MDSW 4

Chapter : 04 

“This Life Will Be Different (1)”

“Wow!! Dad~!!”

As soon as Yurina returned home from school and stepped into the front door, she ran toward me and threw her arms around me.

I had been preparing a snack for her, but suddenly, my daughter’s embrace left me helplessly immobilized.

“Dad, your hands are covered in flour! You’re going to get it on me~”

“You actually came home before me today?!”

“Of course~! Remember our promise? Yurina, you promised to play with Dad after dinner, didn’t you?”

“Of course! I’ve been thinking all day at school about playing with you!”

Yurina released her hug, set down her backpack, and began rummaging through it.

Eventually, she pulled out a clear folder with a single sheet of paper inside.

“Ahem—”

Yurina raised her chin proudly and, with the seriousness of an office worker submitting paperwork, handed the folder to me.

My hands, covered in dough, couldn’t touch it, so I bowed my head slightly and looked at the paper inside.

<Play List with Dad Rina~! ★♥♡>

[Look at drawings with Rina]
[Watch animation with Rina]
[Play computer games with Rina]
[Ride bikes outside with Rina]
[Take pretty photos with Rina]

.
.
.

There were thirty activities listed in the folder.

‘Cute…’

I couldn’t help but smile, the corners of my eyes crinkling automatically.

I leaned down and planted a quick kiss on Yurina’s forehead.

When the level of adorableness surpasses a limit, the only response is a kiss.

“Hehe. Dad kissed me!”

Yurina grinned, rubbing her forehead where she had been kissed.

“Go wash your hands. Dad has prepared a delicious snack.”

“Wow! Snack time!”

Excited, Yurina sprinted to the bathroom.

Through the slightly open door, I watched her hum as she washed her hands.

Just watching her brought a smile to my face.

‘My daughter… she’s like a human vitamin.’

Before Yurina arrived, I had been feeling down.

Giving up on movies and returning to a life of worrying about earning money was a bitter reality.

But the moment she came home, those thoughts vanished.

My mind felt refreshed, and the reason for my choice became clear.

‘Yes, no regrets. I’ve gained something far more precious.’

Exhaling sharply, I finished preparing her snack.

“Ooo! Dragon nuggets!!”

Yurina, having washed her hands, looked at the chicken nuggets on the table and opened her mouth in awe.

Chicken nuggets were her favorite snack.

I used to make them often, but after giving up on full-time parenting, I couldn’t make them anymore.

Grandma sometimes helped, but they were store-bought frozen ones, which Yurina disliked.

“Dad’s dragon nuggets are the best!”

“Really? Aren’t the ones from the store better?”

“Nope.”

“Huh? Nope?”

She lifted a single finger, asserting her verdict with the conviction of a food critic.

“Yes. Nope! Dad’s homemade ones are a hundred, a thousand times better.”

Yurina said proudly, filling her cheeks with nuggets until they almost burst.

‘Just like her mom with that appetite… she’s so cute.’

“Oh, right.”

Yurina suddenly paused mid-bite.

“Dad, Teacher Chae-eun had your jacket and brought it back for you.”

“Oh, right. I forgot. But where is it? I didn’t see it when I came in.”

Yurina pointed toward the front door while chewing.

There, my jacket was lying on the floor like a crumpled trash bag.

“…Why is it like that?”

“I was so happy to see you, Dad, that I threw it aside.”

“My daughter is confident, isn’t she?”

The dusty jacket looked pitiful, but seeing it reminded me of something I’d forgotten.

“Yurina… Dad has something to talk to you about.”

“Yes. What is it?”

“I spoke briefly with Teacher Chae-eun. She praised your drawings and suggested you might learn properly at an art academy. What do you think?”

This was important. Yurina’s talent was precious, but whether she wanted to cultivate it was her decision.

I carefully, gently asked without putting pressure on her.

“What does learning properly mean?”

“Well… I’m not really knowledgeable about art, but you could prepare for your future career or even get ready for an arts middle school.”

As I spoke, I felt a bit of pressure. Just imagining the tuition made my hands tremble.

‘Still, if Yurina wants to do it, I’ll make it happen no matter what.’

I had already saved the address of the academy to visit for testing.

She’s my daughter. If it helps her succeed, I’ll do anything.

“So if I become really good at drawing… can I make movies with Dad?”

“…?”

I tilted my head at her unexpected question.

“What do you mean? Making movies with Dad?”

Yurina put down her fork and pouted, clearly wanting to say something.

I leaned closer, listening carefully.

“Dad wants to make movies, right? That’s why you’re always busy and can’t play with me… If I get really good at drawing, can we make movies together? Then I’ll draw, and you’ll make the movie. That way, we can be together all the time. I’ll draw for your movies! Hehe.”

‘….’

I couldn’t say a word.

I just stared at her sparkling eyes in stunned silence.

I had to bite my lip to stop myself from crying.

If I showed tears, this kind child would feel sad.

“Our daughter has such beautiful thoughts.”

I smiled instead of crying and hugged her tightly.

Then, in a calm voice, I shared my own thoughts.

“Thank you for thinking of Dad, Yurina, but I want you to do things for yourself. If you want to draw for yourself, I’ll do everything I can to support you. So just think about whether you want to draw for yourself. Okay?”

I patted her back. That pat was as much for me as it was for her.

It meant we would work together to become a better family.

A new future was about to unfold.

Whether it would be hard or happy, it was a new beginning that no one could yet predict.

‘Let’s live with all we’ve got, Kang Sung-woon.’

A week had passed since my return.

For the first time in a long while, I went to NBC Broadcasting Station.

NBC was where I had worked as a variety show writer for over ten years.

After starting movie work with Director Hwang, I had been too busy to visit, but it had always felt like home.

So as soon as I needed a job, NBC came to mind.

Returning to NBC felt like the most comfortable way to start anew.

“Is that Kang Sung-woon?!”

As I entered NBC’s main gate, I ran into my senior and fellow variety writer, Kim Kyung-min.

Kyung-min had been in the smoking area but dashed over barefoot when he saw me.

“Sorry, hyung. I didn’t contact you sooner. How’ve you been? It’s been so long.”

“Hmm? Yeah… it’s been a month. Why are you talking like it’s been years? You missed me that much?”

I was thrilled to see him after three years, but for him, I’d only been away for a month.

“Anyway, make sure you show up often~! Don’t go bragging about making movies or I’ll get you!”

Kyung-min put me in a playful headlock, just like three years ago.

He was immature but kindhearted and well-liked among colleagues.

“Actually, I’m planning to work at the broadcasting station again.”

“What? I thought you were making a movie with Director Hwang?”

“It fell through. Honestly, it was too much for me anyway. I’ll do movies after Yurina’s older.”

I said it casually, trying to appear unfazed.

As expected, Kyung-min gave me a sympathetic look.

“So, our Sung-woon got abandoned? I knew it! Working with a star director isn’t easy. Lots of people join and drop out. Don’t worry! Your writing is good, someone else will find you.”

“Yeah… I’m fine though…”

As a writer who had hit ten million viewers, my pride was bruised, but I smiled forgivingly.

“You heard? I became the head writer. Don’t worry about your spot; just keep fit. I’ll find work for you until you beg me.”

“I’ve already lined up some work, actually.”

“Really? Who helped you get that?”

While chatting with him, a familiar blonde woman entered the studio wearing sunglasses and a mask.

‘Where have I seen her… who is she?’

Kyung-min tapped my shoulder.

“Honestly, she’s pretty, right? Yoon Ra-hee still looks good even hiding her face.”

“Yoon Ra-hee?! That’s her?”

“Didn’t you recognize her?”

I squinted at the back of her as she entered the building.

Yoon Ra-hee. Former idol turned actress, top-tier star in drama, film, and advertising.

But later, she became infamous for a drunk-driving hit-and-run incident.

“Why is Yoon Ra-hee at NBC?”

“Celebrities come to the station for filming, obviously.”

“Isn’t she supposed to be keeping a low profile?”

“Why? Why would she? She’s not on a break.”

Then it hit me. I had traveled back three years.

‘Right… the drunk-driving incident hasn’t happened yet.’

“Oh, maybe I mistook her for someone else.”

“Kid, first time back and you’re all flustered, huh?”

I laughed awkwardly, brushing off the situation.

I’d only thought about surviving death, not that I had returned three years in the past.

Knowing things others don’t feel strange and powerful.

‘Ah~ I should have memorized the lottery numbers.’

I mentally reviewed stocks or coins that had exploded in value.

“They say Yoon Ra-hee will return via a variety show. The company wants to rebrand her image.”

“Yoon Ra-hee in variety? That’s unexpected.”

She’d fail in days anyway due to her pending drunk-driving scandal.

I, who watched almost every variety show, hadn’t seen her debut show. That meant the scandal happened before the first episode aired.

I remembered it was roughly around this time.

‘Which team is she on? Her presence will be a headache.’

“Which program is she returning with? With her personality, it must be in-studio.”

I hid a smirk and asked Kyung-min, curious about the poor crew stuck with her.

“Surprisingly, it’s not that. It’s Bong Director’s new outdoor show—celebrities run restaurants. She’s returning there.”

“…?”

My ears nearly betrayed me. Bong Director’s outdoor program… celebrities running restaurants…

“That’s the program I’m assigned to?!”

What terrible luck.

“Bong Jin-ho, right? Not another Bong?”

“Who else at NBC has a main director title besides Bong Jin-ho? Of course, it’s him. Why so surprised?”

I wanted to deny it. Please, not Bong Jin-ho…

I’d known him since I was an assistant director and junior writer, so I could return immediately with one call.

But I didn’t expect Yoon Ra-hee, a notorious troublemaker, to be part of the cast.

And she’d soon cause an accident.

‘Why does she have to be on my team…?! The show could be canceled, and I could lose my job?!’

“Anyway, welcome back, Kang Sung-woon. Back to broadcasting life.”

Kyung-min hugged me sincerely, unaware of my inner turmoil.

At this moment, his kind welcome felt like a tease.

I alone felt uneasy. Only I knew Yoon Ra-hee’s future.

‘Ha… this won’t be easy from the start.’