There Are Four Top Idol Uncles - Chapter 51

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

Episode 51

Her family offered to cover all living expenses for the two children and Juhyang’s study abroad costs, on the condition that she never see Taejung again.

After much deliberation, Juhyang confessed that she ultimately accepted that proposal.

‘This is the right decision for the children and for me. Shouldn’t we at least raise the children in a good environment?’

Taejung could no longer hold onto Juhyang. He was still far too inadequate to support two children.

In the end, Juhyang left with the two children.

After she left, Taejung threw himself into filmmaking like a madman. He believed that if only his films succeeded, he could bring her back.

By the time Chungmuro finally recognized him, Juhyang was no longer of this world.

‘It’s already been 10 years since that girl died.’

It was cancer, they said.

Juhyang’s parents said through gritted teeth that she had already been diagnosed before leaving for the United States.

When Taejung resented them for not telling him, they said Juhyang had wanted to hide it from him alone.

She was afraid of becoming a burden to Taejung, so she hid it until the very end.

Though Taejung was devastated, he went to see Juhyang’s parents once more to at least get the two children back.

‘Juhyang, don’t you still understand why that girl had to leave you? She was afraid she wouldn’t receive proper treatment by your side, so she hid her serious illness and went all the way to America for treatment!’

‘…Regarding Juhyang, I have nothing to say no matter how many times you ask. But now I have the ability to support the children. Please, at least return the children to me.’

‘The two children are already growing up receiving the best education in America. And most importantly, both children know us as their parents.’

‘…!’

‘Think carefully about this. Would it be better for those two children to live as illegitimate children of unmarried celebrities, or to live quietly as they do now with our support? What would be better for the children’s lives?’

‘…’

‘Don’t just think about yourself. Think about what would truly be a better life for the children.’

At those words, Taejung could only swallow his tears of blood and nod.

At the time, he thought that was the right thing to do.

Hearing news only twice a year that the two children were growing up well, Taejung endured and suppressed his longing.

Waiting for the day when even Doha would become an adult – when he could go find them both, confess the truth, and give them everything he had built.

‘Hello… Father.’

‘!’

After more than ten years had passed, Seoha, their first child and daughter, came to find him.

‘…So that’s how it was. Father, you were also deceived by our grandfather.’

‘I was… deceived?’

‘Yes.’

Seoha let out a hollow laugh and told him all the truth from those years.

It was true that they had grown up in America.

But that was only until Doha was 7 years old.

‘Mother was alive… at least until then.’

‘!’

Even when Taejung heard from Juhyang’s parents that Juhyang had died, she was still perfectly alive.

A few years later, finding it difficult to raise two children alone in a foreign land, Juhyang eventually returned to Korea.

And she had tried to find Taejung, who was now successful.

However.

Juhyang’s parents, who could never accept Taejung, lied to her, saying ‘Taejung came looking for you, but he has a woman he’s going to marry, so he earnestly asked that you never look for him again.’

Naturally, Juhyang didn’t believe it, but when she went to Taejung’s house, she saw it with her own eyes.

Him laughing happily with another woman.

‘…I was laughing with another woman? That’s absolutely impossible. I never once-‘

Taejung stopped mid-sentence and froze.

Suddenly, a certain scene flashed through his mind.

Though he had spent his life longing for Juhyang and never once got close to another woman, there was just one time.

‘…I know you’ll never look at me, senior. But… I’ve liked you for such a long time. So just, couldn’t you hold me just once? Then I think I could really give up on you cleanly.’

He remembered being moved by a junior actress’s sudden confession and briefly embracing her out of sympathy.

It was truly terrible timing.

How cruel God was to Taejung – it seemed Juhyang had witnessed that day’s events.

‘After that, Mother changed a lot.’

Seoha said the Juhyang she saw was like a flower gradually withering away.

Though she said nothing, Seoha could tell she was suffering deeply in her heart.

‘…Still, somehow, she managed to endure. At least until then.’

‘That means…’

‘But after Doha started dreaming of becoming a celebrity at 14, Mother… something inside her heart seemed to break.’

Seoha said it was the first time she had seen Juhyang so angry.

Now, to Juhyang, the profession of celebrity was nothing but a disgusting dream that reminded her of Taejung.

The moment she saw Juhyang shout at Doha, ‘You’re following in your father’s footsteps too, you’re also eventually-!’ and push him away.

Seoha realized that their mother had become too exhausted and mentally ill.

‘But Doha couldn’t give up his dream either… and our grandparents had also passed away in an accident… At that time, there were no adults who could think normally.’

After that, Juhyang would scream at Doha to give up his dream whenever she saw him.

Doha also couldn’t bear to give up the first dream he’d ever had.

So Seoha said she fled to America with their mother. She practically left Doha with the entertainment agency that had cast him. Believing it was the better choice for everyone.

Seoha said she cared for their mother, who was deeply ill in both body and mind, in America.

‘…Actually, I resented Doha a little. What’s so important about a dream… I gave up my dreams to take care of Mother too. I just thought… Doha, you should give up too, couldn’t you compromise a little? So I deliberately never contacted Doha even from America.’

Taejung couldn’t say anything, his heart devastated.

Seoha was only 18 or 19 years old at the time – it was a completely natural emotion for her to have.

‘…But now I understand. Doha did nothing wrong… It’s just that all the adults were wrong, and we were simply sacrificed.’

Seoha spoke matter-of-factly.

Only then could Taejung understand the entire situation.

However.

Even knowing all the truth, he realized he couldn’t change any situation.

It was too late to reverse this tragedy.

‘…I can’t say everything was Father’s fault, but I also don’t want to think of a father who had no power to prevent things from turning out this way as family. Take care. And… like we have until now, I think it would be better to continue living as strangers.’

At Seoha’s words, Taejung simply bowed his head.

His daughter was right.

…And probably, even if Doha learned the truth, he would think the same way.

This was all Taejung’s fault.

If only he had investigated a little more properly.

If only he had suspected even once that Juhyang’s parents’ words might be lies.

Then perhaps the situation wouldn’t have turned out this way.

“….”

Taejung let out a short sigh.

It was natural for Doha to hate such a father. To a son who had watched his mother’s suffering from the side, a father living grandly in Korea being called a ‘master’ was nothing but a coward who abandoned his family.

“…I guess Doha hates me so much because he takes after you.”

Director Yeon gently traced Juhyang’s face in the photo with his fingertip.

A man who lost the right to stand before his family again for the crime of failing to protect them.

That man had now grown old and was in a position where even a meeting with his granddaughter was rejected.

Taejung let out a very old sigh and put the photo back deep in the drawer.

Perhaps.

His granddaughter’s reappearance might mean it was time to atone for the sins he had committed against his family.

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