Trying to Feed It to Me and Make Me Clean Up Your Shit?
“...They say even a tiger comes if you so much as mention it. Speak of the devil, here she comes. President Song.”
At Kim Dongsu's words, Shin Jaewoo whipped his head around to look where he was staring.
...Who the hell is he talking about?
Song. President Song. The title naturally brought a man to mind. And given the earlier context with “pay,” it had to be related. So he pictured a guy even more firmly.
But no. The person approaching was a woman. Early thirties, maybe? A beauty with straight hair exuding a haughty air. Shin Jaewoo's eyes naturally drifted to her exposed collarbone. Any guy probably would've done the same.
“President Song should be doing female streams, but she's stuck doing pay instead, right?”
Kim Dongsu's remark about her doing female streams clicked immediately, no further explanation needed. The “President Song” heading their way looked way more like a cam girl than a businesswoman.
She's a bit older, sure...
Definitely older than him. But that elegant aura she gave off? “Career woman” fit her far better than “auntie.” She reached Kim Dongsu's table and bowed her head.
“I should've come over sooner to greet you, but you all seemed to be having such a good time chatting. Thanks for setting up this nice get-together today, Representative Kim. And...”
Her gaze shifted to Han Taeho sitting beside Kim Dongsu.
“Injung Yeopo's here too. You two must be really close.”
Injung Yeopo. That was Han Taeho's handle. Hearing a streamer nickname spoken aloud in real life felt weird. But unlike Shin Jaewoo, Kim Dongsu seemed used to it. He acknowledged her greeting and spoke up.
“Taeho? I just keep him around 'cause he's entertaining. Anyway, President Song. You should've greeted the big bro here first. This is Shin Jaewoo hyungnim.”
Han Taeho got ignored again. He bit his lip but couldn't say a word. The woman called President Song naturally turned her eyes to Shin Jaewoo next. She bowed once more.
“I'd been wondering who Representative Kim would let sit next to him—he's not one for just anybody. Nice to meet you. I'm Song Sarang from Panta Pay.”
That was when Shin Jaewoo finally learned her name. But something else hit him first.
“Panta Pay?”
Panta Pay. The very service he'd signed up for. The one Seong Jinwoo had recommended just last night. And now it was coming out of her mouth.
But getting flustered and skipping the greeting would be ruder. “Ah, nice to meet you too. Shin Jaewoo.” Realizing his manners, he stood up from his seat. Kim Dongsu clicked his tongue at the sight.
“Tch. Our Jaewoo hyung's too polite. No need to stand for some pay president. Don't bother with the formalities.”
Kim Dongsu's words left Shin Jaewoo flustered. Saying that right in front of her... Song Sarang hadn't even left yet. But it didn't faze Kim Dongsu at all. Just like with Han Taeho, he spat out the dismissive remark right where she could hear it—hell, like he wanted her to.
Any normal person would've been offended.
“You're right. Like Representative Kim says, feel free to treat Shin Jaewoo comfortably too.”
Instead, Song Sarang smiled brightly and agreed. It was clear now—this was just how things were between them. Kinda hard to get used to. He'd seen a similar reaction from her with Han Taeho earlier.
But I figured that was just 'cause they're close enough for it.
Nope. Kim Dongsu just discriminated against people by default. And in his hierarchy, Shin Jaewoo got special treatment.
Guess that means I'm worth respecting. In his eyes, anyway.
He had the guy pegged now. Nothing new about it—Shin Jaewoo had dealt with types like him before.
“I actually prefer it this way.”
If the guy discriminated, he'd discriminate right back. But on his terms. No need to copy Kim Dongsu's criteria.
People who harm me versus people who benefit me.
That was his standard. And Song Sarang fell squarely into the latter. That was his stance.
“Our Jaewoo hyung's got such a good personality. You're a quick study. Anyway, President Song.”
“Yes, Representative Kim.”
“Hyung here only found out about pay yesterday, you say? I can't explain everything, but he's a whale on my level. Doesn't make sense to charge him the same as everyone else for star balloons, right?”
Song Sarang's eyes lit up at his explanation. That's why she put up with the insults earlier—Kim Dongsu drove massive sales her way.
“Oh my. Really? Then of course we'd have to give him special treatment.”
She picked up on Kim Dongsu's cue and turned to Shin Jaewoo. Her gaze turned a tad intense.
“If you use our Panta Pay, we'll pass on star balloons cheaper than anywhere else.”
Whales got their own pricing. With that, Song Sarang handed over a business card with her contact info.
“Just hit me up here whenever you need star balloons.”
Two women's business cards in one day, counting Lee Sooyoung earlier. It really said “Panta Pay CEO Song Sarang.”
She really is the pay boss.
Shin Jaewoo nodded as he took the card.
“...Sure thing.”
Streaming was already a hobby now. He'd be buying star balloons plenty more. Why turn down a discount?
“I'd love to chat more, but I should go say hi to the others too. See you, Representative Kim.”
“Yeah, yeah. We'll catch up properly somewhere nicer later, President Song.”
Why did that sound so sleazy coming from him? Song Sarang just smiled in response. She gave an elegant bow and walked off.
“...I'm Kim Daemul.”
“Huh?”
Shin Jaewoo blinked at Kim Dongsu's sudden drop. No clue what it meant at first.
“My AsiaTV handle.”
“Oh.” He nodded with an “aha.” Fair enough—if the guy was sharing, he should too.
“I'm Jaewoos.”
“Zeus? Like the Greek god?”
“Yeah, based on him, but it's Jae-woo's 'Jae-woo,' not 'Jeu.' Jae from my name, not 'hey.'”
“Got it. Name-based?”
“Yep.”
“Zeus was a total player, though.”
He glanced away, tossing in the jab. Zeus the playboy—famous for it. Then he added,
“You see a lot of girls too, Jaewoos hyung?”
A cheeky question, if there ever was one. And it tied into what Kim Dongsu had been suspecting.
Looks like the girl Taeho brought used to be this guy's toy.
Played with and dumped. Han Taeho picked up the scraps. That was his initial hunch. He'd had no plans to ask at first. But curiosity won out—he'd probe a bit.
Shin Jaewoo chuckled and shook his head.
“Nah.”
That was the moment.
“Liar! It's not even a week since we broke up—how'd you show up here with a girl then?”
Lee Sooyoung had stepped away briefly. Kim Hyeju shot back in disbelief. Shin Jaewoo stared at her, baffled.
“You think just 'cause you cheated, everyone's like that?”
Her face flushed at his retort. Kim Dongsu's eyes gleamed with interest. The table's vibe turned awkward.
The smoking area. Kim Dongsu tapped his cigarette on the pack.
“Here's your light, hyungnim.”
As he lit up, Han Taeho rushed to hold the flame. Then he lit his own. Right as Han Taeho sparked his and Kim Dongsu exhaled his first drag, he spoke.
“Taeho.”
“Yeah, hyungnim.”
“Fuck. You trying to set me up or what?”
“Huh?”
“Don't play dumb. That Kim Hyeju chick. At first I thought you picked up Shin Jaewoo's leftovers... but she cheated, right?”
Han Taeho's face drained of color at the barrage.
“And the cheater was you. Bringing her here to dump on me? Figured you couldn't handle Shin Jaewoo, so feed her to me and make me clean up your shit?”
“N-no, hyungnim. Why would you say something like...”
Slap!
Han Taeho's head snapped to the side. Kim Dongsu's hand hadn't waited for the excuse.