Chapter 80
Chapter 80
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Translator: uly
Chapter: 80
Chapter Title: Again, Writer
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Woo Ji-hyun wore an uncomfortable expression all over his face.
Just imagining it made his stomach churn.
But he needed to settle this once and for all.
“For the future.”
Woo Ji-hyun muttered as he fiddled with the hip bag slung across his upper body.
Soon, with a hardened face, he walked toward the meeting spot.
“Over here, Writer Woo Ji-hyun!”
“Hello.”
“Haha! It’s been a while, right?”
“Yes.”
As he entered Tongil Galbi, located at the end of College Road where the most foot traffic was near Bucheon Station, he spotted Gong Hyun-jung, who had arrived first and was waiting.
He seemed to have lost some weight in the time they hadn’t seen each other—nearly half his old bulk—but he still maintained a hefty build.
“Have a seat here.”
“Yes.”
Even to Woo Ji-hyun’s curt reply, Gong Hyun-jung didn’t lose his smile.
He knew better than anyone who held the upper hand.
Besides, the one in need wasn’t Woo Ji-hyun—it was him.
“The pork ribs here are fantastic. It’s an old favorite spot. They also have king rib soup, perfect for hangovers. And they’re open 24 hours.”
“I’ve been here once before.”
“I figured. It’s so famous, no way you wouldn’t know it, especially since you come to Bucheon Station often.”
Knowing that Woo Ji-hyun had signed a publishing deal with Phil Media at age twenty, Gong Hyun-jung nodded to himself enthusiastically.
In the meantime, the food arrived.
As if pre-ordered, the meat and side dishes came out right as Woo Ji-hyun sat down.
“Didn’t you order too much meat?”
But the portions were beyond imagination.
He thought it was just the two of them, yet the meat the ajumma brought looked like enough for more than four people.
“Ah, I’ve been starving all day. This is my first meal because of work.”
“I see.”
“By the way, here’s my business card.”
As soon as the ajumma placed the pork ribs on the grill, Gong Hyun-jung pulled a card from his pocket.
It was the new one he’d gotten after joining Q&D Management.
“You joined Q&D Management?”
“Yes, I left Phil Media recently. My hyungs suggested we work together. I didn’t see a future there anyway.”
“I see.”
Woo Ji-hyun replied with a faint smile.
It felt odd hearing him badmouth his former company.
But that was just Gong Hyun-jung’s nature.
He trashed anyone who wasn’t on his side.
‘He probably badmouthed me a ton too. With curses thrown in.’
Woo Ji-hyun had deliberately minimized contact, so he hadn’t heard any of it this time.
Still, he was certain.
Gong Hyun-jung must have gossiped about him to others.
“Here, have a drink.”
“Yes.”
As Woo Ji-hyun pocketed the card in his wallet, Gong Hyun-jung picked up his soju glass.
Then he started gauging Woo Ji-hyun’s reaction.
“Haha, mind if I speak casually? We’re not strangers anymore.”
“Go ahead.”
“Ahem! Feels like we’re finally getting close. Every time we met, the vibe was so awkward. Felt like you were avoiding me.”
“Busy with work.”
Woo Ji-hyun inwardly chuckled at how seamlessly Gong Hyun-jung switched to casual speech, as if he’d been waiting for the moment, and poured him soju.
He’d expected it after a few drinks, not before the first one.
“You know, super busy. Shot that Kakao Page ad recently, serializing a new work too. Explosive response. Young kids are going nuts. As expected from someone in his twenties—you nail their tastes. Throwing in some martial arts vibes to hook the thirties too.”
“Rewarding to see the payoff from all that hard work.”
“Let’s have a drink.”
Opening with pure praise, Gong Hyun-jung raised his glass.
The meat wasn’t even cooked yet, but he was ready to start.
Gulp!
Seeing that, Woo Ji-hyun downed his first shot without hesitation.
His stomach was empty, but one glass was fine.
He planned to stop if he felt tipsy.
‘Cheap booze is cheap for a reason.’
There’s no such thing as a free lunch in this world.
Just deals disguised as freebies.
Knowing that all too well, Woo Ji-hyun had avoided Gong Hyun-jung for good reason.
“Kuh! Soju on an empty stomach hits different.”
Oblivious to Woo Ji-hyun’s thoughts, Gong Hyun-jung savored the soju.
Meanwhile, Woo Ji-hyun impassively chugged cold water.
With the meat not ready, he chose it to wet his whistle.
Best side for liquor anyway.
Sizzle!
While they drank, the meat cooked perfectly.
The ajumma came and went, grilling the pork ribs, so Woo Ji-hyun just had to eat the deliciously done pieces.
“Truth is, I was pretty hurt by you.”
“……”
“I wanted to get close, but it felt like you were putting up walls.”
Woo Ji-hyun looked momentarily stunned.
He hadn’t expected this right off the bat.
But Gong Hyun-jung didn’t notice, nonstop shoving meat into his mouth as he continued.
“We’ve known each other a while now, right? Since my Rubin Media days. About five years?”
“Yeah, around then.”
It had been about five years since they met post-discharge through Yeo Woo-jin’s sort-of introduction.
Of course, sitting across from him like this was uncomfortable for Woo Ji-hyun.
From Gong Hyun-jung’s perspective, though, he had reason to feel slighted.
Woo Ji-hyun had memories of his past life; Gong Hyun-jung didn’t.
“But switching to casual now? That’s harsh.”
“I’m shy around people.”
Woo Ji-hyun replied calmly to the half-joking remark.
Most would falter if an elder spoke like that, but not him.
He hadn’t mingled with crowds like a salesman, but he wasn’t a total shut-in either.
Past life aside, he’d tried various jobs.
“You know that about me. You only meet certain people. Avoid new ones.”
“Not one to go to uncomfortable spots on purpose.”
“Huh, sounds like that’s aimed at me.”
“Can’t deny it. Honestly, we’re not close.”
Gong Hyun-jung’s face stiffened slightly at Woo Ji-hyun’s clear boundary-setting.
He’d hoped for “hyung” treatment, but no dice.
Woo Ji-hyun had zero interest in a hyung-dongsaeng bond.
One betrayal in his past life was enough.
‘People don’t change easily. And I don’t want to bother.’
Like his friend Kim In-hu, futures could shift.
So maybe Gong Hyun-jung’s could improve too.
Sadly, Woo Ji-hyun had no intention of trying.
Kim In-hu was a friend; Gong Hyun-jung wasn’t. Not everyone changes just because you want them to.
‘Nature’s nature for a reason.’
He hadn’t crossed paths much, but Woo Ji-hyun kept tabs on Gong Hyun-jung.
Same industry—news trickled in unbidden.
So he was sure.
No matter what, Gong Hyun-jung wouldn’t change.
“Mu-must you draw the line like that? We can start fresh now. We’re not strangers, and you’ll keep running into us if you work this side.”
Gong Hyun-jung forced composure as he spoke.
He wanted to snap but knew he couldn’t yet.
There was still room, so he held back.
“You’re right. But that doesn’t mean we need to get close.”
“……Did I ever screw up with you?”
Gong Hyun-jung dropped the smile, unable to keep it up in the face of Woo Ji-hyun’s firm tone.
He sensed nothing would sway him.
“No. I’m just bad at relationships.”
“Fine. Let’s stick to business. If you hate hyung-dongsaeng stuff, just business talk.”
“Yes.”
For his size, Gong Hyun-jung was quick on the uptake.
Sharp mind too.
So he pivoted immediately.
“You must guess why I’ve been hounding you.”
“Yes.”
“Skip the fluff. I want to sign your next work. Heard you haven’t contracted it with Frontier Management yet?”
“Not yet.”
Gong Hyun-jung’s face lit up.
It was hearsay, so he’d worried—but now confirmed.
“You know your own value. And that others are eyeing you.”
“Yes.”
No need to hide it, so Woo Ji-hyun nodded.
Plenty wanted him besides Q&D Management.
But that interest would vanish if they deemed him washed up.
“I’ll give you 100 million won upfront for your next work with us. No one’s offered that generously before.”
“100 million.”
Gong Hyun-jung said it with swagger.
To his knowledge, no writer had gotten that yet.
So he eyed Woo Ji-hyun confidently.
“What do you think? Not bad for you.”
“That’s it?”
“Huh?”
“No plans on post-contract sales? Where to promote first?”
Gong Hyun-jung licked his lips, flustered.
He’d assumed 100 million would seal it—no prep beyond.
It showed he still saw Woo Ji-hyun as a naive twenty-eight-year-old.
Underestimating him for his youth.
“Uh, we’ll hustle sales full throttle. Market’s changed—you know sales drive revenue now. Hits writers directly.”
“Everyone knows that. I want plans. What’s the blueprint? Kakao Page exclusive first read? Free after wait? Naver Books? And Joara—how to monetize?”
“…….”
Gong Hyun-jung looked stunned at the barrage.
He never imagined Woo Ji-hyun demanding such strategy.
With that, Woo Ji-hyun stood without further questions.
Enough closure.
“I’ll head out first, then.”
No point prolonging, so he bowed politely and rose.
Truthfully, he didn’t want to stay anyway.
Behind him, Gong Hyun-jung’s glare burned like a laser.