Chapter 153
Translator: uly
Chapter: 153
Chapter Title: 54장 오픈 파티(Open party)
This is a work of fiction and has no relation to any real names, events, organizations, place names, or individuals.
Slurp!
As if announcing that it was late July, the scorching sun blazed down insanely outside the window.
It was the kind of weather where just walking normally—no, even if you overdid it a little, sweat would pour down like rain even if you stood still.
But that was the situation for people outside.
Woo Ji-hyun sat in the meeting room, enjoying the cool air conditioning breeze while savoring an iced Americano.
"You look way too comfortable with the world."
"Of course. That's exactly why we grind so hard to make money. To stay cool when it's hot and warm when it's cold."
"That's true, but hearing you say it makes me annoyed for some reason."
"Lately, it feels like you've been unusually sharp with me. Did I do something wrong?"
Woo Ji-hyun tilted his head as he looked at Min A-rang.
He'd been keeping in steady contact, and the serialization stockpile was steadily being released.
*God of Martial Arts, Return* was on the verge of concluding its second season as a webtoon, and *Anything(?) Made for You* was sailing smoothly.
In other words, there was no reason for his editor and handler, Min A-rang, to nitpick him.
"You didn't do anything wrong."
"Then why are you like that?"
"Like what?"
Min A-rang put on an innocent expression.
Despite not being young anymore, she was making a total "I don't know anything" face.
At that sight, Woo Ji-hyun naturally dry-heaved.
"Ugh! Blech! Suddenly my stomach, my stomach!"
"Wanna die?"
"So stop doing things you never did before. It's hard to watch."
"Argh, seriously!"
Min A-rang yelled sharply.
But there was no real irritation in her tone.
Instead, she playfully chopped at Woo Ji-hyun's shoulder.
"Ow. Didn't I tell you your hands are strong?"
"That's what you get for deserving it."
"Sorry for being late, Writer-nim!"
While Woo Ji-hyun and Min A-rang bickered after a long time, Jo Jin-gu entered the meeting room.
He must have run here, as his face was drenched in sweat.
"No, I arrived early. And there's still time until the appointed hour, so you could've come leisurely."
"I had a feeling you'd be here first."
Jo Jin-gu pulled a handkerchief from his pocket and quickly wiped his face.
But even with the AC blasting, beads of sweat quickly formed on his forehead again from the heat radiating off his body.
"I'll get you a cool iced Americano, President."
"Thanks."
Min A-rang couldn't bear watching and jumped up to run to the pantry.
She figured he needed something cold to drink at least.
"You seem even busier these days."
"Haha. That's all the better. It's way preferable to having nothing to do. Plus, all three of you are working hard."
Jo Jin-gu shook his head, recalling the time when a bunch of writers had left en masse.
He'd pretended it was fine, but he'd been seriously worried deep down.
Frontier Management wouldn't go under with Woo Ji-hyun around, but a stable roster of writers was essential for the company.
Momentum had to keep flowing steadily without interruption to grow.
'And shed the one-man-team image in the process.'
Jo Jin-gu had zero intention of killing the goose that laid the golden eggs.
Frontier Management, once a tiny outfit, had grown this big thanks to Woo Ji-hyun.
But ditching the writer who'd made an absolute contribution just to shake off the one-man-team stigma?
Nothing could be more foolish or idiotic.
'No way. Not for anyone.'
He'd never once thought of Woo Ji-hyun as his possession.
But he didn't see him as just another guy either.
And he knew a way to shake off the stigma too.
"Good thing. I brought in all three, so if the results were bad, I'd have been eating side-eye glances knowingly or not."
"Even if the performance wasn't great, we wouldn't have staff like that. And we've got confidence we can sell them somehow. When we do sales pitches, it's our company, right? That's exactly what the three expected too."
"Right."
No matter how good the conditions, writers wouldn't go to a management that couldn't sell properly.
Unless they were the type to front a ton of cash from the start.
Plus, Frontier Management's unique situation had worked in the three's favor, leading to the contracts.
This industry wasn't one where deals happened purely on friendship and loyalty.
'It never had romance to begin with, really.'
This was a place overflowing with slander, dirty tricks, and backbiting over a few bucks.
Not that it was unique to this field, of course.
'And those who preach loyalty and trust are the least trustworthy. Good people don't talk much.'
Woo Ji-hyun muttered with a meaningful expression.
From his past life to this one, all he trusted was data and money.
Results and cash never lied.
"More than that, I'm sorry, Writer-nim. I should be the one visiting you..."
"I know you're busy, President. I'm the one with free time prepping my next work anyway."
"Still, you've been coming to the office constantly."
"It's on the way. Hye-seong went to the army, and the webtoon team's got newbies. Figured I'd show my face, get familiar, build rapport. Plus, see A-rang-i's face."
Right on cue, Woo Ji-hyun grinned at Min A-rang entering with iced Americano in the biggest mug.
But his smile looked suspicious, and she narrowed her eyes.
"Why are you grinning at me?"
"Happy to see you after so long?"
"You were badmouthing me, huh?"
"Nope."
Woo Ji-hyun shrugged.
He really hadn't said a word.
But Min A-rang turned to Jo Jin-gu, unwilling to take his word at face value.
"He says he came to see Deputy Min's face."
"Really?"
"Yeah, why would I lie?"
"True. You're the king of jokes anyway."
Min A-rang gave Woo Ji-hyun a look like she was newly impressed.
Inwardly, she thought his training was going surprisingly well.
"Jokes? I'm always, always sincere. I don't even do white lies. I just say it straight."
"Nice words for 'brutally honest.' You just blurt stuff out."
"I don't curse though."
"You do when you're pissed."
"That's natural. Instinct. The most basic, primal one reason can't suppress."
Min A-rang finally burst out laughing at Woo Ji-hyun, who could spew every curse word under the sun.
But she loved these little chats.
As the company grew, so did her position, leaving few people she could talk to this casually.
Most of it was formal business anyway.
"You really have a way with words. Anyway, have a good meeting. Lunch with me after."
"I'll think about it."
"You're gonna eat together anyway, playing hard to get."
"Push-pull is essential in relationships. Remember that."
Woo Ji-hyun fired one last playful line.
Min A-rang snorted and strode out haughtily.
"Writer-nim being here really brightens Deputy Min's face."
"She's comfy around me. Got someone to banter with now."
"You two suit each other well."
"Me?"
Woo Ji-hyun gave an incredulous look.
Unlike the classic beauty Min A-rang, he was unmistakably average-looking.
Step out on the street, and you'd see a dime a dozen like him.
"Matching well isn't just about looks. Plus, as Cain, your market value's huge, right? From what I hear, top A-rank lyricists rake in serious cash?"
"I was shocked when I got paid too. Way more than expected. But they say it's like the genre market. Keep working, you earn; stop, and royalties plummet."
"They're freelancers. Affiliated with an agency, it'd be different, but you're not, Writer Woo Ji-hyun."
"Main reason's I'm not that into it anyway."
"That's a huge relief for me."
Jo Jin-gu spoke sincerely.
He couldn't even imagine a future without Woo Ji-hyun.
It was amazing too.
One talent alone was incredible, but Woo Ji-hyun had two.
"It was possible because you understood, President."
"No. The fields are totally different. And I don't know much about the entertainment biz anyway. Oh, right—next work prepping well? Heard it's entertainment industry stuff."
"Yes. Planning to heavily use tips I got from lyricist work."
"Ah-ha. Research must be solid."
Jo Jin-gu's eyes sparkled.
The market was flooded with novels starring singers, actors, or managers.
Trends were shifting from modern raid stories to entertainment.
But among them, only one had truly exploded.
"Yeah. And I wanted to write one properly at least once."
"Sounds promising just hearing it. Volume-wise?"
"Planning parts 1 and 2. Part 1 domestic, part 2 overseas."
"That's clean. Webtoon team'll scream though. Already swamped with *Anything(?) Made for You*. Good thing they've gained experience—storyboards and synopses are decent now. Ji-seong's prepping something separate with Yu-ri too, it seems."
"They weren't meant to stick around forever anyway."
Neither Jo Jin-gu nor Woo Ji-hyun felt sore about the two working separately.
They looked like it was natural.
Top talent not thinking independence would've been weirder.
No—if Lee Hye-seong hadn't gone to the army, Lee Ji-seong wouldn't have stayed at Frontier Management this long.
She'd have gone independent, started serializing, or signed with Naver for official runs ages ago.
But Lee Hye-seong had no choice but to enlist, and Lee Ji-seong was content for now, so unlike the initial contract, she was still with Frontier Management.
Still, both Woo Ji-hyun and Jo Jin-gu knew that time was running out.
"Right. Independence is right for them too. Can't draw others' stuff forever. They have stories they want to create."
"Exactly. I'm grateful they've stayed this long."
"Haha, same here. Huge help. Other companies are benchmarking us now."
Everyone had pointed fingers, calling the webtoon team reckless and pointless.
Skipping the easy path for a thorny one.
But Jo Jin-gu's gamble had paid off.
A bold bet securing a unique position.
"But too late now. Latecomers can only chase leaders. Plus, talent shortage is brutal."
Woo Ji-hyun grinned playfully.
Skilled artists wanted to make their own webtoons, not draw for others.
Sure, exceptions existed, but most lacked solo production skills.
Frontier Management was just a special case.