Chapter 36

36. Do you need sesame oil?

“Huh? You, you too? Alright, give it a try!”

Dong-sik chuckled and stepped aside.

Director Lee Hong-kyun and all the staff members watched Si-woo with smiles on their faces.

Standing in place, Si-woo stretched his right hand behind his head.

And then—

“Aaaah!”

With a clear and pure child's voice, he shouted loudly and swung his arm.

The pebble shot from Si-woo's hand, but it didn't fly over the stream and splash into the water as expected.

Thud!

The pebble landed right in front of Si-woo on the ground.

It didn't even make it to the stream, let alone skip across the water.

Si-woo took a few wobbly steps forward, looking at Dong-sik and the pebble on the ground with a slightly bewildered expression...

“Uu...”

Sniffle, sniffle, sniffle, sniffle—

“Aigoo~ Deok-gu! Don't cry! I'll teach you, my boy!”

Si-woo's sniffles were so adorable that Dong-sik almost lost his composure.

He quickly regained his focus, spoke his lines, and approached Si-woo.

Holding Si-woo, Dong-sik spoke with a warm, affectionate voice.

“Alright, first, hold the stone like this...”

Dong-sik took Si-woo's hand and threw the stone together with him.

Plop!

The stone fell into the stream.

Si-woo smiled brightly and looked back at Dong-sik.

The camera captured every moment and expression without missing a beat.

Dong-sik patted Si-woo's head with his thick hand and gave him another pebble.

Si-woo happily played with Dong-sik, throwing pebbles into the stream.

Director Lee Hong-kyun, who had been watching the father-son duo from a distance, called over the assistant director with a gesture.

“Yes, Director.”

“Contact Ryu Seung-hyun and Song Jun-young... and ask them to practice skipping stones.”

“Understood. I'll text the manager.”

Dong-sik's performance exceeded expectations, capturing a scene that was both heartwarming and engaging.

The chemistry between the 41-year-old man and the 3-year-old child was excellent.

Director Lee Hong-kyun, stroking his chin, chuckled and shook his head.

‘While it's understandable for Dong-sik, this little kid is perfectly in sync with him today.’

Dong-sik would feel it too.

That's why he's delivering such spontaneous and free-spirited ad-libs.

‘Of course, the child isn't intentionally moving... but still, for a 3-year-old to be this reliable. If I told other directors who haven't experienced this, they'd think I'm crazy.’

The final scene of the day was being prepared at the thatched cottage where Daegil and Deok-gu live.

Thanks to Dong-sik's minimal mistakes and Si-woo's enthusiastic and tear-free performance, the shooting time was significantly shortened.

The staff, who had been enduring a grueling schedule, felt like bowing in gratitude to Dong-sik and Si-woo.

“Even with the added stream scene... we still have time to spare. What a miracle.”

Director Lee Hong-kyun smiled contentedly.

Calling over Dong-sik, Hyun-ju, and Si-woo, Director Lee Hong-kyun briefly explained the scene.

“As you've seen in the script... the father and son are eating and going to bed. It's a simple scene, but seeing Si-woo today, it might be extended a bit for the broadcast.”

Dong-sik and Hyun-ju nodded.

Si-woo, nestled in his mother's arms, also nodded absentmindedly.

Dong-sik asked,

“The script only has me feeding my son and smiling at him. To extend this, Si-woo needs to talk and act. Is it okay if we do it freely?”

“Sure, do it comfortably. We can edit it later. I want to increase Si-woo's screen time. If possible, it's good for the audience to see the main character more.”

Although the amount was reduced out of concern that it might be too much for a child, today it didn't seem to be an issue.

“And the side dishes were prepared based on what your mother suggested. Things that a child can eat... they were just prepared at the catering truck, so I hope they taste good.”

This was a concern.

If Si-woo refused to eat, turning his head away and rejecting the food, the shooting would be indefinitely delayed.

Or the scene might have to be abandoned altogether.

“Yes, Si-woo will eat everything without being picky, so I think he'll enjoy it.”

Hearing Hyun-ju, Director Lee Hong-kyun and Dong-sik both sighed in relief.

“Baby, will you eat well? The director trusts you.”

Si-woo, tapping his shoulder, replied,

“Woong~”

‘Don’t worry. I’ll eat everything.’

Si-woo was already hungry.

A short while later, Si-woo was sitting inside the thatched cottage, waiting for the meal.

Director Lee Hong-kyun called out,

“Ready, action!”

Dong-sik entered the room with a small table.

“Our Deok-gu, are you hungry? Let's eat quickly~”

On the table were side dishes of vegetables and a well-cooked chicken.

Seeing the chicken, Si-woo stood up, looking excited and up at Dong-sik.

Dong-sik, genuinely proud of the child's reaction, patted his chest and said,

“This chicken was caught by your father. It's not an ordinary chicken raised at home.”

The setting was that he had caught a chicken running around in the mountains.

“I've torn it into small pieces for you to eat easily...”

Suddenly, Dong-sik looked at Si-woo with a poignant expression.

“Chew well. Our Deok-gu, your father will make sure you eat better things and wear better clothes in the future...”

‘What is this look? He's not supposed to live like this... Is that what it means?’

How should I react?

After a brief moment of thought, Si-woo laughed widely at Dong-sik, like a mischievous child.

Seeing Si-woo's playful smile, Dong-sik finished his poignant acting and laughed lightly.

Sitting across from Si-woo with the small table between them, Dong-sik placed the shredded chicken on Si-woo's rice.

As soon as Si-woo saw Dong-sik scoop up a spoonful of rice, he grabbed his spoon with a determined look.

‘It’s juk! ’

This day was all about this moment.

‘No, I need to stay calm. It's impolite to rush into eating, no matter where you are.’

Si-woo clumsily scooped up the rice.

Dong-sik, who had experience raising a child, naturally assisted Si-woo by holding the bowl or adjusting the angle of the spoon.

With a spoonful of rice, Si-woo opened his mouth wide and stuffed it in.

Munch, munch.

Seeing Si-woo enthusiastically chewing his rice and chicken, Dong-sik and the staff couldn't help but smile.

He eats so cutely.

‘A child eating in a period drama.’

Dong-sik, who couldn't tell if it was acting or not, watched Si-woo with a warm gaze and placed another small piece of chicken on his rice.

Si-woo, looking at the chicken on his rice, opened his mouth.

“More~ one more~”

“Huh? One more? Haha! Sure!”

Did I tear it too small?

Dong-sik placed another piece of chicken on Si-woo's rice.

Si-woo awkwardly twisted his spoon and skillfully scooped up the rice.

And then—

“Waaah~”

He stuffed it into his mouth.

Seeing rice grains on Si-woo's lips, Dong-sik wiped them off with his hand.

Then—

“Aba~ A~”

Si-woo's mouth followed Dong-sik's finger.

He wants more rice grains.

“Here, eat this. There's plenty.”

Dong-sik, putting the rice grains in his own mouth, asked Si-woo,

“Deok-gu, is it delicious?”

Si-woo, with his mouth full of chicken, opened his eyes wide and nodded.

“Delicious~ really~”

“Really? Eat more.”

Watching Si-woo's eating, Dong-sik handed him a bowl of water.

“You might choke. Drink some water while you eat.”

Si-woo held the water bowl with both small hands and drank.

Gulp, gulp.

Dong-sik gently held the edge of the water bowl to prevent too much water from entering at once.

Si-woo, enjoying the incredible taste of the chicken soup he hadn't had in a long time, continued eating. Suddenly, he felt sleepy.

‘Warm back and full stomach, suddenly sleepy...’

Thud.

Dropping his spoon on the table, Si-woo continued to move his mouth, trying to keep his heavy eyelids open.

Director Lee Hong-kyun, finding Si-woo's sleepy face while eating incredibly cute, couldn't help but smile.

‘I can't edit this child out.’

* * *

Si-woo and Hyun-ju got a ride with the staff to a subway station near their home.

Do-jin was waiting to pick them up.

“Daddy~!”

Seeing his father, Si-woo ran over, and Do-jin picked him up warmly.

“Did you have fun today, our son?”

“Woong!”

“Wasn't it tiring?”

“Woong! Hoeng~”

“Hoeng? What's Hoeng?”

Hyun-ju, walking over, said,

“Tiger. He played the tiger roar game with actor Hwang Dong-sik there.”

“Really? Our Si-woo had a lot of fun, right? Honey, did Si-woo do well in the filming?”

Holding Si-woo, Do-jin asked.

Hyun-ju showed her thumbs up.

“He got a lot of praise. Our Si-woo... he's really smart.”

Do-jin's face lit up with relief.

He had been worried about Si-woo's performance throughout the day.

“Tell me more. How did he do well?”

Seeing Do-jin's proud face, Hyun-ju paused for a moment before speaking.

“Well... from the first appearance scene, the staff clapped a lot, saying his expressions were good...”

“And?”

“Also... oh right. There was a scene where he runs to his grandparents, and Si-woo ran so happily, like he was really meeting his father and mother. After filming, they had to tell him it wasn't really his grandparents, and he got scolded for it.”

“Really?”

On the way home, Hyun-ju recounted Si-woo's outstanding performance in detail to Do-jin.

Do-jin listened intently, ears perked up, to every word Hyun-ju said.

Opening the front door and entering, Bok-sil ran out.

– Hee hee hee~!

Nero, lying on the sofa, twisted his body to look at the door and fell off the sofa.

He was being silly.

Quickly.

Nero, embarrassed, licked his front paws and looked away.

‘...Always making physical jokes.’

Getting down from his father's arms, Si-woo hugged Bok-sil, who was wagging her tail, and ran to Nero.

And then,

“Roar~!”

Startled.

Pap pap pap!

Nero, like a car tire spinning, pushed off the floor and ran quickly to the small room.

Si-woo laughed and turned to his parents.

The moment Si-woo started walking towards his parents, he sensed a presence behind him.

In a flash, Si-woo turned around.

Nero, who had run to the small room, had approached Si-woo and was about to jump on his back...

Their eyes met.

“...”

– ...

Nero quietly lowered his raised front paws, groomed his side fur, and pretended to be indifferent.

Do-jin said,

“You two play well.”

“Yeah. He plays normally with Bok-sil, but with Nero, it's a bit rough. It's really funny to watch.”

“True. Honey, you must have been tired taking care of Si-woo today. Change your clothes and rest. I've taken out the recycling and cleaned Nero's litter box. I'll prepare to put Si-woo to bed, so just rest.”

Hyun-ju looked at Do-jin with gratitude.

She was especially grateful for cleaning Nero's litter box.

“Thank you, Oppa.”

“For something like this?”

Hyun-ju watched contentedly as her father and son sat side by side in the living room, chatting, then went into the bedroom.

Changing into comfortable clothes, Hyun-ju headed to the bathroom to wash up.

At that moment, a text message arrived on her phone.

Hearing the notification, Hyun-ju picked up her phone from the bed.

The message was short.

Mother: Do you need sesame oil?

It was a message from her mother-in-law.

Oh.