Chapter 52
Chapter 52
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 52
Chapter Title: International Marriage Couple YouTube
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"Do it!!! Do iiiit~~~ Waaah!"
[Ah, what the hell, you crazy bastard!]
That was right.
I was currently deploying the ultimate female weapon known as "do it" on my youngest sister, Ji-min, back in Korea.
Having tried it myself, I could see why women loved using it.
It was incredibly effective at pissing people off.
The reason Ji-min was freaking out was simple.
I'd asked her to do some work.
"You said you learned video editing back when you were showing off about doing vlogs, right? Do it~ Do iiiit~~~"
[Kyaaah! Mom! Big bro's finally lost it!]
Hearing my sister's screams through the phone filled me with immense satisfaction.
Ji-min, who was still in middle school when I was in Korea, had grown into an adult.
I heard she'd gone into business in college to take over Mom's family business.
"Come on, it's not even hard! I'll send you the footage, you just edit it to make it fun. Why won't you do it?"
[Waaah! It's a hassle!]
"Twenty bucks per video."
[...This young lady will do her utmost, my lord brother. Please send the footage at once.]
'When someone won't grant your request, make them reconsider if they're short on cash.'
A wise saying, truly wise.
Her attitude flipped in an instant.
That was right.
I'd decided to have my sister handle editing the couple YouTube videos I'd filmed with Lily.
Truth be told, when Lily said she wanted to try it, I was ready to indulge her every whim.
Ah, looks like I'm still a sweet guy after all.
I didn't have any professional skills like video editing,
so my mind immediately went to my sister, who used to brag about vlogs back in her school days,
and I called her right away.
The YouTube account was under Lily's name.
Channel name: 'Lily Flower Has Bloomed'.
Inspired by Lily meaning lily flower, the concept was to share our sweet love story.
Couple YouTube.
It was also meant to let my faraway parents and family see our daily life.
Lily really loved filming videos.
"Every single minute with my husband is so precious~ Hehe. And this way, I can preserve those precious moments forever!"
Ah, what a perfect answer from a wife.
I wanted to punish her with 100 kisses.
We were sitting side by side on the living room sofa, watching the intro video we'd filmed a while back.
Who we were, how we met, and that Lily had the rare condition of albinism.
Lily in the video had clearly been putting more effort into her makeup lately.
All the cosmetics Mom and Ji-min had packed and sent from Korea.
With light pink makeup that made her look so vibrant, she was absolutely radiant.
They say originals don't change, but dolled up like this... just looking at her was a feast for the eyes.
Dong-hyun teased me, asking if I'd slathered honey all over the house since I rushed straight home after work.
So I told him.
You'd be the same if a beautiful wife was waiting for you at home.
Lily must have been practicing makeup alone at home while I was out.
"Why the sudden focus on dolling up?"
When I asked, Lily smiled shyly and replied.
"Mom said a wife should always look pretty for her husband."
Ah, Mom.
I specifically asked you to give her some lessons, but to think you'd teach her like it's the Joseon era.
Thank you.
Mothers truly love their sons the most.
I nearly shed tears of emotion.
Whenever Mom called, she said Lily practiced Korean with her while I was at work.
Lily's clumsy Korean was so adorable it was killing her.
Conversations with native speakers are the fastest way to improve, after all.
Ji-min logged into the cloud account her second brother Ji-hoon had given her.
As she entered the ID and password, a list of video files scrolled into view.
"Hmm~ Let's see, time to show off my skills after so long?"
Ever since high school, when she'd bragged to friends about making vlogs, Ji-min had been tinkering with videos.
Simply editing the footage her brother sent was no big deal for her.
"Whoa... these files are pretty hefty?"
She could just upload the edited version back to the cloud when done, so it was convenient.
For now, she started watching the two-hour raw footage from beginning to end.
That way, she could get a feel for the edit points, what to keep, and what to cut.
Ji-min had already seen the photos her parents took on their U.S. trip.
A beautiful woman with white hair.
Her new sister-in-law, Lily.
She was cute.
Honestly, way too good-looking for the second brother standing next to her.
It was like he'd rowed a turtle ship in a past life or something.
They hadn't spoken directly yet, but they were aware of each other.
After watching the two-hour video straight through, tears welled up in Ji-min's eyes.
Especially the part where they talked about how they met.
Lily calmly recounting her dark, sad past with such a bright face—the contrast made it even more heartbreaking.
The story of how her brother, who never did volunteer work in Korea, kept at it in the U.S. and reeled in a sister-in-law like this even made her wonder if the church had good vibes or something silly like that.
It was like picking up a winning lottery ticket off the street.
So immersed in the video, she soon found herself lost in the way they looked at each other.
Like they were head over heels, eyes dripping with honey as they gazed.
Ji-min unwittingly muttered to herself.
"......They're just so disgustingly in love."
She believed even ordinary looks had leagues.
Honestly, these two didn't match at all.
But seeing that sincere gaze they shared in the video, she felt inexplicably envious.
'Ah... my side suddenly feels a bit chilly.'
Watching her happy brother and new sister-in-law, Ji-min suddenly craved a boyfriend.
She indulged in the sentiment for a moment, then snapped back to reality.
Tap tap tap.
With cheerful keyboard clacks, Ji-min dove into the editing.
"Kwaaaah~ Done!"
After about three hours of editing, she finally wrapped up.
Stretching languidly, she rolled her stiff neck.
She checked the final product, smiled in satisfaction, and uploaded it to the cloud.
Then she fired off a short, blunt message to her brother Ji-hoon.
[Done, you pig ㅗ]
The two-hour raw footage had been reborn through her hands as a 30-minute highlight reel.
And that video became the first upload on Lily's YouTube channel, 'Lily Flower Has Bloomed'.
The beginning was humble.
Just to preserve memories for the two of them and share updates with faraway family.
'International marriage YouTuber Lily Flower Has Bloomed.'
No one—neither Ji-hoon, Lily, nor editor Ji-min—knew then
how massive a wave this seemingly ordinary couple channel would create.
This was a template meme floating around Korean internet communities,
satirically twisting marriage, high marriage age, childbirth, and old-age woes in Korean society as "true happiness."
It was also a meme encapsulating Korea's raw reality.
This was exactly why "international couples" and "international marriage" YouTube channels were exploding in popularity on Korean YouTube.
Want happiness? Here, have it.
Go find it! I left all the world's treasures there!
Like they'd become Pirate King, men started spinning the circuit: escape Korea, find happiness.
It wasn't wrong, really.
With men's and women's needs diverging sharply, and demand for partners who met those needs clearly existing overseas.
So men turned to "international marriage."
"One-night stands! One-night stands!"
"Eastern Europe! Eastern Europe!"
"Southeast Asia! Southeast Asia!"
Watching men in communities hoot like chimps, women lost it.
It was a direct threat to their survival.
They couldn't tolerate men's gazes turning abroad.
That's why communities were chaos every day.
"Why should only you guys be happy!! Waaah!!!"
As a result, international couple and marriage YouTube channels burned hot today too,
with men's envious fervor and women's hate like "poor kids, it's arranged marriage."
Washington D.C., White House.
Among them, the most splendid and historic East Room.
A massive crystal chandelier poured dazzling light.
American and presidential flags stood majestically on either side.
Gilded chairs were filled with high-ranking military officers, senators from both houses, and specially invited dignitaries.
Dozens of broadcast cameras blinked red, all aimed at one spot.
The scene broadcast live across America, no, the world.
And in the front row.
Ji-hoon's father Kim Sung-tae and mother Choi Mi-hee sat with pleased expressions.
Kim Sung-tae in an awkward tuxedo, Madam Choi in elegant hanbok.
For these two who'd never attended such an event, their faces mixed tension and pride.
Beside them, Lily in a white dress sat with hands clasped, holding her breath.
Moments later, the Marine Band's solemn fanfare rang out as the podium opened.
U.S. President Barnes, in his signature red tie, strode to the stage.
Thunderous applause erupted.
President Barnes stood at the podium.
"Today, we gather to honor a true American hero."
His voice echoed through the hall.
"One man's courageous act saved hundreds of American children from a horrific tragedy. He didn't hesitate, willingly risking his life. Now, he is a proud U.S. citizen. America never forgets such valor."
"Please welcome Mr. Kim Ji-hoon!"
Amid applause, Ji-hoon limped forward to the stage, his wound still tender.
The gunshot hadn't fully healed, but his steps were firm.
Ji-hoon stood before President Barnes.
"Mr. Kim Ji-hoon, on behalf of America, thank you for your extraordinary courage."
President Barnes held up the Presidential Medal of Freedom on a blue ribbon.
And personally draped it around Ji-hoon's neck.
At the same time, a military aide began reading his citations from the side.
Camera flashes exploded nonstop.
President Barnes gripped Ji-hoon's hand firmly and patted his shoulder.
In the audience, Madam Choi Mi-hee couldn't hold back, pulling out a handkerchief to wipe her tears.
Kim Sung-tae, eyes reddened, clapped harder than anyone.
Both recalled how close they'd come to losing their son.
Lily clutched her swelling heart, etching this moment—her husband hailed as America's hero—into her red eyes.