Chapter 62
Chapter 62
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Translator: uly
Chapter: 62
Chapter Title: Again, Writer
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# 62
Again, Writer 062
Woo Ji-hyun didn’t respond.
He wasn’t the type to go around announcing who he was, and besides, he figured he wouldn’t see these people again anyway.
For that matter, he wasn’t one to seek out meetings with other writers.
“It’s fine. Writers just need to stick to their monitors and keyboards. Opportunity will come knocking someday. Just like it did for me. Haha!”
“Oh, you’re the author of Return Black Magician. I remember now.”
“Haha. People usually remember the work, not the author’s name.”
When Woo Ji-hyun finally recognized him, Do Jae-jin’s mouth stretched from ear to ear.
He immediately started puffing up with pride.
After all, no one at this table seemed to be doing better than him.
‘The paperback sales weren’t great, but like always, what matters is now. Getting serialized on Kakao Page means I passed the final review, no matter how you slice it.’
Do Jae-jin muttered to himself with a smug face.
Getting recognized by Kakao Page also meant he was on a higher level.
“Usually, yeah.”
“But I think things will change from now on. I believe in my skills. Kakao Page saw that potential and let me through.”
“I see.”
“I’m jealous, hyung!”
Unlike Woo Ji-hyun’s nonchalant replies, Do Jae-jin had already gained a follower. The man sitting next to him started chiming in, calling him “hyung” like they were old pals.
And as that went on, the faces of the two people Woo Ji-hyun had actually come to see grew stiff.
They’d both make their mark eventually, but not yet.
So they just gave awkward smiles without jumping into the conversation.
“I’m telling you, Kakao Page is gonna blow up from here. So you should write something good and get in quick. I’ll put in a good word with my editor.”
“You mean it?”
“Of course. You think a management company would treat a writer like me poorly? And I’ll take a look at your stuff, so ask me if you get stuck.”
“Is that okay? Won’t it be a bother, hyung?”
The man, who looked to be in his mid-twenties, lit up.
He was already prepping his next work but hadn’t made any progress, leaving him frustrated.
When Do Jae-jin, who was rising as a force on Kakao Page with solid results—leagues above him—offered to review it, his face brightened.
“I’m busy, but not so busy I have zero time. Plus, I’ve got plenty in the bank, so I’ve got some breathing room these days.”
“T-Then, I’ll take you up on that!”
“But I’m picky. You might get hurt.”
“That’s fine. Pain is part of youth, right? I can take it!”
Woo Ji-hyun couldn’t help but snort.
What nonsense.
He still didn’t get why youth had to hurt.
Putting up with it and pushing through was natural, but that didn’t mean you had to make yourself miserable.
‘He’s expecting too much, too intensely. He thinks he gets it, but he’s only seeing it from his own view.’
Woo Ji-hyun had even bought and read the guy’s book, but he couldn’t fully understand him.
It was impossible from the start.
Completely understanding someone living a totally different life was something only a god could do.
“Alright, alright. Just stick with me!”
“Yes, hyung!”
Do Jae-jin grinned, satisfied at how the man had turned into a loyal follower in less than two hours.
He’d felt good from the moment he left home. Everything seemed like it would go his way.
This confirmed his position once more.
“Writing’s easy once you get into it. No need to overthink. Write simply so it reads easily. Talent differences exist, sure, but you can catch up with skill. So just write. Make it fun, in the style kids these days like.”
“Exactly.”
“It’s hard to explain, but there’s a feel to it. You gotta get the sense.”
“Please teach me that sense, hyung!”
“Of course. It’s only natural for a hyung to guide his dongsaeng.”
Do Jae-jin glanced at the other three as he spoke.
As if saying not to write like them.
The two flinched at his look.
In this scene, status was everything, dictated by sales.
“Please take care of me!”
“Just trust me. I’ll make you a success like me. You can’t scrape by at the bottom forever. Jump on this opportunity and soak it up like honey.”
“Man, just imagining it makes me happy.”
“There’s always a reason things flop. Early cancellations don’t happen for nothing.”
Do Jae-jin clicked his tongue.
He subtly eyed Joo Hye-seong and Han Seung-gi.
Without saying it, his gaze warned the man not to end up like them.
But even knowing what it meant, the two couldn’t call him out.
Doing so would be admitting it.
“But I’m different. Successful people know how to succeed. That’s why Q&D Management contracted me for two more works.”
“They signed you for two more?”
“Yeah, they were practically begging.”
“What a joke. Guess the law of conservation of idiocy is absolute.”
Woo Ji-hyun finally spoke up.
He couldn’t hold back anymore at the blatant disrespect toward the people there.
Plus, he wanted to keep a good connection with those two, so he didn’t hesitate.
“W-What did you say?”
“Watch your tone. We’re not close enough for that. And didn’t you read the invite email? The president specifically asked for mutual respect and consideration at the end. Don’t tell me you were drunk and forgot?”
“You little shit!”
Do Jae-jin shot up from his seat, face beet red at Woo Ji-hyun’s open mockery.
The noisy second floor went dead silent in an instant.
Everyone’s eyes turned to their table at Do Jae-jin’s shout.
“You’re fine mocking others, but hate it when it’s you? Hypocrite much? And you’re older, but I hear your career’s shorter than mine. Cool it with the cursing. There are people here older and more accomplished than you.”
“Shut your mouth!”
“You shut yours. You think I’m a pushover just sitting here?”
Woo Ji-hyun stood up straight, staring down Do Jae-jin as he pointed and yelled.
But Woo Ji-hyun’s presence was intimidating.
He didn’t look like he’d swing yet, but the way he shrugged off his long coat was no joke.
Wearing a polo shirt, his upper body was on full display—muscles everywhere.
“Ji-hyun!”
“What’s going on?”
Yeo Woo-jin and Kang Tae-jin came rushing over at the tense standoff.
Q&D Management’s president, Kwak Cha-won, hurried up too, looking shocked.
“That guy’s talking trash.”
“Explain what happened.”
Unlike the fired-up Do Jae-jin, Kwak Cha-won calmly asked the composed Woo Ji-hyun.
He’d been too far to know the details.
For him and his two hyungs, Woo Ji-hyun recounted everything from start to finish, no omissions or embellishments.
“Let me step out with Writer Do Jae-jin for a bit.”
“Yes, sir.”
Kwak Cha-won’s eyes sharpened at Woo Ji-hyun’s concise, clear explanation.
Writers could succeed or fail.
But no one could judge that.
Especially not at a networking event like this.
“Ji-hyun, put your clothes back on. Don’t make the mood heavy.”
“I wanted to keep my clothes clean in case of a fight. This long coat’s expensive.”
“How expensive can it be if Maestro on the Field’s author calls it pricey?”
Kwak Cha-won, whose face had been stern, let out a chuckle.
Woo Ji-hyun was one of the top sellers on Kakao Page alongside Solar Sculptor.
Hearing him call it expensive piqued his curiosity, and the fight prep made it funny.
Murmurs rippled through the crowd.
No genre novelist hadn’t heard of Solar Sculptor or Maestro on the Field.
Even the female authors knew the names, even if they hadn’t read them.
“It’s Woo Ji-hyun!”
“Now that you mention it, the president and department head called him Ji-hyun.”
“Wow, Woo Ji-hyun’s here too. I thought he wasn’t with this agency.”
“His stuff’s on Ready Books, right?”
People whispered, stealing glances at Woo Ji-hyun.
But he ignored them, sitting back down.
With Kwak Cha-won dragging Do Jae-jin out, peace returned to the table naturally.
“No more causing scenes, alright?”
“Come on, it was just a tune-up. And they started it. People need manners. Character comes before craft, not the other way around.”
“Fine, fine. Just keep it positive next time, got it?”
“Yes, sir.”
Woo Ji-hyun nodded obediently at Kang Tae-jin’s gentle scolding.
He had no intention of escalating further.
Without Do Jae-jin, he’d have stayed quiet and left quietly.
“I’ll head to another table…”
With even Kang Tae-jin heading back, the man who’d been sucking up to Do Jae-jin slipped away.
No anchor left, he bailed on his own.
That left just the three of them at the table.
“Sorry. I ruined the vibe.”
“No, it’s fine. I’m grateful, actually.”
“Me too. And I’m really enjoying Blood Link and Maestro on the Field.”
“Thank you.”
Woo Ji-hyun had made a fuss, but the root cause was Do Jae-jin.
Knowing he’d stepped up for them, Han Seung-gi and Joo Hye-seong were thankful, not upset.
“But why’d you put your pen name instead of your real one?”
“I figured no one would know my name anyway, so I’d use the pen name and slip out quietly. And drop the formal speech. You’re a year older than me, right?”
“…You know me?”
“Of course. I’ve read everything you’ve published.”
Woo Ji-hyun listed off all of Joo Hye-seong’s book titles.
Then Han Seung-gi’s works, without missing a beat.
Their eyes went wide.
They’d never dreamed a writer of Woo Ji-hyun’s caliber would know their novels.
“Ha. That’s surprising.”
“Me too.”
“I was really impressed by both of your novels.”
Woo Ji-hyun beamed, looking back and forth at their stunned faces.
Luckily, he’d gotten off on the right foot.
‘Please take good care of me this time too.’
Muttering those words he couldn’t say aloud, Woo Ji-hyun gradually steered the conversation onward.