Chapter 35 : I’ll tell you a Secret.
“Before we start the awards, we have a congratulatory speech. We’re thrilled to have a very special guest today. They’ve written a really interesting book called *The God of Web Novels*.”
“Could it be…”
“Is it really that person?”
As Park Sujeong spoke, people began whispering excitedly. After letting the suspense build, she continued.
“Please give a big round of applause for the author of *Hot Sani*!”
“Wow—!”
The crowd erupted into loud applause as a well-dressed middle-aged man came forward. He took the microphone and addressed the audience.
“Hello, I’m Hot Sani.”
Clap clap clap clap—!
The applause and cheers roared again, showing his popularity. Kang Bada subtly turned her head toward me.
“Is he a big deal?”
“Definitely. He’s a YouTuber, a doctor, and a web novel author. He’s top 10% in all those fields.”
“…Is that even possible?”
“Well, he’s really done it.”
I pride myself on working hard, but compared to him, I felt like I was falling short.
He’s especially known in this field for his expert-level works, like *I·Doctor* and *Joseon’s Top Doctor*.
“I’m a bit shy about this warm welcome. The organizers asked me to give a speech, but it’s my first time doing something like this. I’ve prepared a short presentation for the authors.”
“Ooh—!”
The crowd showed their excitement.
Normally, long speeches aren’t popular, but his achievements made it acceptable.
Hot Sani then asked the audience a few questions and shared some personal tips, getting a very positive response from the gathered writers.
“He also wrote a guidebook on writing. It’s different from the usual explanatory books because it uses a web novel format, and it’s received a lot of praise.”
“Have you read it?”
“Yes, it was more interesting than I expected.”
Even though I’ve memorized countless guides and techniques, the overall vibe was refreshingly new.
“There’s also wine here.”
“Want to try some?”
“Is that okay?”
“I checked earlier, and it’s fine. It’s low-alcohol, so just don’t overdo it.”
“Then let’s have a drink together!”
Cheers—!
Chatting with Kang Bada was enjoyable enough, so he could really soak up the awards ceremony’s atmosphere.
“Let’s give another round of applause to Hot Sani for the great talk!”
Clap clap clap—!
The congratulatory speech ended, and the awards ceremony continued. Park Sujeong took the microphone again to announce the special and excellent awards.
Twenty-five people and ten more stepped forward, each given a moment to give their acceptance speeches.
“Everyone knows these names.”
“Really?”
“This is my first time seeing them in person. I’ve drawn a lot of inspiration from their work.”
“Hmm, I see.”
With the excellent awards wrapped up, a brief recreational activity took place to build excitement for the grand prize.
There were quiz shows and simple games, with generous prizes like gift vouchers being handed out, and the atmosphere heated up.
With only the grand prize left, the tension started to rise. I became more aware of the cameras around us.
“…Nuel-ssi.”
He couldn’t believe how nervous he was. It wasn’t even a big announcement, but just the thought of going up for the grand prize made his hands shake uncontrollably.
His mind went completely blank, his vision narrowed, and he barely heard anything around him.
“Ha-neul-ssi!”
Suddenly, someone grabbed his hand. He looked up to see Kang Bada with a gentle smile.
“Are you nervous?”
“A bit.”
“Ah, so even Ha-neul-ssi gets nervous.”
“Well, I’m only human.”
“Do you want me to help you relax?”
“How?”
Kang Bada holding his hand was already calming, but her mysterious smile made him curious about what was coming next.
As he watched with a mix of curiosity and nervousness, Kang Bada’s smile widened. Maybe it was the wine, but her lips looked even redder than usual.
“I’ll tell you a secret.”
“A secret?”
Kang Bada leaned in closer and gestured for him to bring her ear near.
‘A secret from Bada?’
She was intrigued, though he wasn’t sure how it related to the situation. Still, the gesture helped ease his nerves, even if it introduced a new worry.
‘Se isn’t tipsy, is she?’
Her face still looked fine.
It wasn’t strong alcohol, so a few drinks wouldn’t usually get someone drunk. But you never know.
As she thought about this, she saw Kang Bada’s expression become more serious. She quickly leaned in before it was too late.
“…Actually, I’m a princess.”
Oh, really?
He was stunned and didn’t know how to react. Kang Bada chuckled softly and added,
“Surprised?”
“Uh, yes… I guess so.”
The revelation was so different from what s
he had expected that it left him deflated. Did Kang Bada really think he wouldn’t recognize a princess?
Noticing his lukewarm response, Kang Bada tilted her head and spoke in a slightly firmer tone.
“I really am a princess, you know?”
“Wow— That’s a surprising secret.”
“…You don’t believe me?”
“No, I do. Really.”
Thank you, Bada0707.
That totally took away her nerves!
Of course, she couldn’t say that out loud, so she just mumbled something vague. By then, all the games had finished, and the background music changed.
“Now, let’s get to the highlight. The grand prize of the Greatest Contest! The winner is… the author of *Life Becomes Amazing After Marriage *, ‘Bookworm’!”
“Wow—!!”
When his pen name was announced,
The crowd erupted with applause and cheers.
He gave Kang Bada’s hand a light pat and whispered,
“Thanks a lot. You really helped me calm down.”
“You’re just saying that to be nice.”
“I mean it.”
“Hmph.”
Kang Bada pretended to sulk and turned away. Despite the alcohol having a bit of an effect, her behavior was still quite charming.
“Well, I’ll share a secret with you, too.”
“…?”
Kang Bada looked at him with curiosity. He smiled softly and then moved to the stage.
“Congratulations on winning the grand prize. Could you introduce yourself?”
“Sure.”
Since it was the grand prize, she had a bit more time than the previous winners. Having been given a heads-up via email, she took the microphone confidently.
“Hi, I’m Kim Ha-neul, writing under the pen name ‘Bookworm’ Nice to meet you all.”
“Can you tell us your real name?”
“I’d rather not be called ‘Worm’ in real life. Maybe I should have picked a different pen name.”
“Hahaha—!!”
The upbeat atmosphere meant the audience was warm and receptive to every comment. This helped her feel more at ease during the interview.
“You’ll be receiving a 100 million won prize, which is a lot even after taxes. How do you plan to use it?”
“First, I’ll send gifts to my parents. I also plan to donate some to the orphanage where I volunteer.”
“That’s fantastic! Anything else?”
“I’ll save the rest and use it for personal hobbies.”
“Such a perfect answer.”
Of course.
He’d reviewed countless interviews to come up with the right answer. It would be hard to come up with something more fitting.
‘The viewers’ reactions aren’t bad either.’
A big monitor for the host was set up below the stage, showing a live chat window with messages pouring in.
: Looks like Jeong Seok
: Seems like Jo Jeong-seok
: Is this chat real?;;
: Cameraman, catch the princess!
: Seriously, if you can get a shot of the princess, you’ll hit 100k viewers
The viewership was about 70,000. While not as high as year-end award shows with big-name singers, it was still a good number.
In fact, it was quite impressive. Judging by the chat, more than half the viewers were sticking around just to see Kang Bada.
“Next question. Do you have any personal goals or bucket list items?”
“I’ve got plenty of things I want to do. If I listed them all, the ceremony would turn into a 2-night, 3-day event.”
“Then just give us three of your biggest goals!”
“Well… First, I want to make a name for myself as a writer worldwide. I want to be at the center of the Hallyu wave, just like with idols and dramas.”
“Oh—!”
His ambitious goal drew impressed reactions from the audience. Since most of them were web novel writers, they probably shared similar dreams.
Seeing his work turned into comics and animations, aired on TV and in theaters, and enjoyed by people all over the world.
: Totally agree
: I hope the domestic animation market grows too.
: Can we actually see the princess as an animation? ㄷㄷ
Readers would be overjoyed to see their favorite characters on screen. It’s a big dream for everyone in this field.
“As someone from the media team, I really hope that happens. What’s your second goal?”
“I want to stay healthy for a long time.”
“Hahaha!”
Health is always the top priority.
His honest answer made the audience laugh. Park Su-jeong looked pleased with how smoothly the interview was going, nodding in approval.
“And what’s your final goal?”
“I want to spend time with the people I care about.”
“Hmm?”
Park Su-jeong tilted her head, not immediately getting it. But the sharp-eyed viewers seemed to have figured it out.
: This is crazy ㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋ
: How dare you mention the princess!?
: ( ´-ω･) ┏√守━── ⦔
: I’m sure I warned you about this···.
: This can’t be true, right? Someone say it’s a joke!
Subtly—
His gaze shifted naturally. Even from a distance, Kang Bada was clearly in view.
Kang Bada met his gaze.
She didn’t look away.
“I want to share everything with my loved one.”
Amid the delayed cheers and intense looks from the crowd, it felt like they were the only two people in that huge space.
‘What do you think?’
‘It’s a bit cliché.’
‘It’s classic.’
‘…Not that I dislike it.’
Their eyes exchanged silent messages, both smiling softly.
* * *
“And with that, the Greatest Contest award ceremony is over. There’s an after-party, so we hope you’ll join us.”
*Clap clap clap clap—!*
With the applause, the ceremony wrapped up successfully. He went straight to Kang Bada as soon as she got off the stage.
“I’m back. Your Highness.”
“Don’t call me that!”
“Why not? It sounds good and sticks.”
“…Just don’t.”
She held back a laugh. Even though Kang Bada had just called herself a princess, she seemed shy about it now.
“Thanks for all your hard work!”
“You did the most work, Team Leader.”
“I can’t argue with that. But the event went really well because of both of you. As the person in charge, I’m truly grateful. You’ll come to the after-party, right?”
“Well, I’m not sure.”
Seeing her hesitation, Park Su-jeong’s eyes widened. She gently took Kang Bada’s hand and said in a soft voice,
“Your Highness, you’ll come, won’t you?”
“…If you keep calling me that…”
“I’ve got loads of your favorite desserts! Even if you can’t stay long, just come and try them. Just try!”
Park Su-jeong quickly figured out the situation.
She realized that the real decision-maker for the after-party was Kang Bada, and she was determined to persuade her.
Plus, as a dedicated fan, she had prepared high-quality desserts to match Kang Bada’s tastes. There was almost no way out.
“Even if you say that…”
Kang Bada glanced at her, looking like she wanted to go but was concerned about her opinion. Given this, she had no real reason to refuse.
“Well, maybe just for a bit?”
“If you say so, Ha-neul-ssi.”
“Thank you! Just follow me!”
Park Su-jeong led the way with enthusiasm. Watching her back, they both stifled their laughter and slowly followed her to the party.
