Chapter 68
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Translator: Wjin
Chapter: 68
Chapter Title: Black Ink
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But I'm not that shameless either.
"What about Black Ink?"
Don't get the wrong idea. This comes from the automotive world ten years from now.
"It's got a neutral vibe and feels spot-on. Just hearing the name tells me exactly the concept you're going for, President. But since it's a girl group, wouldn't Pink be better than Ink?"
No, I do have a conscience.
'She's got great instincts.'
At Team Leader Min's comment, Ye-jin chimed in with her own take.
"Is it all in English? If so, I think both work fine."
But this was the key point. Ye-jin was a hardcore web novel fan.
"Black Ink! What if we styled it like it jumped straight out of a web novel? With fountain pens as weapons and even canes like... "
I laughed and reined her in.
"That might fly in Japan, but it's tough in other markets. Our goal is to build a team that dominates not just domestically but overseas too. You saw that YouTube clip earlier. We need it to hit ten million, a hundred million views, not just one."
To cheer up the deflated Ye-jin, I added one more thing.
"We could do game ads with that concept, no problem."
"Right! Games!"
Our stream-of-consciousness meeting had us overlooking the gaming market.
If web novels are 1, webtoons are 10, and games are 100 in revenue.
'It's the surest investment spot too.'
I had no time to play games while locked up by that team leader bastard, but I knew exactly how the industry rose and fell.
Certain games even become Asian Games and Olympic events, right?
'This field's not bad either.'
Games count as content too, so dipping my toes in wasn't a bad move. But first things first—handle the pressing matters.
"Let's form a team that handles both marketing and video editing. Keep DM going as is, and turn Black Ink into refined content that makes them celebs among the youth. With the audition-to-top image, we can start with ads for cosmetics, clothes, phones, etc. Focus on photo compositions that spread on SNS rather than videos."
The members weren't set yet, but our meeting pressed on seriously.
That's groups for you. As long as they have a baseline skill level, swapping individuals won't derail the big picture. Stars are made, after all.
"President, you keep surprising us! How do you nail these things so precisely?"
I burst out laughing at Team Leader Min's words.
"I'm a writer. Insight's basic."
Not wrong, but in my case, I needed excuses like this.
"Then use that insight to give me this week's lotto numbers?"
"Nah, doesn't work on that."
"Figures."
I wrapped up the meeting at Team Leader Min's quip.
"We're building something better than lotto. Let's push!"
Back in my room, I jotted 'The Queen' and 'Black Ink' on Post-its.
Not that I'd forget, but for the novel, visibility helped. I stuck them at the bottom of my monitor and stretched.
"Ahh..."
I didn't know everything about the world, but I could guess its direction, so I had to run hard.
I'm a writer, but lately I felt like a businessman, which was weird. Still, nothing beat the thrill of imagining and making it real.
'How far have you gotten?'
And that imagination always featured the team leader bastard.
'I won't lose.'
I wouldn't stop until the day I caught and killed him.
The executive director straightened her back rigidly and sliced the meat with slow, deliberate knife strokes. Last time, she'd been mocked right here, but today, she was the star.
"So, things are going well lately?"
Her father left his graying hair as is. One dye job would shave off ten years, but he kept it that way on purpose. It made him feel even more distant.
"Yes. Yesterday's average ratings topped 30%."
Her brother across from her furrowed his brow slightly. Her sister beside him wrinkled her nose. Both were displeased.
Meal times with these closest-yet-farthest people felt like a battlefield where showing your back meant instant death.
"You already submitted the investment plan. That confident, huh?"
The executive director had mapped out exactly where to spend the 200 billion in just one month.
"You're seeing the results."
Eleven movies, four dramas and variety shows.
Her brother sneered at her words.
"One good card doesn't win the game. What's the odds of ace after ace?"
Her sister snorted beside him. That hurt worse than words.
'How did it come to this?'
They'd played happily as kids, but the 'heir' title had split them all.
"Hmm."
Her father knew but let it slide. He spoke.
"You know that money for shopping at the department store wasn't for spending. It's investment. Investments come with responsibility."
His words chided her for not being cautious enough, so she set down her knife and met his eyes.
"You won't be disappointed."
"Good, then."
Entertainment wasn't a big slice of the group pie, but she had a good feeling.
'It won't fail.'
Not because she was that writer's fan. Not because they were close. Just a gut punch that partnering with him meant no losses.
Even if it was the classic con artist's ploy, she knew it was too late to turn back.
Right on cue.
【Please contact when you have time.】
A message from him. Checking her phone at the vibration, her lips curved up happily.
She replied instantly.
【What're you up to tonight?】
The steak felt greasy enough to kill. Flavor was great, but something else was the issue.
【Writers write.】
【Why's a busy writing writer contacting me?】
【Came up with girl group names, need to discuss details. Investment talk too.】
【Shouldn't the writer be writing?】
Talking with him was fun. There was a thrill in playfully poking at his attempts to keep boundaries.
【When and where?】
【You know.】
【Got it. There by 9.】
She shoved away thoughts of the dimly lit chicken feet joint and set her phone down.
Her father noticed and asked.
"Dating?"
"...No."
"Play, but moderately. No scandals."
Her retort caught in her throat. That writer's ironclad polite face killed her confidence.
"Oh, look at her."
Her sister read her perfectly. Sis was definitely a step ahead here.
"Who's the guy? Not going well? Actor? Singer? Athlete?"
Even her aloof brother eyed her with interest. Wondering if her romance benefited or hurt him.
"I said no."
As she picked up her knife again, her father sipped his water indifferently.
With their intel networks, they'd dig up anyone she met.
"It's not nothing."
Her sister pressed, but the executive director stayed silent. She'd learned brutally from toddlerhood she couldn't win with words.
"......"
The silent meal dragged on.
'Suffocating.'
She wanted to chatter about dramas. Brag about upcoming movie plots.
But here, everything got valued. They hunted weaknesses for personal gain.
Scrape.
Her father pushed back his chair and stood.
"Youngest, to the study."
No lingering over food for her either, so she rose immediately.
Her siblings' voices faded distantly.
"Spent the 200 billion already? Bought a big firm?"
Her sister replied with a scoff-laden tone.
"All invested, she says."
"Ha... Impressive or reckless?"
"Who knows. Wait and see. Won't take long."
One of the three had to drop from the heir race for food to go down easy.
"Gasp...!"
Second life or not, this was a first.
'C-crazy. What the hell am I doing...'
A massive bed. The pristine white duvet blanked my mind too.
Then my eyes landed on the executive director sprawled on the sofa.
"Phew..."
Blessed relief. Not the worst-case scenario I'd feared.
Thinking back, I recalled her dragging me to round two for one more drink. No clue why a hotel, but the scattered beer cans and dry snacks suggested room service.
'Damn. Leaving now looks weird too.'
I'd heard tons about her yesterday. Whatever hurt her so bad, she fought a blank expression, teetering on tears, and realizing I was her only confidant made the drinks flow harder.
'What time is it?'
Clock said 7:55. No idea when we crashed, so sleep duration was a mystery.
My pounding head confirmed no solid rest.
'Shower first.'
Brush my teeth at least. My booze breath would get me drunk again.
'Why does it always end like this with her?'
I knew why. Loneliness. I'm a healthy guy with someone I love. But she was who-knows-where. So kindred spirits overdo the drinks.
"......"
I sighed at the mirror and headed out.
"......Water?"
The executive director sat on the sofa. I flinched but played it cool.
She shook her head vigorously instead of answering and asked me.
"Toothbrush inside?"
"Yeah."
"Great. Breakfast together."
"You sure?"
"About what?"
"Everything."
"Perfect morning if not for the hangover. Oh, don't mind me. I'm used to this."
She brushed past me into the bathroom with a smile.
Not used to romance. Study abroad made sharing space with guys no big deal. I'd heard it all yesterday.
Whoosh.
Even so, her in the bathroom made me uncomfortable.
"Ahem."
I'd never studied abroad or even traveled overseas. Even with friends, this was...
'Clean up the trash.'
I picked peanut crumbs off the carpet when she emerged, looking freshly washed.
"What're you doing?"
She stared, baffled.
"Oh, just... resting."
"Am I making you awkward?"
"Not at all."
As if. Gotta get out fast. Not just Number 7 feelings. I wasn't the guy for her.
She's the chaebol youngest daughter! Suffocating to near-drowning! I could never live like that!
Ten years kidnapped might've traumatized me to oppression.
"Jjambbong. Jjambbong it is. My treat."
I bolted to the door and flung it open.
Someone stood outside. Not staff by the clothes, not a passerby leaning against the hall with arms crossed.
"......?"
I tilted my head at the absurdity, eyes meeting, when her shocked voice came from behind.
"......Oppa?"
What? Whose oppa?