Superstar From Age 0

Chapter 27

Are you ready?

Nara Kim, with her short bob hair, lifted her black sunglasses and smiled as she met Seo-juns eyes. Seo-jun raised his fists and answered.

Yeah!

Shall we go then?

Seo-jun, you need to bring your bag.

Seo-eun-hye brought Seo-juns bag. Seo-jun put his arm through the strap.

He held his moms hand in one hand and his aunt Naras hand in the other and left the house.

Oh, Jun!

Hi, Eric!

Seo-jun greeted Eric Smith, the man from next door who came out to throw away the trash, cheerfully. Eric smiled and asked.

What kind of bag is that today?

Zombie!

Seo-jun let go of both hands and spun around. A zombie doll with stitches all over was attached to his bag, catching Erics eye.

The zombie, with red bloodstains and pale skin, looked realistic but also quite cute.

Cool! Did Sang make it for you?

Yeah. Uncle Hee-sang made it for me. Wheres Jack?

Jack went to grandmas house. Hell cry again when he sees it and want one. I have more orders for Sang.

Eric shook his head and held out his fist. Seo-jun also held out his fist and bumped it.

Eric greeted Seo-eun-hye and Nara behind him and went down the stairs.

Hee-sangs dolls are popular.

He quit his job and started this, so it would be a disaster if they werent.

Seo-eun-hye sighed and said. Nara laughed.

Its all because of your YouTube.

After coming to America, Seo-eun-hye and Lee Min-joon were very busy. There was so much to prepare to start in a new place.

Especially, they stayed up for several nights studying child abuse and other child crimes.

Things that they would just let go in Korea became child abuse in America. It was a natural thing for the childs safety, but they had to be careful with every action.

It would have been hard to study if it werent for the materials that Nara Kim prepared for them.

The busy couple got used to life in LA not long after, and they realized that this place was no different from Korea, where people live, because of the people who interfered here and there. But they decided to overcome it, and it seemed half solved.

Seo-eun-hye uploaded a vlog of her life in America on YouTube and exposed Seo-juns dolls.

Around that time, Kim Hee-sang was working hard on designing dolls to satisfy the couple and Seo-juns tastes.

At first, there were many comments saying it was weird, but gradually opinions that they were well made appeared and soon people asked where they could buy the products.

Seo-eun-hye asked Kim Hee-sang and posted the order method on YouTube. And Kim Hee-sang threw his resignation letter with a happy expression as the orders poured in.

Last Halloween, almost all the kids in this area were hanging Hee-sangs dolls.

The leader of that trend was Seo-jun. The various monster dolls that the little boy carried with him every time he went out with his mom and dad caught the adults attention at first, but soon they became wildly popular among the kids.

Especially Jack, who lived next door and was very close to Seo-jun, cried every time Seo-jun got a new doll and wanted one. He made the Smiths and the Seo-eun-hye Lee Min-joon couple uncomfortable. Seo-jun, who was generous, gave him one of the dolls he liked less.

Auntie! Lets go quickly!

Seo-jun grabbed Naras hand and led her. Nara and Seo-eun-hye followed him with a smile at his urgency.

Nara and Seo-eun-hye buckled their seat belts and Seo-jun sat in the car seat. The zombie bag was neatly placed next to him.

Seo-jun, did you practice?

Yes!

Seo-jun was excited by Naras question and bounced his feet.

Are you sure you can act? Youve never done it before.

Seo-eun-hyes words made Seo-jun want to say no, but he stopped himself. He had worked hard to be cute when he filmed the Elephant Milk commercial. He pouted his lips secretly so his mom wouldnt see.

You worry too much.

No.

Seo-eun-hye rubbed her forehead at Naras calm words.

You were the one who called me three days ago and said, lets film a movie. It wasnt even a suggestion.

Hahaha.

***

Three days ago, Nara called her. Seo-eun-hye talked to Seo-jun on speakerphone.

-Seo-jun, lets film a movie!

A mo?

I want to!

Before Seo-eun-hye could ask, Seo-jun answered.

A movie! A movie! Seo-jun was thrilled. He had only filmed vlogs since he came to America. He felt like he would never become a superstar if he hesitated.

Seo-jun ran around the living room, shouting hooray.

I want to! Seo-jun wants to!

-Okay! Ill send you the script!

Wait, Nara!

Nara, who was about to hang up, asked back at Seo-eun-hyes call.

-Why?

What do you mean, a movie?

-Well, Seo-jun was watching a documentary about movies the other day, and I asked him if he wanted to be an actor, and he said yes.

Really?

-Yeah. So I sent some of the commercials and YouTube videos that Seo-jun filmed to a place that was looking for child actors, and they replied to come for an audition.

An audition?

At Seo-eun-hyes words, Seo-jun ran over and asked on the phone.

Isnt it a movie shoot? An audition?

-Its an audition and a movie shoot. There will probably be other child actors besides Seo-jun. They will put the best video of the ones they filmed in the movie.

Then Seo-jun might not be in the movie?

-Just think of it as an experience and try it. How about you, Seo-jun?

I want to!

He was confident that he could beat anyone. Seo-jun clenched his fists. Seo-eun-hye raised both her hands and feet at Seo-juns fiery look.

Okay.

-Then Ill send you the script!

And then she got an email from Nara, who was quick to act. Lee Min-joon, who came home from work, stared at the script that his son printed out without knowing the letters.

I cant go see my sons first shoot.

Ill take a picture.

Lee Min-joon said, stretching Seo-juns cheek as he smiled brightly. Seo Eun-hye raised her camera to capture the moment.

Oh. I forgot to tell you. Its a marine movie.

Marine?!

Seo Eun-hye and Lee Min-joon felt their hearts sink at Na-ras message.

***

The houses outside the window flew by. Seo-jun was worried. There was a speed limit on the road, but was his aunt following it?

But how are you going to hide the videos on YouTube and the ads you filmed?

I saw the report from Man-se. Seo-jun has been on camera since he was seven months old. He even did some commercials.

Man-se was Kevin Kims real name.

The eldest son Woo-ri, the eldest daughter Na-ra, and the youngest son Man-se.

Woo-ri Na-ra Man-se.

Seo Eun-hye, Lee Min-joon, and Seo-jun laughed for a long time when they heard his name from Na-ra.

Soon, the fans of Brown Black also heard about it, and there was a commotion in the fan club to get the nicknames with Man-se first.

Report?

Grandpa told us to write reports instead of diaries or letters since we were little.

Na-ra nodded her head vigorously.

Grandpa who asked the snotty kids to write reports was one thing, but there was also the brother who ran away from his job, and the younger brother who left the house because he liked rap and ended up in Korea.

Was there anyone normal in our family?

Were more used to that than letters or something. We sent you a report saying please take care of your family. Four years ago. Of course, we read it and forgot about it then.

A few days ago, she saw an announcement looking for a handsome boy actor with black hair and black eyes. Na-ra immediately thought of Seo-jun.

Come to think of it, Man-se had sent a report with that content. She searched the shelves in the library and found Man-ses report that she had read once and put away four years ago.

The formula ad that Seo-jun filmed was just a normal ad for ordinary people, but it was very popular among parents with babies. Seo-juns mukbang also had a huge impact on babies under 20 months old.

Na-ra also looked for the videos after reading the report.

To her eyes, it was just a common ad that she could see anywhere, but the reactions of the parents and children were extraordinary.

Na-ra Kim looked at Seo-jun through the rearview mirror. Seo-jun flinched at her sharp gaze.

As it turns out, Eric from next door also watched Seo-juns videos. He said it was very helpful in raising Jack.

And Seo-juns videos didnt discriminate by nationality.

I know that.

On the first day, when they moved to this house. When they knocked on the door to greet them, the Smith couple who came out saw Seo-jun in Seo Eun-hyes arms and exclaimed in surprise, Oh, Joon!

The couple and Seo-jun were also startled. They became quite close after that.

Plus, the Hee-sang doll that Seo-jun always carries around sells well. They said it would be sold out if they promoted it. That means Seo-jun has something, right?

Na-ra was thinking of using Seo-jun as a model for Kings Market later. Right now, he had no fame, so everyone was against it.

Seo-jun tilted his head. He had never used his ability. The Hee-sang uncle doll was just popular. He thought of Hee-sang uncle, who had dark circles down to his chin from work, on a video call.

Na-ras car stopped. Had they arrived at their destination? Na-ra, who unbuckled her seat belt, looked at Seo Eun-hye and Seo-jun in the back seat and said.

Dont worry. Just shoot it lightly as a practice. Just like I told you on the phone, its a really short extra role. You just have to smile brightly without being nervous and look at the camera. You read the script, right?

Okay.

Marinsa Seo Eun-hye recalled the name she had tried to forget.

Ah Unlike her mother who touched her forehead with a sense of pressure, Seo Joon was thrilled. He was going to star in a huge companys movie from the start!

Mom read it to me! I practiced too!

Good. You did well!

Nara got Seo Joon out of the car. She also put the zombie bag on his back without forgetting.

This way.

Nara walked ahead. There was a noisy sound from the direction she was heading.

There were people moving boxes and people running around everywhere. Nara talked to the security guard and the security guard said something on the radio.

Soon, someone ran from afar.

Hello! Im Jonathan Will, a staff member. Are you here for the audition today?

A boy who looked like a middle school student with freckles, Jonathan Will, asked with a paper in one hand. The paper was full of red lines.

Yes. Im Seo Joon Lee.

Okay. Just a moment. Another child actor is auditioning right now.

Jonathan wiped his sweat and led the three people inside. On the right, there was a silent commotion as if they were filming.

Here it is.

Jonathan opened the entrance of the makeshift tent with a quiet voice.

That was when it happened.

William!

A womans scream and.

Aaaah!

A childs cry.

Jonathan clenched his eyes. The three people who didnt know the situation tilted their heads.

As the childs cry didnt stop, a very loud voice was heard.

Jonathan Will!!

Yes! Director! Ill be right there!

Jonathan said quickly with a flustered expression.

If you wait here, the makeup artist will bring you the costume. You can change into that and wait until youre called. I might not be able to come back.

Jonathan Will!

Yes, yes!

Jonathan ran to the filming set where the childs cry was still heard, pale at the directors loud voice.