Chapter 152
Chapter 152
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 152
Chapter Title: Yu-na's Breakthrough
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I lowered myself to match eye level with Yu-na, whose lips were pouted out like a duck's. She wouldn't even try to meet my gaze, leaving me in quite an awkward spot.
She seemed thoroughly upset.
"Yu-na, can't you get along with Aunt Sia? Why do you keep fighting?"
"......"
"You don't even want to talk to Dad?"
Only then did Yu-na tug at my clothes, her eyes welling up as if she felt wronged.
It was like she was asking me to take her side.
"...Daddy. That aunt keeps teasing me, saying I can't act."
"......"
She wasn't wrong about that.
But if I said it so bluntly, Yu-na would definitely get offended and sulk.
That could mess up the shoot.
For now, I needed to give her some advice and wrap it in nice words.
Right, start with praise.
Having thought that far in a flash, I lifted the corners of my mouth and said,
"Yeah? From Dad's perspective, you acted really well. But..."
Here came the main point.
Step. Step.
Before I knew it, Yusia and Ko Sung-hwan had approached my side. I kept my smile gentle and continued in a soft tone,
"From Dad's view, like Aunt Sia said, it'd be great if you put just a bit more emotion into your acting."
At that moment, I had a close call.
I worried Yu-na might get mad at the mention of Yusia.
"...Daddy? How do you put emotion into it?"
Her blinking eyes and response suggested she was okay with my feedback.
"Hmm... Remember when Dad came late because of a shoot? How did that feel?"
"...I was sad. But I was happy to see you, Daddy."
"Right. Try expressing that exact feeling. And... If it's hard to act like Ko Uncle is Dad, imagine that this dad is right behind that uncle."
Yu-na pondered for a long time, then gave a small nod. I gently stroked her head.
"Yu-na, you can do great this time, right?"
"Yes!"
As soon as I finished my advice, Ko Sung-hwan, who had been watching quietly, let out a snort.
"Hmm, you gave her the basics, huh?"
He seemed to have expected some profound wisdom from me.
I shrugged lightly.
"I told you earlier."
That was when it happened.
"What? How did she even become an actress without knowing basics like that?"
Yusia's sharp remark.
Yu-na's strengths were her confidence in front of the camera—she never trembled—and her pure innocence that no other actor could mimic.
Plus, I'd been helping her from the side all this time, which was why she could act well.
This music video shoot...
We hadn't done any prep or practice whatsoever. So, naturally, her inexperience stood out big time.
"Um, excuse me..."
Suddenly, a unfamiliar male voice came from behind us. A staff member was peeking around nervously.
"The director said he needs to check if we're ready. A-are we all set?"
"......"
The staff looked so shrunken, like a gentle lamb facing a beast. It was pitiful.
"Yu-na, you ready?"
Yu-na's sharp gaze.
That gaze was directed at Yusia.
"......"
"Yu-na?"
In the blink of an eye, Yu-na switched to a bright expression.
"Yes! I can do it great this time!"
"G-good. Dad will watch from over there. So do your best. Got it?"
"Yes!"
Just a little advice, and Yu-na's acting improved by leaps and bounds—like night and day.
'As expected... She's my daughter.'
Scritch. Scritch.
Just like before, she was alone in the center of the playground, drawing pictures on the ground with a small twig.
Loneliness filled Yu-na's expression.
And the earnest wish to see her dad soon came through crystal clear.
It's so strange...
It made my heart ache for no reason.
"Good. Yu-na, now look to the side."
At the director's cue, Yu-na turned her head. Her eyes widened hugely at the sight of Ko Sung-hwan with his arms spread wide.
Yeah, I knew that expression.
'Now beam with a big smile.'
Pop!
The loneliness vanished from Yu-na's face in an instant.
Her lips curved up smoothly.
Grinning ear to ear, she tossed the twig aside and dashed toward Ko Sung-hwan.
'Perfect. Just like that.'
Director Kim Sang-woo's expression looked pleased this time—Yu-na's acting had won him over.
Definitely...
There were still some shaky parts.
But that was just a matter of her gaining experience and learning emotions firsthand. No need to worry yet.
Yu-na was growing.
"Good take. Shall we move on? Jun-seo, you'll keep watching from beside me, right?"
"Of course. Was I in the way?"
"Ahaha! No, not at all. Follow me. I'll show you around."
And so I followed Director Kim Sang-woo down the alley to the next location.
A bumpy old wall.
Brown vines sprawled across it like spiderwebs, boasting their age.
The tiles on the ground were all cracked too, so it didn't look great.
"Director, why'd we pick this spot?"
"To contrast past and present scenes."
"Oh, so you didn't choose it?"
He nodded slightly.
"Yusia planned everything and picked the locations, so... all I can do is shoot the best footage possible."
Even as he said that,
The director didn't look thrilled.
I asked carefully,
"Not to your liking?"
"It's just... off somehow. Hard to pinpoint. What do you think?"
Wait, why ask me? How should I know why it feels off to you...
"......"
As the director inspected the problematic alley, I followed suit.
A path contrasting past and present...
Suddenly, a decent idea flashed through my mind.
"Ah! How about this?"
"Got a good idea?"
I nodded and pointed to the white line on the sidewalk outside.
"What if they walk along those white lines? Yusia on one, Yu-na on the other."
The director, listening intently, crossed his arms and nodded.
"Yusia on the left line, Yu-na on the right."
"Yeah, and since the lines run parallel down the road... it symbolizes how past and present time keeps marching on..."
Director Kim Sang-woo's eyes widened.
"Oh! How'd you think of that...! I'll run this idea by Yusia right away."
He shot up and hurried over to Yusia, probably to discuss using my suggestion.
Yusia and Yu-na walked along the white lines beside a narrow road barely wide enough for one car.
Yu-na with innocent, carefree steps.
Yusia with very mature strides.
What a striking contrast.
"Yu-na, walk a bit slower."
"Yes!"
"Sia, pick up the pace a little."
The two walked at exactly the same speed.
The cameraman slipped between them to film Yu-na and Yusia.
"Now turn your heads and look at each other. Yes, perfect. And cut!"
The director's voice signaling the end.
Yu-na, who had been walking along the white line, came dashing over to me.
"Daddy! Is it done now?"
"Nope. We eat, then shoot more."
"Oh. So did Yu-na do really well today?"
Yu-na's pure, sparkling eyes waited for my praise.
"You did great. Who'd you get your acting talent from? Must be from Dad, huh?"
"Yes! So kiss me here since I did well."
Yu-na stuck out her head and patted her chubby cheek.
How could she be this cute?
"If my daughter wants it, anytime."
Mwah! Mwah!
I was matching her eye level and peppering her cheeks with dozens of kisses when,
Yusia approached with a frown.
"What are you doing? Giving me goosebumps. Aren't you embarrassed doing that in public with all these people?"
"Auntie, you're just jealous, right? Hehehe."
"Wh-who said I'm jealous?"
Yusia raised her voice, face flushing at Yu-na's words.
"If you're jealous, just say so."
"I'm not jealous at all!"
"You are... Pbbbt!"
Yu-na stuck out her tongue to tease Yusia, so I pinched her cheek.
"Ow! That's mean. Apologize to Aunt Sia right now."
"Mmph no want to."
"Then no more kisses next time."
"...Okay."
Yu-na's eyes drooped sadly.
I let go and gave her back a gentle push. She shuffled over to Yusia with her head down.
"Auntie got mad. Apologize quick."
"...Sorry."
"You tease Auntie again, and I'll tell Dad everything, got it?"
"Yes..."
Yu-na ran straight back into my arms.
Pat pat pat.
She seemed upset at being scolded.
I let out a quiet sigh and bowed my head to Yusia just like Yu-na had.
Yu-na's mistake was Dad's fault.
"I'm sorry. Yu-na's still immature. I haven't taught her properly."
"Oh, no. I've been teasing her too."
I breathed a sigh of relief.
Good, she accepted the apology.
"But... is it really okay to change the plan like that? I just tossed out an idea that popped into my head."
"Oh, that?"
She shook her head.
"Honestly, it bugged me a bit too. I couldn't come up with anything better."
"Oh... really?"
"Yeah. Thanks to your idea, that nagging feeling is gone. Truly grateful."
"Ahaha, no need. Not a big deal."
"......"
"......"
Suddenly, silence fell.
The awkward quiet made me switch topics fast.
"Where'd Senior Sung-hwan go? Haven't seen him since earlier."
"He had an audition today, so he left. His scenes were done anyway."
I tilted my head.
Isn't the dad role important?
Just one appearance and out?
"Oh, I should've explained. Tomorrow we'll do the rest in the studio with Ko Sung-hwan."
My question was answered.
That made sense.
We were chatting like that when Yu-na, wriggling in my arms, lifted her head.
"Daddyyy... I need to go potty."
"What? All of a sudden? You were fine just now."
"The big one... it's coming."
Oh no.
No bathrooms around here.
Can't just barge into someone's house to borrow theirs.
No time to even greet Yusia—I scooped up Yu-na and bolted.
Asked the staff.
Asked the director too...
Everyone said they didn't know.
Quite some time had passed, so I checked on Yu-na. Her eyes squeezed shut, face pale as a ghost—she was at her limit.
"Yu-na, how much longer can you hold it?"
"R-right... now..."
That was when.
A warm sensation hit the hand supporting her bottom.
"Ah..."