Brother, Am I Cute? [EN]: Chapter 285

“Hyung, aren’t I cute?” Episode 285 (285/500)

The song was composed quickly, but it seems to need some time to refine it with the lyrics.

They estimated about a day or two would be enough, so I decided to meet Seo Su-hyeon on the weekend.

It all happened so fast that I wondered if this was okay, but I guess it will work out somehow.

I shared the good news with Si-ha.

“Si-ha, you know the picture you drew?”

“Upload?”

“No, not yet. Su-hyeon is going to turn it into a song. So, I’m going to the recording studio this weekend. You’ve seen it before, right? The voice actors’ recording studio.”

“Si-ha know. Si-ha draw new.”

“You did.”

I really didn’t consider uploading it as a video back then.

But now that I’m uploading it, I thought this would be okay too.

Si-ha liked it, and I can just filter out the negative comments.

“So, I’m going to the recording studio this weekend. Could you prepare a song you want to sing? Since we’re going, let’s record Si-ha’s song too.”

It would be nice to make a memory while we’re there.

Before, it was work, so Si-ha couldn’t record, but this time, I’m renting the studio by the hour, so I think I can play with Si-ha for the remaining time.

“Woong.”

Si-ha put her index finger to her chin and started to think.

I wonder where she learned that from.

“What Hyung sing?”

“Huh? Ah! Hyung will sing a new song to go with Si-ha’s picture.”

“Then Si-ha also!”

“Huh? Hmm. Si-ha too?”

“Ah-ah.”

“They said they’ll give me the lyrics today, but can you memorize them all? There are a lot of difficult words.”

“Si-ha can do.”

Even if she can read the letters, it’s not easy to memorize them.

But if she sings it, she’ll memorize it.

Around this time, I start to wonder.

When do I start teaching her Korean? Should I just let her learn naturally? Or is now, at age 4, the right time?

“Si-ha, do you want to learn how to write Korean?”

“With Hyung?”

“Hyung knows it. Of course. Hmm. It would be nice to study if there’s something fun. Si-ha, don’t you want to read fairy tales yourself?”

“No.”

Right. Si-ha would rather have Hyung read them to her.

Anyway, she looks at books often, so I think she’s got a sense of it.

Still, I was wondering if I should buy a separate workbook.

Not just writing ㄱ, ㄴ, ㄷ [Korean consonants similar to G, N, D], but making words by attaching stickers.

Then she might be able to read it easily, right?

Just like a game, naturally.

Right now, it’s enough for her to know the sounds and meanings of various words, but I don’t want to force her to study.

“Hmm. Si-ha, shall we buy stickers then?”

“Study? Study?”

“No. It’s play. Sticker play!”

“Si-ha like stickers!”

Stickers are irresistible to children.

“Then just a moment.”

I called Hong Jin-soo, the section chief of KI Publishing, just in case.

It feels like it’s been a long time since I contacted him.

「Oh! Si-hyeok! It’s been a long time!」

“Yes. Hahaha. I was wondering about something, so I contacted you.”

「What is it? A new translation?」

“No. Si-ha is trying to learn Korean with sticker workbooks. I was wondering if KI has published any.”

「Of course, we have a few. They sell really well.」

“Oh! Really?”

「Yes. That’s right. I’ll pick out a few and send them to you.」

“Yes? No. You don’t have to do that.”

「It’s okay. I happen to have some stock here. Hahaha.」

“???”

Does a publishing company usually have stock?

When I think about it, it seems like they have a study where they keep novels.

“You mean workbooks?”

「I have a few stashed away. As you know, there are people raising kids here, so I sometimes give them as gifts.」

“Ah, so….”

Those were stocked for a reason.

「Stop by on your way to daycare and pick them up. I’ll have them ready.」

“Yes. Thank you.”

Anyway, I got the workbooks.

Si-ha can play with these.

“Si-ha, Hong Jin-soo said he’ll give you stickers?”

“Really?”

Si-ha ran over and expressed that she wanted to make a phone call too.

“Si-ha says she wants to talk. Just a moment.”

「Hahaha.」

“Hong Ajji [Uncle]!”

「Yes, Si-ha.」

“Give sticker to Si-ha?”

「Of course. Aren’t you KI’s Lee Si-ha!」

He says that every time, but since when is Si-ha affiliated with KI?

She’s not a mascot character.

“Thank you! Si-ha know Korean with sticker and give book.”

「Of course! Si-ha writer! We publish! Give pop-up book again!」

“Si-ha draw picture again. Put song too.”

「???」

Hong Jin-soo’s silence continued, and then he shouted loudly.

「No! Si-hyeok! You already made a story?! Which publishing company is it! Where are you going to sell the pop-up book!」

“That’s not….”

「Who offered the best terms! Tell me!」

“I’m talking about YouTube. YouTube. I just started.”

「Ah…. You scared me!」

I was more surprised.

If I release a pop-up book series, I’ll release it at KI, not somewhere else.

No matter how good the conditions are, I won’t go there.

Let’s say this.

「Of course, there’s no place that calls that, but even if they call an advance of 100 million won [approximately $75,000 USD]?」

“…….”

「Hello? Si-hyeok? Why aren’t you answering? Didn’t you confidently make a vow of brotherhood earlier? I didn’t see it that way.」

I never made a vow of brotherhood.

“That’s unlikely, but if they offer such conditions, I’ll let you know.”

「You should say you’re not going, why are you just letting me know!」

Ah, 100 million won is too much!

How many clothes and toys can I buy for Si-ha!

“Hong Ajji. Si-ha have Yong ball and fish.”

Si-ha, who was next to me, was showing off her Yong ball regardless of the situation.

Si-ha? This is not the time to say that?

“Tigim too.”

「Huh? Fried? With fish?」

“Ah-ah. Gachi [together].”

That’s shrimp.

Hong Jin-soo, the section chief, was speechless and asked a question about the sudden collaboration of fish and fries.

Ah, how can you not react to that?

***

Arrived at the daycare center.

Si-ha waved goodbye to Hyung.

I start the day by greeting the twins and Yeon-ju as usual.

Today, there are many things to be proud of.

“Seung-jun. Si-ha get sticker many.”

“Huh?”

“Si-ha study Korean. Study. With Hyung.”

Si-ha didn’t have any aversion to studying, perhaps because she knew that Si-hyeok was going to college to take lectures.

Of course, it might be different if she actually does it.

“Wow! Korean?”

“Ah-ah.”

“Hana studies singing, and Si-ha studies Korean?”

“Si-ha do from today.”

Si-ha opened her penguin bag and showed the stickers.

There were pictures drawn to make it easy for children to understand, and there was also a space for attaching stickers in white.

“Wow! That looks fun!”

“Hana also want to do.”

“I don’t really.”

Only Yeon-ju is standing there nobly with her chin slightly raised.

Yeon-ju already knows how to read.

“Do gachi [together]?”

“Can I?”

“Si-ha have many.”

Hong Jin-soo gave me a bunch of workbooks.

He said it’s better to have a variety of things in advance.

Si-ha just liked that there were many.

“Gachi do. Gachi [Let’s do it together. Together].”

“Yay!”

Since the four of them couldn’t do it together, I took one out and gave it to Yeon-ju and Hana.

Si-ha sat down with Seung-jun and started peeling off the stickers.

“Aya. Aya. Aya [Ouch. Ouch. Ouch.].”

“This is milk. Milk.”

There were many intuitive pictures.

The beginning was related to vowels, so children could easily apply them to pronunciation.

If you only know the vowels, you can learn to write by associating them with consonants.

But without knowing the intentions of adults, children focused on attaching stickers as a game.

“Hey. Lee Si-ha!”

Jong-soo smiled and looked at Si-ha.

“Are you learning Korean now? I know how to write everything.”

Of course, he can write as he pronounces it, and his dictation skills are still lacking.

But that alone is a great thing.

“Jong-soo chukae [congratulations]!”

“Hehe. Thank you. No! I didn’t say that to be congratulated!”

“Ah?”

“Should I teach you a little? I’m really good at it.”

“No. Si-ha study sticker. Fun.”

“You can do better if you learn from me, is that okay? Huh?!”

Then Seung-jun said.

“If you learn like Jong-soo, you might become an idiot.”

“Who’s an idiot. Who!”

“A smart idiot. But if you want to be smart, shouldn’t you learn from Si-hyeok Hyung?”

“Hey!”

Teasing Jong-soo and praising Si-hyeok.

At the same time, he didn’t give any room to refute logically, so Jong-soo trembled.

He couldn’t think of a way to beat Lee Si-hyeok, who is good at everything.

“Hyung. Smart!”

“Hey! Lee Si-ha! You used to say I was ddeok-ddeok [clumsy], but why do you say Si-hyeok Hyung is smart!”

“Ah?”

“Did you do that on purpose?”

“No. Jong-soo ddeok-ddeok [clumsy].”

“Yikes!”

Jong-soo was frustrated and hit his chest.

The teacher who was watching shook her head.

Our Jjan-soo [stingy]… no, Jong-soo. The nickname I called in my heart without knowing it popped out.

Jjan-soo [stingy]… no, Jong-soo is still the same.

Why do you always get teased?

I’m sure he attacks first, but he’s always the one who gets hurt.

“All done!”

“Yay!”

Si-ha was satisfied with attaching the stickers and then looked at Hana.

Hana was also playing with stickers with Yeon-ju.

“Hana.”

“Huh? Why?”

“Si-ha go nogumshil [recording studio]. Nogumshil [recording studio].”

“Really!”

Looking at Hana, I thought of something else to brag about.

“Si-ha sing song and nogum [record].”

“Wow! That’s really nice. Hana also want to go. Hana want to record song.”

“Gaeul Nuna [Older sister] and Hyung and Si-ha go.”

“Wow! That’s really nice. Heeng [sound of jealousy].”

Si-ha’s heart was filled with a desire to listen to something as Hana made a jealous expression.

“Hana also come?”

“Can I?”

“Ah-ah. Si-ha ask Hyung.”

Seung-jun pointed to himself with his hand.

“Si-ha. Me? Me?”

“Seung-jun also ask. Yeon-ju also come?”

“Huh? When is it?”

“Weekend.”

“Ah…. I’m going to learn violin and eat something delicious with my mom on the weekend. I can’t.”

“Next time gachi go [Let’s go together]~”

“Okay.”

Si-ha was making schedules without Si-hyeok.

Still, it’s changed to asking, so maybe it’s an improvement.

***

This Saturday.

Seo Su-hyeon also sent the song and organized the lyrics well.

In fact, nothing has changed much, but the song seems to have come out very lyrical.

“Si-ha, this is the recording studio.”

“Ah-ah!”

“Wow! Amazing!”

“Hana is first time recording studio!”

The children looked at the recording studio with sparkling eyes.

I don’t know how this happened, but Seung-jun and Hana are also here today.

In fact, it is now a familiar routine.

“Oppa, let’s go in now.”

“Okay.”

Seo Su-hyeon walked ahead as if she was familiar with this recording studio building.

As I went inside, the boss greeted us.

“Welcome.”

“Hello.”

The boss smiled at the sight of the three children greeting him properly.

“Oppa, this way.”

“Oh. Okay.”

When I went inside, everything was set up.

Microphone, headset, chair, and even an electronic keyboard. Overall, it was dark, but the floor was decorated in brown tones.

The lighting was also orange, so it felt cozy.

“Hyung! Here meoshisseo [cool]!”

“It’s really amazing.”

“Hana look pretty! Piano also!”

How many times would you come to a recording studio when you were young?

These are all memories.

“Oppa, but recording with kids is a really good idea.”

“Really?”

“Of course. How amazing would it be to hear that voice you sang when you were young later?”

Thinking about it, that’s true too.

It will change a lot as they grow up.

Especially boys, their voices will get thicker as they go through puberty.

I feel like I did a really good job bringing them.

“Shall we start recording then?”

“Shall we?”

“First, practice recording and then record properly.”

“I feel nervous for some reason.”

“Think of it as a fun experience. Ah! Did you memorize all the lyrics?”

“Yeah. Of course. But kids. Won’t you be bored?”

The three shook their heads.

“Hyung watch hard.”

“Watch Si-hyeoki Hyung make mistake.”

“Hana also fun to watch.”

It seems that the children will also enjoy watching.

“Then shall I start first?”

Seo Su-hyeon put on her headset and stood in front of the microphone.

She caught her emotions and gave a cue sign.

When the song started, she opened her mouth slightly.