Chapter 71
Chapter 71
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 71
Chapter Title: Back to Kindergarten
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Winter break, that long and endless ordeal, had finally come to an end. Now fully focused on kindergarten preparations, I was once again battling Yu-na's picky eating in our new home.
The result... was, as expected, my defeat.
When would I ever get Yu-na to finish her bean rice? No matter how hard I racked my brain, nothing good came to mind.
Clink. Clink.
After placing the used dishes in the sink, I turned my head.
"Yu-na, honey. Time to put the toys back in the box and get ready to see your friends."
"Yeees!"
Dressed in her cute pajamas, Yu-na diligently packed away the toys she'd been playing with and jumped to her feet.
Honestly... all her other toys had been broken beyond repair, so no matter what I bought, she showed no interest. But the ones we picked out at the department store last week? She played with those just fine.
Was it because we chose them together?
When I turned back after finishing the dishes, Yu-na's pajamas were scattered on the floor like a snake's shed skin.
I told her to put her dirty clothes in the laundry hamper.
She never listens.
Letting out a deep sigh, I tossed the cute little pajamas into the hamper.
In the meantime, Yu-na came rushing out, neatly dressed in her kindergarten uniform.
Yellow shorts like forsythia blossoms, a white T-shirt, and even stockings that were hard for her to put on alone.
It was impressive to see her dressed so neatly all by herself without any help.
"You're getting good at dressing yourself now?"
"Hee hee hee. Yu-na's all grown up."
Her confident attitude was so adorable that I couldn't help but tease her.
Narrowing my eyes, I said,
"Oh yeah? Then... you should be fine using your own room from now on, right?"
Yu-na flinched.
Then she vigorously shook her head.
"Didn't you just say you're all grown up?"
"Ah, not all the way grown yet."
Her determination not to sleep alone made me burst out laughing.
The reason I said that was simple. Thanks to a recent incident, I'd been able to move into a secure apartment with the agency's help.
It had three rooms of different sizes.
The smallest one became a storage room.
The largest was the master bedroom.
The remaining one I made into Yu-na's room. She needed her own space, after all. And yet... Yu-na insisted she wanted to share a room with me forever.
'Well, she'll change her mind eventually.'
I placed my hands on my hips.
"Alright, alright. Now grab your bag. Time to head to kindergarten?"
"Yeees!"
After sending Yu-na to her room, I glanced around. The living room was spacious enough to accommodate all the sunbaes who visited last time.
On the wall hung a framed photo of Yu-na and me smiling closely together.
And the floor was made of glossy wood.
So clean you could probably hear a squeak if you rubbed it by hand.
"...Having a bigger house is nice."
Was it because I'd worked so hard to earn the money to get here? Pathetically, I got all sentimental, and tears welled up.
So much had happened... When I first possessed this body, I was thrilled at the new opportunity, but things were tough financially, so I had to scrimp on living expenses.
Back then, Yu-na was eating scorched rice instead of breakfast, right?
I'd never let her fill her belly with that again.
With my resolve hardened, I wiped away the tears just as they started to form.
That's when I sensed movement nearby.
'Oh, right. Cameras are rolling!'
I quickly composed my expression.
In a corner of the spacious house, a cameraman had set up a makeshift wall and was filming me through a small hole. And this wasn't even a scheduled 'Daddy, I Love You!' shoot day.
I'd tipped off PD Kim Eun-young in advance that I'd land a new project soon, so they were probably squeezing in extra footage.
The more they had, the more episodes I'd appear in.
"Daddy! All ready!"
Yu-na had returned before I knew it.
Her backpack was bulging out suspiciously. Just looking at it screamed trouble.
"...Yu-na, let's check your bag."
"Nooo!"
I snatched it quickly and opened it.
Sure enough. My hunch was right.
Just like last time, Yu-na's little bag was stuffed full of toys.
After dropping Yu-na off at kindergarten, I finally had some time to myself.
The cameraman had followed her, too.
How long had it been since I'd had this kind of freedom?
Tears blurred my vision as I thought about how tough it had been.
That time at the zoo, as promised.
I couldn't even enjoy it while searching for the lost Yu-na, and bathing her when she hated it was its own hell.
And playing with her constantly.
I'd prayed to a god I didn't even believe in for winter break to end quickly.
The sky was so clear and refreshing.
"Mommy, that uncle's weird. He's crying all by himself."
"Shh! Stay away."
People around me started edging away. My face burned as I hung my head and kept walking.
How far did I go like that?
The nice weather had me wandering aimlessly until I arrived at the Lunatic agency.
It was noon.
I'd walked for a full three hours.
"Hmm, should I have not walked?"
My legs ached, and I was out of breath.
Probably because of the thick mask making it worse.
Ah, seriously. I can take it off now, right?
Fed up, I removed the mask and hat. A cold breeze swept in, cooling my sweat instantly.
I'd been too busy playing with Yu-na to go hiking... Should I start again?
With that thought, I climbed the stairs and flung open the door to the fourth-floor office.
No one even looked up...
The staff at their desks were too busy with work to notice me.
Well, honestly, that was more comfortable.
Pushing down the pang of neglect, I sat at an empty desk and caught my breath.
The reason I'd come here.
Was to tell them about the project I'd filmed before. Or something better if I could find it.
Once my stamina recovered, I'd dragged back the box full of bound scripts from last time.
"Hmm, this one's meh, and this too..."
After reviewing them one by one for decent roles.
Nothing measured up to the one I'd seen before.
'Devil's Errand Center.'
The director's name was scribbled small on the front, unfamiliar. Probably not well-known.
That gave me pause...
A good script could flop with an unskilled director. Was picking this as my next project the right call?
'...No.'
I shook my head immediately.
Hesitating over an unknown director wasn't like me.
Back in the day, I'd only picked surefire hits and dragged them to success by the collar.
Same as always.
'Alright, this is the one.'
Tap. Tap.
Suddenly, someone tapped my shoulder.
Turning around, it was the CEO.
"Oh, CEO. Hello."
I shot to my feet and bowed. He scratched his chin with a bored expression.
"When did you get here? You should've said something."
"I was just looking over some stuff."
He glanced behind me.
Then he eyed the script I was holding and spoke.
"Decided?"
"Yes. This'll be my next project."
He furrowed his brow, raised his hand, and ruffled my hair roughly. Then, after hesitating, he said,
"Ah, that one... The investor bailed, so production might be tough."
"What? Oh, I see."
In that case...
"I'll look for something else, then."
As I gazed regretfully at the bound script, the CEO hung his head and shook with laughter.
What was going on?
"...CEO?"
"Puhahaha! Just kidding. Kidding."
He burst out laughing, clutching his stomach, leaving me stunned.
'Kidding? What does that mean?'
He just kept laughing and made a call somewhere. Then, without a word, he handed me the phone.
Unable to hide my confusion, I put it to my ear.
"...Hello?"
-Hey, you holding up okay?
A gruff, curt voice.
Familiar somehow.
-What? Cat got your tongue?
"Director Han Mun-jin?"
I shot the CEO a questioning look.
He just shrugged.
"What's this about?"
-So, I heard from Bong-seok recently. You wanna act in 'Devil's Errand Center'?
"Ah, yes. I was considering it..."
Han Mun-jin continued.
He'd gotten a production request lately, thought it over carefully, and accepted.
'No way, what kind of coincidence is this?'
I glanced at the CEO. "Recently" lined up perfectly with when I'd been mulling it over.
Which meant...
He'd accepted because he wanted to work with me again.
'With Director Han Mun-jin, I can trust it.'
With the issue resolved, I was eager to meet and discuss the project.
-So. You in? Or out? If not, I'll find another lead.
"I'll do it. Leave the lead role to me."
My firm answer drew a deep sigh from the other end.
-Haa. Gonna be busy again.
His tone was gruff, but I could sense the joy.
-This time, I won't go easy. If I don't like it, I'll make you redo it endlessly. Got it?
"Yes! Understood!"
-Hah! Voice is spot on, at least. Once the rest of the cast is set, it'll get hectic. Stay sharp.
Click!
The long call ended, and I handed the phone back.
"What'd he say?"
"Says it'll get busy soon, so stay sharp."
"You're really doing this? ...Production's low on funding, and you two... wait, three?"
"Three?"
"You said you know the writer. Script's solid, but it needs that hit factor."
"Haha, it'll work out somehow."
He let out a low sigh, narrowed his eyes, and asked,
"What about your next schedule?"
"Hmm, I have someone to meet soon. Heading there now."
The sudden appointment from yesterday.
I'd agreed to meet Ha-yul's mom, Yoon Si-won, at a café today.
Something about my next project she wanted to ask.
I checked the wall clock.
Public transport from here should get me there right on time.
"Well then, I'll..."
As I turned to leave, the CEO grabbed my wrist.
"Jun-seo, want a manager?"
"It's not work-related, so no need."
He suddenly smacked my back hard. I got mad without knowing why.
"Hey! Why'd you hit me!"
"I told you over and over: have some awareness. Walking around without a manager? And... never mind."
CEO Do Bong-seok's deep sigh.
I flinched.
"You not watching the news? That bastard escaped the hospital. Stick with a manager if you don't wanna get hurt."
"...What?"
"Escaping like that means he's lost it completely. Be really careful this time. Got it?"
"......"
Shocked, I dropped the bound scripts I'd been gathering.
Escaped the hospital?
That guy?