Superstar From Age 0

Saturday evening, 9 p.m.

Song Yu-jung sat in front of the TV with her parents and younger brother. She had come to her hometown for the weekend and they had dinner, watched a weekend drama, ate some fruits, and waited for the variety show.

“I didn't know mom and dad would like Chick Class so much.”

“They are so cute. And the teachers are getting better at taking care of them.”

Her mom smiled and Song Yu-jung nodded. She started watching it because of Seo-jun, but she found the kids adorable and planned to watch until the last episode next week.

“But there are still too many ads.”

Her dad's remark made the family look at the TV. She wondered if the ads would decrease since Seo-jun was not appearing, but they were still the same.

“It's because the ratings are high.”

“Oh, it's starting.”

The seventh episode of Chick Class showed the kids cooking by themselves. It was not really cooking, but cutting soft ingredients like eggs and tofu with blunt knives, mixing them with warm rice, and making colorful rice balls.

They also added some hot soup that the cast members cooked for them and the kids ate well. Of course, some of them barely ate a few bites and had to watch Seo-jun's mukbang on the monitor.

[(Seo) The Invitation of the Gourmet Orc is activated.]

As soon as the mukbang was turned on, the kids started to eat enthusiastically. It was amazing to see them every time and they couldn't help but admire.

“I wonder what that feels like?”

“Me too. It helped a lot when he was a baby.”

Her mom's words made Song Yu-jung look at her brother.

She and Seo-jun had a big age gap (she was already over 20 months old when the baby mukbang came out) so she couldn't use it, but her brother was about the same age as Seo-jun and her mom told her that he benefited a lot from the baby mukbang.

“Hey, how did it feel?”

Song Yu-jung's question made her 21-year-old brother look at her with a sour face.

“How would I remember that? I was so young…”

“That's true.”

“Anyway, the baby mukbang helped a lot.”

Her mom smiled and looked at the screen. Song Yu-jung checked her phone and saw what other viewers were saying.

“People like that the cast members don't rely on the mukbang too much.”

The cast members showed their efforts to make the kids eat by themselves before turning on the mukbang. Today's cooking lesson was one of those attempts.

“I agree with that. It's good to get some help when they really don't eat, but they can't depend on the mukbang forever.”

When the effect of Mukbang 2 was revealed, people analyzed its range like they did with the baby mukbang. Thanks to that, they concluded that the mukbang worked for kids under 10 years old. There were some cases of 11 or 12 year olds, but they were very rare.

That meant that they had to eat on their own from 11 years old, so they needed to gradually reduce the mukbang watching.

“It doesn't seem like it when you watch the baby mukbang, but there might be something like YouTube addiction, not mukbang addiction. I think it's better to cut it down a bit.”

Her mom's words made Song Yu-jung shrug.

“But I also watch mukbang when I eat alone.”

“You're already grown up. The kids are still young.”

After the cooking lesson and lunch, the kids and the cast members decided to make handkerchiefs.

“I’ll give it to mom!”

“Me too!”

“I’ll give it to dad!”

The kids dyed the white cloth that the teachers gave them with natural colors that they prepared beforehand. The colors were easy to mix, so the cast members poured the basic colors into the kids’ bowls.

At first, it was a color play with cloth, but soon the colors got on the kids’ faces and hair, and eventually on their clothes. They couldn't prevent it even with the aprons for kids.

“Hey, isn't that Ye-rin crying?”

Her brother's words made them see Ye-rin crying. Park Ee-deun ran to her right away.

“Ye-rin is a neat freak.”

Her dad smiled as if he found it cute and her mom continued.

“Yu-jung, you also cried when you got something on you… Now you should clean your room! It's a mess!”

“What, why did the story go that way?”

Song Yu-jung, who was eating fruits, exclaimed as if she was stung.

The cast members had a resigned expression as they saw the kids covered with colors from head to toe.

[We expected this, but it's still hard.]

[Yeah.]

The cloths dyed with natural colors were hung on the clothesline and fluttered in the wind. The kids looked at them with awe.

[Chicks in the Forest]

[Preview of the last episode]

“They were so cute today. I wonder what they will do in the last episode.”

“They will give gifts to the kids, right? Something like a touching letter.”

This kind of variety show usually had a ‘touching’ content and ending.

“Will we all cry next week?”

They all laughed, saying that they were good at empathizing and had a lot of emotions.

They thought they would show the cast members crying as a preview, but the TV screen showed a completely different scene.

It was Ha-rang.

It was the video that became the background of the three pictures that he sent to Seo-jun, along with the back of Ha-rang that Park Ee-deun didn't send.

“Ah…”

He was holding a doll tightly, clutching a handkerchief, and sitting next to the dolls, looking somewhere. He looked so cute and lonely that Song Yu-jung and her family teared up.

Along with Ha-rang's back, a calm but slightly sad music and a caption appeared.

[Who are you waiting for, ha-rang?]

***

-I was watching without much thought, thinking they would show the cast members crying, but I was choked up when they showed only Ha-rang's back??

=Ha-rang??He's so cute but sad?

=The music and the caption too??

-This is exactly that. Seo-jun.

=22 Seo-jun will appear.

-The production team: ;;;People are too quick to catch on.

=But this seems like they wanted us to guess. It would be too obvious to say that Seo-jun will appear and it would lose the impact for the next episode.

=Even if we didn't guess that Seo-jun will appear, we would be curious about what will happen next when we see Ha-rang like that.

-Seo-jun… Is he fixed?

=??He must be??Isn't this almost fixed?

-I'm happy that Seo-jun appears a lot. I'm happy!

=22 I wish they would extend Chicks in the Forest so I can see Seo-jun longer??

=33 That's unlikely??

***

[Chicks in the Forest] PD Kang Soo-jung was watching the edited version of the last episode with the writers. The filming was already over and the editing was done, so they just had to wait for the broadcast of the last episode, but

“It feels like it's missing 2%…”

“I agree.”

They watched it several times, but they felt something was lacking.

Then, an assistant director came into the meeting room.

“They said the filming of Babel Tower is over.”

“Oh. Really?”

SBC drama [Babel Tower] was a hot topic along with KBC variety show [Chick Class in the Forest]. It was a different broadcasting station, but they heard the news because actor Seo-jun had a cameo role in it.

“They said they also filmed the making of the drama…”

“Oh, I heard that too. They must have filmed Seo-jun's part as well.”

“Our broadcasting station is so lame. They couldn't even get Seo-jun.”

“It's not that they didn't get him, they couldn't get him. And the ratings are so low right now that the atmosphere is hellish, so don't say that to the drama department.”

“When would I go to the drama department?”

The writers’ words made PD Kang Soo-jung blink her eyes as if she remembered something.

“Hey… Didn't you say that the day we filmed the last episode was the same day that Seo-jun filmed Babel Tower?”

“Yes, we did. There was also a scene where Ee-deun asked him how the filming went. We also put the messages they exchanged on the broadcast.”

“…That's it! That's what was missing!”

PD Kang Soo-jung jumped from her seat. The writers and the assistant director looked at her with puzzled eyes.

"The messages don't have any urgency. We need to show them the video so that the viewers can see how Seo-jun felt when he came to the filming site! It would be great if they filmed that scene in the making of the drama… Does anyone know the contact of the Babel Tower production team?

“I know someone who is an assistant writer there, but…”

The sub-writer raised his hand and hesitated to speak.

“…That's an SBC drama, right?”

We are a KBC variety show.

And the drama department… Is that okay? PD Kang?

Everyone looked at PD Kang Soo-jung with that kind of expression.

Saturday evening, 9 p.m.

The last episode of Chicks in the Forest was about to start. The viewers were excited and curious about what would happen in the final episode, especially if Seo-jun would appear again.

-Will Seo-jun come back?

=I hope so. He's so cute with Ha-rang.

=But he's busy with Babel Tower filming.

-What is Babel Tower?

=It's a new SBC drama. Seo-jun has a cameo role in it.

=It's a fantasy action drama. It's very popular.

-I want to watch it too.

The opening of the show played and the narrator's voice introduced the show.

[Welcome to Chicks in the Forest, where the kids learn and grow in nature. This is the last episode of our show. How will the kids and the teachers say goodbye to each other? Let's find out.]

The screen showed the kids and the teachers having breakfast together. They looked happy and cheerful, but there was also a hint of sadness in their eyes. They knew that this was their last day together.

-They look so close now.

=I'm going to miss them.

=Me too. They are so adorable.

After breakfast, the teachers gave the kids a special mission. They had to write letters to their parents for Parents’ Day. The kids were excited and curious about the mission.

“I’ll write a letter to mom and dad!”

“Me too!”

“I’ll write a letter to grandma and grandpa!”

The teachers gave the kids some paper and crayons and helped them write their letters. The kids drew pictures of their parents and wrote what they wanted to say to them.

-This is so touching.

=The kids are so sweet.

=I wonder what they wrote.

The screen showed some of the letters that the kids wrote. They were simple and sincere, expressing their love and gratitude to their parents.

[Dear mom and dad, I love you so much. Thank you for sending me to Chick Class. I learned a lot and had fun. I miss you. I’ll see you soon. Love, Ye-rin.]

[Dear grandma and grandpa, I'm having a good time at Chick Class. I made a lot of friends and played with the teachers. I also ate a lot of delicious food. I hope you are healthy and happy. I’ll visit you when I go back. Love, Ji-ho.]

[Dear mom and dad, I'm sorry for being naughty sometimes. I’ll be a good boy from now on. I love you more than anything. Thank you for everything. I’ll give you a big hug when I meet you. Love, Min-ho.]

-This is so cute.

=I'm crying.

=The parents must be so proud.

The teachers also wrote letters to the kids. They thanked them for their time together and encouraged them to keep learning and growing.

[Dear Ha-rang, you are a very special boy. You have a bright and warm heart that makes everyone happy. You are also very smart and talented. I'm so proud of you. I hope you always stay happy and healthy. I’ll miss you a lot. Love, seo-jun.]

[Dear Ye-rin, you are a very lovely girl. You have a gentle and kind soul that makes everyone feel comfortable. You are also very brave and strong. I'm so impressed by you. I hope you always stay confident and cheerful. I’ll remember you always. Love, Ee-deun.]

[Dear Ji-ho, you are a very amazing boy. You have a curious and adventurous spirit that makes everyone excited. You are also very creative and skillful. I'm so amazed by you. I hope you always stay curious and adventurous. I’ll cherish you forever. Love, woonseong.]

-This is so touching.

=I'm crying more.

=The teachers are so sweet.

The kids and the teachers exchanged their letters and read them. They smiled and cried as they read the heartfelt words. They hugged each other and thanked each other.

-This is so beautiful.

=I'm crying the most.

=The kids and the teachers are so close.

The screen faded and the narrator's voice continued.

[The kids and the teachers have expressed their feelings to each other through letters. Now, it's time for them to say goodbye. How will they part ways? Let's watch.]

The screen showed the kids and the teachers getting ready to leave. The parents’ cars started to arrive one by one. The kids and the teachers said their final goodbyes, with tears and hugs.

-This is so sad.

=I'm crying again.

=The kids and the teachers are so sad.

Ha-rang and Seo-jun also said goodbye to each other. They gave each other gifts and hugged tightly. They said “see you again” with a smile.

“Teacher Seo-jun! Bye!”

“Ha-rang, bye. Take care.”

“Okay!”

The kids held their parents’ hands and left the Chick Class one by one. Ha-rang kept looking back and waving his hand until he disappeared from the sight. Seo-jun and Park Ee-deun, who were standing next to him, waved back.

-Bye, ha-rang.

=Bye, seo-jun.

=Bye, everyone.

Suddenly, ha-rang ran back to them. He had something in his hand. Seo-jun and Park Ee-deun blinked their eyes.

Ha-rang gave Park Ee-deun a letter. It was for him.

“This is for you, teacher Ee-deun!”

“…Me?”

“Yes! Then, bye, teacher Ee-deun!”

“…Bye?”

Park Ee-deun received the letter from Ha-rang and waved his hand with a bewildered expression. Ha-rang smiled brightly and ran back to his parents. He left with them.

“Isn't this a mistake? Isn't this Seo-jun's?”

“Ha-rang said it's yours. Hurry up and open it.”

Park Ee-deun opened the letter envelope with a puzzled face. Then, he covered his eyes with his hands, feeling emotional. Seo-jun patted his friend's shoulder with a smile.

[Teacher Ee-deun, I love you second. Ha-rang.]

There was a heart and a drawing of Seo-jun, ha-rang, and Park Ee-deun on the letter.

-Ha-rang is playing hard to get??

=22 He said he wouldn't give it yesterday?? And then he secretly wrote a letter like this??

=33 I'm touched too.

“…When did he write this?”

“I taught him. He came this morning.”

Park Ee-deun's sobbing voice made Jung Na-hee answer with a smile.

“He had a hard time with ‘jjae’, so he rewrote it a lot.”

Park Ee-deun looked at the letter with teary eyes. He could see that Ha-rang put a lot of force on the letter ‘jjae’. Seo-jun teased him with a smile.

“But I'm the first. You're the second. Your letter also has my drawing.”

“…Hey.”

Park Ee-deun and Seo-jun started to bicker and the other teachers gathered around and laughed. The scene slowly faded away.

A calm and warm music played and the screen showed the kids and the teachers when they first came to Chick Class and how they became close in the last episode. Chicks in the Forest ended with a happy and sad ending.