Chapter 70
Chapter 70
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 70
Chapter Title: Yu-na's Surprise Birthday Party
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Thud! Thud! Thud!
The rough knocking sounds echoed again.
I swallowed hard.
Yu-na, who had been sleeping soundly, jolted awake in surprise. The knocking had stopped, but for some reason, I could sense a lot of people near the front door.
"Daddy... I'm scared."
Yu-na burrowed into my arms in an instant, huddling up and trembling.
"...It'll be okay."
I patted her small back and carefully approached the front door with her still in my arms.
Sure enough.
Strange noises came from outside.
I clamped my mouth shut and slowly brought my eye to the peephole in the front door.
'What the... everyone...'
I couldn't hide my shock.
The people visible through the peephole were none other than my close senior colleagues and Shin Dong-hyun.
They were holding tons of gifts, too.
It looked like they'd shown up out of the blue to celebrate Yu-na's birthday together.
'You could've at least called ahead...'
Honestly, it was a bit awkward.
The 'Guard the Pojangmacha!' crew.
The 'High School 2022' crew.
Our place was a tiny one-room, so cramming everyone in would be tough even if we sat shoulder-to-shoulder.
What should I do...
No, before that...
Were we really that close for them all to come together?
"Daddy? Are they bad people?"
"No. They're not scary."
The uninvited guests outside knocked again after hearing our voices.
"Hey! It's cold! Open up!"
"We know you're in there. We heard you just now! Open the door quick."
I let out a deep sigh and unlocked the front door. The door immediately swung wide open.
"Whew, it's freezing. Yu-na! Happy birthday!"
"Ta-da! One day late, but Yu-na! Happy sixth birthday for real!"
Pop! Bang! Pop!
Small fireworks burst, sending colorful paper streamers raining down over me and Yu-na.
I'd seen them through the peephole, so I wasn't too startled, but Yu-na's eyes went wide in surprise.
'This must be her first birthday celebration like this?'
Probably.
I could tell from her reaction right now.
"Uh, um... Thank you?"
"Pfft! Why'd you end it like a question?"
"You were surprised, huh?"
Nod. Nod.
Yoon Mi-jeong set down a huge gift by the shoe cabinet and spoke.
"We were gonna surprise you on our own and rushed to prepare, but we ran into these guys right out front."
"We were shocked too, you know? We thought our junior might be getting targeted by some shady person again, so we almost called the cops."
Yoo Seol-hwa flinched at Cha Eun-hyuk's words and raised her voice indignantly.
"If we're talking shady, you're shadier! What's with that hat! And how'd you even know where our junior lives!"
Oh, right? It was a little weird.
I could understand the sitcom crew, but I hadn't invited the drama crew. So they shouldn't know where we lived.
Who told them?
My question was quickly answered by Cha Eun-hyuk, who got just as indignant over the trivial matter and raised his voice.
"Of course I slyly asked the director. It's your daughter's birthday. Couldn't just let it pass... Right? Anyway, why are you talking so casually?"
The director made sense.
Last time, when I collapsed at the bus stop and got rushed to the ER, the director had personally driven us all the way home.
"I'm the senior, that's why. What! See, this is why young juniors are no good."
While the two bickered, the seniors handed me their gifts.
"This one's from me."
"Take this too, junior."
"Thank you... Oh! Yu-na, say thank you to the seniors."
"Hehehe. Thank you."
"Come on in first. The place is kinda small."
I let them all into the cramped apartment and threw together a simple sixth birthday party for Yu-na with delivery food.
Even with me and Yu-na perched on the bed to make as much space as possible.
The place was so tiny that any movement meant bumping shoulders.
"Hey! Move over! You're keep hitting my shoulder and dropping food."
"You move over. There's plenty of space, why are you sticking so close?"
"Sis, you don't like me or something?"
Yoo Seol-hwa shuddered at Cha Eun-hyuk's joking remark and recoiled in disgust.
"That was a creepy joke."
"Ha! I don't like you either, sis?"
Yoo Seol-hwa and Cha Eun-hyuk were in the middle of a full-blown argument.
I'd learned on debut day when we shared our birthdates to sort hierarchy—they were only a month apart.
So we'd agreed to drop formal speech.
But I hadn't expected them to fight this much.
Because those two kept yelling late into the night, the neighbors came over begging us to quiet down.
They'd pulled an all-nighter at year-end overtime or something?
No choice—we left the cramped apartment and moved the party to a nearby pub.
The interior glowed orange with the traces of long years etched everywhere: an old LP turntable by the counter.
And walls densely scribbled with what looked like drunken customers' graffiti.
'Is it okay to bring Yu-na here?'
It didn't seem the best environment for a young kid education-wise.
"Yu-na, wanna head home and sleep now?"
Shake. Shake.
"I wanna stay with Daddy."
I was worried about Yu-na. Normally, she'd be in her sleeping bag off to dreamland by now.
"Still..."
"Daddy! Put me down now!"
"O-okay."
Yu-na hopped down to the floor and looked around just like the seniors.
"Ooh, this place has vibe?"
As we toured the interior, the eldest, Kim Seong-hyun, commented, and Yoon Mi-jeong nodded slightly.
"Brings back old memories. Nice."
"O! They have LP records! Haha!!"
We sat at a glossy table, called over a server, and ordered food for Yu-na along with drinks and booze.
Today's star Yu-na and I took the center seats, with Yoon Mi-jeong and Kim Seong-hyun right beside us.
With no other customers, we didn't have to worry about stares—the birthday party kicked off freely.
From songs to dances.
Yu-na beamed happily, grooving and singing along to the beat with all her energy.
How long did we party like that?
Before I knew it, exhausted Yu-na had curled up on my lap, snoring softly with the world's happiest smile.
'She must've had a blast.'
Today was probably a memory she'd never forget.
"Jun-seo! You drink up too!"
"Yeah! How dare you not even tell us about Yu-na's birthday."
"Ahaha. I told you earlier, it was because of that jerk making things tough."
"Right. That bastard's the one at fault."
"Daring to bully our cute junior? Drag him here right now!"
Drunk with slurred tongues, Yoo Seol-hwa and Cha Eun-hyuk ranted about the guy who bullied me in school.
The other seniors held them back, calming them down somewhat, but the two seniors right next to me looked displeased.
Yoo Seol-hwa had jumped up and spilled her drink. Time to wrap it up, I figured... I started glancing around.
Shall we end on a high note?
I shifted Yu-na aside briefly and quietly stood.
"Ahem!"
My fake cough drew everyone's attention. Kim Seong-hyun and Yoon Mi-jeong sipping drinks beside me.
Kang Su-ho and Kang Min-woo still holding back Yoo Seol-hwa.
Cha Eun-hyuk and Shin Dong-hyun chatting as fast friends.
I confidently raised my glass of soda and spoke.
"Everyone, happy new year! For the finale, shall we cheers together? To our bright futures!"
I raised my glass high, but the warm vibe turned icy cold.
What? Why? It was what my seniors always said at company dinners in my past life...
"Oh."
It hit me—they were all quite a bit older.
'Did I come off like some boomer?'
Their cold stares stung, so I awkwardly smiled and lowered my glass.
As I ducked my head in embarrassment and tried to sit back down.
The two eldest seniors beside me shot up.
"Yeah, happy new year to you too, junior!"
"Keep at it this year! Get up, everyone. Junior wants to cheers."
"Ch-cheers!"
"T-to our futures!"
I silently thanked the two seniors for saving the mood, then meekly downed my soda.
Since turning twenty-seven, my days had been nothing but peaceful routine lately.
Pouring everything into 'Daddy, I Love You!' filming.
Shooting my solo cosmetics CF.
Posting Yu-na pics on Starlet now and then to connect with fans.
Occasional comments mentioned past incidents, but they were all words of concern, so it wasn't bad.
'This fan's consistent.'
I'd posted a pic of Yu-na holding her rookie award trophy yesterday, and it got great response.
-Yu-na's dad! Thanks for posting today! My phone now has over 150 pics of Yu-na and oppa...
-Post more oppa pics too!
-Lately it's all Yu-na pics.
-Bro, I go to Hwaseong High too! An idol from Hwaseong High... My pride!
What? A junior of mine?
My eyes went to the comment claiming Hwaseong High attendance.
Pic too? I tapped the profile—super familiar uniform.
A bespectacled student with a bookbag.
Total model student vibe.
Feeling glad, I replied to the kid's comment.
'Study hard.'
Then I moved Yu-na back from the TV—she was watching our show up close, just like I used to warn against for bad eyes.
"Huh? Daddy!"
"Yeah?"
"Yu-na looks weird there."
Yu-na pouted, pointing at herself on TV.
Hide-and-seek: she'd hidden behind the curtain with the kids, but her tiny toe stuck out, making everyone laugh.
'We had that much fun, huh.'
I'd been out on errands for An Jeong-su back then.
"You can see it all... Don't hide there! Run away quick!"
Yu-na scooted close to the TV and poked the screen.
As if TV Yu-na would hear and come out.
After that, the dads pretended to hunt for the kids' hiding spots.
Giggling kids.
Dads watching fondly, guarding their innocence.
Just watching looked fun.
I pulled Yu-na back and kneaded her chubby tummy.
Was Yu-na turning seven soon?
"Run away already! Ugh, seriously!"
"......!"
Super hyped Yu-na suddenly raised her fist. I barely dodged the punch aimed at my chin and sighed in relief.
'What if she'd hit me...'
The broadcast ended, and calm Yu-na whipped her head around.
"Daddy."
"Yeah?"
"When's the one where you were the teacher airing? You looked so cool."
"Hmm, around when you start kindergarten?"
"Hehehe. Hope it comes soon."
I gently stroked Yu-na's hair.
Things were about to get busy.
'First, move to a new place.'
Then find someone to watch Yu-na. I'd casually asked the seniors—they said there are monthly part-time gigs for guardians away on work.
A hassle, but.
I'd meet them face-to-face.
And decide if they're trustworthy myself.
Since it's for our Yu-na.
"Sigh, so much to do..."