October 2000, New Releases Corner, XX Bookstore near Euljiro.
That’s where I first encountered ‘Living on Rent in the Chairman’s House.’
It was the cover, with a handsome protagonist drawn on it, that caught my attention and made me open the book. At first, I thought it was just a childish novel for kids. But after just one page, I couldn’t move my feet. As if I were under some kind of spell, every nerve was focused on the story. In the end, I even skipped lunch that day.
Even thirty minutes after I was supposed to be back at the office, I couldn’t put the book down.
A man whose life was ruined by the Chairman’s mistake lost his house, and his job was gone too.
But the man didn’t cry or resent anyone.
Instead, standing before the Chairman, he said this:
‘I’d like to live on rent at your house, sir. But as you can see, I’ve lost my job and have no money. I’m not saying I’ll live there for free. Instead of rent money, I’ll offer you one useful suggestion every month.’
This part snapped me wide awake.
The protagonist, full of eccentric quirks, exuded a strange charm.
It draws you in.
The protagonist’s personality was a bit abrasive. Not unsociable, but unpredictable. Still, the words that burst out from his head and mouth were sharp and biting.
It felt like a satire of the economy, or perhaps a current affairs novel lampooning the social structure.
The bits of uncle-like banter and humor scattered throughout worked to lighten the mood, softening what could have been a heavy atmosphere.
“If only this could be made into a drama.”
When I checked the reader community boards, the reviews for the work were excellent.
It had a solid readership.
I hadn’t realized it, but the author was quite famous.
Pen name: Unreal Oppa. Nickname: The Hahoetal Author.
It was good at drawing attention, and above all, the descriptions were well-suited for easy drama adaptation.
With just a bit of tweaking, I thought it could pull off pretty decent ratings.
I immediately reported it to my superiors and got the green light.
[Hello.
This is Writer Lee Aeyoung from the MBC Drama Department.
I was very impressed by your novel, “Living on Rent in the Chairman’s House.”
I would like to formally request a meeting to discuss the possibility of adapting this work into a drama.
The direction of the adaptation would preserve the core of the original, but include some character composition and plot adjustments for viewer accessibility.
Once you’ve reviewed this, please let us know when a meeting would be possible……]
I sent an email to the publisher of ‘Living on Rent in the Chairman’s House’ to propose the drama adaptation.
.
.
That was the content included in the email.
The drama writer detailed just how much they liked my work, and explained how they discovered it within the message.
“Oh, Deputy Oh, you’re quite something. There was a drama adaptation request, but you forwarded it to me as is.”
Society is made up of all sorts of people, but a drama writer wanting to adapt my work seemed to be someone a cut above the rest.
“Sure, it’s a great opportunity for me. How many novelists actually get to enjoy something like this?”
Not many, even if I dig through past lives.
Less than 0.1% of all authors, even.
Rom-coms would sometimes get short web drama adaptations, but modern fantasy almost never did.
Especially now, in the year 2000, the barrier was even higher than before.
In that kind of climate, my work had been contacted for a drama adaptation.
“Am I weird for hesitating? With such a great opportunity. Instead of meeting directly, I’ll leave it to the publisher and just keep tabs on the process.”
I considered getting involved myself, but quickly shook my head.
I already had a mountain of work to do, and I didn’t have the mental bandwidth to worry about even more.
“Some novels have glasses that fix your eyesight, or you write with an old laptop and pump out a book a day, or drink from a special cup and all your fatigue melts away. Tsk.”
It’d be nice if I had some special ability like that, but unfortunately, all I had was a Spartan work ethic and labor. Reality only rewards you after hard work and effort.
“Guess I should send a reply.”
After a brief pause, I placed my fingers on the keyboard.
Soon, my fingers began tapping out a rhythm, filling the email screen with care.
---
The sound of the copier and the clacking of keyboards created a harmonious background in the office.
Thirty minutes into the workday.
Just enough time for my hot coffee to go cold.
[1 New Email.]
A new email popped up.
[Subject: Reply Regarding Drama Adaptation Proposal.]
“It’s here.”
[Sender: Unreal Oppa.]
The sender was ‘Unreal Oppa.’
It was the reply I’d been waiting for.
Without even a moment’s hesitation, I moved the mouse cursor over and clicked.
[Subject: Reply Regarding Drama Adaptation Proposal.
Hello, this is Unreal Oppa, the author.
Thank you for your thoughtful proposal and kind message.
Above all, I want to express my gratitude to the broadcasting station for reading my work so deeply and with such affection.
A drama adaptation is a great opportunity and an honor for me as a writer.
However, I currently have many personal commitments, so I’m unable to participate directly. I would like to entrust all related discussions to my publisher, Mideum.
Please discuss thoroughly with the broadcasting station, and if a draft contract is prepared, I would like to review it personally.
If all conditions are mutually satisfactory, I am positively inclined to proceed with a formal contract.
Best regards,
Unreal Oppa.]
The words about leaving it to the publisher and the phrase ‘draft contract’ immediately caught my eye.
That was all I really needed from the email.
My fingers moved instinctively.
Ctrl+C, Ctrl+V.
I pasted it into a new window and pressed Ctrl+P.
Chik—
Chiririk—
Jiiiing.
The printer shuddered as it made its sounds.
By the time I walked over to the printer, the paper was slowly being printed.
I attached the email to the report I’d already placed in the approval tray.
After organizing the documents, I took a deep breath in front of the CEO’s office.
Why is it that every time I come here, it feels suffocating and stifling?
I’d rather have gone through the editor-in-chief, but of all days, he was on vacation, so there was no one to help me.
Knock knock.
After knocking twice, I entered. The CEO was practicing his golf putting.
The sound of the ball rolling on a small mat echoed softly.
Watching the ball skirt the hole, I wondered if my life resembled that ball, missing the mark.
The CEO propped his club against the wall and looked up at me with an indifferent face.
“What is it?”
Flat, mechanical, emotionless voice.
Maybe that’s this man’s default setting when he’s in a good mood… but no, surely not.
“Unreal Oppa sent a reply. He’s leaving everything to the publisher, and wants to review a draft contract.”
I’d cursed him a dozen times inside, but on the outside, I handed over the approval tray with a blank expression.
“Hahahaha! This is it! My instincts never fail me!”
The CEO’s eyes widened, no, snapped open. The corners of his mouth slowly rose, spreading into a beaming grin that overtook his whole face.
He leapt up from his seat, slapping the edge of the desk as he burst into raucous laughter.
“Told you, didn’t I? This would be something. The writer has sense. I told you to grab this, no matter what.”
“Yes, sir. You did.”
I was the one running around and bowing to land the contract, so why did he get all the credit? Even Kongji’s mother promised a party if the jar was filled with water, at least.
I felt my strength drain away.
Still, I hid my negative thoughts and simply nodded quietly in agreement.
“Deputy Oh, if there’s a meeting with the broadcasting station, I’ll attend too. You handle the work, but for things like this, my presence is needed to set the mood, right?”
He waved the papers and spun around the office, stopping again in front of me.
“Yes, sir. You’re right. With you there, the contract will go smoothly.”
For survival—for my livelihood—I forced a greasy smile.
On the outside I was grinning, but inside I was damp.
No tears welled up, but I was crying inside.
Not from joy.
“If this works out, the bonus will be huge. You know my style, right, Deputy Oh? When I give, I give big.”
He flopped back into his chair, slapping his hand on the desk.
“A, a bonus, sir?”
A bonus.
The sound I almost doubted my ears for poked at me.
“That’s how big this is. So focus, and do well. Don’t let me down like last time.”
“Yes, understood. I’ll prepare thoroughly.”
To an office worker, a bonus was a universal cure for stress.
If the desert has an oasis, the company has a bonus.
As if I’d never cursed the CEO in my heart, I switched postures and answered energetically, then stepped out of the CEO’s office.
For some reason, my now-cold coffee tasted cool and sweet.
---
Saturday morning. Sunlight seeped through the window, gently brightening the room.
Today was my cousin’s wedding.
I put on a freshly ironed shirt, tidied my trousers, and stood before the mirror.
A pretty decent-looking guy stared back at me.
“This is above average, at least.”
I flashed a quick smile and stepped into the living room.
My parents and Da-hye were already ready. Mom wore a calm brown blouse shirt and bright beige slacks.
Da-hye matched her outfit to Mom’s color scheme.
Dad and I just wore suits, nothing more.
“We’re running late. Let’s go.”
“Yes!”
Our family got in the car and headed for the wedding hall. Outside the building on the edge of the new town, guests were already bustling.
Inside, a chandelier hung from the high ceiling, looking down on us.
“Wow. It’s beautiful.”
Da-hye was so fascinated, she couldn’t stop staring around the wedding hall, barely noticing the people.
“Is it that amazing? When you’re grown up, Da-hye, you’ll have your wedding somewhere even fancier and more gorgeous than this.”
Da-hye always wanted to get married young and have kids. She and I always made plans for the future and tried to find good matches for each other.
But in the end, Da-hye’s wishes weren’t fulfilled, and she closed her eyes before she could achieve them.
I want my sister to be happy.
I want her to live more brilliantly than anyone.
That’s why, to help her live the most dazzling life possible, I intend to spare no effort in helping her.
If needed, I’ll build her a wedding hall and hold her a magnificent wedding.
“Wow, really?”
“Of course.”
Smiling at my delighted little sister, I gently patted her head.
While we talked, the ceremony began.
My cousin looked truly beautiful today. Her long dress brushed softly against the floor, and the smile at her lips shone brightly.
Our family congratulated her and wished her a path lined with flowers.
When the ceremony ended, we moved to the banquet hall.
“Whoa, there’s so much food.”
To Da-hye, who rarely got to see a wedding hall, the buffet must have been a whole new world. Her eyes sparkled as she piled her plate high with every kind of meat, her mouth watering.
“Take your time. If you need more, you can always go back.”
Together, we filled our plates and found empty seats.
“Oppa, this is really good. Try it, you’ll see!”
“Should I?”
As I watched Da-hye eat, I took a piece of buffet sweet and sour pork—something I’d eaten countless times before—and chewed it.
As expected, the sweetness spread through my mouth and slid down my throat.
“It’s good.”
Smiling quietly, I watched Da-hye eat with relish.
Even if I didn’t eat, just watching her enjoy herself made me feel full.
“Excuse me. May I clear your plates……?”
Just as I was watching Da-hye eat, a very familiar voice reached my ears.
My gaze, fixed on Da-hye, instinctively moved toward the source of the voice.
“Go Dae-shik?!”
Instead of a neat school uniform, Dae-shik wore a black vest and white shirt, looking down at me in a daze with a tray in hand. On the tray were dishes and empty cups, not a novel.
Go Dae-shik was known as a friend from a well-off family, who always got more pocket money than the rest of us. I remember a time when he lived without any particular want.
“……”
But the Dae-shik now was different.
Dark circles under his eyes, and the confidence he’d always had through middle school was nowhere to be seen.
“S, Seung-hyun……”
Dae-shik’s face flickered with embarrassment.
“Hey… it’s been a while……”
His awkward greeting was heavy with darkness.
It was clear that something was wrong with him, something I didn’t know about.
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