New Content (2)
New Content (2)
[Didn't know you'd make a new channel lol]
[So does this mean videos will be uploaded separately to the main channel and the sub channel?]
[I want to see more haha...]
It was the day after I uploaded the channel.
As I was reading the reactions, my subscribers started shooting up in an instant—someone was spreading things about the new channel all over the place again.
If I had to hazard a guess, it was probably the writer in charge.
But the stuff spreading on community sites seemed to be shared by ordinary subscribers.
"Hmm... so does this mean my revenue doubles?"
My main channel was growing endlessly, and now I'd made a sub channel too, so thinking about the money that would later appear in my bank account from ad revenue was starting to make me dizzy.
How much did I pay in taxes last year...?
"This year will be even more, right?"
To be honest, I wasn't even keeping track of how much money was being deposited, so I didn't care how much tax I paid.
However, if there was one thing that bothered me, it was that I didn't want to face baseless speculation that I'd split the channel just to earn more income.
"But... I have no plans to regularly upload on the sub account..."
I made it so I could upload when I wanted to do something other than meat, not to operate it like my main channel.
Despite that, the subscribers seemed to have collectively gotten the wrong idea and were having all sorts of expectations.
"First, I should post on the community page."
I'd post that I had no plans to upload often, and that I'd just left it there to upload once in a while.
And I wrote a post saying that I'd upload not just cooking but also other miscellaneous things from time to time.
***
"If something like that comes up, you should have talked to me about it."
"Did you think of some good way to handle it?"
"No? I was going to tell you to upload videos other than meat on your main channel."
"......"
Spouting nonsense the moment we met again—that was Jeong Hwan-yi.
This guy was in charge of both me and Jeong Hwan-yi, and he just casually spouted this kind of nonsense.
Didn't my growth and Lee Min-ho's growth lead to a salary increase?
Or had he been offered some other terms?
"Ugh, it's already over and done with, what's the point of dragging it on?"
"Yeah, that's true."
"That aside, why isn't Lee Min-ho showing up?"
"He showed up because of himself, and now..."
With his channel's subscribers starting to skyrocket, Lee Min-ho currently had over 500,000 subscribers.
Maybe because of that, the company had started providing additional backing to Lee Min-ho.
Usually, when companies provide backing, it's mostly things like increasing production support funds.
But, what kind of company are we?
Aren't we an entertainment agency?
So the Director decided to give Lee Min-ho backing suited to an agency.
"But I never imagined that would mean making photo cards..."
"Because not just anyone can do that. If the Director thought it wouldn't sell, she would never do it."
That was true.
She had an incredible nose for money and could see at a glance whether something would succeed or fail.
"But you're not doing it again?"
"I did a photobook shoot not long ago. It's a hassle now."
"Hmm... Other people would kill for the chance... You're an ungrateful brat."
"It's not like I can do anything about my full stomach just because others are hungry, right?"
And if he knew what the Director went through when she tried to do it secretly, he wouldn't say that, right?
It was fortunate that I had given A-ra that photobook with a one-of-a-kind design card and cover; otherwise, she might still be angry.
"The cards your wife has... must be an incredible collection."
"I'm not sure... but..."
"But?"
"She's still collecting other cards, you see..."
"Why?"
"Just imagine it. The value of the storage in that small room on the second floor of our house..."
Even if I only count the truly valuable things, wouldn't it be over 500 million won?
I've gotten desensitized and indifferent to it now, but at first, there were times it felt a little frightening.
Considering A-ra's earnings, they weren't even that expensive.
Anyway, it seemed I still had a long way to go.
"It's not that you have a long way to go—that's normal."
"I guess so..."
"I was completely shocked when I saw the Bugatti Chiron, you know?"
As expected, Bugatti's impact really was enormous.
These days, it was something frequently mentioned whenever I went on car communities.
As it was currently the only one of its kind in Korea.
I was even appearing on car-related programs because of it, grinning from ear to ear.
We sat in the cafe for a long time, chatting about everyday life.
*
"Hey."
"Wow... You're thirty minutes late now and you're not even going to apologize?"
"What are you talking about, didn't you see my message?"
"Huh?"
At Lee Min-ho's words, I pulled my phone out of my pocket.
One missed call, one unread text...
And there was also one KakaoTalk message.
"You're the ones who didn't answer your phones."
"Ahem... well, that can happen."
"So? What made you late?"
Jeong Hwan-yi snorted, as if to say, 'Is this really the time for the guy who's late to be getting angry?'
Then he gestured for him to hurry up and sit down.
Seeing that, Lee Min-ho plopped down into a chair.
"Sigh...."
"What's wrong?"
"Today... I fought with my mom."
"You did? That's unusual."
Jeong Hwan-yi remarked how unusual it was for Lee Min-ho to fight with his mother and gulped down his coffee.
Indeed, they had seemed to be on very good terms.
They had seemed far removed from fighting.
"It's just... because of the photo cards..."
"Why?"
"My family is a bit of an old-money type of family, you know?"
"Suddenly bragging, are we? Are you trying to rub it in to an orphan?"
"That's not it... It's just, being a conglomerate family has its own issues, you know?"
So, simply put, it seemed he'd been told that as a member of a conglomerate family, he shouldn't be running around too much and should be a bit more discreet in his actions.
But was Lee Min-ho the type to quietly listen to something like that?
"So?"
"I had a huge fight and stormed out. My phone's been blowing up with KakaoTalk messages from her saying she's sorry."
"Tsk, you unfilial brat."
"What do you mean unfilial... The conglomerate's reputation is only improving because of me."
Anyway, insisting he'd done nothing wrong, he pulled a water bottle out of his bag and chugged it.
You weren't supposed to bring outside drinks into the cafe, though.
"I'll go order drinks."
"Iced Americano for me."
"I'll have a cafe latte."
"Okay."
As if he felt some remorse for being late, he silently listened to our orders and nodded.
If I'd known he was paying, I should have ordered cake or a cinnamon roll too.
*
As soon as we arrived at the agency building, I let out a big yawn and stretched.
Now that I came and went so often, it felt closer to stopping by school or home.
"What are you guys going to do?"
"I'm going to buy some photo cards and open them."
"What's the occasion?"
"Just bored. I'm thinking of maybe posting this on the sub channel too."
The photo card shoot wouldn't take many shots, so it would be over quickly.
During the remaining time, I'd just do some card pack opening with Jeong Hwan-yi, and time would fly.
"Alright, then I'm heading up."
"Yeah, have a good shoot."
"It's probably going to be a bit different from what you're thinking."
"What is?"
"Never mind, just shoot well."
"Tsk, what a tease..."
Lee Min-ho chuckled, then turned and went up the stairs.
He probably couldn't even imagine it.
That when the photography director says she'll take just a couple of pictures, it means she'll keep shooting until she's satisfied.
He probably went up thinking it would only be a few shots, but it would take quite a while.
"By the way, where do they sell the cards?"
"Over at the Sales Department Team 1, they were selling them."
"I should go ask for an employee discount."
"You could probably ask for an executive discount and they'd give it to you."
"Nah, that'd be a nuisance."
I was only going to open about one box anyway.
Didn't they say one box was 100,000 won?
It was a little expensive, but if you thought about it as not being mass-produced, it might be a reasonable price.
***
"Noona!"
"Huh? You look like you're in a good mood today?"
"I did a card pack opening today, you know? And do you know what came out?"
"Did something good come out?"
"Ta-da!"
I showed what I had pulled today to A-ra.
It was none other than the card containing the photo used as the cover of the very first photobook I shot.
I had heard rumors that my cards were being traded at high prices...
This was probably that card—the one that had been distributed as a limited edition and then reissued.
"Aren't you collecting this one, Noona?"
"Uh... yeah..."
"Do you want to have it?"
"Yeah... I want it..."
A-ra had a kind of dazed expression on her face.
Drool was trickling from her mouth.
Whenever A-ra's collecting instinct and possessiveness kicked in, she would drool, so it seemed this card was one of the ones she wanted that badly.
"Hmm... what to do~"
"Y...you were going to give it to me, weren't you?"
"I do want to give it to you, but don't you already have one?"
"I do have one already, but..."
I don't know what's so good about her husband's cards, but A-ra just went crazy the moment she saw my cards.
"Then... I'll sell this card."
"H...how much?"
"Do you think I'd take money from you, Noona?"
"N...no... that's why it's even scarier..."
There was only one thing I wanted.
If I could just get my hands on this one additional thing, I could give away cards like this as much as she wanted.
"What do you think I want?"
"Ugh... a lead-right?"
"Five lead-rights. And..."
"W...wait! Still, no obedience voucher!"
"Why not?"
An obedience voucher was one of the rights where A-ra had to unconditionally follow my words.
If I just had this, our nights would be novel and fun, but A-ra didn't want to do it very much.
"If you don't want to, then fine~ I won't be disappointed."
"Ugh..."
Actually, that was a lie.
I didn't need a card like this—I was the only one who would be disappointed.
Didn't A-ra already have one of these cards?
Sweat was beading up and trickling down, and my throat felt like it was burning up.
My bluff had to work.
"....Fine."
"Really?"
"So give me the card, Noona. I'll keep it safe."
I grinned and handed the card to A-ra.
It was already in a sleeve and placed in an Ultra Pro case.