Chapter 21
“What is this nonsense…?!”
Myunghoon with a shocked face murmured. Suhee’s name was blinking on the phone screen.
‘Why is she going so hard?’
Myunghoon was shocked.
He knew that Suhee was not the type of girl to make jokes.
Myunghoon looked like a person who lost his country for a while and looked towards the ceiling. Then he called Suhee again.
‘No answer? Seriously?’
The ringing echoed for a second and cut off.
He called again, but the result was the same.
Myunghoon grabbed his phone tightly and clasped his teeth together.
‘She got a new writer? No, no way. Dang it, I think I must have insulted her too much this time.’
Myunghoon was going to make her frustrated for a while and give her the scenario. He had finished the scenario draft days ago, but he purposely waited to get people frustrated.
It was simple why he did this.
Suhee didn’t look at him with awe.
He wrote a paper that was considered to be turned into a drama and he had experiences with writing awards, but Suhee’s eyes looking at his still looked the same. There was no difference from now and 7 years ago.
‘Dang it!”
With some thought, Myunghoon pressed another button and called another person. After a few seconds, Nexon’s marketing team Manager Lee answered.
“Yeah, I wanted call you.”
“What’s up, man? What just freaking happened?”
Manager Lee was Myunghoon’s high school friend.
It was because of Lee’s recommendation that he got to work here. The statement that Suhee begged him to work here was all just a hoax.
“Suhee just revoked my contract. Did something happen with the creating team?”
“That is… I think they got a new writer.”
Myunghoon’s two eyes widened to the max.
A new writer? In just one day? In such a short time?
“Who, who? Who is it?!”
Myunghoon asked as if he was screaming. It wasn’t just about the writer, it was the fact that Suhee gave up on him and selected another writer that made him furious.
“I don’t know. They went to talk with my team leader. I’ll tell you when I know. I’m sorry but I have to go a meeting.
The call ended but Myunghoon couldn’t put down the phone from his ear.
His gaze went to a mirror on the desk. He felt like he wanted to destroy the face that looked back at him.
“AAAAHHHHHH!!”
Myunghoon screamed and shoved the mirror sideways.
Crash!
The mirror shattered into pieces and fell on the floor. The butler who was nearby heard this and ran over to him.
“Sir, sir. Are you ok?”
Myunghoon gave no answer.
The butler called the maids to clean up the mess and carefully asked Myunghoon.
“Uh, there was a call from the representative. He told you to finish the work by today 10 pm.
“I know.”
“And there is a meeting that starts at 7 about the woman’s new work. She said that since this is the first time that she got the main role, she wanted you to com…”
Myunghoon widened his eyes and yelled.
“I know! I’m going! Am I a child?! I’ll go take a cab or a bus, but I’ll go! Stop reminding me!”
“I’m, I’m sorry, sir.”
The maids who finished cleaning up and the butler both ran away.
Myunghoon crumpled on to the sofa and breathed loudly. Why was it so hard to get the one girl that he wanted.
Writer Ha, the representative gave me some mussels to give to you. This is an animal and I’ll be late because of some business, so can I drop it off myself?”
It was StarBooks’ Somii.
Jaegun put down the package he got from Starbooks and replied.
“Then I’ll be glad. As long as you’re not coming here just for this, I’m fine.”
“No, it’s fine. I’ll give you a call *^^*.”
Jaegun smiled. He could imagine Somii’s healthy and cheerful smile.
There is a person that just takes away your stress when you meet them. Now Somii was becoming that person to Jaegun.
“Then, let me get the new laptop out? Rika, come over her.”
“Meow?.”
Rika jumped off from the window where she was sitting. Jaegun explained as he opened the book.
“This is a whopping 1800 dollar laptop. It was hard writing with the old one. First, the screen was too small, if I get stuck writing, I need to search up things on the internet and that one took about 20 seconds just to load a page.”
A silver, shining laptop showed its existence from the box. It was a 17 inch display, way bigger than Se Gunwoo’s laptop. Jaegun was smiling as he connected the adapter and turned it on.
“Did you see that Rika? It takes less than 5 seconds to boot. This is new technology, Just blink once and the main screen is up.”
“Meow?”
“It was 1800 dollars but it’s fine. I’ll be able to cover it if I just write for one day. Now it’s a new beginning with a new laptop.
Jaegun download the Word on the screen and opened the script from Suhee. It was a quest about a Oh Sumin, a girl in the game.
“Ah, maybe it’s because I haven’t wrote in so long. I’m feeling really bad.”
For the first in a long time, he had trouble thinking.
It was the scene that the main character and Oh Sumin were first meeting. It was a scene from the girl’s perspective, but he couldn’t get that feeling. It was hard to think.
Jaegun started by writing the dialogue that he thought of and started murmuring.
“Hm, Ahh, I’m sorry. Ah, really handsome man? Are you hurt? Wow is this your car? Your car is really good. I sort of hurt my leg when I got hit, wah, could you drive me to my house? Ahhhhhh,, Nooooooo. That’s not it.”
He deleted what he wrote frustrated.
Maybe it was because he hadn’t wrote a dating novel, but it was really hard to write. This wasn’t a problem that could be fixed by Se Gunwoo’s skill. It was a problem of feeling.
So he changed his mind to something he could do. He moved the dialogue to the end, and started writing with the setting of the quest.
Tap! Tap! Tappapap!
It was about 2 hours of typing
‘What is this, this…?’
Jaegun shook his head and lifted his hands from the keyboard.
It felt weird. There was no problem from the words form the keyboard. But it felt that the hands couldn’t keep up with the mind.
‘It’s been about 2 hours, but i could only write this much?’
Jaegun checked the information tab. He had only written about 5000 letterers. Seeing that, his face hardened.
‘What’s wrong…?!’
The hands that wrote about 10,000 letters per hour didn’t feel right. It was because of this skill that he told her that he would send the draft by this evening.
‘Maybe it’s because of a new style that I’m not used to writing. Let me keep writing.’
Jaegun with patience started to write again.
But it hasn’t been 30 minutes until Jaegun with a pale face leaned against his chair. He knew even without checking the information tab, he had lost the power of writing 10,000 letters per hour.
‘What is it, this…?’
With this, he had no confirmation that he could finish this by 3 pm. at this speed. Jaegun suddenly felt fear because of his thoughts.
‘Did I… did I lose my power?!’
Not writing the girl dialogue to not writing 10,000 letters per hour, maybe it was because he lost Se Gunwoo’s power. Jaegun shivered at the thought. It was a nightmare thinking of going back to his past self.
Beep!
“Ha!”
Jaegun felt the vibrations of his phone. The phone screen read Somii’s name.
“He, hello.”
“Hey, I’m at your house, You’re probably busy I’m sorry.”
“No,no, it’s fine. Come in. I’ll open the door.”
“Yes.”
Somii’s voice was bright without knowing Jaegun’s concern. Jaegun dragged himself to the front door and opened. Somii was struggling to carry the styrofoam StarBooks box across the hallway.
Jaegun hurriedly went and took the box.
“I’m sorry. I should have gotten it.”
“No it’s fine. It wasn’t that heavy. Then thanks, sir.”
Somii did a 90 degree bend and turned around. Jaegun quickly talked to her.
“Come in. I’ll give you a cup of coffee.”
“No, it’s fine. You’re busy…”
“I just can’t leave you going like this. Don’t refuse and just come in.”
Jaegun asked again. There was the feeling of getting his energy back by talking to Somii. If he was alone for anytime longer, he felt like he was going to feel depressed.
“Then excuse me.”
Somii took off her shoes and went up.
At that moment.
Somii and Jaegun didn’t see Rika’s two ears lighting up. One eye held Jaegun, and one eye held Somii, both were reflected in her eyes.
Chapter 22
“Here, sit down on this mat.”
“Ah, thank you.”
She put the mat on the ground and sat with her knees up in the air. Jaegun said because she was still carrying a heavy bag on her back.
“Just sit comfortably and take off your bag.”
“Ah, yes yes.”
“Do you want cold coffee?”
“Yes, I want it please.”
Rika came up to Somii. Somii, just then realized her existence and sat pretzel and smiled.
“Hey, you’re really cute, what’s your name?”
“Rika.”
“Ahm, the name’s Rika? Ahah, so cute, cute, ah, I didn’t mean to talk down to you, I was just talking to Rika…”
“I know.”
Jaegun laughed.
Somii, with a smile, rubbed Rika. Then she just went up to Somii’s leg, laid down, and acted all cute swinging her legs around.
‘She’s following her a lot.’
Jaegun poured a cup of a coffee and with a surprised look, he gazed at Rika. Rika was following Somii more than Suhee. Like they knew each other before.
“Here.”
“Thank you.”
Jaegun gave the cup of cold coffee to Somii and went back to his laptop and sat down.
Maybe it was because of Somii’s visit, Jaegun felt a bit better and more comfortable looking at his screen.
‘It’s not my powers that have disappeared.
Jaegun confirmed by looking at the words he had just written.
What felt like Se Gunwoo’s skills still lingered in his brain. He could tell by looking at his writing.
Then the reason that he couldn’t write the girl’s dialogue?
he concluded that it was because he lacked the female emotion.
“Sir… did you also not have any dating experience?!’
Jaegun felt an bad feeling and was asking Sun Gunwoo in his mind.
To think it was so hard to write from a girl perspective. If he knew this would happen, he would have practiced writing romance novels
Jaegun left out a sigh filled with regret while his eyes fell to the floor. Now that he lost the power to write 10,000 words per second, it was a double failure.
“Meow.”
“Rika, where you going?”
Rika left Somii’s legs and went back into her house.
Comfortably sitting, in Rika’s both eyes, Jaegun’s and Somii’s figure were becoming clearer.
“What?!”
Jaegun cupped his palm and widened his eyes.
A feeling that wasn’t his was permeating through his brain.
That feeling went through like a power line and went through the heart.
“This, this…?!”
“…Sir,? What happened? Is it a headache?”
“No, no, wait.”
Jaegun put one hand to his forehead and with the other stopped Somii. Somii was about to stand up. She sat back down.
‘What? What is this happy and uplifting feeling? These aren’t my emotions, this isn’t what I feel.’
If it was a color, it was soft pink
If it was a season, it was late spring coming into summer,
The female emotions and feeling were coming clearer into one part of his head.
“Meow.”
Jaegun turned around because of Rika’s cry.
Then Jaegun’s front face muscle convoluted.
He felt that Somii’s emotions were coming into him through Rika. It was a mysterious event that couldn’t be replicated.
‘Then… is this Somii’s mind?’
Jaegun’s chest beated fast
His heart rate was different from usual. It was running fast and lightly like a rubber ball.
Was it the feeling that Somii got when she looked at Rika. In front of a unexplainable event, Jaegun half conscious didn’t know how to move.
“Sir… Are you sure you’re okay? It is a headache, right? If you don’t have any medicine, I could …”
“No, I’m fine.”
Straightening his posture, Jaegun went back to his notebook.
There was a reason to test this out now. He began to write the dialogue for Oh Sumin, the girl character that he couldn’t write anything for.
‘How could this be!’
After he written one line, a feeling came to him.
The dialogue was just coming to him like a noodle getting ripped. The embarrassment when he wasn’t feeling the character disappeared and was gone.
“Somii, I’m sorry but what is your age?”
Jaegun kept his gaze on the screen and asked.
With this random question, Somii was confused, but she answered right away.
“Ah, I’m now 22.”
“You started working as soon as you graduated.”
“Yes, that is true. Before I graduated, I sent an application and I was lucky.”
Jaegun with fire in his eyes typed the keyboard
The dialogue for Oh Sumin filled the screen fast.
Instead of typing words, it felt like he was mining gold from a goldmine called Somii. The work that Jaegun was doing was just revealing the expensive gold in a beautiful way,
Somii was the best model as she had just graduated from college just last year. The two girl’s age were even similar. The game character Oh Sumin was fastly getting filled with Editor Jung Somii’s emotions.
“Hoh…”
Jaegun’s ears twitched
It was small, but Somii’s sigh was heard by his ears.
He slightly turned around. Somii was raising her knees and was rubbing her legs.
Just then Jaegun realized. The hot air was filling the one room. Somii’s bare legs under her shorts were being covered in sweat.
“Ah, I’m sorry, I forgot”
Jaegun stood up like he was bounced and activated the air conditioner. Somii answered back to Jaegun who was just closing the windows.
“No, No. Writer, I’m not hot. There’s no reason for you to turn the air conditioner for me. And I was just back to go anyway.”
Jaegun, in the middle of closing the windows, turned around with a blank stare.
Somii was carrying the bag that she put down on her back again.
“You’re, leaving?”
“Yes, you’re working so I’m sorry I was bothering you for so long. Thank you for the coffee
Somii bent her waist and apologized. Instead of bothering, she had no idea that she was saving one writer.
“Can I use the sink? I’ll clean the cup and leave.”
“H,hey, excuse me, Somii.”
Jaegun was so urgent that words didn’t even come out.
He couldn’t let Somii just leave. He had to keep Somii there until at least he finished the quest lines for Oh Sumin.
“It’s fine, I’ll clean it.”
“It’s not about the cup.”
“Yes? Then…?”
Somii with her back on the sink looked at Jaegun.
Jaegun was far back, scratching his head and thinking of what words he wanted to way.
Beep!
The phone in his pocket rang.
It was a message from Suhee.
It was a question about the how the work was going, but Jaegun knew that hidden meaning of that message. The small message contained the urgency that Suhee was feeling.
Jaegun put away the phone in his pocket and looked at Somii.
Somii was waiting for an answer with her eyes wide open.
A word that he had just thought of turned into a sentence and left through Jaegun’s mouth.
“Somii, I’m sorry but could you get canned food me.”
Chapter 23
“Canned Food?”
Somii frowned and warily squinted at Jaegun.
The random remark from Jaegun made no sense.
“Do you not know the term. The writer’s canned food…”
Jaegun slurred his words and asked with his eyes.
After staring blankly and meeting each other glances, Somii could think of the term “canned food” from a dinner spot
“Are you talking about… that canned food?”
Even a newcomer employee like Somii knew what canned food meant.
Canned food was a term that meant caging a writer in a specific place and forcing him to write.
It was basically squeezing words out of writers who were struggling to write and their deadline was up ahead.
Either they were lazy and liked playing around, they were having too much thoughts about their project, or their mentality is floored because they are suffering from bad reviews. It wasn’t one or two so it was hard to figure out.
Jaegun, before his debut, laughed when he heard that term. He didn’t feel that since it was a work that all people do, they wouldn’t completely force someone to write like that.
But it was real.
It was during his 2nd series.
Jaegun was struggling because of the lack of sales so he was holding on to the 3rd book in the series for 2 months. And during that time, he got a call from the still head editor at that time, Tewon.
“Writer Ha, the writing isn’t going well, right? The weather is good so you should have lunch with me to change your mood. Wear something comfortable.
Tewon said in his usual tender tone of voice.
It was weird that he asked for comfortable clothes, but Jaegun brushed it off and went to the meeting place. And as soon as he got on Tewon’s car, he got dragged to the publisher’s office and ate lunch with fried rice.
“Have a smoke on the roof.”
They were Tewon’s words to Jaegun who finished eating. He wasn’t telling him to go home. He was telling him to smoke and come back.
Feeling weird, Jaegun’s eyes slowly saw the office corner’s scenery.
It was a rectangular shaped room with a thin and long dimension.
In the room was a computer, a table, and a small bed. The walls were half glass so the outside could see the inside.
Called the canned food jail.
It was the moment that he saw the reality.
Jaegun lived there for a week since that day.
The 3 meals of each day was solved by the editors that delivered food. After the employee’s left, he went to the public restroom, locked it, connected a hose, and took a shower there.
When he wasn’t eating or sleeping, he invested everything into writing. Since the only method of escape was through finishing his work, he put all his effort into it.
Then Jaegun realized.
Words could be written if they were squeezed hard enough.
He couldn’t stand the employee’s glances without writing anything. When he couldn’t think of anything, he recited the national anthem from 1st verse to the 4th and stood strong. Therefore, Jaegun could finish it in just a week and went home dejected.
“I have to write something fast right now. There’s no writer who would ask canned food, so this may be weird, but when you’re around, it feels like I can think and write better.”
Jaegun blocked Somii and laid out his words.
The only excuse he could think of was this.
He was sharing her emotions through Rika. If she leaves, then he can’t finish Oh Sumin’s dialogue perfectly.
“Do you understand?”
“Ye-? Yes, writer…. I understand.”
Somii confusedly bit her lips.
Jaegun continued as his heart was burning with urgency.
“I won’t ask you to stay long. Just please stay until your remaining time. I feel like I need a editor next to me so I can write fast.”
“But with your Ranking series, that seems fast enough.”
“That was actually written before.”
Jaegun cut her off.
Somii hesitant looked at her feet. Then she checked her phone and looked up.
“About 2 hours to 3 hours…”
“Really?”
Jaegun opened his wides wide. It was way longer than he expected. Somii nodded her head awkwardly smiling .
“I have time because I finished my work early. I don’t need to return to my office after I finish, so I was thinking to go to a cafe and edit there.”
“Do it here, the wifi is great.”
“Can I do that?”
“Of course, use the desk here, there’s coke, juice and cookies in the refrigerator so take them as you want.
Jaegun quickly set up a workplace for Somii.
Somii modestly sat in front of the desk and opened her bag. She had her laptop everywhere so she could work anytime.
‘A very strange person.’
Somii thought as she took out her notebook.
Asking for canned food to an editor who came to give a present.
It wasn’t long since she started her job as an editor, but a writer like this was a first. And it looked like there wouldn’t be another one.
But strangely a laugh came.
A man like Jaegun who randomly asked for canned food didn’t bother her at all. The room that she had never seen looked like a comfortable space that she had been to many times before.
Tap! Tap! Taptaptap! Tap!
Jaegun was already concentrating and typing.
With the energetic typing, Somii also started her editing work with new found energy.
‘Yeah, this is good, the first conservation is done. Next is at the convenience store date.
Jaegun with Somii’s help wrote Oh Sumin’s dialogue.
He had lost the power to write 10,000 words per hour, but this moment was inspiring. The wrote continuously kept filling the screen.
Beep! Beep!
Jaegun’s phone that was on the bed vibrated.
It was between the bed, and Jaegun was concentrating on his work, thus he didn’t hear it.
“There, Writer.”
It was after 2 hours, Somii said.
“Yes, go ahead.”
“Editor Tewon sent a message. There’s a StarBooks writer meeting next week, Writer Ha has to come this time.”
“Writer metting… sure.”
Jaegun didn’t think long before he accepted. His two eyes were stuck on the screen.
In the past, Tewon asked him to go to writer meetings. But he never answered. Because he was a writer that didn’t sell well. When he thought that he would be between the selling writers, He just started drinking again and again, he didn’t want to attend at all.
“Tell him I’m totally going.”
Jaegun added.
Now the situation was completely different. Now he was a dark horse and a new selling writer, so there was no reason to not attend.
“Wow, I’m hungry, Somii, do you want to eat?”
Jaegun asked as he turned around in his chair. He didn’t eat anything from morning so he was starving.
“Ah, I am a bit hungry. Should I order something from the chinese restaurant?”
“That is convenient, but I never ordered before…”
“I’ll search it up, hm, there’s a lot of them, what’s should I order.”
“I’ll take the black bean noodles, you can order something expensive. I’m buying.”
“OK. I’ll get something very expensive.”
Somii, smiling, called the restaurant. The expensive thing that she ordered was the black bean noodles, same as Jaegun. After she said the address, she cut off.
“It’ll take about 10 minutes.”
“The chinese restaurants are fast.”
Jaegun answered and stood up to pour coffee.
It was about 1 minute since he turned on the coffee pot and boil the water. As he was pouring the boiling water, the doorbell rang.
“This is so fast? Do they make these before?”
Jaegun went to the door and opened the door. But the person who was in front of the door wasn’t the deliveryman with the metal bag.
Chapter 24
“Ah? Suhee.”
Suhee whose back was facing the sun laughed awkwardly. In her hands was a pack of sushi.
“I called but you didn’t answer,”
“Ah, really? I was working so I must have not seen.
“I was going to a place for work so I was passing by, I felt like you didn’t eat yet.
Suhee slurred her words and lifted the bag. Jaegun felt awkward. He could only think of the black bean noodles that Somii and he ordered.
“Ah?”
Suhee glanced downward. Pink sneakers that weren’t there before were laid orderly there. It was a small size so it was obvious that it was a girl’s.
“You have a guest at your house.”
At that moment that she said that.
Somii appeared in the back of Jaegun. The two girls who didn’t know each other couldn’t greet or say anything so they stood there close mouthed.
Jaegun explained to both sides.
“Ah, this is my publisher’s editor Jung Somii, and Somii, this is my college friend Lee Suhee. She’s the team leader at a game company and the game scenario I’m writing is from her as well.”
“Ah, hello, I’m Jung Somii.”
“…Hello.”
Unlike Somii who greeted with a full bow, Suhee just slightly nodded her head.
“Come in.”
“Hm.”
Suhee took off her shoes and went in.
There were two desks and two notebooks. One was Jaegun’s and one was Somii’s. Looking at the feeling of the room, it felt like they were in there for a long time.
‘Strange.’
Suhee didn’t understand.
Jaegun was writing the game scenario that she had given him. It was a work that she had no relationship with Somii so why are they together. Unlike the editor-writer relationship, it felt to her that it was more of a girl-boy relationship.
“Sit here.”
Jaegun took out the legs of a folding table and said.
“Actually we ordered two bowls of black bean noodles.”
“Ah, really? Then I might have bought this for no reason.”
“No, it’s fine. I eat sushi well. Also one bowl is probably not enough. Do you want anything? I can call and add one.”
“No I’m fine. I already ate.”
Suhee lied. The sushi was also for 2 because she was going to eat with Jaegun. Now she didn’t feel like she wanted to eat with a girl that she had never met before.
“How’s work?”
“Ah, It’s going well. Only need about 2 more hours until the Oh Sumin quests are done. Since I have a editor’s eyes, the progress is going great.
Jaegun smiled as he glanced towards Somii. Suhee looked at the awkwardly smiling Somii and continued.
“Are you waiting for Jaegun’s finished work?”
“No, I already got Writer Ha’s works.”
“Then why…?”
Instead of Somii who couldn’t answer very well, Jaegun answered.
“I asked her to give me canned food.”
“Canned food?”
“Yeah. I’m a person that writes better with an editor, so I grabbed Somii who was planning to leave after delivering a gift.
“I see.”
Suhee nodded her head acting unemotional and straightened her legs. The bad feeling didn’t disappear but it was awkward for her to ask further so she switched the topic.
“Next week is Professor Han Hesun’s birthday, you know?”
“Ah, it’s already next week, I know.”
Han Hesun was the professor that taught modern novels in college. Jaegun with many other student admired her. She was a great teacher that gave it all to teach the students.
When students went with their own works outside office hours, she never rejected them. She guided them word by word with passion. So that was why many students even though they graduated still visited her.
“Are you coming? It’s Saturday night.”
“Hm, Saturday?”
“You liked her. Let’s go together. Call Jongjin, too.”
“Ok, I know, let’s go.”
Jaegun answered willingly. Then Somii who was next to him asked in a quiet voice.
“Saturday night?”
“Yes? Why?”
“It’s only… the writer’s meeting is on Saturday night.”
“Ah, really?”
Jaegun was nonplussed. The meeting that he declared that he was definitely going to go was on the same day.
Suhee’s two eyes narrowed and were showing her light. But she came back to her normal calm expression and said smoothly looking at Jaegun.
“The writer’s meeting is from the publisher right? If it’s not a meeting that’s urgent then let’s go together, professor’s birthday is one day a year.
Before Jaegun could answer, Somii answered.
“The writer’s meeting doesn’t happen that often either. And StarBooks really wants Writer Ha Jaegun to attend. He’s writing very good books so the place will shine if Writer Ha goes.”
It was Somii with a careful tone but she said everything that she wanted to say.
Suhee tilted her head to one side.
“There’s not just one or two people from the publisher. Is there a problem that Jaegun can’t attend?”
“That’s not the reason. The other writers would also definitely want to see Writer Ha. As I said, he is writing great books right now.”
“But Jaegun should choose right? I asked first too.”
“Oh, you didn’t know. He already agreed to go to the writer’s meeting before you came.”
The two girls were having a conversation smiling at each other. But with their glances and their eyes, Jaegun could feel the heat from their conversation.
‘What is this? Did Somii also get a bit angry?’
Somii’s emotions coming from Rika became rougher.
The bright spring blurred and it was turning to a gloomy place about to storm thunder.
Ring!
The delivery man’s ringing looked to Jaegun as a savior’s ringing. He bounced up, took his wallet, and went to the front door.
“It’s two black bean noodles right?”
“Yes, here.”
Jaegun handed over the money and brought the noodles to the table. In the mood between Suhee and Somii, who were both looking at each other, felt very cold.
“Somii, eat. Suhee, won’t you eat a bit?”
“I’m really full. Don’t mind me and eat.”
Until the meal was over, no one spoke, Suhee was looking outside the window sipping coffee.
‘Ah, I feel like I’m gonna have a bad stomachache.’
He stood up after he ate the sushi and the noodles. It didn’t feel like eating too much was the only reason for a stomachache.
“Thanks for the food. Now I’ll be going.”
Somii was getting up as she finished eating.
Jaegun couldn’t hold her any longer. To put the bowls outside as well, he brought her to the front door.
“Thanks for today.”
“I just did my job today next to you. Thanks for the meal. I’ll see you again, sir.”
“Bye.”
Jaegun left Somii and went back to his room. Suhee was still looking out the window touching her coffee cup.
‘I can’t connect with Suhee.’
For some reason, no emotion could be felt from Suhee. The thought came that maybe it was because Rika was rejecting her.
‘There’s no other way. I don’t have much time so I’ll have to write like I was writing before.’
Jaegun sat back down and put his two hands on the notebook.
He was about to start, when he was curious about Suhee and turned around and asked.
“Are you ok? No need to go to the company?”
“I’m the team leader. There’s no need to be in the company forever. I have no meetings as well.”
Suhee with a slight smile continued.
“I’ll help you do canned food as well.”
“What?”
“I’ll be with you until you finish the game scenario. You said that was personality type? I’ll say again, I am in a hurry.”
“Ah, Hm… ok.”
“You don’t like it?”
“No, no, that’s not it”
“How long will it take?”
“Hm, about 3 more hours.”
Rika went up to Jaegun’s knees and crouched.
Jaegun caressed Rika’s neck. His glance that he just randomly threw around was being stuck on Se Gunwoo’s old laptop.
‘…Maybe?!’
A thought passed through Jaegun’s brain like lightning.
It was the urgency to finish this scenario by today that made him not think about that.
He had thought that Se Gunwoo’s powers had just went through him with his body. But now, he had felt something new with Rika: the power to share emotions.
Therefore, he hadn’t thought of that. Maybe the power to write 10,000 words was stuck in that laptop of his?
‘Maybe the machine has that power? It’s possible. The things that happened to me all made no sense.’
Jaegun pushed his new laptop away and turned on Se Gunwoo’s laptop. Suhee asked puzzled.
“Why change? It looks very old.”
“It thought that maybe a laptop that feels right to the hands might be better.’
Jaegun said and moved the file to Se Gunwoo’s laptop and opened it. And he started with Suhee watching him.
Tapapapap! Tap Taptaptap! Tapapapapapapapap!
‘This is it!’
The finger couldn’t even be seen moving across the keyboard.
He could tell by typing. It was because of the computer that he was able to type so fast. It was different from the power that came through his head.
“Incredible…! Jaegun, were you always this fast?!”
Suhee was completely baffled with her mouth opened.
It was creating something from his head not something that was already written. But it was this fast.
“Just wait a second. I might be able to finish in about an hour.”
“O, ok.”
Jaegun did what he said. It was about 1 hour when he finished. He stood up and said to Suhee.
“Look it over and tell me.”
Suhee with a doubt sat in Jaegun’s chair and started reading. As she got into the book, she started to smile. With a clear meaning plus humor, everything was there.
“It’s funny.”
Suhee said with her eyes on the screen.
“This is great. You’re great. It’s been awhile since I’ve worked beside you. How could you do something this good… I saw you differently today, Jaegun.”
“Don’t lift me up too much.”
“I’m not. This is good. Therefore, the urgency has been cleared. Let me send this to my email.
She got up after she sent the file to her email. Jaegun finished his work so now she had work to do.
Putting on her shoes, Suhee joked.
“You really didn’t want to be with me, right? You finished this so fast.”
“What are you talking about. It was because you looked over me that I was able to concentrate so well. You used to look over me in college as well.”
“You speak well as always. And thanks. Ah.”
Suhee turned around as she was about to leave.
“You’re coming? Professor’s birthday.
“Ah, Hm.”
“Call me, ok?”
Suhee didn’t wait for him to confirm and just ended it there. Jaegun nodded. Suhee laughed for the last time and disappeared through the hallway.
“Haa.”
Jaegun stretched, being in the room with only Rika around. Maybe it was because of the stress, but he was completely exhausted.
‘But I can’t rest here.’
Jaegun walked with light in his eyes . He need to check something quickly. The mug cup, the glasses and the pen all went into his hand. They were all things that were with Se Gunwoo’s laptop.
Chapter 25
“Let’s take a look at each one.’
Since he found out the powers that Rika and the laptop had, he had the thought to find out the powers of the others. It could be possible that every one of Se Gunwoo’s things had a special power or gift in them.
‘First the fountain pen.’
Jaegun took the pen and opened the notepad. He hesitated and thought about what he was going to write. He finally wrote his name.
‘What is it.’
Nothing happened.
He thought he had to write a sentence so he wrote the korean national anthem 1st verse. But he finished with the period and nothing happened.
‘No idea. Let’s find out later.’
He pushed away the pen and lifted up the horned glasses. It felt awkward to Jaegun who had good eyesight and didn’t need any glasses in his life before.
‘This one looks like nothing too.’
Jaegun went to the window and looked outside.
It was the same looking through the glasses. There was nothing that appeared or changed in appearance.
‘Let me read something.’
Mad with reading books, Jaegun opened the Modern Rankings file on the laptop . and he started scrolling to read the words that he wrote.
“Ah? What is this?”
Jaegun’s two eyes from the glasses twitched.
It’s only been 1 minute since he started reading, but already 1 third of a book’s entire document was moving.
“Am I reading this fast because I wrote it?”
Jaegun went to the desk and picked a book.
It was a book he used in college, the Korea Literature Lecture.
The book had a lot of pages which had small words so it took a long time and effort to study the book.
Jaegun opened the first page standing up.
After the header came the 1st page. Hard words and sentences came up into his eyes, and his fingers quickly started flipping through the pages.
“What is this!”
Jaegun muttered, looking blue, looking at the last page of the book.
By the time, it was barely 5 minutes, he had finished reading this thick book in a short timespan.
Jaegun pulled out another book and read it as another experiment. It was the same result. Only it was even faster this time, it took about 3 minutes to finish the entire book.
And there was another fascinating event occurring.
There were words that looked bolded to him as he was reading. When he looked closer, they were typos and false epitaphs.
‘I can see epitaphs? With just these glasses?’
Jaegun’s heart rushed.
These glasses were just an editor’s eyes. There was the power to see typos and errors in such a fast speed. When he would be revising, this would increase his efficiency by tens to hundreds.
‘The thing that’s left is… the mug?’
As he went to the sink and lifted the gray mug, he had a memory.
It was a memory that his body not his mind felt. Jaegun felt like he knew the answer as he poured a instant coffee into the cup.
Jaegun brewed cold coffee. And as a test, he drank the entire cup in a flash.
‘The tiredness disappeared.’
Energy was flowing through his body that was just stressed moments ago.
He felt rested like he slept over 10 hours.
Jaegun then could finally confirm his suspicions. With this mug, he could drink anything and instantly recover his energy.
‘The floor of the mug turned white? Wasn’t it originally gray?’
He didn’t notice it before because of his lack of attention. The gray floor turned white. It was obviously gray before he poured the coffee.
Jaegun put down the cup and looked down at the floor.
Then, from the floor, a gray dot slowly appeared. With patience he looked, and he discovered that the dots were getting bigger at a slow speed. It was going to take a lot of time for the floor of the mug to turn gray.
‘Is it that I need to wait until the gray floor appears so I can use it again.’
There was no way to check now. He was going to check when Jongjin or Suhee or Somii or someone came over.
Jaegun put down the mug on the sink and returned to his desk. The two hands on the keyboard were recording Se Gunwoo’s items.
Laptop – Has the power to write over 10,000 words per hour.
Fountain pen – Still checking.
Horned glasses – Takes 3-5 minutes to read a book. Power to check errors and typos.
Mug – The stress disappears and energy appears when something is drunk from this mug.
Rika – Rika can give other’s emotions as a carrier to me. There must be a condition as it worked for Somii but not Suhee. Not sure yet.
Jaegun’s fingers stopped as he finished the Rika category. Then he thought of one more thing and added another line of sentence.
Ha Jaegun – Inherited the great writer’s powers.
Jaegun laughed as he read his document.
From the outside of the window, the mountain with Se Gunwoo’s resting place was showing. Jaegun thought of something to do, stood up, and said to Rika.
“I’m going to clean the writer’s house. You want to come?”
“Meow”
Rika rolled her tail and came closer as if she understood. Jaegun lifted her and went to the door to put on his shoes.
“Let’s go to the market first. I need to buy a scissor to cut the weeds. And since I’m cleaning I should go pour him a drink as well. I’m sure he would like it if I made his a 오십세주?”
Jaegun said to Rika and walked out confidently.
There was nothing to be afraid of. He had the confidence to take anything or any issue that came to him.
“Hey, you idiot! Can’t you drive!”
The driver’s words couldn’t get into Myunghoon’s ears.
Myunghoon was driving his sport car in the road.
As he started from his house, the average speed was over 100km, the destination was Suhee’s workplace Nexon.
“The writer’s name is Ha Jaegun. He must be a writer who released some martial arts and fantasy novels, and he’s apparently an alumnus of Team Leader Lee Suhee, then isn’t he an alumni of yours as well?
It was his high school friend and the Nexon’s marketing team employee Manager Lee.
He got so angry as he heard this that he lost his mind. So he was driving to see Suhee.
‘How could this …! How dare you push this Oh Myunghoon and hire a person who has no award experience to write a scenario?! Are these words or dog barkings!”
He felt like his head was turning when he heard that he was getting replaced. But now that he knew it was Ha Jaegun, Myunghoon felt so angry that his teeth were about to break as he was grinding them so hard. He wanted to destroy everything that he saw.
CERERRKK!
As he parked his car on the parking lot, he went straight for the elevator.
His rough breathing went up to his neck. His shoulders were shaking as he pressed the elevator button.
“What reason did you come for, sir?”
The woman at the information desk said to Myunghoon.
Myunghoon didn’t even think about fixing his necktie on his back and went up to her and talked.
“Bring Lee Suhee.”
“Yes?”
“Lee Suhee! Bring the team leader Lee Suhee!”
Myunghoon crashed his fist down on the table.
The woman became pale with fear and was walking back.
At that time.
“What is this?”
Myunghoon’s two eyes widened angrily; He turned to the place where the voice came. His face was hardened and shaking. He could see Suhee who was holding a suitcase across her chest.
Chapter 26
“This isn’t your house. This is work. What are you doing just coming here? And a person with no business here as well.”
“Then why do you not respond to your calls and make someone come here!”
Myunghoon shouted with his two eyes wide.
In the shadow, Suhee’s facial expression became a level colder.
“I don’t want to call the police so lower your voice.”
“What? Police?”
“Talk outside.”
Suhee went outside first, pressing the door button.
Myunghoon looked at her with burning eyes and strided towards her.
Without stopping, the place they reached was the resting place in the corner of the building. Suhee with her back to the window crossed her arms.
“Say it. What do you want to say?”
“What is your reason for hiring Ha Jaegun?”
Myunghoon roared as if he was waiting. Suhee didn’t avoid his eyes and answered straightly.
“Because he writes well.”
“… What?”
“You were right. It’s hard to find a writer and hire one in such a short time. But good thing I had connections. An alumnus called Ha Jaegun who writes well.”
“Ha Jaegun writes well? To the point of pushing me out?”
“Speak straight. The person who said that the draft was bad and refused was you first. And Jaegun is good enough to write a game scenario like you. Even could be better.”
Myunghoon bit his teeth. His short beard that he forgot to shave was shaking.
“That fool… writes as good as me? Even better?”
“He was originally good at writing. He knows to listen to others, he knows to observe, he tries to feel one more thing that could help hims write. He’s a writer with good tendencies. Those show up in his writing.”
“Nonsense.”
“He was top in our class and even the two classes above. That’s what Han Hyesun professor said. You went there too, hm?”
Myung Hoon filled with rage had a fierce carving on his face.
“Yeah? Then why his a person like that not getting the spotlight? He writes martial arts or fantasy and even those don’t even sell well, right? It was pitiful seeing his facial expression and clothes that was so dirty at the alumni meeting.
Suhee didn’t back up. She, like him, had a sculpture face, tilted her head, and countered.
“Ah, did you not know? Jaegun is really good now. His recent three works fantasy and martials arts all printed more copies.”
“Three works… all printing more copies?”
Myung Hoon’s face had the blood sucked out of him.
Myunghoon knew the market right now of the books. His dad was a representative of a huge publisher and he was also a writer of a romance novel so he knew even though he didn’t want to know.
In this hard market, he printed more copies of 3 works.
Myung Hoon’s face was filled with distrust. It was probably a false statement to get him angry.
“I think this conversation is almost done so I’ll leave. If you don’t believe me, check on your phone. You know Jaegun’s pen name, right?”
Suhee walked one step. As she passed Myunghoon, who was flabbergasted and was grinding his teeth, she continued.
“Jaegun now found out. How to consider for the readers in his own way. Now there’s huge expectation to see how far he could go.”
Suhee got farther clicking her boots Taptaptap. Myunghoon didn’t move until the sound couldn’t be heard. He was frozen like a statue.
‘No way…! In that short span, he wrote 3 series… and even printed more copies?!’
Myunghoon with shaking hands pulled out his phone and went to the internet.
He printed the name ‘Pyung Cheonyu’ and searched. Down came the comments from the readers.
-Ramada : Read funny;;;; I went to high school and this is work that made me find fantasy again.
-Yunlong : Please make the next book of the Modern Rankings fast. It might be hard to write 2 books per one month, but couldn’t you write 3 books in 2 months.
-Chun Dukyoung : Value is over 500% This is a work to be bought, not borrowed.
-MokMa : Buy 2 books, buy 3 books, buy 4 books, hhhhhhhhhhhhhhh~~
Average score was over 8 points.
With the ranking series and the new Pegelon’s Magician book, all of them were having good reviews. It wasn’t a false statement that Suhee made. In that span, Jaegun was turning into a successful writer.
“Dang it!”
BEAWEP!
Myunghoon threw his phone on the ground. And like a crazy person, he crushed it with his foot many times. He didn’t want to use a phone that searched the person he hated the most ever again.
“Ha! Ha! Ha!”
With his rough breathing, he came back to the car. He pressed the accel.
He had to meet his dad by schedule, but he was heading to his favorite bar. He was going to go crazy if he didn’t drink and hug any girl.
Tap! Tap! Tapapapap! Tap!
At that time when Myunghoon was busy struggling.
Jaegun was diligently typing in his one room without knowing the time going by.
‘Got it, as a twist, hit the head her… but even this hit was in the plan of the main. Haha, this is funny even if I see it.’
Jaegun already finished the Modern Rankings 10 books and handed it in. He finished the Modern Rankings like the Marital Ranking in 10 books cleanly.
The thing that he was writing was the 8th book of Pegelon’s Magician that was contracted with Hetae Media. With this flow, it looked like he was going to go to about 12 – 14 books.
‘Let’s finish it and go comfortably.’
Jaegun was planning to write as much as he can before the plans this Saturday. Because there was things that he needed to write next month.
With the money that came in from these books, he had enough money to live. He could have fun every day and have some left.
Now that he had some lenience he wanted to write the things that he wanted to write. Even as to get recognition from his father who didn’t like his writer son.
Jaegun didn’t rest a day.
When he work up, he wrote 14 hours a day in Se Gunwoo’s laptop. Each day, there was always a book’s worth of words filling up in his folder.
When he couldn’t stand it anymore, he could a drink from the mug and restored his energy. As he found out, the mug needed about a day to restore the power when he used it.
“Ha, Finished!”
Jaegun shouted as he finished revising with Se Gunwoo’s glasses. Rika who was playing on her own went up to his knees and scratched his chest congratulating him.
“Pegelon’s Magician is already 8 books. Because there’s a lot of events, I might be able to write over 10 books. That general manager Ma would be really glad, Hm?”
As he thought about Hetae Media’s Ma Jonggu who was going to be shaking with happiness and flattering him, a fake laugh came out of him. With the word that he was going to write over 10 books, he sent a email with the file attached. Jaegun then hugged Rika and went to the bed.
Jaegun’s expectations were right. As Hetae Media’s Ma Jongju went to work and checked his email, his body shook with happiness. He even twirled his fist up in the air.
“Nice!”
With another extrac copies added, it was 6000 copies for Pegelon’s Magician. The fact that he was going to write over 10 books were like a rain in a drought.
Jongju immediately went to Park Gyungsu and said to him.
“Assistant Manager Park, Writer Ha is going to write more than 10 books and not finish at 10.”
“Really? Wow, that’s amazing?”
Gyungsu looked up from his monitor and answered.
As the contract with Jaegun succeeded, the environment became a lot friendlier. Therefore, the times that Jonggu, who got mad easily, got mad decreased a lot.
“I should send him a present.”
“What should we send? Should I look for a food or a energy restorer?”
“No, not something so common. We sent expensive meat and ginseng last time. Now we can live about 2 months without getting told by the representative, so anything better
As he was thinking, Gyungsu’s eyes focused on a laptop. As it was a thing that had a close relationship with the writer’s finger, a thought came to him quickly.
“Sir, what about a keyboard?”
“Keyboard?”
“A machine keyboard. As the keys are different by key, the stress is less, and the feeling is good too. Writer Ha should be happy if we send one.”
Jonggu snapped his fingers and stood up.
“Ha, that’s a good suggestion. Park, search it up. Buy a good one not any cheap one. It doesn’t matter if it takes over 3-400 dollars.”
“Yes, sir.”
Jonggu went to the representative room to report happily. Gyungsu also with a smile looked up a keyboard online.
At that same time,
Unlike Hetae Media, StarBucks office had a cold environment around it.
BAM!
“What are you doing!”
Representative Park Jeguk slammed his fist on the desk and shouted.
“You must have angered him somehow so he went somewhere else! It went up to 6000 copies! I told you to hold him hard, but you let him make a book somewhere else?!”
The reason that Jeguk was mad was because of the Pegelon’s Magician that was released in Heate Media. As he heard that it got more copies twice, he was filled with anger and he brought Tewon to scream at.
“AH? And you’re a editor? The company’s profits are decreasing every month and how can I do anything believing in you! Now you worked 10 years so you filled with it? Why are you doing your work so lazily!”
Tewon instead of answering swallowed.
In his 9 years of StarBooks, he had never done any work lazily. He tried hard for the company’s profits. It was the days that he spent day, night and weekends for work.
There was a lot of profit because of the Marital Rankings and the Modern Ranking. It was obviously more than Hate’s Pegelon’s Magician.
But the representative wasn’t satisfied with that. He felt displeased and dissatisfied that he missed on Pegelon’s Magician.
“Anyway do well this Saturday! Make Ha Jaegun come to the writer’s meeting. And make him sign the sequel contract!”
“Why do you have no words? Understand?!”
“Yes sir.
“Leave!”
Tewon with his shoulder depressed left.
He stood there standing in the long hallway. It was a hallway that he went by a lot in his 9 years. Buy now, he couldn’t remember the way to the office.
‘It’s hard.’
He was now 44.
It’s not old but it’s not young.
He got the title of editor by coming from the floor.
Now as a worker, there was no other place to go up to.
How long can I hold this place. He felt scared thinking about the future. The representative family and friends were getting the company one by one so the worries were increasing.
“Ah, Editor.”
Somii met at the office entrance.
Somii had many hamburgers in a bag. Tewon asked with sigh, knowing what it was.
“Did assistant manager Go tell you?”
“Ah… I needed to go to get some money out anyway.”
Somii hesitated and answered hesitantly.
Of course Tewon didn’t believe her. The fast food restaurant was on the first floor of the next building. The ATm was on the same building same floor.
“Go and do your work.”
Tewon didn’t speak any more and sent Somii. He was planning to bring Go and tell him so he could understand. He had already gave him warnings. The habit of making new girl employee’s do small tasks didn’t seem to get fixed.
Tewon leaving the office went to the convenience store to get cigarettes. As he opened the bag of cigarettes that he quit over a year ago, he called Jaegun.
“Yes, Editor.”
Chapter 27
“Hello, Writer Ha, Are you busy?”
“No. I sent in all the Modern Ranking Series and I’m pretty free. Tell me.”
Jaegun’s voice was brighter than anytime before.
Tewon, with his tongue, wetted his dry lips. Feeling a unknowing anxiety, he carefully opened his mouth.
“I wanted to talk about the sequel.”
“Ah, the sequel.”
“I know it might be hard, but following this momentum, it might be good if we release another project. What do you think?”
“Hm, that…”
Jaegun’s voice lost a lot of strength on the other side of the phone.
Tewon also lost some energy. Jaegun answered back to Tewon who was sitting down in front of the convenience store.
I haven’t thought about the sequel yet. And recently I have been writing a lot of projects consecutively.”
“It could be, there could be health issues.”
“I’m telling you because you’re the editor, but I’m writing a different work that I’m planning to release it to an exhibition contest.”
“Exhibition contest?”
“Yes, it’s called the Digital Literary Award that the Minister of Culture and Tourism is hosting. There was a novel that I was working on from my college days so I wanted to work on that and release it.”
Tewon had a bitter smile on his lips.
“Ah, yes, OK. You write great so there will be a great result.”
Tewon pressed his regret down and answered with encouragement. He knew that Jaegun was a person that had unlimited energy when writing. Therefore, even though his book didn’t sell well in the past, he opened his heart to him more than he did with the other writers.
“You’re coming to the Writer’s meeting on Saturday, right?”
“Yes. I should come. I promised Somii so I’ll be there.”
“OK, Writer. Then keep working and I’ll see you in the weekend.”
“Yes. You too, I’ll see you later.”
Cutting the call, Tewon took out a cigarette and bit on it. And he realized he didn’t have a lighter.
‘Should I smoke later.’
Tewon put away the cigarette back away and stood up. He was going to put away buying a lighter for later. In the cloudy summer sky, it was about to pour rain.
Vroom!
“Acck, Hey! Rika! You crazy?!”
Jaegun was startled when he came out of the shower.
Rika was scratching the T-shirts that Jaegun was going to wear when he was going out. There was already at least 3 holes.
“What are you doing? Are you telling me to not leave? Huh?”
Jaegun lifted Rika who made the T-shirt into a rag and asked. Rika only turned her head as if saying what did I do wrong.
“Ah, this is bad. This was the best that I could have worn.”
He hadn’t bought any good clothes in the past years. Since his job of writing wasn’t turning out very well, he didn’t have time to care about clothes.
It was also because he was poor.
He had some times when he wanted to show off, but it was the days that he didn’t feel right even buying a shirt from a cheap mall.
“Rika, Let’s get your nails cut. I’ll learn once, and next time I’ll do it for you.”
“Meow.”
Jaegun shuffled through the smelly drawer and found a navy shirt.
It was old so the color on both shoulders and the back section was changed. It was better than the others, so he put the shirt on.
“Thanks Rika for making me spend money. I’ll come back as soon as I can so have fun.”
“Meow, Meow,”
Jaegun left home and hurried.
It was Seoul, but it was a remote place so he had to walk a distance to get to the intersection with the subway. The sun was hot so soon, his back was sweating.
Jaegun arrived at the subway. He went into a building connected to the department store. The air conditioner air came and cooled down his heated body.
‘I should totally change my mold.’
Jaegun thought as he looked at his clothes.
He was only going to buy the top. But now, everything from his jeans to the shoes were worn out. They were really old clothes that he had worn for a long time. It wasn’t a short time that he was a one-suit man.
Jaegun went around and moved to the store that fit his preferences. It was the brand that he didn’t even dare to look around in.
A girl employee smiling met him.
“Come in. Do you have anything you’re looking for?”
“I’ll search myself.”
Jaegun picked a navy PK shirt and a baize slacks and put in on the counter.
As the barcode was scanned, the price on the monitor of the two clothes went over 400 dollars.
“Good work.”
“Yes, Thank you. Come again.”
Jaegun went to the shoe store and bought a summer ropper and went to the bathroom. Then on the closest stall, he changed clothes and came out.
‘I should get a haircut, too.’
Since he changed into the new clothes, now the dirt hair came into view. Since he didn’t have much time left, he pushed going to the barber to tomorrow.
Jaegun only put the jeans in his bag and threw away the shirt and shoes in the trash can and left.
When he looked at the clock, there was only 30 minutes until the meeting time of 4.
It was going to be late if he rode the subway so he took the cab, which was almost unplanned for.
“Come in.”
“Thank you. Myung Kyung college Nadon please.”
Sitting on the back of the starting cab, Jaegun took out the novel script.
It was over 80 pages printed.
The title was ‘Child of the 90s’. The entire work was 12,000 so it was perfect for a short novel.
‘Would the professor like this?’
It was a story that he started writing from college.
After the 30s, it was a growing up drama that changed from past and present and showed friends’ friendship and betrayal, and the cold but hopeful reality
Jaegun once showed this to Professor Han Hesun and got terrible reviews. The professor’s words was that the story had no center and there was no difference between if it was a story or a essay.
“Jaegun, maybe you should think about what standard you want to put on your writing? This feels like a diary that only puts in more time than other people. It can’t be a story. It’s only a personal story of your self-pitying. Who would buy this writing that doesn’t even cost its price? You can bring any practice writing anytime, but please don’t give me a pathetic writing like this and waste my time with it. I hope you’ll have that much in you.”
Jaegun didn’t show it, but he felt a huge shock.
It was a work that he put effort in to.
But the professor only kept the cold attitude and didn’t give one word of encouragement.
Jaegun poured himself drinks after drinks and shoved the draft deep into his drawer.
Jaegun forgot all about, until he got Se Gunwoo’s powers. He took it out and revised the entire story.
‘It might be only me that’s feeling good. Fantasy and regular novels are different. If she says anything, there’s nothing to do but to revise it again.
Jaegun understood the professor’s skill deep inside him. With her review, 70% was accepting of it.
With the time of showing the draft coming closer, Jaegun soothe his nervous mind
‘I want to win…!’
A winning book that is released has the ‘Literature Award winning book’ in ribbons around it in the book stores.
This was Jaegun’s hope. He thought this was the only way to get recognition from his father.
He couldn’t get recognition from his father with just money
He need to get awards and get the honor that comes from this.
His dad, who was an ‘old person’, only thought books were paper books that he could buy from book stores. He didn’t think fantasy or martial arts and other genres were books at all. He didn’t say anything, but as his son, Jaegun thought so.
“Can I put you down here?”
Jaegun’s taxi arrived at its destination.
Jaegun, out of his thoughts, pulled out his wallet.
“Yes, thank you. Here.”
Jaegun knocked on the door of the professor’s personal lab. Door 403.
‘Come in’ was said by a girl’s voice, and Jaegun opened the door.
“Hello professor,”
“Jaegun, come in.”
Professor Hesun, in her late 50s, widely smiled and stood up.
Above the desk, a huge pile of documents was stacked like a mountain.
“You must have been screening a contest right now.”
“Yeah, there has been a lot of contestants so it’s been a toil. I’ve looked through about 30 or so but I haven’t found anything good. Coffee?”
“I’ll pour it.
Jaegun didn’t even ask and poured two cups of coffee. He knew He Sun’s coffee preferences. After he poured his coffee with one spoon of sugar, he gave the pale black coffee to her.
“Thank you. You’re coffee is the best.”
“It’s only coffee. Happy Birthday.”
“It’s fine, what’s so good about getting another year. But before that, did you bring the book?”
Hesun, who didn’t like greetings, went straight to the point.
Jaegun nodded his head and pulled out the book from his bag. Then he politely gave it to her to two hands.
“Is this a book that is good enough so it won’t waste my precious time?”
Jaegun couldn’t answer straight away. After thinking of the nights that he spend with his eyes burning red, he answered with prudence.
“Yes. Im confident.”
Hesun’s lip had a smile.
Hesun’s two eyes was looking into Jaegun’s mind.
Jaegun didn’t lose his firm posture and looked straight into her gaze.
“OK, I get it.”
Hesun sipped a bit of coffee and put it on the table.
“You have work so you can’t eat dinner together?”
“I’m sorry, I’ll come by alone next time.”
“Go ahead. I’ll read the draft quickly and contact you.”
“I’ll leave after I drink this coffee.”
Jaegun left the lab after finishing.
Hesun pushed away the other works and started reading Jaegun’s draft. As she turned page by page, a smile was slowly turning up on her face.
In about 2 hours, she finished reading.
Hesun smiled as he saw the one sentence at the end.
-I’m planning to enter the Digital Literary Contest. If I win the prize and get the money, then I’ll give you a birthday present and come back.
“Of course, he’s strange.”
A knocking sound came from the door.
After Hesun’s words of come in, about 7-8 male and female came in a line.
All of them were Hesun’s students and Jaegun’s alumni. Suhee was also in between them.
“Hello, professor, you seem younger than last year.”
“I’ve read the review on the scholarly world monthly about the plagiarism issue. I thought, of course it’s by the professor. Very witty and piercing without any hesitation.”
The students all fought to give compliments to Hesun. It was like a madhouse.
There was even a student that even acted like he was dying.
Only Suhee pushed away from the crowd and was bitterly laughing.
“Professor, I wanted to bring Jaegun, but he said he had an appointment today.”
Suhee said after the greetings. Hesun with a smiling face nodded.
“I know, he gave me a call and came here already.”
“He came … here?” Why?”
“He wanted me to see his novel.”
She lifted the novel bunch in her hand.
‘A child of the 90s’ on the title with ‘Ha Jaegun’ as the name, Suhee widened her eyes when she saw that.
“What, Ha Jaegun has no manners at all.”
Another student behind her sneered and joined in.
The students as if they were waiting all answered.
“Yeah, he can’t even come to the professor’s dinner but he came to show his work, is that guy crazy or what?”
“That guy is funny, professor, you don’t even have to read a work made by a guy like that.”
The student who spoke last couldn’t possibly say ‘Read my work instead of Jaegun’s.’ and saved his words.
All of these students except for Suhee was all writing.
They were people who were busy with their work but didn’t lose their dreams of a writer.
Congratulating the professor’s birthday.wasn’t the only reason that they came here.
“Did you read it?”
Suhee asked.
Hesun, instead of an answer, showed the last sentence that Jaegun wrote. Suhee when she saw that, let a laugh.
“How was it? Do you think he could win the Digital Literary Award?”
At the mention of Digital Literary Award, a few students had a surprised look on their face.
They all brought drafts that they were going to enter to the Digital Literary Contest. As The Sun was one of the checkers, this was one of the main reasons that they came here.
“Hm, probably?”
Hesun said that and put Jaegun’s draft in the bag.
A girl student who was planning to enter anxiety gazing asked.
“Is, is his work that good? What is it about? Is the sentences and the descriptions good?”
“No comment, the result must be said. Why are you so curious? Aha, you guys are planning to enter the Digital Literary Contest, right?”
The girl student pushed her gaze down.
Hesun stood up and continued.
“Since I became a judge, don’t have any personal expectation. You know me? Myunghoon came here days ago with his draft. I scolded him because he said to be lenient on him because you’re a judge.”
“Myunghoon… is also entering?”
The students’ faces darkened.
Jaegun and Myunghoon are both entering.
These two were the best writers between their same college.
“Oh wait, look at myself, you have reserved a dinner? Let’s go before we’re late. I’m hungry.”
“Yes, professor, Let’s go.”
Suhee with Hesun went out first.
Behind them, the students were all walking limply, their confidence dropped.
“That writer is Oh Myunghoon.”
“Ah, the writer who work the Sweet Girl’s room?”
“Yes, the project that being worked into a drama right now.”
Across the table, there were writers whispering. They were looking at Myunghoon
Myunghoon who was dressed in expensive brands was talking together in between many writers. The writers around him were mostly girls who write romance.
“Maybe if I write romance, I could get the attention of the girls.”
“Hahaha, don’t say that. You’re making me gloomy too.”
This was a expensive restaurant called Yaettodamgeol.
StarBooks have borrowed this place for today. There was no other customers except for the 50plus StarBooks writers in the restaurant.
“When I see, it seems like his house also has a lot of money.”
“Yeah. I feel a bit sick just looking at him.”
Just then.
The door entered and a person entered the restaurant.
The writer’s glances all came to him. It was a face that they hadn’t seen before.
“Who is that? A writer?”
“Isn’t he a new StarBooks employee?”
Somii, who was cleaning up the table, stood up and turned around. As she looked at the person, a smile appeared on her face.
Chapter 28
“Welcome, Writer Ha Jaegun.”
Somii handed her greetings happily.
Many writers, at the mention of the name Ha Jaegun, shook their heads They had also been in this floor for a long time writing. However, it was a name that they had never heard of before.
“Ha Jaegun? Do you know him?”
‘No, I don’t. Does he have a pen name?”
Myunghoon, who was sitting on the long table on the center and chatting, slitted his eyes.
A faint smirk appeared in his mouth, which disappeared as soon as it came.
‘He came.’
Myunghoon guessed that Jaegun would be here. He had no plans of attending, but purposely changed his mind to join.
He had enough reason to be here. One of Myunghoon’s work was published through StarBooks Romance label.
“You’re hungry, right? Since you came a bit late, the only empty spot is that corner over there.”
Somii said nonplussed and looked around the place that she pointed to.
Jaegun’s eyes were not on the seat but on the food that was on Somii’s plate. This was a restaurant with employees, but it was a wonder why an editor would be doing something like this.
“Go inside after you take off your shoes.”
“Yes. Thank you.”
Jaegun didn’t say anything more for now and took off his shoes like he was asked to.
He looked around but he couldn’t see Tewon anywhere
‘He is the chief editor so he’s probably busy on a day like this.’
Jaegun decided to not look anymore and went to the corner. There weren’t any writers that paid a lot of attention to the late Jaegun. All of them were busy talking to the writers around them.
Except one person.
Myunghoon was observing Jaegun while he was talking.
It felt like Jaegun didn’t see his presence. His pride didn’t allow him to go first and greet him so Myunghoon stayed put.
“Excuse me.”
Jaegun, with a seat in front of him, asked carefully to the writer around.
His age was about early 30s, with a small stature and a dark complexion, the man seemed to give off a gloomy feeling.
“Can I seat here?”
“Ah, yes yes, sit, sit.”
The man pushed himself more to the corner to make space. Jageun politely nodded to him and sat down.
“You’re a … writer, right?”
The man asked as if he was feeling him out.
Jaegun looked towards him and nodded his head.
“Yes, you’re a writer, too?”
“Haha, yes, I am right. To be called a writer is…”
Jaegun with a calm smile picked up a piece of a fried food. He wasn’t the type to press for an answer.
It was better to wait for the other person to say a word. But he tried to soothe the other person so he/she could easily say things.
‘Don’t know what writer or what project he’s written.’
Jaegun thought about his past self.
If he was a writer that didn’t sell well enough to struggle in live, he would have been tired if he’d gotten a question about what project did he write.
“Wow, this is great.”
Jaegun chewed on the fried food and said with a bit of overdramatics. Then the man on the side also laughed and pulled food that Jaegun couldn’t reach toward Jaegun.
“Have a taste of this. I don’t know what herbs are these, but it’s good.”
“Thank you for helping me. I’ll eat well.”
“Do you drink?”
“Ahah, yes, give it to me. I’m sorry. I should have poured you a drink first. Give me the bottle.”
“No it’s fine. I’ll give it first.”
The man and Jaegun both got a drink.
The soft and cold soju went down the throat and into the body.
Jaegun breathed deeply after the refreshing drink. Maybe it was because of the success he’s been having, but it has been a long time since soju tasted this good.
“Is it the first time in these writer meetings?”
The man picked up the bottle and asked.
Jaegun politely took the drink with two hands and answered.
“I came here a long time ago once.”
“I see. This is my first. But, if it’s a long time ago, then it’s been awhile since your debut?”
“Hm, yes, that’s right.”
Jaegun and the man both a drink for the second time. Jaegun could feel his body heating up because of drinking 2 cups on an empty stomach.
The conversation dried up for a second.
Since the bottle was passed around for a few drinks, the environment and the mood became louder and more elated.
“Ah sorry, the introductions were late, but I’m called Kang Minho.”
In the loudness, the man said his name with a determined face.
Then finally Jaegun also straightened up and answered.
“I’m sorry too. I’m called Ha Jaegun?”
“Hm, yes. Do you use a pen name.”
Minho asked as they were shaking hands.
Jaegun smiled embarrassedly and nodded his head. Then Minho said
“Ah I see. I use my own name.”
“Ahah, …yes.”
On Jaegun’s face, a string of troubleness passed by
He had no memory of a name called Kang Minho.
Minho as if understanding Jaegun waved as if it was ok.
“It’s fine. There’s not many people who know because it was discontinued early with 6 books. And that’s the only project.”
“Excuse me but the project name was?”
“I wrote a fantasy. It’s called the King of the Devil of a barbaric land…”
Minho said unconfidently. He thought obviously Jaegun wouldn’t know it so he was deeply embarrassed.
But Jaegun was already widening his eyes and asking back.
“The king of the Devil of a barbaric land? That book with the devil from a fantasy land that comes to the present and works at a convenience store and then earns money and makes a building company?”
“You, you’ve read it?”
“Of course, I’ve read it. Since the devil who ruled the fantasy land can’t speak any Korean, the scene where the he had to beg to barely survive was so funny.”
Jaegun had read most of any genre book published in StarBooks.
It was to study to be a writer who can read popular fads.
He might have forgotten the name Kang Minho, but he remembered the name perfectly.
“Oh, this is, embarassing, have a drink.”
Minho, having a great feeling rising in his heart, offered Jaegun another drink. Jaegun didn’t refuse and took a drink. Then he also gave Minho a drink.”
“Then Writer Ha Jaegun’s pen name is?”
“Ahah, yes. I’m called Poong Cheon Yu.”
As he said that.
The noise in the surroundings stopped suddenly
In the far places, there was still noise. However, the writers in the close places all as one closed their mouth and looked towards Jaegun.
“Poong Cheon Yu…?” The writer of the Modern Series, Poong Cheon Yu?”
Minho, with a bewildered face, asked again for confirmation.
Jaegun, feeling the other people’s gazes that suddenly surrounded him, answered.
“Yes, that’s right.”
As soon as Jaegun answered, many writers all brought a bottle and came closer to him and started to offer him drinks.
“You’re writer Poong Cheon Yu. Nice to meet you. I’m using the pen name Mister H.”
“Ah, yes, the soccer novel Genie Scouter’s writer? I’m reading it as well.”
“Take my drink as well. My pen name is Deserter…”
“Ah, Ground Zero’s writer? Both of you are writing sports fantasies. I don’t have the background knowledge to write something like that so it was hard. Nice to meet you.”
The environment immediately changed.
A unknown strong presence was focused on Jaegun.
One person, two people, three people… the writers of fantasy novels used this time to go to Jaegun and greet him.
“The Modern Series was so fun to read. It’s been awhile since you debuted so I thought you were older, but you’re really handsome and young.”
“It was fun even from the point of view of a writer. What method do you use when you write? Do you have the ending all planned out?”
“Ah, my method of writing. It is…”
Jaegun was sweating trying to answer all the writers that were surrounding him.
It made him happy and thankful, but he was extremely surprised. He didn’t think he would get this many greetings from the writers as well.
“Why is everyone around him? What did he write?”
On the opposite of Jaegun’s table.
Myunghoon and the female writers were also beginning to take notice to that side. Myunghoon who was speaking triumphantly about his ways of creation felt extreme disgust as his words were cut.
“Writer Lee Young Ah, where was I?”
Myunghoon hid the disgust and said.
The writer with the name Lee Young Ah took her gaze off Jaegun and ballooned her cheeks and tilted her head.
“Yes? Ah…. yes. Where were you? I don’t remember very well.”
It was obvious that she was listening very carelessly. Letting the story come out of one ear, she was busy gazing at Jaegun.
Myung Hoon’s forehead’s veins tingled.
He was barely keeping his composure, and he was close to exploding. Even he couldn’t tell if he could stop it.
In front of that Myunghoon, two female writers were getting up.
“I’m sorry but I’m be going over there for a second. I also have an interest in fantasy.”
“Me too, I want to write a romance with fantasy so I’ll be back after I get some advice.
“Haha, yes, go ahead.
Myunghoon barely kept his anger in check and sent them away with a smile. And when no one was looking, he inhaled the cup full of soju in one shot. This feeling of explosion felt like a few drinks wasn’t enough to make him drunk.
‘Wow , Writer Ha is famous.’
Somii smiled unknowingly to others looking at the surrounded Jaegun from far away. Since he was writer that she was responsible for, her mind felt great.
“Jung Somii, what are you doing standing there? The writers on this side don’t have any drinks.”
Assistant Manager Go said as he was quibbling.
“Ah, sorry. I’ll go get it now.
Somii was completely surprised and went to the refrigerator. Since the few employees went on vacation, even a editor like her was helping the serving.
“What are you doing?”
As she was opening the refrigerator and taking out the drink, a voice came from behind Somii back. Somii couldn’t hear it because the surroundings were so loud.
“What are you doing?”
When she finally heard the voice, Somii looked backwards. Then her two eyes became wide.
“Wri, writer Ha?”
Jaegun was standing there with a stone hard face.
Jaegun, who from a minute ago was covered up by the writers, was behind her as if protecting her.
Chapter 29
“Did you come to get a bottle of soju? I could have…”
“You’re an editor.”
“…Yes?”
Jaegun, extending his hand, took away the bottle that Somii was holding. He was completely taken back inside, but he was saving his words because Somii might get embarrassed.
‘What year is this…’
Even though Somii was the junior, she was still an editor.
It wasn’t the 90s, he couldn’t understand why Somii was serving and he didn’t want to see it either.
Jaegun continued to take bottles away from Somii and put them close to his chest. Seeing that from far away, Assistant Manager Go was embarrassed and disconcerted and quickly ran over
“Oh, sir, sir. You can say this to one of the workers here. Don’t come and get it yourself.”
Assistant Manager Go had no choice but to be this way in front of Jaegun.
It was a good idea not to anger or irritate a writer with good sales. It was one of the basic obligations and responsibilities.
Jaegun was just stolid. Looking calmly at the waist bent and talking Go’s face, he spoke.
“I can take Somii away, right? She’s my editor so I have things to discuss about writing.”
“Yes, su, sure. Somii, go talk to Writer Ha.”
Assistant Go nodded his head a couple of times and immediately backed up.
Hugging the bottles near his chest, he tapped Somii’s shoulder with his shoulder.
“Let’s go in.”
“Yes, yes, sir.”
Somii, still looking at the situation, reluctantly followed Jaegun. Looking at her taking off her shoes and climbing up, assistant Go wrinkled his forehead as if frustrated.
“Assistant Go.”
“Ah, editor.”
Assistant Go turned back with a surprised face. Tewon, who came in late because of his work, was right in front of his eyes.
“You’re here now? The traffic was bad, right?”
“I spoke about this last time, right?”
Tewon ignored Go’s question and replied.
Assistant Go blinked his two eyes as if he didn’t understand. Tewon, following his gaze to where Jaegun and Somii was sitting, continued his words.
“If you order something even one more time from Somii about something that isn’t work related, you should be prepared.”
Go shuddered.
This face of the editor was unknown to a 2-year veteran like him. The person that always took care of all employees smoothly was looking down at him with cold eyes.
“Do you understand my words?”
Tewon fixed his glasses and asked for confirmation.
Assistant Go unknowingly swallowed once. He put down his burning face and answered.
“I, I understand. I’ll stop it in the future.”
“Go do your work.”
Assistant Go, feeling timid, turned around and went away.
Tewon still stood in that place. He was stuck in thought with both his eyes on Jaegun.
‘Should I stop today.’
Secretly, he was planning to use this spot to talk about a sequel with Jaegun. It was because of the representative’s orders to get a contract with Jaegun no matter what.
But he stopped today. He wanted to respect Jaegun’s decision to participate in the Digital . He had already gotten over his expected results with the Ranking series.
‘I already mentioned a sequel so, well, I can talk about it after the contest.’
Tewon turned his body, brooding over his personal trust about the writer Ha Jaegun. And to meet the other writers not present yet, he moved his car to the parking lot in front of the restaurant.
“Have another drink. You can drink, right?”
“Your real name is Ha Jaegun, right? Since I’m looking at you closely, you’re really handsome. Do you hear that you’re handsome a lot?”
Two female writers sitting next to Jaegun were tossing questions at Jaegun. Everyone’s face was red because of the drinks.
It’s already been 2 hours since the writer’s meeting had started.
There was no your spot or my spot.
Writers who had drunk over their limits were carrying their bottles and greeting each other. It was chaos.
And in that time, there were two conspicuous groups that were growing.
It was the group of Ha Jaegun and the fantasy writers on the left and Oh Myunghoon and the romance writers on the right.
‘So loud…!’
Glimpsing at the loud Jaegun’s groups, Myunghoon was grinding his teeth. Since a while ago, he had been uncomfortable.
Myunghoon moved first to lower Jaegun’s confidence.
But he failed. Jaegun was getting attention like he was getting. He could not accept that Jaegun dared to create a group as big as his.
“Writer Oh, are you going to write a romance as your sequel as well?”
The female writer next to him asked with sending a flirty look in her eyes.
Many female writers pulled by Myunghoon’s handsome and rich face haven’t left and were still around him.
“Writer Oh? Did you hear me?”
Myunghoon ignored the female writer’s question and stood up. He couldn’t end the writer’s meeting like this.
‘You’re not going to crumble on your own I see. Then I’ll personally get a broomstick and sweep you out…!’
Myunghoon in two hands held a bottle and a cup. And then with a resolute face, he started to walk towards Jaegun’s group.
“Ah, Writer Oh? You’re coming over here?”
The female writer next to Myunghoon and then went to Jaegun, first saw him, and said. With that sentence, Jaegun also lifted his head.
“Oh Myunghoon? You came here, too?”
“That’s what I wanted to ask, boy, I just saw you.”
Two glances met in midair.
Both people, underneath their strong gaze, had a string of a smile.
The writer’s around them were talking to each other and saying ‘they knew each other?’, ‘they must be friends’ and other words.
“Sit here, Writer Oh.”
“Excuse me.”
Somii, who was sitting across from Jaegun, moved to the side to make room. Myunghoon leisurely sat down and gave the bottle to Jaegun.
“I didn’t know I would meet you here. In this place.”
Myunghoon gave a strange emphasis on the “In this place.”
Jaegun responded with a calm smile and took the bottle. Now there was no reason for him to be mixed up with Myunghoon’s provocations.
“I’ve heard. So you’re doing well?”
“I got lucky. How are you?
“Don’t even ask. It isn’t easy making a work into a drama. It’s a completely different world from one to ten.”
Jaegun caught that Myunghoon was already going to take control of the atmosphere by laying out self-praise. So he didn’t say anything and smiled and drank.
Myunghoon changed the topic and asked when Jaegun didn’t show much reaction.
“That’s that, but you, you wrote a lot in a short time? The 2 StarBooks fantasy books you made, I heard they are both 10 books?”
“Yeah, It’s that time when you write well.”
“Yeah I guess; fantasy is easy to write down quickly. There’s no reason to think in depth about fantasy as well.”
Myunghoon nodded his head as if he knew everything.
The writers around him couldn’t hide their displeasure. Jaegun, acting as their representative, shook his hand and answered.
“You haven’t written a fantasy and you don’t know how to write one.”
Myunhoon’s face hardened slightly. Unlike the Jaegun in the past who bitterly smiled, this Jaegun countered immediately.
“Haha, I haven’t written one, of course. But isn’t it fantasy what you make up in your mind and write quickly?”
“No, Myunghoon. How would you know if you haven’t even written one before? Isn’t that thought a bit complacent for a writer? Are you a writer?”
Instantly, Myunghoon wrinkled his nose. Jaegun was following his way of speech that he used when he was being sarcastic with others.
Jaegun shamelessly laughed and lifted the bottle up.
“You want another drink?”
“No, I have to drive. I brought my car.”
Myunghoon, waving his hand, answered.
On his face, he was barely smiling, but inside he was already completely ripped.
Jaegun landed a solid strike. The writers standing around were very grinning quietly as if they were saying ‘you deserved it’.
Sighing burning, hot breath as quietly as he could, Myunghoon finally answered.
“Yes, I am a writer. Therefore, as a writer, I am recently writing a work that has quality to not shame the name of a writer.”
“Ahah, you are?”
Jaegun replied absentmindedly as he was pouring the person next to him a drink. Myunghoon continued saying stuff that no one asked.
“Just, at this time there is a Literary Contest. I saw the other awards so I feel like I’m going to win it pretty simply. Probably have one more award in my career.”
Myunghoon didn’t say that it was the Digital Literary Contest. It was going to be shameful if he didn’t win.
“Think about using the effort that it takes to write 10 books of fantasy into one book. You know that feeling because, Jaegun, you and I are all language students, right? Ah, you might not know because it’s been awhile since you wrote a novel like an actual novel.”
Noticing the mind fight between the two people, the writer’s around them all were shutting their mouths. Jaegun matched Myunghoon’s glance in the quiet air. And he stuck out his cup as if nothing happened.
“I hope you do well.”
Jaegun had no other thoughts of uselessly talking with Myunghoon anymore.
He declined saying childish things because of petty pride and atmosphere. He could respond with the result that he put hard work and effort in to.
“Thanks, man. You sell well, too.”
The cups met in midair like they were going to break.
Swallowing the drinks, the two people didn’t break their glance away from each other till the end.
Chapter 30
“Writer, we should have one more bottle. Have some beer.”
The parking lot after the writer’s meeting.
About 30 percent left. The rest of writers were getting into groups of writer that they liked and were finding a 2nd meeting place. Jaegun was also stuck in one group of writers.
“Yes? Writer Ha, it’s only been a bit over 9. There’s a beer place just right across the street. You should have a drink.”
“Yeah, let’s pour ourselves with just the men.”
A few female writers who were close stuck themselves in.
“Is this sexual discrimination? Leaving just the women behind? We drink well just count us in.”
“What, the beautiful females will drink again? Of course we must count you in. We’ll take good care of you.”
It was a great atmosphere. There was nothing else to be said. Yet Jaegun had no words and was just standing there.
“Writer Ha, you’re going? Right?”
The writers, who had high expectations, asked. They were very into the Jaegun, even though it was their first time meeting him.
It wasn’t because of Jaegun’s best selling writer status. That was just something that made them curious. The writers were into Jaegun’s personal, human personalities.
While listening to others instead of bragging about his own book, he also gave out very enthusiastic opinions during conversations about writing. That was a reason that many writers liked Jaegun’s attitude.
“I’m really sorry, but I drank as much as I could today.”
Jaegun shook his head and answered embarrassedly. To the sighing and disappointed writers, he quickly added.
“I have home stuff I must do today. Since I gave out my contact information, I’ll see you guys next time. I’ll be going for today.”
Jaegun didn’t want to drink anymore because of writing.
Since he drank today, he couldn’t write too much when he went back home.
But there is a tomorrow. It was best to cut things off here to recover his condition and write normally tomorrow.
“If you’re like that, I guess that’s it. We’re disappointed, but we won’t cling on to you. But next time, let’s meet again. And good luck.”
“Yes yes. Good luck to you guys as well. Have a good time and go home safely.”
Jaegun shook hands with the writers and moved away from the crowd.
He saw Tewon and Somii standing side by side. They were waiting for him. Both people were smiling looking at Jaegun. Jaegun went to Tewon, who he haven’t seen for the entire writer’s meeting, feeling joy
“Are you going in right now?”
“Yes, I have to write starting tomorrow. What about you guys?”
Tewon checked his watch on his wrist and answered.
“We should go since our job is done too. Writer Ha, I’ll take you to your home.”
“No. It’s fine. It’s quick by subway. I want to walk slowly so I can wake up from the drinks.”
“I see. I hope you do well on your writing. Please contact me later. I”ll be waiting.”
“Of course, I’ll give you a call.”
Tewon and Jaegun shook hands.
Somii has a slight smile. She could feel the unique and warm atmosphere between the two. She had a feeling that these two will be together for a long time
“How is Somii going?”
“I’m also taking the subway.”
“Then let’s go together.”
Jaegun and Somii went together to the subway station after they left Tewon.
Since it was night, the wind was pretty cool. During the loud summer night of the city, Jaegun and Somii was walking together relaxedly.
“Thanks for before.”
Somii just brought up the conversation.
Jaegun turned around, understanding the meaning, and smiled.
“I thought a lot about what I was doing, listening to Writer Ha. I was reminded again that I am an editor.”
Finishing talking, Somii closed her thick lips together.
Jaegun laughed. He thought her facial expression, slightly red from the drinks, looked cute.
“Why are you laughing?”
“No, nothing.”
“Don’t lie. I’m curious. Why did you laugh?”
Somii went in front of Jaegun and walking backwards, asked again. She wouldn’t have done this in front of Jaegun normally. Now, the girl with a few drinks was not a editor, but a female university student.
“You’re going to fall.”
“So tell me fast. Why did you lay… Ack.”
Somii was struggling because her foot was stuck on the road.
Jaegun quickly ran over and grabbed both her arms. Somii’s sneaker bounced far away.
“Lean on the telephone pole and stand for a second.”
“N, No. I’m fine. Sir! I’ll go get it!”
Somii was running with one foot and was shouting.
During that time, Jaegun was already coming back with the sneaker.
“Here.”
“Ah, I’m really sorry. Sorry.”
Apologizing repeatedly, Somii wore the sneaker.
Was it because of the drinks.
Or maybe the night’s bright light’s reflection.
Jaegun thought Somii’s legs looked very beautiful.
Somii again was wearing jeans and white socks. She had a cat face like Rika. It felt like her college outfits fit even as she became an adult.
“Where’s your house?”
Starting to move again, Jaegun asked.
Somii, whose face became slightly red after that accident, answered immediately.
“Ah, yes. I’m in Noryangjin.”
“Then we can go together till Sindorim.”
“It’ll be comforting riding a cab.”
“I like the subway. All the people I meet are all writing topics so. There’s a lot of things I meet at the subway that I won’t be able to meet in the back of a cab”
“Of course you’re the writer.”
“It’s probably not just me.”
There were no seats on the subway, but it was relatively sparse. Grabbing the handle next to a seat, Jaegun asked.
“Were you also living in Noryangjin?”
“No, my house is the East Sea.”
“You were born where you could see the sea. I’m jealous. Where in the East Sea? There’s a lot of oceans there, right?”
“It’s the East Sea District, named after the East Sea. Kanglung is on the bottom and Samchuk is on the top.”
“Aha, I see.”
The two people on the subway talked about small things. It wasn’t as a writer to editor talk about writing but about two people’s life. As a funny topic came about, Somii covered her mouth and laughed.
When Sindorim station came, the two people got off.
It was time to say good bye. Putting their backs to the platform they were going on, they nodded their head.
“Go in safely.”
“Yes, you too.”
Jaegun went away.
Somii, standing there, was looking at Jaegun’s back. Then she just remembered and opened her mouth.
“Writer Ha Jaegun!”
Jaegun turned around, hearing in the crowd.
Somii, with the drinks helping her, put two hands together and shouted.
“Good luck! You’re going to release amazing works again and again!”
Jaegun had a blank face. But he raised his hand smiling embarrassedly. Somii with a bright smile waved her hand and finally turned away and disappeared into the crowd.
‘I was planning to rest one day because of drinks, but I guess not.’
His plans changed after Somii’s cheers.
Jaegun went to the convenience store and drank a bottle of hangover cure. Then he went to his working place where Rika was waiting for him hurriedly.
“Sir, the dinner is ready.”
“I don’t want to eat. I’ll eat by myself so leave it.”
The maid put her head down and went away.
Myunghoon’s two eyes were on the monitor. He was looking through his story for the Digital Literary Contest..
‘This is good. It’s fun. This is better than any novel I had written so far.’
Myunghoon was saying to himself as comfort. Really, he was nervous. He couldn’t get rid of the feeling that there was something left out.
The name was ‘The Lonely Man of Seoul,’ it was a love story of a young man with power as a lawyer and an orphan working at a factory.
Myunghoon used a pen name called ‘Ahn Sungwoo’ instead of his name.
It wasn’t because of the fairness of the judges. It was because of his lack of confidence. He didn’t have the confidence to win so he didn’t have the strength to put his own name on the line.
“Myunghoon, what are you doing without dinner.”
“Ah, brother.”
Myunghoon turned around his chair and had a joyful face.
Older than him by 9 years, Oh Myungsuk was coming in through the door.
He was the only person who could go into Myunghoon’s office without permission.
“The family is together so we should eat together.”
“I’m fine with dinner, brother, did you read the Lonely Man of Seoul?”
“Yes, I read it.”
“How is it? It’s pretty good right?”
Myungsuk was the editor at father’s publishing company. It was because he thought he needed to work more. He had written for a long time and he had experience having his works in the Sinchunmuye.
Myungsuk immediately answered without hesitation.
“The characters are seriously superficial. The main character of the lawyer seems like he was only bragging. Is it the elitism, the feeling that I’m this sort of person, to feel happy, that I’m meeting a girl like you, who is working at a factory?”
Myunghoon’s face shadowed
He thought he wrote objectively so he didn’t expect to hear this judgement.
Myungsuk’s sharp critiques continued.
“There’s no depth. It feels like you’re only scratching the surface. That’s the main draw. The girl character is awkward. What kind of person in this age is cornered for stealing lunch? Isn’t that just over the top? And have you even interviewed workers for this? When they work and when they rest, and when they leave, did you look into that?”
“No, eh… I searched on the internet. It’s nothing really so do I have to go to a factory and interview them? I’m already busy as it is.”
“That’s the issue with your writing, Myunghoon.”
Myungsuk sighed heavily.
His brother never tired to emphasize experience. It was hard and boring. He was still forgetting one of the most important things about being a writer.
Myunghoon stood up and shook Myungsuk’s both shoulders and pleaded.
“You finished planning the company work right? Please help me if you have time left.”
“Haven’t I helped you? But you, this isn’t helping, but basically writing it for you. What are you using this for? Are you gonna enter this into a contest?”
“That’s a secret. I’ll tell you it later, ah? Please save the parts I don’t know. This is a work that’s important for completion too. Ah? Please.”
“Ahhhh, Myunghoon…”
Myungsuk put his hand on his forehead and slurred his words.
His pleading was something that got on his conscience as an editor and a writer.
He hoped that he would write on his own when he grew older and matured, but he was still asking and pleading. It was embarrassing.
“This is the last time.”
Myungsuk put up his finger
Myunghoon was laughing. He put his thumbs up.
“I won’t forget this.”
“Shut up you idiot, come down for food.”
“Don’t tell this to father.”
“If you don’t come right now, I might.”
Myunghoon went up and followed Myungsuk. Now he had no worries. After his brother checks it, it will turn out to be an amazing, fantastic piece.
Subscribe for latest update!!!!!!
💖 Support My Work, Please Donate Here👇
![AN UNDERSTATED DOMINANCE [Original Version]](https://i1.wp.com/ethiclearners.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/Add-a-heading-1.png?resize=85,105 "AN UNDERSTATED DOMINANCE [Original Version]")
