Chapter 43
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 43
Chapter Title: #5 Scenario: Baby Siu
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A few glasses of makgeolli in, and I started feeling pleasantly buzzed myself.
I'm not much of a drinker, so I'd been pacing myself pretty carefully, but there was no stopping the tipsiness from creeping in.
"By the way... what made you retire?"
First things first, I needed to get the scoop on U Dahee.
Her sister U Dayoung—I knew her pretty well after seven years together, whether it was Ko Unami or whatever—but Dahee was a different story.
"Retire?"
With the booze kicking in and her naturally chatty personality, U Dahee rested her chin on her hand, sipped her makgeolli, and started spilling her heart out.
"Honestly? I didn't want to retire."
"Hmm, so why did you?"
I looked her straight in the eye, perked up my ears, and listened intently.
"But first, be honest with me. Have you ever seen my face on TV or in movies?"
Her question caught me off guard. I wanted to say yes, but the truth was, I'd never spotted her once.
Reading my expression, she gave a faint, self-deprecating smile.
"Yeah, thought so. Most of my roles were bit parts anyway... Morning dramas, you know? Nobody remembers you. Even in movies, I was never the standout. Sigh~."
She let out a deep breath laced with the sweet, sticky scent of alcohol and quietly stared down at her glass.
No wonder. Starting something you love only for it to flop must crush your soul.
"Why? From what I saw during filming earlier, you were pretty good."
"Oh~? Really?"
She smiled at me, but there was no real energy behind it.
"Thanks~. My little bro."
U Dahee held out her glass, and I clinked mine against it with both hands.
"Phew~."
She downed her drink in one go, released her chin, and dove deeper into her story.
"I kept trying for more dramas, but bit parts don't pay much, you know?"
"I'm not really in that world, so..."
"If you could shoot every day, it'd be enough to call a salary... but it's more like one or two episodes a week."
Unless you had a name-brand role, the perks weren't great.
I'd heard as much, but hearing it from someone still in the trenches hit different.
"I just wished my projects could hit average at least... but they barely avoided bombing. So..."
"...Your confidence took a hit?"
"Yeah~. Self-loathing kicked in, even depression... Made me wonder if this was all I amounted to."
The drunken slur faded, replaced by raw sincerity.
"Then I met my husband. He was on a business trip from his company, and he boosted my ego like crazy, always there for me."
I got it. From Choi Hyuk's face earlier, honey was practically dripping from his eyes.
Holding hands like he'd never let go? Total doting hubby.
"And now?"
"Mm~. Now? I'm good. Met a great guy, living well. Satisfied with life."
"Don't you miss acting?"
I probed her regret. U Dahee's face drifted into reminiscence for a moment before she shook it off.
"Nah, it's fine. Thanks to you, little bro, I got back in front of the camera after so long."
"Hmm..."
"You think the director might cast me sometime?"
"..."
I put on a serious face for her playful question.
U Dahee waved it off.
"Whoa~, don't go making promises now~. Nah, I'm good~."
"No, I mean... It's not exactly a drama, but would you guest on my variety show later?"
"Huh? What's that?"
"It's like a show about close friends, but kinda adult-oriented. Not raunchy or anything. Just playing up the fact that guys and girls don't really know each other that well, in a fun way."
I floated the idea of Close Friends. Not committing to filming yet—just planting the seed.
"I used to do it with Dayoung, but she's out now."
"Oh? Looks fun. I'm thirty now, y'know? I love that kinda talk~."
Her playful side resurfaced.
I smiled at it, and she reached out, pinching my cheek.
"Ow...?"
I was too startled for a proper reaction. Her face was flushed from the alcohol.
"Aww~, so cute."
"Y-you said Woohyun was cute. Not me."
"A bro like you is cute too~."
This level of drunk seemed perfect.
Clear-headed enough, but loosened up.
"R-really?"
"Totally~. You look like you'd be fun to tease."
"F-first time anyone's said that."
U Dahee's lips curled mischievously, her face screaming she wanted to mess with me.
"Close Friends? What kinda stories does it tell? Like, those kinda things?"
"Uh? K-kinda, yeah... a little. S-sis... aren't you drunk?"
I pretended to panic while gently prying her hand off my cheek.
"Nope? So you and Dayoung chat about that stuff a lot?"
"Not usually, just for shoots. Business."
I slipped it in slyly to her growing interest.
"L-like reviewing adult toys... That stuff's popular these days..."
"No way~! For real?"
"Y-yeah... But we've used up the content, and Dayoung's quitting... I was gonna stop too."
Her eyes sparkled as she hung on my words.
"If I did it, would we do that kinda thing?"
"N-no, if you joined, I have content I wanna try."
I paused, watching her face. She looked like a big puppy waiting eagerly for me to spill.
Scratching my cheek, I laid out my idea.
"Channel's got some recognition now, so I thought we'd take unique viewer stories, reenact 'em, then review."
"Ooh~. Sounds unique."
"Right?"
Her reaction got me hyped like a kid, so I rambled on with the plan.
"You being an actress would make immersion killer! Plus, viewers send stories in comments sometimes!"
She started with wide eyes, then watched me fondly like I was adorable.
Just as planned—her character was locking in.
"What do you think?"
After I finished, U Dahee beamed. Her bright smile showed off perfectly straight white teeth.
Just neat teeth, but damn, it was charming.
"You turn into such a kid when you talk work."
"M-me?"
"Yep."
I couldn't meet her proud mom-smile and looked away.
"Pfft, what? Sis too charming to look at?"
"...Yeah."
"For real? You were fine earlier...?"
"You listened so well to my stuff..."
I trailed off, acting shy, and her eyes wavered.
"..."
Biting her lip hard, she reached out.
"Aww~, really?"
Her voice trembled. Per the scenario, she'd feel protective and playful now.
"No one else listened?"
I gave an awkward smile to her guarded expression.
"I tried... but it's 19+, y'know...? Oh! I don't normally like that stuff! Niche market, so I proved myself with it first..."
"Poor thing. So I'm the first to really listen?"
"Y-yeah... Thanks, sis."
Not being an actor, I wasn't sure how to emote gratitude, so I just smiled.
"Haha! Kinda childish, huh?"
"Nah? Why's dreaming childish? Even if others call it that, sis won't."
She reached out and patted my head gently.
Her hand barely rested there, but I mustered max shy smile.
"I dreamed of acting too. Having dreams ain't bad. I think it's great~."
"Haha... First praise ever, kinda embarrassing..."
I scratched my cheek, playing fragile.
"Sis... since we're drinking, can I ask a favor?"
"Hm? What?"
"W-well... uh... y'see..."
I hemmed and hawed, and she drew me in softly.
"You can tell sis anything~."
"...I wanna feel properly praised... by getting a hug... N-not weird or anything!"
Even after blurting it, I worried it'd flop and checked her reaction.
She looked at my fidgeting lips.
"Y-yeah, too much? Sorry... More drinks...?"
As I grabbed the makgeolli, she shook her head.
"Nah~, if I had a little bro, I'd do the same. Wanna hug?"
She offered with a smile, and I nodded shyly instead of answering.
"Aww~, Woohyun's too grown-up for this... C'mere, sis'll hug you."
With that, U Dahee scooted onto the sofa beside me.
I followed, sitting and tentatively hugging her.
Sure enough, the hefty presence at her chest drew a satisfied smirk.
Hidden in the embrace, she couldn't see.
"My little Siu~. Aww, having dreams ain't embarrassing at all~."
She patted my back without a hint of suspicion.
Side hug was awkward, but first time—this was plenty.
U Dahee sincerely held me, stroking my head and back.
"O-okay, that's enough..."
"No way~, I always wanted to do this if I had a little bro... Uh..."
Her words cut off mid-sentence. Discomfort spiked.
High immersion made the glitch super brief.
"Thanks, sis."
I pulled away and offered her another drink.
"Aww~, so cute. Thought you were all stoic at first~. No fun, I figured. Didn't know you were this adorable?"
"N-not cute."
"Oh?"
I averted my gaze, and she ducked down to peer up at me from below.
"Little bro, one more shot~."
"Ah, sure."
I clinked politely with both hands.
Sun hadn't set yet—plenty of time to drop discomfort.
"First time feeling praised... Thanks, sis."
"Aww, thank you. I'll praise you anytime."
Gradually, I was slotting in as her cute little bro.
"When'd you start loving acting, sis?"
I tossed out little-bro talk.
"Whoa... so cool. Seeing actors, like... y-you're extra cool 'cause you're sis..."
A touch of shy flattery, and she kept smiling warmly.
Those detailed character notes from planning were paying off big.
"Ah, ran out of booze..."
I shook the empty bottle, and she pouted sadly.
"Sis... more?"
"Mm~, should we? What if I get wasted~?"
Obviously I'd pounce, but I feigned embarrassment and denied.
"W-what would I do! Y-you're married..."
"If I wasn't?"
"S-super pretty sis."
"Pfft! For real? Sis that pretty?"
The chat flowed, distances shrank.
Soon we faced each other on the sofa, one leg tucked under.
"Sis... more drinks?"
"Mm~, sure?"
"Got more in the fridge."
The soju I'd used to get U Dayoung smashed was left over.
Bought a ton then, didn't finish it.
I brought soju and glasses.
"I'm an only child, always wanted a big sis."
"Me too. Got a little sis, but a little bro would've been nice..."
"Mm... what would you do with one?"
I clinked and asked; she pondered.
"Dunno, probably spoil him rotten? Little bros are too cute~."