Superstar 816
by CristaeAfter the joyful fan meeting ended, Seo-jun returned to his daily routine.
Of course, due to the completely unexpected Oscar nomination, he had to start preparing for his trip abroad earlier than planned—but that was something for later.
Right now, he was busy making a picture frame.
More specifically, he was busy picking out the message papers from the fans to place inside the frame.
“Hmm.”
Glittering paper notes were spread out all over his desk.
Seo-jun carefully examined them with thoughtful eyes.
He picked ones that weren’t wrinkled and were in the best condition.
Ones with messages that weren’t repeated.
And as many different languages as possible.
Though the notes came from fans all over the world, most of them had written in Korean—perhaps to make it easier for Seo-jun to read.
[“Me. Love you. Jun.”]
Some messages were a little awkward, but that made them even more endearing.
“Alright.”
One by one, Seo-jun selected the gold, silver, and green message notes, all filled with love from fans, and then started recording with his camera. He hadn’t planned to record it, but he figured the fans would enjoy seeing the process.
“Hello, sprouts.”
Once everything was ready, Seo-jun waved to the camera.
“Today, I’m going to make a picture frame with the messages I received during the fan meeting. I picked them carefully to avoid repeats.”
With a gentle voice, he began to work.
First—
He arranged the green paper notes on top of the transparent glass of the frame. The square pieces formed what looked like a pixelated sprout.
“Looks like a sprout, right? I’m going to use silver as the background.”
He filled the area around the sprout with silver notes, then bordered the outer edges with gold.
“Ah, it’s upside down.”
Since he was arranging them face-up, some messages ended up flipped. Seo-jun chuckled softly and carefully turned the paper back the right way.
“Now, if I just place the top glass…”
He gently laid a second transparent glass panel over the sprout-like collage and fixed it in place with the backing.
“Finished! It’s done.”
He shook the frame slightly to make sure the notes stayed in place, then smiled in satisfaction.
“They’re not moving. Now I’ll install it here.”
Seo-jun held up a curious-looking object that he’d placed on the desk earlier—a square frame with an empty center.
“If I slide it in here…”
He inserted the sprout panel into the frame like a puzzle piece. It clicked into place with a soft sound.
“Really done this time!”
The frame now held a pixelated sprout made of glittering paper—complete.
While Seo-jun returned to his normal life, the sprouts were still floating in post-fan meeting bliss.
- Can we have the fan meeting again tomorrow…?
= 22 Do one next week too, please.
= I wanna go too 😭
- When are they releasing the fan meeting video?
= Hurry and post it 😭😭😭
Just then, their phones buzzed.
Sprout Song Yoo-jung, who couldn’t attend the fan sign or the fan meeting and had been living in the comments section with only “ㅠㅠㅠㅠ,” saw the YouTube notification from [JUN] and perked up.
“It’s already up?!”
Nice job, Cocoa!
She eagerly opened the app—only to see a video she hadn’t expected.
[Title: I made a frame with the love of the sprouts.]
It was short.
But that didn’t matter—it was a Seo-jun video.
Heart pounding, Song Yoo-jung pressed play.
[“Hello, sprouts.”]
Seo-jun greeted the camera with a wave.
“Hi, Seo-jun…”
He was still just as cool, beautiful, cute, and perfect.
Yoo-jung, feeling the rush of admiration, giggled while staring at her screen.
Seo-jun’s graceful hands were busy assembling a sprout mosaic from paper notes.
- I’m gonna make one too.
= 22 Couple item with Seo-jun 😭
Yoo-jung figured the [From Sprout] community would soon be flooded with pixel-style artwork.
[“Now it’s really done!”]
Seo-jun had just finished installing the mosaic into a frame.
- Huh… it’s kind of plain?
= Would’ve been fine with a regular frame?
Yoo-jung agreed—until Seo-jun grinned mischievously, like he’d read their minds.
[“It looks like a regular frame from the front, right? But if I do this…”]
He tapped the frame with his finger.
The mosaic spun.
Behind the sprout side, the messages came into view.
[“It’s a frame that spins! You can see the messages on the back too!”]
- Whoa! That’s why the back was glass too!!
- This is amazing 😭😭
- Seo-jun doesn’t miss a single fan message 😭
With pride on his face, Seo-jun spun the frame again.
The front—sprout artwork.
The back—fan messages.
Round and round, like a sideways pinwheel.
[“Nice. None of the messages are upside down, either.”]
He smiled in satisfaction.
- So that’s why he was flipping the paper earlier 😭😭
= I wondered why he was being so careful with the back…
- Where can I buy that frame?
= 22 I’m gonna make one too!
= 33 Would be great with his quotes!
= You could do it with lines from his films too 😭
= That’s genius… real fan behavior!!
- (Frame shop link)
= Fastest hands in the west 😂
= Dropped the link and vanished 😂
- The glitter paper is by WD, sold in most stationery shops!
= Wait… how do you know that?
= I work in the industry 😎
= Cool 😭
- It’s hilarious how in sync sprouts are. (Running to the store)
= You’re doing it too, lol
After finishing the video, Yoo-jung immediately called her friend Lim Ye-na.
“Ye-na, you’re making one too, right?!”
— “Obviously!”
No need for explanation. Sprouts just knew.
“Wow. Now he’s even selling out frames.”
Lee Ji-seok said in amazement, and all four actors burst into laughter.
Seo-jun was catching up over dinner with fellow actors he hadn’t seen in a while.
Lee Da-jin smiled and said,
“Other fandoms are all trying to make that frame too.”
“I saw. It even made the news.”
Kim Jong-ho puffed up with pride, as if it was his own accomplishment. Seo-jun scratched his cheek.
Just like he said, after Seo-jun posted the video, people started making similar frames using fan letters, photos, or artwork—giving them as gifts to idols, actors, or family.
And YouTubers caught on quickly, making prettier and more creative versions that went viral.
“I didn’t think it would blow up like this.”
“It just shows how strong your influence is.”
At Park Do-hoon’s words, everyone nodded. Seo-jun smiled bashfully and said nothing.
“When are you flying out?”
Da-jin asked, just as Seo-jun was picking out a tender piece of braised ribs.
“The ceremony’s at the end of February, so probably a week before.”
The four actors made the same odd expression—a mix of disbelief and awe.
“A superhero film getting an Oscar nom… No matter how many times I hear it, it’s still surreal.”
“Yeah.”
Ji-seok agreed, and Do-hoon nodded. Jong-ho and Da-jin followed silently.
“I feel the same,” Seo-jun said, laughing.
Everyone chuckled.
Even the nominee found it bizarre.
The Oscar talk ended there, and they moved on.
“How’s Manager Choi?”
They were referring to Choi Tae-woo, who had collapsed from overwork last year.
“Don’t worry. He got chewed out so badly by Director Ahn, he’s not overworking anymore.”
Plus, thanks to Seo-jun’s ability, Tae-woo was practically too healthy to collapse.
Seo-jun smiled, completely satisfied.
“Good to hear.”
“You’ve gotta take care of yourself while you’re young. Once you hit my age, everything starts to ache.”
“…You’re saying that in front of me?”
Ji-seok massaged his shoulder with exaggerated groans. Jong-ho shot him a glare.
As always, the two bickered. The others just laughed.
Even while having dessert, the chatter didn’t stop.
“I’m doing a drama next.”
That was Park Do-hoon.
“Ooh! What kind?”
Da-jin asked.
“It’s a Plus Original. The script was really good.”
“OTT’s great. Bigger budgets, less meddling.”
Everyone nodded in agreement.
“What about you, Ji-seok?”
“I’m doing a movie.”
“Oh?”
“But not a lead. Just a cameo.”
Huh?
The others looked puzzled. Ji-seok explained,
“It’s called Fate. Based on a novel. Sound familiar?”
“Oh. I got the script.”
Seo-jun had read it while considering New Eclipse. If he’d read Fate first, he might have picked it.
Ji-seok nodded.
“I’m friends with the lead, so I agreed to a cameo. Still looking for my next main role.”
“Nice.”
The lead for Fate had probably been cast right after Seo-jun passed.
‘Hope it goes well.’
If Ji-seok liked them, they were likely talented. Seo-jun smiled brightly, wishing the film success.
“I’m doing a play with So-young!”
And so the night continued with joyful talk of future roles.
Mid-February.
It was the day actor Lee Seo-jun departed for the Oscars.
Click-click-click!
The airport buzzed with soft murmurs and a chorus of camera shutters from reporters and fans. Flashbulbs flickered as Seo-jun waved with a calm smile.
“I’ll be back safely.”
With his manager and bodyguards, he passed through the gate. Reporters quickly uploaded their articles.
[Actor Lee Seo-jun departs for the Oscars!]
[Seo-jun: “I’ll be back safely!”]
[Airport fashion! Lee Seo-jun’s head-to-toe look explained!]
- Safe trip, Seo-jun 😭😭
= Take care of yourself 😭
- Wait… his clothes look kinda normal?
= 22 Thought they’d be all designer 🤔
= Looks like luxury just because it’s Seo-jun.
= 22 That’s it 😂
= 33 I wear that and look homeless 😭
- But doesn’t he look a little different?
= ?? Really?
= Hard to tell from fan-cams, but the press photos… he looks bigger?
= Is he working out?
= Soccer?!
= Baseball?!
= …You two, out.
= 😂😂
- But seriously, he does seem bulkier?
= Isn’t it just winter clothes? Puffy layers.
= Maybe…?