Chapter 73
Chapter 73
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 73
Chapter Title: Unexpected Headlines
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Overnight, an absurd article spread across the internet.
It claimed that I had caught the fugitive Kim Tae-seok.
[Actor Lee Jun-seo's Heroics in Capturing Knife-Wielding Kim!]
[Shock! School Bullying Victim Catches the Perpetrator—Like a Drama Unfolding.]
[Lee Jun-seo's Statement Revealed! Shocked That He Even Tried to Harm My Precious Daughter!]
I rubbed my throbbing head and set my phone back down.
'It wasn't a knife—it was a broken glass bottle.'
And in reality, my manager was the one who subdued Kim Tae-seok and handed him over to the police...
The comments on the articles were something else.
Mostly things like "This is dad's power" or "I'm a fan now—fighting!"
Honestly, even from my quick skim, nothing else stuck out.
Bzzzzt!
'As expected...'
The phone I'd set down started ringing noisily.
I flipped it over and saw texts pouring in like crashing waves.
Calls started coming too.
Just like when the article about me being a school bullying victim broke.
In times like this... I ignored all the calls and went straight to the messenger app. It was easiest to update the family group chat with my well-being.
Tap tap! Tap!
My fingers flew across the screen when—
"What the—another call...!"
The president's name popped up, and I hurriedly answered.
"P-President! Hello."
-How's your body holding up? You okay? That guy came at you with a knife?
I could tell just from his voice that he was calling to tease me.
"...President? Didn't my manager tell you? It wasn't a knife—it was a broken glass bottle. And my manager's the one who subdued Kim Tae-seok and turned him over to the police. Why..."
Laughter burst from the other end of the line.
-Khkhkhk. Reporters always blow things out of proportion, you know. Oh! Jun-seo, you gave Kim Tae-seok a good kick, right?
Suddenly, I recalled kicking Kim Tae-seok in the face in a burst of rage.
Had I even told the president about that?
-Did it feel good?
"......"
-You just took it all back in school.
Looking back... yeah, it did feel refreshing.
Back then, I'd been too scared of him to fight back at all.
"A little, yeah."
-"That's what matters. It's all over now. Chest out, live proudly."
Yeah, that was enough.
I shrugged my lightened shoulders at the president's words and steadied the phone.
"Yeah, that's the plan."
-Oh! Almost forgot. Jun-seo.
"Yes?"
-I heard you're up for an audition soon. That's why I called. I'll text you the details—check it out."
"Huh? Audition?"
-Just see for yourself.
Click!
He hung up without answering my question.
What audition could it be...
The moment I saw the title of the file he sent, I was speechless.
[Devil's Errand Center Audition Schedule]
What? I actually have to audition?
***
The flower-thawing cold had fully retreated, ushering in the season between spring and summer.
Early Saturday morning, Kim Mi-so arrived at the house wide awake and alert.
The teacher from the recently aired "High School 2022" was right in front of her.
That intelligent, popular-with-students image...
'Definitely 27, right?'
Lee Jun-seo looked picture-perfect as he fiddled with his bangs in front of the large mirror by the entrance.
If only she were 20 years younger...
She might have tried to catch his eye.
"Ma'am? You listening?"
"Ah, yes!"
At his call, Kim Mi-so snapped to attention and smiled brightly.
"Please take good care of Yu-na until I get back. If you need to go out, the key's in the deep drawer here—don't forget it."
"Oh, no worries."
"Then I'm off."
Creak. Beep!
After the door closed and his footsteps faded, Kim Mi-so wiped the smile from her face and let out a quiet sigh.
'Can I really handle this...?'
Raising five kids of her own didn't count as experience?
'Level 1 Babysitter.'
That certification wasn't for nothing.
There's a clear difference between other people's kids and your own. Even if the precious child misbehaves, you never raise a hand.
So what do you do? Obviously, talk them through it gently.
That's why childcare for young kids is said to be the toughest.
Luckily, this time's charge was child actress Lee Yu-na, whom she'd seen plenty of in photos.
Her employer said she was well-behaved, despite the occasional odd behavior.
Still, no room for complacency.
"...Gotta stay sharp."
Clenching her fist, she scanned the interior.
"Nice place..."
First things first: unfamiliar house, need to get oriented. No rooms off-limits... Start here?
Peeking into the room right by the entrance made her frown instantly.
Dust-covered desk, uncleaned.
Bookshelves a mess.
Dirtier than her unemployed son's room.
"Dust this thick and no one's cleaned? Seriously?"
Her contract: light cleaning, supplementing Yu-na's studies and care, fixing her picky eating with beans and veggies.
'If the first room's like this...'
Her bad feeling was spot on.
The second room was no better.
"Sigh, lots of work ahead."
Where to start, how...
Sorting the cleaning order in her head, she opened the last room.
This large one was spotless.
Like it was the only one cleaned.
"Hmm. Hehe."
Hearing the odd noise, Kim Mi-so turned to the snow-white bed.
There lay an angel in forsythia-yellow pajamas.
Just watching her sleep soothed the soul.
"...Maybe do some light cleaning until the cute little miss wakes up?"
She knew from experience that cleaning's harder once they're up.
Where's the vacuum?
She was rolling up her sleeves to head out when—
"Hmm. Daddyyy."
The angel rubbed her eyes awake.
No—Yu-na's eyes stayed shut as her hand waved in the air.
Too adorable.
'My son and daughter were cute like that when little. Now... not so much.'
Silently watching when—
Her eyes finally fluttered open.
First just blinking, then a startled flinch, eyes darting around.
"Wh-who are you?"
Yu-na scooted back warily.
Stranger danger.
Best to ease her guard first.
Kim Mi-so knelt to eye level.
"Auntie's here to take care of our Yu-na. Didn't Daddy tell you?"
She smiled warmly, but...
Yu-na's face hardened.
Whoosh!
She yanked the blanket over her head and screamed.
"Daddyyy! Daddy! A weird auntie's in here! Daddyyy!"
No daddy appeared despite her desperate cries, so she started sniffling.
"Um... Yu-na?"
Step.
"Waaah! Don't come! Daddyyy!"
One step closer, and the tears burst.
Unfazed, Kim Mi-so pulled out her phone.
Only Daddy's voice would calm her now.
Smartest move.
***
Scribble. Scribble.
In the passenger seat, I checked the time after jotting in my little notebook.
11 a.m.
Lunchtime soon.
"...How long till we arrive?"
"About 30 minutes. We'll make it on time—no worries."
Skipping lunch to rush? Today was a major audition.
'Devil's Errand Center.'
Originally, even the actors who'd gotten love calls were avoiding it. But once word spread that Director Han Mun-jin was taking it on...
You can imagine.
That's how huge Director Han Mun-jin's clout was.
"Sigh, everyone's info network is impressive."
"Ready for the audition?"
"More or less."
I glanced back at my notebook. From what I'd heard, the theme was intense gaze, arrogant attitude.
And freeform acting.
It'd been a whole month since it was announced.
But nosy reporters delayed my prep.
"Sigh. Not enough time..."
"Want to go slower?"
"No. Can't be late for an audition. Keep this pace."
How much time passed?
Deep in focus, scripting decent lines, when my pocket phone blared.
Who now...
Frowning, I pulled it out—and relaxed at the screen.
It was Kim Mi-so, the babysitter I'd carefully selected during the interview.
"Hello?"
-Oh, Jun-seo. Well, the thing is...
Yu-na's heartbroken sobs came through behind her.
Something happen?
After hearing her out, I burst out laughing, clutching my stomach.
Apparently, Yu-na was crying because a stranger was home and Daddy was nowhere.
"Haha! Put me on."
Then Yu-na's voice.
-Hic. D-Daddy?
Her sniffles tempted me to tease. A devilish whisper from beside me.
'Just do it?'
I shook my head.
No, she might get upset.
But just once...
-Hic. Daddyyy.
Freed from temptation by her pleading tone, I spoke calmly.
"Yeah. It's Daddy, Yu-na."
-Hic. You won't throw Yu-na away, right?
"Why would Daddy throw away his cute Yu-na? I'm just out for work a bit. Play nice with Auntie there, and I'll buy you something yummy."
-R-Really? Promise?
"Yeah. Listen to Auntie."
-Okay. Sniff.
Click!
I pocketed the phone with a smile.
"You seem happy."
"Of course. Crying because I'm gone."
"Why not just bring Yu-na?"
I hardened at my manager's words and shook my head.
"She needs to learn to be alone sometimes. Can't always be by her side."
Can't drag her to sets forever. If I pass, I'll be busier—she has to learn independence.
"I was always alone at home. Wasn't that bad..."
"Pardon? What was that?"
My mutter made him turn. Eyes on the road while driving—safety first.
"Hey, watch the road."
***
Long time since JJ Media.
Stepping into the audition waiting room drew every eye.
'Crowded.'
Scanning the room, most were familiar names.
Some first-timers?
Probably rookies.
The relaxed chatters were veterans with tons of projects. The corner-dwellers poring over self-written scripts? Newbies.
Obvious at a glance.
'So...'
My spot was over there.
Ignoring the prickly stares, I cut through center to the corner, playing full newbie.
Any hint of arrogance...
And some weirdo would pick a fight.
Stares faded; everyone back to their thing.
Finally relaxing.
Step. Step.
Someone stopped in front of me.
Black shoes, mismatched long white socks. Fashion terrorist? Curious, but I didn't look up first.
"Hey, you."
Half-assed informal from the jump.
Irritated, but no showing it. Time for acting. I looked up with innocent eyes.
"Ah, yes?"
One word for the guy: average. No, below.
Plain looks? At least dress well—like my past life self.
"See a senior, you stand and greet—not sit there, right?"
As expected.
Same old.
'Old-school prick...'