YDCF 12

Chapter – 12

Grandfather, who had been reacting like he was watching a drama, soon wiped all emotion from his face.

Returning to his usual stern self, Chairman Joo Tae-baek lowered his voice and spoke.

“Dating… well, that’s a matter for the kids. I won’t stop it.”
“…….”
“But our Sae-i isn’t ready yet. She’s about to become overwhelmingly famous.”

Famous.

That must have meant the path I was about to take.

Sure enough, my grandfather gave me a brief glance. It was as if he were saying, This is your matter, so you should say it yourself.

Having obtained his permission, I turned to the two people from the Ryu family, who looked completely unaware, and spoke.

“I’ve decided to act. Like my grandmother did.”
“You mean you want to become an actor? Have you… gotten your grandfather’s approval?”

Chairman Ryu asked in surprise, but this time grandfather answered for me.

“You probably didn’t see it, but my granddaughter gave me a huge gift with her acting on my birthday.”
“Do-kyung told me! Sae-i’s acting was amazing.”
“Do-kyung said that?”

Grandfather’s gaze landed on Ryu Do-kyung. He looked awkward, as if asking why he had said that.

So he passed on that my acting was impressive.

I was the most surprised by Ryu Chairman’s words.

When I performed in front of grandfather, Ryu Do-kyung had only been glaring at me with his half-closed eyes.

I hadn’t thought he left a good impression, but apparently, I was wrong.

“So you gave your permission? Not anyone else, but you?”

Grandfather simply nodded instead of speaking.

Seizing the moment while acting was mentioned, I brought up the main reason I had come to Jaedamjae today—the news that I had been cast as the lead child actor.

“Chairman, there’s something I need to tell you…”
“If it’s about the child role, I’ve already heard. Writer Choi Ki-jung liked you.”

Before I could even speak, my grandfather had already relayed the news. Seeing my surprised expression, he chuckled warmly.

“My connections aren’t just a few.”

Ah…

It made sense. That was why he hadn’t asked me directly. He could hear news of me through his network.

“Still—”
“…….”
“I’m glad you’re the one telling me.”

Grandfather lightly laughed as he sipped his tea and praised me. The wrinkles around his eyes folded beautifully.

Turning his gaze back to Chairman Ryu, he spoke proudly.

“See that? My granddaughter’s day of greatness isn’t far off.”

“You’ve changed a lot too. Back in January…”

Chairman Ryu’s words stopped mid-sentence as he clamped a hand over his mouth.

I thought I heard my mother’s name mentioned, but he looked embarrassed as if he’d said something he shouldn’t have.

Was there something about my mother I didn’t know?

Before I could figure it out, grandfather ignored the remark and skillfully changed the subject.

“Haha, so Do-kyung, even if you want my granddaughter, you can’t have her easily. The Ye-in I’m raising won’t be so easy to surpass.”

Grandfather, nice!

“…If our Sae-i wanted Do-kyung, I might consider it.”

…Not nice.

Stop leaving room for speculation!

I’d have to find a chance soon to tell them I don’t like Ryu Do-kyung. That would probably end this.

Ryu Chairman, who had been silent after his slip of the tongue, tapped my table to catch my attention.

“…So you want to become an actor. Then we can have Sae-i handle the Lunatic series ads too.”
“…Excuse me?”
“The one you gave your opinion on.”

Before I could respond, grandfather laughed heartily and accepted it.

Without wasting time, they made me the advertising model for the Lunatic series. Then Ryu Chairman continued.

“Sae-i, what about school?”

Right, school.

It was fine during vacation, but once school started, commuting back and forth for filming would be a problem.

In my previous life, I never dreamed of pursuing acting, and before my senior year, I had withdrawn from school at my uncle’s urging—never imagining I’d face this problem.

“What if we enroll Sae-i in one of your foundation’s schools?”
“Then Do-kyung could take care of her.”
“Of course he should.”

…What?

Without asking for my opinion, the two chairmen discussed my transfer.

A school run by the Seohae Group foundation—Yeongpung High School, where Ryu Do-kyung was enrolled.

Joo Su-yeon would probably be there too.

The daughter of my uncle, a same-age rival who desperately wanted to get rid of me.

They were sending me to the same school as the number one person I didn’t want to face.

I quickly raised my hand to interrupt.

“W-We live in Gyeonggi with just my father!”
“If that’s the problem…”

Grandfather cut me off, his eyes shining like a predator spotting its prey.

Don’t look at me like that!

I pleaded silently, but it seemed to have no effect.

“Why not come back to Jaedamjae with your father?”

…Please.

I hadn’t even told my father I wanted to be an actor yet!

Plus, if I went to Jaedamjae, grandfather and my father would meet.

Grandfather might be fine as the person in charge.

But for my father… he’s the son-in-law’s father and a retired company owner!

My father had originally worked in the legal department of Dongwoo Electronics, the core of Dongwoo Group.

After my mother died and we separated from the Joo family, he now works at a law office with a senior from university.

No matter what, meeting the grandfather who had opposed his marriage to my mother would not be pleasant.

“If you can’t say it, I’ll tell your father myself…”
“N-No!”

That would be even worse!

Grandfather had already planned to transfer me to Yeongpung High School and have me enter Jaedamjae.

…I have no power to resist.

So I reluctantly chose the lesser of two evils.

“I-I’ll tell him myself.”

Sorry, Dad…

Seeing me so down, Ryu Do-kyung snickered.

The two members of the Ryu family had other matters to attend to and moved separately.

I could have gone alone, but grandfather insisted I go with him, so I got into the car.

The chairman himself was taking me home. Of course, the chauffeur was driving, but it still felt extraordinary.

The car ride home was completely silent. I almost missed traveling with Ryu Do-kyung. Grandfather seemed to be napping.

Wouldn’t it have been fine if I went separately…

As if reading my thoughts, grandfather opened his eyes suddenly and slowly called my name.

“Sae-i.”

His tone was warm yet weighty.

“…I thought you were asleep.”
“I needed a moment to think.”

After a pause, he asked me.

“Why do you want to act?”
“My grandmother acted too…”
“No.”

Mentioning my grandmother, who was Ye-in, wasn’t the answer he wanted, and he shook his head.

“Not the reason to satisfy me.”
“…….”
“I mean the reason you truly want to act.”

I was caught off guard, my throat suddenly tight.

On the way to his granddaughter’s house, Joo Tae-baek silently recalled the past. The painful memories he had hidden over the years.

I said I was going to see grandfather… I hate him! I want my mother here! My mother…

His daughter, who had an accident on her way to see him.

After losing her mother, the granddaughter cried bitterly blaming her grandfather, and from that day on, she refused to call him grandfather.

The shock must have been so great that he even forgot scolding him harshly.

But Joo Tae-baek remembered everything.

That’s why, despite being a man who could shake the business and political world with a word, he didn’t stop his granddaughter and son-in-law from leaving Jaedamjae.

He wanted to talk to her when she grew older. But his son, Joo Su-deok, prevented it. He said Sae-i didn’t want to see him.

Then the child, who had been avoiding him and the Joo family, came to him directly.

“I want to act, Father.”

Just like her mother, repeating the exact same act she had decades ago.

When Sae-i soon got a child actor role, Joo Tae-baek wanted to ask his granddaughter.

Why did you want to act?

The past, when his deceased daughter wanted to pursue acting and he had rejected it without asking why, weighed on him.

He wondered if letting her act might have spared her from dying so tragically.

Even if it was only through the granddaughter left by his daughter, he wanted to hear the answer.

“My grandmother acted too…”

The answer his granddaughter gave.

Though he hadn’t seen Sae-i for a long time, he could read her expression clearly.

And there seemed to be an even deeper reason.

Her hesitant, thoughtful expression proved it.

Joo Tae-baek didn’t rush her, waiting for the moment she would speak herself, swallowing hard.

“I….”

Soon, his granddaughter slowly opened her mouth, her expression resolute.