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Translator: 8uhl
Chapter: 13
Chapter Title: The Unknowing Uncle
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Seojun lay on the baby sofa gifted by Team Leader Kang Sora, a bottle of Elephant formula in his mouth.
Normally, his mother would be holding him, but right now...
"Our Seojun is so photogenic, you know? All the other staff members were praising him so much. And he's such a big boy, he finished the shoot in one go without crying even once!"
She was busy recounting the details of the shoot to her mother. Bragging about her son with a wide smile, she looked truly happy. The maternal grandmother's face appeared on the video call screen.
While drinking his formula, Seojun occasionally waved to his grandmother. His grandmother smiled brightly back, waving and saying, "Oh, my little puppy!"
-But when is our grandson's commercial going to be on television? I keep it on, but I haven't seen it.
At her mother's words, Seo Eunhye gave an awkward laugh.
"Well, there's this thing called N-tube where they run ads on the internet. The ad did so well there that the company ran out of formula to sell. They said the television commercial will be delayed a bit until they can produce more."
Team Leader Kang Sora, who had visited their home personally, had explained the sold-out situation. She said they would pay the modeling fee for both the internet and television ads as originally contracted. Although the contract was for three months, she suggested they renegotiate if the TV ad's airing exceeded the initial term.
She had repeatedly bowed her head, apologizing for the delay, but couldn't wipe the smile off her face as they were setting new sales records.
Seo Eunhye and Lee Minjun were also thrilled about the contract extension. It was a rather cheerful apology scene.
-So we can't watch it on television? You... N-tube? How do you do that?
"Ask Eunchan. His nephew is in a commercial, and he hasn't even shown it to you. What's that kid up to these days?"
The grandmother's sigh could be heard.
-That kid is busy.
"Why? He still hasn't found a job, has he?"
-He did. Got a job.
"He did?! Why didn't you tell me?"
At his mother's words, Seojun thought of his uncle Eunchan.
Seo Eunchan.
He was a big, burly, and very scary-looking uncle who, when standing next to his mother, looked like the Beast from "Beauty and the Beast."
His mother used to lament, slapping his uncle's back, that he couldn't get a job because of his face, and that despite looking like a total athlete, he was clumsy.
"That's great! That he got a job. What kind of work is it?"
-Well... an entertainment agency, or something?
The grandmother rustled around, searching for something. Soon, she pulled out a white piece of paper and read from it.
-Cocoa Entertainment, he's a manager.
"Cocoa Entertainment? Never heard of it."
-That's what I'm saying. He said he's super busy, creating a new idol group or something, and he doesn't even come home. I don't know how many days it's been, Eunhye.
The grandmother's worried sigh cast a shadow over Seo Eunhye's face.
Seo Eunhye quickly changed the subject. Look at our cute Seojun! Seojun's smiling face filled the video call screen. The grandmother smiled again.
"That punk, when his mother is so worried!"
After hanging up, Seo Eunhye was about to shout in frustration but lowered her voice when she saw Seojun. Then she quickly made a call.
The target: Seo Eunchan, that damn punk!
"Answer. The. Phone."
His mother, calling with her teeth clenched... She really was his uncle's sister. It was a classic case of sibling rivalry. Seojun recalled a scene of real-life siblings he had once seen on television.
That aside.
"Abooboo!"
"Ah. Did our Seojun finish eating?"
I'm done with my meal!
Seo Eunhye quickly picked Seojun up to burp him, then placed him back on the sofa. She then grabbed a random doll from the pile given by Uncle Heesang and handed it to Seojun.
"Mommy's a little busy right now. Here. It's the doll Seojun likes!"
She must have been really busy, because the doll she gave him was the Lich King doll, the one she hated the most.
"Aboobooboob!"
'But I like it!'
His upper gums were itchy these days, a sign that his top teeth were coming in. Seojun put the hand of the freshly washed Lich King doll in his mouth and mumbled.
*Click-*
-Yes! This is Manager Seo Eunchan from Cocoa Entertainment!
Uncle Eunchan's deep voice came through the phone. Seojun, who was fiddling with the skull doll, tilted his head. Seo Eunhye tilted her head too.
"Seo Eunchan, Manager?"
-Yes! Manager Seo Eunchan speaking. May I ask who is calling?
Seo Eunchan's energetic voice made Seojun wonder.
Huh? Is that not Uncle Eunchan? Unlike the puzzled Seojun, Seo Eunhye immediately figured out the reason.
"Aboo?"
"This punk..."
-Hello?
Seo Eunhye, who had been suppressing her temper in front of her son, couldn't hold it in any longer and yelled.
"You didn't even save my number?!"
-…Agh! Nuna? Why are you...? Huh? Did you change your number?
"I changed it three years ago!"
-Ahahaha. How did I not know?
Seo Eunhye pressed her forehead.
"Okay, whatever. The number isn't important. We've gotten along fine until now without you knowing it. Anyway. I hear you haven't been home lately?"
-Ah, yeah. I got a job, so I've been a bit busy.
"Mom was worried. Make some time and go visit."
Seo Eunchan's voice softened to match Seo Eunhye's calmer tone. On the other end of the line, he let out a small sigh and replied.
-Alright.
"Okay. Drop by our place when you're not busy, and let's talk again later. And save my number!"
-Yeah! Say hi to Seojun and my brother-in-law for me!
After hanging up, Seo Eunhye sat in front of Seojun and took the Lich King doll's hand out of his mouth, which he had been sucking on.
"I don't know what's with your uncle, haah. Still, it's a relief he got a job."
Seojun smiled along with Seo Eunhye. But that smile didn't last long.
"No, seriously! That punk can't even recognize his own nephew?!"
Lee Minjun had come home from work, and the couple, along with Seojun, were looking through the emails that had arrived for the N-tube channel [JUN].
Besides Elephant formula, many other advertising offers had come in. They would occasionally look them over, thinking it might be okay for Seojun to model for products he already used and liked.
"This one came again today."
Lee Minjun pointed to an email. Seo Eunhye recognized it too.
Since the day Seojun's video was uploaded to N-tube, one particular email had been arriving consistently, once a day.
It was some kind of internet broadcast proposal, an email that both Lee Minjun and Seo Eunhye had only glanced at before dismissing.
Seo Eunhye clicked on the email.
"They keep sending it, so I'm getting curious about what it says."
"I know. I saw it was about creating and uploading a show to N-tube."
"Like a web drama?"
"Yeah. Like a web variety show."
The screen changed.
[Hello. This is Cocoa Entertainment.]
That was the beginning. Seojun, sitting in his father's lap, read it too.
'Cocoa, Entertainment? That's...'
"Abooboboo?"
"Huh? This place is..."
"What is it?"
Seo Eunhye read it too. At her reaction, Lee Minjun turned his head to look at her.
Hmm, he turned his head back. Seojun also looked at his mother, then quickly looked away. An absolutely terrifying Seo Eunhye was there.
[...While planning a childcare variety show, we came across the channel [JUN]. JUN, who has captured the hearts of babies worldwide with just one mukbang! If we have the opportunity, we would be honored if you would appear on the childcare variety show we are planning...]
This part wasn't the problem.
[...If you are interested, please contact us at the number below.]
Yes. This was the problem.
[Manager Seo Eunchan. 010-XXXX-XXXX]
"Huh? Seo Eunchan? That's the same name as my brother-in-law..."
"No, seriously! That punk can't even recognize his own nephew?!"
The father, finally grasping the situation, scooted sideways while still seated. Seojun also stayed quiet.
His mother quickly took out her phone and made a call.
-Yes! This is Manager Seo Eunchan from Cocoa Entertainment!
"Aboo!"
"Shh. Seojun, be quiet. If you bother Mom right now... it'll be a disaster!"
'No, Dad, that's not it!'
Lee Minjun carefully covered Seojun's mouth with his large hand. Left with no other choice, Seojun flailed his arms up and down. Seo Eunchan, far away, wouldn't be able to see it, but it was all Seojun could do.
'Uncle! Uncle Eunchan is in grave danger!'
Seo Eunhye smiled brightly and lowered her voice.
"Oh, hello. I'm calling about the email you sent to our N-tube channel."
-Ah! Is this Jun's mother! It's a pleasure to meet you! This is Manager Seo Eunchan from Cocoa Entertainment!
"Abooboboo."
"Shh!"
The two males held their breath, watching the terrifyingly smiling mother. Seojun sighed inwardly.
'Uncle Eunchan didn't save the number again.'
"I'd like to meet in person, if that's okay?"
-Yes! Anytime is fine!
"Great. Then please come to Nuna's house."
-Uh... Yes? Nuna's house?
Seo Eunchan, on the phone, tilted his head, wondering if a new apartment complex with that name had been built.
The men who had been watching Seo Eunchan since he shot up to answer the phone also tilted their heads.
They were the four-member boy idol group that Cocoa Entertainment, where Seo Eunchan worked, was preparing to debut.
Their group name hadn't even been decided yet, but they were in their dorm with Seo Eunchan, discussing their future schedule.
"Nuna? Nuna's house? Is there an apartment complex like that in Korea?"
The one in charge of rap, a Korean-American named Kevin Kim, tilted his head.
"No? I've never heard of it either."
Park Seojin, the lead vocalist who couldn't rest until he'd looked up anything he didn't know, picked up his phone.
"But to get Jun! This is great!"
"Yeah! I didn't think it would actually happen!"
Choi Siyoon, in charge of dance, who had first suggested the N-tube variety show, and Hwang Yejun, the sub-vocalist who had proposed the childcare theme, high-fived.
The four men whispered among themselves.
It was then.
-I said come to your nuna's house right now. You idiot who can't even recognize his own nephew!!!
The voice was so loud it boomed through the phone. The four men who had been talking quietly, and Seo Eunchan who had the phone to his ear, all flinched in shock.
"Wait, what the..."
Seo Eunchan quickly looked at his phone.
Huh? Why is Jun's mother in my recent calls...?
The call from just a few hours ago flashed through Seo Eunchan's mind.
Nuna? Nuna?!
"Gasp!"
-You. Didn't I tell you to save my number?
"Wait, Nuna! Hold on. Is it really you?!"
-Do you have another nuna besides me!?
"No, no. Uh. Then Jun from the channel [JUN] is..."
-Your nephew, Seojun! How could you not recognize the nephew you saw just a month ago!
Seo Eunchan stammered through the rest of the conversation.
No, what is this? What's happening!?
"Nephew? What's a nephew?"
"Nephew. It's the manager's sister's son."
"Ah. Nephew!"
When Kevin, who wasn't fluent in Korean, asked, the leader Park Seojin answered. Hwang Yejun just kept exclaiming in awe.
"Wow. The star baby with 200,000 subscribers is the manager's nephew."
"Look here. He doesn't look like the manager at all."
Choi Siyoon quickly opened N-tube and played a video from channel [JUN].
The four men huddled together to watch the video. A baby with adorable features was being fed spoonful by spoonful. The four pairs of eyes shifted from the baby to Seo Eunchan.
The man, who looked like someone you'd immediately drop to your knees and apologize to if you bumped into him on the street, was scowling deeply.
It was a good thing they had gotten used to him over the past three weeks; his appearance was still terrifying.
Hwang Yejun whispered softly.
"They really don't look alike."
In the meantime, Seo Eunchan, exhausted after getting a thorough earful from Seo Eunhye, finally ended the call.
Drained of energy, he slumped into a chair and hung his head.
Ah, my ears are ringing. It felt like he could hear a high-pitched *beeeep-!*
"Manager. Are you okay?"
"Ugh."
Seo Eunchan waved his hand dismissively at Park Seojin's question. Park Seojin shook his head.
"The manager doesn't look okay."
"The manager's sister seems super scary."
The members nodded in agreement at Kevin's words.
After sitting in the chair for a moment, Seo Eunchan lifted his head. In his dazed state, his sister's final words came back to him.
-Get over to my house right now!
Seo Eunchan quickly got up and grabbed his wallet, phone, and jacket. The four men's gazes turned to him. Park Seojin asked.
"Manager! Where are you going?"
"Uh... I have to go to my sister's house now."
"Yes, sir! Be safe!"
There was no need for further explanation. Seo Eunchan gave a cursory wave in response to Kevin's farewell and rushed out the door.
Watching the closing door, the four men silently prayed for Manager Seo Eunchan's safe return.
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