Chapter 13

-----------------------------------------------------------------

Translator: MadScientist

Chapter: 13

Chapter Title: #Bridge But Now with Stickiness

-----------------------------------------------------------------

I had some time before heading to work, so I plopped down on the sofa and flipped open the Scenario Book.

I read the contents inside very carefully, over and over.

"Screw the reviews..."

The reviews didn't seem important. They just felt like malicious comments that soured my mood.

"Hmm, Average grade bumped up the Influence... and Points... Immersion and Discomfort at 0% means it's just normal, I guess."

It was a huge step up from a Flop.

"Man, writing scenarios is way harder than I thought."

It was just for one day, but the fact that it took days to plan and write was the real issue.

If I wrote something too thin, it'd flop or unexpected crap would happen, so there were tons of things to watch out for.

"Sigh."

Still, the experimental scenario had succeeded, so I was in a good mood.

Even if it was just Average.

Rustle.

I stuffed my stuff into my bag and headed out for work.

As I boarded the bus and sat down, staring out the window, I suddenly wondered about the Points.

"What the hell are Points even for...?"

I headed to the office with that question lingering.

Office.

During the meeting, I glanced at U Dayoung, but she seemed totally unfazed, focused on the discussion.

"Like Siu said, we've got a ton of work but not enough hands, so we're hiring someone right now."

I turned from staring at U Dayoung to look at Kim Woohyun when he spoke.

"Who?"

"I talked to the department head, but no idea who's coming."

I hoped it'd be a decent friend.

Only then could I focus more on writing scenarios once we had some breathing room.

"Heading to Seoul today too?"

I asked as I lit a cigarette after the meeting wrapped up.

"Nah, not today. Gotta help with work."

"Don't overdo it. Dayoung worries about you a lot."

Kim Woohyun scratched his head sheepishly at my words.

He knew it too—his girlfriend worrying about him.

"I know, but I gotta grind till we get settled."

"Yeah, yeah. Settle in quick. I'll work you to the bone till then."

That was my way of cheering him up.

Kim Woohyun patted my shoulder with a grin.

"Thanks... Siu."

"What're you thanking me for? I'm the one who's grateful. Gonna smoke."

No one but me knew about this ability, so he had no clue what my words really meant.

He just shot me a look of genuine trust.

Click.

I went down the stairs and lit up in the alley next to the first floor.

Sizzle.

"Hoo."

Exhaling smoke and looking up at the sky, it felt bluer and more moving than ever.

"...Next story can get properly sticky."

To make the story sticky, I needed some props.

"Hmm."

I browsed the board games alone, pondering.

"This'll do."

I picked up a Jenga set from the bunch.

Rolled it around, nodded, and headed to the counter.

"Ring this up, please."

After paying, I headed straight back to the office.

The sweltering heat made my steps melt like ice cream.

Back at the office, a few guys were installing the AC.

I shot U Dayoung a look.

"Here to install the AC? What's that in your hand?"

"This? Oh, Jenga."

"Out of nowhere?"

"Figured we could use it for content later."

She narrowed her eyes at "content."

"Where?"

"Like, 'Jenga with friends' or something?"

"...That's lame as hell."

I gave her a thumbs up at her verdict.

She shook her head and backed away from me.

"Way too dad-jokey."

"Yeah? Heh heh heh."

"That's grandpa. You idiot."

U Dayoung shoved my shoulder with her fist. I chuckled and sat at my desk with the Jenga.

At least with the AC installed, things would cool down.

I shoved the Jenga to the corner of my desk and dove into work.

I toyed with using the Scenario Book to rake in cash, but I couldn't figure out a story airtight enough.

To funnel big money to one person, the tale had to be flawless.

"Good work~."

In the meantime, the AC install wrapped up with Kim Woohyun's thanks.

"Guys, close the windows."

We shut the windows and cranked the AC.

Beep.

Set to 23 degrees, the AC hummed to life.

"Hey, boss."

"Yeah?"

Kim Woohyun looked over, remote in hand.

"Everything's great, but when's our all-in-one printer coming?"

"Ah... gotta wait on that. It's pricier than I thought, so hunting for a used one."

"Aigoo~."

It was a company in name only—bare bones at best.

Just covering rent and salaries was pushing it right now.

Good thing work was plentiful; with time, stuff would trickle in.

Tap tap tap.

Clack.

AC hum and keyboard clacks filled the office.

"Woohyun, sent you three. Just tweak 'em. Subtitles are done."

"Ah, thanks."

With three of us, we had some slack.

Kim Woohyun burned the midnight oil, clearing the backlog.

"You guys head out first. I'll finish this and go."

"It's already 10 p.m.?"

"Yeah? Don't worry. Knocking it out now."

He and U Dayoung eyed me, half-worried, half-trusting.

"Or we can stay and help. Finish together."

"Nah~. Go on. You live in Seoul—miss the last train."

"Feel bad now..."

They shuffled out awkwardly. A few reasons for grinding like this.

First, ability or not, my real job was directing and editing, not hypnosis.

Second, building trust for future scenarios. Build-up.

Third, even outsourcing ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠edits let me vicariously experience others' views—for scenario inspiration.

"Time to..."

I stretched, wrapped editing, and opened a fresh Photoshop window.

Click.

Busy hands prepped props for the next scenario.

I scribbled down the explicit phrases.

"...How many Jenga blocks are there...?"

I ended up counting each one from the set I'd shoved aside like an idiot.

Didn't finish and stand up until past midnight.

U Dayoung.

Front of her house.

"Feel bad for Siu..."

Before parting, they'd grabbed drinks from the convenience store nearby and chatted.

U Dayoung propped her chin, looking sympathetic at Kim Woohyun's words.

"Right... Siu was really grinding."

"He was diligent at the old company too."

"Was he? Hmm, didn't notice."

Sympathetic but as a friend, she tilted her head.

"New girls joined, he'd hit on 'em for numbers, suggest drinks..."

"They all dumped him, though. Right?"

"Nooo~, met 'em all. Broke up before a month anyway."

Remembering old times, Kim Woohyun chuckled, drink in hand, shoulders shaking.

"True, true. But he prepped hard for seminars and stuff."

"Yeah... sorta."

Even to them, no one was lighter than Nam Siu.

That lightness made them forget his work sometimes.

"Come to think, he did good work."

He dropped absurd jokes or pulled sudden chaos that left you clueless how to react.

But he nailed his tasks, shutting up work complaints.

Maybe why bosses saw him as just fun guy.

That character lasted months; now they said it was boring without him.

"Worried I'm piling more work on him 'cause of me..."

U Dayoung shook her head.

"But with just us three, no lame jokes—it's nice."

"Yeah? It's late. Head in."

"Ah, yeah. Woohyun, drive safe."

Before splitting, she pecked his lips lightly.

Beep beep beep.

Parents asleep, so she slipped into her room quietly.

"Ugh~, wiped out~."

She stretched out long, then folded into a stretch, grabbed change of clothes, and ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠hit the bathroom.

Shhh.

Hot water melting her exhausted body, but her down there itched oddly.

Not some disease.

"..."

Couldn't pinpoint it, but her libido surged today.

"Period's still far off..."

Maybe shouldn't have sent Kim Woohyun off. But she'd never initiated once.

Visits were silent sync-ups.

"...They say libido rises with age. Guess it's true..."

Morning came; I dumped yesterday's creation on a USB and hit the office supply store.

Whirr.

Paid and started printing right away.

Stickers coated and rolling out.

"Heh."

Grinning at the lewd words on the stickers, totally satisfied.

Had to use what I'd bought, so added that too.

Mutual acts, so no specifying guy/girl subjects.

"Now to craft the scenario..."

Morning sun already harsh; I shaded my eyes with my hand and walked to the office.