Chapter 88
Chapter 88
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Translator: Vine
Chapter: 89
Chapter Title: Yuin's Fan Cafe
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[Grandma Shopping Vlog]
[I Like Playing Guitar Too]
[Yuin Loves Tuna Mayo]
Yeonwoo had been actively posting on YouTube.
Sure enough, at some point, he developed a fandom.
It was a punny name similar to wordplay, but one that meant "We're Inside You"—Yuin's fandom. The fan cafe opened first and quickly racked up 30,000 members.
It might seem like a small number, but in reality, even popular idols you see frequently on TV struggled to surpass 100,000 fans. The public only really noticed fandoms of a tiny elite—world-class or top domestic idols.
Considering that, gathering 30,000 members in such a short time was impressive.
To put it in perspective, even Hadas's fandom was estimated at around 50,000, while Yoo Jaehyuk and Chae Hayeon's were smaller than Yeonwoo's.
"A fandom and a cafe, too. Our Yeonwoo's a total star now?"
Jiyeong grinned as she looked at the fan cafe, glancing at Yeonwoo.
His expression was surprisingly calm.
"What's with that face? Not thrilled?"
"No, I just don't get it. Why go this far?"
"Because... they like you?"
"Like the people watching my YouTube?"
"More than them. They watch your videos and even join the fan cafe."
"I see."
Yeonwoo nodded.
Still, it didn't hit as hard as the instant feedback from YouTube comments.
"So, what should I do for them? They're my fans—I feel like I should do something."
After pondering his question, Jiyeong replied.
"For now... maybe just post a thank-you on the cafe?"
"Can I join, too?"
"They'd beg you to come."
With his aunt's help, Yeonwoo managed to join the fan cafe.
* * *
[Hello, this is Yuin.
Thank you so much for loving me and creating this fan cafe.
I love making music.
I want to create lots of great music to make you all happy.
Thank you again.
(Yeonwoo doing a navel bow)]
-Wow, it's really Yuin ㅠ
-So polite, our Yuin ㅠ
-Auntie loves you so much, Yuin ㅠ
-Sis wants to buy you yummy food ㅠㅠㅠㅠ
-Thanks for joining the cafe, Yuin
Staring at Yuin's post, a woman clenched her fist.
"Yes!"
Startled by her own outburst, she glanced around in a panic.
She was at her workplace.
After confirming no one reacted, she turned back to her smartphone.
Seeing the photo of Yuin bowing at the navel brought a warm smile to her face.
'How can he be this adorable? His parents must be over the moon.'
The woman, whose fan cafe nickname was "YuinShouldIBuyYouRice?", was the cafe president.
On a business trip to Japan, she'd stumbled upon Yuri & Annosuke's debut showcase via YouTube live and fallen head over heels for the boy playing piano—Yuin.
She'd kept tabs on him ever since. When he started uploading YouTube videos and fans emerged, she formed the fandom and created the cafe.
Honestly, she hadn't expected this many people to join.
Drawing on her own experience as a fan club officer back in the day, and with help from others skilled at this stuff, she was thrilled to be running a 30,000-member cafe.
"Uh, Manager?"
Lost in warm thoughts as she gazed at her phone, a voice from beyond the partition snapped her back. She turned, startled.
Her subordinate peered over the partition.
She pushed up her glasses, forcing a stern expression.
She melted into a mom (or auntie) smile for Yeonwoo, but at the office, she was a manager leading her team.
She couldn't show a goofy grin. Cold charisma was her motto.
"What is it?"
"I sent over the planning draft. Here for your review."
"YuinShouldIBuyYouRice?" nodded and turned to her monitor.
A barrage of harsh feedback poured out, like a blizzard.
After sending the subordinate off, lunchtime arrived. She leaned back in her chair with a sigh.
Managing people was no easy task.
It wore her out every day.
She didn't even feel like eating.
'Times like this...'
She planned to unwind with Yeonwoo's very first free jazz performance.
Then a new upload caught her eye.
[Yeonwoo Lunchtime Chat]
"No way...!"
It wasn't just a video.
It was a YouTube live.
"YuinShouldIBuyYouRice?" Manager rushed to join.
* * *
"Auntie, is it starting now?"
"Yeah, it's on."
Beyond joining the fan cafe, Yeonwoo had wondered what else he could give back to his fans. On his aunt's advice, he decided on a short live stream.
He wasn't a singer—just a composer and producer—but he felt he owed this much service to the thousands leaving comments and joining his cafe.
Truth be told, he was curious about live streaming, too.
"Hello, this is Yuin."
Yeonwoo bowed toward the camera atop his monitor.
-Yeonwoooooooo
-What's this miracle ㅠㅠㅠㅠㅠ
-So cute ㅠ
-Hi Yeonwoo?
"Yes, hello everyone. The chat's flying by faster than I thought."
Yeonwoo peered at the monitor. Spotting something amid the scrolling messages, he read it aloud.
"YuinShouldIBuyYouRice?, thanks for the donation. Oh! I know you—you're my fan cafe president, right? Thank you for making the cafe."
He stood and did a navel bow to the president, who'd donated a whopping 100,000 won.
-Too cute ㅠㅠㅠㅠㅠㅠ
-OMG ㅠ
-How is this kid so pretty ㅠ
-I want a kid like Yuin for real ㅠㅠㅠㅠㅠ
-So jealous of Yuin's parents ㅠㅠㅠ
-Yuin, I'll buy you food ㅠㅠㅠ Let's hang out with Auntie ㅠㅠ
-Yuin, need toys? I'll send some?
-Yuin ㅠㅠㅠ Just say the word, I'll buy you anything ㅠ
Chats from fans utterly smitten with Yeonwoo flooded in.
Reading them, he shook his head.
"I've made plenty of money. No need for gifts or allowance."
-But... we wanna give!
-It's your fault for being so giftable ㅠ
-Yuin let us gift youuuu ㅓㅓㅓㅓ
"Then instead of me..."
Yeonwoo wiggled his tiny hand and showed his smartphone screen.
"Here's the place I'm donating to. Donate there with me—think of it as giving to me."
-Oh my
-Is he really 7?
-How's a 7-year-old so kind-hearted ㅠ
-Our Yuin's so wise ㅠㅠㅠ
-Donated 10,000.
-Donated 50,000.
-Donated 100,000.
"Thank you. Uh, as thanks... I'll play some piano. Any requests?"
Jiyeong hurriedly grabbed the keyboard at his words.
Viewers had surged past a thousand, suggesting various songs. Yeonwoo picked Chae Hayeon's "Cheer Up, Today Too"—the most requested.
"I'll do 'Cheer Up, Today Too.' Hmm... suddenly feeling a jazz version. That okay?"
-Do whatever you want, Yuin
-Anything
-Jazz version sounds intriguing
With their okay, Yeonwoo launched right in.
His recital rolled on.
After a few songs, suddenly—
"Ah...!"
Yeonwoo let out a gasp and started something entirely new.
-What? Why so good?
-Something aches in my chest
-This is great, just listening but it's choking me up ㅠ
-Why's this kid pouring out such sad songs, like he holds a grudge?
Yeonwoo's new piece was a profoundly melancholic melody that tugged at the heartstrings.
Riding the piano waves of sorrow, he paused and said,
"A melody just hit me, so I tried composing on the spot. I want to give it to Sis Si-eun, but... she's an actress, so probably not."
Looking wistful at the thought of wanting to share but not being able to, he continued with other pieces.
Yeonwoo figured the song wouldn't reach Lee Si-eun.
He was wrong.
The piece, born from thoughts of her, spread silently—straight to Lee Si-eun.
* * *
Lee Si-eun's agency had viewed her as little more than chicken galbi before Hi-Teen Rock 'n' Roll blew up.
Not the food—the "poisonous asset" from that old saying: too valuable to release, but worthless enough to resent keeping.
They'd planned to squeeze her dry, then bench her till contract end when no gigs came.
But what do you know?
An unexpected drama hit big.
Even more unexpectedly, her voice went viral, keeping the OST locked at #1.
The discard became a joker overnight, the agency's top rising star.
They weren't fools. A seasoned mid-tier firm handling both actors and singers, they had no intention of letting their prodigy slip.
They snapped up every fitting ad deal pouring in and booked every OST gig request.
Casting offers and auditions? They'd cherry-pick carefully.
They were wringing her dry—a star born overnight.
Lee Si-eun welcomed it. Post-phobia, she enjoyed stage events, ad shoots, even acting.
She was itching for her next project.
Best of all, she could pay off her debts fast and actually earn.
But the agency was still thirsty.
Acting was fine, but for quick cash, nothing beat albums and tours.
With the OST buzz at peak, they itched to drop more tracks and build her as a singer.
One day, a marketing staffer caught Yuin's live by chance, heard the impromptu piece for Si-eun, and uploaded it atop her channel.
The CEO's eyes lit up.
Starting as a singer manager, he'd climbed with a keen ear for hits.
"This... it's gold. Can't we ask Yuin for it?"
He smelled money in Yuin's spur-of-the-moment piano.