Chapter 18
Chapter 18
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Translator: uly
Chapter: 18
Chapter Title: One Step at a Time
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This story is a work of fiction and has no relation whatsoever to any real names, events, organizations, place names, individuals, or the like.
Chapter 8
One Step at a Time.
Woo Ji-hyun clicked his tongue as he spotted the two unexpected guests who had suddenly shown up.
He never could have imagined running into those two here of all places.
He would have preferred to avoid both of them entirely.
“Huh? You know those guys?”
“They’re from Rubin Media’s planning department.”
“Really? You’ve got some wide connections now. Knowing people I don’t.”
“It just happened that way.”
Ye Seong-pil gave a slight look of surprise at Woo Ji-hyun, who muttered as if they were close acquaintances.
He knew Woo Ji-hyun wasn’t the sociable type.
Not the kind who mingled with publishing staff all around, either.
“You’re really living it up, huh.”
“Why are you impressed about something like this?”
“You weren’t like that before.”
“I just know their faces. Faces, that’s it. Don’t know them in detail.”
Having finished greeting the mainstream group, Park Chan-hu and Gong Hyun-jung approached their table with business cards in hand.
Their table didn’t have quite the same impact as the one next to them, but it was no pushover either.
Kim Jang-su and Park Geon-woo were writers with bright futures ahead.
But no matter what anyone said, the key figure at this table was someone else.
“Haha, nice to meet you. I’m Park Chan-hu from Rubin Media.”
“Yes, hello.”
“You must be writer Woo Ji-hyun?”
Woo Ji-hyun smiled at how naturally Park Chan-hu recognized him.
It confirmed they had come here knowing about the gathering.
“Yes.”
“I’ve been enjoying Asura Sword Emperor. Here’s my card.”
Park Chan-hu handed over his business card with a smile lighting up his face.
It was the third one Woo Ji-hyun had received today.
Then Gong Hyun-jung, who was even bulkier than Ye Seong-pil, pulled out his own card, sweating profusely.
He passed it around to the others at the table before finally handing it to Woo Ji-hyun.
“Here’s mine too. Gong Hyun-jung.”
“I’m Woo Ji-hyun.”
Since they were the last two people he wanted to run into, Woo Ji-hyun kept his greeting short.
He had no desire to chat them up.
But the two seemed to think differently, striking up conversations with the others while continually addressing him.
‘This is exhausting.’
Deep down, he wanted to bolt from the table right then.
Forcing a friendly smile and opening his mouth felt utterly repulsive.
Of course, none of it had happened yet, and the future had changed, but Woo Ji-hyun still believed human nature didn’t shift easily.
Most people were like that.
“Let’s head out. We’ve eaten too much for just first round.”
“My stomach’s getting full too.”
The three peers stood up, their faces flushed.
They’d been sitting too long in one spot, and their bellies were satisfied enough to move on.
“I know a good street food stall. How about we go there?”
“Sounds good?”
As soon as the hyungs rose, Park Chan-hu jumped in.
He naturally took the lead, guiding the writers after the bill was settled.
“We’ll head out first.”
“Huh? Already?”
“Yeah. I haven’t drunk anything, and I’ve got work left.”
“Me too.”
Kim Jang-su spoke up during the move.
Park Geon-woo, his soulmate of sorts, backed him up, and Woo Ji-hyun quietly joined them.
“All three of you leaving?”
“Yeah, I’ve got a deadline too.”
“Stockpile’s... oh, right, Ji-hyun, you’re serializing a new work.”
Even Woo Ji-hyun, who’d drunk decently, announced he was out, and the hyungs looked puzzled before nodding in understanding.
He kept an insane pace, but deadlines weren’t nonexistent.
Plus, with a new series in the works, there was no reason to stop him.
“Let ’em go. They haven’t even drunk.”
“We can have fun just us. Isn’t that more comfortable?”
“The kids are a bit too young anyway.”
The hyungs in their mid-to-late thirties spoke as if it worked out perfectly.
They liked their dongsaengs, but the age gap was significant enough for a generational difference.
“Alright, you three get home safe. See you next time.”
“Yes, see you then!”
“Sure thing.”
After bidding farewell with Kim Jang-su and Park Geon-woo, Woo Ji-hyun turned to leave.
All three needed the subway, so they’d go together to Bucheon Station.
“Writer Woo Ji-hyun! I’ll contact you tomorrow!”
“Ah, sure.”
Gong Hyun-jung’s booming voice called from behind, but Woo Ji-hyun gave a half-hearted reply.
He had no intention of getting involved with him.
The industry was small, so avoiding entirely was impossible, but he could dodge.
“They’re really working hard on sales.”
“That’s what they hired them for.”
“I hear Rubin Media’s stiffed quite a few authors on royalties.”
Once they were a bit away from the group, Park Geon-woo cautiously spoke up.
He glanced around, wary of acquaintances nearby.
It was hearsay from indirect sources, so he had to be careful.
“I’ve heard that too, but not specifics on who. Smoke without fire, but no victims have come forward.”
“Probably true. I heard it straight from someone I know.”
Woo Ji-hyun chimed in.
As a direct victim, he spoke with conviction.
“Really?”
“Yeah, and rumors don’t spread for nothing. There’s a reason.”
“Fair enough. But you’ve definitely blown up. They were all over you.”
“I don’t like guys’ attention. Prefer it from pretty girls. Specifically, affection and desire?”
Kim Jang-su and even Park Geon-woo looked dumbfounded.
He’d always had oddly high standards where it was pointless.
“Lower your standards or you’ll never date.”
“My baseline’s all I need to clear.”
“Lower that baseline. It’s ridiculously high.”
“Not up to me.”
Woo Ji-hyun shrugged.
He was the type who’d never compromised with reality, even till death.
No way that’d change just because he’d returned to the past.
Tap-tap-tap!
“Huh? Saving those guys’ numbers?”
“Yeah, gotta register them so I can ignore calls if they ring.”
“...That’s a pretty clever move.”
Leaving them as unknowns risked picking up thinking it’s a delivery guy, so Woo Ji-hyun saved Park Chan-hu and Gong Hyun-jung right away.
Then his eyes gleamed.
Avoidance wasn’t the only play.
If they’d cross paths in this industry anyway, better to keep them in his palm and watch.
‘And settle some scores while I’m at it.’
Woo Ji-hyun’s eyes sparkled oddly, hinting at his scheming.
* * *
As December arrived, Christmas carols echoed through the streets like they’d been queued up.
The music tugged at Woo Ji-hyun’s heartstrings.
An inexplicable loneliness washed over him.
But he welcomed this winter too, in a way.
“First winter after discharge. Feels great.”
No more shoveling snow, even if it fell—that thrilled him.
No need to go out in the cold either.
“If only I had a girlfriend here, it’d be perfect.”
He wrote diligently, income steadily hitting his account, yet no girlfriend appeared.
No blind dates coming his way either.
“Of course, focusing solely on writing’s part of it.”
Plus, Woo Ji-hyun didn’t care for blind dates.
He’d been on plenty, but never met one who clicked perfectly.
Only after ages did he realize why.
“Figured out too late that pretty girls don’t do blind dates. They’ve got suitors lined up.”
That late truth had cost him years.
But those years weren’t wasted.
They’d taught him reality, at least.
“In that sense, play when you can—but why’d I come here to meet a guy?”
“What bullshit?”
“I’m lamenting wasting a fine day on a dude.”
“You think I’m thrilled?”
Kim In-hu scowled while browsing new releases at the bookstore.
He didn’t like the greeting-skipping whining.
“And why always meet here?”
“Gotta return some books. Might borrow too.”
Woo Ji-hyun glanced at the counter.
It wasn’t awkward, exactly, but not comfy either.
Today, Jeong Mi-ri wasn’t alone.
Her mother was at the counter too.
“Grab quick. I’m busy.”
“Yeah, you are. Books flying out scary fast. Oh, Heavenly Thunder Sword Hero’s here.”
“Don’t point it out.”
“Why? Embarrassed?”
Kim In-hu grinned, pulling volume 9 of Heavenly Thunder Sword Hero, which boldly occupied a shelf spot among new releases.
Purely to tease.
“Not at all. Pick your books.”
“Tch! Buzzkill.”
With no reaction from Woo Ji-hyun, Kim In-hu smacked his lips and shelved it back.
He checked for the newly published Asura Sword Emperor too.
“Kim In-hu, right?”
“Yes.”
“One thousand six hundred won.”
Woo Ji-hyun inwardly smiled bitterly at Jeong Mi-ri’s knack for remembering customer names.
He avoided eye contact as much as possible.
“Your friend not borrowing any?”
“Yeah, the one who should read most.”
Answering the owner naturally, Kim In-hu eyed Woo Ji-hyun up and down.
Woo Ji-hyun’s face soured.
“Heh heh. Got a lot of free time?”
“Not really, but our fields overlap.”
“Cut it out.”
“Got it, got it.”
Kim In-hu waved it off.
He caught the instinctive warning in Woo Ji-hyun’s low tone: no more messing around.
“Lots of fun books. Borrow sometime. Easy to sign up.”
“He’s probably signed up. If the info’s still there. Let’s go.”
“Yeah, okay.”
Woo Ji-hyun curtly replied, dragging Kim In-hu out.
He’d borrowed books; no need to linger.
Noticing the odd vibe, Kim In-hu tilted his head.
“You hate that place? Same last time, attitude’s all prickly today.”
“You think it’s not because of you?”
“Because of me?”
“Yeah, man. If you’d just shown up on time like a good boy, would I trek all the way here?”
Woo Ji-hyun scowled.
Short distance, sure, but still a hassle.
Yet Kim In-hu just snickered.
“Hey, isn’t she your type?”
“Nope.”
“Huh? She is. That part-timer’s exactly your style. Turns twenty next year too. Four-year gap—perfect match.”
“Nope.”
Woo Ji-hyun shut it down firmly, as if saying no nonsense.
But even at the bar, Kim In-hu wouldn’t drop the Big Bang part-timer talk.
“Dude, our type’s gotta make the move. Otherwise, no chance.”
“Wish you’d set an example first.”
“Uh...”
Kim In-hu’s mouth snapped shut.
No comeback for that.
“Let’s order first.”
“Why drinks outta nowhere? Thought you were slammed writing.”
“Heard you’re joining the hotel culinary program.”
Woo Ji-hyun, having simply ordered tofu kimchi, pork stir-fry, and a bottle of soju, set down the paper bag with Asura Sword Emperor volumes 1 and 2 and spoke.
Kim In-hu’s face grew complicated.
“Where’d you hear that?”
“Did you decide yourself, or did Yoon Sung-hwan rope you in?”