Chapter 176
Chapter 176
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 176
Chapter Title: Night of the Acting Awards
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Yu-na's enthusiastic photos of me, along with ones of her stuck right next to Ha-yul. And even photos that In-cheol had sneakily taken of Yu-na.
I picked a few and uploaded them to Byulstar.
The rest would be handled by our agency's staff and posted to the fan cafe.
By the way...
The reactions were already exploding?
-Lmao look at Yu-na. She's totally possessed by a cameraman! What's with that pose lololol. Lying flat on the floor is so cute!!
-Actor Lee Jun-seo is amazing. He kept a straight face through all that? Not funny? If it were me, I'd be laughing nonstop and couldn't take a shot like that.
-Did you know?? Child actress Lee Ha-yul is a huge fan of Actor Lee Jun-seo.
└To stick that close for photos... Jealous as a fan.
└Agreed. So jealous!!
-But that outfit... Isn't it the one he wore to the year-end awards ceremony yesterday?
└Check the fan cafe. It's total chaos. I'm causing chaos too.
└I actually checked lololol. Everyone's threatening to post selfies instead of just reporter pics? Come see this. Hilarious lmao (link) └For real lololol.
Heh heh.
Everyone's having fun.
I was passing time by hearting the fans' comments one by one when...
Rustle!
Yoon Si-won emerged from the dressing room with a tired expression and approached me.
"All done. Dressing Yu-na was trickier than I thought. The ribbons have to be tied just right to make the skirt hem fall prettily... It took forever to tie them all."
I pocketed my phone and slowly stood up.
"I could've done it myself... You must be exhausted."
She shook her head.
"No. Since I'm using you this time, I should help out wherever I can."
I shrugged lightly at her firm resolve. She was using me on orders from her agency.
'She must feel bad about it?'
I'd feel the same way.
Who could comfortably use a friend's fame?
Last time, when the CEO instructed me to ask my acquaintance Lee Jong-min for photos, I'd felt so guilty...
"Using me?"
"...Once my contract ends, maybe I should just switch to your agency. It's actors only, right?"
"Yeah. I mentioned it to the CEO a bit..."
She shook her head as if it was fine, cutting me off neatly.
Then she turned around with a bright smile.
"Ha-yul? Yu-na? Come on out."
"Yeees!"
Yu-na's cheerful response rang out.
With that, Yu-na strode confidently out of the dressing room.
A fresh pink dress.
The long ribbon ties dangling from the spring-like skirt swayed gently.
If fairies really existed, would they look as cute and pretty as Yu-na did right now?
"Y-Yu-na. H-Hold on. Don't push."
"You said you wanted praise from my daddy."
"......"
Ha-yul, forcibly shoved forward by Yu-na, stopped in front of me with her face flushed red.
A bluish dress sparkling as brightly as a full moon in the night sky.
Was it okay for it to suit her this well?
She'd draw attention even without attending the awards with me...
Stuck together, they looked just like real sisters.
"Both of you look great."
"R-Really? Uncle. Really?"
"You both suit them perfectly."
At my praise, Ha-yul twisted her body like a corkscrew and smiled shyly.
Finally, the last night of the year arrived—the night of the Acting Awards ceremony.
With all preparations perfectly complete, we hurried toward the KY Broadcasting Station.
Yu-na, perched on my lap, wouldn't stop chattering with her little mouth.
My ears were starting to hurt.
"Hehehe. Daddy, look over there. The balloons are waving hands! Oh? That bungeoppang looks so tasty... Puff puff! Hehe."
"......"
If only she took after the well-behaved Ha-yul in the back seat a little...
I was sighing inwardly when...
"Ha-yul, are you super nervous? Carsick maybe? I have motion sickness pills in my bag if you want one."
"No. I'm okay, Mom."
I glanced back.
Even in the dim back seat, I could tell from the conversation alone that Ha-yul wasn't doing well.
"...Mom. I'm shaking so much. What do I do?"
"It'll be fine. Uncle Jun-seo is going with you, right? And you've done so well so bravely until now—you can do this too."
"Mm..."
"That's my good girl."
I smiled faintly at the silhouette gently stroking Ha-yul's head.
"Hey, Ha-yul?"
"Yes."
She answered my call right away.
"If you're too nervous and it's too much... Pull on Uncle's hand. I'll hug you tight so you feel safe."
"Hehehehe!"
Yu-na, who had been sitting quietly on my lap, suddenly let out a cheeky giggle.
After a moment.
Yu-na whipped around to look back.
"Yu-na isn't scared at all! Ha-yul's a scaredy-cat?"
"......"
"Hehehehe. Ha-yul is— scared of— the camera— and a scaredy-cat—"
Ha-yul burst out.
"I'm not a scaredy-cat! Yu-na's still a bedwetter who pees her pants!"
"N-No I'm not!"
As if she'd never been nervous, Ha-yul dove into a childish spat with Yu-na.
How much time passed like that?
Screech—!
"Jun-seo, we're here. You can get out now. Stay sharp."
"Already here?"
I looked out the window.
We had arrived at the KY Broadcasting Station, venue of the Acting Awards.
Just open the door now.
Yu-na, pausing her bickering, peered out the window and grinned broadly.
"Hehehehe. So many people outside. Daddy! Can Yu-na get out first?"
"Wait just a sec."
I turned my gaze back to the rear seat. With the interior light on, Ha-yul's stiff expression was clear.
"My girl. Really nervous?"
"Yeah... Mom. Will I be okay?"
Even after just cheerfully fighting with Yu-na, Ha-yul's voice held no strength.
"You'll be fine. You're the bravest girl in the world, right? You can do it. Show Uncle your tough side."
"To Uncle...?"
Our eyes met exactly.
A brief silence fell.
Soon after, Ha-yul clenched her small fist tight.
Her eyes shone with firm resolve.
"Yeah! I think I'm okay now, Mom."
"Really?"
"No need to worry anymore."
Looks like it's sorted.
Smiling, I turned to Yoon Si-won.
"Hey, Si-won? I'll take Ha-yul from here. You follow my manager."
She bowed her head politely.
"Please take good care of Ha-yul today. And thank you for granting my unreasonable request. I'll repay you later."
"Unreasonable? That's..."
"Jun-seo, we're late. Get out now."
At the manager's words, I cleared my throat and straightened my tie.
"The reporters are waiting, so I'll head out. See you later."
"Yes. Good luck at the awards."
Clunk!
The moment the door opened, flashes erupted from all sides like they'd been waiting.
Click! Click! Click!
"Ahh! So bright!"
Just as Yu-na said—blinding.
I gripped the arm holding her tighter, barely able to open my eyes.
Slowly. Slowly...
Setting her down carefully so she wouldn't trip, I placed Yu-na gently on the ground.
The instant her feet touched down, Yu-na clasped her hands neatly at her navel and bowed deeply.
A perfect, polite greeting.
"Hello! Hehehe."
As if repaying Yu-na's bright smile, the reporters pressed their shutters even faster.
Click! Click! Click!
Yu-na could be alone for a bit, right?
I turned around.
Flinging open the rear door, I reached out to Ha-yul.
"Ha-yul? Ready to go to the awards with Uncle?"
Her hesitant little hand flailed in the air before lightly tugging my clothes.
She wants to be picked up, right?
Smiling, I grabbed her waist and hoisted her up effortlessly.
"Eek! U-Uncle? That wasn't... I didn't mean pick me up..."
"We're late. Let's go, Ha-yul."
"Please take good care of our daughter, Jun-seo."
I nodded to Yoon Si-won and turned, only to freeze like a statue.
Yu-na was glaring daggers at me, brows furrowed tight.
"...Yu-na? What's up?"
"Nothing. Let's go!"
Yu-na turned and stomped toward the photo zone alone. Her steps were off.
Stomping hard on the ground.
Announcing her sulk?
I chuckled and passed the reporters to stop at the photo zone.
But Yu-na was way ahead...
Past the photo zone, marching straight forward alone.
Where's she going?
I set Ha-yul down gently and hurried after Yu-na.
"Yu-na, where are you going?"
Whip! Yu-na turned, her lips pursed out like a duck.
"......"
"Come on, hold Daddy's hand and let's go over there."
I held out my hand, and her duck lips popped back in.
She sidled up and took it.
"Now let's go get our photo there."
"...Okay."
And so, left hand: Yu-na.
Right hand: Ha-yul.
Holding both girls tight, we posed for photos at the photo zone.
Past the photo zone, we finally entered the venue with the dazzling stage.
My left and right hands hijacked.
Matching strides while holding Yu-na and Ha-yul's hands had slowed us down.
'Anyway.'
It'd be nice if the High School Series crew was here... They could look after Ha-yul, and we could catch up after so long.
Tug! Tug!
My right hand pulled insistently, snapping me alert.
"Ha-yul. Want up? One sec."
"No, not that... Look, there's my name there."
Her tiny fingertip pointed to a seat with Ha-yul's name indeed.
"Oh... Empty seat?"
"I have to sit alone here?"
"Yeah! Ha-yul, bye-bye now."
"...I wasn't asking you?"
Couldn't leave Ha-yul alone in an empty seat... Maybe slowly greet the seniors like this?
That sounds good.
"Yu-na, Ha-yul? Let's go greet the seniors first. Might take a while. Okay?"
The two, mid-bicker with their little mouths, looked up and nodded.
"Alright, let's go."
How far did we walk?
Five steps maybe?
They started bickering again.
"Don't keep sticking to my daddy."
"Hmph!"
Weren't they getting along at the salon? Now they're like sworn enemies, snapping at each other childishly.
Until I intervene...
I knew Yu-na was possessive about Daddy, but jealous over being picked up and hand-holding...
Raising two kids means watching them fight like this every day?
Feels like I gained an extra daughter.
I sighed involuntarily.