Meeting with the Goddess (2)
The past two weeks had flown by in a blur, and she hadn't been able to stream much during that time. The closer the promised collab with Hong Su-yeon loomed, the more intense her anxiety became—not to mention the crushing pressure that she had to prepare something.
Still, whenever she did turn on a stream, at least a hundred loyal viewers would trickle in. And the moment Hong Su-yeon dropped even a single chat message, that number would double in an instant. That was just how monumental Hong Su-yeon's presence was in Korea right now.
Ughhh...
Which was exactly why, after knocking out her punishment mission first thing in the morning, she'd been holed up in the bathroom ever since. The extreme tension and stress had her on the verge of breaking. She finally dragged herself out, plopping down in front of the mirror.
M-Makeup.
She felt bad for Yang Che-ri, who'd so kindly walked her through everything step by step, but one use of the skill was all it took for perfect makeup.
Luck Stat Activated!
Makeup: Critical Success!
Charm stat increased by 8 while makeup is applied.
She nodded at her suddenly stunning reflection in the mirror.
"G-Good...!"
Having once been a guy, she was objectively aware that her face was pretty and cute. Just the change in her appearance alone sparked an inexplicable surge of confidence.
She picked one of the outfits Yang Che-ri had bought her and slipped it on—a blouse with a collar and ribbon paired with a neat skirt, an overall cute ensemble.
"N-Not bad..."
She glanced around to make sure no one was watching, then stood in front of the full-length mirror, grabbing the hem of her skirt and twirling this way and that. It felt like she'd stepped straight out of one of those anime girl characters she'd watched back in the day.
A fuzzy joy bubbled up inside her, making her suddenly self-conscious as she scratched her cheek.
"G-Gonna be late."
She hurriedly slipped on her flats and grabbed the doorknob to head out. For once since becoming a woman—always filled with hesitation and fear—she stepped out feeling surprisingly refreshed.
H-Hong Su-yeon. The real Hong Su-yeon!
Tseung leaned against the wall of his studio, arms crossed, staring in awe at Hong Su-yeon as she prepped for the stream. She wasn't just a pro gamer anymore—she was top-tier celebrity pretty. Especially today, in her gig-chic outfit, her intellectual charm was on full display.
"N-Need any help?"
"Nah, I'm good."
This was Hong Su-yeon's first solo stream appearance, set at Tseung's studio where her older brother Hong Su-bin often guested. It was easy to borrow thanks to their connections, and it was perfectly equipped for broadcasting. Sure, her team building had a studio too, but it was a trek from home.
"You sure you can actually stream?"
"Of course. Why wouldn't I?"
"I mean... you've never done it before, so I'm worried."
"Just butt out already, oppa. It's all set up."
Hong Su-bin debated smacking his little sister on the head but backed off instead.
"So, what wind blew this up? You're actually streaming?"
"Beats me. Only she knows what's in her head."
"Whoa... and a collab duo? With that Haneul person?"
"Yeah, that's the weird part. She'd normally go solo no question."
"Hmm~ But no face reveal?"
"Nah, she said it's fine to show it this time."
Hong Su-bin and Tseung stood with arms crossed, eyeing Hong Su-yeon as they chatted. It was intriguing, and neither had planned to appear on stream anyway. Tseung, as a mid-tier streamer, figured showing his face might help, but he'd promised to stay hands-off at her request.
Ding-dong—
Right on time, the studio intercom buzzed. Tseung opened the door slowly.
"Uh...? Haneul-nim, right...?"
"Y-Yes! Hi...!"
Tseung's eyes went wide at the sight of Nam Ha-neul. Streamers who hid their faces were usually disappointing in person.
She's super cute...?
Nam Ha-neul's looks were strikingly refined. Not quite on Hong Su-yeon's level, but top-tier among streamers for sure.
"C-Can I come in?"
"Y-Yeah, please do."
Nam Ha-neul followed his lead into the studio. She was impressed—proper streamers really had setups like this. Stepping into the booth, she came face-to-face with people she'd only seen online.
H-Hong Su-yeon and Hong Su-bin.
It felt like spotting celebrities. Hong Su-bin had left the pro scene but still guested on Tseung's streams, and his prime reputation lingered. Hong Su-yeon? She was celebrity among celebrities.
"H-Hi...!"
Despite her nerves, her high Acting stat let her squeak out a greeting. But inwardly, she wondered: Why do I still stutter if my Acting is so high? It was like an innate limit. Acting like a superhero didn't make you one. Still, she was grateful she could speak at all and nodded to herself.
"Nice to meet you. Nam Ha-neul, right?"
Hong Su-yeon shoved aside Hong Su-bin, who was offering a handshake first, and approached Nam Ha-neul. She towered over her with perfect proportions.
"Y-Y-Yes! It's an honor...! I-I'm a huge fan...!"
Unable to contain her excitement, her voice trembled. It felt like something beyond human was standing before her.
"I'm a fan too."
"Huh? N-No, I mean."
"Why? Can't I be a fan?"
"N-No, it's not that."
"Okay, I won't be then."
"N-No! Please do, please!"
Hong Su-yeon smirked down at her. Like turning a tiny animal into a human, she thought. Nam Ha-neul could already tell she was the teasing type after just a few exchanges.
...Kinda like Hong Su-bin?
Hong Su-bin, watching from the side, got chills and rubbed his arms. He'd never beaten her, even as the older brother.
"And I'm Hong Su-bin."
"N-Nice to meet you."
They shook hands, wrapping up intros. Tseung stared at the bizarre lineup, baffled.
"Shall we start the stream then?"
"R-Right now?"
"Yeah. Why?"
"I-I don't even know what we're doing today..."
Nam Ha-neul was already seated, naturally guided by Hong Su-yeon's hand. There was an irresistible aura dominating her.
"You never plan that meticulously anyway."
Hong Su-yeon teased as Nam Ha-neul fidgeted with her fingers. It was true—her streams rarely had rigid scripts like other streamers.
"S-Still..."
But this was a collab with Hong Su-yeon. Maybe she needed something specific? This feels like a hidden camera prank. It was that surreal.
Hong Su-yeon caught her uneasy look, chuckled, and clicked the mouse.
Broadcast Started!
"Wha—whoa, wait."
Hong Su-bin and Tseung timed their exit perfectly off-screen. Now the stream under Helra's name showed only Hong Su-yeon and Nam Ha-neul.
"Hi everyone~ Nice to see you."
Hong Su-yeon had no streaming experience, but her countless interviews and press junkets made greeting viewers effortless. Her gaze shifted, signaling it was Nam Ha-neul's turn.
I-I can do this. I can do this.
Who was she? The proud owner of 68 Acting. Just pretend to be a pro streamer, right?
With steely resolve, she opened her mouth.
"H-Hi evewyone."
And bit her tongue hard.
The chat exploded faster than anything Nam Ha-neul had ever seen on her own streams. She couldn't keep up, just staring at the endless flood.
"Looks like you got nervous. Hi everyone, I'm Helra, and this is Haneul Collab-nim."
Watching Hong Su-yeon calmly continue the stream with a smile, Nam Ha-neul wondered what kind of status window let someone pull off that level of cool.
S-Status Peek.
Before the stream really kicked off, she decided to sneak a peek.
"Gasp...!"
"Hm? What's up?"
"N-Nothing. R-Really..."
Nam Ha-neul gaped at the status window, unable to close her mouth. Hong Su-yeon shot her a questioning look, and she could only clutch her skirt and mumble.
What the hell is this?
No Game Genius talent, just straight-up Genius? Traits going up to SSS? And stats over 100?
I thought average was 50... they can go over 100?!
She was shocked. And realizing someone like this was right next to her—
M-Makes me even more nervous...!
Forget acting; she started shaking all over. Hong Su-yeon smiled at her and—
Suddenly pulled her into a hug.
"So, for today's stream, we'll be backseat gaming my oppa's games."
To viewers, it just looked like a pretty girl hugging a cute one. Chats flooded with jokes, but nothing serious.
But Nam Ha-neul, who was a guy just a month ago—
Wha-wha-what?!
She panicked in the sudden embrace. Her existing tension spiked, and...
Grrrrumble.
Her stomach cramped.