Chapter 83
Chapter 83
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 83
Chapter Title: That Damn Workout. Workout...
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# Chapter 83
That damn workout. Workout...
It wasn't like I had some disease where I'd die if I skipped even a single day, so why did I have to push myself this hard even here?
Simply put... the intensity was about the same as at the gym.
Even when I shot pleading, resentful glances, the manager brushed it off nonchalantly and ramped up the difficulty. I gritted my teeth and powered through my usual routine to the end.
"Whew, that's everything. Take it easy now. I'll grab some cool drinks in the meantime."
"Yeah. Sure."
I desperately held back the words I want to be alone for a while, so stay away if you can and just waved him off into the air.
"But don't completely slack off. There might not be any here, but if paparazzi sneak onto set and snap photos, it'll be trouble."
"I got it. Just go already."
After sending off the unusually fretful manager, I savored the cool breeze blowing through and gazed up at the sky.
"...An actor cowering before his manager."
I let out an involuntary chuckle.
Strangely, it didn't feel half bad.
The lack of distance made him feel almost like a friend. Of course, it might just be because we were the same age.
"A friend... That makes two now?"
Shin Dong-hyun and Kang In-cheol.
Looked like I'd made some good friends.
"Haa... Anyway... It's starting to get hot."
I undid a couple buttons on my T-shirt to let the cool breeze in.
That helped a bit.
Lying down here should be fine, right?
The moment I did, a strong gust rustled the leaves that had been shading me from the sun.
Whoosh!
The intense sunlight hit me, and I closed my eyes. My body grew languid.
'...I wonder what Yu-na's up to?'
Strangely, whenever I had a spare moment, I found myself curious about what Yu-na was doing.
I couldn't suppress a smile as I pulled out my phone and opened the Sturdy Class app.
"What the... What's this?"
I'd meant to relax by watching Yu-na study, but the screen looked dark red.
"Did it break?"
I turned up the volume a notch, and faint children's voices came through. The camera itself wasn't busted, then.
So what was going on?
-Sip! Teacher said so, right? It's not a toy. Put it down now.
-Yeees.
As a young woman's voice and a child's overlapped, the screen brightened.
There was Yu-na's homeroom teacher, her hair neatly braided up, and a healthy-looking boy.
"...Where's Yu-na?"
I wasn't interested in them.
What mattered was what Yu-na was doing. I tapped the screen to swivel the view.
-Whoa? Teacher! It's moving!
-Oh my! It really is!
Yu-na's homeroom teacher's face filled the screen. She grinned with her eyes, then set the camera back in place.
"Whew, finally a good view."
Now I could see Yu-na playing with a toy in the corner.
"Heh heh, when did she snag that?"
Yu-na held a microphone that amplified her voice. She was beaming and singing into it.
So adorable...
Even though I was beat, a smile crept onto my face.
How much time passed like that?
I was so engrossed in Yu-na's joyful play that I lost track, grinning like an idiot the whole time.
"Already naptime?"
The kids on screen lay down on their mats. Yu-na did the same next to her friend, and there was nothing left to watch.
It had been fun peeking into this side of Yu-na I didn't know... Swallowing my regret, I pocketed the phone.
Now what?
"...Should I nap too?"
Eyes closed, basking in the gentle breeze as I lay comfortably—then footsteps approached.
Step. Step.
Staff? I drew in my outstretched long legs so as not to block the way.
The steps paused briefly, then resumed and stopped right in front of me.
Cracking my eyes open, a shadow fell over me as someone sat beside me.
Turning my head, it was the sunbae.
"Nice weather, huh. All set for the next scene?"
She spoke to me amiably.
"...Aren't we shooting? Is it okay to be here?"
At my question, she let out a soft sigh.
"I chewed out a junior extra whose acting didn't sit right with me and stormed off."
"That's allowed?"
"To match my timing, they need to be at least on your level, Jun-seo."
I kept my words minimal.
"......"
"Haa... Why's my junior acting so stiff? Am I making you uncomfortable?"
"Ahaha..."
I flinched inwardly but schooled my face carefully.
"So what were you doing? This is the second time I'm asking."
"Just resting."
Her steady gaze unnerved me.
Where's the manager? I pulled out my phone to browse Byul Star comments, building an invisible wall to discourage talk. Her gaze lingered persistently.
"Jun-seo. Speaking of... today..."
Right then, the manager came dashing over with cool drinks.
"Jun-seo-ssi!"
"Yeah. You're late."
"Staff lined up at the coffee truck. No caffeine, so I got orange drinks..."
He glanced at the sunbae, then handed me an orange drink.
"Have this and relax."
"Uh. Th-thanks."
The manager mirrored my attitude of ignoring the sunbae. He must've heard about her reputation too.
"Shooting'll run late today, so I asked that babysitter to watch Yu-na ahead of time."
Huh, pretty perceptive. I'd been about to call her myself.
"Thanks. That was my job."
"No biggie. Yu-na's under my watch too."
Right, yeah. I'd forgotten Yu-na was a proper Lunatic agency child actor. Once this project's done, maybe scout something suitable for her? A quick cameo should be fine. The thought crossed my mind. What role would suit her? As I smiled faintly at the pleasant imagining, the sunbae shot to her feet and brushed dust off her clothes.
"I'll head out. Keep resting."
"Yes. Good luck with the shoot."
I watched Yoon So-hee's back as she walked away. Once she vanished from sight, I let out a quiet sigh.
"Haa... Thought I'd die of awkwardness."
"Something happen while I was gone?"
Sipping my drink, I answered the manager's question.
"Nah. Just fiddling with my phone."
"...Really? Keep your distance from that actress if you can. Bad rep. Scandals would be a nightmare..."
"I know. No worries."
"Haa, I'll trust you."
Yoon So-hee moved to a secluded corner and let out a small sigh.
"Everyone's starting to avoid me now..."
She'd always been the nosy type, quick to lend a hand to anyone in trouble.
She'd offer earnest love advice.
Donate quietly to those struggling with medical bills.
Listen to little worries.
All good deeds, for sure.
But lately, was she overdoing it?
Lately, weird rumors circulated among staff, souring opinions.
'Actress who hits on every guy she sees.'
'Actress obsessed with men.'
That sort of thing.
She'd never meant it that way...
"Jun-seo junior must've heard them too?"
Probably.
He'd openly tried to dodge after just a chat.
Still...
He'd smiled so brightly...
"...Was what my little bro said true?"
She'd heard it from her brother, a staffer on that 'Daddy, I Love You!' variety show.
Said Lee Jun-seo teared up at interview questions about his wife.
It didn't air.
Out of consideration, so he wouldn't relive the pain.
'If that's true...'
He must still grieve his wife, gone too soon.
Unable to tell a soul.
'Forever.'
Divorce alone had nearly broken her.
How must Lee Jun-seo's heart feel?
An unimaginable pain, lingering to this day.
He seemed fine now, but...
Someday, those bottled emotions would explode.
Having counseled many, she'd met someone eerily like him.
Someone who'd suffered in silence and made an extreme choice.
She'd approached Lee Jun-seo cautiously, for that reason.
To be a sunbae he could call on anytime he needed.
It'd failed so far...
'...Can't give up here.'
Yoon So-hee clenched her fist.
People were unpredictable.
No guarantee he wouldn't go to extremes.
'I have to help him properly.'
Lost in her imaginings, Yoon So-hee nodded resolutely.
"S-So-hee unnie!"
She flinched.
Turning toward the voice, her manager came panting up, wiping sweat.
"What? Something happen?"
"Please, just... don't go off alone. Okay? The CEO warned you."
"I know. Don't worry."
"I know your personality. Were you fantasizing wildly again? And stay out of other people's business. Please."
Yoon So-hee held her tongue.
She'd planned to stick close to Lee Jun-seo and build rapport.
"......"
"So-hee unnie... no?"
"Not this time. Relax."
"Really?"
Her manager's narrowed eyes looked adorable, drawing a chuckle from Yoon So-hee.
"Your laugh makes me anxious."
"Want me to give you something to be anxious about?"
"No! Absolutely not!"
Yoon So-hee nodded slightly.
"Got it. Wanna hit that coffee truck our Jun-seo junior sent?"
"...Plotting something?"
She flicked the manager's furrowed brow.
Then patted the cutely glaring manager's shoulder.
"Come on, let's go."
"......"
With a reluctant nod, the manager sighed softly.
"Unnie, how'd you know Lee Jun-seo actor sent the coffee truck?"
"Saw it on the way here. Gotta snap a pic and post that it was yummy."
"Ah, unnie!!"
"It's fine. Let's go."
Teasing her amusingly cute manager, Yoon So-hee walked on.
The moment I got home after wrapping today's shoot, I yanked off my tie.
"Gonna die of exhaustion."
By the way...
"You're home late today?"
Kim Mi-so, apron on and wielding a ladle, greeted me at the door.
Must've been prepping dinner.
"Ah, sorry. You should've gone home. I made you stay late."
She shook her head.
Then hesitated, lips twitching awkwardly.
Did she mess something up?
"Something to say?"
"Well..."
She fished something from her pocket.
A tooth wrapped in a handkerchief. Too small for an adult.
"What's... this?"
"She was playing at kindergarten, fell forward, and lost a tooth..."
"......"
My heart dropped.
Was Yu-na badly hurt?
"Wh-what about Yu-na?"
"No facial cuts, luckily, but since it's a front tooth, every time she smiles..."
I couldn't picture it from the story alone.
I kicked off my shoes in a panic and rushed to the living room.
There was Yu-na on the far sofa, back to me, watching kids' TV.
"Yu-na!"
"Huh? Daddy! Hehehe."
She turned with a bright grin—her front tooth gap glaringly empty.
Clutching my chest, I collapsed to the floor.
Oblivious, Yu-na whipped back to the TV.