Chapter 14
Chapter 14
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Translator: uly
Chapter: 14
Chapter Title: Again, Writer
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# 14
Again, Writer Episode 14
Kim Seo-yong muttered with a bitter expression.
For someone like him, who hadn’t been able to attend university due to his family’s financial situation, Seoul universities were nothing short of dream schools.
That was why Kim Seo-yong stared enviously into space.
“Great universities.”
“Aren’t you jealous?”
“It’d be a lie to say I’m not, but that doesn’t mean I really want to go. Even graduates end up as unemployed statistics.”
“Still, having that pedigree would be nice.”
“Then study now.”
Woo Ji-hyun picked up a piece of okonomiyaki and shoved it into his mouth, speaking cynically.
Taking action yourself was always better than just envying others.
And envy never ended if you just sat there.
‘Well, I had my own inferiority complex back then, too.’
Being in the same boat, Woo Ji-hyun could fully understand Kim Seo-yong.
Though he couldn’t comprehend the choice Kim Seo-yong would make later.
For now, though, he was one of his good friends.
“You know my family situation perfectly well, and you’re saying that?”
“You don’t know ‘study by day, work by night’? If you grind hard enough, it’s possible.”
“Might as well prep for the civil service exam. That’d be faster.”
“That’s a much better option. More realistic, too.”
Woo Ji-hyun nodded, recalling the job future Kim Seo-yong would end up taking.
Anything was better than that—ninth-grade civil servant included.
Social perception aside, it was even good for dating.
“Are you giving advice or just talking smack?”
“Helping you escape eternal singledom.”
“Shut up.”
“Pfft!”
Kim In-hu, who had been listening to their banter, burst out laughing.
It was like watching a comedy duo.
What was even funnier was that it was always like this.
“What’s so funny over there? Unlike those girls.”
“The girls are job-hunting students, but we’re not, right? But is it okay leaving Yoon-hee behind?”
“They’re with the girls, so it’s fine.”
Park Han-saem shrugged.
Then he finally handed out the wedding invitations to Woo Ji-hyun and Kim In-hu.
“What’s this? Why’s it so small?”
“It’s a mini-style invitation. Cute, right?”
“Not at all. Doesn’t feel like a wedding invitation.”
Kim In-hu frowned.
It was just too small.
Woo Ji-hyun, on the other hand, showed no change in expression.
“We printed them like this on purpose. Regular ones for relatives. Custom-made special ones for friends.”
“I see.”
“We were gonna just send digital ones, but went with these.”
“Hmm. Better than mobile.”
Kim In-hu replied with a face that said this was the lesser evil.
He still looked a bit annoyed, though.
“See? Great minds think alike.”
“Why’d you come over?”
“‘Cause you left me behind. Why else?”
Yoon Sung-hwan approached Woo Ji-hyun’s side.
His face was flushed from how quickly he’d been drinking.
“Huh?”
“They all went to the bathroom. But Yoon-hee’s got a nice personality.”
“My wife does have a great personality.”
“Anyway, congrats. Didn’t think you’d be the first to tie the knot. Kinda funny it’s ‘cause of an accident, though.”
“Are you congratulating me or teasing?”
Park Han-saem smirked back.
He couldn’t quite grasp the intent.
“Of course I’m congratulating you.”
“Then skip the backhanded part. Makes it feel genuine.”
“You punk. You know how I feel.”
Yoon Sung-hwan laughed awkwardly and poured soju into Park Han-saem’s glass.
As always, he took charge of the mood.
He brought up trivial topics, steering them back to drinking.
“Doesn’t Woo Ji-hyun seem different lately?”
“Yeah. Hard to put my finger on it, but the vibe’s changed.”
“His style’s definitely upgraded.”
The girls, who had all flocked to the bathroom, chattered while waiting their turn.
And at the center of it was Woo Ji-hyun.
“He used to dress so tacky.”
“It’s not just clothes. Why wear those fedoras? They didn’t suit him at all.”
Jang Eun-ji and Lee Ye-seul shook their heads.
Back then, Woo Ji-hyun had a style so bizarre it screamed fashion terrorist.
But today, after so long, he looked completely different.
Ordinary, yet subtly trendy.
Especially the clean casual vibe—it was striking.
“Got a girlfriend?”
“Maybe. But I’m not that curious.”
“Me neither.”
Jang Eun-ji and Lee Ye-seul giggled, playfully hitting each other.
Kim Yun-hee, who was meeting them for the first time today, just smiled awkwardly and listened.
“What’s so funny?”
“Just talking about the guys? Same as always, except Woo Ji-hyun’s changed a bit.”
“I’ll go first.”
“Okay.”
As Jo Se-jin came out from doing her business, the awkward Kim Yun-hee went in.
Then the gossip really bloomed.
Unlike the still-unfamiliar Kim Yun-hee, Jo Se-jin was middle school classmates with the other two.
“Ji-hyun’s changed a lot. Face shape’s a bit different too, probably from braces.”
“Still ugly, though.”
“Not quite average.”
“Isn’t that evaluation too harsh?”
Jo Se-jin shook her head at Lee Ye-seul and Jang Eun-ji’s brutal fact-bombs—not calling him handsome, just noting the change.
Even without him there, it felt too much.
“What? Don’t tell me you’re into Woo Ji-hyun?”
“No, just seems harsh. Not sure if the soundproofing’s good.”
“It’s fine. Our spot’s by the entrance, so it won’t carry. Plenty of other customers, too.”
Lee Ye-seul assured her confidently, as if telling her to quit worrying.
She’d checked before entering if inside talk could be heard outside.
She was certain their conversation wouldn’t leak.
“Anyway, Ye-seul, know any good guys around?”
“High pedigree ones?”
Lee Ye-seul asked with a knowing look.
She knew her friend Jang Eun-ji’s tastes perfectly.
“Ideally high pedigree and good job?”
“You know me so well.”
“Big corp or public sector?”
“Yeah!”
Jang Eun-ji beamed.
She was nailing her preferences perfectly.
“What about someone younger?”
“Forgot I tried that?”
“Oh right. Yeah.”
The two dove into their own world, forgetting the classmates in the main room entirely.
Woo Ji-hyun stepped out briefly.
The girls had barely left for the bathroom when Yoon Sung-hwan’s bragging parade began.
Which meant he was nicely buzzed.
“Fellow comrades here.”
“You don’t even smoke. Why’d you come out?”
“Why do you think?”
Park Han-saem and Kim In-hu, smoking, chuckled.
He realized too late it was a dumb question.
“Heard you’re writing again?”
“Yeah. Turns out this is the only thing I’m good at. And it’s what I want to do.”
“Lucky. Having talent in that field.”
“You’ve got talent elsewhere.”
Woo Ji-hyun glanced at Park Han-saem, gesturing to his face.
Short but handsome enough—that was Park Han-saem.
Great talker too; he’d even worked at a host bar briefly.
“What good’s it? Good times are over.”
“Why’d you mess up then?”
“Didn’t think I would. Caught me off guard.”
Park Han-saem chain-smoked furiously.
His expression said it all.
“Tsk tsk. Should’ve watched the middle leg.”
“I was careful.”
Kim In-hu joined Woo Ji-hyun’s teasing.
To sincerely congratulate his still-young friend on becoming a married man.
Park Han-saem’s face darkened with each jab.
He’d decided to marry, done the family meeting, invitations—yet it still didn’t feel real.
“Bet you haven’t cleaned up yet.”
Flinch!
Park Han-saem jolted at Woo Ji-hyun’s offhand remark.
It sounded like Woo Ji-hyun knew something.
And Woo Ji-hyun met his panicked gaze without flinching.
“Wrap it up properly. Unless you’re doing it on purpose.”
“…What’re you talking about?”
“Girl problems get messy forever once they start. She’s not normal either. Who shows up just ‘cause you called?”
“…”
Park Han-saem’s face turned serious.
Kim In-hu just tilted his head, confused.
“I’m heading in first.”
The mood soured instantly, but Woo Ji-hyun said no more and went back inside.
Even after the girls returned from the bathroom, the atmosphere didn’t improve.
If anything, it worsened.
“Introduce me to someone? You’ve got decent friends, right?”
“They all have boyfriends.”
“Same here. Everyone’s dating these days. The singles are too busy job-hunting to care about guys.”
“There’s gotta be one, though?”
Yoon Sung-hwan alternated glances at Lee Ye-seul and Jang Eun-ji.
Lee Ye-seul went to a women’s university in Seoul, Jang Eun-ji had entered a prestigious one last year—so he clung persistently.
Pedigree was a given; it was more plea than request.
To Woo Ji-hyun, it just looked pathetic.
“I’ll look around.”
“Promise?”
“Yeah.”
Lee Ye-seul gave a half-hearted reply, same as her thoughts.
Say no, and he’d never stop.
Even that short ordeal left her parched; she downed soju shots in a row.
“Mood’s killed.”
“Your fault. You ditched me!”
“Needed some fresh air.”
“Bullshit.”
“Real talk. Look, my face is red.”
Woo Ji-hyun lifted his cap slightly.
His face was indeed a bit flushed.
Thwack!
Kim Seo-yong’s fist landed on Woo Ji-hyun’s shoulder.
Beating was the cure for bullshit from friends.
“Ji-hyun, you’re writing again?”
“Guess I’m kinda famous. Talk about me’s spreading.”
“You okay? Market’s rough these days. And you’re not exactly a big shot.”
Lee Ye-seul asked with an expression unclear if it was concern or mockery.
But Woo Ji-hyun knew.
This was straight mockery.
They weren’t close anyway, and he knew how present-day Lee Ye-seul saw him.
“Not a big shot, but I don’t play dirty. Unlike some. I don’t date cheaters or sluts, at least. Far from promiscuous. Plus, I’m confident I’ll make it here. Right now, you might think I’m nothing.”
Lee Ye-seul flinched.
Casual words, yet they stabbed deep.
Woo Ji-hyun’s meaningful glances—at her and Kim Yun-hee—made her heart sink.
As if he knew everything.
“So don’t worry about me. Focus on yourself. Since when do we care about each other?”
Woo Ji-hyun cleanly countered Lee Ye-seul’s jab and rejoined Kim In-hu and Park Han-saem, who had come back in, raising his glass.
As if done dealing with her.