Chapter 34
Chapter 34
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 34
Chapter Title: Yu-na's Fiery Rescue
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"Ahaha! Just as Director Lee Han-sol said. Yu-na."
The director laughed heartily.
There wasn't a trace of irritation or anger on his face.
Still.
This was my daughter's fault.
It was my fault too.
"I'm truly sorry."
The director, who had been laughing heartily, composed his expression and tilted his head.
Then he cleared his throat.
"Ahem! It's fine."
"Pardon?"
"That last take was going to be reshot anyway. Right, guys?"
The director raised his voice to ask the surrounding staff. They all laughed and said it was okay.
"It's fine!"
"We can just reshoot it!"
"Ahaha! I got a good look at a daughter's love for her dad!"
From the reactions around me, it really seemed okay. I let out a deep sigh and soothed Yu-na, who was still fuming.
"Yu-na. This is all acting. So Dad doesn't need you to worry. It wasn't dangerous."
"......"
Yu-na balled her small hands into fists and hugged my leg. I felt a slight tremble and a wet sensation on my pants.
This had never happened before....
Was she startled by the fire?
I knelt down and peeled off Yu-na, who was clinging tightly. When I cupped her cheeks and looked at her face, her eyes were red-rimmed.
"...Why didn't you keep our promise?"
"They said at kindergarten that fire is dangerous. So.... If Dad gets hurt...."
Her teary response made my heart swell. She'd come running because she was worried about me.
'I've really raised a good daughter.'
I shouldn't laugh here.
But a smile kept creeping onto my lips.
"If Dad's in danger, Yu-na has to run far away no matter what. Got it?"
"...Why?"
"Because Dad treasures you just as much as you treasure Dad."
"......"
"Say you understand?"
Only then did Yu-na nod faintly, and I gently stroked her cheek.
"Sigh, go film your movie already."
I heard the director's quiet grumble.
Honestly, what I said was sincere.
But thinking back on it now, it was utterly embarrassing. I wanted to crawl into a hole.
They must have heard it all. Of course they did.
As expected, the surrounding staff and seniors were making a fuss and laughing.
This mouth of mine is the problem. The real problem.
Determined to play it off as boldly as possible, I picked up the sulking Yu-na.
Then I strode confidently toward the female staff member who had been watching her until moments ago.
"The shoot will be wrapping up soon, so could you please look after Yu-na? Thank you."
"I'm sorry I couldn't stop Yu-na. She just suddenly ran out...."
A smile played on the lips of the female staff who apologized.
Was that the face of someone sorry?
Not at all.
Still.
I could understand how she felt.
Even though it was just acting, Yu-na had mistaken it for real and come to save me.
'The cuteness of the act itself makes it impossible to hate....'
I shook my head.
"Please make sure Yu-na doesn't run out this time."
"Yes. Just leave it to me."
Her nodding eyes looked serious. She clearly had no intention of letting Yu-na slip away this time.
Yeah, that's right.
You have to be serious to keep an eye on Yu-na, who could bolt anywhere.
I figured if Yu-na showed up during the shoot again, she wouldn't let it slide.
That meant Yu-na's determination was key.
I set Yu-na down on the ground and wiped the tear tracks from her cheeks with my hand.
"Yu-na. Now Dad has to go film. You have to wait quietly. Okay?"
"Yes...."
"Dad is strong enough without Yu-na coming to save him. And...."
I trailed off, and Yu-na looked up.
Meeting her teary eyes made my heart ache needlessly.
Just moments ago, her cuteness had me fighting back laughter.
I leaned in slowly and whispered quietly into Yu-na's ear.
"Truth is, Dad is stronger than the director."
I took a step back and grinned.
"Got it?"
Nod nod.
I gently patted the head of Yu-na, who nodded instead of answering.
"Sigh. Still shooting your drama?"
The director, who had approached unnoticed, clicked his tongue and glared at us.
"How about filming a father-daughter drama while you're at it? Huh? And I heard everything, but I'll let it slide this once."
"Ahaha...."
"Get ready quickly."
"Ah, yes!"
I handed Yu-na to the young female staff and hurried back to my spot.
"Cut! Good take! Now let's eat! Clear the dangerous stuff first, and handle the rest after lunch."
"Yes! Got it!"
Some staff had already left to eat, while the rest busily cleared the paper boxes.
I'd vaguely heard they prepped them so the fire wouldn't spread too far....
But the boxes we'd used so far had burned to complete ash piles.
'Where exactly did they prep them?'
I closely examined the remaining boxes on set. They felt slightly damp, but nothing else seemed off.
"Haa...."
"Ah, Jun-seo. Could I have that one?"
"Sure. Here."
After handing the box I'd been inspecting to a staff member, I headed straight to where Yu-na was.
"Hey, junior!"
"Eek!"
A sudden slap on my back startled me, nearly making me stumble forward.
I barely caught my balance and turned around. Kang Min-woo stood there with a playful grin.
"Let's go eat."
"Senior.... Just call me instead of hitting."
"It doesn't hurt, so why complain?"
"It does hurt? Anyway.... Where's Senior Cha Eun-hyuk?"
At my question, Kang Min-woo pointed behind him and said quietly.
"He went to the bathroom."
"Ah...."
"He said go ahead and eat without him. So let's hurry."
"You go first, Senior. I'm going to wash up with Yu-na."
"Alright? Come quick."
"Yes."
After sending Kang Min-woo off, I called to Yu-na, who was playing with the staff.
"Yu-na. Let's go eat."
"Yesss!"
She dropped her toy on the floor and ran into my arms.
I scooped her up effortlessly and bowed deeply to the staff who had played with her until the shoot ended.
She gave a wistful little smile and picked up the toy from the floor.
"Yu-na. Did you say goodbye to the sister who played with you?"
Shake shake.
"You have to say 'thank you,' right?"
"Yesss."
I gently set Yu-na down and gave her back a light push.
She scampered over, thanked the staff who had played with her, and returned to my side.
"Did Yu-na do good?"
"Yes, good girl. My daughter."
"Hehehe."
"Let's wash our hands and go eat."
"Yesss!"
The tearful look was gone without a trace, replaced by pure energy.
Yu-na suits being cheerful.
Suddenly, the surroundings went quiet.
Feeling something off, I turned and scanned the area.
The staff, who had been bustling about cleanup, had stopped and were watching us with warm smiles.
As soon as our eyes met, they beamed broadly and waved.
"Haa...."
This scene felt familiar.
Maybe it was my natural knack for winning people over.
It seemed like only the staff who adored Yu-na had gathered.
"Dad! Dad! Let's go quick. Okay?"
"Yeah, let's go...."
With smiles stifled, I turned my back on their kingdom-losing expressions and beckoning hands.
What interesting people....
Soon, entering the cafeteria with Yu-na, a delicious aroma whetted my appetite.
I wanted to devour every mouthwatering dish right then.
"Wooow...."
"Yu-na. You're drooling."
"Ah!"
Swipe!
Yu-na grabbed my shirttail and wiped the drool from her mouth. I was dumbfounded by the action.
"Hehehe. Better?"
"...Yeah. Yu-na, you can walk on your own now, right?"
"Yesss!"
With that, she hopped down, grabbed a tray, and joined the long line.
If this weren't a school set, cast acquaintances or fans might have sent food trucks.
But this was a high school.
No need for food trucks.
'It's been ages since cafeteria food.'
I'd started as a child actor and rarely went to school.
Never even attended high school.
Plus, yesterday I was feeling off and ate lunch in the nurse's office, skipping the cafeteria.
I grabbed a tray and utensils, then lifted Yu-na's tray for her.
"Daaad! Yu-na can do it!"
Hop! Hop!
Yu-na, whose tray I'd taken, hopped in place reaching for it.
"You're too small to reach the servings easily. Dad will do it."
"Tch.... Okayyy."
After getting food on both trays, I looked around.
He said he'd come ahead....
Ah! There he is!
I carried the trays toward where Kang Min-woo sat.
"Hey, why'd you take so long?"
"Ahaha.... You've almost finished already, Senior?"
"Of course. Gotta eat fast, memorize lines, practice. And...."
Kang Min-woo paused, staring at me intently, lips twitching.
"You don't practice, junior? I've never seen you do it."
The script for this drama was already memorized in my head; no need to cram.
A little practice and it'd stick.
Same in my past life.
Now too. Maybe my brain was just good.
Memorizing my lines took a day at most.
Didn't take long.
'And.'
The character matched my personality so well that expressing real emotions worked fine. No need to practice.
"I practiced a lot at home."
I flashed a grin with a blatant lie.
"Tch. Dad always tells Yu-na not to lie...."
Yu-na grumbled softly, using a big spoon to eat heartily.
"Dad lies all the time."
Munch munch.
"......"
"He just played with Yu-na at home."
Munch munch.
Looks like she was sulking because I didn't let her get her own food.
But.
Why is even this cute?
We exchanged glances, silently agreeing to watch, and observed Yu-na's pouting.
"Riding ZingZing with Yu-na...."
Munch munch.
"Haa.... So full."
"Full!"
Outside the cafeteria, I patted my belly in the same pose as Yu-na.
Yu-na's sulk had melted away before I knew it. Kids get over pouts quick, as they say.
'She ate a ton.'
Yu-na's chubby belly poked out between her clothes.
Kang Min-woo, who had been watching us, stretched and muttered softly.
"Should we spend the remaining time quietly reviewing lines somewhere?"
Smack!
Kang Min-woo suddenly slapped my back again.
"What are you up to for the rest of break?"
My back stung where he'd hit, so I narrowed my eyes and glared covertly.
He's a senior to a rookie like me.
Couldn't openly snap.
Before our eyes met, I smoothed my face and smiled brightly.
"I'll take Yu-na to the kindergarten playground inside the school to help digestion."
"So geniuses don't need practice? Jealous. Super jealous."
In the cafeteria, Yu-na's pouting had exposed that I barely reviewed lines at home.
So Kang Min-woo thought I was a genius.
Honestly, I was.
Acting skill identical to my past life, memory far superior to average.
'What I really need right now....'
Immersion to dive into the role without even time to recall Lee Jun-seo's horrific past memories.
That's what I needed.
"Ahaha. Genius? Nah."
"More importantly.... Senior Cha Eun-hyuk, who said he'd come ahead, isn't here?"
"Oh, yeah? Where is he?"
I had no idea.
That the lead actor had sudden gastroenteritis, canceling the afternoon shoot entirely.