* * *
Total coins!
[Total Coins: 20,500]
Haha, it’s steadily rising.
‘It must be getting good responses.’
Ah, surely there are comments being posted somewhere.
‘I want to read the comments.’
I rubbed my cheek with my hand.
‘How much will they praise this face?’
It was so sad not to have a phone.
‘Could it be considered that I’m now a celebrity?’
I couldn’t hide my smile.
Would paparazzi follow me wherever I go now?
‘Wow, that’s nice.’
My shoulders started dancing on their own.
‘It’s going smoothly. But it’s not enough.’
Honestly, this face shines best when it’s moving.
‘If YouTube were active, it would be solved in one go!’
Why did I have to go back to a time when YouTube wasn’t popular!
‘Ah, I need more exposure.’
Is there nothing good?
Just then, the door swung open. It was a familiar face. I immediately smiled and reached out my hand.
“Mama!”
“Kongja!”
I hadn’t seen Mom in such a long time.
As soon as she picked me up, she spun around once.
Then she kissed every corner of my face.
“Oh, my angel.”
“Mama!”
“Yes, Kongja. Mommy’s here. Was my Kongja doing well?”
Yes!
When I raised my hand and answered, Mom smiled brightly.
“Did our Kongja miss Mommy? I’m sorry. The magazine we did sold so well. Suddenly, I’m getting calls from everywhere.”
We should strike while the iron is hot.
Mom held me tight and swayed her body.
“It must be because of you, Kongja. Actress Ma Soo-jung’s image has never been better.”
Mom was holding me for a while when Auntie An came with a milk bottle.
“Kongja, you’re awake? Let’s eat!”
Thank you!
Mom handed me the milk bottle. I grasped it firmly with my now accustomed hands.
“Our Kongja eats so well.”
Mom patted my head and asked.
“You haven’t been sick, right, Kongja?”
“I would have called if he was. Kongja eats well and grows fast. It’s time to start him on solid food.”
“Already at that stage, huh.”
“Kongja is very healthy. At this age, kids can suddenly get fevers, but not Kongja. He eats well and plays well.”
Mom beamed at me while I drank the milk.
“I’m glad you’re healthy, our Kongja.”
“How have you been, miss?”
“I’ve been… busy.”
Mom sighed deeply and looked at me.
“The director wants Kongja.”
I looked up while drinking my milk.
“Buya?”
Me?
Mom nodded.
“Yes. Director Heo is asking for you, Kongja. There’s a baby needed for the shoot.”
I tilted my head in confusion while drinking the milk.
‘Director Heo?’
The name was uncommon, so I knew who it was.
‘Heo Bong-pal, right?’
Of course, Bongpal was his real name, but he changed it to ‘Heo Gi-hyuk’ later.
But once Bongpal, always Bongpal.
‘Wait, if it’s Heo Bong-pal, what movie could it be at this time?’
I remembered.
‘It was the movie that opened the gates for Korean zombie films.’
The title was ‘City of the Dead.’
I blinked. I also knew what role Mom played in it.
‘She was a warrior.’
In the movie, Mom was a soldier. A strong survivor among zombies and transformed humans.
‘She protected children and the elderly.’
She taught the kids how to use guns and took care of the survivors.
She was the only one who helped the protagonist in that abandoned place.
‘But was there really a baby in that movie?’
I was a fan of that movie. I still remembered every scene.
‘My favorite scene was Mom shooting a gun while rescuing the children.’
I recalled the movie.
Thinking back, her character’s story was a bit thin without any depth despite her important role.
Mom gently stroked my cheek with her finger.
“Our Kongja eats so well.”
Mom handed the empty milk bottle to Auntie An and rubbed my back.
Soon, I burped.
“Good job. Good job.”
I flailed my arms and said.
“Mama!”
“Yes, Kongja. I’m your Mom.”
Mom hugged me tightly. I could feel it even if I couldn’t see it. She sighed deeply.
“Mama?”
“Is our Kongja too cute?”
Auntie An asked.
“Why does Director Heo want Kongja all of a sudden?”
“He keeps asking for both of us to appear together.”
“Oh my. After all that criticism, and now this?”
“Exactly. It’s hard to turn him down when he specifically wants Kongja.”
I reached out and patted Mom’s cheek. She kissed my tiny hand again.
“Can’t you just refuse?”
“It’s not that simple… It involves me, too.”
“Why?”
“There’s a scene with a baby, but the baby keeps crying.”
Mom smiled bitterly.
“You know how kids usually dislike me.”
“Oh, but not Kongja.”
“You’re the first and last baby who didn’t cry when I held you.”
Mom stroked my head.
“Is it an important scene?”
“Yes. It’s crucial for my character’s story arc.”
Oh dear, it was an important scene.
“But still, taking Kongja there is a bit…”
What are you talking about!
‘This is a must!’
‘City of the Dead’ was a mega-hit movie with over ten million viewers. The number of viewers wasn’t the issue.
‘It was popular overseas, too!’
And more than anything, I was a fan. I even bought the premium DVD in my past life.
‘If I can be in it!’
I flailed my arms excitedly. Mom looked at me closely.
“Auntie An, doesn’t it seem like Kongja is excited?”
“Yes, it’s strange. He’s usually so calm.”
“Kongja, what do you think about the movie?”
“Bbuabu paopa!”
Of course, we should do it!
But Mom didn’t understand my intention.
“The set isn’t a great place for a baby.”
“That’s true.”
“What if Kongja gets sick there?”
I shook my head desperately.
‘We have to do this!’
When I couldn’t convey my will, there was only one method left. I shouted.
“Bpuab bpu!”
Use a coin!
[How would you like to use the Love and Peace Coin?]
“Turn Mom’s mind toward filming!”
[It costs 200 coins to convince actress Ma Soo-jung to let her son Ma Kongja appear in the movie. Would you like to proceed?]
“Bupa!”
Proceed!
[It has been executed]
[Every action has consequences]
[As a consequence of using the coin, your eyes will itch for 5 minutes]
[Total coins: 20,300]
It was a strange penalty, but it hit me honestly.
I blinked. Suddenly, my eyes itched terribly.
‘Wow, this is unbearable.’
Even though it was itchy, I shouldn’t scratch it.
I clenched my fists and kept blinking.
Mom looked down at me.
“That’s odd.”
“Why are you acting like this, miss?”
“Our little Kongja’s eyes are so bright and lively.”
Mom picked me up and we made eye contact.
“It’s strange. Our little Kongja was really great during the magazine shoot, wasn’t he?”
“He seems to have a knack for it. During the shoot, he was like a fish in water.”
“You felt that too?”
“Of course! And he definitely likes the camera.”
Mom’s eyes widened.
“Really?”
“Yes. Whenever I pointed my phone at him to take a picture for you, he seemed so happy.”
“Now that you mention it, our little Kongja does look right into the camera lens.”
I smiled brightly.
‘That’s exactly it.’
I blinked desperately because I was feeling ticklish.
Let me out! I want to go!
Mom kept gazing into my eyes.
“Sweetie, I know this is quite important.”
Yes. Please go on!
“Mom follows her instincts at times like this. My instincts tell me that our little Kongja could be in a movie.”
Wow. My mom is amazing.
I kept blinking. Mom looked down at me for a long while before she spoke.
“Alright!”
“Miss?”
“Let’s go, sweetie.”
Ah, my bold mother.
“But miss! The little Kongja is… still a baby.”
“He’s been blinking his eyes continuously, as if he really wants to join me. How can I say no when he looks at me with such bright eyes?”
I shook my head vigorously.
‘That’s right!’
As expected, Mom is amazing. Such boldness! How moving!
‘We can do it! We can gather coins!’
I clenched my fists tightly.
‘We can become a top star! I can create it! Mom’s healthy body!’
Wait for it! Ten million audience members!
‘Complete it! The warrior’s epic in the red sunset!’
This is both a bonus and a side benefit! It couldn’t get any better!
* * *
Good
Thanks
Thanks