The Return of Superman (1)

In the late autumn of Seoul, the air was crisp and cool. Kwon Ji-yong had just managed to put his daughter, Min-seo, to sleep in her crib, and tiptoed out of the room as if he had completed a major mission, letting out a long sigh of relief. He rubbed his slightly sore shoulders and went to the living room, where he found Su You holding a tablet computer, her brows furrowed, her expression somewhat complicated.

"What's wrong?" He walked over, sat down naturally next to her, and put his arm around her shoulder.

Su You handed him the tablet, on which was a formal invitation from the producers of "The Return of Superman," a top-rated South Korean parenting reality show. The production team's words were sincere, expressing their interest in him and Su You—especially him as a new father—and their hope to invite him and his daughter Min-seo as a special guest family to participate in the month-long (four-episode) filming of the show.

"The Return of Superman?" G-Dragon was somewhat taken aback. He had heard of the show; it had a significant influence in South Korea and even Asia, known for its realistic portrayal of celebrity dads raising their children alone. He could imagine the massive exposure and attention the show would bring, but…

His first reaction was resistance.

“No.” He almost instinctively rejected the idea. “Minshu is too young, the environment is too complicated, and…” He glanced in the direction of the nursery and lowered his voice, “I don’t want her to be exposed to the camera so early.”

As a top celebrity, he knows all too well what life under the spotlight is like. He chose this path himself and has borne everything that comes with it. But he hopes his daughter can have a childhood as ordinary and free as possible, at least until she is old enough to understand, without being overly disturbed by the outside world.

Su You didn't immediately refute him; she understood his concerns. She held his hand and said softly, "I understand your worries. But Zhilong, the producer has promised to protect the child's privacy and normal routine to the greatest extent possible. The filming crew will be kept to a minimum and will completely follow our arrangements. They're not interested in hype; they want to record your most authentic learning and growth process as a new father."

She paused, looking at his slightly tired face from staying up late taking care of the child for several days, her eyes softening: "Besides, I think... this might also be a good record. To record your first and most precious interactions with Minshu. These busy, chaotic, and even a little embarrassing moments are gone forever."

Kwon Ji-yong fell silent. He recalled his daughter's small figure nestled against his shoulder as he burped her; the overwhelming joy he felt when she gave him her first unconscious smile; and the awkwardness of frantically changing diapers and being attacked by spit-up... These moments were indeed precious. If a professional team could record them, it seemed...wouldn't be bad?

More importantly, Su You's words touched him. He, G-Dragon, may be a king on stage, but in the realm of parenting, he is indeed a complete novice, stumbling and learning. Showing this side of himself might shatter some fans' illusions, but it might also allow more people to see the efforts and love of an ordinary father beneath his celebrity status.

"Do you... think it's okay?" he asked Su You, his tone hesitant.

“I believe you can protect her.” Su You looked at him with a firm gaze. “And I will always support you from behind the scenes.”

The sky over Seoul was like a washed sapphire, clear and high. Inside G-Dragon's upscale apartment on the banks of the Han River, however, a distinct atmosphere of milky sweetness and tension permeated the air, a stark contrast to the tranquility outside.

The PD and writer of "The Return of Superman" sat on the expensive Italian custom sofa in the living room. Opposite them was G-Dragon, holding his daughter Min-seo, and Su You, sitting beside him with a gentle smile tinged with worry. Min-seo, just six months old, wore a soft onesie and was trying to grab the drawstring of her father's sweatshirt, making meaningless babbling sounds, completely unaware of the momentous event that was about to change her and her father's lives.

"G-Dragon, we sincerely invite you and Ms. Min-seo to join the 'The Return of Superman' family." The PD's voice was filled with just the right amount of enthusiasm and respect. "We believe that this will be a very unique and precious record, not only a gift to the fans, but also a memento of your and Ms. Min-seo's growth."

Kwon Ji-yong looked down at his soft, cuddly daughter in his arms. Just then, she looked up and flashed him a toothless, drool-filled smile, instantly striking a chord deep within him. He exchanged a glance with Su You, who nodded gently, her eyes filled with support and encouragement. He knew that Su You's research project was about to enter a crucial phase, requiring a significant investment of time and energy. This might be an opportunity for him to have some truly intimate time with his daughter.

“I…” G-Dragon took a deep breath, and when he looked at the PD again, his eyes were filled with determination. “I accept the invitation. However,” he paused, his tone becoming unusually serious, “please, please make sure to protect Min-seo’s privacy and safety. This is my bottom line.”

"Please rest assured!" the PD and the writer assured each other almost in unison.

The news was like a boulder thrown into a calm lake, not only creating a huge wave on the internet, but also causing an uproar in G-Dragon's core social circle.

In the Bigbang group chat, the message instantly reached 99+.

Loudly: [Brother! You're bringing your niece on "The Return of Superman"?! Take me with you! I can be your assistant! Wow... I can already foresee my brother scrambling around.]

Taeyang: [Jiyong, fighting! Remember to practice changing diapers and making formula beforehand.]

TOP: [(Sent a picture of a diamond-encrusted baby bottle) Is this suitable for our little princess?]

G-Dragon looked at his phone, both amused and exasperated. The challenges of reality, however, were far more concrete and intense than his friends' teasing.

Although he had been a father for several months, with the help of Su You and the nanny, he mostly played a "supporting" role. The thought of facing everything about his daughter alone sent shivers down his spine. Before the show's recording, he began a frantic "special training."

On the studio table, besides sheet music, there were also piles of books such as "Infant First Aid Manual" and "Understanding a Baby's Cries." He and the nanny meticulously recorded Min Shu's daily routine, favorite toys, soothing methods, and even bowel movement patterns. He filled his phone's notes with densely packed notes:

[Minshu, 6M12D.]

She wakes up around 7 a.m. and needs to be hugged first, otherwise she will cry.

• For feeding milk: 180ml of water at 45 degrees Celsius. Add water first, then add milk powder. Shake well and test the temperature on your wrist!

• Complementary foods: Fruit puree once in the morning (recently likes pear puree), vegetable puree once in the afternoon (hates carrots and will spit them out).

• Diaper changing: Change diapers immediately after a bowel movement, and check the wetness indicator after a urination. Wipe from front to back, especially for baby girls!

• Bathing: Water temperature 38 degrees Celsius, room temperature 26 degrees Celsius, no draft. Likes little yellow ducks.

• Afternoon nap: A short nap in the morning (30-40 minutes), and a long nap in the afternoon (1.5-2 hours). Before napping, hold her and walk around gently while humming a song. She likes to listen to the slow version of "Butterfly".

• Crying may be due to: hunger? sleepiness? needing a diaper change? boredom? wanting to be cuddled? gas? (Massage the tummy clockwise)

He even set aside a small "practice area" in his private studio, bringing in a changing table, baby bathtub, and various supplies, where he would practice repeatedly in front of a lifelike doll. Team members would often see their usually cool and domineering boss solemnly reciting to a doll, "Oh, our Minshu has pooped, Daddy's here to help clean it up..." The scene was both eerie and heartwarming.

Su You found his anxious expression both amusing and heartbreaking. "Relax," she comforted him. "Min Shu is a good girl, and you're her father. The bond of blood will guide you."

Even so, G-Dragon still couldn't sleep the night before the recording. He sat by Min-seo's crib for half the night, looking at his daughter's peaceful sleeping face, his heart filled with anxiety. "Baby, tomorrow it'll just be the two of us. You have to give Daddy some face, okay?" he whispered, as if he were completing a solemn handover ceremony.