Chapter 94
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Translator: 8uhl
Chapter: 94
Chapter Title: An Engagement and a New Arrival
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No matter how many times he said it, his heart still trembled. With a face tense with nerves, Seo Eunchan spoke to Seojun and the couple, who were staring at him blankly.
“There’s someone I want to marry.”
“I see.”
“The head of the PR team?”
“Ms. Kim Sooryeon?”
Seo Eunchan’s serious expression instantly went blank. The couple and Seojun grinned with their identical faces.
“How did you know?”
“Daho hyung told me!”
“The Brown Black guys told us. They said something seemed suspicious between you and the team leader.”
Seo Eunchan rubbed his face dryly. How did they know? No, wait! If An Daho and Brown Black, who only occasionally visited the company, knew, then it meant most of the employees who worked there all the time knew too. Seo Eunchan’s mind went completely blank.
“...We didn't tell anyone.”
“Daho hyung said everyone knew but just wasn't saying anything. He said it was totally obvious.”
“I see…”
“But why bring this up so suddenly?”
At Lee Minjun’s question, Seo Eunchan, who had been wanting to hide in a mouse hole at the thought of his foolish self who believed no one knew about their secret dates, finally pulled himself together.
“I was thinking, how about we have the formal meeting of the families the week after next? I’ve already told my mom.”
“Ah, right. The engagement meeting.”
Seo Eunhye and Lee Minjun hadn't immediately connected marriage with a formal family meeting. That was because their own meeting had been no different from any other day, as they had known each other since childhood.
Their parents were also close friends, so they had simply had a meal together as comfortably as if they were just eating out.
Just how comfortable was it? They had chatted happily and returned home, only realizing afterward that it had been their formal engagement meeting, forcing them to gather again to set a wedding date.
For the couple, their grandmother, and even Seo Eunchan himself, this was the first time experiencing a typical engagement meeting. As Seo Eunhye wondered what to prepare, her gaze shifted to Seojun.
“What should we do about Seojun?”
“Huh? Me?”
“The meeting is an important event. Seojun is well-behaved, but wouldn't he get restless having to sit still for so long?”
“That’s true. Should we ask Mr. An Daho? Or maybe the Brown Black guys.”
“Nuna.”
Seo Eunchan cautiously raised his hand.
“My future father and mother-in-law said it’s fine to bring Seojun. They really enjoyed watching *Naeuiwon*.”
At Seo Eunchan’s words, Seojun and his parents thought that perhaps the meeting would be more relaxed than they had anticipated.
* * *
Their prediction was correct.
On the day of the engagement meeting, the awkward atmosphere that had filled the room melted away with Seojun’s single phrase: “Would you like my autograph?”
Elated with Seojun’s autograph and a photo together, Kim Sooryeon’s parents began to open up, sharing various stories.
“You have no idea how much our daughter praises you since you became the new company president. You won't find another employee who praises their boss that much.”
At Kim Sooryeon’s mother’s words, the faces of Seo Eunchan and Kim Sooryeon, who were sitting opposite each other, flushed as if they were on fire. Kim Sooryeon’s father also smiled.
“Our Seo-seobang seems reliable and dependable, so I’m sure he’s managing the company well.”
“I’ve heard a lot about our new daughter-in-law, too. Eunchan is always praising how good she is at her job.”
With cheerful laughter, the atmosphere of the meeting grew warm and friendly, sacrificing the couple’s embarrassing pasts as fuel.
Seojun smiled as he quietly listened to the love story of Uncle Chani and Aunt Sooryeon. Everyone was speaking comfortably about their children, as if they had already given their blessing for the marriage.
It had already been ten years since Uncle Chani and Aunt Sooryeon started working together.
Aunt Sooryeon had struggled alongside him under the former president, and she had stayed with him even after he became the new president.
He didn't know when they had started dating, but the compliments they had casually shared with their families about each other before they were a couple were now coming back to them like boomerangs.
Though their faces were red, they both had silly grins, seemingly pleased with the praise they had given each other.
“Hello, Seojun.”
“Hello.”
“Would you like some of this?”
“Thank you.”
There were some familiar faces as well. It was Kim Hwaryeon, the doctor who had been with them on *48 Hours*.
Kim Hwaryeon, Kim Sooryeon’s older sister, placed some steamed egg on Seojun’s plate. The steaming egg looked delicious.
Kim Hwaryeon smiled as she watched Seojun eat the steamed egg. It felt like just yesterday that she had seen Seojun on *48 Hours* when he couldn't even walk, and now he had grown so much. Other people’s kids really did grow up fast.
“Do you remember me?”
“Yes. We were together when we filmed *48 Hours*, right?”
“You’re so smart, Seojun.”
Kim Hwaryeon smiled, surprised. Her husband also looked at Seojun with a startled expression. Seojun smiled and looked at Kim Hwaryeon’s husband.
“Do you still have my first autograph?”
“...Wow. I thought my heart was going to leap out of my chest.”
Kim Hwaryeon’s husband, Choi Minho, clutched his chest. He was so surprised his heart was pounding. Kim Hwaryeon’s eyes widened as well.
“How did you know?”
“I remember seeing you then, and you also appeared on a *48 Hours* broadcast as my number one fan.”
“I didn’t think you’d remember, though.”
Even if he had been on TV, would anyone remember after nine years? Kim Hwaryeon and Choi Minho couldn't help but applaud Seojun’s excellent memory inwardly.
Kim Hwaryeon turned her gaze to her parents and Seojun’s maternal grandmother. The three of them were still happily chatting, bringing up old stories about Seo Eunchan and Kim Sooryeon.
“I enjoyed *Naeuiwon*.”
“Me too. It was really good.”
“Thank you.”
“My in-laws cried their eyes out watching it. I’ll have to ask for your autograph later.”
As Kim Sooryeon whispered, Choi Minho asked with a sheepish look on his face. If not now, he didn't know when he'd get another chance to meet him. Seojun nodded his head.
“Are you still a fan of the Brown Black hyungs?”
“Yes. I’m not a passionate fan who follows them to events, but I still listen to their music regularly.”
“Being a fan for almost ten years is pretty incredible. He even makes sure to go to their concerts when he has time and gets tickets.”
Choi Minho rubbed the back of his neck, embarrassed by Kim Hwaryeon’s cheerful words. Seojun laughed.
“So how did you and the doctor meet?”
It was a curious combination. The number one fan of Brown Black and the pediatrician from the *48 Hours* shoot. Seojun’s eyes sparkled.
“We met when I took my nephew to the hospital. We recognized each other right away.”
“Honestly, it was a hard meeting to forget.”
A man who got an autograph from an idol who hadn't even debuted yet at a playground, and a woman holding a baby while filming an N-tube variety show.
Kim Hwaryeon had recognized Choi Minho, and their connection began when he visited the hospital with his nephew. They started dating and eventually got married. Now they had two children.
“You didn’t bring them today?”
“He’s probably too busy playing with that same nephew right now.”
They chatted about various things. Seo Eunchan and Kim Sooryeon’s wedding was set for January.
* * *
In August, just as a typhoon was rolling in, Kim Heesang stopped by Seojun’s house to create his Halloween costume.
Since it was a custom order, Kim Heesang expertly measured Seojun’s body here and there, recording the dimensions.
“It’s so fluffy, just like a doll!”
“Right? Mom and Dad said it was super cute too.”
“Shall we go with this drawing for now?”
“Yes!”
Seojun and Kim Heesang chose a drawing from Seojun’s sketchbook. Then, considering what Kim Heesang could actually make, they started drawing a new design on a fresh sheet of paper.
As the picture was sketched out, Seojun’s eyes widened. The top was a denim jacket with a hood, and the pants were plain black.
“Um, Samchon. Isn’t it a bit plain?”
“I saw what you drew. Isn’t that less of a werewolf and more of just a wolf? The top and bottom are all fur. It needs to be a bit more human.”
Come to think of it, the werewolves of his past life had various forms. Some were closer to wolves, while others were closer to humans. What Seojun had drawn was closer to the wolf side.
“If it's too furry, everyone will just think it's a wolf, not a werewolf.”
“Hmm. That’s true.”
Seojun nodded.
“But it still needs to be a wolf, so like this.”
Kim Heesang continued to draw.
The hood on the denim jacket looked like a wolf’s head.
It was mostly covered in gray fur, and he drew two wolf ears, a long snout, sharp fangs, and fierce eyes.
On the back of the black pants, he drew a long, fluffy tail.
“When you put on the hood, the wolf’s snout will stick out like when you wear a baseball cap, and your face will be in shadow. From a little distance, it will look like a wolf’s head with just your chin visible. I’ll make the gloves so you can slip your hands out through a gap between the sleeve and the glove. The top will be connected to the sleeve so you won't lose them. The wolf claws on the gloves should be made of something soft.”
“And the fangs!”
After talking at length about the Halloween costume, Seojun and Kim Heesang’s attention soon turned to Kim Heesang’s son, Kim Soobin, who had been born a month ago.
“Want to see a picture of my Soobin?”
“Yes!”
He was only a month old, so Seojun couldn't visit him, but seeing him in pictures was still great. Kim Heesang showed him a whole album of photos he had taken.
“He’s so tiny.”
The photo Kim Heesang showed was of a very small baby. He was so small that Seojun unconsciously lowered his voice.
When Seojun was a baby, he had been small too, so the other babies he played with didn’t seem particularly tiny. But now that he was older, looking at a baby made him realize just how small they were.
There were photos from right after he was born, from hospital visits, from the postnatal care center, and from home.
“I have videos too.”
Kim Heesang showed him a video. It showed the newborn, Kim Soobin, lying on a fluffy blanket and smiling brightly, accompanied by the laughter of the unseen Kim Heesang and Choi Soohui.
“Isn’t he so cute?”
“Yes!”
It was the first time Seojun had seen such a young baby, and he spent a long time looking through the photos and videos Kim Heesang had taken.
He had taken so many that Seojun was still looking when Seo Eunhye returned from her outing. She joined in on the photo viewing as well.
“Seojun was this small once. Wasn’t he so cute?”
“My Soobin is the cutest!”
“What are you talking about? My Seojun is the cutest!”
Kim Heesang and Seo Eunhye chuckled as they chatted. Seojun was still looking at the photos on the phone.
The squirming baby who couldn't even open his eyes was so cute. A little brother! I hope he grows up quickly so we can play together.
“...I have a favor to ask.”
Unlike his usual cheerful self, Kim Heesang began hesitantly. At the sound of his voice, Seo Eunhye and Seojun, who had been smiling at the photos, looked up at him.
“Hmm? A favor?”
“...When I’m raising Soobin, is it okay if I ask you things I don’t know? I’ll only ask when I really need to.”
Kim Heesang wanted to raise Soobin to be as healthy and strong as Seojun. Seo Eunhye, blinking at the unexpected question, opened her mouth.
“You know this well. Our Seojun just grew up normally. Of course, his acting and life in America are a bit special... but for everything else, I mostly bought things based on internet reviews or recommendations from other moms.”
“Still, I don’t know, becoming a father makes me worry about every little thing. I want to give him only the best, and I want Soobin to grow up as happy as Seojun.”
Seeing Kim Heesang’s shy demeanor, Seo Eunhye smiled. Watching him play with Seojun, she had often wondered when he would ever grow up, but it seemed he had already become a father.
“Alright. Ask me anything. I’ll tell you everything I know.”
“Thank you.”
“Ugh. That gives me the creeps. Just be your usual self.”
“Hahaha. Should I?”
“So what are you curious about?”
“Things like the toys Seojun played with a lot or his favorite storybooks. We’ve already decided on the formula. Elephant Formula. It’s still super popular.”
“The formula is a good choice. But,”
“Yeah?”
“You know very well what toys Seojun played with the most. The dolls you made.”
As if he hadn't thought of that, Kim Heesang’s face was a picture of surprise, and Seo Eunhye and Seojun burst out laughing.
‘But my baby friends didn’t like them that much. I wonder if Soobin will like them? If he does, I’ll play with him!’
Seojun pondered which of his monster dolls a baby would like.
* * *
*Naeuiwon* was exported to several countries, and all 24 episodes were uploaded to Plus+.
People in countries where *Naeuiwon* began airing even subscribed to Plus+ out of curiosity for the rest of the story.
News reached Seojun that the actors from *Naeuiwon* were receiving love calls from all over.
There was even a commercial that Dohun hyung and Jiseok hyung filmed together. And one featuring Jongho samchon.
Seojun also received many commercial offers, but he turned them all down.
It wasn't just commercial offers that increased with the success of *Naeuiwon*. The number of scripts and synopses sent to Seojun also grew.
The problem was the quality of the scripts. Many were sent with the mindset that as long as Lee Seojun chose it, even a shoddy script could attract massive investment.
Although Seojun's dedicated Team 2 was filtering them, the number of scripts that reached Seojun still increased by about 1.5 times.
Reading through piles of scripts and synopses and doing his summer homework, Seojun’s summer vacation came to an end, and the second semester of third grade began.