Big Life

24 - Dragon Rider (6)

“I really appreciate your comments. I was surprised.”

Reconstruction responded with eyes aligned with Lika on her knees.

My nose frowned in front of the American editor who flew from across the sea.

I didn't know anything about the open house, but I liked it now. What's more valuable to the writer than just the price. I was just deeply grateful for reminding me of that again.

- I was pretty surprised, too. I... I don't know how far you've heard from Mr. Kwon, but a company called Open House...

“Subtle? ”

- Yeah, is it one-half the size of a knob or a skull? Last year's revenue would have been less than 60 million dollars. It's not small, but it's never big.

That's all I said. Eugene sighed for a moment.

- And I have one more thing to say. I didn't send the proposal to the open house first.

“Then…? ”

If I didn't send it, there's only one left. They contacted me first from the Open House. with a great deal of interest in The Bress. I spoke to the editor, and he was so passionate about wanting to sign The Bress. I was very surprised.

“What do you think, Eugene? ”

Reconstruction on his feet approached the coffee maker and asked.

Lika with her tail up at his feet and a snow globe following her like a guard.

“As an agent, Eugene is a publisher you haven't considered. But he showed me their proposal, saying that they had been contacted first. I think that's why you did it. ”

- That's …….

“You're positive, right? Open house.”

I asked as if I was sure of reconstruction.

Eugene's thin sigh creaks through the radio.

- Well, technically, yes. The open house is my personal favorite publisher. I specialize in publishing paperback genres, and they're a lot of fun. Fantasy, SF, deduction, fear, all kinds of genres.

“I see.”

- It could be a liability charge. Usually I filter when it's hard for me to tell whether this publisher is good or bad. But the open house couldn't do that. So I want to hear the opinion of Mr. Ha and Representative of Lapbook Books...

“I understand. You don't have to say any more. ”

The reconstruction returns to its place with a mug rising from the dead.

A new line was being added to his mailing list under the name Open House.

* * *

“Feel free to bid, Writer Ha. ”

“Let's bid on it? ”

“Yes, it's going to be quite competitive. It's not just knobbles and scholastic. Even the Wizard Pictures publishing brand can offer you a whole bunch of offers with the goal of filming. Now you can achieve much better terms than they have individually suggested. ”

“Mmmm... ”

An urban cafe on a sprawling sidewalk.

At the table facing the window, two men sat across from him.

As promised, the two men with anxious expressions were reconstructed and taewon. I was just about to meet with him on an open house contract proposal.

“I honestly thought Representative Kwon would cooperate. ”

The rebuild opened its mouth, rubbing both hands together. The heat was running in the cafe, but I was still cold as soon as I got in.

“I don't know if I'm delusional as a writer...... but I felt their sincerity when I saw the proposal. It kind of tickles when I put it like this, but it did. ”

The reconstruction mutters as it lowers its eyes.

“Just like when you first met Mr. Kwon. ”

“ ……. ”

“You recognized my work. I've never been to the top of a rank in my entire series, but my writing was so sincere that I liked it... I've told you many times, but I was so moved that day that I cried when I went home alone. ”

“Ugh, Writer…. ”

Tae-won groaned and took off his glasses.

After pressing both eyes and temples a few times, he put his glasses back on and opened his mouth in a grumpy tone.

“Writer Ha's situation has changed completely since then. ”

“Different?”

“You're off the charts of 2,000 copies a book. How many first editions do I have to make in this piece? Which country should we export to first? Should I sign the movie first? Or should I put on a show? Rather, this is what you're thinking about. ”

“That's not what I meant to say, Mr. Kwon……. ”

“I understand what you're saying, and I'll start with this. ”

Tae-won spoke in a particularly decisive tone.

“I am the editor of Hah and most of his works. How can I say this to you because I don't know what you're thinking? ”

The reconstruction silently bites the straw.

Iced coffee that I like, regardless of the season, flowed coolly down my throat.

“Let's assume that the writer wrote a new fantasy novel using the pseudo-random oil. a small publishing house, like the one you had when you were a newcomer. Would you be willing to sign up for a future like that? ”

“If the editor there is someone like Representative Kwon, he can pay. ”

Reconstruction was not difficult.

Tae-won immediately covered the frowning flesh with his palms.

“I'm sorry, I must have misled you, ah…… what should I call this? ”

I thought about what Tae-won would say to the back of his head.

Reconstruction did not rush or speak first. I was just waiting with a calm smile.

“Ahh... ”

Soon, Tae-won lets out a long sigh with his torso pulled back.

I realized that there was no way to convince them from the time the intention of reconstruction was clear. The gaze on the ceiling was turning back to reconstruction.

“If so, let's meet and then decide. ”

“Thank you, Jules. Thank you for understanding."

“They say they are eager to come directly to Korea. I wish I could tell you I'm not coming. ”

The two of them burst into laughter almost simultaneously.

Tae-won smiled bitterly like coffee and said.

“Since I failed to persuade you, I enjoyed the proposal. I felt enough that my attachment to The Bress was genuine. ”

“I'm glad.”

“I've been reading their feedback all night, and I can't find anything to argue with. I also asked my friends who had immigrated to the United States for input. It was a very objective response. ”

“I saw similar results in my short English skills. And I was confident that if I went through these corrections, The Bress would be much better off in the U.S. market. So whether the contract is signed or not, I really want to meet him. ”

Tae-won nodded and clapped his hands lightly.

“Then I'll tell you a story by the end of the day. We need to make arrangements as soon as possible. ”

“Very well. I'm getting hungry. Should we move?" ”

“By the way, it's already past 1: 00. Mr. Hahn, would you like something to eat? ”

“You've given up so much today, Representative Kwon. ”

The two men opened the door and left the cafe.

Despite December's fierce blade winds, the writer and editor who opened the collar were not so cold.

Their unstoppable smiles were scattered across the cold streets.

* * *

“You're coming to Korea? ”

With my phone, the water was dripping down from all over Myeong-seok's body.

It was Eugene's phone, which he received shortly after he finished showering after work.

“Yes, Hah, because of your work? You have an appointment yet? Yeah, where? Open house? I've never heard of a publisher like that. ”

Myung Seok continued the conversation dressed with a cell phone between his ears and shoulders.

Just then, a dull footstep rang from the hallway beyond the bathroom gate.

Myeong-seok's words became smaller and faster, realizing that he was a father at once.

“Eugene, I'm sorry, I'm home now. Yeah, I'll call you back. I'm hanging up now. Get some rest. ”

Myung Seok hung up the phone and put the phone in the robe's pocket.

It was hard to talk to Eugene in front of Taejin. Even if it was for a business purpose, it was one thing.

After returning to the room and changing his clothes, he stood up for a moment.

The slow pace led to the library in Taejin. There was something I wanted to say to my father before it was too late.

It was about Eugene.

Gulp.

The sound of swallowing the needle resonates loudly in both ears.

Knock, knock.

Myeong-seok suppressed the tension and knocked lightly on the door. Exhaustion, meaning to come in, has been conveyed.

“If you're so late, why aren't you sleeping? ”

“It's already like this since I've been struggling with my retirement. ”

Taejin rubs his back neck and grunts.

He looked behind his back, staring down at his desk, and his eyes widened.

“Is this how you feel? ”

“Yes, I sent it right after that day. ”

The answer was to hide the door to reconstruction with thick hands.

Myeong-seok, the eldest son, could feel the shameful sensation that flowed over his hard face.

“The results are not good……. ”

Taejin opens his mouth, gazing at the light of the stand.

“Even at its peak, it felt like it was written by someone else. The writing is foreign and the depiction has lost its liveliness, and I was surprised by the awkwardness... ”

“Can I read it, too? ”

Myeong-seok swallowed and invited me.

Taejin willingly handed over the Reconstruction Watch to his eldest son. I would not show it to anyone except my eldest son.

“ ……! ”

Reading five pages of A4 paper, the face of brilliance changed in time. Again, it was an inevitable reconstruction when evaluating the writing. There was not a single inch of sheep or a pretentious outsider.

‘Was it this serious...? ’

Tilting my head back for a moment.

Myeong-seok had to reflect that his arm was also bent inside.

It was my father's writing.

While I was unconscious, I was evaluating good as good, and even bad as good.

‘Father...! ’

I looked back at him with a sad look.

Taejin only smokes with his head shrunk. I had a good idea how much my heart hurt. Even though he was the eldest son, his father really worked hard on this chapter.

I stood still because I didn't know what to say.

After a while.

Taejin pulls the ashtray from the edge of the desk.

He rubs off the burnt cigarettes without a few sips, saying,

“You don't have to worry too much. We have to fix it again.”

“Cheer up, Father. ”

Myeong-seok comforted Tae-jin by gently rubbing his sheep's shoulders.

Taejin raises an arm around the back of his hand. Like always, my father's touch was reliable and warm.

‘Maybe I should tell you next time. ’

I couldn't talk about Eugene in this situation. Myeong-seok slowly withdraws his hands and bows.

“Good night, Father. I'm going in too. ”

“Yes, go to your room and rest..." Oh, Myeong-seok! ”

I stopped walking toward the door and turned around.

“Do you have something to say? ”

“I forgot because of the novel. You know Chairman Kim's youngest daughter? ”

“ ……. ”

There was no answer from the mouth of the mastermind.

It was because I knew who he was, not because I didn't know him. And the reason why Taejin is saying this.

“Reap and meet. ”

“Father, I still……. ”

“Look at your age and tell me I'm not there yet. I can't wait any longer. You're the eldest son of a choir. ”

“Of course I know. But I'm ready……. ”

“You already have an appointment, so know that. ”

Taejin finishes his sentence decisively.

The two eyes of the dominant pupil were losing focus.

“…… no. ”

A word that broke the silence and moved on.

A heavy wave echoes through the darkened interior of the library.

“I can't... … no, Father. ”

“What the hell! ”

Taejin stood up furiously.

As he approached Myeong-seok's nose, he lifted his finger and gritted.

“Why can't you do that? Why not? I'll listen to you, so tell me right here! But if that's what I'm guessing, why don't you shut up and go back to your room? ”

“Father...! ”

Taejin was even lashing his lips with a furnace.

He looks up his thick fingers in front of Myeong Seok's eyes and grunts like a horse.

“I've only touched you once in my entire life! Don't make this father do this to you again for the same reason! Do you understand?”

“ ……. ”

“Why can't you answer me? Do you understand?”

“Father, I mean it. I really love Eugene... ”

Get out of here!

The glasses bounced off the face of the masterpiece.

One of his crooked cheeks is swollen red on the spot.

“I don't want to hear it, so get out of here! ”

Taejin points to the exit along with Ilgal.

Myeong-seok, who held his mouth tight, lowered his waist deeply and gave a silent greeting. Taejin seemed to be crying when he saw the back of his glasses stumbling.

Yuck.

After opening the door, Myeong Seok heads to the reception room, not his room. I didn't think I could get any sleep without a drink.

After arriving in the reception hall, he met Myung-hoon who was occupying his seat first.

“ ……. ”

“ ……. ”

The two brothers stared at each other for a long time, but there were no words.

The one who caught my eye first was Myeonghun.

Myung Seok takes out a bottle of tequila and a glass from the cupboard.

“Did you come all the way here? ”

“Then why didn't you hear me? ”

A sip of vodka in my hand stood me up.

“I heard I was working in New York. ”

“You have such a big voice. ”

Myeong-seok sat on the couch opposite him.

I was thinking about what to continue the conversation with my brother, but Myeong-hoon threw it out first.

“If I were you, I wouldn't stop. ”

“…… what? ”

“If you love someone so much, don't you have to earn it by all means? Eugene loves you, too. What's wrong with sterility? Adoption won't solve this. ”

“Let's not talk about that here. ”

Myeongseok inhaled a strong drink with a straight stroke.

Myung Hun snores and stands up.

“Suit yourself. I don't live like my brother. ”

“I see.”

“Stay with me, brother. Then maybe I'll take over as the next leader of the Vocal Group. I'm going in.”

When I finished speaking coldly, Myung Hun turned away.

By the time I couldn't see him completely beyond the stairs on the second floor, he muttered in a voice small enough that only he could hear.

“I wish it were like that.... ”

The brown liquid poured out filled another glass.

Myeong-seok leans back and quickly pours the liquor into his body.

Eugene's face came to mind in the scent of dark alcohol. From a distance where you can't reach at all.

< 24 - Dragon Rider (6) > End

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