Semantic Error - Chapter 8.7

Jaeyoung was fully prepared. In addition to the first draft he had drawn with all his might, he had prepared two drafts of a scarecrow, added three more less detailed ones, and had already printed the project proposal. The pages were numbered and neatly stapled. Although Chu Sangwoo wouldn’t notice even if he were to die and be resurrected, he had even carefully paid attention to the clothes he was wearing.

“Uhm…”

It was difficult to bear the moment Sangwoo reviewed the project proposal. If he only knew what the head beneath the cap was thinking! He was expressionless, but his cheekbones seemed to have risen a little. Jaeyoung purposely leaned back on his chair and made a haughty expression, as he didn’t want Sangwoo to notice his innermost, anxious thoughts.

“Sunbae, are you good at English as well?”

Looking at the suggestion for the title, it seemed that way. Jaeyoung hadn’t intended to finish the project anyway, but really didn’t think ‘Yachae Man’ was a good one, so he named it “Veggie Venturer.” He thought it’d be good to shorten it to “Veven” or “VV.”

“I know as much as I need to get by.”

“You’re unexpectedly good at many things.”

“You also know two languages.”

“That’s true. Since I speak Korean and Chinese.”

“I meant Korean and computer language. You’re a native speaker of both.”

Sangwoo didn’t get Jaeyoung’s joke and simply had a blank expression on his face for a while, but he later narrowed his eyes.

“Don’t say such ignorant things. There are many kinds of programming languages. If you count them like that, then I know six languages.”

His gaze turned back towards the project proposal. He went over the first page without commenting much. He didn’t comment while going over the next page. Jaeyoung didn’t miss the miniscule nod of his head. His heart trembled more than when the results of the contest he’d been waiting half a year for, were announced.

It wasn’t long before Sangwoo, who had been going over the draft, changed his expression. A very slight smile appeared on his lips. The moment his fierce-looking eyes narrowed and the corners lifted, was rather dramatic.

“The character looks like you, sunbae.”

“… which part?”

“There is a part.”

The first draft proposal – mad scientist. The second one – horror bone. The third one – two moronic characters. Whichever it was, he wasn’t happy to hear that he looked like any of them. Sangwoo confused Jaeyoung and put down the project proposal. Jaeyoung, who made eye contact with him, saw another fresh look on his face. There was excitement in the slightly widened eyes.

“Good job.”

The moment of recognition that he had been waiting for was surprisingly simple and easy. It had merely been a simple phrase, but Jaeyoung felt a sense of pride rapidly rising in his chest just because it had come from this inhumane and strict developer. Sangwoo, who quickly went back to having a blank expression on his face, looked at Jaeyoung.

“I’m gonna go with the third character.”

“What?”

He was so touched that he broke down. Jaeyoung quickly flipped to the page after picking up the project proposal document. The character that he had created by putting in time and effort, was the first one. It was a mad scientist with round glasses, messy, silver hair, and large hands and feet. His muscles were subtly hinted at through the torn lab coat, and it had all been drawn meticulously for an hour.

After turning two pages, he found the draft of the third character. He had drawn it in five minutes to fill up the pages. An insincere male and female pair. Apart from not wearing a cap, the male character looked just like Sangwoo, as he had been the model for it. White skin,  eyes with a brusque and forbidding manner, and baggy clothes on a skinny body.

“This one. It’s sunbae, right?” Sangwoo said while pointing at the female character.

Jaeyoung frowned. It was hard to judge whether or not it was a joke just by looking at the expression on his face.

‘Is he messing with me?’

Not a single part of the character with orange bobbed hair and eyes that took up half the face obviously resembled Jaeyoung.

“I prefer the first character draft, though.”

“I like the third one more.”

Jaeyoung shook his head. Though a confused man, he was a pretty well-spoken designer. He had become that way after he catered to clients who simultaneously preferred simple and considerably decorative designs or monotonous and colorful ones. He spent two minutes explaining how well the first draft suited the project and thus was the best option. Sangwoo listened to the very end and then said one thing.

“I hear you, but I’m going with the third one.”

“True, a scientist is more appropriately assigned for going on an adventure than a young man and woman.”

“You’re right. But I’m going with the third one.”

“Why the hell?”

“It’s a comprehensive judgment.”

Sangwoo uncharacteristically tried to move past it. It was obvious that he was hooked on the two morons.

“Hey, let’s go with the first one.”

“I don’t want to.”

No matter how hard he tried to persuade him, he was adamant in his decision.

“Fine, do it.”

Jaeyoung gave up after several attempts. He was going to achieve this goal and quit the project anyway. Sangwoo carefully put the proposal plan into the folder and turned his body back to face Jaeyoung.