Translated by: ShawnSuh Edited by: SootyOwl Nam Kyung thought about Yun Woo as he pulled up his gla.s.ses . Whenever he saw him, he was always reminded of another author, his favorite author, Hyun Do Lim . Yun Woo had just spread his wings . Hyun Do Lim was a widely respected author . Yun Woo had taken a risk, while Hyun Do Lim was stable . They had nothing in common, from their ages to their appearances, but for some reason, they shared a similar feel . I kind of want to go with Mr . Lim, Nam Kyung thought . However, that wouldnt be easy because he was known to be stingy about writing testimonials for other authors . His reason was always that he was simply too busy to write something for another author . Although, the gentle manner in which he declined the requests said otherwise . He seemed rather free . He was an outstanding writer, and Nam Kyung was itching to read his book . Nam Kyung had made up his mind . He was certain that hed get turned down, but he still decided to give it a try . Besides, who knew for sure? He looked over the ma.n.u.script that would be sent to Hyun Do Lim and thought, This should do, and gathered up his courage before sending it . Nam Kyung was turned down in no time, and the editor-in-chief asked him as he chuckled, Didnt work out, huh? Hahaha! Mr . Maeng patted Nam Kyungs back as he stood defeated . He was so polite . He knew what the outcome would be, but he had decided to give it a shot anyway . After taking a deep breath, he looked up . It was still worthwhile . When he had talked to Hyun Do Lim over the phone, Mr . Lim was rather impressed and astonished . That gave Nam Kyung more confidence . A few days later, a testimonial from Dong Gil arrived at the publis.h.i.+ng company . After reading it, Nam Kyung smiled brightly . A piece that walks on thin ice . It tells me that Im just as guilty, he had written in his clean, and precise style that was distinct to him . It suited Yun Woos book well . * Juho got off the subway at a station where he had only been once . While feeling familiar and foreign at the same time, he walked up the stairs and out to the surface . Cars spewed out their fumes in the hot air, and people walked busily past him . Juho had been to that street once . There was a building that he remembered, and another that he didnt . As he crossed the street, the parks entrance became visible, the same one he went to for the essay contest . It had been some time since hed finished his new book, and Juho finally accept Yun s...o...b..eks invitation from after the contest . He followed the map on his phone . The closer he got to her house, the more the sound of the city faded away . Bark! Bark! a dog barked, and he thought of a dog he had seen on the countryside once . Though it looked nice, it was somewhat dirty . At the end of an alleyway, there was another alleyway, so he kept walking . After being lost for a brief while, he eventually came out of the alleyway into an open s.p.a.ce with a big house and a small vegetable garden in the front of it . It was surrounded by trees and it was just old enough to look rather welcoming, like a house in the countryside . He felt the cool breeze . Everything else felt distant . The house had no gate or walls, so he kept walking past the front yard and toward the door . As he was about to ring the doorbell, he had heard a voice from the back of the house and walked in the direction of the sound instead . There was a low wooden bench . Yun Seo was there . Ah, youre here! she welcomed him without even being startled . Juho bowed to her . h.e.l.lo, Mrs . Baek . Welcome! Did you get lost on your way at all? A little bit, but Ive been around the area before, so I eventually found my way . Good, good . Come have a seat . She waved her hand to tell him to take a seat . There were fresh fruits that she had just brought out: melons, bananas, apples, and a watermelon . It was way too much for just herself . So howd it go with your book? she asked . From the time he met her, he had written consistently and finished it . However, he wasnt sure of how to answer her question . After a brief moment thinking, he said, I finished it, somehow . She smiled at his answer . Thats all that matters . Right . There was a gentle silence . As he enjoyed the silence, a plateful of fruits came into his view . Did she bring all of this out for me? Even then, there was way too much . Then, he remembered that he heard a voice on his way in . Is there another guest over? We always have guests . Thats how it is in my house . She was referring to her pupils . Mrs . Baek was known for accepting a number of pupils . In the past, there had been quite a few people who had learned from her while theyd stayed at her house . Now, there were significantly less people wanting to become writers, and less people were coming up to the city, so she adapted a teaching format that resembled a private inst.i.tute . The times were changing . Pupil . When Juho thought about that word, two people came to mind: Joon s...o...b..ng and Geun Woo Yoo . So wheres your guest? I believe he went out . Mrs . Baek, a familiar voice sounded, and Juho thought briefly as he looked ahead, What do I do? Mrs . Baek, Ive brought the tea . Its the green tea Joon s...o...b..ught . OK . Thanks for buying the fruits too . Juho heard another person behind him . There were two familiar voices then . What do I do? Whos the guest? the voice said, referring to Juho . He turned around slowly, and his eyes met Geun Woo, who held a tray with a tea set . Joon Soo was smiling gently next to him . Eh? What brings you here? It didnt take long at all for the two to recognize Juho, and they looked at each other . You know him, Joon Soo? Yeah, you too? Geun Woo asked looking at Juho . I remember you saying that youre part of a Literature Club . Are you Mrs . Baeks new pupil? Geun Woo Yoo asked . He had written a book t.i.tled Sad Face, which showcased his distinctively depressing style . Well, I guess it makes sense that youre here . You were part of an essay contest, so you must want to be a writer, said Joon s...o...b..ng . Though he had a somewhat shallow fanbase, he was an incredibly skilled writer . All of those authors somehow knew Juho, but the two had never met Yun Woo, so Juho found himself in a sticky situation . While he smiled awkwardly as he thought about how to introduce himself, Yun Seo asked, Should I say it? Or did you want to say it yourself? She seemed to understand Juhos situation, and he decided to come clean . I will, he said as he felt Joon Soo and Geun Woo staring at him . h.e.l.lo, Im Juho Woo . Joon Soos eyes widened at the sudden introduction . On the other hand, Geun Soo nodded as if he knew . In order to properly introduce himself, Geun Woo was about to say something, but at moment, Juho quickly interjected, Im also Yun Woo . At that, Geun Woo froze, and his mouth dropped open . He blinked twice . Before he had a chance to say a word, Joon Soon said enthusiastically, Aha! There was gladness behind his voice . I read your writing at the contest! I thought so! I thought it was too good for a student . You were Yun Woo all along! Haha . It makes sense that you ran out of time considering how much time you had spent outside . On top of that, the build up was rather long . It didnt seem like it was contest worthy in any way . You knew you werent going to finish, didnt you? Well, yes . I did . Joon Soo, move aside for a minute . As Joon Soo was about to say something while smiling brightly, Geun Woo pushed him and stood in front of Juho with his mouth still open . Youre Yun Woo? Yes . As in Yun Woo, the author . Yes . Then . You… that day… no, that book… so… He seemed rather confused . Youre lying, he said in disbelief . Would I dare lie about something like that in front of the greats? Well… its just… no, it cant be, his face was filled with embarra.s.sment . Im sorry about winning that contest, Juho said . Agh! Hey, hey! Im not sure whats going on here, but please, calm down, said Joon Soo as he patted Geun Woo on the back . Despite his gentle words, Geun Woo ruffled his hair with both of his hands . Ill never be able to forget this . I wont be able to sleep tonight . I knew I was going to regret it, but this… this… he murmured . Come sit and have some fruit, Yun Seo said amid the chaos . Things calmed down after some time, and Juho and Yun Seo sat facing Geun Woo and Joon Soo on the bench . With his head lowered, Geun Woo was quietly chewing an apple . So what brings you here, Yun Woo? Joon Soo asked . I invited him . We met in the park on the day of the contest, Yun Seo answered instead . Juho nodded . I wanted to go take a look, so I went . Then, I found a kid writing on the ground . That was me . I approached him, but he didnt even notice . I looked at what he was writing out of curiosity, and it turned out that hed been writing something completely irrelevant to the topics given at the contest . Irrelevant? Didnt you say it was a contest? Geun Woo asked quietly . Like Juho noticed in their last encounter, he got over things rather quickly . Juho said, looking in his direction, I was working on something at the time, and I suddenly had an idea for wrapping up the story . You dont mean that youve been working on another book, do you? Geun Woo asked, laughing . Thats right . My next book . Huh? Joon Soo coughed while mid-sip of his tea . What? A new book? Did you just say that you wrote another book? Yun Woo did? Now? Geun Woo asked with an odd look on his face . Yes, why do you ask? Juho asked calmly . It hasnt even been a year since your last book came out . The Trace of a Bird is still the number one bestseller across the nation . I already sent the ma.n.u.script to the publis.h.i.+ng company . Wow, exclaimed Geun Woo . Youre one brave kid . Arent you worried about the outcome? What if it doesnt do as well as your last book? Geun Woo, I think you should stop there if you dont want to regret that later, warned Joon Soo with a warm smile . Geun Woo said no more . Its OK, Mr . Bong . Mr . Yoo brought up a good point . I did think about that at one point, Juho said as he smiled . Geun Woo said as he waved his hand, Please, you dont have to be formal with me . Although Juho was trying to be polite, he quite enjoyed the fact that he was being recognized as an author . Same for me, Joon Soo added . If you say so, Juho said . So, what made you write another book so soon? Geun Woo asked . Juho thought about the question . The word soon made him think . Had it really been as soon as Geun Woo described? Juho had already been an author for three decades before he returned to the past . Without that experience, he wouldnt have been able to write the book . He had been afraid of failures . The word had always been accompanied with anxiety . He had always written in a hurry, as if he were being chased . The outcome had always been less than average . In the past, his next book had been the beginning of his downfall . He didnt want to live the way he had then and he didnt want to fail . However, he couldnt write without accepting failure as a fact of life . Thats how writing had always been . An author wouldnt be able to write a single word if he was afraid of failure . Like I said, I was concerned at one point .