Chapter 3
Chapter 3
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 3
Chapter Title: Whale Wanted
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Lee Hyunwoo scrolled through the listings, lost in thought.
Which Broadcaster should he approach?
Should he go back to Ladi's stream?
No, top-tier Broadcasters were out.
They weren't immune to greed either.
They'd negotiate if money came daily or monthly.
But they weren't as desperate as low-tier BJs, so deals would be tough.
Low-tier it was.
Hyunwoo boldly scrolled down.
Viewers dropped from triple digits to double in no time.
[Newbie Female Cam Broadcaster) Seeking Whales! Crumbs Welcome♥ DSLR Advice, Food Date Draw 1+1]
Ppangit♥ª · Viewers: 27 [Newbie Female Cam Broadcaster) Is today's Whale a newbie?!]
Song Da-eun♥ · Viewers: 16 [Newbie Female Cam Extension Spot Chat, No Whale Yet?! Cheongju Karina]
♡ForYou♡ · Viewers: 14
Among the streams popping up, one word caught Lee Hyunwoo's eye.
Whale.
A term for someone of high status or rank.
But on Koreatv, it meant something else.
A precious patron to Female Cam Broadcasters—a Hardcore Fan who showered Coins generously.
When Broadcasters sought a Whale, it signaled no loyal big spender yet; they needed someone to drop major Coins.
A Broadcaster craving a Whale. Hyunwoo craving cashback.
Perfect symbiosis, right?
Hyunwoo picked the prettiest among those flaunting "Whale" in their titles.
[Newbie Female Cam Broadcaster) Seeking Whales! Crumbs Welcome♥ DSLR Advice, Food Date Draw 1+1]
Ppangit♥ª · Viewers: 27
Ppangit was a cute-style Female Cam Broadcaster.
If anything, puppy-faced.
Even accounting for cam filters, her skin was strikingly fair and smooth.
He entered, and the macro greeting hit the chat—something never seen in major BJ rooms.
A hallmark of low-tier streams.
"Welcome, WantToBeUnemployed."
Ppangit beamed at her growing audience, waving at the cam.
'Yeah, I've always wanted to try this.'
Instant big-spender Fan Club join.
Reality was harsh; it'd stayed a fantasy.
Start light: 10,000 Coins.
"Eh? Ah...? Kyaaaaah!"
The unannounced 1-million-won punch drew a joyous scream from Ppangit.
Her shocked face overflowed with happiness.
No wonder.
Female Cam Broadcasters flaunted gifted Coins: rankings showing top donors, Coin stickers with nicks and amounts, progress bars for today's total.
All to impress donors and stoke rivals' envy.
Her screen told the tale before Hyunwoo entered.
Total Coins today: 4,503.
Top donor: 1,852.
Biggest single: AngelPpangit (1,402).
The rest: scattered 100-300s.
Then a front-loaded bomb flipped the board.
Two days' earnings in one shot—she screamed for joy.
The quiet chat ignited.
Whoa, insane
Big-spender bro arrived
Ppangit finally snagged a whale
lolololol
10k Fan Club? For real
All 27 viewers chatted solely about Hyunwoo.
Thrilling.
This was why whales dumped cash on Koreatv.
"Th-thank you, Unemployed sir. Truly, thank you."
Ppangit stood, bowing repeatedly.
Hyunwoo felt immense satisfaction.
Absolute top dog.
A BJ's deference crumb-droppers never saw.
Intoxicating rush.
"Could you maybe chat once? I'd love to make you Manager. No, if it's uncomfortable, forget it. Oh, any reactions you want? First time in my stream, right? I sing great, dance not so much. But whatever you want, I'll do it."
Ppangit's focus locked on Hyunwoo.
Chats flooded; she ignored them.
Total devotion to impress him.
Time to chat.
Hello. Manager is fine. For reactions, just do what you're good at.
First chat post-donation; the TTS voice read it.
"Ah! Yes! Manager incoming. One sec."
Ppangit clicked her mouse; Hyunwoo's chat pane shifted.
A new Manager-only lane appeared.
Private, BJ-Manager exclusive.
"Reaction first, then. Song time. Any requests?"
Sing your best one.
"Another gift. Thank you! I'll sing Se-ah's 'Only Looking at You'."
Ppangit's song began.
She boasted clear, powerful vocals as promised.
Hyunwoo savored it.
A serenade just for him—first in his life.
Great listen. You sing well.
"Ahaha, another gift. Thank you so much."
Every chat paired with Coins; Ppangit's grin stretched ear-to-ear, unyielding.
She kept engaging him.
"More songs? Or Room Selfie, Reverse Fan?"
Room Selfie: posting selfies on a Hardcore Fan's profile.
Reverse Fan: the BJ fanning the fan.
Both on his wishlist.
Sounds good. This for Reverse Fan. Draws need 100 Coins each, right?
"2k, thank you. Reverse Fan's on my dime, though. Yes, draws are 100 each. Got something in mind?"
Ppangit scrambled—stickers, chats, comms amid his Coin chats.
Her smile never faded.
Phone Date draw.
Phone Date: video call shorthand.
Manager chat couldn't discuss business.
Needed her personal contact.
Exact 100 Coins spun the draw roulette.
It whirled... and landed on bust.
Pre-Coin infinity, 100 wasted on bust would've stung.
Now? Zero regret.
"Ah! Unemployed sir, no draw needed. Hardcore Fans get Wish Tickets. Use one for Phone Date? Wait, maybe not fitting for a Wish Ticket..."
lololol
Trying to freebie it
I want Phone Date too
Phone Date via Wish Ticket? Overkill
Just give Whale bro the Phone Date straight, save Wish Ticket for elsewhere?
"Ah, Chairman's right. Per chat vote: Phone Date for Unemployed sir, Wish Ticket saved?"
Yeah
Sounds good
Chairman spot slipping away ㅠㅠ Bro gets serious, I'm VP instantly lol
Ppangit and chat drummed it out; Hyunwoo scored Phone Date rights.
He kept showering Coins, flexing wealth, riding the high.
BJ's fervor, crumb-droppers' envy—pure addiction.
Stream ended; smartphone video call incoming.
Unknown number, but obvious caller.
Ppangit.
"Hello?"
"Ah, hi, Unemployed sir."
Ppangit was tense.
Face and voice betrayed it.
Still, she pushed the talk.
"You're way younger than I thought. Shocked."
"Yeah? Great stream today."
"Thanks. Your boost cranked my energy—made it fun."
Call flowed warm.
Hyunwoo small-talked, easing tension, closing distance.
Right moment: cashback pitch.
"Soo-hyun."
Ppangit's real name: Choi Soo-hyun.
A few years younger; they switched to casual.
"Yeah, listening. Shoot."
Soo-hyun had loosened up.
Some whales demanded weird stuff upfront.
Not him.
Opened her up.
"Want more Coins?"
"Huh? Of course."
"How much more?"
"Ahahahat, as much as you want?"
"Yep. But there's a price."
Soo-hyun went quiet.
Same as the rest?
Inevitable.
But he wouldn't grant everything upfront.
Men tired fast if too easy.
"Price... what kind?"
"15 percent. Return 15% of what I donate. Want 100k Coins? Give me 1.5 mil back. Deal?"
Soo-hyun speechless again.
Way off her guess.
"Think: 100k Coins nets 3.2-5 mil post-tax. Biz reg, accountant—more. Just 1.5 mil back. You keep 1.7. 200k, 300k? Min 5 mil monthly."
"Illegal?"
"Illegal? Worried about laundering? Soo-hyun, if that, I'd chase higher rates. Criminal pick 15% skim?"
"Ah... right. But donating then cash back—no issues?"
"Nah. Cashback like store rebates. Same thing. Clean."
Soo-hyun pondered.
Curious too.
Why this from Coin-flinging whale?
Didn't ask.
No risking the golden goose.
Greed stirred.
BJs raked it in—famous ones.
Low-tier like her? 5 mil monthly was a stretch.
Beat office grind.
But she craved more.
"Deal. I'm in."
Choi Soo-hyun accepted.