Chapter 126
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Translator: Ebonarch
Chapter: 126
Chapter Title: Indoor Swimming Pool Scene 2
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"Manager, really?"
"He's the manager from Hwasan Group, one of our company's clients."
"Hwasan Group? That Hwasan Group?"
"Hello. I'm Hwang Jin-woo."
"You're so handsome! Come hang out with us!"
"Sorry, I'm here with my family today."
"Aw, come on, at least chat with us for a bit. My dad's Jeong Myeong-won, the vice president of Jinan Group."
"Ah, Vice President Jeong? How's he doing?"
Sujeong didn't like this situation one bit.
It felt like these young women were stealing her dad away.
She shot a pleading look at her mom for help, but Mom just stood there watching quietly.
"Daddy, let's play."
She tugged at her dad's arm, whining.
"Sujeong, go play with Mom for a bit."
But Dad brushed her off.
"Honey."
"It's work-related. I'll just hear him out and come right back."
Dad climbed out of the pool.
Mom couldn't argue with 'work' and just let out a sigh.
Sujeong racked her brains.
What should she do?
At this rate, Dad was going to leave.
"Sujeong, why don't you play with Mom? Dad'll be back soon."
Mom said that, but even she couldn't tear her eyes away from Dad, looking anxious.
Sujeong thought to herself.
She wanted Dad back.
She wanted his attention.
So how could she make that happen?
She knew the way.
The only question was whether she had the courage to do it.
Sujeong quietly swam toward the deeper end, making sure Mom didn't notice.
Then, with a splash, she pretended to drown.
"Daddy!"
Help!
That's what she tried to yell.
But.
Maybe her muscles tensed up from the sudden move.
In an instant, a cramping pain gripped her leg like a vise.
Startled, Sujeong tried to head for shallower water, but the pain made her leg useless.
"Ah, I'm drow—"
Glub, glub.
Flailing, Sujeong sank straight to the bottom.
"Hey! Sujeong!"
Shin Ah-young, who had been focused on her husband, hadn't noticed her daughter heading to the deep end.
She spotted Sujeong drowning too late and screamed.
"Honey! Jin-woo!"
Hwang Jin-woo turned at the sound.
Seeing Sujeong in the water, his eyes widened.
He bolted over and dove into the pool.
Splash.
He submerged straight to where Sujeong had gone under.
Sujeong floated in the water with her eyes closed, as if passed out.
Jin-woo's face twisted in worry.
He scooped her up and surfaced immediately.
"Pfft! Sujeong!"
Gasping for air, he tried to rouse her, but there was no response.
Her face was pale. She wasn't breathing.
Jin-woo rushed her out of the pool.
Still, Sujeong didn't react.
"Sujeong! Sujeong, are you okay?!"
"Sujeong! Wake up! Open your eyes!"
She didn't respond to Dad's voice or Mom's.
Jin-woo quickly started CPR.
He pinched her nose and breathed into her mouth.
Then pressed down on her chest with his palms.
"Sujeong! Sujeong, wake up!"
With a grave expression, Jin-woo kept at the resuscitation.
Ah-young clutched her daughter's hand, sobbing and calling her name.
"...Cough. Cough! Blech!"
As if their desperate pleas reached her.
Sujeong coughed up water and barely opened her eyes.
"Sujeong! It's Daddy! Can you see me?!"
Jin-woo stopped CPR and locked eyes with her.
"Daddy..."
Sujeong looked up at him through hazy vision.
"Sujeong, I'm sorry. Daddy's so sorry."
He pulled her into a tight embrace, blaming himself.
"Daddyyy~."
Tears bursting out, Sujeong clung to him.
...She got Daddy back.
Sujeong wailed loudly in his arms, a small smile tugging at her lips.
"..."
Seon-ah watched from afar and quietly turned away.
"Cut! Perfect! Outstanding!"
The director's call snapped me back to reality.
"Sujeong! You okay?"
"Huh?"
Sujeong blinked up at me with big, innocent eyes.
"Seung-hee's acting was amazing. Our little hope! Totally worth the push!"
"Thank you."
She replied to Ji-hye's praise.
Ah.
It wasn't Sujeong—it was Seung-hee.
The drowning was just acting.
Wow.
That scared me.
I really thought she drowned.
"Phew. What a fright. Thought it was real."
I wiped my chest in relief.
My heart was still pounding.
"What are you talking about, Dad? I really drowned. Thought I was gonna die."
Seung-hee said it with a bright, sunny smile.
Seung-hee, you're kidding, right?
...You're kidding? Right?
"Dad, so don't go anywhere, okay?"
She hugged my neck tight again.
"Ah, yeah... sure."
I hugged her back on reflex, but...
Chills.
Is this what child acting is like?
Terrifying.
Seung-hee seems like the same type as Actress Shin Ji-hye.
Maybe even more so.
Does a kid like this grow up to be like that...?
The god of acting is cruel.
"Dad, I'm gonna go change. See you later."
"Yeah, okay."
After Seung-hee left, two others approached, tag-teaming in.
"Actor Jin Sun-hu! Your acting was so cool!"
They were in swimsuits, striking up conversation.
Newbies from the same agency as Shin Ji-hye, who had appeared as extras in a trio with Seon-ah.
"Ah, thanks. You sisters too."
"Oh! He called us sisters!"
"So cute!"
Their swimsuits were less flashy.
Supporting characters meant to make the lead, Seon-ah, shine—couldn't outdraw her.
But their looks and personalities were as dazzling as Shin Ji-hye's.
True 'extroverts' I could never mix with.
"Ha, haha... Thank you."
Groups like this trigger my trauma.
Even beauties made me uncomfortable.
I smiled outwardly, but cold sweat dripped down my back.
Honestly, I wanted to bolt.
"How are you so good at swimming? Do you swim often?"
"No... My sister trained me Spartan-style when I was little..."
Who knew the swimming I learned to survive would come in handy.
Sis must've taught me for moments like this.
"I see! I wanna learn to swim too!"
"Could you teach us sometime?"
"Got time after wrap today?"
Good lord.
As approachable as Shin Ji-hye.
Two more like her.
What do you feed kids to make them this extroverted?
"Haha... Better learn from a pro..."
Anyone? Save me?
Glancing around, I spotted Shin Ji-hye peeking over the extras' shoulders.
I pleaded with my eyes, but she stuck her tongue out mischievously.
Ugh.
Was this her trap!?
Payback from yesterday!?
As I despaired, a new figure appeared.
Actress Hwang Soo-ah, jumper over her swimsuit.
"Sun-hu. What was that acting just now?"
"Huh...?"
My acting?
Wasn't it good?
"Come with me. We need to talk."
"Ah, sure."
Soo-ah seemed pissed.
The chilly vibe silenced even the extroverts.
Personal stuff aside, as an actor, she's my senior—like the sky.
Couldn't defy her.
I bowed quickly to the extras and scurried after Soo-ah.
"Women's changing room?"
But we ended up at the women's locker room.
I stopped dead in front.
"What are you doing? Hurry up and come in."
"Uh."
She grabbed my wrist and yanked me inside.
Click.
She locked the door.
"Sun-hu. You like young girls that much?"
"Pardon?"
No way!
The acting talk was an excuse!?
"Grinning like an idiot. Staring at their swimsuits."
"Me?"
That was more absurd than the acting critique.
I was sweating bullets.
"That's how it looked?"
"I don't know!"
Soo-ah turned away, sulking.
"Soo-ah."
Were the extroverts getting to her?
She always checked Ji-hye, which annoyed me, but today it was kinda cute.
"To me, you look way prettier, Soo-ah."
"Hmph. Talk is cheap."
So I showed her with actions.
I pushed her against the wall.
Her jumper slipped off onto the floor over her swimsuit.
She looked up at me, startled.
"Soo-ah, you brought me here for this, right?"
I lifted her chin.
"N-no, not really?"
She averted her eyes, denying it.
Her mouth said no, but her face betrayed her excitement.
I leaned in and kissed her lips.
Mm, smooch.
"Nngh... Sun-hu..."
As we kissed, I placed a hand on her chest.
Beneath the taut swimsuit, I felt the soft swell.
Perfect handful size. Pretty breasts.
No need for padding, as expected.
"Soo-ah, still hurts?"
My other hand brushed her butt.
The cute cheeks twitched.
She'd know what I meant without saying.
Her flushed face turned even redder as she answered.
"A little... But I can do it. Or should I use my hands?"
If I said yes, she'd push through the pain.
But I didn't want that.
"Wait till you're better. And it's risky here anyway."
This was the women's locker room.
Door locked or not, Shin Ji-hye or her crew could show up.
Might be comfy for her as a woman, but not for me.
The anxiety of being where I shouldn't.
Wanted out ASAP.
"Okay..."
A deeper kiss with her slightly disappointed self.
"Once you're healed, we'll go all out."
"...Yeah."
She seemed appeased by 'all out'.
"But what about that?"
"Ah."
She pointed at my crotch.
My black dragon strained against the tiny swim trunks, ready to burst.
"Want me to take care of it quick? Hands only."
Her eyes full of anticipation.
But no risky business.
"Soo-ah, lend me your jumper?"
I wrapped it around my waist to cover up.
Men's room was right next door—change and return it quick.
"I'll change and bring it back."
"Okay..."
She looked disappointed.
Really wanted to, huh.
What to do.
"...Can I swing by your place after wrap tonight?"
"Y-yes!"
Her face lit up.
A man's duty, after all.
Clunk.
We slipped out of the women's locker room.
Thankfully, no one outside.
Phew. No witnesses?
I dashed into the men's room.
Clunk.
After the two left the locker room.
"..."
A small shadow that had been hiding inside stirred.
Covering her beet-red face with her hands,
the little shadow hurriedly fled the locker room.
Only silence remained in the empty changing room.