ch-6

Chapter 6: A New Neighbor

---

Seven years had passed since Kim Jihoon found himself in this unfamiliar yet strangely comforting world. It was a world that had both similarities and striking differences to the one he once knew. Now, as a young boy of seven, he'd come to appreciate and navigate his new life with an inquisitive spirit and an eagerness to learn.

Every day, Jihoon immersed himself in books, from children's fairy tales to history textbooks. He absorbed information like a sponge, slowly piecing together the unique blend of technological advancements and cultural stagnation that defined this alternate version of Korea. The entertainment industry remained undeveloped, struggling to keep up with the rapidly evolving technological scene. It still frustrated him, but Jihoon knew he had plenty of time to change things.

Despite these ambitions, Jihoon was still a child, and he lived a life typical of any young boy his age. He attended school, played with his best friend Song Joong-ki, and spent time with his parents, Min-ah and Dong-hoon. But today, something new was happening in their small brick building in Cheonghwa-dong, Seoul.

"Jihoon-ah, did you hear? We're getting new neighbors!" His mother's voice rang out from the kitchen as she peeked out the window overlooking the alley beside their apartment.

Jihoon set down his book and glanced over, intrigued. It wasn't often that new families moved into their building. Most of the residents had lived here for years, forming a close-knit community. He hopped off the sofa and walked over to the window, curious to see who the newcomers were.

Outside, a couple was unloading a small van, carefully carrying cardboard boxes and suitcases up the narrow stairwell. The woman, with short hair and a warm smile, cradled a small child in her arms. The child had large eyes and soft, chubby cheeks. He looked around three years old, his gaze darting curiously around his new surroundings.

"Who's that?" Jihoon asked his mother, his eyes focused on the little boy.

"I think that's their son," Min-ah replied, her tone gentle. "His name is Kim Soo-hyun. I heard his mother talking to Mrs. Park earlier. They're moving from Daegu because the father got a job here in Seoul."

"Kim Soo-hyun," Jihoon repeated quietly, as if testing the name on his tongue. He stared at the boy a little longer, a strange feeling stirring within him. There was something almost…familiar about the child, but Jihoon couldn't quite place it. He shook his head, dismissing the thought as nothing more than a figment of his imagination.

"Why don't you go say hello? You could show them around the neighborhood," Min-ah suggested with a smile.

Jihoon hesitated for a moment before nodding. He grabbed his shoes and slipped them on, stepping out of their apartment and walking to the neighboring door, where the couple was busy arranging their belongings.

"Hello!" Jihoon called out politely, bowing slightly.

The woman looked up, surprised, but her face quickly broke into a welcoming smile. "Oh, hello there! You must be one of our new neighbors."

"Yes, I'm Kim Jihoon. I live next door," Jihoon introduced himself, his voice clear and respectful. He glanced at the little boy in her arms, who was staring at him with wide eyes.

"Jihoon, it's nice to meet you," the woman replied. "I'm Soo-hyun's mother, and this is my husband." She gestured to the man who was coming up the stairs with another box.

The man set the box down and turned to Jihoon with a friendly nod. "Hello there, Jihoon. I'm Kim Seung-hoon. Thank you for welcoming us."

Jihoon bowed again, then glanced at the child. "Hello, Soo-hyun," he said softly.

The boy blinked at him, his small fingers clutching his mother's shirt. He didn't say anything, but his gaze remained fixed on Jihoon as if trying to figure him out.

"Do you want to play with me sometime?" Jihoon asked, his tone gentle and inviting. He remembered how Song Joong-ki's friendly approach had made him feel welcomed and at ease when they first met. He wanted to do the same for this little boy.

Soo-hyun's eyes widened even further, and then, slowly, he nodded, a small, shy smile forming on his lips.

"Great!" Jihoon grinned. "I'll show you around the neighborhood later. We can go to the playground and maybe have some ice cream."

Soo-hyun's smile grew a little wider at the mention of ice cream, and he tugged at his mother's sleeve. "Can I?"

"Of course, sweetheart," his mother said with a chuckle, ruffling his hair. "Maybe tomorrow, after we've finished unpacking."

With that, Jihoon bid them goodbye and returned to his own apartment, his thoughts lingering on the new family next door. As the evening shadows deepened, he lay on his bed, staring at the ceiling, pondering over the peculiar feeling he'd had when he met Soo-hyun. It was as if a tiny thread of fate was connecting them, drawing him to the child in some inexplicable way.

"Kim Soo-hyun," he whispered again, the name rolling off his tongue effortlessly.

Was this just a coincidence, or was fate bringing people from his past life's memories into this world one by one? First, Song Joong-ki, and now Kim Soo-hyun? What were the odds of meeting people with the same names as prominent figures from the Korean entertainment industry he once knew?

Jihoon shook his head, a determined expression settling on his young face. He didn't know what the future held or if these names meant anything in this world. But one thing was clear: he would keep an eye on these familiar names and, if possible, shape their destinies in a way that would elevate the status of storytelling and scriptwriting.

With his mind buzzing with thoughts and possibilities, Jihoon eventually drifted off to sleep, a faint smile on his lips. His journey in this world was only beginning, and each new encounter was a piece of a larger puzzle he was destined to solve.

As the moonlight streamed through the window, casting soft shadows across the room, Jihoon dreamed of stories yet to be written and paths yet to be forged. The next chapter of his life, it seemed, would be filled with new friendships, unexpected challenges, and the relentless pursuit of his ultimate goal—to change the landscape of the entertainment industry, one script at a time.