Chapter 185
Chapter 185
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 185
Chapter Title: The Little Senior's Influence
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Is it because of the condition set by the little senior? I could clearly feel the burly juniors trying hard to immerse themselves in their acting.
Unlike before.
That didn't mean their acting skills, which had been poor, had suddenly improved.
Look at them up there right now.
The juniors were still being dragged along by Kang Su-ho's top-tier performance.
'But it's still strange.'
For some reason, my eyes kept drifting to the juniors.
Their fresh, earnest passion.
It made my heart feel warm all on its own.
"Hold on! Cut! We'll redo that last part. You got up too quickly after getting hit. Take it a bit slower. And don't forget that sharp, murderous glare."
"Yes! Got it!"
"We'll do it perfectly next time!"
"Understood!"
"Oh, and Kang Su-ho... tone it down just a touch."
"Tone it down a bit? Hmm, alright, I'll give it a shot the way you want, Director."
At Kang Su-ho's response, Director Ha Dong-gyu curved his eyes into half-moons.
"Yes, please do. Kang Su-ho."
With that, filming resumed.
Director Ha Dong-gyu began focusing on the actors' changed performances.
Alright, then. Should I just relax and watch Su-ho hyung and the juniors act?
I was just about to turn my head forward.
"Actor Lee Jun-seo. Actor Lee Yu-na?"
I whipped my head toward Director Ha Dong-gyu. Yu-na, who had been quietly watching, also looked at the director.
"Did you call us?"
"Huh? Did you call Yu-na?"
"I'm truly grateful to both of you."
What exactly was he thankful for? Unable to hold back my curiosity, I cautiously asked Director Ha Dong-gyu.
"What are you thankful for? We didn't do anything."
"Yeah, Yu-na just stayed quiet."
"Hahaha. Those rookies who always got pulled into Kang Su-ho's acting are finally trying to do their own now."
"Huh? So does that mean Yu-na did well?"
Director Ha Dong-gyu let out a small chuckle at Yu-na's innocent question.
"Yes, you did wonderfully. It's still a bit shaky, so shooting will run later than scheduled, but..."
He trailed off, crossing his arms as he slowly spoke again.
"Isn't it a sight to behold?"
"......"
I turned my gaze forward.
The burly juniors were in the middle of a scene where they got hit by Kang Su-ho and fell.
They got up slowly and charged at him fiercely again.
Definitely...
It looked better now than before.
If they kept stacking up experience like this, I had a feeling these juniors would become good actors someday.
We wrapped up drama filming early.
After coming home with Kang Su-ho, I slowly took off my thick puffer jacket first.
"Hyung, do you have comfy clothes?"
Kang Su-ho, who was acting like it was his own home as he kicked off his socks, flopped onto the living room sofa.
"Of course not. Give me some comfy clothes."
"...Hyung, even if you're tired, come on. Yu-na's watching and learning."
"...Then is that okay?"
"Huh?"
"Take a good look from the entrance."
Sensing something off in his meaningful words and smile, I checked the entryway.
Yu-na's thick puffer jacket.
Her pants and top shed like a snake's skin.
Socks and mask.
And finally, her hat.
Yu-na's clothes trailed from the entryway all the way to the bedroom.
"Who do you think she learned that from?"
"......"
"She must've picked it up from our little princess. You've done it like that before, right?"
Not as bad as Yu-na, but...
I'd done something similar a few times.
At a loss for words...
While Kang Su-ho clutched his stomach laughing, I picked up Yu-na's clothes one by one.
From the front door to the bedroom.
After gathering them all and peeking into the bedroom, there was Yu-na in her thermals, rummaging in the closet for something.
'Probably looking for comfy clothes?'
Knock knock.
I lightly tapped the door, and Yu-na, who had been digging through the closet, whipped her head around.
"Yu-na, what are you doing? If you're looking for comfy clothes, check the left closet."
She shook her head vigorously.
"Yu-na was looking for the award I got last time. To show off to Uncle Su-ho."
"...You hid it there?"
"Hehehe. Yeah!"
At Yu-na's innocent smile, I let out a hollow laugh.
'The Best Icon award from last time.'
She'd hidden that trophy so well even I didn't know where it was.
So that's where she stashed it...
Yu-na shoved her little hand back into the closet and rummaged again.
"Huh? Found it! Hehehe."
Yu-na, in her thermals clutching the trophy, dashed past me to the living room.
"Uncle! Look at this! It's the trophy Yu-na won!"
"Ooh! That's awesome! Congrats on the award, even if it's late. Yu-na."
"Hehehe. Isn't Yu-na amazing?"
"You bet she is."
"Right! Yu-na is amazing!"
Their clear voices rang out.
Yu-na's triumphant tone made me chuckle despite myself.
Even without seeing it, I could picture Yu-na in her thermals, belly puffed out proudly.
'Is it exactly like I imagined?'
Right then.
Kang Su-ho's laughter rang out.
"Hahaha! What's with that potbelly? Looks like it'll pop if I poke it."
"Ahh! Don't poke!"
Listening to their cheerful banter, I slowly tidied up Yu-na's clothes.
After changing into casual clothes alone, I grabbed some pajamas and headed to the living room. Yu-na was on a call with someone.
"Yeah! That's right! Uncle Su-ho's staying over. Hehehe. He said he'd play lots with Yu-na today."
-What? Suddenly today? Why!
"Yu-na doesn't know either."
-Auntie wants to come too...
"Come anytime, Auntie! But you have to play lots with Yu-na."
-Of course I will!
An all-too-familiar voice came from the phone Yu-na held.
No need to ask...
"Huh? Jun-seo, you're late."
I approached Kang Su-ho, who still looked uncomfortable in his clothes, and handed him the sky-blue pajamas.
"Su-ho hyung, here."
"Ooh! Nice design."
"...I was looking for comfy clothes for you, so I was late. Pajamas, but okay?"
"Perfect. Thanks. Where should I change?"
"You can change in my bedroom right next door."
"Got it. Hang on."
While Kang Su-ho went to change, I turned to Yu-na.
"Hehehe. Yeah. Right."
Yoo Seol-hwa's face was on the phone screen, held firmly in Yu-na's small hand.
It was a video call.
'No wonder the voice echoed so much.'
Still.
Why was she holding the phone to her ear like that?
I shook my head at Yu-na's quirky way of video calling, where they could see each other's faces.
-Ah! Yu-na, Auntie has to go now for work.
"Yeah! Talk later then."
-Yeah, talk later.
Click!
Yu-na ended the call, set the phone on the table, and ran to me.
"Daddy! Yu-na's hungry."
"What should we have for dinner then?"
"Hehehe. That red ramen."
My body jolted.
The red ramen Yu-na meant...
Was definitely Fire Bear Stir-Fried Noodles.
I really didn't want to eat it today.
What to do?
Right then, Kang Su-ho appeared, neatly changed into the sky-blue pajamas.
"What's this red ramen?"
"It's the one that sets your mouth on fire! The red ramen with the bear picture."
"Ah! That one? Fire Bear Stir-Fried Noodles?"
Kang Su-ho naturally sat next to me, scooped Yu-na onto his lap, and gently poked her cheek.
"That's super spicy ramen. You sure it's okay for Yu-na?"
I nodded slightly.
"She takes after her mom, not me, and handles spicy food really well."
"Oh, speaking of which, that photo over there..."
Kang Su-ho trailed off, pointing to a small frame by the TV.
"Is that your wife?"
The small frame I'd set out.
It held a photo of newborn Yu-na, me, and my wife.
"...Yeah, that's her."
"Hmm, I see."
He shifted Yu-na aside and slowly stood, walking to the TV.
"She's really beautiful... Daughters should take after their moms, not their dads."
"You saying it wouldn't be good if she took after me?"
"No offense, but if Yu-na looked like you... she'd probably be less cute than she is now."
"......"
Fair point.
Thinking back, Yu-na's personality had a lot in common with her mom's.
Hands on hips, strutting proudly when something went well.
Always making quirky moves that tired everyone out.
And more...
My chest tightened.
"She kinda looks like the singer Yusia."
"......"
Clutching my heavy heart, I forced a bright smile.
"She doesn't look like her at all. My wife was prettier than Yusia."
"Right! Mommy's prettier!"
At Yu-na's smug declaration, Kang Su-ho chuckled softly and shrugged.
"...Is that so? Alright, let's say it is. Ah! Jun-seo, I'm hungry. Time for dinner."
"Shall we?"
"Yu-na's hungry too!"
From then on, Kang Su-ho.
Didn't bring up my wife again until the next day.
As if sparing my feelings.
Not dredging up painful memories.
Before long, it was the last week of January.
In the meantime, I'd focused on the variety show [I Love Dad!], while shooting two CFs.
One was the latest smartphone.
The other, a sports drink.
'Is it because my popularity's risen?'
I heard the great news that sales for both the latest smartphone and sports drink had skyrocketed.
And.
The recent bad news...
Was that the life-size standees of me installed as ads in front of phone stores kept getting stolen.
Apparently, someone was reselling the stolen ones secondhand...
I'm no famous idol.
I just couldn't understand it.
"Daddy! Yu-na's all ready!"
At Yu-na's cheerful voice, I shook off my thoughts and grinned.
"Yeah? Then shall we hold hands and head out slowly?"
"Daddy! Daddy! We're really going to eat that red ramen today, right?"
"...Yup. Right."
Yes.
The last remaining one: the Fire Bear Stir-Fried Noodles CF.
Today, we were heading out to shoot it.
I wondered if I could act normally while forcing down Fire Bear Stir-Fried Noodles...
I'd tried eating spicy food for a while to get used to it.
But ultimately, I failed.
Deep sighs kept escaping me.
"Haa."
"Hehehe. Off to eat ramen."
Unlike my worry-filled mind, Yu-na seemed just thrilled.
'No, wait...'
A good idea suddenly hit me.
This time, it wasn't solo.
If Daddy fed Yu-na the Fire Bear Stir-Fried Noodles, it wouldn't look weird, right?
The visuals would be great too.
Finally, I regained my smile.
"Daddy! Hurry!"
"Yeah, we're late, so let's go."