Chapter 18: A Writer’s Revenge Takes Less Than a Decade (1)
At the mention of a “chance,” the defeated expressions of the defendants lit up with hope. They exchanged glances, wondering what he meant, as Kim Si-woo spoke slowly.
“Most of you are fans of Actor Kim Min-ho, right? A fan’s mistake is the actor’s mistake. If Kim Min-ho comes to me in person to plead for leniency on your behalf, I’ll settle with all of you.”
The absurd proposal drained the light from their eyes. What actor would step in to beg for fans who got sued for hate comments? Especially since celebrities despise trolls.
“SNS? That won’t cut it. It has to be face-to-face,” Kim Si-woo added.
“What… what kind of…” one defendant stammered.
They were dumbfounded. Why would a famous actor intervene for fans caught in a lawsuit? The condition was so unreasonable that grumbling filled the room until one person raised their voice.
“This is ridiculous! Do you think it’s okay to ruin my kid’s life over this? Sure, settle if you want, but kids make mistakes! Don’t you, as an adult, have any compassion? Did you never mess up when you were young?”
Bang!
The mother of a 13-year-old defendant shouted, and Kim Si-woo slammed the table.
“Listen, ma’am. Maybe you should’ve raised your kid better before this happened. What did he write about me, again?”
Reading the boy’s comment from a paper, Kim Si-woo caused the mother’s face to flush red. The 13-year-old’s words were vile, dripping with sexual humiliation and disgust.
“You think a 13-year-old should write stuff like this? You really think he didn’t know what he was doing?”
No one dared counter him.
“Mistakes as a kid? Sure, I made them. But I never committed crimes like this. And back then, I got punished for my mistakes. So, should I beat your son? I’ll settle without a fee. But I can’t promise how far I’ll go—might break a bone or two.”
Realizing pleas and apologies wouldn’t sway him, the defendants frantically began posting on Kim Min-ho’s fan club and SNS, begging for his help. Meanwhile, Kim Si-woo approached the teenage defendants, speaking low enough for only them to hear.
“Life’s the real deal, kids. You did the crime, now face the consequences. You’ll carry the ‘criminal’ label from now on. Don’t get it yet? Insulting me is one thing—that’s what the adults here did. But you? You’re charged with cyber obscenity. Look it up. Worried about your phone and computer getting confiscated? Tsk, must be nice to be clueless. Keep living like that. It felt good to write those comments, didn’t it? You little shits… You’re the kind of scum I despise most. If it were up to me, I’d bury you socially.”
The teens’ faces paled.
‘That felt good.’
Unloading his pent-up frustration was cathartic. Surprisingly, Lee Hae-soo’s expression as she watched was almost predatory, like a beast eyeing its prey.
Kim Si-woo hadn’t expected such clean handling of the case. The opposing lawyers had already advised their clients that settling was their best option—the case was airtight.
As the meeting wrapped up, Kim Si-woo approached Lee Hae-soo, extending his hand.
“Thank you. You’re a rock, Lawyer.”
“Hard work? This was a piece of cake. Hehe,” she replied, her bright demeanor contrasting her sharp efficiency.
“Do you handle copyright law too?”
“Of course! Just say the word.”
Her confidence was infectious, and despite her initial quirky impression, she now seemed utterly reliable.
“I’ll head out then.”
“Safe travels, Writer. I’ll contact you if anything comes up.”
Leaving the meeting, Kim Si-woo headed home.
‘Gotta get home and sleep.’
‘Why am I so drained after just an hour or two out?’
Though brief, the ordeal had sapped his energy.
“Damn… am I out of shape? Or is it from staying home too much? Still, it went well, so I’m in a good mood.”
He was satisfied with the outcome. More than that, he was curious if Kim Min-ho would actually show up to plead for his fans. It was a chance for Kim Min-ho to polish his image, but the catch was it involved Kim Si-woo.
‘What’ll Kim Min-ho do? Pfft.’
Imagining Kim Min-ho trembling and bowing for mercy thrilled him. He wasn’t a saint—revenge didn’t need a decade. It had to be swift, the sooner the better.
As he waited for the bus home, his phone buzzed.
‘Lawyer Lee?’
But it wasn’t Lee Hae-soo—it was Shim Ji-young.
‘Ji-young noona? Is this about the movie afterparty?’
Knowing it’d be hard to say no to her, he hesitated.
‘Answer or not?’
After three seconds, he picked up.
‘Gotta take a call from the noona buying me designer clothes.’
The reason was Simple enough.
“Hey, noona.”
- You sure you can’t come to the premiere afterparty? The director and president keep asking me to bring you… Just stop by for a bit, okay?
“I’m not great with crowded places… Plus, I’m tired from meeting the lawyer.”
- Oh? How about just a small group then? I’ll bring a few people.
“Hmm…”
- I’ll bring that pretty girl you asked me to introduce you to.
The mention of a pretty girl instantly energized the 28-year-old Kim Si-woo. Even a hassle-averse guy in his late 20s couldn’t resist that bait.
“What time should I be there? Is a suit okay?”
- Calm down, eager beaver. I’ll text you the place and time. Don’t get your hopes too high.
“Got it! Thanks, noona!”
Kim Si-woo rushed to a department store, eagerly awaiting her text.
[8 p.m., Have Pub, XX Street, Teheran-ro, Seoul]
With little time to spare if he wanted to change at the department store, Kim Si-woo hurried over. At the suit section, a clerk greeted him.
“Welcome, sir. Looking for something specific?”
“Pick out a suit set that suits me.”
“Uh… yes, sir!”
The clerk, slightly flustered by his casual demeanor, selected a fitting suit. Kim Si-woo paid in full, tossed his old clothes in the trash, and added dress shoes and a watch. Pleased with his new look, he arrived at Have Pub in Gangnam.
“Phew… what time is it?”
[7:50 p.m.]
Not late, thankfully. ‘If noona says she’s pretty, she must be stunning…’
He couldn’t imagine how gorgeous the woman at the pub would be, given Shim Ji-young’s high standards. Feeling slightly awkward, he pushed open the pub’s door.
Inside, the key actors of ‘Don’t Forget’ were waiting.
‘Damn… I got played.’
Shim Ji-young’s sly grin confirmed he’d been tricked.
‘This is what she meant by ‘small group’…’
He sat down, greeting everyone, but the actors’ stares made him uneasy. As the only non-actor there, he felt like a rare specimen.
“Did I… do something wrong?”
“Stop making him uncomfortable,” Shim Ji-young interjected. “I barely got him here, and you’re scaring him off.”
Her words diffused the tension, and the actors averted their gazes. Kim Si-woo leaned in to whisper his complaints.
“Sigh… Noona, I thought it’d just be you and some friends, not a room full of actors…”
“Haha, it’s not a bad thing to get to know them. Give it a chance. Who knows? You might hit it off with an actress.”
“Me? Come on…”
“Surprisingly, a lot of actors date directors or writers. Don’t be so nervous. They’re just people—well, most of them. Anyway, I’m covering tonight, so eat and drink as much as you want. This place isn’t cheap.”
Taking her words to heart, Kim Si-woo downed his drink in one go.
‘If I’m here, I’m eating the expensive stuff!’
He’d spent over 20 million won on his suit, watch, and shoes. Determined to make a dent in Shim Ji-young’s wallet, he ate and drank relentlessly. But in the end, he was the one overwhelmed.
As the alcohol kicked in, Kim Si-woo started chatting naturally with the actors. Some were ones he’d personally chosen, and they felt genuine gratitude toward him. After all, he’d given a chance to their desperate dreams. Plus, he didn’t act superior, which made them like him even more.
“Writer, I know this might sound heavy, but thank you for choosing me. I’ll work hard,” one actor said.
“Nah, it’s all because of your effort,” Kim Si-woo replied modestly.
Many actors, especially lesser-known ones, struggled financially, relying on part-time jobs or day labor to survive. A role’s contract fee was often their lifeline while preparing for a project. For them, acting was a desperate dream.
As the night deepened, the pub’s door, which hadn’t opened once, swung wide. A woman radiating an undeniable celebrity aura walked in.
“Am I super late?” she asked.
Even from a distance, her star quality was unmistakable. It was Jung Se-yeon, currently one of the biggest names in the industry. Shim Ji-young, the party’s host, greeted her casually.
“You said you couldn’t make it, but here you are!”
“What, should I leave?”
“No way! Sit down already.”
Jung Se-yeon took a seat across from them.
“So, this is the writer you’ve been hyping up, unnie? He looks way younger than you.”
“Hey, watch it!” Shim Ji-young snapped playfully.
Surprisingly, Jung Se-yeon and Shim Ji-young seemed close, their banter far more relaxed than at the auditions.
“Hi, we’ve met before, right? I’m Jung Se-yeon. Don’t let my unnie’s tough act fool you—she’s a softie. Take care of her,” she said to Kim Si-woo with a warm smile.