Chapter 60
Chapter 60
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 60
Chapter Title: Viral Father-Daughter Duo
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An alarm blared early in the morning, disrupting my deep sleep. I flailed my hand around, but I couldn't grab the phone no matter what.
"Ah, seriously..."
I half-opened my eyes and sat up, snatching the noisily ringing phone.
It was a call from Shin Dong-hyun.
"What the heck? He told me not to contact him because he was busy filming his next project."
I carefully got out of bed so I wouldn't wake Yu-na and headed to the kitchen.
"Hello?"
-Hey, I watched yesterday's episode. Yu-na had more solo shots than you? And why don't you get kids' feelings at all?
What was this guy talking about?
This program focused on the kids, of course, and edited the clumsy dads' mistakes to show funny moments.
That was the charm of [I Love Dad!].
"...That's how the show is supposed to be."
-Yeah, sure, but your story made the news too.
My heart sank at Shin Dong-hyun's words. Our story on the news?
"Why the hell..."
In my past life, I'd heard about the drug scandal over the phone like this. The memory made my hand shake so badly I could barely hold the phone.
No. This time is different.
I pulled myself together and cautiously asked.
"...What's the news?"
-Young actor and child actress chemistry?
The tension drained from my body the moment I heard Shin Dong-hyun's words.
This guy was scaring me.
I patted my chest and let out a deep sigh.
"Haa. Really?"
-What's with that reaction?
"What's the problem now?"
-I'll send you the link on KakaoTalk, so check it out yourself. I don't know what that reporter was thinking, using that photo. Heh heh heh.
Click!
He hung up first after that ominous remark, leaving me uneasy.
"If it's that kind of photo..."
I immediately opened the link Shin Dong-hyun sent.
The first thing that caught my eye was the huge headline.
[Young Actor Lee Jun-seo. And His Daughter.] It was a disappointingly tame title for all the fuss he'd made.
But scrolling down...
"Pfft!"
I scrolled through the article and burst out laughing without realizing it. My photo was normal, but Yu-na's was different.
It was her disastrously made-up face.
This was Yu-na's black history.
This scene must have been etched into everyone's minds. It was so cute that I personally wanted to save it.
"First, save this photo..."
I turned my gaze back.
Yu-na was obliviously scratching her belly, unaware that this photo was circulating all over the internet right now.
"Who the heck does she take after..."
I turned back to the article and started checking the comments one by one.
-Yu-na looks cute even with that makeup. Why don't I?
-Lee Jun-seo casting Lee Yu-na this time was a stroke of genius.
-Chant it! Daughter's fool! Daddy's girl!
-Never imagined this lololol.
-This episode is full of legends. The duck feet scene still sticks with me too.
-They're regulars now, right? Right?
-Feels like the early days of [I Love Dad!]. Let's keep it going!
The reactions to us joining were definitely all positive.
"Hmm, regulars."
By contract, we were set to appear until I took on my next project.
Semi-regulars, I guess...
'The response is insane.'
Our names, mine and Yu-na's, were on the real-time search trends. I was dumbfounded—I had no idea the reaction would be this hot.
Bzzz!
The phone rang again.
It was a text from the agency CEO.
[No. 1 ratings right after joining! Congratulations. If you have time, come to the agency often. Bring Yu-na next time!!]
Starting with the CEO's text, messages poured in from my seniors I'd worked with.
'When am I going to check and reply to all these?'
I kept sighing deeply.
But they were sincere, so.
I had to check them all and reply.
Sitting in the corner of the kitchen, I grinned like a madman, replying one by one.
Unaware that Yu-na had woken up and was staring at me weirdly.
That's when it happened.
A call from an unknown number.
'Whose number is this?'
I usually ignored unknowns, but this one gave me a strangely uneasy feeling.
I swallowed dryly and answered.
"...Hello?"
-Hey, I changed my number. Save this one. Too busy to pick up calls lately? At least text me.
"......"
-I saw yesterday's broadcast. Heh heh heh. Let's meet so I can see your daughter's face. Booze?
It was Kim Do-hoon's voice.
My good mood from moments ago vanished.
Hearing his voice soured my mood instantly. But now, it didn't scare me at all.
Was it because he mentioned Yu-na?
Irritation surged for no reason.
"...Don't contact me anymore."
-What? What the...
Click!
I immediately blocked Kim Do-hoon's number and tossed the phone onto the bed.
Then, looking at Yu-na who was peeking at me fearfully, I smiled as usual.
My expression must have been scary just now. I picked up Yu-na, who quickly smiled back, and said.
"Shall we eat?"
"Heh heh heh. Yes!
The assistant writer entered the broadcasting station's meeting room with lighter steps than usual.
Then the planning team came in next.
They greeted each other one by one with bright smiles.
"Did you go home and rest well?"
"Yes, the live reactions were so good. I slept easy. What about you, Team Leader?"
"Ahaha! Same here."
They'd been showing similar daily routines, so ratings had been scraping the bottom lately.
But.
Thanks to the new additions, Lee Jun-seo and Lee Yu-na, they hit No. 1 ratings—a huge achievement—and yesterday was like a festival.
'Lee Yu-na.'
A character with cute looks and quirky actions that were charming. Plus, scenes blended with a young, handsome actor.
The editors said there were no scenes they could cut; it was tough.
'Good call on casting them.'
Creak!
Kim Eun-young, who had arrived first and was sitting quietly, leaned back in her chair.
Just then, planning team leader Yang Gil-su, who had been talking to the assistant writer, approached.
"You were the PD who cast that father-daughter duo this time, right, PD Kim Eun-young?"
"That's right."
"I see. Ahaha! That's a relief."
"Huh? Relief about what?"
"I heard a similar program sent a casting request to Lee Jun-seo too."
"Oh, really?"
Kim Eun-young wasn't particularly interested.
That one was already on the brink of cancellation anyway.
"Ahem! Shall we start the meeting?"
The room fell silent at Kim Eun-young's words. Everyone stopped talking and took their seats.
"With Christmas coming up, I'd like opinions on events for the special..."
Then, a man sitting far away raised his hand and spoke.
"Like when we brought all the cast to the studio. How about gathering them all at home this time and doing a pre-Christmas party?"
Exclamations rose here and there.
It was a pretty good idea.
Clumsy dads meeting up.
And incidents with all the quirky kids together.
Even closing my eyes to imagine, I couldn't picture the outcome.
One thing was certain.
'It'll revolve around Yu-na.'
All eyes would be on the lone girl, Yu-na.
"Sure. Any more ideas?"
As soon as Kim Eun-young finished, everyone shot their hands up.
The team leader closest started pitching ideas, and opinions clashed repeatedly.
Like that, one hour.
Two hours.
The meeting dragged on endlessly, but everyone's eyes were alive. It had been ages since the meeting buzzed like this.
Kim Eun-young quietly lifted the corners of her mouth.
"Good. Let's take a break."
I got a call from PD Kim Eun-young in the morning. They're shooting a Christmas special soon, and she had something to say, so come to the station.
'Christmas special.'
Every program did specials for special days.
Would there be a script this time?
Variety shows usually had tight scripts. Making and acting appealing characters was variety entertainment.
My character was daughter's fool anyway.
As long as it fit that, any script was fine.
"Yu-na, you really okay?"
"Yeees. It's okay. Sniff!"
Her cold made her nose stuffy, so she sounded all cute and nasal.
On one hand, I was a bit worried.
A week.
Despite steady cold medicine.
Yu-na's cold showed no signs of improving. Worried, I always bundled her in thick clothes whenever we went out and carried her.
Fortunately, Yu-na never tried to take them off saying it was hot.
It must really be cold outside.
"It's not too cold?"
"A little?"
"Let's go in and get some warm milk. Dad brought a thermos."
"Heh heh heh. Yeees."
PD Kim Eun-young greeted us in the broadcasting station lobby on our second visit.
"Jun-seo! Long time no see."
Her complexion was brighter than last time.
Of course, after we joined and hit No. 1 ratings.
"Shall we head up? Before that... any drinks you want?"
She pointed to the coffee shop next to us with a smile.
Then Yu-na shot her hand up.
"Yes! Yu-na wants hot choco."
"Hot... Ah, hot chocolate? Got it. And you, Jun-seo?"
I realized with a start.
Yu-na had her daily chocolate quota this morning already. No more today.
But.
Yu-na was eyeing a chance to exceed her daily limit. Look at those pleading eyes.
'No helping it. Just this once...'
I patted Yu-na's back, readjusted my hold on her, and scanned the menu.
Nothing appealed.
"...Same for me."
"Ahaha! Got it. I'll pay and be right back. Wait here."
She left us and hurried into the coffee shop.
We were just blankly waiting for main PD Kim Eun-young when.
"Dada. Dada."
Smack! Smack!
Yu-na mercilessly slapped my cheeks and pointed behind.
"There's a scary ajusshi."
"Where?"
I turned to where Yu-na pointed and my eyes widened.
The man walking toward us looked familiar.
It was An Jeong-su.
He stopped right in front of me, also holding his child.
"Hello? Jun-seo."
"Yes. Hello, Player An Jeong-su."
"Ahaha! Player? I retired ages ago."
"Then... Jeong-su. What brings you here?"
"I heard we're shooting the Christmas special, so I came. You too, right?"
"Yes, but..."
I glanced down.
The little kid in his arms kept talking to Yu-na.
"Hi? We met last time, right?"
"Yeah. Hello."
"You got a cold?"
"Yeah."
I dazedly watched them talk, then snapped to and cautiously stepped back.
No need to spread Yu-na's nasty cold.
"Why are you doing that?"
"Oh, the cold. Don't want to spread it and be a nuisance. So, keeping distance."
"I see. My son has been nagging to see Yu-na..."
"Aaaah! Daddy!"
The excited kid, face and neck flushed red, covered An Jeong-su's mouth.
Just like on TV.
We were chatting casually, waiting for PD Kim Eun-young, when the surroundings got noisy.
People spotting us gathered around.
"Shall we move?"
"Ah, well... I'm waiting for the main PD."
Just then, Kim Eun-young came running with the drinks.
"Ah, sorry I'm late. You two were catching up. Shall we head up and chat more?"
"Yes, sure."
Not much to say, though...
I held back from saying it honestly.
'No, more importantly...'
Was that kid interested in our Yu-na? He kept turning back, so it bugged me.
If he was into Yu-na... I'd never leave them alone.
I stayed alert and followed the two.