Preface, page 9

Chapter 1 We were running like crazy

Self-Introduction - Breaking Free from Your Name, Page 15
Beginning of the Twenties, page 25
The Never-Stopping Racehorse, page 33
Self-Introduction - Page 42 of The Unmanned Family's Odd Species
The 18th youngest PD, page 53
The 2.4 Billion Opportunity, page 58
The Day We First Met Page 61
When Your Universe Sparkles, page 66

Chapter 2 With slow steps

My Empty Universe, page 77
Suddenly, Season 4 ① Page 79
Suddenly, Season 4 ② Page 85
Even Buddha is too much, page 95
Advice for Someday, p. 102
Everyone's working and doing fine? Page 104
From now on, it's a battle of stamina and teamwork! Page 109
The fierce summer has passed, page 119
Unexpected Comfort is Quite Sad, p. 121
Last Day of 2023, Page 123
Adventure Buddy! - From Vietnam to New York, page 124
A Dog Named the Sun, page 141
The Birth of a New Universe, p. 146

Chapter 3 Stop for a moment

Dizzy Spring Day, page 161
To my younger brother, Seokjun, page 165
The head is also pretty, page 169
A Bite of Early Summer Peach, page 178
A Week in the Run, page 185
“Don’t forget me.
“I’ll just go a little far away!” Page 194

Chapter 4 Crouching and Stretching

Time Left Alone, page 203
The Sun and I, page 208
Should we take a walk? Page 213
Soccer That Protects Me, page 221
Page 231 of Beautiful Companionship
Your Birthday, page 236
Starry Night, Return of the Heart, p. 245
Walking Again, page 255

Recommendation, page 260
Kim Yoon-ah (musician) * Cheon Seon-ran (novelist)

The story of two PDs, Gu Min-jeong and Oh Hyo-jeong, who never stopped.
Until 'that thing' changed everything...

Recommended by musician Kim Yoon-ah and novelist Cheon Seon-ran!
“There is humor and dignity in their journey together toward the end.”
“It contains two things we cannot avoid: leaving and being left behind.”

This book is the story of Minjeong and Hyojeong, two people whose names everyone has likely encountered at least once.
The paths they have walked in life are perhaps as familiar to us as their common names.
Born as a child of a family, the process of finding one's own dream while sometimes living up to expectations and sometimes falling in love.
And that thrilling moment when I believed I had finally reached that dream after working tirelessly to achieve it.

Minjeong is a special breed from a martial arts family.
His father was a national soccer player at the 1988 Olympics, his mother was a handball player during her school days, and his maternal uncles are national soccer players and physical education teachers who served in the special forces.
So, if he had followed the path of 'passing the female liberal arts department at the Korea Military Academy', he would have undoubtedly become a worthy member of this family.
But he couldn't forget the directing experience he had during summer vacation in middle school.
In the play I made as a summer homework, my heart raced as I watched the audience cry and laugh just as I had intended, and I realized, 'This is the kind of person I like.'

In the end, Min-jeong chose the department she wanted instead of the military academy, and joined a broadcasting station as a PD. After working as an assistant director for variety shows such as “2 Days & 1 Night,” “The Return of Superman,” and “Immortal Songs,” she created “Black Box on Earth,” a combination of a science fiction drama and a music concert, and won the Experimental Spirit Award in the TV category at the Korea PD Awards.
He ran without stopping to become a person who 'communicates valuable messages in a fun way'.

Hyo-jeong is a rebel who refuses to be confined by a name.
His name, which means 'be filial in silence' in Chinese characters, was given to him in a family with only two daughters, hoping for a son.
And indeed, a younger brother was born under Hyojeong.
Having completed his first mission in life, which was given to him by others, he decides not to follow the life that name dictates any longer.
Since setting his sights on becoming a drama director in middle school, he has never hesitated for a moment.


Hyo-jeong, who jumped into the field early, was recognized for her fiercely honed skills and became a freelance PD. After working as an assistant director for the variety show "Knowing Bros" and an internal assistant director for the dramas "Love in the Moonlight" and "Itaewon Class," she took on the role of post-production supervisor for "Gyeongseong Creature."
After experiencing the sweet pleasure of accomplishment that comes with hardship, Hyojeong ran tirelessly toward a bigger stage and success.

If 'that thing' hadn't happened, the two wouldn't have stopped.
But 'that thing' comes without warning and stops the two people in their tracks.
And now, their lives are going in completely different directions.

We already know how our story ends.
What will we regret at the end of this life?

Min-jeong and Hyo-jeong meet for the first time as co-directors.
His plan won first place in the grand planning contest of the broadcasting station Minjeong works for, and was allocated a budget of 2.4 billion won for the 4th time.
Min-jeong, who absolutely wanted this program to be a success, searched for a “unicorn-like PD who is competent, sensible, responsible, and honest,” and that’s how she met Hyo-jeong.
Min-jeong, who is like an attacker who charges forward without thinking, immediately recognizes Hyo-jeong, who is like a defender who keeps a firm hold on her and adjusts reality.
From that moment on, the two become perfect partners and inseparable soulmates.

One day, Min-jeong notices that Hyo-jeong's condition is not good and recommends that she go to the hospital.
At that time, Hyo-jeong was preparing a joint production with Min-jeong, while also working as a post-supervisor for a major drama.
“I was lightly ignoring the basic human needs of sleep and appetite,” and was living a life of “collapsing in the morning for several days, getting an IV at lunch, and going to work in the afternoon.”
Hyo-jeong goes to the hospital, thinking it's nothing serious.
But an unexpected diagnosis is made.
Stage 4 stomach cancer, they say.
Later, Hyo-jeong recalls that day like this.
“The money I had worked so hard for, the fame I had worked so hard to get, all crumbled to dust in the face of my ruined health.
From the moment I was diagnosed as a patient, I was neither a post-supervisor nor a directing director, but simply a ‘31-year-old woman.’

We already know how our story ends.
Since the beginning of the story was ‘birth’, it is only natural that ‘death’ will come at the end.
But I live as if I have completely forgotten that fact.
When we live our lives as if things will never happen, or are still far away, what are we really missing? In a story with a definite ending, we must fully write the story we will leave behind.

Minjeong and Hyojeong, who had been running at full speed, slow down and match their pace.
Now, with every step the two take, the question follows: 'What will we regret most at the end of this life?'
The two decide not to put off precious things until 'someday' any longer.

“Remember, you don’t have to live up to anyone’s expectations.
“Your life is yours alone.”
We can be cheerful again
Because this story belongs to no one else, it is entirely my own.

The story of two people with names that seem likely to have met somewhere no longer follows a familiar path the moment they encounter the 'end'.
As the road changes, the scenery surrounding it also changes.
Minjeong records the change as follows:
“Hyo-jeong said she regretted living her life trying to live up to other people’s expectations, and from the moment she realized that, she focused entirely on herself.
“As I walked, I felt the sunlight filtering through the leaves, admired the river sparkling in the sunlight, and listened to the birds chirping excitedly.”

There's no denying that work takes up a large part of our lives, and the recognition we receive from it enriches our hearts.
Hyo-jeong, who knows this fact better than anyone else, leaves this last letter to her beloved younger sibling.

Let the tough days pass by calmly, and enjoy the happy days with a carefree heart! And make sure to get a health checkup every year.
Just live 80 percent diligently.
(…) Be sure to use 20 percent for rest.

Actually, your life should be 80 and your work should be 20.

What the hell! How could that be easy…? I know better than anyone.
And remember, you don't have to live up to anyone's expectations.
Your life is yours alone. (From "To My Little Brother, Seok-Jun")

The short phrase “What the hell” in the letter is filled with calm resignation and firm determination.
Resignation that life never goes as planned, yet a determination to hold on to things that must never be let go.
Hyojeong's last request was firm.
Your life belongs to no one else, it is only yours.

After sending Hyo-jeong away, Min-jeong finally comes to a realization in the midst of deep sorrow.
"What will remain at the end of a life of moderate love, moderate feeling, and moderate expression? Is there anything sadder in life than numbness in the attempt to avoid being hurt?" As Min-jeong walked alongside Hyo-jeong, she gradually learned courage.
I'm afraid of losing someone precious again, but rather than cowering, I've decided to love with all my heart, feel with my whole body, and express every joy and sorrow of life.

We don't know when our story will end.
That is why this moment is the only beginning and the end.
The words we exchange at every moment could be our 'last words left in this world.'
Despair is inevitable, but we don't have to be trapped in it.
We can be cheerful again.
Because I can't ignore the stories I still have left to tell in my life.
After all, this story belongs to no one else, it is entirely my own.

Now, let us also give each other a 'cheerful will'.
I hope that Minjeong and Hyojeong's story gives us the courage to be true to ourselves at this very moment.