Chapter 50
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Translator: Wjin
Chapter: 50
Chapter Title: Signing Day Spectacle
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Go Ye-jin giggled softly beside me.
"Those two would be perfect if they could just sing well."
"Everyone has their own position."
Healers cast heals, tanks soak damage. It's characters like these that make the dealers shine.
With two vocalists and a rapper already in the lineup, Yoo Jin-seong and Jin-guk just needed to handle their roles steadily, and that would be enough.
Nyaang.
Stray cats that had grown quite a bit were milling around the practicing group.
Nyaah—.
Yoo Jin-seong grabbed one of them and rubbed his face against it, but the cat pushed his face away with its tiny front paws as if annoyed.
Click!
Min Team Leader captured the moment perfectly.
Lately, she'd been frequently documenting DM's daily life with her camera, and these little actions of hers made the debut feel all the more imminent.
"About the signing event—how many do you think will show up?"
"Judging by the cafe buzz, maybe three hundred...?"
She trailed off unusually. I wasn't even an idol; no one really knew how many fans might turn up.
"A few authors did signings before, and they got a hundred to two hundred."
"Back in the print book days?"
"Yes..."
This was the web novel era now. Getting sentimental and optimistic could lead to a harsh reality check.
Still, we had to prepare diligently. Whether one fan came or two, we owed them a response for their effort.
"Goods coming tomorrow?"
"Yeah, I'll pick them up myself."
We'd personally ordered gifts for Number 7, 77, and 777.
It wasn't a huge expense, but since web novel merch wasn't mainstream yet, I figured I'd pioneer it.
"Oh, and for Divorce, But It's Okay, Daengdaeng Writer's taking lead. The test run was solid."
"Nice?"
"I'll show you if it goes weekly. No point rereading too much and killing the fun."
This one had me genuinely excited. My first romance webtoon was something even my previous life hadn't attempted.
"Should I slip some ginseng into your room, author?"
"I already stocked you up on full-spectrum supplements."
"As expected from our Executive Director Ye-jin."
I gave her a thumbs-up, and she beamed.
After watching DM practice a bit longer, I headed back to my room.
My space—where I sat, thought, ate, and relieved myself—hadn't changed at all, but a massive storm was brewing around us.
My heart raced thinking about the reactions when these forces started emerging one by one into the world.
But knowing it all began at my fingertips, I wrote today as well.
"Should I amp up the chemistry between Ji-min and Hae-jin?"
The greatest idol ever was always the novel anyway. No one consuming this content truly believed it was real. Entertainers made their living off crafting such images, and I needed to elevate DM's appeal to the extreme.
"Main readership will be women."
Not that sticky male bravado, but something women feel viscerally while men miss entirely—let's add a subtle touch.
I wasn't used to this, so I closed my eyes and recalled.
There are outright BL genres too, but if you sneak it in subtly without crossing lines, you could hook both male and female readers in general works, right?
Among the captured authors, some specialized in BL.
Tricky, but to meet that bar, it'd have to be male-oriented from the start. In female-oriented stuff, it'd already be BL by nature.
Spot on. It might sound complex if you're unfamiliar with BL lanes, but we shared these analyses often to escape hell.
Screw it up, and it's DOA for both sides. Might end up unseen by anyone. Better stick to what we know than risk it.
Ah, that bastard Number 13 was always so negative. But it was sound judgment too.
This was hell; safe adventures to steadily rack up 100 points was the realistic path.
"Not hell anymore."
I opened my eyes, shaking off the sour mood from Number 13. Living with someone you genuinely despise, forced to see them daily—no way good feelings survive that.
"Just a little. A tiny bit."
Shwaaaa. Se-chan stood under the shower spray in the communal bathroom.
"If I hadn't slipped..."
Hic.
Se-chan swallowed his sobs, trying to forget today's stage, but the water whispering in his ears mocked him.
'Your fault.'
Se-chan wanted to scream, 'No! The floor was slippery from sweat!' But it was done.
"Sorry."
He knew how hard everyone had worked for this stage; he couldn't bear it.
Hic, hic.
As tears threatened again, someone grabbed his shoulder from behind.
"Huh?"
Startled, Se-chan turned to see Hae-jin.
"Knew it. When are you fixing that self-blaming habit?"
'Can you grab the soap?' Too far? Planned for all-ages webtoon, so dial it back and stop.
"...Whew."
An hour for 500 more characters. Guess people should stick to what they're good at.
Still satisfying, so I sent it to my strongest ally and reader.
Go Ye-jin, watching DM practice from the rooftop, glanced at her phone when it vibrated.
"...Gasp."
Fearing someone might see, she clutched it to her chest.
'Hot!'
Her eyes shook like aspen leaves as she speed-read.
She wasn't sure what made it hot, but it felt that way. Especially Hae-jin gripping both of Se-chan's shoulders and yelling comfort—vividly etched in her mind.
The two men's gestures grew more intense. Se-chan wanted to pull away from Hae-jin. But Hae-jin wouldn't let go.
Today, he'd see it through.
Shwaaaa.
Water poured over their bodies; the wall mirror reflected Se-chan's back.
"Se-chan! How many times do I have to say it's not that!"
Ye-jin flinched, glancing over. Se-chan was getting scolded. Great singer, lousy actor apparently.
"Break for a bit! Think about what's wrong!"
Se-chan slumped at the instructor's words. A shadow fell over him.
"You okay?"
Hae-jin approached with a smile and sat beside him, patting his thigh... no, his back.
'Am I crazy?'
Ye-jin tried distinguishing novel from reality. The protagonists acting up would drive viewers nuts.
Hae-jin said,
"Don't blame yourself. Everyone has weaknesses."
Se-chan sighed and twisted away—a firm 'hands off my body.'
"Leave me alone."
Hae-jin stiffened at the sharp tone, grabbing both shoulders.
"Kid? You're not alone here. If you're gonna whine, do it in the bathroom."
"..."
As eyes gathered, Se-chan clenched his jaw and bowed his head.
Ye-jin, having seen enough, messaged the president.
-Fun!
Watching the novel and real Se-chan and Hae-jin made it thrilling.
Bzzz.
Instant reply.
-Feel anything... different?
-Hot!
Straight answer.
-Nailed it. Thanks.
What was he planning? No idea, but it made her heart skip.
Se-chan's mess soured the mood, but Ye-jin spotted Ji-min biting her lip, watching them.
'Love triangle?'
She knew better, but right now, she was more spectator than intervener.
'Want more.'
Probably thirst from that short snippet.
December 1st.
For some, just another ordinary day; for others, special as a birthday or anniversary.
For me, it would be from now on.
'Mind's blank.'
7 AM, group makeup at Cheongdam-dong salon.
Er, makeup—did that sound too bare? Anyway.
80,000 won for a trim nearly made my kimbap regurgitate, but Executive Director covered all costs, so I survived.
Event at 7 PM, yet moving at dawn? Baffling even en route. But 4 hours at the salon made it lunchtime, then group meal pushed to afternoon.
So this was their daily grind from now on?
"Se-chan, don't tense up—eat even if you force it. Low stamina, you'll crash later."
Se-chan picked up his spoon at Yoo Jin-seong's words.
"Yes, hyung."
Post-lunch hotel arrival: 1:30 PM. Ye-jin and I buzzed in the lobby checking details; DM rehearsed choreography over there.
Won't that wipe off their makeup?
Thus, 3 PM.
Inspecting the gold-bar-stacked hardcovers for damage, a familiar voice.
"You always strut like this. Suave."
Executive Director Lee Sa-ra.
I was suited up; I grinned on sight.
"Whoa, awkward as hell. Practiced?"
"Did my best."
"Ugh, better not smile. Screams 'I hate this.'"
"...That obvious?"
"Play it cool. You're a star author."
Then why train me?
Anyway.
"Thanks for the venue."
I'm grateful. Without her generosity, we'd scramble elsewhere.
Or skip the signing entirely.
"No thanks needed. Hoping our drama pops."
Business savvy sharp. Her events would stir buzz later.
"Reporters around 5. Watch words, actions—especially curses. Even my invites; vultures gonna vulture."
Right. Today, only good scoops. Not just my life on the line.
"Seen it?"
I tilted at her words.
"Seen what?"
"Came via underground parking, huh. C'mon."
She strode, haughty yet stunning.
Ye-jin mentioned her outfit's value once, but even without, she glowed.
Especially in hotels or glitzy spots like today.
Crossing the lobby after her, outside visible.
"What'm I looking..."
Just manicured pines at first, but farther—froze solid.
"...Ah. Aah..."
I groaned; she clasped hands behind, spun gracefully.
"Congrats, author."
Security locked it down tight. Path to lobby: orderly ants marching to candy scraps—crowds queued.
'Whoa, this... tough to hold back.'
Who am I to speak? Just a writer churning stimulation.
Lee Sa-ra smiled warmly.
"Some here since morning. Over 700 already, they say. Smash hit."
She placed something in my hand.
"Thanks for the great reads, author."
The pen: gold-embossed Memento Mori in cursive.
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