Chapter 38
Chapter 38
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 38
Chapter Title: Neverland Outing
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Quickly hopping into the back seat with Yu-na, I turned my gaze to the driver's seat.
I'd met him once before, but...
His appearance was still something I couldn't get used to.
Muscular and sturdy, with a tattoo etched on his thick forearm that I'd glimpsed as he got into the back seat.
I swallowed hard.
I hadn't noticed the tattoo last time.
"He's not really a gangster, is he?"
Snapping out of it, I took off my mask and hat, bowing politely.
"Hello. Long time no see."
I'd learned his name last time when I bummed a ride after missing the last train.
'Lee Jong-min.'
He glanced at me in the rearview mirror and smiled with his eyes.
"Yes, it's been a while. I hope you've been well."
His deep voice matched his burly build, and I let out an awkward laugh from the tension.
"Ahaha... Yeah."
"...I look pretty scary, don't I?"
"Huh? Oh, no, not at all."
He'd hit the nail on the head, so I waved my hands in denial.
Yu-na, who'd tossed off her mask, answered boldly.
"Yeah! You look super scary!"
"Y-Yu-na?"
At her honest reply, he burst into hearty laughter. Yoon Si-won in the passenger seat and Lee Ha-yul burst out laughing too.
He didn't seem offended.
"Ahaha!"
"My husband might look rough, but he's warm-hearted and kind."
He had a resemblance to the actor 'Ma Dong-sik,' who was perfect for gangster roles.
That's why every time our eyes met in the rearview mirror, I flinched.
'I just can't get used to it.'
Unlike my nerves, chatting stiffly with him eventually loosened me up, and I started to relax.
Truth be told, he was a good guy.
You could tell just from talking to him.
Last time, I'd been too tired and fallen asleep, so we hadn't talked like this.
"Ahaha, really?"
"That was an unforgettable incident. The teacher in charge of our Ha-yul thought I looked suspicious with the camera and called the police..."
Yeah.
Imagining Lee Jong-min holding a camera and smiling, I could understand the teacher's reaction. I would've reported him too if I'd seen that scary face.
"Mom, Mom. Can I go to the back and play dolls with Yu-na?"
"Hmm... But no making too much noise. Got it?"
"Yes!"
Lee Ha-yul crawled between the driver's and passenger seats over to us.
In her tiny hands, she held a princess doll and a creepy one.
"Hehehe. Uncle, wanna play too?"
"No, Uncle's fine."
Ignoring my answer, Ha-yul went to Yu-na and handed her the prettiest doll.
"Here, Yu-na gets the prettiest one."
"Thanks..."
She doesn't hate it?
Yu-na furrowed her brow as if reluctant, but took it. She still seemed to be holding onto what happened at the shoot.
"So anyway, when I was there..."
"If Ha-yul had pranked there, she wouldn't be here now. Ahaha."
Watching their doll play while chatting with the two adults, we soon arrived at our destination: Neverland.
"Haa... Took ten laps to find it. Why do people come on weekends?"
"Haha, honey. What about us? We're here on the weekend too."
"Ahem! We don't count."
While they bantered affectionately, I put Yu-na's discarded mask and hat back on her.
"Alright. Ready to have some fun now?"
"Hehehe. Yeah!"
"Mom! Dad! I wanna do the same as Yu-na! Hat and mask!"
"You'll be sick of them soon enough. Skip it for now."
"Ha-yul, like I said last time, once you get even more famous, way more people will recognize you, and it gets hard to go out comfortably."
I nodded in agreement.
"Yeah, Ha-yul. These are really uncomfortable."
"Aww... I wanna wear them too."
Ha-yul was popular too, but...
She didn't need to hide her face like us. There weren't fans hounding child actors like that.
But Yu-na and I were different.
Yu-na, already famous as a child star, and me, who blew up with my debut.
Plenty of people trailed celebrities like us. Even at the market near home.
Plus, my face was strikingly handsome now—people always did double-takes, whispering.
So.
To go out comfortably, I'd have to wear a mask and hat forever.
"Same as Yu-na..."
We came to make happy memories.
This won't do.
Leaving the awkward-looking Lee Jong-min and Yoon Si-won behind, I pulled out spare masks and hats.
"Here, same hat and mask as Yu-na. Good now?"
"Hehehe. Yeah!"
Only then did Ha-yul's duck-like pout disappear.
Stashing our bags full of stuff in a locker, Yu-na and I looked around.
Thud thud thud!
Yu-na had dashed off before I knew it, gasping in awe at the sculpture rising from the flower bed.
"Wow! Daddy! It's a princess castle!"
Her shout drew tons of stares. If someone recognized us now, hiding our faces would be pointless.
I rushed over, slipping my hands under her armpits and lifting her up.
"I told you not to wander off alone."
"Daddy! Let's go there next!"
Without Ha-yul around, maybe?
Yu-na was bursting with energy.
We'd agreed with them to split up and meet for dinner.
That way, everyone could enjoy more freely.
After that, I'd set things up for Yu-na and Ha-yul to bond. They were the same age, after all.
Wouldn't it be great if they became friends?
"Yu-na, first let's find a ride we can do together, okay?"
"Hehehe. Yeah!"
The colorful sculptures and tiles stopped everyone in their tracks.
My eyes locked on the roof that looked like a castle from a fairy tale book.
'So this is Neverland...'
Even forgetting I was an adult, my heart pounded at the thought of playing here.
"Yu-na, let's head that way. Hold on tight so you don't fall. We're running!"
"Wheee!"
Scooping Yu-na into my arms, I dashed forward energetically.
How long did we run?
Charging ahead blindly, we ended up lost.
'Where are we?'
No rides around suitable for a six-year-old Yu-na.
Woooaaah!
Cheers from right above.
I looked up.
A roller coaster going train speeds? No way I'd ride that.
'How do people even get on something that scary?'
Just looking made my body tremble.
"Daddy, are you cold?"
"No. Sorry, Daddy. You wanna ride stuff and play quick, right?"
She shook her head.
"Yu-na's fine."
"Daddy's not."
I adjusted her hat and scanned around.
'If only there was a map...'
Then.
Spotting a pillar labeled "Information," Yu-na and I hurried over to check the map.
"Straight right should do it."
"Daddy! Daddy! Yu-na wanna see too!"
"Oh, you wanna look?"
I turned slightly, pointing to the elephant icon.
"Here! Elephant!"
Sounded kid-friendly just from the name. And not far from us—perfect.
"Hmm, wanna go there?"
"Yeah!"
"Running again, so hold tight. Got it?"
"Wheeeek!"
Yu-na didn't need to hold tight.
I'd keep her safe.
"Haa, haa... Tough."
We arrived, but hardly anyone around. Probably unpopular.
Perfect!
I headed to the elephant ride Yu-na had mentioned first.
The sign said guardians could ride along.
Gently setting Yu-na down, I grinned.
"Yu-na, looks like we can ride this together. Wanna?"
"Wooo! Yeah!"
Frustrated, Yu-na had pulled her mask all the way down, letting out a whoop.
'Well, hat's on tight. Should be fine. Not many people here.'
Following the guide voice, I boarded and grabbed the dangling strap.
What kind of safety belt is this?
Even buckled, it was loose and sloppy—doubted its safety.
-Please raise your hands high if you've fastened your safety belt.
Yu-na shot her hand up at the announcement. Then gripped the front handle tight.
She looked tense.
'Afraid of a kids' ride?'
Couldn't just laugh.
Honestly, I was shaky and scared too.
-Here we go! Hold the front handle safely.
At the go signal, I gripped the handle tight.
Two pairs of trembling hands.
Glancing over, Yu-na's smile had vanished.
Vrooom!
The ride started moving.
Cheerful music played as our elephant bobbed up and down, spinning round and round.
"U... Wooow!"
Yu-na peeked her eyes open, throwing her hands up.
Seemed she wasn't scared anymore. Color returned to her pale face, lips curving up.
"Wooo! Hehehe."
"That fun?"
"Yeah! Not scary at all, really really. Elephant! Faster!"
A guide voice from the central pillar speaker responded to Yu-na.
-Faster not allowed, Princess Yu-na. Not scared now?
"Yu-na's not scared anymore!"
The sweet voice from the speaker made me flinch.
'How'd they know Yu-na's name?'
I glanced at the woman operating the ride.
She smiled and waved at us.
'Ah, she recognized Yu-na.'
Hat or not, mask down, and Yu-na's loud voice gave it away.
Soon.
The elephant stopped, and the guide voice played.
-Please check for dropped items when exiting. And...
Clang crash!
Weird noises from the speaker. Moments later, a young woman ran up.
Holding paper and a pen.
"Um, sorry, but could you sign this?"
"Oh, sure."
"And Yu-na's too..."
We scribbled our names on the paper she handed over.
Her beaming smile at our not-so-famous signatures lifted my mood.
"Yu-na's first autograph ever... You're blessed. Ahaha."
Teasing playfully, her eyes went wide.
"R-Really?"
What? Why this reaction?
"Really? For real?"
Overwhelmed by her questions, I nodded hesitantly.
"...Yeah."
"Wooow! Thank you! And Yu-na, thanks. Sis will treasure this as Treasure No. 1!"
She seemed happier with Yu-na's signature than mine...
Not my imagination, right?
Felt weird being upstaged by Yu-na.
But not bad.
"Um, sorry... Photo too?"
I shrugged and posed for her excited photo request.
No one else around anyway.
'One person's fine, right?'
Lowering my mask a bit to stand beside her, a gust blew.
Whoosh!
My hat flew off, hair whipping around.
'Ah, damn.'
Frowning, I smoothed my tousled hair.
"......"
Murmurs erupted around us.
'What?'
Looking to the source, families with kids were whispering, staring.
"Who's that? A celeb?"
"Looks like it. He's seriously hot."
"But that handsome guy looks young, and the little girl—daughter? Niece?"
No one recognized me...
But my standout looks drew eyes.
"Haa."
Sighing deeply, the young woman fiddling with her phone dropped it, lips pursed.
"S-Sorry..."
"No worries. Quick pic and done."
"Ah, yeah."
Snapped the photo fast.
Picked up my hat, jammed it on.
Ignored stares on the next ride.