Chapter 152: Chapter 152
The shimmering golden palm tree award is not just a glittering golden palm tree figurine.
It is an honor bestowed upon the world’s greatest actors, carefully chosen by the Cannes Film Festival jury.
The same applies here.
At least in Korea, a Cannes Film Festival award is not just a Cannes Film Festival award.
When people look at the glimmering Golden Palm figurine, they have more complex thoughts.
Before the terrible pandemic swept across the globe,
During the time when the world praised Bong Joon-ho and ‘Parasite’,
That radiant era of national pride…
-Moon In… have you finished teaching Yu-na everything?
-Just a moment. I’ll go after I finish my next work.
-In-seop… have you finished the book?
-It’s harder than I thought. I’ll go into seclusion for a bit.
-In… In-seop? In-seop?!
And so, due to ‘schedule coordination’ issues between the publisher and the author, Moon In’s official trip to America kept getting pushed back, one quarter after another.
The American publisher’s anger grew more intense with each delay, and emails to Baekhak Publishing piled up day by day.
If it weren’t for Lim Yang-wook’s flexible backbone, the deal would have been long dead.
-Do you have a death wish? Human?
-I’m so sorry! I’m so sorry!
But then, something unexpected happened.
Gradually, Lim Yang-wook’s back started straightening.
-When will the U.S. schedule be confirmed?
-Ah, apologies. Our Author Moon’s novel has been adapted into a film, and it’s selling so well in Japan… we’ll head over as soon as we wrap up the Japanese business!
-Long time no see. Since you’ve successfully wrapped up your business in Japan, can you come this quarter?
-Oh dear- how should I apologize? Our Author Moon wrote a movie script as a side project, and it ended up getting invited to the Cannes Film Festival…
The U.S. had been waiting the longest, yet Moon In went to Japan and France first. It’s like Japan was wooing him, France was inviting him, and the U.S. was left anxiously waiting.
Of course, to a large American publisher, Moon In is just a kid from a far-off country. His absence wouldn’t cause major disruption to their business.
But to the editor who communicates with Lim Yang-wook, Moon In is far from insignificant. He has been observing Lim Yang-wook and Moon In’s actions from afar.
It wasn’t out of genuine interest that she kept watching; it was more like the way a creditor keeps an eye on a debtor who keeps breaking promises. But either way, she realized one thing for sure.
‘He’s not bluffing… that kid really is…’
Moon In is a genius, and he’s profitable.
If he goes to America, he’ll be even more profitable.
So she couldn’t give up.
In the end, Collins Press editor Rachel Surface made a decision.
“We’ll adjust the profit ratio.”
-We’ll come right away!
“So Manager Lim sold me out…”
And so, while hastily preparing for the sudden trip to America, Moon In listened to Team Leader Kim Ga-ryung explain the whole story.
As for why it was Kim Ga-ryung accompanying Moon In instead of Lim Yang-wook, it was because Lim Yang-wook simply couldn’t make the trip to America due to scheduling conflicts.
Since Baek Seol ascended to the position of CEO, the status of the ‘Publishing Management Department’ had become somewhat ambiguous.
The entire department moved to the Baekhak Entertainment building, officially becoming an in-house venture jointly funded by Baekhak Publishing and Baekhak Entertainment.
Of course, in reality, they were just Baekhak Publishing employees dispatched to Baekhak Entertainment. You could call it a kind of TF (Task Force) team. Even the CEO title that Lim Yang-wook carried around was just a nominal position.
But looking at it from another angle, Lim Yang-wook was doing the work of a CEO at a small to medium-sized company while still getting paid an manager’s salary.
On top of that, it was a brand-new venture company. If the CEO made a mistake, the entire company could fail. Lim was in a situation where having even ten bodies wouldn’t be enough.
That’s why he entrusted the task of accompanying Moon In to his most reliable (?) subordinate—none other than Team Leader Kim Ga-ryung, Lim Yang-wook’s right-hand man.
“I’m Manager Lim’s right-hand, and Manager Lim is CEO Baek Seol’s right-hand, so… you could say I’m the index finger of CEO Baek Seol’s right hand, couldn’t you?”
Given that Kim Ga-ryung’s sense of humor was similar to Lim Yang-wook’s, it was undeniable that he truly was Lim’s right-hand man.
His career path was also similar to Lim Yang-wook’s. Originally from the publishing planning department at Baekhak Publishing, he had transferred to the Baekhak Entertainment Publishing Management TF Team, then returned to Baekhak Publishing, and now was back at Baekhak Entertainment…
In short, he was a loyal companion who had endured all manner of trials and tribulations with Lim Yang-wook.
His competence was also beyond question.
“The tasks you and I need to accomplish in America can be divided into three main parts. First, the interview for the literary magazine; second, the TV interview for a variety show; and third, the offline events at various bookstores across the country. That’s it! Not too many, right?”
“You don’t need to prepare anything separately. Our staff will be with you the whole time to help, so just stay calm and follow the script when you speak. Since everything will be translated, the interview pace will be nice and steady…”
With his reliable face, voice, and mannerisms, Kim Ga-ryung gradually eased the wariness of Moon In, who was as cautious as a wild animal.
Every editor Moon In had met in the publishing industry had some crazy side to them, so he naturally developed a bit of a prejudice. But little by little, he began to open up to Kim.
‘He seems like a reliable person. That’s rare…’
Had he known what kind of mindset lay behind Kim Ga-ryung’s gentle, squinting eyes, he would never have thought that.
In any case, preparations for the trip to America, together with the icon of trust, Kim Ga-ryung, progressed steadily from passport arrangements to learning the schedule. There really shouldn’t have been any issues. This was the work of a large corporation, after all, with more than just one or two people dedicated to it.
However, Moon In’s long-awaited trip to America, anticipated by both Baekhak Publishing and Collins Press, was thwarted once again.
Because of a single obituary that had arrived from Japan.
The funeral hall was as crowded as the reputation of the deceased demanded.
Among those gathered were many prominent figures, naturally drawing the attention of reporters and guests alike.
But because of this, the usual intimate and private atmosphere unique to a funeral was lost, replaced instead by a coldness, as if everyone were merely performing their duties at a formal public event.
The scent of incense that should have lingered around the memorial altar, mingling with sorrow, love, and warmth, seemed instead to be overshadowed by the prestige of the attendees and the constant sound of camera shutters.
This was far from an ideal funeral setting.
That was the impression I felt upon taking my first step into the altar room.
The quiet murmurs among the crowd, the whispers drifting through the sea of black suits, and the faintly audible Japanese that was difficult to understand.
Through the maze-like chaos, I soon found myself face-to-face with a familiar figure in a portrait.