Superstar From Age 0

Chapter 15

“Wow, it’s increasing again.”

Choi Si-yoon said as he refreshed the channel [JUN].

Every time he refreshed the channel [JUN] with his latest model of FinePad, the subscribers increased by dozens.

Kevin and Hwang Ye-jun, who were sitting in front of the computer, also browsed through various sites in the US and Korea, looking into the channel [JUN] and the Elephant milk formula.

They had heard from their manager, seo Eun-chan, that the baby they were going to film a variety show with, ‘Lee Seo-jun’, had starred in an Elephant milk formula commercial.

“[Wow, the ad effect is amazing, right? Everyone is desperate to get it. This shopping mall is sold out too, which means almost all the products that came out in the world are sold out, right? Wow. How can it be so effective? It just looks like a normal ad to me… There must be some message or something in the ad that I don’t know, for the parents to react like this.]”

“Kevin, you’re speaking in English again! Doctor! Doctor Park Seo-jin!”

Hwang Ye-jun shouted, looking at Kevin, who was mumbling at a frightening speed – and in English. Hwang Ye-jun, who was teased by the members for being poor in Korean, let alone English.

Sitting separately, Park Seo-jin, who had been taking notes on parenting books such as [The Only Thing You Need to Know to Be a Parenting Master!], [What You Need for an 8-10 Month Old Baby], [How to Make Your Baby a Genius], etc., looked at Hwang Ye-jun with a face full of dark circles.

“We’re filming in three days. Instead of looking at useless things, read this book.”

Hwang Ye-jun, who was shaking his head, quietly turned off the computer and took the book.

“I get sleepy when I read books…”

“It’s okay. Half of it is pictures.”

Park Seo-jin, the leader who had the meticulousness to choose a book that suited Hwang Ye-jun’s level. Hwang Ye-jun looked at the book title.

[Fairy Tales for Babies Under 12 Months].

“Practice so that you can read it without interruption, and tell it as a story.”

“Got it.”

Choi Si-yoon, who was sitting next to Hwang Ye-jun, who started reading the fairy tale book, put down his FinePad and headed towards Park Seo-jin.

“Seo-jin hyung. What should I do?”

“You… [Kevin. Give me the card!]”

Kevin, who was analyzing the Elephant milk formula ad, took out a card from his kangaroo pocket and threw it.

Park Seo-jin, who was used to receiving the card, handed it to Choi Si-yoon.

“You go to the nearest big mart and buy some toys that the babies will like. He’s eight months old and a boy. Got it?”

“Of course I do. What’s the limit?”

“None.”

“Okay! I’ll be back!”

“But…”

Choi Si-yoon, who was excited to look around the new products in the electronics corner of the big mart, stiffened as he heard Park Seo-jin’s faint voice.

“If Seo-jun doesn’t like the toys, you won’t be able to use your precious electronics for a while.”

“…How long?”

Park Seo-jin smiled sweetly like an idol in front of the fans, with a fierce glint in his eyes.

Choi Si-yoon felt goosebumps as if he had seen the devil’s smile.

“For life?”

Park Seo-jin. The leader of the group [Brown Black], who had not even debuted yet, was staking the group’s life on this filming.

***

“Good! Installation done!”

Uncle Chan said.

He had come home early in the morning and installed black cameras everywhere, in the living room, the room, and the kitchen.

“Here and here. And here too. I installed them all.”

“Why do we have to tell them? We won’t be here anyway.”

“The landlord should know too.”

Seo Eun-chan shrugged his shoulders and answered Seo Eun-hye’s question. Then he picked up his phone and made a call.

“Hey, it’s me. Are you ready?”

-Yes! Just a moment!

Park Seo-jin, who received Seo Eun-chan’s call, looked at the members who were staring at him in front of him.

This was Seo-jun’s house, the apartment parking lot.

Four men were sitting in a car with dark tinted windows, half nervous and half clueless.

Seo Eun-chan said over the phone.

-Come up when you’re ready. Don’t forget the camera.

“Yes!”

The call ended. Park Seo-jin lifted his head from the blackened screen.

The four of them had each gone through a long trainee life and wandered around different places before settling down at Cocoa Entertainment.

They had experienced many frustrations and failures. They had no more places to go, so they all thought this debut was their last chance.

“This could be our last chance. It’s different from the other companies that kept scamming us and delaying our debut. There are hardly any places that would give us such an opportunity, even though we haven’t debuted yet.”

Park Seo-jin said to the members as if he was making a vow.

“Let’s do our best, everyone!”

He opened the car door that was tightly locked.

***

“Hello! We are Brown Black!”

The four men bowed 90 degrees to the couple.

Seo-jun, who was in his dad’s arms, clapped his hands at their spirit, and Seo Eun-hye and Lee Min-jun stepped back with cold sweat.

Seo Eun-chan expressed his pride with a look of seeing his well-grown child.

“Br, brown Black?”

“Yes, brother-in-law. We decided on our group name. You can shorten it to B. B. You can also call us BuBl (bubble) Isn’t it nice?”

“Uh… Is it? Nice to meet you. I’m Seo-jun’s dad, Lee Min-jun.”

Lee Min-jun greeted the four men with an awkward smile. Seo Eun-hye also greeted them.

“Nice to meet you. I’m Seo-jun’s mom, seo Eun-hye.”

“She’s my sister.”

The members nodded at Seo Eun-chan’s words. She was the main character of the loud phone call. She was a plain beauty, unlike the fierce-looking Seo Eun-chan.

“Hello! I’m the leader of Brown Black, Park Seo-jin.”

“I’m the rapper, Kevin Kim.”

“I’m the sub-vocal, hwang Ye-jun.”

“I’m the dancer and the youngest, choi Si-yoon.”

They bowed 90 degrees again. It was getting uncomfortable.

Lee Min-jun quickly led them to their seats. There was not enough space on the sofa, so they all sat on the living room floor.

There were fruits and snacks on the table, but Brown Black was stiff as if they were in a difficult situation, and they couldn’t even look at the refreshments, let alone move.

In the awkward atmosphere, seo Eun-hye opened her mouth.

“Are there no other people?”

She thought there would be a production team like a TV show, but it didn’t seem like it. Seo Eun-chan shook his head.

“I don’t plan to do anything big. Just something small. The camera is already installed and recording, and the rest of the filming is done by me and… Just a moment…”

Seo Eun-chan got up from his seat and made a phone call somewhere.

As their manager Seo Eun-chan left his seat, brown Black wondered if they should get up or not.

“Yes, yes, it’s the 12th floor. Yes, room 5.”

He had a brief conversation with someone and hung up the phone.

“They’ve arrived.”

At the same time, the doorbell rang. Seo Eun-chan opened the door, and a woman with short hair and a large bag was standing there.

“Hello.”

Seo Eun-hye and Lee Min-jun, who were sitting down, also got up and greeted her. Seo-jun, who was in his father’s arms, also said hello.

Brown Black, who didn’t know what to do, also got up and bowed to the new guest.

“Hello.”

“Nice to meet you.”

“This is Dr. Kim Hwa-ryeon, a pediatrician. She’s also the head of our company’s PR team.”

“I’m Kim Hwa-ryeon.”

Seo Eun-hye and Lee Min-jun’s eyes widened.

“What? You brought a pediatrician for the filming?”

“Seo-jun is going to film with strangers for 48 hours without his mom and dad. Don’t you think you and your brother would feel relieved? I’m his uncle, but I think we need a doctor to be worry-free.”

Seo Eun-hye was amazed by her brother’s deep thoughts.

“I didn’t know you were so thoughtful. I’m impressed.”

“Kuku-hm.”

Seo Eun-chan coughed and turned his gaze. It was where Brown Black’s members were.

Seo Eun-hye, Lee Min-jun, and Seo-jun also looked that way.

As the people’s eyes were focused on them, the four of them felt awkward and flinched.

“It wasn’t me, it was Seo Jin.”

“Well, of course.”

“No, sis!”

Seo Eun-hye’s expression changed. Her brother was still immature after all.

Lee Min-jun, who was used to the siblings’ quarrel, ignored it and approached the man who introduced himself as Park Seo-jin.

He was touched by Park Seo-jin’s consideration and delicacy for the baby and his parents.

Besides, he was an idol – although he hadn’t debuted yet – but he seemed to care for the baby and didn’t wear any accessories or makeup.

There was a lot of luggage that Brown Black brought at the entrance. Looking at the items that popped out of the bag, it seemed like they had studied a lot about the baby.

He felt like he could trust them with Seo-jun.

“Thank you.”

“You’re welcome!”

“Now, do you want to hold Seo-jun?”

Lee Min-jun lifted Seo-jun from his arms and handed him over to Park Seo-jin.

Park Seo-jin, who had never seen such a young baby around him, trembled his hands and carefully held Seo-jun.

“Hello!”

‘It’s a bit uncomfortable…’

Seeing the expressions of Park Seo-jin and the other three people who were holding him, he decided to hold back from crying. They looked so unhappy.

Lee Min-jun adjusted Park Seo-jin’s posture.

“Don’t hug him like that, it will make Seo-jun uncomfortable. Put your arm inside like this…”

Seo-jun smiled brightly as his dad coached him to a comfortable position.

He was used to being hugged by the same people every day, but it felt different to be hugged by a stranger.

“Kyaaah!”

“Teacher Kim Hwa-ryeon!”

“[Doctor! Doctor!]”

“Why! Why is this happening?!”

“Eek eek!”

Brown Black was in chaos at the baby’s laughter.

Park Seojin and Kevin kept calling for the doctor, while Choi Si-yoon quickly took out the toys he had bought.

Hwang Ye-jun was so flustered that he couldn’t say a word and just screamed.

It was a mess.

“Is this… okay?”

“There’s a doctor here, so don’t worry. But isn’t this kind of funny?”

Seo Eun-hye and Lee Min-jun whispered to each other. As Lee Min-jun said, it was only a few minutes of situation, but they couldn’t help laughing.

Seo Eun-chan looked at the cameras installed in the living room and smirked.

“I’m glad I installed them in advance.”

Kim Hwa-ryeon cautiously held up the camera. It was the one she used to practice dancing at Cocoa Entertainment.

“I’ve been filming since I came in. I got everything.”

“That’s great! It’s good to have a lot of content to edit.”

Seo Eun-chan smiled and tried to take the camera from Kim Hwa-ryeon. If only she didn’t step back.

“Huh? What’s wrong?”

“Uh… that… I’m sorry.”

Kim Hwa-ryeon couldn’t say it, but Seo Eun-chan, who had lived with a fierce face for 29 years, noticed it right away. It must be his scary face that was the problem.

Kim Hwa-ryeon unconsciously stepped back from Seo Eun-chan’s fierce face.

“No, it’s okay. Then give me the footage later…”

Kyahahaha-

“Teacher! Seo, seo-jun is still laughing!”

“[Is there anything wrong with you? Why are you giggling like that?!]”

“Kevin, speak Korean! He can’t understand you! But Seo-jun really seems to be laughing too much!”

“Teacher, how about this? Should I give him this?”

Seo Eun-chan turned his head to the noisy place.

Brown Black was rolling their feet and trying to calm Seo-jun down. Choi Si-yoon was holding a big stuffed animal and showing it to him.

Seo Eun-chan tapped his forehead.

“No. He’s laughing because you guys are funny.”

“Kyahahahaha!”

Seo Eun-chan’s words didn’t reach Brown Black’s ears. They were too panicked to hear anything.

Seo-jun had never seen such funny people before. He laughed so much that he felt like tears were coming out.

“Seo-jun’s tears! Tears!”

“Seo-jun is crying!”

“[Doctor! Doctor! He’s crying while laughing?! Is he, is he sick?!]”

“Can… can someone else hold Seo-jun for me?”

A single tear drop was very powerful. Hwang Ye-jun and Choi Si-yoon were running around, and Kevin was shouting ‘Doctor!’.

Park Seo-jin was holding Seo-jun with his trembling arms and sweating coldly.

Looking at Brown Black rolling their feet, ahahaha!

Mom and dad were holding their stomachs and laughing, and even the doctor and Uncle Chan burst into laughter. Seo-jun also laughed happily.