Chapter 25 (1/2)

“Welcome, Writer Ha Jaegun.”

Somii handed her greetings happily.

Many writers at the mention of the name Ha Jaegun shook their heads They had also been in this floor for a long time writing. However, it was a name that they had never heard of before.

“Ha Jaegun? Do you know him?”

‘No, I don’t know him. Does he have a pen name?”

Myunghoon, who was sitting on the long table on the center and chatting,  slitted his eyes.

a faint smirk appeared in his mouth, which disappeared as soon as it came.

‘He came.’

Myunghoon guessed that Jaegun would be here. Therefore, he had no plans of attending, but he purposely changed to join.

He had enough reason to be there. One of Myung Hoon’s work was published through StarBooks Romance label.

“You’re hungry, right? Since you came a bit late, the only empty spot is that corner over there.”

Somii said nonplussed and looked around the place that she pointed to.

Jaegun’s eyes were not on the seat but on the plate that were on Somii’s plate. This was a restaurant with employees, but it was a wonder why an editor would be doing something like this.

“Go inside after you take off your shoes.”

“Yes. Thank you.”

Jaegun didn’t say anything more for now and took off his shoes like he was asked to.

He looked around but he couldn’t see Tewon anywhere

‘He is a chief editor so he’s probably busy on a day like this.’

Jaegun thought to not look and went to the corner. To the late Jaegun, there wasn’t any writers that payed a lot of attention to him. All of them were busy talking to the writers around them.

Only one person.

Myunghoon was paying attention to him while he was talking.

It felt like Jaegun didn’t see his presence. His pride didn’t allow him to go first and greet him so Myunghoon stayed put.

“Excuse me.”

Jaegun, with a seat in front of him, asked carefully to the writer around.

His age was about early 30s, with a small stature and a dark complexion, the man seemed to give off a gloomy feeling.

“Can I seat here?”

“Ah, yes yes, sit, sit.”

The man pushed himself more to the corner to make s.p.a.ce. Jageun politely nodded to him and sat down.

“You’re a … writer, right?”

The man asked as if he was feeling him out.

Jaegun looked towards him and nodded his head.

“Yes, you’re a writer, too?”

“Haha, yes, I am right. To be called a writer is…”

Jaegun with a calm smile picked up a piece of a fried food. He wasn’t the type to press for an answer.

It was better to wait for the other person to say a word. But he tried to soothe the other person so he/she could easily say things.

‘Don’t know what writer or what project he’s written.’

Jaegun thought about his past self.

If he was a writer that didn’t sell well enough to struggle in live, he would have been tired if he’d gotten a question about what project did he write.

“Wow, this is great.”

Jaegun chewed on the fried food and said with a bit of overdramatics. Then the man on the side also laughed and pulled food that Jaegun couldn’t reach toward Jaegun.

“Have a taste of this. I don’t know what herbs are these, but it’s good.”

“Thank you for helping me. I’ll eat well.”

“Do you drink?”

“Ahah, yes, give it to me. I’m sorry. I should have poured you a drink first. Give me the bottle.”

“No it’s fine. I’ll give it first.”

The man and Jaegun both got a drink.

The soft and cold soju went down the throat and into the body.

Jaegun who drank a drink refres.h.i.+ngly breathed deeply. Maybe it was because of the success he’s been having, it was a long time since soju tasted this good.

“Is it the first time in these writer meetings?”

The man picked up the bottle and asked.

Jaegun politely with two hands took the drink and answered.

“I came here a long time ago once.”

“I see. This is my first. But, if it’s a long time ago, then it’s been awhile since your debut?”

“Hm, yes, that’s right.”

Jaegun and the man both a drink for the second time. Jaegun could feel his body heating up because of drinking 2 cups on an empty stomach.

The conversation dried up for a second.

Since the bottle was pa.s.sed around for a few drinks, the environment and the mood became louder and more elated.

“Ah sorry, the introductions were late, but I’m called Kang Minho.”

In the loudness, the man said his name with a determined face.

Then finally Jaegun also straightened up and answered.

“I’m sorry too. I’m called Ha Jaegun?”

“Hm, yes. Do you use a pen name.”

Minho asked as they were shaking hands.

Jaegun smiled embarra.s.sedly and nodded his head. Then Minho said

“Ah I see. I use my own name.”

“Ahah, …yes.”

On Jaegun’s face, a string of troubleness pa.s.sed by