Chapter 45

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Translator: MadScientist

Chapter: 45

Chapter Title: Internet Broadcasting

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Father came back after finishing his errands.

I carefully explained everything to him, just as I had told Mother.

At first, Father was a bit surprised by what I said.

"You can still work more. Why go to such extremes?"

When Father stubbornly tried to refuse, Mother, who had been listening on the side, scolded him in frustration.

"No, I've suffered my whole life since meeting you. Now our son is offering to take care of everything. Why are you being so stubborn? Would it kill you to live comfortably for once?"

Father looked a little flustered at Mother's pleading tone mixed with exasperation.

I spoke to him gently again.

"Dad, honestly, you're getting up there in age. You and Mom should travel together, pick up some hobbies when you're bored. Stop with the hard labor. Life's not that long—take care of your health and live a good, long one."

Father fell silent, seemingly deep in thought.

That's when I added,

"I'll buy you a few buildings, so you can live off the rent forever. Sound good?"

Father thought it over for a long while before finally nodding slightly.

"Alright. If my son insists that much..."

Right there, I discussed our specific future plans with my parents.

"Truth is, I've already started building a house on the outskirts where you can live out the rest of your lives."

Father's face brightened a little.

His dream had always been to retire quietly in the countryside.

But Mother was more practical.

"Oh please, when you're old and sick, nothing beats being near a hospital. I just want a fancy house in our current neighborhood to live comfortably."

Father nodded along to Mother's opinion without much protest.

He'd always quietly followed her lead anyway.

I asked my parents once more.

"So, do you want to just take pocket money from me and live easy your whole lives, or should I buy you a few buildings to live off the monthly rent?"

They glanced at each other briefly, and Mother spoke for them.

"Sell the shop building first, combine that money with what you're giving us, and buy one building. Managing that while living would be perfect."

I said that sounded good.

This was Daegu, after all.

Not ridiculously expensive like Seoul, so with a budget of about 50 billion won, we could snag a nice building no problem.

When I mentioned 50 billion, they looked at each other and nodded in satisfaction.

"50 billion gets you a good one around here. Yeah, let's start by sorting out the shop like you said."

Finally, I quietly asked my parents one last thing.

"Don't tell my little sister about this yet. I'll set her up with a café or something later—I'll handle it."

They agreed.

I took my parents to the apartment where I was currently living.

Seeing the spacious 40-pyeong unit, they were surprised all over again.

As they toured the clean, roomy place, Mother smiled in satisfaction.

"Aigoo, our son lives so well all by himself."

Father nodded too, looking awkward but pleased.

"Now that you've settled down like this, you should get married soon."

I gave a wry smile.

Honestly, marriage didn't appeal to me much.

After too many betrayals in relationships over the past few years, and encounters with women tied only by money in the nightlife scene, it was hard to truly trust any woman anymore.

After spending more time with my parents, I returned to my own routine.

At least I'd explained our future plans well to them, so my mind felt much lighter.

Now, my life was flowing peacefully again.

I leaned back comfortably in my chair, clicking through broadcasts with the mouse.

Idly clicking around in boredom, hoping for something worth watching, that's when a girl cam stream with only about twenty viewers caught my eye.

She had a slender waist, long black straight hair cascading down.

Her face gave off a cold, decadent vibe, with a silver piercing glinting under her lip.

She looked like someone you'd spot in a club or bar.

But—

"Oppa-deuls~ Today I was so wiped out commuting to and from work, thought I was gonna collapse. Dozed off on the bus and it was so embarrassing~"

Her sudden speech pattern threw me for a loop.

Who could've imagined that coming from her looks?

The chat reacted lightning-fast to her story.

"Hey! I almost drooled, for real. Was so sleepy, if my oppas were there, I'd have borrowed your shoulders~ Hing."

She propped her chin on her hands and blinked at the camera.

Her expression and voice were so cute, my lips curled up without thinking.

The "run" chat made me chuckle again.

If anything, that gap made her more captivating.

"Oppa-deuls, oh and today at lunch, my boss kept eyeing my kimchi fried rice when I opened my lunchbox. Like, how precious is my kimchi fried rice?!"

"Really? If oppa buys it, I could eat it every day. If I only had oppas, I'd ditch work and stream all day~"

Viewers started pouring in, the vibe picking up.

More people than when I first joined, and the stream was getting funnier by the minute.

I hesitated a bit, then cautiously typed in chat.

She read it, eyes widening slightly as she called my nickname.

"Omg~ CoinKing oppa, first time? You say my speech is unique? I'm naturally kinda cute. Come play often~"

I smiled watching her beam cutely on screen.

An unexpected charm I hadn't anticipated.

She looked decadent and aloof to anyone, but that cutesy speech—talk about a massive gap.

"Oppa-deuls~ Too tired today, can't stream long. But tomorrow I'll hang out longer, promise!"

She pointed at the screen with her finger, and viewers replied quick.

Even after the stream ended, I stared blankly at the black screen for a bit.

A rare find of fun, and from such an unexpected person in an unexpected place—it left a strange feeling.

Who knew I'd chuckle and feel a flutter from one internet stream.

"Maybe come back tomorrow."

I muttered to myself, humming lightly as I spun my chair.

Park Seo-yeon let out a heavy sigh only after hitting the end broadcast button.

She slumped back in her plush chair, tilting her head, long black hair draping down.

Staring blankly at the ceiling, she slowly inhaled from her e-cig.

Exhaling the smoke filling her lungs, she reflected on today's stream.

Two months ago, bored and lonely with her routine life, half curiosity half loneliness, she started on AfreecaTV.

At work, she was just one ordinary employee.

People saw her cool, urban vibe and assumed she'd thrive in clubs or bars, but she was the opposite.

Meeting people outside drained her; she didn't want to spend the energy.

Forcing smiles and mingling at work all day made alone time precious.

What she really loved was curling up at home watching anime or dramas.

If coworkers saw her otaku side post-work, they'd faint in shock.

Still, loneliness hit sometimes, craving connection.

Three years solo in Seoul, her social circle had shrunk.

Aside from a few close college sunbaes, no one to contact.

From the provinces, few friends, and she kept walls up even with coworkers.

So, stumbling on streams, she thought "Why not me?" and launched AfreecaTV.

Named it "Yej i," first stream was awkward cringe.

But her cute speech clashing with looks drew viewers gradually.

Still newbie, averaging 20-30 viewers.

Seo-yeon exhaled deeply again.

She amped up energy for viewers, using her otaku lispy cute talk on purpose.

Maintaining the concept tired her out; post-stream emptiness always crashed in.

The void after chat attention faded hurt.

"Ah... gotta shower."

She rose and headed to the bathroom, shedding her stream outfit.

Mirror showed her reflection.

Skinny frame, small chest, short stature, somehow underdeveloped look—her eternal complex.

Some viewers dug the decadent face vibe, but she still disliked her appearance.

Hot water washed away the day's fatigue from head to toe.

But checking Afreeca settlement post-shower brought another sigh.

Two months in, earnings below expectations; sporadic small donations far from quitting job.

"100 viewers... If average hits 100, I could quit."

She lay on bed, murmuring at the ceiling.

Dreamed of no fake smiles at work, free from unwanted ties, living joyfully with fans.

She needed to push more, but reality loomed high.

"Hoo..."

Fatigue surged.

Work exhaustion plus stream piled on, pulling her to sleep fast.

Park Seo-yeon closed her eyes, whispering,

"Still, tomorrow might go better..."