Chapter 16: The Writer’s Contract

Chapter 21: The Writer’s Contract

[New Mail 1.]

A new mail notification popped up.

[Faith Publishing]

It was an email from the publishing company.

I moved the mouse cursor and clicked on it.

[We are pleased to bring you good news.

For [Title], an additional 5,000 copies each for Volumes 1 and 2 have been reprinted, and 10,000 copies have been decided for Volume 3.

The total print run is 20,000 copies, and the settlement amount after withholding tax will be 8,122,800 KRW, which will be deposited into your account within two days.]

“Huh... Is this for real?”

My eyes blinked.

“This isn’t... a dream, right?”

I had vaguely hoped, “Maybe it will do well.”

But I never imagined things would resolve so quickly like this.

That difficult reprint.

My head was buzzing.

“I’m more surprised than when I first surpassed ten million won.”

If you consider the value, the 8 million won in 1999 felt much more significant than the ten million won I received in 2021.

Even comparing the price of an ice cream, the difference is clear.

Besides, I’m only fifteen years old now.

That says it all.

“This is really dizzying... I get why people say they can’t close their mouths in shock. Ah! I shouldn’t say that!”

I scratched my cheek and got up from my seat.

Good news is best shared immediately.

I headed to the living room and picked up the phone receiver.

Ring ring. Ring ring.

After several rings, someone answered.

– Hello, this is Oh Joseon speaking.

“This is Bihyun oppa. I saw your mail and called.”

– Ah, hello, writer! How are you?

As a successful writer, no matter the age, the publishing staff always spoke politely.

A pleased smile spread naturally across my face.

“Yes, yes. Will the print run continue at 10,000 copies from now on?”

I asked the most pressing question.

– The basic plan is 10,000 copies. However, this may fluctuate depending on the situation.

‘Depending on the situation’ must mean sales could increase or decrease.

That was understandable, so I let it pass.

– By the way, writer, how many volumes are you planning for this work?

Assistant Manager Oh asked about the length. I had a strong feeling about it.

He probably hoped I’d write as many as possible.

“Hmm, I’m thinking about 10 volumes.”

– Oh, 10 volumes!

In my past life, the story ended with 8 volumes.

I decided on about 10 volumes considering the unresolved plot points and new content to write.

Assistant Manager Oh’s cheer echoed in my ears.

– Haha, that’s truly impressive. Also, writer, I need to visit your home tomorrow to discuss something important. Will you be available?

“Is it about the next work contract?”

– Haha, you’re quick to catch on. I’ll visit at 1 p.m. tomorrow!

This expected development wasn’t surprising.

From the publisher’s perspective, a profitable writer was very rare.

Especially since I was so young.

They must have seen me as a genius and recognized me as a brilliant prodigy writer with a bright future.

“I should tell Mom and Dad.”

Now that I was treated like a popular author, I needed to adjust contract terms and ratios accordingly.

I was already looking forward to tomorrow.

“Eight hundred, huh? Not bad. In this day and age, 800 is nothing to scoff at. There’s really nothing better than money.”

Thinking of the money coming in, my shoulders stiffened with excitement.

I lightly stretched my wrists and fingers and stood before the keyboard again.

The water has entered the boat; now it’s time to row.

Ding dong.

At 1 p.m., the doorbell rang.

“Hello. Good to see you again. I didn’t come empty-handed, so please don’t hesitate to accept this.”

Assistant Manager Oh from Faith Publishing arrived punctually, carrying a large box.

The wrapping itself was impressive.

Mom gasped as she peeked inside.

“Oh my, this is so expensive... Please have a seat.”

It was top-quality 1++ Hanwoo beef—
a product you’d only see in a premium butcher shop.

Just by this gift, I could fully sense how the publisher viewed me.

I was excited about the upcoming contract.

“As you know, I’m here to discuss the next work contract.”

I took the contract handed over by Assistant Manager Oh.

Carefully unfolding it and reading the details, my eyebrows furrowed slightly.

“The contract rate is the same? Six percent?”

Not only was there no one-percent increase I had half-expected,
the terms remained unchanged.

Sales were climbing, but the contract terms stayed static.

I thought they were really taking me for granted.

“If the rate bothers you, may I propose an exclusive contract? If you go exclusive, we can adjust it up to 7.5%.”

“......”

If I had Darius’s axe, I would have smashed his skull on the spot.

Could this even be called negotiation?

Instead of a one-percent increase, they brought shackles as contract terms.

“Ughhh.”

Just as I was dumbfounded, Dahye, quietly listening beside me, threw in a sharp remark.

Everyone’s gaze turned toward my sister, and Assistant Manager Oh’s hand paused mid-sip of his coffee.

“Oppa, this is exactly what they call getting played, right?”

Nice, well done.

I nodded and sent a wink toward my sister.

“My sister is right. You should give at least eight percent. This writer is printing 10,000 copies per volume now.”

I was a rookie at first, but not anymore.

I was a proven writer with a name even on Hitel.

There were many publishers and places offering opportunities.

I had no reason to settle with Faith Publishing.

“Haha, eight percent is a bit...”

His face was full of discomfort.

It seemed they hadn’t considered anything other than ‘exclusive’ for the contract rate.

Then there was no need for further talk.

“Then I’ll serialize the next work on Hitel first, see the response, and sign a contract with the publisher offering better terms.”

Mom and Dad looked at me with surprised eyes.

They must have been amazed that their middle school son understood the contract and stated his intentions so firmly.

Yet they said nothing and just watched from the side.

They seemed to trust my judgment to the end.

“Writer, please wait a moment. I’ll call the publishing company...”

“No, I’ve changed my mind. This time, I’ll choose the publisher after seeing reader reactions.”

I decided not to leave the value in the hands of the publisher.

The market would judge.

If the work proved itself, many publishers in the Korean market would want me.

“I’ll gratefully enjoy the Hanwoo beef.”

Although I declined the contract, I had to accept the gift.

“......”

Assistant Manager Oh stared blankly at me with his notebook.

He looked confused.

But I smiled lightly.

“Since the next work contract is off the table, you’d better get going. I have another appointment.”

“...... Understood.”

Assistant Manager Oh was about to say something more but closed his mouth and stood.

He must have realized that no amount of persuasion would change my mind.

With slumped shoulders, he left the house.

“Dahye, thanks.”

After Assistant Manager Oh disappeared, I quietly handed a ten-thousand-won bill to my sister without Mom and Dad noticing, gazing at her face with a pleased expression.

Just having you by my side makes me feel secure and happy.

Dahye.

Sunday morning, 7:50 a.m.

Ddeun ddeun, datatadada datattatta.

I went outside to throw out the trash and came back to the cheerful opening theme of Disney Cartoon Park playing inside the house.

The familiar melody made my whole body bounce.

On Sunday, the cartoon that woke our morning appeared on screen, and Dahye watched with her mouth wide open.

“Wow, you woke up early today?”

I flopped down next to her, messing up my already messy hair even more.

This prank was something I’d always wanted to try.

I never knew how much I’d wanted to do this while watching shorts in my past life.

“Geez, oppa!”

Dahye shot me a displeased glare.

That expression was cute, too.

It made me want to tease her even more.

Every moment spent together was so precious and joyful.

I deeply regretted not knowing this back then.

“Let’s go to the mountain later with oppa.”

“Mountain?”

“Yeah.”

“I have a promise with Arin later.”

“What time?”

“2 p.m.”

“Eh, it’s fine. We’ll come right back after this.”

Dahye hesitated briefly but soon nodded.

Maybe because I’d done a lot for her lately, she listened well.

“I’ll go wash up. Enjoy watching.”

Splashhh.

I turned on the shower and let the water cascade over me, closing my eyes.

Quietly, I recalled my sister in my past life.

Her illness couldn’t be explained by external factors alone.

I went over what the doctor said, the diagnosis from the Korean medicine clinic, and the words my sister had said.

Excessive dieting and controlling food intake.
Lack of exercise and accumulated fatigue.
Alcohol affecting her weak liver.
Loneliness and isolation living alone.

After Dad’s business failed and all the deposits were lost, the family’s finances were ruined.

Despite this, she desperately strived for education and promotion.

She graduated from a two-year college and got a job at a first-tier subcontractor of a large company.

Except for field workers, prestigious university graduates dominated.

To survive, she studied hard and eventually graduated from cyber university to earn her degree.

At that time, promotion to section chief was imminent.

But just before achieving her goal, she was hospitalized and never came back.

The 10-year service award was our family’s only treasure left of her.

“She also wanted to do dog grooming and open a flower shop.”

That’s why I told her to try and said I’d invest.

My sister’s memory, who wanted to get married early too, pierced my heart.

Although I was back in the present, recalling those memories still hurt.

To avoid repeating the same future, I want to do things differently this time.

“Starting with exercise, diet, and a regular lifestyle, let’s build good habits. And never leave her alone.”

For my sister’s healthy life, I plan to start with the basics.

Morning walks, neighborhood hikes, and more conversations.

If our talks increase, I’ll understand my sister more deeply.

When she becomes an adult, I want to see her fulfill her dreams, get married, have children, and live happily.

That is my biggest wish and dream.

“Let’s go.”

Turning off the water, I roughly dried off with a towel and got ready to leave.

“Dahye, let’s go.”

It took over an hour because I got lost in thought while washing.

The Disney Cartoon Park had already ended, and Dahye was getting dressed, ready to go out.

“Okay!”

Fifteen minutes after climbing the hill—

“Huff huff, oppa, slow down. Slow down. Let’s rest.”

My sister’s breath grew heavy.

“Alright, let’s take a short break here.”

We sat side by side on a big rock that served as a bench.

“Dahye, are you very tired?”

I looked at her.

Her shoulders rose and fell as sweat dripped down her face.

“Very tired, a lot.”

Haha, I liked her honesty.

“Oppa wants my sister to be healthy her whole life without getting sick.”

If I saw her like before again, I wouldn’t have the strength to live.

“Who likes being sick anyway?”

“Hehe, right. So, let’s make a promise.”

“Promise? What promise?”

“Climb the mountain once a week, run every morning with oppa, eat a lot.”

When she was an adult, my sister was 160 cm tall and weighed 48 kg.

She’d even dropped to 45 kg before, worrying the family every day.

She grumbled about gaining weight, but it wasn’t fat.

Poor kidney, liver, and blood vessels caused her face to puff up.

She was just mistaken about gaining weight.

“Do we have to do it?”

“If you don’t miss a day, I’ll give you 50,000 won every month as allowance.”

Currently, her monthly allowance was 30,000 won.

I added 20,000 won more.

“100,000 won!”

“That’s after you enter middle school.”

“Oh, really?!”

“Really.”

“Okay! You have to keep that promise, right?”

“Of course.”

“If oppa breaks it, you better watch out!”

“Hehe, don’t worry and do your best. Let’s get up and take a picture over there, then head down.”

I finished the contract with my sister.

In the end, money was the best persuasion.

We reached the summit of the hill and descended home.

It became a very meaningful time.