Big Life

Chapter 140: I’m An Earthling (10)

“Team Leader Lee, are you really going to accept the reappointment?”

“Mm, maybe? But nothing’s confirmed yet, anyway,” Lee Soo-Hee quickly answered her team member and took a sip of coffee.

It was already 6 p.m. A day's work had just ended, and it was time for them to knock off.

"I'll be leaving first. You should leave early, too, Mr. Jung-Gu."

"Yes, Team Leader. Please be safe on the way back."

Lee Soo-Hee took the elevator along and pressed the button to B1.

“Phew…” A sigh escaped as Ha Jae-Gun’s face surfaced in her mind.

‘Idiot…’

She didn’t manage to hear a proper answer from Ha Jae-Gun that night. She had hoped that he would ask her not to go upon hearing news of her reappointment, but Ha Jae-Gun congratulated her and even supported her.

Lee Soo-Hee was both disappointed and speechless.

It was the same when he said that she could sleep over for the night. At that point, Lee Soo-Hee asked him how a woman could stay over at a man’s place when they weren’t even in a relationship to begin with.

And that was it…

Ha Jae-Gun didn’t say anything afterward.

‘No, I am the idiot…’

Lee Soo-Hee mocked herself as the elevator doors opened at B1.

Click, clack.

As she walked to her car, her phone rang. It was a call from Oh Myung-Hoon.

“What is it?”

— You still sound cold whenever you pick up my call.

“What do you want? Why are you calling me when you’ve completed the scenario for Dragon Knights?”

— I want to talk to you in person.

“Sorry, but I’m not free.”

— I’m at Dodo’s on the first floor. I really have something to tell you. I won’t take up too much of your time, so please.

“…All right, then.”

Lee Soo-Hee turned around and headed back to the elevator. Cafe Dodo was located in a corner of the first floor of their office building.

Oh Myung-Hoon had just picked up his order of americano and cafe latte from the counter when Lee Soo-Hee entered the cafe.

“You’re having a cafe latte, right?” Oh Myung-Hoon asked.

Lee Soo-Hee nodded lightly and sat across from him.

“If you’ve got something to say, do it quickly.” Lee Soo-Hee left her bag on the empty seat beside her. Her icy cold attitude made Oh Myung-Hoon smile faintly.

“I’ve got many things to apologize to you.”

“If you’re going to talk about the past, don’t.”

“I’ve also done a lot of bad things to Jae-Gun as well.”

“It’s fortunate that you’re still aware of that.”

“How’s the response for Dragon Knights?”

“So-so.” Her answer was short and straightforward.

The performance of Dragon Knights, which Oh Myung-Hoon wrote the game scenario for, was doing fine. It couldn’t be considered a success or a failure. Its performance was average overall.

“At the very least, I’m relieved to hear that there are no great losses. I did my best for it with the mindset that it’s my last work.”

Lee Soo-Hee’s eyes widened at that moment. “Your last work?”

“I just joined my father’s company,” Oh Myung-Hoon replied casually.

After taking a sip of his americano, he added, “I’m the Head of Sales in the company, so all the problematic issues come to me.”

“I see,” Lee Soo-Hee replied dryly with a nod.

She had known for a long time that Oh Myung-Hoon belonged to the family running OongSung Publication Group.

“Congratulations. Do a good job there.”

“Thank you. I’ll really do my best,” Oh Myung-Hoon replied with much determination.

“I’m doing everything that I can for the sake of the company and for the sake of my father’s acknowledgment. Father has recognized my recent efforts. Hyung is definitely angry at my ruthlessness, but Father has acknowledged my smart thinking.

”I’m going to work hard until I get to become the heir of OongSung Publication Group. I’ll keep climbing until I reach the summit.”

“Sure, sure.”

“I’ve also started going to a therapist. They say I’ve got some anger management disorder, but since it’s not serious, I should just take it easy, think of good things, and take my medication regularly.

”I’ll be able to recover in no time as long as I remain consistent. I’m even going to the hospital just for the company when I obviously hate it. I’ll do whatever I can—”

“Myung-Hoon.” Lee Soo-Hee cut him off and looked at him coldly. “I’m not here to listen to your life updates.”

“…”

“Why did you call me out here exactly? Why are you telling me all that?”

Oh Myung-Hoon looked down, unable to answer her.

Lee Soo-Hee let out a sigh of frustration. Just as she reached out for her bag to leave, Oh Myung-Hoon yelled, “In this world!”

A few customers in the cafe turned around in shock.

Even Lee Soo-Hee flinched at his sudden outburst.

“You’re the only one… I can say this to…” Oh Myung-Hoon’s breathing turned rough, and his torso quivered. He took deep breaths to calm himself down, and he even downed his Iced Americano in just a few gulps.

“That’s why I’m telling you all this…”

“…”

Lee Soo-Hee listened with a stiff look. She was surprised by his outburst, but she felt nothing emotionally. She didn’t have even a modicum of trust in Oh Myung-Hoon, as she was well aware of his personality.

Oh Myung-Hoon muttered, “I know very well why you dislike me. My biggest issue is the fact that I can’t distinguish between work and personal life. Plus, I trample on others if I find something unsatisfactory about them.

”Right now, I’m trying to change myself.”

Oh Myung-Hoon pulled out a book from his bag and placed it on the table.

Lee Soo-Hee’s eyes widened upon seeing the book.

It was the English translation of Ha Jae-Gun’s There Was A Sea.

“I’m spearheading the marketing for the US market.”

“…What?”

“I’ll be heading over to New York soon.”

Lee Soo-Hee’s heart was in turmoil for the first time since she met Oh Myung-Hoon here. Oh Myung-Hoon was in charge of marketing Ha Jae-Gun’s novel? She thought that things would not turn out well.

“Why are you telling me this?” Lee Soo-Hee asked, hiding her emotions.

Oh Myung-Hoon pushed the book to Lee Soo-Hee and replied, “I wanted your acknowledgment.”

“My… acknowledgment?”

“I think you would acknowledge me if I successfully marketed Ha Jae-Gun’s novel in the US market. I want you to acknowledge that Oh Myung-Hoon can distinguish between work and personal life.”

Lee Soo-Hee was speechless, but she eventually scoffed and said, “You’ve got to show good results to your father to become the successor of OongSung, anyway, right? It’s your work, too, so even if you don’t like it, you still have to make sure that Ha Jae-Gun’s novel will become a hit in the US market. Don’t get me involved here.”

“Soo-Hee, it’s really not like that.” Oh Myung-Hoon smiled bitterly and shook his head. “The readers of the Korean and US markets are different from each other. You must be well aware of that as well. It’s extremely rare for a novel to become a hit there.

”My brother, Ha Jae-Gun’s editor-in-chief, was the one who came up with this idea, so success or failure doesn’t really matter to me here. It won’t affect me at all.”

Lee Soo-Hee could not deny it and only bit her lips. Lee Soo-Hee had graduated from the same major. She was also aware that countless local writers tried entering the overseas markets to no avail.

As silence ensued for a while, Oh Myung-Hoon straightened out his necktie and broke the silence.

“I do dislike Ha Jae-Gun, and he definitely doesn’t like me as well, but my dislike of him is on a different level. The sight of him alone disgusts me, and my blood pressure goes to the roof. These are my honest feelings toward him. But…” Oh Myung-Hoon pointed at his face. “I want you to know that my disgust toward him is less than how much I like you.”

“…”

Oh Myung-Hoon picked up his coat and stood up, leaving Lee Soo-Hee in her seat, who was staring into space.

“I’ll be going first. The English translation turned out well, so take a read. You’re good at English, too, so you'll be able to enjoy it.” Oh Myung-Hoon said before heading for the door.

Lee Soo-Hee stiffly looked down at the English copy of There Was A Sea.

***

Ha Jae-Gun gave a blank look. He had just heard the news of the rookie actress Kim Na-Yeon’s suicide attempt. Kim Na-Yeon had performed as Eun-Hee in There Was A Sea.

“They said her roommate discovered her while she was trying to light up some charcoal in her own car. They’re unsure about what would have happened if they had discovered her too late. Thankfully, the reporters have no idea at all.”

Sat across from Ha Jae-Gun was Park Do-Joon, who was filling his glass full of whiskey. He had already emptied over half a bottle on his own, but it seemed insufficient for him.

“It must be tough on her mentally. I’m starting to regret the fact that I haven’t really spoken to her properly, even over the phone. I should have at least pretended to listen when she was complaining about it.”

Park Do-Joon downed the entire glass of whiskey, then let out a long sigh and shut his eyes tightly.

“What’ll happen to Ms. Na-Yeon?”

“They said she’ll head back to her hometown to rest.”

“…”

“Why did she decide to be an actress with that weak mind of hers…!” Park Do-Joon mumbled, growling to himself. His anger wasn’t directed at Kim Na-Yeon but at himself.

Ha Jae-Gun understood where Park Do-Joon was coming from, so he simply listened to him in silence.

“Don’t be mistaken. I’m not running to China. I was just feeling frustrated, and that is why the schedule was pulled up.”

“I won’t misunderstand; don’t worry.”

“Please help me take care of Chae-Rin while I’m away. She’s highly emotional, probably because of her love for novels. She’ll definitely bother you from time to time, but please console her for me.”

“Got it.”

Park Do-Joon opened his eyes and stood up.

Ha Jae-Gun followed out and asked, “Are you leaving already?”

“I’ve got a tight schedule tomorrow morning, so I’ve got to leave now. Tae-Bong hyung is waiting for me outside as well. I’m here just to talk to you for a while. Let’s drink again once I become a world star.”

“Don’t get ahead of yourself. And yeah, return as a world star.”

Ha Jae-Gun followed Park Do-Joon out of the house and sent him off.

Park Do-Joon’s expression, trying hard to maintain his dignity before Ha Jae-Gun, was burned in the retina of Ha Jae-Gun’s eyes. He could see that Park Do-Joon had been struggling, and he had been struggling for quite a while now.

Bzzt!

Ha Jae-Gun found his phone ringing when he returned.

Rika was pawing on his phone and crying as if asking him to quickly answer it.

“Who’s calling at this time? Huh?”

The caller ID showed Lee Soo-Hee.

Ha Jae-Gun picked up Rika in his arms and answered the call at the same time.

“Yeah, Lee Soo-Hee.”

— Are you home?

Lee Soo-Hee’s voice sounded sharp.

Ha Jae-Gun subconsciously straightened himself and replied, “Yeah, I’m home.”

— I’ve got something to tell you, so can I go over there?

“Now?”

— Or should I go over tomorrow?

“No. I was just surprised to hear that you want to come over when it’s already so late. Where are you? I’ll pick you up.”

— I’ll go over, I’m actually on the way now. Give me ten minutes.

Beep!

Lee Soo-Hee hung up immediately.

Ha Jae-Gun was bewildered, but he hurriedly cleaned up all traces of his drinking session with Park Do-Joon. Shortly after he had finished cleaning up, the doorbell rang.

Ha Jae-Gun opened the door remotely and wore his shoes.

“You took the cab over?” he asked, spotting a taxi outside.

Lee Soo-Hee nodded with her slightly flushed cheeks. “I was at a company dinner earlier and had a few drinks.”

It was a lie.

She actually went to the bar in the basement of their office building and had three glasses of drinks alone after her meeting with Oh Myung-Hoon. Still, her tumultuous emotions wouldn’t calm down, so she decided to visit Ha Jae-Gun.

“Come in.”

Ha Jae-Gun pulled Lee Soo-Hee into his house and sat her down on the sofa.

He was about to bring her something to drink when Lee Soo-Hee leaned on his back and said, “You don’t have to get me a drink. I’m here because I have something to say, and I’ll be leaving afterward.”

“Oh, okay…”

Ha Jae-Gun noticed the strange atmosphere and sat across from her.

Before Lee Soo-Hee began, she let out a long sigh.

“I’ve decided. I’ll be taking up the reappointment.”

“Ah…”

“Didn’t you agree as well? You said I should go since it’s a great opportunity,” said Lee Soo-Hee.

Ha Jae-Gun was surprised by her teasing tone of voice. He could swear that it was his first time hearing that kind of tone from Lee Soo-Hee.

“I wanted to share this good news with you first since you’re my closest friend in this world.”

“Soo-Hee.”

“What’s with that look? Aren’t you going to congratulate me?” Lee Soo-Hee tilted her head, finding it strange.

Ha Jae-Gun gulped, but he didn’t reply. There was no way he could congratulate her right away.

Lee Soo-Hee wasn’t the only one who had drinks. Ha Jae-Gun also had three glasses of whiskey with Park Do-Joon earlier. The alcohol was getting to him, and it made his heart pound harder against his chest.

A blanket of silence draped over the two.

“I don’t like it,” said Lee Soo-Hee.