Chapter 33
Chapter 33
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Translator: uly
Chapter: 33
Chapter Title: Again, Writer 033
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This is a work of fiction and has no relation whatsoever to any real names, events, organizations, place names, people, or the like.
End of Part 13 and a New Beginning.
-Ji-hyun-ah!
"Yes, Mom."
A torrent of emotions seeped through his mother's voice from the speaker.
But the one that came across most vividly was sorrow.
-Dad... Dad!
"I'm on my way."
-...You need to hurry.
His mother's voice finally cracked with sobs, and Woo Ji-hyun's face hardened as much as it possibly could.
He had hoped it wouldn't come to this, but it seemed inevitable fates truly existed.
As close as Kim In-hu and as distant as Jeong Mi-ri, Woo Ji-hyun had come to believe that even destinies could change.
He thought his choices created ripples, butterfly effects that altered the future.
'But even so, some futures remain unchanged.'
Death was predetermined from the moment of birth.
No being could escape it.
If there was a beginning, an end was inevitable.
And at that end stood his grandfather.
"I'll be right there. So please tell him to hold on just a little longer."
-Okay.
In his past life, he had heard the news of his grandfather's passing on the shuttle bus back from college.
Just like now, through his mother's call.
And that regret lingered to this day.
He hadn't been at his grandfather's bedside in his final moments.
"If only I could change fate, but it's too late."
Even if he had sought treatment right after regressing, it was already too late.
So Woo Ji-hyun had no choice but to give up.
Miracles did happen sometimes, but that was precisely why they were called miracles—because they were extraordinary.
Click.
Woo Ji-hyun quickly dressed and rushed out the door.
He hopped into a taxi waiting at the intersection.
* * *
Park Chan-hu entered the office clutching a file folder, his face grim.
He fixed a cold glare on Gong Hyun-jung, whose bulk was easily twice his own.
"Hyun-jung."
"Yes, hyung."
"What happened? Last time, you made it sound like contracts were imminent."
"W-Well..."
Gong Hyun-jung faltered under Park Chan-hu's icy stare.
Any excuse would just sound like an evasion.
Worse, it stemmed from his own premature boasting.
'Why did I run my mouth like that back then!'
He wished he could go back and shut himself up.
But that was impossible.
"I'll let Yeo Woo-jin slide. That guy's always mooching off people everywhere. If we ranked companies by booze debt, we'd barely crack the top five. I get it—S-Rank writers are rare. But what about the other two? Especially Woo Ji-hyun—you guaranteed him."
"He said he'd think positively about it..."
"It's not the answer that matters! You should have brought back a signed contract! Do you know how much that card you swiped cost that day!"
Park Chan-hu's voice rose.
Gong Hyun-jung's shoulders shrank in response.
He couldn't argue back after his bold claims.
"Just a little more sweet-talking, and it'll be done. It's really almost there."
"And if it's not?"
"Booze debts don't vanish."
"What if you guzzle it all yourself? Then the company just sucks its thumb?"
Park Chan-hu grinned slyly.
But his expression was loaded with meaning.
He stared at Gong Hyun-jung with eyes that said he knew everything.
"What do you mean by that?"
"You're well-connected, but so am I. And the rumors you hear reach my ears too."
-...
Gong Hyun-jung's eyes darted around.
He held his tongue, trying to gauge the intent.
"You met the Phil Media president last week, didn't you?"
"H-How did you...?"
"No secrets in this industry. Just baseless gossip."
Park Chan-hu's gaze sharpened further.
And with it, Gong Hyun-jung's momentum crumbled.
"It was just talk. He wanted to meet."
"Maybe you're right. But remember one thing: if you swipe the Rubin Media corporate card, you deliver results."
-...Understood.
"I'm saying this just in case. I know you wouldn't, but some guys do pocket extras."
Park Chan-hu chuckled and patted Gong Hyun-jung's shoulder.
It seemed like encouragement, but Gong Hyun-jung knew better.
This gesture, these words—they were a clear warning.
'Damn bastard.'
Gong Hyun-jung ground his teeth, watching Park Chan-hu's retreating back.
After all, Park Chan-hu was the one who had taught him how to skim.
He was still doing it on the side.
Yet here he was, preaching only to him—Gong Hyun-jung seethed inside.
"Haa."
But in his position, he couldn't call it out.
He could only swallow it down, over and over.
"First, I need to seal those contracts. They're happening anyway."
Gong Hyun-jung picked up his phone.
His eyes scanned for Woo Ji-hyun's number, but his mind replayed the Phil Media president's words.
-...Damn it.
Cursing under his breath, Gong Hyun-jung took a deep breath.
But his burning chest showed no sign of cooling.
* * *
Woo Ji-hyun bolted from the taxi straight into the apartment.
He flung open the front door to his grandfather's place, and the heavy atmosphere pressed down on his shoulders.
The moment he entered, he sensed the shadow of death.
-...Ji-hyun-ah...
"Yes, Grandfather. I'm here."
His grandfather's voice clung to consciousness like a flickering candle on the verge of extinction, and Woo Ji-hyun's throat tightened.
But he held back the tears.
There was no time for that now.
-...Come here.
"Yes."
Hearing the frail call, as if life itself was draining away, Woo Ji-hyun rushed over without even removing his shoes and grasped his hand.
"Heh heh. At least I got to see all my grandchildren at the end. Truly fortunate."
-...Grandfather.
Unlike Woo Ji-hyun, who bit his lip, his plump little sister sobbed as she called out.
At her voice, a smile touched their grandfather's lips.
"Don't cry. We all go when it's time. It just came sooner than expected."
"Hic!"
Tears brimming, his sister finally burst into sobs.
Beside her, their mother wept silently, her face flushed.
Only Grandmother and Father remained composed.
"I've told everyone else... You're the last."
"I'm sorry for being late."
"No. How could a man doing his work be at fault? It's only right. In fact... I'm proud of you for living your life so well on your own."
Gulp!
Feeling the grip on his hand weaken, Woo Ji-hyun clenched his teeth.
He squeezed back, as if to hold on just a bit longer.
"Ji-hyun-ah."
"Yes, Grandfather."
Was it a final burst of light?
His grandfather's drooping voice sharpened.
His hazy eyes focused clearly on Woo Ji-hyun.
"This time, live happily."
"Pardon?"
"That's all. That's all it takes..."
"Father!"
"Darling!"
With a radiant smile, Woo Sang-deok closed his eyes.
The family's anguished cries filled the house.
But Woo Ji-hyun stood frozen, unmoving.
His grandfather's final words had stunned him.
"G-Grandfather?"
Snapping out of it, Woo Ji-hyun called again.
But the departed could not respond.
"Waaah!"
Amid his sister and mother's wails, Woo Ji-hyun stared blankly at his grandfather.
Woo Sang-deok, smiling more brightly than ever.
The three-day funeral passed in the blink of an eye.
He barely registered time passing as it ended, and Woo Ji-hyun returned to his one-room.
Yet physical exhaustion paled next to those lingering final words echoing in his mind.
"What did he mean?"
No one left to ask, only guesses remained.
But those guesses didn't add up.
Hence the torment.
"Hoo."
Overwhelmed by frustration and grief, Woo Ji-hyun collapsed onto the floor.
He didn't want to do anything now.
"Mom's prepared too. From here, I just need to take care of myself."
Unlike his past life—divorced and evicted without a plan—this time, she even had a lawyer. Fully armed.
So Woo Ji-hyun could ease his worries about her.
"The new serialization's doing well too..."
His eyelids grew heavy.
He'd snatched brief naps at the funeral home, but barely.
Exhaustion claimed him swiftly.
Bzzz! Bzzz!
Then his phone vibrated furiously, as if to chase away sleep.
Insistent, like he had to answer.
"Hm?"
Half-lidded, Woo Ji-hyun checked and jolted awake.
The caller: Jo Jin-gu.
-Hello, Writer Woo Ji-hyun!
"Ah, yes. Section Chief."
-Are you free to talk?
Jo Jin-gu asked cautiously.
Knowing the burial had been that morning, he was checking on him.
"Yes, I am. I just got home."
-Ah, you must be exhausted.
"It's nothing. Just did what I had to."
-I'll keep it brief then, since you're tired. I found the contacts you asked for. But they're old numbers, so no guarantee they're still valid.
Woo Ji-hyun's eyes flashed.
The long-awaited result.
Instantly alert, he spoke with sharp intensity.
"I'll verify them. Can't ask that much of you. And thank you for looking into it, even though it's unrelated to work."
-No, no. This could be seen as part of author management. And it wasn't much trouble.
"Still, it was a hassle."
-Hahaha. Anyway, I'm really enjoying Solar Chronicle. The president says it's great too, bound for success.
Jo Jin-gu deftly changed the subject.
Woo Ji-hyun's endless thanks embarrassed him over something trivial.
Plus, they needed to discuss the next work.
Woo Ji-hyun had a separate handler, but as the one who scouted him, special care was essential.
"I'm working hard on it."
-Personally, I think it'll outperform Heavenly Thunder Sword Hero and Asura Sword Emperor. Rental market's shrinking, but your fame keeps rising.
"I hope so."
-I'll make sure it does!