Min-ji's fingers flew across the keyboard, the words flowing like a river as she worked on her latest story. The rejection letters had been piling up for months, but she refused to give up. She had tasted success with 'Moonlight Serenade,' and she was determined to write another hit.
Her phone buzzed, and she smiled, recognizing the notification tone for her web novel platform. She opened the message, her heart racing, and read the update – her story, 'Moonlight Serenade,' had hit 100,000 views. Min-ji squealed, tears of joy streaming down her face. She had never felt so proud, so accomplished.
The money started rolling in, slowly at first, but soon it was enough to cover her expenses, and then some. Min-ji was ecstatic – she could finally afford to buy books, decent clothes, and even save a little. She started to see a glimmer of hope, a future beyond the drudgery of her daily life.
But success was bittersweet. Soo-yeon noticed the new clothes, the phone, and the books, and her eyes narrowed. She began to take more from Min-ji, demanding money for 'expenses,' and making her work longer hours. Jin-tae, too, grew more aggressive, his leers and sneers more pronounced.
Min-ji's writing suffered, the words no longer flowing as freely. She was exhausted, physically and emotionally drained. She knew she needed a change, a way to escape the toxic environment.
One night, as she was working on a particularly difficult scene, her phone buzzed with an email from a mysterious user, 'EditorK.' The message was simple – 'Need a ghostwriter for a web novel. Pay is good. Interested?'
Min-ji hesitated, unsure if she was ready to take on another project. But the promise of financial stability, and the chance to write without the pressure of her own name on the story, was too enticing to resist.
She replied, agreeing to meet EditorK online. The interview was a blur, but Min-ji remembered the excitement, the thrill of discussing storylines and characters. She got the job, writing under the pseudonym 'Ghostwriter99.'
The work was grueling, but Min-ji thrived. She wrote day and night, her fingers aching, but her spirit soaring. The money was good, better than she had ever imagined. She started to save, tucking away enough for a deposit on a small apartment, a place to call her own.
As the months passed, Min-ji's reputation as a ghostwriter grew. She worked on multiple projects, her name never appearing on the covers, but her bank account swelling. She became more confident, more assertive, and more determined to take control of her life.
Soo-yeon noticed the change, the newfound confidence, and her eyes narrowed. She confronted Min-ji, demanding more money, more work. But Min-ji stood tall, her voice firm. "I won't be treated like a slave anymore. I have other options."
Jin-tae sneered, his words meant to cut, but Min-ji just smiled, a quiet confidence that left him speechless. She knew she was worth more, that she had the power to walk away.
As she worked on her latest project, a shonen romance novel, Min-ji's heart swelled with pride. She was living her dream, writing stories, and making a living. The rejections, the hardships, and the struggles had led her to this moment.
Her phone buzzed, a message from EditorK – 'Great work, Ghostwriter99. We're extending your contract. More projects, more money. Are you in?'
Min-ji smiled, her fingers flying across the keyboard – 'Always.'