Chapter 15: Talking to an Actor the Family Loves

Benjamin Ledger.

A mid-30s actor, known in Hollywood as a heartthrob for his good looks and solid acting skills, he was incredibly popular.

He also played the lead in the film adaptation of my work.

I guess they recognize Benjamin.

I didn’t have anywhere special to put the picture frame, so I’d hung it in the bathroom.

Since the kids grew up in Korea and were still young, I didn’t expect them to recognize an international celebrity.

We’re friends.

“For real?”

“Really friends?”

Yeah. We’re not that far apart in age.

They must really like Benjamin.

I’ve never been called unattractive, but standing next to Benjamin, I’d feel like a squid.

I gave a bitter smile.

Gotta give it to Benjamin.

He’s so popular and does international tours, so I wasn’t jealous or envious.

He calls sometimes, so I’ll let you video chat with him then.

“C-Can’t we do it now?”

“Yuri!”

Hye-yeon tried to stop Yuri’s sudden outburst, but she seemed secretly eager to see Benjamin too.

Mijeong, can you help Jiyu brush her teeth?

It wasn’t too late, so making a call should be fine.

Mijeong smirked and stood up.

“Of course. If they want to see a handsome guy, I can at least do that much.”

“ ”

She went wild asking for Benjamin’s autograph the first time she saw him.

Even now in her 30s, her beauty had slightly faded, but in her 20s, Benjamin’s looks could turn any woman’s head.

Jiyu, go brush your teeth with Aunt Mijeong.

“Ugh… smells like alcohol… don’t wanna…”

Jiyu resisted as best she could, but it was no use.

She was helplessly dragged away by Mijeong.

Alright… let’s do this.

Sparkle!

I chuckled at the kids’ sparkling eyes.

Hold on.

I pulled out my phone and looked for Benjamin’s number.

He’d called me plenty of times, but this was probably the first time I was calling him.

-Ring… Ring…

After a few rings,

“…Whoa, is that really you, Author?”

Benjamin’s voice came through, full of surprise.

I scratched my cheek at his shocked tone.

Is it that surprising?

“Of course! You always hang up on me saying I’m annoying!”

That’s because you only talk about my work.

I’d told him he could call anytime to discuss the personality of the characters in his roles.

But Benjamin often asked about characters or stories from other works too.

It was fine at first, but it got annoying over time, so I stopped answering.

“Come on, it’s because I’m a huge fan of your work. I heard Papa is getting a movie deal with Letflix, right?”

Don’t try to butter me up. It won’t work.

“Tch.”

Benjamin was serious about acting since he was a kid, so he’d go all out for roles he wanted.

But since the director casts the actors, there wasn’t much I could do.

Of course, a recommendation from me, the author, might make them consider it.

The main character in Papa needs to be older. You’re too young.

“Come on, CG or makeup can fix that. The story shows his younger days too, right? Tech’s amazing these days. I’d be great.”

I don’t like it.

“Why not?!”

You’re too good-looking.

The protagonist in Papa is an ordinary dad.

He needed to come across as relatable, but Benjamin’s looks created a disconnect.

I wanted a more realistic vibe.

“I’ll gain weight! I can put on 20 kilos in a month!”

No way. If you want the role, get cast properly.

“Tch… fine, so why’d you call?”

Nothing big. Just let my kids video chat with you.

“…Kids? Author, did you get married?”

No, it’s not that. It’s complicated, but they’re my kids.

“Hmm…”

You gonna do it or not?

“Of course I’ll do it! But I’m all sweaty from working out, is that okay?”

Hold on.

I looked at the kids.

He says he’s sweaty from working out. That okay?

“O-Of course it’s fine!”

“Even better!”

Yeah, I get it, Yuri. At your age, that’s appealing.

They say it’s fine.

“Alright, let’s do it.”

I switched the phone to video call.

Benjamin appeared, wearing a tank top, dripping with sweat from his workout.

…Damn, he’s good-looking.

Handsome guys look good no matter what.

I showed Benjamin to the kids.

“Hello~”

“H-Hello~?”

“Hello!”

“Are you the children of Author Adele Louis?”

“W-What?”

“Louie?”

I knew this would happen.

I smiled and said,

He’s asking your names.

“Oh! I’m Kang Hye-yeon.”

“I’m Kang Yuri! I… I’m a big Benjamin fan!”

“Hahahaha! Thank you, little girl.”

Benjamin and the kids chatted for a bit.

Despite their awkward English, he made an effort to keep them entertained.

After about three minutes, I said to the kids,

He’s probably tired. Let’s wrap it up and talk again next time.

“Oh! Okay! Benjamin, bye!”

“Bye-bye! See you next time!”

“Bye~ See you next time.”

I ended the video call and put the phone to my ear.

Thanks.

“No problem. Those kids are gorgeous. Ever thought about getting them into acting?”

If they want to? Anyway, rest up.

“Alright. Call me when you’re in the States, hyung.”

Yeah, I’ll treat you to something good.

“I should be treating you! Haha!”

I ended the call with Benjamin and put my phone away.

“Done talking?”

Mijeong came out, holding Jiyu in her arms.

Did you brush her teeth?

“Yeah, Jiyu was good.”

Jiyu was fast asleep in Mijeong’s arms.

She must’ve been too tired to stay awake through brushing.

“We’re heading out.”

Alright.

I gently set Jiyu down on the sofa, and Mijeong shook Bessie and Roy awake.

“Ugh…”

“Mama…”

As Bessie and Roy rubbed their eyes and got up, Mijeong waved at Ryan, who was drinking alone at the table.

“Honey! Stop drinking, let’s go.”

“Yo!”

Ryan brought the soju bottle to his lips and chugged it.

He didn’t want to waste the remaining alcohol, but Mijeong wasn’t going to like that.

“…Honey?”

“Uh…”

“We’ll talk at home.”

“W-Wait, Mijeong? It’s just, you know, angels take the leftover alcohol, so I didn’t want to waste it… Wait, honey? Baby?”

Ryan hurriedly followed Mijeong.

As they left, I smiled at the kids.

Let’s get some sleep.

***

“Ugh!”

Whoosh!

Jiyu bolted upright.

When she woke up, the morning sun was rising, but it was quiet.

“Not sleepy.”

She’d slept well, so it was natural she wasn’t tired.

Jiyu looked at the sofa where she’d slept.

Yuri-unnie was on her left, Hye-yeon-unnie on her right, both still asleep.

“Unnie! Wake up!”

“Mmm…”

“Jiyu… just a bit more…”

The sun was up, but it was still too early for the kids to rise.

Jiyu woke up quickly because she’d gone to bed so early, but everyone else was still sleeping.

“Ugh…”

Jiyu thought about jumping off the sofa but shook her head.

“They didn’t say to wake them, so I won’t! Yup, Jiyu’s smart!”

She carefully crawled off the sofa.

It was big enough for three, but still cramped.

Jiyu tiptoed to the window behind the curtain.

“Wow…”

Snow had fallen all night, blanketing the world in white.

Jiyu’s eyes sparkled as she gazed outside.

“Wanna play…”

She wanted to step on the untouched snow, build a snowman, go sledding, and have a snowball fight.

But…

“Hmph… they said not to go out…”

Hye-yeon-unnie and Yuri-unnie had strictly told her not to go outside alone.

Because of the talk about robbers, they’d made her promise never to go out by herself.

“Jiyu? What’re you doing there?”

“Huh?”

At the sudden voice, Jiyu squirmed out from behind the curtain.

It was Uncle, coming out of his room.

“Jiyu was looking at the snow!”

Snow?

Yongsu peeked behind the curtain to look outside.

He frowned at the white world.

“When am I gonna clear all that trash…”

Jiyu tilted her head at his muttering.

“Trash? What’s that?”

Oh… nothing. Just that I’ll need to clear the snow today.

“Oh!”

By the way, Jiyu, wanna go play outside?

“Yes!”

I remembered Jiyu wanting to build a snowman at the airport.

Since Ryan had cleared the snow at our place, she couldn’t play in it yesterday.

“Jiyu wants to build a snowman! Wanna play outside!”

Alright… how about we eat breakfast and play for a bit?

“Yes! Jiyu loves that!”

What do you want for breakfast? Uncle will make it.

“Cereal!”

…Huh?

Cereal?

The kind you just pour milk over?

“Yes! Mommy said cereal’s bad for you, so she never gave us any!”

Oh… really?

Unlike in the past, cereal wasn’t recommended anymore because it’s not great for health.

That’s probably why their mom didn’t give it to them.

How about toast instead?

“Love it!”

Alright, Uncle will make tasty toast.

Yongsu patted Jiyu’s head and headed to the kitchen.

Once he was gone, Jiyu looked out the window again.

“Wow…”

To adults, snow might be annoying, but to kids, it’s a fun gift from the sky.

As she stared at the white snow,

“Huh?”

Something white moved.

It was so white she thought she’d imagined it, so Jiyu rubbed her eyes and looked again.

-Weee?

She hadn’t been mistaken.

A long, white creature spotted her and hopped through the snow toward her.

“What are you?”

-Wee?

Jiyu and the white weasel tilted their heads, staring at each other.