Chapter 71
Chapter 71
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 71
Chapter Title: Water Park
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Elizabeth Stormwalker.
The only daughter of renowned director George Stormwalker.
As if mocking the early rumors of her being a 'nepo baby,' she had starred in blockbuster after blockbuster produced by her father, leading them to massive box office success. Among the countless actors in Hollywood, she now enjoyed top-tier fame.
Elizabeth's life as an actress, which had begun in her child actor days, was blooming in dazzling splendor.
But at this very moment,
those jewel-like blue eyes of the famous actress
were slightly clouded as she gazed up at the broadcasting station before her.
"Fi... finally... arrived."
After crossing the ocean not once, but twice, she had at last reached ZTBC headquarters.
Gazing at it, she knew she had made a mistake, yet she still felt an inexplicable sense of injustice.
Papa's usual advice about her impulsive nature echoed in her mind.
But whatever... she was here now, so that was that, right?
This place was sure to have the 'actor in question.'
At the very least, she could pinpoint their whereabouts. With that in mind, she hurried forward.
"Huh? Isn't that..."
"Oh my gosh, that's Elizabeth, right?"
"Why is a Hollywood actress here...?"
Even with her sunglasses on, the broadcasting station staff recognized her instantly.
Her name having spread to this distant land filled her with pride, but right now, she had no time to bask in it.
"Uh... welcome."
At the reception desk, a woman greeted her in a flustered manner that could only be described as 'hawawa' distance.
Elizabeth flashed her usual bright smile at the clearly rattled woman.
"I'm looking for an actress named Chae Soo-jeong. Might I be able to meet her?"
"Ah... Ch-Chae Soo-jeong? One moment, please..."
"Chae Soo-jeong?"
At that moment, a thick, resonant voice came from behind.
Turning her head, Elizabeth couldn't help but flinch for a second.
There stood a towering woman, easily over 180 cm tall...
With her unmistakably prominent chest being the only giveaway, her muscular build could easily be mistaken for a man's. Elizabeth was momentarily speechless in bewilderment.
"?! Wh-what... you're definitely..."
The other woman, actress Yeo Hyo-min, was just as shocked upon seeing her face.
"Ah, Athena! From Revenge! That one, your name was... Skywalker?"
"Stormwalker."
"R-right. That's the one. Elizabeth Stormwalker... Ah... um... sorry about that. I'm Yeo Hyo-min. I work as an actress here in Korea."
"Yes, I'm Elizabeth Stormwalker. Nice to meet you, Yeo Hyo-min."
Even in her fluster, the woman spoke surprisingly fluent English.
Watching her, Elizabeth managed to steady her rattled nerves.
"Anyway, has Soo-jeong's fame already reached Hollywood? Impressive."
"Do you know Chae Soo-jeong? Do you know where she is right now? Could I meet her briefly?"
Clearly an acquaintance of Chae Soo-jeong's.
Yeo Hyo-min responded to Elizabeth's cautious question with a troubled tone.
"She's not here today. She went to a water park with some friends."
"Water... park?"
A situation already tangled up grew even more knotted.
Elizabeth's face stiffened slightly.
*
Water park.
A place packed with water-based rides that went beyond a simple swimming pool—essentially an amusement park with water.
For reference, it hadn't been part of my previous life's routine, simply because I didn't like water much.
Not to the point where I couldn't go at all, but I certainly didn't prefer it.
And after becoming a woman in this life, there was another reason to avoid it.
Namely...
"Wow, Teacher... We knew it already, but seeing it up close like this..."
"It's huge..."
"Seon-hwa wants to be that big someday too..."
"...Mm."
Even to my own eyes, it was a figure worthy of admiration.
A woman could take pure pride in it, but whether due to lingering thought patterns from my past life as a man, or just my personality,
the stares from people watching me—especially the men's—felt intensely burdensome.
At least here it was just women, so it wasn't that bad...
"But that swimsuit is too plain..."
"It doesn't suit that figure at all, honestly."
"Good thing I brought plenty just in case..."
"!?"
Correction. Women might actually make it more burdensome.
The next moment, swimsuits poured in at Yu-ra's gesture.
Bikinis, monokinis, even micros.
As all sorts of unwearable outfits piled up, I was seized by sudden bewilderment.
"Um... excuse me..."
"Come on, Teacher. We'll help you try them on, so come over here. No need to hold back. Let's pick the one that suits you best."
"Slurp... Han-seo Big Brother's arm..."
"Seon-hwa wants to dress up Mommy pretty too!"
The zeal of two chaebol heiresses and my daughter slyly clinging on.
The result was more than enough to etch an unforgettable humiliation into me, a former man.
"Wow... this one suits you too."
"The basics are there with the bust and hips supporting it..."
"Th-then this one too. Think this works?"
"Um... that one's a bit too small..."
"Psh, what's the big deal? It's all girls here."
"We've already seen you strip naked."
"Mommy pretty!"
"Ugh..."
A bizarre experience of being surrounded by three women and having them change my clothes.
Thank goodness one was still a little girl and another was my biological daughter whom I'd birthed in agony;
otherwise, I might have died of shame.
"Hey, since we're at it, how about we take some pics for ourselves too?"
"No way, how do you even think of that...? Let's do it right now."
In the end, a natural progression to a photoshoot(?).
They promised it'd be for personal use only and never public. Plus, in my past life, Seon-hwa had done similar shoots a few times, so I had no choice but to go along with the flow.
In an indoor pool designed like a city nightscape—for outside the sun was scorching.
I struck a pose, truly reluctant though I felt.
"Okay, look here and pose. One, two~"
Photos taken not with pro equipment, but phone cameras.
Yet their earnest attitude carried a strange passion.
'Hah... hah... nice... Teacher's body... it's true art...'
'Han-seo Big Brother in a swimsuit... gotta preserve this forever...'
The two energetically snapping away.
Then, Han-sol, whose lips were oddly wet, glanced at Seon-hwa beside her and said,
"Ah, Seon-hwa. You stand there too. I'll take one with Mommy."
"Okay!"
At those words, Seon-hwa toddled over and stuck right to my side.
"Hehe, Mommy... pretty."
"Yes, yes. Our daughter is cute too."
A bit exhausted, but seeing my daughter's beaming smile in her adorable swimsuit somehow recharged my energy.
"Okay, taking it. One, two."
A few more rounds of photos.
By the time they wrapped up, morning had passed and the sun hung high at midday.
*
-Splash!
"Ahaaaaa!!! One more time! One more!"
"Yeah! One more go!"
Amid boisterous laughter, Han-sol grabbed Seon-hwa's hand again and headed up.
For her, who had scarcely any friends until now, playing like this with someone was pure joy in itself.
Especially when that someone was such a pretty, cute girl.
Watching the kids play so rowdily,
Soo-jeong and Yu-ra lounged relaxed under a parasol.
"Those kids never get tired, huh..."
"Yeah... Kids really have endless stamina."
Chae Soo-jeong, half-dead from the recent shoot.
She who'd shrugged off all-nighters for days was showing fatigue like this for the first time.
Yu-ra, who'd joined in, was similarly drained.
With safety staff always around, there was no real worry leaving the kids to play.
Thus, they savored a leisurely summer respite, the noisy children in the background, enjoying a brief rest.
Then.
-Vrrr!
"Huh? Why's Senior Hyo-min calling?"
"Yeo Hyo-min?"
Yeo Hyo-min, whom they'd grown close through drama shoots and ongoing Soccer Girl filming.
Yu-ra picked up immediately.
"Yes, Senior? Ah... yes, she's right here? ...Oh... Battery's almost dead... What? Right now? Uh... um... h-hold on..."
Yu-ra's face suddenly flashed surprise.
As Soo-jeong looked puzzled, she asked cautiously,
"Um... Senior Hyo-min says she's coming here now. That okay?"
"Huh? I don't mind, but why all of a sudden?"
"Well... someone who wants to meet Teacher showed up. They're short on time, so they asked if now works..."
"Me? Who?"
For Yeo Hyo-min to go this far meant it wasn't ordinary.
Yu-ra spoke in a tense voice...
"Elizabeth Stormwalker."
"...Pardon?"
In that instant, Soo-jeong's face formed the words, 'What nonsense is this?'