Chapter 12
Chapter 12
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 12
Chapter Title: Not as a Fan, but as a Woman
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The day I heard that Cosmo had taken on an ad for a game funded by my company's capital, I couldn't believe it and immediately called Secretary Kim.
- Yes, Director.
"Oh, Secretary Kim. Sorry to bother you when you're busy. I heard a game with our company's investment is launching soon, so I was wondering if you knew anything about it."
- Of course I know about it. Apparently, the team in charge is pretty excited about the project.
I vaguely remembered it myself. After all, I'd personally approved the budget for it.
But beyond that, I hadn't paid much attention and had forgotten about it. Secretary Kim, on the other hand, seemed to have more detailed info on that front.
"Do you happen to know if the developer is handing out ads to internet streamers?"
- I'm sorry, not in that much detail... But from what I hear, they're giving ads to reliable streamers based on their own criteria. A good chunk of the capital we provided went toward that.
"I see... Thanks. Sorry for calling so late."
I nodded, trying not to show how surprised I was, and quickly ended the call.
Click.
I flopped back onto the bed, staring blankly at the ceiling and the phone I'd tossed beside the pillow.
Before I knew it, the muscles around my mouth were twitching, and laughter kept slipping out.
He really did it all on his own.
The mere fact that the streamer I cherished and admired had caught the eye of industry folks, earned recognition for his skills, and landed an ad—without any help from me—filled me with immense joy.
And as that joy swelled, so did an overwhelming urge to see Cosmo.
I pictured his face from the Tweet Party, beaming with a bright smile, bubbling over with childlike excitement on the other side of the screen. Just imagining it made my heart melt with cuteness and warmth.
Ah, I want to see him.
But no, I couldn't. I'd decided that going to see Cosmo that one time at the party would be the first and last.
Anything more would cross the line from fan to creepy stalker. If we ran into each other twice in a row, even Cosmo might sense something off and get suspicious.
So not this time. Unless I had some kind of excuse...
"...Huh?"
Excuse?
The word popped into my head, and I sprang up from the bed like a coiled spring.
Right—like in that movie! If I had an excuse, it'd be fine! It wouldn't be about going specifically to see Cosmo. My real purpose would be something else entirely, and we'd just happen to bump into each other!
"...Yeah, it's a game with our company's investment, so I have a duty to check it out."
I muttered to myself—though to whom, I wasn't sure—my eyes sparkling.
I knew better than anyone that this was ridiculous self-justification. But I had no room to admit it.
The mere hope of seeing Cosmo was enough to set my resolve ablaze.
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇ On the day of the AGP, a cold wave warning hit Seoul, but I dressed without a care for the chill and headed to the venue.
The weather was frigid, sure, but the thought of maybe running into Cosmo meant I couldn't compromise on my outfit.
"Ah...!"
Shivering as the cold seeped through my clothes, I hurried along—then spotted Cosmo in line way ahead.
I couldn't very well yell "Cosmo!" in such a crowded place, so I forced my frozen legs to move as fast as they could.
"Excuse me. Sorry, could you let me through just for a sec...!"
Thanks to people kindly stepping aside after my apologies, I managed to squeeze in somehow. But it was too late.
At least ten people stood between Cosmo and me, forming a wall like the Berlin Wall. I stared at the crowd in vain despair.
I wanted to line up with Cosmo...
Still, I clung to hope that we'd cross paths inside and steeled myself to endure the cold for now.
"...Excuse me, coming through. Sorry."
A familiar voice rang out from somewhere, followed by approaching footsteps.
"C-Co-Cosmo...!?"
"Huh? You're the one from the Tweet Party, right?"
Seeing Cosmo appear right in front of me made my eyes widen like they might pop out.
He even remembered my face—graciously confirming again, I nodded frantically, grinning like an idiot.
And my joy didn't stop there.
"Weren't you up front in line? Why'd you come all the way back here...?"
"Oh, I heard a familiar voice from afar. Thought I'd check it out, and there you were, so I came over."
Remembering me just from my voice at a distance was thrilling enough. But abandoning his spot in line to come all the way here? That meant the world.
What was this guy planning to do, make me happy forever?
"If it's awkward to share your name, how about I call you noona?"
"Huh? N-Noo-noo-noona?"
I hadn't revealed I was the chairwoman, avoiding my Tweet handle too, and balked at giving my real name with all its baggage. Then Cosmo casually suggested a title like it was no big deal.
Noona? Had I heard that right?
I stared in disbelief, and Cosmo gave an awkward smile, referencing the Tweet Party.
Ah...! So that's it.
Back then, I'd blurted it out amid the chaos without thinking it'd be rude. Who knew it'd turn into such a golden opportunity?
Past me, you did great!
Patting my former self on the back in my mind, I calmed my pounding heart each time he called me noona and kept the conversation going with feigned nonchalance.
"Atchoo!"
Mid-chat, as Cosmo pointed out my skimpy outfit, my traitorous body sneezed like it was complaining.
In the sudden awkward silence, as I gauged his reaction endlessly, Cosmo gave a wry smile and pulled a hot pack from his pocket, handing it over.
I refused several times, but he insisted so firmly—making me forget he was younger—that I felt a strange intensity from him.
"But seriously, why'd you come dressed so thin? It's not like there's someone you wanna impress."
"J-Just... Dressing cute is nice, right?"
I couldn't admit I might run into you, Cosmo, so I shook the hot pack and pressed it to my cheek instead.
It was warm. Fittingly so, mirroring my heart right now.
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇ We finally made it inside the AGP building, but contrary to my expectations, it wasn't a peaceful visit.
We ended up helping find the parents of a lost kid along the way, and waiting twice for the Last Destiny booth line we originally planned to hit wore us both out quickly.
But the gains were plentiful.
Someone else might call it shady, but for me, just exchanging glances and chatting with Cosmo while in line was satisfying enough.
Still, the biggest takeaway was learning more about the man Kang Wooju, not just the streamer Cosmo.
Especially when I asked why he'd gone through all this trouble to attend AGP. His answer left me a bit stunned.
"It's a win-win, right? I get paid, and the advertiser reaches more people with their game. So I thought about what I could do for this game."
He said it so casually, but I'd never heard anything like it in my circles.
In the business world, everyone claws for every last advantage, lunging at even minor losses like wolves.
This man, though—at least he gave his all, prioritizing mutual benefit over his own maximum gain.
That must've been when it started.
Not as a fan, but as a person... no, as a woman, I began wanting to know more about him.
"Waaah...!"
Then the incident happened. A little kid was lost, wailing desperately for their parents.
Honestly, I planned to stay quiet. Someone else would handle it—there were staff around, after all. I assumed that much.
"Noona, sorry, go ahead and enjoy. I'll check things out later on my own."
"...Huh?"
"I can't just leave the kid. I'll find their parents and come back."
But he was different.
Without a second thought, he gave up our hard-earned spot, went to the crying child, soothed them with chocolate, and reunited them with their parents.
And then he explained.
The kid reminded him of a childhood trauma, so he couldn't look away.
I was amazed—and envious—that he could share such a vulnerability so nonchalantly. To me, weaknesses were things to hide.
Each layer of his inner self peeled back, and I found myself following him with my eyes more intently.
I'd been disappointed by others' depths before, but this was the first time anticipation built instead. I finally got what they meant by "onion-like charm."
What would he show next? What would he say? What other depths hid inside this man?
As I wondered, the moment to part arrived.
Unlike the party, where just seeing his face and chatting had satisfied me, now only regret lingered in my chest.
Realizing this went beyond mere fandom, I vowed to forge some connection with him.
"Sure, anything. Just say it."
Then he approached, offering to repay the coffee with one request—innocently, unaware it was like tossing fresh meat to a starving beast penned up for a week.
Part of me found that expression a bit infuriating.
He was probably expecting some fan request. If he knew I saw him as a man, he'd never have said it.
If he was so sure, I'd close the distance in an instant.
Never let your guard down. There are cunning women out there dying to devour naive, kind guys like you.
"Then... could I maybe get your contact info?"
"...Huh?"
Saying it just to see his reaction, I savored the ever-shifting expressions on his face.
I'd read somewhere that when a guy stops seeming cool and starts seeming cute, you're already hooked. Spot on.
Like gazing at the world's most lovable being, I rested my chin in my hand, staring only at the man across from me.