Chapter 25
Chapter 25
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Translator: uly
Chapter: 25
Chapter Title: Part 10: Skyrocketing Value
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Having shaken off his cold and returned to peak condition, Woo Ji-hyun finished his morning writing session and headed out.
He had an appointment to visit Future Books today, so he made sure to leave early.
"Welcome!"
Since it was his first time, Woo Ji-hyun had to wander a bit before finally arriving at the Future Books offices.
Just then, as if they'd been waiting, Manager Seo Hee-jin and Team Leader Ki Ji-seok rushed out to greet him.
"Hello."
"Was it tough getting here? Most writers visiting for the first time get lost."
"It was a bit tricky."
As he replied to Ki Ji-seok's friendly smile, Woo Ji-hyun glanced around the publisher's interior.
In his previous life, he'd visited plenty of publishing houses and agencies.
With his long career, he'd naturally built up a wide network of contacts.
But Future Books was a first for him.
'No wonder—I could never have dreamed of setting foot here in my last life.'
At this time, Future Books was where all the top writers gathered.
They offered the best treatment in the industry, too.
Naturally, it was the envy of many writers.
Including Woo Ji-hyun.
"This way, please. Let me give you a quick tour of our offices."
"Hello."
Following Ki Ji-seok and Seo Hee-jin, Woo Ji-hyun took in the office space.
Employees here and there greeted him warmly.
He returned their greetings politely, of course.
Then, amid them, he spotted a familiar face.
"Writer Woo Ji-hyun!"
"Long time no see, Yoo-jeong."
She wasn't his editor, but they knew each other—Ko Yoo-jeong beamed and waved at him.
Woo Ji-hyun smiled faintly and bowed his head in response.
"I heard you were coming today. But wow, you've really changed. I didn't believe the editor-in-chief when she said you'd shock everyone."
"I got out of the army."
"No, it's not just that. You've totally transformed. Your whole vibe is different."
Ko Yoo-jeong shook her head firmly.
Compared to when he'd visited on leave during his service, it was like he'd shed his old skin.
Woo Ji-hyun's change was that dramatic.
He'd gone from a guy clueless about fashion to someone effortlessly stylish.
"Thanks. All that effort paid off."
"You look way better now. Seriously."
Ko Yoo-jeong's eyes sparkled as she gave him a thumbs-up.
Before, he just seemed like some older little brother type.
Now? A real man.
One with a subtly cool aura, at that.
"You're starting to sound like you're teasing me with all that exaggerated praise."
"No way!"
"Haha, save the rest of the chat for the lounge. The staff have work to do."
After the brief tour, Ki Ji-seok ushered Woo Ji-hyun and the two women into the reception room.
Pleasantries were one thing; business was another.
To avoid distracting the employees, he led them there, then headed to the break room himself.
"But seriously, what's your secret? The change is insane. I wanted to ask last time, but there were too many writers around, and you left after just the first round."
"I read a ton of magazines. Bases have every kind stacked up."
"The naughty ones, too, right?"
"Yeah."
Seo Hee-jin asked with a mischievous grin, but Woo Ji-hyun didn't flinch.
His official age was twenty-four, but mentally, he was forty-one now.
Though merging with his younger body was making that unflappable "not-confused-at-forty" edge a bit duller, he was still holding steady.
"Aw, no blush? Lame."
"I'm past that age."
"True, at twenty-four, you're hitting mid-twenties..."
"You think we're the same age, don't you, Manager?"
"......!"
Seo Hee-jin looked caught off guard.
She stared at him, eyes demanding how he knew.
"You mentioned it offhand once before."
"You remembered that......?"
"Writers have good memories by default."
"Not all of them."
Ko Yoo-jeong jumped in with a laugh, sparing Seo Hee-jin her shock.
From her experience, not every writer had a sharp memory.
Even among the big hits, plenty forgot their own protagonists' names.
Or mixed up similar ones.
"Sure, plenty of quirky writers out there. Some just live by their own rules."
"Yeah."
Ko Yoo-jeong nodded emphatically, her face full of shared woes.
Faces flashed through her mind like a montage.
It hit her again just how much Woo Ji-hyun had changed.
Every word felt oddly comforting.
'It's like my little-bro vibe turned big-bro overnight.'
He was two years younger, yet she felt like she was facing an older guy.
Ko Yoo-jeong eyed him curiously.
"Alright, hot coffee's here. We've got a machine, but nothing beats instant, right?"
"Sounds good."
"Me too."
"I prefer Americano, but instant's fine."
Ki Ji-seok entered with a tray of four cups, grinning.
Starting with Woo Ji-hyun, Seo Hee-jin and Ko Yoo-jeong each took theirs with their own flair.
"What do you think of our place?"
"Definitely different from Phil Media. Haven't checked out Barun yet."
"It's the same. Phil Media left, Barun took over the space as-is. Layout might've tweaked a bit, but no real difference."
"Oh, right. I think I heard the building belongs to Barun's president."
"Spot on."
Ki Ji-seok nodded as he sat across from Woo Ji-hyun.
Like Ko Yoo-jeong moments ago, he regarded Woo Ji-hyun with fresh eyes.
He hadn't said it aloud, but he shared Seo Hee-jin's earlier thoughts.
After Blaze—and really, after enlistment—he'd figured Woo Ji-hyun was done with the scene.
'But reality flipped that script.'
With Heavenly Thunder Sword Hero, Woo Ji-hyun made a flashy comeback to genre lit.
Followed by the back-to-back homer of Asura Sword Emperor.
Strictly speaking, neither was mega-blockbuster territory.
But both hit solid top-tier marks.
'Hope there's no lingering grudge.'
A flicker of concern passed through his smiling eyes.
Younger than those scheming writers from the last gathering, sure—but no pushover.
He'd served, and unlike peers his age, had real-world experience under his belt.
So he might hold a grudge over Phil Media not offering a contract back then.
"Barun's there, huh."
"Surprising you never visited. They usually invite writers for a look around."
"I skipped it on purpose. Figured it'd just be strangers. Kinda intimidating."
"Haha. Whereas here, you've got familiar faces?"
Ki Ji-seok chuckled heartily, nodding toward Seo Hee-jin and Ko Yoo-jeong.
Subtly reminding him of their connection.
From what he knew, Woo Ji-hyun and Ko Yoo-jeong got along well.
She was the only one who'd welcomed him warmly during his leave visit.
"That too. And I wanted to see the place sometime. Future Books is every writer's dream right now—top treatment, killer covers, best sales."
"All thanks to our hardworking staff. Hahaha!"
Ki Ji-seok beamed at the praise, as did Seo Hee-jin with a pleased smile.
It wasn't every writer's view, but enough shared it to feel validating.
Hence Ki Ji-seok's proud grin.
"That's why I had to check it out."
"Good call. Holed up writing's great, but fresh air now and then matters if you've got buffer stock. Stagnation's no good. Writing's an endurance game—stamina rules. Like studying: who sits longest wins."
"True."
Not a game, but a battle all the same.
Nobody wrote standing up.
Later came phones and tablets for on-the-go, but now it was desktop or laptop only.
"That's why your pace blew me away, Writer Woo. I knew you were fast on Blaze, but this? And the quality. No one's matching that output right now."
"Lucky break. The words flowed. If I hadn't overhauled Asura Sword Emperor's start, no new series this quick."
"Luck's part of skill. Might comes to the unprepared, it slips away."
Woo Ji-hyun nodded.
He agreed completely.
The unready don't recognize opportunity when it knocks.
Success stays out of reach.
"Asura Sword Emperor's got our editorial buzzing. 'Is this real?' Even jokes about you borrowing a pen name from 1st-gen wuxia days."
"I'm not that big a seller."
Woo Ji-hyun shook his head in disbelief.
He wasn't famous enough to lend his name out.
"Haha! That's how shocked they were."
"Well, I did write fast. Barun understood my position, too."
"Any president would've. You weren't short on material—full volumes already in house while prepping the new one."
"You're gilding the lily a bit."
Woo Ji-hyun looked sheepish.
Grateful for the praise, but it felt a tad overdone.
He knew why it was all compliments, too.
"Aw, you know I don't do empty words. Just facts."
"That's why I'm truly grateful."
"Doesn't look it."
Ko Yoo-jeong teased primly.
Ki Ji-seok and Seo Hee-jin watched the pair sharply.
Like they were hunting for an opening.
"But this feels nice. Bittersweet, maybe? All three of you so busy, yet welcoming me like this."
"Basic hospitality. Other publishers do the same."
"Still feels excessive. Though I'm thankful and happy."
Sensing his elevated status firsthand, Woo Ji-hyun felt a quiet thrill.
The guy passed over for next-work deals—the discarded one—had climbed this far on his own success.