Romance Is a Bonus Book (2019–…): Season 1, Episode 16 - Episode #1.16 - full transcript
Eun Ho is able to bring closure to Ji Seo jun, who realizes his feelings for Song Hae Rin. Love blossoms at Gyeoroo.
WE
MET
THE TWO OF THEM
MET MANY PEOPLE
THEY SPENT A LOT OF TIME TOGETHER
AND READ MANY BOOKS
TAKING WALKS, TRAVELING, READING
LOVE, TIME,
FRIENDSHIP, COMMUNICATION
ONCE AGAIN, I OPEN THE BOOK ABOUT YOU
VOLUME 16
Gyeoroo, never slow down. Keep going!
No. It's my first day back,
so I shouldn't go overboard.
WELCOME BACK, DAN-I, YOU ROCK
It's coming up!
She's in this elevator for sure.
I checked how long it takes
to get to the elevator from the entrance.
-I'm such a perfectionist.
-Well done.
Congratulations!
We'll get this off you.
We're sorry.
What do we do? We have nothing now.
It's okay. I knew this would happen,
so I brought a secret weapon.
-She's coming up. Hurry!
-My gosh.
Mr. Kim, are you all right?
Mr. Kim?
-I can't hear a thing.
-Mr. Kim.
Can you not hear me?
Mr. Kim!
Well, what do we do now?
We really have nothing left now.
Our headbands.
-Can't we do something with them?
-What can we do with this?
Shake your head like this. Shake it away.
Shake it harder.
The letters have to keep moving.
Keep going. More! Shake it even harder.
We must surprise Dan-i.
Let's keep doing this until she arrives.
-Welcome back.
-Welcome back.
Dan-i!
Thank you!
That was an epic fail.
-I think she's mad at us.
-Hasn't she changed a bit?
-Yes, she's changed.
-She has.
What was that about?
-I missed you!
-Congratulations!
Everyone, it's Dan-i's first day back!
Those flowers are from me.
Thank you, Ms. Seo.
That book holder is from me.
I got you that pen and those notebooks.
-That mini humidifier is from me.
-Thank you.
It's so nice to see you again.
I'll be good to you from now on.
What's she saying?
Are you not going to tell her?
About Mr. Lee's contract termination.
You got confused and made a mistake.
You were going to tell her.
-Really?
-Really?
My gosh.
I'm really sorry.
I got confused.
I'll make sure it never happens again.
I'll be really good to you.
It's okay. Thanks to you, I received
this special offer. It's all good.
Thanks for being understanding.
-Thank you.
-We set up your desk for you.
That's right. We got you
the sturdiest chair. Aren't we awesome?
Thank you, everyone.
My gosh, our special recruit is here.
The winner of the 2019 Gyeoroo
Idea Contest, Kang Dan-i, welcome back!
-Kang Dan-i!
-Kang Dan-i!
-Kang Dan-i!
-Good job.
-Kang Dan-i!
-Dan-i!
-Kang Dan-i!
-Kang Dan-i!
I'll work harder from now on.
I look forward to working with you again.
On that note, do any of you want to learn
tango with me starting today?
-Coffee, anyone?
-I'm taking lessons.
-Let's have coffee.
-I'll show you.
-Come here. I'll teach you.
-I'll buy coffee.
Our hearts will become one.
It's about dancing
with one heart and four legs.
-I'll teach you in a bit.
-My gosh.
Goodness, come on.
You have to walk backward.
Why did you just make that sound?
EUN-HO
Look at me.
At two o'clock.
Let's have Mr. Cha handle it for now.
Be on the lookout for other manuscripts.
I'm sure you'll find a better one.
All right?
Why isn't she saying anything about it?
What if they're planning
to make it look like
they discovered Mr. Kang's manuscript,
which I found,
so that they can get credit for it?
I need a cup of coffee.
-Here--
-It's okay. I'll do it.
All right.
I should look out for myself.
What? Look out for who?
Mr. Bong.
One of the manuscripts we received
from our readers
was incredibly well-written.
What?
Hae-rin!
I heard we received Mr. Kang's manuscript.
The Heroes. Where is it? Let me see.
Since Mr. Bong is an avid fan
of Mr. Kang Byeong-jun,
I figured
he'd be able to tell if it was
really written by Mr. Kang or not.
Yes, I'm glad you told me.
Where's Eun-ho?
I heard he took the manuscript.
He stepped out for a meeting
with Mr. Ji Seo-jun.
Where is the manuscript?
If it's Kang Byeong-jun's manuscript,
don't you think
you should've brought it to me first?
I'm disappointed in you.
You have a copy of it, right?
You must've made a copy
before giving it to Eun-ho.
Come on! Let me see.
Why did you put it there?
What are you talking about?
Mr. Kang's manuscript?
Hold on.
I'll make a copy of this for you as well.
Dan-i, can you make a copy...
No, that's not your job anymore.
Is it really Mr. Kang's manuscript?
THE HEROES
BY PARK JUNG-HOON
Okay, you may leave.
Yes, sir.
You and Kang Byeong-jun...
DECLARATION OF THE END OF
KANG BYEONG-JUN'S WRITING CAREER
What's your relationship?
My father.
He's my father.
Well...
From what I know,
he's been single all his life.
He lost both of his parents
in the Korean War,
and he has no siblings, wife, or kids.
He even wrote about it
in one of his essays.
And that's why
he could write so many books.
Mr. Cha, this...
Do you realize what this means?
I promised him
that I'd be his son.
I need a place where he can stay
as well as a caregiver,
and you're the only one
I can turn to for help.
Please believe me
and help me as well as Mr. Kang.
How could I believe you?
I have
Mr. Kang's journals.
I didn't think
you would like places like this.
I was in high school
when I first came here.
Back then,
I only had green onion pancakes.
Mr. Kang really liked this bar.
I heard you're Ryu Hyeon-seok's fan.
That's why I brought this.
You're smart.
It's hard for me
to turn down Mr. Ryu's novel
because I'm a huge fan.
There is another manuscript
I want you to take a look at.
I thought you'd like this one as well.
You're Mr. Kang Byeong-jun's fan.
Are you telling me that
Mr. Kang wrote this novel?
People who don't know him well
might think that he did,
but I beg to differ.
How can you be so sure?
You must know
where he is and what he's up to.
You do, don't you?
The only reason you want to meet
Mr. Kang Byeong-jun
is because you're his fan?
Is that really all?
What other reason do I need?
No one would write a full-length novel
just because they're his fan,
Mr. Park Jung-hoon.
How did you figure out
that I am Park Jung-hoon?
Shall I let you in on a secret?
The secret behind the title
of Mr. Kang's last novel, April 23.
BLUE NIGHT
APRIL 23
I was always curious.
I always wanted to know
why the title is April 23, not Blue Night.
That date isn't mentioned
anywhere in the novel,
so I wasn't sure if it would be okay
to publish it with that title.
It was the first book
I worked on as an editor,
so I thought long and hard about it.
BLUE NIGHT
APRIL 23
And there's something else
I'm curious about.
One of his journal entry
seemed off.
MY SON VISITED ME
He lived alone all his life.
"Who is this son of his
that he wrote about?"
That also bothered me for a long time,
but I couldn't find the answer
just like April 23.
However, I think
I can find the answer now.
His son and April 23.
That date is
your birthday.
You already know the answer, don't you?
Answer me.
I really need to hear your answer.
What did he say?
Why is the title of this novel, April 23?
He wasn't in a state
where he could answer the question.
He still isn't.
How come?
I think that's all I can tell you
at the moment.
Here.
Everything you want to know is
inside this shopping bag.
Take a look.
However, I think
I am very close to the answer now.
His son and April 23.
That date is
your birthday.
JULY 5, 2007, I WAS DIAGNOSED
WITH ALZHEIMER'S DISEASE
I ASKED OVER AND OVER AGAIN
BECAUSE I COULDN'T BELIEVE IT
It's not that he chose not to find me,
he simply doesn't remember me.
Hello.
I'm Ji In-yeong's son,
Ji Seo-jun.
I'm her
and your...
son.
I know you didn't know.
She gave birth to me
after you two broke up.
My mom is ill.
SEPTEMBER 20, 2007
I WENT FOR A WALK
DECEMBER 23, 2007
WE SHOULDN'T FEAR DEATH
NOVEMBER 20, 2008
My son visited me.
You're my son?
I was born on April 23, 1991.
If you send us money,
I won't show up ever again.
And I won't tell anyone that I'm your son.
Please help my mom. That's all I ask.
Please help her,
sir.
April 23.
Ji Seo-jun.
My son.
BLUE NIGHT
I...
must not forget this.
BLUE NIGHT
APRIL 23
Ji Seo-jun.
NOVEMBER 20, 2008
MY SON VISITED ME
April 23.
My son.
April 23.
I keep coming to this neighborhood.
I obviously like this neighborhood.
If you need a friend,
I'll be your friend.
I'm right here, Seo-jun.
I'm not your girlfriend
or your friend for that matter,
but I want to be here for you.
WHEN I WOKE UP,
I SAW EUN-HO SLEEPING NEXT TO ME
MAYBE THE SON I WROTE ABOUT
WAS EUN-HO
IT'S BEEN A LONG TIME SINCE I STARTED
TO THINK OF HIM AS MY SON
What? I came
because I was worried about him.
Hae-rin is cute.
What brings you here?
What are you doing here?
I came because I was worried about him,
but he hasn't even
stepped out of his house.
Did you also stop by to check in on him
because you got worried?
Well, I figured seeing his place with
the lights on would put my mind at ease.
But you're here, so I guess I can go home.
We can't even call him
or knock on the door anyway.
All right, I'll be here.
He's so lucky.
Song Hae-rin, who's reliable,
is here for him.
Goodness, Dan-i is so lucky
to have such a warmhearted boyfriend.
Gosh.
I'll be off, then.
Get home safely.
KAPYONG
Yes.
Why did you call?
He'll be fine.
He'll get through it.
He will, right?
Mr. Kim.
Rest in peace.
We'll...
We'll meet again.
I wanted to prove something.
I thought he never came looking for me,
even after he had found out about me
because he didn't want to acknowledge me
as his son.
I wanted to prove to him
that I'm still his son
even if he refuses to acknowledge me,
by writing The Heroes.
I know that might seem foolish,
but writing The Heroes
was the only way
I could reach out to my dad.
That's what happened in the end.
If you hadn't written The Heroes,
you wouldn't have been able to see him
before the burial.
It seems like he also waited for you
for a long time.
April 23.
Now you know
that it was the last message
he left for you.
"I've never forgotten you.
I remember you."
April 23.
That book was my last hope.
I comforted myself thinking
that it could be his way of telling me
that he remembers me.
But I still felt distressed
from time to time.
"If that's the case,
why isn't he looking for me?"
That question was what tortured me
the most for the past ten years.
Thank you, Mr. Cha.
Thanks to you,
I was able to hear his answer.
It's all thanks to you
who stayed by his side all along.
Thank you so much, Mr. Cha.
I was just wondering if it was working.
The office is really dry.
You're going to be busy
working on your marketing proposal.
And I wanted to be of help.
Congratulations on winning the contest.
Thank you, Song-i.
I've been thinking...
Who's going to be the editor?
You have to partner up with an editor
for your project.
I'm not sure yet.
I'll be your partner.
I'll be your partner, Dan-i.
I'm a novice editor who's full of passion.
Passion isn't enough
when it comes to work.
Forget about how I was in the past.
I was born again.
Haven't you heard
that I'm a whole new person now?
I'll use my past experiences
and know-hows--
I even did some research for you.
I don't have what she has,
but I do have documents.
I made a list of mentors
that would be suitable for your project.
Song-i.
When and how did you find
all these people?
The person I like the most
is Professor Kwak.
-Where?
-It's on page three.
A botanist?
NEW EDITION
OF KANG BYEONG-JUN'S APRIL 23
KANG BYEONG-JUN'S UNIQUE WRITING STYLE
THAT GENTLY ENTICES THE READERS
BEFORE THEY EVEN KNOW IT
APRIL 23
BY KANG BYEONG-JUN
NEW EDITION
OF KANG BYEONG-JUN'S APRIL 23
AUTHOR CHRONOLOGY
TO MY SON
He gave it to me a very long time ago.
He asked me to give it to you
once he died.
He wrote it when he got his memory back
for a while,
so it's probably going to be his will.
Why are you giving it to me?
He left it for you.
So you should read it.
You both should read it.
You're both his son.
So read it together.
To Eun-ho, my beloved son.
It's been a very long time
since I opened my eyes to see the world,
and I can see that it's still midnight.
It's still dark.
However,
I am no longer afraid.
Rather than having people remember me
as an old man
who suffered from an illness,
I wanted them to think
that I just disappeared
so that I would be forgotten.
But I've realized that I was very foolish.
Gosh, they even added his chronology
in the new edition.
What's this?
-A medical certificate?
-A medical certificate?
What? Kang Byeong-jun
suffered from Alzheimer's disease?
I thought he went missing.
KANG BYEONG-JUN AND HIS STUDENT,
CHA EUN-HO
From now on,
I won't be able to use my muscles,
and I will lose my memory.
I will be left with nothing
and slowly wither away.
But that is also a part of my life
that I cannot disregard.
I've now realized
that it's something I need to accept.
APRIL 23
BY KANG BYEONG-JUN
Eun-ho.
I want my life to become a story
that people can read.
So will you do me the honor
of writing the chronology
of my life?
AUTHOR CHRONOLOGY
YEAR OF 1954
LOST HIS PARENTS IN THE KOREAN WAR
YEAR OF 1965
JOINED THE LITERATURE CLUB
Eun-ho
I don't believe that
a single book is capable
of changing the world.
However, I still would like to tell you
to become someone
who's like a book.
A book may not be able
to change the world,
but I'm sure it can still leave
something warm
inside someone's heart.
Just like how you hid
between the sentences in a book
when you were lost.
Just like how I met a book named Eun-ho
and was offered
a very warm consolation
in the last moments of my life,
Eun-ho,
-I want you to become
-You can eat it.
a book that can consolate others
like you did to me.
You remember that I told you
that there's an open class next Wednesday
at 3:00 p.m., right?
Make sure you're free.
Is the topic science?
-Yes.
-I told you to tell me beforehand.
-Why are you telling me now?
-I did tell you.
He's going to take swimming lessons
instead of taekwondo.
You're quitting taekwondo? You just
started. Why are you quitting already?
Ms. Go.
I get that you love work.
But work will never love you back.
I'm telling you this as your friend,
not the president of the company.
Let me also say something
as your friend.
Let's skip work together.
Let's go to the beach.
I want you to meet people
and live this world
with sincerity
deep down in your heart.
THE ART OF WAITING
Gosh.
-Hoon!
-What?
-I have big news!
-What is it this time?
-It passed!
-Gosh, it passed!
A single book might not be able
to change the world
or change a person's life.
But a good book is bound to be read
by everyone.
-My gosh.
-Congratulations.
I'll do my best.
And then, little by little,
it will warm people's hearts.
Eun-ho, you have always protected me
despite all the rumors
that kept spreading.
I pray that you'll also be able
to receive consolation
by meeting a person
who's like a book.
You can finish the rest on your own.
By any chance,
did you cook all this for me?
What? Me?
No, I brought my mom's side dishes.
I didn't eat
so I thought I'd eat with you.
I see.
Why?
No way.
Were you touched because
you thought I cooked all this?
No, that's not it.
I just remembered someone telling me
that when daughters start
taking food
from their mom's refrigerators,
it means they've started dating.
What?
Who? Me?
With whom?
Thank you for the meal.
Give me your bowl.
Thank you.
Oh, right.
I should take a photo to
remember this moment.
There.
What?
-It looks nice.
-Do you think so?
-Send it to me.
-Okay.
Eat up.
Okay. Thank you for the meal.
It's really delicious.
It is, isn't it?
Next time, I'll bring you some dumplings.
Dumplings?
By the way,
I heard you stayed in front of my house
all night the other day.
Did Eun-ho tell you?
He said you stayed for a while.
Thank you for worrying about me.
Well, I mean...
As we worked together,
it kind of felt
like we became friends.
Pretty close friends at that.
But Cha Eun-ho is
still your number one guy,
isn't he?
Why do you think so?
You talked to him as soon as you found out
that I was Park Jung-hoon.
Come on.
That was because of work.
And it was a pretty serious issue.
On top of that,
Eun-ho is the chief editor.
What if it wasn't work?
Well...
My mom's homemade green onion kimchi
is really delicious.
Try some.
You wrote The Heroes in that room,
didn't you?
That's where you hid and wrote The Heroes.
Instead of hiding,
why don't you come out
and write a new one,
Author Ji Seo-jun?
I'm still not sure about it.
I like it.
Your writing, I mean.
A few times...
Actually, to be honest,
I read it a lot of times.
And every time I read it
I get immersed in it.
As an editor, I'll wait for your next one.
Sure.
I'm first in line.
All right?
I'll think about it.
Come on.
INNER THOUGHTS OF PLANTS
Finally!
"How important is life with nature
for the city people?"
Timeliness.
"The best book of the century
that deliciously describes
the grandeur of nature."
It's also fun.
Isn't this book entertaining though?
I didn't know that plants are very
selective when it comes to choosing mates.
Professor Kwak
revised it over and over again.
Now that we're done proofreading,
we'll set a date
for its release and promotion.
Let's convince the others at the meeting.
We'll make sure to get it published.
And get a huge budget for marketing.
Nice! I love it.
Let's have it published straight away.
The Perfect Murderer.
I love the title.
This is the kind of book
that'll go from shelves
to the checkout counter.
It's about time for a thriller.
Let's not limit the budget and...
Why aren't they mentioning our book?
They will soon. The meeting's almost over.
-Thank you.
-Thank you!
Is that all on our agenda?
No!
Our new book Inner Thoughts of Plants
has been completed.
INNER THOUGHTS OF PLANTS
I think it's best to wait
for the time being.
Good job, everyone!
-Thank you.
-Good job.
-I'm craving some meat.
-I'm starving.
-Got it?
-Sure.
Sir, even the proofreading is done.
It can be published right away.
Why did it have to be one
written by a botanist of all people?
There are other famous writers.
If not, why not have a book
written about me, the legendary publisher?
It sounds absurd, doesn't it?
That's exactly how I feel about this book.
It's too weak to be the first book
of the Ten Person Project.
Ms. Go, how should we schedule
the marketing for...
Just wait.
INNER THOUGHTS OF PLANTS
"Just wait" means that
they won't publish it.
Anyway, let's go clubbing tonight.
What do you say?
I'll make sure this book is
displayed on the best spot.
-Nice.
-Good.
You guys did great.
Good job, you two. This is great work.
So that's the book
they're going to publish instead of ours?
They said they loved the proposal though.
All they care about is money.
Let's go!
They're like bullfrogs
that destroy the environment.
They're like noxious weeds that suck up
nutrients of other plants.
Japanese hop is one of the worst.
Isn't it the giant ragweed?
Don't forget the bur cucumber.
Is that so?
Gosh.
What do we do?
We already said that
it would be published.
We got Professor Kwak's hopes up.
We still haven't heard
from Mr. Cha though.
Isn't he at a lecture today?
Then he's our last hope.
INNER THOUGHTS OF PLANTS
Mr. Cha.
Ji-yul and I worked day and night
to finish this book.
Professor Kwak too.
So we'd like to know
when the book will be published.
I'll think about it.
What do you mean?
Him too? How can they do this to us?
Tell me about it.
The marketing concept
for this book is "class."
Okay? I want it to look classy.
You can't use a font
that stands out like this.
And I told you
that Writer Ryu's books need to look edgy.
The illustration may stand out but
it attracts attention
and spikes interests.
Mr. Ji, just follow the instructions.
I'm on a tight schedule.
I thought you wanted the best design.
Are you going back on your word?
Is this how you normally handle things?
I could say the same thing.
It seems like
you had your way with other companies,
but I'm not like that.
Just respect the editor's wishes.
Damn it.
Yes?
I know, Mom. I won't be late.
Sure.
Do you have plans tonight?
I thought we'd be having dinner.
I can't today. I have other plans.
I'm going on a blind date.
Sorry?
It's not a blind date per se.
I'm just meeting the son
of my mom's friend.
What do you mean? Don't.
Why not?
Well...
My father once said
that I should be someone
who is like a book.
I want
to be a book for you.
What kind of book?
One about nagging and morals?
No.
A romance novel.
Instead of going on that blind date,
have dinner with me.
What do you say?
REAL ESTATE
Five million, five million,
ten million won.
Ten million won.
Deposit of 10 million won,
rent of 500,000 won.
MONTHLY RENT 500,000
This doesn't look bad.
It's close to Eun-ho's place too.
I've made
a lot of memories here.
No can do.
I promised I'd only stay for six months.
I need to move out.
Deposit of ten million won,
rent of 500,000 won.
Come in.
What are you up to?
I'm apartment hunting.
Is there anywhere decent?
-Yes, what do you think of this one?
-Should I go with you to check it out?
Why not?
Okay.
All right.
What do you think? Isn't it lovely?
It's near a subway station
and also has a park nearby.
You're right.
This is better than I expected.
I won't need to look further.
You're right. It's nice, bright,
and at a fair price.
Should I just sign the lease?
It won't work though.
It's perfect for a single tenant,
but there's two of us.
We're going to live together
for the rest of our lives, you see.
She likes the place, but I don't.
Thanks for the tour.
-What?
-Let's go, Dan-i.
Come on. Don't do this.
I promised to leave after six months.
I'm not stopping you,
but you must take me too.
I can't live alone in that big house.
Is this why you tagged along?
Look for a place big enough for two.
I'll put you out this time.
If that's the case,
why would I leave your place?
Exactly. Why would you leave?
I told you before
that where I am is your home.
It also means
that where you are is my home too.
Don't you agree?
Do you not like being with me?
That's not it.
Jae-hui will come back to Korea
once she graduates and...
You can worry about that then.
Why worry about it now?
You were wrong, right?
Here.
You--
Hurry.
Let's have lunch. I'll cook.
Doenjang stew or kimchi stew?
Is that all you can make?
Ms. Song, you're so lucky.
Can I try it?
Here.
-Can I try too?
-Just a little bit?
Just a little bit.
Did you receive a gift?
Ms. Baek wanted to thank me
for my hard work.
Try it yourself.
This was so thoughtful of Writer Baek.
I like how moist it is.
-Can I--
-It's really moist.
So you must work harder, okay?
Okay, I know that.
You didn't have to point that out.
INNER THOUGHTS OF PLANTS
There's gold in it.
Mr. Cha,
have you thought about
when we can publish our book?
I'm still thinking.
Until when...
You've reached the Editorial Team
of Gyeoroo Publishing.
Is that so?
Yes.
Okay. Thank you.
Mr. Cha,
our first book Inner Thoughts of Plants...
Listen! We're printing the fifth
impression for Writer Na's book of poems.
Hey!
What did I tell you? I said it'd sell.
It's the fifth impression!
Mr. Kim, it looks like you'll be
-treating us to a big lunch today.
-Right.
That news isn't exactly
lunch-worthy though.
-What?
-I have another big one.
Cold Blood edited by Song-i
became a best-seller, right?
We're printing the third impression.
No way!
My gosh, thank you!
You should treat us now.
We've received so many orders that
for the 3rd impression...
we'll be printing 20,000 copies!
My gosh!
Okay, lunch is on me today.
Let's go for some barbecue!
-Let's go before he changes his mind.
-Let's go.
-Come on!
-Hold on.
-Mr. Cha.
-I want to go somewhere fancy.
Please be patient, Dan-i.
How longer must we wait
when the book is already complete?
INNER THOUGHTS OF PLANTS
Until the right time.
But Mr. Cha...
INNER THOUGHTS OF PLANTS
Gosh, I'm ecstatic.
The books we worked hard on
got good results.
It's gratifying
knowing that
we connected with the readers.
My best accomplishment in life
is founding Gyeoroo Publishing.
And I was lucky that
I met the founding members.
Have you been reading Writer Na's poems?
You seem sentimental these days.
If our books sell well,
Mr. Kim becomes a big softy.
But he becomes a beast when sales go down.
So why publish a book that won't sell?
Was he referring to our book just now?
The one that won't sell?
I don't think it'll be published.
I don't think so either.
It's a really good book though.
I can't believe them.
Let's raise our glasses
as we're all gathered together.
-All right.
-Of course!
Thank you all.
Thank you for making books
that'll go from shelves
to the checkout counter
like The Perfect Murderer.
-Thank you.
-Thank you!
However, that's not the only kind of book
we publish at Gyeoroo.
Inner Thoughts of Plants
will soon be published too!
-What?
-Really?
No way!
I earn money by selling other books
so that I can publish books like that one.
Isn't that right, Mr. Cha?
Even though they don't sell well,
some books are worth
sharing with the world.
Even if many readers don't read them,
they'll be a treasure for those who do.
In order to publish those,
we need to make money by
selling other books first.
That is Mr. Kim's philosophy.
I highly respect you, sir.
-Right.
-Of course.
Even if only ten copies are sold,
some books must be published.
It's a great book.
It digs deep into a specific field
and gives an insight into our lives.
It's a good choice
to begin the new project with.
Best sellers sell well
only for a short period of time,
but Inner Thoughts of Plants
will be a steady seller,
and it will be loved for decades.
Congratulations, Ji-yul. And...
You too, Dan-i.
-Congratulations!
-Congratulations!
Congratulations
Congratulations on
Your book being published
-Thank you.
-There's one more announcement to make.
Ms. Go, go ahead.
Oh, right.
When will we say cheers?
From now on,
Gyeoroo Publishing
will implement a blind recruitment system.
Educational background, age,
and work experience won't be a factor.
We will hire employees
based on their talents.
It's the right way to go.
Now, let's raise our glasses.
-Gyeoroo.
-Never slow down.
-And keep going.
-Keep going!
-Congratulations.
-Thank you.
Thank you.
You all seem very happy. What do you do?
Us?
-We make books!
-We make books!
Spring is coming.
The weather's amazing.
What is this?
So...
What's going on?
Look at them. They're holding hands.
-What?
-What is this?
Are you two dating?
The younger guy she kissed...
Was it Mr. Cha?
-No way!
-Eun-ho!
Dan-i, you lucky girl!
-She's so lucky.
-I couldn't be more jealous!
Congratulations!
-Good for you, Dan-i!
-They are Gyeoroo's first official couple.
-No, no!
-I'm so jealous!
-What's going on?
-What's that?
-No way.
-Look at those two.
Don't do that.
-What?
-Mr. Kim!
-What's going on?
-What?
-Are they really dating?
-Hey!
-They're dating!
-What's going on?
-Look!
-Mr. Kim!
-They're really dating!
-Gosh.
-Let go of me.
-Come on.
-Mr. Kim!
-No one knew about it!
No!
What will we do?
They all found out.
I don't care
if they find out about us or not.
I want the whole world to know
that I love you, Dan-i.
I opened up an old book of mine again.
It was good when I first read the book.
But when I read it
for the second and third time,
this book made me underline the
sentences over and over again.
I find new sentences
in this book every day.
It's a book that
stayed with me the longest.
What's your hobby?
My hobby is reading books.
Reading.
That's why you work at a publishing house.
Yes, I always want to be with books.
That's how I ended up working there.
You really like... Gosh, he startled me.
EPILOGUE
Do you know him?
He's my uncle.
-He's your uncle?
-Yes.
How did your uncle come here?
What are you doing here, Ji-yul?
Hello.
I'm sorry.
She's mine.
Pardon? Ji-yul.
Hey, I'm on a blind date right now!
I've got a wedding gift for you!
You!
What was that?
Are we dating starting today?
Let's go.
It's good.
I made this jangjorim myself.
-Is it salty?
-It's good.
Gosh, you are so tiny.
-Gosh.
-Don't touch him.
Why can't I touch him? I'm his dad.
Isn't your dad's company really good?
-What do you think?
-Not really.
-Not really?
-You don't like it?
They all respect me,
and I'm the oldest here.
What will you do on the weekend?
-What will you do?
-With Dad?
-I'm going to play with him.
-Okay.
-How?
-What should we do?
-Will you play games?
-Games.
-Games.
-Don't play games.
-See you next week.
-Okay.
-Don't play games.
-Okay.
Don't let him play games.
Shall we go get something to eat?
-Hey.
-Shall we?
-I'm in!
-I'm in!
We're going out to eat.
I can't wait!
WE ARE LIKE BOOKS. WE WAIT FOR SOMEONE TO
FIND US AND OPEN US TO SEE WHAT'S INSIDE.
I LEARN ABOUT PEOPLE AT THIS COMPANY
IN THE END, NO ONE CAN LIVE
WITHOUT PEOPLE
WHEN THE WORLD CHANGES DRASTICALLY,
PEOPLE'S DILIGENCE KEEPS IT UP
WE ARE TREES THAT BRANCH OUT
IN SOLITUDE AND BEAR FRUITS
WE ARE BEAUTIFUL TREES
WITH GROWTH RINGS OF OUR LIVES
PRIDE IN CREATING, TRUST, AND HAPPINESS...
THOSE ARE WHAT IT MEANS TO MAKE A BOOK
ONLY AFTER FINISHING THE BOOK
I CAN SEE WHAT I MISSED
AND LIFE GOES THE SAME
EVERYONE HAS THEIR OWN TUNNEL TO PASS
A HAND FROM OTHERS
HELPS US FORGET OUR FEAR
A BOOK THAT INSPIRES OTHERS MAY NOT ALWAYS
INSPIRE YOU, SO FIND A BOOK THAT DOES
WHEN WE EXCHANGE LINES FROM OUR HEART
WE CRY, SMILE, AND LEARN TO LOVE OTHERS
IN LIFE, WE FACE MANY HURDLES
WE USE EACH OTHER'S LOVE
TO JUMP OVER THEM
LOVING SOMEONE IS STRANGE AND AMAZING
AT THE SAME TIME
"YOUR HAND IS ALWAYS WARM"
"BECAUSE I WANT YOU TO BE WARM"
DEAR VIEWERS WHO WATCHED OUR DRAMA
"THE MOON IS BEAUTIFUL"
Subtitle translation by Won-hyang Son
MET
THE TWO OF THEM
MET MANY PEOPLE
THEY SPENT A LOT OF TIME TOGETHER
AND READ MANY BOOKS
TAKING WALKS, TRAVELING, READING
LOVE, TIME,
FRIENDSHIP, COMMUNICATION
ONCE AGAIN, I OPEN THE BOOK ABOUT YOU
VOLUME 16
Gyeoroo, never slow down. Keep going!
No. It's my first day back,
so I shouldn't go overboard.
WELCOME BACK, DAN-I, YOU ROCK
It's coming up!
She's in this elevator for sure.
I checked how long it takes
to get to the elevator from the entrance.
-I'm such a perfectionist.
-Well done.
Congratulations!
We'll get this off you.
We're sorry.
What do we do? We have nothing now.
It's okay. I knew this would happen,
so I brought a secret weapon.
-She's coming up. Hurry!
-My gosh.
Mr. Kim, are you all right?
Mr. Kim?
-I can't hear a thing.
-Mr. Kim.
Can you not hear me?
Mr. Kim!
Well, what do we do now?
We really have nothing left now.
Our headbands.
-Can't we do something with them?
-What can we do with this?
Shake your head like this. Shake it away.
Shake it harder.
The letters have to keep moving.
Keep going. More! Shake it even harder.
We must surprise Dan-i.
Let's keep doing this until she arrives.
-Welcome back.
-Welcome back.
Dan-i!
Thank you!
That was an epic fail.
-I think she's mad at us.
-Hasn't she changed a bit?
-Yes, she's changed.
-She has.
What was that about?
-I missed you!
-Congratulations!
Everyone, it's Dan-i's first day back!
Those flowers are from me.
Thank you, Ms. Seo.
That book holder is from me.
I got you that pen and those notebooks.
-That mini humidifier is from me.
-Thank you.
It's so nice to see you again.
I'll be good to you from now on.
What's she saying?
Are you not going to tell her?
About Mr. Lee's contract termination.
You got confused and made a mistake.
You were going to tell her.
-Really?
-Really?
My gosh.
I'm really sorry.
I got confused.
I'll make sure it never happens again.
I'll be really good to you.
It's okay. Thanks to you, I received
this special offer. It's all good.
Thanks for being understanding.
-Thank you.
-We set up your desk for you.
That's right. We got you
the sturdiest chair. Aren't we awesome?
Thank you, everyone.
My gosh, our special recruit is here.
The winner of the 2019 Gyeoroo
Idea Contest, Kang Dan-i, welcome back!
-Kang Dan-i!
-Kang Dan-i!
-Kang Dan-i!
-Good job.
-Kang Dan-i!
-Dan-i!
-Kang Dan-i!
-Kang Dan-i!
I'll work harder from now on.
I look forward to working with you again.
On that note, do any of you want to learn
tango with me starting today?
-Coffee, anyone?
-I'm taking lessons.
-Let's have coffee.
-I'll show you.
-Come here. I'll teach you.
-I'll buy coffee.
Our hearts will become one.
It's about dancing
with one heart and four legs.
-I'll teach you in a bit.
-My gosh.
Goodness, come on.
You have to walk backward.
Why did you just make that sound?
EUN-HO
Look at me.
At two o'clock.
Let's have Mr. Cha handle it for now.
Be on the lookout for other manuscripts.
I'm sure you'll find a better one.
All right?
Why isn't she saying anything about it?
What if they're planning
to make it look like
they discovered Mr. Kang's manuscript,
which I found,
so that they can get credit for it?
I need a cup of coffee.
-Here--
-It's okay. I'll do it.
All right.
I should look out for myself.
What? Look out for who?
Mr. Bong.
One of the manuscripts we received
from our readers
was incredibly well-written.
What?
Hae-rin!
I heard we received Mr. Kang's manuscript.
The Heroes. Where is it? Let me see.
Since Mr. Bong is an avid fan
of Mr. Kang Byeong-jun,
I figured
he'd be able to tell if it was
really written by Mr. Kang or not.
Yes, I'm glad you told me.
Where's Eun-ho?
I heard he took the manuscript.
He stepped out for a meeting
with Mr. Ji Seo-jun.
Where is the manuscript?
If it's Kang Byeong-jun's manuscript,
don't you think
you should've brought it to me first?
I'm disappointed in you.
You have a copy of it, right?
You must've made a copy
before giving it to Eun-ho.
Come on! Let me see.
Why did you put it there?
What are you talking about?
Mr. Kang's manuscript?
Hold on.
I'll make a copy of this for you as well.
Dan-i, can you make a copy...
No, that's not your job anymore.
Is it really Mr. Kang's manuscript?
THE HEROES
BY PARK JUNG-HOON
Okay, you may leave.
Yes, sir.
You and Kang Byeong-jun...
DECLARATION OF THE END OF
KANG BYEONG-JUN'S WRITING CAREER
What's your relationship?
My father.
He's my father.
Well...
From what I know,
he's been single all his life.
He lost both of his parents
in the Korean War,
and he has no siblings, wife, or kids.
He even wrote about it
in one of his essays.
And that's why
he could write so many books.
Mr. Cha, this...
Do you realize what this means?
I promised him
that I'd be his son.
I need a place where he can stay
as well as a caregiver,
and you're the only one
I can turn to for help.
Please believe me
and help me as well as Mr. Kang.
How could I believe you?
I have
Mr. Kang's journals.
I didn't think
you would like places like this.
I was in high school
when I first came here.
Back then,
I only had green onion pancakes.
Mr. Kang really liked this bar.
I heard you're Ryu Hyeon-seok's fan.
That's why I brought this.
You're smart.
It's hard for me
to turn down Mr. Ryu's novel
because I'm a huge fan.
There is another manuscript
I want you to take a look at.
I thought you'd like this one as well.
You're Mr. Kang Byeong-jun's fan.
Are you telling me that
Mr. Kang wrote this novel?
People who don't know him well
might think that he did,
but I beg to differ.
How can you be so sure?
You must know
where he is and what he's up to.
You do, don't you?
The only reason you want to meet
Mr. Kang Byeong-jun
is because you're his fan?
Is that really all?
What other reason do I need?
No one would write a full-length novel
just because they're his fan,
Mr. Park Jung-hoon.
How did you figure out
that I am Park Jung-hoon?
Shall I let you in on a secret?
The secret behind the title
of Mr. Kang's last novel, April 23.
BLUE NIGHT
APRIL 23
I was always curious.
I always wanted to know
why the title is April 23, not Blue Night.
That date isn't mentioned
anywhere in the novel,
so I wasn't sure if it would be okay
to publish it with that title.
It was the first book
I worked on as an editor,
so I thought long and hard about it.
BLUE NIGHT
APRIL 23
And there's something else
I'm curious about.
One of his journal entry
seemed off.
MY SON VISITED ME
He lived alone all his life.
"Who is this son of his
that he wrote about?"
That also bothered me for a long time,
but I couldn't find the answer
just like April 23.
However, I think
I can find the answer now.
His son and April 23.
That date is
your birthday.
You already know the answer, don't you?
Answer me.
I really need to hear your answer.
What did he say?
Why is the title of this novel, April 23?
He wasn't in a state
where he could answer the question.
He still isn't.
How come?
I think that's all I can tell you
at the moment.
Here.
Everything you want to know is
inside this shopping bag.
Take a look.
However, I think
I am very close to the answer now.
His son and April 23.
That date is
your birthday.
JULY 5, 2007, I WAS DIAGNOSED
WITH ALZHEIMER'S DISEASE
I ASKED OVER AND OVER AGAIN
BECAUSE I COULDN'T BELIEVE IT
It's not that he chose not to find me,
he simply doesn't remember me.
Hello.
I'm Ji In-yeong's son,
Ji Seo-jun.
I'm her
and your...
son.
I know you didn't know.
She gave birth to me
after you two broke up.
My mom is ill.
SEPTEMBER 20, 2007
I WENT FOR A WALK
DECEMBER 23, 2007
WE SHOULDN'T FEAR DEATH
NOVEMBER 20, 2008
My son visited me.
You're my son?
I was born on April 23, 1991.
If you send us money,
I won't show up ever again.
And I won't tell anyone that I'm your son.
Please help my mom. That's all I ask.
Please help her,
sir.
April 23.
Ji Seo-jun.
My son.
BLUE NIGHT
I...
must not forget this.
BLUE NIGHT
APRIL 23
Ji Seo-jun.
NOVEMBER 20, 2008
MY SON VISITED ME
April 23.
My son.
April 23.
I keep coming to this neighborhood.
I obviously like this neighborhood.
If you need a friend,
I'll be your friend.
I'm right here, Seo-jun.
I'm not your girlfriend
or your friend for that matter,
but I want to be here for you.
WHEN I WOKE UP,
I SAW EUN-HO SLEEPING NEXT TO ME
MAYBE THE SON I WROTE ABOUT
WAS EUN-HO
IT'S BEEN A LONG TIME SINCE I STARTED
TO THINK OF HIM AS MY SON
What? I came
because I was worried about him.
Hae-rin is cute.
What brings you here?
What are you doing here?
I came because I was worried about him,
but he hasn't even
stepped out of his house.
Did you also stop by to check in on him
because you got worried?
Well, I figured seeing his place with
the lights on would put my mind at ease.
But you're here, so I guess I can go home.
We can't even call him
or knock on the door anyway.
All right, I'll be here.
He's so lucky.
Song Hae-rin, who's reliable,
is here for him.
Goodness, Dan-i is so lucky
to have such a warmhearted boyfriend.
Gosh.
I'll be off, then.
Get home safely.
KAPYONG
Yes.
Why did you call?
He'll be fine.
He'll get through it.
He will, right?
Mr. Kim.
Rest in peace.
We'll...
We'll meet again.
I wanted to prove something.
I thought he never came looking for me,
even after he had found out about me
because he didn't want to acknowledge me
as his son.
I wanted to prove to him
that I'm still his son
even if he refuses to acknowledge me,
by writing The Heroes.
I know that might seem foolish,
but writing The Heroes
was the only way
I could reach out to my dad.
That's what happened in the end.
If you hadn't written The Heroes,
you wouldn't have been able to see him
before the burial.
It seems like he also waited for you
for a long time.
April 23.
Now you know
that it was the last message
he left for you.
"I've never forgotten you.
I remember you."
April 23.
That book was my last hope.
I comforted myself thinking
that it could be his way of telling me
that he remembers me.
But I still felt distressed
from time to time.
"If that's the case,
why isn't he looking for me?"
That question was what tortured me
the most for the past ten years.
Thank you, Mr. Cha.
Thanks to you,
I was able to hear his answer.
It's all thanks to you
who stayed by his side all along.
Thank you so much, Mr. Cha.
I was just wondering if it was working.
The office is really dry.
You're going to be busy
working on your marketing proposal.
And I wanted to be of help.
Congratulations on winning the contest.
Thank you, Song-i.
I've been thinking...
Who's going to be the editor?
You have to partner up with an editor
for your project.
I'm not sure yet.
I'll be your partner.
I'll be your partner, Dan-i.
I'm a novice editor who's full of passion.
Passion isn't enough
when it comes to work.
Forget about how I was in the past.
I was born again.
Haven't you heard
that I'm a whole new person now?
I'll use my past experiences
and know-hows--
I even did some research for you.
I don't have what she has,
but I do have documents.
I made a list of mentors
that would be suitable for your project.
Song-i.
When and how did you find
all these people?
The person I like the most
is Professor Kwak.
-Where?
-It's on page three.
A botanist?
NEW EDITION
OF KANG BYEONG-JUN'S APRIL 23
KANG BYEONG-JUN'S UNIQUE WRITING STYLE
THAT GENTLY ENTICES THE READERS
BEFORE THEY EVEN KNOW IT
APRIL 23
BY KANG BYEONG-JUN
NEW EDITION
OF KANG BYEONG-JUN'S APRIL 23
AUTHOR CHRONOLOGY
TO MY SON
He gave it to me a very long time ago.
He asked me to give it to you
once he died.
He wrote it when he got his memory back
for a while,
so it's probably going to be his will.
Why are you giving it to me?
He left it for you.
So you should read it.
You both should read it.
You're both his son.
So read it together.
To Eun-ho, my beloved son.
It's been a very long time
since I opened my eyes to see the world,
and I can see that it's still midnight.
It's still dark.
However,
I am no longer afraid.
Rather than having people remember me
as an old man
who suffered from an illness,
I wanted them to think
that I just disappeared
so that I would be forgotten.
But I've realized that I was very foolish.
Gosh, they even added his chronology
in the new edition.
What's this?
-A medical certificate?
-A medical certificate?
What? Kang Byeong-jun
suffered from Alzheimer's disease?
I thought he went missing.
KANG BYEONG-JUN AND HIS STUDENT,
CHA EUN-HO
From now on,
I won't be able to use my muscles,
and I will lose my memory.
I will be left with nothing
and slowly wither away.
But that is also a part of my life
that I cannot disregard.
I've now realized
that it's something I need to accept.
APRIL 23
BY KANG BYEONG-JUN
Eun-ho.
I want my life to become a story
that people can read.
So will you do me the honor
of writing the chronology
of my life?
AUTHOR CHRONOLOGY
YEAR OF 1954
LOST HIS PARENTS IN THE KOREAN WAR
YEAR OF 1965
JOINED THE LITERATURE CLUB
Eun-ho
I don't believe that
a single book is capable
of changing the world.
However, I still would like to tell you
to become someone
who's like a book.
A book may not be able
to change the world,
but I'm sure it can still leave
something warm
inside someone's heart.
Just like how you hid
between the sentences in a book
when you were lost.
Just like how I met a book named Eun-ho
and was offered
a very warm consolation
in the last moments of my life,
Eun-ho,
-I want you to become
-You can eat it.
a book that can consolate others
like you did to me.
You remember that I told you
that there's an open class next Wednesday
at 3:00 p.m., right?
Make sure you're free.
Is the topic science?
-Yes.
-I told you to tell me beforehand.
-Why are you telling me now?
-I did tell you.
He's going to take swimming lessons
instead of taekwondo.
You're quitting taekwondo? You just
started. Why are you quitting already?
Ms. Go.
I get that you love work.
But work will never love you back.
I'm telling you this as your friend,
not the president of the company.
Let me also say something
as your friend.
Let's skip work together.
Let's go to the beach.
I want you to meet people
and live this world
with sincerity
deep down in your heart.
THE ART OF WAITING
Gosh.
-Hoon!
-What?
-I have big news!
-What is it this time?
-It passed!
-Gosh, it passed!
A single book might not be able
to change the world
or change a person's life.
But a good book is bound to be read
by everyone.
-My gosh.
-Congratulations.
I'll do my best.
And then, little by little,
it will warm people's hearts.
Eun-ho, you have always protected me
despite all the rumors
that kept spreading.
I pray that you'll also be able
to receive consolation
by meeting a person
who's like a book.
You can finish the rest on your own.
By any chance,
did you cook all this for me?
What? Me?
No, I brought my mom's side dishes.
I didn't eat
so I thought I'd eat with you.
I see.
Why?
No way.
Were you touched because
you thought I cooked all this?
No, that's not it.
I just remembered someone telling me
that when daughters start
taking food
from their mom's refrigerators,
it means they've started dating.
What?
Who? Me?
With whom?
Thank you for the meal.
Give me your bowl.
Thank you.
Oh, right.
I should take a photo to
remember this moment.
There.
What?
-It looks nice.
-Do you think so?
-Send it to me.
-Okay.
Eat up.
Okay. Thank you for the meal.
It's really delicious.
It is, isn't it?
Next time, I'll bring you some dumplings.
Dumplings?
By the way,
I heard you stayed in front of my house
all night the other day.
Did Eun-ho tell you?
He said you stayed for a while.
Thank you for worrying about me.
Well, I mean...
As we worked together,
it kind of felt
like we became friends.
Pretty close friends at that.
But Cha Eun-ho is
still your number one guy,
isn't he?
Why do you think so?
You talked to him as soon as you found out
that I was Park Jung-hoon.
Come on.
That was because of work.
And it was a pretty serious issue.
On top of that,
Eun-ho is the chief editor.
What if it wasn't work?
Well...
My mom's homemade green onion kimchi
is really delicious.
Try some.
You wrote The Heroes in that room,
didn't you?
That's where you hid and wrote The Heroes.
Instead of hiding,
why don't you come out
and write a new one,
Author Ji Seo-jun?
I'm still not sure about it.
I like it.
Your writing, I mean.
A few times...
Actually, to be honest,
I read it a lot of times.
And every time I read it
I get immersed in it.
As an editor, I'll wait for your next one.
Sure.
I'm first in line.
All right?
I'll think about it.
Come on.
INNER THOUGHTS OF PLANTS
Finally!
"How important is life with nature
for the city people?"
Timeliness.
"The best book of the century
that deliciously describes
the grandeur of nature."
It's also fun.
Isn't this book entertaining though?
I didn't know that plants are very
selective when it comes to choosing mates.
Professor Kwak
revised it over and over again.
Now that we're done proofreading,
we'll set a date
for its release and promotion.
Let's convince the others at the meeting.
We'll make sure to get it published.
And get a huge budget for marketing.
Nice! I love it.
Let's have it published straight away.
The Perfect Murderer.
I love the title.
This is the kind of book
that'll go from shelves
to the checkout counter.
It's about time for a thriller.
Let's not limit the budget and...
Why aren't they mentioning our book?
They will soon. The meeting's almost over.
-Thank you.
-Thank you!
Is that all on our agenda?
No!
Our new book Inner Thoughts of Plants
has been completed.
INNER THOUGHTS OF PLANTS
I think it's best to wait
for the time being.
Good job, everyone!
-Thank you.
-Good job.
-I'm craving some meat.
-I'm starving.
-Got it?
-Sure.
Sir, even the proofreading is done.
It can be published right away.
Why did it have to be one
written by a botanist of all people?
There are other famous writers.
If not, why not have a book
written about me, the legendary publisher?
It sounds absurd, doesn't it?
That's exactly how I feel about this book.
It's too weak to be the first book
of the Ten Person Project.
Ms. Go, how should we schedule
the marketing for...
Just wait.
INNER THOUGHTS OF PLANTS
"Just wait" means that
they won't publish it.
Anyway, let's go clubbing tonight.
What do you say?
I'll make sure this book is
displayed on the best spot.
-Nice.
-Good.
You guys did great.
Good job, you two. This is great work.
So that's the book
they're going to publish instead of ours?
They said they loved the proposal though.
All they care about is money.
Let's go!
They're like bullfrogs
that destroy the environment.
They're like noxious weeds that suck up
nutrients of other plants.
Japanese hop is one of the worst.
Isn't it the giant ragweed?
Don't forget the bur cucumber.
Is that so?
Gosh.
What do we do?
We already said that
it would be published.
We got Professor Kwak's hopes up.
We still haven't heard
from Mr. Cha though.
Isn't he at a lecture today?
Then he's our last hope.
INNER THOUGHTS OF PLANTS
Mr. Cha.
Ji-yul and I worked day and night
to finish this book.
Professor Kwak too.
So we'd like to know
when the book will be published.
I'll think about it.
What do you mean?
Him too? How can they do this to us?
Tell me about it.
The marketing concept
for this book is "class."
Okay? I want it to look classy.
You can't use a font
that stands out like this.
And I told you
that Writer Ryu's books need to look edgy.
The illustration may stand out but
it attracts attention
and spikes interests.
Mr. Ji, just follow the instructions.
I'm on a tight schedule.
I thought you wanted the best design.
Are you going back on your word?
Is this how you normally handle things?
I could say the same thing.
It seems like
you had your way with other companies,
but I'm not like that.
Just respect the editor's wishes.
Damn it.
Yes?
I know, Mom. I won't be late.
Sure.
Do you have plans tonight?
I thought we'd be having dinner.
I can't today. I have other plans.
I'm going on a blind date.
Sorry?
It's not a blind date per se.
I'm just meeting the son
of my mom's friend.
What do you mean? Don't.
Why not?
Well...
My father once said
that I should be someone
who is like a book.
I want
to be a book for you.
What kind of book?
One about nagging and morals?
No.
A romance novel.
Instead of going on that blind date,
have dinner with me.
What do you say?
REAL ESTATE
Five million, five million,
ten million won.
Ten million won.
Deposit of 10 million won,
rent of 500,000 won.
MONTHLY RENT 500,000
This doesn't look bad.
It's close to Eun-ho's place too.
I've made
a lot of memories here.
No can do.
I promised I'd only stay for six months.
I need to move out.
Deposit of ten million won,
rent of 500,000 won.
Come in.
What are you up to?
I'm apartment hunting.
Is there anywhere decent?
-Yes, what do you think of this one?
-Should I go with you to check it out?
Why not?
Okay.
All right.
What do you think? Isn't it lovely?
It's near a subway station
and also has a park nearby.
You're right.
This is better than I expected.
I won't need to look further.
You're right. It's nice, bright,
and at a fair price.
Should I just sign the lease?
It won't work though.
It's perfect for a single tenant,
but there's two of us.
We're going to live together
for the rest of our lives, you see.
She likes the place, but I don't.
Thanks for the tour.
-What?
-Let's go, Dan-i.
Come on. Don't do this.
I promised to leave after six months.
I'm not stopping you,
but you must take me too.
I can't live alone in that big house.
Is this why you tagged along?
Look for a place big enough for two.
I'll put you out this time.
If that's the case,
why would I leave your place?
Exactly. Why would you leave?
I told you before
that where I am is your home.
It also means
that where you are is my home too.
Don't you agree?
Do you not like being with me?
That's not it.
Jae-hui will come back to Korea
once she graduates and...
You can worry about that then.
Why worry about it now?
You were wrong, right?
Here.
You--
Hurry.
Let's have lunch. I'll cook.
Doenjang stew or kimchi stew?
Is that all you can make?
Ms. Song, you're so lucky.
Can I try it?
Here.
-Can I try too?
-Just a little bit?
Just a little bit.
Did you receive a gift?
Ms. Baek wanted to thank me
for my hard work.
Try it yourself.
This was so thoughtful of Writer Baek.
I like how moist it is.
-Can I--
-It's really moist.
So you must work harder, okay?
Okay, I know that.
You didn't have to point that out.
INNER THOUGHTS OF PLANTS
There's gold in it.
Mr. Cha,
have you thought about
when we can publish our book?
I'm still thinking.
Until when...
You've reached the Editorial Team
of Gyeoroo Publishing.
Is that so?
Yes.
Okay. Thank you.
Mr. Cha,
our first book Inner Thoughts of Plants...
Listen! We're printing the fifth
impression for Writer Na's book of poems.
Hey!
What did I tell you? I said it'd sell.
It's the fifth impression!
Mr. Kim, it looks like you'll be
-treating us to a big lunch today.
-Right.
That news isn't exactly
lunch-worthy though.
-What?
-I have another big one.
Cold Blood edited by Song-i
became a best-seller, right?
We're printing the third impression.
No way!
My gosh, thank you!
You should treat us now.
We've received so many orders that
for the 3rd impression...
we'll be printing 20,000 copies!
My gosh!
Okay, lunch is on me today.
Let's go for some barbecue!
-Let's go before he changes his mind.
-Let's go.
-Come on!
-Hold on.
-Mr. Cha.
-I want to go somewhere fancy.
Please be patient, Dan-i.
How longer must we wait
when the book is already complete?
INNER THOUGHTS OF PLANTS
Until the right time.
But Mr. Cha...
INNER THOUGHTS OF PLANTS
Gosh, I'm ecstatic.
The books we worked hard on
got good results.
It's gratifying
knowing that
we connected with the readers.
My best accomplishment in life
is founding Gyeoroo Publishing.
And I was lucky that
I met the founding members.
Have you been reading Writer Na's poems?
You seem sentimental these days.
If our books sell well,
Mr. Kim becomes a big softy.
But he becomes a beast when sales go down.
So why publish a book that won't sell?
Was he referring to our book just now?
The one that won't sell?
I don't think it'll be published.
I don't think so either.
It's a really good book though.
I can't believe them.
Let's raise our glasses
as we're all gathered together.
-All right.
-Of course!
Thank you all.
Thank you for making books
that'll go from shelves
to the checkout counter
like The Perfect Murderer.
-Thank you.
-Thank you!
However, that's not the only kind of book
we publish at Gyeoroo.
Inner Thoughts of Plants
will soon be published too!
-What?
-Really?
No way!
I earn money by selling other books
so that I can publish books like that one.
Isn't that right, Mr. Cha?
Even though they don't sell well,
some books are worth
sharing with the world.
Even if many readers don't read them,
they'll be a treasure for those who do.
In order to publish those,
we need to make money by
selling other books first.
That is Mr. Kim's philosophy.
I highly respect you, sir.
-Right.
-Of course.
Even if only ten copies are sold,
some books must be published.
It's a great book.
It digs deep into a specific field
and gives an insight into our lives.
It's a good choice
to begin the new project with.
Best sellers sell well
only for a short period of time,
but Inner Thoughts of Plants
will be a steady seller,
and it will be loved for decades.
Congratulations, Ji-yul. And...
You too, Dan-i.
-Congratulations!
-Congratulations!
Congratulations
Congratulations on
Your book being published
-Thank you.
-There's one more announcement to make.
Ms. Go, go ahead.
Oh, right.
When will we say cheers?
From now on,
Gyeoroo Publishing
will implement a blind recruitment system.
Educational background, age,
and work experience won't be a factor.
We will hire employees
based on their talents.
It's the right way to go.
Now, let's raise our glasses.
-Gyeoroo.
-Never slow down.
-And keep going.
-Keep going!
-Congratulations.
-Thank you.
Thank you.
You all seem very happy. What do you do?
Us?
-We make books!
-We make books!
Spring is coming.
The weather's amazing.
What is this?
So...
What's going on?
Look at them. They're holding hands.
-What?
-What is this?
Are you two dating?
The younger guy she kissed...
Was it Mr. Cha?
-No way!
-Eun-ho!
Dan-i, you lucky girl!
-She's so lucky.
-I couldn't be more jealous!
Congratulations!
-Good for you, Dan-i!
-They are Gyeoroo's first official couple.
-No, no!
-I'm so jealous!
-What's going on?
-What's that?
-No way.
-Look at those two.
Don't do that.
-What?
-Mr. Kim!
-What's going on?
-What?
-Are they really dating?
-Hey!
-They're dating!
-What's going on?
-Look!
-Mr. Kim!
-They're really dating!
-Gosh.
-Let go of me.
-Come on.
-Mr. Kim!
-No one knew about it!
No!
What will we do?
They all found out.
I don't care
if they find out about us or not.
I want the whole world to know
that I love you, Dan-i.
I opened up an old book of mine again.
It was good when I first read the book.
But when I read it
for the second and third time,
this book made me underline the
sentences over and over again.
I find new sentences
in this book every day.
It's a book that
stayed with me the longest.
What's your hobby?
My hobby is reading books.
Reading.
That's why you work at a publishing house.
Yes, I always want to be with books.
That's how I ended up working there.
You really like... Gosh, he startled me.
EPILOGUE
Do you know him?
He's my uncle.
-He's your uncle?
-Yes.
How did your uncle come here?
What are you doing here, Ji-yul?
Hello.
I'm sorry.
She's mine.
Pardon? Ji-yul.
Hey, I'm on a blind date right now!
I've got a wedding gift for you!
You!
What was that?
Are we dating starting today?
Let's go.
It's good.
I made this jangjorim myself.
-Is it salty?
-It's good.
Gosh, you are so tiny.
-Gosh.
-Don't touch him.
Why can't I touch him? I'm his dad.
Isn't your dad's company really good?
-What do you think?
-Not really.
-Not really?
-You don't like it?
They all respect me,
and I'm the oldest here.
What will you do on the weekend?
-What will you do?
-With Dad?
-I'm going to play with him.
-Okay.
-How?
-What should we do?
-Will you play games?
-Games.
-Games.
-Don't play games.
-See you next week.
-Okay.
-Don't play games.
-Okay.
Don't let him play games.
Shall we go get something to eat?
-Hey.
-Shall we?
-I'm in!
-I'm in!
We're going out to eat.
I can't wait!
WE ARE LIKE BOOKS. WE WAIT FOR SOMEONE TO
FIND US AND OPEN US TO SEE WHAT'S INSIDE.
I LEARN ABOUT PEOPLE AT THIS COMPANY
IN THE END, NO ONE CAN LIVE
WITHOUT PEOPLE
WHEN THE WORLD CHANGES DRASTICALLY,
PEOPLE'S DILIGENCE KEEPS IT UP
WE ARE TREES THAT BRANCH OUT
IN SOLITUDE AND BEAR FRUITS
WE ARE BEAUTIFUL TREES
WITH GROWTH RINGS OF OUR LIVES
PRIDE IN CREATING, TRUST, AND HAPPINESS...
THOSE ARE WHAT IT MEANS TO MAKE A BOOK
ONLY AFTER FINISHING THE BOOK
I CAN SEE WHAT I MISSED
AND LIFE GOES THE SAME
EVERYONE HAS THEIR OWN TUNNEL TO PASS
A HAND FROM OTHERS
HELPS US FORGET OUR FEAR
A BOOK THAT INSPIRES OTHERS MAY NOT ALWAYS
INSPIRE YOU, SO FIND A BOOK THAT DOES
WHEN WE EXCHANGE LINES FROM OUR HEART
WE CRY, SMILE, AND LEARN TO LOVE OTHERS
IN LIFE, WE FACE MANY HURDLES
WE USE EACH OTHER'S LOVE
TO JUMP OVER THEM
LOVING SOMEONE IS STRANGE AND AMAZING
AT THE SAME TIME
"YOUR HAND IS ALWAYS WARM"
"BECAUSE I WANT YOU TO BE WARM"
DEAR VIEWERS WHO WATCHED OUR DRAMA
"THE MOON IS BEAUTIFUL"
Subtitle translation by Won-hyang Son