Chapter 110
Chapter 110
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 110
Chapter Title: Merry Christmas in Advance!
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Year-end was fast approaching.
What did it mean that year-end was coming?
It meant Christmas was right around the corner too.
"A little early, but Merry Christmas!"
"Merry Christmas!"
And so, Blue LUV gathered together for the first time in ages, just two days before Christmas, to throw a Christmas party.
We'd been so swamped even after winning the Hyper War tournament that we hadn't even managed a proper afterparty.
So this was doubling as that celebration too.
This was a hotel room the President had booked for the entire day.
Even with all seven of us crammed in—including Manager So-eun—it didn't feel cramped at all.
If anything, the space felt vast and empty, thanks to how luxurious and spacious it was.
According to the President, since it was a win celebration, she was splurging big time.
I couldn't even begin to guess what "big time" meant in her world.
It wouldn't cost millions just to crash here for one night... right?
"Better late than never, but you all worked so hard prepping for the tournament. Especially our maknae!"
"Y-Yes?!)
The President had raised her champagne glass high and was mid-toast when she suddenly called my name.
I'd been sneaking a bite from the spread in front of me and jumped, eyes going wide.
Our eyes met, and her stern expression melted into a beaming smile.
"You carried us so hard—great job. Our maknae really is a treasure, a total treasure."
"N-No, it was because everyone was amazing that we won. Ehehe..."
It had been nearly ten days already, so getting praised now felt a bit awkward.
I scratched my head sheepishly as I replied, and Chae-yoon unnie shot up from her seat beside me.
"Kuh, that's our maknae for you! Speaks so sweetly, games like a pro—how could we not adore you?"
Grab—
"Eep...?!"
I appreciated everyone loving me and all.
But couldn't they just praise me normally?
I never knew how to react to these full-body attacks.
Still, as Chae-yoon unnie pulled me into her arms and stroked my hair, any tiny complaints vanished in an instant.
Before I knew it, I was grinning like an idiot with an "Ehehehe..."
I wasn't a puppy or anything, but getting petted by unnie always made me weirdly happy.
"Hey, unnies, did you see what the pro players said about Da-jeong in that interview?"
"Huh? I missed it—where?"
"Me too."
Meanwhile, Yuna must've caught the Word Cup interview like I did.
She boldly recited my super embarrassing dark history and tossed the question to the unnies.
Of course, Ji-ah unnie and Ra-hee unnie—who had zero interest in something like Word Cup—looked puzzled.
"That combo Da-jeong made? They're calling it the Lulu combo among the pros! And they said she's the Hyper War genius—tons of praise!"
"Whoa, really?"
"Da-jeong knew about it?"
"Y-Yeah, I knew..."
Of course I knew.
I just couldn't bring myself to say it because it was so embarrassing.
I'd suffered so much teasing because of that interview.
Even now, when I played Hyper War on stream for fun, the chat would flood with 'ㅇㅅㄹㅅ' even for nothing special.
And then Midnight pro showed up on my stream one time.
He said, "Came to learn a Hyper War trick before I go," and donated—total chaos that day.
Uuu...
"Huh, but I don't think it went up on the Blue Oshi channel?"
"Da-jeong said she wouldn't post her own stuff there, So-eun."
"Oh, right."
No, President.
It wasn't a format issue with Blue Oshi—I was too embarrassed to post it.
But the editors said they'd upload it to our official channel tomorrow.
I'd begged them not to!
They pulled the "As Lu Dongbu fans, we have a duty to grow the Mityube channel!" card, so I had no choice but to cave.
Scary, our staff...
"Yeah, come to think of it, Da-jeong—you skipped your own clip again on Blue Oshi?"
"I saw that! No highlight with you in it."
"What? I haven't checked yet—Da-jeong did it again?!"
"W-Well..."
I was shivering, recalling the staff's fierce demands, when Blue Oshi got mentioned.
Ra-hee unnie kicked it off, and Yuna and Chae-yoon unnie piled on with questions.
They'd compiled tournament highlights for Blue Oshi.
And yep, I'd left out my super plays again, only posting the members'.
I-It wasn't recent, so I figured it'd be fine...
But they all looked kinda mad.
Stretch—
"Maknae! Even so, you gotta include your highlights too! We did it as six!"
"Uwheee... S-Sowwy..."
Chae-yoon unnie finally lost it and tugged my cheeks, scolding me.
I could only plead forgiveness while staring at my mochi-stretching cheeks.
I told them my clip would go up on the official LUVtube with everyone else's, and she finally let go, anger subsiding.
Sniff.
But I don't wanna post my stuff on my fan channel.
Seeing my avatar pop up while editing feels so embarrassing.
The one time with Ji-ah unnie on Outpost, our avatars were both on screen, so I had no choice.
I'd rather cut my scenes whenever possible.
"Anyway, clear your heads today and rest up—no worries. Tomorrow, we push hard again. Got it?!"
"Yes, Captain!"
"Hey, I'm the Captain!"
"Oh, right...!"
We bantered nonsense like that while devouring the room service spread.
I always felt this way with the members—just being together was fun.
Nothing special, just hanging out, chatting idly.
"Huuu, so full...! Dibs on a bed spot!"
"Chae-yoon, at least shower first..."
Soon as the meal wrapped, Chae-yoon unnie—waiting for her cue—leapt onto the bed and buried her face in the fluffy duvet.
Ji-ah unnie watched and nagged her.
Just this contrast painted their home lives perfectly.
Ellin, Blue LUV's queen of diligence and hustle.
And Lilith, the ultimate slacker.
But their opposite personalities made for surprise chemistry in collabs—super fun.
Mostly Ellin getting dragged into Lilith's hyper energy and drained, though.
"So-eun and I will head out first. Have fun among yourselves. Use this card for anything else."
"Whoa! President, you're the coolest!"
"This won't burn through our prize money in a day... will it?"
The rowdy vibe shifted to wind-down mode post-meal.
The President handed Ji-ah unnie a card as rep, then prepped to leave.
Yuna was busy praising her with clasped hands.
But I worried—she'd spent way too much today.
Hotel stay, room service—it all added up.
"This won't dent it—don't worry. This is on my wallet anyway. Your prize money gets settled properly later."
"Bruee... P-Pwesident... Thwat's not what I..."
It wasn't about the prize money vanishing.
I was just worried she'd spent too much.
She pinched my cheeks anyway.
Teasing like I thought she'd stiff us or something.
She knew that wasn't it...
Pok—
"Anyway, rest easy."
"A bit early, but Merry Christmas, everyone."
She released my cheek, turned coolly, and waved.
So-eun unnie bowed and greeted us too.
But we'd gathered to celebrate Christmas together for once.
Sending them off early felt a tad lonely.
So unconsciously, I grabbed the President's sleeve and whined for the first time.
"Can't the President stay and play too?"
"Nope. Presidents are busy, unlike you girls."
"Uuu..."
But I wanted to hang with her and So-eun unnie too.
Plus, she didn't seem actually busy.
Just giving us space, probably.
"I-I wanna play more with the President and So-eun unnie..."
"...Pfft."
"Pffft..."
I said it timidly, voice small and honest.
Deflating balloon laughs echoed.
I looked up, dazed—smiles on the President and So-eun unnie's faces.
As I blinked blankly, Chae-yoon unnie's big voice boomed from behind.
"Right! President, maknae's being this cute—stay longer!"
I-It wasn't aegyo or anything...
Just didn't want her to go...
"Hear hear! Blue LUV's six with the President!"
"Why not seven with So-eun unnie?"
"Huh? So-eun unnie debuting with an avatar?"
The other members chimed in with agreement.
The President and So-eun unnie exchanged glances.
Then sighed in unison, helpless.
The President patted my head.
"Fine... If the maknae wants to play, I can spare a day."
"Really...?!"
Heh, yes!
The President could be pretty stubborn.
I figured no amount of begging would work.
Must be a Christmas miracle.
"If we're all playing, better grab more snacks. I'll go."
"Might need hands—take Chae-yoon."
"OK! I'll handle it!"
She took the card back from Ji-ah unnie.
As So-eun unnie headed out, bed-flopped Chae-yoon unnie bolted after her.
"C'mere, maknae. Wanted President time? This way."
"Y-Yes..."
And so, guilty of detaining the President, I slipped into her open arms on the floor.
Becoming a hug doll for a bit.
Ji-ah unnie and Ra-hee unnie toyed with trapped me from all sides.
But it was so much fun.
A bit early, but my first Christmas ever spent with someone.