Chapter 108
Chapter 108
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 108
Chapter Title: Yu-na's Haughty Debut
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After arriving on set, Yu-na strode ahead with a haughty gait.
Step. Step.
It was different from her usual walk.
Casually flicking her hair back, trying to look all grown-up.
And then.
A prim expression for the staff who greeted her warmly first.
Where on earth did she pick that up?
Everyone was stifling their laughter because she was just so darn cute.
Of course, In-cheol and I were chasing after her, holding back our own chuckles.
How long did we walk like that?
We finally reached where the director was, and I left In-cheol behind to hurry over to the director with Yu-na.
"Director, hello."
As I bowed politely, Yu-na glanced around cautiously before raising her voice.
"Hello! Director! Yu-na's here too! Please take good care of me!"
Yu-na's loud declaration drew all eyes to us. The director flinched before turning his gaze our way.
He alternated stern looks between me and Yu-na, then bent down to gently stroke her head.
His expression softened in an instant, like a completely different person. He smiled warmly, like the friendly neighborhood uncle.
"Our child actress has arrived! Was the trip here too tough?"
"Nope! It wasn't tough at all!"
"Ahaha! Is that so?"
Was the director in a good mood today?
Unlike usual, he greeted her cheerfully and scooped her up in his arms.
Best to just watch for now.
I didn't want to interrupt Director Han Mun-jin's happy moment, so I quietly observed them.
"Director!"
Yu-na's tiny voice piped up pat-pat.
The director's eyes went wide.
"Hm?"
"What is Yu-na doing this time?"
"You're going to play Actress So-young... no, Aunt So-young's little sister."
"Oh...."
"Here, take this first. It's your script. Just follow what's written there later."
Yu-na's eyes drooped as she took the small piece of paper from the director.
What didn't she like about it?
Spotting her expression, the director looked flustered, his eyes flickering slightly.
"Why? Don't you like it?"
"Then... what about Daddy? Doesn't that mean Yu-na won't be on with Daddy?"
Had she assumed we'd be filming together like in the sitcom?
"Ah, your daddy's got an incredibly cool hero role. Right?"
The director explained neatly, pitching it at a kid's level.
Yu-na's sparkling eyes turned to me. Through her wide-open lips, I could see her empty front teeth gap.
"Waaah! Daddy! Really?"
"Y-Yeah. Of course."
He steps in for the weak and gets revenge on the bad guys.
'It, it's a hero role, right?'
So-young noona arrived late and was over the moon to hear Yu-na would be playing her little sister.
Even now.
She knew Yu-na didn't like it but stuck to her anyway, with no intention of letting go.
"To think I'd get such a cute little sister! This isn't a dream, is it?"
"Eeek! S-Save me!"
"Aww! My adorable little sis!"
Yu-na struggled with her tiny hands to push her face away.
Then she appealed to me for help.
"Daddyyy!"
I let out a small sigh.
Time to rescue Yu-na.
I pried her from So-young noona's arms and gently set her down.
Yu-na immediately clung to my leg and glared at So-young noona.
She shifted her attention from Yu-na to me.
A brief silence.
Then her mouth opened.
"Oh, so... should I call you Daddy too? Daddyyy~."
She drawled it out nasally, calling me Daddy.
I knew she was otherworldly, but...
To always think so out-of-the-box was impressive.
She was older than me, calling me Daddy...
Unlike my composed reaction, Yu-na shuddered at her words, eyes going round.
She looked back and forth between us, her lips quivering before parting.
"D-Daddy. For real? D-Does Yu-na get a big sister?"
Her tiny hand gripping my pants tightened hard.
She was starting to tug downward, so I quickly loosened her grip.
If I'd been even a second later...
I didn't even want to imagine.
"Yu-na. Remember what I said last time? Everything in acting is pretend. So only think of So-young unnie as your real sister during filming. Got it?"
"......"
"And... Daddy's only daughter is Yu-na."
Nod. Nod.
Could Yu-na really pull off acting like family with a stranger?
Now I was starting to worry.
They'd need to get to know each other for it to feel natural.
Yu-na and So-young noona barely knew each other.
If it were Seol-hwa noona, maybe.
But with Yu-na openly showing her dislike like that, could they sell a backstory-heavy family dynamic?
I shook my head.
It wouldn't feel natural at all.
That's the vibe I got.
Then I'd have to create an opportunity for them to bond now.
Decision made, I gently nudged the still-wary Yu-na toward So-young noona.
"Yu-na, stick with So-young unnie for a bit."
Yu-na whipped her head around.
"Huh? Why? I wanna stay with Daddy."
"No. To look natural when we film later, you need to hang out and get to know each other starting now."
That was when I finished speaking.
So-young noona pounced like a predator eyeing prey, hugging Yu-na tight.
Yu-na flailed and shot me desperate eyes, tugging at my heartstrings.
"Daddyyy."
"Then... see you later, Yu-na."
"Daddyyy!"
I couldn't weaken at her desperate cry. Even if So-young noona was otherworldly, she wouldn't hurt Yu-na.
'She's a bit unpredictable, though.'
Still, she's trustworthy.
I'd vaguely realized that while syncing with her.
"I wanna stay with Daddy. Okay?"
"......"
I conveyed my apology to the pleading Yu-na.
"...Sorry, Yu-na. No choice."
With that, I turned my back.
"Daddy! Daddyyy!"
I trudged away until her heartrending cries faded.
I stopped in place and caught my breath for a moment. For some reason, I felt like the worst dad ever.
'She'll adjust quick.'
She'd played tag with the new staff just fine.
She'll warm up to So-young noona.
As I shrugged my shoulders and enjoyed a brief moment alone.
"Jun-seo, you got time?"
I jumped at the low, gravelly voice calling from behind.
"Oh, it's you. Why'd you call?"
"The boss just called. Says he has something to say."
"Uh, uh... hand it over."
I took In-cheol's phone and answered.
"Hello?"
-Hey, Jun-seo. Made it okay?
"Yeah, we arrived."
A pause, then the rep's deep sigh came through.
-Jun-seo... From now on, run important stuff by me first. How can you just accept a cameo offer on the spot like that.
Ah, so that's what this was about.
I responded sincerely right away.
"Sorry. I'll be careful next time. It was such a short, great role that I accepted without thinking."
-Got it. If even you call it a good role, it must be.
"...Yeah. Anything else? I gotta go for makeup soon."
-Yeah... Good luck with the shoot.
"Got it."
Click!
I sighed after hanging up with the rep. Never thought I'd get chewed out for accepting Director Han Mun-jin's offer right then and there.
In my past life, with all that experience piled up, no one could stop me from doing anything.
No one at all.
'Still got those past-life habits.'
Better fix the little ones while I can.
'Be more careful next time.'
Do Bong-seok finished the call, closed his eyes, and roughly raked his hair.
Ever since Lee Jun-seo took that photo book...
The agency had been flooded with nonstop calls and DMs.
Reporters emailed wanting to buy a few shots from the book.
Fans...
Called asking how to buy actor Lee Jun-seo's photo book.
In just one day.
That's all it took.
With the endless calls wearing out the staff, they had no choice but to release a few decent father-daughter shots as a stopgap.
'But that's just temporary.'
Shouldn't have asked Lee Jun-seo for that photo book promo so early... Never imagined the reaction would be this explosive...
Needed to do something.
Knock knock!
Do Bong-seok's private office door opened, and the planning team leader poked her head in.
She approached with unsteady steps, like she might collapse any second, and placed a document on his desk.
"I've put together a good plan for the Lee Jun-seo photo book issue."
"...Good work."
He picked up the document after his praise, glanced at the plan, and his eyes widened.
[Lee Jun-seo Actor Q&A Quiz.]
Write your answers and post privately on the fan cafe board for a chance to win goodies plus the photo book!
*Notes*
No consecutive entries per person.
Caught cheating = instant disqualification.
He murmured lowly to the team leader who'd brought such an intriguing idea.
"Who came up with this?"
"Our team's rookie."
Solid plan for sure.
The headache was the photo book of the father-daughter duo that had gone viral from promo. Releasing it like this would quickly kill the buzz.
Plus, great way to boost fan cafe memberships even a bit.
'Talented kid.'
He side-eyed the planning team leader, then tossed the plan on the desk.
Leaning back in his chair.
"Then... that overlaps with a card I had for the fan meeting...."
The team leader reacted to his mutter.
"How about a photo op time too? Just the fan and actor."
"Hmm... Keep going."
"...Jun-seo never really takes close-up pics with fans normally."
Do Bong-seok nodded slightly.
"Yeah. He's been nonstop till now, and personal time's with his daughter."
"Online pics are mostly from afar too. Close-up fan shots are pretty rare."
"Hmm. True...."
Lee Jun-seo never really does close-up photos with fans.
Most circulating online are distant shots.
The aura around the father-daughter duo makes it hard to approach, but... given his popularity now, it's downright weird.
If he'd done fan service up close first, he'd have even more fans by now.
No, use this to his advantage...
"...Yes! Perfect!"
Do Bong-seok shot up from his seat.
"All planning team in their seats? Get them to the conference room now."
"Right away."
"Thanks for the great idea."
"No problem. I'll head out then, sir."
Once the capable planning team leader left, Do Bong-seok moved to the window.
Just moments ago, his chest felt tight, but now, like the blue sky outside, it felt refreshingly clear.
'Yeah, let's keep riding this wave.'