Chapter 189
Chapter 189
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 189
Chapter Title: No Stuntmen Allowed
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In the midst of being too flustered by Senior Shin Su-young's unexpected question to even speak...
"Ah. So full."
Yu-na patted her bulging belly with a very satisfied smile, then turned her gaze toward us.
"Daddy? Why are you standing...? Huh? Who are you?"
Was she only now noticing her surroundings?
Yu-na wiped the smile off her face and eyed Senior Shin Su-young warily, pulling the box of snacks she'd received as a gift toward herself.
As if she wouldn't let anyone take them away.
I knew she had a big appetite, but...
Senior Shin Su-young's mouth fell open in disbelief at Yu-na's guarded stance.
"...Ha! I'm not gonna take them."
"Really? Really. Really. Really?"
"Eat them all yourself. I'm on a diet—why would I steal your snacks?"
"So you'd steal them if you weren't?"
"......"
She must have been at a loss for words.
Her lips twitched a few times before she let out a deep sigh.
"...Jun-seo. Is your daughter always like this?"
"Yes, sometimes she is...."
I felt like I could die of embarrassment.
I fanned my burning face with my hand and turned my head away.
Even then, Yu-na still hadn't dropped her suspicion.
"...You're really not gonna take them?"
"Yeah. How many times do I have to say it?"
Narrowing her eyes at Yu-na, she slowly stood up.
It was right then.
Yu-na, who had been carefully pondering while staring at the mountain of snacks, picked up a small cookie—just big enough for one bite.
"Wait! Auntie!"
"What."
"I'll give you one of these."
"......"
She stared blankly at the tiny cookie Yu-na had given her.
For a moment.
She slipped the cookie into her pocket and whipped her flushed face away.
"The meeting's about to start, so don't be late. I'll head up first."
"...Ah, yes."
"Hehehe. Bye-bye. That one you just got is really yummy. Make sure to eat it."
As Yu-na waved, Senior Shin Su-young quickened her steps. With her back turned and walking away, Yu-na sat back down and resumed munching on her snacks.
By the way.
What was the point of that question she asked at first?
"...No idea."
"Ahh, Auntie Sia must be busy."
-...What was that reaction? Did you think I'd just be chilling as carefree as you?
The awkward air in the conference room was now filled with Yusia's voice from Yu-na's call.
Senior Shin Su-young had gone up first.
And maybe because it was just me and Yu-na left?
I kept glancing at her nervously.
Oblivious to my feelings,
Yu-na grinned brightly as she firmly gripped my phone in the seat next to me.
"Oh, you know. Hehehe. That auntie from earlier who tried to take my snacks...."
At the word "auntie," Senior Shin Su-young, who was sitting a bit away, flinched. Her slightly unnatural movement as she tucked her stray hair behind her ear.
'I saw that....'
She looked like she was texting someone but was pretending not to care while listening to everything.
By the way.
I'd suddenly been branded as the auntie who tried to steal Yu-na's snacks.
Ah, I shouldn't laugh....
My mouth twitched like I was having spasms.
Hop!
Suddenly, Yu-na hopped down from her chair.
She dashed straight to the seat across from us and called out to Senior Shin Su-young.
"Auntie."
Senior Shin Su-young set her phone down on the table with a thud, her eyebrow twitching up slightly.
"What."
"What's Auntie's name?"
"What? You didn't even know my name?"
"Nope!"
"......"
She was so bold there was nothing to say.
"...Shin Su-young. Now that I've told you, don't forget it next time or you'll get in trouble."
"Oh, I see. Swimming Auntie! Is it Swimming because you like swimming? Yu-na loves going in the water and swimming too."
"......"
What a childlike question.
'It's about time for the meeting anyway.'
I cleared my throat to draw attention.
"Ahem! Yu-na, it's time now. Let's end the call—we can talk later. Tell Auntie Sia we'll call her back."
"Okayyy."
While Yu-na was exchanging final goodbyes with Yusia,
Bang!
The conference room door flew open, and a middle-aged man with an earnest look entered.
"Oh, you're all here already? Did I time it exactly? Nice to meet you, juniors. I'm Yang Hyuk-su."
Yang Hyuk-su, the actor who had just appeared.
His hair looked unkempt, like he didn't take care of it, and his skin was a bit tanned.
"Since I'm the oldest here, feel free to speak casually, okay? Well, even if you don't like it, I'll talk casually anyway. Ahaha!"
I could tell just from the introduction.
He seemed to have a personality like Jeong-su hyung.
'The type that's tiring to get close to?'
Even so, as a junior, I couldn't just sit there silently.
I stood up before Senior Shin Su-young and bowed my head politely.
"I'm 28. Actor Lee Jun-seo. It's an honor to meet you, Senior."
No sooner had I finished my introduction than Senior Shin Su-young across from me stood up.
"I'm 36. Actress Shin Su-young."
"Eight years old! Lee Yu-na!"
With all the greetings done, Senior Yang Hyuk-su fixed his gaze on me.
His lips slowly curved up.
"So you're the lucky charm?"
"...Yes?"
***
Senior plopped down right next to me in a burdensome way and said with a laugh... that I'd gotten the nickname "lucky charm."
Apparently, it was given by all the production crews I'd worked with, based on my track record of every project being a massive hit.
Well, it's not a weird nickname.
That was my impression.
"Wow. Up close, you're seriously handsome. Must feel like you own the world. Ahaha. I wanna live one day with a handsome face like yours."
"......"
"Actually, no—with a cute daughter like Yu-na, that'd be even better. Yeah, I wanna be you for just one day."
"Hehehe. Is Yu-na cute?"
Leaving the delighted Yu-na behind,
I tilted my head and asked.
"...Why just one day?"
"Too much popularity is just a hassle. Go anywhere and all eyes are on you right away."
Ah, I have to admit that.
Once you're too popular, you can't relax anywhere.
Because you're surrounded by people.
That's the biggest inconvenience.
I nodded inwardly.
"By the way."
Yang Hyuk-su kept smiling as he pulled his chair even closer to mine.
"The hype from that 'Devil's Errand Center' hasn't even died down yet—what's the reason for announcing your next project so soon? With the popularity you're enjoying right now...."
"Why'd you stop mid-sentence all of a sudden?"
"It's nothing. Ahaha. You must have your reasons."
What a shady way to put it....
He laughed awkwardly, scratched his nape, and started gauging my reaction.
"Why is that?"
Lowering his scratching hand, he let out a quiet sigh.
"Maybe because I'm in front of a junior I really wanted to get close to.... I got too excited. Did it bother you? Sorry."
What, that's all?
At first, his lack of boundaries was uncomfortable, but if it's because he wants to be friends, I don't mind.
Especially since he's a good senior who bows his head to juniors like this.
I could hang out with him.
I shrugged lightly.
"It's fine, Senior."
"Hey! Hey! What about Yu-na?"
"Ahaha. I wanna get close to Yu-na too."
A warm atmosphere settled over our side, excluding Senior Shin Su-young.
Maybe because his personality was like Jeong-su hyung's, he clicked perfectly with Yu-na too.
"So, Uncle Hyuk-su, you say you took down a wild boar barehanded on set...."
"Really? Whoaaa."
"Yu-na. That was a lie."
"Gasp! Really?"
"...Pfft!"
A deflating sound came from across the table. Didn't she say we were tiring and lie down pretending to sleep?
Her shoulders shook faintly.
"......"
"......"
"Su-young, junior. If you wanna join the conversation, stop pretending to sleep and come over here."
Rustle.
Shin Su-young slowly lifted her head, rubbing her eyes like she'd just woken up.
As expected of an actress?
She really looked like someone who'd just woken from sleep.
"...Senior. Did you call me?"
It was right then.
Bang!
A middle-aged man who seemed to be balding burst in, panting heavily.
Sweat dripped from his prominent forehead, trailing down his cheek.
"Huff! Huff! I-I'm late, aren't I? Sorry. I got the time wrong...."
Late?
It didn't seem that late....
But no, that wasn't the case.
Checking the wall clock, it was a full hour past the appointed time.
'Six o'clock....'
How did time fly like this?
I'd been so caught up talking with the seniors that I lost track.
He wiped his sweat with a pristine white handkerchief and strode to the head seat.
"Ah, greetings are late. I'm writer Jo Sung-gil. The reason I called you all here is none other than this: all the action scenes will be performed without stuntmen...."
He got straight to the point.
All action had to be done without stuntmen.
"Time is very tight, so starting early March, train properly with the martial arts director right up until filming day."
A heavy silence fell.
If everyone had read the script from start to finish, a certain scene probably came to mind....
Two scenes popped into my head.
The 10-on-1 battle in the valley.
And the massive brawl at the port in the finale with the seniors.
A "massive brawl" as the name implied—the movements we'd have to coordinate would be as intricate as threads woven together.
Having never done an action drama like this in my past life, I felt extra worried.
"Hmm. I'm good with it. These days, lots of works are shot without stuntmen, right? What do you juniors think?"
"Ah, me?"
"I'm all for it. That's why I cut my long hair short."
Both gave positive responses.
Everyone's eyes turned to me, the one who hesitated with 'Me?'
They seemed to be waiting for my answer.
Honestly, I prefer shooting without stuntmen too.
However.
I think it's best to avoid scenes that seem dangerous. If someone gets hurt filming that, it's not just me who suffers—the entire crew does.
Actors are that important.
Plus, I'm the lead.
As my response dragged on, writer Jo Sung-gil smiled broadly.
"No need to force it based on the mood. If it's too hard to train because you're busy, we'll just use a stuntman for Actor Lee Jun-seo."
Yeah, let's do it.
Since everyone else is in.
I shrugged and replied.
"I'm good too. It's my first action drama, but I'll train sincerely under the martial arts director and do my utmost to complete your work, Writer."
Not expecting my positive answer, his smiling eyes widened slightly then narrowed.
"Yu-na likes it too! But what's that?"
Yu-na's energetic and out-of-left-field response was followed by an innocent question.
Silence returned in an instant.
"Ahahaha!"
"Pfft...!"
"Your daughter is hilarious."
Yang Hyuk-su burst out laughing with his mouth wide open, while Shin Su-young turned her face away, her shoulders shaking.