Chapter 1203: Soaring (3)

Everyone has things in life that remain as profound regrets.

For Madam Kim Deoksun, it was turning down her daughter and son-in-law’s invitation in the past.

-Mom. Oppa and I are going to London this time. It’s really beautiful there, you know? Come with us.

-Mother, it’ll be fine if you close the restaurant for a few days. Please come with us this time.

It had been nothing more than stubbornness.

Back then, it was not like today, when children began learning piano and violin from an early age. Yet she had raised her daughter to become a cellist with the money she earned from running a restaurant.

The fact that she had never once taken a break from the restaurant in her entire life was a source of pride, a medal she wore.

That was why, even when her daughter and son-in-law brought gifts and invited her to travel abroad with them, Madam Kim Deoksun had only responded stubbornly.

-If I leave, who’s going to watch the restaurant?!

It was not because she truly wanted to work.

It was simply because that was the only thing she had left.

<Sooni’s Baekban Restaurant>

Unlike her damned husband, who had looked respectable enough but squandered money on one failed business after another, it was the pillar and source of pride that had supported her throughout her life.

A person needs a life of their own.

That was Madam Kim Deoksun’s philosophy.

She had raised her daughter with all the love in the world, but did her daughter and son-in-law’s success belong to her?

She could have lived comfortably on the money her son-in-law earned, but the idea held little appeal.

It was not as though she had many friends to travel around with, nor was there anything in particular she wanted to spend money doing.

A lonely life with nothing to occupy her was not what she wanted.

As Madam Kim Deoksun saw it, her life was meant to be spent running the restaurant and growing old alongside her regular customers and the neighboring merchants.

That was why she had refused the trip.

Who honestly disliked traveling?

I was afraid I’d get a taste for it after going once.

She was afraid that after stepping into the entirely different world her daughter and son-in-law wanted to show her, she would no longer want to return to her old life.

-I know you’re doing this for me, and I’m afraid I might enjoy it too much. But I’d rather keep living the way I always have. At my age, going off on trips feels strange, and closing the restaurant would make me uncomfortable too.

…That lengthy thought had been expressed much more briefly by Madam Kim Deoksun at the time.

-How many times do I have to tell you I’m not going?!

-Fine!! I hate you, Mom!!

-Why, you little…!

-Mother, I’ll go talk to Myeongeun. Oh, Myeongeun… Myeongeun….

Looking back now, there were countless things she regretted.

She should have spoken more kindly.

She should have gone when they asked her to travel abroad with them.

-…….

Those thoughts had suddenly struck her as she stood before the memorial portraits of her daughter and son-in-law.

I should have gone on that trip.

Then the photograph on the bedside table would not have been her daughter’s graduation portrait, but a picture of mother and daughter together in London.

Why did I….

Why did I do that?

Returning to the present, Madam Kim Deoksun looked at the clouds outside the window and murmured.

"……If I’d known the sky was this beautiful, I would’ve flown on a plane long ago."

"Right?"

Madam Kim Deoksun stroked the hand of the grandson holding hers as she gazed at the clouds.

Myeongeun. Are the clouds as beautiful where you are too?

Today, the face of her daughter, as radiant as a flower in bloom, kept appearing before her eyes.

Myeongeun. Myeongeun.

I’m riding the plane you wanted me to take so badly, together with your son.

"……."

Her throat suddenly tightened.

There was so much she wanted to say.

Do you know?

Your son has grown up to look just like you and your husband.

Ever since he started growing up, people kept flocking around him because of his face. I went through so much trouble raising him properly so he wouldn’t go astray.

But now he’s succeeded as a singer, and he even made a film about the two of you. They say it’s going to win all kinds of awards in America this time.

I’m eating well and living well too.

They’re apparently selling the bulgogi baekban I created in Brazil now. Did you know the baekban restaurant moved into an enormous, magnificent building?

"Grandma?"

Her grandson’s voice broke through Madam Kim Deoksun’s thoughts.

"What are you thinking about?"

"Nothing."

Madam Kim Deoksun answered.

"……I was thinking about your mother."

"Me too."

As the grandson she had raised with so much love embraced her, another thought suddenly came to her.

Although her child had left the world before her mother, the greatest gift her daughter had left behind for her was still here.

Eyes exactly like her daughter’s curved into a gentle smile as they looked at her.

"I miss Mom. Don’t you?"

"……."

Madam Kim Deoksun silently nodded and embraced her grandson.

For a while, grandmother and grandson held each other as they watched the clouds passing outside the window.

"What do you think, Grandma? The clouds are really beautiful, aren’t they?"

"…They are."

But to Madam Kim Deoksun, her grandson’s smile was even more beautiful.

After the plane landed safely in Los Angeles.

We gathered around Grandma and threw up our hands.

"Ta-da~!"

"Congratulations on arriving in Los Angeles~!"

"Congratul—"

"Quiet."

"Yes…."

We led Madam Kim Deoksun, who still looked dazed at having traveled overseas, out through the arrivals hall.

As usual, the waiting Souffles erupted into thunderous cheers. Grandma, who had been following behind us with an awkward expression, made eye contact with them.

"!"

"?"

Murmur, murmur.

Screams burst out among the wide-eyed fans.

"Duck-soon! My Queen!!"

"Almighty Duck-Soon…!"

Grandma’s eyes blinked rapidly behind her sunglasses.

Then she asked me.

"Why… why are those people calling my name?"

"You’re kind of famous overseas too, Grandma."

"Oh, goodness…."

Though embarrassed, Grandma primly waved to them.

Moments like this made me wonder whether my own craving for attention had come from her.

After entering the country amid the fans’ enthusiastic welcome, the first thing I did was drop our luggage at the hotel and head back out.

"Let’s go sightseeing, Grandma!"

"…Didn’t you say you had to go practice?"

"Sometimes there are things more important than practice."

When we stepped outside the hotel, a huge bodyguard opened the door for Grandma.

"Pleasure to meet you, ma’am."

"Yes…."

"Yeah…?"

I laughed and explained.

"She said she’s pleased to meet you too."

"Oh. I see."

Grandma leaned toward me after climbing into the back seat.

"You have a bodyguard too?"

"Yeah."

I explained that it was unavoidable because we needed someone to drive away persistent paparazzi and restrain anyone who suddenly rushed at us.

There were also all kinds of bizarre letters and threats sent to my American agency, but I omitted that part for Grandma’s peace of mind.

"I may not know everywhere else, but I’ve traveled around New York and Los Angeles a lot. Your grandson among grandsons, Sun Wooju, will escort you through the full course."

"……."

"Applause."

"Waaaaah. Oh, I’m so happy~"

I had practically forced the response out of her, but I could still see the happiness on Grandma’s face.

The bodyguard whispered to me.

"Is Mrs. Kim in a good mood?"

"What?"

I asked back with a puzzled expression.

"Grandma’s at peak happiness right now…?"

"???"

I had noticed it before, but people seemed to have trouble reading Grandma’s mood.

She always appeared to be wearing the same frowning, scowling expression, but there were subtle differences.

Having spent my entire life observing Madam Kim Deoksun’s expressions, I knew she was extremely happy right now.

"Watch her nonverbal cues, Bruce. Her toes are tapping like someone excited. One corner of her mouth is trembling upward, and the angle of her furrowed brows is about thirty degrees, right? When she’s angry, it reaches sixty."

The bodyguard nodded in understanding.

We toured the major attractions of Los Angeles with Grandma.

Of course, calling it sightseeing was generous, since we could only remain at each destination for around ten minutes.

"Who is that?"

"It’s NewBlack. That’s Sunny!"

"What? It really is!"

Everywhere we went, people swarmed around us like clouds.

Even with the bodyguards holding them back, there was no way to stop the crowds asking for autographs and photographs, so we eventually had to end the tour.

"……."

Madam Kim Deoksun comforted me as I sat dejectedly inside a Korean restaurant in Los Angeles.

"Are you upset?"

"Yeah. It’s been so long since the two of us had a chance to go sightseeing together……."

"From what I can see, sightseeing with you is hopeless. I’d be better off going around separately."

I nodded.

The more I thought about it, the more correct she seemed.

I would have to find Grandma a guide through the agency.

Grandma spooned up some soft tofu stew.

"Today isn’t the only day there’ll ever be."

"That’s true, but……."

I was only disappointed because this was such a rare opportunity.

"The first time is hard. From the second time on, it gets easier. I’ve flown now, so later, when you have some free time, we can go together."

"I hardly ever have free time…."

"That day will come eventually."

"You think so?"

She was right.

Even if I did not have time now, the day would surely come when I could travel with Grandma.

Grandma waved her hand dismissively.

"I’m fine, so hurry up and go take care of your business. You said you had a mountain of work to do."

"Then……."

With deep reluctance, I rummaged through my bag, took out a doll, and handed it to Grandma.

"What in the world is that?"

"It’s a doll of me, Grandma."

"……."

I held it out with mournful eyes.

"Carry it around and pretend it’s me. When you visit tourist attractions, take pictures with it…. If you think of me, pat its head every now and then. Try switching it on and talking to it like it’s me."

"Damn fool."

At her words, the doll I had handed her whirred to life and danced obnoxiously.

[Damn fool~ Damn fool~ Damn fool~]

"For reference, it repeats whatever you say."

"……."

"So remember the ancient lesson passed down through the generations, Kim Deoksun. If you speak kindly to others~?"

"……."

"What? Why aren’t you responding?"

Grandma whispered something to the doll with a look of utter contempt.

Whirr—

[You’re making a damn fool of yourself~ You’re making a damn fool of yourself~]

Grandma burst into a proud laugh as the miniature Sun Wooju danced enthusiastically and mocked me.

While Madam Kim Deoksun began touring Los Angeles with the help of a guide, I headed to Silver Screen Studios.

The filming date for <Guardians 2> was drawing near.

Strictly speaking, I had not begun filming yet, but I had heard that the other lead actors had already started.

"Are the other actors filming well?"

"Of course."

Director John Edwards replied with a broad smile.

"The atmosphere on set is incredible. Sunny, you should’ve seen their faces. I’ve never seen Marlina and Ryan look so happy."

Marlina and Ryan had played the male and female leads in <Guardians 1> and would be returning as the same characters in <Guardians 2>.

The director spoke frankly.

"Honestly, even when I first accepted the directing job, those two could barely bring themselves to smile. The first film failed so badly. Why would they want to appear in the sequel? If they hadn’t been tied down by contracts, they would’ve quit immediately."

"But things have changed recently?"

"Yes. Thanks to a certain someone standing right here."

The director slung an arm around my shoulders and laughed happily.

"The atmosphere has improved enormously since the post-credits scene came out. They don’t say it aloud, but the staff here feel the same way… Oh, Jim. Are preparations going well?"

"Of course, boss."

One of the passing staff members nodded at the director, then gave me two enthusiastic thumbs-up before continuing on his way.

His gaze was clearly brimming with goodwill.

"See? The staff are overflowing with positive energy, and so are the actors. At this rate, we’re going to make a genuinely great film. Look forward to working with the actors later. When they meet you, they’ll be ready to kiss you."

"That’s good."

I laughed and nodded.

Had I been speaking with an executive from Silver Screen Pictures, I might have found the conversation somewhat burdensome.

They would have tried to rely on me for the film’s commercial success and subtly pressured me to accept responsibility for its performance.

But unlike the studio executives, Director John Edwards did not place that sort of expectation on me. His focus lay elsewhere.

"What matters is your acting, Sunny."

The director continued.

"As you know, even if you combine every scene featuring Fang in the two-hour runtime, it’ll barely amount to thirty minutes."

"I know."

The main villain Fang did not actually have much screen time in the script.

The director had explained it to me by comparing the film to a creature feature.

-The main villain is like the creature in a monster movie. No film shows the monster’s entire body from the beginning. At first, you only see the claws attacking victims or a passing silhouette. Its true form isn’t revealed until thirty minutes before the ending.

The reason was simple.

-People get used to things quickly. The same goes for villains in superhero films. If the audience is going to find the villain threatening, the villain inevitably needs less exposure on screen.

Apparently, even characters who had left enormous marks as villains in superhero films and other genres often had surprisingly little actual screen time.

"But because the role is brief, every single moment has tremendous impact. Highly concentrated acting over a short period is essential."

Director John Edwards gripped my shoulders.

"That’s why I want you to appear before me as the perfect Fang when your filming date arrives."

"You can trust me."

"Of course I trust you. I only keep repeating myself because I’m anxious."

The director complained that the executives at Silver Screen Studios pressured him every single day.

"I may have been given full authority over the film, but that doesn’t mean they’ve stopped calling. Do you know what it’s like speaking to the chairman of a film studio every day? ‘How is he, John? Is Sunny doing well?’ ‘What do you think? Does it look like we’ll have a film capable of competing with Wonder Comics?’"

The director restrained himself because I was present, but he was probably hurling vicious curses at the studio executives in his head.

Watching him sigh repeatedly, I changed the subject.

"Come to think of it, is the Super Bowl commercial ready?"

"Of course."

I was curious what the upcoming film advertisement would look like.

I had filmed a few additional scenes here and there whenever I stayed in the United States, but I had no idea how they would appear on screen.

-The Super Bowl commercial.

A thirty-second spot cost five million dollars, approximately six billion won.

It was a time when companies aired advertisements created with every ounce of effort they could muster, and Hollywood’s greatest actors appeared in force.

That was highly unusual.

Hollywood actors generally did not film commercials in the United States.

It was because of how the American public perceived them.

Apparently, when Americans thought of television commercials, they imagined advertisements for hemorrhoid cream or toothpaste, and believed actors looked lower-class if they appeared in them.

Or they assumed the actors were washed up.

Super Bowl commercials, however, were treated as an exception.

Since it was also the season when the greatest stars of the era appeared in advertisements, film studios promoted their most anticipated releases as well.

"Among superhero films, the most anticipated releases will probably be <Guardians 2> and <Secret Agent 3>. Coincidentally, they’re the films you and Jiho appear in."

I asked.

"But aren’t the release dates rather different? Ours will come out in November or December at the earliest……."

"There are rumors that post-production on <Secret Agent 3> will take a long time. Apparently they’re using unprecedented CGI techniques. The visual-effects companies are already complaining about how much unnecessary CGI they’re adding."

For various reasons, the two films appeared to occupy a subtly competitive relationship.

A sequel from Wonder Comics, the traditional powerhouse franchise, and a sequel from Silver Comics, the challenger.

The director grinned.

"Either way, what matters is the film itself, not the trailer. You can’t decide which is better based on trailers alone."

"That’s true."

"Still, look forward to it, Sunny. It may not be as entertaining as the post-credits scene, but I think we made a fairly enjoyable trailer."

When the director asked whether I wanted to watch it before leaving, I waved my hands.

"I’ll save the anticipation."

"All right."

The director escorted me outside the set and shook my hand.

"Then I’ll see you at the Academy Awards. Ah, but first, I should wish you luck."

Director John Edwards winked.

"I hope you get a good result, Sunny."

"Thank you."

After parting with Director John Edwards, I climbed into the car where my American manager was waiting.

Just then, the screen lit up with a new message.

The sender was Cold Brown.

[Hey, Sunny.]

A sentence accompanied by a beaming emoji appeared beneath it.

[Ready to take over the Grammys?]

At last, the day I had been waiting and waiting for was almost here.