When will my front tooth come in? Will other baby teeth fall out? Seo Jun, who checks the mirror every day, received a call from Lee Ji-seok.
"Hello, it's Ji-seok hyung."
-Hello, Seo Jun. I saw the movie, and you did really well!
"Hehehe. Thank you. Hyung, thank you for the birthday gift."
Lee Ji-seok gave Seo Jun, as an admission and birthday gift, old movies and their scripts that Seo Jun had never seen before. Both his parents and Seo Jun enjoyed them.
-If you found them interesting, I'm glad. What are you up to these days, Seo Jun?
"After school, I go to a taekwondo academy on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays. On Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Saturdays, I go to a music academy. Starting next month, I'll also attend a hapkido academy. During the summer break, I'll go to a swimming academy."
Seo Jun, sitting on a soft sofa, counted each activity on his fingers. His parents were amazed at his rapidly improving skills, and Seo Jun found it fun.
Seo Jun wanted to learn many things. If he had the time and opportunity, he could learn anything.
He wanted to learn how to ride a horse, but the place to learn was far away. He planned to learn during the holidays.
Besides that, he wanted to learn kendo and foreign languages. He planned to discuss with his parents and learn them slowly without overworking himself.
Lee Ji-seok scratched his cheek, looking at Seo Jun's busy elementary school life.
-Seo Jun, do you know what a cameo is?
"Yes, I do."
-I'm currently filming a drama. Would you like to try it if it's okay?
"Um, but..."
-Why? Are you busy?
"No, it's just..."
Seeing Seo Jun hesitate, Lee Ji-seok suggested they talk about the cameo later and meet for lunch. Seo Jun nodded and made plans with Lee Ji-seok.
Weekend.
Seo Jun, with a new travel bag and a Golem doll given by Kim Hee-sang, went to Cacao Entertainment with his mother.
They decided to meet at Cacao Entertainment for the appointment with Lee Ji-seok.
It was safer than a cafe where people might gather and recognize them. Plus, it was a weekend, so fewer people were working.
Seo Chan, now the CEO, came down to the first floor after receiving the call.
"Ahahaha. Seo Jun, your front tooth fell out? It came out so cleanly."
Seo Chan, greeting Seo Jun, laughed when he saw his completely missing front tooth. Seo Jun pouted at his laughter.
"Ouch!"
"Stop teasing the kid!"
Seo Chan, who was hit hard on the back by Seo Hye, looked around the first floor and asked Seo Chan, who was making a fuss with his sore back.
"Where are the other employees?"
"Only the necessary people are working. There's not much to do lately because of the BrownBlack re-signing. We have trainees, but they're practicing in the basement. It's not a problem, so don't worry."
"Got it. This is a snack for the employees. Seo Jun, I'll come to pick you up later. I'll call you."
"Okay!"
After Seo Hye left, Seo Jun looked around the first floor and marveled. The building was completely different from the old, shabby one. Cacao Entertainment, now under a new CEO, was using the entire five-story building, thanks to the investment funds Seo Jun willingly provided.
"Uncle, the company is huge."
"Better than before, right? It seems empty because we only have BrownBlack as artists, but we have to start again!"
Seo Chan held Seo Jun's hand and guided him through Cacao Entertainment.
"It used to be a building for another agency, so we only remodeled a bit. There was a practice room in the basement, but it was small and old, so we completely changed it. It's a brand new practice room, so BrownBlack often comes to practice. The first floor is for guests. There's a meeting room and a lounge. There's also a room for storing various things."
They slowly toured from the first to the fifth floor. On the fifth floor was Seo Chan's office, where there were photos of BrownBlack and Seo Jun on one wall. Seo Jun understood why the BrownBlack members' photos were there since Cacao Entertainment was their agency. But,
"Why is my photo here?"
If it was the 'Angel' photo, he would have understood, as people often carried it like a talisman in their phone galleries or held it in their hands.
However, the photo stuck here was taken by a photographer who captured stills when Seo Jun appeared in a spirit movie.
The red martial arts uniform was spread wide by the strong wind, and Seo Jun was looking at one side with a serious expression.
On a pitch-black background, a yellowish goblin aura visible only in Seo Jun's eyes was captured. If the aura were expressed in CG, it would be a perfect poster for the spirit movie.
"Ahahaha. Why is this here?"
Seo Chan quickly stood in front of the photo to hide it, sweating. He planned to put it on the first floor wall when Seo Jun came to Cacao Entertainment. He also planned to hang a photo of Jin Natha from Shadowman 2.
Seo Jun narrowed his eyes and looked at Seo Chan. Seo Chan quickly turned Seo Jun around and led him out of the office.
'I was trying to seduce him little by little, but it didn't work!'
Well, since he gave the investment funds, he's half of Cacao Entertainment, right? Seo Hye would say that's one thing and this is another. Seo Jun would probably think the same way. Seo Chan sighed.
"Come on, it's almost time for the appointment. Let's go to the first-floor meeting room!"
"Suspicious. Uncle."
Seo Jun's meaningful gaze wouldn't leave him. Seo Chan quickly put Seo Jun in the elevator and went down to the first floor.
I can guess what he's thinking. Seo Jun scratched his cheek.
I mean, other agencies are unfamiliar. But Cacao Entertainment doesn't have any actors.
He was also discussing with his parents. Cacao Entertainment, where he knew people, or another agency with experience in managing actors. The agency where Lee Ji-seok belonged was also on the list.
After a family meeting, they agreed that since he's still a child, it would be better to go to a place where he can trust the people.
Since Seo Hye is there and he provided the investment funds, they wouldn't just give him any job. That was Min Jun's opinion. Seo Hye nodded in agreement, and so did Seo Jun.
'Uncle is really scared of my mom.'
Now, he regularly contacts his grandmother and goes home properly.
[First floor.]
The elevator stopped. Seo Chan led Seo Jun to the meeting room.
He gave Seo Jun a glass of orange juice from the lounge and sat in front of him, watching his reaction.
"So, have you decided on an agency?"
"Hmm."
Since his parents said it was okay to tell his uncle, Seo Jun spoke.
"Yep!"
"Really?! Where?"
"Cacao Entertainment."
"Wow!"
Seo Chan, understanding a beat later, raised both hands.
Hooray! The big catch he had been eyeing finally came into his hands.
With top idol BrownBlack and superstar Seo Jun, Cacao Entertainment would be a proud agency wherever they went!
"But."
Seo Chan, who was cheering, stopped when Seo Jun spoke. Seo Jun shrugged and continued.
"I'll be with Uncle's company until I become a high school student. After that, I'll go to the agency that takes the best care of me."
Seo Jun as a high school student.
Seo Chan, lost in thought, spoke.
"…If you like our care?"
"Then I'll continue working with Uncle."
Honestly, his parents thought the probability was high.
Even if he starts managing actors for the first time, they have nine years to adjust. In that time, any new agency could perfectly care for Seo Jun.
Moreover, he wasn't an unknown child actor who had to submit resumes and do marketing. Seo Jun, who could sit still and receive scripts and synopses from various sources.
"The fact that work comes in even if I sit still could be a reason for complacency."
Seo Jun nodded at Seo Chan's words. That was also why other agencies were eliminated.
If they treat him casually thinking he's already caught, it would be harmful to both Seo Jun and the agency.
Moreover, there are agencies that often cause trouble in the name of their actors, regardless of the actors' opinions.
Seo Chan nodded. He brought A4 paper and a pen from the corner of the meeting room and sat in front of Seo Jun. Seo Jun, seeing Seo Chan's unusually serious expression, pulled his chair closer.
"Any other conditions?"
"I'll seriously consider dramas or movies proposed by Cacao Entertainment, but I won't do them if I don't like them."
"Okay."
"New actors shouldn't be forced into roles."
"Force… Did your sister say that?"
"No. Ji-seok hyung taught me."
He had already sought advice from everyone he knew, including BrownBlack, Lee Ji-seok, and people in the Korean and American entertainment industries.
Should he go until adulthood? The family, who were considering this, decided on the middle school limit based on their advice. They said that more suitable roles would be available from high school, so it would be necessary to have agency care from then on.
Seo Chan, scratching his head with a pen, nodded. Lee Ji-seok, indeed. Many people must have advised on this. Seo Chan, thinking about Seo Jun's network, swallowed.
"Got it. No forcing, and next?"
"Overseas movie contracts should be handled separately."
"Okay. I didn't even think about that."
Hollywood, indeed. He hadn't thought about it. Seo Jun told Seo Chan about the matters he and his parents had decided. Many of the contents prioritized Seo Jun's opinions over money.
Whether he does a few works a year or not, he can do what he wants and take breaks if he wants. His parents proposed conditions for Seo Jun from one to ten, not knowing when he might want to do something else.
"Renewal after middle school graduation."
"Got it. Is that all?"
"I think I've said everything."
"Then I'll write up the contract and take it home. We'll discuss it with my sister and brother-in-law then."
"Okay!"
"Oh, right. What time is the appointment?"
He was so focused on unexpected talk that he didn't even notice the time. Seo Jun and Seo Chan looked at the clock in the meeting room. Fortunately, there were still 20 minutes until the appointment.
"Since there's time, do you want to look at the scripts that have come in?"
"More came in?"
"There are many scripts and synopses. It's just that not many are being produced. Lately, the number has increased due to web dramas."
"Sure, I'll read them!"
"I hope you find something you like this time. But, you can't do it even if you like it because of your front tooth, right?"
"Uncle!"
"Ahahaha."
Lee Ji-seok and his manager Yoon Sung-oh arrived at Cacao Entertainment.
"Completely different from the photos?"
Cacao Entertainment had completely changed in just a few months after the new CEO took over. It was clearly different from the old building that had appeared in news and internet articles.
"The CEO changed, and investment funds came in, so everything changed. They hired more employees."
The office was spacious and clean. They hired new employees and selected talented and attractive trainees.
The employee guiding them smiled and said that the trainees, who were surprised to see Lee Ji-seok, were part of a group that would debut in a few months.
When Lee Ji-seok waved, the trainees, who were about to go to the convenience store to buy snacks, bowed and disappeared into the practice room like a flock of sparrows.
Lee Ji-seok and Yoon Sung-oh, guided by the employee, opened the door to the first-floor meeting room.
Seo Jun, who was flipping through the scripts given by his uncle, greeted them. They arrived right on time.
"Ji-seok hyung! Sung-oh hyung! Hello!"
"Phuh. That's why you were hesitating."
Lee Ji-seok couldn't hold back his laughter at Seo Jun's missing front tooth. Seeing his cute, charismatic, and cool appearance, it was understandable that this ordinary look felt awkward, but Seo Jun fit it perfectly like a mischievous child. Yoon Sung-oh also covered his mouth to hold back his laughter.
Seo Jun, looking displeased, said. It was the second time today.
"My pronunciation is also off."
"I couldn't tell over the phone?"
"The wind keeps escaping from this side. They say the others will fall out too. Really! I won't be able to do serious acting until my permanent teeth come in."
"That's true."
Lee Ji-seok, smiling, sat down. Yoon Sung-oh also sat next to him.
Lee Ji-seok took out a stack of papers from his bag and gave them to Seo Jun. They were the scripts and synopses of the drama he was in.
"Is this the script?"
"Yeah. What do you think?"
[Reinvestigation]
The title alone felt like a detective drama.
Seo Jun flipped through the script. Around the middle, there were parts marked with a highlighter and post-it notes, as if Lee Ji-seok had done it. It was about