Today's Webtoon (Oneuleui Webtun / 오늘의 웹툰)

(Episode 8: I Will Be Your Unchanging Truth)

Drink up.

Producer Jang, I see that you can still drink quite a bit.

Oh, sorry. You're an assistant editor now.

You can call me whatever you want.

The title doesn't matter. We're friends, you know?

No, it's important. It's a sensitive issue among office workers.

I don't care. You know I'm cool with stuff like that.

Yes, you are cool indeed. That's why I like you.

Let's drink.

- Hello. - Hello.

Hello.

What's wrong?

- I see. The woman from Youngtoon. - Ma'am.

A beer, please.

Okay. Thank you.

- Let's drink soju first. - Sure.

- Gosh. Let me pour it for you. - Mr. Na Gang Nam?

You finished it? Gosh, you can hold your liquor.

Why is Mr. Na meeting up...

with the assistant editor from Youngtoon?

How are things at Youngtoon?

Pretty good. The sales numbers have been good,

and we have loyal readers.

But there's one thing we don't have.

- What might that be? - What do you think?

It's you, Mr. Na Gang Nam.

What? Look at you, Ms. Assistant Editor.

If you could publish a new webtoon with us,

Youngtoon would soar even higher.

I'm struggling to meet my deadlines for "Princess Kumiho."

I can't start a new webtoon.

You said you'd finish the series soon when I was at Gingertoon.

Right, I did. But it's still not finished.

Has it been about five years already?

But "Princess Kumiho" wasn't what you wanted to do.

You always wanted to write an intense story.

That's right.

I like dark, intense stories.

But every time I pitch a story like that,

they say it's too dark and gloomy.

"Princess Kumiho," which I worked on with Seok Ji Hyeong,

was my first webtoon that got published.

But the truth is, it's the total opposite...

of the kind of story I wanted to write.

Who knew it'd be such a hit?

You're so talented. You were bound to be successful...

even if you didn't write "Princess Kumiho."

Hey, why are you flattering me nonstop today?

Stop it already. You're making me dizzy.

I'm just stating the facts.

Mr. Na.

Don't you think you've done enough?

I mean, for "Princess Kumiho."

I want to see you...

working on the kind of story...

that you've always wanted to tell.

The Youngtoon readers...

are dying to read such dark, intense stories.

Besides, such genres targeting adults sell better too.

We can offer you a top-notch compensation package.

Because you're top-notch.

My baby!

Oh, no. Are you hungry? I was in the shower for too long, right?

Let me give you some food.

Hi.

Here, eat up.

Was she hacked?

Darn it.

I covered everything.

There's something else.

I feel like someone takes photos of me when I'm getting into my car.

I've heard the shutter sound a few times in the parking lot.

And my packages keep going missing.

Let's report it to the police.

The security footage will tell us who took your packages.

That person must be the culprit.

Is there anyone you think that could do something like this?

Someone who knows your address.

No, I can't think of anyone.

You and Mr. Kwon are the only ones who know my address.

I communicate with my assistants via messenger.

Darn it.

Did Mr. Kwon hack into her computer?

Why are you staring at me like that? Got something to say?

No, it's nothing.

What's wrong? You look tired.

Oh, I didn't sleep well last night.

Everyone's here, right?

- Hello. - Let's get started.

I already skimmed through this, but I was wondering...

Hey, Yu Mi. What about the fan goods?

I ordered them from the place that makes BLACKPINK's fan goods.

- I see. - A microphone and some cushions.

- Nice, well done. - Thank you.

Let's look at the last page.

What?

Dong Hee! This...

Do you need something, sir?

Oh.

I forgot how to undo what I just did.

- I see. - I can't get this to work.

One moment, please.

What's wrong?

Sir, this is...

- The whole thing's been deleted. - What?

- That's it for the meeting. - Okay.

Make sure you guys prepare thoroughly for the new projects.

Also, Youngtoon is busy stealing artists from other platforms.

Papaya lost a couple of their main artists.

They're going bonkers now.

Their new webtoons will go up next month.

Be careful and make sure we don't get our artists stolen.

- Okay. - Okay.

What's with you guys today?

- Ma Eum. - Yes, sir.

You, of all people, can't be like this.

Yes, sir!

Will you let them steal Na Gang Nam?

No, of course not. Well understood, sir!

Should I visit Mr. Na at his studio?

- Why? - Well...

You heard Mr. Jang. He was like, "Don't let them steal him."

I'll figure out what to do once I'm there.

I'm meeting him for lunch.

- I see. I'll come with you... - No.

I understand that you're anxious,

but we can't force him to stay with us.

If we show up together, it might rub him the wrong way.

So just relax and wait.

Okay, Ms. On Ma Eum?

Okay.

- It's okay. Sit. - It's hot today, isn't it?

Yes.

I really needed something to help me relieve my hangover.

You suggested meeting here as if you read my mind.

Anyway, what's up?

- Let's eat first. - Okay.

You see, yesterday...

I saw you.

You did? Where? Why didn't you say hi?

You were with Jang Hye Mi.

Oh, boy.

I'm not bringing this up to make you uncomfortable.

I guess that's why you wanted to see me today.

My gosh. So you rushed here to see me.

I guess I'm not a has-been yet, after all.

Come on. You're hurting my feelings here.

You're like the face of Neon.

So? Are you worried?

Yes.

Are you seriously thinking of joining Youngtoon?

I'm not sure yet. I'm still thinking.

But I'm free to go wherever I want.

If I end up joining a different platform,

don't call me a traitor like a petty loser would.

But you'll complete "Princess Kumiho" with us, right?

I'm thinking about it.

As you know, I don't have...

the physical energy to work on two projects at the same time.

If I want to move to a different platform and start something new,

I should wrap up "Princess Kumiho."

I see.

Is what Youngtoon offering a lot better than what we're paying you?

If you tell us, we could definitely try to match the offer.

No, it's not about that.

From time to time, I wonder if it's okay...

for me to keep working on webtoons like "Princess Kumiho."

It's all I've been doing since my début.

But you see,

it's not the kind of webtoon I really wanted to draw.

I'm 40 now. The world is changing so rapidly,

and I still have tons of stories I want to tell,

but I'm not young anymore.

When I think about that... How should I put this?

I feel all anxious and hot inside.

- You know what I'm saying, right? - Yes, I sure do.

If you want to start a different webtoon,

we'd be more than happy to publish it.

Our styles are too different.

I know what Neon readers want better than anybody else does.

But you see, we now publish a wide range of webtoons.

Also...

Ma Eum and I will give you all the support you need...

Hey. You'd better not tell Steamed Dumpling.

She'll cry if she hears that I'm thinking of ending the series.

She's a die-hard fan of "Princess Kumiho."

Anyway, this is about my career.

Let me think a little more and decide.

- Can I order suyuk? - Sure, of course.

We'd like some suyuk, please.

- Eat up. - Okay.

Something's up, right?

- No! - Your face tells us you're lying.

What's going on?

- Well... - Tell us.

The thing is...

I happened to see Mr. Na having a meeting with Youngtoon yesterday.

If he suddenly wraps up "Princess Kumiho"...

and joins Youngtoon...