Chapter 389 (1/2)
Published
at 16th of May 2019 06:35:04 AM
Chapter 389: 389
Translated by: ShawnSuh
Edited by: SootyOwl
Tilting his head, the man gave Yun Seo a confused look .
”I'm sorry?”
Ignoring Juho, who was appalled by Yun Seo's suggestion and the man's dimwittedness, Yun Seo kept going, ”I've already retired from teaching, but we have somebody who has never taught before . So, I think you might have a better shot with Juho here . ”
”Does that mean I can learn from Mr . Woo…?”
”If everything pans out, yes . ”
”Wait, wait,” Juho said, springing up from his seat and shaking his head . ”What are you talking about, Mrs . Baek!? I can't teach anybody!? I have enough on my plate as it is!”
”Oh, c'mon now . I know you have what it takes . ”
”You know my situation, Mrs . Baek . ”
”I do . What you need is inspiration . The way I see it, I'm sure you two will be able to help each other out . ”
”Please, Mrs . Baek . Would you give it some more thought?”
”Everyone lives with a fear of death . I think I'd feel more at peace knowing that someone else would take over after me . ”
” . . . But…”
”There's a first time for everything, right? Besides, you like this kind of stuff . ”
Although Juho couldn't think of a response, he found himself thinking of the worst-case scenario . However, looking toward the man, who was blinking awkwardly at the author, Juho was quickly reminded that teaching was not an option .
”No . I think we're getting ahead of ourselves here . Shouldn't we ask him first? I believe he said he came here to see you, Mrs . Baek . I don't think he'd be interested in attaching himself to somebody like me,” Juho said . Then, looking toward the man, he asked emphatically, ”Am I right?”
Juho thought that he couldn't have made it more obvious for the man that he wasn't interested in teaching . However, the thoughtlessness on the man's eyes was telling Juho otherwise . Sure enough, the man looked toward Juho, bowed, and said, ”Mr . Woo, please take me in as your pupil . ”
Then, prevented by Juho's hand from bowing any lower, the man looked up at the author, who said emphatically, ”No . ”
”I'm sorry?”
”I'm not taking in pupils,” Juho said .
”Why not?”
”Because I can't . ”
”But you're Yun Woo . Why can't you?”
”It's just not in my nature to pa.s.s things down to other people, let alone an opportunist like you . ”
”I'm not as lighthearted as I seem, Mr . Woo,” the man said, and added pa.s.sionately, ”Please, Mr . Woo, allow me to explain . ”
”I don't think there is anything to explain . ”
”Do you know what my nickname was growing up?”
”No,” Juho answered briefly . The author didn't even know the man's name, let alone his nickname .
Then, the man said in a hurry, ”Crow . ”
At that, Juho froze in place . The bird that had disappeared without a trace was standing in front of him as a person .
”Crow, huh?” Yun Seo murmured as if entertained by the situation .
”It's because of my dark skin . I constantly got picked on growing up . 'White Heron, do not venture into the valley where crows fight . '(1) I couldn't stand that poem . I remember crying a lot when I was in elementary school because I hated myself so much . ”
”And?”
'What's that have to do with anything?' Juho thought, purposely drinking his tea slower than usual .
”What I'm trying to say is that I look up to you as much as I look to Mrs . Baek, Mr . Woo . There's a crow in one of your novels, and as far as I'm aware, you like birds . Thanks to you, I learned how to love myself . Do you understand where I'm coming from now?”
'No, not really,' Juho said to himself . Fighting the urge to sigh, Juho smiled .
”Of course, I'm not insisting that you take me in without even proving myself to you . If you decide that I don't have potential, then I'll get out of your hair . So, please, let me show you what I'm capable of . ”
” . . . OK? Where's your ma.n.u.script?” Juho asked .
” . . . I don't have it . I… didn't think I would get this far,” the man replied .
”Well, aren't you curious?” Yun Seo asked Juho .
'Is this why you haven't been around? To show up in front of me like this?' Juho thought to himself, chuckling . Since he was curious about the Crow's ability as a writer, Juho finally made up his mind and said, ”Very well . ”
After Juho's affirmation, the Crow's eyes widened . Rubbing the back of his neck, Juho said, ”As for the topic and genre, I'll leave those entirely up to you . Write something with which you'll be most confident . ”
”Great . How much time do I get? Where do I write?”
”How about a week?” Juho said out of impulse .
”As long as you're OK with a shorter piece . ”
”You can come see me at my studio when you're done . ”
At that, the Crow's vision shook .
”Can I really come?” the Crow asked timidly .
To which, Juho replied nonchalantly, ”As long as you're not planning on robbing my place . ”
”I'm sorry?”
”If you are, I'll give it to you . Be it money or ma.n.u.script . Just don't stab me, all right? I plan on sticking around a while longer . ”
”Of course, Mr . Woo…” the Crow said awkwardly .
---
”h.e.l.lo, Mr . Woo . ”
When Juho opened the door, he saw the crow standing there nervously .
”You're right on time,” Juho said .
”I thought running late was not an option, and I'd be bothering you if I'd gotten here early, so I waited by the door . ”
Upon coming in, the Crow looked around the apartment, enthralled by the fact that he was in Yun Woo's living s.p.a.ce . After bringing out some tea, Juho asked, ”Will this do?”
”Yes, it will . ”
”It's a healthy tea . ”
”Thank you, Mr . Woo,” the Crow said, slowly drinking the tea . Smacking his lips, he said calmly, ”Well, they say that bitter things are good for you . ”
Looking at the Crow's bag, Juho asked, ”Your ma.n.u.script?”
”I have it with me . ”
”Great . Let's see it . ”