Chapter 193
Chapter 193
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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 193
Chapter Title: A Father's Confession
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“Ahem….”
I heard someone behind me, but I tried my best to ignore it.
“Ahem.”
At the blatant cough for attention, I turned around as if I had no other choice.
“Chef Lee Seung-chan?”
“Haha. We meet again. I'd like to have a meal with you sometime.”
Chef Lee Seung-chan abruptly held out his business card, and I offered mine in return.
“Well then, I'll see you next time.”
“Yes, Chef. Goodbye.”
Chef Lee Seung-chan's figure disappeared into the darkness.
Why would someone so famous want to have a meal with me? Could it be for the foodie Seul-bi, for a show he’s on…?
…Seul-bi?!
“!”
Suddenly, I remembered a year ago, when Seul-bi caused trouble and I had to carry her on my back.
She’d mumbled it, but she had definitely said that Chef Lee Seung-chan was her father. I must have let it slip my mind, as I was too preoccupied with other things at the time.
“Great work!”
“Please take good care of us, Camera Director!”
Answer’s rehearsal ended, but my mind was filled with thoughts. Just bringing up Chef Lee Seung-chan to Seul-bi was a major dilemma.
I decided I needed to talk to him first to determine whether his presence would be a boon or a bane for Answer.
“I’m going to a quick meeting, so even if I’m late, make sure the schedule proceeds smoothly.”
“Where are you going all of a sudden?”
Without answering, I followed after Chef Lee Seung-chan.
* * *
Min-jun and Lee Seung-chan were talking at a café in the lobby.
“…She was a kid who loved both cheese and rice. But when I told her that mixing cheese into kimchi stew was delicious, she gave me this disgusted look, as if she were about to throw up.”
Min-jun had felt displeased, thinking that Lee Seung-chan was one of the parents who had made Seul-bi’s life difficult, but he was now certain the man wasn’t as bad as he had imagined.
“So, with an 'I'll show you!' attitude, I threw a few common slices of cheese into the kimchi stew and mixed it all up. Then I presented it to her, saying, 'It's an authentic goulash.' But after one bite, she said it was delicious and asked where she could go to eat it. Hahaha!”
“That's just how prejudice is.”
“Exactly. How can someone who finds eating cheese in kimchi stew disgusting eat budae-jjigae?”
Listening to Chef Lee Seung-chan’s endless stream of witty remarks, Min-jun thought that his popularity was well-earned.
Just then, two women holding a cue sheet walked in. They saw the back of Lee Seung-chan’s head and approached with uncertain expressions.
“Hello, Chef!”
“Oh, my. PD Kim.”
“Chef! What brings a busy man like you here?”
“Writer Park, it's been a while for you too.”
The fact that so many production staff members greeted him warmly, even though he was sitting in a hard-to-see corner, spoke volumes about Lee Seung-chan’s current standing.
“Ah… but aren’t you Answer’s chief manager?”
“Oh? You’re right! No way.”
The two looked at each other and laughed as if they’d found something amazing. Inwardly surprised himself, Min-jun bowed his head to the two women who had recognized him.
“Chef, are you perhaps in the middle of casting him?”
“No, not at all. We just have a small connection.”
At Lee Seung-chan’s words, the PD clapped her hands and spoke to Min-jun.
“This is perfect timing. We're planning a new audition program, how would you like to participate as a producer?”
Both Lee Seung-chan and Min-jun were surprised by the sudden reversal of roles.
However, Lee Seung-chan didn’t feel bad about it. He believed that the competence of Seul-bi’s manager was directly linked to her future.
“You’ve caught me a bit off guard with such a sudden proposal. I have to manage Answer, after all.”
Though he said that, Min-jun’s mind was racing. This could be a very good opportunity to achieve his goals.
“Of course, we’ll have to coordinate the schedule for you.”
The writer gently nudged the PD’s side, startling her.
“Oh, where is my mind? I apologize for doing this in front of you, Chef. To be honest, Writer Park and I were just on our way down, wondering how we could cast Min-jun-ssi for our new program.”
It was at that moment Min-jun thought that perhaps they had approached so cheerfully not because of Lee Seung-chan, but because of him.
“It’s quite all right. It seems Min-jun-ssi is very popular?”
“Of course. He’s the most famous manager in and out of the broadcast stations right now. You know, there have been a few celebrities in the past who started as managers and became successful.”
Min-jun gave an awkward smile at the gazes of the two women, who were beaming at him.
It was clear they were secretly hoping that this small casting, made possible by their hands, could become a legendary achievement they would talk about for years to come.
“We’ll send a formal casting request later. Please take your time talking. We have your contact information.”
“Yes. I’ll see you both next time, then.”
After receiving Min-jun’s farewell, the PD and the writer bowed their heads to Lee Seung-chan this time.
“We’re sorry for the interruption, Chef. We’ll see you next time.”
“Alright. Are you two helping out on the next ‘Amateur Chef’?”
“Yes, yes. Since it’s a live broadcast, we’ll probably have to provide support until the next episode. Though it seems to have stabilized already, thanks to your excellent work, Chef.”
Holding their coffees, the women left the café, chatting as if they had just witnessed something incredible.
“How did we find him sitting right there, just as we were talking about him? And with Chef Lee Seung-chan, of all people.”
“I know, right? But did you see his eyes? He's so charismatic, don't you think he'd get more attention than the actual winner of the audition?”
“It's our job to give them the spotlight, but I can't deny it. He's handsome.”
“Ugh, for you, PD-nim, everything always comes back to looks.”
“Writer Park. As someone who worries about ratings, isn't that natural? Are you any different?”
“Hehehe. Of course, I like it too. I feel like I could be full without even eating, just looking at him.”
“Perfect for filming while intermittent fasting.”
“If you say it like that, it sounds like we're not eating on purpose. The truth is we just don't have time to eat.”
Min-jun, who had overheard their entire conversation, let out a wry smile.
After the two left, Lee Seung-chan, who had been making small talk about broadcasting, suddenly changed his expression. Min-jun predicted that the real conversation was about to begin.
“…Do you happen to know who I am?”
At Lee Seung-chan’s question, Min-jun didn’t hesitate to answer.
“You’re Seul-bi’s father.”
Min-jun expected Chef Lee Seung-chan to be flustered, but surprisingly, his face lit up.
“Did Seul-bi tell you?”
Lee Seung-chan was pleased just by the thought that Seul-bi had talked about him to someone else.
“It came up by chance, but to be honest, it wasn't mentioned in a positive light.”
Lee Seung-chan took a sip of his coffee with a bitter expression. Then, as if recalling the past, he spoke with an unfocused gaze.
“Our family was truly happy, but things started to go wrong when I began my broadcast career. You can’t say who was at fault first. The result would have been the same.”
Although Lee Seung-chan spoke vaguely, Min-jun, who already knew Seul-bi’s circumstances, understood what he meant.
“But it had already happened, and I had a responsibility to the new life that was born. I loved them both, but I couldn't force my new partner to love Seul-bi.”
Thinking it might help Seul-bi, Min-jun simply nodded and listened quietly to Lee Seung-chan’s story.
“As Seul-bi’s younger sibling grew, my wife wanted to show the child the wider world. A glamping trip for just the three of us. My ex-wife was supposed to look after Seul-bi then, but that arrangement fell through and we got into a fight. Unfortunately, Seul-bi overheard it. It must have been a huge wound for her. But that doesn’t mean my current wife is a bad person…”
A look of anguish crossed Lee Seung-chan’s face.
Outwardly, he was thriving, but to Lee Seung-chan, Seul-bi was always an aching part of his body. Even though Min-jun didn’t have a family of his own yet, he could understand his situation to some extent.
“She didn’t tell me for a long time that she had debuted, so I found out much later. I told her countless times that it might help if I revealed I was her father, but she was so vehemently against it that I couldn’t bring myself to do it. I was also worried that I might ruin a child who, as Seul-bi said, was trying to stand on her own two feet…”
“Are you sure it wasn’t just for show?”
“I swear it wasn’t. My heart ached so much thinking about how she must be struggling on her own. So I regularly deposited money into a debit card for her… but she never spent any of it for years. It must have been so hard for her…”
The tremor in Lee Seung-chan’s voice made it clear that he was being sincere.
At the same time, he could understand Seul-bi’s reaction, and Min-jun found himself nodding. That was exactly what Seul-bi would do.
“I was so relieved and happy to see Seul-bi succeed. I can't tell you how proud I am that she grew up so well without becoming twisted because of her worthless parents. I've also heard that it's thanks to you, Min-jun-ssi, so I know very well. I really wanted to thank you.”
“Not at all. It’s thanks to their own hard work.”
Min-jun could feel that her father’s words were not mere lip service.
However, just because he was sincere didn’t mean he was blameless in Seul-bi’s eyes, so Min-jun had no choice but to remain neutral for the time being.
“I wanted to confide in someone. I feel so relieved now.”
From the deep sigh he let out, Min-jun could guess at his relief.
“You’ve both been through a lot. You and Seul-bi.”
“A sinner must naturally be punished…. Please continue to take good care of Seul-bi. And if you ever run into any difficulties, don’t hesitate to tell me. I’ll help in any way I can.”
Min-jun let out a sigh of relief, confirming that this man would be a help to Seul-bi, not a hindrance.
* * *
The live broadcast began.
Following the performances of a few rookie groups, it was Enpink’s turn, who had returned with a new song.
♪♬
Bbi-bba-ri-bba bbi-bba-ri-bba bbi-bba kong!
I’m so dizzy! So light-headed!
My heart is trembling, trembling
♪♬
The ‘kong-kong-kong’ grasshopper dance began, making even the viewers cringe. A perfect silence, devoid of cheers or boos, fell over the audience.
Many in the audience gulped, their faces etched with pity, thinking, ‘Why am I the one feeling second-hand embarrassment?’
The atmosphere in the audience reached Enpink on stage, and the members’ pained smiles were broadcast across the nation.
Watching the tearful expressions of her juniors, Seol-ah spoke up.
“They’re probably just trying to create a buzz with that, and then they’ll release a good follow-up song. So don’t make those faces.”
“That’s right. It’s something everyone goes through. We weren’t that different, were we?”
Seul-bi nodded.
♪♬
My life is beating for you
♪♬
“You!”
♪♬
In this brief darkness
Hold onto me
My heart is beating for you
♪♬
“You!”
♪♬
From this long wait
Save me
♪♬
Next up was Answer’s stage. The enthusiastic cheers of their fans lifted the members’ spirits again.
And the next stage.
The performance of Nine One, an idol group from another agency produced by Min-jun, began.
The stage of the stunningly handsome idols, unfolding a heavy narrative with their acting, created the illusion of watching a popular musical, and their veteran-like aura drew a strong response from the crowd.
“The more I see, the more amazing Min-jun oppa is. When did he even have time to produce Nine One when he's so busy?”
“And what about Rhythm Saber? We're practicing to film a promotional broadcast for it, and honestly, just calling him a genius doesn't feel right. Maybe he's actually an alien?”
Seol-ah chuckled at Seul-bi and Yi-na’s words, while Ro-si nodded with a serious face.
“But at this point, wouldn’t it be fun if Min-jun oppa appeared on an audition show or something? As a producer and judge.”
“Uh-huh! He’d tear some people down and then build others up. I feel like it would be so cathartic to watch.”
“…Our Yi-na knows what ‘catharsis’ is now?”
“Hey! You’re dead!”
“Aah! Run!”
Watching Seul-bi and Yi-na bicker, Seol-ah and Ro-si laughed in amusement.
For a long time after that, each of the Answer members was lost in her own pleasant fantasy.