Big Life Chapter 71-80

Chapter 71

“Looks good?”

Jaegun said as he saw the necklace. It was a thin, flower-shaped gold necklace. There was a small diamond in the middle.

“I think your neck is pretty, so it fits very well, ma’am. Try it on.”

The girl employee offered with a bright voice.

Dasul hesitated and held it up to her neck.

“Wow, it’s really good. You can try it on.”

“I think it’s good like this.”

“Then look closer. Here, a mirror.”

The girl quickly gave a mirror.

Dasul looked at her neck through the mirror. And a small smile appeared on her face

“You like it?”

Jaegun read her expression.

Dasul didn’t answer.

“There’s no rush. There’s many, so just look slowly.”

“No, I like this but…”

Dasul slurred her words.

Jaegun knew why Dasul was hesitating. She was worried about the price. The price was 649 dollars.

Not a small amount.

“Give it to me.”

Jaegun said to the employee.

There was no reason to spend more time if she liked it.

Dasul swallowed awkwardly.

“Thank you. I will pack it for you. You can pay over here.”

Jaegun paid with a card. The girl packed the necklace in a small bag.

“Thank you. Have a nice day.”

Jaegun and Dasul left the store.

A few people were walking by drunk.

Jaegun put his back to them as if protecting Dasul and pulled out the bag.

“Here. It fits into the jumper pocket.”

“I don’t think I can take it. It’s expensive.”

“Don’t worry.”

Jaegun put the bag into her pocket.

He stretched as he walked on.

“I don’t think we can eat heavy stuff. How about going to a beer pub and getting some cream beer?”

“I’m fine with anything.”

Dasul answered quietly. Her hand held the bag in her pocket tightly.

“Your voice became so calm. I wonder why?”

Jaegun asked as if teasing.

Dasul looked up. And with a red face, she held Jaegun’s arm.

“Don’t tease me and let’s go quickly.”

The two people walked like a couple with their arms clung together. Dasul asked.

“Why did you buy it for me anyway?”

“You told me to buy you one.”

“But you brought out the topic first. Why don’t you do one.”

He couldn’t say that her neck looked too pretty so he wanted to buy her one.

And then he answered after looking at a pub.

“I just wanted to repay you and you just didn’t have anything… so yeah.”

Dasul looked dumbfounded.

“What is that? Then I don’t have a ring, and a bracelet, and other? You’re going to buy me everything?”

“Really? Let’s go then.”

Jaegun turned around quickly. Dasul, surprised, hit Jaegun’s back lightly.

“Joking, just joking. Let’s go. How’s that? It looked good.”

“Let’s go.”

The two people sat opposite of them.

It was a small store. There was jazz coming out the speakers. Jaegun liked the quiet mood.

They were full so they just order a cream beer.

Dasul pulled out the necklace before drinking.

“Can I try it now?”

“It’s yours, Why ask me?”

“Haha, yes.”

Dasul laughed playfully and pulled it out. She took off her jumper and tried it on.

“How is it?”

“It looks good.”

“So enthusiast. But can you buy me this? Didn’t you spend your month’s money into this?”

“I bought this with the money I got.”

“How much is it? 1000 dollars? No, too small. 3000 dollars?”

“30000 dollars.

Dasul opened her mouth. Her two eyes were in surprise.

“30,000 dollars? In prize money?”

“Yes, so there’s no worry.”

“Haha, you should have said it first. Worry? No. I would have bought more.”

“Haha.”

Jaegun laughed. Dasul also laughed.

JANG!

The two people cheered.

“Tell me now?”

“What?”

“Your name. Tell me because you got 30,000 dollars because of me.”

“Ha, Jaegun.”

Jaegun answered immediately. There was no reason to hide his name.”

“Ha Jaegun? I don’t know about books too much. Are you famous? A person who comes up on the internet?”

“I don’t know if I’m famous. I should come up, though.”

“Yeah? Then I’ll search it right now.”

Dasul looked at Navin. She typed in the name and widened her eyes.

“Wow, auto fill-in? I put Ha and J and it came up.”

And she pulled up Jaegun’s profile.

She couldn’t close her mouth alternating looking between the real Jaegun and the profile Jaegun.

“Wow! Wow! There’s a star in front of me!”

“What star. There’s nothing there.”

“I don’t know but that’s great. Wow, I’m your fan now. Your picture went great too. You picked this?”

“It was a picture that Navin took for my interview. I accepted. I don’t take pictures too much.”

“Wow… You have a twitter?”

“I made one. I don’t really use it.”

“You have 5000 followers? Wow. There are so many fans. A Dumb Woman? Is that the title? Child of the 90s?”

“Stop looking.”

Jaegun tried to stop her to no avail.

Dasul was looking with surprise

“I want to read it too. I think I’m going to read because of you.”

“I’ll buy you one.”

“I’m going to buy one, you know?”

She pulled out her tongue. Jaegun smiled and sipped a drink.

“What’s the story of this novel?”

“Hm… read it when it comes out.”

“Just tell me. I’m curious. Hm? Hm?”

Dasul repeated and moved next to Jaegun.

And she put her legs on Jaegun’s thigh and smiled.

“There’s a wall, so it’s hidden from view. No one can see, ok?”

“OK.”

“Tell me. Now. I want to know the plot of the 30,000 dollar story.”

Dasul repeated. The beer glass almost fell.

“It was a story about a guy at work with a karaoke helper dating.

He opened his mouth as he pressed on Dasul’s knee.

Dasul shivered as he touched her knee.

It was a strange feeling.

It was different when she first touched him.

“The girl isn’t as young as you. She’s in her 30s and has a kid. She’s a hardworking woman who got divorced.”

“Go…on.”

“The man goes to the karaoke bar to relieve stress. And meets the girl. The man is attracted to the girl immediately. The girl sees only a customer out of the many customers she sees. Ah, we’re done. Give us two more drinks.”

“Yes, sir”

Dasul was entranced by Jaegun’s story.

“They start a weird relationship. They both live differently. The man lives diligently and tries to keep morals, but he also takes in stress from society. The girl has a different personality. She works as a karaoke helper to live, but she keeps her pride and lives. Recklessly. Like a storm and gale.”

Jaegun added awkwardly.

“So the title is like that.”

“Storm and Gale? Why did you make it?”

“The helper who is like a wind. Like that?”

“Wow…! Amazing. The title is really trash.”

“I think so too. I can’t make a title. I don’t know if the company might ask me to change the title.”

“You should. It’s going to bomb if you don’t.”

“Haha.”

Jaegun laughed. Dasul looked down at her necklace.

She muttered.

“You were really a great person. I thought you were a weird person. You came in and said you wanted an interview.”

“You helped me.”

“How does the story go.”

Dasul asked.

She wondered how the story would end.

“You really read that.”

“Tell me. Hm? Hn?”

“They get happy.”

“Wowwww.”

“They know what they really want. And they get happy. That’s it.”

Jaegun lifted his cup.

Dasul gave up and lifted her cup too.

Jaegun thought of her as he drank. If she could get happy like the female main character.

“Why did you become so blank?”

“No, just… dizzy.”

Dasul put her head on Jaegun’s shoulder.

A warm temperature could be felt.

Jaegun made a good angle to put her head on.

Dasul smiled. She thought he was a warm person. There was no way that this person’s writing would be bad.

“Do you think we should stand up?”

“No, I just have to be like this for a second.”

Jaegun sipped the beer alone. The customers had already left and the store was quiet.

The night crept on.

TL- I think Storm and Gale have some kind of meaning of being like emotionally unstable in Korean terms. It was the closest thing I thought of.

Chapter 72

“I’m sorry but a contract would be hard for a while.”

Jaegun said firmly.

The two people’s faces turned pale. It was Hetae Media’s Ma Jonggu and Park Gyungsu. The few pieces left of sirloin was burning away

“If I have to say it, I have solved my living conditions. There’s no reason to write forcefully, so I want to write something I want to write about. And I want to write fantasy or martial arts someday, but not now.”

“Hm, yes… If you think so… I understand. Then…”

Jonggu face turned pale.

The mission from the representative to get a contract was going to be failed. There was no way to avoid the screams from the representative.

“I’m really sorry. Manager Ma. And you too, Park.”

“No, no, no. It’s fine. We’re sorry. And thank you. You’re probably busy.”

“Then we should stand up?”

“Ah, yes, let’s stand up.”

Jaegun pulled out his money. Horrified, Jonggu and Gyungsu ran over and blocked him.

“No, Writer, we’re paying.”

“I’ll buy. You didn’t get a contract and it’s kind of bad to use the card.”

“There’s no reason. It was a place for us to buy you food. Please put it away.”

“Just think of it as my gift. I got your help a lot.”

Jaegun cleared Gyungsu and Jonggu’s pleas and paid. It was about 200 dollars because it was an expensive sirloin steak.

“Thank you.”

“Yes, thank you.”

Jaegun laughed as he left.

He remembered the time when he was shivering to pay for a ramen. It didn’t feel that different from now and then. He felt happy.

“Then I’ll go. You go too.”

Jonggu couldn’t even offer that he was going to take him home because Jaegun had a car. So suppressing the regret, they greeted.

“Go nicely. We’ll see you again.”

“Yes, go ahead.”

Jaegun clicked the navigation to a saved place.

‘When are they announcing it?’

Jaegun thought to look at the time

Today was the time that the Modern Teen Literary Contest results were going to be announced.

The family, friends, and others. They were all going to be all surprised.

Jaegun pressed on the accelerator.

“Ahhhh…!”

The basement office.

Hyeongyung put his hands on his head. His debut novel Slaughter that started paid chapters 4 days ago wasn’t doing too well.

“How could… not even a half but by ⅔.”

The number of likes that was over 6000 when it was free was now at 2000. It was not up to Hyeongyung’s expectations.

“Stop looking and write.”

Minho said while turning around from his seat.

“How could you do that for 4 days? I’m not trying to be annoying, but you don’t have any in storage. If you fail one day, it’s gonna go down more.”

“I know, I should stop, but it’s making me angry….”

Hyeongyung put his head down.

To the Minho who looks at Hyeongyung pitifully, Hyeongyung continued.

“You must be happy. Each chapter is getting over 1000 payments. You already got 1500 dollars. Me… what is 300? I won’t even get 500 dollars.”

“You’re funny. Hey, be happy that you’re getting that much. There’s so many not doing so well.”

“Phew…”

“And am I the same? I’m 34, no 35, and I just made one good novel. You’re younger. For a debut, that’s good.”

Minho was trying hard to help Hyeongyung.

To Minho who failed his debut, Hyeongyung’s wasn’t that bad. It was only a debut.

“You’re good at everything, Hyeongyung. You have good writing, but you have a weak heart. Check that mental. Be confident.”

“I know…”

“That face isn’t a knowing one. Do you want to go out? Yes, we have to eat lunch. Let’s go out. I’ll buy you something.”

“I’m fine. Your wallet is still empty. You have to wait 2 months for the money.”

Hyeongyung sighed. He went to the kitchen and brought two ramen.

“This is it for ramen. We don’t even have any rice at all.”

“I’ll buy.”

“I’ll come. I’m staying with you so we should split.”

“We need more writers.”

This was an office for 4.

But now only two people used it., The 2 people gave up writing to get a job.

Now it was harder to survive. The money that was paid by 4 had to be paid by 2.

The situation was hard.

“What about that writer that we met?”

“Yes, he lives in Jinju. It might be hard for him to come to Seoul.”

Hyeongyung answered.

Minho muttered as he looked up at the ceiling.

“Do I have to get this person…”

“Hm? What?”

“I have a person I know. A writer who wrote romance and adult novels. Just recently got divorced.”

“Oh…”

“I said I’m living in an office and the writer wants to come in. Of course, with the money as well.”

Hyeongyung brightened.

“Then come here.”

“It’s a girl.”

“What?”

Hyeongyung asked.

Minho yawned and continued.

“It’s a girl. She’s cool. But the problem is if we have a girl, there are so many problems. There’s one bathroom. And we’re going to have to give a room.”

“Yeah.”

“So I’m asking. What do you think?”

Hyeongyung put the soup and ramen in. And he said after a thought.

“She doesn’t have bathroom issues right?”

“What?”

“If she doesn’t use the bathroom too much, I’m fine.”

Minho smiled at that.

Hyeongyung bitterly smiled at that too.

“We don’t have much money. Why should I worry about that? And if her personality is good, I’ll agree. I don’t mind.”

“Hyeongyung, thanks.”

“What. Oh, the eggs.”

Hyeongyung opened the fridge.

Just then, the door opened.

“Ah? Writer Ha, what are you doing?”

“What? Writer Ha?”

Minho stood up from his seat and went out to eh kitchen. Jaegun was smiling in front of the door.

“You were cooking ramen. I was late.”

“Ah? You haven’t eaten either? Then eat first. I”m not that hungry.”

“No, I’ve eaten. I”m sorry but you might have to help me.”

“What? Of course.”

“Then come out for a second.”

The two went out of the villa. Jaegun’s car was in front of it. Jaegun said as he opened the trunk.

“There’s too much so I can’t lift it by myself.”

“What? That…?!”

Minho opened his mouth as he looked in the trunk

There were 3 boxes of food. From rice, and dumplings, and beef, cold products, ham, eggs, milk, etc. Everything was there.

“Don’t eat only ramen. Your faces look too skinny now.”

“Writer Ha…!”

Minho was so happy.

He couldn’t say anything with his mouth

Jaegun was Minho’s savior as he helped Minho with writing. Now with this… He wasn’t even a good writer yet.

Minho’s eyes turned red.

“I, I’ll lift it.”

Hyeongyung said first. And lifting a box, he went in.

“Writer Ha, leave it. I’ll do it.”

“There’s two left so one for each. Ha!”

The two each brought a box into the office.

Jaegun said as he put it down.

“And two, some money will be coming in by 4.”

“Money…?”

Minho and Hyeongyung both tilted their heads. It was not a paper book but a pay per chapter style. There was no money beforehand.

“I called the representative. It’s not much, but it will be enough for now. Just wait for 2 months and write hard.”

“Ah, Writer Ha, ah really…”

Now Hyeongyung couldn’t open his mouth.

He felt very ashamed for being mad about his debut work.

This great writer was helping him, but he was just laying out complaints.

“Ramen is for today only. Eat it because you already put it in”

“Yes.”

“I get it.”

“Hahaha.”

Jaegun read a novel as Minho and Hyeongyung were eating. Hyeongyung was already reading the news with his phone

“Hm…?”

Hyeongyung let out a sound. Minho covered it.

“Wait, this…?”

Hyeongyung muttered louder. Minho asked while picking up a dish.

“What is it?”

“Wait, I’m reading the news, but your name is coming up?”

Jaegun lifted his head too.

Hyeongyung put his phone in front of Jaegun.

“This… is this someone else?”

It was the news of the Modern Teen Literary Contest results.

The name was Storm and Gale. The writer’s name was Ha Jaegun.

“Ah, this just came up?”

Jaegun answered indifferently with a smile.

Hyeongyung’s mouth started to open and kept opening.

“Ha, Ha, Writer Ha…! This really is you?”

“Wow, this is for literary? You write well for anything, writer. Congratulations”

Minho also congratulated Jaegun.

But Hyeongyung was way more surprised than Minho. He knew how hard it was to get this award.

“I, I, I was a literary major. But really. Modern Teen Literary Award?! Wow, I, I really can’t say anything. This is crazy.”

“Is that really that good?”

“Minho, really? There are writers who spend 10 years trying to win this. This is the award that gets you recognized by the literary world. Really amazing!”

Jaegun scratched his head embarrassed.

And he said softly.

“I hope you’re coming to the ceremony.”

“Me… Of Course! Of course, I’m coming.”

Jaegun looked at Minho

“You too, Writer Kang.”

“Of course, but if I go, are you buying us dinner?”

Jaegun laughed widely at that. The other two laughed as well.

The weather was cold outside. but now, the office inside didn’t seem too cold anymore.

Chapter 73

About 1 hour after that.

Hetae Media also found the news. The first person to find out was the representative.

“Now, we need to get a contract!”

He was screaming to Gyungsu and Jonggu. The two people were putting their head down.

They got screamed at by their failure at a resign. But just 10 minutes later, they were back.

“Get a contract! Get the best! Really the best!”

“The representative?! What is…?”

“Are you asking me! 15 percent!”

“Representative….!”

Jonggu and Gyungsu couldn’t say anything.

There were 3 books that got 15 percent rate. It needed about 10000 books to sell to get a profit.

‘It’s not that bad! The situation is different. We have an electronic platform now too. We get money there, so just contract. Give him any money he wanted beforehand, too.”

Gyungsu carefully opened his mouth.

“Um, sir… I’m not trying to be… but the Modern Teen Literary Award is way away from this genre. These readers and those readers don’t mix. So.. ack.”

Gyungsu stopped.

Jonggu hit him from the side. Jonggu knew that Gyungsu was wrong.

The representative was saying to him now.

“Park, you know one, but not two. Don’t you know what will happen to Writer Ha? There’s going to be so many deals for him! And if he gets pride in writing a literary novel… what do we do now if he doesn’t write anything in this genre?!”

“I’m sorry. I didn’t think.

Gyungsu put his head down

The representative said in a quieter voice.

“Attend the ceremony. Make him annoyed.”

“Yes, representative.”

“What did you send him as a present?”

“We bought a beef set and vitamins to Suwon.”

“Weak. Give more. Not too more, though. I think he’s trying to cut us off as he paid for the meal himself. Don’t cut that line, ok?!”

“Yes. Representative!”

“Yes, I trust you. Now go.”

Jonggu and Gyungsu left.

The representative was scratching his head. Thinking maybe I should go the ceremony too.

“Phew….”

Myunghoon sighed as he stopped typing on the keyboard.

His three sides were covered except for his back with dividers

It was a place that Nexon gave specially to Myunghoon.

Myunghoon was going to work every single day as the game scenario writer.

He said that it would help concentration and help communication.

But of course, the main reason was Suhee.

To fix the bad relationship between them to act better and get better.

This was the main reason why Myunghoon went to this trashy place compared to his great study at home.

‘Why is it not that good.’

Myunghoon wrinkled his face as he looked at the monitor.

The cursor was flickering as he stopped typing.

He pressed the backspace until he erased everything that he had typed so far.

‘Concentrate, come one.’

Myunghoon wasn’t feeling very good today.

He knew why.

And he was trying not to think about it at all.

He tried to concentrate on writing the scenario for the entire morning.

He hadn’t gotten on the internet or looked at his phone at all.

“Umm… Writer Oh Myunghoon.”

Myunghoon lifted his head.

It was employee Hemii.

Hemii shivered for a second feeling Myunghoon piercing glance.

“What is it?”

“You didn’t give us a reply. The Team Leader was asking when the draft would be done by.”

Hemii looked like she was scared.

It was obvious.

She remembered the times that she gotten hurt by Myunghoon.

Hemii even cried during that time.

“Hmm…”

Myunghoon wondered in his head as he pressed on the shoulder.

He looked at the empty word document and said clearly.

“I’ll be there in a few seconds.”

“Yes.”

Hemii immediately started to turn back.

Just then, Myunghoon felt like he forgotten something and widened his eyes

“Wait, Hemii.”

Hemii stopped turning and stayed in a sideways direction

Myunghoon stood up.

He looked down on the small Hemii and said clearly.

“I’m sorry about the things before.”

“…yes?”

“I’m apologizing for the things I’ve done before. I get really sensitive when I’m working so I can’t take into consideration about other people very well. So I know I can be insulting and hurting. I know. I will try not to. To you and to the rest of the team.”

“Yeah… I… I’m fine…”

Hemii reddened and muttered.

He thought so, but she really was a simple and easy girl.

Myunghoon said again thinking that.

“So I want to buy you dinner in terms of an apology.”

“Din…ner?”

“If it’s too much, you can bring the others. But…”

Myunghoon slurred his words and looked around.

And leaned into Hemii and whispered quietly.

“I want you to know that I really want to apologize to Hemii the most.”

“Ah, yes… ah… yes…”

Hemii was wiping away her sweat in her cheek even though it wasn’t hot at all.

To say, Myunghoon had many qualities that Hemii liked.

He was handsome, with a dandy style, and the song of the biggest publishing company in Korea.

“I’m fine… Writer Oh…”

The bad feelings were already gone.

It was already a small feeling of dislike.

Now her heart was beating like a little girl.

“I will…. Bye…”

“You too.”

Hemii started to move towards the resting room instead of her spot.

Myunghoon laughed quietly to himself.

It was obvious she wanted to cool off.

‘It is good. There might be a time when I need her. Dumb girls are easy to control.’

He knew how much Suhee loved her employees.

There was no reason not to be friendly with employees here.

Apologizing to Hemii was the first step.

‘I can’t do this today.’

Myunghoon stopped even though he didn’t write anything and stood up.

And he started to move towards Suhee’s place.

“Suhee, no, Team Leader.”

Myunghoon changed his words.

Suhee looked away from her monitor to look at Myunghoon.

She had a big smile on her face.

“Yes, Writer OH.”

Suddenly Myunghoon felt his chest expand.

The air was coming through his chest quickly.

“Yes.”

Suhee’s beautiful face was still smiling widely.

It wasn’t just any girl but Suhee.

She was smiling and looking at him.

He didn’t even remember how long it was since she had smiled last.

“Uh… just today, I don’t feel very good, so I might have to leave.”

“Ah, yes?”

Suhee was answering like she was preoccupied with something on her monitor.

Myunghoon was curious about what she was looking at.

Just then, Myunghoon stopped and stood in place.

It was a feeling that a huge steel hammer hit him on the head.

A warning. That she wasn’t smiling at him.

“Then when will you give it to me by?”

Suhee was still smiling a bit when she said to him.

Myunghoon tried not to show anything as he answered slowly.

“By tomorrow.”

“Yes, Writer Oh. Good work.”

Suhee said very formally as she hid her face back into her monitor.,

Myunghoon back stepped away.

‘I’m me….! I can go my way…!’

Myunghoon was saying to himself.

As he got on the elevator.

Myunghoon pulled out his phone and got on the internet.

It wasn’t a problem of hiding.

He needed to know why Suhee was smiling.

He entered Modern Teen Literary Contest in the search bar.

As he pressed the search bar, news started to come up.

-The winner of the 31st Modern Teen Literary Contest, Writer Ha Jaegun, is the youngest winner ever…

-Writing about the hard daily life of a worker’s life in such a sad but interesting manner…

-He had already swept the Digital Literary Contest before…

Myunghoon glared at his phone.

The feeling that he would fall was broken

He hated that smiling face on the news so much.

‘That…! THE STUPID LITERARY IDIOTS!’

Myunghoon shivered as he clinched his fists.

The fact that Ha Jaegun and Pyung Cheon Yu was the same person didn’t do anything to stop his winning.

It was a total defeat.

‘Lee Suhee….!’

Suhee’s smiling face was still on Myunghoon’s face.

It was a cruel smile that hurt him so much.

Myunghoon started to scream as hard as he could in the elevator.

A huge roar.

Chapter 74

Many people came to the ceremony.

His dad and his family. As well as his friend Jongjin and Suhee.

Tewon and his wife Dongmi came as well, and Jonggu and Gyungsu from Hetae Media too.

Minho and Hyeongyung from the office gave up a day of writing to come.

“This guy actually cared about his clothes? Didn’t it get better from before?”

Jongjin whispered to Suhee beside him.

Suhee smiled and nodded.

She couldn’t get her glance off of Jaegun.

Jaegun was saying his speech up on the podium with his fancy clothes.

“This is really good, Jaegun. He looks so big even though he’s this far away.”

“Yeah, he doesn’t feel like my friend anymore. It feels so weird.”

“But, he’s not talking about the fantasy that he wrote?”

Suhee asked quietly.

Jongjin looked around and whispered.

“I think they wanted to keep quiet about that. Because there’s still the question of selling from the Contest side. The literary readers might feel angry.”

“I see…”

“It will get known someday. Just not right now. I understand.”

Suhee nodded as well.

Jaegun was concluding his speech.

“Thank you for everyone. But really, the motif for the main characters Sangjin and Heyoung deserves the most credit. The male main is one of my best friends. He came here together with me.”

Jaegun looked towards Jongjin.

Jongjin felt emotional as he waved.

“… and someone else. She created the female main character who carried this story, so I’d like to express my thanks. She said she was busy so she couldn’t come, but I credit this book to her. Thank you.”

From someone, the stage filled with claps of people.

Jaegun bowed his head 90 degrees.

The clapping noise didn’t know when to stop.

The cameraman took one more step.

His camera was only focused on Jaegun.

The ceremony was on the radio, the internet, and TV.

It was going up live for people with interest in literary works.

Myunghoon was one of these as well.

“That… IDIOT. He’s not saying anything…!”

His hand crumpled the empty beer can.”

Myunghoon threw the can across the table.

And he brought another from the fridge.

“You have something. Right? You’re feeling guilty. Why can’t you say it? That you write fantasy? Are you ashamed? Of course, you should be.”

Myunghoon muttered to himself.

He said he wouldn’t care. But he was still suddenly drinking one, two, three and more.

He turned off the TV and drank another bottle.

When he drank about half, he felt like he was going to throw up so he quickly stopped.

The beer spilled on his leg

“AHHH…!”

Myunghoon’s hands fell across the keyboard.

He had no thoughts in his blank head.

It was instinct.

-It’s the winner of Modern Teen Literary Contest. He’s actually that Pyung Cheon Yu;;;

-AH? That Ranking Series? That no meaning nonsense. I read anything but that, I really couldn’t read…

-There’s no way that should be a writer at all. To say it, fantasy shouldn’t even be writing.

-It’s nonsense for a reader who likes writing. This award to that type of writer. I’m ashamed.

-The judges should be better.

-I really feel worried about the writing of the future….

Myunghoon wrote criticisms of Jaegun using different IDs and social media sites.

His face had a huge smile.

The drinks were greatly increasing his happiness.

‘’Can’t you say it yourself. Then I will help, as a colleague.’

Tap! Tap! Tap1

Myunghoon didn’t know the time going past as he kept writing

His hands didn’t stop until he felt so tired.

“Ah… Ha Jaegun… Ha Jaegun…”

Myunghoon fell asleep in his chair.

His dark smile didn’t disappear after he was sleeping.

The words were huge.

Through SNS, the news went across the internet.

The write Ha Jaegun and the writer Pyung Cheon Yu, the fact that they were the same person came to many internet users.

And then…

Many things occurred.

The 5000 people that were followers of Jaegun’s twitter blew up to 50,000. The Breath’s views went up over 10 percent.

The books, ‘A Dumb Woman.’ and ‘90s Child.’ was in the top 10 in many internet sites.

All in one day.

Myunghoon didn’t know that the things were happening in the opposite way of what he wanted.

‘Ughhh…’

Jaegun was dreaming

In front of him, it was completely foggy.

Just in a while, he could finally see something.

Jaegun now knew he was on the ground, which was parallel to his body. A car’s engine sound was moving farther.

He felt a rough feeling on his nose

It was a feeling of fur. He could tell it was Rika. Rika started to lick his face everywhere.

‘Rika… rika…’

His voice didn’t come

He wanted to move but he couldn’t. His body was so heavy.

He felt someone’s hands. It was a strong and heavy hand. The hand was moving his hand across his bag’s zipper. And then, he could hear footsteps moving quickly away.

‘I didn’t get to finish… it…’

His mind started to blur. At the last moment, Jaegun reached out his hand and put it on Rika’s neck. Rika was crying at the sky.

“Jaegun, Ha Jaegun.”

“Um… ugh…”

“Hey, Jaegun, wake up. Come one.”

Jaegun opened his eyes quickly. He could see Jongjin’s worried face. Jaegun lifted his body quickly.

“Hey, what’s up. Nightmare?”

“…Dream?”

“Yeah, dream. Look at that cold sweat. Wipe it.”

Jongjin gave him a towel.

Jaegun sighed and looked at his body without even looking at the towel. His body was covered in sweat.

‘Only a dream…?’

It was too realistic to be a dream.

He was on the ground for no reason with Rika. He could feel that hand in his memories.

“What is it? I’m worried.”

Jongjin asked. Jaegun slowly turned and looked at him. Moving away, his glance was looking at the house.

‘Ah, that happened….’

Jaegun accepted it and took the towel. It was Suhee’s apartment.

After the ceremony.

Suhee and Jongjin and him went once more. Hyojin came in, and drinks were pouring. And they went to Suhee and the 4 friends drank till the night ended.

“Hey, Ha Jaegun. You’re still drunk?”

“No, I’m not awake. But the house is quiet?”

“Suhee and Hyojin went to the mart. To give us food. About 30 minutes? They’ll be here.”

Jonjin tapped him.

“Go and clean up.”

“Ha, Ok.”

Jaegun smiled and went to the bathroom. He could hear Jongjin’s voice as he closed the door.

“There’s a toothbrush and a shaver on the sink. Use that. Suhee put it out. Towels’ in the drawer.”

“Ok.”

Jaegun took off his clothes. It was a track suit.

It was something that his brother wore when he came, Suhee said. Jaegun opened the shower door.

‘This is good. Maybe I should get something like this. No water comes out of the tub.’

Jaegun cleaned himself. He used the toothbrush and the shaver.

“Are you done?”

Jongjin turned around.

Jaegun stood next to him. The view from above was beautiful.

“This is great. When will I have enough for a place like this?”

Jaegun smiled at that.

He knew Suhee’s family was rich. She never said it but he could feel it.

“About 500,000 dollars?”

“More, probably. Today’s houses are crazy.”

“Wow. Let’s see. My wage is 30,000… Save about 20,000… give me a cigarette. Are we allowed to smoke here?”

“Stop it.”

Jaegun turned around. He didn’t get to look around the house yesterday. He toured around the house.

‘It’s like Suhee.’

The interior was comforting and clean.

Jaegun moved around the TV and went to the next room. It was a study.

Chapter 75

‘Just like a literary avid.’

Jaegun looked in on the books in the bookshelves. Jaegun read many books, but there were many books he hasn’t read yet.

‘Wow, this is…’

Jaegun pulled out his hand. There were more books behind the ones in front.

Just then.

“Hey, so much stuff.”

With the sound of the door opening, he could hear Hyojin’s tired voice. Jaegun went out of the house. Suhee and Hyojin came back with a shopping bag.

“Hey, why didn’t you call us.”

Jongjin ran to them quickly. Hyojin looked at him.

“I called twice.”

“Oh? Yeah, I have it on mute. Then what about Jaegun?”

“I called him three times.”

Suhee looked at him and said. Jaegun, behind Jongjin, scratched his head.

“I also…”

Hyojin clucked her tongue.

“You guys… The strong men won’t help the weak ladies. Don’t block me.”

“Ack!”

Hyojin pushed Jongjin away and moved in. Suhee followed her. As she saw the open study door, her face hardened a bit.

“Ah, Suhee, you have a lot of books.”

Jaegun went to Suhee and said. Suhee looked with a stiffened face.

“Hm…?

“You have a lot of books. I’m jealous. I wish I had something like this. I can read these books, right?”

Jaegun was already going into the study.

Suhee’s face became pale.

She had completely forgotten. She had to stop him. Especially Jaegun who would read so much.

“Hm. What. Jaegun.”

“What? Why?”

Jaegun answered as he was pulling out a book. Suhee said plainly, trying to hide her feelings.

“We have to eat. Read later.”

“Ok. Just 10 minutes.”

“No.. no…!”

Jaegun would pull out every book in 10 minutes. She knew how much he loved books. Suhee stopped Jaegun just as he was about to pull out a book.

“Wa, wait. You have to help me.”

“Oh? Ok.”

Jaegun put the book back and went out of the study. Suhee locked the door and sighed in relief. It would be a horror if she was a just a minute late. Her heart beat quickly.

“What should I do?”

“Hm? Ah…”

Suhee stopped. She actually didn’t need help.

“Could you wash the rice? Only for 3 bowls.”

“Ok.”

Jaegun quickly cleaned the rice. He already knew how to do this.

He quickly went back to the study and pulled the door. But it didn’t move.

“Ah? Wait, why is it locked?”

“Oh… I think it’s locked. What do I do?I don’t know where the key is.”

Suhee was saying calmly.

“Don’t worry. It’s somewhere here. I can search after you leave.”

“Oh? I’m sorry. I think it’s my fault.”

“No, I must have accidentally locked it.”

The problem was solved. Suhee moved away and started to cook. Hyojin helped.

As the girls prepared the dishes. Jaegun and Jongjin was sitting down.

Jongjin said looking at them.

“Such a girl who cooks is so pretty.”

“Not a girl, but Hyojin. You say that even though you went to go get a karaoke helper.”

“Shush. They can hear. And only that time. Not anymore.”

Jongjin warned him.

Jaegun smiled bitterly and shook his head. He thought of Dasul. She was probably sleeping after a working day.

‘Oh, I haven’t gotten a reply yet.’

He sent a message. When the book comes out, he would sign it and give the first one to her. But Dasul didn’t reply.

‘What happened?’

Jaegun was worried.

Dasul was now an important person to his life. He had gotten a huge help from her. Any person who had helped his life, little or big, deserved a place in his heart.

“Hey, what’s this?”

Jongjin muttered in surprise. Jaegun pushed his thoughts away and said.

“What?”

“This is …crazy?!”

Suhee and Hyojin turned around at the loudness.

Jongjin pushed the phone into Jaegun’s eyes. It was the top ten search list of Navin.

Modern Teen Literary Contest Ha Jaegun

A Dumb Woman

Pyung Cheon Yu Ha Jaegun.

Digital Literary Award Ha Jaegun.

Pyung Cheon Yu previous works

90s Child.

Ha Jaegun Webtoon

Pegelon’s Magician Download.

The Breathe

Pyung Cheon Yu Novels.

“What… What?!”

Jaegun widened his eyes at that too. He didn’t know what happened. 1-10 was all about him.

“Hey, look at your twitter.”

“Ah? Ah.”

Jaegun pulled out his phone. He went on twitter and he breathed in shock.

Amazing writer…ㅋㅋㅋㅋ. Fantasy and Literary at the same time.. GGGG.

Those haters hate. Readers read if it’s good. I hope people won’t care about the genre.

Writer is a genius;;; Fantasy, martial arts, and just pure literature.

Is Ha Jaegun the name. Or Pyung Cheon Yu?

I’m in middle school. But my mom doesn’t want me to read fantasy. But she bought me Ha Jaegun’s the Breathe. She might let me buy the Pegelon series as well. Writer, Thank you.

Wrecking the Harry Potter in one year?

When he going into Hollywood?”

When the nobel literature prize???ㅋㅋㅋ

He thought it was someone else’s.

But it was his. His 5000 followers blew up to about 55000.

What happened in one day? Even though the this award was a big one, it wouldn’t have been this big.

Beep!!!

His phone vibrated. The name of Jo Segyung flashed on his screen. He remembered his promise to not reveal his fantasy novels.

He answered the call nervously.

“Hello?”

-Hello, Teacher Ha Jaegun, this is Jo Segyung. (TN: Couldn’t think of a better word for a respectable name)

“Yes, Hello.”

Jaegun felt weird listening to that.

He was a writer and now he was being called a teacher. It was kind of embarrassing to hear that.

-I’d like to talk to you. Are you busy?

“I’m fine. You can go ahead.”

Jaegun answered.

Jongjin went over to Suhee and Hyojin and showed them his phone. The two girls couldn’t believe their eyes when they saw the list.

-The book is planned to be published in 4 weeks. There will be no changes in the schedule as of now.

“Ah, thank you.”

-And also, about the schedule. There will be a signing event at a store as stated on the contract. Do you have any problems?

“No.”

Jaegun was shaking his hand.

He was going to have to change his signature to something better.

-And there is a radio show.

“Yes? Radio?”

-Yes, Writer’s Night. It will just be mostly a question and answer show. It’s not that long either.

“Hm, ok. I will remember.”

-Thank you. Do you have any question?”

“There’s nothing really… hm…”

Jaegun looked towards the kitchen

They were still looking at him in surprise.

“Did you see the internet?”

-The internet?

“I think everyone knows I’m Pyung Cheon Yu and I wrote novels with that name.

The other person laughed slightly

An answer continued.

-Yes I saw. It’s a better reaction than we expected. Personally, I felt that the readers are less stubborn with their choices now. It’s a good thing. I don’t think you need to worry.

“Yes…”

-Is there anything else?

“That was it. Thank you.”

-Ok. I will contact you later.

“Yes, thank you.”

Jaegun hung up. Jongjin and Hyojin both ran over quickly. And fought to ask.

“What? Where is it from?”

“It’s the contest, right? Is it because of that?”

Suhee was also looking with worried eyes.

Jaegun waved.

“Nothing. She said not to worry.”

“And then. A radio?”

“I have to have a signing event. And a radio.”

“Radio?!”

“Yeah, Writer’s Night.”

Jongjin grabbed his neck and acted like he was dying.

Hyojin was also acting up.

“Han Hesun went there too. Wow, this is crazy.”

“Yes, Jaegun. You might become a star?”

Jaegun shook his head and smiled shyly.

“A star for one radio? And not many people watch that. How many people would watch that?”

“Who cares about who watches and stuff? It’s all about the fact that you’re good enough to make it on the show, no?”

Suhee came over and said the same.

“Yes, Jaegun. It doesn’t matter. That is good enough in itself. Congrats.”

Jaegun looked up at Suhee.

In her face, there a beautiful smile. Jaegun smiled awkwardly back when his eyes glanced at the kitchen.

“Ah, Suhee. The stew.”

“Oh. What!”

Suhee ran over there.

Hyojin ran over too.

Jaegun and Jongjin smiled at each other and fist bumped.

It was a personal signal. One that showed that spring wasn’t far away

TL NOTE – ㅋㅋㅋ means a laugh. I don’t really want to replace it with like lol or anything so.

Chapter 76

The wind was really cold. The world itself was becoming cold.

But time was still moving without freezing.

One winter day.

Jaegun bought his book, Storm and Gale. He was going to see Professor Han Hesun.

“The book looks good.”

In the quiet office, there was a warm atmosphere. Hesun examined the book.

“I like this instead of some drawing.”

“I like it, too.”

Jaegun answered.

Hesun opened the book. On the first page, there was one sentence in the white paper.

I offer this book to Dasul and her life.

“Who’s Dasul?”

“Ahah, yes.”

He quickly explained to Hesun excluding the talk about Jongjin.

Hesun laughed when she heard that.

“Of course, that’s like you. An action writer. That’s good. A writer needs to feel a lot of feelings. You need to learn and feel more things and understand them”

“Yes, I know.”

The clock was heading to 12.

“Um, Professor, It’s lunch…”

Tap!

There was a knock noise behind Jaegun’s back. Hesun lifted her head.

“Come in.”

3-4 people came in.

When they saw Jaegun, they froze in place.

They forgot to even greet Hesun.

“Ja, Jaegun…?”

“It’s you. It’s been a while.”

Jaegun smiled and said.

They were his college colleagues. They had come to give a present and greet Hesun.

“Why are you all of you surprised? Sit down.”

The people woke up at that.

And then they greeted Hesun and politely gave the gifts they brought.

“Professor, I hope good things happen to you.”

“Thank you for helping me.”

“It’s nothing, but I hope you like it.”

Hesun didn’t really care for their presents.

She didn’t like the presents they gave for no reason. She told them not to bring these pointless presents so many times, but they didn’t listen. She gave up a long time ago.

“Yes, thank you. Put it on the desk.”

Hesun said.

It was a terrible feeling. She didn’t like her students who tried to gain her respect with this.

“Aha…”

One person’s glance went to the book in Hesun’s hand.

Everyone knew.

The winner.

That’s why they were surprised from seeing Jaegun.

“You’ve heard, right?”

“Yes, yes… professor. Of course.”

“I hope you guys read it. It’s really good. It will help your writing as well.”

At that, the people smiled forcefully.

They were all shivering. With jealous eyes, they were glancing at Jaegun.

‘Hahaha…’

Jaegun only laughed to himself.

It was always like this.

There were only a few people like Jongjin and Suhee who didn’t become jealous.

“Don’t you have anything to say to him?”

Hesun said.

And then, they started to say congrats to Jaegun.

“Congrats.”

“I’ll read it.”

“I’ll buy it when I get home.”

It was a voice of no soul.

Even they didn’t know if this soulless praise came from their heart.

“Thanks.”

Jaegun also said. He looked at Hesun.

Hesun bitterly smiled and nodded.

“You’re leaving?”

“I think you’re busy so I will leave now.”

He didn’t want to waste time between these jealous kids. Hesun understood this.

“Professor, you should eat. What do you want?”

“I bought a car. What do you want.”

The colleagues started to say as Jaegun was about to leave.

Jaegun was heading towards the door.

“Ah, Jaegun. Wait.”

Hesun clapped.

Jaegun turned around.

“Yes?”

“I almost forgot. It’s nothing, but you should give a lecture.”

“Lect…ure?

“Yes, there’s an orientation. Come and give a lecture.”

Jaegun widened his eyes.

The colleagues did too. They were more shocked then Jaegun.

One colleague was having trouble even standing up as he leaned against the desk.

“I’ll give you the money.”

Hesun winked at him.

But Jaegun couldn’t answer back.

‘I… give a lecture?’

The orientation was not something to be taken lightly. Many people of the press came and it was a highly valued event. For some writers, this could be the making of a career.

No one who graduated from here has given a lecture yet.

If Jaegun accepted, he would be the first.

“No?”

“No, Professor…I’m just surprised. I’ll try my best.”

Jaegun answered. The colleague’s eyes were shaking hard.

“Thank you for this opportunity.”

“Yes. Let’s talk later. Go ahead.”

Jaegun bowed and turned around. He was smiling even though he felt the jealousy from his colleagues.

A lecture offered from Professor Han Hesun. It was an amazing.

Chapter 77

His footsteps were as light and happy as his mind.

His surroundings were getting prettier and brighter.

‘Phew, I still have plenty of time.’

Jaegun turned on the engine.

He needed to meet Dasul.

She was the person that had given him the most help. He needed to meet her today.

It would be fine if he met her earlier.

He didn’t really have anything else to do either. Jaegun called her.

-Hm, yes Writer?

With Dasul’s energetic voice, Jaegun smiled. He answered back with his phone between his head and his shoulder.

“I’m open now. Do you want to meet earlier?”

-Whatever you want. I’m at the bookstore.

“Store? Why?”

-Wow, not the best reaction. If someone heard that, they would think I’m an idiot who never reads books.

“No, not like…”

-Again, Being too serious. I came to buy your book. Haha.

“Wait, Don’t buy it. I have it right now.”

Jaegun said looking at the book. He bought it today. It had his sign and everything.

-Come quickly. I’m at the 4th exit.

“Ok. I’ll be there in 30 minutes.

The traffic was serious.

It felt like there was crash somewhere. Jaegun was waiting impatiently, tapping his hands.

“I’m gonna be late. Is there really a crash?”

He didn’t think he would make it in 30 minutes.

Just then his phone vibrated on the passenger seat.

It was from his sister Jaeyn.

Jaegun laughed. She probably called as soon as she had gotten the book that he had sent to Suwon earlier.

“How is it? Is it good?”

Jaegun asked.

But just then, the next second. His face froze in place. He could hear Jaeyn crying voice.

“What. What is it? What happened?”

-Jaegun…. How….!

Jaegun turned pale as he heard the following words.

The cars were driving ahead in the green light.

However, Jaegun quickly turned to the 1st lane for a u-turn.

‘Hahah, I’m still gonna buy one.’

Dasul smiled like a kid and put his phone away. With her new shoes, she headed towards the store.

‘Ah, I found it.’

She found the book between the many books. It had the banner around it that said ‘31st Modern Teen Literary Contest Winner.’

‘It looks good. Even though he looks cuter in real life.

Dasul smiled again when she saw his picture.

She couldn’t stop the laughing when she kept seeing his face. And her fingers were turning the page.

-I offer this book to Dasul and her life.

The one sentence in the blank page.

Dasul looked with a shocked face in that page.

Her eyes couldn’t believe it. It was her name.

The people were moving around in the store.

There were people moving behind her. Yet, with this, Dasul felt like time stopped for ther.

‘Ha….’

She sighed. Her body turned numb and she felt no sense at all.

And then, her two eyes turned wet.

Her lips were slowly moving up.

“Sorry, But excuse me…”

A person said to Dasul. Just then, Dasul nodded her head and moved away.

‘I’m so mad. Where is he.’

Dasul pushed her wet eyes with her fingers and headed towards the counter.

In her hand, she held the book that made her cry.

She ignored Jaegun who told her not to buy it and went out.

‘About 30 minutes?’

She moved to a cafe. She ordered coffee and started to read.

‘Wow, this is about me from the beginning/’

Dasul fell in the story. The feeling was amazing with her as the model for the character.

Dasul’s expression changed.

She turned surprised, happy, and sad, but the pages kept turning.

She had turned into the character Heyoung.

‘Can I live like that…’

Dasul thought as she read.

It was a feeling that she had felt. When she had gotten a scarf from Jaegun.

The character in the book was surviving by herself. She hadn’t read the ending yet, but she was surviving by herself.

Dasul bitterly smiled.

She didn’t have the confidence to go for her dream like Heyoung did. As she thought of that, she didn’t want to read anymore.

She felt her relationship with Jaegun felt awkward as well.

‘He doesn’t fit with me.’

She knew from the beginning.

A totally different person from her.

She had avoided him since.

What did she come out her to meet him for?

Because of his personality?

He listens well?

A famous and good writer?

She had no answer. A sigh came out.

Beep!

The phone vibrated.

It was from Jaegun.

Dasul coughed and took the call.

“Hm, Writer.”

-Dasul, I’m sorry, but I can’t go.

“Why?”

“I think my dad had just been in a car crash.”\n 

Chapter 78

“What?! A car crash?!”

Dasul said loudly.

A few customers looked at her.

“H, How? How did that happen? How badly?”

– I don’t know, I have to go to the hospital. I got my sister’s call so I’m going. My mom hasn’t picked up. I’m sorry for calling so late.

Just then Dasul realized it’s already been 30 minutes.

But she didn’t care. She shook her head and continued.

“Don’t worry about me. You’re driving, right? Don’t drive recklessly even though you’re in a hurry. Ok?”

-Ok. I’ll call later.

“Hm. Be ok. Your dad will be fine.’

-thank you. I’ll call later.

The call hung up.

Dasul closed her eyes. She didn’t have a religion but she still prayed.

“Stop it. No one died!”

Sukjae said annoyed.

He had just lied down in the bed.

Myungja, Jaeyn, and Jaegun were standing next to the bed. The two girls were sniffling as they had just cried.

“Stop, really. Jaegun, you take your mom and sister and go home.”

Jaegun only looked down at his body. His left wrist and the ball of his right foot was fractured. There were small hits around his body as well.

It was a crash from the apartment that he had worked in. A person had back up, not seeing Sukjae taking out the trash.

Jaegun felt horrible and guilty

If he had just told him more forcefully to stop working.

Then this wouldn’t have happened. It was his fault.

“Now, stop.”

Sukjae’s glance turned to Jaegun. Jaegun continued.

“Don’t work. Stop working. Please,”

Sukjae closed his eyes.

Jaegun waited for an answer.

But Sukjae didn’t respond or open his eyes.

John sighed and turned around.

“Where are you going?”

“To get his clothes.”

“Let me go too. I need to get stuff too. Mom, I’ll go with him.”

Jaegun and Jaeyn went away.

Myungja sat in the chair next to eh bed and said.

“I know you’re not sleeping.”

“Say something. How bad do you think he feels. Why are you so reactionless?”

“I’ll do better so don’t talk to me.”

“What if you had just stopped when he told you to. He’s doing well. He already got so many awards. His books are selling well? He comes up on the internet. Aren’t you proud? Why do you not like him?”

Myungja stood up. She didn’t really expect an answer.

Just then.

“It’s not that.”

Myungja stopped.

He was breathing heavily with his eyes closed. And his voice came out slowly.

“I don’t want to see Jaegun tirelessly writing. He doesn’t sleep or eat for 4 days to write. He smiles and cries in his own thoughts. He doesn’t listen. I screamed and told him to write while taking care of himself. But he doesn’t listen.”

Myungja sat back down.

He continued as he swallowed once.

“He became a writer even when I warned him. That summer, he didn’t come out of his room even once because he was writing.”

She nodded her head. She knew it too.

“Some days, I couldn’t sleep. So I got up pretending to go to the bathroom. And I looked at Jaegun’s room. And you know what I saw? He was bleeding from his nose but he was still typing.”

“I knew then as a father. If this is a writer’s job, I’m not going to let him do that. What does it matter if you’re going to write something for others but you can’t help yourself?”

His face turned pale.

Myungja’s hand was on his hand.

“That day, I hit him. I just had to. It hurts when I think of him. He’s going to write like that forever. Probably yesterday, and today too if I didn’t get hurt.”

Myungja put her head on his chest.

Sukjae put his hand on her hair. It was the result of the years of age.

On Sunday, Bandi and Lunia had a lot of customers.

There was a place for one person just close to the entrance. It was the sign meeting for Writer Ha Jaegun.

‘Phew, I’m nervous.’

Jaegun was looking at himself through the bathroom mirror. His clothes looked nice with a plain sweater and jeans. He wanted to look comfortable to the readers.

‘What if no one comes.’

Jongjin came in.

“Hey, It’s about to start. When are you going to be there?”

“So it’s not like no one came.”

“What. What’s that?”

“No, let’s go.”

Jaegun came out of the bathroom with Jongjin.

It felt good to be with Jongjin.

“Is there a problem?”

A 40s woman smiled at him and said. It was Segyung. It was the first time that he had actually seen her.

“No, I’m fine.”

“Sit down. It’s about to come on the announcements.”

“Jaegun, I’ll be over there.”

“Ah, yes…”

Jaegun sat down on his special place. The people were looking at him. It was so awkward for Jaegun.

“Um… you’re Pyung Cheon Yu, right?”

Jaegun lifted his head quickly.

A teen looking to be in college looked shyly at him.

“Ahah, yes. It’s right.”

“I’m sorry, I was wondering if you could sign this, too.”

The teen pulled out a book of Pegelon’s Magician. Jaegun smiled and nodded.

“Of course.”

“Ah, thank you. I thought you would only do Storm and Gale so I wasn’t sure if I should ask.”

“No this is mine too. What is your name?”

“Ah, Im Park Jusik.”

Jaegun signed carefully.

His practice paid off.

He didn’t care that it wasn’t Storm and Gale.

“Here.”

“Thank you writer. I’ll be reading.”

“Yes, thank you.”

The teen was smiling to himself.

And he pulled out his phone and took a picture of the signature. And went to twitter and posted it.

-ㅋㅋㅋ Pyung Cheon Yu. Got it signed. It was a Storm and Gale sign meeting but I got a sign with Pegelon’s Magician. Haha

There were so many comments that couldn’t all be read.

At the same time, the news spread through the many SNS users.

Not knowing this, Jaegun was only worried about getting embarrassed because no one would come.

Chapter 79

“The announcement is coming.”

Segyung said to Jaegun.

There wasn’t music from the speaker.

Jaegun nervously nodded.

And then

The speaker broadcasted

Announcement. In 5 minutes, on the right side of the front entrance, there will be a signing from Ha Jaegun, the winner of the 31st Modern Teen Literary Contest, for the book Storm and Gale. One more time. In 5 minutes….

“Hm? What. A signing?”

A few people in front of Jaegun stopped and was listening.

And they realized that they were in front of the signing place and looked towards him.

“Who is that? Storm and Gale?”

“I don’t know.”

“Ah, let’s go. I’m hungry,”

“Ok, what?”

The people moved away, losing interest.

Jaegun didn’t really care too much, but Segyung smiled bitterly and said to him.

“Don’t worry.”

“Ah, yes. I’m fine.”

It felt weirder like this.

Jaegun sat down and looked down. It was better than to meet the glances of the people.

The time was moving.

About 10 minutes passed, he thought, and he looked up at the watch.

But it was only about 3 minutes.

‘I didn’t think this would happen…’

He didn’t care about how many people came. It would fine if it ended with that one person. He felt like that before this started.

But the problem was that time moved so slowly.

If this continued for a few hours with no one coming?

Seeing the glances of the people?

It was horror.

“Sign please.”

Jaegun looked up. He smiled happily.

“What’s up? I thought you had work?”

“I wanted to surprise you.”

It was Suhee. By her clothes, he could tell the coldness of the outside.

“Sign it.”

“Ah, ok.”

Jaegun signed carefully. He did it more carefully because it was Suhee. But the result was a mess.

“I’m sorry, I practiced…”

Suhee laughed as she check it.

“No, it’s cute. But you look nervous.”

“I’m a human. Ah, did you see Jongjin.”

“Oh, Jongjin. Hey.”

Suhee moved towards Jongjin. Her shoes made a sound on the ground.

Jaegun looked ahead of him. The presence of Suhee was giving him confidence.

“Hello. We want a sign please.”

Two girls came and pulled out Storm and Gale.

About 20 years old. It was a young face.

Jaegun asked.

“Thank you. What’s your name”

“Se Gisu.”

“I’m Jung Yehin. Oh and I’m your college junior.”

“Yes?”

“I’m a student in the literary department for Myunggyung University.”

The two girls laughed, looking at each other.

Jaegun stopped his signing and looked up surprised.

“Welcome. Wow, I will see you at orientation then.”

“Oh, really? Writer, you’re coming? To give a lecture?”

Jaegun answered with a shy smile and finished the sign. And added.

“I’ll see you then.”

“Yes… and oh! Can you take a picture with us?”

Jaegun turned around to Segyung. She smiled comfortably and said yes.

And then the two girls went next to Jaegun and took a picture.

“Thank you. You really write well. I brag about you alot.”

“No, he’s busy. We’ll leave. Good luck.”

“Yes, thank you.”

The two girls bowed to him and turned around.

Jaegun looked at them with proudness in his heart. It was the good feeling that he was a good senior for them.

“Hello.”

“Aha, yes, thank you.”

A few readers also came and got a sign. It was about 3-4 minutes per person, so it wasn’t huge.

‘Maybe there wasn’t enough advertising…?’

Segyung felt a bit worried.

It was already 30 minutes.

And there were only 11 people who came to get the book signed.

Jongin and Suhee was worrying as well. There were way too little people coming.

Just then.

‘Hm…?’

Suhee looked.

The girl that came out Jaegun felt familiar. She remembered that it was Jaegun’s previous editor. She saw her at Jaegun’s room.

“It’s nice to see you here.”

Jaegun was taking the book from her. He didn’t know that Somii would come as well,

“Of course. I’m a reader of yours.”

Somii smiled cutely and shook her body from side to side. She had a bun with her hair.

“Is it doing well?”

“Of course. My wrist already hurts. I forgot how much I signed from the 10th book.”

Somii laughed at that.

Next to her, a few teens came to him.

“Um…Writer Pyung Cheon Yu, could you sign this?”

“Me too.”

It was the Modern Rankings and the Pegelon’s Swordsman.

Jaegun signed. The teens couldn’t hide their joy.

“Somii, did you eat?”

Three more people came at that. They all pulled out the Ranking series.

“Could you sign this?”

“Of course. What’s your name?”

Jaegun told Somii to wait a bit with his glance.

But before that, more readers came.

“Ah thank you. Here. What’s your name?”

“Kim Jung Tek.”

More readers came behind those readers. And after that, more readers stood behind those.

There were already 10 people in the line.

‘Ah? What.’

Jaegun was surprised at the sudden increase, but he started to sign.

There was no Storm and Gale. They were all previous books he wrote with the name Pyung Cheon Yu

“Writer, here. Won’t you write more Pegelon?”

“When is the Ranking webtoon coming out? And could you sign all 10 books?”

“Writer, can you take a picture with me?”

Jaegun had no time to stop talking or writing.

He could feel the sweat dripping from his forehead and the stress from his hands and shoulders.

Chapter 80

“Ah, what is this? Jongjin.”

Suhee asked in surprise.

She went to the restroom and all of sudden, everything changed.

There were 30 people in the previously empty line.

“No idea. I think someone posted on Twitter.”

Jongjin said.

“On Twitter and Facebook, there’s news of a Pyung Cheon Yu signing meeting. I searched it up. They’re all Ranking books or Pegelon books.”

“I see, then I guess those genre readers are more active?”

“I don’t know. But it’s more like a Pyung Cheon Yu signing meeting.”

Jongjin laughed.

Suhee smiled as well.

Yet Segyung couldn’t smile.

‘This is awkward.’

She liked that the line was getting more attention. But it wasn’t for Storm and Gale by Ha Jaegun.

But the line blew up again.

It was about 50 people now.

‘I need to do something. Let’s split the line.’

Segyung moved after a thought. There were people who wanted to get Storm and Gale signed. It was fair to get their books signed first.

“I believe we need to split the line.”

Segyung said to him.’

Jaegun nodded without stopping his hand. Segyung went to the see the director.

‘Phew… I’m thirsty.’

Jaegun wiped away his sweat.

There was no time to rest. The line had no intention of moving away.

“Writer Ha. Here take this.”

Somii brought a cold coffee. Jaegun smiled and reached out.

But it wasn’t coffee that he got but corn tea.

“If you drink coffee, it makes it worse. Here.”

Suhee said as she gave him it. She was smiling. Yet, she looked at Somii a bit suspiciously before turning normal.

“O, oh. I’m sorry. Writer.”

Somii greeted Suhee after putting the coffee down.

“Hello. I am Jung Somii that you saw before.”

“Yes, Hello.”

Suhee said in a sort of a cold voice.

That was it.

The two girls had no conversation between them.

Jaegun didn’t have time to look at either one of them.

Jongjin ran quickly just then

“Hey, Jaegun. where’ s your director. The line is all the way out of the front entrance.”

“What? Really?”

“The door’s just not open. There’s about 200 people. Twitter and facebook spread the news.

Jongjin said it. Suhee was taking off her coat. Her figure with the skinny one piece was very pretty.

“I’ll help.”

“Suhee? Are you ok?”

“I will. I’ll get interest back so don’t worry.”

Suhee smiled as she put her coat away.

Somii also put away her coat with a determined face.

“I’ll help too. I will try to turn the line right.”

“Ah I’m sorry. I’ll repay you.”

“No, I like this.”

Suhee and Somii both moved away in different directions.

Jongjin had no idea what to do when the director came back with one employee.

“Are you a friend of Writer Ha? Could you help us set this up?”

“Ah, of course. Here.”

Jongjin with Somii and Suhee had work.

The line continued.

The store employees in the genre section also became busy.

“Hey, do you have any more Modern Rankings?”

“Lee went to the storage. But the Pegelon series might run out.”

“What? Don’t you have 100 books? Crud. Give me everything, but call me.”

Pyung Cheon Yu’s books were selling fast.

The customers were choosing the books quickly.

The employees were busy putting the books back in place from the storage, replacing the taken ones.

About 1 hour from the meeting.

One picture came on the internet.

It was the picture of the line of the signing event.

-Ack. Pyung Cheon Yu signing event. Hahah. One loss to the Writer Ha Jaegun.

-I came to get the Storm and Gale signed, but the line was too long so I barely got it. The line was separated but it got split all of a sudden….

– I don’t like it. Maybe they didn’t realize that these many people might come. It’s not the writer’s fault but..

– Pyung Cheon Yu’s novels are all gone in that store. There are no books. They can’t sell it because they don’t have anymore. ㅋㅋㅋㅋ

-Is everyone who says this in the store? I’m in the line too.

The attention was all coming to the event. The most attention went to the two girls helping the event out.

-I’m in the line. I was close so I came to get a sign. But the girl who is helping out the line, she’s really pretty.

-Ah that, girl with the bun hair? I saw her. Really cute and pretty.

-Not that girl, but the one piece girl???

-I don’t know what;;; it’s the bun girl and not the one piece but with skinny jeans and sneakers

-Nah, the brown one piece girl. The stocking is really great. ㅋㅋ

-The two girls are different. Writer must know them.

-I just talked to the one piece girl. Wow, amazingly beautiful. Thought she was an actress. His girlfriend???

-What. ㅋㅋㅋㅋ Not about the signing event? I gotta go too.

-I’m going too. I want to see what this is all about.

-I think the bun girl is cuter. My favorite style.

Suhee and Somii didn’t realize because they were helping out with the event.

That they had turned out on SNS to be a hot searching word with ‘one piece girl’ and ‘bun girl,’