Chapter 16: Other

Chapter 16: Other

A man in a white suit was released from the detention center, rubbing his wrists which were tightly bound by handcuffs.

A balding man in a suit approached him and bowed deeply at a 90-degree angle.

He definitely looks like a gangster

The watching police officers thought this to themselves, but they were wrong.

The balding man in the suit was none other than Lim Yang-wook, an editor from Baekhak Publishing.

Im so sorry! Im so sorry!

The man in the white suit was also not a gangster.

He was Baek Seung-won, the CEO of Baekhak Entertainment.

He was a (distant) relative and a conglomerate heir of the immense Baekhak Group.

Ah, Im going crazy. This is so embarrassing.

Baek Seung-won grumbled as he fiddled with his stinging wrist. The handcuffs had been so tight that they left red marks on his skin.

His pride was also hurt. Theres a class to crime, after all. If it were a case involving billions, going to the Supreme Prosecutors Office would be one thing, but being detained in a local police station for an attempted child abduction was a disgrace unbefitting of a conglomerate heir.

CEO Baek Seung-won glared at Lim Yang-wook and Moon In-seop with displeasure.

So, Team Leader Lim, hes not just an ordinary kid as you assured.

Im sorry

Both apologized in unison. But the mental scars of the (distant) conglomerate heir, who had been detained in a detention center for the first time in his life, were not easily healed.

How fiercely the kid had resisted! Moon In-seops sharp tongue had played a major role in the police immediately locking him up without hearing any further explanations.

This had provoked Baek Seung-wons temper.

Did your parents teach you well? Told you not to follow strangers? But, kid, theres a limit to everything, how could you immediately accuse someone of being a kidnapper?

But the reactions of the boy and Lim Yang-wook were strange.

The moment he mentioned parents, both flinched simultaneously.

Moon In-seop glanced at Lim Yang-wook.

The look meant, Didnt you tell him?

Lim Yang-wook avoided Moon In-seops gaze.

Meaning, I thought you knew, of course.

Eventually, Lim Yang-wook took the lead and carefully started speaking.

CEO~nim. The truth is, In-seop is

EP 2- Other

CEO Baek Seung-won may be a bit prickly, overly sensitive, suspicious, and a workaholic who neglects his family, but he falls within the normal range of adult men.

Realizing he made a big mistake in his words, he quickly apologized, worried he might have deeply hurt the child.

Im sorry. I spoke without thinking, dont take it too seriously No, I apologize. I misspoke.

No, its I who should apologize. I think I must have startled you a lot. Im sorry.

Moon In-seop graciously accepted his apology.

Hmm?

Baek Seung-won was a person sensitive in work, aesthetics, and everyday life.

Baekhak Entertainment employees often felt the impulse to shut the CEOs mouth when he overinterpreted their words and felt uncomfortable, but this time, it turned out to be an advantage.The source of this content nov(el)bi((n))

His keen senses allowed him to guess from Moon In-seops manner of speaking that the boy possessed an intellect not typical for his age.

At this moment, the possibility that Lim Yang-wooks bold claims were true seemed much higher.

Pleased, CEO Baek Seung-won smiled broadly and patted Moon In-seop on the shoulder.

Hahaha! There, there. Youre really not just an ordinary kid, are you? You came up with such clever words on the spot

Still harboring a slight grudge, CEO Baek Seung-won brought up the recent incident.

Of course, he had explained to the police that he was not a kidnapper, but Moon In-seop had insisted Baek Seung-won was a gangster responsible for a fake uncle service.

How sophisticated his logic was, was proven by the fact that the police believed the words of a sixth-grader and detained Baek Seung-won.

Then the boy flinched again.

Baek Seung-won, confused, wondered what kind of verbal mistake he had made this time.

Lim Yang-wook, too, looked bewilderedly at Moon In-seop, not understanding why he was acting this way.

The boy cautiously opened his mouth.

Actually, that story wasnt made up

What do you mean?

Well, it happened like this

The story began with the mischief of three primary school students.

* * *

When all the stories had concluded.

So, you were actually feeling threatened for your safety?

Lim Yang-wook, who knew of the boys unfortunate circumstances but hadnt realized the extent, was greatly shocked, and so were the police officers who had gathered around to listen to the story.

And then, CEO Baek Seung-won cried.

CEO~nim!

Ah, just a moment. Damn it. Something got in my eye

But heres the problem. The minor author doesnt actually exist. Only the concept of a minor author exists

This conspiracy theory provided a clear answer to the confused people, injecting the thought of That makes sense!

Then, people, happy with the fact that they alone knew the truth unlike others, spread this idea everywhere.

Simultaneously, this conspiracy theory seemed as if it was spread by an insider. It was suspiciously detailed and the vocabulary used gave off that impression.

If one thinks carefully, they could realize that this conspiracy theory itself was very intricately crafted to mislead people.

Thus, people like Kim Sang-guk, the head of Baekhak Publishings publishing business division, sensed that another organized force had intervened in this issue.

That was,

The Baekhak Entertainment Publishing Management Task Force Team.

No. It was the Publishing Management Department.

How about that? Simple, right?

Department head Lim Yang-wook couldnt help but admire the skills of the marketing officer dispatched from Baekhak Entertainments PR department.

She and her well-coordinated team members easily manipulated internet public opinion.

While applauding her skills, Lim Yang-wook resolved to be more discerning about entertainment industry issues in the future.

By framing it this way, the issue becomes focused. Is the author really a minor? Or not?

Then were definitely winning

Just throw some bait in the dark, and then after a few days, circulate a press release to the online newspapers. It becomes an official issue in the light. Then the company can move on it.

The marketing officer stood up from her computer, stretched lightly, and asked.

But Department head Lim Yang-wook? Is it true that the author is really a minor?

Thats a secret.

Must be true then. Wow.

Its a secret, I said.

Got it~ A secret~

The marketing officer teased Lim Yang-wook almost playfully and then sauntered off to the break room.

Lim Yang-wook shook his head as he watched her leave.

The dignity of a department head was no joke.

No, wait. Technically a department head, but in reality, just a figurehead.

Sigh.

The Publishing Management Task Force Team was reorganized into the Publishing Management Department and formally absorbed into Baekhak Entertainment. Lim Yang-wook, who was the team leader, smoothly transitioned to being the department head.

However, Lim Yang-wooks venture company, which had been registered as an in-house start-up, was also disbanded and absorbed into Baekhak Entertainment.

Fortunately, CEO Baek Seung-won decided to generously convert the publishing profits into incentives and stock options.

Lim Yang-wook often thought about the future he hadnt chosen.

What if he had taken Author Moon and left Baekhak Entertainment to become independent?

All the books selling at this moment would have been connected to his profits.

Not to mention, if he had exclusively published all future books of the genius author Moon In-seop, he could have sat on an incomparable fortune.

However, he would have had to fight for his life against the two giants, Baekhak Entertainment and Baekhak Publishing, and somehow coax Moon In-seop to stay under his wing.

Lim Yang-wook had made his decision based on this consideration.

He didnt have the confidence to offer more than what Baekhak Group could provide to Author Moon, and more than anything, he didnt want to deceive a child for money. Plus, he doubted the kid would fall for his words.

But these were all just Lim Yang-wooks regrets in his heart.

His real work lay in the present.

Department head~nim. The staff are all ready. Weve finalized things with the Content Business Division.

Department head~nim? The New Light Spring Orphanage wants to discuss filming and the director wants to meet you.

Department head~nim. Theres an issue with securing a channel for Baekhak Cultural Broadcasting. It seems like Baekhak Publishing is constantly protesting

What Lim Yang-wook gained by not going independent with Moon In-seop was all here.

Baekhak Entertainment was a versatile company with its own production, and a gathering place for the best experts in the media business.

Lim Yang-wook knew the capabilities of the Publishing Management Task Force Team during its heyday. With just Baekhak Entertainment, they could easily produce special broadcasts.

Then, he could show Author Moon to the world.

He could share the beauty he saw with everyone.

Phew.

Lim Yang-wook steadied his heart.

The calm before the storm.

Whether the small flutter he had started would end as a tempest in a teacup,

Or turn into a storm sweeping across the world, marking the rise of a genius,

Was entirely in his hands.

He staked everything on the filming tomorrow.

Only the outcome will tell the whole story.

* * *

Life in the orphanage? Theres not much freedom. Things like belongings are often taken away. Especially during unannounced inspections of high school students, they seize condoms as if catching mice, but then treat you like a whore if you get pregnant and become a single mother. Its a bit strange. But since thats how the adults are, you just have to accept it, I guess.

Lim Yang-wooks vision went dark!