Chapter 85
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Translator: Wjin
Chapter: 085
Chapter Title: Bluebird
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- Bluebird Nursery
"Come on in!"
"My goodness, what did you bring all this for? Just having you here makes you precious guests already…!"
Shin Yi-han and Kwak Hoon were greeted warmly by the granny director right away as they stepped inside.
"But what do we do? Do-ha hasn't come back from school yet."
Of course, they'd arrived a bit early, so they couldn't meet Lee Do-ha just yet.
They'd come to help out at the nursery anyway, so it didn't matter.
First things first, time to unpack this hot pizza and burgers.
"Kids! Come wash your hands quick! Pizza time!"
"Burgers too!"
The kids reacted with wild excitement at just a few words from Kwak Hoon and Shin Yi-han.
"Pizza?!"
"Burger King burgers?!"
"The fries are huge!"
"Whoaaa!"
They loved it.
The nursery was perched at the very top of a rundown hillside neighborhood, so deliveries rarely came up, let alone in bulk like this.
"It's so yummy!"
"Me too, me too—shrimp pizza!"
"I want cola!"
Amid the kids' boisterous, thrilled chatter, Shin Yi-han and Kwak Hoon couldn't help but beam with pride.
They're really digging in. Good thing.
They'd naturally saved some burgers and pizza for the friends still at school.
They'd bought plenty.
"Alright, kids. What do we say?"
"…!"
At the granny director's gentle reminder, the children snapped to attention and looked their way.
"Thank you!"
"We'll eat well!"
Such spirited thanks. Shin Yi-han grinned.
"Oppa!"
"And uncle!"
Pfft. The kids' nicknames had them bursting into laughter.
"Of course… I'm the uncle, right?"
Kwak Hoon pointed to himself, and Shin Yi-han chuckled in response.
"Yes, Uncle."
"…Sniff."
Before long, the kids polished off the snacks amid peals of laughter.
Just as they finished tidying the tables.
"Director Granny! I'm home!"
A cheerful voice rang out from the entrance.
It was Lee Do-ha, dashing straight to the director first.
A face that looked exactly ten years old—worlds away from the audition room.
Shin Yi-han couldn't help but smile at the sight.
"Do-ha's back?"
The director patted Do-ha's back with rough but warm hands.
"Do-ha, some guests are here. Go say hi."
"…?"
At the end of the director's gesture were Kwak Hoon and Shin Yi-han, waving.
"Oh? It's the director and the handsome big bro!"
Do-ha's eyes sparkled as they ran over.
"Hi, Do-ha!"
"We've been waiting. Hey, Do-ha."
Do-ha bowed politely with a bright "Hello!" Shin Yi-han's smile wouldn't fade.
And Do-ha didn't even rush straight for the leftover burgers or pizza.
"Bro! Are you really an actor?"
Those big, shining eyes were fixed on Shin Yi-han.
As if all the questions they'd held back at the audition came tumbling out.
"Yeah. Actor."
"Whoa!"
He couldn't fathom how this kid hadn't acted as a child star in his past life.
The sincerity was off the charts.
"Have you ever played the lead before?!"
"Once or twice, yeah?"
Shin Yi-han chuckled softly, ruffling Do-ha's hair.
It was soft, like it'd been loved a lot.
"Whoa! What was it?"
Do-ha's eyes went wide with awe, and Shin Yi-han kept smiling.
"Yeah! Tell me, tell me…!"
Do-ha peppered him with questions in that squeaky voice.
They didn't even know what roles he'd played, but just being an actor made Shin Yi-han fascinating to Do-ha.
Especially since the kid loved acting.
"But aren't you gonna eat a burger, Do-ha?"
"Yeah!"
Do-ha nodded vigorously at Shin Yi-han's question.
"I'm not hungry at all!"
Do-ha patted their round tummy, saying they'd already had school lunch. The adults had to stifle laughs at the cuteness.
In the end, Shin Yi-han had no choice but to offer something else.
"How about this, then?"
It was his bribe.
More precisely, the thick scripts stuffed in his bag.
'Huh? Scripts? Yi-han, you think a ten-year-old would like that?'
'Wouldn't toys be better? You wanna get close to Do-ha, right…?'
Kwak Hoon had looked skeptical, of course.
"I thought Do-ha might like them, so I brought some."
Shin Yi-han pulled out stacks of scripts, just in case.
Not just any—he'd picked quality, fun ones where kids were leads or had big roles.
Even enlarged the font nicely himself.
'Wonder if they'll like it.'
Shin Yi-han waited, a bit tense, for Do-ha's reaction.
Do-ha had been obsessed with them in his past life. But at ten, maybe not?
The worry didn't last.
"…!"
Do-ha had always been like this, huh.
"Scripts!"
Do-ha's face bloomed into a smile. They stomped excitedly, already leaning toward the pages.
They loved it, clearly.
"This is my first real script ever!"
Do-ha's thrilled voice rang out.
"Good thing, Do-ha."
Even the director beamed beside them.
She thanked him first, sincerely.
"Thank you. Really."
Looks like it was the perfect bribe.
"I can't use computers or phones well, so I couldn't find the stuff Do-ha wanted to see."
Shin Yi-han smiled in relief.
"Thank you! Bro!"
Do-ha bowed too.
At that, Shin Yi-han handed over the scripts.
"Wanna take a look?"
"Yeah!"
But…?
Unlike the eager face, Do-ha took the script but didn't open it right away. Instead, they glanced slyly at Shin Yi-han.
Like they wanted something but couldn't say it.
Um… no way.
"Wanna read it together?"
Shin Yi-han ventured.
"Yeah! Awesome!"
Bingo.
Shin Yi-han burst out laughing.
He led Do-ha to the living room.
They could do a quick read-through of a few scenes. He was curious how Do-ha would deliver the lines.
Before he knew it, Shin Yi-han was getting excited too.
"Oh my."
The director and Kwak Hoon smiled at Do-ha huddled close, flipping pages with Shin Yi-han.
"Do-ha really takes to Teacher Yi-han."
"Really? I figured Do-ha was just friendly by nature."
"They're bold enough usually, but picky with strangers—doesn't approach first much."
Ah. Kwak Hoon nodded at the director's words.
Classic Yi-han. Even kids loved him.
Kwak Hoon watched them proudly. It was funny just looking.
Their chemistry was already great.
Maybe Yi-han treated Do-ha so casually.
Already felt good before shooting even started.
"Oh. This isn't the time. I haven't even treated my guests right."
As if just remembering, the director headed to the kitchen for tea.
"Teacher Yi-han, Do-ha. Have some juice at least."
"Ah, thank you!"
Just as Shin Yi-han stood to take the glass from her.
"All I have is… orange juice…"
What was it? Perfect timing, weirdly.
Shin Yi-han had a bad feeling.
"M-maybe… dizzy…"
At the same time, the director's words trailed off strangely.
"Uh…"
Her smiling mouth drooped.
Her body suddenly tilted and collapsed.
"…!"
Shin Yi-han caught her just in time. No head hitting the floor.
Crash!
The glass shattered loudly.
Everyone froze in shock.
"Director!"
"W-what happened?!"
Do-ha's startled cry and Kwak Hoon rushing from the kitchen overlapped.
Shin Yi-han panicked too, with the director limp and unconscious.
He laid her down gently and checked her.
"Director! Director! Wake up!"
Breathing fine, heart steady.
But no response, no matter how he called.
"D-director! Call 119 quick!"
Shin Yi-han yelled, already searching hospitals on his phone.
Might be a stroke. Needed a hospital now.
But things looked bad.
"Yi-han! H-hospital… it's down in the village. And too high up—ambulance can't reach!"
Kwak Hoon, pale as a ghost, shouted after talking to 119.
Makes sense in a hillside slum—steep stairs block ambulances.
"…Director, watch the kids. Especially Do-ha!"
No time to waste, Shin Yi-han thought.
He hoisted the director onto his back and stood.
Snatched Kwak Hoon's phone mid-call and headed out.
"Come now! I'll carry her down!"
Shin Yi-han bolted down the steep stairs.
One hand on the phone to his ear, confirming spots.
One arm supporting the director.
So that's why.
His mind raced the whole way down.
Such a thing caused it.
He knew now why Do-ha hadn't acted.
If they hadn't come today.
Who in a nursery full of elementary kids could get the director to a hospital?
Maybe she'd pass alone, kids scattered.
Do-ha unable to pursue acting.
But.
Not this time.
Wee-oo-wee-oo!
Breath burning his throat, Shin Yi-han didn't stop. Ran toward the siren.
Hoping for a different outcome this life.
Hoping young Do-ha wouldn't cry.
"Here! Over here!"
He shouted.
How much time had passed in the chaos?
Luckily, a bustling area nearby despite the slum.
Ambulance got her to the hospital fast.
Emergency surgery began.
'It was a stroke.'
'She probably felt dizzy before but brushed it off. Nearly fatal.'
Shin Yi-han listened, sweat soaking his shirt unnoticed.
Still worried.
'But getting here so quick helped a lot.'
'Severe brain bleed—speed saved her.'
Good news, for sure.
Only after hearing she'd recover soon did Shin Yi-han relax.
Thank goodness.
'Really glad she pulled through.'
He rubbed his dry face, sighing in relief.
Never imagined this—total shock.
"Huh…? Shin Yi-han?"
"Shin Yi-han-ssi? You okay?"
"Don't worry! Surgery went great!"
"Yeah! We'll take extra good care of the patient!"
The nurses hovering near ICU helped too.
"Here! Mask if you need one—we've got tons!"
"I-I… have a hat!"
Their kindness let Shin Yi-han smile faintly.
"Thanks, everyone."
Now masked and hatted, face covered.
Good, as recognition grew in the big hospital.
Shin Yi-han snapped to action.
First, called the nursery with the good update.
Paid for private room post-ICU and caregiver fees.
Then the director's husband arrived.
"Thank you. Truly, thank you!"
The elderly man clasped Shin Yi-han's hands, grateful from the heart.
"How can I ever repay this."
"No need. She's safe—that's all."
Only then did Shin Yi-han fully unwind. Everything seemed okay now.
Husband staying the night.
One thing left: Bluebird Nursery.
Outside, the sun had set.
Wonder how Kwak Hoon's holding up.
Shin Yi-han climbed back to the nursery.
Just check on Kwak Hoon and kids—day done.
Poor Do-ha, right there—must've been scared.
Soon, he arrived.
"Oh!"
"Uncle Teacher!"
"Handsome bro's here!"
Bedtime past, but kids still up.
Kwak Hoon slumped in the corner, bombarded, exhausted.
Is this okay…?
"Y-Yi-han!"
It was kinda funny.
Head full of colorful pins.
Back plastered with stickers.
Picture of childcare chaos.
After half a day solo with the kids, Kwak Hoon looked half-ready to cry.
"Yi-han, come here! You did great!"
"You too, Director."
Good thing he'd called ahead—Kwak Hoon was relieved already.
Just hard solo: feeding, bathing kids.
"When they heard Director went to hospital, the others cried once each."
Kwak Hoon nodded toward Do-ha in the corner, still glued to a script.
"But Do-ha was so mature."
Do-ha seemed oblivious Shin Yi-han was back, focused.
"No tears, waited well. Ate everything."
"Really?"
Must've been shocked.
Shin Yi-han looked surprised at no tears.
But Do-ha knew he was there.
"Director Granny."
Do-ha tugged his pants tight.
"Is she really okay?"
Shin Yi-han knelt to meet their eyes.
"Yeah. Bro saw it all. Don't worry."
Kwak Hoon had said it plenty, but apparently not enough.
"Just needs a bit of rest, they said."
"…"
Only then did Do-ha's eyes well up.
Held it together till now. Kwak Hoon's eyes widened.
Shin Yi-han opened his arms.
Yeah. Pretending to be fine.
Wasn't at all.
Do-ha sobbed into him. Waaah! Couldn't hold back anymore.
"Granny said she felt dizzy before…! Wouldn't go to hospital! Hic!"
Do-ha wailed their grievances.
Felt like a kid their age now.
"…Do-ha, you were really scared, huh?"
"Yeah. How could they not be."
Even after tears slowed, Do-ha clung tight.
Shin Yi-han held them awhile, deciding to sleep over.
Do-ha's puffy eyes finally drooped. Shin Yi-han smiled softly.
"Good that Do-ha sleeps well."
"Director. Shh."
"…Oops."
Poor, cute Do-ha.
But now it'd be fine.
Shin Yi-han lay beside, thinking.
The only same as past life: Do-ha would act.
No health worries for granny.
No agency hardships.
Just happy acting ahead.
That's how he'd change the future.