Chapter 73

73. LA

October.

An airplane arrived at the international airport in Los Angeles, the city in western America.

Siwoo, who was visiting a foreign country for the first time, opened his eyes wide and looked around incessantly.

Wherever he turned his gaze, he saw foreigners.

As befitting a city known for its diverse cultures and ethnicities, there were many Caucasians, African Americans, Hispanics, and Asians.

"Wow~"

Siwoo's eyes sparkled with amazement.

Having lived in Korea where he only saw Koreans, stepping out into the world brought back old memories.

'Which continent was it? Was the city called Meta? It feels familiar~'

Meta, the city of vibrant culture and art.

It was a peaceful city where various races lived together, helping each other and enjoying life.

'Hmm, I miss that place a little.'

There was also the little magician mouse Iutara, his first cooking teacher, the mermaid aunt who lived in a house at the bottom of a lake near his mansion, and the young dragon children who would play with the ivy on the wall like elementary school kids ringing the doorbell and running away.

It was a place with many fun memories.

On the way to the accommodation from the airport in a taxi, Siwoo looked out the window at the buildings and people, momentarily reminiscing about the past.

"Siwoo, are you happy?"

Hijoo asked, seeing Siwoo's cheerful expression.

As Siwoo grew, Hijoo, now thirty-eight, had recently finished writing a web drama script and was taking a break.

"Yes. I find America very interesting and exciting."

Manager Kwon Tae-woo, who was in the taxi with them, said to Hijoo.

"Originally, it's important for kids to see and experience things. Especially for Siwoo, who acts, it's even more important. As you know, for actors and writers, experience is a treasure."

Tae-woo, who had been defeated by Siwoo, a hidden ace, in a battle with the PD of Hotel Red Moon and the Bull's Foot, had officially taken on the role of manager for this U.S. trip.

Although he was not originally planning to manage child actors, the A-list male actor he was waiting for had dragged his feet and eventually moved to another company, leaving Tae-woo in a situation where he needed to find a new actor. Fortunately, he and Siwoo got along well, and after much consideration, he agreed to take care of Siwoo until he entered elementary school, as discussed with Shin Young-min, the CEO.

After unpacking at the hotel where CEO Shin Young-min and the new staff of Got Entertainment were staying, Siwoo and his group set out to tour LA with excitement.

The trip was scheduled for six nights and seven days.

The first and second days were for sightseeing, the third day for rehearsal, the fourth day for a brief appearance at Young-min's concert in Inglewood, near the LA International Airport, the fifth day for rest, and the sixth day for some filming, though the details were not yet finalized.

"Let's have fun today and tomorrow. I'm going to enjoy it as if I'm on vacation. I think I'll meet and greet CEO Shin Young-min when he returns from practice tonight at the hotel."

"Ah, yes. Please take good care of us."

"Leave it to me. I'm familiar with LA."

Tae-woo confidently tapped his chest with his fist.

Siwoo and his group moved to Downtown Union Station and enjoyed a leisurely walk from there.

"While sightseeing in Downtown, there's a market nearby called Grand Central Market. We'll have an early dinner there and then go to Santa Monica Beach to enjoy drinks and watch the sunset. Ah, this feels like I'm designing a sentimental tour. Hahaha."

Siwoo, holding hands with his aunt Hijoo and Uncle Tae-woo, walked excitedly in the middle.

Siwoo felt as if he had entered a different world.

Everything was new, and his heart felt wide open.

He felt an endless sense of freedom.

"Wow~!"

They visited the MOCA, a modern art museum, saw various exhibits, admired the geometric and beautiful Walt Disney Concert Hall, which resembled a blooming rose, felt the grandeur of Dodger Stadium, the home field of the famous LA Dodgers, and even visited the Java Market, which had a similar feel to the Dongdaemun Market.

Actually, the shopping was for Aunt Hijoo.

"How about this, Aunt? Does it suit you?"

"Yes! It's beautiful! Aunt is the best!"

"What about this one? Does this color not suit you?"

"It's also beautiful! Aunt looks good in everything!"

Siwoo enthusiastically helped Aunt Hijoo shop, even though she usually spent her days locked in her room writing.

However, Hijoo only looked around and, in the end, only bought two cheap T-shirts.

"That's enough. What's the point of buying expensive clothes? There's no one to show them to. Comfortable clothes are the best."

"..."

Siwoo, with his small, warm hand, tightly held his aunt's slightly lonely hand.

"Siwoo! Writer! How about this hat?"

Manager Tae-woo, wearing a completely unsuitable Mexican straw hat, sombrero, and holding a chicken burrito and a box of steak nachos, asked.

"Here, Writer! Siwoo, you should eat too. Writer, aren't you getting hungry? Let's go to dinner while eating this!"

Siwoo and his group enjoyed the burrito and nachos as snacks while walking back to Grand Central Market.

"Should we have gotten you some spicy nachos, Siwoo?"

Tae-woo's joke and his aunt's puzzled face made Siwoo burst into laughter, and he happily chewed on the meat-topped nachos.

The mashed beans on top were quite delicious.

"Delicious~!"

"Really? That's good. Have more."

Tae-woo piled steak on the nachos and fed them to Siwoo.

It was a heartwarming scene, and Hijoo smiled.

As the burrito and nachos were almost gone, Hijoo noticed a large bookstore.

It had a special atmosphere, reminiscent of the medieval era, with a vintage feel.

"Wow, it's beautiful. Can we stop here for a moment?"

Hijoo asked Tae-woo.

"Yes, of course. As a writer, you can't resist the smell of books, can you?"

"It's a professional habit. Siwoo, do you want to look at books?"

"Sure~! I also like the smell of books!"

With Siwoo's agreement, Hijoo entered the bookstore.

'What is this?'

Siwoo, upon entering the bookstore, tilted his head at the items displayed on the left side of the entrance.

'Ah, these are LPs, right? Wow, there are CDs too?'

Siwoo, who had never seen LPs or CDs before, touched them and moved further inside.

In front of him was a bookshelf as tall as an adult, with books spread out as if they were flying, giving it a magical, living feel.

"Wow! It's beautiful!"

Siwoo slowly walked towards the bookshelf.

Tae-woo and Hijoo followed him.

"['Harrivat and the Dragon's Egg']?"

Standing in front of the bookshelf, Siwoo looked up at the blue-covered books filling the shelf.

Tae-woo, placing his hand on Siwoo's head, looked at the bookshelf and said,

"Siwoo, you can't read English books yet, right? Since we're here, how about I buy you an English book as a keepsake? Will you study hard to be able to read it? I heard from the English trainer, or rather, the teacher, that you're on track to master English before entering elementary school."

"I can read~"

Siwoo said confidently.

"Really? You can read? Already?"

"A little~"

"Wow, what a genius. Siwoo, let's become an actor at Seoul National University. Haha. Should I buy this book? Writer, have you read this? My cousin, who never reads, sat down and read this book very seriously."

"I haven't read it, but I've heard about it. It's very popular worldwide. I don't understand why a novel with only children is enjoyable for adults, but I've been meaning to read it."

"The main characters are children, but the adult teachers and parents in ['Harrivat's Magic School'] are involved in some serious politics. The mix is perfect, appealing to all ages. The author has made almost 70 billion... With the series now complete and a movie adaptation decided, the income will likely increase even more."

"That's a lot of money, hard to fathom."

"Right. One of the four main characters is an East Asian... Hmm...?"

Tae-woo's eyes slowly moved down.

He saw Siwoo, who was looking up at him cutely.

An East Asian boy.

How old were the children in the first volume?

Tae-woo checked the book.

They were a few years older than Siwoo.

"Maybe it's a bit difficult."

Tae-woo and Hijoo spent about twenty more minutes browsing the bookstore with Siwoo.

Hijoo put a few books by her favorite American SF author in the basket, and Tae-woo picked up the entire first volume of the Harrivat series as a gift for Siwoo.

* * *

The second day's destination was Hollywood, the capital of world cinema.

Tae-woo planned to take Siwoo to Universal Studios to show him the sets where Hollywood movies are made and to have fun with various famous characters.

Siwoo, holding hands with Hijoo and Tae-woo, entered Universal Studios.

"Siwoo, how about this?"

"Yes, I like it!"

"Do you want to eat this?"

"Yes!"

"Siwoo, are you having fun?"

"I'm having fun~!"

Riding a small train, they entered a dark maze and went into a movie, watched a performance with a speed boat flying into the sky and bombs exploding, and danced with cute, tiny movie characters. Siwoo enjoyed the dream theme park filled with movies.

At the end, they took a tram and started the studio tour, the core of Universal Studios.

It featured famous movie sets and spectacular shows, as well as the opportunity to visit and experience actual Hollywood movie and American drama filming sites.

Sometimes, they even got to meet popular actors, and Siwoo was lucky.

"David Robertson!? Chris Taylor!? Elena Graham!?"

Tae-woo knew they were filming here today but didn't know which project.

What a coincidence...

No, not really.

CEO Shin Young-min had told him that there would be filming during the Universal Studios tour today.

'So he knew.'

Tae-woo decided not to be surprised.

Being surprised would mean losing.

But Hijoo, standing next to him, was wide-eyed with surprise.

"I'm a huge fan of this drama! I've watched all the seasons!"

Seeing Hijoo's excited, girl-like expression, Siwoo asked,

"Aunt, what is this drama?"

Hijoo and Tae-woo answered simultaneously,

"XOXO."

Siwoo, who had learned English but didn't know this expression, looked puzzled.

"X... X?"

While Tae-woo opened his mouth to add something, he closed it again.

XOXO.

It was the most popular American TV series among young people in the U.S.

And—

It was also the drama Siwoo might film in a few days.

However, the situation was a bit complicated due to adult circumstances.

The decision would likely be made the day before filming.

If he were to participate, Siwoo's role would be...

'Friend23' attending the birthday party of Elena Graham's younger sister.

Oh.