Sore Awakening to Viral Stardom
The morning after that exhausting campout, I tried to sit up in bed, only to be hit by a ripping pain that tore through my entire body. A groan escaped me involuntarily.
"Agh, shit...!"
Muscle soreness... My whole body ached like hell after just one camping trip. I let out a whimpering whine as I barely managed to haul myself upright.
"Seriously... did my body turn into jelly or something?"
With this pathetic stamina, how the hell was I supposed to keep camping? It felt hopeless.
"Gotta hit the gym first thing once I start making money..."
I dragged my stiff body up and instinctively reached for my smartphone—then froze. Oh, right. I uploaded that video yesterday.
Did it hit 100 views? Comments... even hate ones would be fine, just something.
I swallowed hard. My fingers trembled as excitement to check clashed with fear of disappointment.
Calm down first... coffee.
I headed to the kitchen but stopped after two steps.
...What was I calming down for? Coffee wouldn't even taste good anyway.
I sighed deeply, turned back, and crawled into bed. With shaky hands, I tapped the Nutyube app.
Please, please, please... anything but a total flop...!
The studio screen loaded, and I couldn't believe my eyes.
...A glitch? Or did someone hack my account and abuse the system?
Numbers I'd never seen on my Nutyube stared back at me. I couldn't believe it. I practically rolled off the bed and dashed to my computer.
Damn, where's the power button! I fumbled for it, stomped my feet impatiently as the boot screen dragged on.
Faster, faster, faster!
Had the Windows logo ever pissed me off this much? Finally booted, I jumped into Nutyube via the APM 300 controller.
Subscribers had jumped another twenty since the phone. Someone was hitting subscribe right now, in those few seconds.
I dazedly scrolled to the comments tab. It went on forever. Over a hundred comments overnight.
My scrolling finger paused. It was here...! The algorithm's blessing on me too! I laughed out loud alone, devouring the comments. All praise—years of bitterness melted away like snow.
Then one comment killed my laughter dead.
...Moe points? The most humiliating scene I wanted to delete from my video?
I couldn't laugh anymore. The part I was most embarrassed about is cute? What's wrong with the world?
I started analyzing this bizarre phenomenon. Is it really because I changed from man to woman that they're loving it this much?
It felt unfair. No one cared about my 15 years of camping skills, but one face change and boom?
My lips pouted involuntarily. ...Huh?!
What expression was that? I caught my reflection in the mirror. A stunning beauty puffing her cheeks like a kid.
"...Urk."
I dry-heaved without thinking. "What the hell did I just do...?"
Horrifying. Better to get struck by lightning again. I clutched my head in terror, fearing I'd turn weird for real.
...No.
Then my bank balance flashed in my mind. Get it together, Hangeol. No, Han Areum now.
No time for identity crises. In a few months, I'd be broke and job-hunting. Work in this woman's body?
[What's your motivation for applying?] [I used to be a guy, but lightning turned me into a girl? So I can do anything, man or woman!] [This bitch is crazy.]
They'd think I was nuts. Man or woman, I needed money first. Deep breath, back to reality—focus on the computer.
Gotta do something... Check mail maybe.
Amid spam, one subject screamed at me.
Shaky hand on mouse, I clicked 'Apply for Monetization.' My day had finally come!
Lightning... maybe a blessing after all? No turning back now. This is my path.
Momentum surging, I planned the next video: for beginner campers, with a touch of romance.
What’s camping romance? Beautiful scenery? 30 points. Tasty food? 30. Relaxing time unwinding? 30.
The last 10? Pure romance. A drink by the campfire, tipsy strumming guitar and singing... that amplified emotion, MSG-style handful of romance! 10 points full!
Veterans with 10+ years, throw stones if you’ve never strummed an acoustic!
Heh heh. Just thinking got me excited. I searched paid sites with good facilities and bathrooms.
Too cramped here—would hear snoring from next tent. Pass.
Great view, no shade. Autumn sun would tan me Latina. Pass.
Good facilities... but dirt ground, not gravel. Rain = mud pit. Pass.
Picky filtering led to a Gangwon-do Chuncheon auto campground. Decent view, private spacing, and glamping for newbies.
Perfect.
Monday today. Booked prime spot for nearest weekend.
Same time, a Seoul studio. Dozens of lights blazed as pro cameras focused on one woman.
"Okay, Nana! Show that new tint's color payoff! Smile big like it's your life-changer!"
At the PD's call, Im Nana mechanically lifted her lips. Korea's top beauty/lifestyle Nutyuber with 1.5 million subs. Staff beamed at her smile.
But her eyes weren't smiling. Life-changer my ass. First PPL product ever...
Opposite thoughts as she robot-smiled at the camera, reciting lines like a parrot.
"Cut! Good take! Break time!"
Nana dropped expressionless and headed to her waiting room. Her manager/real scolded alongside.
"Nana, content meeting next. You've slacked too much. PPL backlog piling up..."
"Got it, Manager. One sec."
Half-hearted reply as she sank into the sofa. Do people really watch this crap? Deep doubt crashed like waves.
She dodged the meeting with a stomachache excuse, locked in the bathroom, sat on the closed toilet, and idly opened Nutyube.
Scrolling to kill time, one recommended video hooked her.
Rising Nutyuber? She almost skipped, but the thumbnail's simple tent in nature pulled her in.
Raw footage, no frills. Solid editing that gripped. No flashy effects or BGM—just a woman camping simply.
She scooped spicy stew broth, face lighting up purest joy: "Kya—!"
Nana chuckled despite herself. Pure, scriptless reaction. Fresh shock amid her burnout.
Mesmerized, she dove into 'Camping, Steadfastly.' Just one video—first upload apparently, yet algorithm-picked.
Makes sense.
The woman pitched her tent solo, silently. Then whetstone on axe blade—scraping ASMR, sharp focused eyes.
A 'real' Nana's world lacked. Cool...
Catching and gutting fish without hesitation: awe. Thick steak on heavy iron pan, fire mastery.
Opposite her calculated vids—raw, vital charm. Nana fell for that freedom she lacked.
She looks truly happy. I want that... do what I want, thoughtless.
Home later, she looped the channel all night. At dawn, resolute eyes, she called her manager.
"Manager."
"Yes, Nana? What's up, this early?" Sleepy rasp from the receiver.
"Ah...! Sorry, didn't realize the time..."
"Haha, it's fine. So, what's up?"
"I... thought of next content."
"Oh? What—food tour? Fall makeup trend?"
Nana glanced at the ceiling, voice firm: "I'm going camping."