Chapter 52: The Grand Prize Night

Saturday, 3 p.m.—our family bustled about in a flurry we hadn't felt in a long time.

Dad put his experience from shining combat boots in the army to use, polishing his dress shoes until they gleamed.

Mom and Da-hye each lavished all their energy in front of the mirror, using their own cosmetics with meticulous care.

I dusted off my dress shirt in my room and ran a hand through my hair.

The reason our family was so busy today was because tonight was the “Night of the Authors” hosted by Mideum Publishing.

Since I would be receiving an award, my family was coming along as well.

It signaled the start of a day just a bit more special than usual.

The air at home was thick with tension, anticipation, and excitement.

To think I’d be standing on stage as an author—it still felt unreal.

Maybe it was nerves, but I found myself repeatedly loosening and tightening my tie. I thought I’d be fine, but now that the day had come, my heart was pounding wildly.

“Aah, what should I wear? Mom, Mom! What should I wear?!”

At the desperate voice booming from Da-hye’s room, Mom stopped what she was doing at the mirror and hurried to her. Soon after, I heard Mom say, “This one’s better—wear this.”

Da-hye grumbled a little under her breath but soon obediently changed clothes and came out. Mom coordinated her outfit with a dark navy dress that reached below her knees and a matching coat.

Da-hye seemed to want a shorter skirt, but I liked the outfit Mom had chosen.

“Da-hye, you look great. You’re the star today.”

I spoke sincerely to Da-hye.

“Hm, do you really think so?”

Da-hye spun and looked at herself in the mirror, unable to believe it.

She clearly wasn’t all that satisfied.

“Yeah, it’s perfect. Everyone there is an author, so no one’s going to show up dressed flashy. If you do, you’ll just stand out in a weird way.”

That wasn’t strictly true, but unless it’s a film festival or something, dressing up too much isn’t a good move.

This isn’t a club, after all.

Honestly, Da-hye looked even more elegant and beautiful as she was now.

“Hmph, okay.”

Da-hye let out a small sigh, as if resigning herself, and finished getting ready to leave.

“She doesn’t listen to me, but she listens to her brother.”

Mom looked at Da-hye fondly, then turned to me.

Da-hye, who’d fussed and pouted at Mom, clammed up at my words—Mom smiled with satisfaction, convinced only a brother could do that.

“Everyone ready? Let’s get going.”

In the living room, Dad gave his suit a final shake, picked up the car keys, and slipped on his polished shoes.

He seemed even more excited than I was.

“Yes! Da-hye, let’s go. Mom, come on.”

Taking the lead, I gathered up Da-hye and Mom and headed outside.

In the parking lot, Dad’s recently acquired Rexton—purchased after he’d earned a big bonus—waited for us.

When I asked if he’d like to upgrade to an even nicer car, he replied, “How could I drive a better car than the boss? This is enough for me.”

He’d also said, “I don’t want our family to be compared to your uncle’s or aunt’s financially. Once you, Da-hye, and your cousins are adults and independent, I want to build a house where we can all live together.”

Seeing Dad living with so much ease—so unlike my previous life—brought a smile to my lips.

My small change had brought big changes to the whole family.

I needed to keep doing my best from now on.

“Everyone in?”

Dad, seated behind the wheel, put on his sunglasses and did a headcount.

“One, two! All present and accounted for!” I reported smartly in response.

“Alright, let’s go!”

The car rolled smoothly out of the alley onto the main road. And so, our family’s special day began, moving forward at a steady, unhurried pace.

---

In front of the banquet hall on the sixth floor of the hotel, a banner read, “2001 Night of the Authors – Mideum Publishing.”

Under luxurious lights, a red carpet stretched out, and men and women in suits clustered in groups, chatting together.

Anyone could tell they were authors at a glance.

Some seemed to be old friends, chatting easily and comfortably.

“Wow, this is amazing.”

Da-hye, hands to her lips and eyes wide, looked around in awe. Her gaze swept from the sparkling chandeliers on the ceiling down to every intricate pattern on the floor. She stopped at the large flower arrangement in the center of the lobby to take a photo.

“Big bro, you’re awesome. Winning an award in a place like this.”

“Do I look a bit impressive now?”

With my arm resting on Da-hye’s shoulder, I smiled. It felt far better to be recognized by my sister than by anyone else.

She’s the reason I walk this path as an author.

With her beside me, challenges no longer seemed frightening.

“Author, you’re here! You could have called.”

At that moment, Section Chief Oh—wearing a neat shirt beneath his suit—walked over. He was holding a folder of documents in one hand.

Even here, he seemed to be working.

“No need. You must be busy. We have eyes and feet of our own.”

I never liked making things harder for people already working hard.

“Haha, the CEO reserved a table close to the stage just for you. I’ll show you the way.”

Section Chief Oh chuckled briefly at my words and led us into the banquet hall. Soon, the grand hall came into view.

The ceiling was a tall dome, and at the front, a wide stage and giant screen were set up.

Stage lights and broadcasting equipment were lined up neatly on both sides, and the seats were already filling up as people waited for the event to begin.

“Wow, this is incredible.”

Da-hye couldn’t stop marveling, twisting her head this way and that.

It was my first time at an author gathering too, so it was all new to me, but to Da-hye, it must have seemed like an entirely different world. She was too busy taking it all in to even blink.

“This is your table. The food is over there—please help yourselves. If you need anything, just ask one of the waiters. If you’ll excuse me.”

Section Chief Oh finished guiding us and stepped out to greet someone else.

“Isn’t this a bit too close to the front?”

Our table was the closest one to the stage. There was no one in front to block the view, and we could see the screen directly. It was a great seat, but it also came with a lot of pressure.

“Mom, Dad, let’s get something to eat first.”

Leaving our belongings at the table, my family and I stood up.

“It’s Bihyeonsil Oppa!”

Just then, a familiar pen name hit my ears.

I paused, tuning in to the direction the voices came from.

“Isn’t Bihyeonsil Oppa amazing?”

“I never knew a genre novel could become a drama.”

“He caught everyone’s attention with his debut, and now every work he puts out is a hot topic. It’s fascinating.”

“They say modern fantasy is the trend these days. Ever since the drama contract news broke, everyone’s been trying their hand at modern fantasy.”

“Really? Maybe I should try writing modern fantasy instead of just romance!”

“I’m jealous. Some of us have been writing for years and still need to work part-time. What kind of person is Bihyeonsil Oppa, anyway?”

Most of the comments were people expressing envy.

I understood how they felt.

Honestly, I never expected things would go this well for me either, so every day still feels surreal—how must it look to them?

“Hey, what are you doing? Let’s go.”

“Oh? Ah, yeah, coming.”

Leaving their conversation behind, I let Da-hye lead me over to the buffet, piled some food onto my plate, and returned to our seats.

Mom, Dad, and Da-hye were clearly enjoying the hotel cuisine; they went back for seconds and thirds, loading up their plates.

Before we knew it, an hour had passed.

Producer Lee Tae-gwon walked up onto the stage and took the microphone.

Everyone’s attention shifted to the stage.

─ The awards ceremony will begin shortly.

The lights in the hall dimmed, and a spotlight focused on Producer Lee on the stage.

The chatter died down as the crowd turned their attention forward.

“Now, we’ll begin the 2001 Night of the Authors Awards Ceremony.”

A polite round of applause came from the audience, and the stage lights shifted slightly to highlight Producer Lee. He pulled out a prepared sheet of paper and began announcing the winners, one by one.

“First, the Popularity Award. ‘Song of the Stars,’ ‘Desert Mercenary.’ Congratulations.”

A young woman and a male author went up to receive their awards. Applause filled the hall.

“Next, the Excellence Award. ‘Mercenary Legend,’ ‘Grand Master Eden.’ Well done.”

The recipients accepted their trophies with bright smiles, and the covers of their books appeared large on the screen.

“Best Award. ‘The Sovereign Martial Artist.’ Congratulations.”

When ‘The Sovereign Martial Artist’ was called for the top prize, gasps of admiration erupted from the audience.

Applause thundered throughout the hall.

A man with a distinguished beard strode up to the stage.

“I really enjoyed ‘The Sovereign Martial Artist.’ So that’s the author?”

For reference, Dad is a huge martial arts fan.

Even at his age, he can’t let go of his love for the genre.

When the author of ‘The Sovereign Martial Artist’ received his award, Dad clapped harder than anyone, beaming with pride.

I joined in, clapping with a happy heart.

Now, only the Grand Prize remained.

My eyes were fixed on Producer Lee Tae-gwon.

“And now, only the Grand Prize remains. The Grand Prize trophy will be presented directly by Mideum Publishing’s CEO, Hwang Kyu-young. It looks like everyone’s already guessed the winner. That’s right. With the recent drama contract and overwhelming reader support, this work has become a sensation since publication. ‘Renting from the Chairman’s Family!’ Congratulations, author Bihyeonsil Oppa!”

Producer Lee paused, building anticipation, then announced the winner.

I stood up from my seat, straightening my back, and walked up onto the stage.

As applause rang out, murmurs of surprise rippled through the crowd.

“That’s Bihyeonsil Oppa?”

“He doesn’t look that old. He can’t be more than his early twenties!”

Everyone seemed shocked at how young I looked.

Most of the whispers were about my youthful appearance and age as they watched my moment on stage.

“This is our first meeting, isn’t it? Congratulations, author. I look forward to your future work.”

CEO Hwang Kyu-young came up to the stage and handed me the trophy and prize money, gripping my hand tightly.

The Grand Prize came with 20 million won.

“Thank you.”

After expressing my gratitude, I stepped up to the microphone. CEO Hwang descended from the stage with a friendly smile.

Looking down from the stage, I saw my family waving up at me. Da-hye, catching my gaze, beamed and waved both hands.

“This award isn’t mine alone. I’d like to thank the readers who read my work, and Section Chief Oh for giving me a chance. Above all, I’m grateful to my family who silently stood by my side. I promise to return with even better stories. Thank you.”

I finished my speech and stepped back, bowing deeply from the waist.

Clap! Clap!

Even before my final words faded, applause burst out from all directions. As I walked down from the stage, the gazes of many authors followed me. Ignoring their stares, I returned to my seat.

When the awards were finally over, the hall lights brightened.

“Author, congratulations. That was amazing.”

That was just the beginning.

As if waiting for their cue, people flocked toward me.

“Would it be alright to exchange business cards or numbers?”

“Ah, yes, of course.”

There was no reason to refuse, and it felt awkward to turn them all down, so I exchanged contact information with everyone.

After all, it’s good to know as many people as possible, so I decided to think of it positively.

“Honestly, I didn’t expect you to be such a young author. Hello, I go by the pen name Geumseong. Congratulations on your Grand Prize.”

Just when I thought it was all over, a middle-aged man, looking a bit older, approached me, introducing himself as Geumseong.

“Wait, what did you say?!”

Geumseong?!! No way—THE Geumseong!

A middle-aged man, dressed in a dark gray jacket over a black shirt, reached out his hand.

The moment I heard that name, my eyes widened. My heart pounded with a heavy thud.

Geumseong. The first CEO of Runpia.

He was standing right before my eyes.