Chapter 190
Chapter 190
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 190
Chapter Title: Yu-na Enrolls in Elementary School
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“…That concludes everything I have to share with you. Any questions?”
That was when Yang Hyuk-su raised his hand.
“Yes, go ahead.”
“When is filming scheduled to start?”
His question was incredibly sharp, cutting right to the heart of what Jo Sung-gil—the writer—had been explaining so intently.
‘Yeah, I was wondering that too.’
Everything we’d heard so far had been about future plans, but there hadn’t been a word on the actual filming schedule.
An open audition in early April to cast the supporting roles, and we’d be training with action specialist extras.
That was all.
Jo Sung-gil pulled out a notepad, stroked his chin, and spoke up.
“…It’s set for around June.”
“So about three months… That’s plenty of time.”
“You think so?”
Yang Hyuk-su flashed a confident smile after his curt reply.
Shin Su-young, arms crossed, shrugged it off like it was no big deal.
‘Well, if it’s that long, I’ve got time to spare.’
I shrugged too and flipped open the script Jo Sung-gil had handed out earlier.
This looks seriously fun.
Just reading the lines and stage directions painted vivid pictures in my mind.
I could trim some dialogue here.
This part…
I could deliver it with more menace.
Lost in my meticulous script analysis, I suddenly noticed an eerie silence around me.
And piercing stares to boot.
‘Oh right! They’re waiting for my answer?’
I snapped the script shut with a thwack! and scratched my neck, chuckling awkwardly.
“Sorry about that. Haha…”
“Done reviewing the script?”
“Oh, yeah. I could jump into acting it right now. I love it.”
At my praise, the corners of Jo Sung-gil’s mouth and eyebrows twitched ever so slightly.
“Good to hear. Any more questions? If not, let’s wrap this up.”
Scraaaape! He pushed back his chair and stood, bowing to us.
“Thank you all for your hard work today. I’ll head out first.”
“Yes, thank you, Writer Jo.”
“Thanks for your efforts.”
After seeing him off, Senior Shin Su-young followed suit, leaving naturally.
“…Well, shall we go too?”
“Hyuk-su Senior, you go ahead.”
“Why? Got something to do here?”
“I need to clean up the snack bags Yu-na ate and scattered. It’ll take a bit.”
I nodded toward Yu-na, who was engrossed in munching snacks. Yang Hyuk-su glanced at her and burst into silly laughter. Under her seat… Snack bags were strewn everywhere. Yu-na, catching our eyes, grinned with her mouth full of crumbs.
“Heh heh heh. Alright, I’m off. See you later, Jun-seo Junior.”
“Yes, Senior.”
Now it was just the two of us in the meeting room. Crumple. Crumple.Crumple. The rustling wouldn’t stop. She was tearing open another snack bag and shoving it in her mouth.
“Sigh.”
It was early morning.
I parked in the lot in front of our local mart and turned to the passenger seat.
“Yu-na, time to wake up. You said you’d come with Daddy.”
“Mmm…”
Yu-na kept nodding off, unable to shake the sleep.
“…Want to stay here then?”
Stretch! She reached out to me. Guess she doesn’t want to be alone in the car. Sigh— I unbuckled, scooped her up effortlessly. She wrapped her arms around my neck, let out a tiny breath, and went limp. ‘Oh yeah, mask and hat…’ I paused midway through reaching for a mask with the hand supporting her back. Just go like this? It’s our neighborhood mart—hiding my face won’t help anyway. Yeah, better that way. Click! I got out and headed inside. Yu-na showed no signs of waking.
“Hey! Honey, look at that guy.”
“Where…? Honey! Grab my phone. Quick! Hurry!”
“Okay, okay. Hold on.”
“Hurry! He’s passing by!”
On the crossing escalators. I glanced back to see a young couple snapping pics of me on their phone. Hope they don’t follow us up and stick around… ‘Please just keep going.’ Leaving the couple behind, I descended further, grabbing a cart with one hand and browsing the grocery aisles. Twitch! Twitch! Yu-na’s body jerked. ‘Probably this smell…’ I looked right next to us. Perfectly sliced tteokgalbi tempted me. Glossy sheen and the drool-worthy aroma made me swallow hard. Try a sample now.Can you resist? It seemed to say. ‘…No. Can’t.’ I stared longingly at the bite-sized pieces despite telling myself no. How much time passed? Slide. An ajumma returned to her spot, mask on, and our eyes met.
“Oh! Actor Lee Jun-seo, right? How about tteokgalbi for dinner? Buy one get one free event!”
Right then.
“…Tteokgalbi?”
A tiny mumble came from right in front of me. Yu-na twitched her little nose, sniffing around with eyes still closed. The ajumma clasped her hands over her mouth at the cute sight.
“Was I too loud? Should I be quieter?”
I chuckled softly at her sudden whisper.
“…Can I have one?”
Pointing at the sample tteokgalbi, she nodded.
“Sure, help yourself.”
I picked one up and tapped it on Yu-na’s lips, still blindly groping around with eyes shut. Tap! Tap! Tap! Anyone home?Lick. Her eyes fluttered open. Her mouth gaped wide. Now she was fully awake.
“Ahh—!”
“Should I give it? Or not?”
“Hurry, give it! Ahh—!”
I popped the tteokgalbi in her mouth and set her down gently. ‘Tteokgalbi for dinner tonight.’ I held up one finger to the ajumma watching us.
“Ajumma, one pack please.”
“Oh, sure. Here you go.”
“Sell a ton. I’ll browse elsewhere.”
“Have fun shopping with your daughter.”
I neatly placed the tteokgalbi pack in the cart and wandered the aisles. ‘Is Yu-na keeping up?’ Luckily, she stuck right behind me without wandering off. Good girl.
“Yu-na, stay close to Daddy.”
“Yes!”
Chicken breast, a tray of eggs. Nutritious veggies of all kinds. The empty cart was now full.
“Daddy, snacks now!”
“We have tons at home.”
“I wanna try different ones. Please? Daaaaddy.”
I’d wondered why no whining yet. I shrugged lightly.
“Fine, exactly three. Got it?”
“Yay! Yes!”
As I turned toward the snack aisle, voices came from right beside us—a kid and an adult.
“Mom! Buy me this!”
“You can’t handle the spicy. You’ll eat a bit and waste the rest. Like last time.”
“No way. Yu-na ate it all. I can too. So buy it!”
Huh? Did I hear wrong? Was that Yu-na’s name…? I stopped dead, straining to listen. Then a familiar voice joined in.
“This red one’s really yummy.”
“Hey! It’s Yu-na! You’re really Yu-na, right?”
“Oh my! Why are you here alone? Where’s your daddy…?”
I slapped my forehead. Glancing back, Yu-na—who’d been following so obediently—was gone. Sighing deeply, I pushed the cart around to the back. There stood a young woman, a kid Yu-na’s age, and Yu-na boldly holding a huge bowl of Bulgom stir-fried ramen. The ramen from our CF… Just looking at it made my mouth water.
Winter break had come to an end.
Today was Yu-na’s big elementary school enrollment day.
I wasn’t sure why, but…
Dressed in pajamas with her bag slung over her shoulder, Yu-na twisted left and right in front of the full-length mirror early in the morning.
If only she got up this early every day.
Scratching my belly, I approached her quietly.
“…Yu-na. What’re you doing up so early?”
“Daddy! When do we go to my school?”
“After breakfast.”
“Then let’s eat quick and go!”
She bolted to the kitchen, bag and all, plopping down at the table.
I got her excitement, but…
I was already worried.
Would she cause trouble at school?
That kind of worry.
Anyway…
‘Phone won’t stop ringing since morning.’
Sighing, I pulled out my scorching-hot phone. Calls and texts from acquaintances kept coming.
Bzzz! Bzzz! The preview texts were mostly like: ‘Congrats on elementary school!’ ‘Can I come too?’ ‘Okay to visit today?’ ‘Sent enrollment gift—got it?’ Too many to reply one by one, so I was ignoring them all now. Bzzz! “…Oh, call from Sia.”
“Daddy! Daddy! It’s Aunt Sia?”
“Yeah, it is.”
Can’t ignore this one. I grabbed the hot phone and held it to my ear.
“Hello?” -Oh, Jun-seo. 10 a.m. still good? “Yes. Come to Bora Elementary. And the reporters this time…”
“Daddy! Let Yu-na talk too!”
Yu-na had hopped down from the table, arms outstretched. We used to fight at eye contact, but when did she get so close?
“Hold on. Yu-na, Daddy’ll finish the important stuff and pass it over.”
“Yes! Quick though.”
“Alright, alright.”
Calming her excitement, I gripped the phone again. -So, what’s up? I wanna talk to Yu-na ASAP. “……”
I clamped my mouth shut, and a tiny laugh came through. -Kidding. You’re not mad, right? Didn’t know she joked like that. Her bluntness kinda shocked me.
“Reporters will be there today, so heads up. My manager said yesterday—a lot of them.” -Hmm, isn’t that obvious? “Huh?” -Your daughter—the one whose dad won Acting Grand Prize in record time? Plus, embarrassing as it is to say, niece of a famous singer. “…Yeah?” -Exactly. Done talking? Hand it to Yu-na. Haven’t chatted with her in days—tons to say. Not sure if it was my imagination. But her tone felt awfully frosty. Yu-na snatched the phone and dashed to the sofa.
“Yes! Aunt! It’s Yu-na! Hehe. Me too. Wanted to talk to you. Today I’m going to school and…”
She really wanted to talk to Yu-na? I shrugged and headed to the kitchen. ‘Time to prep breakfast?’