Chapter 192
Translator: penny
Chapter: 192
Chapter Title: Our Jiwoo, What Does She Like?
Jeremy looked flustered and swallowed hard.
I started off lightly.
“You don’t know, by any chance?”
The staff stirred at that moment. Yeah. You can’t not know. If this were early in the shoot, I could understand, but.
Whispers reached my ears.
“He seems like he doesn’t know.”
“It’s the end of filming now.”
“He probably doesn’t. It’s been weird the whole shoot.”
The staff were going all out, talking openly like it was gossip right to his face.
“That’s why it flopped.”
“Honestly, if it weren’t for Cha Dowon…”
“It was lucky they sold the rights at first, but if it kept going like that, ratings would’ve been a total mess.”
Wow. They’re really hitting hard.
I looked at him.
‘How’s that, senior?’
It’s humiliation on top of humiliation—total embarrassment.
‘Wow.’
Jeremy’s face turned red. I never thought a guy who’d caused so much crap could even blush.
‘He feels embarrassed, huh?’
Yeah. Instead of scheming, you should’ve just read the script, kid.
‘The staff are right.’
At the end of filming, and you don’t know the protagonist or Lee Yiul’s psychological states? No way you could write it.
‘But if I poke more, he’ll refuse to film.’
That’d be a problem. The schedule’s already tight.
“Let’s film.”
The director and staff all looked at me.
“I’ll tell you in front of the camera.”
Laughter broke out for a moment. As I walked forward, I said to the director,
“Sorry for being late.”
“No. I understand.”
Really?
“You’ll see. Cha Dowon is never late. If he is, it must be unavoidable.”
“Oh. Thank you.”
“Let’s meet another time, somewhere else.”
“You’re praising me?”
“Yes.”
Huh.
‘It was a joke.’
Taking it seriously makes it a bit embarrassing.
“The writer wants to meet you too.”
“Ah, I see.”
I bowed my head and waist, then straightened up as I said,
“It’s an honor.”
The director smiled faintly for a moment.
“You know, Cha Dowon.”
Oh, he’s giving an assessment. I smiled, waiting for the praise.
“You’re cute.”
Huh.
‘That’s not it?’
No, it was going well, why cute?
“Can’t I be cool?”
Time to graduate from that? No, I just fought with senior, why cute. This isn’t right.
“Pfft!”
Suddenly, the director covered his mouth and turned away. Then he laughed uncontrollably.
‘Oh no…’
I glanced back, and tears were streaming down his face. I shook my head, unsure what to say.
‘You’ve had it rough too.’
Yeah, probably not much to laugh about. I left the director alone and headed to the set by myself. For some reason, I felt a little lonely and missed noona.
***
I looked at the living room where cameras were set up. There were tons of them everywhere.
‘It’s been a while since Rural Life.’
There were unmanned cams too, but cameramen were in some spots.
‘As expected.’
It was the first day of the parenting variety show. The director had brought me and Lee Seungjun to this house.
‘And they filmed us barging right in.’
To stage an impressive first meeting, the kid and mom were in the room.
We washed our hands and were left in the living room. I let out a small sigh.
‘They said the kid’s super shy.’
No choice. Time to use the cheat. I quietly pulled out my smartphone.
But I didn’t know something crucial.
“Seungjun-ah.”
“Yeah? What?”
“What’s our kid’s name?”
It wasn’t written anywhere. Not even the age in months.
‘Come on, broadcasting station jerks.’
I figured they’d at least tell Lee Seungjun.
“I don’t know either.”
Wow.
‘You really planned a true first meeting, broadcasting station jerks?’
While entrusting a kid to us?
“You really don’t know?”
“Yeah.”
I pocketed my smartphone. Hit an unexpected snag.
‘Don’t know the name, so can’t target.’
Meaning our first meeting starts with the kid crying.
‘Should I cheat to temporarily lower hearing?’
But that’d make filming tough.
The door rattled. Mom’s in there.
Seeing that, Lee Seungjun said,
“We’ll know soon. But you seem nervous, unlike you?”
“Yeah. I’m tense. Way more than before going on stage.”
“You don’t get tense before stages.”
Oops.
What do I do if I’m honest? I’m the maknae. Gotta look a bit weak for the fans.
‘Ah, I said to be honest and normal on this show.’
Forgot I said that.
“Sometimes I do?”
“Really? Never seen it. You always rush out excited.”
“That’s ’cause the more tense, the more fun. Lights on stage, meeting fans.”
Lee Seungjun nodded.
“I see.”
What’s with this guy.
‘I built an image of getting nervous quick but loving the stage and charging in?’
They could edit, but if it airs raw, what happens?
‘Not bad?’
Whatever I thought, the door slowly opened. Just mom and baby coming out, but super tense.
‘Baby, please don’t cry a ton.’
Cameras closed in to film our first meeting with the baby. Soon the door flew open, and a tiny kid came out in arms.
‘Oh.’
Cute.
First impression. Honestly, second time seeing a little kid up close since the cancer ward shoot.
‘Not many healthy ones there.’
Hope they all recover.
The kid’s cheeks were chubby. Mom fiddled with the baby’s arms as she greeted.
“Hello. This is Jiwoo.”
Oh, if you come out like this, no choice.
“Hello. Zenith.”
“To you.”
“Zenith’s Cha Dowon.”
“Lee Seungjun here.”
I even did hand gestures on purpose, and mom burst out laughing.
“Ehehehehehe!”
Laughing hard.
“I know. Dowon-ssi.”
“Ah, an honor.”
I smiled at mom. But honestly, all my attention was on the kid.
‘Gonna cry?’
Not yet, but soon?
I glanced sideways. Lee Seungjun was staring at the kid just like me.
“Name’s Jiwoo, huh.”
“Yes. Lee Jiwoo.”
“Hi. Brother’s Cha Dowon.”
The baby stared blankly at me and Lee Seungjun.
‘Ah, realized something.’
Can’t communicate with babies.
‘Obvious, but fresh realization.’
What now.
I looked at the baby with sad eyes.
‘Can I take good care of this kid?’
I sighed softly. First things first.
“Mom, thank you for entrusting the baby.”
“No problem. Ah, want to hold our Jiwoo?”
I nodded, steeling myself inside.
‘Gonna cry.’
Shy kid in stranger’s arms, bound to wail loudly.
Mom handed the baby over casually. I stretched my arms, holding like mom did.
Then the writer asked,
“Cha Dowon-ssi, how is it? First time holding a baby.”
“Uh, small and warm, moves around. Smells nice.”
I looked at the baby in my arms. Uncomfortable in stranger’s hold, it flailed arms a bit.
I adjusted my strength right away. The flailing eased.
“Oh, you’re good?”
“R-really?”
Is this good?
The baby sucked its fingers, staring at me.
‘Don’t cry. Jiwoo.’
I smiled at mom, acting totally normal.
“What does Jiwoo like?”
“Baby food? Jiwoo likes everything. Eats well.”
Very fortunate.
“But our Jiwoo’s a bit shy…”
I rocked Jiwoo gently. Jiwoo seemed to like the rocking, kicking short legs.
“Big trouble when mom leaves.”
“Will cry a bit. It’s okay.”
No, it’s not okay, mom.
‘That’s why I’ll use the cheat.’
Jiwoo, cry just once or twice, okay?
“Then, I’ll head out.”
“Yes, see you tomorrow.”
“Do your best! Fighting!”
Mom smiled brightly, grabbed her stuff, and left. I rubbed Jiwoo’s back and said,
“Our Jiwoo, what do you like? I prepped broth at least…”
The front door closed. Seeing it, Jiwoo’s face scrunched up right away.
‘Here it comes.’
I sighed softly, kept rocking. Whispered low,
“Jiwoo-ya, mom comes tomorrow.”
What’s the point of talking. If it understands, it’s not a baby.
Jiwoo frowned hard, looking at me.
‘Huh?’
Jiwoo twisted uncomfortably, then looked elsewhere quick.
Lee Seungjun said,
“Not crying?”
“What? Shy ones wail like crazy?”
“We look like Jiwoo’s family?”
I rocked Jiwoo, eyed the family photo on the wall.
“Nah. No resemblance.”
“Ah, maybe that?”
I smiled at Jiwoo and asked,
“What’s that?”
“Babies like handsome people.”
I see.
“Jiwoo-ya, you’ve got good taste?”
Pfft-
The laugh wasn’t Lee Seungjun. I quietly looked back. Sitting writer covering mouth.
‘Picked up on audio?’
Whatever, they’ll edit.
“Jiwoo’d like Hajin hyung too. He does edutainment, good with kids?”
“But edutainment’s for older kids. He worried ’cause he doesn’t know babies well? Hmm, Jiwoo’d like Minje hyung too, obviously. He’s handsome.”
Fox is pretty.
We said at once,
“Jaeyoon-ie…”
“Jaeyoon-ie probably…”
I met Lee Seungjun’s eyes. Stopped talking together. Then looked at the baby like we’d planned.
“Our Jiwoo, what do you like?”
“Toys around, get some?”
“Our Jiwoo, not crying, let’s play!”
Rocking the baby to the toys, laughter from behind again.
‘Writers here laugh a lot.’
Baby comfy, stayed put. Opened the kid’s room door, tons of toys. Then.
‘Huh?’
Baby’s tiny hand patted my face.
‘Stranger like a toy?’
I gave the brightest toy and said,
“Look, Jiwoo, doll here?”
Handed it, but baby swatted the doll.
‘Huh?’
Colorful turtle hit the floor. Baby kept palming my face after.
Camera zoomed in. I muttered without thinking,
“Hmm. Jiwoo-ya. Like my face?”
Don’t know months old, but liking handsome already?
Suddenly thought of Ayoung from Vegas proposing marriage.
‘No way Jiwoo grows up like that?’
Before that even.
“Jiwoo-ya. You princess or prince?”
How old even?
Why’d mom leave without telling anything. Need to know for baby food months.
‘Not newborn at least…’
Newborns tiny and red.
Then. Sudden massive wail.
Waaaaaang-
Thought siren. I rocked urgently, but baby kept bawling loud.
“Our Jiwoo, lung power like Minje hyung. Gonna sing great.”
Muttering that, Lee Seungjun rushed over.
“What happened?”
“Dunno.”
Like I’d know.
“Started crying suddenly?”
“Hungry?”
Ah.
‘Babies cry hungry or wet diaper.’
Knew that, why panic?
I sniffed Jiwoo’s diaper quietly. Knew right away.
“Big one.”
Lee Seungjun held out hands right in front.
“Give.”
Hey, short words. Viewers watching, explain long.
“Change diaper?”
“Yeah. Studied videos.”
“Oh, okay. But Seungjun-ah. Babies seem…”
Looking at sobbing Jiwoo, I said,
“Theory and reality different, right?”
Lee Seungjun blinked and asked,
“Good thing?”
Dunno?
“Not sure.”
Confusing.
“But gotta change Jiwoo’s diaper. Gimme. Saw changing stuff there.”
“When’d you spot that.”
“First thing when we came.”
Impressive?
I handed crying Jiwoo to Lee Seungjun. He held with one arm, walked off.
‘Gotta watch this.’
Saw videos, but first time seeing real diaper change.
Looking at the baby ahead, I said,
“Jiwoo-ya, clean soon? Brother, no oppa? Dunno. Seungjun’ll do it.”
Lee Seungjun carefully undid diaper tapes. Then I knew Jiwoo’s gender.
‘Boy.’
Smell hit hard. Lee Seungjun ignored, flipped Jiwoo.
“Wash butt and back.”
“Yeah. I’ll toss this.”
Then. Doorbell.
‘Ah, Ki Jaeyoon.’
Right, he said midway.
Ki Jaeyoon burst in noisily. Yelled right away.
“Poop smell!”
Yeah. Cleaning poop.
“Eww, gross!”