Midnight Interview

Then, J.D. Malone led Seo Jungyoon to a secluded sofa. As Jungyoon sat down beside him, Malone filled his glass with plenty of wine.“What kind of novels do you write?”“If I had to classify, they are long thriller novels.”“Can you tell me the title? I’d love to read it even if it’s translated.”“There should be an English version. The title is ‘Predators.’”“Holy shit!” Malone exclaimed. His sudden outburst drew everyone’s attention. Seo Jungyoon, unaware of what was happening, turned his head in surprise. Malone, still wide-eyed with his mouth agape, was staring at him.“Wait a minute! You wrote ‘Predators’?”“Yes. Is there a problem…?”“That’s an amazing novel! Oh my god, I’m a fan of yours!”Having a world-renowned author declare himself a fan left Jungyoon flabbergasted. He blinked his large eyes as Malone leaned in closer to him.“Hey, Yoon. Be honest. Your outer shell is fake, and there’s an old man who has lived several lives inside, right? Otherwise, how could someone so young write like that?”“Mr. Malone, sorry, but could you speak a bit slower?”“No, I mean, ha, you’re incredible.”Malone gulped down his wine like water, trying to calm his excitement. He wiped his flushed face with his palm, his mouth curving into a long grin.“Actually, I read your book on the flight to Korea. It was so chilling I felt my hair stand on end. Oh, by the way, I have your book in my hotel room. Could you sign it?”“I’d be honored.”“Great, don’t leave until it ends. Let’s drink more together and talk about books. You like my novels, right? Yoon, I’ll tell you anything you’re curious about.”Malone pulled Jungyoon’s left hand and kissed the back of it. The intense look he gave made Jungyoon’s hair stand on end.It was too much to be considered a casual greeting. Jungyoon gently withdrew his hand and leaned back. Putting enough distance between them, he forced an awkward smile.“It might be difficult today. Maybe another time.”“Really? Well, hold on a moment.”Malone smacked his lips regretfully. Raising his right hand, he gestured to someone. Recognizing the gesture for a pen, his manager approached with a ballpoint pen and a notebook.“This is my email. If possible, contact me by tomorrow, or even the day after is fine.”He handed the torn note to Jungyoon.“I really hope we meet again. It’s rare to find someone who matches my taste like you do.”Whether he meant his taste in novels or something else, it wasn’t clear. One thing was sure: Malone had a significant liking for Jungyoon.“I’ll get in touch. I enjoyed our conversation.”“Have a good night, Yoon.”With a straightforward farewell, Jungyoon left the sofa. Someone else quickly took his place.J.D. Malone was smiling brightly and engrossed in conversation with someone else. Seeing how quickly his interest shifted, Jungyoon sighed quietly.He downed the remaining wine in one go and placed the empty glass on the table. He craved a cigarette. Weaving through the crowded party, he searched for a smoking area.Fortunately, the building had a designated smoking space. The outdoor emergency stairs had long cylindrical ashtrays at each landing.Both the first and second floors were filled with smokers, so Jungyoon took the trouble to walk up to the third floor.There was no light in the emergency stairwell, making it pitch black. Jungyoon cleared his mind and climbed the steps. As he neared the top, the smell of cigarette smoke wafted down from above. Deciding it was too much trouble to go back, he continued up the last steps.At the dimly lit landing, a tall man was smoking.The cigarette between the man’s straight fingers glowed with a red ember, emitting wisps of white smoke. When Jungyoon stopped, the man turned his head. Dark eyes, as black as the shadows, stared directly at Seo Jungyoon.Coming face to face with Yoon Taerim again, Jungyoon froze. With their gazes locked, he couldn’t turn away.Yoon Taerim, with a cigarette in his mouth, took a deep drag and exhaled a cloud of smoke. He nodded towards Seo Jungyoon, who was standing stiffly.“Didn’t you come to smoke?”“…Ah, yes.”Jungyoon climbed the last step. Only then did they stand on equal footing. He took a spot beside Yoon Taerim, leaning against the railing just as he did, and stared down at the floor.A long exhale came from beside him. Without any wind, the cigarette smoke and Yoon Taerim’s cologne wafted over. Jungyoon’s sense of smell recalled Yoon Taerim’s lingering presence in the air, naturally heightening his tension.Without a word, Yoon Taerim suddenly spoke.“Do you know Malone is gay?”Caught off guard, Jungyoon turned his head. Yoon Taerim was looking down at Seo Jungyoon with his chin tilted up arrogantly.“Sorry? What are you….”“It’s already well-known in that circle. J.D. Malone constantly changes men. His taste seems quite specific. Fair-skinned, innocent-looking beauties. Well, maybe it’s inappropriate to call men beauties.”“I didn’t know.”The surprise was brief. Jungyoon quickly composed his face and looked down again. What bothered him more was the slight disgust in Yoon Taerim’s tone rather than Malone being gay.“I don’t care about other people’s sexual orientations anyway.”“That man seems quite interested in you.”“Don’t beat around the bush and get to the point. What are you trying to say?”“A lover would be displeased to know that you’re receiving advances from an older man, Mr. Seo. Rumors can spread quickly from even the smallest spark.”Yoon Taerim lowered his gaze, quietly observing Seo Jungyoon’s profile as he stubbornly stared at the floor.“If you’re not interested, it’s best to make your rejection clear.”“There’s no one to be displeased. We broke up.”Seo Jungyoon sighed deeply as he answered. Unable to hold it in, he finally revealed his situation.“Not being able to go on Wednesday, missing work at the hotel, it was all due to the aftermath of the breakup. I know, it’s a pathetic excuse. But at that time, I was struggling to take care of myself… I didn’t have the energy to focus on anything else.”Whether it was out of frustration or under the influence of alcohol, his mouth opened and his tongue moved on its own.But after spilling everything, he felt relieved. It didn’t matter if Yoon Taerim looked down on him.Surprisingly, Yoon Taerim listened silently. The long ash from his cigarette fell with a soft thud.“I heard you were together for a long time.”He took a slow drag from his half-burnt cigarette. The smoke flowed out like a long sigh.“What was the reason?”“…I caught him cheating.”“That’s a trivial reason.”Jungyoon chuckled. Hearing Yoon Taerim call it trivial made it feel like it really was nothing. His heart felt a bit lighter.“Are you just going to keep inhaling the smoke?”At the subtle remark, Jungyoon finally reached for his pack of cigarettes. He pulled out a cheap lighter and a cigarette.Holding the dry cigarette filter between his lips, he tried to strike the lighter’s flint. But it only produced a hissing sound without lighting. Jungyoon tried until his thumb turned red, then gave up.He looked up at Yoon Taerim, who was quietly smoking. He placed the unlit cigarette between his fingers again and cautiously spoke.“Mr. President, do you have a lighter?”Yoon Taerim silently glanced sideways. He stared at the embarrassed Seo Jungyoon for a long moment before quietly answering.“I borrowed this one.”So, no smoking then, Jungyoon thought as he opened his pack again. But Yoon Taerim suddenly stepped forward and gracefully took the cigarette from Jungyoon’s hand. He lightly tapped the filter end, slightly damp with moisture, against Jungyoon’s lips.“Take a drag.”Jungyoon, as if entranced, opened his mouth. He held the cigarette with his lips and grasped the soft roll with his index and middle fingers.Tall Yoon Taerim leaned in with the cigarette in his mouth. As the ends met, Jungyoon instinctively took a few drags on the filter. The ember quickly transferred to the new cigarette.Once their faces parted, Yoon Taerim resumed smoking leisurely. Even with the silence, there was no awkwardness now that they both had something to focus on.“Mr. Seo Jungyoon, you’ve changed a lot since I last saw you.”“…Have I?”“You look quite unstable. No matter how much you liked the person, it seems the aftermath of the breakup was significant.”“……”At the piercing comment, Jungyoon laughed with the smoke. That man was indeed perceptive.With the alcohol and cigarette, his head started to throb. Jungyoon brushed his disheveled hair back.“Maybe so. I barely made it out today. It’ll get better someday.”“Go back to writing novels. If you’re going to escape, it’s more efficient to bury yourself in something you’re good at.”Yoon Taerim stubbed out his nearly burnt cigarette in the ashtray. He crossed his arms and leaned against the railing. Even with his relaxed posture, there was an intriguing allure that drew attention.“By the way.”“……”“Today is Wednesday.”Jungyoon silently smoked, staring at Yoon Taerim.Once again, a golden lifeline dangled before him. He knew it was too tempting and dangerous to grasp, but he couldn’t resist its allure.The moment he stepped into the presidential suite, it felt unreal. Or perhaps he had already been dazed by the luxurious ride to the hotel with Yoon Taerim.The hotel room was still as opulent as ever. The architecture and elegant wallpaper, reminiscent of European royalty, overwhelmed the long-absent visitor. Jungyoon forced his shoulders back. He was invited, so there was no need to feel intimidated.Leading the way, Yoon Taerim crossed the wide living room without hesitation. Being his own place, he moved with ease. Deep inside, he suddenly stopped and asked Seo Jungyoon,“Do you want more drinks?”“…Yes. Please.”At this point, he needed a drink to survive. As he exhaled deeply, Yoon Taerim watched him with a silent laugh. Casually removing his jacket, he nodded toward the bar.“Choose your drink, Mr. Seo.”Then, taking his jacket, he headed somewhere. Judging by the direction, it seemed to be the dressing room.Jungyoon slowly walked toward where Yoon Taerim had stood and looked around the display cabinet. The wooden shelves were filled with a variety of bottles, rivaling any liquor store. Most of them were high-end brands.As he scanned the labels, he felt someone behind him. Yoon Taerim had returned, having taken off his tie and the restrictive vest. In a more comfortable outfit, he unbuttoned his shirt and neatly rolled up his sleeves. Even that series of motions looked polished.Before he knew it, Jungyoon’s focus had shifted from the bottles to Yoon Taerim. Watching him adjust his attire, Jungyoon asked,“May I ask a question?”“What is it?”“What happened with the hotel promotion after that?”Yoon Taerim’s dark pupils focused on Seo Jungyoon. He leaned against the cabinet with both hands, which revealed his forearms, stuffed in his pants pockets. His expressionless face appeared rather dry.“We had Plan B and Plan C prepared just in case. It wasn’t perfect, but thanks to our excellent staff, we managed without any issues.”“I apologize.”“What are you apologizing for? You’ll be handling it again, Mr. Seo Jungyoon.”He predictably announced Jungyoon’s return. The person in question was left blinking in astonishment. As far as Jungyoon knew, the promotion had already started, and it seemed too late for publicity.“You’re hiring me again?”“I’m not a philanthropist. I plan to get as much as I give to Mr. Seo.”Yoon Taerim’s lips curled into a short smile. His previously indifferent expression quickly turned cunning, like a scheming villain.“Don’t you think I can?”Seo Jungyoon shook his head.“Of course, you can.”It wasn’t empty flattery; he was indeed capable. Jungyoon turned halfway, reaching out towards the shelves.“In that case, I should accept what you’re offering.”His fingers glided across the bottles before decisively grabbing a glass bottle by the neck. The liquor bottle was quite heavy. Contrary to its simple appearance, the one Jungyoon chose was the most expensive on display.“Good choice.”Yoon Taerim’s smile grew broader. He genuinely seemed pleased with Jungyoon’s decision, as if praising his selection.The two relocated to the reception area and sat facing each other. With the wine snacks ordered through room service laid out, the drinking session began naturally.Maybe it was thanks to the drinks, but the conversation that he thought would be awkward flowed more smoothly than expected. Most of it revolved around Seo Jungyoon’s recent activities.Yoon Taerim twirled his half-filled glass of liquor. The thick golden liquid danced against the ice and glass surface, appearing almost as if the liquor itself was dancing.“How was the reclusiveness?”“Not bad. It wasn’t much different from my usual lifestyle.”“Your face looks quite worn, though.”He brought the chilled glass to his lips and took a sip of the cold liquor. His gaze lowered to the seated Seo Jungyoon. He scrutinized him from the top of his head to his elbows, and even down to his toes peeking out of the slippers.“You must have recently cut your hair. And your clothes… you seem to have put some effort in.”At his words, Jungyoon scratched the back of his exposed neck. Somehow, he felt ticklish wherever Yoon Taerim’s gaze landed.“Yes, given the occasion. I couldn’t meet my idol looking like a mess.”“Do you like J.D. Malone that much?”“He’s my most respected author.”Yoon Taerim hid his crooked smile behind his glass.“Be careful; fan feelings are the easiest to exploit.”Seo Jungyoon silently looked at the man. His quiet gaze demanded an explanation from Yoon Taerim.“Have you already forgotten what I said?”“Whether J.D. Malone is gay or a pervert, it doesn’t matter. Just because his preferences differ from others doesn’t mean his work should be demeaned. I like his writing, not anything else about him.”“I’m not sure if you’re being sharp or naive.”Even Yoon Taerim wasn’t sure if his words were a compliment or a mockery.Seo Jungyoon tightly gripped his glass and fell into thought for a moment. As if resolved, he drank the high-proof liquor in just a few sips. A sigh filled with lingering feelings escaped his lips.“Mr. Yoon Taerim.”His trembling voice trailed off. Hearing himself called, Yoon Taerim raised his eyes and waited for him to continue.His hand holding the glass fidgeted. He seemed to be mulling over what to say next for a long time. Seo Jungyoon carefully chose his words.“Do you have any aversion to men liking men?”One of Yoon Taerim’s eyebrows shot up. The question was unexpected. Slowly tilting his head back, he seemed to recall.“I’ve been confessed to by men a few times.”The calmly spoken anecdote was more shocking than expected. Was that common abroad? Jungyoon blinked his wide eyes.“If it had been someone I liked, I might have accepted. Unfortunately, there was no such person.”“……”Even hearing directly from Yoon Taerim that he could be with men, it was hard to believe. Was it okay to share something that could be seen as a flaw so openly? What did he trust about me?However, Yoon Taerim continued speaking as if it was no big deal.“Korea is conservative, so I’m not sure, but homosexuality is quite natural abroad. I have a few acquaintances. I don’t dislike it. Except for people like Malone, who have terrible behavior.”He divided his likes and dislikes clearly and took a sip of his drink to conclude.“Does that answer your question?”“Yes.”“How about you, Mr. Seo Jungyoon?”Yoon Taerim’s empty glass was set on the table. Casually crossing his legs, Taerim folded his arms and sank back into the sofa.“Can you sleep with men?”Despite his relaxed posture, Yoon Taerim’s gaze towards Jungyoon was sharp and piercing, as if trying to read his intentions.“…I.”Jungyoon swallowed the saliva that had pooled in his mouth, moving his stiff tongue.He didn’t have the courage to reveal his weaknesses as comfortably as Yoon Taerim did. Even if he disclosed that his ex was a man, would he still react the same way? He didn’t want to take such a risk.“I don’t know.”“Well, you can’t know without experience. I can’t imagine being intimate with a man either.”Seo Jungyoon quickly filled his empty glass and drank it hurriedly. He couldn’t tell if the dizziness was from the alcohol or the extreme tension.“You must be popular with both men and women, being young, handsome, and capable.”“You know how to flatter.”“It’s not flattery… Let’s talk about something else. Want more to drink?”Jungyoon gave up trying to smooth things over and picked up the heavy bottle. As he poured into Taerim’s empty glass, he heard a low chuckle above his bowed head. Unable to face Yoon Taerim, he stubbornly stared at the filling glass.He lost track of time. The square whiskey bottle was two-thirds empty, and the thinly sliced cheese had dried out.Jungyoon, now thoroughly drunk, had blurred vision.He should head home, but Yoon Taerim, who had been drinking with him, was nowhere to be seen. Had he said he would take a phone call? He had mentioned something, but Jungyoon couldn’t clearly remember.He fumbled to grab his discarded jacket. Just a slight movement made his head spin, and he rested the side of his head against the sofa back.Even in his drunken state, he thought he should say goodbye to Yoon Taerim before leaving.But despite his firm resolve, drowsiness overtook him. Seo Jungyoon fell asleep clutching his jacket.Click, the door opened. In his daze, he heard a low voice calling his name, Seo Jungyoon. It felt so distant it seemed like a dream.His body lifted. The steady steps and firm hands supporting his thighs and back were reassuring.“…Mm.”It felt so stable, smelled nice, and was warm. Jungyoon shifted in his sleep. Unconsciously, he snuggled closer to the solid warmth.The careful steps stopped with a start. A deep sigh fell over his head, but Jungyoon, already deep in sleep, didn’t notice.A hangover that felt like his skull was splitting woke him. Groaning, he suddenly realized the blanket covering him was unfamiliar. It was light and crisp.Slowly opening his eyes, he saw white bedding. His body sprang up like a spring. He saw an unfamiliar room, brightly lit by daylight.“Oh, crap!”He scrambled up, almost rolling off the bed. It was already 11 a.m. As he struggled to discern reality, he noticed a note left on the nightstand.[I went to work early. You were sleeping soundly, so I didn’t wake you. I’ve requested a hangover breakfast for you. Call the front desk when you wake up. I’ll expect your reciprocation later.]It wasn’t hard to recognize the neat handwriting. True to his character, the writing was precise, with even spacing and strokes.Next to it was a familiar key card. The black plastic card with the hotel logo in the center clearly signified that he was welcome to come every Wednesday.Jungyoon took the key card and stuffed it into his pants pocket. Rubbing his puffy face to wake himself up, he swore never to touch alcohol again.He pulled a pen from the guest binder on the nightstand. In a half-crouched position, he left a note under Yoon Taerim’s writing.[I’ll repay this favor soon. Seo Jungyoon. 010—xxxx—xxxx.]Ignoring Yoon Taerim’s instructions, Jungyoon hurried. He had some dignity left. Sleeping in someone else’s hotel room while drunk and then shamelessly eating breakfast was too much.He quickly gargled and washed up in the palatial bathroom, then fled the room.“Oh man, what was I thinking?”In the elevator, embarrassment overwhelmed him. The shame was so intense it could beat any hangover.Jungyoon reprimanded himself, banging his head against the wall. Suddenly, he checked his pockets to ensure he had everything. Wallet, phone, even his cigarette pack were all there, but the note from Malone, which he had put in his jacket pocket, was missing.Where had he lost it? Even if someone found it, they wouldn’t know it was J.D. Malone’s email address.He sighed deeply, accepting the loss.Back home, he headed straight for the bathroom. Even after thoroughly washing off the alcohol smell, his face looked pale, like a sick person. The hangover was severe.To soothe his burning stomach, he cooked some ramen. He ended up drinking mostly the broth, leaving the soggy noodles. Although it was bothersome, he washed the dishes immediately, considering it was summer. At least, eating made him feel a bit better.After tidying up, he took a cup of hot tea and went up to his study. Jungyoon retrieved the hidden manuscript file as soon as he sat down.He was glad he hadn’t deleted it. Reading the densely written text, he smiled contentedly.After reviewing the final paragraph, he immediately went and brought back a whiteboard he had left in a corner. Grabbing a black marker, he began writing without hesitation in the empty space.The new board, detailed and meticulous, was far better organized than the initial draft. The new work, once thought forgotten, seemed to bloom with renewed passion.Before he knew it, the 1-meter-long board was filled with orderly writing. Closing the marker cap, Jungyoon admired his work with pride. His heart raced at the thought of starting anew.A few days passed. Despite leaving a new phone number, there was no contact from Yoon Taerim. Yet, he expected to meet on Wednesdays, so he didn’t worry. He had no time to spare. Seo Jungyoon was incredibly busy conceptualizing his new work.He did some research and noted down areas where he needed Yoon Taerim’s insights. The list of things to ask was already a page long. With scattered reference books in front of him, Jungyoon diligently wrote in a new notebook.An email arrived at just the right time. It was a message from the promotion team via the Royal Peak Hotel account.Jungyoon put down his pen and grabbed the mouse. With a click, he opened the email to see the neatly organized content.Next Wednesday at 3 PM, Club Room, Super City View with Han River, including dinner and breakfast, unlimited lounge access.Wednesday coincided with the day he would meet Yoon Taerim, so it seemed perfect to stay at the hotel and then move. Although Manager Kim Hyemin wouldn’t know about his secret meetings with Yoon Taerim, it was a pleasing schedule for Jungyoon.Seo Jungyoon’s first essay had been published in the hotel’s magazine and on its official site.While the website’s accessibility was somewhat lacking, luckily, snippets and photos spread through online communities, garnering a good response.People interested in the full content visited the site, and the surge of interest brought an unexpected boom to the Royal Peak website.Though the writing itself was the main topic of interest, the accompanying photos played a significant role. The responses consistently speculated and showed curiosity about the external appearance of author Seo Jungyoon.Having kept a low profile, readers had no way of knowing what Seo Jungyoon looked like. They vaguely imagined him to have a rough appearance, being irritable and gloomy, influenced by the nature of his writing.The image of his grandfather, poet Seo Taeseon, also contributed to distorted rumors. His grandfather wasn’t quite handsome, but rather rugged and masculine. Even in his old age, he exuded a vibrant energy.But upon revealing the essay, Seo Jungyoon appeared to be a fair-skinned, soft-looking man. Though the photos cleverly obscured his face, his slender physique and gentle demeanor couldn’t be hidden.It was summer, and his clothes were thin with short sleeves. The photos depicted Seo Jungyoon exposing his pale wrists while drinking or scribbling in a notebook. The glimpses of his jawline, slender neck, clean fingers, and unblemished elbows hinted at the author’s neat and delicate appearance.This seemed to spark a peculiar imagination.Remarks varied from people assuming he was very good-looking, noting he seemed younger than expected, wondering how someone so soft could write such works, to accusations of him having a double. Opinions were diverse.“I can’t tell if this is good or bad.”Jungyoon chuckled as he read the praise from Manager Kim Hyemin at the end of the email. She too was talking about how heated the online reactions were lately.He closed the email and refocused on his work.ᶻ 𝗓 𐰁On a lazy Sunday afternoon, the phone rang. It was the editor.“Yes, this is Seo Jungyoon.”— Author. Is it a good time to talk?The voice from the speaker was trembling slightly. Jungyoon turned a page in his notebook, holding the phone to his ear.“Yes, it’s fine. Go ahead.”— Well, the thing is… um.The usually articulate editor was hesitating today. Jungyoon sensed something was wrong and put down his pen.“Is something wrong?”— There’s a plagiarism dispute going on. I wanted to see if you knew about it.“Plagiarism? What about?”— It’s about the recently published ‘Fallen Fruit.’Ha, Jungyoon scoffed in disbelief. Plagiarism? That was absurd.“Who’s saying that? What is it similar to?”— It’s actually an accusation of theft. They claim you stole Seo Taeseon’s ideas and turned them into a novel.Seo Jungyoon openly laughed. The claim was so ridiculous it didn’t even seem worth responding to.“You can ignore it. That kind of talk surfaced when I first debuted.”— I know, but… this time it’s a bit serious.The editor cautiously explained the situation.— It seems to be written by someone who knows you well. They’ve detailed your personal information accurately. The argument is quite convincing, and the situation is turning unfavorable. We’ll release an official rebuttal, but I wanted you to be aware first.At this point, Jungyoon couldn’t brush it off with a laugh anymore.“Where can I see this?”[The Reality of Bestselling Author Seo Jungyoon]The controversy began with a post in a community mainly frequented by aspiring writers.A post uploaded at dawn explicitly mentioned Seo Jungyoon’s name in the title.Twenty-eight years old, eight years into his career, all four books he’s published have been bestsellers. These well-known facts were written in the preface.Below the preface, the post claimed that Seo Jungyoon’s house was piled with unpublished works by poet Seo Taeseon, which he allegedly used to create his own novels.It mockingly pointed out that Seo Jungyoon dropped out of high school, arguing that with his level of education, he couldn’t write such novels and must have hired a ghostwriter. It also mentioned that Seo Taeseon had left a vast inheritance and copyrights to his grandson before his death.Indeed, the lengthy post, as the editor said, seemed to be written by someone who knew Seo Jungyoon well.The post garnered a high number of views. Given that the main users of the community were people in the same field, such accusatory content naturally flared up.Moreover, the target was a young, successful bestselling author. The jealousy and envy towards a young author who easily grasped success others couldn’t even dream of were beyond imagination.Hundreds of comments were posted below the baseless article, most of them agreeing with the allegations. The rumors grew uncontrollably, with people adding what they had supposedly heard from others, solidifying the suspicions as facts.Not stopping there, someone organized and spread it on social media. The suspicion that started in a small community quickly dominated the internet.Since Seo Jungyoon had recently gained attention for his hotel essay, he quickly became a hot topic. While most people doubted the use of a ghostwriter, they seemed quite convinced about him plagiarizing Seo Taeseon’s ideas.Some added fuel to the fire. They found and quoted actual posts looking for ghostwriters, making it seem as if Seo Jungyoon had written them.[Why did he do it? He could have lived off the inheritance for life.][I’m ashamed to call him a fellow writer.][I’m staying neutral. I won’t add my opinion until he explains!][How will he explain? Just insisting it’s not true?]Jungyoon read through all the comments.Initially, he read them nonchalantly, but the more he read, the worse he felt. It was only natural. Hundreds of strangers were slandering him.He sighed heavily, burying his face in his hands. He rubbed his eyelids, sore from staring at the monitor for hours. Who would believe such nonsense? But public opinion was turning worse than he expected.Who could have posted such a thing? It had to be someone who knew him well.…Could it have been Jaehyuk Hyung?A baseless suspicion popped into his mind. Jungyoon gritted his teeth, trying to dismiss it.Kang Jaehyuk wouldn’t do that. Though they parted on bad terms, he wasn’t that much of a scumbag.It was nearly 5 AM. As the dawn approached, the sky outside turned a pale gray. Jungyoon grabbed the mouse again and scrolled slowly. Sleep was out of the question. His reddened eyes fixated stubbornly on the monitor.—I apologize, author. I didn’t mean to upset you with my remarks.The next morning, the editor apologized in a subdued voice. Despite the publisher’s efforts to handle the situation, it seemed difficult to quell the controversy.Now, Seo Jungyoon’s name dominated the search rankings on portal sites. Accusations of plagiarism, ghostwriting, and other negative terms followed his name.“It’s okay, I would have found out anyway.”Jungyoon, who had stayed up all night, rubbed his tired face with his palm. His voice, deeply sunken, was raspy.“What should I do?”—……“Should I write a statement of explanation as people are demanding? Would they believe it?”The editor couldn’t bring herself to respond to his self-deprecating laughter. The publisher was inundated with inquiries about the allegations. Handling Seo Jungyoon’s correspondence alone was overwhelming.“I’ll think it over. It’s the weekend, and I’m sorry for troubling you. Thank you.”—I should apologize more. We’ll look into it from all angles. Please don’t worry too much about what’s floating around online. Take it easy, okay?“Thank you.”Ending the call, Jungyoon collapsed onto his desk. His cheek stuck to the surface as he stared blankly at the empty wall. How could he ease his mind when it was so tangled? He shut his eyes tightly, trying to calm his chaotic thoughts.With limited social connections, he had no one to turn to in times of crisis. In the past, Jaehyuk would have rolled up his sleeves to help, but now even that wasn’t possible.Should he consult a lawyer? The more he pondered, the worse his headache got, forcing him to keep his eyes closed.Brrr.The phone’s vibration resonated through the desk. Jungyoon sluggishly picked up the phone. The name displayed on the screen snapped him out of his daze.“…Yes. This is Seo Jungyoon.”His voice trembled anxiously. He wanted nothing more than to hang up as soon as he answered.— Mr. Seo, it seems something happens every other day.In contrast, Yoon Taerim’s voice was as composed as ever. There was no hint of agitation, and his detached tone felt oddly comforting. Jungyoon’s anxiety started to subside.“Did you see the internet?”— I was just informed. It’s a mess.“…I’m sorry.”Surely, Royal Peak must have faced backlash as well. That must be why Yoon Taerim called.Even over the phone, he felt too ashamed to look up. Yoon Taerim must be disappointed in him again. Who would want to work with someone under such circumstances?Even if he canceled the proposal, Jungyoon had no grounds to refuse. Holding the phone to his ear, he quietly awaited his decision.— Have you handled it?“Not yet.”— Come to the office by two. Let’s meet in my office.Leaving a notification-like message, the call ended.“He could have just told me over the phone.”Jungyoon looked at the now dark screen, sighing helplessly.