You're a Fool, Author
Around dinner time, in a back alley off Gangnam-daero.
A black van with a somewhat imposing presence pulled in.
"Oh my god! Isn't that Serazade?"
"It's Serazade!"
As the members of Serazade stepped out, the surrounding area instantly grew noisy.
"Hello, we are Serazade~"
As if used to it, Han Se-rin and the members waved lightly.
Then, Han Se-rin and the rest of Serazade quickly headed inside the restaurant.
Serazade really is Serazade.
Park Geon-woo, who followed them into the restaurant a moment later, was amazed all over again by their popularity.
Every single passerby who had witnessed them getting out of the van stared with eyes full of envy and admiration.
"...?"
Suddenly, Park Geon-woo's eyes widened.
Inside the refrigerated display case, jars of beef were lined up. The cheapest one was priced in the three hundred thousand won range.
"Could we get this, this, this, this, and this, please?"
Han Se-rin pointed to the beef-filled jars without a moment's hesitation.
"Se-rin? Isn't this way too expensive? Are you sure it's okay?"
Even if three years had passed, a cup of instant ramen and a roll of gimbap still only cost about three thousand won.
Park Geon-woo was worried about Han Se-rin.
"If I'm going to repay a favor, I have to do it right. Oh, and could we get the ribeye too?"
Han Se-rin was unstoppable.
Seeing Park Geon-woo's lingering look of concern, Han Se-rin leaned in and whispered softly.
"Besides, I have plenty of money. Don't worry about a thing, Author, and just focus on eating."
"Se-rin, it'll be a waste if we have leftovers."
Park Geon-woo was still anxious about how much she was spending.
Watching him fret, dimples carved deep into Han Se-rin's cheeks.
"So cute."
"Pardon?"
Park Geon-woo doubted his own ears at her quiet murmur.
C-cute? Me?
Regardless of his reaction, Han Se-rin remained perfectly nonchalant.
"Let's go in, Author. I booked a private room."
"A reservation?"
It seemed this dinner wasn't a spontaneous decision after all.
"Author Park Geon, you have no idea that everything has been planned from the very beginning, do you?"
Ju Ja-yoon teased him with a knowing look.
"Excuse me?"
Park Geon-woo was genuinely clueless.
"It's nothing, Author. Ju Ja-yoon... do you want to keep talking nonsense?"
"Time to bail."
Shrinking under Han Se-rin's icy glare, Ju Ja-yoon quickly scurried into the reserved room.
"Let's head in too."
Han Se-rin tugged gently on Park Geon-woo's sleeve.
Watching them, their manager, Kim Mi-seon, simply smiled.
Sizzle. Inside the elegant, traditional room, beautifully marbled beef began to cook.
On one side of the table sat a stack of jars containing almost every cut imaginable: flank, top blade, skirt, short plate, striploin, and ribeye.
"Can we really eat all of this? I know I'm a guy, but I don't actually eat as much as you'd think."
"Don't worry, we can finish it all, Author."
"Yeah, don't underestimate a girl group's appetite."
Lim Yeon-doo, the leader, and Ju Ja-yoon took turns reassuring Park Geon-woo.
"Wow... but this is the first time I've ever seen Se-rin grill meat..."
Seo Ra-hee wore a look of utter disbelief.
Han Se-rin was sitting right next to Park Geon-woo, holding the tongs and diligently grilling the beef.
"When have I ever not grilled meat, Ra-hee? Think carefully."
"S-sorry. I remember now."
Shrinking under Han Se-rin's clear, warning gaze, Seo Ra-hee quickly changed the subject.
Han Se-rin blew gently on a piece of beef to cool it down.
Then, she held it out to Park Geon-woo.
"Author~ Say ah~"
"Ah..."
Though it was incredibly awkward, it was the first piece of meat cooked, so Park Geon-woo politely accepted the bite Han Se-rin fed him.
But that wasn't the end of it.
"Author~ Say ah again~"
The moment Park Geon-woo swallowed, Han Se-rin was already holding out another piece.
"Haha... Se-rin?"
"Eat up. Please?"
Left with no choice, Park Geon-woo accepted the meat.
As he did, his gaze drifted to Han Se-rin's slender, pale wrist.
It'll be bad if hot oil splatters on her.
Ultimately, Park Geon-woo reached out.
"Give me the tongs."
"Huh? I'll grill it for you, Author."
"Hmm. Have you ever heard of the Maestro of the Grill?"
"Pardon? Author?"
Han Se-rin and the other members stared at him, wondering what on earth he was talking about.
Park Geon-woo offered a gentle smile.
"It basically means I'm really good at grilling meat. Hand them over. You won't regret it."
Park Geon-woo took the tongs from Han Se-rin.
Under the watchful eyes of Han Se-rin and the Serazade members,
Park Geon-woo skillfully managed the beef across two separate grills.
"Here, I'll start with Manager Kim and Yeon-doo."
Perfected pieces of beef were placed onto their plates.
"And these are for Ja-yoon and Ra-hee."
A piece of beef landed on each of their plates as well.
"Whoa! It literally melts in my mouth!"
Seo Ra-hee gasped in surprise.
"Silly, it's short plate. Of course it melts."
"No, Ja-yoon, I'm serious. Try it."
"Wait, is this for real?"
Even the skeptical Ju Ja-yoon was shocked.
Since this was a restaurant they frequented, they knew exactly what the beef here usually tasted like.
She had eaten the piece on her plate without much thought,
but the beef Park Geon-woo grilled was on an entirely different level.
"....?"
Park Geon-woo, who had been smiling warmly, suddenly paused.
"....."
For some reason, Han Se-rin's face had stiffened.
What's wrong? Is she really hungry?
Not quite understanding, Park Geon-woo placed two pieces of beef onto Han Se-rin's plate first.
"Oh. I get two pieces, Author?"
"Ah, yes. I figured you worked hard trying to grill earlier. And since you fed me two pieces, it's only fair I give you two back."
"I knew it..."
Muttering "...he's so sweet" under her breath, Han Se-rin's expression gradually brightened.
Shortly after,
at a subtle signal from Han Se-rin, the atmosphere among the Serazade members shifted.
Or rather, it became distinctly awkward.
"Author Park Geon, do you have a girlfriend?"
Lim Yeon-doo was the first to ask.
She sounded almost like a robot.
"A girlfriend? No, I don't."
Though caught off guard, Park Geon-woo answered honestly.
For some reason, the corners of Han Se-rin's mouth twitched upward.
"A-are you seeing anyone? Or talking to someone?"
"Pardon? Talking to someone?"
It was Seo Ra-hee this time.
Talking to someone? They're getting that specific?
"No, I'm not."
He knew a few female authors, but they were strictly colleagues.
Han Se-rin's slightly upturned lips curled even higher.
"Okay, confirmed. Then what's your type?"
This time, Ju Ja-yoon chimed in.
"Hmm..."
Park Geon-woo set the tongs down for a moment.
"....."
Han Se-rin's smile vanished as she focused with absolute intensity.
"I don't think I have a specific type. Everyone has their own unique charm. But if I had to choose, I like someone who is confident in themselves."
"Oh?"
Ju Ja-yoon let out an impressed sound.
"That's literally Se-rin..."
At Seo Ra-hee's quiet whisper, Han Se-rin wore a deeply satisfied expression.
"In that case, I have more questions. When you first met Se-rin—"
"Stop. That's enough."
Han Se-rin cut Ju Ja-yoon off.
"Why? I was just getting to the good stuff!"
"You're making our Author uncomfortable."
"Tsk. You're the one who told us to ask the things you wanted to know—mmph!"
Han Se-rin leaped up and clamped her hand over Ju Ja-yoon's mouth.
"....?"
Park Geon-woo watched, completely bewildered by the chaos.
"The author seems really innocent. Don't you think so, Ra-hee?"
"Yeah, Yeon-doo. I think so too. It's a relief."
Lim Yeon-doo and Seo Ra-hee quietly conversed as they watched Park Geon-woo focus back on grilling the beef.
Before they knew it, the jars on the table were completely empty.
By chance, only Park Geon-woo and Han Se-rin were left in the room.
"But Author, how are you so good at grilling meat? You're better than the professional servers here."
Han Se-rin was grateful to Park Geon-woo for grilling the entire time, but she was also genuinely curious.
"I used to write during the day, work at a cafe in the afternoon, and then work at a barbecue restaurant from evening until dawn. I guess my body just remembers the motion."
"What...?"
A look of deep sorrow instantly filled Han Se-rin's eyes.
As a devoted reader, Han Se-rin had known for a long time that Park Geon-woo's heart and overall health were poor.
To think that on top of writing, he had worked part-time at a cafe during the day and a barbecue joint at night.
She finally understood why his health had deteriorated so badly.
"Se-rin...?"
Park Geon-woo, who had spoken casually without much thought, was startled.
"Author..."
Tears welled up in Han Se-rin's jewel-like eyes.
From their very first meeting at the convenience store, Park Geon-woo was the kind of person who had handed over his last bit of money without hesitation.
Recalling the comments they had exchanged back when she was just a reader, she could paint a clear picture of the life Park Geon-woo had endured over the past three years.
"What's wrong? Did something happen?"
"I just feel so bad for you... I should have appeared in front of you sooner. I really should have."
Perhaps it was because of her first impression of him when she was nineteen—like a prickly hedgehog.
Han Se-rin had wanted to wait until she could stand proudly before him.
"....."
Park Geon-woo's eyes wavered, mirroring the tears that threatened to spill from hers.
It had been a long time since anyone had worried over him like this, calling him pitiful.
Park Geon-woo had always been too resilient, too stoic, to receive comfort.
Yet Han Se-rin was understanding the sheer weight of the life he had lived.
Park Geon-woo felt incredibly, deeply grateful to her.
So, rather than sharing in her sadness, he spoke up, pretending it was nothing.
"I'm fine, Se-rin."
"You always say you're fine. You're a fool, Author."
He had always been like this, even back when she was just a reader.
When his chronic illness delayed his updates, he said he was fine.
When readers worried and urged him to rest, he said he was fine.
Why was "I'm fine" the only phrase this man knew?
"When you're clearly not..."
"...I really am fine now. It's all thanks to you, Se-rin."
Park Geon-woo offered a faint smile.
Then, he looked up at the night sky.
Even in the smog-filled sky of Gangnam, it felt as though stars might appear.
"Ever since I met you again on Christmas, every single day has felt like a gift. Truly."
Once just an ordinary web novel writer, Park Geon-woo was now classified as an S-class author.
His two works were selling like hotcakes.
And he was even appearing on a major network variety show.
Park Geon-woo felt like he was living in a dream.
"So don't say you should have appeared sooner. From where I stand, the timing was perfect."
He meant it.
On his way home alone from the year-end writers' meetup,
Park Geon-woo had been ready to give up.
On web novels, on everything.
"Hmm... how should I put it... It was like scoring a comeback goal right before the end of the second half..."
"Pfft. You know how to make jokes like that?"
With tears still in her eyes, Han Se-rin burst into laughter.
"Didn't you know? I'm actually a writer who's good at comedy."
"Speaking as a representative of your readers, you're not that funny."
"Ah, is that so?"
Park Geon-woo scratched his head.
"But reading your stories always warms my heart before I know it."
"Thank you, Han Gyeo-wool."
"Author Park Geon, if you're grateful, hurry up and write a new work."
"Ah. I'm writing it, okay? If you pressure me like this, I might..."
"Do you want to eat fried dumplings?"
"I prefer boiled dumplings over fried ones..."
They bantered back and forth.
"Haha."
"Hehe."
Park Geon-woo and Han Se-rin looked at each other and laughed.
"Huh?"
Suddenly, buzz, buzz.
Park Geon-woo's phone abruptly began to vibrate.