The Granddaughter of a Chaebol Family Is a Genius Child Actress - Chapter 16

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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A Conglomerate Heiress, A Child Prodigy Actress
Episode 16
That evening, as dusk settled in.
I sat in a corner of the living room, gauging the mood carefully, then pressed the phone tight against my ear.
Buzz… buzz…
Click.
[Hello?]
“……!”
She picked up, she actually picked up!
I took a deep breath and opened my mouth carefully.
“Oh, um, hello. Director.
[Oh my, could this be Yu-jin?]
“……Yes, yes it is.”
She recognized me right away……!
‘Phew.’
I finally let out a long, relieved sigh.
After today’s Script Reading ended, Director Su-hee had quietly slipped me a Business Card.
I’d gathered my courage and called the number written on it.
For the future…… I needed an Entertainment Agency.
Of course, I’d agonized over this decision before making the call.
Even though Director seemed like an incredibly kind adult, she was someone I’d only just met today.
-Go ahead and try! You carry a good aura—I’m certain you’ll be a tremendous help to whoever signs with you!
‘……Really?’
But the fox had made bold promises to my worried self.
Though occasionally a little scatterbrained, the fox was, in her own way, a great deity.
Trusting her words, I’d made this call to Director.
Soon, a warm voice came through the receiver.
[You called right after getting the card? My Yu-jin must be very interested in joining an agency!]
“Yes, yes, very much interested,”
I answered softly while nodding vigorously.
“I really want to work hard at Acting. But I’m still too young to sign a Contract by myself. So, um, I need an adult to help me!”
[Hehe, is that so?]
Director let out a light laugh at my words.
But only briefly.
Then she made a thoughtful sound and asked carefully.
[Though, Yu-jin. Usually your parents can help with contracts and management like that. Where are your mom and dad, aside from your cousin?]
“…….”
At that question, I froze for a moment.
The instant I thought of the two of them, my chest ached sharply.
I hesitated, my lips trembling, before I answered.
“……My mom and dad don’t like the fact that I’m becoming an actress.”
Well, to be precise, they don’t know yet—but even if they found out, they wouldn’t approve.
This certainly wasn’t the path they’d want for me.
“Seo Yu-jin. Mom and Dad said they don’t like children who don’t listen, didn’t they?”
“……Yes, I’m sorry.”
My parents had always disliked disobedient children.
That was true in my past life, so it would surely be the same now.
“……But I really, truly want to become an actress.”
Yet, going through today’s Script Reading, I felt it again.
I truly, deeply…… loved Acting.
“I want to try playing kind people, and villains too. I want to be a lawyer, and a doctor…… I want to perform every single one of them.”
My clenched fists trembled as I spoke with determination.
“So even if the adults don’t give permission, I’m going to keep being an actress.”
I paused there to catch my breath.
For a long moment, no answer came back through the receiver.
……Hmm.
Had I sounded like a stubborn little child throwing a tantrum?
Anxiety crept in as I wondered if I’d said something foolish.
[Okay, I understand. I’ll help you, Yu-jin.]
The answer that came back, soft and final.
I couldn’t help it and burst out laughing. “Really? Truly?”
“Really? For real?”
[Yeah, the more I think about it… you remind me of myself, Yu-jin.]
“Me? Like you, Director?”
My eyes widened in surprise.
The Director was such an impressive adult, and I reminded him of himself?
Through the receiver, I heard soft laughter on the other end.
[Yeah, just like you, I was crazy about the entertainment industry even as a kid. I wanted to make brilliant people shine even brighter with my own hands.]
“Wow…”
Making brilliant people shine even brighter.
The words were so beautiful that I gasped in admiration.
[Of course, my father opposed it fiercely. Ugh. My old man had quite the temperament.]
Wow.
It really was exactly like my situation.
The Director had wrestled with the same worries I was facing when he was young.
I asked carefully.
“Then… what did you do about your scary father, Director?”
[Me? Well, to push forward with my dream, I couldn’t keep seeing my father.]
“Gasp.”
I let out a foolish sound without meaning to.
It was because the Director’s voice sounded so matter-of-fact and light when he said it.
How could he speak about it so naturally?
Even when I tell myself every day that I don’t need to be loved, my chest aches whenever I think of my parents…
[Heh, surprised?]
“…Yes, a little bit.”
[But that’s what dreams are supposed to be, isn’t it?]
The Director continued calmly.
[Something you want so badly you’d pour everything you have into it. If you can’t have it… you feel like you might die from the longing.]
“…”
[I think that’s what a real dream is.]
That steady voice reached deep into my heart.
I nodded firmly.
“…You’re right. Me too, I’m like that.”
The only dream that always made me happy, precious and irreplaceable.
Acting was exactly that kind of existence for me.
And because of that, I could never give it up.
A moment later.
[See you again sometime, Yu-jin.]
“Yes, Director!”
After chatting about this and that, our call came to an end.
Click—
“…”
I smiled without thinking.
A corner of my heart felt warm and tingly.
With a feeling like this, yes.
I really feel like I could do anything!
“Yu-jin?”
“!”
And that was when.
A voice came out of nowhere.
I quickly clasped my hands together and tried to look like I wasn’t doing anything.
“Yes, yes?”
“There you are. What are you doing here?”
“Oh, um, well… nothing at all!”
The housekeeper tilted her head at my answer, then gestured to me.
“The Chairman is looking for you. Come on.”
“…Gasp.”
So much for feeling like I could do anything…
***
“H-hello.”
The study door opened, and Yu-jin stepped inside with a respectful bow of her head.
“……All right.”
Baek Un-hak answered a beat too late.
He’d been wrapped in a strange mood ever since hearing the news a moment ago.
‘How can they be so alike……’
Unlike his firstborn son Baek Seung-hyuk, his second child Su-hee had always been the conspicuous one.
She chased freedom rather than follow a prescribed path, possessed a stubborn will, and threw herself headlong into whatever caught her fancy without a second thought.
And so Su-hee, who had always stirred up conflict, left home the moment she came of age—fifteen years ago now.
In all those years, Baek Un-hak had never once sought her out.
He had treated her as though she no longer existed, having defied his wishes, and shut himself off from her completely.
And yet, fate had wound them together in this way.
Destiny, it seemed, was a cruel thing indeed.
“……Come here.”
At the soft call, Yu-jin approached hesitantly.
Baek Un-hak reached out, lifted her up, and settled her on his knee.
It was not something he would normally have done, but somehow he felt the urge to do so now.
Seated in his lap, Yu-jin’s eyes widened as she gazed up at him.
Baek Un-hak, taken aback, let out a soft chuckle and opened his mouth.
“Yu-jin.”
“……Yes?”
“You really want to be an actress?”
At the question, Yu-jin’s eyes darted about.
But soon enough, the girl nodded vigorously.
“Yes, I do want to.”
“Why?”
“Oh, um. Acting is…… really, really fun.”
The chattering child’s eyes shone more brightly than ever before.
“When I say my lines and make expressions, people get sad with me, they laugh, they get angry…… and that’s so incredibly amazing and feels so good.”
A face genuinely alight with joy.
For a long moment, Baek Un-hak gazed down at Yu-jin in silence, then slowly reached out his hand.
And, stroking her hair gently, he spoke.
“Very well. Then give it a try.”
“……Really, truly?”
Yu-jin’s jaw dropped.
The child, blinking as though she couldn’t quite believe it, soon broke into a radiant smile.
“Thank you so much……!”
Still seated on his knee, she bowed her head earnestly in gratitude, and Baek Un-hak finally let out a low laugh.
So this was what such joy looked like—he had never seen this girl so pleased before.
“But when will you tell your parents about this?”
“……!”
At that moment, Yu-jin’s shoulders visibly stiffened.
Baek Un-hak’s weathered eyes narrowed slightly.
What was this? Why such alarm?
Wasn’t this the age when a child burned to boast of her accomplishments to her parents?
In that instant of puzzlement, Yu-jin’s face broke into a nervous laugh.
“Well, um…… I want to tell Mom and Dad later!”
“Is there a reason?”
“Right now I haven’t accomplished much, you see. So…… I want to show them directly how well I really, truly act on television!”
“……Hmm.”
At the girl’s confident response, Baek Un-hak let out a thoughtful murmur.
So she didn’t merely speak of dreams in words—she intended to prove her worth through actual results.
A gleam of satisfaction kindled in Baek Un-hak’s eyes.
Indeed, she was his blood.
For demonstrating achievement through tangible proof was a hundred times more fitting than mere talk.
“Very well. If that is your wish, I shall keep it secret from your parents for the time being.”
“Wow! Th-thank you, Grandfather!”
At her delight, the corners of Baek Un-hak’s mouth rose a little higher.
‘……Yes, she’s still young after all.’
He knew this from experience.
Trying to force a barrier only deepened the rift.
She’s still so young—surely it’s no harm to indulge her willfulness a little.
Baek Un-hak told himself this, doing his best to rationalize a heart completely undone by his granddaughter.

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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