* * *

The screen brightens, and a young intern walks around the emergency room, greeting everyone.

“Hello, I’m Joo-han.”

The main character, now with graying hair, watches this, and the drama ‘Emergency Room’ ends.

“The scene was great. It overlapped with the main character from the first episode.”

“The directing was also great with the symmetry. In the first episode of ‘Emergency Room’, the main character greeted everyone like that.”

“Yeah, you can see it clearly. Joo-hyuk’s young son grows up to become a doctor in the emergency room.”

Ma Soo-jung nodded. Honestly, she could imagine what happened next.

“The main character would become a good mentor to Joo-hyuk’s son.”

“Exactly. It’s a bittersweet and touching ending.”

President Seo tapped the screen of his phone.

Then he refreshed the saved page.

Soon, he saw the comments, which had increased several times in real-time.

Title: [How to Become Kongja’s Dad]
Almost stopped breathing because he was cuter than in the drama.
But to become Kongja’s dad, you have to marry Soo-jung. Not in this life, I guess.
└ Give up. I’m going to try.
└ What are you trying for? ㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋ
└ If I try, Soo-jung might notice me. I’m good at making soybean paste stew!
└ Do you know Soo-jung is the third daughter of the Sungjin Group?ㅋㅋㅋㅋ
└ She’s a chaebol? I’ll start practicing slapping from today! “You’re the first to hit me” strategy!ㅋ
└ This person is serious
└ Real madness
└ Soo-jung, run away

President Seo giggled while holding his phone.

“Soo-jung, because of Kongja, someone wants to marry you.”

“Oh my.”

“This post has a lot of comments. It might get shared in other places too.”

“If the post becomes famous, it might come up in interview questions. Should I prepare?”

“What will you say?”

“I’ll ask if it’s okay to remarry.”

President Seo burst out laughing.

“Ha ha ha. But what do we do? It keeps becoming a hot topic.”

“Yeah. My angel is becoming too famous.”

“How will you manage it?”

Ma Soo-jung smiled brightly.

“Nothing has changed. It’s the same as before. I won’t do many CFs. I’ll be very selective with sponsorships. As for projects, I’ll have to check them out myself. Please arrange it that way.”

“Sure. It sounds like a makeshift plan, but it’s surprisingly thorough.”

“Well, first, I have to visit Auntie An’s hospital. Oh, it’s hard to find the time. At least with one drama finished, I have some time now.”

“Soo-jung, if Kongja were an adult actor, you’d be busy paddling right now. You know the child actor world is just as competitive, right?”

Ma Soo-jung nodded.

“I know. I’m an actor who loves being on set. It’s not the first time I’ve met a child actor. That’s why I’m handling it this way.”

There were certainly kids who were pushed into acting by their parents.

‘It’s a relief if the kid wants to act.’

Whenever she saw kids who said they were acting to earn a living, Ma Soo-jung could only sigh.

‘There are many cases close to exploitation.’

Frankly, it’s only recently that the working conditions for child actors have improved.

“Okay. Then we’ll proceed like that.”

“Yes. But it’s funny. The president is taking charge of our Kongja’s matters.”

President Seo scratched his cheek and said.

“I knew he was special as soon as I saw him. I have nothing else to do. If he really wants to keep acting, I’m willing to sign him.”

Ma Soo-jung chuckled.

Well, being part of top line wasn’t bad.

‘The president always says he’s free, but…’

In fact, it was because he had brought in capable and good people.

‘Even if his salary is higher than the president’s, the president loves the work itself.’

He really enjoyed nurturing new actors.

‘I can trust him.’

Ma Soo-jung chuckled.

“I think I know who the boss’s daughter takes after.”

“My wife is always sighing and lamenting. She says I resemble her too much.”

Ma Soo-jung let out a long sigh. Just then, the phone’s ringtone echoed.

“It’s starting again.”

“Indeed.”

“Just put it on silent.”

“It’s almost always on silent. If it rings, it means it’s someone important.”

Ma Soo-jung checked the screen. Sure enough, it was someone important.

“I have to take this.”

“Who is it?”

“Designer Jang Lily.”

“You better answer that. Oh, I need to get back to work too.”

Both picked up their phones. Ma Soo-jung smiled slightly.

‘I never really liked this kind of thing…’

But why is it? Thinking it was for Kongja, it didn’t feel difficult at all.

* * *

“Kongja, don’t you miss your aunt?”

Auntie An? Of course.

“Yes!”

“Auntie must have missed you too.”

Mom smiled as she adjusted my clothes. I smiled back, then fell on my bottom again.

‘Still on-going.’

The price of the coin was still ongoing.

‘After ten honest steps, my legs give out.’

The limit was one year.

Luckily, since I was a baby, people just accepted it, but if I were an adult, it would be hard to make excuses.

‘I need to be careful with the risk of using the coin.’

This could be serious.

Mom lifted me up and placed me in the stroller.

I blinked from inside the stroller.

Under the bright sunlight, Mom looked a bit tired.

I reached out my hand and said,

“Mommy!”

“Yes, Kongja.”

“Don’t overwork yourself.”

Is she still busy with work?

Well, Mom was a top actress. Even though one drama ended, many places would still call her.

‘And she was an actress who worked without rest.’

Mom stared at me and smiled.

“Kongja, are you worried about Mom?”

“Yes!”

“Oh my!”

Mom knelt down and pressed her forehead against mine. I blinked, looking at her eyelashes.

“So cute, our Kongja. Only I know this side of you. It’s really nice, this.”

Excuse me, Mom?

‘What do you mean by that?’

Mom stroked my cheek and smiled brightly.

“I was a bit tired, but I’m recharged. Kongja recharge is the best!”

Have you been very tired lately?

I held onto Mom’s sleeve and asked,

“Is it hard?”

Mom let out a long sigh.

“Hmm, it was hard to decline. But I had to. Our Kongja only has one body.”

Wait. Mom.

‘What did you decline?’

Please tell me. I’m curious.

* * *