Chapter 149
Chapter 149
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 149
Chapter Title: Yu-na's First Music Video Shoot
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Dodo-do. Dodo-do-do.
From early morning, tiny footsteps approached and receded repeatedly.
‘This happened before too...’
When I came to my senses and listened closely, Yu-na's small voice drifted in.
"Yes. That's right. Hold on a sec."
Dodo-do.
The footsteps grew closer.
They stopped in front of me, then receded again. Soon, Yu-na's voice came faintly once more.
"He hasn't woken up yet. Yes! I'll tell him to call you right away when Dad wakes up. Yes. Yu-na too."
Dodo-do.
The footsteps approached again.
A small, warm breeze blew in. I shifted in bed, wondering what it was, and cracked my eyes open.
Yu-na was peering right into my face, closer than touching. She wore a brighter smile than usual.
This lasted a moment.
Then she scrunched her brows tight, climbed onto the bed, and started shaking my body.
"Dad! Get up! It's morning!"
"Five more minutes..."
"You have to get ready quick."
My body rocked side to side.
Usually, I woke up first and roused Yu-na, but for the past two days, she had been getting up first and waking me like this.
Wasn't greeting the morning with her cute nagging the height of happiness?
I wanted to stay like this just a bit longer...
I smiled, pulled Yu-na into a tight hug, and wouldn't let go. She wriggled in her adorable tone.
"Aaah! Get up already! Daaad!"
I gently patted her tiny back and glanced at the wall clock.
It wasn't even 6 a.m. yet.
‘What? Plenty of time...'
Right.
Today was Wednesday.
The day of Yu-na's first music video shoot. I'd already called New Sprout Kindergarten to say she'd be taking the day off.
"If you don't get up, I'm really gonna get mad!"
"Alright, alright. Got it."
I released the still-fidgeting Yu-na, scratched my head, and let out a big yawn.
By the way.
"Yu-na, who were you talking to so early in the morning?"
"Seol-hwa Aunt. You were sleeping, and the phone rang, so Yu-na answered."
"Ah... again?"
"Yes. Hehehe."
I let out a deep sigh.
Since Monday, she'd been calling every morning without fail. Have an energetic day, and if you have any worries, feel free to tell me...
Looks like opening up to her on Sunday had quite the impact.
"Dad, Aunt said to call her when she wakes up. Here."
"Ah, got it. Thanks."
"Hehehe."
I gently stroked Yu-na's head and turned to my phone screen.
Then I opened the sitcom group chat and tapped away busily.
Lee Jun-seo: Good morning.
Yoo Seol-hwa: Hey, you up?
Shin Dong-hyun: If you're free today, wanna go hiking with me?
Kang Su-ho: Why are you guys suddenly being nice to Jun-seo?
Yoo Seol-hwa: There's a reason.
Shin Dong-hyun: Anyway, there's a reason.
Kang Su-ho: Am I being left out...?
Kang Su-ho: Don't exclude just me.
Yoo Seol-hwa: Anyway! Do your best today!
I burst out laughing. Was that why she wanted me to call?
I replied with a quick "Yes." amid the ongoing chatter and closed the phone.
Yu-na stared blankly at me, then grinned broadly.
"Hehehe."
"Time to wash up and get ready to head out?"
A quiet rural area with a light dusting of snow.
Yousia paced in the parked car in the alley, biting her nails.
The actor she'd booked on a whim had slipped on the stairs and badly injured his leg and arm.
No actor for the dad role.
"Hey! Your nails are ruined."
"Sis, is the music video shoot getting postponed? Or are you looking for another actor on short notice?"
"Ah, the manager said they're sending an actor from our agency. Sorry for telling you late."
"That's a relief then. It's fine. As long as we can shoot today."
"But... when I suggested using Actor Jun-seo earlier, why'd you say no?"
Yousia let out a deep sigh and folded her fingers one by one as she spoke.
"First issue: if Actor Lee Jun-seo appears, it won't look like my childhood self. Second... Actor Lee Jun-seo is way too handsome. My dad wasn't that handsome."
Yousia, smile restored, no longer seemed anxious.
"Ah, I see. Yeah..."
The manager nodded at the two points.
The first was easy to grasp.
If they filmed the famous dad-daughter duo known to the public, everyone would think of that "I Love Dad!" variety show.
Gratitude for the dad she met later in life.
And the innocence of childhood.
Yousia had stressed over and over how vital that was.
"Well, Mom was pretty, though."
The manager sighed deeply and checked Yousia's nails.
"Got it. Please, fix that nail-biting habit. Okay?"
At the nagging, Yousia turned her head to gaze out the window.
"Sis, I'll step out for a bit."
"Avoiding the nagging? If you're going out, at least put on your coat."
"Haha! It's fine. Not cold at all."
She flung open the car door and stepped out.
Just as the manager said, the chill seeped through her clothes.
‘It really is cold...’
She turned back for the coat, and the manager narrowed her eyes.
"See? Told you it's cold."
"It's cold outside, so. You stay comfy in the car."
"Watch out, the ground's slippery."
Yousia closed the door tight for her cold-sensitive manager.
She slipped on the thick coat and headed toward the gathered staff.
Murmur murmur.
The staff were already checking camera angles, focused on prep.
"Let's try it like this here. Walk slowly like that. Good."
In front of a small stationery store, a tall, lanky staffer crouched and shuffled along.
Everyone burst into laughter, clutching their stomachs at the comical sight.
"Hahaha. What is that? Kids don't walk like that."
"This is seriously tough? Can't someone else do it? Director?"
"You said you'd do it."
"We need to nail the angle beforehand to wrap up shooting today quick. Hang in there!"
Everyone's so motivated.
Yousia halted and watched them from afar.
She knew from the director that staff tended to be shy around strangers.
We arrived at the destination and strolled around hand in hand with Yu-na.
This was definitely the place...
‘Did I enter the address wrong?’
No one was in sight on the rural street we wandered.
Patches of unmelted snow here and there.
Graffiti scratched into the walls: playful taunts at friends in messy scrawl, family drawings doodled everywhere.
This wouldn't do.
I paused, leaned against the wall, and pulled out my phone.
I'd gotten it via email for sure...
I opened the music video shoot info from two days ago. The address was correct.
I sighed in relief.
"Whew, good..."
I double-checked for anything I might've missed.
The concept matched the song title: "Time Travel," right?
I scrolled down.
Meeting one's pure childhood self.
Seeing how hard Dad struggled to raise her...
That was the core of this shoot.
Perfect backdrop for the past: this rural spot nailed the old-timey vibe.
Squeeze! Squeeze!
Yu-na, who had been quietly admiring the drawings, tugged my hand. She clutched a white pebble from who-knows-where.
"Dad, can Yu-na draw here too?"
"No drawing on someone else's wall. Let's hurry. Everyone's waiting. Drop that pebble."
"Okay."
Yu-na dropped the white pebble, and we resumed walking.
How long had we wandered?
Finally, we spotted a crowd.
"Dad! Cameras over there!"
"Looks like we got the right place. Yu-na? Wanna race there?"
"Yes! Ready, set—!"
Yu-na let go first and dashed off, so I quickened my pace to follow.
Thud. Thud.
No point running full tilt; I could easily overtake her anyway.
"Here! Yu-na's first!"
"Aw, Dad lost?"
"Hehehe. Yu-na runs fast!"
"You really do."
As I praised Yu-na, a plump, middle-aged man approached and extended his hand.
"Oh! You came yourself for your daughter. Nice to meet you. I'm Director Kim Sang-woo. Actor Lee Jun-seo, pleasure."
"Ah, yes. Hello. This is my daughter, Lee Yu-na. Yu-na?"
"Hello. I'm seven years old. Lee Yu-na."
Yu-na's greeting was perfect, hands neatly clasped, head bowed...
But the man who'd introduced himself as director gave no reply.
He just scanned her up and down with a serious look, stroking his chin.
"Hmm."
"...Is there a problem?"
He shook his head at my question.
Then he spoke.
"She's even cuter and prettier in person than I expected. I was pondering how to capture all her charm on camera... Haha!"
His earnest words made me chuckle unwittingly.
"Haha! Really?"
"If you have time... mind a quick test shot?"
"Sure. Yu-na needs to get used to music video filming anyway. Guide her well."
"Leave it to me."
I turned to Yu-na, waiting quietly beside me.
"Yu-na. They're gonna do a practice shoot. Wanna try right now?"
"Yu-na can do it right away."
So confident—who'd she get that from? I smiled and stroked her head.
"Good. Dad'll watch from over there. Do great."
"Yes!"
Yu-na peeked into the stationery store, following the director's instructions naturally.
‘As expected, Yu-na's got the acting bug.’
She looked so impressive learning moves from the director.
Tap! Tap!
Someone tapped my shoulder.
I turned to see Yousia handing me a warm drink.
"Here."
"Thanks. You just arrive?"
"No. An hour ago."
"Ah... I'm late then."
"Yep."
Conversation stalled.
I sipped the warm drink awkwardly and looked back at Yu-na.
Yousia naturally sat beside me on the stone ground.
"Wonder who she takes after, but your daughter's overflowing with talent. Keeping it natural in front of the camera... really seven?"
Her sudden praise.
My shoulders and lips lifted involuntarily.
"...What's with that smile?"
"She takes after me."
"......"
My bold joke made her narrow her eyes and glare.
Guess she's not one for humor. Her sharp gaze was intimidating, so I changed topics.
"By the way... where's the actor playing Dad? I don't see him."
"Ah, he's not coming."
"...Pardon?"