Chapter 17

17. Jeong Tae's Mother's Gift

The camera test was a success.

Boksil and Nero skillfully showed off their beauty in front of the camera, following Siwoo's instructions, and the Pet World officials were more than satisfied.

The contract was promptly signed.

Dohjin and Hyunju, who had studied various things in advance, carefully reviewed the contract and signed it with a good feeling.

On the way back home.

Hyunju, sitting in the back seat, holding the contract, said,

"Following dramas and movies, now we're doing CFs. Siwoo is becoming an entertainer."

Dohjin laughed.

"His followers will increase even more, right?"

"Yeah. Now it's 105,000. That's amazing. It feels like a hidden camera to me."

"If the ad airs and the movie opens, I think it will easily exceed 200,000. I never dreamed Siwoo would become an influencer star."

Jeong Tae was acting like a star with 40,000 followers, so 200,000 was an unimaginable number.

Just thinking about it was overwhelming.

Hyunju stroked Boksil and Nero's backs.

They had been growling and fighting on the way, but now they were cuddled up and sleeping soundly in the same carrier.

"These influencers' followers include a significant portion from these two. Big brother, do you think the kids might be stressed from filming the CF?"

In response to Hyunju's question, Dohjin turned on the turn signal and answered,

"Don't worry. That's why we did the aptitude test. Didn't you see today? They were super excited."

Nero was overjoyed with the one churu he received after the test, and Boksil was jumping around and clapping in front of the Pet World staff who were showering her with praise.

It felt like they had come back more relaxed.

The ad shoot was scheduled for mid-July.

Hyunju, who had received a request from the marketing team leader to take good care of the kids' condition, was reminded of an important point: not to change their usual diet or over-exercise them.

Maintaining their regular routine was the most important, the marketing team leader emphasized.

Following his advice, Hyunju spent ordinary days with the kids.

* * *

Ordinary days passed, and one day in early July, when the real heat began.

Someone rang the doorbell at Siwoo's house.

It was a delivery.

"Siwoo, a gift has arrived. Let's see what Auntie sent?"

The gift for Siwoo's first birthday, sent by Jeong Tae's mother, had arrived.

– Woof!

Boksil, who had been playing with a ball, ran over with curious eyes.

Nero had disappeared somewhere as soon as the doorbell rang.

Hyunju sat Siwoo in the living room and opened the delivery box.

Inside the rather large box were Siwoo's summer clothes.

"Wow!"

Siwoo's eyes widened and he exclaimed.

'Clothes!'

It was a highly practical gift.

Although the perfume auntie wasn't very likable, this gift deserved a round of applause.

Hyunju opened the first box of clothes.

'...Hmm?'

After checking the design, Siwoo paused his applause.

The back of a red short-sleeved T-shirt was adorned with an overly flashy floral pattern.

It wasn't a floral pattern for a little girl but rather one that gave off a slightly thug-like vibe.

Well.

It's the first piece of clothing, after all.

There could be one like this.

Siwoo looked forward to the second piece of clothing.

Hyunju opened another box.

"..."

"..."

A thirty-year-old mother and a 14-month-old son tilted their heads in unison, like a decalcomania.

It was a green sleeveless shirt.

Dozens of white radishes were drawn on the front and back.

Radishes.

Yes, the radishes used for making kimchi.

While it was easier on the eyes than the previous clothes, it was hard to understand why radishes, not strawberries or apples, were on baby clothes.

Hyunju picked up her phone and searched for the brand of the clothes sent by Jeong Tae's mother.

"Wow! What a price..."

The floral shirt was 190,000 won, and the radish shirt was 160,000 won.

And the last piece of clothing.

A black shirt with a golden skull in the center was 150,000 won.

Three tops in total, 500,000 won.

"Three tops for 500,000 won?! That's ridiculous."

The material was ordinary cotton.

So, it must be the design value...

Hyunju thought her aesthetic sense might be lacking.

"Still, it's too expensive. Is it okay to accept it?"

She decided to take a picture of Siwoo wearing the clothes first.

It was a matter of etiquette when receiving a gift, regardless of whether it was liked or not.

"Siwoo~ Hooray~ Raise your arms. Right."

Hyunju, who had taken off Siwoo's clothes, picked up the radish shirt first.

It was the most decent among the bunch.

"..."

But when she put it on him... it was cute!

"What, it suits you well?"

Who would have thought radishes could be cute.

Hyunju quickly took a picture.

Click!

"Oh, why are you so cute?"

The completion of fashion is indeed the face.

Siwoo had won over the radishes.

Click! Click!

Seeing her expression, Siwoo became curious too.

"Kewo~ Kewo~"

"Huh? Mirror? Do you want to see yourself in the clothes, Siwoo?"

"Yup!"

Hyunju took Siwoo to the bedroom with a full-length mirror.

As she grabbed the doorknob, Hyunju noticed Nero, who was hiding behind the TV stand and tangling the wires.

– ...

Nero, with a clump of dust on his head, stared at Hyunju.

After a moment of silence, Hyunju shouted,

"I told you not to go there!"

Nero, scattering the dust on his body, ran out into the living room.

"Oh, really!"

While cleaning up the dust was manageable, the real problem was the wires.

Hyunju, who had heard that some cats chew on wires, which can be dangerous, decided to play a quick game of hide-and-seek.

After catching Nero, she wiped his body and feet and returned to Siwoo.

Boksil and Nero followed Siwoo as he walked to the bedroom mirror.

It seemed everyone wanted to see the clothes.

"Siwoo, how do you like it? Do you like the clothes?"

Hyunju asked.

Siwoo, who had been looking at his reflection in the mirror, resumed the applause he had paused earlier.

Clap clap clap-!

First impressions are just that.

He liked it.

It was cuter because of the radishes.

If it had been strawberries or apples, it might have been too common.

This unexpectedness was upgrading Siwoo's cuteness even more.

"Wow-!"

The perfume auntie.

Surprisingly, she has a good sense of style?

Or maybe, she sent the clothes to tease, but Siwoo looked too good in them.

Hyunju brought the rest of the clothes.

"What will you wear next? Choose, Siwoo."

Siwoo pointed to the only piece of clothing he had liked from the start.

"Are you going to wear this? Okay. Raise your hands~ Hooray~"

Siwoo, who had changed into the black T-shirt with a shiny golden skull, stood in front of the mirror again.

It was intense.

'Not bad? I should wear this tomorrow.'

Seeing Hyunju pick up her phone, Siwoo opened his mouth and shouted,

"Moda~ Moda~"

"Cap?"

Hyunju, who didn't want to be mistaken for not being his mother, understood Siwoo's clumsy words perfectly.

Thinking of the baby cap she had bought at a baseball game recently, she quickly went to get it.

"Did you want to wear a cap? Our Siwoo is really a genius, isn't he? He knows fashion. Here, put it on. Wow! So cool!"

'Fashion is just about following what celebrities wear.'

* * *

The next day.

Siwoo was walking through the mall, holding his mother's hand.

"Oh, look at that baby!"

"So cute! Amazing!"

"No kidding! Really beautiful!"

On his head was a black baseball cap with NY engraved.

On his face were baby sunglasses with cute horns.

Around his neck was a 14K gold necklace he received as a first birthday gift from his grandmother, and he was wearing the golden skull T-shirt he had gotten the day before.

He walked confidently.

Step by step.

Bing- bing-

With every step, his shoes made a sound.

If there was a program for "Baby Rapper" instead of "High School Rapper," he would have won just by his fashion before even rapping.

Click click click-

People stopped to watch as Siwoo, with a yellow pacifier in his mouth, took each step.

Eventually, two high school girls in uniforms approached Hyunju and asked,

"Excuse me... Miss. The baby is so cute, can we take a picture?"

Hearing this, a group of 20-something women drinking coffee nearby also asked Hyunju,

"Hey, can we take a picture of the baby? We won't post it anywhere."

A few more people also asked.

At first, Hyunju was unsure about what to do, but as more people asked, she looked troubled.

"I'm sorry."

People were disappointed but understood and said goodbye to Siwoo.

"Hyunju~!"

At that moment, someone called Hyunju's name from behind.

"Yeah, I'm here."

Hyunju raised her hand in greeting.

It was her high school classmate Eun-hye.

In Eun-hye's arms was a girl baby about the same age as Siwoo.

"Jina is sleeping?"

"Yeah. She's been sleeping since we got in the taxi. It's time for her to wake up. Siwoo, hello! Long time no see. Do you remember Auntie Eun-hye?"

"Yup! Auntie!"

"Wow, your clothes are amazing! A hip-hop baby. Oh, so cute. When Jina wakes up, we should take a picture together."

Hyunju and Eun-hye went up to the 4th floor of the mall.

As soon as they got off the elevator, they saw a kids' cafe right in front of them.

The meeting place for the day.

"Hyunju! Eun-hye!"

Their friends who had arrived earlier were waiting for them.

"Look at Siwoo's clothes! He's already a big star? Haha!"

"Oh~ Siwoo! Your sunglasses are so cool~!"

The friends' reactions were very enthusiastic.

Hyunju, who usually didn't buy such flashy clothes, felt a bit uneasy while dressing Siwoo.

However, seeing the positive reactions from people in the mall and her friends, she thought it might be worth trying new things in the future.

"Are all the guests here? How many people in total?"

A kids' cafe staff member asked, and Eun-hye answered,

"Four adults and four children."

"We'll help with the payment."

Each of them took out their cards to pay, and Hyunju and her friends went inside.

This was a specialized kids' cafe for children under 36 months, different from regular kids' cafes.

Since there was no risk of being overwhelmed by older children, it had recently become popular among mothers of young babies.

After taking off their shoes, Siwoo stepped onto the kids' cafe mat and headed towards the train-shaped house in front of him.

The inside of the house was empty.

Siwoo entered with peace of mind.

While other ordinary children would be excited and run around in a kids' cafe or indoor playground, Siwoo was different.

Playing with adults in his baby form was better.

Playing with other kids was the real stress.

'Ah... two hours from now. How will I survive?'

Mom, please, no time extension...

Siwoo decided to enjoy the last 10 minutes of peace in the quiet, empty train house before starting the parenting.

However...

"Siwoo went into the train house? Kyung-ho, go inside and play with Siwoo."

Kyung-ho, who had been rated as a super baby at 5.5 kg at birth, was led by his mother into the train house.

He was 3 months younger than Siwoo but much bigger.

He was like a baby bear.

"Yong-joon, play with your friends."

Yong-joon, who was 19 months old but small in size, also entered.

"Hi."

Yong-joon greeted Siwoo.

He had a cute, round face.

Finally, 13-month-old Jina, who had just woken up, crawled in.

The small train house was quickly filled to capacity.

Siwoo pushed up his sunglasses and looked at the three children one by one.

The children were staring at Siwoo's golden skull shirt with their mouths open.

Oh.