Chapter 69
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 69
Chapter Title: Malice
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Min-ji finished speaking.
Jin-seong listened quietly until the end.
As he heard her story, his heart grew heavier and heavier.
Above all, the face of Yeong-jin, Min-ji's older brother, kept coming to mind.
Yeong-jin had been a special person to Jin-seong.
He was like a real little brother whom he'd followed devotedly, and without him, Jin-seong wouldn't be where he was today.
But he hadn't realized just how much the family Yeong-jin left behind had fallen apart after his death.
Especially Min-ji, Yeong-jin's younger sister. At such a young age, she'd missed the most crucial period of her life and had been struggling on her own ever since.
Jin-seong swallowed a deep sigh and looked at Min-ji.
"Um... You said earlier you'd really help, right?"
Min-ji nodded with a tense expression.
"Yes, for real. I feel so sorry to Yeong-jin oppa and grateful for so much."
"That's why I plan to take care of you like my own little sister, sincerely."
Jin-seong's voice carried such genuine emotion that Min-ji's stiff expression gradually softened.
Still anxious, she began to feel a bit more at ease from his words.
Jin-seong took a moment to collect his thoughts before continuing.
"Alright, then first things first—we need to get you a safe place to live. Your current spot is too dangerous."
"For tonight, come to my place. I've got plenty of rooms, so rest up, and starting tomorrow, we'll look for a new place together."
Min-ji was a little surprised by his unexpected offer but soon replied in a trembling voice.
"Yes... Thank you so much."
Jin-seong took Min-ji and got into his car.
Her expression was still awkward and cautious, but it looked far more stable than before.
Jin-seong's apartment was a spacious 1,300-square-foot unit.
The interior was neatly decorated in white tones, with stylish furniture placed here and there that caught the eye.
As Min-ji carefully stepped inside after he opened the front door, Jin-seong pointed to the small room right by the entrance.
"Rest comfortably here tonight. It's the guest room, so it should be cozy. Change into something comfy and come out whenever."
Min-ji entered the room as directed.
It was small but snug, with a single bed, clean bedding, and ample storage space.
The view out the window was wide open, making her feel refreshed inside.
Min-ji slowly looked around the room, feeling her mind gradually calm.
She couldn't even remember the last time she'd laid down in a place this comfortable and safe.
Sitting on the bed and exhaling deeply, Min-ji thought of her departed brother, Yeong-jin.
'Oppa... thank you. Thanks to you, I'm getting such huge help. Thank you so much...'
After silently thanking Yeong-jin in her heart, Min-ji steadied her surging emotions and swallowed her tears.
Meanwhile, watching Min-ji enter the room from the living room, Jin-seong also thought of Yeong-jin, who had passed away long ago, and murmured quietly to himself.
"Yeong-jin-ah, I'll definitely protect your little sister. Don't worry."
He muttered it like a vow, then quietly returned to the living room and sat down.
Thinking about how he'd properly take responsibility for Min-ji's life from now on, the guilt buried in a corner of his heart seemed to ease a little.
A little while later, Min-ji emerged into the living room, changed into comfortable clothes, moving cautiously.
Jin-seong had been sitting on the sofa, checking his phone while waiting for her.
In fact, he'd rushed out after getting her call and missed Ye-ji's return stream.
He'd hastily messaged Ye-ji that something urgent came up and he couldn't make it.
Standing in front of Jin-seong in the living room, Min-ji still wore a slightly awkward expression.
Jin-seong smiled softly at her.
"Don't just stand there—sit down comfortably."
Min-ji replied in a small voice and carefully sat on the sofa.
Confirming she was settled, Jin-seong dove right into the main topic.
"Min-ji, first off, let's sort out how we'll address each other. Mind if I drop the formalities?"
Min-ji nodded.
"Sure, treat me casually, oppa."
Jin-seong smiled at that and continued.
"Yeah, you're Yeong-jin's little sister, so you're like my own to me too. I've got a little sister myself."
"So from now on, think of me like a close big brother and relax around me."
Min-ji's face flushed a bit, still shy, but she nodded again at his sincere words.
With their forms of address settled, Jin-seong pulled a card from his pocket and handed it to Min-ji.
She looked at it with a puzzled expression.
"What's this, oppa?"
"It's a credit card. Made in my name, so the limit's generous."
"Use it freely from now on. No need to hold back."
The card felt like a heavy burden to Min-ji.
She carefully spoke up.
"Thank you, oppa."
Jin-seong told her again.
"Don't feel burdened. Make sure you spend at least 500,000 won a month, no exceptions."
"Buy clothes, eat good food, do whatever you want."
"If it doesn't hit 500, I'm taking the card back?"
Even with his playful tone, Min-ji couldn't hide her shock.
500,000 won was more than two months' wages for her.
Seeing her still hesitate, Jin-seong pressed on.
"And Min-ji, quit that part-time job right away."
Min-ji jumped, startled, as if asking what he meant.
"All of a sudden? Why, oppa?"
Jin-seong explained with a serious face.
"If you keep scraping by on part-time gigs like this, you'll struggle your whole life."
"Go to college and learn something—that's how you can do the work you want later."
"I'll cover tuition, everything. Prep for the SAT again and get into college, no matter what."
Min-ji hesitated a bit.
College felt so distant after years of just working.
"Still... going to college now seems a bit..."
Before she could finish, Jin-seong cut in firmly.
"It's not too late yet. You have to seize opportunities when they come."
"You know better than anyone how big the difference is with or without a college degree. And you need skills to work at my company or whatever."
Taken by his earnest advice, Min-ji fell into thought.
Memories of the past five years, struggling without real chances because she only had high school flooded back.
Soon, she nodded slightly.
"Got it, oppa... I'll do my best to go to college."
Jin-seong smiled at her words and spoke again.
"Good. Now, let's solve the housing issue."
"You don't need something as big as my place right now, right?"
Min-ji waved her hands in surprise.
"Oh, yeah! Your place is way too big, oppa."
"No need for anything that huge when I'm living alone."
Jin-seong chuckled.
"Then around 650 square feet should be plenty?"
Min-ji nodded easily.
"Yes, that's more than enough, oppa."
Jin-seong looked satisfied and gave her a firm promise.
"Alright, tomorrow I'll talk to a realtor and find a nice monthly rental."
"Move in there for now, and after you graduate college, I'll set you up with a proper place of your own. Don't worry too much."
Min-ji still seemed burdened but thanked him sincerely, understanding his intentions.
"Thank you so much, oppa."
The two spent a long time chatting about this and that, then ordered dinner and ate together.
After the meal, Min-ji yawned faintly, looking tired, and asked Jin-seong.
"Can I wash up and rest first?"
Jin-seong nodded considerately.
"Of course, rest easy."
Min-ji showered and retired to her room.
The long day came to an end like that.
Their bond had grown closer, and Min-ji's life was about to change completely from here on.
Ye-ji's return stream began.
Under the flashy upgraded gear and clean lighting, Ye-ji looked bright and beautiful, but anyone watching could tell her energy was strangely low.
At first, it was just disappointment from Coin King not showing up as expected.
She'd kept glancing at the chat right from the start, waiting for his arrival alert, but he—who usually appeared soon after she went live—was nowhere today.
Her mind swirled with countless thoughts.
'Why isn't he coming? Is he watching someone else's stream?'
With her motivation tanked, even her carefully prepared reactions felt off, and her usual chat energy wouldn't pick up.
Some people didn't miss Ye-ji's darkened vibe.
They were the malicious viewers who'd been displeased with her recent skyrocketing popularity.
Especially the fans of Choi So-mi, who'd been thoroughly humiliated by Coin King not long ago.
Choi So-mi's fans, fueled by jealousy and resentment toward Ye-ji, had created a group chat and were constantly spreading malicious rumors about her.
Seeing her return stream with such deflated energy was perfect fodder for them.
Coin King looks like he's dumped Ye-ji lmao
Check her energy, total dead face lol
Honestly, without comments she's nothing. Acting all high and mighty, serves her right lololol
Trashed So-mi unnie to climb up, then tried to seduce him lol
The malicious group chat clipped scenes from Ye-ji's stream and flooded them with hate comments, like they'd been waiting.
Comments that only a few saw at first spread one by one through shares, and soon AfreecaTV's community boards started filling with posts bashing Ye-ji.
Ye-ji's return stream energy in the gutter—Coin King cut her off?
Watched Ye-ji's stream, she's washed up lol. Streamers who rise too fast crash just as quick.
Stream's total snoozefest without comments. Classic—camgirls tank hard when the money dries up.
These posts exploded in views and replies, forming a wave of malicious public opinion against Ye-ji.
Meanwhile, Ye-ji kept streaming, unaware of the full situation, constantly checking for the Coin King she'd been waiting for.
But Jin-seong's message had come right after she started, so she hadn't seen it yet and just kept waiting.
Throughout the stream, she anxiously cried out in her mind.
'Chairman... please...'
Unfortunately, the chairman she'd waited so desperately for never appeared, and her stream's mood sank lower and lower.
The more it did, the more the trolls gleefully tore into her, and Ye-ji's return stream was heading in a completely unexpected direction.