8
ch 8## Having Your Worth Recognized (2)
Before Yoon Seongjun rejected them...
Things had actually been going well.
Shin Mijeong and Han Gyeongseon shared the exact same first impression when they met the author.
'Wow... He's ridiculously handsome.'
If Seongjun hadn't greeted them first...
Neither of them would've realized who he was.
There was no way anyone would believe this man was a widowed father raising a daughter in her third year of middle
school.
'Could this novel actually be based on his own life?'
'Was he an idol before? Or maybe an actor? Is that why his writing about the entertainment industry feels so vivid?'
He was handsome enough to make them believe he'd once been an idol.
At the same time, he carried an unmistakably intelligent aura.
This was the man they had been so eager to meet.
The author of Only 10 Seconds as a Genius Idol.
"I-I'm sorry for contacting you so suddenly! I'm Harim's aunt, Shin Mijeong."
Mijeong hurriedly introduced herself.
After shaking hands with her, Seongjun asked,
"I'm Yoon Seongjun, Siwoo's father. I've heard a lot about you from Siwoo. May I ask who the gentleman beside you is?"
Han Gyeongseon handed over his business card.
"Hello. I'm Han Gyeongseon, a PD from the web novel platform MoonStory. Mijeong is my junior."
"Ah, I see."
Unlike when greeting Mijeong...
Seongjun seemed noticeably more reserved with Gyeongseon.
Especially after hearing the words "web novel platform."
The tension on his face was obvious.
"Harim and Siwoo seem to have become really close lately. I'm very close with Harim, so we talk often, and she mentions
Siwoo every time."
Sensing his hesitation, Mijeong deliberately started with the children instead of jumping straight to business.
It was better to break the ice through the connection between their daughters.
"Siwoo says the same thing. She told me Harim is the friend she's closest to these days. I suppose they have very
similar tastes."
The moment his daughter came up...
The caution disappeared from Seongjun's face.
His expression softened immediately.
The two naturally began chatting about their daughters.
Meanwhile, Gyeongseon...
Could only sit beside them, giving awkward reactions.
'Hey, when are we going to talk about the novel?'
'Just wait. We can't suddenly bring up his writing.'
'I have nothing to contribute!'
'Then why did you insist on coming, Sunbae? I told you I'd handle this!'
Of course, Gyeongseon knew this was standard procedure.
Author meetings never began with contracts.
You chatted casually first.
Built rapport.
Only then did you transition to business.
'I know it's necessary...'
But he was getting impatient.
He wanted to discuss the novel as soon as possible.
Like a fan finally meeting their favorite author.
He wanted to praise the scenes he loved.
The directing.
The characters.
Everything.
'Why am I like this? It feels like I've gone back to my rookie days.'
He'd attended countless contract meetings.
Met all kinds of authors.
Yet he'd never felt such genuine admiration before.
He wanted to hear the author's thoughts.
He wanted to share his own excitement.
'To think I'd become obsessed with an idol novel...'
Normally, his favorite genre was overpowered fantasy.
He preferred lone protagonists who overwhelmed everyone else.
Only 10 Seconds as a Genius Idol was the complete opposite.
The protagonist's power only lasted ten seconds.
There was constant banter with the supporting cast.
He wasn't overwhelmingly strong.
He barely knew anything about idols.
And yet...
'The writing is just that good.'
'Everything that normally isn't my taste became enjoyable.'
'I found myself rooting not only for the protagonist, but for every member.'
Idol novels generally appealed more to female readers.
But this story's misunderstandings...
Combined with the thrill of watching the protagonist cleverly overcome impossible situations...
Made it a novel that could appeal to anyone.
"By the way, sir... No, I should call you Author."
"I happened to read the manuscript Harim showed me."
"It was incredible."
"I became a fan before I knew it."
Seeing the timing was right, Mijeong gently steered the conversation toward his writing.
"May I ask... have you been writing for a long time?"
"Yes."
"It's been several years."
"I suppose ever since I got married."
Just as they'd expected.
'So he really is an experienced author.'
'That quality couldn't possibly come from someone who'd never written web novels before.'
'Good thing we prepared the contract carefully.'
The two editors felt relieved.
MoonStory wasn't the type of publisher to play games with contracts.
Even so...
They'd checked every clause repeatedly, just in case an experienced author found something objectionable.
"I see."
"So you've published before?"
Mijeong asked casually.
"No."
"I've never published anything."
The answer left both editors speechless.
"Never?"
"You've never even signed a web novel contract?"
"That's right."
"But you said you've been writing consistently..."
"I've only ever written for my daughter."
"I've never shown my writing to anyone else."
The two editors slowly turned to look at one another.
They wore identical expressions.
Complete shock.
'Someone with this level of writing... has never been published?'
Just then...
Seongjun suddenly took out his phone.
"Would you like to see something?"
The two leaned closer.
On the screen was—
"A photo I took with my daughter yesterday."
"Isn't she adorable?"
It was a selfie with Yoon Siwoo.
Though...
'Wait... he's this handsome in person.'
'Why is he so terrible at taking selfies?'
Even with his awful camera skills...
The father and daughter still looked stunning.
Like they shared superior genes.
Siwoo had clearly inherited her father's looks.
For a middle school student...
She was remarkably beautiful.
"My daughter loves web novels."
"More accurately..."
"She loves stories told through words."
"So I've continued writing for her."
Looking at the photo...
Seongjun smiled warmly.
He was completely devoted to his daughter.
"Author."
Gyeongseon finally spoke.
"Would you consider serializing Only 10 Seconds as a Genius Idol on MoonStory?"
"We could begin with free serialization."
"And once the response is hot enough..."
"We'd move it behind a paywall."
Mijeong shot him a look that screamed, Why are you rushing this?
But Gyeongseon believed now was the right moment.
"I've also read your manuscript."
"I'm convinced the novel you wrote for your daughter will receive tremendous love."
He wasn't speaking as a businessman.
He was speaking as a genuine web novel reader.
A story this good...
Shouldn't remain hidden forever.
"If you choose MoonStory—"
"I'm sorry."
Seongjun interrupted him.
"I have to decline."
There wasn't even a moment's hesitation.
"We'll fully support you!"
"We'll promote the novel extensively during the free serialization period."
"The concept is excellent."
"It has enormous commercial potential."
"If the paid release performs well, we'll immediately pursue a webtoon or even a drama adaptation."
Gyeongseon hurriedly listed every benefit he could think of.
But Seongjun remained firm.
"I'm sorry."
"Everything I write is for my daughter."
"I've never once considered showing it to anyone else."
His expression remained calm.
Without the slightest regret.
"Of course, I know Siwoo recently showed my writing to Harim, and then to Harim's aunt."
"I assume that's why we're having this meeting."
"But those stories belong to Siwoo."
"I honestly don't know whether the public would enjoy them."
"And..."
A faint smile appeared on his face.
"As long as Siwoo loves and treasures my stories..."
"I'm already completely satisfied."
He hadn't reacted when they praised his writing.
Nor when they offered him a contract.
Only one subject ever changed his expression.
His daughter.
The editors immediately realized—
He truly meant it.
He genuinely didn't want readers beyond Siwoo.
As a writer...
He already felt fulfilled.
"I'm truly sorry."
"But may I leave now?"
"I promised to help my daughter with a school assignment."
"O-Of course."
"Thank you very much for coming."
Still dazed...
Mijeong saw him off.
After apologizing several more times...
Seongjun quietly left.
The two editors simply stared after him.
"I've never met an author like him before."
"...Neither have I."
---
"Phew... We barely made it!"
As we entered the theater...
Siwoo wiped the sweat from her forehead.
Because I'd arrived late for our appointment...
We'd nearly missed the beginning of the play.
We'd had to run the entire way.
"Huff... Huff..."
"I'm exhausted, Dad!"
"Siwoo."
"You should exercise more."
"If you're out of breath after this much running, what will you do?"
"...Dad, are you a T?"
"You're supposed to sympathize first!"
"You should've said, 'Aww, my poor daughter.'"
I'd only been worried about her health.
Yet somehow...
I was the one getting scolded.
"More importantly!"
"It was so hard getting these tickets!"
"Look!"
"I booked the best seats!"
"You worked hard, sweetheart."
She was right.
The seats were excellent.
Front-center.
Perfect view of the stage.
We'd even be able to see the actors' expressions clearly.
I gently patted her head.
Siwoo giggled.
"Oh, right!"
"You were meeting Harim's aunt today."
"How did it go?"
"What did you talk about?"
"They wanted to sign a contract."
"...A CONTRACT?!"
She shouted so loudly that everyone in the theater turned to look at us.
Realizing her mistake...
She quickly covered her mouth.
A moment later...
She whispered furiously,
"Why did you refuse?!"
"MoonStory is an amazing publisher!"
"The readers love them!"
"They've got so many great novels!"
"How could you reject them?!"
Hmm.
If even a devoted web novel reader like Siwoo praised them so highly...
They really must have been an excellent company.
Still...
I had no regrets.
"I wrote the novel for you."
I gave up on becoming an author in middle school.
But after getting married...
After Siwoo was born...
Because of the reader named Siwoo...
That dream had already come true.
"As long as my daughter enjoys it..."
"That's enough for me."
I truly meant it.
Anything more felt greedy.
However...
"..."
Siwoo stared at me.
As though she had countless things she wanted to say.
Then...
She finally spoke.
"You're right."
"I loved that you wrote only for me."
"I couldn't really tell anyone..."
"But it made me secretly proud."
"It felt amazing to have such a great story all to myself."
A smile naturally spread across my face.
I could truly feel how much she loved my writing.
"But..."
"Stories are meant to be read by lots of people, aren't they?"
"Just like how all these people came to watch this play."
She stretched her legs from her seat.
Not long ago...
Her feet hadn't even reached the floor.
Now she'd grown so much...
She had to be careful not to bump the seat in front.
"This time..."
"You let Harim and Harim's aunt read your story."
"When I heard they loved it..."
"I got so excited."
"I was so proud of you."
"And it was amazing seeing other people love the stories I love."
"Proud."
The moment I heard that word...
Something burned inside my chest.
"I saw your face when I told you Harim liked your novel."
"...What kind of face was I making?"
"You looked so happy."
"I'd never seen you smile like that before."
Yongsu.
And Siwoo.
Both of them had said the same thing.
That I'd changed.
And that change...
Had begun the moment someone besides Siwoo read my work.
"I want more people to read your novels."
"Then I'd have people to fangirl with."
Perhaps...
That was the most natural desire a writer could have.
To have more readers.
To have more people enjoy your work.
Maybe that instinct still remained inside me.
But...
"...Would people really like my novels?"
At the same time...
I was afraid.
Afraid of showing my writing to the world.
'I'm saying this because I'm thinking about your future.'
'Keep writing as a hobby.'
Just like my bald homeroom teacher had once said.
'How can anyone make a living writing these days?'
'You should earn money and help your parents.'
'Forget writing.'
'Learn to work with numbers.'
'People who understand numbers are respected everywhere.'
Showing others my writing.
Showing them my dream.
It frightened me.
What if I nurtured false hope again...
Only to give up once more?
I was already content.
What if reaching for more...
Only led to disappointment?
Then...
Siwoo puffed out her chest.
Thumped it proudly with her fist.
As if telling me to trust her.
"Anyone who says a story this good isn't amazing is blind!"
"Trust my judgment, Dad."
"Your novel..."
"It's definitely going to become a huge hit!"
"...Siwoo."
"Oh!"
"It's starting!"
The theater lights dimmed.
The audience fell silent.
Siwoo's eyes sparkled as the curtain slowly began to rise.
But...
My own heart refused to calm down.
Countless words echoed inside me.
Writers had a name for this.
Inspiration.
---
A few days later.
MoonStory Headquarters.
"...Sigh."
Shin Mijeong let out a deep sigh.
The excitement she'd regained thanks to Only 10 Seconds as a Genius Idol...
Had disappeared completely.
'I never imagined he'd reject us so firmly.'
Harim still received new chapters through Siwoo every single day.
And the story...
Only kept getting better.
Which made it even more painful.
'This is torture!'
As a web novel editor...
She was reading one of the best novels she'd ever encountered.
Yet it remained hidden from the world.
She couldn't talk about it with anyone.
'It's like buying a luxury handbag...'
'Only to be forbidden from ever taking it outside.'
The happiest moment for a web novel editor...
Was seeing a novel they'd worked on receive love from countless readers.
Yet the novel that had completely cured her burnout...
Could never be published.
"...Sigh."
The frustration had drained all her energy.
She couldn't even focus on work anymore.
Just then...
Footsteps echoed through the office.
Han Gyeongseon walked straight toward her after leaving the department manager's office.
"Sunbae?"
"What did the manager say?"
Instead of answering...
He spoke solemnly.
"Shin Mijeong."
"Get ready."
"...Ready?"
"For what?"
She blinked in confusion.
"Contact the author of Only 10 Seconds again."
"...But he already refused us."
"I showed the manuscript to the manager."
"He approved it."
Gyeongseon's expression was filled with determination.
"He told us..."
"To secure that contract."
"No matter what conditions it takes."
They would bring Only 10 Seconds as a Genius Idol into the world.
No matter what.