Part 2 Chapter 142: I didn't want to say this, but... Vice Chairman Theo, you've gained a lot of weight lately. / 866
TL: Hanguk
The Photo Wall at the Night of Zombies movie premiere.
Click. Click.
After the lead and supporting actors and the director took photos in front of the Photo Wall,
"Oh. Halios is here? They've been promoting overseas lately and barely showing their faces in Korea, so what's the occasion?"
"You came to the premiere without even checking who's in it?! Minho from Halios has a major supporting role this time!"
"Ah. I'm sorry. I got pulled in at the last minute...."
"Still, you should at least cover the basics."
"Yes."
While the specially invited celebrities were taking photos at the Photo Wall,
"Aileen, is it really stuffy? Just hang in there a little longer. We're about to get out."
"It's a bit stuffy, but I'm fine."
The car carrying Sejun's family arrived.
This time, to avoid drawing attention, Theo, Iona, Cuengi, and Blackie had transformed into human forms using Airin's Polymorph magic before getting in the car.
As Sejun's group stepped out of the car,
"Please come this way."
The event staff guided Sejun's family not through the general entrance but through the VIP Passage.
Starting with Aileen, who was radiating her Aura of Beauty in full force, then the blond, cat-faced pretty boy Theo, the white-haired and haughty beauty Iona, the brown-haired boy who looked like an elementary schooler, chubby and cute yet unmistakably masculine Cuengi, and Blackie with his jet-black hair, elegantly munching on Roasted and Dried Sweet Potato with an air of refined nobility, every single one of them had visuals that anyone would mistake for celebrities.
"Hehee. Daddy, we have to go that way!"
As for Taecho, she had already debuted through the drama 'How to Make a Christmas Miracle', so that went without saying.
"Are we really supposed to go this way?"
"Hyung, are we really going this way?"
Sejun and Se-dol, sensing something was off, hesitated, but
"What are you standing around for? Hurry up!"
Kim Mi-ran strode ahead with Cuengi, Blackie, and Taecho.
"Ahem. Men shouldn't fuss over things like this... It's just a premiere, what's the big deal?"
Park Chunho followed behind, pretending to be cool about it.
"Dad, your legs are shaking."
"See? He always has to act tough. Se-dol, let's go."
"Yeah."
Since the rest of the group was already moving ahead, Sejun and Se-dol had no choice but to follow.
When they arrived at the location the staff had guided them to, they found a Waiting Room. Most people had already taken their photos at the Photo Wall and gone inside the theater, so the Waiting Room was deserted. No one was there.
Just then,
"That should be the last... Ah, wait a moment! There are still a few more VIPs! One, two... about ten more people!"
After the staff member who had come to check the Waiting Room spoke into a walkie-talkie,
"Everyone, we'll be moving now. We're running a bit behind schedule, so we'll need everyone to move together."
They carefully guided Sejun's family. To the Photo Wall.
"...Huh?! Was there a celebrity that gorgeous?"
"Just shoot!"
Click. Click.
The moment Aileen appeared, the reporters, mesmerized by her otherworldly beauty, snapped photos on instinct, practically in a trance.
Well, this is a new experience.
Following behind Aileen, Sejun appeared with an embarrassed expression, with Theo's right hand resting on Sejun's leg and Iona holding Theo's left hand.
Taecho hid behind Sejun, and Cuengi and Blackie stood on either side of her so she wouldn't feel anxious, all of them standing together at the Photo Wall.
Lastly, Kim Mi-ran, Park Chunho, and Se-dol stepped up to the Photo Wall in that order.
And then,
"What the?! Why does every shot of the black-haired beauty keep coming out blurry?"
"Who's that blond guy?! He's a total pretty boy!"
"He really is handsome. What agency is he with?"
"Is the woman with the white hair an actress? That haughtiness is no joke."
"She looks more intellectual to me."
"Is the brown-haired one a child actor? Cute face but also masculine."
"If he becomes an action star later, his presence is going to be insane."
"Get a shot of the kid eating sweet potato too! Doesn't he look like a young master from a rich family? So adorable!"
"Oh, Taecho from that Christmas special is there too!"
Click. Click.
The excited reporters began snapping photos.
And then,
"Serang's boyfriend is there too!"
"Well, Serang is the lead this time."
"Se-dol, how about sending a video message cheering Serang on for a box office hit?"
"Sure, why not?"
While Se-dol came down from the Photo Wall to do an interview with the Entertainment Weekly reporter,
"Why are those two guys even up there?"
"Seriously. Why is everyone crowded over there? They're ruining the shots."
"I wish we could just crop those two out."
Sejun and Park Chunho were treated like complete afterthoughts.
"Ma'am, could you pose hugging the children from behind this time?"
"Hohoho. Of course."
Meanwhile, Kim Mi-ran was getting pose requests from the reporters and happily taking photos with the kids.
They had tried not to stand out, but in the end, they stood out anyway. At least the way they stood out was different from what they'd feared, so that was a relief.
A short while later.
Once the photo time ended,
"Everyone, we'll be heading inside now."
The event staff guided Sejun and his group into the theater.
"Mother, Father, welcome! You too, Sejun!"
Serang, who had gone in earlier, greeted them warmly.
"Hahaha. In-law, good to see you."
"Mi-ran unnie, have you been well?"
Serang's father, Kim Dong-sik, and Serang's mother greeted them too, and
"Hello."
"Puhuhut. Dong-sik, good to see you, meow!"
Sejun and the group returned their greetings.
While they were exchanging pleasantries,
"Hello. I'm Han Yujin, and I play the lead role of Tae Woo-sung in Broken Flower Takes Revenge. Are you an actress, by any chance?"
Han Yujin, who had risen to the title of Nation's Boyfriend after holding the number one spot on Yukflix for seven straight weeks, approached Aileen and struck up a conversation.
She's really beautiful.
Han Yujin studied Aileen's face closely, admiring her again and again. He had seen plenty of top-tier actresses before, but none of them could hold a candle to the woman in front of him.
And the indifference and coldness contained within those jet-black eyes gave off an aura of mysterious allure.
Should I ask for her number?
Han Yujin planned to ask for her contact information once the conversation warmed up. His drama had been a massive hit, and his confidence was sky-high, so the thought of being rejected never even crossed his mind.
However,
"Begone, wretched creature. If you dare speak to me again, it shall cost you your life."
Shockingly, what came back was a contempt-filled gaze and a reply as cold as frost.
"...Yes, ma'am."
His confidence utterly shattered, Han Yujin returned to his seat with his spirit broken and
"I'm a being lower than an ant... No, lower than bacteria, maybe...?"
muttered to himself for quite a while before finally breaking free from Aileen's contempt.
Watching Han Yujin's mental state get demolished by Aileen,
"Hehehe. So what if he's a hot-shot actor?"
Sejun wore a deeply satisfied smirk. All the hurt from the Photo Wall earlier vanished completely.
A few more male actors approached Aileen to try their luck, but
"I'm a lowly mushroom spore...."
"I'm an insignificant speck of cosmic dust...."
They quietly retreated after encountering Mental Breaker Aileen's contemptuous gaze and icy responses.
"Ahem!"
"Hmm."
"Ahem!"
Sejun kept coughing next to Aileen, trying to signal that she had a boyfriend, but the gap in their looks was so vast that no one seemed to notice.
After Aileen had demolished about ten men who approached her,
"Hello, everyone. I'm Lee Huseok, and I'll be your host for tonight's premiere. We'll begin with the stage greeting."
With the emcee's announcement, the director and actors stood in front of the screen for a brief greeting and introduction of the film. Once the stage greeting ended, the theater darkened for the screening.
And then,
"Here, take these."
Sejun pulled Homemade Popcorn from his Subspace Pouch and began handing it out to the group.
There were about ten flavors, including Honey Popcorn, Caramel Popcorn, and Cheese Onion Popcorn.
Crunch. Crunch.
As the group happily munched on their popcorn,
"Meow? Chairman Park, where's my Churu Popcorn, meow?!"
Theo confronted Sejun.
"That one smells way too fishy. Have some catnip instead."
When Sejun pulled out some herbs,
"Meow? Why are you suddenly giving me grass, meow?! I don't want grass, meow!"
Theo scrunched up his face in refusal. A cat who didn't like catnip. To be precise, it wasn't that he disliked catnip; it was because it wasn't a dish made with Sejun's personal care and effort.
"I didn't want to say this, but... Vice Chairman Theo, you've gained a lot of weight lately."
"Meow?! Th-this isn't fat, it's fur, meow! I just gained fur, meow!"
"Then what's this?"
When Sejun grabbed a handful of Theo's thick belly fat and pressed him on it,
Kyoot kyoot kyoot. He's right. Your belly's been sticking out way too much lately, Theo.
Iona quietly nodded. Lately, Theo's Belly Fat Bed had been jiggling so much that it was uncomfortable to sleep on.
"Hehee. Butler, is big bro going on a diet too? Then make him run 100 laps around the field!"
At Sejun's words, Blackie, a diet veteran, said with a cheeky grin, but
"Hah! Chairman Park, I can't be the only one on a diet, meow! Make Blackie do it too, meow!"
"Hehehe. That's not a bad idea. Blackie, your Roasted and Dried Sweet Potato flavored popcorn is hereby confiscated."
"Huh? Why me?!"
"I was planning to put you on a diet soon anyway."
Now Blackie had to munch on grass alongside Theo while watching the movie.
A short while later.
The movie began, and soon everyone was absorbed in it. From the very start, zombies appeared relentlessly, keeping the tension high. The character development was solid, the cinematography was beautiful, and it was genuinely entertaining to watch.
As everyone was engrossed in the film and the theater was quiet, the scene where Cuengi fought zombies for the first time appeared.
"Ooh."
The audience couldn't help but let their jaws drop in admiration at the exhilarating action sequence.
Hehehe. That's our Cuengi.
Sejun wore a proud smile as he watched their reactions.
A while later.
When the scene featuring Blackie and Taecho appeared,
"Ugh. Something must have gotten in my eye."
"The poor puppy...."
The audience's eyes welled up with tears at the desperation of the dog trying so hard to drag its dead owner away.
However,
"Butler! Great Blackie-nim is on screen!"
"Daddy, Taecho's on!"
Blackie and Taecho's shouts made everyone's tears dry up instantly. They had to be the first actors in history to break the audience's immersion during their own scene.
"I'm sorry. Shh, you have to be quiet in a movie theater."
Sejun quickly apologized to those around them and gave the two a warning.
Before long, the climax arrived.
When the scene came where Cuengi fought desperately against the zombies to protect the female lead Serang, only to die,
Sniffle. Sniffle.
The sound of crying could be heard from all around.
After that, Serang safely arrived at the military-guarded Shelter, and the movie came to an end.
As the credits finished rolling and the theater lights came back on,
Clap. Clap. Clap.
"Wow. This is definitely hitting ten million, right?"
"Please. Ten million is a given. I'm calling twelve million. Serang's acting is better than I expected."
"But didn't they say the bear wasn't CGI?"
"Really?"
"Yeah. They said they used a real bear."
"No wonder something about it felt different."
"By the way, that kid who appeared with the dog earlier, the acting was extraordinary... I feel like I've seen them somewhere."
"You didn't know? That's child actress Park Taecho. She was in How to Make a Christmas Miracle that aired last year. A bunch of agencies were fighting to sign her, it was a huge deal."
"Oh, I remember now! So where did she end up?"
"No idea... Things went quiet after a few days."
"Hmm. Should I look into it? Earlier at the Photo Wall, she was standing with Serang's boyfriend Se-dol...."
People applauded and began discussing the movie.
"Hehehe."
Kuehehehe.
"Hehee."
Sejun, Cuengi, and Taecho smiled warmly as they listened to what people were saying.
More! More! More! Tell us more!
Sejun was over the moon hearing his kids get praised.
However,
What about Great Blackie-nim?!
Why is nobody talking about Great Blackie-nim?!
'You all saw Great Blackie-nim's brilliant performance earlier!'
Blackie was not having such a good time.
"Kking! Kking! Kking!"
He barked in protest, but nobody paid him any attention.
"Oh, come on."
Sejun quietly slipped a Roasted and Dried Sweet Potato into Blackie's mouth, and
"Hehee."
Blackie broke into a big smile and happily ate the Roasted and Dried Sweet Potato, as if who cared whether people recognized him or not.
*****
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