Chapter 8
Chapter 8
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Translator: penny
Chapter: 8
Chapter Title: Resolve
-----------------------------------------------------------------
The stream was a massive hit. The chemistry between Park Su-han and me turned out way funnier than expected, pulling in a ton of average viewers and spawning related posts everywhere.
Sister especially loved it.
"Kyahahahaha."
"Aren't you laughing too hard? Your belly button's gonna pop out."
"Ahem. Sorry. But it's just too funny. What can I do?"
She laughed all day over whatever cracked her up like that. Even the next day, she was digging through all the related posts.
Seeing her laugh so hard made me a bit worried, but on the flip side, I felt glad we'd filmed it.
Has Sister ever enjoyed my streams this much?
I left her wiggling her toes and sank into my own memories.
Before studying abroad and becoming head chef, all I did was cook. I only started appearing on streams after that. Back then, things weren't great between Sister and me.
She'd gone through all the trouble of supporting me even abroad, but I barely made time for her, obsessed with running the restaurant and practicing recipes.
My first stream appearance was on some cooking survival show.
After becoming head chef at a famous restaurant, my confidence in my cooking pierced the heavens. I thought I could stand toe-to-toe with any chef worldwide. So I auditioned.
Sister back then...
She showed up at every event, cheering hard.
Stayed up all night making picket signs, crafted merch with my face on it, even handed out homemade cookies to fans cheering for me. Despite our rocky relationship, she supported every step I took with fiery enthusiasm.
But I found her annoying, even embarrassing, and dodged her.
Streams, huh.
I'd only thought negatively of them, but seeing how much she loved it now made me think it'd be good to do more.
"Haneul, is this really tasty?"
"Peanut butter kimchi fried rice?"
"Yeah. People are going nuts wondering how it tastes."
Sister shoved her screen at me.
-Lololol who'd sell that freak food. Bet it's not even good.
-Dude above didn't watch. The color looked insanely tasty.
-Guest ate it all. Streamer begged for just one bite at the end, so probably legit.
The comment had a screenshot of the screen, and the lighting made it look ridiculously appetizing.
"Not super tasty, but edible."
"Then could you make some?"
"Not hard. Hang on."
I grabbed the peanut butter jam from Park Su-han and whipped up some kimchi fried rice for her. Since she requested it, I put way more care in.
Chopped the kimchi uniformly, tossed any under-seasoned bits. Controlled the flame perfectly, wok-tossed so the oil coated every grain just right.
Took at least twice as long as for Park Su-han's batch.
The finished golden kimchi fried rice gave off a subtle nutty peanut aroma that his version lacked.
"Try it."
"After pics."
Sister snapped photos then dug in eagerly. Seemed to suit her taste—her cheeks bulged with rice. Tempted to poke, but held back.
No matter how cute, I didn't want a rice shower.
"Oh yeah, check this."
"What?"
"Edited clip of your scenes."
"Oh, the one from yesterday? Lemme see."
Sister handed me the tablet.
Since last night, she'd been editing my footage. As a pro editor, I hadn't worried much, but I was curious about the result.
I took the tablet and played the 10-minute clip.
Stream edits usually cut to the fun bits only. Considering our 2-hour stream, this was a solid chunk.
Opened with my shocked face hearing "peanut butter kimchi fried rice." Blank expression creasing into a frown. Chaotic chat explodes alongside a close-up of Park Su-han grinning.
The rest strung together all the highlight-reel moments.
Me dropping fact bombs on Park Su-han, my real-time grimaces at his cooking, sound effects on the spit-take for extra punch.
Editing was top-notch. Even to my 20-years-in-the-future eyes, it didn't feel dated.
"What do you think?"
"Insanely well done. Fun to watch. Only thing is it's guest-focused on me—if not, Su-han could use it."
"Then maybe I can get his permission and add it to my portfolio?"
"Portfolio? What's that mean?"
"Huh? I mentioned it before. Didn't I?"
Sister tilted her head, scrolled through messages, and pointed to our chat from a month ago.
"Said it a month back. Gotta build a diverse portfolio to land a job. Been trying all sorts."
A month ago—pre-regression.
I racked my brain for old memories. Decades ago in raw time.
What was Sister up to then?
Just as my head hurt, it clicked.
"Oh right, that. Yeah. Haven't applied yet?"
"Got one I'm eyeing."
Sister showed a screenshot.
I frowned at "KimKim."
In my past life, Sister applied here to help fund my studies.
Good pay, popular streamer so steady work.
And regretted it forever.
Met KimKim for the interview—he was a creep ruled by his lower half. Clung to her over her looks.
Kept dropping sleazy lines on the job, suggested secret meets behind my back. Escalated till she quit, then he stalked her home—had to call cops.
Stressed her out big time.
Probably contributed to her ditching editing to follow me abroad.
"Don't do that one."
"Huh? Reviews are fine."
"Nah, reviews can be faked easy."
"Friend worked as his editor, said it's good. Pays on time, not picky. Not many bosses like that."
True enough. No solid proof to outright block it. But sending her there repeats history.
"Let's think more first."
I hedged to buy time. While she read other reviews, I lay beside her pondering options.
How to change her mind?
Forcing it might work but felt mindless.
Then a lightbulb.
What if I stream instead?
I stream, she edits my vids—no creepy guys. I blow up, her skills ride the wave.
Turning a small channel big beats editing a big one from day one.
Streaming success?
I'm game.
Michelin cred, her killer edits.
Only hitch: would she edit my zero-sub channel?
I tapped her hand lightly.
"Knock knock. You there?"
"Yeah."
Sister looked up from her phone. I met her eyes and pitched it.
"Sister. What if I streamed?"
"Stream? Outta nowhere?"
"Fun with Su-han. And if I stream and you edit... um."
"Um?"
Planned to say it bold.
More time together, no distractions, always side by side.
But words stuck.
Embarrassed now?
I hated my choked self. Past life, never showed love, realized too late. Swore not to repeat, yet hesitating here.
Steeled myself.
"Just... together, you build portfolio, we grow it, your skills get hyped more, and uh, more time together."
Mumbled nonsense. Meant logical pitch, but slurred and jumbled.
How to salvage—then Sister burst laughing.
"Puhahaha! You're beet red, know that?"
"Me?"
Ear burned hot. No wonder I'd felt warm.
She clutched her gut laughing, then nodded.
"Let's do it. No rush since no study abroad. But three months max. If no results, we pivot. Deal?"
"Deal."