Chapter 5

After taking a deep breath, Ruri cautiously glanced toward the audience.

She spotted the director of the orphanage.

The director was a very, very good person.

She always treated Ruri kindly and gave her lots of love.

Seeing the director smiling warmly as she watched the performance gave Ruri courage.

Ruri clenched her fists.

‘Ruri isn’t just a radish. Ruri is the coolest and calmest radish on Earth.’

At that very moment, the trembling in her legs stopped as if it had never existed.

Ruri took a deep breath.

A calm aura emanated from her bright brown eyes.

So-yeon expected Ruri, like the other children, to burst into tears or panic, so she gripped the microphone.

But before she could begin the narration, Ruri moved first.

Thud.

The moment her friends joined forces and pulled Ruri, who was playing the radish, her head drooped limply.

“……Ah.”

It was a very short groan.

But for an instant, every sound in the auditorium abruptly fell silent.

“……It hurts.”

It was a short line.

“So…… much.”

Ruri closed her eyes and slowly rolled onto the floor.

Her limp fingertips scratched weakly at the air before falling lifelessly to the ground.

It was a sorrowful gesture that seemed to portray the death of the radish.

The audience was momentarily spellbound by Ruri’s acting.

But then—

“I got puwwed…… Achoo!”

Ruri, who had curled up and was about to bury her face, suddenly sneezed.

At the unexpected sneeze, laughter erupted from various parts of the audience.

‘N-No……!’

Ruri rubbed the tip of her nose with her finger and stared blankly at the audience.

‘Ruri sneezed, so Ruri ruined her acting!’

Her shoulders drooped as she pouted.

‘Then Ruri won’t get a hint about her biological daddy…….’

Just as she looked ready to burst into tears, So-yeon finally regained her composure and finished the narration in a trembling voice.

“E-Everyone joined forces and pulled out the radish. Even things that are difficult to accomplish alone can be achieved when everyone works together.”

When So-yeon finished narrating, the children held hands and bowed toward the audience.

So-yeon had repeatedly reminded them that even if they made mistakes during the performance, they had to bow properly at the end.

At the same time, thunderous applause erupted from the audience.

“Great job!”

“That radish acting was amazing!”

“Kids, you did so well!”

Huh?

Ruri suddenly lifted her head at the praise coming from all around the auditorium.

‘Ruri must have acted well!’

Seeing everyone clapping and praising her, it seemed she hadn’t ruined the performance after all.

Filled with renewed confidence, Ruri smiled brightly.

At that moment—

Ding!

[Finally, an acting challenge?! Ruri, become the star of the stage!]

[Mission Complete!]

[A tracker that can find one of your mother’s friends has been awarded! Try using it in new places or crowded locations. You never know when you might accidentally encounter one of your mother’s friends. (๑❛ᴗ❛)]

Just as Ruri’s face brightened even more at the words Mission Complete, another notification sounded.

[Sub-Mission Activated!]

[Finally, an official debut?! Challenge: Day 1 of your acting career!]

[Details: Make your mark in a fierce drama audition and impress the director enough to get accepted!]

[Reward: A hint about your biological father]

After the play ended, the audience began murmuring as they gradually filed out of the auditorium.

But Do-hyeok didn’t move an inch.

His gaze remained fixed on the empty spot on the stage where Ruri had stood only moments earlier, as though he were trying to burn the image into his eyes.

His heart was beating strangely.

It had only lasted for a brief moment, but there had been something about the child that irresistibly captured his attention.

“What did you think, Chairman? Aren’t the children adorable?”

Only at the director’s voice beside him did Do-hyeok belatedly return to reality.

He hadn’t even realized that he had been sitting there absentmindedly.

Do-hyeok swallowed dryly and murmured in a lower, more subdued voice than usual.

“What is the name of the child who just played the radish?”

SBC Broadcasting Station Lobby

As So-yeon entered the busy lobby of the broadcasting station, she caught her breath.

“Whew, I’m really glad we weren’t late after all. Right, Ruri?”

“Yes!”

Ruri held So-yeon’s hand tightly and smiled brightly.

The reason the two of them had come to the broadcasting station was because of an unexpected proposal they had received from the Taeseong Foundation not long ago.

“The foundation suggested that Ruri audition for a drama.”

After the orphanage talent show, the foundation chairman had taken an interest in Ruri and offered her a drama audition.

“There’s a drama currently being produced with investment from the Taeseong Group, and they’re looking for a child actor. Apparently, they’re looking for someone to play the younger version of Yoo In-a.”

It wasn’t unusual for a few talented children to receive such offers after the Sponsorship Night.

Of course, they hadn’t expected Ruri to suddenly be invited to audition for a role as a child actress.

‘Did they see some acting talent in Ruri?’

So-yeon, who had come to the broadcasting station as Ruri’s guardian of sorts, lowered her gaze.

Ruri’s face was filled with innocent curiosity as she looked around the broadcasting station.

‘Well, this isn’t a bad thing for Ruri.’

No, being noticed by the chairman of the foundation was actually a stroke of luck.

The children who had received support from the foundation had been able to freely develop their talents under its full backing.

Although a minor traffic accident on the way there had nearly made So-yeon’s heart stop with worry that they would be late, they had fortunately arrived on time.

So-yeon sat down on a sofa in the lobby and sighed.

“A sudden traffic accident, of all things. We almost couldn’t even make it to the audition! Let’s see…… We still have a little time. Ruri, shall we sit here and wait?”

“Yes!”

“My Ruri, have you memorized all your lines?”

“Of course!”

Ruri proudly puffed out her chest with a confident snort.

So-yeon smiled, narrowing her eyes.

“Our Ruri can already read Korean so well. You’re such a clever girl.”

“Hehe.”

‘Ruri became smart thanks to the status window!’

Just then, a loud vibrating sound came from inside So-yeon’s bag.

She checked the screen, and a troubled expression briefly crossed her face.

“Oh my, I think that’s the man from the accident earlier. Ruri, will you sit here and look over your lines for a moment? Teacher will make a quick call and come right back.”

“Yes. Go ahead, Teacher.”

So-yeon walked over to a quiet corner a little farther away and began her phone call in earnest.

As soon as So-yeon disappeared from sight, the eyes of Ruri, who had been sitting quietly on the sofa, sparkled.

An unfamiliar place.

A new environment.

Whenever she was in a situation like this, there was something Ruri habitually activated.

[Mom’s Connections Tracker Activated!]

With a vrrr sound, the familiar translucent radar window appeared within Ruri’s field of vision.

“This time, Ruri has to find Mommy’s friend.”

She had already activated the tracker more than ten times, but it had never reacted even once.

Still, whenever she went somewhere crowded, she faithfully activated it just in case.

But then—

Beep!

Ruri’s eyes instantly widened when she checked the screen.

“……!”

In the center of the green display, a dark red dot she had never seen before was flashing.

‘C-Could it be……?!’

The appearance of the red dot, which radiated an incredible presence, made Ruri’s heart pound.

‘Mommy’s friend is here?!’

Ruri hurriedly turned her head.

So-yeon seemed completely absorbed in her phone call.

‘This is my chance!’

She didn’t hesitate for long.

Ruri hopped down from the sofa and started running in the direction indicated by the radar.

She pushed through the people and crossed the broadcasting station for quite some time.

‘If I just turn this corner……!’

She hurriedly followed the flashing dot and whipped around the corner.

Thud!

“Uwah!”

Ruri collided head-on with something solid and fell backward onto her bottom.

“Ow, ow, ow…….”

She rubbed her sore bottom and frowned.

Then a clear, refreshing male voice came down from above her head.

“Little girl, are you okay?”

Drawn by the voice, Ruri abruptly raised her head and stopped breathing for a moment.

‘His…… his face is shining!’

A handsome man with light brown hair and eyes that seemed to have a faint amber hue was looking down at Ruri.

His sculpted features were so striking that admiration came naturally.

But Ruri felt as though she had seen him somewhere before.

‘Where have I seen him?’

Hmm.

Ruri was briefly lost in thought before quickly shaking her head.

This wasn’t the time to get distracted by a handsome uncle.

Ruri quickly came to her senses and checked the system window.

But the red dot on the radar was blinking directly over this man.

At that moment—

Ding!

[Mother’s Friend Discovered!]

[Character Information: Seo Jin-young (30 years old, Actor)]

[Relationship with Mother: Unable to Confirm]

[※To confirm the relationship with your mother, increase your affinity with the target.]