Chapter 42
Chapter 42
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Translator: uly
Chapter: 42
Chapter Title: Again, Writer
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Woo Ji-hyun realized that today's gathering wasn't simply for a meal.
Their relationship with Min A-rang wasn't deep enough for a meeting without purpose.
The surprising part, though, was that Jo Jin-gu hadn't come along.
“To be honest, Dad—no, I mean, the President mentioned a word to me.”
Min A-rang blurted it out herself, then startled and covered her mouth with her hand.
She scanned Woo Ji-hyun's expression with eyes sharp as lightning.
Yet the man seated across from her seemed utterly disinterested in her words—or perhaps lost in his own thoughts—as he focused diligently on grilling the meat.
He flipped the freshly added pieces once or twice, then began snipping them into bite-sized portions with scissors.
“Are you listening to me?”
“Ah, yes. My ears are wide open.”
“You seemed like you were off in your own world.”
“That too. I've held down two jobs before, so multitasking comes naturally.”
Min A-rang stared blankly for a moment.
She simply couldn't believe he'd juggled three things at once.
On top of that, a spark of curiosity ignited about what thoughts were running through the head of the man sitting before her.
“Th-that's impressive.”
“When push comes to shove, anyone can do it. Especially when you watch your bank balance dwindle—you find you can handle just about anything.”
Woo Ji-hyun, meanwhile, replied as if it were no big deal and threw himself back into grilling.
They were at a pricey spot with top-shelf meat; he couldn't afford to let it burn.
Plus, Min A-rang was steadily nursing her drinks but barely touching the pork belly, leaving most of it for him to polish off.
“Ji-hyun-ssi doesn't have to worry about bank balances, right? Heavenly Thunder Sword Hero volume 12, Asura Sword Emperor volume 14, and now Solar Chronicle up to volume 8.”
“Something like that. Enough to get by as a full-time writer.”
“Get by? Ji-hyun-ssi—ah, it keeps tripping me up. Um! Can I call you Oppa? We're just a year apart; let's talk comfortably. Yeah?”
“Uh......”
Evidently finding the constant “Ji-hyun-ssi” cringeworthy—or the formal tone stifling—Min A-rang barreled ahead.
Her eyes sparkling wide, she stared straight at him.
The sight threw Woo Ji-hyun off-balance for a second.
He simply couldn't read her intentions.
“Of course, just in private settings. Officially, it'll stay writer-nim and A-rang-ssi. We're not even in our thirties; all this stiff formality feels off.”
“......Is that really necessary?”
Human relationships had their proper distances.
Family or lovers could cross lines freely, but a connection born from work—like this one—didn't work that way.
It was also a matter of courtesy.
Sure, some crossed boundaries for familiarity or convenience, but Woo Ji-hyun wasn't one of them.
“Did I overstep?”
Her face faintly flushed, Min A-rang asked with caution.
Things were unfolding so differently from what she'd anticipated.
“Not overstepping, exactly. Just... a bit disconcerting. Like hearing something out of left field.”
“I guess I was thinking only of myself again.”
Min A-rang's head dipped lower and lower.
She couldn't bring herself to meet Woo Ji-hyun's eyes directly.
Instinct told her she'd messed up.
“No, no. It's fine. That can happen. You're twenty-three, right? That's normal for your age. I'm the one being weird.”
“Pardon?”
“You're plenty entitled to think that way. In a sense, it's even right.”
Woo Ji-hyun offered a self-deprecating smile.
He belatedly felt he'd come down too hard.
From the average twenty-three-year-old's perspective, her approach made perfect sense.
“No, I was the hasty one. Like Oppa said, we've only met twice. Oh? 'Oppa' rolls off the tongue nicely.”
“Hahaha.”
Woo Ji-hyun could only let out a wry chuckle at how Min A-rang switched to “Oppa” with sly confidence, as if she'd never lost her spirit.
Telling her to stop now would only make things awkward.
“You be comfortable too, Oppa. I'll go casual with my speech once I loosen up more. Hehe!”
“Alright.”
Woo Ji-hyun shook his head in final surrender at the sight of her cutely lifting her glass.
He raised his own in kind and clinked.
“By the end of drinks tonight, you'll be calling me A-rang!”
“You're a total straight shooter.”
“I get that a lot. They say I've got a guy's personality.”
“Your boyfriend must worry like crazy. Or maybe you only date older men.”
Woo Ji-hyun shook his head as he spoke.
He'd couched it gently, but she struck him as a clear source of stress.
“No boyfriend right now? We broke up a good while back.”
“Then you've got a lineup of guys waiting, huh?”
“You bet. My friends are in an uproar trying to set me up every day.”
Min A-rang lifted her chin proudly.
Not content with that, she squared her shoulders like they'd been padded.
“Perfect age to play the field. Prime time, really. You'll be mid-twenties next year.”
“Can't agree with that last bit.”
“Have some meat.”
“You're not dodging on purpose, are you?”
Min A-rang giggled.
She felt played—squeezed, then released.
“You're barely touching the sides. Can't have you getting drunk. I'd end up exhausted.”
“Most people bend over backward to pour more drinks.”
Min A-rang muttered under her breath.
But her grumble landed crystal clear in Woo Ji-hyun's ears.
No matter how softly she'd mumbled, they were sitting too close for it to slip by.
“Haha. I just hate hassle and fatigue with a passion.”
“Even with a girlfriend?”
“Not her. I treat her right.”
“Hmm.”
Min A-rang narrowed her eyes skeptically.
No buy-in there.
“Surprising, though. I figured the manager would tag along.”
“His place is right around here. Plus, prior commitment today. You bummed he's not here?”
“Not really. Just feel bad for A-rang-ssi. Burning Friday stuck meeting her one author.”
“I'm good. Can always hit up friends tomorrow.”
Min A-rang shrugged it off coolly, no big deal.
To her, Friday and Saturday blurred together.
This dinner had even spared her overtime tonight.
“Fair point. My fault you dodged the late shift.”
“Hehe! Spot on. Cheers to that!”
Clink!
The glasses rang out crisply, emptying in a flash.
Both reached for well-grilled pork belly, dipped in ssamjang, and popped it in their mouths.
“Time to get down to business? You might not be able to talk if you drink much more.”
“Probably. Can't face the manager and president empty-handed. Ahem!”
Min A-rang cleared her throat.
She was already past half a bottle, the buzz creeping in.
Woo Ji-hyun showed no real change from the start.
“Oppa—no, Writer Woo Ji-hyun knows, but we'd love to lock in your next work too. Other publishers must be circling, of course.”
Official territory now; she straightened her posture and tone before speaking.
Subtly, she gauged Woo Ji-hyun's face.
Even without Jo Jin-gu's word, rival staff had to be making moves.
“The key's the terms, right? For the writer and the publisher alike.”
“Yes. So I'd like to ask you first, writer-nim. What conditions are you after?”
“Hmm.”
Woo Ji-hyun held back at the publisher's blunt probe into his intentions.
Truth was, he hadn't given it serious thought.
His current deal felt plenty generous already.
And judging by their work so far, Jo Jin-gu seemed trustworthy enough.
‘The question is how long that holds.’
Scammers abounded in the world.
Good folks turned rotten all too often.
Blind trust was a fool's game.
“Feel free to be straight with me. As you know, I'm just the messenger.”
“I figured. No contract in sight.”
“Whoa.”
Min A-rang shot Woo Ji-hyun a stunned glare upon realizing he'd clocked her every move despite the feigned disinterest.
She'd never dreamed he'd scrutinize her that closely.
It planted fresh doubt: was this guy really just a year older?
“For my part, no huge asks. Current treatment's more than fair. That said, do factor in Solar Chronicle's performance.”
“Naturally. Manager's on board there. President too.”
“Then we're off to a quick start.”
Woo Ji-hyun laid out his wants simply; Min A-rang jotted them down briskly.
Not that there was much to note.
“This is really all?”
“Plenty. Not greedy enough to demand more. Market's contracting, after all.”
“You're so down-to-earth.”
“Call it aiming for win-win.”
Business wrapped, the drinks flowed on.
As time wore on, Min A-rang's replies grew terser, her buzz mounting swiftly.
“I'm seeeeriously grateful to Oppa. Tons of writers heard I'm a rookie and demanded a swap. 'Not some newbie—give me an experienced editor.' And these were authors who couldn't touch your sales.”
“That's standard.”
“So yeah, super thankful. You could've blown off a meet like this, but you showed.”
“Only 'cause it's close. Time to cut off the drinks, though. Let's head out.”
Woo Ji-hyun coaxed her gently.
Stay put, and she'd pour more for sure.
He'd even snuck in a bathroom break to settle the bill ahead of time.
Primed for immediate exit.
“Just one more! I'm totally fine!”
“Drunks never admit they're drunk. Up you go. I'll get you home.”
“Really?”
“Yeah—but only if you can walk.”
Her words slurred just a touch, but coherent enough; Woo Ji-hyun rose from his seat as he replied.
Looked like he had to take the lead.
“You can at least hold me up, right?”
“Quit the whining.”
“Tch! No this, no that. What am I allowed to do?”
“Get yourself home solo?”
Min A-rang stuck out her lips as far as they'd go and griped.
Drinking was supposed to loosen people up a bit, show some messiness—but her unflagging consistency drew out the complaints.
“What kind of guy......”
“C'mon. I'll take you home.”
“Yes!”
No telling when he'd change his mind, so Min A-rang hopped on it.
She slipped naturally under his arm for support and headed out of the place.
The bill? Not a thought.