Pay Party is a Party

The Pay Party was a party. And it was scheduled for tomorrow evening, Saturday. That meant today, Friday evening, still had plenty of time left.

Normally, I'd be out job hunting right now...

This was the time to hustle for a job. Maybe aim for a web novel publishing house like before, or something else entirely. But now, time was the only thing he had in excess.

This part's not bad.

Come to think of it, he could just start his own publishing company now. Not that he seriously planned ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠to.

Too much pressure.

What if it flopped? Still, the greed crept in.

Even if I don't handle management, I could acquire an existing one and...

Slip in as an employee or executive. Minimal work, minimal salary, but maximum authority—something lazy like that.

"...I'll think about it later."

For now, he just browsed streams. Before he knew it, evening had arrived. Plenty of streamers on a fiery Friday night. Amid them, Shin Jaewoo chose StarCraft again.

Shall I drop in again?

The daily charge limit was 10,000 Star Balloons. Shin Jaewoo topped up every day, but after splurging on Kim Minseo today, he was probably short.

"Can't they raise this limit or something?"

Shin Jaewoo frowned. He'd never donated before, but he'd seen whales dropping tens of thousands daily. How?

Do they save up?

Honestly, it felt unfair.

"Got the money, but can't spend it."

The daily limit grated on him. He checked his remaining Star Balloons: 1,394.

Minseo really cleaned me out.

He realized anew how much he'd showered on her. Tsk. Clicking his tongue, Shin Jaewoo entered the stream.

"Whoa? Our Jaewoos bro's here!"

"Went elsewhere first, so not much left."

"Ack!"

Seong Jinwoo let out an exaggerated gasp. Hearing he'd already blown a ton elsewhere dashed his hopes.

"Still, Jaewoos, thanks a ton for looking out for me. My bro Jaewoos."

Shin Jaewoo chuckled at the vibe.

Yesterday he was all 'hyungnim' and shit...

The shift amused him. It was part of the fun.

"But bro Jaewoos, got any scraps left?"

A chat caught Shin Jaewoo's eye amid the flurry.

Huh?

—Minseo-jjang—and mentioning afternoon streams meant Kim Minseo. She played StarCraft too, so overlapping viewers made sense.

"Wait, ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠Jaewoos, you hit Minseo's room?"

Seong Jinwoo had seen it too.

The same viewer added details. Shin Jaewoo frowned slightly.

Strangers gossiping about me ain't great...

Not a fun feeling. But the stream lit up regardless.

The chat exploded. Then more specifics.

Direct and personal.

"No such thing as privacy here."

Shin Jaewoo muttered. Seong Jinwoo seemed shocked too.

"Wait, her cousin? For real?"

No reason to lie. He'd already spilled it on Minseo's stream.

Kinda regretting that now...

As he thought that, Seong Jinwoo pressed on, still stunned.

"Whoa."

Pure awe first.

"You're real good to Minseo. So, Jaewoos, any more scraps left?"

"Mm. 1,800 won. Minus fees, 1,000 won. Thanks a ton, bro."

Seong Jinwoo seemed to sense no more was coming from prodding further.

"Ah, shouldn't do this today, but... big bros, anyone wanna chip in a bit for funding? I'll get kicked from MEP without entry fees."

Shin Jaewoo had about 300 left. A bit pride-stinging...

Yesterday's spree was fun, but now alternatives. Seong Jinwoo blinked at his chat.

"Transfer? Great for me, but... might cause issues later. Better charge through the site if possible?"

He eyed slyly. Shin Jaewoo's response was simple.

Today's limit hit.

"Huh?"

Seong Jinwoo's face changed. Chat too.

A few piled on. Pay—an unfamiliar term. Shin Jaewoo just questioned it.

Pay. Charge proxy services. Named after things like OO Pay, commonly just called Pay. JB Pay, Real Pay, PP Pay, etc.—tons of varieties.

"No way, Jaewoos hyungnim, you never used Pay?"

Seong Jinwoo's attitude shifted, sensing more balloons incoming.

"Check below—I'm advertising it too..."

He was right.

Panta Pay?

An ad for Panta ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠Pay scrolled by.

Didn't know this existed.

He clicked in. Easy to find via search. Signed up quick—referral: Seong Jinwoo. Tried a charge.

10k first.

Normally 1.1 million won, here 1.02 million. Bank transfer ready.

Will it work?

Ad said yes, but first time nerves. Worry unfounded—charged instantly.

Oh?

Super fast. Signup, order, transfer took time; seconds later, ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠balloons appeared.

Deposits processed immediately. Seong Jinwoo lit up at the chats.

"Jaewoos hyungnim, so now can you spare some for your poor lil bro?"

Friend moments ago, back to "lil bro" post-charge. Shin Jaewoo smirked.

"Aigoo, Jaewoos hyungnim tossing in another 100 per head... too grateful. But with Pay, 500 can't be all."

Sharp. More indeed. Shin Jaewoo added more purchases.

If doing it, go all in.

Up to 90k monthly got discounts. Previous 20k + today's 10k = 30k total.

60k more for extra discount?

Added that. Over 9 million won to AsiaTV this month alone. Meanwhile, Seong Jinwoo checked tallies.

"I'm sweating now."

"Bros, need at least 1k total. No one for another 200? Ah, Jaewoos def has more..."

Not "def"—actually did.

"Whoa."

Shin Jaewoo checked his count.

69,894

His balloons.

"Jaewoos, you got more, right?"

Clear answer to Seong Jinwoo's ask.

Lightened tone at the "yeah." Seong Jinwoo switched up.

"Aigoo, our Jaewoos hyungnim. So how much more for this poor lil bro?"

Laughing at the flip, Shin Jaewoo recalled a prior thought. Answer questions honestly.

"Woof woof."

Seong Jinwoo caught the unstated vibe.

"Why look far? Master. Woof woof. Seong Jinwoo gladly becomes your dog. So master, make me #1 today too."

Right then.

"Huh?"