That's Something You Don't Know
Shin Jaewoo racked his brain. Injung Yeopo. Where had he heard that name before?
"Definitely..."
The first thing that came to mind was Romance of the Three Kingdoms. Injung Yeopo, Majung Jeokto.
'Sounds like a nickname pulled from there.'
But he didn't know much beyond that. Still, figuring it out didn't take long.
Right after Shin Jaewoo entered, someone recognized him.
"Hey? Jaemen's here?"
He wasn't familiar yet with the slightly more than ten members of this crew. The only ones he knew were the leader Kuni and the dark-skinned Maraong-i. Excluding the male members, that left just Nyanbyeol.
"Jaemen!"
Nyanbyeol, who'd met him once before, waved happily. Kuni did the same.
"Jaemen, you've graced us with your presence again? We're truly grateful."
Was it because Kuni was drawing attention like this? Injung Yeopo, who'd just been receiving thanks, reacted.
He showed curiosity toward Shin Jaewoo, just as Shin Jaewoo was curious about him. Names popped up in the chat window and from the members.
"Ah, Jaewoos-nim. Last time when our guest was on, you showered the guest."
"Our chairman said Jaewoos-nim's on the same level as Kim Shin-nim, right Yeopo hyung?"
The one in front was the female member who'd just received support from Injung Yeopo. Maraong-i followed up with an explanation.
"Yeopo hyung, do you know Jaemen too?"
Injung Yeopo was the first to act like he knew Shin Jaewoo. Seeing the chat, Shin Jaewoo tilted his head.
He still couldn't place the guy. He had no idea why Injung Yeopo was suddenly chatting him up.
'My little bro haha... Ah.'
Only then did Shin Jaewoo realize who it was.
'Han Taeho!'
The day of the big spender party. When he was sitting at Kim Dong-su's table, he'd learned Han Taeho streamed online too. And back then, Han Taeho had revealed his nickname. Well, technically through Song Sarang's greeting.
'Right. Song CEO called him Injung Yeopo back then. Ah, now I remember.'
As Shin Jaewoo nodded in realization,
"Whoa, you two know each other?"
Kuni's eyes lit up with interest.
Injung Yeopo was always in the top 100 of the wind best rankings—a major big spender. Someone who dropped over 100,000 star balloons whenever he hit Excel. Not on the level of those who full-charged every round, but steady in his own right.
'Even Injung Yeopo knows who Jaewoos hyung is?'
Come to think of it, Injung Yeopo was famously buddies with Kim Dae-mul, aka Kim Shin.
Injung Yeopo was showing deference to Jaewoos. Sure, it was AsiaTV culture.
A culture where everyone called each other hyung. But Jaewoos's attitude suggested it wasn't just that. They seemed like real hyung-little bro.
Viewer-to-viewer formality was banned, but no one could police Injung Yeopo and Jaewoos. Kuni just hoped. With Kim Minseo absent, Jaewoos had no picks.
'Hope he drops a big one today too...'
He shot a glance at Nyanbyeol. She'd ridden in Jaewoos's car. Heard she'd slept over with Kim Minseo. She'd even posted a photo of them lying in bed together. Just a two-shot on the bed—no way to pinpoint the house, so it was safe.
In short, she'd been to Shin Jaewoo's place.
'She should've wrapped him up then...'
Whether they'd slept together or just drank and talked, he hoped she'd reeled him in. Anyone would do. And Jaewoos had shown up right on cue.
The woman called Soso was the one who'd just thanked Injung Yeopo on stage. She returned to the stage after his support. With sultry BGM, her sexy moves began.
'Whoa.'
Not a 19+ stream, but the vibe hit hard if you looked close. Not flaunting her figure with sigs. Instead, her lustful expression, the music, and the reddening lights heated the mood.
After the sig music ended, she grabbed the mic, lacing her voice with breathiness.
"Oppa, did I appeal enough?"
Was this oppa for him, or for Han Taeho?
"Whoa!"
"Jaaaaemen!"
Soso's face lit up instantly.
"After Injung Yeopo hyungnim, even Jaemen... Am I going up this time~?"
Kuni hyped the mood.
Soso smiled with her eyes at the extra balloons popping mid-dance. Satisfaction shone on her face.
'Makes sense.'
Glancing over, Han Taeho had already dropped over 60,000. No small amount. Soso's total now: 87,023 star balloons. Most likely from Han Taeho.
"She doesn't mind burning this much cash?"
As Shin Jaewoo muttered that, a KaTalk popped up.
The 10,000 he'd sent Soso. Probably thanks for that.
Hearing Han Taeho's gratitude? Soso, fresh off her extra sig, thanked into the mic.
"Jaemen, seems like you sent because of Yeopo oppa—truly so grateful. Yeopo oppa, you're my lifesaver among lifesavers! Leader-nim, don't neglect me!"
As she said it cutely, Shin Jaewoo's lips curved up.
'Taeho handled that job well last time too.'
He'd been pondering a bonus for him. The company could handle some, but separately, Han Taeho had executed his personal orders perfectly. He deserved a gift.
"Whoa!"
"Huh?"
Soso's eyes widened as she came back from her thanks. The max one-shot balloon size. But what shocked her more was that Jaewoos's wasn't a one-off.
Just a few shots. But 100,000 star balloons already. Soso covered her mouth and stepped out.
She'd heard Jaewoos was a huge spender, but not this huge.
Thanks to that, Han Taeho perked up too.
Shin Jaewoo chuckled at his chat. He typed back on KaTalk.
This is 'cause you handled it well
Brag about it to the yeocam too
Han Taeho replied right away.
Truly grateful
He skimmed the thanks and closed it.
"Really... Jaemen, I had no idea you'd help me out like this today."
"Hey, Soso-ya. Jaemen dropped 100k on you right after coming in."
Kuni said to her. Soso nodded, still shocked.
"Y-Yeah... I really didn't expect this much help. Jaemen, truly thanks. For real..."
She looked genuinely stunned, like she'd never imagined this.
And because he'd told her to brag?
Kuni and the others read it too.
"Yeah, thanks Yeopo oppa too!"
Soso lightly accepted his bragging. Kuni checked the scoreboard.
"With Yeopo hyungnim and Jaemen today... Soso's heading for 1st at this rate."
Soso was already nearing 200k points, current 1st place.
Similar KaTalk from Han Taeho.
Truly grateful
Seeing that, Shin Jaewoo made a strange face.
'...Not quite?'
He'd supported Soso as a bonus for Han Taeho's good work. To boost his morale. No reason to make Soso 1st for himself.
From earlier—actually before entering—he'd had someone else in mind today.
"Nah, hyungnim. With you here, no one's fighting our stream."
Kuni buttered him up in response.
In other words, 'I have no plans to make that Soso girl 1st.'
Communication wasn't landing.