Chapter 338
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Translator: 8uhl
Chapter: 338
Chapter Title: The First Profile Photo
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Sunday afternoon.
After playing with Subin and Eunsu to their hearts' content, Seo Eunchan and Seojun put the two children to bed and returned to the living room. With a groan, Seo Eunchan collapsed onto the sofa.
“Phew. It’s hot.”
It was still April, but he was sweating buckets from playing with the children.
“Samchon, want some ice cream?”
“Yeah. Get me one.”
Seo Eunchan turned on the air conditioner while Seojun fetched two ice cream bars from the freezer. Uncle Chan’s taste was identical to his mom’s, so there was no way Seojun could forget his favorite.
The uncle and nephew, sitting side by side on the sofa with ice cream in hand, looked perfectly at ease.
“So, you’re getting your ID card made?”
“Yeah.”
Eating his red bean ice cream, Seo Eunchan recalled the day he got his own ID card.
“It was so long ago, I can barely remember. When are you going to apply? You have to get your fingerprints taken, so it might take a while.”
At Seo Eunchan’s question, Seojun, who was enjoying a chocolate ice cream bar, shrugged his shoulders.
“The community center isn't open on weekends, so I have to go on a weekday, but I have school on weekdays, so I have to time it right. The school anniversary is coming up soon. I was thinking of going then.”
“Really? By the way, do your friends have their ID cards?”
“Mina does. She was born in January, so she got hers during winter break. The twins were born in February, but they got the notice in March and haven't applied yet. Jiyun’s birthday is later than mine, but since she was born in March, there isn't a huge difference.”
Listening to Seojun, Seo Eunchan pictured the little kids who used to play with him.
He often heard stories about them through Seojun, but the last time he’d seen them in person was in elementary school. To think that not only Seojun but also those little kids were now old enough to get their ID cards. Other people’s kids really do grow up fast.
‘I wonder when our Eunsu will grow up.’
Seo Eunchan smiled, thinking of his daughter sleeping soundly in Seojun’s room.
“Then you can just ask your friends about it.”
“I did, and they told me not to go when it’s likely to be busy.”
“When is a government office not busy?”
“Right?”
Having finished their ice cream, the uncle and nephew relaxed in the cool air-conditioned breeze. Just moments ago, the house had been buzzing with the children's high-pitched voices, but now the silence felt incredibly cozy.
“What are you going to do for the photo?”
“I was just going to get it taken in front of the community center. I saw a photo studio there.”
When he’d looked up directions to the community center on a map app, he’d noticed a few photo studios nearby. Seojun was planning to just walk into any one of them and get his picture taken.
“Or I could go to a studio near our house. It just has to be a photo taken within the last six months.”
“Hmm.”
At Seojun's reply, the wheels in the Cocoa Entertainment CEO's head began to turn.
“Seojun. Do you want to take it at a professional photo studio?”
“A studio?”
Seojun tilted his head at the unexpected word.
Seo Eunchan’s eyes lit up.
“Your ID photo lasts a lifetime unless you get it reissued, so it’s better to have a good one. And we can take some new profile pictures of you while we’re at it.”
“Profile pictures?”
“Yeah. You’ve had so many roles thrown at you that we haven't needed them, but… don’t you think it’s a good opportunity to get some taken?”
As the CEO of Cocoa Entertainment, Seo Eunchan honestly wanted to bring up the overflowing number of photoshoot offers, but since he didn't know how Seojun felt about them, he decided to start with a simple suggestion of profile pictures.
“Well…”
Seeing Seojun’s lukewarm reaction, Seo Eunchan opened his mouth.
Lee Seojun’s maternal uncle, Seo Eunchan, knew exactly how to persuade him.
“A director or writer might see a different side of you in the profile pictures and send you an interesting script.”
“I’ll do it.”
Seo Eunchan stared incredulously at his nephew, who had agreed in less than a second, and spoke as if to a six-year-old.
“Seojun. Even if a stranger offers you a script, you can’t follow them, okay?”
“…I won’t.”
Seojun’s slightly delayed response made Seo Eunchan’s eyes widen. He sat up straight and looked at his nephew.
“What was that pause for? You should have said of course you wouldn't.”
“Well…”
Seojun’s eyes darted around before he broke into a grin.
“I could just go with Daho-hyung, couldn't I?”
“…I’m going to have to tell Team Leader An to stick to you like glue.”
“Haha.”
Seojun burst out laughing at the sight of Seo Eunchan clutching his forehead in disbelief.
* * *
“Profile pictures, huh.”
The members of Team 2, the dedicated team for Cocoa Entertainment actor Lee Seojun, gathered for the suddenly scheduled meeting.
They each fell into thought at Team Leader An Daho’s words.
Profile pictures.
While they could mean many things, for an actor, they were essentially a promotional tool to inform industry professionals, ‘I have this side to me, too,’ or ‘Please call me for roles with a similar image.’
“Rookie actors use them to get their faces out there, and established actors use them to show a different image.”
“But Seojun doesn't really need to get his face out there…”
The employees’ gazes shifted to the pile of scripts in the corner of the office. They had all come in while Seojun was filming *The Survivors* in the U.S. and after he had returned.
“The offers come in just fine.”
An Daho and the Team 2 members nodded with proud smiles for their successful actor.
“So, should we think of this as more of a photoshoot than just for profile pictures?”
For profile pictures, the focus needed to be on the actor, so the clothing and props were often simple.
“The backgrounds are usually simple, too.”
“Isn’t that a bit of a shame? Wouldn’t an idol-like concept be good?”
“If we go the photoshoot route, there are plenty of places that would love to work with us.”
An employee brought over a box and opened it. It was filled with papers—photoshoot proposals that detailed concepts and the studios’ portfolios.
The Team 2 members each took a proposal and began to read.
They had read them before, but since Seojun had shown no interest, they had skimmed them more casually compared to the scripts. Now, the proposals felt new.
“This studio has shot almost every famous idol. Their work is excellent.”
“This one includes an overseas shoot.”
“Seojun and an emerald green beach…!”
The employees, who were also fans of Lee Seojun, chattered excitedly.
An Daho understood their excitement, but they couldn't forget the original purpose.
“First and foremost, the primary goal of this shoot is an ID photo.”
“…Ah.”
“And the secondary goal is a profile picture for ‘work.’ It shouldn't be too different from what Seojun is expecting.”
Though they knew this, the Team 2 members nodded with disappointed faces and slowly put the photoshoot proposals back in the box.
“Still, if Seojun has fun with this shoot, he might become interested in photoshoots in the future.”
At An Daho’s words, the Team 2 members let out a collective gasp.
“Oh, that’s right.”
“Uh… should I look for scripts featuring photographers?”
“Since he’ll be the one being photographed, wouldn't a model role be better than a photographer?”
“But there aren't many scripts about models…”
The Team 2 members knew Seojun well enough to consider dangling a script as bait.
“Rather than that, I think it would be better to let him know that a photoshoot is also a form of ‘acting.’”
At one employee’s suggestion, not only An Daho but the others exclaimed in admiration.
“That would definitely be more effective.”
“In that case, we need to choose the photographer carefully.”
Just as directors each have their own style, photographers had different ways of handling their models—some forced models to fit their preconceived image, while others obsessively dictated every movement from fingertip to toe.
“Someone who gives the model a lot of freedom would be best, right?”
Everyone nodded. That style seemed much better if they wanted Seojun to feel that a photoshoot was a type of acting.
“Ah. We should probably exclude the famous studios this time.”
“What?”
“The schedule is tight. We need to get the ID photo taken before Mirinae Arts High’s anniversary day.”
“…Ah, right.”
April was already halfway over.
Most popular studios would already be fully booked for the month.
They could probably get a slot at any studio with Seojun’s name, but that would likely mean canceled reservations or rearranged schedules. They had no intention of causing trouble for others.
After all, things like that built up over time to form Seojun’s public image.
The Team 2 members nodded in agreement with An Daho.
Excluding famous studios made it a bit more difficult, but they had a collection of data on photographers and studios, gathered with the thought, ‘Seojun might do a photoshoot someday.’
Of course, they had only scratched the surface, so once they had a list of candidates, they would have to investigate them thoroughly.
“First, let's filter them based on their photos, then look into the photographers’ styles. We also need to check their availability for this month.”
With their goal set, Lee Seojun’s dedicated Team 2 got to work.
* * *
- My little brother is the same age as Lee Seojun, so I feel like I unintentionally know a lot about Seojun's schedule haha
> ?? What do you mean?
> Like starting middle school or high school. All Koreans follow a similar path until college admission lol
> Ahh, I get what you mean. So if [brother = college entrance exam], then [Lee Seojun = college entrance exam]?
> yep yep yep. So I unintentionally found out something else. I wasn't even looking for it haha
> What?
> My little brother is getting his ID card.
> ...?? ...Oh!!
* * *
“It’s starting to come out.”
At An Daho’s words, Seojun, who was waiting for the elevator, couldn't help but laugh.
“I figured it would. His date of birth is on his profile, after all.”
If you searched ‘Lee Seojun’ on a portal site, his profile, agency, and photo appeared first among the many people with the same name. Since every little thing about him became a topic of interest, it would be strange if this didn't attract attention.
- Our Seojun is already getting his ID card…!
- Next thing you know, he’ll be getting his driver’s license.
- Seriously, other people’s kids grow up way too fast.
> 22 The fact that he's getting his ID card makes him seem so grown up.
Still, it seemed no actual news articles had been published yet.
“If this makes the news, they must really have nothing better to do.”
“Oh, Daho-hyung. One just popped up.”
“…I guess they really don’t have anything better to do.”
Despite his words, An Daho’s hand was already navigating to the article. After checking the article and the comments, he turned off his phone. Team 2 would take care of the flood of articles that was sure to follow.
Just as An Daho put his phone away, the elevator chimed, stopped, and the doors opened with perfect timing.
The sign for the studio they were shooting at today came into view.
“Seojun, let’s go in.”
“Okay.”
* * *
[Noeul Studio]
Photographer Yoon Jeongwon nervously bounced her leg. The junior staff member assisting her also had a flushed face, her eyes fixed on the entrance.
“Oh my god… I’m photographing Lee Seojun… I’m actually photographing Lee Seojun…!”
“Eonni. You’re shaking your luck away. Stop shaking your leg.”
Yoon Jeongwon’s junior, Kim Sangmi, said to the extremely nervous photographer.
“What luck is there left to lose? I’ve already used up all my luck for the year. No, I’ve definitely used up ten years’ worth of luck!”
“I guess that’s true…”
Not just Kim Sangmi but also the junior staffer nodded in agreement at Jeongwon’s words.
“Anyway, it’s distracting, so stop shaking your leg.”
At Kim Sangmi’s words, Yoon Jeongwon pressed down on her trembling legs with her hands. But then, her whole body started to shake. She was vibrating like a cell phone, causing Kim Sangmi to press a hand to her forehead.
“By the way, how did we end up with a shoot for actor Lee Seojun? I was on an outdoor shoot that day, so I didn't get the full story.”
There must have been countless photographers willing to shoot actor Lee Seojun. While Kim Sangmi took pride in Noeul Studio, which was slowly making a name for itself, she knew objectively that there were many better studios out there.
Kim Sangmi’s change of topic seemed to calm Yoon Jeongwon down a bit, and she began to explain.
“The morning shoot that day ran late, so the kids were having lunch, and I was the one who answered the phone.”
It had been a day where a rookie actor, who had come for profile pictures, had complained about every single shot—the lighting was wrong, this was no good—and she had barely managed to finish after catering to his every whim. She had been holding the back of her neck from the stress of his constant grumbling.
“Someone called and asked if we could do an ID photo and an actor’s profile picture. It was supposed to be my day off, but needing photos in three days sounded urgent, so I said I could do it myself.”
“True, more famous actors usually schedule things well in advance.”
“So I thought it was a rookie actor…”
But it turned out to be Lee Seojun.
Yoon Jeongwon started shaking her leg again. Sighing at the sight, Kim Sangmi turned to the junior staffer, who had come in on her day off just to see Lee Seojun. Her sparkling eyes were something Kim Sangmi had never seen before.
“Did the clothes and stylist from Cocoa Entertainment arrive?”
“Yes. They’re getting ready in the waiting room. I peeked in earlier, and they have a full setup. They even brought snacks and drinks. They’re total pros. As expected of a Hollywood star…!”
Kim Sangmi sighed as she watched the junior staffer babble with a flushed face.
It seemed that from now on, everything Lee Seojun and Cocoa Entertainment did would be met with, ‘As expected of a Hollywood star!’
Just then, the studio entrance opened.
All three of them instinctively turned their heads toward the door.
They saw two people entering with an employee who had been waiting in the lobby.
Photographers Yoon Jeongwon and Kim Sangmi stared, without blinking, at the boy walking in. It felt as though a halo was shining from behind him.
The boy, whose every movement looked like it was from a photoshoot, smiled brightly and greeted them.
“Hello.”
It was the Hollywood star, Lee Seojun.