Chapter 138
Chapter 138
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Translator: uly
Chapter: 138
Chapter Title: Again, Writer
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# 138
Again, Writer Chapter 138
Nam Hee-gyu’s eyes flashed for a moment.
From Woo Ji-hyun’s phone call, he had pieced together one key fact.
Especially when those three words pierced through his mind, a single name immediately came to him.
‘No way, seriously?’
The name that was currently blowing up the music industry popped into his head, and Nam Hee-gyu’s pupils shook.
If that was true, it was a coincidence beyond coincidence.
And crucially, the timing was perfectly exquisite.
“You have to take care of your own life and take responsibility for it.”
-Ugh! Total cold-blooded!
-How can you say something so heartless right in front of us!
-That’s too much! Are we that insignificant to you?
Woo Ji-hyun shook his head again at the PriOs members, who kept up the teasing to the very end.
It hadn’t even been that long on the call, but he strangely felt completely drained.
“Got it. I’ll listen to it alone first and call you right back. I just need to tell Manager Park Eun-su, right?”
-Manager-nim went home early today. She has a date. So it’s best not to contact her tonight if possible.
“Really?”
-No way, are you doubting me? I’m PriOs’s leader, Ha Yu-seon, oppa. I don’t make up stories or lie.
Ha Yu-seon straightened up, her eyes widening seriously.
Her expression openly screamed disappointment.
But Woo Ji-hyun showed no particular reaction to her display.
“Got it. I’ll call later.”
-You promised!
“Yeah.”
-That’s so half-hearted!
Ha Yu-seon shrieked sharply.
Anyone could see it was a perfunctory response.
But on the other hand, it was also fascinating.
There were so few people who treated her this casually and comfortably.
“Nothing I can do. I’m exhausted right now. I haven’t even had dinner yet. So cut me some slack.”
-Okay, that I get.
-Me too.
PriOs immediately agreed.
They acutely understood the agony of hunger and the pressure of an empty stomach.
Moreover, Woo Ji-hyun was especially weak to hunger.
He’d get noticeably irritable when starving.
-You guys! No more informal speech.
-Ehehe, slipped out.
Ha Yu-seon shot a glance at Yoon Na-rae and Lee Mi-jeong, then looked back at Woo Ji-hyun.
She continued with a sulky gaze.
-I’ll be waiting.
“It won’t take too long.”
-We’re working late tonight, so call anytime.
“Yeah.”
Woo Ji-hyun ended his short but intense call with PriOs.
But the situation wasn’t resolved yet.
The moment he hung up, his younger colleagues swarmed him.
“Hyung! What’s going on?”
“When did you meet PriOs? How do you know them?”
“Why didn’t you tell us?”
The four surrounded Woo Ji-hyun, each blurting out whatever they wanted.
It left him overwhelmed.
Their chaotic barrage of chatter was giving him a headache.
“One at a time, one at a time. I’m wiped out.”
“What’s this about you being a lyricist?”
“Too tired to explain in detail right now.”
Woo Ji-hyun glanced at Lee Jang-hu before turning to Nam Hee-gyu.
Ha Yu-seon had dropped the lyricist bomb, and Nam Hee-gyu was already staring at him with burdened eyes.
Meanwhile, the Tiramisu members were just looking at him with innocent curiosity.
“Then, hyung, can you take me along next time you meet PriOs?”
“Me too! Take me!”
“You idiots.”
Woo Ji-hyun let out a deep sigh.
He understood Kang Woo-hyuk and Kim Seon-woo’s feelings, but the timing wasn’t right.
So he looked at his two juniors with genuine regret.
But oblivious to his sentiment, they kept begging.
“Hey, you morons!”
Smack! Whack!
Lee Jang-hu, who had the most sense among them, smacked the backs of Kang Woo-hyuk and Kim Seon-woo’s heads.
He’d caught on to the situation from Woo Ji-hyun’s sigh.
“Ow!”
“Why’d you hit us!”
But the two just whined at Lee Jang-hu.
They had no clue why they’d been hit.
“Argh, you pests. No wonder your brains don’t turn. Are you really writers?”
“They’re just clueless.”
Like the saying that even staying quiet gets you halfway there, Park Seong-il, who’d been silent until now, clicked his tongue and backed Lee Jang-hu.
He’d belatedly grasped the meaning behind Woo Ji-hyun’s sigh.
“Um, Writer Woo Ji-hyun. Can we talk for a sec?”
“Right now?”
“Yes.”
While the juniors bickered 2-on-2, Nam Hee-gyu sidled up quietly.
Tiramisu members stood nearby, eyes full of curiosity.
Everyone was dying to know how he’d gotten close to PriOs.
“Shouldn’t we eat first? It’s already past 8.”
“Dinner’s ready! Everyone come!”
Right on cue, Heo Gwang-su’s shout echoed across the yard.
The barbecue prep had finished at the perfect moment.
And on the tables, soju and beer stood proudly in massive quantities.
“Hahaha. Forgot we hadn’t eaten yet. Let’s eat first.”
“Yeah, kids, eat before you fight!”
“Yes, sir!”
As meat hit the sizzling charcoal grill, the mouthwatering sizzle and irresistible aroma enveloped the group.
Woo Ji-hyun, catching it first, yelled at his still-arguing juniors and led the way to the grill.
“Good work today, Ji-hyun.”
“You know that, so we’re good.”
“I’ll treat you big-time later!”
Yeo Woo-jin, wearing oven mitts and grilling samgyeopsal, neck meat, and back ribs diligently, spoke up as Woo Ji-hyun approached.
A hint of apology on his face.
Woo Ji-hyun’s efforts today had been no small feat.
Plus, he’d had to look after the juniors too.
“That treat’s just so you can drink good booze on the company card.”
*Ahem! Cough!*
Yeo Woo-jin coughed as if choked by Woo Ji-hyun’s direct hit.
But he didn’t deny it.
He did plan to enjoy some fine, expensive liquor in the process.
“Guess I’ll have to crash that one too.”
“Of course you’re coming, hyung. You’re not skipping the afterparty, right?”
“Obviously. Can’t just feed pricey writers for a free overnight and send ’em off.”
Kang Taek-jin smiled faintly.
He’d lured them as idol trainees, but even without Woo Ji-hyun, all four juniors were high-value writers.
Their cars made it obvious—each easily pulled in over 100 million won a year—so Kang Taek-jin had no intention of wasting their time.
And beyond time, their hard work deserved a proper meal and drinks right after tomorrow’s shoot.
“Looking forward to it, boss.”
“Don’t expect too much. You know I’m just a salaried guy? Honorary department head, but no big deal. Earn less than you.”
“Same here.”
“But personal vs. company scale isn’t the same.”
Woo Ji-hyun chuckled at Kang Taek-jin and Yeo Woo-jin’s complaints.
No matter what, he planned to eat well on their dime.
Today’s shoot had been that grueling.
“Managements that make less than your income are a dime a dozen. That’s why they grovel to snag writers like you.”
“But snagging those writers ain’t easy.”
“Ugh, jinx.”
Yeo Woo-jin bluntly showed his annoyance at Woo Ji-hyun’s smug tone.
But he didn’t argue.
Woo Ji-hyun’s level justified the brag.
This shoot had only happened because of their connection; otherwise, even contact would’ve been impossible.
“Man, kids these days are full of youth.”
“Prime of their lives.”
“Not much difference for me.”
Watching the juniors glued to the Tiramisu table again, Woo Ji-hyun poured soju into his seniors’ glasses.
Then, naturally, he mixed somac.
The first drink at a company dinner or booze session was always somac.
Like an unwritten rule, he mixed his signature ratio with originality and handed it to the two.
“Hyung, all but one are underage. Screw up and it’s jail time.”
“Good point. Manager-nim’s got it rough.”
Kang Taek-jin downed Woo Ji-hyun’s somac in one go and gave Nam Hee-gyu a pitying look.
Dealing with writers, managing Tiramisu’s food, plus staff-pushed drinks—triple hardship naturally drew sympathy.
“You say it’s rough but don’t call the kids over.”
“I know exactly what opportunity this is. If I were Ji-hyun’s age, I’d be right there too.”
“Agreed.”
Yeo Woo-jin snickered.
Kang Taek-jin smiled faintly at Woo Ji-hyun.
“Here, today’s MVP needs a drink. You worked the hardest.”
“We all did. You guys too—exercise you’re not used to. Whole body’ll ache tomorrow.”
“That’s why we’re numbing it now.”
Kang Taek-jin grinned, holding his refilled soju glass.
Yeo Woo-jin beside him was already alternating meat and shots nonstop.
“Moderation, hyung. You’re forty now.”
“That’s why I gotta drink more. Drink while you can.”
“Heh heh heh.”
True to form as a boozer, Kang Taek-jin dropped his so-called wisdom and slammed back the soju.
Woo Ji-hyun followed, tossing back his glass.
“Drink with sides. For healthy, long-term drinking, keep your stomach full.”
“Great minds.”
“Ah, Director!”
“Good work today, all three of you. Especially Writer Woo Ji-hyun! Thank you. Your presence made for some killer shots today!”
Heo Gwang-su approached with his soju glass.
A satisfied smile lit his face.
“Nah, everyone’s hard work.”
“But without you, no impact like this. That basketball game was gold.”
“Killed us though.”
“Bwahahaha!”
Heo Gwang-su roared with laughter at Woo Ji-hyun’s groan.
Still, he’d include the basketball no matter what—even if it didn’t fit promo.
“Aren’t they overdoing it? Still got tomorrow’s shoot.”
“It’s fine. They’re pacing themselves. Pros are thorough on the job.”
“That’s pacing?”
Kang Taek-jin’s eyes widened.
Yeo Woo-jin matched his shock.
They were pounding drinks, but staff were going harder.
“Rare chance for worry-free bingeing, so a bit extra, but not overboard. No worries for tomorrow. Here, a round!”
Heo Gwang-su poured soju into their glasses, dismissing concerns.
Thus, dinner-cum-drinking session deepened.