Big Life

Chapter 188. The Bombing Starts (9)

[Gyeoja Bathhouse hits 3.6 million viewers, and takes the title of top horror movie in Korea!]

[What’s the final score of Gyeoja Bathhouse after its small-scale long-premiere period?]

[Gyeoja Bathhouse novel goes into third reprint, ranks 12th on New York Times Bestseller, about to enter Top 10]

[Representative of U.S. Paramountain’s License Procurer considers a remake of Gyeoja Bathhouse]

“It feels like news from another world,” Yang Hyun-Kyung mumbled as he read the headlines on his phone.

Yang Hyun-Kyung was currently in a pub near the writer’s office. With him was Lee Yeon-Woo, downing glass after glass of soju with anguish in his face.

“I always wonder if the Writer Ha they're talking about here is the same Writer Ha I meet in the office. Ah, seriously. He's in a whole different league.” Yang Hyun-Kyung let out a sigh and ruffled his hair.

Lee Yeon-Woo only filled up his empty glass with soju without saying anything.

“Hey, Yeon-Woo. You’re drinking too fast.”

“I want to be drunk today, hyung.”

“You should at least start drinking after the chicken is served. Madam! It’s fine if our chicken isn’t fully cooked. Please serve it quickly. My younger brother’s insides are going to rot at this rate.”

Just then, the door of the pub’s entrance opened, and Jung So-Mi walked in. She looked around the restaurant for a while until she spotted Lee Yeon-Woo and Yang Hyun-Kyung.

“You guys look like the world is ending. What’s wrong?” Jung So-Mi started nagging as she sat down next to Lee Yeon-Woo.

Lee Yeon-Woo had been in low spirits recently. “Deputy Jung, you don’t understand.”

Yang Hyun-Kyung filled Jung So-Mi’s glass. “Ah, seriously... I liked her first. Yeah, what’s so what if I like her first? She’s getting married to the doctor in the end. Yeah, doctors are great. I think they are great as well. They have great careers as compared to unknown writers like me.”

“Please, enough with the self-sabotage. And what’s wrong with you, Writer Yang? Your sales are getting better day by day. Everyone’s talents are different.”

Jung So-Mi then filled Yang Hyun-Kyung’s glass in return and said, “Who knows what will happen five years from now? Writer Yang might have published a lot more novels by then, and your royalties will come in automatically, like pension payments. Isn’t that the case already?”

“Huhu, that’s true. That's one of the best perks of being a writer.” Yang Hyun-Kyung and Jung So-Mi shared a toast and emptied their glasses.

However, Lee Yeon-Woo still remained silent as his shoulders and head dropped gloomily.

“Hey, Yeon-Woo. Cheer up. I’m only letting you know this now, but my debut novel’s performance was trash as well. Slater, you know that novel, right?”

“Of course I know.”

“You teased me about it the first time I came to the office, remember? You even said—Oh, Slater? I haven’t read it after the hiatus, was it completed?’”

“Argh, hyung. How many times must I clarify that I didn’t say it with those intentions? I asked out of pure curiosity.” Lee Yeon-Woo looked up, feeling wronged.

Yang Hyun-Kyung and Jung So-Mi chuckled.

“Alright, fine. That’s not important. Anyway, just know that I suffered a lot while writing Slater, too. I felt horrible about the bad performance, but after completing the paid serialization and publishing it as an ebook, things turned around. I get 100,000 won in royalties every month now. And that’s just for Slater.”

“You’ve mentioned it multiple times, hyung.”

“Yeah, Yeon-Woo. Do you really think that you can just pick 100,000 won up anywhere? And do I only have Slater under my belt? I have the novel after Slater and even my most recent work. They bring me at least 500,000 won every month in royalties now. This is how it is. Don’t be discouraged just because things aren’t looking good right now; just focus on writing.”

The chicken they ordered was served. Yang Hyun-Kyung served a drumstick each to Lee Yeon-Woo and Jung So-Mi’s plate as he continued. “I understand. I had countless thoughts going through my mind before. I wondered if I could really live as a writer and why I find writing so hard. I even fell into the dark hole of playing with stocks.”

“You dabbled in the stock market?”

“Yes, and that’s why Writer Ha kicked me out that one time.”

“What? Really? Jae-Gun hyung chased you out?” Lee Yeon-Woo turned dumbfounded.

Bitter smiles appeared on the faces of both Yang Hyun-Kyung and Jung So-Mi.

“No, Ha Jae-Gun hyung really... I can’t believe it.”

“You just don’t know him that well. Writer Ha can be really scary at times. He chased me out when I was penniless, and I had to stay and work at a gas station. I realized many things at the time.” Yang Hyun-Kyung stared into space as he recalled those times.

“You know the supplement bottle I used as my pencil holder?”

“Yes, of course.”

“Writer Ha gave that to me. He was still worried about me after chasing me out. He secretly dropped by the gas station I was working at and left it there for me, leaving a note asking me to take care of my body.”

“Jae-Gun hyung is a really nice person.”

“Yes, so cheer up and do your best. Is that all we’re receiving from Writer Ha? It’s a blessing to be able to stay here almost rent-free and work on our novels. You're just getting started as well, and you’re going to continue doing your best after this drinking session tonight, okay?” Yang Hyun-Kyung raised his glass for a toast.

Lee Yeon-Woo lazily raised his glass and nodded. “I understand. You should cheer up, too, Hyun-Kyung hyung. You can meet a better woman in the future.”

“You...! You almost made me choke on my tears in front of Deputy Jung. Stop talking about that now. Cheers!”

Bzzt!

Just then, Jung So-Mi’s phone rang. Surprised to see Ha Jae-Gun’s name on the screen, she answered immediately.

“Yes, Writer Ha.”

— Where are you? I’m now in the office, but no one is around.”

“I’m at Hoolala having drinks with Writer Yang and Writer Lee.

— Ah, really? I knew it, I’m on my way there. I’ll be there soon.

Ha Jae-Gun was true to his words indeed. In less than three minutes after hanging up, he walked through the doors of the pub. He was in a training suit and slippers.

“You guys are here partying without me? Madam! Please give me a 3,000 cc beer tower here!”

“Uhh, Writer Ha. Why are you doing this? Haven’t you been drinking a lot recently?” Jung So-Mi asked, worried.

Ha Jae-Gun laughed heartily and shook his head. “Drinking because of work isn’t even considered drinking. I should enjoy drinking with my colleagues.”

“But you still have to think about your health first.”

“I’ll just drink today and stop drinking from tomorrow on. Anyway, why do we only have one whole chicken as accompaniment? It’s barely enough for Yeon-Woo alone; what more when there are four of us here? Madam, please add a barbeque squid for us! Cheers!”

As they had their drinks, a few diners from the other tables approached them. They were readers who had recognized Ha Jae-Gun.

“Um... Are you Writer Ha Jae-Gun? I enjoyed your novels a lot.”

“I’m sorry for interrupting your time, but can we take a photo with you?”

Ha Jae-Gun agreed readily and put down his glass. “Yes, please come this way.”

The readers happily stood on each side of Ha Jae-Gun. Amongst the readers, one of them was looking at the writers at the table, tilting their heads to a side in curiosity.

“Are you...Ha Jae-Gun’s stan?”

“Pardon?” Ha Jae-Gun asked with a blank expression.

At the same time, Lee Yeon-Woo turned around nervously, admitting subconsciously that something was bugging him.

“Ah, you are Ha Jae-Gun’s team.”

“Wait, how did that nickname come about...?”

“I saw a photo uploaded on social media with the nickname Ha Jae-Gun’s team. Was that writer’s name Lee Yeon-Woo? It should be...”

Lee Yeon-Woo slowly inched himself deeper into one end of the seat. Ha Jae-Gun frowned with a smile and pulled Lee Yeon-Woo out.

“This friend must have used a dumb nickname when he posted a photo of our company dinner. Shall we take a picture together? Do you want to take together, Writer Yang and Deputy Jung?”

Yang Hyun-Kyung walked up first without hesitation. While Jung So-Mi looked hesitant for a moment before she slowly inched herself closer. She wanted to take more photos with Ha Jae-Gun while she had the opportunity to do so.

“1, 2, 3.”

The shutters went off simultaneously. It was the first photo of Ha Jae-Gun’s team with the readers.

***

“Ugh... Yeon-Woo, I’ve said this a few times; it’s alright. You can just do better next time. It’s alright to fail.”

“Alright, hyung. I’ve really kept that in mind.”

“Writer Yang—no, Yang Hyun-Kyung. I said that I’m going to drop formalities with you from today, right? Half of the entire world are women. I’ll introduce one to you, so just focus on your novel. Do you understand?”

“Writer Ha—no, Ha Jae-Gun hyung. You’d have said it ten times if you repeated this once more. I’m looking forward to it, so make sure you introduce a girl to me.”

The bright moonlight shone down on them. Lee Yeon-Woo and Yang Hyun-Kyung supported the drunk Ha Jae-Gun while Jung So-Mi carried their bags.

‘Why do I feel that he’s overdoing it?’ Jung So-Mi wondered, puzzled.

Ha Jae-Gun’s attitude today was quite different from usual. He was much more talkative than usual.

‘And he isn’t the kind of person to get himself this drunk...’ She had drunk on several occasions with Ha Jae-Gun and understood his alcohol limitations. She thought that Ha Jae-Gun might just be pretending to be drunk and not actually drunk right now.

“What’s this? How did Writer Ha get so drunk?”

Kang Min-Ho and Jang Eun-Young were freaked out as they arrived at the ground floor lobby. Ha Jae-Gun hiccuped and giggled as soon as he saw Kang Min-Ho and embraced the man. “Euheuheu, Writer Kang. I love you.”

“Aigoo, Writer Ha, I love you too. Let me piggyback you now. Heup!”

Yang Hyun-Kyung and Lee Yeon-Woo followed behind Kang Min-Ho as they felt relieved from Ha Jae-Gun’s weight that they had been carrying on the way back.

“Phew...!”

Kang Min-Ho could finally stretch his back after he laid Ha Jae-Gun down on the bed in one of the rooms at the office. Rika approached Ha Jae-Gun and curled up next to him. Kang Min-Ho looked at the pair on the bed, and his eyes turned red.

“Min-Ho hyung, what’s wrong?”

“No... It’s nothing.” Kang Min-Ho wiped the corners of his eyes and glossed over the topic.

Actually, a sense of regret overwhelmed him.

Would it have been better if he had been truthful to Ha Jae-Gun before he lent him a sum of money for his yearly lease? He was choking up as he felt both thankful and apologetic for making Ha Jae-Gun worry needlessly.

“Let’s leave quietly so that Writer Ha can sleep in peace.”

“Okay, I’ll turn off the lights. I won’t be closing the door since Rika is with him.”

The lights in the room turned off, and the door was left slightly ajar. Ha Jae-Gun slowly opened his eyes in the darkness. His eyes met Rika’s eyes, which shone in the darkness. Rika began licking Ha Jae-Gun’s nose with her scruffy tongue.

***

— A commendation from the Minister of Culture? That’s too much. Shouldn’t Writer Ha be awarded the Presidential commendation with his China and U.S. sales performance alone?

“My thoughts exactly. I thought he should be given the Prime Minister commendation at the very least,” Oh Myung-Suk replied bitterly into the phone.

The nominees for each category of the Popular Arts Awards were announced today. Ha Jae-Gun’s name was on the list of candidates for the Minister of Culture commendation. It fell short of Oh Myung-Suk’s expectations.

Meanwhile, Chae Yoo-Jin let out a deep sigh over the phone.

— All these conservative Korean literacy groups are the same. What’s the meaning behind all those Arts Awards? Those who had a deep influence on the development of local pop culture should be commended for it, not based on how long they have stayed in the industry or how old they actually are. It’s going to get noisy on the internet for a while.

“I thought so, too.”

— That aside, I heard back from Paramountain again. They asked if you’re willing to sell the rights for Gyeoja Bathhouse for 1.5 million dollars. It’s the highest amount offered so far.

“1.5 million dollars is definitely a huge amount. I’ll need to discuss this with Mr. Ha.”

— They are also willing to visit Korea as well. I’ll most likely fly over together when the meeting is scheduled, and let’s have some drinks with Writer Has as well. You know this is all thanks to my efforts in promoting Gyeoja Bathhouse, right?

“Yeah, I was waiting for you to say that today.”

Oh Myung-Suk and Chae Yoo-Jin both burst into laughter. Thanks to Ha Jae-Gun, they now had more things to laugh about on a day-to-day basis.

***

In the meantime, Kwon Tae-Won couldn’t stop laughing at the same thing. He was currently on the phone with Teencent Literature’s person in charge.

“Yes, two million copies? Wait, didn’t you just say recently that we passed 1.5 million copies? How did it... Wow, the China market is gigantic indeed. Hahaha, thank you so much. Ah, The Breath? I can’t give you an answer to that right now. There are still a few areas that require coordination with Writer Ha. Yes, I understand. Please send me the invoice, and I’ll contact you soon.”

Kwon Tae-Won hung up and checked the invoice. His eyes widened in astonishment. He read the amount as his hands trembled and swallowed a couple of times.

“9.5 million yuan...!”

It had been less than six months since the release of Oscar’s Dungeon novel in China, but they had already achieved 9.5 million yuan in sales.

It amounted to 1.6 billion won after Kwon Tae-Won's quick maths. Ha Jae-Gun’s portion alone, after deducting all other areas from the sales figure, was over a billion won.

“Ah, now’s not the time for this.” Kwon Tae-Won hurriedly picked up his phone.

Before contacting Ha Jae-Gun, he called a close reporter in the economics department.

Soon, the cheerful melody he was humming filled every corner of the office.