While Seojun was playing to his heart's content with Jack, Se-eunchan arrived in Korea first and began preparing for Seojun's entry.
Despite the enthusiastic crowd and the constant stream of calls, Se-eunchan and Cocoa Entertainment grew increasingly anxious as the day of Seojun's arrival approached.
"Please, just like when he left! Please!"
Se-eunchan kept praying. The airport security and bodyguards who had experienced the departure with Seojun also prayed deeply.
Just be quiet for that moment.
And the day of Seojun's arrival.
Seeing the crowd gathering at the airport, Se-eunchan involuntarily turned to the heavens. The Cocoa Entertainment employees who came to the airport also called out to the heavens. "Blue Dragon, Blue Dragon, please."
"Those aren't all people waiting for Seojun, right?"
"I wish they were people leaving!"
It seemed that their prayers were in vain. Even before the plane arrived, the airport was bustling.
Unusually large cameras were set up at the arrival gate and nearby. Se-eunchan's face turned pale as he saw the names of the broadcasting stations attached to the cameras.
"That's...?"
"Yes, that one."
Team leader Kim Suyeon nodded, immediately understanding Se-eunchan's thoughts.
"...We agreed to broadcast it live, but maybe it would have been better not to?"
"Still, he would have come, right?"
Indeed. Se-eunchan, who inwardly agreed with Team Leader Kim Suyeon, muttered to himself, wiping his face.
"Why are there so many people?"
"Seojun is now 8 years old. If this is how it is this year, what kind of movie will he star in next year, and how much will it succeed? What about when he's 10, 13? The older he gets, the more famous he will become, to a degree we can't even imagine."
Team Leader Kim Suyeon spoke, recalling the posts on Seojun's fan cafe and website.
Voices were heard from all around. People from the fan cafe were shouting out things to be careful about.
"Don't shout to surprise Seojun! The flash will blind him, so don't use it! Don't push the fence! There! Don't push!"
"We are watching his growth. 48 hours, CF ads, William, Ahring, Jin Natra. Perhaps we are witnessing the growth of an actor who is writing a history that everyone in the world will hear at least once. Like a legendary singer whose name will be remembered 100 years from now, a superstar."
This was the sentiment of the people gathered here and those watching the live broadcast on television.
"Since this is the young Seojun, and he is growing up with us, who wouldn't be curious about what he looks like in real life?"
Se-eunchan looked at the bustling airport, seeing people waiting for Seojun with eager faces.
"...They seem to be too excited."
Se-eunchan suddenly thought of the stories of geniuses who had disappeared, feeling the burden of people's expectations.
The plane from LA arrived.
As the text appeared on the screen, the airport buzzed.
After a while, the door to the arrival gate opened.
"Wow!"
A loud cheer echoed through the airport as a Korean actor, who had been laughing and chatting with famous Hollywood actors, appeared. The cheers were far more intense than when he left, and Seojun quickly used his ability.
[(Pre) Calming apple blossom scent activated.]
[(Pre) Elf's basic breathing activated.]
A sweet scent wafted through the air, and his breathing steadied.
As the excited crowd calmed down and felt a sense of peace, the gathered people became quiet.
Although more people were unaffected by the ability, they all seemed to remember the fans' behavior during the departure and kept their mouths shut, clapping with happy faces.
Seeing this, Se-eunchan, the Cocoa Entertainment staff, and Andaho felt relieved. The bodyguards and airport security also sighed in relief, maintaining their vigilance.
'But I have one more ability prepared...'
Seeing the quiet crowd, it seemed he wouldn't need to use it. Seojun smiled and waved to the people.
The live broadcast camera kept rolling, showing Seojun and the gathered crowd.
People who had been worried while watching the television, seeing the noisy and crowded scene, were amazed by the now calm and orderly crowd.
-He's out! Silence!
-Even with so many people, they are united! Indeed, these are Seojun's fans!
-It's really amazing! π
A small platform was set up, as it had been during the departure. Seojun, who climbed up, picked up the microphone. Flashes went off from all around.
Amidst the sound of applause, Seojun's voice echoed.
"Hello, I am actor Seojun."
Clap, clap, clap!
The actor who had made his name known to the world, Seojun, had returned.
[KBC, Interview with Actor Seojun!]
[MBS, Asking Hollywood Star Seojun!]
[SBC, Seojun 'Thank you to everyone who voted']
* * *
"Mr. Andaho! Here's today's script!"
A 2nd team employee handed a small box to Andaho.
After the interviews with the three broadcasting stations, which were done as a memorial for the award, Seojun took a short break.
What was supposed to be a short break gradually extended to a full year. However, even after a year of hiatus, scripts continued to pour in for Seojun.
Movies, movies, dramas, dramas, dramas.
Andaho, who was roughly looking through the scripts, nodded.
Strangely, as Seojun became famous, the number of works featuring child actors increased. At first, some works were hastily created to feature Seojun but were scrapped halfway through.
However, as some works became hits with excellent child actors, child actors like Choi Min-young and Lee Da-jin found their place.
This fact made Andaho and the 2nd team employees feel a pang of regret.
That success could have been our actor's success!
The probability of this script working out was low, and a 2nd team employee, who had been reassigned, asked with a sigh.
"Will this one not work out either??"
The 2nd team, which was Seojun's dedicated team, had nothing to do as his break extended, so they were assigned to take care of the new group 'White' from Brownblack.
After a few months, as White found their place, new employees were hired to take care of the five White members.
With the increased staff, if Seojun started his activities again, the 2nd team could regroup and become his dedicated team.
"We need a script that Seojun likes."
"Exactly. When will such a script appear?"
"Take it easy. Idols have little downtime with events and various performances, but for actors, a year is the norm."
"Ha. Indeed, Brownblack was always busy. Even during the break, they were busy making the next album. Since this is the first time our company has had an actor, the long break feels awkward."
The employee nodded, recalling the various actors Andaho had seen at other companies. Andaho, who had taken the script, stood up.
* * *
"Brother! You're here?"
Andaho looked at Seojun. Seojun, who had lost a bit of his baby fat, had grown into a handsome young boy.
His baby teeth, which had been sparse, had fallen out, and his permanent teeth had come in. Although some of his less visible baby teeth had fallen out and his permanent teeth had not yet come in, Seojun was pleased with his neat front teeth.
Seeing that his round head was closer than before, it was clear that he had grown taller.
One year.
It had been a year since the WTV Film Festival ended. Seojun, who was in the first grade, would be in the third grade after this winter break.
Andaho handed the box to Seojun and entered the house. Seojun, smiling widely, took out a script from the box. From the way he easily carried the five thick scripts, it was clear he was strong.
"Brother, do you want something to drink?"
"Do you have juice?"
"Sure!"
Seojun trotted off to the kitchen.
Andaho looked around Seojun's house, which he was now familiar with.
On one side of the living room, a trophy in the shape of a popcorn box was displayed on a clean shelf. In front of it was a photo of Seojun, the Shadowman team, the couple, Se-eunchan, and Andaho, all smiling. It was a photo that made his heart race every time he saw it.
"Brother, here's the juice!"
"Thanks."
The two sat down in their respective spots. Seojun read the script, and Andaho also took out another script to read.
Occasionally, there were evaluations of the director, writer, and production staff that the employee had researched.
Most of it was gossip, but a few percent of the truth was hidden in the tabloids, rumors gathered from various places while handling Brownblack. Production companies and directors with the worst evaluations were excluded, but those with uncertain rumors were marked as such.
'Not today?'
Seojun quietly read through the last script. Andaho had thought this one had a good chance.
Because the writer of the drama script Seojun was reading was So Eun-jin, the writer of the re-investigation, in which Seojun had appeared as a cameo, and the director was Choi Min-sung, who had directed the re-investigation.
'The production company is also good.'
Cocoa Entertainment's evaluation was 4 stars. It was an evaluation of the non-artistic aspects of the production.
The success of the re-investigation, the writer and director are confirmed, plus. Seojun's positive evaluation of the cameo, plus. The experience of working with Seojun, plus.
The broadcasting station and the co-stars were not yet decided, so one star was deducted.
Depending on the co-stars, it could be a plus or a minus.
Seojun read through the script.
It wasn't the entire script, but the scenes Seojun would appear in were clearly written. He checked the synopsis and read the script again. Hmm, hmm.
"This is good!"
"Really?"
Andaho, who had been sighing inwardly, perked up and asked. Seojun smiled.
Se-eunhye and Lee Min-joon were also worried about Seojun's extended break. Hearing about the busy life of Brownblack, they were concerned about Seojun's relaxed life without any work.
Is he losing interest in acting? Should we find something new for him? They could see him worrying about it. Even if Seojun said he wasn't, they were clearly worried. After all, actors like Richelle Hill, Evan Block, and