Chapter 158 – Episode 158

Time off from work.

When I came out of Exit 4 of Seonjeongneung Station, I was thrown around by the rushing crowd and grumbled a little.

“Ah, I should have woken up earlier.”

It’s not far from my house in Cheongdam-dong, so I let my guard down, and I think it also played a part in the fact that I was immediately attracted to Oh Hana and Yoon Su-ah as soon as I returned from working at the convenience store.

Whatever it was, as soon as I opened my eyes, the fastest time I got ready was now.

So let’s stop complaining. Because that doesn’t change anything.

[PM 6:14]

It’s time to get off work, and at the same time, there’s not much time left until I go to work at the convenience store.

‘I don’t have that much space.’

After checking the time, I walked towards my destination without stopping.

「Jebug, jerk, jerk」

As I walk side by side with people leaving work, I feel a sense of stability and belonging. This alone is enough. How amazing will it be if you actually join a company?

No, what does it feel like?

‘Oh, if we have a company dinner, will you give me overtime pay? That’s not it either. Instead of just having a company dinner or something like that, it would be nice if they gave us money to cover the cost of the event. I really fucking don’t want to do this.’

They say everyone in today’s generation speaks like that… Well, if you think about it that way, it feels a bit odd.

Aren’t I from today’s generation? And, what about my friends?

Among my friends who got a job the year before last, there were some who were reluctant to go to company dinners or company events, but not a single one said that. In my heart… I don’t know either.

No, you’re younger than me to begin with, so you’ve already gotten a job? Fuck, I’m jealous.

“Whoo!”

Even though it has been pushed back, the second half of the year’s open recruitment season is getting closer.

Furthermore, whenever I think about getting a job, I can’t help but sigh as if I’m being pressed down heavily.

Is it because of this situation? Your thoughts may change once you get a job. Right now, new employee training, seminars, employee onboarding, workshops, sports competitions, team dinners, etc… Just thinking about these things fills my heart with anticipation.

In the first place, you can complain and complain about things like that because you have a job, damn it.

Some people are going crazy trying to get that job.

‘Even if I just go crazy there, it’s not enough… ‘It’s legendary that they try to do one more damn thing that you don’t even know if it’s poop or soybean paste.’

I muttered that to myself and raised my head and looked at the sign above.

[Nobel Pictures/Novel Academy 4F, 5F]

In this respect, should we say Seoul?

There are only a few academies in Busan, but you can find them virtually anywhere in Seoul.

Check the website, check online reviews, distance from home, etc. After weighing everything, this was the one I chose.

In particular, I received a brief phone consultation and I liked how friendly they were. Is it because she suffered a lot from truth-seekers while working part-time at a convenience store? Whatever it is, these days I think that being kind is the best.

“Hey, man… Please get out of the way…”

“Oh, sorry.”

I wandered around apologizing lightly.

I don’t know how many times I hesitate at the entrance of the building whether to enter or not.

When you go in, you will definitely have a long consultation face to face, even if it is not necessarily the person you spoke to on the phone in the morning. I’m just going to get that consultation and leave, so maybe I should say that for no reason.

Even if that wasn’t the case, I couldn’t remember the last time I went to an academy, so I was reluctant to do so.

‘It’s not an easy decision to make.’

I came here impulsively because of Oh Hanam’s unexpected donation. As I said before, it was not enough for me to just focus on my job right now.

However, I don’t know if going here will be of any help to Han Ae Bom right now or not. I couldn’t waste time with a light heart.

At least, even if my time is not gold, Hanae Bom’s time is gold.

‘That child’s time has a different value! Worth it!’

How many times have I heard that from Han Se-ryong? Even if I just close my eyes, I remember it as if I heard it yesterday.

“Hmm.”

I groaned slightly and looked into space.

The beautiful sunset setting in the west only tells us that it is time to leave work.

Yeah, fuck. To be honest, I was hoping that a quest might come up.

Because this guy has never been wrong.

This time too, I was hoping that a system message would pop up in front of me and tell me whether my choice was correct or incorrect.

‘I definitely won’t rely on this… Damn it, damn it.’

Now it’s more than just boring, it’s annoying. Nevertheless, it was something that could not be helped.

They say that humans feel great fear about an uncertain future. In such a situation, isn’t it even weirder that there is someone who gives you a clear answer, but you don’t rely on it? I’m not a great person like Han Ae-bom or Oh Han-nam…

‘Let’s go in, just. If anything goes wrong, just get counseling and leave.’

After biting my lip a few times, I finally stepped into the building, even though I felt like it was a waste to come all the way here. I started moving my body before even thinking about doing this in the first place.

If you’re an indecisive person like me, if you think too much, you usually end up just thinking.

In that respect, Ohana is better than I. She’s just as stupid as me, but her acting skills are amazing.

「Tiring!」

I took the elevator and went up to the 4th floor. The entrance opens, and unlike the old elevator, you can see the clean academy entrance made of shiny marble.

“Wow.”

Although I was slightly impressed, I had that thought inside. I think the tuition fee will be more expensive than I thought.

‘What do you think, I got the money for free.’

As I was getting out of the elevator, trying to comfort and act calmly, I made eye contact with the woman at the counter far away, who was wearing a counselor’s employee ID card hanging around her neck. Should we call it the eyes of an eagle that has captured its prey?

I felt something like that.

‘I really want to go back.’

It’s been 1 year and 6 months since she started working part-time at a convenience store, so I thought she wouldn’t feel uncomfortable or shy about meeting people anymore.
It was my own illusion. It was a completely separate problem from when I was working.

Now that I think about it, I remember that in my long life, I have gone to a clothing store and bought clothes myself less than 10 times.

「Jiying!」

“Oh, welcome. Would it be okay if I ask what field you are interested in?”

As soon as the automatic door opens, my eyes roll back and forth without realizing it as I see the agent rushing out of the counter.

‘Huh? Brother! If you’re going to do that, just ask me to follow you!’

“Surprise!”

For a moment, Ohana remembered what she wanted to say to me, and her embarrassment immediately calmed down. As a man, he couldn’t show his pathetic appearance in front of the woman he liked.

“Ah, I came because I wanted to get some advice about the novel. Is it possible?”

“Of course it is possible.”

From the beginning, I don’t think the counselor had any intention to rip me off or belittle me. I just felt burdened and acted like an asshole for no reason.

“Would you like to come over here and talk?”

“Yes.”

At counseling table number 1, someone was already having a serious conversation.

The counselor’s voice sounded familiar to my ears, so it seemed like he was the one who was talking to me on the phone. Should we say that it is a voice that calms a person’s mind?

I thought he was a fairly young person, but the opposite was true. You are a bit older.

From that perspective…

“Ah, are you comfortable with counselor Yanghee Han at the table over there? Counselor Yanghee Han usually answers a lot of calls, so there are actually a lot of people who make such requests.”

“No.”

I flatly refused.

[Counselor, Song A-young]

This side was overwhelmingly pretty.

*

“First of all, just wait a moment.”

Counselor Song A-young rushes over again and returns with several pamphlets and leaflets in her arms. The first thing she did was hold out her pamphlet in front of me.

“As you can see here, our academy offers pure literature, popular literature, and even web novels. I tend to teach everything. “Have you made a decision in advance about which one to choose?”

“No, the decision hasn’t been made yet.”

“Then, are you already familiar with these three?”

“Uh… “I’ve roughly heard everything, but honestly, I don’t think I know the details.”

The most I know is a web novel I read occasionally. Even then, while watching the webtoon, I was so curious about the next episode that I paid for a few episodes.

“Hmm, if you say so.”

Song A-young, who had been thinking for a while, asked again.

“Can I start by telling you what purpose you came to visit this academy?”

You have pretty eyes and a nice voice.

… Not.

After coming to my senses, I roughly informed Han Ae Bom of her situation.

Should I say that writing a novel is an achievement worthy of recognition? Or is it something that you can acknowledge? I want to help achieve that as quickly as possible, but I don’t know what to do because I don’t know anything.

“Oh my, you’re amazing.”

“Yes?”

After hearing her story, Song A-young puts her hands together and bursts out in admiration. She’s slightly similar to Ohana. Listens well to other people’s stories and has good reactions… She has a personality that makes her popular with men in many ways, even down to her looks.

“It might be rude to say that. “Is it possible to say that she is your girlfriend, or that she is aiming for that?”

“Ah… “This is my girlfriend.”

To be exact, my second girlfriend.

“Also! Oh, that’s really nice. A boyfriend who wants to go to private academy for his girlfriend. I think it would be great for me. “Girlfriend, I’m sure you’ll be really happy when you find out about this later.”

“Is that so?”

I’d never thought of it like that. She was just thinking about helping…

That’s right… Are you going?

She was scratching the back of her head, but Song A-young, who was so excited, cleared her throat slightly and regained her temper.

“Kuhm, I guess I got too excited. “Before I explain again, I would like to ask you a few more questions.”

“Yes.”

“First of all, how long has it been since your girlfriend started writing?”

“Well, I started writing it at the beginning of this year. “It’s still not that long.”

“Oh, I see.”

Song A-young sighs softly.

“First, let me tell you what she said. Ah! I’m not saying it’s necessarily like this, but let me tell you about what I felt while working in this industry for several years.”

“Yes.”

The limbs are long.

And most of the long stories contained uncomfortable content. My prediction turned out to be correct.

“First of all, achieving something as quickly as possible in the field of pure literature and popular literature is really similar to the probability of winning first place in the lottery twice in a row.”

Is that a bit harsh?

“Is it that much?”

“I think so. … Uh, um. What should I say? In this ‘writer’ industry. First, should we say that it is a stance or atmosphere that only recognizes authors of pure literature and popular literature, excluding web novels? At least popular literature feels lighter compared to pure literature. Nevertheless, in many ways, I lean towards the writerly tradition. So, if you don’t have a clear system in place that takes time, or if you haven’t built it up step by step…”

If I were to briefly summarize what Song A-young said, it would be this.

In order to immediately achieve a bestseller in pure or popular literature, or an achievement that even Han Se-ryong can recognize, the writing you have written must be at a level where it comes to life before your eyes.

In short, it was impossible.

It’s not 0 percent, but it’s not an easy probability.

‘If you think about it that way… Han Se-ryong said that if you put your mind to it, you can immediately turn a book written by a child into a bestseller.’

If that is true, then it reminds us how important it is to be supportive in Korea… Also, it felt like people like me were saying that gritting one’s teeth and struggling was actually a useless act, so I lost all my strength for no reason.

Seeing my reaction, Song A-young must have given up and misunderstood, and shouted urgently.

“But it’s not impossible! “It’s better to hear good stories later.”

“Oh, that’s right.”

When I made eye contact again, Song A-young handed me a leaflet with a pretty business smile and said.
“What I said a little while ago is possible in web novels!”

Song A-young’s voice was full of confidence.

As if she was asking me to trust her.