Chapter 126: How a Genius Loves (1)
The first round of the company dinner, where Kim Si-woo had struggled to survive between Shim Ji-young and Kim Ji-hyun, finally came to an end.
Kim Si-woo got up from his seat, took Hong Soo-hyuk and Kim Da-on home, dropped them off at their respective places, and then checked a text on his phone before heading to the second-round venue.
“I’m back.”
“Writer Kim! You didn’t forget your promise from earlier, right?”
“Ah… of course not.”
Seeing Lee Ok-ja offering him a drink, Kim Si-woo hurried over and picked up a glass.
“When I look at Writer Kim, you really don’t seem like a hotshot writer.”
“Huh?”
As he obediently accepted the drink, Lee Ok-ja opened her mouth as if something displeased her.
When Kim Si-woo looked flustered by her words, Shim Ji-young beside him interpreted.
“It’s a compliment—you’re kind. Honestly, writers at your level usually have their noses and shoulders touching the sky. And you’re young, too.”
“Is that so?”
Inwardly, Kim Si-woo thought he was pretty arrogant himself.
He tried to cast whoever he wanted, sometimes skipped script readings, and didn’t even get involved in filming.
He figured that alone made him incredibly cocky.
Kim Si-woo had never seen or heard of other writers abusing their power.
But hearing it today from Shim Ji-young and Lee Ok-ja shocked him.
From running personal errands to sponsorships and kickbacks—abuses far beyond his imagination.
The second round of the dinner continued more noisily than expected.
Everyone discussed the project, sharing better ideas or giving each other advice as they spent time together.
During this time, even Kim Ji-hyun and Shim Ji-young got along without fighting.
However, Jung Pil-gyu alone couldn’t blend in.
Worried about his pregnant wife at home, he couldn’t bring himself to risk offending the other actors, staff, director, or writer, so he couldn’t focus on the conversation at all.
In the middle of this, Kim Si-woo approached Jung Pil-gyu and spoke to him.
“Actor Jung Pil-gyu.”
“Ah! Yes, Writer-nim.”
“You can go home.”
“Huh? Ah… no, it’s fine.”
For a moment, Jung Pil-gyu thought Kim Si-woo’s permission to leave was an eviction order, but seeing his expression, he quickly realized it came from concern, not dismissal.
“If it’s because of everyone’s stares, feel free to go first. They’re not the type to lack understanding. And even if they did, I’ll take responsibility.”
Hearing the reliable words from the younger Kim Si-woo, Jung Pil-gyu made up his mind and stood up.
“Then… I’m sorry, but I’ll head out first. Sunbae-nims, Director-nim, Writer-nim.”
“Hurry home. Your wife must be worried.”
“Yeah, get going, you punk.”
The fellow and senior actors playfully scolded him.
As Jung Pil-gyu bowed and stepped outside the restaurant to catch a taxi, someone hurriedly followed him out.
“Ah! Wait a moment. Take this with you.”
“This is…”
“Ah, it’s beef. I bought it separately from the restaurant earlier. Take it home and eat it with your wife. You didn’t seem to eat much earlier.”
“…”
Jung Pil-gyu lowered his head at the bundle of beef Kim Si-woo handed him.
“Uh… Actor-nim?”
“Thank you. I’ll really give it my all.”
He couldn’t see his face, but from the trembling voice, it was clear he was more grateful than necessary.
“Then go home safely.”
“Yes, Writer-nim, you too.”
Jung Pil-gyu bowed repeatedly from inside the taxi as it drove away.
“Giving him taxi fare too might have been overkill, right?”
Even in this moment, Kim Si-woo thought he did well by not paying for the taxi.
Kim Si-woo went back inside the restaurant and continued the dinner.
Meanwhile, Jung Pil-gyu, arriving home, wiped away the tear tracks around his eyes, entered the door code, and stepped inside.
“Honey, I’m home?”
As soon as he entered, his pregnant wife with a visible belly slowly walked out.
“No, stay seated—why come all the way here?”
“What are you saying? The doctor said it’s fine to act normally. He even said I could keep working. Anyway, what’s that in your hand?”
Jung Pil-gyu’s wife asked, looking at the bundle in his hand.
“This? Writer Kim Si-woo gave it to me to eat at home. I was being a bit inconsiderate.”
“What? You couldn’t join in properly at the dinner because you were worrying about me again?”
“Haha… yeah, something like that.”
Jung Pil-gyu smiled awkwardly at his wife’s words.
“Hah… Anyway, is Writer Kim Si-woo very busy?”
“He must be. Why?”
“Why? So you can bring him home later! But first, let’s eat some beef. Our baby says he wants some.”
“Ah! Got it, just a second.”
At his wife’s words, Jung Pil-gyu hurriedly prepared to grill the beef.
***
As soon as the first script reading safely concluded, Kim Si-woo prepared for his trip to Japan.
He booked tickets with Lee Hae-soo and reserved accommodations as well.
“For a while, I shouldn’t even look at a script.”
Kim Si-woo lay on his bed with a tired face.
“The flight’s tomorrow at lunchtime, so I need to sleep soon.”
The next morning, Kim Si-woo slung his pre-packed carry-on and a small bag over his shoulder and headed to Lee Hae-soo’s house.
“Hae-soo-ssi!”
“Si-woo-ssi.”
Spotting Lee Hae-soo waiting outside her home, Kim Si-woo parked the car, got out, loaded her suitcase into the trunk, and drove toward Incheon Airport.
“You said this is your first overseas trip, right?”
“Yes! That’s why I’m so nervous right now.”
“At least it’s good that your company let you use your vacation days.”
“Of course. I’ve never taken a break since joining the law firm. So when I said I’d just quit if they didn’t let me use them this time, they told me to go ahead?”
Kim Si-woo couldn’t imagine the usually level-headed Lee Hae-soo being that extreme.
“Anyway, just trust me.”
“Yes! Si-woo-ssi.”
Chatting on the way to Incheon Airport, they arrived faster than expected. Kim Si-woo leisurely checked in, completed boarding procedures and immigration, then wandered around the duty-free shops.
“Is there anything you want to buy at duty-free?”
“Huh? Uh… my mom wrote down a few things…”
“Then let’s go buy them now. I have some things to get too.”
“Okay!”
Kim Si-woo bought liquor, while Lee Hae-soo purchased cosmetics.
Once duty-free shopping was done, it was nearly boarding time.
Kim Si-woo and Lee Hae-soo passed through security and waited near the gate.
A short while later, following the crew’s announcement, they showed their tickets, passed through the gate, and headed to the plane.
“Wow… it’s huge…”
Everything seemed novel to Lee Hae-soo as she looked around at the massive aircraft.
“Hurry up.”
“Yes!”
Though unlikely, Kim Si-woo worried she might cause some mishap.
For someone incredibly smart, Lee Hae-soo had an unexpectedly quirky side.
Entering the plane, Kim Si-woo looked at Lee Hae-soo seated in business class.
After boarding, she kept staring out the window.
Watching her, Kim Si-woo thought it was a good idea to bring her to Japan.
Soon after, the plane took off, and Lee Hae-soo widened her eyes at the sensation she’d never felt before.
She then gazed out the window at the receding land of Korea.
After the short flight, as landing time approached, Lee Hae-soo wore a regretful expression.
For Kim Si-woo, it was just a boring stretch of time.
Upon arriving at Osaka Airport, Kim Si-woo and Lee Hae-soo grabbed their carry-ons and stepped outside, where Arimura Noa was waiting—wearing sunglasses and a large hat.
“Over here! Writer-nim.”
Spotting Kim Si-woo, Arimura Noa waved, then flinched upon seeing Lee Hae-soo beside him.
‘Who’s the woman next to him… Could she be his girlfriend?’
As Arimura Noa’s thoughts raced, Kim Si-woo and Lee Hae-soo approached and greeted her.
“It’s been a while, Noa-ssi.”
“Writer-nim, how have you been?”
“Well… not bad.”
“That’s a relief. By the way, the person next to you…”
When Arimura Noa looked at Lee Hae-soo and asked, Lee Hae-soo quickly extended her hand and greeted her.
“Hello. I’m Lee Hae-soo.”
“Ah… hello. I’m Arimura Noa. I’m currently an actress and the CEO of a fashion brand in Japan.”
“Ah! I’m a lawyer.”
Arimura Noa had mentioned her profession partly to intimidate and partly to gauge who the other woman was, but seeing Lee Hae-soo respond so brightly left her deflated.
‘Anyway, does Writer-nim like smart women?’
In the end, it only left Arimura Noa with more questions.
“Let’s get going for now.”
Kim Si-woo’s group followed Arimura Noa, got into her car, and headed to the reserved hotel.
“You could’ve just used the same lodging as last time…”
“Come on, how could I do that every time? And last time was for the film; this time, we’re here to have fun.”
“That’s a shame. Oh, and Sumire and Daisuke are dating now.”
“Oh… so it finally happened. Secret relationship, of course?”
“Of course. The moment dating becomes public, casting offers definitely drop.”
Whether in Korea or Japan, the phenomenon of celebrities losing popularity due to dating or marriage was similar.
A short while later, upon arriving at the reserved hotel, Kim Si-woo checked in with Arimura Noa and Lee Hae-soo.
He had booked a room right next to Lee Hae-soo’s so he could help immediately if anything came up.
The preview screening was tomorrow at lunchtime.
With a full day until then, Kim Si-woo thought about where to take Lee Hae-soo for dinner tonight.
He took some pride in having visited many tourist spots in Japan.
“Writer-nim.”
“Yes?”
Arimura Noa, sitting on a chair behind Kim Si-woo as he unpacked, asked something she was curious about.
“Where are you heading after unpacking?”
“Hmm… I need to show Hae-soo-ssi around, so… maybe Osaka Castle?”
“But… are you two dating?”
“Huh?”
Flustered, Kim Si-woo waved his hands in denial.
“No, we’re not. If I had to say… someone I want to help?”
“Someone you want to help?”
“Yes.”
“Hmm… alright, I understand for now.”
Kim Si-woo wasn’t sure what exactly Arimura Noa understood, but unpacking came first, so he turned back and quickly finished organizing his luggage.
Arimura Noa felt relieved that Kim Si-woo and Lee Hae-soo weren’t dating.
‘And if he had a girlfriend, he wouldn’t come to Japan alone with another woman for fun. As expected of Writer-nim.’
Arimura Noa trusted in Kim Si-woo’s obliviousness, and he was rewarding that trust perfectly.
Once unpacking was done, Arimura Noa volunteered to be their guide.
Naturally, Kim Si-woo didn’t refuse.
As someone who had experienced her guiding firsthand, Arimura Noa’s tours were comfortable and enjoyable.
Lee Hae-soo also welcomed it upon hearing that Arimura Noa lived in Osaka.
Thus, Arimura Noa’s Osaka guide began—but contrary to her initial intent to keep Lee Hae-soo in check, Lee Hae-soo genuinely enjoyed the sightseeing.
After finishing their first day’s tour of Osaka Castle and returning, Lee Hae-soo began getting dolled up the next morning for the preview screening.
At the very least, she didn’t want to look embarrassing next to Kim Si-woo.
“Perfect. Luxury skirt with luxury coat. Makeup technique learned from Teacher Su-ji in Cheongdam-dong. Curling iron—flawless.”
Over time, Lee Hae-soo had secretly spent money to learn many things without Kim Si-woo knowing.
Having finished preparing early in the morning, Lee Hae-soo stepped out to find Kim Si-woo standing there in a full suit.
“Huh? Hae-soo-ssi, you’re all dressed up today too? What a relief…”
“Of course. We’re going to see Writer Kim Si-woo’s work today.”
Seeing Kim Si-woo’s outfit, Lee Hae-soo thought she had done well to dress up—until she spotted Arimura Noa emerging behind him, and her expression hardened.
“Writer-nim, how do I look? You did well listening to me, right?”
“Yeah. I almost ended up being a nuisance to Hae-soo-ssi.”
The reason Kim Si-woo had said “what a relief” was because he had originally planned to go out in tracksuits.
Fortunately, Arimura Noa had shown up early that morning with a suit, scolded him saying Lee Hae-soo would definitely dress up, and even helped with her makeup and hair—so he avoided inconveniencing the dolled-up Lee Hae-soo.
Meanwhile, seeing the seemingly affectionate Kim Si-woo and Arimura Noa, a subtle wave of jealousy rose in Lee Hae-soo’s heart.
‘Grr…!’
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TL Note:
This novel is now translated and finished at Chapter 176
If you’d like to continue right away, the remaining 50 chapters are available on My Patreon Premium tier, along with extra chapters from my other 5 ongoing translated novels.
There’s also a Plus tier with 48 advance chapters, updated at 7 chapters per week.
Link: https://www.patreon.com/cw/Vritratls
For this novel specifically, check the collection under “Genius Writer”
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