Chapter 36
Chapter 36
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Translator: uly
Chapter: 36
Chapter Title: Reap What You Sow
-----------------------------------------------------------------
“Stunning beauty, right?”
“Yeah. It’s a rare case, really.”
Jo Jin-gu nodded toward Min A-rang, who was briskly heading to the break room instead of entering the meeting room, but his eyes suddenly widened.
As far as he knew, Woo Ji-hyun wasn’t the type of writer to frequent the publishing house office.
He hadn’t even visited Barun Publishing once, despite having published two books there.
“Huh?”
“Haha. Of course, I haven’t met that many people myself.”
Woo Ji-hyun realized his slip-up a beat too late and gave an awkward laugh in response.
He had unwittingly voiced an experience from his past life.
“Actually, your experience is the norm, Writer Woo. Editor Min is the exceptional one. I was pretty shocked when I first saw her, too.”
“She must be super popular. I bet the writers won’t leave her alone.”
Beauty had always been popular with men, past and present.
And writers were no exception.
In fact, quite a few made regular visits to the publishing house office.
“Fortunately, she’s still flying under the radar. Though rumors are starting to spread.”
“It’s good news for Rubin Media. Might even have some sales(?) benefits.”
“But the most important thing is still the contract terms. Pro writers move for money—that’s just how it is.”
“There are some loyal ones with a sense of honor.”
Jo Jin-gu nodded.
It was certainly true.
The problem was how rare such writers were.
Especially those with families—they had no choice but to prioritize money.
Click.
“What’s so fun that you’re chatting away?”
The break room door opened, and Min A-rang entered beaming, balancing a tray in both hands.
But the cups on the tray were quite flashy.
Three boldly distinctive mugs took up half the space.
“About Editor Min?”
“About me? Were you talking behind my back?”
Min A-rang shot Jo Jin-gu a prim glare.
She couldn’t imagine the new face, Woo Ji-hyun, gossiping about her, so her eyes naturally turned to Jo Jin-gu.
But he shrugged with an innocent expression.
“As if. How could I talk about you like that, A-rang?”
“Then what were you saying?”
“Just that you’re a beauty?”
“Hmm?”
She set a mug full of iced Americano in front of Jo Jin-gu, narrowing her eyes suspiciously.
Something about it didn’t sit right.
Jo Jin-gu looked even more aggrieved and glanced at Woo Ji-hyun.
A silent plea for help.
“They said you’re a stunning beauty.”
“Oh my, really?”
“Yes.”
“What do you think, Writer Woo?”
Following Jo Jin-gu, she placed a mug in front of Woo Ji-hyun with a bright smile.
Unlike Jo Jin-gu’s, the top of Woo Ji-hyun’s mug was piled high with pristine whipped cream.
“A rare beauty?”
“Feels like a few words are missing before that.”
Min A-rang wrinkled her fair face slightly as she countered.
She couldn’t explain it logically, but it just felt that way.
“Women’s intuition is sharp, as expected.”
“Go on, then. Since you’ve admitted it.”
“A rare beauty in a genre fiction publishing house.”
“Wow, you actually said it.”
Min A-rang’s mouth fell open slightly.
She thought he’d gloss over it slyly, but Woo Ji-hyun bulldozed straight through, shattering her expectations.
It was surprisingly bold of him.
Most people didn’t speak so bluntly in front of someone like her.
“I’m not making it up. It’s from personal experience. But why does mine have whipped cream?”
“You could use a little padding?”
“An attack?”
“Hoho. Just kidding. Caramel macchiato is my specialty. So I specially made it for you.”
Min A-rang emphasized “specially” with extra flair.
But to Woo Ji-hyun, it landed differently.
“This is a calorie bomb…”
“Oh, come on. It’s just one cup. And you came all this way—I couldn’t serve you a plain Americano.”
She grinned at Woo Ji-hyun, who was eyeing her warily and muttering.
But her words didn’t exactly feel like a kindness to him.
Body management started young, after all.
‘To avoid suffering later.’
Woo Ji-hyun’s gaze drifted to the temptingly perched whipped cream.
It seemed to beckon him, captivating his eyes effortlessly.
“I’ll step out for a bit. Got some things to handle in advance.”
“I’ll take over from here, Director.”
“Please do.”
“Yes!”
Jo Jin-gu gave a quick nod to Woo Ji-hyun, who was blankly staring at the whipped cream, and left.
As the one overseeing the publishing house operations, he had plenty on his plate.
Especially tonight—he had dinner with Woo Ji-hyun and the president, so he needed to clear his backlog first.
“I’ll gratefully accept it.”
“Sounds like you’re not gonna drink it?”
“As if.”
Woo Ji-hyun smiled faintly and stirred the whipped cream and coffee thoroughly with the teaspoon beside it.
Soon, a sweet coffee aroma wafted up from the mug.
“Go on, chug it! Taste guaranteed!”
Slurp.
Even with Min A-rang boldly vouching for it, Woo Ji-hyun sipped cautiously.
A nice aroma and good flavor didn’t always mean great taste.
Better safe than sorry.
“It’s decent.”
“…Decent? Not delicious or excellent?”
Min A-rang blinked in surprise.
Not a single word she’d expected came out.
“It’s drinkable.”
“Heol.”
She looked utterly dumbfounded.
Despite all her care with taste and presentation, the lukewarm review drew a hollow laugh.
“Anyway, shall we talk business?”
Without a thought to soothe her dismay, Woo Ji-hyun pulled a notebook and pen from his bag.
Alone in the meeting room with a beauty, yet he maintained a strictly professional demeanor.
“Uh, sure.”
His firm attitude made it impossible for Min A-rang to keep up the playfulness.
This was the workplace, after all, and it was business hours.
“Volume 6 is about 60,000 characters in. Half a volume if we go by the 130,000-character target.”
“You’re fast, as expected.”
“I’m just working hard.”
“Wish all writers did the same.”
Min A-rang’s face fell for a moment.
Deadlines were set for every writer, but few kept them.
Some even acted like missing them was normal.
When she first started this job, Min A-rang had been quite taken aback.
It was so different from what she’d imagined.
“Managing people is always the hardest part. Every field boils down to that in the end.”
“Totally agree. Oops, off-topic again. Back to the point—what’s the plan going forward?”
“The main arc of Solar Chronicle is the protagonist taking up his friend’s dream to become the top martial artist in the central plains, so action scenes will dominate. Conflicts are complex, too. But the core storyline is the battle between the Bright Moon Demon Clan and the Solar God Clan. Specifically, the protagonist as the clan head overcoming trials—that’s the main thread.”
“You said up to volume 14 or 15. Won’t it drag?”
“That’s why I’ll insert episodes throughout. Focus on the protagonist, but I want to flesh out the supporting cast this time.”
Min A-rang listened intently to Woo Ji-hyun’s explanation, her playful demeanor gone.
But she didn’t nitpick.
Her role was editor, not planner.
She wasn’t up to that yet.
“Hmm. Balance will be key. Too much on side characters, and it becomes neither fish nor fowl.”
“That’s why I’ll keep their portions minimal but impactful.”
“Oh, about the romance part.”
“Yes.”
Woo Ji-hyun nodded at Min A-rang, who broached the topic cautiously, urging her on.
Some writers were stubborn and ignored others’ input, but Woo Ji-hyun was different.
He knew his talents better than anyone, so he was open to advice.
He also believed mistakes were human nature.
“Solar Chronicle is about the protagonist carrying his friend’s will, right? In wuxia terms, it’s got that bold, heroic vibe.”
“Exactly.”
“But there seem to be too many female characters. Adding harem elements to draw male readers makes sense, but it clashes with the overall tone. Since romance can’t be cut entirely, maybe limit it to one or two? Oh, not saying you have to, of course.”
Min A-rang waved her hands.
Just in case Woo Ji-hyun misinterpreted.
Some writers had gotten angry at suggestions like this.
“You’re right. He’s got a long way to go—no time for romance. Maintaining tone is essential for long series.”
“Exactly.”
“No need to tense up. I’m no saint; imperfections are normal. I avoid tunnel vision most of all. So feel free to share your thoughts. Just skip the insults or abuse.”
“This is a first.”
Min A-rang’s eyes welled up.
Not even a year into the job as a rookie, but she’d dealt with plenty of writers.
Some outright demanded a veteran editor.
Funny thing—one even requested a change after seeing her in person.
But none had ever said anything like Woo Ji-hyun.
“No need to tear up over it…”
“Ji-hyun’s a kind man.”
“Did the honorific just change?”
Woo Ji-hyun looked baffled at Min A-rang suddenly drifting into her own world.
In his long life meeting all sorts, this was a new one.
“A bit different from the vibe I expected?”
The door opened then, and Jo Jin-gu’s head poked in.
He glanced back and forth between Woo Ji-hyun and Min A-rang.
“It’s nothing like what I expected either—I’m shocked.”
“Hahaha! Still, he’s capable. Good at his job, too.”
“But what were you expecting?”
Woo Ji-hyun remembered Jo Jin-gu’s expression from moments ago vividly.
So he asked point-blank.
“Who knows? What could it have been? Heh.”
Jo Jin-gu grinned mischievously.
Then he gave them both a meaningful look once more.
“Did you make up that errand on purpose?”
“No, really swamped. Oh, heard about Rubin Media?”