Chapter 123
Chapter 123
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 123
Chapter Title: Back to "I Love Dad!"
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“Ugh... ugh.”
*Ring ring ring!*
I woke up to the blaring alarm, and my body felt heavier than usual.
I wiped away the cold sweat trickling down my face and glanced down.
‘Same as always today.’
Carefully supporting Yu-na, who was clinging to me like a cicada, I propped myself up.
Left side, right side. Drip. Drip.
I twisted my waist to greet the morning, then sat on the edge of the bed.
“Mmm... hehe.”
A tiny voice came from Yu-na.
I looked down to see her rubbing her face against me with a blissful smile.
Her weight was getting heavier by the day...
Because of Yu-na, I’d started having dreams where I was being crushed by sleep paralysis more often.
Like today.
‘What am I going to do with these cheeks?’
They looked like they’d burst if I poked them.
I prodded her puffy cheeks, and Yu-na, who had been squirming a bit, grabbed my hand.
Then she flashed a bright smile.
She was definitely awake now.
Suppressing a laugh, I lay back down and poked her side with my other hand. She flinched but clung on tighter, as if refusing to let go.
“...Get up already. I know you’re awake.”
“Aw... just a little longer.”
“You’ve been like this since yesterday.”
That was true. I’d fallen asleep without even changing clothes because of this.
She wriggled around and lifted her head, gazing at me pleadingly.
“Just a little longer... okay? Please?”
That was playing dirty. Finally waving the white flag, I gently stroked her hair.
“...Fine, but just a little.”
“Hehehe. Okay!”
Patting her back, I pulled out my phone and searched for entertainment news related to me, scanning it carefully.
[October 12th. ‘Devil’s Errand Center’ omnibus drama set to air.]
‘According to Director Han Mun-jin, actor Lee Jun-seo’s performance is top-notch! Confident it’ll hit number one in ratings.’
The director sure knows how to talk...
The omnibus drama airs in about a month now.
Everyone’s busy with variety shoots around this time.
Soon, I’ll be appearing on "Run and Play!" with Kwon In-ju.
Yu-na too.
Oh, right.
It suddenly hit me about Yu-na ripping off Senior Yoon Seok-jae’s name tag.
I hadn’t properly apologized yet...
I lowered my head.
Looking at Yu-na blissfully nuzzling into my chest, my lips curved up involuntarily.
I’d just have to apologize properly to Senior Yoon Seok-jae next time.
“Next article...”
[‘I Love Dad!’ welcomes actor Lee Jun-seo back.]
Word is that actor Lee Jun-seo and his daughter Lee Yu-na are rejoining the program on the brink of cancellation. Is this the right choice for actor Lee Jun-seo?
“...On the brink of cancellation?”
I couldn’t hide my shock and blurted it out.
It definitely hadn’t been that bad recently.
I scrolled down, reading the article, and a flood of comments caught my eye.
‘Ah... so that’s what happened.’
With Ahn Jeong-su gone, all the other variety stars bailed, and fans started leaving in droves.
The kids who replaced them were all so similar.
Apparently, it was only surviving thanks to Ahn Jeong-su’s remaining fans...
Look at the comments now.
-Been waiting for this! Jun-seo oppa and Yu-na are finally back!!
-LOL. Honestly, it’s been zero fun since everyone dipped. Admit it?
-Yu-na’s charm is on another level. Her debut is still burned into my brain.
└Oh! You mean when she slathered makeup all over her face?
└LOLOL. Yeah, intense AF.
└How does a kid have that much charm? Mind-blowing.
-Anyone know when they air?
└Chill. They haven’t even started filming yet.
└Yeah, he just wrapped drama filming, so he needs a break.
-Whatever. Just come back soon.
-Miss clingy daddy’s girl Yu-na. She used to stick to her dad every night. Wonder if she still does?
I burst out laughing at the last comment. ‘Yes, she does. Especially bad since yesterday.’ I wanted to tell the fans right then.
“Hehe. So warm.”
Yu-na’s lips curved up to her ears as she kept nuzzling into my chest.
KY Broadcasting "I Love Dad!" office.
Kim Eun-young couldn’t sit still and paced the office, gnawing on her thumbnail.
Anxiously checking the wall clock and fiddling with her phone.
“They should be here by now...”
Everyone had been saying the show lost its spark without actor Lee Jun-seo.
Then the ratings tanked.
Especially after regulars Kim Yong-cheol and Yoo Tae-hyun left...
Ratings plummeted to rock bottom.
Cancellation loomed, but now actor Lee Jun-seo, fresh off drama filming, had accepted the offer to return.
It was a ray of hope.
That’s why...
She had to make sure he’d stick around long-term.
Show him every bit of sincerity.
“Um... PD-nim.”
Kim Eun-young dropped her hand from her mouth and turned to the second writer.
“...What? Bad news? Did Lee Jun-seo back out?”
“No, it’s not that.”
Kim Eun-young PD was on edge and glared at the second writer.
“Then what?”
“Since he’s rejoining... we need to film an interview. I’ve put together a simple list.”
Kim Eun-young snatched the list from the second writer and scanned it.
If there were any sensitive questions like last time, she’d scrap them all.
“Hmm...”
First question through tenth.
She checked meticulously and let out a relieved sigh. No questions about his wife. Good.
Touching on painful memories like before might make him change his mind.
“Looks good. Let’s go with this. And this time, focus on what’s changed since last time—confirm the dynamic between the two.”
That’s when it happened.
*Knock! Knock! Knock!*
The steady knocking made them both stare at the door.
The door opened.
Lee Jun-seo had arrived at the station even earlier than scheduled.
Kim Eun-young hurried over, greeting him with a bright smile.
“Hello, actor Lee Jun-seo.”
“Hi. Long time no see.”
His handshake felt solid. She swallowed dryly at the completely changed aura from their first meeting.
Same guy?
‘Overwhelming presence.’
Those predator-like eyes vanished in an instant.
Ah! Then it hit Kim Eun-young why.
‘Actors’ post-role hangover.’
She’d heard actors fresh off a shoot often carried their character’s vibe into daily life.
Lee Jun-seo’s role this time: a nameless demon.
“...Not gonna show me in?”
Snapping to, Kim Eun-young awkwardly smiled and pointed politely toward the studio inside.
“This way, please.”
“...Sure.”
***
Why was the PD so tense?
Creak. Creak.
I followed behind the PD, who walked like a malfunctioning robot, into the studio.
New white walls, blinding lights everywhere.
The paint smell was faint now.
“Have a seat here.”
Kim Eun-young even pulled out a chair. I smiled back.
“Thanks. Everything’s brand new.”
“About two months ago? We remodeled then. Still spotless. What do you think?”
The light blasting me made me squint a bit as I nodded.
“...Clean and nice.”
“...Any issues?”
Still squinting, I pointed at the huge light.
“That’s bothering me. Can you shift it aside a bit?”
She didn’t call staff—instead, she hurriedly adjusted it herself.
Much better.
“So, ready to start the interview recording?”
“Yeah, go ahead. I’m set.”
The interview began.
Kim Eun-young turned away, cleared her throat, and fired off the first question.
“Long time no see, actor Lee Jun-seo. First question: Why’d you jump straight from wrapping drama filming back to our show?”
“Simple—for the fans who want to see me and Yu-na’s everyday selves.”
“Sounds a bit rehearsed.”
“Haha! Truth is, I wanted to show off Yu-na to the fans too. Like, ‘Isn’t my daughter the cutest? Jealous much?’”
“Super jealous. Ahem! Next question...”
It started smooth and natural.
The next question too.
And the one after.
Unlike before, each question sparked a conversation, with light jokes tossed in to keep the flow going.
No awkward breaks.
About 30 minutes in, after chatting with PD Kim Eun-young, the interview wrapped.
“That’s it.”
“Good work, PD-nim.”
She gave a small smile.
“Before the cameraman joins, let’s go over our planning pitch first...”
***
This season’s "I Love Dad!" direction: Travel plus experiences to showcase dad-daughter chemistry for viewers.
Not a bad concept at all.
“What catches your eye here?”
“Hmm... Give me a sec.”
I went through the items on the planning doc PD-nim handed me.
Two stood out.
[Traffic Safety Education with Dad]
[Cooking for Your Favorite Dad with Love and Care]
Safety education because I want her to learn it thoroughly.
The other? Pure selfishness.
Last time, Yu-na made cake and cookies with Kim Mi-so’s help.
She said she did it alone, but...
She must’ve had some assistance.
So this time...
I really wanted to taste something Yu-na made entirely by herself.
Even if it’s hard to swallow.
Even if it’s lethal.
For Yu-na, I could force a smile and eat it.
“...Anything you like?”
At Kim Eun-young’s question, I set the doc down and pointed firmly at the two items.
“...These two.”
“Hmm... Those aren’t immediately doable, actor Lee Jun-seo.”
“True.”
“Traffic safety needs police station coordination, which we haven’t set up... And cooking works best with other kids for the vibe.”
She was right—police station for safety training was ideal.
And solo cooking wouldn’t fill enough screen time for just Yu-na.
“...I’ll request police cooperation for next week. For the other, I’ll ask Ahn Jeong-su.”
Impressed by PD Kim Eun-young’s swift handling, I nodded.
“Sounds good.”
“Yes, got it. Let’s talk again next time then. Thanks again for joining us.”
I reached out readily for her handshake.
“Sure, looking forward to it.”