Superstar From Age 0
Chapter 135

Chapter 135

The next day, Seo Eun-chan received a call from Seo-jun.

“Working Man?”

-Yes!

Seo Eun-chan blinked his eyes as he answered the phone. 

Working Man was a SBC variety show where eight members and guests formed teams and cleared games prepared by the production team one by one.

“Suddenly?”

Wasn’t it Seo-jun who was worried all day yesterday?

Seo-jun’s voice, full of laughter, answered Seo Eun-chan’s question.

-I asked my friends, and they said it was fun. They said they wanted to try playing games. They can’t do it, so they said it would be nice if I did.

Aha.

Seo Eun-chan scratched his cheek.

‘Friends…’

As he spent more and more time at school than at home, and as he wanted his own world more and more, Seo-jun would be influenced by his friends a lot. 

Seo Eun-chan was like that, and so was Seo Eun-hye. 

When they were students, everyone tended to trust and rely on their friends’ words more than anyone else’s.

It was not strange that he decided to appear on this variety show after listening to his friends’ words. 

It was not a serious matter like a drama or a movie, but just a one-time variety show.

‘Seo-jun is unusual though.’

When child actors chose their works, their parents or teachers’ opinions were reflected a lot. 

It was because they could not choose good works yet. 

But Seo-jun was different. 

He picked out the stories he liked from among the many scenarios.

Seo Eun-chan fell into thought. 

Would his friends influence Seo-jun’s choice of work? 

Would Seo-jun make a different choice because of his friends’ requests or words?

‘No.’

Seo-jun wouldn’t do that. 

He was a child who would not do the works of famous directors or writers if he didn’t like them. 

Two years ago, he said he didn’t like the synopsis of ‘Evil Spirit’, directed by Choi Dae-man, the best director.

-Uncle?

Seo-jun’s voice brought Seo Eun-chan back to reality.

“What do you think? Do you want to do it?”

Did his nephew know his uncle’s complicated feelings or not? 

The thirteen-year-old nephew answered happily.

-Yes. I want to do it. It sounds fun to play games!

“Then, okay. I’ll let Da-ho know as soon as the schedule is set.”

-Okay!

***

A noisy coin karaoke room.

The kids who occupied one room looked at Seo-jun quietly talking on the phone. 

Seo-jun hung up the phone after talking to his uncle and said.

“I decided to do Working Man.”

“We recommended it, but can you decide so quickly?”

“Yeah. It’s work, you know. Wouldn’t it be better to think about other shows too?”

Ji-hoo asked while eating snacks. 

Ji-o, Mi-na, and Ji-yoon nodded in agreement. 

They answered because Seo-jun asked them, but they didn’t expect it to be decided right away.

They were either amazed by Seo-jun’s execution or blamed his agency for accepting it so easily.

The kids were suddenly scared that their recommendations would influence Seo-jun’s appearance. 

What if something went wrong? 

Their feelings showed on their faces.

Seo-jun noticed that and sighed with a big gesture. 

It seemed like he had embraced all the worries of the world with that sigh.

“If it was a drama or a movie, I could decide by myself, but it’s a variety show, so I’m asking you guys. It’s easy to choose a work to act in. I just have to find what I want to do… But I don’t know about variety shows. I’m really grateful that you guys are helping me.”

Maybe his appearance worked well, or the relieved friends smiled brightly.

“Really? Then I’m glad.”

Ji-o jumped up.

“Are we done with everything? Then let’s have fun! Who wants to sing first?”

“Me!”

Seo-jun raised his hand quickly. 

He took the microphone from Ji-o and put in a coin and pressed the number familiarly. 

The title and singer of the song appeared on the karaoke machine screen.

[Spark-Brown Black]

Seo-jun held the microphone.

“Seo-jun really likes BrBl songs.”

“He also sings White songs often.”

“Is it because they are from the same agency?”

“Maybe. But isn’t it amazing?”

They looked at Seo-jun who was singing hard with the microphone and Mi-na said with a smile.

“Who would think that there is a Hollywood star in a coin karaoke room?”

Ji-yoon who was shaking the tambourine, Ji-o and Ji-hoo who were looking for the next song to sing also burst into laughter.

“Maybe Seo-jun’s bodyguards know.”

“They must have come today, right? But I don’t know who the bodyguards are.”

“They say there is a way to protect like that. Hiding among ordinary people and protecting them.”

“I’m done singing. Who’s next?”

“Me!”

Ji-o jumped up and took the microphone from Seo-jun. 

Starting with Ji-o, the kids started singing hard in turn.

***

“What?”

Park Young-jin, who stepped into the Eunha-su Center for the filming of Working Man, blinked his eyes.

Despite the cold winter, he felt the atmosphere of the production team that was excited as if they felt the spring sunshine.

“PD Jeon. Who is the guest today?”

“It’s a secret.”

That was the answer that PD Jeon Min-jae of [Working Man?!] gave to Park Young-jin’s question with a smile. 

Usually, he would give a subtle hint, but today, everyone was tight-lipped.

Park Young-jin scratched his head. 

One by one, the Working Man members arrived. 

They also noticed the strange atmosphere of the production team.

“Is it a female guest?”

“Or a male guest?”

It must be because of the guest, but unlike usual, they couldn’t even guess the gender. 

Because both the male and female staff were excited.

How could they like someone so diverse? 

Question marks appeared endlessly over the heads of the Working Man members. 

Amidst such confusion, the shooting preparation was smoothly completed.

The staff of Working Man ran around in the lobby of the Milky Way Center to prepare for the opening shoot.

Among them, Ahn Da-ho and Cocoa Enter’s second team staff were looking at one person from a distance.

A staff member wearing a black hat was moving props, delivering messages, and carrying light loads here and there.

He seemed to have worked here for years, avoiding the paths of other staff members and moving around well.

“Team leader. Has Seo-jun ever done this kind of work?”

“…Of course not.”

He didn’t seem to have any experience, but he easily blended in with the production team. 

The busy staff members also unknowingly gave him tasks because he looked so natural.

“Can you hold this for me?”

“Yes!”

Ahn Da-ho and the second team staff sighed as they watched Seo-jun run towards the writers.

“We should call him if he goes near the machines or wires, right?”

“Yes. Let’s watch him a little more.”

Seo-jun moved his feet quickly to find a sketchbook among the props, not knowing or caring about Ahn Da-ho and the second team staff’s gaze.

When everything was ready, the assistant director shouted loudly.

“Then we will start shooting Working Man!”

The opening of [Working Man?!] began with Park Young-jin as the center. 

As usual, they exchanged small talk and listened to PD’s game explanation.

“Today is a mystery special.”

“Mystery? Is it a murder case?”

“It’s a theft case.”

“Wait, what about the guest?”

“Today’s guest will appear in a video.”

Everyone’s eyes widened at PD’s words. 

Video? 

But why were they all so excited?

“Something is weird.”

“That’s right. Maybe there’s a spy or a hidden mission.”

“Is it you? You’re the spy, right?”

“No way!”

As usual, the Working Man members started to gang up on each other.

“Well, we don’t have much time for shooting today, so please focus everyone.”

“That’s why. The shooting time is reduced and something is weird?”

Despite the suspicions of the Working Man members, PD only said what he had to say. 

The shooting time given to Working Man was short because of the guest’s age. 

Squeeze it out and dry it! 

The eyes of the staff who expected a ratings explosion sparkled.

“The reason why we gathered you detectives today is because a superstar’s trophy has disappeared. We received a request that you must find it. And we also received a tip that the culprit is hiding among you.”

“Superstar? Is it PD Maknae in disguise again?”

“Can’t we just give him a gold badge instead of a trophy? The price of gold has gone up lately.”

“As expected, it’s you, right? Gotcha! You’re the culprit!”

Even amidst the noise, PD Jeon smiled faintly and continued.

“Then let me introduce you to the client.”

The staff member in the black hat pressed the remote switch at PD Jeon’s words.

A television set up in the corner turned on, and a desk and chair appeared on the screen. 

The chair was facing backwards, so only the back of the chair was visible.

“Why can’t we just see his face?”

“That’s right. Why do they have to prepare like this?”

The chair moved slowly. And ‘Over The Rainbow’ played.

“…?”

The Working Man members stared blankly at the screen, waiting for PD Maknae to appear in a wig. 

A brief cognitive dissonance occurred.

“Why are you here?”

They even spoke to their opponent in the television who wouldn’t hear them. 

They were frozen. 

A young voice came from inside.

[Hello. I’m Lee Seo-jun.]

The superstar who smiled like sunshine, Hollywood star. Lee Seo-jun was sitting there.

“What!? It hasn’t even been two weeks since the awards ceremony ended!”

“Is that really Lee Seo-jun? Is it someone in disguise?”

“…Sister, can you do that with makeup?”

“No way.”

[It’s nice to meet you detectives.]

“…Wow. It’s really Lee Seo-jun.”

The Working Man members who were making a fuss quietly looked at the screen. 

The cameras of the members captured every reaction of the Working Man members. 

Among them, there was a camera that was watching the staff member in the black hat.

The client on the screen, superstar Lee Seo-jun, made a gloomy expression and opened his mouth. 

They all groaned at his realistic acting.

[I heard that my trophy that I sent to Korea yesterday has disappeared. It’s my first Oscar trophy, and I really want to find it, so I decided to ask you detectives for help. Please work together and find my trophy!]

The video ended and the staff member in the black hat turned off the television. 

PD Jeon Min-jae, who was smiling brightly at the stunned Working Man members, opened his mouth.

“Yes. The Oscar trophy of actor Lee Seo-jun, the superstar, has disappeared. The trophy that you detectives have to find is this one.”

The staff member in the black hat brought a box. 

The Working Man members looked at the box with disbelief.

The box opened and a shiny gold trophy appeared. 

A human-like trophy, an Oscar trophy.

They all opened their mouths, but couldn’t say anything.

 In the long silence, Park Young-jin was the first to speak.

“Wow. What a surprise. They really invited a superstar.”

With that, the Working Man members started to spill out various stories.

They said they watched the awards ceremony rerun several times, they knew he would win, they would have cut out PD Maknae if it was usual, but in other words, the shooting time requested by Cocoa Enter was short.

“Then now, we will pick the culprit who stole the Oscar trophy. The culprit must hide the trophy well.”

“Ah, you haven’t picked the culprit yet?”

“I’m not the culprit!”

“…Wait a minute. PD Jeon. That trophy is made by the production team, right?”

At Park Young-jin’s question, the other Working Man members raised their hands and laughed.

“Of course. Do you think they would use the real one here?”

“No, I thought PD Maknae was the superstar, but then the real one showed up. So I thought the trophy might be…”

At Park Young-jin’s words, PDs, writers, and staff laughed awkwardly. 

There was a reason why the staff member in the black hat brought the box with the trophy among many staff members. 

He was the only one who had the courage to touch it.

‘What if I drop it by mistake…’

It gave him chills just thinking about it.

“Unfortunately…”

“Unfortunately?”

“It’s real!”

It’s real! 

It’s real, real, real… As if echoing, PD’s voice sounded and screams of Working Man members were heard.

“Are you crazy, production team!?”

“No way, it’s a real Oscar trophy!?”

“What are you going to do if you break it while hiding it!? You’re crazy!?”

“We’re going to put a lot of cushioning materials in it now. And this is not something you have to run with, it’s a treasure hunt. It’s okay as long as you’re careful when hiding and finding it.”

The Working Man members shouted even at PD’s words.

“The whole world will curse us!”

“I didn’t plan to make a name for myself in the world like this!”

The Working Man members resisted, but PD continued his words. 

He couldn’t miss this jackpot. 

It was already reported to the higher-ups.

“There are eight detective offices prepared from number one to eight. The culprit’s room has an Oscar trophy in it. The culprit must hide the real Oscar trophy very carefully.”

The Working Man members followed the staff member in the black hat to where there were eight offices.

“Just not me. Just not me. Just not me!”

“Didn’t that trophy look too weak earlier, bro? It looked like it would break if you dropped it slightly.”

“Well, as PD said, it’s just hiding. I think it’ll be fine if I just secure it well.”

“Right? This is not something you have to catch, but a treasure hunt.”

“We just have to catch the culprit.”

“Just confess if you’re the culprit. Isn’t it harder for the culprit who hides the Oscar trophy than the detective who finds it?”

“That would be nice.”

They said that, but they were sure to hide it hard for shooting. 

The eight Working Man members decided on their numbers and stood in front of their office doors.

‘Please don’t be me!’

He grabbed the doorknob with a stiff face and opened the door.

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