Kim Minseo, 19 Billion Won

Kim Minseo cost 19 billion won. He'd haggled the price down a bit, but in the end, it probably came out around that—or even more. There were real estate agent fees, acquisition taxes, and all that to handle too. But from Shin Jaewoo's perspective, the expense itself wasn't a big deal. Still, seeing that kind of money vanish did hit different.

This time, the money really went out.

It was ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠nothing like the million won he'd dropped on StarCraft funding. Nearly 200 billion won. When that much flew out, you definitely felt your balance shrink. Of course, it was fine. The money was down, but now he had a sprawling mansion. The only issue?

It's so empty.

The new house felt barren. The furniture was still sparse, and overall, it was just too hollow. Getting a huge place was great, but living there alone stirred up a bittersweet pang.

"...I guess I'm really bad at being lonely."

He didn't want to just bring anyone into this space. If he had to invite someone, it'd be his aunt or cousin. But even then, he had no idea how to explain all this to them.

"Guess I need to get married quick."

That was the inevitable conclusion. Maybe speed up the wedding plans. Another thought: get a dog? Nah.

Instead of moping like this, he needed a hobby. And conveniently, he had a new one now.

Thinking about it, Shin Jaewoo chuckled. Never thought I'd end up doing this...

AsiaTV. He'd watched it casually before. Back then, he'd seen throwing money at it as a total loss. But now he got it.

That was just poor-me thinking.

Spending a hundred or five hundred won on a hobby? No one batted an eye. And for Shin Jaewoo now, dropping cash on AsiaTV was the same. Tens of thousands a day didn't even dent his account.

Problem is, at this hour, there's no one worth watching...

Shin Jaewoo mainly tuned into StarCraft streams. Specifically, the games called MEP (Major Pro League) right now—pro gamers, eight or ten of them, forming 4v4 or 5v5 teams for matches. But those ran in prime time, evenings onward. Nothing now.

Who's even streaming at this hour...?

Midday. He checked the StarCraft category—some ladders, a few PC bangs.

"Weirdly, they just don't grab me..."

Ladders and pubs weren't his thing. Exceptions existed, though.

Pub stomps with wacky strats look fun sometimes.

Triggering rage with bizarre tactics? Entertaining, ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠sure.

"But nothing like that now either..."

Then he spotted her. A woman.

"Why's she here?"

Cute girl in the thumbnail. Kim Minseo. Shin Jaewoo knew her well. He'd literally just thought of inviting her to this house.

It's Minseo.

His cousin. "Heard she joined an agency to debut as an idol but flopped and bailed... Guess she pivoted here."

Made sense. AsiaTV was flooded with failed idols and trainees. What threw him? Her in the StarCraft category.

Why are you doing StarCraft?

She was running Star University. He could only snort. A trainee should've gone yeocam, not this.

First, feed her.

"Food... food..."

Her voice, dramatic and dying on the table, begging.

Even amid the yeocam jabs, the wallpaper was on point. And the image: GluttonGeneral gifted 1,415 Star Balloons.

Time for the daily balloon charge.

This is such a hassle.

Manual process every time. Maybe have Lee Sooyoung handle it later... Too much. He scrapped that quick.

Charge maxed instantly.

"Huh?"

Her pre-set sig blared—cheerful fanfare. Kim Minseo snapped her head up from the table.

Now her face was clear on cam. Camera makes her look different from real life.

This setup? Still recognizable. Face a bit slimmer, but definitely her.

"Jaewoo oppa! Wow, fan join like this is so generous..."

Her beaming face lit up. ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠Joy faded fast.

Public service announcement BGM vibes.

"...Fuck."

Kim Minseo's curse flew out salty, face twisting.

"Aaaahhh!"

Kim Minseo freaked in some weird voice. Good thing I pre-charged.

"Jaewoo oppaaa! Jaewoo oppa! Jaewoo oppa!"

Dying Minseo cheered again. She grabbed her spoon. No instant sadge from GluttonGeneral this time.

Twice in a row. Even GluttonGeneral felt the pinch. Plus, no clue how much more to match.

"Hey! Chills, you... go eat chalk."

"Ah, whyyy!"

Her irritation meter was visible, climbing. And honestly? Kinda fun.

Can't actually starve her, though.

Age gap or whatever—she was a cute lil sis. Lately less so, but still.

"Whoa!"

It didn't stop.

"Wheee! Now I can eat, right?"

Happy Kim Minseo grabbed her chopsticks again. On second look, she'd plumped up. Cam magic—IRL, she was chubby.

A new drop trick he'd learned. BOOM—thunderclap effect.

Chat flooded with laughs. Kim Minseo's face froze in disbelief.

"No way...?"

Her voice trembled. First chat from him.

Everyone lost it.

"Hold up, Jaewoo oppa. Where's the fat on me?!"

"When did you even see me? Have you?!"

Hearing her, he cracked up. Poke a bit more, see the reaction.

"Weirdos everywhere. Give 1476 now and I'll let it slide. Or Jaewoo oppa gets chat banned forever."

"Who clears the table after no-eat?!"

Right here. Wanted to say it, but chat locked. Time for plan B.

Grabbed his phone. Need to upgrade this junk too.

Cheap old model. But KakaoTalk worked.

Sent it. Kim Minseo checked, face shifting. Froze.

"Guys... my cousin oppa just Kakao'd me?"

"Not BF. No BF. And... lemme show ya."

His Kakao popped on screen.

Screen went black.