Chapter 6

#6. Real-time #1

He had also been thinking about writing a story within a story, and it seemed like a good idea to use such scraps of time.

‘After all, if I exaggerate a bit, I have a few hundred scripts that I started but never finished.’

Dawn sat on the swing, placed his laptop on his knees, and began to write, letting his hands flow freely.

***

There was a pair of twin siblings.

They had been abandoned since they were young but were fortunately raised by a neighboring couple.

At first, the siblings were wary of them.

However, they soon became moved by the couple’s kindness and sincerity and, when they grew up, decided to take care of the couple’s old age.

Five years passed.

They had grown from young students into respectable young adults. The elder had landed a job at a prestigious company, and the younger was about to graduate.

They suggested a trip to Europe for the elderly couple, who initially refused but eventually agreed with joy due to the siblings’ insistence.

However.

Three days after the elderly couple left for overseas.

The siblings were named as suspects in a murder case.

It was true.

The siblings looked at each other.

They didn’t know what was in the suitcase, but they were seized by a foreboding feeling.

...It was because it contained the elderly couple’s instructions.

***

Ding, ding-!

Dawn, who had been deeply engrossed while sitting on the playground swing, suddenly snapped back to reality at the sound of the alarm.

“Good thing I set the alarm.”

He almost lost track of time.

“I really wanted to write a thriller, and I think I did a good job.”

This seemed like a good way to build up the story.

If he laid the groundwork and its consequences well, it should work.

‘The key is whether the readers can follow along.’

He was confident he could guide them slowly, like piecing together a puzzle.

That was what he did best, what he had always done well.

Dawn closed his laptop and stood up. He had neatly summarized the synopsis, so he could continue without any trouble later.

‘I should organize the works I wrote before...’

Actually, his early works had many unsatisfactory parts, and he wanted to polish them and publish them.

Recalling his days of coming and going from Utopia Publishing during the contract period, Dawn took a step forward.

First, he would take a bus to the nearest station.

Then, he would transfer to the subway twice.

‘Even on a weekday, the station is crowded.’

The regained youth and the era he was reliving were truly fascinating.

‘Come to think of it, there was this kind of fun too.’

The sense of loss and loneliness called for early success in his youth.

However, with talent and capital backing him, he became indulgent and impulsive much earlier than others.

‘Well, I wanted to prove it...’

He thought he had to live well since he had given up everything.

Otherwise, he would end up being less than trash on the street.

Dawn, feeling a bit melancholic, picked up his phone.

‘Might as well think about writing.’

When he thought about writing, other distracting thoughts didn’t come to mind.

‘The cover reaction is good?’

He had tried to make it look like it was drawn on a computer, and it was worth the effort to take a good photo and upload it.

‘I should definitely ask them to draw it this way in the future.’

If the cover was made based on his drawings, it would be great.

- This is Gangnam Station, Gangnam Station. The doors will open on...

Dawn followed the crowd off the train.

‘Why am I nervous?’

Is his body and mind still young?

‘After living so long, why now?’

Well...

Anything is fine.

A young man with a sturdy body but still a youthful face mixed with the crowd, climbing the stairs and escalator. His steps were tense but full of energy.

***

Meanwhile, PD Moon Yubin was also waiting for the meeting with Dawn.

He had chosen the best seat in the cafe, a window seat where a gentle breeze blew.

The seat was too good.

He had dozed off in the autumn breeze.

Nodding off.

He was peacefully dozing off.

Sleeping well and eating well were things he always made sure to do as an editor, but lately, he had been a bit busy and lacked sleep.

“Mmm.”

He groaned in his sleep.

Since fishing was PD Moon Yubin’s hobby, in his dream, he was happily humming while sitting by a small pond.

- This place won’t have any people, right?

He hummed, looking at the rippling water.

Then, the fishing rod twitched.

- Huh?!

It was a bite.

- It’s here, it’s here!

He quickly reeled in the line.

The strong pulling force suggested it might be a big catch.

- What, ugh...! What kind of fish has this much strength...

It was strange.

Not a normal fish, maybe trash?

Or something else?

- No, no...!

He couldn’t let it go. Driven by curiosity, he exerted all his strength, his face turning red.

At that moment, PD Moon Yubin, who had been leaning back, suddenly woke up as the strength in his arms gave out.

“!”

He looked around and scratched his head.

It was a dream.

“Hey, how long was I out?”

Looking at his phone, he saw he had only dozed for about five minutes. It was fortunate he didn’t sleep longer. He sighed and leaned back in his chair.

‘I haven’t been able to go fishing lately, so I guess this is how my hobby is being satisfied.’

He shook his head, still feeling the sensation of the big catch in his hands.

“Did I send the text properly?”

Despite his usual calm and easygoing nature, today he was so nervous that his stomach felt a bit uneasy.

“Hello.”

“!!!”

A voice from nearby.

Turning around, he saw someone naturally greeting him without any hesitation.

“Are you PD Moon Yubin from Utopia?”

A man with a moderately low voice, clear and distinct pronunciation.

“Ah...!?”

PD Moon Yubin instinctively knew this was the writer Gu Huidong.

He seemed soft yet firm, but his eyes also had a sharp and sensitive look.

‘This is Gu Huidong, huh.’

His demeanor was upright, but his eyes showed a stubborn, my-way attitude.

‘He’s much younger than I thought? And he’s not even a seasoned writer...’

But he could tell at first glance that he wasn’t someone to be underestimated.

Moreover, the formula was already set and organized in his mind.

‘A newcomer who can write better than established writers, the ability to catch trends, and a young age with endless potential.’

PD Moon Yubin’s heart pounded.

It felt like he had caught a big fish.

When fishing, you sometimes get a tingling sensation, right?

‘Oh, fishing?’

He got goosebumps.

It was because of the dream he had just had.

‘Catch it. No matter what, I have to catch it. This is the biggest achievement of my life. If I catch this, we’ll all rise together. Utopia, Moon Yubin, and Gu Huidong will all go up.’

PD Moon Yubin bit his lip. Am I too excited?

Is there any basis for this?

‘No, is there no basis?’

Everything that has happened so far is the basis.

After silently shouting to himself, PD Moon Yubin suppressed his tension and stood up.

“So, um, Mr. Writer, what drink would you like?”

***

PD Moon Yubin observed Dawn.

Gu Huidong was reading the contract more carefully than expected. Usually, young writers just skim through it.

‘Was it my prejudice?’

It would take some time, so PD Moon Yubin quietly sipped his coffee and waited.

Meanwhile, Dawn’s eyes also moved back and forth.

Once through the contract.

A sip of strawberry latte.

Back to the contract.

‘Everything else is fine, but the part about secondary works is a bit concerning.’

He had done this kind of contract dozens of times, and Utopia had never caused any major issues before his regression.

‘Still, I can’t overlook it just because it’s visible.’

He knew that such issues, big or small, had happened in the past.

‘Like the transfer of copyright without the author’s approval... or something like that.’

There might be many stories, but he didn’t want to deal with the hassle.

Moreover, with the past changing, there might be good butterfly effects, but there could also be bad ones. It’s better to be careful. Dawn pointed out a clause in the contract.

“Here, this part. Can it be modified?”

“Which part?”

“Here.”

-Utopia has the right to protect secondary works.

Dawn moved his finger along the text.

“Can it be changed to ‘has the right of priority’?”

“Um...”

PD Moon Yubin checked the contract.

“Huh?”

His eyes widened.

‘I brought the wrong one...!’

He had a feeling he had forgotten something, and it turned out he had brought an old version of the contract.

He bit his lip and clasped his hands.

‘I underestimated him and thought he was just a kid, but he’s really sharp.’

He handled the contract like someone who had written dozens of them.

“Mr. Writer.”

“Yes?”

“I brought the wrong contract.”

“Huh?”

Dawn quickly understood the situation.

“Oh.”

It was actually a relief.

If it was the wrong one.

“It was a minor change, but I made a silly mistake.”

What to do.

‘What to do? Run, Moon Yubin...!’

Most importantly, he needed to sign a contract with Gu Huidong right away.

Fortunately, the company and the cafe were not far apart.

He stood up.

“Mr. Writer, I’m really, really sorry, but could you please wait a moment while I run...”

“Oh! PD Moon!”

“?”

He turned his head at the familiar voice.

A small woman in low heels was running over.

‘Is it PD Han Sujung?’

And,

She was holding the contract that PD Moon Yubin had left behind.

She had run over after seeing him take the wrong contract.

Of course, he hadn’t told her to follow.

He thought it would be interesting to see what would happen if she followed.

And his prediction was correct.

“You took the wrong document.”

“PD Han...”

PD Moon Yubin’s expression showed relief, and PD Han looked a bit proud, but the important thing was not her.

It was the person sitting across from PD Moon Yubin.

‘So this is Gu Huidong, huh?’

PD Han met Dawn’s eyes.

‘What. He’s a high school student...’

Usually, new writers, being in their first contract, show their emotions about whether their work will do well or if the contract is right.

But he was calm and composed.

‘PD Moon, you really found a good one.’

Writing is one thing, and the person is another.

He had always believed this and seen many writers, but he never really thought about it.

‘I’m envious.’

He seemed like someone who would soar high and become famous.

***

Dawn, after signing, stretched his back.

‘This means a contract with Utopia...’

Utopia grew into a large company with good overall treatment, including secondary works.

So there was no reason not to form a relationship now as a new writer.

“Thank you, Mr. Gu Huidong.”

“Ha ha, yes.”

“Working together, you will never regret it.”

Noticing PD Moon Yubin’s eyes lingering on the signature for a moment due to the unusual name, Dawn smiled.

“My name is unique, right?”

“No, no. It’s a great name. It’s the most impressive name I’ve seen.”

He seemed more flustered than before, as if he was disappointed by the unexpected events.

Seeing Dawn’s mature demeanor, PD Moon Yubin hesitated and then asked.

“Um, this might sound a bit abrupt, but I’m curious. Are you still a student?”

“Yes, I’m still a student.”

“Then, your school...?”

Ah.

Dawn answered coolly, as if it was no big deal.

“I’m a dropout.”

“Huh?”

“Due to various reasons, but it won’t affect my writing.”

“I see...”

PD Moon Yubin’s reaction was momentarily off but quickly recovered.

Actually, it meant he would have more time to invest in writing.

“So, it might even be a good thing. As a full-time writer.”

“Yes, you won’t have to worry about deadlines.”

“...Thank you again, Mr. Gu Huidong. Then, about the paid release... shall we go as fast as possible?”

PD Moon Yubin extended his hand as if to shake.

Dawn looked at the hand for a moment and then shook it.

“Yes, my goal is to go fast.”

“You might go even faster than you think.”

PD Moon Yubin showed his phone screen to Dawn.

Dawn met his eyes.

The eyes were filled with more confidence and excitement than his own, making it impossible not to feel trust and reliability.

“Real-time #1, just now.”