Chapter 32
Chapter 32
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Translator: uly
Chapter: 32
Chapter Title: Once Again, Writer
-----------------------------------------------------------------
"Does this place work for you?"
"Yeah, sure."
Even in his drunken state—no, precisely because he was drunk—Woo Ji-hyun watched his friend spout nonsense in a conversation with the bartender, sipping his drink as he glanced coolly at Gong Hyun-jung, who had sat down beside him.
To be honest, nothing about the place appealed to him at all, but there was one reason he was here.
'Call it my own little revenge.'
Among the four of them, Woo Ji-hyun was by far the least intoxicated.
That meant he knew exactly how much Gong Hyun-jung had spent so far.
'If you don't snag at least one contract out of this tonight, you're in for a rough tomorrow.'
A publishing house was no charity.
It was a business that had to generate revenue, no matter the means.
If they'd shelled out this much with nothing to show for it, Gong Hyun-jung would catch hell from the boss or upper management.
With that in mind, Woo Ji-hyun nursed a sip of vodka mixed with tonic water, a faint smile playing on his lips.
"It's quiet, and the staff are nice—that's why I come here a lot. Used to be my little secret spot, though."
"Thanks."
Woo Ji-hyun replied with a soulless tone to Gong Hyun-jung, who emphasized that last part with a subtle inflection.
He knew full well it was empty flattery.
Sure, it was probably a regular haunt.
But not his only one.
"I assume you know why I wanted to meet you, so no need to explain. I heard you've already visited Future Books."
"I can guess."
"Then I'll get straight to the point. Let's sign with our company. We'll match the best terms possible. Cover design, full-spectrum support—you name it. We can even help with the planning side. And we've got real results to show for it."
His tongue was a bit slurred from the alcohol, but Gong Hyun-jung pressed on with considerable force.
He fixed Woo Ji-hyun with a confident gaze.
"The best terms, huh."
"I don't know what Linus Publishing offered, but we'll top it. I saw Heavenly Thunder Sword Hero and Asura Sword Emperor from Barun Publishing. They don't fit the current trends—kind of dated. Or like they skimped on the covers."
"You could see it that way."
"Asura Sword Emperor did okay as an ebook, but given your current standing, it feels lacking."
Yeo Woo-jin staggered back from the bathroom, but Gong Hyun-jung's eyes stayed locked on Woo Ji-hyun.
He sensed this was the make-or-break moment and pushed hard.
"Others might see it that way."
"But our publishing house is different. No—I am different."
Woo Ji-hyun let out a scoff.
It was a line he'd heard endlessly in his past life.
And one he'd fallen for, only to get burned.
"Then let's hear the terms. For any writer, the contract is what matters most."
"If it's not too rude, could I ask what terms you signed with Linus?"
"No problem. Five million won per volume, full guarantee."
"Pardon?"
Gong Hyun-jung blurted out involuntarily.
A full guarantee of 5,000 copies per volume was a deal even top A-listers rarely scored.
It was on par with what Yeo Woo-jin got, too.
Luckily, Yeo Woo-jin and Ye Seong-pil were too drunk to catch it.
"Can you beat that?"
"Uh...."
Gong Hyun-jung sobered up in an instant, trailing off.
Linus's terms were way beyond expectations—he couldn't commit rashly.
Woo Ji-hyun just gave a light smile, as if understanding.
"You seem pretty wasted tonight, so think it over and get back to me. Since I'm not exclusive with Linus, I'm open to other publishers. See you next time. Oh, and thanks for the great meal."
Leaving the door just barely ajar, Woo Ji-hyun stood up.
He walked out of the bar without looking back.
'This time, it's your turn to feel it. I can't be the only one.'
Woo Ji-hyun's eyes gleamed coldly as he stepped outside.
* * *
Jeong Mi-ri took a deep breath in front of the elevator.
It was nothing major, really, yet her heart raced oddly.
She hadn't felt this way even when she was dating.
'Just curious. That's all.'
She hadn't seen him since last Christmas.
The address said he lived in the neighborhood, and he was a registered member, but one day he just stopped coming to her mom's shop.
Even his friend, who punched in almost daily, suddenly vanished.
"Just checking. That's it."
Ding!
The elevator arrived at the first floor. Jeong Mi-ri stepped in with resolve.
She headed straight to JD Whitney on the seventh floor.
"Welcome."
As soon as the doors opened, a friendly voice came from the counter right there.
A woman in workout clothes appeared.
"Hello."
"First time?"
"Yeah. Here for a consultation."
"Got it. Shall I show you around and explain?"
She clearly looked like a first-timer, so the trainer smiled and continued smoothly.
Jeong Mi-ri nodded for now.
"Ever tried the gym before?"
"No, first time checking it out."
"Yoga or aerobics?"
It was a gym, but they brought in instructors for hot yoga and aerobics programs too.
Most women were into those, so the trainer mentioned them casually.
"Nope."
"Our instructors are top-notch—worth considering. You could add gym sessions to yoga or aerobics."
The trainer explained kindly while touring the facilities.
But Jeong Mi-ri's focus was elsewhere.
Even as she listened, her eyes scanned the room quickly.
"Ah!"
"What's up?"
The trainer paused mid-explanation, puzzled by Jeong Mi-ri's reaction.
She followed her gaze.
"Hello?"
"Oh, hi."
Jeong Mi-ri ignored the staffer and hurried to the locker room entrance.
That's where the reason for her visit stood.
"You come to this gym?"
"I do."
Unlike Jeong Mi-ri, who beamed with delight, Woo Ji-hyun looked thoroughly unamused.
His expression asked why she was here, plain as day.
The trainer looked baffled too.
"What a coincidence. I was just thinking of trying the gym."
"Everyone's into it these days. Listen to her explanation."
"Uh...."
Woo Ji-hyun nodded politely to the trainer and walked off.
He was surprised by the unexpected encounter, but that was it.
In his past life, he'd have lit up with joy, making every effort to chat her up more.
Not now.
'Stay out of it. I don't even plan to get revenge on you.'
He'd crushed on Jeong Mi-ri for over four years.
But his unwavering affection got nothing but utter dismissal.
Later, she even brought her boyfriend to Big Bang.
Thinking back still stung.
'That sting's just pity for my pathetic old self—not lingering feelings for you.'
Things were different now, so maybe they could connect differently.
But Woo Ji-hyun didn't want that.
He wasn't childish enough to cling to dead emotions, and his tastes had changed.
Best to avoid tangling with Jeong Mi-ri.
"Haa."
Jeong Mi-ri sighed as Woo Ji-hyun strode off coolly.
Resentment bubbled up too.
He'd messed with her head, then acted like nothing happened and walked away.
At least she'd confirmed what she came for.
"Um, miss?"
"Sorry. Where were you?"
"Registration fees. You look upset—want to sit and talk?"
"Yes."
Jeong Mi-ri stopped glaring at Woo Ji-hyun and nodded.
The trainer watched with an amused expression.
She'd clocked the situation.
She glanced at Woo Ji-hyun anew, nonchalantly.
'He's got something, huh. Not handsome, exactly.'
The trainer mused inwardly.
Objectively, Woo Ji-hyun wasn't a looker.
But he had a vibe.
Clean style, the kind women liked.
Quite a few female members eyed him, surprisingly.
"We take cards, but there's a fee, so cash is better."
"Hmm."
"No rush—think it over and come back."
"Got it."
Three months was cheaper than one, but still no small sum.
Jeong Mi-ri hesitated, unwilling to commit.
Her mom had said do whatever, but swiping the card felt risky.
Woo Ji-hyun's attitude only made her waver more.
'A little kindness wouldn't hurt.'
She bit her lip.
Guys hit on her plenty at her mom's shop.
Not Woo Ji-hyun.
He was ice-cold, bordering on rude.
'Did I mess up somehow?'
His chill had her seriously pondering for a while.
Had something happened without her knowing?
But no—racking her brain, nothing came up.
They'd barely crossed paths anyway.
'Even on vacation, he barely talked. But his eyes were different then....'
Jeong Mi-ri's gaze grew complicated.
Same guy, yet his eyes and demeanor were polar opposites.
"Haa."
She sighed naturally at that thought.
It changed nothing.
* * *
March bloomed past, and April arrived.
Woo Ji-hyun's routine stayed much the same as early year.
He minimized meetings and outings, pouring everything into writing.
Bzzz! Bzzz!
Midway through Asura Sword Emperor's finale, Woo Ji-hyun eyed his phone by the keyboard.
Seeing the number, instinct hit.
The moment he'd hoped wouldn't come, had.
"...Some fates can't be escaped."
Woo Ji-hyun closed his eyes.
Then slowly pressed call.