Chapter 31
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Translator: Wjin
Chapter: 31
Chapter Title: After the Broadcast
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That evening.
"Whoa! It's starting!"
Seeing my face on TV was pure torture. But with Jin-seong stealing the spotlight nonstop, the attention on me was relatively light. At least that was a relief.
Munch, munch.
It was one of those times where I could just stuff pizza in my mouth and call it good.
"Whoa, Jin-seong! You're seriously killing it on screen!"
Ye-jin shot up a thumbs-up. The middle schooler across from her nodded vigorously in agreement.
A pizza party in the office.
Cha Team Leader sidled up next to me with a beer in hand.
"You're meeting folks from the Promotion Agency, huh."
"Yeah, they reached out."
"I'd love to tag along, but sorry I can't."
"No worries. But what's got you so uneasy?"
"I told you before. I backed the wrong horse. This industry's a small world. Some people might try to stir up trouble just knowing I'm here."
Cha Team Leader took a bitter sip of his beer. I had no idea what kind of life he'd lived, but I'd carve my own path forward.
"Someday, those people will get it."
"Huh? Get what?"
"That the line you hitched to is pure gold."
"Hahaha! Your words alone fill me up!"
He let out a hearty laugh before adding,
"Just some old-man advice, but don't trust everyone. Business types will do anything to pile more onto their plate. Doesn't matter if it's an agency or whatever. If we've got 10, show them 1. And even that, they'll rip off quick. Don't hand over any business plans or anything until the contracts are signed."
Wisdom born from hard knocks. I'd keep it in mind.
The broadcast was racing toward the end now. The editing was so tight, the half-day footage flew by.
Jin-seong's got more screen time than me, doesn't he?
As everyone laughed and enjoyed the heavily biased edit, the middle schooler piped up.
"Whoa, the forums are blowing up!"
Instead of checking their own phones, they all instinctively swarmed the kid, craning their necks over her screen.
With even Jin-seong crowding in, the pubescent girl holding the phone had to hunker down hard.
-Who's this Jin-seong guy?!
-Jin-seong! Starting today, your big sis is obsessed!
-Eye candy heaven. Crushes any idol.
-Jin-seong, you debut or what?
-Whoa! Bet commuting to that office is a treat!
Since when? The protagonist's changed....
Heh heh....
Credit to my eye for talent.
Heh heh heh....
Not crying.
"Wahhh, I didn't show up once."
Jin-guk slumped his shoulders after watching to the end.
"You'll get your turn next week."
"Y-yeah! I told all my buddies, it'd suck if I got totally cut!"
If Jin-seong weren't there hogging the glow-up, Jin-guk's good looks would've shone too. The PD probably had plans for him.
Ye-jin hadn't appeared either. She didn't seem to mind, though.
"Alright, alright! We've gotten some company promo out of this, so no slacking off now. Let's keep pushing like always! Time to clean up!"
Ye-jin clapped to rally everyone. She turned to me.
"President, great job!"
"Me? I barely did anything."
"No way! You were the star! For a first broadcast, this is stellar! Lots of folks got a straightforward look at a writer's life. Not over-the-top, just perfect!"
The room froze at her words.
-Not really.
-All I saw was Jin-seong hyung.
Exactly those faces.
Ye-jin gets it.
Jin-seong ruffled the middle schooler's hair.
"Cut it out."
"You cut it out. No end to dealing with every troll."
-Paid actor? No way a normie looks like that? Which agency?
The kid, midway through firing back at hate comments, dodged his hand and stood.
"...Fun."
Jin-seong grinned warmly at her.
Oh ho.
Jin-seong enjoying the reactions? Green light.
Two days later, I hopped in a taxi with Ye-jin and Jin-seong. Jin-guk stayed behind to guard the goshiwon.
Ye-jin spoke up in the cab.
"That guy you mentioned before? He finally got back to me. Says he's eighteen. That right?"
"Probably."
"Isn't that kinda young?"
"Not too young if we're thinking years ahead."
"Got it. I'll tell him to come by the office soon."
The friends I was scouting weren't BTB members. Just folks who'd make waves in auditions 5-10 years from now—names big enough for me to remember.
"Minchwi's the key. If he joins, I can properly arm the kids."
Every field has experts, and among them, the tops. A Minchwi could give wings to what I'm doing.
Jin-seong perked up at that.
"Special forces? 707 maybe?"
"..."
"Knew it. Our goshiwon's the perfect base. Geographically, topographically ideal for defense."
How much of that was concept?
"Have a good day!"
We got out of the taxi.
Daehangno. First time here. After coming to Seoul, holing up in my hole-in-the-wall room, then getting kidnapped—being in a bustling spot like this felt downright weird.
"Ack! That guy's familiar."
"Who? Where? Long hair?"
"No! Tall oppa!"
Sorry. Just long hair. Come to think of it, no time for a haircut either.
"He was on that show! Yeah! Killer proportions!"
"Let's ask for a pic!"
People started recognizing Jin-seong. Weird, huh? I was on it too.
"Let's go. We're gonna be late."
Ye-jin hurried off. Past the park, down a small alley to a Chinese restaurant.
"Reservation?"
Relieved to be shown to a private room. More people saw the broadcast than I figured.
"They'll be here soon."
Ye-jin sat primly and smacked Jin-seong's back.
"No leg-crossing. First impressions matter."
"They ain't here yet."
"Suck it in, chest out, back straight! Now!"
"Ugh, nagging again."
Talk tough, but he does it.
We sat side-by-side at the inner end of the 8-person table. About 10 minutes in, the door opened and three people entered.
Two men, one woman.
In age order: Jang Team Leader, Shin Assistant Manager, Baek Team Leader. After quick intros, conversation flowed naturally. All pros at this.
"Baek Team Leader's from the Manhwa Promotion Agency, so you'll click better. Haha! I only learned about your company on her rec."
Ye-jin's eyes sparkled.
"You wouldn't be...?"
We shared Memento Mori and webtoon info mostly via fan cafe.
"Yeah, saw it online. But I've known about Memento Mori author for months. Hottest writer out there. We're monitoring genre novels lately too. Market's exploding."
Not quite? She just called me Memory? That look—she knows more?
Ye-jin smirked slyly but played it cool, volleying back.
"Our president's always buried in writing, so carving out time's tough. What business brings you?"
"I get it. No days off, cranking out four or five chapters a day—that takes serious hours."
As Ye-jin's eyes gleamed deeper, Baek Team Leader continued.
"Promotion Agency's got various support programs. Help with producing comics, dramas, that sort of thing."
"Production funds?"
"Not full, but we guarantee, banks give low-interest loans."
"Conditions?"
"Just add a line when the work drops: 'Produced with Promotion Agency support.' Gotta show results on our end."
She looked at me.
"Loving Youngest Son of the Gangster House. Drama rights sold yet?"
Drama, huh. Figured it'd go visual someday as secondary creation, but this fast?
-Don't trust 'em all.
Cha Team Leader's voice echoed, so I smiled faintly.
"Rights are still open. Any producers biting?"
Baek Team Leader smiled relieved.
"We've got ties to a few firms. Video budget's leftover anyway, wondering where to invest. Let's do it together."
The two guys nodded seriously.
"Dramas—sell rights, but shooting? No telling when. Fastest 2-3 years, often sits 10. But partnering with us speeds it up."
My main genres were all hardcore fantasy bases, so Youngest Son was the best drama pick right now. That's why they came.
Kunlun Return or Infinite Reincarnation too soon.
Fantasy overload needs tech to match. Ten years out, anything's possible. Not now.
"Want me to set up a meet?"
"Sounds good."
No downside to this offer.
"Webtoons have huge buzz too. When's release?"
"Pushing to drop all three before year's end."
Chatting casually, slipping in business, time flew. Today was intros, feeling each other out.
"Once schedules align, visit us. We can talk official then."
Seemed keen not just on my stuff, but everything from our company.
That bastard called it an IP war.
【Writers, it's IP war now. Unique, punchy works make bank. Don't copy—throw in at least one twist.】
That demon had reasons for everything. No clue what he did, but he managed writers like a pro, and following his lead grew us.
These folks think alike.
Outside the Chinese place, we parted with handshakes and headed down the main road.
"We'll be in touch. Great time today."
"Thanks for the opportunity."
Not sure exactly what they do yet, but feels like we'll cross paths often.
They cabbed off first. Ye-jin said,
"Verbal stuff means squat. If it moves, I'll push for seals first thing!"
Jin-seong asked,
"Seal it, and hyung's novel hits TV?"
"Yep! President's work on the screen!"
Ye-jin's cheeks flushed with excitement. Not just the booze.
"Takes years, they said. Who knows what happens—don't count chickens."
Even then, Ye-jin shook her head fiercely side to side.
"It'll happen! How could they not drama this fun stuff?!"
"Ooooh! Badass, hyung!"
Maybe okay to get hyped today.
The trainee was subway-scrolling Memento Mori.
Ghost companies, shady agencies—trainees knew the drill.
But this one? Weird. Most entertainment heads like SW or YZ were ex-idols or insiders.
A novelist...?
Does he know music? The market? Practice regimens?
"Hm."
First contact ever, so he'd go, but the trainee was still skeptical.
Money though?
Overheard idol groups cost billions to raise. Biggest worry. How much can novels rake?
Here?
Ahead loomed a white building like a psych ward, and right in front, a multi-household building.
Agency here?
As escape urges surged, someone called from behind.