Chapter 178
Chapter 178
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 178
Chapter Title: KY Acting Awards Climax
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Finally, the acting awards ceremony that would cap off the year had just begun.
Before the MC took the stage, a dazzling performance unfolded.
While several performers showcased their beautiful dances, only three people couldn't focus on the spectacular stage.
Yu-na, sitting obediently on my lap.
She was still glaring at Actor Ma Dong-sik with sharp eyes.
And me, watching to make sure Yu-na wasn't being rude to my senior.
Finally, Senior Ma Dong-sik, looking utterly deflated as he checked Yu-na's mood.
These three showed absolutely no movement until the flashy dances ended and the MC appeared.
-I'm Jeon In-mu, hosting the 2022 KY Acting Awards. Nice to meet you.
Clap! Clap! Clap! Clap!
While the host's greeting continued.
Kwon In-ju checked our situation and sidled up to me, asking casually.
"Jun-seo, your daughter... do something about her. Lasers are about to shoot from her eyes."
Kim So-young quickly grasped the situation and chimed in with Kwon In-ju.
"Yeah. We can't enjoy the festival like this. Look at Senior Ma Dong-sik. He's uncomfortable because Yu-na's glaring at him..."
I thought the same.
I couldn't keep making Senior Ma Dong-sik uncomfortable, so I slowly bounced my legs up and down.
At that, Yu-na's head turned.
"Daddy? Why?"
"Yu-na, the senior next to us isn't a bad person at all."
"...Really? He won't just take Daddy away from Yu-na?"
"Of course... Obviously not. Right?"
At my question, Senior Ma Dong-sik flinched and nodded.
"Y-Yeah."
Only then did Yu-na's fierce gaze soften. I let out a deep sigh of relief and gently stroked her hair.
"Now, let's focus on the stage."
Nod nod.
Yu-na nodded vigorously and replied with a bright smile.
"Yes!"
I wrapped my arms around Yu-na's body and turned my eyes to the stage.
By then, the host's greeting had ended.
A mechanical voice flowed out.
-Now! Introducing the KY dramas that shone in 2022.
[Chaebol Hunter, Where Are You, High School 2022, After First Love... My Life Ends Here, Devil's Errand Center.]
Now it's really starting.
Time flew by.
After the male youth acting award winner was announced, only the female winner remained. Lee Ha-yul was among the nominees.
"That actress Lee Ha-yul... The kid your junior was with earlier, right?"
I nodded slightly at Senior Ma Dong-sik's question.
"Yes, that's right."
"She played your daughter in High School 2022... Who do you think will win?"
"Hmm, I hope Ha-yul wins."
With that, I fixed my gaze forward again. Just then, a kid about Yu-na's age stepped up to the mic and spoke.
-The female winner is...
I clasped my hands together neatly.
I hope Ha-yul wins...
-Congratulations to Lee Ha-yul for her role as Ha Min-ah in 'High School 2022'.
Clap! Clap! Clap! Clap!
Was it granting my earnest wish? I clapped vigorously toward Ha-yul ascending the stage.
By the way.
Ha-yul's getting the youth acting award before Yu-na.
Ha-yul, holding a pretty bouquet and trophy in both hands, stood in the center of the stage.
The sound of her gulping dryly came through the mic. The audience burst into laughter at the cute noise.
"Um, first..."
The moment Ha-yul opened her mouth, the audience fell pin-drop silent.
Her voice trembled severely; she seemed nervous.
To encourage her, I raised my hand high, clenched my fists, and pumped my shoulders down.
Only then did her eyes meet mine exactly.
I kept smiling and repeated the gesture for her.
"First, getting such a big award... Hic."
Huh? That's not it...
Ha-yul started to choke up.
"...Thank you everyone. My mom and dad who love me so much. Sniff! Uncle Jun-seo is really... Waaah!"
"...Hehehe. Crybaby. Total crybaby."
I poked Yu-na's side as she mocked the pitiful crying.
"Ah, Daddy, why."
"Don't tease her. Think how hard Ha-yul's worked until now. This is the time to congratulate her."
That's right.
How hard Ha-yul had it...
Others probably wouldn't know.
Of course, I didn't see it myself, so I don't know exactly how tough it was, but I heard from Lee Jong-min that she despaired over not getting good grades.
After enduring that pain, she finally won the award...
And mocking her for it?
I'd never forgive that.
-Aigoo, Lee Ha-yul is crying. Her emotions must be overwhelming.
Ha-yul dropped the trophy and bouquet and wiped her tears with her sleeve.
Should I go up and comfort her?
Right then.
Two staff members and Yoon Si-won appeared like comets and climbed the stage.
They picked up the trophy and bouquet.
And gently lifted Ha-yul, carrying her down from the stage.
-She seems unable to contain her joy at winning. Ahaha! Lee Ha-yul, not sure if you're hearing, but congratulations.
Applause poured out again.
I smiled faintly and sent strong claps toward Ha-yul once more.
Next up was the rookie award.
Sure enough, a female rookie winner emerged from our table.
'Actress Park Ha-neul.'
The ultimate rookie who gifted viewers skyrocketing blood pressure for tormenting student Kang Min-ji.
Of course, Actress Kang Ju-hee acted great in the early episodes too...
But compared to Park Ha-neul, she fell a bit short.
"Too bad? You were nominated, but Ha-neul must've done better."
At Senior Yoon So-hee's teasing remark, Kang Ju-hee replied with a frustrated expression.
"...Next time, I'll definitely win the rookie award."
"You can do it. It was just bad timing this time."
"Yes..."
"Cheer up. Opportunities will come. You're still young."
"Yeah. Like Senior said, you acted great. Right? Yu-na? You watched the drama from start to finish."
Nod. Nod.
Did Yu-na's nodding serve as comfort?
Actress Kang Ju-hee's expression softened.
"...Really? Ahem. Well, then."
Starting with Park Ha-neul, winners from our table multiplied.
Ma Dong-sik's male supporting actor award.
Yoon So-hee's female supporting actor award.
And my popularity award for the High School 2022 drama.
Now the remaining awards were...
Mini-series excellence and grand prize.
And the top acting award.
"Since we're nominated for excellence... we could really aim for the grand prize, right?"
I let out a chuckle.
"Hyung, congrats on the grand prize in advance."
"Hey, I'm not kidding. I'm really nervous... We won't just get nominated and drop out, right?"
"...What? Weren't you aiming for grand prize just now?"
"No! For a nobody like me to even be nominated is a miracle...! Please, just give me excellence for my life. I beg you...!"
We stifled laughs at the foolish Kwon In-ju praying on the floor.
Except for one person.
Only Senior Yoon So-hee recoiled and smacked the praying Kwon In-ju's back.
Smack! Smack!
"Hey! Kwon In-ju! You're making us look weird too! Stop it! This is live broadcast!"
"So-hee Senior, getting hit cleared my head. Can you hit me more?"
"You're such a perv, stop it."
"No, Senior, isn't that too much to your junior?"
Are they filming a sitcom right now?
Their quiet banter, not disturbing others, was amusing.
"Jun-seo? You don't seem nervous. Did you give up on winning?"
I shook my head and looked Senior Ma Dong-sik straight in the eye.
"To be honest... I think it'll be me or In-ju hyung for grand prize. And I was nervous. About In-ju hyung snatching it. That kind of tension."
"Honest, I like that."
Senior Ma Dong-sik's lips curved into a smile. As the CEO said, not pretending to be humble makes him like it a lot.
-Now, moving on, only the excellence winner and grand prize remain.
The excellence winner's speech had just ended, and it was time to announce the excellence, top excellence, and grand prize winners.
"O! It's starting. God of showbiz... please give me excellence... no, the grand prize..."
"Daddy, which award is the best?"
I turned to Yu-na, now on Kim So-young's lap.
"Which award is best?"
"Yeah."
"Well, you see..."
Suddenly, Yu-na's cute little mouth was covered by a thin potato chip.
"Of course, grand prize is best. Yu-na, want a snack? Sis will feed you."
"...I can eat it myself, Aunt."
"Can't you call me sis like when we were acting...?"
Shake shake.
At Yu-na's firm refusal, she drooped her eyes.
-2022 KY Acting Awards. Mini-series Top Excellence Award. The winner is... Ah! Hehe. Heartfelt congratulations. Kwon In-ju.
"Aja ja! Yahoo!"
Kwon In-ju jumped up with a beastly yell. Then, rushing clumsily to the stage, he tripped over the long cord and fell flat.
What an embarrassing thing to do...
We turned our heads away, pretending not to know him.
Meanwhile.
Kwon In-ju stood center stage, clutching the trophy and bouquet tightly.
"Ahaha! I'm receiving an award way beyond my worth. For a nobody like me to stand here... It's thanks to Director Han Mun-jin, writer Kim Hyun, the staff... And my seniors, and my new brother Jun-seo—truly grateful. Thank you so much for giving an inadequate me the top excellence!"
Beeeep—
The audience roared with laughter as he slammed his forehead into the mic.
We...
Couldn't lift our faces from the embarrassment.
He wasn't such a fool before. How did he become like that?
Overcome with excitement from the top excellence?
The laughter didn't stop until Kwon In-ju returned to our table.
-Ahaha! What an unusual guy. We enjoyed Kwon In-ju's top excellence speech. Congratulations again.
With this, our table had swept nearly all the major awards.
If only we took the grand prize too...
"C-Congrats, In-ju."
"...Congrats."
"Thank you. Senior Ma Dong-sik. And So-hee Senior too."
"Uncle! Yu-na wants to touch it too."
"Ahaha! Sure? But touch it gently so it doesn't break."
"Yes. Okay."
Would the trophy break from Yu-na's light touch? I thought it was a joke, but he didn't take his eyes off her while she touched it.
"Sigh..."
As I sighed deeply, the seniors sighed deeply along with me.