Chapter 130
Chapter 130
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 130
Chapter Title: Endless Bus Talk
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The long, drawn-out talk inside the bus.
No breaks, just simple games and chit-chat—my mouth and throat are killing me.
Back in the day, they'd rent out an entire building, everyone tackling their missions and ripping off name tags...
That made our legs hurt the most.
Things have really changed.
I thought so watching recent episodes, but being on it myself? This is a whole different show.
Better to think of it that way.
"Right! Jun-seo! Last time, you ripped off my name tag and ran away, remember? Why'd you go after mine like that?"
"Oh! At the hanok village?"
"I was shocked when they said you were out."
Yu-na's little incident.
Now they're circling back to it, egging me on for an answer.
No breathing room.
"Why'd you run?"
How do I spin this...
I gave an awkward laugh and tapped the cheek of Yu-na, perched on my knee.
"Ah, haha! No idea what you're talking about. Ask Yu-na."
Everyone turned to Yu-na, sitting primly on my lap.
"Should we? Okay then... Yu-na?"
"Y-Yes?"
Yu-na whipped her head around, eyes wide with surprise, staring at Yoon Seok-jae.
Her pupils trembled fiercely.
"Suspicious reaction... Are you a spy?"
The eldest, Ji Jin-seok, sitting next to him, said it lightly, and Yu-na flinched.
"N-No, I'm not!"
Her stammering made everyone turn away to hide their laughs.
Even then, Ji Jin-seok didn't let up.
"But why so quiet? I heard you talk a lot..."
"Y-Yu-na's not a spy. D-Daddy... when do we get there? I wanna get off..."
She threw a spoiled fit to dodge the crisis. I hugged her gently and stroked her hair.
Playing along is harder than it looks...
Time flew, and we arrived at New Sprout Kindergarten, our destination.
They chose a kindergarten for filming because a strange place might make little Yu-na tense, I'd heard.
'Definitely the right call.'
Time was tight, so lunch skipped straight into the game: good old tag.
To give the youngest, Yu-na, a fair shot, adults had to hop on one foot.
You might think Yu-na's still at a disadvantage... but watching her chase the members now changes your mind.
Me and Kwon In-ju, tripped up hopping and tagged—we sat on the sidelines, watching Yu-na shine.
"Your daughter's got some moves."
At Kwon In-ju's admiration, I shrugged with a smile.
"Stamina's her superpower."
The Yu-na who'd eyed everyone warily on the bus now roamed the playground freely with the cast.
I clamped my mouth shut, soaking in her innocent joy.
At some point, she'd forgotten it was tag—sliding down the slide.
Then hopping on the seesaw.
Maybe because they all have kids? The seniors playing with her looked so natural.
"Game'll wrap soon at this rate..."
"Yeah, we'll end up eating steamed buns and rice anyway."
"True. Footage is secured... Hey, what about you later? Got a talent ready?"
I sighed at his question.
"...Ha. Guess I'll bust a move."
"Haha! Right, you've got the cheat code."
We fell silent, watching Yu-na play with the members.
How much time passed?
"Alright! Game over!"
Yu-na's eyes went wide at the call.
Realized they were mid-game?
Her frantic tagging of members was adorable.
"Think that's it?"
"Probably. Let's go."
We dusted off and headed to the group.
First game: tagger scores 2 points.
Others 1 each.
Kwon In-ju and I: 0 points accumulated.
"Now straight to the second game. Do you know... 'Red Light, Green Light'?"
"Come on, PD. Who doesn't? Just explain already."
"...Right away. In this game, if you don't do the judge's pose when they turn..."
Calmly.
Explaining the rules simply enough for little Yu-na—it sounded straightforward.
A twist on 'Red Light, Green Light': do the judge's pose when they turn...
Stick to the script, avoid ranking high.
Just focus on getting screen time.
"Everyone get it?"
"Eh, only Yu-na and Jin-seok hyung need to."
Yoon Seok-jae quipped, irking Ji Jin-seok who'd been listening quietly.
"Hey! I got it all. You think my comprehension's kid-level?"
"...Yu-na's not a kid."
"Ah, my bad. Calling her a kid upset her."
"Did I say wrong? Don't hate on me, guys."
Everyone burst out laughing, clutching their stomachs, as he protested it wasn't intentional.
A restaurant far from the kindergarten.
After the marathon games, we moved here for winners' and losers' meals.
1st to 4th: whole chicken set.
5th to 8th: pork soup.
Rest: just rice and kimchi.
Members sat by rank, then exploded in laughter at my sad table.
"Haha! This for real?"
"Hey, is serving this okay? Inviting us to this skimpy stuff?"
"Life's like that."
Ji Jin-seok stirred the pot again, drawing random laughs.
Is that his real personality?
Or hamming it up to cement his image?
Muscular Kim Guk-jong frowned at him.
"No, hyung, seriously."
"Let's eat. Even the kid's chowing down hearty."
Ji Jin-seok, next to Yu-na, dabbed her mouth with tissue.
Jeers rose around.
"Here he goes again."
"Hey, Jun-seo? Not worried leaving Yu-na with Jin-seok hyung?"
I shrugged variety-style at Yoon Seok-jae's question.
"Honestly, a bit."
"Hey! What's that mean? I've raised a kid—I know how."
"Your wife did all that. And 'hey' what?"
Sneakily.
While they bantered, Yu-na crept to my seat.
Clutching a chicken leg in her tiny hand.
"Daddy, eat this."
"Huh? Thanks, sweetie."
"Wah! I'm the only one without a daughter!"
As Kwon In-ju wailed, Yu-na snuck behind, horns up with one finger per hand over my head.
Devil horns.
Her mission: turn us humans into devils for victory...
But really.
Our goal: let Yu-na win.
Warm concept.
Love it.
'Yu-na won't stop here, though.'
Spot on.
She circled, planting horns on everyone's heads.
Started timid, now boldly completing the mission.
So...
My turn to shine?
"Mmm, tasty."
Kwon In-ju snatched Yu-na's chicken—I faked outrage, raising my voice.
"Hey! Hyung! That's just for me. Spit it out!"
"Mmph!"
Close enough to shove his mouth without awkwardness.
Mid-fight over one morsel, horn-rimmed glasses guy raised his hand.
"You actors at the end? Make me laugh with a talent, get perilla leaves."
"I'll go first."
Kwon In-ju jumped up for his talent.
Animal noises into improv skit... like sitcom gold, hilarious.
"Hey! Go! Moon! Moon! Argh!"
Flailing at nothing, fell back writhing—talent done.
Loved it; members mid-bite, doubled over laughing.
"Haha! Epic! Hilarious. So the leaves go to..."
I shot my hand up.
"I'll do one too."
"Jun-seo too?"
"Mine's dance. Watch this."
Dance? Bigger laughs, expectant.
'Clumsy image.'
Perfect for easy footage.
"Hit me with a song."
PD cued upbeat track. I dazzled with slick moves, cracking them up.
Final spot: KY Broadcasting Station.
Last game for comeback, but real game's elsewhere—no need to chase points.
That's why, in nostalgic hide-and-seek, everyone half-assed hides for laughs.
'Who's funnier at hiding.'
That's the contest.
We aced 'Fool the Little Devil' sans penalty, wrapping filming.
Even kept her secret mission under wraps.
She fooled us all, clueless...
Well done.
'Who'd she get that from?'
I smirked, gently stroking sleeping Yu-na's cheek.
"...Great shoot today."
"Flattery? Doesn't suit you."
In-cheol chuckled at my grumble, eyes on the road.
"Mmm..."
"Huh? Yu-na, awake?"
I checked her.
Sweat beading forehead, groaning in pain.
Tear dropped from shut eyes—my heart sank.
"Yu-na, you okay?"
"Mmm... Ow... Ba..."
Called urgently, shook her.
Stroked cheek—no waking. Just mumbled nonsense.
"Wake up, sweetie. Huh?"
Her eyes fluttered; clear voice emerged.
"D... Daddy... Mmm."
"Yeah, Daddy's here."
Eyes snapped open, locking on me—she burst into tears.
"Daddyyy! Yu-na... sob! Did wrong. So... sob! Please... sob! Listen... sob!"
"......"
"So... like this... sob!"
Ah, nightmare.
From before I possessed—neglect abuse days...
I bit my lip, patting her back softly.
Thought she was over it...
Wounds linger.
"Waaah!"
Sobbing endlessly into my arms, her tiny hands gripped my shirt tight.
Desperation in that grasp.
How long passed?
Patting her back as she cried herself out and slept, I gazed out the cracked window.
Wind unusually cold today.
Mouth bitter as gall.