Chapter 201
Chapter 201
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 201
Chapter Title: Saving Up for Dad's Birthday
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From morning until lunch, I sat on the sofa, staring blankly ahead. Every time I moved, my body throbbed, making me not want to do a thing.
I just wanted one full day of rest...
"Why does it have to be Friday of all days?"
Today was a recording day for *I Love Dad!*
Even if I wanted to rest, I couldn't.
"Haa..."
Cameras had been set up since early morning, along with cameramen hidden in various spots. I kept hearing rustling sounds from around me.
By the way.
Was it already time for Yu-na to come home?
I checked the time, and sure enough, it was about time for her to return from school.
Speak of the devil.
*Beep! Beep! Beep! Beep!*
*The door clicked open!*
Right on cue, I slowly turned my head toward the entrance as the front door opened.
*Thud thud thud!*
Yu-na came running in one breath, tossed her bag on the floor, and plopped down next to me.
Then she grinned broadly.
"...Is there something on Dad's face?"
"Dad, got anything for me to do?"
She was already looking for chores the moment she got home. Something was definitely up with her.
What could it be?
Just in case, maybe I should give her something?
"Hmm. Well then... How about massaging Dad's legs? They hurt from overdoing it with workouts yesterday."
"Hehehe. Sure!"
I lay down on my stomach so she could comfortably massage my legs.
Soon, I felt a faint pressure starting on my legs.
"Hng! Hngh!"
It definitely felt like a massage.
But it wasn't refreshing at all.
Was she even massaging properly?
I sneakily turned my head to the side.
Yu-na's brows were furrowed as she kneaded away with her reed-thin little hands.
"Hngh!"
I'd always wondered about this—why did her brows furrow every time she put in effort?
Right then.
After maybe five minutes at most...
Yu-na stopped her hands and grinned again.
"Hehehe. Dad, I massaged your legs, so can I have some allowance?"
"Huh? Allowance?"
Ah, so that was her goal.
"You needed allowance, huh?"
*Nod nod.*
"Yes!"
What an honest answer.
With that, Yu-na neatly clasped her tiny hands together and stuck them out.
"Hmm, how much do you need?"
"A lot!"
Well, I'd never really given her proper pocket money before... Now that she's in school, she'll probably want snacks more often.
I rummaged for my wallet.
How much should I give...
I pulled out a reasonable five thousand won, and small sighs came from around me.
The cameramen hidden behind the fake walls were glaring at me through tiny gaps.
Honestly, that was a bit much.
They were basically saying with their eyes: Give her more money.
But still, handing out cash freely could dull her sense of money later on—not great for her education...
That's why.
"......"
I slowly handed over the five thousand won, and the cameramen's stares intensified.
Oblivious to it all, Yu-na beamed like she'd conquered the world.
"Waaah! Thank you!"
"...Yeah."
Yu-na tucked the money neatly into her pocket and stared at me again.
After a moment.
"Got anything else for me to do?"
"First, go change your clothes. We're recording, so anything I need you to..."
"Sure!"
She dashed into the bedroom and came back out in comfy clothes in no time.
Once again, she clasped her hands neatly and gave me those sparkling eyes.
"I changed, so allowance please."
"Already? Isn't the money you just got not enough? Five thousand won is pretty..."
"Yes! Ha-yul said more is better. So I gotta save up a lot."
Her earnest eyes softened my resolve, and I let out a deep sigh. Looks like five thousand won really wasn't enough after all.
No helping it.
I pulled out a green bill—fewer than yellows, more than oranges.
"Here, ten thousand won. That good?"
Only then did the sharp glares from the cameramen behind the fake walls ease up.
Seemed like ten thousand satisfied them.
Why did I have to watch my back at home?
I sighed deeply.
By the way.
'What is she saving up for?'
I watched the delighted Yu-na closely. She pocketed the money with her head down.
Then stared at me again.
No... it couldn't be.
Just as I thought that, Yu-na's little mouth gaped open.
"Dad! Anything else for me to do?"
"......"
I kept my words as brief as possible.
Before I knew it, evening had arrived.
*Clatter clatter.*
Lee Jun-seo was busy preparing dinner.
Meanwhile, Yu-na sneaked off with her phone while Dad wasn't looking and slipped quietly into the bedroom.
"Phew... Didn't get caught."
She wiped nonexistent sweat and pulled out all the allowance she'd gotten from Dad so far.
Three crisp green bills.
Two orange ones.
She didn't fully grasp their value yet.
But she knew this much would buy a ton of delicious tteokbokki.
"Hehehe. Time to make the call."
Yu-na fiddled with her phone, gripped it firmly with both hands, and held it to her ear.
Soon, a voice came through.
-Yes, Jun-seo? What's up?
"Ah! Auntie. It's me, Yu-na."
Keeping her voice as low as possible, Yu-na peeked out toward the living room.
Dad still wasn't coming out of the kitchen. Relieved, she hopped onto the bed and burrowed under the covers.
-Oh, Yu-na? Ha-yul just went to the bathroom. Wait a sec and I can switch her over. Can you hang on?
"Sure. That's fine."
-By the way, have you finished preparing the gift?
At the mention of the gift, Yu-na jolted in surprise, her body trembling.
W-what do I do?
She remembered the promise she'd made with Ha-yul in the academy practice room yesterday.
'Right, Uncle's birthday is soon, isn't it?'
'Soon... yeah, it is. It's my dad's birthday. You knew too, Ha-yul?'
'Of course. I'm Uncle's fan. I've been saving up my allowance bit by bit to buy him a gift.'
'Hehehe. That's great.'
'Hey, Yu-na. Wanna pool our allowance and secretly prepare a birthday gift for Uncle?'
'Oh! Good. Yeah!'
'Then, don't tell anyone, okay? It's our secret.'
And so, their little secret was born. Plus, at school today, they'd even brainstormed ways to earn more allowance through errands.
She'd said not to tell anyone...
"Ah, no! I haven't prepared anything for Dad's upcoming birthday gift at all. R-really!"
Her awkward lie drew a small chuckle from the other end.
-Hehe. You can tell Auntie.
"...Really?"
-How much allowance have you saved?
Dropping her guard just like that, Yu-na poked her head out from under the covers and glanced at the money laid out.
"Three greens... and two oranges. Is that a lot?"
-So about forty thousand won? That's a bunch! Good job. Such a good girl.
"Hehehe. It is a lot, right?"
-Of course it is.
"Ah, what about Ha-yul? Did she save as much as me?"
-Ha-yul probably about the same... Oh, she's out. Want me to switch?
"Sure."
In no time, the voice shifted from smooth to bubbly.
-Yu-na! You were looking for me?
"Yep! I saved a lot of allowance. What do we do now?"
*Swish.*
A weird sound came from behind.
Yu-na pulled the phone away and whipped her head around.
No one was there.
-Yu-na! You listening?
"Huh? Yeah! Listening."
-Let's talk tomorrow when we meet. Long calls might get back to Uncle. Just say you're coming over to play at my place—he'll buy it easy. Got it?
"Yeah! I'll do that."
-See you at my place tomorrow then.
"Got it."
Yu-na ended the call and lowered the now-warm phone.
Dad's birthday...
To keep the promise she'd made last time to celebrate it.
She clenched her tiny fist tight.
"Hoo... I can do this."
'Seoul Action School.'
I was in the middle of learning action from Instructor Kim Su-han, but my lips kept curling up into a smile.
'I wish my birthday would come soon.'
How many days left?
Thinking about it, just seven.
Such a sweet kid.
Yu-na's odd behavior from before—constantly asking for allowance—had a very touching reason behind it.
'Preparing a birthday gift for Dad.'
I'd unintentionally overheard her secret phone call in the bedroom last time. Would've been nicer not to know...
*Whoosh! Whoosh!*
"Actor Lee Jun-seo! Focus."
A birthday gift from me...
What was Yu-na planning?
She'd gone to school with the allowance on Monday morning, so she was definitely heading out to buy it today.
I'd given her a total of forty thousand won.
It felt a bit skimpy now.
'I should've given her a little more back then...'
Right as regret hit me.
*Whish—Thud!*
"Argh!"
Instructor Kim Su-han closed the distance in an instant, grabbed my collar tight, twisted me around, and flipped me forward.
What the? Suddenly?
I'd learned the fall technique, so it didn't hurt, but it happened so fast I was dumbfounded.
Was this scene in the script?
No.
Not in my memory at all.
Only one answer then.
He'd used a takedown to snap me out of it. I admitted I'd lost focus to stray thoughts.
"Actor Lee Jun-seo. Why haven't you been focusing on me? Action is extremely dangerous. One moment of distraction and you could get seriously hurt."
As expected.
My guess was right.
The instructor was frowning as he brushed dust off his clothes.
"Even if this part is the easiest to memorize, it's still incredibly dangerous—attacking only the opponent's joints."
"Ahaha. Yes. Sorry."
"Where exactly is your mind? You've just been grinning nonstop."
"Well, the thing is..."
I relaxed my body fully and gazed up at the ceiling full of dazzling lights.
"...My birthday's coming up soon."
"Yes? Ah... Actor Lee Jun-seo's birthday is soon. But what does that have to do with not focusing?"
I let out a chuckle at his question and continued.
"Thing is, I accidentally found out Yu-na's secretly preparing a birthday gift for me. Isn't that just precious?"
"...Really?"
"Yeah, probably... You'll see her preparing it in secret on next week's Saturday episode of *I Love Dad!*."
That was right.
After seeing Yu-na gearing up for the birthday gift, the PD begged to film the process for me.
And on my birthday too...
"You must be really looking forward to your birthday."
"Yeah, I've never anticipated one this much. Wish it'd hurry up."
"Ahem! Anyway, focus on the action here. You've rested enough—shall we start?"
At Instructor Kim Su-han's words, I slowly got up. I shook off the stray thoughts and assumed position.
Right, focus on action now.
"...Let's go."
"You have to concentrate this time."
*Nod nod.*
I nodded slightly.
"Yes, got it."