Chapter 89
Chapter 89
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Translator: uly
Chapter: 89
Chapter Title: Again, Writer
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After finishing the orders, I looked at Noh Hoe-seung, whom I'd seated next to Nam Hyun-seok, and spoke up.
He'd been wearing a sullen expression ever since earlier.
At that, the others turned curious eyes toward him as well.
"What, just this and that."
"So what happened?"
"Hard to meet with Kakao Page folks, and Naver Books isn't a walk in the park either. Plus the writers are all over the place—it's enough to drive you mad."
"Yeah, well, everyone's in the same boat. It's everyday stuff. Who has an easy time locking down events? Too many competitors. And now rumors of big corporations jumping in."
"I heard that too."
Kim Chang-su chimed in cautiously.
He'd heard the rumors himself.
And not just from one or two places.
Of course, not many would actually dive in for real, but the buzz itself was what mattered.
"Already tough with every Tom, Dick, and Harry starting companies..."
"No helping it now. Once they smell money, they all come rushing."
"It'll sort itself out eventually, but not right now."
Noh Hoe-seung shook his head, and Nam Hyun-seok and Ha Yu-hyeok smacked their lips.
They shared the sentiment on that point.
"That's why real writers are so crucial. One hit work, and everything smooths out after that."
"Even snagging writers is tough these days. Even hacks who write like amateurs are all under contract."
"The new outfits swept up every promising amateur they could find. Lock 'em in with contracts and develop them—that's the plan."
"But how many will actually pay off?"
Nam Hyun-seok looked skeptical.
There were plenty of mediocre writers out there.
Hell, even good ones weren't that rare.
But writing was a marathon.
Anyone could start, but few crossed the finish line.
No wonder terms like "hiatus author" and "submerged author" existed.
"If even one blows up, it'll cover the losses from the rest. Problem is finding that one."
"That's why they start by grabbing a figurehead writer each."
"Issue is, even those figurehead writers come in tiers."
"Haa."
Nam Hyun-seok, Ha Yu-hyeok, and Kim Chang-su all let out deep sighs.
When they'd first launched their companies, they'd been full of dreams.
Convinced they could succeed, claim a slice of the new market.
Maybe even dominate it.
*But reality's a cold bitch.*
New companies popped up overnight—that was the truth now.
Sure, few had solid systems in place, but the competition kept growing.
While platforms remained limited.
So the platforms started flexing their muscle.
Back in the day, their execs scurried around courting publishers for content.
Now they strutted in, summoning publisher presidents.
Management firms barely got a look-in.
And it wouldn't improve—only get worse.
*But they can't quit because one breakout means massive cash.*
Nam Hyun-seok's gaze drifted to Jo Jin-gu, quietly sipping his drink.
He'd jumped in first and built the firmest footing.
With the hottest writer to boot.
Sure, a roster of steady performers could sustain a company.
But no one entered this game aiming for scraps.
"Your stares are intense."
"Jealousy. Pure jealousy of you."
"I just got lucky. The ad thing? Total windfall. Wasn't my plan or anything I pushed for."
Facing the heavy gazes centered on him, led by Nam Hyun-seok, Jo Jin-gu humbly shook his head.
He was the youngest here, and it was the truth.
If he'd orchestrated it, he could've bragged like a war story.
But in the Kakao Page ad deal, he'd done zilch.
"Luck's a skill too. And when it skips everyone else? That's luck."
"Damn right. Snagging Woo Ji-hyun brought that luck."
"But Woo Ji-hyun was already a safe bet. Rental market tanking, yet his value soared—the only one. Plenty dismissed him for churning volume over quality, but results matter. Money talks. And no one raked in more than Woo Ji-hyun."
Nam Hyun-seok and Ha Yu-hyeok nodded at Kim Chang-su's words.
They too saw Jo Jin-gu's Woo Ji-hyun move as a masterstroke.
Not that Jo Jin-gu was just lucky.
Amid countless offers, Woo Ji-hyun had chosen him and Frontier Management.
"Saw on Woo Ji-hyun's Instagram—he just got a sports car."
"First for a genre novelist, right? Solar Sculptor guy drove an Infiniti T, some others had imports, but sports car? New territory."
"In his twenties, pulling that? Porch-e, no less."
As management heads, they had a rough idea of Woo Ji-hyun's earnings.
Not down to the won, but monthly settlements? Ballpark figures.
So they all nodded.
Compared to his income, it wasn't extravagant.
"But that writer's not long for it. Bad rumors floating."
"What rumors?"
Noh Hoe-seung aimed at Jo Jin-gu, but Nam Hyun-seok voiced the question.
All eyes locked on Noh Hoe-seung.
The sudden drop piqued curiosity.
"Heard from a junior I know—success went to his head young. Arrogant as hell. No respect for elders, thrashing around."
"Who from?"
"Told you. A junior I know."
Jo Jin-gu, silent till now, stiffened and asked.
But Noh Hoe-seung just eyed his soju shot, answering half-assed.
"Just curious who this junior is."
"Do I gotta answer every question you throw?"
"...Just asking out of curiosity."
"That's why I don't wanna tell you."
The mood plummeted.
Nam Hyun-seok's face hardened too.
Anyone could see Noh Hoe-seung was in the wrong.
No yelling or insults—just a polite question, yet he'd sneered.
"Hey, Noh Hoe-seung."
"Is this junior Gong Hyun-jung by chance?"
Nam Hyun-seok, about to intervene, paused.
Jo Jin-gu dropping Gong Hyun-jung's name made Noh Hoe-seung flinch.
"Gong Hyun-jung—from Phil Media?"
"Probably at Q&D Management now. Though word is he'll get canned soon. Useless, they say. Doesn't get the difference between publishing and management."
As Noh Hoe-seung clammed up, Ha Yu-hyeok and Kim Chang-su added context.
Over a decade in the game meant they knew everyone, even loosely.
"Petty as hell. Wooed him for contracts, then draws a hard line—now all he does is backbite?"
"What do you know, flapping your gums!"
"So how much do you know to defend Gong Hyun-jung like this? I didn't hear it from him, but you haven't heard a peep from Woo Ji-hyun either."
"Plenty from Hyun-jung!"
Noh Hoe-seung couldn't hold back, bellowing.
Diners nearby glanced over at the sudden shout.
Chinese restaurant staff rushed in.
"You don't think how biased that might be?"
"My brother's word? No bias. He told me what he went through!"
"Could be self-serving. Spinning smears and trash-talk. You know most rumors in this biz are bullshit."
"No smoke without fire."
Staff approached, urging calm; Noh Hoe-seung lowered his voice.
But his glare stayed lethal.
Gong Hyun-jung aside, this young upstart Jo Jin-gu outshining him grated.
"I see it differently. Can't judge on one side's story. Naturally, you'd side with your brother Gong Hyun-jung."
"This little shit—!"
Noh Hoe-seung's tone spiked again.
Face flushing crimson.
Thud!
Ha Yu-hyeok and Kim Chang-su, rising to restrain him, froze at Jo Jin-gu's move.
Jo Jin-gu, who'd seemed ready to clash, suddenly placed his smartphone on the table.
"But from what I checked, Woo Ji-hyun did nothing wrong. Listen to this. Recording of the incident."
Thud.
Jo Jin-gu played the file Woo Ji-hyun had given him.
Faces shifted as it played.
Noh Hoe-seung's especially—worth watching.
He huffed but couldn't roar like before.
"Woo Ji-hyun's sharp. Recording it."
"Says he always carries one for contingencies. Phone in a pinch. He's meticulous like that."
"No denying this."
Woo Ji-hyun's polite refusals and Gong Hyun-jung's 100-million advance demand rang crystal clear from the speaker.
Busting every rumor as nonsense.
"Still taking Gong Hyun-jung's side? With evidence this blatant? Got more recordings too. Copies—the originals are with Woo Ji-hyun."
Grrrr!
Noh Hoe-seung's face burned scarlet.
He bit his lip, no outburst.
Jo Jin-gu was undeniably right.
Arguing now would just hurt him more, so he reddened silently.
*That fucker...!*
Instead, he inwardly cursed Gong Hyun-jung a hundred times over for humiliating him.
If he were here, those eyes would've torn him apart.
"Woo Ji-hyun's fine. Gong Hyun-jung's the one to watch. Word'll spread on his stunt soon. Starting with me."
"Reap what you sow."
"Kid's not young—dumb as rocks. A three-way meet would've exposed it..."
"Won't meet, so no proof. Didn't see it'd bite him."
Nam Hyun-seok and Ha Yu-hyeok tsked.
They could picture Gong Hyun-jung's downfall.
Noh Hoe-seung, fuming alone, rose first and stormed out.