Chapter 10

#10. Vivid Talent

-Xiaochan's bag

-Dali's clothes, Korean textbooks, etc.

"There seems to be something I've forgotten."

Ah.

At that moment, Seolgi wrote down what she had forgotten at the very bottom.

-Dinner: Chicken

Her phone started ringing.

Buzz.

Buzzzz-.

'Is this a congratulatory call for the paid subscription?'

Right. It's about time for the call.

Seolgi put on Dali's shoes and answered the phone.

"Hello."

"Mr. Author, this is PD Moon Yubin."

"Yes, PD Moon."

"Congratulations on the paid subscription. The paid subscription metrics are excellent. Have you seen them?"

Despite the incredible achievements—top of the paid ranking, a successful 10 consecutive updates, and 20,000 conversions—his voice was calm. That's why Moon Yubin PD was good. He didn't make a fuss but still gave all the necessary information.

"Hehe, I've seen them."

Moon Yubin PD scrolled down the window on his monitor with the mouse wheel.

"The readers' reactions are also very positive."

"Yes. It feels good to see that the effort wasn't in vain."

The paid subscription section starts with the protagonist's first long detective/suspense novel, [Dali], which becomes a huge hit and records unprecedented issues in the country.

'The mystery of the novel [Dali] is solved, drawing people in.'

It's a story that managed to capture attention with a novel within a novel.

Moon PD, who was also eagerly waiting for the next part of [Dali], described it as follows.

'As the investigation of the suspects progresses, a lawyer and a detective hired by the siblings are added as new characters, and their deductions start to mesh together like gears.'

It turns out that the current murder case in the slum and a murder case that happened 15 years ago occurred in the same place.

'The victims of the murder case 15 years ago were the children of the elderly couple who fled overseas.'

And they find the connection.

'The perpetrator of the 15-year-old case was the siblings' parents.'

The story reaches its climax, and all the clues are unraveled.

It turns out that the current 'slum murder case' was all planned by the elderly couple for revenge.

The police head towards the elderly couple to arrest them, but...

The elderly couple, having completed their revenge, were found dead, looking as if they had fallen asleep happily.

Indeed.

Perhaps because of the time they spent together, their revenge was less intense than expected.

There was one reason.

'The elderly couple tried to take something precious from the siblings, but...'

That precious thing was [themselves].

'Although the novel within a novel part was long, it didn't feel long at all.'

Just listing the plot was thrilling.

Most importantly, it was necessary to note that Gu Huadong was a newcomer.

What he had was not just expertise but 'instinct.'

'What kind of life would that be?'

Moon PD, who had been lost in thought, gathered his thoughts and offered another congratulatory word to Gu Huadong.

"Mr. Author, please keep up the good work. Of course, I will work even harder."

Moon Yubin PD showed a desire to be more helpful.

Seolgi didn't find this bad.

'He's a meticulous person.'

In the past, she had met partners who followed quietly rather than leading the way.

And most of them were people who recognized her unique pace in difficult situations.

'Moon PD seems to be one of those people.'

In conclusion, he felt like a good match.

"So, Mr. Author."

"Yes?"

Moon PD's voice from the other side sounded a bit awkward.

"Would you like to join me and the team leader for a celebratory dinner?"

"?"

Moon PD glanced behind him while holding the phone.

-Dinner

-Eat

-Together

-Please

-I

···Moon Yubin PD explained to Seolgi.

"···The team leader also wants to congratulate you."

***

'A dinner with the team leader.'

She had a vague idea, but it wasn't part of the plan.

-Do you have any preferences for the meal? The team leader asked me to find out.

-Not really? The last place we went to was good.

What kind of grand meal could they be planning?

Seolgi tried to avoid it, but Moon Yubin PD insisted.

-Please let me know when you have a preference. We'll arrange the date according to Mr. Gu Huadong's convenience.

Seolgi, who had worked with various people in different industries, came to a conclusion.

'What is he trying to say?'

Is it really a congratulatory call?

···Probably not.

'He might bring the next contract.'

'Or something related to the contest?'

Whatever it is, to make a good impression.

To be helpful to Utopia in the future.

'If they show effort, I can show effort too.'

Seolgi stopped in the middle of the children's clothing store, holding Dali's hand. She stopped because Dali had stopped, his gaze fixed on a children's mannequin.

"Yudal."

"Uh-huh."

"Do you want to wear that?"

"Uh-huh...!"

Dali nodded.

Dali's round eyes looking up and his determined mouth.

Seolgi, seeing his expression, felt an urge to spend all her money to buy every pretty piece of clothing.

"Oh, what a cute little customer. Would you like to try it on?"

Dali, with the help of a staff member, went into the fitting room. Seolgi had a thought.

'I thought he would point to some strange character clothes, but he's pointing to normal clothes.'

She was sitting on a folding chair, waiting for Dali to come out.

"Oppa!"

"!!!"

Seolgi's mouth opened wide.

"Wow..."

Dali, who usually stayed at home and didn't need to go out, always wore loose undergarments or clothes that Xiaochan wore when he was young.

'They weren't even real clothes.'

That's why.

Despite his delicate and beautiful face, the lack of proper clothes made her heart ache.

'When he's dressed up, he really looks like a precious child.'

It was as if the clothes were made for Dali.

A staff member, standing beside Seolgi, brought something and placed it on Dali's head.

"This is a headband that comes as a set. It will look even prettier if you wear it together. Your younger brother has such a small and beautiful face."

Crazy.

Isn't he too cute?

Seolgi, entranced, said,

"Please give me the headband too."

There was no hesitation.

Seolgi squatted in front of Dali.

"Yudal. What other clothes do you want to wear?"

She wasn't short of money to buy a few more pieces of clothing.

She had saved enough money for this and kept a budget.

After regressing, the only thing she spent money on was a laptop.

Because she wanted to. Since living with her siblings, every day was happy, and she didn't need to do anything special for herself.

Dali looked around the store, pondering for a moment, then jumped up.

"I like all the pretty clothes!"

Seolgi looked at the staff member.

The staff member looked back at Seolgi.

"Yudal will be starting kindergarten soon."

After a kind of telepathy, both nodded.

***

"Driver, please take us to Gu Huadong."

Seolgi helped Dali into the taxi first, then got in beside him and closed the door.

Xiaochan's hands were full of bags.

Seolgi remembered what the staff member said while paying.

-Excuse me, sir. This might sound a bit strange, but is that your younger brother...?

-Yes, my youngest.

-I really thought he was a kid model. It's been so long since I've seen such a cute little customer, so I'll give you socks and hair ties as a service. Please come again next time! Definitely!

The staff member, who seemed more interested in playing with Dali than selling, was genuinely happy, as evidenced by the service.

'But it couldn't be anything but genuine.'

Honestly, all the clothes fit Dali perfectly.

'But Yudal doesn't seem tired, which is surprising.'

Seolgi felt something was off.

Dali, being the youngest, usually showed a bit of whining.

When he was sleepy or couldn't fall asleep.

When he was hungry or full, he was a bit more spoiled than other children.

"Yudal."

Seolgi stroked Dali's head, who was still wearing the new clothes.

"Uh-huh?"

"Does your leg hurt? We went shopping and walked around a lot."

"Um..."

Dali put his small index finger to his mouth, as if in thought.

His round cheeks, straight nose, and long, thick eyelashes blinked a few times.

"It was fun."

"···Was it fun?"

"Because I got to wear pretty clothes and everyone praised me."

Indeed, Dali liked receiving attention and praise.

Thinking about it, he seemed to enjoy changing poses in front of the mirror and basking in the compliments.

'Usually, kids would get tired of changing clothes multiple times. But Yudal is not ordinary.'

Seolgi gently grabbed Dali's cheeks and shook them.

"I'll take you to kindergarten starting next week."

"Can I meet friends?!"

"Yes. You can play origami and other games with your friends and teachers."

···She wondered how lonely Dali must have been.

Now, she needed to help him integrate with his peers and explore a wider world.

'I'll help you become a proper adult.'

Not an adult with an empty heart like her past self, but a healthy adult who can stand on their own.

***

Meanwhile, back at [Utopia].

'What is this?'

PD Moon Yubin looked at the closed door of the team leader's office and shook his head.

'He said he would call me in a bit.'

Why isn't he calling?

'Maybe I need to wait a bit longer.'

PD Moon Yubin checked the metrics of Gu Huadong's [The Slum's Genius Author] on his computer again.

The numbers were truly impressive.

'From the 55th to the 65th episode, 10 consecutive updates.'

Moon PD's fingers tightened.

The power to draw in readers, the strength from the writing.

'I've never seen anyone as good as Gu Huadong in this aspect.'

Out of the 10 episodes, 3 were parts of the novel within a novel, which could have caused a drop in readership. The first episode reaching 20,000 was expected, but the other 10 episodes showed a consistently upward curve.

···

"······"

PD Moon Yubin gripped the mouse tightly.

He's a monster.

How can the readership not drop?

Is this even possible?

Conversions can be increased with a few formulas.

But readership, that's real skill.

"PD Moon?"

He turned around.

The team leader's office door was open, and Team Leader Lee Yongjae was gesturing for him to come in.

PD Moon, feeling a dampness on his back for no reason, slowly walked into the office.

***

A little later.

PD Moon Yubin's expression was perplexed as he came out of the team leader's office.

His expression was confused, surprised, dazed, and happy all at once.

-PM Moon, you've worked hard.

-Yes?

-Both the first and second place winners of the contest are authors under PD Moon Yubin.

-···!

-It was discussed upstairs. You knew about it, right?

He fiddled with his employee card.

'Every day is really...'

···A series of surprises.

Since meeting Gu Huadong, she could feel herself changing.

'Gu Huadong writes, but why am I changing?'

PD Moon was a reserved person.

But lately, watching someone's overwhelming talent up close, he has become more cheerful and more surprised.

'Talent is usually invisible.'

···But if something invisible can be felt so vividly.

He couldn't help but feel overwhelmed.

Oh.