A Risky Bet
I must be an idiot. As I chew through the breakfast he prepared, I keep turning over last night in my head. No matter how much I think about it, the only explanation is that I did something incredibly stupid. I know better than to believe a single word that comes out of Kang Juhyuk’s mouth, even if he swore black was white. What the hell was I thinking, nodding along like that? Idiot.
“Haeun, finish eating and come to the room with the soundproof booth. I’ll explain what I mentioned yesterday properly.”
“…”
I watch his back as he carries the dishes to the sink, speaking in that blunt, matter-of-fact tone. At least he’s wearing a T-shirt and shorts today, unlike yesterday. I suppose that’s something.
I already knew the option he was offering, even if I’d been reluctant to take it. If I showed my face and body, the views would go up. I knew that. I just hadn’t done it. Because I was terrified the numbers wouldn’t rise enough to make it worth the humiliation.
Kang Juhyuk feeds the visibly unsettled Haeun, then heads into the soundproof booth ahead of her. I’d expected something more professional, but the inside is surprisingly bare. Just a guitar, a music stand, and a chair. Nothing else. A space meant for nothing but playing guitar.
While I’m wondering what kind of setup would look decent as a background, she shuffles in, looking awkward.
“Ah, sit down, Haeun.”
“…”
I stand up from the chair I’d been using and guide her into it instead. Looking down at Seo Haeun sitting primly with her legs together, I try to picture how she’d look holding a guitar. With a chest like hers, shooting from above probably isn’t even necessary. Straight-on might work better.
“So, Haeun. Remember what I asked you yesterday? Whether you were serious about doing YouTube properly.”
“…Yeah.”
“If you are, I’ll give you some advice from an ordinary viewer’s perspective. Want to hear it? You already know this, but with your body, there’s no way you can fail. Seriously.”
Even in the sloppy clothes she wore to the gym yesterday, Seo Haeun looked ridiculously hot on camera. A few pieces of fabric aren’t going to change that. If anything, the right outfit could make her even more appealing than being naked. Forget everything else — just a tank top and dolphin shorts would easily pull in ten thousand subscribers. Cosplay? We’re talking a hundred thousand. A woman’s chest works everywhere, regardless of country. Views would probably outpace subscribers.
“…Hey, Kang Juhyuk.”
“Yeah.”
“What’s in it for you? Why are you trying to make me do this?”
Her blunt question goes straight to the point, but the answer is simple. Why am I bothering to help her with YouTube?
“It’s not about any gain. I’m just saying something because it’s fucking frustrating to watch. You’ve got a body like that and you’re wasting time. I can afford to pay a little attention.”
“…Ha. Now you’re saying that.”
Success would make her even hotter. A celebrity with a million subscribers is obviously more appealing than some shut-in bum.
“What do you mean, ‘now’? I’ve been looking out for you from the start. Even when I picked a fight with you years ago, it was just me giving you a heads-up because I cared.”
“Please. I don’t believe you. Not anymore. I won’t believe anything you say.”
“Believe it or not, it’s your life. Just listen. I’ll tell you exactly how to make money without showing your face.”
If I can tie her to me financially in the process, jackpot. Even if we just get closer and end up sleeping together, that alone would more than cover the investment. I might not have anywhere to spend money, but I’m not dropping two hundred a month just to eat with a woman for half a year. I invested because I have ways to get it back.
“Haeun, I’m going to be pretty honest while I explain, okay?”
“…Do whatever you want.”
“Ah, good. First, your channel. The ID is Sophia. Channel name Sophia. Every video uploaded is just guitar recordings.”
Reviving a tiny YouTube channel with fewer than a hundred subscribers isn’t hard. I could throw in a cat with no context or just tell her to buy a phone tripod and keep uploading the same way she always has, wearing whatever she wants. Shoving a woman’s chest at the camera usually works somehow. I’ve been thinking about becoming a baseball YouTuber ever since my rehab started looking impossible, so I know this stuff well. Men sweating on camera? No demand. Women sweating on camera? Sells like crazy. The reverse has its own audience too.
“…In the end, you’re just telling me to film my body and upload it.”
“Hey, this is just the beginning. The start. Washing rice doesn’t mean the rice is cooked.”
That tactic works when you’re crawling up from rock bottom. To climb higher, you need more refined techniques.
“I listened to your playing. You’re actually pretty good at guitar. So instead of just uploading audio recordings, film yourself playing properly. No need to force the sex appeal.”
“S-sex…”
Men prefer a woman who teases like she won’t take anything off, then gradually does, over one who strips right away. In dating, that’s called playing hard to get. In this industry, it’s called image management. Look at idols — they try every concept under the sun, innocent, girl-crush, cute, and when nothing works, they switch to sexy. It’s the same thing.
“Someone like you doesn’t need to rush into exposure. Just film normally and upload normally. The views will still go up at least ten times.”
“What if they don’t?”
But if an actress turns down even a low-resistance role like this, there’s nothing left for the director to do. I don’t know why she’s hesitating so much when she’s not even that famous, but I’ll have to scratch at her pride until Seo Haeun shows off her chest. If she doesn’t, she’ll just stay holed up in this room eating my food for the rest of her life. That wouldn’t be the worst thing, but… I prefer dogs over cats. If possible, I’d like to take her for walks.
“They will. Want to bet? You wear… that suit you used to wear at the club and film it. Let’s see if it hits ten thousand views or not.”
“…Ten thousand?”
“I’m telling you it will. It definitely will. At least that much.”
“Wait, do you even know how many views my channel gets right now…?”
“Around a hundred. The best one got maybe eight hundred. Ten times that and we’re at ten thousand easy.”
“Can you actually take responsibility for that…?”
“Why wouldn’t I? It’s guaranteed.”
Seo Haeun stares at me with suspicion, but this is an obvious outcome. Honestly, even if she uploaded herself in those sloppy gym clothes from yesterday, it might work, but her old club suit? It would blow up for sure. No need to worry about algorithms or anything.
“…Hey, Kang Juhyuk. You’re serious, right?”
“I’m serious. Why don’t you believe me? I’ll take full responsibility.”
“…Fine. Let’s bet. There’s no way it’ll hit ten thousand views with that.”
I’d been wondering how to trap her when she willingly jumps into the fire herself, but then she asks,
“What are we betting?”
“Anything. …Except touching. I’ll do whatever else you want.”
“…Hey, you’re insane.”
“Hurry up and promise. Ah, record it. I’m recording, so promise.”
I didn’t even need to set a trap. She’d already served herself up, perfectly smoked and ready for my mouth.
“Alright, I promise. If it doesn’t hit ten thousand views, I’ll do whatever you tell me to do. One thing.”
“If you break this, I’m kicking you out.”
“If you’re going to kick me out, why not bet that instead?”
“…”
“…Whatever. So if I win, you’ll do one thing I tell you to do too?”
“…As long as you don’t touch me.”
“Got it. I won’t touch you.”
I stare into Seo Haeun’s eyes, wondering what kind of nerve she has to propose such a ridiculous bet. Anxiety. The eyes of a beginner terrified her bluff will be called. I wonder for a second if I missed something, then realize we never set the most important condition.
“Ah, until when?”
“…By the end of March.”
“Yeah, that’s more than enough time. And you’re uploading to your own channel, right?”
“……Yeah.”
“You’re not allowed to delete it or make it private afterward, obviously?”
“……”
I’d suspected as much, but her plan is even more half-baked than I thought. She won’t delete it right away, but if things look dangerous, she’ll just shut the channel down and run. It’s so ridiculous it’s almost cute, so I don’t press further and keep the bet clean.
“Ah… and I’ll buy you a tripod for the videos, so you can just set your phone on it and film however you want. Wear the suit you used to wear when you worked at the club. Okay?”
“…”
“Answer me. You’re the one who wanted to record this.”
“Ah, fine…”
Whether her lack of confidence comes from having none or from having too much, I can’t tell, but one thing is certain: either way, I’m going to win this bet. There aren’t many sites that turn down photos of an attractive woman. Viral marketing or not.