Superstar From Age 0

Chapter 49

The stage was over. Seo Eunchan took Seo-jun, who was out of his mind, to the backstage.

He thought Seo-jun was acting strange today, but he didnt pay much attention to it.

Seo-jun! You really came?!

Hyung. Whats wrong with him? Hes spaced out.

I dont know. Hes been like that since morning.

Seo-jun snapped out of his trance and called out to Brown Black, who were wiping their sweat.

Hyung. How was the stage just now?!

The stage just now?

Kevin, who was closest to him, tilted his head and answered.

It was good. It felt better than usual, somehow.

Yeah. We danced better too.

Choi Siyoon, who was stretching here and there, nodded his head. Park Seojin and Hwang Yejun, who were drinking water, agreed.

Our voices came out well and it was fine.

Yeah. Yeah!

Seo-jun opened his mouth wide. He also thought that Brown Blacks stage was cool.

There was no [Connection of the Orchestra Conductor]! Why?

How does it compare to Christmas Eve?

Christmas Eve? Its been more than half a year, do you remember?

Seo Eunchan asked with his arms crossed, but contrary to his thoughts, Brown Black recalled their memories without hesitation.

They remembered Christmas Eve vividly. It was when they overcame their slump. It was when they did a stage they never imagined.

Park Seojin, who was deep in thought, spoke first.

It was amazing then. It felt like someone was directing us from the middle, you know? Then I felt his direction and thought, oh, hes going to sing like this next. I need to go higher. I judged and sang like that.

Me too. It was like someone taught us. We all knew where to stand on the stage. We could even do a solo dance at that level. That thought popped into my head.

All four of them nodded their heads. Hwang Yejun, who had twisted his head, said.

Was it a perfect stage? It felt like it was set and we just had to follow it. Compared to then, the stage just now didnt make me feel that way, but it felt more free.

Now we dont need that feeling to guess where you are. Yejun is right. I didnt know it before, but I felt a bit suffocated when I was thinking about you all the time while doing the stage.

Brown Black nodded at Kevins words.

Suffocation. They didnt feel it before because they were used to the amazing stage, the stage beyond their imagination, but they could feel it clearly today.

Seo-jun asked with a stiff expression.

Then do you like the past or the present?

Thats obvious, the present.

Seo-jun nodded at Brown Blacks answer.

I see.

The staff announced the start of the second part. Brown Black prepared to go on stage again. Choi Siyoon asked Seo-jun.

Shall we go eat something delicious after the second part? Theres a really good seasoned ribs place nearby.

Yeah! I want to go. Hyungs. Do well on the stage!

Seo-jun returned to his seat with Seo Eunchan. Lee Minjun, who was sitting there, greeted them. Seo-jun didnt even notice his dads hospitality and sat on the fluffy chair, lost in thought.

Why? The usefulness of his ability was undeniable. But he said he liked it better now. Why?

Seo Eun-chan and Lee Min-joon, who were sitting on either side of Seo-jun, exchanged glances. Lee Min-joon asked. Whats wrong with him? I dont know. Seo Eun-chan shook his head.

Then, a voice reached Seo-juns ears. It was a conversation between Brown Black fans who were sitting closest to him.

I think todays stage was amazing.

Park Sung-ah asked in response to Lee Mi-yeons remark.

I didnt see much difference from the last stage I saw.

Lee Mi-yeon shook her head vigorously.

Well, the previous stage was like a perfect stage without any flaws. But todays stage was a stage where each of their personalities shone. Brown Blacks stage didnt have any ad-libs before, but today there were quite a few.

Thats true.

The audience became quiet. They all perked up their ears. They were fans who felt the difference between the previous stage and todays stage. Why was it different? They wondered, but there was someone who answered their question here. Lee Mi-yeon didnt know that and happily talked to her friend.

Seo-jun also listened to their conversation with his ears pricked up.

If the previous stage was like an orchestra with a perfect conductor who had to hide themselves and blend in with the other instruments, todays stage was like a performance where various instruments that could play solo showed off their skills and personalities while also harmonizing with the other instruments. I liked todays stage better because I could see the personalities of each member of Brown Black.

Seo-jun realized.

Frustration.

Wasnt that the feeling of being a small instrument in a huge orchestra? Having to play according to the conductors fixed gestures without being able to play as he wanted.

Seo-jun looked at his left palm. The pattern of [Orchestra Conductors Connection] sparkled.

He wouldnt have felt the limitation of orchestra when his skill was at the lowest level. His skill was weak and Brown Blacks skills were low too.

But as his rank rose to low, his skill became stronger. And Brown Blacks skills also improved dazzlingly in a few years.

And the time when his ability didnt activate for a while became the key.

There must have been a stage where he had to kill himself and play without any freedom.

On the other hand, there must have been a stage where they had to show their personalities and lead the stage freely.

And Brown Blacks stage was, the latter.

I dont need this anymore. Ill put it in the library when I get home.

He was seriously worried about whether he could slap his brothers cheeks on the way to the fan meeting. Seo-jun sighed with relief.

And two months later, Brown Black made a comeback with a new album that showed off their brilliant performance and individuality.

***

The long-awaited September came.

This time, Lee Min-joon went with Seo-jun as his manager and guardian instead of Seo Eun-hye.

Kim Hee-sang kept his promise and changed Lee Min-joons schedule. Of course, he didnt forget to give Lee Min-joon a handful of work that he could handle in the US.

The plane that left Korea spent a lot of time in the sky and arrived in the US.

Hi, Seo-jun!

Aunt Nara!

You look like youre having fun every time you come.

Nara, who came to pick them up at the airport, greeted them with a big swing of her arms.

She was still Nara Kim, with a sharp bob cut and black sunglasses. Seo-jun ran to hug Nara.

Seo-jun has grown so much!

The two people who got along well laughed and held hands as they spun around.

The people around them clapped at the sight that looked somehow happy. Lee Min-joon covered his face with one hand and sighed as his face turned red. Soon, the two people who calmed down walked up to Lee Min-joon.

We worked so hard to come and greet you!

Then thank you.

Thank you, aunt!

Lee Min-joon and Seo-jun got in Na-ras car and loaded their luggage. The three people fastened their seat belts and left the airport for their destination.

Seo-jun looked out the window at the city he had never seen before.

After a while, he saw huge buildings. There were a lot of people, too. There were not only locals, but also tourists who were taking pictures with their cameras everywhere.

Na-ra pointed to one of the buildings.

Thats the Empire State Building. It used to be the tallest building.

Wow.

Seo-juns eyes sparkled.

The city that never sleeps, New York.

It was the filming location of Shadowman 2.

Na-ra dropped off Seo-jun and Lee Min-joon in front of the hotel and gave Seo-jun a bunch of gifts.

She said she bought them whenever she thought of Seo-jun when she went shopping, but the amount was enormous because she hadnt seen him for almost a year.

They piled up next to the carrier and stacked higher than Seo-juns height. Lee Min-joon wondered. How do I take this to Korea?

Well, Ill go then.

Seo-jun asked Na-ra, who got in the car.

Aunt. Are you going to work?

No? I have to go home. Then do well in the filming. Call me if you need anything.

Na-ra waved her hand and left in the blink of an eye. Lee Min-joon, who had a gift box up to his chin, smiled bitterly.

She came from LA to New York to give Seo-jun a gift. Na-ra is amazing.

Aunt is awesome!

Yeah. Awesome.

Seo-jun and Lee Min-joon smiled and carried their carrier and gifts into the hotel.

The next day.

Seo-jun and Lee Min-joon, who were rolling around in the hotel to rest and adjust to the time difference until the filming, received a call from director Ryan Will.

Ryan Will greeted Lee Min-joon briefly on the phone and handed the phone to Seo-jun from his father.

-It seems like you didnt have a chance to meet other actors because you were practicing. How about saying hello to everyone tonight if you have time?

Seo-jun looked at Lee Min-joon. Lee Min-joon, who was listening next to him, nodded his head with a smile.

Sure! But whos coming?

-Evan Block and Rachel Hill. They are the only two actors who will match your harmony.

Wow!

-Ill text you the place and time. Did you memorize the script?

Of course.

Seo-jun nodded his head to the phone that Ryan Will couldnt see.

He received the script not long ago, but smart Seo-jun memorized all the parts he would appear in.

Moreover, the emotional acting that Seo-jun had to do for his role in Shadowman 2 was similar to the one-man play he had practiced for eight months, so he was able to pull it off smoothly.

-Okay. See you later then.

Sure.

Seo-jun hung up the phone and was excited by the text message that arrived soon after. He walked around his room and took out the script of Shadowman 2 from his bag.

He didnt practice his own lines, though. He read the lines of the two actors he was going to meet soon, and glanced at the clock from time to time. The hour and minute hands didnt move at all.

Seo-jun nagged his dad, who was helpless against the slow clock.

Dad, dad. How much time has passed?

Um. Five minutes?

This was the third time he asked about the time. Seo-jun, who knew how to read the clock, kept asking, showing how much he was looking forward to meeting the two actors.

Lee Min-joon opened his laptop and rolled around on the bed, reading the script. He looked at the clock and then called Seo-jun, who was reading the script again.

Do you want to watch some movies that they starred in until then?

Yeah!

Seo-jun jumped up and sat next to his dad. They searched the names of the actors and found the movies they had appeared in.

Evan Block, who played Shadowman, and Rachel Hill, who made her debut in Shadowman 2.

The two of them looked at the filmography of Evan Block and Rachel Hill and found out something interesting.

They were in a movie together.

Lets watch this one!

Shall we?

Lee Min-joon and Seo-jun watched the teen movie With that the two actors starred in and chatted with each other.

And here, there were two people who were watching a different movie. The two people who were friends through the teen movie With that they couldnt watch with their eyes open now, were eating popcorn and watching the movie.

This is my favorite part.

Ding! A bell sound was heard. Rachel Hill looked at the large television screen with an admiring expression.

The CG is amazing, but so is the acting.

Evan Block nodded at Rachel Hills words. It was obvious that the conversation between the god and the inner self was inserted later.

No matter how well they edited it, could it be that natural?

Last year, you contacted me saying that you saw Seo-jun Lees next work. I barely found the theater and watched it. I didnt expect the director to send me the video. Youre so sneaky. How did you find it?

I have to know what kind of acting my co-star does.

Rachel Hill shook her head vigorously. Evan Block opened his [Seo-jun Lee] notebook from his bag. Rachel Hill stuck out her tongue at the black letters that filled the notebook.

There must be a notebook with my name on it too.

She wanted to see what kind of evaluation he had made, but she was also afraid of what bad reviews there might be. Rachel Hill ate popcorn.

Is it analysis time again? So, what do you think? How is Juns acting? People say hes a method actor, right?

Well.

Evan Block rubbed his chin and looked at the screen. A golden beast moved around. His blue eyes sparkled as he stared at the light.