The Shocking Phone Call
In an instant, the washing machine, dishwasher, and all the other appliances in the wash corner vanished, draining half a million won from his card.
Is this really right?
His hands trembled violently, yet Namhun steeled his resolve.
It is.
This is for Yuyeon.
A short while later, after finishing the congratulatory song for the VIP wedding, the money would be deposited directly.
Yeah. Since we have a designated track this time, extra fees will pour in too. What else.
Two more general congratulatory songs were scheduled for next week as well.
Leaving the appliance section behind, Namhun made his way toward the toy corner crowded with twins, when Yuyeon suddenly grabbed his arm.
Oppa, I have something to say.
Hm?
Yuyeon extended her smartphone, and Namhun’s eyes began to tremble violently.
Inside the screen was, of course, Elixer.
This… is it really me, opp?
Yuyeon’s sudden action left Namhun stumbling over his words.
I knew this day would come eventually… but it was too fast.
It had only been a few days since the ad started airing.
He had underestimated YouTube’s reach.
Though he had accepted the job to make money, Elixer remained a dark chapter of his past.
Just looking at an old graduation photo made him ashamed, yet the Elixer of those days had adopted an angel concept that exorcised evil spirits.
In other words, a neutral, almost feminine makeup for a twenty-eight-year-old adult man.
It was a humiliating past he could never fully acknowledge.
…
Right?
Yeah.
But he could never deny it in front of Yuyeon.
Because the Elixer in the video and the real Yuyeon were far too similar.
What is this?
What else… it’s the ad.
A new job as an advertisement model?
No, that’s not it… We just happened to film this. Actually, from next week I’m going to teach the girl group members how to sing.
Oppa is going to teach people how to sing?
The look on her face was pure disbelief.
It was embarrassing, but the proof was right in front of her eyes.
…This song. I sang it myself.
Namhun pointed at the Elixer in the video who was belting out Eternal Only You.
Seeing how hard it was for Yuyeon to believe him, Namhun felt a surge of pride.
At that moment, a good idea suddenly popped into his head.
Perfect. If I take the kids to the reception hall…
We can eat lunch there, show off opp’s singing skills, and everyone will be happy.
Of course, since the venue is expensive, I’ll have to get permission from my parents to bring the siblings too.
While lost in thought, Yesol appeared holding a plush toy, clutching it to her chest.
Eoppa! I want this one!
Namhun squinted at the price tag and read the name aloud.
The Mysterious Mini Pin Mini Handphone Season 3… Why is the name so long?
Yuyeon seemed a bit jealous that he had the phone in his hand, so she kept sneaking glances.
The price was forty-seven thousand won.
For a toy, that was a bit expensive.
Namhun didn’t know much about appliances, but he knew from the other parents that Mini Pin toys were notoriously pricey.
Because they had such a bad reputation.
Go ahead. I’ll buy it for you.
Wow! Opp is the best!
Yesol beamed with a bright smile, and Namhun’s heart warmed automatically.
Yet Yuyeon suddenly gave him a sidelong glance and whispered.
Can I… get one of those too?
A doll? Of course! Take as many as you want!
After all, today was the day he had decided to splurge big.
He had already spent half a million; what difference would a few more won make?
He would just work harder from now on.
Yuyeon’s light footsteps faded away, and then Yujun appeared.
This… can I buy it?
Hyper Bot Park Ranger?
Yujun’s choice was a little more expensive.
Eighty thousand won.
A bit pricey, but okay.
He had been prepared for it anyway.
Go ahead. You can buy it.
Really?
Yujun hesitated for some reason.
Why?
This one is too expensive… Only one of my friends has it.
…
Even elementary-school kids now know the difference between cheap and expensive.
Back then we didn’t know those things.
Namhun felt anew that the times were changing.
As he stood there in a complicated mood, Yuyeon stepped in and stopped him.
Ha. Instead, you can only buy one of these. It’s expensive.
Still, Yujun was overjoyed.
It was his very first robot!
Yeah!
Watching Yujun happily accept the toy, Namhun rested his elbows on the cart and looked around the store.
Aaaaaah! Buy this for me!
No way! You got a similar one for your birthday last time!
Buy it! Buy it!
A kid who looked several years older than Yujun sat on the floor and threw a tantrum.
Keep this up and I’m leaving you here!
I don’t know! Buy it!
At that moment, a furious mother grabbed the child’s ear and muttered in a low voice.
You. We’re really going home and talking this out.
The child’s fake tears instantly stopped.
Watching the scene, Namhun felt a complex mix of emotions.
Which side were the ordinary kids on?
It was obvious without asking.
The twins had already picked up on the mood too.
Am I really doing better than my parents?
The thought flashed through his mind.
At that moment, Yuyeon poked his side.
Oppa. Yeseol isn’t coming. We should go check.
Huh? Oh. But where’s the Mini Pin corner?
He had been going to this exact supermarket every time he visited, yet he still didn’t know where the toy section was.
He had never been there before.
It’s this way.
Watching Yuyeon walk confidently through the crowded mall, Namhun tilted his head.
How does she know that?
He had always gone with her when they came to the store…
Maybe she sneaks off to look around on her own?
Thinking back, Yuyeon had been an elementary-school kid when Mini Pin first appeared, and he remembered turning on the TV to play cartoons featuring similar characters while she took care of the twins.
‘Probably right when Season 1 was just starting to air.’
Following Yuyeon to the Mini Pin corner, they found Yeseol standing there with her arms crossed, deep in thought.
Why are you thinking so hard?
Namhun approached, and Yeseol answered seriously.Which character should I buy?
…
Now that he thought about it, an entire corner of the supermarket was taken up by who-knows-how-many of these characters.
Just the stuffed animals numbered in the dozens.
No, this is all Season 3.
Big heads, big eyes…
To Namhun they all looked exactly the same, but each had a different name.
Oppa.
Yuyeon poked his back repeatedly until he turned around, and the back of the aisle was filled with Season 2 products.
Figures, figurines, stuffed animals, makeup, phones, houses, schools…
What, even kazoos are sold here?
The display cases for the figures are for sale too.
How do you know that?
…
Yuyeon suddenly went quiet.
As I thought… she’s been interested too.
She never let on.
Namhun looked at her for a moment and said.Yuyeon, if you want one, go ahead and buy it.
You think I’m still an elementary-school kid?
Yuyeon pouted, but Namhun had already read her mind.
If you buy one more, Yeseol gets another doll too.
…Is that so?
Yuyeon fell for the excuse and smiled.
Then I’ll pick one too.
Watching her pretend she didn’t care and head toward the Season 1 characters in the back, Namhun’s heart ached.
I had no idea.
Even though he had said to work hard, he felt he was lacking.
He hadn’t noticed that Yuyeon loved Mini Pin because she was too busy looking after the twins.
If I had just paid a little more attention…
With his heart full of regret, he wished he could buy the entire corner for them.
In the end, both Yuyeon and Yeseol spent a long time deliberating before each picking one doll.
Not picking anymore?
I’m done.
One is enough, right?
Watching his three younger siblings beam with bright, happy faces that he had never seen before, Namhun quietly bit his lip.
One day I will buy this entire supermarket.
* * *
Today’s venue for the congratulatory song was a luxury hotel.
To the three siblings, it was as mysterious as a department store.
…They’re getting married in a place like this?
Waaah!
It’s so pretty!
Namhun saw the sparkle in their eyes and realized this was the children’s first wedding experience.
Thank goodness.
Want to go look around?
Yeah!
Yuyeon was clearly excited and couldn’t hide her feelings.
Then let’s start by greeting the couple.
The groom and bride had already met during the rehearsal, so there was no awkwardness.
The groom, who was receiving guests, spotted Namhun and greeted him warmly.
Ah, you’re here. These children are the younger siblings you mentioned, right? They’re adorable.
Hello.
Hello!
Haha. Yeah, hello!
Namhun’s chest loosened after the groom’s reaction.
After all, it was a hotel, after all, so the fee was high.
Yes. Congratulations on your wedding again.
Since it’s the actual day, it’s really hectic. Please do your best with the song today. The bride has been looking forward to it a lot.
The bride who hired him this time was a broadcast writer named Cheon Seonghui, who was working on a program with Seong Yujin.
She had been so moved by his performance at Seong Yujin’s wedding that she had rushed to hire him instead of the singer she originally planned to ask.
Um… Did you prepare the designated track well? If it’s too much trouble, you don’t have to do it.
He had requested the designated track right after a last-minute booking a few days before the wedding, so he felt very sorry.
No, it’s fine. I know the song well enough to handle it without problems.
Oh, that’s great. My girlfriend—no, my future wife—loves that song a lot.
Not much of a challenge for Namhun, who had excellent memorization skills and plenty of stage experience.
This song was one he had performed many times before too.
Then I’ll go greet the bride. You have a good day.
You too.
She said I didn’t need to bring an envelope for the congratulatory money, but since he had brought the kids he felt bad, so he wrote his name on it and was about to hand it over when someone poked his side.
Hey! Jang Namhun! What are you doing here?
Yuseora was standing there when he turned.
Huh? What are you doing here?
I’m working with Cheon Seonghui on a music program.
Ah… I see.
Only now did Namhun understand the situation.
By the way, why are you here?
I came to do a side job for the congratulatory song.
Ah… Starting today? That’s quick.
To feed and raise three kids I have to work hard. Luckily I got this job. I’ll bring the kids along too.
Huh? You brought all of them?
Yeah. I came to clear the stain of not being able to sing.
Really? Then I’ll let my cute little ones play with you.
‘Right Now Today’ and ‘Eternal Only You.’ I’ll sing both. When I sing ‘Right Now Today,’ explain that I did it as a classical piece, and when I sing ‘Eternal Only You,’ tell them I was a top singer back then.
Yuseora made a pathetic face at Namhun’s detailed instructions and grumbled.
…Did you hate it that much when Yuyeon misunderstood? Even though it wasn’t true, so what.
Then why did you practice so hard to win the competition back then? That part was true, but if it wasn’t true I couldn’t help feeling upset.
…Seriously. Are you trying to die?
Yuseora had started an unnecessary fight and still couldn’t get even a shred of evidence.
Anyway, I trust you. Take good care of the kids.
Watching Namhun wave and leave, Yuseora scratched her cheek.
Because she understood exactly what entrusting the children to him meant.
‘If I weren’t here, those kids wouldn’t be able to do it.’
All in all, he was looking forward to it.
‘Right Now Today’ wasn’t a regular song; it was a musical number.
Actually, Namhun’s main major was classical music, not popular songs.
It had been a while since he got to enjoy something interesting.
In the junior division he had shown overwhelming skill.
But he had stopped singing classical a long time ago, and his voice had changed too.
Would the old skill still be there?
At least he could tell that his confidence was still there.