Chapter 47: Web Novel

The North American web novel market isn’t very large.

I’d heard of web novels but could count the number I’d read on one hand.

I’d read posts on blogs or SNS a few times, but reading web novels on their platforms was rare.

“Do you know a platform called Cabetchu?” Loony asked.

“Cabetchu? Like cabbage?”

“No, the platform’s name is Cabetchu. I heard it means they want to gather many writers, like layers of a cabbage.”

“Hmm.”

It was the first I’d heard of it.

Loony continued driving and said, “I only know it was founded by a Korean entrepreneur. It’s pretty popular in Japan and Southeast Asia, and it’s making good revenue.”

“A Korean entrepreneur…”

“They want Adele Louis to be their model and, even better, serialize a work there.”

“Serialize?”

“Yes. I looked into it, and they typically serialize two to three chapters a week. Some even do it daily.”

The Cabetchu web novel platform, simply put, was for reading novels on your phone.

It felt novel, but that was about it.

Americans prefer paper books over reading on phones.

I’m the same.

Everyone carries a phone these days, but I’m not great at using mine.

At most, I send texts or make calls.

So, reading novels on a phone felt a bit foreign.

Above all, serialization…

My current state wasn’t exactly conducive to writing well.

I’d gained new insights into restraint and love, but turning them into words would take time.

Serializing two to three chapters a week felt too daunting.

“Bear Bookstar is also connected to Cabetchu. With the information age, the paper book market is feeling a bit stagnant,” Loony said.

“Really?”

I hadn’t noticed.

Loony gave a bittersweet smile. “Your books sell steadily, so you wouldn’t feel it. Young people today don’t favor books as much.”

Even among the young, some still love books.

But with OTT, games, and SNS booming, books are losing ground.

Publishers, aware of this, are grappling with new strategies.

“Besides you, Bear Bookstar has been talking to other authors about web novels. Many are seriously considering it,” Loony said.

“Hmm…”

“Cabetchu’s recognition is still low, but it’s a bigger market than you’d think. Why not pave the way, Writer-nim?”

I couldn’t respond to Loony’s words.

We arrived at the hotel.

***

I changed at the hotel and hurried to Benjamin’s house.

Meeting the kids there, Loony’s words about web novels lingered in my mind.

Web novels…

On the taxi ride, I researched the web novel market.

It’s still niche but has growth potential.

It surged during the COVID pandemic but has since slowed.

They’re intriguing.

I read a few chapters on the way.

Each chapter felt like a dopamine hit.

While typical works build dopamine slowly, web novels hook you with payment-driven chapters.

Is there anything I’m writing that could work as a web novel?

For now, I wasn’t sure.

Serialization wouldn’t work for Restraint.

It was already planned as a series, and its slow, sinking style didn’t fit web novels.

Then what’s left…

As I brainstormed, Hye-yeon spoke up.

“Uncle?”

“Oh… Yeah, Hye-yeon?”

Her voice pulled me from my thoughts.

“Try this. It’s good.”

She held a plate of shrimp.

“Thanks.”

“You… tired?”

“Huh? No, just thinking about something.”

I took a shrimp and put it in my mouth.

Its mild, sweet flavor tickled my nose.

“Delicious.”

Hye-yeon looked at me with concern. “Are you really okay? Not tired from work?”

“I’m fine. I didn’t even do much.”

I just showed my face.

If anything, I was tired from the long distance.

“Not work, but maybe the alcohol didn’t sit well?” Benjamin said, holding a soju bottle.

“Where’d you get that?”

“You were coming, so I grabbed it quick. It’s everywhere these days.”

Benjamin opened the bottle and poured into an empty glass.

With a sly grin, he said, “So, who got the role?”

“A bribe?”

“Come on, call it sincerity.”

“It’ll be in the news tomorrow. Why do you want to know?”

“I just do.”

Benjamin seemed frustrated.

Fair enough—after such a passionate performance, rejection wouldn’t feel good.

“It’ll be announced tomorrow.”

“Don’t be like that, tell me.”

“Nope.”

I downed the soju Benjamin poured.

It was a contract matter, so I couldn’t say, even if it was just a day early.

“Tch…”

Benjamin shut his mouth, disappointed.

Chrissy approached. “Sorry, he’s still a kid.”

“I’m older than you!” Benjamin protested.

“Then stop pestering Writer-nim like a child! Go play with the kids over there!”

“…Tch.”

Sulking, Benjamin went to where Jiyu and Yuri were playing.

“Oh, Chrissy, thanks for today,” I said.

“No big deal. Jenny did the hard work.”

“Speaking of Jenny…”

“Don’t worry, I compensated her,” Chrissy said with a smile.

“You mean the clothes?”

“Yeah.”

“Yes.”

“It’s my gift. It’s cheap compared to your lyrics, though.”

Chrissy still felt indebted.

Dinner wasn’t enough to repay the value of the lyrics.

So, she asked Jenny to look after the kids, but still felt it wasn’t enough.

“I wanted to buy out the whole store for you,” she said.

Chrissy had that kind of wealth.

After their dating rumors, fans debated who was richer.

For Chrissy, who earned millions annually in royalties, buying out a store was nothing.

“This is enough,” I said.

“It’s not enough for me. If you ever need help, just say. We’ll jump in.”

“Thanks.”

I didn’t have anything to ask, but Chrissy’s earnest eyes made it hard to refuse.

“By the way, how’s turning the lyrics into a song going?”

“Uh… Not great. It’s tougher than I thought.”

Chrissy was honest.

Hiding it wouldn’t change anything.

“It’s harder to unpack the text than I expected.”

“Hmm… How long do you think it’ll take?”

“I don’t know. It’s my first time with this kind of writing.”

It wasn’t just about transcribing, so Chrissy was struggling.

Plus, being Adele Louis’s work, she wanted it to be high quality.

“Then… could you release it right after I publish the text?”

“What?”

“The text I sent. Once it’s fully a ‘novel,’ could you release the song?”

Chrissy’s face lit up. “A collaboration?”

“Yeah… I guess?”

It just slipped out.

I hadn’t discussed it with the publisher, and I hadn’t decided how to write Love.

For some reason… I’m drawn to it. Web novels.

Not just drawn—Love was the only piece suited for a web novel.

I wanted to hedge my bets.

With Chrissy.

If it’s tied to Chrissy’s song… people might check it out, right?

Web novels were a new challenge for me.

My mind kept saying it’s a hassle, but I couldn’t help wanting to try.

“I’m in!” Chrissy said.

Of course she was.

It was one of her dreams.

Working with a favorite writer.

Not just receiving lyrics, but collaborating was a dream.

“When will you publish?”

I gave an awkward smile at her eager question. “Maybe I’ll let you know next month?”

“Next month? Not… next week, right?”

“Oh, next week is next month.”

“No way. And… if I write, I’ll send you the manuscript.”

“What?”

Chrissy was flustered.

As a fan, getting a manuscript early was amazing.

But as a fan, she also wanted to experience the finished work.

“That’s… a bit…”

Reading a book with the scent of coffee.

Savoring the afterglow of a finished book under a sunset.

That was the happiest moment for a fan and reader.

“Don’t worry. The manuscript probably won’t be long.”

“What?”

“I’ll leave it at that. Nothing’s set yet…”

Chrissy thought it over and nodded. “Alright! I’ll wait eagerly!”

“Thanks.”

“No problem.”

As the conversation ended, Chrissy, heading toward Benjamin, turned back.

“Oh, you said tomorrow’s your last day in the U.S., right?”

“Yeah.”

“If you don’t have plans with the kids, how about here?”

She handed me a ticket.

“What’s this?”

“Midni Land lifetime pass. It’s a VIP pass, so you don’t wait in lines.”

Chrissy had composed BGM for a Midni Company film.

The film gained global popularity for its music, and Midni gave her lifetime passes for her and her acquaintances.

“Midni Land…”

I glanced at Hye-yeon.

She wants to go.

Her eyes sparkled brighter than ever.

She didn’t understand English, but she caught “Midni Land.”