Chapter 226.

People Are Important (5)   “You received the lyrics, right?” asked Han Yu-Na's manager.

Han Yu-Na was also reading the lyrics off her phone, and she answered with a smile, “Yes, I’m reading it now, trying to get the feel of it.” “Do you think it’s good?” “I love it.” “You’re not saying that just because Mr.

Jae-Gun wrote it?” Her manager joked, but it made Han Yu-Na blush bright red.

“I really like it a lot.” “Alright, alright.

Look at you turning all serious.” “Oppa, you've read it too, right? The emotions of the city dwellers are well expressed; the words aren't that difficult, and there are no parts where pronunciation would become ambiguous when sung.

It’ll become an earworm.” “Yeah, I’m actually quite impressed as well.” Her manager turned the steering wheel as the traffic lights turned and said, “He's a famous writer; he doesn’t have much experience in lyric writing.

Plus, this is a song for idols to sing, so I was quite worried.

But it seems like my worries were completely unfounded.”

“Now, the last thing we have to worry about is the song title.” “That’s right.

He did such a great job with the song lyrics, but he’s lacking so much confidence in coming up with a good song title...” They soon arrived at the recording studio.

Han Yu-Na and her manager alighted, but they stopped midway to their destination as an unexpected visitor appeared in their path.

“...Hello, Yu-Na unni.” Chae Bo-Ra greeted, but she couldn't make eye contact with Han Yu-Na.

The cold winter made her sound like a dying person, and she was shivering out in the cold.

“Why are you here?” Han Yu-Na’s manager asked, looking serious.

He had taken care of Chae Bo-Ra before he was reassigned to look after HyperSoda.

He had experienced all the stress one could experience in one's entire life, and it was all thanks to Chae Bo-Ra.

Chae Bo-Ra was the reason he had white hair in his nose as well.

“You don’t look like you’ve got any business at this studio.

Why don’t you turn back if you’re here to see Yu-Na? We’re very busy today.” “Just for a bit...” “We can’t spare you even a bit of time.” “Yu-Na unni, just ten minutes, please? Not even five minutes?” Chae Bo-Ra looked directly at Han Yu-Na instead of her manager, pleading.

She looked like she was begging Han Yu-Na with her intertwined fingers.

Han Yu-Na sighed and nodded.

They had already met out here, so it was best to listen to her and close the chapter once and for all.

“Ten minutes is enough, right?” “Thank you, unni.” Chae Bo-Ra’s face brightened instantly.

Speechless, Han Yu-Na’s manager turned to her and said, “Yu-Na, let’s just go in.” “Just give me ten minutes, oppa.

I’ll have a quick talk with her and head in afterward.” “Ah, seriously...

Why do you want to deal with her? Fine, I’ll let them know, so finish it quickly and join us.” “Thank you.” Her manager headed in without much choice, but he did not forget to glare at Chae Bo-Ra when he walked past her.

“You’ve grown a lot.” Chae Bo-Ra muttered with disdain as soon as her manager was out of earshot.

“You couldn’t even look me in the eye before.” “What do you want to say?” Han Yu-Na asked irritably.

As expected, Han Yu-Na hadn’t changed one bit.

She found herself pathetic, as she had gotten soft upon seeing Chae Bo-Ra’s haggard appearance.

“Get to the point quickly.

I really can’t talk for over ten minutes.” “Unni...” Chae Bo-Ra smacked her lips as she approached Han Yu-Na.

“I know that I’ve been mean to you before, but that’s because I’m very sensitive.

So that’s why I unintentionally—” “Bo-Ra.” Han Yu-Na cut her off with a deep frown.

“I told you that I’m running out of time.

Stop with the past and get straight to the point.” “A-alright...

Okay, I’ll...

I’ll get to the point.” Chae Bo-Ra dropped her head.

Twiddling her fingers for a few moments, she knelt on the ground and said, “Please lend me some money, unni...” Chae Bo-Ra shut her eyes tightly.

She threw away her pride and everything else to say it.

She had never imagined just one month ago that the day would come when she would have to plead with Han Yu-Na like this.

“I need quite a lot of money, and I don’t have it.

You're the last person I turned to for money.

Just treat it as if you’re saving someone’s life; please help me.” “...How much do you need?” Han Yu-Na asked immediately.

Chae Bo-Ra had helped her, so Han Yu-Na thought that she should help her with that gratitude in mind.

“You helped me back then, so I'm going to help you.

How much do you need?” “Just three pieces...” “Three pieces? Thirty million won?” “No...

three hundred million.” Chae Bo-Ra looked up with an awkward smile.

Han Yu-Na was shocked.

“Oh my gosh, Bo-Ra.

What makes you think I would have that much money?” “But you’re so popular.” “How could you say that when you’re a celebrity yourself? Have I taken any commercials? Have I gone to any events? My activities are just starting to pick up, so how would I be able to earn that money?” “Can’t you ask the company to give you an advance?” Han Yu-Na couldn’t even let out a scoff at this point.

Chae Bo-Ra was truly skillful at being shameless.

“Yeah, I can’t do that,” Han Yu-Na replied firmly.

“I’m sorry, Bo-Ra.

I think I can help you with a tenth of that amount you requested, but I can’t do any more than that.” “Unni, I’m really cornered.” Chae Bo-Ra seemed to be on the verge of tears.

“You saw the news, right? I have to pay the settlement fee with Yoon Mi-Ji, and everyone has been poking at me, too.

I was chased out of the apartment, and do you know where I’m living at right now? At the villa.

I don't even live like a human anymore.” “What’s wrong with staying at a villa?” “I had too much to drink because of the many thoughts in my mind,” Nam Gyu-Ho replied briefly, loosening his necktie.

He didn’t need to bring up that he had met Ha Jae-Gun.

“I heard from Department Head Bae that you’ve been waiting for me.

Is there something you want to say to me?” “Gyu-Ho.” Nam Gyu-Baek slowly stood up from his chair, then headed to the window and looked out into the garden.

“Your mother found it tough to deal with you up until you went to middle school.” “...” “She gave birth to you, yes, but she was born into an ordinary family.

She had to marry into this family, and she had to endure the hardships that had come with it.” Nam Gyu-Ho could already guess why his father was bringing this up.

He wanted to ask if he could withstand such things in life in the future.

And it didn’t take long for Nam Gyu-Ho to answer.

“I will not do that.” “Really...” “Father, I really love—” Nam Gyu-Ho could not finish his sentence, as he could see Nam Gyu-Baek turning around with a bitter smile while shaking his head.

“Go and have a rest.” Nam Gyu-Ho immediately understood his father.

His father needed more time to think.

“Please rest early as well, Father.” Nam Gyu-Ho was thankful to his father for giving them the opportunity to talk, but his heart also throbbed with pain.

He turned around to hide his watery eyes.

*** “...I’m currently at the autograph event in commemoration of the publication of Market Place, held at a large bookstore here in Guro.

Do you see the sea of people behind me? Everyone here is a reader of Writer Ha Jae-Gun.” The female reporter standing by the camera was doing a live broadcast of the event venue.

As she had said, the line of readers who came to get Ha Jae-Gun’s autograph was so long that it seemed endless.

“It was revealed that a whopping 200,000 copies of Market Place were sold during the pre-order.

I can feel the readers’ strong expectations for Writer Ha Jae-Gun’s new everywhere.

Now, let’s go deeper into the venue.” The camera began moving forward, following the reporter closely.

The camera shook with the hurried footsteps, and soon, several men in suits were captured on screen.

“Sir, over here.

it’s frustrating because of the huge crowd, right?” “No, how can I feel that way when I’m here to look around and observe the daily life of our residents? I can’t have those thoughts or even say them,” the head of the district office said in an unusually loud voice.

He had intended for the people around him to hear it.

However, no one even bothered to look in his way.

‘The lines are extremely long.

It’s my first time seeing an autograph event like that.’ The head of the district office held his thoughts inside, unlike how he was maintaining his dignity on the outside.

He had arrived at the venue after hearing that Ha Jae-Gun was holding an autograph event in the local district.

He was also accompanied by a reporter from the local newspaper to leave a commemorative photo, and he was holding a copy of Market Place that he had yet to open.

“Ah, it’s that way, sir.” The section chief of the general affairs department pointed at the table where Ha Jae-Gun was located.

Ha Jae-Gun was smiling while greeting his readers and signing their books diligently.

“Shall we go over and say hi then?” The man looked back at his entourage.

There was no way they did not understand his signal as all of them nodded profusely.

“Aigoo, Mr.

Ha.

You must be so busy today.

Hahaha.” The man walked past the long line and stopped at the table where Ha Jae-Gun was.

Ha Jae-Gun looked at him, but his hands did not stop.

“Hello, I am Yang Beom-Shik.

I heard that you’ve opened an autograph event in our district and thought of dropping by to say hi.” “I see, thank you.” Ha Jae-Gun’s reply sounded soulless.

He wasn’t feeling thankful at all.

Regardless, Yang Beom-Shik continued.

“I’m really happy to have you, who contributes greatly to the development of Korea’s cultural content, here in our district.

Haha, can you sign this for me, please?” Yang Beom-Shik placed his copy of Market Place on the table.

Behind him was the reporter from the local newspaper holding his camera, prepared to snap a photo of them.

Just then...

“Please join the line, sir.” “...Pardon?” Yang Beom-Shik’s face stiffened instantly.

Ha Jae-Gun pointed at the long line of readers with a calm expression.

“If you’d like an autograph, please stand in line.” “Ah...” Click, click, click! The reporters around them pressed their camera shutters rapidly; even the reporter following Yang Beom-Shik had taken a few photos as well, and they captured Yang Beom-Shik’s embarrassed face.Visit for the b𝘦st reading experience