Chapter 250
Translator: penny
Chapter: 250
Chapter Title: Family Over Fame
"Write your name, relationship, and the items to include here before submitting."
Following the male staff member's instructions, I filled out the paper item by item and set down the pen.
"Is that everything?"
"Yes, and... I know it's inappropriate to ask this here, but..."
He took the photo, his face flushing as he looked at Yusia. He held out a fresh sheet of paper and a pen.
"I'm a fan. Could you give me an autograph?"
"Oh... Sure, that's no problem."
She stepped forward briskly and took the paper and pen from him.
The male staffer clutched the signed paper to his chest with a thrilled expression before snapping back to reality with a loud cough.
"We can't take the photo right now since the photographer is at lunch. We'll add it this afternoon."
I nodded at his words.
"We'll be on our way then. Yu-na, let's go meet your mom now."
Yu-na, who had been behaving quietly, came running over and grabbed my hand tightly. She turned her head toward Yusia and spoke up.
"...Auntie hold hands with Yu-na too."
"Alright, come here."
The three of us held hands and left the office, walking straight down the right path.
Descending the stairs, I entered the pristine white building below and glanced left and right.
Countless entrances lined both sides.
Here and there, people stood with heads bowed before urns.
Squeeze-!
Yu-na gripped my hand hard.
Yusia flinched slightly, feeling the faint pressure too.
"...Is this your first time coming with Yu-na?"
"Yeah, first time. It was really tough after I lost my wife so early."
"Oh..."
"Shall we go? Turn left and keep going straight."
"Got it."
We resumed our steps...
And finally, after possessing Lee Jun-seo, I met my wife who had left this world too soon.
"...Jun-seo, is this really it?"
Yusia glared at me sharply. Nothing was in the spot where my wife rested, and she seemed furious about it.
No flower decorations. No mementos whatsoever.
Nothing inside.
"Ahaha... I have no excuse."
I wiped the smile from my face and stared at the urn with my wife's name on it.
What should I say first...
My mouth wouldn't open easily.
"So-yeon... No, better to call you Min-ju, right? Unnie. It's your unnie. I wish I'd found you sooner. Right?"
Yusia spoke first, greeting her before I could. Her eyes were rimmed red. Tears could fall any second.
Lips curving up, she...
Shared her life's story.
And how hard she'd searched for her little sister. In the end, fat tears rolled down her cheeks.
"...Yusia, use this."
"Oh... Th-thank you."
She took the handkerchief, wiped her tears, and turned away.
"Now, Yu-na, want to say hi? See that one in the middle? That's where Mommy is."
I gently nudged Yu-na's back.
Hesitating, Yu-na stepped forward, fidgeting with her fingers and mumbling.
"M-Mommy...?"
Greeting the urn felt awkward, so she hid behind my back.
From her state, it didn't look like she'd give her cute belly bow anytime soon.
Now it was my turn...
I straightened my shoulders before the urn bearing my wife's name.
Memories of the original Lee Jun-seo before possession flooded back vividly, making her feel anything but a stranger.
"Sorry. I'm really late, huh? We promised to be together forever. But neither you nor I kept that promise. Funny, right?"
That's right.
We'd promised to spend our lives together.
She'd sworn not to go first.
But...
She left me behind first.
And I...
Spent years ignoring her to shake off the grief.
'Well, now...'
I glanced at Yu-na, still hesitant, then scooped her up in my arms.
Supporting her bottom, I turned toward my wife's urn.
"Our daughter has grown so much, hasn't she?"
"Daddy...?"
"I won't make the same mistakes as back then. Trust me and watch over us."
With that, I turned to Yu-na.
"...Why?"
Lips quirking up slightly, I hugged her tight. I stroked her tiny back as pent-up tears finally spilled.
"......"
"Huh? D-Daddy? Daddy's crying too?"
"...No. Daddy's not crying."
As her true husband, I let the surging emotions take over.
After visiting the columbarium with Yusia to see my wife who'd passed too soon.
A massive bombshell dropped.
[Exclusive! Secret Meeting Between Actor Lee Jun-seo and Singer Yusia? The Reason Why...]
[Actor Lee Jun-seo Skips Year-End Awards to Visit Columbarium...]
[Wife's Death Anniversary Coincides with Child Actress Lee Yu-na's Birthday, Adding Shock. What's the Sad Story?]
[Actor Father-Daughter Tale More Dramatic Than Any Drama! The Hard-Found...]
Just because Yu-na's birthday matched my wife's death anniversary, everyone fixated on me, and absurd articles spread like wildfire.
'Can't sue them all...'
It was tricky.
They weren't negative, just digging up facts without any embellishments.
And that attention...
Lasted over a month.
Over three months.
Even now, heading to the agency, reporters trailed right behind us.
"Haa..."
I let out a deep sigh, and In-cheol in the passenger seat turned.
"The reporters are tough, huh?"
"How could they not be? My past is all out there, and 'Viper' just started airing with record ratings..."
That's right.
Breaking records again, my value skyrocketed.
"Heard the highlight hit 37.7%! All-time high. Amazing!"
"Yeah! Daddy's the best!"
The man chiming in with Yu-na was Yoo Dae-shin.
He'd take over after my manager got promoted and quit.
In-cheol was personally handing over to the guy at the wheel.
"The secret to always hitting it big..."
"Hey, turn right here. It's a shortcut."
"R-Really? Too late to turn now... I'll remember."
Sharing tips on local spots, shortcuts, and traffic jams with the unfamiliar guy.
Before long, we arrived at the bustling Lunatic Agency building.
Reporters with cameras.
Agency security guards.
All tangled up.
"This... We can't get through."
"Guess we'll have to walk it."
"I think so too..."
"Wow...! So many people! They're all waiting for Daddy, right?"
"Looks like it. Yu-na? Let's wait quietly."
In-cheol unbuckled first, got out, and called security over.
Soon after.
He opened the back door.
"Eek! So bright!"
Flash-! Flash-!
A barrage of flashes exploded.
Reporters thrust recorders at me, shoving each other.
"W-Wait! I'm Oh Yoo-sik from XX Daily! Just one word...!"
"Heard China and the US offered casting. True?"
"Overseas instead of domestic...!"
"Please, just a comment!"
I covered Yu-na's eyes with my hand.
Right then.
A huge shadow fell.
"You can get out now. Leave Yu-na in the car, she's at risk. Dae-shin? Take care of Yu-na."
"Yes! Leave it to me."
I nodded slightly, left Yu-na, and stepped out slowly.
"Hey, don't push! You'll cause an accident! You there! No weird stuff!"
"Out of the way!"
"Step back!"
Total chaos.
Without security the size of In-cheol... I couldn't have moved.
Thud-!
A big hand on my shoulder.
"...Path's clear. This way."
"Huh? Oh... yeah. Let's go."
I walked straight along the path cleared by security and In-cheol.
The conference room felt suffocating.
The CEO and other key figures filled the seats.
Like last time, everyone gathered for...
My overseas activities.
"We've been getting tons of calls from Hollywood wanting Actor Lee Jun-seo lately."
Whoosh.
CEO Do Bong-seok cut straight to it, fixing a stern gaze on me.
"What should we do? If you want overseas, we can support..."
Before he finished, I shook my head.
"I'm not going abroad. I want to keep working in Korea."
Everyone's eyes widened.
"...Why's everyone like that?"
"Jun-seo...? Your fame's at its absolute peak. This is the perfect time for Hollywood. Miss it, and who knows when it'll come again."
All nodded at the CEO's words. They all wanted me to go Hollywood.
But.
My heart...
Frankly, I didn't want to.
If I went abroad, what about Yu-na?
Living in a strange place long-term.
Could she adjust?
That worry came first. Hollywood wasn't an option.
I spoke slowly.
"I'm Actor Lee Jun-seo, but also a father to one child. Now's exactly the right time."
I smiled without regrets at everyone. Their stiff faces finally relaxed into smiles.
"Ha, idiot. You're an idiot. No ambition to climb higher?"
I shrugged lightly.
"Yep, idiot. Daughter idiot."
"Kukuku, alright. That's it for this. Next item."
Rustle-!
The CEO tossed the thick stack aside, lips grinning ear to ear.
The managers chuckled too, following suit and dumping their papers.
Floor in chaos.
Who'd clean that...
"Anyway, one thing left. Manager Kim. Give him that first."
"Got it."
The guy next to him slid over a contract-marked document.
"Our contract's ending soon, right? Time for better terms. For Yu-na too."
"Oh... Already?"
"What's with the face? Don't wanna renew with us? No bribes from other agencies?"
"Hmm, we'll see."
As I scrutinized the contract meticulously.
No one spoke.
Everyone holding their breath...
I furrowed my brows, pretending for fun at their tense faces.
"Ah, as expected. Knew it..."
I muttered softly, and the CEO and managers flinched in unison.
"...The terms are generous, but not to your liking? We can up the percentage..."
Wait, up the percentage more?
Would anything be left?
It was just a joke...
Grateful for these good people I wanted to stay with long-term, I grabbed the pen quick.
Scribble. Scribble.
Signed my contract and Yu-na's swiftly, setting the pen down.
"Just kidding. Deal's done, right?"
"Y-You punk, teasing the CEO?"
Red, then pale.
CEO's face turned goblin-like.
Why wasn't it scary?
Used to it?
Knew what kind of guy he was?
Probably both.
Whoosh-!
I stood abruptly and grabbed the door handle before he could catch me.
"Clear my schedule from now on. I'll manage Yu-na for a while. Time she started as a child actress, right?"
"Lee Jun-seo! Not done talking! Calls keep coming for castings...!"
"Meeting's over, so I'll head up and pick a project!"
With that.
I flung the door open, and a tiny sparkling child bounced up.
The sole pillar of my life...
My everything.
Our cute daughter Yu-na.
"Daddyyy!"
"Yeah, Yu-na's here?"
I spread my arms wide to welcome her.
Dad Becomes a Top Actor