Chapter 68
Chapter 68
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Translator: uly
Chapter: 68
Chapter Title: Again, Writer
-----------------------------------------------------------------
‘Why is she acting like that?’
‘Don’t ask me.’
So Im Sang-min shot Woo Ji-hyun a look.
But Woo Ji-hyun had no idea what was going through Lee Ye-seul’s mind either.
He was just as baffled.
Clink!
In the meantime, the three glasses of soju made their way to their owners’ lips.
They toasted wordlessly and all three downed their shots.
“Ugh! This booze hits the spot today. Ah, want me to pour you some water?”
“I’m good.”
Woo Ji-hyun waved off Lee Ye-seul, who was being strangely nice.
As he did, he recalled the Lee Ye-seul from his past life.
The one who’d vented her vicious inferiority complex with sharp words.
She’d gone to a good college, but her career hadn’t been smooth sailing.
‘Was it around now? Or a bit later?’
Woo Ji-hyun furrowed his brow.
His memories of Lee Ye-seul’s life were fragmentary at best.
They hadn’t gotten along, and he’d barely paid her any attention.
Which made this whole situation feel even stranger.
“What’re you thinking so hard about?”
“Why you’re here. You know the others are glancing over, right?”
“Didn’t notice.”
“Then take a look.”
Woo Ji-hyun nodded toward the other tables.
Sure enough, not just the girls he didn’t know, but even the guys quickly looked away when they saw her at their table.
“Is it that shocking?”
“Ask Eun-ji or Se-jin if you want a quick answer.”
“You seem extra prickly today.”
“Like I said, we’re not close. You know that. So just get to the point.”
Woo Ji-hyun cut straight to it without beating around the bush.
He had no desire to drag out a chat with the uncomfortable Lee Ye-seul.
But his bluntness seemed to rub her the wrong way—her face stiffened.
“Aren’t you being too harsh?”
“I’m saying it for your sake. Talking to me isn’t exactly fun for you.”
“……”
Lee Ye-seul bit her lip.
He’d hit the nail on the head.
A tiny crack formed in the mask she was wearing.
“I figured we’d both be uncomfortable, so I took one for the team.”
“……Aren’t you awfully sure of yourself?”
“That’s how it feels to me. Sorry if I overstepped.”
“I switched jobs. To Booknote Publishing. It’s in Bupyeong—you know it?”
Lee Ye-seul finally waved the white flag against Woo Ji-hyun’s maddeningly precise way of never crossing a line.
He must get that verbal skill from being a hotshot writer.
She prided herself on her own way with words, but Woo Ji-hyun was a tough matchup.
“Yeah, I know it. Never been there.”
“How about checking it out this time? I heard you’re only contracted with Linus Publishing up to this project.”
“So this is a poaching attempt.”
“Spot on. Snagging a writer of your caliber would really impress the boss. The department head even said you might be available and told me to feel you out.”
Woo Ji-hyun let out a chuckle.
He’d half-expected it, and here it was.
But since she was new to the industry, her approach was amateurish.
She was way too obvious about leaning on their old acquaintance.
“The way you’re talking isn’t exactly subtle.”
“Of course not. We’re friends. This much should be casual.”
“Sorry, but I’ve never thought of you as a friend. Just someone I know.”
“Huh?”
Woo Ji-hyun turned serious.
To him, “friend” wasn’t a casual word.
And Lee Ye-seul didn’t fit his definition anyway.
She was outside those boundaries.
“One more bit of advice: If you’re doing business, do it right. No personal feelings. And if you’re using connections, make sure they’re solid first. You’re neither right now.”
“No, I……”
Lee Ye-seul looked lost, unsure how to respond.
Woo Ji-hyun’s words came flooding out, leaving her no room to reply.
Especially since she’d subtly tried to play the friend card.
“And one more thing: I’ve already signed for my next project. So let’s drop this.”
“Hey, let’s go smoke.”
“I don’t smoke.”
“Then let’s get some air. Cool off the vibe.”
Im Sang-min stood and tugged her arm, probably taking pity on her dazed expression.
The awkwardness had spread from their table to the others.
Woo Ji-hyun shrugged at the scene.
“Guess we should.”
“Good call.”
Im Sang-min smirked and led the way.
Woo Ji-hyun followed his friend in silence.
He did feel Kim In-hu’s intense stare along the way.
“Seems like every time we end up at one of these, you stir up trouble.”
“You know it?”
“I make an effort to know myself. And my memory’s pretty good.”
“No need to feel too bad. Jang-ddo’s Jang-ddo for a reason.”
Im Sang-min brushed it off toward the apologetic-looking Woo Ji-hyun.
It wasn’t the first time Woo Ji-hyun had caused a scene.
And he hadn’t said anything wrong.
Lee Ye-seul had tried to use the reunion first.
“Grateful but annoyed at the same time?”
“Gotta give credit where it’s due. We’re not kids anymore.”
“That means you’re not young either.”
“I know. But I don’t obsess over age. No big ambitions. And I don’t wanna end up that desperate. Didn’t think Lee Ye-seul had it in her.”
Im Sang-min muttered as he exhaled a long plume of cigarette smoke.
The haughty girl, brimming with confidence in her pedigree and skills, resorting to that with Woo Ji-hyun—it was unbelievable.
“Times must be tough.”
“I heard she worked at Gyubo Mungo. Isn’t that a big company?”
“Mid-tier, close to big corp status? Not sure on the details.”
“Then why leave? It’s bigger than Booknote, right?”
Woo Ji-hyun shrugged.
He had no clue either.
“Dunno.”
“Her life, her choice.”
Im Sang-min muttered in his usual cynical tone and stubbed out his cigarette.
Then he gave Woo Ji-hyun a meaningful look.
“You’re not bailing yet, right?”
“Paid the fee—gonna get my money’s worth. Play wallpaper a bit longer.”
“We do kinda give off loser vibes.”
“Yeah.”
Even at a reunion, not everyone was equal.
The moment you entered society, hierarchies formed.
Strictly speaking, they started based on where you were born.
‘Bitter reality. That’s where gold spoon and dirt spoon come from.’
Woo Ji-hyun’s mouth soured.
An undeniable truth stirred bitterness from deep in his chest.
“Big corp life the answer after all?”
“For now, yeah. Long-term? Nah. Layoffs loom.”
“You didn’t suggest civil service to In-hu looking that far ahead, did you?”
“Seemed best for him. He’s got the brains for studying.”
Im Sang-min looked mildly surprised.
Thinking back, Woo Ji-hyun had been planning all this since 2009.
“Why no plan for me?”
“Would you have listened?”
“Fair. Still, could’ve said something once.”
“You turned out fine. That’s enough. Get ambitious? Aim for the top in your field. Top 1% lives large anywhere.”
Im Sang-min’s expression grew serious at Woo Ji-hyun’s words.
He’d coasted with moderate effort, thinking it was good enough.
But this sparked something—ambition, drive.
“Think I can?”
“Better to crash and burn than worry before trying. Look at me, In-hu.”
“Hmm.”
Im Sang-min stroked his chin thoughtfully.
It made sense.
He’d seen it with his own eyes.
And on guts alone, he wouldn’t lose to his two friends.
“Let’s head back. They might’ve cleared our plates if we’re gone too long.”
“Then we flip the place.”
“Heh.”
Woo Ji-hyun reentered the restaurant with Im Sang-min back to his usual self.
Inside, Yoon Sung-hwan was buzzed and bragging away.
“Like I was saying! I work at Duseon Infracore now……”
“He’s off again.”
“It’s par for the course. Not surprised. But didn’t he say he wasn’t full-time?”
Woo Ji-hyun whispered softly as he sat at their now-empty table.
No need to shout.
He might’ve gone full-time in the meantime.
“Yeah, still contract. But they said high chance of conversion this spring recruitment. Gotta resubmit the app, though.”
“Conversion rates aren’t great.”
“Dunno about that.”
“Living it up, though.”
“Not jealous?”
Im Sang-min chuckled.
Like the saying about loudmouths winning out, plenty of girls clustered around the boastful Yoon Sung-hwan.
Exactly the scene he’d always craved.
His voice grew even bolder.
“Who cares? Women flock to winners. Like guys to beauties.”
“Can’t argue.”
“And no harm to me.”
“In-hu’s having fun too. Looks like you and me are heading to round two quietly.”
Im Sang-min smacked his lips, scanning the clusters of classmates knocking back drinks.
Maybe because of the earlier thing with Lee Ye-seul, folks were avoiding their table.
Not that it bothered him.
“Works for me. Both single.”
“Since we’re at it, skip to Seoul? Haven’t hit a club in ages.”
“Hm?”
Woo Ji-hyun’s eyes widened.
Never expected Im Sang-min to suggest a club first.
In his past life, the guy wouldn’t even do dive bars.
“Why so shocked?”
“You suggesting a club?”
“Gotta do a dive bar now?”
“Itaewon’s fine for our age. Hongdae’s iffy. We’re not exactly youthful.”
“Club?!”
Kim In-hu shouted from across the room.
He’d been watching and caught their convo.
Dozens of eyes snapped to Woo Ji-hyun and Im Sang-min.
“Club after reunion? Too much.”
“These jerks ditching me……!”
Park Hyun-seong and Kim In-hu shot up.
What was a reunion for?
Catching up with old friends, mingling with ones you didn’t know.
So Park Hyun-seong, ex-class prez, led by example; Kim In-hu grabbed his friends to stop them ditching him.
In the end, Woo Ji-hyun unwillingly drank amid the bustling crowd.