Chapter 21
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 21
Chapter Title: Ripple Effect (2)
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The comment section started blowing up. The final subtitle sealed the deal.
We'll actually try out the most recommended comments, and if it succeeds, we'll give away VIP concert tickets for the end of the year! Please participate a lot, Pduggies!
Making one kid laugh? Dude, that's easy as pie. Just blast some Tinkle Tinkle Little Star.
I have a niece. Piggyback rides make her lose her mind with joy.
They said she's pretty, so probably a girl? How about a doll?
For boys, just toss 'em up to the sky. Worked for me, but I threw my back out doing it.
Dinosaurs hit the spot for boys. The kids at my daycare debated for an hour straight who would win between T-Rex and Triceratops lol.
But can we bring stuff in? Isn't it full of really sick kids in the ICU?
News spreads like wildfire online. No matter where you go around the world, there are always those armchair experts chiming in with "Nah, that's not how you do it." People claiming parenting experience flooded the comments. With the fans being young, plenty asked their parents and posted on their behalf.
My parents said I loved dolls when I was little!
I liked pretty clothes. For girls, whatever.
But it depends on personality. If they like quiet stuff, how about reading a book?
Seolgi checked the top-recommended comments and felt a surge of confidence. Yeah, how hard could it be to make one kid laugh!
It was hard.
The responses were always a quiet, soft "Yes." in short bursts. Seolgi gave it her all. But the girl's expression never budged.
Bought her sweet snacks, too.
Cracked some punny jokes.
Even read her a picture book.
Why won't she laugh! Is this kid even human? Even when she was ripping into the Whales earlier, her face stayed blank, her voice calm. Even after that, when explaining why the Whales were sucking this season, it was just "Oh, really? Yes." and such. Couldn't bring up illegal gambling in front of her. Thought about it ten times, but no means no.
Meanwhile, So-yun giggled at everything Seolgi did. Half and half would be perfect. No wonder people love half-and-half chicken.
"Um, I think it's time to wrap up."
Kim Department Head entered the room and spoke. Seolgi, utterly drained, replied in a soulless voice.
"Yeees... My little ones. Big sis has to head out now."
"Can't you stay...?"
"...Thank you for your hard work."
Which one's harder to parent? When I have kids, I hope they're half and half. So-yun seems exhausting, A-yeon too easy but somehow unsettling. Parenting ain't easy.
"I'll disinfect once more before we go."
"Okay. So-yun, A-yeon! Last photo time!"
"Yes!"
"Yes."
They snapped pics with the Polaroid she'd brought, each keeping one. Memories like these matter.
"And finally, a gift from big sis!"
"Waaah! Thank you, unnie!"
"...Thank you."
Inside the gift box Seolgi handed over was a Polaroid camera loaded with plenty of film. Phones work fine, but nothing beats the vibe of a physical print. Plus, the hospital recommended it.
Disinfect before entering the ward, disinfect before the room. A huge hassle, but necessary for the ICU. After leaving the hospital, Seolgi and her manager sighed in unison.
"Manager unnie, is this right...? How can someone have zero reaction? I was so hyped from the comments."
"I thought at least one would land. Even did the chimp impression, and nothing."
"The video's probably bombed. The agency's sponsoring for once, what now...?"
"Yeah..."
But as the world often does, things didn't go as expected.
We Met the Baby Angels! — With. KNUH
Views: 13M | Posted: 6 hours ago.
"It's a hit! Huge hit! SNS reactions are exploding! Seolgi! We did it! Look!"
"What's this...?"
The CEO, busy as he was, called her in specially to praise her—the video was a smash. Views climbed in real-time. SNS was chaos. Most didn't see Seolgi's special mission as a failure.
Over ten thousand comments poured in with fresh, hilarious ideas. One even said, "If she tries all these, she'll be a pro at making kids laugh even if not parenting. Starting today, gonna test 'em one by one." And people took it seriously.
Seolgi never skimped on tasks, and fans knew her work ethic. They figured one of the top suggestions would land.
But not even once. Her video topped the trending charts, drawing in tons of normies as comments exploded.
Which agency is this kid from? For real, urgent.
She's a doll. Doll. Head so tiny. What even is that natural silver hair? Broke out of an anime. I could make her laugh too, take me please.
Calm down;; But srsly wtf is this kid? I'm simping hard staring at that face, why's her body so frail? Pls tell me they feed her.
Chill first. Hospital, they'd feed her. She's sick.... So-yun next to her is adorable too. But that kid bald? Cancer? So-yun looks skinny too.
Leukemia maybe. Most common kid cancer.
Didn't laugh once.... Unnie, I cried wanting to see you smile....
Seolgi tried so hard.... Not laughing at all this? AI confirmed?
Fr, Seolgi went all out. Does everything asked perfectly, tried every top comment. Issue is only So-yun laughed.
Last resort self-deprecation flop is hilarious. Kids in peds lose it at that. Teto Seolgi headbutted hard too, sound effect lol.
Our Teto Seolgi's got that iron skull, no biggie. Famous rock head.
She collapsed tho?
Not laughing at that? Savage. So-yun rolling laughing, A-yeon stone-faced stare.
Seolgi lives so earnestly.... Makes me wanna try harder. Idol drops ego for chimp act.... Just laugh once ㅠㅠ
Empathy levels maxed.... PTSD. Editor prolly like "She's actually doing it" lmao.
A-yeon can't smile. Already mesmerized by looks, imagine that face smiling. National treasure level. Raise her right, she'll be a world-class beauty. Send her to pageants.
Plastic surgery?
Fuckin 10yo plastic? Wanna get hit? Been in hospital 6+ months, said from age 9, what psycho parents do surgery then?
Most emotion shown was "Break up those bastard groups" lmao
Authentic Whales fan certified lol
Can't be helped. Whales gallery mods, that's that. Trolls full today.
Sea city, fishermen? They'd be happy with full catch.
Asshole, not everyone's a fisherman in Busan? 3M pop city. Rude prick. You from Incheon?
Ahem, stop bad comments. Kids watching. Yeah Incheon.
Puppy-like punk.
Min Hong-taek's reaction gonna be gold. Community addict, def saw this.
His sister, no way he missed it lol
"See? Told you it'd work."
CEO grinning ear to ear, showing the comments. In modern society, attention is king. Why else would companies pour cash into promo?
Got paid and it promoted? Revolutionary. Seolgi's Insta followers surged as a popularity metric. Comments mostly positive. Image solid.
The Teto girl who never skips assignments. Idol living life to the fullest.
"Yeah... Insta DMs flooding. But am I okay as an idol doing this...?"
"Totally. Just get your face out there. Everyone does. Anyway, huge success. I'll ask hospital about a part 2."
"Oh right, CEO. Isn't it about time? They said KNUH would post when our reactions peaked."
"Yeah. Should be up soon. You only in second half? Mentioned their vid at end?"
"Yes. Told editors. Scene of me signing organ donor form included."
"Good. Oh, it's up."
The Place That Gives Hope to Children, PICU. — With. Freya_SeolGi
The video opened with sweeping shots of KNUH glowing brightly even in the dark night, narration booming.
(Even on nights when they should be sleeping peacefully, some children can't. Please help make their tomorrows easier.)
After narration, Kim Se-yeon, Pediatrics Head Seolgi met, appeared with subtitled dialogue.
[Hello. Thanks for your hard work.]
[Hi. Where you headed, Head?]
[To PICU. Just got a call.]
[PICU? What's that?]
[Where the really sick kids stay now. One on chemo switched meds, bad reaction. Heading there.]
Camera followed Kim Head almost running. Then PICU: So-yun vomiting, A-yeon beside her holding hands stone-faced, nurse holding bag to mouth, patting back lightly.
[Uweeeek—! Uhk... Uk! Wek!]
[...You okay?]
[Of course! *cough* Kek! This sis is fine!]
[...Hurts?]
[Huaa.... Not at all!]
(Chemo tough even for adults, brutal for kids. But So-yun acts strong so her little sis watching won't worry.)
[Head! Rejection spiking. Fever at 39.5, BP and RR both high.]
[ABGA first! Up the fluids! So-yun, hang in there.]
[Yeees... Doc. I can take it.]
(Painful arterial blood draw deep in wrist, but So-yun smiles through familiar agony.)
Video continued, scene shifted to A-yeon's room where Seolgi visited.
-Beep. Beep.
[Hoo... Hoo...]
[Head! Sats dropping!]
[Mask first!]
(A-yeon's cardiomegaly worsening; transplant now only option.)
[Hwang Prof.]
[Yeah. Lung function declining. No choice... Donor?]
[One popped recently, but blood type mismatch. Going to waitlist at other hospital.]
[Right... Can't help blood type...]
Next, Lee Prof from Psychiatry doing therapy, then Seolgi teaching songs seriously.
So-yun kept smiling, A-yeon blank throughout. Near end, Hospital Director appeared.
(We want to protect the children's futures and grant their wishes. A-yeon can't hold on without a heart transplant. Protect A-yeon's future, find her smile.)
(And if by chance, among viewers, you're So-yun's mom. Please visit her room once. So-yun has little time left.)
(In 2017, an unacceptable incident occurred. Since 2018, KNUH established a dedicated department for donor honors. Thank you.)