Big Life

Chapter 36

Chapter 36


Chapter 36 – What is Important


“Exclusive?”


“Yes, exclusive . It’s not a project, but a contract with Writer Ha . ”


Jaegun’s gaze slowly dropped down .


Jaegun was thinking . He’s grown enough to get an exclusive contract . And from a company that came in the top three in the domestic genre market .


If he became a exclusive writer, he wouldn’t be able to publish anything for the other companies .


Only with the company that he contracted with .


But he would have a salary that came in intervally like a regular worker . He could expect better treatment and sponsors because he was an exclusive writer .


‘However…’


Jaegun had been jealous of the exclusive writers of StarBooks before .


They were best-selling writers so they had the requirements to sign as exclusive writers . There were companies that only did exclusive contracts, but they were few and far between .


Jaegun has seen StarBook’s exclusive writers before and they looked complacent even thought they couldn’t write . It was because of their salary . Because they couldn’t write, they went on vacation internationally, shopping, etc . All of this can be seen by SNS .


“I know this is an idea that requires some thought . ”


Tewon said opening a new bottle .


“Think slowly . You don’t have to decide right now . ”


Jaegun took the bottle and poured one to Tewon and Somii as well . As they toasted again, Jaegun said clearly .


“I will decide now . ”


Tewon and Somii stopped at that position . Jaegun one-shotted a drink and put in down on the table .


“I’m thankful for the offer but I don’t think I can do an exclusive contract . ”


“I see . ”


“I can’t contract myself to write . I want to live life like I did- writing freely . ”


Tewon bitterly smiled . He knew that this would happen . A weird emotion of happiness and disappointed at the same time came in .


“I know you’re doing the right thing, I’ll cheer you on . ”


Somii who was beside him looked at Tewon .


Is this really it? No more persuasion or arguments? What is he going to say to the representative when he gets back?


Jaegun took some lettuce . With a piece of sashimi on top of the lettuce, he continued .


“I have never been a writer for StarBook . ”


“Yes?”


Looking at Tewon, Jaegun was smiling .


“I have always had a contract with you . Our relationship is gonna continue as long as I can keep it . ”


“I’m flattered . I did nothing . ”


“What are you talking about . Don’t say it’s tiring and push me out . ”


Somii understood as these two people were talking .


They were being considerate of each other . It was because of the writer-editor bond that they couldn’t say anything else, from their eyes, both of them understood each other .


“You should eat this when it’s fresh . Get faster . ”


“I am eating busily . You and Somii eat as well . I’ve been watching but you guys haven’t been eating . ”


“Yes, yes, I’ll eat, writer . ”


There were no further discussions about work .


For 2 hours, these three people talked about small things in life or about the writing world . A dish of sashimi ended and the fish stew was almost empty .


“I’ve ate well . ”:


“No, it’s because of you that we ate well . ”


Tewon smiled as he swiped the company card .


As they left the restaurant, a cool air hit the three people . It was almost past 9 .


“Ah, I didn’t contract with you because we were too busy . ”


Tewon snapped his fingers .


It was about the sequel contract . He forgot all about it .


“We can do it right now . Let’s have some coffee at a cafe . I’ll buy the coffee .


Jaegun pointed towards the cafe across the street .


Tewon looked at his watch nonplussed . Actually he had no time . He had to have a short meeting from 9:30 with a writer . A editor’s life is always this complex .


“I’ll take him in and sign it with him . ”


Somii, knowing his schedule, said . It wasn’t a hard thing because the terms were already laid out .


“Ah, Writer Ha, I’m sorry . I need to go somewhere . ”


“No, do go your work . I’ll see you later . ”


“Yes, Writer, Somii, here, the contract . ”


Tewon took out a contract from his bag and gave it to Somii .


“Then I’ll be going now . Writer, take care . Somii, I’ll see you tomorrow . ”


“Yes, you can go now . ”


Tewon went with hurried footsteps .


Jaegun and Somii went to the cafe across the street .


“What do you want, writer?”


“I’ll buy, what do you want Somii?”


“No, I can buy it with my company card . ”


“Don’t lie, the editor took it, and I want to buy it . Coffee at least,


Jaegun asked while looking at the menu . Somii looked at the menu and answered .


“Then I’ll take a coffee mocha . ”


“Give me a ice americano and a cafe mocha . ”


There were no customers so it came out fast .


Jaegun and Somii went into a corner and sat together .


“Let’s decide on a t.i.tle . ”


With the contract on the table, Somii said . Jaegun put his hand and took the pen .


“I’ll just give it a temporary name . ”


Somii quickly put the terms in the contract and Jaegun confirmed each of the terms and signed . Therefore, the contract as quickly signed .


“I hope you’ll do well for a long time, writer . How many are you planning now?”


“About 10 books maybe . The 2 characters from the previous books are fighting and being comrades . There’s going to be a lot of stories with them . ”


“I’m curious as a reader . There’s going to be a book with both Cheonma and Yujin . One is a loud and vigorous person while the other is a cynical person, completely polar opposites each other . ”


“Yeah, I can’t confirm what’s going to happen . Ah? It’s raining?”


There was rain outside the window . People outside were running with clothes and bags over their head to avoid the rain .


“What do I do? You don’t have an umbrella, writer? I’ll go buy one from the store . ”


Somii was already getting up .


Jaegun was surprised and stopped her with a wave .


“The store is right beside here . Let’s go when we’re leaving .


“Ahah, yes, let’s do that . ”


She looked like a person who put her effort into everything that she did so she was never relaxed . Maybe it was the drinks, but Jaegun felt bad for Somii who always moved quickly .


“Somii . ”


“Yes, say it . ”


“Is there anything wrong with the editor?”


Jaegun asked .


He was planning to ask that as he went with Somii in this cafe .


Somii shook with an embarra.s.sed face .


“It must be because he was tired . ”


With Somii, Jaegun tilted his head .


“But even if he was tired, he felt very different today . And your face wasn’t that good either . ”


“Did you feel that?”


“Yes, totally . ”


“It must be because I didn’t sleep well yesterday . I’m sorry . I think I bothered you . The editor worked consecutive nights too . ”


Somii didn’t say the truth .


She was an editor working below Tewon and Jaegun was a writer .


She had no intention of saying stories about the inside of the company as it may bother Jaegun .


“He must be tired . ”


Jaegun nodded as if he understood . He couldn’t erase the feeling that Somii was hiding something, but it was too much to ask more .


“Well the contract is over so let’s get up . Somii should rest as well . ”


Jaegun stood up first, pushing his chair back .


Somii, following Jaegun, stood up with her bag .


“Let’s go get a umbrella . ”


As Jaegun said that, the rain was pouring even harder


Jaegun and Somii went into the store following a connected path . There were about 3-4 people waiting to buy an umbrella .


“Ah, h.e.l.lo . Is there only one umbrella left?”


The clerk answered towards Jaegun .


“Yes . There was no restock today so that’s the last one . ”


“If we came later, that could have been bad . ”


Jaegun took the last pink umbrella and bought it . Moving closer to Somii, he put the umbrella over their heads and said .


“It’s not bad to walk together . It’s a bit small but let’s go . ”


“Yes…”


Looking down at her feet, Somii said with a slightly shy voice .


The two people slowly walked towards the subway with one pink umbrella .


Jaegun changed his hand that he was holding the umbrella and moved to the other side of him . It was a car side . With Jaegun’s small considerations, Somii smiled .


The subway wasn’t that far .


Moving across the road, and up the staircase, it wasn’t long before they were time to separate .


“Be careful . And take this . ”


It was when they were behind their stations .


Jaegun gave the umbrella to Somii’s two hands .


To the shy Somii, Jaegun said with a firm face .


“Pink isn’t my type . Then I’ll go . ”


“Wr, writer Ha . I don’t have any reason to get hit by rain when I get off . ”


“I’ll give you the drafts of the first 5 books by the end of the week . ”


Jaegun was already turning around and waving his hand .


Looking at Jaegun, she glanced at the umbrella she held with two hands . With her small two hands, she was holding it firmly as a dear present .



“Thank you for taking the interview . I’ll show you as soon as the editing is finished . ”


“Yes, thank you . Good bye . ”


The Navin employees left out the door .


Jaegun sighed while he sitting down . His back was covered with sweat .


“That interview is really hard . Why does it take so much time . And so many pictures . ”


“Meow . ”


Rika climbed on top of Jaegun’s knees .


They also took pictures of Rika with Jaegun . It was because of the opinion that a writer with a cat looked good . Rika seemed more tired than usual .


“But I didn’t tell them that I wrote novels with the name Pyung Cheon Yu . I wasn’t trying to hide it but, oh well, it probably won’t matter . ”


Jaegun started his work with Rika on his knees .


It was the draft for Hetea Media . The first book was done and he was starting on the 2nd . The t.i.tle was ‘Pegelon’s Swordsman’ as the previous book’s character’s son was a swordsman .


‘I’ll send the 5 books to Hetae Media in 4 days . I’ll start the 3rd series of the Ranking series by Monday . ’


His 10 fingers flew across the keyboard .


With Se Gunwoo’s notebook and the power of reusing the previous series’ world, the writing went very fast .


Without realizing that Rika was out of his knees, and without realizing the sun was already going down, Jaegun fell into in his work .