Chapter 28
“Hey, Gongza. You, um, are you—?”
Wow.
I was surprised too.
Seriously. He was suddenly speaking in full sentences.
I touched my throat.
Did my vocal cords just grow all at once?
Why on earth was this coming out of nowhere? At least give me some warning!
Ansan-daek stared at me with shining eyes.
“Gongza. Say it again. Oh my goodness! He’s still a baby, and he’s already talking this well!”
Apparently thrilled, Ansan-daek scooped me up and spun around with me.
“Could Gongza be a genius? How can he be like this at this age?”
Well, I don’t know much about babies, Ansan-daek.
Maybe there are some kids who start talking early?
If people decided I was a brain genius, that could turn into a problem.
I’m not stupid, but I’m not a genius either.
My face is a genius, though.
I should probably rein this in a little, before they end up disappointed later.
But contrary to my hopes, Ansan-daek already had her smartphone out and was shoving it toward my face.
“I need to tell the young miss. Gongzaaa! Look here!”
Well, that couldn’t be helped.
If it was going to Mom, then so be it.
I blinked at the camera lens.
“Now, Gongza. Hurry and call for Mom!”
Um, Ansan-daek. You are expecting a great deal from a baby who just started stringing sentences together.
But I should give her something similar.
For Mom’s happiness.
It’s really nothing much, but she’ll love it.
Ah. Was I going to make her cry again?
“Gongza, say it! Come on, look here!”
I said the one thing I most wanted to say.
“Mama!”
Then, grinning brightly, I enunciated each syllable clearly.
“Jjoo-ah!”
Even as I said it, gooseflesh rose over my arms.
Wow. Something inside me feels like it’s cracking apart.
Was this really how I had to live?
Still, if Mom can look at me and feel happy, then that’s enough.
Yes. That’s enough. Let’s not think too hard about it.
“Aww! So cute!”
Laughing, Ansan-daek fiddled with her phone. I kicked my legs and said,
Listen, Ansan-daek. Everything’s fine and all, but—
“Water, pleeease!”
“Oh, all right. Gongza, let’s go have some barley tea.”
Ansan-daek marched off in high spirits. As I was carried toward the kitchen, I stared up at the ceiling.
Well, I suppose what’s good is good.
That must be it. Probably. I had a strong urge to hide under a rock for the rest of my life, but that was probably the right answer.
I let out a long sigh.
* * *
“Thank you.”
Ma Soo-jung narrowed her eyes and crossed one leg over the other.
“What for? What are you thanking me for?”
CEO Seo grinned, bowed his head slightly once more, then straightened up.
“I really mean it. Thank you.”
Ma Soo-jung exhaled deeply. It was such a long sigh that even her hair seemed to tremble with it.
“Ah, you’re really hot these days. Really hot. Our Ma actress is in her prime.”
That much was true.
Rolling her shoulders, Ma Soo-jung said, “I know I’m doing well.”
She could vaguely guess what was going on, and a small laugh escaped her.
“People are looking for me a lot, aren’t they?”
“A lot. Chungmuro too, variety shows too. They keep asking for our Ma actress to come out and play.”
“Boss. You know all of this is because of Gongza, right?”
CEO Seo nodded vigorously.
“Of course. That beautiful baby really must be an angel.”
“Well, naturally. But still, how should I put it…”
Ma Soo-jung drew out a long breath.
“I mean, I do like being busy. Why are you reacting like that?”
“Being busy is good. Except when I can’t see Gongza. Do you know I didn’t even get to see his first steps? And on top of that…”
Ma Soo-jung lifted her phone and shoved Cocoatalk toward him. CEO Seo leaned away with his neck stretched out.
On the screen, a tiny baby was laughing giddily.
For a moment, something in the CEO’s chest seemed to melt. He wasn’t entirely sure what it was, but it definitely melted.
-Mama! Jjoo-ah!
Wow. That’s no joke.
The praise came out of him on its own.
“What kind of kid is this, making me want to nibble his cheeks just by looking at him?”
“Right?”
“He’s got a pretty face, and even the way he talks is adorable.”
“I told you he was an angel. If even you think that much after just seeing him, imagine how I feel? Ah, our Gongza talks so well, and I can’t even hear him say it in person…”
Ma Soo-jung tipped her head back and stared at the ceiling.
“I’m confident I’d make a good mother, but lately I keep wavering.”
“Hey. Gongza would understand.”
“Gongza might understand, but I don’t. If I’m honest, I could just cut down on work, but I don’t, do I?”
“How would you cut back? It’s all good roles.”
Ma Soo-jung gave a slight nod.
“Exactly. There are so many roles in an actress’s life you never get twice.”
“If you hesitate here, Ma actress, you’ll regret it.”
Ma Soo-jung sighed.
“I know. That’s why I can’t waste even a little spare time.”
CEO Seo propped his chin on his hand and asked, “So? What are you planning to do?”
“I’m going to throw Gongza’s first birthday party. Even if it’s just something small at home.”
CEO Seo blinked.
“Small? Why small of all things?”
“...Pardon?”
“Make it lavish. I’ll handle the preparations.”
“No, why are you the one preparing Gongza’s first-birthday party?”
“Because something modest just doesn’t suit you, Soo-jung?”
CEO Seo flashed a grin.
“I’m free these days. We can invite some people too. We can invite our family, can’t we?”
“Of course we can. But who else are you thinking of inviting?”
“Wahaha! Leave it to me. I’ll make sure Gongza gets a first-birthday ring that shines.”
Ma Soo-jung thought for a moment.
“Well, if it’s you, I’m sure you won’t invite anyone completely inappropriate. You know not to call the reporters, right?”
“Who do you take me for? Of course I know. I know perfectly well that if the party’s too extravagant and word gets out, people will just start criticizing us for no reason. Anyway, leave it to me. I’ll invite only the people who’re interested in you and your angel.”
Ma Soo-jung narrowed her eyes.
“Can I trust you?”
“I said trust me!”
“Sounds like you’re just using this as a pretext to do business.”
Ah. Caught.
The CEO lowered his head and glanced around sheepishly.
“W-why? Does that feel bad?”
Ma Soo-jung squinted at him. Then she let out a long sigh.
“Honestly? It does. I’m thinking maybe I should prepare for the future too.”
“Huh? What do you mean?”
Ma Soo-jung blinked up at the ceiling.
“Our Gongza. He’s adorable like an angel, but…”
“Mm-hm.”
“He likes cameras.”
Ma Soo-jung thought of all the times she’d seen Gongza.
Film shoots and premieres.
Ordinarily, he’d hate noisy places like that.
But whenever Gongza went to one, he’d stay awake out of sheer delight.
“Our Gongza feels like he was born for the stage.”
“Yeah, he really did at the premiere.”
“I’ve felt it more than once. My instincts are telling me this is the real thing.”
CEO Seo nodded.
“Ma actress, your instincts are usually sharp.”
“That’s why. I should be kicking your sales pitch out the door right now, but here I am actually considering it.”
The CEO lowered his head a little.
“Thanks for not kicking it out.”
“To think you’d use my angel’s first birthday as a pretext for business... It’s outrageous, but if Gongza were to go down that path—”
CEO Seo grinned.
“Then it’d be good for Gongza too.”
“Yes, well. I’d be able to help too. Building relationships steadily from a young age is a huge asset.”
Ma Soo-jung lifted her head back to level.
“But Gongza is still young. I’m not sure whether I’m just running wild on instinct here.”
“True. He is still young.”
“Wouldn’t it be better to give him the choice when he’s older? And even if that wasn’t the case, this birthday party…”
Ma Soo-jung smiled brightly.
“People have been gossiping all over the place about the adoption, so I want to make it so flashy it’ll make their eyes pop right out.”
CEO Seo scratched his head and agreed.
“I know exactly what you mean, Ma actress.”
“If they’re going to gossip no matter what, it’s better to go all out in plain sight.”
“Ha! That’s Ma Soo-jung for you! Okay then. We’re doing it. I’ll do it myself.”
“What, really? I was just going to leave it to a vendor.”
“I’ll find the vendor myself! Trust me!”
“Boss, are you free?”
CEO Seo nodded.
“Yeah. Incredibly free.”
Ma Soo-jung shook her head.
“It’s rare to find someone who actively goes looking for work.”
“I was an ant worker in my past life. Please, just let me work.”
“Ah, yes. Fine. Then I’m counting on you. Make it flashy.”
“Okay!”
The CEO immediately swiped at his smartphone screen. Ma Soo-jung watched him and shook her head.
She thought of her beloved angel.
Am I being careless?
Ma Soo-jung let out another long breath. By then, CEO Seo had already launched himself into action, and the arrow had already left the bow.
* * *
Huff, huff—
The breathing was rough.
Huff—
“Haah. I feel alive again.”
That was exactly the sort of thing that could be misunderstood.
I quietly looked around. I was still scared someone might be watching.
I did spend coins, but wow, you really are addicted, aren’t you.
The grandmother had her eyes closed, savoring the smell, and then she met my gaze.
Her eyes narrowed at once.
“What are you looking at?”
Ah, you could be a little nicer about it!
Even now that she’s addicted, she’s still the same.
She was still a difficult woman.
The grandmother huffed and said, “What is Soo-jung thinking, holding this half-breed’s first-birthday party at a hotel one week from now!”
Oh, that. That’s what I’d heard.
I grinned widely.
Thanks to that, Mom and Ansan-daek had been incredibly busy.
“Why make such a fuss over it?”
Exactly.
A first birthday party, huh. Keeping it simple would be nice, but...
Mom held me and said,
Gongza. These days, thanks to you, Mom’s image has improved. Because of the people who’re jealous of that, they’ll probably criticize anything Mom does for you.
That was true.
And besides, she’s Ma Soo-jung.
Maybe because she was at the height of her popularity now. She’d always had enemies, but it must be worse these days.
So our Gongza’s first birthday party is going to be flashy. If they’re going to criticize me anyway, this is much better.
Ah. My fiery mother.
I bowed my head on instinct, filled with respect.
The invitations were sent by the CEO, but I’m sure there’ll be people from the entertainment industry too. I’m worried Gongza will be tired that day.
Tired?
I’ve been building up my stamina for this day.
I fluttered my hands and grinned.
Nice.
If people from the entertainment world were coming, then some truly valuable names would be there in a line.
If I make a good impression, maybe I can become even more famous?
Our mother really was amazing.
To think she’d give me a chance like this!
I was being showered with luck from my mother in this life.
“Look at him. He’s smiling weirdly again.”
Ah, I’d forgotten again.
I looked at the grandmother and flashed her my brightest smile.
“Grandma!”
“Grandma? Why would I be your grandma?”
She really was relentless. A normal child would have cried by now, right? I tilted my head and asked,
“Aren’t you my grandma?”
“No. You’re a child we brought home.”
Cold-hearted. I could just call her Grandma, you know.
But I need to score points with this one.
I grinned and asked,
“Then, sister?”
At that instant, the grandmother’s pupils trembled.
She’s startled.
That was exactly what I was aiming for.
“Sister!”
“N-no. Do you even know what that means?”
“Yes! Pretty person!”
I pointed at her with my short finger.
“Pretty person!”
The grandmother’s pupils shook again.
Heh.
Everything is going according to plan.
How about that? Will you still hate me now?
The grandmother said nothing. But I could see it clearly.
Her mouth is lifting.
Of course. No one disliked being called handsome or pretty.
“Mm. I see you do know how to judge people.”