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Chapter 43




From 0 to Superstar Chapter 43
Seojun, who had been playing with blocks while waiting for his mother to come, suddenly perked up and sprang to his feet. The teacher, who was wrapping up her work, asked, “What is it, Seojun?”
“It seems like Mom is here!”
“Really? Shall we go out and see?”
Holding the teacher’s hand, they went outside, and sure enough, Seojun’s mother was there.
The teacher, who had thought it was just a child’s tantrum, was surprised to see Seojun, but Seojun was already running to his mother and hugging her.
“Sorry for being late. You need to go home, right?”
“It’s okay. I still have some work to do.”
Seo Eun-hye handed a paper bag to the teacher. It contained snacks she had bought at the airport.
“Here, have this. There were a lot of good things at the airport.”
“Thank you. I’ll enjoy it.”
“Yes. Thank you. Seojun, you should say thank you too.”
“Thank you!”
“Alright, I’ll be going now.”
“Ah, wait a moment. Seojun, Mrs. Teacher.”
The teacher took a flyer from Seojun’s bag and showed it to her. The colorful flyer looked like it was from a kindergarten.
It was filled with pictures of a smiling Santa Claus in a red suit and Rudolph with a red nose.
* * *
“A festival?”
Lee Min-joon, who was placing the marinated crab meat on Seojun’s spoon, tilted his head. Seo Eun-hye recalled the content of the flyer.
“It’s a big children’s festival on Christmas Eve. They sell food, have toys, and there are amusement facilities.”
“That sounds fun. Seojun, do you want to go?”
Seojun, who had been chewing the sweet and salty marinated crab and white rice, nodded.
“Yes!”
“No, no. Wait. That’s not possible, Seojun!”
Seo Eun-chan, who had suddenly visited in the evening and brought marinated and seasoned crab, waved his hand after listening to the conversation between the couple and Seojun.
Seojun and the couple, who were eagerly eating the marinated crab, tilted their heads. Seo Eun-chan pressed his forehead.
“Even if we consider Seojun as still young, do you and your sister-in-law know how famous Seojun is?”
At Seo Eun-chan’s words, Seo Eun-hye and Lee Min-joon’s eyes met. Seo Eun-hye shrugged and replied.
“I know. The first day he went to kindergarten was a complete chaos. The teachers just stood there with their mouths open, the parents didn’t know what to do, and the children cried and threw tantrums because of their parents’ reactions.”
Seo Eun-hye put down the crab shell and shook her head. Seojun nodded and enjoyed the crab meat his father was giving him. It was his first time eating marinated crab, and it was delicious.
“There were a lot of news reports. The horror film surpassed 6 million viewers. There were even reports that Seojun might play William in the U.S. version. Although things have been quiet recently, a few months ago, Seojun’s story appeared on TV every few days.”
Lee Min-joon asked if he should give Seojun some seasoned crab. Seojun nodded. What would seasoned crab taste like? The [Slime’s Digestive Ability] that he couldn’t use for four days while making a talisman was now working vigorously.
“But you’re planning to take Seojun to the children’s festival?”
“Isn’t it more quiet now? The kindergarten teachers seem to have gotten used to it, and they treat him like any other child. The parents also just greet and leave.”
Seo Eun-chan took a deep breath.
“That’s because they’ve seen it before. But at the children’s festival, everyone will be seeing Seojun for the first time. It will be like the first day of kindergarten all over again.”
The first day. Seojun and the couple, who were enjoying the seasoned crab, suddenly had their faces turn serious. They could laugh about it now, but they couldn’t do it again.
Seo Eun-chan shook his head.
“No, it will be even worse. It’s a children’s festival, but will only children Seojun’s age attend? Relatives and grandparents will come too. The shops will be expecting a lot of visitors, and there will be a lot of advertising. Students and college students will come, and it will turn into a big Christmas Eve festival.”
Seojun and the couple swallowed hard.
“Imagine Seojun, you, and your sister-in-law in the middle of all that. It will be like a family of mice in a snake pit.”
The eyes of numerous snakes glinted sharply, and their long tongues flicked. The mice, with their white fangs, clung to each other and trembled.
Seojun, who had suddenly thought of the image, quietly put down his spoon and said.
“...I don’t want to go.”
“Dad agrees.”
“Mom too.”
Seojun and the couple raised their hands. Although it was just Seo Eun-chan’s thought, it seemed like they felt the same way.
A zombie movie they had seen a few days ago came to mind. It wouldn’t be that bad, but with Seojun already famous and going to such a festival without any precautions, an accident could happen.
“Maybe I need the [Firefly’s Bad Luck]?”
Seojun wondered if he should draw a talisman for himself.
Seo Eun-hye sighed.
“Then Seojun can’t go to such festivals anymore? It’s a shame. He should go to such places, make memories, and take pictures.”
“Should we wear a mask?”
“It’s winter, so maybe we can cover up with a hat and scarf?”
Despite not being able to go, the couple suggested various ideas. Seo Eun-chan cleared his throat.
“So, I have a good suggestion...”
“Figures. I thought you brought marinated and seasoned crab as a bribe.”
“Why do you always think the same thing, Eun-chan?”
“Exactly!”
Seojun and the couple nodded as if they had expected it. Seo Eun-chan laughed, feeling a bit embarrassed. Everyone was too sharp.
“We have an outdoor music broadcast on Christmas Eve. How about appearing as a guest? A special appearance!”
“With the seniors?”
“Yes, with the BrownBlack members. You can sing or just come out and say hello. The kids’ dance is too intense, so dancing isn’t an option.”
“Hmm.”
Seojun thought about it. Seo Eun-chan gently smiled and softly coaxed Seojun.
“Seojun, you’ve never been on a live broadcast, right? This is a live broadcast that goes nationwide on a major channel. Plus, there will be a lot of audience.”
“I want to!”
Live broadcast!
When will I get to be on a live broadcast again!
Seo Eun-chan inwardly cheered. He could handle the requests from the PDs who wanted Seojun to appear with the BrownBlack kids, who were always asking to see him.
“Do you want to sing or just say hello?”
“I want to sing!”
Everyone nodded at Seojun’s words, but then they tilted their heads. Seo Eun-chan, who had suggested singing, suddenly wondered if Seojun had ever sung before.
The next day.
Seojun held Seo Eun-chan’s hand and headed to Cocoa Entertainment.
Seojun looked at the three-story building. This is the agency of the top idol group BrownBlack? Seojun frowned.
“It’s small.”
“Ahahaha.”
It was true. BrownBlack had been active for five years, and it was too small to be the agency of an idol group that had been number one for five years.
Seojun tried to think positively. It could be a three-story building. Maybe it’s well-equipped inside.
However, contrary to Seojun’s expectations, the first floor was a restaurant, and the second floor was a taekwondo academy.
The shouts of “One! Two!” echoed up the stairs. Seojun’s expression worsened.
Cocoa Entertainment only used the third floor. What is this? Why is it like this? Seojun’s eyes wavered. Seo Eun-chan sighed inwardly. You shouldn’t judge by appearance...
Seojun cautiously asked as he looked at the main entrance of Cocoa Entertainment.
“Uncle, do you get your salary properly?”
“Yes, it’s coming in well.”
“Do the seniors get theirs properly?”
“They get it according to the contract.”
Did the word “contract” sound particularly loud? Seo Eun-chan sighed and said.
“Seojun, do you remember hearing about a new idol group from our company?”
“Yes, Senior Ye-jun was very excited about getting a junior.”
Two or three years ago. Hwang Ye-jun was so excited that he shouted on the phone. Seojun listened for a bit but then hung up because his ears hurt.
“A lot of money was invested in that idol group, but it failed soon after.”
It was because two out of the five members had criminal records.
When the facts were revealed, the CEO quickly disbanded the group before it affected BrownBlack, the company’s only source of income.
“And a year later, another idol group was formed, but...”
This time, one of the members submitted a song that turned out to be a plagiarism.
Just as they were about to release the music video and the single, the plagiarism allegations surfaced.
It was a song by an unknown indie group abroad, which became known in Korea after gaining popularity on YouTube.
Since BrownBlack’s Hwang Ye-jun and Park Seo-jin also performed original songs, the group was quickly disbanded to avoid further issues.
Since then, the CEO and employees have been hesitant to form new idol groups.
Seo Eun-chan was dissatisfied. Investments needed to continue. They couldn’t just focus on BrownBlack forever.
“The money earned over the years has been spent, leaving nothing for the company.”
“Where do the seniors practice?”
“There is a practice room here, but it’s only used before debut. The facilities are poor, so the seniors used the money they earned to set up a place near their accommodation.”
Seo Eun-chan shook his head. Making the seniors use their own money to set up a practice room made him sigh at the company’s situation.
“Then, why are we here?”
Seojun tilted his head.
If there’s a separate practice room, shouldn’t we go there?
“To get a camera. The camera the seniors use for practice is broken. They’re searching for a good one to buy.”
“Are you going to upload my practice to YouTube?”
“Yes, after the music broadcast. If we upload it now, it won’t be a surprise, right?”
Seojun nodded. A new video will be uploaded to the channel [JUN].
“Seojun!”
“It’s been a while since we’ve seen you in person!”
“You’ve grown so much.”
Inside the clean practice room of a ten-story building, BrownBlack was there. Seojun ran over and hugged Kevin, who lifted him high. Seojun laughed, and the other members also lifted him one by one.
After the lively greetings, they got to the main topic.
“What kind of songs do you like, Seojun?”
“If Seojun is going to sing, maybe a calm song would be good?”
“Definitely, fast songs would be difficult.”
While listening to the songs BrownBlack had uploaded to YouTube, Seojun and the group gradually narrowed down their choices.
Finally, they chose one song. The second mini-album. TODAY.
“It’s calm and good to listen to during Christmas.”
“The lyrics aren’t too difficult, so it’s perfect.”
“Shall we start practicing?”
Lead vocalist Park Seo-jin taught Seojun the song line by line. Seojun tried his best to follow.
“Sing higher here.”
“A bit slower.”
“The lyrics need to be pronounced more accurately.”
Seojun sang according to Park Seo-jin’s instructions, raising his voice to the flowing MR.
How was it? Did I do well? Seojun’s proud face made Park Seo-jin’s eyes widen.
Puff.
Seojun turned his head to see Uncle Chan, who was crouching and trembling in the corner of the practice room.
Looking around, the other seniors were the same. They were covering their mouths, but their eyes were curved.
This is... Seojun’s eyes narrowed.
“Puhaha!”
Seo Eun-chan burst out laughing first, and then BrownBlack started laughing too. Seojun, with a red face, stomped his feet.
“Don’t laugh! Uncle! It’s because it’s my first time!”
“Aha. I should show this to my sister!”
“Yeah, Seojun. It’s because it’s your first time. You’ll do better with practice. You guys, stop laughing!”
Park Seo-jin tried to comfort Seojun, but he couldn’t hear it.
Trying to hold back his laughter, Seojun saw his uncle and seniors struggling. He narrowed his eyes sharply.
I’m going to be a superstar. What can’t I do with singing?
“Seo-jin, play the music.”
Seojun said with a determined face.
There’s only a week left until the live broadcast on Christmas Eve.
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