Chapter 145
Chapter 145
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Translator: uly
Chapter: 145
Chapter Title: Fixer
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This is a work of fiction and has no relation to any real names, events, organizations, place names, or persons.
Chapter 51: Fixer
After wrapping up his lyricist work and seeing Lee Hye-seong off to enlistment, Woo Ji-hyun sank back into his ordinary daily routine.
Of course, no one had asked him to do it—he had chosen it himself.
He knew better than anyone that he was happiest when he was writing.
Thanks to that, the stockpile of 'I'll Make Anything(?)' that had paused for a bit was quickly building up again.
"Who would've thought there'd be a problem like this."
Woo Ji-hyun smacked his lips as he visited the Frontier Management office for the first time in ages.
He had heard about the company's current situation from Min A-rang just yesterday.
"Come on in, oppa."
"You're not even calling me 'writer' anymore?"
"Everyone knows now, so pretending would be pointless. And think about all the private time we've spent together. We've eaten meals, gotten tipsy on drinks—what, we haven't hit the sauna, but we've gone for drives and done everything else!"
"It doesn't suit you. Cut it out."
"Hee-hee!"
Min A-rang stuck out her tongue and laughed.
But oddly enough, none of the employees batted an eye at the sight.
Publicly, they were writer and editor; privately, close sibling-like friends.
Of course, the biggest reason was that it was a scene they'd seen plenty of times before.
"For a mass exodus of writers, everyone still looks pretty busy."
"Only the ones from the general fiction side left. The romance side's surprisingly solid. I've managed it well."
"Might not be a bad idea to shift fully over there. BL genres actually sell better in terms of numbers. I hear they bring in more steady revenue, with a solid reader base."
"My skills cover both sides, so it's fine. Work's dipped a bit lately anyway. Not drastically, of course."
Woo Ji-hyun nodded as he glanced around the office.
Maybe it was the bad situation, but Jo Jin-gu and Yeom Tae-seong—who'd normally be at their desks—were nowhere in sight.
"Both of them out on errands?"
"Yeah, writer meetings."
"It's worse than I thought, huh?"
"Honestly, it's dragging on. They say contracting new ones is tougher than expected. Deals usually bundle at least two contracts, and a lot of writers are banding together to start their own outfits."
Woo Ji-hyun nodded.
That kind of movement would only ramp up, not die down.
Plus, good writers were always rare, no matter the era.
Plenty of people wrote, but those hitting a certain level of skill? Not so much.
"What about rookies? Might be better to nurture newbies than chase veterans. Long-term wise. And there have to be some hidden talents still out there."
"You know real newbies are scarce, oppa. Turns out 'newbie' often means they've dropped a chapter or two before."
"Used newbies might even be better. No need to teach from scratch."
"No one's left like that. Feels like the well's run dry. Desperate enough that we get replies saying they've signed when they've barely posted two or three chapters. Most ghost us after, of course."
Min A-rang raised her voice a bit, getting worked up.
Seemed like old frustrations were bubbling up as she spoke.
Woo Ji-hyun nodded, fully getting her gripe.
"There's always those manners-forgetters out there. Or maybe they just can't be reached."
"Makes me mad, but I get it. I'm in the weaker position anyway."
"Turning thirty suits you. You've matured, A-rang-i."
Woo Ji-hyun stroked her head fondly.
But even as he did, Min A-rang scrunched her face and pulled away.
"Don't bring up age? My friends are tying the knot one by one, and it's stressing me out."
"Twenty-eight's about the time to start thinking."
"Your friends aren't there yet?"
"A few are trickling. The screw-ups got hitched early."
"Taking responsibility for a baby angel? That's kinda cool. Owning your actions."
She knew a few of his friends who'd messed up.
So she didn't find it weird.
If anything, she admired them for not bailing.
Having a kid scared men plenty, but women? It was on another level.
"Surprisingly many."
"You got no plans yet? Your parents must be hoping."
"They told me to play till forty."
"Seriously? Kid'd be twenty before their sixtieth birthday?"
Min A-rang grimaced like the thought alone was horrifying.
Forty just seemed too far.
"Might not even have kids."
"Were you DINKs, oppa?"
"Nah. Sometimes you try and it just doesn't happen. Don't wanna pressure my future spouse. Anyway, how's the webtoon team? Hye-seong's enlistment must've piled on the work."
"Surprisingly not. Everyone's settling in. Cover and illustration gigs have dropped off, so they're deep into 'I'll Make Anything(?)' webtoon stuff."
"Should I pop in to say hi?"
Woo Ji-hyun peeked toward the webtoon team's studio.
But they were so locked in, he hesitated to knock.
"Working hard, right? Filling Hye-seong's spot. Company vibe's rubbing off too."
"Growing up too fast isn't great. People shine brightest living age-appropriately—and cutely."
"Don't say contradictory stuff like that? You were weird at twenty-four, I know."
"I know. I remember Socrates' words well."
Min A-rang scowled at Woo Ji-hyun's shameless agreement.
No point arguing when he admitted it upfront—no evidence needed.
"You can be so annoying sometimes."
"That's my charm."
"Admitted. Wish I could deny it, but can't."
"You remember I asked for a spot? Where should I sit?"
Webtoon team was too focused for chit-chat, so Woo Ji-hyun got to work.
Stockpiling or not, he wasn't idle enough to cruise from Incheon to Seoul jobless.
"Next to me. Just grab a chair."
"Why there?"
Woo Ji-hyun rubbed his palms, cracking knuckles, and shot her a grumpy look.
Plenty of empty spots—why her side?
"I'm your handler? Gotta supervise."
"Deputy level?"
"Plus, pick up tips from you. Curious."
"Fair enough. But it's nothing special. Might disappoint."
Min A-rang just smiled softly at his words.
She swiftly fetched her work laptop, set up mouse and pad.
Even prepped his usual iced Americano—ice brimming.
"Pretty decent, right?"
"You've got taste."
"Not taste—drilled in. Your fave every time."
"Heh."
Woo Ji-hyun chuckled lightly at her mock complaint and sat.
Booted the laptop familiarly, hopped online.
"So why the office suddenly? And asking for a seat?"
"Feels like I'm partly to blame for this mess."
"Why you? You wrote hits—they left despite that. Our support was lacking."
"But outsiders might see it different. Not my fault they bit the bait, though."
Woo Ji-hyun searched Naver cafes.
Min A-rang, peering over his shoulder, tilted her head.
They were all fan cafes.
"Why here?"
"Fan cafes are prime soil for budding talents."
"Aren't they mostly fanfic?"
"True. But no aspiring writer sticks to fanfic. Goal's debut. Even if just for fun."
Woo Ji-hyun searched IDs in the cafe.
Skimmed their posts quickly.
"Lots of writing."
"Told you—prime soil. Gems hide. Exposed ones are polished or claimed. Read this."
"Okay."
Min A-rang dragged her chair over—right next door anyway.
She pressed close to Woo Ji-hyun at the laptop.
"Push me aside. Don't stick. Hot out."
"Why's your face red then?"
Caught off-guard by her sudden closeness, Woo Ji-hyun shoved the laptop.
But Min A-rang zeroed in on his flushed expression.
"It's hot."
"AC's on. I'm not sweating."
"Age changes your constitution. You'll feel the heat more next year."
"What?"
Min A-rang looked baffled.
But inwardly, pleased.
She knew why—and partly intended it.
'Hmm.'
Personal wants aside—work time.
Business hours.
Taking the laptop, Min A-rang read seriously.
Her eyes widened gradually.
"Unique, right? Needs polish, but that potential's rare. Risk losing it training—but newbies always carry that."
"Total newbie. But got sense. Originality too."
"Key thing. Novels are your story. Selling well matters, but longevity needs conviction. Even if it's money. Money-driven won't vanish mid-run."
"Send a DM now."
Min A-rang dashed back, joined the fan cafe, fired off a message.
"Whew. Corporate speed—impressive."
"Rare find. Second's delay loses 'em. But oppa."
She wheeled over, eyes smiling.
Kicked the floor with her toes.
"Don't look at me like that. Intimidating."
"Hehe. More? Ones you scouted."
"Who knows?"
Woo Ji-hyun smirked ambiguously, dodging.
Min A-rang reached out.
Hand naturally on his shoulder.
"Might as well spill more while we're at it? Hmm?"
"I'll consider seriously—if no aegyo."
"What?!"