Chapter 9
Chapter 9
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 9
Chapter Title: Script Reading Acknowledgment
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After finishing some urgent business and returning to the conference room, the atmosphere had strangely shifted from before.
Everyone's expressions seemed a bit different.
They had all turned friendly.
Except for one person...
The one who had been glaring at me still looked sour. He was just staring at the floor, lost in thought, as if something weighed on him.
What happened?
"Ahem! Now that you're here, take a seat."
"Yes, got it."
As soon as I sat down, Director Lee Han-sol spoke up again.
"So, everyone acknowledges it now?"
"Ahaha! We've always trusted you, Director."
"Of course. Where on earth did you find this rookie?"
While I had taken Yu-na to the bathroom, something must have happened. I mouthed to Yoo Seol-hwa.
'What happened?'
She just smiled brightly and shrugged lightly.
'I'll ask her later...'
I opened the script and gauged the situation.
We had stopped in the middle.
Should I pick up from here?
Just as I was about to resume the acting from where we left off, the director cleared his throat.
"Now, let's match the lines."
Wait, hold on.
Just one line, and that's it?
No need to show more?
The director nodded toward a man standing behind the cast. A flustered young man hurriedly spoke up.
"On a bright spring day. A voice calls from inside the bright red pojangmacha."
As he quietly narrated, lead actress Yoo Seol-hwa began her performance.
"How the hell did this customer eat to spill all over the floor? Hey! Eat without spilling!"
Now the proper script reading had begun.
Soon, my turn came in the middle.
I snapped to attention and matched lines with the seniors, reciting my dialogue.
All I could do right now was earn their solid recognition.
"You think my words are a joke? Huh?"
With my final line, the director raised his hand.
"That's enough for now... The first scene looks good. Next, Scene 2, Take 15."
Following Director Lee Han-sol's instructions, everyone flipped to the page in their scripts.
The acting resumed immediately.
"Sis! Stop with the cursing! That's why there are no customers!"
"You think I curse because I want to? It's because of these damn customers. Hah! Keep messing with your sis, and you're dead."
"Sigh, fighting again. Just stop and clean properly!"
"Mom! Sis hit me again!"
"Lee Seok-gu! You little—!"
Yoo Seol-hwa as the sister, Yoon Mi-jeong as the mom.
And Shin Dong-hyun as the little brother.
There was no awkwardness in the family dialogue at all.
They nailed the comedy beats perfectly, emphasizing lines like veterans.
I quietly appreciated everyone's acting and nodded slightly.
'They're all so talented.'
I need to give it my all too.
Inspired by their excellent performances, I steeled my resolve.
"That's enough. Next..."
Soon, my turn came again.
"That'll just make things worse for you all."
"Worse!"
I delivered the line first.
Then Yu-na immediately echoed it.
Yu-na's innocent action fit the character in the story perfectly.
Does Yu-na have a talent for acting too?
Speaking confidently in front of so many people without trembling was impressive.
"The father and daughter step out of the pojangmacha."
With the short narration over, rookie actor Shin Dong-hyun spoke.
"Sis..."
His voice was utterly flat.
"I told you not to go near that thug."
Is that acting?
There was no hint of worry about his sister getting hurt by the thug.
It seemed due to the changed script.
"Haa..."
The director's deep sigh made Shin Dong-hyun flinch. His face darkened, looking utterly pitiful.
"S-Sorry. It's hard to get the emotions with the revised script..."
Oh, that's bad.
What Director Lee Han-sol hates most is excuses.
Look at him now.
"That's the same for everyone here. You gonna keep making excuses? And the one most affected by this isn't you, Shin—it's actress Yoo Seol-hwa."
As expected. Shin Dong-hyun got an earful from Director Lee Han-sol.
"Actor Lee Jun-seo nailed it on his first try... What are you even doing, actor Shin Dong-hyun?"
"......"
His expression darkened even more once they started comparing him to me.
Probably trying to provoke a better performance. Best to stay out of it and watch...
"Let's move to the next scene."
They resumed the halted reading, but Shin Dong-hyun kept failing to inject emotion into his lines.
Finally, unable to take it, Director Lee Han-sol slammed the table.
"Haa..."
Shin Dong-hyun's face was ashen.
"S-Sorry."
"......"
The director didn't even glance at the bowed head.
The mood grew heavy.
"Daddyyy..."
Yu-na burrowed into my arms.
This place must scare her.
"It's okay. Daddy's here."
"Yeees..."
"...Let's take a break for now."
"Thank you for your hard work."
"Good work, everyone."
As the director left, the seniors who had been watching gathered around me.
Yoon Mi-jeong asked first.
"Junior? Your real name is Lee Jun-seo, right?"
"Yes, I use my real name."
"Then what's your daughter's name?"
"I-I'm Yu-na!"
"Yu-na, didn't Daddy say to call her 'senior'? You forgot."
"Ahaha! No need to be so formal. Yu-na, just call me sis."
"Sigh, you want to be called sis at your age? Yu-na, isn't sis right?"
"What sis? Aunt maybe."
Why did everyone in this cast have such similar personalities? Yoon Mi-jeong and the other actors were all fairly old.
The youngest were Yu-na, me, and rookie Shin Dong-hyun.
Yet they were all blushing, insisting Yu-na call them oppa or unnie.
"So, how old are you, junior Lee Jun-seo?"
I scratched the back of my head at Yoon Mi-jeong's question.
"Twen— I mean, twenty-five. Yu-na's five."
"When did you start acting?"
Her endless questions left me awkward.
"Well... I practiced alone at home."
"Daddy, lying is bad."
Yu-na, who had been quiet, narrowed her eyes at me.
"Yu-na, lying? Did Daddy lie? Tell this sis the truth."
At Yoon Mi-jeong's question, Yu-na chewed her lip before answering.
"Daddy always just lay around at home. Didn't play with Yu-na... But now Daddy plays with Yu-na a lot."
"Hmm, really? Should sis scold Daddy then?"
She shook her head vigorously.
"Daddy's the best now! Plays with Yu-na, buys clothes. And more."
In the warm atmosphere, I felt a sticky gaze. Shin Dong-hyun, huddled in the corner, shuffled over hesitantly.
"...Where'd you learn acting?"
"Never learned."
No need to be polite to someone bantering like that from the start.
"Don't lie. How do I get acting skills like yours?"
"I'm not lying. And I don't know."
"So you won't tell me... How to practice and study to match this guy? Not enough research? Then..."
Shin Dong-hyun muttered to himself, lips moving. He seemed kinda scary somehow.
As I tried to put some distance—
Yoo Seol-hwa whispered in my ear.
"That's just how he is."
"Pardon? He's always been weird like— Ahem!"
"Heh heh. A bit odd, but he's got a good heart, so don't hate him. He's just a fool who always pushes himself because he thinks his acting sucks."
Starting with her, the other seniors defended Shin Dong-hyun.
"He just wastes energy needlessly."
"Weird but fun little bro."
Well, then.
Didn't really dislike him.
"He's got no off switch. Wanna head out?"
"Coffee and a quick chat?"
"Yeees..."
We slipped out of the conference room, leaving Shin Dong-hyun muttering to himself.
The script reading was really fun.
Got a unique rival too.
"Hehehe. Played so much with Daddy today. Let's play like this next time too?"
"Yeah. Next time, we'll play like this in front of the camera."
"Woo-hoo!"
"Yu-na? Where are we going now?"
"To the place with tons of toys!"
Chatting with the seniors, I honestly admitted we had no toys at home for Yu-na.
I'd thrown out all the worn ones while sorting the scavenged stuff.
Then...
Got stern looks from the seniors along with department store gift certificates.
Toys are essential for kids, they said.
Plus, they wanted pics of Yu-na playing with them...
Felt like they had ulterior motives pushing us.
Well, at least I got all the cast's contacts. Lucky?
Soon, we arrived at the department store and went inside.
"Wanna ride it! Wanna ride!"
"Hey! Keep it up, and I'll leave you!"
"Wanna ride! Waaah!"
Seeing her flop on the floor rolling around, I rubbed my forehead.
What if she picks up that habit? I glanced at Yu-na.
Fortunately, she was staring at a cute giant bunny mascot.
"Daddy! The big bunny's moving!"
"That's a person inside."
Yu-na jumped at my words.
"Eaten by the bunny? Nooo!"
Screaming, she blocked me.
Her trembling legs like aspen leaves—she was terrified.
Misunderstood me.
"Ahaha! Protecting Daddy?"
"Y-Yu-na will protect!"
Every action was adorable.
I scooped her up and gently placed her in the cart.
"That bunny's not scary if you don't bother it first. So let's go buy toys with Daddy."
Only then did her trembling stop.
"R-Really?"
"Daddy doesn't lie."
"You did earlier."
Kids say the darndest things—you can't hate 'em. Perfect moment for that.
"Don't want toys?"
She shook her head hard, tiny hands over her mouth.
She wanted toys after all.
Can't hate that.
"Alright, let's go?"
"Yeees!"
Entering the toy section, a woman in a suit approached.
"Looking for something specific?"
"Came to buy toys for my daughter. Know what's popular these days?"
Usually I'd shoo staff away, but clueless about toys, I needed advice.
"Want to shop with these gift certificates. Okay?"
A whopping 500,000 won worth.
No toy too pricey for this.
"Just a moment. These certificates... Huh?!"
The staff's sales smile vanished in an instant.
'Can't use 'em here?'
Wrong store? I cautiously called to her.
"...Something wrong? Can't use them here?"
"Ah! No, sir."
She waved her hands.
Back to her smile, but even more deferential now.
"This way, please."