Superstar From Age 0

Chapter 206

Da-jin!

Lee Da-jin ran towards Seo-jun with a wide smile and grabbed his hand. 

They spun around in circles. Seo-jun also smiled brightly and spun with her. 

The staff members smiled warmly at the sight of the two actors spinning around in the middle of the parking lot. 

They all knew about the childrens play Spring Connection.

Okay, lets go over there and finish. The parking lot is dangerous.

Lee Da-jins manager gently pushed Seo-jun and Lee Da-jin inside. 

He knew well that he couldnt stop the high-spirited Lee Da-jin. 

It was better to let her enjoy it enough for everyones sake.

Seo-jun laughed at the subtle resignation.

The Hollywood makeup team and our makeup team are really amazing. I watched a lot of zombie movies and prepared myself, but I was still surprised by the zombie makeup.

Me too. The wounds looked so real, didnt they?

Yeah, yeah. The ones with bones showing were kind of gross.

Seo-jun admired the makeup that was comparable to the real zombies he remembered. 

They chatted about various things until Seo-jun said.

Sister, the fans sent us a coffee truck. Do you want some coffee? There are cookies and bread too.

There was enough for even the extras.

Coffee truck!

Lee Da-jins eyes lit up.

She had eaten breakfast, but she had separate stomachs for rice, bread, and dessert.

I wonder what they have. There must be orange juice.

Hahaha.

Seo-juns favorite juice.

It was the drink that Seo-juns fans paid most attention to when they sent him a coffee truck or a food truck.

Seo-jun led Lee Da-jin to the coffee truck. 

As if coming from the coffee truck, everyone passing by seemed to have a cup of orange juice with a hint of orange.

Its popular. Orange juice. Well, it must be more delicious than other drinks because they care more.

They make it fresh here.

Orange juice?

Yes. Da-ho hyung told me. They have juicers too.

Seo-jun showed Lee Da-jin a picture of the coffee truck sent by Ahn Da-ho. 

There were three juicers in the most visible place. 

Lee Da-jin tilted her head. 

The brands of the three juicers were all different.

Why are the brands different?

Well

Seo-jun smiled and explained to Lee Da-jin.

When [From Sprout] posted an announcement for sponsoring a coffee truck, someone suggested to squeeze fresh orange juice for Seo-jun, his favorite drink. 

Everyone agreed unanimously and bought oranges with high sugar content. 

They also bought or rented juicers to send to the coffee truck that didnt have any.

Somehow, several juicer companies heard about it and offered to sponsor them, but the fans refused.

-It would be an advertisement if they take pictures.

-Yeah, they might use Seo-juns name and picture for advertising purposes.

They didnt know when the juicer from Seo-juns fan cafe would turn into the juicer that Seo-jun uses. But they couldnt not buy juicers either, so they chose three companies with the best reviews.

Lee Da-jin chuckled. 

As expected, the superstar and his fans were different.

They refused that? Seo-jun and his fans are really amazing.

Right? They are all awesome.

Seo-jun grinned proudly.

Well, my fans are more amazing though.

At Lee Da-jins remark, Seo-jun stared at her intently. 

Lee Da-jin didnt back down either. 

It seemed like sparks were flying somewhere.

Soon, the two actors who loved their fans, Seo-jun and Lee Da-jin, started to brag about their fans.

They donate every time its my birthday. Arent my fans so kind?

Me too! They donated and volunteered on my birthday.

They also watch my movies a lot. And they write detailed reviews that I like.

My movies too! They watch them a lot and post many reviews!

They also send me a lot of letters! I have this much piled up at my agency and home!

Me too! They all write by hand!

They come from all over the world!

That

Lee Da-jin was speechless at Seo-juns words.

-That doesnt count! You have to exclude the number of people!

Each one of them is a precious fan. How can I exclude them?

Lee Da-jin lost her words again at his reasonable argument.

You, you!

Kim Jong-ho, who arrived late, frowned at Seo-jun who was smug and Lee Da-jin who was arguing with him.

A moment later.

After hearing the story from his two junior actors, Kim Jong-ho laughed and joined the fan bragging.

My fans have been active for over 20 years.

At his words, Lee Da-jin raised both hands in defeat. 

Seo-jun hesitated for a moment. Should he count from his mukbang days or from when his fan cafe was created? But Seo-jun was only 14 years old. 

He couldnt beat 20 years no matter what.

What about the fans from my first life No, that wouldnt work.

He didnt even know if he had any fans, let alone explain that. 

So Seo-jun also raised both hands.

Hahaha.

The winner of the fan bragging was Kim Jong-ho.

***

Ready, action!

The office was full of papers.

It seemed to be used as a conference room, with a large table and papers scattered all over it.

The three people who decided to take a break there were filling their stomachs with fruits and bread from the cafe kitchen and talking.

The man and the child were discussing whether to go back or look around more, while also reading the papers piled up on the table, looking through the drawers and the room for weapons or anything useful.

The woman who joined this team by chance was sitting on a chair, trying to calm her racing heart.

Yeon Jae-hee.

A graduate student who had been working part-time for two months.

She had a important experiment today, so her work hours were delayed. She was enjoying the sun at the rooftop cafe on the third floor, drinking coffee and eating cake.

When they couldnt find anything useful, Im Jang-woo and Go Ju-won also sat down. 

They talked about various things until Yeon Jae-hee brought up her guess.

Im Jang-woo scratched his head after hearing it.

So youre saying these are zombies.

Yeon Jae-hee and Go Ju-won nodded repeatedly.

And the research center that studies this zombie virus is the one behind here? The life extension research?

This time, only Yeon Jae-hee nodded.

Im Jang-woo crossed his arms. His whole body was saying I dont believe it.

You want me to believe that?

What are you going to do if you dont believe it? Detective, have you ever seen a disease where you become that when you get bitten by that?

No.

But to say its zombies Im Jang-woo spat out as if sighing.

Thats too much like a movie.

Sometimes reality is worse than movies.

Yeon Jae-hee blinked at Go Ju-wons words. 

It was not something that a middle schooler would say.

Im Jang-woo didnt know Go Ju-wons situation, but he knew that he had a lot of stories bottled up inside. 

He looked at Go Ju-won with a bitter expression for a moment, then turned his head to Yeon Jae-hee.

So you want to go to the research center?

Yes. I think there might be a solution there.

Yeon Jae-hee tried to recall. 

She didnt know the details because it was not her major, but she had been sorting and reading the documents for two months. 

She was confident in English.

She thought she had misinterpreted the words that seemed to come out of a movie, but now that the situation was like this, the answer was clear.

Life extension research using those things that were dead but moving.

And Professor Maria was researching a drug to stop them.

I think the drug that the professor was researching was to stop the zombies. And there were several prototypes of the drug. Dont you think one of them might help with this situation?

What if it doesnt help?

Then we cant do anything about it. But if we can at least get the professors research data, it would be a great help. We can share it with the people outside the hospital, right?

Im Jang-woo didnt know anything about science, but he liked Yeon Jae-hees opinion. If they just take the data, the smart guys will figure it out.

Good. Where is the lab with the prototype and the data?

As if he was going alone, Im Jang-woo asked and Yeon Jae-hee quickly said.

Ill go too. Itll be easier for you, detective, if I guide you.

Yeon Jae-hee was scared.

But she was more scared of the fact that O.W.C, who should know about this situation, had no reaction. Maybe, really, she was the only one who had a clue about this situation.

If there was no solution, the zombie situation would spread more and more and her family and friends might be in danger too. She had to stop it as soon as possible.

Besides, I didnt mean to, but I think Im involved in this accident too. If I take some documents, theyll at least give me some credit.

Yeon Jae-hee said with a forced smile.

Im Jang-woo nodded heavily at that.

I want to go too.

A young voice made Im Jang-woo and Yeon Jae-hee turn their heads. They expected Go Ju-won to say that, but Im Jang-woo looked determined not to let him go this time.

You

He was about to say no when he swallowed his words.

Go Ju-won was crying. He couldnt make any sound and his clothes were stained with blood. He wiped his face with his palm that was wounded from shooting arrows hastily, but his tears wouldnt stop.

If he could make some noise, he would have cried out loud. He choked back his sobs, but his tears flowed like a broken faucet.

He found out what made his friends like that. There seemed to be a solution too. He knew very well that his friends couldnt go back to normal. But, but

I cant leave them like that.

He looked back several times as he went down the stairs.

He hesitated between the people who were evacuating in the opposite direction.

His steps slowed down and his shoulders stiffened.

The short hesitation became a long time.

It didnt take long to get to his friends but it wasnt fast either. 

After seeing his friends who had become zombies, Go Ju-won regretted his hesitation. 

He felt a heavy guilt choking his throat and pressing down on his chest.

Stupid Go Ju-won. Coward Go Ju-won.

So this was a small atonement.

His friends were they zombies now?

Shadows fell on Im Jang-woo and Yeon Jae-hees faces. 

They didnt know he had such a situation.

They couldnt guess all of Go Ju-wons feelings, but they knew it wasnt an ordinary one. 

They were also moving for their families and acquaintances outside the hospital.

Their heads were complicated.

Hell follow us.

I think so too.

Maybe its better to take him with us.

They remembered Go Ju-won proudly showing off his twelve phones.

His strength to shoot zombies with a long bow. 

His sensitivity that was sharper than anyone elses. His archery skills were beyond words.

The two adults gave an answer they wouldnt have given if it wasnt for this emergency situation.

Okay. I got it.

Lets go together, Ju-won.

At their words, Go Ju-won swallowed his tears and nodded repeatedly.

Im Jang-woo stroked Go Ju-wons head and Yeon Jae-hee patted his back.

Detective Im Jang-woo, archery club member Go Ju-won, graduate student Yeon Jae-hee.

The destination of the three people with different occupations and ages was decided.

It was the O.W.C research center, which was suspected to be the source of this situation.

Cut, OK!

Director Choi Dae-man shouted.

Ahn Da-ho handed a wet towel to Seo-jun, who was sobbing. 

His face cooled down as the cold air touched his hot face from the tears. 

They took a short break until Seo-juns eyes went down.

Lee Da-jin and Kim Jong-ho had a lump in their throats at Seo-juns acting. 

Lee Da-jin seemed to remember something as she sucked in 100% organic orange juice.

Oh. Seo-jun, you said you have a year-end performance at school?

Kim Jong-ho, who was drinking warm coffee, asked with interest.

Seo-juns school is Yeoul Arts Middle School?

Yes. Its next Friday.

Seo-jun answered with a towel over his eyes.

Oh.

Lee Da-jin and Kim Jong-hos eyes sparkled.

Are you performing too, Seo-jun?

Lee Da-jin asked with anticipation and Seo-jun answered.

No. Only second and third graders do it. First graders only assist, but I cant do it because of Escape filming.

Thats too bad.

Yeah.

Lee Da-jin and Kim Jong-ho looked genuinely disappointed.

But you cant come anyway, Uncle Jong-ho and Sister Da-jin. The year-end performance is only for family and school staff.

Lee Da-jin and Kim Jong-ho smiled slyly, but Seo-jun couldnt see it because he had his eyes covered.

Theres always a way.

Yeah. So if you have any plans to perform, tell me in advance.

Tell me too, okay? You got that?

Yes.

Seo-jun nodded without thinking at Lee Da-jin and Kim Jong-hos urging.