Chapter 19
I started clapping and singing, "Happy birthday to you. Happy birthday to you. Happy birthday, dear Kim Manager."
My mom and dad joined in for the rest of the song. Dad quickly placed a cake on the table, which had only one candle.
"You should light the candle, honey."
"Oh… okay."
Dad hastily lit the candle. Kim Mi-young looked at my parents with surprise.
"Manager, you mentioned in passing that your birthday was a week after Sung-guk's first birthday, and you were happy to celebrate it together. You said you never really celebrated your own birthday, so celebrating with Sung-guk felt like your own."
[Ah, so that's why she brought meat to my first birthday.]
I had been curious about Kim Mi-young's behavior that day. Now, it made sense.
"Well, thank you…"
Kim Mi-young's voice trailed off.
[Why are you so touched by something so small? That cake is from the bakery across the street, it's nothing special.]
I shrugged. My hand was already reaching for the bossam.
[It really does taste like home.]
I put a piece of the tender bossam Dad had cooked into my mouth and chewed.
"Manager, make a wish and blow out the candle."
"Thank you so much, both of you. And Sung-guk too."
[Of course, you should be grateful. My modeling fee isn't a joke, and I even sang for you. Kim Manager, be loyal from now on.]
Kim Mi-young closed her eyes and blew out the candle. At the same time, Mom and Dad applauded loudly. Min-guk giggled, oblivious to what was happening. I shoved a milk bottle into Min-guk's mouth.
[You and I should keep quiet and eat, that's how we help Mom and Dad. Got it, Jeon Min-guk?]
As if understanding my words, Min-guk hugged the milk bottle and drank.
"Manager, eat up."
"Thank you. After my parents passed away, my friends used to celebrate with me, but after I got married, it's hard to even see their faces. I gave up on birthdays a long time ago…"
"Manager, we'll celebrate for you from now on."
"Thank you for saying so. Let's eat."
Everyone started eating. As Mom and Dad had a few drinks, they started telling silly stories about who made the first move in their relationship, and who was more popular before they got married.
[Sigh, these 20-somethings are still kids.]
I rolled over and patted Min-guk's belly, who was dozing off after finishing his milk.
[You little competitor, go to sleep. If you sleep early, I can sleep in Mom's arms tonight.]
Pat, pat. Min-guk's eyes closed. His dark eyelashes fluttered, and his small nose and pouting lips were quite cute.
[He's kind of cute?]
I snapped out of it. This guy could become a rival for all the wealth I've accumulated.
[Snap out of it, Jeon Sung-guk.]
While Mom and Dad went to buy more beer, Kim Mi-young and I were left alone. Min-guk was asleep, so he didn't count. Kim Mi-young's eyes were a little red. Then she looked at me intently.
"Sung-guk."
[What?]
"To be honest, I really didn't like your parents at first. They were young and irresponsible, having kids while living in a small one-room apartment. I wondered what they were going to do with the kids."
[I thought so too.]
I nodded vigorously.
"But your parents are really good people. They're poor, but they don't waste money, and they save all the money you earn. Sung-guk, you have really good parents."
Kim Mi-young confided in me when no one else was around. Of course, I understood everything she said. When I was first born into this poor family, all I saw was despair. Parents from an orphanage living in a five-pyeong one-room apartment. A futureless kitchen assistant. Korea wasn't a land of opportunity anymore. The spoon you were born with determined your entire life, and their future was predictable. That's life, that's reality. But they were different. They embraced me with love and treated me with sincerity. Is this what real parents are like? I was lost in thought. Kim Mi-young, slightly tipsy, poked my cheek.
"Sung-guk, let's only be happy from now on. Don't forget me."
[Of course, I won't forget you. Kim Manager, I have a principle. I never betray the people who reach out to me first. You're the only one besides my parents who reached out to me first. Let's work together in the future. Our beginning may be humble, but our end will be glorious. Just you wait.]
I held out my little hand. Kim Mi-young, not understanding what I meant, grabbed my hand tightly.
[Contract complete!]
I smiled brightly.
Jeon Sung-guk, the exclusive model for Samjeon Electronics! Groundbreaking treatment! He was on the front page of various daily newspapers. In this era, you could tell who was popular by looking at the newspaper stands. My name was clearly written there. Mom happily stroked my hair as she looked at the sports newspaper with my name on it.
"Sung-guk, Mom will keep this safe. When you learn to read, Mom will show you the front page of the sports newspaper."
[I can read now. And there will be bigger articles in the future, Mom. Not scandals, though.]
I smiled gently.
"Alright, Sung-guk, we have a photoshoot today. Let's get ready."
Okay! Mom quickly washed my face and dressed me.
"Sung-guk is growing so fast, we need to buy him some new clothes. He'll have to give these to Min-guk soon."
Mom mumbled, noticing the pajamas riding up my wrists. Just then, there was a knock on the door.
"Oh, it must be Manager Kim."
Mom quickly opened the door. Kim Mi-young came in with a big shopping bag.
"Sung-guk's mom, dress Sung-guk in these."
"What are these?"
"We got some baby clothes as sponsorship. There are no conditions like broadcast exposure or anything, so I brought a few pieces."
I quickly crawled towards the shopping bag. Mom, when I was a chaebol, I was a fashionista. I was even chosen as one of the best-dressed business executives.
"Oof!"
I used all my strength to turn the shopping bag upside down. The clothes were in a French chic style, which suited my taste. I picked out a T-shirt and jeans.
[Mom, I'll wear these.]
Mom quickly picked me up.
"Manager, can he really wear these?"
"I checked a few times, and they said it's just a sponsorship. They don't mind if Sung-guk gets photographed wearing them, but it's not required."
I quickly checked the brand. Petit Cuchon. Baby pig? I'll remember that.
"It's perfect, we needed to buy Sung-guk some clothes anyway."
Mom quickly dressed me in the clothes I had picked out.
"Sung-guk has good taste in clothes."
Kim Mi-young patted my back.
"Oh, and Sung-guk's mom, I think the photoshoot today will be with the 'Just' members."
"Really?"
Mom's eyes sparkled. She was the most disappointed after the 'Just' photoshoot ended.
"Sung-guk's mom, you're excited to see Beom-seon, aren't you?"
"Is it that obvious? Beom-seon is such a genuine and handsome person."
Mom's lips kept curling up. Mom was a woman too.
[Mom, I'll introduce you to even more amazing people in the future. Keep your composure.]
I patted Mom's back.
It was the Samjeon Electronics photoshoot location I had visited six months ago. In the meantime, my status had changed. I had my own waiting room with a sign that said 'Jeon Sung-guk' and it was filled with my favorite fruits and snacks. Mom held out a banana.
"Sung-guk, want a banana?"
"No."
I shook my head. I couldn't afford to have a puffy face before the photoshoot.
"Sung-guk, you need to eat something before the shoot."
[Mom, I'm a professional. I need to look gaunt for the photos.]
Min-guk, who had come along for the photoshoot, was busy eating snacks. Knock, knock, knock. The 'Just' members entered the waiting room.
"Sung-guk!"
Lucas, who had gotten even more muscular, rushed in and picked me up.
"Sung-guk, you've gotten so heavy."
[Of course. I'm 15 kilograms now.]
Tae-hyung, the leader, quickly picked me up.
"Jeon Sung-guk, you lucky charm. Sung-guk, the song you picked,
[No need to thank me.]
I shrugged. Lucas pinched my cheek.
"This little guy is so smug. Sung-guk, didn't you miss us?"
I smiled vaguely. Smiling was the best way to avoid answering awkward questions.
"You missed us, didn't you?"
"Yeah!"
[There, I answered. Are you happy now?]
Beom-seon took me from Lucas.
"Sung-guk, you're really heavy now. Since you helped us get number one, what do you want us to buy you?"
[How about some land and stocks?]
"What are you babbling about, you little rascal?"
Jae-hyun, who had gotten even prettier, leaned in. An assistant director came in.
"We'll start rehearsals in 30 minutes."
"Okay!"
I raised my hand along with Just. Tae-hyun, as the leader, explained today's shoot to my mom.
"Did you see the storyboard, ma'am?"
"Yes."
"The concept is that we're playing with Sung-guk and making a mess in the living room, and then we clean it up with the Samjeon Electronics vacuum cleaner."
"Please take good care of Sung-guk."
"We need to make a good impression on Sung-guk. Thanks to him, we're shooting this commercial."
I nodded. Since I had signed the exclusive modeling contract first, and then 'Just' signed with them, this was all thanks to me. But Michael was nowhere to be seen.
"Where's Michael?"
Kim Mi-young, reading my mind, asked about Michael.
"Actually, Michael decided to leave 'Just'."
Really? That was surprising. In my memory, Michael had left 'Just' after their third album.
"He said his musical direction didn't match ours, so he discussed it with the company and decided to leave. The announcement will be next week. The commercial is for next month, so we'll be shooting it without him."
"Oh, that's a shame."
Mom was disappointed.
[Mom, we don't need Michael.]
I felt relieved, like a thorn had been removed. One of the most important things for Korean business executives and celebrities was morality. Michael was lacking in that department.
"Wow, it's been a while!"
Director Kwak, who had directed my first Samjeon Electronics commercial, came to hug me. He had grown a beard and gained some weight.
[Director, even though you're behind the camera, you should go on a diet.]
"Sung-guk, you're still so talkative."
"Hello."
I bowed politely to the director with my three-year-old lisp.
"Wow, your vocabulary has really grown."
The director's eyes landed on Min-guk, who was crawling around.
"Is this Sung-guk's younger brother?"
"Yes, this is Min-guk."
"He looks good too, just like his parents."
[Director, not as good as me, though.]
"You should get him into this business when he's older."
The director chuckled as he looked at Min-guk. I looked at Min-guk, who was sucking on a snack. He didn't have the same star quality as me. He looked a bit dim-witted, but he was cute when he smiled. He didn't have my star power, but he could probably make a decent baby model. Can someone with a bad brain survive on their looks?
"Hmm."
As I stroked my chin, Director Kwak looked at me with surprise.
"Sung-guk, can you do that pose again?"
This one? I stroked my chin and made a serious face.
"Yes, that one! Sung-guk, can you do that pose in front of the camera later?"
[Are you kidding me, director? I'm Jeon Sung-guk.]
Director Kwak's voice grew louder.
"That pose would be perfect when we're showing the messy living room. Alright, we'll start shooting in 10 minutes. Everyone, get ready!"
The director quickly left the waiting room. I looked in the mirror and stroked my chin with my fingers.
[I'm confident about this.]
This was actually my signature pose from my chaebol days. This photo, taken during a hearing in my chaebol days, was once all over the internet. Thinking Chairman Jeon Sung-guk, Smiling Chairman Jeon Sung-guk, Chairman Jeon Sung-guk applying lip balm, etc. My pose was once a meme with various silly captions. I looked in the mirror one last time and struck my signature pose.
[Perfect as always. Let's start shooting!]