* * *

Goodness.

“He deserves it.”

Han Woojin twisted and turned, trying to dodge.

“Seriously, does that even make sense!”

“The script was great! Teacher, your hands are too harsh. It hurts!”

“It’s supposed to hurt! You’re almost 40 and still so immature!”

I shook my leg in Han Woojin’s embrace. Yoon Jeonghyeon smacked his back firmly again.

“Handsome men are eternally boys!”

“You rascal!”

Yoon Jeonghyeon sighed and released her hand.

“I’m stopping because we have Kongja here.”

“Hehehe.”

“Anyway, Woojin, what are you going to do? Act your age.”

“But ActressYoon, I want to firmly establish my role. I knew from the first moment I saw it that Kongja would become famous.”

“So, you’re taking on the role of Kongja?”

“If I can. Besides, Kongja wouldn’t appear in just any project. Senior Soo-jung would filter it out. She has a good eye for scripts.”

Wow, Han Woojin.

“He’s quite perceptive.”

It wasn’t a difficult guess, but his execution was impressive.

“Indeed, this film’s script is excellent.”

“I may be good-looking, but I have a few flaws. One of them is not being able to judge scripts well.”

“True. You’re good with dramas, but not so much with films.”

“Yes, so I plan to follow along for a while. But I can only see a few times. I might appear as a family member instead of the lead.”

Teacher Yoon Jeonghyeon sighed and patted my head.

“Unbelievable.”

“But is it because it’s a lead role? I don’t get to see Kongja much.”

“That’s only natural.”

“Oh, I forgot. Kongja, you must miss seeing your hyung, right?”

If I say no, it’ll hurt his feelings, right?

“Yes!”

“Oh, so cute. I told Senior Soo-jung I wanted to make Kongja my son and she threatened to kill me.”

“She definitely would.”

“Oh, Actress Yoon.”

“Why would you say that? He’s already Soo-jung’s son. He’s asking for trouble.”

Hey, teacher.

“Didn’t you say something similar earlier?”

At that moment, the assistant director approached.

“Actress Yoon…”

“What?”

“The script has been revised. Originally, you were supposed to wander the beach alone, but now Kongja will appear too. The director wants to shoot both versions.”

Yoon Jeonghyeon nodded.

“Go ahead. But is Kongja okay with it?”

“I asked the nanny, as long as we keep to his nap time, it should be fine.”

“Got it.”

The Actress Yoon smelled the top of my head and said,

“I want a nap too.”

“Go ahead and rest.”

“I should.”

“Oh, Kongja, time for filming.”

The assistant director took me from Han Woojin.

“Alright, let’s go!”

“Yes!”

The assistant director carried me to the camera.

‘I can walk, though.’

Why do people keep carrying me?

Because it’s the beach, the sea breeze was strong. I stood in front of the camera, feeling my hair flutter.

Soon, the long-awaited call came.

“Ready, action!”

* * *

‘Deok-soo is so different from his appearance.’

The man in sunglasses laid me down comfortably and pulled up a blanket.

I blinked, lying on the pillow.

‘Honestly, maybe it’s because the van is spacious.’

Even in the car, napping was very comfortable.

I stared intently at Deok-soo.

‘He’s thoroughly prepared with baby food and everything.’

His desire to become a kindergarten teacher seemed genuine.

‘Well, him being a crybaby is a problem, though.’

I sighed softly.

‘Yesterday, he cried just seeing me eat baby snacks.’

At least he didn’t cry outside.

I turned my body. Deok-soo spoke.

“Can’t sleep?”

“A little!”

“I prepared for times like this.”

Deok-soo attached a mobile to the van’s ceiling. Then he suddenly took out a storybook.

“I’ll read you your favorite, ‘The Bear and I’.”

This is driving me crazy.

I sighed deeply.

‘That’s not why I can’t sleep.’

Deok-soo pressed the mobile’s switch. The mobile attached to the van’s ceiling slowly spun.

‘This isn’t entertaining at all.’

I’d rather watch YouTube.

‘My online pets…’

At that moment, there was a knock on the door. Deok-soo immediately opened it.

“Oh, hello.”

“Sorry to intrude, may I come in?”

I recognized the voice right away.

“It’s Actress Yoon Jeonghyeon.”

Deok-soo extended his arm.

“Yes, please come in.”

The teacher, with help, got into the van and smiled at the spinning mobile.

“Are you the manager?”

“I’m not a manager. I’m the nanny.”

The teacher blinked.

‘I understand, teacher. You must be confused.’

But yes, he was indeed the nanny.

“Oh, I see. I have a favor to ask. If it’s too difficult, you can refuse.”

“Alright.”

“Can I take a nap beside Kongja? I’ve been struggling with insomnia, but oddly enough, I’ve been able to sleep a bit for the past few days. I think it’s because of the lavender scent from the young master.”

“Is that so? You must have had a hard time.”

“Lavender scent is common, but Kongja’s scent is the best. Just a whiff makes me sleepy. So, could I take a nap?”

Mr. Deok-soo was silent for a moment before speaking cautiously.

“Is it alright if I watch over you?”

“Pardon?”

“I will keep watching you sleep here. Is that alright with you?”

Ah. Now that I think about it, he was always with me when I took naps.

‘At home, I’m left alone in my room, but…’

Of course, you can’t leave a child alone outside. Moreover, Yoon Jeonghyeon was a stranger.

‘I know the teacher well, but it’s only natural to be cautious even if she was a celebrity.’

But Mr. Deok-soo was thorough. The teacher smiled a little.

“Alright. Though it’s a bit strange to sleep in front of a stranger.”

“I’ll leave the car door open.”

“No, it’s fine. It’ll just be noisy. Keep it closed. Ah, this is strange. Normally, I wouldn’t do this.”

The teacher lay down next to me and spoke.

“Kongja, let me sleep beside you.”

“I’ll recline your seat.”

Mr. Deok-soo pressed a button and handed over a blanket. The teacher chuckled as she shifted.

“Thank you.”

“Sleep well.”

Mr. Deok-soo moved to the farthest seat. Yoon Jeonghyeon closed her eyes and took in the scent from my head.

“It’s strange, Kongja. Just this scent makes my eyes close. I don’t believe in things like aromatherapy.”

The corners of the teacher’s eyes trembled.

“It’s a familiar scent.”

I reached out and patted the back of her hand. Maybe it wasn’t so bad, as the teacher mumbled with a small smile.

“Yoon-hyuk…”

I blinked.

‘Oh no…’

Yoon-hyuk was the name of her son.

‘I heard he died in a car accident.’

That’s why she developed insomnia and has been struggling ever since.

I exhaled deeply and closed my eyes. Even though I couldn’t sleep, I had to pretend because of Mr. Deok-soo.

‘When I met the teacher in my previous life, it was long after her son had passed.’

I didn’t realize she was having such a hard time.

‘She really cared for me.’

When I lost some weight due to the stress of movie filming, she made side dishes for me.

‘She treated me like her own son.’

I shifted my body.

‘Ah, I hadn’t thought about this.’

It suddenly came to mind.

‘Did the teacher cry after I died?’

She probably did. Despite being strict, she was also kind-hearted and affectionate.

‘I’m sorry, teacher.’

I didn’t know I’d go like that.

‘It’s bittersweet.’

I took a small breath. It was an irreversible past.

‘I’ll do better in this life instead.’

And being Ma Kongja is a hundred times better than being Lee Hanjoo.

I wiggled my fingers.

‘Ah, now that I think about it, this life is really different.’

Not just my face and health, but the people around me were the most different.

‘My previous agency was really terrible.’

But now, there were so many people helping me.

‘And now I have plenty of money.’

Maybe because my mom is a top star and a conglomerate. Everything I ate and wore was different.

‘Yes, definitely abundant.’

I turned my body again.

‘Okay, let’s think well.’

The biggest difference between my past and current life was that I was the son of top star Ma Soo-jung.

‘Let’s treat mom well!’

So, how should I do that? What do parents usually like?

‘They like to see their children grow well the most.’

Well, that’s obvious.

‘There’s no way I won’t grow well.’

No, fundamentally, what can I do for mom?

‘I gave her health with a coin.’

But you know,

‘It feels insufficient.’

The world is tough. The entertainment industry is a jungle. For a mother who fights a war-like battle in that field every day, health is just a basic necessity.

‘It’s not enough. It’s lacking!’

I smirked.

‘I wondered where to use the coins!’

There are many places.

‘And now, I even know the effects.’

Mom! Wait for me!

‘I’ll make you happy!’

Happiness comes from strength, doesn’t it?

‘So, what should I strengthen first?’

Arms? Legs? Muscle strength? Speed?

Mom often did action scenes.

‘It’ll be very useful.’

I turned over again. Maybe because I came to a conclusion, I suddenly felt sleepy.

‘I’ll repay your kindness, mom.’

So please wait.

My eyelids grew heavy. I fell asleep like that.

* * *