Chapter 8

#8. Samgyeopsal Party

"Art school...?"

"Yeah. How about going to the art department? You like drawing, and you have talent, don't you?"

Somehow, Nara's eyes started to dilate.

The only clear sound was the sizzling of the egg roll.

"Brother, we—"

"What? No money?"

Nara's response was exactly what he expected.

After all, from her perspective, she had been acting neurotically just a month ago, and the household had been in a mess.

"We have money."

"..."

But Nara remembered Seulgi complaining about the lack of money and getting annoyed.

"Really...?"

"Yeah. I kind of got a job similar to that."

"Could it be writing?"

"Yeah. So, answer me. I need to set aside some money."

Seulgi approached the rice cooker and took out four bowls while asking. If she wanted an answer from Nara, it was best to get it as quickly as possible.

After all, the application period was a bit late, and she wanted to send Nara off well-prepared like the other kids.

"I..."

Nara looked like she was deep in thought.

'The problem isn't whether she trusts me, but...'

Her eyes showed that she wasn't used to such kindness.

Seulgi's heart ached with sympathy, but she waited for Nara's answer.

The reason was that Seulgi trusted Nara.

'Yuna, you're my little sister, after all.'

She knew that Nara wouldn't refuse such an opportunity. Despite appearing gentle, Nara was likely to be ambitious and have big dreams, just like her.

"..."

Nara fiddled with the spatula in her hands.

Finally, Nara answered.

"If you help me, I have confidence."

***

Seulgi checked the last sentence and hit Enter. With this, the ten stories for today's 10-episode update were all prepared. Seulgi stretched her stiff body after setting up the ten stories for reservation.

'With the points I've saved, I don't need to worry about the number of purchases.'

She had tried her best to make them interesting, and if the readers appreciated them, they would meet the average. Seulgi closed her laptop. Now, it was time to play with Dali.

"Dali!"

"?"

Seulgi picked up Dali, who was folding paper, and spun her around.

"Next week, you can go to kindergarten."

"Kindergarten?!"

"The one where you ride the yellow bus."

"Yay! Kindergarten! Friends! Treats!"

Seulgi had asked PD Moon Yubin about the settlement date and adjusted the paid release date to receive the money as quickly as possible, which turned out to be a wise move.

"Dali, what do you want to eat the most these days?"

"The one from last time."

"That one?"

"Rice with meat on top!"

Ah, sushi?

"Beef sushi?"

"Yup!!!"

"Got it. I'll remember it."

"Hehe, remember!"

Seulgi laughed, and Dali, feeling good, pressed Seulgi's side hair with her small finger.

"Think about what toys you want. I'll buy them when I have time."

"I want the kangaroo set and the princess doll!!!"

"Sure, sure."

"And the princess wand, crown, and gloves too..."

Dali, excited by the toy talk, recited the dolls she had seen in TV commercials.

"Okay, got it."

***

Meanwhile, at Utopia Publishing.

PD Moon Yubin's mouth dropped open when she saw the real "10-episode update."

"Really ten?"

Occasionally, such authors existed.

But very rarely. PD Moon Yubin had only heard about them, never seen one. A debut author doing a real 10-episode update.

'Having a lot of time to write isn't just a casual statement. Readers will be amazed too.'

So, did he really decide to take this path?

PD Moon Yubin double-clicked the mouse and focused on Go Hwedu's story.

"..."

It was interesting.

She could understand why readers reacted the way they did.

It was just interesting, without any hitches. There was no need to remember plot threads or item names. The protagonist didn't slaughter enemies in one go.

'So refreshing.'

PD Moon Yubin rubbed the goosebumps on her arm and took off her glasses.

While rubbing her forehead, she sensed the familiar footsteps and the perfume of another PD.

"Wow, what is this?"

"Manuscript."

PD Han Sojeong squawked at PD Moon Yubin's rhetorical question.

"Am I supposed to not know? I was asking because there are ten windows below."

"Oh, isn't it amazing?"

"Hmph, I've never seen a 10-episode update before. PD Moon, you'll be seeing a lot of Go Hwedu's work from now on, such a grand sight."

"Are you that envious?"

"Ha, yeah. Of course. It's interesting, after all."

"It is interesting."

It had been a long time since she read 10 episodes, especially the drafts, so quickly.

Even though it wasn't her own writing, and feedback was usually given considering the writer's blocks, this story had no issues at all.

PD Moon Yubin closed the window, noticing PD Han Sojeong's gaze lingering on her monitor.

"..."

PD Han Sojeong pouted.

Closing it, anyway, it was boring.

"Go Hwedu's paid release is today, right?"

"Yes. I'm looking forward to how much it will make."

PD Moon Yubin's one-sided smile made PD Han Sojeong playfully tease her.

"Ha, remember when I brought the contract? If the paid release does well, I get a 0.1% share."

"That's a bit..."

"Ah, really! It's boring."

PD Han Sojeong, clenching her fists, trembled while looking at PD Moon Yubin's round back.

***

Today, September 29th. Go Hwedu's [The Genius Author of the Slum] goes paid at 9 PM,

which means it's six hours before the paid release, 3 PM.

Seulgi put on her gym uniform and pulled down her cap.

"Let's go buy meat, Dali."

"Meat?!"

"We're going to eat samgyeopsal."

Because of Dali, she needed to buy some pork neck too.

On a day like today, she had to treat the kids to a meat feast.

'Dali's kindergarten. Su-chan's competition win. Nara's art school preparation.'

With such excellent reasons, it would be ridiculous not to give her siblings a treat.

"Yudal, get dressed quickly."

"Ugh, I want to watch TV."

It just so happened that her favorite melodrama was on. Seulgi resorted to her last resort.

"I'll buy you frozen teddy bear cookies."

"Yay!"

Dali hurriedly entered her room, and the sound of drawers opening made Seulgi shrug.

No matter the past or now, Dali couldn't resist frozen teddy bear cookies.

'Hmm.'

- Hey, Yuna! Don't feed your sister that junk, make her eat proper food!

- Sorry, brother... Dali really likes them.

Damn... Another bad memory.

Seulgi shouted to Dali.

"Take your time~."

***

In the small slum of Go Hwedu, there was only one mart, the SsangSang Mart.

'...Nara has been to the mart.'

In the past, when she received daily wages or monthly salaries, she managed the money.

'Helping with nothing, complaining about their lives, drinking, and smoking.'

Honestly, if they hadn't just spent the money carelessly...

They could have had proper meals with her siblings.

"Give me one pound of samgyeopsal and half a pound of pork neck. We're going to grill it."

"Sure, just a moment-."

While ordering at the meat counter inside the mart and carrying Dali, who was excitedly running around, someone called out.

"Hey? Seulgi?"

...Someone called her name. Seulgi slowly turned around.

She was worried it might be the neighborhood troublemakers, but fortunately, it wasn't.

"Juseokhyun?"

"Hey, what's up! I didn't know you were still in this neighborhood!"

"It's been a while."

Juseokhyun.

They used to spend the most time together before he started hanging out with the troublemakers, knowing they were in similar situations.

"I thought you had moved far away."

"Where would I go, with no money?"

"Man, this guy. When did you disappear like you'd never see me again?"

"..."

He's a good guy.

- Hey, Seulgi!!! Don't you have to finish high school? Why are you dropping out suddenly?!

- Get lost, damn it. Are you going to be responsible for my life?

- Seulgi!!!!

- If you keep interfering, I won't acknowledge you anymore.

She had roughly pushed away the worried Juseokhyun when she dropped out, but now, seeing him looking well...

"Are you doing well?"

"I'm doing great!"

"..."

"Doesn't seem like it. Where have you been getting into trouble? Why are your eyes so bloodshot?"

"Man, you know I'm clumsy."

Juseokhyun scratched his eyebrow and smiled, then frowned.

"..."

"But, you."

"?"

"You..."

Juseokhyun looked shocked, his face turning red.

"No matter what... You... You..."

"Why?"

"Did you... get into an accident? That's why you dropped out?!"

Accident?

Seulgi then realized she was holding Dali and stroking her head.

"Are you crazy, damn it!!!!"

***

Seulgi, carrying Dali, held a SsangSang Mart bag. Juseokhyun, standing next to her, laughed and offered Dali a lollipop.

"Sorry, I didn't realize she's five. She looks like she's only three."

"Overreacting."

...Or not.

'Dali is really light for her age.'

Honestly, she looked malnourished.

Compared to other kids her age with chubby cheeks and round bellies, Dali was small and thin because she didn't eat well.

"Aww, it's because you never told anyone you have a sister."

"..."

"Why didn't you tell anyone?"

"Well, I didn't think it was necessary."

She didn't want to reveal that she had younger siblings to take care of and that they were living in poverty.

But now, it was different.

"Cute, right?"

Seulgi pointed to Dali, who was leaning on her back, and smiled.

Juseokhyun nodded.

"Yeah, she's pretty. She looks like a child actor."

"She's a good actress too."

Seulgi whispered to Juseokhyun.

"She tried to imitate me smoking the other day. It was shocking."

"..."

"I'm glad you're doing well. I regret yelling at you the other day. When I thought about it, I wondered why we had to part ways like that."

"What, suddenly acting like an old man?"

Juseokhyun laughed.

"Well, I have a lot of things I haven't told you too."

"..."

"Usually, people in tough situations don't talk much about their lives, right?"

"Is that so?"

"Yeah."

Juseokhyun glanced at the mart bag Seulgi was holding and looked at the meat.

"Going home to eat meat with your siblings?"

"Yeah. You going home to eat?"

"Yeah."

"..."

"Do you want to join us?"

Seulgi lifted the bag and asked. Juseokhyun hesitated for a moment and shook his head.

"Thanks, but I have three siblings. What would I be if I joined?"

"I can buy an extra pound. Let's eat until we're full."

Maybe because it was an old friend, it felt a bit empty to let him go like this.

And because of the bruises on Juseokhyun's face, she wanted to talk more.

"Thanks, but I'll pass."

"..."

"Next time, just the two of us. Today, enjoy a family dinner."

"Sure, if you want."

Seulgi waved to Juseokhyun, and Dali, who was on her back, also waved her tiny hand. At that moment, Seulgi glanced at her watch and gasped. How did an hour pass?

She needed to wash the vegetables and prepare everything, so she needed to hurry.

"Come on, Dali."

"It's cold! The meat is cold!"

To start the pre-paid release party in Go Hwedu, Seulgi, carrying Dali, ran home.

Even then...

The comments on Seulgi's paid release announcement were still pouring in, filled with readers' anticipation.