Chapter 50
Chapter 50
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 50
Chapter Title: Playground Bliss and Fury
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I was sitting on a bench in the playground inside Ace High School with Yu-na.
Yu-na kept refusing to leave my side. Even when I tried to set her down, she just clung to my clothes with her tiny hands.
"Yu-na, don't you want to play?"
"...I wanna stay like this with Daddy."
In the end, I gave up and tilted my head back to gaze at the clouds drifting lazily across the sky.
'...Don't become the same kind of person?'
Senior Cha Eun-hyuk's cold words echoed in my ears.
How did he know we'd done it on purpose? We'd even acted like it was a total accident...
'Honestly, I was a bit surprised.'
Fortunately, I didn't get chewed out too badly.
"So... should I have just let that guy ruin the set's atmosphere with his personal grudges?"
"Daddy, what're you leaving?"
Yu-na asked in her pouty voice, full of curiosity. I swallowed a laugh and gently stroked her head.
"Hm? Nothing, sweetie."
Was there a better way to stop Lim Joo-ho without becoming the same kind of person?
I shoved the nagging thought aside, scooped Yu-na up in my arms, and jumped to my feet.
"Let's swing together, Daddy and you."
"...Okay."
How long did we play like that?
Even in this sweltering heat, I kept going for a good while.
But Yu-na was still full of energy.
"Daddy! Let's play more. Pleeease?"
There was no strength left in her tugging at my shirt hem as she whined.
I was completely out of playtime steam.
'If you wanna play, get down here.'
Since she wouldn't let go, I conquered every piece of playground equipment with Yu-na still in my arms.
Yet she still wouldn't get out of my hold. She just giggled and beamed.
"Daaaaddy."
"Daddy needs a little break. Okay?"
"Aww. Fiiine."
Whoosh.
A gentle breeze rustled the leaves.
The fierce sunlight that had been blocked by the branches now peeked through.
"Ugh. Nice weather or not... it's a shame we can't go far...."
I cupped my hand to shade my eyes from the glaring sun.
"Daaaaddy. Playtime now."
Since she'd been glued to me the whole time, Yu-na seemed bored now.
"Daddy's tired. Just a short break.... Oh!"
Suddenly, an idea hit me for entertaining Yu-na without moving a muscle.
We could take pics on StarStar and have some fun with that! This place had nothing to do with filming anyway.
And I could read the real-time comments under the photos aloud.
I'm a genius. I grinned and pulled out my phone.
"Yu-na, wanna take pics with Daddy and play? We can read comments while we rest."
"Pics? Yay! Love it!"
I got my phone ready, pressed my cheek to hers, and posed.
Click! Click! Click!
I hadn't wiped off my makeup yet, so a bit of powder smudged onto Yu-na's cheek.
It was so cute I couldn't help snapping a solo shot of her too.
An extreme close-up of her cheek.
Click!
I uploaded the fresh pics to StarStar right away—the one with our cheeks together, plus the one of Yu-na's chubby cheek dusted with powder.
"Whoa, the comments are flying in...."
The hearts piling up in real time.
And the comments.
I should've been used to it by now... but the flood of positive vibes still surprised me.
-Father-in-law! Thanks for your hard work in this heat!
-Any more pics?
-What's that mark on his cheek? A scratch on such a handsome face!!
-Look at our Yu-na's cheeks.
-LOLOLOLOL
"Daddy, Daddy! Whatcha doing?"
"Huh? Yu-na, want Daddy to read these comments?"
"Hee hee hee. Yes!"
Her little hands finally loosened their grip a bit.
Seizing the moment, I properly settled her on my lap and showed her the screen.
"They say the powder on your cheek is too cute?"
"Huh? Eek!"
Her tiny hand frantically rubbed at her cheek, trying to wipe off the powder.
Yu-na's face flushed bright red.
Looks like she cared a lot about her appearance.
'That was cute too, though...'
Regretfully smacking my lips, I read the next comments one by one.
"'So cute. Those rice-cake cheeks—I wanna bite 'em!' they say."
"Y-Yu-na doesn't taste good!"
My throat was getting scratchy from reading them all aloud.
Time for some new pics?
I slowly set Yu-na down, cleared my throat with a fake cough.
"Ahem! Yu-na, wanna take more pics and post 'em?"
Nod nod.
"Wanna try it like Daddy?"
I lifted both feet and made a heart pose—the kind only the cool kids do.
"Like this?"
"Yeah. Perfect."
The second she got into position, I dropped my hands and snapped the shot. Her T-shirt rode up, exposing her pudgy belly and belly button in all their glory.
'Yes, this is gold.'
Yu-na's charm was her cuteness plus that chubby tummy. I checked the pic and grinned in satisfaction.
'Alright. Post this one and...'
That's when it happened.
Thud. Thud.
Footsteps approached.
I turned and wiped the smile off my face at the sight of who was coming our way.
Lim Joo-ho was strolling over, fists clenched.
And...
My instincts screamed danger.
"Yu-na, come here."
I pulled her behind me and eyed the approaching Lim Joo-ho warily.
I didn't forget to hit record, just in case.
If things went south here, I'd need evidence.
"Hey, you happy with what you did to my face?"
"What's wrong, sunbae?"
"I saw everything, you fuck. You think I'm a joke too? Huh? Do ya?"
He was close enough to touch now. He shoved my chest.
"You tripped over your own foot by accident and got hurt. I don't get why you're coming at me like this, sunbae."
He let out a hollow laugh, sneering. Then he grabbed my pant leg tight and peered at the hidden Yu-na.
"Out here acting like an actor after knocking someone up young. End times. End times, right?"
"......"
Rage boiled up—I nearly smashed my fist into Lim Joo-ho's face. I forced it down and unclenched my fist.
"Hit a nerve? Makes sense. You're twenty-six, right? Kid's six. Means you fucked up back then."
"...Enough, sunbae. It's pathetic."
That's when it happened. Yu-na stepped out from behind me and charged his leg with her little twig arms.
"Don't bully my daddy!"
I was stunned.
"Y-Yu-na! Get back here!"
"Why's this little shit so feisty?"
When he kicked at Yu-na, my last thread of patience snapped.
"You fuck! You touch my daughter?"
I grabbed his collar, shoved him down, and swung.
***
'Haa, I should've held back...'
I'd shown Yu-na my real fighting side. I'd tried so hard to stay calm, but it was no use.
In the end, Yu-na burst into tears.
And I got hauled in front of the director with Lim Joo-ho.
The director sat in a folding chair, eyeing our battered faces.
"Haa, what the hell is this? You actor, explain."
"...This guy spewed unforgivable shit about my late wife, Yu-na, and me. Then he laid hands on Yu-na."
I couldn't bring myself to call this trash "sunbae."
No sooner had I finished than Lim Joo-ho piped up, playing the victim.
"N-No, that's not it! I'm innocent! I was just trying to get friendly with my hoobae and he—"
I knew it.
There's always one like this.
I pulled out my phone.
The recording I'd made just in case.
Recordings without consent are illegal, but I had no other way to prove my side.
"I'll prove what I said is true."
I played the file, and Lim Joo-ho's voice poured out.
Director Han Mun-jin's face darkened as he listened to our entire exchange.
And...
Lim Joo-ho went from pale to ghostly white.
If I leaked this recording...
Even without fame, he could never act again.
The director let out a heavy sigh, furrowed his brow, and ruffled his shaggy hair roughly.
His emotions were plain on his face. I swallowed hard, tense.
In the heavy silence, the director finally spoke.
"What should we do with this actor?"
"Pardon?"
His out-of-left-field question left me clueless. I'd expected a yelling match to chew us out...
The director straightened up and continued.
"You're the victim. Sure, you fought, but after the insults. Honestly, if I were you..."
He paused, glaring sharply at Lim Joo-ho.
"I'd have half-killed him."
I gulped.
The director looked dead serious.
'He means it.'
Honestly, I was at fault too.
For losing control as an actor.
But when this guy made Yu-na fall and scrape her palm...
I couldn't just stand by.
I wanted to post it on my StarStar right now, make sure he couldn't show his face outside.
But...
I couldn't go through with it.
My StarStar was for spreading Yu-na's cuteness far and wide.
Not for bad news.
Better to handle this like an adult. With that thought, I looked at Lim Joo-ho and spoke.
"I... never want to see this guy in front of me again."
An unreasonable request, but...
I said it anyway.
The director shrugged like he'd expected it.
"Fine. He's done after today's shoot anyway. Sorry. Didn't know he was like this."
I was shocked as the director suddenly bowed his head in apology.
Strictly speaking, it wasn't his fault.
"Wasn't he supposed to clash with the lead again? That's when he swings the knife..."
"The script says he's expelled the moment he swings at the teacher, right? And..."
Trailing off, the director narrowed his eyes at Lim Joo-ho.
"Thinking of him swinging a knife at an actor gives me chills."
I nodded slightly.
Fair point.
"Yeah, true."
"So it's fine to cut him now. No contract issues. And dragging it out would suck anyway."
With the final battle still ahead, the director nailed down that Lim Joo-ho was out as of today.
Lim Joo-ho yelped in shock.
"D-Director!"
"Lim, actor—no more industry for you. Thanks for your work."
Thud. Lim Joo-ho collapsed in place, shoulders heaving with sobs.
Watching him, my feelings were...
Not great.
A burly male staffer approached the director.
"You're here. Get this guy out."
"Yes, sir."
"Got it."
The staff tsked their tongues, grabbed the slumped Lim Joo-ho's arms.
Their faces twisted like they were handling trash.
"Get up already."
"Why's he so damn heavy?"
Lim Joo-ho stayed silent.
His eyes were lifeless, like a man without a country. I watched his retreating back.
'What the hell? Is he acting like the victim now?'
Lim Joo-ho's figure looked utterly dejected.
Now, only the director and I remained where the spark of this incident had faded.
Awkward silence hung.
We just eyed each other, neither speaking.
How much time passed?
The director, gazing at the distant mountains, finally addressed me.
"Good work today. Head home. Ice those bruises."
"Yes, sir."
"Tch. 'Yes sir' my ass... Don't forget next week's final shoot."
"With this face?"
"What about it? Eye patch for the eye, cover the bruises. Now go tend to your daughter. She must be scared."
"Oh...."
"Go, if you get it."
"Yes. Then..."
I turned and headed to the nurse's office where I'd left Yu-na.