Chapter 31
Chapter 31
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Translator: uly
Chapter: 31
Chapter Title: Again, Writer
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"Ah, that can happen."
"If I've offended you, I'm sorry."
"Haha! No, not at all. Plenty of writers are shy like that, so I totally get it. We'll just get to know each other over time."
"Thank you for understanding."
Woo Ji-hyun gave a faint smile.
But he drew a firm line.
Truth be told, he wanted nothing more than to bolt from this spot right then and there.
Still, given his current position, there was no need to make enemies, so he held back for now.
'I'm still just a newbie who's barely shed the rookie label.'
Sure, people were praising him left and right, but Woo Ji-hyun knew his place better than anyone.
He had grown a lot, but his road ahead was still long.
And the real big-shot writers didn't show up just for some pork ribs.
'I'm nowhere near there yet.'
Without his return and past life's experience, Woo Ji-hyun would've jumped at Future Books' offer back then, gratefully signing on the dotted line.
Clasping their hand with both of his, no less.
But things were different now.
And they would stay that way.
"Understanding? It's only natural. Every writer has their own style. Plus, I've met plenty of writers myself."
"Take care of Seong-pil too. Don't just focus on Ji-hyun."
"I hear you still have one contract left with Phil Media?"
Gong Hyun-jung's gaze shifted to Ye Seong-pil, who was quietly grilling the meat.
It was like he was asking with his eyes.
"Yeah. I've got one left I haven't cashed in yet."
"That's easy—just knock it out quick. You usually lock in a next project while writing, right?"
"Most do."
Yeo Woo-jin's words came off a bit sharp, but Ye Seong-pil didn't seem bothered.
They'd practically lived together in the writers' office, so he knew this was just his personality.
"Oh, so we could snag three contracts today?"
"Don't get ahead of yourself. I never said I'd sign."
"Me neither."
Yeo Woo-jin snorted.
Woo Ji-hyun naturally followed suit.
He'd never expected Gong Hyun-jung to show anyway, so contracts weren't even on his mind.
"Uh, um. Why are you two being so prickly? I haven't even brought up contracts yet."
"Your attitudes say it all. Loud and clear."
"Hyung, you planning to stab me today or what?"
"Wanna try me?"
Yeo Woo-jin grinned like he was daring him.
Gong Hyun-jung just shook his head.
Arguing with Yeo Woo-jin—the sniper even among the seniors—was a losing battle.
"Should we order more meat?"
Woo Ji-hyun spoke up as the mood grew heavy.
The five portions they'd ordered were already gone.
Excluding him, the other three were all big guys, so the meat vanished the moment it hit the grill.
"Get a solid seven portions. Barely any meat on these bones."
"You got it!"
Woo Ji-hyun had broken the ice, but Ye Seong-pil placed the order.
Like he'd been waiting for it, he called over the server lady and got more meat and soju.
The feast raged on like a battlefield, until Yeo Woo-jin and Ye Seong-pil stepped out.
Bellies full, they headed to the front of the shop for a smoke.
That's when Gong Hyun-jung's sales pitch kicked off.
"Writer Woo Ji-hyun."
"Yes."
Woo Ji-hyun replied, eyeing the green soju bottles that now crowded one side of the table.
Despite downing a fair amount in short order, neither Gong Hyun-jung nor Woo Ji-hyun looked heavily flushed.
His rejuvenated body helped, but he'd paced himself amid the trio of boozehounds and was holding his own.
"I hear you haven't signed anything with Barun Publishing since Asura Sword Emperor."
"That's right. Nothing with Barun. But I do have a contract with Linus."
"Uh... with Manager Jo Jin-gu?"
Had he heard something unexpected?
Gong Hyun-jung's face snapped to sobriety as he shot back.
"You knew?"
"Yeah, this industry's small. Word spreads fast once someone submits a resignation. And with the chain reactions, it's impossible not to hear."
"True enough."
Gong Hyun-jung pressed on, unable to hide his flustered look.
But unlike his expression, his mind was racing.
"Mind if I ask how many you signed for?"
"Just one for now. Anything more felt like too much for me."
"Hmm!"
Gong Hyun-jung's eyes gleamed.
One was manageable—he could wait it out.
Plus, Woo Ji-hyun was the guy they called Machine right now.
Asura Sword Emperor was still ongoing, but at this pace, he'd burn through a Linus release in no time.
'There's still a shot.'
It would've been ideal with no contracts post-Asura Sword Emperor, but this wasn't bad.
Hiding his disappointment, Gong Hyun-jung flashed a smile.
You can't spit on a smiling face, after all.
So he'd build rapport slowly.
"For now, I'm focusing on Asura Sword Emperor. Gotta wrap up the current one right."
"Absolutely. That's priority one. Haha, no need for me to tell you—you know better than I do."
"Yeah, so I'll grind on Asura Sword Emperor for the foreseeable future."
"Ever thought about juggling two at once?"
Gong Hyun-jung asked with a hint of hope.
Rare, but some pulled it off without dropping quality.
The subtext: Wouldn't that clear the Linus deal faster?
"I've considered it, but it's beyond my bandwidth. Better to finish one quick and move on—that's what suits me. Always has."
"Shame. Felt like you could pull it off."
Gong Hyun-jung looked genuinely disappointed.
But he had no clue.
Woo Ji-hyun could read him like a book.
"Why the third degree?"
"We were working hard."
"Easy does it. Looks like we're done eating—let's move spots."
"Got it! I'll handle the bill."
At Yeo Woo-jin's word, Gong Hyun-jung bolted from his seat to the counter.
Like a subordinate rushing to obey.
No one batted an eye.
"Ji-hyun-ah."
"Yeah, hyung."
"No need to sign just 'cause we got a free meal. Booze too. Just nod along, hear the terms. Doesn't mean you have to commit. And you know—networking never hurts."
"True."
Woo Ji-hyun trailed off.
Connections were fine, but he didn't need to chum it up with con artists.
The words nearly escaped—swallowing them took effort.
No proof anyway, and no way to back it up.
Couldn't exactly say, "I lived through it last time."
"Ahem! Sorry I didn't warn you he was coming. He kept begging to meet you. Said if I told you, you might bail."
"It's fine, hyung. No hard feelings. I was the one getting fed, after all."
"Glad you see it that way. Heh."
"But next time, a heads-up would be nice. Gotta prepare myself mentally."
Woo Ji-hyun smiled brightly.
He could let it slide once.
Relationships don't always bend to your will.
But getting used? Not a chance.
"Fair enough. Today was out of my hands..."
Yeo Woo-jin looked sheepish at Woo Ji-hyun's firm tone.
He had his own reasons he couldn't spill.
"Thanks, man. Free booze and meat on you."
"Looking like we're headed to rounds two and three?"
"Heh heh heh!"
Ye Seong-pil grinned, savoring the rare binge.
Back at the office, mooching off the seniors was normal—but it always felt a tad awkward.
Not tonight.
"Eat up. Not that I'm paying."
"Still, thanks to you."
"Precisely—thanks to me."
Yeo Woo-jin slyly claimed credit at the end.
Technically, he'd set this whole thing up.
"Where to for round two?"
"Meat for one, so sashimi for two? Know a spot with good value."
"Let's do it."
Meat wasn't pricey, but with two big eaters, even round one racked up a tab.
Gong Hyun-jung grinned without complaint, sticking close to Yeo Woo-jin.
Subtly checking Woo Ji-hyun's vibe.
'I'm dragging him all the way tonight!'
Worried he'd call it after one like last time, Gong Hyun-jung kept watch.
Luckily, Woo Ji-hyun showed no signs, chuckling with Ye Seong-pil as he trailed Yeo Woo-jin.
The night rolled past round two into three.
A quiet bar near Bucheon Station—Gong Hyun-jung's regular spot.
But the duo's arrival turned it rowdy fast.
"So, like I was saying!"
Unlike Woo Ji-hyun, who'd sipped steadily, Yeo Woo-jin and Gong Hyun-jung were pounding shots like mad—reeking of blackout drunk.
Yet they kept pouring.
"You're right. Totally you."
"Right? I didn't do anything wrong?"
"Looks that way to me."
The two, slurring on the edge, bantered back and forth.
The female bartender up front gave an awkward smile, watching.
No room to butt in—she just stood there.
'Vodka, huh.'
Woo Ji-hyun smirked at the Absolut Original bottle.
He didn't mind vodka.
Had pounded plenty back in the day.
But bartenders? Different story.
Female ones dealing with crowds had to mix everything—and vodka wrecked hangovers next day.
'Not quite at whiskey level yet.'
Gong Hyun-jung flashed his corporate card proudly, but limits applied.
No soju-style whiskey orders, so vodka it was.
Tonic water stretched it, cheaper than whiskey too.
"Gonna hit the bathroom."
"Sure, hyung."
With Yeo Woo-jin in the bar's restroom and even bottomless Ye Seong-pil fading, Gong Hyun-jung's eyes lit up at Woo Ji-hyun.
Finally—a quiet chance to talk.