Prologue
I’m fucked. I’m Kang Seojin, a first-year broadcast writer. Of course, for someone in their first year, twenty-nine isn’t exactly young, but the twists and turns and various episodes that life throws at you aren’t things that can be controlled by willpower alone.
The good news is that I at least found a job that suits my aptitude—broadcast writing—at the tail end of my twenties.
And the bad news is that I’ve become a supporting character in a BL novel that just got confirmed for a drama adaptation, which I’m currently reviewing.
Actually, I wasn’t someone who regularly read BL novels.
…To be honest, this drama was my first time reading a BL novel at all. So this one I’m in charge of, “Until the Day I Confess Again,” was my very first BL novel.
It’s something I should definitely reflect on—being a drama assistant writer while being picky about genres. But… normally, I never thought about reading the BL genre. To be more precise, saying I “couldn’t” would be more accurate. Of course, I studied queer films while studying cinema, but the moment I brought up queer stuff, the head writer cut me off without mercy. ……I should reflect on that too.
But does it make sense to punish a normal 29-year-old guy like this just because he hasn’t read many BL novels? And usually in fantasy novels, when you get transmigrated, there’s like a status window or something, but there’s nothing like that here. I just opened my eyes and found myself in an unfamiliar place.
Only after checking my ID in my wallet, the unfamiliar face in the mirror, and the fact that I’d woken up in a place that absolutely couldn’t be my home several times did I finally manage to accept the situation.
So… normally in these situations, fantasy novels let you out once you clear the original story, right? Then if I clear the BL novel’s original story, will I get out?
I opened a notebook and started organizing the situation. Even back in my school days, I was famous for being amazing at organizing notes. My grades were a separate matter, though.
The main characters of the drama “Until the Day I Confess Again” are two men named Jung Yoonseo and Eun Haejin. What protagonist-like names. Well, they are novel protagonists.
Jung Yoonseo is an extremely handsome chaebol with an unfortunate family background who uses a slick personality as a defense mechanism, and Eun Haejin is an extremely handsome job-seeker with a bad personality who lives diligently. Then Eun Haejin gets employed at Jung Yoonseo’s company, and something or other happens between them, and following the rules of romance writing, they get together and break apart and eventually score a goal in love.
I’m not particularly fond of romance so I had no interest, but the author writes so well that I diligently read all four volumes of the novel. Of course, I also read more diligently because I had to adapt it.
And the important thing is, then who am I? Well, to put it bluntly, I’m a supporting character. Not exactly a supporting character… a major supporting character? An obstacle to Jung Yoonseo and Eun Haejin’s love? I’m Eun Haejin’s college friend who has a one-sided crush on Eun Haejin, gets jealous of Jung Yoonseo, eventually has a huge fight with Eun Haejin and breaks off the friendship, then comes to like another guy named Cha Hyunwoo.
That said, I’m not in the position of a sub male lead… no, sub-gong, just a light position of someone who has a one-sided crush on Eun Haejin. I guess it makes sense for a guy to like him since he’s such a handsome man. My name here is Lee Hyun. A single-character name.
In conclusion, to summarize, I’ve been transmigrated into a supporting character in some BL novel and since there’s nothing to lose, I’ve ended up in a situation where I have to clear it to the ending and get out.
It seemed like it would happen naturally over time even if I didn’t do anything… but let’s give it a try.
Just then, the doorbell rang.
“Who is it?”
[Aren’t you going to school?]
Oh. It’s Eun Haejin.
A Slightly Different Start
“Why didn’t you answer your phone?”
“…Did we have a team project?”
“What kind of bullshit is that?”
Do friends normally come all the way to your house just because you didn’t answer their calls? When I was a college student—though I dropped out—I think we just saw each other’s faces at school and ditched them if they weren’t around. Anyway, the novel didn’t include class schedules, so I was breaking out in a cold sweat.
“…We have the same next class, right?”
“What are you talking about? We’re going for the graduation thesis. Did you get drunk and pass out last night?”
I was grateful that phones these days have fingerprint recognition. After unlocking the phone with fingerprint recognition, I was truly fortunate to find a student-only SNS app installed. I roughly checked the schedule, changed my clothes, and left the house.
“Next time, if I don’t answer, just leave without me.”
At my awkward comment, Eun Haejin looked me up and down and walked silently.
What I realized after arriving at school was that everyone’s appearance was pretty decent on average. Of course, no one was at Eun Haejin’s level except Eun Haejin himself, but the author’s desire to give everyone outstanding looks as a passive skill was clearly visible.
Eun Haejin was handsome. Exceptionally black hair and black eyes… The reason I’m describing these things is because there weren’t many people around with hair this black. Eun Haejin had black hair, black eyes, and on top of that, a handsome face with pale skin. I’ve never properly described someone else’s appearance, so I don’t know how to express it, but his jawline and eyes seemed sharp, and anyway, he was handsome.
I heard they had narrowed down to about two candidates for the drama casting and contacted the actors, but I couldn’t help but think they’d need to recast.
“But there’s no one suitable for casting.”
“Why have you been intermittently muttering to yourself since earlier?”
Startled by Eun Haejin’s words, I shut my mouth, and Eun Haejin looked at me like I was a weirdo and started tapping on his laptop again. Both Eun Haejin and I were in the same major, Business Administration, and Eun Haejin’s mood was currently sharp because after finishing a consultation with his thesis advisor, he was in the middle of massively overhauling his graduation thesis.
Since the university I dropped out of was from a major about 300 kilometers away from Business Administration, I was like a useless sack of barley, just answering “I don’t know” to the professor’s feedback and being treated like an idiot, while seriously surfing the internet on my laptop.
“Haejin. Did you apply for an internship?”
“Yeah. I got interview calls from two places today.”
“Where?”
“First, J Company and—”
“Go to that interview.”
Before Eun Haejin could finish speaking, I cut him off and answered. J Company was Jung Yoonseo’s company. To be precise, it’s currently Jung Yoonseo’s father’s company and Jung Yoonseo is the future successor? Anyway, Eun Haejin needs to join that company for the story to progress.
“Why?”
At Eun Haejin’s question, I answered immediately.
“It’s a major corporation.”
Eun Haejin looked at me like I was ridiculous. Then he sighed and spoke in a voice mixed with concern.
“…Yeah. That’s true, but that’s actually why I’m worried. I’ve heard they have a really hierarchical culture too. And it’s not exactly utilizing my major completely.”
“Haha. Originally in life, it’s hard to utilize your major. Just getting a job at a major corporation is the best. Hierarchical culture? Haejin. You have a bad personality, so you’ll be fine. Who’s going to be stressed—you or your boomer boss? Obviously the latter.”
“…You’re seriously weird today. Did you eat something wrong yesterday?”
It seemed that because I only organized Jung Yoonseo and Eun Haejin’s relationship while reading the book and didn’t properly grasp Lee Hyun’s personality or speech patterns, I caused confusion for Eun Haejin. But there was no way Eun Haejin would know I was a different person, so I just brazenly retorted.
“Yeah. I decided to become a new person. Anyway, you definitely apply to J Company. I read your physiognomy and you match well with that company.”
“Why would they hire me?”
“Because your physiognomy matches well.”
“What about my physiognomy?”
“You’re handsome.”
“What kind of bullshit is that?”
Eun Haejin frowned and looked at me with disgust.
“No, if three people went in and you’re sitting there, even I would hire you.”
“Are you kidding? Am I going to be a model?”
“Go and be a promotional model for the company. Apply to J Company.”
“…Where did you apply?”
“You don’t know?”
Eun Haejin’s expression was instantly colored with absurdity, but I really don’t know. I became Lee Hyun this morning, so there’s no way I’d know which company the previous Lee Hyun applied to.
“I’ll let you know when I get a text.”
When I added that like an excuse, Eun Haejin turned his eyes to his laptop without any particular response.
***
Hello, Lee Hyun. This is K Company.
We sincerely congratulate you on passing the first document screening for K Company’s second half 20XX new employee open recruitment.
The next stage is a practical interview. Detailed information will be provided via additional personal email and phone.
