Chapter 10
Chapter 10
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 10
Chapter Title: VIP Silver Gift Certificate
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No fewer than five staff members were earnestly recommending various toys to me with their seasoned sales pitches.
And the reason was this.
I carefully read the back of the gift certificate I'd received from Senior Kang Su-ho.
[VIP Silver Gift Certificate.]
The text was written in tiny print, like mouse droppings, so I hadn't noticed when I got it.
I'd thought it was just an ordinary gift certificate.
But it turned out to be one that the underworld department store sends monthly to customers who've spent a lot of money there, as a token of gratitude.
"This one is a sturdy educational toy that lasts a long time. If you press the chick here, it goes like this..."
*Beep-beep— Beep-beep— Chick.*
A familiar tune from my childhood flowed out of the laptop-shaped toy the young staff member was demonstrating.
"And if you press the calf next..."
"I know that one! Next is moo moo calf! Hehehe. Daddy sang it to me before!"
Before the staff could even press the button, the song came spilling out of Yu-na's mouth.
"Huh? I sang it for you?"
"Yeah. A while ago."
"Your daughter's got some serious singing talent."
Even knowing they probably said this to every customer who visited, I couldn't help feeling proud and pleased.
I forced down the corners of my mouth that wanted to rise and replied nonchalantly.
"Is that so?"
"She's so cute and pretty, and she sings well too—if you raised her to be a singer, she'd make it big."
"How can she be this adorable? You must feel happy every time you see her."
"Hehehe."
My daughter was getting all this love.
How could I not buy it?
"Ahaha. We'll take that one."
The staff's praise for Yu-na flowed endlessly. I'd only planned to buy two toys, but...
Feeling good from the compliments, I ended up purchasing everything that fit the gift certificate amount.
Of course, since I couldn't carry all the toys, I left one out and asked them to deliver the rest, then left the store.
'But why am I so exhausted?'
As soon as I stepped out of the department store, I let out a deep sigh. I'd just sat there picking toys the staff brought over.
Yet I was drained and weary.
"Hehehe. Daddy! Let's go home quick!"
"Yeah. Sure."
Matching Yu-na's small steps, I walked along in a daze, staring up at the sky.
The sky was gradually darkening, and the streetlights around us began flickering on one by one.
In my eyes right now, Yu-na's smile shone brighter than those lights.
Was this the feeling of a father looking at his daughter? I shrugged my shoulders and asked Yu-na, who was holding the toy.
"Yu-na, want Daddy to carry it?"
"It's okay. Yu-na can hold it."
That must be hard to walk with...
Well, if Yu-na likes it.
Just seeing her happy like that.
It melted away all my fatigue, body and soul.
"You really like it that much?"
"Yeah! It plays the song Daddy sang to Yu-na before, so I love it!"
"I see. You like that? You like Daddy?"
Yu-na, surely...
After possessing this body not long ago, did she truly like me?
I waited for her answer.
"Hmm, right now I like Daddy the most!"
Her response, with that "right now," made her seem all the more commendable.
Which meant...
She liked me now more than the real dad before possession.
Feeling lighthearted, I ruffled Yu-na's hair.
"Daddy likes Yu-na the most too."
"Ehehe."
If these happy times kept going, I felt like I could face any hardship without losing my smile.
Before I knew it, as we walked together, we'd entered our neighborhood alley.
'What the...'
Was it always this dark here?
No moon tonight, so there wasn't a speck of light—you couldn't see a thing ahead in the alley.
"Daddyyy... It's scary."
"Scared? Want Daddy to piggyback you?"
"Yeeah..."
I hoisted Yu-na up and reached into my pocket for my phone.
This is what the flashlight's for.
Once I turned it on, the path that had been invisible came into clear view. Relying on that light, I proceeded carefully, but my footsteps echoed louder than usual.
*Thud. Thud.*
'Night streets around here are dangerous. Gotta make money quick and buy a house somewhere...'
I quickened my pace and entered the front door, where bright light enveloped us.
No more fear of the dark.
"Alright, down you go."
"Yay!"
Yu-na kicked off her shoes the moment her feet touched the floor and dashed into the room.
*Thump thump thump!*
*Crumple. Crumple.*
I heard the sound of wrapping being torn open.
'Should've bought it sooner if I knew she'd love it this much. Gotta thank the seniors.'
I neatly removed my shoes and placed them by the door, then slowly entered the room.
"Yu-na, it's late—time for bed."
Either she didn't hear me,
Or she was too busy pressing buttons on the toy she'd unpacked.
But Yu-na's face gradually hardened, turning into a pout.
"Daddy... It's broken."
"What?"
I immediately checked the toy.
"Oh, no batteries, so it wasn't working. See here?"
"Then the song won't play?"
"Hang on. Daddy'll put batteries in."
"Yeeah..."
Only after inserting the batteries did the toy work properly, and I handed it back to Yu-na.
"New toy. Hehehe."
"There, all good? Bedtime now—play with it tomorrow."
"Yeeah."
We washed up together, changed into pajamas, and laid out bedding on the floor.
Even though it was time to sleep, Yu-na kept eyeing the new toy.
"Yu-na, bedtime."
"What if someone takes it..."
"If it disappears, we'll buy another."
"Still..."
"Hmm, how about... a lullaby?"
Only then did Yu-na whip her head around to look straight at me.
"Really?"
"Yeah. So let's sleep, quick."
"Hehehe. Yeeah!"
I sang a memorable children's song while gently patting Yu-na's belly.
"Rock-a-bye, rock-a-bye, our baby—"
On the sparsely populated moving bus, I opened the script and practiced lines with Yu-na.
No other passengers, so no need to worry about stares.
"What does Daddy say here?"
"Daddy! That big sister tried to kidnap So-ah! Like this?"
"Right, you did great."
I gently stroked the commendable Yu-na's head and continued.
"Next, Daddy gets mad at Seol-hwa sister. You join in too—'No! No!' like that."
"Hehehe! Yeeah! Yu-na can do it!"
"Ahaha! What's next? Let's keep going." The hearty bus driver uncle was watching us through the rearview mirror, chuckling.
*Uncle, eyes on the road for safety.*
The words rose to the tip of my tongue.
*Hop!*
"Next, Yu-na does this!"
Yu-na stood up in the moving bus and kicked vigorously at the air.
"Yap! Yap! Yap!"
"Ahahaha! Scary, really scary."
"For real? Hehehe."
Suddenly, the bus slowed down.
Looks like the driver uncle had eased off for Yu-na standing in the moving bus.
"Now Daddy's turn!"
Yu-na burrowed into my lap, looking up at me with sparkling eyes.
What to do...
The lines for my role started with a bunch of harsh curses. Not great to say in public.
"Hmm... Ah!"
Just then, we neared our stop.
I hurriedly stood, gathering our things.
"Uncle! Dropping off here!"
"Filming something around here?"
"Yeah, a sitcom called Guard the Pojangmacha! Watch it when it airs!"
"You got it, kiddo. Work hard!"
"Yes! Thanks for the ride!"
After getting off the bus, I looked around—the serene rural scenery came into view at once.
The small corner store from my childhood.
A cultivator boasting its noisy engine.
The familiar scent of rice paddies wafting faintly around. Closing my eyes and inhaling, my mind felt at ease.
Rural smells really are the best.
I wanted to stay like this a bit longer.
"Daddy! Daddy!"
Yu-na suddenly yanked hard on my clothes.
"What urgent business does our Yu-na have with Daddy?"
"What's that?"
Yu-na pointed with wide, curious eyes. Her tiny finger indicated a drone for the shoot.
In this modern era, drones are used in filming too. Even after my five-year hiatus,
I knew that much.
"That's called a drone."
"Drone?"
Oops...
Forgot I shouldn't use hard words with Yu-na.
"Drones are, um..."
How to explain...
I racked my brain.
They say explain at a child's eye level?
"A drone is... a, a fairy."
Pushing through the cringe making my limbs curl, my face burned.
She'll figure out it was a lie when she grows up...
Luckily, Yu-na seemed to buy it.
"I know fairies too!"
"Yeah? Our Yu-na's so smart."
I breathed a sigh of relief at her innocence.
"That fairy sometimes appears in front of us and then vanishes."
"Wow! Really?"
Yu-na let go of my hand and ran over, jumping in place with arms raised high.
"Fairy! Yu-na's right here!"
*Whirrr!*
The drone descended lower.
Now it was within reach if I stretched.
Watching her bounce in place desperately trying to grab it—why was it so funny?
To capture this rare sight of her "talking" to the drone, I pulled out my phone.
Man...
When Yu-na grows up and sees this.
What'll she say?
Even thinking of that distant future made me chuckle.
After bidding farewell to the drone, we stepped into the filming set.
Staff were still bustling with preparations. We'd arrived too early, it seemed.
"Hmm, we beat everyone here?"
"Daddy! When do big sister and big brother come?"
Big sister and big brother...
I wanted to correct her to auntie and uncle right now.
But.
This was the result of the seniors winning Yu-na's favor.
No way I wanted to pour cold water on it and face their wrath.
"Ahem! Probably soon?"
Right on cue.
Yoo Seol-hwa arrived, greeting the staff as she entered.
"Oh my! Yu-na! Missed you!"
She rushed over in one bound and hugged Yu-na tight—I was startled by her speed.
"S-Sister! Yu-na can't breathe."
"Ah, sorry."
Spotting me after letting go of Yu-na, Yoo Seol-hwa flashed a bright smile.
"Wow, my junior who leveled up from extra to supporting role in no time. Doing well?"
"Ahaha! Hanging in there."
"Your face doesn't look nervous. Even for your first supporting role."
Still suspicious of me?
She eyed me suspiciously, then returned to her usual expression.
Honestly, a supporting role is premature for a newbie, but opportunity knocked—I'd be a fool to pass it up.
If anyone's jealous...
I'll just deliver top-tier acting and shut their mouths.
And.
The biggest reason I pushed such worries aside was that everyone gathered here was kind and good.
Meeting great people on my debut project was the perfect start.
"What're you spacing out for?"
"Huh? What'd you say?"
"If you're free now, let's run lines together."
"Ah! Sounds good to me."
"Hurry up and follow. Yu-na, let's play by acting with sister."