Chapter 25
Chapter 25
Family is Hard
Family is so hard.
Even as they all gathered for a meal, Choi Yu-jin kept glancing at Yu Yeon-seo. When their eyes happened to meet, she would smile so brightly it felt as if flower petals were scattering around them.
‘So, she’s happy, right?’
Just because I called her Mother?
Yu Yeon-seo found it absurd but maintained a calm facade. In truth, he had been entertaining all sorts of thoughts on the ride over in Yu Eun-ho’s car.
The rumors said she doted on him, so she must have been nice to his face… but who knew what she was like behind his back? His image of modern-day chaebols was a negative one—families engaged in mud-slinging fights over company shares, framing one another for corruption, or dealing with illegitimate children.
But the Choi Yu-jin before him… was different from what he had suspected. Is this all an act? If it is, she deserves an acting award…
<Master, it is best not to blindly trust the media you have seen in the past.>
‘Isn’t it based on reality to some extent?’
<Perhaps, but it does not seem appropriate for the current situation.>
He was even getting an earful from Beta. Being treated like an old woman who couldn’t distinguish reality from drama and would curse at an actor playing a villain, Yu Yeon-seo pouted.
To hear this from a machine was a blow to his pride. As a person from the year 2207, that was all I had to reference this era.
“So, how was France?”
“I’ve been there so often, I’m getting a little tired of it. The weather was lovely, though.”
The relationship between Choi Yu-jin and the rest of the family seemed quite good. Chairman Yu Chang-ho appeared to favor Choi Yu-jin even more than his own son, Yu Geon-min, and both Yu Geon-min and Yu Eun-ho treated her with respect.
As the conversation drifted back to business, it was Choi Yu-jin who made sure to include the sidelined Yu Yeon-seo.
“Oh, Yeon-seo, I heard you started a movie? How is it?”
“I think filming will be over sometime this week.”
“Is that so? If I had my way, I’d want to handle the production myself… Please let me produce your next film.”
Ah, Choi Yu-jin was a media mogul. JSENM was also distributing White Tiger. Come to think of it, there was a film that got criticized for monopolizing screens, and Yu Yeon-seo had starred in that one too.
He’d heard it managed to break even thanks to the extended screen monopoly… It was a special talent, letting such a natural advantage go to waste.
“It’s alright, Mother. Thank you for your concern.”
“Oh my… Did you hear that?”
Choi Yu-jin covered her mouth again, patting Yu Geon-min’s shoulder in a flurry of excitement.
She was his mother on paper, and it might be strange to say, but honestly… she seemed a bit scatterbrained.
Even the typically stern Chairman Yu was smiling warmly at his favorite daughter-in-law. Hmm, I’m not used to this kind of atmosphere. Yu Yeon-seo decided to just focus on eating.
“So, what are your plans after filming ends?”
“I need to rest and prepare to go back to school.”
He had made a promise, after all. His casual words seemed to lift the mood of everyone at the table.
Having only seen his grandson’s defiant side, Chairman Yu’s lips stretched into a wide grin at this newly docile behavior.
“Good. Make sure to attend all the family events from now on. Your brother never misses one, so why should you?”
“Yes, well…”
“Good.”
Yu Yeon-seo wore an awkward expression. I, I just can’t keep up with this heartwarming atmosphere.
“Oh, my niece is getting engaged.”
“Ah, that’s right. I heard from Chairman Park.”
“It’s been a while, we should all go together!”
“Did you hear that? You should stay by your mother’s side then.”
Just how bad was his relationship with Choi Yu-jin that everyone was so desperate to pair them up? Yu Yeon-seo gave a vague nod. The family smiled gently.
‘Heh…’
Yu Yeon-seo decided to give up on thinking.
“I’ll be going now, Grandfather.”
“You have a while before you go back to school anyway. Come visit often.”
“If I have time.”
After finishing the meal in a soft yet somehow suffocating atmosphere, Yu Yeon-seo followed Yu Eun-ho outside. At least the food had gone down smoothly; it didn’t seem like he would get indigestion.
“Um… Yeon-seo.”
“Yes, Mother.”
There she goes, getting happy again. I really can’t get used to this.
“Um… would you like to go to the JMA with me this time?”
“The JMA?”
JMA, the end-of-year music awards show hosted by a cable channel under JSENM. The awards were for singers, but the presenters were always actors or other influential figures. As an actor, Yu Yeon-seo had occasionally participated as a presenter.
He had plenty of time since he planned to take acting lessons and rest while synchronizing his memories after filming wrapped up. He was also curious about what an awards show was like.
“Yes, sure. I’ll go.”
“Great. You two get home safe.”
Her expression brightening even more, Choi Yu-jin gave Yu Eun-ho a light hug before heading back inside. The sound of his grandfather and father’s laughter, prompted by something Choi Yu-jin said, could be heard even from outside.
“Um… Hyung.”
Yu Yeon-seo said tentatively after getting into Yu Eun-ho’s car and fastening his seatbelt.
“Is she always like that?”
“No. I guess she’s just happy because you’ve changed.”
Yu Eun-ho chuckled. He had found it quite amusing to watch his younger brother squirm, completely unable to adapt. Did he think the adults hadn’t noticed? Towards the end, they had almost started doting on him intentionally just to tease him.
“What was I like before?”
“Hmm, very uncooperative.”
“Don’t just say that.”
“This is probably the first time you’ve properly called her Mother.”
Ah, he had sensed that during their last meal together. Yu Yeon-seo sighed. It seemed like it would take a long time to get used to this kind of atmosphere.
“We saw her a few times after Father remarried, but it was a short time for you to get used to a new mother.”
“Really?”
Yu Eun-ho nodded. Yu Yeon-seo had been going through puberty back then and would deliberately come home late to avoid her.
Choi Yu-jin had tried to get closer to her stepsons, but she was also busy growing the newly launched JSENM. Then, while Yu Chang-ho and Yu Geon-min were away on a long overseas business trip for an important matter, Yu Yeon-seo had suddenly joined an agency and debuted.
“It was about seven years ago, I think… After you had that big fight with Grandfather and fell out, there were even fewer chances to see her. Since you never came around.”
“Well, that’s…”
“I’m not trying to blame you. I just hope you can keep being like you are now.”
Choi Yu-jin had taken good care of not only Yu Yeon-seo but Yu Eun-ho as well. So it wasn’t a case of her being nice to their faces and malicious behind their backs… Was it simply that she couldn’t get close because Yu Yeon-seo had put up a wall?
Wait, seven years ago? Was that during his One Seven days? The context suggested he was talking about the time he was forced to leave the group because of his grandfather.
‘Anyway, family is so hard.’
His thoughts tangled, and his head grew complicated. The unconditional affection being poured on him still felt like a burden.
“Cut! Han-gyeol, that last one was good.”
After a period of frequent NGs from suddenly spacing out, Lee Han-gyeol had finally returned to his usual composed self on the last day of filming.
‘He seemed out of it for a while. Looks like he’s better now.’
Was he that shocked by his fans showing up on set? Although those fans had been tactless enough to come right onto the set, the buffet they brought was delicious.
‘Come to think of it, I’ve never seen my own fans.’
Even Park Min-woo’s fans had sent a coffee truck, called him ‘Actor-nim,’ and taken pictures with him.
He took out his phone and searched his own name. It wasn’t that he was disappointed about not getting any support; it was a genuine question. This jerk of a person has fans?
- Did you see the review of the buffet support from the neighboring gallery?
We want to send support to our gallery master too.
└ I agree.
└ I’m a new Love Letter, so I don’t really know, but why can’t we send support?
└└ The gallery master drew a line, saying only people richer than him can send support.
└└└ Ah, this is… not easy.
- Btw, what’s our gallery master up to these days?
I know he’s filming a movieㅠㅠ but he hasn’t posted on social media at all since the accidentㅠㅠ
└ I want to see his faceㅠㅠ
└ I miss our gallery masterㅠㅠㅠ
└ I’m getting withdrawal symptoms since the gallery master suddenly stopped posting on social media;;
The fan community posts were flowing in steadily. But ‘seuneuseu’? What was that? Just as Yu Yeon-seo opened a search tab, someone came up suddenly from behind him.
“What are you looking at, Hyung?”
It startled him. Yu Yeon-seo’s shoulders tensed. Having finished his scenes, Park Min-woo was waiting for the final group photo.
“Just, fan reactions.”
“You check fan reactions too? Your fans’ affection is no joke.”
“Really? They’re crying because I haven’t posted on ‘seuneuseu’?”
“‘Seuneuseu’? Ah, SNS. Come to think of it, you used to post on that a lot.”
Park Min-woo knew because reporters would turn anything Yu Yeon-seo posted into an article, so even he, who wasn’t particularly interested in Yu Yeon-seo, was aware.
Yu Yeon-seo used to post at least five times a day, mostly showing off his face or his new luxury purchases.
“Why don’t you post the selfie we took, Hyung? For movie promotion, too.”
“Should I?”
“Give me your phone, Hyung.”
Yu Yeon-seo obediently handed over his phone. After taking a close-up selfie with Park Min-woo, Yu Yeon-seo fumbled to open his SNS app.
“While you’re at it, please follow my account.”
To be honest, Park Min-woo’s intentions weren’t entirely pure. Yu Yeon-seo’s follower count was in the top five in South Korea, so this was also a ploy to promote himself.
‘And… his personality is pretty good, unlike what the manager said.’
If possible, Park Min-woo wanted to work with Yu Yeon-seo on his next project. The productions Yu Yeon-seo was in had overflowing budgets, which made for a relaxed set, and his acting was surprisingly good, far better than what he’d shown before.
“Hey, let me in too.”
As they were seriously contemplating which photo to choose, Lee Han-gyeol squeezed in between them. In the end, Yu Yeon-seo posted a photo of the three of them and closed the app.
“Great work, everyone!”
After a few more minor shots, filming for White Tiger finally concluded. The entire crew gathered for a group photo with the actors, writer, and director at the center.
“Our Yeon-seo has prepared gifts for all the staff who worked so hard, so please go and get them over there.”
“Thank you!”
“We’ll use them well!”
Lee Tae-gyeom, trying to make up for his dog excuse earlier, had eagerly suggested giving gifts to all the staff to celebrate the end of filming. It was a plausible idea, so Yu Yeon-seo had agreed.
The staff cheered, and Yu Yeon-seo smiled faintly and nodded. The gifts consisted of a few items essential for filming and a card wallet from a luxury brand for which he was an ambassador.
“Yeon-seo.”
“Director.”
Director Park Ho-jin’s eyes welled with tears. There was so much he wanted to say to Yu Yeon-seo. He wanted to thank him for choosing his project, for making his debut possible, but he had a feeling the current Yu Yeon-seo would dislike hearing such things.
He’d probably respond with a grumpy face, “Why is that my doing?” That was how much Yu Yeon-seo’s reputation had changed in Director Park’s mind.
After bailing on filming that one time, Yu Yeon-seo had returned as a diligent actor. His improved acting and sincere attitude had significantly boosted his image among the staff.
“You’ll work with me on my next project too, right?”
“Well, if it’s a good project.”
Yu Yeon-seo didn’t mind White Tiger. For one, the situation was similar to his time as Kang Jin-hu, and it held great meaning as his first project in this new era.
“Yes, I’ll be sure to find you with a great script. See you during promotions next year.”
Yu Yeon-seo nodded at Director Park Ho-jin’s words.
The crew of White Tiger would go on to work on other projects. And they would talk about Yu Yeon-seo’s markedly changed personality.
Something along the lines of, “By the way, didn’t Yu Yeon-seo seem a little different?”