Chapter 65
Chapter 65
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 65
Chapter Title: Exposed Past
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"Yu-na. Want some of this?"
"Uncle, when's Daddy gonna wake up?"
"He'll wake up soon. So don't worry, Yu-na, and just eat your snacks."
Little by little, very little by little.
A familiar voice filtered in hazily.
"Okay."
I slowly opened my heavy eyelids, and a familiar ceiling came into view.
'Is this... that same hospital from before?'
I didn't need to confirm where I was. Just from the sounds around me, I knew it was the emergency room.
"Patient, you can't do this here. Please calm down and return to your seat."
"No! How long do I have to wait?! It's been over an hour of the same excuses...."
From the moment I woke up, the commotion was too much to drift back to sleep.
'I collapsed again....'
This made twice.
Waking up in the ER again, I felt pathetic, and on the other hand, anxious.
I'd collapsed in front of reporters and police, after all. I had no idea what was circulating about me online.
"Haa."
I let out a deep sigh and stared blankly at the grid-patterned ceiling until my mind cleared up completely.
My throat still felt swollen and uncomfortable, though.
'Is it 7 a.m.?'
No windows, so I couldn't tell day from night.
Actually, this was certain.
If it were morning...
Yu-na wouldn't be awake.
"Cough! Cough!"
A sudden burst of coughs hurt so much I curled up, my body heaving as I tried to stifle them. Then Yu-na's face popped up right in front of mine.
Her eyes were red and puffy, her cheeks ballooned out. She looked just like a big hamster up close.
"Mmph. You up, Daddy?"
"......"
Crumbs flew onto my face.
My throat was so swollen right now that I didn't even want to speak, but for my Yu-na, I could endure the pain.
With that thought, I reached out and pressed her cheek firmly.
"...Eat first, then talk."
My voice came out hoarse and raspy.
I could hardly believe it was mine.
As I brought my hand to my throat,
"You're awake? The reporters went absolutely nuts over you collapsing."
CEO Do Bong-seok, who had approached without me noticing, said flatly. Meanwhile, Yu-na climbed onto the bed and crawled to my side.
Not good with my cold...
Luckily, Do Bong-seok pulled Yu-na out from deep under the covers and set her back down on the floor.
"Yu-na, hang on just a bit."
"I was trying to help Daddy get better. My cold went to Daddy, so..."
"Daddy's fine..."
Clunk!
Do Bong-seok plopped down on the edge of the bed and furrowed his brow.
"Stop talking. What if you spike a fever? Just stay still."
"Okay."
"Sip! No talking, just nod. You think I'm joking?"
"......"
Nod. Nod.
My surprise was brief.
I carefully parted my lips.
I had something to say, even if just with lip movements.
"Ha! What am I even doing here?"
Even without a word, he understood exactly what I meant.
'Exactly. Why are you here?'
Shouldn't the agency CEO be busy? I was a little shocked to see Do Bong-seok right there.
To put it simply,
It was like the company president visiting a rookie employee who'd collapsed from a cold.
Wait a sec.
Thinking about it, I realized Do Bong-seok was speaking informally to me.
Rustle.
Lying there felt awkward, so I sat up. My body was fine; I couldn't just lie there in front of the CEO.
"What're you doing?"
Thud!
As I tried to rise, the CEO pushed me back down. Hard enough to make the bed shake.
Couldn't he be gentler?
I narrowed my eyes and glared, and he let out a smirk.
"I did go easy. And I'm the CEO."
"......"
"I've confirmed you're up. I'll take this kid and go. Gotta feed her, right? Oh, and that Kim Tae-seok guy? He's looking at 10 years in prison. Turns out he's been up to a lot."
"......."
"The others who broke into your house will get theirs too."
"Daddyyy! Daddyyy!"
Even as Yu-na wailed desperately, he took her away from me.
It wasn't like we'd never see each other again.
Yu-na struggling with tears streaming down her face was just too pitiful.
I shouldn't laugh...
But the laughter kept bubbling up.
I searched my name on my phone from the bedside. The news the reporters had spread wasn't good.
[Actor Lee Jun-seo Collapses Again. The Shocking Reason...] [Rookie Actor Lee Jun-seo's Past Shock!]
[First Release of Bullying Video: Unimaginable Extent.] [Why Did the School Teachers Do Nothing?] [Rumors Called Him the Perpetrator on Anon Boards Recently... But He's the Victim!]
Everything from my high school bullying days had come to light.
'How the hell did they find this out?'
Sitting on the bed, I ruffled my hair hard. Piles of messages, and the group chat for my debut drama's cast had blown past 300.
Even StarTalk, which I'd started as a hobby, overflowed with worried comments.
Looking at the green screen dominated by my name in real-time trends and the list of searches was a sight.
1. Lee Jun-seo.
2. School violence victim.
3. Yousia comeback.
4. Hwaseong High School.
5. Lee Jun-seo's past.
My head throbbed.
According to the articles, classmate Kim Tae-seok had sicced seniors on me to rough me up and extort money.
'Just as I suspected.'
They said his family didn't give him living expenses, so even after graduation, he'd been fleecing students for cash...
Pathetic.
I scrolled through the articles and checked the comments right away.
'...What?'
Detailed personal info on Kim Tae-seok, who'd tormented me back then, was all laid out.
Age, address, name, phone number.
Some fakes mixed in, but still.
He wouldn't be able to show his face outside anymore.
Even after 10 years in prison.
'This guy's life is over. Done.'
I set my phone down and sighed deeply. Thinking our bad ties were finally severed left me oddly empty.
"Wait...! Cough! Cough!"
I coughed it out and bolted upright.
I'd forgotten something important!
'The year-end awards.'
If the storm didn't die down, I might not even make it to the year-end ceremonies.
That rookie award was mine for sure.
No other newbie had shot up like a comet like me. To attend the year-end awards, I had to wrap this up fast.
Plenty of time left.
I picked up my phone again.
'First, StarTalk.'
I'd put out the fire on StarTalk, the one I'd started as a hobby, and moved my fingers.
Tap. Tap! Tap tap tap!
[Hello, everyone.
This is actor Lee Jun-seo.
I'm sorry for worrying you with this sudden bad news.
It's true I suffered severe bullying in school. Every day was hell, and there was a time I just wanted to die peacefully. Of course, I'm truly fine now.
Because I have my daughter Yu-na.
Watching my Yu-na makes all the hard times fade from my mind...
...
...
No need to worry too much.]
From midway, it was all praise for Yu-na, but it seemed enough to ease the fans' concerns.
Good. Upload like this.
Click!
"Next... messages? Cough!"
From the sitcom crew.
Director Lee Han-sol and Director Han Mun-jin.
The second drama's crew.
And the 'Daddy Loves You!' dads.
I replied to all who'd messaged out of worry that I was okay.
'Haa, this is work too. Work.'
By the time my body felt a bit better, the CEO and Yu-na appeared.
Yu-na, proudly showing off her bulging belly, had a bright expression like she'd never cried. After all that wailing about not wanting to leave me.
"Daddyyy!"
She ran straight into my arms, melting away any sense of betrayal.
Still, I had to say it.
I pulled Yu-na away and lightly flicked her forehead with my finger.
"No running in the ER."
The swelling from the injection had gone down, so speaking didn't itch my throat anymore.
"Daddy? Still hurts?"
I smiled with my eyes at Yu-na looking up with worried eyes.
"I'm good now. Why?"
"Your voice sounds weird.... Lie down quick!"
Yu-na's hands suddenly got busy.
Pulled by her slight strength, I lay back, and she placed her hand on my forehead.
"Sigh, go film a drama. Film it."
CEO Do Bong-seok, who'd snuck up, clicked his tongue with narrowed brows.
'Hearing that here too.'
I'd heard it plenty from the directors on set. I was starting to suspect he was jealous of us.
"Thanks to that StarTalk post of yours, Yu-na ate without crying."
"Yu-na can't read hard words yet. What're you talking about?"
"I read it for her. Now my throat's killing me. How many times did she demand I reread that part praising your daughter..."
Rubbing his throat and complaining of exhaustion, the CEO didn't look tired at all.
Our Yu-na's antics were just too cute. Even when drained, she gave energy.
Seemed the same for him.
Look at him now, eyes glued to tiny-handed Yu-na diligently wiping sweat from my forehead.
The CEO's lips curved up slowly.
Even in the cold winter, his smile felt like summer warmth.
"Yu-na, what'd you eat?"
"Kimbap! I tried to pick out the yellow stuff, but that uncle scolded me."
"Yeah?"
"He went 'bean!' and hit me here."
Yu-na proudly showed me her red, swollen forehead.
Then the CEO burst out laughing. He strode over and roughly ruffled Yu-na's hair.
"That was you running into a pole. Lying now?"
"I-it really happened. Daddy!"
As Yu-na burrowed into me, the CEO shook his head.
"Man. Actor's kid already acting. Fine, my fault. Happy?"
Clunk!
He sat lightly on the bed, his expression darkening. On the surface... anger, sadness. And pity.
"You really okay?"
"Huh?"
"Really okay?"
His "okay" clearly meant the bullying days.
Knowing that, I rubbed my throat and smiled with my eyes.
"Yeah, my throat's fine now."
"No, not that. Haa..."
"Not talking about the cold?"
I asked innocently.
The CEO, staring at my face, let out a small sigh.
"Nah. Whatever. That StarTalk post was perfectly timed. Helped calm the fans."
"By the way, where's my manager? Haven't seen him."
"Waiting in the car. A huge bear like him in here... draws eyes. You're not a regular person; you're a celebrity. Don't forget."
"Ah."
I nodded quickly.
Glances were already flicking my way, making me a bit embarrassed.
More attention here would be...
I shuddered and shook off worries about the manager.