Chapter 81

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Translator: Wjin

Chapter: 81

Chapter Title: Gentle Guidance

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Cute handwriting filled his vision. It was a notebook where her struggles were laid out clear as day.

"……."

What in the world? After seeing this, the fever he'd nursed for days vanished like he'd been shot up with anesthesia.

'What am I even doing all by myself.'

She wasn't his. She never had been in his past life, and in this second chance at life, they'd only just met.

'Pointless.'

It was a scar and a trace left by years of time. He needed to sort out his heart, and that was something he couldn't avoid.

"Hoo……."

His body and mind settled into calm.

Still, meeting her like this was something. He'd achieved one of his two goals. Finding her had been the point, nothing more.

"……Is it that serious?"

She spoke up softly in response to his reaction.

"No, it's good. Just... instead of agonizing over this part, it'd be better to practice creating more scenes."

"Scenes?"

"Yeah, think of it as images? Right now, the text leans too heavily on the narrator's explanations. Wherever they are, make it clear exactly when, where, what, why, and how—spell it out while weaving in the dialogue."

"The five W's and one H, huh."

"Exactly. The basics of writing are all out there already, stuff we learned in school. Web novels just adapt that foundation, but at their core, they're still novels. You've got to stick to the fundamentals."

"Ah……."

Let's help her out a bit more.

"Here, when the young lady and the knight are just slipping out of the castle—you need to draw that out more. How ecstatic would they feel? Relief from their chains, sure, but also that vague terror ahead. Situations like that call for deeper psychological dives. Flesh out their conversation, too."

"Yeah, I bet!"

Seeing her smile made him think that was enough.

She hadn't come here to date him. She was one of his agency's writers, and her goal was the novel.

"Approach every part that way, and revising will be a breeze—you'll spot the fluff easily when it doesn't fit the scene."

Oh, am I sounding natural now?

"I recommend pushing your first work all the way to completion. The bucket list gives it a clear path, easy for both writer and reader to follow, solid direction to keep the story from veering off track."

"Got it!"

"Shall we eat, then? We can keep talking over the meal."

For the first time today, she felt truly understood. She'd never spent hours talking novels with anyone before.

Memory Writer was much gentler than last time. Kind and warm, and every exchange packed with lessons.

"Hiiing... I got it earlier, but now that I'm trying to write, it's not easy."

Back home, revising her manuscript, she hit another wall.

"Ugh... This is hard, so hard."

She shifted from chair to bed. Face down, wrestling with worries, but every attempt to commit thoughts to page failed.

That's why being a writer was tough. But she knew giving up meant the end, so she kept pushing.

And then.

A message from him.

"Oh……!"

Late as it was, nothing could make her happier. Mingling with other writers would teach her even more.

"So kind."

He seemed just a year or two older, but he was a perfect adult.

Running a company, already a master writer.

How? Even if born writing, she doubted she'd reach that level.

"Huum."

She opened the Memento Mori fan cafe. She'd skimmed info before, but today, something new caught her eye.

Clips from his I Live Alone appearance, signing event fan cams.

On screen, his success hit home. Earlier, he'd seemed so ordinary, sharing a meal.

"He's incredible."

Jirisan Elf was heading to drama soon, and with more films or shows, he'd be untouchable.

She grabbed her phone.

Back to the novel. From now on, no sleep until daily goals were met. She'd resolved to go pro—no excuses.

'Immerse in the young lady's feelings.'

The biggest takeaway from today: not the plot, but captivating each page for the reader.

No matter how great the back half, a dull front loses readers without mercy. Needed magnetic moments, not just characters connecting, but drawing the audience in too.

'If I were the young lady facing death...'

What would I crave most?

"Ah……."

It's coming. Maybe the bucket list hid her deepest wish?

"If she loved the knight..."

She'd ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠yearn for blazing passion. She might harbor feelings for him too. Mutual attraction, unspoken.

"Love."

Never experienced it, unsure if ever, but it had to be the heart of the story.

Without conveying that aching, soul-wrenching emotion, who would fall for this novel?

"Ha……."

That realization made it harder.

Defeated by the chair again, she flopped onto the bed, buried her face in the pillow, huffed, then rolled over limp.

And muttered.

"Maybe I should try dating..."

"Good morning!"

Today was the Jirisan Elf production meeting. He'd sit with Executive Director Lee, discussing director and casting.

"Bro, you're looking sharp today."

"Ah, felt like I had a bug the last few days."

Jin-seong greeted him warmly. Ye-jin was there too, smiling in relief at the sight of him.

"Glad you're better."

"You were worried? Sorry. I'll take better care from now on."

He felt refreshed. Unburdened, clear-headed. His stubbornness, greed, one-sided emotions would only lead to harm. Let it worsen, and judgment clouds; deeper still, crime.

'This is it.'

That made him no better than that Team Leader bastard.

'Right.'

As he headed to the kitchen, Jin-seong beckoned.

"Sit. I'll bring it."

"Thanks, always."

He plopped next to Ye-jin, knee up in a roguish slouch, eyeing Jin-seong when Ye-jin asked.

"Director set?"

"Said he'd let us know when he gets here?"

"President Lee's such a tease."

She joked, then asked.

"Drama writer unknown too?"

"Yeah. Anyway, soon."

"Late again today, huh."

"Mm... maybe?"

"Just recovered—be careful. Big temp swings bring colds easy."

Her nagging was intense?

"Got it. Thanks."

He patted her back.

"I know full well, so let's eat."

Jin-seong handed over the tray.

"Spicy stir-fried squid! Looks tasty!"

"Chew thoroughly."

"Am I a kid?"

"In some ways?"

"……Fair."

Jin-seong was unbeatable there—better cut him off.

The three of them chatting over breakfast felt peaceful, happy.

Her reply popped into mind. Her habitual sign-off.

'This is how it should be.'

Jin-seong and Ye-jin were his longest comrades, like family now. Start with the obvious: appreciate and cherish.

"Oh, right."

He'd neglected something amid her drama.

"You two, payments going smooth?"

Both were company executives. Salaries modest, but they held shares.

Jin-seong shrugged.

"Ye-jin handles it fine."

His novels and webtoons funneled revenue back, so more sales meant bonuses for them.

Ye-jin said.

"I'll compile and send soon."

"Nah. If no issues, no need. Don't pile on work ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠when you're busy. Talking like this is enough."

Veteran vets scarf meals in five. From harsher hell, he vacuumed his.

"Alright, happy day ahead!"

He left the cafeteria for his outing.

"……."

"……."

Jin-seong and Ye-jin, staring at the door, turned to each other.

"He's acting weird."

"Over the top."

They chuckled. Jin-seong offered.

"More stew?"

"Nah, full."

As Ye-jin set down her spoon, he slid her water over.

And said.

"He'll be fine soon. Don't worry."

"Don't even know the issue."

"Not an issue. Just... life's occasional hiccup. Like a cold."

"You seem to know."

"Similar thing hit me. Guys are like that—stew in it, suffer quiet, then snap out one day."

"Only guys?"

"Guys are dumber."

"Straight talk feels good."

"Not my business. Private life."

"Yeah... got it."

Ye-jin drank and stood. Jin-seong rose too.

"I'm out tomorrow. Fend ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠for yourself."

"Eat fine without you. Goshiwon vet here."

"Know. Still."

"Yeah. Heading out."

As Ye-jin left, Jin-seong leaned on the sink, covering his face.

"Hoo……."

Dumbass.

Out of the goshiwon, he hailed a cab. Ye-jin swamped with academy work—he'd handle solos.

Daehangno, into the small theater. Quirky choice for meets, but he dug the vibe.

"President Jeong! Here!"

Center stage, low table, three seated—two familiar faces.

"Oh? Writer Byeon?"

He lit up; Executive Director Lee pouted.

"I greeted first—manners, President Jeong? Trying to hurt my feelings?"

"My apologies, President Lee. Hope you've been well."

"Aigoo, sit."

Drama writer Byeon Eun-jung grinned at them.

"Same as ever, you two."

He sat beside her.

"Extra script done?"

"Yeah, yesterday."

"Damn, was gonna treat to king crab."

"Heard today, so I showed."

"Huh……."

He gawked at Executive Director Lee.

"Coffee?"

"……Thanks. King crab calls—small pour."

To the mid-40s man, he extended a hand.

"Jeong Hyun-woo. First time."

The man smiled, card out.

"Heard tons about you, President."

Director Byeon Ha-seong.

Wait, two Byeons out of four? Wild.

"This theater's the director's spot."

Per Writer Byeon, he scanned around.

"Really?"

"Haha! Started here. 'Make bank, buy it!' And I did. All debt, though."

Two films under his belt. Dozens of plays on this stage, ongoing.

But one gap in his filmography.

'No dramas?'

Weren't we here for Jirisan Elf production?

"……."

Just a king crab party for real?