Superstar From Age 0

Ding-

Seo-jun pressed the white keys on the piano as he sat on the chair. The sound was different from the violin and filled the practice room.

‘Hmm.’

Seo-jun made a slightly dissatisfied expression as he loosened his hands by pressing the white and black keys in turn.

♪

He made a good sound with the electronic piano he borrowed from the singer team, but he felt that the sound was lacking compared to the grand piano they used.

‘But I can’t bring it up here.’

Well, if Seo-jun wanted to, the managers and team 1 would have lifted it up to the 8th floor practice room.

But he had to move it again after the fan meeting, so it was better to practice with the electronic piano and go down and use the grand piano from time to time.

Seo-jun smiled softly and started to play [Good Morning] slowly, which he arranged as a piano piece.

***

When he was asked to spare some time during practice, Seo-jun went to the 10th floor conference room and blinked his eyes at the people sitting in the conference room.

President Seo Eun-chan, PR team leader Kim Su-ryeon, singer team director Kim Sang-jin, and actor team director Ahn Da Ho.

“…Are you selling Cocoa Entertainment?”

“No!?”

President Seo Eun-chan was startled and lowered his hand at Seo-jun’s words, and the other three laughed.

Well, it seemed like they could think that way when they had a meeting with such positions and Seo-jun, the investor.

“It’s not that, it’s because of your fan meeting, Seo-jun.”

Seo-jun nodded at Seo Eun-chan’s words.

It was the actor’s job, so director Ahn Da Ho was basic, and it seemed that director Kim Sang-jin also participated to get help from the singer team who had done a lot of these events.

Then why are the president and the PR team leader here?

Kim Su-ryeon smiled and said to Seo-jun’s curious eyes.

“I wanted to make a fan meeting DVD and wondered what you think.”

“Fan meeting DVD?”

“Yes. We have the video of the previous fan meeting, so how about selling it together?”

“And put some photo cards in it.”

President Seo Eun-chan and PR team leader Kim Su-ryeon appealed passionately.

Fan meeting DVD.

Seo-jun would have agreed in an instant if it was a video related to acting, but he was a little worried about the fan meeting DVD. Seo-jun looked at Ahn Da Ho. 𝘙𝔞ꞐŏʙÈṤ

“What do you think, Da Ho hyung?”

“Well, if you want to do it, Seo-jun, it’s up to you, but…”

Ahn Da Ho recalled the events that Seo-jun said he wanted to do at the fan meeting. Hmm.

“Considering the performances you will show at this fan meeting, I think the innocent Sprouts might even break into the company if you don’t sell the DVD.”

“That’s right!”

“I would break in too!”

Seo-jun laughed at the passionate appearance of Kim Su-ryeon and Seo Eun-chan and nodded.

“Then let’s do that.”

“Okay!”

Kim Su-ryeon, the team leader who seemed to have put down his burden, and President Seo Eun-chan, who had a relaxed face, smiled and said. It was probably the only place where they were so flustered by their affiliated entertainers.

“Then I have to practice harder.”

“More here?”

He was already practicing all day because of the fan meeting that was left for about a month.

Ahn Da Ho said with a worried face.

“I know your stamina well, Seo-jun, but take it easy.”

Aunt Kim Su-ryeon and uncle Seo Eun-chan also added.

“Yeah. It’s good to practice, but don’t overdo it.”

“If you overdo it, I’ll die from my sister.”

Director Kim Sang-jin of the singer team, who had directed a lot of events such as fan meetings and concerts, also advised.

“Practice is important, but it’s also important to manage your condition until the fan meeting day. Seo-jun.”

Seo-jun smiled brightly at the sincere words.

“Yes. I won’t overdo it. Don’t worry.”

And Seo-jun and the four people started a formal meeting.

***

[Marina Studio, pull out the secret weapon?!]

[The cookie video of S and N appeared in the movie ‘Mad Hatter’! Is it a preview of the next series?]

[Marina Studio and Cocoa Entertainment silent on the rumor of actor replacement!]

[A new hero to connect season 1 and season 2!?]

[Is the story of Jin Natra just beginning now!]

“Jin Natra series…!”

“Ahhhh!”

Manager Joo Yong-jin sighed as he watched his actor scream silently in the car.

“Tae-young. The interview is starting soon.”

“Just a minute, hyung! Just 5 minutes!”

Joo Yong-jin sighed again as he watched the actor who had been looking for related articles ever since he watched [Mad Hatter]. Then he pulled out the last resort.

“Fan meeting tiㅋ…”

“I’m going! Let’s go!”

The actor, who had tears in his eyes from the ticketing that only the manager succeeded again, quickly got out of the car. Then he looked at the interview site. The staff were still busy preparing for the shooting.

“It’s still far away…”

It was like the feeling of waking up in a panic when his mother said, ‘You’re late!’ in his school days, but it was 7 o’clock.

It was time to get up anyway, but it felt unfair.

But as the manager said, the situation was almost over, and the interview seat was soon prepared. The timing was good.

‘Yong-jin hyung is the best!’

‘Please listen to me, you bastard.’

The manager Joo Yong-jin sighed as he raised his thumb at the actor.

A little later.

The interview began in earnest.

“Hello, actor Kang Tae-young. You starred in a new drama, right?”

At the reporter’s words, the actor Kang Tae-young, who came out to promote the drama that would air soon, looked at the camera and smiled brightly.

“Yes! I filmed with director Gong Hee-chan and writer Yu Cheonga, who I filmed [Spring Has Returned] with before.”

“I heard it’s not a rom-com, but a thriller this time.”

“Yes. It’s a story of a detective chasing criminals. The actors who played the criminals were really good at acting, so I was able to immerse myself in the detective role more. Especially, the actor who appeared as a serial killer was really amazing!”

“By the way, none of the actors who played the criminals have been revealed yet, right? I’m curious, can you tell me one?”

“No, I can’t. I’ll get scolded by the director.”

The interviewer laughed at the sight of Kang Tae-young, who looked like he had droopy puppy ears. Kang Tae-young also laughed soon.

“I’m really looking forward to it when Kang Tae-young, who is famous for his acting skills, says that.”

“Please watch the drama ‘Monster’ and see the surprising sides of the actors that you haven’t seen before!”

The interview ended on a warm note.

“This is a question unrelated to the drama. Are you going to the fan meeting of actor Lee Seo-jun?”

“Yes! I’m going! On the first day!”

The manager Joo Yong-jin wiped his face with his hand at the bright smile of the actor.

‘…Well, it’s not surprising that they would ask that.’

It was true.

Kang Tae-young was a well-known rookie in the entertainment industry and among the public.

***

“Schedule done!”

“Shall we go home?”

“Yeah! I have to watch Moviegoer’s review of Mad Hatter! He said he would talk about the cookie video too!”

“…Fine.”

He had a lot to say, but he kept quiet.

Joo Yong-jin took the wheel and drove to Kang Tae-young’s house.

“Do you want to watch it with me?”

“…Sure.”

Joo Yong-jin hesitated a bit, but agreed. He was curious too.

Together, Kang Tae-young and Joo Yong-jin prepared a late dinner and connected YouTube to the TV.

“What’s that?”

“I’m going to chat!”

Kang Tae-young had already prepared a laptop, making Joo Yong-jin shake his head.

At the announced time, Moviegoer’s live stream began.

As expected from a review of Mad Hatter, the first part was full of stories about Mad Hatter.

The manager who was moderating the chat also dealt with some trolls who said things like ‘When are you going to review the cookie video?’ or ‘Just do the cookie video review!’

“Oh. So that’s what it meant.”

“I need to watch it again.”

Moviegoer’s review was interesting as always.

After the review of Mad Hatter ended, the review of the cookie video began. Kang Tae-young’s eyes sparkled.

-He

-Is

-Coming!

-Woaaaaah!!!

-He’s coming!

-Our boy is coming!

-Jin Natra is coming!

-William Lee is coming!!

There was no end to the chaos. Among them, there was also Kang Tae-young’s comment.

-As usual, the regulars are hereㅋㅋㅋ

Joo Yong-jin looked at his actor, who was one of the regulars of Moviegoer’s stream, with a sour expression. He wondered if the fans knew about this side of him.

[Alright. Calm down and let’s dig into the cookie video.]

-My heart is pounding

-I love this. Finding hidden meanings.

-222 Moviegoer knows more than that.

[First of all, what we’re most curious about is why this cookie video was made in the first place! There are two hypotheses. One is that it’s a ‘behind-the-scenes video of the Shadowman series’ that shows ‘and they lived happily ever after!’.]

-Shadowman also got comfortable enough to visit Natra often.

-The park is peaceful too.

-And William, seeing him running in the park, he must have started living a normal lifeㅠㅠ

-I’m so happy for Williamㅠㅠㅠ

-But it can’t end there.

-222 Give us Jin Natra!!

[That’s right! We love a peaceful and happy ending! But then the story ends. We can’t see Jin Natra anymore! That’s where the second hypothesis comes in. It’s a teaser for a new series!]

Kang Tae-young nodded vigorously and typed on his keyboard.

[So I looked it up, and a while ago, the Marina Studio website was updated. And a new movie came out. And this is it!]

[Shadow and Knight! I thought it was a hint because I only saw S and N in the book title and thought of Shadowman and Natra, but there were other letters. It’s really a new series, everyone!]

“Aaaaaah!!!”

-Jin Natra! Jin Natra!!

-William Lee! William Lee!

The ecstatic Moviegoer and the chat that rose like waves, and Kang Tae-young who was typing on his keyboard next to him. Joo Yong-jin quietly opened a can of beer.

-There were rumors of actor replacement, what do you think, Moviegoer?

-22 That’s why he only let us hear the footsteps, right?

“Are you okay?”

“Huh? What?”

Kang Tae-young blinked at Joo Yong-jin’s words. Joo Yong-jin looked at him with a puzzled expression. It was strange that Kang Tae-young, a fan of Seo-jun, was calm at the mention of ‘actor replacement’.

“Actor replacement. All we heard was the footsteps, so the actor could have changed, right?”

“Oh. That.”

Kang Tae-young smiled.

“There’s no actor replacement.”

“Huh?”

“That’s Seo-jun’s footsteps.”

“…Huh?”

“Well, to be precise, it’s the footsteps that Seo-jun acts out?”

“…Huh??”

“Look. Moviegoer is explaining it!”

Joo Yong-jin looked at the TV screen with a blank expression.

[I can say for sure that there is no actor replacement. This footsteps sound is acted out by actor Lee Seo-jun.]

-???

-???

-As expected! Moviegoer noticed it!

[You knew it too, Sprout0310!]

Joo Yong-jin looked at Moviegoer on the TV and Kang Tae-young sitting next to him with trembling eyes.

-What? Am I the only one who doesn’t know what’s going on?

-ㄴㄴㄴMe neither;;;

[Let me explain. People walk differently, you know. Some walk softly and some walk loudly. You don’t notice it if you just listen, but if you analyze it closely, you can see the difference. It’s the same with this cookie video. As I kept listening, I felt like I had heard it somewhere before.]

-It’s similar to Jin Natra’s footsteps before he turned evil in Shadowman2, right?

[Yes. Sprout0310 is right. William lost his memory, but he wouldn’t have lost the habits that he had for 10 years. The etiquette of the Natra royal family, that is. And that ‘etiquette’ includes things like how to eat, how to talk, and how to walk and run.]

-In Shadowman3, Jin Natra turned evil and his footsteps changed too! They were heavy and deep!

[Yes. That’s right. He was like a real final villain in Shadowman3, with a lot of weight.]

The chat stopped for a moment.

It was hard enough to understand the conversation between Moviegoer and Sprout0310.

[So even though he lost his memory, he still had the etiquette in his body, William Lee’s footsteps would be similar to the young Jin Natra who had lived with the love of Tul Natra and Bell Natra before he turned evil.]

-Of course, there would be a difference in weight since William is an adult!

[Yes. Heavy but trained, regular footsteps. Those footsteps that a normal actor couldn’t imitate, are the proof that actor Lee Seo-jun will continue to play Jin Natra, or rather, William Lee’s role!]

-That’s right!! You don’t have to worry, everyone!!ㅎㅎ

The chat started moving again.

-…What are these two…

-Mom. I’m scared;;;

-Really, do they have to analyze this much with just the footsteps;;;

-Do you want to join them?

-Isn’t Moviegoer better off working in a forensic science team or something?

-22 Isn’t that a waste of talent???

-But I’m more curious about Sprout0310???

-Yeah. What do you do for a living??

-Are you a detective?ㅎㄷㄷ

‘…No, he’s an actor.’

Joo Yong-jin looked at Kang Tae-young, who was smiling happily, with a sour expression.