Chapter 110
I’m translating the chapter now, keeping the narration fluid and the special in-universe formatting in HTML where needed.CHAPTER_TITLE: Episode 110
I blinked.
Hmm, Mom’s operating on a pretty big scale here...
I thought of my first-birthday party. It had been years ago, but I could still see it clearly in my mind.
That one was insanely lavish.
If even she thought this could be handled, then...
I, I’m scared.
What exactly did Mom do?
Whether she knew what I was thinking or not, she drove on with unusual focus. I tilted my head.
Come to think of it, are we even allowed to go out in the first place?
I remembered the plastic bottle that had flown at me.
If that’s all it was, maybe the public backlash isn’t too bad yet...
I’d heard from Itae that things had blown up after that.
Mom and Mr. Deoksu aren’t saying much, though.
Both of them were trying to calm me down.
I’m fine, though...
I let out a quiet breath.
Honestly, the bottle isn’t the problem. Worrying about these two is the real issue.
No matter how many times I told them it was fine, Mom looked like she was going to cry anyway.
Well, I guess I get it.
Of course a parent would worry about their child.
Still.
I wished they’d recognize a little more clearly that I was strong.
Maybe it’s because I’m still young.
Would it be better once I grew up a bit?
I let out a small sigh.
Well, it’s not just the two of them who’ve been overreacting.
It was Itae who said that.
“Gongja, your fans are staging a protest in front of the police station.”
Honestly, I had no idea what he was talking about.
“As soon as the article came out saying they were going to let the culprit off with a warning, the Gomja started protesting.”
W-what?
I didn’t know it would come to this...
No, seriously, why were they out there suffering through this miserable weather to protest?
Our Gomja don’t need to go through that...
They were doing it right now, apparently, and I wanted to send them something, anything.
Did coffee trucks even exist at this point in time? No, more importantly, could I even send one myself?
I lifted my head.
“Mama! Have you ever received coffee when filming?”
“Hm? No?”
Damn. So it hadn’t been invented yet.
Still, I can’t just leave them like this!
They were out there protesting in awful weather because of me!
“Mama, order pizza or fried chicken! Burgers, too. No, wait. A meal truck! A meal truck would be best!”
“Gongja, why? What are you talking about all of a sudden?”
“The Gomja are protesting at the police station. I’m worried they’ll be hungry.”
Mom went quiet. Years of experience told me that when she got like that, she was thinking.
She turned the wheel and said, “Would a meal truck be enough?”
What?
“They’re people we’re grateful to, so a meal truck wouldn’t be enough. No, wait. Should I call in a hotel buffet?”
W-wait. Mother.
Now I’m embarrassed that I shouted for pizza and burgers first.
That was my mom all over. Her scale was absurd.
“I should get a hotel buffet. But if I order it under my own name, that’ll cause another uproar, won’t it? Good. I made a president for exactly this kind of moment.”
Huh?
She called right away. Since it was on speakerphone, the ringing was stark and clear.
“Oh. Soo-jung. What’s up?”
“President, could you order a hotel buffet for me? I’ll pay for it, but put it under your name.”
“Out of nowhere? No, what are you talking about?”
“The fans protesting in front of the police station because of Gongja. I want to feed them a hotel buffet.”
Wow. Mother.
Her scale really was something else. I focused on the two of them talking.
Will CEO Seo try to stop her, or let it go through?
I was curious, too.
Honestly, I can understand both sides.
CEO Seo was silent for a while. Then he said carefully, “Won’t my name get exposed too?”
“Oh, really?”
“Can we use my wife’s name, too?”
“Yes. I’ll send the cash over.”
“Okay. But Soo-jung, which buffet place is good? The one for Gongja’s first-birthday party was delicious.”
“Should we use that one?”
“And you think they’ll just do it that fast?”
“Probably.”
Was that actually possible, Mother?
“I’ll call ahead. I’ll figure out the headcount too, so just pay with your wife’s card.”
“All right. Ah, the article was art.”
Mom gave a wry smile.
“Well, after so many years working together, I can turn an article into art.”
“He really is the dedicated reporter for Sungjin Group.”
“That’s how much he’s been fed over the years. The ones who give it, and the ones who gobble it up...”
“Still, this time he did well.”
Mom smiled bitterly again.
“Yes, well. He did.”
“Tell the madam thank you for me. It seems like she did this for Gongja.”
Huh?
What does that mean?
I blinked. Mom shook her head.
“As if.”
“No, no, I’ve got a feeling. Isn’t the madam fond of Gongja?”
“No way. I’d be surprised if she just doesn’t swear at him.”
“You can like someone and still swear at them. Soo-jung, try being a little more positive. I’m telling you, my instincts say that’s what it is.”
Mom said firmly, “The world could flip upside down and it still wouldn’t be true. President, hang up. We’re almost there.”
“Ah, right. You said you were bringing Gongja. All right.”
Mom turned off the smartphone and let out a long breath. I quietly sorted through my thoughts.
The madam means Grandma, right?
She liked me? So she’d ordered the Sungjin Group reporters to ease off?
Well, that’s possible.
That was the power of addiction, after all.
My charm wasn’t wasted!
I grinned to myself.
As the saying goes, sincerity moves heaven. She may look like an iron fortress, but bit by bit, she’s showing cracks.
Next time I saw her, maybe I should thank her with a kiss or something.
Being cute really is the best.
I’d still be cute for about ten more years, so I should keep at it.
Hmm, though I’ll probably get handsome in about ten years, so that’s a little worrying.
What if she didn’t like masculine looks?
Well, that’s something I’ll have to find out face-to-face.
In front of ultimate beauty, style didn’t really matter, did it?
This face is the best.
Trust myself, trust my looks, Ma Gongja.
I can do this!
I had my arms folded and was nodding to myself when, before I knew it, the car had stopped in an underground parking garage.
Mom said cheerfully, “Gongja. Let’s get out!”
“Yes!”
I hopped out of the car right away. Then I trotted over and grabbed Mom’s hand.
Mom snorted.
“Why are you laughing?”
“Your hand is a little higher up now.”
Ah.
I did grow in a hurry.
I’d wondered if I was pushing it a little, but these days I thought it had been the right call.
Now that I’m bigger, my acting range has widened too.
I wondered what sort of role I’d be given next.
Every day is fun.
In that sense, I wanted to grow up fast.
I’m holding back from getting any taller here, though. If I keep going, I might end up an overgrown kid compared to my peers.
When would I get to act as an adult?
Then Mom suddenly stopped walking.
When I glanced back, I heard her speak in a very small voice.
“When did he get this big?”
Her words were full of regret.
“Gongja.”
“Yes!”
“Don’t grow up too fast.”
Mom whispered softly, “Your heart, your body. Our Gongja seems to be growing too fast. A child is happiest when he’s still a child.”
Oh, no.
So she does understand, at least a little.
She meant that I was acting like the bottle incident didn’t matter.
I squeezed her hand tight.
“Mama, Gongja is really fine. Because...”
I lifted my head. Then I met her eyes and smiled brightly.
“I know you’ll protect me.”
Honestly, I think it’s better if the public’s opinion shifts after I get hit with a bottle.
Sorry. You’re worried about me, and I’m only thinking about my own gain.
Mom bent down and hugged me tightly.
“I see. Mom didn’t know.”
She let out a long breath and said, “That’s why our Gongja is so strong.”
“Yes.”
No matter how much chaos there was, I was your son. Honestly, what did I have to fear? You’re my mom.
“But this time, Mom made a mistake. No matter what, I put you in danger.”
“Life is dangerous to begin with. Don’t blame yourself.”
If a child gets hurt, that doesn’t automatically mean it’s the parent’s fault. Why else would they be called accidents?
“Is that so?”
“If you drink too much water, that can be dangerous too. Gongja getting hit by a bottle is like that. Don’t worry about it. What matters is that I’m fine.”
Mom smiled faintly.
“Honestly... why is he so lovable? Is it because he’s my son?”
I smiled brightly and nodded.
“Yes. Because I’m Mama’s son.”
“Ah, my angel.”
As she stood up, Mom rubbed the back of my neck.
“He’s so adorable it makes me afraid someone’s going to steal him away.”
She worried about the strangest things.
“It’s true, Gongja. There are quite a few people who’ve even said they want to marry your mom because of you.”
I stopped walking in an instant.
“What?”
“How many was it again? One, two, three...”
My brow twisted all at once.
Okay, it’s very nice if Mom ends up with a good person...
Ah, damn.
I hate that.
Why was that?
I really hate it.
I narrowed my eyes. I hated it with every fiber of my being.
“Who is it?”
Which bastard was it?
“Huh? Gongja? Your cheeks are all puffed up.”
“Who is it.”
Even if I had to spend five trillion coins, I’d erase his existence.
“Gongja, are you angry?”
“Mama, listen. Maybe someday a good connection will come along, but promise me one thing.”
“Y-yes?”
“It has to be someone I approve of.”
I’m serious, Mother.
No man sees another man more clearly.
I’d have to inspect him from top to bottom.
I added, very seriously, “Ah, dating is fine.”
“Huh?”
“Only if marriage is on the table. Otherwise I won’t let it happen. I’ll crush him, just like that! Who does he think he is?”
I ground my teeth. Mom stared at me for a moment, then suddenly clutched her stomach.
“AHAHAHAHA!”
“Mama?”
“Ah, my stomach. AHAHAHA! I’m losing it. My son is too adorable.”
Mom picked me up and spun me around once.
“AHAHA! Seriously. Are you worried Mom might get married again?”
I nodded with a deeply furrowed brow. Mom pressed my puffy cheeks.
“AHAHAHA! Gongja, Mom’s done with marriage now. I failed once, so I’ve lost all interest.”
Ah. Right.
I nodded.
“But if I ever do want to again, I’ll do it your way.”
That was a very wise decision.
For the record, it still has to be a decent guy.
If he isn’t someone who can make Mom happy, then he should be buried. Plain and simple.
How dare he.
Mom kept laughing as she carried me forward. A few minutes passed before I finally became curious.
“Mama, where are we going?”
“Ah, I guess I forgot to tell you.”
“Yes.”
“It kind of turned into a surprise. Gongja, cover your eyes with your hand.”
No, what exactly had she done?
Mom’s scale is so huge that I’m a little worried.
I peeked through my fingers at the hallway. The interior was spotless.
She didn’t just say, this building is yours, did she?
Since she was such a generous woman, I was a little concerned. Mom turned me around and said, “Ta-da!”
I blinked.
W-what is this?
A... museum?
When the door opened, the hallway was covered with my photos.
From movie posters to ad shoots.
One entire wall was packed with my pictures all the way up to the ceiling.
“There’s still more to hang. Gongja, this is a present. This building is yours, son.”