I Got an Omnipotent Brain

’This is going to be a hit, no question!’

He had a feeling from the very first line.

Park Sang-won, CEO of Haim Books, read the piece twice through without getting up from his seat.

There was no filler in the writing.

A simple essay, free of excessive embellishment or forced sentimentality.

And yet it pulled him in. Mi-young’s writing had a power that held the reader captive.

”What do you think?”

Woo-hyun asked, watching for the CEO’s reaction.

As if displeased with it, Sang-won furrowed his brow.

”Honestly, this is a bit unexpected. Since it was written by Yu Seo-ha’s mother, I assumed it would be something like a guide to raising gifted children.”

”I was surprised when I read it too.

Unfortunately, it seems it doesn’t suit your tastes, sir. In that case, I’ll take it somewhere else.”

”Hey now! Who said it doesn’t suit my tastes? That’s exactly why it’s good.”

”What?”

”The parenting book market is limited. No matter how famous Seo-ha is, it would never sell beyond a certain number. But this book is different.

What the narrator wants to convey isn’t success, it’s relationships. These days, everyone just wants to lecture. The market is flooded with books like that.”

Woo-hyun nodded.

”That’s certainly true.”

”Which is precisely what makes this fresh.

Not advice, but humanism and comfort. Isn’t that the very emotion modern people are starving for?

Readers of this book will witness the moment an ordinary family’s daily life transforms into a moving narrative.”

Watching him speak with such passion, Woo-hyun smiled.

”Though there is one thing I need to take care of.”

”What’s that?”

”The title. We need to signal that this isn’t a parenting book while simultaneously getting it in front of as many readers as possible.”

On this point, Sang-won trusted his instincts.

After all, he was not only a publishing company CEO but a successful author in his own right.

* * *

Haim Books editorial office.

When CEO Park opened the door and walked in, the staff stopped what they were doing.

”Sir, you’re here?”

The CEO, who almost never came to the office due to his outside engagements, had appeared in person. A tension settled over the editorial office.

Sang-won set the file folder in his hand down on the desk with a thud.

”I’ve brought in a new project. Let’s make this our top priority.”

The editor-in-chief’s eyes went wide.

”You’ve already decided? We haven’t even heard what kind of book it is....”

Tap, tap.

Sang-won tapped the file folder with his index finger.

”For the cover illustration, get Siren. Tell them to read the book first, then produce something in a storybook style.”

The entire staff was taken aback.

”Siren? That artist hasn’t taken on any work in over a year....”

”They’re probably still backed up with commissions.”

It was an incomprehensible directive for a book that wasn’t even by a bestselling author.

”Making it happen is your job, isn’t it? Don’t call. Go to their house and knock on the door. Now!”

The editor-in-chief approached with concern.

”Sir, that artist’s rates are high as it is. If it’s a rush job, there’s no telling how much it’ll cost.”

Sang-won waved his hand dismissively.

”Budget isn’t an issue. This book is going to bring us far more than what we put in.”

CEO Park envisioned the finished product in his mind.

”Let’s go with linen for the cover. Soft to the touch, and when placed on a desk, it should exude elegance.”

The paper specialist took notes as he asked.

”What about the interior pages?”

”Top-grade ivory stock.

Minimal yellowing, and the sound of turning pages should feel luxurious. The book we’re making is the kind anyone would want to keep on their shelf. A book where simply owning it is a joy.”

The editor-in-chief murmured, as if in admiration.

”Sir, you must really love this book.”

Sang-won let out a hearty laugh.

”A product with this much buzz deserves the quality to match. Let’s make this book the face of Haim Books!”

The atmosphere in the editorial office shifted.

A major project, the kind that came along maybe once a year.

The staff nodded with resolute expressions.

* * *

A drizzly afternoon.

Sang-won donned a black coat and headed to the large bookstore in Gwanghwamun.

Today was the release date of the book he had been anticipating.

This was something he always did.

Whenever a book he had produced hit the market, he would go to a bookstore and study the readers’ faces.

Did they hesitate before picking it up? What were their expressions? Were there people buying multiple copies? These were indicators that could only be gauged by being there in person.

Murmur, murmur.

’Quite a crowd.’

A long line stretched from the checkout counter.

Considering it was a Monday afternoon with rain, this was a highly unusual sight.

Sang-won surveyed his surroundings and slowly made his way to the display stand.

The closer he got, the more clearly he could see where people were converging.

Thump, thump.

His company’s recent releases had not performed well.

What hurt more than the poor numbers was the fact that they hadn’t put out a book memorable enough to stay in people’s minds.

This mattered more than anything for a publisher. Readers remember a publishing house by its books.

’Ah, there it is!’

His heart raced.

In the center of the display stand,

the spot every customer had to pass by at least once.

There sat Mi-young’s book.

「I Never Intended to Raise a Genius」

The linen cover caught the light and glowed softly.

’Investing in the cover was the right call.’

She had more than earned her fee.

The soft color palette distinctive to the artist Siren: gentle lilac and creamy milk tones, with pastel blue spreading delicately beneath.

It wasn’t flashy, yet it drew people’s eyes.

A son poking a piece of broccoli with his finger, and a mother watching him with a warm smile.

The storybook-style illustration conveyed its message in a subtle, metaphorical way.

’This is a warm story.’

Above all, the title was perfect.

No one could see it and just walk on by.

”Ahem!”

He congratulated himself on his instincts, still very much alive and well.

Women who appeared to be parents flocked over and headed straight for the display.

There were more than a few students in school uniforms, too.

”Hey! Isn’t this Yu Seo-ha’s book?”

”No, it’s a book his mom wrote.”

”What’s with the title? Total clickbait.”

”The book itself is super fancy, though.”

Students chattering as they held the book.

Even to them, Seo-ha was an object of admiration and curiosity.

Dozens of copies stacked on the display stand.

But they vanished in no time.

’We did it!’

He walked out of the bookstore with a satisfied look on his face.

* * *

[Review of new release ”I Never Intended to Raise a Genius”]

-First, let me say that I am a parent.

I’m a mother of two: one in third grade and one in seventh.

Parenting books? I’ve read countless parenting books. You know, the kind with titles like ”How to Raise Your Child as a Genius.”

So when I first saw this title, a wave of emotion hit me.

Didn’t it hit you too?

”My kid was just born a genius, tee-hee!” That kind of humble-bragging disguised as modesty.

Part of my reason for buying the book was a skeptical thought along the lines of, ”Fine, let me hear you brag about your brilliant son.” The rest, of course, was genuine curiosity.

(omitted)

To get to the point, this book is a brag.

But the reason I never once felt annoyed while reading is probably because of the author’s honest, unembellished writing.

Like a minimalist essay, warm yet restrained, the author calmly recounts the story of one family’s growth.

She didn’t do anything extraordinary, just as the title says.

But why is it that she strikes me as such a remarkable person?

She never forced excessive studying on her son.

She simply tried not to miss the signals her child was sending. That is by no means as easy as it sounds. Especially when a child shows exceptional talent.

As a fellow mother, I applaud her for not getting consumed by her child’s abilities and for keeping her family together.

└Thank you for the wonderful review. I had similar thoughts while reading. ”Could I have raised my child that way?”

└Honestly, don’t you think the difference in environment played a big role? If they’d been born in Gangnam, they probably would’ve enrolled in a med school prep class by age four.

└It’s about the person, not the environment. Stop with that.

└The book itself is so luxurious. Perfect as a gift.

└The scene where the kid secretly slipped his favorite snacks into his dad’s pants pocket choked me up.

└Sometimes poverty turns out to be a blessing. Being born into that family might have been a stroke of luck for Seo-ha.

└I really can’t stand people from Seoul. They think everyone outside the city is poor.

└My kid read this too. They beamed and said, ”Mom! I guess it wasn’t that I wasn’t trying hard enough!” and I couldn’t help laughing with them.

└Why does the part about him looking after his younger sister while also taking charge of their education make me so envious?

└Most people probably missed it, but this book is packed with useful information. How to prepare for the IMO, tips for skipping middle school courses, an explanation of science high schools, and even getting into MIT. I’m planning to put my kid on a similar track.

└I was thinking the same thing lol

Mi-young’s book rocketed to the bestseller list in no time.

[Sold out one week after release - I Never Intended to Raise a Genius]

[Parents and students equally obsessed - Yu Seo-ha’s mother’s essay becomes a nationwide sensation]

[”I want to go to MIT too!” Is MIT now more popular than Harvard? MIT ranks first among middle and high schoolers in recent survey]

[Competition rates for gifted programs and science high schools set to soar? Signs of easing in the rush toward medical school.]

* * *

”Huh?”

Mi-young covered her mouth with her hand as she checked her bank account.

The number was so large it didn’t feel real.

”Honey, what’s going on?”

Chul-ho came over and asked. Then he looked at the screen and nearly jumped out of his skin.

”Guh...!”

Bzzt...

CEO Park Sang-won’s name appeared on the phone screen.

Mi-young hurriedly answered the call.

”H-hello?”

-Moth... no, I should say Author-nim! Congratulations. We’ve hit the jackpot!

The normally composed CEO’s voice was brimming with excitement.

-Do you know what’s happening right now? It’s absolute chaos in Korea. The first print run sold out ages ago, and every copy in the current print run is already gone to pre-orders. Before the books have even been printed!

”....”

-Are you there?

”Yes....”

-Bookstores are calling nonstop asking when the restock is coming. I’ve sent you the first settlement payment today. All that’s left now is for you to get rich.

Hahahaha! I look forward to working with you going forward.

Click.

He rattled off everything he had to say and hung up, apparently too busy for anything else.

She had heard the response was good, but she never imagined it would be like this.

”Mom, what’s going on?”

Seo-eun poked her head out from the staircase.

Seo-ha, startled by the commotion, had also come downstairs.

”You two!”

Chul-ho put on a solemn expression.

”Yes!”

”Whyyy?”

”Your mother, no, Author Yoon Mi-young-nim’s book has become a bestseller in Korea. A round of applause for the author, everyone!”

Clap, clap, clap!

The three family members gave Mi-young an enthusiastic round of applause.

Embarrassed, Mi-young pinched her husband’s side.

”Ow! Honey, come sit down.”

Before she knew it, Chul-ho had seated her in a chair and was massaging her shoulders.

”You worked so hard writing all that time, right? Does that feel nice?”

”Oh, you.”

She gave Chul-ho a sideways glance.

”Mom, are you an author now?”

”Congratulations, Mom! Are you going to keep writing?”

Seo-ha and Seo-eun each latched onto one of Mi-young’s arms and peppered her with questions.

Mi-young put on a flustered expression, but the feeling wasn’t unpleasant at all.

”I’ll have to think about that.”

’Author Yoon Mi-young-nim?’

The moment she heard those words, her heart fluttered.

Not a wife, not a mother, just herself.

She had once agonized over what she could accomplish on her own, but now she felt a new sense of ease about everything.

Her children cheering, and a husband who was even happier than they were.

Financial freedom tasted far sweeter than she had ever imagined.

*****

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