Chapter 14
Chapter 14
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 14
Chapter Title: The Sitcom Premiere
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Autumn, winter. And then spring.
The filming that had felt so interminably long was finally over.
I'd taken on an unplanned supporting role, which made the shoot grueling, and I felt bad for Yu-na, who had always tagged along with me to the set.
So, as an apology, I spent every day off playing with her all night long.
Even today, the day before she started kindergarten tomorrow.
I planned to play with her all through the night.
'It really was such a long haul.'
Today was finally the air date for [Guard the Pojangmacha!], the show we'd poured our hearts into filming.
If I'd been signed with an agency, I'd have been out promoting it on every variety show under the sun.
But I was still freelance.
Since my name wasn't known yet, no outlets were calling me up personally.
'That's to be expected.'
It was a sitcom we'd been steadily filming since last year.
It hadn't aired yet, so I couldn't even attend last year's year-end awards.
That stung.
'Rookie Actor Award.'
As a rookie now, I could win it again. That became my first goal.
Just like the one I'd won in my previous life.
Of course, that was only if the sitcom I was in became a hit.
Lost in thought for a moment, Yu-na called out to me, urging me on.
"Daddy, Daddy! Put it here now."
"Y-Yeah, okay."
Right now, focus on Yu-na.
The brick-stacking game that had dragged on forever was done, followed by hospital play and hide-and-seek in the tiny room.
After playing nonstop without a break, my body and mind were worn out.
So I resorted to a little trick.
No need to find her right away.
Even though I knew exactly where she was hiding.
I was pretending to search diligently, taking a breather, when I noticed Yu-na's cute chick-shaped bag bulging out like her chubby tummy.
'Huh, the bag's all puffed up?'
I stealthily lifted it.
It was surprisingly heavy.
Of course, Yu-na wasn't hiding inside. Given her size, she couldn't possibly fit... So what was stuffed in there? Feeling curious, I peeked into the bulging bag.
"This is..."
A Bluetooth microphone.
A princess doll.
A transforming car.
And all sorts of other toys crammed in tight. I'd definitely checked it several times yesterday after she prepped for kindergarten.
Which meant...
While I was asleep, Yu-na had shoved them all in there.
Imagining her doing it made me chuckle.
'She really packed a ton in.'
I started pulling out all the toys from the bag.
Thud thud thud!
Yu-na came barreling out from behind the curtain and snatched the bag away.
"Ah, no!"
"What's no?"
"Um, well..."
Backing away from me bit by bit, Yu-na began stuffing the toys back into the bag.
Watching her, I rubbed my forehead.
Lately, her tantrums had gotten worse, and she wouldn't listen to a word I said.
I called her name softly.
"Yu-na."
She froze, glancing at me warily, then knelt down hesitantly.
I'd planned to scold her for the first time, but her reaction left me momentarily speechless.
In the heavy silence, my pocketed phone buzzed loudly.
Vrrr!
I glanced away and pulled out the phone to see who it was.
'What the—it's the sunbaes.'
The group chat notifications were flooded with the seniors desperately calling for me.
Shin Dong-hyun: Hey! Answer if you've seen it!
Yoo Seol-hwa: You just gonna read and ghost?
Shin Dong-hyun: Yu-na starts kindergarten tomorrow, right? Invite us over so we can at least celebrate!
"Haa..."
They were a hassle to deal with, so I'd read the messages but hadn't replied.
Who would I invite to this rundown place...
I tossed the phone onto the pillow, and immediately Shin Dong-hyun called.
"...Daddy, phone's ringing."
"I know. And... never mind."
As I picked up the phone, debating whether to answer, Yu-na seized the moment to shove more toys into the bag.
Did she think I wouldn't notice?
Her movements were so obvious and sneaky that I couldn't help but laugh.
Still, time to be firm.
Composing my face, I narrowed my eyes and opened my mouth.
"Sigh. Yu-na."
"Tch..."
Seeing her pull out the toys again, I answered the incoming call.
"What? Why'd you call?"
-Hey, you ignoring your fellow rice-sharers like this?
"Been busy. Why'd you call? No big deal, I'm hanging up."
I was about to hit end when—
-Wait, junior! Hold on!
A familiar woman's urgent voice came through the phone.
That voice...
It was Yoo Seol-hwa.
"...You two together?"
-It's the first episode airing today. We're gathered at Su-ho sunbae’s place to watch and celebrate. Wanna come if you're free?
I pondered her offer.
I had nothing else going on.
As long as it wasn't inviting them to my place...
And it wasn't just me and Shin Dong-hyun...
"Sure. Where?"
-I'll text you the address. Let's celebrate the premiere here.
"Hmm, okay."
-Great. See you soon.
"Yeah."
After hanging up with the sunbaes, I checked on Yu-na.
Why was it so quiet?
Of course.
Relentless as ever, she'd stuffed all the toys back in and was beaming with pride.
'Sigh, too cute to punish.'
I'd just take them out again tomorrow anyway.
When I arrived at the destination, it turned out to be a nicer apartment than I'd expected.
A chandelier perfectly suited to the high ceiling, and a display case showcasing all sorts of trophies.
And...
The breathtaking view from the window.
'Clean and nice atmosphere.'
The beverage gift set I'd carefully picked out with Yu-na at the mart suddenly felt shabby.
'Should've gone with the red ginseng set?'
The thought crossed my mind.
"Junior, what're you doing standing there? Come sit if you're here."
"Oh, sunbae. This is a housewarming gift. Yu-na and I picked it out."
"Oh, really? Thanks. I'll enjoy it."
I handed the gift to Kang Su-ho first, then sat at the spot where they'd already set up drinks and sipped only soda.
Truth be told, I wanted to kick back with booze like them, but I had to get home with Yu-na later, so I held back.
"Junior, no booze? Beer if soju's not your thing?"
I shook my head at Yoo Seol-hwa's offer.
"Kindergarten tomorrow..."
"Fair enough. Dong-hyun! You'll have to drink with me then."
Watching them, I idly poked the tummy of Yu-na, who was sitting primly on my lap.
Soft and puffy.
It was soothing.
"Daddyyy, that tickles."
"Yu-na's tummy's all poofy? Hiding something in there?"
I tickled her sides, my lips curving up.
Yu-na rolled on the floor, trying to escape my hands.
Just then, Kang Su-ho came from the kitchen and sat beside us, chuckling.
"You two really know how to have fun."
"You think so?"
"Oh, junior! If you're up for it, how about joining our Michael Entertainment? The CEO asked me to sound you out."
Yoo Seol-hwa's sudden pitch made me tense up.
"...An agency?"
She kept going.
"Our agency's pretty well-known. So..."
Michael Entertainment.
I knew the place.
If you didn't have talent, you'd get cut fast...
But the perks were supposedly great.
'Not a bad spot...'
Honestly, I wasn't ready to sign anywhere yet. Jumping in blindly could mean getting stuck with projects I hated.
My strengths weren't just acting—they were my eye for good projects too.
Starting over, I wanted to climb clean and high.
"...I haven't thought about it yet."
She blinked at my answer, then burst out laughing heartily.
"Ahaha! You're probably the first to turn it down. The CEO's gonna be shocked when I tell him."
"Junior, then what agency are you eyeing? Sounds like you've got reasons for passing."
To Kang Su-ho's question, I answered without sounding arrogant.
I'd build recognition on my own first, then shop around slowly.
They nodded thoughtfully as I explained.
"Yeah, if you've got the chops, that's the best way."
Yoo Seol-hwa eyed me suspiciously amid the agreement.
"Still shady... Be honest. You're no rookie, are you?"
"That again?"
"It's weird."
The pointless banter dragged on until it was six p.m.
The OST signaling the start flowed from the already-on TV.
"Oh! Sitcom's starting."
I grabbed the nearby remote and turned up the volume. We dropped the chatter and focused on the show.
'Pitiful from the first scene—hilarious.'
Goofy sound effects and over-the-top direction.
Yoo Seol-hwa laughs at the boss's wig slipping off, then gets unfairly fired.
Sitcoms had that charm of laughs from the dumbest places.
"Huh? It's Daddy!"
My scene came up.
I covered my face with both hands.
Yellow shirt with flower prints, khaki shorts.
Topped off with a shiny gold necklace.
Outfit terrorism.
Did it only look weird to me?
It'd looked off during filming too.
Still did.
How did others see it?
I sneaked a peek.
Luckily, no one mentioned the clothes. They were too busy questioning my performance.
"That scene wasn't scripted, right?"
To Kang Su-ho's question, I answered softly to not disturb the viewers.
"The line felt... unnatural. So I ad-libbed."
"Good ad-lib. That version's more natural and better."
"Ahaha. You think?"
My solo scene ended, and Yu-na appeared next.
"Huh? It's Yu-na!"
This time, her adorable mimicry of me stole the show.
Sassy cuteness.
I wanted to jump into the screen and hug her.
Did everyone feel that?
I glanced around.
They were all glued to Yu-na on TV.
"So cute. Prettier than any child actor I've seen."
"Daddyyy! Save Yu-na!"
As Yu-na, hugged tight by Yoo Seol-hwa, reached for me pleading, the "To be continued" popped up.
"End already. Let's check reactions?"
At Yoo Seol-hwa's words, Kang Su-ho spoke while nursing his beer alone.
"I don't show up for a while. No point checking yet."
"You're in episode 3, Su-ho sunbae."
"Yep."
Guess I'd check too.
I pulled out my phone and logged into Starlight, where I'd silenced notifications for a while.
Nothing better than my own account for reactions.
"...Huh?"
Hearts were pouring in on the photo I'd posted.
Comments kept climbing.
-Whoa! Dad's looks for real??
-Walk the flower path!! Fighting!
-TBH I rooted for the thug uncle more than the lead. How dare he! Dad said clear out!
-So-ah was too cute. Drop pics now! Or I'll keep shitting here!
Not Yu-na, but So-ah—her character name—amid the rowdy, laughing comments. I stared blankly.
This one's still at it...
Not long ago, the fiasco when Yoo Seol-hwa hearted Yu-na's pic.
Then demands for our photos, threats really.
Holding breath threats.
Shit-posting threats.
The cringey comments were piling up, embarrassing.
I just checked and pocketed the phone.
"Reactions look good."
"Just called the broadcaster—ratings are #1 in the time slot!"
Kang Su-ho let out a quiet sigh at her excited words.
"Too early to celebrate? That daily drama with all the big stars is coming up soon. Same slot."
Yoo Seol-hwa grumbled at his pointed remark.
"What's the point thinking about that now? We're #1 right this second."
"True. Keep this up, we might compete with the daily."
Everyone chimed in, but Shin Dong-hyun looked sour. Mumbling like he'd seen a ghost...
'Here we go again...'
I sighed softly, pretended not to notice, and chatted with the sunbaes.
The next morning, I got up early and rummaged through Yu-na's bag right away.
Carefully, so I wouldn't wake her.
Besides the mic, it was stuffed with all sorts of toys. Amazing how she'd fit them.
I emptied it all out and put back her stationery and attendance stamp notebook.
Then added a blanket to make it look full.
Perfect.
As I brushed off my hands and stood—
"Daddy...?"
"Huh? Y-Yu-na?"
"Daddy, what're you doing?"
I'd checked—she was asleep.
But Yu-na's eyes were wide open.