Chapter 89
Chapter 89
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 89
Chapter Title: Scolding a Senior Actress
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We bought meat from a shop a good distance away and returned to the filming location.
“We’re back.”
“You’re here quicker than I thought…”
I stopped mid-sentence.
“What’s up with your daughter?”
“How should I know?”
Yu-na was pouting her lips like a duck and stomping her feet, while the seniors watched from afar, chuckling at the sight.
And finally.
Senior Yoon Mi-jeong was breaking out in a cold sweat, shaking a doll next to Yu-na.
“Yu-na, look over here, okay? Unnie’s really sorry. So please, cheer up while looking at this?”
“……”
“I said I’m sorry. Huh? Yu-na.”
Where’d she get that doll from?
Did she find it at home?
I made my way slowly over to where the seniors were.
“Senior, I got five portions of meat.”
“Good work.”
Senior Kang Su-ho, sitting on the floor, took the meat from me, but his eyes kept drifting behind us.
He pulled out a huge hunk of untrimmed meat—like a clenched fist—and grabbed a sharp knife.
‘That’s not dangerous, is it?’
There was no hesitation in his hands as he started slicing the pork.
Guess I worried for nothing.
“Su-ho Senior, did something happen? Why’s Senior Yoon Mi-jeong fussing over Yu-na like that?”
At my question, the senior laughed with a heavy shudder of his shoulders—even while holding that knife so precariously.
“What do you mean, something happened?”
Just then, Yu-na came running over and tugged wildly at my pants while I was sitting.
“Daddaa!”
I scooped her up right away.
“Why were you pouting like that, sweetie? Did something happen?”
Her clear eyes welled up with tears as she looked at me.
“Unnie… sniff… there was a bug on the leaf…”
I had no idea what she was saying.
I turned to Senior Yoon Mi-jeong, who was approaching hesitantly, and asked.
“What happened?”
She gave an awkward smile.
“Truth is, I told Yu-na to try some perilla leaves, but there was a caterpillar on it. She started crying when she saw it.”
“Ah!”
“I was trying to cheer her up before you got back, but now I feel so bad. What do I do?”
Oh, nothing serious, then.
I stood Yu-na up on the floor and poked her soft cheeks.
The squishy feel made me careful even with just a light prod.
Whoosh!
She suddenly burrowed into my arms, leaving me wistful that I couldn’t poke anymore.
But that lasted only a moment.
A great idea popped into my head.
‘Wait… should I use this?’
Something like this had happened last year, too.
An episode during filming where Senior Yoo Seol-hwa had pranked Yu-na.
If I played it up…
It could make for some good footage.
And later, when viewers watched the variety show, they’d go, “Oh yeah, that happened!” and remember it fondly.
I quickly settled on the thought, pulled Yu-na back a bit, and met her eyes.
“Oh, I see. Should Daddy scold her for you, then? Just say the word—I’ll do anything.”
*Guard the Pojangmacha!* Episode 65.
I tweaked the line I’d delivered back then, and Yu-na reacted.
She flinched, glanced around cautiously, and mumbled through pursed lips.
“R-Really?”
“Of course. Daddy’s stronger than the police, so I can handle it.”
“Yu-na hates bugs… Uh, unnie scared Yu-na. S-So… scold her just a little.”
“…What?”
I got an answer I never expected.
Back then, Yu-na had shaken her head and said it was fine. I figured she’d do the same now.
“Y-You really want me to scold her?”
“Yes! Really scold her, please.”
Yu-na’s eyes looked so earnest.
‘…What do I do?’
I glanced at Senior Yoon Mi-jeong. Our eyes met, and she just smiled brightly, like *go ahead*.
Was there no other good option?
There’s a line between seniors and juniors that must be respected. How could a rookie like me scold a senior?
‘This is bad.’
Her pleading gaze lingered.
Cold sweat started trickling down my cheek as time dragged on.
‘Please, Yu-na…’
If this went on, Daddy would be in big trouble.
Oblivious to my plight, the seniors who were cooking chimed in excitedly.
“Jun-seo! Just go for it! When else will you get to scold Senior Mi-jeong? Now’s your chance!”
Please, Su-ho Senior…
“It’s fine, so hurry up and do what Yu-na wants! Haha! That last bit was acting, right? And once an actor starts a scene, you see it through. Isn’t that right?”
Senior Seol-hwa was spot on.
I was agonizing over it when Senior Yoon Mi-jeong strode up with a playful smile.
“Yeah, I’m okay with it—so scold me quick. That’s the only way Yu-na will cheer up.”
“Argh, got it. I’ll do it. Here goes.”
I took a deep breath to steady myself, then glared at Senior Yoon Mi-jeong with exaggerated intensity.
“How dare you scare my daughter?”
“Right! Right!”
Even though it was ancient history, Yu-na clapped back just like in the sitcom shoot, all cheekily supportive.
‘That’s Yu-na’s charm.’
I kept the act going.
“How scared must my little girl have been? Should I show you how scary I can be?”
“Daddy! You got this! Go!”
“Auntie, I’m actually super scary, you know?”
“Oh, no, that’s not true… Daddy’s not scary, he’s cool…”
“…Pfft!”
The seniors, who’d been watching us trade lines, burst into laughter from the first exchange.
“Hahaha! No wonder Seol-hwa kept NG-ing. It’s hard to hold it together with cuteness like this right in front of you.”
“See, unnie? That’s what I’ve been saying. You didn’t know ’cause you hadn’t seen it.”
“Jun-seo, you’re still alive?”
“…Th-That’s enough, right?”
I dropped the expression and asked cautiously. Senior Yoon Mi-jeong nodded slightly.
“That was fun. Good job.”
I kept my cool and channeled my sitcom self, and the reaction was even better than expected.
Yu-na clung to me like a cicada, showing no signs of letting go.
“Hehehe. Daddy’s so cool.”
“Yeah? As long as Yu-na likes it.”
The watching seniors seemed pleased too, showering us with praise. That was enough.
Thinking that, I gently pried Yu-na off and set her down lightly on the floor.
“Yu-na, Daddy’s gonna rest a bit, so play by yourself, okay?”
“Okay!”
After freeing Yu-na, I collapsed onto the floor.
All my energy drained away.
I’d been extra careful not to cross the line with the senior, censoring every line in my head before saying it.
Mental fatigue hit hard, leaving me parched.
“Can I have some of this?”
“You think I pulled it out just to look pretty? Don’t ask—just drink.”
I chuckled at Senior Kang Su-ho’s gruffness and chugged some water.
My thirst eased up a bit.
‘…Never doing this again.’
If something like this happened again, I’d shut it down flat.
As I set the bottle down.
Senior Kang Su-ho, who’d started grilling the meat, flashed a meaningful smile.
“So, how’s it feel? Scolding a senior who’s like the sky above you?”
“…Don’t tease. Why don’t you try it, Su-ho Senior?”
No sooner had I spoken than Senior Yoo Seol-hwa smirked mischievously.
“But his acting was solid. Felt like he’s got even more emotional depth now. Look at that guy—muttering to himself again.”
Just as she said, Shin Dong-hyun stared right through me, lips moving silently.
Had he picked up something useful from my little performance?
Then Senior Yoon Mi-jeong, now reconciled with Yu-na and visibly brighter, came over and said.
“Getting scolded by a junior felt kinda fresh. And when Yu-na was strutting next to her daddy like that? I was dying from how annoying-cute it was.”
“Ahaha. Really?”
“Yeah, your chemistry was perfect.”
She didn’t look annoyed at all. Her eyes gazed at us fondly, like we were adorable.
Well, from her perspective…
It must’ve felt like watching her son and granddaughter play around. Probably.
Dissatisfied with my reply? Her eyebrow twitched faintly.
“Just talk casually like before. You slipped back to polite speech? You can drop honorifics with everyone here. Or change how you address us. Looks friendlier that way.”
“Ahaha…”
I’d called her “auntie” earlier—*really okay with that?* nearly slipped out, but I held it back with an awkward smile.
“Dropping honorifics with a senior…”
“Sip! From now on, no more ‘senior’ for me. I’m not expecting casual speech. Just change the title.”
Her sudden push to switch titles gave me pause. A veteran with over 30 years in the game.
Calling a senior like that “noona”…
Took some serious guts.
“……”
I clamped my mouth shut.
She turned to Kang Su-ho, who was cooking, and spoke.
“You too. I told you to be casual, but you’re still ‘senior-ing’ me. Can’t stand it.”
Under her sharp gaze, Kang Su-ho froze, then shot up indignantly.
“No, even if you say it’s fine… someone with as much experience as you, Senior Yoon Mi-jeong… it’s not easy to drop honorifics.”
Fair point.
I got where Senior Kang Su-ho was coming from.
“Sigh, you kids.”
“Yes.”
“…Yes.”
Her expression turned serious.
“I like polite juniors. But when a senior says to be casual, it’s ’cause they want to get close. You know that feeling, right, Su-ho?”
Nod. Nod.
Kang Su-ho nodded mid-cook, and Shin Dong-hyun sidled up beside me, peeking cautiously.
“Sticking to ‘senior’ forever… one day, you’ll end up alone and struggling. I’ve been there. Titles matter that much.”
Even during a variety shoot, Senior Yoon Mi-jeong gave us earnest advice.
‘No one left around me?’
Did that mean I was wrong?
Racking my brain through past-life memories, odd details surfaced one by one.
Seniors who’d smile faintly whenever I insisted on “senior.”
Seniors always urging casual speech.
The drift to mere business ties had felt so natural, I hadn’t noticed.
I’d built invisible walls with them subconsciously.
Finally aware, I…
Placed a hand on my chest and reflected.
If someone had advised me like this, I’d have realized sooner and fixed it…
“So if a senior tells you to drop honorifics, do it. That’s polite.”
Senior Yoon Mi-jeong’s face softened.
“Got it? Time to change titles.”
“Yes… Noona.”
Calling someone way older than me “noona” was embarrassing—my face burned.
I turned away in shame, only to lock eyes with Senior Yoo Seol-hwa.
She widened her eyes and laughed in disbelief.
“Dong-hyun, Su-ho—your turn.”
“Yes, noona.”
“Sigh, fine. So ‘noona’ from now on?”
The mood was relaxing now that it was settled. But Yoo Seol-hwa, still glaring daggers, shot to her feet.
“Hey! Lee Jun-seo! Call me noona too from now on. Got it? You always skip it when I say be casual.”
Maybe ’cause I’d just called a much older senior “noona”? It felt easier with Yoo Seol-hwa.
She’s asking for “noona.”
Yeah, time to switch titles.
“Yes. Noona.”
“…Feels off somehow.”
Nom nom. Chomp chomp.
I heard smacking sounds.
Looking toward the source, Yu-na was grabbing jeon from the basket and stuffing her face.
‘No wonder it got so quiet.’
She’d been avoiding my eyes and eating nonstop—her belly was bulging.
‘Yu-na totally skipped lunch.’
Not a hunch—a certainty.