* * *
“I can’t let it look like I’m making money off my son.”
“Ah, I see.”
“There would be an uproar. People would say I adopted him for the image.”
The boss nodded.
“So what will you do?”
“I’m going to donate it.”
“What?”
“I’ll donate it in Kongja’s name to the place he came from.”
Wow.
The boss quietly stood up and clapped.
Clap clap clap-
“You’re amazing, Ma Soo-jung!”
“A mother needs to have a broader view for her child’s sake. This way, no one can criticize Kongja.”
Ma Soo-jung stretched her arms.
“I’m used to being criticized, but I can’t let anyone criticize Kongja.”
She clenched her fist.
“He’s just my son, why do they talk crap! I should break their legs.”
The boss immediately stopped her.
“Soo-jung, that’s too harsh.”
“Oh, right?”
“Not their legs, their fingers. Because they typed it.”
“Oh! You’re right!”
They laughed together, then lowered their heads.
“Seriously.”
“Indeed.”
Ma Soo-jung took a deep breath. The die had been cast.
“I chose the best place.”
“Thank you.”
“Cheer up.”
“There’s no reason not to. I’ll do my best since I’m doing it.”
“Still, you’ve changed a lot.”
Ma Soo-jung smiled brightly.
“How so?”
“You used to just charge in with your fists. But now you’ve changed for the better.”
She smiled a little.
“For our Kongja, I have to change. But it feels complicated. This method, the Madam often used it.”
“Huh?”
“It just turned out this way. Now, I’m off to work.”
“Okay! Soo-jung, good luck today!”
Ma Soo-jung stood up. The boss watched her walk away, tilting his head.
‘Who’s the Madam?’
Weren’t you living in your family home?
“Hagin, Seongbuk-dong is indeed expensive.”
Muttering, President Seo returned to his seat.
* * *
President Seo was the type who seized opportunities well.
Actress Ma Soo-jung chose a publication known for quality articles over one that offered more money.
However, publications known for good articles usually paid well too.
‘Somehow, it’s the most famous magazine, D.’
Ma Soo-jung, her makeup finished for the shoot, looked at Kongja, who was cutely perched by the wide living room window.
“Ms. Ma Soo-jung, please take care of us today.”
Ma Soo-jung shook hands with a smile. The photographer who had come today was quite well-known.
“Likewise.”
“That child is the angel?”
“Yes. This is Kongja.”
“Kongja?”
The photographer murmured.
“Seems like a name that would be very filial. But with a surname ‘Ma’…”
“Yes, Ma Kongja.”
The photographer smirked inwardly.
What a peculiar name.
‘Well, celebrities are predictable.’
They were always like this.
‘No matter how much they love them, to them it’s just a pet.’
So, of course, they’d give it a ridiculous name.
‘They say it’s all love when you see the photos, but come on.’
He didn’t trust Ma Soo-jung, or any celebrity for that matter.
‘As soon as they get a bit famous, they act all high and mighty…’
But then…
The child’s face.
It was a face he was familiar with from countless photos.
To be honest, he was a bit surprised.
“Huh?”
Is this a human face?
The photographer instinctively took a step closer to the baby and took a shot with his personal test film camera.
Click-
The baby turned to look.
The photographer’s eyes met the baby’s through the lens, and he couldn’t think of anything. He just instinctively pressed the shutter again and again.
Click- Click-
The baby’s eyes widened, seemingly startled by the sound.
“Photographer?”
“Oh, this is…”
The baby turned its head naturally in the sunlight. Without thinking, the photographer took another shot.
“Not bad. Beautiful.”
Ma Soo-jung smiled. As a mother, she was already used to such compliments.
“Right? An angel, isn’t he?”
“Yes. The features are so well-defined, like a sculpture.”
This was pure praise. But he also realized the problem immediately.
‘It’s strange.’
The photographer quickly identified the issue.
‘The baby’s face is too perfect, it’s unnatural.’
Some people liked such faces. But he wasn’t the type to take that kind of photo.
‘Photos need to be lively. If I wanted to shoot sculptures, I’d go to a museum.’
The photographer smiled bitterly.
Moreover, it was a baby. Babies and animals were unpredictable beings.
‘It might start crying nonstop.’
They’d make noise, runny noses, and Ma Soo-jung would undoubtedly get annoyed.
‘This is why I hate shooting babies.’
He hated the purpose of this shoot. This was clearly a photoshoot meant to sell an adopted child of a celebrity.
‘I don’t want to work.’
The photographer looked at the baby again. Despite everything, the baby was stunningly beautiful.
‘Of course, they picked the baby for its face. Maybe I should focus on the sculptural aspect? Damn it. Concept!’
The photographer sighed.
‘The concept is [The Daily Life of an Actress as a Mother].’
He had no choice because Ma Soo-jung insisted on it.
‘She’s making a big deal out of it as if she truly cares about the baby.’
Anyone would think she genuinely cared about the child.
‘She adopted the baby for popularity.’
The photographer raised his camera.
‘Still, the celebrity is the boss. Damn it.’
Even if he didn’t like it, he had to work.
Just then,
A soft voice came from one side.
“Kongja, it’s mommy. Today, we’re taking photos.”
The photographer looked to the side without thinking.
A working lady handed the child to Ma Soo-jung. She held the baby and patted its back.
A cute voice was heard.
“Mama!”
“Yes, it’s mommy. My little angel. You’re cute again today! Did you eat well?”
Ma Soo-jung naturally made eye contact.
The photographer was startled.
‘Ma Soo-jung makes that kind of expression?’
What is this? No matter how you look at it…
‘It looks like a real mother and child.’
Then, his instincts kicked in faster than he thought.
The photographer pressed the button on his test camera without realizing it.
Click-
The sudden shutter sound made Ma Soo-jung turn around. The photographer hurriedly explained.
“Oh, the subject was so good that I took another shot without realizing it.”
Ma Soo-jung smiled brightly and nuzzled the baby’s cheek with her nose.
“I understand. Our Kongja is just too cute, isn’t he, Kongja?”
It was true.
The baby moved just one cheek slightly.
The perfect balance of the face broke, and an overwhelming cuteness surged forth.
“Really, really cute.”
The photographer took another shot.
The baby flapped its hands, responding to the shoot.
His face flushed with excitement.
‘This has to be captured.’
The baby’s expressions were alive.
Moreover, Ma Soo-jung’s expressions were fantastic too.
The photographer kept shooting in a frenzy until he realized it. This was his test camera.
“Oh, I’m sorry.”
“No, it’s fine. We’re ready, so shall we start?”
“Oh, yes!”
The photographer finally looked around.
Everyone was ready and watching him.
He smiled awkwardly.
‘This might be more fun than I thought.’
The photographer held his camera.
Maybe it was the good subject, but excitement welled up.
* * *
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