Chapter 76

76. Labor Pains

As Siwoo smiled brightly, the staff members watching him couldn't help but smile as well.

It was a mirroring effect, where one's happiness can unconsciously make others smile.

Lucy also smiled at Siwoo, who had risen, without following the script.

To young Lucy, Siwoo's smile felt like a bright light pouring into the set.

Siwoo walked towards where Lucy was standing.

Facing Lucy, Siwoo paused to ensure the camera could capture them, made eye contact with Lucy, and then naturally escorted her.

Director Helen and the staff were amazed by Siwoo's expression and the smoothness of his movements.

'What is this kid?'

Director Helen, who was gradually becoming captivated by Siwoo, tilted her head and watched the two children walk towards the piano.

Lucy, walking with Siwoo, couldn't help but glance at his face.

He was such a fascinating child.

Just being by his side made her feel very reassured, less tense, and more courageous.

Siwoo's hand, which was touching hers, was warm.

Siwoo, who was subtly sending mana through his hand to Lucy, smiled again when he saw the trust in her eyes.

With Siwoo's smile, Lucy was able to shake off any remaining anxiety.

Lucy, with Siwoo's help, climbed onto the chair in front of the grand piano.

Sitting at the piano, Lucy said to Siwoo,

"Thank you, Eddie."

"Sure thing! Anytime!"

Siwoo, the cheerful boy who loved baseball, shouted confidently.

Lucy, a bit embarrassed by Siwoo's grin, waved her hand.

Having completed his task, Siwoo turned around.

An extra should shine in their role.

One shouldn't try to shine like a lead actor.

As Siwoo, who had shown the best expressions within the given role and situation, returned to his position,

"Great job, Eddie."

The actress playing Anna's mother added a spontaneous line for Siwoo.

While the children might not understand, the veteran actress and Director Helen could see at a glance how neatly Siwoo had moved, perfectly synchronized with Lucy, and considered the camera's position.

This child, though young, already seemed to be walking the path of an actor.

And as if to prove her thoughts correct, Siwoo's expression suddenly changed to a serious one.

He had been considering a small adventure at the end, feeling a bit disappointed that it was over, but Anna's mother had unexpectedly set the stage.

If it didn't work out, he could easily change the camera angles to edit it out, so he changed the camera that was filming him and, in his small body, gently and stylishly bowed like a noble from the medieval era.

"You're welcome!"

It might have been a bit over the top, but considering the scene where the youngest daughter, dressed in a dress and wearing a tiara, was walking down from the second floor, it seemed like a greeting Anna's mother would enjoy.

Anna's mother was smiling contentedly.

Indeed, she liked it.

After straightening up, Siwoo returned to his position and resumed his playful boy persona.

'His expressions are really good.'

Director Helen, sitting down, nodded in satisfaction as she watched Siwoo smiling brightly.

In fact, when filming the scene where Siwoo gave Lucy a gift, she had already found the child cute.

While waiting in line to give the gift, while other children stood nervously like they were waiting for a blood test, Siwoo alone maintained a bright demeanor, even playing pranks on the children in front and behind him.

But at the time, she thought, 'He must just be a lively kid.'

It wasn't until after the cut was called and the child's expression subtly changed that she realized he was acting.

She had heard that Siwoo was a famous child actor in Korea, but Helen, who hadn't really paid much attention, thought that his ability to change expressions so quickly showed some on-set experience.

Finding the child's effort to act a bit cute and admirable, she waved at him when their eyes met by chance.

However,

After watching Siwoo calm down the crying Lucy and guide her to play the piano, Helen was completely captivated by him.

* * *

After finishing the shoot and returning to the hotel, Shin Young-min was waiting.

Young-min had also been to a U.S. broadcaster due to his schedule.

Young-min first praised Siwoo for his hard work, then sent him to his room and asked Tae-woo,

"How was it? Did you give him the close-up as promised?"

Other staff members from Got Entertainment also listened to Tae-woo's response.

"Well... that's the thing..."

"What? You didn't give it to him?"

"At first, I did. But as soon as Siwoo appeared, they called cut almost immediately."

"..."

Young-min's face turned red with anger.

Tae-woo, flustered, quickly explained,

"No! It only happened at first. Later, Siwoo caught the director's attention and got lines and a name."

"Huh? Lines and a name?"

"Yes!"

"Tell me more."

Tae-woo explained what had happened on the set that day.

How Siwoo had calmed the crying Lucy and played the piano with her.

How, as they whispered to each other and continued playing, Lucy found her composure and played the piano well.

How Director Helen, watching closely, called him over, praised the two children for looking like a beautiful fairy tale scene, and promoted Siwoo from an extra to a minor role.

"Wait, Siwoo played the piano? And he played it well?"

"Yes. I'm not sure of the whole piece, but he played well. Better than Lucy. The staff were all talking about it."

"He's six? No, I started at four. I could almost play anything after hearing it once. Everyone called me a prodigy... how could he play so well?"

"..."

"Sorry. I wasn't trying to brag. Where did Siwoo learn to play the piano?"

"From what I heard, Siwoo's mother used to dream of being a pianist. She often played the piano at home with Siwoo when he was a baby. But even his aunt didn't know he could play so well."

"What did he play?"

"Something like a children's march... I'm not very familiar with it."

"Okay, okay. I'll have to listen to it sometime. Our Siwoo is really good at everything. He's the perfect 'mom's boy.' It's like seeing my own childhood."

"..."

Tae-woo wanted to contradict Young-min's somewhat absurd comment about seeing his own childhood in Siwoo, but couldn't argue with his abilities.

Young-min, laughing excitedly, asked,

"So, how was the acting? Of course, he did well, right?"

"Just a minor role, so he was only on screen for a moment. He had about three lines. The acting... well..."

"What, did he make a mistake? Was the English dialogue too unfamiliar?"

"He did well, but... how to explain it. Sigh."

"Why?"

"Siwoo acted too much like he does in Korea."

"What do you mean?"

Young-min's expression hardened as he asked.

He had brought Siwoo to the U.S. to experience a broader world, see foreigners' enthusiasm for Korean music at his concert, and gain experience on an American set. If Siwoo made a mistake and got hurt, it would be counterproductive.

Tae-woo explained,

"He was too charming, like in Korea. The director said he'd like to work with him again if the opportunity arises."

"Are you kidding me, kid?"

Despite being a minor role, Siwoo had successfully made his American drama debut.

On the flight back to Korea, Siwoo thought about the drama XOXO he had filmed in the U.S. as he watched the shrinking LA International Airport.

It was time to return to Korea.

"Why, are you sad?"

Hye-ju, noticing Siwoo's expression, asked.

"A little?"

"What are you sad about?"

"..."

Siwoo, unusually, didn't answer Hye-ju's question immediately and remained silent.

Hye-ju, looking puzzled, called out to him again.

"Siwoo?"

"Yes."

"Are you upset?"

"No, filming the drama in the U.S. was fun!"

"Fun? That's good. How about performing with Uncle Young-min?"

"That was fun too, but filming the drama was more fun."

"I see."

Hye-ju, stroking Siwoo's head, opened her small bag to get water and snacks when she heard Siwoo's voice from beside her.

"Auntie~"

"Yes?"

"I know what I'm sad about."

"Really? What's our Siwoo sad about? Missing the amusement park?"

Doodle, doodle.

"Wanting to stay in the U.S. longer?"

"Not that. I want to be an actor!"

Hye-ju didn't understand Siwoo's words immediately.

"You're already an actor, Siwoo."

"Not just an actor!"

"Then what?"

"A T-O-P actor!"

"Huh?"

"I want to be the most famous and coolest actor in the world! So... I want to have more lines and act more and more!"

"Really?"

"Yes! Actually, I was a bit sad this time because I didn't have many lines."

"Oh, I see. Our Siwoo was sad. Our Siwoo, let's become the world's best actor! Whether in the U.S. or Korea, let's always be the lead! I'll have to get your autograph in advance~"

"Can you do it now?"

"Huh? O-Okay!"

Hye-ju, laughing, handed Siwoo a white practice book from her bag, and Siwoo wrote 'ShuShu~♡' in cute Korean letters.

It was Siwoo's first autograph.

* * *

November 4th.

Siwoo was dreaming.

With his younger sibling's birth approaching, the family was on high alert.

Siwoo was no exception.

As a result, he had been having frequent dreams about babies.

Siwoo's family was on a picnic in a park near their apartment, happily eating sandwiches on a blanket.

Bokshil and Nero were also there.

Although Nero rarely joined them for walks in real life, he was there in the dream.

"Woof woof~!"

"Meow~!"

And...

"Ahahaha~!"

To his right, there was a toddler who had just started walking.

It seemed to be his younger sibling.

Siwoo gently called out to the baby.

"Kkumul~!"

"Boo~?"

The baby, seeing Siwoo, giggled and crawled onto his lap.

"Kkumul, come here!"

When Siwoo hugged the baby tightly, the baby rubbed its soft cheek against Siwoo's face and stared at him curiously.

Finding the baby too cute, Siwoo was about to give it a kiss on the forehead when the baby shouted loudly,

"Papa~!"

Startled, Siwoo woke up and checked the glow-in-the-dark clock on the wall.

6:00 AM.

Siwoo, yawning widely, rubbed his eyes and sat up.

Deciding whether to get up or go back to sleep, he heard his mother's pained voice from the bedroom.

"..."

Siwoo jumped out of bed and ran to the bedroom.

"Mom~!"

Opening the bedroom door, he saw his mother clutching her full-term belly, sweating.

"Darling... Darling..."

His mother, with weak hands, was shaking his father's body.

His father, who had come home late after a night of traffic stops, was almost unconscious.

"Dad! Wake up!"

Do-jin's eyes snapped open at Siwoo's shout.

"Wh-What? What? Siwoo! What?"

"Mom! Her stomach hurts! The baby might be coming!"

Do-jin quickly checked his wife's condition.

"Darling! Hyun-ju! Let's go, to the hospital!"

Dressing Hyun-ju and Siwoo, Do-jin, who had prepared a hospital bag a month ago, slung it over his shoulder and supported Hyun-ju.

"Siwoo, call Aunt Ji-ho."

"Okay!"

Siwoo called Aunt Ji-ho on his kid's phone, informed her of the situation, and then left for the hospital with his parents.