Translated by: ShawnSuh Edited by: SootyOwl I gotta say, theres an irony to it, Nam Kyung said, feeling hopeful . Whenever he would edit one of Yun Woos books, he felt like things were getting closer to the ideal picture in his head . He became curious about the readers reactions to the book they would buy just to see what their favorite author looked like . What would they think of the book? Nam Kyung sensed success . But I have to remind you . Once your face is known, you wont be able to avoid interacting with the press . Theyll come for you, and they wont let up . Yes, I know . But Ill keep it at the lowest key possible . Ill interact with them when and where I chose to . But in terms of revealing myself to my readers, Id like to do that through my book . Of course, Mr . Woo . Not only was Yun Woo prominent enough to make requests like that to the press, but Zelkova Publis.h.i.+ng wasnt exactly the smallest company, either . They, too, were big enough to host an annual award ceremony . All right, then . That should take care of the reporters camping out in front of my workplace . Juho smiled at Nam Kyungs witty remark . Then, the editor moved on to tell him about what had happened at his workplace during their visit to the States, which hadnt been all that different from the current situation . Interview requests will be flooding in from overseas . It wont be easy to choose . Juho sighed quietly at the dreading reminder of the interview requests . He still remembered having to set aside essentially an entire day for interviews . Because reporters and journalists would ask a series of similar questions, it ended with Juho having to repeat himself over and over . He had been blatantly greedy toward fame back then, wanting to be recognized by everyone until he couldnt roam about the streets in peace . Although the goal hadnt been bad in an of itself, what he had lacked had been his understanding of who he was: an author . If he wanted to be famous, what he really shouldve done was write rather than partic.i.p.ate in interviews . It wasnt until much later that Juho learned his lesson . Everything became clear in retrospect, and it dawned on him that he most likely wouldnt have listened to anybody, no matter how much they tried to talk him out of going in the direction he had had in mind . A realization had little meaning unless one came to it on their own, and it wasnt until much later that a person could reach one . Seems like youre about to get a lot busier, Nam Kyung said . Just as he had said, the young author was about to be unbelievably busy . Then, after checking his schedules on his phone, Nam Kyung decided to share some news with the young author, By the way, did you know Mr . Lim is coming out with a new book soon? We havent decided on a release date yet, but weve been really pus.h.i.+ng for it . At that, Juho remembered what he had heard from Hyun Do previously . Now that you mention it, he did say that he was working on a ma.n.u.script . Oh, wow! Are you two that close? Just something that came up during a meal . However, the editor didnt pay all that much attention to his response . Does that mean I can expect to see you two in an interview together? Hard to say . Or on TV? Mr . Lim isnt a fan of getting involved with the press in any way, as far as Im aware . Man, just the thought of it puts a smile on my face, he said simpering . No matter what Juho said, it most likely wouldnt register to Nam Kyung . Oh, are you planning on taking pictures? Would you like a studio recommendation from me? Nam Kyung said, adding that the young author had to pay close attention to his first official photo session in order to leave a positive impression on his readers . I know youre not gonna like it when I say this, but you have to pick the one that comes out the best . You are Yun Woo, after all, the editor said as if ready to take Juho to a photographer at any given minute . However, the young author shook his head . I already have a picture in mind . Oh? Whats look like? Howd it come out? Nam Kyung asked, and Juho nodded confidently . Juho, too, was aware of the significance of the picture, and he was expecting that his fans would have differing opinions about his looks, as well as the things that brought them doubt . Even if he were to present the publishers as his witnesses, there was bound to be people who doubted whether he was real . Is this boy really Yun Woo? He looks a lot better than I imagined . He isnt as good looking as I thought he would be . It was unlikely that the process, which involved an author who lived in peoples heads as an image becoming an actual person in reality, would go smoothly and noiselessly . Being well aware of that, Juho didnt plan on choosing a picture of himself according to the expectations of his fans . Rather, he went with what seemed the most fitting for him . Since it would be our first time meeting, it would be a courtesy to introduce myself . In that sense, I thought there would be nothing better than this picture . Well, which picture is it? One that youve already seen . I have?! Nam Kyung asked with a perplexed look on his face . You know, the one we took while we were in the States? The States . Coins residence . As the picture came to mind, Nam Kyung clapped his hands together . There was no picture like it, and Coin had the original . Thatll do . It was a perfect choice, and it would allow the fans to be able to accept the truth without too much trouble . It had to be the most convincing evidence when proving the young authors ident.i.ty . A picture of Yun Woo and Coin, standing side by side in front of Coins residence . Both authors were in comfortable attire, and their hairs were blowing in the wind . Although not exactly the tidiest photo, it was bound to make a positive impression on the fans . Im not gonna lie, Mr . Woo . I thought this would be a lot more time-consuming, the editor said, delighted that everything was going seamlessly . At that, a subject came up in Juhos mind, So, I saw this advertis.e.m.e.nt on my way here . An advertis.e.m.e.nt? he asked, puzzled . Yes . It was for a paparazzi academy, but I thought their phrasing was quite threatening . Capture anybody you want, even Yun Woo! At that, an ambiguous expression appeared on the editors face . While his mouth was smiling, his brow started to furrow gradually . Paparazzi, huh, he said . Nam Kyung didnt believe that people would be able to take pictures of the young author when they didnt even know what he looked like . At the same time, it was slightly disconcerting . Mr . Woo, you have to understand how hard we try to keep your ident.i.ty hidden from the ma.s.ses, he said with a sigh . Then, remembering a manual in his department, which was made exclusively for Yun Woo, he added, There are a total of three people who know what you look like in the entire company, and weve minimized the number of people who have access to information about you . We put a warning on every piece of data that has anything remotely to do with you . Confidential . Destroy after reading . The general atmosphere within the company has been pretty cautious . I think people are a.s.suming that they would be driven out of the industry if they leaked any information about you . Weve been having our meetings in a different place every time, the editor said, emphasizing that the company had been taking a number of precautionary measures in addition to normal . I appreciate your thoughtfulness, Mr . Park . If it werent for Nam Kyung and Zelkova Publis.h.i.+ng, Juho wouldnt have been able to remain anonymous for three years . Then, with a look of relief, Nam Kyung said, Well, just a little longer now . Well keep our eyes peeled just a little longer until the book is released . At that, the young author nodded affirmingly . --- The paparazzo smiled as he watched the secret meeting between Yun Woo and his editor from the inside of the car . The shutter sounded from his camera, and after taking some pictures of them, the paparazzo lowered the camera to check the photos of the two talking and drinking their fruit juices inside the shop . The young author and his editor appeared to be quite close to each other . Is this really Yun Woo? the paparazzo asked, looking at the face that he didnt recognize . Then, he took a recording device out of their chest pocket, which contained the make and model of the editors car and its plate number, his schedules, and a recording of his voice about a future meeting that was more than likely to happen . According to his informant, the editor should have left on a business trip that had long been planned for . However, he was still in Korea, meeting someone . More precisely, meeting Yun Woo . The man tried to suppress the wave of excitement was.h.i.+ng over him . Well, things can always change . So far, everything had gone according to his informant, but as long as the paparazzo didnt know what Yun Woo looked like, there was no way to be certain of anything . In comparison to the photos the paparazzo had been selling up to that point, the set of pictures he had taken that day lacked any substantial evidence that would prove their legitimacy . However, it was hardly going to be an issue because they were going to be sold regardless . There had been many companies looking for items of provocative nature rather than the truth . The name Yun Woo had already been a sensation a number of times previously . The paparazzo swallowed anxiously . How much would I get out of these photos? It had to be enough to cover the amount he had spent on the piece of information just to be able to capture the young author on camera . Then, the paparazzo picked up his phone . --- You . Bring your phone up here, the P . E teacher said to a student, taking their phone away . Meanwhile, having had their phone with them in secret, the student looked like they were about to burst into tears at any given minute . Make sure to clean up before you go inside . That was the typical end of the weekly P . E cla.s.s . While some students were quite fond of it, others couldnt stand it . With that, picking up a basketball, Juho shot into the basket . The students had been told that their test scores would be based on the number of shots they had made within a one-minute time limit . That day, the cla.s.s had been mostly practicing for the exam, and the cla.s.s was far from special . Then, Juho went into the school building, which was noticeably cooler than outside . The junior had heard that the school was planning on going into renovations after he graduated, making a slew of improvements throughout the campus, like a lawn in the schoolyard, better air conditioning and heating, and repainting the outer walls of the building to a brighter color . Suffice to say, the juniors had much to complain about the slew of improvements that were taking place after they would graduate . No matter how much better the school became, it made no difference if they couldnt take advantage of the improvements . Internally, they had to be coming from a place of sincerity, wanting the undercla.s.smen to enjoy the new and improved learning environment, as well as from a place of mean-spiritedness . Walls with scribblings on them . Dusty hallways . Windows with metal beams . The lockers, desks, and chairs, which were visible upon opening the cla.s.sroom door . Chalkboard and podium . Looking attentively at those things, Juho took his seat . Students who had changed out of their P . E clothes were mingling with students who were yet to do so, either getting ready for the next period or snacking on something . On top of that, there was a mention of Yun Woo . If I were Yun Woo, Id do backflips in front of everyone . Whats that even mean? It means Id enjoy the heck out of being the center of attention . The young author chuckled quietly at his peers ridiculous remark . At that moment, the bell started ringing, and the teacher walked in through the door . Then, with the teachers strict voice, the cla.s.sroom grew silent at once, and the teacher proceeded to teach . Taking notes and underlining their textbooks, the students marked the subjects they were told to expect in the upcoming exam with stars . Although n.o.body knew for certain whether or not they would revisit their notes, they took them and marked their textbooks busily . Then, as the teacher called a random call number, a student rose from their seat, barely answering the teachers question and sitting back down . The sounds of other students in P . E and shouts came from the open window . Then, the bell started ringing again, and the students started rus.h.i.+ng out of the cla.s.sroom . Meanwhile, the teacher packed their belongings unhurriedly and rose from their seat . The Broadcasting Club was playing background music during lunchtime, and recently, they had started reading quotes or English texts recommended by teachers in collaboration with the Newspaper Club . However, n.o.body seemed to pay any attention to it . Although it was time for club activities, that was merely a formality, as it was really independent study for the juniors . Meanwhile, leaving his peers behind, Juho walked out of the cla.s.sroom along with one of his peers, who was part of the Broadcasting Club . There were only a handful of students who were still going to their respective clubs during the club activities period . h.e.l.lo . When Juho arrived at the science room, the soph.o.m.ore and the freshmen were already there, ahead of him since their cla.s.srooms were closer to the room . As he was greeted by them, Juho went over to his seat . Juho, did you see our stories in the library? I sure did . We loved the cover design so much! Designed by Baron, they were just as captivating as they had always been . Although, he let it seem like his schedule was busy enough to make him live on campus, the former club member had willingly designed the covers for his clubmates after reading Juhos writing . The twins seemed to be blown away by the fact that their books were being exhibited in public . Meanwhile, Bo Suk raised her thumb, impressed by Barons outstanding work . Im sure this is a no-brainer, but your book is the most popular out of all of ours, Juho, she said . However, unlike what she had said, that wasnt as obvious as the soph.o.m.ore thought . As Juho was about to explain, she beat him to it, But frankly, it seems like people are less interested this time around when compared to last year . Maybe its because we dont get to advertise using Barons posters . Then, after some contemplation, Juho played along, saying, Maybe . Its important to promote . . .