Chapter Text
"Thank you so much for being here today and for supporting my journey as a writer! Your enthusiasm and encouragement mean the world to me. I hope this book brings you as much joy and inspiration as I had creating it. Keep reading and dreaming!" San grinned as he waved at the crowd that was slowly yet surely dispersing, his heart bursting with excitement as he grabbed his totebag and prepared to leave.
The book signing was a success with thousands of enthusiastic and eager readers attending the event, hoping to get a signature from the author behind the famous "Tempest of Oblivion" series. The "Tempest of Oblivion" series—an action-packed series with fantasty and thriller elements—had unexpectedly blown up on social media. The installments quickly sold out in hundreds of bookstores worldwide within days, earning multiple titles the status of 'bestseller', which deeply satisfied his boss. As a result, San—or more commonly known by his pen name 'Sunny'—was ordered by his boss to hold a book signing event for the newly released sixth installment of the series, hoping to garner more attention towards the installment and the series as a whole.
San's grin lingered as the last of the crowd dispersed, the echo of applause still ringing in his ears. The energy of the book signing clung to him, but as he grabbed his tote bag and adjusted it on his shoulder, reality gently nudged him back.
The whirlwind of fans, the excitement of signing countless copies of Tempest of Oblivion—it all felt like a dream now. But with the bookstore finally quieting down, San felt the buzz of the day begin to settle. He took a deep breath, letting the moment sink in, and turned toward the door, ready to slip back into his own world.
But as he was about to push the door open, a ding! sound emerged from inside his totebag. With a groan, San opened his phone to check the incoming message...
Boss
Please come to my office as soon as you're done with the event, San.
I have something I want to discuss with you
....And any thoughts of slipping back into his own world had been quickly shut down by his boss. His once happy mood now evaporated into thin air as he begrudgingly made his way to the office, silently hoping that his boss wasn't feeling talkative.
"Hello San, you're surprisingly punctual today." His boss—Seonghwa—greeted him with a nod as San entered Seonghwa's office.
San gave his boss a tired grin as he nodded back absentmindedly, taking some time to glance around Seonghwa's office, a space that reflected his boss’s impeccable sense of order. The walls were a soft, calming gray, adorned with only a few carefully placed frames and a sleek clock. A simple wooden desk sat in the center, free of clutter save for a laptop, a notepad, and a single pen resting perfectly parallel to the desk's edge. Shelves lined one wall, filled with neatly stacked books and files, while a small potted plant on the windowsill added a touch of warmth. Despite the minimalistic design, there was an undeniable coziness to the room, as if the calm organization invited focus and comfort at the same time.
"—San? you ok?"
"Ah, yes, sorry hyung, the book signing event must be getting to me, what did you want to discuss?" San joked lightheartedly with a sheepish smile as he placed his totebag on the floor, sitting on the stray chair across from Seonghwa. Although they were boss and employee on paper, the two were very close since San had signed with Arriba Agency back when it was just starting out and they were struggling to make ends meet.
Seonghwa leaned back in his chair, his fingers tapping thoughtfully on the edge of the desk. “I’m glad the signing went well,” he began, his tone light, though there was a certain calculation behind his eyes. "But...there’s something else I’ve been thinking about."
San raised an eyebrow. “Something else?”
“You’ve been at the top of the charts with your thrillers and fantasy novels, which is fantastic. But—" Seonghwa paused, locking eyes with him. “—romance is where the market’s really booming right now.”
San blinked, momentarily thrown off. “Romance? You want me to write a romance novel?”
Seonghwa grinned, a playful glint in his eye. "Yeah, hear me out. I know it’s not your usual genre, but think about it—your writing style, your character depth. I think you could bring something fresh to the romance world. Something that could...flip the industry."
San let out a disbelieving laugh, leaning back in his chair. “You really think I can write a romance novel?”
“I don’t think—I know you can,” Seonghwa replied confidently. “You've got the skills, the fanbase, and the talent. All you need is the right inspiration.”
San was silent for a moment, letting the challenge sink in. "A romance novel...seriously?"
Seonghwa nodded, his expression serious now. "I wouldn’t be asking if I didn’t believe in you. Plus, it’s a popular genre. If anyone can do it, it’s you."
San sat back, the idea still swirling in his head. Romance. Of all things. It wasn't that he disliked the genre— he just never imagined himself writing it. Explosions, mysteries, dark secrets—that's his forte, where his expertise lies. But romance? The thought of it felt foreign.
“I don’t know, hyung,” San hesitated, rubbing the back of his neck. “Romance is...not really my thing. What if I screw it up?”
Seonghwa chuckled softly, leaning forward with a determined glint in his eyes. “You won’t. You’ve got this. Think of it as a new challenge. You’ve mastered the art of suspense and action— now, you’ll just be tapping into a different kind of tension. Emotional tension.”
San let out a deep breath, eyes drifting to the neatness of Seonghwa’s desk as if searching for clarity in the immaculate order. “I just don’t know where to even begin,” he admitted, his voice quieter. “I’ve never written about love before. Hell, I’ve barely had time for it in real life—”
“—Which is exactly why you’d bring something fresh to the table,” Seonghwa countered. “It won’t be the same old clichés because you’re not following some formula. You’ll write something different. Unique. Something that the readers won’t expect.” He paused for a moment before adding with a sly smile, “Plus, you’ve got me to help you out.”
San raised an eyebrow. “You’re going to help me write a romance?”
“Not write it,” Seonghwa clarified, leaning back in his chair. “But I can definitely give you some pointers on what’s trending, what readers are hungry for. And more importantly,” he leaned in slightly, his voice almost teasing, “I know just the inspiration you need to get started.”
San narrowed his eyes suspiciously. “Oh? And what’s that?”
Seonghwa smirked. "Why don't you delve into the world of K-Dramas?"
"K-Dramas..?" San blinked, caught off guard by the sudden change in conversation.
“Exactly,” Seonghwa nodded, clearly pleased with himself. "There are tons of great romance K-Dramas out there, why don't you give it a shot and watch a few to get a good feel of the genre?”
San stared at him, half amused, half bewildered. "....you’re telling me to binge-watch K-Dramas for research?”
Seonghwa smiled, leaning back in his chair with the nonchalance of a superior. “Exactly! K-Dramas are packed with emotional tension, unexpected twists, and character-driven stories. It’s basically a masterclass in romance.”
“But they’re so...formulaic,” San protested, raising an eyebrow. “Same tropes, same predictable endings.”
"While there are a lot of K-Dramas that have similar storylines,” Seonghwa conceded, “but, just like books, there are also hidden gems with exceptional storylines and fleshed out characters, and those are the types of K-Dramas that you could use for inspiration. Trust me, once you start watching good K-Dramas, you’ll get hooked.”
San sighed, rubbing the back of his neck. This was the last thing he expected from today's meeting. The idea of spending hours watching romantic dramas wasn’t exactly what he had in mind for his next project. “You’re really serious about this, aren’t you?”
“Dead serious,” Seonghwa replied, crossing his arms. “And you’ve got a deadline. Three months.”
“Three months?” San echoed, nearly choking on his words. “Hyung, you can’t be—"
“I am,” Seonghwa interrupted, his tone firm but not unkind. “The genre’s hot right now. And you’re at the top of your game. Strike while the iron’s hot, San. You’ve done the impossible before. This is just another mountain to climb.”
San bit his lip, staring at the ground. Three months to write a romance novel. A bestselling romance novel. The weight of the challenge settled heavily on his shoulders, but beneath the doubt was a flicker of something else—curiosity.
He glanced back up at Seonghwa, who was waiting expectantly, arms crossed in a casual yet commanding way.
“Alright,” San said with a resigned laugh. “I’ll give it a shot. But don’t say I didn’t warn you if this turns out to be a disaster.”
Seonghwa’s smile widened. “That’s the spirit. And don’t worry—it won’t be.”
San stood, grabbing his tote bag and giving Seonghwa a final, tired grin. “Guess I’ll be spending the next few weeks glued to my screen watching K-dramas.”
Seonghwa chuckled. “You’ll thank me later. Now, go on. You’ve got a romance novel to write."
San left Seonghwa’s office with a mixture of disbelief and amusement swirling in his mind. Romance. K-dramas. Three months. The whole situation felt unreal, and he could already feel the mounting pressure. He needed to vent—badly.
His feet carried him out of the building almost on autopilot as he grabbed his phone and fired off a quick message to his best friends and fellow authors, Wooyoung and Yeosang.
sannie
There's an emergency, meet me at Aurora in 20!!
Wooyoung’s response came almost immediately, as expected.
woo
emergency? omg, is the world ending????
sannie
Yes. My world is.
yeo
...This is about Seonghwa again, isn't it
San chuckled to himself. Yeosang always had a way of reading between the lines.
sannie
obviously!!
he's the source of all my problems these days
He stuffed his phone into his pocket and made his way to the café, knowing that his two friends would already be waiting for him when he arrived.
Twenty minutes later, San pushed open the door to Aurora, a small cafe near his apartment with the most delectable pastries in the city. The 24-hour café had become his go-to spot ever since Wooyoung had dragged him and Yeosang there to cry about the disastrous plotline of a newly released K-Drama ('Seriously, a five year old kid could've done better than that stupid director!' Wooyoung grunted). The familiar smell of roasted coffee beans and freshly baked goods swirled all over him like a comforting wave as he glanced around, searching for his two friends. He spotted Wooyoung immediately—talking animatedly with the barista while Yeosang quietly sat at a table nearby, sipping on his usual iced americano.
San dropped into the chair across from Yeosang, letting out a dramatic sigh. “You guys. You won’t believe what just happened.”
“Let me guess, Seonghwa’s trying to kill you, again.” Wooyoung chirped, dropping into the seat next to San with a mischievous grin. “What did he do this time?”
San pinched the bridge of his nose. “He wants me to write a romance novel.”
Yeosang blinked, slowly lowering his cup. “...What?”
Wooyoung, on the other hand, burst out laughing, nearly spilling his coffee. “A romance novel? You? That’s rich. I mean, no offense, but you’re about as romantic as a bag of rocks.”
“Tell me about it. Seonghwa thinks I—Choi San, the famous writer who has absolutely no experience writing nor feeling any type of romance—can flip the romance genre! He even told me to binge-watch K-dramas for research!" San groaned as he slumped dramatically on the coffee table, helplessly sipping on his iced latte as if it can somehow make his current predicament dissappear into thin air.
“K-dramas?!" The two shouted in unison, one louder than the other.
“Yep, That’s what I'll be doing for the next three months. Stuck watching a bunch of love triangles and melodrama to figure out how to write a romance novel.”
Wooyoung, still grinning, leaned forward. “Well, he’s not wrong. K-dramas are full of emotional tension. You might actually learn something. Which one are you starting with?”
San shrugged. “I don’t even know. I just need to find one that’s popular enough so I don’t waste time.”
Yeosang, ever the thoughtful one, tapped his chin. “If you’re looking for something popular, you should start with Heart's Signal.”
San raised an eyebrow. “Heart's Signal?”
“Yeah,” Wooyoung added, eyes lighting up. “You know, the one with the famous actor Jeong Yunho and supermodel slash idol Song Mingi. Everyone’s been talking about it! I haven’t watched it yet, but apparently, it’s the K-drama right now. My entire feed is people screaming about the chemistry between the leads.”
Yeosang nodded. “It’s trending everywhere. Even people who don’t usually watch K-dramas are hooked.”
San blinked, taking it all in. “Heart's Signal, huh?”
“Yup,” Wooyoung said, leaning back with a grin. “It sounds like the perfect place to start. Besides, if you’re going to do this, you might as well go all in. Get some popcorn, take notes, and maybe you’ll pick up some romance writing tips along the way.”
San groaned again, though there was a hint of a smile tugging at the corner of his lips. “I can’t believe this is happening. How did I go from writing fight scenes and conspiracies to watching K-dramas and writing about love?”
“Welcome to the wild world of romance,” Wooyoung teased, raising his coffee cup in mock toast. “You’ll thank us later.”
San shook his head, letting out a small laugh as he leaned back in his chair. Despite his complaints, a part of him was curious about what lay ahead. Maybe this crazy idea wouldn’t be so bad after all.
He's taking back his words, its horrible
Heart's Signal is a disastrous K-Drama with a painfully predictable storyline, crammed with every overused cliché imaginable. The female lead is a naïve, attention-seeking country girl who moves to the city to pursue her studies. She finds herself caught in a typical love triangle between a random, conveniently handsome guy she met in high school and her loyal childhood friend of ten years. San can already tell who she should choose—it’s blatantly obvious—but he grits his teeth and watches episode after episode, desperate for even the slightest spark of inspiration. The plot is riddled with glaring inconsistencies, and every time the directors try to smooth over the holes with an emotionally manipulative backstory, San feels like throwing something at the screen. Yet, for reasons he can’t quite explain, he remains hooked.
It isn’t the script that captivates him, though. It's the actors who manage to elevate the entire production. Their dedication breathes life into the otherwise flat and uninspired storyline. The cinematography and soundtrack, ethereal and mesmerizing, distract from the story's obvious shortcomings. Jeong Yunho and Song Mingi, in particular, shine like diamonds in a sea of pebbles. Their raw, passionate performances are magnetic, pulling San deeper into the story despite himself. Yunho’s subtle expressions and emotional depth give his character unexpected complexity, while Mingi's charisma practically leaps off the screen. Without them, Heart’s Signal would be unwatchable, but together, they make it impossible for San to turn away.
They deserve every bit of the fame and attention they've garnered, as they alone make Heart's Signal worth watching, he thinks as he watches Jeong Yunho and Song Mingi fight over the female lead for the thousandth time.
Hours later, San sighed disappointedly as the end credits for the final episode rolled in—the ending chime a now familiar tune in his ears. Although he had enjoyed watching the show until the very end, he was quite let down that the female lead had made the cliché decision to choose the handsome guy over her childhood friend of ten years.
"How predictable," he mumbled under his breath. Yet, despite the disappointment, something else stirred inside him. A surge of inspiration, bubbling just beneath the surface, like an untapped well he hadn’t realized was there.
He reached for his last bag of chips as the credits rolled, only to find it empty, like the others. "Of course," he muttered with a small chuckle. His late-night binge of Heart’s Signal had been more intense than he realized, wiping out his snack stash entirely. Yet, the hunger couldn’t suppress the rush of ideas now flowing through his mind.
San leaned back on the couch, staring at the blank TV screen. “What if...” he whispered, piecing together a new storyline in his head. The story of two friends—an ordinary person and an idol—drawn together not by fate but by their shared struggles. It wouldn’t follow the typical love triangle formula or hinge on a flashy, predictable ending. This would be real and filled with raw, pure emotion. With characters who grew together, and learned to love without the melodrama.
Quickly, before the thoughts could vanish, he grabbed a sticky note and began jotting down the rough idea. Time quickly flew by as he scribbled idea after idea, yet San payed no mind to the darkening sky, blisfully encased within his own world. His scribbles turned frantic as the plotlines formed, each word sparking another twist or character revelation. The perfect blend of reality and romance—the very thing his boss had been pushing him to create.
San stared at the note for a moment, a satisfied grin slowly spreading across his face. Maybe this romance thing wasn’t so bad after all.
His stomach, however, disagreed with a loud growl, reminding him of his neglected hunger. He glanced around at the empty snack bags scattered across the coffee table and sighed. The inspiration rush was over, and now he was left with nothing but an empty pantry. “Guess that’s my cue.”
He glanced at the clock—it was past midnight. With a sigh, he stood up and stretched. "Aurora Café it is," he decided. He hadn't planned on going out, but his writing flow would be pointless on an empty stomach.
Grabbing his jacket, San stepped out into the cool night air. The streets were quiet, and the warm glow from Aurora Café’s sign beckoned him like a lighthouse in the dark. As he approached the entrance, a wave of exhaustion hit him—he hadn't realized just how long he'd been in front of the screen.
Pushing open the door, the warm scent of coffee and pastries greeted him. He scanned the room, expecting the usual quiet crowd of night owls tapping away on laptops or sipping coffee in solitude. But then his eyes froze on the two figures standing by the counter, laughing and chatting animatedly with a barista San had never seen before as one leaned onto the other, the other caressing his hands with the delicacy of a flower.
Jeong Yunho and Song Mingi. The famous actor idol duo from Heart's Signal.
And they definitely weren't acting.