Superstar From Age 0

At the same time when Jonathan Will was only repeating “…What?”.

Seo-jun had arrived at Cocoa Entertainment since Saturday morning.

“Hello.”

“Good day!”

As always, Seo-jun entered the company with zero presence, and greeted the security team who were used to his appearance.

He looked at the cafe on the first floor, because he saw some familiar faces there.

A man he was acquainted with and seven boys he only knew by face.

The man was looking at the boys with a pleased expression, but when he met Seo-jun’s eyes, he was startled and quickly came out of the cafe.

“When did you come, Seo-jun?”

The kind person who bought him delicious things, Choi Tae-woo, suddenly got up from his seat, and the seven kids stretched their heads curiously and saw Seo-jun.

Their eyes widened as if they would pop out. Some of them coughed as if the drink they were drinking got stuck in their throats.

“Did you just come? Are those kids the ones who will debut next year?”

“Yeah. That’s right.”

Choi Tae-woo gestured to the cafe, and the seven kids rushed out.

They all looked surprised but also excited.

Even in their tense state, their eyes sparkled as they looked at the world-famous star.

“Good day!”

Their voices were cheerful.

As if they had practiced, they greeted Seo-jun at the same time, and he smiled.

“Hello.”

“Wow.”

They were so happy with just one greeting from Seo-jun.

They couldn’t contain their excitement and unknowingly grabbed and shook the arms of the person next to them or stomped their feet.

They all looked younger than Seo-jun, so they seemed like siblings.

Especially, his eyes went to the four trainees who had debuted early and failed, and who were taken care of by Choi Tae-woo.

They looked more shiny and lively than when he saw them in photos or videos. He felt proud.

Our company, a good company.

His uncle and the singer team must have been working hard.

“Was it your break time?”

“Yeah. We had some time to spare.”

Choi Tae-woo, who answered as the representative, looked at the cafe. Seo-jun saw the cups of drinks on the cafe table where the trainees were sitting.

There were no traces of eating cake or cookies.

“Is a drink enough? The cookies and cakes are delicious too. If you want something, just tell me. I’ll buy it for you.”

Seo-jun said to the trainees as he took out his wallet.

‘The girl group Amber that debuted earlier this year was the same.’

He didn’t have time to get close to them like the Red Crown sisters or the Blue Moon members, because of the army or the US filming, but he felt attached to them just because they were from the same company, and because they were like his younger siblings.

They were flustered by his offer.

“No, no! It’s okay!”

One of the trainees quickly opened his mouth.

From Seo-jun’s memory, he was the leader of the idol group that Choi Tae-woo had taken care of.

He had a natural way of stepping forward and the trustful eyes of the other trainees that said ‘We (brother) trust you (sir)!’.

He seemed to be the leader of the new group that would debut soon.

No wonder Choi Tae-woo’s expression looked pleased.

“Really! Really! Thank you, but! We are on weight management right now. The drinks we had were our limit for today! We’re sorry!”

“We’re sorry!”

“No, you don’t have to be sorry. Weight management must be hard.”

Seo-jun empathized with them, as he also had to manage his weight when he prepared for his works.

It was hard, but if they didn’t manage it, they wouldn’t look good on camera, so it was inevitable.

“Then I’ll pay in advance. If you really really want to eat something and can’t stand it, you can use my name and eat it. Should I call it the Seo-jun shield?”

He recalled the ‘Seo-jun shield’ that Red Crown and Blue Moon used often when they were in the old building, and Seo-jun smiled.

“If you tell them I bought it for you, the trainers will let you off once or twice.”

The trainers had been working with Cocoa Entertainment for a long time, so they knew about the ‘Seo-jun shield’. If they used it, it meant that the trainees had reached their limit.

‘I should tell the Amber members too.’

He thought that it would be a big help for Amber, who was still a rookie girl group, as he saw the Blue Moon members who still used the ‘Seo-jun shield’ sometimes.

“Wow…”

The trainees who heard Seo-jun’s words couldn’t hold back their cheers as they obtained the legendary (?) and powerful ‘Seo-jun shield’.

“Thank you!”

The leader who came to his senses first bowed, and the other trainees also bowed.

Seo-jun smiled and greeted them back, and when he was about to leave, Choi Tae-woo opened his mouth.

“Then I’ll go too. Enjoy your break.”

“Yes!”

Seo-jun and Choi Tae-woo headed to the elevator and talked. The trainees’ eyes sparkled more than ever as they watched them.

“He’s awesome. Senior…”

“Right. What are they talking about?”

“Maybe it’s about Hollywood? Over the Rainbow 2!”

“Wow…”

The seven trainees stayed in the same spot with an ecstatic expression until Seo-jun and Choi Tae-woo disappeared into the elevator.

Inside the elevator.

“Hyung, hyung. Eun-su won the excellence award at the national science competition. There were a lot of sixth graders, but Eun-su, who is in fourth grade, was the first place. I thought she was only good at making things, but she understood the theory completely, so I think she should go to science in high school, if not middle school. Oh, and Su-bin’s playing skills have improved more than last time, right? I guess the experience in New York Concours was big. So he’s thinking of going to other concours, but I’m worried about who to entrust the managing to. Uncle Hee-sang seems to want Cocoa Entertainment to take care of him…”

Contrary to the trainees’ expectations, Seo-jun, who loved his siblings, was continuing his chatter.

***

The place where the actor and the manager arrived was the office of Director Ahn Da Ho on the tenth floor.

“If you work with Kings Agency, it will be possible.”

Seo-jun’s face brightened at Ahn Da Ho’s words.

Ahn Da Ho and Choi Tae-woo smiled. Perhaps the only things that could make Seo-jun change like that after his works and acting were his family and siblings.

“I’ll ask Aunt Na-ra for you.”

“Then thank you.”

Na-ra Kim, who liked Su-bin (and of course Eun-su) who came to play in the US with Seo-jun, would gladly take care of Su-bin’s work.

“I called you today because I got a call from Marina Studio that they decided on the director for the Jin Natra series.”

“Oh!”

Seo-jun and Choi Tae-woo exclaimed at Ahn Da Ho’s words.

Finally, the first step of [Jin Natra Series (tentative title)] was taken.

“But it took longer than I thought, right? I thought they would decide quickly since they had a list of candidates.”

As Seo-jun said, almost a month had passed since the meeting with Marina Studio.

“Marina Studio must be careful too.”

They wanted a director who could carry on the series well, not just one movie. Of course, there were cases where the director changed even in a series.

“So who is it?”

Ahn Da Ho smiled and answered Seo-jun’s question.

“Director Jonathan Will.”

“Wow!”

He was happy, even though he had expected it.

He trusted him, since they had spent time together. His independent films were also good.

Suddenly, he remembered the first time he saw Jonathan.

He had grown up so well from a boy in middle school who had a lot of youthful energy.

He followed his uncle’s footsteps and made a series of movies. He smiled unconsciously.

Back then, Seo-jun didn’t even think that he was four years old.

Ahn Da Ho explained.

“Once the director is decided, we will prepare everything from the set, costumes, and props as soon as the synopsis and script come out. We will try to crank in as quickly as possible while maintaining the quality. The goal is to release it next year.”

“Is that possible?”

Seo-jun and Ahn Da Ho smiled at Choi Tae-woo’s question, who was surprised by the faster schedule than he expected.

They had experienced the Hollywood scale several times. 𝒻𝑟ℯℯ𝑤𝑒𝑏𝑛𝘰𝓋𝑒𝓁.𝒸𝑜𝘮

“Nothing is impossible with money. Tae-woo hyung.”

“That’s right. Especially since it’s Jin Natra, not an ordinary hero.”

They wouldn’t mind pouring more money into the production cost, considering the revenue they would earn.

“So I think it might be a bit difficult to get into a long-term project until we finish making the Jin Natra series. I agreed to give some advice when writing the script.”

“Okay. I got it.”

Seo-jun nodded.

He had talked about it at the meeting with Marina Studio.

He said that if he didn’t like the script that the director or the scenario team had made for [Jin Natra Series (tentative title)], he could modify it all, so please tell him.

The most important thing in [Jin Natra Series (tentative title)] was Seo-jun Lee’s appearance, both the first and second priority.

“It would be easy to talk to Jonathan. I was a little worried about how to say it if it was another director.”

Seo-jun said with a relieved expression. Ahn Da Ho and Choi Tae-woo’s lips twitched a little.

‘No. Seo-jun, you would say it well no matter who the director is…’

Marina Studio probably considered that too.

If a stubborn director and a dissatisfied actor clashed, the movie would be ruined.

***

Cocoa Enter 8th floor, Seo-jun Lee’s private practice room.

Seo-jun, who was leaning on a cozy and comfortable sofa, contacted Ryan Will, the director.

“/Director. Did you hear? Jonathan is going to direct the Jin Natra series./”

-/Yeah. I heard it a while ago./

A satisfied laugh seeped into Ryan’s voice over the phone. Seo-jun also laughed.

“/How is Jonathan? He must be very happy, right?/”

-/I don’t know./

“/What?/”

Seo-jun tilted his head.

‘Didn’t they contact him together?’

Ryan’s voice had a deeper laugh. It seemed to have a bit of mischief in it.

-/I thought it would be better to hear this kind of story in person, so I sent a Marina Studio staff member to his house. He must be listening to the explanation with a dumbfounded face right now./

The reason why Jonathan Will broke down was here.

He imagined Jonathan’s shocked face with a lot of question marks and laughed.

“/Jonathan must have been very surprised./”

“/I guess so. But he’ll do well./”

Seo-jun’s face smiled at Ryan’s voice full of trust.

Come to think of it, if it was his nephew Jonathan’s movie, Ryan would be able to help him. He wondered if Marina Studio had considered that too.

“/Please help him a lot, Director Ryan. Then it will be a really great movie./”

“/No./”

‘…Huh?’

Seo-jun blinked his eyes at the firm voice.

“/This is Jonathan’s movie, so I can’t interfere. Jun. You’re also participating in the script, right? Try to make it well together. I’m looking forward to it./”

Ryan’s voice was full of laughter. Seo-jun unconsciously opened his mouth wide. He felt like a raccoon whose cotton candy had melted in water.

He quickly hung up the phone with Ryan and tried to contact Jonathan Will, but Jonathan Will contacted him first.

“JUUUUUUN!!!”

Seo-jun reflexively stretched his hand holding the phone away.

Jonathan’s voice filled the practice room. It was fortunate that the soundproofing was good.

“/Did you hear?! I! I! I was chosen as the director of the Jin Natra series!!/”

“/I just heard it too. Congratulations, Jonathan!/”

“/Hahaha! J.W. was me! Jonathan Will! How did I not know that!! I really, didn’t think of it at all! Jonathan Will! J.W. That was me!!/”

He smiled involuntarily at Jonathan Will’s excited voice.

‘Yeah. He’ll do well without Ryan.’

As soon as he thought that, Jonathan’s voice came.

“/Don’t you think the Jin Natra series will be awesome if I get help from my uncle?! He was on the phone with someone earlier, so I haven’t told him yet, but I have to let him know soon!/”

‘…Ah.’

Seo-jun scratched his chin.

“/That was me./”

“/Huh? What was?/”

“/I just talked to Director Ryan. He knows that you’re the director./”

“/Oh! Really? That’s great! When he comes home, we can have a meeting right away! I have some ideas that I’ve been thinking of!/”

Seo-jun looked at the air with a regretful face at Jonathan Will’s enthusiastic voice.

“/There’s that, Jonathan. Director Ryan won’t help you./”

“/Huh? What did you say?/”

“/He said we should work hard together. He said he’s looking forward to it./”

“/…Really?/”

There was silence.

Soon, Jonathan’s voice became heavy with a sigh.

He accepted it quickly because he felt like his uncle would do that.

“/Well. I can’t help it. Let’s do our best. Jun./”

Seo-jun rolled his eyes.

“/But come to think of it, I’m an actor./”

“/…Huh?/”

Jonathan had a bad feeling at Seo-jun’s words.

“/Writing the script is the director’s job. I’m just going to give you some advice. So cheer up! Director Jonathan Will! I’ll support you!/”

Jonathan understood Seo-jun’s words and screamed as he rolled around.

“JUUUUUN??!?!”