Chapter 27

Seojun went to a park with his mother in a stroller. The park was not far from their apartment.

The weather was chilly, but they are warm because they wore thick clothes.

Sitting on the bench under the warm sunlight with his mom, he heard some whispers.

It was from a couple sitting opposite to their bench.

“That’s the baby with Brown Black, right? It was on WNET.”

“Really? I can’t tell.”

“Well, babies are very difficult to tell apart with.”

“Don’t kids at that age all look the same, anyway?”

He nodded his head, agreeing with her.

“By the way, did you watch 48 hours?”

“Yeah, it was fun. It’s going to be so hard to see a baby.”

Seo Eun-hye got up from her seat, carefully warmed up her stiffened body.

She put down the cover of Seojun’s stroller and slowly stepped off from the bench so it may not seem that they were avoiding them.

When Seo Eun-hye moved away from where the couple was sitting, she went to a place where there were no people. Relaxing her legs first, she squatted on the floor.

“Wow, there’s someone out there who recognizes you.”

It’s already been a month since Brown Black debuted.

Brown Black, left the impression of a talented idol as with their debut stage.

They were still busy being called to each broadcasts and events.

There was no time for them to call each other and Seo Eun-chan couldn’t get home as he became busier than before.

Seo Eun-hye and her mother are already accustomed to his current schedule.

As Brown Black’s popularity rose, more and more people watch on YouTube [48 hours of Brown Black with Seojun].

When it became a hot topic on the Internet, Seo Eun-Hye sent a proposal to re-edit the show and air it on WNET.

“It’s a late-night show anyway, so not many people are watching. And we’re going to America soon. Seojun will grow bigger in just a year so they won’t recognize him even after coming back from America.”

Seo Eun-chan, an uncle who used his nephew for Brown Black’s success, said, “It doesn’t matter if we posted it on YouTube or air it.”

WNET accepted Seo Eun-hye and Lee Min-joon’s opinions and edited the video to be released on television. This time, it was edited focusing on Brown Black rather than Seojun.

“I think I can put it here this time.”

It was a video that they didn’t upload on YouTube.

Seo Eun-chan decided to include the man they met at the playground on the show.

Seo Eun-chan went to Seojun’s apartment to ask for consent from the man and heard what happened to his post.

‘Why didn’t I know about this?’ Manager Seo Eun-chan reflected on himself.

“I’m so sorry!”

“No, it’s been promoted and it’s okay.”

“It wasn’t real publicity!”

With the permission of the man, cable stations edited and they included the uploads posts posted by the man, comments on the bulletin board, and videos of the playground.

-Really?

-It wasn’t a real promotion?

-Why didn’t they upload it on YouTube?

-I’m sure there aren’t a lot of people going to see and get autographs from unknown idol groups because they love the song.

-What do you mean?

The man on the screen smiled brightly.

-This was the first sign! It was the official first sign that was also recognized on TV.

-If they became famous later, it will be very expensive.

-I envy him……

-…….

-But the baby is very cute though.

-Yeah, I think he is smarter than the others. I guess he’s not shy at all. He don’t even cry.

-Isn’t this him? The legendary Mukbang baby.

-Oh, I think so. He’s been on YouTube ads lately, with the elephant.

“We have to go home quickly before Seojun is recognize by more people.”

“Ugh!”

Seojun was very excited.

He wasn’t as popular as the older brothers, but there are already people who recognized him.

Of course they weren’t sure though.

His heart pounded.

‘The feeling of getting attention from peole… i love it!’

***

Their was currently a mess.

Only the sleeping room was neat.

The living room and kitchen were full of half-stacked boxes.

“Eun-chan decided to use the house after our flight to America.”

“Ugh!”

Seojun lifted the Lich King doll.

Seo Eun-hye laughed.

“We can now keep Seojun’s doll.”

“Ugh!”

Seojun hugged the Lich King doll and smiled brightly.

Mom and dad’s view of the doll was now different than before.

Somehow, he felt a little comfortable with his mom and dad.

Seojun was happy, too.

A week later, Seojun, together with his parents, leaves to the United States.

* * *

“Seojun, Aunt Nara is here!”

“Auntie!”

Seojun, who was waving his hands to passers-by looking out the window, turned his head around.

Kevin’s older sister, Nara, stood at the front door as she waved her hand.

Seojun ran and gave a high five to Nara.

It’s already been 4 years since Seojun came to America.

Now, Lee Seojun is 58 months old.

***

“Are you ready?”

Kim Nara, a woman with short hair, smiled as she looked into Seojun’s eyes through her black sunglasses.

Seojun answered with his fists raised.

“Yes!”

“Then shall we go?”

“Seojun, you need to pack your bag.”

Seo Eun-hye brought Seojun’s bag.

Seojun quickly put his arm in the strap with his mother’s guidance.

Soon they left home holding both his mother’s hand in one and Nara’s hand in the other.

“Oh, Jun!”

“Hi, Uncle Eric!”

Seojun saw Eric Smith, the man living next door, who was coming out to throw away the trash.

Eric asked with a smile.

“What kind of bag are you wearing today?”

“Zombie!”

Seojun let go of his hands from both women and twirled around.

Eric gazes at the bag with zombie dolls and sewing marks design.

The Zombie dolls with red blood everywhere and pale skin color were both realistic and cute.

“That’s great! Did your Uncle make it for you?”

“Yes, my uncle Hee-sung made it for me. Where’s Jack?”

“Jack went to his grandmother’s house, either way, Jack’s gonna cry if he sees it later. Hee-sung is sure loaded with many doll orders.”

(TL: I used the name of Enhypen’s Heesung here rather than Heesang. Well, in some previous translations it was written as Heesung already. But the raws used A rather than U actually.)

Eric shook his head, then he stuck out his fist, and waited for Seojun to bump it with his fist. 

Eric greeted Seo Eun-Hye and Nara, standing behind Seojun, and went down the stairs.

“Hee-Sung’s doll is really popular.”

“He quit his job and started this business, it will become a big deal if it’s not popular.” Then Seo Eun-Hye sighed, while Nara just laughed.

“It’s all because of your YouTube Videos.”

After coming to the U.S., Seo Eun-Hye and Lee Min-Joon were very busy. There was too much to prepare after coming to a new place.

In particular, they stayed up all night studying child laws such as child abuse.

In Korea, things that would be ignored would become child abuse in the U.S.

For the child’s safety, they had to be careful in every action they will do to Seojun.

If it wasn’t for the informations prepared by Nara Kim, it would have been difficult.

They did not spent a long time to get used to life in LA. It was mostly because of the accomodating people here and there.

They realized that this is a place where people can comfortably live.

Seo Eun-hye revealed Seojun’s favorite doll by posting vlogs on their American life on YouTube.

At that time, Kim Hee-sung was busy thinking about designs for dolls that could satisfy the tastes of the couple and Seojun.

At first, there were a lot of comments saying it was strange for a baby to like such creepy dolls, but more and more people asked where they bought it.

Seo Eun-Hye asked Kim Hee-Sung permission to post how to order on YouTube.

Then, Kim Hee-Sung threw his resignation letter excitedly with both a look of joy and sorrow at the amount of orders he received.

“Last Halloween, most of the kids around here probably got Hee-sung’s dolls.”

It was Seojun who was the leader of the trend.

The monster dolls that the small child carried every time he goes out with his mother and father, first caught the eye of the adults, but soon it was a trand among children.

However, Jack, who lives next door and very close to Seojun, burst into tears every time Seojun has new dolls, putting the Smiths and Seo Eun-Hye and Lee Min-Joon in an awkward position.

“Auntie! Let’s go!”

Seojun led Nara by holding her hands.

At Seojun’s urging, Eun-Hye and Nara laughed and followed him.

Nara and Seo Eun-Hye fastened their seat belts while Seojun sat in the baby seat.

The Zombie bag was placed neatly next to Seojun.

“Seojun. Did you practice?”

“Yes!”

At the question of Nara, Seojun swung his feet excitedly.

“I’ve never seen Seojun act before. Is it okay for him?”

He only acted cute when filming the commercial for Elephant Milk Powder, so Seo Eun-Hye was quite troubled if he has enough skills for this type of acting required.

Seojun’s lips were pouting while looking away from his mother so she wouldn’t see him.

“No need to worry.”

“I have right to be worried. You called me three days ago and told me to have Seojun shoot a movie… We didn’t even got enough time to have Seojun practice his acting.”

“Hahaha.”