Chapter 73 – Reaction – Part 1

Chapter 73 – Reaction – Part 1

“You are not alone?”

Yes, I’ll be cheering you on from behind.

Jo Jeonghwan chuckled without realizing it.

And he spoke as if he wanted to hear a definite answer.

“Yes. I’ll just push it once. It’s no fun if it’s easy to reach ten million views, right? Isn’t that right, Woojin?”

Yes. I think anything that’s easy isn’t fun.

It was a genuine voice.

It was the same when Woojin was deducting the criminal.

If it was easy, he felt no emotion.

After the call, Jo Jeonghwan began printing the Hangeul file Woojin had sent.

The printer smoothly produced the pages, and Jo Jeonghwan carefully organized each one as if it were a treasure.

With that, the preparations were complete.

He slung his bag over his shoulder and went to find Media Dragon.

His senior, Media Dragon’s Deputy Manager, greeted Jo Jeonghwan with a smile on his face.

“You’re here? Coffee?”

Jo Jeonghwan subtly watched his senior’s expression and nodded.

Three billion won.

If someone who hadn’t shown any proof so far demanded three billion won, he felt like he’d immediately get an earful of insults.

“Sir, about Braille Murder. I’ve made a little more progress, you know?”

His senior’s expression, as he was making coffee, brightened a little more than before.

“Really? Let me see.”

“Here…”

After handing Jo Jeonghwan the coffee, his senior returned to his seat and quickly flipped through the A4 papers.

“Let’s see, let’s see.”

Jo Jeonghwan took a sip of coffee, but still felt parched, swallowing hard.

From his perspective, it was definitely good.

The moment he saw it, he was struck by inspiration like lightning.

Although it wasn’t even halfway through the content…

Conversely, his senior might think differently.

He was someone who had seen countless synopses and stories, a senior who could think from a thoroughly objective standpoint.

He couldn’t help but feel nervous.

How much time had passed like that?

His senior, who had been reading Braille Murder with a furrowed brow, looked up at Jo Jeonghwan.

“What’s next?”

“Yes?”

“Where’s the next part? Hahahaha! Hey! Jo Jeonghwan! Why haven’t you written anything all this time? Huh!?”

Jo Jeonghwan’s expression brightened considerably.

But that was only for a moment.

His expression quickly turned cautious again as he thought about demanding billions of won.

“Really?”

“Wow… The characters are great, and it’s very fresh. A girlfriend he promised to marry gets kidnapped, and the protagonist chases after her, right? And with profiling?”

“Yes.”

“The police mistake the protagonist for a suspect and chase after him. Good motive, good characters, the story development isn’t complete yet, but this… this could work.”

“I’ll really try my best to make it this time.”

His senior put an arm around Jo Jeonghwan’s shoulder in a friendly manner.

“What are you doing later? Let’s have a drink for old times’ sake. There’s also the story to talk about.”

“Oh, that is…”

“Why? Is something wrong?”

Jo Jeonghwan’s 고민 wasn’t long.

Because if he brought up money after drinking, he felt like even the side dishes might fly.

“Senior, um, well…”

“Why are you beating around the bush so much? Is there something you want? Should I get writers to work on it first?”

“No. I’d like to try it by myself.”

He looked at Jo Jeonghwan as if he hadn’t heard him correctly.

“What? By yourself?”

Jo Jeonghwan, who had been biting his lip, spoke as if he had made up his mind.

“Yes. But Senior… if this work hits ten million viewers, could I possibly get 4 billion won in royalties?”

“What?”

“3.5 billion won in royalties…”

His senior’s brow furrowed.

“I didn’t mishear that, did I?”

Jo Jeonghwan held up both palms to him as if to calm him down.

“Senior, if it doesn’t hit ten million, I won’t take ten million won, no, not even a single penny. If it hits ten million…”

“Are you a Master Director?”

“Pardon?”

“Are you a Master Director who won an award overseas? 4 billion won?”

“That’s not it, but…”

“You don’t even know how much directors in our country get paid for one film, do you?”

“I do, but…”

“Get out.”

At his coldness, Jo Jeonghwan’s head drooped powerlessly.

The good atmosphere quickly turned cold as if cold water had been poured over it.

“I apologize.”

Jo Jeonghwan turned around weakly.

The slight confidence he had when he first entered the room was nowhere to be found.

It felt like he was blocked by a wall of reality.

Click.

Jo Jeonghwan opened the door and slightly bowed his head to his senior, offering a greeting.

“Keep up the hard work.”

Just as he was about to close the door and leave.

“Hey.”

“Yes?”

“Are you serious about what you said?”

“What…”

“If it doesn’t reach ten million viewers, I won’t take a single penny.”

Jo Jeonghwan quickly approached his senior and said,

“Yes, absolutely. It’s true.”

“First, finish it and bring it to me. And write a written statement. Understood?”

“I’ve already written one, so why wouldn’t I write another? I understand!”

“What? Are you perhaps in the lending business…”

Jo Jeonghwan frantically waved his hand.

“No, no! I just suddenly remembered the scene where the protagonist writes a written statement.”

“You need to make it good. Make a good persuasion paper, I mean. Otherwise, how will I have a reason to talk to investors?”

He was referring to the work as a persuasion paper.

Jo Jeonghwan clenched his fists.

It felt like he had fallen into hell and then climbed back up to heaven.

A feeling of ecstasy enveloped his entire body.

“Senior, I’ll really work hard.”

“Bring it to me as it progresses. We are no longer senior-junior; we are strictly in a business relationship. If the content is even slightly off midway, I’ll cut it. Understood? We’ll drink after the movie is released.”

“Understood!”

“You can go.”

As Jo Jeonghwan, bowing deeply, disappeared outside, the senior chuckled and looked at the printout.

[Braille Murder]

‘Ten million… It might be possible.’

However, if the content wasn’t as fresh and interesting as it was now, he planned to stop it immediately.

Jo Jeonghwan, who had gone outside, kept throwing uppercuts into the air.

He even greeted a stranger he met in the hallway.

He felt so good that he immediately wanted to meet Woojin and called him.

“Ah, Woojin, it’s me. Jo Jeonghwan.”

-It seems the story ended well.

“Yes?”

-The only way for feelings to grow between Director Jo and me is if the story went well, isn’t it?

Jo Jeonghwan scratched his head.

Recalling their first meeting, he seemed like an ignorant child, but then his eyes would turn sharp, sending shivers down your spine.

Even now, his tone and atmosphere were strange.

But his thoughts were only for a moment.

Jo Jeonghwan replied with a refreshing smile.

“That’s right!”

-That’s good.

“But is something wrong?”

To Jo Jeonghwan, whose mood was uplifted, Woojin’s usual voice felt boring, like the Righteous Path.

-No. I’m peaceful.

“I thought you’d like it…”

-Hahaha! It really went well! I’m so happy, it feels like a rosy future is ahead!

Jo Jeonghwan blinked.

There was absolutely no soul in his laughter or tone.

-Well, I have to eat, so I’ll hang up now. Have a good day.

“W-wait, Woojin…”

Beep- beep- beep-

*

Kim Taehyun, dressed in uniform, stood on the platform.

He smiled awkwardly at the sight of numerous police officers sitting and looking at him.

This occasion was for a special promotion of one rank.

Kim Taehyun continued speaking.

“Finally, I want to express my endless gratitude to the person who made it possible for me to stand here. Thank you.”

Clap! Clap! Clap!

The Team Leader who was watching clapped the loudest.

He thought Kim Taehyun was pointing at him.

That was a considerable misunderstanding; Kim Taehyun’s mind was filled only with Woojin.

Just like that, the award ceremony ended, and Choi Gicheol approached Kim Taehyun.

“The Team Leader left first. He seemed to feel something grand. He said you should go home and rest today?”

“He’s only grand at times like this, but because of him, I use hair loss shampoo, you know? What rest? If I rest after getting promoted, what will people say? I’ll get cursed at. Now more than ever, I need to catch one more criminal and lead by example. Hey, Gicheol, just trust your big brother and follow me.”

“You’re going because you trust Woojin, right?”

“That’s what I’m saying. Let’s take a photo, one room.”

“What’s gotten into you? You’re someone who hates taking pictures.”

“I have to show it to Woojin, don’t I? Smile big.”

Click!

Kim Taehyun immediately sent the photo to Woojin.

[Thank you, Woojin!]

***

A few days later, Woojin was watching a competing program to ‘I Want to Know the World’.

Bomi, who was watching with Woojin, rubbed her arms and said,

“I hope they’re caught soon. Forensic investigation 15 years ago? They couldn’t catch the criminal because that kind of thing wasn’t developed, right?”

“It seems like both.”

“Both?”

“Yes, both forensic investigation and initial investigation.”

“Among them, who do you think is the criminal, oppa?”

On TV, they brought a few of the brave ones to the surface, but they didn’t dig into them persistently.

Similar incidents kept happening, and the murder case became increasingly mysterious, like a candle point.

“Not just one person…”

Kids, let’s eat some fruit.

Woojin’s words were cut short by Mom’s voice.

Because strawberries, one of Woojin’s favorite fruits, were coming.

Thank you for the food.

As Woojin and Bomi ate strawberries, Mom said while watching TV.

Mom hopes our son and daughter don’t watch too much of this.

Woojin changed the channel like lightning.

It’s too obvious and boring for me. Right, Bomi?

Huh? Well, it’s not exactly beneficial. Oh, these strawberries are really sweet, right? So Delicious, agree?

Yeah, for real.

I hope you don’t even use phrases like ‘So Delicious’. Mom found out it’s a compound word of a curse word, you know?

This time, Woojin answered first.

Bomi. As Mom said, let’s not use ‘So Delicious’ anymore. There’s also the good expression ‘Damn Delicious Ira’.

Mom blinked.

That sounds similar, though…?

Bomi lay down, giggling and rolling around.

It’s not a swear word, but. Hahahaha!

While Bomi was doing that, Woojin looked at his cellphone.

He had been receiving calls constantly since he started eating strawberries, but he didn’t want his family time to be disturbed during this important moment.

Others might just let it pass as natural, but for Woojin, each day was a new and deeply cherished time.

After an hour, Woojin went into his room and checked his cellphone.

A total of 13 missed calls.

It was Prosecutor Kim Cheolung.

As soon as Woojin called, Kim Cheolung’s voice was heard.

Are you busy? I didn’t wake you up, did I?

“Yes. I was eating strawberries.”

-……

Kim Cheolung, who had been silent for a moment, asked as if he had attained enlightenment.

-Strawberries?

“Yes. Strawberries.”

-Strawberries for over an hour… No, that’s not it. The stage is set, so the protagonist should move now, right? Detective Kim Taehyun also got a first-class promotion. How’s your time tomorrow?

“Yes. I have time.”

-That’s good. I’ll support the investigation team…

“Detective Kim Taehyun alone is enough.”

Woojin was someone who would have moved independently if he had the same authority as a Detective.

-Still, just in case…

“More importantly, Prosecutor, you haven’t forgotten our appointment to meet at the SL Hotel Restaurant, have you?”

-Chinese course meal…

“As expected, you have a good memory.”

-… No, but seriously! I don’t know why you’re doing this to me? Why are you really doing this? Huh?

“It seems you’re in a hurry, so I’ll catch the Criminal tomorrow and see you at the Restaurant in the evening then. Shall I take him to the Restaurant?”

-The Criminal? You’re bringing him to the Restaurant?

“Yes.”

-Why are you like this, seriously…