Chapter 57
Chapter 57
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 57
Chapter Title: Joining Lunatic Entertainment
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After borrowing the kindergarten bathroom for a moment to wipe all the makeup off Yu-na's face, I headed into the staff room.
Those little troublemakers...
I let out a small sigh as I looked at the kids kneeling in the corner as punishment.
The neat-looking girl was Ha-yeon.
The soft-faced boy with lots of small scratches was Min-jun. These two little ones were my daughter's friends. I'd heard stories about them from New Sprout Kindergarten now and then.
So I knew.
"They say friends start to look alike..."
I turned my gaze, gently set Yu-na down on the floor, and gave her back a light push.
"Yu-na. You have to stand for punishment too."
"...Okay."
Plod. Plod.
Yu-na trudged over to her friends and knelt on the floor.
Like that, ten minutes passed.
The two little ones, including Yu-na, shot pleading looks at the teachers.
But no one helped them.
Their desperate little eyes were so cute that I just turned my head away and shrugged my shoulders.
This was natural—they'd left the whole scolding to me. Of course, some might find it odd for me to punish someone else's precious child.
'No need to worry.'
I'd made time to attend kindergarten events despite my busy schedule.
New Sprout Kindergarten sports day.
Parent observation day.
Talent show and various others.
By participating in so many events, I'd gotten close to the other parents, so no one minded if I disciplined their kids.
Not that I went overboard.
I just gave them enough punishment to make them reflect on their mistakes.
How much time passed like that?
Bang!
The teacher, having finished cleaning up the ruined makeup, entered the staff room. Her expression was bright even though she'd had to throw away her own cosmetics.
"Sir, I'm fine now, so you can let them off the hook."
At her words, the troublemakers looked up at me.
Their eyes were full of genuine remorse.
"Sigh. As the teacher says, you can get up now. Even if the teacher says she's okay, what you did was still stealing."
"Okay..."
"...Sorry."
The two kids and Yu-na lowered their hands.
They turned around and bowed deeply to the teacher. I'd had no idea Yu-na would cause trouble at kindergarten.
"I'll compensate for the makeup the kids used and ruined."
She glanced right at the camera nearby, then cleared her throat with a cough.
"I got scolded as a kid too for secretly using my parents' makeup to imitate grown-ups. So just scold them enough to make them reflect."
"I know that, but..."
"And we're in the middle of filming—can't show them getting harshly punished on camera, right?"
"......"
I shrugged and smiled at her joking tone.
It was reassuring to know our Yu-na was in such good hands.
I lowered my gaze again.
The other two kids had vanished before I knew it, leaving only Yu-na clutching my pant leg.
Seeing her face about to burst into tears, I asked as gently as possible to emphasize I wasn't mad.
"Did you apologize to the teacher?"
"...No. Not yet."
"Want to apologize quick and get out of here? We're going for tonkatsu today—your favorite. Ice cream for dessert."
"Yes! I'll apologize right now!"
Her tears vanished in an instant. Yu-na dashed to the teacher and bowed deeply.
Then I gave the cake I'd made today to the teacher, the biggest victim.
"You don't have to give me this..."
She politely refused the cake gift, but her body was brutally honest.
She'd already taken it...
"Yu-na. Ready to say goodbye?"
"Bye-bye, teacher."
"Haha. Yeah. Bye-bye, Yu-na."
With that trendy goodbye—who started it?—we headed out.
I woke up early on the weekend, got ready in a flurry with Yu-na, and headed out.
Lunatic Entertainment.
On the way home after eating out with Yu-na yesterday, I'd gotten a call from the director.
'I was really shocked back then.'
The agency CEO who'd had his eye on me and Yu-na from my debut had sent an email himself, but no reply?
I knew the place.
They'd produced some amazing actors.
Plus, the Lunatic CEO had swept acting awards every year like it was nothing back when he was an actor.
'Actor Do Bong-seok.'
These days, CEO Do Bong-seok.
It must've been around when I started as a child actor in my past life.
Everyone was shocked when he suddenly quit acting despite his success and switched to variety shows.
'What made him retire?'
Even after 16 years.
He still hadn't revealed why.
Rumor had it he'd stepped back for talented juniors...
'Anyway, that's beside the point.'
I shook off the stray thoughts and turned to Yu-na.
If things went well with the CEO today, we'd join Lunatic. Honestly, joining an agency now felt a bit late.
Partly because I'd wanted to pick projects myself.
But filming my second project made me realize how much I needed one.
The staff who'd always bring Yu-na from home to set when shoots ran late—I was so grateful...
Oblivious to that, Yu-na squatted on the roadside and picked up a huge fallen leaf.
"Daddy, look! It's bigger than Yu-na's face. So cool."
Did she roll around on the ground?
Her pretty fall dress, perfect for autumn, was covered in leaves.
Even the bag she treasured was filthy with leaf crumbs.
'Take your eyes off her for a second, and this happens.'
I knelt to her level and gently brushed the crumbs off her clothes.
"Daddy, Daddy! Look at this! Hehehe. Yu-na found it. Super big, right!"
"Huh? There's a bug on it."
"Eeeek!"
I couldn't help laughing at how she flung the leaf away in terror.
It was a lie...
"We'll be late at this rate. Yu-na, wanna hold Daddy's hand? Or... piggyback?"
She shook her head.
"I'll just hold Daddy's hand."
"Alright. Here."
As soon as she grabbed my hand with a big grin, I stood and hurried— we'd dawdled playing.
Or rather...
'Is he coming to the agency too?'
I glanced at the cameraman tagging along. He'd joined this morning, wearing the same outfit as yesterday.
Was he eating properly?
No need to worry.
"Daddy. Daddy."
I turned to Yu-na tugging my hand.
"Yeah? What is it?"
"But... where are we going?"
Oh, right.
I hadn't told her.
"We're going to Lunatic agency."
"Hmm... Agency?"
"Hard word? It's the place that helps Daddy and Yu-na. Got it?"
"Hehehe. Sounds like a good place?"
"You bet. A great place."
Of course it was.
Director Han Mun-jin recommended it himself. I'd originally planned for Y&H Entertainment from my past life, but it went bust ages ago.
So I'd waited patiently for Director Han's rec.
If I'd listened to that CEO back then and gotten my head straight to return?
"......"
I shook off the thought and walked until we finally reached our destination.
I stood in front of the Lunatic Entertainment building, staring blankly.
The pristine white exterior gleamed, emblazoned with the agency's full moon and diamond star logo.
"Daddy, there's a moon up there."
"Yeah, let's go in."
As Yu-na and I entered, two staff members—a man and a woman—blocked our path.
"No filming inside without permission, so please turn off the camera."
"Oh, I forgot."
I quickly explained the situation to the cameraman beside me.
He slumped his shoulders and lowered his camera.
"Ah, Jun-seo. Sorry. I messed up."
"No, it's my fault too."
It was.
I knew no agency allowed interior filming.
Unless the CEO approved.
Still, I'd forgotten to mention it.
What now?
"...For now, grab a late breakfast nearby. You joined early and probably skipped it."
"Sounds good."
I got his number and returned to where we'd been.
"We heard from the CEO. You're Jun-seo and your daughter Yu-na, right?"
"The CEO's waiting upstairs. I'll guide you."
The staff were so polite.
First impressions of the agency: solid.
"Shall the princess come too?"
"Hehehe. Yes!"
One word to describe entering the agency office...
'Ordinary.'
It looked just like the one from my past life—tension eased.
"See that door? The CEO's waiting inside. I'll head out then."
"Oh, sure? Thanks."
Leaving the guiding staff behind, Yu-na and I strode forward.
Employees' eyes turned our way. I tuned into their murmurs.
"Isn't that actor Lee Jun-seo?"
"Oh, the famous daughter doting one?"
"With a daughter that cute... I'd be a dad-dad too."
"But he looks younger than me. How old was he when she was born?"
Guess I'm the first celeb with a kid so young.
Made sense they'd be curious.
These stares are awkward.
Creak!
I hurriedly turned the knob—the eerie sound sent chills.
Yu-na winced and covered her ears with tiny hands.
"Ow. Daddy, Yu-na's ears hurt."
"Ah, sorry. Better now?"
"Yeah, all good."
We entered quickly, closing the door softly behind us. I turned to face the man ahead.
'Actor Do Bong-seok... no, CEO.'
His long hair and beard—even as a man, he looked straight out of a historical drama.
The aura of intimidation pouring off him was no joke.
"Gonna stand there forever?"
"Ah, no!"
His call snapped me to attention. I answered firmly. Thankfully, he smiled, pleased.
He kindly guided us to seats and set drinks on the table.
Then extended a hand to me.
"Nice to meet you, actor Lee Jun-seo. I'm Do Bong-seok, CEO of Lunatic."
"Ah, yes! Nice to meet you. This is my daughter, Lee Yu-na. As you know, I'm Lee Jun-seo."
I shook his hand steadily, and a document slid before me.
The contract.
"I hate beating around the bush. Straight to it—this is the contract. Read it over, ask anything."
"Yes... I'll take a look."
I read the contract from top to bottom, clause by clause.
Nothing rubbed me wrong.
So it didn't take long.
'Contract term: 3 years initial.'
Income split was generous for a newbie.
Best part.
A clause midway: If anything happens to my daughter while I'm busy with work, prioritize her.
Common sense, but...
It really hit home.
"Any issues?"
"Ah, all good. But really okay taking on a rookie like me? With a daughter too..."
"Haha!"
He blinked in confusion, then burst into laughter.
Startled, sleepy Yu-na jolted into my arms.
"Jun-seo, you still don't know yourself. You shattered my stereotypes this time."
"Huh? What do you mean?"
"You really don't know."
Sorting his excited words: People view young actors with kids negatively.
But.
I was different.
I'd openly said Yu-na was my daughter from the start—no backlash.
"Thanks to you, young folks who had kids early and couldn't bloom are coming out now."
Hadn't crossed my mind.
"So... no need for you to worry."
Do Bong-seok grinned, tapping the signature line. Like these terms were exceptional.
Well, I was joining anyway.
I signed, and he stood, hand out again.
"Please take care of me, Lee Jun-seo."
"You too, CEO."
"And... Lee Yu-na?"
Hugging tight in my arms, Yu-na replied to the CEO.
"Yeees."