Chapter 18
Chapter 18
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 18
Chapter Title: Our First CF Shoot
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Before long, the long weekdays that had felt endless came to an end, and the weekend arrived. Today was finally the day Yu-na and I would shoot our first commercial.
'It should be a meaningful, wonderful day...'
But a heavy feeling clouded my mind. It stemmed from something I'd discovered while filling out the contract with Yu-na's personal information.
Namely,
Yu-na's birthday was December 31st.
And right now, it was a spring day in March, when tiny buds were just sprouting on the tree branches.
In other words, I'd let her birthday pass by like any ordinary day.
"Haa..."
No helping it. I'd just have to make up for it tenfold on her next birthday. Regretting it now wouldn't change anything.
Ziiing!
As we walked along following Yu-na's ZingZing, we arrived at Limited's headquarters before I knew it.
"Daddy! Daddy! Can we play here?"
At Yu-na's bright question, I nodded.
"Yeah, we just have to show everyone you and Daddy playing here."
Just two days ago,
when I'd met with Team Leader Gu Min-hyuk and heard the setup for this CF shoot,
I thought I'd misheard.
No preparations needed—just play around casually and that was it...?
"Daddy! Daddyyy!"
I snapped back to reality and looked at Yu-na, who was calling me desperately.
"Yeah?"
"Daddy, so what are we gonna play?"
"Hmm. How about riding the ZingZing?"
"Hehehe. Yu-na likes the ZingZing."
I'd originally planned to leave the electric car at home because public transport was such a hassle.
But since I'd missed her birthday, I couldn't refuse her request to bring it to the studio.
So I'd endured the inconvenience of lugging the heavy electric car onto every bus.
'I'm already worn out. Can we get through today's shoot safely?'
As I let out a deep sigh, Yu-na pulled her ZingZing toward the parking lot in front of the Limited building.
'No way. It can't be, right?'
To check my suspicion, I slowly followed behind her.
"Huum... Ah! There it is!"
"What's there?"
Yu-na told me to wait a sec, paused for a moment, then backed up and turned the wheels.
Ziiing!
"......"
"Perfect! All good!"
It was a flawlessly clean park job.
Yu-na hopped out of the electric car with a proud smile.
That's when it hit me.
"Ah, Yu-na."
"Yeees?"
"We can't leave the ZingZing here. This spot's only for big cars."
"But Yu-na's ZingZing is big too..."
"W-Well, how about parking it over there then?"
"Where?"
I pointed up the hill to the motorcycle parking area.
"Chii... Okayyy."
Yu-na pouted her lips, climbed onto the ZingZing, and headed up the small hill.
Her short hair fluttered in the breeze.
Her receding back was so adorable that I forgot I was supposed to follow and just trailed after her tiny figure.
Inside the Limited headquarters set, bustling with CF shoot preparations, a middle-aged woman's sharp voice echoed loudly.
"No way! We got here first, so we should shoot first, right? Making us wait?!"
"Ha-yul's schedule is set for 3 p.m., so until then..."
Even as Team Leader Gu Min-hyuk sweated bullets trying to calm her, she wouldn't listen.
The one throwing her weight around, insisting on shooting first, was Lee Ha-yul's mother,
Yoon Si-won.
"Team Leader Gu Min-hyuk, is this because we didn't sign with your side?"
Team Leader Gu waved his hands frantically at Yoon Si-won's icy tone, shaking his head.
"No, that's not it. This slot right now is booked by our Team 2."
"Ah! Whatever! Ha-yul has acting academy soon, so let's just start now."
Team Leader Gu wiped sweat with a towel and lowered his gaze.
Lee Ha-yul, who'd recently gained fame as a child actor, looked pale.
She didn't seem well.
'Or is she just reading the mood?'
The little girl was glancing at her guardian, lips pressed tight.
It was heartbreaking.
'How can someone like that be her guardian...'
The staff, secretly watching amid preparations, thought the same.
It was enough to make anyone frown.
'What the heck is going on?'
'No idea. What's she doing in front of the kid?'
That's when it happened.
Team 1's planning team leader, known around the company as the sly fox, appeared.
"Aigoo! What's Team 2 doing here? Haven't started yet?"
"Looks like Team 1 has free time? Coming here during your slot."
Team Leader Gu narrowed his eyes at Team Leader Kim Jeong-cheol, and a subtle battle of wits began between them.
"We failed to book that child actor Lee Yu-na, but this upcoming project is ours, Team 1's."
"We'll see about that."
"Hey! Ha-yul has to go to academy soon—no time!"
At her words, Kim Jeong-cheol laughed heartily and spoke up.
"That's what she says. So, Team Leader Gu Min-hyuk, mind if we go first?"
"No, right now..."
Just as Team Leader Gu was about to shut his mouth under their pressure,
"Wowww! Daddy! There's a huge balloon over there!"
"Yeah. Bigger than Yu-na, huh?"
Right on time, Lee Jun-seo and Lee Yu-na arrived at the set.
"Hehehe. Bigger than Daddy too."
"That balloon's smaller than Yu-na then?"
"Wow! It is!"
In an instant, the surroundings fell pin-drop silent. The sweet father-daughter conversation, glowing even from afar, filled the entire set.
I spotted familiar faces in the distance.
Team Leader Gu Min-hyuk and two strangers.
And a little girl about Yu-na's age.
I glanced around cautiously and hurried toward Team Leader Gu.
"Hello, Team Leader."
"Ah, yes. Right on time."
"But... who are these people?"
The middle-aged woman, decked out in heavy makeup and accessories, furrowed her brow.
"Who's this?"
She crossed her arms arrogantly and jerked her chin.
"They're the guardian of the child actor appearing in this CF, the ones I mentioned. Set to appear with your daughter."
"Hmm, I see?"
Her gaze raked me up and down, sending chills down my spine.
Why's the vibe so off?
I gave Yu-na's back a gentle nudge to lighten the mood.
Yu-na's cuteness was perfect for thawing the chill.
"Say hello to the grown-ups."
"Ah! Hello."
No sooner had Yu-na greeted them than the middle-aged woman who'd been glaring spoke up.
"Team Leader Kim Jeong-cheol. I want to appear with my daughter too. That's fine, right?"
"Y-Yes? B-But... the script and setup from Team 1 Planning..."
Who was this woman to demand changing the script and setup on a whim?
I racked my brain but gave up.
Better not get involved and risk backlash.
"Haa... Alright."
Their conversation wrapped up before I knew it.
Team Leader Gu clapped and smiled brightly, changing the subject.
"Jun-seo, must've been tough bringing your daughter here. How's your condition?"
"Yes, I'm good. But..."
I asked him carefully.
"No specific lines we need to say?"
"We just want natural vibes. So don't worry..."
"Ahaha!"
Suddenly, the middle-aged man called Team Leader Kim Jeong-cheol burst out laughing.
"Still chasing that amateur feel? In this day and age?"
"Team Leader Kim Jeong-cheol... That's not your business. Go take care of Team 1's child actor."
Team Leader Gu's expression hardened in an instant, glaring at the man who'd criticized the setup.
'Is this why he called Team 2's hope before?'
I felt a tug on my clothes. Looking down, Yu-na was fidgeting with her fingers.
"What? Need the bathroom?"
"Daddyyy... Can I go play with my friend over there?"
"Friend?"
"Over there."
Yu-na pointed with her tiny finger.
Next to the middle-aged woman was a little girl with a ponytail, her face flushed with makeup and lipstick.
She'd been so quiet—I figured it was because there was another kid her age, and she wanted to play.
"Looks like our Yu-na wants to play with her friend, huh?"
"Yeees."
"Should we ask her mom if it's okay?"
"Yeees. Yay!"
Pat-pat-pat.
Yu-na dashed to the middle-aged woman, fidgeting her fingers and mumbling with her tiny lips.
"Um, I wanna play with my friend..."
"Ha! You think Ha-yul has time for that?"
"......"
She'd raised her voice at Yu-na, right?
I was speechless at her attitude toward the little child.
Yu-na replied in a tiny voice, like a caterpillar crawling, clearly scared.
"Y-Yu-na wants to play with her friend over there..."
"What're you mumbling? Speak clearly!"
I couldn't just stand there watching her yell at Yu-na. My fists clenched so hard my knuckles went white.
How dare she to my daughter...
I swallowed my boiling rage and approached her slowly.
"If you're busy, why not move aside? We had the slot first. We're here for work too, and you're in the way. Mind stepping back?"
"W-What did you say?"
Her face twisted in fury.
I pressed on.
"You heard me. You're in the way."
I hated showing Yu-na this side of me, but...
I didn't want her ignored by someone like this. That thought made me come on strong.
Her face flushed red, brows deeply furrowed.
"What kind of person is this!"
"I'm right here."
"W-What?"
"Bit rude with the informal speech to a stranger, isn't it? No manners."
"Ha! What a sight. Let's go!"
Spitting curses, she grabbed the gloomy-faced little girl's hand and dragged her away.
"W-What the..."
I nearly swore out loud.
Even without a parent's perspective, anyone could see that behavior was dead wrong.
'Not her real daughter?'
No, even if not, this was outrageous.
"......"
I watched the middle-aged woman's retreating back.
Unable to match her adult strides, the child tripped and fell, only to get scolded. My fists balled up.
'That really...'
I tamped down my rage with a short deep breath and turned to Team Leader Gu.
"Looks like prep's mostly done. We can start right away, right?"
"Ah, yes! We can."
"And you said you want natural, right Team Leader?"
"Yes..."
"Keep the set simple then. Too flashy, and two people in it looks cluttered. Oh! And..."
I asked them to set up obstacles on the set floor.
Yu-na loved dodging around them. Letting her do what she enjoyed would bring out genuine smiles.
After spilling all my ideas to the team leader, I flashed a grin.
"Got it?"
As I finished, I realized my mistake.
My old habits from my past life had kicked in, seizing control of the room in seconds. The two team leaders stared like they'd seen a ghost.
I'd gone and messed up.
They'd think it was weird.
A mere newbie taking charge like a pro.
I snuck peeks at the team leaders while comforting glum Yu-na.