Chapter 5
Chapter 5
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 5
Chapter Title: Yu-na Steals the Show
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"Oh my! So cute!"
A faint, pure smile settled on her face, which hadn't seemed to like kids at all.
'Ugh, but what's that smell?'
As she came right up to my face, a piercing, heavy perfume scent assaulted my nose.
'How much did she spray on?'
I couldn't openly grimace in front of a senior actress, so I forced the biggest smile I could manage.
However...
Honest little Yu-na pinched her tiny nose shut and scrunched up her face.
"Euuugh... Smelly..."
"Ahaha... Yu-na, what are you talking about? Doesn't the perfume smell nice?"
I shot her a subtle signal, glancing around. But Yu-na didn't lie—she answered straight up.
"Daddy, my nose hurts."
We were doomed.
Totally doomed.
I snuck a peek at the senior actress.
She brought the back of her hand to her nose and sniffed.
"Oh, it's because the sponsored perfume I got this time is so strong? Sorry about that, sweetie."
Hold on. Sweetie?
Auntie, maybe...
In my past life, she hadn't looked old enough to call her "sis."
She kept her distance from us and asked smoothly.
"I'm Yoo Seol-hwa. Junior? Not sure if you know me."
"Of course I do."
The lead in this sitcom.
Playing the role of Lee Ju-hyun.
I rattled off the works she'd been in from what I remembered, and she let out a subtle chuckle, extending her hand.
"Let's do well this time."
"Yes! Looking forward to working with you, Senior."
After that, I stuck by her side as her conversation partner, trying to build rapport.
It was just a minor role, but we might cross paths someday. Better to network now for later.
Luckily, we clicked right away, and soon she started talking casually with me.
"But why haven't you dropped the formal speech yet, Junior? I told you earlier to treat me casually."
"Ahaha. This feels more comfortable for me."
From my child actor days in my past life, hanging with adults had made honorifics a habit.
A habit I never broke even as an adult. I'd go casual with someone younger, sure.
I'd heard today's shoot would be short, and sure enough, there were fewer active actors and staff around.
The lead actress, Yoo Seol-hwa, whom I'd met first.
And Kang Su-ho, the supporting actor who'd arrived late—we'd only exchanged greetings.
No other actors.
'It's been ages since I got makeup done.'
I was dressed in the shirt the coordinator had prepped, sitting at the vanity getting my makeup.
'Isn't this a bit much?'
Two artists, dead serious, said, "Almost done now," and started shaping my eyebrows.
Their touch was so delicate, I hesitated to speak.
"Um..."
"Yes?"
"Couldn't you just trim it lightly? You don't have to go all out."
The makeup artist smiled brightly at my question.
"You newbies don't know yet."
"Huh? What do you mean?"
"Eyebrows are the most important feature on your face. Here, look in the mirror. See how much your vibe changed with just the brows?"
She was right—now I looked intimidating even at rest.
'Pros really are different...'
In my past life, I'd relied solely on my acting chops and ignored makeup.
More accurately, with my average looks, no amount of makeup helped, so I'd given up from the start.
The sticking point now, though...
Was my outfit.
A yellow shirt with a floral print, khaki shorts, and to top it off, a gold necklace.
If past-life me had stepped out like this... Fashion terrorist would've been an understatement.
"How's it look? Big difference, right?"
"...Yeah. It does."
Yu-na, who'd been staring blankly at me, tilted her head.
"Daddy, why makeup?"
I turned and stared right at Yu-na beside me.
"To look the scariest here. Am I scary, Daddy?"
I leaned in close, and she shook her head vigorously.
"Daddy's not scary at all."
"Really?"
"Yeah. Yu-na's more scared of the wolf that eats bad guys."
The makeup artist, tidying up, suddenly burst out laughing.
"Ahaha! Your daughter's adorable."
"You think so?"
"Yeah, I could see her as a child actress. Wait, isn't she one now?"
"Oh, right."
All prepped, I headed to the set with Yu-na, where filming prep was in full swing.
"Yu-na, what did Daddy say he's doing here?"
"Acting!"
My role: the gang boss who rules the turf.
He trashes the pojangmacha run by the heroine and vanishes. Plus, he turns dumb in front of his daughter—no bad guy image.
Still, with the rough actions and lines, I'd explained to Yu-na multiple times not to misunderstand.
"Right, acting. So you absolutely can't copy what Daddy does here."
"Hehehe. Okay!"
"Just act like we practiced. You can do it, right?"
"Yu-na can do it!"
I gently ruffled her hair at her crisp reply.
And so, practice began.
Yoo Seol-hwa was still in makeup, so I rehearsed solo.
How much time passed?
"Filming starts soon!"
The staff's energetic call echoed across the set.
'Alright, showtime soon.'
Following staff directions, I waited off-camera.
Thump. Thump.
My heart pounded.
"Yu-na, just like practice?"
"Yeah!"
Director's cue sign dropped soon after, and silence fell like a tomb.
Then it started.
Not Yoo Seol-hwa first—an extra pouring and drinking booze in the pojangmacha spoke up.
"Auntie! One bottle of soju here!"
Cueing her, Yoo Seol-hwa appeared with an irritated retort.
"I'm not 'Auntie' yet! How many times do I have to tell you!"
A total shift from her first impression.
Classic nagging auntie vibe.
"Ahaha! Then what? Miss? Or Ms. Ju-hyun?"
To the obnoxious customer's cheeky line, Yoo Seol-hwa pulled out a silver tray and flashed a chilling smile.
"Customer? Wanna test this?"
"Ahaha. Just kidding. Kidding."
Bickering over nothing.
Perfect setup for the sitcom's lighthearted vibe.
'She really gets the character.'
I was impressed by Yoo Seol-hwa's acting.
Not quite past-life pro me level, but...
After a few takes.
A staff tap on my shoulder snapped me alert.
My turn.
I glared with over-the-top intensity.
Then swaggered in with Yu-na toward the camera.
Familiar vibe.
Countless eyes, the pressure.
Even a short bit role—excitement bubbled over at the thought of acting.
"W-welcome..."
To Yoo Seol-hwa's trembling voice, I spat on the floor and delivered my line.
"Hey, who gave you permission to do business here? You nuts?"
"Right! Need Daddy's permission!"
Yu-na's line had changed from auditions—hers was simplified for her vocab.
But she nailed it better than in practice.
"Wh-what do you mean?"
"If you're doing business here, pay up. Right?"
"Right?"
Yu-na echoed perfectly, hands on hips, proudly sticking out her pudgy belly.
I'd seen this plenty in practice.
I barely held back a laugh, but Yoo Seol-hwa—new to it—shook then exploded.
"Ahahaha!"
"Cut!"
Director Lee Han-sol's booming voice killed the red camera light.
"Seriously, why so cute?"
"Senior..."
"Oh, sorry. Pfft..."
Seeing Yu-na's baffled face set Yoo Seol-hwa off again.
First scene NG, but staff reactions weren't bad—smiles around.
"Short break, then again."
Wait, Director? We just started.
As Director Lee Han-sol stood abruptly, turning away, I caught a faint smile.
Did I imagine it?
Never seen him smile in my past life.
'No way...'
Soon he returned, and we resumed.
"Wh-what do you mean?"
"If you're doing business here, pay up. Right?"
"Right?"
Had to hold it together from here—no more laughs.
This time, Yoo Seol-hwa stayed straight-faced, serious.
"Keep this up, and I'll call the cops."
I strode to her, phone out, and gave a mock shove-threat.
"Cops? Cop-car?"
Grimacing one eye obnoxiously—then Yu-na improvised again.
"Daddy, policeman uncle's scary..."
"...What?"
"Cops are scary."
Her pure, heartfelt line left me speechless.
Yoo Seol-hwa too.
We both stared, brows drooping, at Yu-na.
Brief silence.
I snapped to, running scenarios in my head.
Actors don't break till cameras cut.
Sending her out now's weird; trashing the place in front of her looks bad...
Director Lee Han-sol hadn't called cut. Just piercing stare.
Keep going.
'Alright, let's ad-lib. She can keep up.'
I gave Yu-na goo-goo eyes and scooped her up.
"It's okay, my girl. Daddy'll scold all the scary cop uncles."
What now?
I peeked at dazed Yoo Seol-hwa, eager for her counter.
Then, unexpected voice.
"Don't scold them... They're scary, but cop uncles catch bad guys. They're good people."
Yoo Seol-hwa snapped out of it at Yu-na's pure line, jumping in desperately.
"Y-you! What are you doing here? I really will call the cops!"
Pro actress indeed.
Her incredulous look, the fear in her heart—all in that short line.
Even off-script.
Her veteran skill awed me inwardly.
But only for a moment.
"Boss! We're here!"
"Still not handled?"
Two extras arrived right on cue.
Every move screamed amateur—real gangsters?
Zero seriousness.
'Alright, just like practice.'
First time syncing, but.
Sorry in advance, uncle.
I nodded at the bald guy. He strode up with a dopey grin.
"Boss, what's up?"
"I said! Don't! Be late!"
Slap! Slap!
Punctuating each word with smacks to his bald head.
Clear smacks made Yu-na in my arms burst out.
"Ahaha! So funny!"
"You? For my daughter, more smacks."
Slap! Slap!
"Ow! Stop hitting! Boss! That's why you're going bald!"
"You got hair to lose? Huh?"
Comedy beat landed laughs—camera director signaled cut.
'...End here?'
Normally, send Yu-na out now, then rampage.
Okay, follow director.
Sitcom charm: going off-rails.
I feigned panic, slamming an extra's shoulder.
"What're you doing? Cops are here! Run!"
"O-okay!"
I bolted clumsily off-camera. Trailing extras tripped comically.
"Don't leave us!"
"Wait up!"
Finally, Director Lee Han-sol's wrap call.
"Good. Two-shot done. Full shot next."
Twice. Thrice.
Yu-na nailed it—no mistakes. Shoot wrapped quick.
Maybe why Director's face had a small smile.
"Kang's entrance next ends today. Hurry."
Staff hustled gear and props at his order.
What? Already over?
All those stares on me.
The no-mess-up pressure.
Gone.
Post-shoot emptiness hit.
"Already done..."
Even with tomorrow's scenes, I wanted to keep acting in front of everyone.
Regretfully, I gripped Yu-na's tiny hand, staring blankly at the set.
Step. Step.
"Actor. Good work."
Familiar voice—I turned limply.
Black suit unfit for hot summer.
Gold watch on left wrist—middle-aged man extending hand.
Kang Su-ho, the senior I'd briefly greeted that morning.
In the show: Park Jin-seok.
Villain hiring thugs to raze the pojangmacha in a development zone.
Dark clothes? Dangerous aura wafted off him.