Chapter 121
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Translator: 8uhl
Chapter: 121
Chapter Title: The Mysterious Ticket
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September.
Lee Seojun, who had left for the United States to film a Hollywood movie, had finally returned.
The Hollywood star's return briefly brought the airport to a standstill. Of course, it was Seojun's ability that quieted the bustling airport.
After a short interview, he quickly headed home before an even larger crowd could gather.
“We’re home after four months! Nara’s house was amazing, but there’s no place like home, right, Seojun?”
“Yeah. Our home is the best!”
Returning home after four months, Seojun and Seo Eunhye smiled brightly as they wandered around the house. Had anything changed? They looked around, but it was much the same as when they had left. That made it even more comfortable.
Seojun and Seo Eunhye sat on the sofa, letting all the tension leave their bodies as they relaxed.
“Home is the best.”
“It really is.”
As they were basking in the warmth of their home with goofy smiles, they heard the sound of the digital door lock opening.
It was Lee Minjun. Seojun and Seo Eunhye greeted him with wide smiles.
“I was going to come to pick you up, but your brother said it would be better if I didn't.”
“Good call, good call.”
“He was right, Dad. There were so many people that Mom had to come out separately.”
“So I bought this instead.”
“What is it?”
Seojun and Seo Eunhye craned their necks. Lee Minjun smiled and revealed what he had been hiding behind his back.
“Jokbal!”
It was the family set from their favorite jokbal place. Seeing the familiar logo on the plastic bag for the first time in four months, Seojun and Seo Eunhye’s faces lit up.
“Wow! Dad, you’re the best!”
“Jokbal! The jokbal in America just doesn't taste like this!”
“Let’s eat quickly.”
“Okay!”
Seojun and Seo Eunhye expertly went into the kitchen to prepare for their jokbal feast. The bustling energy quickly filled the void of the past four months, and Lee Minjun found himself smiling unconsciously.
***
[Hollywood Star, Actor Lee Seojun Returns to Korea!]
[Actor Lee Seojun's Airport Fashion, Still a Die-Hard Monster Fan!]
[Actor Lee Seojun: Please Watch 'Over the Rainbow'!]
[Actor Lee Seojun: I'm Glad I Could Return Before School Starts.]
-Welcome back, Seojun!
-This is so surreal. A Hollywood actor returned to their home country, and that country is ours.
=I know, right? lol It’s so weird. I never thought I’d see a headline that says [Hollywood Star, Returns Home] instead of [Hollywood Star, Arrives in Country].
-Monster Co. bags sold out, hats sold out, even the handkerchiefs are sold out lol. He’s a walking billboard. A son or nephew raised well saves on advertising costs and boosts the brand's value lol. Mom, Dad, I’m sorry. I can’t do that for you.
=The fact that Monster Co.'s investment money came from Lee Seojun's mukbang is also amazing lol. Just how many people's livelihoods depend on Lee Seojun?
=I’m an employee at Monster Co. I’m a Lee Seojun fan. I love you, Lee Seojun!
-I'd watch the movie even if Seojun didn't ask us to ㅎㅎ. This one is going to be huge too lol.
-School starts lol. That’s right. Summer vacation is over. Did you finish your homework, Seojun?
=[Article: I finished all my summer homework!] He says he did it haha.
***
“Hi, Seojun!”
“Hi, Jio! Hihu!”
Seojun, who was sitting in his classroom, greeted the twin brothers as they ran toward him. With flushed faces, Jio and Jihu asked their questions.
“I heard you went busking! How much did you make? You’re the first friend I’ve had who’s gone busking!”
“Are your attendance days okay? I just found out this time that there are mandatory attendance days.”
“I didn't even make 100,000 won. My attendance days are tight, but I think I can make it.”
Jio’s eyes widened. Jihu smiled gently.
“100,000 won is a lot! That’s more than my monthly allowance!”
“That’s a relief. I was worried what we’d do if you were the only one left in fifth grade.”
“Let’s go get tteokbokki after school. Jihu, you still say the most terrifying things so casually.”
Seojun burst out laughing at his friends, who hadn't changed a bit. As other kids entered the classroom, they saw Seojun and waved, and he greeted them back warmly.
“Seojun! Welcome back!”
“Was the filming fun?”
Mina and Jiyoon entered the classroom. The five of them were in the same class again. With fewer classes, the kids often ended up in the same homeroom multiple times before they reached fifth grade.
“Yeah. It was really fun.”
The fifth-grader Lee Seojun, a side of him unseen in movies or dramas, smiled and chattered with his friends. Filming was fun, but he loved his daily life too.
“My mom said she’s going to switch my math academy. It’s the same one the class president goes to, and he said they give a ton of homework…”
“I think that would be fine. My current academy is too hands-off.”
“Then what about our academy? Mina and I go to the same one.”
“Is there no homework there?”
“It’s not like there’s none, but it’s not a lot.”
Disappointed at the mention of homework, Jio looked at Seojun.
“Which math academy do you go to, Seojun?”
“I don’t go to an academy. I just do workbooks and problem sets every day. My mom and dad teach me what I don’t know.”
“…An academy would be better for us.”
The other kids nodded at Jihu’s words. Jio shivered as if horrified.
“My mom checking my scores every day…”
“Seojun is good at math, so he probably gets everything right, but Jio gets things wrong all the time… If he studied with his mom, they’d end up fighting, wouldn't they?”
The kids, and even the other classmates who were listening, all nodded in agreement.
While Seojun was starting the second semester of fifth grade just like any other kid, the full-scale promotion for *Over the Rainbow* began.
As expected of a Marine Company subsidiary, commercials appeared on television, and numerous ads popped up on the internet. However, the violin music in the ads was only from Rebecca's performance, played by Catherine Miller.
No new footage was released other than the promotional video shown after the eighth-week video. There were many ads, but very little information was revealed.
[Whale Studio Announces Soundtrack Will Be Released Three Days After Premiere!]
[Director Sarah Rothe: A Score That's Even Better When Heard While Watching the Film!]
[D-7 to Premiere, Major Cinema Chains Holding Raffles for 'Over the Rainbow' Preview Screenings!]
[Whale Studio Announces 'Over the Rainbow' Commemorative Merchandise in the Works!]
-So I’m just watching the busking video over and over again.
-The first seven weeks are just classical music, but please release the music from week eight!
=Week eight! Week eight!
-Doesn't that just mean the music and the visuals are a perfect match? I want to hear the music for the first time while watching the movie.
=Then you’ll have to see it within the first three days. Once the soundtrack is out, it'll shoot to the top of the charts and you'll hear it everywhere lol.
-Merchandise? What is it? What!! I’ll buy whatever it is!! I must have it!!
=Isn’t it a popcorn bucket? lol In the shape of a violin lol.
=…I’ll have to see it in person first.
[Title: (No Spoilers) Just Came Back from the 'Over the Rainbow' Preview Screening.]
Don’t listen to the music beforehand. Go and listen to it there.
Listening to the music and then watching the movie is something you can do for your second viewing.
Everyone, plug your ears and walk to the theater.
Go in knowing nothing. Ignorance is bliss!
I’ve already booked my tickets for multiple viewings.
-I’m so curious!
-I guess I have to watch it on the first day ㅠ.
-The cinema website is about to crash lol.
[Over the Rainbow Receives Rave Reviews from Preview Screenings!]
[Actor Lee Seojun, First Korean Lead in a Hollywood Film! Youngest Lead in Hollywood History!]
[Another Masterpiece! A Must-Watch Film Starring Lee Seojun!]
[Over the Rainbow Reaches 83% in Pre-sales!]
[Actor Lee Seojun's First Leading Role, 'Over the Rainbow,' Simultaneous Worldwide Release Tomorrow!]
-First Korean lead and youngest lead lol. He’s setting new legends with every step he takes lol.
-That’s Lee Seojun for you! So cool!
-Simultaneous worldwide release lol. Lee Seojun is in a different class lol.
=I know. It’s pretty amazing. A movie starring a Korean actor getting a simultaneous worldwide release. Wow. As expected of our Grand Prince.
-Tomorrow! I’m going to see it tomorrow!
-So what is the merchandise? Is it really a popcorn bucket?
=I heard it’s a ticket?
=A ticket?
***
On the opening day of *Over the Rainbow*.
The movie theater was bustling. It seemed like everyone was there to see the same movie, as they were all talking about the same thing. Among the people who couldn't hide their anticipation were Im Miyon and Park Seonga.
“There are a lot of posters.”
“I know. Are this one and that one for *Over the Rainbow*?”
They started collecting the posters that introduced the cast and the movie.
Im Miyon tilted her head and picked up a solid black poster from the pile. On the black background, a violin on a stage was illuminated by a spotlight.
This peculiar poster, with [OVER THE RAINBOW] written in yellow letters in the center, had no photos of the lead actors or any information about the movie.
[Violinist: Gray Vainie]
The bottom portion, marked with a dotted perforation line, resembled a ticket, printed with a performance date, venue, and seat number. And in the center of the ticket, there were words in yellow.
[Thank you for your long-standing support.]
Im Miyon tilted her head in confusion. Just then, Park Seonga, who had returned after printing their mobile tickets, asked.
“Is that a *Rainbow* poster too?”
“I think so… The back is completely blank, and the front has almost nothing on it. But since it says *Over the Rainbow* and was placed here, I guess it’s a movie poster. It doesn't seem like many people are taking it, though. The other posters are almost gone, but there are still a lot of these.”
Park Seonga shrugged.
“Let’s just take it. It’s not the first or second time Marine Company has done something weird. Hitting us with a post-credits scene, bringing all the heroes together for one movie, and even a surprise busking event. Maybe it’s some kind of event?”
“You think so? Since it’s a music movie, it looks just like a concert poster.”
Hearing Im Miyon and Park Seonga’s conversation, other moviegoers who were taking posters also grabbed a black one.
“By the way, where’s the merchandise?”
“Is it really a popcorn bucket?”
The two looked around and headed towards a crowd of people.
“Is this the merchandise?”
“Isn’t it just a ticket?”
What people were looking at was an elegant envelope and a ticket with a date and seat number printed on it. Im Miyon and Park Seonga looked at the ticket, then back at their poster.
“It looks similar to this.”
“You’re right. That one looks much more high-end. The poster is just yellow, but doesn't that one look like it's gold? The ticket design seems more elaborate too.”
“It does.”
At their words, a customer who had been debating whether to buy the ticket looked at the poster Im Miyon was holding. A ticket similar to the one on display. Plus, that poster was free.
“Oh, is that a poster? It looks just like that ticket.”
“Yes. It’s over there.”
“The poster is free, so why are they selling something like this?”
The moviegoer tilted their head and walked toward the poster stand. Most of the other onlookers followed. Im Miyon asked an employee.
“How much is this?”
“Are you going to buy it? It’s on the poster here too.”
“Yes. It's better to buy these things so you don't regret it later.”
“Still…”
As Park Seonga hesitated, the employee smiled and said.
“It’s 3,000 won.”
“I’ll take it!”
The employee replied, “Thank you,” and asked.
“This is only available to those who are watching the movie. Could I check your ticket? Once I check this, you won’t be able to refund your movie ticket.”
“Here you go.”
“Yes, thank you. Which seat would you like? You can choose any one. Please choose a date as well. For the first week of release, you can choose a date from January to March. If you want another date, you can choose from April to June during the second week, July to September during the third week, and October to December during the fourth week. It doesn't have to be today; if you bring your movie ticket, you can come by anytime to choose your preferred date and purchase it.”
Im Miyon and Park Seonga blinked at the employee’s rapid-fire explanation.
“…Is this a real ticket?”
“No. We create the ticket with the date and seat that you choose.”
“What? This is so cool.”
“If it’s from January to March, I can use my birthday.”
Following the employee’s instructions, Im Miyon and Park Seonga chose a date and a seat. They chose their respective birthdays for the dates and recommended seats with the best view of the stage.
The employee smiled and guided them to a Pine Pad and keyboard on one side.
“We can also put your name on it. Would you please write your name? You can also enter a different phrase as long as it’s within the character limit below.”
“Yes. Okay.”
Im Miyon and Park Seonga wrote their names on the Pine Pad and pressed the enter button.
A moment later, the employee handed them the tickets in elegant envelopes.
Besides the two of them, several others stopped by. Some bought the ticket, while others walked away after hearing that a similar ticket was on the free poster.
Before the movie started, the two took the tickets out of their envelopes.
[Ms. Im Miyon. Thank you for your long-standing support.]
[Venue: Whale Classic Hall, Seoul, South Korea]
[Date: February 27, 20XX, 20:00.]
[Seat: M 52]
[Violinist: Gray Vainie]
The words were written in dazzling, shiny gold on the black ticket. Im Miyon and Park Seonga were very pleased with the tickets that had their names on them.
“3,000 won isn’t bad, is it? It says here that after production costs, all proceeds will be donated…”
“Some people might think 3,000 won for a piece of paper is expensive. But this is so cool. We get to choose the date and seat. The venue on the poster ticket is in the US, but this one says Korea. Look. It says it here too. ‘Thank you for your long-standing support.’”
As Im Miyon and Park Seonga were tilting their heads at the cryptic message, a theater employee shouted loudly.
“Theater 3! Theater 3! Will all patrons for *Over the Rainbow* please proceed to the entrance now!”
At the employee’s announcement, everyone began to move. Staff checked their tickets, and everyone found their assigned seats.
After settling into their seats, Im Miyon and Park Seonga carefully placed their commemorative tickets in their bags.
A moment later, commercials began to play on the large screen.