Chapter 140
Chapter 140
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Translator: uly
Chapter: 140
Chapter Title: Again, Writer
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The fan signing event was scheduled for 10 a.m.
And the current time was 9:30 a.m.
They had arrived at a reasonably early hour.
Yet, considering it was a Saturday, quite a few people were coming and going at the entrance to Seongpum Bookstore despite the early time.
"Seongpum Bookstore operates 24 hours. That's why there are so many people."
"Really? A bookstore open 24 hours. That's amazing."
Yeom Tae-seong smiled as he explained, reading the puzzled looks on the group's faces.
He too had been surprised when he first heard about Seongpum Bookstore.
"Shall we go in and look around? We still have a bit of time."
"Is that okay?"
"Of course."
Chae Nam-hee smiled and led the group inside the Seongpum Bookstore Dunhua branch.
A vast interior immediately came into view.
"Oh. That must be it."
"Wow."
They could also see the spot set up for today's fan signing.
It was in one corner, with a large placard boldly displaying Woo Ji-hyun's name in both Korean and Chinese characters.
There was also a prominent illustration from *God of Martial Arts, Return*.
"We wanted to include a photo too, but the author firmly said no. The head of headquarters was quite disappointed about it. Our president felt the same."
"I'm a bit shy about my face. Haha."
"A mask would suit you fine, though. And you've already done ads in Korea."
"I think that's enough."
Woo Ji-hyun drew a firm line.
He felt one ad experience was plenty.
It wasn't his thing anyway.
And ultimately, writers spoke through their words.
"That's a shame. We thought having the author's photo wouldn't be bad at all. But we respect your opinion."
"Thank you."
"Let me give you a quick tour."
Woo Ji-hyun glanced curiously at the fans already lining up along the waiting area, then followed Chae Nam-hee's guidance to explore the bookstore.
As spacious as it looked, Seongpum Bookstore was excellent as a cultural space too, with a record section and even a cafe inside.
It stocked a wide variety of books by genre, including foreign originals, offering plenty to see.
"There are Korean books too."
"Mine's here as well."
"And in the bestseller section, no less."
Min A-rang, surprised to spot pure Korean books, grinned playfully at Woo Ji-hyun's follow-up.
But inwardly, she thought it was impressive.
This was a sight incredibly rare in Korea, one she could witness with her own eyes right here at Seongpum Bookstore's Dunhua branch.
And seeing it in person, unlike in photos, felt entirely different.
"It's the natural result based on sales. Plus, the webtoon-adapted books and novels are selling almost equally. The main buyers differ slightly, though."
"Wow."
"You'll probably be staring at it all morning until you're sick of it. Since you'll be signing them yourself."
"I'll gladly endure even that pain."
"Hohoho!"
Chae Nam-hee covered her mouth and laughed at Woo Ji-hyun, who was fired up ahead of his first fan signing in his life.
He usually showed a serious side, but occasionally revealed boyish charm like this.
'But he's surprisingly oblivious.'
Chae Nam-hee's gaze shifted around Woo Ji-hyun.
She quickly scanned the seating arrangements.
Of course, she'd picked up on the subtle atmosphere long ago.
"Min Deputy."
"Yes?"
Min A-rang, who had been watching the Taiwanese people casually sitting on the floor reading with fascination like the others, turned her head at Chae Nam-hee's call.
Chae Nam-hee continued with a meaningful smile.
"You'll have a hard time if you're late."
"What do you mean?"
She gestured subtly with her eyes toward someone.
While lightly covering her own eyes with her hand.
"Hesitate too long, and you might miss your chance. So don't regret it—go for it."
"Uh, um...."
"I think you two suit each other well. Of course, even without me saying it, the others will help out somehow. But I hope you don't miss an opportunity like this."
Chae Nam-hee winked at Min A-rang, who was too startled to respond properly.
Min A-rang's face flushed bright red.
"When's the webtoon team arriving?"
"They're on their way now. With Manbai Publishing staff."
"Should've finished work early. Coming together would've been more convenient."
"They still couldn't have toured even if they came together."
Unlike Jo Jin-gu, who grew increasingly anxious as the signing time approached, Yeom Tae-seong was relaxed.
Woo Ji-hyun was the main event anyway, so the webtoon team's delay wasn't a big issue.
Plus, even if they'd come together time-wise, touring would've been impossible, so no real regrets.
"We're not here to sightsee, right?"
"Still, I didn't expect it'd be this tight. Thought we'd at least hit a night market...."
"It's not just today. There'll be other chances."
"I have a feeling he won't take me next time."
Yeom Tae-seong smacked his lips.
This time they came together because it was the first overseas schedule, but no guarantee for next time.
He was, after all, Frontier Management's number two.
So if Jo Jin-gu went abroad, Yeom Tae-seong would likely stay in Korea.
"That's probably true. You're the only one who can cover for me."
"If you tell Min Deputy to stay, she'll kill me, right?"
"She might dump the workload on you?"
Jo Jin-gu nodded with a laugh.
Considering Min A-rang's usual personality, she'd slyly offload the bomb.
And Yeom Tae-seong knew it well.
"Pressure from above, grief from below. I'm still in my prime, but already like this."
"You haven't even made department head yet, and you're talking like a retirement speech?"
"That's how tough and regrettable it is."
"Check your paycheck once. That complaint'll vanish."
"Hahaha!"
Yeom Tae-seong let out a hearty laugh instead of replying.
He then casually scanned the surroundings.
He'd visited a few times during Taiwan trips, but Seongpum Bookstore always had plenty to see and do.
"President!"
"We're here!"
As the group toured the bookstore under Chae Nam-hee's friendly and detailed guidance, familiar Korean voices called out.
It was the webtoon team, who had taken an early morning flight.
They all looked rough from waking at dawn to prepare, but their eyes sparkled.
Like Woo Ji-hyun, they were thrilled for their first fan signing.
"You must be tired. Even more so with the dawn wakeup."
"No, we're the ones who should apologize. Suddenly the file wouldn't save and got deleted...."
Lee Ji-seong replied maturely.
She subtly glared at Lee Hye-seong and Ha Jong-su, the culprits.
They'd tinkered with this week's episode for revisions, wiping out the original.
Luckily, they'd saved an intermediate version, barely salvaging it, but the whole team had panicked then.
"As long as it worked out. Consider it a good lesson. You'll handle it faster next time."
"Thank you for seeing it that way."
"We'll work harder!"
"We won't mess up again!"
Feeling guilty, Lee Hye-seong and Ha Jong-su shouted loudly.
But conversing in Korean drew glances from nearby people casually standing or sitting with books.
Some who understood even covered their mouths and giggled.
"Voices too loud. This is a bookstore."
"Yes...!"
"No need to whisper too much. Let's move. Signing starts in 7 minutes."
"Yessir!"
Woo Ji-hyun glanced at the two, who replied in hushed tones, then looked to Chae Nam-hee.
She smiled and took the lead again.
"Whew."
Entering the waiting room just minutes before the 10 a.m. signing, Woo Ji-hyun took a deep breath.
He was perhaps the only one in the world with the miracle of time regression, yet tension was unavoidable.
Something he'd vaguely thought might happen someday made his heart race like a drum as the time neared.
And not in Korea, but Taiwan—his tension peaked instantly.
"Still, there were people, not zero."
"Thank goodness. If it was empty, it'd be disastrous—not just for me, but Frontier Management, and on a larger scale, Manbai Publishing and our country would lose face."
"They wouldn't have invited us here if it was that bad, oppa."
"That's why I'm relieved."
Woo Ji-hyun replied, barely cooling his flushed face.
But his breathing remained uneven.
"Oppa is human after all. First time seeing you this nervous."
"Thought I wasn't?"
"You're so unflappable. Barely show emotions."
Woo Ji-hyun chuckled at Min A-rang, mixing formal and casual speech as she pleased.
He could tell she was trying to ease his nerves.
With a wry smile, he glanced at the webtoon team.
"Ughhh!"
"Oppa, stop clinging! We told you we're not the stars here."
"I'm handling intermissions too, right? It's my signing event too. In Taiwan, no less!"
"We're just the warmup before you, so no need to stress that much."
Lee Ji-seong said exasperatedly.
But Lee Hye-seong just trembled her legs nonstop, unable to calm.
Ha Jong-su and Jang Yu-ri were the same.
No different from Lee Hye-seong.
"What a sight."
"Everyone's a first-timer. So your role's most important, oppa."
"Guess so. I'm the eldest."
"Almost thirty?"
"Almost, almost thirty?"
Min A-rang's delicate brows furrowed at the age jab.
The absurd nonsense oddly poked at her heart.
"What's that mean?"
"Just another way to say turning thirty the day after tomorrow?"
"I look early twenties when I go out. Still youthful."
Min A-rang unwittingly puffed her chest in agitation.
Her most confident pose, insisting she didn't look almost thirty.
"Well, that I admit."
"Time to go out now."
Chae Nam-hee approached after talking with Seongpum Bookstore staff.
At her words, even Lee Ji-seong, who hadn't seemed tense, flinched.
She wasn't un紧张, just hiding it.
"Got it."
"No reporters, but smile on the way out. HQ will take a few photos, not many. First ones likely at your entrance."
"I'll keep that in mind."
Nodding at Chae Nam-hee's gentle advice, Woo Ji-hyun breathed deeply.
He glanced once more at the webtoon team, then strode toward the exit.