Chapter 141
Chapter 141
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 141
Chapter Title: Exclusive Fan Meeting
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I had invited only the most passionate members from my fan cafe—the ones awarded the "Excellent Member" badge—for this fan meeting.
So, I never imagined that a celebrity...
...let alone a senior actress I knew, would be among them.
'How do I get past this?' Senior Yoon So-hee's eyes trembled violently, as if they'd lost their way. She probably wants me to play dumb, right?
"Sh-She's a bit shy, huh? Shall we move on to the next one?"
Grip! Suddenly, Senior Yoon So-hee grabbed the hem of my clothes. Then she pulled down her mask, snatched the mic, and spoke.
"It's fine.... Yeah. I'm from Seoul. Because I'm a fan of Jun-seo, too."
Her polite speech felt awkward to me. Caught off guard, I took the mic back and froze like a statue. Murmur murmur. The fans around us started whispering as they recognized Senior Yoon So-hee.
"Wow.... Is this some event? That's actress Yoon So-hee, right? From that first episode..."
"Yeah, looks like Yoon So-hee."
"Oh, right! I saw her on a variety show. She said she fell for a reliable junior and became a fan. No way, was that actor Lee Jun-seo?"
The area grew noisier.
"Jun-seo, what's going on?"
Snapping to at the host's call from the stage, I gripped the mic tightly.
"Ah, it's Senior Yoon So-hee. I had no idea you were a fan. When did you start liking me?"
As I handed the mic back, Senior Yoon So-hee smiled warmly.
"At first, I thought you were a junior who needed help, so I tried my best to support you. But..."
She paused for a moment. Then, gazing at me intently, she continued.
"My feelings changed bit by bit. I realized you're reliable and can stand on your own—a truly cool person."
"...Oh, really?"
"Probably.... That's when I started liking you, Jun-seo."
I hesitated at Senior Yoon So-hee's words, which could easily be misunderstood. Then, a pfft! of laughter escaped.
"Don't worry. It's just fan love, after all. My husband might get jealous of you, though."
"W-Wait, husband?"
"You didn't know? We're back together, living as husband and wife again. It got buried under all your articles.... Ahem! Anyway, enough chit-chat!"
A brief silence. Then thunderous applause and cheers erupted.
"Woooow!"
"Live happily ever after!"
"Unnie, I support you! And you were so pretty in that drama!"
She responded to the fans with a bright eye smile, then put her mask back on. My first fan interaction, and it's with a senior actress. I clapped along with the fans, gave an awkward smile, and spoke.
"...We don't have much time, so shall we move on?"
Second. Third.
Seventh. Fourteenth...
I was focused on interacting with the fifteenth fan when—
"Jun-seo! Time to wrap it up."
"Daddy! Come quick!"
What? Already ending?
At the host's and Yu-na's calls, I stopped the fan interaction and looked toward the stage.
Hop. Hop.
Yu-na bounced in place like a bunny, adorable as ever, while the host tapped her wristwatch impatiently.
It felt a bit regrettable to end it like this...
'Guess we really have to.' I turned my gaze back. The girl I'd been talking to smiled faintly, looking disappointed.
"I wanted to talk more with you, oppa. It's a shame. Ending it already..."
I felt the same way. They genuinely like me. They cheer for me with warm hearts. Such fans' feelings are priceless to me—something money can't buy. Looking at the girl right in front of me, I slowly spoke.
"I'm sorry too, but we have to end our chat here. There's lots prepared ahead, so look forward to it."
"Yes, I will."
After a quick goodbye, I climbed onto the stage, and upbeat music suddenly started playing.
"Next up is 'Guess the Line!' We'll give a prize to whoever nails the answer perfectly."
Pop! The lights went out, and a single beam spotlighted the center of the stage. As if waiting, the host grinned slyly and continued.
"While we set up, how about we enjoy Jun-seo's dance?"
No, hold on. 'There was no mention of that!' The staff waiting in the side room nearby gave me thumbs-ups. Even the host flashed a thumbs-up with an annoying smirk. That's when I realized. 'They hid it knowing I'd hate it!' Sighing deeply amid the fans' cheers, I danced to the lively rhythm. Creak. Creak. My body wouldn't move like I wanted.
"Ahahaha!"
"Ahaha! So cool, oppa!"
"You dance so well! Wooow!"
Laughter kept bursting from the audience. My face burned hot, and I finally paused the dance. Well dancing my foot... I know I'm no good at it. Is that why? The fans' cheering voices sounded like teasing to me. Still... 'Yu-na dances so well...' I shuffled back awkwardly and watched Yu-na dance. Thump! Thump! Ding-ding-da! The spotlight that had been on me now followed Yu-na. Yu-na's solo stage. Even without me, the fans' smiles didn't fade. Of course, neither did mine. 'She was like that at her debut, and now...' The fans seem to like Yu-na more than me, the main star of this meeting. Doo-doo-doo! Yu-na, dancing energetically, suddenly approached me in the corner.
"What're you doing? Dance with me, Daddy!"
"Huh? Oh, no. Daddy's fine."
That's when— The fans burst into laughter and chanted my name in unison, loud and strong.
"Lee Jun-seo! Lee Jun-seo! Lee Jun-seo!"
"Lee Jun-seo!"
I let out a deep sigh. If the fans want it.
"Alright, alright."
Grabbing Yu-na's hand, I moved to center stage and shook my body harder than before.
We quickly wrapped up the line-guessing game and moved to Q&A time.
Simple reason.
'Arms shooting up first...' The game went off the rails, forcing us to skip remaining questions and proceed.
"Alright! Q&A time now."
Rattle! Staff wheeled in a mobile screen board to center stage, covered in Post-it notes without a gap. Easy-to-answer questions were written on them. I picked up the mic and spoke.
"Hmm, are these all the questions from the fans here?"
"Yes. Two per person. Jun-seo picks, reads, and answers them yourself."
"Then..."
I scanned them one by one and peeled off a good one.
"This seems fine for the first."
"Daddy! Yu-na wants to read it!"
"Hmm... Okay?"
I knelt and handed the Post-it to Yu-na. She squinted hard at it. Then Yu-na's mouth opened.
"Wh-When... your daughter's not cute."
Tilting her head slightly, Yu-na handed the Post-it back to me.
"Daddy?"
"Hmm, yeah, there are times."
Yu-na's eyes widened in shock. She even dropped the Post-it. 'Is it that shocking?' Holding back a laugh, I added.
"Only when she leaves beans behind."
Only then did color return to Yu-na's shocked face.
"So if Yu-na eats every single bean, I'm always cute?"
"Of course."
Hug! Yu-na clung to my leg, rubbing her face against it. Warmth slowly rose from my leg to my body. Ah, should I show them that now? I gently lifted Yu-na and planted a light kiss on her chubby cheek.
"Ooooh!"
"Yu-na's so lucky! Ahaha!"
"I want a kiss too!"
The audience buzzed.
"Ahem! Sorry to ruin the mood, but we're short on time."
At the host's words, I set Yu-na down and scratched my nape.
"Oh, my bad."
"Ahaha. The person who wrote this question, please come onstage? Jun-seo has a gift for you."
"What do I do! I need to fix my makeup!"
A loud voice rang from the seats. Amused by the fun reaction, I held the mic and teased.
"No gift later if you don't come now."
"W-Wait!"
A young woman shot up and hurried onstage. Purple hoodie, black joggers. The simply dressed young woman seemed very shy. Covering her flushed face with one hand, she muttered to herself. I could hear a bit since she was close.
"Fuck! So damn handsome. What do I do?"
Tug! Tug! Yu-na pulled my clothes. With a curious tilt of her head, she asked me.
"Daddy, what's 'X-chin'?"
"Kh-Khem! That's a bad word. Never use it."
Our conversation carried through the mic to the speakers. The audience became a sea of laughter.
"Ahaha! Jun-seo? Let's give the gift quick. Or we might run out of turns."
"Ah, yes. Sure."
I took the white envelope from the host and approached the woman.
"Here you go. This is a gift certificate for the underworld department store. And..."
Pausing, I tightly held Yu-na's hand and asked the fan.
"Between me and Yu-na, whose hug do you want? Choose."
"......"
The woman, hand over mouth and face red, pointed at me. Better I receive the hug than give it, right? I handed over the certificate and opened my arms. She immediately hugged me tight.
"Eeeeek! I'm really a fan!"
After a short hug, she covered her beet-red face with both hands. Brief silence. Then she bowed her head and dashed back to her seat, screaming. Such an intense reaction. I cleared my throat and turned to the screen board.
"Shall we move right on?"
"Daddy! Next one quick!"
Yu-na's brow furrowed slightly after being passed over multiple times.
'Please this time.' I hope someone picks Yu-na. I scanned the Post-its and picked one. "...This one's a sharp question." "Ahaha! Jun-seo? Read what it says?" Holding the mic, I slowly read the note. "'Having a daughter must make it hard to work as an actor, right?'" Whoosh! Yu-na looked up. She stared at me blankly. Hmm, gotta be honest. Lowering the hand with the Post-it, I swept my gaze over the seated fans. Then spoke again. "Honestly.... Yes. It was tough."