Reporter and Reportrash (2)
After finishing the meeting, I immediately went to Yoo-Jin's house.
"Uncle~!"
As I arrived at their house, shortly after 10 PM, Miso—clad in her Powertuff Girls pajamas—enthusiastically sprinted toward me, arms outstretched for a warm embrace.
"Miso, don't run so fast. What if you fall?"
"I'm the fastest runner in my kindergarten. I've never fallen!" Miso boasted proudly, clutching the Powertuff Girls plush toy I had given to her.
'Wow. Where did she find all this confidence?'
Yoo-Jin munched on konjac jelly and teased Miso. "Miso~ do you remember when you were three and you fell over and bumped your head?"
Miso turned slightly toward Yoo-Jin and denied it. "I don't remember!"
"Is that so? What about that time when you were four and scraped your palm?"
Yoo-Jin prodded further with a playful expression, but Miso shook her head.
"...That never happened."
"I see. Then, what about the time you fell and scraped your knee while running to me last year?"
"...T-that's different! I just slipped, that's all! I hate you, Mom!"
Miso's cheeks puffed up like a blowfish as Yoo-Jin continued to playfully bring up the times Miso had fallen in the past.
'Hey, leave the kid alone.'
Miso reminded me of Pinocchio, yet I always sided with her. I locked eyes with her and spoke in the gentlest voice I could muster.
"Miso is the fastest runner. There is no way she'd fall, right? Maybe your mom's dieting made her so sensitive that she forgot. I'm on Miso's side!"
Only then did Miso's pout vanish. She broke into a beaming smile, and happiness radiated from her face. "Hehe, I'm on your side too."
As Miso snuggled closer to me, we allied against Yoo-Jin.
Yoo-Jin pretended to feel betrayed. "Wow. You are on Uncle Yoon-Ho's side and not my side? I'm so sad."
However, Miso and I simply high-fived, displaying our unbreakable alliance.
After playing with Miso for a bit, Yoo-Jin tilted her head with a puzzled expression. "Anyway, what brings you here at such an hour? Is there a new schedule or something? Miso, come here."
"Okay, Mom." Miso ran into Yoo-Jin's arms with a big smile as if she had forgotten about complaining just a moment ago.
"No, it's not about any schedule. But…can I have a private conversation with you?"
Yoo-Jin's face showed concern, perhaps because my voice sounded more gloomy than usual.
"Is it about Choi Jong-Hyuk or Ju Seong-Jin sunbae?"
"It's not about them."
Yoo-Jin shook her head, not wanting Miso to feel left out. "You can just say it in front of Miso. I think she should hear and be involved in whatever decision I make."
I sighed and shared the news from the company. "The company suggests it's time to reveal that you two are mother and daughter."
At that moment, Yoo-Jin froze on the spot.
"D-did Mr. Kang agree to reveal this?"
Yoo-Jin's voice was trembling.
"Yes."
Upon hearing my reply, Yoo-Jin hugged Miso tightly with tears brimming in her eyes.
"Miso, you can now call me Mom openly. Isn't it great?"
Miso looked at Yoo-Jin whose eyes were welling up with tears. "Yes, it's great. But Mom, don't cry. If you cry, I'll be sad too."
Miso started to wipe Yoo-Jin's tears with her pajama sleeve, comforting her. At the same time, tears also welled up in Miso's eyes.
Watching them, my anger toward Ju Kang-Yong surged. Scum like him, who profited from crafting tabloid and sensational articles, have inflicted so much pain on so many.
Miso and Yoo-Jin hugged and cried for a while before sitting up again and wiping their tears. Then, I began to explain everything to them—what was going to happen and how we were to respond.
After hearing my explanation, Yoo-Jin nodded, while Miso didn't seem to fully grasp the situation due to her young age. Nonetheless, she seemed to have understood my intention to protect her.
Yoo-Jin was resolved to accept anything as long as she didn't have to hide Miso's identity as her daughter any longer. She bit on her lips firmly and opened her mouth. "Do I just need to follow your instructions, oppa?"
"Yes, for now. I'll handle the rest on my own."
"Okay, I will."
"Miso, you need to be strong too, okay? Bad people are trying to slander your mom!"
Miso nodded vigorously. "Okay! Even if people lie, I know my mom best!"
Miso crossed her arms over her chest, mimicking a pose from the animation Powertuff Girls. It was the pose the characters would do whenever they exclaimed 'Together with Powertuff Girls, we are the strongest.'
"I'm so proud of you, Miso."
Watching Miso, I also adopted the same pose and resolve. I vowed that I would never let trash like Ju Kang-Yong harass these two again.
Then, I briefly shared the situation with the landlord, Jung In-Ji, who had just brought some sikhye[1] to the second floor. After learning what had happened, she was equally, if not more, furious.
"Mr. Jung, don't you worry! I'm good with phones. I'll record everything that rotten guy says."
"I trust you, ma'am. Please take good care of Yoo-Jin and Miso."
Knowing that the landlord treated Miso and Yoo-Jin as her own family, I felt more assured than ever. After discussing our strategy, I had only one concern.
Miso was clinging to her mom and blinking her eyes. I gently asked her, "Miso, it seems like Uncle's vacation might be delayed. Can we go to the sledding park after all this is over? Is that okay with you?"
Miso closed her eyes and placed her fingers on her temples as she fell deep in thought.
"Hmm."
Her serious expression reminded me of The Thinker by Rodin. After a short while, she exclaimed, "One night, two days!"
With a bright smile, Miso held up her index finger on her left hand, and thumb and index finger on her right hand.
"One night, two days?"
"Yes! I'm fine with it being delayed. But in return, can we stay one night at the sledding park and play another day? Oh, and I want to sleep in an igloo!"
'Huh? Igloo? Which sled park ad did she watch?'
I wondered where she got the idea of sleeping in an igloo from, but I nevertheless agreed. "Of course. Once this is over, let's go for a one-night and two-day trip to the sled park! In an igloo!"
Miso's face lit up with excitement. "Wow, wow! Really? Are we really going to sleep in an igloo?"
"Y-yes!" I replied, unable to say no.
"Yay!"
Miso jumped up and down with joy, filling the room with her laughter.
Thanks to Miso, I could forget my worries about Ju Kang-Yong for a moment and spend my time with them searching for a sledding park with an igloo.
***
At SBC's Documentary Department, Producer Na Hun-Seok led us to the Director's office. After greeting Documentary Department Director Woo Ji-Han, we got straight to the point.
Na Hun-Seok said with a stiff expression, "I've heard about the situation from Mr. Kang. Since Human Stories is scheduled weekly, it's just a matter of adjusting the broadcast schedule."
Kang Ji-Yung responded with a request. "We appreciate your cooperation. Also, could we possibly request a two-part series?"
"Although it's tight, that shouldn't be a problem. And you are the talent agent, correct?" Mr. Na asked, pointing to me.
I immediately stood up and greeted him. "Yes, Mr. Na."
Na Hun-Seok would become the head of the Documentary Department in about six years. Known for his good reputation and tear-jerking productions, he would become everyone's favorite PD in the future.
Na Hun-Seok laughed and waved his hand. "Haha, you have good social skills. Also, you have a camera-friendly look as well, Mr. Jung. Would you consider appearing in the documentary as a handsome talent agent? It might help boost the ratings."
I immediately accepted Na Hun-Seok's offer.
"If it will increase the ratings, feel free to use me in any way. I'll do everything you ask."