* * *

‘First, since you said something bad, I’ll rip your tongue out… No, that’s too harsh. Fine, I hope you get a painful sore on your tongue!’

With this, I think I’ve been quite lenient.

You know we usually go easy on first-time offenders, right? But do it again and there will be no mercy.

“Byu Byu!”

Three sores for Lee Yoo-gyeong’s tongue!

[You need 2 coins to make three sores appear on Lee Yoo-gyeong’s tongue for 90 days. Do you want to proceed?]

Oh, it’s cheaper than I thought?

‘It costs even less to get revenge? At this rate, shouldn’t they rename the coins to ‘Revenge and Killing’?’

Well, anyway. Cheap is good. I shouted immediately.

‘Execute!’

“Byu!”

[Everything comes with a price]

[As a side effect, you will have three sores on your tongue for 3 minutes]

[Total coins: 410]

Wow, the price isn’t much either.

‘It took a whole year of ten-step slips to make the nun healthy!’

What’s up with the economy these days?

Soon, my tongue started to sting. But three minutes was nothing.

I looked at my mom and shouted.

‘Mom, I got revenge for you! So, please don’t be too sad.’

“Pyu! PangPang! Byu!

Mom hugged me and sighed deeply.

“Auntie An, today is the day my boy became my son.”

“Young lady.”

“I’ll say it again. He is my son. He has nothing to do with Sungjin Group.”

Mom patted my butt.

“Let’s show him his room quickly. This is where our boy will be staying.”

Mom carefully crossed the hallway. I quietly took in the house as I was held by her.

“Wow…”

The first-floor living room was really spacious. But what surprised me the most was something else.

“There’s an elevator in the house?”

Auntie An pressed a button. Then the wide elevator doors opened.

“Is this really a house? Isn’t it a villa? No matter how you look at it, it seems like a multi-unit house.”

The interior of the elevator was also very luxurious. Soon, the number 3 was indicated, and the doors opened.

“This must be where I’ll be staying.”

As expected of a famous actress’s house, every corner of the house was elegant and neat.

Mom stopped in the hallway and opened a door wide.

“Kongja! This is your room!”

The lady who followed us turned on the lights. The light pink wallpaper shimmered and looked quite cozy.

‘I was worried there might be lace…’

Thankfully, there wasn’t. I was worried it might be hot pink, but it was a modern pink mixed with a subtle gray.

“How is it, Kongja? Mom worked hard to decorate it.”

I looked around and explored. Honestly, I was a bit surprised.

‘It’s spacious!’

There were wooden furniture pieces lined up.

There were many expensive toys, but the most noticeable was the large bed.

‘Why is there a bed?’

There should definitely a cradle for me here.

“Ah, this!”

Mom placed me on the bed.

‘Is there such a low bed?’

It wasn’t an ordinary bed. It had soft edges and little rebound on the mattress.

‘Is this a bed for kids?’

Then mom said.

“Let’s sleep together, Kongja!”

‘Really?’

‘Don’t people usually sleep separately?’

Mom stroked my head and said.

“Kongja, Mom is actually quite busy. So, I want to be with you at least when I’m home.”

Ah, that’s right.

‘Come to think of it, in my previous life, Ma Soo-jung was a hard-working actress.’

That’s why her filmography was very diverse.

‘She did action films and even sci-fi, right?’

Especially the image of ‘Ma Soo-jung’ in a zombie movie where she played a strong female soldier was unforgettable.

‘Well, it’s inevitable that she’s busy with work.’

I waved my hand as if to say it was okay.

‘It’s okay!’

“Kyu!”

Mom smiled back at me.

[Your mom is happy to hear your cute response]

[Love and Peace coin increases by 1]

[Total coins: 411]

Mom cupped my cheeks with her hands and said.

“Grow up healthy here, okay? My Kongja!”

‘Yes, mom!’

“Byu Pang!”

Mom hugged me. The warm feeling enveloped me.

‘I’m really lucky to have a good person as my mom.’

I blinked.

‘I don’t fully understand mom’s heart…’

But I made up my mind once again.

‘I will be filial to mom.’

In my previous life, I couldn’t quite do filial piety well. Though I don’t know how, there was one sure way I knew.

‘Let’s start by collecting 30,000 coins.’

A whopping 30,000. How can I collect that many coins?

‘No, first I need to figure out the rules or patterns for collecting coins.’

No coins had increased when I interacted with mom.

But at the end, when she made a decisive decision to accept me, I got 1,000 coins.

‘What rules are hidden?’

I slowly reviewed the situation. At that time, mom was deeply moved because of me.

‘Is that it?’

I have to give deep impressions?

‘That’s hard, really.’

Giving deep impressions doesn’t come easily.

‘I know this well because I’m an actor.’

Ask random people to name a touching work.

‘It’s rare.’

Hundreds of works are released every day, but the ones you can count as ‘touching’ are rare.

‘It’s hard, hard.’

I shook my head and went back to thinking.

‘Let’s sort this out!’

Who am I?

‘Ma Kongja. A baby.’

Where am I?

‘In the house of Ma Soo-jung, a third-generation chaebol actress.’

The most important thing was something else.

‘What is my task?’

I folded one of my small fingers.

‘One, Mom’s health.’

I won’t let her die!

I’ll make sure she gets healthy!

So, how do I do that?

‘I need to gather coins.’

I had to gather an enormous amount—30,000 coins.

‘Okay, let’s put that aside for now.’

Taking a deep breath, I folded another finger. It wasn’t developed enough yet, so my middle finger folded along with it.

‘Two, my dream.’

Acting, movies. A top star.

I flailed my arms and legs.

‘I’ll make it, I’ll definitely make it. I’ll make it big, and the film industry will recognize my name.’

I can do it!

With this face, it’s possible! Who wouldn’t give me a script!

‘I can take on any role, in any project!’

I recalled the time I spent waiting on set. No matter how hard I tried, I couldn’t become a lead.

Even if I glanced sideways, I could never reach that position.

‘If it’s based on skill, I could definitely do it.’

If someone cast me as the lead, I could repay them with my acting skills.

‘There were a few opportunities for that.’

But when they saw my face, even the investors who were coming would run away.

But not anymore.

‘With this face, I can do it!’

Investors who ran away will cling to me when they see my face.

My face flushed with excitement. I fanned myself with my small palm.

‘I need to become famous.’

But how? When? Now?

Plop—

My arm fell. I frowned and looked at my hand.

‘Small, and I am a baby.’

My middle finger wouldn’t straighten out. I was still such a small baby.

‘Just like this finger, I still need time.’

Someday, I’ll get to act.

But you know what?

‘I don’t want to wait any longer.’

I’ve been holding back for too long.

Besides, the situation is favorable.

‘Why not do it quickly now that things are like this?’

I thought of my previous life. Quite a few child actors had parents who were celebrities.

‘Well, people criticize celebrity lineage, but…’

The fact is, they have an advantage over ordinary people.

‘Now, I’m Ma Soo-jung’s son.’

In terms of recognition, this is a huge advantage, isn’t it?

I smirked.

‘Plus, I have coins.’

The goal was clear.

“Bwaauyaa!”

I will become famous!

Right now.

‘To do that, I need to use coins.’

Just like when the photoshoot with actress Ma Soo-jung at the orphanage, using this would give me a better opportunity.

‘Of course, there is a price.’

I sighed.

“Bwaa.”

Damn it.

* * *