Chapter 7

Yuna, who was screaming, blinked her eyes and wrinkled her nose.

*Sniff sniff!*

“Huh?”

“Pft… So adorable. I’ve never seen such a cute kid before.”

Indeed, I empathized with her words.

Even to me, Yuna’s bewildered appearance was irresistibly cute.

Her charismatic expression crumbled, leaving only a smile that seemed like sweet like honey.

“Yuna. Can’t you call me ‘unnie’ just once?”

“Huh, unnie?”

With a smooth movement, she pulled something out of her pocket.

‘What did she take out?’

I peeked curiously, and it turned out to be a lollipop made entirely of sugar.

“Yuna. Do you want this?”

“Wow! It’s candy.”

She shouldn’t eat it now since we have to eat dinner later.

But without hesitation, Yuna took the candy with her tiny hand, glancing at me before tearing open the wrapper and putting it in her mouth.

“Sigh. Who does she take after? She’s quick on the uptake.”

I shrugged my shoulders.

I couldn’t take away something she enjoyed so much.

***

Inside a small seafood restaurant where the cast members were gathered.

There was no one but me, Seol-hwa senior, and Suho senior.

We were waiting for the director who had belatedly agreed to join the dinner, chatting casually.

‘I’m starving to death…’

I was bombarded with questions, and as I tried to answer them all, my throat grew increasingly dry.

‘It’s endless. It’s never-ending.’

I quenched my thirst with cool water and took a moment to catch my breath.

“Jun-seo.”

As a response to Kang Suho calling my name, I quickly raised my head and asked, “Yes, what is it?”

“Do you always use the same method to immerse yourself in the roles you play?

“Yes, because if I make my body memorize it, I can easily immerse myself in it like a habit.”

I clear my mind by taking two deep breaths. That way, it was easier to melt into the character.

I wondered how the seniors captured their emotions. Suddenly curious, I looked between Yu Seol-hwa and Kang Suho, then asked, “Seniors, do you capture emotions in a different way? if so then, how do you do it?”

They exchanged skeptical glances.

“Hey…”

The first to speak up was Yu Seol-hwa, sitting right in front of me.

She then continued speaking.

“Tell me honestly. Was it all a lie when you said you were a rookie?”

“Huh?”

What’s this all about…

I couldn’t understand why she was doubting me at all.

“What do you mean by that?”

Kang Suho, who had been silently observing me, finally spoke up.

“Where did you come from before rolling here?”

“Rolling? What…?”

“That’s not the way a rookie actor would do it. Of course… unless someone taught you to do it that way.”

“Yeah. You said you self-taught. Where did you learn that from? Tell the truth.”

I couldn’t muster the courage to honestly admit that I had worked as an actor in my past life.

Who would believe that I was reincarnated?

I had resolved not to tell anyone until I died.

How do I explain this then…

“Are you listening to me?”

Startled by Yu Seol-hwa’s call, I quickly pulled myself together, smiled awkwardly, and spoke up.

“I really did self-teach. I studied by watching videos online.”

Only then did those suspicious glances soften into gentle smiles.

“Well, it is the modern age after all. Such videos are quite common these days.”

“The modern age has its perks.”

Yu Seol-hwa chuckled at Kang Suho’s words.

“Hehe! With you saying that, Senior Kang, you look even older.”

“I’m still in my 50s. I’m sturdy.”

Gradually, the lively atmosphere of the conversation subsided into silence.

“Appa, I’m hungry.”

Along with Yuna’s whining, Yu Seol-hwa’s phone on the table rang.

*Ring ring*

Glancing at the screen, I saw the director’s name displayed.

“Appa!”

“Oh, Yuna. Can you wait just a little longer?”

“How much longer?”

“Uh… see that clock over there? Just until the long hand reaches 10 exactly.”

“Okay….”

That’s when it happened.

Yu Seol-hwa, who had just finished the call, set her phone down on the table and clapped her hands.

All eyes turned to Yu Seol-hwa.

“Well then! Since the director is busy and couldn’t make it… shall we order now?”

“Appa.”

*Growl*

A cute sound came from Yuna, tugging at my clothes.

“Are you very hungry?”

“Yes…”

Seeing Yuna’s tired expression, Yu Seol-hwa opened up the menu and pushed it towards her.

“Can you read the menu? Choose what you want to eat. Unnie will buy everything for you.”

Yuna nodded thoughtfully, carefully looking at the menu before pointing with her finger.

“This one!”

I glanced at Yuna and asked quietly, “Do you know what it says?”

Knowing she hadn’t started kindergarten yet and couldn’t read perfectly, I wondered if showing her the script earlier had helped her recognize the letters in some way…

“M-mo…!”

After mustering all her strength, she looked at the menu intensely, then confidently said, “Mo-deum! No, deodeumi!”

We burst into laughter simultaneously at Yuna’s answer. Wasn’t this a bit unfair?

She was cute beyond words.

As the seniors and I laughed, Yuna’s lips puckered like a duck’s.

“Oh, Unnie’s sorry for laughing. I’ll buy deodeumi for sure.”

“Calling yourself unnie. Where on earth is your conscience?”

“Senior. I’m still in my 30s, so it’s unnie, right?”

“If you round up, you’re in your 40s. Jun-seo, what do you think? Does she look like someone with a conscience?”

“Ahaha….”

They started a childish argument as if to prove their close relationship.

“Oh! Right. Now that you’re with us, should I invite you to our group chat?”

“…Group chat?”

I reached into my pocket and fumbled with the solid phone like a rock. How am I supposed to use a mobile messenger with this…

“Wait a moment. I’ll invite you right away… Huh? Why isn’t it showing up?”

Yu Seol-hwa, vigorously tapping her phone, tilted her head.

“Jun-seo, by any chance… you don’t have messenger?”

“Uh… yes. My phone right now…”

I reluctantly put my phone down on the table, feeling embarrassed.

The expressions of the two people who saw my phone stiffened.

It must be surprising to have such a phone in this modern era.

“…There are still people using this kind of phone.”

Awkwardly, Kang Suho chimed in at Yu Seol-hwa’s muttered comment.

“He must be using this kind of phone to avoid being disturbed by anyone.”

“I guess I can’t invite you to the group chat…”

Yu Seol-hwa sighed with regret as she set her phone down.

“Your assorted sashimi order has arrived.” (Modeumhe is a popular Korean dish that consists of a variety of thinly sliced raw fish, typically including tuna, salmon, mackerel, and squid.)

Just as the dishes we ordered arrived, the empty table was filled.

“Eat up, Jun-seo.”

“Yes, Kang Suho senior.”

“Yuna, don’t be shy and eat a lot too. That’s how you grow.”

“Yes! Senior!”

Once again, Yuna’s bright response turned the atmosphere into laughter.

***

In the deep darkness, a red dot streaked by at high speed.

*Honk!*

Hansol furrowed his brow at the sound of a horn behind him and maintained his speed.

“Do those idiots not realize their lives are at stake?”

Hansol muttered curses as he let the cars behind pass by him.

Then, safely maintaining the average speed, he recalled what had happened today.

Jun-seo’s portrayal of the doting father character today was even more charming than expected.

It felt like just increasing the weight of the character wasn’t enough.

“Hmm…”

He became lost in thought.

Unable to concentrate on driving like this, he parked on the roadside for a moment and took out his phone.

‘The main writer’s phone number…’

Finding the number, he called the main writer.

“Hey, do you have a moment?”

– Yes, what’s the matter?

The voice on the other end sounded as if just woken up.

Not doing what they’re told…

Feeling frustrated, Hansol got out of the car and spoke with an irritated tone.

“Did you watch the footage I sent today?”

– How do I do that?

Why is she so clueless…

With little patience, Hansol gripped the phone tightly.

“I sent it by email. When did I send it? What were you doing? Check it right away!”

– Now? Just a moment!

He could imagine the pathetic sight of her moving sluggishly after raising her voice.

The footage he sent this time was very short, so it shouldn’t take long to check.

As he was about to take out a cigarette from his pocket, a voice filled with excitement sounded loudly from the phone.

– Director!

“What’s with the loud voice? That’s the guy I mentioned last time. Let’s give him a bit more weight. For example, setting up a scenario where the female lead wins the daughter’s favor, so the thug can’t mess with that food truck anymore…”

The main writer interrupted Hansol’s words before he could finish.@@novelbin@@

– It’s exactly like the character I came up with! This character is quite charming, so it’s natural to get a good response…

“So, can you do it?”

– Of course! Just leave it to me! I’ll have to change the scenario again, so please contact me later.

“Okay, thanks for your hard work.”

*Click*

Her quick response made him feel much more at ease.

This project was going to be interesting.

Hansol smirked as he recalled Jun-seo’s acting from today.

The boy’s performance on set today was much better than what he saw during auditions.

Could someone without any experience achieve that? Absolutely not.

Actors infuse the lines with more emotional intensity based on their myriad experiences.

‘Lee Jun-seo….’

It was incomprehensible why someone with such high-level acting skills would want to appear in such an unpopular sitcom.

‘With that level of talent, he could succeed as a leading actor…’

Suddenly, these words came to mind.

They say trying to understand a genius gives you a headache.

Maybe one day he’d have to bow his head to cast him.

Hansol lit his cigarette and stared blankly at the sky.

The large full moon shone beautifully among the twinkling stars.

The scene seemed as if the stars were adorning the beautiful full moon.

***

“Appa! The sun is up!”

I was awakened from sleep by Yuna’s loud voice ringing in my ears early in the morning.

“Please let me sleep a bit. Hm?”

As I grumbled and tried to close my eyes again, the blanket was suddenly yanked off, and I received a slap from Yuna.

*Smack! Smack*

My cheeks stung.

“Hurry up and get up, Appa!”

“…Alright, I got it. Stop hitting me.”

I groaned as I struggled to get my heavy body up. I was exhausted from yesterday’s gathering and had fallen asleep as soon as I got home.

*Sigh*

I yawned and scratched my stomach.

I was still wearing the same clothes I wore out yesterday.

‘Ugh, I didn’t even drink. Why do I feel so hungover and tired…’

Originally, we had planned to end the gathering early, but we received a sudden call from the director postponing the shooting schedule.

The seniors, whose shooting schedules were suddenly cleared, enjoyed the rare opportunity for rest.

So, we ended up going for a second round.

Of course, I didn’t drink because Yuna was with me. Come to think of it, I haven’t had a drink recently, have I?

“Hehehe. Appa, you should eat quickly too.”

Yuna sat at the folding table, picking up rice and side dishes to eat.

Her eating habits were so adorable that I couldn’t help but watch quietly. Then I stiffened.

“…How did you find that lunchbox?”

Yuna was quietly eating the lunchbox that I had hidden away some time ago.

It was not good for her health, so I only kept it in case I didn’t have time to cook.

She swallowed the food in her mouth and pointed to the refrigerator.

Oh, right.

Food is kept in the refrigerator.

I felt momentarily foolish.

I sat on the floor and opened the lunchbox that Yuna had taken out.

Nom. Nom. Nom

Come to think of it…

“Shall we go out to check if the appearance fee came in today?”

“Will Yuna stay home?”

I reached out and wiped the rice grains stuck to Yuna’s cheek before speaking.

“No, let’s go together.”

“Yes!”

If the appearance fee has come in…

I should quickly replace my outdated phone and buy things necessary for daily life.