Chapter 60
Chapter 60
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Translator: uly
Chapter: 60
Chapter Title: Once Again, Writer
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Yeo Woo-jin handed over a black oil-based Sharpie with a sly grin.
But that smile carried some serious implications.
It was like the predatory gaze of a beast eyeing its prey.
"Hyung, your eyes are way too intense."
"Your next work isn't contracted yet, right? How about us?"
"Let's talk about that later, separately. Too many people around."
"Aw, come on. Between us."
"That's the most dangerous thing you could say—you know that, right?"
Woo Ji-hyun brushed it off with a casual laugh and scribbled his nickname on the name tag.
It was the one he'd used long ago, before his debut.
"Still sharp as ever, you rascal."
"Contracts are only gonna get more important from here on out. No harm in being extra careful."
"You talking like we're strangers?"
"The closer you are, the more thorough you gotta be about money matters, hyung-nim. Good relationships can fall apart over it."
Yeo Woo-jin shook his head slowly.
He liked the kid, but moments like this inevitably stung a little.
Still, when he thought about it, the guy wasn't wrong.
'It's just weird hearing a twenty-seven-year-old say stuff like that.'
Taken out of context, it sounded like some jaded middle-aged guy griping about human relationships.
The issue was that Woo Ji-hyun wasn't even thirty yet.
'Must be because he matured early.'
Unlike his peers at twenty, Woo Ji-hyun had always been unusually precocious.
So Yeo Woo-jin let it slide with that explanation.
"Amcheonryu, huh. First time seeing that pen name."
"It's what I used back in high school on Joara. Doubt anyone remembers it. Maybe Chief Seo Hee-jin would, since it's from when I wrote Dream And Fantasy."
"Oh, your debut?"
"Yeah, way ahead of its time."
Sure, modern stories were flooding the market now, but back in 2006, genre fiction set in the present day was nonexistent.
Even game fantasy was super rare then.
"Ahead of its time? Nah, it just wasn't fun enough. If it had been, you'd have kicked off a new era. Could've sped up the modern genre boom by years."
"Can't argue with that."
"Eh, still think you had the sense for it. Just your skill back then couldn't keep up. But now it does, so you're killing it. I don't know much about soccer, so I can't say if it's fun, but overseas fans are obsessed."
Yeo Woo-jin patted Woo Ji-hyun's shoulder.
He didn't know soccer well, but as a fellow writer, he had to admit the prose was solid.
And more importantly, it was perfectly tuned to the current market.
'A talent I don't have.'
As a full-timer, Yeo Woo-jin wrote slowly.
Partly due to his perfectionism, but mostly because he couldn't sit still for long.
He overthought and agonized plenty too.
Woo Ji-hyun, on the other hand, was the total opposite.
'That's why I want him even more.'
Yeo Woo-jin smacked his lips as they headed inside.
He knew plenty of publishers and agencies were thinking the same.
Especially since he figured this year onward, management firms would sprout up like weeds.
Plenty of independents would start their own shops too.
"Ji-hyun-ah!"
"Hey, hyung."
"Why're you so late?"
"Had to rush some manuscript revisions."
No sooner had they headed up to the second floor than calls for him came from all directions.
They were all guys he'd known since his twenties.
But now those same hyungs were conference reps, division heads, and mid-tier vets, firmly planted in their spots.
"Let's make the rounds."
It took a solid ten minutes just to circle the spacious second floor and greet everyone.
He had to chat with old acquaintances and distant connections alike.
Even just nodding to familiar faces.
Once greetings wrapped up, Ye Seong-pil led Woo Ji-hyun along.
"Plenty of seats here, huh?"
"Too many folks who love the corners. Leaves the open spots empty."
"I like corners too."
"Wanna head over there? It's all hyungs. Like the thirties-only section."
"Heh!"
Woo Ji-hyun let out a chuckle at Ye Seong-pil's whisper.
It hit too close to home.
"We should stick to the young side. Late twenties still counts as twenties."
"Looking around, we're mid-tier now. Lots of fresh faces."
Woo Ji-hyun finally scanned the second floor.
Groups of three or five clustered at tables, picking at chicken, beer, and soju—the vibe was chill.
The women, though, had claimed two tables for themselves.
"Can't keep your eyes off them, huh?"
"Just as expected, that's all."
"No interest in joining the hyena pack?"
"Why would I?"
Woo Ji-hyun shot back like it was the dumbest thing.
He'd rather make a direct move than hover awkwardly, gauging reactions.
"You're single too, right?"
"You're not, so you're just gonna spectate?"
"I've got someone to marry."
"Lucky you."
Ye Seong-pil snickered at Woo Ji-hyun's sharp jab.
Talk was cheap, though—he was just as conflicted.
He'd dated a few times, but marriage was uncharted territory.
"No one catches your eye? Some cute ones around."
"Not turning hyena on my watch."
"Come on, we're not kids anymore. Thirty's right around the corner."
Ye Seong-pil said it like embracing the hyena life was no big deal.
In a way, it was honest manhood.
But Woo Ji-hyun had zero interest in lurking around the women's table, waiting for an opening.
"I know it hurts, so quit poking. My side already aches enough to bum me out."
"Snatching opportunity when it comes is a skill. And you're no slouch—plenty of places you'd shine. Why hold back?"
"Fate follows its course. If it works, great. If not, oh well."
It wasn't like Woo Ji-hyun didn't want to meet women.
Having died a lonely widower in his past life, he'd love to seize the chance and enjoy his youth with this one and that.
But a thread of reason held him back.
Having witnessed MeToo and WithYou firsthand, he knew the storm coming soon—couldn't help being cautious.
"Keep that up, and you'll die an old bachelor."
"Hey! Words plant seeds. Don't jinx my future...."
Bzzzzt!
The bachelor jab got Woo Ji-hyun riled up without thinking.
It poked right at his sore spot.
But his smartphone's fierce vibration cut him off.
"Huh?"
He shot Ye Seong-pil a "we'll talk later" glare, then fished the phone from his long coat's inner pocket.
It was from someone totally unexpected.
"Who's got you spooked?"
"My editor. But it's quitting time."
"Quitting time? Overtime's the salaryman's fate."
"Oh, right—barely seven."
Woo Ji-hyun nodded.
Unless you were civil servant or at a state firm, overtime was daily life.
Especially in this industry.
"Hello?"
So, barely seated, Woo Ji-hyun stood to take the call.
Stepping out to avoid bothering others.
Quite a few eyes followed him.
In a room full of typical male writers, he was the rare mutation.
'Amcheonryu?'
'Who's that? Chatted easy with the rep and division head.'
'Hangs with the hotshots too.'
'But doesn't look young.'
'Maybe baby-faced.'
The usual stereotypes—fat builds, black horn-rims, shaggy hair and beards—peeked at Woo Ji-hyun and murmured.
They flicked glances at Ye Seong-pil and Q&D staff too.
They'd seen him bantering casually with Ye Seong-pil.
Women snuck peeks at the passing Woo Ji-hyun too.
Curious—he didn't match their writer image.
He was too busy with the call to notice.
"Yeah, A-rang. What's up?"
-Sorry. Dragging you out in this cold.
"No worries. Good thing I haven't stripped down yet."
-Just heard oppa's at Bucheon Station.
Min A-rang's tone shifted.
Must've stepped out of the office or into the break room.
"Eerie. How'd you hear? I barely touch SNS."
-What's with you? Bucheon's my turf—you know that? Hehe!
"Out for a writers' meetup. You know Q&D Management?"
-Of course. Your four novels are contracted there. They do New Year's parties too?
Min A-rang sounded intrigued.
Back when rental shops ruled, publishers threw year-end bashes for writers, she'd heard.
Didn't expect a management firm to do the same.
"First time for me too—just checking it out. Close to home. Would've gone even if it was in Seoul."
-Any women writers?
"Romance folks and webtoon preppers, I think?"
-Lots?
Min A-rang asked casually, purely curious.
Woo Ji-hyun didn't read into it.
"About ten? Didn't get a close look. Was swamped greeting people. You know my tenure—eight years in."
-Full-fledged mid-tier now.
"Age-wise, smack in the middle. Looks like near forty total. Minus staff, maybe thirty?"
-Anyone you like? You're late twenties now.
"Lots of age reminders today."
Woo Ji-hyun chuckled.
Weirdly, everyone kept bringing it up.
-Not young anymore. And it'd be great, right? Same industry—easy to talk.
"Couldn't even chat. And my standards are picky."
-Picky or high? Anyway, have fun— that's why I called.
"But who told you?"
Woo Ji-hyun prodded, curious.
They were close, but he'd never introduced her to his circle.
-Oh, section chief wants me. Talk later!
"Whoa."
No sound on speaker, but she hung up in a flash—Woo Ji-hyun huffed a laugh.
Then stared blankly at the ended call screen.
No clue why she'd called.
Stomp, stomp.
He smacked his lips once, then headed back up.
Unlike before, the second floor now buzzed with raised voices.
Booze had loosened tongues.
Some writers strutted like they were the top dogs.
"I'm on Kakao Page now."
"Ooh, serializing?"
"Sort of. Naver pitched webnovels, but I went Kakao. Felt less snooty there. Good call—sales are solid."
"Impressive."
Woo Ji-hyun made a strange face at the vets lording over juniors like bosses, then returned to his seat.