Chapter – 48
“Wow, amazing.”
“Why is Director Yeon here…?”
“Were he and our director close…?”
And the moment that face was confirmed, Doha’s hand, which had been busy flipping the meat, suddenly stopped.
“….”
The blood drained from Doha’s face. The tips of the chopsticks he was holding trembled slightly.
Yeon Taejeong.
A master of the Korean film industry, a respected director.
And… the biological father who abandoned his family.
To Doha, Director Yeon Taejeong meant nothing more than that.
Because of that, Doha had never even thought of looking for him.
Whenever he saw news articles about Director Yeon, his only possible reaction was to furrow his brows. That was the maximum expression he could show toward him.
So—
‘…I never thought I’d see him in a place like this.’
It was also his first time meeting him in person.
“I happened to pass by and thought of Director Park, so I dropped in. I heard filming just finished… Everyone, you’ve worked hard.”
“I got into the film industry with our Director Yeon’s work~ He contacted me after a long time, and I told him I had just finished a project. Since he said he was passing by and really wanted to visit, he came. Haha. He’s here to boost my morale, so everyone, say hello~”
“Ah~!”
The staff members nodded as if they finally understood.
“Hey, Lee Doha.”
Eon grabbed Doha’s wrist.
“…You okay?”
Since all the Glit members knew who Doha’s biological father was, they could guess how uncomfortable this situation must be for him.
“…I don’t know him. I should greet him.”
“!”
“I’m meeting him for the first time. Is there a problem?”
At Doha’s calm words, the expressions of the Glit members all stiffened.
“Hey? Still, don’t push yourself too hard, you idiot.”
“…Just greet him lightly.”
Both Uyeon and Unho added a word each, but Doha only forced a faint smile without answering.
Meanwhile, Director Yeon walked inside, casually accepting the staff’s greetings. His gaze naturally moved toward the table where the actors were sitting.
More precisely, toward Doha and Yewon.
Doha reflexively turned his body slightly, as if blocking the way in front of Yewon.
The thought of not wanting to show her was the only thing driving Doha’s subconscious action.
Just the thought of that man looking at his niece—the daughter of his older sister—felt unbearable.
“Hello!”
But despite Doha’s effort, Yewon finished chewing the meat, got down from her chair, and greeted Yeon Taejeong brightly.
From Yewon’s perspective, it couldn’t be helped.
‘No, it’s not just a senior in the entertainment industry—it’s a super, super senior right in front of me! If I ignore him, people will gossip about my uncle behind his back…!’
It was better to greet him naturally and move on.
That was Yewon’s judgment.
If it was hard for her uncle to greet him, she would greet him in his place.
“…….”
“…….”
Finally, a suffocating silence fell between the two people facing each other.
“…?”
Director Yeon’s gaze passed over Doha and landed on Yewon. His sharp eyes softened just slightly for a brief moment.
“You are… that child.”
“Yes! Hello! I’m Lee Yewon!”
Yewon made a bow at the waist.
Director Yeon was silent for a moment, then muttered bluntly.
“…Alright. Nice to meet you. I saw the broadcast you appeared in.”
“!”
<Irregular Family> had just finished filming, so he couldn’t be talking about that.
Then… he watched <Glittering Baby House>?
Not only Yewon, but Doha and the Glit members’ eyes widened like lanterns.
“Wow, senior. You watch variety shows too? Haha. This is the first time I’ve heard that. No, you’re someone who’s only interested in dramas and movies, right? What wind blew you here?”
“…There was a child who acted well. I wanted to confirm.”
“!”
That was the highest form of praise from Yeon Taejeong.
Director Park next to him laughed heartily.
“Haha, senior, you even give compliments. This kid Yewon must be going to really blow up, huh? Actually, I was planning to introduce her once. Yewon is a genius, you know?”
“Wow. Thank you!”
At the two directors’ praise, Yewon politely bowed.
She could have given a longer formal greeting, but if a 7-year-old did that, it would only feel strange.
Yewon quietly looked at Director Yeon.
‘…So this man is my maternal grandfather.’
This feels really strange.
Seeing him like this, he really…
‘He looks exactly like Uncle Doha.’
She wasn’t sure if he looked similar to herself, but one thing was certain—he was almost identical to Uncle Doha.
‘Well, when Uncle Doha debuted, there were a lot of articles calling them look-alikes.’
Back then, she thought it was just a coincidence.
Yewon turned her head and looked up at Doha.
…What kind of mood was her uncle in right now?
At that moment.
“!”
The hand that Doha was holding with hers trembled slightly.
‘…Uncle….’
This place must be painful for him.
“Uncle. My throat feels prickly.”
“!”
“Huh?”
Doha looked down at Yewon in panic.
“My throat feels ticklish. Can I take the medicine that’s in the car?”
“……!”
Uyeon and Unho looked at Yewon with puzzled expressions, but Doha—
“…Okay. I’ll bring it for you. Wait here with Uncle Uyeon for a moment.”
Nodded with a much more relaxed expression.
“Yes!”
After Doha hurriedly left the restaurant, Director Yeon followed Doha’s back with a strange gaze.
Then he turned his head again and looked at Yewon.
“…Your name was Yewon, right?”
He removed the sharpness from his usual gaze and looked down at Yewon cautiously.
“Yes!”
“I’m Lee Yewon!”
“May I sit here?”
“!”
Director Yeon pointed at the empty seat at Yewon’s table.
His behavior was so unlike his usual self that even Director Park, who was watching nearby, widened his eyes.
“Wow, you don’t even attend company gatherings. What’s this? Looks like you’re really curious about this actor, director?”
“You should get to know good actors early.”
“Well, that’s true.”
Director Yeon glanced at Yewon’s small hand on the table before speaking again.
“So, may I sit?”
“Ah, yes, yes. Please sit here!”
The one who answered wasn’t Yewon but Uyeon.
As the only socially skilled member of Glit, Uyeon smiled brightly and subtly took Doha’s seat.
He sent Doha’s jacket to his own previous seat at the next table.
“Hey, Yewon. Uncle will keep grilling meat for you! What does Lee Doha know about meat anyway? Is your stomach hurting because that guy grilled the meat carelessly earlier?!”
“Wow. Maybe! Then Uncle Uyeon, please keep grilling it!”
“Yes!! Okay!! I’ll grill everything!! Order another plate! Another plate!”
In this way, the strange atmosphere around the table was slightly loosened by Uyeon’s efforts.
Uyeon worked hard grilling meat, Yewon ate the meat he brought, and
Director Yeon kept staring at Yewon without touching the food.
“……”
It was such an odd combination that Yewon felt like she was about to get indigestion.
If you have something to say, just say it directly. Why are you just staring silently like this? Even the other staff members are starting to think it’s weird…!!!
Thinking that she was beginning to understand where Doha’s difficult personality came from, Yewon desperately avoided Director Yeon’s gaze.
Then—
“…Do you want to continue acting?”
Director Yeon broke the long silence and asked.
“Yes! I want to keep acting.”
“Why?”
…What is the intention behind asking this?
Yewon paused for a moment before gathering her thoughts again.
“I like acting. It’s fun too.”
“I see.”
Director Yeon seemed lost in thought, lowering his eyes.
Uyeon alternated his gaze between the two and then quietly chimed in.
“You watched our broadcast, director?”
“Yes, I did.”
Director Yeon responded calmly, though it seemed he didn’t expect Uyeon to speak first.
“So what did you think?! Our Yewon is super cute, right!!”
“Yes. The child is intelligent.”
“Right! I mean, our Yewon is. She’s really—whose niece is she, that she’s this pretty, lovely, smart, kind, cute, and adorable? Ha.”
“……”
Uyeon uncle… stop….
Yewon wanted to stop Uyeon but held it in.
“When did you start living with your uncle?”
Director Yeon asked in a somewhat troubled voice.
“…That is….”
“It hasn’t been long.”
“!”
At the third voice, the three of them simultaneously looked up.
“My sister hasn’t been gone for very long.”
The owner of the voice was
Doha, who walked in with a calm face and spoke with cold suppressed anger.
