Chapter 110
Chapter 110
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 110
Chapter Title: Yu-na's Irresistible Charm
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After correcting all her actions and lines, we finally got into proper practice.
But then another problem cropped up.
'The issue was...'
Mature Yu-na was so cute it made me burst out laughing involuntarily.
"Sis, how did you get hurt so bad!"
Snapping out of it at Yu-na's bunny-like nagging, I gathered my emotions and opened my mouth.
"You fell and got hurt."
I brushed it off vaguely and cautiously reached out, flailing my hand roughly in the air.
This was the action of trying to find where her little sister was just by her voice.
Since Yu-na's script included So-young noona's lines too, I'd memorized them all while correcting her acting.
Now Yu-na would come out strong and assertive, right?
"Whatever! Hurry up and sit down just like that."
"Where are you? Hold my hand."
Yu-na boldly grabbed my hand, which had been hovering in the air. As I plopped down, she sidled up to me and grumbled.
She gently stroked the back of my hand all the while.
"That's why you can't go on without me, sis. You always come back hurt."
"That's not true? You little squirt, you've been trying to keep up with sis lately."
"Just stay like that for a sec."
Pretending to put on a bandage, I lowered the corners of my eyes and spoke.
"That must hurt a lot..."
"......"
There was a subtle charm in Yu-na's acting right now that made you want to rely on her.
Small but sturdy...
'A pillar you could lean on.'
This would definitely resonate with the audience.
The one pillar of support for student Kang Min-ji that we wanted to convey by casting Yu-na in a cameo.
That charm wasn't overdone.
Nor was it lacking.
'She's really something.'
Even though it was just practice, she was seeing me not as Dad, but as her sis.
Was Yu-na a natural-born actress too?
"...Daddy? Is that the end?"
While I was lost in thought for a moment, Yu-na tilted her head.
'Ah, right. It was my turn.'
I'd gotten distracted and made a beginner mistake.
Well, should we wrap up practice now?
With acting like this, I could confidently send Yu-na in front of the camera.
I slowly stood up.
"Yep. That's it. Later, match it with So-young sis and go into the real shoot."
"Really? Yay!"
Seeing Yu-na clench her fist in joy brought on an unexpected worry.
'Soyoung noona.'
Something told me she'd just smile happily at Yu-na's nagging during the shoot.
That was the vibe.
"Daddy! Daddy!"
"Hm?"
"Hehehe. Daddy, did Yu-na do good?"
"You did great. Must be because you take after Daddy? You've got a real talent for acting."
This wasn't a joke—it was sincere.
"They said if you work hard, you can win an award from Daddy... So can Yu-na win one now?"
"...What?"
"The unnies and oppas said so."
Ah, now I get it.
The reason Yu-na had worked so hard.
The staff must have filled her head with false hopes.
"...Can't I?"
"What award do you want from Daddy? A toy? Or... a doll?"
Yu-na shook her head vigorously.
Then she turned her head and tapped her left cheek with her finger.
"Right here. A big smooch."
"Pfft!"
All she wanted from me was a kiss.
I couldn't help but burst out laughing.
"If my girl wants it, I'll give it anytime. So even if it's not for an award, just say the word whenever you want a big smooch."
With that, I planted a solid kiss on her chubby cheek.
Yu-na, her face full of happy smiles, hurriedly offered her other cheek.
"Here too. Here too, please."
"Shall I? Then..."
Wait a sec.
It felt a bit unfair if I was the only one giving them...
"Hmm... You won't give Daddy one?"
"Huh?"
I tapped my right cheek with my finger, just like she had.
Yu-na planted a smack on my right cheek. Then, looking shy, she burrowed into my arms.
Lunchtime had ended before we knew it, and staff started filing into the classroom.
This was the next shooting location.
Yu-na and I had come early to spend some cozy time together.
"Hehehe. Daddy! Which hand is it in?"
Suddenly, Yu-na thrust both her fists out in front of me. I turned my gaze back to her and alternated looks at her fists.
One clenched tight, one loose.
Anyone could see the little eraser she was hiding was in her right hand.
'We've done this quiz five times already.'
I'd gotten it wrong four times on purpose.
As I debated whether to get it right this time so she wouldn't suspect, So-young noona plopped down between us.
"No, it's not!"
"Liar. Your butt'll grow horns if you lie."
Eek! Yu-na flinched and dropped the eraser she was holding.
Plop!
She twisted her head side to side, checking her butt, and the sight was so silly that So-young noona and I burst out laughing at the same time.
She's so innocent.
To actually believe that.
"Too cute. I really want to adopt her as my little sister..."
With that, So-young noona turned to me, narrowing her eyes.
She inched closer, and something felt off.
"Noona... Why are you grinning like that?"
"Daddy, do you hate So-young?"
Her calling me "Daddy" in that cutesy voice made me frown.
"Noona, cut it out."
"I'm not joking? Can't I really call you Daddy?"
"Knock it off."
She shrugged lightly and muttered something about being a shame.
'Is that really something to regret?'
I couldn't comprehend So-young noona's mindset from any normal perspective.
Even if she said that, I doubted she'd give up. That's just the feeling I got.
Well, if things go well, today would be the last time.
The bad kids who tormented student Kang Min-ji every day...
Would get injected with the same trauma by experiencing it themselves.
Right here in this classroom.
Next would be the real finale.
Yu-na showing up on the way home from school.
Even though today was the last day, she was acting the same as always.
'No wonder she's reluctant to leave...'
Yu-na let out a small sigh.
"Whew. Good. They haven't come yet."
After checking her butt, Yu-na's quirky action made So-young noona and me burst into laughter again.
"Ahaha! Yu-na, let's play this while we wait. Open-book flick-on-the-forehead for whoever has the fewest people!"
"Yay! Sounds fun!"
And just like that, So-young noona smoothly joined our game.
A simple game for three.
Open your textbook and flick the forehead of whoever has the fewest people in their picture...
But Yu-na kept getting caught, putting her in a tough spot.
"My little sis got caught again?"
"H-Hurry and flick me."
Yu-na pushed her bangs back with both hands, baring her forehead.
Even after a few gentle flicks, the center of her forehead was faintly red.
It probably didn't even hurt.
After getting flicked by So-young noona, Yu-na trembled.
"Okay, Yu-na. Close your eyes now."
"Okay. Be gentle this time too..."
Ah, she's too cute—I can't take it.
I leaned in slowly and kissed her forehead. Yu-na's trembling lips curved up.
"Hehehe. Doesn't hurt at all."
Not realizing it was a kiss, she seemed happy that it hadn't hurt.
We did it two, three times like that.
The game got boring after repeating it, so we put the textbooks away.
Then we sat side by side, staring blankly ahead.
"...What should we play now?"
"Hmm... Nothing comes to mind. Yu-na, what do you wanna play?"
"Anything as long as it's with Daddy."
We'd played plenty now...
Maybe call it quits and check the blocking while practicing lines?
That's when I thought that.
Director Han Mun-jin walked into the classroom. The atmosphere instantly cooled, and the surrounding staff subtly took the hint and slipped away.
Step. Step.
The director approached us and asked quietly.
"Had your fun?"
"Yes..."
Stroking his chin, the director glanced at Yu-na and spoke.
"If you're done playing... hand Yu-na over to me and get ready."
"Wooow! So high!"
The director scooped Yu-na up onto his shoulders, then shooed us away like bugs with a flick of his hand in the air.
"Now, wanna sit with Uncle and watch Daddy act?"
"Hehehe. Yeah!"
The director flashed Yu-na a brighter smile than usual.
Left behind, we stiffly watched the director's back as he walked away.
After a quick makeup touch-up, we returned to the classroom and dove straight into shooting.
A spacious classroom with few students.
When shooting high school series dramas, the rooms felt cramped... but this one didn't feel that way at all.
"Alright! Let's jump right into shooting."
"Jump right in!"
Yu-na sat glued to the director's side, mimicking him perfectly.
And so the shoot finally began.
Calling roll for the extras first... then asking whose seat was empty.
It flowed naturally like water.
"Next page."
The teacher turned to write on the blackboard with chalk.
That's when the delinquent students exchanged glances and nodded.
Among them, only actress Park Ha-neul's expression was dark.
'As expected, she's a good actor.'
Her face vividly showed fear. Even recognizing the day her throat was gripped and glancing nervously.
Just from her eyes, it was like she was pleading with her friends.
Please stop the bullying.
Or we'll all end up dead.
Oblivious to her feelings, the two delinquent girls snickered and tore paper into little balls, tossing them at Kang Min-ji.
Once. Twice.
Five... seven times...
Before long, little paper wads had piled up under Kang Min-ji's seat.
I'd been through the same thing...
"Cut! That's a wrap there!"
"A wrap there!"
At the director and Yu-na's booming calls, the staff entered.
So-young noona, Park Ha-neul the minor role actress.
After fixing my clothes, they quickly exited camera frame.
"Actor Lee Jun-seo, ready?"
"Daddy ready?"
Yu-na, now possessed by the director, made me chuckle.
I nodded confidently.
"Yes, ready."
The previous shot wasn't super crucial anyway, so one take was fine.
The next one was what mattered.
The director rose with a satisfied smile.
Yu-na stood up too.
"Good. Starting now!"
"Starting now!"
Leaving cute Yu-na behind, I closed my eyes to focus on the acting.
About 10 seconds later.
I'd steadied my mind and slowly opened my eyes, waiting for the cue.
Tap! Tap!
The extras tossing paper balls meant it had started.
Now, gradually show anger on my face and clench my fist.
'A bit slower...'
No need to rush here.
I gripped the open textbook on the desk and clenched my fist.
Now.
Bam!
Slamming the desk hard froze everyone like time had stopped.
Uncomfortable poses are hard to hold, so end it quick.
I rose slowly and strode toward the two girls bullying Kang Min-ji.
They didn't even twitch when I reached out.
With a sloppy grin, I quietly delivered my line.
"Yeah. That's right... If you'd done this from the start, things would've been easier..."
Just as I was about to place my hand on the delinquent girl's head.
"Wow! Everyone froze! So cool!"
Thump thump thump!
Yu-na ran into frame and poked at the rigidly posed people.
Then she grinned like a mischievous imp.
"Hehehe. Now move."
The extra student Yu-na poked shivered.
"Cut! Puhahaha!"
Yu-na's surprise antics halted the shoot, and Director Han Mun-jin laughed heartily at the cute saboteur.
"You little rascal! How many times have I warned you? No interrupting."
"Huh? B-But I didn't interrupt..."
I just pressed my forehead.
'That was definitely interrupting, Yu-na.'