Chapter 52
Chapter 52
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 52
Chapter Title: Meeting the PD
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I woke up early in the morning and immediately texted the PD of the Dad, I Love You! variety show using the contact info Dong-hyun had given me.
I told him that since I was interested in appearing, he should contact me directly instead of going through a friend. In response, he said he'd sent me an email trying to cast me from the very first airing of Guard the Pojangmacha!.
'I had no idea.' When I checked my email now, it was packed with messages from all sorts of variety shows and ad models wanting to cast me and Yu-na. Even internet personal broadcasts. Finding the casting request from Dad, I Love You! among them was no easy task.
"...I'll know once I meet him."
I set my phone down by the bed and stared blankly at the ceiling. Getting a casting request for Dad, I Love You! at a young age felt like a dream. These kinds of variety shows had been popping up like factories for a while now. The cuteness of the kids. The dads' awkward parenting. They provided entertainment through those elements, and they still do. In my past life, I'd watch them and imagine what happy family days it would've been like with my late parents. 'I hope this works out.' It wasn't confirmed yet, so I felt unnecessarily tense. I shot up out of bed.
"Yu-na, it's a bit early, but should we head out and wait?"
"Yesss!"
We hurried to get ready and headed outside, towing Yu-na's ZingZing 2 along. 'Lucky the kindergarten's nearby.' Otherwise... I'd have had to carry Yu-na's ZingZing on public transport. Just imagining it from last time made my body shudder involuntarily. 'Main PD Kim Eun-young.' I was so grateful for his thoughtfulness. Murmur murmur.
"Oh! I love watching Guard the Pojangmacha! Yu-na's dad. Where are you off to with Yu-na today?"
"Yu-na, you're so pretty today too!"
Even with masks covering our faces, plenty of people recognized us. Every few steps, neighbors would approach with friendly greetings.
"Ahaha! Off to collect the neighborhood dues?"
"Stop by my shop too. I can't pay you, but I'll hook you up with extra fried dumplings on the house."
An auntie laughing about the still-airing sitcom. An uncle tossing out a deadpan joke. Even a student helping out at the Chinese place. I exchanged light greetings with them all before turning my gaze to Yu-na. They recognized us because of Yu-na's voice and the electric car, even with our faces covered.
"Hehehe. Honk honk! Yu-na coming through!"
Look at her now. She raises her voice, calling out her name to get people to move aside.
"Yu-na, can't you go quietly?"
"...Am I loud?"
Seeing Yu-na's crestfallen face, I hurriedly waved my hands.
"No, you're not loud at all."
"Then why do I have to go quietly?"
"Sigh. No, let's just go."
Yu-na, who had been cruising along fine, suddenly stopped and turned her head.
"Dad."
"Yeah?"
"The pretty teacher at kindergarten told me. Sighing is bad."
"Huh? Oh. Yeah?"
"So no sighing."
"Got it. Sorry, Dad won't sigh."
"Hehehe. It's okay."
Ziiing. Yu-na turned forward again and resumed moving. Her tiny back looked so small and utterly adorable. 'Sigh, who does she take after...' Oh. Right. No sighing. I vowed not to sigh in front of Yu-na anymore as I slowly followed along with the ZingZing. 'Did I ask him to text when we get close to the cafe?' I only pulled out my phone after arriving near the destination.
Inside the quiet cafe, two men waited for Lee Jun-seo and his daughter.
The chubby guy with glasses and a hat was Main PD Kim Eun-young.
Every program he handled saw good results, but after a year, ratings always plummeted—earning him the nickname "One-Year Wonder."
That one-year mark was approaching soon.
To shake off that tag...
He desperately needed Lee Jun-seo, who had appeared as a supporting actor in a long-running sitcom.
His daughter who mimicked her dad's every move. Lee Jun-seo shaking women's hearts with his dad smile. Viewers would be curious about this father-daughter duo's daily life.
Kim Eun-young himself was curious about Lee Jun-seo's off-script, unacted self.
'Please, we have to land this casting.' Anxious that actor Lee Jun-seo might change his mind, Kim Eun-young gulped down his hot coffee and slammed the cup on the table. Then he glared at the junior PD sitting right next to him.
"Hey, rookie. Get your head in the game."
"Y-Yes, sir!"
The rigidly disciplined man was An Ki-hoon, the rookie PD who had recently joined Dad, I Love You!. An Ki-hoon couldn't even sip his refreshing drink in front of him, his throat parched with nerves. It had only been a month since joining. Just being in this important meeting felt like sitting on pins and needles. 'Why'd he have to bring me? The main writer should've come instead...' The plain cafe interior. Soft classical music playing. The barista had just brewed fresh coffee, and the hazelnut aroma quickly filled the space. Still, An Ki-hoon was too busy watching Kim Eun-young's mood.
"I hope Jun-seo accepts our casting request."
"Y-Yeah."
"Rookie, any word from Jun-seo on when they'll arrive?"
"Yes, uh... o-one sec."
An Ki-hoon fumbled for his phone on the table. He said he'd text when they were close. A message saying they'd arrived soon should come any minute.
"Sigh, if only he'd just sign the contract right away..."
An Ki-hoon glanced at Kim Eun-young's mutter, then checked his phone.
"...Huh?"
"What? Did he back out?"
"No... He's almost here."
Whoosh! Kim Eun-young shot up from his seat. He wanted to order drinks ahead to make a good first impression. But already?
"You little shit! I told you to check your phone! Go order something quick right now!"
"Y-Yes, sir!"
An Ki-hoon scrambled up and rushed to the counter. But. Here's the problem. What drinks would actor Lee Jun-seo and his daughter like? After a quick scan of the menu, "Uh, two orange juices, please."
An Ki-hoon ordered the safest option and quietly let out a deep sigh. Soon after, the drinks arrived, and he brought them back to the table. 'I've never seen Main PD this worked up...' Seeing him bite his nails and jiggle his leg anxiously, An Ki-hoon thought, 'This really is a big deal.' < i>'Oh, right. Gotta prep the proposal and contract.' Remembering something he'd forgotten, he quietly pulled the documents from his bag. Silence fell in the meantime. Then, cheerful classical music swelled as the bell tinkled! Two customers entered. As if on cue, both men turned toward the door. Finally, Lee Jun-seo and his daughter had arrived.
"Hello. Mr. Lee Jun-seo, as I mentioned on the phone, I'm Main PD Kim Eun-young in charge of Dad, I Love You!."
"I-I'm rookie PD An Ki-hoon. It's an honor to meet you."
The two introduced themselves with practiced smiles and guided us to seats where orange juice was already waiting.
Definitely.
From their behavior...
I could tell just how badly they wanted to cast me and Yu-na.
"Dad! Dad! Can I have this?"
"Huh? That?"
Kim Eun-young quickly flashed a bright smile and cooed in a baby voice.
"Drink as much as you want, princess. I'll buy you all you can eat."
"Hehe. Thank you."
It was so heartwarming and proud-making to see her politely clasp her little hands at her belly and bow deeply.
I turned back to Kim Eun-young and cleared my throat with a cough.
"You're serious about casting me and Yu-na on the show?"
"Yes, absolutely. Rookie."
"Y-Yes!"
I skimmed the proposal handed over by the rookie PD, and they started swallowing hard, watching my reaction.
'What's with the nerves?' They seemed almost scammy, so without letting on, I searched their names under the table. 'Real PDs...' Still a bit suspicious. I turned to the proposal. Making food while playing kid-friendly games to fill the runtime. If we followed the plan as written, this show was perfect for us. Plus, Yu-na's quirky antics were so vivid I could picture them with my eyes closed. Her ability to draw laughs was her biggest charm.
"...What do you think?"
To Kim Eun-young's soft question, I nodded quietly.
"It's solid. Short filming schedule is a plus too."
"R-Really? Then right away..."
"Before that."
I cut off his fumbling attempt to shove the contract at me. I had more to say; I wasn't about to rush into signing just because they were desperate.
"Sorry, but..."
Their faces darkened instantly, before I even finished. They think I'm rejecting? I continued right away.
"Is there anything I absolutely need to know? Stuff to watch out for?"
Their expressions brightened in a flash, genuine smiles returning. The main PD answered my perfectly reasonable question himself.
"Just act like your usual selves."
The rookie PD chimed in.
"And just be careful with indirect PPL. Places we have deals with are fine... Your daughter's favorite Limited products are under agreement, so no PPL worries there."
I nodded attentively to their words. The mood turned great, and they started firing questions without hesitation.
"A personal question: What's Jun-seo like personality-wise usually?"
"Oh. Similar to the sitcom character, I suppose. Warm only to my most precious Yu-na..."
To ease their lingering tension, I cracked a joke.
"Ah! But I don't go raiding shops and trashing the place. Still on good terms with the neighborhood shop owners."
"Ahaha! You're a fun guy."
It landed. Their faces relaxed naturally.
"Dad! Dad!"
Yu-na, who'd been so well-behaved, shot up in her chair and tugged my clothes.
"Can Yu-na have this one too?"
She'd already downed most of the orange juice and was eyeing mine. Look at that belly now. Her t-shirt poked out bulgingly, showing her greed plain as day.
"...This is Dad's?"
I grinned mischievously and chugged the drink right in front of her eyeing it. I set down the glass with only ice left, and Yu-na's eyes drooped sadly.
"Look at that belly. You snacked so much on the way here. Room for more?"
Poke! Poke! Poke! Pressing her bulging tummy with my finger made Yu-na burst into giggles.
"Kyaa! Dad, that tickles."
The two PDs, who'd been watching our play intently, spoke up in unison.
"Just from this, we can tell what kind of personality Jun-seo has and how he is with his daughter."
"If watching this makes you smile like a dad, it's gonna be a hit."
"You think so too, rookie?"
"Definitely."