Chapter 242
Chapter 242
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Translator: Ace
Chapter: 242
Chapter Title: 78. Regarding Romantic Feelings (6)
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A moment of hesitation passed.
Bom accepted the business card with utmost caution.
"Whoa?"
Exclamations erupted from the authors who had been listening intently.
"Here’s the contract. Take a look at it beforehand. My manager will be here soon, and we can wrap up the film rights deal then."
This time, Carrot Girl cut in from the side. Her arm brushed against Yoo Ji-tae’s. She handed over the paper bag containing the contract.
Bom’s gaze slowly shifted to Carrot Girl before accepting the bag.
Unable to hold back any longer, one of the authors spoke up.
"Whoa! That’s huge!"
"You really made it big...! Congratulations, Author-nim!"
"Wow......"
Applause broke out around them. "Congratulations!" "Whoa, I’m so jealous...!" A few envious glances flickered by. It was that big of an opportunity.
Bom said nothing. She simply clutched the paper in both hands. Then, a veteran novelist and executive from the Horror Association shot to his feet with a hearty "Hahaha!" and raised his champagne glass.
"Hahaha! This is truly joyous news. We couldn’t promise film adaptations to everyone due to our limitations... but for you to step in like this? Thank you, Carrot Girl Author-nim."
"Do better next year. At least give OSMU contract rights up to the silver award, right? Even if the original novel isn’t popular."
A remark that painted the entire association as incompetent. Utterly arrogant, but on this day, it was forgiven.
After all, a gold award novel from the association getting adapted into a film could subtly credit the association’s choices and support.
"Haha! We’ll strive harder. On this happy occasion, let’s all toast!"
"Ooh—!"
"Sounds good!"
The authors jumped up with their champagne glasses.
Last of all, Bom rose slowly, champagne glass in one hand.
"Alright! Broccoli Author-nim, how about you give the toast?"
No response.
"Come on!"
"Yeah, share some of that luck with us!"
Urging voices surrounded her.
Bom hesitated with her glass raised, then spoke.
"I’ll forfeit the gold award."
It was like cold water dousing the room. Those parroting "Gold award..." snapped their mouths shut.
The excited atmosphere plummeted.
Huh? Some blinked, thinking they’d misheard. But Bom hadn’t misspoke.
"I’ll withdraw my novel manuscript too."
"W-Wait a minute, Broccoli Author-nim?"
"Sorry to say this on such a happy day."
With that, Bom set down her champagne glass and tore the contract to shreds right in front of Carrot Girl.
It was a magically binding contract. But before a dragon’s grip strength and mana, it shredded futilely.
Everyone was stunned. A film adaptation was every author’s dream. What on earth was she doing?
Even angrier was Carrot Girl.
"Hey."
Bom ignored her and kept tearing.
"Hey! Broccoli! Are you insane?"
Her hands moved faster. Bom tore and tore and tore the contract, as if to reduce it to powder.
She tossed aside the confetti-like scraps. Then she took hold of the business card Yoo Ji-tae had offered. She seemed about to tear it too, but stopped. Bom couldn’t bring herself to rip the card.
What the hell was wrong with her?
Amid the bewilderment, Carrot Girl, feeling ignored, yelled at Bom.
"Hey, hey! What the hell do you think you’re doing?"
Surprised authors raised their arms to block her.
"I’m asking you! What the hell are you doing!?"
"I’m not doing the film adaptation."
"Then just say no! Why tear it up? You win one award as a kid and think you’re above everyone. Huh? Ignoring me like I’m nothing?"
"And?"
"What?"
"How far do I have to play along with you humans’ games?"
Carrot Girl froze at Bom’s words.
It was weird. Not because of the informal speech. There was something chilling about Broccoli’s tone, like it sent shivers down her spine.
Her pupils seemed to slit vertically for a moment. But a blink revealed it as an illusion.
Still, she couldn’t contain her rage at the arrogance. Carrot Girl shouted.
"Hey, Broccoli! You think you can ever make it back in this industry after this!?"
As Carrot Girl yelled, veins bulging in her neck, others rushed in. "C-Calm down!" "What is this...!" They hurriedly restrained her.
It seemed best not to hear more. Yoo Ji-tae met Carrot Girl’s eyes. He thought about gagging her. And she stiffened rigidly.
That was when.
Bom picked up her champagne glass. And stepped toward Carrot Girl.
No way, he thought, but he had to stop her.
"Bom. Calm down. This is the moment you were so happy about."
Yoo Ji-tae blocked Bom’s path.
Then, for the first time, emotion cracked the blank expression Bom had worn through all the talk.
"You want to ruin all your hard work?"
"......"
"Bom—"
"......"
The faint expression intensified. Tears welled in her eyes. Her brows furrowed in an eight shape. Bom bit her lip.
Stopping her here would hurt her happiness irreparably.
Her eyes seemed to plead: Be on my side, at least you.
Instinct surged. If he froze now—
Bom brushed past him and splashed champagne right in Carrot Girl’s face, as others held her back.
Whoaaa? The cries came too late.
She poured so forcefully it slapped with a splash.
"Aaaah! You crazy bitch—!"
The full glass soaked Carrot Girl’s face, hair, and clothes. Her carefully styled updo unraveled into a mess. Her thin dress clung wetly. Shocked managers rushed over with napkins to surround her.
Chaos erupted. The authors couldn’t comprehend. Why would sweet-looking Broccoli do this? Everyone froze in shock.
Then a low, small voice rang through the entire hall.
"Sorry for ruining the happy occasion. Please strip me of all rights and qualifications. Contact me if there’s any responsibility to take."
She bowed deeply and said in a melancholic tone,
"...I’ll never write a novel again."
Uncontrollable mana from her wildly pulsing dragon heart rode her words. Bom had uttered it almost like a Dragon Tongue.
With that, Bom calmly exited.
No one, crushed by the atmosphere, could chase her.
Except Yoo Ji-tae.
Bom’s steps were swift.
He chased after her.
Suddenly, her body floated into the air and vanished. Teleport. Yoo Ji-tae closed his eyes and tracked her trace. Not far. In the nearby waiting room they’d used earlier.
He moved quickly. Through walls. Eyes shut, sinking into darkness.
When he opened them again, he was at the waiting room door. The lights, unaware of him, stayed off.
Yoo Ji-tae opened the door and entered. In the lit room, he saw Bom’s back slumped on the sofa.
He approached her.
"Bom."
"......Yes."
"What the hell are you doing? Why did you do that?"
"......"
"I’m asking for a reason. What was that?"
"......"
Bom had no answer. For a long while.
"I’m not blaming you. I just can’t understand. When was it you first said let’s write a novel together? Almost a year ago. Nearly a year of effort. Why ruin it with your own hands?"
"......"
"The film deal too. I prepared it for you. What didn’t you like that you had to throw a tantrum? Huh?"
"......"
"It would’ve all gone perfectly if you’d just stayed quiet. But you wrecked it? Answer me. Why?"
A trembling voice emerged.
"...Just a little."
"What?"
"...Give me a little time."
Bom’s body began to glow with light. About to teleport away.
But he couldn’t let her this time. This needed resolving here.
He grabbed her shoulder and disrupted her mana.
"Yoo Bom."
Pulling her shoulder made her turn, yielding to his strength.
Bom looked up at him blankly.
Tears streaming from her eyes.
"......"
Bom was crying. With a very familiar expression.
His mind went blank.
He’d seen Bom cry a few times in the 7th round. Once from pity. Once from heartache.
But now, blankly meeting his eyes while crying... it was different.
Like the end of the 6th round.
When she’d shared the story she’d kept in her heart.
And cried. That Bom overlapped with the current one.
It stemmed from failed communication.
"What do you plan to do by running? I don’t know anything."
Then and now. Bom surely had her reasons.
But then, he hadn’t listened.
Now, she wouldn’t speak.
"Talk to me. So I can hear and understand!"
His voice rose slightly.
Tears rolling down her cheeks.
Bom breathed raggedly through her nose, anxious and excited. Then, unable to hold back, her eyes scrunched.
"......She likes you."
"What?"
Choking back sobs, Bom spoke.
"...That woman said she went on a date with you."
"A date?"
"...Wasn’t it?"
What crazy nonsense had that woman spouted?
Yoo Ji-tae felt irritation surge.
"No."
Bom continued, sobbing like a child.
"...That woman calls you Ji-tae... Said you ate together... Said just looking at you is nice... Said you’re sexy... Said she wants you, Ajusshi..."
Then, swallowing hard, she went on.
"...I hated it so much."
Bom bowed her head, sniffling.
In the next moment, he pulled the crying child into his arms.
She flinched in surprise.
He didn’t know what to say. But he knew to hold her until she calmed.
In his embrace,
Bom finally broke into full sobs, pouring out her heart.
"Truth is... I don’t need novels or anything. A year, ten years, a hundred... even if I pour effort into it... it means nothing to me... Even if someone scorns or ignores me, it doesn’t hurt..."
"......"
"But why does it hurt so much... when you eat a meal with someone else...?"
He answered by hugging her tighter. Silently holding her until the tears stopped.
Five or six hours passed. Only as night fell
did Bom’s crying cease.