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Chapter 13
Kim Mi-young's car pulled away. Though it was an old used car, it allowed Mom, who was heavily pregnant, to travel to and from the filming location with ease. Mom, feeling stuffy, slightly lowered the window. The early summer evening breeze flowed through the window. I, cradled in Mom's arms, pressed my hand firmly against the belly of my soon-to-be sibling.
"Sung-guk, don't you want to see your sibling soon?"
[Not really...]
During my time as the chairman of Samjeon Group, I had two siblings, Jeon Tae-guk and Jeon Mi-jin. As mentioned before, Jeon Tae-guk was ten, no, a hundred times more trouble than Michael. He was a drug addict who dabbled in everything from marijuana to various other narcotics, and his involvement in the company's operations was a complete disaster. As my grandfather said, it would have been better if he had just chased after women, but he ruined his own life with drugs. Thanks to that, he was quickly pushed out of the succession race and exiled to the New York branch, where he could indulge in his favorite substances to his heart's content. At least he was simple-minded, so I didn't have to worry too much.
The problem was Jeon Mi-jin. With a face that resembled our grandfather, she had an insatiable ambition. She always wanted to catch up to me, but her skills couldn't keep pace with her desires. When I firmly established my path in management, she boldly shifted her focus to fashion. After graduating from the top fashion school in Paris, she immediately took charge of Samjeon Textiles. She even married into a chaebol family, building a solid network, but Jeon Mi-jin was more skilled at imitation than creation. Every brand she launched faced plagiarism accusations and ended in poor performance, eventually leaving her to manage a gallery that the Iron Lady had once run. If they weren't my blood siblings, I would have dropped them into some war zone with a single parachute.
Mom stroked my hair. "Sung-guk, what are you thinking so deeply about?"
[What else? I was worried that my sibling might turn out to be as foolish as Jeon Tae-guk or Jeon Mi-jin. I have a lot of concerns, Mom.]
I patted Mom's belly. Just then, Mom's hand, which was stroking my head, suddenly became damp.
[Mom, what's wrong?]
I looked up at Mom's face. Her eyebrows were furrowed, and cold sweat beaded on her forehead.
"Sung-guk's mom, are you alright?"
"Unnie, I think... the baby's coming. Ugh."
Mom bit her thin lips.
"We're going to the hospital. Hold on a little longer."
Kim Mi-young hurriedly turned the steering wheel.
The 'Just' members were eating hamburgers in the dark, using flashlights. Leader Taehyung took a long swig of his cola.
"Thanks to Sung-guk, we can eat hamburgers now and live a decent life, right?"
"Yeah, hyung. Just two months ago, we were eating only one meal a day."
Jaehyun grinned. 'Just' was an idol group from a small agency, so the support was meager.
"But hyung, did you really expect 'Five Men and a Baby Basket' to be such a hit?"
The handsome Jaehyun asked. Taehyung, with a hamburger in his mouth, shook his head.
"I never imagined it in my wildest dreams. To be honest, we only got this show because everyone else turned it down."
"Right. Singers should be on stage, not taking care of a baby. Everyone said it was ridiculous, that it would ruin our mystique to change diapers and feed milk."
Lucas nodded in agreement.
"Sung-guk is truly our benefactor."
Beomseon said quietly.
"Benefactor? What benefactor? We did well. All the baby does is laugh, cry, poop, and eat."
Of course, it was Michael grumbling. Beomseon gave Michael a look of disdain.
"Michael, has anyone ever truly recognized you for who you are without Sung-guk?"
"If we had more stage appearances, the viewers would have seen our charm!"
"Do you know how many boy groups like us debut every day?"
"Why should I know that?"
Michael retorted at Beomseon.
"Michael, big agency idols get weekly appearances and variety shows, but this was our last chance. And we're taking care of a truly innocent baby like Sung-guk, which helped viewers see our individual characters."
Only Michael pouted, while everyone else nodded in agreement. Lucas smiled brightly.
"I like being able to show off my muscles while holding Sung-guk."
"Lucas is always so optimistic."
Jaehyun tried to lighten the gloomy atmosphere. Just then, the lights in the living room came on.
"Oh, the lights are back."
At the same time, their manager rushed in.
"Guys, get ready!"
"Are we filming right away?"
"Sung-guk's mom is giving birth to their second child! You guys need to be there to welcome Sung-guk's sibling!"
"Hyung, we've already washed off all our makeup."
"What makeup are you talking about when you film right after waking up? The broadcasting station has already left. If you're even a little late, you'll miss out on this important event! Just come as you are!"
"Yes!"
Mom's labor pains continued. It had been two hours already. I was in Dad's arms, who had come home from work.
"Sung-guk, don't be nervous."
[You're the one who's nervous, Dad. Your hands are sweaty from holding me.]
I gripped Dad's trembling knees tightly. Kim Mi-young approached.
"The director and the 'Just' members are all on their way."
As soon as they arrived at the hospital, Kim Mi-young contacted Dad and the director. It was a clear opportunity for broadcasting. The birth of Sung-guk's sibling, who was enjoying immense popularity with 'Five Men and a Baby Basket'! The five men of 'Just' who would share that day!
[Kim Mi-young, you have a good sense. Well done.]
I patted Kim Mi-young's back with my hand.
Pat-pat.
In the distance, down the hallway, I could hear the sound of people bustling. The 'Just' members must have arrived. Shouts like, "Ah! It's Taehyung!" and "Lucas!!!" echoed. I quickly dabbed some tears in my eyes and gripped Dad's shirt with both hands. It was the image of an anxious first child waiting for his mother and sibling.
[Alright, let's start acting.]
The 'Just' members rushed over and bowed to Dad at a 90-degree angle.
"Hello! We're 'Just.'"
"I'm Sung-guk's dad."
"Wow, you're handsome too, sir."
Taehyung used the utmost respect.
[Taehyung, we're not that far apart in age.]
Beomseon had already come over and picked me up.
"Sir, please rest. We'll take care of Sung-guk."
"No, it's alright."
Dad declined, but I quickly snuggled into Beomseon's arms. Dad, who had come straight from working at the bossam restaurant, had been holding me for over an hour. He must have been exhausted.
[Dad, please rest.]
"Then, please take care of him for a moment."
The 'Just' members' faces were also tense. Soon, the broadcasting cameras and the director arrived.
"We're a bit late. The sibling isn't born yet, right?"
"No."
"That's a relief."
The director breathed a sigh of relief. Then, looking at the 'Just' members, he burst out laughing.
"Did you all run out without even looking in the mirror?"
"Huh?"
Jaehyun asked, confused.
"Never mind. It's really real and good. Good. Okay, rolling camera."
I scanned the members' faces. They had definitely eaten those hamburgers. Taehyung's shirt had cabbage stuck to it, and Michael's white T-shirt had a clear red ketchup stain. I quickly tapped Taehyung's shirt with my hand, naturally brushing off the cabbage. The camera didn't miss that scene.
"Director, Sung-guk is taking care of his hyung."
I heard the assistant director whispering.
[Assistant director, please caption it as 'Sung-guk taking care of his hyung.']
Taehyung quickly stroked my hair and straightened his posture. The camera rolled, and everyone nervously paced in front of the delivery room. Another two hours passed. Everyone looked exhausted. In the midst of all this, Beomseon shined. Holding me, Beomseon, despite being tired, continued to pace in front of the delivery room. Taehyung, Jaehyun, and Lucas took turns holding me, but Beomseon held me the longest. Michael, unable to hold me for more than a few minutes because I kept wiggling, sulked in a corner. Beomseon kept patting my back.
"Sung-guk, your mom must be going through a lot."
I looked up at Beomseon thoughtfully.
[Should I switch from an antagonistic relationship to an awkward one?]
Dad approached Beomseon.
"I'll take Sung-guk. He's quite heavy now, and you must be tired."
"No, I used to take care of my youngest sibling. My mom gave birth to a late child when I was in high school. Sung-guk is quite light compared to my sibling, who was a big baby."
Beomseon smiled reassuringly. Even after two hours, he was still going strong. The delivery room door slid open, and a nurse rushed out.
"Family of Kim So-young, the mother?"
"Me, me!"
Dad quickly raised his hand.
"Sir, you'll be cutting the umbilical cord, right?"
"Yes!"
"Then, please follow me. It looks like she'll be giving birth soon."
"Yes, yes..."
Dad, half dazed, rushed into the delivery room.
"Nurse!"
The director stopped the rushing nurse.
"You know us, right? 'Baby Basket and Five Men.'"
The director, flustered, even said the title backwards, but the nurse seemed to understand.
"Ah, yes. But what is it?"
"Can we go in too? This is the famous Sung-guk."
The director showed the nurse me, who was held in Beomseon's arms.
"That's..."
The nurse was taken aback.
"I asked the desk, and they said it's okay for hospital publicity if the guardian agrees."
Just then, Dad grabbed the director.
"Director, we need to get my wife's permission first."
"Oh, I'm sorry."
"I'll go in and ask."
Dad quickly went into the delivery room with the nurse. After a moment, he came running out.
"Can you film just the scene of cutting the umbilical cord?"
"Yes, we'll do that."
Kim Mi-young stepped forward.
"The mother's face shouldn't be shown."
"Don't worry. We'll film it as a documentary, not a variety show. I'm originally from documentaries. If you're worried, we can show you the edited version before it airs."
"Then, please disinfect and come in."
The nurse urged them. Dad, in his haste, turned back.
"Sung-guk, get ready to meet your sibling!"
I waved at Dad. I wasn't worried about my sibling. I was only worried about Mom. It was strange. In my previous life, the Iron Lady was definitely a mother too, but no matter what happened, I always thought about the impact her absence would have on Samjeon Group rather than worrying about her.
[Are these family members what Samjeon Group was in this life?]
I stroked my chin with my short hand.
"Sung-guk, your good times are over."
Michael's ridiculous words broke my train of thought. If I were still the successor of Samjeon Group, I would have found some way to permanently exile Michael from the country.
"Michael, stay away from Sung-guk."
"What's it to you, hyung? Don't just stand there pretending to be cool and not getting any screen time. Act like me. That's what the viewers like."
"Michael, what did you just say?"
"Hyung, can't you read the room? The viewers like me and Sung-guk bickering like this. The director will edit it appropriately. If I stand next to Sung-guk with a sad face, they'll probably say, 'Sung-guk has grown up, but Michael is still immature.'"
I felt a chill down my spine. Beomseon, seeing the director behind Michael, quickly bowed. The director looked at Michael with disbelief.
"Michael, let's finish filming properly first."
"Yes, sir!"
Michael replied more enthusiastically than usual. He believed that the established antagonistic relationship between us would never crumble. Just then, the director said firmly,
"Michael, we saved you with editing as you said, and we can kill you with editing too."