Chapter 188
Chapter 188
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 188
Chapter Title: Pull-Up Perils and Surprise Meetings
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"Quick! Quick! Yu-na's falling!"
I was just watching her adorable pleading to be caught when—
"What are you doing there?"
In-cheol strode up beside me and let out a deep sigh at the sight of Yu-na dangling from the pull-up bar.
"Haa. Were you just watching this?"
"Why, isn't it cute? It's not that high anyway. I was just granting Yu-na's request to try it."
"Even so."
"F-Falling!"
Thud!
Yu-na hit the ground and wiped away sweat that wasn't even there with her hand.
"Phew, I survived..."
What exactly did she survive?
It wasn't dangerous at all...
Right then.
Yu-na whipped her head around, shooting me a pouty glare.
Her lips puckered out like a duck's.
"Daddy, you're mean... Yu-na asked you to save her, but you didn't catch me..."
She was definitely sulking.
Before it got too bad, I quickly scooped her up.
"Ah, no. I was going to catch you."
"Liar..."
"Have you ever seen Daddy lie?"
"Yes, a whole bunch of real real times."
Well, no arguing with that...
I scratched the back of my head lightly.
I'd told plenty of lies in front of Yu-na so far. I didn't want to go down as a liar in her memory...
Right then.
"Alright, break time's over. Let's just do three more sets and wrap it up."
"......"
This guy has zero tact.
Couldn't he see Yu-na expressing her full-body sulk?
Sure, it was mostly my fault for letting her drop from the bar...
But In-cheol was just as guilty.
He'd watched without doing anything too.
So, accomplice.
"Shouldn't we cheer up Yu-na first? Got any snacks at home she might like?"
"There's protein bars in the kitchen. Want me to give her those? We have sugar-free cookies too."
"...Never mind."
I waved him off and crept up to sulky Yu-na, pulling her into a tight hug.
No resistance.
She didn't even push me away with her hands.
Ahem!
I cleared my throat softly and patted her back gently.
"Yu-na?"
"...Yes."
"Our pretty girl looked so cute hanging from the bar that I couldn't help it. I was honest, so will you forgive me?"
"......"
"Daddy's really sorry."
Wiggle wiggle.
Yu-na wriggled in my arms and lifted her head. Her purely sparkling eyes looked up at me.
"...Was I really cute?"
"Cute enough that Daddy wants to watch you forever. Who'd you get that cuteness from?"
Only then did Yu-na's lips tuck inward. Her mouth corners slowly rose, nearly to her ears.
"...I'll forgive just Daddy then. Hehehe."
After borrowing the bathroom for a leisurely shower, I came out with a towel over my shoulders.
"La la la. Blue sky milky way~"
"...Yellow pumpkin~"
"Cherry tree one- tree~"
Yu-na and In-cheol faced each other, clapping hands and singing.
Unlike Yu-na singing energetically, In-cheol looked drained just watching. Playing with stamina monster Yu-na must be exhausting...
He must have gotten a taste by now?
This was my way of being considerate.
Yu-na was a bit sulky with In-cheol too. How'd I know?
It was obvious.
Interpreting her words about forgiving just Daddy... In-cheol, who watched right beside us, wasn't forgiven yet.
'That's why I took a long shower.'
Nice to watch him play with her.
I shook out my damp hair with the towel over my shoulders as I approached.
"What, you're playing nice?"
"Now.... No, are you all done showering?"
In-cheol's voice pitched up again.
He's so peculiar.
Unless we're working out, he speaks so formally like this.
Well, I'm used to it now.
Anyway.
'When did he change clothes?'
Unlike workout gear, In-cheol was dressed impeccably for going out.
"You heading somewhere? You can take the car and go alone."
"Um, didn't I mention? I have a meeting right after the workout..."
First time hearing about a meeting...
What?
"Meeting? You never said anything."
Pat pat pat.
Yu-na dashed over and hugged my leg tight, asking,
"Daddy, Daddy. What's a meeting?"
"A meeting is... when people gather to have a very important talk."
"Ohh. So that's what a meeting is."
After the short explanation, I turned to In-cheol. His face had gone pale.
"What? You sick or something?"
"......"
"Hey, In-cheol."
At my call, In-cheol's mouth twitched up awkwardly. He started scratching his head, then bowed deeply.
"Ahaha... I must've totally forgotten. Sorry. I have a meeting with Writer Jo Sung-gil today."
His first mistake ever.
The robot who handled work flawlessly... looked human now.
"Well, everyone slips up sometimes."
"I've been short on sleep lately, so my head's not clear. I'll make sure to remind you of schedules from now on."
"Busy and not sleeping?"
"Yes..."
Makes sense then.
I stepped up and tapped his sturdy shoulder.
"Nah, it's fine. Don't stress it. If you haven't slept, just rest at home today."
"No, I'm okay."
"I said rest today."
"...No. My job is to assist you, Jun-seo."
Stubborn ass.
I wiped the smile off my face and glared hard.
"...I said rest."
"......"
Heavy silence fell.
After a moment.
In-cheol closed his eyes tightly and sighed deeply.
"...Got it. Then please head to the meeting spot on time today."
"Sure. Where is it?"
"I'll text the location now. Be there by 5."
"Yeah?"
"Writer Jo Sung-gil has some production notes... Oh! He said Yu-na can come too. No worries."
"Alright, send the text. Yu-na? We're heading out, so get ready."
"Yesss."
While Yu-na put on her puffer jacket.
I pulled my phone from the jacket pocket on the sofa and froze at the stack of unread notifications. Fifteen missed calls from one person.
'Yusia.'
What's up?
Sensing something off, I pressed Yusia's number firmly.
Riiiing. Click!
After a short ring, Yusia's cool voice came through.
-Jun-seo. You must've been busy.
"Was working out. Why'd you call so many times?"
"Daddy! Yu-na's ready!"
I pulled the phone from my ear briefly and checked Yu-na.
She beamed in her neat pink puffer jacket.
"Good job. Stay right there a sec."
"Yesss."
I readjusted the phone to my ear.
"You can talk now."
-Ah, elementary school entrance ceremony soon, right?
No need to ask whose. Yu-na's, obviously.
"Yeah. Why? You thinking of coming to the entrance ceremony?"
-......
I said it lightly as a joke, but she went quiet. She must've actually planned to come.
"...You really want to?"
-Yes, I have time that day. If not, no big deal.
Her voice lost strength.
"Ah. H-Hold on."
Right then.
Yu-na, ready to go and waiting patiently, raised her hand.
"Yu-na's okay with it!"
"...Hear that?"
-I did. Yu-na sounds so lively today too. I can picture her face even without seeing it.
I chuckled foolishly and shrugged lightly.
"Bora Elementary School. 10 a.m."
-What?
"That's the entrance ceremony. Plenty of time left anyway. Can we talk later? Gotta head out."
-Ah, yes. Got it.
"You too, have a good day."
-You too, Jun-seo.
Click! I ended the call and grabbed my puffer jacket. It was past 3 p.m. already.
The address sent...
About an hour from here.
Just in case.
"In-cheol, we're off. Rest up, you're tired. Yu-na, let's go."
"Going to the meeting?"
"Yeah, that's right."
As I hurriedly put on Yu-na's shoes at the entryway.
"Um... Jun-seo."
In-cheol, seeing us off at the door, scratched his cheek.
"Speak up if you call."
"Can I go to that elementary school entrance ceremony too...?"
"Yes! Come too, Uncle!"
In-cheol's face relaxed at Yu-na's permission.
"We're going."
"Yes, take care."
We arrived leisurely at BSB Broadcasting Station.
I grabbed a lunchbox with kimbap and salad, and settled with Yu-na in the lounge.
"Daddy, can I eat now?"
"Go ahead."
Yu-na ripped open the foil eagerly and stuffed kimbap in her mouth. Her lips curved up to her ears.
"...That good?"
"Munch munch. Yes!"
I'd started dieting early, so only salad for me...
But a mukbang feast unfolded before me.
Gulp-!
My mouth watered on its own.
"Huh? Yu-na. Hi!"
"You here with Daddy? Kimbap yummy?"
"Want some of this?"
People around saw Yu-na's adorable eating show and piled food on us.
The little table overflowed.
Way too much.
'I can't eat any...'
Can't waste their kindness either.
...Make today a cheat day?
Right then, a shadow fell over our table. A woman with short bob hair and dark sunglasses approached.
"Excuse me. What're you doing here?"
Familiar voice from somewhere.
She naturally grabbed a chair and sat next to us.
Then turned her head my way.
"What're you doing here?"
"...Who are you?"
"You don't know me?"
No, that's why I asked.
She sighed deeply and whipped off her sunglasses coolly.
"Now you know?"
Only then did I recognize her face and shot up from my seat.
"Ah, Senior Shin Su-young? You cut your hair short? Wasn't it long before?"
Yeah.
She used to have flowing long hair. I remembered because she won the KY Acting Excellence Award like Kwon In-ju.
She put her sunglasses back on, crossed her arms, and leaned back.
"Playing a secret agent. Long hair gets in the way of action scenes. So I chopped it. Writer Jo Sung-gil and Director Lee Sung-taek approved."
"Ah, I see..."
Silence fell after that.
Why does she keep staring?
Her gaze was so intense, the salad wouldn't go down.
I paused and asked,
"Um, something to say to me...?"
"You... where'd you learn acting? Or who taught you?"
"Huh?"