Novelist Running Through Time - Chapter 215

Time-Traveling Novelist, Chapter 197

Traditionally, award ceremonies for prestigious literary awards were held in hotels.

Celebrities and reporters from all walks of life are invited, and the winner of the literary award is presented with a plaque under the pouring flashlights and dazzling lights.

This is a tradition that originated in Japan, and even now, award ceremonies for major literary awards in Japan are often held at hotel convention centers.

By the way, when I say Japan here, I don’t mean “the country of Japan” but “the Japanese Empire.”

So maybe…

“Isn’t this also a scar that the Japanese left on this land?”

“You’re talking nonsense.”

Park Chang-woon, who wore not the skin of a ‘serial killer’ but a ‘dignified old gentleman’, sipped water with dignity and told me not to talk nonsense.

But even if Park Chang-woon’s evaluation is secondary, I think there is still a problem with holding the literary award ceremony at a hotel.

The reason why Japan holds literary awards in hotels is because the old Japan (the empire) imitated the culture of the West.

Therefore, the formula is, strictly speaking, Western culture.

I can’t find any Korean beauty at all.

In the past, Joseon encouraged literature and music, and if a poem or prose exuded the subtle scent of a scholar, it was considered appropriate to be appointed to a government post.

So, according to the tradition of our ancestors, shouldn’t we give a government post, not this literary award, to those who write well?

“I think I’d be satisfied with a 5th-grade civil servant. Oh, public corporations are also good…”

“Then I’m the Minister of Culture.”

“…?”

As I was killing time with former Minister of Culture Park Chang-woon, a lovely voice suddenly came from behind.

“Oh my, what are the two of you talking about so passionately?”

I looked back and saw Gu Yubin in a navy evening dress smiling broadly.

EP 12-Marionette

“Ah! Yubin-ah?”

“Hello, Professor.”

“Wow- I almost didn’t recognize you because you’re so dazzling. You can get married like this! Oh, was that compliment a bit MZ…?”

“Ahahaha, it’s a compliment, so what.”

A dress is a fashion that is difficult to wear in everyday life. The only dress you can see is a wedding dress.

Other than that, the only dresses that appear are those worn by actresses at award ceremonies on TV, but even these are difficult for ordinary people to digest.

However, Gu Yubin was not an ordinary person.

In my memory, both in the past and now, Gu Yubin, who is active as a half-writer and half-entertainer, wore a dress perfectly like an actress attending an awards ceremony.

I am proud to say that my judgment is accurate because I saw the Cannes Film Festival with my own two eyes. The aura I felt from Gu Yubin was that of an active entertainer.

Then Park Chang-woon chuckled and poked my side with his elbow.

“A writer is speechless in front of a goddess? Are you in love?”

“In love, what…”

“I couldn’t possibly feel a rational charm from Gu Yubin. Even though Gu Yubin may seem fine on the outside, if your one and only younger sibling suddenly brings home a random orphan that looks like a stray dog and introduces them as their boyfriend, it would become quite awkward.

The reason I’ve been showing a strangely weak side in front of Gu Yubin all this time is because Gu Yubin’s appearance during high school was excessively similar to the Gu Yuna I knew.

But what about the current Gu Yubin?

Now, it’s hard to say ‘Gu Yunasque’ anymore.

Although a face is a face, his height has become too tall.

Therefore, there’s no reason for me to be resentful towards Gu Yubin anymore.

I was about to sarcastically shoot out the strange grudge and malice I had kept deep in my heart, but then I stopped.

‘Huh?’

I paused.

I accepted the fact that the Gu Yuna in my memory and the present Gu Yubin may have different aspects.

So, is my resentment towards the present Gu Yubin really justified?

Perhaps there is evidence somewhere in this world that even Gu Yubin possesses a warm heart.

With this passing thought, I hesitated and stopped.

However, Gu Yubin, who witnessed this hesitation, didn’t stay quiet.

“Hmph-”

Gu Yubin, who sat down next to me swiftly, poked my side with his finger.

“Why is our great writer Inseop so silent?”

“Is he silent?”

“Could it be that he has fallen for this older sister?”

“Fallen for her?”

Gu Yubin chattered nonsense while poking my side with his finger.

By the way, the person imitating Gu Yubin’s nonsense like a round song is Park Chang-woon.

Park Chang-woon imitated Gu Yubin and poked my other side with his finger.

“Ugh… stop it…”

Not at Baekhak Middle School, but more like back in junior high school, I had no choice but to curl up my body under the blanket to protect myself from the violence coming from all directions…

It was more painful to be poked with fingers. In my mind, the voices of the jammers shouting ‘Jigeon! Jigeon!’ echoed…

Then suddenly, I came to my senses.

“…Do you happen to know?”

“Huh? Know what?”

Superficially, the reason I disappeared for half a year was that Gu Yuna launched a confession attack on me.

Of course, it seemed like he sensed that there were more hidden reasons, like Im Yang-wook, but anyway, that’s how it looked on the surface.

So, Gu Yubin naturally can’t make jokes like ‘Oh, what if I become Inseop’s first love? That would be awkward~’ in front of me.

Especially since it involves his own sibling.

“…Ah.”

I realized that Gu Yuna hadn’t disclosed detailed information to his family.

“Is that so… you don’t know…”

“Huh? I don’t know what?”

“Wait, do I not know something?”

Not long after that, my life rolled back into the pit, but let’s not dwell on that.

Confessing and having your male friend say he went into hiding for half a year is a bit embarrassing.

I decided to protect Gu Yuna’s privacy.

“No need to know. At least not now.”

“Well, what…? What is it?”

“Hmm. I can’t keep it a secret forever, but still, now is not the right time. It’s probably best to keep this secret for a while. Until the time comes…”

“Ah! What is it? It’s bothering me! Tell me!”

“I don’t think I can give you the answer you want right now. Let’s leave it at that for now…”

I said that and quickly turned my head.

Gu Yubin, after urging me a few times towards the back of my head, turned to Park Chang-woon and complained.

“Professor! What is he talking about right now?”

“Is that so… You don’t know…”

“?!”

—

The tradition of holding literary award ceremonies in hotels is gradually disappearing.

It’s not necessarily for some scandalous reason.

The number of reporters swarming the literary award ceremonies has decreased to the point where they no longer fill the hotel convention center, and the organizers have also found it difficult to mobilize the necessary funds.

In a situation where literary awards are being sold for money due to lack of funds, holding literary award ceremonies in hotels is nothing short of a commercialization.

Of course, literary awards that do not have financial concerns are also gradually avoiding the place called ‘hotels.’

Because they can’t match the financial power.

Hotels are inherently prestigious places. And that prestige is built on money.

Spaces that boast a cost of living much higher than the general market, hence spaces that commoners cannot reach.

The financial gap is the true nature of the aura that the space called a hotel possesses.

Therefore, literary awards that have sufficient literary authority have moved the award ceremony venues to beautifully designed bookstores, traditional Korean restaurants, and the like.

If there is a need to build authority through money, then hotels are indeed the perfect place.

And the Baekhak Group was not without authority, nor without money.

That is why the Baekhak Literary Award ceremony is held in a hotel.

“-I am pleased to present the award. Now, I will announce. The recipient of the 14th Baekhak Literary Award, the honor goes to…!”

In reality, I have never participated in the Baekhak Literary Award, nor have I ever been mentioned as a candidate. This is because I am too close to the Baekhak Group.

But that is only the story of ‘now.’

‘In the past,’ I have participated in the Baekhak Literary Award.

The Baekhak Literary Award was the first major literary award I won. It was the literary award that debuted me. It was also where I first met Im Yang-wook.

It felt like my life, trapped in darkness, was escaping into a space filled with light, and Gu Yuna also shared the joy with me.

Walking up to the stage under the sound of camera shutters clicking like rain, holding the solid crystal trophy in my arms under the dazzling spotlight on the stage…

It gave me a feeling of emotion that could only be felt in that moment.

I will never forget that moment for the rest of my life.

From then on, it wasn’t long before my life tumbled back into a pit. Nevertheless, meeting the Baekhak Literary Award again felt as welcoming as seeing the face of an old friend.

“Congratulations! Gu Yubin for ‘Rubber Gloves’!”

Even if that trophy was nestled in someone else’s arms, not mine.

Yes. I knew from the beginning.

Today’s protagonist is Gu Yubin, and I am merely a supporting role that shines light on her.

But what used to bring me the greatest happiness was watching that sparkling figure embraced in someone else’s arms, now a faint memory that pricks at my heart.

The Baekhak Literary Award…

Embracing that smooth crystal trophy and rolling around the single-room apartment with joy.

The pride of wanting to boast about it everywhere, joining social media for the first time in my life, slyly placing a cup ramen next to it and posting a photo of tonight’s dinner, only to receive curses from Gu Yuna and eventually close my account.

Now, I should let it go.

“I loved you…”

“…?”

Even though Park Chang-woon looked at me as if I were strange, the Baekhak Literary Award was a precious treasure in my life.

A moment that shone so brightly is hard to find in my life.

In reality, it was true.

Neither I nor the current Baekhak Literary Award shines as brightly as back then.

It’s because I’ve realized the political dynamics of literary awards.

In fact, today’s awards ceremony was staged from the beginning.

While Gu Yubin didn’t win the literary award through dishonest means, everything after the confirmation of the award was all orchestrated.

The publishing management department needed a second Munin, and Gu Yubin was the closest to that.

So, they brought me, the one who had “killed Manjong,” and sat me down as a supporting role, orchestrating a scene where Gu Yubin defeats me in front of everyone.

This way, Gu Yubin’s business-like and dignified image rises, and another sharp weapon is sharpened in the reprint version…

This was the plan orchestrated by Im Yang-wook.

And for that to happen, it was good for both Gu Yubin and me to fiercely compete until the end for the sake of the buzz, so after the awards ceremony, a sparkling crystal trophy was handed to me as well.

There were no names like first place or second place, just the Baekhak Literary Award.

There was only one grand prize, and the rest of the nominees were lumped together with just one “winner” feeling.

It was a clever move to avoid choosing between 2nd and 3rd place to prevent any hurt feelings.

Anyway, this Baekhak Literary Award ‘General Award’ received for the first time in this timeline is considered the ‘major domestic literary award’…

“Does this mean I have now officially debuted as a writer?”

“Who knows. Did you think of sitting around and reaching for literary awards with those tiny hands of yours? Ha! Now that you’ve just debuted, follow the veterans for a drink!”

Park Chang-woon, who had returned from being a novelist to a murderer, joked in black humor with a grin.

It was a joke that could have gotten him into serious trouble with reporters, as befitting someone who had been fired from his position as minister just a week after his appointment due to a swearing scandal.

Fortunately, there were only acquaintances here, so I smiled and poured Park Chang-woon a glass of soju.

“Wow, you act like a writer who’s been drinking this for a long time. Honestly, confess. When did you learn to drink?”

“At Saebit Spring Day Care, we learn to drink before we enter elementary school.”

Leaving Park Chang-woon laughing out loud, I picked up a piece of sizzling samgyeopsal and placed it on my rice.

Then I picked up some ssamjang with chopsticks and put it on the meat, added a clove of properly cooked garlic, and scooped it all up with the rice in one bite.

“Mmm-”

Samgyeopsal at a company dinner was simply the best.

This was a dinner to , so Koo Yoo-bin was also at the same table, but fortunately, he wasn’t wearing the navy evening dress that a stylist must have carefully prepared for a media play.

Koo Yoo-bin, who had returned to his college student fashion, made eye contact with me for a moment and smiled awkwardly, uttering words that an adult would say to a child.

“Eat, eat a lot…”

And then he awkwardly avoided my gaze until the end.

“What? What’s with that awkward look?”

Fortunately, Koo Yoo-bin didn’t reply with ‘Really… Don’t you know…’, and instead gave me an honest answer.

“Hmm, how do I say this? After receiving it, I suddenly wondered if I really deserved to receive it…”

It seemed that Koo Yoo-bin was a little uncomfortable with the situation where he had won the Baekhak Literary Award Grand Prize instead of me.

Unlike Yang Yang-wook, who had a guilty conscience and asked for my understanding, saying that it was a situation where we had to cooperate and fight openly, Koo Yoo-bin’s manager seemed to be a more delicate person.

Just before I could say that he didn’t need to worry about that.

Koo Yoo-bin’s father spoke first.

“That’s right. Literary awards are meaningless.”

“Ah…”

“What’s important is whether your own achievements are fair to yourself.”

Koo Hak-jun, who was sitting next to Koo Yoo-bin, patted Koo Yoo-bin’s shoulder with a kind smile.

“I was a little worried that you might become arrogant after receiving the award, but I’m glad to see that you seem to have realized a very good lesson.”

“Ah…”

“The award is given by others, but the real evaluation is made by yourself. So there’s no need to be obsessed with the award or be swayed by it.”

While Koo Yoo-bin looked at his father with rare respect.

I asked Koo Hak-jun.

“So what happened to the Booker International?”

“Don’t ask…”

Koo Hak-jun hung his head sullenly.