Brother, Am I Cute? [EN]: Chapter 23

Hyung, Am I Cute? Episode 23 (23/500)

-3 days ago. KI Media.

Thanks to Lee Si-hyuk’s impressive translation skills, a new plan was hatched.

To enter the Chinese market.

The president considered the proposal.

“It’s going to be tough. We’ve traded with American publishers a few times, but we don’t have any established connections in China.”

“Why don’t we give it a shot this time?” Section Chief Hong Jin-soo was brimming with enthusiasm, eager to tackle any challenge.

The president sighed.

“It’s been a while since we expanded our reach. Trying isn’t a bad idea. The Chinese web novel market is already enormous, dwarfing ours. I hear they even have award ceremonies like our year-end acting awards.”

“Teacher Taek-soo’s work will be a hit. There are plenty of immortals like Seowangmo [Queen Mother of the West] and Daera Seonin [Great Hermit]. You know how popular Xianxia [Chinese fantasy genre featuring immortals and cultivation] is in China. They’re still writing it.”

“That’s true. The problem isn’t sales; it’s the profit split between publishers. If they accept a book from us, we have to accept one from them.”

“That’s right.”

The president scratched his head.

“We need to approach this carefully. I’ve heard stories of people getting burned for nothing.”

“Hmm. Then let’s publish the English version first. Or, why not do both simultaneously?”

“Do both?”

“Yes. If the book sells worldwide, it benefits both the teacher and us.”

“Hmm. The English-speaking world, you say?”

“We have many translated books. Surely one of them will be accepted by a publisher. Or…”

After discussing various platforms and strategies, the president nodded.

“Let’s proceed in that direction for now. So, Si-hyuk will handle the translation?”

“That’s…”

Section Chief Hong Jin-soo scratched his head.

“I mentioned it to Teacher Taek-soo, and he asked to meet him.”

“Huh? Bring the kid over for what?”

“He said he wants to meet him. He’s translating his book, and he heard he’s raising a child…”

When signing a translation contract, both the original author’s and the translator’s signatures are required.

Knowing this, it was difficult to refuse the request outright.

The president said, “You’re not forcing him to come, are you?”

“No, not at all. He just seems curious to meet him.”

“I figured. Ask Si-hyuk for his opinion first.”

“Understood. Also, I’d like to finalize the translation and editing fees per volume.”

“How much are you thinking?”

“If we calculate it as a lump sum, it’s about 650 pages per volume. Even at a rate of 3,500 won per page, that’s 2,275,000 won.”

“Hmm. So, what figure are you proposing?”

“Exactly 2.5 million won?”

“Well, we’re not counting the exact number of characters. It seems reasonable. Even if we allow two months per volume…”

The president nodded.

It was a favorable decision, influenced by his positive impression of Lee Si-hyuk.

Setting the rate at 3,500 won per page for Lee Si-hyuk, who only had one translation under his belt, was also a significant gesture.

***

-Present.

I received a call from Hong Jin-soo.

“Hello.”

“Si-hyuk, it’s been a while.”

“It has.”

“Do you have a moment to talk?”

“Yes, plenty. What’s up?”

“It’s about the martial arts novel I asked you to translate.”

“Teacher Taek-soo’s martial arts novel?”

“Teacher Taek-soo wants to meet you and Siha. He suggested we come pick strawberries if you have time. March is a great time for strawberry picking. Many kids come, too.”

I knew he was farming, but I didn’t realize he grew strawberries.

I considered today’s discussion while listening to him.

Ultimately, parents need to provide a good environment for their children’s education.

Isn’t that the meaning behind the saying ‘Meng Mu moves three times’ [reference to Mencius’s mother moving three times to find the right environment for her son’s education]?

It seemed like a good experience for Siha.

Even if the memories fade when he’s young, a positive influence will eventually show in his character.

“I understand. Ah! If Teacher Taek-soo is okay with it, could I bring other children, too? It would be nice to go with some of Siha’s friends from daycare.”

“Oh! I’ll ask him about that.”

“I’ll check with the daycare, too. It’s not entirely my decision.”

“Yes, I understand. Teacher Taek-soo said you can come anytime, except at night.”

“Ah! Understood.”

As soon as I ended the call, the team members around me looked at me with sparkling eyes.

Seo Soo-hyun said, “Oppa, are you going to a strawberry farm?”

“No way.”

“I haven’t even said anything yet!”

“If you’re thinking of tagging along, you should give up now.”

“That’s harsh! Fine, then let’s have a victory celebration dinner. A company dinner.”

Everyone nodded in agreement.

“Okay, let’s do lunch. I need to be with Siha for dinner, so no dinner.”

“It’s a very wholesome company dinner because you’re here, Oppa.”

“Should I skip it if you don’t like it?”

“Hey! We just talked about being an outcast, so we can’t do that.”

“Instead, I’ll pay today. Just for lunch. Whatever you want.”

Seo Soo-hyun’s attitude changed instantly.

“You know I’ve respected you since my freshman year, right, Oppa?”

“You have to pay separately.”

“You’re mean!”

Strangely, I feel comfortable teasing Seo Soo-hyun.

Well, it’s probably because she’s the only person I’m close to here.

That’s a little sad.

No, I have Siha.

I miss Siha.

I wish time would pass quickly.

***

Meanwhile, Siha was sitting with two other children, chatting, oblivious to his hyung’s longing.

Seung-joon looked at Hana and Siha alternately with a serious expression.

“My aunt comes often.”

“Ah.”

“Right, Oppa?”

Seung-joon made eye contact with Hana.

He pointed at Hana, creating a very serious atmosphere.

“You have a second name!”

At that, the teacher also listened while watching the other children.

A second name?

What name are they talking about?

Listening to their conversation, it seemed to be a name given by the aunt.

The teacher was intrigued.

Hana said, “What is it?”

It was a very pure and cute voice.

“Girl! It’s ‘girl’!”

“Wow! Right! My aunt says it often when I spill something!”

“Ah.”

The teacher could almost hear Hana’s aunt’s voice.

Hana spilling a drink.

The aunt’s cry when she saw it.

“Hey, you girl!”

Seung-joon pointed to himself again with a serious expression.

“I also have a second name.”

“What is it?”

“Huh?”

This time, the teacher was curious about what Hana’s aunt would have said.

“You crazy bastard!”

“That’s right! The name that comes out when Oppa does something wrong!”

“Ah.”

“Pfft!”

The teacher burst out laughing.

It seemed the aunt was from Gyeongsang-do [province in South Korea known for its strong dialect].

And she kept giggling, amused by the children’s serious conversation.

Seung-joon said, “Then Siha must have a second name now.”

“Right, right.”

“Ah?”

Seung-joon and Hana began to ponder Siha’s second name.

Siha just blinked and thought of the Emperor Penguin.

Putting his hand on his chest.

“Pepe.”

Doom.

Seung-joon and Hana tilted their heads.

“Pepe? What is Pepe?”

“Pepepe?”

Siha got up from his seat and tensed his butt.

“Pepeeeeeee-”

A firm belief that he could transform.

That belief had to bring about a miracle, but there was no change in Siha’s body.

“Peeeeeee!! Pepe!”

Seung-joon and Hana stood up as if they had realized something.

“Penguin Monster!”

“Now it’s starting~”

The siblings began to hug each other and sing.

The teacher watched the scene and drew everyone’s attention.

“Okay! Then shall we sing the Penguin Monster song today?”

The teacher sat at the piano and played the Penguin Monster OST wonderfully.

The children began to sing in chick-like voices.

Siha also followed the song.

“Pepe!”

He was still looking for Pepe, whose meaning was still unknown.

When the song ended, someone arrived at the daycare.

Siha turned his head and looked at the person.

“Hyung!”

“Siha~”

Si-hyuk hugged Siha.

Seung-joon and Hana ran to Si-hyuk when they saw him.

“Si-hyuk hyung, me too!”

“Hana too, Hana too!”

“Huh? I can’t hold everyone?”

At the siblings’ unstoppable urging, Si-hyuk had no choice but to hug and lift the three children in his arms.

“Ugh!”

Seung-joon jumped happily.

“Hahaha!”

“Hana is having fun too!”

Only Siha was stuck in the middle and muttered in a small voice.

“Hyung, mine…”

Gloomy.

Siha was jealous of the two children.

***

I asked the head teacher if we could go on a strawberry farm trip.

I had asked for Teacher Taek-soo’s permission on the way here.

If the head teacher and parents approved, we would probably go.

“I need to send out the family communication forms today. I also have paperwork to do.”

“Ah… Did I create extra work?”

“No, this is good for the kids. A free strawberry farm experience. They’ll really enjoy it.”

“Right?”

“Yes. I need to show them that learning and playing here isn’t the whole world.”

As expected, the head teacher is a good person.

This could have been a very annoying request.

No, it’s hard work.

Even with only seven kids, you have to be very attentive when you go outside.

“I’m coming with you, but if you need more people, I can recruit college students as volunteers.”

“We’d be grateful if you did. It’ll be easier with more eyes.”

“Is volunteer time guaranteed?”

“Yes, of course.”

“Really?”

I thought of Seo Soo-hyun and the others.

It would be good since they needed to volunteer anyway.

“I’m thinking of going on Friday. Do you have time, Si-hyuk? That… Teacher Taek-soo seems to be looking forward to seeing you…”

“Ah, me? Of course, I do. I don’t know about the others, but they probably will.”

Usually, by their third year, students schedule their classes to avoid Fridays, except for required courses.

Of course, some don’t.

If they could avoid school on Fridays, Saturdays, and Sundays, wouldn’t everyone create a schedule like that?

For reference, major electives weren’t offered on Fridays.

“Then let’s do that. The other parents might like it, too. They enjoyed the sweet potato digging last year.”

“Really?”

That’s fortunate.

If not, I’ll just go with Siha. Whatever.

I just want Siha to have good memories.

“Then I’ll be on my way.”

“Yes, goodbye.”

I called Siha, who was waiting for me.

“Siha~”

“Ah, Hyung.”

He ran to me and clung to my leg.

“Let’s go.”

“Ah.”

I carried Siha on my hip and walked.

It was heavy, but it was okay if Siha was happy.

We came back home like that.

“Siha, you need to wash your hands.”

“Ah.”

As soon as Siha washed his hands, he ran into the room.

I wondered what he was going to do today.

“Are you going to draw again today?”

“Ah.”

Siha grabbed the tablet pen and started coloring.

The picture on the screen was the Emperor Penguin I had seen before.

It wasn’t exactly the same.

It was a round shape that gave Siha’s drawing a unique feeling.

What should I say?

Should I say that the already cute Emperor Penguin had become even more chubby and cute?

“Are you coloring today?”

“Ah.”

I watched Siha draw diligently.

‘Is this what they call fan art?’

Maybe it was.

‘Come to think of it, there was an SNS platform where you could upload fan art or pictures. What was it called? Ah! Pixiv [online community for artists].’

I looked at Siha’s picture.

I was hesitant to upload Siha’s videos, but a picture seemed okay.

“Siha, when you’re done, would you like to upload it as fan art? On the internet.”

“Ah.”

“Do you understand? You’d be uploading it to a place with lots of pictures.”

“Pepe?”

“Maybe there will be lots of Emperor Penguins, too?”

If it’s a popular character, there will be many.

“Ah.”

“You might get lots of hearts?”

I stroked Siha’s head.