Big Life

"You should knock off on time. What are you hooked on this time?"

"Ah, that writer has just sent his scenario manuscript over."

"Scenario?"

"Yes. It's Writer Ha Jae-Gun."

Oh Tae-Jin's ears twitched at the name.

"He hadn't shown it during the movie preview for Summer in My 20s, but it seems that he's quite unhappy with how it turned out. I guess he wanted to write a scenario on his own to feel satisfied."

"I see…"

"He sent a third of the scenario, and it's great so far. I like it."

Oh Tae-Jin only nodded silently.

He was the President of OongSung Publication Group, so he had seen many Hollywood-level writers. Ha Jae-Gun had become a bestselling author who had sold over a million copies, but he was still an ordinary writer in Oh Tae-Jin’s eyes.

If it hadn’t been for the fact that Ha Jae-Gun had used the pen name Seo Gun-Woo, Oh Tae-Jin would have forgotten his existence long ago.

"Oh, and Father. I'm almost done editing Your Tragedy."

"Already?" Oh Tae-Jin asked in shock.

Your Tragedy was a novel that Oh Tae-Jin had written after a long hiatus.

“Did you do it personally? I told you to let your team do it.”

“It’s your new novel after so many years, so it should definitely go through my hands. I’ll make sure it’s well-printed, so don’t worry about it.”

“I’m sure you’ll do well. Let’s go now.”

“Yes, Father.”

The father and son pair left the office and took the elevator. The employees who recognized Oh Tae-Jin in the lift lobby stepped away from the elevator.

“Let's take the elevator together, I’m not overweight,” Oh Tae-Jin offered with a soft smile.

The employees nodded appreciatively and joined them in the elevator.

Oh Myung-Suk’s phone vibrated as the elevator went down.

“Hello, Deputy Kim. No, it’s alright. Please speak. Yes, it’s Guro-gu Gung-dong. Ah, but he said he’s been working at the Bucheon office recently, so please send it there. Yes, please. Thank you,” Oh Myung-Suk instructed, then hung up the call.

“Are you sending gifts to a writer?” Oh Tae-Jin asked casually.

“Yes, to Writer Ha Jae-Gun.”

“...?” Oh Tae-Jin’s expression stiffened.

Oh Myung-Suk was staring at the floor number, so he didn’t notice Oh Tae-Jin’s strange expression. “I got him some herbal medicine. He rarely takes care of his own health when he gets engrossed in his writing. I should at least do that much for him.”

“...”

Oh Tae-Jin did not respond to his son. He was lost in his own thoughts. He definitely heard his son mention Guro-gu Gung-Dong over the phone earlier.

The address wasn’t the issue, but if Writer Ha Jae-Gun lived, he could no longer overlook it.

‘The same writer who used the pen name Seo Gun-Woo… he also lives in…’

Was it possible for coincidences to happen twice in a row? Oh Tae-Jin became much more sensitive to repeated coincidences. The impossible would never happen—this phrase had always been his motto in life. Oh Tae-Jin trembled in the narrow elevator.

“Father? Let’s go.”

“Huh? Uh, okay…”

“Are you feeling unwell?”

“No, it’s nothing… Let’s go.” Oh Tae-Jin belatedly regained his composure and quickly walked out of the elevator.

Seeing his father’s faster-than-usual footsteps, Oh Myung-Suk’s expression turned as he asked, “It’s not something bad, right?”

“No. I was just feeling nervous about my novel. It has been a while since I wrote one, after all.”

“Father. Don’t worry about it. Your novel is really good. I’m not saying this as your son but as the Chief Editor of OongSung Publication Group.”

“Hohoho, all right if you say so…”

The father and son pair got in the back passenger seat of their car with the chauffeur in the driver’s seat.

Oh Tae-Jin looked out the window and observed the passing scenery.

He didn’t say even a single word until they got home.

***

“Here’s another problem. He worked so hard to become a Taekwondo national athlete but got suspended for three years, yet he spent his time without exercising even once. How would the readers be able to empathize with the character?”

“Hmm, I get what you mean now. So, what if he had been exercising during that period but was unlucky and lost the opportunity?”

“That’s better. That way, the readers would feel more catharsis when the main character, Park Kwon, gains the opportunity and wins later.”

Ha Jae-Gun and Lee Yeon-Woo were in one of the restaurants at the arcade. The two had ordered a soft tofu stew and grilled fish set meal for lunch while having a heated conversation. However, this wasn’t the first time that it happened.

It also happened yesterday.

“Please start revising your prologue in the office later. If you finish it by 5 p.m., I can help you take a look at it immediately.”

“Ah, thank you so much. Wait a moment, let me finish taking down the notes.” Lee Yeon-Woo finished up his notes and started wolfing down his food.

Ha Jae-Gun smiled wearily and said, “Please eat slower. Otherwise, your stomach will hurt.”

“I have to finish before 1 p.m.”

“We’re not a real company, so there’s no issue being slightly late. Please chew well before swallowing,” Ha Jae-Gun said. He poured Lee Yeon-Woo a glass of water.

Lee Yeon-Woo’s eyes quivered at Ha Jae-Gun’s simple gesture, but he still accepted the glass of water.

“I’m not sure how things would have turned out for me if it hadn’t been for you, Writer Ha Jae-Gun. You took time out of your busy schedule to help me. The quality of my novel has really increased with your help.”

“Well, your foundation is sturdy, so it wasn’t that difficult.”

“Oh, but what do you think about the title?”

“I think it’s fine. Why?”

“I thought it was quite long. I thought that it would be better if it were a title that could catch people’s attention at once.”

“How about Martial God is Coming? Or—ah!” Ha Jae-Gun snapped his fingers and grinned. “What about Big Kwon is Coming?”

“Pardon?” Lee Yeon-Woo stared in disbelief at Ha Jae-Gun.

However, Ha Jae-Gun seemed oblivious to that and explained, “The main character’s name is Park Kwon, but his fist is large and strong as well, so we can add the nickname, Big Kwon, combining the English word Big and Kwon for fist.”

“Is that… okay?”

“Otherwise, we can add explanations like this: He joined a competition when he was young, and the organizer made a typo in his name, and it became Big Kwon, which became his nickname since then. What about it? Wow, it really is a great title now that I’m explaining it to you.”

Ha Jae-Gun was admiring his own wisdom while munching on an egg roll.

Meanwhile, Lee Yeon-Woo looked down at his notepad with his pen in hand. He wrote down the words Big Kwon is Coming on it, but he struck through them while Ha Jae-Gun wasn’t looking at him.

The title didn’t sit well with him.

After finishing their lunch, the two went back to the office and continued working.

Lee Yeon-Woo’s desk was right next to Ha Jae-Gun’s desk.

The other three writers were working away at their desks behind them.

‘Am I really getting the flu…’ Ha Jae-Gun wrapped his forehead and let out a hot breath. He had been feeling under the weather over the last few days. He had been holding out, but the symptoms seemed to have worsened when he woke up earlier.

‘This is bad…’

He could take his time writing Gangster’s Sea, but he was worried about tomorrow’s lecture at the library.

“Everyone, I think I have to leave early today,” said Ha Jae-Gun.

He decided to leave early.

If it hadn’t been for tomorrow’s lecture, Ha Jae-Gun would have held out until 6 p.m. because there were only two hours until then.

Unfortunately, he had to rest early today for tomorrow’s lecture.

“Writer Ha, you’re feeling unwell, right? Don’t go home, you can just sleep here today.”

“I have to go back home. The materials for tomorrow’s lecture are at home. Rika, let’s go back.”

Rika scurried down from the windowsill.

Ha Jae-Gun picked Rika up and carried his bag.

Lee Yeon-Woo suddenly emerged from his thoughts and stood up.

“Let me drive you home, Writer Ha,” he said.

“What?”

“You’re sick, so how are you going to drive properly? I’ll be your chauffeur today. I’m sure you’ll find it hard to take a taxi home because Rika is with you,” he added.

Ha Jae-Gun was grateful for Lee Yeon-Woo’s kindness, but he smiled bitterly and shook his head. “My house is in a remote place, so it’ll be hard for you to go back home.”

“It’s all right, I can just walk. I still have my stamina since I had just gotten discharged not long ago. Let me do it, please. Otherwise, how can I repay your goodwill, Writer Ha?” Lee Yeon-Woo said with resolve and patted his chest proudly.

However, Ha Jae-Gun still rejected his offer.

He didn’t want to get in the way of Lee Yeon-Woo’s work.

“I haven’t had medicine, so I can still drive. Plus, I can still call for a substitute driver, so Writer Lee, please focus on your novel instead. I appreciate your offer, though.”

With that, Ha Jae-Gun left the office with Rika. Upon reaching home, Ha Jae-Gun forced himself to eat, even though he didn’t have an appetite. He took some medicine and lay in bed early.

“Ha… Rika, my breath is too hot.”

“Meow…!”

“Don’t come near me… You might catch it too… I’ll sleep early tonight…”

Ha Jae-Gun eventually drifted to sleep. A high fever soon enveloped him. Rika curled down next to Ha Jae-Gun, and she didn’t leave his side for even a moment.

Bzzt! Bzzt! Bzzt!

Loud vibrations awakened Ha Jae-Gun from his slumber.

The first thing he saw was Rika’s pair of sparkling eyes looking right back at him.

“Ughh… Were you with me the entire night?”

“Meow.” Rika licked the tip of Ha Jae-Gun’s nose.

Ha Jae-Gun looked for the origin of the vibrations under his sheets.

The vibrations stopped when he finally found his phone.

“Oh, it’s Writer Lee Yeon-Woo…”

Ha Jae-Gun looked up and found that it was already well past 10 a.m.

He should slowly get out of bed and prepare to leave for the lecture later.

It was about time he got out of bed, so Ha Jae-Gun struggled to sit up in his bed.

“Hooo, I definitely feel better compared to yesterday, but I still feel light-headed. I should eat before taking medicine,” Ha Jae-Gun mumbled.

He had just placed his feet on the floor when the doorbell rang.

Ha Jae-Gun staggered toward the door.

“Who is it?”

“Writer Ha, it’s me, Lee Yeon-Woo.”

“...?!” Stunned, Ha Jae-Gun quickly opened the door for him.

Lee Yeon-Woo was standing at the door with a smile and a shopping bag in hand.

“You haven’t had breakfast yet, right?”

“Yes, I just woke up. What are you doing here so early?”

“You have a lecture at the library today, don’t you? I can’t help but worry since you’re sick. I got you some abalone porridge, so please eat it while it’s still hot.” Lee Yeon-Woo handed the shopping bag to Ha Jae-Gun.

Ha Jae-Gun accepted it with gratitude. “I’ll wait for you out here in the meantime.”

“Why wait outside? Come on in.”

“What? C-can I really?”

“Of course. I’ve only got coffee at home for you, but please, come on in.”

Lee Yeon-Woo’s eyes sparkled in appreciation as he entered Ha Jae-Gun’s studio.

Rika approached Lee Yeon-Woo and ran in circles around him. Then, she put her front paws on his feet, seemingly showing gratitude for buying her sick owner porridge.

She didn’t even struggle when Lee Yeon-Woo held her in his arms.

“Are you feeling better today?”

“A lot better compared to yesterday.”

“I think I should drive you to the library later.”

“Mm…”

“Please don’t reject my offer. You could also take the chance to look over your lecture materials one last time before your lecture.”

Ha Jae-Gun was truly not in optimal condition, and he also needed time to review the lecture materials. There was no other reason to reject Lee Yeon-Woo’s offer, so he nodded and said, “I’ll be brazen and leave myself in your good hands today, then.”

“Brazen? No way. Don’t worry about it.”

Ha Jae-Gun enjoyed the abalone porridge that Lee Yeon-Woo had bought him.

Perhaps he felt Lee Yeon-Woo’s sincerity, but Ha Jae-Gun emptied the entire bowl and felt even better than before.

“Please go and have a shower, I’ll clean up the dishes.”

“No, I was the one using them…”

“Please.” Lee Yeon-Woo pushed Ha Jae-Gun into the bathroom and started washing the dishes.

Lee Yeon-Woo played with Rika on the floor while patiently waiting for Ha Jae-Gun to get ready.

“Hoo, I’m ready to leave. Sorry for making you wait.”

“Okay, let’s go then.”

Lee Yeon-Woo made Ha Jae-Gun take the back passenger seat instead of the front passenger seat before hopping into the driver’s seat.

Ha Jae-Gun felt burdened by Lee Yeon-Woo’s politeness.

“Uh, Writer Lee. Please treat me casually.”

“Huh? I’m already doing that, though.”

Lee Yeon-Woo turned around and directed a strange gaze at Ha Jae-Gun

Ha Jae-Gun didn’t know what to say in front of Lee Yeon-Woo’s clueless look.

The car engine started, and they were soon on the main road.

Lee Yeon-Woo was a skillful driver.

Ha Jae-Gun put down his lecture materials and said, “You’re really good at driving.”

“Ah, I still haven’t told you, but I’m a driver in the army.”

“Ah, I see… It’s no wonder you’re so much better at driving than me. I still make sudden accelerations and stops while driving.”

“Hahaha, I’m only good at driving,” said Lee Yeon-Woo.

Ha Jae-Gun enjoyed a pleasant ride all the way to the library, thanks to Lee Yeon-Woo’s driving skills.

The lecture would be held in the auditorium on the library’s second floor.

The employees, the director, and even the section chiefs stood at the entrance to the auditorium to welcome Ha Jae-Gun.

“Welcome, Mr. Ha.”

The director bowed politely and greeted Ha Jae-Gun.

Ha Jae-Gun returned the gesture in kind before entering the auditorium.

The auditorium had a long banner that said…

Special Lecture: Living a Beautiful Life Through Creativity with Writer Ha Jae-Gun, the bestselling author of Summer in My 20s, with over 1 million copies sold.

‘It’s too long and complicated…’

The suspicious banner seemed like it was the work of the director, who had never really participated in an event like this before. Ha Jae-Gun thought about it and shrugged. The most important part here was the lecture rather than a banner.

Ha Jae-Gun soon got ready for the lecture.