* * *

“Soo-jung! Your son is something else.”

Ma Soo-jung tilted her head.

‘Out of nowhere.’

President Seo suddenly got into the van and started with that.

“He might be a genius. I was really impressed. Soo-jung, I think you’ve got an amazing son.”

Ma Soo-jung crossed her arms.

“You’re talking about our Kongja, right?”

“Of course! Do you have another son?”

Ma Soo-jung chuckled. Well, it was a strange thing to say out of the blue, but as a mom, it naturally felt good.

“Well, it’s a compliment I don’t mind hearing.”

Why is that?
President Seo only ever talked about Kongja whenever he saw her.

“Soo-jung, you know? I don’t give compliments lightly.”

Ma Soo-jung wiggled her folded arms. That was true too.

She’d heard praise from various places, but honestly, she couldn’t quite grasp it.

‘What exactly did our Kongja do for everyone to be so excited?’

Han Woojin had called after five years asking for the child.

And President Seo had been going on about it for a month now every time they met.

“The most shocking thing was the PD’s reaction.”

PD Jaemin Lee was a person who spoke gently but had a precise and flawless nature. He was always clear about what he expected from the cast and crew.

“For such a PD to call and say he captured an unexpected scene was something.”

It seemed like Kongja had indeed done something extraordinary. Ma Soo-jung recalled what PD Jaemin Lee had said.

“Soo-jung, when people see this scene, the whole nation will be in tears.”

PD Jaemin Lee was very confident.

“Do you know why? Even I cried! Soo-jung, let me borrow your son for the next project too!”

Ma Soo-jung exhaled deeply. Seeing this, President Seo nodded.

“When a child is extraordinary, the parents tend to worry.”

“Do you worry about things like this too, President? It’s strange. Marie was unique too, but I don’t think I had these concerns back then.”

Marie was somewhat unusual, but she was her own daughter, so it made sense.

“But Kongja is definitely different.”

He wasn’t just peculiar; there was something truly extraordinary about him.

“Hmm, I do worry, but it’s different. My tiger-like daughters want to bring home every cute thing they see, it’s quite a problem.”

Ma Soo-jung chuckled. The daughters she saw at the birthday party were indeed extraordinary.

“Yesterday, they were whining about wanting to bring Kongja home.”

“You should’ve said they can’t because I brought him first.”

“I did, but they weren’t convinced and wanted to settle it.”

What now?

“How?”

“Rock-paper-scissors?”

“Hahaha!”

Ma Soo-jung burst out laughing, holding her belly. Indeed, President Seo’s daughters were extraordinary.

“They were pretty serious.”

“Really?”

“Sometimes I wonder who they take after.”

“It’s you, President.”

“No way. I wasn’t like that.”

President Seo looked up as he spoke.

“If there was a good actor, I would persuade them with patience and perseverance.”

Ma Soo-jung nodded with a smile. It was true.

“But Actress Ma, I have a keen eye for people. Your son is no joke. My instincts tell me he should be an actor.”

Ma Soo-jung’s eyebrow slightly twitched. She was still thinking about it, but she had somewhat reached a conclusion.

“I know. That’s why I’m heading in that direction.”

“Really?”

“Yes. He’s my son. I know what he likes.”

“Then why aren’t you taking more schedules? There are tons of CF offers.”

“We’re not short on money. We’re donating all the income. You know that.”

President Seo nodded.

“Soo-jung, the child Actress Market is quite broad and deep. You know there are parents who push their kids to win over directors.”

“I know. That’s why I need to be more careful. Kongja is not even two yet.”

She had seriously considered this.

“I’ll only let him work on good projects. I’ll choose the projects and the filming environment must be right.”

President Seo nodded.

“You’re not picky about that.”

“I may not be, but Kongja should be.”

“Right. Do you need a manager?”

“More than a manager…”

Ma Soo-jung sighed.

“We need a nanny for Kongja.”

“What?”

“Our housekeeper is hospitalized.”

“Oh no. Is it serious? What kind of illness?”

“Her heart. She’s in the hospital because she was too scared to get surgery due to the cost.”

“Heart issues should be covered by special medical benefits, right?”

“She just paid off her debts last month.”

Her husband’s business debts had accumulated to a significant amount.

Even with state support, hospital bills would still be substantial.

“I told her not to worry about money, but she’ll probably insist on paying it back later. She doesn’t need to, though.”

“Hmm… Is her condition serious?”

“She’ll recover if she gets the surgery. The success rate is high, but she needs plenty of rest. But you know, President, I can’t do without her.”

Ma Soo-jung sighed deeply. The housekeeper had been with her for a long time and was very trustworthy.

“The Madam always dismissed such matters.”

But Ma Soo-jung was different. She knew from experience how important trust was.

“I wish her a speedy recovery.”

“I’ll pass on your message.”

“You know, Actress Ma, you really care about people.”

Ma Soo-jung smiled faintly.

“You have to.”

“You’ve been with your current manager, Mi-jin, for a long time too, right?”

“Yes.”

“People think you’re just passionate. They don’t know about your loyalty.”

“It’s not loyalty, it’s just the right thing to do. Good deeds bring good fortune.”

Ma Soo-jung propped her chin and looked out the window.

“I met Kongja because of my good fortune.”

She looked beautiful gazing out the car window. President Seo scratched his chin and nodded.

“Hey, Soo-jung.”

“Yes, go ahead.”

“Isn’t it a bit burdensome, having Kongja? He’s really something.”

Ma Soo-jung smiled a little.

“No. Does it seem that way?”

“Oh man, I think I misspoke.”

“It’s okay.”

Ma Soo-jung smiled brightly.

“Meeting Kongja was fate. I’m fine as long as he grows up healthy.”

President Seo slightly bowed his head.

“My, our Actress Ma has really grown up.”

“Of course. I’m a mom now.”

“I respect you, Soo-jung. Are you heading to the set?”

“Yes. It’s an overnight shoot.”

“Then let’s watch ‘Emergency Room’ before you go. It’s the last episode today, the one with Kongja.”

“Oh, I know. It’s Kongja’s drama debut.”

* * *