Chapter 19
Chapter 19
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Translator: uly
Chapter: 19
Chapter Title: Again, Writer
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Woo Ji-hyun's expression turned serious.
He had actually suspected as much to some extent.
After running into those two people he desperately wanted to avoid—under the guise of coincidence but as an inevitable encounter—Woo Ji-hyun had become certain.
He could change his own future, but changing someone else's was not so easy.
Still, if possible, he wanted to steer Kim In-hu's future in a better direction.
'Because I don't want him wasting his time away again.'
In fact, Woo Ji-hyun had agonized over this for quite a while.
No matter how much he knew about the future, he had no right to dictate Kim In-hu's life this way or that.
Plus, even if he said something, the chances of Kim In-hu listening were slim.
At this point in time, Kim In-hu was deep into living like a 'dog.'
"I made the decision myself. Sung-hwan definitely put ideas in my head, though."
"Hoo."
Woo Ji-hyun let out a deep sigh as the answer he'd hoped wasn't true slipped from Kim In-hu's mouth.
It was exactly as he'd expected.
"I told you, I made the decision. Honestly, the school I'm taking a leave from is in Seoul and all, but I'm not planning to use my major anyway, and it doesn't seem like it has much future. And I'm not some genius either. Truth is, I'm just mediocre."
"We think you're good."
"Not as good as In-gil or Sung-jun, though. Let's be real."
"You've done plenty, haven't you?"
Kim In-hu grinned instead of answering.
It was true that in high school, he hadn't slacked off as much as he had in middle school.
He did have some teenage rebellion going on, after all.
And Woo Ji-hyun knew that.
"You know how the military makes your brain go stiff? Your head and mine are about the same. In some ways, you might even be better off. You're a writer, right?"
"Um."
Sensing the mood getting too heavy, Kim In-hu lightened his tone a bit.
Just then, the side dishes they'd ordered arrived.
"Ice water, too, please."
"Yes."
Nam Bo-ra, working her part-time shift as usual, responded curtly and disappeared.
But neither Kim In-hu nor Woo Ji-hyun paid her any mind.
"I know it might come off as meddling..."
"Why so many disclaimers? Since when have you been one to draw strict lines?"
"W-Well, it's better to keep some boundaries. Anyway, I want you to think it over one more time. You can still turn back now. Think it through carefully. Two years isn't short. You'll be twenty-six when you graduate. And that's assuming you can finish in exactly two years."
"What? Why do you sound like you think I won't graduate on time?"
Kim In-hu furrowed his brow.
The way Woo Ji-hyun spoke with such certainty rubbed him the wrong way.
But Woo Ji-hyun had no choice.
He remembered that Kim In-hu had taken a semester off because of a girl.
"It could happen. And isn't your goal a hotel? A five-star one, at that."
"Yeah."
"You think you can definitely get in? That seems overly optimistic."
"Don't you think you're being too negative?"
Kim In-hu's face stiffened.
Even as a friend, instead of cheering him on, Woo Ji-hyun kept bringing up the bad stuff, which soured his mood no matter what.
"You and Sung-hwan seem too optimistic to me. And did you forget my major is cooking?"
"Um!"
"Of course, you and I are different. Your parents might know someone in the hotel business. But what I'm saying is, consider the worst-case scenario. And at least once, think about whether you really want to cook, whether you actually want to work in that field."
"You have a point. Not everything goes your way. Look at Sung-hwan—he's in his senior year and still struggling to land a hotel job."
Perhaps realizing this wasn't just teasing but genuine advice, Kim In-hu responded with a slightly deflated air.
He had considered the worst case too.
But he wanted to think positively if possible.
Better to try than to back down in fear without even attempting.
"If you can't get into a hotel, you'll end up at some regular restaurant or eatery. Or maybe the buffet kitchen where I worked. You know how rough that world is without me saying."
"That's why I'm fixated on hotels. Once you're in, it's smooth sailing."
"What about a grade-9 civil service job?"
"Civil service?"
Kim In-hu's eyes widened.
It was a choice he hadn't even considered.
But Woo Ji-hyun wasn't throwing out the idea without prep.
"If you're gonna spend two years at a junior college anyway, wouldn't prepping for civil service be better? Your parents are both teachers, so they know how great it is better than most."
"Uh..."
Kim In-hu trailed off.
With his dad a high school teacher and his mom a middle school teacher, he knew more about civil service than average.
That's why he wavered.
If he passed, civil service beat hotel chef hands down.
No need to even mention the social prestige.
"I think it'd suit you better. Your English major means you'd have some edge there. You like cooking, sure, but you haven't actually tried working in it."
"You think I could pass?"
"What happened to the guy who just told me not to be so negative?"
Woo Ji-hyun chuckled.
That earlier confidence was gone, replaced by hesitation—and worrying about failing first.
"Civil service. Civil service, huh. It'd be great if I made it. Pay's low, but it's not called an iron rice bowl for nothing."
"That's what I wanted to tell you—there are options like that. Or the Human Resources Development Institute. Government-funded training. Of course, landing a big corp job from there is tough. But it's better than kitchens. At least they pay hourly. Some places even do five-day weeks if you look hard."
Woo Ji-hyun pulled out his phone on instinct, then flinched.
He'd meant to search and show him, but sadly, his phone still wasn't a smartphone.
Awkwardly, he set it on the table.
"Human Resources Development Institute?"
"Yeah, tons of courses. They even give a small training allowance once a month."
"Where'd you hear about that?"
"Here and there?"
In reality, he'd gone there himself, but Woo Ji-hyun played it off like he'd heard from someone.
He chuckled inwardly.
Kim In-hu was the one who'd introduced him to it and even suggested going together.
"I'll look into it. But civil service is sounding good."
"Good choice. That's why the competition's insane. Eventually, more people will chase civil service than big corps or public companies. Stability first."
"Recommending civil service while you're a freelancer is kinda unbalanced."
Kim In-hu muttered with a wry laugh.
The guy pushing it was the epitome of instability himself.
"I just want you to do well."
"I know. That's why I'm not mad. If it were anyone else, I'd have stormed out already."
"Makes me tear up, friend. Here, let me pour you a shot."
Woo Ji-hyun smirked past Kim In-hu's sharp glare and picked up the soju bottle.
He slowly filled his glass.
"Pour it politely with both hands."
"Yes, sir!"
"Kuhahaha!"
Kim In-hu let out a satisfied laugh at Woo Ji-hyun's groveling servant act straight out of a historical drama.
It suited him perfectly, in his eyes.
"Think about it seriously. For your own sake, not anyone else's."
"Got it. But can I ask you something?"
"Sure."
"Why the sudden change?"
Kim In-hu dropped the playfulness and asked earnestly.
Since discharge, Woo Ji-hyun had transformed like a different person.
More decisive, colder, blunter—Kim In-hu eyed him curiously.
"Because that's how I stay happy. Being half-assed about what I want gets me nowhere."
"Hm. Fair enough. But it was so sudden, I was worried. Not just me—the others too."
"Thanks. Though some are probably cursing me out."
"You knew?"
Kim In-hu looked shocked.
His tone suggested Woo Ji-hyun knew something.
"Sung-hwan?"
"Want me to roll out the mat?"
"Just let it go in one ear and out the other. It's not the first time."
"You don't see it."
"No need to."
Woo Ji-hyun shrugged.
Their bond would fade naturally anyway.
If the guy changed, maybe worth keeping around—but human nature didn't shift easily.
No effort to change, either.
"Cold dude. So, how much you making? Sung-hwan's dying to know."
"Jealous of the writer title?"
"Uh, yeah."
It was common knowledge Yoon Sung-hwan coveted the writer label.
He read way more light novels than Kim In-hu.
"Not bad. Heavenly Thunder Sword Hero nets about two million after taxes?"
"...You drop a volume every three weeks? Twelve-volume complete series."
"Yeah."
"So how much is that? Plus a new series?"
Kim In-hu's pupils dilated.
Smart guy—quick math.
Woo Ji-hyun chuckled and handed over the paper bag he'd brought.
"Here. Asura Sword Emperor."
"Four million a month on the same terms as Heavenly Thunder Sword Hero?"
"Huhu! Better terms than that."
"No way!"
Kim In-hu was genuinely stunned.
But unlike Yoon Sung-hwan, no jealousy.
Pure admiration and envy.
He knew the grind better than anyone, so he congratulated him sincerely.
"The market's heading south, but still doable. If you write like me, anyway."
"Should I try writing?"
"Not a bad idea, but later. Rookies can't survive now. Tons barely scrape fifty thousand a month per volume."
"Bragging about being a hit?"
Kim In-hu smirked.
It sure sounded like boasting.
"Just reality. Fine as a hobby. Experience doesn't vanish."
"Then college makes sense. Harder to write as a full-time student."
"Just study."
Back to square one, Woo Ji-hyun's eyebrow twitched.
He reflexively raised his glass.
Felt like preaching to deaf ears.
"Ah, tough call. Give up dating too?"
"I'm stumped. What to do."
The two muttered in different senses.
Neither really listening to the other.