Chapter 122
Chapter 122
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 122
Chapter Title: Photo Book Frenzy
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Time flew by, and the photo books were shipped out to the lucky few fans who had been selected.
The fans who received them were thrilled by the higher quality than they'd anticipated.
Meanwhile, those who didn't get one were so disappointed that they started trying to buy them at exorbitant prices.
To be honest, stuff like this happens all the time in the entertainment industry. But this case... it was way too big to just let slide.
'The name of the photographer who was revealed.'
Lee Jong-min's reputation had a bigger impact than I'd ever imagined.
They said he was a famous photographer...
And he was living up to that fame.
Searching for my photo book on resale sites right now just makes me sigh.
Look at my phone screen.
Does this even make sense?
[Selling Lee Jun-seo's photo book.]
Still in unopened packaging, so quality is guaranteed.
(Photo attached)
Price: 300,000 won (no jokes)
300,000 won for a single photo book.
The prices were shooting up without limit, already surpassing what we'd make from official sales later on. There was no way I could just sit back and watch.
So my decision was to release some of the photos from the book publicly.
Would that fix things?
Not even close.
Anyone who wants to buy it will still buy it.
'So on top of that.'
Along with the partial release, I placed an additional order for more photo books and immediately announced on the fan cafe that pre-orders would start in about two days.
'Roughly 300,000 copies.'
Enough to cover the fan cafe membership without anyone struggling to snag one.
At least that was some good news...
Especially since the photo books marked up ten times the original price still weren't selling out.
"Haa."
I let out a deep sigh and slipped my phone back into my pocket.
Then I turned to Inchul, who'd been massaging my cramped calf for a good while.
"You can stop now."
"...We're not done yet. You sure you're okay?"
Inchul stood up and offered his hand.
I grabbed it and got to my feet.
"So, can't you go a little easier?"
"I went easy today. Your body's in peak condition now—just light exercise is enough."
"...True."
Yeah. Unlike before, my abs were now a solid washboard.
Plus, my arms had gotten seriously toned.
Even if I skipped workouts for a few days, it wouldn't turn soft again.
"By the way... what's my schedule tomorrow?"
He pulled out a small notepad and read them off slowly, one by one.
"Tomorrow morning, you meet with the PD for [Daddy, I Love You!] and start filming."
I couldn't help but chuckle at his sudden switch back to formal speech.
Just two days ago,
PD Kim Eun-young had asked me to come back on [Daddy, I Love You!].
Of course, I'd accepted right away.
"...Next?"
"Nothing else."
"Oh, really? Then it's time for me to head to the kindergarten. You can head home. I'll walk. Don't worry."
"Then please do a cold compress at home, and don't forget to watch your diet."
That nagging again.
"Got it."
I waved him off and slowly got ready before heading out.
Maybe take public transport for a change?
I had plenty of time.
I started to hail a taxi but changed course to the bus stop instead.
'Pretty crowded...'
Neatly dressed college students waiting for the bus. And more middle schoolers in uniforms than I'd expected.
Come to think of it,
This time of day, everyone's finishing classes and heading home, right?
With so many people around, I pulled my cap down low to avoid being recognized.
Even so, I could see people glancing my way and whispering.
"Isn't that him? Looks like it."
"You think...? I can't tell."
"Should I go ask? Just in case."
"I'll go check real quick."
I kept my eyes forward, but a small boy who looked like a middle schooler came right up to me.
He ducked his head down, trying to get a look at my face.
"Whoa! It really is!"
Damn, caught already.
I pulled down my mask and put a finger to my lips to keep him from shouting.
"Shh."
"......!"
The boy flinched, then nodded vigorously.
His reaction was just so cute that I patted the seat next to me.
"M-me? Sit next to you, bro? Can I?"
"It's not assigned seating. Hurry up and sit. I'm trying to avoid attention."
He hesitated but sat down beside me.
He was super tense.
I grinned and said,
"So... what were you gonna do after confirming? I'd love to take a photo for you, but I can't right now."
The boy fumbled with his bag and pulled out a notebook and pen.
"M-my mom is a huge Jun-seo bro fan. Sorry, but could you sign this? Pretty please?"
"That's no problem. Hand it over."
"...Huh? Oh! Yeah, here."
I took the notebook and pen, scribbled my signature, and looked at him.
His eyes were sparkling, full of light.
"...Oh! My mom's name is Park Mi-ja Suk-ja. If you write 'Love you' with it, she'll be so happy."
This kid... what a good son.
I wrote her name along with "Love you" just as he asked, then handed back the notebook and pen.
"There, all done. That good?"
"Thank you! But... bro, your eyes are so cool. I could tell just from them."
"...R-really?"
Suddenly, a group that looked like his friends thrust their notebooks toward me.
"Please sign mine too. My little sister's a fan..."
"Just sign for me, bro!"
Their voices got loud, drawing eyes. Now lots of people had figured out who I was.
"It's actor Lee Jun-seo, right? Even with the mask and hat, you shine. For real."
"Is he filming something here?"
"Huh? If Lee Jun-seo's here... does that mean Yu-na's nearby too?"
"Really? I'm a Yu-na fan! Where is she? I wanna see those chubby cheeks and belly with my own eyes."
That's when the regret hit me.
'Should've just taken the taxi...'
I boarded the bus and caught my breath.
Maybe because I was alone?
This time, the fans crowded me hard—it was a headache. Good thing I got on the bus before it turned into a fight among bystanders.
Otherwise, I'd have just caused trouble for everyone around.
"Haa..."
I sighed deeply and turned to look out the window. Street tree leaves were falling limply in the wind.
Perfect autumn was just around the corner.
Soon, Yu-na would graduate kindergarten and start elementary school.
'Time flies...'
I'd been so caught up in my nonstop acting gigs that I'd almost forgotten.
Happy times with my daughter.
And doing work I loved.
Every day felt so much happier than my past life.
All thanks to Yu-na.
I was smiling faintly when someone tapped my shoulder.
Tap! Tap!
"...Aren't you supposed to get off here?"
It was a girl in a school uniform.
She kept going.
"Oppa, if you don't get off, you'll pass the kindergarten. You're heading there to pick up Yu-na, right?"
I snapped to attention and looked out the window. Sure enough, we'd reached my stop.
"Ah! Th-thank you. I'm getting off!"
I thanked her and scrambled off the bus, then hurried forward with long strides.
Kids in New Sprout Kindergarten uniforms.
And lots of parents.
Time for pickup, apparently.
'Right on time.'
When I'm not busy, I walk to the kindergarten and take Yu-na home...
But this time, it was for a different reason.
The upcoming [Daddy, I Love You!] shoot.
So I'd come to let the director know we'd be setting up cameras there soon.
Step. Step.
I stopped in my tracks.
I'd reached the front gate of New Sprout Kindergarten, and the first thing I saw was Yu-na saying goodbye to her friends.
"Kids, bye! See you next time."
"Yeah, Yu-na. Bye-bye!"
"Hee hee hee. Bye-bye!"
The kindergarten bus pulled away, leaving just Yu-na and her teacher.
"Huh? Daddy! Daddyyy!"
Spotting me, Yu-na came running and threw herself into my arms.
Her puffy, goldfish-like eyes were the first thing I noticed.
"Yu-na, did you cry at kindergarten?"
She flinched at my question and shook her head hard, like she was hiding something.
She didn't want to tell me anything. I turned to the teacher, who'd come over.
"Hello, Teacher. But... is Yu-na hiding something from me?"
"Hee hee. Well, during naptime..."
"Waaah! Nooo! Teacher!"
Yu-na blocked my ears with her tiny hands and yelled.
Must be something embarrassing if I found out.
That's the vibe.
If it was something embarrassing for Yu-na...
A certain past incident came to mind.
The black history where she'd held it in too long and had an accident in the bathroom.
"My little girl drew a huge map on her blanket during naptime, huh?"
"That's not it!"
"Hmm, but it feels like it is."
Yu-na buried her tomato-red face in my chest.
She squirmed and balled up her tiny fists, pounding my chest wildly. It didn't hurt at all—just adorable. If this had happened on filming day...
Yu-na might refuse to go to kindergarten for days from the embarrassment.
I looked up.
At the teacher smiling as she watched us quietly.
"My guess right?"
"Actually, no... During naptime, she must've had a nightmare—she burst into tears. I asked what it was, but she wouldn't tell me either."
"Hmm..."
I rubbed my chin, then stared at the top of Yu-na's head and spoke.
"What kind of nightmare? Did a ghost try to eat Yu-na?"
Yu-na stopped squirming and gripped my clothes tight. The tremor in her tiny hands was no joke.
"Yu-na, can you tell Daddy what the nightmare was?"
I wiped the smile off my face, and she shook her head, on the verge of tears.
She absolutely didn't want to say.
What on earth had she dreamed about?
Yu-na was acting really strange.
Today, she wouldn't let go of me at all. Even when I needed to talk seriously with the director or go to the bathroom, she stuck right to me.
Even now, on the way home...
She was clinging so tight that passersby smiled at us.
"Yu-na... Daddy's tired."
"...I wanna stay like this."
Sure, I loved soaking up her warmth...
But if this kept up, it could be a problem.
What should I do?
As we walked along, a familiar sign came into view in the distance.
'Saetbyeol Western-Style Restaurant.'
Yu-na loved the food there, right?
Maybe we should go for old times' sake.
I hoisted her onto my back and patted her chubby bottom.
"Yu-na, wanna go to Saetbyeol for some tonkatsu after so long? Aren't you hungry?"
"Really? Wooow! Yu-na loves it!"
"Then wanna hold hands and walk there?"
"......"
She clamped her mouth shut and shook her head. Even tempting her with her favorite tonkatsu changed nothing.