#2. Timid Threat

My thought circuit has stopped.

What am I seeing now?

Why is the illustration I requested in her laptop?

The main character of the illustration is Nam Ga-yeon, the 7th heroine in my novel.

Recently, I thought that I needed an illustration with a slightly more provocative pose,

so I had several email meetings with the author.

[So wouldn't it be better to lower your butt a little more?]

[No. Women feel more ashamed when they raise their posture.]

How do you know that?

Where did you hear it from?

Or are you actually an experienced expert? The author.

I asked you to express the shame in the best way when applying,

but the author's illustration draft was incredibly shallow.

[That's true, but I wonder if the composition will turn out pretty...]

[You have to trust me completely.]

As if he said that if he just trusted himself, he would definitely succeed.

[Hmm... If the author says that...]

I decided not to be stubborn in response to the author's confident reply.

Well... Since he has shown me his track record so far.

I'll draw it so that the lower body reacts immediately upon seeing it!]

When I showed him an attitude that seemed to trust him, the author answered me half-jokingly.

We're not personally acquainted, but I thought this is what it felt like to be a business partner.

But...

Hanna Eun slammed her laptop screen shut so hard that it made a bang!

"...Take it.",

"Huh?,.

"Laca. You need it. Take it quickly.",

Hannaeun, who had her head down, urged me to go quickly.

After a moment of blank expression, I nodded and slowly returned to my seat.

"What? You got Laca?",

Hwimin held out a pink Laca next to me.

"I found it when I looked in the drawer. Sorry. Hey. If you want to use it, use it. It's okay if you use it all.",

"...Uh. Thanks.",

Despite the fact that it was definitely time to hurry up and work, I was just staring at the knife board, blinking my eyes like an idiot.

I guess I didn't see it wrong.

If that's the case, then Hannaeun wouldn't have had to slam her laptop down so hard.

HNE... HNE Author...

Hanaeun?

•• I ••• ••• •

Really?

Is that writer that really had a heated debate with me about what a crush is?

She slowly raised her head and turned her head towards Hannaeun's seat once more.

Hannaeun didn't seem to have started working again, but she had a very calm

expression.

In fact, was the writer someone else and she was just looking at the illustration?

No, but there doesn't seem to be any reason why the writer sent Hannaeun an illustration that wasn't even finished yet...

But that was only for a moment. She suddenly slammed her forehead against the desk.

Oh...

That must hurt...

She must have been in pain too, she grabbed her forehead with both hands and raised her head.

Tears welled up in her eyes.

Hannaeun buried her head in that position again on the desk.

...Yeah. Whatever the truth is, it'll be a bummer.

Because a grown woman was caught by her senior at school while looking at a dirty picture.

I thought it was understandable even if I hit her head twice more.

I was very concerned about Hanna Eun, but I couldn't just keep observing her.

I put the human figure in my pocket, grabbed the lacquer, and went out of the design room.

After leaving the architecture building, I slowly laid out newspaper on the floor and taped the human figure to the ground to make it stand upright.

"Hey. Stand up. Guys. How can you fall down like that?"

I wanted to fall down right away.

After barely finishing fixing it, I sprayed it thoroughly.

It would take about 30 minutes for it to dry...

I put the lid on the lacquer and went back up to the floor.

I returned Hwi Min's lacquer... Now I have to return it to Hanna Eun...

Are you feeling better now?

I turned my gaze to the window once more, and there I saw Hanna Eun, who had become haggard in just 20 minutes.

Her eyes were half unfocused.

Her hair, which had been neatly combed, was messy, as if she had pulled it out.

...But I guess I should return it after I'm done with it, right?

I swallowed hard and strode toward Hanna Eun's seat.

"Uh... Naeun?',

She didn't even look at me even though I was right in front of her seat, as if she was thinking about something.

Only when I spoke to her did she raise her head and look up at me.

"Ah...!',

Her pupils fluttered.

"This. Well written. Thank you.",

Even though it was already a day before the deadline, I was busy, so the shorter the uncomfortable situation, the better.

I decided that and turned my back and tried to go back to my seat.

However, I couldn't help but stop when I felt a warm sensation on my wrist.

"I... over there.",

It was because Hanna Eun got up from her seat and grabbed my wrist.

"You saw it...',

She asked me in a crawling voice.

Um... What should I say here?

I guess it would be better to pretend not to know?

"What?"

"My monitor screen...',

"No? I didn't see it? Why did you put something up like that?",

I should have just said I didn't see it.

"No. You saw it, oppa. My drawing.",

It wasn't just a drawing... It was my drawing...

That means. Hannah Eun actually...

"You can't go anywhere and never tell me. Okay?',

She grabbed my two hands with an anxious expression.

Her expression was like a scared puppy.

...I really shouldn't be like this, but I was so used to this situation.

My actual experience was zero, but as someone who had already written over a hundred long novels,

I was...

A beauty who had caught her weakness.

And an ordinary man who never missed his prey.

I felt another self wriggling inside me.

■Lee Min Ho. Your novels aren't fiction anymore! Do it!'

■No! You crazy bastard! You should know how to distinguish between reality and reality!,

■When will you ever talk to someone like Hannah Eun, who only writes novels!'

'Why! When I earn all my money later, I'll just settle this life!,

"Oppa...?",

When I didn't answer, Hanna Eun tilted her head slightly as if she was anxious, and looked at my expression.

Design lab attire.

Even though she was only wearing a tracksuit and a hoodie, her beauty was shining.

Delicate facial features. A slender jawline.

...A once-in-a-lifetime opportunity had come to me.

"H.N.E."

With each word she uttered, Hanna Eun's large eyes grew wider and wider.

"Ah...uh...uh...',

She was speechless after just three words.

She gestured like a squeaking doll.

One step. Two steps.

I slowly approached her.

"You want me to hide that with my bare face?',

A bitter smile appeared on my lips.

On the other hand, Hannah Eun's face slowly began to turn into despair.

"What…what do you want?",

Like a cornered rabbit, she began to tremble.

"…phone number.",

"Yes?",

"Give me your phone number.",

I handed her my cell phone.

[010—**88—0923]

I dialed that number.

A cheerful pop song melody flowed out from behind.

"Save it. It's my number.",

I hung up the phone and smiled at her.

Okay. With this, I too...

Lee Min-ho. I thought it was the day I showed the most courage in my 25-year-old life.

I wanted to applaud my bold actions inwardly.

How could I, a single woman, be so rude to such a beautiful woman?

I thought to myself that I had gained a great harvest by saving Hanna Eun's number.

"Yes...',

I was about to go back to my seat and prepare for the deadline right away.

I decided to think about what I would do with her contact information.

Would she meet me even if I asked her to meet outside? Would she?

I turned my back while imagining such things, but Hanna Eun grabbed my collar.

..Why?,.

"Is it the end?"

She looked at me with an expression that said she didn't understand.

"What?",

"Is it the end? The price for keeping my secret."

...That's true for now.

I didn't quite understand Hanna Eun's reaction.

The atmosphere seemed a little different from just now when she seemed scared.

"Ugh."

She frowned as if she didn't like something.

"Okay. Then. But don't call that number or give it to anyone else.',

...It seemed like I was clearly in the position of A, but I felt like I was being treated badly,

and I started to feel slightly annoyed.

Aren't you getting the picture?

If this were my novel... You're already...

"You're really fucking boring.",

Hanna Eun's monologue as she turned her back echoed in my mind.

Ha. You're saying this because you don't understand the topic?

I stopped walking and grabbed Hanna Eun who was trying to sit down.

"Again. What.',

Her gaze seemed like she was looking at a bug.

Yeah. The heroines in my novels always reacted like that at first.

"Do you really want to end your life?",

I looked down at her with a sinister expression.

I thought she would be a little nervous...

But a slightly different answer came out of her mouth than I expected.

"How are you going to end it?',

No. How are you going to end it? That is... If I reveal that you are an illustrator who draws dirty pictures...

When I hesitated and did not answer, she looked at me as if she was pathetic.

"Haa... It's really disgusting that you act tough without a proper plan?',

... Are you really criticizing me, a star novel writer, for not having a build-up right now?

I felt another self inside me burning hotly.