Superstar From Age 0

Chapter 311

Two days after the shooting.

Anh Da Ho stopped by Nara Kims mansion.

They decided to split the documentary into two parts and broadcast them separately.

Two parts?

Seo-jun tilted his head at Anh Da Hos words.

Yeah. The first part is the one with you, with a bit of a variety show vibe, and the second part is the documentary without you. They plan to edit the first part in a lighter tone and go deeper into the second part.

Oh.

Seo-jun nodded.

That way, they could satisfy both the people who didnt watch documentaries and the people who wanted to see serious documentaries.

Thats a good idea.

The ABS station is also happy to get two programs from one shoot. Theyre already getting a lot of offers for advertising because its such a hot topic.

I see.

Anh Da Hos words made Seo-jun smile.

I was worried about how to watch it in Korea. If its uploaded on Plus, I can watch it comfortably in Korea!

Seo-jun had no idea how fiercely the broadcasters in Korea were competing to buy his documentary.

Anh Da Ho had heard some news from across the ocean. 

The companies that wanted to put ads in also kept an eye on which station Seo-juns documentary would go to.

And the PD said he wanted to ask you to do the narration for both parts.

Seo-jun tilted his head.

Im going back to Korea next week. They have to edit the documentary footage and write a script that matches the video Will there be enough time?

It would take quite some time to edit, let alone one part, but two parts.

Good scripts dont come out easily either.

Anh Da Ho smiled and answered Seo-juns question.

He said it wouldnt take that long.

Anh Da Ho recalled his conversation with the PD last night. The PD shouted when Anh Da Ho told him that he was going back to Korea next week.

It wont take that long!

He had planned to take a break after the shooting and then start editing, but the PD quickly changed his schedule. He couldnt miss the ratings, buzz, and various benefits that would come from Seo-juns narration.

Yeah. I can sleep later.

Anh Da Ho smiled faintly as he remembered what the PD had muttered faintly over the phone.

Seo-jun thought for a moment and nodded.

Then Im fine with it.

Narration.

He wanted to try it because he had never done it before.

Anh Da Ho smiled and said at Seo-juns acceptance.

And theres one more proposal that came in.

A proposal?

Yeah. Seo-jun, do you want to throw the first pitch?

First pitch?

Seo-jun blinked at the unexpected suggestion.

***

The day before.

The LA Dodgers promotion team leader pointed his finger at Seo-juns name that filled the internet.

From Hero Assemble to whale rescue to documentary shooting, and even whale clouds. Its been a week of Seo-jun Lee, huh? But what does Seo-jun Lee have to do with whale clouds?

At the promotion team leaders question, one of his staff smiled and said.

Well, I guess Seo-jun Lee is the most famous person related to whales right now. Hes at the center of attention for various reasons, and then theres a cloud like that. Its bound to be a topic.

And its even more chaotic because of that whale cloud circling the earth.

There are also a lot of products and events related to whales. Whale tours have also increased a lot, they say.

The promotion team leader scratched his chin at his staffs words.

The promotion team had to be most sensitive to the worlds attention.

There were ads related to whales popping up everywhere, and there was a good opportunity right in front of them when the center of attention was in California, especially LA.

Hmm. Then should we join in too?

Huh?

The staff who were talking about watching Seo-jun Lees documentary tilted their heads at the promotion team leaders words.

We have a home game in a few days.

Yes.

How about bringing Seo-jun Lee as the first pitcher for that game?

Oh.

Oh!

The promotion team staffs eyes sparkled at the promotion team leaders suggestion.

***

After lunch, two scouts returned to their office and looked at one desk and hesitated, backing away.

Philip, why is he like that?

The two peoples eyes were on Philip, a scout who was lying on his desk as if he was dead. 

Was he sleeping or fainting? 

Only Philips seat seemed to be covered with dark clouds.

He went through all the names of high school players in East Asia four or five days ago, and hes been like that ever since. What did he say? Jack Smith was friends with Seo-jun Lee! He was a Hollywood actor! He screamed like that.

At that, his colleague spat out his coffee.

Ah. I saw that too.

Seo-jun Lees whale rescue videos went up on YouTube, and the people who were in those videos also got attention. 

There were people who appeared in the news interviews, and people who revealed themselves on SNS.

The one who got the most attention was the big boy who was around Seo-jun Lee, wearing a black hat.

At first, he was suspected to be Seo-jun Lees bodyguard, but then people who knew the boy started to appear. 

He was a famous high school player, so there were quite a few people who recognized him.

The scouts also quickly figured out that the boy was Jack Smith.

But are Jack Smith and Seo-jun Lee really friends? Not just passing by and rescuing whales together?

The scout shook his head.

There was an interview during Over the Rainbow that said that. Seo-jun Lee lived in LA when he filmed Shadowman1. He lived next to Jack Smith, so they were friends since they were young.

His colleague exclaimed.

Wow. The kid who lived next door was a superstar Its like a novel.

Well, he was just a kid back then.

Thats true.

The two scouts chuckled.

But how did you know he lived next door? That story didnt come up in the interview, did it?

Jack Smith is also getting a lot of questions from his fellow players. Well, I guess Id be curious too if my friends friend was a superstar. But Jack Smith is cutting them off well, so he doesnt say anything more.

His colleague nodded.

Whether it was a baseball player or an actor, the biggest threat to a superstar was the stories that came out of the mouths of their acquaintances. 

Even if there was no clear evidence that the information was true or false, the fact that they were friends of the star gave people some kind of confidence.

So theyre selling that kind of information too Hes a good friend. Oh, do you know? The promotion team is trying to get Seo-jun Lee to throw the first pitch.

Oh, that would be nice, right? Hes the center of attention right now, and there are a lot of Koreans in LA, so a lot of people will come. And Seo-jun Lee has a lot of fans too

The scout who was thinking for a moment said with a slightly sour face.

It seems like more people will come than I expected?

***

Scout Philip had found a gem that had not been polished yet when he followed Jack Smith to the batting cage a few days ago. 

He went straight to the office and searched through all the data of high school players in East Asia, but no matter how hard he looked, he couldnt find the player he saw at the batting cage.

Philip sighed as he put down the last sheet.

Is he not a high school player?

He could be a pro player or a second-team player. Or maybe just an ordinary person. Philip scratched his head.

Its hard to find him if hes an ordinary person

He had no idea where to start looking. But he felt guilty as a baseball fan to just leave him alone when he showed such talent.

He definitely has the potential to be a superstar.

Scout Philip trusted his own eyes.

He got up again to print out the list of East Asian players.

Then, one of the scouts in the office exclaimed. 

The eyes of the people in the office turned to him.

Seo-jun Lee showed up at Mindman Beach!

Seo-jun Lee?!

The employee who was a fan of Seo-jun Lee screamed and jumped up. 

He looked like he was ready to run to Mindman Beach right away.

I knew he was in LA, but he went to Mindman Beach.

Everyone picked up their phones with interest. The internet was already in chaos.

Philip also picked up his phone to take a break and looked around. 

And he stopped breathing when he saw a certain picture. 

He couldnt even blink. 

His whole body stiffened and he could only stare blankly at his phone.

Whale rescue, huh Thats amazing.

But whos that next to him? Doesnt he look familiar?

Yeah, he does. If we know him, he should be a baseball player. Oh, isnt that Jack Smith? Philip! This is Jack Smith Philip?

Two boys came into Philips pale sight.

Jack Smith in the same outfit as today and the boy who he thought was a gem covered in mud, but was actually a polished gem-like actor, Seo-jun Lee.

***

Since then, Philip seemed to have lost all his motivation. 

He couldnt hide his regret. 

He walked around with his shoulders drooping, but still did his work diligently, so the scout team leader just shook his head silently.

Bang!

Philip banged his head on the desk after finishing all his work for the morning.

Damn It would have been better if he was an ordinary person

If he was an ordinary person, it would have been hard to find him, but he could have persuaded him to take a test somehow. But,

Hes a Hollywood actor!

A Hollywood actor, and one who won an Academy Award at such a young age and was recognized for his acting skills!

The potential for superstardom that Philip had imagined was being displayed elsewhere.

And amazingly! Magnificently!

As he was so frustrated, Philip heard his colleagues conversation.

First pitch?

He lost a talented hitter to Hollywood and was frustrated, so Philip jumped up from his seat. The two scouts who were surprised spilled some coffee.

First pitch?!

What, what?

Whats going on?

Philip shouted.

Seo-jun Lee should be hitting, not pitching!

The two scouts blinked at Philips sudden outburst.

***

So youre suggesting hitting?

The promotion team leader said with an expression that wasnt very pleased at Philips words. 

Philips story had reached the promotion team leader through one of his staff. 

The promotion team staff also had their eyes sparkling at the interesting story.

Wow.

He followed Jack Smith and saw a talented hitter, but it turned out to be Seo-jun Lee?

These kinds of behind-the-scenes stories usually sold well.

If Seo-jun Lee agreed to hit, they could spread this story as publicity, but unlike the staff who thought so, the promotion team leader said.

But even if the pitcher throws well, most people cant hit it well. People are watching and if he cant hit it, it wont be good for Seo-jun Lees image either. I think well get scolded for making him hit for no reason.

Even if he throws the first pitch, he has to practice, so cant we just ask him to hit once when he comes to practice?

The promotion team leader scratched his cheek at Philips words.

Hmm. If we add the story, hitting would be perfect for publicity Alright. Then let Seo-jun Lee choose between pitching and hitting, whatever.

Philips face brightened at the promotion team leaders words.

But you know that Seo-jun Lee has to agree first, right?

***

-Lets do it!!

It was deafening.

Seo-jun dropped his phone far away. 

Jack Smith was screaming on the other side of the phone.

-You throw well! You have great control!

If Philip had heard that, he would have been shocked. He could hit well and pitch well too!?

-You said you could learn to throw quickly!

Jack laughed as Seo-jun scratched his cheek.

They said I can choose between pitching and hitting, whatever I want.

-Both are fine since youre good at both! Hitting would be nice too. Hit a home run! Wow. Youre going to LA Stadium before me

Isnt it different from you? Youre a player and Im just a pitcher.

-Still, it feels weird. How should I put it Its like Im making a cameo in a movie?

Seo-jun laughed at Jacks words.

That would be really weird.

-Right?

Jack also chuckled.

-So are you pitching? Or not?

I said Id do it because it sounds fun.

He had already agreed before he could tell Jack.

Jack shouted at Seo-juns words.

-Ill definitely come to see you! Oh, wait. Will your pitching be on the news? Wow I hope I can get a ticket?

Seo-jun laughed at Jacks sincere concern.