Chapter 29
Chapter 29
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Translator: uly
Chapter: 29
Chapter Title: Again, Writer 029
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Since this wasn't the first time, Woo Ji-hyun laid out events that had actually happened in his previous life—but wouldn't this time—in scenario form for his mother, who believed it would all come back to her eventually.
Her expression shifted by the second.
Even so, she still didn't believe him.
"That's just your imagined scenario. There's no guarantee it'll play out that way."
"You're right. It's just a scenario that hasn't happened yet. But Mom, it doesn't hurt to prepare in advance. And you know it yourself. There's a reason you haven't fixed it yet, right?"
"……"
His mother's face hardened as she clamped her mouth shut.
Everything he said rang true, from one to ten.
That didn't mean she'd been passive, just sitting back and watching.
She'd tried talking it out her way, even fighting.
"What I'm saying is we should prepare. And I know. Grandpa has rectal cancer."
"Huh?"
"I overheard it at his place by chance. You know I've been visiting a lot lately, right?"
"Yeah, Dad's been so thrilled about it. So that's why."
She let out a hollow laugh, as if she had no energy left to be surprised.
At the same time, her mind began tilting toward the scenario Woo Ji-hyun described.
It didn't seem like he'd pulled it out of thin air.
"The best outcome is our family staying together happily. That's what you want most."
"Right."
"But if it was heading that way, we wouldn't have gotten this far."
"……Yeah, that's true."
Her face darkened.
From that look, Woo Ji-hyun could tell she'd been suffering in silence all this time, unable to confide in anyone.
No, he already knew without seeing it.
He'd just been biding his time.
'It was a real spectacle in my last life.'
At first, he'd thought she endured it for the kids' sake.
But once the divorce proceedings kicked off in earnest, he realized.
How tenaciously deep grudges lingered.
"So what I'm saying is, prepare. We can't turn Dad around right now, so let's brace for the worst. We can't just get kicked out empty-handed. With some basics in place, you'll have options too."
"Isn't that too extreme? Even if Dad passes, there's still Mom."
"Blood bends toward family. And strictly speaking, you're the last one left in this house."
"Urgh."
She let out a groan.
It struck a chord, lodging right in her chest.
And those were the exact words she'd muttered countless times in her drunken haze, in her moments of despair, in his previous life.
Words she'd grumbled endlessly after the betrayal.
"I hope nothing happens. Or things go back to normal—that'd be even better. But we need to prepare for the chance they don't. If he tells you to leave, what then? Just walk out bare-handed? Go to your parents'?"
"No way. Mom has her pride."
"Show some of that pride to Dad too. No more understanding, no leniency, no concessions."
"To hear this from you……"
She murmured, looking suddenly years older.
But before long, she was listening intently.
"Even if you say you're fine, I can't stand seeing you like that. You're the lady of the house. You're the one who supported Dad. And you're just going to let some outsider take it all?"
"Absolutely not."
Her eyes changed.
She couldn't stand taking it, but losing it was worse.
She could bear handing it to her kids.
She could walk away with nothing.
But passing the inheritance to some other woman? Never.
"So we prepare now. Step by step. First up: your ammo. You've got to keep that wallet fat—it's the key to handling anything. Meanwhile, slim Dad's down."
"Got it."
"Cancel the insurance in my name and grab the refund first. Before he does."
"……How'd you know about that?"
"You called when I was on vacation. Needed ID verification."
She nodded.
Remembering it late.
And she marveled anew at her son's memory.
"You remember something from so long ago."
"Same for my sister's. Too late, and you won't get it back even if you try. And don't trust that auntie at the hall too much. If you can't trust your husband, why trust a stranger?"
"No, she's……"
"Watch closely. How she acts. What she says. I get you care for her like a daughter, but snap to it from now on."
Dad had wrecked the home, but the hall server auntie had fueled the wedge, making Mom's life hell.
That's why Woo Ji-hyun planted the warning.
"Still, I can trust her……"
"Better safe than sorry. You decide, but I think it's worth paying attention."
"Sigh. Fine."
It was her own son warning her.
Unlike flighty friends' sons, hers had always been reliable, handling his responsibilities since childhood.
Even now, independent without their help, thriving.
And he wasn't ordering her around, so she decided to follow his lead.
"We need evidence too. You know why."
"Yeah."
"If it ends well, toss it. Don't think it's overkill—we're just prepping."
Woo Ji-hyun pressed on quickly.
To keep her wavering resolve firm.
And all this was for her.
'If we can stop it, better to try. Though like the saying, a dog's habits die hard—even if it works now, it'll flare up later.'
From what he'd seen so far, fate didn't bend easily.
Especially if the main players didn't change.
So he knew even spilling it early wouldn't shift much.
But he couldn't stomach watching her get steamrolled like last time.
'Pay for your sins. Why should the cheater live it up? Victim left penniless. Not this time.'
His eyes gleamed coldly.
No god, he couldn't rewrite their fates entirely—but he could at least blunt the edge.
And this meeting was the start.
"Got it."
"Call me if anything comes up."
"That's why they say sons are the best. So reliable."
"Go easy on the soju. Don't pour it like you've been caught."
He chided her as she downed shots nonstop, parched.
But she just laughed and refilled her empty glass.
* * *
Lunar New Year passed uneventfully, and Woo Ji-hyun returned to routine.
Like last year, he dove into writing at a brutal pace.
Churning out over three volumes a month, he blazed through Asura Sword Emperor.
"Need to write faster."
Insane compared to other writers, but he wasn't satisfied.
Lingering too long on a redo felt wrong.
Plus, the "machines" of this era pumped out three volumes monthly too.
Difference: he published two works under his real name; they used pen names.
"With my mileage, matching them ain't enough. Gotta dominate."
He knew himself well.
No genius.
But strengths aplenty.
Speed was his forte, so he stuck to solid quality at max velocity.
Result: his contracts.
"Ah, gotta get real medical insurance too. Before the copay jumps to 80%."
After three frantic hours pounding keys, slumping in his chair for a break, he muttered.
The insurance from Mom's scenario chat resurfaced.
Canceling meant losing benefits, so real medical now—while young and cheap.
"Don't forget to check."
He jotted "real medical insurance" on a prepared Post-it.
Then his eye caught the desk calendar atop the printer.
Pointing to February.
"Time to hit real estate. Studio lease ends in three months. Tell landlord early, scout new place."
He marked "real estate" and checked his bank balance.
Work hard, play hard motto—spent decently, but not wildly.
Savings pile separate from spending.
So his main account had a solid stash.
"Hmm."
His face stiffened.
Target hit last year.
Royalty stacks from the grind.
But now it was tricky.
"1.5-room or two-room? Two might pinch—too much stuff to buy."
Current studio: fully furnished.
TV, fridge, washer, AC, stove included.
Jeonse meant buying all.
Plus wallpaper, flooring costs—and buffer cash.
"Gotta buy used appliances, but deposit's the issue."
Human nature: crave nice digs.
But nice meant pricey.
So match budget—meaning choices.
"What to give up, what not. Pre-royalties won't snag dream spot anyway."
Shortfall, but options: advance royalties over loan.
Still changed little.
More cash, higher standards.
"Location here for now. Friends around."
Kim In-hu just quit college for 9th-grade civil service.
Im Sang-min starting next month.
So two more years in Mansu-dong ideally.
"Worked my ass off, still miles to go."
Monthly rent's drag hit hard; he shook his head.
But swiftly plotted ahead.