Chapter 46

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Translator: MadScientist

Chapter: 46

Chapter Title: Panel Streaming Business

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"Mmgh...! Ngh...."

I thought passing candy mouth-to-mouth was the end of it.

But Eun Ha-min clearly had other ideas.

She pressed herself fully against me and climbed onto my lap.

Once again, she brought her lips to mine and slipped her tongue inside.

This time, she probed even more insistently.

Before, she'd just been savoring my tongue, but now she was after the candy in my mouth too.

She rolled it wildly with her tongue until it melted, then sucked up every last bit of saliva.

Thanks to that, my mouth was parched—on the verge of drying out completely.

"Ngh...."

The big, hard, round candy they call a lollipop tumbled back and forth between my tongue and Eun Ha-min's.

She reacted like she wouldn't pull away until it dissolved completely.

Wet, sticky sounds rang in my ears.

"Hic..."

So freaking sweet it was driving me insane.

And I could feel my blood pressure spiking—my head even started to hurt.

'Air... can't breathe.'

I was breathing through my nose, but it still felt like I wasn't getting enough oxygen.

I tried to pull back a little, but her hand wrapped around the back of my neck and yanked me closer.

"Haa... *smack*, *slurp*...."

Our breathing grew heavier by the second.

If this kept up, something was bound to go down right here in the corner of this café.

How much time passed?

That massive lollipop that seemed impossible to melt vanished without a trace.

All that was left in my mouth was a sticky sweetness and Eun Ha-min's saliva.

Only then did she finally pull her lips away.

A transparent thread stretched long between our lips before snapping.

"Haa, haa..."

"Hoo...."

We both panted heavily.

Eun Ha-min's face was flushed red, her eyes misty and wet.

Her usual haughty demeanor was gone, replaced by a disheveled look that was strangely arousing.

"I... I'm gonna hit the bathroom real quick."

She whispered it in my ear and stood up.

But her walk looked off.

Her legs trembled noticeably with every step.

Like someone on the verge of collapsing from weak knees.

And something on her thigh...

Nah, must've been my imagination.

'Was it that good for her?'

I felt embarrassed but proud at the same time.

I wiped the saliva from my lips with the back of my hand.

My lips were still tingling.

A moment later, Eun Ha-min returned to her seat.

She must've washed her face—her feverish heat had cooled—but the way she looked at me was still intense.

Then she sat right next to me.

She hugged my arm tight and rested her head on my shoulder.

"Oppa."

"Yeah..."

"I saw it. That stream you do, Puppy Oppa."

Stream talk out of nowhere.

I glanced down at her in surprise.

I thought she wasn't into live streams.

Lee Soo-yeon too, and now Eun Ha-min...

"Wh-what was it about?"

"You know, the one where your face doesn't show, and you have an anime character up on screen. You had ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠that going while playing games."

Ah, she meant panel streams.

I nodded.

"That's the trend these days."

"I don't really like games or anything. But watching you do it made it look kinda fun."

Eun Ha-min squeezed my arm tighter and looked up at me.

Her eyes curved slyly like a fox's.

No wonder people get enchanted.

"So, here's the thing... I wanna try it too?"

"A panel stream?"

"Why? Can't I?"

"No... that's not it..."

I was just shocked.

The heiress of Hanbit Group—third-ranked conglomerate in Korea—doing panel streams?

Worried there'd be weird misunderstandings.

Like rumors that Hanbit Group is sponsoring the panel streaming scene or something ridiculous.

"But where do you even make those? Outsourcing?"

"Well... sometimes people outsource, yeah."

I paused for a beat before speaking.

No need for her to pay someone else.

"I can make one for you, Ha-min."

"Really?"

Her eyes went wide.

But she quickly narrowed them, smirking.

More intrigued than surprised.

"Hmm... I thought my Puppy Oppa was just good at games and making stuff, but this is unexpected? Got that skill too?"

"...Gotta do whatever it takes to survive."

"I like guys who are good at everything."

"Ahem."

Eun Ha-min trailed her finger down my jaw, whispering.

The ticklish sensation made goosebumps rise on my neck.

"Then make one for me, Oppa."

"What style?"

"Mm... just make it look exactly like me. But super pretty."

"Hard to make it prettier than the real thing."

I deadpanned, and she smiled silently.

She clearly loved that line.

"Smooth talker. Anyway, make it exactly like me. Got it?"

"Got it."

I answered, and she checked her phone.

Right away, my phone chimed with a notification.

"..."

How many zeros... One, ten, hundred, thousand, ten thousand... Fifty million won?

I blankly alternated between my phone screen and her face.

Eun Ha-min propped her chin on her hand, staring at me.

"Advance payment. Tell me if it's not enough. I'll wire more."

"Thank you! I'll deliver the highest quality, Boss!"

She chuckled at my fussing.

Her gaze was sticky, lips curved in a mysterious smile.

"You're so honest, Oppa. It's cute."

She stroked my cheek, then pressed her lips to mine.

This time, it was just a light peck.

The second I got home, I dove into work.

Fifty million won meant I had to earn it.

Well, just keep telling the AI app to regenerate until I liked it.

I poured maximum time into sculpting Eun Ha-min's character.

Perfectly lifelike, but in true panel stream style.

Complete with flawless movements.

Every action was animation-quality—ultra high-end panel stream ready.

"Perfect."

After hours of tweaking, even I had to call it a masterpiece.

It captured her sultry, haughty vibe perfectly.

Time for testing.

I loaded her avatar instead of my usual Dr. character.

Hit start broadcast.

The screen lit up, and the chat exploded.

I usually had decent viewers, but today was insane.

They were all shocked by the character on screen.

The reaction was as expected.

Everyone thought I'd finally lost it and stolen a chaebol heiress's face.

I turned on the mic and cleared my throat.

"Ah, ah. Mic test. Everyone, calm down."

My voice hit the stream, and chat went even crazier.

The character was a golden-haired, red-eyed bombshell Eun Ha-min, but the voice was a gruff guy's—totally understandable.

"This isn't stolen. Nothing major, just a test stream."

I picked my nose casually, playing it off.

Of course, it was totally intentional.

"This character is getting officially delivered soon to the esteemed lady of Hanbit Group, Eun Ha-min. So watch your mouths in chat. Don't get sued over nothing."

The chat flipped in an instant.

Well, more like it froze solid.

"And quit roasting me. This took a ton of work."

Chat had been ready to bury me moments ago, but now it was squeaky clean.

The power of chaebols is real.

No wonder people crave that validation.

Whistling a tune, I tested the character's expressions.

Smile, frown, wink.

The on-screen Eun Ha-min mirrored me perfectly.

That's why people get hooked on these avatar streams.

"You all need to watch your words and actions too. I messed up one video back in the day talking about chicken this and ramen that, and now I'm totally locked down."

That's when it happened.

A flashy effect popped on screen with a sponsor alert.

"Gah!"

I jolted up from my chair.

Then bowed 90 degrees toward the camera—or monitor, really.

"Oh dear, my sugar mama! You've arrived!"

The character gracefully bowed in sync with me.

A character with Eun Ha-min's face kowtowing was probably surreal.

"I poured my soul into that character you mentioned. Does it please the eye?"

Chat got noisy again, but no time to care.

"And no need to sponsor just to chat. Hit me up in chat, and I'll give you mod powers. Point out anyone annoying, and I'll freeze 'em all."

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Chat rebelled, lighting up with backlash.

I cleared my throat to smooth things over.

"Ahem, you think I'd really do that? Just kidding, kidding."

I grinned slyly and waved it off.

Viewers aren't just the paying ones, right?

They pay by watching.

"None of this would be possible without you viewers. I love you all, you know? You're my eternal friends and companions."

Total BS flattery, no spit needed.

That's streaming for you.

Then another sponsor pinged.

"Yes! Got it!"

I reflexively started to bow again but stopped.

Told not to, so I'd get chewed out if I did.

Froze awkwardly, eyes darting.

"Sending it right away. Same email as before?"

I quickly tweaked broadcast settings, swapping characters.

The stunning beauty vanished; out popped the slightly dopey but decent-looking Dr. character.

Chat mellowed, viewers started dipping.

"File sent. Check it out."

Moment later, another ping.

"Thank you! Safe travels!"

I waved wildly at the screen to see her off.

Thanks to Eun Ha-min, I'd already raked in over 2 million won.

"Haa. Feels so good..."

Oh, forgot to mute the mic.

Anyone hearing that would think I'm money-obsessed.

"Hey now, money-crazed? Who doesn't like money?"

Hate or praise, didn't matter.

My bank account was fat again.

After that day, Eun Ha-min started her own panel streams with the character I made.

The response was explosive, as expected.

Maybe because her face was already public knowledge?

Or her inherent allure—sultry and hypnotic—hooked everyone who already knew her charm.

Of course, the top-tier quality of the avatar I crafted played a big role too.

"Yeah. Gotta ask for another 50 mil later."

Subscribers shot up by 2 million in a week.

10 million was within sight.

Should be fine to squeeze another 50 out of her, right?

She said lifetime after-service too, after all.