36
Chapter 36: The Fall of Statistics
“No, that person…….”
Director Lee Seunghoon, who was standing to the side of the set as Do Minho’s guardian, looked like he was about to rush
onto the stage at any moment.
“Who are they trying to turn into a patient right now!”
He didn’t know exactly what “baby angel syndrome” was. But he could instinctively tell that whatever it meant, it wasn’t
positive.
“Let’s just watch for now.”
Kang Jiseop PD, who had left ABS and was now visiting the BBS “Korea’s Top 1%” studio as a guardian, calmly reassured
him.
“I don’t know exactly what baby angel syndrome is either, but Minho isn’t the kind of kid who would collapse over
something that trivial. You know that better than I do.”
“Even so, this isn’t right! No matter how smart he is, he’s still just a child! He may look fine on the outside, but
that doesn’t mean he’s okay inside!”
Director Lee, who knew better than anyone that Minho’s words on stage were a white lie for the sake of his adoptive
parents, couldn’t stand the idea of Minho’s kindness being trampled like this.
“This might actually be the opportunity Minho has been hoping for.”
Kang Jiseop spoke firmly, as if telling him not to be emotional.
“What?”
“Do you know what Minho’s ultimate goal for this year is?”
“What are you talking about?”
“CF King. The kind of title only top stars can achieve. For someone with that dream, rude and aggressive questions in
front of the camera are opportunities that should never be missed. Especially for someone like Minho, who has limited
broadcasting exposure.”
“I still don’t understand what you’re saying…….”
“It’s about giving the right answer to a foolish question. Not an emotional reaction, not a crushing comeback, but a
response that makes the other person nod while smiling, one that makes them reflect on themselves. As far as I know,
Minho is very good at that. Haven’t you seen it at the orphanage?”
“Giving the right answer to a foolish question……”
Just from how Minho handled his adoption situation, he wasn’t someone who responded emotionally to provocation.
“As a producer, most viewers like good people. The anger you’re feeling right now? The viewers feel it too. Everyone can
tell that woman is in the wrong. They know Minho is the victim. But if he stays just a victim, he’ll only get sympathy.
He won’t become a star.”
Kang Jiseop’s words grew sharper.
“As someone who knows him personally, watching this makes me proud, but also frustrating. But as PD Kang Jiseop, I’d say
there’s no more perfect entertainer than him.”
“A perfect entertainer?”
“Not because he’s an orphan who was returned. Some companies might want a pitiful figure that makes the whole nation cry
as a model, but most advertisers I know prefer a wholesome yet overwhelming image. A model represents the company’s
image. In that sense, Minho is perfect. He created a positive from a negative, and his words and actions are both
powerful and kind. Whether it’s natural or calculated, it’s impressive. Being CF King isn’t a far-fetched dream. Look
over there.”
Kang Jiseop pointed at Minho, who was calmly and respectfully countering Shim Miyoung’s claims.
“You’re right……”
Director Lee, who had been flushed with anger, saw Minho’s composed expression and calmed down.
“So let’s step aside and talk about rebuilding the orphanage.”
“Rebuilding the orphanage?”
“We finally got confirmation. Honestly, I thought it would take longer, maybe until after the CSAT results, but Minho’s
paintings got a better reaction than expected. Companies, including Seongmun Construction, have offered to cover not
only construction costs but also the full cost of land purchase. Our broadcasting station also promised a significant
production budget.”
“What?”
“The playground and sports facilities you mentioned before won’t be a problem either. They also promised a place for the
children to stay during construction.”
“What are you saying?”
“There is one condition.”
“A condition……?”
“It would be nice if it were unconditional charity, but corporate money isn’t that simple. This sponsorship is for
corporate image promotion. That means not just Minho, but the children of Happiness Orphanage will have to appear on
camera, and it will be broadcast nationwide. It could be humiliating. Being an orphan isn’t something to boast about.
Even just showing how you live to the entire nation isn’t easy. And they’re children. Their unfiltered selves will
inevitably be shown.”
“Hmm……”
“But don’t worry too much. I’ll film and edit it carefully so no one gets hurt. And more importantly, there’s a huge
reward waiting. This is an opportunity that may never come again.”
For Director Lee, whose dreams had grown bigger, it was an offer he couldn’t refuse.
---
“Teacher, what exactly is baby angel syndrome?”
MC Choi Jincheol asked on behalf of everyone to calm the tense atmosphere.
“Simply put, it’s a psychoanalytic condition found in children who crave adoption or seek recognition from those around
them.”
Shim Miyoung stood up as if she had been waiting for this moment and walked to the center of the studio where Minho’s
paintings were displayed.
“As Minho himself said, the defining trait is prioritizing others’ emotions over one’s own. And those ‘others’ are
usually parents. It’s also commonly observed in children at orphanages who desperately want to be adopted.”
“In orphanage children?”
“Unlike ordinary parents, adoptive parents choose their child. Before adoption, they evaluate things like appearance,
intelligence, and personality. So children feel they must be perfect to be chosen. They try much harder than their
peers. Ordinary children are loved without effort, but adopted children aren’t, both before and after adoption.”
“Ah……”
The people in the studio, who had been vaguely interpreting Minho without understanding the full picture, began to nod
in realization.
“Whether a child becomes exceptional compared to others depends on innate talent, but these children tend to be sharper
and more perceptive because of their efforts.”
“And they inevitably hide themselves. It’s a defense mechanism. No one wants to expose their flaws, but children with
this condition tend to be especially closed off.”
“But Minho……”
“Appearing cheerful and actually being cheerful are different. A personality shaped by nature and one shaped by
environment are also different. Think of people in society. Take celebrities, for example. People assume they are
outgoing and attention-loving, but many are shy and completely different when the camera is off.”
“That’s true. Some actors I know are surprisingly introverted. On screen, they can kill without blinking, but in real
life they can’t even kill an ant or say a single harsh word. Some who speak confidently on camera can’t even make eye
contact in normal conversations.”
“Exactly. And even for such people, their drawings can reveal their tendencies. Luckily, Minho has drawn several
houses.”
Shim Miyoung approached one of the paintings.
“Among basic needs, a house represents one’s personal space. There’s a reason people say leaving home brings hardship.”
“That’s true.”
“But all of Minho’s drawings share one thing—they all have fences.”
“Oh, you’re right.”
“This reflects his personality. And the fence has many meanings. The narrow spacing suggests rejection of interaction
with others.”
“I’ve heard that despite being popular and good on TV, it’s actually hard to book Minho.”
“Still, it’s hard to fully relate.”
“That’s understandable. But school life is also social life, and broadcasting is a job. You can’t just do what you
want.”
“So you mean……”
“Yes. Regardless of personality, one can still perform well. Especially someone as talented as Minho. That’s why his
houses often have large roofs.”
“What does the roof represent?”
“Confidence. And capacity.”
“Capacity?”
“Imagine it rains. The bigger the roof, the more people can take shelter.”
“Ah……”
“But it’s hard to cross the fence.”
“I see……”
The atmosphere in the studio grew emotional.
“And I also notice the large gates.”
“Large gates?”
“They indicate strong interest in social status. Minho appearing on TV, winning Quiz 5000, and exhibiting paintings all
suggest a strong desire for self-realization. At the same time, it may reflect a sense of deprivation from his
beginnings.”
“Ah……”
“And the doors in the drawings don’t have handles. Like the fence, it suggests he doesn’t want others approaching him.
We’d need proper testing to be sure, but based on his drawings and words, baby angel syndrome is strongly suspected.”
“I see. But is this really a serious problem? From what I can see, Minho seems perfect.”
“He appears that way. But inside may be different. He’s smart, but he’s still an eight-year-old. To reach this level, he
must have put in enormous effort without time to build emotional resilience.”
“Ah……”
“The scariest thing about mental illness is that it collapses suddenly. But in truth, it never happens suddenly.
Physical illness shows outward signs, but mental illness doesn’t. That’s why it’s frightening. A broken cup can be
thrown away, but can you discard a broken heart? Does a small crack mean the entire heart must shatter?”
The studio fell silent.
“These drawings, with playgrounds, pools, and sports fields inside the house, are also concerning. Normally, such
activities happen outside.”
“That makes sense.”
“Why are they inside? Why must they be inside?”
“Hmm……”
“It’s like poverty within abundance. Minho is in a very fragile state. Even this beautiful oil painting carries a
message not of his true feelings, but of what society wants—a smart, angelic child who can endure abandonment.”
Shim Miyoung stood beside Minho with a concerned expression.
“Minho, you can be honest with me. It’s hard, isn’t it?”
“How could I not know what hardship is?”
“Of course! You’re so kind that you find satisfaction in small things, which makes you forget your discomfort. A genius
like you has become too modest. To put it simply, you want to act like a good person.”
“Ah……”
“But don’t worry. I’ll help you. I’ll become your doctor.”
“Thank you.”
Minho bowed politely.
“But teacher, if you want to keep dogs out, the fence spacing has to be narrow, right?”
“What?”
“There are a lot of stray dogs where I live. Kids are really scared of them.”
“Ah……”
“No one’s been bitten, but some kids are really afraid. And when I drew for one kid, others asked me to draw for them
too. You know how it is—if someone has candy, you want candy too.”
“Ah……”
“So what kind of fence should I draw?”
“Well……”
Caught off guard, Shim Miyoung faltered.
“And also, these are my drawings, but they’re not the houses I want to live in.”
“What?”
“I drew them for other kids.”
She had made a critical mistake by only hearing what she wanted.
“The playground inside the house too. I think it would be weirder not to have one. This is an orphanage, with dozens of
young kids. And it’s in the countryside.”
“That does make sense……”
“Even outside an orphanage, wouldn’t a house with a playground be cooler? If I make a lot of money, I want a house with
a golf course. Doesn’t that just mean I want a nice house? Is that also a symptom?”
“Well……”
“You said it’s based on statistics, so you must be right. But I wonder—am I an average person? Do statistics even apply
to me?”
That’s not right!
The celebrities, who had been swayed by her authority, finally snapped out of it.
“It’s the same for us. Only kids from our orphanage can play at playgrounds nearby. The area is full of elderly people.
And some kids don’t like playing with us, so apartment playgrounds can be uncomfortable. The same goes for sports
fields. Schools usually have one field, but there are six grades. My school has a thousand students. How many want to
play soccer or basketball?”
“Well……”
“How many can actually play during lunch?”
“Well……”
“When applying statistics or diagnosing patients, shouldn’t you conduct proper tests first? You analyzed my drawings,
but for me, drawings are messages for others, not reflections of myself. These house drawings were done based on
requests. And this painting—this is a message to people who are no longer legally my family. Thank you. I’m okay. I hope
you’re happy too. I drew it, but the people in it should go find their own happiness.”
Shim Miyoung’s plan to gain popularity by becoming Minho’s doctor collapsed completely.
“I’m not a doctor, so I don’t know if it’s right to diagnose based on drawings. But I hope you see these houses not as
personality traits, but as practical choices shaped by circumstances.”
Her authority crumbled.
“I’ll still visit a hospital once. If the mind is sick, it should be treated. But I don’t want to go to a hospital run
by someone who tries to hurt me in front of a camera.”
“That’s not what I meant……”
“Regardless of intent, if my mind really isn’t that strong, then what just happened could’ve been dangerous.”
“Minho!”
As Minho’s victory became certain, an expert panelist spoke up.
“Would you consider exhibiting that oil painting in our museum?”
“A piece like that should definitely be exhibited.”
“It could even go to auction.”
Even the silent professors joined in.
“You could even hold a solo exhibition.”
Professor Hong Jangmi, known for her high standards, praised him highly.
“What’s the title of the piece?”
“I think ‘Goodbye’ would suit it.”
“Goodbye?”
“I created it, but it doesn’t have to belong to me.”
“You mean you wish happiness for the artwork?”
“Yes.”
“That’s a great title.”