Big Life

— A car?

Ma Jong-Goo's voice sounded weird.

Ha Jae-Gun sat at his desk and started looking up car models on the Internet.

“I want to get a car with the thirty million won advance royalties that your company will give me. I don’t have any experience in purchasing cars, so I want to ask for your help.”

— Ah, so that was what you meant. Ahaha…

“Is it possible?”

— Of course, it is. I’ll definitely help you. What type of car are you looking for, Writer Ha?

“I’m not very sure, but I would like a medium-sized car with good fuel efficiency and without significant maintenance fees,” Ha Jae-Gun said as he scrolled through the images that had popped up on the search results page.

Ha Jae-Gun had thought of getting a compact car, but he eventually decided on a medium-sized car. With a medium-sized car, he could ferry his family and friends around when necessary. He didn’t need a large and expensive car. As long as the functionalities were there, it would be enough for Ha Jae-Gun.

— Hmm, a medium-sized car… the Avante would be suitable, I think. The latest model costs between 14 to 24 million won. What do you think?

“Please help me choose a good car, feel free to help me choose the optimizations as well.”

— Sure, Writer Ha. Wait a minute. Hmm… the Avante…

Ma Jong-Goo muttered. He seemed to be noting down Ha Jae-Gun’s preferences.

— I’ll choose the optimizations for you, but what about the color?

“Please get the black color.”

— Black… Got it.

“I’m not in a hurry, so it’s fine if it’ll take a while. I’ll do my best on the novel if you help me with the car purchase this time.”

— Hahaha, sure. I’ll look into it as soon as possible and give you a call again.

When the call ended, Ha Jae-Gun let out a sigh of relief and looked back at Rika.

Rika seemed like she wanted to avoid Ha Jae-Gun’s touch because she didn’t go down the tower.

“The issue about transportation will be resolved with a car, so we’ll be able to go out together once it’s here. We can go to the park and even meet my friends together.”

Rika didn’t give Ha Jae-Gun even a soft cry this time.

After getting ready to head out, Ha Jae-Gun opened the lowest drawer at his desk and took out Seo Gun-Woo’s cup. After discovering its ability, he started keeping it in his drawer instead of the kitchen, where the other cups were stored.

“Hoo, this is real magic.”

A cup of coffee from that cup completely vanquished his fatigue.

Ha Jae-Gun waved at Rika one last time before leaving the house.

“Tie him down?” Kwon Tae-Won asked, stunned.

He was in the office of Star Books’ president Park Jae-Gook and was seated on the sofa diagonally across from the president.

Park Jae-Gook nodded with a solemn expression. “Yes, tie him down. Make him sign an exclusive contract with us. Bring it up later and coax him into it when you guys are discussing his next work.”

“...!” Kwon Tae-Won looked down. He couldn’t answer readily. His slipping silver-rimmed glasses eventually hung dangerously close to the tip of his nose.

Kwon Tae-Won had come to report on the updates with Ha Jae-Gun and the next novel’s contract, but Park Jae-Gook suddenly gave him a difficult mission as if he had been waiting to do so for a while.

“Well, I don’t really want to do it either since it’s hard to manage emotional writers, but we have to tie him down since he’s producing three—no, five—more novels at the same time when most writers can only produce one. A company must earn money for it to develop in the future, no?”

Kwon Tae-Won remained quiet despite the explanation from Park Jae-Gook. He wasn’t sure if Ha Jae-Gun would accept an exclusive contract, and it would be an issue if Ha Jae-Gun accepted the offer if he had no choice but to do so rather than because of the relationship they shared with each other.

Signing an exclusive contract meant the writer would be an exclusive writer of Star Books. Ha Jae-Gun would be unable to sign with other publishing companies because the subject of the contract would be him rather than his work.

Kwon Tae-Won knew that Ha Jae-Gun was passionate about writing.

Ha Jae-Gun would never be satisfied with just writing fantasy novels, and he had proven that he could write in other genres as well after winning the recently concluded Digital Literature Award with a slice-of-life novel.

In other words, Ha Jae-Gun was a writer of boundless potential.

Asking Ha Jae-Gun to become an exclusive writer of Star Books was an incredibly tough mission. Kwon Tae-Won thought that it was also a matter of morale and ethics before the company’s profits.

Kwon Tae-Won had known Ha Jae-Gun for many years now, so he didn’t wish to interfere with any of Ha Jae-Gun’s creative works.

“Why aren’t you answering me?” Park Jae-Gook pressured.

Kwon Tae-Won pulled himself out of his thoughts and looked at Park Jae-Gook. “I was doing some thinking.”

“What about?”

“Writer Ha wouldn’t accept the exclusive contract offer.”

Park Jae-Gook stared at Kwon Tae-Won as if he were pathetic and clicked his tongue before saying, “Isn’t it your job to coax him and do whatever it takes so that he’ll accept the offer? You’ve changed a lot recently, why is that?”

‘I think it’s not me who has changed a lot, sir. I think you’re the one who changed a lot between the two of us.’ Kwon Tae-Won was about to get those words out, but he managed to stop himself.

Now, it had become clear to Kwon Tae-Won that Park Jae-Gook treated writers as golden geese. However, Kwon Tae-Won could still remember that Park Jae-Gook wasn’t this explicit and brazen with his intentions just a few years ago.

“Try your best, okay?” Park Jae-Gook muttered and patted Kwon Tae-Won’s shoulder.

“Who else could I trust to run this company without you? We’ve been working together for almost ten years now—a decade. Do your best, and I’ll allow you to go on a vacation with your family for a week. I’ll give you a lot of vacation allowance, too.”

Kwon Tae-Won didn’t feel grateful to hear that.

However, he could only agree to it right now.

“I’ll try my best to persuade him.”

“Give me a call once you’re done. I’ll be waiting.”

Kwon Tae-Won then left the president’s office and headed back to his desk.

On the way back, he saw Jung So-Mi’s back over the partition. Her hair was tied tight in a ponytail, and she typing profusely away on her keyboard. She was clearly fully engrossed in her proofreading work.

A bitter smile appeared on Kwon Tae-Won’s face.

Kwon Tae-Won could see that Jung So-Mi was genuinely enjoying her work as an editor, and the sight of it made Kwon Tae-Won feel like he was looking into a mirror.

He was reminded of his days when he had just joined the industry.

‘It has really been a long time…’ Kwon Tae-Won muttered and continued on his way.

If there were an uphill, then there would also be a downhill. As Kwon Tae-Won watched the newbie work passionately, he became sure that she still had a long way to go in this industry.

“Ms. So-Mi.”

“Yes, Editor-in-chief!” Jung So-Mi exclaimed, surprised by the sudden call.

She looked up and saw Kwon Tae-Won staring at her.

Kwon Tae-Won glanced at her screen and asked, “Do you still have work?”

“No, I’m done with the work today. I started working on this since I still have some time before work hours end.”

“Prepare to leave the office, then. You’ll be heading out with me.”

“Heading out? Ah, with Writer Ha?”

Kwon Tae-Won didn’t reply. He simply smiled and returned to his desk.

Jung So-Mi immediately saved the file that she was working on and turned off the computer. She picked up her coat and bag with a grin.

‘I haven’t seen him since the authors’ gathering.’

Jung So-Mi couldn’t conceal her excitement at the thought of meeting Ha Jae-Gun.

The sight of Ha Jae-Gun alone would always motivate her—his cool smile, gentle tone, and the look he would always have while working hard on his novel popped up in her mind.

“I’m all prepared, Editor-in-chief.”

“Alright, let’s go now, then.”

The pair took the elevator down to the car park.

Jung So-Mi took the front passenger seat in Kwon Tae-Won’s car and asked, “Are we heading to Guro today as well?”

“Yes, Writer Ha likes the place.”

Kwon Tae-Won started the car engine and drove out of the parking lot. The two were silent in the car. Jung So-Mi also didn’t try starting a conversation. She simply watched the passing scenery outside the car window.

When the car stopped at a red light, Kwon Tae-Won lowered the volume of the radio and spoke, “I should tell you this before we arrive.”

“Yes, please speak.”

“The president wants us to get Writer Ha to sign an exclusive contract with us.”

“An exclusive contract?” Jung So-Mi’s eyes widened in surprise.

“Doesn’t that mean that Writer Ha wouldn’t be able to write other novels?”

“Yes, it seems like he doesn’t want to let off a single novel written by Writer Ha.”

Jung So-Mi looked at the bitter smiling Kwon Tae-Won.

She was just a rookie, so she couldn’t say anything else.

“I am thinking of resigning soon.”

“You’re… resigning? Why?” Jung So-Mi’s jaws dropped.

It seemed that things had taken an interesting turn.

Kwon Tae-Won continued calmly. “I’ve been working here for a long time, and looking at the current atmosphere of the company, I think it’s time for me to move on. I think it’s better for me to leave than getting managed out in the future.”

“B-but, editor-in-chief…! I know I’m stepping out of line here, but you’re really great at your job! You even gained the president’s complete trust—” Jung So-Mi started.

“I’m doing this because I can’t reciprocate his trust.” However, Kwon Tae-Won cut Jung So-Mi off. He stepped on the accelerator because the traffic light had turned green.

“Just keep this in mind. I’m telling you because I feel that you have the right to know.”

“Okay…” Jung So-Mi answered weakly, with her head drooping.

Kwon Tae-Won turned the volume of the radio back up once more, and the inaudible and noisy lyrics of an idol singer’s song filled the car.

***

“Since it’s a series, let’s keep the contract conditions as per the previous one. Starting off with 10% in royalties from 3,000 copies, and an additional 1% for every thousand onward, and I’ll take a sixth of the ebooks revenue.”

“Thank you, Writer Ha. Please accept this glass.”

Ha Jae-Gun picked up his glass and allowed Kwon Tae-Won to fill it up.

“Let’s do a toast.”

“Yes, cheers!”

“Cheers.”

The three clinked their glasses together. Ha Jae-Gun emptied his glass and picked up a piece of sashimi using his chopsticks before saying, “It’s been a while since I had sashimi. It looks delicious.”

“Please have a lot of it. I remember you said that you love sashimi.”

“Wow, I’m really lucky to have you, Editor-in-chief. Please have some, too, Ms. Jung So-Mi.”

“Ah!” Jung So-Mi was in a daze, and she flinched at the mention of her name. “Yes, Writer Ha.”

Ha Jae-Gun chewed on his sashimi and wondered, ‘What’s wrong?’

He used his observation skills and realized that the air between Kwon Tae-Won and Jung So-Mi was gloomy, even before they started eating, which was unlike their past meetings.

However, Ha Jae-Gun couldn’t say anything.

If Kwon Tae-Won needed something, then he should speak. Kwon Tae-Won was a capable editor-in-chief who always put his writers first, so Ha Jae-Gun decided not to be too concerned about it.

“I shouldn’t look forward to the performance of this novel, right? Since it’s about the two main characters from the first two novels.”

Kwon Tae-Won replied prudently. “Yes, it shouldn’t do too badly, but I don’t think that it will do as well as the previous works.”

Kwon Tae-Won had always been the type to seldom lie, and this was what Ha Jae-Gun liked about him. Ha Jae-Gun filled up Kwon Tae-Won’s glass and threw out some questions for his novel at the same time.

“I’m still thinking how I should name the novel, but I don’t have any good ideas yet. Should I name it Records of the Other World since the fight will be happening in that world? Or should I name it Absolute Master Duo? Hmm, they both sound weird, right? Ms. So-Mi, do you have any suggestions?”

“Um… Writer Ha.”

“Yes?” Ha Jae-Gun stopped and turned to look at Kwon Tae-Won.

The look on Kwon Tae-Won’s face had changed.

“Please speak, Editor-in-chief.”

Kwon Tae-Won looked extremely conflicted.

However, he was still Star Books’ editor-in-chief, so he should follow the orders he received before doing what he wanted to do afterward.

Kwon Tae-Won seemed to be brainwashing himself as he kept repeating those words in his mind before finally asking, “Do you have any interest in signing an exclusive contract with Star Books?”

J. Andie's Thoughts

Andie: I'm glad to see that many of you have been enjoying this novel so far! Keep those comments coming, I love reading them! Tho I might take some time to reply if there's any meant for me (or not)... Feel free to bonk ping me on the discord channel if you'd like to hear from me!