Chapter 80
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Translator: 8uhl
Chapter: 80
Chapter Title: The Superstar's Return
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A few days later.
While Seojun was having the time of his life playing with Jack, Seo Eunchan arrived in Korea first and began preparing for Seojun's arrival.
The excited public, the flood of calls from everywhere—despite preparing with meticulous perfection, Seo Eunchan and Cocoa Entertainment grew more anxious as the day of Seojun's return approached.
"Please, just let it be like when he left! Please!"
Seo Eunchan prayed and prayed. The airport security and bodyguards who had experienced the departure with Seojun also prayed from the bottom of their hearts.
Just be as quiet as it was then.
And then, the day of Seojun's arrival.
Seeing the crowds flocking to the airport, Seo Eunchan found himself praying to a higher power. The Cocoa Entertainment staff who came with him also called out to the gods. Blue Dragon. Blue Dragon. Surely not.
"Not all of those people are here for Seojun, right?"
"Please let them be people who are departing!"
It seemed their prayers went unanswered. The plane hadn't even arrived yet, but the airport was already bustling.
Unusually large cameras were being set up at the arrivals gate and nearby. Seeing the names of the broadcasting stations on the cameras, Seo Eunchan spoke with a weary expression.
"Are those..."
"Yes, they are."
Team Leader Kim Sooryeon, understanding his thoughts instantly, nodded.
"...I agreed to a live broadcast, but maybe that was a bad idea?"
"They would have come anyway, don't you think?"
He had a point. Inwardly agreeing with Team Leader Kim Sooryeon, Seo Eunchan rubbed his dry face and muttered.
"Why are there so many people?"
"Seojun is eight now, right? If it's like this this year, what kind of movie will he film next year, and how big of a hit will it be? What about when he's 10, or 13? He'll only get more famous as he gets older. Unimaginably so."
Team Leader Kim Sooryeon spoke, recalling the posts on Seojun's fan cafes and websites.
Voices could be heard from all around. People from the fan cafe were shouting out instructions.
Don't shout, so you don't startle Seojun! Don't use your flashes, they'll hurt his eyes! Don't push against the fences! Hey! Stop pushing!
"We're witnessing his growth. *48 Hours*, the CF, William, *The Specter*, Jin Natra. We might be watching the growth of an actor who is writing a history so monumental that everyone in the world will one day hear of it. The growth of a superstar who, like a legendary singer, will leave his name behind even a hundred years from now."
This was the sentiment of the people gathered here and those watching the live broadcast on television.
"They say this is that actor's childhood, that he's breathing the same air and living in the same time as us. Who wouldn't be curious to see him in person?"
At Team Leader Kim Sooryeon's words, Seo Eunchan looked out at the bustling airport. He could see people waiting for Seojun, their faces full of anticipation.
"...They seem to be expecting too much."
Suddenly, Seo Eunchan was reminded of the stories of geniuses who vanished, crushed by the weight of public expectation.
The plane from LA arrived.
When the text appeared on the screen, a stir went through the airport.
After some time, the doors to the arrivals hall opened.
Waaaaaah!
When the Korean actor who had been seen laughing and chatting with famous Hollywood stars appeared, a massive cheer erupted, echoing through the airport. Faced with a roar incomparable to the one during his departure, Seojun quickly used his ability.
[The (Benevolent) Calming Scent of Apple Blossoms has been activated.]
[The (Benevolent) Basic Breathing of an Elf has been activated.]
A sweet fragrance wafted through the air. He steadied his breathing.
As their excited hearts calmed and a sense of tranquility settled over them, the gathered crowd grew quiet.
There were more people unaffected by the ability, but it seemed everyone had been impressed by the fans' conduct during his departure, as they closed their mouths and simply clapped with joyful faces.
Seeing this, Seo Eunchan, the Cocoa Entertainment staff, and An Daho were relieved. The bodyguards and airport security also let out sighs of relief, though they didn't lower their guard.
'I have one more ability prepared, but...'
Looking at the quiet crowd, it seemed he wouldn't need to use it. Seojun smiled and waved at the people.
The live broadcast cameras kept rolling. They captured Seojun, and then panned to the gathered crowd.
People who had been watching the television just moments before, worried by the noisy, surging crowd, were now amazed at how orderly everyone had become.
-There it is! The moment of silence!
-They're so united even with this many people! That's Lee Seojun's fans for you!
-It's seriously amazing lol
Just like at his departure, a small platform had been set up. Seojun stepped onto it and took the microphone. Flashes went off everywhere.
Amidst a space filled only with the sound of applause, Seojun's voice rang out.
"Hello. I'm actor Lee Seojun."
Clap, clap, clap!!
The actor who had made his name known to the world, Lee Seojun, had returned.
[KBC, Interview with Actor Lee Seojun!]
[MBS, We Asked Hollywood Star Lee Seojun!]
[SBC, Lee Seojun: 'Thank You All for Your Votes']
* * *
"Daho! Today's scripts!"
A staff member from Team 2 handed An Daho a small box.
After finishing interviews with the three major broadcasting stations to commemorate his award, Seojun took a short break.
What was expected to be a short break gradually stretched until it filled a whole year. But even after a year of laying low, scripts continued to pour in for Seojun.
Movies, movies, dramas, dramas, dramas.
An Daho nodded as he skimmed through the scripts.
Strangely, as Seojun grew more famous, the number of projects featuring child actors increased. At first, some were hastily created just to cast Lee Seojun, only to fall apart midway.
However, as a few projects met great child actors and became successful, other child actors like Choi Soyoung and Lee Dajin began to establish themselves.
The fact that these were projects that had originally been offered to Seojun made An Daho and the Team 2 staff's hearts ache.
That success could have been my actor's!
The chances of this script being rejected were also high, so a staff member from Team 2 asked with a sigh.
"He's going to turn this one down too, isn't he??"
Team 2, which had been actor Lee Seojun's dedicated team, found themselves with nothing to do as his hiatus lengthened, so they also took on managing 'White,' the junior group to the newly debuted Brown Black.
After a few months, once White had established themselves, new staff were hired to care for the five members.
With the increased staff, Team 2 could reassemble as a dedicated team whenever Seojun decided to resume his activities.
"There has to be a script that Seojun likes."
"I know. When will that script ever appear?"
"Just be patient. Idols don't have much of a break because of events and various performances, but actors' breaks are very long. A year is standard."
"Haaah. You're right, Brown Black was so busy. Even during their break, they were busy making their next album. Since he's the first actor at our company, this long hiatus feels so awkward."
The staff member nodded at the words of An Daho, who had worked with many actors at other companies. An Daho gathered the scripts and stood up.
* * *
"Hyung! You're here?"
An Daho looked at Seojun. Having lost some of his baby fat, Seojun was growing up just as handsome as ever.
His scattered baby teeth had fallen out and been replaced by permanent ones. Though a molar in the back had fallen out and the permanent one hadn't grown in yet, Seojun seemed pleased with his neat front teeth.
The round top of his head was closer than before, a sign that he had grown much taller.
One year.
A full year had passed since the WTV Film Festival. Seojun, who had been in first grade, would be in third grade after this winter break.
An Daho handed the box to Seojun and entered the house. Seojun beamed and pulled a script from the box. Seeing him easily lift five thick scripts, he was strong, too.
"Hyung. What do you want to drink?"
"Do you have any juice?"
"Yep!"
Seojun trotted off to the kitchen.
An Daho looked around Seojun's house, a place he was now familiar with.
On one side of Seojun's living room, a popcorn box-shaped trophy was displayed on a neat shelf. In front of it was a photo of a brightly smiling Seojun with the *Shadowman* team, the couple, Seo Eunchan, and An Daho. It was a picture that made his heart race every time he saw it.
"Hyung! Here's your juice!"
"Thanks."
The two of them sat in their usual spots. Seojun read the script, and An Daho took out another one to read.
It also contained occasional evaluations of the director, writer, and production staff that a team member had researched.
Most of it was baseless gossip, but there were also tabloids with a kernel of truth, and rumors gathered from here and there while managing Brown Black. Production companies or directors with the worst reputations were excluded outright, but for those whose rumors were unconfirmed, the gossip was noted as is.
'Nothing today either?'
Seojun read quietly through to the last script. An Daho had thought this one had a pretty good chance.
That was because the writer of the drama script Seojun was reading was So Eunjin, the writer of *Re-Investigation*, in which he had made a cameo, and the director was Choi Minseong, the PD he had worked with on that show.
'The production company is good, too.'
Cocoa Entertainment's evaluation was four stars. This was based solely on factors outside the work itself.
The success of *Re-Investigation* meant a proven writer and director, a plus. Seojun's positive feedback from the cameo shoot was a plus. The experience of having worked with Seojun before was another plus.
One star was deducted because the broadcasting station hadn't been decided, nor had the other cast members.
Depending on the actors, it could be a plus or a minus.
Seojun read through the script.
It wasn't the full script, but the scenes Seojun would appear in were clearly laid out. He flipped back to check the synopsis and then looked at the script again. Hmm. Hmm.
"This one's good!"
"Really?"
An Daho, who had been sighing inwardly, thinking it was another failure, brightened and asked again. Seojun grinned.
Seo Eunhye and Lee Minjun were also worried about Seojun's extended break. Hearing news of the busy lives of Brown Black, they couldn't help but worry about Seojun living so leisurely without any projects.
He could practically see his parents wondering, *Has he lost interest in acting? Should we find him something new and fun?* Even when Seojun said no, they were clearly worried. Meanwhile, Richel Hill, Evan Block, and Lee Jiseok, who shared his profession, would take breaks as long as three years.
Seojun handed the script to An Daho. He liked the script, and he especially liked that it was a historical drama, which weren't being made much lately.
"I'll do this one!"
One year.
The sleeping acting prodigy had opened his eyes.
* * *
"Hello. This is Moviegoer."
Moviegoer started a live stream. Many comments greeted him.
"Finally, Marine Company's movie *Assemble*, which began filming last summer, has wrapped up and started promotions. Wow. They say it's releasing in mid-January! I'm so curious about the story of Redborn, Shadowman, and the other heroes. Oh, right, the post-credits scene of *Green Wing 2*, which was released early last year, confirmed Green Wing's appearance in *Assemble*! Let's have a round of applause!"
-Applause!
-Clap clap!
"Green Wing's appearance is important, but there's something else that's important to us, right?"
At Moviegoer's words, a certain name started popping up in the comments. Moviegoer nodded and said.
"Yes. It's actor Lee Seojun! Jin Natra. I'm thinking, won't he appear in the post-credits scene for *Assemble*? Honestly, when he won the award at the WTV Film Festival and returned to Korea to do interviews on all the major broadcast networks, I thought, 'He's finally debuting on the small screen! He's going to do a drama!' But..."
-That was the last we saw of him.
-ㅠㅠ
-No CFs, no dramas, nothing ㅠ
Moviegoer's face turned grim as well.
"Honestly, his activities the year before last were incredible. *Shadowman 2*—of course, that was filmed the year before that, but anyway. *Shadowman 2*, the *Re-Investigation* cameo, the children's play *Spring*, the WTV Film Festival. And they were all hits! A feat that even adult actors struggle to achieve, done by an 8-year-old—is he 10 now? Actor Lee Seojun did it. Applause!"
-Clap clap!
-Applause!
"For a while, because actor Lee Seojun wasn't active, the trash—ahem—the media wrote some terrifying fiction, but the videos of him on the [JUN] channel proved it was all nonsense. Some of them even got sued."
-Kidnapping rumors!
-Confinement rumors!
"Honestly, don't actors take pretty long breaks? It's just that actor Lee Seojun was so active in one year; usually, they do one project, recharge, and then start another. And if they don't like a project, they'll rest until they find one they do like. The problem is..."
-Retirement?
"Yes. Sometimes they end up starting another career or retiring. Sure, there are actors who are forcibly retired because they're forgotten by the public and stop receiving scripts, but actor Lee Seojun is not on that level."
-World class!
-Just come out with something! I'll go see it!
-The reporters are on standby too! lol
Seeing the comments, Moviegoer suddenly seemed to remember something and spoke.
"Speaking of which, did you know?"
-??
"Reporters have been going to see plays and musicals. They say they make sure to see any production with a child actor. Since actor Lee Seojun has been so quiet for a year, they're wondering if he's secretly performing under a stage name somewhere. That's why the theater and musical scene is booming these days. The public thinks so too and goes to watch."
A few plays even gained fame thanks to articles titled 'The Second Lee Seojun?' Many people went to see them, thinking, 'What if, what if?' In the end, when it was revealed not to be Lee Seojun, the comment sections of the articles were flooded with curses, but the plays continued to sell out.
-Honestly, I went too lol
-Me too lol It was fun, but it didn't have that Lee Seojun vibe lol
"I went as well. In the end, it was a dud, though."
Moviegoer shrugged.
"Actor Lee Seojun has been inactive for almost a year, but since it's confirmed he'll be in the Marine Company series, I'm just waiting for *Shadowman 3*. For an actor with such an impressive range to do something else would be a waste of talent! I want to see actor Lee Seojun act! I don't know how many times I've watched *Shadowman 1* and *2*."
-But I heard Lee Seojun is good at horseback riding.
-Soccer too! I heard he played on a middle school team in a mini-game and scored a goal.
-And his Taekwondo is so good, they wanted to make him a national athlete.
Seojun occasionally uploaded daily vlogs to his N-tube channel, [JUN]. To avoid revealing the academies he had to keep attending, he mostly posted videos of him cooking or cleaning with his parents at home, or videos of them going on outings.
Even so, he couldn't stop the mouths of the people who went to the same academies. Everyone refrained from revealing the name and location of the academies, but they still posted their eyewitness accounts.
Among them were some fake stories, but about three accounts were confirmed to be true.
Taekwondo, horseback riding, and soccer. The stories claimed that Seojun's skills were so exceptional that all his instructors had recommended he try out for the national team.
-After trying this and that, I've decided to quit acting!
-I, Lee Seojun, have decided to become a national athlete!
-Horseback riding, soccer, Taekwondo! Call me for anything! The goal is a gold medal!
Moviegoer's face fell into a look of despair at the comments. In response to his dramatic expression, laughing comments began to appear.
Soon, Moviegoer composed himself and said in a serious voice.
"Gaining a lot of experience as a child is very important for an actor! Please, I'm beg-ging you, please start a new project."
-What do you think he's doing right now?
Moviegoer, who had been praying to the Blue Dragon somewhere out there, gave an answer to the viewer's question that anyone could have guessed.
"Hmm. Since *Assemble* is coming out soon, I think he's probably going to see that."
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