chapter 9
9 – Haerin Kang (9)
Haerin Kang (9)
“Does your senior know 『Journal』?”
“The writer is a bad guy.”
After the lecture, Hwang Ji-young and Kim Yoon-a, who accidentally discovered a consensus, and I went to a nearby cafe.
It was an ordinary franchise cafe, but it was made of glass on all sides, so I could see people passing by.
It wasn’t even a phobia, but my heart raced whenever there were still many eyes on me, so I had to be prepared.
Park Se-young didn’t know much about web novels and wasn’t interested, and left first, saying that there was a next lecture.
…but that wasn’t the problem.
“I was serializing well, and suddenly it was all year round.”
“I really don’t understand.”
Jiyoung Hwang said.
“The number of views was very good, right? I think there were thousands of them based on the latest update, but suddenly…”
… Guys, the writer you guys are swearing at is sitting in front of you right now.
I nodded with an awkward expression.
“… I see, that’s really mean.”
“But it is amazing. Isn’t the name Kang Haerin common? No, is it common?”
“…not common.”
I rushed in.
The two juniors widened their eyes in surprise at my sudden rash, which had been passive in conversation.
“Is it common?”
“No, not common. your name is unique Kang Hye-rin, I don’t know if it’s ‘Yeo’ or ‘Lee’, but ‘Ah’ or ‘Lee’ aren’t common, right?”
“……”
what does that matter
‘A’, ‘Lee’, ‘Yeo’, ‘Lee’.
Now we were talking about ‘Kang Hae-rin’, a student who was absent from the joint class.
Of course, Kim Yoon-a and Hwang Ji-young would think it was just a coincidence, but I was already convinced.
Haerin Kang is Haerin Kang.
… Now what to do.
A week later, the last episode of 『Journal』 was booked.
Even if you suddenly turn it into a study, you should keep the 8th and 9th open for readers who see it a little late.
In the meantime, what is the possibility that Kang Hae-rin will find a novel?
I looked at the faces of the two juniors.
Yuna Kim is not tall, but her limbs are thin and long, like a dancer, and her face is thin.
His voice was high and his speech was quick.
Even now, he was pouring out words to Hwang Ji-young.
The talkative type… maybe?
“Wait, excuse me…”
Yuna Kim went outside and made a phone call near the window that was in our view.
“……..”
This time I looked at Hwang Ji-young.
Her cheeks are a little thicker than Kim Yoona, her hair is permed, and she has thick lips.
She wears dark eye makeup, which is rare in the literary department.
If I don’t wear makeup, I think I’ll look innocent.
When we were together, she bombarded me with questions as if we were competing, and talked nonstop, then immediately fixed her eyes on her phone when Yuna Kim disappeared.
What the hell are you looking at so intently?
maybe my novel?
flinch.
Hwang Ji-young glanced at me and rolled her eyes.
Did you look too openly?
“… Oh, I’m sorry. Too bad I only looked at my phone.”
“huh? I can see it.”
“no…”
Hwang Ji-young looked around as she wiped her palms on the wraparound skirt, which was wrapped in sweat.
“Have you read the web novel, senior?”
She said.
“A web novel?”
“I think we just talked too much about [Journal]. Seyoung gets fed up with the mention of web novels. I’m afraid you might be like that too…”
As if looking into her eyes, she smiled awkwardly.
am i uncomfortable?
I wasn’t like that when I was with Kim Yoon-a, but I’m the type to shy away from being alone.
If you have this kind of personality, you won’t allow people around you unless you “permit” it, and it’s unlikely that you’ll first talk to Kang Hae-rin, whose face is close to that of a cold beauty.
Then, can only Kim Yuna be kept in check?
“Ah, it doesn’t matter if you don’t see it. Really. Moonchang and everyone have prejudice against web novels. I asked because you seem to know about 『Journal』.”
Hwang Ji-young kindly shook her hand, assuming that it was because it was difficult for me not to answer right away.
“I like web novels too.”
I said.
“really?”
Jiyoung Hwang widened her eyes.
“I also thought that I would be more of a ‘novelist’ than my seniors, but for some reason I thought that I would not like web novels. Even if you’re a novelist, it’s not Korean novels, it’s not modern novels… Do you think you’ll like French or German novels? The atmosphere is a bit…”
“Am I in a bad mood? Are you a bit gloomy?”
When I asked myself while pointing my finger at myself, Hwang Ji-young shook her hand with a small laugh.
“No, no. It’s not gloomy…”
After choosing an idea, she said.
“The one that seems to have a complete story?”
My image is like that.
I became bitter.
There’s no one who doesn’t have a story, but usually saying that doesn’t have a good meaning.
It must mean that you look gloomy and depressed.
Even if it’s French, is it romanticism that you like German novels?
The people there had a lot of short lives.
“……”
I was depressed for a while, then I came to my senses.
For smooth social relations, it would be nice to form a little consensus.
Even though it was only 1 quality, I was a name in my own way, as it is rare in the industry for a writer to have published more than 1000 stories.
For me, who has no hobbies other than writing novels, I met a good topic for making friends.
There was a time when I was teased that I wasn’t good with words and that I was no fun whenever I said something, but there’s no need to laugh.
I just need to talk about topics I know well.
I didn’t say much, but when I saw her smiling, I was relieved that Hwang Ji-young seemed to be on the promiscuous side.
“What were you talking about?”
I thought it would take a long time because she had a serious expression, but Kim Yuna came in in less than 5 minutes.
“Web novel.”
Hwang Ji-young answered instead.
“Senior, what kind of novel do you like?”
“I am…”
“Awesome, I’m curious.”
Even Kim Yoon-a clapped, leaned over and focused her gaze on me, and I felt dizzy for a moment.
The words were mixed and tangled, so we had a two-person three-way.
Guys, you guys are really good listeners!
I was thrilled that no one had ever listened to me properly except for my older sister.
Most of the genres of fiction I liked were horror, but for some reason I felt like I shouldn’t say that.
I still read works by writers such as EA Po of Black Cat, Koji Suzuki of 『Ring』, WP Bletty of 『The Exorcist』, and Ira Levin of 『Rosemary’s Baby』 in a corner in middle and high school. Why did I read something so drab? I even heard criticism.
Just looking at the cover makes me feel bad.
In particular, Seo In-woo, Nam Jae-chan, and Kim Hye-eun’s gang attacked me in the back of the head in front of all the classmates.
‘Ugh, you gloomy bastard!’
‘Cut your head a little. Can you see it?’
Among them, the one who bothered me the most was Kim Hye-eun, but whenever she had a chance, she would steal my books and run away.
When I stretched out my hand to take it by force, I secretly lured it toward my body and drove s*xual harassment.
Horrible.
… I have to forget about it now.
I am the one who overcame the harsh life of a social welfare official.
While preparing for the welfare center event, I personally installed shade nets in the scorching sun, set the stage, delivered side dishes and lunch boxes to the elderly who had difficulty moving, helped them take baths, and lived their lives to the fullest.
I also have to overcome the past.
‘Lee Dong-min, listen carefully to your sister.’
I thought I could hear my sister’s voice.
‘If you don’t lie to people and treat them sincerely, they will think that they will treat you sincerely, but that’s a mistake. Sometimes you need to lie too. I have to plan to make you look good.’
Unlike me, my older sister, who has many friends, regardless of gender, taught me the truth that penetrates human relationships.
‘The key is to show the other person what they want to see.’
She said.
‘You just have to show what the other person wants to see, not just Lee Dong-min. Kind, sincere, courteous. But you shouldn’t be too petty and you have to know how to mix in what you want to show in moderation.’
Since I had just become independent, it seems that my older sister made a special request for trust.
It was difficult then, but I understand now.
I am no longer a Lee Dong-min who reads horror novels with darkly grotesque covers and makes people around me feel eerie and unpleasant.
I am ‘inside’ Lee Dong-min.
Then, who is Lee Dong-min that juniors want?
What web novels would Dongmin Lee read?
Since we’re girls, should we talk about romance?
No, I want a healing water.
“… I don’t hate horror stories like 『Journal』, but I still like healing stories.”
“Healing water is good. Senior, you are just like me.”
Yuna Kim laughed and said.
I’m glad I have friends who really make me laugh.
Gaining confidence, I listed works I had read at first glance, such as 『Cat Restaurant』 or 『Returned Soldier’s Alley Restaurant』, and the response was not bad.
“Senior, you like such novels. It suits you so much. really. Since 『Cat Restaurant』, dogs are cute.”
Um, do healing waters suit me?
Even though I thought it was lip service anyway, I felt good when he told me that I was suitable for a healing material.
Perhaps thanks to Kim Yuna’s addition, Jiyoung Hwang began to speak about herself without hesitation.
She had a lot of web novel knowledge, so she read more extensively than me, who only had the title of a writer.
It was when I was just getting work recommendations from her.
Somehow, at some point, Yoona Kim, who had been quietly listening to me and Jiyoung Hwang, gently tapped my arm.
“Senpai, senpai, wait! oh my, what’s going on Hey Jiyoung. Isn’t that senior Yeonwoo?”
Yuna Kim was pointing out the window.
Why are you making such a fuss?
However, Hwang Ji-young also opened her big eyes even wider.
“Right. that’s right. who’s next to you Aren’t you Yoo-ram senior? what. Crazy, damn yes…”
Hwang Ji-young covered her mouth and looked at me.
“You are very pretty…”
“Is it mixed race? Is there someone like that in our school? Are you an actor? Or the one who dances?”
Yuna Kim murmured.
“Great body…”
“At least a celebrity…”
Whether the two of them admired it or not, I was very moved and ruminated on the fact that I was exchanging conversations with two unfamiliar female juniors without difficulty.
I’ve grown up like this
I wasn’t particularly interested in love.
Are you interested in making money?
It was my dream to earn a lot of money and buy my own house and live there with my sister, not the current charter.
I haven’t told my older sister yet, but I didn’t think she would refuse to live together as much as I usually emphasized ‘blood kinship’.
And I even thought that if I earn more, I would like to prepare a house for my sister when she gets married.
Would that be too difficult?
Then I want to help even if I’m in a coma.
Because he is such an important person to me.
Besides, I had no reason to look at other women because I was in a ‘lover’ relationship with Kang Hae-rin anyway.
Since I am also a man, seeing a great beauty can shake my heart, so it is better not to see it.
There’s no way there’s anyone prettier than Kang Hae-rin, but I don’t know people’s things in the first place.
“Sir, can you see it over there?”
Jiyoung Hwang pointed out the window.
“I will tell you that it is really great. The person over there is a senior in our department-?”
If you do this, you can’t see it.
I turned to the direction she pointed.
“See? That guy, Song Yeon-woo, is a senior in our department, and his girlfriend is also in our department. But the funny thing is, the girl next to me isn’t Yeonwoo sunbaenim’s girlfriend.”
I’m at a loss for words.
“… senior?”
Hwang Ji-young and Kim Yoon-ah also looked at me.
“… Guys, I’m sorry, but I’ll go.”
I hurriedly packed my things and went out.
They were passing in front of a crosswalk.
Yeonwoo Song.
“…Aren’t you the one who traded at the Cabbage Market?!”
Even more problematic was the person next to him.
A beautiful woman with dark blue hair walking in a long black high-waisted skirt that was partly open at the bottom.
Her eyes flashed red.