Chapter 166

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Translator: penny

Chapter: 166

Chapter Title: Convincing Aebom

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"A talk?"

Han Aebom's gaze, fixed on the computer, shifted toward me. Just the way her eyes scanned me up and down made my heartbeat intensify even more.

Today's outfit was a crisp office look: a sky-blue dress shirt paired with a black tie and navy slacks.

"Judging by your outfit, Hyunwoo, this doesn't seem like casual chit-chat. Do you have another negotiation or debate in mind with me?"

Han Aebom brimmed with confidence and poise.

No matter what else, when it came to this, she exuded near-perfect certainty that she needed no one's help and wouldn't lose to anyone.

Facing that certainty head-on only steeled my resolve further.

Today, I had to shatter it.

"You could call it a negotiation... or a tantalizing proposal."

Was this how a new hire felt, slaving over a report to get approval from their boss? It wasn't purely pleasant, but it made me feel alive.

This tension... I might dread it once I got used to office life. But right now, as someone barely scraping by with part-time gigs, it was enviably thrilling. They say the other man's grass is always greener, after all.

Humans are creatures doomed to crave what they lack more than anything.

"Sounds good to me."

A natural smile spread across Han Aebom's face. She rarely smiled like that. She really does love this stuff... Born with a silver spoon in her mouth, indeed.

"Then give me a moment to change."

"Sure."

I nodded, stealing a quick glance at Han Aebom's irresistibly sexy black panties—same as always—before setting up for my presentation.

I prepared the seat for her and placed the fruit platter I'd asked Yoon Sua to prepare earlier.

Next, I loaded the presentation slides I'd poured my heart into on the computer. The thought of starting the pitch soon made my heart pound fiercely against the hand I'd unconsciously placed on my chest.

"You've prepared quite thoroughly, haven't you?"

"Yes. I put my all into it, so I'd appreciate it if you could see my sincerity."

"Hmm, alright. Let's see what you've got."

Han Aebom sat in the chair I'd set up as if it were the most natural thing. Her hands clasped neatly over her crossed legs. She leaned her upper body slightly toward me, clearly signaling she was ready to listen.

Even her listening posture was textbook-perfect.

"Then I'll start with the slides."

I treated this like the real deal, approaching the presentation with utmost seriousness. After all, this could one day be a huge boost to my career.

「Click!」

The moment the slide appeared on the screen—not projected large via beam projector—Han Aebom's eyes narrowed briefly, her brow furrowing sharply.

"This setup... Never mind, you worked hard on it. There must be a reason. Let's hear the presentation first, then discuss."

"Thank you for your understanding."

I meant it.

Every little gesture from her highlighted her excellence. She knew her own brilliance better than anyone, yet she never dismissed or judged anyone hastily.

If it were me, the moment something irked me, it'd be over. A negative bias would cloud my mind, and I wouldn't truly hear a word they said.

Compared to that, Han Aebom merely flinched at my slides—that was it.

The early part drew from info I'd heard from Song Ayoung.

Definitions of pure literature, popular literature, and web novels. Differences between them. Various data flashed and faded.

Han Aebom's eyes remained intently dissecting my presentation.

At first, my nerves had my heart ready to burst. But as I progressed, my stiff mouth loosened up.

"It's not just talk—actual debut stats for authors via pure and popular literature versus web novels show an absurd gap."

I wasn't much for math.

But hard numbers in ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠a presentation were an unbeatable ally.

"Based on this data, I believe Aebom, you'd be better off writing web novels."

"Hmmm."

Han Aebom ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠let out a long breath. For about five seconds, only her thumbs fidgeted over her clasped hands. I held my breath, throat dry, watching her. What was she thinking?

Positive? Negative? It was driving me mad with curiosity.

"For starters."

For starters?

"You put a ton of effort into these slides. It shows. Logically structured, and the delivery was impressive."

Her praise sparked a thrill of joy and fulfillment.

"But it's not all rosy."

Her follow-up crushed that rising emotion, weighing heavily on my heart.

I swallowed hard, forcing my mouth open.

"What parts aren't?"

"I get that pure literature has a high barrier to entry—popular lit too, to some extent. And with my experience, I know it even better."

True enough. You can't master everything from a quick internet search, or everyone would be doctors and lawyers.

Experience and solid knowledge couldn't be ignored. That's why I couldn't easily counter her point.

"Intentional or not, your slides conveniently omitted web novels' downsides."

"It was intentional."

She nodded at my admission.

"Well played. When persuading someone, no need to highlight weaknesses, right?"

"Exactly."

"Still, smart to prepare for it anyway. You said web novels have low barriers and a rapidly expanding market."

"Yes."

"That means anyone can write them. So raising the overall quality is tough."

In other words, anyone could do it. Not wrong. Even I, with Song Ayoung's help, had penned a first chapter.

"And a rapidly growing market implies it's still small now."

"But it's already nearing 1 trillion won..."

"That's cherry-picked data anyone can pull. Compare that to global bestsellers—a few top ones alone surpass it. Pure literature wins on peak potential."

She went on like that, dismantling point by point.

Public perceptions of web novels. Top spots on book sites dominated by pure and popular lit.

All spot-on, irrefutable truths. I found myself nodding along. Even so, I had to persuade her.

Not for the quest reward, but because I wanted her to succeed.

To see her reap the fruits of her efforts and smile happily.

"This might sound forced."

"Go ahead."

"Take Harry Potter, which you loved reading. When it first came out, even the author didn't expect it to shake the world."

"Probably not. We can't know for sure without being her."

"Likely. Same with smartphones, Bitcoin, AI... World-shaking innovations happen overnight sometimes. Sure, the odds are insane—near zero. But not absolute zero. Those near-zero outcomes are real today."

"What's your point?"

I met Han Aebom's eyes, my voice more confident than during the presentation.

"Anyone else, maybe not. But you, Aebom—you could turn that near-zero probability into something real. I'm certain."

Her eyes widened briefly before she let out a hollow chuckle.

"Hyunwoo, I appreciate the high praise. Objectively, I might be exceptional in many ways—no arrogance. But from February to almost June now, I've bombed every contest, not even a consolation prize. You think someone like me writes a web novel and suddenly succeeds... even changes the world? That's not near zero—it's flat zero percent."

"No! That's not true!"

If not for this insane popup, I might've caved to her ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠logic. But this quest itself was beyond near-zero—it was pure impossibility.

In a world of nearly 8 billion, if only I could see this mad window... Han Aebom's web novel shaking the world? Far from impossible.

"From here, it's just my personal take. Illogical opinion."

"Let's hear it."

"No such thing as noble or lowly jobs. 'Who' does it matters—people admire accordingly. I agree, because I've seen your many sides, Aebom."

I deliberately held up the sticker photo on my phone case. Her cheeks flushed red at the sight.

"Watching movies, bowling, even photo booths—everything feels different with you. Hell, you make breathing seem noble."

"H-Hey! That's too much..."

"Not at all! That's why I'm confident: your web novel? It'd stand apart from all others. Silly example, but dancers turning ballad singers and blowing up? Happens."

"..."

"Maybe you're like that. Pure lit and popular lit don't fit, but web novels do. So, just once—give it a shot? If it flops, I'll take responsibility!"

I'd blurted it all like a madman, licking my dry lips. I'd said my piece.

Now...

I swallowed, gauging her reaction.

Suddenly, Han Aebom burst out laughing. Her shoulders shook violently with the force of it.