Sponsorship Sealed and the Miracle of Overnight Edits
"What's the secret to that lightning-fast editing speed? Maybe if I call her 'unnie,' she'll like me more? She seemed a bit bummed last time. Eh, I can think about that later."
"Oh, and by the way, I got an ad inquiry."
"Is that so? I figured it was coming, but faster than expected."
"The thing is, the company is kind of..."
"Doesn't suit you, Areum-ssi?"
"No, it's not that it doesn't suit me... Here it is."
I pulled out the business card I'd gotten from Choi Sora, the team leader, yesterday and handed it to President Kim Manho.
His eyes widened for a moment before he snapped back to his professional demeanor.
"Ho, this is a company we hadn't even considered."
"I was surprised too. But... before turning it down, I figured I should at least find out exactly what kind of company it is... And they were holding an exhibition nearby, so I went."
"Oh, great initiative!"
"But here's the thing, haa..."
I calmly explained what had happened at the furniture expo yesterday. The initial prejudice dismissing Rakgurakgu as a cultish outfit, the surprise after checking out the products firsthand, and my meeting with Team Leader Choi Sora.
President Kim Manho took the card, pondered for a moment, and tapped the table rhythmically with his fingers—tok, tok.
Soon, he spoke in a low, resonant voice.
"Impressive."
"Pardon?"
"Most people just judge proposals as good or bad on the spot... But you went out of your way to verify the product's value and even met the rep. Haha, what are we supposed to do if you handle our jobs for us?"
"Ah... Did I overstep?"
"Not at all. I actually encourage it. A true pro verifies things with their own eyes when needed."
Phew, what a relief. Now I just need to pitch Rakgurakgu a bit more? Honestly, I really want to use their stuff...!
"Shall we proceed with accepting the collaboration with Rakgurakgu?"
"Well, I actually want to... Yes?"
"Rakgurakgu. You liked it, right?"
"Yes, I did... How did you know?"
"Haha, if you didn't like it, you wouldn't have brought it up first."
"Oh, true... Yeah, I want to. It impressed me more than I expected at the expo."
"Understood. I'll handle the negotiations with them directly. You don't need to worry about it, Areum-ssi."
Thank goodness. Was it that obvious? Gotta be more careful with what I say from now on.
President Kim Manho neatly accepted my first business proposal. I really like this guy.
"Next, a few words about your YouTube channel operations."
"Ah, yes."
"First video will be the snow camping one you did with Nana-ssi last time. We already got the raw footage from her, and she happily agreed to premiere it on your channel."
"I gotta thank her properly later..."
"Haha, she suggested it before we even asked. The editing team's pulling an all-nighter on it now—should be done by this evening if all goes well..."
Knock-knock. Before President Kim Manho could finish, a tentative knock came from the meeting room door.
The door cracked open, and a young female staffer peeked in. Her face... well, it looked like all life had been drained from it. The kind where if you ran into her on a dark street at dawn, you'd pretend to call a friend just to feel safe.
Her dark circles plunged down to the bridge of her nose—pro-level makeup couldn't compete—and her matted hair screamed of desperate battles fought.
She shuffled in like a zombie and handed President Kim Manho a small USB drive.
"P-President... Editing... done..."
Her voice sounded like she might collapse and sleep on the spot.
President Kim Manho took the USB casually, as if this were routine.
"Oh, Park PD. Good work. Perfect timing."
...It's not perfect timing; you just ground her into dust. I swallowed the words I couldn't say aloud.
My suspicion that this company might be a black enterprise was growing thicker.
President Kim Manho smiled contentedly.
"Since Areum-ssi is here, why don't we review the final edit together? Park PD, take a seat and join us."
"Ah, no... I should... head out and..."
Park PD's voice nearly cracked with tears, but President Kim Manho cut her off with a kind smile.
"Nonsense. Nothing's more important than hearing direct feedback from the creator. Come on, sit."
In the end, Park PD slumped into the chair next to me with a resigned look.
Is this insane editing speed the result of her sacrifice...?
I averted my eyes from the single teardrop trailing down her cheek and focused on the beam projector screen ahead.
President Kim Manho plugged the USB into his laptop, clicked a few times, and played the video full-screen. The room lights dimmed, and the interior of a car speeding down the road appeared.
The video opened with me driving and chatting idly with Im Nana, upbeat punk rock BGM layering nicely over our laughter.
A Slightly Special Camping Date
Soon, the scene shifted to the sheep ranch. Im Nana tenderly feeding the sheep—a picture-perfect moment.
And then—
Hiyaaaak—!!!
The moment I got mauled by the baby lamb played in slow motion—me screaming pathetically and tumbling over. They even added sound effects, turning my humiliation into a sitcom clip.
I glanced at President Kim Manho. Pro indeed? He was watching the funny scene with a straight face.
...Wait, why's his fist clenched so tight? His shoulders are twitching too...?
This guy! You're holding back laughter!
He was biting his lip, shoulders quivering.
I felt a twinge of betrayal.
Meanwhile, the video rolled on. Arriving at camp and tweaking my back, teaching Im Nana tent setup remotely, our happy mukbang with massive T-bone steaks. Joyful moments flashed by in quick cuts.
Then the screen went black, the mood shifting dramatically.
And the Next Morning, Disaster Strikes Us
The screen brightened to a campsite blanketed in white. Me, dazed, muttering "We're screwed."
[※A Refined Way of Speaking]
The beep censor and subtitle drew laughs. Then, desperately shoveling snow around the car, starting the quinzhee, and the snowplow grandly plowing through—window rolling down:
"Hey girls, making snowmen? Heh heh heh."
It ended with our awkward photo in front of the painstakingly built snowman.
When the video finished, the meeting room filled with nothing but quiet breathing for a good while.
Definitely not camping YouTube vibes. More like daily variety show... not full-on, but close.
But somehow, I didn't hate it.
Park PD broke the silence.
"Um... Areum-ssi... right?"
"Ah, yes. That's me. Great edit."
"Yes...? Th-this isn't for your channel..."
"...?"
"You're a camping YouTuber, right...? So we made a separate camping YouTube-style edit for your channel..."
"....."
Hey, President Kim. Is this really a major corp? Two versions of a 24+ hour shoot edited in just two days...?
The woman with the matted hair suddenly looked pitiful. Not just exhausted—truly on death's door.
I meant to comfort her, but her state made words stick in my throat.
"Uh... W-wasn't it too tough? How'd you edit so fast..."
"...I love this job..."
No, no. Saying that in that state doesn't sell it.
Does she have some weakness they exploited? Or some code of conduct forcing her to say this...?
As I genuinely worried for Park PD, President Kim Manho chuckled heartily and jumped in.
"Hahaha, our Park PD's just got massive pride in her work. Don't mind her. So, what'd you think of the video, Areum-ssi? This is the variety version for Nana-ssi's channel."
Don't mind? Is this company really okay?
"Ah... Yeah. It was fun. Not too over-the-top variety, just chill daily entertainment feel."
"Right? Nana-ssi's audience is mostly teen to 20s women, so this healing-variety style should hit big."
President Kim Manho nodded satisfiedly, then turned to the half-soulless Park PD.
"Park PD, play the version for Areum-ssi's channel."
"Y-yes..."
She staggered up and fiddled with the laptop. Moments later, a totally different vibe played.
No flashy subtitles or effects—just the crunch of snow, wind, our chatter, over soft BGM. Calm, emotional tone capturing the camping process quietly.
...This is it. Exactly what I wanted.
"This one's tailored to your channel's identity, focused purely on camping for those fans. Like it?"
"Yes, love it."
"Hear that, Park PD? All that hard work paid off. Hahaha."
"Ahaha... haha..."
I flinched. Oof... People can laugh that painfully? News to me.
"We'll premiere the chill camping YouTube version on your channel first, then the variety one on Nana-ssi's in three days. It'll give your channel a boost right when it might slow down."
"Oh... Double the promo, then?"
"Exactly. Throw in lives in between, edit those into videos to fill the camping YouTube looseness."
YouTube's run so strategically these days? Both edits exceeded expectations—especially the camping one hit home.
"Now, next plans. Once these drop, go on another camping trip soon."
"Oh, camping?"
"Yes. Early channel days, keep the momentum with steady uploads before hype cools. 'Content stockpiling.' Ride this snow camp high, drop the next right when they're thirsty."
Makes sense... And I was planning weekend camping anyway.
"This one's MCN's first official support. Budget covered to an extent, any gear you want or need? We'll prep it all."
"Hm... No revenue yet, you sure?"
"Haha, as the contract says, we're more agency than plain MCN. This level's fine."
Whoa... Then, maybe that's possible? Too pricey, only tried once or twice...
"Um, th-then... Could we... rent an RV too?"