Chapter 13
Chapter 13
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 13
Chapter Title: Ma-sam Regrets Firing Me
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Ma-sam's studio.
Right now, there was a man with a sour expression sitting there.
It was none other than Ma-sam, one of the top five big shots in Korean internet broadcasting.
Well, to be precise, he was right around fifth place. Still impressive, though.
But he didn't look too happy at the moment.
"So, we have a guest broadcast coming up soon, and you still haven't booked anyone?"
"Yes..."
"What the hell kind of manager are you?!"
It was because his newly hired editor-cum-manager was utterly incompetent.
Sure, she had a pretty face and a nice rack. But that was it. All she could do was basic video editing and fiddling with broadcast programs a bit.
Honestly, that was about average for an editor.
But his previous editor had been on another level.
That guy handled video editing solo, made thumbnails, managed all sorts of broadcast programs, booked guests, created content, brainstormed broadcast ideas, ran errands, cooked—you name it, he did it.
Hell, if he left him in charge while he hit the bathroom, he'd even run the broadcast himself.
And he did all that for a measly two million won a month.
That's why the comparison stung so much.
He glared at her, ready to tear into her. She probably needed a good scolding to shape up.
"Su-a! You're in for it..."
But right then—
"Waaah!!"
The editor in front of him burst into loud sobs. You could almost call it preemptive tears(?).
And it worked like a charm.
Especially on a sucker for women like him.
"H-Hey, don't cry..."
He immediately went into appeasement mode.
For some reason, he was weak to women's tears. Had been ever since he was a kid.
Of course, it wasn't because of the editor's impressive chest jiggling right in front of him.
Jiggle. Jiggle.
......Okay, maybe that was part of it. She was wearing a thin top that left little to the imagination.
He tore his eyes away from her chest. Then he started soothing his editor, Su-a.
"Su-a, sorry bro got mad."
"Sniff!"
"F-For real. I won't get mad anymore. Promise."
"Hic... R-Really?"
"Yeah. Really."
He ended up making a promise he couldn't keep. But he had no choice if he wanted to stop her crying.
'If Su-a quits too, I'm done for.'
He was already struggling to find a new editor. Losing Su-a now would grind his broadcasts to a halt.
'Monthly pay of one-point-five mil plus room and board—why isn't anyone applying?'
Anyone in the know already knew why. His fired manager had shown them everything.
He wasn't hiring an editor. He wanted a cheap slave to work to the bone.
Plus, he had a nasty temper. No one would sign up to serve him in these conditions.
Anyway, this wasn't the time. He needed to book that guest ASAP.
"Sigh... So why did Heyni turn down the guest spot?"
"Hic... She said her schedule's packed."
"Tch... What about An Young?"
"Same deal. Too busy, can't make it."
"Those damn—!"
He cursed the skyrocketing Heyni and An Young. Of all people, they were connected to the manager he'd fired. Made it sting even more.
"Fine, whatever. Just book any two randos(?). You can handle that much, right?"
"Yes..."
Normally, he wouldn't even have to say it. Jae-ho would've planned the content and booked everyone himself.
And he was damn good at booking guests too.
Especially no-name streamers like this? Jae-ho nailed it every time.
He clicked his tongue and sent Su-a packing.
Then he propped his feet on the desk and started scrolling his smartphone.
💬 Streamer Gallery — Jae-ho Heyni Kiss Video — Jae-ho's Wide Eyes — Heyni's Flushed Face — Video of Them Feeding Each Other Sushi ⭐ Top Post — Ho-ni Couple Matches So Well?? — Jae-ho Feeding Sushi to Protect Heyni — Jae-ho ♥ Heyni Special Video His feed was nothing but posts about his ex-manager.
Popular posts were completely flooded with Jae-ho and Heyni stuff.
At this rate, it looked like he wasn't the big corp—Jae-ho was. Utterly ridiculous.
He scrolled all the way down until he found one of his own posts.
— Ma-sam Criminal Video lololol Just one popular post of his amid all that. Insane.
"This can't be real."
He'd known Jae-ho had some broadcast chops. The guy ran shows solo when he stepped out.
But exploding like this? Never saw it coming.
His face went blank.
Too absurd to even get mad anymore.
He stared at the popular posts, lost in thought.
'Tch, shoulda never fired him...'
His stomach twisted, mood soured.
The streaming scene was small. Now a new dragon threatened his spot.
No wonder he felt shitty.
Plus, if he'd kept Jae-ho, he wouldn't be butting heads with his editor today.
Regret piled on.
'I'm the idiot. Coulda cut Jae-ho's pay and used both...'
His regrets weren't exactly wholesome.
Wished he'd kept Jae-ho, slashed his pay in half, and worked him alongside Su-a. Brilliant plan in hindsight—why hadn't he thought of it?
"You fucking moron! Argh! Dumbass!"
He kept cursing himself.
Jae-ho had blown up big time. No coming back. No replies to his messages said it all.
Curses echoed through Ma-sam's studio.
"You idiot!! Shoulda kept him cheap and milked him...!"
Regret laced every obscenity.
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇ I turned on the stream with a touch of nerves. Felt more jittery than my very first broadcast.
Good kind of jitters, though.
I was at the center of the buzz. Massive viewers incoming. Not trembling would be weirder.
[Hello. A bit late.] Didn't even bait with the title today. Kept it super vanilla.
Viewers poured in faster than ever, though.
-Here?
-Here!!
-Take a seat!!
-Gimme Heyni!!
-What's the occasion?
-Real deal kek
-Kiss master hi
The chat exploded in seconds. Hadn't seen scrolls this fast in forever. Felt like Ma-sam's room for a sec.
I let some music play while viewers trickled in.
Planned to speak once we hit a decent number.
But they weren't playing "decent."
Just ten minutes in, three thousand viewers. Big corp vibes.
-Spill the kiss deets!!
-When you two dating?
-Hurry up.
-Wtf? How long we waiting?
Couldn't stall anymore. Chat was rioting.
Did a quick stretch, then spoke up.
"Hey everyone! Jae-ho here!"
Basic greeting. Still got a wild response.
-hi
-Jae-ho hi
-Tell us if you're dating or not!
-I'm in a rush!
Ding.
⚡ MISSION ⚡ [If you two date, 1 mil won.] Ding.
⚡ MISSION ⚡ [Detailed kiss feelings, 100k won.] Ding.
⚡ MISSION ⚡ [Fake couple for real, 500k won.] Missions flying left and right.
Sweet couple bait really hooked 'em.
'This the infamous fake couple buff?'
Turned newbie me into semi-big league overnight. No wonder streamers chase that poisoned chalice.
"Thanks for the missions."
No plans to do them, though. Canceled all, then spoke.
"Did you all enjoy yesterday's stream?"
-Peak fun.
-God-tier lololol
-Dopamine explosion yesterday kekekeke
-Next ep when!!
Explosive reactions. Most seemed thrilled with yesterday.
I chatted about it casually. Mostly feelings and takeaways.
"I scripted it, but damn, I was nervous. Wild stuff."
Dropped hints gradually. No need to spill everything at once. Ease them in slow.
"Next ep when? Hang tight. Gotta script new stuff, book locations."
-Wut? All scripted?
-Knew it kekekeke
-That was acting?
-If that's acting they deserve Oscars lololol
Viewers weren't buying it easy. Sharp ones are tough.
I played it bold instead.
"Duh, scripted. How do you catch feelings and kiss in one day?"
It had happened. But I played dumb.
-All fake?
-No!
-Way!
-Gimme back my butterflies!!
Predictably sour. Thought it was real, turns out acting. Good reactions would've been weirder.
I eyed the chat.
Had to soothe the mob. Might backfire later, but priorities.
"Yeah, acting. But..."
-But?
-No!
-Way!
Deep breath. Serious face.
"It was acting, sure? But I get why drama leads lock eyes now."
-???
-Meaning?
-Feelings sparked?!
-Call Heyni NOW!!
-UwU!
-Kyaaaa!! Sweetness!!
-Fair, kissed and all—no feelings would be odd.
-What about An Young?
Hinted at catching feels for Heyni.
That did it.
Chat flipped instantly.
'Fake couple addicts...'
Obsessed with strangers' romance.
'Guess that's why dramas blow up.'
Shook my head, pressed on. Crisis averted.
One issue lingered, though.
-Heyni!!
-Bring Heyni!!
-Hiding her again?
-Where's Heyni?
-Don't forget An Young...
Chat drowned in Heyni. Classic problem.
Tough to stream like this.