Chapter 36
A Bountiful Harvest.
Just as farmers harvest their crops for the year, the boatmens hands busily move at the harbor. The horn of the approaching fishing boat seemed to express the joy of a full load. Seagulls flocked around, and stray cats roamed the harbor, hoping for a dropped fish or scrap.
Did you catch a lot?
The one that asked was a young man with a tall figure and handsome features that didnt quite match the ambiance of the harbor. He waved his hand toward the approaching fishing boat as if familiar with it, his broad shoulders reminiscent of Yeongdo Bridge. In response to the young mans call, the boat owner answered with a cheerful sound, full of warmth.
Yeongguk! What are you doing here so early in the morning? Youll be going up to Seoul soon for the new semester.
Wearing a deep hat, the boat owner seemed to know the young man well. Ever since childhood, the young man had followed his father around, a close friend of the boat owner. The harbor during the springtime was always bountiful with fish such as mackerel, sand lance, and flounder caught during this season. There was also always a shortage of workers around this time.
Im heading to Seoul tonight, so I still have plenty of time! I cant stand staying at home all day long! If not on a day like today, when else would I help you out? Arent you glad to have the extra help?
Of course, Im happy!
I knew you would be!
The tanned boat owner couldnt hide his happiness, the wrinkles around his eyes betraying his feelings. The young man stepped on board the boat like a seasoned pro, checking the full fish containers and letting out an admiring exclamation. As he rolled up his sleeves, his muscular arms were revealed.
Wow, youve taken control of Namhang!
The young mans skill in handling fish crates was remarkable. He carried fish on the swaying boat without losing balance, as if he had been working on boats for years. In the chilly dawn, the boatmens clothes were already sweat-drenched as if it were summer.
Yeongguk! Drink up this cold glass of misugaru!
The boat owner patted the young mans sturdy back and handed him a glass of misugaru with ice floating in it. After quenching his thirst with misugaru, the young man asked,
Sir, when will you change the name of this boat?
Why change it, Yeongguk? It hasnt been long since I changed it because you said it was old-fashioned. I like it just fine!
Still, though, whats with the name Yeongguks Ship? Every time I see that boat, its so embarrassing I dont know what to do![1]
Its the name of a great actor! Whats so embarrassing about that?
The boat owner laughed, stroking his rough beard.
Hows your mom, Yeongguk?
Her store is doing well these days! She and Mrs. Yang are getting along so well that theyre running it together without help!
You said youre going up to Seoul today?
Whats all this for?
Its a selection of prime, seasonal fish. The depth of affection in it was hard to put a price on. Even a white envelope containing pocket money was handed over. Eventually, the boat owner forcefully shoved the envelope into the reluctant young mans pocket, patting his broad back. Their relationship was like father and son.
Hey, take it!
The boat owner had cherished the young man as if he were his own child. The son of his close friend who he lost to the sea while working together. He couldnt face the boy for a few years because of guilt. But it was the young man who approached him first. Yeongguk was still a child a few years ago, but now he has grown into a strong and handsome young man. Undoubtedly, the boat owners deceased friend was watching this scene with a warm heart.
* * *
Main character, main character, main character.
Thats the word that has been haunting writer Hwang Sugyeongs mind lately. She debuted as a drama writer at a relatively young age. Its said that writers age with their work, but Hwang Sugyeong has established a solid reputation within the broadcasting company because of her continuous success. As a joke, people in the drama department said that there was Hwang Sugyeong above the king writer, and everyone acknowledged her skills.
Ill decide on the main character, no matter what!
Perhaps because of that, she had considerable authority in casting actors. Just as the harmony between the director and the actors was essential, so was the harmony between the writer and the actors. She had to find the perfect puzzle piece for her creation. She would not allow an inexperienced actor to ruin her work, which she had poured her heart and soul into.
Sunbae, how long are you going to keep worrying like this! Arent you going to work?
While most successful writers have several assistants, Hwang only has one.
Sujin, just because you stir-fry something sweet doesnt mean its going to turn into a dish, does it? I dont have the knack for writing! Whats the point of finishing a synopsis if I dont have a clear picture of the main character? If I try to work like this, its going to turn out as bland as a steamed bun without any filling!
No, but still. Its already been weeks! You keep avoiding PD Kims calls, so they keep contacting me. Why dont you just go with Park Siwu as the main character? His acting isnt bad, he has a good image, and hes popular with female fans because hes sweet.
Sweet, my ass! Youve already forgotten how Park Siwu was caught secretly throwing away fan letters! And hes almost thirty! How can he pull off a school uniform at that age? This work is all about the high teens! High teens!
High teens, as the term suggests, refer to the teenage years. Hwang Sugyeong brushed her long hair back in a frustrated manner. The broadcasting station had been suggesting casting a popular groups vocalist or an idol after reading the synopsis. However, she had no intention of casting those with no acting skills.
The reporters are going crazy! I dont know how they learned about the new project, but it was plastered all over the entertainment news! Luckily, they let it pass as a joke, but it caused chaos in the online communities! SBCs drama department is swamped with calls asking when it will air. They cant get a break!
PD Kim, that bastard! I told him not to brag so much, but he cant shut up when hes around reporters! No wonder the articles are piling up!
Hwang Sugyeong had been knocking down box office records one after another since her debut. Perhaps thanks to that, the media was already speculating who the leading man would be in Hwang Sugyeongs next work. It meant that she was a writer of great public interest.
Sunbae, why are you changing your clothes again?
Hwang Sugyeong took off her pajamas and put on an oversized hoodie.
You know the old saying: To catch a tiger, you have to go to the tigers den.[2] I need to go to the tigers den myself and get some inspiration! If I stay like this, I wont get anywhere!
Isnt there a proverb that says youll survive if you enter the tigers den with a clear mind? Sunbae, no, unnie, wait a minute!
Ignoring her assistants words, Hwang Sugyeong grabbed her wallet and headed out. Her assistants eyes widened, trying to grab her, but it was too late. She looked like a peculiar character. Although she was a top drama writer, she was so careless in her personal life. At that moment, she changed her clothes but ran out wearing mismatched shoes.
* * *
Like flipping through an old diary, the schoolyard always stirred up nostalgic feelings. As I pedaled my bicycle faster, the spring breeze brushing against my cheeks felt even more tender. The once-unfamiliar school uniform now felt like casual wear, and the signboard at the school gate was endearing. As I walked under the blooming cherry blossoms, I sensed curious glances.
Jang Yeongguk, what are you doing here without eating lunch?
Between boyhood and youth, broad shoulders lay on the grass, covered with cherry blossom petals, like a green watercolor painting sprinkled with pink paint. The boy had a tall stature, a high nose bridge, and innocent eyes resembling a calf. He looked similar to his past self but had a different vibe. He seemed cleaner and brighter. Thats probably why everyone walking through the schoolyard would give him a glance.
Youve come, youre here! Its the season for freshmen to fall into the swamp! Last year, it was the seniors who fell into that swamp!
A swamp?
You, Im talking about you!
The swamp referred to the puddle of Jang Yeongguks charm. If the seasonal transition could be described in this way, wearing a school uniform made him look like a young lad, and his unfathomable gaze occasionally shook the hearts of many women. Of course, he seemed oblivious to this fact.
Ten-million Cameo, stop and eat lunch already!
I hate that nickname.
Ten-million Cameo.
It was an unfamiliar nickname for him. For the past three years, he has been focusing on his studies at the recommendation of CEO Kim Seonghwan. He said that acting could be done anytime, but school days would never come back. He was a grateful person. However, that didnt mean he wasnt active in the entertainment industry.
By appearing as a cameo in consecutive films directed by Director Baek Janghun, he even earned the nickname Ten-million Cameo. There was even a superstition in Chungmuro that if Jang Yeongguk appeared as a cameo, the audience would exceed ten million.
By the way, the homeroom teacher said to go to the bench near the basketball court after eating lunch. Theres someone there whos going to guide you around the school. From what I heard, its a senior who graduated a long time ago, and they seem to be doing well in the broadcasting industry.
Why me?
Probably because you have a strong connection with the broadcasting industry. And get up from here and stop enchanting the freshmen!
The class president, who had left her seat quickly, also placed a small strawberry milk beside the boy. As Yeongguk showed her the strawberry milk and said, Thank you! she made a shy face. It seemed that it wasnt only the freshmen who were enchanted by him.
The basketball court was filled with the smell of sweat. Although chalk dust and old textbooks had their charms, something about the combination perfectly represented the school uniform. The place was full of the pure scent of grass, utterly unaffected by the wind of society like reeds.
Main character!
Hwang Sugyeong, the author, visited her alma mater. After all, the most crucial thing in writing was inspiration. There was no better place to release the words that entangled her mind. Although a decade had passed since her graduation, the schoolyard always held the essence of youth. The expressions of the students playing on the basketball court confirmed that. She, too, once had such pure, unblemished times. It was then.
Thud!
A stray basketball tore through the air, heading straight for the bench where she sat. The ball came at her so fast that she had no time to dodge; she simply squeezed her eyes shut. But oddly, she didnt feel any impact from the ball flying towards her like a raging bull.
Ugh.
Hwang Sugyeong slowly opened her eyes and looked ahead. Like a mirage materializing in a desert, the figure who had blocked the basketball with one hand gradually came into focus. Would the width of the Pacific Ocean measure up to this? The owner of broad shoulders held the ball in one hand and threw it back onto the court.
Are you alright?
A voice as sweet as cotton candy tickled her heart, along with deep, captivating eyes. As warm spring sunlight seemed to cast its inspiration upon her, the words that had been tangled in her mind melted away like snow. Not knowing her true feelings, the other person continued to gaze at her with soft, calf-like eyes. Her heart raced, and it felt like her words would come out in a jumble.
Amazing.
The main character she had been searching for so desperately had appeared right before her eyes.
[1] The name of the boat is , where is Yeongguks name and is a common suffix used in Korean for naming ships or boats.
[2] . An English equivalent would be No pain, no gain.
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