Chapter 208
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Translator: 8uhl
Chapter: 208
Chapter Title: The Blue Dragon's New Year
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“Good work, everyone!”
With the final take, the filming for *Escape* was officially complete. From the extras to the staff and the special effects makeup artists, everyone applauded with bright faces.
The head of Plus+ Korea and CEO Lee Hansol, who had come to watch the final shoot, were also smiling broadly and clapping hard. Both were wearing black long padded jackets.
“Looks like some people aren't wearing them.”
The branch manager scanned the set.
About a third of the people on set were wearing the black padded jackets; the rest were in different clothes. A long jacket could be cumbersome for running around and working, but…
“Well, it’s because the design is in Korean. I admit I might have hesitated a bit if it said ‘Escape’ on it. Though I would have worn it, of course.”
There was no denying the design played a big part.
“Still, I hope they don’t just throw them away.”
“They’re warm, so they won’t be thrown out. They’ll probably just remove the lettering on the back or cover it up.”
“But those letters are what make it special.”
The branch manager and Lee Hansol chuckled like villains. Just then, their eyes met with Seojun, who was heading off to change. Seeing familiar faces, Seojun smiled brightly and greeted them. The two men smiled back just as brightly and waved.
After waving with smiling faces until Seojun was out of sight, the two got down to business.
“We’ve decided to reconstruct the sets from the other locations here as well. There are quite a few empty rooms. We’re also planning to leave the break rooms used by the actors and staff as they are and build a snack bar.”
“I see.”
The branch manager nodded, then a particular scene came to mind.
“Where do you plan on putting that?”
“Ah, that.”
Even though he just said ‘that,’ Lee Hansol knew exactly what he meant.
“The lab door from actor Lee Seojun's scene will be placed by itself in the innermost part of the building. We’ll decorate the inside of the room to look like the lab after the zombie outbreak.”
Lee Hansol smiled faintly.
“We plan to install speakers in the corner to play the exact sounds recorded for that scene. Don't you think it’ll be popular in the summer?”
“I’m sure it will.”
Anticipating the completed ‘Escape Theme Park,’ the branch manager also smiled in satisfaction.
* * *
[(Exclusive) Filming for the movie *Escape* has wrapped!]
Introduced as a Korean-style zombie film, *Escape* stars Kim Jongho (as Im Jangwoo), Lee Dajin (as Yeon Jaehee), and Lee Seojun (as Go Joowon), a lineup predicted to have formidable ticket power.
(Omitted)
The rumored collaboration between Hollywood special effects makeup team Mirror and Jenna Tried has been confirmed as true, and it is known that Korea's top three special effects makeup teams all worked together on the project.
(Omitted)
With only editing and CG work remaining, rumors are circulating that a Hollywood CG team will be joining the production. While a release date for *Escape* has not yet been set, it is expected to be sometime in the summer, given the film's genre.>
After the exclusive broke, a flood of articles followed. The amount of interest it generated was enough to keep it on the real-time search rankings for several hours.
-Filming is done-n-n-n!!
=There's still some post-production work left, but it's done-n-n-n!!
-This is looking insane lol
=They're even bringing in a Hollywood CG team?
=Looks like the investors are really splashing out, huh?
-So when's the release date?
-lol Gotta go to the premiere lol
=My luck is trash but I’ll give it a shot!
=Um. How do you apply for the premiere?
=You can only do it once they post an announcement.
-Summer vacation plan: Watch Escape once a day
=Twice a day!
* * *
“Happy New Year.”
“Happy New Yea!”
As Seojun, dressed in a hanbok, bowed, Eunsu, who had been watching him with sparkling eyes, also bowed, flopping onto the floor. The skirt of the tiny girl’s hanbok fluttered.
With her face almost buried in the floor, Eunsu turned her head to the side to look at Seojun.
*Oppa. When is he getting up?*
Seeing Eunsu turn her head completely toward Seojun to gauge the situation, Seojun, still bowed, chuckled softly.
It was hard for a child at an age for running around to stay still. Eunsu wanted to finish the New Year’s bows quickly and go play with her oppa.
After taking a picture of Eunsu wiggling her tiny feet, Seo Eunchan gave the signal, and Seojun got up. At this, Eunsu beamed and shot up as well. Kim Sooryun, Seo Eunhye, and Lee Minjun burst into laughter. Seeing her adorable grandchildren, their maternal grandmother also smiled broadly.
“Oh my. Look at our little puppy. She knows how to bow, too!”
“She does. Our Eunsu. You did so well!”
“Wow! Eunsu, you’re amazing!”
With praise from her grandmother, praise from Seo Eunhye, and even applause from Seojun, Eunsu’s cheeks turned bright red. Her lips quivered, and her heart pounded.
“Yep! I’m good! I wanna do it again!”
It seemed she had completely forgotten about wiggling her feet just moments ago out of restlessness. Excited, Eunsu stood before her grandmother once more.
“Whoa! Eunsu, you can’t do it twice!”
Seo Eunchan quickly stopped Eunsu as she tried to bow again. A loud burst of laughter filled the room.
Today was Lunar New Year.
The long holiday had begun.
“This is for our Seojun. And this is for our Eunsu.”
“Thank you.”
“Thank you!”
After receiving her New Year's money, Eunsu scampered over to Seo Eunchan to show it off. The sight of the four-year-old running with her hanbok skirt fluttering made all the adults, and Seojun, smile fondly.
“Daddy, look how much money I have!”
“Wow. Our Eunsu is rich!”
“Right? I want chocolate!”
“Should we? Where could the chocolate be?”
No one knew why showing off her money led to a request for chocolate, but Seo Eunchan, completely won over by his daughter's cuteness, smiled dopily and headed to the kitchen with her.
Watching Eunsu walk away holding Seo Eunchan’s hand, Seo Eunhye spoke without thinking.
“It’s a good thing Eunsu doesn’t take after Eunchan.”
“Pfft!”
Lee Minjun, who had been drinking sikhye, spat it out, and Seojun burst out laughing. Even Kim Sooryun and their grandmother couldn’t help but let out a chuckle. Though no one had said it, they had all been thinking the same thing.
After Eunsu had her chocolate, Seojun asked her.
“Eunsu, what should we play?”
“The Blue Dragon game!”
At her words, Seojun and the adults’ eyes widened. They hadn't expected to hear that name here.
“The Blue Dragon game?”
“Yep! We make a wish to the Blue Dragon!”
“Okay, let’s do that. When it comes to the Blue Dragon game, your oppa is the best in the world!”
The adults smiled faintly at the all-too-obvious statement.
Eunsu’s eyes sparkled. She naturally believed the words of her oppa, Seojun, who always played with her in the most fun ways.
“Weally?”
“Of course! Just wait a second.”
“Seojun, the Blue Dragon doll is in Eunsu’s bag.”
Thinking it might be needed for the game, Seo Eunchan told him where the doll was. Seojun, who had been trying to think of an excuse to go to the room, smiled and replied.
“Got it!”
Once in the room with Eunsu’s bag, Seojun quickly used [Skill: Summer Bear's Hibernation] to retrieve [Skill: Feeble Fear of the Blue Dragon Hatchling] from the Library of Life. Then he took the Blue Dragon doll out of Eunsu’s bag.
“It’s nice to see you after so long.”
The ability seemed to think so too, as the pattern etched on his neck began to glow. Seojun didn't forget to lower the mid-tier ability to its lowest level. After all, this performance was just for his little cousin.
[[Skill: Feeble Fear of the Blue Dragon Hatchling - Lowest Level] is activated.]
Wiggling her bottom as she waited for Seojun, Eunsu’s gaze fell on his hands as he came out of the room. The Blue Dragon doll, imbued with the mana of a Blue Dragon, was emitting an aura. Though small because it was a doll, its gently swaying whiskers and shimmering scales looked just like the real thing.
“Woooow!”
Seeing the Blue Dragon right before her, Eunsu’s eyes sparkled.
“Blue Dwagon, Blue Dwagon. Pwease gwant my wish!”
[Of course. What is your wish?]
“…It’s the real Blue Dragon!”
The voice was identical, and Eunsu let out a squeal of delight. It was on a completely different level from her dad’s awkward imitation. An utterly thrilled Eunsu and an excited Seojun, enjoying his Blue Dragon role after a long time, had a wonderful time playing the Blue Dragon game.
“Blue Dragon, Blue Dragon! Please make it rain!”
[Alas. I cannot grant your wish without my Yeouiju.]
Yeouiju!
Eunsu shot up from her spot, clenched her two tiny fists, and shouted.
“It’s in Eunsu’s bag!”
[Oh? Is that so?]
“Yes!”
Eunsu scampered to the room and came back with the Yeouiju. After granting Eunsu’s wish (by lightly spraying water with a spray bottle), Seojun hid the Yeouiju in the room. He and Eunsu then searched for it together, and he granted another wish.
The adults shook their heads at the high-quality play session.
“Eunsu’s been completely obsessed with ‘Spring’ lately.”
“Where did she see it?”
“They showed it at her daycare. They say the Yeouiju is perfect for keeping the kids calm, so they apparently show it on one of the first days.”
Everyone burst into laughter at Kim Sooryun’s story.
“She says the Blue Dragon is the best thing in the world. She even went all the way to the Eunhasu Center.”
“Eunsu has no idea that Seojun is the real Blue Dragon.”
“She’ll find out when she’s older, but it’s impossible for her now.”
Eunsu would make a wish, and Seojun would grant it. The small, fun wishes a four-year-old might make kept the smiles on both their faces. The adults watching the giggling children had smiles on their faces as well.
Seo Eunsu, age 4.
Without knowing it, she had met the ‘real Blue Dragon’ and become a successful fan.
“…There’s probably no role-playing game more luxurious than that.”
The adults burst out laughing at the sudden, reality-laced comment from the president of Cocoa Entertainment, superstar Lee Seojun’s agency.
* * *
It was a blooming March.
Seojun was now a second-year student at Yeoul Arts Middle School.
New classes were formed, and Seojun was placed in Class 1 with Han Jiho and Yang Juhee, while Kang Jaehan and Kim Jukyung were in Class 2.
“I heard it was even more competitive this year than last year.”
“I heard that too. Our practical exam was two days, but this time it was four.”
“That’s double, just by simple math.”
The students gathered in Yeoul Hall for the entrance ceremony chattered away. Not just the acting department, but due to the unusual level of attention, the art and music departments were also fiercely competitive, especially the violin section of the music department.
“Seojun. Over there.”
“Hm?”
Han Jiho, sitting next to him, called out to Seojun. Seojun, who had been listening to an excited Juhee talk about doing a year-end performance, looked in the direction Han Jiho was pointing.
Among the crowd of first-year students stood a boy, waving both arms enthusiastically toward where Seojun was. The kids standing next to the boy were also looking toward Seojun with sparkling eyes.
Recognizing the face, Seojun broke into a wide smile.
“It’s Hanseok!”
“The kid who was in *One Step* with you, right?”
“Yeah. He never told me which middle school he was going to. So it was our school!”
When Seojun waved back, Kim Hanseok grinned brightly and waved his arms even more vigorously. It seemed he had already made friends, as the first-years next to him crowded around him, making Yeoul Hall grow noisy.
“He really knows Lee Seojun!”
“Don’t just say ‘Lee Seojun’! Call him Senior!”
“I can’t believe I’m in the same school as Senior Lee Seojun!”
After finally calming down the first-year students and parents, who were excited to see a Hollywood star in person, the entrance ceremony for Yeoul Arts Middle School began.
After the ceremony, the students of Class 2-1 headed to their classroom. They greeted their homeroom teacher and decided to elect a class president.
“Then the class president will be Yang Juhee.”
“I’ll do my best! Who wants to do the year-end performance with me?”
Yang Juhee shouted as if she had been waiting for this very moment.
The kids, who didn’t understand what she meant at first, blinked a few times before it clicked. A few of them shot their hands up. The homeroom teacher burst into laughter at her spirited class president.
“What about you, Seojun?”
“I have a shoot.”
Seojun replied to Juhee, who was jotting down the names of the kids who would perform with her.
At Seojun’s words, both the teacher and the students’ eyes lit up. Jiho, sitting next to Seojun, asked.
“Are you filming *Shadowman 3*?”
“Yeah. I think filming will probably start around the fall.”
Whoa.
Gasps of awe escaped from the students.
“You’ll get to meet Evan Block!”
“And Richel Hill!”
The homeroom teacher, who had been mentally calculating the legally required attendance days and the number of special activity days permitted by Yeoul Arts Middle School, spoke.
“Let me know when the schedule comes out. We’ve prepared for it, but if the shoot is longer than expected, we’ll need to figure something out.”
“Yes, I will.”
Just as they were getting used to the new grade, new class, and new friends, April arrived.
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