Chapter 45
Chapter 45
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 45
Chapter Title: Don't you think we'd look good together if we dated?
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Our conversations with Dokgo Hwayeon mostly revolved around streaming.
It couldn't be helped. We were both streamers, after all.
But it wasn't entirely about streaming either. We shared one special memory that no one else had.
And sure enough, that's what we ended up talking about.
It was the story of how we first met.
"Back then, you were so cute, Jae-ho..."
"Me?"
"Yeah. You had such a pitiful look on your face after Ma-sam chewed you out... Oh! It was just like that pleading gaze you gave me earlier!"
"Ahem, I don't really remember that well?"
"Pfft, yeah, I figured."
Come to think of it, I vaguely recalled it now.
I didn't remember why Ma-sam had scolded me. But I did remember that Dokgo Hwayeon had approached me first afterward.
'So that's why she talked to me first...'
I still didn't know why she'd struck up a conversation with me back then. But now I finally understood.
'She was trying to comfort me.'
Some people judged Dokgo Hwayeon as cold just by her appearance. But nothing could be further from the truth. Her heart was warmer than anyone's.
Maybe that's why I liked her.
I looked at Dokgo Hwayeon and opened my mouth. For some reason—maybe the atmosphere—I wanted to be honest.
"But do you know what?"
"What?"
"I was actually a fan of yours, Dokgo Hwayeon."
"Huh? Really? But yesterday on the stream, you acted like you had no idea..."
"Ahem, a stream is a stream."
"Pfft, what the heck! So even saying you're a fan was a lie?"
"No! I even joined your fan cafe!"
"What's your cafe nickname?"
I answered her question honestly.
"Tiger Energy..."
"Huh? Tiger Energy was you, Jae-ho?"
"Huh? You know that name?"
"Of course! It was the nickname that always sent me messages of support! Thanks to you, I got so much strength!"
"Ah..."
I made a pretty surprised face.
I was the one known in Dokgo Hwayeon's fan cafe as the long-winded poster. I'd send her long messages of encouragement every day. I had no idea she knew about them.
'Who would've thought we had this kind of connection...'
"This is so crazy! It must be fate!"
"Yeah."
I felt a strange emotion. I'd never imagined she drew strength from me.
'Not a bad feeling.'
If anything, it was much closer to a good one. My heart was pounding for some reason.
Screech.
That's when it happened.
Dokgo Hwayeon's car came to a stop right in front of my place.
I felt a slight pang of regret. I wanted to keep talking with her.
But that wasn't possible.
I spoke to her, letting my reluctance show.
"We've arrived?"
"Yeah."
"Guess I should get out now?"
"Why? You don't want to?"
"Uh... a little?"
"Pfft, you're so cute."
Dokgo Hwayeon let out a light laugh. She didn't seem displeased by my words at all.
No, she even said something totally out of left field.
"But don't you think we'd look good together if we dated?"
"Huh?"
I was pretty flustered by her words. I hadn't expected her to be so direct.
"Pfft, I'm kidding."
"Ah..."
"You just looked disappointed, didn't you?"
"Ahem, no."
"It's written all over your face."
She looked amused, like she was enjoying herself. I'd noticed it earlier—she seemed to love teasing me.
Anyway, it was time to go.
"Thanks for the ride."
"No big deal. It wasn't any trouble."
"Still, you're giving me a ride yourself? I'm probably the first, right?"
Considering her personality, it was almost certain. She'd probably always had her manager do it before.
Then, she said something else unexpected.
"Hmm... Should we drop the formal speech? Calling me Dokgo Hwayeon all the time must be tiring."
"Huh? Sure, why not?"
We were the same age anyway. It wouldn't be weird.
"Yeah. That'll be more comfortable. Actually, yeah, much more comfortable."
"Kinda awkward, but not bad. Hwayeon."
"Hwayeon...?"
"What? Not good?"
"N-no, it's fine."
I could see her face flush a little. She wasn't used to this kind of relationship, it seemed.
'Well, I've never seen Dokgo Hwayeon speak casually to anyone before.'
"Have you ever dropped the formalities with anyone like this?"
"O-of course!"
"With a guy...?"
"......"
"Ahem, got it. Well, I'll be going then. See you next time!"
I grinned and got out of the car. Just moments ago, Dokgo Hwayeon had been teasing me and having fun. Now the tables had turned.
'Teasing Dokgo Hwayeon is kinda fun too.'
For some reason, she seemed cute.
Then, her voice came from behind.
"Take care. Jae-ho."
"You too, Hwayeon. Drive safe."
"Yeah."
Anyone seeing us might think we were a couple. A fresh one that had just started dating, even.
'What would it feel like to date Dokgo Hwayeon?'
"Oh, right! We have to use formal speech around other people!"
"Obviously. Drive safe!"
"Yeah."
And so, we parted ways in some indefinable atmosphere.
It was a feeling I'd never experienced before.
But one thing was clear.
'Dokgo Hwayeon doesn't hate me.'
If anything, she probably liked me.
Learning just that one fact made me feel strangely good.
'Feels nice.'
Really nice.
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇ Bzzz!
Bzzz!
"Sigh, who is it now?"
I paused my training and picked up my phone. Lately, it seemed like I was getting calls from everyone.
'Another unknown number.'
I made a displeased face but answered anyway. I had a hunch.
"Hello."
-Ah! Is this Jae-ho?
"Yes, Park Jae-ho speaking."
-It's an honor to speak with you! I'm Lee Tae-seon, in charge of recruitment for the Taeryeong Sect...
Sure enough, my guess was right.
I cut him off without hearing the rest.
"Ah, sorry. I'm in the middle of training right now. Could you call back later?"
-Oh! My apologies. Bad timing on my part. I'll call again later!
The voice on the phone was extremely polite. But my expression wasn't bright.
And there was a good reason for that.
'That's the twentieth one already...'
Yes.
Lately, I'd been getting a ton of calls. All of them wanting to recruit me into their sects.
Big sects, small sects—it didn't matter. I had no idea how they even got my number.
Of course, I'd turned them all down.
It wasn't because their offers weren't appealing.
As I'd said before, my top priority was streaming. Not martial arts.
I had no choice but to refuse. Joining a sect would interfere with my streams.
'Plus, I don't want to be tied to any group.'
After years as Ma-sam's slave (?), I'd finally gone independent. I was enjoying my freedom. I didn't want to belong to anywhere again.
Being solo like this was the best.
Anyway, I resumed my training. Even with the interruption, my focus didn't waver.
A little later.
I showered clean and sat down at my computer.
Then, as I checked my email, my face fell into thought.
'Another one today.'
This time, it wasn't about sect recruitment.
It was something else.
[Jae-ho! I'm really confident I can do a great job! I've prepared a portfolio here. I'd be so grateful if you'd take a look and decide!]
The message was short. They knew I'd skip long ones.
I drummed my fingers on the desk, deep in thought.
'I do need an editor...'
I didn't need a manager yet. But I was starting to need a Newtuber editor. Even my fans were clamoring for me to start a Newtuber channel.
'Can't edit it myself.'
To be precise, I didn't have the time. That's why I was agonizing over it.
While pondering, I checked the sender's portfolio.
'Education doesn't matter.'
In my view, all a Newtuber editor needed was good editing skills. Nothing else. Ma-sam was the weird one for demanding all sorts of extras from editors.
I looked at the sample edit they'd made.
They'd edited one of my streams and sent it as an example.
'What? This person did the Heyni and Daldalgak edit?'
I was pretty surprised watching the video. They were somewhat famous. And the editing was top-notch.
On top of that, their resume was impressive.
'Huh? They used to be Tanguri's editor?'
Tanguri was a big name. I hadn't expected such solid experience.
'Why is someone like this clinging to me?'
It didn't make sense.
I felt the need to meet them in person.
'Gotta set up a meeting.'
Nothing was decided yet. But with this level of sincerity, it was worth a shot.
Not just any meeting, though.
'Perfect. I can turn it into stream content.'
The content I'd prepped for today was kinda weak. An interview stream would be fun right now.
'I'll ask if they can appear on my evening stream today.'