Chapter 174
Chapter 174
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 174
Chapter Title: Yu-na's Short but Punchy Acceptance Speech
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Yu-na approached with her face beaming with pride at having pulled it off, handing me the microphone.
"Daddy! Here. All done."
"Hmm, really?"
My lips kept curving up, so I had no idea what expression I was making right now.
-That was a short and powerful acceptance speech.
-Look at Lee Jun-seo's face right now. He looks like honey's about to drip off.
-Hahaha! Yeah. Oh! Since we've used up so much time, we'll have just one of the dads give a short representative speech. Who'd like to do it?
At the host's words, everyone started glancing around cautiously. In situations like this, wouldn't it be best for the senior, Brother Jeong-su, to do it?
I passed the mic I'd received from Yu-na to An Jeong-su.
"Hyung, you do it. You've been on this show the longest, after all."
"You sure it's okay for me to do it?"
"I'm fine with it... What do the others think?
Kim Baek-hyun and Kim Dae-ju nodded in agreement with my words.
"I think hyung should do it too."
"...M-me too."
"Alright. Got it. I'll do it."
He gripped the mic firmly right away and slowly opened his mouth while gazing out at the audience.
"Thanks to all of you, I got an award, and we made some great memories with the kids this time. 'Daddy, I love you!' families—thank you so much. And from here on out, we'll make even more fun stories together with the kids. Thank you."
Clap! Clap! Clap! Clap!
Applause poured in, and we all bowed toward the audience at once.
-Now, there are stairs when you go down, so kids, please be careful.
It was the moment we were heading down from the stage, holding our trophies and bouquets. The scene unfolding before my eyes made my body freeze like stone.
"Yu-na, there are stairs down there. Be careful going down. Hold Daddy's hand tight."
"Yeah."
Yu-na in her pure white dress and Su-jin in his tuxedo.
They looked just like a bride and groom.
My good mood flipped to an unpleasant one in an instant.
-Oh! Look at Su-jin right now.
-Hahaha! He's a proper gentleman.
-Lee Jun-seo's expression doesn't look good. It's only natural as a dad with a daughter.
-I get it too, since I have a daughter.
I hurried back to my seat and set the trophy and bouquet on the table.
Then I moved back to the stairs and scooped Yu-na up in my arms.
"Alright, Yu-na. Let's head back to our seats."
"Yesss! Hehehe."
Yu-na wrapped her arms tightly around my neck.
"You like Daddy's arms that much?"
"Yeah! Really. Really like it."
I smirked at Su-jin, who was staring at me with wide eyes.
'I'd never give Yu-na away.'
We were on our way home with Manager In-cheol and Yu-na after the entertainment awards ceremony wrapped up.
In the quiet car.
Yu-na's soft breathing sounds reached my ears. Occasionally, her cute little chuckles slipped out too.
'I was really surprised at the awards.'
Yu-na had emphasized that I was her dad in her speech, and at the end, she'd shouted at the top of her lungs that she loved me...
"You seem pretty happy."
I let out a small chuckle at In-cheol's words as he drove.
"Of course I'm happy. Yu-na said she loves me."
"Should I say it too, then?"
I glared at In-cheol, who had just made the joke, my face turning serious. He'd never joked like this with me before...
He looked weird today.
"...That feels a bit off."
"Why glare like that? It was just a joke..."
I composed my expression and asked.
"Have you ever joked like that with me before?"
"No, not really. I just... felt left out since my name wasn't mentioned in the speech, so I messed around a bit."
Ah, he's sulking.
Yeah, definitely sulking.
'There were always people like this in my past life too.'
I let out a deep sigh.
"...There wasn't any natural way to mention you there. If I win at the acting awards, I'll definitely mention you. Happy now?"
He turned his head at the stoplight.
His narrowed eyes looked annoying.
"You left me out at the Rookie Award too. Feels like you'll do it again..."
Ah, that time.
That time, Yu-na interrupted, so I rushed through the speech...
'Did I not mention In-cheol?'
Bzzz!
My body suddenly trembled.
"Did a call come in?"
"Something like that."
I pulled out my phone and checked.
[Yoo Sia]
"...It's a call from Sia."
Why would she call this late?
Does she have something important to say?
I pushed aside the random thoughts and answered the call from Yoo Sia.
"Hello?"
-Oh, sorry for calling so late. I have something I want to say to Yu-na. Is she next to you right now?
I turned my head back.
Yu-na was sound asleep in the back seat, scratching her butt.
"She is... but she's sleeping."
-Oh...
"I'll wake her and pass it on. What do you want to tell Yu-na?"
-During the acceptance speech. I wanted to ask why you didn't mention me...
"...Pardon?"
-Why didn't you say you loved me, your aunt? That's what I wanted to ask.
I was at a loss for words.
She called this late... for that?
-I took care of you so much on your birthday...
I let out a quiet sigh and ended the call. Then I left my phone out in case she called back.
I can just call her tomorrow or whatever.
The long-awaited last day of December.
Morning arrived.
As usual, I checked articles related to me and Yu-na right after waking up.
['Daddy, I Love You!' Kids Win Best Icon Award! Child Actress Lee Yu-na's Bold Speech Delivers Big Shock!] [Daddy, I Love You! Is the Reason She Didn't Mention Mom...?] [Lee Jun-seo Actor Nominated for 2022 KY Acting Grand Prize? Can a Rookie Really Win Grand Prize?] [Actor Lee Jun-seo! Grand Prize Nominee Despite Short Career?]
I clicked the very last article and scrolled through the comments.
-If he really wins Grand Prize, wouldn't that make him the fastest to win Acting Grand Prize ever?
└Yeah. And the youngest.
└Honestly, Grand Prize is a done deal, right? Check the ratings. Final episode over 40%.
└It's not just about ratings, is it? And there's Actress Kwon In-ju too, not just Lee Jun-seo.
-If he wins Acting Grand Prize... how much will Actor Lee Jun-seo's price go up to?
└Better than yours, probably.
└Wanna fight? Where do you live? I'm coming.
-If he doesn't win, that'll be controversial too, right? Does anyone not know Lee Jun-seo now? Even my grandma knows.
└Maybe she knows him as Kim Young-seok?
└Lol the comment above. That's the name of the character Lee Jun-seo debuted as.
└Lmao total nostalgia.
-Anyone see Lee Yu-na and Actor Lee Jun-seo's outfits yesterday? Hands up!
└Hand up!
└Kyaa! Their proportions are insane. And fans picked those outfits.
└I saw! Screamed so loud at home I got in trouble with Mom.
Comments are always fun to read.
From the reactions, everyone seems to think it'll be me or Actress Kwon In-ju for Grand Prize.
Honestly.
I think so too.
Among the dramas aired this year.
'Devil's Errand Center.'
Not only did it record the highest ratings ever this year, it's hugely popular overseas right now too.
Compared to all other dramas this year.
It's not even a contest.
The president says my devil role stood out the most and has me pegged as the Grand Prize winner...
"Wonder who'll get Grand Prize."
I muttered softly and set my phone back by the bed. Then I gently stroked Yu-na's head, still lost in dreamland.
"You liked winning that much?"
"...Hehe. Thank you... so... much."
She was still clutching the golden trophy even in her sleep-talk.
Dreaming of winning awards?
I moved my stroking hand to the trophy and gently lifted it.
Then Yu-na's brows furrowed.
"Ah, no... that's Yu-na's..."
Even after replacing it with her doll, her furrowed brows didn't relax.
"Sigh... Yu-na. Time to get up. Gotta wash up and get ready."
Finally waking, Yu-na squirmed and burrowed under the covers.
"Just a bit longer..."
I smiled and said.
"No can do. We have to head out early today."
***
Today, just like yesterday, I went straight to the agency.
The only difference from yesterday was no traffic, so I arrived early.
I poked around the office before heading over to where In-cheol was working, with Yu-na in tow.
"Yes, I'm sorry about that."
In-cheol was bowing and apologizing to empty air.
Did he mess up or something?
The situation didn't look good.
"Daddy, Uncle In-cheol's acting weird. Apologizing to nobody."
"Shh. Let's wait quietly."
"Okay."
I grabbed a chair from an empty spot, sat down, and put Yu-na on my lap.
"I'm truly sorry. Yes... yes. I won't forget next time, ever."
Clunk! In-cheol set down the receiver and sighed deeply, like the ground was caving in.
His shoulders slumped more powerlessly than usual—he looked exhausted.
I set Yu-na down and patted In-cheol's shoulder.
"Hey, what happened?"
In-cheol turned, looked at me, and sighed again.
"Haa..."
"Uncle In-cheol. Sighing like that isn't good."
"......"
Yu-na's straightforward words made In-cheol's lips twitch up a little.
After a moment.
In-cheol dropped his head and spoke, his expression back to normal.
"Truth is, that outfit from the fan cafe poll. I was supposed to take pics of you wearing it, Jun-seo, but I forgot..."
"...And?"
"Couldn't get photos to post on the fan cafe, so we used press shots instead."
I tilted my head.
From his expression, I thought he'd made some huge, unforgivable mistake.
'That's no big deal?'
If that's it, I can help.
I shrugged and asked.
"Can't I just try on yesterday's outfit for a bit today, and you take pics then?"
In-cheol's eyes went wide.
"You'd do that? We'd need to restyle your hair at the salon too. Aren't you busy?"
"What's so hard about that?"
In-cheol's slumped shoulders perked back up.
His complexion improved too.
"If it's just that, ask me instead of apologizing. I was heading to the salon anyway. Let's go now."
"Yes! I'll prep right away."
In-cheol shot up from his seat and went to borrow the agency car keys.
"...Daddy."
"Hm? Did you call me, Yu-na?"
"Then, does Yu-na have to wear the princess dress from yesterday too?"
"Hmm... You could, but what do you want to do?"