Professor Gu Hak-jun.
My ntor.
If you want, you can audit classes at the university where I work. Of course, my classes are free, and Ill make sure you can attend other professors classes without much trouble.
He was essentially a good person. His humble dignity and morality stemd from his intelligence. He was much wiser than soone like .
Thus, upon hearing his words, I settled things amicably with the lover I had been with for 6 years and secluded myself in my room, cutting off from the world and myself.
I then buried myself in the world of writing and agonized for a long ti.
What did Professor Gu Hak-jun think of ?
In my opinion, you dont seem to need financial support. Youve almost sold out the first edition of 50,000 copies, right? From my experience, you should receive a little less than 100 million won. I havent seen your contract, so the exact amount might be different, but if the company is paying you too little, feel free to contact . Anyway, now you dont have to worry about tuition fees while attending middle school, high school, and university! Congratulations!
Did he consider his favorite student?
Or did he see as a parasitic orphan trying to cling to a wealthy family?
In my long contemplation, the answer to this question often changed. Generally, when I was sober, it was the forr; when I was drunk, the latter.
What was the real reason Gu Hak-jun pushed away?
Was it to prevent two young people from heading down a difficult path as a cultured intellectual,
Or as a father, did he make a tough decision to prevent his daughter from suffering a lifeti of poverty and contempt due to a rash mistake made in her youth?
These two guesses eventually disappeared into an eternal maze. Not long after, Professor Gu Hak-jun passed away in a traffic accident.
At the funeral of my ntor, I lingered for a while, then, seeing the swollen-eyed face of my forr lover from a distance, I fled like soone guilty.
That was the end of our connection.
But child, it would be a huge waste for you to just attend a nearby humanities school and receive a regular education. Im not saying that regular schools are bad or inferior. Its just that a special child like you needs that plus alpha. Im not sure if youll need my recomndation, but Ill write one for Baekhak Arts Middle School. I know the teachers there very well, and if you go to that school, everyone will like you. And after school, how about learning writing from famous novelists? My friends also want to see you.
But within the strange flow of ti,
I traveled back in ti to the past.
The dead regained life,
And severed connections were reford in a new way.
But what about ?
What am I?
Is the 22 years of unhappy life Moon In-seop experienced in my mory my past or previous life? Is the 12-year-old genius author Moon In an extension or a reset of my life?
How should I view Gu Hak-jun? With resentnt? Longing? Regret? Joy? Sorrow? Guilt?
I dont know.
Really, I dont know anything.
I felt as if I had returned to the tis when I sat alone in a dark, cold room, enduring loneliness.
It was very cold.
EP 2-Other
The boy was wrapped in a blanket.
Just that made Gu Hak-jun have a very good first impression of the boy. His second daughter always walked around wrapped in a blanket too.
To be exact, it wasnt the blanket she liked, but the character on it. So much so that she would even cover herself with the character blanket in sumr, always getting scolded by her mother.
By chance, the blanket Moon In-seop was using had a character his daughter liked. A yellow furry creature called Ryan or Choonsik.
(TL: Ryan/Choonsik)
Could it be that even a genius likes fluffy animal characters appropriate for his age? Surprisingly cute, it gave him a human touch.
Gu Hak-jun, being a master of conversational skills, took note of this common interest, preparing to use it as a joke to build a closer relationship with the boy whenever the opportunity arose.
However.
It seed the reason Moon In-seop wrapped himself in a blanket was different from that of his daughter.
Child, are you alright?
Gu Hak-jun stopped explaining his offer of support. The boy was trembling under the blanket.
His eyes lacked focus. At a glance, his state resembled a panic attack or shivering from the cold.
In-seop, whats wrong?
Bang Jeong-ah half-rose from the living room sofa and gently wrapped her trembling hands around Moon In-seops shoulders.
Ah.
The boy, who had been drifting in the past, returned to the present. Moon In-seop reassured Bang Jeong-ah and Gu Hak-jun, who were looking at him with concern.
Dont worry. Its nothing serious. I just felt a montary tightness in my chest and my heart constricting. Actually, on my way to and from school these days, a few scamrs have been trying to take to secluded places.
Are you really alright?
Im not exactly fine, but what can I do? Its not the first ti that people are trying to take advantage of a kid who made a lot of money on TV.
Hearing the sharp words of Author Moon, Gu Hak-jun felt a bit stunned, but also sensed his last doubts fading.
He hadnt directly confird whether the child was a genius, but at least the broadcast didnt seem staged.
Well Child, its good that youve made up your mind, but living in such an environnt seems a bit risky. What do you think about living in the dormitory at Baekhak Arts Middle School?
Gu Hak-jun made this suggestion and then nodded to Bang Jeong-ah, saying, Its not a criticism of the orphanage, but its difficult for public care facilities to protect each and every child, seeking her understanding.
And Bang Jeong-ah, overwheld that a renowned university professor was nodding to soone like her who hadnt even graduated from college, waved her hand saying it was alright, making a fuss.
While this was nothing unusual in the context of Koreas social class system, for so reason, Moon In-seop found it slightly distasteful.
After all, in terms of caring for others, Bang Jeong-ah was far more sincere than Gu Hak-jun.
So, Moon In-seop intended to say this.
First, I would like to express my gratitude, Professor Gu Hak-jun. I am truly impressed with your intention to nurture future talents as a leading figure in the Korean literary world, coming here to take care of a novice author like .
However, I am afraid that accepting your sponsorship offer would change my daily life too drastically. The teachers and friends at New Light Spring Orphanage are like family to .
Leaving them behind to suddenly enter a boarding school is sowhat burdenso. Similarly, if I accept this sponsorship and beco practically your student, starting literary activities, it would an more social activities. But I dont think I am mature enough as an author yet, and being young, I foresee many difficulties in such activities.
I am really sorry to respond like this after youve co so far, and I hope that soday we can et again under better circumstances.
Thank you.
But as he looked at Gu Hak-jun to say this,
The mont their eyes t,
Moon In-seop felt sothing welling up inside him.
So, the words that ca out of the boys mouth were completely unexpected.
So, Professor, you are willing to sponsor just for my talent, without really knowing who I am.
Uh Its not exactly like that No, actually, youre right.
Professor. Then what would you do if one day my talent disappeared?
Gu Hak-jun was at a loss for words. The boy had hit the nail on the head.
Gu Hak-jun ca to see Moon In-seop not to take care of a child, but to nurture a newcor in the literary world.
To him, the boy said:
Right now, before your eyes, is not a freshman just entering university, but a sixth-grader in elentary school. You suggested that this child leave the orphanage and enter a dormitory, offering to provide tuition, educational environnt, and connections, and promising to protect from the harshness of the world.
You say its sponsorship, not adoption, but from my perspective, this is closer to adoption. Arent you almost proposing to raise ?
But if the reason is not love, but talent, it will be a big problem later.
Gu Hak-jun, startled, tried to deny it, but eventually nodded, as Moon In-seops words seed to see right through his heart.
You want to take fishing, invite to your house for dinner, introduce to your children, sit with alone in a room for hours talking about writing, and proudly introduce as your student in front of your acquaintances, right?
!!!
The boy chillingly hit the nail on the head regarding Gu Hak-juns true intentions.
Gu Hak-jun felt as if his dark desires were being exposed in the light of day.
It would have been different if it were just the two of them in the living room, but the presence of the childcare teacher, Bang Jeong-ah, doubled his embarrassnt.
However, his admiration for the boy grew.
After all, where did this boys insight co from?
Was this truly a talent given by heaven!
Yet, as Gu Hak-juns fondness increased, the boy looked at him with cold eyes.
Really. How shallow.
Child, child! Oh, its a misunderstanding! I, I really didnt co with that intention!
Watching Gu Hak-jun, who had once relentlessly pursued him in his past life, now desperately pleading, Moon In-seop felt an indescribable and sowhat guilty pleasure (though he wouldnt admit it).
So, he finally brought up even Gu Hak-juns hidden weakness, stabbing him in the heart.
Even while reading your representative work, The Altruist, I felt it a bit. You have a slight tendency of self-importance.
How, how did you know!!!
Did you think that as a famous novelist, I would be honored to follow you upon your visit? What makes you think I should abandon my current environnt and rely solely on you?
Before long, Bang Jeong-ah, her face flushed red, covered her mouth, deeply engrossed in the (lodramatic) drama unfolding before her.
So, when Moon In-seop suddenly stood up, she felt a tinge of disappointnt that this situation was coming to an end.
Im sorry to respond this way after your long journey, but it seems difficult for to accept your sponsorship. Please return safely.
With that, the boy left resolutely.
But Gu Hak-jun couldnt let the boy go just like that.
To lose soone who could discern his deepest psychology from just one novel, Moon In-seops talent was beyond Gu Hak-juns imagination.
Child! No, Moon! Just listen to for a mont!
However, despite Gu Hak-juns desperate call, the boy paused for a brief mont, giving him a fleeting look, and then resolutely walked out of the living room.
It was sumr.
* * *
Ki-hoon hyung, do you have a cigarette?
You want to die?
I craved a cigarette that day.
Leaning against a tree in the orphanage yard, I looked up at the sky. I rember leaning against this tree and looking at the sky on the day I returned to the past.
White clouds drifted by, and the fresh sprouts on the branches swayed gently with every breeze.
Birds spread their wings and followed the wind, and the planet I stood on was also orbiting in its path.
Even though its natural for things to flow according to set rules, I found myself going against the flow of ti.
What exactly is talent?
Why does it change the way people are treated so drastically?
I wasnt even a real genius.
Just a novelist who traveled back in ti.
So, it wasnt that people were fascinated by a genius; rather, they were excited by their social consensus to consider this guy as a born genius.
The world is in such a state.
The sudden wealth and fa only attracted scamrs, not seeming particularly valuable. The happiness I truly wanted was left behind in the gaps of ti.
The only thing that seed to remain was writing.
I should write
Writing on the manuscript paper seed like it might sowhat untangle my complicated feelings.
It was then, as I was about to head to the study room.
Ding-
A ssage arrived. It was from Lim Yang-wook.
An ominous ssage.
So much so that I unconsciously read it aloud.
Dont be surprised by anything that happens from now on?
What does that an?
The answer soon ca rushing at from all directions as people from the orphanage hurried to inform .
In-seop! On the internet!
Youve been accused of school violence!
* * *
A post alleging that Moon In-seop, famous as a child prodigy novelist, had committed school violence appeared on the internet.
It was based on records of a School Violence Committee eting, claiming that Moon In-seop falsely accused three students, instigating them to be beaten by bullies from the sa orphanage.
Naturally, public opinion did a 180-degree turn from before. A torrent of fierce criticism poured in. As always.
[What? Another school violence case?]
I knew it would co to this.
I had a feeling just by his face.
Im staying neutral for now.
Neutral? LOL, hes real trash.
This was nothing unusual. How many celebrities had fallen due to school violence revelations? I was just another na on the list.
Originally, the plan was to bribe a couple of parents of the school violence victims and put them in front of the cara, but that would have made it too easy to find out that Yang Sung-jun was behind this. It would be a big problem inside the company if it beca known that Baekhak Publishing was interfering with Baekhak Entertainnts business.
So, it would have revealed that this school violence case was entirely fabricated?
Exactly. So, I did my best to prevent it.
Lim Yang-wook smirked.
Publishing Planning Departnts Deputy Kim received that smile.
Well done, Deputy Kim.
No, I just followed your instructions.
Deputy Kim repeated to Lim Yang-wook the sa words he once said to Yang Sung-jun.
It was a betrayal.
He betrayed Yang Sung-jun and sided with Lim Yang-wook.
His expression still not entirely bright, it seed that Deputy Kim still felt uneasy about this fact.
Lim Yang-wook quickly caught on to this psychology and subtly encouraged Deputy Kim.
Ah, Yang Sung-jun, that guy is really ruthless. How can soone send an elentary school student to their doom without a second thought, just for the sake of his company life?
Haha.
Tsk. Hes still the sa, sending the entire Publishing Managent Task Force to ruin. Its just heartless of people from the sa company.
Lim Yang-wook was naturally gaslighting Deputy Kim.
This is like. Falling into his own trap, isnt it?
Thats, thats right.
Dont worry too much, Deputy Kim.
Lim Yang-wook gently smiled and patted Deputy Kims shoulder.
Ill take care of everything.
After soothing Deputy Kim and sending him away, Lim Yang-wook did not forget the fact that soone who had betrayed once could betray again.
Pretending to be weak.
No matter how much they pretend to be good, such people eventually cling to the stronger party, like bats. They know too well that the strong write history.
That was the realization Lim Yang-wook had after two years of commuting to the underground parking lot.
If you have power, you can justify the process. You have to win first.
Strike before being struck.
And so, he struck.
Lim Yang-wook instigated Deputy Kim to throw the bait of Moon In-seops school violence at Yang Sung-jun, and Yang, cornered to his limits, took the bait.
Its over.
Yang Sung-jun wasnt a good boss. In the end, soone who climbs by stepping on others is bound to get caught in their own karma. Lim Yang-wook briefly wondered if he might end up the sa way, but then he organized his thoughts and decided to finish what needed to be done.
Senior? Yes, its . I think its ti to release the details of the investigation.
But theres a saying that even if you know a thousand miles of water, you cant know the heart of a person. Could it have been said for no reason?
The little ball that Yang Sung-jun shot into the air was rolling in a strange direction.
* * *
When public interest in Moon In-seop was at its peak, Yang Sung-jun triggered the controversy of school violence.
Then, as soon as Yang Sung-jun stirred up the controversy, Lim Yang-wook would imdiately release a counter-article to label him as trash.
Simultaneously, he would reveal that Baekhak Publishing was attacking Baekhak Entertainnt, leading to Yang Sung-juns downfall.
That was Lim Yang-wooks plan.
However, Lim Yang-wook wasnt an expert in public opinion wars, and his response was too swift, causing the fire to die down prematurely.
[What? It wasnt true?]
I knew this would happen
I thought the rumor was suspicious
Im staying neutral for now
Neutral? LOL, people like you are the ones who kill
However, the real controversy erupted from an unexpected place, with a phrase Yang Sung-jun ntioned while spreading the rumor acting as the fuse of the bomb.
[100 million won?]
The public focused on the money.
[Moon the Author made 100 million won?]
[Hmm. A primary school student earning 100 million won? Is the book that good?]
[Making 100 million won with noise marketing. Thats a bit off]
Here, the fact that Moon the Authors book won 16 literary awards at once beca a problem. Were those awards bought with money?
Buying one might be a trick, but buying 16 doesnt make it art. The reason Moon the Author was attacked was not because of practices like debut fees, but ultimately because of jealousy.
The logic that one shouldnt profit from an unhealthy route to debut gained traction among the (jealous) people.
Yang Sung-jun, furious at the realization that he had nearly been played and killed by Lim Yang-wook, decided to make the most of the opportunity given to him.
These damn bastards! Get in touch right now!
Now was the chance.
It was ti to show these young fools who mocked the literary world a proper lesson!
Yang Sung-jun made such an appeal, proposing to the entire literary world to bury Moon In-seop.
But isnt there a saying that you can know a thousand miles of water but not the heart of a person?
Around that ti, the elders of the literary world had a slightly different view of Moon In-seop.
-Why would we lose a valuable talent in the Korean literary world?
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