YDCFGD 12

Chapter 12

Grandfather, who had been reacting as if he were watching a drama, soon wiped the emotions from his face.

He returned to his usual dignified self as Chairman Joo Taebaek and spoke in a low voice.

“Dating, well… They’re kids, so I won’t interfere.”
“……”
“But our Sae-i is still too young. She’s about to become overwhelmingly famous.”

Famous.

It sounded like he was talking about the path I was about to walk.

Sure enough, Grandfather gave me a brief look, as if telling me to explain it myself.

Since I had his permission, I opened my mouth and spoke to the two clueless members of the Ryu family.

“I’ve decided to act. Like my grandmother.”
“You mean you’re going to become an actress? Did you get your grandfather’s permission?”

Chairman Ryu asked in surprise. This time, Grandfather answered instead.

“You may not have seen it, but my granddaughter gave me a wonderful gift with her acting on my birthday.”
“That punk Do-gyeong told me! He said Sae-i’s acting was incredible.”
“Do-gyeong said that?”

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

‘So he told him my acting was good.’

The most surprised person by Chairman Ryu’s words was me.

When I performed in front of Grandfather, Do-gyeong had only glared at me with narrowed eyes.

I thought he hadn’t left with a good impression.

But apparently, that wasn’t true.

“So you gave her permission? You, of all people?”

Instead of answering, Grandfather nodded.

Taking advantage of the conversation about acting, I decided to bring up my real reason for visiting today: that I had been cast as a child actress for a lead role.

“Um, Chairman… There’s something I want to tell you…”
“If it’s about the child role, I’ve already heard. Writer Choi Gi-jeong liked you.”

Before I could even speak, my news came out of Grandfather’s mouth.

When I looked surprised, he laughed heartily.

“I have connections everywhere, you know.”

Ah…

That made sense. That was why he hadn’t asked me directly.

“Still.”
“……”
“I’m very happy that you told me yourself.”

Holding his teacup, Grandfather took a sip and smiled lightly. The wrinkles around his eyes folded nicely.

Then he turned to Chairman Ryu and said proudly,

“See? The day my granddaughter becomes the best isn’t far away.”
“You’ve really changed. Back when Jeongwol—”

Chairman Ryu suddenly covered his mouth.

It sounded like he had mentioned my mother’s name, and he looked flustered, as if he had said something he shouldn’t have.

Is there something about Mom that I don’t know?

Before I could think further, Grandfather smoothly changed the topic.

“Haha, Do-gyeong, even if you like my granddaughter, there’s nothing you can do. I won’t give away the talent I raised so easily.”

Nice one, Grandpa!

“…Well, if Sae-i wants Do-gyeong, I might consider it.”

…Not nice.

Don’t leave room for misunderstanding!

I should tell him soon that I don’t like Ryu Do-gyeong anymore. That’s the only way this will end.

Chairman Ryu, who had been silent since his slip-up, tapped the table lightly.

“So… you want to become an actress, huh? Then we can let Sae-i handle the Lunatic Series commercials.”
“…What?”
“The idea you suggested before.”

Before I could respond, Grandfather laughed loudly and agreed.

Just like that, I was made the advertising model for the Lunatic Series.

Then Chairman Ryu continued,

“Sae-i, what about school?”

Right. School.

It was fine now since it was vacation, but after the semester started, it would be a problem. Filming would require traveling back and forth, and it was far from home.

In my past life, I never even dreamed of becoming an actress. I dropped out before senior year on my uncle’s advice. I never imagined this kind of problem would arise.

“About school… How about sending Sae-i to a school under your foundation?”
“Then Do-gyeong can look after her.”
“Of course he should.”

…What?

Without considering my opinion, the two chairmen discussed my transfer.

That school was Yeongpung High School, where Ryu Do-gyeong studied.

‘Joo Su-yeon goes there too.’

My uncle’s daughter. My same-age cousin who desperately wanted me out of her way.

The number one person I didn’t want to meet, along with my uncle.

And they want me to go to her school?

I hurriedly waved my hands.

“Um, I live in Gyeonggi-do with just my dad—”
“That’s not a problem.”

Grandfather cut me off casually. His eyes gleamed like a predator eyeing prey.

‘Please don’t look like that!’

My silent plea went unanswered.

“Why don’t you and your father move back to Jaedamjae?”

…Please.

I haven’t even told Dad I want to be an actress yet!

And if we moved there, Dad and Grandpa would have to face each other.

For Grandpa, it was fine—he held all the power.

‘But for Dad, he’s his former boss and his father-in-law!’

My dad used to work in the legal team of Dongwoo Electronics.

After Mom died and we left the Joo family, he quit and now worked at a law office with his college senior.

Either way, meeting Grandpa again wouldn’t be pleasant for him.

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

That would be even worse!

Grandfather had already decided to send me to Yeongpung High and bring us back to Jaedamjae.

‘…I can’t fight this.’

So I chose the lesser evil.

“I-I’ll tell him myself.”

Sorry, Dad…

Seeing me so dejected, Ryu Do-gyeong chuckled.

The two members of the Ryu family had somewhere else to go and left separately.

I could have gone alone, but Grandfather insisted, so I rode with him.

The chairman himself taking me home… Even with a driver, it felt unreal.

The car was silent. I almost missed riding with Do-gyeong.

Grandfather seemed asleep.

‘If it’s like this, wouldn’t it have been better to go separately…?’

As if he read my thoughts, he suddenly opened his eyes.

“Sae-i.”

His voice was warm yet heavy.

“I thought you were sleeping.”
“I was just thinking.”

After a pause, he asked,

“Why do you want to act?”
“Because Grandma used to act too…”
“No.”

He shook his head.

“That’s not the answer I want.”
“……”
“Your real reason.”

I felt my throat tighten.

On the way to his granddaughter’s home, Joo Taebaek quietly recalled painful memories he had buried.

‘You said you were going to see Grandpa… I hate you! Bring my mom back! My mom…’

His daughter had died in an accident while coming to see him.

The granddaughter who lost her mother and blamed him never called him “Grandpa” again.

She even forgot scolding him in her shock.

But he remembered everything.

That was why he never stopped his granddaughter and son-in-law from leaving.

He planned to talk when she grew up.

But his son, Joo Su-deok, stopped him, saying Sae-i didn’t want to see him.

Then, one day, the child who avoided the Joo family came to him herself.

‘I want to act, Father.’

She looked exactly like her mother.

When Sae-i soon landed a child role, he wanted to ask her.

Why do you want to act?

He regretted never asking his late daughter the same question.

Maybe if he had supported her, she wouldn’t have died so meaninglessly.

At least through his granddaughter, he wanted that answer.

“Because Grandma used to act…”

That was her reply.

He could read her expression.

There was more to it.

Her long hesitation proved it.

He didn’t rush her. He waited.

Finally, she spoke.

“I…”

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