Chapter 66
Chapter 66
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Translator: uly
Chapter: 66
Chapter Title: Again, Writer
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On Sunday, Min A-rang slept in luxuriously for the first time in ages.
She worked late almost every weekday, so even when she wanted to get a solid night's sleep, it was impossible.
“Yawn!”
Skipping breakfast entirely, she finally dragged herself out of bed past 11 a.m. and opened her bedroom door to step into the living room.
There she saw her parents chatting amiably.
“Oh dear, young lady. How old are you, and you’re still sleeping in like this?”
“She’s been short on sleep lately. All because of someone who cut staff, leaving work overflowing but no one to handle it.”
Min A-rang shot back at the nagging that started the moment she opened her eyes, glaring at her dad.
Catching her gaze, Min Han-gi slyly turned his head away.
He knew all too well that the “someone” she meant was him.
“Still busy these days?”
“Insanely. No, ridiculously. Thanks to someone slashing staff when there’s more work than ever and no people to do it.”
“Then shouldn’t you hire more?”
Her mom, who rarely grumbled about how tough it was, was now glaring at her husband too, and naturally turned her head away as well.
“We’re already recruiting. Both experienced hires and new grads.”
“How many?”
“About three?”
“That enough?”
Her mom’s gaze shifted back to Min A-rang.
But Min A-rang just snorted.
“You think they start pulling their weight the day they walk in? Experienced folks maybe, but new hires need at least three months—six to be safe. That’s why I said we should’ve hired sooner.”
“Ahem! Hm!”
Min Han-gi cleared his throat at his daughter’s sharp grumble, which hit like a dagger.
But there wasn’t a hint of displeasure on his face.
No matter how much she grumbled, she was still his one and only daughter.
And on top of that, a damn good worker.
“You need to hire fast, before the current staff jumps ship.”
“What’s that supposed to mean?”
“You know how all these department heads from publishing houses are going independent and starting management firms these days, right Dad?”
“There’s quite a few.”
Min Han-gi’s expression turned serious.
He’d switched from dad mode to boss mode.
And he’d been mulling over this exact issue himself.
“But you know editors are jumping ship left and right too, right?”
“No way?”
Min Han-gi’s eyes went wide.
He could infer one fact from his daughter’s words.
“Nothing yet, but it could happen soon. I’ve got solid experience, and my skills are pretty recognized.”
“That’s my girl.”
Even unwashed and nose in the air, her mom chimed in as if the sight was adorable.
Min A-rang was her one and only daughter too, after all.
And beauty didn’t vanish just because you’d rolled out of bed.
‘Damn right, whose daughter is she!’
She’d broken plenty of hearts back in her day.
Suitors used to line up to confess.
And inheriting that blood, Min A-rang’s looks were exceptional.
“So you’re jumping ship?”
“I’m thinking about it. If the terms are right, why not?”
“This is your dad’s company.”
Min Han-gi’s face filled with disbelief.
He’d never imagined his one daughter would say something like this.
“Experiencing another company doesn’t sound bad. For my career, not just as Dad’s daughter.”
“Mm...”
It was logical, but that didn’t make it sting any less.
Like all dads, he’d prefer she grew under his wing.
He was confident he could keep her safe and nurture her well.
“And one more thing: family-run companies don’t look so great. There’s precedent.”
“Barun Publishing?”
“Yeah, established authors don’t favor them much. The market’s changed, so authors’ mindsets have too.”
“Why not just keep things as they are? No one at the company knows, right?”
Min Han-gi subtly tried to coax her.
No need to worry about it blowing up before it even surfaced.
“There’s a saying, Dad: No secret lasts forever.”
“Don’t call me Dad like that. I want you to stay my carefree kid forever.”
Min A-rang laid down the law with a firm voice, but Min Han-gi responded dead seriously, no smile in sight.
He wanted to be Dad forever, not just Father.
She was twenty-six, but still looked like a kid to him sometimes.
“Hey, come on. I’m twenty-six now.”
“Age doesn’t matter. You’ll always be my little girl.”
“Same for me, A-rang.”
“No way. I hate being treated like a kid!”
Min A-rang bolted to the bathroom like she was fleeing.
The couple exchanged warm mom-and-dad smiles.
* * *
Woo Ji-hyun found a café near his place.
Jo Jin-gu was coming here himself, which was unusual.
Woo Ji-hyun didn’t frequent local cafés much, so he felt a bit out of place pushing open the door.
“Over here, Writer!”
Before he could look around, a familiar voice called from the window seat.
Woo Ji-hyun smiled faintly and walked over.
“You could’ve met in Bucheon. This is too far for you.”
“Haha, I prefer it far. Delays going into the office. We’re short-staffed with mountains of work—total killer schedule.”
Jo Jin-gu greeted him back with a nod and stood up abruptly.
“Please, sit. Since you came all this way, let me get the coffee.”
“No need to...”
“Feels like I’ve been mooching too much. You never give me a chance to pay, so now’s my shot.”
“Hahaha.”
Jo Jin-gu grinned sheepishly.
Hard to refuse after that.
Soon Woo Ji-hyun returned with two iced Americanos and two slices of cake.
“Perk of a neighborhood café: coffee comes fast. Taste? No guarantees. First time for me too.”
“You work from home mostly.”
“Yeah, total homebody.”
They’d worked together long enough that Jo Jin-gu knew his habits inside out.
And he respected it.
At Woo Ji-hyun’s age, earning that much while staying focused wasn’t easy—he knew it well.
“Grateful for that personality, from my end.”
“And the publisher’s.”
“Yep.”
Slurp.
Jo Jin-gu laughed and downed his Americano.
But even with his mouth full, he couldn’t taste it.
Too many thoughts clouding his head.
“You seem lost in thought.”
“Haha, that obvious?”
“Yeah, you look different from usual. Something happen?”
“Not really, just wrestling with a decision. Made up my mind, but taking that last step’s tough.”
Jo Jin-gu continued with a small sigh.
Woo Ji-hyun nodded.
He didn’t know the details, but he could guess the feeling.
Choices were everything in life.
‘One choice changes your future. So you have to be careful.’
No replays in life like a game.
It just flowed forward.
That made choices crucial.
Once made, that was it.
“Writer Woo Ji-hyun.”
“Yes.”
Either he’d sorted his thoughts or steeled himself—after a silence, Jo Jin-gu spoke.
His vibe was off.
Like a warrior ready for battle, resolute.
“You probably guessed why I asked to meet. I want to take you with me.”
“Going independent?”
“...How’d you know?”
Jo Jin-gu’s pupils dilated.
Shocked that Woo Ji-hyun nailed it, like he’d read his mind.
“Timing felt right.”
“Seriously curious: you study mind-reading? Or precognition?”
“No, just a hunch. Lots of people starting companies. No word on your next project either, so figured you were prepping independence.”
“Sometimes I wonder if you really have foresight. Precedents exist. Caused a stir at the office once over you.”
Jo Jin-gu kept on, still stunned.
Woo Ji-hyun gave an awkward smile.
Couldn’t say he knew the future.
“Just lucky. I prep thoroughly—best and worst cases. Fortunately, it’s leaned good so far.”
“That’s exactly why I want you. With you, I’d feel solid.”
“Tell me your plans first.”
“Prepared for that.”
As Woo Ji-hyun finished, Jo Jin-gu pulled out a tablet from his bag.
He dove into explaining his blueprint, step by step.
Like a pitch meeting.
‘Jo Jin-gu’s management firm.’
Woo Ji-hyun stroked his chin, watching the passionate pitch.
In his past life, Jo Jin-gu had gone independent around now and started a firm.
Began with a lean elite team, grew into a solid player.
His sales skills were no joke either—key for management.
‘Not a bad option.’
Woo Ji-hyun remembered the big management firms clearly.
Jo Jin-gu’s was one.
But back then, no offers in the early days.
Wasn’t big-time enough.
‘Different now.’
Having started from the bottom, he knew his current standing perfectly.
Plenty wanted him, even without Jo Jin-gu.
Sales was the key, though.
How well they sold mattered hugely going forward.
“What I can promise you, Writer Woo Ji-hyun, is I’ll sell with everything I’ve got. I think sales will be the core of management firms. Publishers don’t sell directly—they’ve got content volume. But soon, quality over quantity. And how you sell it will matter too.”
“We think alike.”
“That’s why I need you. You’re the writer I need most for my independence.”
“Thanks. Appreciate that.”
Jo Jin-gu spoke from the heart.
He envisioned a lineup of seven or eight writers—Woo Ji-hyun top of that list.
With him, risk minimized.
Leverage his fame for easy platform deals.
“So, what do you think? No pressure, of course. Your call entirely.”
“My answer is...”
Gulp!
As Woo Ji-hyun’s mouth opened, Jo Jin-gu swallowed hard.
Every nerve on his lips.
Soon, a strange exclamation escaped him.