Chapter 41
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Translator: Wjin
Chapter: 41
Chapter Title: No More Ramen
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I've heard the word "ramen" from her more than a hundred times over the past few years. But I'd never heard it sound as heartbreaking as it did today.
"Did it have to be like this?"
Just as I bit my lip in frustration at myself for not being able to stand up to them...
"Are these your friends?"
Executive Director Ye-jin spoke up. Her tone was so warm that Do-rim turned to look at her.
"Author, do you know these people?"
"...Yeah. From... school..."
"Ah, I see."
Ye-jin flashed a bright smile and approached the girls. Her movements were so natural that everyone just stared blankly.
"Our author is in the middle of an important meeting right now. Would you mind waiting a bit?"
"Huh? Who are you to tell us what to do?"
"What a joke. Hey! Shin Do-rim! What are you staring at? Go get some ramen and milk!"
"Who's the author? Shin Do-rim?"
There were three of them, so they didn't feel intimidated at all, especially after downing some booze.
Haah.
Ye-jin let out a sigh. She placed her hands on her hips and spread her stance a little wider.
"I'm here on company business for an important contract, and if you keep interfering, it'll just make things tiring for everyone. If you have business, why not handle it later? Our author seems to be in a tough spot here too."
Her words came out crisp and deliberate, carrying a professional edge laced with intimidation. The gentle warmth she'd shown Do-rim earlier was completely gone.
"What the hell?"
"Can you believe this?"
"What does that have to do with us!"
All the girls shot to their feet. But Ye-jin didn't flinch in the slightest. She looked like she could win a brawl without ever changing her expression.
"If you keep this up, you have two choices. Should I call the police? Or a lawyer? The first is criminal, the second civil, I imagine."
Ye-jin turned to Do-rim.
"Author, nothing more to say to them, right?"
"...Uh, well."
As Do-rim hesitated, Ye-jin gave her a friendly eye smile.
"From now on, you'll be under our company, so we have a duty to protect you."
A publishing house has a duty like that?
"Just say the word, Author. Anything left to discuss with them right now?"
Had Do-rim ever responded in such a loud voice in all her years?
"No! Nothing!"
She shouted it out, then startled herself.
At that moment, Ye-jin turned back to the girls with a cold expression.
"Police? Lawyer? Just so you know, factoring in our president's time, travel costs, and emotional distress all the way out here, the compensation will be way higher than you think."
If they weren't on my side, it might've been downright infuriating. Even Memento Mori chimed in from the side.
"Mm... I'm pretty fragile mentally, so if I get harassed like this, I might not be able to write for... a month or two."
"Two months would mean losses over 300 million won."
"Our author could end up with trauma ruining his work too. Can that be proven?"
"I'll ask the lawyer when they get here."
The exchange sounded half-joking, half-serious.
"......"
"......"
"......"
The girls were so stunned they couldn't even retort, just standing there dumbfounded. Meanwhile, Memento Mori casually walked over and took a seat. Then he grabbed another chair and called to Do-rim.
"Shall we proceed with the contract? Looks like they need some time to think."
He wiggled his fingers.
"I'm a busy man too. You planning to keep standing there?"
"Ah, no!"
I had no idea why 300 million won crossed her mind, but Do-rim reflexively hurried to the table and sat down.
"Director."
At Memento Mori's word, Ye-jin's bag opened. A crisp, unwrinkled envelope landed in his hand.
"......"
"......"
The girls were still stuck standing there, neither able to storm off in a huff nor figure out what Do-rim was even doing.
'She's getting scammed, right?'
'What the hell are these people?'
'My drink...'
Not exactly the mood to pick up their half-finished drinks.
Do-rim's face flushed shyly as she watched Memento Mori sitting ramrod straight. Aside from her boss, this was probably her first time being this close to a man.
Memento Mori pulled out the contract from the envelope and said,
"You'll get 70% of the royalties, Author. We'll handle all distribution and marketing, so just focus on writing."
He seemed to glance at the girls...
"We're willing to invest in your potential. Need an advance?"
She wanted to ask, 'What's an advance?' but with eyes on her, her lips wouldn't move. Ye-jin smoothly stepped in, as if she'd read her mind.
"It's an advance payment. You get a sum upfront before the work's out, use it as needed, and deduct it from future sales."
She wasn't even a full-fledged author yet, hadn't written anything groundbreaking...
As she stared blankly, Memento Mori said,
"We could offer up to ten million won as an advance, Author. If you need it."
"T-Ten million won?"
Ye-jin backed him up.
"No interest, so use it without worry. It's just the company investing to let you focus purely on writing."
There was that "company investment" line again. It felt so good yet so weighty that Do-rim swallowed hard.
Ten million won was enough to live on for a year without part-time jobs.
Memento Mori smiled and continued,
"No need to decide right now. Everything important's in here, so take it home, review at your leisure. Call anytime with questions."
The taxi hadn't left yet. The driver was leaning against it, watching curiously.
"Next time, we'll treat you properly. Better cut it short today. Head home?"
"Pardon? Me? Oh, yes. Home..."
"I'll get you that far."
At Memento Mori's words, Ye-jin walked over to the driver.
Do-rim climbed into the passenger seat like a princess as Memento Mori held the door, and the taxi vanished like a mirage.
"......"
"......Huh......"
The girls left behind trembled with lips quivering from the first taste of being treated like invisible nobodies in their lives, unable to pinpoint where the humiliation had even started.
On the way back to Happiness Goshiwon after dropping off the Shin Do-rim author at her place.
"We don't usually do advances, you know. Our company."
"Sometimes you need to."
I'd clocked the situation the moment I saw it. Having lived a downtrodden life myself for so long, my instincts are S-rank.
"What if it doesn't sell back? You said she has no completion experience."
"That's why it's an investment. And... she'll do great."
"...Won't those girls keep harassing her?"
"Maybe for a while, but things'll change. Watching someone you used to look down on climb to an untouchable height is torture enough. Rumors spread fast in a small town like this."
If she had to keep running into them at school, I'd have handled it differently. But she's an adult. In the grown-up world, money gives you the edge first, and once social status kicks in, your voice gets louder.
"Do we even have a lawyer?"
At my question, Ye-jin pulled a business card from her bag. Seeing the name, I went, "Ah!"
"Got it at the funeral home."
The son of Happiness Goshiwon's building owner grandma!
"What would you have said if the cops showed up?"
"They'd all have bolted the second we called. Kids that age do."
Parents aren't just for school drop-offs.
"As expected from our director—no gaps."
I grinned contentedly when my phone buzzed.
【Thank you...】
Shin Do-rim author.
I chuckled, and Ye-jin asked,
"The author?"
"Yeah."
"Phew... Hope she makes good use of it."
I hoped she'd shake off her bad friends, the convenience store, all her nightmares so far.
If those scars bleed into her writing, Shin Do-rim will soon tower over the women-targeted webnovel scene. And once she's fully ripened?
'Top seller at Leader Books.'
Number 8. No more forced numbers on her. Instead, I'd stuck myself to her dreams.
'Gotta search harder.'
Someone I "knew" might be in danger right this instant.
I spent the next while insanely busy.
Shin Do-rim signed the contract and sent her manuscript.
She quit the convenience store. Had some savings, so she'd pass on the advance for now.
I sent a premium hanwoo set to her place via Ye-jin.
Bought it with my own money. Mix of stew and grill cuts—plenty for her and grandma to enjoy.
Told her to call right away if those brats pulled anything. Company had no obligation, but I felt a camaraderie she didn't know about.
"Hoo... "
Today, I wrapped up the series I'd been serializing. Serialization would continue for a good while, of course.
To focus on 'The Greatest Idol Ever,' I pushed hard to finish 'Youngest Son of the Gangster House.'
Now 'Divorced but It's Fine' needed attention in spare moments too.
Shin Do-rim's work was hugely helping my romance fantasy writing.
Me, who'd topped men-targeted last life. Still at the pinnacle now. Yet the world had so much to teach.
"Getting chilly."
The heat had fully retreated. Shin Do-rim's manuscript had quietly filled a full volume. That's how much time had passed.
"Come to think of..."
I'd never spent winter in this goshiwon.
"Does the heating work?"
Having just survived that hellish summer, I'd realized I was totally unprepared for the cold.
I summoned Ye-jin straight to the rooftop.
"Every room has a heater."
Like those yellowish ones from the army?
"How was last year?"
"Surprisingly not bad. Summer's rough, but winter's bearable. And we replaced all the windows, so insulation's way better now."
As we sat chatting, Jin-seong brought tea and set it before us.
"Whoa? Tasty. What's this?"
Slurping it down, warmth spread deep into my throat.
"Bellflower root. Brainwashed since kid that you gotta drink this in fall. But it works. Once I'm free, I'll dig some arrowroot in the mountains. That's the tonic for winter."
...What even is this guy?
No clue if it was sugar or honey, but the sweetness had me sipping again.
Jin-seong eyed me and said,
"Jujube notes too, right?"
"Yeah, was just thinking that."
Jujube, huh...
"Never thought about winter cold either."
You're the type to strip your shirt and run in a blizzard.
"Everyone's got an electric blanket at least."
Steam rising lazily from the cups made winter feel suddenly close.
Which meant...
"Team Leader Min, you scheduling?"
Our DM's debut was creeping up.
"With all the external meetings lately, seems like you're meeting contacts."
Novels and webtoons were core, but entertainment was a bigger market than both combined.
Can't fill up on the first drink, but for the kids' confidence, we needed a strong start.
'One slip and it's chaos.'
Especially since all costs came from my novels. A flop would hit the music video quality. No skimping where money matters.
"Commissioned the cover for Palace Where the Wind Lingers?"
"Yeah, it'll be worth it."
Shin Do-rim's work. I named it myself.
Nothing else to say? Then Ye-jin's phone rang.
No idea what was said, but it was rare to see her this shocked.
"Pardon? A drama?"
Drama. Fast.