Chapter 3
Chapter 3
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 3
Chapter Title: Empty Woman
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Ryu Seoha.
That's my name—a name that anyone with a deep interest in the business world of this country might have heard at least once.
Now twenty-three years old, as one of the heirs to Korea's premier conglomerate Cheongsung and the second daughter of the Ryu family, I've never known a moment of want since childhood.
Money, connections, looks, and the innate talent to wield them all with effortless grace.
It might come off as obnoxious, but for someone born with all of it, the very notion of "lack" was the most distant word from my life.
The day I first felt like an empty shell despite all that was one particular day.
And at the same time, it was the day I found my salvation.
"You've got some rare time off for once—why not take a trip with some friends?"
It was around the time I had just turned twenty-two.
I was running one of the subsidiaries my father had passed down to me when a long-overdue vacation came up, giving me a chance to visit my mother.
>
As always, my mother fretted endlessly over her daughter and casually suggested some vacation plans, but I just shook my head without much thought.
"Nah... I'm fine. Still got work to do, and I'm planning to forfeit the time off anyway."
"Really? Your dad was hoping you'd take a break—he's been worried sick."
"I'm not a kid anymore."
I put on a tough front, acting like vacations were pointless, but it wasn't really an act. Vacations truly held no value for me.
And for good reason: at that point, I had forgotten anything outside of work that could fill the void inside me.
I'd skipped grades in high school and graduated college early, so I didn't have any real friends. I'd never been the type to get along smoothly with others at school anyway. With my focus solely on grades and credits, it was only natural.
I had no clue how to even go on a trip. I'd made time for one once, but I ended up just lying in a hotel room, pulling out my laptop for work, thinking, If this is how it's gonna be, I should've stayed at the office, and came back after not even two days.
No hobbies to speak of either. Unlike my mother, who loved tea ceremonies and pottery, or my father, who enjoyed golf and listening to music, I hadn't found anything that sparked my interest.
For me, a vacation was no different from solitary confinement—a punishment.
The only thing that filled me was the faint satisfaction of inhaling the scent of paper at the office, shuffling through documents, and feeling like I'd accomplished something once they were done right.
"So you're heading back to the office tomorrow?"
"Yeah. I took the time off today just to make the rounds and say hi to people."
"Honestly... You've been wearing yourself out with work since you were so young. You have to learn to value yourself too."
My mother's words rang true, but I didn't have the courage to admit, I've forgotten how.
"I like work right now. Anyway, I've said my hellos, so I'll get going."
"Alright, get some good rest when you get home, and take it easy starting tomorrow."
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It was probably a promise I wouldn't keep, but I nodded anyway and left the family home.
"Park Driver, take me home."
"Ah, yes, ma'am."
I climbed into the black sedan—not really my style—and was about to give my usual instructions to the driver when I noticed Park Driver acting a bit off.
He'd been staring intently at his phone just a moment ago. What was it? News? Didn't feel like that.
"Park Driver, what were you looking at just now?"
"Oh, this? It's called Tweet. An internet broadcast I check out from time to time."
"Internet broadcast?"
The term didn't quite fit Park Driver's image, and I found myself tilting my head.
Park Driver watches that stuff? Kinda unexpected. He always struck me as the newspaper-and-news type.
I'd heard a bit about internet broadcasts myself, so curiosity piqued, and I tossed out a question.
"Doesn't seem like your style to watch women stripping down and dancing... What kind of shows do you usually tune into?"
"Mostly casual chat streams. I spend a lot of time waiting in the car, so something I can just listen to like the radio works best."
"I see."
Makes sense if you think of it as radio substitute. Plus, the appeal of internet broadcasts is being able to pick content tailored to your tastes.
Like watching animal streams if you're into pets, for example.
Anyway, my interest fizzled there, so I didn't press Park Driver further.
"Ma'am, we've arrived."
"...Already?"
Lost in the quiet atmosphere, blankly watching the dimming sky roll by, Park Driver's voice snapped me out of it.
It felt like not even three minutes had passed, but we'd covered a good thirty-minute drive. I looked around in surprise.
Sure enough, my familiar apartment parking lot came into view.
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I'd completely zoned out.
Realizing that, I hurriedly got out of the seat.
"Thanks for the ride. Take your vacation as scheduled starting tomorrow and enjoy it. See you."
"Yes, thank you, ma'am."
I gave Park Driver a nod as he held the door, then headed up in the elevator to my place.
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Creeeak.
The faint chill that hit me the moment I opened the door greeted me as always.
I didn't mind living alone much, but the cold, lifeless air in the empty house wasn't exactly cheerful.
Maybe I should get a cat like people say. Not that I like animals much.
"Haa..."
Thud.
I flopped straight onto the queen-sized bed without even washing up and rummaged through my handbag for my phone.
8:20 p.m. Pretty late. Well, I'd stuck around for dinner at my mother's insistence, so it made sense. I'd planned to head back early to prep for tomorrow's work, but now that was shot.
Normally, I'd hop in the shower right away to get ready for bed, but tonight, I just didn't feel like moving. Wanted to dawdle a bit longer, maybe.
Definitely one of those moments where I desperately wished for someone to talk to.
That thought dragged my earlier chat with Park Driver back to mind.
Specifically, internet broadcasts.
"Tweet, was it?"
From what I knew, these broadcasts were accessible anywhere, even via phone apps.
Sure enough, searching the app store for the platform Park Driver mentioned pulled up an app. Sign up here?
I punched in my email, finished registering, and the main screen loaded with various streams on the banner.
A little number in the top right showed current viewer counts, and some were pretty high. Top-ranked streams had anywhere from two thousand to twenty thousand viewers.
Figured the highest-ranked one must be the most entertaining, so I clicked it.
- You fucking bastard! How the hell doesn't this thing die?! This shitty game!
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"..."
But the stream exploded with profanity loud enough to burst eardrums, so I hit back immediately.
Are all internet broadcasts like this? No way Park Driver watches stuff like that.
I scrolled slowly down, but nothing caught my eye. Mostly games or women in skimpy outfits as thumbnails.
Some had big anime characters taking up the screen. None of it was my vibe.
Before I knew it, I'd scrolled down to streams with fewer than ten viewers.
Fewer viewers probably means less fun, right? I was about to close the app when a title jumped out.
"Offering advice on your troubles...?"
Intrigued by the oddly tempting title, I clicked it, and a lone notepad window filled the screen.
It was crammed with text. Reading closely, it seemed like the streamer typing out their own spoken words.
- So don't shove other people's trash into your pocket, sender. Why live your life taking Ls like that?
A serious voice followed soon after, a bit heated—like genuine advice directed at someone, matching the title.
Nice voice. Bet he sings well.
- Alright, I think that's enough advice for that one.
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【PassingByLoser】 Yes, thank you...ㅠㅠ I feel a bit relieved now. The streamer's words brought up a single chat message beside it—probably from the person who'd just gotten advice.
I didn't catch the details, but it clearly helped them a lot.
Impressive guy. Making a total stranger feel that way can't be easy. Impossible for someone like me, that's for sure.
- Oh, and welcome, lsh0306 who just joined. Sorry for the late greeting.
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【lsh0306】 Unlike the quirky nicknames of others, mine was the bland default from signup.
Yet he greeted it warmly, and the faceless guy on screen welcomed me. It felt oddly nice.
Unlike dealing with the shady office politics at work or the execs who smiled to my face and gossiped behind my back.
No need to worry about offending a stranger you'd never meet or sucking up—just pure, unfiltered thoughts.
No one in the world would ever connect whatever I said here to the real Ryu Seoha.
Here, I could spill my guts without holding back.
The realization hit, and before I knew it, my fingers were typing.
【lsh0306】 Can I get some advice too? - Of course! I'd be happy to offer my humble two cents anytime!
His response—cheesy like a salesman, a tad flippant, but warmed by that voice—drew a laugh out of me unbidden.
I wasn't really after advice. Just someone to hear me out, someone who'd never tell a soul.
【lsh0306】 I feel so empty inside. What should I do? A single sentence tossed out by my aimless heart.
Maybe it wasn't even directed at him.
Maybe it was a question for myself.