Chapter 127
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Translator: Ebonarch
Chapter: 127
Chapter Title: Child Actress Na Seung-hee
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Shooting had wrapped up completely.
"Right now, you'd get a popular actress plus two rookies thrown in for free—"
Actress Shin Ji-hye was saying the same thing today.
"Sorry, but I have plans already."
And what was I supposed to do with two more on top of that?
I could barely handle one Shin Ji-hye as it was.
"With who this time!"
"With Senior Su-ah."
Over there, Senior Su-ah was waving shyly.
"Hey! You keep pulling this crap?"
"Sorry. I'll treat you next time for sure."
"Tch. You'll see."
Actress Shin Ji-hye glared daggers at me before storming off.
This might be pushing my luck.
She better not show up next time with an even bigger posse.
"Daddy."
"Yeah, Seung-hee."
Seung-hee tugged at my sleeve.
Maybe because it was so late, her face looked sleepy.
Seung-hee placed her hand on her chest and said,
"I think it hurts here."
"What, really?!"
My heart sank.
There was reason to worry. From that artificial respiration scene.
But back then, the chest compressions were just for show.
Did I accidentally put real force into it in the panic?
"Seung-hee's mom, what do we do? Seung-hee, want to go to the hospital?"
"Mmm."
Seung-hee shook her head.
And then she said,
"Happy Meal."
"......"
I was at a loss for words.
Seung-hee's mom stepped in for me.
"Seung-hee, are you really hurting? You didn't tell Mom it hurt."
"It just started hurting now."
"You wanna lie? If it hurts, we go to the hospital."
Whew.
Guess it was a fib after all.
I thought my heart was gonna drop out.
This little rascal, pulling pranks like that.
"Huh? Daddy......"
"Sorry, Seung-hee. Daddy has plans today. Let's go next time, okay?"
I stroked her hair and scolded her gently, but Seung-hee wouldn't let go of my sleeve.
She could act like a grown-up on set, but right now she was all kid again.
"Sorry. She's just so immature."
Seung-hee's mom forcibly picked her up.
"Daddy......"
She let go of my sleeve, but her eyes stayed locked on me.
It was a heartbreaking, pleading gaze that tugged at my chest.
Ugh. Don't fall for it, Jin Sun-hu.
That's an actress's performance.
Na Seung-hee!
Don't waste your talent on a Happy Meal!
"Haa."
......But.
Even knowing it was acting, I couldn't help it.
The scene from the pool shoot with Seung-hee flashed in my mind.
Su-jeong faking it to get Daddy's attention.
Then actually falling in and nearly drowning.
Thinking about that, I couldn't just leave.
No matter how much I knew it was Seung-hee's acting.
"Um, Su-ah."
"Got it. Go ahead."
Su-ah had already approved before I could even ask.
She seemed to read my mind completely.
"Sorry. I'll make it up to you for sure."
"Just having you care about me is enough. Go on."
Su-ah sent me off with a smile.
Whew. Lucky Su-ah's so understanding.
If it were Ji-hye, she never would've let me go.
After getting Su-ah's okay, I headed back to Seung-hee and her mom.
"Seung-hee's mom."
"Oh, Actor Jin Sun-hu."
"Daddy!"
Seung-hee latched onto my waist.
I stroked her head and said,
"My plans got canceled suddenly. If it's okay, can I give you a ride home? I'll drive."
"Pardon? You don't have to......"
Seung-hee's mom looked terribly apologetic.
I'm doing this because I want to, so no need.
Was she uncomfortable with me around?
"Thinking about today's shoot, I couldn't just leave. If it's inconvenient......"
"Oh, no! Not at all!"
Good, she was just purely sorry.
"Daddy! Happy Meal! Happy Meal!"
"Seung-hee!"
Her mom scolded Seung-hee, who was chanting for Happy Meal.
How much does she love Happy Meals?
"Seung-hee likes Happy Meals? I could buy something even tastier."
"Happy Meal's best."
Seeing Seung-hee smile so happily made me want to buy the whole store.
"She's saying it like that—mind if we do?"
"Mom, pleeease~."
I shot Seung-hee's mom the same pleading look as Seung-hee.
"......Just this once. Don't keep troubling Actor Jin Sun-hu."
"Yay!"
Seung-hee's mom gave in with a sigh.
Seung-hee and I high-fived in victory.
"Thank you, Seung-hee's mom."
"No...... thank you."
"Hand over the keys. I'll drive. Where's your place?"
"I feel so bad......"
"I love driving anyway. Don't worry."
"Daddy! We're stopping for Happy Meal, right?"
"Of course. Head to Seung-hee's place."
And so, I ended up heading home with Seung-hee and her mom.
Seung-hee rode shotgun, her mom in the back.
"Rest your eyes on the way. You look tired."
Seung-hee, who'd looked sleepy earlier, now had sparkling eyes at the Happy Meal bait.
Her mom, on the other hand, looked like a weary businesswoman after a long commute.
Her eyes were sunken, dark circles down to her jaw.
She looked so exhausted it worried even me.
"......Is that okay?"
"Of course. I'll get you there safe. I'll wake you when we arrive."
Young Seung-hee must be tough, but her mom shadowing her 24/7 couldn't be easy either.
Seung-hee's mom passed out the moment she hit the seat.
"Seung-hee. Let's talk quietly so Mom can sleep, okay?"
"Okay."
Seung-hee was humming some mysterious tune, clearly in a good mood.
"Daddy. You sleeping over at our house tonight?"
"Huh? Oh, no. Daddy's got to go home too."
"Boo. Would be nice if you stayed."
No matter what, I couldn't sleep over at Seung-hee's.
Her real dad would freak.
Oh, speaking of.
"But Seung-hee. You don't have to call me Daddy normally. How about Oppa or Uncle?"
"You don't like being called Daddy?"
"It's not that. But your real dad might feel bad."
Seung-hee pouted at my words.
"No daddy."
"......You said that last time too. Don't say that. He'd really be sad."
"He hardly ever comes home. Haven't seen him in over a month."
"Really?"
......What's the deal?
Goose dad?
"Daddy works far away?"
"Dunno. But when he comes home, he always fights with Mom. So they divorced."
Ugh.
Better not dig deeper.
"I see. Then call me Daddy if you want."
"Okay......"
Seung-hee looked so lonely saying that.
Ditching such a cute daughter for divorce.
Adults have their reasons, but I couldn't feel good about a dad making her look like that.
"Daddy. You dating Mom?"
"Mom? No?"
This kid's gonna get me in trouble.
Even if I'm Daddy, I can't date your mom.
I've got my own mom to date.
Hm. That sounded kinda cool.
"Then why'd you kiss?"
"Kiss? With Mom?"
"Yeah. In the changing room earlier. With Su-ah's mom."
"Uh."
My heart dropped again.
How many times today thanks to Seung-hee?
Su-ah's mom, huh.
Come to think of it, Su-ah calls her mom too.
I checked the rearview for Seung-hee's mom first.
Still sleeping soundly. Didn't hear.
"Uh, Seung-hee."
I was tongue-tied.
What to say?
Pretend I don't know?
"Who'd you hear that from?"
"I saw. I was in the changing room."
Oh, Lord.
Why this trial for me?
"I, I see."
No need to call on the Lord.
I brought this on myself.
Locked the door, figured no one could see.
Never imagined someone inside.
Good thing it didn't go further......
What did we do? Kiss, chest grope, butt touch?
Is that okay?
"Mom and Daddy aren't dating, so why kiss?"
"......Seung-hee. Adults do that sometimes. When they're lonely."
"Lonely?"
"Yeah. People without partners pretend to date, play lovers. 'Cause they're lonely."
Can I gloss over it like this?
......Probably not.
Still, please let it slide!
Daddy's got no excuses!
But my wish didn't reach Seung-hee.
"Daddy. Then play lovers with me too?"
Argh!
Seung-hee's mom! I'm sorry!
I committed a mortal sin!
Kill me!
"Can't do that."
"Why?"
"Seung-hee's still a kid, right? This is adult stuff."
My responses were getting thinner.
Pressure worse than being surrounded by popular girls.
Driving me this far.
Actresses are scary.
"Then when I grow up?"
"Ha, haha......"
Seung-hee only asks the tough ones.
Can Daddy go home now?
"If Seung-hee's grown up and still single and lonely, tell me then? Your feelings might change, and guys'll line up anyway."
"Okay. Promise."
I pinky-swore with Seung-hee.
Whew. Glad she accepted so easily.
If she'd whined and woken her mom.
And asked what happened.
......Horror movie. Scary just thinking.
The car pulled into the familiar fast-food lot.
I parked and said to Seung-hee,
"Seung-hee, Mom's asleep—don't wanna wake her. Eat Happy Meal in the car? Daddy'll grab it."
"I wanna go too."
Figured as much.
If she wakes up alone, Mom'll worry.
Quick trip should be fine?
"Okay. Let's hurry."
Judging it'd be faster than persuading her, I got out with Seung-hee and headed in.
"But Seung-hee, don't tell anyone about Daddy and Mom kissing. It's embarrassing."
"Okay. Got it."
"Keep it secret for real. Not even Mom. Promise."
I drilled it into Seung-hee repeatedly.
Ugh. How'd this happen?
My fault, sure.
At least it was Seung-hee who caught us.
Gotta be more careful from now on.
"Seung-hee!"
As we left with the burgers, a middle-aged man called out to Seung-hee.
I instinctively stepped in front of her.
Seung-hee's eyes widened.
"Daddy......?"
Seung-hee called that man Daddy.