* * *

“Hello. This is the reporter Yuk Gae-jun for this week’s Entertainment Lounge. Today, we have the cast of the highly anticipated film of the first half of the year, ‘Achilles’!”

Ma Soo-jung clapped her hands. The familiar interviews went around one by one. The person next to her whispered.

“How many times is it?”

Ma Soo-jung smiled a little. It was already the fourth entertainment news program.

“Tired?”

The fellow actor whispered softly.

“Yes. It’s the fourth time saying similar things.”

“Just be glad they come.”

Though she said that, the fellow actor seemed a bit tired too.

“True. It would be sad if they didn’t.”

Ma Soo-jung smiled and focused on the interview again. It was her turn.

“Ma Soo-jung, you’ve been in the spotlight recently with your adorable son. How is Kongja doing?”

This was the third question she was asked.

“Ms. Ma Soo-jung, how are you? I’m so lucky to see that adorable smile of yours.”

“Oh, I’m jealous! But, Ms. Ma, your beauty keeps shining brighter every day.”

Oh my!

Ma Soo-jung smiled a little. She had done countless interviews before, so she knew well that she needed to act modestly in such situations.

But her colleague beside her was different.

“That’s right! Ms. Soo-jung’s skin glows every day.”

Once the compliments started, they poured in from all directions.

“I agree. Ms. Soo-jung, you always look so energetic.”

“You don’t even get a puffy face after eating ramen and sleeping.”

“Your stamina is incredible. We were all amazed.”

What’s going on with everyone?

She had no choice. Ma Soo-jung smiled brightly and said,

“I guess I was born with it.”

Everyone laughed heartily.

“Just kidding. Maybe it’s because I have an angel at home. Just seeing my child gives me energy.”

“Oh, come on, you mean it.”

“Maybe she was born with some of it?”

Laughter erupted again.

‘Keeping the atmosphere lively is part of the lead actor’s job.’

Ma Soo-jung smiled at the camera again.

But the praises around her didn’t stop.

“It’s not just her appearance.”

“She’s really strong too.”

“We filmed an action scene once. Do you know?”

One lead actor stretched out his arm as he spoke.

“It was a scene where Ms. Soo-jung grabbed and pulled me. And my leather jacket ripped apart!”

Oh, right.

‘My hands were particularly sticky that day.’

The lead actor continued excitedly.

“I said, ‘Aren’t you too strong?’ And Ms. Soo-jung replied that the leather was just weak!”

Did I say that?

“Human skin is weak too, Ms. Soo-jung!”

Ma Soo-jung laughed awkwardly.

“How do you possess such tremendous strength with that body?”

“Ms. Soo-jung must have been a general in her past life.”

“I bet there were several enemy heads hanging at her gate.”

Was it really that much?

Ma Soo-jung quietly looked down at her own body.

‘I wasn’t like this before, but it seems I’ve become like this at some point.’

Now that she thought about it, even the gym instructor seriously asked if she was considering going pro.

Another actor beside her spoke up.

“I saw Ms. Soo-jung squeezing orange juice.”

Oh no.

“That’s right! When there was no juice, she squeezed oranges by hand.”

“I was curious if she could also split an apple.”

Ma Soo-jung shook her head.

“No way.”

The interview room buzzed with excitement. The reporter suddenly jumped up and shouted.

“I have an apple!”

Why is he carrying an apple around?

The manager took the apple from the reporter and handed it to Ma Soo-jung.

“I brought it to eat later. Ms. Soo-jung! It’s a perfectly ripe apple from our own farm!”

Oh, so they grow apples. Not that it matters right now.

“You want me to split this?”

“Yes, please stand up and do it.”

Ma Soo-jung wasn’t the type to shy away from a challenge. She gladly stood up.

“I’ve never done this before.”

“Now is the perfect time to try.”

Everyone was eager to watch. Ma Soo-jung tilted her head and decided to give it a shot.

Rip—

Ma Soo-jung blinked in surprise. She had barely used any strength.

‘Are apples just really soft these days?’

“Wow!”

“She actually did it!”

“Amazing!”

Ma Soo-jung tilted her head.

‘Could I really do this?’

She quietly grabbed the apple again.

‘I saw this in a movie once.’

Ma Soo-jung gently squeezed her fingers.

The apple turned to mush, juice flowing out like a squeezed orange.

“Gasp!”

“She crushed it!”

“You really were a general!”

Ma Soo-jung blinked.

“Wow, I actually did it?”

‘When did I get this strong?’

The people around her were in an uproar.

“See, Ms. Soo-jung! Human skin is weak!”

“No wonder you stay lively even after sleepless nights!”

“When we were filming that action scene, you kicked me and I went flying!”

Painful confessions came from all around. The reporter, looking serious, asked,

“Ms. Soo-jung, how do you feel?”

Ma Soo-jung blinked. Honesty seemed best.

“Even if I stop acting, I have another way to make a living with my son.”

“What?”

“I miss my child.”

Her sincerity was pure from beginning to end.

The interview moved on to the next person. Others might not have known, but Ma Soo-jung was satisfied with how it went.

* * *

‘Mom…….’

I smiled as I watched TV.

After the interview ended, the entertainment show moved on to the next segment.

‘No need to watch more.’

I turned off the TV. The blank screen reflected my and my mom’s faces.

I glanced back. Mom was lying on the sofa, sleeping soundly.

‘It’s been three months since then.’

‘When the Wind Touches’ hasn’t been released yet, and Mom has been working tirelessly like an ox.

‘The movie premieres the day after tomorrow…….’

I sighed. Time flew by.

‘Well, I’ve used coins during this time.’

But this effect is impressive.

‘I didn’t expect it to be this much.’

I had thought about making Mom stronger.

‘If I make my body strong, too…….’

But then.

I mumbled to myself.

‘Coin usage! Increase my arm strength.’

[To enhance Ma Kongja’s arm strength, 7,950,777 coins are required.]

Wow, subtitles. I haven’t even seen the results yet, but do you have no conscience?

‘Inflation is no joke!’

Do you really hate the idea of me getting stronger that much?

“To strengthen my mom’s muscles, this is just a tiny fraction of what’s needed!”

I put my hands on my cheeks and took a deep breath. My breathing was labored.

“It’s definitely restricted.”

I thought it was just my imagination, but it seems like it’s true.

“They don’t want me to become too strong.”

Well, it’s not like there’s no way at all.

“Inspire the public, right?”

Yes, yes, I got it.

I stared intently at my sleeping mom. She looked much healthier, probably because of the coin.

“I want to get healthier too.”

In the end, I had to go back to basics.

“There’s no other way but effort!”

I slid down from the sofa.

“Should I run in the garden?”

I looked around. Just then, Deok-soo appeared.

“Kongja is running!”

“It’s about time. Ah….”

Oh no.

I sighed and said,

“Stop crying! No more tears.”

“It’s inevitable. It’s so touching because our Kongja finally doesn’t fall anymore.”

Deok-soo wiped his eyes with a handkerchief again. Watching him, I shook my head.

‘And a few days after that, I finally didn’t fall.’

Maybe it’s because the deal was completed.

‘Thanks to that, I can run now.’

I quietly stretched my legs. Honestly, I was at an age where I was very active.

I knew I didn’t really need to warm up, but maybe it was out of habit.

“Sniffle.”

“Don’t cry!”

“I’m sorry. Our Kongja is good at warming up too.”

I shook my head. At that moment, my mom, who had been napping on the sofa, rubbed her eyes.

“Ah, I had a good sleep.”

“Mama!”

“Oh, my Kongja. Let me see your face.”

I quickly ran over. Mom looked at me and smiled brightly.

“My angel. Always so cute!”

“Sorry for waking you up!”

“No, I was about to get up. My Kongja, I’m sorry for always being so busy.”

I shook my head.

“No, it’s okay!”

“My Kongja, you’re so good. Mom’s got more free time now.”

No, Mom, you can still work.

“But if I say that, it always backfires.”

When I said that, Mom would tear up and apologize again.

Stretching, Mom asked,

“Ah, but why is Deok-soo crying?”

“He’s crying because Kongja is walking so well.”

“…Is that so?”

Deok-soo wiped his eyes with a handkerchief and said,

“It’s not just that.”

What else is there?

“Kongja seems to be growing well. He looks like he’s four.”

Oh, that’s not… right!

“Of course!”

I was eating well and resting well in a good environment.

‘It’d be strange if I didn’t grow!’

Mom nodded.

“Yes. I thought Kongja was growing better than Marie.”

“The bone growth is going well too. It must be because he’s eating well without being picky.”

“Our Kongja, it’s a relief that you’re doing well even without Mom’s care.”

I sighed deeply.

“You’ve done everything!”

“Hmm?”

“Deok-soo took good care of Kongja’s meals, so Kongja is healthy! And that’s because Mama works so hard!”

My health and growth were just the result of all that.

“If I wasn’t growing well with all this care, that’d be more strange.”

Of course, I missed haejang-guk these days.

“Well, I’ll eat it someday.”

Good things come to those who wait.

Just as I thought that, I heard sniffling.

“Oh no….”

Again.

* * *