38
Chapter 38: The Conditions to Become CF King
November 13, 1996. The CSAT for the 1997 academic year was held.
Do Minho took the exam in a specially prepared testing room at Korea University.
For this, professors from Korea University were assigned as proctors.
In truth, they weren’t there merely to supervise his exam, but to determine whether Do Minho truly deserved to become the youngest student in the university’s history.
This is truly extraordinary.
It didn’t take long for them to reach a conclusion.
Although the test hadn’t been graded yet, Minho not only outpaced the professors in solving the problems, but his solutions were so clean and precise that there was no room to doubt their correctness. The entire faculty was captivated.
He’s on a completely different level from Hyunsoo.
Even the professors who had once exposed the exaggerated claims of the media-created math prodigy Hyunsoo nodded seriously in front of Minho.
“The atmosphere is completely different from before, isn’t it?”
“Yes.”
“I feel a bit bad saying this, but he’s on another level compared to Hyunsoo.”
Cameras had been installed in the exam room, but worried they might interfere, the production crew of Genius’s Bucket List watched from the hallway with satisfied smiles.
“This is going to cause a huge stir.”
“It really is.”
“Korea University will be in an uproar too.”
“Honestly, it feels satisfying. Not just Hyunsoo, but remember how much those professors looked down on us? Saying we exaggerated the word ‘genius’ for ratings, calling our show low-quality… We couldn’t say anything back then, but it really got under my skin.”
Their bright smiles now were rooted in past resentment.
“So does that mean filming will move to Seoul now?”
“Looks like it. Should we change the program title too?”
“How about ‘A Genius’s College Life’?”
“That won’t happen.”
Kang Jiseop PD spoke firmly, cutting off the excitement.
“Minho says he’ll keep attending elementary school. The same goes for middle and high school. He plans to go to university at twenty. He says he’s not interested in college life where he can’t drink or date. He doesn’t want to lose the memories of his school years just for university. Our job is to make those memories even more beautiful.”
It was a reminder to take pride not only in overcoming past humiliation but also in the future of their program and its protagonist.
“Hahaha! What a guy.”
“He really is incredible. Honestly, I had doubts. But once again, he proves us wrong. At this rate, he might really become CF King.”
Even Kang Jiseop, who said this, had once been uneasy watching Minho casually keep his distance from studying. But he respected Minho’s decisions, knowing his abilities weren’t tied to test scores.
“CF King?”
“That kid plans to become CF King this year.”
“If he really gets accepted into Korea University, that’s more than enough to make it happen.”
“Not just acceptance—he’s rejecting it. That’s beyond CF King. That’s becoming a god in the CF world. All children’s and educational ads will be his.”
“Wow… how much money would that be?”
“I’m jealous……”
“They’ll be jealous of us.”
Kang Jiseop looked toward the crowd of media waiting outside the building.
“Come to think of it, he’s amazing. He’s money the moment he appears, yet he refuses to go on broadcasts.”
The production team had created a one-minute teaser of Minho’s previous appearance and aired it constantly.
As a result, their ratings jumped from 30% to 45%.
They even planned to split his appearance into two episodes and air a special episode about the museum incident without Minho himself appearing.
“He even turned down ten million won per episode.”
Outside the building were not only the “Korea’s Top 1%” team, but also major figures from the broadcasting industry, including the Quiz 5000 team and others who had previously benefited from Minho.
Even reporters had gathered to broadcast the birth of a genius live.
Minho had become a guaranteed ratings magnet, with even greater potential ahead.
“The more I see him, the more impressive he is. It feels like we’ve secured a ten-year job.”
“A ten-year job?”
“He’ll last at least ten years. He’s only eight. Imagine what he’ll be like at nine, or nineteen. If he’s really going to college at twenty, there’s a high chance he’ll stick with us until then.”
“That’s true.”
“I have a feeling—he won’t suffer from overexposure.”
“Why would he? He only appears on our show.”
“No. It’s not about frequency. He keeps improving and has so many skills. Look at his portrait and that oil painting at Gallery M. Can that kind of growth happen in just a few months?”
“He really is something else.”
“He’s only eight. He’s just getting started. He hasn’t even reached his prime yet, and he’s already successful. What kind of person will he become?”
“It’s a bit unsettling, honestly. Even Hyunsoo was incredible.”
“Someone who got eliminated in round seven of Quiz 5000 can’t be compared to someone who won.”
“Oh! You saw that?”
“Hottae told me. I was curious.”
Hyunsoo, the math prodigy who once dominated headlines, had tried to reclaim his title by appearing on Quiz 5000, but was eliminated in round seven, revealing his limits again.
“It felt bad watching him. He wasn’t the type to cry on camera.”
“That’s true……”
Even though reaching round seven was impressive, he ended up crying in front of the camera as he left the stage.
“It was only natural, but it still felt awful.”
It was the most childlike moment he had ever shown, which made it even sadder.
“But in a way, it’s a relief.”
“What do you mean?”
“Minho’s path might become one Hyunsoo follows.”
“What?”
“I heard Hyunsoo’s parents want him to go to college, even if it’s a local one.”
“Oh really?”
“If someone even more talented chooses to go at twenty, it might make them reconsider. At least the law is holding him back.”
“That’s true. Maybe our laws aren’t so bad after all.”
“They are. Does it make sense for a twelve-year-old to pass an equivalency exam and go to university?”
“That’s also true……”
“Why can’t his parents be satisfied? He’s already amazing.”
“They probably just want him to do even better.”
“That’s the problem. That’s why I understand Minho.”
“What?”
“Sometimes, it feels like being an orphan might be better than living with parents who aren’t really parents.”
“That’s a bit much……”
“Just my opinion. Take it lightly.”
At least when it comes to Minho, that might be true.
“By the way, did you hear about Minho’s stepmother?”
“Yes.”
As Minho’s artistic talent became known, the identity of his stepmother was revealed as well.
Art professionals quickly connected him to Shin Soyoung, a painter who had retired early but left a lasting mark on Korean art. Their styles and compositions were strikingly similar.
Moreover, the figures in the paintings resembled Do Kyungsoo and Shin Soyoung themselves.
Those who knew her well, like Professor Hong Jangmi, recognized them instantly.
In fact, she had known even before Minho appeared on television that he was Shin Soyoung’s adopted child.
She had been closely involved when Shin Soyoung abruptly left Korea for adoption, and later saw her return after giving the child up.
As someone who cared deeply for her, she understood her decision.
“She told me herself.”
Kang Jiseop pointed toward Professor Hong Jangmi walking into the exam room.
“I heard both of Minho’s adoptive parents graduated from Korea University.”
“Just ignore it. Minho isn’t saying anything, so why should we? A CF King doesn’t need sympathy or revenge.”
“Sympathy is one thing, but revenge?”
Thanks to Minho’s image and his adoptive parents’ reputation, their separation was seen as a beautiful one.
His adoptive parents had even donated fifty million won to the orphanage, further softening public opinion.
Some still viewed them critically, but most saw them the way Minho intended.
---
With ten minutes left, Minho finished early and submitted his answer sheet.
“Did it go well?”
Professor Hong Jangmi approached him.
“Yes.”
“That’s impressive.”
“Thank you for your hard work as well.”
“Hard work? You’re the one who worked hard. Do you not remember me?”
“I remember seeing you at the broadcasting station, but not before that. I heard my former mother studied art here. You teach art here, right?”
“Haha, yes. There were too many people last time, so I couldn’t approach you. Let’s get closer from now on.”
She handed him her business card.
“You’ll meet Soyoung comfortably too, right?”
“Of course.”
“Then how about meeting today?”
“I’m sorry, I have filming and prior plans.”
“There were a lot of people outside.”
“I’ll contact you next time.”
“Alright. There’s plenty of time. But next year, I’ll see you in my classroom, right?”
“I’m sorry, but that won’t happen.”
“Why? Do you think you don’t need to learn anymore?”
“It’s not that. I just don’t want to go to university yet.”
“What?”
“I think happiness at twenty is in university, and happiness at eight is in elementary school.”
“I see.”
“I took the CSAT to earn money. At twenty, people take it for university. At eight, I take it to make money. And Korea University needs students who can fit in—someone who’s twenty, not eight.”
Sharp as ever.
“Alright. Let’s stay in touch. I’m your fan.”
“Thank you.”
“By the way, someone I know really liked your painting. But I heard you don’t want to sell it?”
“Yes. It’s actually a gift for my former mother.”
“What?”
“I don’t think my painting is worth as much as what I owe her yet.”
I don’t want to live as someone indebted. They wouldn’t accept money, but a painting is different.
“So if the price is right, would you sell it?”
“I’ll leave that answer to my former mother.”