Chapter 19
Chapter 19
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 19
Chapter Title: Acting Naturally
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I started my performance to promote Limited's new product, mindful of the camera's glaring red light.
A natural look.
Once I actually did it, it was easier than I'd thought.
I just had to show them how Yu-na and I usually played around.
The only difference from usual was the honey-sweet voice I used toward her?
While keeping the natural feel that Team Leader Gu Min-hyuk had emphasized, I activated the portable remote control.
It was a decision I'd made because this action perfectly demonstrated the product's features.
Click!
As soon as I pressed the red button, Yu-na's ZingZing, which had been spinning excitedly around, came to a stop.
"Huh? What's this?"
Yu-na, who had been fiddling with everything, hopped out of the electric car and came running over.
"Daddy! ZingZing isn't moving! It's broken!"
"Oh? That's a big problem, huh?"
In Yu-na's eyes, every electric car seemed to be a ZingZing.
This was just too cute.
I subtly showed her the small remote control, keeping the close-up camera in mind.
"Actually, Daddy stopped it because it looked dangerous. See, Daddy has this right now."
With that, I moved the electric car forward.
"Ooooh! It's moving by itself!"
Just then, the CF director raised his hand high and called out.
"Cut! Jun-seo, that was perfect. Shall we try it again with a different expression and line? You can do it, right?"
"Ah, sure. But do you have any advice? Like the line or action you're envisioning?"
No matter what I did, the director had only praised me so far.
Was this really okay?
I started to worry unnecessarily.
Oblivious to my concerns, the director gave me a thumbs-up.
"You're doing great, so no need to worry. Let's go again."
"Got it."
"Wh-what about Yu-na? Is she doing well?"
"Our princess is doing great too. Just keep it up like this."
"Hehehe, okay!"
Yu-na's mouth curved up to her ears at the director's bright praise.
Whatever.
Even during the break, I kept racking my brain. Limited's new product's strengths were the easy-to-use controller and low noise.
I had to showcase them all to make people want to buy it.
How should I approach it this time?
As I pondered carefully, a hearty laugh boomed in my ears.
"Take it easy. Just relax. You're so good at acting, I don't have any advice to give."
With that, the director's cue sign came, and the camera light flicked on.
'Is this really okay?'
As filming resumed, Yu-na activated the bright yellow electric car that matched her dress.
Vroom!
"Wheeee! Beep beep! Yu-na's coming through!"
I snapped to attention and focused on the CF shoot.
I was walking along, following Yu-na as she drove at a leisurely pace.
But she started veering off into uncharted territory, heading toward danger.
That's risky...
In this unexpected situation, I quickly used the remote to steer her away.
In cases like this, I just needed to take control.
'Wait, could I turn this into something even more fun?'
The idea hit me, and I acted on it immediately. Without giving Yu-na a chance to get bored, I started fiddling with the controller.
"Daddy! Daddy! It's moving on its own!"
"Oh? Really? What's going on with it?"
I brushed it off casually, happily watching Yu-na's flustered reaction.
"It's broken!"
Even as she called out, I kept demonstrating the remote's capabilities.
Would the director be satisfied with this?
I glanced at him sidelong. He stood there with arms crossed, grinning from ear to ear.
"Perfect! That's a wrap!"
The director's booming voice echoed as the camera light went off.
Having safely finished the CF shoot, I sat down right there on the set and caught my breath.
Then Yu-na proudly dragged her ZingZing over to me.
"Daddyyy!"
"Yeah, Yu-na. Did you have fun?"
"Yeah! It was so much fun playing a ton with Daddy."
"Daddy had fun too."
"Hehehe. What do we do now?"
"Filming's done, so let's head home..."
I trailed off.
Suddenly, the area grew noisy.
Wondering what was up, I looked around and finally understood.
In the distance, a middle-aged woman was raising her voice at Ha-yul.
"What do you have to cry about?!"
"Waaah! I want... I want..."
"I told you to speak properly!"
"I wanna play like that too!"
Ha-yul's tiny finger pointed right at us. The middle-aged woman's face twisted as her eyes met mine.
"Sniff. Every day... you never let me play... sniff."
"Ha-yul, Mommy's told you so many times. To succeed, you need to work hard starting now. You can play later—it's not too late. Got it?"
"...Sniff. I wanna play with Mommy and Daddy... like that uncle... sniff."
The mother-daughter conversation carried clearly to us in the hushed set.
She couldn't even play because of her mom?
Ha-yul didn't resemble my childhood self at all, yet...
I felt an odd sense of kinship.
'Treating her like nothing but a money-making machine...'
Her guardian's attitude felt exactly like that.
"...Daddy."
"Hm?"
Yu-na's tiny hand gripped my clothes tightly.
"That friend looks pitiful. Can't you help her, Daddy? You beat up the police uncle... and also..."
"......"
This was the first time Yu-na had earnestly asked me for something. Could I help the girl like she wanted?
As I pondered, our eyes met. She looked at us with teary eyes, full of envy.
I knew that look.
I'd stared just like that, envious of warm families.
That's why Ha-yul seemed so heartbreaking as our eyes locked.
It was meddling in something that wasn't my business.
Still...
I couldn't just stand by.
It was Yu-na's request—I had to do it.
I gently shifted Yu-na to the side and slowly stood up.
"...Okay. Not sure if it'll work, but..."
"R-really?"
"Yeah. It's the first time our Yu-na's asked Daddy for something. Wait here just a sec, okay?"
I stroked Yu-na's head and strode purposefully toward Ha-yul.
First, I crouched to her eye level to show I wasn't a bad guy.
"Hey, kiddo."
"Sniff. Sniff."
"Your name's Ha-yul, right?"
"Who are you? Don't come near my Ha-yul."
Ignoring her, I pulled out a handkerchief and gently wiped the tear streaks from Ha-yul's cheeks.
"Uncle's name is Lee Jun-seo. You wanna play? Yu-na over there wants to play with you."
"I know... sniff."
Then someone grabbed my shoulder.
As I turned, I was shoved back and fell flat on my butt.
"Don't put ideas in my kid's head—get lost! Keep it up, and I'll sue you."
What a joke.
I stood up, looked at her guardian, and let out a hollow laugh.
"...Have you ever truly talked with your daughter?"
"Wh-what business is it of yours!"
As I closed the distance, she hugged Ha-yul protectively, wary of me.
Even with that heavy-handedness...
'She treasures her daughter, huh?'
If even a shred of maternal love remained, she could change.
With that thought, I let out a deep sigh and asked,
"I'm asking because it's frustrating."
I stared her down intently, and her bravado softened. Seizing the moment, I pressed on.
"Kids have feelings too."
"......"
"Is forcing work on her really the right path? If you truly treasure your daughter, think back on what you did today. If you don't feel ashamed, I won't interfere anymore."
"What does a kid like you know..."
"I may be young, but I know you're wrong. Look around. Want me to ask who's in the wrong?"
"......"
Only after scanning the surroundings did she grasp the situation and clamp her mouth shut.
"Then I'll assume you get it and bow out."
"......"
That was all I could do.
I was a stranger, after all.
If her mindset didn't change even now, I'd have to give up.
I glanced back at Ha-yul, whose eyes still brimmed with tears.
She was peeking at her thoughtful-looking mother.
I silently bowed to the woman and turned away.
Back at my spot, I gently stroked Yu-na's head.
"Yu-na, what's wrong? You hurt somewhere?"
She shook her head no.
"Then why the long face? Hm?"
No answer came.
The once-lively set fell into heavy silence.
'Shouldn't have come for this CF...'
If I'd known this would happen, I'd have turned it down.
Regret crept in.
"Ahem! What's going on here?"
Just then, Team Leader Kim Jeong-cheol appeared, grinning obliviously.
"Alright! It's Team 1's turn now, so hurry and get ready!"
"Yu-na, let's go home."
"Okay..."
After bidding farewell to Team Leader Gu Min-hyuk, I turned and walked out of the set.
Yoon Si-won pounded her chest to ease her stuffy feeling and steady her breathing.
The words from Yu-na's actor father still echoed in her ears.
'Is it for Ha-yul's sake?'
This tough love was for Ha-yul's benefit. Why couldn't he see that?
Friends from kindergarten weren't lifelong anyway.
And people...
To avoid being forgotten by the public, she needed steady gigs.
She knew full well the entertainment world wasn't easy, from those around her.
Yet...
A nagging unease persisted.
"Mrs. Ha-yul."
She snapped to at Team Leader Kim Jeong-cheol's sudden call.
"Yes?"
"Sorry, but after a quick Team 1 meeting, we decided revising the script on the fly is too tough."
"Ah, okay."
"So, as for the script..."
At this point, it didn't matter if they did it together or not, so she nodded.
"Got it. Ha-yul, let's wrap up quick and head to academy."
"......"
"I said something—answer Mommy."
"Okay..."
"Haha! Ha-yul, ready to go?"
Lee Ha-yul took Team Leader Kim Jeong-cheol's hand and entered the set.
Meanwhile, she checked Ha-yul's schedule and the time.
'I worked hard to get her into a famous acting academy. Can't skip day one.'
As the camera rolled and the CF shoot began...
Something odd happened.
Lee Ha-yul, who should have approached the prepared electric car, burst into tears.
"Waaah!"
Startled, she rushed to check on her.
"Ha-yul, if you cry like that, we can't shoot. Eyes dry! Otherwise, they'll swell and we can't film."
"Waaaaah!"
She wouldn't stop.
No matter how she coaxed, Ha-yul only cried louder.
This was all for Ha-yul's sake...
As that thought crossed her mind, Lee Jun-seo's words resurfaced.
'Is forcing work on her really the right path? If you truly treasure your daughter, think back on what you did today. If you don't feel ashamed, I won't interfere anymore.'
The right path...
Her frayed nerves began to bend.
Memories of her forceful actions toward her precious daughter flashed one by one.
'Does that mean I was wrong?'