Chapter 61
Chapter 61
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 61
Chapter Title: Gathering of the Dads
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# Chapter 61
The dads appearing on the program Daddy, I Love You! had all gathered in one place.
Everyone except Ahn Jeong-su was a complete stranger.
They were all people who only did variety shows.
"Sigh, Tae-hyun. You that excited?"
"Of course! I'm finally escaping being the maknae. They always made me do everything."
Ahn Jeong-su's words met the excited eyes of Yoo Tae-hyun. He smiled and dragged a chair over to sit next to me.
Drag!
Drag!
'What the?'
Starting with him, everyone pulled their chairs over and huddled together.
Self-introductions and greetings had just wrapped up.
So, the next thing to do was...
'Get-to-know-you conversation.'
I smiled awkwardly and opened my mouth.
"Um, do you have something to say to me..."
That's when Kim Yong-cheol, with his ordinary neighborhood-uncle looks, let out a hearty laugh.
"Ahaha! Why are you being so cautious? Relax. Otherwise, it'll seem like we're about to eat you alive."
Movie star Kim Yong-cheol.
After announcing his marriage, he'd quit acting to focus on parenting.
Even if he was retired.
A senior was a senior.
I responded as politely as possible.
"Ah, yes. I'll relax."
As I naturally loosened up, Yoo Tae-hyun grinned and asked a question.
"Your daughter's six, right?"
I nodded.
Comedian Yoo Tae-hyun.
He'd turned his ugly face into his gimmick as a comedian, but after joining this program, he only did variety shows.
He had two kids.
Unfortunately, his son took after him, and he'd said on air that he was worried about the kid's future.
"Then he's the same age as my son."
"They could be good friends."
Yeah, friends...
Friends would be fine.
Anything more, and I'd never allow it, even over my dead body.
"So..."
As Yoo Tae-hyun opened his mouth again, Senior Kim Yong-cheol cut in.
"What story are you trying to bring up this time? Little bro, did you hear anything from PD Kim Eun-young on your way here?"
"Ah. Nothing specific for me either."
That's when a barrage of questions poured in. Yu-na burrowed into my chest and curled up like a ball.
Squirm. Squirm.
Was it the burdensome stares?
Or maybe she was cold.
I excused myself to everyone and turned my gaze to her.
"Yu-na. Cold?"
"...A little."
Her saying she was cold worried me.
Of course, the others watching us seemed worried about Yu-na too.
"Did she catch a cold? Hey! Get a blanket over here. The kid's shivering."
"Little bro. This is what I was using. Want a hand warmer? It's nice and toasty; it'll help."
"Ah, thank you."
I slipped the warm hand warmer Kim Yong-cheol handed me between Yu-na's clothes.
As I gently patted her back, my eyes drifted to the hot chocolate on the table.
Oh, right. Forgot about that.
I reached out and picked up the hot chocolate.
It wasn't scalding—just perfectly lukewarm.
Ideal temperature.
"Yu-na? Want some hot chocolate?"
"Yeah. I'll have some."
Yu-na slurped it down, and half was gone in no time. She'd said she had no appetite because of the cold.
But her appetite was still there?
I felt a bit relieved.
"Hehe. Tasty."
At Yu-na's stuffy-nosed voice, the people around us gasped.
And...
The little kid in Ahn Jeong-su's arms hadn't taken his eyes off Yu-na for a while.
'Is it because our Yu-na is so cute?'
Might be childish, but...
I turned her so the kid couldn't see Yu-na—only her back of the head would be visible.
Even so, the kid stared at Yu-na's occiput and smiled shyly.
As if just looking was enough.
Before I knew it, Yu-na had polished off the contents, and snot was dripping from her nose.
"Look at that runny nose. Sigh."
I pulled out a tissue, wiped her nose, and gently removed the strand of hair stuck to her cheek.
Her face was still slick with sweat.
"You sure you're okay?"
"Yeah."
Hearing Yu-na's reply, everyone's worried expressions softened.
"Ah, did you see episode 153? I don't remember much else, but Yu-na's scene stuck vividly."
"Ahaha! You too, hyung?"
"Same here. She had that captivating charm. Must be from her dad, right? She seems to have real acting talent."
Everyone bloomed into conversation about yesterday's broadcast. Now that they were chatting without me, it was time to focus on Yu-na.
"Ah! Isn't today the sitcom finale?"
I nodded at Ahn Jeong-su's words.
After self-intros, we'd gotten chummier, so he'd switched to casual speech first.
Of course, I was still polite.
"Yeah, it's the finale, so I'm only in a bit. But please watch."
Today was the final airing.
After this schedule, I'd head home, wrap up warm in blankets with Yu-na, and watch the live broadcast.
"Ahaha! I'll watch live."
"Should we all watch at Jeong-su hyung's place?"
Ahn Jeong-su, who'd been quietly watching me, shot up indignantly at Yoo Tae-hyun's words.
"Hey! Why my place!"
"Your place is bigger and nicer than mine. Perfect for gathering, right?"
"Forget it! I said it. If you come today, I won't open the door."
Once their bickering ended.
Senior Kim Yong-cheol quietly asked.
"How long have you been acting, maknae?"
"Not long."
"Yeah? If you ever get stuck, call me anytime. Got it? As a senior, I can give advice."
I smiled at his words.
Kim Yong-cheol had risen to fame with outstanding acting despite his plain looks, just like my past life self.
His skills were incredible.
Truly worthy of respect.
Advice from someone like that...
"Yes, Senior. Don't ignore me if I ask too much and say it's annoying."
I added a bit of playfulness and spoke boldly. His brows furrowed slightly.
Then he let out a chuckle.
"Alright. I'll give you my number, so call anytime without hesitation."
"Hey! I'll give you mine too. But save it as 'Jeong-su hyung' so we look close."
"Here, take mine too."
After exchanging numbers...
We grew closer in a flash and sank into an endless swamp of stories.
The topic was hardships of raising kids alone.
'When's PD coming?'
I hugged Yu-na tight against the cold wind as I walked.
What I'd heard from Kim Eun-young today was that they were doing a Christmas special.
It was meant to give us a chance to bond since I'd joined for once.
And the fun situations from gathering the kids—the real stars of the show.
That's what they were aiming to capture.
'Yu-na's getting new friends? Then why do I feel off?'
It was clearly a good thing.
Yet I felt inexplicably down.
"Ah..."
Thinking about it, all the other cast kids were boys. Meaning Yu-na would be the only girl joining.
'Guys swarming our Yu-na.'
I realized that was why I felt bad.
Crunch. Crunch.
Lost in thought, I arrived home before I knew it.
"Yu-na. We're home. Let's go in, wash up, and watch the drama..."
"Ugh. Ungh."
"...Yu-na?"
Yu-na was acting strange.
She kept groaning, huddling and shivering. She'd been fine when we left the station, but now she looked bad.
"Cough! Cough!"
Especially the harsh coughing.
I placed my trembling hand on her forehead.
'...Hot.'
It was scorching like a fireball.
What do I do?
My mind went blank.
Yu-na had never been this sick.
'She said she was fine with me.'
No time for that now.
"F-First, the hospital...!"
I was moving before the words left my mouth.
My eyes scanned for a hospital.
How long did I run?
Luckily, I found one nearby and rushed inside.
"Haa. Haa."
Even with chest-splitting pain, I strode to the reception desk.
A young nurse was there, thank goodness.
If no one had been, I might've caused a scene looking for a doctor.
The young nurse glanced between me and Yu-na in my arms. Without even hearing an explanation, she led us inside.
After the checkup.
Yu-na got an IV and meds, then fell into a deep sleep on the hospital bed.
The doctor who treated her said she'd probably been holding it in...
Hearing that felt like a blow to the head.
'She told me she was fine...'
Why hold it in?
Did she still not trust me?
Was I lacking as a dad?
All sorts of thoughts flooded in.
Tick. Tock.
The hospital room was deathly quiet despite being midday. Even Yu-na's faint breathing sounded loud.
"Haa..."
I sighed deeply.
As I waited for Yu-na to recover and wake.
Bzzz!
My phone rang.
A number I remembered.
Kim Tae-seok, the main culprit who'd tormented me.
With all my memories back, I could never forget.
I didn't want to deal with him now. As I went to ignore it, a text came.
[Hey, you doing well? It's me, Kim Tae-seok.]
"......"
The call came again.
I felt crappy and wanted to ignore, but decided to draw a line once and for all.
Yeah. Answer it.
-Hey, you good? Saw the broadcast. You're blowing up lately. Heh heh heh.
"......"
The guy who'd crossed lines endlessly and led the bullying now acted chummy. It made me want to puke.
Can't do this here.
I listened to him brag about high school stories like trophies and moved outside.
-Back then, I was so immature. Really sorry. I was wrong.
Hearing the guy who'd scarred me forever, rage boiled up.
I opened my tightly shut mouth.
"Hey, so what."
-...What?
"Immature? That doesn't erase what happened. You piece of shit."
-Hahaha! This shit thinks he's big now...
"I wasn't done. Don't interrupt."
-......
"Were we friends? You're only calling 'cause I'm succeeding as an actor. Let's just live quietly. You said you're mature now. Got it?"
I ended the call and exhaled deeply.
Somehow, it felt refreshing. Not me now—it was the relief of Lee Jun-seo from school days.
'That should do it.'
My shaking hands steadied at some point. I clenched and unclenched my fist, then gripped it tight.
'It's okay now... Good job.'
I took a short deep breath to calm down and returned to Yu-na's room, where she slept peacefully.
I felt someone tugging my hair. No, twirling it into shapes.
"Hehe. Need more rubber bands?"
"Yeah. Give me some."
A sharp pain like hair being pulled yanked me awake.
"Huh? Daddy! Not yet!"
Coming to, Yu-na had her eyes wide, hand outstretched.
Cold gone now?
I gently touched her forehead to check. No fever.
"Feeling better now?"
"Yeah. All good."
Wait, when did I fall asleep?
Stars twinkled outside the small hospital window. Guess I'd dozed off holding her hand and watching over.
Meaning we'd spent the whole night here. Only then did I relax and sigh in relief.
I buried my face in the fresh white sheets and let my body go limp.
Then Yu-na's hands started playing with my hair again.
"Daddy's hair isn't a toy."
"Hehehe. I'll make it pretty, Yu-na will."
"I'll pass."
I whipped my head away.
Yu-na, who'd been fiddling with her tiny hands, froze stiff.
One hand still holding a hair tie.
"...No more getting sick from now on. If it hurts, don't hide it—tell Daddy right away."
"Yeah."
I flicked her forehead.
"You sure answer well."
"Ow! Hehehe."
Dad Becomes a Top Actor