The Child-Star Rivalry
Ma Soo-jung tilted her head. “Who is Han Su-yoon?”
“A child actor famous for being a genius. He’s four years older than Gongza, right?”
“Oh, my. That’s a huge age gap.”
CEO Seo grinned. “Told you.”
“They must’ve just seen each other and stuck together because they stood out.”
“Maybe if they were in their mid-twenties. But when you’re little, there’s a thing called growth speed. Humanely speaking, rivals should be the same age.”
Ma Soo-jung glanced at her smartphone and let out a small laugh. “That’s exactly the kind of trick reporters love.”
“No.”
CEO Seo shook his head.
“Feels to me like Han Su-yoon’s agency is the one stirring this up.”
Ma Soo-jung frowned at once. “They want to ride on Gongza’s coattails? Which agency is Han Su-yoon with?”
“J-Work.”
Ma Soo-jung immediately sighed. “No wonder. They’re terrible.”
“They are. Which is exactly why they’d pull something like this with a child actor.”
J-Work had a lot of problems.
They were a company that had grown huge, but I’d heard they had issues with settlements...
Because of that, they were also notorious for getting tangled up in lawsuits whenever their actors were about to leave.
And yet they kept signing contracts all the time.
They also produced a lot of their own programs, which made things even worse.
And they were expanding into everything from everywhere.
Ma Soo-jung pressed a hand to her forehead. “This is becoming a headache.”
“Yeah. Soo-jung, my inside source says J-Work’s also about to poach that big MC, Ju Gi-seong.”
“Oh? Then they’re going to take him too.”
“Maybe they really are good at producing their own shows. If they’ll bite at anything, anyway.”
Ma Soo-jung thought for a moment, then drew a finger across her throat. “Should I just cut them down?”
“Can you even do that?”
“I’m kidding.”
Ma Soo-jung straightened her shoulders. “Well, if I make a few calls, twist things a little, and blow them up all at once, I think it might be possible.”
“Wh- who exactly are you calling?”
“People connected to Seongjin.”
CEO Seo lowered his head until it nearly touched the desk. “Soo-jung. Most of the time I have no idea you’re a chaebol daughter, you know? But today I finally did.”
“Oh, please. I’m kind of the ugly duckling even there.”
“Calling you an ugly duckling is a stretch. You’ve been a swan for ages.”
Ma Soo-jung snorted softly. The house owner who always looked at her with such obvious disapproval flashed through her mind.
Even if I want to split from Seongjin, I still can’t quite manage it.
“Soo-jung...”
“Anyway, I’ll keep an eye on it. If anyone tries anything with my angel, I’ll have to watch them.”
CEO Seo nodded. “All right. I’ll do my best too.”
“Please take good care of our Gongza. He’s your agency actor now, remember?”
CEO Seo grinned. “I’m the one who should be asking that. As far as I’m concerned, Gongza isn’t just a lucky break. He’s the whole jackpot.”
“Of course.”
Ma Soo-jung stood. “He’s the angel who came to save me one day.”
“I don’t know about angel, but everyone sure does love him.”
“Ah, that...”
Ma Soo-jung quietly ticked off names on her fingers.
“Han Woo-jin, Ki Cho-un. Well, that much makes sense since they worked with him.”
She muttered under her breath, “Would the president get in on it too?”
“Huh?”
“Maybe it’s because he’s an angel. Everyone wants to take him home.”
“W-wait, Soo-jung. What do you mean, the president?”
“The president wasn’t trying to scoop Gongza up, was he?”
It wasn’t even the sort of scene they should’ve been imagining, and yet every time she thought about it, she still got furious.
“He should’ve gone and hugged his own grandson.”
“T-the president? Wow! Gongza’s really something. That kid’s got guts like crazy.”
“What do you mean, something? It’s because he’s an angel! He’s so cute that every single person out there is touching him!”
Ma Soo-jung clenched and unclenched her fists.
“At this rate, someone’s really going to take him away from me, and it makes me so mad. Let them try. I’ll separate the bones from the flesh.”
“E-even if it’s the president?”
“Who cares!”
“A-ah, there’s plenty to care about! No, you can’t do that. If you do, Interpol will drag you off!”
“If you attack the president and run, it’s Interpol?”
“W-well, I guess?”
“If I apply for asylum somewhere, won’t they take me in?”
CEO Seo had nothing to say.
“Just leave the president out of it.”
“He’s the most dangerous one. You can’t even pay damages if it’s the president.”
“Aha-ha-ha. Soo-jung, I’m begging you! Don’t!”
She grinned. “I’m kidding.”
“What kind of joke is that?”
“Well, the part about emigrating if I have to isn’t a joke, but...”
She let out a long sigh.
“Anyway. Please keep an eye on Gongza, Boss.”
“Hey, how could I not? He’s the one getting the most scripts at our company right now.”
“Yeah. Right.”
“Exactly. Boy, we’re busy. Got to pick scripts, review directors, stay in touch with the Gomja fans...”
CEO Seo bounced up with renewed energy. Ma Soo-jung smiled a little.
It wasn’t for nothing that he’d become a CEO.
He really does love working for its own sake. Still, a rival...
Ma Soo-jung got to her feet.
I wish it would just sink quietly.
Somehow, though, she didn’t think it would be that simple.
He was worked up.
I stared at the supporting actor huffing and puffing in front of me. He’d been here for ten minutes already, pouring his heart out with startling enthusiasm.
“Our Gongza’s the best!”
“Obviously!”
“Where does Han Su-yoon think he’s even comparing himself to him?”
Once one person started, the others chimed in from all around.
“Our Gongza is cuter!”
“I’m seriously mad right now!”
Come on. What on earth is going on?
I stared blankly at Mr. Deok-su. The nanny who would answer my questions adjusted his sunglasses.
“I was planning to keep quiet because it didn’t seem like good news to spread around.”
“Mister, everyone here is making a racket.”
“I-it’s better if you don’t know.”
“Why?”
Mr. Deok-su couldn’t meet my eyes. I let out a sigh and climbed down from the chair.
“Uh, where are you going?”
“I’m going to ask.”
Mr. Deok-su immediately grabbed my shoulder and pulled me back.
“Um, well, you see...”
Ah, come on. Why was he dragging this out like he was cooking rice?
Just as I was about to wriggle out of his arms again, the bit-part actors started talking once more.
“But I heard it got matched against Seosan Ballad?”
“Yeah. That’s why the director got a little fired up too.”
“I heard Seosan Ballad has an insane budget.”
“It’s twice ours!”
“Wow. So what happens if they end up losing to us?”
“They’re done for.”
Ah. I got the gist of it.
Looks like it’s airing at the same time as Seosan Ballad.
Hm. Originally, Inyeon was supposed to air first.
Because Ki Cho-un got hurt, maybe.
Hm. This was getting kind of interesting. But Han Su-yoon?
Mr. Deok-su explained slowly.
“There seems to be a child actor who’s very good at acting. His name is Han Su-yoon.”
I blinked.
So he’s famous.
Then why couldn’t I remember him?
Did he change his name after he grew up?
Suddenly, I clapped my hands.
“I remember.”
Han Su-yoon.
I’d seen one of his works before.
His big hit was The Ball Is Round.
I remembered that movie, a child-cast-led film that pulled in seven million viewers.
He was a rather unusual child actor.
Han Su-yoon quit acting after becoming an adult.
Honestly, there were some rumors too.
His story was pretty sensational.
When his parents divorced, they fought over who would take him, and the reason was that he was a successful child star.
I blinked again. Mr. Deok-su sat me on his lap and said,
“It looks like an article went up calling that kid and Gongza rivals.”
Ah.
So they’re deciding the match by ratings?
I smiled bitterly to myself.
Give me a break.
They just made things up however they wanted.
Mr. Deok-su muttered,
“I’m worried. It feels like the children are the only ones getting hurt by the adults’ game.”
Well, it wouldn’t be good for children’s education.
For a normal kid, that would probably be stressful.
But I’m on my second life, aren’t I?
I smiled brightly and said, “Mister! Gongza isn’t worried!”
Mr. Deok-su took off his sunglasses and nodded.
“Is that so? What a relief. I’m glad.”
“But listen.”
I put the sunglasses back on Mr. Deok-su.
“Gongza is going to win!”
“Huh?”
“Gongza likes winning!”
I looked around as I said it. Before long, the bit actors and staff were all staring at me.
They look like people who came to watch a baseball game.
I could feel their eyes on me.
Well then. It would be best to boost morale.
I raised one arm high.
“Gongza wants to win! Please help me!”
After all, you can’t win alone.
That was when one of the supporting actors sprang to his feet.
“I’ll help!”
“We can’t lose! Ratings!”
“Our Gongza! We’ll make sure he wins!”
Everyone except Mr. Deok-su stood up and shouted.
“Ratings, we win!”
“Our Gongza said he wants to win!”
“Let’s tell the director! We’ll win no matter what!”
Wow.
I guess I’ve got a pretty good reputation.
I bowed my head. “Thank you!”
“Woooooo!”
“We’re gonna win! We’re gonna win! We’re gonna win!”
I grinned. Mr. Deok-su leaned close to my ear and muttered,
“What are you going to do if you lose after all that? They’ll be heartbroken!”
Lose?
I’m doing this because we won’t lose.
Seosan Ballad wasn’t bad, but it had only really shone in the beginning. This drama, Inyeon, would still be remembered years later as one of the best.
And once it goes overseas, it’ll become even more famous.
Mr. Deok-su’s sunglasses slid down. I pushed them back up for him.
“Mister, trust Gongza!”
I thumped my chest twice.
“We’re going to win!”
“Uh...”
Just then, a staff member came over to the tent.
“Gongza, it’s time to go out!”
“Yep!”
I trotted off lightly.
I didn’t know this before. It feels really good to fight a battle you know you’ll win.
I glanced back at Mr. Deok-su.
Why is he frozen like that?
Even though I kept saying I’d win, he still didn’t seem to believe me at all.
Well, blessings will come to those who believe.
I grinned. One way or another, this was pretty fun.
When I reached the set, the assistant director greeted me with acting notes.
“Gongza, in this scene you have to cry your heart out. You’ve memorized the script, right?”
“Yep!”
“We’re very satisfied with Gongza’s acting.”
I smiled brightly. Honestly, it was a little surprising.
The script changed.
To be honest, this was a scene I hadn’t seen before.
There were some simple lines, but I thought it ended with them hugging each other...
But now the script was dripping with emotion.
Because Ki Cho-un got injured?
Had the disappearance of the action scene deepened the emotional weight, and spread that change into my own script too?
I tilted my head slightly back. My scene partner, Ki Cho-un, came over and patted my head.
“Ah, I can’t quite get the emotion right.”
Here he goes again.
Ki Cho-un kept fussing over my hair.
“Will I be able to pull it off? Ah, I’m worried.”
“Hyung, Gongza’s hair is getting ruined! Then noona will have to fix it.”
“Ah, sorry.”
Ki Cho-un quickly pulled his hand away. He sighed and said,
“I’m just not steady right now. Your hair’s so soft, I couldn’t help myself.”
Annoying guy.
“This scene is really important, you know. It’s the scene where you and I confirm we’re father and son.”
That was true.
I have to express the complicated mix of resentment and joy I feel toward my father.
Honestly, it was a scene that required real acting skill.
Even so, this seems way too much for a kid my age.
So how had it turned into this?
The answer came quickly. The director walked over and said,
“We have to win.”
PD Seonwoo Young-jae muttered,
“The network chief said the future of our station is riding on my shoulders, and if we lose, he won’t let me off lightly.”