Chapter 76
Chapter 76
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 76
Chapter Title: The Live Broadcast Debut
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After Lee Jun-seo and Kwon In-ju left, the auditions continued.
Second. Third.
Tenth. Forty-fifth.
Every single auditionee's performance seemed utterly lackluster. With the limited time remaining, they sent them all packing.
‘This is all because of that guy.’
His doting dad image had overshadowed it... The afterimage of that intense gaze lingered so strongly that even closing his eyes brought Lee Jun-seo flickering into view.
After a performance like that, there was no way anyone else could catch their eye.
Han Mun-jin clicked his tongue.
Kwon In-ju's acting was excellent too.
But it had been overshadowed by the blinding light that was Lee Jun-seo.
“What a shame. Such a waste...”
“Director... are you talking about actress Kwon In-ju, by any chance?”
Main writer Kim Hyun asked.
He was thinking the exact same thing.
A rookie debuting with this project, but his heart knew whose acting had shone brightest.
‘Actor Lee Jun-seo.’
And.
The actress Han Mun-jin regretted passing over was Kwon In-ju.
Her body type could be fixed with some weight loss advice—no issue there. Even if her looks were average, slimming down would elevate her above that.
Han Mun-jin nodded.
“You think so too, Kim Hyun?”
“Yes. It’d be a shame to let her go.”
By then, the receptionist had brought in the final auditionee.
“Last one.”
The final auditionee's performance was more of the same.
Did they really need to hold auditions again tomorrow?
Kim Hyun glanced subtly at Director Han Mun-jin. His heart was already set on actor Lee Jun-seo.
That sharp gaze that could captivate even a man, the sweet whisper.
And the dignified gestures.
Closing his eyes conjured images from the script. Better than the early scenes he’d written...
‘Should I tweak the opening a bit?’
Production was already greenlit, so changes now might be too late.
Still, should he ask?
“Um... Director.”
“Yes?”
“About the script’s opening scene. I’d like to revise it like what actor Lee Jun-seo did. Is that okay?”
Han Mun-jin let out a hollow chuckle.
As main writer, he could just declare he’d change it confidently. Kim Hyun’s hesitant attitude was amusing.
“Do whatever you want. You’re the main writer. That’s not my call. Just make sure it doesn’t mess up the schedule—hurry it up.”
Only then did Kim Hyun’s face brighten.
“Got it.”
At his response, the assistant writer who’d been quietly gauging the mood let out a small sigh.
‘The main writer’s stirring things up.’
The morning after auditions ended. I’d been bustling around since dawn, getting ready to head out.
“Yu-na, come on, let’s go.”
“Neeeng! But where are we going?”
Yu-na, in a blue blouse and brown hat, stretched out her arms as she asked.
How to explain this?
I picked her up like usual and said,
“Remember the squid dance from before?”
“Like this?”
Cradled in my arms, Yu-na wiggled into that weird dance from back then. She remembered it perfectly.
“Y-yeah, that’s it. Back then, Dad said he’d do a live stream soon.”
“Oh.”
“I kept putting it off because of work. But today’s the day. So we’re gonna broadcast together, just like Dong-hyun oppa did.”
“Really? That’ll be fun!”
That’s right.
The live stream I’d mentioned before.
I kept delaying, and the backlash built up, so the agency said today’s the day—let’s film it.
This mouth of mine...
I never imagined it’d happen so suddenly.
‘What should I do?’
I’d only ever watched live streams.
Never done one myself.
Well, maybe once?
By the time we reached the underground parking lot, I got into the waiting manager’s car and racked my brain.
‘Three hours of broadcasting.’
They said that’s the minimum after all the delays. Honestly, it was just annoying.
On a Sunday, I wanted to lounge at home and relax.
The manager, driving steadily, chuckled and asked,
“Keuk keuk keuk. Annoyed? It’s all over your face. Of course you are.”
Does it show that much?
Yu-na, sitting obediently on my lap, whipped her head around. Her swaying hair brushed my chin, tickling slightly.
“Dad, you annoyed?”
“Nope. Not annoyed at all. It’s a broadcast with you.”
I gently stroked Yu-na’s hair and turned my gaze out the window.
My annoyed expression was plain as day.
We look just like we do on ‘I Love Dad!’...
So why do they want a live stream?
“We’ll be there soon.”
“Huh? Already?”
Peering out, we were already in the city. Just around the corner from the agency.
I hurriedly fitted Yu-na’s hat on and straightened her clothes.
A small studio inside the agency.
After makeup, I sat in the designated spot, quietly watching the young staff bustle about.
They set up a small camera and monitor in front of me, plugged in the mic cable, and started checks.
“Jun-seo, say something.”
At the staffer’s request, I leaned forward into the mic.
“Like this?”
“Yes, coming through clear.”
Can I really pull this off...
Live streams aren’t my thing—I was nervous. Oblivious to my feelings, Yu-na tapped the mic playfully.
“Hee hee hee. Can you hear Yu-na too?”
“We’ll start by taking viewer questions to warm up the vibe.”
The staffer ignored Yu-na and explained to me.
“Yu-na’s voice? Hellooo.”
“And if you need anything...”
Distracted by Yu-na, I couldn’t focus on the staffer.
She kept fidgeting—worried she’d slip off the chair.
“Wow! Dad and Yu-na are here!”
“Got it?”
The explanation was suddenly over.
Couldn’t ask to start from the beginning in good conscience.
I calmly lifted the corners of my mouth.
“Yes, understood.”
Time to start the live stream.
Staff finished setup and left the studio, leaving only the helper off-camera.
“Here we go.”
Click!
He clicked the mouse, and viewer count skyrocketed.
100. 234... 567.
Nearly 3,000 viewers.
The chat exploded.
Stunned by the firepower, I forgot to even speak.
“Hee hee hee. Hello!”
Yu-na innocently waved, and viewers greeted back.
Right, snap out of it.
“Hello.”
-Wowwww! Daddy! So cool!
-If you’re handsome, you’re oppa. Oppa!!!
-Finally keeping your promise.
-Will broadcasts be frequent?
-Yu-na! Noona missed you!!
-Today’s ‘High School 2022’ premiere! Can’t wait! Watching live with family!
-Me too! Me too!!
-Look at those lovable cheeks. Wanna poke ’em. T_T
Clueless on how to proceed, I glanced over. The helper flipped open a notepad.
‘Take questions?’
I nodded slightly, then faced the camera again.
“First, let’s take some questions. No donations, so ask freely. I’ll answer anything I can.”
Questions flooded in the moment I finished. Couldn’t read a single one.
“Uh, hey. Go easy on the chat. Too fast to read.”
-We’re already going slow?
-Daddy’s cute. “Go easy” lololol.
-Don’t you celebrate birthdays?
-Yu-na tho lololol. Staring hard.
-Looks like lasers from her eyes.
Finally spotted one.
“Oh, my birthday? Not big on it. Just let it pass. Next question...”
-Know about the hot reactions to recently aired ‘High School 2022’ drama?
“I’ve heard, but been too busy lately to catch the live episodes.”
Even short answers couldn’t keep up with the accelerating chat.
Now impossible to read.
“Hmm... way too fast...”
“Pwaaa. Yu-na wants to read too.”
I’d been chatting solo, so Yu-na must’ve gotten bored.
Forgot about her.
“Oh, wanna try? But it’s hard for you... letters fly by.”
“Still wanna!”
Hand it over to Yu-na then?
I shrugged and pulled her closer to the screen. Her chubby face filled it, brows furrowed intensely.
Chat went even wilder.
-Ah lolololol wtf.
-Lololol so cute lolol.
-Lolololololol.
-Lolololol.
Lol fest erupted.
“Huh? Lol. Lol... Dad. Only lols. Is it broken?”
Oh, Yu-na...
Her serious face almost made me burst out laughing.
I clamped my hand over my mouth, but it was futile.
To hold it in, I looked up and pinched my thigh with my free hand.
If I laughed now, she’d sulk and ignore me.
Didn’t need to see that coming.
“Huh? Now it’s hehe!”
“Ahaha!”
I lost it there.
How could even her quirky antics be so charming? I let her play with viewers for a while.
Reactions were great.
Maybe even better than mine...
“No way! Santa’s real! I got presents last time!”
Wait, why’s she arguing now?
Yu-na bantered with viewers for an hour before sparking a fight that rushed question time to an end.
Over whether Santa exists or not...
Whatever.
Time to eat.
I pushed the keyboard aside for space, and the female helper placed a convenience store lunchbox on the desk.
Tteokgalbi and ham.
Yu-na’s eyes sparkled.
“Daddaa! Can I eat?”
“Yeah, but no spilling.”
She ripped open the packaging and grabbed a piece of ham with her tiny hand.
“Sslurp, no hands.”
“It’s big and awkward...”
“Sigh, fine. Dad’ll feed you.”
No choice—I scooped rice onto a spoon for her.
Then sides.
And soup so she wouldn’t choke.
“Hold still. You spilled.”
“Hee hee hee.”
Wiped ketchup off her face with tissue, cleaned soup spills right away.
“Okay, last one.”
“Ahh.”
Only after feeding her everything did I turn. Finally my turn.
As I reached for the cold convenience store lunchbox...
I froze.
-Dad smile... I was smiling like that too.
-What? Faces are different.
-Just watching you eat fills me up—that’s what they mean.
-Looks so happy!!
-Watching Yu-na made me think of my daughters... that’s all I’ll say.
-Aigoo uncle lololol.
Chats dripped with honeyed praise.
“Oh, right. Still broadcasting.”