Chapter 53
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Translator: Wjin
Chapter: 53
Chapter Title: The Fan Cafe Blooms
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“The webtoon?”
“It's getting a great response there too! I'll put together a summary for you later!”
“Thanks.”
While talking on the phone, my eyes kept scanning the bulletin board. I naturally clicked on one post.
【DM Fan Cafe Address!】
‘Already?’
The novels and webtoon were important, but DM was my kids too. No one knew their potential better than I did, but they were still fledglings who'd only unofficially debuted yesterday.
‘Two hundred members already?’
It was a bare-bones cafe model with hardly any design, but surprisingly, footage from yesterday's stage was already up.
On a whim, I called Team Leader Min.
“You must be tired.”
“You've had a hard time too, President.”
I'd only learned yesterday just how much Team Leader Min could drink. But as a pro, her voice was the same as always.
“I saw the DM fan cafe popped up.”
“You've seen it too, President.”
The word “too” confirmed she already knew.
“We're planning to keep spreading the rumor that DM is the characters from your novel. We'll do a proper interview next week and go aggressive with the marketing.”
“Music show is next week, right?”
“Friday!”
“Whew, it's tight.”
“If the kids perform like they did yesterday, no problem!”
Everyone was off today. After hanging up, I considered crawling back into bed, but groaned and got up instead.
Once a person gets lazy, it becomes a habit.
One brutal lesson I'd learned over those ten years was never to put off today's work until tomorrow. Wasn't that why I couldn't scrape together even 100 points and suffered that humiliation?
Even if I'd taken first place in the final week, the Team Leader probably wouldn't have let me live, but the sense of accomplishment would've been different, right?
I took a quick shower and headed to the rooftop.
“......”
Being human, I'd dragged my feet to the cafeteria, but there was Jin-seong, apron on, tasting the soup with a ladle. Not a trace of fatigue.
“Are you... a monster?”
“You're up?”
We'd gotten back at 4 a.m., and the sun was high now, so it wasn't like I'd slept forever. But the cafeteria was stocked with food as always, and Jin-seong stood like a pillar.
“Sleep more.”
One event like yesterday had drained everyone, so idols must need stamina to handle packed schedules. In that sense, Jin-seong was perfectly prepped.
“Breakfast?”
“Ate already. Sit. The pork stir-fry marinated perfectly today—killer.”
I stuck out my tongue and slumped at the table.
Looking at Jin-seong, I asked.
“How was yesterday?”
“What?”
“Doesn't it faze you at all?”
“Just did what we practiced. Careful, soup's hot.”
“Wonder which is your true calling.”
“Pardon?”
“Never mind.”
He'd kill it running a restaurant or stay cool-headed as an idol. Why had a guy like that holed up in a goshiwon to catch spies?
Jin-seong sat across from me with his coffee mug, so I picked up my spoon.
“Tastes great.”
“Of course. I made it.”
Tall, handsome, golden spoon, good cook. Had it all, didn't he?
“Why? Something on my face?”
I stared blankly, and he touched his own face.
“Nah.”
Jin-seong downed his coffee like it was bland and asked.
“Saw Ye-jin's face, so I get it—this work's a hit too, right?”
“You already met her?”
“She came for breakfast earlier.”
You guys don't sleep?
“How do you write novels?”
His question sparked a memory.
“How do you write novels?”
【Well. -13】
His rude reply soured her expression, so I'd explained kindly.
【Picture the scene, then describe it kindly in words. -1】
Easy to say, but I struggled to advise precisely.
How do you teach breathing? Or shitting? It's just something you do. Thinking that far made me wonder if I even had talent.
【But why? -1】
【Webtoons take too much time.】
She didn't mean harm, but that'd rub Number 13 wrong.
【Other people's rice cakes look bigger. -13】
Sure enough.
【You think writing novels is easy? Try it then. -13】
Right. Number 13 had a point.
【I didn't mean it like that.】
Everyone was psychologically cornered, so tempers flared sharp. My one cure for moments like that was simple.
【I felt lost at first too. Still do. But they say you can overcome anything if you don't give up. Hang in there! If you really want to learn, I'll teach you! -7】
Reading her writing then, a random thought hit: Can you teach genre novels like ours to a normie?
Don't you need that one extra brain part?
Jin-seong's voice pulled me back.
“......Hyung-nim?”
“......Yeah, yeah.”
“No appetite? Don't force it. Just hydrate when you're tired. Want some honey water?”
I looked at him and asked.
“Jin-seong.”
“Yeah?”
“This is about someone I know.”
“What?”
“He had a girl he liked.”
“Ah, usually it's their own story.”
Sharp kid...
“No!”
“Got it. So?”
“She doesn't know him. How do you approach her first?”
“......Unrequited love? How bad? Stalking's a crime. Like peeking at her house? Secret photos?”
“No!”
“Hm...”
Squinting at me, Jin-seong chuckled.
“Natural's best, right? Forced stuff like prep or letters backfires.”
“Yeah, probably.”
Overloaded from meeting so many yesterday? Was this poverty in abundance? I missed Number 7 more. How nice to sit here eating Jin-seong's cooking side by side?
‘No idea when we'll meet.’
She'd never had a proper meal in that hell.
“Thanks anyway. Got it.”
I mixed rice into the soup and slurped it down before standing.
Jin-seong eyed me like a lunatic for not getting “jamanchu,” then burst out laughing.
“That's what it meant? Hilarious!”
He got it? Smartass.
“You go rest too.”
“Yes! Rest up, hyung-nim!”
Heading back to my room, a weird feeling pulled me to the first floor. Laziness, I guess?
Outside, leaning on the wall, I gazed at the quiet street. Breath fogged, but not cold.
‘Like a dream.’
Yesterday and those ten imprisoned years.
Life-altering events, yet I was still me. Writing, thinking of one woman.
Standing there a while, something brushed my nose.
“Huh?”
The moment I felt the chill, it melted away. Instinctively looking up, I saw snowflakes drifting from the high sky.
“Ha...”
Annual visitor to some, but my first snow in ten years.
Number 7 was seeing it too, right?
“You need to work on getting it in related searches.”
“......Sorry. I'll fix it right away.”
Today, JJ Ent was in emergency mode. Staff buzzed to promote yesterday's event max.
At the center was Executive Director Isa-ra.
“Marketing shoot from today! Viral, whatever—no slacking till debut! You know how much we invested in this drama! Get solid feedback by end of day!”
Saying that, she peeked at her phone whenever free. Then headed to the president's office for full virtual dive.
‘What do! So cute! Se-chan!’
Not DM's Se-chan. The novel's Se-chan nailed her tastes.
That's why novels sell. Imagination's the most alluring content.
‘Why's it so fun?’
She'd read all Memory Author's works, but this new one was peak.
To her, even novel Se-chan shitting was funny. Subjective, sure, but tons of female readers were forming a fandom live.
Comments proved it.
-Se-chan, alabu!
-Ji-min! Sis loves you fierce!
-Jin-seong's charm is insane!
-Ack! My heart! Don't act up!
Past works had praise for the author or protagonist-heavy reactions. This one built fans across novel DM characters evenly.
Hundreds of comments per chapter in a day—she read them all, rationing the next installment. Devour it fast, and it'd be gone.
“......President.”
Heehee, busted giggling. She took the handkerchief with an awkward smile.
“How long you been there?”
“......Since the 'Se-chan's so cute' bit.”
“Make some noise next time. Embarrassing.”
“Good you know.”
He was her solid backup, seeing her unfiltered, but spoke his mind.
She smiled, watching him brush back his side hair.
“Time to dye. Grays showing.”
“Not due yet—thanks to you, it's full.”
“Hey, watch your age.”
She wanted to scold the president for stumbling home wasted yesterday, but a more pressing issue loomed.
“Chairman called a meeting.”
“Gasp...? Sudden?”
“Yes, sudden. Next Friday, 6 p.m. Family dinner after ages...”
“Agh... Of all days, Friday?”
“No other schedule that day?”
Officially none, but didn't she hear? DM's music debut.
Perfect excuse to sneak soju and chicken feet with Memory Author—ruined!
“Anything else said?”
“Can't skip it.”
“Hiiing...”
She flopped chest-down on the desk; he sighed consolingly.
“Rumor is Chairman might back content biz heavy. Seize the chance.”
“Tch... Been saying that ten years.”
“You never know. Could be real this time.”
“Fine. I'll prep.”
No interest in heir seat, but more group support meant more fun ventures.
“Heh...”
‘Strongest idol ever straight to drama?’
“Se-chan, so cute.”
Or variety in same format?
“President... I'll take the handkerchief later. You need it more.”
“Yes, yes!”
Her eyes stayed glued to the novel.
December's first week was special for us.
Sign event, strongest idol and webtoon launch, platform sales report.
Massive promo worked—held #1 from day one, but hype fades. So I serialized two chapters daily, no weekend breaks.
Drama would boost later.
But first, another big event.
“Kids aren't nervous?”
“Jin-seong and Jin-guk are fine, but the others are probably freezing inside.”
En route to the station. Ye-jin gripped the wheel, answering smoothly.
“They gotta nail it.”
Music show today, sound drops right after. Some fans knew the title from sign event leaks, but public didn't.
“They practiced to death, so they'll kill it.”
Effort doesn't guarantee success, so they needed cheer as motivation.
You guys.
Idols who'll rewrite Korean history if you don't quit.