Chapter 81
Chapter 81
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Translator: uly
Chapter: 81
Chapter Title: Again, Writer
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Chapter 30: Opportunity Begets Another Opportunity.
"You bastard!"
Bam!
Whether it was the booze or sheer rage, Gong Hyun-jung's face turned beet red as he spat out the curse and slammed the table.
The room fell silent in an instant, and everyone turned to stare at him.
"See? That's why I told you not to underestimate him. Kid might be young, but he's got four or five snakes coiled up inside him."
"Even so, that little punk...!"
"Hey, you're the one who said let's keep it businesslike first. You can't bring up age. And you're not even close with Ji-hyun. Plus, he flat-out said he doesn't do the hyung-dongsaeng thing."
"Whose side are you on? Mine or that guy's?"
Gong Hyun-jung's face flushed purple with anger.
It was because the way the other man spoke sounded like he was taking Woo Ji-hyun's side.
"I'm neutral. Both you and Ji-hyun are dongsaengs I know."
"Hah!"
Park Sung-hoon clicked his tongue in exasperation and downed his soju.
He couldn't help feeling hurt, no matter how much he tried not to.
After all, he was the dongsaeng who worked with him.
"You can feel hurt, but that's how it is. And I'd have made the same call as Ji-hyun if I were him. You weren't prepared."
"No, come on—in this market, a 100 million won advance? Who's not tempted?"
"Sure, it's tempting. They're handing you 100 million won straight to your account. I'd sign the contract on the spot. And for Ji-hyun's level, 100 million isn't too much. With the results he's showing and machine-like speed, he'll recoup it quick. But the problem is you rushed it. Even if you wanted results bad, this wasn't the way. Sure, it would've been perfect if it worked out, but it failed, so now it's a problem."
"..."
Gong Hyun-jung's face twisted.
But he didn't argue back.
If it had succeeded, maybe, but since it failed, it was all his fault.
'Damn, that slippery bastard!'
He'd felt it before, but Gong Hyun-jung thought the guy was like an eel.
He always wriggled out just right.
But he kept clinging because Woo Ji-hyun was a reliably solid writer.
He'd hoped the guy would crash midway, but annoyingly, Woo Ji-hyun had been on a roll.
'His value's only gone up more.'
The Lee Woo-hyung boost was over, but Woo Ji-hyun's sales on Kakao Page were still unmatched.
Word was they were even reprinting his paperbacks, which said it all.
"You were too hasty this time. If word gets out, it won't look good for you."
"As long as you don't say anything, hyung, it won't get out."
"Who knows. Smartphones are too damn good these days. What if he recorded it?"
"I left my wallet and phone on the table—no sign of that."
"Then you're lucky."
Yeo Woo-jin had brought it up, but he didn't think Woo Ji-hyun had prepared that meticulously.
A bit brash, sure.
But he figured there was no need to be kind to everyone.
Plus, Woo Ji-hyun hadn't tried to match his status or been rude—just a tad forward.
'Still, he's grown a ton. Impressively so.'
The clueless kid from his early twenties days, just glancing around nervously, had become a top writer in the market.
Sure, that meant more scandals, but from what he'd seen, Woo Ji-hyun could eat some flak without sparking real controversy.
Rumor mills churning around hot writers was practically daily life anyway.
'I know, 'cause I'm jealous too.'
As a former writer himself, Yeo Woo-jin knew exactly how impressive Woo Ji-hyun's achievements were.
It wasn't just skill.
Skill played a part, but Woo Ji-hyun had luck too.
And he'd managed his image well.
Especially since he didn't meet tons of people—Yeo Woo-jin wanted to give him points for that.
'The more people you meet in this biz, the more gossip spreads.'
Lately, writers were gathering more—sharing info or building ties, especially with new management firms popping up like mushrooms.
Some were even forming teams.
But Yeo Woo-jin didn't think it was always a good thing.
"I'll never forget this humiliation, Woo Ji-hyun!"
"Hey, hey, ease up on the drinking. You've had plenty."
"I haven't had a drop!"
"Look at all those empty bottles."
Yeo Woo-jin sighed at Gong Hyun-jung, who was grinding his teeth like he'd devour Woo Ji-hyun if he were there.
Looked like he'd have to drag him back to his room again tonight.
* * *
Ding-dong!
A cheerful analog doorbell chime rang from the intercom.
Amid all the other noises, Woo Ji-hyun oddly preferred that old-school vibe.
So he'd set it to the sound from his childhood, and now it chimed.
-Hey!
"Door's open. Come in."
Woo Ji-hyun glanced at the small screen showing a bright smile holding gifts, then unlocked the door.
Moments later, a knock at the front door.
"Nice place. Owned?"
"It's a lease. Hoping to buy new eventually."
"Gonna get it soon?"
Lee Woo-hyung came in grinning, arms full of toilet paper packs.
He knew the settlement was in two months.
"Still some time left. But why toilet paper?"
"Single guy living alone? Gotta be the most essential thing."
Woo Ji-hyun wordlessly led him to the balcony.
He showed him the towering toilet paper "gift" stack from his friends.
"Solo power maxed out, huh. Impressive."
"It's not like I bought it! Friends brought it."
"How long since you last met a girl?"
Lee Woo-hyung looked genuinely pitiful.
A capable guy living alone in a big three-room place with two bathrooms—it was just sad.
If he lacked ability, it'd make sense.
But in this era of rising jobless grads and youth unemployment, no money meant no dating.
"Don't poke at my sore spots."
"When I come back next, I'll set you up for sure. What's your type? Pretty enough and good to go?"
"The girls you hang with won't even glance my way."
Woo Ji-hyun stacked the toilet paper neatly as he spoke.
Appreciated the thought, but it'd end at gawking at celebs.
"What's wrong with you? Met plenty of entertainers—tons make less than you. Only the spotlight hogs and mega-earners rake it in; lots scrape by."
"That's why they chase even better guys. To fill their gaps."
"Fair."
"Life's brutal for guys. Gotta be handsome or rich. Miss both, and it's a sad ride."
Woo Ji-hyun spoke with conviction, having felt it deepest.
Lacked both in his past life—died at forty, unmarried, coughing blood.
"Bitter, but can't deny it."
"But you've got one locked down. No worries."
"It's temporary. Retirement hits, who knows. Look at the seniors—edges sharpen. And I'm a late bloomer, so gotta grind harder."
"Great mindset. So, you enjoying it plenty?"
Woo Ji-hyun asked slyly.
Nudged Lee Woo-hyung's chest with his elbow, smirking meaningfully.
"Enjoying what?"
"What else? Living it up in your youth."
"Man, success really changes everything for guys. Life flips completely. You wouldn't get it. Heh heh heh!"
Lee Woo-hyung grinned lecherously.
His face said it all.
"I get it. My life's changed big too. Thanks in part to you."
"In part? Huge part, man."
"True."
Woo Ji-hyun admitted easily to the playful jab.
No point denying facts.
And honestly, he was grateful.
He'd tasted bolt-from-the-blue stardom, even superficially.
"No changes? Like fans spotting you on the street?"
"Nope. But tons offering intros. People who know me look different now."
"Still chill about it. You're a rare case."
"Can't forget your roots. Lose yourself, and you crash. That's why rice bends as it ripens."
Climbing's hard; falling's instant.
So Woo Ji-hyun stayed humble despite his rising status.
Especially now.
'Plus, this isn't the success I want—not by a long shot.'
Road ahead was long.
He wouldn't settle here.
Current wins were blissful, but he aimed higher.
'Regressed and all—can't stop at this. Might be my last shot too.'
He remembered the regression moment vividly.
Especially the final talk.
"Thinking hard there. Hot girl reject you or something?"
"Why's it always go there?"
"Think about it. Healthy, capable guy not dating? Means he tried and got dumped."
"Lucky you—beauties throwing themselves."
No need to pry; Woo Ji-hyun could guess his Korea life, envy all over his face.
But Lee Woo-hyung's expression soured unexpectedly.
"What's the point of many if no substance? In Korea a month, only drank twice. Third's today. What history gets made here?"
"Ha ha ha!"
Woo Ji-hyun laughed gleefully at the frustration.
All that bragging, and he was poor in plenty.
"Can't do shit about it."
"Star's plight. Part of the sports fame game. Here."
"Ooooh!"
Lee Woo-hyung's eyes widened like saucers.
Woo Ji-hyun had led him to the living room, opened the fridge—neat rows of soju, beer, vodka, baijiu, whiskey.
"Drink up today. Whatever you like."
"My man!"
"Anju's coming soon. Ordered delivery."
"Thought you'd cook?"