Chapter 12
Chapter 12
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 12
Chapter Title: Yu-na Chases the Fairy
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The director saw Yu-na charging straight toward the drone and suddenly shuddered before bursting into laughter.
"Hahaha!"
His hearty laugh was enough to draw everyone's attention.
'I knew he'd laugh like that.'
I stared at him in a daze.
He'd never shown such a dignified laugh to anyone before.
Naturally, everyone around was stunned, their eyes wide open.
I was no exception.
Once his laughter died down, silence fell.
The moment our eyes met, he composed his expression and cleared his throat.
"Ahem!"
Those watching him snapped back to reality and focused on preparing for the next shoot.
"Hey, actor."
"Yes!"
"You gonna keep standing here? Aren't you supposed to go chase after her and watch? Your scene's done, so go play with your daughter outside or whatever. And..."
He trailed off and whipped his head away. He seemed embarrassed about letting everyone see him laugh.
"Join us for drinks tonight. That's all. Now scram."
Hearing his curse triggered an old memory. Even after all these years, his personality hadn't changed.
Always so dishonest.
I smiled brightly and bowed my head.
"Got it!"
With that, I left the set and headed toward the distant drone.
Sure enough.
There was Yu-na by the drone.
"Fairy! Yu-na came to see you?"
Yu-na was on her tiptoes, straining to grab the drone.
Now she was even jumping in place.
Hop! Hop!
I'd come right up beside her, but she didn't even notice me.
Coming from my always-sunflower-like Yu-na, it felt like a huge betrayal.
'You said I was your favorite...'
Feeling miffed, I slipped my hands under her armpits and hoisted her high.
"Huh? Daddy?"
"You scared me running off like that without a word."
"Daddy! Daddy! Look! The fairy waved hi!"
Yu-na completely ignored what I said.
She just pointed into the air.
"Sigh, Yu-na..."
"Yeah?"
Only after I let out a deep sigh and called her softly did she turn her head.
I'd meant to scold her sternly.
But seeing her pure, innocent eyes melted away any urge to do so.
'Yeah, she's just a kid. Can't help it.'
I gently set her down and stroked her hair softly.
"No running outside alone next time, okay?"
"Daddy! The fairy's multiplying!"
Suddenly, more drones appeared.
Sensing something off, I scanned the surroundings.
Among the staff secretly watching us, I locked eyes with three middle-aged men operating drones.
They grinned, gave thumbs up, and flashed intense looks.
The way they gripped the controllers screamed professionals.
"Whoa! The fairy's dancing!"
Excited by the drones' impressive maneuvers, Yu-na yanked wildly at my pant leg.
"Okay, okay. Can you let go of my pants? They'll fall off."
"Now it's spinning around!"
"Ah, I said I got it..."
Exhausted from trying to calm her, I plopped down and caught my breath.
Meanwhile, Yu-na was busy playing with the five drones in the air.
"Daddy's gonna rest a bit, so don't go far. Got it?"
"Yeah!"
Even as I sat resting on the dirt ground, I never took my eyes off Yu-na.
If I'd come to a set with my parents in my past life, would I have been as thrilled as her?
Probably.
As I recalled painful memories and smiled bitterly, a shadow fell over me, followed by a cold sensation on my cheek.
"Have a drink and relax. My scenes are done too, nothing left for me."
"......"
Shin Dong-hyun handed me a cold beverage, then sat beside me without hesitation. He just quietly stayed by my side, saying nothing.
No words needed.
This felt comfortable, nice even.
I sipped the drink he'd given me and watched Yu-na play happily.
At sunset, with the sky ablaze in red.
Yu-na was curled up asleep on a cushy chair.
Smiling like the happiest kid in the world.
'Sleeping like a little angel.'
I smiled, capturing her subtly changing expressions on my phone.
'Should I post this on Star Tale too?'
As I thought that, I checked the comments flooding under my last post.
-Wow! So cute! I want a daughter like that!
└ Think again looking in the mirror.
-But who tags like this lololol. Total dad vibe.
-Please post more pics!! I beg you!
-Only one tag lololol. I'll pass out reading it.
-Is she an actress? A model?
-What's the cute kid's name?? Can you tell us? So curious!!
No malicious comments in sight.
And.
Scattered mentions of the tag.
[#IntroducingOurPreciousDaughter.]
I'd posted with just that single tag, no spaces, because I didn't want to get famous.
It started as just wanting to brag about Yu-na's cuteness. No need for a bunch of tags.
'Huh? Comments asking her name too? They'll find out eventually anyway...'
Once the sitcom airs after filming wraps, people will recognize her and come here.
It'll get lively then.
'An actor with a young daughter.'
No one else in the industry my age raising a kid.
Negative reactions?
Or positive ones?
"Hey, junior. Whatcha doing over there?"
Yoo Seol-hwa poked her head in suddenly, fresh from wrapping her scenes.
Then she snatched my phone.
"Hmm, what's this? You do Star Tale too, junior?"
I scratched the back of my head at her question, delivered with an odd smile.
"Just a hobby. Didn't start it to get famous."
"Still, this is kinda... wasteful."
"As long as people like Yu-na, that's enough for me."
"Nah, hold on..."
She handed back my phone and pulled out hers.
Her fingers flew across the screen.
Moments later, she shrugged and showed me.
"Just hit like. This'll help."
I couldn't fathom why she looked so smug over a single like.
It only bumped the count from hundreds to hundreds-plus-one.
"...I didn't even give you my ID. How'd you find it?"
"It was there? Your name in English. Obvious once I saw it."
"Haha, yeah. Too lazy, so I used my name in English."
I had no idea.
That her like would notify all her followers.
After that.
As I sent her the Yu-na pics she'd earnestly begged for, Shin Dong-hyun ran up, caught his breath, and said excitedly.
"Senior! Director's covering drinks tonight out of pocket!"
I couldn't hide my surprise.
Yoo Seol-hwa was the same.
"Oh, that cheapskate director? Did he eat something weird today?"
The director had long been infamous as a miser.
Seeing Yoo Seol-hwa's shock too, he must still pinch pennies.
"But pork, he said."
"Then let's sneakily order pricey beef. Great idea, right?"
"What if the director catches us..."
"It's fine. I'll take the blame. Just trust your senior, Dong-hyun. Haha!"
Her loud laugh woke the sleeping Yu-na, who rubbed her eyes.
"Yawn. Daddy..."
"Yu-na, big sis is here too. Wanna come to sis?"
She shook her head no.
"Daddyyy. Hug me."
"You like Daddy that much?"
I picked up the whiny, arms-outstretched Yu-na and patted her back gently.
Staff entered the now-useless set.
Cleaning up props from today's shoot and trash on the floor.
I moved to a corner to stay out of the way.
"Daddyyy. Hungry..."
"Hang on a bit. We'll go eat yummy meat soon."
"Meat?"
Drool trickled from Yu-na's tiny mouth. She'd just woken up, but already hungry?
Well, she hadn't eaten lunch.
Plus, she'd played so hard during break. No wonder.
Sure enough.
Grrrrumble!
The cutest "feed me" sound.
"Haha! If the big bros and sis clean fast, we go eat meat."
Hearing me, Yu-na wriggled to escape.
"Yu-na help too!"
"No. Too little, dangerous."
"Wanna eat meat fast."
Would they...
Borrow a cat's paw?
I shrugged lightly and stroked her head.
"Okay, Daddy'll help then come back. Stay put nicely."
"Yu-na can help too..."
I left her in the corner and approached a staffer, picking up a potted plant.
"Where does this go?"
He jumped, waved me off, and snatched it.
"We got this. No need to help."
I shook my head and took it back.
"Haha, it's fine. My daughter wants to eat meat quick, so I'm helping."
As I finished with a silly grin.
A burly man with a name tag stepped up sharply.
With fierce eyes.
"What did you just say?"
"Huh?"
"Say it again."
Shorter than me but bulkier—intimidating just facing him.
Arms crossed.
Muscles bulging, veins popping. Looked like he could bench 500 easy.
No joke.
"My daughter wants to eat meat quick..."
I finished without trembling. He uncrossed his arms.
"You should've said that sooner!"
I blinked in confusion.
He turned and barked at the leisurely crew.
"You lot! Our Yu-na wants to wrap up quick for meat!"
"Huh? Oh, got it! Team leader!"
"Move it!"
Tired faces instantly lit with fervor.
'Wait, our Yu-na?'
Since when? I was speechless.
Sunlight pierced my eyes.
'Morning already?'
I turned on my phone, dead since getting home last night, and notifications flooded the screen.
"What the..."
How?
Bzzz!
Bzzz!
The cold phone heated up like it might combust.
Star Tale alerts.
-Wow!!! This kid's in the same drama as actress Yoo Seol-hwa??
-What?! Was keeping this gem to myself!
-So the cute kid's a child actress? Knew it!
-Post more pics soon plz.
-Won't leave till next pic or I'll shit here!
Star Tale alerts plus direct messages. Skimming them: all variety show invites and kids' clothing model requests for her.
My foggy mind cleared instantly.
"Yu-na beat me to fame."
"Yawn... hehe."
Yu-na giggled in her sleep, blissfully unaware.
I set the phone down and gently stroked her chubby cheek.
She's only five.
'Plenty of time.'
Best to decline them all.
After politely rejecting dozens of texts, I shook her awake.
"Time to get up."
"Daddy... Yu-na sleep more."
She burrowed under the covers up to her head. I shook her again.
"We're going to check out kindergarten today, remember? With Daddy."
No shoots for a few days.
So today was for scouting Yu-na's kindergarten.
Consultation included.