Chapter 129
Chapter 129
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 129
Chapter Title: Live Karaoke Fiasco
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A screen kindly displaying the pitch.
I stared at the karaoke screen and started singing the next song.
"There's meaning to it-"
"Oh! Now it actually sounds like singing."
For the first time, words that felt like praise reached my ears, me who'd only been a clown and a laughingstock.
Had I really gotten better?
While continuing to sing, I glanced at the phone on the table.
- Is this singing? So this is what singing is.
- lololol He really can't sing.
- Good thing you became an actor. Never imagined this. hahaha
- hahaha
- No, it doesn't even sound like singing. Is your ear broken, hyung?
- Just came in. Is this a tone-deaf broadcast? lolololol
The live stream viewers were still unleashing a festival of mockery.
But my confidence grew anyway.
"What's passed is passed-"
"Ahahaha! Hey! You went off-pitch there again. Please, for the love of god, sing along with the screen. Okay?"
"Ah, Daddy! You can do it!"
What the? Viewers had already surpassed ten thousand. Was now the perfect timing to promote the drama?
Right on cue, my song ended.
I signaled first with my eyes to the guy bursting into laughter.
The drama promo I couldn't do in part one.
The moment had finally come.
But Shin Dong-hyun was laughing too hard to notice my signal.
"...Hey, stop laughing and let's do it."
"Ahaha.... Huh? Do what.... Ah! That?"
Dong-hyun finally stopped laughing, checked the viewer count, and clapped his hands.
He turned the mounted phone toward the viewers and started chatting.
"Everyone having fun? Then...."
A brief moment of respite.
I caught my breath and looked at Yu-na right beside me.
She was clutching the mic tightly with her tiny hands, waiting for her turn.
After singing so many songs.
She still had energy left?
I took the mic from Yu-na's hand. She looked at me with hollow eyes, then stretched her arms out to me.
"It's Yu-na's turn now! Daddy."
"Let's stop singing. Time to wrap up. So the rest.... Yeah. We'll sing at home together with Daddy."
That's when it happened.
Shin Dong-hyun turned the phone on the tripod again and raised his voice.
"Okay, then.... Hey, go ahead and start."
"Daddyyy. Just one more song. Please?"
"Ahem!"
I cleared my throat with a fake cough and jumped to my feet. I scooped up Yu-na, who was pouting cutely.
"October 12th. Devil's Errand Center airs, so don't forget to watch the live broadcast."
"Daddyyy."
I glanced at the phone on the table. Viewer reactions were all over the place.
Some demanding I give the mic back to Yu-na quick, some promising to watch the live broadcast.... And others saying never to sing anywhere ever.
"Ahaha! Though it wasn't planned, shall we end this broadcast with Yu-na's song?"
"Daddy! Give it here quick!"
"Sigh, fine. Just one song."
Yu-na took the mic and nodded with the happiest smile in the world.
"Yes!"
Once the live stream ended, all the energy drained from my body. I leaned against the wall, sat down, and let out a deep sigh.
"Haa, this live stream felt harder than filming the drama."
"Ahaha. That's how it usually is. But...."
Dong-hyun suddenly hardened his expression and asked in a worried voice.
"Is it really okay to go out like this?"
"...What is."
"Your image got bombed to bits. Isn't this.... a big hit for you?"
It was funny seeing the guy who'd been gleefully teasing me now worrying in such an out-of-character way.
"Why are you worrying so awkwardly?"
"...What?"
"The guy who heard my amazing singing and jumped in first to mock me...."
Shin Dong-hyun's lips curved up slyly.
"Yeah? Honestly, it was so disastrously bad I was shocked. Was that even singing?"
No words for that regarding my singing.
I scratched my cheek vaguely and avoided Shin Dong-hyun's gaze. In front of me, Yu-na was still clutching the mic tight, wiggling her butt and dancing.
"La la la- la la la la-"
"Enough now, let's go. Yu-na."
"Yees? I wanna sing one more."
Yu-na hugged the mic to her chest like she'd never let me take it.
She seemed totally hooked on karaoke. I steeled myself, slipped my hands under her armpits, and lifted her up.
"We'll do the rest at home."
"But.... I wanna do more."
"If you don't listen.... Yeah. Separate rooms. Wanna sleep alone?"
She shook her head vigorously.
Yu-na hurriedly handed me the mic and rubbed her face against my chest.
A smile came naturally.
"Ah! Jun-seo, you go ahead. I'll tidy up and catch up."
"Yeah, got it."
I set the mic on the table and stepped out, only to run into a group of female students.
They hesitated and stepped back, then pulled something from their bags.
"Jun-seo oppa, sign here please! Became a fan watching High School 2022 with family."
"Me too, please sign here."
"Me too! And that last song, you sang it really well."
Really? That was good?
Were they teasing me?
I smiled brightly, gently set Yu-na down, and took the notebooks and pens from the students' hands.
"I know I sing terribly, right? And you girls. Isn't it too late to be out playing?"
"No it's not!"
"It's only 8 PM."
Their firm denials made me chuckle. After signing for the last student, I felt a tug on my clothes.
Pull. Pull.
"Daddyyy. Yu-na's hungry."
At Yu-na's whine, the girls froze with mouths agape.
"Shall we go get chicken then?"
"Waaah! Yay!"
I turned my gaze forward.
The girls, still frozen like statues, weren't making way.
"Um, we need to get going now?"
"...Ah! Yes. Sorry for blocking the way."
"Get home safe, oppa."
I slipped through the flustered girls making way, and spotted the owner looking glum right in front.
'Ah, right. Forgot about that.'
I hadn't mentioned this karaoke place.
***
After wrapping up the Daddy I Love You! recording on Friday, Saturday morning finally dawned.
Today was the Run and Play recording day.
So from morning, I stopped by the salon with my manager, then headed straight to KY Broadcasting Station.
"Jun-seo, they said go to the 5th floor. Everyone's gathered."
"Already? Am I the latest?"
"Probably."
I scooped up Yu-na.
And bolted.
Up the emergency stairs to the 5th floor, and sure enough, plenty of Run and Play staff were around.
"Huh? Jun-seo, you're early."
"Where do I go?"
While a young staffer fitted mics on me and Yu-na, he held up one finger and pointed down the right hallway.
"Go straight down the right hallway, there'll be an open door. They're all gathered there. Just chat with everyone for a bit."
"Ah, yes. Got it."
Following the staffer's directions down the right hallway, familiar voices grew clearer.
Soon, I reached the open door.
Run and Play. All cast members.
Plus this week's guest, Kwon In-ju.
Everyone was sitting cozily, chatting. Looked like we arrived latest.
This was awkward....
Kwon In-ju spotted us first, eyes widening as she jumped up and waved vigorously.
"Oh! You made it! Come here quick."
Why did her enthusiastic waving feel so desperate?
Had she been uncomfortable sandwiched between the seniors? Her forehead was slick with cold sweat—guess she was waiting for my arrival.
"Oh! Junior Lee Jun-seo! Long time no see."
Starting with senior Yoon Suk-jae, all the cast welcomed me.
I kept smiling and scanned the surroundings.
Cameras definitely rolling.
They must've started the opening recording way earlier.
"Jun-seo, come sit here."
"Ah, yes.... Sorry I'm late."
I sat in the spot senior Yoon Suk-jae patted, and all eyes turned to me.
"Shall we start with self-introductions?"
"Yu-na wants to do it too!"
"Ahaha! The princess too."
Yu-na showed no intimidation even before the many cameras.
Just like always.
"Hello. I'm Lee Yu-na."
"I'm actor Lee Jun-seo."
"Kya! Great voice too. Guard the Pojangmacha! as a thug, High School 2022 as a teacher. Digesting any role...."
All praise made my chest tickle.
No, how long were they gonna keep up the awkward, contrived compliments?
We were deep in talk about the dramas I'd done.
"And recently.... Ah, can't forget the live stream. Ahaha!"
"Ah! I saw that too. Oppa, did you see it? It was hilarious."
The one who just spoke was actress Jeon Su-min.
She hadn't been active as long as my past life's me, but way more than current me.
At her question, senior Yoon Suk-jae burst into laughter and nodded.
"It was so funny. Jin-seok hyung, can I say it here?"
"Hey! Don't! Seriously, don't."
The eldest senior here yelled to stop him.
But senior Yoon Suk-jae grinned and didn't stop.
"That time, the hyung doing the live stream was like 'viewers dropping' and turned it off.... To watch Jun-seo' stream. Ahaha!"
"Hey!"
"Whatever! Hyung, step back. It's guest promo time."
"Everyone! October 12th? Devil's Errand Center. Love it lots!"
Senior Ji Jin-seok covered the promo that Kwon In-ju and I were supposed to do.
"Ah.... Won't watch because of hyung."
"I'll promo it, it'll be a hit."
"Doubt it."
As the drama promo wrapped.
PD Jung Eun-ji timed it perfectly, grabbing a red megaphone and raising her voice.
"Hello, everyone. Can I explain this shoot's concept?"
Now we were diving into the real Run and Play recording.
"Our show has its youngest cast ever, right? So this shoot's concept is 'Back to Childlike Innocence.'"
That concept was fake.
I'd gotten the heads-up in advance and knew the real one: 'Fool the Little Devil.'
Obviously, the little devil was Yu-na.
And everyone was pretending to let Yu-na win.
'This'll be fun.'
We changed into name-tag shirts and boarded the bus with everyone.
A while back.
Yu-na had sneakily gone to get her mission.
Her suspicious-yet-adorable actions were attacking my heart.
"Yu-na, why so tense? Want Daddy to hold you?"
"Ah, no. I'm fine."
Glance. Glance.
She'd look at me, but the instant our eyes met, she'd look away in a panic. Seemed anxious about keeping a secret plot from me.
Dad Becomes a Top Actor