Novelist Running Through Time
Chapter 32

TL: KSD

People’s tastes are like the sea. Endlessly vast.

Trends are like waves. Without form, without rules.

They just crash in when the time comes.

That’s what fashion is.

Dousing oneself with ice water. Dancing to strange music. Squid games. Hip-hop. Trot. The youngest member of an idol group. Insulting someone. Etc.

There’s a culture that dominates a certain period of time for no reason.

Liking something because others like it.

If you ride that trend well, you can make a lot of money.

“You probably got the gist of it, right?”

You have to keep these facts in mind if you want to work at a broadcasting station.

“Now let’s extract the essence of literature.”

The current wave crashing in was named ‘literature.’

EP 3-Magic Sword~nim, please control me!

It’s my first time at a broadcasting station.

Everything was unfamiliar.

The entrance that requires a card key to enter. People bustling about. The occasional celebrities. The implicit hierarchy among people. Filming equipment. The bright light of the lights.

The unfamiliarity felt in the overall atmosphere peaked when we arrived at the set. It looked natural on screen, but in reality, the space seemed unnatural and a bit too much.

A typical variety show filming set. I will soon be sitting right in the middle of it. The reality of filming a broadcast hit me, bringing an intense sense of nervousness.

“Are you okay, Author Moon?”

“Yes, well…”

“You look really pale…”

Baek Seol, who was acting as my day manager, looked at me with a worried expression.

She gently pushed my back, covered in a blanket, hurrying my steps.

“We better go sit in the waiting room quickly…”

“I don’t know much, but shouldn’t we greet the PD first?”

“In other companies, maybe, but we’re all from Baekhak Cultural Broadcasting. Since we’re from the same company, it’s not a big deal if we’re a bit late in greeting. So don’t be too nervous, Author. Your face is really pale right now…”

“Yes…”

Hearing that my face was pale made me suddenly feel nauseous.

Finally arriving at the waiting room, a familiar face was visible.

“Huh? You’re here?”

“Ah, Kim sunbae…”

Kim Byul, who had finished her broadcast makeup, looked older than usual. That means she looked like she was in her early 20s.

However, as she started to laugh at my appearance, she reverted back to looking like a mid-teen.

“Ahaha! Look at him! He must be nervous about his first variety show filming? His face has gone completely white. You really look like a primary school student today?”

“Kim sunbae looks a bit older today.”

“…Do you want to die?”

I shrugged my shoulders and passed her a sharp look.

Kim Byul’s manager and Baek Seol exchanged business cards, greeting each other.

“Ah, hello, I’m Kim Sung-geun, team leader at Baekhak Entertainment Management 2 Department.”

“Hello. I’m Baek Seol, manager at Baekhak Entertainment Publishing Management Department.”

“…!”

What?

“Manager?”

Baek Seol avoided my gaze, laughing awkwardly.

“Ah, ahaha.”

“Weren’t you clearly a deputy until last time?”

“Well… ‘Guitar’ sold so well… I ended up getting promoted.”

But still, such a rapid promotion, is that even possible?

-I wanted to question it, but having no experience with corporate life, I simply left it at a doubtful glance and moved on.

Meanwhile, Kim Byul had already approached us. She whispered with a sly smile.

“You seem to get along with the manager, huh? Don’t be fooled. Those people are ultimately just company people pretending to be on your side.”

“She’s not a manager but an editor, but I can see what Kim sunbae thinks of company people.”

“If you’re going to ignore my warning, I can’t help it… Just don’t come crying and regretting it later.”

Kim Byul introduced me to a boy she had brought along.

The boy, who had dyed his hair pink, was very noticeable.

“Let me introduce him. This is Min Hyo-chan. He’s in 8th grade, an idol.”

“Hi! I’m Min Hyo-chan, the main rapper of Rapid Boys!”

Min What’s-his-name suddenly tapped my forearm and said,

“Are you in 6th grade of primary school? Call me hyung!”

“Ah, yes…”

“Is this your first time on a broadcast? I’ll teach you a lot!”

As someone with the mental age of 23, I couldn’t bring myself to use the honorific “hyung” for a middle schooler. It’s the same reason I don’t use “noona” for Kim Byul.

But why was this idol in the waiting room?

The answer came from Kim Byul’s explanation.

“There are four guests for the talk show. You, me, Hyo-chan, and one more person. The concept is young geniuses.”

“Feels like Radio Star, doesn’t it?”

“We copied it.”

“Ah.”

Kim Byul handed me the script.

“There’s a script, but we won’t be following it exactly. It’s mostly freetalking, so stay sharp. Problematic statements will be edited out, but if you zone out, you won’t get any airtime.”

I was about to say I didn’t mind not getting any airtime when Min What’s-his-name interrupted.

“Hey- This broadcast is practically centered on Author Moon, and we’re just extras, you know! Sunbae! Worry about me first.”

“Why am I your sunbae? You ran away from being a child actor to become an idol.”

“I have to make a living too! And I like acting and rapping.”

After that, Min What’s-his-name kept interrupting Kim Byul and my conversation, stealing her attention.

I looked at the boy with pity.

His crush was all too evident.

From what I could see, if it was this severe, Kim Byul already knew. She was just playing dumb…

That became clear when Min What’s-his-name went to the bathroom.

I tentatively asked Kim Byul.

“…You know, right?”

“Hmm? Know what?”

“Min… What was it again. Anyway, Min~ssi’s feelings.”

“Min~ssi’s feelings? You speak so strangely, you…”

Kim Byul smiled meaningfully, indirectly acknowledging it.

“Don’t you know romance is forbidden in this industry?”

“That used to be the case, but not anymore, right?”

“That’s up to the management level. The fans’ hearts are the same as ever. They don’t want their favorite celebrities flirting with others…”

Kim Byul gestured towards Min What’s-his-name’s manager, who was nervously biting his nails.

“He debuted this year. This is all just temporary. Once he goes back and gets a scolding from his manager, he’ll give up on his own. So why should I outright reject him and bear a grudge? Being accused of being too picky or too expensive…”

“It feels like my energy is being drained even before the variety show starts.”

“Welcome to the entertainment industry.”

Then, the door to the waiting room opened.

Kim Byul and I thought Min What’s-his-name had returned, so we stopped our conversation and pretended to be distant.

However, the person who entered was the last participant of this variety show.

“Hello!”

I froze at the sight of her.

She was someone who shouldn’t exist at this time.

“Ah.”

My former lover.

A past connection I had severed with someone so inconsequential.

The woman with long hair flowing down greeted me with a handshake.

“Nice to meet you, Author Moon!”

“…”

“I’m the novelist Gu Yubin. Do you know me?”

“Ah.”

I know.

Very well.

Gu Yubin. A genius novelist.

Professor Gu Hak-jun’s eldest daughter.

My ex-lover’s older sister.

And.

-Is he oblivious? Or pretending not to know?

-Ask yourself. You already know, don’t you?

-Whether you’re really suitable for my sister.

The person who despised me more than anyone.

* * *

Gu Yubin was someone who couldn’t stand the orphan clinging to her sister.

Not just because of his background, but also because Gu Yubin herself was a famous novelist, which made her even less tolerant.

Inheriting the talent of the great author Gu Hak-jun, Gu Yubin published poetry collections since middle school and wrote novels that were adapted into dramas as an adult, although the drama flopped.

Regardless, her literary discernment was indisputable, and Gu Yubin, unlike her mother who simply belittled me for my background, completely shattered me in literary terms.

-It’s about deficiency, isn’t it? The theme of your novels. They all start with a deficiency and end with one.

-Can you confidently say that your love for my sister isn’t just a struggle to fill that deficiency? That you, who have never been loved, can fully love someone else? Don’t say I’m being too harsh. It’s all from the inner thoughts you’ve revealed through your novels. Am I wrong?

-You asked me to critique this novel, didn’t you? Here’s my review. Please break up with my sister. Just by looking at this novel, I can tell. You’re someone who uses the dark things accumulated inside as the driving force for creation. If you’re willing to go mad for the sake of creation, who would trust you with their family? Or answer me. Which is more important, writing or my sister?

-Why can’t you answer? Say my sister is more important than writing. Then I’ll persuade mother. Say it. Sᴇaʀᴄh thᴇ N0vᴇlFirᴇ.ɴet website on Gøøglᴇ to access chapters of nøvels early and in the highest quality.

-…You know, right? You’re this kind of person.

Gu Yubin, who looked at me with a colder and more indifferent gaze than anyone else in the world.

Now, she was sitting in the guest seat on the set, sending me a warm gaze.

“I was really surprised! How could a kid write this?”

Gu Yubin from ten years ago bore a chilling resemblance to my old lover I knew.

It seems she is a high school student now.

However, Gu Yubin, regardless of her age, was skillfully continuing the conversation with the MC.

“I published a few poetry collections in middle school and received the lavish praise of being a genius, but after seeing a real genius, I felt truly embarrassed.”

“Didn’t you feel jealous?!”

“Jealous? Jealousy requires being on the same level! I was completely overwhelmed as soon as I saw Author Moon’s writing.”

“Ah…! To that extent?!”

“Have you not read Author Moon’s novels?”

“Yes!”

“Please read the participants’ novels beforehand!”

Hahaha-!

Amid the laughter of the audience, prompted by the staff’s cue, Gu Yubin smoothly continued the conversation.

“Especially ‘Notebookist.’ It was really a great novel. Everyone has their own deficiencies, right? It objectively highlights those deficiencies while also warmly embracing them…”

“Ah…”

“I was really, really moved by it, Author Moon!”

Gu Yubin smiled brightly at me, and I delivered my line.

“Thank you.”

But I wasn’t thankful at all.

Enjoyed reading my novel?

Especially ‘Notebookist’?

Surely, 10 years ago, no, 10 years later, no, in the time beyond my memory, wasn’t it the novel she disparagingly criticized as disgustingly creepy?

Ha!

Only laughter comes out.

How does one become a novelist and change their judgments based on the situation, devoid of any steadfast artistic spirit?

Well, that was always Gu Yubin.

She was never serious about literature.

Even while being praised as a genius novelist, to her, literature was merely a hobby and an escape.

Did you think you were the only one? I didn’t like you either.

Some stake their lives on their writing.

Wasn’t Gu Yubin the one who suddenly quit being a novelist one day to take over her mother’s business?

So…

This is my petty revenge.

Take it in stride.

“I also… was deeply impressed by your novel, Author Gu Yubin.”

“Really? For real?!”

Gu Yubin received my words with exaggerated gestures. Though it seemed pretentious in person, through the camera, it appeared endearing.

“Author Moon read my writing? Wow! Really? Which book did you read?”

“The Cabin in the Snow Mountains.”

“Ah… You read that?”

The reason Gu Yubin was flustered is simple. It’s because the novel has a very high level of maturity.

However, my reason for mentioning that novel wasn’t to childishly tease her by bringing up its risqué scenes.

As Gu Yubin’s face turned red, she was drinking a sponsored mineral water, I sharpened my knife in my heart and threw it like a dagger into Gu Yubin’s heart.

“The owner of the mountain lodge that appears there… That’s Professor Gu Hak-jun, isn’t it?”

Pfft-!

Gu Yubin choked. The mineral water soaked the set’s table.

I didn’t stop there but continued to dig into Gu Yubin’s heart.

“The pain of inheriting your father’s talent but not being able to reach his level… The novel conveyed a distorted longing and jealousy towards your father very well.”

“Wa, wait…”

“The unpossessed talent, the bloated ego, and the irony within such a heart were unraveled in a grotesque narrative, which also felt inherited from Professor Gu Hak-jun’s writing.”

“Ah, ahh…”

“It seems you also use deficiency as the driving force for creation, writing novels quite similar to mine… That’s the impression I got.”

In my view, the reason Gu Yubin hated me wasn’t because I was a miserable wretch clinging to her sister.

It was self-loathing.

****

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