Chapter 76
I’m translating the chapter directly into the required HTML form and keeping the commentary/comment blocks styled, since there are several forum excerpts and a closing divider to format correctly.CHAPTER_TITLE: Episode 76
"What is going on!"
CEO Seo let out a silent scream. Honestly, he couldn't make sense of the situation at all.
The secretary shouted, "CEO, Kids Job is on the phone!"
"I know!"
"And Rainbow Education, the children's study-packet company, just sent an email!"
"I saw it!"
"It's seriously no joke. The calls just keep coming!"
CEO Seo leaned back in his plush chair and stared at the ceiling.
Where did this even start?
Right. Today, too, Su-jeong, who shot commercials like an overworked ox, had given Gongza permission to film a dance video.
Su-jeong only took it on so Gongza could get some rest.
For some reason, that lucky child loved being filmed.
And that dance CD they made from it...
CEO Seo looked at the LED lights and said, "This is insane."
Where had all this begun? Was it when the dance CD started selling out like crazy among parents?
Or was it because the nursery song itself was so addictive?
CEO Seo shook his head.
No. That was the trigger, but not the ignition point.
It had started when they played "Whale Family" on a top-rated weekend variety show, saying it was for a warm-up.
Then the popularity suddenly exploded.
Elementary school kids all across the country were doing the "Whale Family" dance.
"And it even made the news."
Out of nowhere, the 9 o'clock news ran a segment on the popularity of Whale Family. Of course, they used footage of Top Line's youngest star, that lucky child, stretching out his arms like an idol and dancing through the routine.
"Our Gongza can dance, too."
The way he moved in rhythm, at a glance, was anything but ordinary.
This kid could probably make it as a dancer.
He could even debut as an idol. No, wait. Idols had to sing well, too.
We don't have an idol group at our company. Ah, if we were going to raise idols, we'd have to overhaul the company as a whole. No, that's not the point...
CEO Seo shook his head.
"The problem is that work is piling up on us right now."
He dropped his head. The secretary shouted again.
"CEO, Lai Industry, the country's biggest toy company!"
"No way..."
Rubbing his brow, CEO Seo said, "Su-jeong said Gongza isn't doing any more of this."
"B-but there are so many places asking for him."
"We're even putting his projects on pause. Do you think I'd let him shoot commercials on top of that? Right now, the only person who can stand up to Su-jeong is Designer Jeong Ri-ri!"
CEO Seo took a deep breath.
Ah, if he were just a normal actor!
By now, things would be absolutely wild!
Well, I know he's a child actor, so I get it...
Still, as a businessman, it was maddeningly wasteful.
The secretary asked, "What do we do, CEO?"
"Exactly..."
CEO Seo covered his mouth and sniffled.
"We have to refuse politely... But there should be a limit to politeness!"
"Do you think Ma Su-jeong might let him do at least one thing?"
"He's gotten so famous that Su-jeong is holding him back. No, but would this kind of popularity really be something you can just hold back?"
CEO Seo turned his gaze to the monitor. Gongza's fan café, Gomja, was already in an uproar.
CEO Seo thought, Gomza fans are in such a warm mood again today.
It was almost eerie, honestly.
They replace every bad thing with a smiling emoticon.
The publicity team handled things too, but he always watched the café himself to gauge the atmosphere. And he had reached one conclusion.
They smile while beating people down.
Most of the time, they were gentle and said only kind things. But if some strange reporter ran a bad article, they went after it with everything they had.
Honestly, it's frightening.
Still, it was incredibly reassuring that they fought for him on their own.
"I wonder if other child actors are like this too."
Even Han Su-yoon, who was said to be a rival?
CEO Seo shook his head.
Well, honestly, the whole "rival" thing had been made up by the reporters. Career-wise and popularity-wise, the comparison itself was a little awkward.
In all of South Korea, there was no child actor as popular as Gongza.
So, really. Su-jeong!
"How can you make a kid like that take a break!"
Did you think that was possible? Huh?
"The whole world is calling for Gongza!"
CEO Seo wiped at his dry face. Then the secretary spoke again.
"C-CEO! Please take this call."
"Why?"
"It's about Gongza. It's regarding Inyeon. You really need to take it yourself, CEO."
If it was about Inyeon, that drama had already ended. So why?
CEO Seo nodded and picked up the phone. After a greeting, the matter was stated immediately.
CEO Seo said he understood and hung up. Then he looked back up at the ceiling and muttered, "See? I told you the world was calling."
Su-jeong. No matter how hard you try to block it, your son is already famous.
CEO Seo lowered his head. Then he took a deep breath.
I need to persuade her well.
Well, Su-jeong would probably allow it if it was decent enough anyway!
He hurriedly picked up his smartphone. When it came to iron, it was best to strike while the metal was hot.
The brand Ma Gongza cannot go on like this.
I set the apple juice down on the table a little more roughly than necessary.
Thunk.
The apple juice, freshly blended by Mr. Deok-su himself, was sweet and delicious. But it didn't ease the frustration. In the end, I chewed on a cherry tomato.
This really can't keep going like this.
How should I put it? Hmm. There was a lot I needed to think about.
To be honest, my popularity is probably pretty high.
Though it was still only child-actor popularity.
Still, looking at how my coin value has gone up, my recognition probably rose a lot too.
But even so. I'm just a child actor.
Even if my merchandise sells out and my name comes up all the time, that's all it is.
I rested my chin on my hand and let out a sigh.
Still, there's a bit of backlash.
I quietly looked around. The modern living room, flooded with sunlight, was beautiful no matter when I saw it.
What a lovely house.
It was called the Annex, but it was still a Seongjin Group villa. Everything in it was luxurious.
The reason I can live like this is partly because Mom earns well, but...
Most of it was thanks to Sungjin Group.
And that's exactly the problem.
That was the biggest weakness of the Ma Gongza brand.
If I were just the adopted son of the famous actor Ma Su-jeong, it wouldn't matter.
But of all things, my mom was a third-generation chaebol.
Honestly, I probably won't inherit any of the company shares, but to the public I'll still look like one of the same bunch.
Sungjin Group was a chaebol, and because of that, the backlash was strong too.
There was no helping it if people looked at me sideways like that.
I let out a long sigh.
And Sungjin Group has been causing a lot of trouble lately, hasn't it?
Several major incidents came to mind.
What was it again? There was that weird stock mess, and a few people ended up in prison.
Of course, they had been out after a few trials, but still.
The inside of my mouth turned bitter. I took another sip of apple juice.
Every time Sungjin Group throws a tantrum, my image gets shaken up.
There was no way I could avoid being tied to them.
I think I need some kind of wall.
No matter how much I was the son of Ma Su-jeong, the third daughter of the Sungjin Group family, I needed something that would make people see me as different.
Is there some way to do that?
There was an answer.
Actors get some mileage out of being good at acting.
Sure, if Sungjin Group caused trouble, the brand value would drop. But that didn't seem like it would stop me from appearing in projects entirely.
As long as it's not some huge disaster. Honestly, if a project hits big, the image gets better again anyway.
Well, not always, but usually.
Unless it's some truly serious crime.
In the end, was it all about skill?
Then I need to show my acting.
If I gave a good performance in every project, wouldn't that soften the blow even if Sungjin Group made a mess of things?
Right. Let's work!
I bowed my head hard.
But I don't have any work!
No, seriously, why not!
People seemed moved by me when they saw the coin chart!
Why don't I have any jobs? Directors all over the country, don't you want to cast me?
I think Mom is blocking it. But if something were really good, she'd probably allow it...
I rested my chin on my hand.
Well, I'm five now.
I really was still too young.
Still, I want to build my career piece by piece from an early age.
Isn't that just what being a celebrity is?
As I was thinking all sorts of things, I climbed down from the chair. Then I heard footsteps.
I glanced at the wall clock. It was still daytime.
Who would come at this hour?
I ran straight into the living room. Sure enough, there was someone I had been waiting for.
"Mama!"
"Gongza!"
I rushed over and hugged Mom. It had been a while since I had seen her, and she smiled as she hugged me tightly.
"Ah, my angel! I missed you so much!"
"Gongza missed you too!"
"You've been healthy, right?"
"Yes!"
Mom lifted me up in one motion. Watching my dangling feet, I said, "Mom, Gongza is heavy!"
"Hmm, really?"
She adjusted her hold on me. My whole body bounced a little with the motion.
"Still as light as a feather, aren't you?"
Good grief, Mother.
I guess that's because I used a coin.
Mom's strength was no joke.
Maybe that's why all the movies she filmed lately have been action films.
The movies were also a little different from the ones I remembered from my past life.
Well, if they're better, I guess it doesn't matter...
Hey, strength is better than being weak, right?
Mom set me down on the sofa.
"Was filming hard?"
"A little? Filming in a different country is definitely tough. Gongza, did Mom make a lot of mistakes?"
Mistakes, at this stage?
The answer came quickly.
The movie Guns and Knives.
I smiled brightly. It was a box-office success and had been praised for opening up a new noir genre.
Though originally it was supposed to be someone else...
So Mom ended up taking it on.
"Gongza wants to film in another country too!"
Filming overseas. I wondered when I'd get to do that.
Then Mom blinked.
What is it? Is something wrong?
I tilted my head.