Chapter 177
Chapter 177
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 177
Chapter Title: Greetings with the Little Seniors
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"Stop clinging to my dad."
"You're clinging to him too."
"I'm his daughter, so that's fine."
We were about to greet the seniors soon... I couldn't just let this go on, so I let go of their hands and lightly flicked Ha-yul on the forehead.
Pop!
"Ow, Uncle?"
Yu-na burst into giggles without a care, saying it served her right.
"Hehehe. Good for you. Good."
"......"
Next, I gave Yu-na the exact same light flick on the forehead.
"Ow, Daddy?"
"If you fight again, Daddy's really going to get mad."
I crossed my arms sternly, and Yu-na's eyes drooped sadly.
"What do you say?"
"Yes.... Daddy."
"Then you should shake hands and apologize, right?"
The two hesitated before extending their tiny hands at the same time. With that, Yu-na and Ha-yul's childish squabble came to an end.
"Sigh... Ha-yul, you can get along with Yu-na without fighting. Do you have to fight on this happy awards day?"
"...No. I'm sorry."
"Good. And... Yu-na?"
Yu-na flinched at being scolded by me and sneaked a glance.
"If you want to see Daddy really mad, keep fighting with Ha-yul."
Yu-na hesitated.
She suddenly dropped to her knees on the floor and raised both hands high.
"...I'm sorry."
"......"
Ha-yul sneaked a glance too before kneeling down like Yu-na to take her punishment.
I froze in place.
I never imagined Yu-na would act like this in public.
Whispers.
The staff busy preparing the live broadcast and the actors already seated were glaring at me sharply.
"Isn't he raising her too strictly? Making her kneel even here..."
"Yeah."
"Her pretty dress will get dirty."
"Poor thing, what do we do?"
"Just scold her verbally..."
I could hear the murmurs.
I felt like the villain of the world.
"Both of you, stand up. I didn't tell you to kneel, so why did you?"
Only then did they slowly stand, opening their adorable mouths in unison.
"...At kindergarten, they taught us to do this when we're sorry."
"Because Yu-na did it..."
They seemed truly remorseful.
In that case.
I shrugged lightly and got down to eye level with the kids.
I hugged them warmly.
"No more fighting now, okay?"
"Hehehe. Yes!"
"Yes!"
Only then did the piercing stares soften a bit.
Why was I already exhausted...?
I just wanted to go home and rest.
"Kids? Let's go greet the seniors now."
"Yes!"
"Yes, Uncle!"
And so, I took Ha-yul and Yu-na to scout the area. Who should I greet first?
Over there.
This way.
Seniors whose names alone made me think, "Ah, that actor?" and I could list dozens of their famous works.
Sure, there were some unfamiliar faces...
But still.
'Why is everyone glancing over?'
I headed toward a young man sitting casually, not thinking much of it.
Pat pat.
Yu-na and Ha-yul cutely trailed behind. Stopping in front of the young actor, I cleared my throat and bowed slowly.
"Um, hello? Nice to meet you. I'm actor Lee Jun-seo."
"Ah, hello. I'm Lee Ha-yul."
"I'm Lee Yu-na!"
"Gasp!"
The young actor jumped up in shock at our greetings.
"No, no! Senior."
Senior...? The young man in front seemed to be my junior, not a senior.
He looked so relaxed that I thought he was a senior...
He cleared his throat and bowed at a perfect 90 degrees, even more politely than me.
"I'm Kim Seok-ho, 25, who debuted this summer in the drama 'Chaebol Hunter.' I should have greeted you first, Senior. I'm truly sorry."
"Ah! Then Yu-na's the senior?"
At Yu-na's bubbly question, Kim Seok-ho grinned.
"Looks like it? Senior Yu-na?"
"Hehehe. Yu-na's a senior... Hehe."
She seemed so thrilled to be a senior... Her smile didn't leave her face for a while.
How funny.
The seniors welcomed me warmly, as if they'd been waiting for me to come greet them.
Or were they waiting for Yu-na and Ha-yul?
Some wanted to pinch Yu-na's plump cheeks.
Others even asked to hug Ha-yul and Yu-na tightly.
This wasn't just greetings...
It was practically a fan meet.
One by one.
After these non-greeting greetings, I trudged forward wearily.
My steps felt especially heavy.
Even I, an adult, was this tired.
Were Yu-na and Ha-yul okay?
"Yu-na, Ha-yul. Aren't you tired?"
"Yes... Yu-na's really tired..."
"Me too, Uncle. Do we have to keep going? I'm really tired now..."
As expected. They were exhausted.
I shook my head.
"No. We've greeted everyone. Now we're heading to our seats."
That's right.
It was time to return to our seats. I'd pretty much fulfilled what Yoon Si-won asked of me.
By going around, I'd made sure all the seniors here remembered our faces.
"Daddy, Daddy. Yu-na's a senior now. What do I do next?"
"Huh?"
Yu-na's sudden question.
How to explain this.
Best to keep it at her level. She wouldn't understand a serious explanation anyway.
I let out a small groan.
"Hmm. Now that you're a senior, eat your beans well... and no whining about side dishes. Easy, right?"
Yu-na jumped in surprise.
"B-Beans?"
"Yu-na can't eat beans... Me! I can't eat beans well either. We're the same?"
"Hehehe. We are?"
I chuckled softly.
Ha-yul, who was about to tease Yu-na about not eating beans, quickly changed her words. Her effort to listen to me was adorable.
Good job, Ha-yul. Being careful like this means no fights.
Step. Step.
Matching the kids' pace, we arrived at Ha-yul's seat.
There was only one person.
Senior Kim Seong-hyeon, looking sharp in his pitch-black suit, guarding the spot alone.
'What? No one else yet?'
The ceremony was about to start soon...
Only noticing me as we approached, the senior shot up.
Stride. Stride.
Senior Kim Seong-hyeon approached and hugged me tightly.
Without a word.
'What the... why suddenly...?'
Stunned by his skinship, my body stiffened like stone. My mouth agape, I relaxed and wrapped my arms around his back.
Heavy yet warm.
It calmed my heart.
Soon, he stepped back and spoke slowly.
"Jun-seo. It's been so long. Doing well? You look thinner."
The words after the warm hug were incredibly light.
"...Yes, how have you been, Senior?"
"Haha. Doing great. Anyway..."
"Yeah?"
"You're something else. How do you finish the high school series and jump straight into the next drama? No rest?"
I shrugged at his chiding.
"It just happened that way."
"Uncle... no, Senior! Hello! Remember Yu-na?"
At Yu-na's bold shout, Senior Kim Seong-hyeon looked down.
His lips curved into a smile.
"Oh my! Yu-na and Ha-yul doing well? You look so pretty today."
His praise made smiles bloom on Yu-na and Ha-yul's faces.
"Hehehe. Senior's the best... not, but kinda cool."
"Y-Yu-na. In situations like this, you lie and say first place cool... no, second is fine."
Kids can't lie.
She should've said first.
Who was first in Ha-yul's heart? I had a feeling. It was me, right?
She likes me.
And said she's a fan.
Senior Kim Seong-hyeon laughed heartily.
"Haha!"
Ah, not the time.
I hurriedly pushed Ha-yul forward in front of the senior.
"Um, Senior?"
He stopped laughing abruptly.
I continued.
"Could you watch Ha-yul until the ceremony ends? Unfortunately, my seat isn't here..."
He waved it off and laughed heartily again.
"Ah, no problem. Don't worry."
"Uncle? You can go now. I'll stay with Senior."
"Yeah, like Ha-yul says, go ahead."
"R-Really?"
I picked up Yu-na and hurried to the center table. I'd checked my seat while greeting.
The most eye-catching center.
That's Yu-na and my spot.
'Time's up, so everyone's gathered?'
As I neared the center.
Kwon In-ju's voice rang out.
"Jun-seo! Hurry up! Everyone's waiting for you."
What? Already all gathered?
The 'Devil's Errand Center' table was full except for my seat.
I quickened my pace.
Arriving at the table, I bowed to the seniors.
"Hello, Seniors. Long time no see. Hope you've been well?"
"Junior, skip the stiff greetings. Sit. Your legs must hurt from all the greetings."
At Senior Ma Dong-sik's words, I sat in the center with Yu-na. It felt like I had to.
Those forearms about to burst.
Look at that fist that could smash bricks easily.
I knew he had a kind heart.
But strangely, fear hit first.
"Jun-seo, got a question... What's up with Yu-na?"
Kwon In-ju next to me tilted her head toward Yu-na on my lap.
Yu-na was glaring sharply at Senior Ma Dong-sik with wide eyes.
Oh, right?
Why was Yu-na doing that?
"Hmm, no idea."
Then.
"...Bad person."
The words "bad person" came from Yu-na's tiny mouth.
"Yu-na? Senior Ma Dong-sik isn't bad."
She shook her head vigorously.
"...He is a bad person. Because of the bad uncle, Daddy disappeared..."
Ah, now I got why Yu-na was glaring at Senior Ma Dong-sik.
The drama's finale.
There, the senior and I jump off a building to end our lives.
She'd cried buckets back then, begging me not to disappear.
At Yu-na's response, they gasped then clutched their stomachs laughing.
"Haha! R-Right, that happened? Yu-na, why so cute? Can't you be my little sister for real?"
Yu-na dodged Kim So-young's fingers poking her chubby cheeks.
Then she spoke again.
"This time, Yu-na will definitely protect Daddy. Bad un..."Dad Becomes a Top Actor"