Chapter 7
Chapter 7
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 7
Chapter Title: Yu-na's "Sister" Moment
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Yu-na, who had been wailing, suddenly widened her eyes and twitched her nose.
“Sniff sniff! Huh?”
“Pfft… She’s really cute. I’ve never seen such an adorable kid before.”
I definitely agreed with her.
Even to me, Yu-na’s bewildered expression was utterly precious.
The charismatic look on her face had crumbled, leaving only a honey-sweet smile.
“Yu-na, would you mind calling me ‘sister’ just once?”
“Uh, sister?”
Her lips curved up gently as she rummaged in her pocket and pulled something out.
What did she take out?
I peeked over and saw it was a dalgona candy made entirely of sugar.
“Yu-na, want this?”
“Wow! Candy!”
She shouldn’t have it since we’re about to eat soon.
Before I could stop her, Yu-na took the candy in her tiny hand, glanced at me, then tore open the wrapper and popped it into her mouth.
“Sigh. Wonder who she takes after. She’s so quick on the uptake.”
I shrugged lightly.
She loves it so much.
I couldn’t bring myself to take it away.
Inside the sashimi restaurant where the cast had gathered.
It was just me, Senior Yoo Seol-hwa, and Senior Kang Su-ho.
We were chatting casually while waiting for the director, who had said he’d join our belated after-party.
‘I’m starving…’
Answering the barrage of questions aimed at me had left my throat parched.
‘No end in sight. None at all.’
I took a refreshing sip of water and caught my breath for a moment.
“Jun-seo.”
At Senior Kang Su-ho’s call, I quickly smiled and asked,
“Yes. What is it?”
“You always immerse yourself in your role the same way, right?”
“Yes, making my body remember it turns it into a habit, so it’s easier to get into character.”
I clear my mind by taking two deep breaths. That makes it much simpler to slip into the character.
I wondered what methods the seniors used to grasp their emotions.
Struck by curiosity, I alternated glances between Yoo Seol-hwa and Kang Su-ho as I asked,
“You seniors must use different methods, right? How do you do it?”
They shot me suspicious looks.
“Hey…”
The first to speak was Yoo Seol-hwa, sitting right in front of me.
She continued,
“Be honest. You’re not really a rookie, are you? It was all a lie?”
“Huh?”
What was this about…?
I couldn’t fathom why she suspected me.
“What do you mean?”
Kang Su-ho, who had been watching me silently, quietly spoke up.
“Where did you train before?”
“Train? What do you…”
“That’s not something a rookie would do. Unless… someone taught you that method.”
“Exactly. You said you were self-taught. Where’d you learn that? Tell us the truth.”
“……”
I lacked the courage to admit I’d acted in a past life.
Who would believe I’d possessed this body?
I’d decided from the start never to tell a soul until I died.
So how should I explain this…?
“Are you listening to me?”
At Yoo Seol-hwa’s call, I snapped back and smiled awkwardly as I opened my mouth.
“It really is self-taught. I studied by watching videos online.”
Only then did they soften their suspicious gazes into warm smiles.
“Well, it’s this day and age. Plenty of those videos floating around.”
“The times have changed for the better.”
Yoo Seol-hwa let out a snicker at Kang Su-ho’s words.
“Pfft! Hearing you say that, Senior Kang, makes you sound even older.”
“I’m still in my forties. Fit as ever.”
Just as the conversation topics ran dry and the lively mood fell deathly silent,
“Daddy… Yu-na’s hungry.”
Along with Yu-na’s whine, Yoo Seol-hwa’s phone on the table buzzed.
Vrrr!
I snuck a glance at the screen—it showed the director’s name.
“Daddy…”
“Oh, Yu-na. Sorry, can you hold on just a bit longer?”
“How much longer?”
“Hmm… See that clock over there? Until the long hand hits exactly 10.”
“Okay…”
That was when Yoo Seol-hwa, having just ended her call, set her phone down and clapped her hands.
All eyes turned to her.
“Alright! The director’s too busy to come, so… shall we order now?”
“Daddy.”
Grrrowl.
A cute rumble came from Yu-na’s tummy as she tugged at my clothes.
“Really hungry?”
“Yeah…”
Seeing Yu-na’s listless face, Yoo Seol-hwa unfolded the menu and held it out.
“You can read the menu, right? Pick what you want. Sister will buy it all.”
Yu-na nodded and carefully scanned the menu before jabbing her finger at one item.
“This one!”
I quietly asked Yu-na,
“Do you know what it says?”
I knew she couldn’t read perfectly since we hadn’t started kindergarten yet.
But maybe showing her my script and teaching her letters had helped…
“N-No…”
She scrunched up her face, staring holes into the menu, then declared proudly,
“Assor-ted! No, Stut-ter-y!”
We all burst out laughing at Yu-na’s answer. Isn’t this cheating?
She was just too cute.
As the seniors and I laughed, Yu-na’s lips puckered out like a duck’s.
“Oh, sorry for laughing. But I’ll definitely get you the stutter-y one.”
“Sister, huh. Where do you keep your conscience?”
“Senior, I’m still in my thirties, so sister it is.”
“Round up and it’s forties. Jun-seo, what do you think? No conscience, right?”
“Ahaha…”
Proving their close friendship, the two launched into childish bickering.
“Oh! Right, now that you’re one of us, want me to add you to the group chat?”
“…Group chat?”
I slipped my hand into my pocket and fiddled with my rock-hard phone. How could I use a mobile messenger on this…?
“Wait a sec, hold on. I’ll invite you right now… Huh? Why isn’t it showing up?”
Yoo Seol-hwa poked furiously at her phone, tilting her head.
“Jun-seo, do you… not use KakaoTalk?”
“Oh… yeah. My phone right now…”
Not wanting to lie, I set my phone on the table.
My face burned with embarrassment.
Their expressions hardened at the sight of my phone.
No surprise—in this modern age, who carries something like this?
“…People still use phones like that?”
Yoo Seol-hwa muttered softly, and Kang Su-ho awkwardly chimed in.
“You must use it to avoid disturbances from anyone.”
“Can’t add you to the group chat, then…”
Yoo Seol-hwa set her phone down with a regretful look.
“Your assorted sashimi order is here.”
Right on cue, our food arrived, filling the empty table.
“Dig in hearty. Jun-seo.”
“Yes, Senior Kang Su-ho.”
“Yu-na, eat up without holding back. Gotta grow big and strong.”
“Yes! Sen-bai-nim!”
Yu-na’s bright reply turned the place into a sea of laughter once more.
In the deep darkness, a red light point streaked by at high speed.
Hoooonk!
Frowning at the horn blaring from behind, Director Lee Han-sol kept his speed steady.
“Those bastards don’t value their lives?”
Cursing under his breath, he let the tailgating cars pass.
Then, maintaining a safe average speed, he reflected on the day’s events.
Lee Jun-seo’s doting-dad character today had more charm than expected.
It felt insufficient to just increase his screen time.
“Hmm…”
Thoughts multiplied.
Unable to focus on driving, he pulled over to the shoulder, parked, and pulled out his phone.
‘Head writer’s number…’
He found it and called.
“Hey, got a minute?”
-Yes, what’s up?
A drowsy voice, like she’d just woken up, came through.
Not doing her job…
Frustrated, Director Lee Han-sol stepped out of the car and snapped irritably.
“Did you watch today’s footage? I’m asking.”
-How could I?
So oblivious…
Low on patience, he gripped his phone tightly.
“I sent it by email ages ago—what have you been doing? Check it now!”
-N-Now? Hold on!
Only after he raised his voice did the sluggish woman move. Pathetic.
The clip he sent was short, so it wouldn’t take long.
As he reached for a cigarette in his pocket,
An excited voice exploded from the phone.
-Director!
“What? You know that guy from last time—increase his role a bit. Like, the heroine wins over the daughter, so the thugs can’t touch the pojangmacha…”
Before he finished, the head writer cut in.
-It’s exactly the character I came up with! He’s so appealing, of course he’ll get a great response…
“So, can you do it?”
-Of course! Leave it to me! I’ll have to revise the script, so call me later.
“Yeah, good work.”
Click!
Her swift response finally eased his mind.
This project’s gonna be fun.
Director Lee Han-sol smirked, recalling Lee Jun-seo’s performance today.
The acting at the shoot was far better than at the audition.
No experience, yet possible? Absolutely not.
Actors deepen their emotional delivery through countless experiences.
‘Lee Jun-seo…’
He couldn’t understand why someone with that level of skill would join an unpopular sitcom.
‘With that talent, he could succeed as a lead…’
A saying popped into his head: trying to understand geniuses gives you a headache. Might have to bow and recruit him someday.
Director Lee Han-sol lit his cigarette and gazed blankly at the sky.
A huge full moon shone beautifully amid twinkling stars.
The scene seemed like the stars were adorning the moon to make it shine.
“Daddy! The sun’s up!”
Yu-na’s booming voice drilled into my ears first thing in the morning, waking me.
“Please let me sleep a little. Yeah?”
Grumbling, as I closed my eyes and pulled the blanket over,
The covers flew off, and Yu-na slapped my cheeks.
Smack! Smack!
My cheeks stung.
“Get up already! Daddy!”
“…Fine, stop hitting.”
Groaning, I dragged my heavy body upright. I’d crashed right after the after-party, dead tired.
“Yawn…”
I scratched my belly with my mouth wide open.
Still in yesterday’s outfit.
‘Sigh, didn’t even drink. Yet my head hurts and I’m exhausted…’
I’d planned to end early, but the director suddenly texted to postpone the shoot.
With the schedule wiped, the seniors rejoiced at the rare break.
So we went to round two.
Of course, with Yu-na there, no booze. Come to think of it, haven’t had a drink lately?
“Hee hee hee. Daddy, eat breakfast quick.”
Yu-na sat at the folding table, scooping rice and side dishes.
Her hand-eating was so cute I just watched—then froze.
“…How’d you find that lunchbox?”
Yu-na was munching the ones I’d hidden away for busy days—not great for kids, but prepared just in case…
She swallowed and pointed at the fridge.
Oh, right.
Food’s stored in the fridge.
Felt like an idiot for a second.
I sat on the floor and tore into the lunchbox Yu-na had set out.
Nom nom.
Come to think of it…
“Shall we go out? Check if the pay hit and all.”
“Yu-na guard the house?”
I brushed the rice off Yu-na’s cheek and said,
“No, let’s go together.”
“Yay!”
If the pay’s in…
Time to ditch this ancient phone and buy essentials.