Chapter 415: Baekseolgi and Injeolmi

During the remodeling, Cha Soo-Yeon mentioned that a white female Pomeranian and a cream tabby female Korean Short Hair had often appeared, staring at them before disappearing.

Yoo-Jin asked, "Did the two seem close? For a dog and a cat, they were unusually friendly..."

-

Hmm

, I can't say because we didn't observe them that closely.

Yoo-Jin responded with disappointment, "Thank you for letting us know. We'll take it from here. Oh, and thank you so much for the renovation work."

-No problem at all. Just promise to work with us again for the next drama, okay?

"Of course, Ms. Cha! Absolutely!"

After ending the call, Yoo-Jin turned to me with an excited expression. "Oppa, could it really be Lucky and Mimi?"

"Well, I'll let Deok-Bae know and tell him to take a photo when he sees them."

"Okay, oppa."

"Alright, let's go check out the inside now."

Gathering her composure, Yoo-Jin stepped onto the stairs leading from the yard to the first-floor entrance.

At that moment, we heard a small sound.

Rustle.

"Huh? What was that sound?"

Since we had just been talking about Lucky and Mimi, I instinctively looked around just in case. As I scanned the area, the rustling sound came again.

Miso found the source of the sound and exclaimed, "Mom! Right over here!"

Miso pointed toward a gap beneath the stairs. Nestled there were a newborn puppy and kitten.

The fluffy white Pomeranian puppy and the golden cream Korean Short Hair kitten were tightly curled up with their eyes firmly shut, clutching each other for warmth as they trembled.

Yoo-Jin gasped and stammered in surprise. "O... Oppa... they look just like Lucky and Mimi."

I quickly searched around the yard and near the walls, but there were no signs of their parents.

Returning, I told Yoo-Jin, "Their parents aren't anywhere in sight."

Just then, the November chill made the two little ones shiver and whimper.

"

Whimper~

"

"

Mewl~

"

Their frail cries were heartbreaking as if pleading for help.

Normally, it would be best to leave such animals alone so their mother could return to them. After all, human interference could leave a scent that the mother might reject.

However, the puppy and kitten looked dangerously weak and vulnerable in the cold wind. Leaving them there would likely be fatal.

Miso crouched down and stomped her feet anxiously. "Mom, they look sick."

Yoo-Jin turned to me with concern. "Oppa, what should we do?"

There was no sign of their mother nearby, and they seemed too fragile to leave in the cold.

After a moment of thought, I made a decision.

"Yoo-Jin, how about we take them in?"

Both Yoo-Jin and Miso responded immediately as if they had been waiting for this suggestion.

"Yes!"

"Yes!"

As soon as I heard their answer, I reached into the gap under the stairs. The two little creatures I touched were ice-cold.

"

Whimper~

"

"

Mewl~

"

Too young to even open their eyes properly, the puppy and kitten nuzzled into my hands, seeking the warmth of my touch. The tiny creatures' desperate movements for survival spurred me into action.

"Yoo-Jin, turn on the boiler and grab a blanket from the closet to lay down for them."

"Got it!"

Yoo-Jin quickly ran inside to open the first-floor door and turned on the boiler.

Meanwhile, Miso followed closely behind me and clasped her hands together.

***

Once inside, I placed the trembling puppy and kitten on a blanket that Yoo-Jin had set out.

The boiler would take some time to heat the room, so I used my body heat to keep the two warm.

As the small creatures squirmed, their frailty made Miso step forward. "Uncle Yoon-Ho! Let me hold them! I'll keep them warm!"

"Do you want to try?"

I handed the puppy and kitten to Miso who cradled them like a hen protecting her eggs as she curled herself around them snugly.

While she tended to them, I headed to the living room to check the security camera monitor I had installed.

I had added a motion-detecting security camera just in case Yoo-Jin decided to move into the house. The cameras had been set up three days prior, so I reviewed the recorded footage.

Unfortunately, there was no sign of the mother dog or cat during that time.

I returned to the room and shared the update. "There's no footage of their parents."

Yoo-Jin frowned slightly in disappointment.

"When Deok-Bae and his family move in tomorrow, I'll let them know to call right away if they see the dog or cat. And if they really are Lucky and Mimi, I'll hire someone to track them down. Don't worry too much."

"Okay."

At that moment, Miso peeked up from her bundle. "Uncle Yoon-Ho, can we name them?"

"Do you already have names in mind, Miso?"

"Yep! The yellow kitty can be Bori[1] because it's yellow like barley! And the white puppy can be Bap[2], because it's white like rice! Together they'll be Bori-Bap[3]! What do you think?"

Miso's creative naming left me speechless. The thought of naming them "Barley Rice" was amusing but hardly fitting.

"Miso, don't you have another idea?" I asked.

Miso turned to Yoo-Jin for input. "Mom, do you think it's weird?"

"Uh... just a little," Yoo-Jin replied, holding her thumb and forefinger slightly apart.

After thinking it over, Miso looked at the puppy and the kitten in her arms before she came up with another idea.

Looking at the white Pomeranian puppy in her left hand she said, "Then I'll name this one Baekseolgi[4], because it's as white as a white rice cake!"

The puppy squirmed and stuck out a tiny pink tongue. "

Whimper~

"

"Oh? Do you like it?

Hehe

, so do I!" exclaimed Miso.

Miso excitedly turned to the kitten this time. "And this one, since it's all yellow with a little white on its neck... Injeolmi[5]!"

The kitten opened its tiny mouth and yawned. "

Mewl.

"

𝑓𝑟ℯ𝘦𝓌𝘦𝘣𝑛𝑜𝓋𝑒𝓁.𝑐ℴ𝓂

"You like it too? Okay, then it's settled!"

The kitten seemed to be simply expressing hunger, but Miso interpreted it as agreement.

"Mom, they're happy with their names! This one's Baekseolgi, and this one's Injeolmi!"

With a fondness for traditional Korean desserts, Miso had officially named the puppy and kitten after rice cakes.

I admitted, "Those names are pretty good."

Thanks to Miso's second attempt, the pair avoided becoming "Barley Rice" and were now "Baekseolgi" and "Injeolmi."

After warming them up, I carefully took Baekseolgi and Injeolmi from Miso. "Now that they're a bit better, let's take them to the vet."

"Okay, Uncle Yoon-Ho!"

Postponing the house tour, we headed to the nearest animal hospital for a check-up.

***

We entrusted Baekseolgi and Injeolmi to a kind veterinarian at the 24-hour animal hospital in Amsa-dong for a thorough examination.

Thankfully, there was no major issue apart from the fact that the puppy and kitten hadn't eaten for several days.

"They seem to be about ten days old and are a bit malnourished. But as long as you feed them well, they'll recover," said the veterinarian.

"Should I warm up some milk for them?"

"No. Since they're so young, you'll need to use a specialized formula and feed them with a bottle."

Relieved, we purchased formula, bottles, puppy pads, and other supplies before heading home.

We had informed Jung In-Ji in advance and got her permission to bring the animals home. As such, Jung In-Ji warmly welcomed Baekseolgi and Injeolmi. "Oh my, are these Baekseolgi and Injeolmi? Aren't they just adorable?"

"Grandma! I named them!" Miso said excitedly.

Jung In-Ji, Yoo-Jin, and Miso busied themselves preparing a place for the puppy and kitten.

They heated the formula milk and tended to the little ones while I, exhausted from managing Deok-Bae's audition, headed to the third floor to rest.

***

The next morning, I headed downstairs after waking up when a noise that hadn't been there before caught my attention.

"

Whimper~

"

"

Mewl~

"

Baekseolgi and Injeolmi were crawling on their bellies across the floor.

Miso was lying on the floor and clapping her hands while calling out, "Seolgi~ Jeolmi~ come here."

The fluffy white Baekseolgi and the round yellow Injeolmi wriggled their way toward her.

Just then, Yoo-Jin emerged from the kitchen carrying a bottle. She noticed me and said, "Oh, oppa. You're already up? Aren't you going to sleep a bit more?"

"No, I'm fine. Why are you up so early?"

"I just woke up too. I heard these little ones whining for food."

Miso stood up while holding Baekseolgi and Injeolmi in her arms and bowed politely. "Good morning, Uncle Yoon-Ho! Seolgi, Jeolmi, say hello too!"

Held in Miso's hands, the two tiny creatures waved their paws as if greeting me. Their puffy soft fur and pink paws seemed to prove how well-fed they were last night.

"

Whimper?

"

"

Mewl?

"

The moment they spotted the bottle Yoo-Jin was holding, they quickly forgot everything else and latched on to suck eagerly.

"

Whimper~ slurp slurp~

"

"

Mewl mewl~

"

I finally felt reassured upon seeing how voraciously they drank their formula. "They're eating well."

"But oppa, are you really working again today without resting?"

Although I deserved a break after working all weekend, the mountain of work waiting for me wouldn't allow it.

I shrugged my shoulders. "Yeah, I've got a ton of work piled up from scouting Deok-Bae and the audition."

I had to organize Cherry Blossom and Kang Ha-Na's year-end joint concert, finalize the selection of singers for

Hwaranjeon's

original soundtrack, and coordinate schedules for the year-end TV awards and music festivals across the three major networks.

On top of that, preparations were needed for the film awards happening in three weeks at the end of November, where Lee Tae-Poong was expected to win thanks to the success of

Beyond the Boundary

.

"Wow, you're seriously busy," Yoo-Jin remarked.

"It's the end of the year, after all. Oh, and you'll need to get fitted for a dress, so keep that in mind. If I can't make it, I'll send Sang-Bong to help you."

"Yes, sir~"

When Yoo-Jin responded, Miso also peeked up as if wondering about herself.

I added, "Don't worry, Miso. We'll get your dress fitted too."

At that, Miso beamed brightly. "Okay!"

Yoo-Jin pointed toward the kitchen, telling me to eat breakfast before heading out.

Just then, my phone rang.

[Caller ID: Sung Han-Yung]

Sung Han-Yung was an actor slated to transfer from Actor Division 3 to Actor Division 2. He and his talent agent, Jung Sung-Gon, were expected to join us soon.

It was unusual for him to call so early.

When I picked up the call in curiosity, I could immediately hear his urgent voice.

-Team Lead Jung! Please come to the company right away.

"What's this about all of a sudden?"

-Well, Team Lead Ju said he'd land me the lead role in a 15-billion-won film on the condition that I don't transfer to Actor Division 2. But... it's hard to say no to something like this.

Sung Han-Yung had never been offered the lead in a project of this scale, and it was clear he was wavering.

"I'll be there shortly."

It was evident that Choi Man-Sik's carefully orchestrated plans were now in motion.

***

Inside the meeting room on the sixth floor of Hoop Entertainment sat Sung Han-Yung, Jung Sung-Gon, Ju Ho-Sung, and Director Park Hwan-Seo—the man who had offered the lead role in the 15-billion-won film.

In my past life, Park Hwan-Seo's

Human Market

had been a hit and grossed 5.5 million ticket sales despite its restricted nineteen-plus rating.

With a budget of only 5 billion won, the film gained attention for its gripping screenplay, Park Hwan Seo's excellent directing, and a realistic portrayal of human trafficking networks.

The project had attracted considerable interest from production companies even at the script stage, so it was understandable why Sung Han-Yung was tempted.

Sung Han-Yung greeted me warmly with a wave. "Oh, you're here, Team Lead Jung."

In contrast, Ju Ho-Sung and Jung Sung-Gon both scowled openly.

"My apologies for being late," I replied.

Ju Ho-Sung's expression hardened as he questioned me. "Why are you here, Team Lead Jung? This is a project being handled by Actor Division 3."

"Mr. Sung Han-Yung has agreed to be managed by Actor Division 2. Of course I should be here."

"But he hasn't officially transferred to Actor Division 2 yet, has he?"

Sensing the opening, Jung Sung-Gon quickly sided with Ju Ho-Sung. "Exactly, Team Lead Jung. I know we talked about moving to Actor Division 2, but honestly, it might not work out. I mean, opportunities like this—landing the lead in a film of this caliber—don't come around often, right?"

The situation was clear: Choi Man-Sik was using investment as leverage to keep Sung Han-Yung tied to Actor Division 3. Meanwhile, Jung Sang-Gon had likely been promised something in exchange for his cooperation.

Keeping my composure, I took a seat and replied, "Is that so? Personally, I think Mr. Sung Han-Yung shouldn't take this role at all."

My bombshell statement froze the room.

Park Hwan-Seo, the scriptwriter for

Human Market

, glared at me with outrage. "How dare you... Have you even read my script?"

"I have."

"Then how can you say something like that?"

The forty-five-year-old Park Hwan-Seo was a notoriously authoritative figure. His role as a director seemed to embolden him to speak disrespectfully, even to someone he had just met.

With the 15 billion won investment secured, Park Hwan-Seo was already acting like a big shot.

Park Hwan-Seo continued, "This film is the masterpiece of my career! Everyone says it's going to be a hit. So who do you think you are to spout that kind of nonsense, huh? What, just because people say you're a 'fortune teller,' you think you're someone special?"

Park Hwan-Seo wasn't wrong about the film's potential. The script was excellent and the movie would be a commercial success.

However, there was one fatal flaw with this project.

1. Barley in Korean ☜

2. Rice in Korean ☜

3.

White rice made with barley

added into it ☜

4.

Baekseolgi

—white steamed rice cake ☜

5.

Injeolmi

—rice cake covered with soybean powder ☜