Chapter 125
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Translator: Ebonarch
Chapter: 125
Chapter Title: Indoor Swimming Pool Scene
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Shooting for the indoor swimming pool scene had begun.
Since we had to rent out the entire pool for filming, it could only happen at night after business hours.
The main characters in this scene were four in total.
Me, Su-ah, Ji-hye, and even Seung-hee.
Everyone else was just an extra. More than twenty of them had been rounded up.
"Ooh~ Sun-hu, you've got a nice body. Sis is swooning."
Someone slapped my back with their hand.
No need to guess—it was actress Shin Ji-hye.
Ji-hye and I had a little spat just yesterday, but after a day, things were back to normal.
"Ji-hye noona's rocking it too."
"You're really phoning it in, huh? Got nothing else to say?"
She struck a pose right in front of me, like she was begging for more compliments.
Impressive was impressive.
She's got the chest, the height, the proportions.
This whole pool scene was basically made for Shin Ji-hye, no exaggeration.
Her swimsuit said it all.
Not quite a one-piece, not quite a bikini.
It was a white one-piece style, but cut out in a diamond shape around the navel, with deep slits along the sides and back.
More revealing than most bikinis, honestly.
"You sure it's okay to wear something like that?"
We'd just been talking about the broadcasting committee yesterday.
This swimsuit was begging for a warning.
"What's the worst they can do, give us a slap on the wrist? If we get flagged for exposure, it'll just be free marketing."
She's got nerves of steel.
Though the director's the one who'd take the heat anyway.
"But what's with yours? You're not a kid."
"What's wrong with mine?"
I was wearing square trunks.
Bright, colorful ones that screamed Hawaii vibes.
Just your average married dad with a kid at the local pool, that's me.
"Don't you have any confidence?"
Huh? What?
Who said I lacked confidence?
"It's not about confidence—it's about dressing for the occasion. You gonna find anyone at the neighborhood pool rocking what you've got on, Ji-hye noona?"
"This isn't the neighborhood pool—it's a drama. Why do you think they even put this scene in? To squeeze out one more headline."
Hmm.
She had a point.
Shin Ji-hye was definitely getting articles like "Shin Ji-hye's Shocking Swimsuit Reveal!"
But if I wore a speedo, it'd be more than a warning—it'd be straight-up banned.
"Costume team! Get this guy a new swimsuit! Something tight and brief!"
Shin Ji-hye took it upon herself to swap out my trunks.
The costume team was ready, like they'd been waiting for this, and hustled over a triangular bikini bottom.
Tiny. Palm-sized.
What the hell? Micro bikini?
"You wear this to the neighborhood pool?"
Even for her, this felt a bit much.
But the costume noonas were sparkling with excitement, nodding vigorously.
"Got anything bigger?"
Just in case of any mishaps.
Wouldn't want anything slipping out—that'd be a disaster.
I'm fine, but Seung-hee's here, and there are child extras too.
The costume noonas brought over something just a tad larger.
Still looked small to me, but if I kept complaining, I'd come off like a diva, so I decided to just go with it.
"Ooh..."
As I stepped out of the changing room, all eyes from the crew and actors turned to me.
Especially below the navel.
This was exactly why I'd stuck with the trunks.
I'm not an exhibitionist—what guy wants stares from everyone, young and old?
"Director, is this really okay?"
"Of course!"
The director seemed thrilled.
He's the one taking responsibility anyway.
Not my problem.
"Hey. What'd you stuff in there? Take it out."
Shin Ji-hye poked at me with the back of her hand.
The costume noonas watching squealed.
"Hey! I'm reporting you for sexual harassment!"
"Drama queen. Seriously, did you?"
"I didn't!"
There's a limit to how shameless people can be.
If the roles were reversed, it'd be sexual assault charges.
That said, close call.
With her outfit like that... a little more prodding and I'd have popped one.
One wrong move and catastrophe.
Might need to sneak off during break and take care of it.
"But where's Su-ah sunbae? She's taking forever."
Like Shin Ji-hye said, Su-ah had gone to change into her swimsuit and hadn't come back.
Meanwhile, I'd changed twice already.
And Seung-hee, playing the daughter, was still in there too.
"She's a girl—takes time to get ready."
"Hey, I'm a girl too."
True that.
"Sun-hu, you're her husband in the scene. Go call her."
"Me? Into the women's changing room?"
"Just call from outside."
Looking around, everyone was fidgeting, waiting impatiently.
Can't shoot without the leads.
But you can't rush them either.
I could feel the crew's awkward tension.
"Noona, you go."
"No way."
Shin Ji-hye, being a fellow actress, would be better, but they're not exactly close.
No choice—I headed to the women's changing room entrance.
"Su-ah? You almost done?"
"C-Coming right out!"
A muffled reply from inside.
Didn't want to rush her too much, so maybe I should wait here.
"Um, actor Jin Sun-hu."
Then a woman approached hesitantly at the changing room door.
It was Na Seung-hee's mom, the child actress playing my daughter.
"Yes, Seung-hee's mom. What is it?"
"I'm sorry to ask this, but..."
Did she peg me as some peeping tom?
I mean, pervert? Guilty. But peeping? No.
"Could you compliment Seung-hee's swimsuit when she comes out? She's throwing a fit, saying it looks too childish."
"Ah, sure. Of course. Got it."
Adults aren't the only ones obsessed with swimsuits.
Kids can be brutal. One tiny flaw and they pounce.
Everyone at school will see it when it airs.
Kids might stress more than grown-ups.
No idea how much my praise would help, but better than nothing.
I'll lay it on thick.
"Sun-hu. Hold on."
Su-ah peeked out from the women's changing room, gesturing me over.
Her face in the swim cap was adorable.
But come in? To the women's room?
Couldn't bring myself to enter, so I just leaned in for a peek.
Su-ah was hiding in the shadows by the door, too shy to face everyone.
"D-Does it look weird?"
Su-ah's swimsuit was a one-piece with curtain-like frills on the chest and lower body.
Way less revealing than Shin Ji-hye's.
Still, Su-ah never shows skin usually, so she must feel awkward.
"Nah. You look great. Really pretty... but..."
My eyes drifted to her chest.
Different from the Su-ah I knew.
Even bigger than Shin Ji-hye's—swollen baby-mama territory.
"Su-ah... take out the pads."
"...Is it obvious?"
She turned beet red, asking back.
Obviously. I know the real thing.
"You don't need 'em. Bigger isn't always better."
"...Okay."
Truth is, I like 'em big, but can't say that to her.
"And you too, Seung-hee."
Said it to Seung-hee, hiding behind Su-ah.
In the drama, mother and daughter, so Seung-hee had a similar swimsuit.
Problem was the mismatched chest padding for her age. Same as Su-ah.
Matching outfits is fine, but not that.
"...No."
Unlike Su-ah, Seung-hee dug in her heels.
That stubborn look reminded me of Mi-so when she was little.
'Su-ah, what're you teaching the kid? You wanna hear it from Seung-hee's mom?'
'Ugh... sorry.'
Whispered argument, and she confessed right away.
Figured—the pads were Su-ah's.
She might've copied out of curiosity, but way too inappropriate for broadcast TV.
I crouched down in front of Seung-hee and coaxed her gently.
"Seung-hee, you don't need that stuff. You're already so pretty just as you are. Why bother? Only people lacking confidence do that."
"Eek."
Su-ah winced, hit a nerve.
"So let's take it out and come on. You're super cute in just the swimsuit. Got it?"
"...Yeah."
"Su-ah, you too—go take yours out."
Phew. Crisis averted.
If persuasion failed, I'd have called her mom.
"...We're here."
I waited outside, and soon they both emerged.
"See? Way better."
Su-ah shyly covered herself with her hands.
Somehow, she looked even purer than when dressed.
"Seung-hee, you did great taking it out. Feels better, right? Swimsuit looks perfect on you."
Remembering her mom's request, I praised away.
Seung-hee's sour face brightened a bit.
Kids should act like kids.
No forcing grown-up stuff.
Especially not bad influences like Shin Ji-hye.
"Daddy, carry me."
"Huh? Okay."
I scooped Seung-hee into my arms and walked.
Su-ah walked beside me.
Picture-perfect happy family.
"Nice. Let's roll—get ready."
The director loved the vibe and called action on the spot.
Crew sprang into motion without missing a beat.
Alright. My turn.
"Here we go! One, two, three!"
"Eeeek!"
I scoop up Soo-jung and jump into the pool.
Splash.
Water flies everywhere, and Soo-jung giggles wildly, thrilled.
"Honey! What're you doing, that's dangerous!"
My wife, Shin A-young, comes chasing after, scolding.
"What's dangerous? Soo-jung, having fun?"
"Yeah! Do it again!"
"No! It's dangerous!"
Hwang Jin-woo, the immature dad on par with his ten-year-old daughter.
And mom Shin A-young, reining in his antics.
Parents bickering, but Soo-jung's just happy for the rare family outing.
"Daddy! Swim with me! Swim!"
She clings to daddy's neck, begging for a ride.
"Got it. Soo-jung, hold on tight!"
"Eee!"
Dad slices through the water like a dolphin.
Soo-jung, hanging on his neck, feels like she's riding one.
"Honey, ease up. You'll collapse."
"Huff huff. I'm fine... huff huff."
Mom nags, worried about overdoing dad.
Dad talks big instead.
Soo-jung begs for more playtime.
"Alright, one more lap with daddy?"
"Yay!"
"Honey!"
Soo-jung loves every second with daddy.
If only every day could be this fun.
But someone was about to crash their happy family time.
"Oh my, isn't that Manager Hwang Jin-woo?"
"Huh? Sun-ah?"
Young women strolling the poolside.
One in an especially skimpy swimsuit approached dad.
"Soo-jung, say hi. Daddy's coworker."
"...Hello."
Soo-jung greets as told, but stays on guard.
In her eyes, daddy's "coworker" looked like a witch out to shatter their hard-won family peace.