First Ad Inquiry?! The Editor Doesn't Believe It.

Cha Ji-hyun had a lot on her mind. It had already been five days since the Rust server collab. The beginning was a huge hit. There was an endless supply of material. The ingredients were just top-tier. Mining resources, the subway slip-up... there was so much.

So much, and so fun, that it felt like a shame to cram it all into one video, so she stubbornly split it into three parts.

But starting from day three, the fun plummeted. They just grabbed rockets and bulldozed the snowy mountains. That was pretty much it. It was Sena's YouTube channel, after all. Cha Ji-hyun had a duty to make Sena the star.

But from day three on, there wasn't a single piece of footage that positioned Sena as the protagonist. If the length was short, she could combine up to day five... but day five? They'd built a number-one fortress. Once inside, there was nothing to do but stuff materials into farming boxes. Even the in-game chit-chat was utter garbage.

Work meant doing exactly what you were paid for. But with pay way above industry average, she couldn't slack off.

While analyzing the streams, Cha Ji-hyun discovered one of Sena's chronic issues.

When she played games, her chatter dropped off a cliff. The moment she focused, audio went silent for 10 minutes. 20 minutes. Up to an hour at worst.

Ten hours of that and done. That was really it. Occasional ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠raids, sure. Even including day five...? Nothing. Zilch. No material.

"Haa..."

Cha Ji-hyun could only sigh. No matter how much she racked her brain, nothing came. Even bundling days three, four, and five together wouldn't make Sena shine.

Cha Ji-hyun typed feebly, clack-clack. Then she squeezed her eyes shut, trembling fingers hovering before hitting enter.

Really, just up to day two. Coldly speaking, cutting from day three might be the smart move.

Cha Ji-hyun wanted to say, please just drop Rust right now and do something else. But that crossed the line, meddling too much. It took her 10 minutes to craft a reply.

So brutally honest.

Cha Ji-hyun was startled. Could someone be this transparent? Her intentions were crystal clear.

Wasn't that RP thing with Raming real either?

Doubts crept in. Unsure how to respond, Cha Ji-hyun spent ages nodding and shaking her head in anguish.

This is adulting... My old life was nothing.

Cha Ji-hyun's first thought reading that: So? What do you want from me?

Of course, if asked, she'd deliver. So she brainstormed content for over 30 minutes.

"No clue. I'd have to stream to know."

Trial after trial. This "family-like" vibe, this autonomy—it was the worst. Freedom wasn't always good. Cha Ji-hyun puffed her cheeks with air, then slowly deflated them.

"Fuuu..."

Ding-ding-ding-a-ling. Ding-ding-ding-a-ling.

Cha Ji-hyun looked up instinctively at the sound. Goosebumps prickled her skin when she saw the source.

"Didn't think of that."

It was a call from Sena. Cha Ji-hyun swallowed hard and accepted. Then—

At first, it was too noisy to make out. Sounded like screaming.

"Kyaeeeeek! Editor kyaeeeeek-nim! So, heeheeheeheehee!"

"Yes? What's wrong? Calm down first. Deep breaths. Seon-ah-nim? Seon-ah-nim? Should I call the cops? Where are you?"

Cha Ji-hyun's pupils shook wildly. Trembling uncontrollably, she slammed the desk and grabbed her smartphone.

"Seon-ah-nim! Where are you? What's going on?"

Ready to dial the police. Instinct screamed danger—report now...

Heavy panting followed.

"Y-yes...?"

She deleted the 112 emergency number and spoke seriously.

"Seon-ah-nim, sorry, but could you share the contact's number? I'll verify."

This time, as manager, not just editor, she wanted to check.

While sorting emails, I spotted an ad inquiry from three days ago. What the heck? I clicked it. Naturally, I didn't believe it at first.

Once almost fell for text phishing... Back then, a message came: improper food waste disposal, fine from the city office. ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠Click to pay... Total panic. Especially since it was early days of solo living—I thought I'd actually been caught!

How to fix? Panicking, I called Mom and Dad. Lucky it was phishing, decided to ignore those forever. They're clever. I legit thought it was real.

Anyway, super suspicious. Doubted it hard. But there was a contact number, so I called on a whim. Hang up if sketchy.

"Hello, Park Games..."

Park Games?

"Hi! Got your email, so..."

Hearing "Park Games," my brain lit up. That game company I knew? Real rep emailing me? I blabbered excitedly.

"Which email?"

"Uh, the ad offer one!"

"Ah, yes~ Hello. May I have your name?"

My name? Real or nick? Good thing they're similar, or it'd be confusing.

"Seon-ah!"

"Seon-ah-nim, we'll confirm and get back soon."

"Yes! Got it! Take care!"

"Thanks."

Waited about five minutes, same number rang. I picked up instantly.

"Ah~ Yes, hello, Seon-ah-nim. I'm marketing rep Lee Hyun-woo."

"Yep!"

"We're... in two weeks... with MaguFather... game lore video... as guest... contact..."

She's saying stuff, but I can't parse. Just keywords: two weeks. MaguFather. Lore. Guest.

MaguFather. In the original lore, super famous YouTuber? Company guy? Still not fired, huh.

I'd watched his guides once. Awesome cost-efficient event breakdowns.

And we'd clashed in comments. He kept trash-talking 5-star fire hero Magu, stirring crap, so I fact-smashed him point by point.

"Any questions, feel free."

"How much pay?"

"Uh... one sec, can you hear?"

"Yes!"

"We have internal rates. For you, Seon-ah-nim, it's 500,000 won."

"Ooh! How many gachas is 500k? How many pulls on stream?"

More crucial than contract. Stamp and done, but if gacha prices suck, game's dead.

Old days, 300k full clears easy.

"Eh? Uh?"

"Any chance of in-game currency instead? Pull tickets..."

"That'd be tough for fairness. More questions?"

"Ah... no... Take care."

Bummer. Tickets would've rocked. Anyway, my first ad. Post-call, euphoria overload. Had to share—called Editor-nim on Discord voice immediately.

Told her, she suddenly wants the rep's number, says don't sign, wait...

Over an hour waiting, still pending. So boring. Ugh, seriously. I just stared ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠blankly at Discord.

Ding.

"For real? Really?"

Mouth itching to spill, I started stream early. Can't name-drop, obviously. No leaks. But "I got an ad!" is fine, right? Just no company name.

"Hey everyone!"

I opened notepad, clack-clack.

Couldn't hold back bragging. Then Maru-nim in ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠Japan chats.

"Not a scam! Editor-nim verified!"

This could snowball into misunderstanding. Gotta clear it.

"Ah~ Promoting her to editor-slash-manager!"

What the? Nobody treats better than me!

"I'll take real good care of her. Benefits galore. For real. Why the hate? I'm a super nice boss."

To prove my niceness, pre-Rust lecture time. My stance: firm.

"I'm nice. Nice boss. Nobody better. None. We'll stick long-term. No baseless hate."

Lectures key for ideology spread. Viewers flipped thanks to mine.

As expected. Smart folks, quick learners. Good. Time for Rust. Wrapped it chat-wheel style today. Post-Rust, stream end obvious.

"See ya tomorrow!"

Ended. Felt rushed, but had to. Tomorrow's urgent... Perfect excuse now.

Viewers bummed, but oh well. Signed off at 10pm sharp.

Pondered seriously for two hours. Why stream?

"To live well. Seems I'm decent at this."

Why wanna be good?

"Not a baby anymore. Want cheers over worries for my work..."

Having margin feels great. Now get those YouTube comments: don't borrow to invest, use spare cash.

Used to live on allowance, terror of failing meant begging more = sent home. Tough.

But parents' early education saved me. Tutors, instruments... Go, gardening. Debate. Every academy. Know myself well.

I'm good at self-objectification.

Can't paint big picture solo. Need helpers. Alone? Fail hard. Grand plans fizzle unexecuted.

So what now? Why this solo Q&A charade?

Actually... Self-brainwashing. 'Cause my huge flaw: fixate, must do it.

Just. Force positives, brainwash self. That's now.

Negotiate with Editor-nim, make her employee. Partly 'cause I like her... but boss dream bigger. Seon-ah CEO? Success life.

Why her? Huge YouTube boost.

Metrics: 100%, 200% growth. Bit luck... but undeniable surge.

Super diligent. Daily vids awesome. Key: makes me think I'm fun? Talented.

Flaws exist. Feedback in comments.

She'll grow anyway... Might as well snag her? Conclusion.

Sure, small fry CEO... But I can be great boss...!

One praise everyone gives: spot-on...!

Seon-ah's so kind! Too nice! Heehee. Nice boss! Say it proud tomorrow.