Chapter 210
Chapter 210
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 210
Chapter Title: Find the Chat Yu-na Wrote!!
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- Find the chat Yu-na wrote!!
- Aigoo. Our cute little Yu-na wrote a chat! What did she say? Is she watching right now? Hehehe.
- Uwujju! Our cute Yu-na!! Say something if you're watching!
- Can unnie read it for her?
- I've just been staring at the chats, but what on earth did Yu-na write? No clue!
- Ask her what she wrote. If she's watching now, Yu-na can answer herself. Go on, tell us. lololol.
- lolololol. School over yet?
- Just hearing your voice is healing.
- Why didn't Yu-na come out today?
- Let's get our Yu-na on screen soon!
When did everyone start calling her *our* Yu-na? I let out a sigh as I glanced at the sporadic chats.
"...Yu-na?"
- Yes! Daddy.
A super energetic reply came through.
"So.... what chat did you write?"
- I wrote "Daddy! Daddy!"
What was with this boldness?
Maybe the viewers heard Yu-na's voice too, because the keyboard spam exploded.
No way, just for that....
Right. We were live.
I hurriedly plastered on a smile and asked,
"...Don't you think that's too hard for Daddy to figure out? Yu-na."
- Yes!
"......"
I clamped my mouth shut, at a loss for words, and fixed my gaze on the screen.
I'd thought they were all my fans....
Now the viewers were siding with Yu-na and pinning the blame on me.
Look at the chats right now.
- If Yu-na says so, then that's it.
- Daddy's fault. How'd he miss that? I'd have known.
- Really disappointed.
- Apologize to Yu-na right now!
- Na! Rock! Na! Rock!
- Unnie figured it out!! It's true!!
This....
It was turning into that atmosphere where I really had to apologize to Yu-na or else. I glanced outside, and the staff were signaling that it'd be best to apologize quick.
"...Sorry, Yu-na. Daddy couldn't spot our Yu-na's chat."
- Hehehe. It's okay. But.... can Yu-na go back to watching the broadcast now?
"You're not watching right now?"
- I came to the director's office with Ha-yul to use the phone. Ah! I'll go back and do the chat thing!
"Huh, wait?"
Click! The call ended, and I hurriedly checked the viewer count.
It was over 300,000 now.
Could I really find and read Yu-na's chat from here?
...Yeah, no chance.
"Haa."
A sigh escaped me naturally.
Especially looking at the chat window now.
Every single viewer was impersonating our Yu-na, calling me "Daddy."
'What do I do....'
I'd finished all my schedule and was heading out in the car with my manager. I slumped powerlessly in the passenger seat, staring out the window.
Live broadcasts....
Never doing one solo again.
Why? Because I failed to find our Yu-na among the viewers until the very end.
The viewers kept nagging me about why I couldn't find it.... Wait, was it really my fault?
Frustrated, I rolled down the window and breathed in the outside air. Coolness escaped, letting in a lukewarm breeze.
"Feels like summer's coming early...."
I muttered softly, and the manager replied.
"Yeah. It's almost May, but already getting hot. This summer's gonna be worse than last year's."
"...Think this drama will be okay?"
The upcoming drama was an action one, which worried me a lot. 'Cause I'd have to move my body a ton....
Maybe stock up on small fans? And put an icebox in the car.
I was meticulously planning those little things when—
The car jolted suddenly.
I furrowed my brow hard and turned toward the driver's seat.
"What the. Why'd you stop all of a sudden?"
"'Cause we're here. I'll stay put, so hurry inside the academy and grab Yu-na."
"...Already?"
I snapped to and looked outside.
Just as In-cheol said, it was the familiar parking lot of the Seoul acting academy.
Feeling awkward, I quietly unbuckled and opened the passenger door.
"Text or call if anything comes up. I'll come right up."
"Yeah, got it.... I'm heading in."
"Go on."
Passing through the parking lot.
As I entered the acting academy, students spotted me and swarmed over.
"Actor Jun-seo! You did a live today, right? It was so fun."
"Yeah. I watched secretly from the teacher— was it when Yu-na called? I was dying laughing from there."
"And then the part where you were desperately hunting for Yu-na's chat...."
Middle-schoolers, it looked like.
High-schoolers and college students too.
'They're definitely not little kids....'
But for some reason, they looked like a flock of fresh chicks to me.
Chatter chatter.
Even without my reply, they kept chatting among themselves, laughing and carrying on.
"Kekeke! Right! That was the funniest part for me too. You too?"
"Yeah, sis. Actor Lee Jun-seo was funny for sure, but the point was when the fake Yu-nas started popping up in chat one by one."
"I was there too?"
"Ah! Sis! Me too! Me too! I even messed up the spelling on purpose?"
If I left them like this, no way I'd pick up Yu-na today. I waved lightly at the air.
"Excuse me, I need to go get Yu-na? Could you make way?"
Only then did they hurriedly part to let me through.
I sighed deeply inside but kept a bright smile for the students.
"Good luck with class today."
Leaving the students behind, I poked around the practice rooms inside, searching for Yu-na.
How much time passed.
I reached a deep practice room.
A familiar voice came from nearby.
The kind where she unnecessarily strained her throat.
"Ah- Ah-! Ah-ah-! Aaaah-!"
The familiar voice turning into a screech made me burst out laughing involuntarily.
"...Pfft!"
No need to check.
That voice was 100% Yu-na.
Smiling, I peeked into the slightly open practice room.
"Okay! Let's try again."
"Ah- Ah-! Ah-ah-! Aaaaagh-!"
"Wait! Wait! Why do you keep pushing from your throat? Use your diaphragm and relax your throat. Watch Ha-yul do it again."
Yu-na was learning proper vocal cord use with diaphragmatic breathing.
Class wasn't over yet?
Then I had time....
Should check other spots too?
I closed the slightly open door quietly so as not to disturb and turned away.
Right then.
"...Sunbae! Help me out!"
A guy rushed up, teary-eyed, and grabbed my arm tight!
"Wh-what?"
"I can't analyze the emotions for the character I'm playing this time. Just help a bit! Please!"
Only when he looked up did he realize whose arm he had.
Average build and looks.
Honestly, nothing standout about him— it was none other than rookie actor Lee Seok-gu.
Whisper whisper.
"What's going on?"
"Isn't that the guy clinging to Actor Lee Jun-seo? The one who passed that 'Viper' audition last time?"
"Yeah, seems like it."
"Ah! Right. Lee Seok-gu."
"Did he do something wrong? Why's he on his knees?"
Lee Seok-gu's sudden appearance as a rookie actor stirred up the surroundings.
'Can't leave it like this....'
Too many eyes watching.
So I took Lee Seok-gu into an empty practice room and let out a deep sigh.
"Haa.... What'd you say earlier?"
"I analyzed the character I'm playing, but I don't get it. Making a dark atmosphere light...."
"Hold on."
I cut him off sharply.
My head suddenly throbbed.
'Script reading's coming up soon....'
And he was still analyzing the script?
Rubbing my aching head, I looked at him and asked carefully,
"...You memorized the whole script?"
"Yes, no worries there. The day I got it, I was so hyped I stayed up all week straight-through reading and memorizing."
Okay, that's reassuring.
Now....
What to do with this rookie.
A little help should do.
I finished thinking quick and patted the gloomy Lee Seok-gu's shoulder.
"Seok-gu-ssi? How old are you?"
"Exactly twenty."
"I'm older, so casual speech okay?"
"Yes, sunbae. Whatever's comfy for you."
I nodded and smiled at him. As a senior, I had to hear him out, so I sat close.
"Alright, Seok-gu. What's the problem?"
"......"
Lee Seok-gu's lips were glued shut, no sign of opening.
He begged me for help.
And now he's making me wait?
"...Won't help if you don't speak now?"
Only then did Lee Seok-gu's mouth open.
"My character's image doesn't form in my head at all. Well, it does, but it doesn't match my personality, I guess?"
"So?"
"There are way better people than me, so why'd they pick me...."
"......"
Listening closely to his story, I got it.
Classic reaction for rookies suddenly landing big roles.
The heavy responsibility.
And plummeting confidence.
That's what's blocking Lee Seok-gu.
"Can't find the direction, right?"
"Yes, exactly."
"Hmm, yeah? Then...."
I raised my hand high.
And smacked the back of his head—which was tilted curiously—with full force.
Smack!
A crisp, refreshing sound rang out.
"Ow! Wh-why hit me?"
"To snap you out of it. Listen. You beat out tons of people to get here."
"......"
"That means it's a character that suits you right now. Doesn't match your personality? Then what was rushing up to your senior me begging for help? Clinging on no matter if the lead's annoyed—that's exactly the character."
My words poured out like a machine gun, and his eyes shook wildly, lost.
I kept going.
"Seok-gu. Have some confidence. No need to act all seasoned like a vet from the start."
"Th-then...."
Finally, Lee Seok-gu's mouth opened.
"What should I do?"
His desperate eyes drew a small groan from me. How far should I help for him to grow?
I pondered, then spoke.
"...Seok-gu?"
"Yes!"
"Now, S#11. Arcade scene."
This was a little test.
Just like he said earlier.
If Lee Seok-gu really memorized the whole script, he'd instantly recall what Scene 11 was.
"The part where I keep snarking at sunbae for blowing 50,000 won on the claw machine?"
This guy.... Knows it spot-on.
I lifted the corner of my mouth.