Chapter 109
Chapter 109
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 109
Chapter Title: Twenty Years Younger
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After changing into a neat school uniform and getting makeup done to look like a student, I felt like a completely different person.
I look at least ten years younger.
No, wait.
Doesn't this make me look twenty years younger?
The sudden thought made me burst out laughing.
If I thought about my age from my past life, I'd be thirty-seven right now. For a guy who looked like the neighborhood uncle to end up in a school uniform...
It was downright hilarious.
"Whew, all done. I tried to keep it natural today—how does it look?"
I slowly turned my head left and right, checking myself in the mirror.
This might sound arrogant, but no matter how many times I looked, I was handsome as hell.
I gave a small nod and flashed a bright smile at the makeup artist.
"Looks good. Thanks for all your hard work."
"No problem. But..."
She paused for a moment, then glanced around as if searching for someone.
"Where's Yu-na?"
The artists and extras who had been getting makeup turned their eyes toward me.
They must have all been wondering the same thing.
I let out a chuckle.
"Probably with the director at the set. She was with Sister So-young."
"Oh... That's too bad. I wanted to see her. We'll get to later, right?"
Yu-na's turn was still a ways off.
She'd come here later to change costumes, so we'd probably cross paths then. But the artist seemed disappointed at not seeing her right away, her eyes drooping at the corners.
"Anyway, I'd better get going."
"Sure thing. Good luck with today's shoot."
Leaving her behind, I stepped out and headed to the bustling filming location.
With Sister So-young deep in her shoot off to the side, I spotted Yu-na in a quiet corner, diligently memorizing her lines.
She was asking nearby staff about unfamiliar words, practicing her dialogue hard.
It looked like Sister So-young had handed her off to the staff once her own filming started.
Yu-na's furrowed brow was so intense, it was like lasers were shooting from her eyes.
What's that about? Seriously.
It must be her habit to tense up her eyes whenever she's focused on something.
The kind staff helping her were all smiles.
I quietly watched from afar, not wanting to interrupt their happy moment.
"Unnie! How do you read this?"
"Hmm, that one? It says she's running forward with a pure smile."
Yu-na tilted her head.
"...Pure? What's that mean?"
"What pure means is... Yu-na."
"Yeah?"
"How much do you like Daddy?"
She'd brought me up out of nowhere, making me flinch. I wondered what Yu-na really thought of me.
Yu-na hesitated for a second, then shot her hand up high and bounced in place.
"This much! I like him this much!"
The woman who'd asked pointed at the beaming Yu-na.
"That's it. That's pure. So when you're filming, Yu-na, just smile brightly like that."
"Ohhh, got it."
It was adorable how she nodded and sat back down to study her script intently.
'Yu-na's working so hard.'
As her dad, I couldn't just slack off.
Filming started soon after.
This scene was about breaking the rule against directly touching humans, lightly injuring some kids.
Step. Step.
I walked forward, past the extras pretending to be knocked out.
Then I stopped dead in front of a trembling female student and glared at her.
I'd just learned her name today.
'Actress Park Haneul.'
She was the ringleader of the girls bullying Kang Min-ji, Sister So-young's character.
"You're crossing the line..."
I snapped my fingers lightly, and the wire connected to Park Haneul's body went taut.
Her slender neck rose to about knee height as I tensed my arm like I was gripping it hard. I didn't forget to curl my lips into a sinister smirk.
"Was that so fun? Should I do the same to you? Yeah, that sounds good."
"Ugh... P-please... spare me."
Park Haneul's acting was spot-on.
Even though she was just dangling in the air on wires, she thrashed like her life was truly in danger.
'Should I scare her a bit more?'
That might draw out even better acting from her.
I smirked and slowly leaned forward, whispering in her ear.
"Why? Not fun anymore? Should I blind you like that kid? Then you'd know her pain..."
I furrowed my brow, shook my hand violently, and staggered back a step.
'The price of breaking the rules.'
I clutched my chest like it was agonizing. Meanwhile, Park Haneul broke free and scrambled away.
"Cut! Good take. Let's go again."
The director called cut.
Park Haneul came running back from where she'd fled.
"Is it because I get a two-shot with you, sunbae? This is seriously thrilling."
"Not scared?"
"Honestly? Terrified out of my mind."
Her words made me chuckle.
Was I really that scary?
I was debating toning it down when—
"But it's fine! I suck at acting usually, but we nailed it in one and the director didn't yell at me!"
"Hmm, want me to go even scarier next time?"
"Wh-what? Scarier than that?"
Her backing away made me chuckle again.
"Kidding. Kidding."
"If you'd gone scarier, I'd have forgotten my short lines entirely..."
"It's okay."
"Huh?"
I kept going.
"They say fear chokes your words, right? Not that I'm telling you to drop your lines!"
I meant we'd roll with any flubs from unexpected intensity.
But she just blinked, clearly lost.
"Alright! Let's go right now! Everyone back to positions and prep! Actors, nail those expressions this time!"
At the director's booming call, I shrugged lightly and pointed to the back.
"I'll head to my mark. Get ready—they're starting soon."
"...Got it! No mistakes this time! Don't worry about me!"
I returned to my starting spot and reset my emotions.
'Go a little harder this time.'
On the director's cue, I strode forward confidently.
Ignoring the collapsed figures, I halted before the cowering Park Haneul.
"You're crossing the line..."
Ignoring the cameraman close up, I snapped my fingers just like before.
Then I reached out and grabbed the neck of the girl flailing in midair.
Our eyes locked straight on.
Her pupils, pale turning ghostly white, shook violently.
"Was that so fun? Should I do the same to you? Yeah, that sounds good."
She was supposed to beg for her life...
But tears streamed down her cheeks as her mouth just gaped.
"P-ple...ase... spa..."
I hadn't gripped hard at all—what was wrong? No time to stop, so I leaned in for the next line.
"Why? Not fun anymore? Should I blind you like that kid? Then you'd know her pain..."
I cut off, trembling my hand and stumbling back. The wire slackened, lowering Park Haneul.
She collapsed weakly, clutching her throat and coughing harshly.
That wrapped the second take.
Different angle from the first, but the director was thrilled.
"Haha! Perfect! That was gold! Hey! Did we get it?"
"Yes! Want to check?"
"Yeah! Pull it up on my laptop now!"
While the director reviewed the footage, I checked on the gasping girl.
"Sorry. Did I go too scary?"
Park Haneul wiped her cold sweat and looked up.
"Nah, it's fine. You told me earlier—think your life’s really threatened, and words fail you... Spot on."
"...Right?"
"But this time? Total shock. I legit thought I was done for. Heh heh."
She grinned goofily, then pouted and hung her head.
"But I didn't run like the script... Is that okay?"
I'd probably overdone the intensity.
She really felt threatened...
I shrugged lightly.
Then pointed at Director Han Mun-jin.
"Check the director's face."
"Huh?"
"He's thrilled with our scene."
Park Haneul, seeing the director grinning ear-to-ear, suddenly doubled over laughing.
"Hahaha! You're right!"
"See? No need to sweat it. And mistakes? Everyone makes them. That's how you learn."
As I finished, the director watching the footage jumped up.
"Perfect! Everyone must be starving—lunch first, then next scene!"
We're keeping that take.
The crew handling gear broke into smiles.
Park Haneul too.
"Sunbae! Good work!"
"Yeah. Go eat—you must be hungry. I'll be late; gotta grab Yu-na."
"Okay... See you there."
"Yep. Good job."
After she left, I smiled softly and glanced around.
'Where's Yu-na?'
I found Yu-na with the staff, had a hearty lunch together, then took a short walk.
Clear blue sky, cool breeze.
Perfect weather for playing, but Yu-na didn't beg to romp around.
She just clutched her little script, mumbling lines as she toddled after me.
Step. Step.
When I stopped, so did she. When I sat on a bench, she plopped neatly beside me.
Was she really that into acting?
"...interrupting. Whatever. Now sit down quick just like that."
"......"
"That's why I have to be there for unnie. Always coming back hurt. Stroking the wounds."
"Yu-na?"
I called softly, and she folded her script, staring at me.
"Yeah?"
"It's great you're working hard, but watch your step when walking. What if you trip?"
I scooped her up onto my lap and gently stroked her hair.
"So can I look now? Almost done..."
Her pouty face cracked me up.
"Want Daddy to help?"
"...How?"
"Hmm, I'll play your scene partner's part."
"But you're not unnie?"
"Of course. Let's run the lines just like the script."
We tried right away, but problems from the start.
Yu-na recited the actions in brackets word-for-word too.
Just like mumbling from the bench.
"...Daddy. Done. Your turn now."
"Yu-na, you know? You don't say the stuff in brackets out loud."
Swish. Her little script slipped from her hand to the ground. Her shocked face was adorable and hilarious.
She'd been memorizing with the staff—how'd no one tell her this basic thing?
Plod plod.
Maybe they'd been so charmed by her cutely memorizing even the brackets that they forgot.
Yeah, probably.
Dad Becomes a Top Actor