s health and my success as an actor.
The two goals weren’t opposites.
If I just spend coins to get famous first, that solves everything.
Once I’m famous, I can gather more coins and make Mom healthy!
I pressed a tiny hand to my forehead.
If two things are one, then it’s simple!
I brought both hands together as if merging my goals into one.
“Ppuaah-pwaa!”
I’m going to be famous!
Right now!
I immediately turned to look at Mom. She smiled brightly at me.
I was the sort of person who used whatever I could use.
Ma Soo-jung’s son.
Using that would be easy.
Let’s start with the easy stuff!
“Ppup-ppu, ppa-ppu, ppu-ya-woo! Ppu!”
Use Love & Peace Coin!
How would you like to use the Love & Peace Coin?
“Ppu-pya-ppuu-fyu, ppu-pya, ppu-ppe, ppu-yu!”
Put the charity photo Mom and I took on a site with lots of people!
Sungjin Group charity in-house promotional photo will be posted to a high-traffic internet community for 2 coins. Execute?
Wow. That’s awfully cheap.
If the coin count is that low, there’s nothing to think about.
“Pippa!”
Execute!
It will be carried out within 10 hours.
Everything has a price.
As a side effect, for one month actress Ma Soo-jung’s personality will become even bolder and more shameless.
Huh.
What kind of side effect is that?
No, could that even count as a side effect to begin with? What kind of standard was this?
I blinked, utterly dumbfounded.
Then Mom called me.
“Gongja.”
I lifted my head at once. Mom was lying beside me and patting my back.
Beautiful, as always, though that goes without saying.
But something felt off.
Actress Ma Soo-jung.
Wasn’t she supposed to be famous in the film world for her fiery personality?
Caption, I’m not saying you’re wrong, but… wasn’t our mom already bold and shameless to begin with?
And now even more?
I smiled brightly. Mom smiled back when she saw me grin.
Well, it should be fine.
It’s only for a month.
Mm, right?
I smiled to myself and shoved the thought away.
* * *
Mom rummaged through my wardrobe. I gripped the railing of my crib, stood up, then sank down and pushed up again with my butt.
Ah, seriously!
My legs gave out again. There was a reasonably soft mat on the floor, so it didn’t hurt, but I really wasn’t pleased with my legs.
Move properly already.
I grabbed the rail again and forced strength into my legs.
Then Mom let out a groan and bowed her head deeply.
“Aaaah! Why isn’t there a lion!”
Hm? A lion?
I gave an awkward smile and looked down at my arms. White fur puffed out fluffy and soft.
So, is this a rabbit?
I sighed.
It’s an animal costume, right?
When I looked down, there was an unbearably adorable outfit.
She dressed me up because it was cute?
But for some reason,
it’s just clothing, but…
I’d only worn it for the first time this morning, and yet somehow it already felt like I’d be wearing it for a very long time. Was that just my imagination?
At Mom’s groan, Ansan-daek came in.
“Oh my, Miss, what’s wrong?”
“There’s no lion!”
“Huh? There should be one. Ah, here it is! I’ll change him right away!”
Oh no. From rabbit to lion.
Well, with this face, what on earth wouldn’t look good? I held out my hands and said,
“Ppah!”
“Oh, how cute! Come on then, Gongja. Let’s try on the lion outfit too.”
Ansan-daek changed my clothes with practiced hands. I tilted my head under the hooded sweatshirt with the mane on it.
Then a caption rose up.
<Ansan-daek, who saw you wearing cute clothes, is happy.>
<Love & Peace Coin increases by 1.>
<Total coins: 1,021>
Ah, so I really was cute.
Well, with this face, what wouldn’t look good?
Mom beamed and said,
“Gongja!”
“Baa!”
Yes, Mom.
“Mom made up her mind yesterday. I’m going to go meet the landlord right now.”
Huh? The landlord?
I looked around. The room, with its pink wallpaper, was quite large and spacious.
Wait, Mom? This house wasn’t owned outright? Don’t tell me we’re renting in Seongbuk-dong?
They were chaebols, weren’t they?
Ansan-daek hugged me and said,
“Miss, what do you mean, the landlord?”
“Isn’t that what I said?”
“How can you talk about the madam like that?”
Madam? Ah.
The answer came quickly.
“She’s your mother, Miss! If she knew you were calling her that, she’d skin you alive!”
Ah.
Mom let out a long sigh.
“Yeah. Exactly. The landlord.”
“Miss!”
“I’m the child they threw away, aren’t I? If they were going to throw me out, they should’ve just kicked me out for good. Why keep me from leaving!”
“Miss!”
“Ansan-daek, don’t shout. You’ll startle Gongja. Ah, right. Gongja, Mom’s going to go meet the landlord, and I think you need to come too.”
Ah, I think I got it.
She’s bringing me to introduce me, isn’t she?
Well, she was technically the grandmother, so of course we had to go see her.
Mom swept her hair back and said,
“Honestly, I’d love to just ignore her, but if I do, I have a feeling that while I’m not around, she’ll quietly ship our Gongja off somewhere without a trace.”
“Miss, you can’t say stuff like ‘ignore her’! He’s a baby!”
“Ah, sorry. I should use nicer words in front of Gongja. Gongja! I’m sorry. Forget you heard that!”
……I already heard it.
Anyway, do they not get along very well?
Mom picked me up.
“Luckily, Mom knows how to deal with the landlord. You have to strike while the iron’s hot. I’ll be right back.”
Ah, that fiery personality.
“Miss, the madam’s not going to say anything nice to you! What if you leave Gongja here? You never know.”
“No. Gongja’s needed for this plan. And it’s better to finish it all at once.”
She must really hate us.
Mom patted my back and said,
“Gongja, just bear with it a little. It’ll only be once.”
“Miss!”
“I’ve been worrying about the Lee Yu-kyeong mess all day, but I think this is better.”
Mom drew in a breath while holding me.
“If you’re going to deal with a rotten landlord, wouldn’t it be best to turn into a lunatic too?”
Ansan-daek slapped a hand to her forehead and shouted,
“What are you talking about? A lunatic?”
“I can’t face the landlord with a clear head, can I? Hmm, should I drink something?”
“Miss!”
“It’s fine. I’m not drinking. I quit, remember? You know I’m thorough. This morning I came up with a great plan while looking at Gongja.”
Ansan-daek sighed and asked,
“What kind of plan?”
“I’m thinking of singing a song.”
“What?”
“I’ve acted in musical films too, you know. I’m actually pretty good at singing.”
Ansan-daek’s eyes trembled.
“N-no, Miss. I-I mean, in front of the madam? You’re going to sing?”
“Yeah. Facing that landlord is miserable enough that I need to sing at least. Our landlord isn’t someone normal people can even look in the eye. You probably have to go completely off the rails before you can get a word in.”
“What happened overnight! You were already such a spirited person, and now you’ve gotten even weirder!”
“Me? I’m fine. I’m fine.”
“How is that fine!”
Mom hoisted me up. I nestled against her and tilted my head.
Had she suddenly changed?
Could this be the side effect?
I looked up at Mom. Her lips were pressed tight together as she strode forward. She looked like a warrior heading out to war.
The side effect was supposed to be that she’d become bolder and more shameless.
As she walked, the mane on the hoodie I was wearing swayed back and forth.
Well, wouldn’t that be fine? Mom was beautiful, after all! Right. It would be okay!
Hmm, by the way, what kind of person is Grandma?
I deliberately pushed my mind elsewhere and smiled awkwardly.